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The Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. (VGMS)
Rockhound Rambling
February 2004.

Table of Contents.

• PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE;
• Board Meeting for March 2004;
• DON'T FORGET - DUES ARE PAST DUE;
• WORDS TO LIVE BY;
• FEBRUARY PROGRAM: COUNT DOWN TO SHOW TIME;
• VGMS DISPLAYED ACROSS VENTURA;
• REVIEW - JANUARY PROGRAM;
• QUARTZSITE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION - A HISTORY;
• MARK YOUR CALENDARS;
• CHIPS & BOULDERS;
• WEB SITES;
• Program Schedule for Monthly Meetings;
• MARCH BIRTHDAYS;
• HOSPITALITY;
• PUBLIC OUTREACH;
• Burnt Oil Shale Deposits of Ventura County, CA;
• How Geologic Time Periods Got Those Crazy Names;
• "FIELD TRIPS ARE FUN";
• MEMBERSHIP;
• VGMS MINUTES;
• Yesterday is a cancelled check;
• HINTS & TIPS FOR ROCKHOUNDS - (Use at your own risk);
• List of website addresses for important mineral shows;
• SHOW DATES;
• 2004 CFMS CLUB SHOWS;
• AMERICAN FEDERATION / REGIONAL SHOW SCHEDULE - 2004;
• EDITOR'S NOTE;
• VGMS 2004 Show Flyer;
• CFMS SHOW UPDATE MARIPOSA;
• The Ventura Gem and Mineral Society, Inc. 42nd Annual Show Exhibitor Application;
• TRI-CLUB FIELDTRIPS 2004: Tentative Schedule, 1/4/2004;
• EDUCATIONAL CORNER;
• VGMS PHOTO ALBUM.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.

Final details are being made for our club's most important event, the 2004 Gem & Mineral Show "Artistry from Nature" scheduled for March 6 & 7. We will need help from you for numerous tasks and activities before, during and after the show. Set-up will begin on Thursday, March 4 at the San Nicolas building and at the McBride building at Seaside Park.

During our regular meeting on February 25, Jim Brace-Thompson, our Show Chairman, will be discussing the progress of the Show planning. Details of work yet to be completed before the event opens will also be discussed. Please plan on attending!

Our Exhibitor Chairman, Ed Clark, wants all of our members to consider entering an exhibit in the Show. Please talk with him at our regular meeting if you are planning an exhibit and have not yet submitted an Exhibitor's Form. We are in need of donations for the Country Store booth and plants for the Plant booth. Shirley Layton will be managing items for the Country Store while Susan Mulqueen will be managing the Plants.

Remember, "success" is measured by the sum total of all the effort given by good people for a common cause. Please play an active role in the success of our mineral show, "Artistry From Nature".

Steve Mulqueen,
President.

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Board Meeting for March 2004.

The VGMS board meeting will be held on Thursday, March 4 at 6:00 PM at the San Nicolas building, the main building of our mineral show at Seaside Park. All members are encouraged to attend. We will be talking about final details that must be completed before our show opens on Saturday, March 6.

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DON'T FORGET - DUES ARE PAST DUE.

Dues were due on January 1, 2004, but It's Not Too Late! Check the inside cover of the Bulletin (see below) for the amount due and stop now and send a check made out to VGMS to Sharon Markley, 1686 Kenewa, Ojai, CA 93023. We want you in the Directory and we want to keep sending the bulletin.

Webmaster's Note: Go to the VGMS Information Page for dues information.

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WORDS TO LIVE BY.

Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.

If you see someone with out a smile give them one of yours.

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

Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.

Collected by Wayne Ehlers.

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FEBRUARY PROGRAM:
COUNT DOWN TO SHOW TIME,
Lining Our Ducks 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 March 6:
     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 our quarter-page flyers, we have larger flyers that can be taped to a car window to create movable billboards.

Set-up - Thursday, March 4 (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 we have as many people possible help share the workload so 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. We'll circulate a sign-up sheet at the February meeting. Or call me to volunteer, 659-3577. We'll have lunch fixings for everyone helping.

Move-in - Friday, March 5 (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 Ed Clark, 983-0028 and/or give him a completed form at the February meeting. It's essential 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 we'll talk about displays 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 Ray and Florence Meisenheimer (642-3155) or Richard and Shirley Bromser. The club will provide the main course, 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. 6 - 7 (10 AM - 5 PM Sat.; 10 AM - 4 PM Sun.):
     We'll circulate sign-up sheets for the different Show jobs at the February meeting, and we're also depending on volunteers to help upon arrival during the Show. See what hours are open at each station, and help fill in where needed. Or pick an activity that most interests you, 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 Jean Wise, 647-4393, and Emma Mayers, 644-0799, organize and run activities for kids; we need donations of small rock, mineral, fossil, and lapidary specimens as prizes, and we especially need help in the booth itself managing the spinning wheel, grab bag sales, sand sifting for prizes, coloring books, fossil making, and other activities. This booth can become especially hectic, so we need at least 2 (and preferably 3) people running it at all times.
• Silent Auction. Greg Davis (647-9214) and Ron Wise (647-4393) both welcome help running our hourly silent auction. We'll need people to 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 members to circulate among the crowd in orange security vests to present a visible security presence. To help, contact Wayne Ehlers, 482-6830. We also need volunteers to spend a night or two providing overnight security. It's the cheapest hotel room in town!

We 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 Ray and Florence or Richard and Shirley 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 Nancy Brace-Thompson, 659-3577 with 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 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 Jean Wise, 647-4393, and Emma Mayers, 644-0799.
• Country store: garage sale sorts of items, as well as magazines and books related to rockhounding, 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 - Sunday, March 7, 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 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 2004, 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.

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VGMS DISPLAYED ACROSS VENTURA.

