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September 2012 Pretoria Rockhound Digest Pretoria Gem and Mineral Club Clubhouse: P.O. Box 36 888 No. 29, 26th Street, Menlo Park, Pretoria Menlo Park 0102 Tel. 012 – 460 1494 (only Sat. 11:00 – 15:00) South Africa website: www.pgmc.co.za
Chairman: Lex Krabbendam, 083 449 6812 Treasurer: Jeanne Wentzel, 082 449 5450 [email protected] Secretary: Erika Wassenaar, 083 302 2551 Vice-Chairman: Michelle Oosthuizen, 083 376 6716 Editor : Heidi Naudé, 072 923 2180 [email protected] [email protected]
Programme Highlights for September 2012
*** Swop and Sell and Social 1 Sept.
*** Monthly Mineral Meeting – Jasper 8 Sept.
*** PGMC Birthday Party 15 Sept.
*** Silversmithing Course 22 Sept.
The opinions expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect those of the PGMC Committee. This newsletter is the property of the Pretoria Gem and Mineral Club; articles may not be re-produced without the written permission of the Editor.
Affiliated to the Federation of Southern African Gem and Mineralogical Societies
Pretoria Gem and Mineral Club
Pretoria Gem and
Mineral Club
27 July 1957 - 2012
Page 2 PGMC Programme for August: (as at 22.08.2012)
Date Event Time Contact Details
1 Sept. Swop and Sell and Social
Monthly Mineral Meeting – ……..
Lapidary and Silversmithing Workshops open
11.00 – 15.00
12.00 – 13.00
Lex Krabbendam, 083 449 6812
6 Sept. Lapidary * and Silversmithing Workshop open 18:00 – 21:00 Lex Krabbensam, 083 449 6812 Bernard Strydom, 078 187 3267
8 Sept. Committee Meeting
Lapidary and Silversmithing Workshops open
14:00 – 16:00
11.00 – 13.30
Lex Krabbendam, 083 449 6812
Note shorter shift !
13 Sept. Lapidary * and Silversmithing Workshop open 18:00 – 21:00 Lex Krabbensam, 083 449 6812 Bernard Strydom, 078 187 3267
15 Sept. PGMC – Birthday Party together with Duty-Helper Recognition
11.00 – 15.00 Heidi Naudé and Lex Krabbendam
20 Sept. Lapidary * and Silversmithing Workshop open 18:00 – 21:00 Lex Krabbensam, 083 449 6812 Bernard Strydom, 078 187 3267
22 Sept. Silversmithing Course – booking essential !
Lapidary Workshop open
10.00 – 15.30
11:00 – 15:00
Bernard Strydom, 078 187 3267
27 Sept. Lapidary *and Silversmithing Workshop open 18:00 – 21:00 Lex Krabbensam, 083 449 6812 Bernard Strydom, 078 187 3267
29 Sept. Lapidary and Silversmithing Workshop open 11:00 – 15:00
Sapphire - Birthstone of September (amongst others)
The gemstones in the corundum group consist of pure aluminium oxide which crystallized into wonderful gemstones a long time ago as a result of pressure and heat at a great depth. The presence of small amounts of elements, such as iron or chrome, are responsible for the colouring, turning a crystal that was basically white into a blue, yellow, pink or greenish sapphire( red ones, coloured by chrome, are 'rubies').
If there is talk of the sapphire we think immediately of a velvety blue. A blue sapphire fits in best with a well balanced lifestyle in which reliability and temperament run together and there is always a readiness to encounter things new – as with the woman who wears it. In the trade, sapphires which are not blue are referred to as 'fancies'. Fancy sapphires are pure individualism and are just made for lovers of individualistic coloured stone jewellery. There is also an orange variety with a pink undertone which bears the name 'padparadscha'.
The star sapphires are another rarity, half-dome-cut sapphires with a starlike light effect which seems to glide across the surface of the stone when it is moved. There are said to have been gemstone lovers who fell in love with these sapphire rarities for all time. And indeed the permanence of relationships is one of the features that are said to belong to this gemstone. Source: www.gemstones.org and www.wikepedia.com
Page 3 1. Duty Roster – September and October 2012
September 1 8 15 22 29
Open – 11:00 am Fay Will Bernard Nick Linda
Duty Team Nico Roux Fay Pierides
Will v/d Berg Jean Snyman
Wolf Windisch Karin Mayerl
Nick Pettit Tish Pettit
Felix Wulff Linda Stone
Close – 15:00 pm Lex Committee Bernard Nick Linda
October 6 13 20 27
Open – 11:00 am tba Fay Bernard tba
Duty Team Stella-M. Laredo Jean Schutz
Nico Roux Fay Pierides
Tba (P.A.) Marion Blair
Felix Wulff Gloria Schulenb.
Close – 15:00 pm Lex Committee Bernard tba
Duty Members are reminded to please check the duty roster above and organize “stand-ins” for the date/s they are not available. Please report those confirmed changes to Sandra at 073 150 2367.
Tea/Coffee will be served once; this is also applicable on course days. Fridge sales and workshop material sales will stop at 14:30 pm to allow for sufficient time to reconcile/close the cash box.
2. Membership Fees 2012
Payment can be made at the clubhouse or transferred directly into the club’s account at ABSA Bank, branch code 335 345, account no. 405 584 9839. Remember to put your name as reference, to ensure the correct allocation of your payment. The fees for 2012 are: R 380 = principal member, R 60 = per add. family member and R 340 = pensioners.
3. Special Requests from the PGMC Committee
Would all members using the club facilities (lapidary and/or silversmithing) please kindly ensure that they clean their workstations and machinery used after they are done, store the used equipment in its correct place and clean-up any water spillages before leaving? Thank you very much in advance.
Members are kindly asked do not park their vehicles in our back garden for any prolonged amount of time (except loading purposes); we are trying to get the grass growing again and would really appreciate your cooperation.
Duty members are kindly asked to assist with watering the garden, including the pot plants; we have planted a number of new plants which need to be watered weekly. If the gardener William is present please instruct/check him accordingly, thanks.
4. Personals
Special Thank-Yous go again to Will van den Berg and Lex Krabbendam our maintenance specialists. Our new work table for the lapidary section is taking shape nicely and will be completed soon. Due to their clever design it can also be used as additional silversmithing station, if required.
We also thank Marion Blair for her kind donation of flux to the silvermithing section.
Get well wishes go to Philip Alp who is still recovering from his illness. We are thinking of you Philip, and hope to see you and Daphne soon again at the club.
Page 4
1. Swop & Sell and Social, 01.09.2012
The Swop and Sell and Social will be held from about 11.00 onwards. Members are encouraged to bring their excess stock and join our regular dealers for some serious selling and swopping; everybody is welcome.
2. Monthly Mineral Meeting, 01.09.2012
This meeting will start at 12.00 at the clubhouse; we will discuss and show-off our Jasper varieties. This mineral occurs in a variety of colour combiantions; please bring as many different specimens as you like and tell us how and where you obtained them.
3. PGMC Birthday Party, 15.09.2012
Can you believe it, our club turned 55 years recently! The Committee decided – that must be celebrated. PGMC members are therefore cordially invited to join us on Saturday, 15.09.2012 at 12.00 noon for a “boerewors-braai” at the clubhouse.
The club will sponsor the boerewors, rolls and braai fires – please bring your own refreshments, cutlery and chairs and let’s party the afternoon away. Duty Members of 2011 and 2012 are also asked to please attend this event, because we have a special surprise for you too. Hope to see you all there!
4. Silversmithing Course – September 2012
Please note that the Silversmithing Course for September has been moved to 22.09.2012.
This is due to the club’s birthday party on 15.09.2012. Please remember to pre-book your places as demand is quite high and only a certain number of people can be accommodated at each course. In the “programme” schedule on page 2 of this NL you will find the dates of the courses and the relevant contact person. Please phone them directly for any additional information on the specific courses.
Besides the monthly Silversmithing Course on the third Saturday of each month, Bernard Strydom has advised that he will also give short courses on Thursday evening with immediate effect. Please remember to bring your own basic tool set as previously discussed.
