Return to the Rockhound Rambling Center.
You may also go to the VGMS Home Page.

The Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. (VGMS)
Rockhound Rambling
February 2002.

Table of Contents.

• PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE;
• WORDS TO LIVE BY;
• 2002 DUES ARE DUE;
• PROGRAM FOR FEBRUARY 27, 2002;
• REVIEW - PROGRAM January 23rd Meeting;
• MARK YOUR CALENDARS;
• LAPIDARY CLASS;
• ADVERTISING;
• CHIPS & BOULDERS;
• IN MEMORIAM - William F. Bogner Jr.;
• Rules of Life (1);
• COUNTDOWN TO SHOW TIME;
• COMMUNITY OUTREACH;
• PUBLIC OUTREACH;
• MARCH BIRTHDAYS;
• MEMBERSHIP;
• HOSPITALITY;
• May the road;
• "PEBBLE PUP NUGGETS";
• Rules of Life (2);
• YOU MIGHT BE ADDICTED TO THE INTERNET;
• TRI-CLUB FIELD TRIPS - 2002;
• ACTON FIELD TRIP - January 19, 2002;
• VGMS MINUTES;
• ALERT;
• HR2974;
• HOOVER;
• THE AFMS WEB SITE;
• FIBER OPTIC GEMS: WHAT ARE THEY;
• EXPLORING HARDNESS IN GEMSTONE IDENTIFICATION;
• HOW BENITOITE BECAME CALIFORNIA'S GEMSTONE;
• Rules of Life (3);
• HINTS & TIPS FOR ROCKHOUNDS (Use at your own risk);
• MARIPOSA MINERAL & GEM SHOW;
• 2002 CFMS CLUB SHOWS;
• AMERICAN FEDERATION / REGIONAL SHOW SCHEDULE - 2002;
• EDITOR'S NOTE;
• EDUCATIONAL CORNER;
• COLORBOOK;
• VGMS PHOTO ALBUM.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.

It's Show Time again! Things are happening fast now and coming together. Lets show Jim our appreciation for an absolutely terrific job chairing this show by everyone offering to help in some way. The number of club members offering to help both before and after the show is the key to a successful show.

I'd like to welcome all new members who have come to us as a result of Emma's Pebble Pup program. Again, Emma deserves a round of applause for her organizational skills, determination and devotion towards the education of our young members.

Florence Meisenheimer hasn't been feeling up to par and I'd like to express our hopes that she regains her strength soon and rejoins us. We miss seeing her at our functions.

Here's to a successful and enjoyable show and may the weather cooperate.

     Greg Davis - President.

  Table of Contents.

WORDS TO LIVE BY.

How long a minute is depends on which side of the bathroom door you're on.

A good listener is a good talker with a sore throat.

A handful of patience is worth a bushel of brains.

If at first you don't succeed, find out if the loser gets anything.

     Contributed by Wayne Ehlers.

  Table of Contents.

2002 DUES ARE DUE !!!!

If you haven't taken care of your 2002 dues, please send to Inez Shakman, 4657 Dean Drive, Ventura, CA 93003. See the VGMS Info Page for amounts. (Use your browswer's BACK button or equivalent to return here.) Anyone needing a badge please see or contact Inez (805 642-4957). Dues need to be paid by March 31st in order to be listed in the Membership Directory.

  Table of Contents.

PROGRAM FOR FEBRUARY 27, 2002.

     The February general meeting has traditional themes. Those VGMS members who have gone to Quartzsite and/or Tucson are asked to bring items found, stories and a willingness to share their experiences. Sharing the excitement of the Big Shows is a way to get excited about our own show.
     The other major theme is that this is the last push for our show on 2nd and 3rd of March 2002. Set up starts on the 28th of February, the day after our meeting. Please use the sign-up sheets to let the Show Committee know when and where you will be helping. When more people get involved, the load is a lot easier to carry.
          Kathryn Davis, Program Chairperson.

  Table of Contents.

REVIEW - PROGRAM,
January 23rd Meeting.

     A video entitled "The Great Desert Railroad Race" produced by Ted Faye was presented thanks to Steve Mulqueen. Unfortunately Steve was on his way to the Quartzsite Shows and wasn't able to give us his interesting in-put. He lived and worked in Death Valley for a period and has a lot of interesting information. There was fierce competition between two mining tycoons striving to be the first to construct a railroad to the gold and silver mining districts near Beatty, Goldfield and Tonopah, Nevada.
     The Las Vegas & Tonopah Railroad (L V & T) was first to complete the route but the Tonopah & Tidewater (T & T) lasted longer! As times changed so did the trains' cargo! Toward the end it was mostly carrying people to the Furnace Creek area for vacations and sight seeing. In the last days it had quite a struggle and became to be known as the "Tired & Tardy" (T & T)! There are still areas that you can see the railroad bed remains.
     The Tonopah & Tidewater Railroad (T & T) was built under the supervision of "Borax" Smith and the Las Vegas & Tonopah Railroad (L V & T), supervised by Senator William A. Clark. Construction of these railroads began in 1905. The T & T extended between Ludlow, California and Goldfield, Nevada while the L V & T extended between Las Vegas and Goldfield, Nevada.

  Table of Contents.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

2-23-02 - Tri Club Meeting, 10:00 am at The Lexington, all are invited to attend.
2-27-02 - VGMS Regular Meeting - Pebble Pups 6:30 to 7:30, Meeting at 7:30 for all. - "Quartzsite/Tucson Review - Final Show Plans".
3-2 & 3-02 - VGMS SHOW - SEE EVERYONE THERE!
3-7-02 - VGMS Board Meeting - 7:30 pm - At the Museum. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.
3-9-02 - Tri-Club Field Trip - to Faria Beach (Rincon Beach) - Leader: Jerry Adlof (805) 579-7343 or 583-5242.
3-10-02 - DEADLINE FOR MARCH - Articles to the Editor!
3-16-02 - VGMS Workshop - Museum from 9:00 to Noon.
3-24 to 31-02 - ZZYZX.
3-25-02 - Cabochon Class at Museum - 5:00 for youth, 7:00 for adults.
3-27-02 - VGMS Regular Meeting - Pebble Pups 6:30 to 7:30, meeting at 7:30 for all.

  Table of Contents.

LAPIDARY CLASS.

Would you like to learn how to cut and polish cabochons? Our class we scheduled last October was almost a complete failure when no one showed up. Since then several people have expressed interest so we will try again. We also have a number of new members and since this is primarily intended for them. We want to give them the opportunity. Older members are still welcome. The class will be held on Monday evenings from 7 to 9 PM starting March 25. We usually meet once a week for about 5 or 6 weeks. This is your chance to learn how to use the slab and trim saws and the grinder-polishers in our Museum-Workshop. The shop is located at 5019 Crooked Palm Road in Ventura. If you have some rocks you want to cut and polish bring them along but there will be rocks and slabs available for your use. This is a "hands on" working class so that you should wear working clothes and be prepared to get your hands dirty. There are plans to have an additional class for our "Pebble Pups" ahead of the regular class starting at 5 PM. They will be using the grinder-polishers as the saws are just a little more dangerous. We plan to have plenty of instructors there to help. If you want more information you can call Wayne Ehlers at 482-6830 or Greg Davis at 647-9214. There will be a sign-up sheet at our meetings or our March 2-3 Show.
     Wayne Ehlers.

  Table of Contents.

ADVERTISING.

The cost of printing our bulletin has doubled this past year. We are looking for ways to help defray some of this cost as we do not want to cut down on the bulletin size or distribution. We would like to offer advertising in the form of $60 a year for a business card size ad. It would run in 11 issues. Please consider placing an ad and approach your business associates about placing one as well. We could negotiate for larger sizes if anyone is interested.

Please contact Shirley Layton 805 642-2683.

  Table of Contents.

CHIPS & BOULDERS.

TRI-CLUB MEETING to be held at The Lexington in Ventura at 10:00 am on Saturday, February 23rd. All are invited to attend.

