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

The Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. (VGMS)
Rockhound Rambling
September 1998.

Table of Contents.

• EDITOR'S NOTE;
• ED MILOTA PRESENTS "USING METAL DETECTORS" AT SEPTEMBER 23RD MEETING;
• WORDS TO LIVE BY;
• MARK YOUR CALENDARS;
• VGMS SUMMER PICNIC - October 17, 1998;
• LAPIDARY / WIRE WRAPPING INSTRUCTIONAL WORKSHOP SCHEDULED;
• ON AUGUST 26TH WE TRIPPED "AROUND THE WORLD IN 110 DAYS" WITH WAYNE & MARIE EHLERS;
• THANK YOU NOTES;
• "ROCKHOUND BULLETIN BOARD";
• COMMUNITY EDUCATION;
• FIELD TRIPS ARE FUN;
• PINK SALT LAKES;
• PRACTICE SAFETY WHEN TRAVELING;
• VGMS MINUTES;
• HOSPITALITY;
• SUNSHINE;
• OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS;
• MEMBERSHIP - NEW MEMBERS & UPDATES;
• THE SHOP PAGE;
• OBSIDIAN;
• PUBLIC LANDS ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT;
• LOUD AND CLEAR;
• A day without;
• 1998 AFMS/CFMS SHOWS AND EVENTS;
• I just got lost;
• EDITORS NOTE 2;
• THE GEOLOGIC TIME SCALE;
• The following was extracted from some of the mail.

EDITOR'S NOTE.

The next bulletin will be for October & November, so please have your schedules and information for both months. Our meetings are early in November and December, so we don't publish in November and publish early in December.

Table of Contents.

ED MILOTA PRESENTS
"USING METAL DETECTORS"
AT SEPTEMBER 23RD MEETING.

Ed will present a program on using metal detectors. Metal detecting can be done for fun, discovery/learning and profit. Ed has been in the metal detecting business for forty years (he owns Search and Recover Enterprises here in Ventura). He is also associated with the Gold Coast Treasure Hunters (they have just joined CFMS) who put on the treasure hunt at our Federation show. Ed has travelled all over the world and has had some wonderful experiences with metal detecting. Bring your questions, he has a lot of knowledge.
     See you there!
     Kathryn Davis,
     Program Chair Person.

Table of Contents.

WORDS TO LIVE BY.

There is no experience less rewarding than saying thanks to a voice recording.

There's nothing like sealing a letter to inspire a fresh thought.

Never look down--you may miss a rainbow or a sunset. (But you might find a really choice rock.)

People who do a good day's work seldom have to worry about getting a good night's sleep.

     Contributed by Wayne Ehlers.

Table of Contents.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

9-19-98 - Workshop Open at VGMS Museum - 9:00 am to 12:00 noon - Instructor - Greg Davis. (You can also take Country Store items to the Museum during these hours.)
9-23-98 - VGMS Regular Meeting - American Legion Hall - 7:30 p.m. - Ed Milota presents "Using Metal Detectors".
10-1-98 - VGMS Board Meeting - 7:30 p.m. VGMS Museum - All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
10-9-98 - DEADLINE FOR OCTOBER/NOVEMBER BULLETIN - Articles to the Editor! (Be sure to note the combined months.)
10-9, 10 & 11-98 - Field Trip - Trona Show - Searles Lake.
10-17-98 - VGMS Summer Picnic - Red & Nancy Jioras' home - See announcement later on in the bulletin for details.
10-24-98 - Workshop Open at VGMS Museum - 9:00 am to 12:00 noon - Instructor - Jay Baumler. (You can also take Country Store items to the Museum during these hours.)
10-24-98 - Lapidary Wire Wrapping Class.
11-14-98 - Field Trip - Fossils in Camarillo.
11-21-98 - Workshop Open at VGMS Museum - 9:00 am to 12:00 noon - Instructor - Wayne Ehlers.
12-9-98 - VGMS Annual Christmas Party.
12-19-98 - Workshop Open at VGMS Museum - 9:00 am to 12:00 noon - Instructor - Red Jioras.

Table of Contents.

VGMS SUMMER PICNIC - October 17, 1998.

     Due to the fact that many of our members could not make it to the picnic as it was scheduled for August 23, the picnic has been rescheduled to October 17, 1998 at the Jioras house in Ojai. Call Red & Nancy Jioras at 646-7184 if you have questions, including how to get there.
     This year we have changed the menu a bit and will be BBQ'ing tri-tip and chicken (and a little fish). Each family should bring a side dish or a desert, dishes and silverware, and whatever you want to drink. Chili beans will be provided by Eleanor Rising. The cost will be $3.00 each or $5.00 per couple. The picnic will start at 11:00 am and we'll be eating somewhere between 12:00 and 12:30.
     Don't forget your white elephants for the auction. The more stuff the merrier!!
          Red and Nancy Jioras.

Table of Contents.

LAPIDARY / WIRE WRAPPING
INSTRUCTIONAL WORKSHOP
SCHEDULED.

