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The Shadow Mountain Gem and Mineral Society was established in 1951 by a group of rock collectors that had an extraordinary vision on sharing the hobby with people of all ages in the valley. To make this possible the club was set up in the Coachella Valley area to help inspire young and old alike to get involved with the beauties that nature has created through the eons in rocks and minerals. The club both serves an interracial part to the valley region as both activity in the field on rock collecting trips and helping to educate the public on mineralogy. As a yearly event the club takes great pride and interest in helping to educate the public and school kids at the annual Date Festival in Indio with the highly acclaimed education bags that help familiarize and explain what is found in the area in which they live or are visiting. The event also includes extravagant exhibitions and competitions by numerous rock collectors in the club that include specimens rivaling most even found in top museums. Members Mary Flagel, Barbara Catlin, Bob Fitzpatrick, Bob Bryne, Hubert Thompson and Kenny Irwin have built exquisite world class collections that include specimens from around the world that include US, Brazil, China, Afghanistan, Pakistan and and many other countries. These are long time members that have passion, that help nurture passion in new joining members in a lifetime experience one can never forget. The club represents one of the absolute finest in the rock and mineral federation of California expressing concern for protecting collecting areas, working with other clubs and educational institutions. To belong to this club is something truly special made up of unique individuals with vision that are willing to share their knowledge with you and take you on trips to find minerals. Feel free to join the club if you have an interest in nature, rocks and minerals as well as geology. There are numerous trips for collecting which will be posted on this site as they are announced. The SMGMS meets the first Friday of every month October through May at the United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 7PM off of the corner of Alejo Rd and Sunrise and is open to all members and nonmembers alike. Feel free to stop by as new trips, activities and mineralogical seminars are held through out the year. "Horny Toad Lizard""Club members taking a break from preparations for the Date Festival"
"Member Kenny Irwin on a rock collecting hike"

"Rashid, World's oldest rock hound at 101 years old from the Bazarak Valley of Afghanistan"