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Return to the Rockhound Rambling Center. The Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. (VGMS)
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Table of Contents.
Mid January Ray Meisenheimer gave a tour of the museum to a Boy Scout troop, consisting of nine boys and six adults.
The next week a family group visited the museum. It was particularly interesting to them as the grandfather once owned and lived in the old house beyond the fence back of the museum.
Contributed by Florence Meisenheimer.
Table of Contents.
Happy Birthday to all those born in February. We all wish you good health and hope you have a Great Day! I am just getting the birthdays accumulated so if you have a February Birthday and are not listed, please give me a call and leave a message at 642-2683. Thanks!
February -Happy Birthday!!
Clay Brashears - 5th.
The February birthstone is the Amethyst and the flower is the Violet.
AMETHYST.
Most of you recognize the beautiful North American amethyst, crystalline purple quartz found in volcanic extruding rocks. A very popular stone among the Egyptian, Roman, English, and American civilizations, it has been given more honor than most other semiprecious stones. Its color, pale purple to violet, with flashes of wine, is strongly suggestive of its religious and spiritual uses in the past, as well as the present. Jewish priests wore it to symbolize spiritual power; it was the center stone of their identity breastplate. The Romans used it as a stone of physical power over the will of the people. Egyptians used the amethyst as a healing stone to ease fears and guilt and as a strong protector while traveling. When Egyptian ambassadors had to venture outside their major cities, they hung the amethyst around their necks for protection, for they believed it safeguarded them from personal treachery and surprise attacks.
The Greeks named the stone "amethysts", meaning without drunkenness, and both the Greeks and the Romans used it constantly to protect themselves from excesses of overindulgence with food and drink. Goblets were inlaid with amethyst to prevent intoxication. The stone had such powerful healing effects upon the mind that it was often placed under pillows at bedtime to cure insomnia, to induce pleasant dreams, and for self-healing. For headaches, the stone was warmed and place on the forehead or temples to reduce throbbing symptoms.
By Dorothee L. Mella, via Stone Power, via The Petrified Log 2-01.
Table of Contents.
To develop a plan for a clearly focused publicity campaign, you need to be mindful of your club's long term goals, like getting people to your show or next meeting, and attracting and retaining new members.
Begin by listing the year's anticipated events, like meetings, field trips, workshops, picnics, silent auctions, annual show and conferences. Use a large 12-month planning calendar for this and fill in the exact dates as they become known.
Long term planning involves deciding at the beginning of the year what publicity actions are necessary to support your club's needs and goals, and then scheduling them. Publicity actions include newspaper coverage, radio public service announcements, notices on the internet, press releases, or select mailing.
The most basic action you will take is to send monthly announcements of your meeting program to your local newspaper to be listed under "Community Events". Contact the newspaper and learn how they want it submitted and when. Every "press release", from a meeting announcement to a special story should follow a professional format. Use a club letterhead if you have it, or type the full name of the club and address at the top of the page. When writing the press release, get all of the key information at the beginning of the story. Newspapers will edit from the bottom up to meet space-limitations. Your first paragraph should have the complete Who-What-When- and Why. It is essential to include a person to contact with a daytime phone number, in case the newspaper wants to verify what you have written.
Contributed by Florence Meisenheimer.
Table of Contents.
MINUTES OF VGMS BOARD MEETING - January 4,2001;
The regular monthly Board meeting of the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society was called to order by President Greg Davis at 7:30 p.m., on Thursday, January, 4, 2001 at the VGMS Museum, 5019 Crooked Palm Road, Ventura, California.
The Tri-Board meeting will be held in the Piccadilly Room, at the Lexington, on Saturday, January 20, 2001, at 10:00 a.m. Steve Mulqueen stated that the Santa Barbara club is having problems with low enrollment and they are looking for ways to make their club more desirable. They might be interested in joining the tri-clubs for field trips. The possibility of having Santa Barbara join the tri-clubs will be discussed at the Tri-Board meeting on January 20. A tri-club field trip is scheduled for Saturday, January 13, to Old Topanga Canyon.
It was m/s/c to approve payment of checks #742-753.
Shirley Layton announced that member Bill Vient passed away on Wednesday. The funeral will be held January 6, at Forest Lawn in Glendale.
The following are the Committee Chair appointments for 2001:
Publicity - open,
Hostess - Sharon Cunningham coordinator,
Ways & Means - David Mautz,
Hospitality - Sharlyne Holloway,
Librarian - Nancy Jioras,
Sunshine - open,
Educational Cases - open,
Scholarship - Red Jioras,
Historian - open.
Red Jioras updated his Scholarship report of December indicating that Ventura College will not charge for monitoring VGMS scholarship awards. Red will Contact Santa Barbara City College next week to find out what their scholarship awards policy is.
