Rockhounding Clubs

by Ritika

The best way rockhounders may enhance their knowledge in this area is by joining a rockhounding club. Rockhounding clubs pave the way for rockhounders to meet people belonging to the same area and those who share the same interest. In addition, rockhound clubs also run organized trips to nearby localities which help rockhounders visit rockhounding sites in groups and explore the same.

Rockhounding is an interesting activity carried out by mineralogists who enjoy collecting interesting rocks and minerals. Rockhounding is carried out by people who enjoy collecting rocks and gemstones that are eye-catching or by serious rockhounders who collect rare gemstones, rocks and minerals and also exhibit them in the rock and gem shows around their country.

Importance of Rockhounding Clubs

The best way rockhounders may enhance their knowledge in this area is by joining a rockhounding club. Rockhounding clubs pave the way for rockhounders to meet people belonging to the same area and those who share the same interest. In addition, rockhound clubs also run organized trips to nearby localities which help rockhounders visit rockhounding sites in groups and explore the same.

A Rockhounding Club List for the United States

There are numerous rockhounding clubs in the United States and some of them to mention are:

Indian Mounds Rock and Mineral Club

Indian Mounds Rock and Mineral Club is located in Wyoming, Michigan and helps rockhounders share and study about various minerals, gems, fossils, rock, lapidary arts, and earth sciences. The rockhounding club also organizes field trips in addition to various other activities like informative meetings, shows, silent auctions, and sales. The rockhounding club also has an online club email group which helps rockhounders communicate new information.

Del Air Rockhounds Club

The Del Air Rockhounds Club is located in the San Fernando Valley area of California. The club organizes demonstrations, exhibitions, displays and lectures for rockhounders. The rockhounding clubs also takes rockhounders on field trips every month to local deserts and mountains for exploration.

Convair Rockhound Club

Convair Rockhound Club is located in San Diego, CA and conducts meetings every week Tuesday which helps rockhounders to share their ideas.

Fort Collins Rockhound Club

Fort Collins Rockhound Club is located in Fort Collins, CO and conducts field trips for rockhounders to areas like Canyon, Shirley Basin, WY and so on.

Cape-Atlantic Rockhound Club

Cape-Atlantic Rockhound Club is located in Cologne, New Jersey. This club is useful for rockhounders interested in geology and fossils. The Clubhouse is open for all members to carry out their lapidary work throughout the year.

Culver City Rock & Mineral Club

Culver City Rock & Mineral Club, also known as CCRMC, is located in Culver City, California, USA. It helps to promote knowledge and skills related to earth sciences, lapidary arts, paleontology, mineralogy, faceting, cutting, casting, polishing, metal-smithing, and field collection of minerals, rocks, fossils and other artifacts. The club is a non-profit Californian corporation that started its operations in 1960. Rockhounders can enjoy the frequent field trips to local collecting areas organized by this club. Members of this club can also reap the benefits by using the extensive library of books and videotapes present in this club.

Island Rockhounds INC

Island Rockhounds INC is located at Bellmore, NY. This club has an exclusive training for getting skilled at cracking geodes. The trainings are conducted by experts Bill Cascio and Tom Gangi. The club also has numerous resources like equipment, jewelry, mineral specimens, books and gems. Rockhounders can join this club and can enjoy the benefits of this wide range of resources.

Saint Lawrence Country Rock and Mineral Club

Saint Lawrence Country Rock and Mineral Club is located in Northern NYS, United States. The club hosts two major mining companies named as St. Lawrence Zinc and Gouverneur Talc, Co. In earlier days, collecting from these mines was allowed for members of this club. Recent rules state that members of this club can collect from the mines through prior permission only. The club organizes guest speeches from eminent persons in the field of rockhounding every month. This helps rockhounders belonging to this club learn and gain extensive knowledge in their area. In addition, the club also organizes for digs for its members throughout the summer season and the information about digs are updated on their site.

ROLLIN’Rock Club INC

ROLLIN’Rock Club INC is located in Texas, United States. The club conducting regular meetings every week at which members share their rockhounding interests and hobbies, converse and talk about their experiences. The club also conducts club shows at consistent intervals. The ROLLIN’Rock Club INC was started in 1955 at Corpus Christi, Texas. The Rollin’ Rock Club takes the pride in being one of the largest gem and mineral hobby clubs in the United States and one of the world-wide clubs with its members being present throughout the world, namely in United States and Canada, as well as in Germany, Australia, Greece, South Africa, Russia and other foreign countries. The Rollin’ Rock Club is affiliated with the South Central Federation of Mineralogical Societies and the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies.

Since the ROLLIN’Rock Club INC has members throughout the world, all its business and club operations are done online and through emails. The club has the practice of conducting a minimum of one official meeting every year which is generally done along with the annual show and convention of the South Central Federation. The club also publishes a quarterly newsletter named as RRC newsletter through which members of the club present throughout the world get to know each other and share their ideas and experiences. The RRC newsletter acts as a communication media for members with common interests to find each other and share their preferences and interests.

Fredericksburg Rockhounds Gem and Mineral Club

Fredericksburg Rockhounds is a gem and mineral club located in Fredericksburg, Texas. The Fredericksburg rockhounds club started its operation in 1968 and is a non-profit organization affiliated with the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies (AFMS) and the South Central Federation of Mineral Societies (SCFMS). The club is of great use to people interested in gems, minerals, and fossils. The club conducts various activities for its members some of which are monthly field trips organized for nearby rockhounding sites, rock swaps, an annual show which is normally arranged in the month of January, an annual picnic which is generally organized in the month of June and a Christmas party for its members in the month of December.

Rockhounders, by joining rockhounding clubs present in their locality, reap enormous benefits like sharing knowledge, meeting people with similar interests and so on. Rockhounders can also get extensive knowledge from the shared resources like library books, forums, newsletters published by the clubs and field trips organized by them.