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

The Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. (VGMS)
Rockhound Rambling
July 2005.

Table of Contents.

• PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE;
• WORDS TO LIVE BY;
• PROGRAM - JULY 27, 2005;
• REVIEW - JUNE 22, 2005;
• IN MEMORY OF Bill Allmen;
• SEEKING NEW DIGS FOR OUR CLUB MUSEUM & WORKSHOP;
• Ventura County Fair;
• MARK YOUR CALENDARS;
• CONGRATULATIONS;
• VGMS SHOW 2006;
• CHIPS & BOULDERS;
• THE MUSEUM CORNER;
• INTERNET HUMOR;
• Web Sites;
• "ROCKHOUND";
• Program Schedule for Monthly Meetings;
• AUGUST BIRTHDAYS;
• FORD'S LAW;
• Peridot Asteroid By Dr. Bill Cordua;
• HOSPITALITY;
• VGMS MINUTES;
• PUBLIC OUTREACH;
• How Well Do You Know Your Dinosaur;
• MEMBERSHIP;
• "FIELD TRIPS ARE FUN";
• The San Andreas Fault is a;
• CFMS BUSINESS MEETING;
• A friend is;
• A Report on the Future of the (Gem Mine) AKA the Benitoite Mine;
• PLAC REPORT - Nevada;
• California Desert Advisory Council Meeting By Izzie Burns;
• RHYOLITES;
• Tektites;
• LITTLE GREEN SNAKE;
• HINTS & TIPS FOR ROCKHOUNDS - (Use at your own risk);
• SHOW DATES;
• EDITOR'S NOTE;
• EDUCATIONAL CORNER;
• VGMS PHOTO ALBUM.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.

The 2005 Ventura County Fair begins August 3rd. The Gem & Mineral Department at the Fair is in need of exhibits, in particular, your exhibit. Please plan on preparing a display with rocks, minerals, fossils, lapidary or silversmithing work, etc. Gem and mineral exhibits at the Fair are being managed by Bob Stultz and Richard Bromser. Call one of them if you have any questions or if you wish to be a volunteer in the Gem & Mineral building during the event. Set-up for the Gem & Mineral exhibits can be done starting Friday, July 29th through Sunday, 31st.

The June Field Trip to Cerro Gordo was fantastic. Many mineral varieties were buried in the dumps and tailings for those with the perseverance to dig through them. My find of the day was a nice specimen of rosasite and hemimorphite with a wash of hydrozincite. For those not interested in digging there was plenty to do wandering around the old mining town and operation up at 9000' in the White Mountains. The views across the Owens Valley to Mt. Whitney were spectacular. I urge all of you to take advantage of the Field Trip opportunities. Have a great summer and I hope to see you at the Fair!

Ed Clark, President.

  Table of Contents.

WORDS TO LIVE BY.

You can't have everything. Where would you put it?

The best thing about growing old is that it takes such a long time.

To err is human; to think of someone to blame it on is genius.

A short saying often contains much wisdom.

Collected by Wayne Ehlers.

  Table of Contents.

PROGRAM - JULY 27, 2005:
"Rocks & Minerals of the Upper Midwest"
Presented by Wayne Ehlers.

The July program will feature sites in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Wyoming. The Rockhound and Lapidary Hall of Fame has been in existence since 1987. Do you know where it is? Come to the July meeting and find out. There is a small town that has a Petrified Wood Park in the middle of town. This park was made from local petrified wood in the early 1930's. Both of these are not a long ways from the Black Hills. On your next visit to the area they are well worth going to see. We will have pictures or talk about them at the July meeting. Hope to see you there.
          Wayne Ehlers.

  Table of Contents.

REVIEW - JUNE 22, 2005:
Underlying Geology of the Ventura Area
Presented by Walter Hamann.

Walter Hamann, a local geologist of Rincon Consultants, Inc., talked about the "Underlying Geology of the Ventura Area" at our June meeting. The earthquake activity zones in the Ventura area were displayed on Dibblee maps which allowed members to locate faults in conjunction with their homes. The current permit process was brought up and the requirements if your planned construction site is within 100' of a fault. That generated much discussion and many questions! There are prospective LNG projects being considered off the Oxnard/Ventura coast which were also discussed. Walt also shared the information that the Santa Clara River Valley was "dropping like a rock". This area has the deepest sediment in the world. The valley is slowly dropping and sediment comes in to fill it. It was a very interesting subject and most educational. Thank you Walt for sharing your time with us.

  Table of Contents.

IN MEMORY OF
Bill Allmen.

On July 6, 2005 Bill Allmen suddenly passed away after breaking a hip in a fall. He was recuperating, but had a weak heart. He was the husband of Lois Allmen who is a recent past CFMS President. Bill was a long time member of the Oxnard Gem & Mineral Society, well known and respected by everyone. He will be missed and our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Lois, and their family.

  Table of Contents.

SEEKING NEW DIGS FOR OUR
CLUB MUSEUM & WORKSHOP:
WE'RE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET!

At our June board meeting, it seemed as if all efforts at relocating our club museum, workshop, and storage space have been placed on a back burner. However, the headline article of the Local News section of the June 18 Ventura Star newspaper shows clearly that we need to maintain vigilance in seeking a new location. The article, entitled "Ventura Outlines Projects to Keep Economic Vitality", was accompanied by a map circling the area where our museum sits. The article indicates that the city of Ventura is making it a priority to develop this land, with tentative plans to "create an employment village and some 500 to 700 homes at the former USA Petroleum site coupled with an expansion of Brooks Institute."

Considerable time was spent at the June board meeting talking about organizing and somehow publishing a vast stockpile of rockhounding slides taken by Bruno Benson. While I agree that this would be a worthy enterprise, we have a far more urgent need to find a new home for the museum Bruno loved so dearly, and a new home for our workshop that provides a service for current members and serves as a draw for bringing in new members. Thus, before we invest time and energy into memorializing our past, we need to exhaust every effort to secure our future.

I propose we devote a minimum of 15 minutes to this topic at each club meeting and at each board meeting until a resolution is reached. At the last board meeting, I came away with the impression that all efforts have been shelved whereas it should be our first order of business, and every meeting should conclude with volunteers to follow through on suggestions. And we truly need each and every club member to volunteer to explore possibilities with whatever network of friends and acquaintances we have. This can't be a spectator sport - everyone's contribution is essential!

We also need to consider all possibilities. Absolutely nothing should be considered "off the table". As a start, here are some suggestions to consider:

• Combine our workshop with that of the Oxnard club.
• Meet with the Ventura County Museum of History & Art on Main Street to explore possibilities of moving our collections there and to assist in upgrading their current, very small fossil collection.
• Meet with the Gull Wings Children's Museum in Oxnard to see about converting their current geology space to hold our collections.
• Check into possibilities with the California Oil Museum in Santa Paula.
• Meet with the heads of the city and county school districts to explore possibilities for collaboration.

I welcome additional suggestions. Keep an open mind, keep all possibilities on the table, and keep striving to avert what could be a disaster if suddenly our current location is pulled out from beneath our feet at a moment's notice. Thank you!

Submitted by Jim Brace-Thompson.

  Table of Contents.

Ventura County Fair:
August 3 through August 14th.

I love the Fair! It is just around the corner - Wednesday, August 3rd, through Sunday, August 14th, so be thinking about your exhibits and cases. The theme is "A Country Fair with Ocean Air". Check with Richard Bromser for a Fair Catalog for your entry forms, etc. Set up is in process and all volunteers are appreciated. They will need help with set up and also with taking entries for the Gem & Mineral and the Hobbies and Collections Departments on the following days. Any time you can put in will be appreciated. You don't have to do a full day; a 4 hr. shift is most helpful. Let Richard or Shirley Bromser know if and when you can be of help.

The Hobbies and Collections entry days/times are:

Friday, 7-22-05 - 10 to 6 pm;

Saturday, 7-23-05 - 10 to 5 pm;

Sunday, 7-24-05 - 10 to 5 pm.

