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The Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. (VGMS)
Rockhound Rambling
September 2008.

Rockhound Rambling Photo of the Month.
This month's photo is by Ed Clark.

Description: A photograph of a fluorescent specimen
of Willemite, Calcite from Franklin, NJ.

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;
• HOSPITALITY;
• UPCOMING VGMS EVENTS;
• BIRTHDAYS;
• PROGRAM REVIEW & SCHEDULE;
• COMMUNITY OUTREACH;
• MEMBERSHIP;
• MEETING MINUTES;
• CHIPS AND BOULDERS;
• FIELD TRIPS ARE FUN;
• HINTS AND TIPS;
• LET'S BE SAFE OUT THERE;
• EDUCATIONAL CORNER;
• LET'S GO TO A SHOW - 2008.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.

Many of our VGMS members will take advantage of these great conditions in our desert while attending "Gem-O-Rama '08" on October 11th & 12th. This is the 67th annual mineral show sponsored by the Searles Lake Gem & Mineral Society of Trona, California. For those who have never attended this show, it is a great opportunity to collect rare minerals such as Hanksite, Trona, Halite, Sulfohalite, Thenardite, Borax and Northupite, to name a few.

In case you haven't noticed, this is an election year. Not just for the nation, but also for the VGMS. We need to put together a nominating committee and all of our members are encouraged to think about volunteering for one of the many offices we need to fill. We will discuss this further at our next meeting and I urge everyone to consider participating in this aspect of our organization.

Ed Clark, President.

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WORDS TO LIVE BY.

Man's mind stretched to a new idea never goes back to its original dimensions.

Regret for wasted time is more wasted time.

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.

Good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment.

     Collected by Wayne Ehlers.

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HOSPITALITY.

Thank you Nancy and Jim for providing August's refreshments. Below is the hostess schedule for upcoming months. Please contact Sharon Cunningham if you would like to volunteer for one of the open hostess months.
     September - Jean Wise,
     October - Open,
     November - Pumpkin Pot Luck.

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UPCOMING VGMS EVENTS.

Regular Meeting - Wednesday, September 24, 7:30 pm, Senior Recreation Center, 420 E. Santa Clara, Ventura.
Board Meeting - Thursday, October 2, 7:30 pm, The Lexington, Ventura.
Bulletin Article Deadline - Sunday, October 5, vgms_editor@roadrunner.com.

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

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BIRTHDAYS.

Carl Stephens - September 8,
Shana Juarez - September 22,
Clint Berkheiser - September 23,
Myrle Kirk - September 27,
Susan Mulqueen - September 27,
Stuart Bloom - September 28.

Avraham Barshai - October 9,
Dallas Stephens - October 16,
Zachary Bryant - October 17,
Valli Davis - October 23,
Erik Bryant - October 25.

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

Top-quality Sapphires are Rare.
Sapphires, call them gemstones of the sky though we may, lie well hidden in just a few places, and first have to be brought to light through hard work. Sapphires are found in India, Burma, Ceylon, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Brazil and Africa. From the gemstone mines, the raw crystals are first taken to the cutting-centers where they are turned into sparkling gemstones by skilled hands. When cutting a sapphire, indeed, the cutter has to muster all his skill, for these gemstones are not only hard. Depending on the angle from which you look at them they also have different colors and intensities of color. So it is the job of the cutter to orientate the raw crystals in such a way that the color is brought out to its best advantage.

Depending on where they were found, the color intensity and hue of the cut stones vary, which means, later on, that the wearer is rather spoilt for choice. Should she perhaps go for a mid-blue stone which will remind her even on rainy days of that shining summer sky? Or should she prefer a lighter blue because it will continue to sparkle vivaciously when evening falls? The bright light of day makes most sapphires shine more vividly than the more subdued artificial light of evening. So in fact it is not, as is often claimed, the darkest tone that is the most coveted color of the blue sapphire, but an intense, rich, full blue which still looks blue in poor artificial light.

Specialists and connoisseurs regard the Kashmir color with its velvety shine as the most beautiful and most valuable blue. These magnificent gemstones from Kashmir, found in 1880 after a landslide at an altitude of 16,000 feet and mined intensively over a period of eight years, were to have a lasting influence on people's idea of the color of a first-class sapphire. Typical of the Kashmir color is a pure, intense blue with a very subtle violet undertone, which is intensified yet more by a fine, silky shine. It is said that this hue does not change in artificial light. But the Burmese color is also regarded as particularly valuable. It ranges from a rich, full royal blue to a deep cornflower blue.

The oldest sapphire finds are in Ceylon, or Sri Lanka as it is known today. There, people were already digging for gemstones in ancient times. The specialist recognizes Ceylon sapphires by the luminosity of their light- to mid-blue colors. Having said that, most blue sapphires come either from Australia or from Thailand.

Their value depends on their size, color and transparency. With stones of very fine quality, these are, however, not the only main criteria, the origin of the gem also playing a major role. Neither is the color itself necessarily a function of the geographical origin of a sapphire, which explains the great differences in price between the various qualities. The most valuable are genuine Kashmir stones. Burmese sapphires are valued almost as highly, and then come the sapphires from Ceylon. The possibility of the gemstone's having undergone some treatment or other is also a factor in determining the price, since gemstones which can be guaranteed untreated are becoming more and more sought-after in this age of gemstone cosmetics. And if the stone selected then also happens to be a genuine, certificated Kashmir or Burmese, the price will probably reflect the enthusiasm of the true gemstone lover.

