On Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at 7:00 p.m., we’ll be having our monthly meeting featuring…
Topaz in New Hampshire
with Don Dallaire, the MP2 Research Group
About the presenter…
Don Dallaire was born in Manchester, New Hampshire. He earned a B.A. from Saint Anselm College and an M.B.A. from the University of New Hampshire. After a 38-year banking career, he retired in 2008 to focus on mineral collecting and is now a member of the MP2 Research Group at the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum.
Don began collecting over 55 years ago after joining a coworker on a mining trip. He specializes in apatite and New Hampshire minerals and has built a collection of more than 5,700 catalogued specimens, including around 1,000 apatites. He has also collected in Arizona, California, Michigan, and eastern Canada.
His work has been published in Rocks and Minerals and other publications, and he regularly presents to mineral clubs throughout New England.
The details…
The meeting will start with some time for socializing, then discussion of club business and welcoming of new members, followed by Don’s talk.
This presentation is based on an article he co-authored with Jim Nizamoff, “Topaz in New Hampshire’s White Mountains,” published in the November–December 2017 issue of Rocks and Minerals.
The talk begins with the first recorded topaz discovery in 1888 and continues through the present day. It will explore the geology of topaz-bearing areas, with a focus on the pegmatites where topaz is found. Historical information on collectors and localities will also be included. An extensive review of key topaz locations will be presented, along with photographs of notable sites. The presentation will also feature images of topaz and related mineral specimens from various collections, illustrating the range and quality of material found in New Hampshire.
After the talk, we’ll have the traditional BMC specimen raffle. Buy some tickets for a chance to win!
We hope to see you there!
See the Monthly Meetings page for directions and other information.