The 1,037 th meeting of
The Mineralogical Society
of
Southern California
MSSC ZOOM PRESENTATION
“The Balmat Zinc Mine, St. Lawrence, New York”
Presented by Chris Stefano
Friday, April 11, 2025 at 7:30 pm.
See program notes below
Visitors are always welcome
About us…
The MSSC is a member of the California Federation of Mineralogical Societies and is dedicated to the dissemination of general knowledge of the mineralogical and related earth sciences through the study of mineral specimens. We are a scientific non-profit organization that actively supports those endeavors through public outreach, field study and related programs.
For more information info@mineralsocal.org
Join us for our 2025 Banquet rescheduled to April 26.
Click here for details and payment options.
Breaking news! Trump is going to reverse Biden’s two National Monuments he created in California just before leaving office. Hauser Geode Beds are saved for now!
Trump targets two national monuments in California for elimination
President Joe Biden established the Chuckwalla and Sáttítla Highlands national monuments shortly before he left office.
March 15, 2025 at 6:20 p.m. EDTToday at 6:20 p.m. EDT
By Maxine Joselow and Emily Davies
President Donald Trump plans to eliminate two massive national monuments in California established by former president Joe Biden, the White House confirmed Saturday.
Less than a week before leaving office, Biden signed proclamations establishing the 624,000-acre Chuckwalla National Monument in Southern California and the 224,000-acre Sáttítla Highlands National Monument in northern California. Native American tribes that consider these landscapes sacred had urged Biden to put them off-limits to drilling, mining, clean-energy development and other industrial activity.
Read the Article:
Notice of July 29, 2023 regarding Mojave Trails National Monument. Reprinted with permission from San Diego Mineral & Gem Society. Great commentary in the notice by its author, Lisbet Thorensen, SDMG’s Public Lands Representative. Thank You, SDMG and Lisbet. Angie Guzman, MSSC President. Please click here to read article and commentary.
Program Notes: Friday, April 11, 2025 at 7:30, join us for Chris Stefano presenting “The Balmat Zinc Mine, St. Lawrence, New York”
The Balmat zinc mines, located in St. Lawrence County, New York, have been producing large quantities of high-grade zinc ore for over a century. Mineral specimen discoveries have been made periodically throughout that history. The deposit has produced world-class examples of calcite, sphalerite, magnetite, and most recently, anhydrite. Collectors around the world have been able to acquire exceptional specimens from recent finds which are easily the best yet. Chris Stefano will briefly describe the geology and history of this important contemporary mineral locality before guiding the audience through a selection of photos of particularly outstanding specimens.
SPECIAL ZOOM MEETING NOTICE
MSSC members will automatically be on the invite list each month.
Non Members, you must request to attend the MSSC zoom meeting every month. Email our Speakers chair, Carolyn Seitz at speakers@mineralsocal.org no later than the Thursday before the scheduled meeting Please include “ZOOM Meeting” in the subject line of your response. We will send you the meeting link.
Upcoming Events
all events, except field trips are via ZOOM
- May 9, 2025: Philip Persson: The Remarkable Collection of the Mim Museum, Beirut, Lebanon
- June 13, 2025: TBA
- Board Meeting, Sunday April 6, 2025 at 1:00 pm, all are welcome to attend
The MSSC is pleased to offer the updated 2024 edition of Bob Pedersen’s X- Dana