Trips & Meetings
Program Meetings are held at the Cliffs Shaft Mine Museum in Ishpeming. Doors open at 1:00pm to allow visitors time to check out our mineral collection displays.
Zoom is sometimes available for program meetings, and if so invitations will be sent to club members by email.
Here's a map for reference, you can also see the Elks Club location where the show is hosted:
See full area on OpenStreetMaps
Important notices for all Field Trips!
We love including all rock hounds on our trips. However, field trips can be dangerous if participants are not careful. We do not want anyone to get hurt or to lose our visiting privileges to private sites.
You are strongly advised to review and follow the full Field Trip rules:
Here are some highlights:
- You don't need to be a member to attend our trips. Trips are $10 for non-members and $5 for members, except for the Annual Show Field Trips (on these,, everyone pays $10). College students, field trip helpers and family members under 16 are free.
- Children must be 7 years of age or older and must be closely attended at all times. Children under 7 are not allowed on any field trip properties, period. One adult per child - they cannot be wandering off.
- Bring safety glasses. We may have extras available, but if you do not have them, you will not be able to join the trip. Eye protection should be on at all times.
- Wear real shoes and ideally long pants. Sandals or flip flops are not acceptable - dress for the dig!
- Always be careful. Especially watch out above and below you on rock piles, and around you if you're breaking rocks.
- No drones and no smoking. Yes, rock piles can be flammable!
- Follow all directions given by field trip coordinators and helpers!
- Have fun! If you don't know what it is you picked up, feel free to ask seasoned fellow rock hounds.
The rules will be presented again in full before any trip begins.
Upcoming Meetings & Events (2025)
September 21st, 2025 - Program Meeting
Cliffs Shaft @ 1:30pm: Dale Thomas, Senior Underground Geologist at the Eagle Mine and IRMC Member will present his "Journey in becoming a Geologist."
Dale will take us on a visual tour (through pictures) and show us pictures of the specimens he encountered in his journey.
A business meeting will follow the presentation.
October 19th, 2025 - Program Meeting
Cliffs Shaft @ 1:30pm: Steve Hovis, General Manager--Exploration, Talon Metals Corporation.
Steve will speak about the work Talon is doing in Marquette and Baraga counties, some of the history behind Talon's exploration work, and how the Boulderdash project developed.
A business meeting will follow the presentation.
November 16th, 2025 - Program Meeting
Cliffs Shaft @ 1:30pm: Annual "Show and Tell Presentations -- IRMC Members."
Our Members have the opportunity to show their summer's collected rock treasures and share their rock collecting tales. Members will show off their new treasures and a panel of Club Members will be available to help identify local rock and mineral specimens brought by members and visitors.
A business meeting will follow the presentation.
December 7th, 2025 - IRMC Christmas Party and Annual Officer Elections
4:30 pm, IRMC Members Only!
Jack Deo will present a history of the UP through his vast array of historical pictures. Dinner and Officer Elections will follow.
Members must sign up in advance -- at the October and/or November regular meeting.
Upcoming Meetings & Events (2026)
TBD!
January 18th, 2026 - Program Meeting
Cliffs Shaft @ 1:30pm: TBD
A business meeting will follow the presentation.