"COLLECT. PRESERVE. EDUCATE." - VIRGINIA MINE L PROJECT - Virginia Mineral Project
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VIRGINIA MINERA
a L PROJECT
-2020 STATE DIRECTORY-
Issue 1 Feb 2020
Virginia Mineral Project
“COLLECT. PRESERVE. EDUCATE.”
By: Thomas N. Hale
Table of Contents
01 Directory Overview
02 Gem & Mineral Clubs in Virginia
07 Rock & Mineral Shops in Virginia
09 Natural History Museums in Virginia
11 Online Resources
12 The Future of Virginia Minerals
What is the 2020 State Directory?
The 2020 State Directory is part of the Virginia Mineral
Project’s ongoing initiative to promote and support the mineral
community across Virginia. This directory is the first of its
kind and is an evolving document that will add more vendors
and topics over time. While not comprehensive, this is the best
instant resource to any beginner and expert in finding vital
Virginia mineral collecting information. If you enjoyed this
article, then please check out The Virginia Mineral Project
Front Cover: Facebook page by clicking the Facebook icon!
Bishop Mine Crystallized Turquoise
Lynch Station, Virginia (CLOSED Locality)
3.1cm x 3.5cm x 3cm
Directory MAP Overview
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Gem & Mineral Clubs Rock & Mineral Shops
1) Packard’s Stamp and Rock Shop
1) Richmond Gem & Mineral Society 2) VA Rock Shop
2) The Gem & Mineral Society of Lynchburg 3) Excalibur Mineral Corporation
3) Northern Virginia Mineral Club 4) Stones n’ Bones
4) Tidewater Gem & Mineral Society 5) The Valley Rock Shop
5) Shenandoah Valley Gem & Mineral Society
6) The Mineralogical Society of the District of Columbia State Geology Office
7) The Gem & Mineral Society of the Virginia Peninsula Join the Virginia
Department of Mines, Minerals, and
8) Micromineralogists of the National Capitol Area Energy (DMME)
9) Roanoke Valley Mineral & Gem Society
Natural History Museums or Mineral Exhibits
1) James Madison University Mineral Museum
2) Virginia Tech Museum of Geosciences
3) Lora Robins Gallery of Design from Nature
4) The Museum of the Middle Appalachains
5) Virginia Museum of Natural History
6) Smithsonian Museum of Natural History
7) Radford University Museum of the Earth Sciences
-1-
Gem & Mineral Clubs in Virginia
The Richmond Gem & Mineral Society
Meetings: 2nd Tuesday of the month, 7:30 pm until 9:00 pm
Location: Ridge Baptist Church, 1515 Eastridge Road, Richmond, Virginia
2020 Officers:
President - Carl Miller 1st VP(Membership) - Richard Starr
2nd VP (Programs) - Pamm Bryant Treasurer - Dave Hutchison
1st Secretary - Frank Toth Historian - Betsy Martin
2nd Secretary - Valerie Johnson Field Trip Chair - Mark Davis
Click on icons to learn more about the club:
The Gem & Mineral Society of Lynchburg
Meetings: 3rd Wednesday of the month, 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm
Location: Lynchburg Parks and Recreation Building, Miller Center, 301 Grove
Street, Lynchburg, VA 24501
2020 Officers:
President - James Tomlin First VP - Brian White
Second VP - Brandon Coles Treasurer - Joan Moore
Secretary - Holly Tomlin Membership - Debbie Wade
Newsletter Editor - Steve Gordon Members at Large - Eric Routon
& Michael Staton
Click on icons to learn more about the club:
-2-
The Northern Virginia Mineral Club
Meetings: 4th Monday of the month, 7:45 pm until 9:30 pm
Location: Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S Carlin Springs Rd, Arlington, VA 22204
2020 Officers:
President - Tom Burke Vice-President - Ti Meredith
Secretary - David MacLean Treasurer - Roger Haskins
Show Chairman - Tom Taaffe Field Trip Chair - Germaine Broussard
Webmaster - Casper Voogt Editor - Hutch Brown