Shirley Layton reminded members that 2001 dues are due, but very few members have paid. The bulletin deadline will continue to be the 10th of each month. Shirley also asked for a list of committee chairs for the 2001 show.
Wayne Ehlers said he still needs a display case for the Sycamore Nature Center at Mugu State Park. The center is open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Red Jioras said there is a case in the workshop that he owns and would be willing to donate to the project.
David Mautz reported 2000 Ways and Means income. He has purchased new gifts for the coming year. David will be putting up a display in the Wright Library. With it he will include 1/4 sheet fliers for the show and membership forms for the club.
Steve Mulqueen offered exhibitor applications to Board members and asked for suggestions for exhibitor trophies. Steve also offered tide charts for 2001 and schedules for Quartzsite and Tucson.
Sharon Cunningham reported that Allie Buck was the first to pay her dues. Her letter will be included in the bulletin. Sharon has received a donation of a flag pole for the club. A flag and stand are still needed.
Kathryn Davis stated that the January program will be Helmut Ehrenspeck talking about the black smoker on Figeroa Mountain. Kathryn then said that more dealers are sending in their payments for the show and we will probably max out at 14 dealers.
Emma Mayer offered her mother's services to sew grab bags or vests for the club. Emma then offered to do a scrapbook for the club. It was m/s/c to approve the expenditure of $100 for the year for the scrapbook. She will also do the collage for the show. Emma continued that she would be willing to look at a Pebble Pups program if a more appropriate time for their special meeting could be arranged.
Nancy Jioras purchased disposable ear plugs for the shop. All children should use them. Use by adults is recommended but not required.
Florence Meisenheimer stated that the CFMS dues for 200l are $333.00 (74 members as of 12/31/00 @ $4.50 each).
Red Jioras offered to purchase a dop pot for the shop. Red also suggested two on-going features for the bulletin. The first, would be a Rock Hound Trivia section where little tidbits of information could be shared. The second would be member articles each month on any earth science topic the writer is interested in or has information about. Greg will ask for sign-ups at the January meeting. Red volunteered to do the first article for the March bulletin.
Richard Bromser and Red and Nancy Jioras comprised the committee to review the VGMS By-Laws and Operating Regulations. The proposed changes were distributed to each of the Board members and discussed briefly. Copies of the By-Laws and proposed changes will be available at the January meeting for discussion, and voted on at the February meeting. The Operating Regulations will be ready for the February Board meeting and are to be voted on by the Board only.
The show meeting will be held on January 10 at Jim and Nancy Brace-Thompson's home.
The club should plan on reserving a room for the 200l Christmas Party now.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 9:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Jioras, Acting Secretary.
MINUTES OF VGMS REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING - January 24, 2001;
The regular montly meeting of the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society was called to order by President Greg Davis at 7:35 p.m., on Wednesday, January 24, 2001 at the Bijou room of the Lexington, 5440 Ralston, Ventura, CA. The group was led in the salute to the flag.
The program for the evening, "The Black Smoker in out midst: Geology of the Figueroa Mountain area", was presented by Helmut Ehrenspeck.
After the program and a short break, Greg Davis began the business part of the meeting. Sharon Cunningham asked for volunteers to be in-charge of hospitality at the monthly meetings for the next few months. She passed around a sign-up sheet.
Next month's program, by Kathryn Davis, will be on getting ready for the show, show & tell and Bingo! Please bring a prize for bingo.
Richard Bromser handed out the by-laws with proposed changes. Richard then went over some changes. The new by-laws will be voted on at the next regular meeting.
There was no Federation report.
Emma Mayers said that 2001 dues are due. She would also like names of Pebble Pups so that she could put a Pebble Pup roster in the membership directory.
Field Trip Chairman, Ron Wise, said that the next Tri-Club trip will be to Calico on February 24th and 25th, 2001. On February 2, 2001 at 7:30 p.m., at the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum Dr. Larry Agenbroad will give a talk on "Out of the Ice, Excavation and Recovery of the Jarkov Mammoth".
Richard Bromser gave the Treasurer's Report showing $77 in interest for December. The checking account is high because for the last three years we have not given out a $500 scholarship and we did not have to pay $600 in rent.
Historian, Emma Mayer, has requested pictures of club events for the scrapbook.
Bulletin Editor, Shirley Layton, requested that all bulletin articles be sent to her by the 10th of the month. Contributions for the bulletin are always welcomed. Also, there will be a country store pricing meeting on January 30th at 7:00 p.m. at the museum. Items for the country store are needed.
Greg said that the Tri-Club meeting was a great success. The clubs are working on having a B-B-Q and tailgate party. Greg will keep us informed.
Helmut said "thank you" and said he is willing to help put a field trip together to Figueroa Mountain. He's also willing to give a talk on San Miguel Island at a future meeting.
