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

Table of Contents.

• PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE;
• WORDS TO LIVE BY;
• PROGRAM: ARCHEOLOGY IN SOUTHERN GERMANY;
• REVIEW: QUARTZSITE FINDS & FINAL 2006 SHOW PREPARATIONS;
• DUES ARE PAST DUE;
• LAPIDARY CLASS;
• MARK YOUR CALENDARS;
• CHIPS & BOULDERS;
• GEM SHOW 2006;
• DESCRIPTION: A ROCKHOUND;
• WEB SITES;
• PROGRAM SCHEDULE FOR MONTHLY MEETINGS;
• APRIL BIRTHDAYS;
• HOSPITALITY;
• COMMUNITY OUTREACH;
• Crackpot Wisdom;
• VGMS MINUTES;
• MEMBERSHIP;
• "FIELD TRIPS ARE FUN";
• TRUTH & SOME CONSEQUENCES;
• UV LIGHT & FLUORESCENT MINERALS;
• CINNABAR;
• FIBER OPTIC GEMS;
• THUNDER EGGS;
• HINTS & TIPS FOR ROCKHOUNDS - (Use at your own risk!);
• TECH TALK;
• SHOW DATES;
• EDITOR'S NOTE;
• 67th ANNUAL CALIFORNIA FEDERATION SHOW;
• EDUCATIONAL CORNER;
• VGMS PHOTO ALBUM.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.

The Show was a tremendous success. This is due in large part to the extra effort given by so many of our members during the Show and throughout the year. Thank you so much for your help. A special thanks to Jim and Nancy Brace-Thompson for the outstanding job they did throughout the year in making the show a success. Now we need someone else to step up and take over that responsibility.

We had many good comments from dealers and attendees. All the dealers expressed an interest in returning next year. The Silent Auction appeared to have record sales as compared to previous years. We are still assessing the performance of the "Show" and plan to have results soon.

We'll briefly catch up on our rest after the show and spring is right around the corner, filled with field trips and outings.

Ed Clark,
President.

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WORDS TO LIVE BY.

Many a small thing has been made large by advertising.

Originality is the fine art of remembering what you hear, but forgetting where you heard it.

He who is not very strong in memory should not meddle with lying.

Nothing is really work unless you would rather be doing something else.

Collected by Wayne Ehlers.

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PROGRAM:
Archeology in Southern Germany by Susan Harris,
March 22, 2006.

Susan Harris has been studying archeology in southern Germany for the past 10 years and is currently finishing her dissertation at UCSB. For our meeting she is planning on discussing her area of research - the examination and analysis of stone tools. Her talk will encompass several areas of interest, ranging from prehistoric man's deliberate heat-treating of chert (the reasons for and effects of) to the formation of 'sickle polish' on stone tools from the harvesting of plants. She will be bringing materials from the research collection at UCSB along with some slides of Germany and her working environment (if currently available for use). There will also be time for a question and answer period at the end of the program.
     Submitted by Lowell Foster.

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

Our final preparations for the show were discussed - all is going well! Several members shared their finds at Quartzsite and Tucson and Dave Mautz displayed some stuff he ran across while getting his show case together! Ron & Jean Wise shared some material from their last three field trips along with Ron's try at making arrow heads. Kathryn Davis shared her finds at the Tucson show, some mighty pretty finds! Susan Mulqueen who traveled with Kathryn told about her finds and experiences. Nancy and Jim Brace-Thompson had many good finds to share along with a first - Nancy spent more than Jim! Lowell Foster talked about a field trip with his father where they found rock that looked just like a skeleton. It was a fun meeting and makes one look forward to the next "Quartzsite".

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Dues Are Past Due!
Last Call to Make the 2006 Directory.

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. This is the last call to be included in the 2006 directory. The actual cut off date is 3-31-06. We will be handing them out at our April meeting.

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LAPIDARY CLASS.

At our Gem Show there was some interest in a class this Spring. Since many of our members may not have seen the sign-up sheet we want you to know that you are welcome to take the class. Just give us a call or be at the first meeting. The class will be held on Monday evenings starting March 20 from 6 to 8 pm for about 5 weeks. Our workshop is located at 5019 Crooked Palm Road in Ventura. This is just off of Highway 33 going towards Ojai. Going north from Ventura on Hwy 33 take the Shell Road exit over to Ventura Ave., go left about a half mile then left on Crooked Palm Road, go under the freeway and then parallel to it for about half a mile. 5019 will be a little brown building on the left at the corner of the old Petrochem complex. Since our workshop is small we can offer the class free to members only. If you are not a member we will gladly take your membership application. Bring your own rocks if you like, but we will have plenty of rocks already cut into slabs for you to work on. If you want more information please call me at 805-482-6830, Ron Wise at 805-647-4393 or Greg Davis at 805-647-9214. This is a hands-on class so wear working clothes as you will get your hands into rock dust or oil.
     See you there,
     Wayne Ehlers.

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

3-18-06 - 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.)
3-19 to 26-06 - Zzyzx Earth Science Seminar.
3-20-06 - VGMS Lapidary Class - 6 to 8 pm at the museum. - See notice in this bulletin. (Close the new window to return here.)
3-22-06 - VGMS Regular Meeting - 7:30 pm - At the Lexington. Archeology in Southern Germany.
4-6-06 - 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.
4-10-06 - DEADLINE FOR APRIL Bulletin Articles to the Editor!
4-26-06 - VGMS Regular Meeting - 7:30 pm - At the Lexington.

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CHIPS & BOULDERS.

Tri-Club Educational Committee Needs - This is a list of the rocks that the Tri-Club Educational Committee will need for the completion of the project of a box of specimens for each school in the county. If you have any of these and are willing to donate them contact Donna Knapton (805)647-8762. Many thanks!
     Sedimentary: Sandstone - Gray, Sandstone - Red Sespe, Shale, Breccias, Conglomerate, Limestone, Coquina, Diatomatite, Coal - bituminous, Chalk, Gypsum, Travertine or Chert.
     Metamorphic: Gneiss, Marble - Limestone, Marble - Dolomite, Quartz, Schist, Serpentine, Greenstone, Slate, Garnet schist, Soapstone, Mariposite, Hornfels.
     Volcanic Rocks: Gabbro, Granite, Pegmatite, Basalt, Andesite, Rhyolite, Obsidian, Pumice, Tuff, Scoria, Aa, Pahoehoe, Diabase.

Editor's Note: Ray Meisenheimer advised that they are going to need about 30 of each one of these and they should be about fist size.

