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The Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. (VGMS)
Rockhound Rambling
January 2005.
Table of Contents.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
Well, it's a new year and there's a new Sheriff in town. I appreciate the confidence you've shown in electing me as your new President and I look forward to a productive New Year. Thank you for your support.
We had a very nice Christmas dinner at Carrows, with good attendance and accommodations. I'd like to thank everyone who attended and especially incoming and outgoing board and committee members for their time and devotion to our club.
Our annual VGMS Gem & Mineral Show will be held on March 5th & 6th. This is only a couple of months away and preparations are underway to make this another great event. We will be discussing the details of the show at our next two meetings. This is our main source of fund raising so, please plan on volunteering to help our show in any way you can. As always, we need plants, good stuff for the Country Store, Grab Bags filled, rocks tumbled, wonderful exhibits, manual labor, and great new ideas!
A dynamic and active club that's attractive to potential new members requires many things. Most importantly, it requires members who PARTICIPATE. We have meetings, presentations, field trips, shows, and interaction with your fellow members and members from other clubs. I have found that in preparing to give a presentation I end up learning much more about my subject than I knew when I started. I encourage you to give a presentation at one of our meetings, offer to teach a workshop, put in displays at our show and other club shows, consider being a docent at our museum, help reach out to schools and other organizations that can benefit from our knowledge. Have you ever considered writing an article for our bulletin? Do you have a mineral or fossil that you can't identify or that you really like? Then bring it to one of our meetings and let us help identify it or just gawk over it. This is your club and your participation is everything.
Don't forget, dues for VGMS membership for the year 2005 are DUE and can be paid at our meeting.
I look forward to a prosperous New Year with the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society! With your help, it will be our best year ever.
Ed Clark, President.
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Table of Contents.
WORDS TO LIVE BY.
A fellow who is always declaring he's no fool usually has his suspicions.
Search others for their virtues, yourself for your vices---Benjamin Franklin.
Boys will be boys, and so will a lot of middle-aged men.
The only reason some people get lost in thought is because it is unfamiliar territory.
Collected by Wayne Ehlers.
Table of Contents.
2005 DUES ARE DUE.
You can mail them to P.O. Box 1573, Ventura, CA 93001 - Attn: Membership Chairperson.
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PROGRAM - JANUARY 26, 2005:
Mono- Crystal Manufacturing,
By Mary Polacek.
The January presentation, by Mary Polacek, will be an exploration of the photovoltaic manufacturing process, with an emphasis on crystal growth. The employees of Shell Solar delight in telling others that they make Electricity from Sunlight! Solar cells are made by a myriad of processes, and Shell Solar utilizes three: poly-crystalline cells, monocrystalline cells, and a copper indium selenide (CIS) vapor process. The presentation will focus on the mono-crystalline process. It is fascinating how extremely large crystals (ingots) are grown from little bitty seeds. Mary will have samples of raw polysilicon, crystal tops and tails (some with the seed still attached!).
Table of Contents.
REVIEW - 2004 VGMS CHRISTMAS PARTY:
December 8th,
Installation of 2005 Officers.
Our Annual Christmas Dinner Meeting was held on Wednesday, December 8th at Carrow's Restaurant on Harbor Blvd. and Seaward in Ventura. The food and fellowship was great as always. Sharon Cunningham helped with the Christmas spirit by placing some very cute little Christmas bags filled with goodies on all the tables.
Kathryn Davis graciously installed the 2005 Officers and the outgoing 2004 officers were thanked. All were made to feel appreciated. Thank God for these members who are willing to put in their time and efforts on our behalf. One way to say thanks to them is to be first in line when a volunteer is asked for!
It was a nice evening with friends and fellow rockhounds with the Christmas Spirit in attendance. We missed those who weren't able to attend.
Table of Contents.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
1-20-05 - Museum Relocation Meeting - 7:30 pm - Home of Steve and Susan Mulqueen. Your help is needed!
1-23-05 - VGMS Show Planning Meeting - 2:00 pm - At Jim & Nancy Brace-Thompson's home, 7319 Eisenhower Street, Ventura (call 659-3577 for directions).
1-26-05 - VGMS Regular Meeting - 7:30 pm - At the Lexington. Mary Polacek talks about the mono-crystal manufacturing process.
2-1-05 - Install Gem Show Promotional Display at Day Road Library - Contact Jim Brace-Thompson (659-3577) for details, time, etc.
2-3-05 - VGMS Board Meeting - 7:30 pm - At the I.B.E.W. Hall, 3994 E. Main St., Ventura, CA. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.
2-10-05 - DEADLINE FOR FEBRUARY Bulletin Articles to the Editor!
2-12-05 - Field Trip to Tijugas Beach - Contact Ron Wise (805) 647-4393.
2-19-05 - VGMS Work Shop - Museum - Open - 9-noon.
2-23-05 - VGMS Regular Meeting - 7:30 pm - At the Lexington.
3-5 & 6-05 - VGMS Annual Show - Get ready now! - There is an Exhibitor's Form at the back of this Bulletin for your convenience.
4-3 to 4-10-05 - Zzyzx CFMS Earth Science Studies.
4-9-05 - Zzyzx 20th Anniversary Open House - See registration form attached. It is due by March 15, 2005.
4-22 to 4-26-05 - Desert Symposium - Also at Zzyzx - Theme: Mining History of the Eastern Mojave Desert. (See Chips & Boulders.)
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What's In A Name?
Anhydrite: From the Greek for "without water", because of the absence of water, in contrast to gypsum (which is hydrous calcium sulfate).
Calcite: From the Latin for "lime", because it becomes lime (calcium oxide) when heated.
From Gems Minerals Crystals and Ores by Richard M. Pearl.
Contributed by Ed Clark.
Table of Contents.
SHOW ITEMS.
GEM SHOW 2005:
Finalizing the Details.
Wow! Is our 43rd Annual Gem, Mineral, Lapidary & Fossil Show really LESS than two months away? How did it creep up so fast?? With less than two months to go, we need full attendance at our last two Show Planning Meetings to ensure that all details are finalized for a smooth and successful Show. The next meeting takes place 2:00 PM, Sunday, January 23rd at my home (7319 Eisenhower Street, Ventura). In that meeting, we'll also determine and set a date (to be announced in the February bulletin) for the final Show Planning Meeting in February.
A big need at present is organizing material for the Kids' Activities Booth. We went through all but 9 of our grab bags, so we want to hold a grab-bag stuffing party at our home in February, prior to the February Show Planning Meeting. We have over 400 empty bags, and to fill them, we'll need small (but not tiny) items approximately 2 inches by 2 inches. This includes: small limb casts and pieces of petrified wood; fossils (not too fragile, though!); small rock, mineral and crystal samples (especially quartz crystals and interesting rocks such as banded rhyolite, colorful jaspers, chalcedony roses, agates, etc.); fossil sharks teeth; and colorful tumbled stones. If you have suitable material to donate to the cause, please bring it to our regular club meeting in January and/or to the Show Planning Meeting on January 23rd so that we can sort through it and organize it before the grab bag stuffing party in February.
