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The Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. (VGMS)
Rockhound Rambling
November / December 1999.
Table of Contents.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
Christmas is approaching at a rapid rate and the beginning of the new millenium will be here before too long. Be sure to plan early for this year's holiday season.
On Wednesday, December 8th at 6:30pm, the VGMS will be having their annual Christmas Party at the American Legion Hall. This will be a catered event, serving turkey dinners. The cost of the meal will be $5 to $7 dollars per person depending on how many attend. Please contact Eleanor Rising if you have not yet signed up for the dinner. She needs to notity the caterer as to the number of people that plan to affend. We will have the "Installation of Officers", live entertainment and our traditional "Bingo - Gift Exchange". Please bring a gift for this event.
The nominating committee has reached an overwhelming decision on the slate of officers for the year 2000. All officers who served on the Board during the year 1999 were asked to continue with their great efforts through the year 2000. All current club officers have accepted the nomination. However, we are currently seeking nominations for a Show Chairperson for the year 2000. If you or anyone you know is interested in this position, please notify me as soon as possible. The Show Chairperson for the year 2000 will be responsible for coordinating efforts for our annual Gem & Mineral Show in March, 2001.
Beginning in January, 2000, our monthly meeting will be at "The Lexington" a senior living community located at 5440 Ralston St., Ventura. The meeting will be in the "Bijou Room" (the theatre) which is located on the 2nd floor of the building. A decision to move the meeting location to a new venue was based on the advice of a committee consisting of Wayne Ehlers, Nancy Jioras and myself with input from Bill Vient and Inez Shakman. The facilities at the Lexington are superb and I am confident you will also feel comfortable with our new location. The Lexington is located one block west of Victoria Avenue in Ventura. Maps to this building will be available at the Christmas Party.
I look forward to a new and productive year with the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society. Be sure to have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Millenium.
Steve Mulqueen,
President.
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR.
My apologies for the lateness of this year end bulletin. I have been busy moving and getting settled in on top of doing the whole holiday thing.
I have enjoyed my first year as bulletin editor and I hope I have worked all the bugs out by now. I'm looking forward to the next years issues and I hope that I can still bring a quality bulletin to your mail boxes monthly.
To those of you who have contributed articles during this past year, I thank you very much. You have made this bulletin more interesting and a pleasure to put together. If any of you have thought of writing an article to contribute, please do! We would love it if you shared a vacation or just your love of your hobby with us.
So to all my friends and fellow club members, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Bonnie Demianiw,
Editor.
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS.
12-08-99 - VGMS annual Christmas Party.
12-11-99 - Joint Board Meeting of the VGMS, OGMS, and CGMS - Sport Chalet in Oxnard - 10:00am.
01-06-00 - VGMS Board Meeting - VGMS Museum - 7:30pm.
01-26-00 - VGMS Meeting - Bijou Room, The Lexington, 5440 Ralston St., Ventura - 7:30pm.
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LAPIDARY CLASS A HUGE SUCCESS.
Even with a bare minimum of publicity at our last two meetings we have had a total of 7 students attending our Monday evening classes. With our limited space in our workshop this is about the maximum we can have in attendance. With our two Pixie grinder-polishers, 3 saws, and 3 older grinders it gets to be a noisy and busy place. Greg Davis has been doing a great job helping me with the instructions. We have a great group of students who seem to enjoy getting to use the machines as well as getting better acquainted with each other. In attendance at the classes are Sunny Cross, Steve Campbell, Stan Schmidt, Josh Schmidt (pebble pup), John Stash, Ed Clark and Rita Aken. Holding the evening classes instead of Saturday mornings is working out very well.
Wayne Ehlers.
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GUEST LECTURES.
Being a guest lecturer at other clubs is a unique and worthwhile experience. I have given my talk and slides on our recent trip to Antarctica and Australia to Clubs in Vista and San Clemente. Both Clubs seemed to enjoy them as Marie and I both got a lot of questions. A side benefit to us was a chance to see how other Rock and Gem Clubs operate. They are very similar to ours with minor differences.
Wayne Ehlers.
Table of Contents.
DENVER GEM AND MINERAL SHOW
AND CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK.
In September Marie and I attended the Denver Gem and Mineral Show and enjoyed it very much. For anyone who has attended the Tucson Show in February each year it is very similar. It is held at six different locations and there are shuttle buses to take you between them. One of them is strictly for beads and some of the others are wholesale only. Still there is plenty for hobbiest like ourselves to see. There are several hundred dealers present with a wide variety of items for sale. They are from all over the United States as well as many foreign countries.
