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

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

Rockhound Rambling Photo of the Month.
This month's photo is by Mel Hixson.

Description: Bruneau Jasper from
the Bruneau River Canyon in Southwest Idaho.

This material forms in gas pockets in welded ash flows. Most of what we see on the market has been broken up as it was extracted from the hardened ash but in their pristine form, the nodules are almost thunderegg-like with star shaped cavities.

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

Permission is granted to quote any item, if proper credit is given. Exchange Editors: email to vgms_editor@roadrunner.com or mail to 3063 Bayshore Avenue, Ventura, CA 93001-4125.

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

Table of Contents.

• PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE;
• WORDS TO LIVE BY;
• UPCOMING VGMS EVENTS;
• BIRTHDAYS;
• HOSPITALITY;
• PROGRAM REVIEW;
• PROGRAM SCHEDULE;
• MEMBERSHIP;
• MEETING MINUTES;
• CHIPS AND BOULDERS;
• COMMUNITY OUTREACH;
• Balls Of Clay;
• FIELD TRIPS ARE FUN;
• HINTS AND TIPS;
• EDUCATIONAL CORNER;
• LET'S BE SAFE OUT THERE;
• FEDERATION NEWS;
• GEMS FROM THE PAST;
• Chuckles;
• Geologists Haul Up Deep-Earth Rock;
• LET'S GO TO A SHOW 2007-2008.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.

The weather at Trona for Gem-O-Rama 07 was outstanding. Everyone there came away with more specimens that they knew what to do with. I brought back a fair amount of material to contribute to the silent auction at our show and at the CFMS show. Just a reminder to all, we are looking into conducting a silent auction at the CFMS show in June 2008. When you're out there collecting pick up an extra rock or two to contribute.

It's that time of year to begin selecting club officers for next year. We will be announcing a proposed slate of officers at the next meeting. Proposed being the key word. If you are interested in taking a more active role in your club, please step up and volunteer for a position.

Ed Clark, President.

  Table of Contents.

WORDS TO LIVE BY.

That man is the richest whose pleasures are the cheapest.

Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength.

Man is the only animal that blushes, or needs to.

A good listener is a good talker with a sore throat.

Collected by Wayne Ehlers.

  Table of Contents.

UPCOMING VGMS EVENTS.

Regular Meeting - Wednesday, October 24, 7:30 pm, The Lexington, Ventura.
Board Meeting - Thursday, November 1, 7:30 pm, The Lexington, Ventura.
Bulletin Article Deadline - Sunday, November 4. E-mail to: vgms_editor@roadrunner.com.
Regular Meeting - Wednesday, November 14, 7:30 pm, The Lexington, Ventura.
Workshop Saturday - November 17, 9 am To Noon, Museum.

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

  Table of Contents.

BIRTHDAYS.

Avraham Barshai - October 09,
Dallas Stephens - October 16,
Zachary Bryant - October 17,
Valli Davis - October 23,
Erik Bryant - October 25,
Hermelinda Areo - October 28.

Miriam Andrews - November 02,
Larry Bryant - November 08,
Ron Wise - November 30.

October Birthstones:
     Modern:     opal or tourmaline.
     Ancient traditional:
          Hebrew: aquamarine.
          Roman: aquamarine.
          Arabic: aquamarine.
          Hindu: coral.
          Polish: aquamarine.
          Russian: beryl.
          Guardian angel: tsuriel.
          His talismanic stone: agate.

     Zodiac gemstones:
          Libra: peridot.
          Leo: onyx.

October Flower:
     Common Name: Marigold.
     Botanical Name: Calendula officinalis.
     Color: Orange.
     Meaning: Cruelty, Grief, Jealousy, Sacred Affection.

Image source: International Colored Gemstone Association,
www.gemstone.org.

  Table of Contents.

HOSPITALITY.

Twenty-four members, two guests, and pebble pup Rebecca attended the September meeting. We were pleased to see guests Debbie Sander and son Ryan again. Thanks to Jim and Nancy Brace-Thompson for the refreshments.

It was good to see Sharon Cunningham present and on the mend!

The Stephenson family has been scheduled for October refreshments for some time. We hope to see them as we have missed them as of late.

November's general meeting will be the second Wednesday, November 14. We hope to enjoy YOUR pumpkin goodies at that meeting.

  Table of Contents.

PROGRAM REVIEW.

September's Silent Auction went well with material scattered over three tables that eventually changed hands. I was happy with my bag of tumbling material purloined from the stacks of rough I know are cluttering up Mel's yard. I know my daughter enjoyed grabbing the bag the next morning and scattering its contents across the recently mopped kitchen floor. Oh well! May your purchases be worked on before the next auction and come out shiny and beautiful. May your fossils be clean and your petrified wood un-fractured. Thanks again for all the material brought.
     Lowell Foster.

The Mystery Rock featured on the September bulletin cover was displayed at the meeting. Mel Hixson identified it as most probably serpentine. This rock appeared to be river tumbled for ages! It exhibited serpentine silky luster and veiny, mottled appearance. Thanks Mel! I never would have guessed serpentine, because it wasn't green! Live and Learn!!

Nancy Bogart shared with us the lovely silver chains, wire wrapped cabochons and brooch, beaded work, and a stunning silver and gem necklace, that she finished during her two-week stay at Camp Paradise. Nancy is quite a talented artist! The instructors are very good and very dedicated. Nancy highly recommends we ALL go to Camp Paradise next year!

Our silent auction sure had a lot of variety! Donations included an Oregon thunderegg, Canadian agate, Trona hanksite, Turtle Mountain nodule, petrified wood, concretions, pink agate, Hector Hills agate, banded rhyolite, Hornitos Flure claim jasper, Hornitos poppy jasper, Prairie agate, Owlhead Mountains nodule, [Luo] Choyas coconut, Indian black skin agate, Horse Canyon rough, Indian apophylite, galena and goethite in calcite, chiastolite, jasper slabs, jasper rough and a bag of tumbling ready rough. There were many fossils: oyster, clam, crinoids, herring, coral, shells, and even a fossil ear! Beautiful finished jewelry as well: a petersite pendant and wire wrapped chrysacolla. WHEW!!

  Table of Contents.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE.

     October Program: Due to a couple of unexpected happenings I was unable to finish part two of the history of the VGMS. Instead, I will be presenting the program on the Hauser Beds I gave to the Oxnard Club earlier in the month, with some modifications suggested by Ed Clark for displaying the maps.
     I apologize for the change, but I hope you like the alternative. The history will be finished for a program sometime early next year.
     For those who saw the Oxnard Presentation, the changes include a dropping of much of the first half history and a narrower focus on the actual sites and the accompanying images. Also, a wider selection of samples from each of the sites will be displayed with labels.
          Lowell Foster.

