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The Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. (VGMS)
Rockhound Rambling
July 2001.
Table of Contents.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
Hope everyone had a safe 4th of July. It sounded noisier than in recent years.
Start pulling together materials for fair entries. The club has cases you can use and even assistance if you've not done it before. These are judged if you're entering the competitive categories, so will need to follow guidelines (such as labeling and minimum/maximum number of items in a case) found in the fair entry guide. It's a lot of fun and you'll find a category for any and all specimens.
Sure enjoyed Ed's program on photographing thin sliced minerals under polarized light. Absolutely incredible colors reproduced and Ed really knows his minerals. That coupled with the uniqueness of this aspect of our hobby and the variety of designs really kept everyone entertained. Thanks Ed, and we'll have to do it again some time. I can just imagine fantastic posters from those slides.
We've had really fine programs lately from our own club members and I'd like to thank them again for their efforts. That's the kind of thing that makes a difference between a good club and a great club.
Next regular meeting will be Wed., July 25th. Hope to see everyone there and bring a friend.
Greg Davis - President.
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WORDS TO LIVE BY.
There is no experience less rewarding than saying thanks to a voice recording.
There's nothing like sealing a letter to inspire a fresh thought.
Never look down--you may miss a rainbow or a sunset. (But you might find a really choice rock.)
People who do a good day's work seldom have to worry about getting a good night's sleep.
Contributed by Wayne Ehlers.
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PROGRAM PREVIEW - JULY 25th PROGRAM:
Silent Auction & Show & Tell.
We will have a Show & Tell for those who have been lucky enough to do some collecting. Please bring your finds to share with everyone.
Please bring items for the Silent Auction. They need not be rock or fossils, but can be. This is a fund raiser , so bring your pocket books and wallets too!
Kathryn Davis,
Program Chairperson.
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PROGRAM REVIEW - JUNE 27th PROGRAM.
Our presenter on the 27th of June was VGMS member, Ed Clark. Several years ago Ed was assigned to work in Washington, DC for several months. On a trip to the Smithsonian he noticed a door marked "Naturalist Center" and went to investigate. What he discovered was a center that would provide thin sections (less than one mm thick), a microscope and a polarized light source that a person could use to make photographs. Ed spent many hours there.
At the time he took the photographs, Ed was primarily interested in the aesthetic value. However, he did keep notes regarding what he was doing. The slides are beautiful. It is also interesting to observe the same section under different polarizations. As the light is changed the colors change. The results can be quite dramatic.
Seeing the minerals in this way is a whole new way of looking at them. There is so much to learn.
Kathryn Davis.
Editors Note: I have heard from several people that this was an excellent program and I am sorry I missed it. You will have to do it again Ed! That was the night of the person threatening to jump off the California Street Railroad Bridge and the backed up traffic all over town was unbelievable. Once I got home, I didn't have the stamina to leave again!!! I'm sure there were others that missed it for this reason as well.)
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IN MEMORIAM
--
HELMUT E. EHRENSPECK.
We were very sorry to hear of the passing of one of our newest members on July 1st, 2001. Helmut passed away in his sleep at Golden Trout Camp in the Sierra. He gave two very interesting programs for our club and a very interesting field trip to the Black Smoker at Figueroa Mountain. He enjoyed our club so much that he became a member. He was able to share his experiences in the Geological Sciences in such a way that everyone was able to understand it. You could sense how much he enjoyed his work. He was the guiding force behind the Dibblee Foundation and worked with Thomas Dibblee in editing and publishing geologic maps of Southern California. He was born in Andechs, Germany, south of Munich and immigrated to Boston in 1953. His interest in geology was sparked by a rock collection given to him at age 6 by an Uncle. In June of 2001 he was elected "Fellow" of the Department of Geological Sciences, UC Santa Barbara for his generous sharing of his vast knowledge of local and regional geology and natural history.
The memorial services will be held on Friday, July 27 at 6 p.m. at the Natural History Museum in Santa Barbara. He will be sorely missed by all.
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"When it hurts to look back,
and you're scared to look ahead,
you can look beside you,
and your best friend will be there."
---Unknown.
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
7-21-01 - VGMS Workshop - Museum from 9:00 to Noon.
7-21 & 22-01 Tri-Club Field Trip - Greenhorn Mountains for Rose Quartz.
7-25-01 - VGMS Regular Meeting - 7:30 pm - The Lexington, Bijou Room - Silent Auction & Show & Tell.
7-27, 28, 29-01 - Take Entries to Fairgrounds.
8-1 thru 12-01 - Ventura County Fair.
8-2-01 - VGMS Board Meeting - 7:30 pm - At the Museum. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.
8-10-01 - DEADLINE FOR AUGUST BULLETIN - Articles to the Editor!
8-18-01 - VGMS Workshop - Museum from 9:00 to Noon & Museum Clean Up Party.
8-22-01 - VGMS Regular Meeting - 7:30 pm - The Lexington, Bijou Room.
9-9 thru 16-01 - CFMS Earth Science Studies - Camp Paradise - (Class is Full!).
12-12-01 - VGMS Christmas Party.
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CHIPS & BOULDERS.
Ventura County Fair is THIS MONTH - Hope you have your cases and/or single entries ready. The Fair is August 1st through the 12th. Your entries may be brought in on Friday, Saturday or Sunday - July 27, 28 or 29th to the Gem & Mineral Building at the Fairgrounds. Bob Stultz, a member of the Conejo Gem & Mineral Club, is the Gem & Mineral Superintendent and is assisted by our own Ray Meisenheimer. You can get Fair Entry Guides from Ray Meisenheimer or Red Jioras who had some at the June meeting. They are at several places about town as well. Everyone who can should put in a case and if you don't feel you have enough material to fill a case, there are many categories for single items. We all love blue ribbons! VOLUNTEERS ARE ALSO NEEDED TO HELP AT THE FAIR.
July Host and Hostess will be Jim & Nancy Brace-Thompson - Nancy Jioras has volunteered for August. Be thinking about Sept., Oct. and Nov!! Give Sharon Cunningham a call with the month you choose. Thanks to those that have stepped up to the plate, so to speak!
Our Hostess with the Mostest says - to mark December 12 on your calendars for a GREAT Christmas Party. Good food, great friends, fun evening. Looking forward to everyone's company! - Sharon Cunningham.
VGMS Workshop will be held on July 21 and August 18, 9:00 to Noon. They will be held on the 3rd Saturday of the month unless notified otherwise. Shop Supervisors are: Ron Wise (805) 647-4393, Greg Davis (805) 647-9214 & Red Jioras (805) 646-7184. We need to thank these Supervisors for giving us this opportunity to work our material. It is there for your use, take advantage of it.
Museum Clean-Up Party August 18th - Several of our fossils are on loan to the California Oil Museum in Santa Paula for their "Fearsome Fossils" exhibit. These will be returned in October and in order to have a nice clean habitat for them when they come back there will be a Clean-Up party in conjunction with the work shop on August 18th. There will be more information about this at the next meeting, but keep the date free for a little sprucing up!