The Gem and Mineral exhibit entry days/times are:

Friday, 7-29-05 - 10 to 6 pm;

Saturday, 7-30-05 - 10 to 5 pm;

Sunday, 7-31-05 - 10 to 5 pm.

  Table of Contents.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

7-22 to 24-05 - Hobbies and Collections Entries to Ventura County Fair - See times in "Ventura County Fair" article in this bulletin.
7-27-05 - VGMS Regular Meeting - 7:30 pm - At the Lexington. "Rocks & Minerals of the Upper Midwest" presented by Wayne Ehlers.
7-29 to 31-05 - Gem & Mineral Entries to Ventura County Fair - See times in "Ventura County Fair" article in this bulletin.
8-3 to 14-05 - Ventura County Fair - Seaside Park. - "A Country Fair with Ocean Air".
8-4-05 - 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.
8-10-05 - DEADLINE FOR AUGUST Bulletin Articles to the Editor!
8-20-05 - VGMS Work Shop - Museum - Open - 9 to noon.
8-24-05 - VGMS Regular Meeting - 7:30 pm - At the Lexington. "Israel's King Solomon Mine" presented by Avraham Barshai.
9-1-05 - 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.
9-17-05 - VGMS Work Shop - Museum - Open - 9 to noon.

  Table of Contents.

CONGRATULATIONS.

Congratulations to Marie Haake who was awarded a beautifully framed certificate for 35 years of dedicated service in the Gem and Mineral department during the Fair. Back in 1970, when this club was much younger, and our membership was 150 strong, Marie and her husband began helping with various duties during the Fair. Marie continued on after her husband passed away. One could depend on seeing her 3 or 4 nights working in the "Bullpen". In 1970 the Fair lasted only 5 days. The whole building was filled with gem and mineral displays - a lot to watch over. It was then, and still is, a very popular department with the public.

Congratulations to Ray Meisenheimer who received the Spotlight Award plaque at the recent Spotlight on Volunteers meeting at the Fairgrounds. He was thanked for the many hours devoted to methods of cleaning and preserving fossils and his work with children. He also was thanked for the many times he is willing to take charge of the department when the regular managers can not be there.

Florence Meisenheimer.

Congratulations to Steve Mulqueen for placing second in the "Advanced Adult Technical Articles" category of the 2005 CFMS Bulletin Contest for his article "Burnt Oil Shale Deposits of Ventura County". This category is for authors who have a geological background. To be eligible the article must appear in a 2005 Club bulletin and can't be a published article for another source. We are fortunate to have all the fine information and articles that Steve provides for our bulletin every month. Many thanks Steve for your many contributions to Rockhound Rambling and congratulations on this well deserved award.

  Table of Contents.

VGMS SHOW 2006:
Two Committee Posts Still in Need of Volunteers.

My thanks to all who have volunteered to serve in various capacities as Show Chairs for our 2006 gem, mineral, lapidary, and fossil show. Almost all positions have been filled, but two key posts remain vacant: Food and Kids' Booth. Ideally, we should have co-chairs for each of these posts. Please call today with your offer of help! My phone number is (805) 659-3577 and my email address is jbraceth@adelphia.net.

In early September, we'll likely hold a show planning meeting, followed by a meeting each month thereafter until the Show in March. The earlier we can start with each committee, the smoother things will go at the Show, so please kindly volunteer today!

Submitted by Jim Brace-Thompson, Show Chair.

  Table of Contents.

SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

CHIPS & BOULDERS.

DON'T FORGET THE FAIR AND YOUR ENTRIES!

New Gemstone Finds - Gem News International reported this spring on a variety of newly found gemstone deposits.
In the United States: amethyst in Georgia and aquamarine in Mt. Antero, Colorado.
Internationally: amethyst and citrine in Namibia; emeralds in China; aquamarine in Nigeria. - Via Del Air Bulletin, July/August 2005.

Hosts and Hostesses Schedule for 2005 Meetings - Thank you to all who have volunteered, many hands make tasks much more enjoyable!
     July: Shirley & Richard Bromser,
     August: Florence & Ray Meisenheimer,
     September: Mel & Sharon Hixson,
     October: Emma Mayer,
     November: Pumpkin Pies - Everyone,
     December: Christmas Party.

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. With vacations and business trips it is a good idea to call to make sure the museum will be open.

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.

  Table of Contents.

THE MUSEUM CORNER,
By Debbie Bunn, Chair, Museum Committee.

     Reno is home to the Mackay Mineral Museum, which was established in 1908. Named after one of the Comstock Lode silver barons, John Mackay, the museum has undergone a number of renovations. The most recent one was completed only a few years ago and resulted in a new name -- the W. M. Keck Museum at the Mackay School of Mines.
     The renovated display now spans three floors and includes many famous mineral specimens from famous Nevada mining localities like the Getchell Mines. The new book "The Minerals of Nevada" shows pictures of some of these famous specimens. Besides the lovely mineral specimens, there is a fine display of mining artifacts and historical photographs of Nevada mining camps and towns. The Mackay family silver is the showpiece of the historical exhibits. More than half a ton of Comstock Silver was sent to Tiffany's in New York in the 1870's. Two hundred silversmiths worked two years to create an elaborate and ornate service for twenty-four consisting of 1350 pieces. It is truly something to see.
     The Paleontology collection includes trilobites, ammonites, and mammoths. The footprints of ancient mammals that were discovered at the Carson City prison are one of the most interesting things to see in this section.
     The major drawback to the W. M. Keck museum is that it is only open Monday thru Friday when the university is in session. It is located in the historic Mackay Mines Building on the University of Nevada, Reno campus. Be careful with parking. Public parking is available near the information booth of the Center Street entrance to the campus. Be very sure you are not in a permit only area.
     The good news is that the museum if free. Special group tours can be arranged by calling #775-784-4528. Or check out their website http://mines.unr.edu/museum/.
     So, if you are ever in Reno, Nevada in the middle of the week, and want to take a break from the one-armed bandits, consider a visit to the W. M. Keck museum. You won't be disappointed.

CFMS Newsletter August 2005.

  Table of Contents.

INTERNET HUMOR.

A man and his wife were having an argument about who should brew the coffee each morning. The wife said, "You should do it, because you get up first, and then we don't have to wait so long to get our coffee."

The Husband said, "You are in charge of the cooking around here, so you should do it because that is your job, and I can wait for my coffee."

Wife replies, "No you should do it, and besides it is in the Bible that the man should do the coffee."

Husband replies, "I can't believe that, show me."

So she fetched the Bible and opened the New Testament and showed him at the top of several pages, that it indeed says................."HEBREWS".

From Flint Gemstones 9/03 via Del Air Bulletin, July/August 2005.

  Table of Contents.

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.

"ROCKHOUND."

According to the American Geological Institute Glossary of Geological Terms, "rockhound" is a term first used by oil drillers for geologists, who often smell rock samples taken from well cuttings for the odor of oil. They used to say, "He hunts for oil like a hound dog," which evolved into rockhound.
From the Pick & Pack via Rockonteur 7/05.

  Table of Contents.

Program Schedule for Monthly Meetings,
Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, 2005.

*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 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.

  Table of Contents.

AUGUST BIRTHDAYS.

Happy Birthday to all those born in August. We all wish you good health and hope you have a Great Day! With our new members (and some of the old ones), I have some gaps in my list. Help me out - please let me know if I have missed your birthday. 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!

August - Happy Birthday!!
     Ed Clark - 12th,
     Marie Haake - 14th,
     Sunny Cross -19th,
     Karen Foster - 24th,
     Shirley Bromser - 25th,
     Melvin Hixson - 26th,
     Chloe Baer - 27th.

The August birthstone is the Peridot and the flower is the Gladiolus.

PERIDOT, the gemstone variety of olivine.

Variety of: Olivine, (MgFe)₂SiO₄;
Uses: Gemstone;
Birthstone for: August;
Color: Various shades of green;
Index of refraction: 1.630 - 1.695;
Birefringence: 0.037;
Hardness: 6.5 - 7;
Cleavage: None;
Crystal system: Orthorhombic.

