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

Table of Contents.

• PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE;
• WORDS TO LIVE BY;
• PROGRAM;
• When you're finally holding;
• REVIEW;
• STILL TIME TO PAY YOUR 2006 DUES;
• MARK YOUR CALENDARS;
• CHIPS & BOULDERS;
• 2006 VGMS SHOW;
• WEB SITES;
• PROGRAM SCHEDULE FOR MONTHLY MEETINGS;
• FROM THE DESK OF HEIDI;
• How to Tell the Sex of a Fly;
• MARCH BIRTHDAYS;
• HOSPITALITY;
• COMMUNITY OUTREACH;
• VGMS MINUTES;
• Why is it;
• MEMBERSHIP;
• "FIELD TRIPS ARE FUN";
• JASPER: BORN OF FIRE AND ICE;
• PYRITE SUNS FROM ILLINOIS;
• ROCK OF AGES - GRANITE;
• 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 44TH ANNUAL SHOW EXHIBITOR APPLICATION.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.

Final preparations are underway for our annual Gem & Mineral show, "Artistry from Nature", to be held on March 4th & 5th, 2006 at Seaside Park, Ventura County Fairgrounds. The VGMS needs help from you, your family and friends for the numerous tasks and activities before, during and after the show. Jim Brace-Thompson, Show Chairman, is coordinating efforts for this event. Set-up will begin on Thursday, March 2nd. Our general meeting on Wednesday, February 22nd will focus on the mineral show. Please plan on attending.

We are in need of donations for the "Country Store" booth and plants for the "Plant" booth at the show. Shirley Layton will be managing items for the Country Store while Susan Mulqueen will be managing the Plant booth. I am the Exhibitor Chairperson and I invite all members to consider entering an exhibit. Please call me if you wish to enter an exhibit and have not yet completed an Exhibitor's form.

A busy calendar this month and next, but always rewarding. The Committee is working hard to produce another outstanding show this year, but the most important factor is the willingness of all the members to work toward this goal.

Ed Clark,
President.

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WORDS TO LIVE BY.

How long a minute is depends on which side of the bathroom door you're on.

A good listener is a good talker with a sore throat.

A handful of patience is worth a bushel of brains.

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

Collected by Wayne Ehlers.

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PROGRAM:
Quartzsite Finds & Final 2006 Show Preparations,
February 22, 2006.

This is our final Show preparation opportunity along with sharing the finds of those who were lucky enough to go to the Quartzsite and/or Tucson shows. There will be some sharing of experiences as well as their material. With the final show planning this is a very important meeting, please come if at all possible. Hope to see Everyone there!

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*************     *************

When you're finally holding all the cards, why does everyone decide to play chess? - Del Air Bulletin 5/04.

*************     *************

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REVIEW:
"Show and Tell - 2005's Collecting/
2006's Projecting",
January 25, 2006.

This was a wonderful, fun meeting! Lowell did a great job leading it and had some very interesting experiences to share. He is asking for your favorite rock hunting locations to include on 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.

We had a lot of material collected by various members and many shared their experiences and anecdotes. Lowell Foster began with his favorites, one being the Hauser Beds (think we will be having more on these in later issues). Greg Davis shared some of his favorite locations. Jim & Nancy Brace-Thompson shared their fossil field trips from Northern California to Southern California including Pine Mountain with the kids and Kate Sessions Park in San Diego. Mel Hixson has some great finds right on their own ranch including poppy jasper. He had many tales of snakes as well! Our guests, Laura and Skip Robinson, have been communicating with Mel Hixson via email and the chat room on www.rocktumblinghobby.com. They and Mel had only good things to say about this site and encouraged all to check it out. There was a lot of enthusiasm and it was a fun time.

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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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MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

2-18-06 - VGMS Work Shop - Museum - Open - 9 to noon. Check with a shop supervisor to confirm (see "Chips & Boulders"). (Close the new window to return here.)
2-18-06 - Country Store Pricing - Museum - 9:00 am.
2-18-06 - Show Case Lighting Assembly - Museum - 9:00 am.
2-22-06 - VGMS Regular Meeting - 7:30 pm - At the Lexington. Quartzsite Show and Tell/Final Show Preparation.
3-2-06 - VGMS Show Set-up - 9:00 am to 6:00 pm at the Fairgrounds.
3-2-06 - VGMS Board Meeting - 6:00 pm - At the Fairgrounds. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.
3-3-06 - VGMS Show - More set-up and exhibitor dinner - All day and evening to 10:00 pm. - See "Count Down...". (Close the new window to return here.)
3-4 & 5-06 - VGMS Show - Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4.
3-5-06 - VGMS Show Dismantling - 5 pm - Including Pizza!
3-10-06 - DEADLINE FOR MARCH Bulletin Articles to the Editor!
3-22-06 - VGMS Regular Meeting - 7:30 pm - At the Lexington.

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CHIPS & BOULDERS.

SHOW ITEMS TO BRING: See "Count-Down to Show Time" for complete details. (Use your browser's BACK button or equivalent to return here.)
  Desserts for Friday Night Dinner.
  Cookies for coffee throughout the show weekend.
  Raffle/Donation Award Prizes.
  Rough Material for Silent Auction.
  Kids' Prizes.
  Country Store Items - Boutique and garage sale items, books and magazines (hobby or craft type).
  Plants for plant booth - Cuttings and plants.
We thank you in advance for all of the above!

