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The Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. (VGMS)
Rockhound Rambling
October 2008.

Rockhound Rambling Photo of the Month.
This month's photo is by Mary Polacek.

Description: California state gemstone, benitoite, on a bed of white natrolite coating a blue schist matrix. San Benito County specimen from the Jim Brace-Thompson collection.

Rambling Picture of the Month is photographed by a VGMS Member. The subject may be a specimen in their own collection or a rock, mineral, gem or lapidary creation of others, accompanied by the subject origin. Selection is at the discretion of the editor. Submit candidate photos to vgms_editor@roadrunner.com.

If proper credit is given permission is granted to quote any item.

Exchange Editors email to vgms_editor@roadrunner.com or mail to 3063 Bayshore Avenue, Ventura, CA 93001-4125.

For the record, any unsigned articles are by the Editor.

Table of Contents.

• PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE;
• WORDS OF WISDOM;
• HOSPITALITY;
• UPCOMING VGMS EVENTS;
• BIRTHDAYS;
• PROGRAM REVIEW AND SCHEDULE;
• COMMUNITY OUTREACH;
• CORAL - SUBSTITUTE FOR BONE;
• MEMBERSHIP;
• MEETING MINUTES;
• CHIPS AND BOULDERS;
• FUN STUFF-PALEO WORD DIG;
• GEMS FROM THE PAST;
• FIELD TRIPS ARE FUN;
• HINTS AND TIPS;
• LET'S BE SAFE OUT THERE;
• EDUCATIONAL CORNER;
• FEDERATION NEWS;
• LET'S GO TO A SHOW.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.

Hello all, I just got back from the great World Champion Quartz Crystal Dig in Mt. Ida, Arkansas. I was there with six other Ventura County rock hounds and I'm guessing we brought back several hundred pounds of quartz crystals. It was a lot of hard work over three days, but worth the effort.

As most of you know, election of club officers is coming up. There are a few positions still open, so remember, this is your club and nothing gets done without your participation. The same goes for our annual show in March. Planning will begin in earnest this month and we need everyone to pitch in.

Now, I've got a few hundred quartz crystals to start cleaning...

Ed Clark, President.

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WORDS OF WISDOM.

If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's ... we'd grab ours back!

Laughing at our mistakes can lengthen your own life. Laughing at someone else's can shorten it.

Aspire to inspire before you expire.

People would rather be angry and ignorant, than to learn the facts and act for change.

Authors Unknown.

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HOSPITALITY.

At the September 24, 2008 meeting, we had 26 members which included three pebble pups and one guest.
     Valli Davis.

Following is the remainder of the year's hostess schedule:
     October - Sharon Cunningham.
     November - Pumpkin Pot Luck-Please bring your pumpkin goodies!
     December - Holiday Pot Luck.

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UPCOMING VGMS EVENTS.

2009 Show Planning Meeting - Sunday, October 19, 2:00 pm, Brace-Thompson residence. All interested members please attend.
Regular Meeting - Wednesday, October 22, 7:30 pm, Senior Recreation Center, 420 E. Santa Clara, Ventura.
Board Meeting - Thursday, November 6, 7:30 pm, The Lexington, Ventura.
Bulletin Article Deadline - Sunday, November 9, vgms_editor@roadrunner.com.

If omitted, time, location or address can be found on the VGMS Info Page. (Close the new window to return here.)

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BIRTHDAYS.

Avraham Barshai - October 9,
Dallas Stephens - October 16,
Zachary Bryant - October 17,
Valli Davis - October 23,
Erik Bryant - October 25.

Larry Bryant - November 8,
Sylvia Dahlsten - November 14,
Sachiko Ewald-Streit - November 14,
Ron Wise - November 30.

We wish all of you good health and hope you have a very, very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Tourmaline is a crystal silicate mineral compounded with elements such as aluminum, iron, magnesium, sodium, lithium, or potassium. Tourmaline gem stones come in a wide variety of colors. The name comes from the Sinhalese word "turamali" or "toramalli", which applied to different gemstones found in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).

History: Brightly colored Sri Lankan gem tourmalines were brought to Europe in great quantities by the Dutch East India Company to satisfy a demand for curiosities and gems. At the time it was not realised that schorl and tourmaline were the same mineral.

Schorl: The most common species of tourmaline is schorl. It may account for 95% or more of all tourmaline in nature. The early history of the mineral schorl shows that the name "schorl" was in use prior to 1400 AD because a village known today as Zschorlau (in Saxony, Germany) was then named "Schorl" (or minor variants of this name). This village had a nearby tin mine where, in addition to cassiterite, black tourmaline was found. The first description of schorl with the name "schürl" and its occurrence (various tin mines in the Saxony Ore Mountains) was written by Johannes Mathesius (1504-1565) in 1562 under the title "Sarepta oder Bergpostill" (Ertl, 2006). Up to about 1600, additional names used in the German language were "Schurel", "Schörle", and "Schurl". From the 18th century on, the name "Schörl" was mainly used in the German-speaking area. In English, the names "shorl" and "shirl" were used in the 18th century for schorl. In the 19th century the names "common schorl", "schörl", "schorl" and "iron tourmaline" were used in the Anglo-Saxon area (Ertl, 2006). The word tourmaline has two etymologies, both from the Sinhalese word turamali, meaning "stone attracting ash" (a reference to its pyroelectric properties) or according to other sources "mixed gemstones".

Dravite: The name dravite was used for the first time by Gustav Tschermak (1836 - 1927; Professor of Mineralogy and Petrography at the University of Vienna) in his book "Lehrbuch der Mineralogie" (published in 1884) for Mg-rich (and Na-rich) tourmaline from the village Unterdrauburg, Drava river area, Carinthia, Austro-Hungarian Empire. Today this tourmaline locality (type locality for dravite) at the village Dravograd (near Dobrova pri Dravogradu), is a part of the Republic of Slovenia (Ertl, 2007). Tschermak gave this tourmaline the name dravite, for the Drava river area, which is the district along the Drava River (in German: Drau, in Latin: Drave) in Austria and Slovenia. The chemical composition which was given by Tschermak in 1884 for this dravite approximately corresponds to the formula NaMg₃(Al,Mg)₆B₃Si₆O₂₇(OH), which is in good agreement (except for the OH content) with the endmember formula of dravite as known today (Ertl, 2007).

