Lecture: The Three ‘Where’s’ and a ‘Why’ with Tom Hoffelder

January 2 • 6:30–7:30 PM
MMGM Discovery Gallery
99 Main St., Bethel, ME 04217
Free & open to the public

Join the Oxford County Mineral & Gem Association for its monthly meeting at the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum. This month’s program features longtime OCMGA leader Tom Hoffelder, presenting his newly expanded talk: “The Three Where’s and a Why. Where Did All These Rocks Come From?”

Originally published in a 1998 Tulsa Rock & Mineral Society newsletter, Tom’s article — Where Did All These Rocks Come From? — evolved into a richly illustrated presentation delivered at the 2025 NEMA conference and at MMGM. The talk starts with the origins of the elements that form minerals, then moves into specific chemical formulas from Tom’s own collection.

From there, the questions expand outward:

• Where Did All These People Come From? (We’re made of the same elements!)
• Where Have All the Aliens Gone?
• Why Are YOU Here?

This engaging, wide-ranging program blends geology, chemistry, astronomy, and big-picture curiosity — perfect for rockhounds, science fans, and anyone who loves a good cosmic question.

About the Speaker

Tom Hoffelder is the former 6-year president of OCMGA and a retired aeronautical engineer who spent much of his career with Pratt & Whitney. Raised on a farm in northeast Indiana, Tom’s lifelong interests in astronomy and geology have taken him across the country — including all 50 states. He and his wife have lived in Oklahoma, California, Connecticut, and now Maine.

Schedule

Program: 6:30–7:30 PM
OCMGA business meeting follows the program (Public attendees are welcome but not required to stay.)

Admission: Free. No registration required.

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