Historian - Kathy Hrechka
Click on icons to learn more about the club:
The Tidewater Gem & Mineral Society
Meetings: 3rd Friday of the month, 7:30pm until 9:00pm
Location: Memorial United Methodist Church, 804 Gammon Road, Virginia Beach,
VA 23464
2020 Officers:
President - Robin Stoughton 1st VP(Membership) - Mike Jackson
2nd VP (Programs) - Kelley Finch Treasurer - Lloyd Schiffelbian
Secretary (Historian) - Cheri Jackson Newsletter - Judy Hyszczak
Fieldtrips - Kelley Finch Librarian - Wesley Jacocks
Webmaster - Brooks Britt
Click on icons to learn more about the club:
-3-
The Shenandoah Valley Gem & Mineral Society
Meetings: 2nd Monday of the month, 7:00 pm until 8:30 pm
Location: Waynesboro Public Library - Room A, 600 S. Wayne Ave, Waynesboro, VA
22980
2020 Officers:
President - Michael Pabst Vice President - Leo Cloutier
Co-Treasurer - Scott Gregory Secretary/Newsletter - Deborah Grimm
Field Trip Coordinator - Scott Steele Show Chairman - Scott Gregory
Educational Outreach - Deborah Grimm Web Site Coordinator - Jack Glenn
Click on icons to learn more about the club:
The Mineralogical Society of the District of Columbia
Meetings: 1st Wednesday of the month, 7:30 pm until 9:00 pm
Location: Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, Constitution Avenue lobby of the
museum, 10th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC.
2020 Officers:
President - Dave Hennessey Vice President - Yury Kalish
Secretary - Andy Thompson Treasurer - John Weidner
Directors - Amanda Parker, Ken Reynolds, Dan Teich
Webmasters - Betty Thompson, Casper Voogt
Click on icons to learn more about the club:
-4-
The Gem & Mineral Society of the Virginia Peninsula
Meetings: 1st Thursday of the month, 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm
Location: Sandy Bottom Nature Park’s Nature Center Building, 1255 Big Bethel Rd,
Hampton, VA 23666
2020 Officers:
President - Deborah Rice 1st VP Membership - Walter Priest
2nd VP Programs - Michael Griffith Secretary - Dave Scharff
Treasurer - Gary Bergtholdt
Click on icons to learn more about the club:
The Micromineralogists of the National Capital Area
Meetings: 4th Wednesday of the month, 7:30 pm until 10:00 pm
Location: Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S Carlin Springs Road, Arlington, VA 22204
2020 Officers:
President - Dave MacLean Vice President - David Fryauff
Secretary - Bob Cooke Treasurer - Michael Pabst
Conference Chair - Kathy Hrechka Editor/Historian - Kathy Hrechka
Webmaster - Julia Hrechka
Click on icons to learn more about the club:
-5-
The Roanoke Valley Mineral & Gem Society
Meetings: 2nd Thursday of the month, 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm
Location: O Winston Link Museum, 101 Shenandoah Ave NE, Roanoke, VA 24016
2020 Officers:
1st VP - Carole Dow
Treasurer - Kathy Wickham
Secretary - Monique Sforza
Interested in starting a new gem or mineral society in your area?
Reach out to the Virginia Mineral Project at virginiamineralproject@gmail.com
to get more information on how we can help you!
Can’t come to meetings?! No worries!
Connect to rockhounds across the state on Facebook! (Click Image)
-6-
Rock & Mineral Shops in Virginia
Packard’s Stamps & Rocks
Located in Midlothian, Virginia, Packard’s Stamps & Rocks
has been in the area since 1962 and has been an important
spot for rockhounds in the state. The Packard family has been
heavily involved in Virginia minerals and has several unique
publications on Virginia minerals. On top of their minerals and
jewelry, they have an impressive stamp collection! The shop is
now managed by sons, David and Jim, grandchildren, Mark and
Kathy, with support from the local community.
