PEBBLE PRESS For October 2015

Transcription

1 Richmond Gem and Mineral Society s PEBBLE PRESS For October 2015 NOTICE BOARD NEXT GENERAL MEETING Tuesday, October 27, :45 pm start PROGRAM Continuation of the Ellensburg Blue video and a video on Turquoise. SHOW & TELL Turquoise; the theme of our annual show REFRESHMENT TABLE If your last name starts with the following letter, then it is your turn to bring a finger food or other type of snack for the refreshment table: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, & K If possible, please bring your own cup to drink from. SEALED BID AUCTION It s Over! A Big Thank-You To All The Members Who Participated. It has been almost 4 months since we received this generous donation from Roberta and Lloyd Johnson, past members of the RGMS. Donations to our club helps keep our annual fees the same; making it affordable for our current members and attractive to potential members. The highest bidders in the Sealed Bid Auction were: Sunny Yuen (Drill Press); Arn Hamelin (3-6 inch Diamond Pacific Wheels); and George Howe (Diamond Pacific Genie). Workshop Calendar October 2015 to June 2016 DAY TIME ALLOWED ACTIVITIES Monday 6:00 PM 9:00 PM Tuesday 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Thursday 6:00 PM 9:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM 3:00 PM 1st & 2nd Sundays 10:00 AM 3:00 PM Workshop Closed on the Following Days: Monday, October 12 Thursday, December 24 Saturday, December 26 Monday, December 28 Tuesday, December 29 Thursday, December 31 Remember, the workshop is staffed by volunteers. Please sign in, pay the shop fees and use the equipment as per the workshop rules. Thank-you. It s Here! Our Website! Give It a Try! Next Executive Meeting Tuesday, October 20, 2015 at 7:00 PM richmondbclapidary.wordpress.com Pebble Press October 2015 Page 1

2 Executive Positions President David Bell Vice-President Anthony Young Secretary Jan McRobb Treasurer George Howe Program Chairperson Livia Waterson Show Chairperson Lisa Kew Workshop Chairperson Lui Porc Ways & Means Chairperson Linda Boyce Field Trip Chairperson Harley Waterson Publicity Chairperson Natalie Helmstetter Librarian Kay Eichacker Pebble Press Editor Eugenia Kurganska Social Convenor Bellamy Ho Membership Chairperson Senior Delegate Sharon Hamelin Past President Bob Gregory Non-Executive Positions Contact at Large Intermediate Delegate Junior Delegate Arn Hamelin Workshop Assistants George Howe Tom Braund Membership Assistant Dorreh Jahanshahi Ways & Means Assistant Joan Turrell General Meeting FUTURE MEETING PLANNER Month Executive Meeting Tuesday the 27th October Tuesday the 20th. 7:00 pm Tuesday the 24th November Tuesday the 17th. 7:00 pm Tuesday the 22nd December Tuesday the 15th. 7:00 pm Tuesday the 26th January Tuesday the 19th. 7:00 pm Tuesday the 23rd February Tuesday the 16th. 7:00 pm Tuesday the 22nd March Tuesday the 15th. 7:00 pm CULTURE DAYS September 26, 2015 If you visited the Workshop you know what occurred. From the time it was officially opened to just about 30 minutes before closing our Workshop was full. We had the largest number of members and many off-the-street visitors attend our one day participation in Culture Days. We challenged our visitors and many club members with the Rock Identification Game, amazed people with a great variety of mineral specimens in the micromount presentation, and dazzled them when Adam did the lost wax casting. The crowning display was the hand-crafted pendants, rings, bracelets, thundereggs and brooches on the mini Boutique Table. Many of our members took time off from working on cabochons or findings to talk to our visitors explaining to them what they were doing, their love of the hobby, and the benefits of belonging to a club. What really impressed our visitors was the display of work at the mini Boutique Table. While sales were not good, members used these works of art to help promote the club and the many activities we do such as: wire-wrapping, silversmithing, lost-wax casting, rock and mineral collecting. Linda Boyce had the front row seat to welcome our guests. As visitors entered they were greeting with a display of Linda s work and would often find Linda wire-wrapping a new cabochon. Joan and Annie worked the Boutique Table explaining how each item was created. I helped out at the rock identification game and rock sales, and greeted visitors. While I can not remember everyone who helped promote the club, I would like to thank everyone for doing their part in promoting our hobby and the benefits we all enjoy by being members. George Membership News Welcome to the New Year! (Continued on page 3) A warm welcome to our new and returning members. New members are: Ian Anderson; Karen Yurkovich; William Marsman; Russ and Sandra Beuker; Dan, Ophira, and Jodes Schwarzfeld; Minnie Chan; Kit Ho, Wai Man Chan; Min and Cindy Zhong, and Charlie Mack; and Yumi Mizuno. There are several of you who have not renewed your membership. Hopefully you will renew at the October general meeting. If you decide not to renew, we will miss your participation. If you are planning to renew, then please contact me at: darhowe1@gmail.com or Pebble Press October 2015 Page 2