Speaking of the California Oil Museum - Steve Mulqueen and Dave Mautz have prepared a "Rock of the Month" case that is on display as well as the "Fearsome Fossils" exhibit. They have entered a display of "Trilobites - Older than the Dinosaurs". Trilobites are a group of extinct marine arthropods which belong to the class Trilobita. They are preserved as fossils, characterized by their three-lobed exoskeleton. The trilobites first appeared during the early Cambrian period (approx. 575 million years ago). They evolved into hundreds of species during a span of a few hundred million years and became extinct during the middle Permian period (approx. 235 million years ago). All fossil trilobites are "older than the dinosaurs", becoming extinct several million years before the first dinosaurs appeared on the earth. Thanks Steve and Dave. - Further on in the bulletin there are two interesting articles on Trilobites. Be sure and read about the interesting little "old guys".
New By-Laws and Operating Regulations to be distributed at July 25th meeting - one copy per family. Be sure to pick yours up as it will save some postage. For those unable to attend we will mail your copy.
Cloud's Jamboree, a part of the Quartzsite show has moved - The show will be held at the Avi Resort & Casino, Laughlin, NV Friday, January 4, 2002 thru Sunday, February 3, 2002. Full hook-up 24' x 36' spaces and eleven miles of free RV dry camp parking. We will have copies of the announcement and other information at the next meeting.
Bulletin e-mail - It would be helpful when you e-mail information or articles for the bulletin if you could start the subject with "VGMS (space)". This will help Jim to sort them and hopefully not miss any! E-mails work great as we can just roll the information over and don't have to re-type it, so keep them coming!!
Check Your 2001 Show Donation Award Ticket - 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.
Country Store & Plant Booth - It's never too early to start collecting items for the country store and start new plants for our March 2002 show. Don't wait until the last minute and then have to rush through it! Do it now and when you get a box full, call Shirley Layton 642-2683 for pick up or bring it to a meeting or the museum. Then start a new box!!! Everyone loves the plants for sale at our show, so let's not disappoint them and get some lovely ones in the works.
Table of Contents.
AUGUST BIRTHDAYS.
Happy Birthday to all those born in August. 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!
August -Happy Birthday!!
- Floy Myers - 2nd,
- Ed Clark - 12th,
- Marie Haake - 14th,
- William Hohense - 24th,
- John Stash - 24th,
- Shirley Bromser - 25th,
- Melvin Hixson - 26th,
- Chloe Baer - 27th,
- Jeff Heath - 30th.
The August birthstone is the Peridot and the flower is the Gladiolus.
PERIDOT, the gemstone variety of olivine:
VARIETY OF: Olivine, (Mg,Fe)2SiO4.
USES: gemstone.
BIRTHSTONE FOR: August.
COLOR: various shades of green.
INDEX OF REFRACTION: 1.630 - 1.695.
BIREFRINGENCE: 0.037.
HARDNESS: 6.5 - 7.
CLEAVAGE: none.
CRYSTAL SYSTEM: orthorhombic.
Peridot is the gem variety of olivine, a mineral series between two end minerals: forsterite, Mg2SiO4, and fayalite, Fe2SiO4. Peridot, although a mixture of magnesium and iron, is usually closer to forsterite than fayalite in composition. The green of peridot is of a different shade than emerald and is unfortunately considered a "poor man's emerald". There is a lot of confusion over the pronunciation of peridot. It is actually pronounced pear-a-doe instead of pear-a-dot. Gem quality peridot comes from islands in the Red Sea, Burma, Norway, Arizona, Hawaii and in some meteorites. It has been mined as a gemstone for thousands of years, and is mentioned in the Bible under the name of Chrysolite. Historical legend has it that peridot was the favorite gemstone of Cleopatra.
Copyright 1995 by Amethyst Galleries, Inc.
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HOSPITALITY.
Our June meeting saw 23 members, 1 pebble pup and two guests in attendance. The guests were Darwin Base and George Yago and the pebble pup was Aaron Base. Welcome to our guests and pebble pup and hope you all will come again. David Mautz had his usual good door prizes, one for guests, one for pebble pups, one for member with their name tag on and several for general drawings. He has great prizes and since I wasn't there I'm not able to share who the lucky winners were, but they know!! Sharlyne Holloway is our hospitality person and does a great job.
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THE NEW SCHOOL PRAYER.
Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule.
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.
If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the bill of rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.
Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense, it's a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise,
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.
For praying in a public hall,
Might offend someone with no faith at all.
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.
We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible,
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.
We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the "unwed daddy," our Senior King.
It's "inappropriate" to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such "judgements" do not belong.
We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.
It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the schools a mess.
So Lord, this silent plea I make,
Should I be shot, my soul please take! Amen.
From The Petrified Log,
05/01.
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VGMS MINUTES.
Minutes of the VGMS Regular Meeting - June 27, 2001;
The regular monthly meeting of the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society was called to order by President Greg Davis at 7:40p.m. on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 in the Bijou room of the Lexington, 5440 Ralston, Ventura, CA. The group was led in the salute to the flag.
The May regular meeting and board meeting minutes were m/s/p as shown in the Bulletin.
Guests were introduced and welcomed to the meeting.
The program was "Thin Section and Fluorescent Mineral Slide Show" by our own member, Ed Clark.
Ron Wise, Vice President for Field Trips: There is a field trip to the Greenhorn Mountains on 7/21-22/01. Maps are on the back table. The Ventura County Fair will be the field trip for August. There are some tri-club field trips coming up. On September 1-3 to Gabbs, Nevada and in October 13-14 to Trona or McKittrick. The Himalayan mine near San Diego allows tourmaline digs for a fee. Contact Ron if you are interested.
Kathryn Davis, Program Chairperson, needs a speaker for July.
Jim Brace-Thompson, Show Chairperson, needs an exhibitor chairperson. If anyone is interested, please call Jim at 659-3577.
Ray & Florence Meisenheimer went to the California Federation Show in Paso Robles and sold minerals for the federation endowment fund.
Steve Mulqueen said that the Santa Paul Oil Museum will be presenting their "Fearsome Fossils: Predators from the Past" on Sunday July 1 with a reception. The exhibit will be on display until August.
Wayne Ehlers brought in Nebraska Prairie Agate for anyone interested in a specimen.
Steve Mulqueen just returned from a collecting trip to Carmel Valley and brought back some crabs.
Greg Davis showed off the award given to Richard Bromser by the California Federation. Greg will present it to Richard at the board meeting.
The 2002 California Federation show will be in Placerville on July 10-12, 2002.
The next board meeting will be on July 5, 2001 at 7:30pm at the museum. Everyone is welcome to attend. The 2nd Saturday of every month is generally for field trips and the 3rd Saturday of every month the workshop at the clubhouse is open from 9am to 12pm.
