Expominer
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Expominer is a mineral, fossil and jewelry exhibition, that is celebrated every year in November in the pavilions of the Fira de Barcelona (Barcelona Fairs and Congresses) .
It is perhaps the largest Spanish mineral show and one of the first in Europe. Expominer allows collectors from around the world to sell, buy and exchange minerals and fossils. During the three-day show there are exhibitions and conferences. Every year Expominer takes place in the city of Barcelona (in the Montjuïc Exhibition Center) next to the famous Montjuïc Monumental Fountains, at the foot of the Catalonia National Art Museum (Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya), towards the month of November (usually after the Munich mineral Show - Mineralientage.
Expominer started in 1979 in the main pavilions of the Fira de Barcelona, but was then moved to a discreet metal hangar, next to the Montjuïc Monumental Fountains. A few years ago, because of the popularity that this show has acquired, the Mineral Show moved to one of the so-called 'noble' pavilions Palace No. 5, and then in recent years it has relocated again to one of the best Exhibition Centers, Palace No. 6.
Every year over 14,000 visitors, including mineral and fossils collectors, students and enthusiasts visit the stands of more than 140 exhibitors that come from various countries. There are also exhibitions, workshops on minerals, conferences, etc.. Over the years the number of exhibitors has increased dramatically, as has the number of visitors and, although still small in scale (which is in line with the hobby of collecting minerals in Spain), we can say that Expominer has become the official Spanish Mineral Show. It is heir to the great collector Mr. Joaquín Folch i Girona and, with the collaboration of the Grup Mineralògic Català, it has become key for mineral fans in both Catalonia and Spain.
