Geology Weekend — Minerals with Stories

The Geological Association LVGA, Fryslân branch, is organising the annual Geology Weekend at Natuurmuseum Fryslân on 24 and 25 January 2026. This year’s theme is‘Minerals with Stories’. From cupcakes to computers — everything we use, encounter, collect, admire and eat in our daily lives comes from the Earth. During this weekend, visitors will discover how a number of minerals are used in everyday life.

Lithium
One example of a versatile mineral is lithium. It is one of the elements formed after the Big Bang more than 13 billion years ago. Lithium is not only one of the lightest metals on Earth — it even floats on water — but also one that is widely used today. Lithium is essential for making batteries, which means you’ll find it in electric cars and bikes, as well as in laptops and smartphones.

From glasses to concrete
Several other minerals will also be explained: what they are, where they are found and how they shape our daily lives. Think of iron and the many metal constructions made from it, and copper in pipes and wiring. Gypsum is not only used for treating broken bones, but also appears in plasterboard in your own home. Halite was once as valuable as gold; today we literally and figuratively throw it on the road as grit salt. Quartz, finally, is truly everywhere, from glasses to concrete, and from toothpaste to solar panels.

Glow in the dark
A specific group of minerals may not look very special at first glance, but that changes when they are placed under fluorescent light. Suddenly they glow beautifully in all the colours of the rainbow. A dark room has been specially set up for this, turning ordinary stones into striking ‘glow in the dark’ objects.

Geological market
Surrounding the exhibition is a geological market, where members of the association display their finest finds. Think of pieces of amethyst, desert roses, ammonites and trilobites. There is also a wide selection of fossils and minerals for sale. You can even choose a geode — a round, nodule-like stone that is hollow inside — and have it cracked open on the spot to see if it holds a surprise.

Children’s activities
There is always plenty for children to do during the Geology Weekend. A popular activity is gypsum splitting: children use tools to break open a block of gypsum to discover what is hidden inside. They can pan for ‘gold’, sieving sand just like prospectors of the past. They can also go treasure hunting for fossils and minerals, or pick something special from the lucky dip.

Between Gravel and Gold
New this year is an identification table. Visitors who think they’ve found a real treasure — a beautiful stone, an unusual pebble or a piece of rose quartz — are invited to bring it along. Members of the geology club will be on hand to identify the find, so visitors can finally discover whether they’re holding gold — or just gravel. These identification sessions take place three times a day: 11:00–11:30 am, 1:00–1:30 pm and 3:00–3:30 pm.

Practical information
Standard admission prices apply. Children’s tickets include two tokens, which can be used for two children’s activities of choice. An additional activity costs €2.