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

Table of Contents.

• PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE;
• WORDS TO LIVE BY;
• VGMS CHRISTMAS DINNER;
• REVIEW PROGRAM - OCTOBER 25, 2006;
• REVIEW PROGRAM - NOVEMBER 8, 2006;
• DUES ARE DUE;
• MARK YOUR CALENDARS;
• 2007 SLATE OF OFFICERS;
• CHIPS & BOULDERS;
• AFMS CODE OF ETHICS;
• From My Dog;
• WEB SITES;
• PROGRAM SCHEDULE FOR MONTHLY MEETINGS;
• THE FEDERATIONS;
• JANUARY BIRTHDAYS;
• COMMUNITY OUTREACH;
• HOSPITALITY;
• VGMS MINUTES;
• MEMBERSHIP;
• A Bad Day;
• "FIELD TRIPS ARE FUN";
• VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS VIII;
• If the wind;
• BE SAFE - BE WELL;
• PRESS RELEASE;
• CAN YOU NAME THIS METAL;
• A NEW NAME FOR AN OLD AGE;
• HINTS & TIPS FOR ROCKHOUNDS - (Use at your own risk);
• SHOW DATES;
• EDITOR'S NOTE;
• 2007 CFMS SHOW;
• EDUCATIONAL CORNER;
• ZZYZX APPLICATION;
• VGMS PHOTO ALBUM;
• Merry Christmas.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.

On Wednesday, December 13th at 6:30 pm, the VGMS will be having their annual Christmas Party at Carrow's Restaurant in Ventura. This will be a catered event, serving turkey dinners. The cost of the meal will be $13.75 per person. Please contact Richard Bromser if you have not yet signed up for the dinner.

The nominating committee has reached an overwhelming decision on the slate of officers for the year 2007. The majority of the officers who served on the Board during the year 2006 were asked to continue with their great efforts through the year 2007. All current club officers have accepted the nomination. Abe Barshai has accepted the position of Show Chair for 2008 and I expect everyone to give him their complete support.

Dues are due! Also, don't forget to prepare plants for the plant sale at our mineral show next year. And more items are needed for the "Country Store". Please keep these in mind.

The mineral shows in Quartzsite and at Tucson, Arizona will be held in January and February 2007. These are great opportunities for great "deals" and we need to start building up an inventory for our monthly raffles at our meetings.

Ed Clark,
President.

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WORDS TO LIVE BY.

Confidence comes from not always being right but not fearing to be wrong.

If a rabbit's foot is lucky, what happened to the rabbit?

Man's mind stretched to a new idea never goes back to its original dimensions.

I've entered the snapdragon part of life, part of me has snapped and the rest of me is draggin'.

Collected by Wayne Ehlers.

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VGMS CHRISTMAS DINNER:
December 13, 2006.

     If you haven't made your Christmas Dinner reservation yet, give Richard Bromser a call to see if there is still time. You don't want to miss it, what can be better than a Rockhound Christmas Dinner? It will be held December 13th (Second Wednesday) at 6:30 pm. It will again be at Carrow's Restaurant on Harbor Blvd./Seaward Ave. in Ventura.
     It will be a complete turkey dinner with salad, beverage and pumpkin pie. The price is $13.25 per person, tax and tip included. Sharon Cunningham will honor us with her usual cute (and delicious) decorations!
     In addition to a wonderful dinner we will be installing the 2007 Officers and giving a heartfelt thanks to the 2006 group who, with your help, have worked hard to make our club what it is. We want Richard and his family to enjoy the dinner, so please make arrangements for payment prior to the dinner. The food and service are great and as always "Rockhounds" are the best company! Hope to see you all there -- Santa says enjoy, and he knows best!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS
AND
BEST OF NEW YEARS TO ALL!!!

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REVIEW PROGRAM - October 25, 2006:
Silent Auction - "Bring Rock - Will Travel".

A lot of rocks did travel for this silent auction! What a wonderful assortment we had to bid on (it took two tables!). How many took Lowell's suggestion and donated something that hurt a bit to give (and then bought it back)? At any rate thank you to all for the wonderful material you brought and, again, to Ray & Florence Meisenheimer for bringing in the bulk of it. It was great material and if you didn't get a treasure or two you were snoozing (or tasting the wonderful refreshments brought by Jean and Ron Wise)! These are a great chance to get some good lapidary or showcase material. It was a great competitive spirit flowing through the room!

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REVIEW PROGRAM - November 8, 2006:
Working Metal Clay (Silver) by Sandra Butchko.

Sandra Butchko demonstrated the art of working with metal clay, mostly silver, which left everyone feeling like it was something they could do! Sandra is a local jewelry designer who travels throughout the United States to teach and display her craft. She has a shop/art center at 1744 E. Main Street called "Cottontail Creations". The items she completed and had on display were so very interesting. A geranium leaf from the garden in several layers of silver was so neat and delicate. Rings, pins and jewelry of all sorts incorporating our gems and minerals so painstaking collected! Those of all ages can enjoy this art. Several members are signing up for classes and a couple who have already taken them, recommend them highly.

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DUES ARE DUE!

VGMS dues are due by January 1, 2007. You can send your dues to Membership Secretary, Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, P.O. Box 1573, Ventura, CA 93002. You can also give them to Shirley Bromser at the meetings. Don't forget, time flies when you are having fun! Start the New Year right!

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

12-13-06 - VGMS Christmas Party - 6:30 pm - PLEASE NOTE THIS IS THE 2nd WEDNESDAY! See more details in this bulletin. (Close the new window to return here.)
12-17-06 - 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.)
1-4-07 - 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.
1-10-07 - DEADLINE FOR JANUARY Bulletin Articles to the Editor! This will be Mary's first bulletin, so please help her out with good input and fun news. Please send the articles to the same email address for this month and Mary will advise for future months.
1-20-07 - 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.)
1-24-07 - VGMS Regular Meeting - 7:30 pm - At the Lexington.
2-1-07 - 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.

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2007 SLATE OF OFFICERS.

The slate of new officers as presented by the nominating committee for 2007 was voted on and accepted by those in attendance at the November meeting. Our new officers as stated below will be installed at our Christmas meeting. We want to thank our new board for stepping forward and accepting these positions. We have a great club and know that all the members will join this board to make 2007 a successful and fun year.

