Michigan Mineralogical Society
Michigan Mineralogical Society
Club Contests
Currently Running club competitionS
We formally announce our next annual club photography contest. We are actively taking club member photography submissions for our 3rd club-wide Millie Hurt Mineral Photography Contest. The prize for the best photo image will be awarded by the judges and announced in the club newsletter. You can click on the images to magnify them for better viewing. This will run from May 1st, 2022 to January 30th, 2023.
The 2022 Millie Hurt Mineral
Photography Contest
by FreePNG.com
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. If you're looking for some quick tips on mineral photography, just click here.
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 May 2022. Ending January 30, 2023.
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. We have renamed the contest in honor of Millie Hurt's memory, and her passion to share mineral collecting with the world.
The Prize: The Best two photographs of the Year will receive the President’s Award, a substantial cash prize given to the winners.
We hope all MMS Members take out their Smartphones or Cameras and Submit your Photos Today!!
Previous Year's WInners
red River Gypsum
Sylvania Calcite
Chihuahua Mimetite
Moroccan Geode
Bi-Color Smithsonite
2022 May entries
Mineral Variety: fluorite
Locality: Khwaye Mine, Loralai Baluchistan, Pakistan
Weight: 208 grams
Dimensions: 6.6 x 7.8 x 3.8 cm
Collection Method: Purchased
DESCRIPTION: Very aesthetic pale purple cubic crystals. The largest crystal, which is 3.7 cm in size has internal zoning with a blue core.
Mineral Variety: fluorite
Locality: Xianghualing Mine, Chenzhou, Hunan, China
Weight: Not Measured
Dimensions: 9 x 7.5 x 5.5 cm
Collection Method: Purchased
DESCRIPTION: Dark green centered and blue covered cubic Fluorite crystals with numerous small white Calcite crystals. A beautiful specimen!
Mineral Variety: Scheelite & Muscovite Mica
Locality: Pingwu Co., Mianyang, Sichuan, China
Weight: 129 grams
Dimensions: 7.2 x 5.8 x 2.3 cm
Collection Method: Purchased
DESCRIPTION: A one centemeter tangerine orange, triangular scheelite crystal is nestled into creamy white blades of Muscovite mica. It is aesthetic and beautiful!
Mineral Variety: Plumbogummite
Locality: Yangshuo Mine, Guangxi Zhuang, China
Weight: Not Measured
Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.5 x 4.1 cm
Collection Method: Purchased
DESCRIPTION: Blue-green botryoidal formations coating bright yellow pyromorphite on matrix. The size, rarity and composition all make it quite exceptional.
2022 November entries
Mineral Variety: DRUZY QUARTZ ON fluorite
Locality: Elmwood Mine, Carthage, Tennessee
Weight: Not Assigned
Dimensions: 1.25 x 1.5 x 15 inches
Collection Method: Purchased
DESCRIPTION: The mineral is Drusy Quartz on Fluorite from the Elmwood Mine in Carthage, Tennessee, USA. Well-formed cubic purple fluorite with sprinkles of druzy Quartz.
Mineral Variety: Azurite & Malachite
Locality: Bisbee, Arizona USA
Weight: 3.3 lbs.
Dimensions: 4 x 4 x 9 inches
Collection Method: Purchased it from George Robinson at the A.E. Seamon Mineral Museum.
DESCRIPTION: This large specimen weighs 3.3 pounds and has a height of 4 inches, a length of 9 inches, and a width of 4 inches. I have included an image of the front (as well as the back and top so you can see the various colors). The beautiful colors of the specimen make it so very cool. As with this specimen, the types of Azurite and Malachite from Bisbee encompass a full range of forms and colors like cerulean. Sparkling druses line the cavities while botryoidal masses of dark blue azurite crystals are sprinkled with dark green Malachite incrusted in the matrix.
2022 December entries
Mineral Variety: Bladed hematite with calcite
Locality: Ironwood, Gogebic iron range, Gogebic Co., MI
Weight: 537 grams
Dimensions: 12 x 9 x 6 cm
Collection Method: Purchased
DESCRIPTION: Bladed hematite with metallic luster juxtaposed with geometric calcite crystals. Collected in the period 1860-1919 by J. Pollard.
Mineral Variety: Fluorite on Calcite
Locality: Mahodari Quarry, Sinnar, Nashik District, Maharashtra, India
Weight: Not Supplied
Dimensions: 9 x 8 x 5 cm
Collection Method: Purchased
DESCRIPTION: Translucent yellowish botryoidal fluorite spheres 2-3 cm in diameter on calcite.