Enroute to Denver we stopped in Moab, Utah to visit one of our newest National Parks, namely Canyonlands National Park. Going North on US 191 we crossed the Colorado River and a few miles further North we turned left on Highway 313 towards an area of the Park called "Island in the Sky". This is in the area of the Park where the Green River joins the Colorado River. The views in this area are sensational with cliffs, canyons and buttes everywhere. In many ways it is similar to the Grand Canyon without all the tourist development. Part of the road is still unpaved. We stopped at the visitor center and learned about a 200 mile trip for 4-wheel drive vehicles only along the cliffs bordering the Colorado and Green Rivers. Since our Jeep is 4-wheel drive we decided to sample this trip. A permit is needed if staying out overnight. As we were not equipped for overnight camping we could only go about 35 miles and then return on a different road to Moab. Even that was awe-inspiring with cliffs, overhangs, natural bridges, canyons, etc. Panoramic views are everywhere. Now and then we could see the Colorado River. Now we are going back to see the entire 200 mile trip when we are equipped to stay overnight They were not kidding when they told us 4-wheel drive only as it is a rugged jeep trail. Sometimes we wondered if even the 4-wheel drive was enough but it did it with no problem. The next day we also visited Arches National Park with its many natural bridges and Dead Horse Point State Park with a 2000 ft. overlook over Moab and the Colorado River. There are many other great scenic areas in Canyonlands National Park which we hope to see before they are greatly altered with tourist development.
WayneEhlers.
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WHAT'S OVER THE NEXT HILL,
A ROCK HUNTING VACATION
By Red and Nancy Jioras.
Part 3:
When you last heard from your intrepid rockhounds, we were camped in Horse Canyon, Utah looking for petrified wood. We had traveled two days across three states and had met a whole bunch of great folks who were involved with rocks. We had changed direction as the mood or information suited us, which brought us to the petrified forest loop, in the middle of the Burr Trail in Southwestern Utah; to a canyon with steep, tall cliffs of colorful sandstone from the Jurassic age. Having quickly explored the cliff base as darkness overcame us, we fell asleep with images of the huge pieces of petrified wood we had seen.
When we opened our eyes the next morning, the sun's light had just begun to brighten the cliff walls. As the sun rose higher, the morning light began to enhance the bright colors of the sandstone until the cliffs began to glow with red, pink and violet. We eagerly crawled out of the truck, wanting to see every change of color and further explore the rivulets at the base of the cliffs for more petrified wood. After our finds the night before we knew we would find more wood and it wasn't long before we started to find many pieces. In one very small gully we found about a dozen chunks of wood that ranged from small broken limbs to full rounds about three feet in diameter. The wood was colorful and well preserved and, with the ease with which the wood could be found, it was understandable why the canyon had been closed to collecting.
By the time we returned to the truck, the sun had risen above the canyon rim and we could feel that it was going to be another hot day. We made our way back out of the canyon by the same route we came in; through the river bed canyon with sandstone walls only a foot or two on each side of the truck. Upon reaching the Burr Trail, we again turned south in hope of finding the colorful coprolites that we were told about by the rock shop in Orderville.
After a short drive, with the sun only an hour or so above the horizon, we reached the summit of another ridge with a sign that pointed to a picnic area. We still hadn't had breakfast, so we turned into the picnic area for some nourishrment and some COFFEE!!!!!! At this wilderness site we discovered that we could comfortably cook on the tailgate of the truck and enjoy a hot meal in our camp chairs. Well, let me correct that. While Nancy cooked, I walked around taking pictures. This was definitely a KODAK spot.
As I walked up toward a high, multicolored sandstone wall that rose above the picnic area, I found myself looking back down into a long expansive valley with very prominent geological features. Our Roadside Geology book, and a quick check of the map, indicated that we were looking down into the Capitol Reef National Monument at something called the WATER POCKET FOLD.
It seems the low ridges that were visible from our high perch were the weather-worn tops of a giant fold in the earth's crust which is called a monocline. Hence, the name "fold". With the tops worn off, the sedimentary layers appear to plunge back into the earth in an easterly direction at a fairly steep angle. Also, through the weathering process, large depressions have been carved into the rock layers and, through time, collect water. When viewed from the air, these depressions create many small pools of water, or "water pockets". So now, you may ask, as we did, why the term "reef"? Well, it seems that many of the immigrants that made their way west during the settling of our country were sea faring folks. To them, any rocky projection above the surface was a "reef", and that's what they called the series of ridges which they encountered as they crossed this area on their push westward.
