Please join us on November 10th at 7:30 PM in the Multipurpose Room at the Veterans Memorial Complex, 4117 Overland Ave, Culver City 90230 for a this presentation.

Luis de los Santos, owner of Condor Agates, will guide us through the process of prospecting and digging for fossils and petrified pine cones in Patagonia, Argentina, and introduce us to the discovery of Argentina’s first agate deposits, formed in cavities of volcanic rock over millions of years, which he named Condor Agates after the great bird of the Andes.

Luis de los Santos was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where his fascination with the natural world began at the age of six, collecting rocks with a sense of wonder that would stay with him for life. Though he earned a five-year degree from the National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts in Buenos Aires, it was the earth’s treasures—not the stage—that ultimately captured his heart.

In 1984, de los Santos began exploring the vast and untamed landscapes of Patagonia in southern Argentina, collecting fossils from one of the most geologically rich regions in the world. This journey led him deeper into the world of rock collecting, and in 1989, he made his first trip to the United States to introduce American collectors to Argentina’s unique petrified pinecones.

A defining moment in his career came in 1993, when he discovered the first known deposit of agates in Argentina—a vibrant and distinctive geode he named Condor Agate, after the great bird of the Andes. This discovery marked the beginning of a lifelong pursuit. Over the years, he went on to uncover six additional varieties of agates across multiple provinces, each with its own unique color, character, and story embedded in stone.

In 1991, de los Santos relocated to the United States with his family and established his rock and fossil business. Since then, he has continued to travel between both countries, hand-selecting the finest agates to share with collectors, rock enthusiasts, and museums around the world. For de los Santos, every piece tells a story—of nature, of time, and of the land he proudly calls home.

The Veteran’s Memorial Multi-Purpose Room is in the back of the Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium Building. When entering the parking lot from Culver Blvd. (closest to Overland Blvd.), walk to the right when facing the building. Around the corner is a sign leading to the Multi-Purpose Room, where our meetings are held.