     For those members or prospective members who are interested in learning or refreshing cabochon or lapidary skills, Wayne Ehlers and Red Jioras will be presenting a five consecutive week class starting October 24th and running for the following four Saturdays. The class will instruct students in the use of all equipment at the club shop and take them from cutting rough material to a finished cabochon.
     Running along with the lapidary class, Nancy Jioras will be teaching basic wire wrap. If you have any questions about the lapidary classes, please contact Red or Wayne and if you would like to attend the wire wrapping classes, please contact Nancy for instructions.
     There will be more details at the September meeting.
          Red Jioras and Wayne Ehlers.

Table of Contents.

ON AUGUST 26TH WE TRIPPED
"AROUND THE WORLD IN 110 DAYS"
WITH WAYNE & MARIE EHLERS.

     Wayne and Marie continue to amaze us with their extraordinary journeys and they are a real inspiration. This was a special one as it also celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They travel by less conventional means - such as Russian icebreakers or foreign freighters - and as a result get to places most tourists do not.
     The pictures of the masses of penguins were awesome. Can you imagine having so little space or privacy? On the other hand the combined body heat likely helps all the members. The pictures cannot portray the sounds and smells but our imaginations can! The icebergs are majestic and their windswept sculpturing a delight. Then the Ehlers go from the cold and ice to high summer temperatures in Australia. Driving in to Opal mine areas and being allowed to pick through the tailings - Wonderful! The Zebra Stone samples Wayne showed us are fascinating. Australia is so very rich in minerals.
     In addition to Wayne and Marie's wonderful program, Dave Mautz had his Ventura County Fair award winning display of Trilobites there to share with us. WOW!
          Kathryn Davis,
          Program Chair Person.

Table of Contents.

THANK YOU NOTES:

On behalf of Art and myself, I want to thank all of our V.G.M.S. friends, for the generous donation given in his memory and for the many kindnesses shown during his long illness and after his passing away.

I am deeply touched and comforted by the overwhelming love and concern expressed by your cards, visits to him and phone calls. I also wish to thank all of you who were able to attend his Memorial.

Sharlyne Holloway & Family.

On behalf of the California State Mining & Mineral Museum Association I would like to thank you for the donation. We are sorry for your loss of such a remarkable individual.

Thank you,
Deni Smith.

(Regarding VGMS donation as a Memorial to Art Holloway.)

Table of Contents.

"ROCKHOUND BULLETIN BOARD".

SPECIAL THANKS TO BILL KLAMSER - The Club was very fortunate in a recent donation by Bill Klamser of Ojai, CA who donated approximately 800 lbs. of assorted slabs. These slabs will in turn be used to support the educational goals of the VGMS. Anyone interested in viewing the material or purchasing the material for lapidary work please contact one of the lapidary instructors for the workshops. We will bring assorted boxes of these slabs to the meeting where members will be able to view and purchase them. - Red Jioras.

INTERNET ROCKHOUNDING -You are invited to join the Lapidary Digest e-mail list, a free mail list devoted solely to all the Lapidary arts except faceting. It focuses on the cutting, carving, shaping, knapping, polishing and assembly of rocks or minerals into cabs, special shapes, intarsia and channel work pieces. Tumbling, slab and trim sawing, the types and properties of stones used for lapidary, and the treatments of these stones are all proper topics for discussions. The list has over 1200 subscribers and is sent out in digest form, about twice a week.
     To join, send a message to lapidary@mindspring.com with the word SUBSCRIBE on the subject line of the message.This is a programmed subscription which picks up your e-mail address from your message, so be sure to subscribe from the computer to which you want the Digest to be sent. All future communications with the Digest computer must be from the same computer address.
     A Welcome letter will be sent to you shortly after you subscribe, containing policies and procedures for interacting with the Digest. We hope you will join and participate; and look forward to seeing you there.

Hale.

Hale Sweeny,
Administrator, Lapidary Digest,
hale2@mindspring.com,
Durham, NC.

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE - RayTech 10 in. Trim Saw - Good condition - $100. Red Jioras 805 646-7184.

Display Case, club size 36" by 24" with glass shelves - $40 Nancy Jioras 805 646-7184.

ROCKS AND TUMBLED STONES NEEDED - When you are out there collecting, gather up some extra smaller stuff for the Grab bags and when you are tumbling, add some for the grab bags! Good material is still needed. Lots of eager kids out there and we don't want to disappoint them! Ray and Marie are still at it, so let's help them out.

COUNTRY STORE STILL LOOKING - For all those discards in good condition you need to clean out. Please bring to the Museum, regular meeting or board meeting for the Country Store. If you need someone to pick them up call Shirley Layton at 805 642-2683 and leave a message. We have had one pricing session and I would like to thank all those that have brought things in. We have some good stuff but - THE COUNTRY STORE NEEDS A LOT OF GOOD ITEMS - OUR SUPPLY WAS DEPLETED LAST YEAR. I would also like to thank Nancy Jioras and Richard Bromser for their help in pricing and packing.

LAPIDARY WORKSHOP - The lapidary shop at the museum will be opened the third Saturday of each month and will have an instructor present to help you with your project.
     These organized workshops are part of your dues and are free to members. The shop can also be accessed at other times of the month by contacting one of the instructors listed below and making an appointment to use the equipment. When the shop is used on an appointment basis, there will be a $1.00 an hour charge to help defray the replacement cost of items such as saw blades, polishing wheels, etc.

Shop Committee:

• John McCabe - 805 654-1968,
• Jay Baumler - 805 644-3962,
• Greg Davis - 805 647-9214,
• Red Jioras - 805 646-7184,
• Wayne Ehlers - 805 482-6830,
• Ray Meisenheimer - 805 642-3155,
• Bruno Benson - 805 646-5976.

THANKS TO WAYNE AND MARIE EHLERS AND THE WORK SHOP INSTRUCTORS - We won't need to have a work party at the museum. Wayne and Marie have done a lot of clean up around the outside of the museum as well as inside the museum. The instructors have the workshop in top shape, it almost sparkles! Many, many thanks to these dedicated, hard working people. I'm gonna miss the clean-up party though, they are fun!

STAMPS NEEDED - The individual who handles canceled postage stamps for the Easter Seal Society will be attending the CFMS Fall Business Meeting. Bertie Raines has given me a good sized package of stamps to turn in. (Thank you Bertie.) If any one else wishes to donate canceled stamps for this purpose I will be happy to receive them.
     Once a year the Easter Seal Society holds a giant stamp sale in Sacramento. One year enough money was raised to buy a van with a wheel chair lift, for transporting handicapped persons for treatment.
     To save stamps, do not tear them from the envelope, cut them out, leaving about one half inch of paper, so that the stamp is not damaged. Any and all stamps are accepted. Thank you. - Florence Meisenheimer, Federation Director.

PLEASE READ THE PUBLIC LANDS REPORT FURTHER ON IN THE BULLETIN AND COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR CONGRESSMAN. - OUR HOBBY DEPENDS ON IT.

Table of Contents.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION.

     Thursday, August 20 Ray Meisenheimer gave a museum tour for a home study group, the instructor and eight students.
     Wednesday August 26 a home study instructor, with her two small sons visited the museum. She plans to bring her group for a tour at a later date.
          Contributed by Florence Meisenheimer.

Table of Contents.

FIELD TRIPS ARE FUN!!!

     See "Mark Your Calendars" for the 1998 Field Trip Schedule. Any changes will be announced at the meetings and/or in the Bulletin.

FIELD TRIP TO SEARLES LAKE - October 9, 10 & 11;
     The VGMS field trip for October will be to "Gem-O-Rama '98". This is the annual mineral show and collecting field trips in Trona held by the Searles Lake Gem & Mineral Society.
     Steve Mulqueen will be leading the trip from Ventura to Trona. He will be leaving from the K-Mart parking lot on Victoria Ave. in Ventura on the morning of Friday, October 9,1998. The time will be announced during our regular monthly meeting. You can also call Steve.

Collecting trips: 3 field trips to collect minerals on Searles Lake (SLGMS), fluorescent mineral collecting (SLGMS), fossil collecting & onyx collecting (led by Steve Mulqueen).

Camping: Camping on Friday will be at "Valley Wells", North of Trona. If the group wants, we can camp at a remote locality on Saturday.

Things to bring: Good rubber gloves, old shoes, rubber boots, geology pick, chisel, long pry bar, plastic buckets, newspaper, boxes, shortwave black light, etc.

See additional details in this bulletin.

     Steve Mulqueen.

A Map of the Route to Searles Lake.




An attempt to reproduce the Gem-O-Rama '98 Flyer.

Table of Contents.

PINK SALT LAKES.