The next meeting will be held on Febnary 28, 2001, at 7:30 p.m., at the Lexington.
Dave Mautz conducted the drawings. The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 p.m.
Refreshments were served.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Brace Thompson, Secretary.
MINUTES OF VGMS BOARD MEETING - February 1, 2001;
The regular board meeting of the VGMS was called to order by President Greg Davis at 7:32 p.m., on Thursday February 1, 2001, at the VGMS museum, 5019 Crooked Palm Road, Ventura, CA.
Attendees: Greg Davis, Florence & Ray Meisenheimer, Richard Bromser, Emma Mayers, Nancy & Red Jioras, Nancy & Jim Brace-Thompson, Steve Mulqueen and Ron Wise.
Treasurer, Richard Bromser, handed out the January financial statement. There was a discussion regarding the $50.00 for the January program. Richard will now write down on the statement who received the money. Secondly, Richard handed out the 2001 proposed budget for the club based on past records. Thirdly, Richard passed out the proposed Operating Regulations for the club. Red has incorporated the changes discussed at the last board meeting. Red Jioras proposed putting 2 committees together, one would put a procedures manual together and the other would be to inventory the clubs' property. The Operating Regulations were m/s/c.
Membership Chair, Emma Mayers, a little over 20 members have paid their dues. She will put another notice in the next bulletin. She is still looking for Pebble Pup names. As historian, Emma is still looking for pictures for the scrapbook. Her son was given Dinosaur Monopoly for his birthday and it is really a great game all on dinosaurs and fossils. She has ordered scrapbook materials.
Nancy Jioras has material for vests. It will be $6.00 for the material and pattern and $5.00 for the emblem. You may buy the vest kit from the club. Ojai Valley Hallmark have donated three big display cases to the club.
Red Jioras has offered the scholarship to Ventura College for a student who meets the criteria. Santa Barbara City College wished to have an exclusive on the scholarship but Red felt as a Ventura club it should also be opened to Ventura College students. Red, Jim Brace-Thompson and Richard Bromser met with the fairgrounds and they have reduced the amount of the contract. It is down about $120 from last year. But they have raised the parking rate from $1.00 to $5.00. We will still have camping and parking passes. Red will give the masters to Richard Bromser to copy. Red will also give the dealer Thank you letters to Richard. Try to pre-sell raffle tickets. That is how we make money. Nancy and Red will be helping with their new grandchild in Northern California for the month of February.
Jim Brace-Thompson asked for children's activities prizes for the spinning wheel and sand sifting.
Steve Mulqueen bought a dop pot at Quartzsite and Red has wax for it. The Mammoth talk at the Santa Barbara Museum is Friday, February 2, 2001. Steve brought in flyers. He also brought in an advertisement for CPR classes given by the Red Cross. Steve reminded us that we need a location for the Christmas dinner. Carrows was suggested. Exhibitor forms are available. The are 33 exhibitors at the moment. Names of exhibitors were requested for badges and programs.
Field trip Chair, Ron Wise, said the February trip was a tri-club trip to Calico. The March field trip is to Bakersfield.
Shirley Layton, Bulletin Editor, asked for articles to be mailed to her this month before February 10th.
Florence Meisenheimer, Federation Chair, told us about the Davis and Lassen Creek Fieldtrips in July. She also mentioned that if the club is not sponsoring Nancy and Red's trip to the Blue Forest, they would not be covered by the club's insurance. Also, they should have participants sign a waiver.
There is a screen at the museum that might be used at meetings after it is cleaned up.
The Federation Show will be held in Paso Robles on June 22, 23 and 24, 2001.
Meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Brace Thompson, Secretary.
Jim Brace-Thompson.
Table of Contents.
Water is a solvent if it is hot enough or acidic enough. In the acid scenario, rainwater meets carbon dioxide, seeps down, encounters sulfides and bingo, sulfuric acid.
This liquid roams and dissolves minerals and puts in motion mineral substances to travel and interact with other substances. Malachite is formed this way. The bumps on turquoise indicate dissolved minerals flowing in cool water.
In the hot water scenario, rainwater seeps into the ground and goes deep enough to be heated by magma or already boiling water. Now heated, this water moves back up by a process of steam and condensation-dissolving minerals and redepositing their constituents along the way. Cooled, the water sinks, encounters again the heat source, moves upward and repeats the dissolving and depositing. This repetition gives agate its layered look. Amethyst crystals can form, once the silica content of the water thins out sufficiently.
Perhaps the oldest, certainly for jewelers the most fortuitous, case of raindrop to rock is the formation of opal in yet another scenario. In a dry desert area, the rainwater goes down through permeable rocks which are rich in silica. The down going water carries silica to the underground water table, raising it. Being raised, it spreads out to fill fissures and such. The rain stops, the dry desert eventually drops the water table down by evaporation, but the ledges and fissures are left high, but not completely dry. Within these fissures, the silica-rich water gets richer by evaporation. When the silica-to-water ratio is just right, spheres form (bubbles). These spheres are what make opal opal. With further evaporation, the spheres become gelatinous, eventually harden, and like adding ball bearings to a cup, they layer the cavity in an orderly fashion. Water is trapped between the spheres.