13131 Midlothian Turnpike, Midlothian, VA 23113
https://www.packardstampandrock.com/
Virginia Rock Shop
Located in the Rockfish Valley Community Center, the Virginia
Rock Shop, owned by David Lipscomb, has been the ultimate
stop for Virginia rockhounds looking for unique mineral
specimens from the state. A wide variety of Virginia mineral
specimens can be found and Mr. Lipscomb has used many of the
state stones for beautiful jewelry. Enjoy a scenic ride in the area,
hit some local breweries and wineries and grab some rocks! The
county is also home to the state rock, Nelsonite.
190 Rockfish School Ln, Afton, VA 22920
https://varockshop.com/
Excalibur Mineral Corporation
For over 40 years, Excalibur Mineral Corp. has been providing
private collectors, researchers, major universities and museums
throughout the world with reliably identified, rare and unusual
mineral samples for science and display. In 2013, the company
relocated to Charlottesville, Virginia. The showroom is open with
mineral specimens for sale and special appointments to see the
warehouse. The owner, Tony Nikischer, is the owner and
chairman of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy which owns
Mindat.org!
1885 Seminole Trail, Suite 202, Charlottesville, VA
http://www.excaliburmineral.com/
-7-
Stones N’ Bones
Located in Forest, Virginia, near the beautiful Blue Ridge
Mountains, Stones N’ Bones offers a wonderfully eclectic mix
of the best that mother nature has to offer, including minerals,
crystals, fossils and more. The shop has operated for over 20
years and owner David Young has been an avid collector and
local rockhound. No matter what brings you to the shop, David
has a specimen for you!
18013 Forest Rd, #C02, Forest, VA 24551
http://www.stonesnbones.org/index.html
The Valley Rock Shop
Located right off I-81 in Verona, the Valley Rock Shop is
located inside the “Largest Antique Mall in America!” Owner,
John Hammer and his wife have ran the shop for many years
and continue to be active in the rockhound community. From
fossils to maps to minerals, Mr. Hammer has everything you
could ask for. The shop has become a staple for those traveling
up and down I-81. If you are a fan of antiques then this is the
perfect day trip!
50 Lodge Ln #106, Verona, VA 24482
Call for more information: 540-415-0972
Don’t see your favorite shop listed?
Want to add your shop to the 2021 directory?
Email the VMP and let us know!
-8-Natural History Museums in Virginia
James Madison University Virginia Tech
Mineral Museum Geoscience Museum
Beautiful mineral museum known for its Virginia Exhibits include the OmniGlobe, gems, minerals,
mineral specimens! The collection began in 1976 rocks, fossils, and a full-scale cast of an Allosaurus
under the curation of Dr. Lance E. Kearns. New dinosaur skeleton. The museum also has a Virginia
exhibit opening April 2020. Be sure to check it out! Minerals & Fossils display!
Festival Conference and Student Center, 1301 2062 Derring Hall, 926 West Campus Drive,
Carrier Dr, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 Blacksburg, VA 24061
https://sites.jmu.edu/mineralmuseum/ https://geos.vt.edu/museum-of-geosciences.html
Richmond University Museum of The
The Lora Robins Gallery Middle Appalachains
Beautiful exhibit of 10,000 pieces ranging from The museum highlights the geology of the middle
incredible shells, Virginia minerals, fossils, ceramics, appalachians from prehistoric mammals, local salt
pottery, artifacts, and more! This gallery showcases mines, unique double terminated crystals found in
some rare and unique Virginia mineral localities local fields and native american and civil war history
across the state! that has defined the story of the Saltville community.
5 Richmond Way, Richmond, VA 23226 123 Palmer Ave, Saltville, VA 24370
https://museums.richmond.edu/ http://moma.smythchamber.org/
-9-The Virginia Museum Smithsonian Museum
of Natural History of Natural History
The Virginia Museum of Natural History, affiliated
with the Smithsonian, is the state’s natural history The nation’s leading natural history museum that
museum located in Martinsville, Virginia founded garners millions of visitors every year. From fossils,
in 1984. The museum is also home to the first intact minerals, animals, etc. the Smithsonian has made a
stromatolite head ever found in Virginia, which is name for itself as one of, if not the best natural
one of the largest complete “heads” in the world, at history museum in America.
over 5 feet in diameter and weighing over 2 tons.