Hosts and Hostesses Schedule for 2006 Meetings - There are a few openings for the 2006 meetings. Give Sharon Cunningham a call at (805) 649-3579 to schedule your month. We thank everyone who participates. You can see how much they are enjoyed at the meetings!

     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.

FOR SALE: LAPIDARY EQUIPMENT, TOOLS & MATERIAL - 1) Highland Park, Model 8TCS saw, grinder & polisher combination. 2) Highland Park Model 8G 2 wheel grinder. 3) Miscellaneous jewelry making tools. 4) Many rocks & slabs. - All $500. (Firm). Phone Tomie Perry (805) 482-5750.

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.

VGMS California Oil Museum new exhibit - Stop by the California Oil Museum and see the new display Steve Mulqueen has put in for the VGMS. It will be on display until May 28th. It is on the mineral "Colemanite" in Keck Hall. The mineral was named after William T. Coleman, a borax pioneer who developed borate deposits in the Death Valley region. Coleman's first mining and milling operations were known as the Harmony Borax Works which began production in 1883. Borax was made in Death Valley and transported by 20-Mule Team wagons to the railhead at Mojave, CA. This is an industrial mineral used in the manufacture of glass, ceramics, welding rods, soaps, detergents, plasters, paints, starches, fertilizers, metals, atomic reactors, abrasives, refractory compounds, chemicals, plastics, motor fuels, antifreeze, insulation and structural fiberglass. - Information provided to the museum with the exhibit by Steve Mulqueen. - Thanks Steve!

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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GEM SHOW 2006:
Two Simple Words: Thank you!

Regrettably, due to a business trip I won't be at the March meeting, so to everyone who collectively makes up our Ventura Gem and Mineral Society, I offer two simple words in the pages of our newsletter: Thank you! We enjoyed another successful show, sharing our hobby and our appreciation of earth's wonders with our greater community. It's vital that a new volunteer step forward to take on the job of show chair for the coming year as soon as possible to call a show re-cap meeting and start the ball rolling for next year. I ask that one and all support our new show chair when that person steps forward and, when volunteering to take on a committee post or show job, I hope each and every one of us will pitch in not 50 percent, not 75 percent, not 100 percent, but 110 percent to make the 2007 show the best yet. On to 2007 and the 45th Annual VGMS Show!
     Submitted by Jim Brace-Thompson, Show Chair.

Donations For Our Mineral Show - Liz Brashears donated numerous items originally worked by her late husband, Clay. These items included lapidary equipment for cutting and polishing rock, hand tools, minerals, rocks, boxes of rock slabs, jewelry making equipment, plants and more. The rock saw will be used in the VGMS workshop while all other items were sold at our mineral show in the Country Store and at the Silent Auction. Thank you Liz for your donations to the VGMS.
     Art and Gail McCollum, dealers at our annual mineral show, donated 7 boxes of rock & gem related magazines to the VGMS. The volume of magazines equaled approximately 7 cubic feet of periodicals. These magazines were sold at our annual mineral show this month.
     A special word of thanks go out to all who donated potted plants for the plant booth at our mineral show. These individuals include Susan Mulqueen, Margaret Mulqueen, Ann Rametta, Liz Brashears, Wayne & Marie Ehlers, Ray & Florence Meisenheimer, Richard & Shirley Bromser and Mel Hixson.
          Steve Mulqueen.

Notes from the Kids Booth - We're so fortunate to have such generous and helpful VGMS members! Way before the show our folks began donating prizes, rocks for grab bags, and above all, their precious time. Our two bag stuffing parties provided plenty of rock bags for the show and more than half of what we will need next year. Thanks to Marie Ehlers for all the wonderful bags to stuff. At least 50 pieces of petrified wood were polished for prizes. Mel and Sharon Hixson donated more polished rocks than I can even imagine completing in a year. Rocks, minerals, and miscellaneous prizes were dropped donated anonymously to the Kids' Booth. I don't know by whom. But thanks to all of you!
     I have to admit it. I was a little apprehensive about the Spinning Wheel because Lowell Foster, our Pied Piper of the Wheel, would be around only part-time this year. We did miss him, but other enthusiastic members took up the slack. In the end, financially we had our best year in the past 5 years.
     This year we added Rock Identification to the mix. A lot of the kids who bought rock bags identified the rocks in their bags and won a polished stone. Not a moneymaker, the kids are learning something from the experience.
     Special thanks to the wonderful folks who worked the Kids' Booth: Sharon Hixson, Miriam Tetreault, Avraham and Esther Barshai, Lowell Foster, Stuart Bloom, Greg Slak, Jim Brace-Thompson, Ishmael Sanchez. You're the greatest!
     What a show!
          Jean Wise.

2006 Show - What a production the 2006-year show turned out to be. From where I was standing, running, or lifting this was the easiest, smoothest and best run show I have ever participated in. This is a direct result of the superb planning and hard work of the show chairman, Jim Brace-Thompson.
     It did not seem like we had that many workers but everything was accomplished in record time. It could have been the new cases we have and the fact that we did not have to go over and borrow cases from the Conejo Club. In addition, Richard Bromser ended up with a monster truck and we had help from non-club members like Brett Johnson of the Oxnard Club. I am sure everyone who worked the show can come up with a number of examples of why it was a fun show. I hate to roll up the skirting materials and that chore was accomplished with ease.
     Speaking of hard work and fun, the silent auction was a great success this year. There are three reasons for the success of the silent auction. First, the club members gave us good material to sell. I was not crying wolf when I said there was little material at the shop for the silent auction. I cannot list everyone who donated materials because boxes just showed up at the booth. I even raided a box of Mel Hixson's case materials. Thanks to everyone who donated materials. The other two reasons for the success of the silent auction are Mel Hixson and Greg Davis. These two are the best salesmen I have worked with. I am sure glad I am not trying to buy a used car from either one of them. For the silent auction to be a success there must be buyers. Go home and look at your pile of rocks and tell me you didn't get a good deal! Thank you, bidders.
     It was hard work but I had fun and enjoyed working with all the club members.
          Ron Wise.

