VGMS Field Trips

The VGMS holds field trips throughout the year. We regularly take trips to collect the following (not a complete list):

Nephrite jade, actinolite, serpentine, various agates and jaspers, obsidian & calcite in Northern California locales;

Rose quartz, epidote, quartz, various agates and jaspers, jadeite, petrified palm wood, pink chalcedony and travertine onyx in Eastern California locales;

Tourmaline, various agates and jaspers, serpentine, invertebrate fossils, psilomelane and geodes in Southern California locales.

We are also welcome at several fee-dig areas, museums and public events like:

Shark Tooth Hill, Bakersfield – fossil shark teeth, fish and marine mammal bones. By reservation; fee area. This is on private land.

Trona-Gem-O-Rama – Pink halite and other salt minerals. Fee area; reserve time slot on arrival. Usually the 2nd weekend of October.

Greenhorn Mountains – rose quartz, epidote. This is an active mine the club gets access to by appointment only.

Himalaya Mine, San Diego County – private mine, by reservation only; fee area.

Big Sur Jade Festival – jade, jadeite jewelry and carvings for sale.

UCLA Meteorite Gallery – extensive collection on UCLA campus. By donation.

La Brea Tar Pits/Page Museum – excellent displays of fossil flora and fauna. See their website for entry fee.

Jewel Tunnel Imports (special invite for VGMS in December) – for great rocks & lapidary items at wholesale prices! By reservation and invitation only.

As field trips are a benefit of membership, full information is only available in the Members-only area.  Members wanting to attend trips must sign up in advance; information and sign up link in the Members Only area.