Celebrating the Past…
Mission
The Mineralogical Society of America’s mission is to diligently work on the advancement of mineralogy, crystallography, geochemistry, petrology, and promotion of their uses in other sciences, industry, and the arts. It encourages fundamental research about natural materials; supports the teaching of mineralogical concepts and procedures; and attempts to raise the scientific literacy of society with respect to issues involving mineralogy in the widest sense. The Society encourages the preservation of mineral collections, displays, mineral localities, type minerals and scientific data. MSA represents the United States internationally with regard to the science of mineralogy.
Governance
The Society is a scientific membership organization, founded in 1919,
incorporated in 1937, and approved as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3)
organization in 1959.
The MSA Council, comprising the President, Past-President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, and six Councilors elected from the membership, govern MSA according to its Bylaws. The President, Past-President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer form the Executive Committee to govern the Society when Council is not in session. The name of the officers and council members can be found on the Officers & Councilors page.
The President and Vice-President are elected annually for one-year terms. The Secretary and Treasurer are elected biennially, in alternative years, for terms of two years. Two Councilors are elected each year and serve a three-year term. The President, the Vice-President, and the elected Councilors are limited to one term in each office. The Secretary and the Treasurer are eligible for election to no more than two terms in either office.
The Council meets three times in a year. The first meeting is generally held during the Fall MSA/GSA Annual Meeting. The second meeting is held in the Spring. The third meeting is held just prior to the MSA/GSA Annual Meeting the following Fall. The minutes from the Council Meetings can be found on the Council Minutes page.
To be nominated for elected office, an individual must be a member or fellow of the Society. Individuals nominated for the position of President, Vice-President, Secretary, or Treasurer must have been members of the Society for five consecutive years preceding nomination.
A ballot listing the slate of candidates for each office is sent to all members with ballots due back to the Business Office by August 1. Officers-elect are announced at the Third Council meeting and assume office during the First Council meeting of the their term in office.
While the Council is the decision-making body of the Society, items needing investigation, discussion and a range of possible recommendations for decision are usually handled by committees. According to the Bylaws, standing committees of the Society are the Financial Advisory and Audit Committee, the Committee on Management, the Nominating Committee for Officers and Council, and the Nominating Committee for Fellows. There are also committees on the Roebling Medal, MSA Award, Kraus Research Grant, Mineralogy/Petrology Student Research Grant, Public Service Award, Dana Medal, Lecture Program, Publications, Meetings, Short Courses, Benefactor, Arts Council, and Outreach.
All members of the Society are eligible to serve on a committee. Interested individuals are encouraged to contact the Business Office or the Chair of the Committee on Committees. The name of each committee chair is available on the Committees & Appointed Posts page should a member wish to bring an item up for consideration by the committee. Generally, committees that nominate individuals for awards, fellowship, or office report to the Council at the Third meeting in the Fall. Other committees regularly make reports at any or all of the Council meetings.
The MSA Annual Business Meeting is held each fall. MSA also has a strong presence at
the annual Geological Society of America meeting.
Each MSA publication or program is headed by a volunteer member Editor, Coordinator, or Administrator. Offices, committees, and editorial boards are also occupied by member volunteers. There is full-time staff at the headquarters office in Washington, DC. The Editorial Office of the American Mineralogist has 3 full-time staff members. The Society Business Office has a full-time staff of 3 and part-time staff that changes in size depending on the seasonal workload.
Executive Director
Ann Benbow
Accounts Coordinator
Everett Johnson
Accountant
Mary Edosomwan
Administrative Assistant
Michael Harris
Our History
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Members Worldwide
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Major Awards Given
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Years of Service
The Mineralogical Society of America (MSA)
MSA was founded in 1919 for the advancement of mineralogy, crystallography, geochemistry, petrology, and promotion of their uses in other sciences, industry, and the arts. It encourages fundamental research about natural materials; supports the teaching of mineralogical concepts and procedures; and attempts to raise the scientific literacy of society with respect to issues involving mineralogy in the widest sense. The Society encourages the preservation of mineral collections, displays, mineral localities, type minerals and scientific data. MSA represents the United States internationally with regard to the science of mineralogy.
To accomplish its goals, the Society publishes journals, magazines, and books, as well as uses short courses, lectureships, Internet website, awards, grants, symposia, and meetings for professionals, students, and the public. MSA depends on the involvement of all individuals who are concerned with the health and direction of the field of mineralogy. MSA supports and champions efforts by individuals and organizations to foster a climate of inclusion, diversity, and acceptance in the sciences and in the wider public. The Society cooperates with other scientific and organizations, and continually explores and adopts new programs and policies to better serve its members.
