Brevard Gems. President s Message. REMINDERS: Next regular meeting is November 6th at 6:00 p.m. at the Merritt Island Library.

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1 N E W S L E T T E R F O R C E N T R A L B R E V A R D R O C K A N D G E M C L U B REMINDERS: Next regular meeting is November 6th at 6:00 p.m. at the Merritt Island Library. Board Meeting is Monday, Nov. 3rd at 7:00 p.m. I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E : Meeting Minutes Meeting Minutes Continued Shop Pictures Shop Wish List President s Message Continued Slate of Officers November Classes Just for Kids 6 November s Mineral Christmas Party 7 8 Brevard Gems Web address: Open Shop Hours: Sun. 1-4 PM; Wed. 9 AM-12 PM, 1-4 PM, and 6-9 PM; and Thurs. 6-9 PM. V O L U M E 3, I S S U E 9 President s Message The election of new and not so new, officers and Board members will occur at the meeting on November 6. Please come and support your 2015 Board of Directors and Officers. The workshop will be closed for Thanksgiving Wednesday evening, November 26, and on Thursday, November 27. The installation of the 2015 Board will occur at the December holiday party at Brano s in Cocoa Beach on December 4. Please sign up with Lucy by December 1, if you wish to attend. Good company, good dinner, and a fun evening for only $20 per person for soft drink, entrée, salad, and dessert including gratuity. If you wish, you may join in the gift exchange with something you made or bought valued at no more than $10. John has decided to take a rest from teaching and supervising. He teaches metalsmithing (cold connections), silversmithing, gem trees, and casting classes. Lucy and Tom will be having knee surgery in November. Lucy teaches fused glass, silversmithing, and casting classes. Tom teaches wirewrap classes. See class schedule inside as these classes may be on hold unless someone else volunteers to teach them. Members are welcome to come in to open shop and ask for assistance from supervisors with most lapidary skills. We will suggest materials and tools needed. The shop has many tools available for the use of members and many rocks as well. The Workshop Committee would be happy to have more supervisors and instructors. If you would be interested in supervising or teaching any classes, please let Roz or me know. Supervisors are responsible for opening N O V E M B E R and closing the shop, collecting shop fees, ensuring that machines are safely and properly used and cleaned by members, teaching new members to safely operate equipment, and assisting members if possible in pursuing their lapidary interests. Our reward is the pleasure we see on your face when you finish your first stone or your first piece of jewelry. We have had a number of donations of equipment lately. The latest came in from a retired teacher of geology who found us on the internet and has donated a single drum tumbler and a triple drum tumbler with all the variation in grit for tumbling rocks. Donated equipment will either be used in the shop or auctioned to interested members. Continued on Page 4

2 P A G E 2 Meeting Minutes CBRGC General Meeting October 2, 2014 Michele called the meeting to order at 1800 hours at the Merritt Island Library. Pledge of Allegiance Welcome to all new visitors present. Minutes from the Sept. 4, 2014 meeting were approved as published in the newsletter. Treasurer s report was given by Cindy and filed subject for audit. Membership report was presented by Sara, membership total is 104 paid members for the current year. Nominees for 2015 officers were presented by Madeline: Michele Huntington President, 1 st Vice President Bill Dewey, 2 nd Vice President Sara Fellows, Secretary Cheryl Ostman, Treasurer Eivor Brown, Directors Lucy Caracoglia, Tom Brown, Roz Mestre, and Emily Holston. Show 2015 update per Roz: The date for next year s show is Feb. 7-8, 2015 with set up Feb. 6 th. Flyers are in and ready for distribution. The deposit has been paid. Most vendors have sent in some money and the club is still trying to contact 3 vendors. There will be no vendors in the annex this year with the sluice, membership, grand prize and demo s in the annex. The club will not be charged to use the annex. The club has the ATM contract. Florida Today needs to be contacted in December about placing an ad in the paper. Kiwanis Island will provide the 6 foot tables and a vendor will provide the 8 foot tables. The club needs volunteers to help with the show and a volunteer coordinator to help with placing the volunteers where needed. Club members who volunteer the entire show will receive one free class session and volunteers one day will receive a free shop session. The silent auction needs donations. The club has a sound system, available on loan, but we need a volunteer to do the announcing. Also the club needs someone to help with publicity and show advertising. The food truck Apps will be here all weekend and we are working on getting a second truck. Craig has volunteered to do the grand prize. The club also needs members to help distribute flyers to businesses throughout the community. Workshop report: The recently donated Pixie is being rebuilt and refurbished. 2 tumblers also donated and Billy is repairing one that needed repairs. The 10 inch saw was cleaned. Craig is nearly finished with inventory. New safety guidelines will be distributed soon. Only clean oil is to be used in the machines. Roz ordered Pixie wheels, leathers and belts. The club will have 3 Genies and 2 Pixies once they are all up and running. No bids have been received on the Sears machine. A wish list for general maintenance items is in the newsletter. Current shop hours are Sunday 1-4, Wed. 9-12, 1-4, 6-9, and Thurs Assistance with cabbing, metal or silversmithing, and any other projects will be provided during open shop as possible. Members are encouraged to use the shop. B R E V A R D G E M S

