Club Contests
Currently Running club competitions
The club is planning on holding at least one ongoing contest per year to showcase what our members do for fun. Right now we are actively taking club member photography submissions for our 1st club-wide Mineral Photography Contest. The prize for the best photo image will be awarded at the 2021 Banquet held in January.
2020 Club Mineral Photography Contest Entries
The Rules
Club members in good standing can submit up to five photographs of minerals in their personal collection. The photos must be submitted in electronic format and emailed to either Brad Zylman (brad.zylman@mrm-mccann.com) or Dave Lurie (dlurie2001@comcast.net). Photos must be at least 1024 by 768 pixels in order to be posted for consideration.
The photos must be accompanied by a document (.doc) or text file (.txt) that lists what the specimen is, where it was found and whether it was purchased or self-collected. It can also contain any descriptive information that you wish others to know. This document must have the following wording in it: “I give my permission to post this photo and information on the MMS website, Instagram, and on Facebook in perpetuity.” In return, we will not use your name or publish personal information.
When: Starting in February 2020.
Where: Material, if sent in a usable format, will be posted within a month on the MMS website, www.michmin.org, under the About Us tab. It will be public-facing with the intention to generate interest and highlight our club.
Why: To promote the interests of mineral collecting, geology and to create excitement for the Michigan Mineralogical Society.
The Prize: At the Banquet each year, the Best Photograph of the Year will receive the President’s Award, a substantial cash prize given to the winner.
We hope all MMS Members take out their Smartphones or Cameras and Submit your Photos Today!!
February Submissions
Mineral Variety:
Red Pyrope Garnet
Locality: Shingar, Pakistan
Weight: 45 grams
Dimensions: 17 x 17 x 15 mm
Collection Method: Purchased
DESCRIPTION: Natural Stone, no heat treatments or man-made application other than removal from the base stone and cleaning.
Mineral Variety:
Bismuth iridescent geode
Locality: Made in China
Weight: 1.9 pounds
Dimensions: Approx. 4.5 x 4.5 x 1.5 inches
Collection Method: Purchased
DESCRIPTION: Oxidized bismuth iridescent hopper crystals inside of bismuth egg. Colors range from a rich magenta to gold in the oxidation layers. Completely man-made for elements collection.
MARCH Submissions
Mineral Variety:
Peristerite
Locality: McDonald Mine Hybla, Ontario
Weight: 7.2 pounds
Dimensions: 9 x 4½ inches
Collection Method: Self-collected, Circa 1965
DESCRIPTION: Consists of hundreds of alternating transparent layers of ¼ wave thick oligoclase and ½ wave thick albite, giving mirrorlike constructive interference for a variety of colors.
April Submissions
Mineral Variety:
Albite & hornblende
Locality: 1.1 miles North of Birds Creek, Ontario
Weight: 44.2 pounds
Dimensions: 15½ x 12 x 14½ inches
Collection Method: Self-collected, Circa 1962
DESCRIPTION: Large euhedral albite crystals (white), hornblende crystals (green), and weathered pink calcite (probably the original vug filler) - U.S. quarter for scale.
Mineral Variety:
Amethyst with Hematite
Locality: Blue Point Mine, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Weight: .49 oz
Dimensions: 1.25 x 1.25 x .5 inches
Collection Method: Purchased
DESCRIPTION: Under normal viewing, the specimen has a homogeneous red coating on this small amethyst cluster. Under microphotography, the individual hematite spherules can clearly be seen.