November Program: "Entertainment" will be pumpkin goodies which will, hopefully, be brought to the meeting by those who attend.

December Program: Christmas Potluck at Ed Clark's.

  Table of Contents.

MEMBERSHIP.

Dues are Due (along with Updates to the Club Directory)!
     VGMS membership dues are due by January 1, 2008. You can send your dues to:
          Jim Brace-Thompson,
          Membership Secretary,
          7319 Eisenhower Street,
          Ventura, CA 93003.
     You can also give them to Jim at the October, November or December meetings. Dues are $20 for a single individual, $30 for couples, $17 for full-time college students (age 18+), and free for children and youth under 18 years old who join the club with a paid adult or couple.
     Along with your dues, please alert Jim to any address, phone, or email address changes or updates needed for your entry in our Club Directory and any updates for your entry in our Club Yellow Pages, which will be added to our Club Directory in 2008.
     As a reminder, we've created the Club Yellow Pages to list members' areas of special expertise so that fellow VGMS members -- especially new members -- can better connect with others who have similar interests. This also might help each of us explore areas of potential interest. For example, say you've always been interested in silversmithing but don't really know what's involved and don't want to buy expensive materials until you're sure it's something you really want to do. The Club Yellow Pages might guide you to someone already experienced in silversmithing who'd be willing to give you a demo and provide advice.
     Here are categories we're using:

• CMR - crystal, mineral & rock collecting;
• CS - carving & sculpture;
• E - education (kids' activities, school visits);
• F - faceting;
• FP - fossils & paleontology;
• FT - field trips;
• LJ - lapidary arts & jewelry making;
• M - meteorites, tektites & astronomy;
• MH - mining history & artifacts;
• MT - micromounts & thumbnail specimens;
• FM - fluorescent minerals;
• P - photography;
• SS - silversmithing;
• O - other (please specify).

     For each category, you should specify Exp for "Expert" or Nov for "Novice". For updating entries in our Club Directory and Yellow Pages, you can write Jim at his mailing address noted above, or email jbraceth@roadrunner.com or call (805-659-3577).
          Jim Brace-Thompson, Membership Secretary.

(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.

  Table of Contents.

MEETING MINUTES.

Minutes of the VGMS Regular Monthly Meeting,
Wednesday, September 26, 2007:
     The regular monthly meeting of the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society was called to order by Ed Clark at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2007 at The Lexington, Ventura, California.
     The August membership meeting and the September board meeting minutes were corrected and then m/s/c as shown in the bulletin.
President Ed Clark presided over the meeting, directed the pledge to the flag and welcomed guests. Ed reminded members that the Trona event will take place October 13 & 14.
Abe Barshai: The Country Store at our annual show will need donations of all sorts of items so start putting those things aside. The next show meeting will be held on Sunday, October 14th at Abe & Esther's house.
Cyndie Day: It was m/s/c to accept the treasurer's report as reported and printed.
Mary Polacek: Articles to the bulletin will be required by the first Sunday after each board meeting. Any and all articles and photos will be greatly appreciated.
Miriam Tetrault: Rock boxes have been distributed to most of the Ventura schools.
Greg Davis provided Zzyzx forms for those interested. Our storage facility is available and we'll try to coordinate a time to transport materials. We still have received no word from Help of Ojai since their latest meeting with the County of Ventura concerning rules and limitations.
Jim Brace-Thompson: All are encouraged to be a part of the Oxnard Show, November 17 & 18 and mark your calendars for June 2008 and the CFMS Federation Show. Information will soon be available concerning specifics of the federation Show and Jim & Nancy will be attending the show meeting in November. As of now, the Federation is not planning on offering a silent action at the show and so has offered it to the Ventura-Tri clubs as a money maker if we're interested in putting it on.
Nancy Brace-Thompson: The 2008 Federation Show will be held here in Ventura next June. All are encouraged to schedule accordingly and try to allot time to assist.
Lowell Foster: Next month Lowell will present the History of our Club - part 2.
     Lowell next presented the silent auction. Members contributed many colorful fossil and mineral specimens which resulted in most everything being bid on and a really successful auction.
     Refreshments were provided by Jim & Nancy Brace-Thompson.
     The next board meeting will be held on October 4th at the Lexington, the next monthly membership meeting will be on October 24th.
     There being no further business, Ed adjourned the meeting at 8:45 pm.
          Respectfully submitted,
          Greg Davis,
          Recording Secretary.


Minutes of the VGMS Board Meeting,
Thursday, October 4, 2007:
     The regular board meeting of the VGMS was called to order by Ed Clark at 7:30 pm, on Thursday, October 4, 2007, at The Lexington in Ventura, California.
Present: Ed Clark, Jim and Nancy Brace-Thompson, Cyndie Day, Ron Wise, Mary Polacek and Greg Davis.
     Ed called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm.
Old business:
Greg Davis: Members still need to contact myself or Ron prior to going to the museum/workshop to confirm its availability. A work shop is scheduled for October 20. A storage facility has been rented by the club. It is located in Santa Paula and a time will be scheduled to transport show materials into storage.
New business:
Ed Clark: The process of board member appointments needs to begin with the formation of an appointment committee unless all board members agree to remain in their positions and no other members step forward to apply. Ed offered to oversee Ways & Means to reintroduce the raffle at our monthly meetings.
Cyndie Day: With new charges for check writing, Cyndie suggests we open a second account with another institution that doesn't charge per check. It was m/s/c to open an account with Bank of America as soon as possible. Cyndie also suggests we inventory museum items; list and place a value on them and determine if additional insurance is necessary. This will be performed during the next work shop day. The treasurer's report was distributed and it was m/s/c to accept as written.
Jim Brace-Thompson: Dues for 2008 membership will be accepted now until the end of the year. We will attempt to get membership dues for 2008 paid up by January 1. Jim has revised and printed new club flyers along with flyers for our 2008 show. A show meeting will be held Sunday, October 14, 2:00 pm, at the Barshai residence.
Nancy Brace-Thompson: The 2008 Federation show will be held in Ventura on June 27-29. All are encouraged to plan ahead in order to participate and offer to assist with setup and the many other jobs that will need to be done. All are also encouraged to enter display cases. The Federation fall business meeting will be held November 9-11 and both Jim and Nancy will attend. Any concerns that our members might have can be forwarded at that time. Zzyzx attendance forms are now being accepted.
Mary Polacek: Articles for the bulletin are required by the Sunday following each Board meeting.
Ron Wise: A Cryo-Genie Pegmatite Mine trip is planned for October 27th. A work force will be formed and show materials moved to the new storage facility on October 21, and possibly again on November 3, if necessary. The CFMS annual Thanksgiving field trip to Wiley Wells is planned for November 21-25.
     Just a reminder that this year's Christmas get-together will be held at Ed's house and will be a potluck dinner.
     The next general meeting will be on October 24, 2007, at the Lexington in Ventura and the next board meeting will also be held at the Lexington on November 1st.
     There being no further business, Ed adjourned the meeting at 8:40 pm.
          Respectfully submitted,
          Greg Davis,
          Recording Secretary.