Mineral Variety: Calcite and chalcopyrite
Locality: Fletcher Mine, Reynolds County, West Fork, MO
Weight: Not Supplied
Dimensions: 19 x 13 x 8 cm. Calcite crystals 2-6 cm. Chalcopyrite 1-3 mm crystals.
Collection Method: Purchased
DESCRIPTION: Large, terminated calcite crystals. Chalcopyrite is brass yellow, often with an iridescent tarnish that may give it a green, blue, or purple cast. It tarnishes to a dull, gray-green color, but in the presence of acids the tarnish can develop a red to blue to purple iridescence. Chalcopyrite has been the primary ore of copper since smelting began over five thousand years ago. The surfaces oxidization forms microscopically thin films of metal oxides like hematite, goethite, and limonite, various iron oxides.
Mineral Variety: Copper
Locality: Houghton County, MI
Weight: 603 grams
Dimensions: 6 x 5 cm
Collection Method: Purchased
DESCRIPTION: Beautiful Copper Native Element
Mineral Variety:
Andradite Garnet
Locality: Diakon, Sandare District, Mali
Weight: 26 grams
Dimensions: 3.1 x 2.3 x 2.2 cm
Collection Method: Purchased
DESCRIPTION: A rich brown-orange and glassy luster Andradite garnet from Mali. The very geometric crystal displays the classic shape of a garnet crystal with very clean lines and interesting pitted etching on all sides.
Mineral Variety: natrolite
Locality: Imilchil, Morocco
Weight: not supplied
Dimensions: 4.5 x 3.1 x 2.9 cm
Collection Method: Purchased
DESCRIPTION: A beautiful example of Natrolite with 4-sided, rectangular, columnar crystals with dusty inclusions. Very interesting morphism leading to tall, sharply defined crystal habit!
2023 January entries
Mineral Variety: Celestite
Locality: Sylvania Quarry, South Rockwood, MI USA
Weight: Unknown
Dimensions: Unknown
Collection Method: Self-Collected
DESCRIPTION: Celestite from the famous Sylvania Quarry. One of my favorite self-collected pieces.
Fossil Variety: Ammonite
Locality: Jackson, MI USA
Weight: Unknown
Dimensions: Unknown
Collection Method: Self-Collected
DESCRIPTION: I randomly cracked open a rock, and this was inside! After driving home and studying my find, I realized that there was something missing that must have fallen off when I hit it with my hammer. I drove back to the location the next day after work and was fortunate enough to find all the missing pieces to complete the ammonite.
Mineral Variety: 1960S
Brazillian Agate Slab
Locality: Brazil
Weight: 524 grams
Dimensions: 11.25 x 6 x .25 inches
Collection Method: Purchased in Vintage Shop
DESCRIPTION: Translucent Brazillian banded agate slab with mixed zones of carnelian and frosted blue-grey banding. The image was taken with point illumination, and the background was toned down to highlight the light play within the slab.
mineral Variety: malachite
Locality: Mindingi Mine, Kambove District, DR Congo
Weight: Unknown
Dimensions: 16 x 9 x 7 cm. The "needles" in the rosette structures are ~1-2 cm.
Collection Method: Purchased from the 2022 MMS Mineralogical show.
DESCRIPTION: This is a very common copper mineral. This specimen is composed of botryoidal clusters of radiating crystals (the needle-like crystals form radiating clusters like fans).
Mineral Variety: legrandite
Locality: Mapimi Durango Mexico
Weight: Unknown
Dimensions: 1 x 1 x 1.5 inches
Collection Method: Gift
DESCRIPTION: Yellow mineral that displays nice sprays and limonite matrix
mineral Variety: Brookite
Locality: Pakistan
Weight: Unknown
Dimensions: 1 x 0.5 inches
Collection Method: Purchased
DESCRIPTION: Red colored mineral that has a nice termination
mineral Variety: moldavite
Locality: Czech Republic
Weight: Unknown
Dimensions: 1 x 0.4 inches
Collection Method: Purchased
DESCRIPTION: This tektite was shot up into the sky by an ancient meteorite and rained back down to earth in the Czech Republic
Mineral Variety: copper agate
Locality: Wolverine #2 Mine in Houghton County, Kearsarge, MI
Weight: Unknown
Dimensions: Unknown
Collection Method: Self-Collected
DESCRIPTION: Copper Agate collected in 2009
Mineral Variety: Greenstone Mesolite
Locality: Dana Mine, Central Location, Keweenaw County, MI
Weight: Unknown
Dimensions: Unknown
Collection Method: Self-Collected
DESCRIPTION: Greenstone Mesolite and Copper from the Dana Mine (some say it is the Northwestern Mine). Self collected sometime between 2008 and 2018, give or take.