TV Stars - On Saturday, January 21st, club member Heidi Mauer coordinated and arranged for the Lee Fitzgerald TV program to be filmed at our monthly work shop. Lee Fitzgerald hosted and Peter Kuehn directed and filmed the process of using our club machines to cut, grind and polish stones. Although many were at Quartzsite and Tucson, a shop full of members was on hand for the production.
     Machines had to be turned off during filming in order to hear the dialogue, which wasn't the original plan, but which had to be. Greg Davis showed Lee finished cabochons and also stones set in silver, demonstrating the process.
     In all, the show will most likely be edited down to about 5 minutes of air time but in any case we are grateful to Lee for dramatizing our plight and need for an alternate site for our museum. Plans are being made for a second program inside the museum. Details will be forthcoming.
     The program is slated to be aired sometime in late February or early March and, of course, members will be informed as soon as a date and time are scheduled.
          Submitted by Greg Davis.

Hosts and Hostesses Schedule for 2006 Meetings - It is time to pick your month for 2006 while there are many good openings! Sharon Cunningham is coordinating the schedule so be sure to give her a call at (805) 649-3579 to schedule your month.

     February: Esther & Abe Barshai.
     March: Valli & Greg Davis.
     April: Donna, Dallas & Callie Stephens.
     May: Donna, Dallas & Callie Stephens.
     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.

2006 VGMS SHOW:
Final Show Planning Meetings.

     We had a full house on Saturday, February 4, for our final show-planning meeting. My thanks to all who contributed to reviewing the checklist to make sure that we're on track for smooth sailing come the first week of March: Ed Clark, Steve Mulqueen, Richard and Shirley Bromser, Wayne Ehlers, Shirley Layton, Ray and Florence Meisenheimer, Greg Davis, Ron and Jean Wise, and the two B-T's.
     Also, many thanks to Ron and Jean Wise for hosting a final grab-bag stuffing party at their home on Super Bowl Sunday to organize materials for the Kids' booth. The Wises were there, of course, along with the Hixsons, Greg Davis, the Bromsers, the Barshais, and myself. A lot of truly neat prizes are being assembled for the Kids' Booth, and I think I may be buying a grab bag or two!
     We now have just two more opportunities to meet as a group prior to the show itself. Starting at 9:00 AM at the club museum and workshop on Saturday, February 18, we'll be pricing items for the Country Store as well as installing light fixtures on our new club show cases. The club workshop will also be open that morning for anyone wishing to polish one more item to donate to the Kids' Booth, to craft a raffle item for our Hospitality Table, or to finish off a special piece to put into the Silent Auction. So come on by!
     Finally, I encourage every club member to come to our regular monthly membership meeting on Wednesday, February 22, at the Lexington. In addition to conducting a "Quartzsite Show-and-Tell," we'll be circulating sign-up sheets for various show tasks and doing one last review of show preparations. That membership meeting takes place just 8 days before we need to start setting up at the Fairgrounds, and I hope to see you there!
          Jim Brace-Thompson, Show Chair.

COUNT-DOWN TO SHOW TIME:
Lining Our Ducks in a Row.

     We're counting the days - not months or weeks - to our Annual Show, and every hour now counts in getting our ducks in a row. Here's what's left in our time-line.

Getting the Word Out - Today through March 4:
     Tell friends, family, co-workers, and (especially!) people you don't even know about the Show. Pick up Show flyers at our February meeting or call me to get some now (659-3577), and begin posting them on public bulletin boards, giving them to acquaintances, and otherwise doing all you can to get folks onto the Fairgrounds. In addition to our quarter-page flyers, we have larger flyers that can be taped to a car window to create movable billboards.

Set-up - Thursday, March 2 (9 AM - 6 PM):
     Please, everyone who is able, take a day or half-day off work on Thursday to assist in set-up. It's important we have as many people as possible to help share the workload so it doesn't fall on just a few shoulders. Some jobs are physically demanding, but many are not, and we need all the hands we can get. We need help moving supplies from the museum, laying out tables and chairs at the Fairgrounds, skirting tables and assembling display cases, arranging the Country Store and plant sale area, etc. We'll circulate a sign-up sheet at the February meeting. Or call me to volunteer, 659-3577. We'll have lunch fixings for everyone helping. Immediately following set-up, we'll be holding our monthly board meeting at the Fairgrounds.

Move-in - Friday, March 3 (all day & evening, until 10 PM):
     We'll officially open the doors to dealers, demonstrators, and exhibitors to begin set-up at noon. We need folks who can show up in the morning to help welcome and direct our dealers and guest exhibitors to their booths and campsites. This is also the day for us to set up our own displays. If you haven't yet signed up to enter a display, please fill out the exhibitor form in last month's or this month's bulletin and mail it right away or better still, call Ed Clark, 983-0028, and/or give him a completed form at the February meeting. It's essential we get an accurate count of exhibitors, and we need this info in advance to include in the Show program. You don't need a huge collection to make an attractive display, so if you've never displayed before, don't be shy! We can help with ideas, and we'll talk about displays at the February meeting. (Some pointers on what to bring for setting up your case: liners or cloth, risers, masking tape, duct tape, your specimens, labels for identifying your specimens, a name label so that people will know whose display it is, and a lot of enthusiasm - it's contagious!)
     Lunch fixings will be available in the afternoon. Then we'll have our annual Show dinner at the end of the day, between 6 PM and 7 PM, and if you would like to assist in preparing and serving, call Nancy (659-3577). The club will provide the main course (both vegetarian and meat lasagnas), bread, salad, and drinks, and we ask that club members donate desserts, so bring an appetite along with something sweet to share!