We now have promotional displays installed in the E.P. Foster Library on Main Street in downtown Ventura, the H.P. Wright Library on Day Road next to Ventura College, and the lobby of the County Administration Building of the government center near the corner of Victoria and Telephone. We encourage everyone to check them out! Our theme for all three displays is "The Many Facets of Rockhounding," and they demonstrate a little of everything that has attracted each of us as individuals to become members of the VGMS. One spot is devoted to field trips, another to the steps in making a cab and finishing it in a setting. Other parts show mineral and fossil collecting, gold panning, and faceting. Finally, we were sure to include photos and flyers of our Annual Show to tempt folks out of the library and down to the Fairgrounds come March 6. (In fact, within 24 hours of installing the Foster Library display, we received our first phone call asking about the club and show!) Our thanks to Mel Hixson for his great cabochons, to Ed Clark for mineral specimens and lapidary work, and to Nancy and Jim B-T for the rest of the material composing these displays.

Jim Brace-Thompson, Show Chair.

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REVIEW - JANUARY PROGRAM,
Sharing of Quartzsite Finds & Experiences.

This was an old-fashioned show and tell and what fun to share in the stories, experiences and finds of those that had been to the Quartzsite or Laughlin area. Steve and Susan Mulqueen were the first to share, Steve with an old Carbide lamp and many other good things and Susan some fossils. Kathryn Davis had a beautiful ring and other finds from Quartzsite, Wayne Ehlers had some Charoite (Sp?) from Cloud's at Laughlin. Valli Davis had a jar of her glass from Glass Beach (pictured in last month's bulletin) and some "junk and gems" from Quartzsite. Greg Davis was able to replace all his lost marbles in Quartzsite!!! These were in the form of little agate marbles and very pretty! Mel Hixson shared some E-Bay Internet fossils from the Permian period. Dave Mautz had some wonderful little fossils (what else would Dave have?!) from the Jewel Tunnel trip. Actually he had some Permian Agate Fern wood, algae cube and sharks teeth as well. Jason Badgley, a former member and hopefully a new member again as he has moved back into our area, had a geode he had found on Mulholland Drive on New Years Day. He figured he was starting the year out right!

Jim and Nancy Brace-Thompson were presented with an "Education Through Sharing" Award from CFMS by Ray Meisenheimer. Since Jim wasn't present, Nancy accepted for both.

Following is a most interesting history of Quartzsite written by Steve Mulqueen.

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QUARTZSITE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
- A HISTORY,
Written by Steve Mulqueen.

     The annual "pilgrimage" to Quartzsite, Arizona is an important event for many rockhounds, tourists and RVers. The tradition of mineral shows in Quartzsite began with the first Pow Wow Gem & Mineral Show hosted by the Quartzsite Improvement Association (QIA) in February 1967.
     The QIA began as an idea in the mind of Glen Fulton. He and his wife Ruth organized a community meeting that was held at the original two-room schoolhouse in Quartzsite on March 23, 1965. Forty-four people attended that first meeting. The organization became officially known as the Quartzsite Improvement Association, incorporated under the laws of the state of Arizona. Its purpose was to organize events and functions that would result in the betterment of the small community of Quartzsite, located in La Paz County, Arizona.
     Glen Fulton became QIA's first president. In 1966, the QIA paid for the construction of a television repeater station on Guadalupe Mountain that enabled local residents to receive 3 TV channels from the Phoenix area. (Guadalupe Mountain is located 10 miles east of Quartzsite on the south side of Interstate 10). This was a great achievement for a community that did without television up to this point in time. In 1966, land was donated to the QIA for a community center and an area for holding large outdoor events. Those who were members of the QIA knew of the mild "summer-like" climate that they all enjoyed during the late fall, winter and early spring in that region of western Arizona. The climate during this period was a major attraction for those visiting Quartzsite.
     The old schoolhouse and grounds were the site of the first Pow Wow Gem & Mineral Show held from February 9 - 13, 1967. The QIA's great success with this first gem & mineral show set the stage for the annual events that many of us enjoy each year.
     In December, 1969, the original QIA building was totally destroyed by fire. A new building, made of cinder block, was constructed as a replacement to the original structure. The present QIA Community Center is a modification of this original cinder block structure completed in the early 1970s.
     In 1971, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) donated land to the QIA that included the Quartzsite Cemetery and the Hi Jolly Monument. At that time, the QIA was recognized by the BLM as the only incorporated organization in the area. Since 1971, the QIA has managed the Quartzsite Cemetery and Hi Jolly Monument by supplying funding and by organizing work parties with volunteer help.
     From its inception, the QIA was dedicated to the benefit of the Quartzsite Community. It started the first medical center, the first fire station and the first public library. Over the years, the QIA has donated playground equipment to schools, uniforms for ball teams, computers for the public library and helped support many local organizations and civic functions. The QIA's "Bingo Fund" is used for scholarships for students from Quartzsite who are seeking higher education after graduating from high school.
     During a four-month period between November of each year and February of the following year, Quartzsite is the site of twelve major events. These include:

• Hi Jolly Daze Kick-Off Parade;
• Prospector's Panorama;
• The Main Event;
• Four Corners Swap Meet;
• Tyson Wells Rock & Gem Show;
• Rock & Roll Classic Car Show;
• Tyson Wells Sell-A-Rama;
• Sports, Vacation & RV Show;
• Hobby, Craft, Gem & Car Show;
• Pow Wow Gem & Mineral Show;
• Tyson Wells Arts & Craft Fair;
• Rice Ranch "Yawl Come" Show.

     The next time you are in Quartzsite for the annual gem & mineral shows, remember that it all started from that first meeting of the Quartzsite Improvement Association held in March 1965.
     Information in this article is from the website of the Quartzsite Chamber of Commerce - http://www.quartzsitechamber.com/.
     Written November 24, 2003.