February 15, 1926
Washington A. Roebling made an unconditional donation of $45,000 in bonds of the City & County of Honolulu, Hawaii, paying 5% per annum, due in 1954.
Roebling Medal
First awarded in 1937, the Roebling Medal is the Society’s highest honor. It is given in recognition of an individual’s lifetime scientific eminence as represented primarily by publication of outstanding original research in mineralogy. The recipient is made a life fellow of the Society and receives a gold medal engraved with their name and the resemblance of Washington A. Roebling. Washington Roebling was Chief Engineer during construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, a mineral collector, and a significant friend of the Society in its early years. Roebling gave the society a gift of $40,000 in bonds which became the Roebling Fund and has grown to over $1.5 million.
Reviews in Mineralogy was Born out of Short Courses
Short courses of mineralogical interest were begun in 1965 in conjunction with the annual meetings of the Geological Society of America.
In 1973, the MSA Council appointed a committee to initiate a series of short courses under their sponsorship. The mineralogy of sulfides was selected as the topic for the first of these courses, and the primary lecturers, J. R. Craig, C. T. Prewitt, S. D. Scott, and B. J. Wuensch, gathered in Blacksburg, Virginia in May 1974 to organize their presentation. The assistance of V. Rajamani as both coauthor and lecturer and P. B. Barton as special lecturer was enlisted, and the work of writing and editing this volume began. The Short Course on Sulfide Mineralogy was given November 15-17, 1974, preceding the annual meetings of the affiliated societies of the Geological
Short Courses are 2-4 day, in-depth instructional courses, usually given in conjunction with major meetings. They are taught by several invited speakers who also write the accompanying Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry volume. There have been 60courses since 1974.Society of America, at the Sheraton Four Ambassadors Hotel in Miami, Florida, USA with eighty persons in attendance.
Distinguished Public Service Medal
This award is presented to an individual who has provided outstanding contributions to public policy and awareness about mineralogical topics in the widest sense. Established in 1990, the award is a silver medal with the logo of the Society and vignettes of the application of mineralogy to the general good.
Elements Magazine
A full-color magazine first published in January 2005, Elements is the official newsletter of the society. Published bimonthly, each issue also contains several thematic scientific articles written for a broad audience.
American Mineralogist (Am Min)
Is the Flagship Journal of the
Mineralogical Society of America (MSA)
MSA Turns 100 Years Old
In 2019, MSA celebrated its 100th anniversary with a two-day Centennial Symposium in Washington, DC. All talks were video-recorded and are available via the MSA website at MSA Centennial Symposium.
The Society continues its work for the advancement of mineralogy, crystallography, geochemistry, and petrology, and the promotion of their uses in other sciences, industry, and the arts.
Policies and Position Statements
MSA Privacy Policy
The Mineralogical Society of America (MSA) is committed to protecting the privacy and the personal information members and customers provide us. This information is defined as any data with which members and customers could be personally identified. This Privacy Policy describes what information we collect, how we use it, how long we keep it, and how you can access it, modify it, or request its deletion.
MSA Conduct Policy
The Code of Conduct for the Mineralogical Society of America-Sponsored Events and Activities was approved by MSA Council on 21 September 2019. This Conduct Policy applies to interactions with both MSA members and non-members at all MSA-sponsored events and activities.
MSA Publishing Policies
Publishing Policies Print and Electronic for subscribers, authors, and users.
MSA Position Statements
As one of the largest society of professional mineralogists, petrologists, crystallographers and geochemists in the world, The Mineralogical Society of America (MSA) bears a responsibility for providing international leadership in issues that affect, and are affected by, the mineral sciences. These topics include, but are not limited to:
- Education in the Earth sciences at the K-16 levels;
- Governmental policies involving the study, usage, and regulation of Earth materials;
- Preservation of our cultural heritage with respect to mineral sciences; and
- Amateur and professional scientific investigations within mineralogy, crystallography, petrology and geochemistry.
An MSA position statement represents the organization’s official stand on the issue of interest. The MSA Position Statements page describes:
- Criteria for an MSA Policy Statement
- What to Submit
- Where to Submit
- Adoption Process
- Sunset Clause
- Accepted Position Statements
Accepted Position Statements
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Preservation of Natural History Collections: Minerals and Rocks (accepted October 17, 2009; re-affirmed October 18, 2014; re-affirmed September 21, 2019)
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Asbestos (accepted October 17, 2009; re-affirmed October 18, 2014; re-affirmed September 21, 2019)
- Code of Conduct at MSA Events (accepted October 17, 2009; re-affirmed October 18, 2014; re-affirmed September 21, 2019)