It is not often that daring pioneers discover gemstones on a scale such as was the case on Madagascar a few years ago, when a gemstone deposit covering an area of several miles was found in the south-east of the island. Since then, not only have there been enough blue sapphires in the trade, but also some splendid pink and yellow sapphires of great beauty and transparency. Meanwhile, experts in Tanzania have also found initial evidence of two large-scale gemstone deposits in the form of some good, if not very large sapphire crystals colored blue, green, yellow and orange. And the third country to register new finds recently was Brazil, where sapphires ranging from blue to purple and pink have been discovered. So lovers of the sapphire need not worry: there will, in future, be enough of these 'heavenly' gems with the fine color spectrum. Top-quality sapphires, however, remain extremely rare in all the gemstone mines of the world.

http://www.gemstone.org/gem-by-gem/english/sapphire.html.

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PROGRAM REVIEW & SCHEDULE.

August - Gold Panning.
     Bob and Linda Abernathy brought in several gold mining tools, including a small sluice. They demonstrated gold panning and described other methods of finding placer and lode gold. They shared photos of various claims they have visited and passed around some of their finds.
     A tip from Bob: Watch out for roots when digging for gold; you can get poison oak from its exposed roots! If you are visiting Bakersfield, you can still find gold dust in Harts Park on the Kern River. If you are serious about pursuing gold prospecting, they recommend joining Gold Prospectors Association of America. For a modest enrollment fee, access and maps are provided for many claims around the country. The Abernathy's provided a fun night.


Upcoming Events by Lowell Foster.

September - The Moorpark Mammoth.
For our September program, Jim Brace-Thompson will present "Mammoths!" This slide presentation will be supported by a display of actual fossil mammoth bones, teeth, tusk, and hair. Come learn about how we've come to know what we know about mammoths and how fossil mammoth bones have been interpreted throughout history. You'll also hear theories about why they went extinct and see mammoth fossil sites right here in southern California. It should be a whale of a time! (Oops! Wrong mammal....)

October - The Mining History of the West 1850 - 1905.
Dr. Gray from Santa Barbara City College will be visiting us again and providing an overview of the mining technology used throughout the West at the last half of the 19th century. Most likely he will be accompanied by a small contingent of students. Get ready to greet not only the professor but also his dedicated pupils.

November - Silent Auction-proceeds to be put towards our storage costs.
December - Holiday Dinner-Details to come.
January 2009 - The Year in Review-A Show and Tell of found/acquired material during 2008.
     (Topic to change if guest speaker becomes available.)
February 2009 - Last Minute Pre-Show Discussions and Planning.

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COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

Rockbox Update.

As of August 26, 2008:
Donna Knapton has been busy checking boxes already delivered. Eighteen new boxes are ready for delivery. Twelve are missing shale and andesite. Stable shale and rhyolite are needed.

Jim Brace-Thompson has completed three Fossil Boxes; two are already at County libraries. Watch for publicity regarding the Fossil Box from E.P. Foster Library.

The three Mineral Boxes are in progress. Ed Clark donated many specimens for this project. Volunteers are requested for speaking at schools and demonstrating use of the Earth Science Kits. If you are interested in helping out or have specimens to donate, please contact Jim Brace-Thompson or Miriam Tetrault.

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MEMBERSHIP.

Welcome New Members.

I encourage everyone to extend a hearty welcome to our newest members, who joined our fair group at our August meeting:
     Dawn and Michael Pearson along with Angelica and Alexandria,
     PO Box 23252,
     Ventura, CA 93002,
     (805) 648-3445,
     Angelsbarnyard@msn.com.
     Their interests include fossils, minerals, field trips and prospecting, lapidary arts and jewelry making, and gem shows. They've also extended an invitation to host a "treasure hunt" on their farm, where they've started a small gem and mineral museum.

     John and Diane Cook (plus a real rockhound named Daisy--woof, woof!),
     10098 Carlyle Street,
     Ventura, CA 93004,
     (805) 647-8517,
     djolliffagent@aol.com.
     Their interests include rock and mineral collecting, faceting, fossils, field trips, lapidary arts and jewelry making, meteorites, mining history and artifacts, fluorescent minerals, photography, and silversmithing.

Please add the Pearson and Cook families to your 2008 Club Directory & Yellow Pages. There's a blank page at the end of the directory for this very purpose. As always, if you spot any corrections or updates for your own listing in the directory, please contact me (659-3577, jbraceth@roadrunner.com) and we'll alert everyone to updates via the newsletter.

We now stand at 75 adult members and 13 pebble pups and junior members (pebble pups are under age 13; juniors, 13-17), or 88 of us altogether!
          Jim Brace-Thompson.

VGMS Club Vests and Patches.
The Club vest colors are royal blue with gold lining. You can buy or make a blue denim vest. A club patch is available to sew on the back of your vest for a cost of $5.00. You may purchase the patch from the Membership Secretary, Jim Brace-Thompson.

