About Our Society
The Mineral & Gem Society
of Castro Valley is a non-profit educational corporation.
All members that
run this club are volunteers and are not
paid. As a member you are expected
to learn how to cut a calibrated
cabochon(polished gemstone) once you join
before learning other lapidary skills. When you learn how
to cut
a cabochon, you will learn how to use some of the shops equipment.
We have professional volunteer
instructors to assist you
in this process every step of the way so you are not alone.
· Monday Nights 7 - 9 p.m. are reserved for beginners
so you
have the shop all to yourselves to work and learn with instructors. Please make an appointment for your first instruction with the shop manager (see application). Appointments thereafter are made with the instructor.
Below is an example of the stages you will go through to make your first cabochon. First you start out with a slice of rock, draw an oval on it and start grinding the stone away. You will take the stone through many differnt steps to achieve a nicely polished and domed stone.
Volunteer & Become Involved
Members can keep up with
current events within the club by:
· Visiting this website often
· Reading their monthly Petrographs (except July & August)
· Attending general meetings
When you attend our shop clean ups, tailgates and other yearly socials,
you will meet other members that can share helpful information on different lapidary
arts. You will also have the opportunity to pick up some rock to work on at really good prices.
Library
Members also have access to a
very complete library with informational, research and technique
books and videotapes/DVD's. These are all available for check
out. If a book is late we charge overdue fees, so please
return or renew a book to borrow it longer.
We also subscribe to several professional journals
that must be
used on site. Older copies are available for
check out. This is surely one invaluable resource you do not
want to
miss out on!
Library Hours:
Wednesday Mornings: 10AM - 12Noon
Saturday:10AM-2 PM
Classes
We have occasional classes held by volunteer members throughout
the year on:
·Beading ·Intarsia ·Wire wrapping
·Sphere making
·Enameling ·Faceting ·Lost wax casting(Jewelry)
·Stone carving ·Opal cutting ·Metalsmithing(Jewelry)
Junior Members (11 year olds+ or at the discretion of the Junior Mentor)are welcome!
*Not all classes are available to juniors due to safety reasons
Please check out our Juniors Page.
The Mineral & Gem Society of Castro Valley members volunteer their time to give educational talks to kids of all ages in local classrooms. We are always looking for new members that are free in the daytime to help with this educational and fun experience.
Our society also donates two scholarships every year to two Cal State University, East Bay (Hayward) geology major students. Every aspect of our club focuses on the education of the lapidary arts, geology and mineralogy.
The History of Our Society:
The MGSCV was established
in 1948 to:
· Increase the knowledge & understanding of the sciences
pertaining to minerals, gems, fossils, geology, and related
subject matter
· Increase the practical knowledge of the art of
cutting, grinding, & polishing of stones and their use
in the design and creation of jewelry/art items
· Encourage members to study geology and minerals
· Encourage and assist junior members in furthering
their interest in minerals, gems, and related subjects
Please feel free to contact us info@mgscv.org
Copyright©2008 MGSCV Inc. All rights reserved.
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