For Sale - The club has a 14 inch slab saw for sale! It's used and in need of a blade, but runs smooth and quiet, and is an ideal size for the garage. At $75.00 it's a bargain and the club has contacts for inexpensive blades. Don't hesitate, call Greg at 647-9214.

ZZYZX - Earth Science Studies at ZZYZX March 24 to 31, 2002 is SOLD OUT, with a considerable number of names on the waiting list. We are sorry that we cannot take every one, as this is a very popular seminar. - Florence Meisenheimer.

SELL DONATION AWARD TICKETS - Call Jim or Nancy Brace-Thompson (805) 659-3577 if you need more. The pre-show sales are MOST important. SELL! SELL! SELL! - You can get more at the February meeting, lets inundate Jim with requests!

CFMS Newsletter - Any one wishing to subscribe to the CFMS Newsletter may do so by sending a check made out to California Federation of Mineralogical Societies, Inc. for $5.50 to Pat La Rue, P.O. Box 1657, Rialto, CA 92377-1657. Send a note requesting a subscription. There are 11 issues, very informative and well worth it.

January host was Sharon Cunningham - Sharon had some mighty tasty home made goodies. She mentioned something about some of it not coming out right, but don't think anyone noticed and it sure didn't bother us! Thanks Sharon for adding to the pleasure of the meeting. Sharon has lined up the following: Greg and Valli Davis - February, Shirley Bromser & Chloe Baer - March, Sharlyne Holloway & Shirley Layton - April and Nancy & Jim Brace-Thompson - May. There are 6 months left!!! Hurry and pick your month and let Sharon know your choice at 805 649-3579. Thank you all for coming to the table (so to speak) on this as many hands make the task much easier!

Door Prize Drawing to Change with the New Year - With the permit requirements and paperwork involved the board has voted to change the door prize procedure for the coming year. Everyone will be given a free ticket at the door (must be wearing your name tag). All the Pebble Pups will be given a prize. The only drawing will be for the free door prize. Name Tags will be available at the door for the guests.

VGMS Workshops - They are held on the third Saturday of each month from 9:00 until noon unless otherwise notified. The 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.

Coast Geological Society - We have some members who are members of the Coast Geological Society. They have some really interesting programs which are open to all. They meet at the American Legion Hall, 83 S. Palm Street, Ventura, CA. Social Happy Hour 6:00 pm, Dinner - 7:00 pm and Speaker at 8:00 pm. Cost is $12 with reservations, $17 without reservations, $7 for Students and K-12 Teachers. Steve Mulqueen or Dave Mautz can give you more details. The bulletin comes out a bit too late to catch the current month program so their upcoming schedule is as follows:
     March 19, 2002 - John Crowell, Geology of Ridge Basin Region, Southern California;
     April 16, 2002 - Mike Nelson, California Oil Museum, "Bard, Stanford, and the 1860s Hunt for California Crude".

VGMS Website Comments - Following are a couple of responses we have gotten from viewers of our Website. You may want to correspond with them -
     Hello from beautiful, bountiful, downtown Townsend, Montana. We are located 30 miles South of Helena, the capital of Montana, and at the upper end of Canyon Ferry Reservoir. Locally we are able to find many fossilized seashells, an occasional camel and an occasional horse.
     We are located about 150 miles from the dinosaur nests of egg mountain where Jack Horner made some of his most famous and earliest finds, and some 300 miles from Hell Creek where he is currently digging five recent T-Rex finds.
     Your group sounds like an interesting bunch and I'd like to keep in touch...any chance to subscribe to your "Rambling", or is it just distributed on the 'net? My principal interest is in paleontology (very amateur).
     Thanks for an interesting hour spent reading "Ramblings," and thanks for reminding me of the Burma Shave signs!
          Paul Bray,
          Townsend, MT 59644.

     I really enjoy reading your monthly "Ramblings". Keep up the good work. I know it's a lot of hard work but I appreciate your making it available to us Easterners. My wife and I were out at Wiley's Well area this last spring and used your map of the area for a reference to the Houser Beds.
          Joe Dunleavy,
          Richboro, PA 18954.

Many thanks to our Webmaster - Jim Layton! He does a Great Job and that's not prejudice speaking!

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!! jns@west.net - Thanks!

  Table of Contents.

IN MEMORIAM,
William F. Bogner Jr.

William F. Bogner Jr., 52, passed away on January 9, 2002 after a hard fought battle with cancer. Bill was with the Ventura Police Department for 30 years. Some of the long time VGMS members will remember Bill as a very active, hardworking Pebble Pup. In fact, for many years the whole Bogner family was dedicated, hard working and the "life of the party" at meetings, on field trips and in exhibit ventures. Unfortunately sickness began to cut into their participation and, all too soon, terminated it. It was a big loss for the Society.

Contributed by Myrle Kirk.

  Table of Contents.

SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Rules of Life (1).

Never give yourself a haircut after three margaritas.

You need only two tools - WD-40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move and it should, use the WD-40. If it moves and shouldn't, use the duct tape.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

  Table of Contents.

COUNTDOWN TO SHOW TIME,
Getting Our Ducks Lined Up in a Row.

We're counting the days--not months or weeks--to our annual show, and every hour now counts in getting our ducks in a row. Here's what's left in our time-line:

Getting the Word Out Today through Mar. 2:
Tell friends, family, co-workers, and (especially!) people you don't even know about the Show. Pick up Show Flyers at our February meeting or call me to get some now (659-3577), and begin posting them on public bulletin boards, giving them to acquaintances, and otherwise doing all you can to get folks onto the Fairgrounds. In addition to the small flyers, we have larger flyers that can be taped to a car window to create movable billboards.

Set-up Thurs., Feb. 28 (9 AM - 6 PM):
Please: Everyone who is able, take a day or half-day off work on Thursday to assist in set-up. It's important that we have as many people as possible to help share the workload so that it doesn't fall on just a few shoulders. Some jobs are physically demanding, but many are not, and we need all the hands we can get. We need help moving supplies from the museum, laying out tables and chairs at the Fairgrounds, skirting tables and assembling display cases, arranging the Country Store and plant sale area, etc. I thank those volunteers who signed up at our January meeting, and we'll circulate the sign-up sheet again at the February meeting. Or call me to volunteer, 659-3577. We'll have lunch fixings for everyone helping.

Move-in Fri., Mar. 1 (all day & evening, until 10 PM):
We'll officially open the doors to dealers, demonstrators, and exhibitors to begin set-up at noon. We need folks who can show up in the morning to help welcome and direct our dealers and guest exhibitors to their booths and campsites. This is also the day for us to set up our own displays. If you haven't yet signed up to enter a display, please fill out the exhibitor form in last month's newsletter and mail it right away or better still, call Nancy Brace-Thompson, 659-3577. It's essential that we get an accurate count of exhibitors, and we need this info in advance to include in the Show program. You don't need a huge collection to make an attractive display, so if you've never displayed before, don't be shy! We can help with ideas and pointers, and we'll talk about display ideas at the February meeting. (Some pointers on what to bring for setting up your case: liners or cloth, risers, masking tape, duct tape, your specimens, labels for identifying your specimens, a name label so that people will know whose display it is, and a lot of enthusiasm--it's contagious!)

Lunch fixings will be available in the afternoon. Then we'll have our annual show dinner at the end of the day, between 6 PM and 7 PM, and if you would like to assist in preparing and serving, call Sunny Cross (642-2822) or Richard Bromser. The club will provide lasagna, bread, salad, and drinks, and we ask that club members donate desserts, so bring an appetite along with something sweet to share!

