OCMGA Monthly Meeting and Arkansas Planerite Lecture

Date: Friday, Feb. 6
Time: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. (Doors at 6 p.m.)
Where: MMGM Discovery Gallery, 99 Main St., Bethel
Admission: Free!

Event Overview:

The Oxford County Mineral & Gem Association (OCMGA) welcomes the public to its monthly meeting at the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum for an evening program exploring the fascinating minerals of Arkansas, with a special focus on the lesser-known mineral planerite, with guest speaker, Ethan Clarkson.

Exploring Arkansas Planerite & Wavellite:

Nestled in the Ouachita Mountains, the Mount Ida region of Arkansas is a renowned destination for mineral collectors. While the state is famous for quartz crystals and even diamonds, it also hosts an impressive variety of other minerals. Among them is planerite, a striking but often overlooked mineral that is closely related to the better-known wavellite.

These two minerals share a close genetic relationship and are frequently found in similar geological settings, particularly near Mt. Maudlin outside Mount Ida. This program will explore how these minerals form, where they occur, and what makes Arkansas such a unique collecting landscape.