President - Ed Clark;
1st Vice President, Programs - Lowell Foster;
2nd Vice President, Field Trips - Ron Wise;
3rd Vice President, Show Chair 2008 - Avraham (Abe) Barshai;
Treasurer - Richard Bromser;
Recording Secretary - Greg Davis;
Membership Secretary - Shirley Bromser;
Federation Director - Florence Meisenheimer;
Bulletin Editor - Mary Polacek;
Parliamentarian - Ray Meisenheimer.

Appointed Committee Chairpersons will be published next month.

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CHIPS & BOULDERS.

Interesting Web Site submitted by Craig Andrews for all who have access to the internet - http://tomaszewski.net/Kreigh/Minerals/RockhoundsReport.v.4.pdf. (Close the new window to return here.) There are many links to various museums. Craig also has an article in the December Rock and Gems on page 40 - "Rockhounding the Santa Ynez River" and will have another in January or February titled "How Rockhounding has been good for my marriage"! Check them out.

Jump Ring Chain Class - Nancy Bogart is willing to teach a class making a chain alternating a 5.5mm jump ring with 2.4mm jump rings. A method of decorating the chain with a group of jump rings and a fastener to finish it off as a bracelet will be included. Those wishing to do so may lengthen the chain to make a necklace.
     She would teach it in her home in Oak View on a Wednesday or Thursday evening, depending on popular demand, in January. Give her a call at 805 649-2924 or cell 805 794-4479 if you would be interested. She had some on at the meeting and they are most interesting. She could take a maximum of 8, so call soon.

Tri-Club Educational Committee Needs - There was 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 in our March & April bulletins. (Close the new window to return here.) These boxes are getting close to completion. Check with Donna Knapton (805) 647-8762 to see what more is needed. Thanks to all who helped with this worthwhile and ambitious project. A special thanks to Donna for her perseverance and hard work for this wonderful educational project.

Hosts and Hostesses Schedule for 2007 Meetings is in the Making! - Think about which month is best for you and be ready to sign up. A list will be started at the January meeting.
     December: VGMS Christmas Party.
     January 2007: Sharlyne Holloway and Shirley Layton.

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.

Tumbling Grit - We Have Grit!! Sold to club members at our cost.

Contact any board member to arrange for pick up or arrive on a workshop Saturday at the museum.

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. If you have access to the Internet you can download both from their respective websites, shown below, for free!

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AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

• I will respect both private and public property and will do no collecting on privately owned land without permission from the owner.
• I will keep informed on all laws, regulations and rules governing collecting on private lands and will observe them.
• I will, to the best of my ability, ascertain the boundary lines of property on which I plan to collect.
• I will use no firearms or blasting materials in collecting areas.
• I will cause no willful damage to property of any kind, such as fences, signs, buildings, etc.
• I will leave all gates as found.
• I will build fires only in designated or safe places and will be certain they are completely extinguished before leaving the area.
• I will discard no burning materials - matches, cigarettes, etc.
• I will fill all excavation holes which may be dangerous to livestock.
• I will not contaminate wells, creeks, or other water supplies.
• I will cause no damage to collecting material and will take home only what I can reasonably use.
• I will practice conservation and undertake to utilize fully and well the materials I have collected and will recycle my surplus for the pleasure and benefit of others.
• I will support the Rockhound Project H.E.L.P. (Help Eliminate Litter Please) and will leave all collecting areas devoid of litter, regardless of how found.
• I will cooperate with Field Trip Leaders and those in designated authority in all collecting areas.
• I will report to my Club or Federation Officers, Bureau of Land Management, or other proper authorities, any deposit of petrified wood or other material on public lands which should be protected for the enjoyment of future generations and for public educational and scientific purposes.
• I will appreciate and protect our heritage of Natural Resources. I will observe the "Golden Rule", will use Good Outdoor Manners and will at all times conduct myself in a manner which will add to the stature and Public Image of Rockhounds everywhere.

AFMS Newsletter - March 2001.

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SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

*************

From My Dog:
   When you've done something wrong, have the decency to at least look guilty.
   Do everything like you really mean it.

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WEB SITES.

AFMS web site - http://www.amfed.org/,
CFMS web site - http://www.cfmsinc.org/,
CA BLM web site - http://www.ca.blm.gov/.

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

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Program Schedule for Monthly Meetings,
Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, 2006/2007.

If you have an idea for a program or would like a particular topic please contact our program chair person, Lowell Foster at (805) 648-1942.

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THE FEDERATIONS,
By Dick Pankey, Federation Director,
Via Diablo Diggin's, April 2006.

What is CFMS? AFMS? How many federations are there and where are they? Why are they? And what do they do?

The California Federation of Mineralogical Societies. Inc.
     This includes all of California, Nevada, and Hawaii, and some societies in Arizona. The purpose of the Federation is to do together what we cannot do in small groups. The clubs and members are the Federation. Its progress depends upon their efforts and mutual assistance. The Board of Directors, the Executive Committee and numerous committees administer the business and projects of the Federation. The Board of Directors consists of one Federation Director from each member Society, selected by the membership at the local level, the President, two Vice Presidents, the Secretary, and the Treasurer.
     The Board of Directors meets twice a year, the fall meeting in November of each year, and Convention meeting, held in conjunction with the Federation Show. The Board conducts the regular business of the Federation, such as the election of officers and the designation of the Host Society for any subsequent show and convention. And the Executive Committee conducts the necessary business of the federation between the Board of Directors meetings. Actions taken by the Executive Committee are subject to the approval of the Board of Directors at the next regular meeting. This committee meets on call of the President.
     The progress of the Federation is assured through the service and assistance of many committees. The Chairmen and committee members are appointed by the President with the approval of the Executive Committee. These committee people are a very important part of the Federation. They are dedicated members working diligently on Projects and administration of the federation and the results of their work measure the progress and accomplishments of the Federation.
     An Executive Secretary/Treasurer is employed to maintain a headquarters and handle the day-to-day business of the federation. This person or persons is under the direct supervision of the Executive Committee.
     The voice of the federation is the newsletter, which is published each month, except the month following the convention. Each society receives three Copies and it is available on the CFMS web page - www.cfmsinc.org. (Close the new window to return here.)

