Star-O-Lite March 2013 · STAR-O-LITE Augusta Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. Volume 49 No 3 March, 2013 !! 1! STAR-O-LITE

STAR-O-LITE Augusta Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. Volume 49 No 3 March, 2013

1

STAR-O-LITE Augusta Gem & Mineral Society, Inc.

Volume 49 No 3 March 2013

President

Chris Wisnieski (706) 650-0078

Vice President Thomas Wood (706) 386-8798

Treasurer

Wayne Parker (706) 863-9171

Membership Chair

Jessica Wells (706) 533-5902

Secretary

Maurine Resch (706) 592-7576

Editor

Patricia McNutt (706) 868-6044

Field Trip Coordinator

Steve Huffman (706) 210-2988

Refreshment Coordinator Liz Wylds

(706) 860-3633

The Augusta Gem and Mineral Society, Inc. meets at 7:30 PM the third Friday of every month at the Georgia Military College Annex located at 3836 Washington Rd, Suite 10, Martinez, GA. Visitors are welcome! Annual dues are $20 for a family membership, $15 for singles, and $1 for junior members ages 8 to 18.

Newsletter article submissions should be emailed to [email protected] or sent through traditional mail to AGMS Editor, 4 Woodbridge Way, Evans, GA. 30809.

Message from Editor

IT’S SHOW TIME Let’s make this another GREAT Show. Please make sure you arrive 10-15 minutes before your scheduled start time. I have included a summary of the work schedules and individuals working each slot on page 2 as a reminder to you all… Editors Request Do you have a particular interest, a recent or Memorable field trip, or perhaps a favorite mineral or fossil that you would like to tell us about. The article does not have to be long. In fact, short to the point articles are easier to include and usually to read. If you do, sit down today, and start typing! If you find an interesting article elsewhere, write a summary, cite the source, and send it to me. Submission as text or MS Word documents, attached to email are the easiest for me to handle. I intend also to include photos when I have them. Send them to me at: [email protected] Thanks Patricia

Augusta Gem and Mineral Society Feb. 2013 Meeting Minutes

Meeting Date: Feb. 15, 2013 Meeting Time: 7:35pm Presiding Officer: Chris Wisnieski (President) Attendance: 28 Members, 4 Guests Jan. Meeting Minutes were approved as printed in the bulletin.

Treasurers Report: Funds reported by Wayne Parker.

Old Business: None

New Business: None

Show Business: 1.) 2013 Dues are overdue at this time. 2.) Demonstrators and Show case entries must sign-up by end of meeting today 3). Next Show Meeting Feb 21, 7PM at Georgia Radiation Center. 4.) Workday Sat. 2/23 to work on Show Case Stands and Lighting 5.) Casino Refinished Floors and Look nice, cannot drag tables or cases on the floor during set-up and taken down. 6.) Need name badges to work show order at B&S. 7.) Chris has teacher letters for anyone that is interested. 8.) Thurs. Dealer Dinner at 5:00pm bring dish and come join the fin. 9.) Last Request for Grab Bag material, and Adopt-A-Rock Material. 10.) Bag and Tag 28th at Chris Glass home.

Field Trip Report: 1.) Moved Feb. Savannah River Agate Dig to March so we could use dig date to help at Work Day. March will be to Girard for Savannah River Agate meet at Gas Station at Rte. 56 & Rte. 23 at 8:30 am, April – Open Dig at Graves Mountain 26, 27, 28th; May Ray Mica Mine

Program on Photographing by Ken Kipnis did not take place.

Meeting was adjourned at 9:15 pm. Submitted by Patricia for Maurine Resch

Next Meeting March 15th at 7:30 pm

Program … Field Trip. Savannah River Agate – March 23rd – Meet at Gas Station Rte. 56 & Rte. 23 at 8:30am


2

Dates /Things to Remember

Next Club Meeting Friday – March 15th 7:30pm.