After a wonderful breakfast and many cups of coffee, Nancy and I packed up and hit the trail again, only to immediately find ourselves overlooking a very steep incline with many switch-backs in the road. These were the infamous "Burr Trail Switchbacks". In fact, there are seven 180 degree switchbacks down this very steep dirt road. Of course no one had told us about this portion of the trail, and if we had been towing our trailer maybe it would have made a difference. But with just the truck and some slow traveling, we were soon in the valley floor.
Shortly after reaching the valley floor we intersected with the road coming south out of the Capitol Reef Park headquarters and within miles after turning south on this road, we exited the National Park boundary. It was time to go exploring for rock!!!
Our stop was amazing. As soon as we got a few yards off the road we began to find small pieces of very colorful agate. As we continued searching, we began to find larger and larger rocks of colorful material which seemed to have a pattern in the stone. Coprolite? Well, if so, there must have been some pretty big creatures about in the old days because we found rocks of this description that weighed hundreds of pounds.
To cover more territory, Nancy and I would split up and search in different directions, never really getting so far apart that we could not hear the other if there was a problem. We both carried our rock hammers and if we found a lot of material, we piled it in a area that we could find it again so that we didn't have to carry it great distances. When we returned to the truck to compare notes, Nancy told me that she had piled some rocks back down the road about a hundred yards, so I backed the truck to her site and we got out, hammers and squirt bottles in hand, to assess her finds. After sorting through the rocks and deciding which to keep and which to leave, we got back in the truck to roar off to the next area. It wasn't far, maybe three or four miles down the bumpy road.
Excited about finding more treasures, we were about to exit the truck when I asked Nancy what she had done with my hammer. "Well, it must be in back of the truck," but a quick search did not reveal the elusive hammer. The only answer could be that we had left the hammer beside the road at the last stop. We jumped back in the truck and I drove like I was trying to qualify for the Baja 1000, passing only one car on the way back. That car must have seen me coming because they were stopped, evidently to let the mad driver by.
Arriving at the last known site where we had the hammer we found nothing but our tracks. Could we have been mistaken about where we last had the hammer? Could it have been picked up already, or could the nasty hammer stealing bunnies of the Utah desert already have made off with it? Well, scratching the bunny idea, it had to be the car, so off we went again at an even faster pace to catch a car that had a good head start. The fellows who drive those desert races would have been proud of my style, skill and daring. Nancy on the other hand was quite frightened.
I was about ready to end this insane chase when the dust of the car loomed up ahead. Pushing harder on the gas petal, I quickly closed the distance and was just about ready to overtake them, when they gave up and pulled over to the side of the road. Actually, I think they looked into their rear view mirror and saw this maniac bearing down on them and decided that the best idea was to give him all the road they could. Pulling along side of the car, we rolled down the window and, after they determined that the maniac wasn't going to do them harm, they rolled their window down. We asked if they had seen a rock hammer along side the road. Well, in fact they had. Reaching down on to the floor board of their car, they produced the hammer and, with big smiles, passed it to Nancy. After thanking them proflisely, I felt it only fitting that I sit still and let them go on their way without a crazy driver following them.
Complete again, Nancy and I stopped at the next likely looking spot for more exploration. As the sun rose higher our searches were getting shorter. When I returned to the truck, Nancy presented me with a rock and asked if I thought it could be Dino bone. Examining it under my loop, I agreed that it sure could be and so we had our first piece of bone from a dinosaur.
At our next site, the heat was taking it's toll, so Nancy chose to stay at the truck while I explored. After going about 300 yards up a rise, I began to find small pieces of agate. These were weathering out of the sedimentary layers. Bending over to pick up a small rock, I came nose to agate with a specimen that looked just like all the other coprolites I had ever seem. A cauliflower looking rock about two fists in size. I quickly looked for more, but the heat was beginning to get to me as well, so I returned to show Nancy my prize. Although delighted, she declined the opportunity to search further and strongly suggested that we just drive in the air conditioned truck. I found a great deal of wisdom in this decision and off we went toward Bullfrog Basin Marina on Lake Powell.
