THE BACKBENDER’S GAZETTE
Volume LVI ----- Houston Gem & Mineral Society ----- March 2026
The S-Curve of Beauty
Table of Contents
Click a Table of Contents Entry to jump to that article.
President's Message
by Jeanean Slamen
The weather is warming, the trees are beginning to bud, and it’s a welcome change of season. I hope everyone is enjoying a little more time outdoors.
The Clear Lake Show has just concluded, and it was a success for HGMS. We collected more than 200 email addresses from attendees who signed up for November Show updates and our prize drawing.
There was strong interest in fossils and paleontology, and next year we plan to have a representative from the Paleo Section at our table to share more about that exciting area of our club.
As we look ahead, please consider volunteering for a Spring Cleanup work party at the clubhouse in April. Our focus will be refreshing the warehouse entrance so that visitors and new members see us at our best. We’ll be decluttering, painting, and improving the path to the Meeting Room and Lapidary Shop. I
If you have experience in refurbishing spaces—or creative ideas beyond cleaning and painting—we would love your input. Even small improvements can make a big difference. Take a fresh look at our entrance and imagine how we might make it feel more welcoming. Please email your suggestions to president@hgms.org. Once we finalize plans and materials, we’ll announce one or more April work dates—before the summer heat sets in.
Let’s work together to put our best foot forward in 2026.
We also have a vacancy for Membership Chairman, the elected Board position of 2nd Vice President. This is a wonderful opportunity for a member who enjoys welcoming newcomers and maintaining our membership roster. The Board will appoint someone as soon as a volunteer is identified. In the meantime, several Board members are ensuring that membership duties continue smoothly. Watch the Event Blast and BBG for details.
Vice-President's Message
by Julius Albonetti, 1st Vice President
The presenter for our General meeting on March 24th will be Rebecca Hunt-Foster, who is the Dinosaur National Monument park paleontologist. This is a great National Park and I can’t wait to learn more about the different dinosaurs that have been found at this site.
In April HGMS member Jessica Bamford will talk about the dust and the rocks from the moon. She sent an outline of her presentation and you will enjoy this talk.
Colin Diggins is the paleontologist laboratory manager for the Houston Museum of Natural Science and will be our presenter in May.
We had a great and informative meeting in February with Jacob Proctor and we found out that Texas has the biggest formations of Microbialites in the world. If anyone at the meeting took any pictures of Jacob’s presentation please pass them to me. He would like some pictures of his presentation. There are some very interesting talks and presentations coming up for our General meetings, so make plans to attend.
The S-Curve of Beauty
by Sigrid Stewart
Study of the Serpentine Curve, also known as the line of beauty, demonstrates how mathematics and art can be complementary. First studied by L’Hôpital and Huygens in 1692, it was studied and named the Serpentine Curve by Sir Isaac Newton in 1702 and categorized as a cubic curve. When described in a graph using Cartesian co-ordinates, it looks somewhat like the path of a snake. That is a good reason to refer to it as the S-Curve, as for some people, there is no beauty associated with snakes.
The Cartesian equation of this curve is of the form: x2y + a2y – abx = 0, ab > 0
Its functional representation is: y = abx / x2 + a2
A visual representation of the serpentine curve for a = b = 1 is shown at right:
Credit: Oleg Alexandrov – self-made with en:Matlab. Public Domain.
Long before these discoveries, Greek, Roman, and Indian artists and later, Renaissance artists, intuitively used the S-curve in their works of art. The S-Curve may have been invented by the famous Greek sculptor Praxiteles, who lived in the 4th century BC. I would show a Wikipedia photograph of his art, but they all appear to be nudes! Distracting!
In a book written by 18th-Century writer and artist William Hogarth, The Analysis of Beauty, Hogarth describes his theories of visual beauty and grace in a simple and easily understandable manner. His seven principles were fitness, variety, regularity, simplicity, intricacy, quantity and greatness. The movement of the eye follows this line of beauty, notes that its simplicity is also varied and intricate, and is pleased by its liveliness and esthetic qualities.
Why should rockhounds care about this? If you are a lapidary, it may be important. Straight lines are easy, but curves are intriguing. A cabochon which incorporates the concepts of the serpentine line or line of beauty is pleasing to the eye, so a beautiful material cut in this manner might be a winner!
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_of_beauty
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Analysis_of_Beauty
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praxiteles
What is the S-Curve AKA the Line of Beauty? | Math in Art (YouTube)
Section News
Beading – Second Saturday, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Starting in April 2026 the Beading Section Meeting will start at 10 AM rather than Noon. We will meet from 10 AM to 1 PM and those who choose to can join us for lunch afterwards.
