The Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. (VGMS)

The Robert Sankovich Field Trip
Information Page.

Field Trips Upcoming: Please let us know if you are going to go on the field trip. The weather can change; if we don't know you're going we won't be able to contact you if the field trip is cancelled.
     There will be maps and flyers at the club meetings.
     There are still people who show up for the field trip without notifying Mike or me. You can still be part of the field trip, but it is important that you let us know you're going to attend. Please let us know if you're going to attend, e-mail or call us.
     I have new truck. It's a white Ford F250 four wheel drive, crew cab. If you're looking for me, look for my truck.
Contacts: Robert Sankovich, Conejo/Ventura Clubs, 805-494-7734, rmsorca@adelphia.net;
Mike Miller, Conejo Club, 805-498-9586, rockfmdr@att.net;
Ron Wise, Ventura/Oxnard Clubs, 805-794-0737, clintwise@hotmail.com.

April 17-18, 2010 CFMS Field Trip to Cady Mtns North.
Adam Dean and Shep Koss, CFMS Field Trip South Co-Chairs - 2010.
WHERE: North Cady Mtns near Afton Canyon area, off Basin Road exit by I-15 about 45 miles east of Barstow.
WHEN: April 17-18, 2010.
MATERIAL: Adam Dean's favorite spots for agate, jasper, calcite, green and purple fluorite, sagenite, opalite and much more.
SPONSOR: California Federation of Mineralogical Societies (CFMS).
PARTICIPANTS: Open to all CFMS members and guests. This trip is an overnighter with dry camping near the railroad side tracks off Basin Road.
DIRECTIONS: Take the Basin Road exit off I-15 about 45 miles east of Barstow and turn right (south) for 1.3 miles to fork in road. Take the left road for 3.8 miles to the railroad tracks and cross the tracks to the campsite.
USE CAUTION! The campsite can accommodate RVs and tents. This is dry camping with no facilities whatsoever.
BRING: Water, firewood, clothing for any type of weather, hot or cold, wet or dry, food and a full tank of gas.
HIGH CLEARANCE and 4WD recommended for all sites. 2WD OK to the camping area if driven with care as many spots may have windblown sand. Roads to some sites may have deep sand.
POTLUCK DINNER: Saturday night - bring a contribution.
You must observe CFMS/AFMS Code of Ethics and sign a consent and assumption of risk waiver of liability form.
Be aware that this is a remote and undeveloped area.
Collect responsibly.
REMINDER: Please help preserve our deserts and pack out what you pack in. Let's leave it clean for future Rockhounds.
For further information, please contact:
     Adam Dean, (909) 489-4899, theagatehunter@verizon.net or
     Shep Koss, (661) 248-0411 (Home Phone), theshepster@webtv.net or freudonetoo@yahoo.com.

April 16th Marble Mountains, Trilobite fossils.
Deb and I are going on the CFMS Cady Mtns field trip. We will probably go Thursday April 15th. We will set up our tent at the above campsite and then check out the area. I will have a field trip Friday April 16th to the Marble Mountains looking for Trilobites fossils.
Contact: Robert Sankovich, Conejo/Ventura Clubs, 805-494-7734, rmsorca@adelphia.net.
Tools: Rock pick/hammer, gad pry bar, hand sledge, large pry bar, shovel, pick, eye protection, newspaper to wrap your fossils in, collecting bags, wide brimmed hat, suntan lotion, lots of water, lunch, camping gear if you're going to stay overnight.
Please let us know if you are going to go on the field trip. The weather can change. If we don't know you're going we won't be able to contact you if the field trip is cancelled.

May 8th, Sat, 9 am, Somis Fossils, Tri Club Fieldtrip, Sand Dollars, Clams, Scallop fossils.
We have been able to work out an agreement with Gargiulo Inc. for limited access to the digging area. With this agreement we will enter the site from Somis Rd. If you have been to the fossil site in the past you will not recognize the area. The entire area is planted with tomatoes. Because of the roads we will be able to drive closer to the collecting area and remember to use good judgment in the fields so we may return again in the future.
Directions: From Highway 101 take the Lewis Road off ramp and turn left on Lewis Road. Proceed north for 3.4 miles. Note: Lewis Road changes into Somis Road.
You will pass Gargiulo Inc. on the right side of the road, do not stop there, and look for Ag RX also on the right side of the road. Somis Rd bends left and you will take a narrower road on the right for about .4 of a mile. Follow the road over the railroad tracks, past the house and, over the bridge, turn right and park.
Meeting: We will meet at the parking area by the bridge at 9:00 am, sign in and then proceed to the digging area. Please try to arrive at 9:00 am for instructions and then we will proceed to the digging site.
Fossils: We will be hunting for large sand dollars, clams and a variety of gastropod fossils. The fossils may be found up the hill from the tomato field. This is a great trip for the whole family, so come out and have fun.
Equipment: Digging tools, garden trowels, rock pick, pry bar, gloves, hat, eye protection, buckets, back packs, SUN SCREEN & DRINKING WATER. Consider bringing snacks or lunch and extra clothing. All vehicles can make this trip, the roads are good. The roads in the fields are dirt and could be a problem if it rains. Pray for a clear day. Please contact me if you plan to attend this fieldtrip. Ron Wise, 805-647-4393 or clintwise@hotmail.com.

