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The Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. (VGMS)
Rockhound Rambling
March 2001.
Table of Contents.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
First and foremost, I'd like to thank all club members and even some non-members for all the hard work that produced this year's show. In spite of the weather, long hours and low attendance, we always have a good time and learn a lot. I perceived that quite a few attendees were new to the hobby and I attribute that to the word getting out to the schools the way it did. I'm told the Country Store did well and I know we sold a lot of rock at the silent auction which I did enjoy working (and seeing kids faces glow when they claimed their "treasures").
We'll briefly catch up on our rest after the show and spring will be here, filled with field trips and outings. Here's a heart felt pat on the back and thank you to everyone with a special thanks to Jim Layton for his time and effort on a professional looking flyer.
Greg Davis - President.
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WORDS TO LIVE BY.
If you keep on saying things are going to be bad, you have a good chance of being a prophet.
It's hard to be an eagle when you're surrounded by a bunch of turkeys.
We like a man to come out and say what he thinks--if we agree with him.
Mother Nature keeps her shell collection all over the World's beaches for kids to find.
Contributed by Wayne Ehlers.
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MARCH PROGRAM:
A Fossil-Collecting Tour of the
Monterey Formation of Carmel Valley.
For nearly a decade, Jim Brace-Thompson lived in the Monterey area, serving for four years as president of the Carmel Valley Gem and Mineral Society. During this period, he built up an extensive collection of personally collected fossils from the Monterey Formation of Carmel Valley. He made numerous field trips with his family to collecting localities while also leading club-sponsored trips and trips for school and family groups. At our March meeting, he'll display some of the 10-12 million-year-old fossil leaves, crabs, clam impressions, and other marine fossils from his collection while leading us on a photographic tour of some of the more accessible localities to be found in road cuts between Carmel and Greenfield.
Nancy Brace-Thompson.
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Age is not important unless you're a cheese - Helen Hayes.
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
3-28-01 - VGMS Regular Meeting - 7:30 pm - The Lexington, Bijou Room - Program "A Fossil-Collecting Tour of the Monterey Formation of Carmel Valley" by Jim Brace-Thompson.
4-2-01 - Lapidary Class Starts - 7:00 pm - VGMS Museum - more details later in bulletin.
4-5-01 - VGMS Board Meeting - 7:00 pm - Red & Nancy Jioras Home - 613 S. La Luna, Ojai, CA. (PLEASE NOTE CHANGE IN TIME AND PLACE.)
4-7 & 8-01 - Tri-Club Field Trip - Mojave Mineralogical Society Show - Boron, CA - More details further on in this Bulletin.
4-10-01 - DEADLINE FOR APRIL BULLETIN articles to the Editor!
4-21 & 22-01 - Santa Monica Mountains Trail Days - More details later in bulletin.
4-25-01 - VGMS Regular Meeting - 7:30 pm - The Lexington, Bijou Room.
7-6 to 8-01 - CFMS Field Trip to Davis Creek - See February 2001 Rockhound Rambling for details.
7-13 to 15-01 - CFMS Field Trip to Glass Butte - See February 2001 Rockhound Rambling for details.
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"CHIPS & BOULDERS" - AKA BITS AND PIECES!
NOTE: April 5th Board Meeting is going to be combined with a Post-Show Meeting and will start at 7:00 in lieu of the normal 7:30. It will also be held at the home of Nancy & Red Jioras, 613 S. La Luna, Ojai, CA in lieu of the museum. Everyone is encouraged to provide their in-put to help make it an even better show next year.
March Hostess will be Emma Mayer, April will be Shirley Layton & Sharlyne Holloway. Sharon Cunningham is coordinating this and will be looking for the following months. Be sure to let her know which month you want to help with before someone else beats you to it!!
VGMS Workshop will not be held in March due to the items stored in the shop area from the show that we haven't had a chance to put away or take to storage. We will have the schedule for the following months in the next bulletin.
Lapidary Class - Our Spring Lapidary Class will start on Monday evenings April 2nd from 7 to 9 pm. This is your chance to learn more about cutting, grinding, and polishing rocks. Because of limited space in our workshop we need to restrict this class to club members only. Bring that favorite rock you have collected and we will try to cut and polish it. If you don't have one easily available there are plenty of slabs and rocks at the Museum Workshop. There will be a sign-up sheet at our March meeting. If you want more information please call me at 805 482-6830 or Greg Davis at 805 647-9214. Some new members may not have visited our Museum Workshop and this is your chance to see it all. Our classes are very informal and it is a "hands-on" experience so wear working clothes. Hope to see you there.
Wayne Ehlers.
