Staying Connected and Inspired

In its July-August newsletter, Flatirons Facets, the Flatirons Mineral Club of Boulder County, Colorado, shared examples of how their club members are staying connected and enjoying their shared rockhounding and lapidary interests in today’s socially distant world.

- ANTOINETTE RAHN

Like many other clubs, the Flatirons club is hosting virtual monthly meetings, and another way the group’s Junior Geologist members are staying connected is through the club’s weekly mystery mineral contest. A photo of a mineral is sent via email to each Junior Geologist member, along with some clues to help in their identification research, according to the report in the newsletter. Each member who correctly identifies the mineral is entered into a drawing for a chance to receive that week’s mineral.

Another way the club is striving to keep members inspired and excited about rocks, minerals, gems, and fossils, is by sharing tips about virtual resources and entertainment that speaks to these shared interests. The July-August issue of Flatiron Facet contains an excellent recommendation for anyone interested in fossils, check out Public Broadcasting Station’s “Prehistoric Road Trip.”