Field trips done:
     March 14, 2010, Tajiguas Beach, Santa Barbara;
     March 20th, Sat., 10 am, Jalama Beach, Lompoc.
We had good turnouts for both these field trips, great weather, sunny but not too hot. Jalama Beach had no wind at all. It was the best I've ever seen there. We collected petrified whale bone at both sites and at Jalama we found some plant, fish fossils. Jeff Miller found a fossil that might be a moray eel head. He's still researching it. I'll bring what I found into the next meeting.

Upcoming Field Trips 2010:
These dates are fixed and are the days we will be going:
     July 31st, Sat - Jade Cove-Nephrite Jade. Deb and I will be there July 28th Wed-Aug 1st Sunday.
     May 8th, Somis - Fossils, Sand dollar, Clams, Gastropod fossils.

The field trips listed below are tentative, they might change. All are Tri Club field trip with either Conejo, Oxnard or Ventura leading. Each month there will be information in the bulletin, and a flyer/map at the club meeting.
     May - Road Trip-2010 was to be around early May and heading to Arizona, New Mexico, going to Petrified National Forest, Meteor Crater and collecting at several sites. Turquoise, Crinoids fossils, Petrified wood. I'm still researching this. This will probably not happenin May. It might be in the fall or I maybe next year. Things have come up and I can't go at this time. Sorry for any inconvienance.
     June - Independence/Bishop-Ammonites fossil, garnets, other minerals.
     August - To be determined.
     September - Acton-agate, small nodules, geodes.

     The Field Trip e-mail list is working. Members have current, new information as I finish it. I get field trip information from other clubs at different times during the month, some with too short of notice for me to put in our bulletin. I will send direct monthly information, maps on club field trips, and updates on weather, other last minute factors that can effect field trips. If you want to sign up, no e-mail addresses will be printed, posted anywhere. Send me your e-mail addresses to mine below. I also updated the field trip information on the Conejo web site www.cgamc.org. (Close the new window to return here.) The information is current and I'll keep updating as I add field trips.
     2010 is here, the last few months the weather keeps changing. Ant Hill was canceled again. I will add another trip in a few months. This time of year the weather can change so make sure we know you will be going. This applies to all field trips. The April CFMS Field trip is to the Cady's. Deb and I will be going a couple days sooner to check out the Marble Mtns for Trilobite fossils. There is a Somis field trip May 8th. Ron Wise from the Ventura is leading.
     I'd like members to let me know of places they'd like to go to. We're going to go to sites we've been to, but we're going to have new sites. I do have several in mind. I've got most of 2010 field trips above. I'll be adding more later. The weather seems to change a lot and it controls our field trips. The dates above are fixed where there is a date. The others, I'm working it out. There's going to be a field trip for everyone. We'll have some close to home, and out of state trips, easy and harder field trips requiring chisels, sledges, something for everyone hopefully. Most of the time I make sure I check out the sites, so when it finally becomes a field trip it can take time. Check out the website for updates.
     We've been getting good turnouts of rockhounds for our field trips. The upcoming field trips offer a diversity of collecting. With the weather cooler we will be heading out to the desert for collecting. Field trips are fun and you will find some nice specimens and make new friends. I find most people on field trips are friendly and nice willing to share in their knowledge and experiences.
     See you there.
          Robert Sankovich,
          VP Field Trips Conejo/Ventura Clubs,
          rmsorca@adelphia.net,
          805-494-7734.

If you got here from somewhere other than the link on the VGMS Info page you may use your browser's BACK button or equivalent to return to your original page. You may also go to the VGMS Home Page or the VGMS Info Page.