We will be doing a beautiful Abacus Bracelet from www.Beadshop.com as taught by Ann Money. This bracelet uses larger beads and a magnetic clasp. If you wish to purchase the recommended magnetic clasp at a cost of $10.00 you must pre-order it by Friday, February 27th by replying to Beading@hgms.org to reserve your clasp. We will place a bulk order. The Beading Section will provide the C-Lon thread and .5mm material and glue. We also have a selection of 8/0 beads that can be utilized. You must bring your favorite beading thread, a beading needle & mat and 8/0 beads in several colors. The project can be found at the following link: https://www.beadshop.
April 11th the meeting will be an introduction to tatting (lace making) using thread by Erin Chavez.
NOTICE: Do you have a bracelet or necklace that needs restringing? The Beading Section will carefully restring your piece at an hourly rate of $15.00 + materials. Contact Beading @HGMS.org to make arrangements. All funds will go to the Beading Section.
Always bring beading mat, scissors, wire, wire cutter, round nose and needle nose pliers, thread, and beading needles if you have them.
Find out more about the Beading Section!
Lapidary and Silversmithing – Third Monday, 7:00 PM
The next meeting will be on March 16th at 7:00 pm. We couldn’t have the session on opal cutting and polishing in February! Maybe in March!
- Last month Richard Goode talked about rough, tips and lapidary tricks.
Email Lapidary@hgms.org if you have questions, and check out the Lapidary and Silversmithing Section page.
Day Light – First Wednesday, 12:00 PM
The Daylight Section meets the first Wednesday of the month from 12 to 3 PM.
The next meeting of the Daylight Section is Wednesday, March 4th at 12 PM.
In March we will be doing an “Upcycle Jewelry” project. You can bring some unused jewelry from home that needs a refresh, or, if you have none, we have a selection of completed jewelry, at clearance prices. Most are $3.00 or less. The fee for this project is $2.00 and whatever jewelry you may choose to buy.
Additionally, if you did not complete your February Viking Weave bracelet you can come and complete your project and get additional wire, if needed.
Please register at lindak.hgms@gmail.com.
Gemstones and Faceting – Second Thursday, 6:30 PM
Our next meeting will be March 19th at 6:30 pm. Topic to be announced.
Paleontology – Third Tuesday, 7:30 PM
The next meeting is Tuesday, March 17th at 7:30 pm. After Show ‘n’ Tell,
Zoom link for the meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85692818950?pwd=mijgbIGoUS4wYNmuzC2905fyFcTbnq.1
or
Meeting ID: 860 5377 1923
Passcode: 826994
If you’d like to join the Paleo Section email list, send an email to hgmspaleosection@gmail.com and ask to be added.
Mineral – Third Wednesday, 7:30 PM
The next meeting is Wednesday, March 18th at 7:30 pm.
We will continue the Common Minerals program with MICA. There will be many specimens to examine.
We will have a door prize and snacks, and a bigger Silent Auction. Come check it out!
Zoom link for the meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4517997588?pwd=SnZjckZBTnRMbHRxZitScE9WU3RWUT09
or
Meeting ID: 451 799 7588
Passcode: 623955
If you’d like to join the Mineral Section email list, send an email to mineral@hgms.org and ask to be added.
Youth, First and Third Saturdays, 10:00am – 12:00pm
Next meetings will be on March 7th and 21st.
Mostly we will be working on cabochons. Children must be accompanied by parents.
Jim Johnson
Jim Johnson, husband of Pat Johnson, both former HGMS members, passed away on February 17th. The service will be Monday, March 2nd, at Veterans Cemetery, American Heritage Funeral Home.
His obituary is available at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/houston-tx/james-johnson-12753493
The service will be available online.
Another Midlothian Trip!
by Mike Dawkins
Paleo Field Trip Chair
Mike Dawkins is announcing a paleo collecting field trip for the club at Martin Marietta quarry in Midlothian, TX. This will be on Saturday, March 14, 2026. Just to clarify, this will be a fossil collecting trip. There will be possibly be an opportunity to collect pyrite, but I cannot guarantee it. FYI, If it rains on the Thursday/Friday before or on the trip day, the trip will likely be rescheduled.
There are a limited number of spots available. This is a paleo-focused trip so I will be prioritizing active Paleo meeting participants, new members, and a few wait list people from Mike Sommers pyrite trip in January.
