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The Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. (VGMS)
Rockhound Rambling
April 2000.

Table of Contents.

• PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE;
• FIELD TRIP REPORT;
• PROGRAM FOR APRIL 26, 2000;
• MARCH PROGRAM NOTES - PETRA: ANCIENT CITY OF SANDSTONE;
• 2000 CFMS CLUB SHOWS;
• IN REMEMBRANCE -- RUTH E. PARKER;
• MINUTES OF VGMS BOARD MEETING - April 6, 2000;
• MINUTES OF VGMS REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING - March 23, 2000;
• WHAT'S OVER THE NEXT HILL - A ROCK HUNTING VACATION: Part 7;
• RETURN TO THE BLUE FOREST.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.

I am pleased to announce that our club has gained many new members within the past few months. This sudden increase in membership is due in large part to people, like yourself, getting the good word out about our club. Our most recent mineral show also attracted many people into becoming members. Please go out of your way to welcome our new members to the VGMS.

The VGMS had a successful field trip to the Calico Hills near Barstow on April 8th and 9th. We had a large turnout of over 20 VGMS members and guests. We collected many items such as fossil insect nodules, agate, jasper, blue chalcedony and fossilized palm root. This was one of the largest turnouts for a VGMS field trip in recent time. Everyone had a great time and most of us found many good specimens.

Field trips are an important part of our club. We are always looking for newer and better places to explore. Please consider leading a field trip or providing information about a collecting locality for our club members. I'm sure that all of you have some great ideas on a field trip for our members.

We welcome members to bring in specimens of rocks, minerals and fossils to all our meetings. This gives us a chance to learn from everyone's personal collections and provides an opportunity for some of us to help identify specimens. Remember to bring in that special "rock" at our next meeting.

On behalf of the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, a warm welcome to all our new members!

Steve Mulqueen,
President.

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FIELD TRIP REPORT.

Our May outing will be integrated with the CFMS trip to Stone Canyon due to the interest shown by several of our club members. It's on Saturday, May 13th and will be led by Steve Ivie. A more detailed report was printed in our March Bulletin but we'll meet up at 9:00am in Parkfield, CA. Parkfield is located between Coalinga and Paso Robles. The fee is $25.00 per person (cash only) and allows for up to 50 lbs of material. More can be taken for an additional 50 cents per pound.

A trip to Pine Mountain for fossils will be next and a tri-club trip to Jade Cove in July is in the works, so mark your calendars, make plans and let's all experience the thrill of fashioning a gem from self collected material.

Greg Davis,
Field Trips.

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PROGRAM FOR APRIL 26, 2000.

Bisbee, The Town That Copper Built, presented by Mike Havstad.

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MARCH PROGRAM NOTES,
PETRA: ANCIENT CITY OF SANDSTONE.

Ray Ritchey presented a videotape on Petra, an ancient city carved from sandstone in southern Jordan. It was built by the Nabateans and at one time had a population of thirty thousand. The city was built and flourished from 300 BC to 400 AD. The Nabateans learned to acquire wealth by extorting tolls from caravans. As a nexus of the trade routes they became very wealthy.

It was their prosperity that caused the Nabateans downfall. They attracted the attention of Rome and were eventually subjugated by Rome. Then on the ninetieth of May in 363 AD there was a cataclysmic earthquake. Another followed in 551 AD. The city was abandoned as Rome abandoned the Arabian frontier and trade routes changed. By the seventh century it had become a hidden city.

Petra was discovered in recent times (1812) by Johann Burckhardt, a Swiss scholar who had disguised himself as a Muslim pilgrim. The buildings, tombs, and carvings are remarkable. However, the Nabateans' greatest achievement was their water systems. It was the water systems which made the growth of Petra possible. They developed extensive water reclamation, storage and distribution systems. Some of the systems are now being rebuilt because the engineering skill of the Nabateans is unmatched.

Kathryn Davis,
Programs.

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2000 CFMS CLUB SHOWS.

APRIL 29-30; LANCASTER, CA - Antelope Valley and Palmdale Gem & Mineral Clubs, Challenger Memorial Hall, Antelope Valley Fairgrounds, Hours: 9-5 both days, Fred Ebel, 2326 W. Ave. M-B, Palmdale, CA 93551.

