October 23 General Meeting

Precious and Common Opal from Virgin Valley Opal District, Humboldt County, Nevada

Please join us for our monthly member meeting Wednesday 10/23, at Poinsettia Pavilion.
 
Walt Lombardo will be speaking about “Precious and common Opal from Virgin Valley Opal District, Humboldt County Nevada”. Virgin Valley has been producing precious opal for more than 100 years. The opal is found in the Miocene age rhyolitic tuffs along with gold and minerals bearing uranium (carnotite) and mercury. The opal can be highly fluorescent, due to uranium. The precious opal showing spectral colors occurs in nodules and fossilized wood, bone and teeth. It will be a very interesting talk.

Walt Lombardo is a geologist with more than 35 years’ experience in mineralogy, mining and
mineral exploration. Walt is also owner of Nevada Mineral & Book Company. 

 
Social time begins at 7pm and the meeting starts at 7:30. Hope to see you there!

 

Annual Ventura Gem Show

Our annual gem show is held at the Ventura County Fairgrounds on the first full weekend in March. In 2025, the dates will be March 1 & 2. For more information visit our Show page.

Membership Highlights

VGMS members enjoy many benefits, including an annual gem show, field trips, lapidary instruction and use of equipment, monthly newsletter, museum, extensive library, social events, youth programs, and of course, camaraderie. To become a member, visit our Membership page and fill out the Membership Form at the bottom of the page.

VGMS Meetings

Poinsettia_PavilionGeneral meetings are held the fourth Wednesday of the month (except November and December – 2nd Wednesday).  The public is invited to attend any of our general meetings. We meet either on Zoom or at Ventura’s Poinsettia Pavilion in the Santa Paula Room (3451 Foothill Rd, Ventura, CA 93003) on the 4th Wednesday of every month, except November and December, when we meet on the 2nd Wednesday so as not to interfere with the holidays. Park in either the upper or lower lot, and enjoy an ocean view of Ventura from this hillside venue just below Two Trees.

Mission Statement

The VGMS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose purpose is to promote popular interest in geology, mineralogy, paleontology, and related subjects. We sponsor lectures, classes, demonstrations, field trips and school visits to further education and interest both within VGMS and the community at large. Our annual gem show exhibits rock, mineral, fossil, and lapidary arts collections in order to share our hobby with the public. Find out more at About the VGMS.