Santa Monica Mountains Trail Days - April 21 and 22 is your chance to participate as volunteers in maintaining and improving the hiking and biking trails in Point Mugu State Park. Volunteers will be directed by experienced trail workers to help with trail maintenance, non-native plant removal, and wildlife rehabilitation. Free camping in beautiful Point Mugu State Park backcountry will be provided. The fire road back to the Danielson Ranch is too rough for motorhomes or trailers but regular 2-wheel drive cars should have no difficulty. Marie and I have visited this location and after our recent rains it should be beautiful.
We will probably go in (with Park Ranger escort) from the Sycamore Canyon Campground. I hope to have more details at our March meeting.
Wayne Ehlers.
2001 Show Business - In the donation award drawing, the ticket for the number 2 ($50.00) prize did not have a name or phone number on. Please check your tickets for number 0670 and notify Inez Shakman at (805) 642-4957 if you have this number. We will hold it and try to find the winner until the 2002 show and then it will be turned back for the 2002 donation award drawings. Bill Leslie was the lucky winner of the 1st prize of $100 and also the Grand Prize, a beautiful Koroit Opal donated by Academy Enterprises. Can you believe some people's luck? Congratulations Bill!!
Many Thanks to all who made the 2001 show a success. There were many hard workers setting up, manning booths and tearing down again on Sunday Night. Bonnie Demianiw's good food at the Friday Dinner and during the show days along with the Pizza Sunday Night certainly helped to sustain us all!! I would like to extend a special thanks to all who helped at the country store, Shirley and Richard Bromser (my always faithful helpers), Emma Mayer, Sharon Cunningham, Sunny Cross, Florence Meisenheimer, Marie and Wayne Ehlers. Sorry if I missed anyone, the old memory isn't what it used to be! Susan Mulqueen, Marie Ehlers & Marie Haake did a great job at the Plant booth as well. Until next year----!!
Dave Mautz has put together a Trilobite Case, which is on display at the Wright Library at Telegraph and Day Roads in Ventura. If you have a chance to go by and see it please do.
Reminder - Emma Mayer has volunteered to set up some Club scrapbooks. If you have any pictures from past club events that you would like to have included, bring them to the meeting or you can mail them to Emma. Be sure to include dates and descriptions on the backs. These will be on display at our meetings. These can be used on our Web site as well.
Pebble Pup information is needed to include in the updated Membership Roster, please include this information with your membership renewals. We will be including a page of pebble pups. Since they do not have to pay dues, we don't have a record of them. If you have already renewed (Good for you!) you can just give the information to Emma as soon as possible.
Table of Contents.
Don't set your goals according to what other people think is important.
Listen to your inner voice and do what's best for you.
Source: Unknown.
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MARCH & APRIL BIRTHDAYS.
Happy Birthday to all those born in March or April. We will get one month ahead so you will have time to send a card , call or whatever! We all wish you good health and hope you have a Great Day! I'm still gathering information, so please let me know if I have missed your birthday. Please call Shirley Layton at 642-2683 and leave a message if I'm not there. Thanks!
March -Happy Birthday!!
Emma Mayer - 8th,
Inez Shakman - 12th,
Greg Davis - 18th.
The March birthstone is the Aquamarine and the flower is the Jonquil.
AQUAMARINE.
The aquamarine is one of the most prized of the beryls. The color of an aquamarine may range from a pale bluish-green to a rich, deep blue. The color results from iron in its reduced state. Most authorities tend to agree, however, that the green color in an aquamarine that originally resulted in its name (aqua = water) lessens the value of a stone. Most aquamarines on the market today with the deep blue color have been heat-treated to enhance the color, and this enhancement is said to be permanent.
Aquamarine was prized in the Roman Empire for its supposed power to prevent sea sickness and to quiet stomach disorders, as well as to ensure love, happiness, and purity.
As with many transparent stones, the larger stones seem to show the deepest color. The largest source for aquamarine is Brazil.
Via The Petrified Log, April & May 2000.
April - Happy Birthday!!
Edgar Isch - 8th,
Richard Bromser - 10th,
Martie Isch - 16th.
The April birthstone is the Diamond and the flower is the Sweet Pea.
DIAMOND "KING" OF GEMS.
Diamond is the hardest known substance on earth. It occurs in nature in many qualities and colors--yellow, pink, blue, brown and even black. Diamonds can also be translucent and opaque, but the most valuable are the clear, colorless, transparent varieties. About 87% of all diamonds that are mined each year are used in industry. The remaining 13% are gem quality.
Faceted diamonds as we know them today are a fairly new gem. No one knew how to cut or facet this hardest of all gems until 400 to 500 years ago. In ancient times all colorless gems (sapphires, topaz, zircon, beryl) were often called diamonds. Diamonds vary in quality and fire, some having a dull surface luster as if dimmed by a thin film of oil. A diamond expert can tell with some certainty where a diamond comes from by its clarity and color. One should buy diamonds from a reputable dealer.
from "Enjoying Gems" by Wyndham via Moroks April 2000.
