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The Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. (VGMS)
Rockhound Rambling
September 2001.
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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
Come join in the fun at our BBQ on Sunday, September 23rd. There'll be table space for show and tell if you'd care to bring that prize from the Gabbs trip, canopy shade to relax under for shop talk and there may even be games. Look for the club banner being displayed about mid-way thru the park and I hope to see you there.
Our regular club meeting for the month of November is sometimes rescheduled due to Thanksgiving but this year it will remain the fourth Wednesday at the Lexington and will include Board Member elections.
We once again have a functioning answer machine for the club museum/phone number, thanks to Richard Bromser who shopped for the best deal and purchased it. We hope not to miss any more inquiries from prospective members. While I'm at it, I'd like to thank Steve Mulqueen for another informative and much appreciated program during our Aug. 22nd meeting. Having an in-house geologist sure is convenient.
Arnie Rudman, President of the Conejo club, reported that 13 rockhounds participated in the Gabbs, Nevada, field trip which produced some colorful petrified wood. Another successful field trip this year co-sponsored by the Tri-Clubs of Ventura County.
Greg Davis - President.
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GOD BLESS AMERICA.
After the events of September 11, 2001 I am truly heartened by the way our fellow citizens have pulled together no matter their religious beliefs or their political beliefs. I pray that this support continues, as it is sorely needed in our country. I think our "Quote: The only thing necessary for EVIL to triumph is for all good men to do nothing." contributed by Steve Mulqueen in last month's bulletin was prophetic.
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WORDS TO LIVE BY.
He who plants trees benefits another generation.
Generosity is giving more than you can; pride is taking less than you need.
The right to do something does not mean that doing it is right.
You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist---Gandhi.
Contributed by Wayne Ehlers.
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VGMS PICNIC ANYONE? I CERTAINLY HOPE SO!!!
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Sunday - September 23, 2001.
Watch for the VGMS Banner at Arroyo Verde Park, at Foothill and Day Roads in Ventura. There is a $1.00 fee for parking.
Time: 11:00 am, Eat at noon.
To Bring: Chairs, eating utensils, drinks, meat or main dish for your family plus the following:
Last Name:
A-D - Salads.
E-M - Desserts.
N-Z - Appetizers.
Show & Tell items to be displayed. Table will be provided.
Activities: Fun & Fellowship and Kids Games.
There will be barbecue's lit for cooking your meats or whatever. Just a time to sit and visit, eat and be merry! Notice the ants on the cover coming to our picnic - You should too!! See you there.
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PROGRAM REVIEW OF AUGUST 22nd PROGRAM
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"Geothermal Energy from the Salton Trough."
Our own Steve Mulqueen presented this most informative program:
Geothermal energy is heat energy that can be extracted from the Earth's interior. One of the hottest places in the world is California's Imperial Valley where a vast deep reservoir of superheated water exists at temperatures between 360 and 600 degrees Fahrenheit.
Today, 15 geothermal power plants are now producing over 500 megawatts of electricity in the Imperial Valley. California leads the nation in the amount of electricity generated by geothermal energy. The rule of thumb for electrical power is 1,000 homes per megawatt so this would serve about 500,000 homes. Of course if they are all running their air conditioners during a hot spell, this number would be quite a bit lower. With the soaring cost of energy, it is nice to know Mother Nature is doing her part!
The Salton Sea Geothermal Field is the largest in the district. CalEnergy is building a zinc recovery process, which will use brine-processing procedures at this field to extract zinc metal. The process operates by diverting the injection stream to an ion-exchange unit containing resin beads similar to those used to soften water. The ion exchange unit strips away the zinc, which can be washed off the beads with water and collected. The process yields zinc that is 99.9 percent pure. Other mining procedures yield zinc with about 50 percent purity. Although Salton Sea brines contain mostly common salts, they also have minute amounts of nearly every element in the periodic table, from arsenic to zinc.
Steve had some slides that helped us to understand how these geothermal fields are formed. It was most interesting as were the handouts he provided. Thanks Steve.
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
9-23-01 - VGMS Annual Picnic - 11:00 am meet and eat at 12:00. Arroyo Verde Park.
9-26-01 - VGMS Regular Meeting - 7:30 pm The Lexington, Bijou Room.
9-27-01 - DEADLINE FOR OCTOBER BULLETIN - Articles to the Editor! (This is early, but we are going to be out of town, the bulletin may be a wee bit late, but will do our best!)
9-29-01 - TRI CLUB BOARD MEETING - 10:00 am The Lexington, Picadilly room.
10-1-01 - Cabbing Class with Wayne Ehlers - At the Museum at 7:00 pm. More details at the September meeting.
10-4-01 - VGMS Board Meeting - 7:30 pm - At the Museum. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.
10-7-01 - VGMS Show Meeting - 2:00 pm at home of the Brace-Thompsons, 7319 Eisenhower St., Ventura.
10-19 to 21-01 - Petrified Wood Seminar by Walt Wright.
10-20-01 - VGMS Workshop - Museum from 9:00 to Noon.
10-13 / 14-01 - Trona Show / Field Trip - See August Bulletin, Page 15 & 16 for details about show.
10-24-01 - VGMS Regular Meeting - 7-30 pm The Lexington, Bijou Room.
11-28-01 - VGMS Regular Meeting - PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE BACK TO 4TH WEDNESDAY INSTEAD OF THE 2ND WEDNESDAY FOR NOVEMBER. (This year only!)
12-12-01 - VGMS Christmas Party - Mark your calendars!
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IN APPRECIATION.
I want to thank all of you who entered cases, floor walked, demonstrated, and helped clean up after the fair was over. Everything you did was very much appreciated. Jim and Nancy Brace-Thompson, Shirley and Richard Bromser, along with grand daughter Chloe Baer, Sunny Cross, Sharon Cunningham, Greg Davis, Kathy Davis, Wayne and Marie Ehlers, Marie Haake, Red and Nancy Jioras, David Mautz, Steve and Susan Mulqueen, Inez Shakman, Ron Wise all helped in one way or another to make our department better. The fair was well represented by members of Ventura Gem & Mineral Society and I am proud of all of you.
