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The Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. (VGMS)
Rockhound Rambling
January 2007.

Rockhound Rambling Photo of the Month.

Brazilian Agate Slabs by Mary Polacek.

Table of Contents.

• PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE;
• WORDS TO LIVE BY;
• SPECIAL THANKS;
• BIRTHDAYS;
• UPCOMING VGMS EVENTS.;
• ARE YOUR DUES OVERDUE;
• PROGRAM REVIEW;
• PROGRAM SCHEDULE;
• COMMUNITY OUTREACH;
• MEMBERSHIP;
• MEETING MINUTES;
• Help to Prevent Home Water Damage;
• VGMS 2007 SHOW UPDATE;
• CHIPS AND BOULDERS;
• FIELD TRIPS ARE FUN;
• HINTS & TIPS FOR ROCKHOUNDS - (Use at your own risk);
• CFMS 2007 SHOW DATES;
• AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL PASS;
• FEDERATION NEWS;
• EDUCATIONAL CORNER;
• The Rock in Glen Oak Acres;
• EDITOR'S CORNER;
• VGMS PHOTO ALBUM;
• 2007 VGMS SHOW FLYER.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.

Wow, it is 2007 already! Our annual show is only two months away and there is still a lot to get done. We need volunteers for many tasks and activities before, during, and after the show. This is our primary fundraiser for the year and we need everyone's help to make it another success. When you see the signup sheets at the meetings, please volunteer. Speaking of 'volunteers', it is my job to appoint committee chairpersons for this year. If you are interested in volunteering as Refreshment, Hospitality, Ways & Means, Museum, Historian, or Librarian, please contact me. Otherwise, I'll be contacting you.

There are many ways in which you as a member benefit from our club. Being active in club events is the number one priority. We learn as a group from activities such as monthly meetings, lectures, field trips and mineral shows (to name a few). Most of all, we share ideas with members and learn even more about our hobby. Please play an active role in sharing your personal talents with other members. You can do this by: bringing rocks, minerals and fossils to our regular meetings; conducting a lecture on the subject of your favorite field trip/vacation or perhaps by leading a club field trip to an interesting area.

Now get out there and find some rocks! I, myself, am off to Quartzsite.

Ed Clark.

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WORDS TO LIVE BY.

People might not get all they work for in this world, but they must certainly work for all they get.

To avoid situations in which you might make mistakes may be the biggest mistake of all.

Computers can figure out all kinds of problems, except the things in the world that just don't add up.

Once the game is over, the king and the pawn go back in the same box.

Collected by Wayne Ehlers.

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Special Thanks.

Thank you, Shirley and Jim, so very much for editing the most outstanding club bulletin for so many years. Words can not describe how much we all appreciated it.

Good luck and happiness in the new chapter in your life.

Florence Meisenheimer.

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Birthdays.

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

     James Brace-Thompson - February 03,
     Jean Wise - February 04,
     Paul Polacek - February 28.

February's birthstone is the Amethyst; the flower is the Violet.

     Mariam Tetreault - March 06,
     Greg Davis - March 18,
     Callie Stephens - March 19.

Is your birthday missing? Call Mary Polacek at (805) 644-5090 and leave a message, or email me at vgms_editor@adelphia.net. Thanks!

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Upcoming VGMS Events.

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

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Are Your Dues Overdue?

VGMS dues were due by January 1, 2007. You can send your dues to Membership Secretary, Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, P.O. Box 1573, Ventura, CA 93002. You can also give them to Shirley Bromser at the meetings.

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Program Review.

Elected 2007 officer installation took place at Carrow's Restaurant during the annual Holiday Dinner, December 13th. Check out the pictures in the Photo Album.

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Program Schedule.

     The January 24 Program will be a show-and-tell of material that was either collected or hand-made during the calendar year 2006 by our members. Like all show-and-tells, anybody (from our club or a visitor) can bring something they would like to share with the rest of us. It does not have to be perfect or valuable, but if you have traveled to a new location or learned a new technique of jewelry manufacture (such as the metal-clay skill featured a couple months ago), bring some samples to display. There will also be a map of California to show the locations of your trips.
     Last year we heard from several members and saw fossils, geodes, poppy jasper, and other minerals. Collecting sites stretched from New Mexico to San Diego to Northern California. What turned out to be the most fun was the stories each volunteer provided.
     I am hoping this year more people will take the time to participate.

Lowell Foster.

February 28, 2007: Open Forum, Final 2007 show preparation and Quartzsite "tales".

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

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Community Outreach.

On November 14th, Ray Meisenheimer gave an Earth Science program to a group of home-schooled students at Anacapa School, along with their parents. There were 10 adults and 15 children of various ages. Once a month, the home school families meet together at Anacapa for special programs or general discussion.