  Table of Contents.

CHIPS AND BOULDERS.

OGMS Show Exhibitor Deadline.
     The Oxnard Gem and Mineral Club is requesting exhibitors for their November Show. Submit their exhibitor forms by November 1. If you need a form, there will be some available at our next general meeting, or you can contact Miriam Tetrault for assistance.

Yeah, that skull again.
     Hi Hounders, Found this while Googling myself. From the newsletter of the LA County Museum Of Natural History, http://collections.nhm.org/newsletters/pdfs/2007-05.pdf, from the May, 2007 newsletter of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, under Vertebrate Paleontology:

     The reason I'm posting this is for those of you who still go fossil hunting in that area. PLEASE don't use the brute force bludgeon method when around concretions. We believe other concretions contain more of that skeleton but need a team to safely remove it due to dangerous overhang. If it IS a complete skeleton it is a rare find the museum needs to remove in its entirety. There are other things of value there besides meg teeth. Let's not sully our reputation by destroying things of value. Thanks for your consideration.
     It is of my opinion that if we hunt responsibly, we can keep areas open and, perhaps reopen areas closed to us.
          Shep Yahoo Group LA-ROCKS posting by Shep Koss, Wednesday October 10, 2007.

The Royal Peacock Opal Mine is probably closing in October and there is no guarantee they will open next year.
          The Rollin Rock, October 2007.

"'Sol' searching under way" (Stephens Media in Ely, NV Times, 10/10/07).
     "Energy developers are staking their claims to major swaths of the Mojave Desert in Nevada, California and Arizona in an effort to exploit California's growing demand for solar power. The reason? California's aggressive renewable energy portfolio standard, which forces electric utilities to use more energy from the sun, wind and other renewable resources, is a key factor, said Charles Ricker, senior vice president of BrightSource Energy, an Oakland, Calif.-based designer and builder of solar power plants. California utilities must obtain 20 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2015.
     Reuters has reported that the Bureau of Land Management has received rights-of-way requests for more than 300,000 acres of California desert for 34 large solar plants totaling 24,000 megawatts, but analysts say many of the projects will not be completed."
          http://www.elynews.com/articles/2007/10/10/news/news01.txt.
          BLM California News.bytes, issue 303.

"Geothermal power booms" (Palm Springs Desert Sun, 9/30/07).
     "Geothermal energy is not usually the first idea that comes to mind when people talk about renewable energy sources. But plans now under way near the Salton Sea could change that. At least three major companies investing in Imperial County have immediate plans for five new geothermal plants. Long term, they expect to build at least another 15."
     The BLM is involved in permitting for some proposed geothermal power plants in the desert, and in rights-of-way permitting for proposed power lines to carry the power to more populated areas.
          http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070930/NEWS07/309300003/1013/news07. (Note From The Webmaster: Before I removed the code for this link I tried it and got 'story removed' or something like that.)
          BLM California News.bytes, issue 301.

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

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!

  Table of Contents.

SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

Education Station By Donna Knapton (OGMS).
     The Earth Science Kit Project took some big strides forward this last month! The Teacher Guide Manuals have been distributed to all the schools that already have boxes in the classrooms and we have enough printed up for the next set of kits when they are ready to go out. Bravo, again to Jim Brace-Thompson for all his work and to Brett Johnson for his work designing the cover and back and printing them for us at no cost. Our members are really doing their part for the schools project!
     While we were delivering the manuals, Larry and I took a look at all the boxes except one and they are holding up very well. There was one broken rock, diatomite which is fragile in any case, and one box needed a little cleaning. All the schools except one said they had been used several times. One principle said that he had to mediate once when two teachers had wanted it at the same time. We left a copy of the Introduction and Index for each teacher at all the schools to encourage them to use the boxes.
     The best news is that we now have help with our biggest stumbling block on the project! Colina School (Thousand Oaks) wood shop instructor, Steven Kozlowski, has started his advanced class on building the basic boxes as part of his program. This development came about in just the last few days we were home before this trip, but we got a set of materials and plans to him the day before we left, so at last Larry and Don Asher get a break. We will take the basic boxes, finish the tops and numbering. Hopefully, this will put the boxes on a much faster track!
     The Fossil Box is going great guns! Jim has the case and is working on filling it and obtaining the literature. It is going to be a very complete and broadly representative example for the kids and should please even those who already have a proficiency in that area. Jim is putting a lot of planning and thought into the project. He hopes to have it ready for display at the show, so you can all get a look at the new box there. The Library is already looking forward to having it to lend to the schools.
     There will be another workday right after we get home, on Saturday, November 3. We will make another effort to get the rocks in the storage boxes before the winter rains. Come one, come all! We have jobs for all abilities -- from muscle-intense rock sizing to putting the stickers on the sand bottles. There is a job just right for you! We will see you on November 3rd.

  Table of Contents.

  Table of Contents.

FIELD TRIPS ARE FUN.

