These were our featured presentations for 2008.

SATURDAY at 1:00 PM - In the Lecture Room

Learn about the basics of minerals and mineral collecting. This talk is aimed at children or anyone with a beginning interest in minerals. He'll show specimens to illustrate the difference between a rock and a mineral, how you use the properties of minerals to tell them apart, and "what else every collector needs to know".

Bio: Dr. Peter J. Modreski is a geochemist with the U.S. Geological Survey. He has worked for the USGS in Denver for 28 years. His specialties include mineralogy, mineral deposits, gemstones, and igneous petrology. Pete's work has included the study of mines, caves, volcanoes, and geology in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Hawaii, Poland, and Russia. He is the USGS geologic resource specialist for gemstones, as well as abrasives, quartz, beryllium, cesium, and rubidium. Pete is a co-author of the book, "Minerals of Colorado", published in 1997, and he is an Executive Editor of Rocks and Minerals magazine, and a Research Associate with the Geology Department, Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Pete is presently responsible for public communication and educational outreach for the USGS, and he has given numerous lectures, workshops, classes, and field trips for schools, teachers, professional groups, and the general public.

SATURDAY at 2:00 PM - In the Lecture Room

The Colorado Scientific Society (CSS) began in 1882 when U.S.G.S. Rocky Mountain geologists Samuel Emmons, Whitman Cross and other regional scientists and metallurgists decided to organize a group "dedicated to the promotion of scientific intercourse, observation and record in the State of Colorado." The organization amassed a huge geological collection and library which filled two rooms, many showcases, and shelves. Through time the collection and library wound its way to many locations. The main body of the collection was finally incorporated into the Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum. Other specimens landed in the Denver Museum of Nature and Science where some, particularly the meteorites, are on display. The library filled the shelves of the technological portion of the Denver Public Library. The story of the CSS collection tells of the birth of science in the Rocky Mountains, the development of scientific processes to extract ore, and the personalities of the scientists. It also reveals some interesting tales behind the specimens!

Bio: Beth Simmons teaches geology at Metropolitan State College of Denver and Colorado History at the Community College of Denver. Long active in gem and mineral groups, she has served as President of the Western Interior Paleontological Society (WIPS), belongs to the Denver Gem and Mineral Guild, is secretary of Friends of Dinosaur Ridge, and serves as the historian of the 125-year-old Colorado Scientific Society. Beth is also an author of many gem and mineral related articles, as well as a book entitled, "A Quick History of Idaho Springs."

SATURDAY at 3:00 PM - In the Lecture Room - Part 1
SUNDAY at 2:00 PM - In the Lecture Room - Part 2

An all-too-brief tour of Australia and a colorful look at gems and minerals found in a number of Australia's major museums (as well as some impressive private collections). The speaker, Ray Hill, is a long time gem and mineral collector as well as an amateur photographer who will share his adventures in the "Land Beneath the World" that spanned over 6,000 kilometers (4,500 miles) of Australian roads and over 3,000 kilometers (2,250 miles) of air travel within Australia and Tasmania.

Bio: Ray Hill is a founding director of the Gem and Mineral Federation of Canada and has been active in the mineral world for 53 years (and in the gem world for only 46!). Although his career was in the area of Medicine and Research, his avocations include being: a professional speaker, a custom jeweler, an amateur gemologist, an amateur mineralogist, and an amateur photographer. He has been addressing audiences in Canada, the United States, and Tasmania, Australia for the last 43 years on topics ranging from medicine, to stress management, to - of course - Gems and Minerals.

SATURDAY at 4:00 PM - In the Lecture Room

The town of Guffey and the Freshwater Mining District, in Park County, Colorado, is situated in a very scenic area near the base of three ancient volcanoes. Guffey was started by prospectors on a chance there might be another rich gold strike like the one in the nearby mining camp of Cripple Creek. Guffey became the center of activity in the Freshwater Mining District where copper, lead, zinc, mica, feldspar, and other minerals were produced. Although enormous gold discoveries were forecasted, it was the mining of other minerals that kept the small town going. Nearby cattle ranches and lumber operations sustained the small community during periods when mining brought in little money. Two local cowboys discovered a large nickel-iron meteorite just outside Guffey in 1907, making it the largest one ever found in Colorado. This presentation is the result of research done by the Lake George Gem and Mineral Club. Steven Veatch acted as principal investigator for the club's project on Guffey. He was assisted by Dan Alfrey, Jo Beckwith, Becky Blair, Wayne Johnston, Maury Hammond, and Roger Loest.

