The Society was originally formed fifty years ago in April 1971 as Southampton Lapidary Society reflecting the great interest in the cutting and polishing of stones around that time. In 1972 the name was changed to Southampton Mineral & Lapidary Society as a consequence of more people being interested purely in minerals. With a number of members being interested in fossils and a growth of popularity in studying and collecting fossils the name was changed again in 1985 to Southampton Mineral, Fossil & Lapidary Society (SMFLS). Finally in 1992, with a general decline in the lapidary side of the hobby, lapidary was dropped from the name and we became Southampton Mineral & Fossil Society with the aims to foster interest and expertise in the collecting, conservation and identification of minerals and fossils and, where possible, preserve and document the sites where they are found.

The Society is one of the oldest of its kind in the UK and has achieved a considerable amount over the last forty years. SMFS is a very well known and respected Society for the contribution its members have made to the knowledge of minerals and fossils. John Thomas, a founder mentioned in the newspaper clipping left, is still an active member of the Society.

We are a friendly group of people sharing a common interest in collecting and studying minerals and fossils. Throughout the year we hold both indoor meetings and field trips. New members are always welcome and we encourage families with young children to join and hold special sessions for beginners. We meet monthly, on the third Tuesday of the month, in Southampton where we have illustrated talks and activities relating to our hobby. Field trips are organised throughout the year, to various locations throughout the country, for the collection of minerals and fossils, visiting museums and special exhibitions and shows. Unfortunately there are restrictions on taking children into working quarries but there are many other sites where children can collect safely. All trips are properly organised with permissions granted where collecting is undertaken on private property. We also have long weekend visits to other parts of the country to collect at classic sites such as in Cornwall and Devon, Derbyshire and Weardale.

Each year the Society organises the Hampshire Mineral & Fossil Show in September and also participates in other shows and events around the country with displays and stands promoting the Society and our interest in mineral and fossil collecting.

Would you like to have the opportunity to collect spectacular specimens and learn how they can be prepared like these? Membership of the Society will give you that opportunity as you can meet people with the knowledge on where to collect and how to prepare and curate your specimens. If you are interested in joining SMFS then please go to our Membership Page.