Curious about the world under your feet?
Join with us to explore the earth’s 4000+
minerals and how they came to be!
Mission of the Mineralogical Society of the District of Columbia (MSDC)
- To learn together and further knowledge about mineralogy and earth sciences
- To share the pleasure of collecting minerals
- To welcome you to explore these interests with us
Who We Are
- We’re rockhounds, professional mineral scientists, mineral collectors and enthusiasts, and people with new interests in minerals and earth sciences.
- Now that we meet online, we’re from all over the world, with a base in DC and the Virginia and Maryland suburbs.
- You’re always welcome!
What we do:
- We meet monthly to discuss all facets of earth sciences and hear from experts in many related fields.
- We’ve met on Zoom since Covid. Since 1942, we had met at the Smithsonian Institution. We hope for future hybrid meetings.
- We join with other local clubs for field trips.
- Our monthly newsletters offer diverse articles at all knowledge levels.
- We support mineral sciences by volunteering at the Smithsonian and elsewhere and by finding other ways to expand interest and knowledge.
Want to know more about any of this?
- Email us at mineralclubdc at gmail dot com. We’re happy to answer your questions.
- Check the MSDC newsletter.
- Visit a meeting any time!
We are affiliated with the
American Federation of Mineralogical Societies (AFMS)
We are a founding member of the
Eastern Federation of Mineralogical and Lapidary Societies (EFMLS)
Visit the MSDC Youtube channel to watch many of our programs since 2021.
Upcoming meetings & events
MSDC meetings on Zoom – 7:30 PM Eastern on first Wednesdays.
All welcome! Email us for the meeting link.
Fri. evening-Sat., Oct. 16-17 – 76th Annual EFMLS convention — and through both Saturday and Sunday the 52nd annual Kanawha Jewelry, Gem, Mineral, and Fossil show of the hosting Kanawha club – Charleston, WV
Sat., Oct. 31 – ULTRAVIOLATION all-fluorescent mineral show, Fairless Hills, Bucks County, PA, 9 AM – 4 PM
Wed., Nov. 4 – MSDC meeting on Zoom: Dr. Bob Farrar: “The Amethyst Deposits of Southern Brazil”
Wed., Dec.2 – MSDC meeting on Zoom: Dr. Dave Maune (Col., Ret.): “The Evolution of the USGS (Topographic) Mapping Technologies”
Wed., Jan. 6 – MSDC meeting on Zoom: Beth Heesacker: “Sardinia – The Uncollectable Is Sometimes Collected”
Wed., Feb. 3 – MSDC meeting on Zoom: Dan Teich (telling us about finds on his 2026 round trip from DC to Alaska)
Wed., Mar. 3 – MSDC meeting on Zoom: John Betts: “Mineral Identification – Back to Basics (Think Simply)”
Many programs since 2021 are available on our youtube channel,. Our list of past programs links to available videos and program reports.