Crystal structure: Tourmaline belongs to the trigonal crystal system and occurs as long, slender to thick prismatic and columnar crystals that are usually triangular in cross-section. The style of termination at the ends of crystals is asymmetrical, called hemimorphism. Small slender prismatic crystals are common in a fine-grained granite called aplite, often forming radial daisy-like patterns. Tourmaline is distinguished by its three-sided prisms; no other common mineral has three sides. Prisms faces often have heavy vertical striations that produce a rounded triangular effect. Tourmaline is rarely perfectly euhedral. An exception was the fine dravite tourmalines of Yinnietharra, in western Australia. The deposit was discovered in the 1970s, but is now exhausted. All hemimorphic crystals are piezoelectric, and are often pyroelectric as well.

Color: Tourmaline has a variety of colors. Usually, iron-rich tourmalines are black to bluish-black to deep brown, while magnesium-rich varieties are brown to yellow, and lithium-rich tourmalines are almost any color: blue, green, red, yellow, pink, etc. Rarely, it is colorless. Bi-colored and multicolored crystals are common, reflecting variations of fluid chemistry during crystallisation. Crystals may be green at one end and pink at the other, or green on the outside and pink inside: this type is called watermelon tourmaline. Some forms of tourmaline are dichroic, in that they change color when viewed from different directions.

Treatments: Some tourmaline gems, especially pink to red colored stones, are altered by irradiation to improve their color. Irradiation is almost impossible to detect in tourmalines, and does not impact the value. Heavily-included tourmalines, such as rubellite and Brazilian paraiba, are sometimes clarity enhanced, which must be disclosed to the buyer. A clarity-enhanced tourmaline (especially paraiba) is worth much less than a nontreated gem.

Geology: Tourmaline is found in two main geological occurrences. Igneous rocks, in particular granite and granite pegmatite and in metamorphic rocks such as schist and marble. Schorl and lithium-rich tourmalines are usually found in granite and granite pegmatite. Magnesium-rich tourmalines, dravites, are generally restricted to schists and marble. Tourmaline is a durable mineral and can be found in minor amounts as grains in sandstone and conglomerate.

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourmaline.

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PROGRAM REVIEW AND SCHEDULE.

September - Review of a Wonderfully Mammoth Presentation By Lowell Foster.
Jim Brace-Thompson gave us a wonderful overview of Mammoths this past month. His talk spanned the time from when these beasts roamed the ice-age landscape to modern times when scientists literally had to piece together information to understand them. He took us from the Siberian wastelands where piles of bones used to litter riverbanks to our own Channel Islands with their pigmy mammoths. Jim definitely did his homework as attested by the great variety of images he used. He also brought mammoth fossils for us to look at. The talk was immensely enjoyable and I hope everyone came away learning something new about these sadly extinct critters - at least in regards to how important studying their, um, er, (how'd he put it?) feces is.
Thank you, Jim!

October - The Mining History of the West 1850-1905.
Dr. Gray from Santa Barbara City College will be visiting us again and providing an overview of the mining technology used throughout the West at the last half of the 19th century. Most likely he will be accompanied by a small contingent of students. Get ready to greet not only the professor but also his dedicated pupils.

November - Silent Auction-proceeds to be put towards our storage costs.

December - Holiday Dinner-Tentatively December 10, 6:45 pm, Senior Recreation Center.

January 2009 - The Year in Review-A Show and Tell of found/acquired material during 2008. (Topic to change if guest speaker becomes available.)

February 2009 - Last Minute Pre-Show Discussions and Planning.

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COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

If you have given a presentation to any local school or community group, please remember to submit information to the editor regarding who, what, where and when for publication in the bulletin. It is important for the Club to document its efforts to fulfill its purpose. Thank you in advance.

Rockbox Work Day.
Another work day at the Knapton's was held September 20. Several members from the VGMS and the OGMS participated. If you have not volunteered for this effort, please come. The tasks are not hard, but there is plenty to do. It really is fun and Donna spoils us with scrumptious eats.

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CORAL - SUBSTITUTE FOR BONE.

Properly treated, some coral seems to make a near-perfect substitute for bone in reconstructive surgery. "Bone made from coral makes an excellent replacement," said Dr. Phillip Spiegel, professor of orthopedics at the University of So. Florida Medical Center in Tampa, who is using coral in the operating room to repair fractures that used to be bridged with a graft. "I think it is going to become very popular."

Plastic surgeons also have used the bone substitute in facial reconstruction to replace jaws destroyed by cancer or accidents. Doctors have turned to coral because it is "uniquely compatible" with bone, Spiegel said, "and once fixed in place, it mends almost seamlessly with the skeleton."

"Certain species of coral have almost an identical physical configuration to bone with numerous channels that are interconnected," said Dr. Timothy Miller, plastic surgeon at UCLA Medical Center. Because the porous coral contains a maze of channels, native bone adjacent to the coral prosthesis sends spicules and blood vessels into the graft, producing a firm seal between the skeleton and the coral.

Traditionally, surgeons doing reconstructive surgery borrowed bone from elsewhere in the patient's body. But they can only borrow so much and this leads to complications in almost 10% of patients. Coral bone does not appear to activate either inflammation or immune responses, and, because it is inert, it settles in place much faster than other substitutes.

From The Mountain Gem, date unknown via MOROKS, 09/2004.

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MEMBERSHIP.

Welcome New Members.

I encourage everyone to extend a hearty welcome to our newest members.

I'm pleased to report we've received a new family membership application:
     Donna Ewald, Shel Streit,
     and Sachiko Ewald-Streit,
     13246 Carfax Avenue,
     Downey, CA 90242,
     (562) 413-8744.
Their interests include crystal, mineral, and rock collecting, fossils and paleontology, field trips, fluorescent minerals, and photography. We hope to officially vote them in as new members at our next board meeting. Anticipating a positive vote, here's a VGMS welcome to Donna, Shel, and Sachiko!