I particularly want to thank Richard and Shirley Bromser and Chloe, also Greg Davis and David Mautz for helping with the clean up. If I have missed any one, I apologize.
It was nice to see Bertie Raines visit the fair. Her son brought her, and she seemed to enjoy it. She used to be so active in the fair for so many years.
CONGRATULATIONS to Bob Spjut who has earned a license for landscaping. He has always been a busy person, but we expect he will be much more occupied than ever.
Ray Meisenheimer.
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CHIPS & BOULDERS.
SHOW PLANNING MEETING - There will be a show-planning meeting at the Brace-Thompson's house on Sunday October 7th at 2:00 pm. Please join us at 7319 Eisenhower St., Ventura. If you need directions to the house or have questions, call (805) 659-3577. - Jim Brace-Thompson.
LAST MINUTE UPDATE - Tri-Clubs Board meeting to be held on Saturday, September 29th at 10:00 at the Lexington, Picadilly room. The Conejo Club will host it. Please try to attend. - Greg Davis.
PLEASE NOTE CHANGE IN DATE OF NOVEMBER MEETING - Normally due to Thanksgiving we hold it on the 2nd Wednesday, however we are unable to use the Lexington that night. With Thanksgiving being early this year, we will be able to have it on our usual 4th Wednesday of the month (November 28, 2001) at the Lexington.
EXHIBITOR CHAIRPERSON NEEDED FOR OUR MARCH 2002 SHOW - If you are interested, contact Jim Brace-Thompson. If you think you might like to try, but not sure what it entails there are several in the club that can tell you about it and would also be willing to guide you. Susan Mulqueen has written up a time line and a description of what needs to be done, which will be very helpful.
Fair Winner Correction - Wayne Ehlers had three first places and 3 second places. Sorry Wayne and congratulations. Actually congratulations to all and Thank You for making those fair entries.
Club Case Wins at Fair - Thanks to Susan Mulqueen and Dave Mautz for entering a club case in the fair. Our treasury is $11.00 richer! Good job guys and thanks.
September hostess will be Sharon Cunningham. The Base family has volunteered for the October meeting and Shirley Bromser and Chloe Baer will do November. That takes us though the year, as December is the Christmas party. Good Job Everyone!!! Many thanks to Nancy Jioras for her tasty refreshments for August. (I was right!)
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.
Nominating Committee - Unfortunately it is that time of the year again. Greg will be selecting a nominating committee at our September meeting. I know he will be looking for volunteers so be ready to raise your hand. The slate will be presented at the October meeting, we vote at the November meeting and the new officers will be installed at our December Christmas Party.
Museum and Work Shop - Steve Mulqueen will be looking to organize a workshop to go through the rocks in back of the museum. He would like to get them organized in milk crates and up on shelves of a sort. They will also leave the "leave-r-rites" somewhere else! The Museum also needs some attention to the roof before the rains start. So be thinking about this and be ready to volunteer!
VGMS Workshops will be held on October 20th, 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. Stop and say thanks to these volunteers for the opportunity they give the rest of us. It is there for your use, take advantage of it.
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 and Plant Collecting - We will have the first pricing for the 2002 country store in October. It will be at the end of the month and will advise the date at the September meeting and in the October bulletin. The success (and it has been our best money maker for a couple of years) of the Country Store is due to the great donations of our members and their friends and family. Any that you can get to us for the October pricing will be appreciated. Call Shirley Layton 642-2683 for pick up or bring it to a meeting or the museum. Don't forget the plant starts! Everyone loves the plants for sale at our show, so let's not disappoint them and get some lovely ones in the works - Many thanks!
California Oil Museum - Visiting the "Fearsome Fossils" display at the California Oil Museum is a must! They are there until October 21st so please put it on your agenda. Jim and I went with a friend a few weeks ago and were really impressed with the way they put this together and have it displayed. It is obvious that a lot of research went into it and they have done it to educate visitors of all ages. Also be sure to ask for the tour of the upstairs, which they have restored to the original offices of the early Oil Companies. You can also visit them at their web site www.oilmuseum.net. Search out Dave Mautz' Trilobites also!
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OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS.
Happy Birthday to all those born in October. 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 805-642-2683 and leave a message if I'm not there. Thanks!
October -Happy Birthday!!
Red Jioras - 13th,
Jay Baumler - 17th,
Valli Davis - 23rd,
Bertie Raines - 27th,
Olga Hammer - 31st.
The October birthstone is the Opal (one of my favorites, but I wasn't born in October) and the flower is the Marigold or Calendula.
OPAL (Hydrated Silica Glass) - THE GEMSTONE, OPAL:
Chemistry: SiO2-nH2O; Hydrated Silicon Dioxide.
Class: Mineraloids.
Uses: As a gemstone and ornamental stone.
Group: Some minerologists place Opal in the Quartz Group.
The Physical Properties of Opal Specimens:
Opal has been a popular gem for many centuries and has a very interesting structure. Opal is considered a mineraloid because this structure is not truly crystalline. The chemistry of Opal is primarily SiO2 and varying amounts of water. The amount of water varies from 5 -10% and greater. This water can help geologists determine the temperature of the host rock at the time the opal formed.
Although there is no crystal structure, (meaning a regular arrangement of atoms) Opal does possess a structure nonetheless. Random chains of silicon and oxygen are packed into extraordinarily tiny spheres. These spheres in most Opals are irregular in size and inconsistent in concentration. Yet in Precious Opal, the variety used most often in jewelry, there are many organized pockets of the spheres. These pockets contain spheres of approximately equal size and have a regular concentration, or structure, of the spheres. This has the effect of diffracting light at various wavelengths, creating colors. Each pocket produces a different color, with a different intensity depending on the angle from which a viewer sees it. The multicolored flashes of light that Opal emits gives it a truly beautiful and valuable look.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Color is white, colorless, pale yellow, pale red, gray or black when impurities are common. Diffraction can cause flashes of any color of the rainbow (opalescent).
