Wisconsin Geological Society
2012 Events
2012 Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show
The 55th Annual Wisconsin Geological Society Gem, Mineral,
and Fossil Show will be held on Saturday May 19th and
Sunday May 20th 2011 from 10:00am to 5:00pm each day. The
show will be held indoors at the Muellner Building at Hart
Park in Wauwatosa, WI.
Download
the flyer here
WGS Lapidary Study Group
The next meeting of the Lapidary Study Group will be
Tuesday February 14th 2012 at 11:30AM, at the McGovern Park
Community Center; 4500 West Custer Avenue; Milwaukee,
Wisconsin.
Contact: Ed Fyrnys (414) 453-3456
WGS Mineral Study Group
Next meeting is Thursday February 16th at 7:00PM at the
Badten's residence.
Contact: Lloyd Brown (414) 258-5761, Norb Badten
414-461-8281
WGS Fossil Study Group
Next meeting is Thursday February 23rd at 7:00PM at the
Badten's residence.
Contact: Lloyd Brown (414) 258-5761, Norb Badten
414-461-8281
Rock Identification
- Minerals are natural, inorganic solids with a consistent composition—a chemical formula. Each mineral also has a unique arrangement of atoms, expressed in its crystal form (or habit) and its hardness, fracture, color and other properties. Organic natural substances, like petroleum or amber, are not called minerals.
- Igneous: A tough, frozen melt with little texture or layering; mostly black, white and/or gray minerals; may look like lava Sedimentary: Hardened sediment with layers (strata) of sandy or clayey stone; mostly brown to gray; may have fossils and water or wind marks
- Metamorphic: Tough rock with layers (foliation) of light and dark minerals, often curved; various colors; often glittery from mica