Once this vote is official, we'll stand at 77 adult members and 14 pebble pups and junior members, or 91 of us altogether. (Plus - news flash! - we've just received a phone call from another couple interested in joining. Watch for another update in next month's newsletter!)

Please add the Ewald-Streit family to your 2008 Club Directory & Yellow Pages. There's a blank page at the end of the directory for this very purpose. As always, if you spot any corrections or updates for your own listing in the directory, please contact me (659-3577, jbraceth@roadrunner.com) and we'll alert everyone to updates via the newsletter.

Jim Brace-Thompson.

VGMS Club Vests and Patches.
The Club vest colors are royal blue with gold lining. You can buy or make a blue denim vest. A club patch is available to sew on the back of your vest for a cost of $5.00. You may purchase the patch from the Membership Secretary, Jim Brace-Thompson.

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MEETING MINUTES.

Minutes of the VGMS Regular Monthly Meeting;
Wednesday, September 24, 2008:
     The regular monthly meeting of the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society was called to order by Ed Clark at 7:30 pm, on Wednesday, September 24, 2008, at the Ventura Senior Recreation Center. Ed introduced visitors and then asked for corrections, if any, to the previously printed board and regular meeting minutes. It was m/s/c to accept the minutes. Members were led in the pledge to the flag.
Jim Brace-Thompson: It's no longer a secret. Ron and Jean Wise have been named ROCKHOUNDS OF THE YEAR by the CFMS. Congrats, Ron and Jean!!
     A committee is being formed for the purpose of locating a new workshop and possibly space for a museum. Forms were passed around and all were encouraged to sign up to contact potential people and places of interest. All and any help is desperately needed.
     Jim announced the affirmation of the Pearson and Cook families to our club. Please welcome them and let's extend our warmest courtesies.
     The Christmas potluck dinner is tentatively planned for the 10th of December, 6:45 pm, at the Ventura Senior Center.
     The Wheeler's Gorge Visitor's Center will hold their fund raising function on November 1. Jim Brace-Thompson and Mary Polacek plan to attend and hand out club membership forms along with mineral and fossil samples to the children. Anyone interested in helping can contact Jim.
Mel and Sharon Hixon have donated lots of rock to our club as they prepare to make their move to Texas. Thanks Mel and Sharon. You both have given so much to this club that you'll be dearly missed.
Greg Davis: Thanks to the efforts of Jean Wise, the County Parks and Recreation Department was contacted and a potential site has been located for our club workshop. Greg, Valli and Ron met with Teresa Lukin, of the County, at Camp Comfort and discussed possible terms of our club occupying a building at the park. It was all very positive, the County Parks & Recreation Department will meet on November 11, at 3:00 pm, for their regular quarterly meeting, and we hope to have a committee present to present our needs to this County Department that manages the facility.
Andy Anderson: Plans have changed, and we're back to the original building for our 2009 show in March. We hope to hold our first show meeting sometime in October. A lot will need to be discussed and all are welcome.
Wayne Ehlers: Marie Haake was injured in an automobile accident, not seriously but is still recovering at St. Johns Hospital.
Ed Clark: Ron & Jean Wise are on a field trip and out of town but upcoming field trips include a trip in September to the Owens Valley with the Knaptons, Arkansas in October for quartz crystals, Walt Wright's class on petrified wood October 17-19 and the Basin Road area in November. Don't forget the Trona show and field trip October 11 & 12. It's a very worthwhile trip and unique experience if you've never seen it.
     A committee needs to be formed to nominate Board members for 2009. The only volunteer was Andy Anderson.
Jim Brace-Thompson: Camp Paradise will be offered again May 17-23 in 2009. Zzyzx will be then be offered in the fall (November 15) of 2009. These are the new changes just confirmed by the CFMS. The annual Fall CFMS meeting in Visalia will most likely confirm the dues increases to clubs. Our 50 State mineral case has been delivered to the CFMS and is housed at the Buena Vista Museum in Bakersfield.
Nancy Brace-Thompson: Nancy read the treasurer's report and it was m/s/c to accept as written.
Mary Polacek: Deadline for the next bulletin will be October 5. Any and all photos and comments for the bulletin are welcomed.
Lowell Foster: Upcoming programs include Dr. Gray speaking on the history of mining in October and perhaps another silent auction in November.
     Jim Brace-Thompson next presented a slide show and program on the history of the Mammoth. The presentation was terrific and in-depth concerning the ten thousand plus year old fossils found and some of the interesting misconceptions over the years. Thank you Jim, for all your time and effort. Your programs are always of the finest quality.
     The next board meeting will be held on October 2nd, 2008, at The Lexington and the next monthly membership meeting will be held on October 22, 2008, at the Ventura Senior Recreation Center, 420 E. Santa Clara.
     There being no further business, Ed adjourned the meeting at 8:45 pm.
          Respectfully submitted,
          Greg Davis,
          Recording Secretary.

Minutes of the VGMS Board Meeting;
Thursday, October 2, 2008:
Present: Ed Clark, Lowell Foster, Nancy Brace-Thompson, Dave Mautz, Andy Anderson and Greg Davis.
     The Ventura Gem & Mineral Society Board Meeting for October 2nd, 2008 was called to order by Ed Clark at 7:30 pm, at The Lexington, 5440 Ralston St., Ventura.
Old business:
Greg Davis: A nomination committee has still not been formed.
Lowell Foster: Professor Gray is still scheduled to give his presentation October 22.
New business:
Ed Clark: Ed delivered club flyers to the Boy Scouts of America location on Daily Drive in Camarillo. Ed will also be attending the field trip to Arkansas this month. Comments were taken on the suggestion of limiting comment time by officers at general meetings. This is due to the fact our meeting time is limited. More study will be given to this and reported back on.
Andy Anderson: Our first show meeting is scheduled for October 19, 2:00 pm, at the Brace-Thompson's house. Club member Sylvia Dahlstein has potential storage space located at her business on Callens Road in Ventura. Andy will get more information and report back.
Nancy Brace-Thompson: The treasurer's report was given. It was m/s/c to accept as written. Nancy mentioned that it's time again to form a nominating committee for next year's board of directors. This was not accomplished at the last general meeting and will be attempted at our next meeting. Jim has the final draft of the letter to the County of Ventura Parks and Recreation Department. It was m/s/c to discontinue Edison service at the old work shop.
Lowell Foster: Dr. Gray will be our guest in October, a silent auction in November and our Christmas dinner and Board installation in December.
     The next general meeting will be on October 22, 2008, at the new location, 420 E. Santa Clara in Ventura and the next board meeting will be on November 6, at The Lexington.
     There being no further business, Ed adjourned the meeting at 8:25 pm.
          Respectfully submitted,
          Greg Davis,
          Recording Secretary.