We're also seeking donations of other items to serve as prizes in the Kids' Activities Booth (small colorful slabs with interesting patterns, crystals, small specimens of petrified wood, fossils under 5 inches, small and medium geodes, agates, nodules and thunder eggs, tumbled stones, minerals and rocks, jewelry, and then tiny colorful gemstones and shark teeth for sand sifting.
This year, we're seeking more people to help run the Kids' Booth during the show. We'll distribute a sign-up sheet at both the January and February meetings. Please consider helping out with a couple hours each day of the show to help distribute the burden (and to share in the fun!). Kids seem to come in "packs" and it can get quite busy at the Kids' Booth at times, so the more hands and hearts, the better.
Also, a reminder to look through your rock pile or any duplicate specimens in your collections to pick out donations to provide for the Donation Awards Raffle (we want especially fine items for this) and for the Silent Auction. And of course we can always use donations of yard-sale items for the Country Store and potted plants for the Plant Sale.
But most of all, we need YOU! Please give generously of your time in these days leading up to the show and during the show, enter a display (or two or three) from your collections, and join in the fun. Here's to making 2005 our best Show ever!
Jim Brace-Thompson, Show Chair.
GEM SHOW 2005:
Help Needed for Day Road Library Display.
For the past several years, we've been very fortunate in obtaining display space in two Ventura libraries to help promote our annual show. For the month of January this year, we've been provided with display space at the E. P. Foster Library in downtown Ventura, and Nancy and I have set up an exhibit dedicated to cabbing, entitled "From Rocks...to Riches!" It's in the glass tabletop display case to your left when you enter the library from Main Street. We encourage you to check it out. (See if you can guess who that handsome man is behind the grinding wheel in the photo included in the display!) We'll also be maintaining a supply of our flyers next to the case throughout the month of January.
In February, we've once again secured the very large window display case that fills up the entire wall in the foyer of the Day Road Library. Because this is a much larger area to fill, we can definitely use help! The Day Road Library staff has asked that we set up the case the morning of Tuesday, February 1. I ask anyone who's available to help to please see me at our January meeting or to call me (659-3577). We need help both in setting up the display (with her recent hip-replacement surgery, Nancy won't be lifting too much) and in providing specimens to display. This display will highlight all aspects of our hobby - from field trips to rock and mineral collecting to fossils to lapidary arts. We want to give library patrons a hint of what they'll see at our annual show and also to catch the attention of any potential new club members. Please see me at the January meeting or call to offer your help. Many thanks in advance!
Jim Brace-Thompson, Show Chair.
VGMS SHOW - KID'S BOOTH.
The 2005 VGMS Show is coming soon! Guess what? The Kid's Booth again needs your generous donations. Last year we started out with a mountain of prizes and ended up with a molehill. We hope to do the same in 2005.
There will be a sorting and bag stuffing party - with refreshments - in February. In the meantime, sure would appreciate it if you can contribute to our Wish List! Just think of those kids and how excited they are when they find great stuff in their rock bags, take home their own sharks' teeth from the sand sifting booth, or win a prize they really like at the spinning wheel booth.
Some of the Spinning Wheel prizes the kids love (and we need to replace) are: fossil specimens, petrified wood, geodes and nodules, crystals, pretty slabs, polished rock samples, birthstone rings, necklaces with a colorful stone, interesting mineral specimens. These prizes need to fit in a space just over 5" square.
For the Rock Bags the prizes need to be smaller (about 2" x 2" or less). Marie Ehlers has kept us nicely supplied with rock bags. However, we desperately need some things to fill them. Save your small pieces of petrified wood, little fossils (shells, teeth, plants, insects, whalebone), small mineral samples, small crystals, small samples of interesting rocks (banded rhyolite, colorful jaspers, agates, chalcedony roses, magnetic stones, etc.). We will also need some colorful tumbled stones.
Sand Sifting, as always, can use some sharks teeth, small fossil shells, and tumbled stones.
We are also looking for some folks to work in the Kid's Booth. The kids are fun to be around. Many are curious and fascinated by rocks, crystals, and fossils. Run the Spinning Wheel for a couple of hours. Sell rock bags and help the kids identify their rocks. Show the little kids how to fish out sharks teeth in the Sand Sifting Booth. You'll have a good time!
Jean Wise jwise@dslextreme.com.
EXHIBITING:
The hobby needs you to exhibit your special collection
and show the public what we are about.
It's time to think again about displaying your treasures. If you're not quite ready for "prime time competition" but you want to share your personal interest in our hobby the coming federation show in Roseville, CA is a good place to start.
Does your club have a program each year to teach novice exhibitors how to make the most of their collections? Does someone give you tips on how to line the exhibit case, make labels and arrange a display that is pleasing to look at and educational too?
We have gotten away from exhibiting. The competitive exhibits have been dwindling for a number of years and we'd like to make a concerted effort to bring all exhibits back to the levels they were years ago.
COMPETITIVE EXHIBITING - Things have changed over the past few years. If you exchange the word "judge" for "teacher" you'll come up with a concept that we are trying to obtain. It's not you against the judge; it's both working together to make the case the best it can be. We are also suggesting that the exhibitor be there when the case is being judged. In California, this hasn't been the case, but we'd like to see this implemented here and now. Not for the sake of "argument" but for clarification as to the rules and what judges are looking for. One of the biggest problems is that the exhibitor doesn't read the rules. No matter what you're competing in, you must read the rules. If AFMS Rules are intimidating, let us help you work to overcome this problem.
We are also suggesting the following: on the non-competitive exhibit form for 2005 there is a BOX to check. The box says, "If you would like a judge to help you to improve your exhibit, please let the Rules Chairman know". If you want to see what your case would score before you officially enter in competition, this is the way to go. You'll get the best possible advice in where to upgrade, how to layout your exhibit and what you need on your labels, according to what classification you are interested in entering. Rules Committee and judges will be available to go over your case with you after the CFMS Business Meeting on Saturday and Sunday. Anyone interested, please check the box and you'll be contacted.
If your club would like to host an "EXHIBITOR'S WORKSHOP" sometime before the CFMS show in June, please contact the CFMS 1st Vice President. If you would like to have judges there to help you, let me know. I will be attending the Calaveras Gem and Mineral Club meeting in January to help explain the rules book. If you need me, let me know and I'll try and schedule myself or someone else who is near your club.
Waiting to hear from you,
Dee Holland, Rules Committee, Chair,
beauholland@salmonintemet.com and
shirleyleeson@msn.com.
CFMS Newsletter, January 2005.
Editor's Note: This is geared for the CFMS show, but is timely for our show as well. Just a reminder - a VGMS Exhibitor form (Use your browser's BACK button or equivalent to return here.) is attached to this bulletin. It's never too early to complete and return to Ed Clark, VGMS Exhibitor Chairperson.
