The RocToc. President s Message: Newsletter - April 2017

Transcription

1 Newsletter - April 2017 Shasta Gem and Mineral Society, Inc. P.O. Box Redding, CA shastagemandmineral@gmail.com The RocToc President s Message: Hello rockhounders! I've been getting into the shop a little more these days and am feeling pretty excited to get outside and go digging this season. Every year as spring breaks from winter there is a excitement in the air as we await the flowers and sunshine and know that many treasures are waiting to be found after the heavy winter this year. It also gets me fired up about the rock club more than usual as I watch club members stockpiling their goods they work so hard on all the time. It is good thing to see and we really have a hard working fun club to hang out with. We are always looking for more participation within the club. Our entire club in its entirety is all run on donated time and energy by its members so overall participation is extremely important and I would welcome anyone that would like to be more involved to ask around the meetings or the shop how they can be of help. Everyone has things they excel at so whether you are great at computers or advertising or just want to show someone else how to make a cabochon we would love to have your input. As a volunteer based club we definitely need more volunteers especially when our club show weekend comes in October. We will have plenty of opportunities for club members to be more involved. If you are interested in helping around the workshop let the shop managers know you are available or just show up and offer your help there is always plenty to do. Glen Miller is always looking for input for the Roc Toc so send him your submissions or classified ads for the newsletter. We are also always looking for donations for our club so please keep that in mind when you wonder who buys those expensive diamond wheels at the shop or the saw blades for the rock saws, or how the kids have so many things for their activities. These all have been donated whether it's a rock or time or whatever it may be. That being said, the Juniors groiup can always use donations and/or someone that is willing to tumble some rocks for them. We've been beating up on Jim and Cindy Williamson for the last year or so, as they have put in many long hours working around the clubhouse, so they could use a little help as well. Whatever it is to get people more involved please just ask around please! Once again I would like to thank all of our active members for all they do for the club and our community!! You all really do "Rock" Your prez, Alan Leedy The Club Meeting for April will be held Friday, April 14. Setup starts at 6 pm Potluck starts at 6:30 pm Meeting starts at 7:00 pm Anderson Grange Hall

2 The RocToc April of 10 Minutes of the club meeting March 10, Board of Directors Meeting, March 21, 2017 The meeting was called to order by President Leedy at 6:30pm. Board members present: Leedy, Evans, Foster, Pence. Members present: Pat Foster, Steve Puderbaugh. Glen Miller, Aaron Willoughby.. Steve P and Alan L discussed rocks available for the raffle. We currently have a two year inventory for the monthly meetings. The board reviewed the importance of safety rules for the shop. Shop staffing needs careful scheduling to insure an adequate number of adults are present at all times when children are in the building. Please contact Steve P for training if you would like to volunteer to help with shop safety. The board voted unanimously 4-0 to purchase SGMS club T-shirts that will have our logo designs on front and back. Alan L. will order 100 T-shirts for $1, Glen M has purchased a whiteboard to use for the raffle during the general meeting. All club members are invited to attend our board of directors meetings. We encourage the various committee appointees and coordinators to come to the meetings to share ideas and promote rapport. Club members are encouraged to participate in the various workshops or use the equipment at the shop on Tuesdays from 5:30-8:30 pm and Saturdays 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. The meeting adjourned at 7:55. Respectfully submitted, Billie Evans, Secretary Introducing In-House Classes BEGINNING WIREWRAPPING Introduction to wire wrapping. Students learn to create intricate wire jewelry with a professional finish, using sterling silver wire. Finished products will be as pictured above. In-class tools provided. Instructors: Sandra Park and Vicki Meyers Limited Space Available. (4 students per class) Sign up required at Gilman Workshop. Sign up EARLY Cost: 2 Lessons $20, Materials $20. Classes will take two sessions to complete. Dates: April to be announced June to be announced For Information Please Call: Vicky Meyer (530) (530) Kelly O Leary would appreciate help with advertising and graphics for the October gem show posters. (530)