Table of Contents.
VGMS MINUTES.
Minutes of the VGMS Regular Monthly Meeting - February 28, 2001;
The regular monthly meeting of the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society was called to order by President Greg Davis at 7:35 p.m. on Wednesday, February 28, 2001 at the Bijou room of the Lexington, 5440 Ralston, Ventura, CA. The group was led in the salute to the flag.
The meeting and board minutes, as shown in the Bulletin, were m/s/p. We had three guests at the meeting, John Hart, Gary and Vern Markley.
It's Show Time! Our 2001 club show is this coming weekend. There is a sign-up sheet at the back of the room to help at the different show booths. The insurance for the show is in order. To help load up the truck, be at the museum at 9:00 am or you can come to the fairgrounds to help set up the tables at 9:00 am. Now is the time to sell donation tickets. There are tickets available tonight.
The next board meeting will be March 1, 2001 at 6:00 pm at the fairgrounds.
The program was Show & Tell: Steve Mulqueen showed off Peacock ore and Tigers eye squares. He will make the exhibitor trophies from them. Steve also said that Tucson had a lot of dinosaur eggs and fossil mammoth ivory. Jim Brace-Thompson showed off a fossil fish he bought at Quartzite that will be in his fossil fish case at the show. Kathryn Davis had Sugelite with Rictorite, Fossilized corral, slabs of azurite and malachite and amethyst sage. Susan Mulqueen had Libyan fossils in Selenite from Tucson. Wayne Ehlers showed a globe made totally of different rocks that he bought in Tucson. He also passed around Tucson show catalogs. Wayne also talked about Trail Days at Point Mugu State park on April 21-22, 2001. You will be able to go into the backcountry and camp. If anyone is interested, please contact Wayne. Ed Clark went to Cadiz for trilobite hunting.
The by-laws were m/s/p after Richard Bromser asked if there were any proposed changes to them from the members.
Ron Wise reported that the next club field trip would be March 17 to Bakersfield for shark teeth. Ron also asked for field trip suggestions.
Treasurer, Richard Bromser read the treasurer's report.
Ray Meisenheimer did a couple of programs at the museum in February. He also has loaned museum items to schools.
Emma Mayers, membership secretary, has received some dues and thanks everyone who has donated pictures. She also has many boxes in her garage for anyone who would like them.
Shirley Layton, bulletin editor, has some extra bulletins. The deadline for the next bulletin is March 10th. She also showed some signs she made to have around the country store so people would know the country store and plant sale were part of VGMS. She also has show programs that need to be folded.
Steve Mulqueen said there was a new exhibit at the California Oil Museum in Santa Paula on oil photographs. It will be there from March 4th until June 17th.
Jim Brace-Thompson asked for more spinning wheel prizes and where we could buy sand for the sand sifting. Suggestions were Green Thumb or Newton Building.
Dave Mautz has a trilobite display at the Wright Library on Day road.
Inez Shakman requested help at the awards table.
Shirley Layton mentioned if anyone had donations for the country store or plant sale please bring them to the fairgrounds.
Nancy Jioras invited one and all to the Saturday night BBQ potluck. Bring your own meat and a side dish to share.
Wayne Ehlers requested volunteers for day and night security.
That was the end of the business part of the meeting. David Mautz then conducted the drawing.
After a short break, we played Bingo.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:08 pm.
The next meeting will be held on March 28, 2001, at 7:30 p.m., at the Lexington.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Brace-Thompson, Secretary.
Minutes of VGMS Board Meeting - March 1, 2001;
The regular board meeting of the VGMS was called to order by President Greg Davis at 6:04 p.m. on Thursday March 1, 2001, at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, Ventura, CA.
Attendees: Greg Davis, Florence Meisenheimer, Richard Bromser, Nancy & Red Jioras, Nancy & Jim Brace-Thompson , Dave Mautz, Steve Mulqueen and Ron Wise.
The borrowed Conejo cases had wrong light fixtures that will have to be exchanged.
Red Jioras said dealers would probably start showing up around noon on Friday. The earlier the dealers get here the quicker we can get them in the building and the faster the next dealer can pull up to the doors to unload. Buena Museum and our museum were separated. Demonstrators and Demo dealers were also separated. On Saturday and Sunday, we need to keep the entrance to the buildings so that our banner will be visible. There will be ample parking in the parking lots.
Greg will let the fairground know that we have been passing out staff passes for workers and dealers of the show. The price for parking has been reduced to $3.00 from $5.00.
Greg, Dave and Richard will pick-up the silent auction rocks from the museum.
Nancy Jioras said that country store was pretty well ready.
Chairs still needed to be distributed tonight to all the booths. We should let the fairgrounds know about how dirty the chairs are. A key to the building still needs to be picked up.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Brace-Thompson, Secretary.