The Ventura County Fair entries are due on July 27, 28 & 29, 2001.
That was the end of the business part of the meeting. David Mautz then conducted the drawings.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 pm.
The next meeting will be held on July 25, 2001, at 7:30p.m., at the Lexington.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Brace-Thompson, Secretary.
Minutes of VGMS Board Meeting - July 5, 2001;
The regular board meeting of the VGMS was called to order by President Greg Davis at 7:35 p.m. on Thursday, July 5th, 2001 at the VGMS museum, 5019 Crooked Palm Rd., Ventura, Ca.
Present: Greg Davis, Richard Bromser, Dave Mautz, Steve Mulqueen, Ron Wise, Ray & Florence Meisenheimer and Shirley Layton.
Steve Mulqueen first announced the sudden passing of club member Helmut Ehrenspeck on June 30th. No information on services was available.
Florence Meisenheimer: CFMS Earth Science Studies at Camp Paradise in Sept. is now full. Fred Ott suggested a single sign in sheet for field trips as opposed to individual sheets which created a lot of paper work for field trip leaders. Tax regulations for non profit status (501.c.3) was reiterated by tax advisor Mike Kokinos, followed by a motion that the annual Christmas party be paid for in full by attending club members.
Richard Bromser: Printed by-laws will be distributed at the next regular meeting. The treasurers report for the month of June was m/s/p with checks 817-822 used for utilities. Christmas party will be at Carrows on Seaward and Harbor, Dec. 12th at 6:30 p.m.
Shirley Layton: Donated her CFMS Editors Award for the Rockhound Rambling bulletin to the VGMS museum. Membership form is now on our web site.
Steve Mulqueen: Noted the "Fearsome Fossils: Predators from the Past" will continue thru October at the California Oil Museum in Santa Paula. Saturday, August 18th is set for the museum and yard clean up.
Ray Meisenheimer: Help with the County Fair is always needed - see Ray. A sign up sheet is available for staffing during the fair and of course clean up on Monday, Aug. 13th. Please offer to assist with the fair duties. Even if it's only a couple of hours, it's very much appreciated. Ray also needs to know how many cases and specimens are being entered, so if you can possibly get word to him prior to the fair, that would help too.
Greg Davis: So. Cal. Edison is scheduled to pick up the surplus refrigerator Tues., July 10th. Purchase of a 10 inch saw blade for the shop has been postponed due to the fact that both of the shop's 10 inch saw blades are in need of replacement and further study will be done on best prices. No decision has been made on purchase of a blade for the newly acquired 14 inch shop saw.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:45.
Respectfully submitted - Greg Davis.
Table of Contents.
An open mind is not the same as a vacant mind.
Norm Howe.
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A WOMAN'S LOOK IN THE MIRROR.
Age 3 -- Looks at herself and sees a Queen.
Age 8 -- Looks at herself and sees herself as Cinderella/Sleeping Beauty.
Age 15 -- Looks at herself and sees Cinderella/Sleeping Beauty/Cheerleader or if she is PMSing sees Fat/Pimples/UGLY (Mom I can't go to school looking like this.).
Age 20 -- Looks at herself and sees "too fat/too thin, too short/too tall, too straight/too curly" - but decides to go anyway.
Age 30 -- Looks at herself and sees "too fat/too thin, too short/too tall, too straight/too curly" - but decides she doesn't have time to fix it, she's going anyway.
Age 40 -- Looks at herself and sees "too fat/too thin, too short/too tall, too straight/too curly" - but says, "At least I'm clean" and goes anyway.
Age 50 -- Looks at herself and sees "I am" and goes wherever she wants to go.
Age 60 -- Looks at herself and reminds herself of all the people who can't even see themselves in the mirror anymore. Goes out and conquers the world.
Age 70 -- Looks at herself and sees wisdom, laughter and ability, goes out and enjoys life.
Age 80 -- Doesn't bother to look. Just puts on a purple hat and goes out to have fun with the world.
Maybe we should all grab that purple hat a little earlier! The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows.
YOU ARE A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN.
So grab that purple hat and have a great day ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Contributed by Florence Meisenheimer.
Table of Contents.
TRI-CLUB FIELD TRIP,
July 21 & 22, 2001,
Trip leader Miriam Tetreault.
This field trip is to the Greenhorn Mountains near Lake Isabella. We will be hunting, digging for rose quartz. The drive is estimated to be four hours by car. Maps were provided at the June 27th meeting. If you didn't get one, call Ron Wise.
Table of Contents.
TRI-CLUB FIELDTRIP SCHEDULE - 2001.
This is the Tentative schedule for the remainder of 2001. Any changes that are made will be announced in the bulletin.
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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PUBLIC LANDS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT
To The
Officers & Directors
of the
CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF
MINERALOGICAL SOCIETIES,
June 23, 2001.
As reported in the June CFMS Newsletter, the public meetings for the NECO Plan were held in April and early May. The public meetings for the NEMO Plan were held June 4th through 14th. A public meeting to discuss motorized vehicle access routes proposed in the upcoming West Mojave Plan was held in Lancaster on June 11th.
The written comment deadline for the NECO plan was extended to July 9th, 2001 (ED: Now to November). At present, the proposed deadline for the NEMO plan is July 31st, 2001. BLM anticipates that the Draft EIS on the West Mojave Plan will be available for distribution in the spring of 2002.
As has happened in the past, the notices of upcoming meetings cut the lead time so short we have not been able to notify CFMS member societies of the meeting dates through the newsletter. We phoned various PLAC members and CFMS societies near the planned meeting sites in order to assure representation at the meetings.
We complained about the lack of lead time. We were informed that the norm is two weeks lead time which makes it difficult to notify potential attendees. The last notice received on the West Mojave Plan meeting was dated the same day as the meeting.
What can we expect when the plans are completed? Frankly, it is difficult to predict as we get different messages from different people. This is the reason it is imperative that we all get involved in attending these, and future, meetings and offering both verbal and written comments.
We (PLAC) again recommend that each club or society appoint or select someone to represent your group in working with the various governmental agencies in the planning process. (If you don't already have someone.)
If you do select someone to represent your society please let the PLAC Chairman know so they can receive assistance in getting on the mailing lists of the various agencies that have management responsibilities on lands available for public use.
Word was just received today, June 16th, that U S Senate Bill S-1011 has been introduced which could result in fees for use of all public lands.
National Parks and National Monuments charge fees. Some National Forests charge fees now. BLM Long Term Visitor Areas charge $100.00 for winter camping in the Southwest United States. The Imperial Sand Dunes charge $30.00 per year or $10.00 for 7 days for camping.
Most Rockhounds are opposed to fees. Unfortunately, we probably will have fees in the future. We must get involved to assure that fees are reasonable and that the enforcement regulations will not be unbearable.
We hope to have additional information by the time of our meeting so we can try to get our Congressmen and Senators involved in the legislation to assure we are heard.
