Welcome to the Kalamazoo Geological & Mineral Society (KGMS)
The 2025 KGMS Rock & Gem Show is May 2-4, 2025, more info on the Show page
Kalamazoo Geological and Mineral Society (KGMS) sponsored field trips are open to those members in good standing. Attendance may be limited for some trips and prior registration may be required. Safety gear and protocols MUST be followed by all who participate. Contact Linda for more information regarding field trips or ideas for trip locales.
No April Field Trip
May 17 (Friday) and May 18 (Saturday), 2024 Arkansas. There are 2 planned events, other options will be listed for those of you who would like to hunt on your own.
Club Sponsored Events
May 17, 2024 - Ron Coleman Mining, 155 Crystal Ridge Lane, Jesseville, Arkansas, Phone (501) 984-5396
Quartz Crystals, Surface Hunting, fresh hauls regularly, keep everything you find. No limits with the amount you take home.
8 AM to 6 PM, Adults (16 and older) $25.00, Children (7-15) $15.00, Children 6 and under FREE, Seniors (55 and older) $20.00. All cards and cash accepted for payment.
Recommended items to bring per Ron Coleman's:
Small ice chest, snacks, water, hat, sunscreen, old clothes and shoes or boots, protective eyewear, heavy gloves, 5 gallon bucket, garden shovel or cultivator, canopies allowed for shade, newspaper or ziplock bags to protect what you find.
May 18, 2024 - Avant Mining, Fisher Mountain, 11 Logan Cap Road, Mt. Ida, Arkansas, Phone (870) 985-9988
There will be 3 options available at the Avant Mining location.
1. Public Dig - Surface hunting and digging for quartz crystals pocket, loose material, under guidelines of state of Arkansas, (not tailing) with no limit. Keep everything you find on public dig.
9 AM - 5 PM, Adults $25.00, Seniors (60+) $20.00, Kids (7 - 17) $10.00. All cards and cash accepted for payment.
There are 2 porta pottys, no running water
Park at dig
Rock Shop Open 8 AM - 5 PM
2. Wavellite - Currently surface hunting only (This may change in May) Rare Mineral.
Cost $100.00 per person, no children. All cards and cash accepted for payment. Pay the day before as guide leaves promptly at 8 AM or give cash that morning to guide.
Not recommended for adults with mobility issues
Drive own car, can leave and return
Porta potty, no running water
3. Pocket Dig - $1,000 for up to 3 people. All cards and cash accepted for payment.
On Your Own Options (You will want to do your own research on these to determine if they are a good option for you.)
Sweet Surrender Crystals, Hwy 88 and 27, Washita, AR. Phone (870) 867-0104, Randy (870) 867-7014
Not tailings, actual mine. Linda will be calling back in April when we have a headcount. For groups, they will bulldoze to loosen rocks/dirt.
9:30 am - 4 PM, (Earlier and later hours by appointment) Adults $30.00, Seniors and Vets $25.00, Children (10-15) $15.00, Children 9 and under FREE. For 20 or more people discount of $5.00 per person.
BRING YOUR OWN FOOD AND DRINKS. YOU CAN LEAVE AND COME BACK.
Crater of Diamonds, 209 State Park Rd, Mufreesboro, AR. Phone (870) 285-3113
Also can find Amethyst, Garnet, Agate, Jasper and Quartz.
Adults $15.00, Ages 6-12 $7.00
Wegner Quartz Crystal Mines, 82 Wegner Ranch Rd, Mt. Ida, AR. Phone (870) 867-2309
Tailings Dig - Adult $10.50, ages 10 and under $6.60
Twin Creeks Crystal Mine, Collier Springs Rd/177, Mt. Ida, AR. Phone (870) 867-4945
Adults $25, ages 10 and under $12.00
LODGING CAMPGROUND OPTIONS:
MT. IDA, ARKANSAS AREA
CAMPGROUNDS WITH SHOWERS, FLUSH TOILETS, RUNNING WATER AND ELECTRICITY, WITH GOOD RATING.
Denby Point - Lake Ouachita; 58 RV and 9 Tent sites, Phone (870) 867-4475
Tompkins Bend - Lake Ouachita: 77 sites for tent and camper. Sites large enough for 2 camping units, Phone (870) 867-4476
Partial Primitive Campground Site - Charlton Recreation Area - Royal, AR: 46 sites for tent and camper, Phone (870) 867-2101.