What was supposed to be an hour-long program, turned into a discussion on fossils, minerals, and the Earth. Ray has been asked to come back another time.

On November 30th, Ray gave a four hour-long program to 140 eighth grade students at Anacapa School. There were four classrooms of young people, most of whom were very interested in the Earth Sciences, so there were many questions and much discussion.

Ray had to turn down the residents at the Victorian, and refer them to some one else, as his calendar is quite full. They are looking forward to have him speak at some other time.

December 5 Ray gave a four-hour Earth Science program at Mesa Union School in Somis. There were 80 fourth graders along with teachers and some parents. It was an open discussion and students asked many questions during the program.

Florence Meisenheimer.

On November 8 - 11, 2006, Steve Mulqueen assisted in leading a field trip to historic borate mining sites in central Nevada. The trip was attended by four participants interested in borax mining history. One of those attending the field trip manages a website dedicated to the history of borax mining and associated railroads at the following website: www.ttrr.org.

Steve Mulqueen.

Photos from Steve's Nevada Trip.
Photos submitted by Steve Mulqueen.


Monte Cristo Mountain is a wonder stone locality.
Is is located in central Nevada near Tonapah.



Bonnie Claire Camp.



Bonnie Claire Mill, Nevada. The mill processed material
from the Lippincott lead mine and
gold ore from surrounding area.



Gail Moulton, Searles Lake Gem and Mineral Society member,
standing in the doorway of a former residence
at abandoned Bonnie Claire Mill.

On November 19, Steve and Susan Mulqueen prepared a new exhibit at the California Oil Museum titled "Obsidian". The exhibit features obsidian specimens primarily from the collection of Ray and JoAnna Ritchey, with a few on loan from Steve and Susan. Mike Nelson, the museum administrator, prepared a write-up of the exhibit with mention of the VGMS in the weekly report of the California Oil Museum dated December 7, 2006. The exhibit on obsidian will be there until March 25, 2007, when a new theme will be featured.

Anyone wanting to exhibit their fine collection of rocks, minerals, fossils, etc., at the California Oil Museum please contact Steve Mulqueen. The exhibit portion of the display case is glass enclosed, secured and measures 24" x 24" (plan view) and 10" high.

Source: CALIFORNIA OIL MUSEUM, City of Santa Paula Community Services Dept, December 7, 2006.

The Ventura Gem & Mineral Society (VGMS) opened their new display of "Obsidian" in Keck Hall of the Museum. Obsidian is a jet-black glassy volcanic rock that was used extensively by Native Americans to make cutting tools and arrowheads. It can be worked to make a razor-sharp edge. It is polished today to make exquisite spherical art objects, some of which are on display in this exhibit. This collection is on loan from Ray and Jo Anna Ritchey and was installed by Steve and Susan.

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Membership.

We are pleased to welcome our newest member, Darwin Cuddeback, and enjoyed his company at our Holiday meeting.

Update your directories:
     Darwin Cuddeback,
     791 Mercer Avenue,
     Ventura, CA 93004,
     805-659-1528.

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

Attention New Members (or anyone needing a badge).
Need a Club Badge?
Blue Engravers is giving us a $.50 reduction per badge
for advertising space in the club bulletin!
Ventura County Shape badge $11.28 (includes. tax & ship).
ACCOUNT: Ventura Gem and Mineral Society, Inc.
Name (print clearly. It will be on your name badge):

_____________________________________________

Address:

_____________________________________________

_______________________________Zip: __________

Make check payable to and mail to (takes 5-7 business days):
Blue Engravers,
1375 Caspian Ave.,
Long Beach, CA 90813.
If ordering more than 2 badges call them for exact shipping
costs at (562) 983-5140, FAX (562) 983-5146,
E-mail BLUEGRAVR@aol.com.

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SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

Meeting Minutes.

Minutes of the VGMS Regular Monthly Meeting of
Wednesday, December 13, 2006:
     The regular monthly meeting of the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society was called to order by Ray Meisenheimer, at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, December 13, 2006 at Carrow's Restaurant, Ventura, CA.
     A turkey dinner with all the trimmings was served and then Jim Brace-Thompson agreed to act as speaker and thanked outgoing board members and introduced the newly elected members for 2007.
     Sharon Cunningham again did a terrific job of decorating the tables.
     There being no further business, Ray adjourned the meeting at 7:50 pm.
          Respectfully submitted,
          Greg Davis,
          Recording Secretary.


