The Cobalt Mining Museum lives in a rather non-descript brick commercial building in downtown Cobalt, Ontario. Tucked between a government services office and an LCBO, one would be forgiven for not paying it the slightest attention. If you’ve seen one small, forgotten town’s museum, you’ve seen them all. That would be a mistake, because Cobalt … Read more
Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario may be better known for it’s business school but it also has a quality geology program. Fitting, then, that the campus is home to an earth science museum, the Miller Museum of Geology. Geology museums on university campuses are far more common than I realized. Several schools host quality museums … Read more
Official Club Website Facebook Page The KW Gem and Mineral Club has been home for lapidarists and those interested in rocks, minerals, and fossils in the twin cities since 1965. The club has monthly meetings, often with guest speakers, include how-to demonstrations, silent auctions, or informative slideshows are staples. A regular suite or field trips … Read more
Official Club Website Facebook Page Instagram Page The Brantford Lapidary and Mineral Society has been home to geology and jewelry enthusiasts in south-central Ontario since 1964. An active volunteer driven club, they profess four feature pillars: Lapidary, Mineral, Field Trips, and Social. Meetings are held September through June at their rural clubhouse east of Paris, … Read more
The University of Waterloo is globally renowned for its computer science, engineering, and mathematics programs and deservedly so. But there’s far more to this Southern Ontario university as evidenced by the University of Waterloo Earth Sciences Museum. As my alma mater, I fondly remember hanging out with friends between classes at the Peter Russell Rock … Read more
The first time you go to Sudbury, Ontario, you’re all but obligated get a photo at The Big Nickel. Depending on how often you go, this might be an obligation for every trip to Sudbury. At one time, this tradition was nothing but a roadside “world’s biggest” attraction. Now, thanks to Dynamic Earth, it’s at … Read more
Kirkland Lake in northeastern Ontario, Canadad has a rich gold mining history. Founded in 1911 as a mining camp, its notoriety is particular tied to the famed Mile of Gold on which 7 major gold mines resided. Toburn Gold Mine was the first of those, then known as the Tough-Oakes Gold Mine, and still remains … Read more
Official Club Website Facebook Page Instagram Page The Ottawa Lapsmith and Mineral Club has been operating in the nation’s capital since 1966 and offers a robust suite of services to rock and lapidary enthusiasts. The well-appointed workshop is open several days a week and meetings occur monthly. They host field trips, courses, and social events … Read more
Official Club Website Facebook Page The Thunder Bay Geology and Lapidary Club has the enviable luck to reside in the Canadian Shield on the north shore of Lake Superior. Lots of geology and lots of rocks and minerals in those parts. Their stated vision is “to enjoy and advocate for geology and lapidary awareness and … Read more
Official Club Website Facebook Page Instagram Page The Gem and Mineral Club of Scarborough is an active club founded in 1963 in Scarborough, Ontario. The club aims to “encourage and promote all aspects of the hobby of collecting and studying rocks, minerals, and fossils and of pursuing all types of lapidary work.” They have monthly … Read more