Crystal Ridge at Ron Coleman Mining: 24 sites, RV only 9-16 with full hookups, rest primitive sites
LODGING - MOTELS/HOTELS - Information to be provided
June 22, 2024 (Saturday) and June 23, 2024 (Sunday) - Ohio fossil hunt 2 locations
Saturday, June 22, 2024, We will gather at the West Union, OH., Walmart at 1:00 pm PROMPTLY. The address is 11217 State Route 41, West Union, OH 45693. We will consolidate into fewer cars as our location is limited for parking. It is on private property. There is a creek we must drive over, sometimes the water is minimal and other times can be higher. If your car sits low to the ground, then it would be best to plan to leave it at Walmart.
There is a cabin that will be open for bathroom priveleges. If anyone would like to rent the cabin for the night, the cost is $300.00/night. There are 6 beds, a couple are doubles in separate bedrooms. Sharing is allowed to share the cost. There is no potable water but otherwise, has full amenities. I have stayed in this modern cabin and it is very comfortable and clean.
Once we are all at Walmart, we will follow our hosts to their cabin. It is imperative that everyone be on time! We can stay as late as we want and there is no limit as to what you can take. If there is a big rainstorm the day before, it will have to be canceled and I will call everyone personally. Water runs down from the mountain and into the creek that we will be in and access will not be available due to high, rushing waters.
We will have a lunch provided by the club and some water to drink.
In the event this is canceled, we will stop at Caesars Creek State Park, 8570 E State Route 73, Waynesville, OH 45068, (google it!) as an alternative and meet at the visitors center at NOON, not 1:00 p.m. The park is free. It is located near Kingman, OH., southeast of Dayton, OH.
We will still have our Sunday gathering early the next morning as planned, on Sunday, June 23, 2024. We then will head north (or south from Caesars Creek) to the Locust Grove/Serpent Mound Region. We will have a guide to take us to his special area that he has permission to fossil hunt. This will be a great fossil experience. I have a couple fossils (geodes) from here and am excited to hunt myself. The Serpent Mound (google it!) area has a museum and has a rich history if you choose to visit it after our hunt on Sunday morning. Sunday is also free of charge. We should be done about noon.
If you have rubber boots, waders or water shoes, it is all you need for these locations. If you get wet on Sat., you can change your clothes in the cabin bathroom.
Don't forget a bucket and maybe a hammer/chisel to break apart the layers of rocks. It is not hard to break them and kids can do it, also.
Sunscreen and bug spray suggested.
Deadline to sign up is at our next meeting on Tuesday, June 4th.
Lodging: Quality Inn, 55 Stern Drive, Seaman, OH 45679, Phone (937) 386-2511.
July - No planned events
August Field Trips
Annual August KGMS Trip to Michigan's Upper Peninsula (Subject to show cancellations)
Our trip to Michigan's Upper Peninsula is centered on shows and field trips hosted by local clubs. We understand that everyone has a different schedule. Please feel free to come and leave as you like.
Dates: August 2, 2024 (Friday) to August 4, 2024 (Sunday)
Host: Ishpeming Rock & Mineral Club
Locations: Ishpeming, MI (Iron Country)
Lodging: There are a lot of choices and you may stay where you wish. Most of our members stay at the Country Village Resort which includes multiple accommodation levels: tent, RV, cabin and hotel
Details: The Ishpeming club' s schedule typically consists of:
Friday morning, August 2, 2024 - a field trip to the Republic Mine for specular hematite and banded iron formation
Saturday, August 3, 2024- Rock Show at Ishpeming Elks Club, 597 Lakeshore Drive, Ishpeming, MI.
9:30 am - 4:30 pm, Free Admission and door prizes
Sunday, August 4, 2024 - a field trip to the Lindbergh quarry for Kona dolomite
Note: on Thursday, August 1st, we will get together for a 6:30 PM kick-off dinner at Jerzi's 41 which is located at 9965 US Highway 41, Champion, MI.