Show Work Schedule – Thurs. March 7th (set-‐up) Show Fri. March 8th – Sun. March 10th

Thursday Dealer Dinner – Thurs. at 5pm – Come & join in and bring a dish of your choice Thursday Show Set-‐up -‐ March 7th 9am – 12 noon

Eliot Huffman, Fred Boyd, Jim Stoops, Chris Glass, Robert Glass, Dean Fletcher, Ralph Cavaliere, Bryant English

Fri. – Sun. All Shifts & Show Work Areas as outlined below:

Coordinating School Bus/Activity:

Friday Morning: Barbara Fenstermacher, Shellie Newell & Elliot Huffman

Front Desk:

Friday: (Chair Sharon Sterrett) 10am-‐1pm: Sue Shrader & Kathleen Wallis; 1pm -‐4pm: Sue Shrader & Jim Stoops; 4pm–7pm: Sue Shrader & Barbara Fenstermacher Sat: (Chair Linda Sarkany) 10am-‐1pm: Ken Glass & Susan Blas; 1pm -‐4pm: Jim Jewett & Joan Jewett; 4pm-‐7pm: Gayla Debose & Shellie Newell Sun: (Chair Liz Wylds) 10am -‐1pm: Barbara Fenstermacher & Patricia McNutt; 1pm-‐4pm: Jack Seech & Gayla Debose

Treasure Dig:

Friday: 10am–1pm: Walt Kubilius & Mary Granade; 1pm – 4pm: Barbara Fenstermacher & Patricia McNutt; 4pm – 7pm: Walt Kubilius

Sat: 10am–1pm: Phillip Yarborough & John Blas; 1pm-‐4pm: Walt Kubilius & Janet English; 4pm-‐7pm: Walt Kubilius

Sun: 10am-‐1pm: Jim Stoops; 1pm-‐4pm: Walt Kuilius

Geode Tent:

Friday: 10am-‐1pm: Robert Glass, Bryant English & Ralph Cavaliere; 1pm-‐4pm: Robert Glass, Bryant English & Mary Granade; 4pm-‐7pm: Robert Glass & Bryant English

Sat: 10am-‐1pm: Robert Glass Bryant English; 1pm-‐4pm: Robert Glass & Bryant English; 4pm-‐7pm: Robert Glass & Bryant English

Sun: 10am-‐1pm: Robert Glass, Bryant English, Sue Gorday & Parice Newcombe; 1pm-‐4pm: Robert Glass, Bryant English, Patrice Newcombe. With a Split shift by: Sue Gorday (1pm-‐2pm) and Chet Nichols (2pm-‐4pm)

Membership Desk:

Friday, Sat. & Sunday: Team Effort Shared by Maurine Reach, Thomas Wood & Shellie Newell

Sunday Taken Down – March 10th 4pm – 7pm (or until finished)

Elliot Huffman, Fred Boyd, Jim Stoops, Phillip Yarborough, Chet Nichols, Ralph Cavaliere and Robert Glass

Individual Members Signed-‐up as Demonstrators:

Jay Gorday, John Fullbright, Herman Kunis, Shellie Newell, Maurine Resch, Tim & Janet Steeper, Fred Boyd, Nichole Werner.

Individual Members Signed up for Show Cases (cases need to be put in Thursday Afternoon (between 1pm – 6pm)

Junior(s) -‐ Amanda Maddox, Theo Huffman, Sebastian & Paxton Prowse & Phillip Yarborough -‐ Mineral & Fossil – Jim Stoops, Fred Boyd, Chris Glass, Robert Glass, Steve Huffman, Jay Gorday, Walt Kubilius, USC, Kim Cochran -‐ Lapidary – Jay Gorday, Sue Gorday & Janet English


3

Regional Shows:

MARCH 2013

• March 8-‐10-‐AUGUSTA, GEORGIA Aiken Gem, Mineral & Fossil Society and Augusta Gem & Mineral Society; Julian Smith Casino; 2200 Broad St.; Fri. 10-7, Sat. 10-7, Sun. 10-4; adults $3, children (under 16) free with adult; dealers, gem dig, geode sales and cutting, treasure dig, hourly door prizes, grab bags, grand door prize, demonstrations.