Show Time - Mar. 4 - 5 (10 AM - 5 PM Saturday; 10 AM - 4 PM Sunday):
     We'll circulate sign-up sheets for the different Show jobs at the February meeting, and we're also depending on volunteers to help upon arrival during the Show. See what hours are open at each station, and help fill in where needed. Or pick an activity that most interests you, then call the appropriate committee chair today to offer your help. We need help with:

• Hospitality. Welcome people to the show, give them the Show Program and tell a bit about our club, invite them to purchase raffle tickets for our Donation Awards drawing, and tell them about our Country Store as well as other aspects of the show; call Nancy Brace-Thompson, 659-3577.
• Game Booth. Help Jean Wise, 647-4393, and Lowell Foster, 648-1942, organize and run activities for kids; we need donations of small rock, mineral, fossil, and lapidary specimens as prizes, and we especially need help in the booth itself managing the spinning wheel, grab bag sales, sand sifting for prizes, coloring books, fossil making, and other activities. This booth can become especially hectic, so we need at least 2 (and preferably 3) people running it at all times.
• Silent Auction. Greg Davis, 647-9214, Ron Wise, 647-4393, and Mel Hixson, 646-6021, all welcome help running our hourly silent auction. We'll need people to announce the auction each hour, hand out prizes, and set out new prizes.
• Country Store. Help with our big rummage sale to raise funds for the club. This is a major source of revenue for us, so call Shirley Layton, 717-9226, to help ensure a successful store this year.
• Plant Sale. Call Susan Mulqueen to help sell plants and cuttings. This is also a popular source of revenue for us.
• Security. Throughout the show, we ask members to circulate among the crowd in orange security vests to present a visible security presence. To help, contact Wayne Ehlers, 482-6830. We also need volunteers to spend a night or two providing overnight security. It's the cheapest hotel room in town!

     We need everyone to bring donations. In particular, we'll need your help with:

• Desserts for the Show dinner from 6 to 7 PM on Friday evening; bring them to the dinner.
• Cookies to provide near the coffee area throughout the Show; bring to the kitchen during the Show.
• Raffle prizes - Mineral and fossil specimens, lapidary work, and other "showy" stuff you would see in a store window. We want to entice people to enter our raffle, so please help by donating a truly nice prize. Contact Nancy Brace-Thompson, 659-3577, with material to donate.
• Silent auction - Rough material for lapidary work, large pieces of petrified wood, large mineral specimens, etc. The showier the material, the higher the bids will be. We'll get much of this from our club rock pile, but if you have donations, contact Greg Davis, 647-9214, Ron Wise, 647-4393, or Mel Hixson, 646-6021.
• Kids' prizes - Small pieces of jewelry, tumbled stones, polished slabs, fossils, mineral specimens, etc., are needed as prizes, along with plastic and paper grocery bags; contact Jean Wise, 647-4393, or Lowell Foster, 648-1942.
• Country store - Garage sale sorts of items, as well as magazines and books related to rockhounding, and grocery bags for people to carry away their purchases; contact Shirley Layton, 717-9226.
• Plant sales - Plants, cuttings, and related materials, as well as cardboard flats and plastic and paper grocery bags for people to pack their purchases in; contact Susan Mulqueen.

Dismantling - Sunday, March 5, 5 PM:
     It ain't over 'till it's over. Please don't pack up your own goodies and run at the end of the Show. We'll need a lot of strong arms and backs to help reverse what we did on Thursday in order to pack everything and return it to its place. To thank everyone, we'll have our annual pizza delivery once all is packed away and the final floor is swept clean.

Receipts:
     If you've incurred expenses for jobs you've done on behalf of the show, all receipts are due to Richard Bromser within 10 days of the Show so that he can balance the Show books.

THANK YOU!!
     Finally, a big thank-you to each and every Show committee member for what has proven to be a very smooth count-down to Show 2006, as well as to each club member, our dealers, demonstrators, and our guest exhibitors. It's shaping up to be a great show, and I'll see you at the Fairgrounds!

          Submitted by Jim Brace-Thompson, Show Chair.

2006 VGMS SHOW:
Check Out H.P. Wright Library Display.

At the end of January, I dismantled our promotional show display on field trips at the E.P. Foster Library downtown and then headed to the H.P. Wright Library on Day Road, where I met up with Mel and Sharon Hixson. Mel and Sharon brought some fantastic materials, and we've set up a new exhibit in the big wall-length lobby display cases at H.P. Wright. The display shows a little bit of each of the many facets of our hobby, from field collecting to rocks and minerals to fossils to lapidary work to the fun of belonging to a mineralogical society. We included show flyers in the display itself, on the library bulletin board, and in their literature bins. Mary Lynch and other administrators at the library were also a terrific help. They've taken their various books related to geology, minerals, and lapidary arts and have placed them in special shelves along with a poster about our hobby. So head on down to the library to check out the display and to check out a book or two on a topic of interest. My sincere thanks to Mel and Sharon for helping to put this display together and to the members of the H.P. Wright library staff for providing us with the space!

          Jim Brace-Thompson, Show Chair.

How to Make a Case Liner.

     Cut cardboard to the dimensions of your case, using the diagrams in this article as a general guide to the shapes, and cover it with the material of your choice, whatever will go best with your display; anything from silk to burlap, depending on whether you display opal or rough rock. Just use your imagination, experiment a little and you will see that different colors make your display look different. Avoid print material.

     Listed below are some items you may need to set up your display. (The cases are provided free for you if needed.)

