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

Table of Contents.

• PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE;
• WORDS TO LIVE BY;
• APRIL PROGRAM;
• REVIEW - MARCH PROGRAM;
• MARK YOUR CALENDARS;
• CHIPS & BOULDERS;
• WEB SITES;
• Program Schedule for Monthly Meetings;
• DINO FIND;
• JUNE BIRTHDAYS;
• HOSPITALITY;
• PUBLIC OUTREACH;
• CFMS NEWSLETTER APRIL 2004;
• LOUD & CLEAR, From George Loud;
• "FIELD TRIPS ARE FUN";
• Things to Think About When Collecting Rocks;
• SAFETY ARTICLE: Rail Safety Tips;
• A GEM OF A MINERAL: SALT;
• MEMBERSHIP;
• VGMS MINUTES;
• How to Find Fire in Fire Agate;
• HINTS & TIPS FOR ROCKHOUNDS-(Use at your own risk);
• ATTORNEY QUESTIONS;
• DESERT ROCKHOUND;
• List of Web Site Addresses for Important Mineral Shows;
• SHOW DATES;
• EDITOR'S NOTE;
• CFMS SHOW UPDATE MARIPOSA;
• A Show For All America;
• EDUCATIONAL CORNER;
• VGMS PHOTO ALBUM.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.

Our program for the monthly meeting on May 26 will be the Silent Auction. Ray and Florence Meisenheimer will be hosting the event with some of their own donations of rocks, minerals and fossils. Please plan on bringing a few of your own specimens to donate to the VGMS. Don't forget to bring a few extra dollars. Chances are there will be something that you must have! Proceeds from the Silent Auction help our club pay the bills.

During our board meeting on May 6, a Museum Committee was formed in order to explore options on finding a new home for our museum. The committee consists of 4 members including Ray Meisenheimer, Richard Bromser, Jim Brace-Thompson and myself. Anyone who wishes to be on the committee or to participate in the effort, please talk with me at our meeting. We need many good ideas from all our good members.

The VGMS Workshop for the Spring 2004 held their last class on Monday, May 3. Words of thanks go to Wayne Ehlers, Ron Wise and Greg Davis for their special effort in conducting the workshop classes.

The VGMS exhibit at the California Oil Museum was another great success! The display on "Petrified Wood from Arizona" will be replaced after May 23 with an exhibit on "Selenite". Thanks to Ray and Florence for loaning specimens of petrified wood and selenite.

One last note as we reach toward the summer season. Rattlesnakes are in abundance this year. When you are out hiking in the hills near Ventura or anywhere else, keep an eye out for snakes. One snake can ruin your whole day!

Steve Mulqueen,
President.

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WORDS TO LIVE BY.

Life is not about how fast you run, or how high you climb, but how well you bounce.

We are all here for a spell; get all the good laughs you can.

Start by doing what's necessary, then what's possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.

You can't stay mad at someone who makes you laugh.

Collected by Wayne Ehlers.

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APRIL PROGRAM:
It's Silent Auction Time!

The program this month will be a silent auction. Ray and I will bring good material - rocks and fossils - from thirty-five years of collecting. We also need donations from other club members. We plan on having good material, so you all come to the meeting with your wallet.
     Florence Meisenheimer.

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REVIEW - MARCH PROGRAM:
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know
About Rock and Gem Magazine.

Lynn Varon, Managing Editor of Rock and Gem magazine, was our speaker for the April meeting. This magazine is published right here in Ventura and is regular reading for many of our members. Their primary audience is rockhounds and lapidary hobbyists. Their goal is to provide informative and entertaining articles for these readers and to draw new people into the hobby. She outlined what goes into putting the magazine together and advised that they do buy articles from readers and are particularly interested in field-trip and "how-to" articles. Their intent is to make their magazine a source for fieldtrips, not just in our area, but also all over the country. They also like to be able to educate their readers on different minerals, fossils, jewelry making and all facets of our rockhounding hobby. She brought a lot of good books, maps and magazines for members to take and use as they wish.

The program was enjoyed by all and gave us respect for putting a publication together. Thanks Emma for coordinating this most interesting program.

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

5-26-04 - VGMS Regular Meeting - 7:30 pm - At the Lexington. Ray & Florence Meisenheimer - Silent Auction (Start Collecting your donations).
5-28 to 30-04 - CFMS Show - "Goldbug Gala" Mariposa County Fairgrounds.
6-3-04 - VGMS Board Meeting - 7:30 pm - At the Museum. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.
6-5 & 6-04 - Tri Club Fieldtrip - Lone Pine Area.
6-10-04 - DEADLINE FOR JUNE Bulletin Articles to the Editor!
6-13-04 - Tri Club Fieldtrip - Cerro Gordo Mine.
6-19-04 - VGMS Work Shop - Museum - Open - 9-noon.
6-23-04 - VGMS Regular Meeting - 7:30 pm - At the Lexington.
7-9 to 11-04 - AFMS Show - "A Show for All America", Syracuse, New York.

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CHIPS & BOULDERS.

NOTE: The 2004 Membership Directories have been distributed. If you did not receive one or have corrections to be made, please contact Shirley Layton at 805 717-9226 or jns@west.net.

MISSING ARTICLES? - Your Editor (me) had a bit of a problem with her computer, hard drive crashed, and lost some of the emails that were sent to be included in the May issue. I think we were able to get most of them resent, however, if you sent us something that isn't in this bulletin, please resend and we will make it into June's. We thought we had all bases covered in case of a crash, but unfortunately our emails weren't! Something to work on!

VGMS is offering the following equipment to club members:
     14-inch rock saw - unknown condition - free!!
     14-inch rock saw - no motor - $20.00.
     8-inch, 2 wheel combo unit with saw - $15.00.
     Sphere machine - unknown condition - $20.00.
     3-inch vertical belt sander - $10.00.
These and other items can be viewed at the museum by contacting any board member and arranging a time or visiting the museum during regular workshop hours on the third Saturday of the month.