     Peridot is the gem variety of olivine, a mineral series between two end minerals: forsterite, Mg₂SiO₄, and fayalite, Fe₂SiO₄. Peridot, although a mixture of magnesium and iron, is usually closer to forsterite than fayalite in composition. The green of peridot is of a different shade than emerald and is unfortunately considered a "poor man's emerald". The pronunciation of Peridot is actually pronounced pear-a-doe instead of pear-a-dot, which seems to be a source of confusion. Gem quality peridot comes from islands in the Red Sea, Burma, Norway, Arizona, Hawaii and in some meteorites. It has been mined as a gemstone for thousands of years, and is mentioned in the Bible under the name of Chrysolite. Historical legend has it that peridot was the favorite gemstone of Cleopatra.

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.

  Table of Contents.

=============

FORD'S LAW: For every credibility gap there's a gullibility fill.

From the Agatizer 3/96 via Del Air Bulletin 7/8-05.

=============

  Table of Contents.

Peridot Asteroid
By Dr. Bill Cordua.

     One of the most exotic gemstones is from outer space - the rare meteorites called pallasites. These are flashy mixtures of translucent green to yellow olivine (peridot) found as large crystals in a matrix of iron-nickel alloy. When cut and polished the contrast between the olivine and metal is startlingly beautiful. No wonder they are so pricey.
     The first pallasite was described in 1772 by Pyotr Pallas. It was a 1,600-pound mass that fell in Siberia. Pallasite is also known in quantity from Kiowa County, Kansas, from the Imilac pallasite that fell in desert of Chile and the Salta pallasite of Argentina.
     How do such meteorites form and where do they come from? Such a mixture of silicates such as olivine and metal is presumed to be found in the earth along the core-mantle boundary. How could rocks from the core of a planet get into outer space?
     Modern models of asteroid and planet formation suggest asteroids perhaps 50-200 km in diameter may form a layering similar to that of the earth. The accumulation of that much material, including heat producing radioactive substances, would cause the body to melt and the denser iron and other metals to sink to the center of the body. The less dense silicates such as olivine would not sink so deeply, and, with other minerals, form the outer layers of the asteroid. This is also what happens in a blast furnace, when the melted rock separates into the dense iron and lighter materials that will cool to slag.
     Thus some larger asteroids have the equivalent to the crust, mantle and core of the earth.
     In the earth, though, the outer core is still molten, because our planet is so much larger, and still has abundant heat-producing radioactive materials in its interior. The asteroids, on the other hand, would have completely cooled and crystallized. Along their core-mantle boundaries, the separation of the silicates and metals would not be perfect -- what natural process ever goes perfectly? Perhaps some late pulse forced cooling iron up into the mush of olivine crystals. Thus the pallasite is born.
     The next step is getting the materials out of an asteroid and to earth. Here we use the fact that asteroids, over the length of geologic time, have tended to collide violently with each other. A big enough collision between two asteroids will fracture both, sending pieces flying. These fragmented planetoids are the source of meteorites, including pallasites. Those unfortunate enough to be pulled in by the earth's gravity, after a journey for millennia in space, will fall as meteorites. Since only a tiny part of an asteroid will be a core-mantle boundary, pallasites should be scarce, and they are.
     Some asteroid collisions may not be quite so destructive. It is possible that a less violent collision may strip away most of an asteroid's mantle, leaving an olivine studded metallic mass -- an asteroid whose surface is covered with peridot gemstones. That would be quite a find.
     How could we find such an asteroid, out of the millions stretched through billions of cubic kilometers of space? It's not as impossible as it seems. The mixture of olivine and metal would give off a distinctive spectrum that can be detected with sensitive instruments on earth or in satellites. Some known asteroids do give spectral data showing olivine at the surface. These are termed A-type asteroids, such as 246 Asporia. Some are 30 to 65 km. in diameter. It is astonishing to think that some may be peridot encrusted. Of course other large asteroids may have pallasite layers within if they escaped a collision large enough to blast them to splinters. Then the pallasite "ore" would have to be recovered by interplanetary "hard-rock" mining.
     So as prospectors were drawn west by visions of "El Dorado" or the "Mother Lode", perhaps future space explorers will blast off in search of the peridot asteroid.

References:
     McSween, H. T., 1999, Meteorites and their Parent Planets, 2nd ed., Cambridge U. Press, 310 p.
     Scott, E.R.D 1977, "Formation of olivine-metal textures in pallasite meteorites", Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, vol. 41, p. 693-710.

Reprinted from the Leaverite News via Rockonteur 7/05.

  Table of Contents.

HOSPITALITY.

We had 22 members at our June meeting along with two pebble pups, Dallas and Callie Stephens, and one visitor, Walt Hamann, who was also our speaker (a mighty good one too!). Several door prizes were given out whereby we had happy winners and not so happy losers but July is another month and another chance! Jim and Nancy Brace-Thompson brought some very fine refreshments that everyone enjoyed. A lot of fellowship and talk among one another about how close they were to or on faults went on! Our hostess, Sharlyne Holloway, was there to greet people and get them signed in. It's always good to see everyone and get caught up on the happenings.

  Table of Contents.

SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

VGMS MINUTES.

Minutes of the VGMS Regular Monthly Meeting,
Wednesday, June 22nd, 2005:
     The regular monthly meeting of the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society was called to order by Ed Clark at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, June 22nd, 2005 at the Lexington, Ventura, CA.
     The May meeting and board meeting minutes were corrected and then m/s/c as shown in the bulletin.
Ed Clark welcomed everyone and introduced guests. Ed mentioned that the field trip to Cerro Gordo on June 26 is coming up and is the only opportunity for the public to enter this area.
Shirley Layton: The 10th of July will be the deadline for articles and photographs to be submitted for the bulletin. Shirley also reported that Steve Mulqueen received a certificate of appreciation from the AFMS for his article submitted to the bulletin, entitled "Burnt Oil Shale Deposits". Way to go Steve!
Richard Bromser: Gave the treasurer's report. Richard also mentioned that the County Fair set up begins July 5th and all help is greatly appreciated. The fair grounds have furnished new display cases this year for us to use but they'll need to be stained so help will be needed with this also. Contact Richard for schedules.
Ray Meisenheimer: Ray and Florence presented raffle prizes to those who had the lucky numbers. Florence also mentioned that the Federation has been discussing club insurance and club survival issues. Membership cards are also available for those who would like them.
Jim Brace-Thompson - We're sorry to report Ray Meisenheimer was arrested at the Federation Show. It's unclear for what, but most probably for being unruly. The first meeting for our 2006 show should be sometime in September and everyone should be preparing for the upcoming County Fair which starts August 3rd.
     Ed next introduced Walt Hamann, a local geologist of Rincon Consultants, Inc. and who spoke at the Hillside Conservancy outing at Arroyo Verde park in Ventura. Walt discussed the "Underlying Geology of the Ventura Area" and our earthquake activity zones. This is especially pertinent with the possibility of the LNG project off Ventura's coast. Walt also touched upon the geologic studies required for building permits in this county which sparked some debate. The numerous faults located in Ventura were an eye opener and thanks to the Dibblee maps, members were able to locate their properties in comparison to the fault zones. Thanks to Ed for contacting Walt and thanks to Walt for the very educational program. We hope he'll consider a return visit.
     Refreshments were provided by Nancy & Jim Brace-Thompson.
     The next Board meeting will be Thursday, July 7th, at the IBEW Hall, 3994 E. Main St., Ventura, CA. All are welcomed to attend and the next regular meeting will be held July 27th at the Lexington.
     There being no further business, President Ed Clark adjourned the meeting at 8:50 pm.
          Respectfully submitted,
          Greg Davis,
          Recording Secretary.