APRIL 29-30; SANTA CRUZ, CA - Santa Cruz Mineral & Gem Society, Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, Hours: 10-5 both days, Pat Clark (831)479-8759.

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IN REMEMBRANCE:
RUTH E. PARKER

Ruth E. Parker, one of the founding members of the VGMS, passed away at her home, Dannelle's Home for the Elderly, on February 25, 2000.

Until failing health slowed her in the very late 1980's, she was, through the years, a truly dedicated, active member of our Society--a timeless, enthusiastic worker, with a good command of our sciences.

Ruth was born in Menlo Park, California, on March 6, 1904. Following graduation from UCLA in 1926, she began her 43 year teaching career in the Ventura County school system. Her first school was Mills School on Ventura Avenue. Twenty-one years later, when the school was closed, she transferred to the Mesa Union School for another 22 years. She retired in June 1969. From there she led an active life for the next 20 years, traveling, photographing, and volunteering as a docent at the McGrath State Park.

Ruth's efforts to share her love and understanding of the sciences with people will always incite warm memories of her.

Contributed by:
Myrle Kirk.

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MINUTES OF VGMS BOARD MEETING,
April 6, 2000.

The regular board meeting of the VGMS was called to order by President Steve Mulqueen at 7:30pm, on Thursday, April 6, 2000 at the VGMS museum, 5019 Crooked Palm Road, Ventura, CA.

Steve Mulqueen - The proposal of buying bulk grit will be brought before the next general meeting with comments requested from members and a decision being made at that time. It was M/S/C to approve reimbursement of $467.50 to Red Jioras for the club purchase of a used Genie. Richard Bromser will look into repair cost estimates. Steve again mentioned the need for a Show Chairperson or Committee for our next show.

Sharon Cunningham - The addition of new members, Ron Stave, Harriet Andrews, Cary Solomon, Dale Atkins, Yvonne Atkins, and Belinda Smithson brings our club membership total to 56. Sharon's husband Gordon who was recently diagnosed with cancer is undergoing treatment with good results and doctors are optimistic.

Florence Meisenheimer - Jalama Beach is now off limits to collecting and for this reason the Conejo Club canceled their field trip there. Laws are always changing and areas should be checked before any visit for collecting. The Lancaster Show on April 29 & 30 always has productive field trips both days. The CFMS Trip to Stone Canyon on May 13th requires cash only - $25.00 per person which allows for 50 lbs of material. Be sure and take food and water. August 12 & 13, CFMS Field Trip to the state of Michigan and numerous copper mines. October 14 & 15, Federation Show and field trips at Moab, Utah.

Ray Meisenheimer - Opal Benson is recovering well and is in good spirits. We hope to see her again soon. Ray will have 100 students at the museum on Thursday April 20th at 9:30am and another group on the 26th at 9:00am. Ray can always use assistance with these classes if anyone can spare the time.

Wayne Ehlers - 7 and 5 members respectively attended the last 2 cab classes. Most were new members and all enthusiastic.

Richard Bromser - It was M/S/C to approve checks # 673-690. Richard issued show summary reports to board members and requested that when submitting bills to the Treasurer please use the following form:

1. If there is one bill, write on the bill or a separate piece of paper, your name, what the bills are for, total the amount and attach them together.
2. If there is more than one bill, write on a separate piece of paper, your name, what the bills are for, total the amount and attach them together.

Greg Davis - Mule Canyon trip this Saturday, April 8th. CFMS Stone Canyon trip Saturday, May 13th to be considered our monthly trip due to the number of our members interested in going.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:00pm.

Respectfully Submitted by:
Greg Davis.

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MINUTES OF VGMS REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING,
March 23, 2000.

The regular monthly meeting of the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society was called to order by President Steve Mulqueen at 7:35 p.m., on Wednesday, March 23, 2000, at the Bijou room of the Lexington, 5440 Ralston, Ventura, CA. The group was led in the salute to the flag.

The following guests were introduced: Seth Ralph, Emma Mayer and her sons Anthony and Matthew.

Richard Bromser urged members to get their show bills in for reimbursement as soon as possible. Next year he will set a deadline for submitted bills of no later than one week after the show. Richard thanked Ray Ritchie for all of the grab bags he has made for the club adding that 225 grab bags were sold at the show. Thus far the net profit for the show is the best the club has ever done. Checking interest for the month was given.