• March 15-17-ROME, GEORGIA Rome Georgia Mineral Society; The Forum; 301 Tribune St.; Fri. 10-6, Sat. 10-6, Sun. 11-5; free admission; minerals, gems, fossils, jewelry, crystals, mineral identification, door prizes, exhibits; contact Jose Santamaria, 311 E. 4th St., Rome, GA 30161, (678) 488-9560; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://rogams.wordpress.com/gem-and-mineral-show/

• March 22-24-HICKORY, NORTH CAROLINA 43rd annual show; Catawba Valley Gem & Mineral Club; Hickory Metro Convention Center; I-40 Exit 125; Fri. 9-6, Sat. 9-6, Sun. 10-5; adults $4, students and children free; exhibits, demonstrations, cabbing, faceting, tumbling, kiddie corner; contact Baxter Leonard, 2510 Rolling Ridge Dr., Hickory, NC 28602, (828) 320-4028; e-mail: [email protected]

• March 23-24 Ashville, North Carolina 1st Annual Mountain Area Gem and Mineral Association (M.A.G.M.A) Gem and Mineral Show. Where: Camp Stephens, Clayton Road, Ashville NC - This will be the first ever MAGMA Gem and Mineral Show! The show will be indoors and heated. It will be held at Camp Stephens in the pavilion where we have the roundup each summer. This will be a two-day show, Saturday and Sunday. Vendors will be selling rocks, gems, minerals and other hobby related items. There will also be displays of gems and minerals by the club members. The show is open to the general public and all are welcome to attend. Admission: Free – Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday. This is an indoor/outdoor and will take place rain or shine. There are public bathroom facilities. Snacks and drinks will be sold at the kitchen. The indoor show will feature 12 vendors offering a wide variety of hobby related items: Directions: Take exit 33 off of Interstate 26 just outside of Asheville NC. Go west on Brevard Road/Hwy. 191. Drive 3.5 miles to Clayton Road on the left, turn left and drive 2/10ths of a mile to the entrance to Camp Stephens on the left. You will see a large MAGMA sign at the entrance.

APRIL 2013

• April 27-28, 2013 Memphis, TN. Memphis Mineral, Fossil, Jewelry Show Memphis Archaeological and Geological Society “The Earth Wide Open” Memphis International Agricenter, Expo Center, West

Pavilion & A-wing 7777 Walnut Grove Rd. Memphis, TN Saturday, April 27, 9-6:00 and Sunday, April 28 10-5, Dealers, Exhibits, Demonstrations, Kids Area with Rockzone featuring Gem Dig, Geode Bowling, Rocks

Around the Clock. Adults $5.00, Children 12 and under $2.00. web: www.The EarthWideOpen.com, email [email protected]. Show Chair James Butchko 901 743-0058 Dealer Chair WC McDaniel 901-274-7706.

• April 27-28, 2013, Dothan, AL Dothan Gem and Mineral Club 6th Annual Show and Sale - James Grant Recreation Center at Westgate Park, 501 Recreation Road, Dothan, AL. Hours: Sat. 9-5 and Sun. 10-4. Free admission, exhibits, demonstrations, hourly door prizes, silent auction, kids’ activities, etc. Contact Arnie Lambert 334-792-7116 or e-mail [email protected]. See www.wiregrassrockhounds.com