3 The RocToc April of 10 Minutes of the March 10, 2017, SGMS Meeting: Alan Leedy called the meeting to order at 7:15. Two new members, whose names will be revealed when they are learned by the secretary, were introduced. Hugh Watson announced the date for the field trip to the Plush sunstone mines will be determined by the mine owners when weather conditions permit; sometime in June, tentatively, June 17.. Eric and Marianne Sweetwood displayed some specimen and cutting rocks and fossils from their collection. Pulga jade field trip report On March 11, Hugh Watson, our energetic and charismatic field trip chairperson, led a Redding group of eager rockhounds to meet with the Paradise club at the Caltrans Highway 70 maintenance station on. Reports of the use of sledge hammers, shovels and picks resulted in some worthwhile Pulga jade, or idocrase for jewelry projects. Mike and Debbie Mobley passed out fliers for their Mountain Man Mike rock sale in Shingletown, now scheduled for April 8. Anyone planning to go, please RSVP to Debbie so she can plan the meal she prepares. The date on some of the early flyers would conflict with the Paradise rock show in Chico on April 1&2. We can still use donations for the monthly club rock raffle. One of the ways the raffle can be made more interesting is to group several stones or specimens as one selection. Pulga jade, rough and polished. There are some issues with the formatting of the SGMS Facebook pages. We hope to have that fixed soon. The general meeting was adjourned at 8:10. The club raffle commenced soon after. Respectfully submitted by the secretary.

4 The RocToc April April of of April Birthstones Birthstones for the calendar month of April are diamond, opal, and sapphire. Sun/Star, Planetary and Talismanic Stones for: Aries (Mar. 21-Apr. 20) and Taurus (Apr. 21-May 21) Because these two Zodiac signs span part of April, both are listed. There are twelve different stones listed as birthstones for the calendar month of April, or as Sun/Star, Planetary, or Talismanic stones for the Zodiac sign of Aries or Taurus. The Zodiac signs of Aries and Taurus include nine additional stones: bloodstone, topaz, jasper, coral, amber, turquoise, emerald, aventurine, and garnet. MURFREESBORO, Ark. (AP) A teenager has found a 7.44 carat diamond at Crater of Diamonds State Park at Murfreesboro, in southwestern Arkansas. Officials say the rock found Saturday, March 11, 2017, by 14-year-old Kalel Langford is the seventh largest found since the park was established in The park hasn't provided an estimate of the diamond's value. The teen said in a statement Thursday that he spotted the diamond among rocks near a stream. He has named it "Superman's Diamond" and plans to keep it as a souvenir. Park interpreter Waymon Cox describes the diamond as pinto-bean sized and similar in color to coffee. The largest diamond ever discovered in the United States, the carat "Uncle Sam," was unearthed on the land in A pastor working in the mines of eastern Sierra Leone has unearthed a 706-carat diamond. The large stone was discovered by Emmanuel Momoh, one of thousands who work in the informal mining sector dominating the diamond-rich Kono region. The government plans to hold a transparent auction for the gem in a country once tainted by so-called blood diamonds. A 706-carat diamond was presented to President Dr Ernest Bai Koroma yesterday evening, the president s office said on Thursday. Receiving the diamond, President Koroma thanked the chief and his people for not smuggling the diamond out of the country, it added, referring to the Tankoro chiefdom where Momoh uncovered the gem. It would be sold in Sierra Leone with a transparent bidding process to the benefit of the community and country, the government said. The sale of blood diamonds helped finance civil wars across Africa in the 1990s, and often funded military dictatorships in a continent that the London Diamond Bourse estimates provides 65% of the world s diamonds. Sierra Leonean rebels allowed traders to exploit diamond mines and ship the gems abroad via Liberia. In one of the most notorious cases, Charles Taylor, the former Liberian warlord, was found guilty of supporting the rebels in exchange for diamonds mined by slave labor. The district where the 706-carat diamond was discovered is where the US-Belgian businessman Michel Desaedeleer, accused of enslavement and diamond trafficking during Sierra Leone s civil war, is alleged to have committed his crimes. He died in jail in September before he could stand trial. The death toll from the civil war is estimated at 120,000, making it one of Africa s deadliest conflicts in recent history. The government has attempted to crack down on cross-border diamond trafficking to persuade foreign investors that blood diamonds are a thing of the past. Read more at

5 The RocToc April of 10 Club Calendar April-2017 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 10am-2pm Jim & Cimdy :30-8:30 pm 10am-2pm Steve Lay Rochelle Ohlson Mobley rock sale :30-8:30 pm Club Meeting 10am-2pm John & Jennifer Anderson Grange Michelle Stein Potluck 6:30pm Meeting 7pm :30-8:30 pm 10am-2pm Rochelle Ohlson :30-8:30 pm Kip Fatout Board Meeting 6:00 pm 30 Workshop Notes: - Days - Ticket Purchase Required. - Kids Free Day: 1st Saturday after Club General Meeting Club Notes: - Club General Meeting: 2nd Friday of each Month. Field Trip: - To be Announced at Club Meeting May-2017 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday am-2pm Jim & Cindy Club Meeting 5:30-8:30 pm Anderson Grange 10am-2pm Steve Puderbaugh PotLuck 6:30 pm Rochelle Ohlson Meeting 7:00 pm :30-8:30 pm 10am-2pm John & Jennifer Michelle Stein :30-8:30 pm 10am-2pm Rochelle Ohlson Board Meeting 6pm :30-8:30 pm Kip Fatout Workshop Notes: - Days - Ticket Purchase Required. - Kids Free Day: 1st Saturday after Club General Meeting Club Notes: - Club General Meeting: 2nd Friday of each Month. Field Trip: - To be Announced at Club Meeting