1. Glass Cleaner,
2. Screw Driver (flat edge),
3. Paper towels,
4. Scissors (may be necessary to cut down the liners if you used the "measure once - cut twice" method),
5. Razor blade,
6. Masking tape (to pick up lint from the fabric),
7. Cloth gloves for handling polished surfaces.

CAUTIONS - Masking tape and some glues will give up in the warmth of a lighted showcase. Thin paper labels may curl up. Use at least index-card thickness. "Invisible" dirt and lint show up WELL under the lights, especially on dark materials.

NO-NO's - Any kind of visible dirt or stain on the liner, risers, or glass; distracting patterns on the liner. "Hardware" (supports, easels, hangers, etc) may detract from the display. Keep them harmonious and unobtrusive. Clutter - resist the urge to display everything at once and to cover every square inch.

     Final tip - After you've set up your case at the show, bump it gently to make sure everything will stay in place under "show conditions".

     For the liner, a solid neutral or light color usually works best to set off the display. The easiest way to get a neat job is to cover forms with your fabric. Double sided carpet tape is handy to stick fabric to forms. However, it you ever need to clean the fabric for future use, you may have a problem. Make easels from foam core or cardboard, cover with fabric. A strip of wood on the back will stiffen them if needed. Make stands from drapery hooks, coat hanger wire, etc. Set geodes or nodules on drapery rings. Little chunks of Styrofoam can be squashed to form a base to help support odd-shaped things. Rub on letters are neat and legible for labels.

          Monrovia Rockhounds Newsletter February 2006.

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WEB SITES.

AFMS web site,
CFMS web site,
CA BLM web site.

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SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

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

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From the Desk of Heidi,
By Heidi Mauer.

Hello - Heidi Mauer here,

     For the past four years I've had the opportunity to assist Patt McDaniel in her business of providing the best coverages available at the best pricing for non-profit insurance to clubs & organizations. Besides specializing in non-profit insurances, Patt also writes General Liability, Professional Liability, Commercial Business, Bond, Health & Life Insurance.
     Before I started working for Patt, I had no idea what any of these insurances were, and had no idea about my own personal coverages. With Patt's ongoing patience I've learned a lot about insurance and even more than I ever cared to know about this subject that I have always avoided! After seeing the lengthy time to obtain the best policy for each client, I can appreciate Patt and her dedication to her clients. Truly and sincerely, my job satisfaction comes from being of assistance to Patt and her clients.
     I have especially enjoyed being of assistance to all the CFMS member clubs, their Special Events & Certificate requests, and now processing the new Directors & Officers insurance program, which we are taking applications for on an ongoing basis. I also have been tracking the return of the Coverages & Responsibilities sheets, and to date there are 45 outstanding. The information on these is confidential, for our reference only and they are filed safely in our secured office. If you think you might be one of the 45 clubs, please call us (800-400-7288) and I'll be glad to check if we have received yours!
     As always, for any changes to your club's property coverage or premises liability, please contact Patt McDaniel to be sure your coverages are kept current. It is my pleasure to work for Patt and each of you! Have a great year "rocking"!
          CFMS Newsletter - 2/06.

Editor's Note: We are lucky enough to have Heidi as one of our members.

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HOW TO TELL THE SEX OF A FLY.

     A woman walked into the kitchen to find her husband stalking around with a fly swatter.
     "What are you doing," she asked. "Hunting flies," he responded.
     "Oh...kill any?" "Yep, 3 males, 2 females," he replied.
     Intrigued, she asked, "How can you tell them apart?"
     He responded, "3 were on a beer can and 2 were on the phone."

From Roc Toc via MOROKS - Monrovia 2/06.

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MARCH BIRTHDAYS.

Happy Birthday to all those born in MARCH. We all wish you good health and hope you have a Great Day! 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!

March - Happy Birthday!!
     Miriam Tetreault - 6th,
     Emma Mayer - 8th,
     Greg Davis - 18th,
     Callie Stephens - 19th,
     Heidi Mauer - 25th,
     Cyndy Treutelaar - 27th.

AQUAMARINE, the blue variety of beryl.

VARIETY INFORMATION:

• Variety of: Beryl Be₃ Al₂ Si₆ O₁₈;
• Uses: Gemstone;
• Birthstone for: March;
• Color: Various shades of blue to blue-green;
• Index of refraction: 1.57 - 1.60;
• Birefringence: 0.004 - 0.008;
• Hardness: 7.5 - 8;
• Cleavage: One direction, poor;
• Crystal system: Hexagonal;
• Pleochroic: Weak.

     Aquamarine is the blue, or perhaps more correctly, blue-green or aqua variety of the mineral beryl. Other gemstone color varieties that belong to beryl include emerald, morganite, and heliodor. Other colors of beryl are simply refered to by their color, such as red beryl.
     Aquamarine is colored by trace amounts of iron that find their way into the crystal structure. Most gem aquamarines have been heat treated to produce the popular blue-green colors from less desirable yellow or pale stones. The leading producer of aquamarines is the country of Brazil, which has many mines. Pakistan as well as many U.S. localities produce wonderful specimens as well.

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

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HOSPITALITY.

     We had 25 members present at our January meeting along with 2 pebble pups, Dallas & Callie Stephens (we love having the pebble pups), and 3 guests. The guests included Antje Prangenberg who had seen our display at the library and Laura and Skip Robinson who had been corresponding with Mel Hixon on a rock tumbling chat room, www.rocktumblinghobby.com, which they and Mel say is a wonderful site. It was great having all our guests with us and hope to see them again soon. Sharlyne Holloway and Shirley Layton provided the refreshments, including Sharlyne's wonderful "dump cake". It was a fun meeting.