INTERESTING NOTE: Richard Bromser was browsing through some old Gem & Mineral magazines a few weeks ago and came across this ad for our FIRST show: Ventura, California - "Swing Into Spring." Is the theme of Ventura Gem and Mineral Society's first show March 9 and 10, at the Westpark Recreation Center, 450 West Prospect. The Bank of America is lending its collection of Mother Lode Gold. Demonstrations, a fluorescent display, and dealers will add interest. ---- Sounds good doesn't it? Would like to have seen the Mother Lode Gold collection.
Table of Contents.
VGMS MUSEUM RELOCATION.
We are still looking for a location to relocate the Museum. There are a couple of options that we are exploring but they are very tentative and the search needs to continue. Steve Mulqueen has some very nice packets available outlining our contribution to the community and our needs. If you have any prospects give him or Ed Clark a call.
Table of Contents.
THE MUSEUM CORNER,
By Debbie Bunn, Chair, Museum Committee.
The Museum Committee has been working on developing a list of museums located within the CFMS borders. Our new editor-Dick Pankey-has suggested that we begin to share this information thru a monthly column in the CFMS newsletter. Good idea Dick!
It seems appropriate to begin with the Buena Vista Museum of Natural History in Bakersfield, CA. This is where the CFMS California Minerals live when they are not at the annual CFMS show. If you are a fossil buff this is a must see museum. The Sharktooth Hill Bone bed is a type locality for marine Miocene fossils. The Buena Vista is the repository for the Bob and Mary Ernst collection of Kern county fossil collection which includes sharks from 6 inches to 60 feet long, ancestral sea lions, dolphins, whales, dugongs, turtles, crocodiles, and seabirds. There are even some terrestrial Miocene fossils including ancestral horse, rhino, camel, deer, and elephant. Petrified wood, pinecones, and nuts have also been found. The first floor includes the fossil display and a very nice little gift shop with scientific books and toys for the kids. Even some fossil specimens for sale. On the second floor you can find some very nice petrified wood displays, minerals-including the CFMS minerals-and local Native American artifacts from the San Joaquin Valley. There are also some stuffed modern animals from North America, Africa, etc.
The Buena Vista is open Thursday thru Saturday, 10-5 with the last admission at 4 pm. Other hours can be arranged by appointment. Cost is adults $3, children and seniors $2, and children under 5 free. If you join the museum membership program there are special activities including closed digs, classes on fossil preparation, special lectures, etc. Membership starts at $25 and up. The address for the Buena Vista is 2018 Chester Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301, phone (661)-324-6350. This museum would make a fine one-day fieldtrip for any club. You can probably arrange to see their prep lab and maybe learn about fossil preparation. I encourage everyone who gets a chance, to visit the Buena Vista Museum in Bakersfield. There's a lot to see.
CFMS Newsletter, January 2005.
Editor's Note: It's not ours but it is a good one!
Table of Contents.
SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.
CHIPS & BOULDERS.
Donation of Plants - A big "Thank You" goes out to Ruth Engle who donated several hundred potted plants to the Tri-Clubs (Oxnard Gem & Mineral Soc., Conejo Gem & Mineral Soc. and the VGMS). Marie and Wayne Ehlers as well as Susan and Steve Mulqueen hauled the donated plants from Oxnard to Camarillo and Ventura. These plants will be for sale at the Plant Booth at our next Gem & Mineral Show in March. Included are numerous cymbidium orchids, epiphyllum (orchid cacti) and succulents. Ruth is a former member of the VGMS.
Susan Mulqueen.
Board Meetings New Location - The new site for the VGMS board meetings is the I.B.E.W. Hall at 3994 E. Main Street, Ventura, CA. We met there in January and it is a great location. Thanks Richard Bromser for helping to make this available. Everyone is welcome to attend these meetings. We appreciate the in-put.
CFMS & AFMS Newsletters - Anyone interested in their own subscriptions to these, please contact Shirley Layton (805 717-9226). The cost for one year is $5.50 for the CFMS and $4.50 for the AFMS. I do share some information from these with you, but there is much more in each issue that you may be interested in.
Don't Forget - Plants & Country Store Items - Get a good variety of cuttings started and keep the country store in mind when you are looking for room to put all your "new" Christmas presents!
Mount St. Helens VolcanoCam - Click on the address below to see a current photo of the volcano:
http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/volcanocams/msh/.
Websites with images and history of the La Conchita landslide & mudflow:
http://www.geog.ucsb.edu/~jeff/projects/la_conchita/apcg2001_article/apcg2001_article.html
and
http://www.geog.ucsb.edu/~jeff/projects/la_conchita/288demo_laconchita.html.
Contributed by Steve Mulqueen.
Desert Symposium - The theme is "Mining History of the Eastern Mojave Desert". The location is the Desert Studies Center, Zzyzx, California. The dates are April 22-23, 2005 with a Field Trip on April 24-26, 2005. For additional information contact Steve Mulqueen. Registration closes on 4-5-05. Contact Steve Or Shirley Layton (805) 717-9226 for a registration form.
Hosts and Hostesses Schedule for 2005 Meetings - Sharon Cunningham has kindly agreed to coordinate the Hosting schedule again for 2005 and will be looking for volunteers. Think about which month would be best for you and let Sharon know. Many volunteers make it easier for all! Following is the schedule as it is so far. Sharon will have a sign up list at the February meeting to hopefully fill out the year (she will be in Quartzite for the January meeting):
January: Sharlyne Holloway and Shirley Layton,
February: Sharon Cunningham.
VGMS Business Cards Available - You can get them printed with the VGMS logo, 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/,
CA BLM web site - http://www.ca.blm.gov/.
Table of Contents.
Program Schedule for Monthly Meetings,
Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, 2005.
| Date: | Speaker,* | Subject. |
| January 26, 2005: | Mary Polacek, | Mono-crystalline Mfg. |
A New Schedule will be set up for 2005. Think about what you would like and volunteer for that month! It's a good way to get a program of your interest! The quicker we fill up the schedule, the more advance notice everyone will have of the program.
In the absence of a Program Chairman for the year 2005, 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.
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 AKA "Podium People". For this and slide programs or CFMS Club rosters, please contact Florence Meisenheimer - CFMS website would also be of help.
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FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS.
Happy Birthday to all those born in February. 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!
February - Happy Birthday!!
Jean Wise - 4th,
Jim Brace-Thompson - 23rd.
The February birthstone is the Amethyst and the flower is Violet.
AMETHYST, the purple variety of quartz.
VARIETY INFORMATION:
- Variety of: Quartz , SiO2,
- Uses: Gemstones and ornamental stones,
- Birthstone for: February,
- Color: Various shades of purple,
- Index of refraction: 1.544-1.553,
- Birefringence: 0.009,
- Hardness: 7,
- Cleavage: None,
- Crystal system: Triagonal,
- Pleochroic: No.
Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz and is a popular gemstone. If it were not for its widespread availability, amethyst would be very expensive. The name "amethyst" comes from the Greek and means "not drunken". This was maybe due to a belief that amethyst would ward off the effects of alcohol, but most likely the Greeks were referring to the almost wine-like color of some stones that they may have encountered. Its color is unparalleled, and even other, more expensive purple gemstones are often compared to its color and beauty. Although it must always be purple to be amethyst, it can and does have a wide range of purple shades.
Amethyst can occur as long prismatic crystals that have a six-sided pyramid at either end or can form as druzes that are crystalline crusts that only show the pointed terminations. As a mineral specimen, amethyst is popular for its color and nice crystal shapes that produce a handsome, purple, sparkling cluster.
However, amethyst is not the same everywhere. Different localities can produce a unique amethyst to that particular region or even to that particular mine. Experts can often identify the source mine that a particular amethyst came from. The key to this is the specimen's color, shape of crystal, inclusions, associations and character of formation.
The following is a list of many of the more noteworthy localities and some of the attributes that characterize the amethyst found there.
- Vera Cruz, Mexico -- very pale, clear, prismatic crystals that are sometimes double terminated and have grown on a light colored host rock. Crystals are typically phantomed, having a clear quartz interior and an amethyst exterior. Some are sceptered and phantomed.
- Guerrero, Mexico -- dark, deep purple, prismatic crystals that radiate outward from a common attachment point. Often the crystals are phantomed opposite of Vera Cruz amethyst having a purple interior with a clear or white quartz exterior. These are some of the most valuable amethysts in the world.
- Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul, Bahaia, Brazil - crystals form in druzy crusts that line the inside of sometimes large volcanic rock pockets or "vugs". Some of the vugs form from trees that were engulfed in a lava flow millions of years ago and have since withered away. Other vugs are just gas bubbles in the lava. Some vugs can be quite large. The crystals that form are usually light to medium in color and only colored at the tops of the crystals. Most clusters form with gray, white and blue agate and have a green exterior on the vugs. Calcite sometimes is associated and inclusions of cacoxenite are common.
- Maraba, Brazil -- large crystals with unattractive surfaces that are of a pale to medium color and often carved or cut into slices.
- Thunder Bay, Canada -- a distinct red hematite inclusion just below the surface of the crystals is unique to this locality. Clusters are druzy crusts that line the fissures formed in ancient metamorphic rocks.
- Uruguay -- crystals are dark to medium and form in druzy crusts that line the inside of volcanic vugs that have a gray or brown exterior. The crystals are usually colored throughout, unlike the Brazilian crystals, and form with a multicolored agate that often contains reds, yellows and oranges. Often amethyst-coated stalactites and other unusual formations occur inside these vugs.
- Africa -- crystals are usually large but not attractive. However, the interior color and clarity are excellent and polished slices and carvings as well as many gemstones are prized and admired.
- Maine, USA -- Dark druzy clusters that are not widely distributed today.
- North Carolina, USA -- Druzy clusters that have a bluish-violet tint.
- Pennsylvania, USA -- druzy clusters that filled fractures in metamorphic rocks. They are generally a brownish purple and patchy in color.
- Colorado, USA -- druzy clusters form crusts inside of fissures in sandstone, often on top of a crust of green fluorite. Crystals are dark but rather small.
- Italy -- both Vera Cruz like crystals, although not as well defined, and large parallel growth clusters with good evenly distributed color.
- Germany -- associated with colorful agates that form a druzy light-colored crust.
- Ural Mountains, Russia -- a very clear and dark variety that is cut for fine expensive gemstones, natural uncut clusters are rarely on the market.
Often cut gems of amethyst are graded using the terms: Siberian, Uruguayan or Bahain; to represent high medium and low grade respectively, regardless of the actual source. Because of the patchiness of the color distribution in the crystals, Amethyst is often cut as brilliant round cuts to maximize the color. Other cuts can be used when the color is better distributed.
The color purple is traditionally the color of royalty and amethyst has been used since the dawn of history to adorn the rich and powerful monarchs and rulers. Today, amethyst is a lovely and affordable gemstone that is fortunately available in a wide variety of cut and uncut stones that we can all possess and admire.
Amethyst is only one of several quartz varieties. Other varieties that form macroscopic (large enough to see) crystals are as follows:
- Citrine is a yellow to orange gemstone variety that is rare in nature but is often created by heating Amethyst.
- Milky Quartz is the cloudy white variety.
- Rock crystal is the clear variety that is also used as a gemstone.
- Rose quartz is a pink to reddish pink variety.
- Smoky quartz is the brown to gray variety.
Unless otherwise noted, all mineral descriptions and images, plus the related descriptions on this server are the property of Amethyst Galleries, Inc., (http://mineral.galleries.com/), 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.
The 2004 Christmas Party was a great success. There weren't any door prizes per se; we all got one in the guise of a table decoration filled with Christmas candy. Sharon Cunningham, who does a great job every year decorating the tables for our dinner, very cleverly did them. Thanks Sharon! We had 24 rockhounds in attendance and one guest Paul Polacek, the husband of Mary Polacek. The new officers were installed, the old ones retired (well many started a new year) and a merry time was had by all.
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COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
November 18, Ray Meisenheimer spent the day at Anacapa Middle School in Ventura. He gave a program on rocks and minerals to five eighth grade classes, one after the other. There were approximately 35 students in each class, making it about 175 students for the day. He had on display two large boxes of minerals and discussed their use in the home, their physical construction and rocks and minerals in general. Students were pleased to be able to put names to different minerals.
November 23, Ray Meisenheimer gave a tour of the museum to a mother and grown daughter who were visiting relatives here. They live in Bakersfield and had seen the write up in the Star.
December 31, Ray gave a tour of the museum to a party of 5, a businessman from Costa Mesa visiting his daughter from Santa Paula, and her friends. They had seen the write up in the Star. They were very interested in preserving the future of the museum.
January 2, Ray gave a museum tour to two adults and 2 children from Fillmore. They are very interested in the Earth Sciences, and are considering becoming members of our club.
Table of Contents.
CFMS FALL BUSINESS MEETING.
The meeting was held in Fresno November 13 & 14. 62 delegates and all officers were present.
For the last year or so it has been necessary to borrow from the Endowment Fund to pay the insurance premium. It is then paid back during the year.
The CFMS show in Mariposa made a profit for CFMS of $3651.71. Roseville will host 2005, Angels Camp in 2006 and Palmdale in 2007. It is a celebration for them, and will be at the beautiful new Fairgrounds at Lancaster.
Cal Clason announced the dues for Earth Sciences will increase to $250.00 per person starting with Paradise in the fall.
The Mariposa Museum is seeking funds to start building their fine new museum. Land has been donated. To even start building, twenty million is needed. They hope to have a geology department, and visitation by students as well as the mineral department. At this time only 5% of the minerals are displayed.