Minutes of the VGMS Board Meeting of
January 4, 2007:
     The regular board meeting of the VGMS was called to order by Ed Clark at 7:30 p.m., on Thursday, January 4, 2007, at the I.B.E.W. Hall, 3994 E. Main Street, Ventura, CA.
     Present: Ed Clark, Ray and Florence Meisenheimer, Richard and Shirley Bromser, Shirley Layton, Mary Polacek, Greg Davis.

Old business:
     Richard Bromser reported information is still being gathered for the purchase of a storage trailer.
     Greg Davis - Members still need to contact Ron or me prior to going to the museum/workshop to confirm availability.

New business:
     Greg Davis visited the Help Ojai facility at the old County Honor Farm in Ojai, at the suggestion of Wayne Ehlers, and glad he did. This organization recently acquired the property, via a lease from the County of Ventura. A proposal for housing our museum there was warmly received, and I should know whether this is a viable site for our museum shortly. Consequently, we will hold off on purchasing a storage trailer until we see what transpires. More information and details will follow as another meeting will take place in January.
     We expect to have AC power back on at the museum in time for the next workshop. Be sure to call before going to the workshop.
     Florence Meisenheimer - Club dues to the CFMS will again be paid during this time of year, per the number of members in each club. Those fees were not increased this year. Plans are being put in place for the CFMS show, here in Ventura, in 2008. It will occupy three buildings at the fairgrounds.
     Ray Meisenheimer is still giving mineral and fossil demonstrations to schools in the county. The specimen display cases being built for all county schools are going well and more are ready to be issued.
     Shirley Layton contacted Steve Mulqueen who has purchased materials for the show case awards. Mary Polacek was given a P.O. Box key. The club will sponsor a subscription to the Scribe Newsletter in her name.
     Nancy Bogart has offered to do a presentation or class, in her own home, on the art of jump ring formation. More information will be forthcoming.
     Richard Bromser presented copies of the treasurer's report and it was m/s/c to accept as written. Carrow's restaurant will not be available on the same date next year so options are: an alternate date, relocating to another restaurant or doing our own potluck. There will be further study.
     Shirley Bromser - Packets, which include some club history, by-laws, board member contacts and member directory, have been prepared for new members. Membership directories will be mailed in February. Get your dues in, in order to be included.
     Mary Polacek is requesting more articles be submitted for the bulletin by club members and a list of committee chairpersons for 2007. The email address is vgms_editor@adelphia.net. Possibilities include lapidary hints and personal experiences of members. Photos are always a good addition too. The 10th of the month will still be the deadline for articles to the bulletin.
     The next show meeting will be on January 28 at Ed Clark's residence.
     The next general meeting will be on January 24, 2007, at the Lexington.
     The next board meeting, February 1, is at the I.B.E.W. Hall.
     There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:10 pm.
          Respectfully submitted,
          Greg Davis,
          Recording Secretary.

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Help to Prevent Home Water Damage
By Bill and Izzie Burns.

Via CFMS Newsletter December 2006.

When we returned from the AFMS Convention and Show, we were met with water damage caused by a broken refrigerator ice maker line. The house had water everywhere, mold and mildew in the carpet and walls, warped parquet floor, etc. Two months later, repair work is still not complete. State Farm Insurance is being very helpful, so I'd like to share what they recommend to reduce water claims. Any one of these could prevent much stress.

1. Turn off the water supply to the washing machine after each use.
2. During freezing conditions, allow water faucets to drip and keep the cabinet door open; insulate pipes that are exposed and accessible.
3. Have the roof inspected for wear, and replace as needed.
4. Inspect the water heater for signs of leaking or corrosion regularly.
5. Know where and how to turn off water to the house.
6. Inspect washing machine hoses, supply lines, ice makers, dishwashers, and other appliances that use water.
7. Turn off water at the main line when you are going to be away from the house for an extended period of time.
8. When going on a vacation, ask a neighbor, friend or relative to check your home several times while you are away.
9. If your city has a neighborhood vacation protection plan which checks the outside of your house frequently, sign up for it.

We now have a copper ice maker line, and when we are away from home for some time, we will give a neighbor a key to check our house. We will also sign up for the Monterey Park Vacation Protection Plan.

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VGMS 2007 Show Update.

Help Needed to Set up Library Display.
     To help promote our club's upcoming 2007 Show, Nancy and I have set up a display on geodes and agates in the small glass case in the lobby of the E. P. Foster Library in downtown Ventura. It will be up throughout the month of January, and we encourage you to check it out!
     In addition, we need help with a much larger display that we'll install in the H. P. Wright Library on Day Road next to Ventura College for the month of February. We'll be setting up that display Thursday morning, February 1. As with the Foster Library display, we'd like to have a theme of geodes, agates, and jasper, under the banner "Reveal Your Hidden Beauty." If you have particularly showy geodes, agates, and jasper - both rough and polished - please see us at the January meeting or give us a call (805-659-3577) or email us (jbraceth@adelphia.net. We're also seeking books, posters, calendars, and other publications with pretty pictures of agates, geodes and jasper to arrange along with the rocks in the display case. Finally, we also welcome help to set up the display. Please call us to arrange when and where to meet. Thanks in advance!
          Jim &Nancy Brace-Thompson.