Table of Contents.
TRICLUB FIELD TRIP TO BORON:
MOJAVE MINERALOGICAL SOCIETY SHOW,
April 7 - 8, 2001.
DIRECTIONS: Take the Boron Frontage Road exit from Highway 58. Turn right on BORON AVENUE. After about .3 miles, turn left on PROSPECT STREET. The show is located at BORON HIGH SCHOOL, 26813 Prospect Street.
MEETING TIME: We will meet at the show at 9:00 A.M. on SATURDAY, MORNING. At that time they will have a short meeting and begin the first field trip to the Boron Mine site.
DRY CAMPING: Dry camping will be available just north of Boron. Take Boron Ave. north of the highway. The organizers of the show say there will be directional signs out on Friday afternoon before the show. (Will try to get more specific information from the organizers before putting out a flyer.) We have been told there will be a porta-potty, but no running water at the campsite.
ACTIVITIES: Breakfast at the show site beginning at 7:30 a.m. The hours of the show are: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. on Saturday; 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. Two field trips will be offered on Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - Meet at the show and go to the Boron Mine site. 10:30 a.m. - Meet at the show and go to a jasper locality near the mine. One field trip will be offered on Sunday: 9:00 a.m. - Meet at the show and go to the Boron Mine site. There are numerous possibilities for further rock hounding in the area. We'll plan a trip on Sunday morning for those who are interested.
CAUTION: Some of the minerals found at the Boron Mine site could be dangerous. The show organizers suggest we wear safety glasses and gloves.
LEADER: Ron Wise, VGMS. For more information phone Ron at 805-647-4393.
Table of Contents.
TRI-CLUB FIELD TRIP SCHEDULE - 2001.
This is the Tentative schedule for the remainder of 2001. Any changes that are made will be announced in the bulletin.
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.
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BEAR REPORT.
In light of human - grizzly bear encounters, the Department of Fish & Game is advising outdoor adventurers to take extra precautions, such as wearing noisy little bells on their clothing to warn bears they are coming, and carrying pepper spray in case of an encounter with a bear.
It is also a good idea to watch for fresh signs of bear activity. Outdoorsmen should know the difference between black bear and grizzly bear dung. Black bear scat is smaller and contains lots of berries and squirrel fur. Grizzly bear dung has little bells in it and smells like pepper!
Mineral Memos February 2000 via CFMS Newsletter March 2001.
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HINTS & TIPS FOR "CHIPS & BOULDERS (& FOSSILS)".
HEAT THOSE THUNDEREGGS - Many lapidaries now heat nodule and thunder egg halves under a heat lamp for a few minutes, before polishing with tin oxide or cerium oxide and felt. The polish comes up almost instantly.
Alternatives include putting specimens in a 200 degree oven until warm to the touch, or putting specimens in a kettle full of hot water until they are warm. Dry off excess water before polishing.
From Rock Talk.
FRESH WATER PEARLS - String fresh water pearls on silk thread with knots after every THIRD pearl. If you knot between each fresh water pearl, the necklace will not lay properly.
From House of Onyx.
AVOID SCRATCHES - If you are having trouble with rock or mineral specimens scratching glass or wood display shelves, try putting three or four dabs of GE Silicone Rubber Cement on the bottom of the trouble makers.
Before the cement hardens, place the object on a sheet of waxed paper.
Allow at least 24 hours for the cement to cure - longer if you use large amounts of the cement. This method will produce a nice, smooth, rubber like surface which will protect both the shelf and the specimen.
From Trilobite.
Hints From All Over, via The Petrified Log, 2-00.
Table of Contents.
SUBJECT: YOU MIGHT BE A GEOLOGIST!
Top Ten Signs you might be a geologist.
YOU MIGHT BE A GEOLOGIST IF:
10. You have ever had to respond "yes" to the question, "What have you got in here, rocks?"
9. You have ever taken a 22-passenger van over "roads" that were really intended only for cattle.
8. You have ever found yourself trying to explain to airport security that a rock hammer isn't really a weapon.
7. Your rock garden is located inside your house.
6. You have ever hung a picture using a Brunton as a level.
5. Your collection of beer cans and/or bottles rivals the size of your rock collection.
4. You consider a "recent event" to be anything that has happened in the last hundred thousand years.
3. Your photos include people only for scale and you have more pictures of your rock hammer and lens cap than of your family.
2. You have ever been on a field trip that included scheduled stops at a gravel pit and/or a liquor store.
And the #1 sign you might be a geologist:
1. You have ever uttered the phrase "have you tried licking it" with no sexual connotation involved.
Contributed by Steve Mulqueen.
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Travel is ninety percent anticipation and ten percent recollection.
Edward Streeter.
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OIL SHORTAGES,
A Nony Mouse.
There are a lot of people who can't understand how we came to have oil shortages here in the USA.