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COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

Editor's Note: I know Ray Meisenheimer visited a couple of schools and think Florence gave me some information on it, but it is escaping me! We will get it next month. The visits Ray makes to the schools are such a good thing for the kids and for our club (for Ray too, he enjoys them). He needs to have some helpers and trainees to take over for him or even to help share some of the requests. It is very rewarding and the kids are fun. Anyone who is available during the weekdays that would be interested please give Ray a call at 805 642-3155.

Steve Mulqueen put in a new display at the California Oil Museum on February 5th. It is on Colemanite. Stop by and visit the museum in Santa Paula soon and check out the display. Steve and Susan continually keep a VGMS display at the museum. Many thanks to them for their efforts and to the members who share their materials for the displays. The museum has a new website www.oilmuseum.net. Check it out - we will be mentioned there!

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VGMS MINUTES.

Minutes of the VGMS Regular Monthly Meeting,
Wednesday, January 25th, 2006:
     The regular monthly meeting of the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society was called to order by Lowell Foster at 7:35 pm on Wednesday, January 25, 2006, at the Lexington, Ventura, CA.
     The December meeting and January board meeting minutes were corrected and then m/s/c as shown in the bulletin.
Lowell Foster welcomed everyone and directed members in the pledge to the flag.
Richard Bromser gave the treasurer's report.
Shirley Layton - The deadline for bulletin articles will be February 10th and if you can provide us with an e-mail address, we'll ship it that way and it saves the club the postage.
Ray Meisenheimer - Ray still provides programs for schools and is requesting that someone come along and learn the ropes and the rewards. Ray then presented raffle prizes to those who had the drawn ticket numbers.
Shirley Bromser - We have 39 paid members as of this time.
Greg Davis reported that on Saturday, January 21st, club member Heidi Mauer coordinated and arranged for the Lee Fitzgerald TV program to be filmed at our monthly work shop. Lee Fitzgerald hosted and Peter Kuehn directed and filmed the process of using our club machines to cut, grind and polish stones. The program will be aired in late February or March and members will be informed prior to airing.
Jim Brace-Thompson - Feb 1st, 9:00 am is setup at Wright Library and the last show meeting will be held Saturday, Feb. 4th at 2:00. Hope everyone can make it. We still need exhibitor forms submitted by those who plan on entering displays. Jim is also trying to organize a field trip to the Ocean View Mine in the Pala mining area. A date will be coordinated between those interested in going.
     Lowell Foster next presented a talk and display of materials from field trip sites beginning with his own treasures from his 15 months as a rockhound. This same theme will be a display at our annual show in March. Lowell requested and got members to bring collected specimens from the various places we've gone this past year and we'll relate these to a map of the western states. Lowell also related his experiences with meeting family members of the late Joel Hauser whom the Hauser beds of Wiley's Well area are named after and the family has been kind enough to offer our club a tour and viewing of his vast mineral collection at their home. Our thanks and appreciation go out to Lowell for his time and effort that went into this program.
     Refreshments were provided by Shirley Layton and Sharlene Holloway.
     The next Board meeting will be Thursday, February 2nd, 2006, at the IBEW Hall, 3994 E. Main St., Ventura, CA. All are welcomed to attend and the next regular meeting will be held February 22, 2006.
     There being no further business, Lowell adjourned the meeting at 8:55 pm.
          Respectfully submitted,
          Greg Davis,
          Recording Secretary.

Minutes of the VGMS Monthly Board Meeting,
Thursday, February 2nd, 2006:
     The regular board meeting of the VGMS was called to order by Ed Clark at 7:30 pm on Thursday, February 2, 2006, at the I.B.E.W. Hall, 3994 E. Main St., Ventura, CA.
Present: Ed Clark, Ron Wise, Ray and Florence Meisenheimer, Richard and Shirley Bromser, Jim Brace -Thompson, Shirley Layton and Greg Davis.
Old business:
Greg Davis - While at Quartzsite, Diamond Pacific made an offer of 10% off list price for tumbler grit for our club. Other offers will be considered and reported on.
Ray Meisenheimer reported that the display cases built by Cal Clason have been received and are being stored at the museum.
New business:
Ray Meisenheimer will be presenting programs to a couple of schools, one of which will be Blanche Reynolds. Ray is still looking for an assistant to go along and learn the ropes. It's a very rewarding endeavor.
Richard Bromser presented copies of the treasurer's report for the month of January and it was m/s/c to accept as written. Richard also presented copies of the annual treasurer's report for 2005 and it was m/s/c to accept as written.
Shirley Bromser - 39 members have renewed their club memberships as of this date.
Jim Brace-Thompson reported that the last show meeting will be held on February 4th at 2:00 and dealer layout plans will be finalized with Kathryn Davis mid-month. The new cases will be fitted with lights during the monthly workshop on Saturday, the 18th.
Ron Wise - Field trips are scheduled for Tajiguas - Feb. 18, Kanan - Feb. 25, Holbrook, April 22.
Shirley Layton - Renewal for our domain name is due and it was m/s/c to renew it for 5 years at a cost of $100.00. The 10th of February will be the deadline for articles for the February bulletin and the last pricing party for Country Store items will be held on workshop Saturday, February 18, at the museum.
Lowell Foster - Mel & Sharon Hixon will present a program on raptors at the Lexington in June. March will hopefully see an archeological mapping materials program and Wayne Ehlers will have a program on his and Marie's adventures to North Africa. Lowell will try to arrange for Joel Hauser mineral specimens to be displayed at our annual show in March.
     The next general meeting will be on February 22, 2006 at the Lexington in Ventura and the next board meeting will be on Thursday, March 2nd, 2006 at the Fair Grounds in Ventura at 6:00 pm.
     There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:52 pm.
          Respectfully submitted,
          Greg Davis,
          Recording Secretary.

  Table of Contents.

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Why is it that a slight tax increase costs you two hundred dollars and a substantial tax cut saves you 30 cents? - Del Air Bulletin 5/04.

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  Table of Contents.

MEMBERSHIP.

No new members this month but REMEMBER to pay your dues! We will be doing the 2006 directory for the April meeting. We don't want to miss you, so write the check today and put it in the mail to VGMS.

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."

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.

Editors Note: Jim and Nancy are still working on this, so be sure to give them a call if interested. It sounds most interesting!

TRI-CLUB FIELD TRIPS 2006:
Tentative Schedule 2/11/2006.
Contact fieldtrip leader to confirm
that there is a fieldtrip scheduled.

Virtual Field Trips.

Why virtual field trips?
     Everybody would like to get out into the field to collect more often, but due to whatever reason (you name it) it just doesn't happen. As compensation, we work with the material we've already collected, read our Gem Guide books to dream about future collecting trips, and talk to others about their adventures in the field. All of these are fine ways to pass the time, but there is another option for when you wish to see the outdoors but are unable - the virtual field trip.
     Virtual field trips allow us to visit places that we may never get to see, revisit old sites, and give us visual cues for when we are looking for unfamiliar locations. On many sites, as a bonus, there is a running narrative or history lesson that enriches the images on the screen. The enjoyment of these web sites is not just in the photographs, but also in the personality and commentary that accompanies them.
     The web sites I'll include in this series are those that are illustrated and include text that is either descriptive or educational in nature. The galleries will have a connection to rock collecting but some might focus on other interests, such as wildlife, history, or even train spotting. No matter where these web sites take you, I hope you enjoy your journey. These days it's nice to visit new places without spending a small fortune on gas. By the way, if you come across a virtual field trip that you would like to share with everybody else, please let me know. I can be reached at lowellfos@yahoo.com.

The desert girls - http://www.dzrtgrls.com/.
     With their adopted motto "Not all who wander are lost" the Dzrt Grls invite you with a warm welcome to their web site where exploration and adventure are the status quo. To quote from their introduction:

     The two 'girls' are Niki and Jamie, and their adventures take them throughout southwestern California to some famous and not so famous locations. Fortunately, their web site is simple to navigate and going on a journey is very easy. Listed on their home page are four choices - Home, Trips, Links, and E-Mail. While Home lets you know about their newest additions and Links gives you a wide variety of related web sites to visit, you want the Trips link. Here you will find an extensive series of adventures dating back to October of 2001. Each link leads you to a well-written introduction of that journey followed by another link to the photos. The photos are colorful and plentiful and wonderful, showing flora, fauna, minerals, ruins, petroglyphs - you name it! Most are accompanied by a brief caption - some informative - some amusing.
     A full list of where these girls have traveled would be too long, but here are a few: Sagenite Canyon in the Owlshead Mountains, Anza-Borrego Wildflowers, Dish Hill Peridot, Easter Wash Petroglyphs, Fossil Trackways and the Kingston Range, Ford and Ord Belt Mines & Sidewinder Quarry, Yaquitepec Ruins on Ghost Mountain. There are over 50 different "virtual field trips" to take. My favorite is entitled "Botswana Banded Agate" when Niki visits Africa, a vacation I doubt most of us will be able to experience. I won't say any more. Just pick a title and take a trip yourself!

Next month - History and GPS Coordinates for locations around the Hauser Geode Beds.

Submitted by Lowell Foster,
Program Chair.

Permission granted from DzrtGrls for quotes from their Introduction.

SAFETY: TOTE THAT ROCK,
LIFT THAT TOOL BAG;
By Mel Albright.

One thing that we rockhounds do a whole bunch - pick up rocks - little rocks, bigger rocks, and big rocks. Rocks by themselves, rocks in boxes, rocks in buckets, rocks in sacks - all are ways we collect and move rocks. And heavy tool bags are lifted all too often. The classic joke picture of rockhounds is a bunch of people standing with straight legs, bent over at the waist, and touching the ground with their hands. It is too often true, unfortunately.

Another thing we rockhounds do is put those heavy tools and rocks into a vehicle - or take them out - often by swinging things. And - the result is a lot of bad backs, sore backs, back strains, sometimes even permanently damaged backs. So, we need to learn - AND PRACTICE - the proper way to lift and lower heavy stuff (actually - light stuff, too) without hurting ourselves. To lift and move something, several steps should be followed. We'll pretend we're picking up a rock, but the rules are the same for ANYTHING we pick up - even our dirty socks.

1. Stand with your feet apart about shoulder width, the rock between your feet, and one foot slightly in front of the other (for balance).
2. Lower yourself by bending your knees until you can grab the rock. The rock should be close to your body. Keep your back straight and your chin tucked in.
3. SLOWLY lift the rock by straightening up your knees pushing with your leg muscles. Keep the rock in close to your body. Do NOT twist sideways.
4. Once standing, DO NOT TWIST your back. To move the rock sideways, turn with your feet. Keep the rock in close to your body.
5. Once you get where you are going with the rock, reverse the steps you used to lift the rock. Remember - KEEP YOUR BACK STRAIGHT!!
6. If the rock must go into a trunk or car or whatever, set it down on the edge keeping a straight back. Then slide it into the vehicle. Most of us will bend over at the waist and swing it in - a sure way to get a bad back!
7. You aren't SUPERMAN OR WOMAN! If the rock or bucket or bag is too heavy for you to carry easily, do it another way! Get help. Use a skid made from a heavy cloth or a wood slat with a rope tied to the end. Roll the rock using a long handled tool to pry with. Use your ingenuity!