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MEETING MINUTES.

Minutes of the VGMS Regular Monthly Meeting;
Wednesday, August 27, 2008:
     The regular monthly meeting of the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society was called to order by Ed Clark at 7:30 pm, on Wednesday, August 27, 2008, at the Ventura Senior Recreation Center.
     Ed introduced visitors and then asked for corrections, if any, to the previously printed board and regular meeting minutes. It was m/s/c to accept the minutes. Members were led in the pledge to the flag.
Jim Brace-Thompson: A committee is being formed for the purpose of locating a new workshop and possibly space for a museum. Forms were passed around and all were encouraged to sign up to contact potential people and places of interest. All and any help is desperately needed. Jim also handed out pyrite specimens and gold smelting artifacts to all pebble pups in honor of this evening's presentation.
Andy Anderson: Our first show meeting for 2009 will be scheduled for September. A lot will be discussed with the new building being used this time.
Ron Wise: Upcoming field trips include a possible gold panning trip in September and, also in September, a trip to the Owens Valley with the Knaptons; Arkansas in October for quartz crystals; Walt Wright's class on petrified wood October 17-19 and the Basin Road area in November. Don't forget the Trona show and field trip October 11 & 12. It's a very worthwhile trip and unique experience if you've never seen it.
Jean Wise: Camp Paradise spaces are still available for this fall and then will be offered again May 17-23 in 2009. Zzyzx will then be offered in the fall (November 15) of 2009. These are the new changes just confirmed by the CFMS.
Nancy Brace-Thompson: Nancy read the treasurer's report and it was m/s/c to accept as written.
Mary Polacek: Deadline for the next bulletin will be September 7th and any and all photos and comments concerning the bulletin are welcomed.
Lowell Foster: Upcoming programs include Jim Brace-Thompson's talk on mammoths in September, Dr. Gray will speak on the history of mining in October and perhaps another silent auction in November.
     Lowell next introduced Bob and Linda Abernathy who demonstrated gold panning along with other methods of finding placer and lode gold. It was exciting to say the least as just the sight of gold nuggets instills a desire to head out and collect your own. The Abernathy's donated a great deal of time with their display of tools and materials. It was greatly appreciated by a large group this month.
     Refreshments were provided by Jim & Nancy Brace-Thompson.
     The next board meeting will be held on September 4th, 2008, at The Lexington and the next monthly membership meeting will be held on September 24, 2008, at the Ventura Senior Recreation Center, 420 E. Santa Clara.
     There being no further business, Ed adjourned the meeting at 9:00 pm.
          Respectfully submitted,
          Greg Davis,
          Recording Secretary.

Minutes of the VGMS Board Meeting;
Thursday, September 4, 2008:
Present: Jim & Nancy Brace-Thompson, Ron & Jean Wise, Mary Polacek , Red Jioras, Lowell Foster and Greg Davis.
     The Ventura Gem & Mineral Society Board Meeting for September 4th, 2008, was called to order by Ron Wise at 7:30 pm, at The Lexington, 5440 Ralston in Ventura.
Old business:
Greg Davis: Electricity is still on and nearly everything has been moved from the museum or will be soon.
New business:
Ron Wise: Upcoming field trips include Basin Road in November. Ron was contacted by Steve Mulqueen with the suggestion that the geological magazines from our library be donated to the Geological Society. It was m/s/c to do so. Ron will also contact Andy to see about scheduling our first show meeting.
Nancy Brace-Thompson: The treasurer's report was given. It was m/s/c to accept as written. Nancy mentioned that it's time again to form a nominating committee for next year's board of directors. This will be put on the agenda for this month's general membership meeting.
Jim Brace-Thompson: It was m/s/c to accept the membership applications for Dawn, Michael, Angelica and Alexandria Pearson and John and Diane Cook. This brings our membership to 75 adults and 13 pebble pups. Also, our club has been contacted by an organization for Wheeler's Gorge and would like local clubs to participate in a fund raiser on November 1st. Clubs would be allowed space to promote their hobby. Jim will get more information and report back at the regular meeting. Jim will also try and schedule a time with the Ventura Senior Recreation Center for our annual Christmas potluck.
Mary Polacek: Articles and submissions to the bulletin are requested no later than September 7th.
Lowell Foster: Jim Brace-Thompson will be our presenter for this month's regular meeting, September 24th and Dr. Gray will be our guest in October.
     The next general meeting will be on September 24, 2008, at the new location, 420 E. Santa Clara in Ventura and the next board meeting will be on October 2nd, at The Lexington.
     There being no further business, Ron adjourned the meeting at 8:55 pm.
          Respectfully submitted,
          Greg Davis,
          Recording Secretary.

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CHIPS AND BOULDERS.