Well, there's a very simple answer...nobody bothered to check the oil.
We just didn't know we were getting low. The reason for that is purely geographical. All the oil is in Texas, Oklahoma, Alaska, etc.
All the dipsticks are in Washington, DC.
AFMS Newsletter - January 2001.
Table of Contents.
REVIEW OF THE 106TH CONGRESS.
Legislation passed by the 106th Congress that involves public lands totals over 42 bills passed with as many as 28 bills having passed during the last three months of the session. There were a total of 324,471 acres added to the National Wilderness System, 413.8 miles of rivers added to the National Wild and Scenic River System; 579 miles of trails added to the National Trails System, approximately 273,104 acres designated as new National Monuments, 90,000 acres as new National Wildlife Refuges, 99,725 acres of National Conservation Areas, and 4 new National Heritage Areas designations. The total acreage of preservation of lands by Congress totals something like 787,300 acres. That compares with the outgoing administration's National Monument total in the last two years of over 3,845,000 and a grand total of 5,749,430 acres over the 8 year term.
ALAA Newsletter - Year end, 2000.
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THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S
PRESERVATION HERITAGE.
NATIONAL MONUMENTS 5,749,430 acres:
Agua Fria N. M., Ariz., 71,000 acres;
California Coastal N. M., Calif., 10,000 acres;
Canyon of the Ancents N. M., Colo., 164,000 acres;
Carrizo Plain N. M., Calif., 250,000 acres;
Cascade Siskiyou N. M., Oreg., 52,000 acres;
Craters of the Moon N. M., Ida., (enlargement) 661,000 acres;
Grand Canyon-Parashant N. M., Ariz. 1,014,000 acres;
Grand Staircase/Escal N. M., Utah 1,700.000 acres;
Haggerman Fossil Beds N. M., Ida. 4,281 acres;
Hanford Reach N. M., Wash., 200,000 acres;
Ironwood Forest N. M., Ariz., 129,000 acres;
Kasha-Katuwe/Tent Rocks N. M., New Mex. (no data);
Pompeys Pillar N. M., Mont., (no data);
Sequoia N. M., Calif., 327,769 acres;
Sonoran Desert N. M., Ariz., 486,149 acres;
Upper Missouri Breaks N. M., Mont., 720,000 acres;
Vermilion Cliffs N. M., Ariz., 293,000 acres.
CONGRESSIONAL PRESERVATION ACTIONS ENACTED & SIGNED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON (105th and 106th Congress).
NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREAS (NCA):
Colorado Canyons N.C.A., Colo., 75,500 acres;
Gunnison Gorge N.C.A., Colo, 57,725 acres;
La Cinegas N.C.A., Ariz., 42,000 acres +;
Steens Mountain NCA, Ore., 900,000 acres.
NATIONAL WILDERNESS DESIGNATIONS:
Black Ridge Canyon Wilderness, Colo., 75,500 acres;
Dugger Mountain Wilderness, Ala., 9,200 acres;
Gunnison Gorge Wilderness, Colo., 17,700 acres;
Otay Mountain Wilderness, Calif,. 18,500 acres;
Priest Wilderness, Va., 5,963 acres;
Spanish Peaks Wilderness, Colo., 18,000 acres;
Steens Mountain Wilderness, Ore., 175,000 acres;
The Three Ridges Wilderness, Va., 4,608.
NATIONAL MONUMENTS:
Santa Rosa/San Jacinto Mts. N. M. Calif., 272,000 acres.
NEW NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE DESIGNATIONS:
Cahaba River NWR, Ala., 3,500 acres;
Cat Island NWR, La., 36,500 acres;
Red River NWR, La., 50,000 acres.
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P.L.A.C. REPORT,
Jim Strain, Chairman, P.L.A.C.
The public release of the Environmental Impact Statement for the NECO Plan has been scheduled for late February. At a recent meeting, the BLM Team stated that many changes in public use of public lands will probably be incorporated into the plan in order to meet all the endangered species requirements.
Several public meetings will be held at different locations throughout the desert area. We (PLAC) strongly recommend that members from each club in the areas near the meetings attend to offer opinions. There will be a period of time for written comments to be submitted after the meetings. The meeting locations and dates have not been released yet (at publication time for this issue). Hopefully, we will have time to publish them before the actual meetings.
The litigation filed against the BLM degenerated into a last minute effort to close and restrict as much public land as possible before the change of administration in Washington. More than 50,000 acres of medium grade collecting area north of Gold Rock Ranch has been closed to camping. In checking with BLM Management, we will still be able to collect there but will have to camp east of Ogilby Road.
From all indications, San Bernardino and Imperial Counties have gotten involved in the last minute settlement agreements on the law suit. It remains to be seen whether it will do any good. There is some indication that legislation will be initiated in Washington to change some of the laws to recognize that people are a part of the overall ecology, and must be considered.