Country Store - What a great show we had! The weather cooperated by not raining on loading days and sunny other days. The Country Store had it's best year ever and I know a couple of the other areas did as well. I think Saturday was the busiest day I have seen and Sunday one of the slowest! At any rate, the whole show went smoothly thanks to the many hard working VGMS members and the great leadership of our show chairs, Jim and Nancy Brace-Thompson. We will miss their leadership, but am sure they will be there pitching in wherever needed next year. Hopefully, we will have a volunteer to take over this vital position soon. Jim will be a great teacher.
     As for the country store I would like to thank all of you who donated the money making items and magazines. Our whole income is thanks to you! I would like to also thank all that helped in the store, Shirley and Richard Bromser (along with all their other jobs!), Sharon Cunningham, Mary Polacek and Laudine Borges. There were also helpers in packing up, but not sure of all of them so thanks to all! The closing up of the whole show went so quickly, I was home by 7:30 and that was after Pizza! Of course they still had to load the truck and head to the museum, but in years past it was at least an hour later! Thanks everyone for help in all areas. We hear only good comments on our show and have many repeat customers every year. When they leave, they say "see you next year"! So, get ready. It will be here before we know it!
          Shirley Layton, Country Store Chair.

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Description: A Rockhound.

     In a way, we are an odd lot because we have asked for no government appropriations to expand our recreational opportunities. We're inquisitive people, citizens with a thirst for knowledge, regarding learning and discovery as great and even spectacular adventures.
     We lug home heavy bags of rocks which are worth little or nothing; but we also bring back color in our cheeks; muscles all limbered up; appetites like plow horses and an unwavering belief in our ability to jump over the garden gate.
     The rock hound destroys nothing. He picks up stuff nobody has ever wanted or needed, it's well preserved on tables in the living room, on window sills, in basements, on porches, in pockets, and in the trunks of their cars.
     Rockhounds just amble quietly along lakeshores and up crooked ravines. They climb bluffs and mountains. Belly-deep breathing of hilltop air cleans the smog out of their flues, burns the carbon from their valves. Because they feel good, they're agreeable, pleasant persons to be with. "Old Rockhounds Never Die, They Just Petrify."
By Mr. Matt Saari for the "Conservation Volunteer" (Ely, NV), via DEL AIR BULLETIN FEBRUARY 2006.

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SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

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/.

If you go, close the new window to return here.

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Program Schedule for Monthly Meetings,
Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, 2006.

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APRIL BIRTHDAYS.

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

April - Happy Birthday!!
     Richard Bromser - 10th,
     Hannah Brace-Thompson - 29th.

The April birthstone is the Diamond and the flower is the Sweet Pea.

THE MINERAL DIAMOND.

• Chemistry: C, Elemental Carbon;
• Class: Native Elements;
• Subclass: Non-metallics;
• Group: Carbon;
• Uses: As a gemstone and abrasive.

     Diamond is the ultimate gemstone, having few weaknesses and many strengths. It is well known that Diamond is the hardest substance found in nature, but few people realize that Diamond is four times harder than the next hardest natural mineral, corundum (sapphire and ruby). But even as hard as it is, it is not impervious. Diamond has four directions of cleavage, meaning that if it receives a sharp blow in one of these directions it will cleave, or split. A skilled diamond setter and/or jeweler will prevent any of these directions from being in a position to be struck while mounted in a jewelry piece.
     As a gemstone, Diamond's single flaw (perfect cleavage) is far outdistanced by the sum of its positive qualities. It has a broad color range, high refraction, high dispersion or fire, very low reactivity to chemicals, rarity, and of course, extreme hardness and durability.
     In terms of it's physical properties, diamond is the ultimate mineral in several ways:

• Hardness: Diamond is a perfect "10", defining the top of the hardness scale.
• Clarity: Diamond is transparent over a larger range of wavelengths (from the ultraviolet into the far infrared) than is any other substance.
• Thermal Conductivity: Diamond conducts heat better than anything - five times better than the second best element, Silver!
• Melting Point: Diamond has the highest melting point (3820 degrees Kelvin)!
• Lattice Density: The atoms of Diamond are packed closer together than are the atoms of any other substance!

     Diamond is a polymorph of the element carbon. Graphite is another polymorph. The two share the same chemistry, carbon, but have very different structures and properties. Diamond is hard, Graphite is soft (the "lead" of a pencil). Diamond is an excellent electrical insulator, Graphite is a good conductor of electricity. Diamond is the ultimate abrasive, Graphite is a very good lubricant. Diamond is transparent, Graphite is opaque. Diamond crystallizes in the Isometric system and graphite crystallizes in the hexagonal system. Somewhat of a surprise is that at surface temperatures and pressures, Graphite is the stable form of carbon. In fact, all diamonds at or near the surface of the Earth are currently undergoing a transformation into Graphite. This reaction, fortunately, is extremely slow.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Color is variable and tends toward pale yellows, browns, grays, and also white, blue, black, reddish, greenish and colorless.
Luster is adamantine to waxy.
Transparency crystals are transparent to translucent in rough crystals.
Crystal System is isometric; 4/m bar 3 2/m.
Crystal Habits include isometric forms such as cubes and octahedrons, twinning is also seen.
Hardness is 10.
Specific Gravity is 3.5 (above average).
Cleavage is perfect in 4 directions forming octahedrons.
Fracture is conchoidal.
Streak is white.
Associated Minerals are limited to those found in kimberlite rock, an ultramafic igneous rock composed mostly of olivine.
Other Characteristics: Refractive index is 2.4 (very high), dispersion is 0.044, fluorescent.
Notable Occurrences include South Africa and other localities throughout Africa, India, Brazil, Russia, Australia, and Arkansas.
Best Field Indicator is extreme hardness.

Unless otherwise noted, all mineral descriptions and images, plus the related descriptions on this server are the property of Amethyst Galleries, Inc., (close the new window to return here) 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 29 members present at our February meeting along with 1 pebble pup, Dallas Stephens, and 1 guest. The guest, Craig Andrews, and his wife Miriam have since become members for which we are very happy! As usual we had some door prize winners, but I didn't get all their names. I'm sure they know and are most happy! Esther and Abe Barshai provided some wonderful refreshments which everyone enjoyed while they visited and browsed all the finds on display. Our hostess Sharlyne Holloway was there to greet everyone. We need to keep her in our prayers, however, as she is having a tough bout with shingles which are very painful.

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COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

Our Community Outreach was our Show! We had many visitors and much education was done in the process.

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Crackpot Wisdom.

An elderly Chinese woman had two large
pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which
she carried across her neck.

One of the pots had a crack in it while the
other pot was perfect and always delivered a
full portion of water.

At the end of the long walk, from the stream
to the house, the cracked pot arrived only
half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with
the woman bringing home only one and half
pots of water.