The American Federation of Mineralogical Societies, Inc.
     Interest in the earth sciences and lapidary arts rested with organized groups such as the New York Mineralogical Society in 1886 and Philadelphia Mineralogical Society in 1892. Members of these pioneering organizations went on field trips and collected rocks and minerals avidly. They shared in their extensive reports of their finds their love of beauty and knowledge. The clubs began to join together. Groups in California joined together in 1935 to form California Federation of Mineralogical Societies. This was followed by the Northwest Federation in 1938; the Midwest Federation in 1940; and the Rocky Mountain Federation in 1941.
     As more and more individuals learned about cutting precious and semi-precious stones or collecting minerals and fossils, it became obvious that a national group would benefit all. As early as 1938 there was a meeting between the Northwest Federation and the California Federation.
     World War II necessitated putting any further organizational efforts on hold and it was not until 1946 at the Northwest Federation Convention in Boise Idaho (1946) a suggestion was made to hold a combined convention. The four existing Federations to meet at the Rocky Mountain Federation Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1947. The Midwest Federation, the Rocky Mountain Federation and the California Federation formed the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies. With officers elected and committees formed to write a constitution and By-laws, they selected Denver, Colorado, as the site for the first "national" convention, to be held in June 1948. The Denver show proved to be a success. Excellent displays and an interesting array of lectures helped insure the future of the fledgling Federation. California was chosen as the site for the 1949 convention with the "Forty-Niner Centennial" held in Sacramento. The Eastern Federation joined AFMS in 1950 (just after it was formed) and the South Central (formerly Texas Regional Federation and a part of the Rocky Mountain Federation) joined in 1954. The last group to be admitted to AFMS was the Southeast Federation in 1993.

The Eastern Federation of Mineralogical and Lapidary Societies, Inc.
     was organized in 1950 and joined the AFMS in 1952. It encompasses the North Eastern region of the United States and has over 150 different clubs and over 10,000 members. It includes these states: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The Midwest Federation of Mineralogical and Geological Societies
     was organized in 1940, and one of the original four founders of the AFMS in 1947. It encompasses a region of 11 states and has about 150 different clubs from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska (eastern portion of state), North Dakota, (eastern portion of state), Ohio, South Dakota (eastern portion of state), and Wisconsin.

The South Central Federation of Mineralogical Societies, Inc.
     was organized in 1943 and joined the AFMS in 1953. It has 40 different clubs within its region, in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas.

The Rocky Mountain Federation of Mineralogical Societies, Inc.
     was organized in 1941, and one of the original four founders of the AFMS in 1947. The RMFMS includes clubs from Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska (western portion of state), New Mexico, North Dakota (western portion of state), Oklahoma, South Dakota (western portion of state), Utah, and Wyoming.

The Northwestern Federation of Mineralogical Societies.
     This includes clubs in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Utah.

The Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Societies, Inc.
     was organized in 1976 and joined the AFMS in 1993. It encompasses a region of 7 states and has over 80 different clubs in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

(The information on AFMS and the 6 other Federations was adapted from articles in the December 2005 and January 2006 issues of the Petrograph.)

Via Santa Clara Valley Gem and Mineral Society - Breccia November 2006.

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JANUARY BIRTHDAYS.

Happy Birthday to all those born in JANUARY. 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!

January - Happy Birthday!!
     Donna Stephens - 3rd,
     Mary Polacek - 8th,
     Shawne Lardin - 9th,
     Marie Ehlers - 13th,
     Florence Meisenheimer - 23rd.

The January birthstone is the Garnet and the flower is the Carnation.

THE GARNET GROUP.

     Garnets as a group are relatively common in highly metamorphosed rocks and in some igneous formations. They form under the high temperatures and/or pressures that those types of rocks must endure. Garnets can be used by geologists as a gauge of how much temperature and pressure the rock has endured. As a gemstone, garnets have had a mixed reputation. Garnets do possess high indices of refraction, are hard enough, have pretty colors, are sometimes transparent, lack cleavage and are durable; thus making good candidates for gemstones. However, many people consider garnets to be inferior to other colored gems. This may be due to garnet's relative abundance and widespread use, and therefore a (typically) low price. Garnets are greatly variable in colors and varieties, though, and many of these are both rare and beautiful, producing genuinely precious gemstones. Some garnets are truly unique in the mineral kingdom and have much to offer as both gemstones and mineral specimens.
     Garnets are isostructural, meaning that they share the same crystal structure. This leads to similar crystal shapes and properties. The general formula for garnets is A₃B₂(SiO₄)₃. The A represents divalent metals such as calcium, iron, magnesium and manganese. The B represents a trivalent metal such as aluminum, chromium, iron, and other elements found in rarer members of the group. The main differences in physical properties among the members of the garnet group are slight variations in density and index of refraction. Garnets belong to the isometric crystal class, which produces very symmetrical, cube-based crystals. The most common crystal shape for garnets is the rhombic dodecahedron, a twelve sided crystal with diamond-shaped (rhombic) faces. This basic shape is the trademark of garnets, for no other crystal shape is so closely associated with a single mineral group like the rhombic dodecahedron is with garnets. Most garnets are red in color, leading to the erroneous belief that all garnets are red. In fact a few varieties, such as grossular, can have a wide range of colors, and uvarovite is always a bright green. As a mineral specimen, garnets usually have well-shaped and complex crystals and their color and luster can make for a very beautiful addition to a collection. At times, garnets are accessory minerals to other valuable and pretty gem minerals such as topaz, beryl and tourmaline, making these specimens extra special.
     The garnet is actually quite a large group, but these are the more common members with their chemistries and their significant divergent properties: density (SG), index of refraction (IR), and the typical color as well as their general environment of formation. Under environment of formation: metamorphic will be indicated with an M and igneous with an I. All garnets may contribute to detrital sedimentary rocks but they are not of original sedimentary origin.

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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COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

On October 13 - 15, 2006, Steve Mulqueen led a group of geologists on a field trip to Panamint Valley. The trip was attended by about 10 participants. The field area included portions of Panamint Valley and involved mineral collecting on Searles dry lake during the Gem-O-Rama, sponsored by the Searles Lake Gem & Mineral Society.

On October 15, 2006, Steve Mulqueen joined the Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) Geology class at the Briggs gold mine in Panamint Valley. Dr. Gray, geology professor, organized a tour of the open-pit mines and heap-leach extraction process operated by CR Briggs Corporation, a subsidiary of Canyon Resources. At the present time the mine is idle pending permits needed for the expansion of their mine plan. This tour represented the last day of field studies for SBCC on their annual Sierra Nevada field trip. Steve gave Dr. Gray a bucket of hanksite crystals from Searles Lake to be distributed to the geology students.

Ray Meisenheimer has given more presentations to the residents of the Victorian who really enjoy them and want him to keep coming back!

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HOSPITALITY.

The October meeting had 24 members in hot pursuit of the silent auction items (and what a wonderful selection they had to bid on) along with our precious little pebble pup - Rebecca Foster - who just watched contentedly while everyone did their thing! Since we had the silent auction, we didn't have the door prize drawing. But we did have some wonderful refreshments furnished by Jean and Ron Wise.

We were happy to have 22 members (could be some forgot our meeting was the 2nd Wednesday instead of the 4th!), 3 guests and our precious pebble pup - Rebecca Foster. Our guests were Sandra Butchko, our speaker, Cindy Day and Darwin Cuddeback whom we hope to see again real soon. Refreshments were a wonderful assortment of pumpkin desserts that everyone enjoyed! We have some good cooks and some good shoppers! We had several happy door prize winners which is also a hi-lite of the evening along with the rockhound fellowship.

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VGMS MINUTES.

Minutes of the VGMS Regular Monthly Meeting,
Wednesday, October 25th, 2006:
     The regular monthly meeting of the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society was called to order by Lowell Foster at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, October 25th, 2006 at the Lexington, Ventura, CA.
     The September meeting and October 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. Lowell mentioned that our November meeting will include pumpkin treats and a silver clay demonstration by Sandra Butchko. December will include board member installations along with dinner at Carrow's.
Shirley Layton - The October & November bulletins will be combined and the deadline for the December bulletin articles will be November 10th.
Ron Wise - November 18 & 19 is the Oxnard show, a CFMS trip to Wiley Wells area is planned for late November and a Gold Rock Ranch trip is scheduled for December 1st.
Ray Meisenheimer - Ray still provides programs for schools and the Victorian residents.
Wayne Ehlers - Wayne asked for any further nominations for club officer positions. They can still be made by contacting any of the nomination committee members. Election of officers will be held during our meeting on November 8th. Wayne also reported that due to low attendance, the cab classes will be postponed until further notice.
Miriam Tetrault reminded everyone that the Oxnard Show is the weekend of November 18 & 19.
Florence Meisenheimer reminded everyone that the 2007 Federation show will be held in Palmdale.
     Lowell next opened bidding for the silent auction. A lot of fine specimens were brought in by Ray & Florence and other members. Most everything was bid on as everyone likes a silent auction.
     Refreshments were provided by Ron & Jean Wise.
     The next Board meeting will be Thursday, November 2nd, at the IBEW Hall, 3994 E. Main St., Ventura, CA. All are welcomed to attend and the next regular meeting will be held November 8th at the Lexington.
     There being no further business, Lowell adjourned the meeting at 8:40 pm.
          Respectfully submitted,
          Greg Davis,
          Recording Secretary.


Minutes of the VGMS Board Meeting,
Thursday, November 2nd, 2006:
     The regular board meeting of the VGMS was called to order by Ed Clark at 7:30 pm on Thursday, November 2nd, 2006, at the I.B.E.W. Hall, 3994 E. Main St., Ventura, CA.
Present: Ed Clark, Ron and Jean Wise, Ray and Florence Meisenheimer, Richard and Shirley Bromser, Shirley Layton, Abe and Esther Barshai and Greg Davis.
Old business:
Richard Bromser reported on the latest information on storage trailers. An 8-foot wide by 20-foot long trailer with ramp is becoming difficult to find used so dealer prices on new trailers have been considered. More information will be gathered and if club members know of any "deals", please speak up.
Greg Davis - The monthly workshops have been well attended with 7 or 8 members at each and the museum specimens are being boxed for storage until another museum location is found. The cabbing machine parts, which were ordered, have been installed and all equipment is functional. Wayne Ehlers decided to cancel the fall cab class due to low attendance.
New business:
Florence Meisenheimer - The CFMS monthly meeting will be held on November 11th in Visalia.
Ron Wise - Field trips include Clay Mine Road and surrounding areas on November 4th and the Oxnard show on November 18 & 19. Details for both can be found in the bulletin. Ron has also been gathering prices and availability of club storage trailers and reporting back.
Shirley Layton - The October and November bulletins will be combined and the deadline for articles for our December bulletin will be the 10th of November. Shirley also offered to contact a rental facility off Seaward for information concerning monthly storage fees if we were to purchase a storage trailer. Nancy Bogart has offered to do a presentation or class, in her own home, on the art of jump ring formation. More information will be forthcoming.
Richard Bromser presented copies of the treasurer's report and it was m/s/c to accept as written.
Shirley Bromser - It was m/s/c to accept the club membership application of Nancy Wilkinson.
Abe Barshai has offered to fill the post of Show Chair for 2007 and has been gathering information from others. Abe will have the experience and support from all the club members and his willingness to serve is greatly appreciated. The next show meeting will be on December 3rd, 2:00 at the IBEW hall in Ventura.
     The next general meeting will be on November 8th, 2006 at the Lexington in Ventura and the next board meeting is at the I.B.E.W. Hall in Ventura.
     There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:42 pm.
          Respectfully submitted,
          Greg Davis,
          Recording Secretary.


Minutes of the VGMS Regular Monthly Meeting.
Wednesday, November 8th, 2006:
     The regular monthly meeting of the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society was called to order by President Ed Clark at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, November 8th, 2006 at the Lexington, Ventura, CA.
     The October meeting and November board meeting minutes were corrected and then m/s/c as shown in the bulletin.
Ed Clark welcomed everyone and directed members in the pledge to the flag.
Richard Bromser - It was m/s/c to accept the treasurer's report as stated at the board meeting. Richard reminded everyone that the next show meeting will be held on Sunday, December 3rd, 2:00 at the IBEW hall. The 2007 contract with the fairgrounds should be ready for review next week.
Shirley Layton - Deadline for the December bulletin articles will be November 10th. This will be Shirley's last bulletin.
Ron Wise - November 18 & 19 is the Oxnard show, a CFMS trip to Wiley Well area is planned for late November and a Gold Rock Ranch trip is scheduled for December 1st.
Ray Meisenheimer - Ray still provides programs for schools and the Victorian residents.
Lowell Foster presented the slate of nominated members as officers, which included Ed Clark as President, Abe Barshai as Show Chairman and Mary Polacek as bulletin editor. A vote was taken and it was m/s/c to accept the roster as stated.
Florence Meisenheimer - The CFMS meeting will be held on November 11th, in Visalia.
     Ed next introduced Sandra Butchko who presented a demonstration on the art of silver clay fabrication and all the various possibilities with it. This is a rather new medium for our hobby and it really had everyone's interest. We thank Sandra for her time and a very well done presentation.
     Refreshments were provided by club members.
     The next show meeting will be December 3rd, the next board meeting will be Thursday, December 7th, at the IBEW Hall, 3994 E. Main St., Ventura, CA, and the next regular meeting will be held on December 13th at Carrow's restaurant in Ventura.
     There being no further business, Ed adjourned the meeting at 8:50 pm.
          Respectfully submitted,
          Greg Davis,
          Recording Secretary.