The article below is self explanatory. (The article was in the Rockhound Rambling January 2001 issue titled Rockhounding On The Beaches Of Ventura And Santa Barbara Counties.) We sincerely appreciate the work of Red Jioras of Ventura Gem & Mineral Society. Red is one of three new PLAC Members starting this year. The other two are Gary and Denise Palmer from the Sportsman's Club of Joshua Tree and Hi Desert Rockhounds of Morongo Valley. We certainly welcome them to PLAC and look forward to their participation in the various activities of CFMS.
CFMS Newsletter-March 2001,
Contributed by Florence Meisenheimer.
Table of Contents.
THE VIEW FROM HERE
By Bob Stultz, CFMS President.
Federation Competition. This has been one of the backbones of our CFMS Shows and Conventions. We all enjoy the beautiful cases created by members of our clubs and societies. One of the great people in our hobby, Jessie Hardman, worked very hard to get people to go into competition. Jessie was always willing to sit down and talk to you and help you create a beautiful case. In her memory, I am challenging the members of the California Federation to enter a competitive case this year. We have had around 50 entries in competition the last couple of years. If each club would get one new person to go into competition, we would have well over 100 entries this year. I'm not just talking about this to convince you to do something I wouldn't do, and so I will put a case in competition myself. I challenge you to work with me to achieve this goal of having 100 competitive cases entered in the 2001 Show at Paso Robles.
If there are any questions you have as you are getting ready to go into competition, feel free to contact any of the three members of the Rules Committee. They will be more than happy to assist you in any way they can. One of the most important things that has been pointed out to me in preparing to compete is to get an AFMS Rules Book and read over the part that you are considering for competition. Read it over two or three times. And don't forget, there are Special Trophies given by manufacturers and societies for classes that are not included in the AFMS Uniform Rules. Your Federation Director should have the entry forms needed for competition. If you are having any problems getting answers to your questions, contact me and I will put you in touch with someone who can help you.
I hope many of you have circled your calendar for the dates of June 22, 23 and 24 this year. The Santa Lucia Rockhounds are working very hard to make this Show a great success, so let's all support them and attend.
Bulletin Editors, I have a favor to ask you. Will you please print this information on competition in your club bulletin. I need your help to reach the membership. I hope a lot of you are planning to attend the Editors' Breakfast in Paso Robles.
Signed Bob.
Table of Contents.
A.F.M.S. CODE OF ETHICS.
- I will respect both private and public property and will do no collecting on privately owned land without permission from the owner.
- I will keep informed on all laws, regulations and rules governing collecting on private lands and will observe them.
- I will, to the best of my ability, ascertain the boundary lines of property on which I plan to collect.
- I will use no firearms or blasting materials in collecting areas.
- I will cause no willful damage to property of any kind, such as fences, signs, buildings, etc.
- I will leave all gates as found.
- I will build fires only in designated or safe places and will be certain they are completely extinguished before leaving the area.
- I will discard no burning materials - matches, cigarettes, etc.
- I will fill all excavation holes which may be dangerous to livestock.
- I will not contaminate wells, creeks, or other water supplies.
- I will cause no damage to collecting material and will take home only what I can reasonably use.
- I will practice conservation and undertake to utilize fully and well the materials I have collected and will recycle my surplus for the pleasure and benefit of others.
- I will support the Rockhound Project H.E.L.P. (Help Eliminate Litter Please) and will leave all collecting areas devoid of lifter, regardless of how found.
- I will cooperate with Field Trip Leaders and those in designated authority in all collecting areas.
- I will report to my Club or Federation Officers, Bureau of Land Management, or other proper authorities, any deposit of petrified wood or other material on public lands which should be protected for the enjoyment of future generations and for public educational and scientific purposes.
- I will appreciate and protect our heritage of Natural Resources. I will observe the "Golden Rule", will use Good Outdoor Manners and will at all times conduct myself in a manner which will add to the stature and Public Image of Rockhounds everywhere.
AFMS Newsletter - March 2001.
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BENITOITE BLUE BEAUTY.
James Marshall Couch discovered the rare mineral benitoite on February 22, 1907. The discovery was near the headwaters of the San Benito River in San Benito County, California. The discovery area is about 25 miles north of Coalinga and about 70 miles south of Hollister. At that time, mercury and chromium mining activity was taking place in this rugged area of California.
He found triangular blue crystals during a prospecting trip for cinnabar, the red ore of quick-silver (mercury). The blue crystals were plentiful in veins of brecciated, grey-green shist associated with serpentine. Couch was awestruck by so many beautiful blue crystals covering the ground and imbedded in white natrolite on veins of shist traversing walls of green serpentine.
