SOME of the planet's most precious secrets will be found within the Gatton Sports Centre this Easter.

As the region gets stuck into some chocolatey delights, the doors to the country's largest gem show will be flung open for all to enjoy.

The Gatton Lapidary Club will play host to the 50th National Gemboree from Good Friday to Easter Sunday, which will also include the 47th National Gem and Mineral Competition and the 15th International Faceting Challenge.

The event will not only show-off some of Australia's greatest gems, stones and minerals but also earthly treasures from foreign soils, with exhibitors from Pakistan, Japan, Russia and America in attendance.

Chairperson of the 2014 National Gemboree Committee, Peter Thwaites, said it was the second time Gatton had hosted the exhibition and he expected some of the finest works in the world to be on display.

Mr Thwaites encouraged everyone to come along and have a look with plenty on offer.

"I'd like to see as many people as possible come, last time we had about 6000 people," he said.

"I'd definitely like to see people come along and check it out, it's something the whole family can take part in.

"And they can all learn something."

About 200 exhibitors are expected to show their colourful collections at the Gemboree with live faceting and machinery displays showing the meticulous art of lapidary also on site during the three-day event.

Faceting is the cutting of stones, usually precious, into various shapes with many small polished flat surfaces to create sparkle and to enhance colour.

Attendees will also be able to listen to lectures on fossils (both plant and animal), minerals, wire tying, silver work, precious and semi-precious stones

Along with an amazing variety of shiny stones and gems, Mr Thwaite said the skin of a 23 foot long crocodile, shot in the 1970s by a miner in the Northern Territory, would also be on display.

Details

When: April 18-21

Where: Gatton Showgrounds

Time: Friday, April 18 (10am-5pm), Saturday and Sunday, April 19-20 (9am-5pm), Monday, April 21 (9am-1pm).

Cost: $8 for adults and children free (if accompanied by an adult)

More information:

Phone Peter Thwaites on 0408 015 953.