Shasta Gem and Mineral Society

05/14/2026

Hello Members.

For the field trip on May 16th to Ashland, Oregon to collect blue agate. We meet at the workshop at 8 AM Saturday morning from there. We will travel up north to W**d and stopping at the pilot gas station approximately at 9:30-9:45 to wait for anyone that will be meeting us there. From there, we will continue north on Highway 5 into Ashland, Oregon and there we will take Highway 66 towards Klamath Falls, Oregon and arrive at the location approximately 20 minutes later.

Please bring food, water, rock, hammer, chisel, small 5 pound sledgehammer ,gloves, eye protection, a chair to sit there is no natural tree to cover from sun and elements. You may want to bring a 5 foot or a 6 foot tall ladder to reach higher up on the side of the formation to reach the higher agates in the wall.

Any questions feel free to give me a call.

04/30/2026

🚩 SCAM ALERT UPDATE : PLEASE READ 🚩

​We have been notified that scammers are actively messaging people pretending to be vendor coordinators for our show. They are using high-pressure lines like "only one spot left!" to trick people into sending money.

​PLEASE DO NOT FALL FOR IT!! Unfortunately, all we can do is report and block these accounts as they appear. We have already reported several fake profiles, but they are persistent.

📢📢 ​Important Reminders: 📢📢​
We will NEVER contact you through Facebook DMs or comments for vendor sign-ups.
​We will NEVER ask for payment through Messenger or apps via Facebook.

​The ONLY official way to secure a spot is through our email:📧 [email protected]

A huge ​THANK YOU to everyone who has been reaching out to let us know about these fake profiles. Your heads-up helps us stay on top of this and protects our fellow vendors! Please continue to report and block any suspicious messages you receive.

04/01/2026

⚠️Community Notice⚠️

We’ve been made aware of scammers posing as vendor coordinators for our Annual Gem show.

For clarity:
The ONLY way to become a vendor is by contacting us directly at
📧 [email protected]

We will never reach out via DMs or comments for vendor sign-ups or payments.

10/11/2025

🪨 SGMS Field Trip: Patrick’s Point / Agate Beach / Sue-Meg State Park
🚨 PLEASE BE AT THE AGATE BEACH PARKING LOT BY 8:00 AM SHARP — SATURDAY, 10/11/2025.
Plan to arrive 10–15 minutes early to park, purchase your pass, gear up, and check in.

📅 Date: Saturday, October 11, 2025
🕗 Meeting Time: 8:00 AM SHARP
📍 Meeting Location: Agate Beach Parking Lot — [41° 8' 23.09" N, 124° 8' 57.94" W] (decimal ≈ 41.13975, −124.14943)
💵 Park Fee: $5 day-use pass required at entry. No other parking or park-use fees for the day. (Bring card or cash.)

🌊 Why the Early Start?
The ocean sets our schedule. Our prime agate window is tied to low tide:

Low tide: 4.6 ft at 8:45 AM

High tide: 9 ft at 3:00 PM

The tide is not in our favor for this trip. We must be on the beach at low tide (8:45am). The short walk and safety briefing take time, so if you’re not parked and ready by 8:00 AM, you risk missing the best agate-bearing gravel bars as the tide turns and starts to raise.
Bottom line: If you want agates, be at the Agate Beach Parking Lot by 8:00 AM sharp.

📋 Itinerary
7:45–8:00 AM | Arrive, Pay, Gear Up
Buy your $5 day-use pass, lace boots, grab bucket/mesh bag, snacks, water, and binoculars. Reception can be spotty—save the coordinates ahead of time.

8:00–8:15 AM | Meet & Check-In (Parking Lot)
Safety reminders, tide plan, and the day’s overview. Attendance taken at 8:00 AM.

8:15–8:40 AM | Intro & Geologic Overview (Bluff Area)
Trip leader Bryan Puleri shares how agates form, why they concentrate here, and what to look for.
🔭 Bring binoculars—we often see seabirds, sea lions, and sometimes whales.

8:40–8:45 AM | Move to Trail & Descent
Head down the bluff trail so we’re on the sand at low tide.

8:45 AM–2:00 PM | Agate Hunting on Agate Beach
Work the exposed gravel bars for agates, jasper, and wave-polished treasures.
👣 Terrain is rocky and can be slick—wear sturdy, grippy footwear and watch the surf.

