About

MINERALOGICAL SOCIETY OF ARIZONA

NICKNAME:  MSA  

ESTABLISHED:  December 4, 1935  

FOUNDER:  Arthur L. Flagg

• Known nationally as Mr. Rockhound and The Dean of Arizona Rockhounds

ORGANIZATION:  Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Educational Organization  

• All contributions to MSA in the United States are tax-deductible to the extent provided by law. 

PURPOSE/MISSION: To promote popular interest and education in Earth Science, and related fields (Geology, Mineralogy, Paleontology, and Lapidary arts); to foster a fellowship among individuals interested in Earth Science and enable our members to better identify materials we collect, and how to display or further process these materials; to teach all generations about rocks, minerals, fossils, and what can be done with them, and be collaborative in community of groups with similar interests to our Society.

NEWSLETTER:  The Rockhound Record    (ISSN 2572-7486)

SHOWS: 

• 1948-1994 The Phoenix Gem & Mineral Show
• 2022-Present Phoenix Heritage Mineral Show

• The Phoenix Gem & Mineral Show was the largest show in Arizona during the mid-1950s and 1960s.

• The 1958 Phoenix Gem & Mineral Show featuring the legendary "Crown of the Andes" was the most-attended show in Arizona according to MSA 1964 President Bob Jones, until it was finally surpassed by the Tucson Gem & Mineral Society's 50th Golden Anniversary Show in 2004 with its fitting “Gold” show theme.

NOTABLE:  

• Arizona's Oldest Mineral Society

• 1930s: MSA President Arthur L. Flagg pioneered and popularized thumbnail mineral collecting (focus on small mineral specimens that fit into 1-inch cube) in Arizona. Flagg first used the term “thumbnail” in the 1930s for MSA children’s competitions, and by the 1940s, the hobby had been embraced by adult collectors as well.  Flagg developed thumbnail collecting as a low‑cost, inclusive gateway into the mineral kingdom for children and young people. By restricting specimens to a manageable size, he made the hobby accessible to collectors with limited budgets or display space, while lowering the barrier to entry for beginners learning identification, appreciation, and the underlying science of minerals. Thumbnail mineral collecting remains a hallmark of MSA’s outreach today, reflecting Flagg’s lifelong mission to share the beauty and mysteries of minerals with all generations. His legacy endures not only in a love of Earth Science but in a community-driven collecting culture that continues to thrive in the homes and museums across Arizona and the world. 

• 1940s: MSA was largest mineral club in the United States.
• 1955: Tucson Gem & Mineral Society members visit to The Phoenix Gem & Mineral Show helped launch Tucson Gem & Mineral Show to be what is regarded as the most prestigious gem & mineral show in the world.

• March 6–8, 1958: The 10th Annual Phoenix Gem & Mineral Show made history, hosting the 15th Annual Rocky Mountain Federation of Mineralogical Societies Convention and showcasing the legendary, gold and emerald encrusted "Crown of the Andes". According to MSA 1964 President and renowned chronicler Bob Jones, this event held the record as Arizona's most-attended mineral show for 46 years, until it was finally surpassed by the Tucson Gem & Mineral Society's 50th Golden Anniversary Show in 2004 with its fitting “Gold” show theme.

• 1962: Members of MSA helped establish Flagg Mineral Foundation as a living memorial to Arthur L. Flagg.  The Flagg Mineral Foundation hosts the Flagg Gem & Mineral Show in January and the Minerals of Arizona Symposium in March/April.

• 2013: Key Arizona specimens from the MSA Mineral Collection, photographed by past MSA President Jeffrey A. Scovil are featured in Mineral Collections in Arizona-I (May-June 2013) supplement of The Mineralogical Record.

• 2014: MSA President Chris Whitney-Smith and Board of Governors establish Mineralogical Society of Arizona Hall of Fame to honor Conspicuous Service to Mineralogical Society of Arizona. Special acknowledgment to the Flagg Mineral Foundation, whose generous grant made these awards possible.

• 2014: MSA signs loan agreement with University of Arizona Gem & Mineral Museum at Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium for special exhibit of MSA Mineral Collection January-December 2014 as part of The Best of the Best, Prize Minerals from the Vaults of Arizona's Collectors.

• 2017: MSA President Chris Whitney-Smith in partnership with MSA Life Member Dr. Alexander Schauss and a grassroots movement across Arizona that included junior and adult members of MSA, spearheaded the successful "Wulfenite is Love" campaign that made Wulfenite the Official State Mineral of Arizona in 2017, proving that Wulfenite Is Loved.

