Mindat.org UK Mini Symposium - November 2014

** DETAILS CONFIRMED - SEE BELOW **

Mindat.org are proud to announce that in cooperation with the Sussex Mineral and Lapidary Society and the Mineralogy Department of the Natural History Museum in London that we will be organising a 3 day mineral event in South East England from Friday November 14th to Sunday November 16th 2014.

You can attend any or all days events as your time permits.

Friday 14th November 2014 - Visit and guided tours of the collections at the Natural History Museum in London.



Jolyon Ralph from mindat.org and Mike Rumsey from the Natural History Museum will meet you in the main mineral gallery of the Natural History Museum to discuss some of the great exhibits on display, to see some things hidden out of public sight, and (in small groups) to be given a tour behind the scenes and see parts of the famous Russell Collection of British Minerals.

Depending on the number attending we will possibly need to split this into morning/afternoon sessions, but you are free to tour the rest of the museum yourselves during the other half of the day and we would like to arrange for everyone to meet together for lunch locally - probably a pub lunch.

Time: TBC
Cost: £10. All proceeds go to support projects at the Natural History Museum.

Limited number of places

Saturday 15th November 2014 - The Hayward's Heath Mineral Show



One of the most important mineral shows in the UK mineral calendar, Haywards Heath is a direct train ride south from London Victoria station - the show venue is a very short walk from the station.

We will spend the whole day at the mineral show. There are displays of Fluorite from the Rogerley Mine, North of England minerals and a superb UV display room. There will also be three illustrated talks during the day at the Age Concern Hall next door.

11.30 - 12.00 - Junior Corner: Fossil Sharks from a London Park (David Bone)
12.30 - 1.00 - Mineral Collections in Museums (Part 2) - Ivor Thurgood
2.00 - 2.30 - The Rogerley Mine - Jesse Fisher

Location: Clair Hall, Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, RH16 3DN
Time: 10.00am - 4.30pm
Cost: £2.50 admission. Home-made food on sale and a bar is open for drinks throughout the day. Other food available locally outside the show.

Sunday 16th November 2014 - The Mini Symposium


A full day event also held at the Age Concern Hall next to Clair Hall in Haywards Heath.

The day will include presentations, swap areas for mineral specimens and one specifically for micromount/micromineral exchanges, microscopes, mineral publications for sale, mineral societies and the opportunity to meet and talk with like-minded collectors from the UK and beyond.

Presentations include:

Roy Starkey - Minerals and Gems of the Cairngorms
Jesse Fisher - Weardale and the Northern Pennines
Valere Berlage - The Tantara Copper deposit in DR Congo
John Pearce - Geotourism with the Sussex Mineral & Lapidary Society
Ivor Thurgood - Mineral Collections in Museums (Part 1)
Jolyon Ralph - Collecting at Altyn Tube, Kazakhstan - The type locality of Dioptase
Alf Olav Larsen - The Langesundsfjord district, Norway
Chris Mavris - Wurtzite from Kirki, Northeast Greece



We are expecting a good contingent of visitors from outside the UK (possibly with swap material!) so this should be a fun day for all.

Location: Age Concern Hall, Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, RH16 3DN
Time: 10.00am - 5.30pm
Cost: £5 entrance fee. FREE for members of the Sussex Mineral & Lapidary Society. All proceeds go to supporting mindat.org

Food is available locally and is not included in the price - there will be time at the lunch break to allow for people to get food and to have time for mineral swaps etc.

Three great events over one long weekend. And for international visitors it couldn't be easier!

Flights into London Gatwick airport are the best for these events. London Gatwick is approximately half way between Central London and Haywards Heath. Direct trains run from London Gatwick into London and down to Haywards Heath*. For anyone coming from Europe it really should be an easy weekend event.

We look forward to seeing you all in November!


If you are interested in attending contact jolyon@mindat.org as soon as possible to reserve your places.


* We have been informed that because of engineering works the station at Haywards Heath will be closed on this weekend, however a replacement bus service from Three Bridges will take you directly to the station.