WELCOME TO THE SMLS WEBSITE
The Sussex Mineral and Lapidary Society comprises about 120 members, the majority of whom live in or close to Sussex and associate members in other parts of the UK and overseas.
We are united in a passion for minerals, fossils and lapidary work, with the principle focus being on minerals.
The Society holds monthly meetings in the Methodist Church in Perrymount Road in Haywards Heath, runs field trips in the UK and abroad and puts on a significant show each year in November in the Clair Hall in Haywards Heath.
We are a friendly group of people who aim to educate ourselves through sharing of knowledge of members and through input from club activities. We also aim to have a lot of good fellowship together and enjoy a range of social activities.
If you would like to find out more, come and give us a try and attend a couple of our meetings on a no obligation basis.
It would be great to see you.
The other pages on this website give details of where and when we meet and of the timetable for the rest of the year.
Also do come to the show in November; it is a fabulous event and showcases the best in mineral collecting in the UK.
'MEMBERS ONLY' PAGE:
Please note that as this is a new website, and the member's details from the old site could not be transferred, it is necessary to register again using your email address and creating a password.
To register, click on the Members Only tab, and a registration/log in form appears.
Current issues of the journal can be read, and there is also a Membership List; please check that your details are correct, and if changes are necessary (or if details are missing), please advise the webmaster (see the Contact Us page).
NOT A MEMBER?
It is necessary to join the society before access can be given to the 'MEMBERS PAGE'.
Information of how to join is given on the 'MEMBERSHIP' page.
ADDITIONS TO THIS WEBSITE:
The following articles have been added as sub-pages to Lapidary:
'Making a Cabochon' by John White
'Stone Carving' by Peter Martin
PROGRAMME:
The final edition of the 2020 programme has been added
MEMBERSHIP:
Our membership year now starts on January 1st.
See the 'Membership' page for the current subscription rates.
DIARY DATES: (see 'ABOUT US' for location and times of meetings)
CORONAVIRUS:
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL FIELD TRIPS AND OTHER EVENTS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED UP TO THE END OF THE JANUARY 2021.
WE CONFIRM THAT OUR ANNUAL SHOW IN NOVEMBER HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
AFTER A SUCCESSFUL ZOOM PRESENTATION IN SEPTEMBER, ALL PRESENTATIONS WILL BE VIA ZOOM UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
PROGRAMME UP TO DECEMBER
6th NOVEMBER: LAPIDARY by JOHN WHITE
Lapidary has always been an important part of SMLS activities, and our annual competition has demonstrated exceptional skills and artistic interpretations from many of our members.
Shaping precious and semi-precious stones has been an important aspect of human life for thousands of years, and still is today. Local Sussex members will all know John White, and I am sure many have enjoyed a visit to his workshop in Crawley.
John is the SMLS lapidary technical adviser, with many years experience in cutting and polishing stones.
His illustrated talk will cover aspects of the historical development of lapidary, right up to the modern day use of laser controlled water jets for optimising the cutting of large diamonds. He will also look at fakes, the ever increasing availability of synthetic stones, and rare stones.
The illustrated talk is certain to include topics of interest to the lapidarist and to the non-lapidarist.
4th DECEMBER: MISSION JURASSIC, by SUSANNAH MAIDMENT (NHM)
