Welcome to the Houston Gem & Mineral Society

Come explore our community dedicated to earth-science education and activities!  |  Learn more about our Annual Show

We have special interest sections related to: LAPIDARY & SILVERSMITHING | PALEONTOLOGY | MINERALSGEMSTONES & FACETING | BEADING | DAY LIGHT | YOUTH

Current Events

Happy New Year! Its 2024 and time for new activities. The Shop is renovated, we have classes scheduled and we have a brand new slate of Officers.

Please welcome:

Logan T. Wilcox (LT), President

Jeanean Slamen, 1st Vice President

Sarah Metsa, 2nd Vice President

Sharon Halton, Treasurer

Daniel Rodriguez, Secretary

And Nancy English, as Past President

 

Our March 26th General Meeting program will be “The Peopling of the Americas” presented by Dr. D. Clark Wernecke.  The program will discuss recent developments in the timing and manner of humans’ arrival in North and South America, changing paradigms that have been accepted for years. Dr. Wernecke will present via Zoom from his home in Pflugerville, Texas.  Come prepared for exciting new information on this topic!
 
Clark Wernecke is the retired Director of the Prehistory Research Project at the University of Texas at Austin and the nonprofit Gault School of Archaeological Research. Dr. Wernecke started his academic career with a degree in history from SMU followed by an MBA from Northwestern University, an M.A. in Anthropology from Florida Atlantic, and finally his PhD from the University of Texas at Austin. He came back to archaeology after a career in business and has worked in the Middle East, Mesoamerica, the American Southeast and Southwest, and Texas.
 
The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m.  The program will start after a brief business meeting and a break for refreshments. Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83212368648?pwd=RkhQN3N0cUxmdjlrdWhhbGdWSUVWUT09 .

 

General Meetings will be hybrid, in person and via Zoom. Section meetings may be in person, virtual or hybrid.

Please check the Calendar and Upcoming Programs and Meeting Schedule to determine time and place and whether meetings are in person or virtual.

Check out the LATEST ISSUE of our award-winning monthly publication

Classes

We have new classes listing frequently.  Check out the current choices for registration.  Hurry before they fill!

HGMS Clubhouse Libraries

We have two in-house libraries! Browse our book, media, and periodical listings.

Open Shop Hours

Our regular open shop hours for members in our the Lapidary Shop, Jewelry Shop and Air Abrasives Shop are:

  • 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Wednesday
  • 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Thursday
  • 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Saturday
  • 11:00 am to 4:00 pm Sunday *NEW HOURS*

We now have a Jewelry Shop Supervisor on selected Wednesdays for help with your projects or to learn how to use Jewelry Shop equipment. Please remember to bring your own tools and consumable materials (files, burs, polishing bits, hammers, etc). Class materials are not available on open studio days.

Occasionally the Shop has to close on short notice due to supervisor illness or inclement weather. We do our best to notify members in advance and appreciate your understanding when this happens.

Who We Are

The Houston Gem and Mineral Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to study in the areas of Earth Science and related fields and arts. A major focus of the HGMS is education. Through classes offered at the clubhouse and through our scholarship fund, the HGMS encourages its individuals and groups to better their knowledge and understanding in these areas. Our annual show features educational activities for public, private and home-schooled children, and exhibits and demonstrations by members and guests.

The society is open to all persons with rockhound or fossil “fever.” We offer something for every family member, from junior members to senior citizens, and our activities encourage family participation.

The Houston Gem and Mineral Society (HGMS) is a member of the South Central Federation of Mineral Societies (SCFMS) and is affiliated with the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies (AFMS).

SECTIONS (Special Interest Groups)

LAPIDARY AND SILVERSMITHING

PALEONTOLOGY

MINERAL

TR2256 Calcite on dolostone Elmwood Mine Smith Co TN

DAY LIGHT

GEMSTONES AND FACETING

BEADING

YOUTH

DONATIONS

Interested in donating a rock, fossil, or mineral collection or equipment to the HGMS? We welcome donations to our non-profit organization. You might be able to get a tax write-off for donating an old collection or lapidary equipment. Contact donations@hgms.org if you have questions or want to schedule a donation pick up or drop off.

More information coming soon.

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