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The Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. (VGMS)
Rockhound Rambling
January 2006.

Table of Contents.

• PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE;
• WORDS TO LIVE BY;
• JANUARY PROGRAM;
• PROGRAM REVIEW;
• STILL TIME TO PAY YOUR 2006 DUES;
• SEEKING NEW DIGS FOR VGMS MUSEUM & WORKSHOP;
• MARK YOUR CALENDARS;
• CHIPS & BOULDERS;
• 2006 VGMS SHOW;
• WEB SITES;
• CFMS FALL BUSINESS MEETING;
• PROGRAM SCHEDULE FOR MONTHLY MEETINGS;
• CALIFORNIA STATE MINING AND MINERAL MUSEUM REPORT;
• FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS;
• HOSPITALITY;
• VGMS MINUTES;
• COMMUNITY OUTREACH;
• MEMBERSHIP;
• EARTH SCIENCES STUDIES;
• PLAC REPORT;
• "FIELD TRIPS ARE FUN";
• SAFETY ARTICLE;
• HINTS & TIPS FOR ROCKHOUNDS - (Use at your own risk);
• SHOW DATES;
• EDITOR'S NOTE;
• 67th ANNUAL CALIFORNIA FEDERATION SHOW;
• VGMS PHOTO ALBUM;
• EDUCATIONAL CORNER;
• VGMS ANNUAL SHOW EXHIBITOR APPLICATION.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.

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 4th & 5th. This is less than two 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!

Have you ever considered writing an article for our bulletin? You may have ideas from a field trip or other event that could be written and published. Please consider writing an article so that others may learn from your experiences.

Don't forget, dues for VGMS membership for the year 2006 are DUE and can be paid at our meeting.

I look forward to an adventurous 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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WORDS TO LIVE BY.

Wish not so much to live long as to live well.

When anger rises think of the consequences.

Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine.

Old age is when you know all the answers, but nobody asks you the questions.

Collected by Wayne Ehlers.

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January Program:
"Show and Tell: 2005's Collecting/
2006's Projecting".

The object of this program is to produce, as a club, a map of California showing the material people have collected during the past year and the locations they visited. This map will be displayed with specimens and photographs at this year's show in order to attract new members to our Society.

For this program we ask for everyone who was able to get out and collect during the past year to bring one or more items that they would be willing to display at this year's show. The items can be fossils, gemstones, minerals, photographs, or polished/worked material. We will locate on the map where our members have visited and share stories about last year's activity.

As a finish to our program, it is requested that people share some of their goals for the upcoming year - such as places to visit, skills to learn, material to collect.

Lowell Foster,
Program Chair.

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REVIEW:
PROGRAMS FOR DECEMBER 14, 2005,
VGMS CHRISTMAS DINNER.

There were 24 members in attendance to help celebrate the holidays at the VGMS Christmas Dinner and installation of the 2006 officers. Sharon Cunningham did her usual good job at decorating the tables in an edible and aesthetic fashion! Thanks Sharon!

The 2006 officers were installed and those who served in 2005 were duly thanked (actually they looked awfully similar!). We will miss Jim Brace-Thompson as our 2007 show chair, but he is very willing to train the new show chairman (any volunteers?). Many thanks to Jim and Nancy for all the work they have done, opening their home for meetings and the successful shows he has orchestrated!

It was a great time for socializing with our fellow rockhounds and celebrating the end of a successful year. Thanks go to Richard Bromser for his usual good job in setting it all up. Happy New Year to all!

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STILL TIME TO PAY YOUR 2006 DUES!

You can see Shirley Bromser at the meetings or send them to: Membership Secretary, Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, P.O. Box 1573, Ventura, CA 93002. They were actually due on January 1st, but there is still time to pay them and be included in the 2006 Membership Directory. Don't Forget!

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Seeking New Digs for
VGMS Museum & Workshop.

On December 13, I met with Tim Schiffer, Executive Director of the Ventura County Museum of History and Art. The county museum has recently embarked on an ambitious expansion project that will significantly increase their floor space and storage capacity and that will create a new meeting and lecture hall. I met with Tim to introduce him to our society and to let him know about our museum and our desire to find new housing for our materials, given the deteriorating state of our current building. The meeting was of a purely introductory and exploratory nature. It's my hope that it may lead to some sort of partnership between the county museum and VGMS and result in a more secure and permanent home for our club museum, as well as the possibility that we might use the new meeting and lecture hall for our monthly meetings. I've shared information about VGMS and our needs with Tim, and he'll raise the subject at the next museum board meeting, and I'll keep everyone informed with news as I receive it. This is just the first step in what could be a long process, so stay tuned!

In addition, at our January board meeting, Richard Bromser shared a letter we've received from the Oxnard club. They've invited VGMS members to attend their March 8th board meeting starting 7:30 pm at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center (800 Hobson Way) to discuss the possibility of joint use of their club workshop. I'm hoping to attend, and I encourage other VGMS members to attend, as well.

Both of these are promising developments in our search for more secure and permanent replacements for our current digs on Crooked Palm Road. But both are also far from certain, so we encourage everyone to continue to help in the search for new facilities that might house our club museum and workshop and help with our storage needs.

          Jim Brace-Thompson.

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

1-21-06 - VGMS Work Shop - Museum - Open - 9 to noon. Check with a shop supervisor to confirm (see "Chips & Boulders").
1-25-06 - VGMS Regular Meeting - 7:30 pm - At the Lexington. "Show & Tell: 2005's Collecting/2006's Projecting" led by Lowell Foster.
2-1-06 - Install Gem Show Promotional Display at H. P. Wright Library on Day Road. Contact Jim Brace-Thompson 805 659-3577 for details, time, etc. We'll likely meet at the library at 9:00 am.
2-2-06 - 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.
2-4-06 - VGMS Show Meeting - 2:00 pm - Home of Jim & Nancy Brace-Thompson, 7319 Eisenhower Street, Ventura. Call 805 659-3577 for directions. Please note: this meeting was originally scheduled for Sun 2-12-06, but has been rescheduled, so if you have 2-12 in your calendar, please replace it with this new date! This is our last Show Planning meeting, so we encourage as many people as possible to attend.
2-5-06 - Kid's Booth Grab Bag Stuffing & Planning Meeting - 2:00 pm - At home of Ron & Jean Wise, 705 Elko, Ventura (call 805 647-4393 for directions. We'll be stuffing grab bags and assembling Spinning Wheel prizes. Please come by to help and to bring donations of materials; rock, gem, mineral, and fossil specimens. See article later in the bulletin.
2-10-06 - DEADLINE FOR FEBRUARY Bulletin Articles to the Editor!
2-22-06 - VGMS Regular Meeting - 7:30 pm - At the Lexington. Quartzite Show and Tell / Final Show Preparation.