Please get your society involved in the various planning activities if they are not already doing so. Once the management plan is completed, it is too late. We (PLAC) thank you for your help.
Jim Strain, Chairman.
VARIOUS BLM MANAGEMENT PLANS,
Written Comment Deadlines
And
Mailing Addresses.
Northern and Eastern Colorado Desert Coordinated Management Plan - NECO:
5.5 million acres in Imperial, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.
Bureau of Land Management,
Attn: Lead, Northern & Eastern Colorado Desert Plan,
6221 Box Springs Boulevard,
Riverside, California 92507.
Deadline: July 9, 2001 (Extended to November),
(2nd Extension),
Dick Crowe,
(909) 697-5216.
Northern and Eastern Mojave Desert Coordinated Management Plan - NEMO:
2.4 million acres in San Bernardino and Inyo Counties.
Bureau of Land Management,
Attn: Lead, Northern & Eastern Mojave Desert Plan,
2601 Barstow Road,
Barstow, California 92311.
Deadline: July 31, 2001,
Edy Seehafer,
(760) 252-6021.
Off Highway Vehicle Route Network for Public Lands North of Barstow:
A Public Meeting is scheduled for June 27, 2001 in the Barstow Field Office, 2601 Barstow Road, Barstow, California. Hours will be: 2:00 P.M. thru 8:00 P.M.
Information gathered at this meeting will be used in the basic planning and will result in a proposed network. That network will be discussed at public meetings to be scheduled in late summer and fall of 2001. After these meetings are completed the information will be used to produce a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the West Mojave Plan which will be reviewed at additional public meetings late in 2001.
Comments on the Superior Region must be submitted in writing by Wednesday, August 15, 2001.
Bureau of Land Management,
Attn: West Mojave Planning Team,
6221 Box Springs Boulevard,
Riverside, California 92507.
West Mojave Team,
(909) 697-5294.
Although no total acreage is listed on the West Mojave Plan letter, it appears to be larger than the NECO Plan which is 5.5 million acres.
Please use this list to assist your public lands representative get on the various mailing lists. If you do not have someone on the mailing or notification lists, you probably will not have time to assure representation at the planning meetings.
Florence Meisenheimer, CFMS Chairperson.
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CFMS SHOW & CONVENTION IN PASO ROBLES,
June 22, 23, 24.
On Insurance Fred Ott suggested that instead of each member signing a separate waiver, the clubs use a waiver under a plastic sheet and each person sign a sign-in sheet attesting he or she has read the form under plastic and agrees to the waiver.
An ad hoc committee has been formed, consisting of Ruth Bailey, Ray Meisenheimer, Mike Kokinos, and Bob Stultz to let clubs who plan CFMS shows know what projects are available to them.
Among the 10 clubs and societies who are delinquent or disbanded are San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Tehachapi Valley.
Jim Strain, Public Lands Advisor to CFMS, reported there soon will be no open land if we do not take action. He suggested that each club or society appoint one of their club members to represent the group in working with various government agencies. Let PLAC know who is selected, so they will get on the mailing lists of various agencies that have management responsibilities on lands for public use. U.S. Senate bill S-1011 has been introduced which could result in fees for use of all public lands. The situation has become so serious that AFMS (American Federation) has donated $2000.00 to ALAA (American Lands Access Association) to assist in keeping a few collecting areas open. We MUST get involved to assure that fees are reasonable and regulations not unbearable.
Future CFMS Shows:
2002 - Placerville July 12, 13, 14 hosted by El Dorado Club;
2003 - Ventura Fairgrounds first week end in July, hosted by Del Air Rockhounds.
The Earth Science Studies at Camp Paradise is filled. The committee will be reporting on ZZYZX in October or November.
The show was a very good show with some really outstanding exhibits. The attendance was good, but not overwhelming. There were only 25 competitive exhibits, with youths from Goddard School in San Dimas taking most of the awards.
Florence Meisenheimer, CFMS Chairperson.
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TAX ADVISOR REPORT,
JUNE 23, 2001.
This report covers the period ending May 10, 2001.
Work in Process:
Preparing to apply for change of Federal and California tax exemption for one Society.
Preparing to apply for change of Federal exemption for one Society.
Assisting one Society to dissolve.
Property Tax Exemption:
California law provides for exemption from real property taxes for organizations exempt under California Revenue and Taxation Code section 23701d and Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3). To be exempt, the property must not be used for unrelated business activities.
If your Society has the proper exemption and pays property taxes, contact the Tax Assessor where the property is located. The Assessor will provide the necessary forms to apply for the exemption. In addition, refunds of at least one year's tax may be available.
If your Society uses a county fairgrounds for the annual exhibition and is charged a possessory interest property tax, it might be advantageous to apply for the above mentioned tax exemption. I will be happy to provide more information to any Society.
Use of Society Funds:
During the years I have been furnishing tax advise to Societies, I have noticed instances where members are provided benefits not available to the general public. The classic example is the Christmas Dinner where members are charged less or not charged for their meal but guests pay full price. The Internal Revenue Service refused to give one of our Societies retroactive exemption as they charged members less than guests for a Christmas Dinner.
Another area that can be troublesome involves members of a Society that assume all funds on hand were earned by the membership and should be spent for them. Tax exemption is granted with the belief that the organization will use its funds to advance the Earth Sciences and perpetuate knowledge of the lapidary arts. Funds expended solely for the benefit of members can result in loss of the tax exempt status. The Federal tax from such a determination might be nominal but for California it will result in payment of the minimum tax ($800.00) per year for four years. In addition to the tax consequence, the California Registry of Charitable Trusts (part of the Attorney General's Office) could seek to recover funds not deemed to be spent for the purposes for which the organization was formed.
Registry of Charitable Trusts:
My experience has been that a substantial number of our Societies are not included in the Registry's database. However, that does not excuse them from filing Form RRF-1 each year. I previously provided information on the web address for the Attorney General. The RRF-1 Form is available at that site. In addition, a Form is available that can be used to get added to their database.
Mike Kokinos, Tax Advisor,
Contributed by Florence Meisenheimer,
CFMS Chairperson.
Table of Contents.
WHERE THE GEMS ARE.
Technique adds new facet to emeralds' origins;
The brilliant, deep-blue-green emeralds that come from the mines of Colombia outshine their Austrian and Zambian cousins in both beauty and value. For an emerald, a Colombian pedigree confers not only spectacular color but also eye-popping prices. Both historians and gem dealers have a stake in figuring out an emerald's origins.
Now, researchers in France have found a novel way to track down the birth records of these precious stones. By measuring the ratio of two different isotopes of oxygen in the gems, they can pinpoint an emerald's source-down to the exact mine. Combined with traditional gemology techniques, the oxygen-isotope analysis could bring new insights to the history and formation of these coveted gems.