Of course the perfect pot was proud of its
accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot
was ashamed of its own imperfection, and
miserable that it could only do half of what it
had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a
bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day
by the stream.

"I am ashamed of myself, because this crack
in my side causes water to leak out all the
way back to your house."

The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that
there are flowers on your side of the path,
but not on the other pot's side?

That's because I have always known about
your flaw, so I planted seeds on your side of
the path, and every day while we walk back,
you water them. For two years I have been
able to pick these beautiful flowers to
decorate the table.

Without you being just the way you are,
there would not be this beauty to grace the
house."

Each of us has our own unique flaws. But
it's the cracks and flaws we each have that
make our lives together so very interesting
and rewarding. You've just got to take each
person for what they are and look for the
good in them.

Source Tonie MonDragon, "Rock Talk" 06/05 via GNEISS TIMES, Wickenburg, 3/06.

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VGMS MINUTES.

Minutes of the VGMS Regular Monthly Meeting,
Wednesday, February 22, 2006:
     The regular monthly meeting of the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society was called to order by Jim Brace-Thompson at 7:35 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2006, at the Lexington, Ventura, CA.
     The January meeting and board meeting minutes were corrected and then m/s/c as shown in the bulletin.
Jim Brace-Thompson 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 March 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 - The tri-club effort at constructing mineral cases for all 220 county schools is under way and an example will be on display at our upcoming show. The cases demonstrate the 3 rock types. 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.
Ron Wise - A field trip for March is planned the weekend after our show, to Stoddard Wells near Victorville and an April trip to Holbrook, AZ for petrified wood. Our club has been invited to Oxnard's board meeting on March 8th, 7:30, Oxnard Community Center for a discussion concerning Ventura's need for alternative workshop facilities.
Jim Brace-Thompson - Show time has come! Just one week from tomorrow and we'll need help with food preparation throughout the weekend. We've pretty much mined out our club's back yard for rock, so if anyone has material they are willing to offer for our silent auction, it would be appreciated. Our board meeting will be held on Thursday, March 2nd at the Fair Grounds following show set up. Now is the last chance to get the show flyers out, so if you know of a suitable location, pick some up before you leave this evening. Plans are still underway 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.
Wayne Ehlers - Overnight security for our annual show is still needed for Saturday night. Please contact Wayne if you're available to spend the night at the fair ground facility.
Lowell Foster - A display will be arranged at our annual show demonstrating our club field trip locations and material found at these sites. A map will be incorporated and all members are encouraged to contribute material and facts using the form Lowell has provided. Also, future programs include Susan Harris, an archeologist, specializing in German stone artifacts, a May "Show & Tell & Not so Silent Auction" event and, last but not least, Joel Hauser's son is scheduled to come talk about his father who the famous geode beds were named after.
Susan Mulqueen - Dr. Gray from Santa Barbara City College may also give a presentation to our club this year.
     Next, Jim began a show & tell session of both Quartzsite and Tucson material and tales presented by club members. These included Ron - mapping material & specimens from Quartzsite; Kathryn Davis - amethyst crystal in citrine; Jim Brace-Thompson - meteorites & fish fossils; Nancy Brace-Thompson - gold in quartz, turquoise; Dave Mautz - crinoids & trilobites & megaladon teeth.
     Refreshments were provided by Esther & Abe Barshai.
     The next Board meeting will be Thursday, March 2nd, 2006, at the Fair Grounds in Ventura and all are welcomed to attend and the next regular meeting will be held March 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 Board Meeting,
Thursday, March 2, 2006:
     The regular board meeting of the VGMS was called to order by Ed Clark at 6:00 pm on Thursday, March 2, 2006, at the Ventura County Fair Grounds.
Present: Ed Clark, Ron Wise, Ray and Florence Meisenheimer, Richard and Shirley Bromser, Jim Brace-Thompson, Shirley Layton, Dave Mautz, Steve Mulqueen and Greg Davis.
Old business:
Florence Meisenheimer reported that the 2008 Federation show is still scheduled for Ventura and Bernie Larue will be in charge.
New business:
Ray Meisenheimer - Ray suggested we clear an area in the Bruno room of the museum for show material storage. Ray is also still looking for an assistant to go along and learn the ropes. It's a very rewarding endeavor.
Richard Bromser - The treasurer's report was tabled until next month due to the annual show being held this weekend.
Shirley Bromser - It was m/s/c to accept the memberships of Craig and Martha Andrews into the VGMS.
Jim Brace-Thompson reported that the show setup is going well and all is looking like a very successful show for 2006.
Ron Wise - Field trips are scheduled for Stoddard Wells, March 11 & 12 and Holbrook, April 22.
Shirley Layton - March 10th is the deadline for bulletin articles.
     The next general meeting will be on March 22, 2006 at the Lexington in Ventura.
     There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:52 pm.
          Respectfully submitted,
          Greg Davis,
          Recording Secretary.

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MEMBERSHIP.

We have three new members which are shown below and will be in the new directories. Please make them welcome. If you haven't paid your dues, do so today! 2006 directories will be ready for the April meeting and we don't want to miss you.

New Members:
     Craig & Miriam Andrews (You met Craig at the Feb. meeting),
     2083 South Rice Road,
     Ojai, CA 93023,
     (805) 649-2902.

     Clint Berkheiser (Welcome back Clint),
     8416 Wheeler Canyon Road,
     Santa Paula, CA 93060.

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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."

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

Virtual Field Trips II:
The Hauser Region and Beyond.

