Carnegie Museum of Natural History (CMNH) is pleased to announce Ronald A. Sloto as the winner of the 2025 Carnegie Mineralogical Award. The award honors outstanding contributions in mineralogical preservation, conservation, and education.
Dr. Travis Olds of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History made the following remarks at the presentation ceremony:
Ronald A. Sloto is Curator and Director of the Geology Museum at West Chester University, Pennsylvania, where he also holds the title of Honorary Professor. Over the course of a distinguished career that includes 41 years with the U.S. Geological Survey, he has become the definitive historian of Pennsylvania mineralogy, authoring a landmark series of reference books that document the region's mineral heritage.
“Ron is the bridge between professional geology and the collecting community, ensuring that our mineral history is not lost to time,” said Travis Olds, Assistant Curator of Minerals at Carnegie Museum of Natural History. “He has exhaustively documented over 1,400 mineral localities and revitalized the collections at West Chester University. This award recognizes his lifetime of service to preserving mineralogical history in the library, the laboratory, and the museum. Congratulations, Ron.”
Sloto authored the "Mines and Minerals" book series, covering Chester, Berks, Montgomery, Bucks, and Delaware counties. These works provide exhaustive coverage of historical mines, geological settings, and associated specimens, serving as essential references for researchers and collectors alike. His work has ensured that the rich mineralogical legacy of the Mid-Atlantic region is preserved and accessible for future generations. As a hydrogeologist, Sloto also developed the HYSEP program, a fundamental tool in hydrologic research whose algorithms are still used worldwide. His leadership with the Friends of Mineralogy Pennsylvania Chapter and his contributions to The Mineralogical Record have further enriched the mineralogical community.
"My interest in minerals was piqued during my early childhood years collecting quartz crystals and fern fossils in northeastern Pennsylvania. To be able to turn that fascination into a lifelong career with the USGS, and now to help preserve our mineral heritage at West Chester University, has been a wonderful privilege."
Olds presented the award to Sloto on February 14, 2026, at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show.
FMPA Member Ron Sloto Receives 2025 Carnegie Mineralogical Award
REGISTRATION OPEN FOR 2025 SYMPOSIUM
The Friends of Mineralogy Pennsylvania Chapter 2025 Symposium, in partnership with the West Chester University Earth and Space Sciences Department, will be returning to West Chester University on November 8, 2025, with a field trip on November 9. The symposium was held at West Chester University in the 1980s and 1990s but has moved around since then. FM PA is excited to return to West Chester University.
Registration is now open for the Friends of Mineralogy Pennsylvania Chapter - West Chester University Earth and Space Sciences Department 2025 Symposium to be held at West Chester University on November 8-9.
The symposium will be held on the first floor of the Merion Hall part of the Science Center Complex. The silent action will be held in room MER-109. Presentations will take place in room MER-112. A map of Merion Hall is included in the latest newsletter.
Click on the link below for a fillable PDF registration form. Fill out the form on your computer and (1) save and email the form to xidg@verizon.net if you are paying with PayPal OR (2) fill out the form on your computer, print it, and mail it with your check to David Glick.
Stay tuned! Additional information will be forthcoming.
2025 Symposium Registration Form
Driving Directions to West Chester University
Where To Stay
Where to park on the WCU campus
The symposium will be held on the first floor of the Merion Hall part of the Science Center Complex. The silent action will be held in room MER-109. Presentations will take place in room MER-112. A map of Merion Hall is included in the latest newsletter.
Click on the link below for a fillable PDF registration form. Fill out the form on your computer and (1) save and email the form to xidg@verizon.net if you are paying with PayPal OR (2) fill out the form on your computer, print it, and mail it with your check to David Glick.
Stay tuned! Additional information will be forthcoming.
2025 Symposium Registration Form
Driving Directions to West Chester University
Where To Stay
Where to park on the WCU campus
Stay tuned! Additional information will be forthcoming.
2025 Symposium Registration Form
Driving Directions to West Chester University
Where To Stay
Where to park on the WCU campus
Driving Directions to West Chester University
Where To Stay
Where to park on the WCU campus
Where to park on the WCU campus
Location of the WCU Science Center
FM PA Now A Member of EFMLS
The Friends of Mineralogy Pennsylvania Chapter is now a member of The Eastern Federation of Mineralogical and Lapidary Societies. All FM PA members are now automatically members of EFMLS.
Eastern Federation of Mineralogical and Lapidary SocietiesCHECK OUT THE NEW FM PA FACEBOOK PAGE
The Pennsylvania Chapter of the Friends of Mineralogy has a new Facebook page thanks to the dedication and hard work of Andrew Rockhound. Check it out at FM PA Facebook Page
NEW PUBLICATION: THE MINES AND MINERALS OF BUCKS COUNTY, PA
The Mines and Minerals of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, a recently published book by FM member Ron Sloto, provides a comprehensive description of the mining history and mineralogy of the county. It pulls together over 300 years of mining and mineral history under one cover. It is richly illustrated with 400 figures — old and new photographs, old maps, mine plans, and photographs of minerals from museum, university, and private collections. Many of the old photographs have never been published before. This book describes nearly 175 mines and mineral localities. It includes the known history of each mine and locality and a list of reported minerals. The locations are shown on a set of USGS topographic maps. Because many of the mines had several names over the course of their history, a comprehensive cross-index is provided. An extensive bibliography also is included.
Ninety-one different mineral species have been reported from Bucks County. Extensive coverage is provided for the two most prolific mineral localities in the county-the New Galena lead mines in New Britain Township and Vanartsdalen's quarry in Lower Southampton Township. Many of the past mineral industries in Bucks County, such as lime burning and production of paving blocks, are described.
Bill Stephens Elected New President of FM PA
President's Message
by Interim President Bill Stephens, PG
After many years of faithful and effective service, immediate past President Joe Marchesani decided it was time for him to take a break from his leadership role at FM-PA. We wish him all the luck in his future endeavors. The Board members present at a recent meeting voted unanimously to install me as interim President until the official meeting at the annual symposium. I hit the ground running with the idea that we needed to get prepared for what will likely be a "Hybrid" Symposium, part in person and part Zoom, at a totally new facility. In our last in-person symposium, we had an issue develop with the availability of the venue we had at F&M for many years. Last year, with the COVID shutdown, we were forced to adapt and put on a symposium entirely remotely using Zoom; with the effective leadership of your Board of Directors, that symposium went off without a hitch. Now we are tasked with not only finding a new venue, but one where we can have in person and remote attendance for the Fall 2021 Symposium. Stay tuned!
FM PA BYLAWS
The FM PA bylaws were updated to add online meetings and voting plus other minor changes. View our bylaws here
NEW PUBLICATION: THE MINES AND MINERALS OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA