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SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

CHIPS AND BOULDERS.

Update on Search for New Workshop Home.
     As we've been discussing in recent months, we've been ramping up our search for a new home for our club workshop, for storage space for our show materials, and for our small museum and library. We currently have everything in two storage units in Santa Paula until we can find a more permanent home where we'll be able dust off our saws, grinding units, and other machines to help new members learn the art of stone cutting and polishing.
     I'm very happy to report that Jean Wise may have struck gold via the Ventura County Parks and Recreation Department! There is an empty building on Parks and Recreation property, which Jean and Ron have visited along with Greg and Valli Davis, and it looks like it could just be perfect for our needs! We don't want to raise hopes too high too soon, but we've begun the process of negotiating with the Parks and Recreation Department. I've been working with Greg and Valli to craft a proposal, which Valli will soon deliver in hopes that we can discuss possibilities in mid-November, when the department will hold one of their quarterly meetings. So, keep your fingers crossed, say a prayer, pick a four-leaf clover, or do whatever else may bring us luck, and I'll keep you posted!
          Jim Brace-Thompson.

VGMS to Participate in Wheeler Gorge Event on November 1.
     As noted in last month's newsletter, the Wheeler's Gorge Visitor Center on Highway 33 is holding a fundraiser on Sunday, November 1 (11:00 AM to 6:00 PM), and they've invited the three Ventura County gem and mineral societies to participate. Mary Polacek and I will represent VGMS, and we welcome anyone else who would like to come along. If interested, please call me (805-659-3577).
     Our plan is to have our replica of an Allosaurus dinosaur skull on display, along with a map and photos on poster board showing where dinosaur fossils have been found in California. Going along with this theme, VGMS is donating a copy of Richard Hilton's book "Dinosaurs & Other Mesozoic Reptiles of California" to the door-prize raffle. We'll also have a large poster board with photos of Tri-Club field trips, I'll bring along our "Treasure Chest" from which kids will be able to pick out free tumble-polished stones, and we'll have club flyers and show announcements as hand-outs. Finally, Lowell Foster has said he may be able to put together a small display of rocks, minerals, and fossils collected from sites listed in the Gem Trails of California books. Sounds like it should be a fun event! Again, if you'd like to participate and help Mary and me at the VGMS booth, please give me a call.
          Jim Brace-Thompson.

To All Club Members.
     Ray Meisenheimer's workshop in the garage has been dismantled. There are work tables, shelving units and scrap lumber in the back yard free to anyone interested. Give me a call before coming over (642-3155). The address is 101 N. Wake Forest, Ventura.
          Florence Meisenheimer.

Toot Toot!
     I am pleased to report that Rockhound Rambling has WON the AFMS 2008 New Bulletin Editor's Contest! Whoohoo! A club bulletin can only be as good as its contributions, so here's a big THANK YOU to all members who contributed.
     Steve Mulqueen received an Honorable Mention for this article Definition of the Month: Heap Leaching. Congratultions, Steve.

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FUN STUFF-PALEO WORD DIG.

Fossils are usually surrounded by rocks. Words relating to fossils are surrounded by a lot of other letters.

Can you dig these words out?

From The Gemrock, 03/2003 via Quarry Quips, 02/2004.

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GEMS FROM THE PAST.

VGMS field trip to Tick Canyon, May 1957. Tick Canyon was known for the availability of the minerals colemanite and howlite.

VGMS field trip to the Owlshead Mountains, February 1959. The group is probably searching for chalcedony rose or agate, minerals known to occur in that area.

Photos from the Bruno & Opal Benson Collection. All photos taken by Bruno and Opal Benson, former longtime VGMS members now deceased. Bruno and Opal spent much of their free time exploring the back roads of the western states in search of adventures while in the pursuit of rocks, minerals and fossils.

Photos have been digitally scanned from the original 35mm color slides by Ed Clark. Text written by Steve Mulqueen, October 2008. Text based on information written by Opal on each 35 mm slide.

All photos Copyright 2008 Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, Inc., All Rights Reserved.

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FIELD TRIPS ARE FUN.

Sunday, September 21, San Gabriel River.
We had over 40 rockhounds of all ages show up and pan for gold. The weather was warm, clear out, a perfect day for being outside. We met at the cafe, then headed to the site. We walked about a mile and spread out along the river. We didn't strike it rich, but some of us did find some small gold flakes. From the Conejo club, Mike and Greg Miller, Richard, Noah, Collin Simpson, Luke Herda, Manuel Valdez, John, Karla, Travis Bouck, Xiaofang, Wei Wang, Norman, Nelson, Sonia Way, Mon Yin Miao Mu's. I had fun, but found little gold. I shot some photos and will bring them into an upcoming club meeting.
     Robert Sankovich.

Field Trip Schedule 2008.*

* Please call your field trip leader to confirm that there is a field trip scheduled in the event of changes.

Saturday, October 18, Afton Canyon, North Cady Mountains.
MEET: 8 am at Basin Road and I-15 off-ramp (south side) east of Barstow. We leave at 8:30 am after waiver forms are signed.
CFMS ICE BREAKER FIELD TRIP (First of the Season). Open to all CFMS affiliated clubs and members.
4WD required OR 2WD to the rail tracks. NO LOW CLEARANCE VEHICLES! Roads are sandy and rough.
Rides can be arranged past the rail tracks to 4WD in. Food, water and gas can be had in Barstow. These are remote sites with no facilities. No alcohol during the group event. This is a day trip; however, there are camping sites nearby. Temperatures should be comfortable with cold nights. Be prepared. Material sought will include fluorite, agates, jaspers, onyx, and sagenite nodules. Other finds are possible. Be prepared for hard rock mining for better material although much float is present. Be reminded that these areas are not theme parks and that wildlife and rough terrain is common. Play nice and be safe. Release of Liability Waivers must be signed.
For further info, please contact Adam Dean at (909) 489-4899, theagatehunter@verizon.net or Shep Koss at (661) 248-0411, freudonetoo@yahoo.com.
NOTE: Adam Dean and Teresa will be at Peggy Sue's Restaurant off I-15 near Yermo around 6 am for breakfast for those wishing to meet earlier.