At one point, approaching the southern portion of the Burr Trail, the road climbs to the top of a ridge and travels along the ridge so that you have wonderful vistas on either side. The ridge is a 100 yards or so wide, about a mile long and is covered with shrub juniper and other flowering plants that we had a hard time identifying. As we drove off of this ridge, the road quickly changes from dirt to pavement and, just before Bullfrog Basin, the Buff Trail connects with Utah Highway 276. We consulted our Gem Trails and found nothing of interest. We'd been on the road for two days in dust and heat and a shower sounded like just the ticket. We turned north on 276 to connect with Utah Highway 95 and onto the town of Hanksville.
(Next month, it's dinosaur bone, petrified wood and a character by the name of Ernie.)
Table of Contents.
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING,
October 27, 1999.
The regular monthly meeting of the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society was called to order by President Steve Mulqueen at 7:35 p.m., on Wednesday, October 27, 1999, at the American Legion Hall, 83 S. Palm, Ventura, CA. The group was led in the salute to the flag.
Sharlyne Holloway introduced guests Dick & Betty Flaharty, and Dick and Faye Millais.
Steve Mulqueen directed attention to handouts for the Tucson and Quartzite shows this winter. He also reported that the reports from the Hector Earthquake indicate a 16' lateral and 5' vertical offset.
Ray Meisenheimer announced that CFMS has purchased a new insurance policy for the clubs. The insurance will cover everything including field trips and became effective on October 16, 1999.
Inez Shakman reported on research work she had done with regard to a new meeting place for VGMS. The most promising prospect is the two meeting rooms at the Livingston retirement complex on Ralston in Ventura. The management has indicated that they would be agreeable to let VGMS use one of their rooms free of charge.
With reference to the Oxnard show to be held November 20 & 21, 1999, Red Jioras asked for volunteers from VGMS to help the Oxnard club set up for their show. He added that it is still not too late to enter a case in that show. Jioras reminded members of the tri-club board meeting to be held on December 11 and asked for suggestions/requests for discussion topics. Finally, a workday at the museum was scheduled for 9:00 am., Saturday, December 4, 1999.
Wayne Ehlers will be starting a lapidary class on Monday evening, November 1. Wayne went on to say that he had some of Bill Vient's lapidary equipment for sale. Interested buyers should contact him.
The evening's program, a slide show of the Anasazi, was presented by Dick Flaharty of the Del Air Club.
Greg Davis, from the nominating committee, asked for nominations from the floor. None were offered.
The next Board meeting will be Thursday, November 4. The next two regular monthly meetings will be held November 10 and December 8.
There being no further business the meeting adjourned to refreshinents at 9:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Jioras, Secretary.
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MINUTES OF VGMS BOARD MEETING,
November 4, 1999.
The regular monthly Board meeting of the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society was called to order by President Steve Mulqueen at 7:25 p.m., on Thursday, November 4, 1999 at the VGMS Museum, 5019 Crooked Palm Road, Ventura, California.
From Greg Davis: The Radio Shack security system is fairly expensive and the longest running tape is only 36 hours unless the recorder only runs when the doors or windows are opened. The cost of the units would start at $1,000 and go up. The price could be reduced by as much as $500 if there were no monitor. A hardwired system would be easier, cheaper and more reliable. The board will reach a conclusion by the December board meeting.
From Wayne Ehlers: The new Pixie machine has been received but will not be left in the club house until it can be bolted down. The first session of the lapidary class had 4 students. Bill Vient's saw and portable display case have been sold. It was m/s/c to purchase Vient's three tumblers at $10 each for club loaners.
From Greg Davis: The nominating committee has nominations for every position except that of Show Chair.
From Red Jioras: The museum work party will be held on Saturday, December 4 at 9:00 a.m. It was m/s/c to order 2 dumpsters at $65 each for the workday. Jioras then read a letter to State Surplus agency requesting that VGMS be placed on a list to be notified of surplus property (hopefully a trailer for the club). The shop still needs three more stewards. Bob Spiut offered to fill one of the positions. Finally, Steve Mulqueen appointed Jioras chair of the museum committee. Inez Shakman, Jay Baumler and Richard Bromser offered to serve.
From Inez Shakman: Both of the meeting rooms at the Livingston are available for VGMS meetings. A committee consisting of Steve Mulqueen, Wayne Ehlers and Nancy Jioras will visit the building on Thursday, November 11 to assess suitability.