Keeweenaw Copper Country Trip
Dates: August 4, 2024 (Sunday) - August 11, 2024 (Sunday)
Hosts: Copper Country Rock & Mineral Club
Location: Hancock, MI (Copper Country)
Lodging: There are a lot of choices and you may stay where you wish. Most of our members stay at the Hancock City Campground, which includes RV and tent camping. There are also hotels and motels in the area.
DETAILS: Our trip to Copper Country is much less structured than our visit to Iron country. Among the sponsored events are:
Wednesday - The https://quincymine.com/ usually hosts a rock swap
Friday through Sunday - Copper Country Rock & Mineral Club Annual Show
August 10, 2024 (Saturday) 9AM - 1 PM, GREAT LAKES AGGREGATES, LLC - Sylvania Minerals Quarry, South Rockwood, MI
Hosted by: Kalamazoo Geological & Mineral Society
Please call or text Linda Bergeon at (616) 443-2600 or email lindabergeon@yahoo.co to put you on the list. If you need to cancel for any reason, please let Linda know.
LOCATION: Sylvania Minerals, 5699 Ready Road, South Rockwood, MI 48179
IMPORTANT MEETING TIME: We must all be accounted for at 9am before we can head to the quarry. Forms are required to complete when we arrive. The owner will lead us down in a car caravan, show us where we can park and excavate. Then, we all leave the same way, following him. This is a working quarry and safety guidelines are a must! Mandatory supplies are *** below. These are quarry rules. Rain or Shine!
COST: FREE
TRAVEL TIME AND RIDE SHARES: It takes 3 hours to get there from Kalamazoo. If you want to car pool, please let Linda know. She can take another person or arrange other ride-shares.
WHAT WILL YOU FIND: Great Celestite (aka celestine) crystals are found here. Look in vugs. Also found - Dolomitic limestone, calcite, and sulfur. (please use gloves to handle the yellow sulfur and put in a baggie.) Fossils include coral, brachiopods, bryozoans, and the rare trilobite. There is no limit as to what you can take.
MANDATORY SUPPLIES ***, SUGGESTED SUPPLIES LIST AND DRESS CODE:
Rock hammer
chisel
mallet
buckets and wrapping material for fragile crystals
wagon, cart or dolly (very
useful here),
protective eyeware ***
steel toed boots ***
gloves
rain parka (disposable ones are great to keep on hand)
hard hat ***
reflective vest ***
long pants (NO SHORTS) ***
water and food. Stay hydrated!
B and G in Schoolcraft offers some of the tool supplies (Linda got her vest there too). TSC carries reflective vests at $12.99 and hard hats at $14.99. Walmart has steel toed boots for men and women. Harbor Freight has tools and reflective vests are $9.00 and hard hats for $11.99.
FOOD/DRINKS: Please bring your own food/drinks for this excursion.
LODGING: Day trip, should not be needed
September 21, 2024 (Saturday) 9AM - 5 PM, Cheney Quarry, Bellevue MI
Hosted by: Kalamazoo Geological & Mineral Society
Please email lindabergeon@yahoo.com to let Linda know if you plan to attend
LOCATION: 9400 Sand Road, Bellevue, MI 49021
Cost: FREE
WHAT WILL YOU FIND: Fossils, Calcite, Pyrite, Chalcopyrite
DRESS CODE: Long pants, sturdy boots, hard hats and high visibility vests are required for this field trip.
LODGING: Day trip, should not be needed.
OTHER NOTES: Park on the side of the road inside the gate and wait for directions.
October 5, 2024 (Saturday) 12 NOON - 4 PM, Byholt Quarry, Schoolcraft, MI
Hosted by: Kalamazoo Geological & Mineral Society
Please email lindabergeon@yahoo.com to let Linda know if you plan to attend
LOCATION: Byholt Quarry, 11360 4th Street, Schoolcraft, MI 49087
COST: $5 for individuals, $7 for families
WHAT WILL YOU FIND: Petoskey Stone, Septaria, Pudding Stone, glacial rocks
DRESS CODE: Long pants, sturdy boots, hard hats and high visibility vests are required for this field trip.
LODGING: Day trip, should not be needed.
OTHER NOTES: The pit may be operational that day so please arrive no more than 15 minutes early, if possible. Park on the side of the road at the gate and wait for directions.