Emeralds are a kind of beryl-beryllium aluminum silicate with a dash of chromium, which produces the characteristic green. The primary method of distinguishing one emerald from another is by looking at the gem's inclusions, microscopic cavities within the crystal. If the inclusions contain gas, liquid, and solid components, says Fred Ward, a gemologist, author, and photographer from Bethesda, Md., "you're 99 percent sure it's a Colombian emerald."
Emeralds of excellent quality, however, don't have many inclusions, often making it hard to settle disputes over sources.
A team of scientists led by Gaston Giuliani of the Petrographic and Geochemical Research Center in Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France, discovered several years ago that emeralds from different mines possess unique isotopic signatures. "There was a big difference in the data between the oxygen isotopes of [emeralds from] Brazil and Colombia," says Giuliani. "This was a result of the different geology of the two sites."
The researchers systematically catalogued the isotopic ratios of emeralds collected from different mines around the world. Using this information, they analyzed the origins of nine emeralds of historical interest. In the Jan. 28 SCIENCE, they report that they were able to confirm the sources of many of the gems and learn some surprising things about them as well.
The test uses an instrument called an ion microprobe, which blasts a few atoms from the gem's surface. The damage is far too small to be detectable.
Four of the emeralds belong to the treasury of the Nizam of Hyderabad in India. According to folklore, the gems had been unearthed from long-lost Indian mines. The oxygen-isotope analysis revealed that three of the emeralds came from Colombia---each from a different mine---and one originated in Afghanistan.
The tests "forever put to rest a nagging historical problem," says Ward. He once had the opportunity to examine some of the Nizam emeralds, and to his trained eye, their rich blue-green color gave away their Colombian origins. Still, experts disagreed.
"Now, someone can come in with an instrument and say, 'They're Colombian,' no matter what the lore is," he concludes.
The ability to distinguish Colombian emeralds from Afghani ones is interesting, says Jeffrey E. Post, curator of the National Gem and Mineral Collection at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. "Trade from Afghanistan previously has not been well documented.... It shows that we have to be much more open to sources."
Giuliani and his colleagues also examined four emeralds belonging to France's National Museum of Natural History in Paris. One, the oldest dated jewel analyzed by the group, is set in a Gallo-Roman earring. A second, 51.5-carat emerald was mounted in the Holy Crown of France by Louis IX in the 13th century. The other two emeralds once belonged to the 18th-century French mineralogist Rene Just Hauy.
The isotopic ratio for the earring gem showed that it came from Pakistan, which lay along the ancient Silk Road trade route. The analysis of the emerald in the Holy Crown confirmed gemological work pointing to its Austrian origin. Hauy's two stones came from Austria and Egypt.
The ninth emerald studied by the researchers belongs to the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Society in Key West, Fla. It was one of 2,300 stones recovered from the wreck of a Spanish galleon, the Nuestra Senora de Atocha, which sank off the coast of Florida in 1622. According to Giuliani and his team, the gem is without doubt from the Tequendama mine in Colombia.
Though powerful, the technique is best used in combination with standard gemological analysis, says Giuliani. Post adds, "Not every gemologist will have an ion microprobe at his disposal, but it's nice to know the tool is there."
The oxygen-isotope technique might be able to ferret out stones that have been touched up with epoxy or treated with heat or radiation to brighten their color, says Post. Also, it could significantly affect the market for emeralds, says Ward, since collectors pay top dollar for stones that come from desirable sources. It's clear that scientists won't be the only ones seeing green.
Via the Internet.
Table of Contents.
SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.
FEARSOME FOSSILS,
PREDATORS FROM THE PAST!
The extraordinary world of ancient predators comes alive in this new exhibit of fossils and fossil reproductions.
A complete skeleton of the great predator of the Ice Age, Smilodon, the saber-tooth tiger, is a highlight of the display. Skulls of other Pleistocene predators such as the Dire Wolf, the American Lion and the Short-faced Bear, and skulls of prey animals like the Giant Ground Sloth are exhibited. These now-extinct animals once roamed throughout California.
Stepping back millions of years in time, fossils of Tyrannosaurus, Stegosaurus, Triceratops, other dinosaurs and marine reptiles introduce more residents of long ago. Skulls, jaws, claws, ribs, femurs, tail spikes and spine plates illustrate the great size and amazing presence of these denizens of the Age of Dinosaurs.
Dioramic backgrounds bring these amazing creatures to life. Inter-active activities invite visitors to test their knowledge of fossils, dinosaurs, and the world they lived in. This is an exhibit for the whole family, so be sure to bring the kids!
Smilodon loaned by the George C. Page Museum,
Fossils loaned by the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society,
Exhibit created by Sespe Group - Creative Services.
California Oil Museum via Steve Mulqueen.
Table of Contents.
My world is a reflection of my attitude.
- Unknown.
Table of Contents.
TRILOBITE MYSTERIES:
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The trilobites are among the oldest of the metazoans (multicellular animals with differentiated tissues and organs). In fact, they are the oldest with complex sensory organs, e.g., compound eyes, jointed feet, antennae, etc. They were incredibly complex organisms for being the earliest, with a brain, nervous system, digestive tract, muscular system, etc. This, in itself, is astounding, but when combined with the fact that they have had no known evolutionary predecessors, it becomes one of prehistory's greatest mysteries. Trilobites were strictly marine animals that first occurred at the base of the Cambrian and became a part of what is called the "Cambrian explosion", an apparent diversification of life that knows no comparison with any period since then. Until fairly recently, it was thought that trilobites were among the very first fossils, since no undisputed forms were known in the Precambrian. Today, a wide variety of simple plants and animals have been accepted as fossils in late Precambrian rocks - but, still nothing as complex as the trilobite. Scientists believe that they must have had a hidden period of evolution.
So, from where they came is still a mystery. Recently, soft-bodied trilobites were discovered in the Vendian (late Precambrian) period. This corroborates the trilobite tracks that have also been discovered from the Vendian to Early Cambrian eras (Crimes, in Lipps, 1992). It is probable that these predecessors were not often fossilized because of their lack of hard parts. Most animal fossils are a record of their hard parts, and the soft parts are rarely fossilized. This would account for the trilobite's "hidden evolution". There is no firm evidence for hard shelled animals prior to the Cambrian except for the polyps Cloudina and Sinotubulites. Hard shells were primarily a Cambrian development, which could mean that the "Cambrian explosion" is an artifact, since hard shells made fossilization much more possible, and soft-bodied forms are rarely preserved in any period.
