Baltimore Mineral Society

Minerals, Mineral Collecting, Micromounting, Fossils, Faceting, Lapidary

Founding member of:

The International Federation of Micromount Societies

Member of:

The Eastern Federation of Mineralogical and Lapidary Societies

The American Federation of Mineralogical Societies

Hemimorphite with Calcite

(Mike Seeds)

The Baltimore Mineral Society, Inc., is a non-profit organization. It was organized in 1951 to promote interest in mineral/fossil collecting, micromounting, mineralogy, and related forms of the earth sciences. The society promotes good fellowship among the area clubs and greater appreciation for nature’s wonders.

 For information, consult Mike Seeds () mseeds(-a-)fandm.edu where (-a-) means @).

New Web Page!

Please visit our new web page at

http://www.baltimoremineralsociety.org

We have lots of interesting programs, field trips, and activities planned and we are hoping you can join us.

Arhbarite w/Enargite

Soledad Mine, Chile

International Directory of Micromounter’s

20^th Edition now available. Click here for details.

Bultfonteinite (acicular)

On Poldervaartite

N’Chwaning Mine, S. Africa

BMS Rock and Book Sale and Swap

The January meeting was given over entirely to a club sale and swap. Any BMS member could bring minerals or books to sell with a small benefit to the club. We had 7 tables of minerals and two tables of books on minerals, geology, lapidary, and faceting.

The Rock and Book Sale and Swap attracted a lot of people both BMS members and collectors not familiar with BMS. We hope they will come back and visit our meetings again.

Collecting at the Cornwall Iron Mine

Last spring we collected in a number of places, but one of the best places was the Cornwall Iron Mine. (We already have another trip booked for next month.) We had a pleasant sunny day following a rain that washed the dust off the rocks. We collected at a number of sites including atop “The Big Hill” with the flooded pit in the background. One collector reported finding unusual calcite crystals here, and another took home some specimens and later etched garnets out of the calcite.

Magnetite was common at all the sites we visited as plates and as tetrahedrons. Some specimens has Byssolite filling gaps between magnetite crystals.

Some specimens collected were carefully wrapped in newspaper, paper towels, or toilet paper. Some were carefully dropped into baggies for later study under a microscope. A few collectors picked up prizes that compress car springs, and at least one two-man specimen was lugged out.

Pyrite was common and some unusual crystals turned up with interesting faces. All told, there are nearly 60 minerals known from the Cornwall Iron Mines, so the rocks that everyone took home probably hold more surprises.

Further collecting at Cornwall and other sites has been organized for 2009. Call a member for information.

Rocks and Specimens at a BMS Meeting

BMS meetings are a time to look at rocks, talk about rocks, trade rocks, buy/sell rocks, and have a good time. A short business meeting includes plans for field trips and the Desautel’s Symposium, and is followed by a short program on a mineral collecting topic. The meeting adjourns by 9 pm.

Visitors are always welcome. Call ahead for information and directions or just drop in and join the fun. See directions at our new web site.

Membership

Membership is open to all. Dues are $10.00 for a single membership or $15.00 for a family. Two categories of supporting memberships have been established to support the BMS Newsletter and other educational aims. SPONSOR - $25 and PATRON $50. (If you do not wish your name published as a Sponsor/Patron, please notify the newsletter editor, Larry Krause. Supporting dues include regular dues. Dues are due in December. Members receive the club newsletter, TheBMS Conglomerate, and are welcome on collecting trips,