C. J. Quitoriano is now handling the CFMS Cab cases central. Cal Clason gave it up.
INSURANCE - It is going up in price. There is an increase for members and for club activities. Clubs now will pay $6.50 per member which includes five dollars for insurance and $1.50 for CFMS and AFMS Dues.
Florence Meisenheimer, Federation Director.
THANK YOU -- Well deserved - At CFMS meetings business is discussed and budgets voted on. Then the committee people give their report. When Jim Brace-Thompson gave his report on Future Rockhounds of America and the Merit Badge program he has put together, he received a standing ovation from the other delegates.
It is an outstanding program, and is working.
Florence Meisenheimer, Federation director.
Table of Contents.
"FIELD TRIPS ARE FUN."
TRI-CLUB FIELDTRIPS 2005:
Schedule Is Under Construction!
| Leaders: | ||||
| Don Asher, | 482-2510, | Conejo, | asherd@aldephia.net. | |
| B Fitzpatrick, | 845-3051, | RUROCKY2@aol.com. | ||
| Rob Miller, | rdmiller@earthlink.net. | |||
| Don Minster, | 485-8226, | Oxnard, | donminster@prodigy.net. | |
| Steve Mulqueen, | Ventura, | Steve.Mulqueen@conservation.ca.gov. | ||
| Ron Wise, | 647-4393, | Ventura, | clintwise@hotmail.com. | |
*** Please call your club fieldtrip leader to confirm that there is a fieldtrip scheduled in the event of changes.
February Field Trip.
February 12th Ron Wise will lead a trip to Tijugas Beach. With all the big surf lately there should be some good material. Since he is now in Quartzsite and unreachable, you will need to call Ron for details just before the trip. Ron Wise (805) 647-4393.
Contributed by Miriam Tetreault.
Great Website for rockhounding in the Barstow area-
www.ca.blm.gov/barstow/rock.html.
This is from the AFMS Newsletter - December 2004-January 2005 and was contributed by Bob Cranston. It is an excellent summary of collecting rules and some descriptions of local collecting sites. It's from the Barstow BLM office.
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.
www.quartzsitechamber.com.
Written November 24, 2003.
Editor's Note: This is a timely repeat of some Quartzsite Information for our new members (and old) as it is that time of year again.
Table of Contents.
MEMBERSHIP.
2005 DUES ARE DUE!!!!! You can mail them in or give them to Shirley Bromser at the meeting on the 26th. Don't Forget.
We are happy to welcome new members, Lowell and Karen Foster. We are happy to have you with us. Please welcome the Fosters and add the following information to your 2004 Directory. 2005 directories will be out for the April meeting.
New Member:
Lowell and Karen Foster,
282 Shoshone Street,
Ventura, CA 93001,
(805) 648-1942.
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 Monthly Board Meeting,
Thursday, December 2nd, 2004:
The regular board meeting of the VGMS was called to order by Steve Mulqueen at 7:30 pm on Thursday, December 2nd, 2004, at the VGMS museum, 5019 Crooked Palm Rd., Ventura, CA.
Present: Steve Mulqueen, Ray and Florence Meisenheimer, Jim Brace-Thompson, Shirley Layton, Richard & Shirley Bromser and Greg Davis.
Steve Mulqueen: Mike Nelson of the California Oil Museum in Santa Paula has suggested use of a facility in Santa Paula for our museum. The building, previously a gas station, will need cleaning, flooring and shelves but it is large enough for the museum and it's our only offer so far. A meeting will be arranged with the city manager to go over details. It was m/s/c to allocate $2000.00 if necessary for upgrades to this site by our members. In the meantime, roofing material was installed on our existing museum by a crew of club members. We haven't heard back from Jewel Tunnel, but we'll continue to try and arrange a visit as was done last year.
Richard Bromser: It was m/s/c to accept the treasurer's report for the month of November. December 5th is the last day to get Christmas dinner money turned in. Our Christmas dinner is scheduled for December 8th, at Carrows Restaurant on Harbor Blvd., Ventura. The next board meeting will be held at the IBEW hall, at 3449 E. Main St., Ventura, 7:30, Thursday, Jan. 6th, 2005. It was m/s/c to accept Shirley Bromser's offer to act as Membership Secretary. Thank you so much Shirley. It was also m/s/c to accept applications for new members Lowel & Karen Foster. Richard will also reschedule a Christmas dinner time at Carrows restaurant for 2005.
Shirley Layton: Country Store items will be inventoried and a pricing event will be scheduled soon and articles for the January bulletin need to be received by January 10th.
Jim Brace-Thompson: The next meeting for the 2005 show is scheduled for December 5th, at Jim's house. We still need someone to coordinate exhibitor show cases and their arrangement on the tables. Please offer to assist. The Ventura Unified School District will disallow flyers to be passed out to classrooms as we've done in the past. This will take effect after our 2005 show however.
Greg Davis: Items for refurbishing our shop equipment were ordered and received with the help of Cal Clason.
Florence Meisenheimer: Shirley Layton has offered to be a contact for our club insurance needs. Thank you Shirley, this is greatly needed and appreciated. Jim Brace-Thompson was recognized at the recent Federation meeting in Fresno for his outstanding work with his youth merit program. Great work and congratulations Jim!
The next meeting will be our Christmas dinner with installation of officers.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:50 pm.
Respectfully submitted, Greg Davis.
Minutes of the VGMS Regular Monthly Meeting,
Wednesday, December 8th, 2004:
The regular monthly meeting of the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society was called to order by Steve Mulqueen at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, December 8th, 2004 at Carrows Restaurant, Ventura, CA.
The November regular meeting and board meeting minutes were corrected and then m/s/c as shown in the bulletin.
Steve Mulqueen welcomed everyone to our Christmas dinner and last meeting of 2004.
Richard Bromser gave the treasurer's report for the month of November.
Shirley Layton: The 10th of January will be the deadline for articles and photographs to be submitted for the bulletin.
Jim Brace-Thompson: The next meeting of the 2005 annual show will be scheduled sometime in February.
Sharon Cunningham provided the beautiful centerpieces for the dinner tables.
As Steve Mulqueen passed the gavel to Ed Clark, Kathryn Davis swore in the board members for the year 2005. They were: Ed Clark - President, Ron Wise - Second VP Field Trips, Jim Brace-Thompson - Third VP Show, Richard Bromser - Treasurer, Greg Davis - Recording Secretary, Shirley Bromser - Membership Secretary, Florence Meisenheimer - Federation Director, Shirley Layton - Bulletin Editor and Steve Mulqueen - Parliamentarian.
The next Board meeting will be Thursday, January 6th at a new location, the IBEW Hall, 3994 E. Main St., Ventura. All are welcomed to attend and the next regular meeting will be held January 26th at the Lexington.
There being no further business, President Ed Clark wished everyone a merry Christmas , a happy new year and adjourned the meeting at 8:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted, Greg Davis.
Minutes of the VGMS Monthly Board Meeting,
Thursday, January 6th, 2005:
The regular board meeting of the VGMS was called to order by President Ed Clark at 7:30 pm on Thursday, January 6th, 2005, at the IBEW Hall, 3994 E. Main St., Ventura, CA.
