Organizations of Interest
The Eastern Federation of Mineralogical and Lapidary Societies, Inc. was organized in 1950 to bring about a closer association of Clubs and Societies devoted to the study of the Earth Sciences and the practice of the Lapidary Arts and related crafts in the eastern portion of the United States.
Beginning with three "founding" clubs and seven "charter" clubs, the EFMLS has now grown to approximately 150 affiliated clubs and societies with a combined membership of well over 10,000 individuals.
The EFMLS is a member of the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies, the umbrella association for the seven regional federations in the United States. It joined the AFMS in 1952.
http://www.amfed.org/efmls/
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American Federation of Mineralogical Societies
A non-profit educational federation of seven similar regional organizations of gem, mineral, and lapidary societies - Founded in 1947.
The purpose of the AFMS:
- To promote popular interest and education in the various Earth Sciences, and in particular the subjects of Geology, Mineralogy, Paleontology, Lapidary and other related subjects, and to sponsor and provide means of coordinating the work and efforts of all persons and groups interested therein
- To sponsor and encourage the formation and international development of Societies and Regional Federations and by through such means to strive toward greater international good will and fellowship
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Mindat.org is the largest mineral database and mineralogy reference website on the internet. This site contains worldwide data on minerals, mineral collecting, mineral localities and other mineralogical data.
http://www.mindat.org
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Gemdat.org is a unique reference web site on gems and gemology with something for everyone from beginners to experts. Join our community and get involved! [NOTE: Public Beta at this time]
http://www.gemdat.org
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A complete and up-to-date mineralogy database containing species descriptions and a comprehensive library of mineral images. The Mineralogy Database was last updated on 9/5/2012 and it contains 4,714 individual mineral species descriptions with links and a comprehensive image library.
http://www.webmineral.com/
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The Handbook of Mineralogy series is a Five Volume set authored by John W. Anthony, Richard A. Bideaux, Kenneth W. Bladh, and Monte C. Nichols, and published by Mineral Data Publishing. Each mineral known at the time of publication occupies one page of the handbook.
http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/
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The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), National Mine Map Repository resides in Green Tree, Pennsylvania, and collects and maintains mine map information and images for all types of mining for the entire country. Many of the maps in the repository are currently available in digital format and the repository is in the process of scanning all the maps in the continually-growing collection
http://mmr.osmre.gov
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Mineral Resources On-line Spatial Data - Interactive maps and downloadable data for regional and global Geology, Geochemistry, Geophysics, and Mineral Resources
http://mrdata.usgs.gov/
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Vargas Gem and Mineral Collection at the University of Texas - An extensive photographic library of gems and minerals celebrating the legacy of Martha and Glenn Vargas, authors of the seminal work, "Faceting for Amateurs"
http://www.jsg.utexas.edu/vargas/
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This is the Web Site of Debbie and David, some Virginia Rockhounder's near Wintergreen Nature Foundation in Nelson County, Virginia. We enjoy all the treasures of this earth and especially love to work with the mineral-related treasures. This site is our way to share with others some of our collected treasures and to provide some information for others on rockhounding activities
http://www.varockhound.com
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YupRocks.com is dedicated to providing enjoyable and educational rock and mineral pictures, fossil pictures, and earthquake pictures. Mineral pictures range from the basic rock types to crystals and gem stones, and are displayed for educational purposes (mineral identification) as well as for aesthetic beauty.
http://www.yuprocks.com/