Southampton Mineral and Fossil Society

Month:
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Unless otherwise advised all Spring and Summer (April - September) evening meetings will take place on the third Tuesday of each month at the Oasis Academy Lord's Hill, Romsey Road, Lord's Hill, Southampton, SO16 8FA beginning at 19:30. Car park access is on Redbridge Lane and plenty of free parking is available. Directions from Google Maps can be accessed from here: Venue map. We usually finish around 21:30.
For the Autumn and Winter months, October to March, we hold online meetings using Zoom where we are able to enjoy expert speakers from all around the world.

At most evening meetings there will usually be a "Members' Display" of rock, mineral & fossil specimens (or any other related material) bought along and displayed by the members on a theme loosely related to the evening activity. There are occasionally specimens for sale, and for free, at some meetings.

Guests are very welcome to come along to any evening meeting as a visitor to meet SMFS and the members before considering joining the Society. If you wish to join us on Zoom please contact us for joining details.

Pyrope variety of garnet.

Evening Meeting - A talk by Mr Barry Pitt on "The Life and Mines of Peter Clymo." Clymo was a 19th century mine captain who operated the higly successful Caradon Mines area.

Members' Display: Minerals from South Caradon Mine and Menheniot area.

Quartz variety amethyst.

Evening Meeting - Dr Roy Smith, lecturer from the University of Portsmouth, presenting "The pterosaurs of the mid-Cretaceous Kem Kem Group of southeast Morocco."

Members' Display: Cretaceous fossils (and any unidentified rocks you would like the members to identify.

The Society will be participating in the Mineral Day at Portsmouth Natural History Museum, Cumberland House, Eastern Parade, Southsea. PO4 9RF. Come along with your minerals for identification, meet us and see our displays. More information and details at Mineral Day.

Beryl variety aquamarine.

Evening Meeting - Presentation by Mr Gary Morse entitled "Winners and Losers in Mineralogy." those mineral names that have been lost, changed and expunged from the mineral classifications as knowledge increases and the science becomes more complex. Learn about the evolution of mineral naming through history to the modern day and those who won or lost.

Members' Display: Minerals that have had their names changed.

Evening Meeting - A practical meeting on the theme "From Dump to Cabinet". Here both Barry Pitt and Gary Morse will guide you through the process of collecting, examination, cleaning, trimming, preserving and curating specimens to their final destination within your collection cabinet.

Members' Display: Bring along specimens for identification help.

Beryl variety emerald.

Field Trip - A long weekend field trip to the Isle of Wight. SMFS Members only

Evening Meeting - Our Chairman, Mr Ian Dunne will be asking us to "Meet the Relatives" Human evolution with skulls. The presentation will include 3D printed representations of some of the classics of human development, the significance and history of them along with some asides about the geology of the sites they were found.

Members' Display: Anything archaeological or human paleontological, Stone tools much appreciated.

Orthoclase feldspar variety moonstone.

Evening Meeting - "Great Balls of Fire" Meteorites. A presentation by Mr Dave Manvell.

Members' Display: Meteorites.

Corundum variety ruby.

SMFS Annual General Meeting (Members only. Followed by our Photographic Competition.

Members' Display: Your photographs.