Raffle Donations.
     I must confess I am a little worried. To date, I have NO DONATIONS for our raffle. I respectfully request the membership to give some thought to contributing something to the raffle. It is one of the major fundraisers for our Club each year!
     Do you have a piece of jewelry you've made, or maybe an extraordinary piece of lapidary work, or an exquisite specimen, which you would like to donate for the March Show? Donations of the lapidary sort should have accompanying documentation about the item. Is it made of gold, sterling silver, other metal or material? What specific rock or gem? What is the source of the rock or gem? What would be the price you could expect? Please include your most generous name!
     Do you have business owner friends that might be amenable to donating an item or service? Think about it and ASK! The show committee will appropriately acknowledge commercial donations.
     Donations can be brought to our regular meeting, or arrangement may be made to drop donations off at any chairperson's house. If you are unable to deliver the item but can pledge, please call me so I can list it. I am also willing to pick donations up, if need be.
     The sooner I have an idea of what we will be presenting, the better I can start planning the display case (oh my, another first!).
     Thank you.
          Mary Polacek.


Country Store Needs Merchandise!!
     The show is getting close and our inventory is down from previous years. We cleaned it out pretty good after the last show and with the storage in question, donations have been sparse. We have plenty of space in the Museum to store it until the show, so please go through your closets and cupboards and make space for your new items. Any Christmas presents that aren't quite you? Country Store can use them! You know the old saying "One person's junk is another person's treasures"! You can bring them to the museum on workshop mornings or give me a call at 805-717-9226 and I will make arrangements to pick them up if need be. You can also bring them to the show on Thursday or Friday. If we have them earlier we will have more time to get them priced. Thanks to all of you for your past and present donations. Our country store is the best and we have many repeat customers who look forward to it every year. It is usually the biggest moneymaker for our show and that is all due to your support. Thanks!
          Shirley Layton,
          Country Store Chair.


A Good Idea for Promoting Our Show.
     Car window signs are an extremely effective form of advertising our show. Please put one sign on both side windows of your back seat or rear windows starting mid-January. Thank you!
     From Bud and Terry McMillin via the MLMS Ghost Sheet January 2007.

Note: For your convenience, show sign inserts have been included in this issue near the end.

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Chips and Boulders.

Hosts and Hostesses Schedule for 2007:
     January 2007:  Sharlyne Holloway and Shirley Layton.
What month is best for you? A sign up list will be started at the January meeting.

Rock Boxes in Local News:
     An article, Rocky Road for Earth Sciences, by Cheri Carlson, in the B section of the January 21 edition of the Ventura County Star mentioned the Rock Boxes made for the Tri-Club Educational Committee. There is a picture of Donna Knapton instructing Santa Clara Elementary school teacher, Ashley Bledsoe, and students, on rock box use. Nancy Brace-Thompson is also quoted.

VGMS Workshop is open the third Saturday of each month from 9:00 am to noon unless otherwise notified. Shop Supervisors are Ron Wise (805) 647-4393 and Greg Davis (805) 647-9214. If you plan to attend, call ahead to make sure the museum will be open. A big thank you to Ron and Greg for the opportunity they give the rest of us. The workshop is there for your use; take advantage of it.

Tumbling Grit is still available. Contact any board member to arrange for pick up or come to a workshop Saturday at the museum.

CFMS & AFMS Newsletters:
     Anyone interested in their own subscriptions to these, please contact Mary Polacek (805 644-5090). The cost for one year is $5.50 for the CFMS and $4.50 for the AFMS. I do share some information from these bulletins with you, but there is much more in each issue that you may be interested in. If you have access to the Internet you can download both from their respective web sites for free!

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Field Trips Are Fun.

COOP Member and Other Field Trips.

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

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

TRI-CLUB FIELD TRIPS 2007:
Contact field trip leader to confirm
that there is a field trip scheduled.

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

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

Editor's Note: I would like for our members to submit some of their own hints and tips and, to get the ball rolling, here are a few tumbling tips from yours truly!

If you use baby wipes in your shop for minor cleanups, don't throw them out. Collect them; they are still useful for drying and/or cleaning the rims or outsides of your tumbler barrels during checkups.