For Sale - 2 36-inch show cases, 12 inches high in the back, some lining available - $40.00 each - See Ray Meisenheimer 805-642-3155.

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:
     May: Steve & Susan Mulqueen,
     June: Nancy & Jim Brace-Thompson,
     July: Shirley Layton & Sharlyne Holloway,
     August: Emma Mayer,
     September: Open,
     October: Open,
     November: Pumpkin Pies - by all great volunteers!

September & October still need a volunteer, let Sharon know if you can fill a spot. Many thanks to all the volunteers.

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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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: A good source for programs if you have signed up for a month and need material is the CFMS Slide and Video Library. Florence Meisenheimer should have the full list available or the CFMS website would also be of help.

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DINO FIND.

     Amid well-preserved dinosaur footprints along what used to be the shores of a prehistoric lake in south Utah, scientists have found the rare imprints of a dinosaur's posterior. Two impressions, made about 200 million years ago when the dinosaur sat down, were found last weekend in St. George. It appears the 20-foot-long Dicophasaurus sat down, stood up, walked a few paces and sat down again before walking away.
     Kinda sounds like someone you work with, doesn't it?
          Submitted by Greg Davis.

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JUNE BIRTHDAYS.

Happy Birthday to all those born in June. 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 805-717-9226 and leave a message if I'm not there or an email will also do the trick, jns@west.net. Thanks! This is a popular month for birthdays!

June - Happy Birthday!!
     Steve Mulqueen - 1st,
     Wayne Ehlers - 3rd,
     Noah Cogswell - 4th,
     Linda Clement - 10th,
     Matthew Beinar - 23rd,
     Shirley Layton - 23rd,
     Joe Bennett - 26th,
     Kathryn Davis - 27th.

The June birthstone is the Pearl and the flower is the Rose.

PEARL, gem.

     Pearl is a hard, rounded secretion formed inside the shell of certain bivalve mollusks, used as a gem. It is secreted by the epithelial cells of the mantle, a curtain of tissue between the shell and body mass, and is deposited in successive layers around an irritating object such as a parasite or grain of sand that gets caught in the soft tissue of the mollusk. The pearl is built up of layers of aragonite or calcite (crystalline forms of calcium carbonate) held together by conchiolin (a horny organic substance); its composition is identical to that of the mother-of-pearl, or nacre, that forms the interior layer of the mollusk shell. Pearls may be round, pear-shaped, button-shaped, or irregular (baroque) and are valued in that order. Pearls found attached to the inner surface of the shell are known as blister pearls. The best pearls are usually white, sometimes with a creamy or pinkish tinge, but may be tinted with yellow, green, blue, brown, or black. Black pearls, because of their rarity, are often highly valued. The unique luster, or orient, of pearls depends upon the reflection and refraction of light from the translucent layers and is finer in proportion as the layers are thinner and more numerous. The iridescence which some pearls display is caused by the overlapping of successive layers, which breaks up light falling on the surface. Pearls are not cut or polished like other gems. They are very soft and are injured by acids and heat; as organic products, they are subject to decay. Commercially valuable pearls are obtained from the pearl oyster (especially of the genus Pinctata) and from the freshwater pearl mussel (genus Unio). The largest natural pearl center is the Persian Gulf, which is said to produce the finest saltwater pearls. Other important sources are the coasts of India, China, Japan, Australia, the Sulu Archipelago, various Pacific islands, Venezuela, and Central America, and the rivers of Europe and North America. In ancient times the Red Sea was an important source. Nearly all of the world's supply of cultured pearls is produced by the Japanese, who have perfected the techniques of pearl cultivation. Pearls are commonly produced by placing a small mother-of-pearl bead enclosed in a piece of mantle tissue in the body of the oyster. The oysters are then placed in cages that are suspended into sheltered bays for the period of time (up to 4 years) required for pearl formation.

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright © 2001 Columbia University Press.


Pearl Care:
University of Wisconsin.
     The following care advice pertains to all types of pearls, coral and mother-of-pearl (shell) material.

Pearl Care:
     Because they are an organic gem comprised of calcium carbonate, pearls require more specialized care than most other gem materials. They are particularly subject to deterioration from contact with chemicals, including components in household cleaners, perfumes, cosmetics and hair care products of all kinds.
     The surface of a pearl is soft and is easily damaged. Pearls set in rings and bracelets are more subject to scuffing and scratching than pearls set in brooches, earrings, necklaces or strands. A pearl ring or bracelet should be considered a special-occasion piece, not for daily wear and DEFINITELY not to be worn while working with the hands.
     A good rule of thumb is that pearls are THE LAST THING YOU PUT ON when dressing and THE FIRST THING YOU TAKE OFF when you get home. NEVER apply perfume or hairspray when you are wearing pearl jewelry, especially a strand of pearls.

Storage:
     Pearl strands should be stored separately from other jewelry because the surface of a pearl is soft and easily scratched by other gems. A silk bag, velvet-lined box or pearl folder (a satin-lined leatherette envelope with snaps to hold a strand in place) are all good places to store pearls. Your local jeweler is a good source for these items.
     NEVER store pearls in a plastic bag. Some types of plastic emit a chemical that will cause the surface of your pearls to deteriorate.
     Don't store pearls in a safe or safety deposit box for long periods. The same ultra-dry atmospheric conditions that extend the life of paper documents may dry out your pearls and cause them to craze (to develop small fractures in the surface).
     Pearl strands should be stored flat rather than hanging so the thread won't stretch out prematurely.

Stringing:
     Pearl strands should be restrung every one to two years or more often if the thread begins to bag or fray. Silk and nylon beading threads are the most commonly used materials for stringing pearls.
     Knotting between beads offers the most security for your pearls; no matter where the strand breaks, you only stand to lose a single bead. The look of the knotted strand is not to everyone's taste, however. Whether you string your pearls with or without knots, the first three or four beads on either side nearest the clasp should be knotted because this area takes the most wear and is the commonest place for a strand to break.