When first discovered, the crystals were thought to be sapphire. George Louderback, a geology professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and a consultant to the California State Mine Bureau, found the crystals too soft for sapphire and declared the discovery to be a new and unique mineral.
In 1907 Louderback gave benitoite its name. Benitoite was named from its discovery in San Benito County, California near the headwaters of the San Benito River and near San Benito Peak.
The benitoite which occurs at the discovery location is the type locality of this mineral. While the mineral benitoite is found in a few other locations worldwide, it is not found in the quantity and quality offered by its type locality in San Benito County, California.
Benitoite is a rare mineral combination of barium titanium silicate with a hardness of 6-6.5. It occurs in a zone of narrow veins of white natrolite covering grey-green shist, which was formed in a lode hydrothermal replacement deposit. This metamorphic mass of shist, found in a weathered dike, is part of a large serpentine formation in the area.
Triangular benitoite crystals are often found in association with black neptunite crystals of cylindrical form also imbedded in the natrolite. In addition, and only occasionally, this layer may contain small, yellowish joaquinite crystals of knobby form. It's a rare and valuable collector's item that contains all three minerals in one specimen.
In its perfect form benitoite crystal exhibits symmetry, with its beauty partially created from balanced proportions. A perfectly shaped crystal is triangular with six flat surfaces on each side, and with the triangle having three flattened ends. Perfectly symmetrical crystals are hard to find, as most crystals do not have the balanced proportions exhibited by a classic crystal. Also, most crystals are fractured, and good faceting material is difficult to obtain.
A classic, six-plane symmetrical design.
Benitoites with identical classic shapes on
both sides are rare.
The color of benitoite crystals can range from dark blue to light blue to white. Most crystals contain all three colors, with solid blue crystals a rarity. When first discovered, the crystals were thought to be sapphire because of their blue color and luster. In an unweathered condition, crystals may have a glossy luster which gives beauty to the crystals.
A benitoite crystal with symmetrical triangular shape, lustrous flat surfaces, beautiful blue color, transparency and dispersion equal to a diamond, is a wonder to behold. A benitoite crystal becomes a valuable gemstone when transparent, free of flaws, and of good color.
A four-plane configuration. Sometimes
benitoites exhibit a variety of shapes.
Flat-back benitoites with a classic or odd
opposite side and benitoites with pointed
ends, along with other odd creations,
have been found.
Benitoite crystals large enough to facet into gemstones are scarce and have a substantial value. Cut stones over one carat are rare. A crystal cut to diamond angles and proportions may actually appear to be a cornflower-blue diamond. A few crystals up to two inches across have been found, but most are less than one inch.
Benitoite fluoresces beautifully white, light or dark blue, under short-wave ultraviolet light. It is a good idea to use a short-wave light at night to discover crystals, which are not apparent during daylight hours. Under long-wave ultraviolet light only the white parts of the crystals will show a light red.
A common seven-plane configuration.
The CFMS logo uses a modification of
this shape with an enlarged center
triangle.
Benitoite was designated the Official California State gemstone on October 1, 1985, by the adoption of Assembly Bill 2357. The designation came after a four-year effort supported by the California Federation of Mineralogical Societies (CFMS) to have Benitoite designated the State gemstone. The CFMS emblem features a stylized version of the three-sided shape of a benitoite crystal.
Benitoite will be exhibited during the CFMS GEM, JEWELRY & MINERAL SHOW in Paso Robles, June 22-24, 2001. Attend the show and enjoy viewing beautiful specimens of our State gemstone.
Bea and Sherm Griselle,
Santa Lucia Rockhounds,
From CFMS Newsletter March 2001.
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FIRST ANNUAL MINERAL AND
GEM SHOW FOR MARIPOSA,
April 7-8.
The location is the Mariposa County Fairgrounds, next to the California State Mining and Mineral Museum (on historic Highway 49, only two miles south of Mariposa). There will be rocks, fossils, minerals and gems, guest speakers, music, food, children's activities and more. Interested dealers, vendors or craftsmen may reserve indoor or outdoor booth spaces. The show is sponsored by the California State Mining and Mineral Museum, the CSM&MM Association, and the Mariposa Gem & Mineral Club. Free admission, free parking! For information or a Dealer's packet, contact the Museum at (209) 742-7625, Fax (209) 966-3597, or mineralmuseum@sierratel.com.
CFMS Newsletter - March 2001,
Edited by Florence Meisenheimer.
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Yesterday was the deadline for all complaints. - Unknown.
When your ship comes in, be sure you are willing to unload it. - Unknown.
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2001 CFMS CLUB SHOWS.
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 7-8; ANGELES CAMP, CA. Calaveras Gem & Mineral Society, Calaveras County Fairgrounds. Hours: Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4. Bill or Marlynn Blake (209) 795-7202.