Before you open your barrels, heat up some water. It is much more pleasant. Use a 3/4" slice of a cellulose sponge to clean the barrels rims. Write the grit size on the sponge with a permanent marker and reuse. Makes cleanup a snap and saves trees!

A diet scale usually has a five pound capacity and is useful to weigh barrel loads.

Not checking barrels by at least the third day can result in unnecessarily longer runs. Don't get over confident! Each run is truly different.

Keep a log. Write down your techniques. I'm sure you'll come up with a hint or tip and when you do, email them to vgms_editor@adelphia.net. Let us hear about your good ideas!

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CFMS 2007 Show Dates.

JANUARY 20-21; EXETER, CA:

Tule Gem & Mineral Society, Exeter Veteran's Memorial Bldg. Hwy 65. Hours: Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4. Steve Hayward (559) 734-3843. Email: smgat734@aol.com.

JANUARY 26-28; REDLANDS, CA:

The Mineralogical Society of Southern CA 42nd Pacific Micromount Conference, San Bernardino County Museum, 2024 Orange Tree Lane (Exit north on California Street. from I-10). Hours: Fri. 7-10; Sat. 10-10, Sun. 9-12.

FEBRUARY 16-25; INDIO, CA:

San Gorgonio Mineral & Gem Society, Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival, Gem & Mineral Building #1, 46-350 Arabia Street. Hours: 10 am-10 pm. Bert Grisham (951) 849-1674.

MARCH 2-4; HAYWARD, CA:

Mineral & Gem Society of Castro Valley, Centennial Hall at 22292 Foothill Boulevard. Hours: Fri. & Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5. Larry Ham (510) 887-9007. Email: info@mgscv.org.

MARCH 3-4; ARCADIA, CA:

Monrovia Rockhounds, Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanical Garden, 301 N. Baldwin Ave. Website: www.moroks.com. Hours: 9-4:30 both days. Email: Jo Anna Ritchey j.ritchey@verizon.net or janieduncan@altrionet.com.

MARCH 3-4; VENTURA, CA:

Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, "Artistry From Nature", Seaside Park, Ventura County Fairgrounds, 10 W. Harbor Blvd. Hours: Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4. Ed Clark (805) 983-0028. Email: clarkoe@adelphia.net. Web Site: www.vgms.org/.

MARCH 10-11; TURLOCK, CA:

Mother Lode Mineral Society, Stanislaus County Fairgrounds. Hours: 10-5 both days. Bud & Terry McMillin (209) 524-3494. Email: terry.mcmillin@yahoo.com.

MARCH 17-19; BAKERSFIELD, CA:

San Joaquin Valley Lapidary Society, Indoor Show/Outdoor Tail Gate. 5th Annual Rock & Mineral Rendezvous, Kern County Fairgrounds. Hours: Fri. 9-8; Sat. & Sun. 9-5. Lewis Helfrich (661) 872-8230 or (661) 323-2663.

APRIL 14-15; SAN JOSE, CA:

Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, 334 Tully Road. Website: www.scvgms.org/. Hours: 10-5 both days. Marc Mullaney (408) 691-1584. Email: geologistm@aol.com.

AMERICAN FEDERATION / REGIONAL
SHOW SCHEDULE - 2007.

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

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

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

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

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

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America the Beautiful Pass.

Department of the Interior Announces the New "America The Beautiful Pass" 12-06-06.

This pass will be needed to use certain facilities and access certain areas on public land. The new program replaces the Golden Eagle, Golden Age, and the Golden Access Passports as well as the National Parks Pass. Existing passes will remain valid until expired, lost or stolen. This means the lifetime passes will be valid unless lost or stolen, at which time they will need to be replaced.

Costs of the four different passes on the interagency program are:

1. A new annual interagency pass costing $80 - For visitors to multiple federal sites, the pass offers unlimited coverage of entrance and standard amenity recreation fees for a specific period of time, typically a year, beginning from the date of the first use.
2. A $10 lifetime senior pass for U.S. citizens 62 or over.
3. A free lifetime access pass for citizens with permanent disabilities; and
4. A new, free annual volunteer pass for volunteers acquiring 500 hours of service on a cumulative basis.

Information on the new pass can be found on the INTERNET at - http://www.doi.gov/news/06_News_Releases/061205.html.

Submitted by Florence Meisenheimer via the American Lands Access Association Newsletter, December 2006.

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Federation News.

2007 CFMS Federation Show.

The show will be held in Lancaster's air conditioned fairgrounds, hosted by the Palmdale Club. There will be 50 dealers, also tailgaters vending outside. Field trips each day are planned, as well as an RV show, a metal detector treasure hunt Sunday morning, and a classic car show on Sunday. Sunday also is Father's day.

