The Nittany Lion looks out from a 
Central Pennsylvania doubly terminated quartz crystal.  Artwork © John Passaneau.
Nittany Mineralogical Society, Inc.
State College, Pennsylvania


Outreach Projects

       HOME PAGE        MORE LINKS Spring Creek Day

NMS participated in ClearWater Conservancy's Spring Creek Family Festival which was held at Millbrook Marsh for several years. We donated a basket of gift items related to our interests for their fund-raising auction (in the years when an auction was held) and presented a station illustrating some aspects of our interests, with displays and giveaways.

Iron ore minerals and historical local ironmaking, 2009




Mineral and Rock Hardness and Lapidary, 2010


Faceting as part of the 2011 presentation
Display Case at Penn State
see more about the museum display

For several years, NMS has constructed a series of displays in a case at Penn State's Earth & Mineral Sciences Museum and Art Gallery, on the ground floor of Deike Building at the University Park campus. They have been organized by NMS member Bob Altamura and others, with specimens from a variety of members, and have included:
- The State College Oolite
- Major Pegmatite Districts in the Eastern U.S.
- Minerals of Mexico
- Petrified Wood
- Volcanic Rocks and Associated Primary and Secondary Minerals
- Geological Terrane Model of Pennsylvania & Selected Rock and Mineral Samples
- Fluorite: Specialization in Mineral Collecting

Pegmatite minerals from North Carolina (left), Maine (center), and Connecticut (right).




The State College Oolite (at the 2007 Show)


Petrified Wood

A collection of mineral specimen photographs by the late NMS member John Passaneau was displayed for several years in the main hallway outside the Museum galleries.

In late 2011, a new display case of fluorescent minerals was installed in the Museum. The electronic controller for the timed sequence of white light and various wavelengths of ultraviolet light was designed and made by John Passaneau.


AFMS Scholarship Donations

The American Federation of Mineralogical Societies' Scholarship Foundation accepts donations and distributes scholarships through the regional federations including EFMLS. One dollar per club member is considered a 100% donation.

NMS has donated, in memory of those listed:
2008   200%   Jay Lininger, Pennsylvania mineral collector and publisher of MATRIX magazine
2009100%Thomas J. Confer, Treasures of the Earth rock shop (Howard, PA) proprietor
Dr. H. Reginald Hardy Jr., collector, mineral scientist and engineer
Dr. Robert E. Newnham, crystallographer and inventor who made use of crystal structure
2010100%Annie A. Passaneau, collector and volunteer
2011100%Forest L. Benford Jr., earth science enthusiast and volunteer
Peter B. Nalle, collector and supporter
David E. Snell, Penn State Mineral Museum curator
2017200%Joann Snell, member and volunteer
Charlotte Smith, collector and volunteer
Mike Sincak, major long-term donor and Treasures of the Earth, Ltd. (Holsopple, PA) proprietor
John Passaneau, founding member, donor, officer, award-winning collector
Jeanne Dague, member, volunteer and donor


Book Donations

NMS has undertaken a program to donate books in our field to local public and school libraries. We have donated:
2010Penn State Earth & Mineral Sciences LibraryThe Mines and Minerals of Chester County, Pennsylvania, by Ron Sloto, in memory of Dr. Allen Heyl
2010Centre Learning Community Charter SchoolSmithsonian Handbook: Rocks and Minerals, by Pellant
2011Schlow Library, State College, PAMasterpieces of the Mineral World, by Wilson and Bartsch, in memory of Annie Passaneau
2011Mount Nittany Middle School LibrarySmithsonian Handbook: Rocks and Minerals, by Pellant
2011Park Forest Middle School LibraryMinerals - A Firefly Guide, by Guastoni & Appiani
2011State College Area High School Library NorthThe Picking Table (DVD), Franklin-Ogdensburg Mineralogical Society
2011State College Area High School Library SouthGeology of Pennsylvania, ed. by Shultz
2011Bellefonte Area High School LibraryGeology of Pennsylvania, ed. by Shultz
2011Penns Valley High School LibraryGeology of Pennsylvania, ed. by Shultz
2011Bald Eagle Area High School LibraryGeology of Pennsylvania, ed. by Shultz
2011St. Joseph's Academy LibraryGeology of Pennsylvania, ed. by Shultz
Smithsonian Handbook: Rocks and Minerals, by Pellant
Minerals - A Firefly Guide, by Guastoni & Appiani
2017St. Francis University LibraryGeology of Pennsylvania, ed. by Shultz, in memory of Mike Sincak
2017Penn State Earth & Mineral Sciences LibraryThe Mines and Minerals of Berks County, Pennsylvania, by Ron Sloto, in memory of David Snell

Educational Outreach

Our members have given presentations and donated specimens to various school, homeschool and Scout groups through the years. We may be able to provide specimens if teachers contact us with specific needs.


Bedford Cub Scouts, 2010


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