6 The RocToc April of 10 Diamonds In The Sky High up on a mountain ridge, at about ft., in South Warner Wilderness area, just east of Alturas, CA., my black lab Sadie, and I where kicking back beside our small campfire enjoying the night sky. At that elevation the stars come alive, which inspired me to write a song that I titled Diamonds In The Sky. Now for those of you that don t know me? I am a man of many talents and a man with to many hobbies. Besides rock hounding, which was the reason why Sadie and I were in the Warners in the first place, I am also a singer, song writer, and guitarist. I have written over 100 songs and recorded at least 70 of them and I have twenty copy written songs. I wrote and recorded Diamonds In The Sky that following week, now that was about seven years ago. Now what does a song have to do with rock hounding or even this article? Well, I shall tell you later! My good friend John Snider, and I were at Ron Joliff s house, collecting antiques that Ron was donating to the Anderson Historical Society. Now Ron was so gracious for donating two pickup loads of antiques for the benefit of the town of Anderson. Ron turned out to be quite the historian for our local area as he owned a ranch out in Igo and lived there for many years. While talking to Ron, we began to talk about rock hounding in the Igo area. We soon began to talk about all of the gold prospecting that took place out there, then Ron asked if we ever knew that a few diamonds were also found in that area? Of course, that was news to me! Now that inspired me to investigate California diamonds. What I found out was, that there have indeed been approximately 600 documented cases of diamonds found in California. Now I m not talking about the so called Clear Lake Diamonds, which are actually quartz Crystals. Actually, most of these diamonds have been found in the western foothills of the Sierra Mountains within the counties of Amador, Butte, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, and Plumas. There was one article about diamonds being found in Trinity County, within the placer gravels of Hayfork Creek. I could not find any documentation of any diamonds ever being found in the Igo area, nor even within Shasta County. I m not suggesting that Ron s story might not be true, I m just stating that I could not confirm it! Now after talking to John Snider about this subject of local diamonds, John contacted Ron Joliff, and this is the that Ron sent to us; (There is a kimberlite pipe at Ono rather than Igo. The pipes produce two major gems; diamonds and garnet. Although there are stories of small diamonds from the creeks around Ono, it is the garnets that were sold to jewelers in Shasta and Redding. My uncle told me about the pipe and when I checked up on the story, others confirmed what he said. Ron). Most all of this prehistoric, volcanic area that created these pipes that Ron is referring to, is on private property. It is not available to the public! Please respect Private Property! Sixty Five percent of the worlds diamonds come from diamond mines in South Africa. Diamonds are also found in Russia, Israel, South America, and of course, some are found in North America. Actual diamonds have been found within some areas in Canada, Alaska, Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Wyoming, Arkansas, and of course California. Now where would your best chances be, to entertain the thought of finding an actual diamond? Well, the only public place in the world is right here in the U.S. of A. The Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas is the only public fee area known where you can keep any and all diamonds or gem stones that you find. There are a few hundred diamonds annually found each year within this park. My wife Trisha, and her cousin Steve, (Steve lives in Arkansas) visited this park one afternoon but they didn t find any diamonds. However, some diamonds were found there that day by other people. Natural diamonds are formed at high temperatures and pressures at depths of 87 to 118 miles, in the Earth s mantle. The growth period for diamonds occurs from 1 billion to 3.3 billion years. Diamonds arrive at the earth s surface from deep-source volcanic eruptions by the way of kimberlite and lamproite pipes, (volcanic chimneys). Only about 20% of diamonds found, are considered Fancy, or of gem quality. The other 80% are used for industrial purposes, like for saws, drills, and for polishing tools. Carbon is the basis of all life chemicals found on Earth. Coal, graphite, and diamonds are in a group called allotropes, a different form of carbon. Diamonds are known to be the hardest natural element found on earth at a hardness of 10, on the Mohs scale. Diamonds are not effected by chemical reactions but if you were to put a diamond in an oven or furnace at a temperature of 763 degrees Celsius, (1,292 F.) or hotter, it will simply vanish without a trace, not even an ash! They say that diamonds are forever, but not exactly true. Diamonds are considered to be unstable and are very, very, very slowly deteriorating back to the form of graphite. Now don t fret, this process will take about 2 to 3 million years! The universal standard of measurement of weight for all precious gem stones is known as, a carat. Carat was established centuries ago in the Mediterranean from the weight of one seed from the Carob Tree. This unit of measurement is ounces. Most jewelry diamonds are ounce or less. The largest known cut diamond in the world is the Star Of The Africa. It was 3,106 carats in the rough and carats after it was cut. By the way, diamonds are considered to be the birth stone for the month of April. The ancient Greeks and Romans believed that diamonds were tears from the gods, or splinters of stars from the sky to the earth. They may not have been to far wrong. Scientist and Astronomers have recently discovered that our universe is full of diamonds. In fact, they believe that many of our white dwarf stars are composed of mostly carbon. One such white dwarf star (BPM 37093), with a diamond core, which might be the largest known to have been discovered in our universe, weighs in at approximately 2.27 trillion tons, (10 billion trillion carats). They nicknamed this star Lucy after the Beatles song Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds, written by John Lennon. They have also discovered a planet called 55 Cancrie, which is believed to be one third diamond. The next time that I find myself with my best friend, Sadie, gazing out at our night sky, I m quite sure that I will see the night in a different light, and with a more genuine feeling, for my song Diamonds In The Sky! Now have a good day, or at least a good starry night! Mel Clair