Cleaning Strands:
     Lay the strand flat on a clean soft cloth or towel. Make a mild solution of soap flakes (the author uses Ivory soap flakes) and warm water, and apply with a new pure natural bristle complexion or manicure brush, scrubbing gently. Being careful to support the strand so as not to stretch the thread, turn the necklace over and repeat. To rinse, submerge the strand in cool water, flush with cool tap water for a minimum of five minutes. Carefully remove the strand from the water and lay it on a fresh towel to air dry. Don't move it until it is completely dry.

Other pearl jewelry:
     The principle is the same: use only a mild soap and a natural bristle brush, then rinse with cool water for at least five minutes.
     NEVER USE DETERGENTS, HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS, COMMERCIAL JEWELRY CLEANERS OR TARNISH REMOVERS ON PEARL JEWELRY.
     Never use your pearl cleaning brush for anything else, and store it where it will not become dusty or soiled.
     Pearls will naturally darken slightly with age and wear. The golden or creamy tones that come with age cannot be removed.

Pearl = a dense variously colored and usually lustrous concretion formed of concentric layers of nacre as an abnormal growth within the shell of some mollusks and used as a gem.

     Breecia, September 2002.

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SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

HOSPITALITY.

Our April meeting saw 20 members and one guest, which we are always happy to have. Ray and Florence Meisenheimer brought some delicious refreshments to visit by! David Mautz shared a nice display of fossils and many nice door prizes were won by some lucky people (unfortunately I wasn't one of them and I failed my duty and didn't get the names of those that won). 2004 Membership Directories were available for those in attendance, the remainder will be mailed.

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PUBLIC OUTREACH.

On April 20, Steve and Susan Mulqueen participated in Family Science Night at Mountain View Elementary School in Goleta. Steve represented the VGMS, featuring rock, mineral and fossil exhibits on loan from our Museum. Samples of petrified wood, obsidian and banded rhyolite tuff were distributed to all participants. Susan displayed portions of her insect collection and had an "Insect Petting Zoo" where students were able to hold some of the larger live bugs.

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CFMS NEWSLETTER APRIL 2004.

     In January 2004 two families were picking up rocks on BLM land in Arizona. There were three adults and 3 children. A BLM officer detained them for five hours, not allowing them to eat or go to the bathroom, although the children were crying in distress, it is reported. There were no signs posted that no collecting was allowed, but the ranger said they were removing "archeological resources" from a protected area. The BLM officer demanded that all pockets be turned inside out, and also confiscated books and shovels from the truck bed. The books were on Indian paintings.
     All three adults were charged. The fine could be $2000.00 and some time in jail. The rangers reported that they are very angry about illegal aliens trashing and contaminating the area, so are taking it out on every one.
     So, be sure it is safe to collect before you pick up a single rock or pebble on BLM property.
     Their rule generally is that you can collect 25 pounds plus one piece, and no more than 250 pounds in a year.
          Florence Meisenheimer.

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LOUD & CLEAR,
From George Loud,
AFMS Conservation & Legislation Chair.
Archeological Sites.

     You may recall my report of the story of the gentlemen who were arrested for collecting agatized coral in Florida. The site was on Florida State land and was posted with signs noting that removal of Indian artifacts was prohibited. There was no notice prohibiting the collecting of minerals or fossils. Notwithstanding the easily appreciated distinction between fossil coral and Indian artifacts, the collectors were arrested and spent the night in jail. They were released the next morning and eventually paid a small fine.
     More recently I have received emails reporting the October 20, 2003 arrest of divers in Alabama while diving for artifacts in the Alabama River, near Selma Alabama, and emails reporting that on January 3, 2004 members of two families were detained and charged removing archeological resources from a protected area in the San Pedro Riparian Natural Conservation Area (Cochise County, AZ) because their young children were picking up "rocks" (of a nature which I have not been able to determine). On September 6, 2003 two collectors in Texas were cited by an Army Corps of Engineers Ranger for taking "property" from an "old fort site" notwithstanding that none of the collected items with them qualified as an "artifact" and GPS evidence that they were not in the boundaries of the protected site. Note a connecting thread here? That's right, proximity to protected archeological sites. Now all of the foregoing incidents may have been miscarriages of justice, but a reasonable collector should take notice and give a wide berth to protected archeological sites.
     Based on what little I know of the subject, my impression is that the agencies charged with the protection of public lands are currently understaffed and underfunded. Also they have seen major, real thefts of artifacts from public lands. See, for example, the convictions (with jail time) for theft of artifacts from Death Valley National Park, reported in the January 21, 2004 Park Service Morning Reports. Understand that the field agents of these agencies are under considerable pressure, but abuses should be reported to their superiors and to our representatives in congress.
          AFMS Newsletter, May 2004.

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"FIELD TRIPS ARE FUN."

TRI-CLUB FIELDTRIPS 2004:
Tentative Schedule,
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.

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Things to Think About When Collecting Rocks,
U.S. Geological Survey,
San Francisco Gem and Mineral Society 2000 Bulletin.

1. Label specimens as they are collected. Identification can wait until later but the place where rocks were found should be recorded at once. Many collections have become mixed because the collector did not do this.
2. For displaying your specimens, trim rocks in the collection to a common size. Specimens about 3 by 4 by 2 inches in size are large enough to show rock features well. Other display sizes are 2 by 3 by 1 inch, or 3 by 3 by 2 inches.
3. Ask for permission to collect rocks on private property. The owners will appreciate this courtesy on your part.
4. Be careful when collecting rocks. Work with another person if possible and carry a first aid kit. Wear protective clothing, safety glasses, hard-toed shoes, hard-hat and gloves when dislodging specimens. Avoid overhanging rock and edges of steep, natural or quarried walls.
5. Do not collect rocks in national parks or monuments, not in state parks; it is illegal. Similar rocks commonly crop out on land nearby.
6. Look for unusual rocks to study in large buildings or in cemeteries. Dimension stone blocks and monument stone are often transported long distances from where they are quarried. Polished stone sometimes looks different from unpolished rock. This provides good identification practice.
7. Join a mineral club or subscribe to a mineral magazine - a good place to discuss and learn about rocks.
8. Collecting rocks from each state or country has no scientific significance. The distribution of rocks is a natural phenomenon and is not related to political divisions.
     Via Victor Valley Gem and Mineral Club - The Bulletin 03/04.

