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 10 years of age or older and must be closely attended at all times. Children under 10 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 (2026)
May 16th, 2025 - Field Trip
Cliffs Shaft parking lot. Meet by 9:00am, leaving at 9:30am PROMPTLY: Republic Mine
May 17th, 2026 - Program Meeting
Cliffs Shaft @ 1:30pm: Ashley Quigley, Geologist with the Michigan Geological Survey will present: "Reading Earth History: the Role of Core Libraries in Public Interest, Private Industry and Academic Pursuits." Core libraries are a very important state asset and can be utilized for many different purposes. Michigan has 2 core libraries and the Michigan Geological Survey draws useful data from both repositories for a multitude of public interest projects.
A business meeting will follow the presentation.
June 20th, 2025 - Field Trip
Cliffs Shaft parking lot. Meet by 9:00am, leaving at 9:30am PROMPTLY: TBD
June 21st, 2025 - Business Meeting
There will be no presentation, just discussion of events with a lean towards the show. Drop-in attendence is welcome.
July 18th, 2025 - Field Trip
Cliffs Shaft parking lot. Meet by 9:00am, leaving at 9:30am PROMPTLY: TBD
July 19th, 2025 - Business Meeting
There will be no presentation, pretty much just discussing the show. Drop-in attendence is welcome.
July 31st, 2026 - 50th Gem & Mineral Show Field Trip
Location, time and meeting place are not finalized.
August 1st, 2026 - 50th Gem & Mineral Show
More information will be posted here as time goes on. Only this date is established.
Field trips remain TBD. Usually they happen the day before and day after the show. If you know the usual trips we are expecting them to happen, but complications at the mine sites mean things may change a bit this year. Updates to follow as appropriate.
August 2nd, 2026 - 50th Gem & Mineral Show Field Trip
Location, time and meeting place are not finalized.
August 30th, 2025 - Business Meeting
There will be no presentation, just review of the show and what's coming for the rest of the year. Drop-in attendence is welcome.
September 20th, 2026 - Program Meeting
Cliffs Shaft @ 1:30pm: Scott Markert, one of the Founders of the Ishpeming Rock and Mineral Club (along with his parents, Bob and Marian Markert) will present: “Mystery Minerals Collected--Every Rock has a Story.” Scott will present a variety of odd, unique, weird, rare and irresistible specimens, rocks and minerals that Scott and his family collected over the last century (and beyond). Scott will talk about the specimen itself, where it was collected (if known), its history and how his family acquired the specimen.
A business meeting will follow the presentation.
October 18th, 2026 - Program Meeting
Cliffs Shaft @ 1:30pm: Program is TBD.
November 15th, 2025 - Program Meeting
Cliffs Shaft @ 1:30pm: Our annual Show and Tell event will take place for showing off finds from the year. Further details are TBD.
A business meeting will follow the presentation.
December 6th, 2025 - IRMC Christmas Party and Annual Officer Elections
An annual event for club members with a Presentation, Dinner and Officer Elections. Expect signups to open to members between October and November. Any other details are TBD.
Upcoming Meetings & Events (2026)
Wow, looking pretty far ahead aren't ya? TBD