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

2-25-04 - VGMS Regular Meeting - 7:30 pm - At the Lexington.
2-28-04 - TriClub Field Trip - Tajiguas Beach - See "Field Trips Are Fun" for more details.
3-4-04 - VGMS Board Meeting - 6:00 pm - At the Fairgrounds. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.
3-4-04 - VGMS Show Set-Up - Board meeting at Fairgrounds 6:00 pm - San Nicolas building (main bldg. for our show).
3-5-04 - VGMS Show Set-Up & Dealer/Exhibitor Dinner - Fairgrounds.
3-6 & 7-04 - VGMS "ARTISTRY FROM NATURE" Annual Show - Are we Ready?
3-8-04 - Whew! We did it!!
3-10-04 - DEADLINE FOR MARCH Bulletin Articles to the Editor!
3-19/21-04 - TriClub Field Trip - Jade Cove - See "Field Trips Are Fun" for more details.
3-20-04 - VGMS Work Shop - Museum - Open - 9-noon.
3-24-04 - VGMS Regular Meeting - 7:30 pm - At the Lexington.
3-24-04 - DEADLINE FOR APRIL Bulletin Articles to the Editor! This is early, but will be out of town on the normally scheduled weekend. Thanks for being early and I will remind you again!

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CHIPS & BOULDERS.

2004 VGMS Show is "Darned close!" - Remember to "Stock Pile" and "Publicize" and volunteer!!!

Bring to the Show:
     Desserts for Friday night dinner. Would
          prefer cakes or cookies as pies are
          messy to handle.
     Donation award prizes.
     Children's Games prizes.
     Country Store items including magazines
          (hobby related are best) and books.
     Plants.
     Grocery bags for all the booths.
     Silent Auction Material.

Plant booth - Susan Mulqueen will be managing the sale of plants at the Plant Booth at our mineral show in March. Anyone who has plants to donate should bring them to the show on Friday, March 5, 2004.

On February 6, Steve and Susan Mulqueen visited with Clay & Liz Brashears, long-time members of the VGMS. Clay and Liz donated a truckload of plants to the VGMS to be sold at the Plant Booth at our mineral show. Thank you Clay and Liz.

Country Store - Besides plants we hope you are saving your good items for the Country Store. We take most everything, but the better the quality the better price we can get. If you have any unwanted Christmas presents or items that were replaced by new Christmas presents, the Country Store is a great place to donate them. Please bring them to the Fairgrounds on Thursday or Friday if you can't get them in beforehand. If you need help transporting, give Shirley Layton a call 805 642-2683 and we will get it taken care of. Thanks everyone for making the Country Store a success in the past and hopefully this year will be an even better one!

Many Thanks to Richard & Shirley Bromser, Jim & Nancy Brace-Thompson and Steve Mulqueen for their help in pricing and packing the Country Store items on Thurs., February 12th. I really appreciate your help and support. Many thanks to the contributors as well!

Hosts and Hostesses Schedule for 2004 Meetings - Sharon Cunningham has kindly agreed to coordinate the Hosting schedule again for 2004. The schedule is as follows:
February: Greg & Valli Davis,
March: Sharon & Gary Markley,
April: Ray & Florence Meisenheimer,
May: Steve & Susan Mulqueen,
June: Nancy & Jim Brace-Thompson,
July: Shirley Layton & Sharlyne Holloway.
August through November are still open, so please see Sharon and fill in the gaps. Many thanks to all the volunteers.

CFMS Newsletters Available to all - A subscription to this newsletter costs $5.00 for 11 issues a year. If you are interested, send your request and check to California Federation of Mineralogical Societies, Inc., P.O. Box 1657, Rialto, CA 92377. It is well worth the money and I would encourage all to do it.

VGMS Business Cards Available - You can get them printed with your name and address or whatever you wish on them. They are $4.00 for 100. See Shirley Layton with the number you want and how you want them printed.

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. 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!! jns@west.net; Thanks!

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SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

WEB SITES.

AFMS Web Site - http://www.Amfed.org/,
CFMS Web Site - http://www.cfmsinc.org/,
California BLM Web Site - http://www.ca.blm.gov/.

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Program Schedule for Monthly Meetings,
Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, 2004.

In the absence of a Program Chairman for the year 2004, the President is asking for volunteers to take responsibility for planning a program for at least one of the monthly meetings. Any vacancies remaining after this request will be filled by appointment.

*The designated "Speaker" is responsible for one of the following options during the assigned meeting:
     Present a lecture;
     Invite a guest speaker, introduce him/her at the meeting;
     Present a video related to our hobby.
          Steve Mulqueen, President.


Please Note: This is a good source for programs if you have signed up for a month and need material. Florence Meisenheimer should have the full list or the CFMS website would also be of help.

Slide and Video Additions
to the CFMS Program Library:
     The new slides and videos now available in the CFMS program library are listed below. See your club Federation Director for order forms and a copy of the 2003 Slide and Video Program Catalog distributed at the June 2003 CFMS Directors meeting. The Slide and Video Program Catalog with order forms can also be found on the CFMS Website or a hard copy obtained from Pat LaRue, Executive Secretary-Treasurer for $1.50 plus $0.85 postage, total $2.35.

SLIDES:

• F-145. AGATE ABOVE ALL. 139 slides, 2003. A viewing of world agates and a start comparison - diamonds are plentiful and ugly; agates are rare and beautiful.
• F-146. DOG-GONE SAFETY'S IMPORTANT. 65 slides, 2003. A review and discussion of safety concerns before rock collecting adventures.
• F-147. ILLINOIS FLUORITE - REMEMBER THE PAST. 110 slides, 2003. The story of fluorite mining in Illinois; how fluorite was formed and views of specimens.
• F-148. DATOLITE NODULES - COPPER COUNTRY COLOR. 94 slides, 2003. Where nodules are found in Michigan's Upper Peninsula; and view lots of specimens.

