The non-profit, Friends of Mineralogy (FM), a national organization founded in 1970, includes nearly a dozen chapters from coast to coast, whose members share a common love of minerals. FM’s objective is to promote, support, protect, and expand the collecting of mineral specimens, while furthering the recognition of the scientific, economic, and aesthetic value of minerals and mineral collecting. Membership includes collectors, museum curators, mineralogists, and earth science educators.  The organization is affiliated with Mindat.org, the Mineralogical Society of America (MSA), and the Mineralogical Association of Canada (MAC).

Among its many activities, FM regional chapters sponsor symposiums, and collecting trips to quarries, mine dumps, and mines across the country.  FM has made its voice heard whenever proposals are made to close mineral museums or collecting sites.  National FM co-sponsors symposiums held annually at the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show, and contributes support and speakers to other mineral symposiums.  FM presents annual awards for best article published in each of the following publications: The Mineralogical Record, Rocks & Minerals, Mineral News, and Mineral Monographs.  It also gives awards to the best institutional and individual educational exhibit cases displayed at the Denver and Tucson gem and mineral shows.

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Please send tax-deductible donations to support Friends of Mineralogy, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, in care of Bruce W. Bridenbecker, Treasurer,  Friends of Mineralogy, P. O. Box 8362, Green Valley Lake, CA 92341, made out to Friends of Mineralogy.