The Lapidary Course (2nd Sunday of each month) has been cancelled for September due to the preparations for the club’s birthday party.
The Faceting Courses are still “on hold” until Philip Alp feels better again. However, Helmut Schönberger has offered to assist individuals as and when required. Interested members should please contact Lex Krabbendam, who will then arrange a suitable date with all concerned. Thank you very much Helmut for offering your assistance.
Page 5
Gemboree Update – August 2012 Your Gemboree Committee has successfully located the first accessible agate collecting sites in the area around Pitseng. All formalities, tribal and chief negotiations have started without unreasonable problems.
The entire Aloes Guest House has been reserved for the Gemboree event, which promises to be the largest and biggest gemstone happening in the history of this tiny country.
There are some very attractive geological and archaeological places nearby, which will keep young and old entertained. Our fellow mineral collectors will also not be disappointed. The clear quartz crystals and crystal formations eroded from the basalts are quite spectacular. There is still a long steep path ahead, but we will keep you informed on the progress.
We need lots of goodies for our PGMC auction, raffle and social events. We count on all of you to donate something for this purpose; any of the committee members will accept it gratefully. The Gemboree Committee needs your support to make this another successful Gemboree.
5. PGMC Competition (in-house only)
The next submission date for this competition is 15th September 2012. - Cabochon Material = any type of Tiger’s Eye, any shape/design - Faceting = any gemstone and design - “The Jeweller’s Project (new) = any item produced from start to finish at the PGMC, i.e. the gem is cut
and polished in the Lapidary section and set in any metal at our Silversmithing section.
6. Reminder: SAGCC (South African Gem Cutting Challenge – Fay Pierides
- The rules and entry form for this national competition owned and organized by Fay Pierides have been distributed to all by email. Please read carefully and forward your finished stones to reach Fay by latest 10th November 2012. The results will be announced during the PGMC Year-End Function.
7. Geelong Competition (worldwide)
- Please ensure that your entries reach Fay Pierides no later than 1st September 2012, for shipment to Australia. No late entries can be accommodated. If you need further details such as (entry rules, entry form etc.) please contact her directly at [email protected].
-
Left: Agates collected from the Lesotho side of the Caledon River. Right: Lesotho Agates ready to be worn. (Photos courtesy of Guide de Beer; who also made the jewellery shown.
Page 6
8. Open Day – African Gems and Minerals – 29.07.2012
Rob Smith invited the whole Gem & Mineral fraternity of Gauteng and beyond for an “Open Day” at his company – African Gems and Minerals – in Germiston. At 09.30 am dealers were already set-up and visitors streaming through the gate. Rob welcomed the crowd, explained the proceedings and gave the starting signal for the “bargain rush”. Soon people walked around with flats full of spirit quartz and all other sorts of bargains.
This was followed by the FOSAGAMS auction, also well attended and exhiting. The auctioneer had his hands quite full to keep the enthusiastic crowd at bay. After that everybody strolled around in Rob’s beautiful crystal garden, checked out the well-stocked dealer tables, the secondhand machinery on offer and also the mineral shop situated in the house. The offered boerewors rolls, coffee/tea and cooldrinks were also enjoyed by all.
Part of the crowd listening to Rob’s instructions. All tables were full with specimens on offer.
The “action” at the FOSAGAMS auction. These paintings looked stunning. Dieter Schildlowski (PGMC member no. 1) and his assistant Nico Roux at their table On behalf of the PGMC members a big Thank You to Rob Smith and his hard working team for
organizing this event for us. We also thank the many dealers for their efforts to make this event so special for all.
Special Request received:
Mrs. Tienie de Jager is looking for the book “Namibia Minerals & Localities” by Dr. Ludi van Bezing. If anyone is willing to sell their copy or knows where she can obtain a new book, please contact her at (058) 813 1151 or [email protected] .