7 The RocToc April of 10 SGMS Field Trips: The schedule is tentative and subject to change. For further details about field trips please check with the Shasta Gem and Mineral Society Facebook page, or contact Hugh Watson at ; him at, Hughbwat@gmail.comm. Members should like our Facebook page and spread the word about the page. Also check the Rock and Gems magazine show listings online and in the magazine. Shasta Gem and Mineral Society 2017 Field Trip Schedule* April 22 -Peterson Peak; Smoky Quartz Crystals May 20 -Tuledad Agate June 17 -Oregon Sunstone; tentative July 15 -Rose Quartz, Ballard Peak August 12 -Pulga Jade August 19 -Rock Swap September 16 -Davis Cr. Obsidian & Hayden Hill Picture Jasper October 21 -Rock Swap *Tentative; is subject to change Classes Available in Lampwork Bead Making. Michelle Stein or Lavena Setnor is offering lessons on how to make lampwork beads every Tuesday evening, and on Saturdays at the SGMS Gilman School workshop. All skill levels are welcome for the class; hours are 5:30-8:30, Tuesdays, and Students will sign up at the club workshop. Costs will be $5 for each class. Prospective students with questions may call Michelle Stein; ; or Lavena Setnor at They may also reach Lavena by ; my7blessings@gmail.com, please include in the subject line: Glass beading SGMS.

