Field trips are one of the highlights of being a member of the Colorado Springs Mineralogical Society (CSMS), especially in the mountains of beautiful Colorado. Depending on the location, prospecting in the Colorado wilderness can yield minerals such as amazonite, smoky quartz, topaz, barite, agates, garnets, aquamarine, petrified wood, fossils, and more.
Typically, our field trips occur from April (weather permitting) to October, as the summer months around Colorado Springs are generally quite sunny and warm. These trips always include mineral prospecting or collecting in some way and may include visiting well-known mines and claims (with permission), partnering with other clubs to visit their claims, visiting our own CSMS claims (we currently have three), and day trips to gem and mineral shows in the state of Colorado. Sometimes the Society will embark on longer multi-day trips to other mines or claims in other states such as Montana, Utah, Arkansas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, and more. Some trips will require a fee to dig and collect; most do not.
Rockhounding Articles
Rockhounding 101 is an article that provides basic information on safety, tools, collecting, and environmental responsibilities.
The AFMS Code of Ethics is a list of the “Golden Rules” of rockhounding.
Field Trip Sign-Up
IMPORTANT: All CSMS field trips are for members only. If you want to sign up to become a member of the CSMS, please follow the instructions on the Join page.
Members of the CSMS can view the field trip schedule and information for each trip, connect with the field trip leader, and sign up for a field trip. Occasionally, additional fees may be required. Members are responsible for their transportation to and from the field trips.