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CHIPS & BOULDERS.

FYI - During the CFMS Fall Business meeting Steve Blocksage remarked that the benitoite mine had been bulldozed, and there would be no field trips.
     Each year 3 or 4 rockhounds are honored by receiving a scholarship award for their dedication and work for CFMS. This year the honors were awarded to Lois Allmen from Oxnard, Cal Clason from Bakersfield, and Mike Kokinos. The honoree selects a university, and someone there helps choose a deserving student majoring in the Earth Sciences. The scholarship is for $2,000.00. Ventura Gem and Mineral Society members who have received this honor in the past are Jim Brace-Thompson (2004) and Ray and Florence Meisenheimer.
          Florence Meisenheimer.

Hosts and Hostesses Schedule for 2006 Meetings - Thank you to all who volunteered in 2005. It is time to pick your month for 2006 while there are many good openings! Sharon Cunningham has gracefully volunteered to coordinate the schedule for this year as well. Thanks Sharon, be sure to give her a call at (805) 649-3579 to schedule your month.

• January: Sharlyne Holloway and Shirley Layton.
• February:
• March:
• April:
• May:
• June:
• July:
• August:
• September:
• October:
• November: - Pumpkin Goodies by All!
• December: - VGMS Christmas Party.

VGMS Workshops - They are held on the third Saturday of each month from 9:00 am 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.

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2006 VGMS SHOW.

Help Needed for H. P. Wright Library Display.

For the past several years, we've been fortunate in obtaining display space in two Ventura public libraries to 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 my daughter Hannah and I have set up an exhibit dedicated to field trips, entitled "Take a Hike! - with the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society." It's in the glass display case to your left when you enter the library from Main Street. We encourage you to check it out. 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 H. P. Wright Library on Day Road. 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 Wednesday, 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 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.

February Show Planning Meeting &
Finalizing the Details.

Wow! Is our 44th 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 show planning meeting to ensure that all details are finalized for a smooth and successful show. This final meeting takes place 2:00 PM, Sat., Feb. 4th at my home: 7319 Eisenhower Street, Ventura. (Please note: This meeting was originally scheduled to take place Sun., Feb. 12, but we've needed to reschedule, so if you have the 12th in your calendar, please cross it out and replace it with this new date.)

Our biggest need at present is getting out the word. I'll be bringing a supply of show flyers to both the January and February meetings, and I encourage everyone to take some to hand out to friends, family, and acquaintances, to post on bulletin boards in your workplace or wherever you see a community bulletin board, etc. The most effective means of publicity is good old fashioned word-of-mouth, so let's start moving our mouths and get out the word!

Another big need is organizing material for the Kids' Activities Booth. Lowell and Karen Foster hosted a grab bag stuffing party in their garage last month, which was very successful, and I thank Lowell and Karen for their hospitality and all who attended for their help. Ron and Jean Wise will host a similar event at their home (705 Elko, Ventura) at 2:00 pm on Sun., Feb. 5th and we encourage everyone to come with rocks, gems, minerals, and fossils to contribute both for grab bags and for spinning wheel prizes. If you won't be able to come on Feb. 5th, we encourage you to bring donations of rock prizes to the January club meeting on Jan. 25th.

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 look for any duplicate specimens in your collections to pick out donations to provide for the Donation Awards Raffle at the Hospitality Booth (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. We'll need lots of happy and willing volunteers to help with set-up on Thursday, March 2 and Friday, March 3. Here's to making 2006 our best Show ever!

          Jim Brace-Thompson, Show Chair.

KIDS' BOOTH SECOND BAG STUFFING PARTY,
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2006.

The next, and final, bag stuffing party is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 5, at the Wise's home. We are at 705 Elko, Ventura. The nearest cross streets are Telephone Rd. and Petit. For directions, give us a call (647-4393) on February 1, 2, or 3. We will not be available during the month of January.

In addition to stuffing the Kids' Booth rock bags, we will also be getting spinning wheel prizes organized and ready to go for the show. There will be refreshments and, no doubt, fine companionship!

In the meantime, check around your house and shop. See if there are some items you could donate for the kids. For bag stuffing we need more small crystals, mineral samples, fossils, and pretty rocks. For the spinning wheel we particularly need some polished stones, nodules and geodes, attractively colored and/or patterned slabs, well-cleaned fossil prizes, and nice small mineral samples (1 to 2 inch) for the spinning wheel.

Some of you have taken petrified wood samples to polish. I know some of the samples were a bit large, so please bring both finished and unfinished samples to the Feb. 5 party. Or you can get them to Lowell Foster in January. We do appreciate your help! And welcome your suggestions!

Hope to see you on February 5.

          Jean Wise.

KIDS' BOOTH BAG STUFFING PARTY,
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4.

Seven hearty souls made it to the first Kids' Booth bag stuffing party last Sunday. The biggest problem for most of us was finding Lowell and Karen Foster's home. Once there, everyone pitched in with boxes and buckets of material to stuff into Marie Ehler's wonderful bags. We went around in circles around 2 tables until we were tired and almost dizzy. When we finished, there were about 270 filled bags. By then I was almost glad we were getting short of some of the materials needed to put in the bags.

After all of the hard work, we were treated with drinks and goodies--and a soft place to sit down and visit a while. All in all it was gratifying to get so much done. As always, it was fun to be around the fine folks who enjoy our great hobby.

          Jean Wise.

January Show Planning Meeting.

Many thanks to Nancy B-T, Ed Clark, Shirley Layton, and Katherine Davis for attending our show planning meeting on January 7. Also, my apologies to everyone for the late notice about the meeting. Normally, I would have tried to get an announcement about it into the preceding bulletin, but we weren't able to settle on a date for the meeting until after the December issue of Rockhound Rambling was completed. Again, my apologies, and my thanks to everyone who did get the word and was able to attend.

I'm happy to report that Cal Clason has finished and delivered 11 shiny new cases that we'll be able to use in the 2006 show. Thus, we'll no longer need to go begging and borrowing cases from the Conejo club. I'm very grateful for Conejo's generosity and help these many past years, and equally grateful to Cal that we'll now be able to be self-sufficient in providing cases to exhibitors at our show.

At the meeting, we also learned that Katherine is progressing very nicely in getting all of our dealers, demonstrators, and demo-dealers on board, and Ed is getting applications out to potential exhibitors. We'll include a copy of the exhibitor application form in this month's bulletin. We encourage each and every VGMS member to enter a display and help us break in our shiny new cases! Shirley will be checking on our stock for the Country Store, and we may need to set a time for folks to help price items, depending on what we have thus far. Finally, we discussed the Friday show dinner, the upcoming Kids' Booth meeting at Ron and Jean Wise's home, and a date for our next and final show planning meeting, which will take place on February 4th. We hope to see you there!

          Jim Brace-Thompson, Show Chair.

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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/.

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SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

CFMS FALL BUSINESS MEETING.

The annual Fall Business meeting was held at the Holiday Inn in Visalia November 12, with 71 delegates attending.

There were no more clubs dropping out of CFMS and all of the delinquent clubs in June have now paid their dues. One new club was welcomed. Sun City Gem & Mineral Society out of Sacramento is a new member.

The CFMS show in Roseville was a successful show in every way. Proceeds for CFMS amounted to $4,294.20.

The show in 2006 will be at Angels Camp. There are adequate motels, priced from $69.00 and up and good restaurants. One of the drawing cards is that Bob Jones will be one of the speakers. It is worth the trip just to hear one of his programs.

2007 will be at the very nice, new fairgrounds in Lancaster, hosted by the Palmdale club. All activities will be at the fairgrounds.

2008 will be hosted by CFMS at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. The three Ventura County clubs will have their work cut out for them.

The Earth Science Studies are a little iffy right now. Zzyzx charges will probably go up drastically. Camp Paradise's new management is not sure they will be open to us. They need our money to continue improvement on the facilities, but want to keep the camp open to church members available at all times.

Fred Ott reported that the biggest problem with insurance is that clubs are not using the right forms, are not filling them out properly, or are not filling them completely. Liability insurance for clubs will be $6.00 per member plus $1.50 dues - total cost $7.50 per member.

The show in Calaveras will be the 70th year for CFMS. Shirley Leeson is planning an anniversary party, probably an ice cream social. She laughed, saying it will not be like the ice cream social in 1990 in Ventura, where patrons were allowed to dish up their own. People came running from their RVs with pots and pans and mixing bowls, topping it off with entire bowls of topping mix. Shirley said WE will do the dishing up.

Steve Blocksage reported that the Benitoite mine has been bulldozed, without any comment to rockhounds.

The social affair and installation of officers was very nice. Ray Meisenheimer was installing officer.

          Florence Meisenheimer.

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PROGRAM SCHEDULE FOR MONTHLY MEETINGS,
Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, 2006.

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California State Mining
and Mineral Museum Report,
By Peggy Ronning,
CA State Mining and Mineral Museum.

Your club probably receives a letter each year asking it to join the California State Mining and Mineral Museum Association. In exchange for $1 per member, club members receive free admission to the museum and a 10% discount in the museum shop. But what if your club is located too far away from Mariposa to visit the museum regularly? Is it worth joining the Association? It is if your club is interested in supporting the California State Mining and Mineral Museum and our mission to:

• Preserve, interpret, and inspire interest in the diverse geology and landforms of California and their development and effects on California;
• Make accessible the official State Mineral Collection;
• Relate the importance, creation, extraction, and use of minerals - past, present, and future.

The money raised by the Association through memberships and sales in the museum shop is given to the museum staff to spend on items that State Parks can't afford. The Association gives the museum about $14,000 a year to spend. The museum uses this money to purchase materials for educational programs. Many of the rock and mineral kits the museum staff uses during hands-on activities during school tours were purchased using money from the Association. The museum also offers fun rock and mineral related activities to inspire children during the Mariposa Mineral and Gem Show and the Mariposa County Fair. Some of the activities we have offered include mineral snow globes, pet rocks, birthstone necklaces, and sand painting. The Association provides money to purchase the materials needed for these activities.

A corps of dedicated and well-trained volunteers is essential for providing the museum's educational programs and running its special events. The Association pays for all activities related to recruiting, training, and retaining our valuable volunteers.

The museum also uses money provided by the Association to purchase specimens for the collection. Some of the specimens paid for by the Association in the last 5 years include:

• Two Trona specimens from Owens Lake, Inyo County, California;
• One thenardite pseudomorph after halite specimen from Searles Lake, Trona, Inyo County, California;
• One topazolite on ripidolite specimen from Yellow Cat Mine, New Idria District, San Benito County, California;
• One garnet var. grossular specimen from Santa Rosa Mountain, Riverside County, California;
• One iron, coarse octahedrite, meteorite specimen from Ocotillo, Imperial County, California;
• One quartz variety amethyst specimen from Kingston Range, San Bernardino County, California;
• One garnet and diopside specimen from the Crestmore Quarry, Riverside County, CA.

The museum also uses money provided by the Association to develop and improve museum exhibits. The museum is able to purchase illustrations and large format photographs. We are also working on a micro-mineral exhibit that will be largely financed by the Association.

Even if your club's members can't make it to the museum regularly, by supporting the Association, you will make sure that there will be new and wonderful things to see the next time you do visit.

CFMS Newsletter December 2005.

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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! 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!

February - Happy Birthday!!
     Jim Brace-Thompson - 3rd,
     Jean Wise - 4th.

The February birthstone is the Amethyst and the flower is the 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., 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.

     We had 24 attendees at the annual Christmas Party. It was a fun night of good food and fellowship. The new officers were installed and the door prizes were the Christmas candies Sharon Cunningham included with the decorations! Thank you all who made the club successful and fun in the past year and let's do it again this year!!!

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VGMS MINUTES.

Minutes of the VGMS Monthly Board Meeting,
Thursday, December 1st, 2005:
     The regular board meeting of the VGMS was called to order by Ron Wise at 7:30 pm on Thursday, December 1st, 2005, at the I.B.E.W. Hall, 3994 E. Main St., Ventura, CA.
Present: Ron Wise, Ray and Florence Meisenheimer, Richard and Shirley Bromser, Jim Brace-Thompson, Lowell Foster and Greg Davis.
Old business:
Richard Bromser reported that the tarp material for the museum roof had been received and December 3rd has been selected for installation.
Greg Davis - The monthly workshops have been well attended with 7 or 8 members at each.
Ray Meisenheimer reported that cases being built by Cal Clason will be delivered prior to our March show and Ray has presentations at Anacapa & Blanche Reynolds schools.
New business:
Florence Meisenheimer - The CFMS meeting in Fresno went well although the cost of insurance will be increasing. The annual CFMS show for 2006 will be located in Calaveras, the 2007 show will be located in Lancaster and for 2008 the show will come to Ventura.
Richard Bromser presented copies of the treasurer's report for the month of November and it was m/s/c to accept as written.
Shirley Bromser - 21 members have renewed their club memberships as of this date and 24 reservations have been received for annual Christmas dinner.
Jim Brace-Thompson reported that he has a December 13 meeting scheduled with Tim Shiffer of the Ventura County Museum to discuss our museum's plight and needs. The next show meet will be scheduled for January.
Lowell Foster is hoping to arrange an archeology presentation and possibly for Mel & Sharon Hixon to present a program on raptors if the Lexington is willing to allow it. Lowell is also arranging for a kids' booth material/grab bag filling event at his house.
Ron Wise - Repairs continue on the work shop equipment with the replacement of the blade on the big saw. Upcoming field trips include Burro Creek Jan. 13-16 and Wiley Wells area Jan. 29-Feb. 3.
     The next general meeting will be on December 14, 2005 at Carrows Restaurant in Ventura and the next board meeting will on Thursday, January 5th, 2006 at the I.B.E.W. Hall in Ventura.
     There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:42 pm.
          Respectfully submitted,
          Greg Davis,
        Recording Secretary.