10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC
21 Starling Ave, Martinsville, VA 24112 20560
https://www.vmnh.net/ https://www.si.edu/museums/natural-history-mu-
seum
Radford University
Museum of the Earth Sciences
The Radford Museum of the Earth Sciences is a
teaching exhibit using an interdisciplinary approach
to foster an appreciation of the earth. Through
beautiful exhibits covering all aspects of Earth
New Exhibits Opening in Virginia?
Science, this is a great place for K-12 groups and Email the VMP and let us know!
natural history enthusiasts!
M64 - Center for the Sciences, Radford University,
Radford, VA 24142
https://www.radford.edu/content/csat/home/mes.
html
-10-Online Resources
IMPORTANT: Always have permission before you explore locations, and respect private property rights!
Mindat (www.mindat.org) - Largest mineral database and mineralogical reference website
on the internet. It is used by professional mineralogists and mineral collectors alike. This
site is valuable in understanding the reported mineral occurences across the world. Mindat
hosts an abundance of features and provides discussion boards to learn more about mineral
collecting, curations, preparation, etc.
Virginia Interactive Geology Map (https://www.dmme.virginia.gov/web-
maps/DGMR /) - Unique interactive geology map that you can type addresses
into and learn more about the rocks underneath that specific point. Useful
when looking for formations and trying to understand local geologic features.
A great resource for teaching kids and providing interactive classroom projects.
The Diggings (https://thediggings.com/) - The Diggings™ lists millions of claims across
the United States to help identify where materials are being mined or were mined in the
past. The site also provides information about the mine history and products mined. Use
the interactive map to learn more about old mines in your area!
Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (https://www.dmme.virginia.
gov/index.shtml) - The DMME is the state geological survey responsible for mining and
energy in the state of Virginia with the mission to “enhance the development and
conservation of energy and mineral resources in a safe and environmentally sound manner
in order to support a more productive economy in Virginia.” The DMME website provides
a wealth of infromation on the state’s geology and the headquarters in Charlottesville is
home to a large amount of Virginia mineral specimens, articles, publications, maps, etc. A
great educational resource. All previous geology and mineral articles are scanned as free
United States Geological Survey (https://www.usgs.gov/) - USGS is the national agency
for geology. While many resources have been directed to state surveys (Virginia:DMME)
the online databases and past publications by USGS have defined our knowledge of the
states geologic history and mineralogy.
Virginia Minerals Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/virginia-
minerals/ ) Virginia Minerals is the official community page under The Virginia Mineral
Project. This page is for the community, made by the community and welcomes members
of any background and experience level who share interest in Virginia minerals and mining
heritage. Keep up-to-date with the VMP project and share your finds!
-11-The Future of Virginia Minerals
Virginia Mineral Project
Calcite
3.2cm x 2.4cm x 2cm
Haymarket Quarry, Virginia
George Reimherr Collection
The Journey to Publish “Classic Mineral Localities of Virginia”
Over the course of 2020-2022, the Virginia Mineral Project (VMP) will be working to
develop and publish a new book on classic mineral localities of Virginia that have defined the state’s
history, culture, and economics. Unlike previous publications, this new book will uncover the
stories behind the mineral specimens and the collectors, sharing untold stories of discovery and
history that defined Virginia for generations. From interviews with long-time Virginia collectors,
to working with museums and schools, the VMP will work to bring Virginia minerals to life for a
new generation and highlight the state’s rich mineral heritage. Througout this process, the VMP is
also working to connect clubs and organizations involved in minerals, geology, and history together
across the state, while developing new events and opportunities for the public!
The 2020 Research Grant Phase is supported through a foundation partnership with the Science
Museum of Western Virginia. If you would like to donate and help make this publication possible,
please check out the following page: http://smwv.org/virginia-mineral-project/
Donations go towards developing articles such as this for the Virginia community!You can also read