Present: Ed Clark, Steve Mulqueen, Ray and Florence Meisenheimer, Jim Brace-Thompson, Shirley Layton, Richard Bromser and Greg Davis.
Ed Clark: As president, Ed would like to emphasize publicity for our annual show, finding a new site for our museum and increasing the club's membership in the coming year. Offers to college instructors for their students to display at our show is one possibility. Also, programs during our monthly meetings which are geared more toward gems and minerals may help to attract the new members. A program on mineral identification is one suggestion.
Richard Bromser: It was m/s/c to accept the treasurer's report for the month of December. Also, it was m/s/c to accept the annual treasurer's report for 2004 as it was written. Copies of the proposed budget for 2005 were passed out. Reservations have been made at Carrows restaurant for our 2005 Christmas dinner - December 14th.
Shirley Layton: Articles for the bulletin need to be received by January 10th. It's also time for club members to volunteer to provide refreshments and programs for our monthly meetings, so plan on it and contact any board member with your preferred month.
Steve Mulqueen has offered to make 75 exhibitor trophies for our March show. The board authorized $1.25 to be spent per item. Steve, Susan, Wayne and Marie collected and are storing plants which were donated by Ruth Engle.
Jim Brace-Thompson: The next meeting for the 2005 show is scheduled for Sunday, January 23rd, 2:00 at Jim's house. All are welcomed. A grab bag stuffing event will be included in this meeting, so bring any inventory you might have for the grab bags. Memos and flyers have been sent to radio stations and colleges. This will be the last year that flyers will be allowed to be sent out to the Ventura school district classes, as starting next year new guidelines will prohibit this practice.
Ray Meisenheimer: Numerous groups and schools have toured our museum after seeing the invitation on our web site. One was David W. Grant, who also made a generous donation to the museum after Ray presented a tour to him and his daughter. Ray feels we not only need new labels made for the museum specimens, but should provide another class for docent training to club members as he will certainly need more help before long. Consider offering to help with this service.
Florence Meisenheimer: Heidi Mauer is the contact for our insurance needs, with Shirley Layton acting as our liaison for club members. Of membership dues, $6.50 per person goes to the CFMS and $1.50 of that goes to the AFMS for insurance purposes.
Greg Davis: Case keys will need to be reproduced or the locks replaced prior to our next show. Greg will inventory needs and report back.
The next meeting will be our monthly general meeting on January 26, 2005 at the Lexington in Ventura.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:45 pm.
Respectfully submitted, Greg Davis.
Table of Contents.
SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.
Keeping Public Lands Public,
from Bob Cranston.
This was sent to me by an officer in the BLM. I think his advice is good and if anyone wants to protect their rock collecting privileges, this would be one good way to start. The other and best way is to get off our duffs and do something. First download and print out and digest the 7.3 megabytes of material listed below. If you can't digest it and make a decision, get some help. There are at least a couple of lawyers in our group and although they are up to their ears in work, they will talk to you.
If you print this out, you will have the e-mails of at least a couple of them. They are your peers, so don't hesitate to talk to them.
I am purposefully omitting the name of the BLM officer who sent this to me, so he doesn't have to answer questions of WHY? from superiors.
Keeping Public Lands Public.
Dear fellow rock hunter recreationists:
Today I stumbled upon a valuable document that can help all of us fight for the use of public lands to continue our hobby.
We can take a page out of the other side's book to assist our efforts to participate in the resource management decisions of the BLM and the US Forest Service that may unjustly restrict our rights and abilities to collect rocks, fossils and minerals.
Actually, this is 7.3 megabytes of pages from the Wilderness Society "book" titled "A Conservationist's Guide to BLM Planning and Decision-Making Using Federal FLPMA and NEPA to Protect Public Lands."
www.wilderness.org/Library/Documents/upload/BLM-Citizen-s-Guide-full-report.pdf.
Just as the wilderness advocates can use knowledge about federal agency decision-making and processes to lock us out of public lands, rockhounds can take the same knowledge to present opposing information and perspectives. Each of us can become informed about what's being planned in areas of collecting that are our favorites. Personal visits to ranger stations, field trips with the geologists or recreation planners are valuable to make ourselves known and our interests heard. Participating in the planning processes also gives us "standing" to protest or appeal decisions that are made against our hobby in spite of our previous inputs.
Rockhounds don't have the multi-million dollar budgets of the eco-scare organizations, but we can use our existing club and federation contacts to lobby agency managers and legislators. If we could team with like-minded groups, that would amplify our voices.
A personal pitch of mine is for us to keep other political agendas separate from our interest in either promoting responsible collecting opportunities or opposing unreasonable restrictions. Some of the other groups that support access to public lands have tended to attach unrelated philosophies and themes, such as right to bear arms, and property rights, for examples, to their messages. These themes may be important in themselves but they distract from our main interest and shift discussion from facts to opinions and emotional responses.
Table of Contents.
PLAC NEEDS YOUR HELP,
Frank Monez, PLAC-North.
We need your help on the Public Lands Advisory Committees (PLAC - North and PLAC - South). The need is for additional Committee members to review various government (Federal, State, and local) actions affecting public lands. Ideally, we can have committee members coming from CFMS societies located in close proximity to BLM, and other federal and state offices, publishing a variety of documents that pertain to environmental impact statements, related scoping documents, access to wilderness areas, access to areas that may become wilderness, and other plans and programs relating to roads and public lands.
Ideally, each of these published documents should be reviewed, by one or more members of PLAC, with the results of the review reported to the CFMS membership. The Government agencies often have local meetings to review the plans and documents with the public, and receive comments and suggestions from the users that have an interest in the areas under discussion. It is these areas that the concerns of our members require consideration by those that generate the documents.
The PLAC Committee members are urged to attend the government sponsored meetings, held in their local area, as a member of CFMS, and can identify their membership in other clubs and societies having an interest in the meeting's agenda. They will be urged to actively participate in discussions of the documents, take notes, and provide comments (if appropriate). After each meeting, the PLAC members will keep the respective PLAC chair informed as to status, potential affects on our hobby, and possible action that can be taken by CFMS members. The PLAC Chairs, and/or the reviewing members, will consolidate the individual reports for inclusion in upcoming CFMS Newsletters.
Appointment to the PLAC is based on a recommendation by the president of the member's society. The recommendations are to be sent to the incoming CFMS President, Marion Roberts (mvroberts@bigvalley.net), for review and approval. The CFMS President will then make the appointments to the PLAC Committee. (It is desirable the recommended committee members have access to the Internet for rapid communications.)
The following is a description of the "Public Lands Advisory Committee", what it does, what it is, and its general responsibilities.
What PLAC Does.
Provide information to the Bureau of Land Management and other government agencies and attend meetings in an effort to keep public lands and forestry lands open for educational and recreational use.
The Committee.