Show Time! Mar. 2 - 3 (10 AM - 5 PM Sat.; 10 AM - 4 PM Sun.):
We don't have formal sign-up sheets for the different Show jobs, so we're depending on volunteers to help upon arrival. Pick an activity that most interests you and then call the appropriate committee chair today to offer your help. We need help with:

• Hospitality. Welcome people to the show, give them the Show Program and tell a bit about our club, invite them to purchase raffle tickets for our Donation Awards drawing, and tell them about our Country Store as well as other aspects of the show; call Sharon Cunningham, 649-3579.
• Game Booth. Help Emma Mayers, 644-0799, and Jean Wise, 647-4393, organize and run activities for kids; we need donations of small rock, mineral, fossil, and lapidary specimens as prizes, and we need help in the booth itself managing the spinning wheel, grab bag sales, sand sifting for prizes, coloring books, fossil making, and other activities.
• Silent Auction. Greg Davis, 647-9214, welcomes help running our hourly silent auction. We'll need people to help announce the auction each hour, hand out prizes, and set out new prizes.
• Country Store. Help with our big rummage sale to raise funds for the club. This is a major source of revenue for us, so call Shirley Layton, 642-2683 to help ensure a successful store this year.
• Plant Sale. Call Susan Mulqueen to help sell plants and cuttings. This is also a popular source of revenue for us.
• Security. Throughout the show, we ask different members to circulate among the crowd in orange security vests to present a visible security presence. To help, contact Wayne Ehlers, 482-6830. Many thanks to David Mautz and Bob Spjut for volunteering to provide overnight security on Friday and Saturday!

We also need everyone to bring donations. In particular, we'll need your help with:

• Desserts for the Show dinner from 6 to 7 PM on Friday evening; bring them to the dinner.
• Cookies to provide near the coffee area throughout the Show; give to Sunny Cross during the Show.
• Raffle prizes: mineral and fossil specimens, lapidary work, and other "showy" stuff you would see in a store window. We want to entice people to enter our raffle, so please help by donating a truly nice prize. Contact me (Jim B-T, 659-3577) if you have material to donate.
• Silent auction: rough material for lapidary work, large pieces of petrified wood, large mineral specimens, etc. The showier the material, the higher the bids will be. We'll get much of this from our club rock pile, but if you have any donations, contact Greg Davis, 647-9214.
• Kids prizes: small pieces of jewelry, tumbled stones, polished slabs, fossils, mineral specimens, etc., are needed as prizes, along with plastic and paper grocery bags; contact Emma Mayers, 644-0799, and Jean Wise, 647-4393.
• Country store: garage sale sorts of items, as well as magazines and books related to rockhounding or other hobbies, and grocery bags for people to carry away their purchases; contact Shirley Layton, 642-2683.
• Plant sales: plants, cuttings, and related materials, as well as cardboard flats and plastic and paper grocery bags for people to pack their purchases in; contact Susan Mulqueen.

Dismantling: Sun., Mar. 3, 5 PM:
It ain't over 'till it's over. Please don't pack up your own goodies and run at the end of the Show. We'll need a lot of strong arms and backs to help reverse what we did on Thursday in order to pack up everything and return it to its place. To thank everyone, we'll have our annual pizza delivery once all is packed away and the final floor is swept clean.

Receipts:
If you've incurred expenses for jobs you've done on behalf of the show, all receipts are due to Richard Bromser within 10 days of the Show so that he can balance the Show books.

THANK YOU!!
Finally, I offer my heart-felt thank-you to each and every Show committee member for what has proven to be a very smooth count-down to Show 2002, as well as to each club member, our dealers, demonstrators, and our guest exhibitors. It's shaping up to be a great show, and I'll see you at the Fairgrounds!

Submitted by Jim Brace-Thompson, Show Chair.

  Table of Contents.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

     January 23rd Ray Meisenheimer gave a tour of VGMS Museum to a group of home studies children. There were 7 young people and 4 adults.
     Early in March there will be a group of 30 to 60 children from Briggs School in Santa Paula. (Editors Note: Ray will need some help here! Give him a call.)
          Florence Meisenheimer.

  Table of Contents.

PUBLIC OUTREACH.

On February 3, 2002 Steve and Susan Mulqueen prepared an exhibit for the "Rock of the Month Exhibit" at the California Oil Museum in Santa Paula. The exhibit will be Crinoid fossils on loan from Ray & Florence Meisenheimer.
     Name: Crinoid Fossils,
     Age: Devonian Period, 390 Million years old,
     Geological Unit: Golconda Formation.

Crinoids are marine animals that live today, primarily in reef environments throughout the oceans of the world. They belong to the Class Crinoidea and are often referred to as "sea-lilies" or "feather stars". Many extinct crinoids are preserved as fossils in sedimentary rock units. The fossils represented in the exhibit are from the Devonian period of geologic time (390 million years old) and were found in Lawrence County, Indiana.

The California Oil Museum is a great place to visit. Be sure to do so if at all possible and check out Steve and Susan's display and Ray & Florence's fossils! Thanks to all of you!

  Table of Contents.

MARCH BIRTHDAYS.

Happy Birthday to all those born in March. We all wish you good health and hope you have a Great Day! Please let me know if I have missed your birthday. Please call Shirley Layton at 642-2683 and leave a message if I'm not there. Thanks!

     March -Happy Birthday!!
          Shirley Curl - 4th,
          Emma Mayer - 8th,
          Inez Shakman - 12th,
          Greg Davis - 18th,
          Cindy Treutelaar - 27th,
          Aruna Shah - 28th.

The March birthstone is the Aquamarine and the flower is the Jonquil.

AQUAMARINE, the blue variety of beryl.

VARIETY INFORMATION.

• VARIETY OF: Beryl Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈.
• USES: Gemstone.
• BIRTHSTONE FOR: March.
• COLOR: various shades of blue to blue-green.
• INDEX OF REFRACTION: 1.57 - 1.60.
• BIREFRINGENCE: 0.004 - 0.008.
• HARDNESS: 7.5 - 8.
• CLEAVAGE: one direction, poor.
• CRYSTAL SYSTEM: hexagonal.
• Pleochroic: weak.

Aquamarine is the blue, or perhaps more correctly, blue-green or aqua variety of the mineral beryl. Other gemstone color varieties that belong to beryl include emerald, morganite, and heliodor. Other colors of beryl are simply refered to by their color, such as red beryl.

     Aquamarine is colored by trace amounts of iron that find their way into the crystal structure. Most gem aquamarines have been heat treated to produce the popular blue-green colors from less desirable yellow or pale stones. The leading producer of aquamarines is the country of Brazil, which has many mines. Pakistan, as well as many U.S. localities, produce wonderful specimens as well.

          Copyright © 1995 by Amethyst Galleries, Inc.

  Table of Contents.

MEMBERSHIP.

New members:
Donald & Lorraine Edmonson, Ashley (age 10), and Jonathan (age 5 1/2) have joined the VGMS. Their interest began with daughter Ashley picking up rocks at age two. Ashley entered her collection in the Ventura County Fair last summer. She took a second place and $4.00 prize money. She might have had first place if Mom hadn't transposed some letters on the label! They are really looking forward to the next Pebble Pup meeting where they will learn how to set up a case. The family is compiling a Family Rock Diary to make sure that the location of their finds are properly listed along with the scientific name of the rock or fossil found. Son Jonathan was very excited with the collecting trip to Topanga Canyon. He got to use a trowel all by himself to rake through the rocks looking for Turitella shells.
     Lorraine is very happy about the pebble pup group for both her children and her Girl Scout troop when the time comes for them to earn geology badges. Donald sings in his church choir and won't be able to attend the Wednesday meetings but will participate in trips and help in any way he can in the club.

Donna Stephens and her children son Cody, (6th grade), daughter Dallas (4th grade) and daughter Callie (Kindergarten) have joined the VGMS Pebble Pup group. Donna is the mother of 7 children. She has taken on the incredible responsibility of home schooling her 3 youngest children this year. She is also a Webelos Scout leader.
     Donna wants to make her children's earth science studies broad and educational. She is also interested in having the club play a role in the geology sections of her Webelos group. She had Ray Meisenheimer speak several times in the past to her Scout groups. She says the children stay very quiet and listen to everything Ray says. They love his presentations. If anyone else has worked with the Scouts and would like to assist her as well please give Donna a call at 646-3735.

With enthusiasm like this from the Stephens and Edmonson families, the club is going to have a wonderful and interesting year.

