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Thank you to all our sponsors who support us in our educational mission!
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MONTHLY MEETING NOTICE
The March meeting of KMGS will be held at the Pewaukee Public Library on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at 6:30 PM.
Please join us!
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Letter from President
Tim Perrin
The 2026 KMGS Rock and Mineral Show was a great success.
So what’s was new this year:
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Post-Show Report by The Show Chairmen
First and foremost, I want to thank everybody for making the 2026 Kettle Moraine Geological Society of Wisconsin 64thAnnual Show a success.
This year was a period of learning, trial and error, and even experimentation, for many programs, ideas, thoughts, and endeavors ,many of which may or may not be implemented in the future.
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2026 KMGS Cash & Prize Raffle
Prize Winner
1 $1000 Mike Andrysczyk Milwaukee
2 $500.00 Sue Schable Mayville
3 $250.00 Leah Anderson Milwaukee
4 $100.00 Tony Ilecki Milwaukee
5 $50.00 Aden Cook Waukesha
6 $50.00 Sue Chapman
7 $50.00 Cody Nettesheim West Allis
8 GB Packer Football Jack Umplby Richfield
9 Henry Rifle Pkg Joe Herbst
10 $50 Walmart Card Donna Cook Waukesha
11 Cave of the Mounds Becky Janz Slinger
12 6 Culvers Meals Kim Cismoski Gillett
13 QuartzPoint Tammy Loveless
14 MegladonTooth Jennie Reich
15 PyriteCube Alexa Smith Lisbon
16 Chrysocholla Quartz Mike Schick Nashota
17 Necklace DanJeager Oconomowoc
18 Dogtooth Calcite Greg Van Fossen
19 Dogtooth Calcite Linda Mockic New Berlin
20 Dogtooth Calcite Andrea Rettler Rubicon
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Upcoming Programs
Mary Nettesheim
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2-18-2065 KMGS February Meeting Minutes
(1)Meeting Called to Order at 6:35 pm., by President Tim Perrin.
(2)The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by the 50 members in attendance.
(3) As the group snacked on a feast of snacks and various foods, Mary Nettesheim ran a program on Ashfall NE, and the Agate Fossil Beds in Scotts Bluff NE.
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Thunderegg or Geode? How to Tell Them Apart
Excerpts from article published March 5, 2026 By Dr. Vance on Rockhounding.org-articles
Thundereggs and Geodes are usually confused with one another; they are both round and lumpy rocks with beautiful crystals hidden inside. But they are contradictory in some ways; while geodes are hollow, thundereggs are solid, and thundereggs only form in volcanic rock. There are thundereggs with hollow centers, and some geodes are filled in.
This article explains the distinction between thundereggs and geodes, what each one is, how each one forms, what's inside, how to identify them in the field, and where the classification gets complicated.
A geode is a roughly spherical rock with a hollow interior lined with crystals. Geodes form around a void when groundwater dissolves out a cavity and then slowly deposits minerals inward from the walls, growing crystals toward the center over thousands to millions of years.
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KMGS Jr. Rockhounds and friends show their love for Minerals in February.
February was a great month to show our love of Minerals with KMGS member and minerals collector Mary Nettesheim. Jr. Rockhounds members and friends gathered at the Hartford Library to view Mary's fantastic collection and discuss why minerals are so cool, where they help us in our daily lives and how we can identify them when we find some in the environment. Read More...
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Upcoming Junior Rockhounds Events
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KMGS Jr. Rockhounds Summer Field Trips on the Calendar!
Field trip season is underway and we are excited to offer some really great opportunities to enjoy the outdoors exploring the awesome Wisconsin geographical landscape with fellow enthusiasts!
Remember, the Jr. Rockhounds Club is open to ALL AGES (that's you too adults!). Our group plans trips and meetings on the second Saturday of the month so you can plan ahead and not miss out. Here's what we have in store!
Fossils of Wisconsin
Saturday, April 11th
10:30am - 11:30am
Menomonee Falls Library
Lannon Stone Quarry Fossil Dig
Saturday, May 9th, 2026
1:00pm - 4:00pm
Bus Meet-up Location
Jackson WI Park-n-Ride (66-30)
N169W22191 Apple Lane
Jackson, WI 53037
Ledgeview Nature Center & Carolyn Caves Tour
Saturday, June 13th, 2026
9am - 11:30am
Ledgeview Nature Center
W2348 Short Road
Chilton, WI 53014
Exploring Cana Island in Door County
Saturday, July 11th, 2026
2pm - 4pm
Cana Island Lighthouse
8800 E Cana Island Rd
Baileys Harbor, WI 54202
Rockhounding Kenosha Beaches
Saturday, August 8th, 2026
10:30am 'till we get sick of it!
Starting at Simmons Island Beach House
5001 Simmons Island Road
Kenosha, WI 53140
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Calling all junior journalists, writers,
poets, photographers, and artists...
Do you want to see your work in print? We are looking for articles, poems, photographs, and art for the new Juniors Newsletter. The newsletter needs your rockhounding articles, photos, artwork, poetry, and other contributions. It could be an article about one of your favorite rocks, minerals, or fossils. Perhaps an article with photos of one of your favorite collecting spots. Maybe you would like to show off your lapidary jewelry you made. Or, you may have created poetry or artwork about rocks, minerals, or fossils. The only requirements are that you must be under 18 years of age, and your contribution must be original and related to rockhounding, geology, paleontology, or the lapidary arts.