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SAFETY ARTICLE:
Rail Safety Tips.

The number of incidents involving trains with cars and pedestrians has increased dramatically. California leads the nation in rail-related injuries and deaths. Last year 127 Californians lost their lives trespassing on railroad right-of-ways or at highway/rail crossings. Unfortunately, during the past year, there have been victims in Fairfield/Suisun who have been harmed or killed by a train.

These incidents are preventable, by following some simple rules:

• Always expect a train on any track, at any time and going any direction, because non-passenger trains do not maintain a regular schedule.
• Remember tracks do not have traffic directions like roads.
• Do not walk on or near train tracks, they are private property. More importantly, trains are very quiet as they approach, can overhang the tracks by 3 feet on either side and cannot swerve to avoid persons on or near the tracks. A train traveling at 50 mph can take as much as 1.5 miles to stop.
• Cross tracks at a designated pedestrian or roadway crossing. Observe and obey all warning signs or signals.
• Do not cross tracks immediately after a train passes. Trains can come from either direction. A second train may be blocked from view by the first. Wait until you can see clearly around the first train in both directions.
• Never drive around down crossing gates. If you think the gates are malfunctioning, call the phone number on the crossing signal or local law enforcement.
• Immediately get out of a vehicle that stalls or becomes hung up on tracks and move away. If a train is coming, move away in the direction of the train to avoid being struck by debris when the train hits the vehicle. In either ease, call local law enforcement immediately.

For more information on rail safety, please contact Operation Lifesaver at 530-367-3918 or visit www.oli.org.

Chuck McKie CFMS Safety Chairman 2004 via City of Fairfield Observer Newsletter 09/2002.

CFMS Newsletter, May 2004.

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A GEM OF A MINERAL: SALT.

     Ubiquitous in our seas and common in the earth's crust, salt is one of life's nonnegotiable necessities. As widespread as the occurrence of this mineral is, it has not always been easy to get, or inexpensive. Early man got the salt he needed from meat, but as hunting societies turned into farming communities, the need for salt became more urgent. Caravans carried salt across the continents and galleys carried salt across the seas. Governments have fought for it and paid their soldiers with it. Its Latin name sal is the root of our word salary, as the Roman soldiers were paid with salt. Governments taxed it as well, the French in 1710 had a tax 140 times the cost of producing salt, making the cost of a canister the size of Morton's $65. The New York salt tax financed the building of the Erie Canal, which became known as 'the ditch that salt built'. Today the nagging question of where to get one's salt is exchanged for the luxury of which kind of salt shall we use.

     Our common table salt, selling at 20 to 25 cents per pound, is now provided by mining huge underground deposits. These ancient sea salt beds are not white, nor neatly crystalline. The material is cloudy and streaked with gray, red and black from other minerals. Modern salt miners drill into the deposits and pump in water, when it's suffused with salt, the brine is pumped out and chemically demineralized. Then the brine is heated and recrystallized as small uniform grains. Primarily composed of sodium chloride, the miners add potassium iodide (for those who don't live near the sea and need protection for their thyroid glands). Dextrose, a natural sugar, is added to keep the iodide from evaporating; sodium aluminum silicate is added to keep the salt from caking. About 20 different chemicals, some natural, some not, are approved as additives to table salt.

     Kosher salt, selling at 70 cents to $1 per pound, is mined and processed the same as table salt. It is produced through a compactor that creates large flakes mechanically and potassium iodide is not added.

     Edible rock salt, selling for $2 to $7 per pound, is also mined, but is not chemically purified. The mining is done to avoid undesirable minerals and the salt is simply pulverized, so it contains red and black mineral specks. It is cleaner than the inedible salt used to de-ice roads or freeze ice cream and can be used in cooking but not baking.

     Sea salt, selling for $3 to $14 per pound, contains the variety of minerals found in seawater. There are definite differences in flavor and, of course, it is a whole, natural food. Sea-salt harvesting is an ancient industry, trapping seawater and letting sun and wind concentrate the brine until crystals form and drop to the bottom of the brine. Not all the minerals in seawater are savory. Seawater is a bit less than 3 percent salt and nearly 1 percent other minerals. As seawater concentrates, one of the minerals, calcium sulfate, crystallizes out as gypsum, natural but not tasty. So care is taken to settle salt and gypsum separately by managing the water flow. Harvesters simply rinse the crystals to flush away debris, but when you eat sea salt you are eating traces of minerals from aluminum to zinc and some microorganisms. You won't get your minimum daily requirement of minerals, just traces.
     When salt first starts to crystallize, delicate crystals form on the surface of the salt pond. These can be carefully skimmed and the fragrant complex crystals are known as fleur de sal, selling at $17 to $33 per pound. The 'flower of salt' is raked from the top of shallow ponds of evaporating seawater on an island off France's Atlantic coast. The crystals are small, porous and faintly sweet, possibly from flower pollen, or microorganisms in the pond. Even clay or fine sand may color the salt.

     Alae salt, selling at $6 to $48 per pound, is a mixture of salt and powdered Hawaiian red clay. It's rich in iron and adds eye appeal to pale foods.