The orderly arrangement of the spheres diffracts light (segments) and moves it around. This light movement, in combination with the varying amount of water inclusions, gives the light play of precious opal. Water here acts as a sort of music to the spheres.
Yes, water is a solvent. Find enough opal and many of your financial problems will be solved.
Ref: Gemstones and Their Origins by Peter C. Keller;
By Ed Montgomery, Drywasher's Gazette, 2-01;
Referred by Sharon Cunningham.
Table of Contents.
The year of 1812 was known as "El ano de los tremblores" in California. A series of tsunamis inundated the low-lying areas of San Francisco, and at the south end of the bay the church at Santa Clara Mission was "cracked considerably."
The earthquakes in southern California began in May and were incessant for the remainder of the year. Herbert Howe Bancroft, the California historian wrote: "A series of earthquake shocks, the most fatal if not the most severe that have ever occurred in California, caused this year the wildest terror throughout the southern part of the province."
John B. Trask was a medical doctor, an amateur geologist, and the first state geologist. He combed mission records and talked to inhabitants in the 1850's. Trask wrote of the earthquakes of 1812 in southern Califonnia:
"Their frequency was not less than one each day or two; four days seldom elapsed without a shock. As many as thirty shocks occurred in a single day on more than one occasion. So frequent were they, that the inhabitants abandoned their houses for the greater part of this period, and lived under trees, etc., and slept out of doors at Santa Barbara."
At Mission San Capistrano, near the coast in what is now Orange County, there were forty days of earthquakes climaxed by a particularly hard tremor on October 21. Mortar fell from the vaulted nave of the mission church, and the 125 foot tower swayed precariously. The imposing edifice, designed in the form of a cross and with seven domes forming the roof, was built of unreinforced stone. The thick tower was the two-terrace type. There were four bells. Perched on top was a gilded cock.
Besides being a structural catastrophe just waiting to happen in known earthquake country, the church's construction was faulty. The master stone-mason died in 1803. The priests took over supervision of the Indian converts, known as neophytes, who did the actual work. The quality of the stonework on the final portion of the church, that being the nave, was inferior compared to what had been done before.
There were approximately fourteen hundred Native Americans at the mission, which was at it's peak of prosperity. They came from a variety of tribes in and around the area and could be viewed either as impressed slaves or happy converts. At the time, the priests at the mission saw the Indians as "poor and wretched; wherefore we find meekness and submissiveness to be their principal characteristics."
Indian men, women, and children hauled heavy stones to the site from a quarry six miles distant. When the church was completed in 1806, the padres proudly noted that it had been constructed by the Indians "at the cost of supplication and labors".
A small number of Indians were in the midst of their supplications (in Mission San Capistrano) on Tuesday, December 8, 1812. They were gathered for the early morning mass on the feast of the Immaculate Conception...... The native Americans, most of whom were women, stood on the dirt floor of the nave while the gente de razon - the term Hispanics applied to non-Indians - were arrayed closer to the officiating priest, who conducted the service on the tiled floor."
John B Trask's account of the incident continued:
"About half an hour after the opening of the service, an unusual loud, but distant rushing sound was heard in the atmosphere to the east and also over the water, which resembled the sound of strong wind, but as it approached no perceptible breeze accompanied it. The sea was smooth and the air was calm. So distant and loud was this atmospheric sound that several left the building attracted by it's noise."
The earthquake struck a few moments later. The priest fled out the side door of the sanctuary, followed quickly by other Hispanics, none of whom died. The bodies of forty Indians were found huddled near a door in the nave that may have jammed. A church report stated that "only six escaped" but did not say how. There was no report of the number of injuries.
Later reconstructions of what occurred have the tower falling away from the church and into the plaza and the nave toppling of it's own accord, or the tower falling on the nave and the whole heavy mass of masonry and stone descending on the Indians. The back of the church, which was of better construction, remained standing, as did the adjacent one-story adobe structure known as the Serra Chapel.
These were the first recorded deaths from earthquakes in California. It is doubtful that there were many structural fatalities before this time. The Native Americans lived in much smaller, flexible, and forgiving shelters. But the Spanish churches toppled all over southern California during that month of sustained terror.
The churches at San Gabriel, San Fernando, San Buenaventura (Ventura), Santa Barbara, La Purisma Concepcion (Lompoc), and Santa Ynez Missions were either damaged or destroyed. A Spanish vessel anchored off Ventura was damaged by a tsunami, a giant wave flooded the lower reaches of Santa Barbara, and a ship north of the settlement was thrown up and over the beach and then swept out to sea. There were reports of imagined volcanoes in the coastal hills.