Luster is vitreous to pearly.
Transparency: Crystals are transparent to translucent.
Crystal System does not apply because opal is amorphous.
Habits include massive, cavity-fillings such as in fractures and geodes, nodular or as a replacement of other minerals and wood.
Cleavage is absent.
Fracture is conchoidal.
Hardness is 5 - 6.
Specific Gravity is approximately 2 - 2.5 (light).
Streak is white.
Associated rocks are chert (a form of microcrystalline quartz), volcanic rocks and many others.
Other Characteristics: Some opal fluoresces and it can be very sensitive to impacts and low temperatures.
Notable Occurrences include Western USA; Mexico; Australia and many other localities around the world.
Best Field Indicators are color play (opalescent), low density, lack of cleavage and crystal faces and fracture filling tendency.
Copyright 1995 by Amethyst Galleries, Inc.
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HOSPITALITY.
Our August meeting was blessed with 20 members, 4 pebble pups and 6 guests in attendance. The pebble pups were Aaron Base, Chloe Baer, Ashley Edmonson and Jonathen Edmonson. The guests were Harry Jioras, Mike Deckore, Denita Ekman, Dick Ekman, Lorraine Edmonson and Janice Base (forgive us if we misspelled your names as handwriting is kind of difficult to read at times). Welcome to our guests and pebble pups and hope you all will come again. David Mautz had his usual good door prizes, one for guests, one for pebble pups, one for a member with their nametag on and several for general drawings. He has great prizes, but unfortunately I didn't win any of them! The Name Tag drawing was Melvin Hixson who, sorry to say was not there, however the September winner will be $45 richer.
Many thanks to Sharlyne Holloway, our hospitality person who keeps me up to date and does such a great job welcoming everyone and getting them headed in the right direction.
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SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.
LETTER OF THANKS
From Santa Lucia Rockhounds.
Dear Fellow Rockhounds,
This is just a note to say thank you all very much for the loan of your display cases for our CFMS show in Paso Robles. As you know, we were running short of cases to loan to exhibitors and your decision to allow the Meisenheimers to bring your cases and help us set them up was a very welcome development. It allowed us to accommodate all of the exhibitors who requested a loaner case. As a result, I think we had a number of very nice exhibits.
I really appreciated the great help from Ray & Florence in helping to set up our show. I'm sure you already realize what valuable assets you have in them (We do-Ed.) but they do deserve a special pat on the back for all their efforts.
Again, thank you for helping us out in a very special way. I hope we are able to reciprocate in the future.
Sincerely, Gene R. Bilyew, Exhibits and Demonstrations Chair, Show Committee 2001.
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VGMS MINUTES.
Minutes of the VGMS Regular Meeting - August 22, 2001;
The regular monthly meeting of the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society was called to order by President Greg Davis at 7:40 p.m. on Wednesday, August 22, 2001 in the Bijou Room of the Lexington, 5440 Ralston, Ventura, CA. The group was led in the salute to the flag.
The July regular meeting and board meeting minutes were m/s/p as shown in the Bulletin.
Richard Bromser was presented with a plaque by Greg Davis from the CFMS for Richard's education through sharing for the club. Guests and Pebble Pups were introduced and welcomed to the meeting.
The program was "Geothermal Energy of the Imperial Valley Slide Show" by member, Steve Mulqueen.
Club Business:
Greg Davis thanked everyone who came to the museum clean-up day.
Ron Wise, Vice President for Field Trips: On September 1-3 there is a tri-club trip to Gabbs, Nevada and on October 13-14 is a trip to the Trona show (it might be their last show). A trip to the McKittrick tar seeps will be held on October 20 by Susan Mulqueen. There will be a petrified wood seminar on October 19-21 at Ventura College presented by Walt Wright. Greg and Red have sign-up sheets for anyone interested. It will cost $35.00 per person. It is opened to all tri-club members and then will be opened to Ventura College students.
Richard Bromser, Treasurer: The treasurer gave the monthly report. The club case won 2nd place and brought in $11 for the club. Pebble pup Chloe Baer won a blue ribbon at the fair.
Jim Brace-Thompson, Show Chairperson: We still need an exhibitor chairperson. If anyone is interested, please call Jim at 659-3577.
Florence Meisenheimer, Federation Chairperson: We will need to change the way we do our raffles at our meetings and our show. A new California law is making it more difficult for us to continue the way we are. It will be discussed at the next board meeting.
Steve Mulqueen: The Santa Paula Oil Museum is presenting the "Fearsome Fossils: Predators from the past" until October 20th.
Wayne Ehlers will be having a cabbing class at the clubhouse beginning on October 1.
Shirley Layton, Bulletin Editor: Deadline for articles in the next bulletin is September 10th. Shirley thanked everyone who submitted articles for the last bulletin.
Sharon Cunningham, Refreshment Chairperson: Sharon will do the refreshments for September and Aaron & Janice Base will do them for October.
We are looking for a place to hold our November meeting since the Lexington is being used on the 2nd Wednesday of November.
The VGMS picnic will be held on Sunday 9/23/01 at Arroyo Verde Park beginning at 11:00 am. It will be a potluck. You are encouraged to bring your own folding chairs.
The next board meeting will be on September 6, 2001 at 7:30 pm 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 9 am to 12 pm.
That was the end of the business part of the meeting. David Mautz then conducted the drawings.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 pm.
The next general meeting will be on September 26, 2001, at 7:30 pm., at the Lexington.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Brace-Thompson, Secretary.