     If you have ever driven on U.S. 395 in summer along the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada, you may have noticed the pinkish-red salt flats of Owens Lake gleaming in the desert sun. Near the abandoned Pittsburgh Plate Glass soda ash plant, along the northwestern end of the lake, solar evaporation ponds may be colored a brilliant red. Similar pinkish brine ponds can be seen along U.S. 50 east of Fallon, Nevada.
     Pink salt lakes and playas--and the bright red evaporation ponds of salt recovery plants along their shores--are one of natures' most interesting biological phenomena, occurring throughout arid regions of the world. The red coloration is caused by astronomical numbers of microscopic organisms living in the water and salt crust. How they survive the blistering summer heat and concentrated brine is remarkable.
     Before the end of the last great ice age of the Pleistocene Epoch over 11,000 years ago, huge snow packs and glaciers covered the Sierra Nevada. Melting of the snow and ice sent enormous quantities of water down the Owens River, filling the deep valleys and basins along its path to overflowing. Remnants of ancient beaches at the southern end of Owens Valley indicate that glacial Owens Lake was over 200 feet deep and covered nearly 200 square miles.
     Glacial Owens River ran south to China Lake, where it overflowed into vast Searles Basin and Panamint Valley, forming lakes estimated to be more than 600 feet deep. Some geologists believe that glacial Lake Panamint may have overflowed into Death Valley, where it joined forces with the Amargosa and Mojave Rivers to form ancient Lake Manly, another lake some 600 feet deep. During thousands of years of evaporation the lakes gradually dried up, as enormous quantities of salts precipitated out in vast slat flats.
     In 1913 a tramway was completed across the rugged 9,000 foot crest of the Inyo Range, east of Owens Lake. During its peak operation the tram bucket brigade carried 20 tons of salt per hour from isolated Saline Valley. Remnants of the ingenious salt tram can still be seen along the Owens Lake Loop (State 190). Today, at Searles Lake, mineral-rich brine is pumped to North American Chemical Corporation in Trona where valuable minerals are recovered.
     Before the Owens River was diverted into Los Angeles Aqueduct in 1913, Owens Lake was a large, blue salt lake covering 100 square miles. During the late 1800's a steamship crossed Owens Lake to carry lumber, mine timbers, charcoal and other supplies to the east shore, where it was packed up to the Cerro Gordo mine near the crest of the Inyo Range. On the return trip the steamer carried hundreds of bars of silver bullion to Cartago Landing at the south end of the lake, saving days of freight time by mule trains. Today as you gaze across the immense, rose-pink salt flat, it is hard to imagine this was once a beautiful blue lake with a busy steamship and two bustling ports at distant shores.
     The reddish coloration of salt crust and brine in Owens and Searles lakes is primarily caused by salt-loving bacteria called halobacteria. A single drop of the brine contains millions of rod-shaped bacterial cells, squirming about with seemingly perpetual motion. They are able to swim by means of minute hair-like flagella at their ends. The bacteria produce a red pigment similar to that found in tomatoes, red peppers and in many colorful flowers and autumn leaves. The red pigment may serve to protect the delicate cells from the intense desert sunlight.
     Halobacteria can thrive in concentrated brine nine times the salinity of seawater and can even remain alive in dry salt crystals for years. In fact, their extreme tolerance for ordinary table salt (sodium chloride) makes them a nuisance to companies using evaporation ponds for the production of solar salt. Freshly produced solar salt is often contaminated with these organisms, and they occasionally cause spoilage of fish, meats, vegetables and hides when salt has been used in the preservation process. They may also cause an unsightly pinkish discoloration of pickled foods known as "pinkeye" in salted fish and "red heat" in salted hides.
     In addition to the red bacteria, several kinds of single celled green algae thrive in the brine of Owens and Searles Lake. Under high magnification the algae cells can be seen swimming along gleaming crystals of chlorides, sulfates and carbonate that resemble microscopic diamonds. You can find algae inside greenish chunks of salt crust that has been exposed to the hot desert sun for years. They also survive in shallow brine pools heated to more than 150 degrees Fahrenheit in summer, so hot that it can burn or severely dehydrate your fingers.
     One of the algal species, Dunaliella, has a bright red form that colors the very saline northern arm of the Great Salt Lake in Utah. Curiously, another species of single-celled algae, called snow algae occurs in the nearby mountain ranges and colors the alpine snowbanks watermelon pink.
     It is difficult to say when the ancient lakes of the Southwest became saline enough to sustain the salt-loving algae and bacteria. Some of these micro-organisms can only survive in concentrated brine, and yet the same species have almost worldwide distributions. Authorities have speculated that they may be dispersed around the earth by dust clouds carried on the wind.
     Algae and bacteria occur in some of the most bizarre and unusual habitats on earth, from pink snowbanks in high mountain ranges to the greenish cores of polar bear hairs. They also occur in some of the most seemingly inhospitable places on earth, such as boiling hot springs and exposed boulders on windswept alpine summits. But living in hot, saturated brine and dry salt crust under a blistering desert sun seems about as inhospitable as any place on earth. How they survive and multiply through countless centuries in a world of glistening salt crystals, and how they travel around the world in dust clouds to colonize desert salt lakes, is truly remarkable.
          Text: Wayne P. Armstrong,
          Professor of biology and botany at Palomar College.

          Contributed by Steve Mulqueen.

Table of Contents.

PRACTICE SAFETY WHEN TRAVELING.

     Suppose something happened to both of us at the same time when we are on the road. Richard says he has prepared an Emergency Information Sheet which they both carry, and he also has one in each of his three vehicles.

1. Our full names, address, telephone number. Yes, this is on our drivers' license, but it confirms who this information is for and it will all be on one page.
2. Since our dogs travel with us most of the time, I included their names and a brief description. This alerts emergency people that we have pets with us to be cared for also.
3. Next of kin names and telephone numbers. Because our family is somewhat scattered, we included our children as well as some other family members.
4. Name and telephone numbers for our medical insurer.
5. Name and telephone number of our vehicle insurer.

     Each person should tailor their own Emergency Information Sheet to his or her specific needs and situation. Give enough information for correct identification and so the right people can be contacted. Be careful not to give too much personal information, just in case your Emergency Information Sheet falls into the wrong hands.
          by Richard Pankey,
          CFMS Safety Chairman,
          Excerpts from CFMS Newsletter 9-98.

Table of Contents.

VGMS MINUTES.

MINUTES OF THE GENERAL MEETING - August 26, 1998 - Will be in next month's bulletin.

MINUTES OF THE BOARD MEETING - September 3, 1998 - Will be in next month's bulletin.

Table of Contents.

HOSPITALITY.

     Eleanor has been sitting in for Sharlyne Holloway, manning the member register and guest book. I keep forgetting to get a member and guest count. I remember we had one guest, Marty, Kathryn Davis' sister! Welcome Marty and we were happy to have you with us again. Marty helped a great deal with our CFMS show and other events as well!
     We had a great group and Dave Mautz had some great door prizes to reward them!! Poor John McCabe, our President, couldn't make the meeting as he had a business trip back east. Actually he was going right into hurricane territory. He came back unscathed, thank fortune, but we have to give him the crying towel as he was drawn for the Name Badge! Sorry John, it will be $15 next month.
     It was great to have Bill and Marian Vient with us along with Clay and Liz Brashears. It has been too long! We are always happy to have Bertie Raines with us as well and many thanks to Richard Bromser for bringing her.
     There were several door prize winners, some were super lucky, but we won't name names!! Thanks Bonnie for the great refreshments! The program was great, Wayne always does a good job, and a good time was had by all.