From Steve Mulqueen: The box of 1/2 and full core samples in the club house would make good case trophies for future years' shows.
From Sharon Cunningham: It was m/s/c to accept the following applications for membership - Rita Aikin, Ed Clark, Mel & Sharon Hickson. The directory should be corrected to read "Jim and Nancy Brace-Thompson."
From Florence Meisenheimer: Ray and Florence will be attending the CFMS meeting the weekend of November 12 in Visalia. The new CFMS insurance will cost $3.00 per person plus 35 cents per square foot for the museum coverage. It is possible that a field trip safety seminar will be held in the Pro Arts Building the same weekend as the VGMS show. CFMS offers a bulletin aid for editors and the club should pay for one for Bonnie.
From Richard Bromser: It was m/s/c to approve checks #612-615 in the amount of $790.53. The next bulletin should remind members that the year 2000 dues are now payable.
From Jay Baumler: David Mautz will be the official show photographer. Jay said he cannot find the donation award tickets from last year, but the hours of the show are wrong anyway. The next show meeting will probably be in December.
From Wayne Ehlers: Members who were not at the last general meeting did not know about the lapidary class and there is still room for more students.
From Bonnie Demianiw: Bulletin deadline will be November 17 for the November/December bulletin.
From Bruno Benson: Bruno had a list of educational CD ROMS which could be ordered at wholesale with the club's resale number. Order sheets will be made available to members at the November meeting.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Jioras, Secretary.
Table of Contents.
COMMUNITY EDUCATION.
November 20th, Ray Meisenheimer gave an Earth Science program to 14 boys and 5 adults in Arroyo Verde Park, celebrating a birthday. Ray gave each boy a collection of identified rocks, then led them on a field trip in the hills above the park for fossils.
November 30th, 5 car loads of second and third graders, 21 children in all, from Blanche Reynolds School visited the museum. After the tour each child received a small fossil, then got to pick among the rocks from the little rock pile.
Submitted by,
Florence Meisenheimer.
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CFMS FALL BUSINESS MEETING.
The meeting was held at the Holiday Inn November 13, 1999. All officers and most chairpersons were in attendance.
GCH Insurance Company was dropped October 31, 1999. McDaniel Insurance Services from Ojai has given CFMS much better coverage. The price per individual club member will be $3.00. If individuals or clubs desire a copy of the insurance policy, there will be a charge of $20.00 which includes copying and mailing.
For questions regarding insurance, clubs are to contact insurance representative Laura Grayson.
Two clubs have disbanded - Rancho Bernardo Gem & Mineral Society and East Bay Mineral Society. High Desert Rock Hounds from Morongo Valley was accepted into the Federation.
The Endowment Fund needs a transfusion. $13,000.00 of accumulated interest was used to pay the whopping insurance bill last March. It is important to replace that money for future emergencies. Donations are needed.
The Earth Science Studies at ZZYZX and at Camp Paradise were very successful with 66 attendees at ZZYZX and 86 at Camp Paradise. It is a tremendous learning opportunity.
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FUTURE CFMS SHOWS.
2000 - Riverside Convention Center - August 4, 5, & 6;
2001 - The Fairgrounds at Paso Robles - June 22-24;
2002 - Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas, NV;
2003- Combined AFMS & CFMS at the Riviera in Las Vegas, NV.
Table of Contents.
MINUTES OF REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING,
November 10, 1999.
The regular monthly meeting of the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society was called to order by President Steve Mulqueen at 7:30 p.m., on Wednesday, November 10, 1999, at the American Legion Hall, 83 S. Palm, Ventura, CA. The group was led in the salute to the flag.
Richard Bromser gave the Treasurer's Report and then asked that members planning on attending the Christmas party on December 8 please sign up so the caterers can prepare the correct number of meals. Dinner will cost $5 per person payable at the door. Potted poinsettias will be purchased for table decorations and sold to club members after the party.
Sharon Cunningham introduced new members Melvin and Sharon Hickman, Ed Clark, and RitaAiken.
Greg Davis announced the nominations for members of the board for the year 2000:
President - Steve Mulqueen,
1st Vice President - Katherine Davis,
2nd Vice President - Greg Davis,
3rd Vice President - (no nomination),
Treasurer - Richard Bromser,
Secretary - Nancy Jioras,
Membership - Sharon Cunningham,
Federation Director - Florence Meisenheimer,
Bulletin Editor - Bonnie Demianiw,
Parliamentarian - Wayne Ehlers.
