Have you ever wondered how people craft, cut, shape and polish rough stones or minerals and turn them into beautiful creations that can be used as jewellery or ornaments? Now is your chance to find out! The Scottish Mineral and Lapidary Club will be holding Open Days throughout the Festival on Tuesdays 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th June between 10am – 4pm and also on Saturdays 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th.

Founded in 1958, in the oldest Club of its type in Britain, our aim is to ‘encourage an interest in natural minerals and the craftsmanship related to them, on a non-commercial basis’.
Visitors can view these skills as Members work on stones, facet gemstones or do silverwork during the normal working hours.

Display areas also show photographs of Scottish locations with examples of Members’ finished work, particularly Scottish agates.  With over 5000 mineral specimens in the collection, large examples are on display  –  an A to Z of many Scottish minerals/rocks   (the pommel stone of serpentine from Iona – part of the Sword of Scotland in Edinburgh Castle – was sourced and shaped by Club Members)  –  and specimens from throughout Europe as the latest theme.

Members range from 10 to 90+ years – suited to family groups – general interest, students to specialist professionals.
Access – all on ground level suitable for wheelchair, pram.
Toilets – Male, female and disabled.
Parking – limited, possible in in local streets or by Leith Links (c 5 minute walk) or free at Ocean Terminal (c 15 minute walk)
Nearest trams – Constitution Street (2 minute walk),   buses – Junction Street, foot of Easter Road/ Leith Walk, or Commercial Street, Leith (all 10 to 15 minute walk)

Free drop-in event, no booking required

An event in the Scottish Geology Festival 2026, organised by the Scottish Geology Trust. Please support us: Discover – Support – Join.