Twenty years later the following conversation was recorded by a resident who dined with a priest:
"In speaking to Padre Luis Gil Taboada, he told me that in 1812 there had been very strong earthquakes at Santa Barbara while he was there. That on the (twenty-first) of December while he was at the presidio there occurred an earthquake so violent that the sea receded and rose like a high mountain. He, with all the people of the presidio, went running to the Mission chanting supplication to the Virgin. I asked him, humorously, why he had not gone to see if there were a ship at the foot of the mountain of water. He also assured me that they had placed a pole with a ball tied to it. It was fastened in the ground at a place where the air would not move it, and that it was in continual movement for 8 days. After the eight days the ball was still for 2 or 3 hours and then started to move again, and this lasted for about 15 days."
This device may have been the first crude seismograph in California. The epicenter of the December 21 quake was near Santa Barbara. Seismologists would later assign high intensities to these two quakes.
Excerpt from the book "MAGNITUDES" by Philhp L. Fradkin,
University of California Press, 1998.
Submitted by Richard (Red) Jioras.
Table of Contents.
The world's largest and oldest meteorite has been discovered in China near the north east city of Shenyang. The meteorite, locally called Haushita Hill, is estimated to be 4.5 to 4.6 billion years old and fell to earth 1.9 billion years ago. The meteorite mound is 600 feet long, 250 feet wide and about 300 deep. It weighs about 2 million tons and is covered with granite. The meteorite is older than any natural earth rock. The site is planned to be a state protected nature reserve.
From Northwest Newsletter, via CFMS Newsletter.
Submitted by Florence Henderson.
Table of Contents.
Until my husband and I joined the Rock Club we weren't really much for collecting. No silver spoons adorned a wooden hutch on the wall of the dining room. No lighted curio cabinet illuminated a Dolls of the World collection. Yes, we'd never been bitten by the collecting bug (unless, of course, you count the collection of broken lawn tools my husband has amassed and stored behind the shed in the back yard).
However, since our involvement with the club began we have become proud and somewhat possessive owners of our own ROCK COLLECTION. It began with one agate and two crinoid stems stored in a shoebox. Three field trips, seven rock swaps and one Gem Show later there were more rocks in our house than it took to build the great pyramid.
I congratulate myself on finding innovative ways to incorporate our rocks into our home decor. And I was pretty pleased with my efforts until the night my husband stormed out of the bathroom, brandishing his tooth brush in the air, the veins on his forehead pulsating a bright red. "That's it!" he cried. "I've had enough!" At that moment I knew that the rock garden I'd started in the bathroom sink was going to have to go.
I was crushed. At this time I thought he'd loved our rocks as much as I did. He didn't complain when I used slabs of agate to divide his underwear drawer. He didn't say, so I thought that he agreed with me that using slices of petrified palm wood was a rather novel idea. And he never said a word when I threw out his show trees and replaced them with large Indian spear points. (Come to think of it, he hadn't really said much since that unfortunate incident with the granite bed warmer.)
All right, so I got a little carried away. But it ended well. He finally built that display cabinet I'd been wanting and, with but a single tear rolling down my cheek, I dismantled the replica of Stonehenge I'd constructed on the pato.
And so now the house is a little less rock cluttered. However, I refuse to give up my dinosaur egg nutcracker. Some people just have no imagination.
Jasper's Jargon, via Moroks, 2-00.
Submitted by Richard Bromser.
Table of Contents.
Folk like us will gladly travel
To a spot where rocks abound.
Sifting through the sand and gravel
And digging up the ground.
We go to faraway places
Where Keepers have been found.
With dirt on our hands and faces
Checking out a leaverite mound.
Sometimes we go out by ourselves
Not knowing where we're bound.
Searching cliffs, washes, draws and shelves
With no one else around.
Shovels, hammers, chisels and picks
To dig and chip and pound.
Just a way to get our kicks
As the blows and scrapes resound.
We'll bring stuff home to tumble and slice,
Sawing and grinding, what a joyous sound.
Some come out ugly, others come out nice
Making a freeform, oval or round.
We'll join a club and have a show.
Contest winners will be crowned.
And that's just part, as you know
On the road from Pebble Pup to Rock Hound.
by - Doug Hanson.
Doug Hanson is the care taker of the Opal Hill Mine near Wiley's Well, CA, and offered this to our club when the club visited the mine in November.
Submitted by Greg Davis.
Table of Contents.
FEBRUARY FIELD TRIP NEAR CALICO,
Date: February 24 - 25.