Minutes of the VGMS Regular Monthly Meeting,
Wednesday, December 14th, 2005:
     The regular monthly meeting of the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society was called to order by President Ed Clark at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 at Carrows Restaurant in Ventura, CA.
     Ed welcomed everyone to our annual Christmas dinner.
     Ray Meisenheimer led the installation of officers for 2006.
     We would all like to thank out going Show Chairperson, Jim Brace-Thompson for the terrific job the last 3 years, resulting in some of the most successful shows our club has seen.
     The next board meeting will be on January 5th, 2006 and the next monthly meeting will be on January 25th, 2006. Please plan to attend and we'll start the new year off right!
     Have a happy new year and may your collecting be bountiful.
          Respectfully submitted,
          Greg Davis,
          Recording Secretary.


Minutes of the VGMS Monthly Board Meeting,
Thursday, January 5th, 2006:
     The regular meeting of the VGMS board members was called to order by President Ed Clark at 7:30 pm, on Thursday, January 5th, 2006, at the I.B.E.W. Hall, 3994 E. Main St., Ventura, CA.
Present: Ed Clark, Richard & Shirley Bromser, Lowell Foster, Ray & Florence Meisenheimer, Jim Brace-Thompson and Greg Davis.
Jim Brace-Thompson met with the director of the Ventura City Museum and expressed our club's desire for housing our museum specimens. A feasibility study will be conducted and further meetings scheduled. The next show meeting is scheduled for January 7th, 2:00 at Jim's house and all are welcomed. The next meeting will be on February 12th and again at Jim's house. Jim is still attempting to coordinate a meet with the Ventura paper for an estimated cost on advertising our show.
Richard Bromser gave the treasurer's report and it was m/s/c to accept it as written. Christmas reservations for 2006 have been made at Carrows in Ventura. It was m/s/c to contribute $1.00 per member to the Calif. State Mining & Minerals Museum again this year. Richard received a request from the Oxnard Club that we attend their Board Meeting on March 8th to discuss the possibility of combining the two club workshops.
Shirley Bromser - It was m/s/c to accept the membership applications for Paul Polacek and John Orr to our club. Please introduce yourselves and make them feel welcomed.
Lowell Foster is considering all suggestions for presentations at this year's monthly meetings. Please come forward and offer to do even a short program on the aspect of this hobby that most interests you.
Florence Meisenheimer - CFMS insurance for club members consists of $6.00 per member plus $1.50 for membership fees.
Ray Meisenheimer - Ray still frequents schools all over Ventura County, demonstrating our hobby and encouraging young students to take an interest in geology. He'll soon need someone to take over for him and continue this very important aspect of our club. Think about it and contact Ray.
Greg Davis will look into the cost of obtaining grit in bulk for club members to purchase. It was well received last time and contributed greatly to members tumbling rock for our show and other events. A proposed TV spot to be filmed at our museum is being considered and hopefully scheduled soon. It would help demonstrate the importance of the club museum and the need for an alternate location. Details will follow.
     There being no further business, Ed adjourned the meeting at 8:55.
          Respectfully submitted,
          Greg Davis,
          Recording Secretary.

  Table of Contents.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

November 15 Ray Meisenheimer gave a two-hour program to 45 second-grade students at Meiners Oaks School in Meiners Oaks. What the young people seemed to enjoy the most were the question and answer period and the boxes of minerals and fossils Ray brought for them to examine.

December 6 Ray spent five hours at Anacapa Middle School giving 5 programs to five classes, one after the other. Total there were about 150 students and five instructors. It was a tiring but also a rewarding day. One teacher is so anxious for her students to learn the Earth Sciences. She visits our show every spring and buys specimens from the Silent Auction tables for her classroom. Ray will be going through our private collection for specimens to donate to her classroom.

December 8 Ray gave an hour-long program to fifth and sixth grade children at Blanche Reynolds Elementary School. He spoke on the Earth Sciences and especially the use of minerals in the home. There were 35 students the teacher and invited parents.

Florence Meisenheimer.

  Table of Contents.

MEMBERSHIP.

We would like to welcome two new members: Paul Polacek (husband of our own Mary Polacek) and John Orr and son Nicholas Orr. Please introduce yourselves and help them to feel welcome and get acquainted. You will need to update your 2005 directories with the following:

New Members:
     John Orr,
     Nicholas Orr,
     4018 Pacific Coast Highway,
     Ventura, CA 93001,
     (805) 643-8492,
     Email: SORR4018@aol.com.

     Paul Polacek - Add to Mary Polacek.

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.

EARTH SCIENCES STUDIES,
By Cal Clason, Chair, Earth Science Studies.

Again, it's time to try to get things back on an even keel and hope for the best. All in all 2005 should be considered as a successful and informative year. Zzyzx began the year with quite a number of new participants to help celebrate our twentieth anniversary. Our open house on Saturday attracted a number of "Old Timers" and many who came only to ascertain what Earth Science Studies really are. I hope most of them left with a favorable impression and, in casual conversations, I believe they did. My most heartfelt thanks to not only the staff, but also the people who displayed, explained and discussed their particular areas of expertise. In retrospect I see things we could have done differently; but it is an evolving process.

Although I am somewhat concerned about the weather, the dates for 2006 are March 19-26. At the present time we are scheduled for March 18-25, 2007. Again, I have concerns; but in that it is operated by the Desert Studies Consortium, and that they give first consideration to use by the various Universities for research, and that spring is the most popular time of the year it's the best we can do.

In September we again held forth at Camp Paradise, and feel that it was a successful endeavor. About 60 people each week, with quite a few staying for both weeks. Everyone seemed to have enjoyed their stay, and many commented they had learned things they could share with their club members; which was the original premise upon which the Earth Science Studies was founded. Congratulations to them.

My thanks go out to the staff and instructors for giving of their time and knowledge to accomplish this. Much credit should be given to Jack Williams, who in his capacity as Coordinator - North, did a lot of the preliminary work to bring it to a successful conclusion.

