October 19-21, 2007

This year's annual symposium is scheduled for October 19-21 and once again will be held at the Red Lion Motel at Kelso, WA.

This year's Symposium theme has been selected as "Minerals of the American Southwest".

We have confirmed renowned and excellent speakers:

• Dr. Virgil W. Lueth, Socorro, New Mexico
  Virgil has been Mineralogist/Economic Geologist and Curator of the Mineral Museum at the New Mexico Bureau of Mines & Mineral Resources since 1994.  He received his B.S. at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, and his Ph.D. from the University of Texas at El Paso.  Virgil has served on the Boards of Directors of the Society of Mineral Museum Professionals, New Mexico Geological Society and Friends of Mineralogy.  He is currently President of FM. Virgil has also chaired the New Mexico Mineral Symposium for the last 10 years.  His presentations will include:
  Mineral collecting in the Land of Enchantment: A light and colorful talk on the history of mineral collecting in the New Mexico and news about the latest finds ("killer" Hansonburg material mined this year, Chino spinel twinned coppers, and the new herkimer-style quartz from near Truth or Consequences).
  The Origin of Turquoise: A bit more scientific discussion integrating Virgil’s research on geochemistry, geochronology and paleoclimate as it pertains to formation of New Mexico’s official state gemstone.
  
• Joe Marty, Salt Lake City, Utah
  Joe is an active field collector of Southwest minerals.  He is a retired medical technologist and maintains a business cleaning and servicing microscopes.  Joe was recently inducted into the Micromounters Hall of Fame, and he has a collection of over 10,000 catalogued micromounts.  His presentations will include:
  Recent Finds in Utah: Recent mineral specimen discoveries in Utah, emphasizing unusual finds.  Illustrations include locality pictures, maps, and photomicrographs, several of which have been taken with stacking software.  Collecting status at different localities will be discussed.
  Recent Finds in Arizona, Nevada and California: a similar presentation on recent discoveries in these three states.
  
• Additional speakers to be confirmed.

For additional information, send your questions to Webmaster.

Past Symposium Topics can be found on this link.