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TUCSON - The Tucson Gem and Mineral Show opened its doors Thursday morning at the Tucson Convention Center. It's the 58th year for the event.

Mayor Jonathan Rothschild and Arizona Governor Jan Brewer were on hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony. Each spoke about the importance of various gem shows held throughout the city. Rothschild said more than $76 million is pumped into the local economy with more than $6 million generated in local and state tax revenue.

This year's theme is Minerals of Arizona. Governor Brewer toured the exhibit featuring copper deposits of Bisbee, Globe-Miami, Ajo and Ray areas.

Governor Brewer toured the exhibits, "we have all the exhibits from arizona that we walk over on a regular basis and we don't even give it second thought. You take it out of the ground and you crack it open or you polish it up and it's drop dead gorgeous. It's amazing. It's beautiful."

All the gem show events are believed to pump approximately $76 million into the local economy, Paul Harter, The Tucson Gem and Mineral Show's chairman said, "revenue that comes into Tucson roughly between the middle of January and into February, that's great economic influx into the city."

Harter, who is from Phoenix, has been attending the show since he was a young boy. He and his wife Marilyn have been bringing their children to the show for years. Marilyn described the show as a great family affair, "there's so much to do. Of course in Tucson outside the show. But there's everything here with the museum exhibits. I love the jewelry and the gems. My husband loves the minerals."

And the Harters don't mind spending money in Tucson every year, "I enjoy spending the State of Arizona. I love to support our economy. I think it's very important for everybody right now," Marilyn said.

The show runs though Sunday, February 12th.