http://www.rockhoundnotes.com/archives.htm. (Close the new window to return here.)
     Joel Hauser first blazed trails through the Black Hills southwest of Blythe in his hunt for nodules and geodes almost 75 years ago. Since that time, thousands of rockhounds have descended upon this region that now carries his name in hopes of filling their five-gallon buckets with good material. Pits and ragged holes now dot the hillsides where geodes once lay in profusion. Between these sites, winding roads have been etched into the desert pavement in loops and roundabout paths by these travelers making specific locations hard to pinpoint. In prior years, directions for new visitors were given by mileage and landmark. Now, with the availability of GPS devices, these directions can be simplified.
     Delmer Ross, a professor of history at La Sierra University, has published about two dozen articles related to rockhounding in the Colorado Desert on line at Rockhound Notes. These articles are now archived and easily accessed using the link given at the beginning of this article. These articles are valuable because Ross not only gives step-by-step GPS coordinate and mileage directions to many popular collecting locations, but he also provides historical information regarding most of the sites. Another benefit is the relatively recent publication of these articles, most written since 2000. One article shows the boundaries of the northern Hauser Beds that were purchased recently and fenced off from collecting. It also provides a location where sizable geodes can still be dug from the ground.
     The locations Ross covers range from the Palen Mountains in the north (quartz crystals) to the Cargo Muchacho kyanite and Indian Pass palm root sites in the south, but the main focus is the minerals that can be harvested around Wiley Well. Photoluminescent shale, limonite cubes, tube agate, black agate thundereggs, and turtle rocks are all given their own articles. Most of the articles begin with a brief sketch of historical or geological information followed by a description of what can be collected at a given place. Black-and-white photographs illustrate each article, though not in profusion. They typically show examples of what can be collected and nearby landmarks. Each article also provides detailed directions and warnings about what to bring with you and when to visit. More than one article mentions that people still die in the region when ill prepared.
     Two final notes: Professor Ross is very concerned about the closure of many locations to vehicles. In his article, "Placing Blame for Criminal Acts Where It Really Belongs", he tells how, as a disabled rockhound, he has been affected by the Wilderness designations by the BLM and what we might be able to do to affect these trends in the future.
     Lastly, this archive also contains a long list of articles by other people. One of them is actually a short guidebook to the Wiley Well Region called Vug Hunter's Treasure Map #7 by Michael Peterson. It contains maps and other information regarding the Wiley Well region and a handy reference when in the area.
     If you have any plans to visit the area, I hope you take the time to peruse this gathering of information.
          Lowell Foster, lowellfos@yahoo.com.

AFMS LAND USE POLICY.

1. Adherence to the AFMS Code of Ethics assures compliance with most statutes and regulations governing collecting on public lands and encourages respect for private property rights and the environment. Clubs are urged to read the AFMS Code of Ethics in at least one meeting every year, to publish the Code frequently in the club newsletter, and to compel compliance on club field trips.

2. Individuals and clubs are urged to write their elected representatives and land use management agency supervisors regarding issues of rule making, legislation and enforcement affecting field collecting of minerals and fossils.

3. Individuals and clubs are urged to join and support activities of the American Lands Access Association (ALAA), a sister organization with responsibility for advancing the interests of earth science amateurs with legislatures and land use management agencies.

4. The AFMS will receive a report from ALAA at its annual meeting.

5. The AFMS endorses the principle of multiple use of public lands as a guarantee of continuing recreational opportunities.

6. Wilderness and monument designations are inconsistent with the principle of multiple use. In view of the vast amount of public land already designated as wilderness and monuments, future such designations should be minimal, taking into account the increased demand for recreational opportunities, including rockhounding, created by a growing population.

7. In furtherance of the principle of multiple use, the AFMS believes that laws, regulations and rules established by relevant governmental authorities should be designed to allow freest possible access to all public lands, coupled with minimal restrictions on the recreational collection of minerals, fossils, gemstone materials and other naturally occurring materials.

8. A right to collect minerals and fossils on public lands should be protected by statute.

9. The AFMS urges its members to work with any or all government authorities to achieve a good working relationship in order to improve the "Public Image" of recreational collectors.

  Table of Contents.

TRUTH & SOME CONSEQUENCES,
By Jon Spaunaugle, Conservation & Legislation.

     During the last few weeks of the year 2005, Congress was trying to pass a Budget Bill entitled Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (HR 4241) before adjourning for the year end holiday. Contained in a version of the US House of Representatives Bill were two sections (6201 and 6202) that would make changes to the Mining Law. One section increased the annual fees paid on mining claims and increased, slightly, the size of a mining claim. A second section would have removed the prohibition on patenting a mining claim. This prohibition on patents was put into law in the mid '90s. The patenting of a mining claim transfers, for a fee, the surface rights on public land to the claim owner and thus is, in fact, selling of public lands to private parties.
     Because several sections of this Budget bill were controversial (including this mining bill change and a provision to open a small part of the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve (ANWAR), to oil drilling and other provisions, this version of the Budget Bill failed to get enough votes to pass and was withdrawn to be modified to remove the controversial provisions. However, Congress is still working on this Budget Bill so stay tuned. It is hard to predict what will happen when Congress reconvenes in late January, 2006. The "sister" legislation to this House Bill is found under Senate Bill S-1932.
     When I reviewed the House Bill HR 4241,I did not see any major threat to hobby collectors in either section of the proposed mining law provisions. Those inclined to oppose the patenting of mining claims would feel otherwise. However, I always deplore these "hidden" sections in what is a Bill that should normally contain budget or appropriations language only. It just seems to me that if these things need to be changed then it should be done, in this case, in a separate Bill to change the mining law. Hiding these provisions in these gigantic last minute Bills that are put together hurriedly by staff members and voted on with little debate and even less knowledge of what all they contain is not what most people I talk to think Congress should be doing. A recent example I am reminded of is a Bill passed a year ago that contained a section creating the new "America the Beautiful Pass", Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act of 2004. This Act was added as a section of the general appropriations Bill (HR 4818) late in 2004. It was passed as Congress was adjourning a year ago in November. We did not realize what had happened until January 2005 when it was already the law of the land.
     Speaking of the "America the Beautiful Pass" I expect that there will be public input opportunities on the development, use, and cost of the national pass in 2006 in preparation for implementation in 2007. These opportunities will be published in the Federal Register. We'll be watching for them and try to keep you informed.
     There is nothing new to report on the Fossil bill which seems to be bottled in the US House of Representatives, Natural Resource Committee for now.
     LASTLY, if you are aware of any hobby problems in the area of my Committee's responsibility that I have not written about, I would appreciate an e-mail at jonspe@juno.com or a phone call at (360) 835-9313 to alert me. This is big country to cover and your concerns are important. I am very grateful for all the feed back that I have received as well as tips on what is going on.
          From AFMS Newsletter 2/06.

  Table of Contents.

SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

UV Light & Fluorescent Minerals.