The Vendian trilobite discovery could have important repercussions for theories of evolution. Stephen Jay Gould has proposed the "punctuated equilibrium" theory to replace the older model of uniformitarianism, a gradual evolution over long periods. Gould contended that because the occurrences of soft-bodied fossils from the Vendian (Ediacara) period contained no record of trilobites and other Paleozoic rnetazoan ancestors, and that because they are of worldwide distribution (i.e., not just a fluke), they do not support the model of uniformitarianism. Further, he stated that "The beginning of the Cambrian is not marked by the appearance of trilobites" (Gould, 1989, p.59). He cited the Tommotian of Russia as containing earlier Cambrian fossils with hard, shelly parts, but no trilobites, which he assumed did not appear until later. He then used this to support his model of the "Cambrian explosion". It seems that these statements will have to be revised in light of the recent evidence of trilobites from pre-Tommotian times. The Vendian precedes the Tommotian of the Lower Cambrian and is considered to be Late Precambrian. Thus, the tiny Tommotian fauna, were not "later supplanted by trilobites and their cohort in the final pulse of the Cambrian explosion," as Gould stated. It should be remembered that fossilized soft-bodied creatures are still a very rare occurrence compared with other types of fossils. The evidence suggests that non-shelled trilobites lived in the Precambrian and developed hard shells at the beginning of the Cambrian, and therefore became more capable of fossilization at that time. This, in turn, suggests that the "Cambrian explosion" is an artifact, at least with respect to the trilobites.
Other mysteries pertain to the trilobite's own evolution. The early, Cambrian forms were elegant and beautifully simple in structure. Far from looking embattled, these species give the impression of a free and easy life. They are the most abundant and dominant fossils from the Cambrian period. But, they must have encountered growing competition to have had to develop the increasingly specialized forms that came later. By the Devonian some of them became quite bizarre, with complex spines, antlers, and other armor that were probably meant for defense.
One of the most amazing specialized developments was the trilobite's compound, schizoehroal eye. Its structure is different from the holochroal eye, which is common among the insects, other arthropods, and early trilobites. The schizochroal eye is unique to trilobites of the suborder Phacopina (Levi-Setti, 1993). Each lens is separately encased and each is covered by its own cornea. Further, every lens was made of calcite, a birefringent crystal of calcium carbonate (It bends light in two different directions). It would seem to be an unsuitable material to focus images in the trilobite's environment. But, each crystal was aligned in exactly the right way to avoid a double image. Even more astonishing, the trilobite developed a compound lens that corrected spherical aberrations, a doublet lens of two materials cemented along a bowl-shaped dividing line. This type of lens wasn't known to man until Descartes and Huygens described it in the seventeenth century. The trilobites developed it a half a billion years earlier! The compound, doublet lens is still used for correcting optics today. But, in the animal kingdom, it became extinct with the trilobites.
In spite of these marvelous developments, the trilobite's inevitable, long decline was only prolonged during the Carboniferous period. Their antlers and spines disappeared, and they reverted to simple forms again. It seems that the specialist trilobites had become over specialized, no longer able to adapt to the changes that were taking place around them, threatening their existence. One can easily imagine this happening to humans today. They were no longer the graceful, large forms found in the Cambrian, nor were they the elaborately ornamented shapes of the Devonian, but plain, small, and defensive, declining in number and in function.
Trilobites, an entire class of animals in the largest phylum of animals on earth, the arthropods, became extinct by the end of the Permian. They had wandered the world for approximately 300 million years and developed about 1500 genera and over 10,000 species. There are no Triassic trilobites, and there have been none since. They left the world as mysteriously as they came. What caused their extinction is their final mystery. Some believe that a huge asteroid collided with the earth at the end of the Permian, resulting in the greatest mass extinction known in the Earth's history, much greater than the collision that is believed to have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs. But, evidence of this collision has not been found. Others believe that deteriorating environmental conditions caused this massive extinction. Whatever the cause, estimates are that as high as 96% of all species were obliterated at the end of the Permian, never to be seen again. We know, however, that the trilobites were dying out during the Permian, and an asteroid collision may have just been the final blow.
By Larry Solomon (taken from"Trilobites of Morocco" article)
from Fossil News, Journal of Amateur Paleontology, August 1996.
Table of Contents.
FAKE TRILOBITES
by Larry Solomon.
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The last decade or two has been a trilobite paradise for collectors, primarily because of the wealth of beautiful, nearly perfect specimens that have come out of the Anti-Atlas mountains in Morocco. These fossils are being mined by hundreds of Moroccans in the hope of raising money for their families, and, unfortunately, a few have become a trilobite mafia, creating fake trilobites by the thousands, and selling them as the real thing. As the real fossils dwindle in number, the fossil entrepreneurs have decided to boost their incomes by manufacturing fakes. The finer specimens are becoming increasingly difficult to acquire, and as the skill for creating fakes escalates, it becomes more and more difficult to tell real from fake.
There are many more fake Moroccan trilobites on the market than real ones. They are being mass produced on location by merchants who are interested only in profit. Furthermore, unscrupulous fossil retailers are buying them, knowing that they are fake, because they, too, are only interested in profiteering. They seem to have no qualms about selling them to their trusting customers.
The entrepreneurs have literally created trilobite factories in Rissani and Erfoud where fake matrices are made with ground rock from nearby outcrops and a plastic resin. These matrices are cast into saucers that are about one inch thick and anywhere from a few inches to over a foot in diameter. Sometimes real rock slabs are used. Using a real specimen to make a mold, a fossil is cast with rock dust and the plastic resin and is then placed on top of the matrix. Finally, the "fossil" is painted and the matrix is pounded with a hammer and nail over its surface, making dots that cover up any signs of the casting, mending, or fixing. Many specimens have been made up of groups of trilobites on a single rock, creating a spectacular looking assembly, but one that is impossible, since the species occur in entirely different eras or rock formations. It use to be fairly easy to tell the fakes, but no more! Even experts can be fooled.
The forgers have become quite skilled at reproducing these fossils. The fakes are no longer just plaster or plastic casts. As mentioned, the actual rock at the location is being ground up and mixed with a cement that, when cast, looks exactly like the original material, including the exact colors.
At the February 1996 Fossil and Mineral Show in Tucson, wholesalers were selling hundreds of complete specimens to retailers, most of which looked genuine. Could all these be real? They included dozens of foot-long Acadoparadoxides, scores of 5-6 inch Phacops, and as many horned and spiny trilobites, all complete. I approached one of the Moroccan suppliers who was dealing with a Japanese merchant, in English. There were large tables covered with the same species of spiny trilobite, many of which were in unbelievable groups, but all slightly different, and all complete and seemingly perfect. Even though I have been collecting and studying trilobites for more than thirty years, it was difficult to tell real from fake. A paleontologist friend who specialized in trilobites and who accompanied me, also could not tell. Catching the owner's attention, I boldly asked him, "Are these real or made up?" pointing to the specimen table. He hemmed and hawed, hedged and balked. I repeated my question, and he finally said, "I no speaka de Englise" and went back to his important transaction with the dealer who was clearly unconcerned and unshaken by my inquiry.