Geology and Mining History Field Trips Co-Sponsored by Bureau of Land Management and Buena Vista Museum of Natural History.
Visit website at www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/bakersfield/Programs/geology/fieldtrips.html or call Dr. Greg Wilkerson at 661-391-6081 or at gwilkers@blm.gov.
Nov. 1, 2008: San Andreas Fault: Ft. Tejon to Pallet Creek.
This segment of the San Andreas fault takes us to several sag ponds and offset streams. Stops are made at Ft. Tejon, Quail Lake, Devil's Punchbowl and Wrightwood. Carbon 14 radiometric dating and it's application to understanding the frequency of earthquakes along the San Andreas Fault is considered at the Pallet Creek paleoseismic site. Examples of the interaction between ecosystems and fault systems are discussed.

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HINTS AND TIPS.

Healing Fractures.
     The secret or the art of healing fractures in a cab with epoxy is to shape your stone and semi-polish it. To get rid of that nasty crack, heat the stone to 200 degrees in the oven.
     Mix the epoxy and apply it to one edge of the crack. Gradually apply the epoxy, working from one end of the crack to the other. This is very important. You will notice that the epoxy becomes very liquid when it touches the hot stone and it flows right into the crack. By applying the epoxy at one end and working toward the outside edge of the cab the air is driven out. Put the stone back in the oven for 20 minutes. The epoxy will harden. Scrape off the surplus and finish polish. If done right the fracture will be difficult to detect.
          From Puget Sounder, date unknown via The Slate 09/2008.

How Do You Cleave Flourite?
     Cleaving minerals seems to be a lost art, except among diamond cutters. Get a flat piece of steel with a sharp, square edge. An old ice skating blade is perfect. Place it at about a 30-45 degree angle to the cleavage. Tap firmly and the mineral should split easily. It is sort of like knapping, it takes a few tries to learn the technique!
     Evening up the octahedrons is like learning to cut a gemstone. You have to have an eye for it.
          George - From Yahoo Rock_Collecting_and_Field_Trips Group Digest Number 272, July 26, 2008.

Patching Soft Stones.
     Some soft stones such as malachite and azurite can be patched to fill in small pits and cracks by taking a scrap of the material to be patched, crushing it and mixing it with epoxy. Clean the stone thoroughly with alcohol, coat the pits or cracks with epoxy, then fill with mixture of epoxy and powdered stone, working it well into the crack with a toothpick or pin, leaving a little above the surface of the stone. Let dry completely, sand wet and polish, using care not to get the stone hot in sanding or polishing.
          From The Geode, date unknown via The Slate 09/2008.

To Drill or Not To Drill.
     I've been doing lapidary work for 25 years and wire-wrapping for about 2 years longer. In my opinion, it is much, much easier to wire-wrap a tumbled stone than it is drilling into it. The slightest mistake while drilling and your stone is worthless. I've seen a lot of amateurs ruin a lot of stones over the years by trying to drill them. This is actually one of the three most asked questions I've gotten over the years: 1) What is this rock? 2) Would it look the same if I sawed it in half and how do you saw it? 3) How do I drill a hole in this rock?
     If you do plan on buying all the equipment you need, here are some tips: Use either a silicon carbide or a diamond bit, about 2 mm. Diamond works better. Get some dop wax and use it to stick the stone to the inside bottom of a shallow jar, like a baby food jar. The jar is easier to fit into a vise than the little stone. Fill the jar with water and slowly.....slowly.....start drilling. If the surface of the stone you are drilling is at an angle, you have to watch for the bit slipping down the angle, so go very, very slowly at first. Let up the pressure every few seconds so that the hole can clean out. When you get to the back end, it's important to go slow again so that you don't chip or crack the back surface of the stone around the hole. Having it dopped to the jar bottom helps prevent that too. Take your time, go slow if you don't want to damage your stone.
          By Raymond Laughlin from Yahoo Rock_Collecting_and_Field_Trips Group Digest Number 235, June 4, 2008.

The club presents these hints and tips for informational purposes only and does not specifically endorse or profess first-hand use or experience with any or all. As always, be aware of your situation, knowledge level and comfort zone before attempting anything new. When in doubt, stop! Get help before you need it.

Keep a log in your shop. Document your techniques and inspirations. You will come up with a journal full of useful tips, and maybe even an educational article or two!! Email hints and tips to vgms_editor@roadrunner.com.

Let us hear your good ideas!

  Table of Contents.

LET'S BE SAFE OUT THERE.

What Have I Just Collected?
By Theodore J. Reith, Safety Chair, via AFMS Newsletter, November 2008.
     I have been a rock and mineral collector for more than three decades now. Being a Chemical Engineer, I've typically been more interested in a specimen's chemistry than it's geology, though I plan to grow my knowledge of the latter. This is a most wonderful hobby, though all of us must be aware of the potential hazards that some minerals could represent.
     This was most apparent to me in an acquisition made when still relatively new to the hobby. A vendor offered a very nice specimen of a rather gemmy, yellow and red crystal matrix from Utah, which I had not seen previously at several dozen Shows. What a great new collection addition! The card identified the specimen as Orpiment and Realgar. As the vendor was quite busy at that time, I did not inquire as to the chemical composition of these minerals.
     At home, my research quickly identified this specimen as two arsenic sulfides, chemically AsS and As₂S₃. Arsenic is an obvious hazard word for most of us. A bit more checking of the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)* showed it to have:

• a Health rating of 4 (defined specifically as "Life threatening, major or permanent damage may result from single or repeated overexposures.")
• to be listed by DOT as a Class B poison ("presumed to present a serious threat to health during transportation")
• to produce Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S) when contacted with water, a known respiratory hazard with its own Health rating of 4.

