HELL S CANYON GEM CLUB P.O. BOX 365 LEWISTON, IDAHO 83501 Serving the Valley for 61 YEARS PURPOSE OF HELLS CANYON GEM CLUB, INC. The purpose of this nonprofit, social club is to promote the rock hound hobby by providing opportunities for the collection, working and displaying of gems and minerals, as well as educational programs in the field of geology. MEETINGS: 2nd Friday of each month Board Meeting 6 pm Regular Meeting 7 pm VISITORS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME Dues: Adult [per person] $15.00; Junior [under 18] Free with a responsible adult membership. 2013 BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Steve Rand 208-791-2325 1st Year Trustee Betty Wilks 208-301-3939 Vice President Mel Wilks 208-301-3939 1st Year Trustee Torch Yates 208-743-3358 Secretary open 509-758-7580 2nd Year Trustee Dan Cease 509-254-1720 Treasurer Marilyn Sharp 509-758-4218 2nd Year Trustee Lon Sharp 509-758-4218 Past President Linn Enger 208-746-4957 Federation Director Jeremy Giard 509-758-2581 Federation Delegate Gail Giard 509-758-2581 HELLS CANYON WEBSITE: http://www.hellscanyongemclub.com WEBMASTER: Rick Westerholm: hcgemclub@yahoo.com ========================== HOW TO FIND OUR MEETING PLACE Page 1
Hello Rockhounds, PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Hope everyone is out enjoying the summer weather and enjoying some field trips, if you have some ideas for field trips or would like to lead a trip let us know and lets get together and do some rock hounding. Remember there will be no meeting in August, so make sure you come to the September meeting its time to start putting things together for the show. September is also the month to get a nominating to find our officers for next year. Hopefully Bruce will be healed up by September to continue with his mineral identification class. So enjoy and we will see everyone in September are ========================== July 2013 Meeting Minutes Lots of slots available to volunteer at show, signup sheets will be passed out at September meeting. WSMC trip to Lolo pass for Smokey quartz meet at 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday mountain time. David asked for volunteers for Lewiston Library presentation on Wednesday at 1 p.m. Federation show coming up in Butte Montana on August 9,10 and 11th. Garnet claim no digging this year, exploring our options. Get your Display ready for the show, Linn has signup sheets. Mel discussed a consignment auction for rock materials,has a collection to sell for Orville and Rose, if you would like to consign with him --his auction is going to be in Genesee sometime in September call 208-285- 0143 for more information. Jerry, Marylou and Rick went to Wyoming and got some nice specimens from the blue forest. There will be no August meeting. Meeting adjourned. At my age, rolling out of bed in the morning is easy. Getting up off the floor is another story. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you re wrong. I keep some people s phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on step #5. I m pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood. Page 2
David and Jacque Dabritz, along with their daughter and four granddaughters gave a very interesting and educational presentation at the new city library on the 17th of July. They were helped by fellow club members, Michael Horne and Linn Enger. The presentation was attended by several dozen young people (some with parents) from around the valley. Thank you David, Jacque, Michael and Linn for all you do to promote our hobby. Life is like a camera Focus on what s important, Capture the good times, Develop from the negatives, And if things don t work out, Take another shot! Page 3