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MEMBERSHIP.

We are happy to welcome a new member, Nancy Wilkerson. Please add her information to your 2006 directories as the 2007's won't be out until the March meeting. If you are in need of membership applications or another 2006 directory please contact our membership chair person, Shirley Bromser, at a meeting or call her.

New Member:
     Nancy Wilkerson,
     258 Youmans Drive,
     Ventura, CA 93003.
     805 658-0459.

(Webmaster's Note: If you want a printed copy of the following so you can place an order move the mouse cursor to the left of the word 'Attention', push and hold down the left mouse button, and sweep down over the ad with the mouse cursor. This will highlight the contents of the ad. Release the mouse button and, without clicking anywhere else on the page, select EDIT on the browser menu and select COPY. You may then PASTE into any word processor and print in your normal manner. If you highlight too much you may delete the unneeded part with the word processor before printing. This works with any browser I know.)

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.

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A Bad Day,
From JoAnne White.

     A man was working on his motorcycle on his patio and his wife was in the house in the kitchen. The man was racing the engine on the motorcycle and somehow, the motorcycle slipped into gear. The man, still holding the handlebars, was dragged through a glass patio door and, along with the motorcycle, dumped onto the floor inside the house.
     The wife, hearing the crash, ran into the dining room, and found her husband lying on the floor, cut and bleeding, the motorcycle lying next to him and the patio door shattered. The wife ran to the phone and summoned an ambulance. Because they lived on a fairly large hill, the wife went down the several flights of long steps to the street to direct the paramedics to her husband.
     After the ambulance arrived and transported the husband to the hospital, the wife uprighted the motorcycle and pushed it outside. Seeing that gas had spilled on the floor, the wife obtained some paper towels, blotted up the gasoline, and threw the towels in the toilet.
     The husband was treated at the hospital and was released to come home. After arriving home, he looked at the shattered patio door and the damage done to his motorcycle. He became despondent, went into the bathroom, sat on the toilet and smoked a cigarette. After finishing the cigarette, he flipped it between his legs into the toilet bowl while still seated.
     The wife, who was in the kitchen, heard a loud explosion and her husband screaming. She ran into the bathroom and found her husband lying on the floor. His trousers had been blown away and he was suffering burns on the buttocks, the back of his legs and his groin. The wife again ran to the phone and called for an ambulance.
     The same ambulance crew was dispatched and the wife met them at the street. The paramedics loaded the husband on the stretcher and began carrying him to the street. While they were going down the stairs to the street accompanied by the wife, one of the paramedics asked the wife how the husband had burned himself. She told them and the paramedics started laughing so hard, one of them tipped the stretcher and dumped the husband out. He fell down the remaining steps and broke his arm.

     Now THAT is a bad day!

AFMS Newsletter - November 2006.

  Table of Contents.

SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

"FIELD TRIPS ARE FUN."

Clay Mine Road Fieldtrip: Ron & Jean Wise presented a terrific field trip on Saturday, November 4th, with 16 enthusiastic people. Conditions couldn't have been better with little wind, temps in the low to mid 70's and an area Valli and I had never been to before.
     Desert temperatures climbed the next day so it was as though it was planned for us. The group traversed this large area with its varied materials to collect, were directed to three collecting sites and still made it to the Palmdale show in time to make some purchases and have dinner.
     It's been quite some time since Valli and I had been on an organized field trip so we were thrilled with all the colorful jasper and agate we found along with collecting onyx from the mine sites. This is a large area, there's a lot to see and we'll want to go back.
     It was a fun group of people but it was Ron's time and effort in preparation and execution that makes his trips so successful.
          Greg Davis.

CO-OP MEMBER & OTHER FIELD TRIPS.

Who may attend: Members of a CFMS Society that is in good standing. All non-CFMS members must become a member to attend.

• Contact the field trip leader beforehand to sign up and for further information.
• Remember to wear your name badge and sign in with the field trip leader.
• A Consent and Assumption of Risk Waiver of Liability form must be signed upon arrival at meeting site.
• CO-OP website has information: www.coop.5u.com.

TRI-CLUB FIELD TRIPS 2006/7:
Tentative Schedule 8/11/2006.
Contact field trip leader to confirm
that there is a field trip scheduled.

* Note: I will be at these events and will not have telephone service at this time - Ron Wise.
*** Please call your field trip leader to confirm that there is a field trip scheduled in the event of changes.

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Virtual Field Trips VIII:
Breaking Down the Eggs.

     Recently a few of our club's members were able to visit Oregon and dig in a couple of the thunderegg beds there. I was unable to go, but curious about the possible finds they may have made (and hopefully in the future I'll have a chance to experience), I hit the web to research this topic. I was surprised to find the number of locations in Oregon that produce thundereggs. Unlike the Hauser Beds in Imperial County, the thundereggs in Oregon apparently are more likely to be filled with agate than contain a cavity filled with glittering crystals (though those are occasionally found).
     My first stop was www.minerals-n-more.com/ThunderEgg_Info.html (Close the new window to return here.) which lists many different localities where thundereggs have been found. It's depressing to note how many of these places are now off-limits (wilderness areas) or played out. There aren't many photos, but this stop is more of a way of establishing a roadmap than a true destination for this virtual road trip. Call it getting the lay of the land.
     More visual but with less information is http://www.rayer-minerals.com/USA_agaten.html (Close the new window to return here.) which has close to 40 photographs of thundereggs from across the west, most from Oregon. It's interesting to cross reference the notes on locations from the previous site with the colorful images from here. Here there are photos of eggs from the Lucky Strike Mine, Priday Ranch, the Fred Bed, and an ominous sounding place called Skull Spring. What makes this site even better is that you can click on the images to get a larger, better view. Maybe I should have come here first to truly wet my appetite.
     The next few places I basically did a drive through as their images and information were fairly limited (one example is http://www.theearthstreasure.com/Thundereggs.htm (Close the new window to return here.) which lists and displays a moderate collection of Eggs from Oregon), but then I stumbled upon Hinkle's Rock Shop. Now, I don't believe Hinkle's would meet the criteria I set for last month's discussion on Old Style Rock Shops -- it's Internet based, but it did provide a lot of material that I found intriguing. Basically, this place specializes in Oregonian Eggs and other material. His website at http://www.djwd.net/members/Thundereggs/ (Close the new window to return here.) claims that he has eggs presently for sale from 39 different locations in Oregon alone. I didn't count, but by scrolling down half a page there are two links to pages that provide both a list and photos of material from many Oregon sites. In addition, there is information regarding locations and status on these digs. Don't expect a map, though. The site isn't that generous. Still, browsing the material from Desolation Canyon, Fred Bed (again), White Rock Springs, Secret Ridge, McDermitt, and Crowley, just to name a few, makes me realize the variety available to the Egg collector.
     There's a lot more out there, but I was only looking for photos to gawk at while sending envious thoughts up to my friends in Oregon. One day I'll get up there, but for now, I must settle for what I can find on the web.