8 The RocToc April of 10 Rock and Gem Shows APRIL CHICO, CALIFORNIA: Annual show; Paradise Gem & Mineral Club, Silver Dollar Fairground; 2357 Fair Street; Sat. 9-5, Sun. 9-4; Adults $4, Children under 16 free; There will be lapidary, fossil and mineral exhibits, a Silent Auction, thunder egg cutting, science demonstrations, student and children activities, rock identification, half hour drawings, plant and book sale and a Raffle. Lunch is available. Dealers in gems, minerals, fossils, beads, crystals, finished jewelry, jewelry making supplies, tools, rough rock, slabs, ; contact Kevin Wright, 3373 Rabbit Road, Oroville, CA 95966, (530) ; agateorca@ix.netcom.com; Web site: pgmclub.wix.com 1-2 CENTRAL POINT, OREGON: Annual show; Roxy Ann Gem and Mineral Society, Jackson county fairgrounds; 1 Penninger rd, Olsrud Arena; Sat. 9-5, Sun. 10-4; Adults $5, Seniors $3, Students $2; We will have a good variety of vendors selling everything from rough rock to finished jewelry. Door prizes, raffle, silent auction, lapidary demonstrations and so much more; contact Kelsie Troxell, 2002 Scenic ave, central point, OR 97502, (541) ; Web site: GRANTS PASS, OREGON: Rogue Gem and Geology Club; Josephine County Fairgrounds MAY RENO, NEVADA: Annual show; Reno Gem and Mineral Society, Livestock Event Center; 1350 N. Wells Ave; Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4; Adults $6, Seniors/Students $4, Children free; This is the 52nd annual Jackpot of Gems Show. This year where there will be over 50 gem and mineral displays. A busy Silent Auction, a Wheel of Fortune, gold panning, raffles and hourly drawings for prizes. demonstrations: carving, beading, wire wrap and lapidary.; contact Steve Norman, 1653 Topeka Circle, Sparks, NV 89434, (775) ; snorm11@hotmail.com; Web site: LAKEVIEW, OREGON: Annual show; Tallman Rock Chippers, Lake Co. Fairgrounds; 1900 N 4th; Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4; Free Admission; Weather permitting, one leaves for the Oregon Sunstone area and the other takes in several of other local places to collect. Sunday they leave at 8 am again. The club sponsors several activities for the kids, a silent auction, club showcases, and a kitchen with menus for lunch and dinner. ; contact LeRoy Johnson, 39 N L St., Lakeview, OR 97630, (541) ; lostmymarblesor@yahoo.com California Federation of Mineralogical Societies Show and Convention June 9, 10 & 11, VENTURA, CA VENTURA ROCKS THE NATION! Hosted by Ventura County Gem & Mineral Society, Ventura County Fairgrounds 10 West Harbor Blvd. Hours: Fri & Sat 10-5; Sun 10-4 Contact: Diane Cook, (805) info@vgms.org Website: 2017CFMS-AFMSShow.com Classified Ads are a good way to interact with other club members. Are you looking for a piece of equipment? Do you need some silversmithing tools or supplies that you suspect another member may have that they no longer need? Want to sell equipment, rocks, beads, jewelry? The Roc Toc is available as a community bulletin board that can be used along with posts to the SGMS Facebook pages. Price varies by size and length of run, but are negotiable. Diamond faceting machine

9 The RocToc April of 10 Officers and Committees Shasta Gem and Mineral Society, Inc. Roc Toc 2017 Blog Site: shastagemandmineral@gmail.com Elected Officers President: Alan Leedy Treasurer: Mary Colbert Vice President: Marianne Sweetwood Board of Directors: Secretary Billie Evans Jim Foster 1 rd yr & Assistant Sherrie Papowich Jan Gutkowski 2 nd yr Alan Pence 3 st yr Appointed Committees Programs: Steve Puderbaugh Scholarship: Kelly O Leary Field Trips: Hugh Watson Hospitality: Pat Foster Jim Foster Roc Toc Editor: Glen Miller Publicity: Kelly O Leary Librarian: Cindy Williamson Show Chair: Steve Puderbaugh Club Historian: Cindy Costa Dealer Chair: Alan Leedy CFMS Director: Glen Miller Properties, annual inventory: Alan Leedy Kitchen: All Members Steve Puderbaugh, Sandy Park Education/School Event Coordinators: Kelly O Leary Ruby Runyon Community Event Coordinator: Vacant Workshop Coordinators: Steve Puderbaugh, Operations Sandra Park, Finance Special Events Food Coordinator: Workshop Equipment Manager: Kip Fatout Peggy Herndon Workshop Interior Maintenance: Sunshine: Carol Reginatto Jim & Cindy Williamson Raffle: Gabby Costa Workshop Cleanup Foreman, quarterly: Eileen Bassle Hugh Watson Cindy Costa Membership: Eileen Bassle Mail membership forms or renewals to: Eileen Bassle Forest Hills Dr. Redding, CA Workshop Steering Committee: All attendees & teachers Juniors Leaders: Rochelle Ohlson Gabby Costa

10 Shasta Gem And Mineral Society, Inc. P.O. Box Redding, CA SHASTA GEM AND MINERAL SOCIETY, INC. P.O. Box Redding, CA GILMAN LAPIDARY SCHOOL 6471 Airport Road Anderson, CA (No Mail Delivery) Hours: Tue: 5:30pm 8:30pm Sat: 10:00am 2:00pm MONTHLY MEETING Second Friday each month ANDERSON GRANGE HALL 8085 Airport Road Redding, CA Potluck Set up 6:00pm Potluck 6;30pm Meeting: 7pm Raffle: 8pm ***************** We re on the Web! Our blog is: Like us on FACEBOOK Shasta Gem and Mineral Society The RocToc April 2017 Page 10 of 10 About Our Organization Shasta Gem and Mineral Society, Inc. is a member of the California Federation of Mineralogical Societies. SGMS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the knowledge of gems, minerals, fossils, and the lapidary arts through programs, reading, classes, and field trips to promote the friendship of fellow rock hounds. Mail new and renewal membership applications to: Eileen Bassle 3244 Forest Hills Dr. Redding, CA 96002