Inez Shakman, Membership Chairperson.

Update your Membership Directories (New ones won't be out until April.) & welcome these new members:
Laura Benard - Pebble Pup Becky,
     126 Feliz Dr.,
     Oakview, CA 93022,
     (805) 649-3631.
Donald & Lorraine Edmonson - Pebble Pups Ashley & Jonathan,
     7451 Nixon St.,
     Ventura, CA 93003,
     (805) 659-4347.
Kim Magno - Pebble Pup Sam,
     7944 Stone Street,
     Ventura, CA 93004,
     (805) 659-0503.
Donna Stephens - Pebble Pups Cody, Dallas & Callie,
     3475 Padre Juan Ave.,
     Ojai, CA 93023,
     (805) 646-3735.

New Address and Phone Number:
Allie Buck,
     1605 Washington Ave.,
     Baker City, OR 97814-2700,
     (541) 523-4971.

This is a letter we received with Allie's dues:

Dear Inez,
     I hope this isn't too late. I'm sending a check for my 2002 dues.
     We also have changed our address. It's now in Baker City, Or. (See Above).
     Had a very bad sick spell about a year and a half ago. Still getting over it. Now get around with a walker & wheelchair. But I'm getting better all the time. I thank God I made it & still have my mind.
     I wish the club the best of everything and still read the bulletin to keep up with what's going on.
     I wish everyone the best in 2002.
Sincerely,
Allie L. Buck.

  Table of Contents.

HOSPITALITY.

     This was the first month with our new Pebble Pup program. There were 16 Pups in attendance and all had a great time. They all came away with big smiles and proudly displaying their fossils. One father asked his son if he wanted to stay for the regular meeting and he said yes, he didn't ever want to go home as it was too much fun. I said he might be hungry by breakfast and he said no, he didn't eat breakfast anyway! It was great to see the excitement on their faces.
      We had 28 members, 3 guests and 10 remaining pebble pups for the regular meeting. Sharon Cunningham supplied us with some great refreshments and the fellowship throughout was wonderful. We started our new prize drawings. Everyone was given a ticket without charge and three prizes were drawn. The lucky winners were Nancy Brace-Thompson, Ray Meisenheimer and Richard Bromser. All the Pebble Pups were given a prize as well. We look forward to seeing you all, and more, at the next meeting.

  Table of Contents.

May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sunshine warm your faces,
And the rain fall softly upon your fields.
But until we meet again, may god forever
hold you in the palm of His hands.
Del McNeal.

  Table of Contents.

"PEBBLE PUP NUGGETS."

Pebble Pup Corner:
We had 16 pups attend our first meeting on 1/23. They left with self-created fossils, a Chapter pin from our national organization, a rock-coloring book, and lots of dinosaur info. The following Saturday 11 pups (some new ones) participated in our first field trip to collect marine fossils in the Topanga formation. Everyone came away with a specimen collection of common gastropods of the mid-Miocene era (8-10 million yrs ago). We had a picnic at a local park afterwards. I understand quite a few children shared their loot at school the following week. I am so grateful to all you parents for this wonderful start!
     We will have had a tour of our workshop and museum on Saturday, February 9th, with Ray Meisenheimer by the time you read this.
     Our next meeting is 2/27 at 6:30 to design a display case for our annual show of 3/2-3/3. Please be sure to bring several specimens from your collection. It would be helpful if you can identify them; all items will be returned. If you are new, bring any cull rocks you can find. The children will be able to take what they learn and individually enter displays in this summer's Fair. Speaking of the show, we can use volunteers to man the family booth all that weekend; please call me if you can help. Also, be sure to bring the pups to this free event.
     Be sure to review everything in your blue packet.
     Lorraine Edmonson has offered to bring snacks next meeting. It would be great if each family could rotate this task, so let me know which month you'd like.
     Also be sure to read the newsletter each month. Let me know of any input you have.
          Thanks, Emma.


"Future Rockhounds of America."

Emma and the Pups received the following letter from the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies:

Dear Emma;

     It is our pleasure to congratulate you and your Pebble Pups sponsored by the Ventura Gem and Mineral Society, Inc. This gives us another Future Rockhounds of America Club in the California Federation of Mineralogical Societies.
     The Future Rockhounds of America program has been very successful during the past two years as we have had many new clubs formed.
     We hope that you have a successful club and if we can be of any assistance to you, just contact us.

Sincerely,
Dan McLennan, AFMS Central Office.


Website helpful to Pups - This is an excerpt from a Federation Report by Jeane Stultz, Federation director of the Conejo Gem and Mineral Club. An article in the CFMS Newsletter by Jim Brace-Thompson, CFMS Junior Activities Chairman, talks about a web site that guides kids to fossil prospecting. He found an article in the October issue of Natural History Magazine about web sites for kids and one of the sites is called "Follow a Fossil". Created as an educational outreach effort by the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and funded by the National Science Foundation, its web address is: www.dmnh.org/denverbasin2/fossil.

According to Jim, this would be a perfect site to explore with kids prior to a field trip for fossils to reinforce the fact that collecting is only the beginning of the story when it comes to fossils. There's a lot more involved in preserving your finds but while it involves a lot of work, it's also clear from the text in the web site and from the pictures that these scientists also know how to have fun!


Pebble Pup Birthdays - March.

• Callie Stephens - 19th.

     We all wish you a Happy Birthday and a Great Day with your pockets filled with fossils, rocks & minerals. If we have missed your birthday, please let Emma know and we will catch it next month.


Pebble Pup Dates to Remember:

• 2-27-02 - Pup Meeting, The Lexington - 6:30 pm - "Pup Display for Show" with Greg Davis.
• 3-2 & 3-02 - VGMS Show - Hope you all can attend and help where needed.
• 3-9-02 - Tri-Club Field Trip - Faria Beach (Rincon Beach) - Leader Jerry Adlof (805) 579-7343 or 583-5242.
• 3-16-02 - VGMS Work shop - VGMS Museum 9 to Noon.
• 3-25-02 - Cabochon Class at VGMS Museum - 5:00 pm.
• 3-27-02 - Pup Meeting, The Lexington - 6:30pm - "Crystals".

Pups - Can you find the "B is for..." Coloring page in this bulletin? Color it and bring to share with the group on the 26th! Have Fun!! (You adults can color too!!)

Webmaster's Hint: It's near the end.

  Table of Contents.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Rules of Life (2).

The five most essential words for a healthy, vital relationship: "I apologize" and "You are right".

Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

  Table of Contents.

SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

YOU MIGHT BE ADDICTED TO THE INTERNET.

IF---:
You have two phone lines but no phone;
You change your dog's name from Bowser to Browser;
You see an underlined sentence in the paper and have the urge to point and click it;
You wake up at 3 A.M. to go to the bathroom and stop and check your e-mail on the way back to bed.
          via John Sharp, via The Petrified Log - 12/01.

  Table of Contents.

TRI-CLUB FIELD TRIPS - 2002.

  Table of Contents.

ACTON FIELD TRIP,
January 19, 2002.

     The Acton Field Trip kicked off with a breakfast meeting of about 28 rockhounds at the Acton McDonalds. In addition to representatives from all three local clubs, there were two members of the Del Air Club, a few pebble pups, several guests and a few dogs on hand to enjoy the hunt.
     We visited three sites in the area, all of which are in the open spaces where houses have not yet taken over. The finds were mostly agate nodules. A lucky (or skilled ) few found pieces of saginite.
          Ron Wise, Field Trip Chairperson.

  Table of Contents.

VGMS MINUTES.