To submit your work, have your parent complete the SUBMISSION FORM and return it with your work to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Please submit your written work as a Word document or .pdf, and artwork should be submitted as a .jpg or pdf.
There is NO deadline to submit work for the AFMS newsletter.
Submissions will be accepted throughout the year!
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SPREADING T H E L O V E
OF ROCKS!
Kettle Moraine Geological Society introduces the KMGS Jr. Rockhounds Club! We’re bringing our junior rock lovers together and gearing up for some rock-tacular fun!
As a Jr. Rockhounds Club Member you can:
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Enjoy monthly meetings, presentations, activities and field trips
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Earn badges, scholarships and awards
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Display at the annual KMGS Rock and Gem show
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These newsletters, especially the Midwest Federation, list upcoming rock shows in the region as well as nationally. It also has convention information, hotels & camping in the area, and details about the regional and national conventions. These are great resources to help plan your vacation rockhounding!!
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Planning your 2026 vacation?
Keep these AFMS Rock Shows in mind!
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Annual Conventions of the Midwest Federation of Mineralogical & Geological Societies and the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies
CHICAGOLAND GEMS & MINERALS ASSOCIATION
49th ANNUAL SHOW · May 23rd & 24th 2026
A Show by Rockhounds for Rockhounds!
For the love of rocks, the five Chicago area rock and mineral clubs of CGMA have come together to present one of the Midwest region’s largest shows for rockhounds. We are also hosting the annual conventions of Midwest Federation of Mineralogical and Geological Societies and the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies. United We Rock!
Do not take it for granite, for this is no ordinary rock show. For two big days, the Expo Center of the Kane County Fairgrounds becomes a geological wonderland of fun for the entire family with more than 30 nationally known retail and wholesale dealers, fascinating exhibits by museums and private collectors, “blacklight” fluorescent mineral display, exciting silent auctions, great door prizes, and a Kids’ Korner of mighty learning and freebies for junior rockhounds. Shop for wondrous rocks, gems, minerals, crystals, fossils, handmade jewelry, strands of beads and pearls, tools and supplies, books, findings, slabs and cabs, and much more. See hands-on demonstrations of jewelry making, metal smithing, wire-wrapping, cabochon cutting, beading, geode cracking, and more.
Kane County Fairgrounds
525 S Randall Rd
St Charles, IL 60174
FREE PARKING
INDOORS – AIR CONDITIONED – FOOD AVAILABLE
Camping Available
One Day Show Pass
$5.00 Adults
$3.00 Seniors & Students
Children (Under 13) Free
Two Day Show Pass
$8.00 Adults
$5.00 Seniors & Students
Service Personnel w/ID and Scouts in uniform free.
WHOLESALE ROOM — Requires Current State Tax ID and Trade Credentials
Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. • Sunday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
CGMA Clubs include:
• Chicago Rocks and Minerals Society (CRMS)
• Des Plaines Valley Geological Society (DPVGS)
• Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois (ESCONI)
• Elgin Rock Club (ERC)
• West Suburban Lapidary Club (WSLC)
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This AFMS Convention is a great example of several clubs coming together to host an awesome show! If you’ve never attended a rockhound convention, this is your chance to experience an exceptional show.
Along with the retail booths, there is also a wholesale area for the rock hound trades. This year the AFMS Convention is being held at the Chicagoland Show, and will include a Banquet Dinner Saturday night, a special MWF Auction on Sunday, plus Sunday at 1 pm is a special field trip to the fabulous LIZZADRO MUSEUM and the new WSLC lapidary School, cost $30, via coach from fairgrounds and returning at 5pm. Reservations are required for the field trip via form below.
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THE LAST WORD
See you all at the Pewaukee Public Library, March 18, 2026 at 6:30PM
Please send all comments, submissions and ideas for articles to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Ori-anna and Regina, Co-editors
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The Kettle Moraine Geological Society (KMGS) was organized in 1960 for the purpose of gathering and disseminating knowledge of geology and the earth sciences.
Our meetings are held at the Pewaukee Public Library on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:30 PM. Guests are always welcome. Persons interested in becoming members can obtain an application form from any of the officers. Visit our website at www.kmgsrocks.com and like us on facebook.
The Kettle Krier is the official publication of KMGS and is published each month. Articles for publication must be submitted no later than the second weekend of the month prior to publication.
KMGS is a member of the Midwest Federation of Mineralogical Societies and the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies.
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2026 OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES
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PRESIDENT
Tim Perrin
VICE-PRESIDENT
Ashley Adair
TREASURER
Don Shervey
Dave Derrick, DEPUTY
SECRETARY
John Rettler
KETTLE KRIER
Regina Kapta, EDITOR
Ori-Anna Ramsey, DEPUTY EDITOR
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TECH/WEBSITE
Javier Benitez
SHOW COMMITTEE
John Rettler, CHAIR
Tim Perrin, CO-CHAIR
PROGRAM COMMITTEE
Mary Nettesheim
FIELD TRIP COMMITTEE
POSITION OPEN
SUNSHINE COMMITTEE
Marlene Ilecki
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EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Mike Andrysczyk
JR. ROCKHOUNDS COORDINATOR
Ori-Anna Ramsey
TRUSTEES
Regina Kapta,
Trustee-ad-Litem
Javier Benitez, PAST PRESIDENT
NOMINATION COMMITTEE
Mary Nettesheim
Dave Elftman
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