If you want to go, email me at field_trips@hgms.org or hgms.trips1@gmail.com with the subject line “March 14 trip”.
You MUST include how many people are in your party. Kids are OK as long as they’re around 8 and have to be supervised at all times. When I get your email I’ll reply with more details.
Education
| CABS 101 Class: Sharon Halton will teach CABS 101 on Friday, March 6th from 2 PM to 5 PM. This class is an excellent introduction to the Lapidary Shop equipment and Sharon will teach you the proper way to cut and polish a cabochon. You will leave with two beautiful cabs and the confidence to use our lapidary shop in the future. To register for this class go Here. Registration and payment are required online. |
The Legacy of Statia Blue Beads
by Sigrid Stewart
Scuba divers off the shores of St. Estatius in the Caribbean often find blue beads of a pentagonal-cylindrical form. These unassuming blue beads, made in the Netherlands and Venice, trace the history of trade and slavery, across Europe, Africa and the Caribbean.
A Special Municipality of the Netherlands, this tiny volcanic island, only eight square miles in extent, was colonized by the Dutch. The original inhabitants were Caribs. It is part of the Dutch Caribbean, which also includes Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, and St. Maarten. Slaves were brought to St. Eustatius beginning in the mid-1600’s to work plantations for tobacco, cotton and sugar. Many more slaves eventually came through St. Eustatius after it became a free port in 1756. Trade flourished, between both European colonial powers and others less legal. Think Pirates of the Caribbean! St. Eustatius became a center of the slave trade.
Slave masters rewarded/paid slaves with these Statia beads, allowing them to trade them with each other and to show their rank, even to acquire wives, the price being enough beads to fit around a woman’s waist. The practice spread throughout the Caribbean, and many beads were stored in warehouses on St. Eustatius. European slave buyers also used beads to purchase slaves in Africa.
On July 1, 1863, slavery was abolished in the Dutch Antilles. Suddenly the beads became worthless. Many ex-slaves threw their necklaces of beads into the sea. The beads are often shades of blue, but they can also be white, opaline, red, purple, green or black or of mixed colors. Locals call them “five corner beads” and they are also known as slave or trade beads. They can be found while hiking or beachcombing or diving around the island, and some say you will only find them if you are meant to. And if you do, remember their history.
References:
https://www.uncommoncaribbean.com/st-eustatius/statia-blue-beads/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sint_Eustatius
Thanks to Pam Hullinger, who lives in St. Maarten.
Shop and Building News
We have a new Cab King machine for shop users! A former member,Vicki Klein-Finnerty ,a long term member of HGMS now living in Florida, talked to Ray Kizer of the Donation Committee and explained that she had a good new machine. How did it get from Florida to the club? The woman’s daughter was going to visit her mother; they met in Alabama and the daughter brought it back! David Pawek installed it. NO large rocks on this one; cabochons only.
Bench Tips
BEZEL PROBLEMS
When bezel setting a cab that has rather sharp corners, have you ever had problems pushing the metal down at the corners? It’s a common problem often causing a wrinkle in your bezel and a grimace on your face.
In order for a bezel to capture the stone, the top edge of the bezel must be compressed and become shorter to lay down onto the stone. With a round or oval stone this naturally happens as you push and burnish the bezel. But when setting a stone with corners, the tendency is to push the long sides of the bezel down first. No compression occurs along the sides, and all excess metal is left at the corners. Compressing everything there is difficult. Often the only way to remove the extra metal at the corner is to make a saw cut and fold the two sides in to touch.
If you want a smooth bezel all around the corners, the simple solution is to set the corners of the bezel first. Then push in and burnish the sides. In this way the necessary compression is distributed along the length of all sides and not forced to occur at the corners. With the corners set first, the top edge of the bezel can easily be compressed along the sides.
CHEAPER & BETTER PICKLE
Most jewelers use a granular pickle mixed with water. The active ingredient is sodium bisulfate. This can be purchased online (amazon.com/dp/B084GPS6KR) or from local stores as a common pool chemical like pH Down used for adjusting the acidity of the water. Check the list of active ingredients for a brand that is 95% or more sodium bisulfate.
An added benefit is that the pool chemical is usually more pure in form than what is sold for jewelry use and does not cause the brown grime often found floating on the top of the pot.
