Maine Mineral Symposium

History of the symposium

The Maine Mineral Symposium is an annual "rite of spring" for New Englanders interested in mineralogy and the mineral collecting hobby. Over 300 people from throughout the Northeast now attend this event. The heart of the symposium is a one-day program of talks on minerals and related subjects such as gemstones and mining history. These talks cover a wide range of localities in Maine and other parts of New England and eastern Canada. Often there is also a presentation on some exotic part of the world, with past topics including personal accounts of mineral pursuits in Siberia, Germany, and the French Alps.

The concept of holding a mineral symposium in Maine was originally proposed by Dr. Carl Francis of the Harvard University Mineralogical Museum. He suggested that it be held in Maine, where there is a long heritage of mineral discoveries and some exciting new finds had been made. This first meeting was held on April 21st (Earth Day weekend), 1990, and was co-sponsored by the Maine Geological Survey.

Because of the easily accessible location and continuing role of the MGS in helping with the symposium, Augusta has been the location of all subsequent symposia. The meeting is now held at The Senator Inn and Conference Center, located just off Route I-95. This facility provides ample space for lectures, exhibits, and mineral dealers. The organizing committee for the symposium consists of a small group of individuals who work all year on the many logistical details necessary for a successful meeting. The Federation of Maine Mineral and Gem Clubs (especially the clubs based in Portland and Waterville) played a vital role in continuing the symposium during the second and third years, and eventually the non-profit Maine Mineral Symposium Association was established for this purpose.

Symposium activities

The Maine symposium is partly modeled after the long-running Rochester (N.Y.) Mineralogical Symposium. It differs from a commercial mineral show by having a more educational focus. The speakers and exhibits are the core of the symposium, and the dealers are required to close their rooms when talks are in progress. These talks are given by a variety of experts, including persons involved in field collecting, mineralogical research, curating museum collections, and commercial dealing. The presentations (mostly slide shows) are often both informative and entertaining, and are delivered at a non-technical level.

Many outstanding mineral exhibits have been presented at the symposium during the past decade. These have included beautiful crystal specimens and gemstones from the personal collections of hobbyists and quarry operators, as well as exhibits by mineral exploration companies and the Maine State Museum. The majority of exhibits have featured Maine pegmatite minerals from recent discoveries and old collections. Other displays spotlighted minerals from New Hampshire, Vermont, eastern Canada, and faraway localities in France, Pakistan, and Siberia.

Mineral dealers are encouraged to set up at the Senator in conjunction with the Maine Mineral Symposium. As many as 40 dealers attend from all over the Northeast, and they have large displays of mineral specimens and jewelry to sell in their rooms. The dealer wings at the Senator are host to much evening socializing as mineral collectors go from room to room and renew old acquaintances. Viewing the dealer inventories is a great mineralogical education, as you can see identified specimens of high-quality minerals from New England and other world localities. With so much to choose from, many people purchase specimens to add to their collections.

The Sunday field trips have always been one of the most popular parts of the Maine Mineral Symposium. Many families participate in this activity, and there are usually some "experts" on hand to help people identify their mineral finds. At least two quarries are designated as special collecting sites for the day. When possible, arrangements are made to visit recently operated quarries that are not usually open to the public.

Last updated on October 6, 2005