CFMS Boron Field Trip Report.
     The forecast was for rain, but we went anyway. Thirty or so vehicles full of rockhounders converged on Boron, CA, with a vengeance. A rainbow danced a slow waltz in front of me, gradually shifting this way and that, as I made my way to the meeting place along side the road, but the rain, it was not ready yet and only spit at me with weak breath.
     First, we traveled down Gephardt Road, past old cement ruins and walls of days gone by. A towering chimney was all that was left of one relic. Once we stopped, Sesame Pooch leapt out of the vehicle with glee, fitful after being trapped inside for so long without a way to vent her energies. Agate was to be found, but not in great abundance. You had to walk if you really wanted to find the best material. I found a piece of nice clean white druzy quartz and some small amygdules of agate with white and clear fortification patterns inside. One amygdule was purplish but only time will tell if the color will hold true after polishing. Others found agate with a bluish grey cast.
     Our next stop took us down a sandy road and some low riding vehicles were left behind in a safe place before heading onwards. An especially tricky sand trap at the end of the trail temporarily ensnared several travelers, but we were able to push them out and on their way to the collection place just ahead. The agate was more colorful here, reds, white, clear, rust, and lavenders were to be found and some of the pieces were quite large. I didn't have to walk far and many people quickly filled their buckets to ridiculous overflow. The rain clouds had cleared without another drop and a perfect blue sky watched over Lew and Shep as they helped with the quick repairs to the one flat tire of the day.
     Finally, we headed back onto the freeway to Kramer Junction and found another small path in the dirt. Several right turns took us to agate and common opal (or 'Opalite' if you are from the Bakersfield club! ;-). Sesame Pooch looked down and found me some green opal in amongst the many blobs of boring white and chalky opal. Just a tiny vein of brilliant translucent green like the color of epidote, but it was enough for a cab or two. I cast around the area and found several other small pieces of green before moving on to sort through the copious amounts of bog agate and other assorted colors of agate, but my mind kept returning to the green, of which I was now seeing none. I returned to the area of the green, but now other wolves were circling the prey. Some sharp-eyed children and parents were on to my secret and the few remaining pieces of green were quickly scooped up.
     More time than we had would be needed to plow around the area and see if those pieces of green were weathered out from an actual live vein or just leftover tailings from long ago. But we didn't have time for weathered veins because the weather itself was turning against us. A few tiny sprinkles caught our attention. Lustful eyes tore away from the ground and saw the towering black waves of clouds coming quickly from the North. It was like a cave was coming to swallow us and I could see that Lew was becoming fidgety. Perhaps he would not have been pleased to see us all washed away in a giant flash flood so he began to suggest strongly that if we didn't leave now, we were on our own. Hounders were reluctant to drag themselves away, only Sesame Pooch pulled eagerly to take cover, but the clouds were intimidating and many of us eventually chose to leave before the dirt turned to mud. This time, the rain would come for sure.
     Traveling back towards the freeway, the dust stopped flying. The ground was wet. The storm had already been busy leaving its mark in front of us. But on my truck were only round craters in the dust, no actual rain, just speckles. At the restaurant, the roads were painted black and giant puddles had accumulated on the sides, but I had not yet turned on my windshield wipers. We went in to eat, contented after a good trip.
     Coming back out afterwards, the towering clouds were now to the south. My truck was still dry. I chased the clouds back towards my home but still they only halfheartedly spat at me. Perhaps the rain doesn't like me. Halfway home, I saw another rainbow in the clouds ahead of me, but the rain, it never came. It's dry right now outside my door and my truck is still covered with desert dust and rock. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
          Yahoo Group LA-Rocks posting by Eva, September 22, 2007.

FIELD TRIP SCHEDULE.
TRI-CLUB FIELD TRIPS 2007:
Tentative Schedule 10/07/2007. *

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

Saturday, October 27 - Cryo-Genie Pegmatite Mine.
Contact: Brett Johnson.
     This trip will be canceled and another date set if snow or rain is predicted.
     I have worked out a deal to visit and dig at a famous pegmatite mine in northern San Diego County on October 27. This will not be the Himalaya Mine that Guest Speaker Simon King presented at the Oxnard G&M general meeting a few months back. The Himalaya Mine has been closed for an indefinite period. Instead, we have been given an opportunity to visit another mine in the area.
     The Cryo-Genie mine is located northwest of the town of Warner Springs and south of Chihuahua Valley in north-central San Diego County. The mine, the most southerly in the Chihuahua Valley Pegmatite District, is an operating mine and access is strictly prohibited except by permission of the claim holder.
     There will be a fee at the Mine - $30.00 per person. Kids are encouraged to join us, 12 years or younger - $15.00 per child. The fee will give you access to the tailing/dump piles for screening out the many minerals to be found (see list below). This is a working mine and a tour of the insides of the mine will be available to everyone. This is a great opportunity to see how it was done many years ago and what can be found even today.
     The Cryo-Genie mine was originally claimed as the Lost Valley Truck Trail Prospect and was first exploited in 1904. Little is known of the early history of the Lost Valley Truck Trail Prospect but for possible workings in the 1910s or 1920s. In 1962, the San Diego Mineral Society claimed the deposit as the Lindy B mine. In 1974, the mine was claimed by Bart Cannon of Seattle as the Cryo-Genie mine. He explored an existing decline (downward slope of mineralization) on the property, which probably dated from the earliest working of the deposit. At first he used hand tools. Beginning in 1977, he employed rock drills and powder. His last mining effort on the property was conducted in late November 1984, with the Gochenour family as collecting partners. The decline was extended three meters using air-driven tools and explosives. Work concluded when the compressor broke, but not before a basketball-sized pocket was uncovered at the lowest point. It yielded a 6-cm morganite on a large crystal plate of cleavelandite and quartz. Also found were a dozen 2.5-cm pale pink tourmaline crystals with green caps in columnar groups standing on flat terminations of schorl that were 2.5 cm across. In the mid-1980s, the Gochenour family oversaw the claim for Bart Cannon. The claim lapsed in 1993, and in 1994 Dana Gochenour filed a new claim on the mine. During the next seven years, the Gochenour family worked the pegmatite as a "hobby mine", engaging only in surface work, sometimes employing a backhoe. In April 2001, the Gochenours, determined to turn Cryo-Genie into a "real" mine, contracted mining engineer and geologist Jim Clanin of El Cajon, California, and geologist John Klenke of Las Vegas, Nevada, to organize the systematic development of the mine. Initially, one of the Gochenours' prospect holes, about 20 meters east of the earlier decline, was enlarged to accommodate a man and a wheelbarrow. Excavation of a decline was started in June, following signs of promising mineralization.
MINERALS: Albite variety Cleavelandite, Beryl variety Aquamarine and Morganite, Biotite, Cassiterite, Elbaite (tourmaline) variety Indicolite and Rubellite, Fluorapatite, Lepidolite, Microcline, Muscovite, Quartz variety Smoky and Clear, both terminated, Schorl, Zircon.
WHERE: We will meet at the Gliderport off Hwy 79 near Warner Springs (on the way to the Thursday Mine, and past the Field Trip destination). There we will meet our Host, Richard Mueller. No large Campers or 5th Wheels will be allowed on the road to the Mine. After a short drive to the Mine (parking will be on the paved road below the Mine), we will be asked to sign the usual forms, and then we can PLAY!
WHAT TO BRING: Sunscreen, Drinking Water, extra Panning Water, Lunch/Snacks, Warm & Cold Weather Clothes, Sturdy Shoes, Newspaper/Boxes/Bucket for Minerals, Hand Rake, Trowel, 1/8"-1/4" Screens/Classifiers, Pick & Shovel, Flashlight, Camera, and Excitement!
Directions (from the WALMART parking lot in Oxnard): Start out going North on N. Rose Avenue toward Hwy 101, then Merge onto Hwy 101 South toward Los Angeles. About 47 miles on Hwy 101, keep to the Left to take Hwy 134 East toward Burbank/Glendale. Another 14 miles, Hwy 134 East becomes Hwy 210 East and continues to Hwy 15 South for about 39 miles. Merge onto Hwy 15 South toward San Diego and drive 57 miles to the Hwy 79 South exit toward Indio. Turn Left onto Hwy 79 at bottom of the exit ramp and drive 36 miles to the Sky Sailing Gliderport (31930 Highway 79, Warner Springs, CA).
Estimated Time: 193 miles: 3 hours.
          Brett Johnson.