From AFMS Newsletter 4/98 via CFMS NEWSLETTER February 2006.

  Table of Contents.

SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

Jasper: Born of Fire and Ice,
By Donald Barr.

     Jasper is in the silica group of minerals. The silica group is divided into crystalline quartz, which includes all varieties occurring in large crystals, and cryptocrystalline, which includes all varieties in which submicroscopic crystals form granular-to-fibrous aggregates, and amorphous which does not form crystals. The jaspers fall into the cryptocrystalline group along with chalcedony, chert, agate, and flint.
     The name jasper applies to various forms of opaque to sub-translucent chalcedony or richly colored rock consisting of interlocking crystals of cryptocrystalline quartz too small to see with the naked eye. Mineralogists can discern jasper's structure by the way it diffracts x-rays. The cryptocrystalline structure indicates how the stone came into being. Jasper has various names applied to its sub-varieties.
     Jasper is born of fire and ice, the impact of hot lava and cold rock. Most commonly, the cold source rock is porphyry, a dark igneous rock that contains relatively large and conspicuous crystals in a fine-grained ground mass that is unstable; they melt while the other components of the rock remain solid. This produces a silica-laden fluid that flows into cracks in the porphyry where it quickly cools and crystallizes. It is the rapid cooling that prevents the growth of large crystals and thus promotes the formation of a jasper. Jasper may also form in sedimentary parent rock, again, with lava as the heating agent.
     Jasper is frequently found near deposits of iron ore, and often it contains iron compounds and impurities. These impurities usually give a red and brown color to the jasper, but there are also yellow and green jaspers. Red, brown, and yellow colors come from the different forms of iron oxide.
     The mossy green tones come from chlorites (minerals containing magnesium, aluminum and silicon) as well as iron oxides. It is rare to find a single color jasper. More often, the stone displays deep hues in indistinct ribbons. Jasper's suggestive markings contributed to its ancient popularity, but also to its modern downfall. Many people nowadays find the pattern in the rock too garish for their taste.
     Jasper has been popular in the Middle East and Europe for over 5,000 years. In ancient Egypt and Rome, craftsmen worked the jasper into magic symbols, secret signs, and large polished tablets. The Russian Czar's winter palace in St. Petersburg had a beautiful collection of carved jasper. The maharajahs of India had many beautiful ornaments made from jaspers. Present-day rock hounds still work with the beautiful rock.
     It is the cryptocrystalline structure of jasper with its tiny crystals, its density, and its hardness that enables craftsmen to work the jasper and get a high polish.

Reprinted from Snoopy Gems 8/4 via Rocky Review-Conejo 12/5.

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PYRITE SUNS FROM ILLINOIS.

Pyrite suns are found in the coal mines near Sparta, Illinois, at the 300-foot level. They are in a very narrow seam on top of the coal vein. Miners bring them up in lunch buckets, otherwise they would be destroyed in normal mine operations. Originally, they were thought to be of marcasite, but researchers at the Smithsonian found them to be pyrite and therefore very durable. They are surrounded by shale and coal, and it is difficult to reveal their beauty. They have been dated at 35 million years. It is theorized that they are pyritized fossil lily pads.

From The Agatizer via MOROKS-Monrovia 2/06.

  Table of Contents.

Rock of Ages - Granite;
By Bill Gissler, CFMS Slide, Video and CD Librarian.

     Late spring is a wonderful time of the year to visit Vermont and New Hampshire. Trees and foliage are in every shade of green imaginable. The summer holiday traffic has not begun. For a rock hound it is a Mecca of interest from the granite quarries in Barre, Vermont, to the marble manufacturing plant in Proctor, Vermont, and to the field trip areas in the White Mountains in search of smoky quartz crystals. All are educational, interesting and unique experiences.
     The granite quarry manufacturing and historic displays at the Rock of the Ages exhibit center in Barre, Vermont, was a special destination. Having read the book "Men Against Granite," stories about the rugged granite pioneers, Barre was a must to visit. The town of Barre, initially called Wildersburgh, was chartered in 1780. During the 1820's Robert Parker was the first professional quarryman and granite manufacturer to recognize the economic potential that lay beneath the earth.
     Barre granite is an igneous rock composed of minerals that cooled and crystallized relatively deeply within the earth's crust. Some of the main minerals that comprise Rock of Ages' Barre granite are quartz, feldspar and micas. Quartz is the hardest of these minerals; twenty-three to thirty percent of Barre granite is quartz. Quartz gives Rock of Ages' Barre granite its hardness, luster and durability. Rock of Ages' Barre granite has long been prized for use in memorials, mausoleums and architecture because of its beauty and durability. The depth of Barre granite's beautiful gray color, derived from its plagioclase feldspar, is enriched by the biotite, giving Barre granite a warmth and richness that established its reputation as the premier gray granite.
     The Barre granite industry grew slowly between 1830 and 1880. With the arrival of the railroad in 1875 and subsequent spur tracks completed in 1888, Barre's granite industry was poised for explosive growth. Waves of immigrants came from the granite production areas of Scotland, Italy, Sweden and French Canada.
     To learn more about the past and present granite industry, the 20-minute video, V-113 entitled "Rock of Ages, a legacy of excellence" can be borrowed from the CFMS Library.
          CFMS Newsletter September 2005.