3 British Columbia Lapidary Society s Wagonmasters Fieldtrips Spring and Summer 2015 Enjoy the picture of extremely beautiful Sunset Fire Opal! Sunday, Oct. 18 Power Station Hwy #1 - Crystals Sunday, Nov. 8 Sunday, Dec. 6 Gill Road - Fraser River Rock Agate, Jasper, Petrified Wood Jesperson Bar Agate, Jasper, Petrified Wood For detailed and updated information go to: or contact Harley Waterson at ALWAYS CALL THE TRIP LEADER THE DAY BEFORE TO EN- SURE THE TRIP IS GOING, AND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO OTHER CHANGES Remember to wear layered clothing to be able to adjust to weather conditions at the location, bring a lunch and water on all field trips. Ensure your vehicle has a full tank of gas. As always, US rockhounds in good standing with their clubs are invited to join our field trips! For something different, check out the field trips offered on the Washington State Mineral Council web site at: Washington State Mineral Council Picture is taken by jeff schultz (Continued from page 2) Christmas Social: Upcoming Club Events: Mark your calendar, our annual Christmas Social happens on Tuesday, December 22. We will again have a silent auction with many interesting items and rocks. Details will be in the November edition. Richmond Nature Park Presentation: We will be showcasing our club at the Richmond Nature Park on Sunday, November 15. We will be displaying rocks of the Fraser River, mineral specimens, fossils, rough & slab, and handcrafted work. We will also be demonstrating minerals from under the microscope, silversmithing techniques (no soldering), beaded necklaces for the kids, rock identification game & rock identification, and roll the dice to win. This is a good opportunity to find new members. Workshop Safety You are responsible for your actions Think Safety First Annual Rock & Gem Shows 2015 For details go to October 17 & 18 October 24 & 25 November 7 & 8 SURREY ROCKHOUND CLUB PORT MOODY ROCK & GEM CLUB DELTA ROCKHOUND GEM & MINER- AL CLUB Pebble Press October 2015 Page 3