  Table of Contents.

HINTS AND TIPS.

Cleaning Obsidian Needles.
     Wash them in castile soap using a toothbrush to get the clay off. Never put obsidian in detergent as it will leave a white film on the stone which is very hard to remove. To remove stains soak in oxalic acid, wash well afterwards. (This might help with chalcedony, as it also gets a white film.)
          From MLMS Ghost Sheet 09/2007 via Owyhe Gem 05/2000.

Field Trip Hints.
     Don't wear clothes the same color as the mineral you are looking for. If you are looking for blue beryl crystals you do not want to wear a blue shirt. Otherwise the color will reflect off miscellaneous mica material and you will be seeing blue everywhere. Add "blinders" to the sides of your sunglasses. This decreases side glare and greatly improves your vision. It also helps you ignore the other collector that is moving in next to you.
          From The Rollin Rock 09/2007 via Blue Agate 10/2006.

Cleaning Sawn Material.
     Don't use laundry detergent to clean oil from material that has been sawed. Use dishwashing detergent instead. Laundry detergents may contain bleaches that may affect colors on many gemstones and slabs. Dishwashing detergents don't have bleaches and are balanced to break down oils, fats and grease.
          From Napa Gems 09/2007 via Petrograph.

Weathering.
     Weathering is most helpful in exposing fossils. Freezing and thawing cause accelerated mechanical breakdown of rock material. If water can seep into micro-cracks and pores of a rock until it's saturated, then freezing will cause the water to expand and the pressure exerted leads to cracking or exfoliation. Nature does this, so can you! Artificial weathering is not labor intensive. Use a container other than glass which might also weather and break. Cover your fossiliferous specimen with water and allow it to soak several days. Then a series of freezing and thawing cycles are achieved by using your refrigerator freezer compartment; freezing, thawing, examining and removing the loosened residue each cycle until your fossil is perfectly presented.
          From Strata Gem 09/2007 via Golden Spike News 03/2007.

Opening Geodes.
     To open geodes, soak a string in kerosene, tie it around the geode. Burn the string, then plunge the geode in cold water. In many cases, this will crack the geode and a light tap with a hammer will finish the job.
          From Strata Gem 09/2007 via Breccia 06/98. Original source unknown.

Polishing Peridot.
     When polishing peridot, apply a drop of lemon juice or vinegar to speed things considerably. The slight acid seems responsible for the improvement. Rinse laps and splash pans with plain water when finished.

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

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

Let us hear about your good ideas!

  Table of Contents.

EDUCATIONAL CORNER.

Definition of the Month.

Auriferous - An adjective applied to the description of a mineral, rock, ore deposit or sediment sample containing the mineral gold. A word used in place of the term "gold-bearing".

Auriferous deposits - Gold-bearing deposits; lodes, sands, gravels or their indurated equivalents which contain gold in detrital grains, veins or nuggets.

Reference: A Dictionary of Mining, Mineral, and Related Terms, compiled by Paul W. Thrush and the staff at the Bureau of Mines, U.S. Dept. of Interior, printed by the U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington D. C., 1968.

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

Illustration of the Month.


Winnowing Gold, Near Chinese Camp (California, 1849).

"Winnowing gold", also referred to as "air-blowing" was one method of separating the dense gold nuggets and gold dust from the lower-density sediment at a placer deposit. Tossing up dry powdered auriferous material in the air, and catching the heavier particles not blown away, as defined in a dictionary of mining terms of 1920.

The process involved the use of a blanket or canvas tarp initially spread out on the ground. The contents of a few shovel volumes of gold-bearing sediment would be placed on the blanket. Two men would stand, facing each other on opposite ends of the blanket. The blanket would be raised by lifting each corner in unison. The pile of sediment would be flung into the air by the repetitious up and down motion of the blanket. While the sediment was airborne, the finer sediment fraction would travel in a cloud of dust away from the blanket. As this process continued, it would render the sample more concentrated with gold and course sediment. The remaining gold-bearing sediment would be further separated using a gold pan with water.

Illustration Source: "How We Get Gold in California", by a miner of the year '49 (author unknown and illustrator unknown), from Harper's New Monthly Magazine, 1860.

Data source: A Glossary of the Mining and Mineral Industry, written by Albert H. Fay, U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Mines, printed at the Government Printing Office, Washington D. C., 1920.

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

  Table of Contents.

LET'S BE SAFE OUT THERE.