     The hobby of collecting and enjoying fluorescent minerals is of recent origin. It really got its birth as the result of the search for strategic mineral ores during and after World War II. Thomas Warren founded the Ultraviolet Products Company just as Roosevelt was elected in 1932. He had to petition Congress to allow him to continue to buy ample supplies of copper and steel during WWII so he could produce UV bulbs. They were being used to find deposits of Scheelite, a much-needed tungsten mineral.
     Now let's take a look at UV light. We have invisible light at both ends of the visible light spectrum. Our visible light lies in the range of 400 nm to 700 nm, an nm or nanometer being 1/1,000,000 of a meter, with violet being 400 nm and red light being 700 nm. Infrared light lies beyond 700 nm, and while invisible, it is sensed as heat. UV or ultraviolet light lies below the 400 nm and while invisible, it is the spectrum of light that gives you sunburn. The UV light useful for mineral collections is between 400 nm and 250 nm. Long wave UV light, also known as black light, lies between 400 nm ad 350 nm. Short wave UV light lies between 300 nm and 250 nm. While both types of UV are produced by the sun, only long wave UV light reaches the Earth, with short wave UV light being absorbed by the atmosphere. The middle range of UV light, especially around 310 nm, is the sun burning-causing light. It also activates Vitamin D and provides bacterial action.
     Most fluorescent minerals fluoresce most brilliantly in short wave UV light. Short wave UV light can be harmful to the eyes with anything beyond limited exposure. The short wave bulb uses a vacuum tube filled with Argon gas to which a small drop of Mercury has been added. The tube must be of high silica glass or quartz since short wave UV light will not pass through most glass or plastic. A 40W incandescent light bulb would be considered dim, where at 15W, a short wave UV light is capable of lighting a whole mineral display.
     Minerals that fluoresce have an atomic structure that will respond to UV light. Most solids, and nearly all minerals, are arranged in a precise 3-dimensional array. As minerals crystallize on Earth, it is common for stray elements to become incorporated as impurities. These are important because they cause a mineral that would not normally fluoresce to fluoresce. Such an impurity is called an activator. These impurities allow electrons in the atoms of the minerals to absorb energy from the UV light. The electrons then jump to a higher orbit. When they fall back to the lower orbit, they give off light and a minute amount of heat. This light is what we see as fluorescence. Common activators are Tungstate, Molybdate, Uranyl ions, Mercury, Lead, Boron, Titanium, Manganese and Chromium, to mention a few. Quenchers of fluorescent light are Nickel, Copper and Cobalt. The presence of these elements in even minute amounts can reduce or eliminate fluorescence in minerals. In a few rare exceptions like Copper Iodide, which is fully 1/3 copper, it will fluoresce brilliant red in long wave UV light. So it never hurts to give a specimen a try.
     Common mineral groups likely to fluoresce are Scheelite, Willemite, Apatites, Calcite, Dolomite, Aragonite, Uranium group, Zinc minerals and Lead minerals. Gemstones that fluoresce are Amber, occasionally Beryl, Corundum (ie Ruby), Diamond, Spinel, Topaz, Zircon, Chalcedony, Opal and Quartz. Locations where fluorescent minerals can be found are Franklin and Sterling Hill, New Jersey, with world-renowned deposits; Oregon and Wyoming thunder egg deposits; Opal deposits in Nevada; Scheelite deposits in Arizona; Fluorite from Ohio; Uranium from New Jersey; and minerals found around hot springs in Texas and California.
     When cleaning minerals, be sure the soap used to clean them does not fluoresce. Also be sure the glue used to display fluorescent minerals does not fluoresce.

Original source unknown, The Tumbler 07/03 via GNEISS TIMES, Wickenburg, March 2006.

  Table of Contents.

CINNABAR.

     Cinnabar is the only common mineral of mercury and the chief ore. It is a mercury sulfide. It is also the only commercial source, though it has been produced artificially. Cinnabar is a lovely bright red in color when fresh but may fade to a dull gray when exposed to sunlight. The mineral is sometimes mistaken for realgar but has a silvery luster that realgar does not show.
     Cinnabar crystallizes in the hexagonal systems and is usually rhombohedral to thick and tabular. The crystals may also be acicular (hair-like) and prismatic. It is usually found as a coating which is sometimes crystalline and sometimes earthy. It is also found in sedimentary rocks. Cinnabar occurs usually near volcanoes or hot springs. It is associated with pyrite, marcasite, copper sulfide, stibnite, gold, opal, quartz, and calcite. Cinnabar can be heated and caused to deposit drops of pure mercury on the cold surfaces of an open test tube. Old time miners used to do this in elementary stills and would sell the mercury thus obtained. This, however, is a very dangerous thing to do as the fumes are very poisonous and should not be inhaled. Mercury has many uses besides the common one in thermometers. It is used for gold processing, preparing drugs, in scientific machines, and in ammunition.
     Cinnabar occurs in Russia, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Bavaria, and Mexico. Perhaps the finest crystals come from Hunan Province in China where it occurs in fine, deep red, translucent crystals in quartz. These are also quite commonly twinned in the United States. California is the leading source of cinnabar. Other sources are Nevada, Utah, Oregon, and Texas.

The Agatizer, February 1969, via ROCKY REVIEW, Conejo, NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2005.

  Table of Contents.

Fiber Optic Gems: What are They?
By Bill Grimes.

     Fiber optics were developed as a result of someone studying a piece of the mineral Ulexite, also known as TV stone. It is a hard, brittle, fibrous stone which - when writing is placed underneath - will allow the image to appear on the surface of the stone. This led to the theory that if this type of fibrous material could be manufactured, it could be used in many different ways where image transmission is needed. Fiber optic cables were at first very slender and flexible, used in surgeries and in household decorations.
     The manufacturing technology improved and soon manufacturers were spinning out miles of cable for a new application, data transmission lines. These lines can be up to two inches across. The cable consists of thousands of pairs of optic fibers. Each pair carries data for phone, computer, fax, etc. Since the sides of the cable are reflective, there is no need for insulation or shielding around each fiber, as in old phone lines. This translates to more pairs in a smaller space. For us in the hobby, this created one of the newest gem treasures - fiber optic cabs.
     In order to make a fiber optic cabochon, the cable scraps are first cut into small lengths. The cable is then either cut into spheres, or it is sectioned parallel to the length of the fiber. Once the slices are made, it is cut much like any other gem. Care must be taken, however, to protect the ends of the cable from splintering, or catching dirt, abrasives, etc.
     There is an interesting thing about fiber optic gems. If you look at them from a 90-degree angle from the eye of the gem, the gem will be transparent to light, maintaining its properties for light transmission.

From Rockhouse Roundup, 3/99 via Rocky Review-Conejo 12/05.

  Table of Contents.

THUNDER EGGS.