Seeking Help in Search for New Workshop Home.
     As everyone well knows by now, we need to ramp up our search for a new home for our club workshop, for storage space for our show materials, and, if at all possible, for our small museum and library. We currently have everything in two storage units in Santa Paula, and unless we can find a more permanent home, the costs of these storage units will quickly eat through our club treasury. And, at the same time, our saws, grinding units, and other machines are simply gathering dust rather than helping new members learn the art of stone cutting and polishing. So, again, there's real urgency in our mission, and we truly need all hands on deck to assist in the search.
     At our August membership meeting, I distributed a double-sided sheet describing who we are, our current need, and what we can afford (both in terms of rent and insurance), along with contact names. We need to get this sheet out to any organization or city or county office that might in any way be able to help us in our search. If you weren't at the meeting, please come to our September meeting to get copies, or call me and I can mail or email a copy to you.
     We've also created a spreadsheet listing possible starting points for networking (such as the Ventura Community Recreation Division, County Parks Department, Foundations for the Arts, Ventura Community College District, etc.). We need volunteers who will commit to taking charge of contacting at least one of the organizations on the list - and we could use still more suggestions of groups to contact. Please call me (805-647-3577), and I can let you know what organizations are on the list, or I will gladly add any new suggestions you might offer. Again, this is a truly vital need - and one that needs the helping hands of all VGMS members!
          Jim Brace-Thompson.

Request to Members of the VGMS.
     I am still working away on the history of the VGMS, and though enjoyable, it's not a small task. I have read through several thousand pages of documents for this project, from news articles and meeting minutes, to old letters and decades of bulletins. I have to say that as a club, we should be proud that we have saved so much of our history. Much of this information cannot be replaced or duplicated. It would be interesting to know how many other clubs have been as diligent as we have been in saving their past.
     Our archives include all the original handwritten minutes from our first meeting back in 1944 through the 1950's. We have programs and press clippings from the first few gem and mineral shows we planned and put on. We even have the blueprints to our now closed museum. There are also many photographic slides dating back almost 50 years that Steve Mulqueen has been going through and cleaning up. Best of all, we have an almost complete run of our Rockhound Rambling newsletter. I say almost, as there are gaps that unfortunately may never be filled, and this leads to my request.
     I need you to go on a scavenger hunt.
     First of all, if you possess newspaper clippings, letters, or any other documents that you believe our archive is missing or you want included in the club history, please let me know. We can either make a copy for our records or, if you are willing, we can add the material to our collection.
     Second, if you ever published material related to our field in magazine or book form, I would appreciate a xeroxed copy or even just a title and the magazine issue. (Jim Brace-Thompson's recent articles in Rock and Gem would be one example.)
     Third, and the gold that I am hoping somebody has, are the missing issues of Rockhound Rambling. Some of these I fear are gone forever, but maybe, just maybe, they are out there somewhere.
     Missing issues - Complete sets of 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967. I believe we had these as two year bound sets at one point, but we don't know.
     More recent needed issues, and hopefully available as they are more recent - most of 1990 (except JAN, FEB, APR, SEP) and all of 1991. We also need November and December of 1999.
     If you have these and are willing to donate them to the club, I would gladly take them and have them bound at my own expense. I'm getting close to finishing the first read through of the series and would like to be able to read them. I know much of the material is still on-line, but I believe we should have hard copies for the archives.
     I thank you for trusting me with this material and hope to have a finished history by early next year.
          Lowell Foster.

VGMS to Participate in Wheeler Gorge Event on November 1.
The Wheeler Gorge Visitor's Center on Highway 33 is holding a fundraiser on Sunday, November 1 (11:00 AM to 6:00 PM), and they've invited the three Ventura County gem and mineral societies to participate. They'll have a space for us and other groups, including the Ojai Raptor Center, the Channel Islands National Park, authors of books on local birds and Chumash Indians, and more. Mary Polacek and I will represent the club at this event, and we welcome anyone else who would like to come along. If you are interested, please give me a call (805-659-3577). At present, we're thinking of having a small display from Lowell Foster on rocks and minerals collected from throughout California, and I'll probably bring our "Treasure Chest" of tumble-polished stones to give out to kids, and of course, we'll have club flyers and show announcements as hand-outs. They've asked each participating group to provide a prize worth approximately $30 for a raffle, and we'll likely offer a nice rocky surprise. Sounds like it should be a fun event!
     Jim Brace-Thompson.

Forwarded e-mails.
By now, I suspect everyone is familiar with www.snopes.com and/or www.truthorfiction.com for determining whether information received via email is just that: true/false or fact/fiction. Both are excellent sites.

Advice from Snopes.com - Memorize this for your own protection!
     1) Any time you see an e-mail that says forward this on to '10' of your friends, sign this petition, or you'll get bad luck, good luck, or whatever, it almost always has an e-mail tracker program attached that tracks the cookies and emails of those folks you forward to. The host sender is getting a copy each time it gets forwarded and then is able to get lists of 'active' e-mail addresses to use in SPAM e-mails, or sell to other spammers.
     2) Almost all e-mails that ask you to add your name and forward on to others are similar to that mass letter years ago that asked people to send business cards to the little kid in Florida who wanted to break the Guinness Book of Records for the most cards. All it was, and all any of this type of e-mail is, is a way to get names and 'cookie' tracking information for telemarketers and spammers - - to validate active e-mail accounts for their own profitable purposes.

You can do your friends and family members a great favor by sending this information to them; you will be providing a service to your friends, and will be rewarded by not getting thousands of spam e-mails in the future!

If you have been sending out the above kinds of e-mail, now you know why you get so much SPAM!