As has been mentioned before, the ownership of Camp Paradise has changed, and though not totally what we would have liked, believe we have reached an agreement we can live with, at least for 2006. We have tentative reservations for September 3-9, and 10-16, 2006. We were concerned about Labor Day being September 4th and the possible traffic congestion; but came to the conclusion that it will be minimal on Saturday and Sunday, and hope for the best. We will continue to try to meet with their Board of Directors, and endeavor to arrange some kind of a long range commitment from them to enable the ESS Committee to do their planning for future Seminars.

So much for now, more will be forthcoming as it develops, and we will try to keep you informed.

CFMS Newsletter December 2005.

  Table of Contents.

PLAC Report,
By Frank Monez.

Many of the past PLAC Reports pertained to the "Paleontological Resources Preservation Act". It has been referred to the House Committee after being received from the Senate. Rather than trying to condense an article from the December 2005 - January 2006 AFMS Newsletter, "Truth and Some Consequences", it is being printed verbatim in the next article. Letters to our Senators and Congressional members, voicing comments to Bill S. 263, are urgently required. A full copy of the Bill can be obtained off the Internet. Go to http://thomas.loc.gov/home/thomas.html, then go to "Search Bill Text", check "Bill Number", then insert "S.263" as the bill number. Clicking "Search" will get you to four copies of the actual bills. The latest version is "S 263 RFH".

When writing comments to government documents, try to be somewhat original. Form letters are usually identified, gathered together, and considered as a single comment.

If you have any questions, feel free to call me - Frank Monez, 408-578-7067, or email frankm2@sbcglobal.net.

TRUTH & SOME CONSEQUENCES
By John Spunaugle, Conservation/Legislative Chair,
Article reprinted from AMFS newsletter 12/05-01/06.

Some talking points on: The Paleontological Resources Preservation Act, Senate Bill S-263 now being considered by the U. S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee.
     This Bill is, for all practical purposes, identical to the fossil bills considered by the 108th Congress in 2003-4. Therefore, past comments by previous AFMS and ALAA (American Lands Access Association) reviewers applies to this latest introduced Bill, S-263. Again, as in the last Congress, the Bill was passed by the U.S. Senate by voice vote and has been referred to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration and possible passage. In the last Congress several reviewers called it a "bad bill" primarily because it criminalized fossil collecting with outrageous penalties for picking up a fossil on public land. The Bill was also criticized for its reward provisions for turning in violators, which seemed ripe for abuse. Those same statements apply to the current version.
     The S-263 Bill has some good points and some bad points. For someone like myself, who helped write the first version of the "rockhound" fossil collecting bill, and worked to defeat the so called "Baccus Bill" in 1992-3, I can clearly see some improvements. Several of the objections the amateur fossil collecting public voiced to the original 1992-3 Bill have been remedied in this latest S-263 version. However, several of the remaining "rockhound" objections remain a part of Senate Bill S-263 as passed by the U.S. Senate. Some of the remaining objections to the Bill S-263 in its current form are:
     The Bill fails to make any distinction between scientifically significant and commonly found fossils. Instead it defines the paleontological resource it would protect to mean "any fossilized remains, trace, or imprints of organisms preserved in or on the earths crust"... except for archaeological resources or those associated with an archaeological resource. (The latter are covered under an archaeological resources protection act passed many years ago). Casual collecting of a reasonable amount of common invertebrate and plant fossils may be allowed under this Bill in Section 5, at the discretion of the Secretary (the land managers). Therefore amateurs "may" be able to collect certain common invertebrate or plant fossils found on Federal lands, but not necessarily. Only hand tools could be used and collecting cannot cause more than a "negligible surface disturbance" (undefined). Collecting common vertebrate fossils such as fish fossils, sharks teeth and the like, would be a violation of the act, as would picking up a isolated single dinosaur bone fragment in the badlands of the western United States if it was on Federal land.
     All other collecting of paleontological resources on Federal lands would require a permit issued by the Secretary (the land managers) and be given only to "qualified" applicants. The resources collected would remain the property of the United States with the resources collected and the associated data deposited in an approved repository when collected under a permit.
     Further, there would be no commercial collection of fossils allowed. This would preclude anyone, amateur or otherwise, from selling, trading, or bartering any fossil collected on federal land. Not only does this effect amateurs, but completely eliminates the valuable and considerable contributions to paleontology that commercial fossil entities have provided in the past in discovering, extraction, and preparation of fossils. The Dinosaur "Sue", a Tyrannosaurus Rex, is a perfect example.
     Penalties for criminal violation of any provisions of this Bill would result in fines in accordance with Title 18 of the U.S. Code and/or imprisonment for up to 10 years. Title 18 provides for fines ranging up to $5,000 and up to $10,000 in certain circumstances, or up to $250,000 in certain cases. Such cases would be tried in Federal Courts.
     Civil penalties are also provided in the Bill and can go as high as double the replacement cost or restoration cost of the resource involved. The value is to be determined by the land managers. No due process is required under the civil penalty provisions other than a required notice of a hearing. A judicial review petition is allowed only within a thirty-day period following any civil penalty assessment, but the court is allowed to rule only on the evidence presented in the hearing report. Forget "innocent until proven guilty" and the right to a trial by your peers.
     The Rewards and Forfeiture Section, Section 9, allows the Secretary of Interior or Secretary of Agriculture to pay a reward for information leading to a civil (or criminal) penalty. Rewards can go as high as $500. So, you might want to look out for any neighbors who don't like you if you have any vertebrate fossils in your collection, especially, if you cannot prove where they came from. Most fossils I know of don't say "Made in China" or "Hecho en Mexico" on them. And, how many of you kept receipts on items purchased, or can you vouch for exactly where the vertebrate fossils really came from even if you did purchase them and can prove it? The Bill calls for a person to exercise "due care" in knowing if the resource was excavated or removed from Federal land. Again "due care" is undefined.
     Also subject to forfeiture under this Bill are "paleontological resources with respect to which a violation... occurred and which are in possession of any person and all vehicles and equipment of any person that were used in connection with the violation". I'm not a lawyer, but I do have knowledge of what has happened to several collectors and to several hobbyists in the past with regard to property confiscated, rightly or wrongly. In most cases nothing was ever returned regardless of its being legally obtained.
     So, I worry for fossil collectors if this Bill, S 263 becomes law. The best way to prevent its passage in its present form is for each and every one of us to communicate our feelings to our Congressional Representatives. A copy of the Bill is found on the Internet by using any of the Internet search engines: Google, Yahoo, msn, etc.
     There is nothing new on the other issues we are following including the America the Beautiful Pass and legislation that would restrict public access to federal lands. js.

From Breccia January 2006.

  Table of Contents.

SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

"FIELD TRIPS ARE FUN."

FIELD TRIP:
An Invitation to Hunt Tourmaline in Pala.

