Upcoming Events


Scheduled activities of the Franklin-Ogdensburg Mineralogical Society Inc. - FOMS, include meetings, field trips, and other events. Regular meetings are held on the third Saturday of March, April, May, June, September, October, and November, and generally comprise a business session followed by a lecture. FOMS meetings are open to the public and are held at 1:30 PM, usually in Kraissl Hall at the Franklin Mineral Museum, 30 Evans St., Franklin NJ (check listings for exceptions).

FOMS field trips are only open to our (Dues paid in full for the current year) membership.
Some quarry trips are restricted to ages 18 and older. Please see field trip details below for age limitations.
Proper field trip gear required: hard hat, protective eyewear, gloves, sturdy shoes.
You are responsible for your own rockhounding tools.
The field trip leader has the right to reject your participation at any given time during the field trip if you are deemed
physically unable to climb hills with good balance or have been observed not adhering to safety guidelines.

For a complete set of rules and regulations follow this link FOMS Field Trip Safety Rules and Regulations

**Activities below are not FOMS functions, but may be of interest to its members. Fees, and memberships in other organizations, may be required. Any information in this schedule, including fees, is subject to change without notice.



Saturday, October 10, 2026  --  FOMS Field Trip

  8:30 am - 12 Noon - FOMS Field Trip - Return to Hamburg Quarry
3620 Rt. 23, Hamburg, NJ.

Meet at the Quarry office at 8:30 am sharp to sign waiver forms, check your membership status, and attend site orientation. Restricted to 18 years old and older.
PPE is mandatory. Hard hat, safety vest, safety glasses, safety boots (steel or composite toe) and gloves.



Saturday, October 17, 2026  --  FOMS Field Trip / Meeting

  9:00 AM - Noon - FOMS Field Trip - Collecting at Taylor Road, Franklin, NJ.
Meet at the Franklin Mineral Museum parking lot at 8:30AM sharp to sign waiver forms and check your membership status.
Personal protective gear is advised. Safety glasses are mandatory!

1:30 PM - FOMS Meeting, at the Pavilion at Sterling Hill Mining Museum, followed by Earl Verbeek leading a geological tour of the Sterling Mine. This is instead of having a speaker.

Details
Earl will be explaining a host of geologic features along the way -- features such as calcite stalactites and flowstone, an ancient mylonitic fault, minor structures associated with younger faults in the rock, cave formation, sulfide breakdown in the Franklin Marble, fluorescence of post-mining minerals, nature of the cross-member ore, why some rock bolts leak water and others don't, etc. Lots to see, really. 
Remember to bring a jacket or sweater because it's about 55 degrees in the mine, and we'll be in there for a while.



Saturday, October 24, 2026  --  FOMS Field Trip

  9:00 AM - Noon - FOMS Field Trip - Collecting at Braen Limecrest,
217 Limecrest Rd, Lafayette, NJ 07848
Meet at the Quarry Office at 8:30 sharp to sign waiver forms, check your membership status, and attend site orientation.  
Personal protective gear is mandatory!
Hard hats are strictly required in all quarries and supply yards.
Eye Protection: Safety glasses with side shields or protective goggles to guard against flying stone chips and dust.
Foot Protection: Sturdy, steel-toe work boots with reinforced caps and slip-resistant grip.
Hand Protection: Heavy-duty, abrasive-resistant work gloves.
High-Visibility Clothing: Reflective vests or high-vis jackets to remain visible around heavy machinery.

This is a busy quarry. Be alert for large trucks entering and exiting the quarry. Quarry
equipment always has the right of way. Bypass the scale house to the left when entering the property, go left at top of hill and see the office. Bypass the scale to the right when exiting the property. Try not to drive over the scale.



Saturday, October 31, 2026    **

  36th Annual ULTRAVIOLATION
Show-Swap-Sell Session featuring fluorescent minerals only.
First United Methodist Church, 840 Trenton Road,
Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania.
9:00 am - 4:00 pm,
Admission, $3.00 (children 15 and under are free).
“If your rocks don’t glow, you’re at the wrong show.”



Saturday, November 21, 2026  --  FOMS Field Trip / Meeting

  9:00 AM - Noon - FOMS Field Trip - Collecting at Andover Mine
Limecrest Rd, Andover, NJ (per MinDat: 1.75 miles NNE of Andover Boro on Limecrest Rd)
Meet at the roadside pull off on the east side of Limecrest Rd at 8:30 sharp to sign waiver forms and check your membership status.
Personal protective gear is advised. Safety glasses are mandatory!
This is a busy road and parking is limited at the pull off here so park quickly and efficiently. The property is overgrown and rugged. Be prepared to exert yourself. Watch for critters.


1:30 PM - 3:30 PM - FOMS Meeting, Franklin Mineral Museum.