Minutes of the VGMS Board Meeting - September 6, 2001;
The regular board meeting of the VGMS was called to order by President Greg Davis at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday September 6, 2001, at the VGMS Museum, 5019 Crooked Palm Rd., Ventura, CA.
Present: Greg Davis, Richard Bromser, Nancy & Jim Brace-Thompson, Dave Mautz, Emma Mayer, Florence and Ray Meisenheimer and Shirley Layton.
President: Individuals will pay for their own Holiday dinner.
Starting January 1, 2002, the club will give out a free raffle ticket to everyone attending the meeting. To win a door prize all members need to wear their name badges and guests will make a nametag. M/S/P
It was M/S/P that Richard will request a permit from the state for $20.00 so that we can still have a raffle at our show.
Beginning in January someone will be assigned to greet and give out the free door prize ticket. All Pebble Pups will be given a prize at each meeting.
The November meeting will be on Wednesday November 28 at the Lexington.
Greg is waiting for a check from Edison for the club's refrigerator.
Club Picnic is on Sunday October 23 beginning at 11 a.m. at Arroyo Verde Park. It will be $1.00 to park. More information will be in the next bulletin.
After we have a field trip, we will leave cleaner than we found it.
There needs to something done about the leaking club roof. Steve Mulqueen is organizing a work party to work on the rock pile behind the clubhouse.
It was M/S/P that Richard and Greg would check into a new phone and answering machine for the club. They have a maximum of $100.00 for a new phone, answering machine with remote.
Treasurer's Report: Richard Bromser passed around the treasurer's report. The report was M/S/P.
The nominating committee will be put together by Greg. At the October general meeting the slate of officers will be announced. At the November general meeting we will vote.
Richard will call the dairy regarding milk crates.
Bulletin Editor: Bulletin information is due September 10th.
Show: There will be a show planning meeting at the Brace-Thompson's house on Sunday October 7th at 2:00 pm. Please call 659-3577 if you need directions to the house. All are welcomed.
Jim passed out flyers to the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History. They are having a special exhibit on minerals and fossils of the Central Coast.
Membership: There were no new members.
Remember to greet guests and new members at our meetings.
The board meeting was adjourned at 9:05 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Brace-Thompson, Secretary.
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"Age does not diminish the extreme disappointment of having a scoop of ice cream fall from the cone." - JIM FIEBIG.
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UP-DATE ON "KEEP UP TO DATE
ON BLM ISSUES AND PROJECTS".
The very best way to keep up to date on issues and projects affecting the Bureau of Land Management in California - www.ca.blm.gov.
Just send them your e-mail address, and once a week they will send you News.bytes, their free e-mail newsletter containing point-and-click information on:
1. What's happening this week.
2. On-line news and press clips.
3. Upcoming events.
4. Highlights/accomplishments.
5. Legislative updates.
6. Recreation opportunities.
To sign-up for your weekly News.bytes newsletter, send your e-mail address to: CA_News.bytes@ca.blm.gov.
Editor's Note: We did sign up for this and have received a couple. I will bring them to the September meeting. You will need to be on-line to take advantage of them, however, as they reference various topics and then give the web site to go to review them. They do have links to these web sites if your e-mail program will support them.
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TWO REASONS TO HEAD FOR MONTEREY.
If you have the time, consider heading to Monterey for the last weekend of the month. There will be two good attractions for rockhounds. One is the 42nd annual gem, mineral, and fossil show of the Carmel Valley Gem & Mineral Society. I was president of this club for several years so I may be biased, but I think it's a pretty good show, with a nice balance of dealers (including some selling rough, others selling fossils, and still others selling mineral specimens for your collection, lapidary equipment, beads and other worked material). There's also a larger-than-usual kids' activities area for anyone with children and great displays. The show takes place Saturday, September 29 (10:00 AM to 6:00 PM) and Sunday, September 30 (10:00 AM to 5:00 PM) at the Monterey Fairgrounds. The month of September usually features the best weather of the year for Monterey. (Nancy, the kids, and I just returned from a Labor Day weekend trip there, and the sun shone each day, with pleasant breezes from the Bay.) I'll be there with Nancy and the kids!
The second attraction is a special exhibit being sponsored by the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History. Scheduled to open on September 8th, the exhibit is entitled "Central California's Mineral Wealth" and will focus on the fantastic variety of rocks, minerals, gems, and fossils to be found in Central California. The exhibit is being produced in cooperation with the Carmel Valley Gem & Mineral Society, as well as other individuals and museums throughout the state. The exhibit will feature the geology of California and the Monterey Bay region, with a comprehensive display of the mineralogical heritage of California's Central Coast and other California localities. Visitors will be able to view a model of Monterey Bay's submarine canyon, nephrite jade boulders from the Big Sur Coast, magnificent gold specimens from the Original 16 to 1 Mine, benitoite and other minerals from the New Idria area, colorful jasper from local quarries, and a variety of Central California fossils. The exhibit runs September 8th through December 31st. At various times Carmel Valley Gem & Mineral Society members will present exhibits on lapidary arts and equipment used in cutting and polishing gems with several hands-on lapidary demonstrations at times to be announced. Plans also include weekend field trips to local mineral and fossil collecting areas and a lecture series on Monterey Bay geology, the Original 16 to 1 Mine, local mineral collecting, and local fossil collecting. The museum is located at 165 Forest Avenue in downtown Pacific Grove. For further information, call (831) 648-5716, Ext. 17, or email pgmuseum@mbay.net. I've just taken several of my own fossils up to be put on display, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it all turns out when Nancy, Hannah, Alex, and I head for the Monterey peninsula the last weekend of the month. Come on along and join us for a great rockhound weekend!
Contributed by Jim Brace-Thompson.
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AMBER,
Iris Bernikow.
AMBER - that lovely, lustrous substance so often sold as fossilized tree resin or as a semi-precious stone is neither stone nor fossil. It is completely organic, neither rock nor mineralized replacement. Rather, it is the resin of trees which have fallen into a river and been protected by sediments from oxygen interaction. Today most amber is found by looking for lignite deposits in sandstone and shales.
