Houston Gem and Mineral Society - HGMS

06/19/2026

Our first field trip with HGMS was a success! Those who joined us were Colleen, Gary, Rey, Pam, Dean, Danielle, Allison and Matthew. Meeting up with everyone was easy as the directions and other information were sent out the day before. We met everyone at Leonard Grenwelge Park along the Llano River in Llano, Texas Saturday morning. Once there, we made our introductions and everyone filled out a risk of liability form. Then we were off to look for cool rocks, fossils, and other goodies. After a couple of hours of rockhounding, anyone who had entered the river may have found more than they bargained for…Leeches! One of our fearless field trip committee members was covered from head to toe! Instead of looking for rocks, everyone was looking for leeches! Once we determined we had found them all, we started to head up the hill to our vehicles. At the top of the hill, we realized that another one of our field trip committee members’ cars was having problems. It needed to be towed! After we carried on to the llanite outcrop. One of the field trip committee members, was asked to bring a twenty pound sledgehammer just to make sure all of the members got a piece of llanite or two. Definitely a win! We had such a good time and made some new friends. We look forward to future field trips with HGMS and promise not to get in the water next time! Happy Hunting! -The Field Trip Committee

06/13/2026

Summer heat beating you down? Well, take advantage of a cave's naturally cooler temperatures and plan a summer trip to visit some of the 4,700 caves registered with the National Park Service.

This Rock & Gem article will help get you started!

Caves of the national parks are some of the world’s biggest and most interesting. Their mystique attracts everyone from explorers to scientists and tourists.

06/10/2026

HGMS MEMBERS ONLY!

The Paleo Section's June 16th meeting is just around the corner! It starts at 7:30 and this month's meeting will have Ray Kizer present an introduction to foraminifera fossils, detailing what they are, how to find them in the geologic environment, and how they are useful to geoscience and exploration!

06/08/2026

Have you ever wanted to make your own jewelry? We have that class!

On July 26, starting at noon, you can take a class at HGMS to learn to make and texture a 6mm wide band ring from scratch. The class will cover creating rings and the fundamentals of finishing a piece (the key to making it look professional).

This is an ADULTS ONLY class but it is open to members and non-members alike. So click on the below link, get the details, and sign up!

Learn to make and texture a 6mm wide band ring from scratch. The class will cover creating rings and the fundamentals of finishing a piece (the key to making it…

06/07/2026

Julius talks about his flat lap polisher!

06/06/2026

Sneak peek of a great article published in the HGMS monthly newsletter, the Backbender's Gazette.

MORE ABOUT COLLECTING NEAR ALPINE - by JULY OLSON

"“You’ll know you’re serious about rockhounding when you get a 4 wheel drive.“

I laughed when Teri Smith, our incredible guide to rockhounding the private ranches of the once volcanic landscape of west Texas, told me that. Yet, on the way home my wife Jen and I were already seriously contemplating the cost of trading in our current vehicle for one, and pricing places to stay when the rockhounding season opens back up in the fall.

The area around Big Bend has always been my happy place, and now there’s a whole new strata to that deep love. Agates. Boy do I adore agates! And let me tell you, Texas goes big when it comes to those beautiful little biscuits of calcedony!"

The rest of July's article can be found on our website at https://hgms.org/june-2026-backbenders-gazette/

06/04/2026

HGMS ACTIVE MEMBERS ONLY!

FIELD TRIP (Note the new date!)
Saturday June 13, 2026 @ 9 AM. HGMS will be hosting a field trip in Llano TX.

15 spots are available for 2026 current members and their immediate families.

See your current member's eBlast for details on signing up and more!

Not a member but want to go on great fieldtrips? Sign up for HGMS membership now at https://hgms.org/membership/.

06/04/2026

HGMS MEMBERS ONLY!!

The HGMS Beading Section will be continuing their work on the USA Flag bracelet they started last month.

Didn't attend last month's meeting? That's no problem, bring any beading project you'd like to work on and enjoy the great company!

The meeting is Saturday June 13 at 10 AM and is for MEMBERS ONLY so if you want to participate, but you aren't a member, you MUST enroll in membership first (https://hgms.org/membership/) 🤩

05/22/2026

Tuesday May 26th - 7:30PM to 9PM at the Clubhouse

Colin Diggins will be speaking about the Pleistocene strata that is right under our feet in Houston. Our area holds a menagerie of unusual ice-age species and Colin's presentation will explore the extraordinary local fossil specimens in HMNS’s collection and the geologic context they’re coming from.

About Colin: Colin has been passionate about the Pleistocene since he was young and went on his first excavation at the age of 13. He completed an undergraduate degree in Archaeology at Agustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 2013. Before that he spent several years learning Geology and Paleontology while working as a Discovery Guide at HMNS. He now manages the Paleontology Laboratory at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

05/14/2026

Members only!

Refractometer. Say that 3 times fast!

Or, better yet, come to this month's Faceting Section meeting at 6 PM on Thursday May 21 and learn to use a refractometer in gem ID!! There will also be a drawing for a gemstone giveaway as well as sharing hits and tips in the faceting process!

You must be a member to attend this meeting, but you can easily enroll in HGMS membership here: https://hgms.org/membership/ 🥰