     For some time salt has been demonized as raising blood pressure. It turns out only a small proportion of people are sensitive to salt. Of course, processed food is loaded with salt, because salt increases the flavor and enjoyment of all foods. Some say that french fries' existence is justified as a carrier of salt, that that is their function. If you cook your own soups and stews and vegetables, you will need that salt shaker. It would take 3 pounds of beef or chicken to get your daily requirement of salt. Salt regulates everything from blood chemistry to cellular and nerve functions. If you don't get enough, you get muscle cramps, fatigue and dehydration.
     As salt enhances our diets, so does it season our vocabularies. 'Taken with a grain of salt', was originally part of a recipe for an antidote to poison, but is now interpreted to suggest reasonable skepticism. 'Salt it away', once a method of preserving food, is now extended to preserving money as well. 'Old salt', for someone that sailed the seas, and survived, is taken to imply longevity and wisdom. 'Above the salt', or 'below the salt', is a value judgment on social standing. In medieval times the salt at a banquet was held in splendid vessels at the head table with the important family and guests.

Peninsula Gem & Geology Society via The Petrified Log 9-03.

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MEMBERSHIP.

We are happy to welcome a new member, Stuart Bloom, to VGMS. Please make him and our other new members mentioned last month welcome by introducing yourselves at our next meeting.

2004 Membership Directories were delivered at the April 28th meeting. Those that were not picked up at the meeting were mailed the following week. If you have not received one by now, give Shirley Layton a call at 805 717-9226 and she will put one in the mail to you. Seems like I got kind of in a hurry, due to a Senior moment, and there were some errors in the directories. My apologies for this (it's hard to get good help now days!). Corrections and additions to the 2004 Directories are as follows:

New Member:

Stuart Bloom,
2533 E. Main Street,
Ventura, CA 93003,
(805) 652-2244.

Corrections to 2004 Membership Directory:

James & Nancy Brace-Thompson - Correct email address to:
     jbraceth@adelphia.com.

Ed Clark - Correct email address to:
     clarkoe@adelphia.net.

Kathryn Davis - Delete her email address.

Robert La Prad - Correct email address to:
     Laprad1@verizon.net.

David Mautz - Correct telephone number to:
     805 794-1809.

Ray & Florence Meisenheimer - Correct email address to:
     raymeisenheimer@yahoo.com.

I will have a printed list available at the May meeting.

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.

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VGMS MINUTES.

Minutes of the VGMS Board Meeting,
April 1, 2004:
     The regular board meeting of the VGMS was called to order by President Steve Mulqueen at 7:30 pm on Thursday, April 1, 2004, at the VGMS museum, 5019 Crooked Palm Rd., Ventura, CA.
Present: Steve Mulqueen, Ray and Florence Meisenheimer, Jim Brace-Thompson Ron Wise and Greg Davis.
Steve Mulqueen - With the recent report that there is a possibility the property of our museum location may be sold and developed, plans need to be formulated for a relocation with alternate back up plans for more immediate vacating of the premises. A committee is being formed to put together information (museum attendance records, photos, public service docs, space requirements and what we have to offer in return) to be presented to city, county, schools and private organizations who may be able to help in this matter. It's necessary we stay in the city of Ventura, although as a last resort no possibility offered will be ruled out. This is a very urgent matter and anyone who is willing to help in communicating with these outside agencies is really needed now.
Ron Wise - The Vandenberg field trip has been cancelled due to a conflict. The Conejo show will serve as our May outing, as many of us will be displaying and nobody wants to miss it.
Ray Meisenheimer - A merger with another rock & gem club could be a possibility as a last resort. A written history (thousands of students have toured our museum in the 25 years it's been located here) of our club would also be necessary to approach these groups for a new home for our museum. Also, our work done with the County Fair should be mentioned and our club could use space for a work shop if at all possible. A storage trailer may be a possible temporary alternative.
Florence Meisenheimer - Specimens to be used as door prizes are needed if anyone would like to donate to the cause.
Jim Brace-Thompson - We're all willing to do whatever is necessary to put together a package program to present to groups for a future museum site. The most important thing is to keep the museum intact. This will have to be our highest priority. The 2005 show is being planned and needs are more raffle tickets, exhibitor and dealer chairpersons and good weather again.
Steve Mulqueen - Another thanks to Jim and Nancy Brace-Thompson for the terrific job done which resulted in one our best shows ever!
     There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:40 pm.
          Respectfully submitted, Greg Davis.


Minutes of the VGMS Regular Monthly Meeting,
Wednesday, April 28, 2004:
     The regular monthly meeting of the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society was called to order by Steve Mulqueen at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, April 28, 2004 in the Bijou Room of the Lexington, 5440 Ralston, Ventura, CA. The group was led in the salute to the flag.
     The March regular meeting and board meeting minutes were corrected and then m/s/p as shown in the bulletin. Guests Lynn Varone, Lynda Liker and Roy Boulch were welcomed.
     Steve asked for but received no old business.
New business:
Steve Mulqueen - Those interested in being involved and part of a committee to contact city, county and school districts concerning a new location for our museum, contact Steve or any board member. It's going to be an aggressive and historic chapter in our club and all input is welcomed. Steve requested a new theme in minerals for the display case at the California Oil Museum in Santa Paula.
Jim Brace-Thompson - Reported the show recap meeting on Sunday, April 4th was well attended and many important thoughts concerning next year's show were suggested. Dealer and exhibitor chairpersons are still needed for the 2005 show. Please do your part and volunteer. McCullough's has opened a rock shop in Thousand Oaks (1348 N. Moorpark Rd.), called "A World Apart". This is a big deal for Ventura County, as there isn't much in the way of rock shops for us. Stop by when you get a chance and show support. The Conejo Show is coming up May 15 & 16. Hope everyone who is able will enter a display.
Richard Bromser gave the treasurer's report and reported that we had a very successful show mainly because we had 32 people lending their assistance.
Greg Davis - It seems it only just started, but the last of our spring cab classes will be held this coming Monday. We had a nice group who got along well together and produced terrific cabs and jewelry...for some it was their first of what could be a long and rewarding hobby in lapidary. We all hope we have a work shop next year to use.
Shirley Layton - The new 2004 rosters will be handed out to members and Shirley reminded everyone that the 10th of May will be the deadline for articles and photographs to be submitted for the bulletin.
     Steve next introduced Lynn Varone who gave a very well received program on the Rock & Gem magazine. Lynn has been the managing editor for four years and works closely with Bob Jones on articles chosen for the magazine. Input from members like ourselves is required to maintain the magazine's status as the best resource for rockhounds and hobbyist. She brought free stuff too!...in the way of books and magazines related to lapidary. We certainly need to thank Emma Mayer for arranging this presentation. We all learned so much about the magazine we all read and which is locally produced.
     The next Board meeting will be Thursday, May 1st, all are welcomed to attend and next regular meeting will be held May 26th.
     Refreshments were provided by Ray and Florence Meisenheimer and door prizes were awarded.
     There being no further business, Steve adjourned the meeting at 8:45 pm.
          Respectfully submitted, Greg Davis.