VIDEOS:

• V-95. RECOVERY OF THE HYDE PARK MASTODON. 20 minutes, 2002. How a family in Hyde Park, New York unearthed a mastodon skeleton in their backyard.
• V-96. MISSION: SCIENCE DINO DIG. 28 minutes, 2002. Science educator Marcus Eriksen on his mission to find, excavate, prepare and mount a Triceratops skeleton.
• V-97. MAKING RUBBER MOLDS. 45 minutes, 2002. Artisan Ed Kristovich takes you step-by-step through the correct rubber mold process.
• V-98. WAX SPRUING AND CASTING. 73 minutes, 2002. Artisan Ed Kristovich guides you through the steps of wax spruing and intricacies of casting molten metal.
• V-99. CALIFORNIA STATE MINING AND MINERAL MUSEUM. 35 minutes, 2002. Huell Howser and museum curator Peggy Ronning tour the museum in Mariposa.

Special and Timely Video Addition to CFMS Slide and Video Library:
     To promote the CFMS & Mariposa Mineral & Gem Show, May 28-30, 2004, the library has for loan a 35-minute video on the California State Mining and Mineral Museum. The museum is located on the Mariposa County Fairgrounds, where the show will be held. Here is an excellent opportunity to introduce Mariposa and the museum to your club members. Use the order form to request the video.

By Bill Gissler, Librarian,
CFMS Newsletter 2/03.

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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 or an email will also do the trick, jns@west.net. Thanks!

March - Happy Birthday!!
     Emma Mayer - 8th,
     Andy Pletcher - 12th,
     Greg Davis - 18th,
     Callie Stephens - 19th,
     Heidi Mauer - 25th,
     Cindy Treutelaar - 27th.

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

AQUAMARINE, the blue variety of beryl.

VARIETY INFORMATION:

• Variety of: Beryl Be₃ Al₂ Si₆ O₁₈;
• 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.

Unless otherwise noted, all mineral descriptions and images, plus the related descriptions on this server are the property of Amethyst Galleries, Inc., and may not be copied for commercial purposes. Permission to copy descriptions and images is granted for personal and educational use only.

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HOSPITALITY.

Our January meeting was honored with 20 members and 2 guests, Dick Hiser and Jason Badgley. We hope to see Dick and Jason at many more meetings. Dave Mautz mentioned that he had read where Dorothy Porter had passed away. She was the wife of Jim Porter, an active member that had passed away several years ago. Also it was mentioned that one of the dealers, Dave Johnson, who has been a dealer at our show had passed away. In addition to that sad news, our hostess Sharlyne Holloway had fallen and broken her collar bone plus many down with the flu and other winter fun stuff. Sharon Cunningham brought some great dessert, which we all enjoyed and many door prizes were won by happy members (one being me!). Next month will be our show shake down and hope lots of members will be there signing up for all the jobs. The more hands available the less work for all, plus it is a lot of fun and a great way to get acquainted. See you there.

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PUBLIC OUTREACH.

     Thursday, January 15, Ray Meisenheimer spent an entire day speaking to six different classes at E.O. Green Junior High School in the Oxnard School district. In all there were 240 students, all 6th Science Studies. Ray brought along 3 boxes of fossils, rocks and minerals for students to examine. Also maps of the world showing plate tectonic movement and volcanic activity. It was an interesting and exhausting day.
     Monday, January 19, Ray gave a tour of the museum to a home school, which was a mother and eleven year old son. The youngster was interested and asked questions. The mother was impressed and said she planned to speak to several other home school groups.
     Tuesday, January 20, Ray had another group at the museum. Twenty-two children, ages 6 and 7 and 11 adults from home schools in Saugus enjoyed the tour. The children were more interested in touching and inspecting the specimens than in the talk. The adults lingered as long as they could talking and asking questions. Then the group went out to a pizza parlor to complete their day.
          Contributed by Florence Meisenheimer.

     On February 1, Steve and Susan Mulqueen prepared a new VGMS "Rock of the Month" exhibit at the California Oil Museum in Santa Paula. The theme of the new exhibit is "Petrified Wood of Arizona". One of the specimens in the display is a large polished section of petrified wood on loan from Ray and Florence Meisenheimer.
     The Petrified Wood in the display is from the Triassic Period, Geologic Unit is the Chinle Formation and the location was the Painted Desert near Holbrook, Navajo County, AZ.
Petrified Wood From Arizona - Petrified wood is a form of "fossilized" tree remains that have been partially or totally replaced by one or more mineral compounds. This process of mineral growth and/or replacement occurs after a tree dies and becomes buried by sediment layers or volcanic ash. The Petrifaction Process: The process of "petrifaction" must occur before the wood is totally destroyed by natural decay processes. After becoming buried within rock layers, water solutions rich in dissolved minerals will soak through the porous wood grains. In most petrified wood specimens, the original wood fiber is still present with the mineral compound(s). The most common minerals found in petrified wood may include quartz, agate, jasper, chalcedony and opal.
     On February 6, Steve Mulqueen donated an old "Union 76" California highway map to the California Oil Museum in Santa Paula. The map was printed in 1950 and has a reference to Union Oil Company's original museum that was in the stone and brick building on the corner of Main St. and 10th St. The museum is now managed by the City of Santa Paula. Mike Nelson, the museum administrator, has been gathering old Union 76 memorabilia for future exhibits.
          Contributed by Steve Mulqueen.

  Table of Contents.

Burnt Oil Shale Deposits
of Ventura County, CA.