It was impossible to believe that so many hundreds of specimens could be genuine. Many of them were stretched out on tables with dozens of identical or nearly identical items. The forgers are trying to outfox buyers, as this year there were small differences in each specimen. Crafty retailers must have known that something was awry, but they bought them anyway, by the carloads, to sell to unsuspecting customers. Complete, perfect specimens were selling for impossibly low prices. The preparations, when properly done, are very time consuming, costly, and require expert, delicate work - work that the Moroccans don't or can't do. Instead they knock off the real spines, because they are too difficult to deal with, and reconstruct fake ones to replace them, which is much easier and less time consuming.
The more scrupulous dealers reacted differently. When I expressed an interest in an obvious fake to one, she immediately said that it was a cast and not a real fossil. I saw two different dealers who had the same unusual, but spectacular "trilobite" displayed for sale. It was apparently the same species, a large, awkward form, about seven inches long, with giant spines sticking straight up out of its body, in all directions, like an echinoid. It was centrally placed in glass and lit in a spectacular display cabinet with spotlights. The spines looked like toothpicks that had been stuck in its body to make up a preposterous, homespun trilobite. I had never seen anything like it. Since there was no labeling on this specimen, I asked the dealer for its name, site location, its age, and a price. After about twenty minutes, he came back with an age of Ordovician. The "order" he wrote was "Lididd", family "Lichidal", genus/species "Nileid, var, symphsurus", from the Draa Valley, Agdz, Morocco. There is no order "Lididd", but there is one named Lichida. And, there is no family "Lichidal", but there is a subfamily Lichinae. There is no genus Neleid, but there are Neleid types. However, a family Nileidae, genus symphysurina is listed in the Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology (Moore, 1959). None resembles the item that was displayed. The price was $3500.
It is interesting that the dealer seemed to know something about paleontological nomenclature. He would have had to in order to come up with such nearly correct names, and the age is correct for the Lichida. So, these people can hardly claim to be naive. The other dealer had a label of "Elvis" on the same "fossil". I didn't ask for details.
One of the dealers at the show was incensed at all the fakes, and displayed several of them next to his real specimens. He lectured everyone who would listen about how the fakes were constructed, having himself been to the Moroccan locations where he saw them being made. The Geology Department at the University of Arizona bought some of the specimens at the show, and to show that they were faked, they were gross sectioned with a saw, revealing several different rock types from different mountains which had been ground up and cemented together.
How do you know if you have a fake? Some of the older ones are obviously too smooth, too perfect, and actually look like reproductions, but many are not so obvious. Short of a cross section, you might be able to determine a fake by taking a torch to a piece of the matrix, since resins are generally flammable or melt. This can be done safely by clipping off a piece of the matrix. Or, you can try sticking a hot needle into the trilobite's skin. You shouldn't be able to do this in genuine rock, but a resin will exude a smell and smoke. Some of the false rock fluoresces, probably from the resin material. Remember that these fakes are made from real rock from the actual fossil locations - so they are the same weight, feel, smell, and texture of the real thing. If your specimen looks too good to be true (no cracks or imperfections of color, etc), it probably is.
My advice, if you are purchasing fossils of any kind, is to always ask if they are real or casts, demand documentation, the species, age and location. If the fossil is expensive, ask who prepared it, when and where, get the dealer to authorize its authenticity in writing, and insist on a written money-back guarantee of satisfaction. There are not many preparers who do a first-rate job with trilobites. Don't buy anything that you value if this information can't be provided. Always research your specimens and take a magnifier with you (it may help), and a professional paleontologist could also be a helpful companion. The abundance of fake fossils has created considerable suspicion and cynicism. Many are now reluctant to buy or trade anything for Moroccan material, and is it any wonder?
From Fossil News, Journal of Amateur Paleontology, August 1996.
Table of Contents.
"Do not save your loving speeches
For your friends till they are dead;
Do not write them on their tombstones,
Speak them rather now instead."
---Anna Cummings via Clay Brashears.
Table of Contents.
COURT TRANSCRIPTS.
These are from a book called Disorder in the Court. They are things people actually said in court, word for word, taken down and now published by court reporters who had the torment of staying calm while these exchanges were actually taking place.
Q: What is your date of birth? A: July fifteenth.
Q: What year? A: Every year.
Q: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact? A: Gucci sweats and Reeboks.
Q: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all? A: Yes.
Q: And in what ways does it affect your memory? A: I forget.
Q: You forget. Can you give us an example of something that you've forgotten?
Q: How old is your son, the one living with you? A: Thirty-eight or thirty-five, I can't remember which.
Q: How long has he lived with you? A: Forty-five years.
Q: What was the first thing your husband said to you when he woke up that morning? A: He said, 'Where am I, Cathy?'
Q: And why did that upset you? A: My name is Susan.
Q. Do you know if your daughter has ever been involved in voodoo or the occult? A: We both do.
Q: Voodoo? A: We do.
Q: You do? A: Yes, voodoo.
Q: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn't know about it until the next morning?
Q: The youngest son, the twenty-year old, how old is he?
Q: Mrs. Jamison, were you present when your picture was taken?
Q: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th? A: Yes.
Q: And what were you doing at that time?
Q: She had three children, right? A: Yes.
Q: How many were boys? A: None.
Q: Were there any girls?
Q: How was your first marriage terminated? A: By death.
Q: And by whose death was it terminated?
Q: Can you describe the individual? A: He was about medium height and had a beard.
Q: Was this individual a male, or a female?
Q: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice which I sent to your attorney? A: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.
Q: Doctor, how many autopsies have you performed on dead people? A: All of them, all my autopsies are usually performed on dead people.
Q: All your responses must be oral, OK? What school did you go to? A: Oral.
Q: Do you recall the time that you examined the body? A: The autopsy started around 8:30 p.m.
Q: And Mr. Dennington was dead at the time? A: No, he was sitting on the table wondering why I was doing an autopsy.
Q: Are you qualified to give a urine sample?
Q: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse? A: No.
Q: Did you check for blood pressure? A: No.
Q: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy? A: No.
Q: How can you be so sure, Doctor? A: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
Q: But could the patient have still been alive, never the less? A: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law somewhere.
Contributed by Clay Brashears.
Table of Contents.
HINTS & TIPS FOR ROCKHOUNDS
(Use at your own risk).
Shellac DOP Sticks - Treat wooden dop sticks with a light coat of shellac. This prevents the wood from absorbing water which will eventually crack the dop wax thus loosening the stone. - via Rocky Review June/July 1999.
Soak Soft Stones - When working with soft stones, such as alabaster, marble, onyx or petosky stone, soak the stone in water for a day or two before cutting in oil. The oil will not soak in and when polished, a better finish will result. - via Rocky Review June/July 1999.
Lapis Test - Hydrochloric acid is good for testing lapis lazuli. A drop of it on the blue stone (the backside) creates an odor of hydrogen sulphide (rotten eggs). On the white areas, it usually effervesces because the white is usually calcite. This test will distinguish lapis from sodalite or lazulite. - Mineral Matter via Rocky Review June/July 1999.