Amber can be 200 million years old or 33 thousand years old. The oldest amber known that has insects trapped in it, comes from Jordan and is about 125 million years old. The ancient Egyptians ground amber and used it in their pigments and paints; the Maya used it medicinally. Medical doctors in the 17th and 18th centuries used ground amber in liquid to cure headaches, hemorrhages, smallpox, ulcers, syphilis and many other diseases. Amber, frankincense and myrrh were burnt as incense or used as a perfume base long before Christ.
Amber will deteriorate when exposed to heat and air. Very fine crazing is the beginning sign. And, amber is very easy to forge using cellulose, acrylics, caseins, or nowadays, a polyester resin. Many forgeries, especially those with insects or small critters of any kind, are so well done that museums in England and Germany have been fooled.
The amber so often sold now at gem/mineral shows and "trunk" shows, which contains "natural" inclusions that look like round petals or leaves, was created by heating amber that had a lot of air bubbles in it until the bubbles expanded enough to fracture discoidally. Amber can also be clarified by heating it very slowly in grape seed oil until the surface bubbles have been filled with the oil, thereby giving it a sort of translucent look. Amber is also processed by fusing tiny chips in a vacuum; this "ambroid" is then dyed, usually dark red.
Unless you are very familiar with the feel and look of genuine amber or copal, use the hot needle test. Touched with a hot needle, amber smells like resin; imitations smell like burnt fruit or burning plastic. Beware of the "rub real amber and it will pick up a piece of paper" test - static electricity does it every time.
Copal is another resin which is a very clear, pale yellow when fresh. Since it is easily melted, it is the substance of choice when forgeries are to be made with plant or insect inclusions. Amber, by the way, will soften and blacken with heat, but it won't liquefy. Some copal does naturally contain tiny lizards or large insects; most does not. The most famous forgery that almost went undetected by the American Museum of Natural History was a tiny frog inserted into a small piece of Baltic amber, which was then re-sealed. The giveaway was a tiny scallop, which would never have been caught by the amber.
via Moroks, August 2001.
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GEOLOGICAL TIME NAMES.
Geologic time is divided into numerous intervals. The first (coarsest scale) is called the eon - the eons are the Archean times (this extends from the beginning of earth's history about 4 billion years ago to about 2.6 billion years ago (bya), the Proterozoic (2.6 bya to 570 million years ago (mya), and the Phanerozoic (570 mya to the present).
The next scale of division is called the era: The Phanerozoic is divided into the Paleozoic (570 - 230 mya), Mesozoic (230 - mya), and Cenozoic (65 mya to present) Eras.
Eras are divided into periods: Cambrian (oldest), Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferous, and Permian (youngest) are the periods within the Paleozoic. The Mesozoic contains the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous Periods. The Cenozoic is made up of the Tertiary and Quaternary Periods.
The next Subdivision is the epoch such as the Paleocene, Eocene, Oligocene, Miocene, Ploocene, and Pleistocene and Recent, within the Cenozoic.
From Julie Dumoulin, Geologist in Anchorage Alaska,
via Jack N. AFMS Newsletter,
and my college notes,
via LAPIDARIAN 11/00,
via Rocky Review - Aug/Sept 2001.
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OCTOBER FIELD TRIP.
The Trona show is a tri-club field trip on October 13 & 14. It is rumored that this will be the last year for collecting in the area. We will have flyers at the September meeting. There also was a copy of these flyers in our August Bulletin pages 15 and 16.
Ron Wise, Field Trip Chairperson.
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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.
October 13-14 - Trona - Onyx, halite, hanksite, Leaders: Don Asher, Conejo Club; Miriam Tetreault, Oxnard Club.
November 17-18 - Oxnard Club Show.
November 22-25 - Wiley Wells Area - Geodes, etc., Leader: Miriam Tetreault, Oxnard Club.
December - Open.
Table of Contents.
VACATION CORNER
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SPECIAL TRIPS SHARED BY MEMBERS.
Let us hear about yours! Thanks for sharing!
VACATIONS |
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I started for the Blue Forest area of Wyoming early on Saturday, 30 June 2001. Because I wanted to meet up with some members of VGMS before they left the area I drove well into Utah on Saturday and then the rest of the way on Sunday. Alas, they were not there (I did find it by myself and that did feel like an accomplishment). I chatted with a couple of people who were there and then headed out of the area to find the campground below the Fontenelle Dam. I had gone some distance when I heard a strange sound and something felt just slightly "different" although it is hard to tell on a dirt road. I pulled over to the side when I found a good spot so I could investigate. Thankfully I had been driving very slowly. The right rear tire had blown.
I knew I would need help. It was in the high 90's and I was already tired. Do I go back up the hill where I know someone is staying or do I strike out for the campground some unknown distance away and not knowing if anyone was there. Thinking it would be a mile uphill that was the way I headed. It ends up that was a good choice but a gross underestimation of how far I had come (it was closer to three miles). By the time I got there I was significantly dehydrated and barely on my feet. Along the way I had an interesting experience. I was met at several of the switchbacks by an antelope which seemed to be shadowing me. It would wait until I passed the switchback to move on. It was a nice, although eerie, experience.
The people I had spoken to earlier were very nice and did help with the tire. During the process we discovered that the full sized spare I had been assured I had was an inch smaller than the other tires and was a "temporary" tire. The issue still is not settled with Ford. Interestingly, I was one of the people who got a recall letter from Ford, shortly before I left on vacation, regarding my tires. Of course they did not have replacement tires but the Service(?) Department said they had inspected my tires thoroughly and that they were fine. I was placed on a waiting list for replacement tires. Anyway, I had to go to Rock Springs to get new tires.
