I am professional geologist, member of "Spirifer" Geological Society from 20 years. Privately I am fascinated by minerals, and the biggest pleasure in my life is to travel, visit localities, and live with beautiful minerals!

Below some info about "Spirifer" (not very up to date but I will try update it soon)

Geological Society “Spirifer”

Minerals and geology form the bedrock of our lives. For many years we have sifted through Poland, Europe and, indeed, the whole world, in search of interesting geological phenomena, such as volcanoes and glaciers. The discovery of minerals is of prime importance to us.
Last year was particularly active, with voyages to the Ukraine, Rumania, Bulgaria, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Morocco, India, Russia, Turkey, Mongolia, China, Tajikistan and Madagaskar. The resulting science articles, exhibitions and specimens are the provenance of our Geological Society, known as “Spirifer”. Between voyages for Spirifer, we are students passionate about our work. Spirifer is a non-profit organization based solely on volunteerism. Its main purpose is Earth science education. We compose and publish the only periodical in Poland for minerals collectors; it is called “Otoczak”. We also organize minerals exchanges, exhibitions, as well as provide organized weekly educational lessons to children. Our organization receives no government funding and is completely self-supporting. An important source of that support is the selling of specimens from our voyages.

Romania
The mines of Baia Mare region are the subject of intensive exploration by Spirifer. Throughout our last expedition we took hundreds of new interesting specimens for the Society collection and also found lots of materials with potential for publications and exhibitions.

Madagaskar
Madagaskar was the goal during three explore and search expeditions made by our Geological Society. These expeditions were seven months in duration! We collected a huge amount of material, thousands of specimens. Film and photo documentation of regions and exposures were accomplished.
There is presently a traveling exhibition: “Madagaskar - a Dying World”, made with more than hundred photos and thousand of specimens, articles, slide shows and lectures. One of the most spectacular discoveries was the finding in 2001 of excessively calcites twins, whose quality was similar to the best world specimens (video film documentation available).
We are planning to continue exploration project “Madagaskar” and other voyages.

Mongolia
The main purpose of the trip to Mongolia was to re-trace the route of famous polish-mongolia paleontologist. A thee month expedition yielded dinosaurs fossil sites which were documented in their present condition. We also recorded an appearance of fluorites near Bor-Ondor.
The effects of our journey are articles, few exhibitions, slide shows and hundreds of specimens for Spirifer.

Russia
The purpose of the trip to Russia was to document the region of existing polimetalic-skarn deposits in the area of Dalniegorsk (region of Wladywostok), which is famous for unique specimens.

Poland
Poland, being our home base, is obviously meaningful with specific and familiar interest for the Society. Even though last year gave us a liquidation of the most famous mineral deposits (a mine of sulphur in Machów, barite in Stanisławów) there still exists in the quarries of granites lots of pegmatites near Strzegom and from quarries on Wiśniówka are delivered world class specimens of
variscite and wavellite where we try to give the best to other countries.
The palaeontological and minerals unique collections from Poland has now about ten thousand specimens. We also try to document and describe most important geological positions in Poland and popularize knowledge about them.

Morroco
Morroco has been for many years a subject of interest to the Society. Many voyages had documented of mineral and palaeontology mpositions in Antiatlas and High Atlas (e.g., Paleozoic near Erfoud and Alnif, Imilchil, Mibladen and Touissite. The society has exhibited extensively on this subject.

India
Two expeditions to region of Dekkan Traps were conducted by the Society. Their purpose was to explore and document hundreds of positions and specimens. The quarry of basalt near Bombay, Nasik, Poonah and Jalgaon are full of cavities with minerals, which made unusual felling for The Society.
The Society plans more voyages to this region.

Italy
Sicily, and especcialy Etna Volcano and Stromboli are a symbol of „living” geological process in Europe. Over the course of three explorations documenting the active volcano, it had created a full documentation of Etna Volcano (in the time of great eruption in 2001)and Stromboli. Pictures and films have resulted. These materials are used for projections and to educate the children and youth.

Tajikistan
The area of Tajikistan and Pamir were the main purpose of two expeditions in the summer of 2003 and 2004. The members of the Geological Society were in Rangul, which is known as a place of pegmatics and spinels with overlay of polimetalic mines in Kuchilal, the north side of the country. The expedition saw very interesting diapir of salt Hodża Momin, where they met interesting salt karstic forms.

China
China for many years has been the subject of special interest of geologists and mineralogists from all over the world. Spirifer took an exploration expedition in 2004. That expedition had been in the region of unusual kras forms- tsingi in the region of Kunming, mogots from the river of Li, travertic terrace Huanglong, hot spring in the area of sleeping volcanoes in the region of Tengzong. The contibution for a special attention are the vegetable relics which have place flora of south-west China. The most interesting mineral positions are Tongbei, which are famous for their beautiful garnet in pegmatites cavities.