Bulletin articles are due to Bonnie Demianiw no later than the 10th of the month.

Sharon Cunningham reported that there were three new applications for membership which will be voted on at the board meeting.

Nancy Jioras thanked all of the members of the club who helped with the show. There were approximately 35 members who helped during the show and 20 or more who stayed for clean-up at the end. Inez Shakman was applauded for her extraordinary work in publicizing the show.

On to other subjects. Nancy reported that Opal Benson had fallen and broken her knee. A get well card was placed on the table for members to sign. Through Nancy, Red Jioras proposed a plan whereby the club would purchase bulk grit and re-sell it to members at little or no profit. Ten club members were interested in the plan. Finally, shop stewards were asked to meet at the shop Saturday morning to bring the new stewards up to speed and to repair the large saw.

Shirley Layton thanked all those who contributed to and worked for the Country Store and Plant Sale. Susan Mulqueen said there were a lot of requests for cymbidiums this year and urged members to donate any they could for next year.

Speaking for Jay Baumler who could not be present, Bob Spjut thanked all members for their outstanding efforts during the show.

Greg Davis informed the club that the car pool will meet at the K-Mart parking lot at 7:00 a.m., on Saturday, April 8, for the field trip to Calico. He provided copies of the map and information on camping facilities. Mule Canyon, near Calico, has silver lace onyx, jasper, fossils, colemanite, celestite, petrified wood, saginite and agate.

Wayne Ehlers posted a sign-up sheet for the next lapidary class which will begin on Monday evening, March 27.

The next board meeting will be held on Thursday, April 6, 2000, at the museum.

The presentation, given by Ray Ritchey, was a video on Petra, Jordan, where the whole city is carved from sandstone.

After the drawings were held the meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Jioras, Secretary.

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WHAT'S OVER THE NEXT HILL,
A ROCK HUNTING VACATION
By Red and Nancy Jioras.

Part 7:

Last month, we had explored the southeast corner of Oregon and met more rock hounds who were willing to share their knowledge and introduce us to the wonderful area of McDermitt. After adding some green jasper and green agate to our collection, we left McDermitt and headed south on 95 until its junction with Highway 140. In McDermitt there were signs that warned of no fuel between McDermitt and Lakeview on Highway 140. Boy are they right! When you make the turn onto Highway 140, all you see is a two lane ribbon of highway going straight over the horizon. Although long and straight, Highway 140 is a fairly good road with only a few short spots that are not paved. Of course, it would be on one of these unpaved areas that I met one of the trucks flying across the top of Nevada. My windshield carries the scar from the rock that truck threw at my truck.

Just before Highway 140 leaves Nevada and runs into Oregon, there is a turn-off to the south that takes you into the famed Virgin Valley. This is one of the most noteworthy sites for precious opal in the Western United States. We arrived in the Virgin Valley area late in the afternoon and drove to the Rainbow Ridge Mine close to dusk.

We did learn that the fee for a three cubic yard scoop of untouched matrix cost $50.00 per person. They would dig the dirt right out of the opal producing layer and place it in an area where you could poke through it until your heart's content. If you got tired of looking through your dirt, you could also dig in the tailings for the same fee. The fee for digging in only the tailings was $30.00. The tailings were just the remains from the matrix that people had already gone through. The nice folks at the mine showed us some beautiful pieces of opal that had come from the mine and told us of wonderful finds of opal that people have pulled from the tailing pile. As with all the samples that we were shown, all the opal was in vials filled with mineral oil. We had intended to camp near the mine, but were directed back to the campground at the fork of the road.

Coming into Virgin Valley from Highway 140, the road takes you through some of the waterfowl area in the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge. At the very edge of the refuge, where the road forks, is a campground that is truly outstanding. It seems that the campground has been around for many years, but was falling into disrepair about 10 years ago. Some local people who call themselves "The Friends of the Refuge" got together and, through volunteer labor and donated materials, rebuilt the campground. They constructed a block shower house and piped in the hot water from the hot springs. They also cleaned and lined the pond formed by the springs and put a swimming pool ladder on the edge of the pond. Now, rock hunters and bird watchers can relax in a hot springs pool or take a nice warm shower after a day in the field. The campground is clean, well laid out and best of all it's free.