The show committee is challenging each club to enter a club case as well as individual displays, competitive or non-competitive. All forms that you might need or wish for are to be found on the internet.

Florence Meisenheimer.


CFMS Fall Business Meeting.

The meeting was held November 11, 2006, at the Holiday Inn in Visalia, with all officers and 65 directors present.

Three new clubs were welcomed, with total membership of more than 100. This included LaMore Gem & Mineral Club, Vacaville "Garage Grinders" and First Class Minerals.

The upcoming CFMS shows are in Lancaster, hosted by Palmdale G & M Society, June 15-17, 2007, and at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, hosted by CFMS in June 2008. No other bids were made. The 2007 CFMS/AFMS show will be in Roswell, New Mexico, June 5-10, 2007, one week before the show in Lancaster. Shirley Leeson will be installed as AFMS President.

Each year one person from each of the seven federations is selected to attend the Ad Hoc Judges Training Program, at Wildacres, with AFMS picking up the price of room and board. It was approved to make this permanent.

Insurance is the same as last year: $1.50 dues for each member to AFMS, and $6.00 each member for insurance.

Earth Sciences, Zzyzx is filled. Perhaps a few motorhomes may be accepted. Camp Paradise is questionable, due to a number of improvements needed.

Don Ogden on the internet reminded everyone to NOT put anything regarding club financing on the internet.

Mike KoKinos reported on the problem Ventura is having with the property tax on the Fairgrounds and he was planning to contact a State representative. He stressed again how important it is to protect our 501-C-3 status. Do not use any club money for individual benefit. (Mike said he has turned 80 and wants to retire. We will be sorry to see him go.)

The Benitoite mine is now open to field trips. The fee is $100.00 per person, and there will be no deep digging, no trenches or big holes. A small garden tool may be used to scratch the surface.

Izzie Burns is now handling the Show Dates Coordinator job. Dee Clason retired.

Bill Gissler reported on the many programs available on the internet. He also had a page of new programs which will be given to our program chairman.

Jim Brace-Thompson, Chair of CFMS and AFMS Junior Activities, stated that the Future Rockhounds of America Merit Badge program continues to do well. Seventy-one societies have contacted him for material or information. Of these, 20 are from California. Jim has distributed 621 AFMS/FRA badges and 755 Activities badges. You have all heard about the Rock Boxes that members from all three clubs are putting together; 250 of them, one for every school in Ventura County. Jim is editing a "Teachers Manual" to go with the boxes. Attendees at the meeting were very impressed with the boxes, and that so many were being made.

Florence Meisenheimer.

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EDUCATIONAL CORNER.

Definition of the Month.

Heap leaching - A process of extracting metals from a disseminated deposit, as a primary recovery method. The term is also used in reference to a process applied to the scavenging of any remaining metallic resources from a waste rock or tailings pile discarded from a mine, smelter or rock mill, as a secondary recovery method.

The term "heap leach" is in reference to a method of treating ore after it has been stacked into a large pile (a uniform bed). The site to be used for the "heap" is graded in such a manner that liquids will readily drain to a specific point (slightly inclined). A layer of clay is often used in preparation of the leach pad site. The next step is to lay out two impervious layers of thick polypropylene plastic sheeting. Each layer is separated by a bed of clay. The clay acts as an impervious layer and will not be abrasive or detrimental to the plastic sheeting. The ore body is drilled, blasted, excavated (usually from an open pit), while the ore is crushed and screened to a specific grain-size. The desired grain-size is dependant upon the grade of ore, the characteristics of the rock and the proposed chemistry/process to be applied in the treatment of the rock. The ore is then piled in a uniform manner on top of a clay bed above the upper layer of plastic sheeting. After the ore pile has been prepared, a sprinkler system is installed on the surface of the heap from which solvents are applied.

The primary objective of a heap leach extraction method is to dissolve the metals from the ore, converting the solid metallic resource into a water-based liquid. This is done with use of a variety of industrial chemicals. For gold ores, a weak solution of sodium cyanide (NaCN) or potassium cyanide (KCN) is sprinkled on the ore for a period of several months to a few years. With cyanide, other chemicals are added to the solution in order to increase gold solubility and to adjust the pH of the solution. The cyanide solution which contains dissolved gold is continuously recovered, recycled and allowed to circulate through a column of activated carbon beads or other comparable reactive medium. Gold compounds will adhere to the carbon as an ion-exchange chemical reaction. After a certain period of time, a solvent will then be applied to the carbon beads in order to strip-out and re-dissolve the gold compounds.