Minutes of the VGMS Monthly Board Meeting,
Thursday, July 7th, 2005:
     The regular board meeting of the VGMS was called to order by (protem) Ray Meisenheimer at 7:30 pm on Thursday, July 7th, 2005, at the I.B.E.W. Hall, 3994 E. Main St., Ventura, CA.
Present: Ray and Florence Meisenheimer, Shirley Layton, Richard and Shirley Bromser, Steve Mulqueen, Dave Mautz and Greg Davis.
Old Business: As Jim Brace-Thompson was absent, permission slips for others to use VGMS records in print will be pending.
Ray Meisenheimer: The order for new cases has been placed with Cal Clason and the first one will be on display during the Fair.
Greg Davis has been testing the phone circuit at the museum and has determined the problem not to be the answering machine.
Steve Mulqueen: The purchase of roofing materials and replacement keys is pending cost estimates and scheduling of the work.
New Business:
Ray Meisenheimer reported that Bill Allmen suddenly passed away on July 6th. Bill was a member of the Oxnard club and well known and respected by many in the community and nearly everyone in our hobby. Our thoughts and prayers go to his wife, Lois, and family.
Richard Bromser presented copies of the treasurer's report and it was m/s/c to accept as written. Richard has offered to contact SBC and report poor voice quality on our museum phone circuit. The set up at the County Fair began July 5th. There's lots to be done and volunteers can still schedule times with Richard.
Shirley Layton - Articles for the bulletin need to be received by the 10th of the month. Shirley offered to provide (VGMS) return address labels for club use as opposed to the rubber stamps which are in need of replacement.
Greg reported that the water meter for the museum has been locked in the "off" position. Richard offered to contact Will, discuss it and report back.
Ray Meisenheimer: A field trip to the Lake Cachuma area and collecting of serpentine is in the planning stage. Details will follow as soon as possible. Ray is still in need of help with the museum programs and hopes someone will offer to train with him as a backup docent.
Florence Meisenheimer: Reported that the CFMS is stressing the need for all clubs to increase or initiate an insurance to cover officers from liability. Further study will be conducted.
     The next general meeting will be on July 27th, 2005 at the Lexington in Ventura and the next board meeting is August 4th at the I.B.E.W. Hall in Ventura.
     There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 pm.
          Respectfully submitted,
          Greg Davis,
          Recording Secretary.

  Table of Contents.

PUBLIC OUTREACH.

On Sunday, June 19, Jim and Nancy Brace-Thompson led approximately 9 kids accompanied by 8 adults from the Woodland Hills Rock Chippers on a fossil-collecting field trip to Pine Mountain. The Woodland Hills Rock Chippers have organized an active youth group this year, centered around the AFMS Future Rockhounds of American Merit Badge Program, and the trip was organized to help the Woodland Hills kids earn their AFMS/FRA Fossil Collecting Merit Badge. We're happy to report that fossil sand dollars still abound on the slopes at Pine Mountain, and all came away happy with their specimens of Astrodapsis tumidus and their merit badges.
     Contributed by Jim Brace-Thompson.

June 13 Ray Meisenheimer visited Los Senderos Open School in Camarillo. He spoke to four classes (80 children) in a four-hour period. The children were very pleased to be able to look at closely and touch the rocks and minerals Ray had on display. One of the teachers admitted that she did not know that rocks and stones could be so different from each other. To her, a rock is a rock. Most of the second graders had a rock or pebble to be identified.
     Florence Meisenheimer.

June 14 Ray visited Lemonwood School in Oxnard. The 71 fourth graders called him Ray, the Rock Guy. He spoke on rocks and minerals and passed around a number of specimens for the children to see up close. This school is in a poor section of Oxnard and these children were very excited about a new and different school program. They were anxious that Ray will come back another time.
     Florence Meisenheimer.

On June 21, Steve Mulqueen provided several hundred pounds of rock specimens to Debbie Bereki, a science teacher at UC Santa Barbara. The rocks were provided with lesson plans and instruction to 25 science teachers. The specimens will be used as learning tools in classrooms to help students become familiar with rocks and geology.
     Steve Mulqueen.

On July 9, Steve and Susan Mulqueen provided printed geologic material and 1200 rock specimens to Karen Adams, an instructor for the Girl Scouts. She will be using the material for lectures on geology, to be given at several Girl Scout day-camp events to be held in Simi Valley. Rock specimens included one example from each of the three rock-types for 400 scouts. That amounted to 400 specimens each of rhyolite, schist and shale, reduced to 2 - 3 inches in size.
     Steve Mulqueen.

  Table of Contents.

How Well Do You Know Your Dinosaur?
Dinosaurs: Fact or Fiction.

From the USGS website: http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dinosaurs/.

What was the biggest dinosaur? What was the smallest?
     The largest complete dinosaur we know of was Brachiosaurus ("arm lizard"); it reached 23 m in length and 12 m in height (about the length of two large school buses and the height of a four-story building). Fragmentary leg bones and vertebrae of even larger dinosaur species are known, but these skeletal remains are too incomplete to determine their exact size. Several of these (Argentinasaurus and Amphicoelias) might have been one and a half to two times larger than Brachiosaurus. The smallest dinosaurs were just slightly larger than a chicken; Compsognathus ("pretty jaw") was 1 m (3 ft) long and probably weighed about 2.5 kg (about 6.5 lb). These three dinosaur types all lived during the Jurassic Period. Mussaurus ("mouse lizard") was claimed as the smallest dinosaur, but it is now known to be the hatchling of a dinosaur type that was much larger than Compsognathus when fully grown. If birds are advanced dinosaurs, then the smallest dinosaur would be the hummingbird!
How many types of dinosaurs are known?
     Approximately 700 species have been named. However, a recent scientific review suggests that only about half of these are based on fairly complete specimens that can be shown to be unique and separate species. These species are placed in about 300 valid dinosaur genera (Stegosaurus, Diplodocus, etc.), although about 540 have been named. Recent estimates suggest that about 700 to 900 more dinosaur genera may remain to be discovered. Most dinosaur genera presently contain only one species (for example, Deinonychus) but some have more (for example, Iguanodon). Even if all of the roughly 700 published species are valid, their number is still less than one-tenth the number of currently known living bird species, less than one-fifth the number of currently known mammal species, and less than one-third the number of currently known spider species.
Were dinosaurs social animals?
     Some dinosaurs were social creatures. Recently discovered evidence indicates that they traveled together and that some may even have migrated (because dinosaur fossils have been found above the Arctic Circle, where food supply would have been seasonal). Grouped hadrosaur nest sites have been found with badly crushed eggshells and skeletons of baby dinosaurs (with slightly worn teeth) still in the nests, suggesting that some babies stayed in their nests after hatching and probably were fed by parents.
When did dinosaurs become extinct?
     Dinosaurs went extinct about 65 million years ago (at the end of the Cretaceous Period), after living on Earth for about 165 million years. If all of Earth time from the very beginning of the dinosaurs to today were compressed into 365 days (1 calendar year), the dinosaurs appeared January 1 and became extinct the third week of September. (Using this same time scale, the Earth would have formed approximately 18.5 years earlier.) By comparison, people (Homo sapiens) have been on earth only since December 31 (New Year's eve). The dinosaurs' long period of dominance certainly makes them unqualified successes in the history of life on Earth.
Why did the dinosaurs die out?
     There are dozens of theories to explain a probable cause or causes. Throughout the Mesozoic Era, individual dinosaur species were evolving and becoming extinct for various reasons. The unusually massive extinction at the end of the Cretaceous exterminated the last of the dinosaurs, the flying reptiles, and the large swimming reptiles, as well as many other marine animals. There is now widespread evidence that a meteorite impact was at least the partial cause for this extinction. Impact craters are visible on most planets in our solar system. A spectacular example of this was witnessed in 1994, when Jupiter was struck by a series of cometary fragments. Some of these impact blasts were larger than the Earth's diameter. Other factors such as extensive release of volcanic gases, climatic cooling (with related changes in ocean currents and weather patterns), sea-level change, low reproduction rates, poison gases from a comet, or changes in the Earth's orbit or magnetic field may have contributed to this extinction event.

