Andras Galinac didn’t plan to leave Brooks Hall with a pocketful of rocks Wednesday afternoon.

But that’s just what the Onaway junior did.

Galinac said he was captivated by the display of shiny minerals at the Geology Club’s bi-annual rock sale, which took place this week in Brooks Hall.

Galinac purchased a pair of sliced agates, which are known for their high quartz content, for $2.50 each. He intended to give one to his little brother, he said.

“I like how smooth they are and the color variation,” he said.

The sale included an array of minerals, jewelry and petrified wood. Prices varied from $2.50 for simpler rocks to $20 for rarer forms, while bracelets, pendants and necklaces were anywhere in between. The group also sold candy.

Geology Club treasurer and Allen Park junior Brent Reynolds estimated the club raised around $200.

“It’s to help fund our field trips,” Reynolds said.

He said the group previously has traveled to Southern California.

Sven Morgan, associate geology professor and interim chair of the department, said the students hope to go on excursions to Zion, Death Valley and Grand Canyon national parks. But the sale also is a way for students to gain valuable experience dealing with the minerals first-hand, he said.

“They learn about the different minerals before they sell them,” said Morgan, who also serves as the Geology Club’s adviser

Reynolds said hosting the display, which has been going on for about 10 years, was beneficial.

“It gives us hands-on experience with a lot of different features we learned about in class,” he said.

Reynolds estimated more than 50 people stopped by the sale.

Many of the objects, which Morgan said made nice Christmas gifts, were collected by students, while some were from leftover classroom experiments. Others were given by external sources.

“A lot of them were donated by alumni,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds said the majority of the pieces were found in Michigan, but some came from outside the state. The pendants were the most popular item, he said.

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