     Thunder Eggs are lithic structures, rocks not minerals. Like other structures, such as nodules and geodes, they are formed and found in igneous material, rhyolites, welded tuffs, or perlitic rocks. These spherical masses range in size from inches to feet in diameter, but most are about the size of a baseball. They have a knobby rind of drab, siliceous rock, often with a characteristic ribbed pattern. The inside of the outer shell has a relatively thin transitional lining of iron or manganese compound and/or opal or chalcedony. The center cavity is filled with opal, chalcedony and/or agate, and it is this solid center that distinguishes the thunder egg from the geode. In 1892, gem authorities from Tiffany's gathered $20,000 worth of opal-filled eggs from a deposit in Oregon. Thunder eggs have been the most popular 'rock' in Oregon. They were designated Oregon's official State Rock by the Oregon Legislature in 1965, the choice being supported by a 2 to l vote by members of the mineral and gem clubs of Oregon and by the patrons of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). Rockhounds have been collecting the eggs from Crook, Jefferson, Maiheur, Wasco, and Wheeler Counties.
     Thunder eggs were similar to geodes at some point in their creation, once hollow and formed in a subterranean void, such as a volcanic gas pocket. The processes of formation are still argued, some holding that the characteristic and unique internal pattern of typical eggs is due to expansion and rupture of rock by gases and others that it is due to desiccation (drying) of a colloid or gel. Whatever the process, once the egg is formed, further development is extremely variable in the amount of time needed to complete the egg, in the amount of infilling, and in the record of geologic events. Some eggs contain brecciate rock fragments, while others show faulting, offset, and healing. In some areas, it is common to find the characteristic chalcedony core weathered out of its shell. When sawed open and polished they may reveal the most exquisite and colorful designs ranging from five-pointed stars to miniature oceanscapes or gardens.
     Some of the finest and most famous thunder eggs come from deposits in the Richardson's Rock Ranch in Oregon where the eggs are dug out of a fragile perlite layer under a coal bearing strata. The eggs don't get much bigger than baseball size and many of the best ones are no more than the size of a walnut but their colors and the patterns can't be beat. The thunder egg agates of Succor Creek, Oregon, look like warty rocks or stony, dirty snowballs when dug, but when cut and polished their distinctive agate is fabulous, clear and bluish gray with dark dendrites or white agate bands in a matrix flecked like granite and colored from purple to white.
     Thunder eggs are sometimes found with fortification banding, horizontal layering, with any open area filled with clear chalcedony or inward-pointing quartz crystals, with some layers composed of a fibrous cristobalite (lussatite) or a partial botryoidal filling of an opal form of low cristobalite, opal fluorescent because of a low content of uranium salts. One collecting site in Oregon has eggs filled with camelian, another, the filling may contain cinnabar, causing colors pastel to intense red, or filled with pastel jaspers.
     If you could cross an Oregon thunder egg with an agate from Northern Mexico, you would probably get something like the "Deming Agates" from the Baker Ranch in New Mexico. Formed hundreds of miles from the volcanic activity that created the numerous Eastern Oregon thunder egg deposits, their eggs were still created by the same geologic forces. However, the eggs are sought for the fine fortification agate in brilliant colors that rival the agates of Lagunas and Moctezumas, typically red with black, gray, blue and (rarely) yellow. They are rarely fractured and often have hollow centers with either a druze, cinnamon center, or well formed clear quartz points, or with long crystal stalactites that span the hollow center of the stone, or one of these crystal formations yields a fine white feathery plume through the center of the stalactite.

Ref: Many sources, via The Rocky Review-Conejo 12/05.

  Table of Contents.

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

Cleaning Jewelry - Most stores use Mr. Clean and water with proportions of 1/3 Mr. Clean, 2/3 water and an old soft tooth brush. Do not let soft stones like opal, pearl, coral, turquoise sit in the cleaner. Also, do not soak stones like emerald, ruby, or sapphire that have cracks that liquids can soak into. Clean them with a brush dipped into the cleaner. Rinse in clean water. Check all stones in the prongs and bezels. - Eleanor Bienvenue. From: Lapidary Bulletin 6/05 via Del Air Bulletin, Van Nuys 2/06.

Faceting beryl - Beryl is willing to be cut, looks good and polishes easily. Orientation is not a real problem for this stone. Generally, cut on the C-axis; however, you will only lose a small amount of color if you have to cut on the AB.

Beryl is not too heat sensitive. I generally rough out my stone on a 260 lap. I cut the pavilion first, using 43 since beryl is a low R.I. material. Using a step cut will increase color in the finished stone. Using "skinny facets" tends to "cluster the light", which is good for pale beryls and aquamarines. The top crown angle that can be used is 35. If you make the angle any bigger, you get extinction. I cut the girdle last. I find that most clients prefer a round circle. (summarized from Meg Berry's talk at the 2005 Sinkankas Symposium on Beryl). - Author Unknown, The Pegmatite, San Diego, 11/05 via Quarry Quips, Wichita, 11/05.

A good shield for a large slab saw is a bicycle fender. It is just the right size and shape to keep lubricant flying off the blade from spraying all over the shop. - T-Town Rockhound, Tulsa 6/05.

  Table of Contents.

Tech Talk,
By Val Carver, MMC Member.

There are three basic classifications of lapidary saws, these are:
     A. Faceter's Saw,
     B. Trim Saw,
     C. Slab Saw.

Faceter's Saws are primarily used to prep small chunks of rocks for faceting. Faceter's saws can sometimes be used for very light trim work. Usually they have blade sizes in the 4" or 5" diameter range and are usually manually fed. Prices for faceter's saws are normally in the $200 to $300 range. Most faceter's saws are designed to be used with water and water based lubricants.

Trim Saws are used to reduce the size of a chunk of rock. This type of saw is normally used to cut cabochon preforms from materials that have been slabbed. They can also be used for light slab work or to cut a rock in half. Most trim saws are manually fed, some have vices to chuck up a rock. Trim saws usually come in blade diameters (sizes) of 6", 8" and 10". These saws are table top mounted units. Prices for trim saws range from $400.00 for the 6" size to $975.00 for a 10" sized unit. Depending on the construction of the saw they will require either water-based lubricants or oil lubricants. Into this classification of saws can be included saws like ring saws, diamond band saws and scroll saws.