Do yourself a favor and stop adding your name(s) to those types of listings regardless how inviting they might sound!

You may think you are supporting a great cause, but you are not in the long run. Instead, you will be getting tons of junk mail later! Plus, we are helping the spammers get rich! Let's don't make it easy for them! Also: e-mail petitions are not acceptable to Congress or any other organization. To be acceptable, petitions must have a signed signature and full address of the person signing the petition.

Read the full story on e-mail petitions here: http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/petition/internet.asp.

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SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

FIELD TRIPS ARE FUN.

Greenhorn Mountains, Saturday, August 23,
By Robert Sankovich.
It was a fun field trip. At first I wasn't sure how it was going to be. Deb and I went up Thursday, and it was cool and windy. Several other tents were pressed down from the wind. As the days followed, each day was much better; warm during the days, not much wind, and the evenings were nice. We could have a fire since it wasn't so windy. We picked up our free fire permits in Bakersfield, off the 65/99, on the way to Greenhorn. We had 4 permits in our group, which was plenty.

There were over 20 people from many clubs, a lot from Oxnard, a few from Ventura and ours [Conejo]. Luke, Lisa and Jasmine, were from the Conejo club.

Saturday morning we went out collecting rose quartz. Larry Knapton had found some nice gemmy pieces, some nice sized. He did do a lot of work and was rewarded. Ray Ramirez dug out some nice pieces. Larry and Ray used chisels and sledges. I found some nice pieces in and around the rose quartz outcropping.

We then went to the Tungsten mine and collected garnets, epidote crystals, and some scheelite. Brett Johnson of the Oxnard club showed us a geo cache that you locate with GPS coordinates and some hints. Saturday night we all found one on the way to the Tungsten mine, the cache was in a tin, most of the items were knickknack things for kids. The two kids each got something and Brett left a new box of 3 golf balls (take something, leave something). It was interesting and fun. You can find information about geo cache online. I don't know much about it myself. Sunday I checked out another Tungsten Mine for our next trip. Deb and I stayed until Monday. After Sunday the camp was almost empty. Throughout our weekend we would occasionally see deer.

This was a very fun field trip; good weather, minerals, lots of friends.

Field Trip Schedule 2008.*

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

Tri-Club Field Trip Information via e-mail
By Robert Sankovich.
The Field Trip e-mail list is working. Members have current, new information as I finish it. I get field trip information from other clubs at different times during the month, some with too short of notice for me to put in bulletins. I will send direct monthly information, maps on club field trips, and updates on weather, other last minute factors that can affect field trips. If you want to sign up, no e-mail addresses will be printed, posted anywhere. Send me your e-mail addresses to mine above. I also updated the field trip information on our web site http://www.cgamc.org/PAGES/Field%20Trips.htm. The information is current and I'll keep updating as I add field trips.


Saturday October 18 Afton Canyon - North Cady Mountains.
MEET: 8 am at Basin Road and I-15 off-ramp (south side) east of Barstow. We leave at 8:30 am after waiver forms are signed.
CFMS ICE BREAKER FIELD TRIP (First of the Season). Open to all CFMS affiliated clubs and members. 4WD required OR 2WD to the rail tracks. NO LOW CLEARANCE VEHICLES! Roads are sandy and rough. Rides can be arranged past the rail tracks to 4WD in. Food, water and gas can be had in Barstow. These are remote sites with no facilities. No alcohol during the group event. This is a day trip, however, there are camping sites nearby. Temperatures should be comfortable with cold nights. Be prepared. Material sought will include fluorite, agates, jaspers, onyx, and sagenite nodules. Other finds are possible. Be prepared for hard rock mining for better material although much float is present. Be reminded that these areas are not theme parks and that wildlife and rough terrain is common. Play nice and be safe. Release of Liability Waivers must be signed.
Further information: Please contact Adam Dean @ (909) 489-4899, theagatehunter@verizon.net or Shep Koss @ (661) 248-0411, freudonetoo@yahoo.com.
NOTE: Adam Dean and Teresa will be at Peggy Sue's Restaurant off I-15 near Yermo around 6 am for breakfast for those wishing to meet earlier.

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HINTS AND TIPS.

Slabbing Obsidian.
When working with rainbow or fire obsidian, cut your slab thicker than usual, 1/4 inch thick. Clean the slabs, coat with a light machine oil and hold under a strong light, to reveal the fire or rainbow. When making your cabochons, the flatter you make them, the better the fire or rainbow, shows through. (Fire shows with less orienting under the light.) Cut a 5 degree angle, to the line of flow. The color is on the black line. If you have a rock with lines running straight and they run into swirls, cut it where the swirl starts. Cut the straight piece with the lines as much as possible. For the swirl, turn it with the lines when possible. You will get a perfect finish by dry sanding, get all the scratches out and finish with 220 grit. Then polish with cerium oxide.
     From The Slate 07/08 via Hells Canyon Club, date unknown.

Grinding Obsidian.
When grinding obsidian, and sanding it, always grind from the center out; otherwise, the wheel and sanding belts pick up minute chips of glass that will scratch your stone.
     From The Slate 07/08 via Chip & Tips, date unknown.