Women and heart attacks (Myocardial infarction).
     Did you know that women rarely have the same dramatic symptoms that men have when experiencing heart attack. You know, the sudden stabbing pain in the chest, the cold sweat, grabbing the chest and dropping to the floor that we see in the movies. Here is the story of one woman's experience with a heart attack.
     "I had a completely unexpected heart attack at about 10:30 pm with NO prior exertion, NO prior emotional trauma that one would suspect might've brought it on. I was sitting all snugly and warm on a cold evening, with my purring cat in my lap, reading an interesting story my friend had sent me, and actually thinking, 'Aah, this is the life, all cozy and warm in my soft, cushy Lazy Boy with my feet propped up.' A moment later, I felt that awful sensation of indigestion, when you've been in a hurry and grabbed a bite of sandwich and washed it down with a dash of water, and that hurried bite seems to feel like you've swallowed a golf ball going down the esophagus in slow motion and it is most uncomfortable. You realize you shouldn't have gulped it down so fast and needed to chew it more thoroughly and drink a glass of water to hasten its progress down to the stomach. This was my initial sensation---the only trouble was that I hadn't taken a bite of anything since about 5:00 pm.
     "After that had seemed to subside, the next sensation was like little squeezing motions that seemed to be racing up my SPINE (hind-sight, it was probably my aorta spasming), gaining speed as they continued racing up and under my sternum (breast bone, where one presses rhythmically when administering CPR). This fascinating process continued on into my throat and branched out into both jaws.
     "AHA!! NOW I stopped puzzling about what was happening--we all have read and/or heard about pain in the jaws being one of the signals of an MI happening, haven't we? I said aloud to myself and the cat, 'Dear God, I think I'm having a heart attack!' I lowered the foot rest, dumping the cat from my lap, started to take a step and fell on the floor instead. I thought to myself, 'If this is a heart attack, I shouldn't be walking into the next room where the phone is or anywhere else, but, on the other hand, if I don't, nobody will know that I need help, and if I wait any longer I may not be able to get up.'
     "I pulled myself up with the arms of the chair, walked slowly into the next room and dialed the paramedics. I told the operator I thought I was having a heart attack due to the pressure building under the sternum and radiating into my jaws. I didn't feel hysterical or afraid, just stating the facts. She said she was sending the paramedics over immediately, asked if the front door was near to me, and if so, to unbolt the door and then lie down on the floor where they could see me when they came in.
     "I know it sounds like all my thinking and actions at home must have taken at least 20-30 minutes before calling the Paramedics, but actually it took perhaps 4-5 minutes before the call, and both the fire station and St. Jude are only minutes away from my home, and my Cardiologist was all ready to go to the O.R. in his scrubs and get going on restarting my heart (which had stopped somewhere between my arrival and the procedure) and installing the stents. 'Why have I written all of this to you with so much detail? Because I want all of you to know what I learned first hand.'
     "1. Be aware that something very different is happening in your body not the usual men's symptoms but inexplicable things happening (until my sternum and jaws got into the act). It is said that many more women than men die of their first (and last) MI because they didn't know they were having one and commonly mistake it as indigestion, take some Maalox or other anti-heartburn preparation and go to bed, hoping they'll feel better in the morning when they wake up ...which doesn't happen. My female friends, your symptoms might not be exactly like mine, so I advise you to call the Paramedics if ANYTHING is unpleasantly happening that you've not felt before. It is better to have a 'false alarm' visitation than to risk your life guessing what it might be!
     "2. Note that I said, 'Call the Paramedics'. Ladies, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE! DO NOT try to drive yourself to the ER--you're a hazard to others on the road and so is your panicked husband who will be speeding and looking anxiously at what's happening with you instead of the road. DO NOT call your doctor--he doesn't know where you live and if it's at night you won't reach him anyway, and if it's daytime, his assistants (or answering service) will tell you to call the Paramedics. He doesn't carry the equipment in his car that you need to be saved! The Paramedics do, principally OXYGEN that you need ASAP. Your Dr. will be notified later.
     "3. Don't assume it couldn't be a heart attack because you have a normal cholesterol count. Research has discovered that a cholesterol elevated reading is rarely the cause of an MI (unless it's unbelievably high and/or accompanied by high blood pressure). MIs are usually caused by long-term stress and inflammation in the body, which dumps all sorts of deadly hormones into your system to sludge things up in there. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive."
          Author Unknown.

  Table of Contents.

FEDERATION NEWS.

By Nancy Brace-Thompson, Federation Director.

News from the CFMS October Newsletter.
     Registration forms for the annual CFMS Zzyzx Earth Science Seminar are available on the CFMS web site (www.cfmsinc.org,) and we'll have copies at the next meeting, as well. Classes and programs include lapidary, silver fabrication, soft stone carving, wire wrapping, enameling, and field trips into the desert. Members who have taken this workshop have said it's a terrific experience and a bargain for the $300 fee for the week. The registration deadline is March 1, 2008. A warning, though: they began accepting applications for this popular annual workshop starting October 1, and usually all spots are filled by October 2, so any registration forms coming in at this point will likely be for the wait-list.
     The Annual CFMS Fall Business meeting is coming up November 9-11 in Visalia. If you have questions you'd like to have raised or concerns to address, please pass them along to your Federation Director, Nancy Brace-Thompson (email nbraceth@roadrunner.com; phone 805-659-3577).
     Much of the news in the latest Federation newsletter had to do with the next CFMS show, which takes place June 27-29, 2008, at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. Please see the related articles from me and from Jim.

2008 CFMS Show in Ventura.
     As you likely know by now, the next statewide CFMS Show will take place here in Ventura, at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, June 27-29, 2008. Because no individual club stepped forward to sponsor and run the show in 2008, it's being run by the Federation, which will need all the help we and other nearby clubs can provide. Here's a listing of the current committee chairs for the show:

• Show Chairman: Bural LaRue, (909) 874-5664, bplarue@earthlink.net;
• Registrar/Treasurer: Pat LaRue, (909) 874-5664, bplarue@earthlink.net;
• Retail Dealers: Don & Cheri George, (562) 428-8240, lizardwoman3@yahoo.com;
• Demonstrating Dealers: C.J. Quitoriano, (661) 256-4303, cjq_62@yahoo.com;
• Exhibits/Demonstrators: Dick & Betty Pankey, (925) 439-7509, dickpankey@juno.com;
• Programs: Bill & Isabella Burns, (626) 288-2896, isnbll@aol.com;
• Publicity/Kids' Activities: Jim & Nancy Brace-Thompson, (805) 659-3577, jbraceth@roadrunner.com;
• Mementos: Frank Mullaney, (408) 659-3577, rockyfiv@aol.com;
• Physical Facilities: Bob Stultz, (530) 243-3024.