Sept. Meeting program by Bruce Borgelt--- review of minerals and into Petrology (the study of rocks) and how to identify them. Puzzle of the month---- Where are these mountains located??? Answer at the end of the newsletter. THE BLUE FOREST TRIP About five years ago, when I first saw some petrified wood from the Blue Forest in Wyoming, I vowed someday I m going there to dig! In May, we heard Rick Westerholm, who has been there many times, was going again, and so we asked to tag along. The trip corresponded with my sister and brother-in- Iaw's 50 th wedding anniversary. So our first stop was to take a three tier anniversary cake to Wilderness Gateway Campground on the Lochsa River where we shared with them. - Leaving there June 14 th, we headed on to Lolo, Montana and turned South on Highway 93 through Hamilton and Darby back toward Idaho. We camped at a small forest service campground just north of Sula, Montana. Early the next morning we were traveling again still on highway 93 back into Idaho to Salmon, Challis, and then down to Mackay Reservoir where we camped in a BLM campground with electrical hookups for only nine bucks. A great buy! That afternoon, we followed our Rock Hounding in Idaho Guidebook," and found a site with Root beer Jasper. It was fun and we picked up quite a few rocks from just the top of the ground. This site was within a few miles of Mackay and we got specimens with little effort. A good meal, a good night sleep, Page 4
and we were traveling again. We headed for Mackay where we met Rick at the Chevron Station. Finally, I'm truly on my way to the Blue Forest! We drove onto Arco, where we switched Highways to 26 and headed for the freeway at Blackfoot. Moving right along, we took Interstate 15 south of Pocatello to McCammon. There we took highway 30 toward Wyoming. Our first stop in Wyoming was fueling up in Cokeville. We then moved on to Kemmerer, which was the closest town to the Blue Forest. We traveled on Wyoming Highway 189 then turned on to Highway 372 going toward Fontinelle Reservoir. We pulled into Slate Creek Campground by the reservoir. It is another BLM campground, no water, but nice bathrooms! nice picnic tables and fire pits with no charge to camp. After collecting water and snacks, we headed out to dig. The road is no longer a highway, but could easily be traveled by car. It is an interesting drive out to the dig. About eight to ten miles, left around a yellow gas meter, make sure you follow the road left around a long ridge, turn right at the old rusty barrel, and where the plastic Walmart sack is tied to the sagebush, turn into the dig!. WOW! Where is the forest?? There is a not a tree in sight! It is just sagebrush as far as you can see. There are holes dug everywhere. You can continue to dig in them, or choose a new site of your own. Each choice may prove good or bad. Either way you will do some digging to hit pay dirt. The first foot or so is usually easy digging of dirt, then you hit shale. If the shale is sort of rounded up, you have a good chance of finding wood under it. You will find a rounded piece of petrified algae under the shale. If you're lucky, when the algae is broken you will find wood, sometimes good, sometimes, not so good. Sunday afternoon, within an hour, Jerry had found a very promising piece of algae that he was carefully digging around. When he broke it open, there was a single rod, about one and a half inches in diameter going right through the algae. No great find... You can also find reject pieces around some of the holes, and since we had never been there before, we did pick up quite a few of these pieces. As we have cleaned some of these up, some are pretty nice. We continued digging all day Monday. It was very hot that day and we used lots of water. We found some pieces that we thought were nice. Rick kept digging for the trophy piece. His saying, hit it, we only have so much time to dig!!" Rick was a good guide. We used his knowledge well, and he earned his jar of jelly. Tuesday morning, we again all dug together with varying results. Rick left to see his mother about noon. Jerry and I continued to dig throughout the afternoon. We went out Wednesday to dig, but by noon the wind was blowing soo hard, I could hardly stand up. By mid-afternoon we returned to the trailer. The wind was still blowing soo hard, that we moved the trailer from under the cottonwood tree. It was still standing in the morning, and wind had quieted sometime in the night. We packed up that morning and returned towards home. I will admit, it was hot, it was dirty and it was hard digging, but when we pulled out a piece of wood, it was all Page 5