Bio: Steven Veatch is an explorer, researcher, writer, and geologist. Steve is an adjunct professor of earth science at Emporia State University where he received an MS in earth science. Steve studied oceanography and meteorology while serving in the U.S. Navy. Steve credits his intense passion for the earth sciences to his family. His great-great grandfather, a hard-rock miner, grew up in Caribou, a mining camp near Boulder in the early 1870s. On the other side of the family, his great-grandfather came to work at the Elkton Mine, one of the big producers in the Cripple Creek District. Steve, coming from a mining family, was destined to make a rock collection and spend a lifetime searching for rocks, minerals, and fossils.

SATURDAY at 8:00 PM - Saturday night Special Event Lecture in the Palm Court of the Denver Merchandise Mart's Main Building

Book Description: Mount Antero has long been known to collectors as the best American locality for gemstone aquamarine, phenakite and bertrandite. Some of the finest smoky quartz crystals in Colorado have been found in this area. The aquamarines are found above treeline in the alpine tundra of Colorado's famed Collegiate Range. These mountains have attracted mineral collectors, gem cutters, backpackers, mountain climbers and adventurers for years. The lure of brilliant blue beryls from Mount Antero eventually led to Colorado naming aquamarine as the official state gemstone. Relatively few collectors outside of Colorado are aware of the mineral discoveries that have been made on Mount Antero or have ever seen specimens or photographs of the incredible mineral richness of this region. Mark Jacobson presents a vivid account of the discoveries of these gems and the exploits of many dedicated individuals spanning a 100 year history.

Bio: Mark I. Jacobson has specialized in pegmatites and their minerals and has visited many pegmatite districts in the United States, Norway and Australia. Many of his articles on pegmatites and their minerals are published in The Mineralogical Record, Rocks & Minerals and Mineral News. He has lectured about Mount Antero and its minerals before several mineral clubs within the United States. He is a member of Friends of Mineralogy, Colorado Chapter. During the years 1975 to 1988, he lived in Denver, Colorado and spent many days prospecting on Mount Antero. Mark I. Jacobson received his B.S. in mineralogy from the Pennsylvania State University and a M. S. in geology from the University of California at Berkeley. He is employed as a Senior Staff Geophysicist with Chevron Petroleum.

SUNDAY at 1:00 PM - In the Lecture Room

Mineralogists, mineral collectors and mining historians throughout the region have been concerned about the loss of access to abandoned mines. During a recent surge in closures of mines in New Mexico, the Geology Museum at New Mexico Tech succeeded in maintaining scientific access to a mineralogically important mine. What are the implications for Colorado? The program will include an overview of the State's mine closure program, and a presentation on how one Colorado mine has been kept open for tours. Panelists include Dr. Virgil Leuth of New Mexico Tech, Bruce Stover of the Colorado Inactive Mine Reclamation Program, and Ed Lewandowski, owner of the Hidee Mine, near Central City.

Sponsored by the Colorado Chapter, Friends of Mineralogy

SUNDAY at 3:00 PM - In the Lecture Room

The Ilimaussaq Complex is one of the world's most fascinating igneous formations. The abundance of rare elements has resulted in more than 225 different minerals and many unique fluorescent mineral specimens. Thirty minerals were first discovered in the complex and 12 are unique to this area.

Mark Cole first visited the Ilimaussaq Complex in 2001 and has returned every year since. Prior to 2001 the Ilimaussaq Complex was virtually unexplored for fluorescent minerals. The mineralogy of this location has been studied for over 200 years but little attention was paid to fluorescence. Now, each year fantastic new discoveries are made earning this complex a reputation as a "World Class" fluorescent mineral locale. Presently over 25 unique fluorescent minerals have been identified from the complex, with more than a dozen "unknowns" yet to be identified. These minerals tend to mix with each other, creating spectacular combinations of specimens filled with color.

This presentation will describe the recent history of collecting fluorescent specimens in this unique complex. Varieties of minerals such as: tugtupite, sodalite, chkalovite and others will be discussed, as well as the unique assemblages of minerals found in various areas of the complex. The focus will be on the locale with many photos of collecting areas, fluorescent specimens, and general Greenland information.

Bio: Mr. Cole is a retired electronics engineer. He spent most of his life in Miami, Florida and founded two companies in the technology field. Having sold both companies, he retired to the foothills of Tennessee where he spends most of his time pursuing his favorite hobby - Fluorescent Minerals. He travels to Greenland once a year conducting "Geo-Adventure" tours in conjunction with a local company - Jewel Stones of Greenland. Mr. Cole has no geology experience and is but a simple "glowhound" with an enthusiastic zeal for collecting.

Events for other years can be seen here:

2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004

 

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