Minutes of the VGMS Regular Monthly Meeting,
Wednesday, January 23, 2002;
     President Greg Davis called the regular monthly meeting of the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society to order at 7:45 pm on Wednesday, January 23, 2002 in the Bijou room of the Lexington, 5440 Ralston, Ventura, CA. The group was led in the salute to the flag.
     It was reported that the Pebble Pup program was a great success and was attended by 16 Pups. Many thanks were extended to Emma and the Brace-Thompsons for their efforts.
     A special Certificate of Appreciation was awarded to Wayne and Marie Ehlers for all they do for the Society and at the Museum.
     The program, a video "The Great Desert Railroad Race" was presented.
Field Trips - Ron Wise reported that there were 28 adults, several kids & 2 dogs for the Acton Field Trip. All clubs were represented. The Wiley Wells CFMS field trip was coming up on the 28th.
Show News - Jim Brace-Thompson advised there were "36" days 'til the show. We need to sell donation award tickets, bring items for the silent auction, country store, plant booth and kids' table. There were sign up sheets being distributed for the various days and the help needed. Desserts were needed for the Friday Night dinner. Flyers and Raffle tickets were available, see him or Nancy. He was still in need of a Hospitality Chairperson.
Treasurer's Report - Richard Bromser gave the treasurers report and advised that the Annual Reports would be ready for the Board Meeting.
Federation Report - Florence had no comment.
     Ray Meisenheimer advised that he had given a Museum tour to 7 kids and 4 adults. They were home-schooled kids.
     Board & Regular meeting minutes were approved as printed.
     2002 Dues are due. There were many that have not paid.
     Sharon Cunningham needs hosts for February, she brought refreshments this month. See her for your choice of month.
     Nancy Brace-Thompson is doing a club case for our show, if anyone has a few items to include, let her know.
     California State Mining & Mineral Association was asking for $1 per member donation. Our board had suggested we seek donations from members. If you would like to contribute, give donation to Richard Bromser.
     Dave Mautz did the drawing; tickets were handed out to everyone. Three prizes were given out.
     Wayne Ehlers advised that he would be starting cabbing class the last of March for 5 weeks. He would have the youth start at 5 to 7 and adults 7 to 9. He talked about Quartzsite and Tucson and urged everyone to attend if they haven't.
     Greg reminded everyone of the Wiley Wells Field Trip and thanked all for coming. Meeting was adjourned at 9:15 and refreshments were served. Next meeting to be held February 27th.
          Respectfully submitted,
          Shirley Layton.

Minutes of the VGMS Board Meeting,
Thursday, February 7, 2002;
     The regular board meeting of the VGMS was called to order by President, Greg Davis, at 7:37 p.m. at the VGMS Museum, 5019 Crooked Palm Rd., Ventura, CA.
Present: Greg Davis, Richard Bromser, Nancy & Jim Brace-Thompson, Ray Meisenheimer, Shirley Layton, David Mautz, Inez Shakman, Wayne Ehlers, Ron & Jean Wise.
President: Greg Davis raised the following topics. Dues have been slow coming in; they are needed soon in order to be able to complete our membership directory. Inez, Shirley, and Ron will be making calls encouraging members to get their dues in soon. Tri-Club Meeting is scheduled for February 23, 10:00 a.m., at the Lexington. Kay Hara of the Oxnard club will be in charge. A Solvang woman is donating some of her family's equipment and rocks to the club. In addition, she has some items for sale. Greg and some other members will be viewing and transporting the materials to Ventura on Saturday, February 9. The Pebble Pups need Federation Rules for Showcases. Ray and Jim will bring copies to the Show Meeting on Sunday, February 10, at 2:00 p.m. Cab classes, instructed by Wayne Ehlers, are scheduled for Monday nights at 7:30 p.m., beginning on March 25. Night guards for the show will be Dave Mautz and Bob Spjut (if available).
Treasurer: Richard Bromser presented the monthly report. A motion to accept the report was approved by the board. The annual report was also presented. Richard has been working on ordering food and organizing materials for the show.
Bulletin: Shirley Layton said the deadline for the next bulletin will be February 10, 2002. She is presently updating the distribution list to include new Pebble Pup parent members and their birth dates. Shirley received a donation of twenty-five semi precious stones by Howard and Sandy Young. They will be used as prizes in the kid's booth and/or as donation awards for the show. Correspondence received in the past month was reviewed.
Federation: Ray Meisenheimer (for Florence) said there was nothing new to report.
Field Trips: Ron Wise outlined the February 16-17 field trip. It will include a geological tour of Rainbow Basin National Landmark and collection in the Coyote Lake site and in sites near the Early Man Site. The Conejo club sponsors the March 9 field trip to Rincon Beach.
Membership: Inez Shakman emphasized the need for those who have not paid dues to do so soon. The Names of five new members (and two pebble pups) were submitted for approval and accepted. They are Laura Bernard (and pebble pup Becky), Don and Lorraine Edmonson (and pebble pups Jonathan and Ashley), Kim Magno, and Donna Stephens. A discussion of dates after which dues are not collected resulted in a consensus that individuals who joined after the November meeting were not to be charged for the remainder of the year. Inez has received donations of Twenty-nine Palms agate from a new closed area and of shark's teeth and some items for the kid's booth.
Show: Jim Brace-Thompson reported on progress on the Show. The following topics were discussed. Contract for the facilities was finalized. The cost was reduced somewhat from the expected $4,000, but is still more than last year. Final planning meeting for the show is scheduled for February 10 at 2:00 p.m. at the Brace-Thompson's home. The layout plan of the facility will be needed at this meeting. Sharon Cunningham, who has graciously accepted the job, will handle hospitality. Show program information is still coming in. Shirley needs complete and final information by February 22 in order to get the programs printed on time. RV Journal printed an article about our coming show. Favors for the show are fossil sand dollars, bought in Quartzsite and mounted by Steve Mulqueen. Showcases: Nancy Brace-Thompson reported that applications for showcases were slow coming in. In the next bulletin she will advertise for additional showcases, request volunteers to work at the show, and request that members bring desserts for the Friday night dinner. It was also reported that, although the exhibit area at the E. P. Foster library was not available this year, it is reserved for February next year.
     The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
          Submitted by Jean Wise.

  Table of Contents.

ALERT.

US Postal Service Irradiation Process May Affect Some Gemstones,
Contributed by Kelly Van Vleck.
     Since the recent transfer of anthrax via the mail system, the US Postal Service is seeking ways to protect postal employees and the public from this threat.
Irradiation:
     One company with which the postal service has contracted, SureBeam (a subsidiary of Titan Corp.), uses irradiation to kill the microorganisms that often contaminate food. However, this type of ionizing radiation is often used intentionally to change the color of some gem materials - and could produce an undesirable result as well.

Tests run on gems.

     Titan uses 5.6 rnegarads. For the initial tests, the GIA had tests run on gems known to be affected by irradiation in a significant way. Three sets of the samples were boxed up in the way that GIA normally ships gems.
     Because gems are often shipped through the mail more than once, one package was scanned once, one package was scanned twice, and the third package was scanned four times to see if the cumulative effect of multiple scans caused any significant difference.
     After retrieving the packages, they were scanned with a Victoreen model 2W radiation survey meter on the unopened packages as well as the individual stones. No residual radiation was found.
     The changes in appearance are noted in the chart at the end of this article. The changes from the one scan to the four scans were similar, though the degree of change was different for some stones.
Implications:
     Currently the postal service is scanning only a small portion of the mail and only letters and flat envelopes. Probably nothing will be done to packages that are sent registered or certified [the preferred method for the jewelry industry].
     FedEx, US Customs Service, Brinks, Malca Amit, and UPS confirmed that they are not currently using irradiation procedures.
     Note that some color changes would not be permanent, some will fade with exposure to light back to their original colors. Others can be changed back with heat. Still others will never revert to their original color. Also note that not all members of the same species or even the same variety will react similarly.
Reference: http://www.gia.edu/gandg/special-issue-112701.

  Table of Contents.

HR2974,
From Chris Blickfeldt,
2nd Vice President, Northwest Federation.

A new bill, HR 2974, introduced recently in Congress has caught my attention. Perhaps you have heard or seen it. This Bill deals with collection of vertebrate fossils and has far reaching consequences. This Bill is in committee in the House and looking for a sponsor in the Senate. If passed it could change the way we collect and sell vertebrate and invertebrate fossils.