The Clear Lake Gem & MIneral Show
by Sigrid Stewart and Steve Blyskal
We walked into the Clear Lake Show about 10:30 in the morning on Saturday and the place was buzzing! There was a lot of energy in the air and excited young people enjoying all the dealers’ displays. The opening of a show is always exciting (especially if you didn’t have to set it up!) I wanted to volunteer and talk to some people and Steve wanted to talk to dealers, many of whom are in our show in November. And of course we both wanted to look at minerals, jewelry and fossils. There were lots of old friends to greet and new people to meet. We went to the HGMS Volunteer’s Booth and joined the group the new volunteer coordinator, July Olson, had organized. Two club members demonstrated faceting, and there was a large quartz specimen with a “Win me” sign to attract attention.
We know several of the Clear Lake G&MS members too. Cyndi McGowen, current President of that club, was dressed up and carrying a tray with minerals and jewelry around to show show attendees. She was wearing some of the jewelry too. A couple of dealers had dropped out since last year but their places were quickly filled. And one dealer was back bringing a different son into the business.
Clyde McMeans, July Olson, Sharon Lucarelli, Julius Albonetti, Jennifer Tevis, LT Wilcox, Nancy Fischer, Jessica Bamford, Rick Vaile, Steve Blyskal and Sigrid Stewart volunteered.
Ashton Yauger won the HGMS Volunteer Booth door prize.
HGMS Board of Directors Meeting
Meeting Minutes for February 3rd, 2026
submitted by Debbie Seid
| Board Member | Section Board Member | ||
| X | President – Jeanean Slamen | X | Beading – Lillian Skogsberg |
| X | 1st Vice President – Julius Albonetti | X | Day Light – July Olsen |
| 2nd Vice President – Sarah Metsa | Gemstones & Faceting – vacant | ||
| X | Treasurer – Rhett Cooper |
X | Lapidary & Silversmithing – Richard Good |
| X | Secretary – Debbie Seid | X | Mineral – Ray Kizer |
| Past President – by invitation | X | Paleontology – Al Robb | |
- Call to order: President Jeanean Slamen called the meeting to order at 7:31 pm. A quorum was present.
- Approval of the minutes of the previous meeting, if needed: Debbie Seid reported that the January 2026 Board meeting minutes were previously approved by a quorum and published in the February 2026 Backbender’s Gazette.
- Review of Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer Report review was deferred for discussion with the 2026 budget.
- Announcements and reports of other Officers, Committee Chairs, or Section Board Representatives (as needed)
Membership Update: Sarah Metsa was absent due to a business dinner conflict and sent the membership report in advance for review.
The team reviewed membership numbers showing 271 total members as of January 31, with single adults being the largest group at 96 members, representing about a 20% increase year-over-year. Jeanean Slamen explained that fourteen single adult memberships and four couples memberships from Houston Bead Society members covered the period from mid-2025 to the end of 2026. The number of members will remain stable but 2026 revenue for those eighteen members will not be available because of the extension of their 2025 membership fees through 2026.
Beading Section Update: The Board welcomed Lillian Skogsberg as the new Board representative from the Beading section which has about 15 active members at their monthly meetings. Lillian shared her experience with the group since joining in 2025, and expressed satisfaction with the HGMS community, noting that it has provided stability and new opportunities for collaboration.
Lapidary Section Update: Richard Good reported good attendance at the January lapidary meeting where members made cowboy hat earrings. He highlighted upcoming activities, including a February workshop on cutting opal.
- Unfinished (Old) Business
Bylaws Revision: Vote by membership delayed due to weather cancellation of January General Meeting.
Ventilation Project Update: Debbie Seid and Lillian Skogsberg provided an update on the Ventilation Committee which was formed to address safety and ventilation issues in the jewelry silversmithing studio, lapidary, and air abrasive shops. They will address the jewelry studio as a priority and plan to conduct a walkthrough of the area with shop manager Tony Lucci to assess work processes and explore short-term fixes like local ventilation units. The committee will also work with the A/C contractor to understand general ventilation capabilities. Ray Kizer reminded the group about the need to include the air abrasives room in the ventilation assessment. The team will address securing compressed gas cylinders in all shops as a key priority. Team meeting frequency will be determined after the initial jewelry shop visit.
Shop training and shop policies development update: July Olson discussed creating safety rules and guidelines for the lapidary shop, which she based on existing documents from California and input from shopkeepers and equipment maintainers. Jeanean Slamen mentioned that similar procedures were already provided to Elliot Payne and his supervisors in December and shared with Carmen Fraticelli and Tony Lucci, with Carmen planning to implement them in mid-February. The group agreed to include the Paleo air abrasive shop in the safety documentation.