The committees (North and South) are composed of a chairman appointed by CFMS President and Executive Committee, and committee members located around the state, close to centers of BLM activity to assure attendance at meetings and minimize travel expenses.
General Responsibilities.
1. Become familiar with the BLM and other agency programs in the administration of public lands.
2. Become familiar with the aims and desires of other usage groups.
3. Assist in the development of public policy so that educational and recreational rock and mineral areas may be open to the public.
4. Collect data necessary to show CFMS usage of particular collecting areas and keep agencies advised.
5. Attend meetings scheduled by BLM and other Government agencies. Give information as needed and follow actions taken by the agencies.
6. Keep informed of pending legislation which may affect status of public lands.
CFMS Newsletter, December 2004.
Table of Contents.
HINTS & TIPS FOR ROCKHOUNDS,
(Use at your own risk).
Don't wear gold rings when working with chlorine bleach. Even swimming in a pool will weaken gold jewelry by attacking its alloys
Silver solder can contain from 18 to 30% cadmium, and, if overheated to the point of vaporization, its fumes are poisonous.
To reach hard-to-get places on your silver project, use a wooden match shaped to a point with damp Bon Ami or other gentle cleanser.
Need somewhere to store your 6" sanding and polishing discs? Use an inexpensive music CD case. They fit in the pockets perfectly, and you can label each pocket with a different grit number.
Table of Contents.
List of Web Site Addresses
for Important Mineral Shows.
Quartzsite Mineral shows:
http://www.quartzsitechamber.com/show_schedule.html.
Tucson Mineral showcase:
http://www.visittucson.org/Features/index.cfm?action=Display&featureID=13.
Steve Mulqueen.
Table of Contents.
SHOW DATES.
2005 CFMS SHOWS.
JANUARY 15-16; EXETER, CA - Tule Gem & Mineral Society, Exeter Veteran's Memorial, 324 N. Kaweah (Hwy. 65). Hours: Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4. Mary Reed (559) 784-6394.
JANUARY 29-30; REDLANDS, CA - Southern California Micro-Mineralogists 39th Annual Pacific Micromount Conference, San Bernardino Co. Museum, 2024 Orange Tree Lane. Hours: Sat. 9-10; Sun. 9-1. Beverly Moreau (714) 577-8038. Email: bcmoreau@adelphia.net.
FEBRUARY 18-27; INDIO, CA - San Gorgonio Mineral & Gem Society Date Festival, Gem & Mineral Bldg #1, Riverside County Fair & Date Festival, 46-350 Arabia Street. Hours: 10 am - 10 pm. Bert Grisham (951) 849-1674.
FEBRUARY 19-20; STOCKTON, CA - Stockton Lapidary & Mineral Club "54th Annual Earth's Treasures", San Joaquin County Fairgrounds, 1658 S. Airport Way, Building #'s 4&5. Hours: Sat. 9-5; Sun. 9-4. Laurie Haines (209) 838-0108. E-mail: Ihaines99@aol.com.
MARCH 4, 5, 6; HAYWARD, CA - The Min. & Gem Society of Castro Valley, Centennial Hall, 22292 Foothill Blvd. Hours: Fri. & Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5. Ron Miller (510) 538-2397. Email: mgsev@yahoo.com.
MARCH 4, 5, 6; MESA, AZ - Phoenix Gem & Mineral "Rocks & Gems Alive in 2005", Mesa Centennial Center, Centennial Hall, 201 N. Center Street. Hours: Fri. & Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4.
MARCH 5-6; ARCADIA, CA - Monrovia Rockhounds Inc., The Arboretum of Los Angeles County, 301 N. Baldwin Avenue. Hours: 9-5 both days. Jo Anna Ritchey (626) 359-1624. Email: J.RITCHEY@VERIZON.NET.
MARCH 5-6; VENTURA, CA - Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, Seaside Park (Ventura Co. Fairgrounds), 10 W. Harbor Blvd. Hours: Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4. Jim Brace-Thompson (805) 659-3577. Email: jbraceth@adelphia.net.
MARCH 12-13; SAN MARINO, CA - Pasadena Lapidary Society "Magic From The Earth", San Marino Masonic Center, 3130 Huntington Drive. Hours: Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5. Marcia Goetz (626) 914-5030. Email: JOENMAR1@GTE.NET.
MARCH 12-13; TURLOCK, CA - Mother Lode Mineral Society, Stanislaus County Fairgrounds, 900 N. Broadway. Hours: 10-5 both days. Bud McMillin (209) 527-8000 (Wk) or 524-3494 (H). E-mail: Bud.McMillin.b7yj@StateFarm.com.
MARCH 19-20; ANGELS CAMP, CA - Calaveras Gem & Mineral Society, Calaveras County Fairgrounds. Hours: Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4. Earl Klein (510) 632-9373.
APRIL 2-3; TORRANCE, CA - South Bay Lapidary & Mineral Society "Nature's Treasures", Torrance Recreation Center, 3341 Torrance Blvd. Hours: 10-5 both days. Omer Goeden (818) 383-9279. Email: sageit@aol.com.
APRIL 9-10; HACIENDA HEIGHTS, CA - Puente Hills Gem & Mineral Club, Steinmetz Co. Park Recreation Bldg., 1545 S. Stimson Ave. Hours: 10-5 both days. Paula Hess (562) 696-2270. Email: rphess@adelphia.net.
APRIL 9-10; SAN DIEGO, CA - San Diego Mineral & Gem Society, Al Bahr Shrine Center, 5440 Kearney Mesa Rd. Hours: Sat. 9:30-5, Sun. 10-4. Wayne Moorhead (858) 586-1637.
APRIL 23-24; LANCASTER, CA - Antelope Valley Gem & Mineral Club, Antelope Valley Fairgrounds, 2551 West Avenue Valley Fairgrounds. Hours: 9-5 both days. Armin Nimmer (661) 945-5769.
APRIL 23-24; SANTA CRUZ, CA - Santa Cruz Mineral & Gem Society, Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, on corner of Center & Church Streets. Hours: 10-5 both days. Contact: Hubert Drake (831) 688-8086. E-mail: hmdrake@pacbell.net.
MAY 7-8; RENO, NV -Reno Gem & Mineral Society, Reno Livestock Events Center Exhibit Hall, 1350 N. Wells Avenue. Hours: Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4. Jennifer Rhodes (775) 356-8820.
MAY 14-15; NEWBURY PARK, CA - Conejo Gem & Mineral Club "California Gems & Minerals", Borchard Park Community Center, 190 Reino Rd. Hours: Sat. 9-5, Sun. 10-5. Bob Stultz (805) 498-4220.
AMERICAN FEDERATION / REGIONAL
SHOW SCHEDULE - 2005.
EASTERN FEDERATION,
March 18-20, Sayre, PA.
CALIFORNIA FEDERATION,
June 10-12, Roseville, CA.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN,
June 17-19, Colorado Springs, CO.
NORTHWEST,
August 5-7, Albany, OR.
