Traditionally, the club sponsors an annual live auction of mineral specimens and mineral-related materials.

The 2026 auction is happening on May 30, 2026! We’ll have the new page up soon, but in the meantime, for more about what the event is like and to look at last year’s catalog, see the BMC 2025 Live Auction page for more information!

BMC Auction Photo Gallery

Here’s what the scene typically looks like at a BMC auction (photos ©2023 Rick Cowley):

  • An auctioneer and an assistant standing in front of a crowd of seated bidders
    Mike Haritos auctioning a specimen while Rich Piligian assists
  • Two auction bid tally staff at a banquet table facing a seated audience full of bidders
    Jack Liebman and Steve Gerome tally the winning bids
  • Three silent auction staff sorting boxes of mineral specimens
    Jeffrey Joy, Jerry Carter, and Kevin Czaja sort silent auction flats
  • Two young girls with a table full of mineral specimens in front of them and an audience of seated bidders behind them
    Two younger attendees examine the treasures on the auction preview table
  • Two attendees examining a green mineral at a table full of mineral specimens
    Stephan Segedy and Scott Rielly(?) examine a green gemstone as Nate Martin stands sentry
  • Two men having a conversation
    Noted exploration geologist Tony Mariano talks with fellow member Jerry Carter
  • An attendee examining a wulfenite specimen in a perky box using a loupe
    Jerry Carter seeks hidden treasures on a wulfenite specimen on the auction preview table
  • An auction assistant holding up a blue aquamarine specimen while the auctioneer speaks from behind a podium
    Mike Haritos watching for bids as Rich Piligian holds up a gorgeous blue aquamarine specimen
  • Two auction staff at a banquet table examining a form with the auction happening behind them
    Cynthia Tozian Cool shows Patti Babcock the ropes for completing the membership forms
  • Five smiling food staff members stand behind two banquet tables as a patron fills his plate
    Helen Flannery, Carl Quesnel, Barbara Martin, Mimi Reilly, and Wendy Derjue-Holzer staff the food service area as Stephen Cool helps himself

Auction flashback…

The BMC auction at our previous venue, with auctioneer Mike Haritos at the helm