Mindat/SMLS/NHM Events November 2014

In November 2014 Mindat.org, in cooperation with the Natural History Museum, organized two days of events to coincide with the Sussex Mineral and Lapidary Society's annual Haywards Heath mineral show. This was a great success and we will hold a similar event next year.

Friday November 14th - Visit to the Natural History Museum, London

On Friday we had arranged a behind-the-scenes tour for a small group of 18 people at the Natural History Museum in London.









Behind the scenes Mike Rumsey from the NHM had prepared a range of things to see that are normally kept out of sight.

Saturday November 15th - The Sussex Mineral and Lapidary Society show, Haywards Heath

The annual mineral show run by the Sussex Mineral and Lapidary Society was our next destination, held on Saturday in Clair Hall, Haywards Heath.



Crystal Classics are selling a number of specimens that used to be in the Nick Carruth collection, including these three classics. They were not on sale at the show - this was just a preview of specimens that they will sell later.







There were other great specimens actually available for sale this day, such as this one:



John and Robert Lawson have collected some new fluorite from the Beldon Mine in Northumberland:



Roy Starkey was selling his new book on the Minerals of the Cairngorms. I bought a copy, it is a fantastic book. Find out more about the book here: Crystal Mountains book



As usual the SMLS show put on a competition each year. There was no theme this year, it was an open competition with displays by

Chris Finch (Minerals)
Phil James (Fossils)
Terry Denney (Lapidary)
Peter Martin (Lapidary)
Mike Webster (Fossils)
Peter Moore (Minerals)












This year we were delighted to welcome Lady Mayor Of Haywards Heath Councillor Sandy Ellis and consort Paul Ellis to the show. I spent some time talking with them about the three-day event and they were delighted we had chosen to extend the event in Haywards Heath rather than go elsewhere (eg London).

Sunday November 16th - Mindat UK Symposium, Haywards Heath

On Sunday around 50 people turned up for our symposium. With a great line-up of speakers we had the following presentations:

Jolyon Ralph - What's new with mindat.org (including a sneak preview of the new design coming soon)
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)
Alf Olav Larsen - The Langesundsfjord district, Norway
Chris Mavris - Wurtzite from Kirki, Northeastern Greece







Everyone agreed the event was worth continuing, so we hope to be able to soon announce our plans for a similar event in 2015! See you there.