http://www.lithos-harelbeke.org/

ORIGIN OF LITHOS

Lithos Harelbeke, a circle of friends with a passion for mineralogy and paleontology has been founded in 1981.
From very modest roots started in Harelbeke , West-Flanders, Belgium, Lithos has become an association with about sixty members spread over Flanders and Wallonia. The 4 of April 2006 the association has become a non-profit organisation

CHARACTERISTICS OF LITHOS

Lithos is a circle of friends
Lithos is open to all opinions
Lithos is a group of amateurs which do not strive for financial benefits with the hobby
Lithos respects other people’s property
Lithos respects nature and act consequently during the prospecting activity
Lithos puts strong focus on discipline, personal safety and safety of participants during the prospecting activities.

Lithos has room for all amateurs with strong interest in the hobby seen from different points of view, such as :

Scientific interest
Systematic or thematic collection
Beauty of minerals ,crystals and fossils
Art, culture and environment

GOALS OF LITHOS

The primary activity is the prospecting of minerals and fossils which happens in sites as well in Belgium as in other countries.

Building up know how and enrichment of the own personality of our members , directly through the determination process of the prospected minerals and fossils and indirectly through the contacts with amateurs and people from other geographic regions with other languages and cultures.

Lithos is aware of the social function it has to fulfil and regularly, fairs or other specific activities are organised for an interested public to let them enjoy the splendour of the stones of our earth

THE LITHOS ACTIVITIES

A prospecting trip every 2nd Saturday of the month ( except for December and January )
Yearly, a free entry show is organised for the interested public
Yearly, a free entry fair is organised on the 1st Sunday of December where Lithos encourages the swap activity. No standing fee is asked for
A yearly prospecting excursion to a foreign country for 4 or 5 days
A yearly diner or barbecue for the members and their partners
Yearly, a specific activity with educational character intended for a target group.
The indoor micro mount mineral activity has been launched since 1996. This also creates an opportunity for adolescents and persons with physical handicaps to participate in the hobby. This activity is combined with ten-yearly work meetings for all members in the club fassility
From April 2006, the study and the elaboration of fossils in the club facility has joined the activities

LITHOS MEMBERSHIP AND MEMBERSHIP WITH OTHER ASSOCIATIONS

All Lithos members have a personal Lithos membership card.
Lithos is member of the Council for Earth Sciences ( RAW-CST ) and has ratified the "Code of conducts for amateur geologists and collectors of minerals, rocks and fossils" ( annexes of the Belgian statute-book / Moniteur Belge of July 29th 1993 n° 13410).

LITHOS COMMITTEE

J. Vanheuverzwijn	President
E. Claeys	Secretary
R. Allegaert	Treasurer
	Prospection organizer
J. Vandamme	Lithos fair organizer
A.Theys	Committee member
A.Tjoens	Committee member
J. Ocula	Security adviser
L.Verfaillie	Committee member
Y.Christiaens	Task force paleontology

SECRETARYSHIP

Lithos - Harelbeke
Albrecht Rodenbachlaan 19
B-8530 Harelbeke - Belgium

Fax           (32) 56 71.81.09
Website    http://www.lithos-harelbeke.org/
Email        lithos.harelbeke@pandora.be

LITHOS PROSPECTIO PROGRAMM

Starting in 1981 LITHOS has been organising different trips to different sites,quarries and mines in inland and abroad

Belgium
- Antoing
- Bailleux
- Beez
- Couillet
- Florennes
- Harmignies
- Landelies
- Mont-sur-Marchienne
- Quenast
- Wellin

France
- Auvergne
- Aveyron
- Bretagne
- Morvan
- Nord pas de Calais
- Normandie

Germany
- Eifel
- Ertsgebirge
- Harz
- Idar Oberstein
- Odenwald
- Taunus
- Zwarte Woud

Engeland
- Folkestone
- Sheppey

Czech
- Medenec
- Teskov
- Pribram
Canada
- Bancroft area

FUTURE PLANS FOR LITHOS

The determination process of collected specimens, especially for minerals is a great challenge. Lithos is conscious that more scientific support is needed. On relatively short term suitable spectrographic apparatus should be acquired.

Lithos maintains contacts with mineralogical associations in the US and Canada and plans further excursions to mineralogical and paleontological sites in this countries.

LITHOS SERVICE TO COMPANIES WHICH PROVIDE PROSPECTION AUTHORIZATION

On request of the authorisation providers but limited to the Lithos members capability, our association will take part in activities set up by them e.g. in open-door events or company promotion campaigns. Type mineral and / or fossil specimens found in the company sites can than be exhibited.

LITHOS AND SAFETY

Lithos is aware of the confidence been given by the authorisation providers to the Lithos members. Lithos will in any case not confound this confidence. Lithos asks every time for formal permission prior to proceeding the prospecting.

The number of participators is usually limited between 8 and 12 persons. If more are applying, than Lithos shall voluntary restrict the number. Eventually the procedure for a second trip will be started.

Lithos respects the rules of discipline and consigns imposed by the authorisation providers.

The Lithos members take full responsibility in case that an accident should occur and sign therefore a relieve document .
The Lithos association has a third-party insurance contract for all members at the KBC Police reference AN/31.639.3.2-0000

Lithos formally request all members which participate in the prospecting activities : to take cognisance of the specific risks mentioned below, to avoid this risks in order to prevent accidents from happening, to formally sign the Lithos safety rules declaration.

A. LITHOS SAFETY RULES

-		Undermining stone and rock formations can result in collapses and this is as such not allowed.
-		Who prospects in rocky slopes is exposed to falling rocks or stones and this is as such not allowed.
-		Take in consideration that during your search activity, loose stone materials can fall down which could endanger and hurt colleagues working under and around you.
-		Take into consideration that during cutting and breaking activities, stone particles can fly about and hurt other colleagues.
-		Set foot on or creep into cavities create additional risks and is without professional supervision not allowed.
-		Show respect for the property and the materials present on the sites of the authorisation providers. Do not left foreign materials such as plastic bags , cans, food,..
-		IIf it should be necessary to perform small excavation work than the place of excavation must be refilled once the job finished.

B. PERSONEL PRECAUTIONS

Lithos explicitly request their members, which participate in the prospecting activities to take all personnel precautions stated below to avoid personal accidents, or accidents which may occur to other colleagues.

-		Carry a safety helmet where risks are present, always in quarries.
-		Carry protective or safety-glasses during cutting and breaking
-		Carry safety-gloves during prospecting, cutting and breaking
-		Carry suitable shoes during prospecting, by preference safety-shoes
-		The personal equipment must be in good condition and adapted to the situation.
-		The cutting and breaker material such as crowbar , sledgehammer , hammer and chisels must be in good and safe conditions.
-		Do not isolate you from the group during prospecting , take care that more colleagues known where you are.

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