APRIL 7-8; HACIENDA HEIGHTS, CA. Puente Hills Gem & Mineral, Steinmetz Park, 1545 S. Stimson Ave. Hours: 10-5 both days., Bob Hess, Publicity Don Warthen. Don@Ofeliawarthen.com.
APRIL 14-15; PARADISE, CA. Paradise Gem & Mineral Club. Veteran's Memorial Hall, Skyway at Elliott. Hours: 10 am to ?. John Hees & Robert Lynk (530) 533-575?.
APRIL 28-29; LANCASTER, CA. Antelope Valley & Palmdale Gem & Mineral Clubs - Co-sponsors. Antelope Valley Fairgrounds, Challenger Memorial Hall. Hours: 9-5 both days.
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.
MAY 5-6; ANAHEIM, CA. The Searcher's Gem & Min. Soc., Inc. Brookhurst Community Center, 2271 W. Crescent Ave. Hours: Sat. 10-7, Sun. 10-4:30. Connie Van Kampen (714) 993-2827.
MAY 5-6; BAKERSFIELD, CA. Kern County Mineral Society, Kern County Fairgrounds. Hours: 10-5 both days. Manuel Hernandez (661) 323-0353.
MAY 12-13; RENO, NV. Reno Gem & Mineral Society, Reno Livestock-Events Center, Exhibit Hall, 1350 N. Wells Ave. Hours: Sat. 10-5, Sun 10-4. John Peterson (775) 356-8820.
MAY 19-20; NEWBURY PARK, CA. Conejo Gem & Mineral Club, Borchard Park Community Center, 190 Reino Rd. Hours: Sat. 9-5, Sun. 10-5. Don Bullard (805) 498-9399.
MAY 19-20; YUCAIPA, CA. Yucaipa Valley Gem & Mineral Society, Schere Community Center, First & Avenue B. Hours: Sat. ?-6, Sun. 10-5. Richard Crockett (909) 790-3958.
MAY 26-28; WEAVERVILLE, CA. Trinity Gem & Mineral Society, Lowden Park. Hours: Sat & Sun 10-5, Mon. 10-4. Jack Jennewein (530) 778-3786.
JUNE 2-3; GLENDORA, CA. Glendora Gems, Goddard Middle School, 859 E. Sierra Madre. Hours: Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4. Mark Thompson (626) 335-3814.
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.
JULY 7-8; CULVER CITY, CA. Culver City Rock & Mineral Club, Inc., Veteran's Memorial Auditorium. Corner of Overland Ave., & Culver Blvd. Hours: Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5. Gary Strickland (310) 676-4523. g,strucjkabd@prodigy.net, Web site: www.gembiz.com/ccrmc/fiesta.htm.
JULY 27,28 & 29; NIPOMO, CA. Orcutt Mineral Society, St. Joseph's Church, 298 S. Thompson Ave., Hours: 10-5 daily. Glenda Reeves (805) 733-2775 hawkymom@aol.com.
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AMERICAN FEDERATION/REGIONAL
2001 SHOW SCHEDULE.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN,
June 8-10 - Roswell, NM.
AFMS/SOUTH CENTRAL,
June 11-17, Arlington, TX.
CALIFORNIA FEDERATION,
June 22-24 - Paso Robles, CA.
EASTERN FEDERATION,
July 13-15 - Syracuse, NY.
NORTHWEST FEDERATION,
August 20-September 1 - Enumclaw, WA.
MIDWEST FEDERATION,
September 7-9 - Rice Lake, WI.
SOUTHEAST FEDERATION,
November 2-4 - Pascagoula, MS.
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EDITOR'S NOTE:
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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ALAA Membership Application.
Membership Application and Renewal Application,
American Lands Access Association, Inc.,
PO Box 87543,
Vancouver, WA 98687-0543.
Name: _____________________________________.
Mailing Address: _________________________________________________________.
City, State & Zip code + 4: ___________________________________________.
Club Affiliation: ____________________________________________________
(optional).
Phone number: _____________________________________________________
(optional).
E-mail address: ____________________________________________________
(optional).
Annual Individual Membership fee $25.00. Amount enclosed: $____________.
Please Mail to: Toby Cozens, ALAA Treasurer, 4401 SW Hill St., Seattle, WA 98116.
American Lands Access Association, Inc. is a 501(c)(4) organization. Donations are not tax deductible.
Webmaster's Note: Clicking on this link to the ALAA Application Form will take you to a page which you may print in order to have a more useable form to mail. Use your browser's BACK button or equivalent to return here.
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VGMS PHOTO ALBUM.
Our newest Pebble Pup - Matthew Jioras born February 16th weighing in
at 8 lbs 2 oz. He is presented by the PROUD Grandparents Nancy and
Richard (Red) Jioras. Matthew doesn't seem too concerned about the
title! Congratulations to Parents and Grand Parents and we all look
forward to meeting the new "Pup".
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