Via Beccia June 2005.

  Table of Contents.

MEMBERSHIP.

No new member activity to report. See Shirley Bromser for a new membership application if you have any prospects or inquiries.

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.

"FIELD TRIPS ARE FUN."

CFMS Field Trip South Report,
By Bob Fitzpatrick, Field Trip Chair - South.

I am excited to tell all my CFMS rockhound friends of some new field trip plans for this summer and fall. I will be putting together a committee to help plan and lead field trips. Thomas Hess, member of the CFMS Yucaipa Club and leader of Die Hard Rock Hounds, will be joining me to help lead some of the up coming field trips. Thomas will be in charge of leading trips to some of the famous Pegmatite mines for colored Tourmaline Crystals, Beryl Crystals, Quartz Crystals, Lepidiolite and much more.

Watch the CFMS web site at www.cfmsinc.org/ and CFMS Newsletters, your local club, and LA Rocks and Diehard Rockhound web site for the up coming field trips.

CFMS Newsletter June 2005.

TRI-CLUB FIELD TRIPS 2005:
Before going on a field trip PLEASE
contact field trip leader to confirm
that there is a field trip scheduled.

Dancing with a Rattler!
By Bob Fitzpatrick, Field Trip Chair South.

This short story is about a field trip that I will never forget. A few years back about 20 CFMS club members were in the Rainbow Ridge area on 3-day field trip. On the first night, around 10:00 p.m., I was walking to my truck after visiting with everyone around the campfire. It was very dark with no light of any kind and I had left my flashlight in my truck. As I got near my truck I stopped to unlock it and I stepped on a rattlesnake. Boy did I do a two step dance with him. I couldn't see a thing but I felt him when I stepped down and heard his hissing and rattling. I don't know who was scared the most the rattlesnake or me, I just knew I had been bitten. He won't scare anyone anymore because after I got away from him and got my flashlight we had a fight and he lost. He was around 4 feet long and had a lot of rattles on his tail. I looked myself over and, luckily, found I hadn't been bitten. I didn't sleep much that night thinking about the night's events and thinking about things that I and other people could do to prevent such an incident. The best advice I could give is always take a flashlight with you if you are going to be anywhere after dark and keep your eyes to the ground to make sure your path is free not only of snakes but also rocks and holes. This could have been a really bad event that can certainly be avoided; aside from that it was a great field trip.

CFMS Newsletter August 2005.

  Table of Contents.

=============

The San Andreas Fault is a Topographical error.

The Tumble Rumble 3/03 via Del Air Bulletin 7/8-05.

=============

  Table of Contents.

CFMS BUSINESS MEETING.

     The CFMS Business meeting was held in Roseville in conjunction with the show June 11, 2005. Seventy-seven delegates, five officers and most committee persons were present.
     Five societies are delinquent in paying dues, and five societies have disbanded, including Eastern Sierra G & M Society, Foothill G & M Society, Kaiser Rock & Gem Club, Northrup Grumman G & M. Yuba Treasure Hunting dropped out of CFMS. They had joined for insurance purposes.
     One new club was accepted into CFMS -- San Joaquin Valley Lapidary Society, in Bakersfield.
     The CFMS show for 2006 will be in Angels Camp and 2007 in Lancaster, hosted by the Palmdale Club. No future bids were forthcoming, so CFMS is thinking of putting on the show in 2008, probably at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.
     The year 2006 will be 70 years for CFMS. A committee is planning some type of celebration at Angels Camp.
     The field trip chairmen have interesting trips planned. For more and complete information go to the CFMS web site at www.cfmsinc.org/ and click on Field Trips.
     Fred Ott, our very able insurance contact person, is going through the chairs, and one day will be CFMS president. He gave a very good report on the need for insurance.
     The Benitoite Mine is closed, as it was no longer productive. Elsewhere in this newsletter is a report by Steve Blockage about the owners using it for the purpose of allowing rock hounds to access the mine for a fee.
     Jim Brace Thompson, chairman of CFMS and AFMS Junior activities, reported that the new Future Rockhounds of America Merit Badge program is off to a good start. Forty-three societies have contacted Jim requesting material, information and badges. The most active group has been Woodland Hills Rockchippers.
     Lynn Varon, managing editor of Rock and Gem, has contacted Jim for an article on his work later on.
     Bob Fitzpatrick, Field Trip Chairman South, reports that he is putting together a committee to lead more field trips and hopes to have one to the Pala Mine.
          Florence Meisenheimer, Federation Director.

  Table of Contents.

=============

A friend is someone who thinks you're a good egg even though you're slightly cracked.

From Rock-It 7/04 via Napa Gems 10/04.

=============

  Table of Contents.

A Report on the Future of the (Gem Mine)
AKA the Benitoite Mine,
By Stephen Blocksage, CFMS Publicity/Public
Relations Committee June 9, 2005.

     I became aware by e-mails and Internet postings on LA-Rocks that after many years the current owner of the Gem Mine was planning to reclaim the mine. Since the Gem Mine is a patented claim on BLM land the owners were required to file a reclamation bond so that when mining activities ceased permanently the mine could be filled in and rendered safe! Since the current season was showing a marked decrease in production and little remained of the Benitoite bearing blue schist it was decided to reclaim the mine and the owners recover their bond while the heavy equipment was on site to do so.
     As you can imagine this speedy closure was a shock indeed so as soon as I was able to verify the facts that indeed eyewitnesses had seen the mine being filled in I contacted the mine owners. What ensued was a very profitable discussion regarding the possible future of the mine. The owners are interested in retaining ownership of the mine and using it for the purpose of allowing rockhounds to access the mine for a fee. They also wanted to know, as did several of the people on the Internet, if the CFMS would want to purchase the claim. I quickly put that idea to rest. However the owners will probably not retain the claim if there is no money it. So I agreed to put a proposal on the table for the consideration of the owners to see if there was enough interest within the rockhound community.
     I undertook to assess the relative interest at least on LA-Rocks and will hopefully get additional feedback from clubs and their membership as to the value they would want to invest in trips to the mine. From about 20 responses the average was in the $50.00 range. I would initially say that others would probably wait until the first groups had accessed the mine to make a determination as to worth. Fortunately a group from the Gem and Mineral Council, an association related to the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum, was scheduled to go there prior to the reclamation. They were the first ones access the mine in the reclaimed state. I include one individual report based on the June 4th field trip to the mine.

