East Texas Gem & Mineral Society (ETGMS) is a Nonprofit 501(C)(3) organization. ETGMS was formed by group of people that shared a common interest, and held our first organizational meeting November 12, 1956. ETGMS was created so others that shared those same interests would have a place to gather, communicate, and learn from others in the group. Our purpose is to educate and promote the study of geology, mineralogy, gemology, fossils and the lapidary arts. ETGMS is affiliated with the South Central Federation of Mineral Societies and the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies.
You don’t have to know anything about the Geo-sciences, just have an interest in any part of the hobby. Whether it is collecting, identification, wire-wrapping, faceting, or cabbing, there is something to pique almost everyone’s interest.
We have a monthly meeting that is composed of a short business meeting followed by a program. Programs are usually given by members on topics that may interest the rest of the group and visitors. Our monthly meetings are held on the first Monday of each month, unless that Monday falls on a holiday, then it is moved to the second Monday. We meet at the ETGMS Clubhouse at 2015 Deerbrook Drive, Tyler, Texas. The meetings start at 6:45 PM, and are open to the public.
We encourage people to become members of ETGMS. As a member, you will receive our monthly newsletter, the Rock-N-Rose. You will be able to attend club field trips, instructional workshops, classes, and monthly sub-group meetings for Lapidary/Jewelry, Minerals, Gems and Fossil. You will also get email updates on club activities.
Our annual Gemstone & Jewelry Show is our major fundraiser. Our current financial goal is to raise enough money to establish a workshop in our clubhouse in Tyler, Texas. Our clubhouse is a permanent place for equipment that has been donated to the club, and a place to hold classes and group meetings. All donations to ETGMS are tax deductible.
Whether you enjoy going into a jewelry store or gem show and picking out a lovely finished piece, or collecting the material to make it yourself, it is all part of the same hobby. The Earth Sciences are a wide range of studies like Volcanism (study of volcanoes), Geology (the rocky parts of the Earth’s crust and it’s historic development). Connected to this are Mineralogy, Petrology, Geomorphology, Paleontology (the study of Pre-historic life/fossils), Structural Geology, Engineering Geology and Sedimentology.
Our club touches on each of these studies, but in a more in-depth way. It brings together novice and expert alike, who have the same interests. It gives members the opportunity to collect specimens, learn about how they are formed, and perhaps how to make them into wearable art.
Please visit our pages on this website to learn more about us.
We hope to see you soon!!!!