Nancy and I would like to extend an invitation to friends and acquaintances within VGMS. Ever since we've moved to Ventura over 7 years ago, Nancy and I have been hankering to go hunting for tourmaline in the famous gem mines of San Diego County. With our daughter now attending UC-San Diego and thus fairly frequent trips down that way, we've found our tourmaline hankering to grow stronger with each passing day. The Oceanview Gem Mine is one of the only operating mines open to the public in the historic Pala Mining District of northern San Diego County, and you can screen there for tourmaline, aquamarine, morganite, spodumene, and other pegmatite minerals. They allow field trips most Sundays year round by reservation only, with a $50 charge per person. The fee includes a mine tour, use of tools and screening tables, and shaded picnic tables and flush toilets.

Rather than go by ourselves, we thought we'd put out the word and see if any other folks in VGMS might be interested in joining us for a group field trip. If interested, please contact me (email jbraceth@adelphia.net; phone 805-659-3577; or see me at one of our monthly club meetings) so that we can get an idea as to how big a group we might be able to assemble. When you contact me, please also suggest 3 different dates in 2006 for when you might be available for a Sunday field trip to the Oceanview Gem Mine. We'd be pleased to pull this trip together and finally realize a dream along with other VGMS members.

Jim Brace-Thompson.

Upcoming CFMS Field Trip:
Jan 21-22, Thursday Mine;
By Thomas Hess,
CFMS Field Trip South, Co-chair.

This trip is open to all rockhounds who agree to abide by the AFMS Code of Ethics, the directions of the field trip leader, and practice safe rockhounding. A Consent and Assumption of Risk Waiver of Liability form must be signed upon arriving at the campsite for both the CFMS and the Thursday Mine. Note: Special rules or conditions apply at this field trip. Children under 18 are not allowed without birth parent or parents signing the hold harmless agreement.

TRIP LOCATION: The area known as Rodreguez Canyon, near Banner, CA.

WHEN: January 21st and 22nd, camp-over allowed.

SPONSOR: CFMS Field Trip, South, the claim holders of the Thursday Mine, and the Diehard Rockhounds.

COST: FREE, thanks to the Thursday Mine Owners, certain restrictions apply.

MATERIAL TO COLLECT: Schorl (Black Tourmaline), Rubellite (Pink Tourmaline), Verdite (Green Tourmaline), Aquamarine, common beryl and the best lepidiolite in the world. (We think so.) It is possible to pan for gold in the washes or run offs in the canyons all around. There are several well-known gold mines in this area.

LEADER: Thomas Hess, CFMS, Yucaipa Gem and Mineral club member, founder of the Diehard Rockhounds.

PROPOSED SCHEDULE: Meet at the Stagecoach Inn on January 21st at 8:00 am. Address is 43851 Hwy. 79 South, Aguanga CA 92536, phone (951) 767-9466. We leave at 9 am to go to the mine. At about 9:15-9:30 am we will arrive at the Banner RV Park and store. We will pick up any others wishing to meet here instead at that time. 9:45 sharp we take the dirt road near the RV park up to the Thursday Mine.

On January 22nd at 10 am an additional escort will be provided for those wanting to go Sunday only. At 10.30 we leave for the Thursday Mine. Field trip will end at dark on Sunday. Digging will be allowed during the evening. Lights are provided.

DIRECTIONS TO CAMPSITE: ALL PERSONS GOING TO THE THURSDAY MINE MUST ARRIVE AT THE MINE AS A GROUP. (No one goes to the mine alone.)

VEHICLE: A high clearance truck or 4x4 is recommended. No non-4x4 vehicles will be allowed up the last stretch of the road to the mine...about 1/16th of a mile. Most vehicles always make it to the bottom of the mine.

CAMPGROUNDS & FACILITIES: This is a dry camping area, no water, no services, no hookups, no toilet.

TOOLS: Collecting bags and boxes, digging tools, rock hammer, eye gear, spray water bottle, etc. Be sure to bring your camp chair to sit in around the fire at night as well as pry bars, sledge hammers (hard rock mining!).

SAFETY CONCERNS: Do not lick the rocks, use sun screen, stay away from rattle snakes, use bug spray, be aware of flash floods, be extra careful and don't get lost.

CLIMATE & WEATHER: We are planning on nice weather-sunny days, cold clear, star filled nights may be present The mine is at 4500 feet above sea level. But remember it can rain this time of year so be prepared and plan ahead.

CLOTHING: Appropriate for this time of year.

GENERAL INFORMATION: Come and join us for the day or camp out with us. Bring food, lots of water, cell-phone, walkie-talkies, GPS, first aid kit, camera, flashlight. For additional information Email me at Thomascarlhess@yahoo.com or call (951) 677-3007 after 6 pm.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS: Everyone must bring a 5 gallon bucket and place their name on it in bold letters. There is a limit to the amount of lepidiolite that is removed for free. The Limit is 50 lbs. We figure that is about a 5 gallon bucket full. All other lepidiolite is available for $2.00 per pound.

Thursday Mine High Fire warning: No open fires will be permitted at the Thursday Mine. Only propane grills will be allowed.

I want to take this time to thank all those who have made it possible for me to lead CFMS trips. I hope to bring you many adventures. While also realizing my dreams coming true, let's be safe this upcoming year!

Anyone who may own a mine or collecting site may contact me if you might consider some good ole USA rockhounding.

CFMS NEWSLETTER January 2006.

TRI-CLUB FIELD TRIPS 2006:
Before going on a field trip PLEASE
contact field trip leader to confirm.

TRONA,
October 7, 8 & 9, 2005.

Our crew of eight Tri-Club campers arrived at the Valley Wells Recreation Area early enough on Friday afternoon to find a great campsite. After a bit of a late start we headed out and managed to find the Queen Lace Onyx Mine mentioned in Gem Trails. The beautiful onyx we found was either in small pieces or huge boulders, which we weren't equipped to attack. We brought home quite a few small specimens, most of which are headed for the kids' booth grab bags. In the evening it was campfire (party) time. The weather was perfect. In the desert that means not windy!

On Saturday our group split up. But first, we parked our cars and headed over to the Community Church for the famous Pancake Breakfast. The Pancake Fairy struck quick and often! One group went on the Trona Show's "Mud" and "Blowhole" field trips. They came back with plenty of good Hanksite specimens. The rest of us stopped at the Trona Show and went off looking for Onyx in the Panamint Valley area. While at the show, we spoke with the Owner of the Honey Onyx Mine (now closed because of out-of-control rockhounds and insurance problems). He very nicely gave us a nice sample of the honey onyx and sold Miriam Tetreault a gorgeous large piece--almost a gift. After the show, we headed out exploring sites we had heard about. Later in the day our search was richly rewarded: we found mine tailings full of root beer colored cave onyx.