3 P A G E 3 Meeting Minutes Continued Class schedule: As published in newsletter. Sign-up sheets are available for classes. Roz will collect a $10 fee when classes are signed up for as a deposit for the first class and to hold your place in class. Members are requested to show their receipts and membership cards at the first class. Members are to notify class instructors if they cannot attend the class and are requested not to be late for classes. Lucy and John will teach silver-smithing Tues. evenings 6-9 beginning Oct. 21 if anyone is interested. Tom and Michele will teach wirewrap Oct. 21 and 28. Opals are continuing on Mondays. See Billy if anyone is interested in faceting on Saturdays. Anyone interested in Kumihimo, see Mary and Emily. John will teach Metalsmithing projects or Gem trees on Sundays. See John if interested. Dean will teach beaded cabochon on Thursday if anyone wants her to help learn. Billy will teach Gem ID if anyone signs up. New Business: The Board is discussing changing the club picnic from June to April and Billy will check with KARS Park on making a reservation in April 2015 on a Saturday, that is not Easter weekend. The Christmas party will be Dec. 4 th at Brano s again, $20 per person, see Lucy for forms. Old Business: The audit for 2013 was done by Roberta. It was completed with the change in record keeping systems and treasurers. Audit dates were from March 2013-June Mary reports no issues with the website. Michele announced Mary won 7 th place in the AFMS newsletter competition. No updates on the cookbook from Erleen. Ongoing fundraising includes cans collected in the shop and meeting door prizes by Mario. Club bags are for sale here and in the shop for $3 each. The next library showcase will be in Cocoa Beach in January, and Roz is needing a volunteer to set it up. Bakers Beads has been donating bags of cans to the club when they can. Announcements: SFMS Federation website is afms.org/sfms, their newsletter is the Lodestar in which members can receive by signing up by . The class schedule is out for this year on the website.. Roz continuing to collect stamps for possible scholarship through SFMS, no forever flag stamps accepted. Refreshments break and door prizes by Mario. Emily and Mary gave a presentation on rock hounding and sea glass collecting in the British Virgin Islands with samples of glass and specimens they collected. Show and Tell: Jane displayed a gem tree she made, Lucy and John brought samples of various items that can be made in classes, Roz brought in silver pieces of jewelry with jasper and fused glass, Michele showed a stone necklace she made and Janet displayed a boulder opal she finished with silver. Meeting was adjourned at 1933 hours.

Shop Pictures P A G E 4 Jane s Gem Tree Patrick Cutting Opals Ray s Bears Shop Wish List We could use the following items: Bathroom tissue

permanent markers (black) We are also looking for a usable donated refrigerator.

We have 23 vendors from around the state. It s a lot of work to put together and a lot of fun to participate.