worthwhile! We headed back through Kemmerer, where we stopped at Bob's Rock Shop, almost completely filled with petrified wood. It was a cool shop. As we headed towards home, we returned to Cokeville, then followed Highway 89 north just inside Wyoming. This was a beautiful green forested drive. We came back into Idaho, at Alpine, and spent another night of camping at a BLM campground at Palisades Reservoir. This reservoir was far from full. Snow and water were on the short side this spring. We spent one night in Idaho Falls with my college friend then headed basically the same direction home. We camped again at Sula and saw twelve bighorn sheep rams with big horn curls, eating above camp at dark. Since we have returned home, I have been using Muriatic Acid, which I bought at Erb's Hardware to clean some of our wood. It is fun to see what it looks like with no algae and dirt around it. All in all it was a great week. I'm glad to say I went to the Blue Forest with the underground trees!! Submitted by, Jerry and Marylou Northrup Recipe(s) of the Month Prospector's Cake 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 3/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup cocoa 1 teaspoon soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/3 cup cooking oil 1 tablespoon vinegar 1/2 tablespoon vanilla 1 cup cold coffee 2 tablespoons sugar 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon Put flour, 3/4 cup sugar, cocoa, soda, and salt into an ungreased 9X9 baking dish. Stir with fork to mix. Form 3 wells in flour mixture. Pour oil into one well, vinegar in one and vanilla in one. Pour cold coffee over all ingredients and stir with fork until well mixed. Do not beat. Combine remaining sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over batter. Bake in 350 degree oven for 35-40 minutes. Page 6
TENTATIVE LIST OF WSMC FIELD TRIPS FOR 2013 The WSMC sponsors field trips through various rock clubs in the state. These trips offer the general public as well as the experienced rockhound the opportunity to collect a wide variety of materials from agate and jasper to crystals and fossils. Experienced guides familiar with the sites are on-hand to help find good quality material. Check with the local clubs in your area for further information. AREAS CURRENTLY CLOSED TO COLLECTING: LUCAS CREEK, ADNA, DIATOM PITS (FRENCHMAN HILLS). No motorized vehicles allowed: Green Mountain (Kalama) and First Creek. Check out the latest trip info, and tool listings at: mineralcouncil.org. (Updated: January 17, 2013) Date Host Site Meet @ Material Tools 8/17 NW Opal Greenwater 9:00 @ Ranger St, Enumclaw Agate, Jasper Dig, Lt & hard rock tools Contact: Tony Johnson or Ed Lehman 9/7,8 Pow Red Top 8:00 @Teanaway R Camp Agate, Jasper, Geodes, Jade Lt hard rock 9/14 NW Opal Little Naches 9:00 @ 410 &FR 19 ThunderEggs Dig & Light hard rock tools Contact: Tony Johnson or Ed Lehman 10/19 Msvl Money Creek 9:00 @ Camp Ground Pic Jasper, Ore Light hard rock tools 11/16 Msvl Blanchard Hill 9:00 @ I-5 240 exit gas station Stilpnomelane Hard rock tools (* Deposit must be received no later than 30 days before trip date to reserve spot; deposit fully refundable.) Participants must be age 16 or older; no children or pets, please; maximum of 40 participants so get your reservations in early!) ALWAYS CALL TO CONFIRM TRIP DATES AND DETAILS!! SEE BELOW Abbreviation Host Contact E-mail Evt Everett Rock & Gem Club Brad Johnson (206) 403-3073 cavemanrocks@yahoo.com LkSd Lakeside Gem & Min Club Andy Johnson (509) 546-1950 cbagates@hotmail.com Msvl Marysville Rock Club Ed Lehman (425) 334-6282 wsmced@hotmail.com Msvl-Wasco trip Stu & Kathy Earnst (360) 856-0588 earnstkk@comcast.net, 27871 Minkler Rd, Sedro Woolley, WA 98284 MtBk Mt Baker Rock Club Kris Menger (360) 927-0994 kmenger@ comcast.net Nw Op NW Opal Association Tony Johnson (253) 863-9238 ynotbandit@earthlink.net Pow-Wow All Rockhounds Club Cliff Matteson (253) 475-8433 cliff.conniematteson@gmail.com Spkn Rock Rollers of Spokane Mike Shaw (509) 251-1574 mikeshawmoose@yahoo.com WSea West Seattle Rock & Gem Club Brian Waters (206) 290-2312 bwaterss2011@gmail.com Yak Yakima Rock & Min Club Jerry Wichstrom (509) 653-2787 jewtmew@aol.com Trips are open to all. Most 2 day trips include Sat potluck, Sun free breakfast, tailgating, swap, and horse shoes. Small fee required for Pow Wow and Madras trips. FOR MORE INFORMATION contact Ed Lehman at wsmced@hotmail.com or (425) 334-6282. Or see mineralcouncil.org Page 7