To add insult to injury, when I went back to the Blue Forest I got "skunked"; that is, I got into several promising holes but found nothing. I arrived at the Big Sandy on 03 July 2001 and there was a group there. However, the collecting trip for the wood in that area was just finishing. Red and Nancy Jioras, Harry Jioras, and Miriam Tetmault were there. Swimming in the reservoir was a great way to coot off. The weather was not kind to those of us cooking outside in that the wind and / or wind and rains came up just in time for dinner but it was amusing. The rock swap was great; what's common in one area is special to people from another area and everyone can feel like they get a good deal.
I had to get to Colorado Springs by Friday so took off that morning and arrived in the middle of a heat wave and daily thunderstorms. I spent the next few days there and in La Veta. I also got to go with a couple of people hunting for dino bone. It is distinctive when you see it. There is a wonderful little museum in Canon City. Outside of the city is Skyline drive, a one way road along a ridge which was wonderful. At one point along the way volunteers have cleaned out dino footprints, from the underside. Looking up gives a real perspective to how large they were. I had also been able to stand in Marsh's quarry. So it was exciting. Outside Canon City I also got to see an abandoned travertine mine. The saws were cables which were moved by old truck engines. I do not know why they left, but there are many blocks of travertine remaining as well as a lot of equipment. I think that most of the small stuff has been carted off over the years by people who have stumbled on the site.
From there I went to Cortez and met up with a friend. We took a day trip on the Mountain Ute Reservation and got to visit several ruins. The ruins we visited are close to Mesa Verde National Park but not part of it. The ruins have been excavated but not reconstructed. There are original wood beams still there. There are also pottery shards everywhere. You are allowed to pick them up and handle them but you must put them back. Looking at the dino bone was good training.
From there I took a short trip to Telluride where my friend lives. And I finally got to see and sleep in the cabin I have heard about for years. She has a small cabin above Tout Lake, at an elevation of 11,300 feet. It is magical. It was still in the storm cycle but it is truly a stunning area. It was sad to leave the mountains.
Submitted by,
Kathryn Davis.
Table of Contents.
SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.
WEATHER REPORT.
It was autumn, and the Indians on the remote reservation asked their new Chief if the winter was going to be cold or mild. Since he was an Indian Chief in a modern society, he had never been taught the old secrets, and when he looked at the sky, he couldn't tell what the weather was going to be.
Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, he replied to his tribe that the winter was indeed going to be cold and that the members of the village should collect wood to be prepared. But also being a practical leader, after several days he got an idea. He went to the phone booth, called the National Weather Service and asked, "Is the coming winter going to be cold?"
"It looks like this winter is going to be quite cold indeed," the meteorologist at the weather service responded. So the Chief went back to his people and told them to collect even more wood in order to be prepared.
One week later he called the National Weather Service again. "Is it going to be a very cold winter?" "Yes," the man at National Weather Service again replied, "it's going to be a very cold winter."
The Chief again went back to his people and ordered them to collect every scrap of wood they could find. Two weeks later he called the National Weather Service again.
"Are you absolutely sure that the winter is going to be very cold?"
"Absolutely," the man replied. "It's going to be one of the coldest winters ever."
"How can you be so sure?" the Chief asked. The weatherman replied, "The Indians are collecting wood like crazy."
Contributed by Clay Brashears.
Table of Contents.
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR PURSE OR WALLET IS STOLEN,
by Veona Hayes,
from Northwest Federation NewsLetter,
June 2001.
We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed using your name, address, SS#, credit, etc. Unfortunately I (author of this piece) have firsthand knowledge, because my wallet was stolen last month and within a week the thieve(s) ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and more. But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know.
As everyone always advises, cancel your credit cards immediately, but the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know who to call. Keep those where you can find them easily (having to hunt for them is additional stress you WON'T need at that point!). On a personal note, I remember loosing a MC and until I got the toll free number from information, etc. I was a wreck.
File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where it was stolen, this proves to credit providers you were diligent, and is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).
But here's what is perhaps most important: I never ever thought to do this. Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and SS#. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the Internet in my name. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.
By the time I was advised do this - almost two weeks after the theft all the damage had been done (there are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert). Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them in their tracks.
The numbers are:
Equifax 1-800 525-6285,
Experian (formerly TRW) 1-800-301-7195,
Trans Union 1-800-680-7289.
Social Security Administration also has a fraud line at 1-800-269-0271.
We pass along just about everything... do think about passing this information along... it could help someone else!
via AFMS Newsletter - September 2001.
Table of Contents.
"Failure is the opportunity to begin again, more intelligently."
HENRY FORD.
Table of Contents.
PUBLIC LANDS ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT.
The BLM National Training Center held a training session in La Quinta the latter part of June which concentrated on "Planning Concepts". It was attended by representatives from the U. S. Border Patrol, the Desert Protective Council, Desert Wildlife Unlimited, and California Federation of Mineralogical Societies, in addition to 18 BLM Staff from Palm Springs, El Centro, and Yuma, Arizona.
The purpose of the training session was to develop new management plans that will be "legally defensible" in addition to better cooperation with local government.
Within the next 10 years more than 160 management plans will be revised, changed, or rewritten. They are working on 40 plans at present, which includes the NECO, NEMO, Western Mojave, and other plans in Southern California.
The suggested techniques include: 1) Using a collaborative and multijurisdictional approach to planning; 2) utilizing multiple scales to properly address issues, trends, and concerns; and 3) making and implementing planning decisions that have community support.
What this means is that we will have to be involved in all these plans to assure that our concerns are not forgotten. The key is to be sure that community support means just that. In the past, decisions have been made based on pressure from the extreme environmental groups.
The comment period on the NECO Plan has been extended until November 1, 2001. We (PLAC) have submitted some comments based on the previous deadline date. We will have more comments before the new deadline.
A recent article in National Geographic would lead one to believe that possible changes in the actions taken by our former President may be forthcoming. This is the time to write or contact your local Congressional Representative to let your concerns be known.
