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The Mineralogical Society of America
(MSA) is a scientific membership organization. MSA
was founded in 1919 for the advancement of mineralogy, crystallography, geochemistry, and 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 to students of mineralogy
and related arts and sciences; and attempts to raise the scientific
literacy of society with respect to issues involving
mineralogy. The Society encourages the general preservation of
mineral collections, displays, mineral localities, type minerals
and scientific data. MSA represents the United States with regard
to the science of mineralogy in any international context. The
Society was incorporated in 1937 and approved as a not-for-profit
organization in 1959.
Publications
- American Mineralogist: An
International Journal of Earth and Planetary Materials, is the
print journal of the Society, and it has been published
continuously since 1916. It publishes the results of original
scientific research in the fields of mineralogy, crystallography,
geochemistry, and petrology with the goal of providing readers with
the best in earth science research.
- Reviews in Mineralogy is a series of multi-authored,
soft-bound books containing cogent and concise reviews of the
literature and advances about a subject area. Since 1974, 56
volumes have been published.
- The Lattice is a quarterly newsletter first published
in 1985 and contains business items as well as general information
for members.
Special
Interest Groups
MSA's special interest groups are composed of individuals who
have informally joined together to organize review volumes,
meetings, workshops, etc. There are Special Interest Groups for
- Environmental Mineralogy,
- Mineral Structures,
- Mineral Surfaces,
- Pegmatites,
- Planetary Materials,
- Teaching Mineralogy, and
- Industrial Mineralogy.
Awards
As the representative Society for the profession, the
Mineralogical Society of America recognizes outstanding
contributors to the fields of mineralogy, crystallography,
geochemistry, and petrology. Society awards do not require MSA
membership or United States citizenship.
- 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 both a 14K and bronze medal
engraved bearing their engraved 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.
- Distinguished Public Service Medal This award
is presented to an individual who has provided outstanding
contributions to public policy and awareness about mineralogical
topics through science. 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.
- Mineralogical Society of America Award This
award is presented to an individual for an outstanding single or
series of published contributions in the areas of mineralogy,
crystallography, geochemistry, petrology, or related fields. The
award is meant to recognize a scientist beginning their career. The
recognized research must have been performed prior to the
recipient's 35th birthday or prior to the seventh year past Ph.D.,
and the award given no more than two years afterwards. The award is
a certificate, Fellow status, and a life membership.
- Mineralogical Society of America Dana Medal
This award is presented to a mid-career individual for outstanding
single or series of published contributions in the areas of
mineralogy, crystallography, geochemistry, petrology, or related
fields.
- American Mineralogist Undergraduate Awards The
Society recognizes outstanding undergraduate students enrolled in
mineralogical courses nominated by their department with a
certificate and an MSA publication of their choice. One student per
department may be nominated annually provided the nominating
department offers at least one course in crystallography,
mineralogy, or petrology, and a member of the faculty is a member
of fellow of the Society.
- American Mineralogist Best Paper Award First
given in 1998, the award is presented to the author(s) of what is
judged to be the best paper published in the preceding year's
volume of American Mineralogist. Chosen by a Committee of Associate
Editors, the award comprises a plaque.
Membership
Membership in the Society is open to any person interested in
mineralogy and related sciences regardless of residence or
citizenship. Individuals from all 50 states, the District of
Columbia, and about 40 countries belong to the Society, giving it
and its publications an international readership.
Annual
Meeting
The MSA Annual Business Meeting with the members, as well as
award and social functions of the Society, are held in conjunction
with the annual Geological Society of
America meeting.
External
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