Attendance at the Trona Show was lower than usual this year. Since the lines were shorter in the parking lots, we had more time out at the ponds hunting the pink halite. Maybe people in the know were aware that, because of cool weather and too much water, the brine pools wouldn't produce as many good specimens. On our Sunday morning trip to the brine pools we managed to find some good small specimens but only so-so large specimens. If you go on the Trona field trips in the future, be sure to gather all of the pink halite you can manage. The specimens are very attractive. In the Silent Auction at the Oxnard Club's show in November they fetched mighty good prices!

Ron & Jean Wise.

BASIN ROAD,
November 24-27, 2005.

On Wednesday the 23rd we hitched up the trailer and headed out for Basin Road, located between the Afton Canyon and Zzyzx exits on the way to Las Vegas. We left early in hopes of getting the best camping site, sheltered by a big hill, but an ATV group beat us to the punch. We still managed to get a good site and set up camp in beautiful weather.

Thanksgiving morning we set off to scout some of the collecting areas. We found the first two with no trouble, but the sagenite area proved to be much harder to find. The roads out there all began to look alike. Eventually, we did find the area, but never did get to the aragonite collecting area.

About noon we returned to the camping area. Mitty and Sal Scarpatta, their son and daughter-in-law arrived a while later. We spent the rest of the early afternoon setting up tents and preparing for our Thanksgiving dinner in the desert. We had a great Thanksgiving, with the companionship of Miriam Tetreault and the Scarpatta clan. Everyone provided goodies for the meal. We finished off the day with a game of Mexican Train and companionship around the campfire.

Friday morning we set out for the fluorite mine collecting area. Jean and Miriam collected fluorite while the Scarpattas went hunting for jasper, agates, and travertine. After a few hours we stopped for lunch and moved on to another spot to collect jasper, agate, and crystals. On the way back to camp we stopped at Marble Hill for some red (more like pink) marble.

Back at camp we cleaned up and prepared another gourmet outdoor dinner. The Scarpattas brought some wonderful cheese. Sal grilled some great steaks. We added potato salad, corn on the cob, green salad. Believe this--we also had fresh rolls baked in a camping oven. Then we lit the campfire. Climaxing (so we thought) a perfect day.

Then the weather gods laughed at us. The wind began to blow. The wind gained strength and blew hard through the night. Those in the tents got the worst of it. Even in our trailer we were rocking back and forth all night long.

By morning the wind was picking up speed, with predictions of gusts up to 65 miles an hour. Everyone agreed it was time to pull up stakes and we headed for the Barstow Show.

Still, with all of the great rockhounding sites in the Basin Road area, we'll be back again!

Ron & Jean Wise.

  Table of Contents.

SAFETY ARTICLE:
Carbon Monoxide,
By Chuck McKie, CFMS Safety Chairman.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless, deadly gas. It can kill you before you know it because you can't see it, taste it or smell it. At lower levels of exposure, it can cause health problems. Some people may be more vulnerable to CO poisoning such as fetuses, infants, children, senior citizens and those with heart or lung problems. When an individual breathes in CO, it accumulates in the blood and forms a toxic compound known as carboxyhemoglobin (COHb). Hemoglobin carries oxygen in the bloodstream to cells and tissues. Carbon monoxide attaches itself to hemoglobin and displaces the oxygen that the body organs need. Carboxyhemoglobin can cause headaches, fatigue, nausea, dizzy spells, confusion and irritability. Later stages of CO poisoning can cause vomiting, loss of consciousness and eventually brain damage or death.

Carbon monoxide is a by-product of combustion of fossil fuels. Fumes from automobiles contain high levels of CO. Appliances such as furnaces, space heaters, clothes dryers, ranges, ovens, water heaters, charcoal grills, fireplaces and wood burning stoves produce CO. Carbon monoxide usually is vented to the outside if appliances function correctly and the home is vented properly. Problems occur when furnace heat exchanger cracks or vents and chimneys become blocked. Insulation sometimes can trap CO in the home.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Phoenix Fire Department recommend installing at least one carbon monoxide detector with an audible alarm near the bedrooms. If a home has more than one story, a detector should be placed on each story. Be sure the detector has a testing laboratory label. The following is a checklist for where to look for problem sources of CO in the home:

• A forced air furnace is frequently the source of leaks and should be carefully inspected.
• Measure the concentration of carbon monoxide in the flue gases.
• Check furnace connections to flue pipes and venting systems to the outside of the home for signs of corrosion, rust gaps, holes.
• Check furnace filters and filtering systems for dirt and blockage.
• Check forced air fans for proper installation and to assure correct airflow of flue gases. Improper furnace blower installation can result in carbon monoxide build-up because toxic gas is blown into rather than out of the house.
• Check the combustion chamber and internal heat exchanger for cracks, holes, metal fatigue or corrosion. Be sure they are clean and free of debris.
• Check burners and ignition system. A flame that is mostly yellow in color in natural gas fired furnaces is often a sign that the fuel is not burning completely and higher levels of carbon monoxide are being released. Oil furnaces with similar problems can give off an oily odor. Remember you can't smell carbon monoxide.
• Check all venting systems to the outside including flues and chimneys for cracks, corrosion, holes, debris, blockages. Animals and birds can build nests in chimneys preventing gases from escaping.
• Check all other appliances in the home that use flammable fuels such as natural gas, oil, propane, wood or kerosene. Appliances include water heaters, clothes dryers, kitchen ranges, ovens or cook-tops, wood burning stoves, gas refrigerators.
• Pilot lights can be a source of carbon monoxide because the by-products of combustion are released inside the home rather than vented outside. Be sure space heaters are vented properly. Unvented space heaters that use a flammable fuel such as kerosene can release carbon monoxide into the home.
• Barbecue grills should never be operated indoors under any circumstances nor should stovetops or ovens that operate on flammable fuels be used to heat a residence.
• Check fireplaces for closed, blocked or bent flues, soot and debris.
• Check the clothes dryer vent opening outside the house for lint.

Via the Phoenix Fire Department, via CFMS Newsletter 12/2005.

  Table of Contents.

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

Poisonous Minerals? - Mineral specimens may be poisonous under certain conditions, or when mixed with cleaners. Never heat cinnabar or stibnite. They produce poisonous gases. - Taken from The Rockpile, June 2005 via Quarry Quips, July 2005.

Toothpaste? - Toothpaste with fluoride formula has the unique characteristic of penetrating stone, ceramics, brick or terra cotta and flushing dirt to the surface, where it can be washed away with water. It was used to restore Etruscan vases by New York's most famous art and antique restorer. - Taken from The Rockpile, June 2005 via Quarry Quips, July 2005.

Jade Polishing tip - That glaze on your jade cab is caused by working with well-worn sandpaper. Try washing the stone in acetone, then washing in detergent two or three times, scrubbing with a toothbrush. Rinse well and try it on new sandpaper. - Taken from The Pegmatite, June/July/Aug 2005 via Quarry Quips, July 2005.