MIDWEST / AFMS,
August 16-21, St. Louis, MO.
SOUTH CENTRAL FEDERATION,
December 2-4, Austin, TX.
Table of Contents.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
Well here we are about to embark on 2005 and as our President says, we have a new Sheriff in town! We have a good, dedicated slate of officers. Let's all get behind them and make 2005 a record breaking year! How about making it a New Year's resolution to do one new thing for the club this year; i.e., write an article for the bulletin, enter a case in our show or the Fair, volunteer for a program or refreshments, help with the show or whatever is interesting to you. They are all important and you will be happy you did!
Just for the record any unsigned articles are by the Editor. We all enjoy articles from you members. Why not make a New Year's resolution to write up your thoughts about the show, vacation experiences, rock-collecting trips, Great Finds or anything of interest to share. Contributions from you members keep the Bulletin interesting and I thank you for them.
 |
| Trili - The Editor's Pet Trilobite. |
Table of Contents.
Why do we say something is out of whack? What's a whack?
AFMS Dec 2004-Jan 2005.
Table of Contents.
EDUCATIONAL CORNER.
Definition of the Month.
The Dibblee Geological Foundation (DGF) - A non-profit educational organization dedicated to continuing the scientific work of the field geologist, Thomas W. Dibblee, Jr. (1911-2004). The DGF is dedicated to field mapping, printing and distributing geologic maps of California from Dibblee's original field notes and charts. Their immediate goal is to publish 100 of Tom Dibblee's most important quadrangles. (A quadrangle is a rectangular map bounded by parallels of latitude and by meridians of longitude. It is not a perfect rectangle as a result of the meridians being non-parallel). So far, the Dibblee Geological Foundation has published 83 quadrangles, representing a large area from the Palos Verdes Peninsula of Los Angeles County through portions of San Luis Obispo County.
Tom Dibblee's interest in geology began when he was a teenager. While growing up, he lived on his family's 22,000-acre Rancho San Julian located near Lompoc in Santa Barbara County. In the 1920s, a geologist named Harry Johnson mapped a large area of the ranch for an oil company, searching for surface indications of petroleum deposits. During this time, Tom accompanied the geologist on his mapping expedition and developed an interest in geology. Tom later pursued a major in geology at Stanford University, graduating in 1936. After graduation, Tom worked as a field geologist for Richfield Oil Company during which time he geologically mapped thousands of square miles. His work in the hills around Cuyama Valley led to the discovery of the South Cuyama Oil Field in the late 1940s.
In 1952, Tom went to work for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Much of his initial work with the USGS revolved around the mapping of the entire length of the San Andreas Fault from the Point Reyes Peninsula (northwest of San Francisco) to the Mexican Border (near the Salton Sea). In 1953, Tom and his colleague Mason Hill published a paper on the San Andreas Fault that first theorized the total lateral movement along the San Andreas Fault to be over 350 miles. This conclusion was based on the separation of a distinct volcanic rock unit. One section of this rock unit is located along the San Andreas Fault near what is now known as the Pinnacles National Monument, southeast of Salinas in San Benito County. The other section of the same rock unit is located south of Neenach in the northwest corner of Los Angeles County.
Thomas Dibblee has mapped over 40,000 square miles of the State of California. This area represents one-fourth of the State or about 25 million acres. A large portion of the maps he prepared have never been published.
The Dibblee Geological Foundation is now a branch of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. Their office is located on the museum grounds in Santa Barbara at 2559 Puesta del Sol Road.
For further information about the Dibblee Geological Foundation, please see their website at the address listed below:
http://www.sbnature.org/dibblee/newweb/about.html.
The "Definition of the Month" features words related to geology, paleontology, mining and desert history. Written by Steve Mulqueen for the VGMS, January 2005.
Illustration of the Month.
Palmdale S½ / Pacifico Mountain Geologic Map - A map showing the San Andreas Fault and other detailed geology of an area near Palmdale, California. This area was originally mapped to document details of the naturally occurring geologic features. The published map was prepared and printed by the Dibblee Geologic Foundation of Santa Barbara, California.
The "Illustration of the Month" features a drawing, sketch, pen & ink rendering, engraving print or any form of art rediscovered in books, maps, manuscripts and many other sources related to geology, paleontology, mining and desert history. This illustration was chosen for its educational content by Steve Mulqueen, VGMS, January 2005.
Table of Contents.
VGMS PHOTO ALBUM:
All photos by Steve and Susan Mulqueen.
The Colorado River from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.
A View of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.
A natural depression (called a "tank") in the Coconino Sandstone formation on Toroweep Overlook near the edge of theNorth Rim of the Grand Canyon.. It holds rainwater during part of the year.
An overview of the area mentioned above.
Table of Contents.
The Flyer for the 2005 CFMS Show in Roseville, CA.
Table of Contents.
SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.
The BLAST: 2005 CFMS SHOW,
By Gloria Tomczyk, Show Chair.
The Best of a New Year to all of you! The November's Director's meeting was the official kickoff "BLAST" for the 2005 Convention & Show in Roseville. As the 2005 Show Chair, via this monthly newsletter, I will be providing information on this years' show. We have an excellent team working very diligently in several areas, making this show very inviting & fun for everyone. The entire fairgrounds in Roseville will be utilized, including camping spaces, with the Best Western in Roseville, as the Headquarters Hotel. We plan to have vendors inside and outside, along with many other activities within the grounds for children & adults, including "Gold panning". One highlighted field trip will be to the "Original Sixteen to One" underground gold mine. We have lined up renowned professionals to lecture all three days of the show, in addition to Museum & Special Exhibits, and approximately 100 display cases. There is so much in the planning stages right now it is overwhelming! This year the Director's meeting on Saturday will have a - GOLD NUGGET RAFFLE! Yes, Gold Nuggets will be raffled off, to those present at the meeting, so make your plans early to attend this exceptional show. Also, please don't let this information stop here, pass this show info onto your local club members either through your report or reprint of this note. The "BLAST" is going to happen in Roseville come June, please be a part of it. You may visit our web site for more info - www.rockrollers.com/. See you soon!
CFMS Newsletter, January 2005.
Table of Contents.
Do infants enjoy infancy as much as adults enjoy adultery?
If a pig loses its voice is it disgruntled?
If love is blind why is lingerie so popular?
Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?
When cheese gets its picture taken what does it say?
Why are a wise man and a wise guy opposites?
AFMS Dec 2004-Jan 2005.
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The Exhibitor's Application Form for our 2005 Show.
You will find the Form at "applications/2005-exhibitor-app.htm". Print it using your browser's FILE | PRINT ability.
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The Zzyzx Open House Registration.
You will find this Form at "applications/Zzyzx-open-house-2005.htm". Print it using your browser's FILE | PRINT ability.
Table of Contents.
SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.
Return to the Rockhound Rambling Center.
You may also go to the VGMS Home Page.
Webmaster: James A. Layton,
URL of this Page: http://www.vgms.org/bt/vgms0501.htm.