Page 7
9. Club Outing to VIVO
On Tuesday, July 3rd we made what has now become a pilgrimage to Bergpan, situated in the Soutpansberg Mountains of the Limpopo province, to participate in another successful rock hunting trip organized by Linda Stone, on behalf of PGMC. This fun filled outing has taken place for 4 years in a row, with previous years being hugely successful for those looking for adventure and, most of all, mineral specimens or massive cutting material. This year was to be no exception. Once again, our gracious host at the Bergpan resort was Lettie Froneman who ensured that we were all comfortable. Thank you Lettie and “baie dankie” for the Baobab. The mid-winter flower display was beautiful.
Wednesday the 4th of July we all met at the car park to discuss the day’s outings. The first of which was to
a new site on Cecil Blofield’s farm to look for corundum crystals. On arrival Cecil treated us to the best oranges and naartjies I have eaten in at least 50 years, grown on the farm. After a brief introduction to the area and history of Cecil’s family we were taken to the old corundum diggings on the farm. Some corundum crystals in matrix were found on the dumps.
In the afternoon we went off to the Sand river nearby to look for dragon stone, a popular red and green rock from which beautiful spheres are made. Some good pieces were found. Then it was back to Bergpan to braai and sleep as we were going to have a very long day the next day.
On Thursday morning we left Bergpan at 6am, we watched the International Space Station pass overhead while Linda was explaining the day’s itinerary. The first outing was to the renowned No.4 copper mine owned by Wynand and Gelden Kuypers which is a world renowned source of Ajoite and Papagoite in quartz. As usual Wynand showed us around, explaining what had been found and where, in the last year. There were very reasonably priced quartz specimens for sale at the mine, sold by weight, and we were allowed to keep anything we found at the diggings.
After a few very interesting hours at the mine, courtesy of Wynand, we went to Gelden’s house in Musina where we were shown some really special specimens from the mine, all of which were for sale, at internet prices. One interesting specimen had white, and pink kaolinite globules included in it.
Page 8
After this we went to a black empowerment group shop and warehouse where we were able to buy some ornamental stone objets d’art and pieces of rough at very reasonable prices. On offer were, amongst others, Howlite,Uuhembe district colourstone and translucent Dumorterite from Mozambique.
The next day, we went to the cotton fields adjacent to the border of South Africa and Zimbabwe to see the Baobab tree in the middle of the cotton field that we saw last year. It was worth the journey as it was directly en route to the next site, and the view was still impressive.
After that we went to the old Sita Diamond diggings to look for garnets, pink corundum and beautiful,
naturally tumbled (Precambrian era) pebbles of all sorts, incl.banded iron stone, Unakite and agates.
On Saturday we went near Alldays; where they found Aventurine quartz boulders, as well as copper and nickel minerals, the guide was Raymond. Then we went to the Makgalabeng craft centre where there were cloths, pillows and artifacts available to buy. After that we travelled to the research station for local insects and animals, where Elbe Coetzee showed the group a display of artifacts found in the area. These were on display along with animals, insects, butterflies and birds found in the area including a stuffed spotted pangolin. Elbe introduced the group to the research students, who all hail from overseas.
On Sunday we went to the Makgabeng plateau which is a spectacular nature reserve with Bantu rock art, depicting Boers on horseback and trains. There was also an interesting rock archway nearby.
This trip was the first time that we used radio contact between the lead and rear end vehicles, as usual Wolf Wattenbach was the tail end Charlie. Also, many thanks to Val and Richard from the Pietermaritzburg Gem Club who very kindly took me and my daughter, the trip photographer, around to all of sites in their 4x4 vehicle, thanks guys, it was a pleasure to meet you. And of course a very big Thank You to Linda Stone for organizing yet successful rock hunting trip to the area. David Minster
The PGMC Committee thanks Linda Stone (President of FOSAGAMS) for agreeing to still organize
and lead such wonderful outings for the Pretoria Gem and Mineral Club, in addition to her new responsibilities. We also thank David Minster for the report and photos submitted; unfortunately we had to shorten it and leave some of his nice photos out (space/size restriction of the NL).
The opinions expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect those of the PGMC Committee. This newsletter is the property of the Pretoria Gem and Mineral Club; articles may not be re-produced without the written permission of the Editor.