Let's all be sure we maintain a consistent position. Access is the primary concern. Of course we want to be sure that we can use public lands to collect specimens and rough lapidary materials. Rumors keep popping up about suggestions to eliminate recreational mining, educational and recreational collecting of specimens, and other terms that may restrict our use of public lands. While vehicular access is important, we must be sure that we can collect once we get there.
Most of you have expressed concerns about identifying collecting areas. Actually, we have two different needs. One is to assist clubs and field trip leaders by pinpointing collecting areas with GPS readings and updated maps. The other is to supply BLM and other management agencies with general collecting areas which will include a "buffer" zone. Thus, we can comply with their request without violating trusts.
We realize that there are some "special" areas that will not be shared with other clubs. This is understandable. However, if a larger area with buffers will assist in protecting the area, please consider sharing that information.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.
Jim Strain, Chairman,
PLAC,
Phone (760) 356-2361,
CFMS Newsletter September 2001.
Table of Contents.
"Old Geezers."
"Geezers" are easy to spot; this is slang for an old man. But, at sporting events, during the playing of the National Anthem, they hold their caps over their hearts and sing without embarrassment. They know the words and believe in them. They remember World War I, the Depression, World War II, Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal, Normandy and Hitler. They remember the Atomic Age, the Korean War, The Cold War, the Jet Age and the Moon Landing, not to mention Vietnam. If you bump into a "Geezer" on the sidewalk, he'll apologize, pass a Geezer on the street, he'll nod, or tip his cap to a lady. "Geezers" trust strangers and are courtly to women. They hold the door for the next person and always when walking, make sure the lady is on the inside for protection.
"Geezers" get embarrassed if someone curses in front of women and children and they don't like violence and filth on TV and in movies. Geezers have moral courage. Geezers seldom brag unless it's about the grandchildren in Little League or music recitals. This country needs "Geezers" with their decent values and common sense. We need them now more than ever. It's the "Geezers" who know our great country is protected, not by politicians or police, but by the young men and women in the military serving their country in foreign lands, just as they did, without a thought except to do a good job, the best you can and to get home to loved ones.
Thank God for "OLD GEEZERS."
Contributed by Clay Brashears.
Table of Contents.
HINTS & TIPS FOR ROCKHOUNDS
(Use at your own risk).
My supply runneth dry! Can you help? If you have some favorite tips or secrets and are willing to share, please send them to me. - Editor.
Table of Contents.
ODD GEM FACTS & LEGENDS,
By Fred Robinson.
The most valuable crystals are diamond and many of them are thought to have magic powers. The Hope diamond brings grief and misery to its owner, but many ancient warriors believed that wearing a diamond in battle made them invincible.
Diamonds and Strength: The great general Napoleon Bonaparte wore a sword set with the Regent Diamond. One of the classic tales is from Sinbad the Sailor. Sinbad was once stranded in the Valley of Diamonds. The valley floor was covered with diamonds guarded by dangerous snakes. Sinbad escaped by taping himself to a piece of meat thrown into the valley by a diamond collector. A big bird carried the meat, stuck full of diamonds, out of the valley as the collector planned, along with the hitch hiking Sinbad.
Opal: unlucky: Opal is a non-crystalline stone but I mention it here because it is considered to be an unlucky stone. During the plague of the black death in the 14th century, the people noticed that opals became brilliant when the wearer caught the disease and dull when the person died. I don't know about the opal, but the wearer was certainly unlucky. Another reason for opal having a bad name was that King Louis XIV named his coaches after gemstones. The driver of the Opal Coach was usually drunk and often ran over pedestrians so the opal was unlucky.
Jade has been carved into all kinds of religious objects and is a lucky stone, or at least one that makes the owner feel lucky. The Spaniards who conquered Mexico believed that the green stones would cure kidney ailments. This might be true because I don't know of any Aztec who died of kidney problems. The ancient Chinese believed that jade had the power to give life and used it to preserve the dead. They linked plates of nephrite around the corpse to make a funeral suit that would bring it back to life. I doubt that it worked.
Lodestone Lore: There is much lore and legend about crystals and stones, such as the magnetite called lodestone. Alexander the Great gave his soldiers lodestone to repel evil spirits. The stuarolite crystals called Fairy Crosses were used in baptism rites for centuries. The legend at the Fairy Stone State Park in Patrick County, Virginia is that the crosses are crystallized tears of fairies.
Birthstones are related to the twelve stones in the breast plate of the High Priest of Israel. The signs of the Zodiac have their gemstones. The most important crystal of all is the Crystal Ball that, if property used, can foretell the future and knowing the future can change your luck for certain.
SANTA CLARA VALLEY GEM and MINERAL SOCIETY,
SAN JOSE, CA.
From Coasal Plan Geode
via Breode hi 1997,
Chips 'N' Splinters 6/01,
via Rocky Review - Aug/Sept 2001.
Table of Contents.
ALL ROADS POINT NORTH IN
MAY OF 2002,
By Shirley Leeson, CFMS Historian.
I-15 (Interstate) goes from California to Calgary, Canada. Join some of us who are using it to help our Canadian friends celebrate their 25th Federation Birthday by attending. The following information may help you plan on attending:
Saturday, May 4 - Sunday May 5, 2002;
West Hillhurst Arena;
1940 6th Avenue NW, Calgary, AB,
Canada T3E 5E3.
Theme: Silver Jubilee,
Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of
Gem & Mineral Federation of Canada.
Main Attractions:
Sat., 7 am. - 10 am - Western Pancake Breakfast.
Sat., 1 - 3 pm - Editors' Get Together - Coffee and conversation.
Sat 7 pm - GMFC Annual Meeting and Awards Presentation.
Host Hotel: Days Inn - Calgary, West 1818 16 Ave. NW., Calgary, AB T2M OL8. 1-800-Days Inn.