We will be looking for Onyx. Camp will be about 10 miles cast of Barstow, off Interstate 15 and about 165 miles from Thousand Oaks. Look for the highway sign says: Ghost Town Road and Yermo Exit 1 mile. Take the Yermo exit, turn north about 1.2 miles. Look for the colored stakes, colored orange and blue, camp will be just off the Calico road.
We well leave camp at 9:30 AM Saturday and Sunday mornings. This is a dry camp, so bring water and warm clothes. Saturday night we'll have a potluck dinner and a campfire.
Don Asher,
Call for information,
(805) 482-2510.
Ron Wise, Field Trip Chairman.
MARCH FIELD TRIP - ANT HILL FOR SHARK'S TEETH,
Date: March 17, 2001.
TriClub fieldtrip to Ant Hill near Bakersfield: Directions: Take 5 to 99 to 204 (all going North) to 178 (which goes East). Take 178 East about 8.3 miles to Alfred Harrel Hwy, which is about 1.1 to 1.2 miles past the meeting of 184 with 178. Turn left on Harrel Hwy for about 1.5 miles to the road that leads to Lake Ming. At that corner you will see the Rio Bravo Market. We will meet there at 10:00 am. The distance from Ventura is about 120 miles.
It is suggested to remove portions of the ancient fossil-bearing soil and carefully break it up while looking for teeth and bone. A screen will help to separate the soil and can greatly enhance the quality of your search. In some places the soil is very hard so bring a variety of digging tools.
CAUTION: Because this soil contains spores of the fungus that causes valley fever, you should wear dust masks and gloves. Also because of the lack of shade in the area be sure to bring enough to drink and a head cover.
Ron Wise, VGMS Field Trip Chairperson - 805 647-4393.
Table of Contents.
This is the Tentative schedule for the remainder of 2001. Any changes that are made will be announced in the bulletin.
March 2-4 Ventura Club Show;
March 17 Bakersfield - sharks teeth, Leader: Ron Wise, Ventura Club;
March 25-1 ZZYZX Workshop;
April 7-8 Boron area (Boron show, travertine, petrified wood), Leader: Ron Wise, Ventura Club;
May 19-20 Conejo Club Show;
May 27-28 Open;
June 22-24 Wyoming Petrified Wood (Schedule later), Leader Red Jioras, Ventura Club;
July 21-22 Greenhorn Mts. - rose quartz, Leader: Miriam Tetreault, Oxnard Club;
August 1-12 Ventura County Fair;
September 9-16 Camp Paradise Workshop;
September Gabbs, NV - petrified wood, etc., Leader: Arnie Rudman, Conejo Club;
October 13-14 Trona - onyx, halite, hanksite, Leaders: Don Asher, Conejo Club; Miriam Tetreault, Oxnard Club;
November 17-18 Oxnard Club Show;
November 22-25 Wiley Wells Area - geodes, etc., Leader: Miriam Tetreault, Oxnard Club;
December Open.
Table of Contents.
This is the first stop of our OBSIDIAN BONANZA to Davis Creek/Lassen Creek and to Glass Butte. Davis Creek is the premier California obsidian collecting area with an abundance of a great variety of beautiful obsidian. This area is located on Buck Mt. in the heart of the Modoc National Forest. The altitude ranges from 5000 to 7000 feet. A free permit is required for collecting, which will be available at camp.
Directions: Take your favorite route to Alturas, CA in the far northeast corner of California. From Alturas, go north on US Route 395. Approximately 22 miles from Alturas is the small town of Davis Creek (stop here to visit the Davis Creek Mercantile, a very interesting little store). Continue another 11 miles to South Willow Ranch Rd. where you should see the first orange paper plate with arrows that direct you to camp. Turn right and follow this road and the orange paper plates 5.5 miles. Turn right and cross the small bridge. After you cross the bridge you will see the Lassen Creek Campgrounds on your left. Turn left into the campground.
Facilities: The campground is a large meadow with some large pine trees and two small streams. This is a "dry camping" area with one very nice pit toilet. The campground can accommodate all sizes of motorhomes and trailers and is also very good for tenters. At Davis Creek there is gas and some groceries, and a great place to get ice cream on a hot afternoon. At Alturas there is gas, food, motels and medical facilities.
Collecting Trips: The organized collecting trips will start on Friday morning. All trips will leave at 8:30 AM, SHARP, from the campgrounds. Assemble at 8:15 for details and instructions for each day's trip. We will be collecting at 5 major sites: Rainbow, Electric Blue, Pink Lady, Needles, and Mahogany Gold Sheen. You have to dig for the biggest and the best, but there is a lot of good obsidian to be found as float and in the discards from previous diggers. Because of the expected size of the group and limited parking at the collecting sites, we will divide up into small groups, each going to a different site. Everyone will get to go to every site.
