Southampton Mineral & Fossil Society Meetings Programme 2009
Unless otherwise advised all evening
meetings take place on the third Tuesday
of each month at The Friends' Meeting House,
Ordnance Road, Southampton beginning at 19:30.
At every evening meeting, except January,
there will be a Mineral & Fossil of the Month
featuring specimens bought along and displayed by
the members.
Guests are very welcome to come along to
any evening meeting as a vistor to meet SMFS
and the members before considering joining the Society.
Pyrope variety of garnet.
January
Tuesday 20th January
SMFS Annual General Meeting followed by the best find
of 2008 competition. There are prizes for the best
fossil, mineral and micromount specimen found or
prepared in the previous year. The overall best judged
by the members wins the David Griffiths trophy. Snacks
and soft drinks after the AGM. Annual subscriptions are
due.
Quartz variety amethyst.
February
Tuesday 17th February
Annual photographic competition. Prizes for best
photographic print in different categories and the
Philip Bampton trophy for the overall best photograph
judged by the members.
Mineral & Fossil of the Month: Fluorite & trilobites.
Friday 20th February
Visit to the Palaeontology Department of the Natural
History Museum. Details from Tony Holmes.
Beryl variety aquamarine.
March
Sunday 8th March
Oxford Mineral & Fossil Show, 10:30 - 16:00, Exeter
Hall, Oxford Road, Kidlington. Free admission.
Tuesday 17th March
"Geological Time", an
illustrated talk on the history and measurement of
geological timescales presented by Phil James and Gary
Morse.
Mineral & Fossil of the Month: Calcite & belemnites.
Diamond in matrix.
April
Tuesday 21st April
Nick's Quiz Night, popular team quiz set by Nick
Green. No prizes for this, just a light-hearted team
event that gives everyone a chance to learn something
new.
Mineral & Fossil of the Month: Polished eggs & echinoids.
Beryl variety emerald.
May
Sunday 17th May
Oxford Mineral & Fossil Show, 10:30 - 16:00, Exeter
Hall, Oxford Road, Kidlington. Free admission.
Tuesday 19th May
"Darwin the Geologist",
an illustrated presentation by Chairman Phil James on
Charles Darwin and his geological interest. This is our
contribution to the celebrations of 200 years since
Darwin's birth and 150 years of
"The Origin of Species".
Mineral & Fossil of the Month: Galena & fossil fish & fish teeth.
Sat 23rd - Sun 24th May
"Evolution Rocks" Lyme Regis Fossil Festival.
Orthoclase feldspar variety moonstone.
June
Saturday 6th June
Society display at the Police Families Day at the
Hampshire Constabulary Southern Support and Training
HQ, Hamble Lane, Hamble.
Tuesday 16th June
A New Look at the Giant Pterosaurs, a talk by Dr.
Darren Naish, Technical Consultant, Editor and Author.
Mineral & Fossil of the Month: Quartz & ammonites.
Sat 20th - Sun 21st June
International Kite Festival, Lordshill, Southampton,
there is display by SMFS so come along and meet us.
Corundum variety ruby.
July
Sunday 12th July
Oxford Mineral & Fossil Show, 10:30 - 16:00, Exeter
Hall, Oxford Road, Kidlington. Free admission.
Tuesday 21st July
Practical Evening - Crystallography - we will be making
our own crystal models and demystifying the crystal systems.
All materials provided.
Mineral & Fossil of the Month: Gypsum & crustaceans.
Olivine variety peridot.
August
Saturday 8th August
Dorset G.A. Fossil & Mineral Fair, Allendale
Centre, Wimborne. SMFS will have a display.
Tuesday 18th August
Swap & Sale Evening. Bring along any specimens,
books or equipment for sale, swap or even give away.
Mineral & Fossil of the Month: Agate & gastropods.
Corundum variety sapphire.
September
Saturday 5th September
Hampshire Mineral & Fossil Show. A day not to be
missed. Further details on the Show can be obtained HERE .
Fri 11th - Mon 14th September
SMFS Annual Long Weekend Field Trip. This year we shall
be visiting Alston and the Northern Pennine orefield
area. Full details will be given at evening meetings.
Tuesday 15th September
"Copper Mineralogy", an
illustrated talk on the fascinating subject of copper
mineralisation and minerals by Gary Morse, CChem, MRSC.
Mineral & Fossil of the Month: Native copper & bivalves.
Opal.
October
Tuesday 20th October
"Minerals of Cornwall - Part
3", the concluding presentation of this
series by Dr. David Aubrey-Jones.
Mineral & Fossil of the Month: Baryte & fossil reptiles & dinosaurs.
Topaz.
November
Saturday 7th November
Festival of Geology, the annual GA event. More details
to be received.
Saturday 14th November
Sussex Mineral Show, Clair Hall, Haywards Heath, West
Sussex, 10:00 - 16:30.
Tuesday 17th November
"The Palaeontology Department of the
NHM", talk by Dr. Martin Munt, Collections
Manager, Invertebrates & Plants Curation.
Mineral & Fossil of the Month: Hematite & fossil plants.
Sunday 29th November
Oxford Mineral & Fossil Show, 10:30 - 16:00, Exeter
Hall, Oxford Road, Kidlington. Free admission.
Turquoise.
December
Friday 11th December
Society annual Christmas dinner.
Tuesday 15th December
"Recenseo Annus", Gary Morse gives a humerous
review of the SMFS year.
Mineral & Fossil of the Month: Pyrite & corals & sponges.