The final process involves the recovery of metallic gold bullion in a series of electrolytic cells. Dissolved ions of gold (cations) will adhere to a copper plate (the cathode) from the solution when an electric charge is applied. It may take several days or weeks to electrolytically remove most of the gold ions from the solution. Each copper plate is then removed from the electrolytic cells. Gold bullion is then physically removed from the copper plates, melted and cast into ingots for shipment. (The gold bullion contains mostly gold with other metals such as silver, copper, etc. and a small percent of non-metallic impurities, depending on the process and the composition of the ore.) Gold bullion is sold by the mining company in its impure state or shipped to a smelter for further refining into pure gold (with separate, associated metals) and then sold. All steps of this complex process must be calculated through computer modeling and then tested in a pilot plant before extensive mining can occur. This is the only sure way to demonstrate that an economic recovery method can be achieved.

Written by Steve Mulqueen for the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, January 2007. The "Definition of the Month" features words related to geology, paleontology, mining and desert history.

Illustration of the Month.

Illustration Source: From Rosario Resources Corporation of Chicago, Illinois, sketch drawn in 1885, reprinted in Journal of the West, Vol. XIV, No. 2, from the article titled "Mules, Men and Mining Machinery: Transport on the Veracruz Road", written by Alan Probert, April, 1975, page 112.

In 1885, the American manufacturer Fraser & Chalmers specified a seven-mule train to transport a single, continuous strand of steel cable 1,525 feet in length to a remote mining camp in Honduras, Central America. The cable was needed for hoisting ore, waste rock, men and equipment in and out of the Rosario Mine. To achieve this task through a roadless mountain region, the cable was prepared for transport by forming fourteen coils, each coil of approximately the same length and weight. Each mule carried two coils on a rack, one on each side so the animal's load would be balanced. The cable also acted as a lead rope, allowing the mules to move in a continuous procession.

When studying mining history, it is important to understand the enormous obstacles that had to be overcome in order to produce mineral commodities. This illustration is just one example of how ingenuity was applied in order to solve a transportation problem at a remote mining camp. A reliable transportation system was critical to every mining operation.

Text written by Steve Mulqueen.

The "Illustration of the Month" features a drawing, sketch, pen & ink rendering, engraving print or any form of art rediscovered in books, maps, manuscripts and many other sources related to geology, paleontology, mining and desert history. This illustration was chosen for its educational content by Steve Mulqueen, Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, January 2007.

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SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

The Rock in Glen Oak Acres
By Richard Zander.

In 1932 my father, Joseph Zander, owner of Zander Construction Company, was contracted to build an addition to a house on Ridgewood in Glen Oak Acres. The foundation was being dug by hand by two of his laborers. Everything was going fine until they hit a large stone. The more they dug the bigger it seemed to be. The men stopped digging there until they were told what to do. They told my dad it was very big and asked what they should do. Joe looked at it, said it had to be removed and to keep digging. They dug for two days until they finally uncovered the total mass of this rock. Needless to say they dug a much bigger hole than was necessary for the foundation.

Now the problem was how to remove it. Joe asked Tom Wagner, owner of Wagner Material Yard in Northfield, if he could lift it out. Tom said, "Sure, I'll come after work with our crane and get it out for you." They had a problem getting the crane to the site as it was mounted on a Mack truck with hard rubber tires. There were few roads leading to the site and the ones they could use required the workmen to cut off some tree branches so the crane could get through. They also had to drive over some open fields and had to put planks down for better support. When they finally got the crane to the rock more digging was necessary to get some chains around it. Martin Wagner, Tom's son, was the operator. I remember Martin as always wearing large gloves and always having a cigar in his mouth (a young boy's observance). After getting the chains hooked to the crane Martin started the huge and very noisy Waukesha engine and started to lift. The crane tipped down but the rock would not budge. That crane was rated at a 3 ton capacity.

Now what to do? Dynamite was suggested, but Joe did not want to do that as it was too dangerous near the house and then they would have to pick up many smaller rocks all over. Everyone was disappointed and the Wagner's crane was taken back to the material yard. Joe contacted Fred Pfingsten, a house mover he had used before. Fred looked at it and told Joe that if he moved the rock it would cost $50.00, and if he couldn't he would not charge anything. More digging was required. This time a horse was brought in pulling a slip scraper. A long ramp was dug. The rock was tipped on to a huge timber sled and winched through the fields across a road to my father's property at 1139 Pleasant Lane.

Geologists came from Northwestern University and said the rock was solid granite. They estimated its weight at six and three-quarter tons and said it probably came down on an ice glacier slide. It is six feet four inches high, six feet long, and three and one-half feet wide. It has the profile of a face.

The rock is in a park in the Acres at West Ridgewood and Pleasant Lane.

Editor's Note: That's my father, Dick Zander, pictured with the Glen Oak Rock, in the town of Glenview, Illinois.