I talked to the famous Dinosaur Hunter and Paleontologist, Jack Horner, about this Bill. He said the Bill was designed to stop commercial collectors and not designed to affect amateurs. The Bill has many contradictions and leaves decisions to local land managers to use their own interpretations of the law. Everybody needs to read the whole Bill, but the way it is written is a travesty to rockhounds.

I would urge each of you to write your Congressman and ask that HR2974 be opposed as it is written.

AFMS Newsletter - February 2002.

  Table of Contents.

HOOVER.

From "Joke of the Day" via the Internet.

Father Murphy was playing golf with a parishioner. On the first hole, he sliced into the rough. His opponent heard him mutter "Hoover!" under his breath.

On the second hole, the ball went straight into a water hazard. "Hoover!" again, a little louder this time.

On the third hole, a miracle occurred and Fr. Murphy's drive landed on the green only six inches from the hole!

"Praise be to God!"
He carefully lined up the putt, but the ball curved around the hole instead of going in.

"HOOVER!!!!"

By this time, his opponent couldn't withhold his curiosity any longer, and asked why the priest said "Hoover"."It's the biggest dam I know."

AFMS Newsletter - February 2002.

  Table of Contents.

THE AFMS WEB SITE.

The AFMS Web Site address is:
http://www.amfed.org/.

  Table of Contents.

FIBER OPTIC GEMS: WHAT ARE THEY??

Fiber optics was developed as a result of the mineral ulexite. Also known as TV rock, it is a hard, brittle, fibrous stone which when writing is placed underneath, will allow the image to appear on the surface of the stone.
     This led to the theory that if this type of fibrous material could be manufactured, it could be used in many different ways where image transmission was needed. Fiber optic cables were at first very slender and flexible, used in surgeries and in household decorations.
     The manufacturing technology improved and soon manufacturers were spinning out miles of cable for a new application -- data transmission lines. These lines can be up to two inches across. The cable consists of thousands of pairs of optic fibers. Each pair carries data for phone, computer, fax, etc. Since the sides of the cable are reflective, there is no need for insulation or shielding around each fiber, as in old phone lines. This translates to more pairs in a smaller space. For us in the hobby, this created one of the newest gem treasures.

FIBER OPTIC CABS - In order to make a fiber optic cabochon, the cable scraps are first cut into small lengths The cable is then either cut into spheres or it is sectioned parallel to the length of the fiber. Once the slices are made it is cut much like any other gem. However care must be taken to protect the ends of the cable from splintering, catching cutting dirt, abrasives, etc.
     There is an interesting thing about fiber optic gems. If you look at them from a 90 degree angle from the eye of the gem, the gem will be transparent to light maintaining its properties for light transmission.
          From Bill Grimes in The Rockhound, via Rocky Review 10/01.

  Table of Contents.

EXPLORING HARDNESS IN
GEMSTONE IDENTIFICATION.

Written especially for Lapidary Digest,
Copyright 1998,

By Dr. Bill Cordua,
University of Wisconsin-River Falls,
via AFMS website.

     Hardness tests of minerals are among the easiest and most useful tests to perform. What rockhounds speak of as hardness is more accurately described as resistance to abrasion. We are testing how easily one substance will scratch another. As an example, copper is relatively easy to scratch, but would you bet on diamond or copper standing up better to blows from a hammer? Hammer blows measure the ease with which something fractures or its tenacity. There are other hardness scales that are based on ease of indentation, resistance to twisting and so forth. For the sake of simplicity and standard usage, in these articles, hardness will refer to the resistance to abrasion as given by Mohs' Scale.
     The scale for hardness was published in 1822 by Frederick Mohs, an Austrian mineralogist who got the concept from scratch tests performed by miners. Since Mohs published the scale, it bears his name rather than that of the unknown genius who thought of it. The scale selects 10 minerals as standards, arranging in order these minerals were selected for their abundance, as well as their differing hardness. The scale is uneven. For example, diamond at 10 is much harder then corundum at 9, while fluorite at 4 is only slightly higher than calcite at 3.
     A more limited but practical scale can be easily and cheaply obtained by observing your fingernail has a hardness of 2.5, a penny has a hardness of about 3.5, glass and a steel nail have nearly equal hardnesses of 5.5 and a streak plate has a hardness of 6.5. If I carry a nail and streak plate with me and can scrounge up a penny, I've got a handy, light weight mineral testing lab.
     More expensive sets can be bought. A set with small samples of all of Mohs' minerals allows a bit more precision in testing. The specimens do lose their usefulness the more they are scratched up in various tests. As an alternative, one can custom build their own Mohs set through collecting or purchasing small fragments of the needed minerals. Other vendors provide sets of hardness pencils with tips of two natural or artificial substances of measured hardness. These are handy in that they are very precise and allow one to test a small surface easily.
     Most mineralogy texts give tables of mineral hardness. Particularly complete and useful tables appear in John Sinkankas' "Gemstone and Mineral Data Book". Doing hardness tests requires some technique. You need to find a good surface or edge on your unknown to test. Take care to make sure you are testing the right grain - not the bit of quartz right next to it. In some cases it is easier to scratch the unknown across the standard (the point of a unknown mineral grain across a calcite cleavage). In other cases it is easier to test the standard across the unknown (tip of a nail across cleavage surface of the unknown grain). In an ideal case, you should try to do both to double check your findings. You need to press hard enough to good effect, but not so hard as to fracture either sample. Practice will help you get the proper level.
     As a result of your test, you will look for a scratch. Rub aside any powder to see if a distinct scratch has been left. Calcite will leave a trail of powder across quartz. Rub away the powder and you'll see the quartz is unharmed. A hand lens will help you see the scratch. In this way you can bracket the hardness of your unknown between two of your standards (harder than a fingernail, softer than a penny). The ease with which one substance scratches another is also useful. Quartz easily scratches calcite, telling you of a large hardness difference. Quartz will scratch feldspar with much more difficulty. When testing a standard against an unknown that is of equal hardness, both substances will leave shallow scratches on each other.
     The hardness of a particular mineral may vary with direction within the same grain. Kyanite is a good example. Kyanite generally occurs in long bladed crystals. The hardness taken the short way across the blade has a hardness of 7 the hardness taken the long way along the same grain will be 4.0. Muscovite is another good example of this. Its hardness is 2.5 when taken across a flat surface of a cleavage sheet, but 4 when taken across the grain of a book.
     The reason hardness varies in this way is that the phenomenon depends on the strength of the bonds holding the mineral together. The bond strength can be significantly different in different directions in the minerals giving the different hardness. In most minerals this difference with direction is minor and doesn't affect the test. In the case of kyanite, this difference in hardness is a confirming test.
     Some minerals' hardness may vary from sample to sample depending on that mineral's exact chemical composition. Hornblende's hardness can vary from 5 to 6 meaning some hornblende is softer than glass, some harder. This reflects the fact that hornblende can accommodate varying amounts of sodium, calcium, iron and magnesium in its structure, which affect the details of its chemical bonding, hence its hardness
     Testing hardness of rocks is less effective than testing hardness of minerals. A rock is basically a mixture of various minerals, although it can contain non-mineral materials such as natural glass and fossils. (Fossils aren't minerals because they are organic, while glass isn't a mineral because it lacks an internal crystalline structure). Let's take a granite pegmatite for example. This might contain grains of topaz (H=8), quartz (H=7), feldspars (H=6) and muscovite mica (H=2.5). You could thus get a range of hardness depending on which grain you tested. In a coarse grained rock, identifying the individual minerals allows you to identify the rock. If the rock is fine-grained, it's harder to interpret results.
     The hardness of fine-grained rocks tends to reflect the average hardness of the minerals in them. Shales are made mostly of clay and tend to be soft. Limestones and dolostones are also soft, with a hardness of 3-4. Just watch out if quartz sand is present mixed with the carbonates! Quartzite and chert being made mostly of quartz are both very hard. The hardness of sandstone may be difficult to test. If the sand grains have not been cemented well or have been cemented by calcite, the sandstone will seem softer. The individual quartz sand grains will still have a hardness of 7, but the rock may crumble or disaggregate in your hand, making it look soft. If you think it is really soft, trying dragging the disaggregated sand grains across a piece of glass and you'll readily see the effects. Most igneous and metamorphic rocks contain much feldspar, quartz, pyroxenes and amphiboles. Their hardness is thus going to be between 6 and 7. This means hardness is not a good way to distinguish one of these rocks from another. Volcanic glass will typically have a hardness of 5.5 - 6.0 depending on its particular chemical composition.
     The hardness or rocks and minerals is also dependent on the degree of weathering. Weathering may convert feldspars (H=6) to clay minerals (H=2-3) Even corundum (H=9) can alter and have rims of softer minerals such as margarite (H=3.5-4.5) around it. This is why it is important to test as fresh or unweathered a surface as you can while doing hardness tests. Mohs' scale has stood the test of centuries as a useful tool.

via The Bulletin, Victor Valley Gem & Mineral - 2/02.