Cleaning Pyrite.
Safe method for cleaning pyrite: To clean pyrite and make it look nice and brassy, first wash it carefully in water. Then put it in a bowl or shallow dish and pour vinegar over specimen, making sure all pyrite is covered. Turn the specimen over several times. When it looks clean and shiny, rinse with water and put on a paper towel to dry.
     From Rocky Review 09/08, via Yuba Sutter Gems 5/07.

Cleaning Fluorite.
Don't try to clean fluorite by washing in hot or very warm water. Luster will vanish and be gone forever. It can be put in muriatic acid to remove calcite, then wash in cool water.
     From The Slate 09/08, via The Puget Sounder, date unknown.

Fix the Pits.
Working with dark colored moss agate, like the black Montana variety, small pits may sometimes appear on the finished, polished surface. The light colored polishing powders, such as tin oxide or cerium oxide, often pack into these small pits, making removal difficult, and white spots surely distract from the stone's appearance. Try rubbing a small bit of black India ink into the spotted area, and then try to rub off the ink. The white spots will disappear.
     From The Slate 09/2008 via Chips & Tips, date unknown.

Stabilizing Soft Stones.
If you would like to try your luck at stabilizing a porous stone, such as turquoise, so it can be cut and polished, the Silvery Colorado River Rock Club offers these instructions: Take a jar with a lid; add one pint of acetone. To this, add the complete contents of both the resin and the hardening tubes of epoxy glue, mixing well. Add well dried stones, cover the jar, and leave for at least four days. Remove stones and allow a week to dry. They should now be stabilized and ready to work.
     From The Slate 09/08 via Silvery Colorado River Rock Club, date unknown.

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 your good ideas!

  Table of Contents.

LET'S BE SAFE OUT THERE.

Man Recalls Time in Mine by KATY BRANDENBURG,
In the The Union Democrat, Published: August 19, 2008,
http://www.uniondemocrat.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=27354.
     After spending nearly 42 hours trapped in a dark, water-filled mine shaft, Darvis Lee Jr. has a new outlook on life.
     "I actually felt brushed by death this time," the battered and bruised 34-year-old said, hobbling around his home Monday on two sprained ankles. He didn't break a single bone in a fall totaling more than 100 feet, but he's still in a lot of pain from a sprained back, in addition to the leg injuries, he said.
     Lee injured himself Friday night after tumbling through a series of vertical and diagonal shafts at the Leo Mine, off Jack Page Road in Sonora. He had gone to explore the mine about 9 pm with a friend, who left instead of joining Lee.
     Lee spent two nights in the pool of water that broke his fall, being pulled from his predicament about 5:30 am Sunday by search-and-rescue teams from Los Angeles and Tuolumne counties.
     Keeping up with medical appointments is one of Lee's goals, as is spending more time with his family and renewing bonds with his teenage nieces and nephews. Lee said he was touched to find out his 16-year-old nephew, Vincent, stayed by his parents' side for hours during the long rescue ordeal.
     "He was there at 5 am. Kids don't get up at 5 am," he said. "There's so many little things in life you fail to recognize until something bad happens."
     At some point, Lee said, he fell asleep. When he woke up, his mind began to race. He started thinking about unfinished work projects, the people in his life, and what's really important to him.
     "I went through some grief and guilt for all the pain and turmoil I caused my parents, and spent a lot of time praying and begging God to help me," Lee said.
     Cold water about 5 feet deep at the bottom of the mine broke his fall, and probably saved Lee from greater injury. But flooded chambers are just one of the dangers of exploring abandoned mines without professional guidance. Lee said he knew better, but curiosity won out when the door to the mine, usually locked, had been cut.
     "A smart person would have seen the open door and wanted to get further away, but it enticed me," Lee said.
     Similar thrills of the unknown have enticed others.
     Aaron Cram, 21, of Columbia, works as a cave guide at Moaning Caverns and occasionally explores old mines and "wild caves" with friends in his spare time.
     "I don't like gold mines much because they're so dangerous," Cram said. "Caves are mainly 100 percent stable because they're dissolved out of solid rock, not blasted out, with cracks everywhere."
     He said sections of a mine he's explored off Italian Bar Road have hand-cart tracks leading into the tunnels. Alongside the tracks are what look like shallow puddles, only a few inches deep, "until you shine your light on them and it's a two-story drop underwater," Cram said.
     "It's a whole other level down there. You could get messed up if you do the wrong thing in a gold mine, that's for sure.
     "Sometimes pockets of methane gas can build up from rotting timbers, and if amateur spelunkers try to test the air with a lighter, they risk blowing themselves up by accident," Cram said.
     Many mines are unstable and ready to collapse, if cave-ins haven't already occurred. Then there are the hidden holes and pits, shafts that slant at different angles, and no easy point of reference for those who get turned around.
     Too, rock tunnels absorb sound. No one heard Lee's screams until his friend, Donald Nute, actually went inside and talked to him.
     Mine accidents are so common, the experts even have a slogan: "Stay out, stay alive," according to Cy Oggins, manager of the Abandoned Lands Unit of the Department of Conservation. He estimates California has about 47,000 abandoned mines, with 697 known in Tuolumne County. It's possible there are even more that haven't been documented, he said.
     The department has a hotline, 1-877-OLDMINE, that people can call to report abandoned mines, and DOC will come out and research whether they can be closed. Unfortunately, the department is limited to making closures on public lands. If the mine is on private property, Oggins said, officials can make recommendations for how to safely seal off the entrance, but cannot forcibly close it.
     "I'm going to push to have someone dynamite it over; I want it closed," said Darvis Lee Sr. of the mine where his son was trapped.
     Oggins said the Bureau of Land Management, which owns the land where the mine is located, is researching whether or not the Leo Mine is an active claim. If it is not being used, the BLM can then work with DOC to possibly close it.
     As for Darvis Lee Jr., his days of exploring abandoned mines are over, he said. His relieved mother, Sandy Lee, sighed. "Good! They better be," she said.

