Where to Collect
Information about places to collect minerals in Virginia can be found from:
Gem and Mineral Societies
Join a mineral club if there is one in your area. These clubs offer educational programs and organized collecting trips. A short list of mineral clubs is given below. Contact the Virginia Division of Geology and Mineral Resources for a more complete list.
• Gem and Mineral Society of the Virginia Peninsula
466 Wilton Road, Hampton, VA 23666
• Lynchburg Gem and Mineral Society
3800 Wards Road, Lynchburg, VA 24502
Meets third Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. at the Lynchburg Recreation Center, 301 Grove Street
• Midlothian Earth Science Society
PO Box 1345, Midlothian, VA 23113
Meets bimonthly, third Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. at the Town Meeting Hall, Sycamore Square, Midlothian, VA
• Northern Virginia Mineral Club
1520 Carter Lane, Woodbridge, VA 22191
• Shenandoah Valley Gem and Mineral Society
Meets second Mondays at 7:30 p.m. at Waynesboro Church of the Brethren, 364 Bridge Avenue.
• Richmond Gem and Mineral Society
PO Box 26985, Richmond, VA 23261
Meets second Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center, 5403 Monument Avenue, Richmond
• Roanoke Valley Mineral and Gem Society, Inc.
PO Box 3297, Roanoke, VA 24015-1297
Meets second Thursdays at the Science Museum of Western Virginia, One Market Square, Roanoke
Virginia Division of Geology and Mineral Resources
The Virginia Division of Geology and Mineral Resources is an excellent resource for mineral collectors. Visit the main office in Fontaine Research Park in Charlottesville. Geologic maps, topographic maps, and reports are available at the sales office and research library. Staff geologists are available to answer questions and to identify mineral specimens. Call the Division to be placed on the mailing list to receive Virginia Minerals, a magazine with articles about Virginia’s geology and unusual minerals.
• Virginia Division of Geology and Mineral Resources
900 Natural Resources Drive, Suite 500
Charlottesville, VA 22903
(434) 951-6341 (phone) (434) 951-6366 (fax)
Guidebooks and Publications
Dietrich, R.V., 1990a, Geology and Virginia: Virginia Division of Mineral Resources, Charlottesville, 213 p.Dietrich, R.V., 1990b, Minerals of Virginia, 1990: Virginia Division of Mineral Resources, Charlottesville, 474 p.
Dietrich, R.V., 1993, Minerals of Virginia, 1990 - an update: Virginia Division of Mineral Resources, Charlottesville, 28 p.
Penick, D.A., 1987, Virginia Mineral locality index: Virginia Minerals, v. 33, no. 1, p. 1-10.
Penick, D.A., 1992, Gemstones and decorative-ornamental stones of Virginia: Virginia Minerals, v. 38, no. 3, p. 17-26.
Penick, D.A., 1997, Mineral collecting in Virginia (revision): Virginia Division of Mineral Resources, Charlottesville, informational brochure.
Penick, D.A. and Sweet, P.C., 1992, Mineral collection localities in Virginia: Virginia Minerals, v. 38, no. 2, p. 9-12.