Minutes of the VGMS Board Meeting,
May 6, 2004:
     The regular board meeting of the VGMS was called to order by President Steve Mulqueen at 7:30 pm on Thursday, May 6, 2004, at the VGMS museum, 5019 Crooked Palm Rd., Ventura, CA.
Present: Steve Mulqueen, Ray and Florence Meisenheimer, Shirley Layton, Richard Bromser and Greg Davis.
Steve Mulqueen - Plans and ideas are being formulated for a relocation with alternate back up plans for more immediate action concerning the club museum. A committee has been formed to approach and present to city, county, schools and private organizations who may be able to help. Key items will be to meet bi-weekly (every other Thursday [beginning the 3rd Thursday of the month], 7:30, at Steve's house and all are welcomed to attend), to compile a portfolio with museum and workshop photos and a mission statement. Also, there will be non-profit docs, California and American Federation reports and field trip photos/reports showing our educational programs and our importance to the community. Any additional ideas or suggestions from club members or others would be appreciated and considered.
Richard Bromser - It was m/s/c to accept treasurer's reports for the months of February, March and April. Richard also asked and it was m/s/c to accept new members Julie Cogswell, Allen Hodges, Helen Spaeth, Stuart Bloom, Roy Boulch and David Levy as club members. The Land Bank Corp. will close escrow on land which includes our museum premises on July 9th, 2004 per Lyle, their attorney.
Shirley Layton - 10th of May is the deadline for articles to the bulletin.
Ray Meisenheimer - Two programs will be presented at the museum to students on May 18 and the program for our May 28 meeting will be a silent auction.
Florence Meisenheimer - Several good articles have been printed in the Federation bulletin concerning safety and specimens to be used as door prizes are still needed if anyone would like to donate to the cause.
Greg Davis - Reported that the last in our spring cab class series was held Monday night. It was a productive group who also had a lot of fun while learning how to use the various equipment. Wayne, Ron and Greg supplied the materials and guidance for the group.
Steve Mulqueen - Another thanks to Jim and Nancy Brace-Thompson for the terrific job done which resulted in one our best shows ever!
     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.

How to Find Fire in Fire Agate.

Fire Agate is a quartz-based rock with layers of iron oxide in chalcedony, which results in iridescence. It occurs in nodules of milky or grayish translucent chalcedony. Sometimes it is found in botryoidal growths in geodes and in chalcedony roses.

Fire agate appears as a dull, reddish brown layer, but when the surface layers are removed the rainbow colors or iridescence are exposed. The fire is brought out by tumbling, trimming, and grinding off the outer layers to expose the iridescence. Polishing magnifies the fire.

To find the fire, remove the matrix, then tumble polish the stones. Tumbling removes the excess chalcedony. When polished, remove excess stone around the edges, then polish and set. Allow the stone to retain its irregular shape and polish slowly, so you don't go through the fire layers. The graceful natural shapes are superior to those cut to calibrated sizes, as the best fire doesn't always fit a mold. To set it off, mount the fire agate in a custom-made gold or silver setting. Fire agates are most often found in Arizona, California, Idaho and Mexico, among other locales.

Via Del Air Bulletin 03/04.

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

Storing sandpaper, Idea #1: Sheets of sandpaper can be put in manila envelopes; one envelope per grit. The manila envelopes can be kept together in a magazine box, which is sold at most office supply stores. Magazine boxes are made in cardboard, plastic and wood, and if you get at least the plastic kind you can easily mount them above your workbench so that they are always within reach but don't clutter up your bench. - via The Pegmatite 2-04.

Storing sandpaper & silver stock, Idea #2: Another way to store and organize sandpaper is with an accordion folio, also available at office supply stores. These folios, which are usually used to save receipts or other records, have lots of separate compartments, and even have tabs so you can write down what mesh is in each pocket. You can also use these folios to organize your silver stock (sheet, wire, etc.) and cut down on scratches. However, another way to organize your silver stock is to get sheet protectors that fit into a 3-ring binder. These are individual plastic pockets designed to protect a sheet of paper. You can put a single piece of silver stock in each sleeve and keep them all in a 3-ring binder. When you need to browse through your silver stock you can flip from page to page and see exactly what you've got. Plus the plastic sheets keep the pieces of silver from scratching each other. - via The Pegmatite 2-04.

Polish Balling Up? Paul D. Oakey in Lapidary Journal had trouble with his polish "balling up" and scratching the stone, and remedied the problem by using a solution of one ounce of vinegar to sixteen ounces of water. He recommended cleaning the lap first with a toothbrush and the vinegar solution while the lap is turning at high speed. This procedure rejuvenated an old discarded Lucite lap. The solution should contain a little soap as a wetting agent. He dripped this slowly on the lap while polishing, thus ending his scratching problems. Oakey said this gave good results with quartz, beryl, and YAG using either tin oxide, cerium oxide, or Linde A. To polish a large table, he mixed polish, vinegar, Karo syrup and soap into a creamy paste and applied it to the lap without a drip. - From the Rocket City Rocks and Gems June/July 1999 via MOROKS Newsletter 1-04.