2:00–3:00 PM | Wrap-Up & Group Photo (Near trailhead / bluff)
Share finds, quick debrief, and group photo before the high tide peaks.

After 3:00 PM | Optional Lunch & Exploring
Picnic at scenic overlooks or visit Wedding Rock and Patrick’s Point Overlook. If you remain on the beach, monitor the incoming tide closely.

🧺 What to Bring
Waterproof boots or sturdy shoes with traction

Warm layers & rain shell (coastal weather changes fast)

Bucket or mesh collecting bag

Binoculars & camera

Snacks, water, and lunch

Field notebook or hand lens (optional)

Sand graters and/or beach trowel (hand tools only; no digging into bedrock)

⚠️ Important Notes
Arrive by 8:00 AM sharp to catch the prime low-tide window.

Watch for rising tides—access shrinks quickly after late morning.

Follow park rules: no hammering, no bedrock digging, collect responsibly.

Mind your footing: wet rocks, drift logs, and surge can be hazardous.

If You’re Running Late
Head straight down the Agate Beach bluff trail and look for the SGMS group along the main gravel bars near the lower-tide line. You’ll miss the safety briefing—proceed with extra caution and stay tide-aware.

Questions?
Call/text Bryan Puleri at (530) 318-8276, or post in the SGMS Facebook Group.
🌐 More info:

We're a community of gemology and minerology enthusiasts in Shasta County. We're here to help you explore and learn about the world around you.

09/18/2025

Nellie Spring, here we come. Our field trip on September 20th is to Nellie Spring, NV to collect common Opal. Four wheel drive vehicle required!

Our meeting location is My-T-Fine Foods, 21919 State Highway 299 E, Bella Vista, CA 96008 at 6am.

Items to bring for the trip rock hammer, small sledgehammer, small chisel, collecting bucket, Ziploc bag or plastic bag , spray bottle, & lots of food and water. Also, recommend, sunscreen, and a hat.

Four-wheel-drive vehicle needed for this trip or carpool with someone that has a four-wheel vehicle.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Y66i96DnVBtUnt1D7?g_st=i

09/13/2025

08/21/2025

This month’s field trip is to collect rose quartz at Babcock Peak. We will meet in the parking lot at the Holiday Market on Deschutes Rd in Palo Cedro at 7am on Saturday, August 23rd.

Four wheel drive vehicle highly recommended. This is a hard rock collecting trip. You will need a sledge hammer, chisel, eye protection, and gloves. You will also need a rock hammer, spray bottle with water, collecting bucket or bag. Bring lots of food and water to eat and drink.

08/08/2025

Our upcoming remaining field trips for the year.

August 23rd. Pink Quartz. Janesville, CA.

September 13 Crystal Peak Tahoe, CA. This is an optional two day trip.

**September 20th. Petrified wood. Smoke creek desert NV.

October 11th. Agate. Patrick’s Point, CA

** field trip location may change due to scheduling conflict.

07/16/2025

This months field trip is to collect Sunstones near Plush, Oregon. We will meet at the My T Fine Foods parking lot at 21919 CA-299, Bella Vista at 6am on Saturday, July 19th.

Bring a small trowel,  a small screen with quarter inch holes to capture the Sunstones, spray bottle With water, collecting bag or small bucket or container. Bring lots of food and water, a hat and sunscreen. Two wheel vehicle OK, vehicle tires must be in good condition due to driving on gravel dirt road for 20 miles.

We will stop just north of Alturas at the chimney rock travel center for gas and bathroom break. From there, we will continue north on Highway 395 through Lakeview and then through Plush Oregon.

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

06/18/2025

We are moving the Petrified Wood trip to another date. instead are going to Tuledad Canyon on June 21st, 2025 to collect Jasper, calcite cubes, petrified wood, tufa, and zeolite. We will meet in the parking lot at the My T Fine Foods store in Bella Vista at 6:30 AM.

For others that are going on the field trip and are meeting us along the route at the Chimney Rock Travel center at 9:15am located 5.4 miles north of Alturas, just pass the California agricultural inspection station on the right hand side. 

Items to bring include spray bottle with water, Rockhammer, collecting bucket, gloves, and eye protection. Temperature will be in the low 60s, bring a light jacket and sunscreen. Lastly, bring food and lots of water to drink.

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.