Michigan Mineralogical Society
Michigan Mineralogical Society
Photo Contest
Currently running club competitions
We formally open our next annual club photography contest! We are actively taking club member photography submissions for our 6th 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 now to March 31st, 2026.
by FreePNG.com
The 2026 Sixth Annual
Millie Hurt Mineral
Photography Contest
OUR 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. 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!
Deadline: Ending March 31, 2026. We will not accept photos are alterations past this date.
Where: Photos will be posted on the MMS website (www.michmin.org), under "Field Trips and Activities" and the sub-heading "Photo Contest". It will be public, with the intention of generating interest and highlighting our club. See photos already entered at https://www.michmin.org/photo-contest.
Why: To promote the interests of mineral collecting, geology, and to create excitement for the Michigan Mineralogical Society. We have named the contest in memory of Millie Hurt to share her passion for mineral collecting with the world.
The Prizes: The Top 3 photos will receive cash prizes! We hope all MMS Members will take out their Smartphones or Cameras and submit photos today!! Good luck!
We hope all MMS Members take out their Smartphones or Cameras and Submit your Photos Today!!
Previous Year's WInners
red River Gypsum
Moroccan Geode
Chinese Fluorite
Sylvania Calcite
Chihuahua Mimetite
Bi-Color Smithsonite
Moroccan natrolite
Epidote on Quartz
English Fluorite
Fluorite with Barite
Iridescent Galena
Malachite Tower
Click on any Image to magnify it.
October 2025 Submissions
madagascar Celestine
Description: Celestine
Location: Madagascar
Collection Method: Purchased
Camera: 105 Nikon lens, and a speedlight flash at ISO, f3.5, 1/250
ohio Calcite
Description: Calcite
Location: Pugh Quarry, NW Ohio
Collection Method: Purchased
Camera: 105 Nikon lens, and a speedlight flash at ISO, f3.5, 1/250
December 2025 Submissions
Golden barite
Description: Barite is barium sulfate, BaSO4. It forms a solid solution series with strontium (Ba,Sr)SO4, with 100% Barium being Barite and 100% Strontium being Celestite. Barite is mainly used in drilling fluids for gas and oil due to its high density. It is also used as a paint pigment.
This specimen contains monoclinic crystals of honey-colored barite. Barite can be found in other colors, including white, blue, gray, and even colorless, depending on the different impurities present during its crystallization. Barite is also formed in many crystal forms – tabular crystals, prisms, thin blades, nodules, and rosettes.
Location: Châtel-Guyon, Riom, Puy-de-Dôme, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
Collection Method: Purchased from CristoSud Minerals
Weight: 291 Grams
Size: 8 x 4.5 x 7 cm, Barite crystals 1.5 x 1 x 0.8 cm.
Rutile in Quartz
Description: Rutilated quartz is a variety of Quartz which contains needle-like inclusions of rutile (TiO2).The inclusions may be randomly distributed or in bundles, sometimes forming star-shapes. They usually look golden, but may be other colors. It is frequently used in jewelry. Brazil is one of the premier locations for rutilated quartz.
Location: Novo Horizonte, Bahia, Brazil
Collection Method: Purchased from CristoSud Minerals
Weight: 111 Grams
Size: 5.2 x 4.5 x 3.5 cm
Red Cloud Wulfanite
Description: Wulfenite is an ore of lead and molybdenum. It occurs in oxidation zones of lead deposits. It frequently forms as tabular crystals that are reddish to orangeish, though other colors such as brown occur. A noted locality for wulfenite is the Red Cloud Mine in Arizona. Crystals are deep red in color and usually very well-formed. Wulfenite was approved as the official state mineral of Arizona in 2017.
Location: Red Cloud Mine, Arizona, USA
Collection Method: Purchased from CristoSud Minerals
Weight: 37 Grams
Size: 5.5 x 4 x 1.5 cm; Largest crystal 1.2 cm across.
tourmaline on albite
Description: This specimen features Tourmaline (Elbaite), Albite (Clevelandite), and Quartz. Dark green elbaite with the largest crystal at 7 cm long. Ends are nicely terminated with flat tops and beveled edges. Nice vertical striations. The substrate is leafy white albite (clevelandite). And there is one large quartz perfectly terminated that is 5 cm long and 3.5 cm wide. As a gemstone, elbaite is a desirable member of the tourmaline group because of the variety and depth of its colors and the quality of the crystals. Originally discovered on the island of Elba, Italy, in 1913, it has since been found in many parts of the world.
Location: Stak Nala, Haramosh Mtns, Rondu, Gigit-Balistan, Pakistan
Collection Method: Purchased in 2024 at the Michigan Mineralogical Society’s Greater Detroit Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show
Weight: 210 Grams
Size: 7.5 x 7.5 x 7 cm