Nancy and I found that the pool was a great way to meet people and hear about their adventures in the area. The three couples that we talked with weren't rock hounds, but had been coming to the area for 5 years. Their fun was to travel the many roads in their four wheel drive vehicles and just enjoy the scenery. Their stories of getting lost on the back country roads and the wife giving instructions to the husbands about where and how to drive were hilarious.

The next morning, we got an early start and visited the Royal Peacock and the Peacock Queen mines. At the Royal Peacock, we watched as people were using ice-picks to remove very small pieces of opal from a clay bank. Although some had fire, they were too small and too unstable to do anything with other than put them into a glass vial and admire them. At the Peacock Queen, the story was the same, although the owner of the Peacock Queen mine showed us some cabs that were cut out of a brown, jelly opal that is common to the Virgin Valley mines. The cabs had an interesting quality and would be fun to cut if it weren't so expensive to acquire.

Nancy and I decided that the cost and effort to find the opal wasn't worth our time. After driving back out of Virgin Valley, we briefly stopped where the Virgin Valley road meets Highway 140. On the side opposite the Virgin Valley road, across Highway 140, we were told that one could find carnelian. We pulled on to a road that skirted the hills and parked. After an hour of climbing and walking and finding only small pieces, we jumped back in the truck and headed for Plush, Oregon.

Now, I can hear you asking "What is in Plush, Oregon and where the .... is it?" Well, Plush is near the southern border of Oregon, just about in the middle of the state. It's also the jumping off point for Hart Mountain sunstones. The afternoon was half gone when we finally pulled into the sun stone area and, as was our custom, we found some folks who were preparing to leave and got some instructions on the area. They showed us some beautiful stones with pink schiller and talked about digging and screening in the dry washes. They pointed toward an area in the distance and advised us to start there.

Since the whole sun stone area is a patch work quilt of crisscrossing roads, Nancy and I finally just stopped and got out of the truck. The sun was getting low on the horizon and as we got our eyes adjusted, we could see sparkles all over the ground. Closer examination revealed a quantity of sun stones that would make any rock hound's heart sing. The only problem was, they are just a clear stone with no color. Still, we almost broke our backs, bending over picking up these clear pieces of feldspar.

That night, Nancy and I slept right there with the sunstones and the next morning we were up bright and early to find more. We would search an area, then drive a short distance and search some more. In total, we found about two pounds of sunstones and only two small stones had any color. Not wanting to get into a hole and exert ourselves (it was still awful hot) we opted to drive into Lakeview, Oregon for a meal and some service on the truck.

In Lakeview, while having the truck's oil changed, we had some time to kill. We spent the time asking around about rock shops and found a local shop run out of a home on one of the quiet streets of town. There, we had a most delightful three hours talking to the owner Johann. It seems that Johann lost her husband a couple of years before, but she has kept the shop going. We got to talking about the sunstones we had found and she showed us ALL the sunstones she had dug. She told us about her claim in the sun stone area and even offered to allow us or our club to dig on her claim. She said that her claim yields around 40% colored stones, a percentage that is high as far as sunstone claims go. She also told us that if we were to come that way again, she would direct us to a spot that had BLUE petrified wood. Not Blue Forest with the chalcedony, but wood with a actual BLUE color.

As our visit was coming to an end, we told Johann that we were headed to Davis Creek for some obsidian. She quickly volunteered a detailed map, coupled with extensive instruction of where to find the rainbow obsidian that we were interested in. Although we could have stayed and talked with her for a lot longer, we had an appointment for the truck and had to leave, but you can bet that we will be seeing her again in the near future.

After an oil change and lube, we were on the road again to Davis Creek. Since Davis Creek and Lassen Creek have been a site for obsidian for a long time, the Forest Service now requires that rock hounds obtain a permit. The permit is free and it restricts you to a reasonable quantity (for the hobbyist) of obsidian. Obtaining our free permit at the Davis Creek store, we followed Johann's hand drawn map almost to the very spot for the rainbow obsidian. I say almost, because Johann must have nerves of steel if she took her vehicle up the last quarter mile to the diggings. Nancy and I were chicken and walked that last little bit. But sure enough, it was right where Johann said it would be.