  Table of Contents.

EDUCATIONAL CORNER.

Definition of the Month.

Paleomagnetism - A term referring to a physical quality contained within certain types of rocks consisting of a faint magnetic polarization. This unusual feature is caused by the alignment of magnetic particles within a rock unit. In certain sedimentary and igneous rocks, magnetic minerals can become oriented by the energy of the Earth's magnetic field. This process is identical to the way in which a compass needle moves and points to magnetic north.

In sedimentary rocks, small magnetic minerals such as magnetite will slowly adjust to the natural magnetic field, immediately after the sediment is deposited. In igneous rocks, magnetic minerals will align themselves and point to magnetic north. This can be a common occurrence in a magma or lava flow before the molten rock cools and solidifies.

Paleomagnetism is used by geologists to determine a rock unit's original orientation, before the ground moved by forces caused by the drifting of continental plates, sea floor spreading, uplift of land masses, the offset of faults, the migration of landslides or from subsidence of the ground surface.

The study of paleomagnetism may also be applied to the determination of the relative age and geologic sequence of two similar rock units in contact with each other. An example would be the determination if a lava flow actually consists of two or more flows of different ages, each looking identical in general appearance. A rock unit's paleomagnetism is determined by taking a rock sample of known geographic orientation and having the rock tested in a laboratory for its magnetic qualities.

Paleomagnetism is also important when studying the history of change of the Earth's magnetic field throughout geologic time. The Earth's magnetic field has migrated around the Earth's geographic poles and switching its positive pole between the northern and southern hemisphere. At the present time, the Earth's positive magnetic pole is in the northern hemisphere beneath Siberia, Russia. (Refer to the article on "Magnetic Declination" on the VGMS website within Definition of the Month, April 2003.) (Close the new window to return here.)

Words with a prefix of "paleo" have been featured in the July and August 2008 bulletins and will be included in future issues.

Source of Information: "A Dictionary of Mining, Mineral, and Related Terms", compiled and edited by Paul W. Thrush and Staff, Bureau of Mines, U. S. Department of Interior, published by the U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C., 1968.

Written by Steve Mulqueen for the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, September 2008. The "Definition of the Month" features words related to geology, paleontology, mining and desert history.

Illustration of the Month.

The Grand Canyon at Toroweap.

A print made from an engraved block of lithographic limestone. (Refer to the definition of "Lithographic Limestone" in the VGMS website, Definition of the Month, April 2002.) (Close the new window to return here.)

Source: The Second Annual Report of the United States Geological Survey, 1880 - 1881, from the chapter titled "The Physical Geology of the Grand Cañon District", by John Westley Powell and Capt. Clarence E. Dutton, published by the U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C., page 111.

John Westley Powell was directed by the United States Department of Interior to explore the Colorado River and its tributaries. From 1869 to 1872, Powell traversed this vast region with a group of men. Their trip included a voyage down the Colorado River on wooden boats through the Grand Canyon. Years after this successful trip, Powell, with the assistance of Clarence Dutton and many others, prepared a report of the discoveries made during their great adventure. This illustration is one example of the many beautiful graphic works created for this publication.

Text written by Steve Mulqueen, September 2008. The "Illustration of the Month" features a drawing, sketch, pen & ink rendering, engraving print or any form of graphic 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 GO TO A SHOW - 2008.

