What it is

The Sacramento Mineral Society (SMS) is a membership rock, mineral and lapidary club in Sacramento, California, organized in 1936. Its home page calls it “an educational & social non-profit … dedicated to increasing interest and knowledge of mineralogy, geologic sciences, and lapidary arts.” It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and runs a members’ clubhouse with a fully stocked lapidary workshop. The About page says the society is a member of the California Federation of Mineralogical Societies (CFMS), the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies (AFMS) and the Cooperative Field Trip Chairmen’s Association of Northern California.

Who it’s for

Rockhounds, cabochon cutters, jewelry makers, mineral collectors and families in the Sacramento area who want shop time on club lapidary equipment, beginner cab training, field trips and a monthly meeting.

Why it’s listed

It’s an established membership club with its own website (not Facebook-only). The site prints a clubhouse address, typical shop hours, shop and saw-cut fees, dues, a required beginner cabochon class and a public monthly meeting place. It is Lapidary Plaza’s first Sacramento listing. The nearby Roseville Rock Rollers class is listed separately as a workshop.

Official URL

https://www.sacramentomineralsociety.org/

Show site (linked from the club site): https://sacgemshow.com/

(All checked 2026-10-30 and returned HTTP 200 to curl with a Chrome user agent.)

Location

Clubhouse and lapidary shop: 5467 Ballantine Street #6, Sacramento, CA 95826. Educational meetings are held at the Sacramento County Cooperative Building, 4145 Branch Center Rd., Sacramento, CA 95827 (not the clubhouse). Mailing address: Sacramento Mineral Society, P.O. Box 279291, Sacramento, CA 95827. Phone: 916-662-5819.

This is a club. It is not a store or a commercial school.

Notes

Shop hours (Lapidary Workshop page): typically Tuesdays 6–9 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays 12–5 p.m. The shop is volunteer-run, so it may not open during posted hours. The club asks you to always call 916-662-5819 before driving out. The site also says the shop closes when the outside temperature is 100° or higher.
Shop fees (Lapidary Workshop page): shop usage $2.00 per hour. Saw cuts are $2 / $3 / $4 (small / medium / big) for members and $4 / $6 / $8 for non-members. Rough rock from the club rock pile is $3.00 a pound for members and $6.00 for non-members (minimum prices).
Beginning Lapidary Class (Classes page): required for all new members and members only. It costs $20, is scheduled with the Cab Class Coordinators after you watch a required video at the clubhouse, and you finish when you have made one or two cabochons and the instructors sign you off on the equipment.
Other classes (Classes page): metal clay, wire wrapping, copper etching and metal stamping classes for members and non-members. On the check date their dates were listed as TBA.
Dues (Join Us page): single adult $35 a year. Junior members (8–17) pay $10 for CFMS dues and insurance and must be sponsored by an adult member. Every member must volunteer at least 8 hours a year at a main public event or pay an extra $30 fee. The Beginning Lapidary Class is not included in dues.
Meetings (Educational Meetings page): once a month at 7 p.m., open to the public, with a presentation, potluck, prize drawing and live auction. Junior Rockhound meetings are the same evening at 6 p.m. Check the club Calendar for dates.
Show: the show site listed the 90th Annual Gem, Jewelry, Mineral and Rock Show for October 24–25, 2026 at the Scottish Rite Temple, 6151 H Street, Sacramento (adults $8; children 12 and under free with a paid adult). The club’s About page says the show is held each November, so check the show site for future dates.
Not affiliated with Lapidary Plaza. No email, phone call or form was used.

FAQ

Q: Where is the Sacramento Mineral Society lapidary shop?
A: At the SMS clubhouse, 5467 Ballantine Street #6, Sacramento, CA 95826.

Q: When is the shop open?
A: Typically Tuesdays 6–9 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays 12–5 p.m. It’s volunteer-run, so call 916-662-5819 before you go.

Q: How much does it cost to use the shop?
A: $2.00 an hour, plus saw-cut fees. New members must first take the $20 Beginning Lapidary Class and be signed off on the equipment.

Q: How much is membership?
A: $35 a year for a single adult, plus at least 8 volunteer hours a year (or an extra $30 fee). Junior members pay $10 and need an adult sponsor.

Q: Can I attend a meeting without being a member?
A: Yes. The monthly educational meetings at 7 p.m. at the Sacramento County Cooperative Building are open to the public.