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ATTORNEY QUESTIONS,
From Bill Rinker,
Gem Cutter Guild of Baltimore.

Lawyers aren't typically funny - unless by accident. Case in point: The following questions from lawyers were taken from official court records nationwide:

~Was that the same nose you broke as a child?

~Now, doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep, in most cases he just passes quietly away and doesn't know anything about it until the next morning?

~Q: What happened then?
~A: He told me, he says, 'I have to kill you because you can identify me.'
~Q: Did he kill you?

~Was it you or your brother that was killed in the war?

~The youngest son, the 20-year-old, how old is he?

~Were you alone or by yourself?

~How long have you been a French Canadian?

~Do you have children or anything of that kind?

~Q: I show you exhibit 3 and ask you if you recognize that picture?
~A: That's me.
~Q: Were you present when that picture was taken?

~Were you present in court this morning when you were sworn in?

~A Texas attorney, realizing he was on the verge of unleashing a stupid question, interrupted himself and said, "Your Honor, I'd like to strike the next question."

~You don't know what it was, and you don't know what it looked like, but can you describe it?

~Q: Now, Mrs. Johnson, how was your first marriage terminated?
~A: By death.
-Q: And by whose death was it terminated?

~Q: Do you know how far pregnant you are now?
~A: I'll be three months on November 8.
~Q: Apparently, then, the date of conception was August 8?
~A: Yes.
~Q: What were you doing at the time?

~Q: Mrs. Jones, do you believe you are emotionally stable?
~A: I used to be.
~Q: How many times have you committed suicide?

~So you were gone until you returned?

~Q: She had three children, right?
~A: Yes.
~Q: How many were boys?
~A: None.
~Q: Were there girls?

~Q: You say that the stairs went down to the basement?
~A: Yes.
~Q: And these stairs, did they go up also?

~Q: Have you lived in this town all your life?
~A: Not yet.

~Q: Do you recall the time that you examined the body of Mr. Edington at the Rose Chapel?
~A: It was in the evening. The autopsy started about 8:30 p.m.
~Q: And Mr. Edington was dead at the time, is that correct?
~A: No, he was sitting on the table wondering why I was doing an autopsy!

AFMS Newsletter, April 2004.

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DESERT ROCKHOUND.

I once said in this column that it is not a blameworthy weakness to become a "rock-hound" if you live in the desert. Nature, like human rock collectors, saves and displays her choicest gew-gaws only to her intimates. Hence it is not to be wondered at that those who roam over lava slopes and burrow in the heart of Mother Earth should come home laden with geodes and arrowheads and turquoise, or that through the years the walls should begin to sag with rusted relics, the yard to be peopled with cacti.

Fr. John J. Crowley (1891-1940),
Sage and Tumbleweed, September 1937,
Submitted by Greg Cranham, APRG - Pacific Desert Rats.

  Table of Contents.

List of Web Site 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.

AFMS 2004 Convention:
     http://www.amfed.org/efmls/ - Click on "2004 Convention". You can find downloadable forms, motel information, applications etc. Webmaster's Note: I didn't find "2004 Convention". I did, however, get to the show information by clicking on a button on the left named "EFMLS Convention".

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SHOW DATES.

2004 CFMS CLUB SHOWS.

MAY 28-30; MARIPOSA, CA - CFMS/Mariposa Gem & Mineral Club, Mariposa County Fairgrounds, One hour from Yosemite National Park. Hours: ---------, California State Mining and Mineral Museum, P.O. Box 1192, Mariposa, CA 95338. (209 742-7625. Email: mineralmuseum@sti.net. Fax (209) 966-3597.
JUNE 5-6; GLENDORA, CA - Glendora Gems, Goddard Middle School, 859 E. Sierra Madre. Hours: Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4. Mark Thompson (626) 335-3814.
JUNE 19-20; CAYUCOS, CA - San Luis Obispo Gem & Mineral Club, Cayucos Veteran's Hall, 10 Cayucos Drive. Hours: 9-5 both days. Robert G. Hurless (805) 772-7160.
JUNE 19-20; LA HABRA, CA - North Orange County Gem & Mineral Society, Jubilee of Gems Show, La Habra Community Center, 101 W. La Habra Blvd. Hours: Sat 10-5, Sun. 10-4. (626) 330-8974. Email: warthen@earthlink.net.
AUGUST 6-8; NIPOMO, CA - Orcutt Mineral Society, Rainbow of Gems Show, St. Joseph's Church, 2985 S. Thompson Ave. Hours: 10-5 daily. Wes Lingerfelt (805) 929-3788.
AUGUST 7-8; SAN FRANCISCO, CA - San Francisco Gem & Mineral Society, San Francisco County Fair Building, Golden Gate Park at 9th Ave. Lincoln Way. Hours: Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5. Ellen Nott. Email: ellen_nott@yahoo.com.
SEPTEMBER 18-19; REDWOOD CITY, CA - Sequoia Gem & Mineral Society, Community Activities Building, 1400 Roosevelt Avenue. Hours: 10-5 both days. Carol Corden (650) 776-5990. Email: ccorden@earthlink.net.
SEPTEMBER 18-19; PASO ROBLES, CA - Santa Lucia Rockhounds, Pioneer Park & Museum, 2010 Riverside Ave. Hours: 10-5 both days. Mike Doherty - mdoherty@tcsn.net or Paul Savage - egavasp@starband.net.
SEPTEMBER 24-25; VISTA, CA - Vista Gem & Mineral Society, Brengle Terrace Community Recreation Center, 1200 Vale Terrace. Hours: 10-5 both days. Mary Anne Mital (760) 724-0395.
OCTOBER 9-10; ANTIOCH, CA - Antioch Lapidary Club, Contra Costa Fairgrounds, 10th and L Streets - in the Flower Bldg. Hours: 10-5 both days.
OCTOBER 9-10; GRASS VALLEY, CA - Nevada County Gem & Mineral Society, Nevada County Fairgrounds, Main Exhibit Hall, 11228 McCourtney Rd. Hours: 10-5 both days. Cliff Swenson (530) 272-3752.
OCTOBER 16-17; CAYUCOS, CA - San Luis Obispo Gem & Mineral Club, Cayucos Veteran's Hall, 10 Cayucos Drive. Hours: 10-5 both days. Robert G. Hurless (805) 772-7160.
OCTOBER 22-24; RIVERSIDE, CA - Valley Prospectors of San Bernardino, Rancho Jurupa Park; 4800 Crestmore. Hours: Sat. 9-5, Sun. 9-4. Alice Corey (909) 864-8320. Email - alpennymae@aol.com.