Slab Saws are the big boys of the saw world. They are used to take large chunks of rocks and normally make slabs out of them. A slab is defined as a piece of rock cut with parallel surfaces. Slabs are typically cut 1/8" thick to several inches thick. Normally slabs are 1/4 to 3/8 inches thick for cabbing. Slab saws come in blade diameter sizes of 10", 12", 14", 16", 18", 20", 24", 30" and 36". The 10 thru 14-inch units are normally tabletop units while the 18" and larger are stand-alone units. Price range for a new slab saw is from $900.00 for a 10" unit to $15,000.00 for a 36" size. The function that makes a slab saw a slab saw is that the rock is chucked up in a vice and is fed into the rotating blade by some type of feed drive mechanism. The slab saw also has a transverse table feed so that after you have cut a slab you back the rock out and, without un-chucking the rock, move it over with a crank on the table to cut another slab. All slab saws should only be used with oil lubricants.

Source The Rock Rustler's News 04/05 via GNEISS TIMES, Wickenburg, February 2006.

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SHOW DATES.

2006 CFMS SHOWS.

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. (Close the new window to return here.)
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 8-9; PARADISE, CA - Paradise Gem & Mineral Club "Gem's & Jewelry Show". Veteran's Memorial Hall, Skyway & Elliott Road. Hours: Sat. 10-5, Sun 10-4. Jim & Shirley Thompson (530) 872-1846. Email: Shirley1846@comcast.net.
APRIL 15-16; MARIPOSA, CA - Mariposa Gem & Mineral Society, Mariposa County Fairgrounds, Hwy 49 South. Hours: ?. Peggy Ronning (209) 742-7625. Email: mineralmuseum@sti.net.
APRIL 22-23; LANCASTER, CA - Antelope Valley Gem & Mineral Club, Antelope Valley Fairgrounds, 2551 West Avenue H. Hours: 9-5 both days. Pamela Birge (661) 264-3502. Email: birgep@att.net. Website: www.geocities.com/av_gem. (Close the new window to return here.)
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 6-7; BAKERSFIELD, CA - Kern County Mineral Society "Art In Stone". Kern County Fairgrounds, 1142 So. P Street. Hours: 10-5 both days. Buster Ordiway (661) 563-8310. Email: CaOrdPTA@aol.com.
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.
MAY 20-21; YUCAIPA, CA - Yucaipa Valley Gem & Mineral Society, Yucaipa Community Center, 34900 Oak Glen Road. Hours: Sat. 9-5, Sun. 10-4. William Jochimsen (909) 790-1475. Email: bjm2285@aol.com.
MAY 27-29; WEAVERVILLE, CA - Trinity Gem & Mineral Society, Annual Bigfoot Gemboree. Hours: Sat./Sun. 10-5, Mon. 10-4. Jack Jennewein (530) 778-3786.
JUNE 3-4; GLENDORA, CA - Glendora Gems, 859 E. Sierra Madre. Hours: Sat. 10-5; Sun. 10-4. Bonnie Bidwell (626) 963-4638. Email: Ybidwell2@aol.com.
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.
SEPTEMBER 23-24; SAN DIEGO, CA - San Diego Lapidary Society, Bernardo Winery, 13330 Paseo Del Vernao Norte, Rancho Bernardo, CA. Hours: 10-4 both days. Kim Hutsell (619) 294-3914. Email: info@sandiegolapidarysociety.org.
OCTOBER 14-15; GRASS VALLEY, CA - Nevada County Gem & Mineral "Earth's Treasures". Nevada County Fairgrounds, 11228 McCourtney Road. Hours: 10-4 both days. Cliff Swenson (530) 272-3752.
OCTOBER 14-15; TRONA, CA - Searles Lake Gem & Mineral Society "Gem-O-Rama", Searles Lake Gem & Mineral, 13337 Main Street. Hours: Sat. 7:30-5, Sun. 7:30-4. Bonnie Fairchild (760) 372-5356. Email: jbfairchild@verizon.net.
OCTOBER 21-22; ANDERSON, CA - Shasta Gem & Mineral Society, Shasta District Fairgrounds. Hours: Sat. 10-5; Sun. 10-4. Alex Stoltz (530) 474-4400.
OCTOBER 28-29; VISTA, CA - Vista Gem & Mineral Society, Brengle Terrace Recreation Center, 1200 Vale Terrace. Hours: Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4. Mary Anne Mital (760) 758-4599.

AMERICAN FEDERATION / REGIONAL
SHOW SCHEDULE - 2006.

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

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

MIDWEST,
May 19-21, Southgate, OK.

NORTHWEST,
July 14-16, Kelso, WA.

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

SOUTHEASTERN FEDERATION,
August 14-20, Nashville, TN.

SOUTH CENTRAL FEDERATION,
August, Bossier City, LA.

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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.

EDUCATIONAL CORNER.

Definition of the Month.

Ripple marks - A wavy pattern formed in soft sediment from the movement of water or wind. Ripple marks commonly occur along the shores of rivers, lakes and in tidal flats, in areas where water flows over layers of fine-grained, unconsolidated sediment. In sand dunes, ripple marks can be observed on the windward side of the dune caused by the movement of sand grains pushed by the wind.

Ripple marks are fairly common in sedimentary rocks. Geologically, ripples represent one example of features known as "primary sedimentary structures". Geologists studying sedimentary rock formations in the field will often take interest in an outcrop of rock exhibiting ripple marks. By analyzing the orientation of the ripples, geologists can determine water current direction, relative water depth and conditions of the original environment from which the sediment was deposited. In ancient dune deposits, ripples will show wind direction.

There are two general classifications of ripples formed in water environments. "Current ripples" are asymmetrical (non-symmetrical) and are formed from a gently flowing current in shallow water. "Oscillation ripples" are symmetrical, formed as the direction of water movement changes continuously, often in shallow waters.

Ripple marks can be a common feature observed while collecting fossils. Be observant of these sedimentary structures. By analyzing the ripple marks, one can form conclusions on the original direction of flow, water depth and conditions of the original environment when the sediment was deposited. From this, one can formulate ideas on how animals lived, died and, with time, became buried and preserved as fossils.

Written by Steve Mulqueen for the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, March 2006. The "Definition of the Month" features words related to geology, paleontology, mining and desert history.

Illustration of the Month.

Ripple marks -
  A. Current ripples - Formed by water movement in one direction.
  B. Oscillation ripples - Formed by wave action with water movement occurring
        intermittently in opposing directions.

Source: "Manual of Field Geology" by Robert R. Compton, published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1962, page 228.

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, March 2006.

  Table of Contents.

SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

VGMS PHOTO ALBUM:
Empire Mine State Historic Park, Grass Valley, CA.
Photos from Steve Mulqueen.

1. Machine Shop.


2. Blacksmith Shop.


3. Office.


4. Ore Cars.

  Table of Contents.

SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

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