Weight! - Tell the weight of a stone easily: Using US coins...Dime=11 karats, Penny=15 karats, Nickel=25 karats, Quarter=28 karats, Half-dollar=56 karats. These are approximate weights. - Source Emerald Gems via Rockonteur, October 2005.

  Table of Contents.

SHOW DATES.

2006 CFMS SHOWS.

JANUARY 21-22; EXETER, CA - Tule Gem & Mineral Society "Fabulous Fun-Filled 50th Annual", Exeter Veteran's Memorial Bldg. Hours: Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4.
JANUARY 27-29; REDLANDS, CA - Southern California Micromineralogists' 41st Pacific Micromount Conference, 2024 Orange Tree Lane. Hours: Fri. 3-10, Sat. & Sun. 8-10. Paul M. Adams (310) 336-6927. Email: paul.m.adams@aero.org.
FEBRUARY 17-26; INDIO, CA - San Gorgonio Mineral & Gem Club "Date Festival", Riverside County Fair & Date Festival, Gem & Mineral Bldg. #1, 46-350 Arabia Street. Hours: 10-10 daily. Gert Grisham (951) 849-1674. Email: grish1@msn.com.
FEBRUARY 25-26; ANTIOCH, CA - Antioch Lapidary Club, Contra Costa Co. Fairgrounds, 1201 West 10th Street. Ellen Bauer (925) 458-2539. Email: jbauer@wwdb.org.
MARCH 3, 4, & 5; HAYWARD, CA - Mineral & Gem Society of Castro Valley, Centennial Hall, 22292 Foothill Blvd., Hayward, CA. Hours: Fri. & Sat. 10 am-6 pm, Sun. 10 am-5 pm. Ron Miller (510) 887-9007, Publicity Chair: Larry Ham. Email: mgscv@yahoo.com. Show website: www.mgscv.com. However, as of January 19th at 2:00 pm I could not access this site even using the CFMS link to it.)
MARCH 4-5; VENTURA, CA - Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, Seaside Park, Ventura County Fairgrounds, 10 W. Harbor Blvd. Hours: Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4. Jim Brace-Thompson (805) 659-3577. Email: jbraceth@adelphia.net.
MARCH 4-5; ARCADIA, CA - Monrovia Rockhounds, Inc., Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanical Garden, 1 block South of I-210 Foothill Freeway near Santa Anita Race Track, 301 North Baldwin Ave., Arcadia, CA 91007. Hours: Sat. 9-4:30, Sun. 9-4:30. Janie Duncan (626) 358-8157. Email: Jo Anna Ritchey: j.ritchey@verizon.net. Website: www.moroks.com.
MARCH 11-12; SALINAS, CA - Salinas Valley Rock & Gem Club Annual Show, Spreckels Veterans Memorial Bldg., 5th and Llano Street. Hours: 10-5 both days. Jim Bassett (831) 758-5830. Email: jbmsc@sbcglobal.net.
MARCH 11-12; SAN MARINO, CA - Pasadena Lapidary Society, San Marino Masonic Center, 3130 Hunting Drive. Hours: Sat 10-6, Sun 10-5. (626) 355-6964 or (626) 914-5030.
MARCH 11-12; TURLOCK, CA - Mother Lode Mineral Society, Stanislaus County Fairgrounds, 900 N. Broadway. Hours: 10-5 both days. www.motherlodemineralsociety.com. Bud & Terry McMillin (209) 524-3494. Email: terry_mcmillin@yahoo.com.
MARCH 25-26; ROSEVILLE, CA - Roseville Rock Rollers, Placer County Fairgrounds, 800 All America City Blvd. Hours: Sat. 10-5; Sun. 10-4. Terry Yoschak (916) 630-1000. Email: rockrollers@hotmail.com. Show website: www.rockrollers.com.
APRIL 1-2; SAN JOSE, CA - Santa Clara Valley Gem & Mineral Soc., Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, 344 Tully Road. Hours: 10-5 both days. Marc Mullaney (408) 971-6651. Email: GEOLOGISTM@aol.com.
APRIL 29-30; SANTA CRUZ, CA - Santa Cruz Mineral & Gem Society, Corner of Center & Church Streets. Hours: 10-5 both days. Sallee Brumbaugh (831) 336-5662.

AMERICAN FEDERATION / REGIONAL
SHOW SCHEDULE - 2006.

CALIFORNIA FEDERATION,
June 9-11, Angel's Camp, CA.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN,
June 9-11, Stillwater, OK.

MIDWEST,
To Be Announced.

NORTHWEST,
July 14-16, Kelso, WA.

EASTERN FEDERATION,
November 17-19, West Palm Beach, FL.

SOUTHEASTERN FEDERATION,
To Be Announced.

SOUTH CENTRAL FEDERATION.
To Be Announced.

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EDITOR'S NOTE:

Happy New Year, here we go again, are we ready? I, for one, would be more ready if we could get rid of this flu (or whatever!). For your New Years Resolution, how about committing to one article for the newsletter? It can be about a field trip, vacation trip or just your views, joys etc. with our great hobby. We are also in need of photos from your experiences. I think the photo page is fun, but need your in-put. We have a great club, let's make it another great year!

Just for the record any unsigned articles are by the Editor.

Trili - The Editor's Pet Trilobite.

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67th ANNUAL CALIFORNIA FEDERATION SHOW.

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VGMS PHOTO ALBUM:

Will be back Next Month, I hope! Got Photos? Please Share.

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EDUCATIONAL CORNER.

Definition of the Month.

Joshua Tree:

The Joshua Tree is a giant Yucca and member of the lily family, a plant native to the desert regions of California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah. They are often called "Sentinels of the Desert" because of their stern, authoritative pose. The tree reaches heights of over 50' and may live several hundred years.

Some of the best examples of the Joshua Tree are found in Joshua Tree National Park and other remote regions of the Mojave Desert.

First named by early Mormon pioneers when crossing the vast desert regions on their way "west", Joshua Trees provide some shade to desert travelers and are a true friend to rockhounds in the Mojave Desert.

The "Definition of the Month" features words related to geology, paleontology, mining and desert history. Written by Steve Mulqueen for the VGMS, January 2006.

Illustration of the Month.

"The Joshua Tree". An illustration by E. Boyd Smith from the book "The Land of Little Rain", written by Mary Autsin, 1903, Page 7.

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 2006.

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VGMS 44th Annual Gem, Mineral, Lapidary,
and Fossil Show Exhibitor Application.

Click on the link for a printable (not accessible but it's not too bad) Exhibitor Application for our 44th Annual Show. Upon arrival at the page simply use your browser's print function if you wish to print a copy.

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SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

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