  Table of Contents.

SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

HOW BENITOITE BECAME CALIFORNIA'S GEMSTONE,
By Shirley Leeson, CFMS Historian.

     Carmelita Swarts of the San Diego Mineral & Gem Society began this project in 1984 because the SDMG club was hosting the AFMS/CFMS National Show. We thought it would be great to have this event coincide with the show. We had a wonderful "lady" Assemblywoman, Lucy Killea from San Diego and "Rusty" Areias from the 25th Assembly District, San Benito County carry the bill SB-2404 through the Assembly. They didn't have any trouble with the Assembly. We were shot down in the Senate. We had failed to realize that we needed a Senator to also sponsor the bill.
     In the Sacramento Bee, Monday July 2, 1984 "Assemblywoman Lucy Killea's bill to declare Benitoite as the State Official Gemstone was laughed to death Friday." The bill was unanimously approved by the Senate Judicial Committee. It should have been a consent item. By the time Mrs. Killea learned of the action it was too late to request a re-hearing. The budget, as usual, had drained the energy from the Senators, and it was closing time. There were also two other bills for the state to recognize - they were for folk dancing and grass. (Don't know, but think this was some sort of native grass, not "the" grass!)
     The Nielsen, Napa and other areas around there following Senate members voted NO: Ayala, Los Angeles / San Bernardino; Carpenter, Orange; Dills, Los Angeles; Greene, Los Angeles; Hart, Los Angeles / Santa Barbara; Keene, DelNorte / Mendocino / Sonoma; Russell, Los Angeles; Vuich, Fresno, Tulare; Johnson, Butte, etc; Lockyer, Alameda; Maddy, Fresno / Maders; Marks, San Francisco; Montoya, San Francisco; Roberti, LosAngeles; Rosenthal, Los Angeles; Seymour, Orange; Speraw, Los Angeles.
     The bill was again introduced in 1985 by Rusty Arias and Lucy Killea. This time the entire CFMS was willing to work to get this bill passed. The names of those who had voted no were lobbied. This time the Bill was AB-2357. Charles Leach, CFMS President, 1984 went to Sacramento to lobby as well as those who lived in or near Sacramento. The bill finally passed the Senate on Wednesday, Sept 11, 1985. The Governor signed the bill on October 1, 1985. Those voting in the negative this time were: Boatwright, Contra Costa; Lockyer, Alameda; Presley, Riverside; Seymour, Orange; Stem, Kern / Kings / Los Angeles.
     Not voting were: Ayala, Los Angeles / San Bernardino; Foran, San Francisco; Garamendi, Alpine, Amador etc; Green, Sacramento; Hart, Los Angeles; Montoya, Los Angeles; Nielsen, Butte / Colusa, etc; Richardson, Inyo / Los Angeles; Rosenthal, Los Angeles; Russell, Los Angeles; Vuich, Fresno, Tulare.
     There is a beautiful specimen in the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum that is on loan from the CFMS. It is taken each year from there to the CFMS convention, and then returned.

  Table of Contents.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Rules of Life (3).

When you make a mistake, make amends immediately. It's easier to eat crow while it's still warm.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

  Table of Contents.

HINTS & TIPS FOR ROCKHOUNDS
(Use at your own risk).

To preserve newspaper clippings of your accomplishments, dissolve a milk of magnesia tablet in a quart of club soda overnight. Pour into a glass pan large enough to accommodate the flattened clipping. Soak clippings an hour. Remove and pat dry. Estimated life span-200 years! - Brukner Rockette 4/01 via Rocky Review 2/02.

USES FOR:     Chalk - wipe a piece of chalk over your jeweler's files. The chalk keeps the file from clogging, and you can blow the chalk out.
                        Old Candle or Beeswax - Silversmiths draw your jeweler's saw through a hunk of this. It will coat the blade and you can saw faster. - Rockfinder 10/91 via Rocky Review 2/02.
                        Mineral Oil has many uses. It is fine for preserving borax crystals from hydration changes. It makes varicite a deeper green, and improves the appearance of fluorite and calcite.

When shaping and polishing your stones, do not press hard. Let the machine do the work. By pressing hard all you do is wear out the wheels, yourself, and cut deep scratches in the stone. You have better control over your work with a light touch. Grind your stone on high speed, sand on medium speed, and polish on a low speed, all with a light touch. - The Tumble Rumble 3-01 via The Bulletin, Victor Valley Gem & Mineral 2-02.

  Table of Contents.

MARIPOSA MINERAL & GEM SHOW.

     Plans are underway for our Mariposa Mineral & Gem Show that is scheduled for the weekend of April 20-21, 2002. Due to the success of our First annual Show, we anticipate that this year's show will be bigger. We have plans to expand to Exhibit Bldg. A in addition to Exhibit Bldg. B. Both buildings are adjacent to our museum at the Mariposa Fairgrounds. Again, the show will be free to the general public.
     If you are interested in participating in our show as a vendor or exhibitor, information packets (with registration forms) are available by request.

• Fax (209) 966-3597,
• E-mail: mineralmuseum@sierratel.com,
• Mail: Department of Parks & Recreation, California State Mining & Mineral Museum, P.O. Box 1192, Mariposa, CA 95338.

  Table of Contents.

