CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Mon, April 14, 2025  SAN DIEGO, CA – Gemological Division Meeting

Sponsor:  SDMG (formerly Gemological Society of San Diego, now merged with SDMG)

Venue:  SDMG Bldg, at the back of Spanish Village in Balboa Park, San Diego

Hours:  7:00 pm

Admission:  Free. Open to the public.

Parking is limited behind the SDMG Bldg, so it's first come, first served. Look for additional parking in the Carousel parking lot near Park Blvd. or in the Zoo parking lot.

Dr. Marcus J. Origlieri will be the guest speaker at the April meeting. His topic will be Mineralogy of Jades. Jades are complex, nuanced, and mythical, altogether beyond simple description. Merchants, gemologists, and mineralogists use a great number of terms when describing jades, usually recognizing two quite different types: jadeite jade and nephrite jade. The primary difference between these two jades is their bulk mineral content, which are either pyroxene and amphibole minerals. Beyond simply academic interest, these differences explain the geology, mineralogy, and gemology of jades.

Marcus will distinguish pyroxenes from amphiboles, a distinction rooted in historical mineralogy and crystallography. Key mineral species found in jades include jadeite, omphacite, kosmochlor, tremolite, and actinolite, each strictly defined by the International Mineralogical Association. Marcus will cover the intricacies of their definitions and provide suggestions for further reading for those wishing to dive deep into this subject.

About the Speaker. Marcus J. Origlieri is a trained mineralogist, who longs for more laboratory time to investigate the myriad of known minerals. His M.S. project explored a topic related to jades, resulting in the 2003 publication, “High-pressure crystal structure of kosmochlor, NaCrSi₂O₆, and systematics of anisotropic compression in pyroxenes.” While pursuing graduate studies at the University of Arizona, he took two trips to Burma. On the second trip, he managed to acquire about 12 tons of jadeite jade from Kachin miners. If time permits, Marcus may share an anecdote or two about his jade-buying adventures. Ultimately, Marcus completed his Ph.D. at the University of Arizona in 2005, in the same laboratory home to the nascent RRUFF project.

Please bring in something to share at the refreshments table. Our own Mike Frye will serve coffee and punch, and he does an excellent job of making sure everything is set up and ready.

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Mon, April 28, 2025  SAN DIEGO, CA – SDMG General Meeting

Sponsor:  San Diego Mineral & Gem Society

Venue:  SDMG Bldg, at the back of Spanish Village in Balboa Park, San Diego

Hours:  7:00 PM

Admission:  Free. Open to the public.

Parking is limited behind the SDMG Bldg, so it's first come, first served. Look for additional parking in the Carousel parking lot near Park Blvd. or in the Zoo parking lot.

Jeff Ching will be the guest speaker at the April meeting. Jeff is a fun, energetic, and informative instructor, with wide-ranging knowledge on a variety of topics. His presentation in September 2024 focused on how to orient, cut and polish phenomenal stones. At this month's meeting, Jeff will focus on Opals! He'll be speaking about how to cut, carve, and polish various types of opals, including boulder, kotoite, Mexican, Honduras, matrix, sandstone, black, and white. The techniques you’ll learn from Jeff can be applied to many other types of gemstones. He’ll be available after the presentation to help evaluate your opal rough for getting the best cutting results. So, feel free to bring your opals!

About the speaker. Jeff Ching is a professional cutter and is highly skilled in identifying different types of rocks. He was a jeweler specialized in custom gold metalwork for more than 35 years. Jeff has traveled extensively in pursuit of exotic gem materials for his custom creations. He’s self-taught in everything lapidary, except faceting, which he is learning. He’s been a dealer at the Gem Diego Show since 2023 and is a frequent speaker on many different topics at gem and mineral societies, as well as in the classroom setting. He loves to share what he has learned over many years

We'll have refreshments and door prizes. We'll have coffee, iced tea, soda and any snacks you'd like to bring to share with everyone. Everyone is welcome and we hope you'll have an enjoyable time.

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Wed thru Sun, April 2–6, 2025  JOSHUA TREE, CA – Joshua Tree Gem & Mineral Show

Sponsor:  Antelope Valley Gem & Mineral Club

Venue:  Joshua Tree Lake RV & Campground
2601 Sunfair Rd, Joshua Tree, CA 92252

Hours:  Wed thru Sat 9am – 5pm; Sun 9am – 4pm

Admission & Parking:  Free. Open to the public.

Website:  AVGMS on Facebook

Rocks, fossils, gemstones, slabs, equipment, cabochons crystals, spheres, jewelry, dozens of amazing booths, food vendors, and entertainment.

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Sat and Sun, April 12–13, 2025  THOUSAND OAKS, CA – CGMC 48th Annual Pageant of a Thousand Gems

Sponsor:  Conejo Gem & Mineral Club

Venue:  Borchard Park Community Center
   190 Reino Road at Borchard Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320

Hours:  Fri and Sat 10am – 5pm; Sun 10am – 4pm

Admission:  Free.  Public welcome.

Contact:  conejogemandmineral@gmail.com

Website:  www.cgamc.org

Exhibits and dealers, door prizes and drawings. Opportunity tables and silent auctions. Lapidary, Rock polishing, and jewelry-making demonstrations. Youth activities and chances to win prizes. Fossils, gemstones, jewelry, metaphysical, minerals, lapidary equipment and supplies, rocks and much more!

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Fri and Sat, April 26–37, 2025  ANAHEIM, CA – The Searchers Annual Show

Sponsor:  Anaheim Searchers Gem & Mineral Society

Venue:  Brookhurst Community Center
   2271 W. Crescent Ave., Anaheim CA 92801

Hours:  Sat 10am – 5pm; Sun 10am – 4:30pm

Admission & Parking:  Free.  Public welcome.

Contact:  nancyjbird68@gmail.com

Website:  www.searchersrocks.org

This is one of the best rock shows in Southern California. Many fun activities for kids! See rocks, gems, minerals, fossils, crystals, beads, rough, slabs, vendors, gold panning, silent auction, hobby supplies, vintage stones, door prizes, gemstones, grab bags, tools, equipment and exhibits. Lapidary supplies. Stone carving, faceting, intarsia, wire wrapping and cabochon making demonstrations. Lunch, snacks and drinks are available.

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