     Burnt oil shale is formed through a geologic process known as combustion metamorphism. The occurrence of burnt shale can be found in Ventura County at Grimes Canyon near Fillmore, South Mountain and Adams Canyon near Santa Paula and above Highway 101 along the Rincon. There are also some occurrences of burnt oil shale in Santa Barbara County. One such deposit is at the inactive Airox rock quarry near Casmalia.
     In deposits near Grimes Canyon in Ventura County, the formation was originally deposited as diatomaceous shale with phosphate nodules and minor interbedded sandstone. This unit is a portion of the Monterey Formation, deposited during the Miocene epoch. With time, petroleum from an adjacent source-rock migrated into the pore spaces of the diatomaceous shale and sandstone. The void spaces in the originally deposited rock units included "primary" porosity (intergranular porosity) and "secondary" porosity (fractures and faults).
     After uplift and de-watering of the sedimentary unit, a subsurface fire started during prehistoric times. This fire could have been the result of spontaneous combustion or perhaps a lightning strike/brush fire at a surface outcrop. Fire resulting from an extraterrestrial event such as a meteor impact is also within the realm of possibilities as a combustion source.
     Heat from the combustion of the petroleum circulated upward as steam and "exhaust", altering rock far above the burning petroleum. This upward rise of heat allowed oxygen-rich atmosphere to circulate inward through fractures, allowing the process to continue. Volume changes caused by the combustion process added to the porosity and to the circulation of oxygen-rich atmosphere within the rock unit.
     The intense heat from the combustion process altered the rock into slag, ash and glass-textured rocks that resemble volcanic rocks such as obsidian, pumice and basalt scoria. The altered rock may have a variety of colors including red, yellow, black, brown, tan and purple. Fragments of relatively unaltered rock can be found in close contact to the altered and fused rock. This includes unaltered sandstone and shale.
     Burnt shale deposits from the Grimes Canyon areas can fall into all of the three rock-types including sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous. It is quite common to find a rock with all three rock-types in one hand specimen.
     Archeological evidence shows that members of the Chumash tribe worked pieces of the burnt shale that resemble obsidian glass into arrowheads, spear points, scrapers and other tools.
     A geologic feature that was informally named "The Rincon Volcano" was an exposure of burning oil shale on the cliff along Highway 101 above the Rincon. The exact location is along the sea cliff between the community of La Conchita and Bates Rd. Up to the mid-1960s, smoke and steam could be seen rising from the cliff face.
     Burnt oil shale is currently being mined as a source of dimension stone, decorative rock and gravel. A quarry is presently operating in Grimes Canyon along Highway 23 south of Fillmore. Most of the red and multi-colored rock that we see in Ventura along roadways, in yards and gardens was mined from the quarries in Grimes Canyon. The decorative rock in the center-divider of Victoria Avenue between Highway 126 and Telegraph Road is just one example of the burnt oil shale from this deposit.

Written by Stephen Mulqueen for the VGMS, February 2004.

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How Geologic Time Periods
Got Those Crazy Names.

The three geologic eras are the PALEOZOIC, MESOZOIC and CENOZOIC - from the Greek for ancient, middle and recent life. They are divided into 11 periods most of them named for the places where rocks from the period were first discovered.

The Cambrian Period (570-500 million years ago) is named for Cambria, or Wales. The next two periods also received Welsh names: Ordovician and Silurian for two Welsh tribes, the Ordovicies and the Siluiries.

The Devonian is named for Devonshire, England, and the Cretaceous comes from "creta", Latin for chalk, referring to the White Cliffs of Dover, England.

The Jurassic is named for the Jura Mountains in Germany, and the Permian for Perm in Russia's Ural Mountains.

The Triassic got its name because it was easily divisible into three parts and the Carboniferous is named for carbon, because most coal deposits date from that period. (The Pterodactyl Editors Note, in North America the Carboniferous is subdivided into the Mississippian, named for the Mississippi River and the Pennsylvanian, named for the coal deposits first discovered in Pennsylvania.)

The most recent periods are the Tertiary and Quaternary named for types of rocks dated to those eras. They are divided into epochs, whose names all end in "cene", a Greek root meaning recent.

Pleistocene is from the Greek for most recent. Preceding it are the Pliocene, Miocene, Oligocene, Eocene, and Paleocene, meaning more recent, less recent, little recent, early recent and oldest recent. Got all that now?

Author unknown, The Pterodactyl 4-03, via quarry Quips 11-03.

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"FIELD TRIPS ARE FUN."

Some people search for diamonds,
Some people search for gold,
Some people only pick up rocks,
At least that is what we are told.

The diamonds make you famous.
The gold you have to spend.
The rocks just bring you pleasure
And a host of happy friends.

Author unknown, Rocket City Rocks and Gems 5/00 via Quarry Quips 11/03.


TRICLUB FIELDTRIP,
FEBRUARY 28 AT TAJIGUAS BEACH:
     Enjoy a winter day at the beach! On February 28, our fieldtrip will be to Tajiguas Beach North of Santa Barbara, about two miles beyond Refugio State Beach. We will be looking for petrified whalebone and concretions with petrified wood or whalebone enclosed in rock.
     We will meet at Tajiguas beach at 9:30 in the morning, note low tide is at 11:42 am. Directions to Tajiguas Beach, take 101 north (west) 2.5 miles past Refugio Beach U turn south for 0.3 miles, stop at the first turn out space along the highway and look for Tri-Club signs in parking spot along the highway. Note the distance from California Street in Ventura is 54.1 miles.
     Bring a picnic lunch, sunscreen and plenty of drinks. Pray for a nice sunny day. We should have good conditions for rockhounding until about 1:30 to 2:00 p.m. Wear old tennis shoes and clothing that you do not mind getting oil and tar on. Bring a bucket and you might want gloves.
          Ron Wise.


TRICLUB FIELDTRIP,
MARCH 19-21,
JADE COVE AT PLASKETT POINT CAMPGROUNDS:
     For those of you who like to plan ahead, our March fieldtrip is scheduled for the 19th to the 21st of March. We'll comb the beaches for Jade, Serpentine and shells. The meeting place will be the Plaskett Point Campgrounds on Highway 1; the last town before the campgrounds is Gorda. Maps will be available at your next club meeting. Plan for all types of weather; think positive for sunshine and plan for rain.
          Ron Wise.


Be sure to see the tentative "Tri-Club Field Trip 2004 Schedule" attached to this bulletin.

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MEMBERSHIP.

REMEMBER DUES ARE PAST DUE! Send your renewals to Sharon Markley, 1686 Kenewa Street, Ojai, CA 93023 if you haven't already. You don't want to miss being in the new directories or not get a bulletin. Besides, we would miss you. Please do it today while you are thinking of it!

Membership Directory Change:

Email for Jim Brace-Thompson -Change to jbraceth@adelphia.com.