4 Shop Pictures P A G E 4 Jane s Gem Tree Patrick Cutting Opals Ray s Bears Shop Wish List We could use the following items: Bathroom tissue Paper towels Dawn Children's paint brushes Sandwich size zip lock baggies Copy paper (white or light colors) Toothbrushes Fine point permanent markers (black) We are also looking for a usable donated refrigerator. President s Message Continued Our primary fundraiser that supports the workshop is our show in February at Kiwanis Island. We have 23 vendors from around the state. It s a lot of work to put together and a lot of fun to participate. Please offer your assistance to Roz when she asks for help. Remember our next meeting on November 6, at 6 pm, at the Merritt Island Library. Please bring the items you have made at the shop for show and tell. Michele Huntington 2014 President B R E V A R D G E M S

P A G E 5 Here is the Slate of Officers for 2015: Slate of Officers President - Michele 1st Vice President - Billy Dewey 2nd Vice President - Sara Fellows Secretary - Cheryl Ostman Treasurer Eivor

15th, 22nd & 29th. Craig is available to teach faceting on Wednesday mornings. Emily & Mary will teach Kumihimo on Tuesday evenings from 6 9 p.m. on Nov. 11th & 18th.

5 P A G E 5 Here is the Slate of Officers for 2015: Slate of Officers President - Michele 1st Vice President - Billy Dewey 2nd Vice President - Sara Fellows Secretary - Cheryl Ostman Treasurer Eivor Brown Directors: Lucy Caracoglia and Tom Brown ( ) Roz Mestre and Emily Holston ( ) November Classes Billy will teach Faceting on Saturday mornings 9 a.m. noon on Nov. 15th, 22nd & 29th. Craig is available to teach faceting on Wednesday mornings. Emily & Mary will teach Kumihimo on Tuesday evenings from 6 9 p.m. on Nov. 11th & 18th. Michele will teach a final session of Opals on Nov. 19 from 6 9 p.m. Sign up for classes at the meeting. Remember that a $10.00 fee ($5.00 for the class and $5.00 shop fee) is due at sign-up. Open shop time continues with supervisors available to provide assistance on silver-smithing, cabbing, glass fusing, and beading as needed. Hours are: Sun. 1-4 PM; Wed. 9 AM-12 PM, 1-4 PM, and 6-9 PM; and Thurs. 6-9 PM. Workshop will be closed for Thanksgiving: The workshop will be closed on Wednesday evening, Nov 26, and Thursday evening, Nov 27, for Thanksgiving. The workshop will be open for the morning and afternoon sessions on Wednesday, Nov 26.