September 25-28; San Bernardino, CA - Orange Belt Mineral Society, Inc., Western Region Little League Ball Park, 6707 Little League Dr. Hours: 9 am-Dusk each day. Emma Rose Couveau (951) 288-6182.
September 27-28; Monterey, CA - Carmel Valley Gem & Mineral Society, Monterey Fairgrounds, 2004 Fairgrounds Rd. Hours: Sat. 10-6; Sun. 10-5. Sky Paxton (831) 417-7477, Email: sky@familystones.net, Website: www.cvgms.org.
September 27-28; Stockton, CA - Stockton Lapidary and Mineral Club, Scottish Rite Masonic Center, 33 West Alpine Ave. Hours: Sat. 10-5; Sun. 10-4. Nettie Meissner (209) 858-2263, E-mail:footsey1@yahoo.com.
October 5; Fallbrook, CA - Fallbrook Gem & Mineral Society "Fall Festival of Gems", FGMS Museum, 123 W. Alvarado. Hours: 10-4. Mary Fong-Walker (760) 728-1130, Diane Tjepkes (780) 468-8028.
October 11-12; Grass Valley, CA - Nevada County Gem & Mineral Society "Earth's Treasures", Nevada County Fairgrounds, 11228 McCourtney Road. Hours: 10-5 both days. Kim Moore (530) 470-0388, Email: Kmoore160@comcast.net.
October 11-12; Trona, CA - "67th Annual Gem-O-Rama", Searles Lake Gem & Mineral Society, 13337 Main Street. Hours: Sat. 7:30-5; Sun. 7:30-4. Bonnie Fairchild (760) 372-5356, Email: glgms@wvisp.com, www1.iwvisp.com/tronagemclub/tronagemclub.html.
October 11-12; Lakeside, CA - Cajon Valley Gem & Mineral Society, Lakeside Rodeo Grounds, 12584 Mapleview. Hours: 10-5 both days. David Newton (619) 390-5054, Email: jontom@nethere.com, Webpage: ecvgms.com.
October 11-12; Vista, CA - Vista Gem & Mineral Society, Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum, 2040 North Santa Fe Avenue. Hours: Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4. Cherie Wilson (760) 941-7073, Lois M. Hair (760) 724-0395.
October 18; West Hills, CA - Woodland Hills Rock Chippers, First United Methodist Church, 22700 Sherman Way. Hours: 10-5. Virginia Rotramel (951) 403-2634, Email: show@rockchippers.org, www.rockchippers.org.
October 18-19; Anderson, CA - Shasta Gem & Mineral Society, Shasta District Fairgrounds. Hours: Sat. 9-5; Sun. 10-4. Bill Seward (530) 365-8641, E-mail: glseward@sbcglobal.net.
October 18-19; Placerville, CA - El Dorado County Mineral & Gem Society, El Dorado County Fairgrounds, 100 Placerville Drive. Hours: 10-5 both days. Jackie Cerrato (530) 677-2975, Email: info@rockandgemshow.org, http://www.rockandgemshow.org, eldoradomineralandgem.org.
October 18-19; Santa Rosa, CA - Santa Rosa Mineral & Gem Society, Veterans' Memorial Auditorium, 1351 Maple Avenue, Santa Rosa. Hours: Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5. Tom Dering (707) 564-4537, Email: farmarch@sonic.net, Website: www.gem-n-i.org.
October 18-19; Whittier, CA - Whittier Gem & Mineral Society, Whittier Community Center, 7630 Washington Avenue. Hours: 10-5 both days. Jay Valle: (626) 934-9764, Email: res19pnb@verizon.net.
October 25-26; Los Altos, CA - Peninsula Gem & Geology Society, Los Altos Youth Center, One San Antonio Road. Hours: Sat. 9-5 pm, Sun. 9-4 pm. Stan Bogosian: (408)569-2489, Email: sbogosian@aol.com.
November 1-2; Concord, CA - Contra Costa Mineral & Gem Society, Centre Concord, 5298 Clayton Rd., Clayton Fair Shopping Center. Hours: 10-5 both days. Sam Woolsey (925) 837-3287, Email: sdwools@earthlink.net, Website: www.ccmgs.org.
November 1-2; Ridgecrest, CA - Indian Wells Gem & Mineral Society, Desert Empire Fairgrounds, Mesquite Hall, 520 S. Richmond Rd. Hours: 9-5 both days. John De Rosa (760) 375-7905, Vickie black (760) 371-4416.
November 1-2; San Diego, CA - San Diego Mineral & Gem Society, Al Bahr Shrine Center, 5440 Kearny Mesa Road. Hours: Sat. 9:30-5; Sun 10-4. Alva Whetton (619) 823-6787.
November 7, 8, 9; Eureka, CA - Humboldt Gem & Mineral Society, Redwood Acres Fairgrounds, 3750 Harris. Hours: Fri. 9-6; Sat. 10-6; Sun. 10-5. Toni Tyson (707) 725-2890, Email: BLUII911@msn.com.
November 8-9; Lancaster, CA - Palmdale Gem & Mineral Society, Antelope Valley Fairgrounds, 2551 W. Ave. H, Hwy 14. Hours: 9-5 both days. Susan Chaissin-Walblom (661) 943-1861, Email: SLChaisson@yahoo.com, pgms@antelecom.net.
November 8-9; 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, Inez Berg (530) 633-4612.
November 22-23; Oxnard, CA - Oxnard Gem & Mineral Society, Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way. Hours: Sat. 9-5; Sun. 10-4. Miriam Tetrault (805) 642-5779, E-mail: miriamtetreault@hotmail.com, Website: www.oxnardgem.com.
December 6-7; Barstow, CA - Mojave Gem & Mineral Society, Cora Harper Community Center, 841 S. Barstow Road. Hours: 10-5 Both Days. Gene Haines (760) 256-0595, E-mail: email@mdgms.org, Website: www.mdgms.org.

AMERICAN FEDERATION / REGIONAL SHOW SCHEDULE - 2008.

Canadian Federation Convention.

Rocky Mountain Federation (RMFMS),
October 31-November 2,
Tulsa, OK.

Southeast Federation (SFMS).

Source: http://cfmsinc.org/.

  Table of Contents.

SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

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