Attention New Members (or anyone needing a badge):
Need a Club Badge?
Blue Engravers is giving us a $.50 reduction per badge
for advertising space in the club bulletin!
Ventura County Shape badge $11.28 (includes. tax & ship).
ACCOUNT: Ventura Gem and Mineral Society, Inc.
Name (print clearly. It will be on your name badge):

_____________________________________________

Address:

_____________________________________________

_______________________________Zip:____________

Make check payable to and mail to (takes 5-7 business days):
Blue Engravers,
1375 Caspian Ave.,
Long Beach, CA 90813.
If ordering more than 2 badges call them for exact shipping
costs at (562) 983-5140, FAX (562) 983-5146,
E-mail BLUEGRAVR@aol.com.

  Table of Contents.

VGMS MINUTES.

Minutes of the VGMS Regular Monthly Meeting,
Wednesday, January 28, 2004:
     The regular monthly meeting of the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society was called to order by President Steve Mulqueen at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 in the Bijou Room of the Lexington, 5440 Ralston, Ventura, Ca. The group was led in the salute to the flag.
     The October regular meeting and board meeting minutes were corrected and then m/s/p as shown in the bulletin. Guests were welcomed.
     Steve asked for but received no old business.
New business:
     No treasurer's report was available.
Steve Mulqueen: The Santa Paula Oil Museum exhibit of petrified wood is in place with our club show flyers also available.
Ray Meisenheimer presented Jim and Nancy Brace-Thompson with the CFMS Certificate of Appreciation Through Sharing award. Ray also presented a mineral and fossil class to 240 students in Oxnard and also 22 students and 10 adults from a school in Saugus.
Sharon Markley: Dues are due!
Shirley Layton reminded everyone that the 10th of February will be the deadline for articles to be submitted for the bulletin.
Nancy Brace-Thompson: The next show meeting is scheduled for Sunday, February 15, 2:00 and the next Board meeting will be held at the Fair Grounds during our show. Foster and Wright Libraries will have displays set up this Monday afternoon along with the Gov. Ctr. if time permits. Anyone interested in entering a display case in the show, please contact any board member and we may even have a case left for your use. Susan Mulqueen needs any plants you may be able to give up for the plant sale.
Shawne Lardin suggested and will report back on the possibility of introducing and encouraging participation in our hobby and club to girls groups such as scouts.
     Tonight's program consisted of club members displaying and discussing purchases, finds and experiences (Stories and Treasures) from Quartzsite and Cloud's Jamboree. Steve, Kathryn, Valli, Mel and Dave stood and related their experiences to the group.
     The next Board meeting will be February 6, all are welcomed to attend and the next regular meeting will be February 25th.
     Refreshments were provided by Sharon Cunningham and door prizes were awarded.
     There being no further business, Steve adjourned the meeting at 8:55 pm.
          Respectfully submitted, Greg Davis.


Minutes of the VGMS Board Meeting,
February 5, 2004:
     The regular board meeting of the VGMS was called to order by President Steve Mulqueen at 7:30 pm on Thursday, February 5, 2004, at the VGMS museum, 5019 Crooked Palm Rd., Ventura, Ca.
Present: Steve Mulqueen, Ray and Florence Meisenheimer, Richard Bromser, Gary and Sharon Markley, Shirley Layton , Jim Brace-Thompson and Greg Davis.
Richard Bromser: Dues were due! Checks 1070-1079 were m/s/c to be used for club utilities and expenses for the month of January. A Country Store pricing event has been scheduled for February 12, 7:00 pm. Richard also handed out the annual audit report. There was a request for more milk crates and Richard will report back on the possibility of purchasing more.
Gary Markley: Most dealers for our upcoming show have reserved their spaces.
Sharon Markley: There are 34 paid members as of this date.
Ray Meisenheimer: There will be tours to the Museum coming up from Mira Monte and an Oxnard school. Lois Allman will not be teaching the silver class this year at Zzyzx.
Shirley Layton: 10th of the month is the deadline for contributions to the bulletin and March 24th for the April edition. Show dealers are now listed on our web site. Any help will be appreciated for the pricing event on February 12th, 7:00 pm.
Jim Brace-Thompson: Display cases promoting our upcoming show have been set up at the Libraries and Gov. Ctr., work on the floor plan layout will come next, publicity went to radios (and their web sites) and magazines and school flyers have been mailed out.
Steve Mulqueen: The next exhibit at the Santa Paula Oil Museum will be Arizona wood. Any contributions will be considered.
     Moroccan nautiloids have been purchased for use as the show exhibitor trophies. Steve and Susan visited Clay and Liz Brashears and picked up donated plants and minerals for our show.
     There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 pm.
          Respectfully submitted, Greg Davis.

  Table of Contents.

SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

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

Yesterday is a cancelled check; tomorrow is a promissory note; today is the only cash you have - so spend it wisely.
Author Unknown.

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

  Table of Contents.

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

When using chrome oxide for polishing jade, mix it with a solution of 1/2 water and 1/2 vinegar. - Author unknown, Stone Age News 2/03 via Quarry Quips 12/03.

Cabbing Tip: Transparent stones should be polished on both front and back. Otherwise, saw marks can show through and appear to be cracks. - Author unknown, The Pegmatite 10/03 via Quarry Quips 12/03.

Pumice for a Finish: If you are doing some silver work and want a soft finish use pumice. What! You don't have any? Guess again. Use a bit of your favorite toothpaste. Most people do not realize that pumice is the polishing agent in toothpaste. If it is fluoride toothpaste, it can also be used for cleaning crystals. - Author unknown, Goldenspike News 6/03 via Quarry Quips 12/03.

If you have sore hands from hard rock mining, soak your hands in warm vinegar water and the swelling and soreness will disappear. - Author unknown, Stone Age News 2/03 via Quarry Quips 12/03.

  Table of Contents.

List of website addresses
for important mineral shows.

