How do I join Berks Mineral Society?

Joining is simple! Fill out our membership application form and pay either $20 per person or $25 for a family. Our dues are annual and we hold meetings on the second Tuesday of each month except for July and August. We look forward to meeting you!

Do I have to know anything about rocks to join?

Not at all! We only require an interest in rocks gems geology or fossils to join. Our society includes everyone from experts in the lapidary arts to the most novice fan of fossils. We would love to have you join and learn with us.

What do I get by joining?

When you join you get the opportunity to join us on rock hounding and fossil hunting field trips access to skill building programs access to experts in the field and participation in our annual show! Plus we have a welcoming community of people who share your interest in the lapidary arts.

Berks Mineral Society: Rocks, Gems, Fossils & Lapidary Arts

The Berks Mineralogical Society is the rock, gem, fossil, mineral and lapidary club for Berks County Pennsylvania. We conduct monthly meetings in the Auditorium Room at the Reading Public Museum. The club meets at 7:30pm on the second Tuesday of every month with the exception of July and August. Please use the rear entrance of the museum. All are welcome to attend the monthly meetings as it is open to anyone in the area that wants to join.

Our History

Berks Mineralogical Society was formed in 1957 by rock and mineral enthusiasts to share their love of geology. We are a non-profit educational organization and informal geology club. The club encourages the interest, enjoyment, and appreciation of the history in our community while promoting the education of rocks, minerals, gems, fossils, and the lapidary arts.

Join Berks Mineralogical Society to come on our mineral and fossil hunts and find out what interesting rocks are in Pennsylvania. We share the locations we visit with our members and our dues are very reasonable. Our field trips include many areas throughout PA, some of which we get special permission to see. Many of these sites we visit and collect from are never open to the general public. Due to our commitment to safety and respect for the areas we visit, quarries and mine dumps will give us occasional access.

The Berks Mineralogical Society is an informal group and we welcome any person or people with a sincere interest in minerals, collecting rocks, uncovering fossils and lapidary arts or those who just want to learn more about rocks and other earth sciences.

Yearly dues are $20 for single and $25 for a family

We are a member of the Eastern Federation of Mineralogical and Lapidary Societies, Inc and a member of the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies.

DOWNLOAD THE MEMBER APPLICATION FORM

Our Goals

Offer Collecting Trips to places not accessible to the general public and to provide information where people can go to collect on their own.
Stimulate Interest in the earth sciences.
Increase Knowledge of the properties, identification, and valuation of gems, rocks, minerals, and fossils.
Provide Opportunities for fellowship among members and with other clubs having similar interests.

Membership Benefits

As a member of the club you will enjoy:

Field trips for rock hounding and fossil hunting
Skill building programs
Expert advice and ideas
Participation in our annual gem, mineral and fossil show

FAQs

The questions most people coming to us are interested in is, "Where can I collect rocks and fossils?" and "What rocks and fossils can I find in PA?"

Where does the club go to collect rocks and fossils?

Berks Mineralogical Society receives special permission to visit private sites, and some sites allow us to collect too. If you are interested in collecting your own minerals, gems, and fossils, please feel free to join as a member. Members invited to these field trips may ask about whether the location has given us permission to take rocks we find.

What fossils, minerals, and other rocks will I find if I join your organization?

You can find a wide range of minerals, gems, and fossils at the sites our society gets to visit. See some rocks found by our own members on our Rocks & References page. We also list several books that can tell you more about the local geology of Pennsylvania. If you are hoping to find a specific specimen, we cannot guarantee you will find it, but our community and resources can aid you in the search.

Can I take any rocks, gems, or minerals I find on a field trip?

This depends on the location we visit. Some locations allow you to take rocks and fossils, while some do not. A few of our field trip locations actually include areas we have special permission to visit. We ask all members to respect the rules and safety of each field trip location. If you are ever uncertain about rules or safety during a field trip, ask us!

About

Berks County Mineralogical Society