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*************
If the wind doesn't blow....ROW!

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BE SAFE - BE WELL,
By Don Monroe, AFMS Safety Chair.

"Strangers in Paradise."

     We all may tend to feel that we pretty well know our way around out in the woods or on field trips and probably are not aware of dangers that may exist in unfamiliar locations. Situations discussed with me at the recent AFMS/SFMS meeting in Nashville reminded me that there is so much that I don't know about conditions in any other areas and I'll bet that some of you don't know either.
     Picture yourself out in the desert in the Southwest and you encounter an oil well that is being pumped or you find a pipeline pumping station. It may well be unmanned and may not be adequately fenced. Well, it looks fine but have you thought about poison gases that may be present? Do you rely on your knowledge and sense of smell? I no longer feel comfortable in that situation. We all know about hydrogen sulfide and the "rotten egg" smell but may not know that it is an extremely deadly gas when concentrated. I lived close to an industrial plant that periodically released quantities of the noxious gas, which is very heavy and drifted over farmland where it killed both vegetation and livestock. Because of the foul odor, you would think that it would be difficult to get into trouble but that is not the case. Plant workers would become accustomed to the smell and not be able to differentiate between an irritating concentration and a deadly concentration of the gas. Fatalities did result.
     In the Southeast we have a small tan scorpion, which is often referred to as a pine scorpion. Yes, it will sting you and it really does hurt but is almost never fatal. In the West they have scorpions that really pack a wallop. They bear some resemblance to their eastern cousins but they can kill. They also have snakes in the West as we find in most parts of the country but big western diamondback rattlesnakes can inject enough venom to kill quickly. There are many variables that influence the hazard of being bitten by a poisonous snake including snake size, type of snake, how recently the snake has attacked something, what part of the body is bitten and what you do following the bite. My advice? Think about doing the following:
     - Research a little and learn to identify poisonous snakes.
     - Learn the latest medical recommendations for first aid for snakebite.
     - Stay alert and watch where you put your hands, feet and other body parts. The speed of a striking snake is awesome and it has been said that they can reach out a third of their length or more.
     - Finally stay calm (if you can). Increasing your heart rate or blood pressure is counter-productive. Having been bitten as a kid, I know it is easy to do exactly the wrong thing. I ran like heck and my parents had to chase me to take me to the doctor.
     Do you know if you have any severe allergies? Being allergic to insect stings can create a far more hazardous situation than snakebite. Wasps, hornets, biting flies, biting ants are all out there waiting for you.
     Last, but not least, please remember that sunstroke, dehydration, sunburn, and many other outdoor problems can do bad things to you. We will talk about these other things some other day.

AFMS Newsletter November 2006.

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PRESS RELEASE.

October 3, 2006;
For Immediate Release;
Contact: Mark Walsh, 801-652-4338;
Allies@westerncounties.org.

Salt Lake City -- H.R. 6298, a bill to protect public access to the public lands which has been strongly endorsed by western public lands counties, has been introduced in Congress by New Mexico Congressman Steve Pearce. The legislation will protect public lands access by finally resolving the status of county R.S. 2477 rights-of-way across public lands. Western Counties Alliance (WCA) worked with key congressmen in developing this legislation and strongly endorses the Pearce bill. WCA is an alliance of public lands stakeholders led by western public lands county elected officials.
     "This bill will resolve one of the most divisive and widespread problems facing public lands counties," said Mark Walsh, WCA Executive Director. "Those are property rights conveyed directly by Congress to counties, bypassing the federal land management agencies entirely. Yet, these agencies have largely refused to recognize these county road rights and have worked to undermine them and to illegally close county roads."
     The legislation codifies a landmark 10th U.S. Circuit Court decision handed down last year that requires the federal land management agencies to recognize that Congress did, in fact, intend to bypass these agencies when it made these property grants. The Constitution, Article 4, Section 3 grants exclusive authority over the disposal and management of the public lands and resources to Congress.
     "While it is too late in this Congress to even hold hearings on this bill, it is very useful to have it introduced so we can begin to educate the public and policy makers about the need for resolving this problem through legislation," Walsh noted. "Western public lands counties and public land users greatly appreciate Congressman Pearce's strong leadership and dedication to protecting public access rights to these lands."

Note to Editors: More information about this bill, including a summary of its major provisions and the complete text of the bill, as well as more information about RS 2477 road rights is posted on the Western Counties Alliance Web site, http://www.westerncounties.org/. (Close the new window to return here.)

This information was forwarded to me by Dee Holland and Shirley Leeson. It was originally received by Dr. Robert Carlson, President-elect of AFMS.

Source: Western Counties Alliance News press release via CFMS NEWSLETTER November 2006.

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CAN YOU NAME THIS METAL?

1. It has an atomic weight of 47 and is found both as a native metal and in combination with other metals as an ore.
2. It is slightly harder than gold and has the highest electrical conductivity of any known metal.
3. The country of Argentina is named after it.
4. Light acts on the salts of this mineral causing them to decompose. This action is the basis of photography.
5. At times this metal has been more precious than gold. Its name is synonymous with "Scottish money" and originates from either the Old English seolfor or Germanic silber.

Answer: SILVER.
     The symbol for silver, Ag, is an abbreviation for the Latin argentum. The region we know as Argentina was believed to be filled with riches in silver, hence the name. Silver nitrate (AgNO₃), is light-sensitive and the building of photography. Various other silver compounds have noteworthy abilities. Silver fulminate is a powerful explosive. Silver chloride can be made transparent and used to cement glass. Colloidal silver is an antibiotic and some people take it for health reasons.

From Del Air bulletin 12/05 via September 2006 Lapidarian Bulletin.

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A New Name For An Old Age,
By Keri Dearborn.