New Field Trip Committee: Jeanean Slamen updated the board on the establishment of a new field trip committee to formalize hosting of HGMS sponsored field trips. She will follow up with Allison and Matt Sklar for their proposals on the committee’s goals and structure.
The board discussed the history of organized field trips, with Ray Kizer recalling that Neil Immega arranged paleo and agate collecting trips, while Mike Dawkins handled fossil trips. Jeanean Slamen discussed the yearly estimate of field trip participants provided to SCFMS to calculate HGMS’ costs to participate in the SCFMS landowner insurance policy. She will coordinate with Sigrid Stewart to confirm the current status of the SCFMS policy.
- New Business
2026 Budget: Jeanean Slamen presented a proposed 2026 budget for adoption; it will be reviewed in the May Board meeting for potential adjustment. Julius Albonetti motioned to approve the budget, and it was seconded by Al Robb. The motion passed unanimously.
IT Issues: Jeanean discussed ongoing IT issues with Microsoft services and will explore options for resolution, including potentially hiring IT support.
Treasurer reporting Changes: Jeanean Slamen reported that the adoption of the 2026 budget and use of Quickbooks will facilitate monthly treasurer review and reporting.
Section Bank Account Reporting for 2026: Jeanean Slamen delayed the agenda item meant to discuss the details of information needed to accompany the monthly Section bank statements provided to Rhett Cooper. She will disseminate the information by email to board members before the next board meeting.
Urgent Member Issues: Ray Kizer presented a member’s request to continue to use the middle library space as a library. Ray noted that the door to the middle library does not fully open because it is blocked by a bookcase, and that needs to be considered for any potential changes in space utilization. Jeanean Slamen encouraged members to read her recent message in the BBG on space utilization, and to provide feedback on the matter.
- Adjournment: The motion to adjourn was made by Julius Albonetti and seconded by Ray Kizer. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:23 pm.
HGMS General Meeting Minutes
submitted by Debbie Seid
President Jeanean Slamen called the meeting to order at 7:32 pm.
She welcomed 25 in person attendees, 2 online attendees, 2 new members, Nicole Garcia, a recent geology graduate from University of Houston Downtown, and high school student Zoey Lee, who attended with her grandfather, Jonathan Mineta, and 1 guest, Aeowynn Skubal.
President’s Comments:
The Safety Committee has been working on creating safety procedures and content for training which will be provided to all members to ensure members are trained to work safely while at the clubhouse. The committee is modeling information from the SCFMS Safety Manual and will include a signed liability release for each member using the shop.
Acting on member comments regarding the need for sprucing up and housekeeping, President Slamen will schedule an April Work Party to make the clubhouse a more inviting, comfortable, and safe environment for all members.
To accommodate requests for creating more meeting space for section activities, an evaluation of how current library spaces might potentially be reconfigured to accomodate growing section needs will be made. Members can submit suggestions to President@hgms.org.
The 2026 Budget was passed at the February Board meeting. With the exception of increasing electricity and insurance costs, most other budget items are held at the 2025 actual levels. The budget will be reviewed in May, and budget adjustments made at that time as necessary.
Approval of Minutes: There were no minutes to approve as the January meeting was cancelled due to weather.
Committee Chair/Section Reports:
Donations Committee:
Ray Kizer reported that the 6” Cab King donation made by former member Vicky Springer has been installed in the lapidary shop following commissioning by David Pawek.
Randy Carlson purchased a donated Raytech Faceting machine for the Faceting Section.
Show Dealer Chair:
Steve Blyskal shared the new dealer flyers that will be used at the Clear Lake show for recruiting dealers for the annual show.
Steve Blyskal is appraising the Cecil Cosse collection which includes geological publications which will be added to the library; other items will be made available pending appraisal.
Membership Committee:
President Jeanean Slamen shared the February 16, 2026 membership data provided by Sarah Metsa.
The numbers above represent about half of the 2025 membership. Please encourage members to renew their membership by March 31, 2026. Members who have not renewed their 2026 membership by March 31 will no longer have access to the clubhouse shops, and will no longer receive HGMS communications including the weekly eBlasts.
Old Business: None reported
New Business: Bylaws revision and General Meeting vote
In the January Board of Directors meeting, the Board approved a revision to the Bylaws to allow the President to vote and to make motions pending a vote by the membership at the January General Meeting. The January General Meeting was cancelled due to weather, and the vote delayed until the February General Meeting.