It was m/s/c to approve the nominations. The board members were elected unanimously. Installation of officers will be held at the Christmas party on December 8, 1999.
Eleanor Rising stated that she felt the bingo gifts for the Christmas party should just be "nice" gifts with no minimum or maximum cost.
Red Jioras reminded members of the December 4th shop cleanup day. He then asked for volunteers to fill the vacant jobs of shop stewards. Bob Spjut, Ron Wise, and Clint Berkheiser volunteered. Jioras then asked members to consider serving on the museum committee. Finally, Jioras offered club members a group purchase option on educational CD ROMs which can be purchased by the club at wholesale.
Jay Baumler told the group that the new Pixie machine has been received and the belts for the expandable disk drum machine will arrive soon. Baumler asked for input on the idea of offering numerous door prizes throughout both days of the show. People who are interested in the club could sign up for the prizes and be put on a membership mailing list at the same time. Club members were supportive of the idea. Baumler also suggested possibly dedicating the show to some of the older club members. Dave Mautz will be the official show photographer. The next show meeting will be Tuesday, December 7, at Inez Shakman's house.
Wayne Ehlers announced that even though the lapidary class has already begun it is not too late for more students. New club members might want to take advantage of the class.
The program, presented by Clint Berkheiser, was a video on meteorites. After the program members participated in a silent auction.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Jioras, Secretary.
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WAY BACK WHEN,
Quotations from "History of Ventura
Gem & Mineral Society"
by Carliton Carson.
January 1946: "(Field trip) to Castaic gold mine which was not found. The leader, Mr. Hagle, and the entire field trip got lost. To this day the mine has not been found by the Society."
January 12, 1946: "Mr. Taylor and Mr. Hagle exhibited flourescents under 'radarlite'."
March 9, 1946: "...saw the adoption of a club emblem which was the crossed prospectors' picks drawn by Mr. H. L. Smith..."
Submitted by,
Nancy Jioras.
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1999 CFMS CLUB SHOWS.
DECEMBER 11-12 - YUBA CITY, CA - Sutter Buttes Gem & Mineral Society - Franklin Hall, Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds, 442 Franklin Avenue - Hours: Sat. 9-5; Sun. 9-4 - Jose Guiterrez (530)742-0785.
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2000 CFMS CLUB SHOWS.
JANUARY 8-9 - EXETER, CA - The Tule Gem & Mineral Society - Veterans Memorial Building, 324 N. Kaweah St. (State Hwy. 65) - Hours: 10 5 both days - Mary Reed (559)784-6394.
FEBRUARY 18-27 - INDlO, CA - San Gorgonio Mineral & Gem Society - Riverside County National Date Festival, Gem & Mineral Building, 46-350 Arabia - Hours: 10-10 each day - Don Grisham (909)845-1978.
FEBRUARY 19-20 - STOCKTON, CA - Stockton Lapidary & Mineral Club - Scottish Rite Temple, 33 W. Alpine Ave. - Hours: Sat. 10-6; Sun. 10-5 - Jim Dunlap (209)478-0747.
FEBRUARY 26-27 - NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - Del Air Rockhounds/Sierra Pelona Rock Club/Woodland Hills Rockchippers - Valley Plaza Recreation Center, 12240 Archwood Street - Hours:10-5 both days - Web Site: http://www.sites.netscape.net/.
FEBRUARY 26-27 - SAN JOSE, CA - Santa Clara Valley Gem & Mineral Society - Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, 344 Tully Road - Hours: Sat. 10-6; Sun- 10-5 - Mark Wartenberg (650)568-6114 - Web Site: http://www.slip.net/-ccox/scvgms/.
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DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS.
Happy Birthday wishes to all our club members born in December! Your birthstone is Turquoise and your birthflower is the Narcissus.
- 12-07 Michelle Orozco,
- 12-15 Opal Benson,
- 12-18 Bob Spjut,
- 12-27 Sharlyne Holloway,
- 12-31 Bonnie Demianiw.
TURQUOISE:
Turquoise, the "Fearless Gem" and the birthstone for December, has fired the imagination of more races and peoples than any other gem stone. Of all the opaque colored gem stones which were so greatly treasured by those of ancient times, only turquoise still occupies a prominent place in Jewelry. The ancient Egyptians prized it as much as gold and rubies.