     If a sample has a Health rating of 3 or 4 on the MSDS (or 2, if you're extra cautious), then you need to do some homework on safe handling.
     The lesson to learn - know what you're collecting, in order to include necessary safety considerations for the specific material. The first step would be to discuss the specimen with the vendor (I've found many to be well informed), or a knowledgeable person at the collection site. Certainly use all available reference materials. If you have Internet access, there are a multitude of safety information sources if you know the chemical composition of your specimen. Google can certainly be your friend in this search. The MSDS, noted above, is a fine information source even though designed for industrial users of chemicals.
     So, what did I do with my colorful, but hazardous specimen? It's clearly marked as to the arsenic content. Handlers, including myself, will use non-cloth gloves or wash hands thoroughly after admiring the crystals, especially prior to eating. Younger children may look, but not touch. And, from that point on, this writer knows what is being added to his collection!

* A material safety data sheet (MSDS) is a form containing data regarding the properties of a particular substance. An important component of workplace safety, it is intended to provide workers and emergency personnel with procedures for handling or working with that substance in a safe manner.

Choking Emergencies By Chuck McKie via CFMS Newsletter September 2008.
     Choking is a common breathing emergency that accounts for more than 3,000 deaths each year. Would you be able to recognize a choking victim and know what to do?
     Choking is often caused by food or other foreign bodies lodged in the throat, blocking the flow of air to the lungs. Typically, choking victims will instinctively grab their throat and may panic, wheeze or gasp for breath.
     If a person can cough, speak and has normal skin color, there is a partial blockage of the airway that can most likely be resolved by coughing. It is important to encourage the person to continue coughing, which can help to dislodge the object causing the obstruction. Even if you see a person coughing, it is important to know that a partial blockage of the airway can quickly turn into a complete blockage where no air is getting through at all. If the person cannot breathe, speak or cough, the windpipe is completely blocked and the person needs emergency help. A person whose airway is blocked can quickly stop breathing and lose consciousness so you must act quickly. If a bystander is available, have that person call EMS personnel while you begin to provide care. When someone is choking but is still conscious, your goal is to reestablish an open airway as quickly as possible. A combination of five back blows and five abdominal thrusts provides an effective way to clear the airway obstruction.
     To give back blows: Firmly position yourself slightly behind the person. Provide support by placing one arm diagonally across the chest and lean the person forward. Firmly strike the person on the back between the shoulder blades with the heel of your other hand.
     To give abdominal thrusts: Start by standing or kneeling behind the victim and wrapping your arms around his or her waist. Make a fist with one hand and place the thumb side against the middle of the victim's abdomen, just above the navel and well below the lower tip of the breastbone. Grab your fist with your other hand and give quick inward and upward thrusts into the abdomen.
     Repeat this combination until the object becomes dislodged or the victim becomes unconscious. If the person becomes unconscious or is unresponsive, they will need a modified CPR technique known as first aid for unconscious choking. Unconscious choking requires more in-depth care that involves rescue breathing, chest compressions and checking for a foreign object.
     To learn more about caring for a conscious or unconscious choking victim and other life threatening emergencies, enroll in an American Red Cross first aid and CPR course.
          Visit http://www.redcross.org/services/hss/courses/ for more information.

  Table of Contents.

EDUCATIONAL CORNER.

Definition of the Month.

Paleogeography - The geography and topographic relief of an area at some specific time in the geologic past. An example of the application of paleogeography would be to study how the area known today as Ventura County would have looked geographically during the Miocene epoch or about 20 million years ago.
Paleolithic - Of or related to the second period of the Stone Age following the Eolithic period and preceding the Mesolithic period, characterized by rough or chipped stone tools and implements.
Paleontologic Species - A morphologic species based on the fossil record alone. All paleontologic species are considered extinct unless a living example of the species is previously known or later discovered. For example, most brachiopod fossils are categorized under the term of paleontologic species. However, there is one known location of living brachiopods that exists today in the Pacific Ocean.
Paleopalynology - A division of the science of palynology concerned with the study of fossil spores and pollen. Much of the spores and pollen specimens preserved as fossils in sedimentary rock units represent a limited scientific window into the nature of plant reproduction for paleontologic species that are now extinct.

Words with a prefix of "paleo" have been featured in the July, August and September (If you go to any of these close the new window to return here.) 2008 bulletins and will be included in future issues.

Source of Information: "A Dictionary of Mining, Mineral, and Related Terms", compiled and edited by Paul W. Thrush and Staff, Bureau of Mines, U.S. Department of Interior, published by the U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1968.

Written by Steve Mulqueen for the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, October 2008. The "Definition of the Month" features words related to geology, paleontology, mining and desert history.

Illustration of the Month

Natural Ruins: Nebraska.

Source: Elementary Geology, by Edward Hitchcock. Amherst College, thirtieth edition, published by Ivison & Phinney in 1855, first page.

Text written by Steve Mulqueen, October 2008. The "Illustration of the Month" features a drawing, sketch, pen & ink rendering, engraving print or any form of graphic art rediscovered in old books, maps, manuscripts and many other sources related to geology, paleontology, mining and desert history. This illustration was chosen for its educational content by the author.

  Table of Contents.

FEDERATION NEWS.

AFMS Club Rockhounds Of The Year From Loretta Ogden,
ACROY Chair via AFMS Newsletter, October 2008.
     On behalf of the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, I'm pleased to put forward Ron and Jean Wise for Education Through Sharing. For years, Ron, along with Greg Davis, has been invaluable in maintaining our club workshop and, most recently, in helping to move material into temporary storage as our club seeks a new workshop home. Ron (along with two buddies, who together make up "The Three Amigos") takes an active hand in assembling and running our annual Silent Auction, which has become one of our club's biggest annual fund raisers. If you were at the CFMS Show in June, you would have seen Ron in action; he was in charge of running the Silent Auction there, which raised over $4,000 for the CFMS Endowment Fund in memory of Ray Meisenheimer. And Jean always takes an active hand in gathering us all together to assemble hundreds of grab bags in their garage and to assemble all the many prizes she then helps to award while running our Kids' Booth at our annual show. And Ron and Jean do similar work for the nearby Oxnard club as well, to which they also belong! In addition, Jean serves as our Federation Director and Ron as our Second Vice President in charge of field trips. In fact, you're more likely to find him and Jean in the field than at home, and he takes us to some terrific locations. Whenever there's a need for a strong, dedicated worker, as when trucking and hauling supplies for our annual show set-up, Ron is first in line. Our club is actually fortunate to have several dedicated individuals and couples who are deserving of the Education Through Sharing award, but for this year, it's Ron and Jean's turn, and an extremely well-deserved turn at that! Ron and Jean, we thank you both!
Editor's Note: The nominating submission was authored by Jim Brace-Thompson. Well deserved congratulations to Jean and Ron!