6 P A G E 6 Just For Kids From Mini Miners Monthly, June 2014 B R E V A R D G E M S

7 November s Mineral Chalcedony Chalcedony is not scientifically its own mineral species, but rather a form of Quartz in microcrystalline form. However, the name is an old name, and almost all mineral reference guides and collectors distinguish Chalcedony separately from Quartz. In the gem trade, the name Chalcedony usually describes only white or blue Chalcedony, to distinguish it from the multicolored banded variety Agate and other unique varieties of this mineral. Chalcedony is quite varied in its formation habits. It sometimes occurs in geodes, lining the cavity with mammilary blobs. Its Agate variety is also found in geodes, commonly lining the outer layer underneath the larger Quartz crystals. Chalcedony also forms pseudomorphs after organic material. A well-known example is petrified wood, in which the wood has been completely transformed into Chalcedony. In the Petrified Forest National Monument in Arizona, an entire forest was transformed into petrified wood. Remains of this ancient forest can be seen in the huge silicafied logs that are found in the area. Another well-known pseudomorph is Chalcedony after coral. In the Tampa Bay in Florida, coral has been chemically replaced by Chalcedony, and its original form is preserved. Another famous C halcedony pseudomorph is Tiger's Eye. This popular variety has very unique optical properties in the form of a bronze sheen that is caused by the fibrous mineral Crocidolite that was chemically replaced into Chalcedony through pseudomorphism. Impurities are frequently present in Chalcedony. They may form a moss like growth in the mineral, forming what is known as Moss Agate. Another example is Dendritic Agate, a variety of Chalcedony containing manganese oxide impurities that form fabrications resembling trees. These forms of Agate are not true Agates, since they lack the banding. USES: Chalcedony is the source of a host of different gemstones. Most gem forms are polished as cabochons and beads for use in bracelets, P A G E 7 Physical Properties of Chalcedony Chemical Composition Silicon Dioxide Chemical Formula SiO 2 Color Luster Cleavage White, Blue, Red, Green, Yellow, Orange, Brown, Pink, Purple, Gray, Black, Banded, Multicolored Vitreous to waxy None Mohs Hardness Specific Gravity Crystal System Transparency White Chalcedony from New York Hexagonal Translucent to opaque Refractive Index necklaces, earrings, and as costume jewelry. They are also used as animal carvings and cameos. Besides for all the named varieties that are used as gems, the translucent gray and blue forms of Chalcedony have recently gained much popularity. Chalcedony is sometimes dyed to create more vibrant colors. This is especially true of vivid blue, red, and pink colors. White Chalcedony is also occasionally dyed light blue to resemble natural blue Chalcedony. From Minerals.net

8 P A G E 8

P A G E 9 Club Purpose: The purpose of this club is to foster interest in and to promote knowledge and appreciation of

We also disseminate information and instruction in the lapidary arts and the utilization of precious metals in our

These purposes are accomplished through regular meetings with informative programs, workshops, study groups, and field

net 1st Vice President: Roz Mestre (321) 632-8281 roz.mestre@att.

com Secretary: Emily Holston (321) 638-4332 joshholston@hotmail.com Treasurer: Cindy Whitman (321) 626-7665 cwfla@cfl.rr.

Canaveral, FL Bill Dewey 2014 (Imperial is located off A1A just south of the Port) Member of Southeast Federation of

org/sfms/ Affiliated with the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies - www.amfed.

9 P A G E 9 Club Purpose: The purpose of this club is to foster interest in and to promote knowledge and appreciation of minerals, gems, fossils, and the earth sciences. We also disseminate information and instruction in the lapidary arts and the utilization of precious metals in our crafts. These purposes are accomplished through regular meetings with informative programs, workshops, study groups, and field trips. Officers: OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS President: Michele Huntington (321) raymich06@bellsouth.net 1st Vice President: Roz Mestre (321) roz.mestre@att.net 2nd Vice President: Sara Fellows (321) sunysara@cfl.rr.com Secretary: Emily Holston (321) joshholston@hotmail.com Treasurer: Cindy Whitman (321) cwfla@cfl.rr.com Directors: Tom Brown 2015 Shop Location: Lucy Caracoglia Imperial Blvd, Unit D John Catana 2014 Cape Canaveral, FL Bill Dewey 2014 (Imperial is located off A1A just south of the Port) Member of Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Societies, Inc. - Affiliated with the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies - Club Fundraising We need a Fundraising Coordinator to bring in some cash! Do you have an idea for raising money? Would you be willing to lead our efforts? Please contact Michele Huntington at raymich06@bellsouth.net Don t forget The club collects soda-type cans and cancelled stamps (no Forever stamps, please!). Bring your cans and stamps to the shop during open workshop hours OR to the monthly meeting. Mary MacLaughlin, Editor (321) mmacl519@gmail.com Deadline for items for December issue is November 19th. B R E V A R D G E M S

10 P A G E 10

Brevard Gems. Web address:

Brevard Gems. Web address: Page 1 N E W S L E T T E R F O R C E N T R A L B R E V A R D R O C K Brevard Gems Web address: www.centralbrevardgems.org Open Shop Hours: Sun. 1-4 PM; Wed. 9 AM-12 PM, 1-4 PM, and 6-9 PM; and Thurs. 6-9