PERIDOT BOULDER BUSTER Volume #48 Issue # 8, 2013 AUGUST BIRTHSTONE IS PERIDOT & SARDONYX Peridot (pronounced pear-a-doe)is a gemstone that forms deep inside the Earth and brought to the surface by volcanoes, in Hawaii, peridot symbolizes the tears of Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes. Peridot is a gem-quality transparent variety of olivine. The crystal structure of Peridot (magnesium iron silicate), is orthorhombic. The Peridot is one of the few gemstones that come in only one color. The depth of green depends on how much iron is contained in the crystal structure. It is also often referred to as "poor man's emerald". Some of the finest peridot stones are called evening emeralds because they appear greener under artificial light. An island in the Egyptian Red Sea named Zabargad(St.John s Island), which means olivine in Arabic--has been mined for peridot since ancient times. It is a small desolate island nothing grows, there is no fresh water, and it is scorchingly hot all year round except the middle of winter. Zabargad is not a volcanic island, but rather is believed to be an upthrusted part of upper mantle material. In some locations on the island, fissures are lined with gem crystals ranging from millimeters to several centimeters. Although peridot is mined all over the world, most mines tend to be small and produce only a small quantity of the Peridot olivine with minor pyroxene, on vesicular basalt. gem every year. Besides the world-famous peridot deposits in Zabargad & Pakistan, peridot is found in Myanmar, which is known for its silky texture and light inclusions that provide extra gold sparkle. Peridot from the San Carlos Indian Reservation in Arizona, with its deep brown-green hue, is especially valued in Native American jewelry. Peridot has also been found in some meteorites. Peridot is among the oldest known gemstones. The topaz on the breastplate of Aaron, High Priest of the Hebrews in the Old Testament, was believed to actually be peridot. Ancient Egyptians, around 1580 B.C. to 1350 B.C., created beads from peridot. For Greeks and Romans, peridot was in popular use as intaglios, rings, inlays, and pendants. The peridot was regarded since ancient times as the symbol of the sun. The Greeks believed that it brought royal dignity upon its wearer. During the Middle Ages, peridot was pierced, then strung on the hair of an ass and attached to the left arm to ward off evil spirits. The Crusaders thought that peridots were emeralds, and brought them back to Europe where they were featured as ornaments in churches. Peridots were a prized gem late in the Ottoman empire (1300-1918). Turkish Sultans collected what is believed to be the world s largest collection. The gold throne in Istanbul s Topkapi museum is decorated with 955 peridot cabochons up to 1 inch across, and there are also peridots used as turban ornaments and on jeweled boxes. The largest stone is believed to be a 310 carat gem that belongs to the Smithsonian. A 192 carat stone of fine clear olive-green is part of the Russian crown jewels, in the Kremlin. Page 8
SARDONYX (ONYX) BOULDER BUSTER Volume #48 Issue # 8, 2013 Sardonyx is a variety of the silica mineral called chalcedony(kæl sedeni). This sort of mineral contains layers of tiny quartz fibers, which are stacked on top of each other to give a banded appearance. The layers in these stones range from translucent to opaque. The stones vary in color, too. They may be white or gray, ranging to many colorful varieties. Sardonyx stones usually contain flat-banded, white and brownish-red bands. The word Sardonyx is derived from the Greek, Sard meaning reddish brown, and onyx meaning veined gem. The best stones are found in India. They are also found in Germany, Czechoslovakia, Brazil, and Uruguay. In the United States, sardonyx can be found in the Lake Superior region and in Oregon. Cameos and intaglios are often carved from sardonyx. Cameos are figures carved on a stone, where the white layer appears as relief, and the colored layer is the background. Intaglios are the reverse of cameos. They are incised figures on the stone, where the stone is carved through the dark layer to reveal the light layer. Sardonyx is a relatively common and inexpensive gemstone. It was a favorite gemstone in ancient times, popular not only because it was attractive, but also because it was widely available. Unlike most rare gemstones that could only be bought with the wealth of royalty and nobility, sardonyx could be obtained by many less-wealthy people. You might be a rockhound if: If you consider personlizing your license plates