     Cambrian, Devonian, Triassic - The names of geologic periods help us date geological formations and fossils. But just when you have gotten the labels clear in your mind (see the Geological Time Table), along comes a new name for an ancient time period.
     The Cambrian Period (542-495 million years ago (mya) has long been considered the point in time when complex life forms first appeared. Before the Cambrian "simple microbes" were believed to rule the world.
     But in the mid-20th century, fossils of ribbed, flat ovals were found first in PreCambrian formations in the Ediacara Hills of South Australia and then later in Russia, North America and Africa. Their elaborate structure, existence living in communities and broad range demonstrated complex life forms existed prior to the Cambrian.
     After nearly half a century of discovery and debate, the International Union of Geological Sciences officially accepted, in March of 2004, that this Precambrian Period with complex life forms needed an actual name of its own.

The Ediacaran Period begins 620 mya and ends with the beginning of the Cambrian Period 542 mya. It marks the warming of the earth after a global period of cooling, the existence of complex flat creatures and the replacement of these creatures by the Cambrian cast of characters.
     The Australian scientific community is quite pleased that, for the first time, a sequence of rock layers found in their country, fine-grained reddish-pink sandstone in the Flinders Range, will serve as the reference standard for a geological period.
     So add a note in your geology books, the Ediacaran Period precedes the Cambrian. Does that mean that what was PreCambrian will now be known as PreEdiacaran? These things take time. Check back in 50 years and the UGS might have an answer. In geological time that's just a nanosecond.

GEOLOGICAL TIME TABLE.

Cenozoic Era ( = recent life era).
- Quaternary: 2 mya to present - Pleistocene to modern; sea life fossils from Southern California, Rancho La Brea deposits.
- Tertiary: 65 to 2 mya - KT Boundary (layer in Wyoming) and end of dinosaurs to Pleistocene.

Mesozoic Era ( = middle life era).
- Cretaceous: 130 to 65 mya - India, Australia and Antarctica break away from each other; chalk layers laid down that form White Cliffs of Dover and chalk formations in Kansas; Last age of dinosaurs through to asteroid strike and KT Boundary.
- Jurassic: 180 to 130 mya - Prime age of dinosaurs; North America, Africa and South America split away from each other.
- Triassic: 230 to 180 mya - Survivors of Permian Extinction through to dinosaurs; conifer trees form forest that will become Petrified Forest of Arizona.

Paleozoic Era ( = ancient life era).
- Permian: 280 to 230 mya - Age of Reptiles begins; glacial period, first mammals, coral reefs that would form the Captain Limestone of Texas; ends with mass extinction, 96% of life on earth destroyed.
- Carboniferous: 350 to 280 mya - Age of Amphibians. Warm swampy period and the laying down of organic matter to become modern coal deposits; first gymnosperm plants; large insects.
- Devonian: 400 to 350 mya - Age of Fishes, first amphibians, ferns and mosses, mountain formation; vast coral reefs that would become important modern oil fields.
- Silurian: 450 to 400 mya - First fish, invertebrates make first appearance on land, first vascular plants, formation of first mountain ranges including Ural Mountains and Caledonian Range.
- Ordovician: 495 to 450 mya - First trilobites, aquatic vertebrates and plants on land; brachiopods, cephalopods and crinoids; layers of seabed laid down and later pushed up to form Great Smoky Mountains.
- Cambrian: 542 to 495 mya - Age of invertebrates and marine algae. Burgess Shale fossils.

          NEW.**

- Ediacaran: 620 to 542 mya - Warming of Earth, first complex invertebrate life forms in communities (fossilized in sandstone).

Precambrian.
Proterozoic Eon (first or early life): 2500 to 620 mya - First shallow seas, laying down of large amounts of sedimentary rock, tiger iron in Australia, chert in Newfoundland.

Archean Eon (ancient age): 4550 - 2500 mya - Earth is formed, volcanic instability, formation of atmosphere, seas and continents, microbic life (stromatolites). Formation of Canadian shield, greenstone layers of Greenland and western Australia.

Via DEL AIR BULLETIN OCTOBER 2006.

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

The source of these hints and tips is various club bulletins. Unless otherwise noted the actual author and original source is unknown.

Fluorescent labels can be read in the dark by using ink made by mixing quinine and water. It glows bright blue under black light.
From Stoney Statements, 9/03, via Chips and Chatter, 10/03. No author.

Claimed to be a safe way to clean marble is to put a slice of lemon in a cloth, dip this in warm water, then in borax, then rub the marble. Wipe with a clean cloth. For deeper stains, combine 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide with 8 drops of household ammonia. Apply to stain with an eye dropper. Let remain overnight, then rinse off and polish.
From the Lode Down, via Gems, via Diablo Diggin's via The Rockytier 12/03.

Occasionally someone uses a felt marking pen to write on or mark a slab; usually it happens to be the side you wish to polish or make into a cabochon. Felt pens penetrate most stones, even agate, and cannot be sanded out. To remove these stains, make a small dike around the area using plumber's putty. Saturate a cotton ball with undiluted household bleach, and place the cotton on the dike, making sure that the bleach covers the stained area. Let set one hour, or more if needed. It will remove the stain. Do not leave bleach on longer than necessary to remove the stain as it may also bleach color from the stone. Rinse off bleach and finish in the usual manner.
From Pegmatite, via many others, via Huntin' & Digging 9/94, via The Rockytier, 12/03.

Pumice for a Finish: If you are doing some silver work and want a soft finish, use pumice. What! You don't have any? Guess again. Use a bit of your favorite toothpaste. Most people do not realize that pumice is the polishing agent in toothpaste. If it is fluoride toothpaste, it can also be used for cleaning crystals.
Author unknown, from Golden Spike News, Golden Spike G&M Society, Ogden UT, 6/03, via Quarry Quips, 12/03.

Don't try to hard-solder any item that has traces of lead solder on the metal. The lead will oxidize and eat holes in the metal. Don't mix lead with silver or gold scrap. Don't leave acid bottles open. The fumes will rust your tools.
Original source unknown, via The Coral Geode 03/00, via Hounds Howl 11/03, via The Calgary Lapidary Journal 4/04.

Limb casts are distinguished from petrified wood by the complete absence of any structural appearances - there are no cells or growth rings. It has been completely replaced by agate or chalcedony, generally retaining the form of the limb from the tree.
From Rockhound Ramblings, North Jeffco G&MC, CO 8/05, via Quarry Quips, WGMS, KS, 8/05.

All of the above via THE SLATE NOVEMBER 2006.

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SHOW DATES.