4 October has two birthstones opal and tourmaline. Birthstone of The Month (credit to earthsky.org ) Opal The opal is a fragile hydrated silica material, made of submicroscopic silica spheres held together by more silica and water. It is a soft stone, easily altered in appearance by changes in heat and pressure. This mineral contains varying amounts of water within it that determine the appearance of the gemstone. When water evaporates out of an opal, the stone appears slightly smaller and the stress of the evaporation creates cracks on it. Opals are formed in near-surface volcanic rocks, within cavities and cracks. In sedimentary volcanic ash rock, percolating water in the ground dissolves silica that eventually precipitates to form the opal, sometimes becoming the replacement material for fossils shells, bones, wood whose original material had dissolved away. long thought to be a ruby. The name of this gemstone is believed to derive from the Singhalese (Sri Lankan) word toramalli, a term applied to yellow, green or brown stones, that means something little out of the earth. Tourmaline is a complex aluminous borosilicate mineral built of crystals with complicated aggregations of sodium, aluminum, boron, oxygen, hydrogen and silicon atoms. Other metals are also present within the crystal structure, and are responsible for the characteristic colors of the gemstones. Pink, for example, is due to the presence of manganese, while ferrous iron, chromium or vanadium betray their presence as green gemstones. Most tourmalines are found in a myriad of colors: yellow, green, red, blue, pink, brown, black. Some even have bicolored properties. A valued bi-colored variety of tourmaline, found in Brazil, is called the watermelon. The outer edges of the gem are green, transitioning to a transparent white zone that gives way to a pink or light red interior. Tourmaline has an unusual property. When it is warmed or rubbed, it attracts small bits of paper, lint and ash. This occurs because the gem becomes charged with static electricity. In fact, Benjamin Franklin used this gem in his studies of electricity. Maintaining a tourmaline exhibit at museums requires frequent cleaning of the gemstone because heat from lights of the display case create a charge in the stone that attracts dust. Compared with other gemstones, tourmalines are a relatively recent discovery. Hence, it lacks the rich lore that accompanies many other precious gems. However, among some people, the stone is known as the peace stone, believed to dispel fear and make its wearer calm. Opals are famous for their play of colors many stones flash the colors of the rainbow when moved, due to the interference of light on small cracks and other internal structural differences. Opals also have characteristic colors due to impurities within the stone. The milky or pearly appearance of some opals are due to inclusions of tiny gas bubbles. Yellows and reds betray the presence of iron oxides. The spectacular black opals that sometimes flash green, blue and red get their color from magnesium oxides and organic carbon within the stone. Perhaps the most valuable opal pattern is the harlequin, large angular patches of red, yellow and green resembling the checks on a clown s costume. Tourmaline The alternate birthstone for October is the tourmaline, a gemstone that exhibits the broadest spectrum of gemstone colors. Gem-quality forms of this mineral have in the past been misidentified as rubies, emeralds and sapphires. In fact, a famous tourmaline-the size of a pigeon s eggbelonging to the Russian Empress Catherine the Great was Pebble Press October 2015 Page 4

5 RICHMOND GEM & MINERAL SOCIETY Minutes of the August 25, 2015 General Meeting Meeting called to order at 7:00 pm by David Bell Minutes of the General Meeting held on June 23 accepted as published in the Pebble Press. Correspondence: None Vice-President s Report: Sent regrets. No Report Treasurer s Report: George Howe gave the Treasurer s report as of August 12, Revenue: $11, Expenses: $8, Balance: $3, Program Report: Tonight program: Social Evening September Program: Ellensburg Blue video September show & tell: Ellensburg Blue, Holly Blue, or any type of blue agate. Show Chairperson s Report: Culture Days, Saturday, September 26, Mini-Boutique Table, displays, and demonstrations. Nature Park Exhibition is on for Sunday, November Annual Show s theme is 55 Shades of Turquoise. Workshop: Starting in September, Daytime Workshop tickets will be sold. 10 tickets for $ Ways & Means: Please support the raffle. Field Trip Report: No Field Trips at this time Publicity Report: No report Membership: 38 members signed in. Senior Delegate Report: Next BCLS meeting is October 4 at the Abbottsford Seniors Centre. Only members in good standing are entitled to go on field trips. Arts Council Report: No report. President s Report: As Showchairperson, Lisa Kew, needs to having signing authority to manage the show s account, therefore the following motion: Moved by: George Howe Lisa Kew to have signing authority on RGMS s show and general accounts. Seconded: Eric Kemp, Motion: Passed. We require an audit on the financial books once each year, therefore the following motion: Moved by: To do an audit of the financial books for year. Seconded: Harley Waterson, Motion: Passed. Club volunteers to do the audit of the financial books: Lisa Kew; Bob Gregory, and Annie Chan. Old Business: Sealed bid auction: details are in the Pebble Press; closes at 8:00 pm on Tuesday, September 22, 2015 Culture Days, Saturday, September 26. Please mark your calendar and help promote the club. Richmond Nature Park, Sunday, November 15. We require volunteers to help do demonstration and promote the club. We also require members to provide 1 or 2 items for display including handcrafted jewellery, polished rocks, cut slabs and rough. New Business: Our website is up, have a look. Meeting adjourned at 7:45 pm Librarian Report: The new DVD s and Books are here. Pebble Press: If you are not getting an copy of the Pebble Press contact Eugenia Kurganska at ekurganska@hotmail.com Social Convenor: Social time for club members allows us to get to know each other. A special thanks to Bellamy for all her help. Show & Tell: Rocks, minerals, and other items collected during the summer. Next Executive Meeting: Tuesday, September 15th at 7 pm in the Workshop. Next General Meeting: Tuesday, September 25th at 6:45 pm in the Atrium. Pebble Press October 2015 Page 5