Table of Contents.

SUNSHINE.

     James Porter is in Community Memorial Hospital. He is going to have surgery as soon as his heart problem settles down. He and Dorothy could use your cards and calls. Our thoughts and prayers are with you both.
     Now that Ray Meisenheimer can sit down from all the work he did at the Ventura County Fair, his foot problem is improving. He had been putting it to hard use and it rebelled. We are glad it is settling down.
     Good to see Olga Hammer back after her knee surgery August 14th. She is off crutches, and only using a cane now. It should be fine soon.
     As for the "Sunshine Lady" my blood tests came back perfect, but the Doctor said I had to slow down. After judging at the fair 8 hours a day, plus playing in two Bridge Marathons (Republican Women and Eastern Star Fund Raisers) I don't see why! I plan to just sort of be an "old lady" awhile (Never, although a little rest wouldn't hurt! - Ed. Note.) until our picnic on Oct. 17th and then I will help Nancy.
     We need to keep Sharlyne in our calls, we hope to see her soon.
     Let's keep the Sunshine person informed so we can share your happiness and give support where needed.
          Eleanor Rising,
          Sunshine Chairperson.

Table of Contents.

OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS.

     Happy Birthday to all those born in October and we hope you have a Great Day! We do have one belated September birthday to share, and that is Allie Buck on September 30th. For some reason I never had her birth date. We hope you have a great day Allie and thanks for sharing it with us.

October - Happy Birthday!!

• John McCabe - 12th,
• Richard Jioras - 13th,
• Jay Baumler - 17th,
• Leslie Isom - 21st,
• Valli Davis - 23rd,
• Bertie Raines - 27th,
• Olga Hammer - 31st.

The October birthstone is the Opal or Tourmaline and the flower is the Calendula.

OPAL:
     The best way to keep opal jewelry from cracking and crazing is to wear it. Opal picks up moisture from the body necessary to keep it in good condition. If you need to store opal, it should not be cushioned in something like dry absorbent cotton. Rather, place it in an airtight jar with a couple of wet cotton balls in it.
     Don't store opal in a bank vault - pressuring in the vault tends to separate the layers in triplets. In air travel, take the opal with you; do not let it go in the baggage hold. If the prongs are too tight in a setting, the opal will eventually crack.
          Via American River Currents,
          via The Rock Bag,
          via VVG&M Bulletin 10/95.

OPAL:
     October's birthstone, the opal, recalls in its wonderful and varied play of colors the glory of a bright October day in the country, where earth and sky vie with each other in brilliance so that the eye is fairly dazzled with the bewildering variety of its splendorous hues. The ownership of so fair a gem as a fine opal certainly must be a source of pleasure and good fortune of the wearer. The opal was the most popular gem stone in England when Queen Victoria ascended to the throne at age 18. Victoria loved opals and featured them in the extensive jewelry she loaded on herself.
          Contributed by Florence Meisenheimer.

Table of Contents.

MEMBERSHIP - NEW MEMBERS
& UPDATES.

     We are most happy to welcome three new members to our society. Please add these names and addresses to your membership directories. Ed and Martie are new members, but well known by many of our members. They are from Bakersfield and have helped with many of our shows. We are most happy to have them with us. Michelle Orozco is a new name but not a new face!! She was a member a few years ago and also the winner of our scholarship. Michelle Luotonen may sound more familiar. She has married and has settled in Santa Paula. We are really happy to have her with us and hopefully her husband, Mario, will come as well so we can meet him. We are very happy to have you back with us Michelle.

Please update your directories with the following.

New Members:

     Michelle Orozco,
     1207-B Richmond Road,
     Santa Paula, CA 93060,
     805 933-7002.

     Martie & Edgar Isch,
     11800 Brockridge Ct.,
     Bakersfield, CA 93312,
     805 589-4954.

New Addresses:

     Allie Buck,
     P.O. Box 429,
     Prairie City, OR 97869-0429,
     541 820-3325.

     Floy Myers,
     6033 Paseo Palmilla,
     Goleta, CA 93117,
     805 964-8781.

     Following is the letter Allie sent with her change, which I'm sure many members will be happy to read.

Dear Shirley,

I'm writing to give you my new address and phone number. We have moved to Prairie City, Oregon.

The mobile home park in Boise was sold to build a Mall. I thought I was there for life, but no such luck.

All 81 trailers and 20 to 25 RV's had to move. We had about nine months to get out, but we happened to hear about this place through a friend. So we were able to move much earlier.

We all like it fine. Very peaceful. No trains, airplanes, semis, sirens or cars and their exhausts. The people are very friendly and it's a small town, only 1185 people live here. Plus three more since August 15th! Mountains all around us and deer going through our yard. We bought land with our mobile home this time, so it can never be sold unless we want it that way.

Shirley, would it be possible to put my name back on the September birthday list (Ed. Note: I never did have it, so appreciate your letting me know!). It's September 30th, if not it's okay.

Prairie City is just thirteen miles from the town of John Day. Many years ago, we went to a farm or something called John Day and dug petrified wood. I've been asking people if they have heard of the place. Only one person had heard of it, but didn't know where it was, and neither do I. Maybe someone in the club would remember from the past, how far it might be from the town of John Day. My curiosity has got the best of me, and I think this is rock hunting country. I'm going to get a map of Oregon and see if I can find the area myself.

I was sorry to hear about Art Holloway. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and hope they are doing okay.

I still enjoy the Bulletin and especially about the fair at Ventura. We spent many years and time helping out at the Ventura Fair. I still miss it and always enjoyed it very much.

My house address if anyone would like to find us is 543 N. Johnson Ave., Prairie City, Or. I wish everyone good health and Happy Rock Hunting.

Sincerely,
Allie Buck.

Table of Contents.

THE SHOP PAGE.

Save your sleeves from getting wet when trimming, sawing or grinding. Cut the ends off a couple of bread bags, slip the wrapper over your sleeve and secure with rubber bands. - From Mineral Memo via The Nugget 9-98.

Tired of the high cost of cutting oil? Can't stand the smell of diesel? Your worries are over - just use Pine-Sol. Use about 3/4 of the bottle in a 16" saw and the rest of the bottle in a 10 " saw. This does the trick! - Gemdrops, date unknown, via The Nugget 9-98.

Need a dopstick? Use a split wooden clothespin. It has a large handle to grip, a flat area for your stone, and the slot can be slipped over the edge of a box to support the stone upright. - Original source unknown via The Nugget 9-98.

Table of Contents.

OBSIDIAN.

     It is natural glass. Usually black, its sharp edges were useful as tools in the old days.
     When the volcano blew, this part of the magma cooled off quickly. Had it taken more time it would have gone on to become quartz and feldspar - the makings of mountain-building granite. But it didn't.
     It cooled so quickly that all the component minerals remain permanently blended. It is not an aggregate, it doesn't have mineral grains - hence the glass and glassy look.
     Some of the magma spray fell as individual droplets instead of massive flows. They also cooled quickly. These droplets are now called Apache Tears.
A chunk of obsidian appears to he solid black, but when sliced thin is almost clear. The cause of this phenomenon is inclusions. Thin layers of magnetite in fine powder form trap the light, rendering the glass opaque.
     Though it shares a tool and arrowhead history, don't confuse it with flint, which is a type of quartz.
     The name comes down to us from a Roman named Obsius who "discovered" this material while in Ethiopia.
     The ancient Mexican cultures were particularly expert in flaking off long sections for various tools. It was often used as a mirror.
     Because its atoms are in random positions relative to one another, obsidian never forms crystals.
     It polishes extremely well. Varieties include the ever-popular "snowflake" as well as "midnight lace," plus several rareties.
     Despite natural glass's universal occurrence and uniform structure and appearance, it is thought by the official categorizers to have too many variations in its chemical proportions to qualify as a mineral.
     Sometimes those high mineral standards are a crock . . . if not downright obsidian!
          Ed Montgomery,
          Minerals Chair,
          via The Nugget 6-98.

Table of Contents.

PUBLIC LANDS ADVISORY
COMMITTEE REPORT.

     This is to bring you up to date on some of the activities that PLAC has been involved in since our last meeting. Ken and Nora Hawkins have resigned from the PLAC due to health limitations. They have certainly served CFMS and their local clubs well at a time when they were needed. We will miss them as an active part of PLAC's statewide group.
     Several meetings have been held related to planning the Northern and Eastern Colorado Desert Coordinated Management Plan which involves much of the area we rockhounds normally use in Imperial, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.
     The present proposed planning would severely limit access to the Wiley Wells area, all the geode beds in the area, Milpitas Wash area, the Palo Verde Mountains, the Vinagre Wash area and other areas of interest to most CFMS members.
     One proposal states that most washes currently used as access would be closed to vehicular travel. Several unimproved dirt roads would be closed or limited to seasonal access. One restriction proposed to "protect" bats states that no roads would be allowed within 500 meters of a bat habitat.
     To illustrate how these recommendations get out of control, the original recommendation to protect bats was 500 feet. Someone commented that 500 feet was not enough to "protect" the bats and suggested 500 yards. Another complained that was too far so a proposal was made to change that to 500 meters. Apparently, those people in attendance at the meeting did not know that a meter is more than a yard and did not comment. Actually, 500 meters is 546.8 yards. I can assure you that they do know now that 500 meters is too much and would result in potential closure of numerous roads throughout the desert areas.
     One example of the way this rule could be used to close access is the Vinagre Wash area in Imperial County. The road is approximately 19 miles long. Near Buzzard Peak approximately 150 yards of the road is less than 500 meters from the peak where migratory bats reside part of the year. A liberal interpretation of this proposed regulation could close the entire road.
     We recently received notice that the U S Forest Service is considering closure of up to 60% of all roads in National Forests throughout the Western states. Mike Dombeck stated that they only have enough funds to maintain 40% of the existing roads and that they are inventorying the roads to determine which roads are needed and which are not.
     If you have National Forests in your area, it is recommended that you contact them and offer to assist in determining the value of roads in their inventory process. As you know, many roads we use are not necessarily roads that serve a purpose other than access. We must be sure that those roads of importance to our members be retained as part of their management plan.
          By Jim Strain,
          PLAC Chairman,
          via CFMS Newsletter, 9-98.

