By Lori Berkey, Contributing Writer
Shrewsbury- In January of 2005, the Community Advocate published a feature about Shrewsbury resident Larry Bull, his affinity for digging up minerals, and his enjoyment of being in the Worcester Mineral Club. At that time, Bull had been a club member for 20 years. Nearly a decade later, the Advocate caught back up with Bull and found out he’s still fused to the club, still unearthing gemstones, and still learning new things about minerals.
According to Bull, much about the club has remained the same. It still meets monthly in Shrewsbury, members still go on group field trips hunting for minerals, there’s still a club newsletter, guest speakers at meetings, and they still put on an annual show in November. The club also still has a claim for collecting at Diamond Acres in Fonda, N.Y., where foot-long Herkimer diamonds have been produced.
Bull’s interest in minerals emerged when he was in the service and was exposed to geodes in Utah and prevalent mines elsewhere. He began studying books about minerals, but found by the time new books were published, much of the material was outdated. He joined the Worcester Mineral Club to gain timely word-of-mouth scoop on the mineral world – where good mines are, where to explore.
Having gleaned many good tips from members, Bull has enjoyed the camaraderie and amassing his knowledge of mineralogy. He’s committed to passing what he’s learned to newer members.
“I’m a teacher at heart,” Bull said. “I love to see the enthusiasm and seeing other people learning and having a good time. A big function of the club is teaching people.”
Although Bull once steered away from outdated books, in recent years, he’s become fascinated with the historical implications of past findings as clues to future formations. He’s developed a strong interest in mineral sites that have been forgotten.
“It used to be you’d have to go over to Clark University or Harvard to do any kind of historical research,” Bull noted. “Clark is excellent. They had this one special room where they had everything, all that really old stuff, and now they have it all online.”
Not all club members are interested in the historical aspects. Some are into lapidary; some relish cutting gemstones and making jewelry. Others like exploring dirt.
“I still love to field collect, and being involved in the club gives you opportunities to go into quarries that you can’t go into unless you’re part of a club,” Bull said, adding that the Worcester club is affiliated with the Eastern Federation of Mineralogical and Lapidary Societies, which offers quarry-protecting insurance.
Bull is currently the club’s president, a post he’s held various times during his longtime membership. He pulled up to the September club meeting with a box full of his recent findings for the club ritual of showing off newly collected treasures.
Bull’s stash included a chunk of rhodonite, the Massachusetts state gemstone, which he found at Betts Mine in Plainfield. Another trophy he brought was slab of babingtonite, the Massachusetts state mineral which he scored right in Shrewsbury at a construction site.
Although Bull used to travel farther to scour, his latest pieces are from local states.
“People don’t realize what’s underfoot right here,” Bull said. “New England is blessed with a lot of different kinds of mineral environments.”
Bull encourages anyone interested in learning about minerals to come to a club meeting, or to attend the club’s upcoming 39th annual jewelry gem fossil and mineral show, Saturday, Nov. 22, and Sunday, Nov. 23, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the National Guard Armory, 701 Lincoln St. in Worcester. For more details, visit www.worcestermineralclub.org.