6 RICHMOND GEM & MINERAL SOCIETY Minutes of the September 22, 2015 General Meeting Meeting called to order at 7:00 pm by David Bell Minutes of the General Meeting held on August 25 were not available at the time of the Pebble Press being published. The minutes should be available for the October issue of the Pebble Press. Correspondence: None Vice-President s Report: Anthony Young stated that he was happy to see everyone here and that he was looking forward to his year as Vice-President. Treasurer s Report: George Howe gave the Treasurer s report as of August 31, Revenue: $11, Expenses: $8, Balance: $3, Program Report: Tonight s program: Ellensburg Blue October s program will be a continuation of the Ellensburg Blue video and a video on Turquoise. October s show & tell will be the theme of our annual show, Turquoise. Show Chairperson s Report: Lisa introduced herself. The theme and title for the annual show is 55 shades of Turquoise. Annual Show Challenge Win a prize and do a turquoise cabochon in a handcrafted finding. Details for this contest is on our website. We are looking for donations for the show s silent auction. If you would like to donate items, please contact Lisa Kew or. Workshop: The 12 inch saw needs cleaning. Lui is unable to do the work due to physical limitations at this time. Ways & Means: Tables have a selection of items; rocks, books, and tools. Field Trip Report: October 11 - Sleazy Creek; fossils October 18 - Hydro station; quartz crystals Fraser river trips. Please check the BC Lapidary s Website for additional information or contact me at: harleyw@telus.net Publicity Report: If our members know where we can post posters or advertise for our annual show, then please contact me at nhelm99@hotmail.com Librarian Report: Kay has purchased some new dvds and books. Pebble Press: On vacation. No report. Social Convener: Bellamy on vacation. Lisa thanked all those we brought goodies tonight. Membership: 40 members signed in. Darlene introduced our new members and guests. Senior Delegate Report: Next BC Lapidary Society meeting is Oct. 4, Check BCLS s website for details Calendars are on sell now. Only BC rocks are shown. Costs $10.00 per calendar. Arts Council Report: No report, next meeting in November. President s Report: No report. Old Business: Sealed Bid closes tonight. Get your bids in. Classes will be starting soon. If you are interested in taking a course, then please sign up at the Workshop. New Business: Rene would like the executive to consider a life-time membership for Trapper. This request had an unanimous consensus from the membership. We have been informed that Daphne Hall, a founding member of the Richmond Gem and Mineral Society (Club) has passed away. The following motion was made: To donate $50.00 to the GMFC s scholarship fund. Seconded by Sharon Hamelin. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 7:36 pm Show & Tell: Members brought in samples of Ellensburg Blue, Holly Blue, and other blue coloured translucent rocks. Next Executive Meeting: Tuesday, October 20th at 7 pm in the Workshop. Next General Meeting: Tuesday, October 27th at 6:45 pm in the Atrium. Pebble Press October 2015 Page 6