Nancy Fischer motioned to accept the bylaws revision (below) allowing the President to vote and to make motions. Ray Kizer seconded the motion, and the motion passed by unanimous vote.
The President presides over all General Meetings and Board of Directors Meetings and serves as the Chair of the Board. The President’s primary responsibility is to ensure the creation of the annual budget by the Treasurer and its submission to the Board for approval during the February Board meeting. Additionally, the President has the authority to appoint Chairs of Committees not explicitly provided for in these Bylaws and to establish special committees as necessary.
Furthermore, the President is responsible for upholding all rules and laws of the Society, signing documents and papers requiring their signature, and performing other duties as per the Society’s rules and usages, including the installation of new Officers. During General Meetings and Board Meetings, the President may not make or second motions, but they can call for someone to do so. The President can also engage in debates on the merits of any motion. However, the President is prohibited from voting on a motion unless there’s a need to break a tie vote. During General Meetings and Board Meetings, the President is allowed to vote and to make motions.
Show-n-Tell: Mike Sommers shared rock specimens that he collected on side trips in Arizona and Texas during his trip to the Tucson Gem Show.
Door Prizes Drawing: Nancy Fischer and Mark Seagall won the banded agate and quartz geode door prizes.
The next Board of Directors meeting is on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
The next Hybrid General Meeting will be on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
Many thanks to the members who made the meeting a success:
Karl Schleichter for the tech support
July Olson and Jeanean Slamen for refreshments
Julius Albonetti for the guest speaker and program
Adjournment: Debbie Seid motioned to adjourn, and James Eleckel seconded the motion.
The meeting adjourned at 8:12 pm. There was a 15 minute refreshment break before the evening program.
Program:
1st Vice President Julius Albonetti introduced the speaker, Jacob Proctor of the Katy Rock Shop, and his program on Microbialites.
Upcoming Shows
Clear Lake Gem and Mineral Society Annual Show
02/28/2026 – 03/01/2026
Feb. 28, 10:00am – 6:00pm, March 1, 10:00 – 5:00pm
Pasadena Convention Center,
7902 Fairmont Pkwy, Pasadena TX.
63rd Annual Gulf Coast Gem & Mineral Society Show
March 7th, 10:00am – 6:00 pm and March 8th, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall A
1213 Terry Shamsie Blvd, Robstown, TX 78380
57th Annual Big Spring Prospectors Club Show
March 7th, 9:00am – 5:00 pm and March 8th, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Howard County Fair Barn, Big Spring, TX
Central Texas Gem & Mineral Annual Show
March 14, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm and March 15th, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Taylor County Expo Center, 1700 State Highway 36, Abilene, TX
contact Linda Walker ctgms50@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/events/570895179418845
Golden Spread Gem, Mineral & Treasure Society
Friday, April 3rd, 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm and Saturday, April 4th, 9:00 am -4:00 pm
Arts in the Sunset, 3701 Plains Blvd;
contact Kassidy Barlow, Kassidy.gsgmts@outlook.com
https://amarillotreasureclub.org/
64th Annual Fiesta of Gems, Southwest Gem and Mineral Society
Saturday, April 11th – Sunday, April 12th, 2026
Freeman Coliseum Exposition Halls, San Antonio, TX
35th Annual Show Chihuahuan Desert Gem & Mineral Club
April 17, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, April 18, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, April 19 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Alpine Civic Center, 801 W Holland Ave
contact Lisa Nix, (303) 818-5500; Rocksofalpine@gmail.com
and farther out:
- May 2-3 Waco, Texas, Waco Gem & Mineral Society
- May 23-24 Fort Worth, Texas, Fort Worth Gem & Mineral Society
2026 CONVENTION of
The American Federation of Mineralogical Societies
and Midwest Federation of Mineralogical and Geological Societies
Hosted by Chicagoland Gems & Minerals Association
UNITED WE ROCK!
49th Annual Show, May 23 & 24, 2026
Prairie Arts Center @Kane County Fairgrounds
525 S. Randall Rd., St. Charles, IL 60174
Sat. 10 am – 6 pm, Sun. 10 am – 5 pm
Adults $5, 2 day pass $8; Seniors (62+) and students $3; Kids under 13 free
Club Information
Houston Gem & Mineral Society
Regional and National
American Federation of Mineralogical Societies
(AFMS) https://www.amfed.org
South Central Federation of Mineral Societies
(SCFMS) https://www.scfms.net
Permission to use material originating in this newsletter is given freely providing that credit is given to the author and the source. Articles published in the BBG is may be edited for grammar and content.
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