The American Indians believed that the celestial blue of this stone was stolen from the heavens by the storm. and that if one went to the end of a rainbow and searched the damp earth he would find one of these precious jewels. Among our southwestern Indian tribes turquoise was greatly prized as an amulet to guard the wearer from harm. The four rain gods of the Navajos are always shown wearing necklaces of turquoise, as does the whirlwind god.
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WILEY WELL DISTRICT FIELD TRIP,
January 31 - February 4, 2000,
Hosted by CFMS Field Trip Chairman - North.
The Wiley Well District is southwest of Blythe and is one of the most popular collecting areas on the Colorado Desert. Although this has been a productive area for many years, it still offers an amazing variety of material. We will collect at 5 main sites; 1 site each day. This is my fourth field trip to this interesting and productive area. Besides the more noted collecting areas we will be exploring new areas (at least new to me).
Directions to campgrounds: Exit Interstate 10 at Wiley Well Rd. which is approxiriately 10 miles west of Blythe and 31 miles east of Desert Center. Follow Wiley Well Rd. south for 12.5 miles to campsite on west side of road at the Riverside/Imperial Co. line. Watch for ORANGE PAPER PLATES to camp. Roads to campgrounds and collecting sites are typical desert roads. OK for motorhomes and trailers to campgrounds. OK for cars to most collecting areas. This is a dry camping area: no services, no hook-ups. This is the Mule Mtn. LTVA.
Collecting Trips: All trips will leave at 8:00 AM, SHARP, from the campgrounds. Assemble at 7:45 for details and instructions for each day's trip.
| Monday | Jan. 31 | AM | Hauser Beds for geodes, sizes of lemons to cantaloupes. Digging tools -- shovels, picks, gads, etc. |
| PM | Explore the Corn Field for corn colored, crystal lined amygdules. | ||
| Tuesday | Feb. 1 | AM | Potato Patch for egg-size geodes. Digging tools -- shovels, picks, gads, etc. |
| PM | Explore new site -- The Big Windy for botryoidal psilomelane, geodes and nodules. | ||
| Wednesday | Feb. 2 | AM | Straw Bed for geodes, sizes of lemons to cantaloupes. Digging tools -- shovels, picks, gads, etc. |
| PM | South of Camp on Milpitas Wash Rd. for psilomelane. | ||
| Thursday | Feb. 3 | To be announced | |
| Friday | Feb. 4 | To be announced |
Plan on several potluck dinners, the first on Monday evening, and daily happy hours. Bring firewood for evening campfires.We plan on having a good time and collecting some good geodes and good material. Come join us for a great rockhound time of collecting, fun and fellowship.
Please notify me by 1/20/00 if you plan to attend; call if you have questions or need more information:
Dick Pankey,
Field Trip Chainnan - North (2000).
General Information:
This trip will coordinate well with a trip to Quartzsite. The QIA Pow Wow is 1/25 to 29, Cloud's is 1/15 to 2/15 and Tyson Wells is 1/21 to 30.
There is a dump station at the Rest Stop at the Wiley Well exit off of I-10, however, there is no potable water. Blythe has a free dump station and good water 2 blocks south of I-10 at the Lovkin Ave. exit. Blythe is a good place to get food, supplies, ice and gasoline. It is approximately 25 miles from Blythe to the campsite.
There are numerous good motels in Blythe with a wide range of rates.
The closest town to the campsite is Palo Verde, approximately 16 miles through Coon Hollow and over the Mule Mtns. There is a convenience store (food, etc.), gasoline, a couple of restaurants and a rock shop in Palo Verde. Road OK for trucks but not for cars.
We will monitor CB channel 14 at camp for arrivals and other information and CB channel 4 when caravaning to collecting sites.
We are planning for nice weather -- warm sunny days; cool, clear, star filled nights. But remember it can rain this time of year so be prepared and plan ahead.
Blythe is approximately 650 miles from San Francisco and 137 miles from Los Angeles.
Opal Hill fire agate mine is about 3 miles from camp. This is a fee dig area for fire agate and micromount crystals including apatite, barite, calcite, fluorite and gypsum. Tools needed are hammers, gads, regular and star chisels, eye protection, stiff bristle brush, etc.
Carry your lunch and water when going to collecting sites. We will not come back to camp during the day.
Help with the entertainment at happy hours and campfires: bring along an instrument if you play one; bring a song, a story or joke to share.
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