Thursday, July 5 - Arrive at camp;
Friday, July 6 - Daily collecting trips;
Saturday, July 7 - Daily collecting trips;
Sunday, July 8 - Daily collecting trips;
Monday, July 9 - Depart to Lakeview, OR.
Plan on several potluck dinners and daily happy hours. Bring firewood for evening campfires. We plan on having a good time and collecting some great obsidian. Come join us for a great rockhound time of collecting, fun and fellowship.
Safety Note: Obsidian is Mother Nature's glass, and like glass it shatters and is extremely sharp. Goggles or safety glasses, long sleeve shirts and gloves are strongly recommended.
Please notify me by 7/2/01 if you plan to attend. Call if you have questions or need more information:
Dick Pankey, Ph. 925-439-7509,
4310 Kingsly Dr., Email: dickpankey@juno.com,
Pittsburg, CA 94565.
CFMS Newsletter, February 2001.
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This is the second stop of our OBSIDIAN BONANZA field trip. Located in central Oregon, Glass Butte is only 200 miles from Davis Creek, our first stop. Glass Butte is Oregon's premier obsidian site. With the exception of the Davis Creek, no other area can match the variety that is available here. Within a small radius you can find gold sheen, silver sheen, mahogany, red, flame, lace, double flow, brown, green and rainbow obsidian.
Directions: Take US Route 395 north out of Lakeview, OR 120 miles to US Route 20 at Riley. Turn left onto US 20, west. Go 28 miles and turn left 0.1 miles west of Milepost 77 onto Obsidian Rd., where you should see the first orange paper plate with arrows that direct you to camp. Follow this road and the orange paper plates 3 miles to camp.
Facilities: There are no established campgrounds at Glass Butte, but there are many good places to "dry camp". There is no problem getting any size rigs and passenger cars to the campsite, which is in walking distance to several collecting sites. Gas is available at Riley and in Hampton about 15 miles west.
Collecting Trips: The organized collecting trips will start on Friday morning. All trips will leave at 8:30 AM, SHARP, from the campgrounds. Assemble at 8:15 for details and instructions for each day's trip. We will be collecting at 6 major sites: Rainbow, Midnight Lace, Mahogany/Red, Flame, Mahogany Gold Sheen and Green/Silver Sheen. You have to dig for the biggest and the best, but there is a lot of good obsidian to be found as float and in the discards from previous diggers. Collecting sites are all within 3 miles of camp.
Thursday, July 12 - Arrive at camp;
Friday, July 13 - Day Collecting trips;
Saturday, July 14 - Day Collecting trips;
Sunday, July 15 - Daily Collecting trips;
Monday, July 16 - Depart for home.
Plan on several potluck dinners and daily happy hours. Bring firewood for evening campfires. We plan on having a good time and collecting some great obsidian. Come join us for a great rockhound time of collecting, fun and fellowship.
Safety Note: Obsidian is Mother Nature's glass, and like glass it shatters and is extremely sharp. Goggles or safety glasses, long sleeve shirts and gloves are strongly recommended.
Please notify me by 7/2/01 if you plan to attend. Call if you have questions or need more information:
Dick Pankey, Ph. 925-439-7509,
4310 Kingsly Dr., Email: dickpankey@juno.com,
Pittsburg, CA 94565.
CFMS Newsletter, February 2001.
Table of Contents.
The weekend of January 13th, Nancy and I bundled our kids into the car to head east on our first ever trip to Quartzsite. Little did we know what we've been missing all these years. We'll bring samples for show-and-tell to the February meeting and took forward to seeing the treasures others acquired. According to the rules of journalism, an article isn't complete until you've covered who, what, where, when, and why. What? The rocks. Where? Quartzsite! When? Every January and February. Why? The rocks! (Along with fossils, antiques, clothing, more rocks, fireworks, Hi Jolly, hot air balloons, and rocks, rocks, and more rocks.) But now, who? Who exactly goes to Quartzsite? Well, while we were there, we ran into Greg and Valli Davis, Red and Nancy Jioras, and Kathryn Davis from our own VGMS, and we know that a lot more members have made the trip subsequently. And beyond the VGMS? Well, we counted license plates from a total of 37 states, 6 Canadian provinces, Mexico, and the Muscogee Creek Nations. We passed literally hundreds of RVs parked in the desert. We mingled with crowds in the thousands. And we heard accents from at least four continents, including the countries of Brazil, Germany, Australia, Great Britain, and some we couldn't understand, like that one from Boston. Who goes to Quartzite? Rockhounds, mineral enthusiasts, fossil nuts, coin collectors, antique lovers, folks looking for a good bargain, and just plain good people. Hope to see you there next year!
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The Tucson Gem and Mineral Society held its 47th annual Show at the Convention Center in Tucson featuring Russian Minerals and Gem Art. The Forbes Magazine Collection along with many other Museums exhibited Art objects for this show. Specially featured were the items made by Peter Carl Faberge for the Czars in the late 1800's and early 1900's. These include Easter Eggs, cuff links, cigarette cases, etc.