2006 CFMS SHOWS.
None Remaining.

2007 CFMS SHOWS.

JANUARY 20-21; EXETER, CA - Tule Gem & Mineral Society, Exeter Veteran's Memorial Bldg. Hwy 65. Hours: Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4. Steve Hayward (559) 734-3843. Email: smgat734@aol.com.
JANUARY 26-28; REDLANDS, CA - The Mineralogical Soc. Of Southern CA 42nd Pacific Micromount Conference, San Bernardino County Museum, 2024 Orange Tree Lane (Exit north on California St. from I-10). Hours: Fri. 7-10; Sat. 10-10, Sun. 9-12.
FEBRUARY 16-25; INDIO, CA - San Gorgonio Mineral & Gem Society, Riverside Co. Fair & National Date Festival/Gem & Mineral Building #1, 46-350 Arabia Street. Hours: 10 am-10 pm. Bert Grisham (951) 849-1674.
MARCH 2-4; HAYWARD, CA - Mineral & Gem Society of Castro Valley, Centennial Hall @ 22292 Foothill Blvd. Hours: Fri. & Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5. Larry Ham (510) 887-9007. Email: info@mgscv.org.
MARCH 3-4; ARCADIA, CA - Monrovia Rockhounds, Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanical Garden, 301 N. Baldwin Ave. Hours: 9-4:30 both days. Jo Anna Ritchey. Email: j.ritchey@verizon.net or janieduncan@altrionet.com. Website: www.moroks.com. (Close the new window to return here.)
MARCH 3-4; VENTURA, CA - Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, "Artistry From Nature", Seaside Park, Ventura County Fairgrounds, 10 W. Harbor Blvd. Hours: Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4. Ed Clark (805) 983-0028. Email: clarkoe@adelphia.net.
MARCH 10-11; TURLOCK, CA - Mother Lode Mineral Society, Stanislaus County Fairgrounds. Hours: 10-5 both days. Bud & Terry McMillin (209) 524-3494. Email: terry.mcmillin@yahoo.com.
MARCH 17-19; BAKERSFIELD, CA - San Joaquin Valley Lapidary Society, Indoor Show/Outdoor Tail Gate. 5th Annual Rock & Mineral Rendezvous, Kern County Fairgrounds. Hours: Fri. 9-8; Sat. & Sun. 9-5. Lewis Helfrich (661) 872-8230 or (661) 323-2663.
APRIL 14-15; SAN JOSE, CA - Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, 334 Tully Road. Hours: 10-5 both days. Marc Mullaney (408) 691-1584. Email: geologistm@aol.com. Website: www.scvgms.org/. (Close the new window to return here.)

AMERICAN FEDERATION / REGIONAL
SHOW SCHEDULE - 2007.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN FEDERATION,
June 7-10, Roswell, NM.

CALIFORNIA FEDERATION,
June 15-17, Lancaster, CA.

NORTHWESTERN FEDERATION,
August 3-5, Butte, MT.

MIDWESTERN FEDERATION,
August 11-12, Houghton, MI.

EASTERN FEDERATION,
October 6-7, Newark, NY.

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EDITOR'S NOTE:

This is Trili's and my last bulletin as an editor. Hope to have many more as a reader! I'm looking forward to Mary's bulletins, as I'm sure they will be fun and educational. We want to thank everyone for your support and contributions through the years (I don't even know how many it has been!). Mary will be looking for your support and help and I'm sure you won't let her down, Trili and I won't!! Sharing is fun for all! Just for the record any unsigned articles are by the Editor. THANKS.

Trili - The Editor's Pet Trilobite.

  Table of Contents.

SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

2007 CFMS SHOW.

  Table of Contents.

EDUCATIONAL CORNER.

Definition of the Month.

Disseminated Deposit - A type of metallic ore deposit of which the ore minerals and/or native elements are distributed as small particles or veinlets scattered throughout the country rock. A hand specimen of ore taken from such a deposit will often reveal a relatively low-grade assay of a particular metal. However, the real value of a disseminated deposit is related to the enormous size of the ore body and the overall metallic resource it contains.
     The term "disseminated deposit" is most often used in reference to a large, low-grade gold deposit. In these deposits, the country rock is often an igneous or metamorphic rock, consisting of a granite, gneiss or some form of a volcanic rock.

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

Illustration of the Month.

Vertical Section Through Gailenreuth Cave, Franconia.

Source: From the textbook "Elements of Geology", written by Joseph Le Conte, professor of Geology and Natural History, University of California, Berkeley, published by D. Appleton and Company, New York, originally published 1877, revised 1885, figure 873, page 563 (illustrator unknown).
     A portion of an engraving print detailing the vertebrate fossil deposits within the limestone caverns of Gailenreuth Cave, located in Franconia, a region within the Federal State of Bavaria in south-central Germany. Gailenreuth Cave was explored in detail in the late 1700s and early 1800s. The vertebrate fossil deposits within the cave were excavated in order to determine the variety of extinct mammals that lived in that area since the early Pleistocene epoch. With animal fossils, some early human bones and tools had been uncovered. By the late 1800s, the skeletal remains of over 800 cave bears were discovered as well as other mammals that lived during that era. This site was significant for its paleontological and archeological discoveries. Specimens from the Gailenreuth Cave can be found in numerous museums in Europe and throughout the World.

Text written by Steve Mulqueen.

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, Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, December 2006.

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ZZYZX APPLICATION.

The following links are to the application form for the 2007 Earth Science Seminar at Zzyzx. It will take place March 18-25, 2007.

Link 1 is to a Microsoft Word copy of the application. If you have Word properly installed on your computer, clicking on that link will load Word and the application and you can print the application.

Link 2 to is to an Adobe Acrobat copy of the application. If you have Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Acrobat Reader properly installed on you computer, clicking on that link will load the Adobe program and the application. If you don't have Word or either Adobe program the following will get you a free copy of the Adobe Reader.

Hopefully, one of the following procedures will work for you:
     1. Click on the following link - (http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html). (Close the new window to return here.) It will take you to a page on the Adobe Web Site. Follow the directions on that page to get the free Reader.
     2. If number 1 doesn't show up as a link then copy everything between the parentheses, paste it in the address line of your web browser, and push the ENTER button on your keyboard. Alternately, you may type the address in the browser and press ENTER. Continue as in procedure 1.

In case this whole thing simply does not work for you call Shirley at 805-717-9226 and she'll mail you an application.

Link 1 - The Word file: (Close the new window to return here.)

Link 2 - The Adobe file: (Close the new window to return here.)

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VGMS PHOTO ALBUM:

No pictures - just one of our favorite dinosaurs.

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Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

  Table of Contents.

SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

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