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New Mexico Mineral Symposium

flourite on quartz
Photo by Jeff Scovil
Fluorite on quartz, Pine Canyon deposit, Burro Mountains District, Grant Co., NM. Gift of Gary & Priscilla Young.

Plan to attend the:

43rdAnnual Symposium — November 10-12, 2023
Macey Center
New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology
Socorro, New Mexico
[view map]

A PDF version of this announcement is also available.

The New Mexico Mineral Symposium provides a forum for both professionals and amateurs interested in mineralogy. The meeting allows all to share their cumulative knowledge of mineral occurrences and provides stimulus for mineralogical studies and new mineral discoveries. In addition, the informal atmosphere encourages intimate discussions among all interested in mineralogy and associated fields.

This year's symposium will consist of a day and a half of formal papers presented in 30-minute time blocks. Papers will focus on mineral occurrences from New Mexico and adjacent states, as well as Mexico. A few selected papers may be presented from other parts of the world. An informal pre-symposium social and tailgating session will be held at local motels beginning on Friday, and will last through the weekend.

Wulfenite on malachite
Photo by Virgil Lueth
Wulfenite on malachite, Graphic Mine, Magdalena District, Socorro Co., NM.

The Mineral Symposium is organized each year by the Mineral Museum at the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources.

Sponsors this year include:

  • Albuquerque Gem and Mineral Club
  • Chaparral Rockhounds
  • Los Alamos Geological Society
  • New Mexico Geological Society Foundation
  • Friends of Mineralogy
  • City of Socorro
  • Grant County Rolling Stones
  • Friends of Mineralogy — Colorado Chapter
4 corners minerals
Photo by Kelsey McNamara
Barite, Day Tunnel, Pelican Mine, Hermosa District, Sierra Co., NM.

Featured Speaker:

Topic Pending

— Dr. Eloïse Gaillou, Curatrix, Mineralogy Museum of  l’École des Mines de Paris
(more information)

Friends of the Mineral Museum Reception — Friday, November 10th

A Friends of the Mineral Museum reception will be held at the museum on Friday from 5-7 pm. An informal tailgating session will be held at local motels beginning on Friday and will last through the weekend. You can join the “Friends” group at the reception with a donation of $25 or more.

Auctions & Dinner — November 11th and 12th

At 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dinner will be followed by a voice auction to benefit the New Mexico Mineral Symposium. The auction and dinner will take place in the Fidel Center Ballrooms (registration fee required).

A silent auction will also take place from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the lower lobby of Macey Center on Sunday. The auction is sponsored by the Albuquerque Gem and Mineral Club for the benefit of the Mineral Museum (FREE).

A cocktail hour with a cash bar, followed by a dinner and auction, will be held on Sunday. The cost for the dinner is $30.00 for adults, $10.00 for children (2-12 years old). A auction to benefit the symposium will conclude the evening's activities. The dinner and auction will be in the Fidel Center.

Registration

The pre-registration fee for the symposium is $50.00, and the fee for students is $25.00 (with student ID). Registration includes a copy of the abstracts, two continental breakfasts, and coffee breaks. Registration for the dinner and auction on Sunday evening (see above) is extra. On-site registration will cost an additional $10 each.

Pre-registration forms and online registration will be available about a month before the symposium.

Schedule

[in progress]

Photographs

See our Gallery of photographs from past symposia and associated field trips. If you have photographs that you would like to share, please contact us.

For more photos and “live reports” of past symposia, please peruse Erin Delventhal’s in-depth coverage on Mindat.org: