Flinders Geology, Gem & Mineral Club

Flinders Geology, Gem
& Mineral Club

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Club Details

PO Box 8 5540 South Australia
Location:-
The old railway station platform tearooms
at the Tourism and Arts Complex.

For further details please contact:-

President:
Phone:-
Vice President:-
Phone:-
Email:-

Membership Details:-

Workshop Times:-

The workshop is open by request.

Club Meetings:-

Meetings are held every month on the third Wednesday. The micro mounters also
meet on the same day as the meeting.
Meetings are held at the old railway station platform tearooms at the Tourism and
Arts Complex.
The Annual General Meeting is held in November with a general meeting following.

About:-

The club fosters the learning about faceting, displays, micro mounting etc.
And talks to various schools and organizations in the local area.

Club History:-

In January 1989 an advertisement was placed in the Port Pirie Recorder paper
inviting people to the Community Welfare Office meeting rooms for mid February
1989. The aim was establish if there were enough persons interested in forming a
gem club in the Port Pirie area. The meeting was called by Lyn Leibelt, who worked
at the Tafe Campus and Henry Beard, an avid rock and mineral collector. The
meeting was attended by 32 people, and it appeared that there was enough
enthusiasm to convene a meeting for mid March. A call was made for office
bearers to start a club.

During the first year, the club was named the Flinders Geology, Gem and Mineral
Club (FGGMC), made a constitution and joined the Gem and Mineral Clubs
Association of South Australia (GEMCASA).
The original office bearers were:-

President:- Henry Beard
Vice President:- Ken Smith
Secretary:- Cerrie Forgan
Treasurer:- Georgina Sard

As of this date, there are still five of the original members in the club. A news letter
was started in 1993 by Peter Brock, and has continued with various editors.
The first field trip by the club members was to an area near Bundaleer Reserviour
and led by Kevin Hillary, a very experienced rock hound.

Several meetings were held at the Community Welfare Office before shifting to the
Napperby school late in 1989. The club held meetings there for about 12 months
before moving to the Tafe campus. From the Campus the club shifted to its
present location in August 1994. Membership has been constantly around the 50
members mark, with children encouraged to come along with their parents on the
many excursions that the club holds.

Field Trips:-

Guided excursions are held every month, weather permitting, to various mine sites
throughout the region.

Safety In The Workshop

Don't have loose clothing around any moving machine parts and keep
guards on equipment at all times.
Wear safety glasses while grinding and using any pickle or acid
compounds.
Wear a filter face mask if required.
Don't spill water on any electric motors. Electricity and water don't mix.
Keep fingers and hands clear of sharp moving parts.
Wear rubber gloves if handling any acids or pickling solutions.
Use tweezers when handling hot soldered jewelry.
Have a first aid kit near by at all times.

Take every precaution while on field trips like making sure you have the
right gear like gloves, boots, drinking water and basic supplies.
Fill in your holes after digging and beware of overhanging rocks and ledges
that could collapse while digging below.
Don't go into old mine shafts as most are unstable and air quality can never
be guaranteed.
Always where safety glasses when breaking or chiselling on rocks.
Watch out for snakes and spiders because as a rock hound you're more
prone to finding these critters than others.
Always close gates after you and always take your rubbish home with you if
there isn't a proper place to leave it.
Always tell someone where you are before you leave in case something
goes wrong!
Always have a first aid kit close by.
If you haven't been to an area before draw yourself a map or have a map
with you so you don't get lost. Mobile phones don't work everywhere!
Where a good hat and sunscreen so you don't get sunburnt.
Never forget: FOOD, SNACKS, DRINKS & MEDICATION.

Disclaimer: It is your responsibility to ask permission from any private property
owner at any location when searching for gemstones before you enter any such
property. You may also be required to possess a fossicking license as per state
laws.