Nearly 30 satellite shows have grown up around this show and dealers and exhibitors from around the world are in attendance. Many of the shows are Wholesale Only so that dealers from everywhere are purchasing items for their own shops here. These shows are located at many of the Motels in the area. It would be easy to spend several days and still not see it all.
Several members of VGMS were in attendance at the shows and we will have a "Show and Tell" at our next meeting. We will also hear from some of our members who were in Quartzite in January.
Contributed by Wayne Ehlers.
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To Extricate Fossils From Sandstone:
1- Place sandstone block in water until thoroughly soaked, about ten hours.
2- Remove block from water and allow to drain, about ten hours.
3- Place block in deep-freeze for about twelve hours, or until frozen.
4- Thaw rock, which will disintegrate. Sieve through screen wire to separate fossil
specimens from sand.
Lapidarian via Moroks, 2-00,
Submitted by Richard Bromser.
HINTS FROM ALL OVER - POLISHING MOUNTED CABS.
Cabs that have become dull by wear can be repolished without removing them from the mounting. Cut 1/4 inch diameter soft, leather disks and put 3 of them on a Dremel or Foredom screw type mandrel. Use this tool with Linde A or diamond paste and you can work carefully, close to the bezel and around the prongs.
via Cabber Gabber,
ROCKY REVIEW -- JUNE/JULY 1999,
via The Petrified Log, 2-00.
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First Annual show to be sponsored by the California State Mining & Mineral Museum, CSM&MM Association and Mariposa Gem & Mineral Club to be held at Mariposa County Fairgrounds next to the California State Mining & Mineral Museum. Hours: Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-4. For more information contact the Museum at (209) 742-7625 or mineralmuseum@sierratel.com.
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FEBRUARY 24-25; SAN JOSE, CA. Santa Clara Valley G&M Society, Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, 334 Tully Road. Hours: Sat 10-6, Sun. 10-5. Bill Gissler (408) 241-0477.
FEBRUARY 24-25; N. HOLLYWOOD, CA. Del Air, Sierra Palona, and Woodland Hills. Valley Plaza Recreation Center, 12240 Archwood Street; 10-5 both days. Julie & Oscar Marin (818) 886-7190.
MARCH 3-4; VENTURA, CA. Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, Inc., Ventura County Fairgrounds, Seaside Park. Hours Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4.
MARCH 3-4 ARCADIA, CA. Monrovia Rockhounds, Inc. The Arboretum of Los Angeles County, 201 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. Hours: 9-4:40 both days. Jo Anna Ritchey (626) 359-1624.
MARCH 10-11; SAN MARINO, CA. Pasadena Lapidary Society, 3130 Huntington Dr. Hours: Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5. Alex Sergienko (323) 258-1394.
MARCH 10-11; TURLOCK, CA. Mother Lode Mineral Society, Stanislaus County Fairgrounds, 600 N. Broadway. Hours: 10-5 daily. Ted Magee (209)522-8231.
MARCH 24-25; TORRANCE, CA. South Bay Lapidary & Mineral Society, Torrance Recreation Center, 3341 Torrance Blvd. Hours: Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5. Doris Turney (310) 318-2170.
APRIL 7-8; BORON, CA. Mohave Mineralogical Society, Inc., Boron High School - Multi Purpose Room, Prospect Street. Hours;: Sat 9-6, Sun. 9-4. David Eyre (760) 762-6575, Roy Eyre (760) 762-6555.
APRIL 28-29; SANTA CRUZ, CA. Santa Cruz Mineral & Gem Society, Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, Corner of Center & Church Street. Hours: 10-5 both days. Eleanor & Hubert Drake (831) 688-8086.
JUNE 11-24 ; PASO ROBLES, CA. - CFMS SHOW & CONVENTION-San Lucia Rockhounds, California Mid-State Fairgrounds, 2198 Riverside Avenue, Paso Robles. Bea & Sherm Griselle (805) 238-4366.
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Just for the record any unsigned articles are by the Editor. Thanks to all who help make the bulletin more interesting by contributing articles and information for events. Please don't be bashful about writing something up and sending it in, giving constructive criticism, suggestions for items you would like to have included etc. I appreciate it all. I would also like to thank my husband Jim for all his help and support (and nagging) in getting the bulletin out.
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| VGMS CHRISTMAS 2000 AT MILLIE'S. We have Matthew and Anthony Beinar with Greg Davis. |
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| TOPANGA CANYON FIELD TRIP. William Horhense with a Tortella shell. |
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| VGMS DECEMBER 2000 OPEN HOUSE FOR PEBBLE PUPS AT THE VGMS MUSEUM. Matthew and Anthony with David Mautz and Inez Shakman. |
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