FOMS Archive of Events


This is an archive page of scheduled activities of the Franklin-Ogdensburg Mineralogical Society Inc. - FOMS, including meetings, field trips, and other events. The event archive has events since 2014, including future events, if the current year is selected.

For the list of upcoming events, please follow the link to Upcoming FOMS Events.



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Events for the year 2023


Saturday, March 18, 2023  --  FOMS Field Trip / Meeting

  9:00 AM - Noon - FOMS Field Trip - Collecting at Sterling Hill. 
Fee charged.

Noon - 1:15 PM - Future Rockhounds of America
Sterling Hill Mining Museum.
Parents are welcome to attend.
For questions please contact Mark Dahlman at: fra@fomsnj.org or 301-428-0455

1:30 PM - 3:30 PM - FOMS Meeting, Sterling Hill Mining Museum.
Lecture: Deep thoughts on Sterling Hill Mine, by Bill Kroth.




Saturday, April 15, 2023  --  FOMS Field Trip / Meeting

  9:00 AM - Noon - FOMS Field Trip - Hiking through a nepheline syenite locale near Beemerville N.J.
This is a real hike so be prepared with hiking boots, water, and a backpack.
Arrive at the Franklin Mineral Museum at 8:30 am.
For more information, contact Stephanie Koles: stephanie.koles@gmail.com

Noon - 1:15 PM - Future Rockhounds of America
Franklin Mineral Museum.
Parents are welcome to attend.
For questions please contact Mark Dahlman at: fra@fomsnj.org or 301-428-0455

1:30 PM - 3:30 PM - FOMS Meeting, Franklin Mineral Museum.
Lecture: Beemerville Geology, by Rocky Severs.




Saturday and Sunday, April 15 and 16, 2023    **

  33rd Annual North Jersey Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show
Midland Park High School
250 Prospect St., Midland Park, N.J.

Saturday: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sunday: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Admission: Adult (12 and over) $5.00, Senior $4.00,
Free admission for children under 12, MPHS students, and uniformed scouts.




Saturday, April 22, 2023    **

  9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Franklin Mineral Museum.
Swap and Sell in front of the museum.
All vendor spots are filled.
For more information, please call the museum: 973-827-3481
or go to their website: franklinmineralmuseum.org.

11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Franklin Mineral Museum
Mill Site Dig.
Fee charged.
Registration required.

6:00 pm -10:00 pm
Franklin Mineral Museum
Fee charged.
Night Dig on the Buckwheat Dump.




Saturday and Sunday, April 22 and 23, 2023    **

  Garage sale at the Sterling Hill Mining Museum.
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM at the Christiansen Pavilion




Saturday, May 6, 2023    **

  Night Dig on the Buckwheat Dump,
for the benefit of the Franklin Mineral Museum.
7:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Fee charged.




Wednesday to Sunday, May 17 to 21, 2023    **

  NJ Mineral, Fossil, Gem & Jewelry Show
New Jersey Expo Center, Raritan Center
97 Sunfield Avenue, Edison, N.J.

Show Dates & Hours
May 11 (Wednesday) = Noon to 8 pm
May 12 (Thursday) = Noon to 8 pm
May 13 (Friday) = Noon to 8 pm
May 14 (Saturday) = 10am - 7pm
May 15 (Sunday) = 10am - 6pm

Parking:
Free

Ticket Prices:
Wednesday thru Friday
= $15 (unlimited re-entry all three days)
Saturday and Sunday: = $20 (unlimited reentry both days)
Family Pass, Weekdays = $30: Good for 2 adults and up to 4 children
Family Pass, Saturday = $45: Good for 2 adults and up to 4 children
Family Pass, Sunday = $35: Good for 2 adults and up to 4 children
Children under 5 are free all days.
More information at their website: https://nj.show




Saturday, May 20, 2023  --  FOMS Field Trip / Meeting

  9:00 AM - Noon - FOMS Field Trip - Collecting at the Hamburg Mine/Lang Shaft (private property)
Meet at the Franklin Mineral Museum at 8:30 AM sharp, where participants will be escorted to the location.
Fee charged.

Noon - 1:15 PM - Future Rockhounds of America
Franklin Mineral Museum.
Parents are welcome to attend.
For questions please contact Mark Dahlman at: fra@fomsnj.org or 301-428-0455

1:30 PM - 3:30 PM - FOMS Meeting, Franklin Mineral Museum.
Lecture: The Art of Collecting Minerals, by Bob Batic.




Saturday, June 3, 2023    **

  Night Dig on the Buckwheat Dump,
for the benefit of the Franklin Mineral Museum.
7:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Fee charged.