Hello Everyone,

     After staying in Coalinga Friday night, June 3, we headed out to the Benitoite Mine at about 9:30 on Saturday. Weather was perfect. For those of you who have never been to the mine or this area, outside of the middle of the Mojave Desert, it is probably the most remote area in California. It must be the least populated county in the state as there are no significant cities or any highways in the entire county. The mine is right in the middle of the San Benito Mountains and at about 5000 ft. elevation. It was an easy hour to hour and a half drive from I-5 to the mine. Tony Kamph, curator of the LA Nat. History Museum, and the mine manager, led the trip.
     After a very brief talk on the type of rocks and mining done in the area, it was time to collect. We were showed the type of rocks to look for; basically the classic blue schist with natrolite coating, and off we went. The best case scenario for the best crystals is to find large areas covered in natrolite but with evidence of included neptunite and benitoite so that the natrolite could later be etched away revealing perfect crystals. Easier said than done as virtually all the natrolite found was isolated large masses with no indication of mineralization or as small drusy areas on the schist.
     I began collecting in the stream nearby. Apparently the miners had recently broken rocks in the area, so a small area in the stream had numerous small partial crystals of benitoite. I took quite a bit of this "gravel" and, although I got numerous bits of crystal, nothing was significant or note-worthy. I then headed up the hill above the newly filled in pits to dig through the tailings. These tailings are what the mine owners are currently re-screening before backfilling the small pits. For the first few hours, I did manage to find a few nice pieces with some broken crystals of neptunite, some larger crystals of natrolite, and a few pieces that have potential but need to be etched. Most of the rock was caked in mud, so it required some energy and luck to be able to clearly see if you found a nice piece. One of the larger piles was hosed off with the water truck, and we all rushed to it in hopes of finding a good specimen before it dried. One gentleman found a huge, l in. benitoite crystal embedded in natrolite. Although it was basically broken in half, it had the classic crystal form and by far was the largest crystal found during the day.
     My luck really changed in the afternoon. After eating a sandwich while digging in the stream again, I headed back up the hill to dig on the steepest, least visited pile. I broke a piece of natrolite in half, revealing numerous small crystals of benitoite on both sides. After etching this piece, I should end up with some good quality crystals. I then found a fantastic small piece containing about a 1/2 in. partially broken benitoite associated with a nice neptunite crystal. The benitoite is very gemmy and could be better if I etch the piece, although I like it in matrix better. I then found a l in. piece of natrolite covered in partial benitoite crystal. It isn't spectacular, but the color is amazing. I also found a large piece with a partially exposed benitoite crystal in the natrolite that should look good when cleaned up. Finally, the highlight of my day came at the very end as I was near the top of the steep hill. At first I thought it was a neptunite, but it was actually a perfect, undamaged gemmy benitoite sticking out of a natrolite matrix. It will make a wonderful thumbnail. At the very end of the day, the mine manager let us go through a pile they were currently screening. Many people found some great, well formed, neptunite and benitoite crystals, although not very gemmy. Unfortunately, those of us who were working hard digging on the upper hill got to this pile late and only found a few crystals.
     Overall, the trip was a success and everyone had a good time. With the exception of the "salted" screening pile at the end, those people who were willing to work hard, had patience, and didn't mind getting dirty or climbing hills were rewarded with decent pieces. However, although some beautiful natrolite crystals were found, it appears as though the days of large plates with perfect benitoite crystals surrounded by l in. neptunite crystals are long over. Some interesting pieces can still be found, although I wouldn't set expectations too high or expect perfect undamaged crystals. As a geologist, just examining classic blue schist was pretty exciting. The mine is currently being reclaimed, and, due to its small size, this shouldn't take very long. It is too bad that something couldn't be done about this and make it into a kind of "protected rockhounding site" aka Topaz Mountain in Utah. My only concern with this would be, unlike Topaz Mountain, there isn't a lot of material (with and without crystals) here if you just look at the tailings that haven't been used to backfill the mine. There is not an unlimited supply, and several people with large trucks could really make a dent out of the overall amount available. If you have any further questions about this trip, please let me know.

Thank you.

     As can be understood there is some future for rockhounding at the reclaimed Gem Mine. I would suspect that there might be several field trips or more. Therefore if you can canvas your clubs and get back to me as to interest and price willing to pay it will at least for the near future secure the site for rockhounding.
     Thanks, for taking the time to read this but more important is your actions and those of the clubs you represent to make this a viable option. I would like to get the response back by September so that I can give the mine owner information and hopefully be able to start field trips there soon after.

  Table of Contents.

PLAC REPORT - Nevada,
By Norvie Enns; Public Lands Advisory
Committee - Nevada.

     The fight isn't over yet. The Wilderness Coalition is proposing 7 or 8 new wilderness study areas in Pershing County. These are areas that have a lot of agate, wood and other material that we love to collect. We must keep letting our senators and congressmen know that we have more than enough wilderness. The BLM has more wilderness than they can manage effectively now.
     I just spent three days with the BLM out in the Blackrock/Highrock wilderness area checking the damage the increase in visitor usage has caused. Boundary markers are being destroyed as fast as they can be replaced. Hot springs have been trashed and fences removed, so people can camp close to the water. The law in Nevada is: park 200 feet from any spring.
     The OHV people are still driving where the area is closed to all wheeled travel. There are many OHV organizations that are trying to police their own groups to stay on existing trails, but it looks like a lost cause. I don't believe it is the organized groups that are the causes of the destruction of sensitive areas.
     In the wilderness areas the rock collecting is limited to 25# of material per day and 250# annually. I have been working to get two areas set aside as Rockhound Recreational areas. One is an abandoned opal mine and the other is the geode mine on the East side of the Blackrock Range. So far there seems to be a lot of support from the BLM on the local level. This will take some time and volunteer labor on the part of the CFMS, as we may be asked to be stewards of the areas. If we follow the Code of the Rockhound Rules, the BLM will work with us.

WE NEED MORE MEMBERS ON THE PLAC COMMITTEE.

CFMS Newsletter August 2005.

  Table of Contents.

SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

California Desert Advisory Council Meeting
By Izzie Burns.

     June 24 the first DAC Meeting of the year was held at Ontario. Sandy, Tony, Bill, and I attended this meeting and were pleased to learn that there were two Recreation Representatives on the Committee, Roy Denner and Ron Schiller, who are rockhounds and share our interest in keeping our collecting areas open. They would be willing to help us with any projects that we are interested in pursuing. They reside in Ridgecrest.
     Some interesting information presented by Howard Brown, mining representative, was that in the US, $47 billion dollars worth of raw materials was mined in 2004. California ranked first according to USGS with $3.6 billion mined here. Sand and gravel, Portland cement, and boron were the top three items mined. Gold mining is on the decline. California has only 4 remaining major producing gold mines. A drop in mineral mining is due to excessive environmental regulations and land use restrictions.
     Some other topics discussed were off road use, proposed geothermal exploration, and West Mojave Plan.

CFMS Newsletter August 2005.

  Table of Contents.

RHYOLITES.

RHYOLITES are the fine-grained, light-colored igneous rocks with a composition similar to granite. Crystals of each mineral may be very very very small, may not even be discernible. Some are called 'wonderstone'. In Nevada at Wonderstone Mountain, near Fallon, you can collect cabochon quality rock. In New Mexico at Truth or Consequences, the rhyolite, called 'candy rock', is brightly banded in tints and shades of yellow, red, orange, rose, lavender. The material is hard, compact and takes a mirror polish. At Eagle Peak, southwest of Truth or Consequences, red, yellow, cream, buff and white occur in intricately banded and swirled rocks. In Utah, at Yuba Lake, birds-eye is found. In California you find banded and brecciated rhyolites in Kern County, and orbicular rhyolites, with two-toned eyes, in the Ord Mountains.

Ref: June Culp Zeitner, Hot Spots, Lapidary Journal, 4/91;
Via Petrified Log 1/05.

  Table of Contents.

Tektites.

A tektite is a glassy stone that may look like a teardrop, ball, disk, rod, dumbbell or button. Tektites measure from about 1/2 inch to several inches across. They are black, dark brown, or dark green, and they usually have grooved or pitted surfaces. Tektites differ chemically from meteorites, but some of them contain small bits of meteorite iron. Some scientists believe that tektites were formed when giant meteorites or comets crashed into earth. The blast melted the soil and splashed drops of liquefied rock over great distances. These drops solidified and fell to earth. Still others think that impacts on the moon blasted chunks of material weighing millions of tons through space into orbit around the earth. These chunks then broke into smaller pieces that melted and solidified again while descending through the earth's atmosphere.

From the Pyriter via Nevada County Gem & Mineral Society 3/05.

  Table of Contents.

LITTLE GREEN SNAKE
CAUSES BIG PROBLEM,
by James Roberts.