Mineral Variety: Copper agate
Locality: Calumet Hecla 21, Houghton County, Laurium, MI
Weight: Unknown
Dimensions: Unknown
Collection Method: Self-Collected
DESCRIPTION: Copper Agate was collected roughly in 2012.
Mineral Variety: Copper & Datolite
Locality: Deleware Mine, Deleware Location, Keweenaw County, MI
Weight: Unknown
Dimensions: Unknown
Collection Method: Self-Collected
DESCRIPTION: Copper and Datolite collected from the Deleware Mine.
Mineral Variety: Copper Agate
Locality: Wolverine #2 Mine in Houghton County, Kearsarge, MI
Weight: Unknown
Dimensions: Unknown
Collection Method: Self-Collected
DESCRIPTION: Copper Agate collected in 2009
Mineral Variety: Indiana Geode
Locality: North of Bloomington, Indiana
Weight: Unknown
Dimensions: 9.5 x 5 inches
Collection Method: Self-Collected
DESCRIPTION: Collected from a stream bed North of Bloomington, Indiana. It was covered in mud, and not much was visible. The collector, who was 6 at the time, carried it about a half-mile to its new home.
Mineral Variety: Indiana Geode
Locality: North of Bloomington, Indiana
Weight: Unknown
Dimensions: 2.75 x 1.75 inches
Collection Method: Self-Collected in 2019
DESCRIPTION: Indiana Geode that was cracked open to reveal Botryoidal Chalcedony and (likely) Calcite.
mineral Variety: Peristerite Cabochon
Locality: Canadian Beryllium Mine East Quarry, Quadeville, Ontario
Weight: 238 grams
Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.8 cm
Camera: iPhone11 Pro
Collection Method: Self-collected
DESCRIPTION: Huge Peristerite Cabochon in Rare January Sunlight. Concentric ellipses result from the intersection of twinning planes with the cabochon surface. The top view shows mirror-schiller from one twin orientation, while the bottom view, rotated 180⁰, shows schiller from the other twin.
mineral Variety: dravite tourmaline
Locality: Merelani Hills, Tanzania
Weight: 3 grams
Dimensions: 2.3 x 0.7 x 0.5 cm
Camera: iPhone 11 Pro Max
Collection Method: Purchased
DESCRIPTION: Green Dravite with clean termination.
mineral Variety: Amethyst Geode
Locality: Unknown
Weight: 35.1 pounds
Dimensions: 12 x 10 x 5 inches
Camera: iPhone 11 Pro Max
Collection Method: Gift
DESCRIPTION: This beautiful Amethyst Geode weighs 35.1 pounds. It has a height of 12 inches, a width of 10 inches, and A depth 5 inches. The largest crystal in the middle measures 1 3/4 " x 2" The beautiful purple color of this specimen is especially gorgeous when the sun shines upon it.
Mineral Variety: Brookite
Locality: Kharan District, Balochistan, Pakistan
Weight: Less than 0.1 grams
Dimensions: 1.4 x 1.0 x <.1 cm
Camera: iPhone 11 Pro Max
Collection Method: Purchased
DESCRIPTION: Brookite backlit in natural sunlight.
Mineral Variety: butterscotch calcite
Locality: Sylvania Quarry, S. Rockwood, MI
Weight: 3 grams
Dimensions: 1 cm rhombohedron
Camera: iPhone 11 Pro Max
Collection Method: Self-collected
DESCRIPTION: A Sylvania Quarry Calcite Floater fluorescing blue under LW UV light source. This piece also phosphoresces green.
Mineral Variety: indicolite tourmaline
Locality: Minas Gerais, Brazil
Weight: 10.5 grams
Dimensions: 2.8 x 1.8 x 0.8 cm
Camera: iPhone 11 Pro Max
Collection Method: Inherited
A Haiku:
Rare winter sun shines
twixt bare oaks through tourmaline.
Vie for Millie's prize!
Mineral Variety: macroscope Geode
Locality: Morocco
Weight: Unknown
Dimensions: Unknown
Collection Method: Purchased
DESCRIPTION: Geode, Morocco, Purchased at mms show, microscope natural light
Mineral Variety: calcite
Locality: Morocco
Weight: Unknown
Dimensions: Unknown
Collection Method: Purchased
DESCRIPTION: Geode, Morocco, Purchased at the Michigan Mineralogical Society show, UV light
Mineral Variety: calcite
Locality: Morocco
Weight: Unknown
Dimensions: Unknown
Collection Method: Purchased
DESCRIPTION: Geode, Morocco, Purchased at the Michigan Mineralogical Society Show, microscope natural light
Mineral Variety: calcite
Locality: China
Weight: Unknown
Dimensions: Unknown
Collection Method: Purchased
DESCRIPTION: Chinese Calcite