About Us

The Rhode Island Mineral Hunters is a non-profit organization, founded in 1962, dedicated to the appreciation and study of minerals, crystals, fossils, and all aspects of the Earth Sciences. Members can also learn lapidary skills - fashioning gems, polishing stone from rough rock, silversmithing, and fabricating jewelry. We lecture in school, and also contribute scholarships to our qualified members enrolled as full-time students in college studying the Earth Sciences.

The club organizes numerous field trips to quarries, mines and road-cuts to gather mineral specimens, as well as out-of-state bus trips to museums and other events of interest. We are deeply concerned with the conservation and protection of the environment and the reopening of digging areas previously closed to amateur mineralogists. Each year we honor the member who finds the finest mineral or fossil specimen in Rhode Island on a club-organized field trip by awarding them the Birger Anderson Trophy.

We are an informal group from 7 to 85 years of age. All occupations and lifestyles are represented with members having a common interest: rocks, minerals and fossils. It is never too late to become acquainted (or re-acquainted) with this hobby and many people start at retirement age when they need an activity that is both mentally engaging as well as physically active. Please join us some evening, all of our meetings are open to the public, free of charge. We will welcome you as a visitor or as a new member.

We are Member of the Eastern Federation of Mineral and Lapidary Societies (EFMLS) and American Federation of Mineral Societies (AFMS).

Our Monthly Meetings

The RIMH meets on the second Tuesday of each month (except January, February, and August) at 7:00 PM until 8:30-ish, at Community College of Rhode Island, Knight Campus in Warwick.

Our meeting consists of a program, a break for refreshments and a brief "business meeting". The programs have included speakers from Harvard University, Brown University, URI, and other mineral clubs in New England. Many speakers or members give slide presentations and show specimens from their travels. Also a part of each meeting is a silent auction of members' specimens and the checkout and return of member borrowed books, magazines, and video tapes from our extensive library. We also have a free drawing at many of the meetings.

Bowen-Lite

Our monthly newsletter is "Bowen-Lite", which keeps us abreast of club activities and other club shows in the area.

Other Activities

The RIMH annual mineral and fossil auctions are held in April. The auction is open to Public.

In August, we usually have a picnic.

Our very popular Gem and Mineral Show will be October 27th & 28th.  This year will be the 41th Annual in 2012. It will be held at Community College of Rhode Island, Knights Campus.

In December, we hold our annual holiday dinner party and gift exchange.

Membership

Membership fee is $15 per year for an individual, and $20 per year for a Family.

Club Officers:

President: Steve Emma

Vice-President: Buck Leach

Secretary: Jennifer Davis

Treasurer: Claire Cooper

...

Executive Board: Bill Wilson, Anthony Cesana,

Louise & Tom Barbish, Joel Russo, Rachel Cesana,

Don Fail

...

Membership: Anthony Cessana 

Show Chairmen: Don Fail

Field Trip Coordinator: Joel Russo

Historian: Bill Wilson

Librarian: Joel Russo

Web Master: Bruce Hecker

Assistant Web Master: Claire Cooper

Bowen-Lite Editor: Bruce Luscombe