This rockhound was explaining why he was in the hospital. Said he had brought a bucket of rocks he had collected in the summer into the house to pick out the best ones to cut.
     A little green snake had hidden in the rocks and when the snake warmed up, it came slithering out of the bucket and went under the sofa. This rockhound's wife saw it and let out a great scream. He happened to be taking a bath at the time, but out he leaped and ran naked to see what his wife was screaming about. His wife told him there was a snake under the sofa. So he got down on the floor to look for it, and here came his dog and cold-nosed him.
     He thought it was the snake and fainted. His wife thought he'd had a heart attack and called an ambulance. The attendants rushed in and loaded him on the stretcher and started carrying him out.
     The snake came slithering from under the sofa, and the ambulance men saw it and dropped the stretcher and broke the rockhound's leg and that's why he was in the hospital.
     Well, with her husband in the hospital with a broken leg, and a snake under her couch, the wife went next door to enlist the aid of a neighbor who had the reputation of an outdoorsman, having camped out with the Cub Scouts last summer.
     His wife was at the grocery store, and he volunteered to corral the snake. Armed with a rolled up newspaper, he took a few swishes under the couch and declared that the snake had vacated the premises.
     "Thank goodness" declared the woman, plopping down on the sofa. As her hand dropped between the cushions, it brushed a small scaly skin, which she immediately realized was the snake. Screaming, she fainted dead away on the sofa as the snake slithered quickly back to the floor and under the sofa.
     The outdoorsman knew about mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. So he pushed the woman's head back into the proper position, and just as he started the first breath, in ran his wife, carrying a sackful of canned goods. She saw her husband with his mouth on her neighbor's mouth and her on the couch, so she immediately slammed the heavy sack of cans across the top of his head.
     The crash, and scattering cans brought the fainted woman up with a start. When she saw the neighbor lying on the floor and his wife bending over him, she was sure he was snake bitten and ran to the kitchen for a bottle of whiskey, which she started trying to pour down the poor fellow's throat.
     His wife, beginning to regret hitting him with a sack, was subdued but did manage to wrestle the whiskey bottle away from the other woman, sloshing some on both of them.
     About that time, two policemen, summoned by a neighbor, rushed in. After a sniff of the whiskey aroma the officers listened to the two women, both talking at the same time, explaining about the snake that had caused it all.
     The policemen left with the ambulance that took the still unconscious husband and his sobbing wife away to the hospital, leaving the first woman with a very scared little green snake hidden far back under the sofa.

"Dinny's Doin's" 4/90 and many others via Petrified Log 1/05.

  Table of Contents.

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

Hobby Tip: Amber, coral, lapis, opal, pearls and turquoise should be cleaned with hot soapy water, then dried with a soft towel. Be careful about using any other abrasive cleaning solutions on these stones or you may damage them. Also, do not clean these stones in ultrasonic cleaners or they can be permanently damaged. Store away from intense heat and light. - The Surrey Rockhounder 2/05 via Rock Chips 6/05.

How to Clean Minerals:
  Fluorite can be cleaned with muriatic acid.
  Barite can be cleaned in hydrochloric acid. It will loosen clay and iron.
  For water-soluble minerals, use alcohol.
  For carbonate minerals try full strength Clorox.
  Sulfide minerals such as pyrite and marcasite can be made bright by soaking over night in a solution of oxalic acid (2 oz. to one qt. of water). - via Rockonteur 7/05.

Helpful Hint: I asked one time, "How do you clean your quartz crystals?" The answer was, "I use Iron Out." I bought some from a local hardware store and sure enough the crystals came clean. I thought nothing would take the iron stains out of them, but now I have some very beautiful crystals. Iron Out contains sodium hydrosulfite and sodium bisulfate. Keep it away from children and be careful when you use it. Follow the directions on the bottle. Suggest you use rubber gloves and use in a well-ventilated area. - From Ft. Lewis Rock Club News via Del Air Bulletin, July/August 2005.

An Answer to Sludge Dumping, by Phyllis George.
One is always warned never to put the sludge remaining from grinding cabochons and gemstones into your household plumbing, as it will plug it up. My cabochon machine uses a water-filled tray under the grinding wheels and a fish tank style air pump placed on the bottom of the tray to spurt water on the wheel in use. By the time I am ready to replace the water with fresh, there usually is quite a bit of sludge at the bottom of the tray from rough shaping the cabochon. I use my cabochon machine in my kitchen, and trying to carry that water-filled low-sided tray out the back door into our backyard is out of the question. The water would slosh over the sides before I ever got there. The water must go down the sink.
     My solution to the problem is to use coffee pot filters (the biggest I can find) to line a bowl shaped strainer, which has a flat bottom. The filters must extend several inches up on all sides so the water can't overflow and drain into the sink without being filtered. I usually put two filters in, but it is probably not necessary, I never find any residue on the bottom filter. The water usually takes overnight before it finally drains through the filter and I find very little residue in my sink the next morning, maybe a small amount of very fine powder. So far, this solution has worked well for me. - Houston Gem and Mineral Society via Rockonteur 6/05.

  Table of Contents.

SHOW DATES.

Virgin Valley Gem, Mineral, Fossil and Jewelry Show - An invitation is extended to your club to attend the 1st annual Virgin Valley gem, mineral, fossil and jewelry show over the Labor Day week end to be held at the Opal Negra Mine mill site.
     There is no fee to buyers or sellers.
     There is plenty of space to set up a booth or to tailgate.
     Free camping is available at the nearby CCC campground. Or, if needed, there are full hookups at the Royal Peacock's RV Park at http://www.royalpeacock.com/mining01.htm. Reservations are recommended.
     If you have ever wanted to dig at one of the world famous opal fee digs here's another reason to go!
     More information is available on the Opal Negra Mine website, including maps, driving directions and links; at this address:
     http://thegemdealer.com/gemshow/virginvalleygemshow.htm.
     For questions not answered at the web site contact Scott Ryals at gemshow@thegemdealer.com or call 1-800-803-7601.
     Hope to see you there!
          Scott Ryals,
          Opal Negra Mining.