     All these people will need help with each of these aspects of the show and others (such as set-up and tear-down, hospitality, etc.), so if you see an area where you can lend a hand, please contact the appropriate committee chair and/or Jim and me. Jim and I will be taking part in a show-planning meeting at the annual CFMS fall business meeting in Visalia in November, and we hope to come home with more details to share in a future issue of the newsletter and at club meetings. Meanwhile, here are a few things we do know.
     Dick and Betty Pankey have set a goal of 100+ noncompetitive exhibits, 40+ club cases, and 40+ competitive cases, so please consider entering this year. With our own show taking place in March, you can use that as an opportunity to try out a display to enter a few months later into the CFMS show. With the show taking place in our own backyard, so to speak, it can't get any easier to enter a Federation show display! So let's all put one, two, or even three cases in to help Dick and Betty surpass their goals! Who volunteers to take charge of organizing a VGMS club case? If everyone loans items for it, we should be able to enter a terrific one showing all aspects of the rockhound hobby!
     Also contact Dick and Betty if you're interested in demonstrating, be it cabochon polishing, fossil cleaning, wire wrapping, silversmithing, or any other hands-on aspect of our hobby that could be demonstrated at a table during the show.
     CFMS Rules Committee Chair Dick Friesen invites volunteers to help as clerks during judging early Friday morning at the show. Clerks record judges comments and scoring for competitive exhibits, and it's a good stepping stone and great training for anyone potentially interested in being a judge in the future. If interested, contact Dick Friesen at 925-447-8223, dandjfriesen@gmail.com.
     Finally, Pat LaRue has raised the possibility of the 3 Ventura County clubs being able to run a silent auction, with proceeds going to the clubs and a percentage going to the CFMS Endowment Fund in Ray Meisenheimer's name. In exchange, we would need club members to volunteer to help with different jobs before, during, and after the show. This is not yet fully confirmed and approved, so I won't go into a lot of detail at the moment, but I wanted to let everyone know of this possibility, and I hope to have it confirmed and to provide more details after the November CFMS business meeting in Visalia.

Seeking Help for Kids' Activities at 2008 CFMS Show.
     For the 2008 CFMS Show taking place here in Ventura, I've volunteered to take charge of Kids' Activities, and I can use three things between now and June:

1. I need ideas. What's worked well at our own local shows and at other local shows you've attended? What educational kids-oriented displays and activities seemed to go over well at past CFMS shows? What new activities might be worth trying out? I'd like to include a lot of hands-on activities, but at the same time we need to be sensitive to staffing demands and the number of people we might have to help run these activities. Thus, I'd like to aim for a variety of fun but easy activities that kids can do themselves with minimal supervision.
2. I need things -- grab bags and tumbled stones; small rock, mineral, and fossil specimens to serve as prizes; small polished gemstones, crystals, and fossil shark teeth to go into a sand-sifting activity; supplies for such projects as creating a bead bracelet or necklace or casting a fossil in plaster. I have a lot of these things in my garage but not enough to supply demand for a 3-day show, so I ask help in providing such supplies. I encourage everyone to rev up your tumblers starting today!
3. Most of all, I need people -- people who can provide ideas and things; people who can help plan; people who can put together special displays (mineral identification, the 3 rock types, one showing common products and minerals from which they're produced, etc.); and people who can help during the show itself.

Please contact me (805-659-3577 or jbraceth@roadrunner.com) to volunteer your help!
          Jim Brace-Thompson.

New Activity Badges for the FRA Program.
     A heck of a lot of work over a couple of years by Jim Brace-Thompson has resulted in SIX new badges for the Future Rockhounds of America (FRA) program. The six new activities and badges were formally accepted at the AFMS June 2007 meeting in Roswell, New Mexico. In so doing, the AFMS commits necessary funding and support. Jim THEN commenced work on fully developing each of the individual activitys' instruction and documentation.
     The six new activities Jim has developed, and their respective badges shown, are: Stone Tools and Art, Gemstone Lore and Legend, Rocking on the Computer, Earth Processes, Gold Panning and Prospecting and Earth in Space.
     These then join with existing FRA units on Rocks and Minerals, Earth Resources, Fossils, Lapidary Arts, Collecting, Showmanship, Communication, Field Trips, and Leadership.
     For each of the FRA units, Jim has devised and created activity manuals outlining 5-7 possible activities from which kids can choose. He has created the badge designs and is responsible for submitting the design for badge manufacture ( ... and much, much more).
     VERY impressive and greatly appreciated dedication to fostering the next generations of rockhounds. Thank you, Jim.

          Source: October 2007 A.F.M.S. Newsletter.

  Table of Contents.

GEMS FROM THE PAST.

With all the uncertainty and struggle trying to find a new home for our club, I thought you might enjoy this article from a 1985 Rockhound Rambling. It is actually pretty incredible that VGMS has housed its "museum" at its location for twenty-five years!

"The Saga of an Old Store Building" By Art Holloway, Rockhound Rambling, January 1985.
     An old store building, size 50'x 37', was loaned to the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society by the Petrochem Corporation.
     A committee of club members, upon examination, found this building, though dirty with mud from storms, cluttered with things that were stored and forgotten, and resembling a huge garage that had been neglected for a long time, was really a sound structure.
     Work parties were organized for general cleaning, sorting and hauling. When it was possible to see the whole floor, many ideas were presented and talked over, plans were drawn, chalk lines marked the floor; then it was decided we had room for an office, storeroom, lapidary workshop and our very own Museum with a preparatory room for the museum staff and two lavatories.
     Now the work began: Nearly every Saturday a work party gathered to change walls, close off some windows, open others, install shutters, change doors, build shelves and stands to hold cases, etc. Painting was a big project. The inside of the building was painted by club members and Boy Scout Troop 135 from Ventura painted the outside. A parking lot and landscaping was provided by Petrochem Corporation but maintenance was to be by club members.
     Now, after 3 years, we have an Earth Science Museum in a well-lighted and carpeted room displaying fossils depicting life on earth eons ago. Many of these have been dug out of the ground by members; others acquired from various fossil collectors. We have a fine collection of Chumash Indian artifacts found in the area that is now our Ventura County. Displays of rocks and minerals from all over the U.S.A. and foreign lands, as taken from the earth, lend a certain beauty in the rough before they are shown as cut and polished gems. Club members now have the chance to exhibit their talents and collectibles over a longer period of time than in Club Show displays.
     The Museum is offered to schools for Earth Science educational tours and there are portable cases, suit-case style, that contain labeled minerals and fossils, that are loaned to school science classes upon request. The office is used for the publication of our monthly bulletin, "Rockhound Rambling", and for our Board meetings. The work shop contains rock saws, polish wheels and other lapidary equipment for members' use. The storage area has proven to be a great asset for the keeping of all the cases and equipment needed for our annual show, the first week-end in March, which is held in the Agricultural Building at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.

  Table of Contents.

Chuckles.

If you need a good laugh, read these children's science exam answers! Original Source Unknown.

Q: Name the four seasons.
A: Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar.

Q: Explain one of the processes by which water can be made safe to drink.
A: Flirtation makes water safe to drink because it removes large pollutants like grit, sand, dead sheep and canoeists.

Q: How is dew formed?
A: The sun shines down on the leaves and makes them perspire.

Q: How can you delay milk turning sour?
A: Keep it in the cow.