2002 CFMS CLUB SHOWS.

MARCH 1-3; HAYWARD, CA - Mineral & Gem Society of Castro Valley, Centennial Hall, 22292 Foothill Blvd. Hours: Fri. & Sat. 10-6; Sun. 10-5. Cheryl Archer CLAjewel@aol.com, 21003 Wilbeam Ave., Castro Valley 94546.
MARCH 1-10; EL CENTRO, CA - Imperial Valley Gem & Mineral Society, Imperial Valley Expo & Fair. Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 4-10 pm, Fri.-Sun. 10am to 10pm.
MARCH 2-3, ARCADIA, CA - Monrovia Rockhounds, Inc., The Arboretum of Los Angeles County, Ayres Hall; 301 N. Baldwin Avenue. Hours: 9-4:30 both days. Jo Anna Ritchey (636) 359-1524. j.ritchey@verizon.net.
MARCH 2-3; VENTURA, CA - Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, Seaside Park (Ventura County Fairgrounds), 10 West Harbor Blvd. Hours: Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4. James Brace-Thompson (805) 659-3577.
MARCH 9-10; SPRECKELS, CA - Monterey Bay Gem & Mineral Society 55th Annual Gem & Mineral Show. Veteran's Hall. Hours: Sat. 10-6; Sun. 10-5. Peter Sherrill (831) 449-6242. Petkatmat@aol.com.
MARCH 9-10; TURLOCK, CA - Mother Lode Mineral Show, Stanislaus County Fairgrounds, 900 N. Broadway. Hours: 10-5 both days. Ted Magee & Bud McMillin. (209) 522-8231 or 527-8000.
MARCH 9-10; VALLEJO, CA - Vallejo Gem & Mineral Society, Solano County Building, Solano County Fairgrounds; Hwy 37 & Interstate 80. Hours:10-5 both days. Ed Hoffmark (707) 642-8754. e-mail vgms@ncal.verio.com.
MARCH 15, 16 & 17; VICTORVILLE, CA - Victor Valley Gem & Mineral Club, Tailgate, Stoddard Wells Road in Apple Valley - Call Gil Gillbert at (760) 868-6900 for more information.
MARCH 16-17; HAWTHORNE, CA - Northrop Grumman Gem & Mineral Club, 12329 Crenshaw Blvd. (Gate 16). Hours: Sat. 10-6. Sun. 10-5. Jimmy Lapham: Lapham@earthlink.net.
MARCH 16-17; SAN JOSE, CA - Santa Clara Valley Gem & Mineral Society, Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, 344 Tully Road. Hours: Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5. Ruth Bailey (408) 248-6195. http://www.slip.net/~ccox/scvgms, e-mail: scvgms@aol.com.
MARCH 23-24; BORON, CA - Mojave Mineralogical Society, Inc., Boron High School Multipurpose Room, Prospect Street. Hours: Sat. 9-5; Sun. 9-4. David Eyre (760) 762-6575.
MARCH 23-24; LA HABRA, CA - North Orange County Gem & Mineral Soc., La Habra Clubhouse; 200 W. Greenwood. Hours: Sat. 10-5; Sun 10-4. Don & Jane Livezey (714) 524-6280. e-mail JDLive27@aol.com.
MARCH 23-24; TORRANCE, CA - South Bay Lapidary & Mineral Society, Ken Miller Recreation Center, 3341 Torrance Blvd. Hours: Sat. 10-6; Sun. 10-5. Doris Turney (310) 322-2556.
MARCH 30-31; ROSEVILLE, CA - Roseville Rock Rollers Gem & Min. Soc. "Nature's Wonders", Placer County Fairgrounds, 800 All American Blvd. Hours: 10-5 both days. Elton Dean (916) 969-6733 or Betty Soper (916) 969-6733.
APRIL 6-7; HACIENDA HEIGHTS, CA - Puente Hills Gem & Mineral Club "Magic in Rocks"; Steinmetz Park, 1545 Stimson Avenue. Hours: 10-5 both days. Bob Hess (562) 696-2270. Rpsthess@earthlink.net.
APRIL 6-7; ANGELS CAMP, CA - Calaveras Gem & Mineral Society, Exhibits of Natures Wonders, Calaveras County Fairground. Hours: Sat. 10-5; Sun. 10-4. Earl Klein, (510) 632-9373.
APRIL 6-7; SAN DIEGO, CA - San Diego Mineral & Gem Society, Al Bahr Shine Center, 5440 Kearny Mesa Rd. Hours: Sat. 9:30-5; Sun. 10-4, Anne Schafer (858) 586-1637. annes@san.rr.com, Website: www.sdmg.org.
APRIL 13-14; PARADISE, CA - Paradise Gem Mineral Club 48th Annual Show, Veteran's Memoral Hall @ Elliot & Skyway. Hours: Sat. 10-5; Sun. 10-4. John Hees (530)533-5756 or Robert Lynk (530) 876-8807.
APRIL 27-28; LANCASTER, CA - Antelope Valley Fairgrounds, 155 East Avenue "I". Hours: 9-5 both days. Olan Flick (661) 943-3882.
APRIL 27-28; SANTA CRUZ, CA - Santa Cruz Mineral & Gem Society "50th Annual Show". Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium @ Corner of Center & Church Streets. Hours:10-5 both days. Sallee & Bob Brumbaugh (831) 336-5662.
MAY 4-5; ANAHEIM, CA - Searchers Gem & Mineral Society, "America's Treasures", Brookhurst Community Center, 2271 West Crescent Ave. Hours: Sat. 10-6; Sun. 11-4:30. Betty Nelson (714) 530-1365 or Nancy Norlund (714) 960-6957.
MAY 11-12; RENO, NV - Reno Gem & Mineral Society, Reno Livestock-Events Center Exhibit Hall, 1350 N. Wells Avenue. Hours: Sat. 10-5; Sun. 10-4.
MAY 17, 18, 19; ANDERSON, CA - Superior California Gem & Mineral Assoc., Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Faire 2002, Shasta District Fairgrounds, Hwy. 273. Hours: Fri. & Sat. 9-5; Sun. 10-4. Steve Puderbaugh (530) 221-6542.
MAY 18-19; NEWBURY PARK, CA - Conejo Gem & Mineral Club, Borchard Park Community Center, 190 Reino Road. Hours: Sat. 9-5; Sun. 10-5. Bob Stultz (805) 498-4220.

  Table of Contents.

AMERICAN FEDERATION / REGIONAL
SHOW SCHEDULE - 2002.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN,
April 19-21; Enid, Oklahoma.

CANADIAN FEDERATION CONVENTION,
May 4-5; 25th Anniversary,
Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

CALIFORNIA FEDERATION,
July 12-14; Placerville, CA,
Hosted by: El Dorado Mineral & Gem Society,
El Dorado County Fairgrounds.

COMBINED NWF/AFMS,
July 16-21; Port Townsend, WA.

EASTERN FEDERATION,
To be announced.

MIDWEST FEDERATION,
To be announced.

SOUTHEAST FEDERATION,
To be announced.

  Table of Contents.

SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

     Just for the record any unsigned articles are by the Editor. Thanks to everyone for their contributions and we look forward to a lot more from other members!! (That is a broad hint!!)

Trili - The Editor's Pet Trilobite.

  Table of Contents.

EDUCATIONAL CORNER.

Definition of the Month.

Permafrost:
Permafrost - Any soil, subsoil, or other surficial deposit, or even bedrock, occurring in arctic, subarctic and alpine regions at a variable depth beneath the Earth's surface in which a temperature below freezing has existed continuously for a long period of time (from two years to tens of thousands of years).The thickness of permafrost ranges from over 1000 meters in the northern latitudes to 30 centimeters in the southern latitudes. Permafrost underlies about one-fifth of the world's land area.

Source: Glossary of Geology, American Geological Institute, Falls Church, Virginia, 1980.

The "Definition of the Month" features key words which are related to geology, paleontology, mining and desert history.

Illustration of the Month.



"Panorama from Mount Trumbull",
A view of the GRAND CAÑON looking east.

This illustration is a portion of the pen & ink sketch from the "Second Annual Report of the United States Geological Survey, 1880 - 1881", by John Wesley Powell, page 110, plate XXIII, from the chapter entitled "The Physical Geology of the GRAND CAÑON District" by Capt. Clarence E. Dutton, Ordnance Corp, U.S.A.

Note the old spelling of the word CAÑON, from the Spanish language, depicting canyons in the American West.

The "Illustration of the Month" features a drawing, sketch, pen & ink rendering or an engraving print found in old books, maps and manuscripts related to geology, paleontology, mining and desert history.
     Steve Mulqueen.

  Table of Contents.

COLORBOOK.

B is for . . .

From Stoneham, Colorado

. . . Barite.
Barite is a very heavy mineral which makes it useful in drilling for oil. Its name means heavy. Barite can be white, brown, and even red. Color these crystals light blue.

A yellow beryl crystal called heliodor from Brazil.

. . . Beryl.
Beryl is found in many colors. Each color variety has a different name. Here are a few:

Light blue beryl (Called aquamarine) on silvery mica crystals. This specimen is from Pakistan.













Another variety is the green emerald. This is from Brazil.

  Table of Contents.

VGMS PHOTO ALBUM,
From Camp Paradise 2001,
Photos Contributed by Sunny Cross.

Our own Ray Meisenheimer explaining------Co-Chair of the Earth Sciences Studies (Paradise & Zzyzx).


















Our own Ed Clark looking very relaxed and enjoying the whole thing!





















Cal Clason - Co-Chair of the Earth Sciences Studies (Paradise & Zzyzx).





















Isabella Burns - Earth Science Advisor.

  Table of Contents

Return to the Rockhound Rambling Center.
You may also go to the VGMS Home Page.