This year, the event had lots of family activities and workshops, and also stone collectors selling their goods

The Quartz Museum - Prof. Galopim de Carvalho Interpretation Centre, located on Monte de Santa Luzia, in the parish of Campo, Viseu, hosted the 11th edition of the Minerals, Gems and Fossils Fair from 21 to 22 February.

Annual exhibition

The exhibition, which takes place annually, gives visitors the opportunity to interact with specialists in geology, palaeontology and other sciences related to the fair's theme, as well as to purchase pieces from their collections.

On the first day of the fair, the program included several activities: a jewellery workshop, in which participants learned to work with silver; the construction of a sundial; a "journey" through the Solar System; and, at nightfall, an activity observing the stars.

On the second day, the museum hosted a brass jewellery workshop, a star-making activity for younger children and a comedic magic show entitled "Tangerine and the Crystal". With the exception of the jewellery workshops, all activities were free and open to the public, subject to prior registration.

Despite the event attracting a large number of visitors, it was possible to interview two vendors at the exhibition and learn a little more about their businesses.

Mineral lover

Starting with Fernando, a lover of minerals and other materials found in nature, who, gifted with a natural talent, fused the art of macramé with stones, creating pieces worthy of exhibition.

According to Fernando, owner of Solart Pulseiras, his passion for macramé arose in Cape Verde when he was still a child and spent a lot of time in a shoe shop.

Having access to thread and other materials, he began to develop his art, without formal study, only with intuition. "I've always been a bit restless, always wanting to do different things. But about 5 years ago, I started to evolve my technique and produce the pieces we see now," said the artist.

When asked about his creative process, the artist said that most of the time he is inspired by the material itself. "Sometimes I pick up a stone, and its beauty and rusticity inspire me to create something unique, intuitively," he said.

Because they are materials that come from nature, such as stones, shells, seeds, and the like, no two pieces are alike.

In Fernando's words, "wearing a piece made by me is wearing your own identity." "There are people who want a completely unique necklace, for example, and one thing I like to do is talk to the person and try to understand the necklace they have in mind, so that together we can create something unique," he reported.

The businessman also said his main objective is to spread the art of macramé more widely in the modern world. "It's an ancient technique; it began with the Assyrians and Babylonians, and was brought by the Moors on their travels to Europe. After arriving in the Iberian Peninsula, it quickly became popular in England, where it was used in Queen Victoria's clothing and adornments, and was thus recognised and adopted in France. My goal is to be a vehicle for macramé to take another leap into modernity," he stated.

Finally, the artist recommended that readers, if interested, should learn how to make macramé, as he considers it a therapeutic activity.

"I lost part of my hearing in my left ear, and because of that, I also lost the ability to focus; macramé helped me regain focus because it's a hands-on activity that takes some time. I consider information essential for anyone who wants to do macramé; on YouTube, you can find many good-hearted people who share their knowledge; the materials are cheap and can be easily found online on sites like Amazon." "For people who are restless, anxious, or suffer from a lot of stress in daily life, macramé is a very good and accessible activity."

Amber expert

Augusto Barbosa, known to his clients as Ângelo, told The Portugal News that he has worked with minerals and fossils for 15 years, specialising in amber for 30 years.

With degrees in Astronomy, Physics, and Applied Mathematics from the former Faculty of Sciences of Porto, Ângelo Barbosa is a collector and enthusiast of minerals, fossils, and gems who dedicates part of his time to cataloguing and selling his collection, as well as conducting educational activities in schools and other venues, focused on Portuguese mineralogy. His products can be found at various mineral fairs throughout the country and also on his website, where they can be purchased online.

It is also possible to contact the specialist via WhatsApp at (+351) 912 478 813 to request his services and ask questions.

The Quartz Museum

The Quartz Museum was conceived by the geologist Galopim de Carvalho, and its facilities are located in a former quartz extraction site. It is the only museum in the world dedicated exclusively to a mineral.

Admission is free and the museum can be visited every day except Mondays, Sundays and public holidays.