Sunday, June 11, 2023    **

  Noon - Annual Miners Day Tribute and Volunteer Appreciation Day
Franklin Mineral Museum.
Including special program and a concert by the famous Franklin Band.
!!! Attendance by invitation only. !!!




Saturday, June 17, 2023  --  FOMS Field Trip / Meeting

  9:00 AM - Noon - FOMS Field Trip - Collecting at the Taylor Road site.
Meet and park at the Franklin Mineral Museum at 8:30 am, and walk
from there. Do not park on Taylor Road! Fee charged.

Noon - 1:15 PM - Future Rockhounds of America
Franklin Mineral Museum.
Parents are welcome to attend.
For questions please contact Mark Dahlman at: fra@fomsnj.org or 301-428-0455

1:30 PM - 3:30 PM - FOMS Meeting, Franklin Mineral Museum.
Lecture: Radioactive minerals: A discussion on history, uses and Collecting, by Lauren Anderson.





Saturday, July 8, 2023    **

  Night Dig on the Buckwheat Dump,
for the benefit of the Franklin Mineral Museum.
7:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Fee charged.




Saturday, August 5, 2023    **

  Night Dig on the Buckwheat Dump,
for the benefit of the Franklin Mineral Museum.
7:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Fee charged.




Saturday, September 16, 2023  --  FOMS Field Trip / Meeting

  9:00 AM - Noon - FOMS Field Trip - Collecting at Hamburg Road Mine
$20 per person - unlimited poundage.
Meet at FMM parking lot at 8:30am for details and escort to collecting location.

CANCELLED - Future Rockhounds of America
Franklin Mineral Museum.
For questions please contact Mark Dahlman at: fra@fomsnj.org or 301-428-0455

1:30 PM - 3:30 PM - FOMS Meeting, Franklin Mineral Museum.
Lecture: Collecting by the ton, by Jim Van Fleet.




Saturday, September 23, 2023

  The FOMS Annual Banquet starts at 6:00 pm on Saturday at the Lyceum Hall of the Immaculate Conception Church,
located at the south end of Franklin’s Main Street.
Tickets may be obtained at the show table for $25.00.
The meal is an all-you-can-eat buffet; soda, tea, and coffee are included.
• BYOB •
After the banquet there will be an auction for the benefit of the FOMS.
Please plan on donating a good specimen, artifact, book, etc.!




Saturday and Sunday, September 23 and 24, 2023    **

  67TH ANNUAL FRANKLIN-STERLING GEM & MINERAL SHOW
Sponsored by the Franklin Mineral Museum.
Franklin Fire Department
137 Buckwheat Road
Franklin, NJ 07416
9:00 am - 5:00 pm Saturday (indoors)
10:00 am - 4:00 pm Sunday (indoors).
The ticket price covers the show, The Pond outdoor swap,
and admission to the Franklin Mineral Museum:
$7.00 per day for adults, $5.00 per day for children (12-18).
Admission for children under 12 is free.

The Pond Swap-and-Sell, sponsored by the FOMS,
takes place outdoors on the Franklin Fire Department grounds
from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm on Saturday, and from
10:00 am - 4:00 pm on Sunday. Show admission required.




Saturday, October 21, 2023  --  FOMS Field Trip / Meeting

  9:00 AM - Noon - FOMS Field Trip - Collecting at Sterling Hill Mining Museum-Mine Run Dump.
Ogdensburg NJ.
Sign waiver before collecting.

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM - Future Rockhounds of America
Meet in Franklin Mineral Museum’s Kraissl Hall
Parents are welcome to sit in the meeting room
For questions please contact Mark Dahlman at: fra@fomsnj.org or 301-428-0455

1:30 PM - 3:30 PM - FOMS Meeting, Franklin Mineral Museum.
Lecture: Collecting Locations in Franklin, by Phil Crabb.




Saturday, October 28, 2023    **

  33rd 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, $3 donation (children 12 and under are free).
“If your rocks don’t glow, you’re at the wrong show.”
Table space available.
For information call Lee McIlvaine at 215-713-8020
or e-mail:
uvgeologist@yahoo.com




Saturday, November 18, 2023  --  FOMS Field Trip / Meeting

  9:00 AM - Noon - FOMS Field Trip - Collecting at Taylor Road
Meetup at FMM parking lot at 8:30am for details and waiver signing.

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM - Future Rockhounds of America
*************CANCELLED*************

1:30 PM - 3:30 PM - FOMS Meeting, Franklin Mineral Museum.
Lecture: Midnight milling, a tale of mill site adventures, by Jim Chenard