NPGS Niagara Peninsula Geological Society

Welcome!

Top and side view of a favosites coral.

Favosites were part of the tabulata order of corals, which went extinct at the PTEE (Permian Triassic Extinction Event, 251.4 mya). Tabulate corals were common from the Ordovician through to the end of the Permian.

The pictures show the typical hexagonal, honeycomb-like pattern of the cells (known as corallites) where each individual coral polyp lived. Favosites were colonial marine animals.

This particular specimen was just lying on the ground when it was (easily) collected

at the Old Queenston Quarry,

Niagara on the Lake in 2009.

The Old Queenston Quarry is dated to

the late Silurian, ~420 to 417.5 mya,

Lockport Group, Gasport/Goat Island strata.

Below is a dendroid graptolite, another marine animal common from the mid-Cambrian to the mid-Carboniferous. Also collected at the Old Queenston Quarry.

Photograph © Peter Lee, 2010.

The NPGS is an affiliated member of the CCFMS and

the NPGS website is hosted by the CCFMS.

Niagara Peninsula Geological Society, except where noted.

If you wish to reproduce anything on our website,

please ask permission. Thank you.

There are many aspects to our club activities,

for you to choose from and to participate in.

We look forward to you becoming a member!

Our Objectives

· to gain a greater appreciation of our earth’s crust and its underlying beauty;

· to help people learn the many aspects of lapidary techniques plus fossil, rock, and mineral collecting;

· to share our knowledge and experience in geology, mineralogy, petrology, and palaeontology as well as in lapidary and faceting gems and minerals;

· to foster good comradeship among members;

· to enjoy family recreation in field trips, club functions, and our annual gem, mineral, and fossil show and sale;

· to continue our membership and affiliation with the Central Canadian Federation of Mineralogical Societies (CCFMS).

Our History

Founded in 1962, the society’s charter was granted on March 11, 1964. Over the next few years, the Society continued to grow, with several field trips organized and its first annual gem & mineral show and sale held in the gymnasium of Queen Mary Public School in 1967.

From such a humble beginning, the Society has grown into a vibrant community of people from all walks of life. From first-time “pebble pups”, interested amateurs, enthusiastic rock hounds, and avid collectors all the way up to earth science professors, students, and researchers - they all share the fellowship, discovery, and fun that have always been a trademark of the NPGS.

Minerals, Rocks, Crystals, and Fossils

· learn how to identify different minerals, rocks, crystals, and fossils;

· discover both the significance behind and observe the endless varieties of shapes, colours, and textures that can be found in minerals, rocks, and crystals;

· learn about the myriad of creatures that existed millions of years ago and fossils that are just waiting to be found so that you can unlock their secrets;

· discover the beautiful but hidden wealth of minerals, rocks, crystals, and fossils that lie right beneath your feet. - not only right here in Niagara - also a bit further away - and around the world;

· explore the fascinating world of minerals and fossils that are so small that you need a really good magnifying glass or a microscope to see them - Derek, Roman, Dave, and Geri are just a few of our members who participate - again, if you’re interested, please send us an email.

Field Trips

· join fellow rock hounds and search out beautiful minerals, rocks, crystals, and fossils for your collection;

· field trips are done locally as well as a few hours away - and a number are kid friendly;

· learn what tools are needed as well as safety rules necessary to protect yourself and others when on a “dig”.

Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show and Sale

Each year, in June, the NPGS puts on a Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show and Sale:

· we demonstrate all kinds of things such as, looking at minerals, rocks, crystals, and fossils under our microscope or under fluorescent lighting, how to split a rock, plus, plus;

· we show off our prized finds such as, fossils, plus minerals and rocks that we’ve collected on our field trips, plus, plus;

· we demonstrate our lapidary skills - anything that we may have cabbed or faceted;

· as well, there are dealers of minerals, rocks, crystals, gemstones, beads, and fossils along with one-of-a-kind jewellery and carvings - not just locally but also from all over the world! - all of which you can look at and buy.

Part of the proceeds from our show goes towards a Brock University Earth Sciences student bursary.

Other Activities

The Touch Table is a table of rocks (with identifying signs) that you can actually pick up and examine as closely as needed. The Touch Table is actually 3 different tables:

•Niagara Rocks! is all about the rocks, minerals, crystals, and fossils that can be collected from both the Niagara and Onondaga Escarpments;

•Treasures of the Grenville Province is all about the incredible minerals and gemstones that can be found right here in Ontario;

•Lava from Around the World is a collection of lava, ash, and pyroclastic rocks donated by NPGS members who have collected lava from Hawaii, Italy, the Caribbean, and other volcanic locations.

Any one of the tables can be borrowed from us at anytime. If you’re interested in one of our Touch Table displays, please contact Ashley Pollock.

Lending Library - accessible to all our members - we have an excellent choice of books, magazines including the Mineralogical Record, videos, DVDs, and maps about geology, minerals, lapidary, fossils, etc. Borrowing is easy - just come to one of our meetings - the library will be open!

Other Equipment - By virtue of grants from Imperial Oil along with proceeds from our Show, we have a microscope, a rock splitter, a computer, a fluorescent lamp, and a camera - all which enhance our experiences with rocks - and all available for borrowing (usually a month at a time). Please contact Darlene and Glenn Sloggett.