• 2020: MSA was prominently featured in the Mineral Collections in Arizona–II supplement (January–February 2020) of The Mineralogical Record, with coverage spanning several highlights:

  • "How Wulfenite Became the Official State Mineral of Arizona" traced the history behind Arizona's official mineral designation.
  • MSA's Mineral Collection announced its newest acquisition: a smoky-amethyst specimen collected by past MSA President Jeffrey A. Scovil from the Fat Jack Mine, acquired from MSA Life Member Les Wagner.
  • "Arizona's Young Mineral Collectors" spotlighted seven MSA junior members and their thumbnail mineral specimens, photographed by Jeffrey A. Scovil: Erika Brown, David Tibbits, Harris Kominski, Wyatt Busby, Max Kaminski, Mason Kaminski, and Maggie Lyons.
  • "Minerals Named in Honor of MSA Members" recognized Bob Jones, Dr. Raymond W. Grant, Ron Gibbs, and Joe A. Ruiz.
  • A feature on minerals belonging to past MSA Presidents highlighted specimens from Jeffrey A. Scovil, Dr. Raymond W. Grant, Les Presmyk, and Bob Jones.
  • Featuring specimens from collections of MSA members photographed by Jeffrey A. Scovil, including specimens from Chris Whitney-Smith, Dr. Alexander Schauss, Eric Putman, Dawn Boushelle, Ken Moffitt, Ken Rippere, Stan & Sue Celestian, and Denis Menard.

• 2021: MSA is a proud partner of University of Arizona Alfie Norville Gem & Mineral Museum in Tucson, AZ, since 2021, when it signed a loan agreement as a founding organization with key Arizona specimens from MSA's Mineral Collection on permanent display in the Arizona Gallery's Bisbee Stope exhibit, as well as in a dedicated MSA Club Case.

• 2022: MSA has proudly partnered with the Pinal Geology & Mineral Museum in Coolidge, AZ, since 2015, when past MSA President Dr. Raymond W. Grant founded the museum and became its first curator. That partnership deepened in summer 2020, when past MSA President Bob Jones donated MSA's original Waddell display case back to MSA, opening the door for MSA to sign loan agreement for key specimens from the MSA Mineral Collection to go on exhibit at the Pinal Geology & Mineral Museum beginning June 4, 2022, extending MSA's legacy of mineral education beyond Phoenix and into Pinal County's own science museum.

WEBSITE:  msaaz.org 

MOTTO:  EXPLORE | SHARE | INSPIRE

COLORS:  Blue & Gold

LOGO: 

MEETINGS & EVENTS: In event you don’t see future events or meetings posted under Events tab, please use following MSA meeting rules to help with planning your calendar:

• MSA Meetings are typically 3rd Thursday (January-June) and (September-November).
• December is MSA Holiday Jamboree (2nd Saturday).
• Summer Recess/No Meetings (July & August).

Meetings are usually at following location:

Franciscan Renewal Center

PIPER HALL

5802 E. Lincoln Drive,

Scottsdale, AZ  85253

Mailing Address:

Mineralogical Society of Arizona

P.O. Box 54307

Phoenix, AZ 85078

• Must check website to confirm Meetings Date, Time and Location before traveling to meetings.
• Certain events/meetings are member only and not viewable by general public.
• Members can view all posted events by logging in to msaaz.org using their MSA membership credentials and view Events tab.

CONTACT: MSAClub1935@msaaz.org

MSA FOUNDER

MR. ROCKHOUND

ARTHUR LEONARD FLAGG

Born: June 29, 1883 Woonsocket, Providence County, RI

Death: April 27, 1961 Phoenix, Maricopa County, AZ

Read Articles about Arthur L Flagg

• BA Geology Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island (1906)
• Assayer Esmeralda Copper Company, Cherry Creek Mine, Yavapai County, AZ (1906 - 1907)
• Mine Examiner Durango & Oaxaca, Mexico (1908 - 1912)
• Mining Engineer Kelvin Sultana Copper Company, Pinal County, AZ (1913 - 1919)
• Private Practice Licensed Mining Engineer, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona (1919 – 1953)
• Founder Mineralogical Society of Arizona (MSA) (1935)
• Founder Rocky Mountain Federation of Mineralogical Societies (RMFMS) (1941)
• Author “Rockhounds & Arizona Minerals” (1944)
• Fellow American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) (1944)
• Superintendent Mineral Department Arizona State Fair (1946 - 1949)
• Founder American Federation of Mineralogical Societies (AFMS) (1947)
• Mining Engineer Arizona Department of Mineral Resources (ADMR) (1949 - 1953)
• First Curator Arizona Mineral Museum (AMM) (1949 - 1953)
• Author “Mineralogical Journey in Arizona” (1958)
• Flagg Mineral Foundation (FMF) A living memorial to Mr. Arthur L. Flagg (1962)
• Flagg Gem and Mineral Show (FGMS) Sponsored by FMF in memoriam of Mr. Flagg (1970)
• Earth Science Museum (ESM) Arizona Mr. Flagg’s Dream (Official 501[c](3) (2011) 

“To All Who Are Inspired by the Beauties and Mysteries of the Mineral Kingdom” A. L. F. 

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(2016-Present)

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