Untangle Chains - A fine chain necklace can be very frustrating when it knots. Put a drop of salad oil on a piece of waxed paper. Lay the knot in the oil and pick at it with two straight pins. It should come apart. - Back Benders Gazette via Rocky Review June/July 1999.
If you have some favorite tips or secrets and are willing to share, please send them to me. - Editor.
Table of Contents.
2001 CFMS CLUB SHOWS.
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.
AUGUST 18-19; SAN FRANCISCO, CA - San Francisco Gem & Mineral Society, Fort Mason Center, Herbst Pavillion, Laguna Street @ Maina Blvd. Hours: Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5. Ellen Nott ellennott@yahoo.com.
AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 1; FORT BRAGG, CA - Mendocino Coast Gem & Mineral Society, Town Hall; Main & Laurel. Hours: Fri. thru Sun. 10-6, Mon. 10-4. Don & Karen McDonell (707) 964-3116.
SEPTEMBER 29; LOS ALTOS, CA - Penninsula Gem & Mineral Society, Los Altos Rancho Shopping Center, Foothill Expressway & So. Springer Rd. Hours: 9:30 -4:45; (No Dealers). Frank Dina (650)967-3424.
SEPTEMBER 29-30, ANTIOCH, CA - Antioch Lapidary Club, Contra Costa County Fairgrounds, Tenth and "L" Streets, Antioch. Hours: 10-5 both days. David Zabaldano (925) 516-0651 davez@cctrap.com.
SEPTEMBER 29-30, DOWNEY, CA - The Delvers Gem and Mineral, Woman's Club of Downey, 9813 Paramount Blvd. Hours: Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4. Manfred Dexling (562) 425-0192.
SEPTEMBER 29-30, MONTEREY, CA - Carmel Valley Gem & Mineral Society, Monterey Fairgrounds, 2004 Fairgrounds Road. Hours: Sat.10-6, Sun. 10-5. Co-chairs: John Wills (831) 394-9099 jbmarsha@aol.com. Sky Paxton (831) 663-6978 paxtons@jps.net.
OCTOBER 3-7: JOSHUA TREE, CA - Sportsman's Club, Sportsman's Hall, 6225 Sunburst Avenue. Hours: Wed.-Sat. 8-5; Sun. 8-3. Gary Palmer (760) 366-3430.
OCTOBER 13-14; TRONA, CA - Searles Lake Gem & Mineral Society, 13337 Main Street. Hours: Sat. 8-5, Sun. 8-4. Bonnie Fairchild (760)372-5356. www1.iwvisp.com/tronagemclub/.
OCTOBER 13-14; TURLOCK, CA - Faceters Guild of Northern Calif., Inc. Stanislaus County Fairgrounds, 900 N. Broadway Street. Hours: Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4. Marion Roberts (209) 538-0197.
OCTOBER 20-21; PLACERVILLE, CA - El Dorado County Mineral & Gem, El Dorado County Fairgrounds, 100 Placerville Drive. Hours: 10-5 both days. Jackie Ceratto (530) 677-2975.
OCTOBER 20-21; ANDERSON, CA - Shasta Gem & Mineral Society of Redding, Shasta District Fairgrounds. Hours: 10-5 both days. Alex or Kelly Stoltz (530) 474-4400.
NOVEMBER 3-4; CONCORD, CA - Contra Mineral & Gem Society Centre Concord, 5298 Clayton Road. Hours: 10-5 daily. Sam Woolsey (925) 837-3287.
NOVEMBER 3-4; FONTANA, CA - Kaiser Rock & Gem Club, California Steel Ind., 9400 Cherry Ave. Hours 9-5 both days. JoAnn Watson (909) 355-7455. Interstate 10 to Cherry exit then North about one mile on left.
NOVEMBER 3-4; OXNARD, CA - Oxnard Gem & Mineral Society, 800 Hobson Way. Hours: Sat. 9-5, Sun 9-4."Gems for the Holidays" (Jingle Bell Rocks). Laura Grayson (805) 482-3052. Website: http://www.ogms.net, e-mail: webmaster@ogms.net.
NOVEMBER 24-25; BARSTOW, CA - Mojave Desert Gem & Mineral Society, Barstow Community Center, 841 S. Barstow Road. Hours: 10-5 both days. Bob Depue (760) 255-1030.
DECEMBER 1-2; SAN BERNARDINO, CA - Orange Belt Mineralogical Society, Corner of "E" Street & "31st" Street. Hours: Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5. Tony Gilham (909) 820-2122.
Table of Contents.
AMERICAN FEDERATION/REGIONAL
2001 SHOW SCHEDULE.
NORTHWEST FEDERATION,
August 20-September 1 - Enumclaw, WA.
MIDWEST FEDERATION,
September 7-9 - Rice Lake, WI.
SOUTHEAST FEDERATION,
November 2-4 - Pascagoula, MS.
Table of Contents.
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. It is a pleasure for me to put them in! 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.
Table of Contents.
SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.
EDUCATIONAL CORNER.
Definition of the Month - Edited by Steve Mulqueen.
Grubstake, including grubstake and grubstake contract.
Grubstake: Supplies furnished to a prospector on promise of a share in his discoveries. So called because the lender stakes or risks the grub (food), etc., so furnished.
Grubstake contract: An agreement between two or more persons to locate mines upon the public domain by their joint aid, effort, labor, or expense, and each is to acquire by virtue of the act of location such an interest in the mines as agreed upon in the contract.
Source: Fay, Albert H., "A Glossary of Mining and Mineral Industry", Bulletin 95, U.S. Dept. of Interior, Bureau of Mines, 1920.
The "Definition of the Month" will feature key words which are related to geology, paleontology, mining and desert history. Anyone who wishes to submit a word and definition for the bulletin, please see me.
Steve Mulqueen.
Illustration of the Month - Edited by Steve Mulqueen.
Gneissic rocks between the Lower Alps and the Lysthal, northern Italy (an engraving by Schlagintweit, 1888).
From: Prestwich, Joseph, "Geology; Chemical, Physical and Stratigraphical", Oxford (at the Clarendon Press), 1888.
The "Illustration of the Month" will feature a drawing, sketch, pen and ink rendering or an engraving print found in old books, maps and manuscripts related to geology, paleontology, mining history and / or desert history. Anyone who wishes to submit an illustration for the bulletin, please see me.
Steve Mulqueen.
Table of Contents.
SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.
VGMS PHOTO ALBUM.
2001 VGMS Show - Hospitality Center - Wayne Ehlers making announcements. L-R Jean Wise, Wayne Ehlers, Inez Shakman, Sharon Cunningham.
2001 VGMS Show - Hospitality Center - Inez Shakman supervising the drawing of the donation award winners.
2001 VGMS Show - The Hard Work of taking it all down! Ed Clark, Dave Mautz, Steve Mulqueen, and Bob Spjut.
2001 VGMS Show - Packing it all up! Greg Davis and Richard Bromser.
Table of Contents.
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