Maine Mineralogical & Geological Club
- Location
- Meetings: Payson Smith Hall, Room 41 (ground floor), University of Southern Maine, Falmouth Street side, Portland, ME; mailing PO Box 187, Sanbornville, NH 03872-0187
- Last checked
- 2026-10-26
What it is
The Maine Mineralogical & Geological Club (MMGS) is a membership gem, mineral and lapidary society based around Portland, Maine. Its About Us page calls it the Maine Mineralogical & Geological Society and says it is “a nonprofit organization dedicated to all educational and cultural aspects of geology; mineralogy; lapidary arts and related subjects; and to the camaraderie generated by the membership’s mutual interests.” The site title and domain use “Club.”
Who it’s for
Rockhounds, cabochon cutters, jewelry makers, families and anyone in southern Maine (and nearby New Hampshire) interested in minerals, geology and lapidary. Meetings are family-oriented, and the site invites the public to attend.
Why it’s listed
It’s an established membership club with its own website (not Facebook-only), a fixed public meeting place and schedule on the USM campus, field trips, a youth program and a dated annual show.
Official URL
https://www.mainemineralclub.org/
Related official pages: https://www.mainemineralclub.org/about, https://www.mainemineralclub.org/meetings, https://www.mainemineralclub.org/events-1, https://www.mainemineralclub.org/online-membership-form, https://www.mainemineralclub.org/contact-us
(All checked 2026-10-26 and returned HTTP 200 to curl with a Chrome user agent.)
Location
Monthly meetings: Payson Smith Hall on the University of Southern Maine campus, Portland, ME (enter from Falmouth Street). The Meetings page says Room 41 (ground floor); the About Us page prints Room #1 (first floor). Mailing address: PO Box 187, Sanbornville, NH 03872-0187. The annual show is at Brick South, Thompsons Point, Portland, ME.
This is a club. It is not a store or a commercial school.
Notes
- Meetings: third Saturday of each month from September to May at 6:30 p.m. No monthly meetings in June, July or August (“we’re out digging!”). E-board meetings the same Saturday at 5 p.m., open to members.
- Programs: rock and mineral collecting talks, field trips (coordinator listed on About), youth program (not active on the check date, with a note that the club hopes to resume it), newsletters by email, and online membership via Memberful.
- Show: 42nd Annual Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show — Saturday–Sunday, April 17–18, 2027 at Brick South, Thompsons Point, Portland ($5 adults; $4 teens and seniors; kids under 12 free), more than 50 dealers.
- Site title and domain say “Club”; About Us and the mailing name say “Society.” Logo initials are MMGS.
- Photo: the club’s own Squarespace logo / og:image (resized; original was 2500 × 1987).
- Maine’s first Lapidary Plaza listing. Not affiliated with Lapidary Plaza. No email or form was used.
FAQ
Q: When and where does the club meet?
A: On the third Saturday of each month from September to May at 6:30 p.m., in Payson Smith Hall on the USM campus in Portland (Room 41 / Room #1 depending on the page).
Q: Do I have to be a member to attend a meeting?
A: Meetings are described as family-oriented and open; the home page says all are invited and encouraged to attend.
Q: Does the club care about lapidary?
A: Yes. Its mission statement includes the lapidary arts along with geology and mineralogy.
Q: Is there a kids’ program?
A: A youth program is listed (free with family membership) but was not active on the check date.
Q: Does it hold a show?
A: Yes. The 42nd annual show is set for April 17–18, 2027 at Brick South, Thompsons Point, Portland.