MAY 2013

• May 10-11-12, 2013 Marietta, GA Gem and Mineral Show, Auction THE GEORGIA MINERAL SOCIETY Fri: 10 AM to 7PM; Sat: 10AM-7PM; Sun: Noon-5PM The Cobb County Civic Center, 548 So. Marietta Parkway and Fairground St., Marietta, GA Exit I-75 at Exit #263 and turn west onto Marietta Pkwy|SR 120 Loop. Drive 2 miles and turn left onto S Fairground St. and then immediately right to the Cobb Civic Center's parking lot. SATURDAY AUCTION at 1PM ! HOURLY ADULT AND JUNIOR DOOR PRIZES! $2.00 GRAB BAGS ! 30+ Dealers Club Hospitality table, Educational exhibits, Demonstrations Show contact: Tom Batcha,Show Chair, 678-407-4224 Email address: [email protected] GMS Website: http://www.gamineral.org

AGMS Upcoming Club Field Trips 2013 AGMS Field Trips

By Steve Huffman March 23rd – Savannah River Agate 3/23 April 26th, 27th 28th – Graves Mountain Rock Swap & Dig – Open Dig May 25th – Ray Mica Mine – NC Steve encourages 2013 membership in MAGMA, it’s free, and you just have to signup online. They go places we are unable to get entry.

Club Badges Club name tags/badges can be purchased at B&S Engraving, 3733 Washington Rd., Martinez; 706-863-7501. Our badge design is on file.


4

Collector of the Month

Fred Boyd – Amethyst/Diamond Hill

Photos from Feb. Meeting -‐ Show & Tell – Member Sebastian Prowse

Sebastian gave the Feb. Show & Tell Program by providing the other members with a look at a few items from his personal collection, along with a few details on each and where he found or obtained them.

Crossword – March

Across 2. Form of Black Calcite, mixed with other minerals 5. Black in color, almost pure carbon, found in Russia 6. Intermingled layers of white Calcite and black Quartz. 7. Newly discovered magnesium silicate mineral from the NW USA Down 1. Type of potassic volcanic rock best known for sometimes containing diamond, discovered in South Africa 3. Borate mineral, cubic crystal system, fond in Russia Madagascar. 4. Trade name for a variety of green or gray-green Serpentine from S. Africa. 8. Form of Blue Pectolite, a sodium calcium silicate mineral


5

Interesting Gem, Mineral or Fossil News on the Web

Mathematical Impressions: Attesting to Atoms

For most of recorded history, no one believed in atoms, even though Democritus, Lucretius and other ancient philosophers described them. Aristotle claimed matter was infinitely divisible and his view dominated for 2,000 years. Imagine you lived 1,000 years ago. What evidence could you provide to attest to the existence of atoms? How could you combine simple observations and mathematical thinking to resolve the question, without any modern equipment? Watch the Video at:

https://simonsfoundation.org/multimedia/attesting-to-atoms/

Flying Transylvanian dinosaur unearthed by scientists A Transylvanian dinosaur, which could walk on all fours or take to the skies on three metre wings has been unearthed by scientists. The newly discovered pterorsaur, which is 68 million years old, was unearthed in Romania's Transylvanian Basin. The creature, named Eurazhdarcho langendorfensis, had a long neck and beak and could fold up its huge wings when it needed to walk on all fours, reports journal PLoS ONE. Dr Darren Naish, from the University of Southampton, said: "Eurazhdarcho belong to a group of pterosaurs called the azhdarchids. Read the rest of the story at:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/9852067/Flying-Transylvanian-dinosaur-unearthed-by-scientists.html

Dinosaur extinction: Scientists estimate 'most accurate' date

Scientists believe they have determined the most precise date yet for the extinction of dinosaurs.

Researchers from Glasgow University were part of an international team that has been investigating the demise of the dinosaur. By using dating techniques on rock and ash samples, they established the creatures died out about 66,038,000 years ago - give or take 11,000 years.

That date appears to coincide with the impact of a comet or asteroid.

Read the rest of the story at:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-21379024

Did You Know?

If all the diamonds mined in the world were fused into a cube, how big would it be?

Answer – about 10 cubic feet. Half the silver ever mined was mined in this country. Half the gold ever mined lies at the bottom of the oceans, in the holds of ships.

