A nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and expanding the study of mineralogy and the hobby of mineral collecting. Our mission is to promote and preserve Virginia mineral and mining heritage while expanding the knowledge of minerals more broadly through community programs and partnerships.

Welcome to Friends of Mineralogy Virginia Chapter!

friendsofmineralogyva

𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑 𝐀𝐒 𝐀 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐘 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑!!

One year ago today, we submitted our charter request to the FM National Board. We began our journey here in Virginia to promote mineralogy and support outreach and education across the state. In one year, we have made so many friends and our community continues to grow! Our meeting yesterday had over 35 organizations with multiple states and even visitors from other countries!

We are so lucky to have a talented group of people who have a bold vision for the state and decided to push forward despite COVID-19. Who knows what the future has in store for us, but we are looking forward to continual growth and becoming an important part of the mineral community locally, state-wide, and nationally!

Special thanks to the committed team at FMVA who helped make this happen and our friends from the broader mineral community!

MARCH MEETING Join us on March 26, 2021 at 7:00 p

MARCH MEETING

Join us on March 26, 2021 at 7:00 pm ET
Mineral Collecting in the Hawaiian Islands
By: Eric Heinen De Carlo, Ph.D.

RSVP link in our bio!

Description: The Hawaiian Islands often evoke a vision of “Paradise on Earth”, a mysterious garland of isles in the middle of the Pacific Ocean graced with a natural beauty unparalleled throughout the world. What the Islands do not generally evoke, however, is the thought of a treasure trove of minerals. These islands host a surprising variety of minerals, some of which are of keen interest to collectors, despite their relatively young geological age. In this account I will highlight some of the more important mineral resources of Hawaii and report on some locations where they occur, while presenting this information in a traditional geological context. This presentation consists of three parts: First, a general description of the Hawaiian Islands and their geology will be given with a focus on how plate tectonics led to their current configuration and topography. Second, I will present an overview of the rocks and minerals that occur in Hawaii, focusing on a few mineral localities of historic and current interest. Finally, I will introduce the audience to a more mysterious side of Hawaii, it’s undersea world, and how certain mineral resources form there.

Speaker Bio: Dr. De Carlo is the author or co-author of 102 full length papers in the peer-reviewed scientific literature and 184 abstracts (presentations) at national or international conferences. He has presented 24 invited seminars and lectures at academic institutions around the world. and has written an additional 25 technical reports and articles, including five in mineral related magazines. The latter include the paper: De Carlo, E.H. and Swoboda, B. Mineral Localities in Hawaii. Rocks and Minerals, Volume 92, May/June 2017, pp 218-235, selected as “best paper in R&M'' in 2017. Additionally, Dr. De Carlo has supervised the thesis or dissertation research of 25 graduate students and served on the research committees of another 43 graduate students. Currently, he is the Vice President of the Keiki Mineral Club of Hawaii in Honolulu, Hawaii.

𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐃:

FEBRUARY MEETING Join us on February 26, 2021 at

FEBRUARY MEETING

Join us on February 26, 2021 at 7:00 pm ET
Wulfenite: The State Mineral of Arizona
By: Evan Jones

RSVP link in our bio!

Description: In 2017, SB-2092 was passed by the Arizona State Senate proclaiming the tetragonal lead molybdate wulfenite as the official Arizona State Mineral, joining turquoise as the Official State Gem, copper as the Official State Metal, and petrified wood as the Official State Fossil. In this presentation, we will explore why and how SB-2092 came to be, who was involved and why wulfenite was selected. Arizona boasts the largest number of world class wulfenite specimen producing localities and at last count well over 200 documented wulfenite occurrences in the state. We’ll delve into what are arguably judged the best wulfenite localities in Arizona punctuated with numerous site photos and specimen photos from top mineral collections.