Having Fun - Junior Ativities: Updating the "Kids Corner" of our Website
By Jim Brace-Thompson, Junior Activities Chair via AFMS Newsletter, October 2008.
     With the terrific assistance of AFMS web master, Marty Hart (thank you Marty!), earlier this year I updated portions of the Kids' Corner section of our web site. We've replaced the old FRA badge manual with the new one (along with 4-color images of all the badges), a new application form, new overviews of the badge program and how to use it, suggestions on starting a youth group, new lists of affiliated clubs, and an "Honor Roll" listing all kids who have earned their "Rockhound" badge by completing requirements for 6 or more of the activity badges.
     We need to continue updating Kids Corner, and to do so, I'd like to solicit your help. For instance, some articles appear to have come from regional newsletters that are now over a decade old and some listings of resources, such as recommended books or activities, apparently are no longer available. Please set aside 30 minutes or so to look through the Kids Corner tabs on our web site (www.amfed.org), and send me your thoughts on what ought to be eliminated or replaced as outdated to help streamline what resides on the site. I also welcome new ideas about info to add to the site, including web links to other kids' resources you may know about. So, again, please take some time to surf the Kids Corner, and contact me with your thoughts (805.659.3577, jbraceth@roadrunner.com).

Cancelled Stamps By Editor Carolyn Weinberger via AFMS Newsletter, October 2008.
     What do you do with all those postage stamps that come on your mail? Don't throw them away! Three of our Regional Federations collect stamps and use them for various causes.
     The Northwest Federation collects all stamps and uses the proceeds and sells them to benefit cancer research. The Midwest Federation collects commemorative stamps and uses them for projects to enhance their endowment fund. The Southeast Federation collects commemorative stamps, sells them to collectors, and uses the proceeds to fund scholarships to their workshops at Wildacres and William Holland.
     To find out whom to send your stamps to, follow the links to the Regionals via the AFMS web site (www.amfed.org/). (Editor's Note: If you don't have internet access and are interested, please contact any of the VGMS board members for help.)

Public Lands Advisory Committee - South,
New Endangered Species "The Rockhound" By John Martin via CFMS Newsletter, October 2008.
     The habitat of the rockhound is diminishing at an astounding rate. More and more of its free roaming areas are being gobbled up each and every day by the changing environment. Soon the range of the Rockhound and its offspring the Pebble Pup will become so diminished that extinction will be imminent. As the environment changes, the ecosystem of the rockhound is slowly being replaced by the ecosystem known as "Wilderness", which is a poisonous dead zone for the Rockhound and Pebble Pup. Soon they will go the way of the Smilodon, the California Grizzly Bear and the now extinct Naugas (which were hunted late in the last century for their hides that were used exclusively in the creation of the Bean Bag Chair).
     What can be done to save the ecosystem and the free range habitat of the endangered Rockhound and Pebble Pup? We can do a lot if we ban together and take action now, before it is too late. We need to review all the facts, formulate a plan, distribute the plan and then execute the plan by contacting all of our elected representatives with our facts, figures and recommendations for saving the ecosystem of the rockhound.
     Currently before congress there are 4 new wilderness bills and one bill that will make some fossil collecting and ownership a federal crime. The California Wild Heritage Act and The Eastern Sierra and Northern San Gabriel Wild Heritage Act when passed by Congress could reduce the ecosystem of the rockhound, just in California, by around 3.26 Million acres of new wilderness habitats.
     The Paleontological Resources Preservation Act when passed by congress will make the collecting and ownership of vertebrate fossils found on public land (BLM, USFS, and State land) a federal crime with punishment with fines and/or imprisonment. Collecting of these fossils on private land is allowed with the proof of collecting on the holder of the fossils. There needs to be allowances for the collecting, ownership and public display of these vertebrate fossils by the amateur collector without the fear of criminal prosecution or civil legal action. We all understand that significant finds like "Sue" need to be preserved for all to enjoy, but the collection, ownership and public display of smaller finds of non-significant, nondescript vertebrate fossils should be allowed in the legislation.
     If we do not get involved and take a proactive approach the above legislation will become law and the Rockhound and Pebble Pups will become extinct just like their ecosystem and free range habitat.
     So what can we do? First read the proposed legislation, determine the effect of the legislation in your collecting areas. Inform all of your club members of the urgency of the legislation. Formulate a response with recommendations that are attainable. Write letters to your elected officials and present your case and points. If we do not make our voices heard we will lose the battle of the Rockhound and we will become extinct. We can make our voices heard in Washington by supporting and joining the American Lands Access Association (ALAA) as clubs or as individuals - http://www.amfed.org/ALAA.htm.
     Below are the Bills and their authors with links to the websites where full information on their status can be obtained:

• S. 493: California Wild Heritage Act of 2007 - Introduced by B. Boxer [D-CA]
  www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-493.
• H.R. 860: California Wild Heritage Act of 2007 - Introduced by Hilda Solis [D-CA]
  www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-860.
• S. 3069: Eastern Sierra and Northern San Gabriel Wild Heritage Act - Introduced by B. Boxer [D-CA]
  www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-3069.
• H.R. 6156: Eastern Sierra and Northern San Gabriel Wild Heritage Act - Introduced by Howard McKeon [R-CA]
  www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-6156.
• H.R. 554: Paleontological Resources Preservation Act - Introduced by James McGovern [D-MA]
  www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-554.