Via Glacial Drifter 3/99 Zinc All you may have ever wanted to know about zinc and more? Zinc is never found in a pure state. Its ores are found in most parts of the world. The main ore is sphalerite, a compound of zinc and sulfur. A less important form is smithsonite, a compound of zinc, carbon, and oxygen. These principle ores and some of the lesser ones are collected by rockhounds because of their beautiful crystals and colors. Some of the lesser ores are calamine, willemite, sincite, and franklinite. Zinc is readily alloyed with copper to form brass, with copper and tin to form bronze, and with copper and nickel to form German silver.

From Gem City Rock News 1999


6

Interesting Web Sites to Explore

http://www.northcarolinaemeralds.info/index.htm offers information about and photographs of emeralds and hiddenite found at several N.C. locations: Adams Mine, NAEM Mime, Ellis Mine, and Emerald Hollow Mine…

Fluorite

By Don Peck

Fluorite is one of the more attractive and often collected minerals. It is not rare; yet attractive, colorful, unblemished pieces can be pricey; especially from classic or new localities.. The mineral is

CaF2 , calcium fluoride and is the industrial source for fluorine, with wide use as a flux in the metallurgical industry, in the manufacture of plastics, and as an etching agent for glass. Also, high quality photographic and telescope lenses are made of clear colorless fluorite. Fluorite is often a deep purple color, but beautiful crystals that are green, yellow, blue, brown or even colorless are highly prized. Cubic crystals to 20cm (8 in.) are known, but large crystals are usually composite mosaics. The cubes are often modified by the octahedron, dodecahedron, and other isometric forms. Fluorite is the very definition of 4 on Mohs Scale of Hardness. It has excellent cleavage in four directions, easily forming octahedrons. With a specific gravity of 3.18,, fluorite has slightly more heft than the usual rock. The name fluorite derives from its ability to fluoresce, when struck by ultraviolet rays, either from the sun or a lamp. The color of the fluorescence is often blue due to the presence of the element, erbium, but other activators may produce red, purple, blue, yellow, green, or white. The intensity of the fluorescence varies widely. In the United States, the mines of southern Illinois, at Roseclare and Cave-in-Rock are noted for their world class rich purple specimens. Unfortunately, the mines closed in 1995. Excellent specimens can still be collected in Kentucky. Beautiful emerald green specimens have been collected at Weardale, Durham, England, again world class. Today, gorgeous pink and green specimens are coming out of China. Fluorite is truly a worldwide mineral. If you would like to view more than a sufficiency of fluorite photos, go to mindat.

org and halfway down the left column of the home page, click on Photo Search. Then enter Fluorite and sit back to enjoy 5500 examples of this highly collectable mineral.

Chips & Deposits Nov. 2008

How to Find the Fire in Fire Agate

How to find the fire in fire agate: Fire agate is quartz based rock with layers of iron oxide in chalcedony which results in iridescence. It occurs in nodules of milky or grayish translucent chalcedony. Sometimes it is found in botryoidal growths in geodes and in chalcedony roses. Fire agate appears as a dull, reddish brown layer, but when the surface layers are removed the rainbow colors or iridescence are exposed. The fire is brought out by tumbling, trimming, and grinding off the outer layers to expose the iridescence. Polishing magnifies the fire. To find the fire, remove the matrix, then tumble polish the stones. Tumbling removes the excess chalcedony. When polished, remove excess stone around the edges, then polish and set. Allow the stone to retain its irregular shape and polish slowly, so you don’t go through the fire layers. The graceful natural shapes are superior to those cut to calibrated sizes, as the best fire doesn’t always fit a mold. To set it off, mount the fire agate in a custom-made gold or silver setting. Fire agates are most often found in Arizona, California, Idaho, and Mexico, among other locales.