Table of Contents.

LOUD AND CLEAR.

Guess Who Wants to Collect Fossils?
     On the morning of April 6th one of our radio stations interviewed Newt Gingrich, Speaker of the House. After Mr. Gingrich was complimented on his loss of weight, etc., he was asked about his future plans (a Presidential bid is rumored). In the course of his answer he revealed that, at some point in his life, he wants to return to the academic life and plans to spend his leisure time collecting fossils. He related that he had visited the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History over the weekend and daydreamed of retiring and "collecting dinosaur".
     Lots of luck Newt!
     I understand that Mr. Gingrich has a number of "decorator" fossils in his outer office. My impression is that he would be a natural ally in ALAA's attempts to secure passage of the Fossil Preservation Act, if we can get the bill reintroduced.
          by George Loud,
          Chairman,
          AFMS Conservation and Legislation Committee,
          via CFMS Newsletter, 9-98.

Table of Contents.

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

A day without sunshine is like . . . . . . . . . . . . . night.

On the other hand . . . . . . . . . . . . . you have different fingers.

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

Table of Contents.

1998 AFMS/CFMS SHOWS AND EVENTS.

SEPTEMBER 26 LOS ALTOS, CA - Peninsula Gem & Geol. Soc., Los Altos Rancho Shopping Center, Foothill Expressway & So. Springer Rd. Hours: 9:30-4:45. Frank Dina (650) 967-3424.
SEPTEMBER 26-27 DOWNEY, CA - Delvers Gem & Mineral Society, Downey Women's Club, 9813 Paramount Blvd. Hours: Sat 10-6, Sun 10-4. Frank Monahan.
SEPTEMBER 26-27 VISTA, CA - Vista Gem & Mineral Society, Brengle Terrace Community Center, 1200 Vale Terrace. Hours: 10-5 both days. Jerry & Lois Harr (760) 724-0395.
SEPTEMBER 26-27 MONTEREY, CA - Carmel Valley Gem & Mineral Society, Monterey Fairgrounds, 2004 Fairgrounds Rd. Hours: Sat 10-6, Sun 10-5. Sky Paxton (408) 663-6978.
SEPTEMBER 26-27 STOCKTON, CA - Faceters' Guild of Northern Calif., 33 West Alpine Ave. Hours: Sat 10-5, Sun 10-4. Milt Houson (916) 782-6739.
SEPT 30 - OCT 4 JOSHUA TREE, CA - The Sportsmans Club, 6225 Sunburst. JAMBOREE/TAILGATER. Hours: 8am-5pm daily. Info: (760) 366-2915.
OCTOBER 3-4 NAPA, CA - Napa Valley Rock & Gem Club, Napa Valley Exposition, 575 Third St. Hours: 10-5 both days. Frank Zwetsloot (707) 255-1286.
OCTOBER 10-11 TRONA, CA - Searles Lake Gem & Min Soc., 13337 Main St. Hours: Sat 8-5, Sun 8-4. Bonnie Fairchild (760) 372-5356.
OCTOBER 10-11 VICTORVILLE, CA - Victor Valley Gem & Mineral Club, San Bernardino County Fairgrounds,14800 7th St. Hours: Sat 9-5, Sun 9-5. Gil Gilbert (760) 868-6900.
OCTOBER 10-11 PLACERVILLE, CA - El Dorado Co. Mineral & Gem, El Dorado Co. Fairgrounds, 100 Placerville Dr. Hours: 10-5 both days. Merryan O'Neill (530) 622-4229.
OCTOBER 17-18 REDDING, CA - Shasta Gem & Mineral Society, Shasta Dist. Fairgrounds. Hours: 10-5 both days. Alex Stoltz (530) 243-8242.
OCTOBER 17-18 WHITTIER, CA - Whittier Gem & Min Society, Whittier Masonic Temple, 7604 Greenleaf Ave. Hours: Sat 10-6, Sun 10-5. Marcia Arday (626) 339-3593.
OCTOBER 17-18 GRASS VALLEY, CA - Nevada Co. Gem & Mineral Soc, Nevada County Fairgrounds. Hours: 10-5 both days. Vicky VanWhy (530) 432-3021.
OCTOBER 24-25 EL CAJON, CA - El Cajon Valley Gem & Min Soc., El Cajon Valley Masonic Temple, 695 Ballantyne St. Hours: Sat 10-6, Sun 10-5. William Barto (619) 462-1918.
NOVEMBER 6-8 SAN DIEGO, CA - San Diego Lapidary Society, Al Bahr Shrine Center, 5440 Kearny Mesa Road. Hours: Fri & Sat 10-6, Sun 10-5. Richard Large (619) 693-0464.
NOVEMBER 7-8 FONTANA, CA - Kaiser Rock & Gem Club, Calif Steel Ind., 9400 Cherry Ave. Hours: 9-5 both days.
NOVEMBER 7-8 RIDGECREST, CA - Indian Wells Gem & Mineral Soc., Empire Fairgrounds. Hours: 9-5 both days, Field Trips both days. J. DeRosa (760) 375-7905.
NOVEMBER 7-8 ANAHEIM, CA - American Opal Society, Quality Inn Hotel, 616 Convention Way. Hours: Sat 10-6, Sun 10-5. Stan McCall (714) 827-5680.
NOVEMBER 7-8 POMONA, CA - Mineralogical Soc. of So. Calif., Fairplex, Building #6. Hours: Sat 10-7, Sun 10-5.
NOVEMBER 12 BOULDER CITY, NEVADA - Boulder Gem Club Library, Community Room, 813 Arizona Street. Hours: 9-5:30. Samuel Borges (702) 293-5853.
NOVEMBER 21-22 ROSEVILLE, CA - Sacramento Mineral Society, Placer County Fairgrounds. Hours: 10-5 both days. Les Clark (916) 421-4752.
NOVEMBER 21-22 OXNARD, CA - Oxnard Gem & Min. Society, Oxnard Performing Arts Center, 600 Hobson Way. Hours: 10-5 Both days. Miriam Tetreault (805) 642-5779.
NOVEMBER 25-29 HOLTVILLE, CA - Imperial Valley Gem & Mineral Soc., Outdoor Rockhound Roundup. Hours: Not known. Jeep Swerdfeger (760) 344-6230.
NOVEMBER 28-29 BARSTOW, CA - Mohave Desert Gem & Mineral Society, Barstow Community Center, 841 S. Barstow Rd. Hours: Sat 10-6, Sun 10-5. Bob Depue (760) 255-1030.
DECEMBER 5-6 SAN BERNARDINO, CA - Orange Belt Mineralogical Soc. San Bernardino Woman's Club, 503 W 31st St. Hours: Sat 10-6, Sun 10-5. Debbie Call (909) 887-1264.