For information on camping and other hotel / motels please contact Publicity Chairman Trudy Martin at martin@cadivision.com, 110 Lissington Dr. SW, Calgary, AB T3E 5E3.
CFMS Newsletter September 2001.
Table of Contents.
2001 CFMS CLUB SHOWS.
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.
OCTOBER 20-21; SANTA ROSA, CA - Santa Rosa Mineral & Gem Society, Veteran's Memorial Auditorium, 1351 Maple Avenue. Hours: Sat 10-6, Sun. 10-5. Bonnie Wood (707)869-9385; E-mail: steekue@ap.net.
OCTOBER 20-21; WHITTIER, CA - Whittier Gem & Mineral Society, Whittier Masonic Temple, 7604 Greenleaf Ave. Hours: 10 to 5 both days; Jay Valle (626) 934-9764.
NOVEMBER 2-4; EUREKA, CA - Humbolt Gem & Mineral Society, Redwood Acres Fairgrounds, 3750 Harris Street. Hours: Fri.(kids day) 9-6, Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5; Mike Martin (707) 839-5422.
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 3-4, RIDGECREST, CA - Indian Wells Gem & Mineral Society, Desert Empire Fairgrounds, Mesquite Hall, 520 S. Richmond Rd. Hours: 9-5 both days; John De Rosa (760) 375-7905.
NOVEMBER 17-18; LIVERMORE, CA - Livermore Valley Lithophiles, "The Barn", Pacific Ave. at So. Livermore Avenue. Hours: Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4; Bill Veiriger (925) 443-5769 zyzzx@zyzzx.com.
NOVEMBER 17-18; VICTORVILLE, CA - Victorville Gem & Mineral Club, 14800 7th Street. Hours: Sat. 9-5, Sun. 9-4; Gil Gilbert (760) 868-6900.
NOVEMBER 16-18: ROSEVILLE, CA - Sacramento Mineral Society, Placer County Fairgrounds, 800 All American Blvd.; Hours: Fri.-Children's Day - 9-5, Sat & Sun 10-5; Nancy Kennedy (916) 424-5771.
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.
SOUTHEAST FEDERATION,
November 3-4 - Pascagoula, MS.
Table of Contents.
SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.
2002 AFMS SHOWS.
SOUTH CENTRAL FEDERATION,
February 8-9 - Tyler, TX.
CANADIAN FEDERATION CONVENTION,
May 4-5; 25th Anniversary,
Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Table of Contents.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
Just for the record any unsigned articles are by the Editor. If you have noticed a bit different look about the bulletin this month, we worked on it away from home and our own printers! We did have the computer with us so the inside will not be changed. Next month we will be on vacation the first part of October so the timing may be a bit off, but never fear it will be published!!! Thanks to everyone for their contributions and we look forward to a lot more from other members!! (That is a broad hint!!)
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Table of Contents.
EDUCATIONAL CORNER.
Definition of the Month - Edited by Steve Mulqueen.
Concretion - A hard, compact mass or aggregate of mineral and / or rock material, normally spherical to subspherical in form but also having oblate, disk-shaped or irregular symmetry with odd or fantastic outlines; formed by precipitation from an aqueous solution around a nucleus or center such as a mineral, fossil or organic matter in the pores of a sedimentary or fragmental volcanic rock. Usually of a composition quite different from that of the surrounding rock from which it is found. It represents a concentration of some minor constituents of the enclosed rock or of cementing material such as organic matter or minerals such as quartz, chalcedony, opal, calcite, dolomite, limonite, hematite, iron carbonate, pyrite, gypsum and / or a variety of clay minerals. Concretions range in size from a small pellet-like object to a great spheroidal mass larger than 10 feet in diameter. Most concretions were formed during diagenesis, a period of relative time after deposition in which water, passing through a porous rock formation dissolves, mobilizes and reprecipitates minerals.
There are several examples of concretions at the VGMS Earth Science Museum. Also, some of the fossils on exhibit were found inside concretions. The two large nautilus fossils (Miocene epoch) were discovered many years ago by Bruno and Opal Benson in Baja, Mexico. While fossil collecting in a remote area of Baja, they found a large boulder which they recognized as being concretions. Bruno used a large hammer and chisel to "liberate" the fossil within. What a find!
One of the best areas to see concretions in nature is at the "Pumpkin Patch" in Anza Borego Desert State Park. At this location, concretions are as large as 24" in diameter. They are spherical in shape and this variety is not known to contain fossils.
Source: Bates, Robert L. & Jackson, Julia A., "Glossary of Geology", Second edition, American Geological Institute, Falls Church, Virginia, 1980.
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.
"Columnar Trap, Isle Royale, Lake Superior, 1850."
Isle Royale is now part of the Isle Royale National Park on Lake Superior, Michigan located near the U.S. / Canada border.
Source: Foster, J. W. & Whitney, J.D., 1850, "The Foster and Whitney Report", Part I, Copper Lands, "Report on the Geology and Topography of a Portion of the Lake Superior Land District in the State of Michigan", Printed for the House of Representatives, Government Printing Office, Washington.
The "Illustration of the Month" will feature a drawing, sketch, pen & ink rendering or an engraving print from 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.
Dave Mautz and "Friends" at the California Oil Museum.
Trilobite Case on display at California Oil Museum. These belong to Dave Mautz who set up the display on behalf of VGMS.
A Smilodon who's canine teeth were serrated and seven inches long. The toothy cat grabbed its prey with jaws that opened to an angle of about 120 degrees. In comparison, modern lions can open their jaws only 65 degrees. Often mistakenly called the saber-tooth tiger, Smilodons are not tigers, but members of the cat family. Scientists call them saber-tooth cats.
Allosaurus head which lived as many years before Tyrannosaurs as Tyrannosaurs lived before humans. It was the most dominant predator of the Jurassic. At 30 to 40 feet long and two tons, Allosurus terrorized its plant-eating neighbors.
All pictures are courtesy of Susan Mulqueen.
Table of Contents.
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