From Canaveral Moonstone 11/07

CUTTING MALACHITE

We recommend sawing about 10 degrees away from directly parallel to the grain. This way, when you dome the stone, you will get a bull's eye effect. Malachite is a fairly soft stone, so try to leave the slabs a little thicker than other materials. When grinding, we recommend always wear a breathing mask. Malachite can be toxic and can make you very ill. After grinding sand first on a new 600 sanding belt, then finish sanding on a much worn out 600. Finally, for polishing, we recommend ZAM on hard felt. Give the stone a little extra time and the polish will keep coming up better. Source: unknown, via Blue Agate News February 2010 RULES FOR CUTTING MALACHITE Malachite should never be cut with oil. The oil soaks in and changes the color of the rock. Use a water coolant instead. When working malachite, always use plenty of coolant, work in a well-ventilated place and wear a mask.

Source Ed Wengerd, for The Pegmatite 9/08, via Blue Agate News February 2010 via Rocket City Rocks

and Gems Aug. 2012


7

Bench Tips by Brad Smith

BEZEL SETTING PROBLEMS

When bezel setting a cab that has rather sharp corners, have you ever had problems pushing the metal down at the corners? It's a common problem often causing a wrinkle in your bezel and a grimace on your face. In order for a bezel to capture the stone, the top edge of the bezel must be compressed and become shorter to lay down onto the stone. With a round or oval stone this naturally happens as you push and burnish the bezel. But when setting a stone with corners, the tendency is to push the long sides of the bezel down first. No compression occurs along the sides, and all excess metal is left at the corners. Compressing everything there is difficult. Often the only way to remove the extra metal at the corner is to make a saw cut and fold the two sides in to touch.

If you want a smooth bezel all around the corners, the simple solution is set the corners of the bezel first. Then push in and burnish the sides. In this way the necessary compression is distributed along the length of all sides and not forced to occur at the corners. With the corners set first, the top edge of the bezel can easily be compressed along the sides. CHEAPER & BETTER PICKLE Most jewelers’ use a granular pickle mixed with water. The active ingredient is sodium bisulfate. This can be purchased from

local stores as a common pool chemical used for adjusting the acidity of the water. It's sold under various names, so be sure to check the list of active ingredients for a brand that is 95% or more sodium bisulfate. An added benefit is that the pool chemical is more pure in form than what is sold for jewelry use and does not cause the often found brown grime floating on the top of a pickle pot.

Bench Tips by Brad Smith are at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BenchTips/ or

http://facebook.com/BenchTips

[Brad Smith’s Bench Tips published with his permission)

Shop Tips

Cleaning Drusy Specimens To clean and shine most drusy specimens, use Easy-Off Cleaner, Spray the specimen and leave it overnight in a plastic bag or other closed container. In the morning, rinse the specimen. This also works on iron-stained Quartz.

From Tips and Chips, March 2004


8

STAR – O – LITE published monthly by the Augusta Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. Patricia McNutt, Editor 4 Woodbridge Way Evans, GA 30809

FIRST CLASS TIME DATED MATERIAL

PURPOSE OF THE AUGUSTA GEM & MINERAL SOCIETY INC. 1. To encourage interest in rocks, minerals, fossils, and related subjects of the lapidary craft.

2. To sponsor educational programs within the membership, to increase the knowledge of its members in the

properties of identification and evaluation of rocks, minerals, fossils and related subjects.

3. To cooperate with other mineralogical and geographical clubs and activities.

4. To arrange and conduct field trips to facilitate the collection of specimens and minerals.

5. To provide an opportunity for the exchange and exhibition of specimens and minerals. The Augusta Gem and Mineral Society Inc. is affiliated with the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies via its membership in the Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Societies and the Eastern Federation of Mineralogical & Lapidary Societies. Please visit our web-site at: Http://www.augustagemandmineralsociety.org/

Documents

Star-O-Lite March 2013 · STAR-O-LITE Augusta Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. Volume 49 No 3 March, 2013 !! 1! STAR-O-LITE