2005 CFMS SHOWS.

AUGUST 5, 6, 7; NIPOMO, CA - Orcutt Mineral Society, St. Joseph's Church, 298 S. Thompson Avenue. Hours: 9-5 Daily. Lucky Virgin (805) 929-4525. Email: lvirgin@impulse.net.
AUGUST 6-7; SAN FRANCISCO, CA - San Francisco Gem & Mineral Soc., San Francisco County Fair Building, Ninth Ave. & Lincoln Way. Hours: Sat. 10-6; Sun. 10-5. Ellen Nott (510) 651-1601.
SEPTEMBER 2-5; FORT BRAGG, CA - Mendocino Coast Gem & Mineral Society @ Town Hall; Main & Laurel. Hours: Fri. - Sun. 10-6, Mon. 10-4. Don McDonell (707) 964-3116. 643 N. McPherson; Fort Brag, CA 95437.
SEPTEMBER 17-18; PASO ROBLES, CA - Santa Lucia Rockhounds, Pioneer Park and Museum, 2010 Riverside Ave. Hours: 10-5 both days. Joyce Baird (805) 462-9544. Email: liljoysee@webtv.net.
SEPTEMBER 17-18; REDWOOD CITY, CA - Sequoia Gem & Mineral Society, Community Activity Building, 1400 Roosevelt Ave. Hours: 10-5 both days. Carol Corden (650) 776-5990. Email: ccorden@earthlink.net. Preston Bingham (650) 368-6351.
SEPTEMBER 23-24; SAN BERNARDINO, CA - Orange Belt Mineralogical Society, Western Regional Little League Park, 6707 Little League Drive. Hours: Fri. & Sat. 9-6, Sun. 9-4. Mike Woolery (909) 882-6806. Email: ROCKPIK98@aol.com.
SEPTEMBER 24; LOS ALTOS, CA - Peninsula Gem & Geology Society, Rancho Shopping Center, Corner of Foothill Expressway & Springer Road. Hours: 9:30-4:45. Dave Smith (650) 967-7392. Email: rdsmeks@sbcglobal.net.
SEPTEMBER 24-25; DOWNEY, CA - Delvers Gem & Mineral Society, Downey Women's Club. 9813 Paramount Blvd. Hours: Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-4. Earl Liston (562) 865-1348. Email: ejliston5@juno.com.
SEPTEMBER 24-25; MONTEREY, CA - Carmel Valley Gem & Mineral Soc., Monterey Fairgrounds, 2004 Fairgrounds Road. Hours: Sat. 10-6; Sun. 10-5. Sky Paxton (831) 755-7741. Email: sky@familystones.net, Web site www.cvgms.org/.
SEPTEMBER 24-25; SAN DIEGO, CA - San Diego Lapidary Society, Bernardo Winery, 13330 Paseo Del Verano Norte. Hours: 10-4 both days. Kim Hutsell (619) 294-3914. Email: sdlapidary@yahoo.com.
OCTOBER 2; FALLBROOK, CA - Fallbrook Gem & Mineral Society, Fallbrook Gem & Mineral Museum, 123 W. Alvarado Street. Hours: 10-4. FGMS Board; Email: FGMS@tfb.com, (760) 728-1130.
OCTOBER 8-9; GRASS VALLEY, CA - Nevada County Gem & Mineral Soc., The Nevada County Fairgrounds, 11228 McCourtney Road, Main Exhibit Hall. Hours: 10-5 both days. Cliff Swenson (530) 272-3752.
OCTOBER 8-9; LAKESIDE, CA - El Cajon Valley Gem & Mineral, Lakeside Rodeo Grounds, Hwy. 67 & Mapleview Street. Hours: 10-5 both days. Peggy Bowery (619) 561-1823. Email: Docsgirl9@aol.com.
OCTOBER 8-9; TRONA, CA - Searles Lake Gem & Mineral Society, 13337 Main Street. Hours: Sat. 7:30-5, Sun. 7:30-4. Bonnie Fairchild (760) 372-5356. Email: jbfairchild@verizon.net.
OCTOBER 15; WEST HILLS, CA - Woodland Hills Rock Chippers, 22700 Sherman Way, (101 Fwy. Off at Fallbrook north and right on Sherman Way). Hours: 10-6. Virginia Rotramel Email: show@rockchippers.org.
OCTOBER 15-16; ANDERSON, CA - Shasta Gem & Mineral Society, Shasta District Fairgrounds, Five Miles South of Redding. Hours: 10-5 both days. Alex Stoltz (530) 474-4400.
OCTOBER 15-16; LONG BEACH, CA - Mineralogical Society of Southern CA, Long Beach Convention & Expo Center, 300 East Ocean Blvd. Hours: 10-5 both days. Jason Butts Email: msscshow@hotmail.com.
OCTOBER 22-23; SANTA ROSA, CA - Santa Rosa Mineral & Gem Society, Veterans Memorial Auditorium, 1351 Maple Avenue. Hours: Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5. Shirley Mottson (707) 795-1730.
OCTOBER 22-23; STOCKTON, CA - Stockton Lapidary & Mineral Club 54th "Earth's Treasures Show". San Joaquin County Fairgrounds, Bldg. 2, 1658 South Airport Way (corner of Charter Way & Airport Way). Hours: Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4. Laure Haines (209) 838-0108 or Jim Dunlap. Email: jimsopals@Comcast.net.
NOVEMBER 5-6; CONCORD, CA - Contra Costa Mineral & Gem Soc. Centre Concord @ 5298 Clayton Rd. Hours: 10-5 both days. Bill McKay (925) 439-8195. Email: williammckay@hotmail.com.
NOVEMBER 5-6; RIDGECREST, CA - Indian Wells Gem & Mineral Society, Desert Empire Fairgrounds, Mesquite Hall, 520 S. Richmond Rd. Hours: 9-5 both days. John DeRosa (760) 375-7905.
NOVEMBER 4, 5, 6; EUREKA, CA - Humboldt Gem & Mineral Society, Redwood Acres Fairgrounds, 3750 Harris Street. Hours: Fri. 9-6, Sat. 10-6 & Sun. 10-5. Pat Bunselmeier (707) 677-0131.
NOVEMBER 12-13; LANCASTER, CA - Palmdale Gem & Mineral Club, Fairgrounds @ 2551 West Ave. H. Hours: Sat. 9-5; Sun. 9-4. John Martin (661) 916-9479. Email: pgmc@antelecom.net.
NOVEMBER 12-13; YUBA CITY, CA - Sutter Buttes Gem & Mineral Soc., 442 Franklin Avenue. Hours: Sat. 9-5; Sun. 9-4. Barbara & Charlie Brown (916) 652-4240.
NOVEMBER 11-13; SACRAMENTO, CA - Sacramento Mineral Society, Scottish Rite Temple, 615 H Street. Hours: Fri. 9-6, Sat. 9-5, Sun. 10-4. George Sterpka (916) 984-9730. Email: sterpka@comcast.net.
NOVEMBER 19-20; LIVERMORE, CA - Livermore Valley Lithophiles, "The Barn", 3131 Pacific Avenue. Hours: Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4. Dick & Joyce Friesen (925) 447-8223. Email: friesenr@ix.netcom.net.
NOVEMBER 19-20; VICTORVILLE, CA - Victorville Valley Gem & Mineral Club, San Bernardino County Fairgrounds, 14800 Seventh Street. Hours: Sat. 9-5, Sun. 9-4. Mavis Mushaney (760) 241-8282.
NOVEMBER 26-27; BARSTOW, CA -Mojave Desert Gem & Mineral Soc., Barstow Community Center, 841 South Barstow Road. Hours: 10-5 both days. Bob Depue (760) 255-1030.

AMERICAN FEDERATION / REGIONAL
SHOW SCHEDULE - 2005.

NORTHWEST,
August 5-7, Albany, OR.

MIDWEST / AFMS,
August 16-21, St. Louis, MO.

SOUTHEAST FEDERATION,
November 12-13, Melbourne, FL.

SOUTH CENTRAL FEDERATION,
December 2-4, Austin, TX.

  Table of Contents.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

Just for the record any unsigned articles are by the Editor. We all enjoy articles from you members. How about writing 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.

EDUCATIONAL CORNER.

Definition of the Month.

Tumbleweed - The tumbleweed is a plant common to the American West. It is also known by the common names "Russian thistle" and "wind witch" and scientific names Salsola kali, S. pestifer, S. australis, S. iberica and S. tragus. (In this context, "S." is the abbreviation for the genus Salsola, followed by the species name.) Many people think of the tumbleweed as a fixture in the history of the American West. However, the plant is not native to North America. It is native to the arid steppes of the Ural Mountains of Russia. It was first introduced as seed, lodged in the hooves of cattle purchased from Russia in the 1800s. Some scientists think that tumbleweed seeds may have also been introduced with flax seed imported from Ukrainian farmers. Tumbleweeds were first reported around 1877 in Bon Homme County, South Dakota. By 1900, the tumbleweed had found its way through a dozen states and to the Pacific Coast.

By understanding the tumbleweed, you can understand how it has covered the West and established permanent residence. Each plant is an efficient "seed-distributing machine". Most plants contain over 250,000 seeds. As they roll and bounce like a ball in the wind, the plant dries and broadcasts seeds over the path it takes. The seeds continue to disperse in the wind even after separation from the plant. Some plants are as large as a compact car.

The tumbleweed is a great nuisance to those who call the West their home. It can be found growing in plowed fields, canals, roadways, ditches, and along fences. As it dislodges from its roots, it can find its way anywhere. The plant favors disturbed soils that are salty and alkaline. In Death Valley, the plant has been observed growing at elevations below sea level to as high as 8500' elevation. The United States is not the only recipient for this alien weed. It has found its way into 24 separate countries around the World. So if you find a tumbleweed in your yard, don't think that you are being singled out as a host for this intruder! They're everywhere!

The "Definition of the Month" features words related to geology, paleontology, mining and desert history. Written by Steve Mulqueen for the VGMS, July 2005.

Illustration of the Month.

Standard Wooden Derricks, Early California Oil Fields.

A pen & ink rendering from the publication "California Oil Fields", 33rd Annual Report of the State Oil & Gas Supervisor, Division of Oil & Gas, No. 2, July-Dec., 1947, front cover. The "Illustration of the Month" features a drawing, sketch, pen & ink rendering, engraving print or any form or 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 for the VGMS, July 2005.

  Table of Contents.

VGMS PHOTO ALBUM:
2005 Show - Some of Our Demo/Dealers - All Photos by Editor.

  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.