International sales exhibition of minerals, fossils and jewellery
The Mineralogical Club of the University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice is preparing
the 33rd International Sales Exhibition of Minerals, Fossils and Jewellery. It will take place
on Saturday , 13 June 2026 from 9am to 4pm at the premises of the University at Komenského 73, Hall 14. The traditional event is prepared together with partners - the East Slovak Museum in Košice, the Mineralogical Club of VSM, OZ Preshowminerals and with the support of KSK. In addition to the exchange of minerals, fossils and jewellery, it will also offer a performance of falconers at 11 a.m. and a raffle at 2 p.m. 29 exhibitors from Slovakia and Hungary have registered for the event.
After many years, when amateur mineralogists and collectors regularly met in the premises of the Secondary Industrial School of Transport on Hlavná Street in the centre of Košice, the exhibition is changing its venue and moving to the opposite end of Komenský Street to the premises of the University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice. 'The reason was very prosaic - the long-time organizer ended his work at the transport industrial school and our university, where the Mineralogical Club of UVLF operates, offered cooperation. We are glad that this event was saved and we believe that fans of inanimate nature will find their way to the new premises in the middle of the beautiful living nature of the university campus. This will be a breakthrough year for the exhibition, we believe that the new venue will offer new opportunities, including a walk in the historic university grounds, ' concluded Peter Popelka, chairman of the organising committee .
In the 1970s, the first exchange was held in Prešov, and later in Košice. The well-known Košice mineral exchangesbegan to be organised in the Eastern Slovak Museum after the VelvetRevolution, and later found a home at the Technical University Košice and the Secondary Industrial School of Transport. The collectors' community is planning this club activity every year and hopes that the new venue will also bring new impulses for those interested in inanimate nature.
'A generation of active collectors has lived through the days when mining was in operation in the country and they expanded their collections with finds in the field. Today the situation is different, but some sites are being reopened and amateur mineralogists in the east of Slovakia are still discovering the riches of the Slovak Ore Mountains, Černá hora or the Slanské vrchy Mountains. Stones from collections that cannot be found today after the end of mining appear on the exchanges. Exhibitors also offer aesthetic, cut or polished stones and a group of mineral jewellery manufacturers is also presenting itself. There is something for everyone. In addition, the exhibition can inspire children and young people to take a deeper interest in natural sciences, ' adds Peter Popelka, who was inspired by his primary school biology teacher. In adulthood, he returned to his hobby and is currently the supervisor of the Mineralogical Club of UVLF in Košice.
The venue - the premises of the University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy at Komenského 73 in Košice - can be reached by trams No. 1, 2, 6 - stop Havlíčkova.During the exchange there will be a raffle, every visitor has a chance to win interesting prizes - various pebbles, as well as a publication On the Minerals of the Slanské Hills, the authors of which will also participate in the exchange.The magical world of minerals, fossils and jewellery is open not only to adults but also to young people. Children under 12 years of age accompanied by their parents can enter free of charge.