Now, we have all read and heard that you MUST wear eye protection and gloves when digging obsidian, right. Well I had them both right there in my pack, but they didn't do much good as I picked up a small piece to look at it and found a sticky red liquid run out of my finger. After Nancy scolded me for not wearing my gloves, she showed true love and went back to the truck to get a whole bunch of Band-Aids (she knows how I operate). While she was gone, I strangely developed a second orifice on another finger. Now, with Band-Aids in place and my safety glasses and gloves on, I slid into a hole that someone else had started under the roots of a tree. First, I had to scrape way all the obsidian chips left from the previous digger, I had to clear the area or learn to lie down on glass like a yoga. Once in the hole, I started unearthing some nice obsidian nodules and passing them out to Nancy.

I stayed at my task for about two hours when the heat and the bugs were finally getting the best of me. By that time, I had retrieved some 20 nodules; some of which were prettier than others. By now, Nancy was hot; I was sweaty, dirty and bug bit, and the back pack had a goodly amount of weight. One can only use so much obsidian and I was at that limit. Back at the truck, we drove toward Lassen Creek, but shortly decided that we, and our truck, had enough rocks. Since this was our final scheduled rock stop, we turned the truck south on Highway 395 and drove until we got tired, spending the night near Mariposa, California.

As we drove closer and closer to home with a truck that was sitting low on the springs from two weeks of rock hunting, we reflected back on our adventure. We had gone where our fancy took us and had seen sights as we have never seen before. We had traveled from the multihues of Utah, to the lush green of Idaho and to the desert of Oregon. We had raced the antelope of Wyoming and spared the life of a deer in Idaho through some radical maneuvers with the truck. We had found rocks of every color and description, petrified wood and dinosaur bone to the point that the truck's fuel economy had suffered from the load. And we had met some interesting characters and some wonderful people who shared their love of the hobby and their rock sites with us. And most of all, we took the time to find out what was "OVER THE NEXT HILL".

EPILOG:

At the turn of our century into the year 2000, the areas that rock hounds can visit are quickly diminishing. Federal legislation is closing areas right and left and quotas are being placed on what we can take from the field. If we are to stop the restrictions being placed on us by our Government, we must begin to police ourselves.

Amidst all the cries of foul from the rock hound community, all I hear is complaints that we can't take all we want. But for the hobbyist, how much do we need? If we only took what can be worked, there would material left for the generations to come. I know this will anger the dealers because it restricts them from obtaining materials to sell. I am torn because I agree with free enterprise, but I also want future rock hounds to be able to find quality material and not have to hear, "This is good material that can't be found anymore. It comes from an old collection".

Throughout the story of our trip, you may have noticed that I describe an area as looking like a "battle field". This is one way of saying that there are many unfilled holes where rock hounds have dug. We rock hounds have done ourselves a great disservice by taking rocks and, by not filling our holes, we have left our horrible mark on the land. If we are to stay the need for legislation to keep us out and to protect the land, then we must begin to act responsibly and leave the land better and cleaner than we find it. It is hard to shovel the dirt that you have removed in your search for rocks back into the hole. But if the land is going to heal after we have invaded her, we must begin with the simple act of filling up our holes. The more we complain, but do not change, the more we give the opposing parties the power to restrict our hobby.

IT'S REALLY HARD TO BE RIGHTEOUS WHEN WE TAKE SO MUCH FROM THE LAND AND LEAVE SUCH BARE SCARS WHEREVER WE'VE BEEN.

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RETURN TO THE BLUE FOREST.

Nancy and I are planning another trip to Farson, Wyoming and the Blue Forest area this year. We'd be happy to share this experience with anyone able to make the trip. Unfortunately, the Rock Springs Club has disbanded and a formal rock swap will not be held this year. This doesn't mean that we can't dig for petrified wood, it only lessens the opportunity to meet people from across the western United States.

At this time, it looks like we will leave on June 24, 2000. This is the week before July 4th which will hopefully add days to everyone's vacation. We figure that we will take two days of driving to reach Wyoming. Although this means more than a few hours in the car seat, there may be some rest stops at areas to search for rocks. We plan to spend about three days in the Blue Forest/Big Sandy area looking and digging for wood. From there, Nancy and I will be going on to Colorado to visit with friends, but we can sure share information to anyone who wants to rock hunt on the return trip back to Southern California. If you're interested in a rock hounding vacation of about 8 days and the opportunity to dig some beautiful petrified wood, let us know.

Table of Contents.

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