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Editor's Corner.

I am certain that all of us echo Florence's sentiments. Stand up and shout a huge THANK YOU to Shirley and Jim. They have produced a first class publication. With the support of our members, I am confident Rockhound Rambling will build on and continue to reflect their hard work.

This year I will experience a few firsts with the Ventura Gem and Mineral Society (VGMS): my first year as your bulletin editor, my very first bulletin, and my first attempt at serving as Raffle Chairperson for our annual show. Please bear with me as I revel in the wonder of it all!

Let me now rockhound ramble. I joined VGMS in October, 2004. I had the habit of walking the Pierpont area beach with our dog, Buddy. I adopted the habit of picking up and pocketing stones we'd encounter. Soon the pockets gave way to bags which gave way to backpacks. Then it got out of hand, and one day I had to call my husband, Paul, pleading for him to bring the car and not to forget the wagon. I had filled buckets; my backpack was straining at the seams. I had even co-opted my doggie bags and they too were chock full of beach rocks! Ha! After that episode, I became very discriminate.

It seems to be a phenomenon of winter here that the ocean seems to randomly hurl up piles of rock on the beaches. The mounds of ocean tumbled rock will last a few days and then disappear. A little further down the beach they might mysteriously reappear. My neighbor, Jim, would disagree with me on the notion, instead being of the opinion that the ocean was not throwing rocks, but merely exposing the rocks from under their canopy of sand. I enjoyed collecting the quartz, the jaspers, the "spotties" and "blackies". Spotties and blackies? Yes, laugh if you will, but I am not the only one here at the beach calling them that! It is a little silly. That is why I joined the VGMS. I wanted to know what kind of rocks they are. Where does the jasper wash down from? Why does the ocean regurgitate piles of rock in the winter? Where does the brown lava come from? I thought the folks at the VGMS would have the answers. Honestly, I still don't have answers, but I did begin to have a whole lot of fun shortly after joining the club.

I went to the CFMS annual Wiley Wells Thanksgiving outing in November, 2004. My first field trip! I may not know what the "spotties" and "blackies" are yet, but I have met and learned from many generous rockhounds. My collection has grown. Looking over my beach rocks, I laugh now, but guess what? Yes, I still bring them home!!

As the rocks began to accumulate, an interest in becoming a lapidary ignited; fueled by fun at our workshop; fanned at cabbing lessons from masters Wayne Ehlers and Greg Davis. Wishing for more hands-on time led to searching for equipment of my own. I accumulated a few machines; old, industrial strength, behemoth machines; distressed and begging for rehab, but with nary a manual included. I discovered I am good at rehab but severely lacking in application experience. I have been bumbling along, oftentimes scratching my head, wishing I could call someone about the particular lapidary dilemma at hand. I knew there must be a VGMS member knowledgeable regarding the task at hand, but whom?

I broached this subject at the last board meeting (yep, my first). Could we ask our members what knowledge they were willing to share and publish the response in the Member Directory? The consensus was it could not hurt to ask.

Hmmm ... okay! I will ask.
     Would you answer ad hoc questions from fellow members?
     What knowledge or experience are you willing to share? Would I call you or consult via email?
     Could we document experiments and results, and submit them to the editor so everyone can learn! Success and failures as well! (Hints and Tips galore!!)
     Are you pretty good at identifying rocks? How about minerals? Do you have a regional specialty? Would you enjoy taking a member through the identification process? Ah! Educational articles in the making!
     Do you have equipment sitting idle? Would you consider renting it to another member for a nominal fee? Would you consider mentoring in a particular subject? What would your criteria be?
     Are you available for spur of the moment field trips? Do you ever have days when the urge to go to rockhounding comes over you, but there is no planned trip for that day? Who do you call? Do you have an off-road vehicle? Would you like to carpool?

Think about it. Done? What do you think? Talk to us. All feedback is welcome. Bring your ideas to the regular meeting or call/email any of the offiers. We'll be incorporating your input into the 2007 Member Directory. We want our members to find the help they need and share the knowledge they have.

If I forgot to include anyone's input for this issue, please forgive me. Let me know what I missed and whether it is pertinent to include in next issue. I should get better at this as I go along. Thanks for your patience!

          Rock away!
          Mary Polacek.

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VGMS Photo Album.

Holiday Meeting on December 13, 2006.







The Three Photos Above Are Of The 2007 Officer Installation
The Installation always takes place during the Holiday Meeting.

Photos by Paul and Mary Polacek.

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2007 VGMS Show Flyer.

If you don't have Show Flyers from the regular meetings, cut these out and place in your car window! NOW! (Please don't block your vision - Drive Safely.)

  Table of Contents.

SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

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