Meeting Times & Locations

MEMBER MEETING INFORMATION:

Day: 2nd Thursday of every month

Time: 7:30pm

Location: Hillcrest Art Center 

Address: 403 Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks

(off of McCloud Avenue across from the The Oaks mall up on the hill.)

BOARD MEETING INFORMATION:

Day: 3rd Thursday of every month

Time: 7:00pm

Location: currently online

November 9, 2023

 " Rainbow Obsidian and How to Reveal its Secrets" 

presented by: Terry Wilson

*  Come experience the wonders of Rainbow Obsidian from Davis Creek, CA, and learn how to inspect specimens often found in your own backyards. Unlocking the rainbow of colors within is tricky, and improper cutting can easily ruin a beautiful piece. Learn how to mark the rough for proper slabbing by exploring this fascinating material.

October 12, 2023

 "Wonders of East African Geology and Wildlife" 

presented by: Susan and Gary Guttman

* Explore the geologically active East African landscape with amazing photos of the wildlife including Lions, Leopards, Cheetahs, Elephants, Wildebeest, Zebra, Warthogs, Baboons, amazing birds, and more. Amazing overview for those wanting to go on safari or simply enjoy the beauty of the Serengeti. 

September 14, 2023

"Rare and Unusual Gemstones of California"

presented by: Walt Lombardo

* California is an extraordinary state for rockhounding. Geological forces have created one of the widest varieties of rocks and minerals found in any state. This talk will feature benitoite, lapis-lazuli, and vesuvianite including the chemical composition of theses stones, the processes that created them, and where to find them. 

June 8, 2023

"A Surprise In Every Rock"

presented by: Chris Ward, Bob Knox, and Maxine Dearborn

(Del Air Rockhounds Club)

* Have you ever wondered what is the difference between a dinosaur bone and a fossil whale bone? What is that bug in the amber? Which tree of petrified wood? There are secrets hidden in our rocks and we hope to help you find them with a digital microscope. Please bring a slab/object or two (no more than 1.5" half thick) and you too can explore the secret in your rock!

May 2023

"Septarian Concretions from Southwest Utah"

presented by: Dick Weber

* Septarians have been collected as mineral specimens and lapidary material for more than 100 years and have more recently become popular for carvings and free-form jewelry. They are prized for their bright yellow calcite and aragonite crystals standing in sharp contrast to the gray limestone matrix. Mr. Weber holds a Masters Degree in Sedimentary Petrology from the University of Minnesota and worked as an exploration geologist throughout the U.S.

April 2023

"The Pageant of A Thousand Gems"

presented by: Lawrence Killough

* Learn about CGMC's very own gem and mineral show taking place on April 22nd and 23rd. Presentation will include highlights from previous shows, this year's upgrades, volunteer opportunities, member Q&A, and more.

March 2023

"Tucson Gem & Mineral Society's Winter Show Highlights"

presented by: Mary Pat Weber

* 68 years running, this four-day event remains the largest, oldest, and most prestigious gem and mineral show in the world. With their theme, “SILICA - Agates and Opals and Quartz, Oh My!” approximately 250 dealers sold varieties of minerals, fossils, jewelry, and lapidary. The show also featured lectures and symposiums, jaw-dropping exhibits from private collections, and displays from major universities and museums.

February 2023

"Petrified Forest of Calistoga, CA"

presented by: John Cook

*Calistoga in Napa Valley is not only home to therapeutic hot springs, mineral spas, the purest award-winning sparkling mineral water, but also to a spectacular petrified forest of Redwood trees. About four million years ago, the now extinct Mount Saint Helena volcano let loose a blast which flattened a forest of these immense trees, and its ash buried and preserved them frozen in time.

January 2023

"Meteorites" 

presented by: Nick Gessler

Transform your findings! Would you like to learn to make the rocks you have collected into something new and pretty? We have a small Lapidary Shop located at the Hillcrest Arts Center exclusively for use by current paid members of the Conejo Gem & Mineral Club.

Our Lapidary Shop has Genies for shaping and polishing rocks, a large flat rotary flat lap, a large rock saw, several small trim saws, and a polisher.

Shop Managers keep standing days and times to open the shop. They will be happy to teach you how to properly and safely use the equipment for free.

* 3rd Sunday of the month

   9:00am-12:00pm: Juan Gonzales Del Valle

   (by appointment only; email: jgonzalesdelvalle@gmail.com)

   12:00pm - 3:00pm: Manny Valdez

* Weekdays

   by appointment only: Dick Weber 

   (call: 805-529-2524)