REMAINING AFMS SHOWS - 1998.
     There are seven AFMS shows during the year. If you are traveling in or near the areas, you may want to visit one or more of the shows.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN - October 23-25, TULSA, OK - Tulsa County Fairgrounds, 23rd St. between Yale & So. Louisville. Show Chairman: Richard Jaeger (918) 481-0249.

EASTERN - November 5-8, STAMFORD, CT - Tor School. Show Chairman: Reivan Zeleznik (203) 322-3297.

SOUTHEASTERN - November 14-15, CHARLESTON, SC Host: Low Country Gem & Mineral.

Table of Contents.

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

I just got lost in thought. It was unfamiliar territory.

When the chips are down the buffalo is empty.

Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don't.

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

Table of Contents.

EDITORS NOTE 2:

Just for the record any unsigned articles are by the Editor. Thank you to all who help make the bulletin more interesting by contributing articles and information for events. We all appreciate it!!!!

Table of Contents.

Table of Contents.

     Another Webmaster's Note: The following was extracted from some of the mail we have received lately. All of it was included in the printed bulletin but some of it (forms, etc.) is not particularly useful in this online format so I have edited it.
     I have included this information here to show you how serious the government takeover of OUR desert is getting. If we don't respond in a definitive manner it will all be gone in a short time. It is much harder to undo a government action than to prevent it in the first place.

You know what you need to do!

URGENT.

IMPERIAL VALLEY GEM & MINERAL SOCIETY,
P.O. BOX 1721,
EL CENTRO, CA 92243,
AUGUST 3,1998.

Dear Club President,

We need the help of all rockhounding clubs in Southern California and are asking that you help preserve the eastern desert of Imperial and Riverside Counties. BLM wants to close over 3 million acres of eastern desert in these two counties.

All of the eastern desert in Imperial County would be closed, except for a two mile strip along the Colorado River. Coon Hollow, Chuckwalla, Milpitas Wash, Gold Basin, Indian Pass, Hauser Geode Beds, etc. would all be closed. As you undoubtedly know these are prime rock collecting areas. Presently 53% of the eastern desert is already closed.

There is no known study that says closing the rest will help any animal, plant, or the environment in any way. We have joined with Desert Wildlife Unlimited to fight this take over of our desert. Please find enclosed letters that may be copied and distribute them among your membership. Encourage them to sign the letters and send them to the appropriate officials.

Thank you,

Jeep Swerdfeger, President,
I.V. Gem & Mineral Society.

ATTENTION DESERT ENTHUSIASTS.

The Bureau of Land Management along with the cooperation of other State and Federal agencies has plans to CLOSE the rest of YOUR DESERT!!!

The proposed plan would among other things:

• Close roads they deemed unnecessary and limit camping along those roads,
• Close desert washes across most of the desert,
• Further restrict collection of firewood and recreation minerals,
• Prohibit installation and maintenance of existing and future water sources for wildlife,
• Allow for expansion of non-native wildlife to the detriment of native wildlife,
• Acquire through eminent domain private lands,
• Implement further restrictions which are not supported by scientific data,
• And much more--ALL OF WHICH THE TAXPAYER WILL PAY FOR!!!!!

We need action now...

Call Desert Wildlife Unlimited, Inc. (760) 344-1151 for more information or to schedule a presentation for your organization or group.

Table of Contents.

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