Searles Lake Gem & Mineral Soc., mineral show in Trona, October 2004:
http://www1.iwvisp.com/tronagemclub/flyer.htm.
Quartzsite Mineral shows, 2004:
http://www.quartzsitechamber.com/show.schedule.shtml.
Tucson Mineral showcase, 2004:
http://www.visittucson.org/Features/index.cfm?action=Display&featureID=13.
     Steve Mulqueen.

  Table of Contents.

SHOW DATES.

The Del Air Rockhound Club has just acquired the use of a building in the San Fernando Valley, CA, for their Gem & Mineral Show. We are calling our show "The San Fernando Valley GEMboree" and it will be held on March 27th and 28th, 2004. This will be a full size show with many Dealers, Displays, Demonstrators and a youth area where scouts can earn their merit badges. Even though we have had very little time to get our show going we are advertising in all possible areas and expect to have a good show. Our Silent Auction will have a large amount of windowed material from 20 to 30 year old collections. "The San Fernando Valley GEMboree" will have Free Admission and Free Parking.

The Searchers Gem & Mineral Society will be holding their 45th Annual Gem, Mineral and Jewelry Show in Anaheim, California on May 1-2, 2004. The show is located at the Brookhurst Community Center, 2271 W. Crescent Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92801. Hours are Saturday 10 am to 5 pm, Sunday 10 am to 4:30 pm. In addition to vendors dealing in gemstones, jewelry, books, minerals and hobby supplies, demonstrators will highlight facets (pun-intended) of the lapidary arts and there will be door prizes, silent auctions, and special programs for the kids. - Karen Fox, Show Chairman, the_rox_fox@yahoo.com - (714) 832-3580 (leave a message).

  Table of Contents.

2004 CFMS CLUB SHOWS.

MARCH 5, 6, 7; HAYWARD, CA - Mineral & Gem Society of Castro Valley, Centennial Hall, 22292 Foothill Blvd. Hours: Fri. - Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5. Ron Miller (510) 538-2397.
MARCH 6-7; ARCADIA, CA - Monrovia Rockhounds, Los Angeles County Botanical Gardens, 301 N. Baldwin Avenue. Hours: 9-4:30 both days. JoAnna Ritchey (626) 359-1624.
MARCH 6-7; VENTURA, CA - Ventura Gem & Mineral Society "Artistry from Nature", Seaside Park, Ventura Co. Fairgrounds, 10 W. Harbor Blvd. Hours: Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4. Jim Brace-Thompson (805) 659-3577. E-mail: jbraceth@juno.com.
MARCH 13-14; SAN MARINO, CA - Pasadena Lapidary Society, San Marino Masonic Center, 3130 Huntington Dr. Hours: Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5. Marlene Kyte (626) 794-0519.
MARCH 13-14; SPRECKELS, CA - Salinas Valley Rock & Gem Club "Parade of Gems", Veterans Memorial Bldg., 5th & Llano Streets. Hours: Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5. William McFalda (831) 442-9964.
MARCH 13-14; TURLOCK, CA - Mother Lode Mineral Society, Stanislaus County Fairgrounds, 900 N. Broadway. Hours: 10-5 both days. Bud McMillin (209) 527-8000, Home 524-3494.
MARCH 13-14; VALLEJO, CA - Vallejo Gem & Mineral Society, I-80 & Hwy. 37 (across from Six Flags Marine World). Hours: 10-5 both days. Phyllis Malicki (707) 745-3255.
MARCH 20-21; ANGELS CAMP, CA - Calaveras Gem & Mineral Society, Inc., Calaveras County Fairgrounds. Hours: Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4. Earl Klein (510) 632-9373.
MARCH 27-28; ROSEVILLE, CA - Roseville Rock Rollers, Placer County Fairgrounds, 800 All America City Blvd. Hours: 10-5 both days. Betty Soper - Contact Gloria Tomcxyk (530) 367-2262.
MARCH 27-28; GRANADA HILLS, CA - San Fernando Valley GEMboree, Del Air Rockhounds Club, 10115 Balboa Blvd. (at Devonshire). Hours: Sat 10-5, Sun. 10-4. Bob & Maxine Dearborn, (818) 883-7851. Email: mailto: BcircleD@aol.com.
APRIL 3-4; SAN JOSE, CA - Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, 344 Tully Road. Hours: Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5. John Eichhorn (408) 749-0523. E-mail: johneichhorn@earthlink.net.
APRIL 3-4; TORRANCE, CA - South Bay Lap & Mineral Society "Nature's Treasures", Torrance Recreational Center, 3341 Torrance Blvd. Hours: 10-5 both days. Omer Goeden (818) 353-9279.
APRIL 10-11; PARADISE, CA - Paradise Gem & Mineral Club, Veteran's Memorial Hall, Skyway & Elliot. Hours: Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4. Anita Carter (530) 872-1983.
APRIL 24-25; HACIENDA HEIGHTS, CA - Puente Hills Gem & Mineral Club, Steinmetz County Park, 1545 S. Stimson Avenue. Hours: 10-5 both days. Paula Hess (562) 696-2270. Email: rphess@adelphia.net.
APRIL 24-25; SANTA CRUZ, CA - Santa Cruz Mineral & Gem Society, Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, Corner of Center & Church St. Hours: 10-5 both days. Sallee Brumbaugh (831) 336-5662.
MAY 8-9; RENO, NV - Reno Gem & Mineral Society, Reno Livestock Events Center, Exhibit Hall, 1350 N. Wells Ave. Hours: Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4. Jennifer Rhodes (775) 356-8820.
MAY 15-16; CONEJO, CA - Conejo Gem & Mineral Club, Borchard Park Community Center, 190 Reino Road. Hours: Sat. 9-5, Sun. 10-5. Don Pomerenke (805) 492-4276.

  Table of Contents.

AMERICAN FEDERATION / REGIONAL
SHOW SCHEDULE - 2004.

MIDWESTERN FEDERATION,
April 23-25, Cedar Rapids, IA.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN FEDERATION,
April 23-25, Wichita, KS.

CFMS/Mariposa Mineral & Gem Show,
May 28-30, Mariposa, CA.