AMERICAN FEDERATION / REGIONAL
SHOW SCHEDULE - 2004.

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.

  Table of Contents.

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 Finds 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.

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

MARIPOSA GOLD BUG GALA SHOW UPDATE.

The 2004 CFMS and Mariposa Mineral and Gem Show is almost here. It's time to get your pre-registration for passes, banquet tickets, and editor's breakfast tickets sent in. Are you planning to share your mineral treasures as a guest or competitive exhibitor? If so, don't forget to turn in your exhibitor application so we can reserve a space for you!

Mariposa is a popular destination on Memorial Day weekend, so if you're planning to stay in a motel, it's time to reserve your room. A list of hotels and bed & breakfasts is available with the show forms on the CFMS website. If you are planning to camp at the fairgrounds, camping will be first come first served (no reservations), but don't worry, there is space for 100 campers. The fairgrounds staff says they can provide power to all campers. The fairgrounds also has bathrooms, showers, and a pump station.

We are looking forward to exhibits of lapidary art, minerals from as near as Butte and Inyo Counties and as far as Australia, and fluorescent minerals. We will have vendors for every interest, selling lapidary equipment, beads, rough and finished stones, mineral specimens, fluorescent minerals, gold specimens, jewelry, and more.

See you at the Goldbug Gala, May 28-30 at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds!

Peggy Ronning, Mariposa Club, Show Chairman.

California State Mining & Mineral Museum, (209) 742-7625, Monday - Friday, 7 am to 4 pm, PO Box 1192, Mariposa, CA 95338, mineralcurator@sierratel.com.

CFMS Newsletter, May 2004

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A Show For All America
by Catherine R Smith.

For meetings and shows, a rock hound knows
The road is to Syracuse.
It's paved in quartz and garnet gems
And well worn by our use.

The splendor of quartz calls out to all
In welcome to New York's Upstate.
American Federation Clubs,
Come, help us celebrate!

At last, our chance in all these years
To host you gems of friends.
You'll come from east, west, north and south.
To all, our warmth extends.

We offer comforts and fellowship
At our convention site,
Superb exhibits and retail wares,
Hands-on for young ones' delight.

So aim for that highway of garnet and quartz
Just west of Baum's Yellow Brick Road
And share and enjoy the fantasy worlds
That Earth's hidden strata hold.

Web Site: www.gmss.us.

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EDUCATIONAL CORNER.

Definition of the Month.

Creosote bush - Also known as the greasewood bush. A shrub found in abundance within the deserts of Southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Identified by its waxy green leaves, distinct yellow flowers (when in season) and white wooly seed pods. Some plants grow to 6' high and 8' wide. Found on flat desert valleys and low angle slopes usually below 4000 feet in elevation. Known for its strong fragrance. Most creosote plants live in colonies with a common rootstock. The shrubs are often aligned within each colony with a general circular or linear orientation. The general shape of the colony depends upon the direction and intensity of the prevailing winds.

Modern research on the creosote bush indicates that it may be the oldest living thing on Earth. Samples of root fibers around living creosote colonies have been tested by carbon dating techniques. Test results indicate that some creosote plants are over 11,700 years old. Scientists think that the creosote was one of the first plants to colonize the Mojave Desert region, emerging during the late-stage of the last Ice Age.

     Common name - creosote or greasewood.
     Scientific name - Larrea tridentate.
     Spanish name - hediondilla, which translates to "little stinker".
     Western Shoshone name - yatumbi.
     Southern Paiute name - yatamp and/or yatump.

Native Americans had many uses for the creosote plant. They made a sap-glue from its resins, used dried creosote wood as fuel for campfires and prepared extracts of the plant for medicinal purposes. The creosote was commonly used in some form during rituals and ceremonial gatherings and was respected by Native Americans for its mythical significance.

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

Illustration of the Month.

Ichthyosaur (pronounced ick-thee-oh-sore) - An illustration from the article, "Ichthyosaurs of California", written by Don Dupras, California Geology Magazine, Division of Mines & Geology, May, 1988, page 104. This illustration is a sketch of the fossil remains of the ichthyosaur Shonisaurus popularis excavated in a fossil quarry at the Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park near Gabbs, Nevada. This skeleton is now on exhibit at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum.

     The ichthyosaur refers to a large predatory fish-like creature that flourished in the world oceans from the Mid-Triassic to the Late Cretaceous, 235 to 75 million years ago. They resembled a porpoise but also had features of a lizard. The name ichthyosaur is taken literally from the Greek words ichthys for fish and sauros for lizard. In North America, the ichthyosaur dominated the shallow seas that once covered what is now a large area including California, Nevada and Oregon. There are 50 known species of the "fish-lizard" preserved as fossils throughout the world. They fed on fish and free-swimming mollusks such as the squid-like ammonites and the belemnites. One of the best places to view the fossil remains of the ichthyosaur is at the Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park. The longest known ichthyosaur fossil remains from the Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park measures 56 feet in length and represents an animal that once weighed over 40 tons.

     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, May 2004.

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SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

VGMS PHOTO ALBUM,
Family Science Night at Mountain View Elementary School, Goleta.
Photos by Steve and Susan Mulqueen.

  Table of Contents.

SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

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