     I have copies of all the above bills in MS Word format. If you or your club would like copies please send me a note with your email address and I will send them to you.

  Table of Contents.

LET'S GO TO A SHOW.

CFMS Shows 2008

October 18; West Hills, CA - Woodland Hills Rock Chippers, First United Methodist Church, 22700 Sherman Way. Hours: 10-5. Virginia Rotramel (951) 403-2634, Email: show@rockchippers.org, www.rockchippers.org.
October 18-19; Anderson, CA - Shasta Gem & Mineral Society, Shasta District Fairgrounds. Hours: Sat. 9-5; Sun. 10-4. Bill Seward (530) 365-8641, E-mail: glseward@sbcglobal.net.
October 18-19; Placerville, CA - El Dorado County Mineral & Gem Society, El Dorado County Fairgrounds, 100 Placerville Drive. Hours: 10-5 both days. Jackie Cerrato (530) 677-2975, Email: info@rockandgemshow.org, http://www.rockandgemshow.org, eldoradomineralandgem.org.
October 18-19; Santa Rosa, CA - Santa Rosa Mineral & Gem Society, Veterans' Memorial Auditorium, 1351 Maple Avenue, Santa Rosa. Hours: Sat. 10-6; Sun. 10-5. Tom Dering (707) 564-4537, Email: farmarch@sonic.net, Website: www.gem-n-i.org.
October 18-19; Whittier, CA - Whittier Gem & Mineral Society, Whittier Community Center, 7630 Washington Avenue. Hours: 10-5 both days. Jay Valle: (626) 934-9764, Email: res19pnb@verizon.net.
October 25-26; Los Altos, CA - Peninsula Gem & Geology Society, Los Altos Youth Center, One San Antonio Road. Hours: Sat. 9-5 pm; Sun. 9-4 pm. Stan Bogosian: (408)569-2489, Email: sbogosian@aol.com.
November 1-2; Concord, CA - Contra Costa Mineral & Gem Society, Centre Concord, 5298 Clayton Rd., Clayton Fair Shopping Center. Hours: 10-5 both days. Sam Woolsey (925) 837-3287, Email: sdwools@earthlink.net, Website: www.ccmgs.org.
November 1-2; Ridgecrest, CA - Indian Wells Gem & Mineral Society, Desert Empire Fairgrounds, Mesquite Hall, 520 S. Richmond Rd. Hours: 9-5 both days. John De Rosa (760) 375-7905, Vickie black (760) 371-4416.
November 1-2; San Diego, CA - San Diego Mineral & Gem Society, Al Bahr Shrine Center, 5440 Kearny Mesa Road. Hours: Sat. 9:30-5; Sun 10-4. Alva Whetton (619) 823-6787.
November 7, 8, 9; Eureka, CA - Humboldt Gem & Mineral Society, Redwood Acres Fairgrounds, 3750 Harris. Hours: Fri. 9-6; Sat. 10-6; Sun. 10-5. Toni Tyson (707) 725-2890, Email: BLUII911@msn.com.
November 8-9; Lancaster, CA - Palmdale Gem & Mineral Society, Antelope Valley Fairgrounds, 2551 W. Ave. H, Hwy 14. Hours: 9-5 both days. Susan Chaissin-Walblom (661) 943-1861, Email: SLChaisson@yahoo.com, pgms@antelecom.net.
November 8-9; Yuba City, CA - Sutter Buttes Gem & Mineral Society "Festival of Gems", Grace Franklin Hall, 442 Franklin Avenue. Hours: Sat. 9-5; Sun. 9-4. Cliff Swenson (530) 272-3752, Inez Berg (530) 633-4612.
November 22-23; Oxnard, CA - Oxnard Gem & Mineral Society, Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way. Hours: Sat. 9-5; Sun. 10-4. Miriam Tetrault (805) 642-5779, E-mail: miriamtetreault@hotmail.com, Website: www.oxnardgem.com.
December 6-7; Barstow, CA - Mojave Gem & Mineral Society, Cora Harper Community Center, 841 S. Barstow Road. Hours: 10-5 Both Days. Gene Haines (760) 256-0595, E-mail: email@mdgms.org, Website: www.mdgms.org.
December 13-14; San Bernardino, CA - Orange Belt Mineralogical Society, Hernandez Recreation Center, 2nd & Siera Way, San Bernardino. Hours: 9-5 both days. Lyle Strayer (909) 887-3394.

CFMS Shows 2009.

January 17-18; Exeter, CA - Tule Gem & Mineral Society, Exter Memorial Bldg., 420 N. Kaweah. Hours: Sat. 10-5; Sun. 10-4. Margaret Buchmann (599) 739-0401, Email: mab@mindinfo.com, Webpage: tulegem.org.
February 13-22; Indio, CA - San Gorgonio Mineral & Gem Society, Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival, Gem & Mineral Building Bldg #1, 46-350 Arabia Street. Hours: 10 am-10 pm. Bert Grisham: (915) 849-1674, Email: bert67@verizon.net.
February 27-March 8; Imperial, CA - Imperial Valley Gem and Mineral Society, Gem and Mineral Bldg on Fairgrounds. Hours: Sat. & Sun. Noon-10; Mon. thru Thur. 4pm-10pm. Jim Strain (760) 356-2361.
March 6, 7 & 8; Hayward, CA - Mineral and Gem Society of Castro Valley, Centennial Hall, 22292 Foothill Blvd. Hours: Fri. & Sat. 10-6; Sun. 10-5. Larry Ham (510) 887-9007, E-mail: showchair@mgscv.org, Website: http://www.mgscv.org.
March 7-8; Ventura, CA - Ventura Gem and Mineral Society, Inc., 47th Annual Gem, Mineral, Lapidary & Fossil Show, Seaside Park, Ventura County Fairgrounds. Hours: Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4. Website: http://www.vgms.org.

Source: http://cfmsinc.org/.

FEDERATION SHOWS - 2008.

Rocky Mountain Federation (RMFMS),
October 31-November 2,
Tulsa, OK.

South Central Federation (SCMS) / AFMS,
September 25-28,
Humble, TX.

Southeast Federation (SFMS).

Source: http://cfmsinc.org/.

  Table of Contents.

SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

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