EASTERN FEDERATION/AFMS,
July 7-11, Syracuse, NY.

NORTHWESTERN FEDERATION,
July 23-25, Boise, ID.

SOUTHERN CENTRAL FEDERATION,
September 24-26, Houston, TX.

SOUTHEAST FEDERATION,
To be announced.

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EDITOR'S NOTE:

     Just for the record any unsigned articles are by the Editor. Anyone wanting to write up their thoughts about the show, vacations, rock collecting trips, Great Find or anything of interest, please do so as we are all interested. Contributions from you members keep the Bulletin interesting and I thank you for them..

Trili - The Editor's Pet Trilobite.

  Table of Contents.

VGMS 2004 Show Flyer.

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CFMS SHOW UPDATE MARIPOSA,
MAY 28-30, 2004.

The Show committee is lining up a lot of exciting activities for the 2004 CFMS and Mariposa Mineral and Gem Show. We will offer two field trips during the show.

Friday's trip will be to the Mariposite Quarry in Coulterville, northern Mariposa County, and also to our favorite local serpentine locality where you will be able to collect serpentine, jade, and other minerals. There will be a minimal fee to collect at the Mariposite quarry.

On Saturday, we plan to offer a trip to one of Mariposa's historic gold mines. This tour will be guided by a local historian who will fill you in on the history of the mine and Mariposa's place in the Gold Rush story.

Our Speaker Chairman has been busy organizing a variety of speakers to satisfy every interest. Four speakers will give informative presentations during the show. Si and Ann Frazier will give a presentation on agates. John Clinkenbeard will share his knowledge about gold in California. After listening to Fred Devito discuss mineral collecting in California, you won't want to miss Greg Bedrock explain your rights to collect on government land.

Come join us in May. There is plenty of camping available at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds, or make your reservation at one of Mariposa's motels. A complete list of lodging is on the CFMS website along with reservation forms for the show.

HOW ABOUT A BUS TRIP TO MARIPOSA FOR THE SHOW?
     How about if your club and another club hired a bus to take club members and guests to the show? The Santa Clara Valley and Peninsula clubs are considering this. Or make it a two-day trip, stay over in Mariposa and then visit Yosemite. Make your arrangements early as this is Memorial Weekend.
          Bill Gissler, Santa Clara VG&MS.

For EXHIBITOR OR COMPETITOR ENTRY FORMS FOR THE "GOLDBUG GALA" contact Florence Meisenheimer or Shirley Layton.

  Table of Contents.

The Ventura Gem and Mineral Society, Inc.
42nd Annual Gem, Mineral, Lapidary, and Fossil Show
Exhibitor Application.

The Exhibitor Application for the the 2004 VGMS Gem, Mineral, Lapidary, and Fossil Show has been removed since it's obsolete.

  Table of Contents.

TRI-CLUB FIELDTRIPS 2004:
Tentative Schedule,
1/4/2004.

Contact fieldtrip leader to confirm that there is a fieldtrip scheduled.

*** Please call your club fieldtrip leader to confirm that there is a fieldtrip scheduled in the event of changes.

  Table of Contents.

SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

EDUCATIONAL CORNER.

Definition of the Month.

Desert intaglios - An unusual form of prehistoric writing in which large figures, made by native inhabitants, have been carved into the floor of the desert on pediment surfaces. The image is usually a light tan colored consisting of clay or thin desert soil in contrast to the rocks with natural dark desert varnish. These features are found on a desert surface known as desert pavement. There are several intaglios in an area of the Colorado Desert between Quartzsite and Parker, Arizona and Blythe, California. Some of them are on old river terraces of the Colorado River. One of the intaglios located north of Blythe measures over 130 feet in length. Most of the intaglios in this area along the Colorado River are thought to be over 10,000 years old.

Desert pavement - A natural residual concentration or bed of flat-lying wind polished pebbles, boulders and small rock fragments. This a geologic feature common to arid regions of the world. Desert pavement is a "deflation" feature in which the fine particles of sand, silt and clay have been removed from the surface by the combined action of high-velocity winds and sheet-wash by intense rainstorms. Most areas of the desert that exhibit well-pronounced desert pavement are on "pediment" surfaces, flat erosional features that are usually several thousand years old. Some desert pavement is so flat, dark in color and uniform in rock size that it resembles the texture of a road paved with fresh asphalt.

Desert varnish - A thin dark shiny coating formed on the surface of pebbles, boulders and smaller rock fragments in many desert regions of the world. Desert varnish is thought to have formed from a combination of iron oxide, manganese oxide, clay minerals and a minor amount of organic matter with intense sunlight and heat. Some desert varnish surfaces resemble a layer of high-gloss black paint.

Pediment surface - A broad gently sloping rock-floored erosional surface common to arid and semi-arid regions of the world. These surfaces are usually found at the base of a mountain front or plateau escarpment.

The "Definition of the Month" features words related to geology, paleontology, mining and desert history. Written by Steve Mulqueen for the VGMS, February 2004.

Illustration of the Month.

"Butte of the Cross."

This illustration is a pen & ink sketch from the book "Second Annual Report of the United States Geological Survey, 1880 - 1881", The official report of the director of the U.S.G.S., John Wesley Powell, page 51, from Chapter 1, "The Physical Geology of the Grand Cañon District", The Plateau Province, written by Clarence E Dutton, Ordnance Corps, 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 rediscovered in old books, maps, manuscripts and other sources related to geology, paleontology, mining and desert history. This illustration was chosen for its educational content by Steve Mulqueen for the VGMS, February 2004.

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VGMS PHOTO ALBUM
Photos by Steve Mulqueen,
All Photos January 2004.

1) Woman on electric cart with little red wagon at Tyson Wells, Quartzsite.











2) Man on electric cart with little red wagon at The Main Event, Quartzsite.











3) Truck loaded with donated plants from Clay & Liz Brashears.

  Table of Contents.

SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

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You may also go to the VGMS Home Page.