  Table of Contents.

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

Baking Soda in the Field:

Here are some reasons you will be glad you took a box of natural soda along on your field trip.
1. Insect bites, minor burns, poison oak - add water to make a paste and apply to affected area.
2. Sunburn, windburn and prickly heat - add 1/4 cup to a basin of water and bathe or sponge on.
3. Acid indigestion - add 1/4 teaspoon to 1/2 glass of water and drink slowly.
4. Tired feet - add three tablespoons to a basin of warm water and soak.
5. Tooth cleanser and breath freshener - use as much as needed on moist toothbrush.
6. Hand and fingernail cleaner - rub dry on moistened hands to remove pine pitch, odors or grease.
7. Fire extinguisher - for grease fire, throw a box full at the base of the fire.
8. Freshening camp coolers and thermos jugs - add 2 teaspoons and partly fill with water, shake and rinse.
9. Deodorant - sprinkle some inside your boots or hiking shoes.
10. Safe, natural cleaner for camp dishes and pans - add 3 tablespoons to a pan of warm water and soak.
11. Cleaning a dirty, bug-spattered windshield, chrome and camper frames - rub with damp sponge sprinkled with baking soda.
12. Freshening RV water tanks - flush with a solution of 1/4 cup of soda and 1 gallon of water. Rinse with clear water.
     Original source Toy Sato The Agatizer Jan 2004; via Quarry Quips September 2005.

  Table of Contents.

SHOW DATES.

2006 CFMS SHOWS.

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.org.
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.
MAY 13-14; RENO, NV - Reno Gem & Mineral Society "Jackpot of Gems", Reno Livestock Events Center, Exhibit Hall, 1350 N. Wells Ave. Hours: Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4. John Peterson (No Phone # listed).
MAY 19, 20 & 21; ANDERSON, CA - Superior California Gem & Min. Association, Shasta County Fairgrounds. Hours: Fri./Sat. 9-5, Sun. 10-4. Steve Puderbaugh (530) 365-4000.
MAY 20-21; NEWBURY PARK, CA - Conejo Gem & Mineral Club, Borchard Park Community Center, 190 Reino Rd. Hours: Sat. 9-5, Sun. 10-4:30. Sal Scarpato , Email: SALSCARPATO@SBCGLOBAL.NET.
JUNE 3-4; LA HABRA, CA - North Orange County Gem & Mineral, La Habra, Community Center, 101 W. La Habra Blvd. Hours: 10-5 both days. Don Warthen (626) 330- 8974. Email: warthen@earthlink.net.
JUNE 9-11; ANGELS CAMP, CA - Calaveras Gem & Mineral Society "Jump for the Gold" - CFMS GEM & MINERAL SHOW. Hours: 10-5 daily.

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.

  Table of Contents.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

I want to thank all those that have contributed to the bulletin and get it to me on a timely basis. It definitely makes our job easier and your input makes it more interesting. We are still in need of photos from your experiences. I think the photo page is fun, but need your input. Sharing is fun for all! Just for the record any unsigned articles are by the Editor.

Trili - The Editor's Pet Trilobite.

  Table of Contents.

67th ANNUAL CALIFORNIA FEDERATION SHOW.

  Table of Contents.

VGMS PHOTO ALBUM:

Unfortunately we are still in need!! Got Photos? Please Share.
We will have show photos next month.

  Table of Contents.

EDUCATIONAL CORNER.

Definition of the Month.

Corrosion:
     Corrosion is defined as "the deterioration of a material, usually a metal, due to the reaction with its environment." In retrospect, corrosion has been described by metallurgists (scientists that work with metals) as the natural tendency of a refined metal to revert to its original state. (The "original state" is in reference to the composition of the naturally occurring ore from which the metal was extracted.) For example, a common iron ore contains the mineral hematite, composed of iron oxide. The ore was reduced (by removing oxygen ions from the molecule) and refined further in order to make iron and steel. With time and natural environmental conditions, the metal will corrode, forming rust (iron oxide).

This is only one example of the corrosion of metal reverting back to its original composition. However, not all refined metals will corrode, let alone corrode to their naturally occurring composition. Metals such as gold, platinum and palladium are known as the "Noble" metals and will not corrode or react in any way with oxygen. A mineral such as malachite is composed of basic cupric carbonate. The refined metal copper will often corrode into copper oxide.

The composition of naturally occurring ore minerals is dependent upon conditions of temperature, pressure and chemical environments within the Earth's Crust. Conditions that cause corrosion in refined metals are also dependant upon the same criteria, resulting in many possible corrosion byproducts.

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

Illustration of the Month.

A print from a "woodcut" engraving depicting 16th century methods of refining metallic ore minerals.

Source: Agricola, Georgius, "De Re Metallica", Book VIII, page 275, originally printed in Latin in the year 1556. Translated in 1912 by Herbert C. Hoover and Lou H. Hoover, printed in English 1912, reprinted in 1950, Dover Publications, Inc., New York.

"De Re Metallica" is a book on the development of mining methods, metallurgical processes, geology, mineralogy and mining law from the earliest times to the 16th century. Herbert C. Hoover was educated in mining engineering at Stanford University. He became famous when he served as the 31st president of the United States from 1929 - 1933. He and his wife Lou understood the Latin language and were the first to transcribe the entire book into English. (Also refer to the "Illustration of the Month" in the VGMS Rockhound Rambling, August 2001.)

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 for the VGMS, February 2006.

  Table of Contents.

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.

  Table of Contents.

SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

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You may also go to the VGMS Home Page.