Q: What causes the tides in the oceans?
A: The tides are a fight between the Earth and the Moon. All water tends to flow towards the moon, because there is no water on the moon, and nature hates a vacuum. I forget where the sun joins in this fight.

Q: What are steroids?
A: Things for keeping carpets still on the stairs.

Q: What happens to your body as you age?
A: When you get old, so do your bowels and you get intercontinental.

Q: What happens to a boy when he reaches puberty?
A: He says good-bye to his boyhood and looks forward to his adultery.

Q: Name a major disease associated with cigarettes.
A: Premature death.

Q: How are the main parts of the body categorized (e.g., abdomen)?
A: The body is consisted into three parts -- the brainium, the borax and the abdominal cavity. The brainium contains the brain; the borax contains the heart and lungs, and the abdominal cavity contains the five bowels A, E, I, O, and U.

Q: What is the fibula?
A: A small lie.

Q: What does "varicose" mean?
A: Nearby.

Q: Give the meaning of the term "Caesarian Section".
A: The Caesarian Section is a district in Rome.

Q: What does the word "benign" mean?
A: Benign is what you will be after you be eight.

  Table of Contents.

Geologists Haul Up Deep-Earth Rock.

By LiveScience Staff posted: 04 October 2007,
http://www.livescience.com/environment/071004-fault-rock.html.

The Green Rock on the Right, called Serpentine,
is a Strand of the San Andreas Fault.
Credit: EarthScope.

Geologists have hauled a ton of rock from more than two miles beneath the surface of California's active San Andreas Fault. The achievement, announced at a news conference today, could help scientists answer long-standing questions about the composition and properties of the earthquake-prone fault.

"Now we can hold the San Andreas Fault in our hands," said Mark Zoback, a geologist at Stanford and member of the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth (SAFOD) project. "We know what it's made of. We can study how it works."

Altogether, the geologists retrieved 135 feet (41 meters) of 4-inch (10-centimeter) diameter rock cores weighing roughly one ton. The rock was hauled to the surface through a borehole measuring more than 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) long.

"To an earthquake scientist, these cores are like the Apollo moon rocks," said Steve Hickman, a U.S. Geological Survey geophysicist who was involved in the project. "Scientists from around the world are anxious to get their hands on them in the hope that they can help solve the mystery of how this major, active plate boundary works."

Previous core samples have only been obtained from ancient faults which have been laid bare and brought to the surface of the Earth by millions of years of erosion. SAFOD was begun in 2004 to obtain core samples from the still active San Andreas Fault, an 800-mile-long geological scar that runs through California. The fault marks the boundary between two large pieces of the Earth's crust: the Pacific Tectonic Plate and the North American Plate. Scientists are interested in the San Andreas Fault because it is a prime example of the kind of plate boundary where big earthquakes are known to strike.

SAFOD is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

  Table of Contents.

LET'S GO TO A SHOW 2007-2008.

2007 CFMS SHOWS.

NOVEMBER 3-4; ANAHEIM, CA - American Opal Society, Clarion Hotel Anaheim Resort, 616 Convention Way (off Harbor Blvd.). Hours: Sat. 10-6; Sun. 10-5. Jim Lambert (714) 891-7171, Jlamb@yahoo.com, www.opalsociety.org.
NOVEMBER 3; CONCORD, CA - Contra Costa Mineral & Gem Society, Centre Concord, 5298 Clayton Rd. Hours: 10-5. Sam Woolsey (925) 837-3287.
NOVEMBER 3-4; LANCASTER, CA - Palmdale Gem & Mineral Society, 2551 W. Avenue H & Hwy 14. Hours: 9-5 daily. Susan Chaisson-Walblom (661) 943-1861, SLChaissonA@yahoo.com, pgmc@anteleom.net, www.palmdalegems.org.
NOVEMBER 3-4; SAN DIEGO, CA - San Diego Mineral & Gem Society, Al Bahr Shrine Center (behind Hampton Inn), 5440 Kearny Mesa Road. Hours: Sat. 9:30-5; Sun. 10-4. Anita Smith (619) 291-7382-1637, Email: jazzsmith@sbcglobal.net, Website: www.sdmg.org.
NOVEMBER 9-11; SACRAMENTO, CA - Sacramento Mineral Society, Scottish Rite Center, 6151 H Street, Sacramento. Fri., Sat. 9-6; Sun. 9-5. John De Rosa (760) 375-7905.
NOVEMBER 10-11; YUBA CITY, CA - Sutter Buttes Gem & Mineral Society, Festival of Gems, Grace Franklin Hall, 442 Franklin Avenue. Hours: Sat. 9-5; Sun. 9-4. Cliff Swenson (530) 272-3752.
NOVEMBER 17-18; OXNARD, CA - Oxnard Gem & Mineral Society, Oxnard Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way. Hours: Sat. 9-6; Sun. 10-4. MiriamTetrault (805) 642-5779, www.OGMS.net.
NOVEMBER 17-18; LIVERMORE, CA - Livermore Valley Lithophiles GMC, The Barn, 3131 Pacific Avenue. Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4. Bill Beiriger (925) 443-5769, xxyzzx@xyzzx.com, www.lithophiles.com.
NOVEMBER 17-18; VICTORVILLE, CA - Victor Valley Gem & Mineral Club, San Bernardino County Fairgrounds, 14800 Seventh Street, Victorville. Sat. 9-5, Sun. 9-4. Doug Arnold oldjasper@verizon.net.
DECEMBER 1-2; ORANGEVALE, CA - American River Gem & Mineral Society, Orangevale Grange, 5807 Walnut Ave. Hours: 10-5 both days. Florence Hansan (916) 955-5189, Evelyn Tipton (916( 791-4517.
DECEMBER 8-10; SAN BERNARDINO, CA - Orange Belt Mineralogical Society Inc., Rudy C Hernandez Community Center, 222 North Lugo Ave (2nd and Sierra Way). Hours: Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4. Lyle Strayer (909) 887-3394, Al Carrell (951) 961-5988, Emma Rose (951) 288-6182.

2008 CFMS SHOWS.

JANUARY 19-20; EXETER, CA - Tule Gem & Mineral Society Gemboree, Veteran's Memorial Bldg., On Highway 65. Hours: Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4. Marshall Havner (559) 562-4133, Email: mdhavner@verizon.net.

AMERICAN FEDERATION / REGIONAL SHOW SCHEDULE - 2007

Southeast Federation (SFMS);
November 9-11;
Gulf Coast of MS.

  Table of Contents.

SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

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