Speaker bio: Longtime mineral collector and dealer Evan Jones lives in Cave Creek, Arizona, son of well-known author Bob Jones. Evan started collecting minerals at age 9 and with his father visited museums, attended mineral shows, went on collecting trips and visited mineral dealers from an early age. A graduate of the geology program at ASU in Tempe, Arizona, Evan has been a full time mineral dealer since 1986 and is currently co-owner of the fine mineral dealership Unique Minerals, Inc. His collection of Arizona minerals is considered one of the finest in the world. Evan has attended every Tucson Gem & Mineral Show since 1981 and won several awards including Walt Lidstrom, Miguel Romero and Dick Bideaux trophies.

Evan helped organize the TGMS “Arizona Mineral Treasures" Arizona Centennial exhibition at the 2012 Tucson Gem & Mineral Show, organized the first Arizona supplement to the Mineralogical Record magazine "Mineral Collections in Arizona", was on the advisory board of the University of Arizona Gem & Mineral Museum in Tucson, and is a founding member of the Arizona Mineral Minions group. Evan has written articles for Mineralogical Record, LAPIS and Mineralien-Welt magazines and given talks around the country.

JANUARY MEETING Join us on January 29, 2021 at 7:0

JANUARY MEETING
Join us on January 29, 2021 at 7:00 pm ET
Mid-Ocean Ridge Basalts (“MORB”)
By: Dr. Allie Gale

Description: While eruptions at mid-ocean ridges comprise ~80% of Earth’s volcanism, they get decidedly less attention than subaerial volcanoes because they are mostly hidden from view. Mid-ocean ridge basalts (“MORB”) aren’t particularly known for their mineral diversity, but they do have a lot of interesting things to say about the composition and temperature of everyone’s favorite peridotite - the mantle. Allie will share her enthusiasm for MORB with all who attend.

About Allie: Allie Gale grew up in Silver Spring, MD and fell in love with geology while getting her degree at the University of Maryland, College Park. While there, she secured a job with the Smithsonian Institution’s Department of Mineral Sciences, and was involved in identifying and cataloging meteorites and rocks. Her passion for minerals and rocks only deepened while at the Smithsonian. She earned her PhD from Harvard University, studying the geochemistry of mid-ocean ridge basalts in detail. For the past 8 years, she has been excitedly teaching students about the workings of planet Earth- first as a professor at the University of Wisconsin, River Falls, and now at Minerva Schools at KGI. She is passionate about mineral-collecting and can be found looking for Lake Superior agates in her spare time. She is thankfully still young enough to be a proud member of the Young Mineral Collectors!

NOVEMBER MEETING Join us on November 27th at 7:00

NOVEMBER MEETING
Join us on November 27th at 7:00pm ET
Blanchard Mine, New Mexico
By Erin Delventhal

Description: The Blanchard Mine, located in the Hansonburg District in the northern portion of the Oscura Mountains, Socorro County, New Mexico, has earned its place as a classic New Mexican locality through the production of widely available, high-quality mineral specimens - most notably the “Blanchard blue” fluorite (often associated with galena) as well as the discovery of some of the world’s largest known linarite crystals. However, the rich mineralization at the Blanchard Mine produces a suite of other minerals that appeal to many varieties of collecting styles.

About our Speaker: Erin Delventhal grew up collecting minerals with her family – long road trips were punctuated with detours where she and her brothers could get dirty (and very tired) while collecting minerals. Photography and design took precedence as a hobby and a profession for many years, but a visit to the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show rekindled her love for minerals. She rejoined the mineral community with enthusiasm and has since been an active member in several organizations ranging from local to international, has been involved in mineral museums, symposia, and other educational programs, and has joyously returned to a life punctuated by getting dirty (and very tired) while collecting minerals. Among other things, Erin works as a freelance photographer, photo editor, and graphic designer, serves as a mindat.org manager, and works with Enchanted Minerals LLC in collecting and distributing fine New Mexican minerals.

-NO DECEMBER MEETING-

𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭:

𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐌𝐔 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐮𝐦

FMVA and the Shenandoah Valley Gem and Mineral Society are excited to announce that on November 18th at 7:00pm ET we will have Dr. Lance and Cindy Kearns to speak about the history of the JMU Mineral museum and the new Peter Via collection! Come ask questions, engage with guests across the USA, and learn about the journey that led up to this incredible museum.

𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: A look at the historic events that built a new mineral museum at JMU. Entertaining stories about the many ways of mineral acquisition. Follow the details of the JMU folks in bringing home and displaying the amazing Peter L. Via collection. Of course, there will be many photos of world class specimens for you to enjoy.

If you are unable to attend this event then please check out the article and video shared the other day!

Seats are limited to 100 guests. RSVP Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYodOCpqjsiG9Lz1fEexxNR8tCr3plix3gN

October Meeting: Mindat Workshop THIS FRIDAY @ 7:

October Meeting: Mindat Workshop

THIS FRIDAY @ 7:00PM ET

FMVA will be hosting a virtual Mindat workshop this Friday to help update and provide new images, information, and geological data for the Barger Quarry and Scufflin' Acres mineral localities. Scufflin' Acres does not currently have a Mindat page so we will be adding a new one. This is a great way for our organization to give back to the community during COVID-19. We will walk through the current Mindat pages and look for gaps where we can help add new information, articles, and photographs! Bring your photos, stories, and information!

From the Virginia Mineral Project- Check out this

From the Virginia Mineral Project-

Check out this old rare find from the Goose Creek Quarry in Northern, Virginia! This was a rare discovery and one pocket of material was collected. The specimen label identifies this as Stilbite but this could be stellerite as identified later from other NOVA quarries. The hemisphere seems to be growing on a slickenside feature!

Stilbite (possibly stellerite?)
Goose Creek Quarry, Loudoun Co. Virginia
Hemisphere ~1.3cm across

Come watch Leah's talk with FMVA this Friday! Min

Come watch Leah's talk with FMVA this Friday!

Mineral Artwork by Leah Luten

Date: September 25th, 2020

Time: Join at 6:50pm ET, Presentation starts at 7:00pm ET

Description:

Leah Luten talks about her journey to becoming a professional mineral watercolor artist. She shares her artistic process across different mediums and styles and talks about the stories behind her paintings.

About:

Leah Luten is a Texas-based mineral artist that started painting minerals in 2015. While drawing minerals digitally, she connected with Dallas mineral collectors and started her journey into fine mineral collecting and doing commissioned watercolor artwork for collectors across the country. While her primary medium is watercolor, she also paints minerals in oils, and most recently, tattoos. Her work has a heavy focus on precision and realism. She painted minerals full-time in 2019 and now works as a professional tattoo artist in the DFW area. She has displayed her artwork and live-painted minerals at the Denver and Tucson shows. She is also an avid thumbnail collector and a member of the Mineralogical Association of Dallas and Young Mineral Collectors.

REGISTER HERE: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIld--uqDwpHNbksmQOwx7xLGBoeFh5jgSO

Colorado Gems by Brian Kosnar Date: August 28th, 2

Colorado Gems by Brian Kosnar
Date: August 28th, 2020
Time: Join at 6:50pm ET, Presentation starts at 7:00pm ET

Description:
While his home state is well-known for its various mineral deposits, Colorado rarely gets much attention for the variety of gems found within its borders. From pegmatites to kimberlites, there is a lot to see and share about faceted stones from the Centennial State.

Speaker Bio:

Brian Kosnar is the owner of Mineral Classics, a Colorado-based mineral and gemstone business which has been operating for 50 years. The company was founded by Brian’s father, Richard Kosnar (the namesake for the species Kosnarite) in 1971, and Brian has been running the business full-time since the age of 17. You can find Brian at major mineral shows around the world, including Tucson, Denver, Munich, Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines and Tokyo. Brian is an avid mineral collector and world traveler, visiting many countries over several continents searching for specimens and gems. Brian has a deep mining lineage on his mother’s side of the family, going back to his great-great-grandfather, who was a tin miner in Cornwall, England, and every subsequent generation was involved in either hard rock mining or gold mining in Colorado.

RSVP: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEuc--hrjkrHNIqKvum2DgnZrfg233mKZDj

𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐌𝐕

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