with "I GOT ROCKS! If you have been told not to wash rocks in the Motel bathroom. If when checking into a motel they point at you and tell you not to get that clay on their white towels. You park on the gravel even though it is a longer walk to the store so you can check it out. You fake talking on your cell phone and walking around that gravel lot so people don't think your crazy. Every time you go to the grocery store you take 300 of their free circulars to wrap your finds in the next weekend. You only bought a pickup truck because you can rinse off your specimens in the car wash. You've ever been asked to leave the car wash, because you're getting it too dirty. You were the only kid in the sandbox who ever dug through the bottom. You know you're a rockhound if you read this list and realize, 'how did they know what I did? Page 9
STANDING COMMITTEES BOULDER BUSTER Volume #48 Issue # 8, 2013 GEMSHOW COMMITTEES 1. Bulletin Editor Lynn Enger, Ed Shoemaker, Mel Wilks, and 1. Show Chairman---Steve Rand Dan Cease 2. Membership Chairman---Lon & Marilyn Sharp 2. Show Co-Chairman---Linn Enger 3. Juniors Chairman---Mike Horne 3. Show Treasurer---Marilyn Sharp 4. Field Trip Chairman 4. Dealer Chairman---'Gail Giard 5. Program Chairman --- 5. Advertising Chairman--- Steve Rand 6. Show & Tell Chairman---David & Jacque Dabritz 6. Displays Chairman--- Linn Enger 7. Claims Chairman---Rick Westerholm, Linn Enger and 7. Demonstrations Chairman---Mel Wilks Randy Squires 8. Historian Chairman--- 8. Floor Plan Chairman---Rick Westerholm 9. Library Chairman--- 9. Silent Auction Chairman---Jerry Northrup 10. Sunshine Chairman---Mel & Betty Wilks 10. Kids Corner---Doug & Sally Debruin 11. ALAA---Linn Enger 11. Admissions---Lola Collinsworth (American Lands Access Association) 12. Security---Randy Squires = NFMS MEMBER CLUBS SHOW SCHEDULE (Partial list) August 9-11 Fri 9-5, Sat 10-5 Sun 10-5 September 14-15 Sat 10 5, Sun 10 5 September 21-22 Sat 9 6 Sun 10 5 September 28-29 Sat 10 5, Sun 10 4 October 5-6 Sat 10 6, Sun 10-4:30 Butte Mineral and Gem Club NFMS 75 th Anniversary Show Marcus Whitman Gem and Mineral Society Hellgate Mineral Society Billings Gem and Mineral Club Springfield Thunderegg Club Butte Civic Center 1340 Harrison Avenue Butte MT Walla Walla Co. Frgrnds, Com. Center, 9th Street & Orchard, Walla Walla WA Hilton Garden Inn, 3720 North Reserve Street, Missoula MT 59806 Billings Hotel and Convention Center 1223 Mullowney Lane Billings MT Guy Lee Elementary School, 755 Harlow Road, Springfield OR Pete Knudesen 406-723-8524 1301 West Gold Street Butte, MT 59701 Jack L Edwards 509 520 1182 jcedwards1475@yahoo.com Bob Riggs 14 Holiday Lane Missoula, MT 59801, 406 543 3667 Doug True 406 670 0506 dtruefossils12@yahoo.com Jim Nelson 541 687 8100 tworockyj@aol.com Patrica Engleman thunderegg.rockclub@gmail.c om Page 10
= THE TOILET SEAT My wife, had been after me for several weeks to paint the seat on our toilet. Finally, I got around to doing it while my wife was out. After finishing, I left to take care of another matter before she returned. She came in and undressed to take a shower. Before getting in the shower, she sat on the toilet. As she tried to stand up, she realized that the not-quite-dry epoxy paint had glued her to the toilet seat. About that time, I got home and realized her predicament. We both pushed and pulled without any success whatsoever. Finally, in desperation, I undid the toilet seat bolts. My wife wrapped a sheet around herself and I drove her to the hospital emergency room. The ER Doctor got her into a position where he could study how to free her (Try to get a mental picture of this.). My wife tried to lighten the embarrassment of it all by saying, "Well, Doctor, I'll bet you've never seen anything like this before." The Doctor replied, "Actually, I've seen lots of them. I just never saw one mounted and framed." Another view of the China Mountians, (Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park), the unusual colours of the rocks are the result of red sandstone and mineral deposits. Can you locate the two people on the walkway in the left hand picture? (below and right of center). More pictures at this link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/picturegalleries/9550531/colourful-rock-formations-in-the-zhangye- Danxia-Landform-Geological-Park.html?frame=2343132 Page 11