Weekend Adventure
Jack London State Park - Valley Of the Moon
The ranch is always a special treat for me, especially the part that has been opened to the public where London lived and wrote. The other part
consists of The House of Happy Walls which his wife, Charmain had built as a memorial to her husband. It is filled with all the morabilia that was collected on their
round-the-world trip on the Snark. The museum was built of native field stone (basalt) which comes directly from the ranch.
Jack London never lived in this building or in the Wolf House. It was burned to the gorund before they had a chance to live in their dream house. Both Jack and his wife ware burried in an
unmarked grave on the property. Actually, Jack's remains are in his chosen spot and marked with a large natural boulder.
When Jan and I were there last summer, we had the grounds all to ourselves. We prowled the pigbarns, winery, horse barns and even though we did not enter the acutal house, we felt so much of
his vital presence there on the property we were caught in a mystique beauty and time simply stood still.
"I would rather be ashes than dust. I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me
in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time."
~ Jack London
Jack London died at 40 years of age. He accomplished more in that 40 years than most people in twice that time. A moss covered rock marks his grave on the ranch he loved so well.
Article written by Club Member Marie Zeliff 5/84
Membership Fees:
Individual $40
Family of 2 $60
Additional $10
Jr. no Parent $15
Membership is good for one year from day you joined. For more information call (707) 528-7610 Leave a Message.
Welcome New Members:
Jesse Russell
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SRMGS Meetings:
We love to have more active members. Attend one or more of the SRMGS Meetings to get the most out of your membership! Meetings are held at the SRMGS Workshop.
July Educational Meeting
The Rockhounds Movie - Just released
Bring donation for Country Store
Wednesday July 2, 2008
7:30pm
SRMGS Board Meeting:
Tuesday July 16,2008
7:30
Announcements:
Mark your calendars - It's BBQ time!
SRMGS Annual BBQ Picnic is Sunday Aug 24 at Rodney's Place in Windsor. More information & directions will be on the website and annouced at GE Meeting.
Annual BBQ Info. There will be an informal potluck sign up at the GE meetings. Kendra will be doing face painting,
we are hoping to persuade Nicole in giving a talk on local geology, and if the weather & time permits bingo!!
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Whats new on our website?
Junior summer schedule is posted on the website in the "Juniors" area. You can also find tshirt order forms online and info on the upcoming BBQ!
Make a submissions to the website by emailing Kendra at webmaster (@)gem-n-i.org or catch me at the next meeting at the shop.
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Tip of the Month:
Neat Trick to Attach Chain to Cabachons-
Cut a small notch in the top center of the stone just wide enough to take a small jumpring. Cement the jumpring in so that just enough metal sticks above the stone to thread
a chain through. Use 330 epoxy, which is transparent, to fasten the jumpring. A drop of expoxy is enough to do the job. Let it dry overnight.
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.: The Gem-N-I Revisited :.
Vacation for Fire Agate
by Al & Ellen Larson Nov 1980
In October my wife and I and our trusty VW Camper headed for Safford, AZ to pick up some of those georgeous - already polished- fire agates, we seen in the Gem Magazines.
We stopped over a few places on the way since it had been a year since we could really relax and enjoy some time after a busy summer of yard work and house painting.
First stop was in Reno where we enjoyed a bountiful dinner and some arm "exercise" on the bandit machines! Soon we learned that we were the losers in that game so we decided the fire agates were out there
just waiting for us. The nite found us at Walker Lake, near Hawthorne, NV. Enjoyed a good rest over there in a lovely compground by the lake and met some really nice
people from Idaho.
Morning found us headed for Las Vegas, where we visited with my parents a few days and enjoyed some of the excitement of the city and also visited old friends
at Hendersen where we use to live. We checked out Black Mt. there for some nice desert roses. Parents are also avid rockhounds so they loaded up their motor home and away we went
on our safari to Safford.
First, we all stopped off to visit some friends who lived in Kingman. Then to a ranch in the South of Kingman to more friends who have some OLD OLD gold mines now inactive.
But they have high hopes of one of them so they had a geologist there that day taking ore samples. We tried our hand with a suction dedger but the stream was too shallow. But at least we
can say "we dredged for gold!"
A couple days later we were on the road again. Stayed the night at Burro Creek in a State Park which was one of the nicest we've ever encountered. Next morning we saw a cougar
across the creek. We were evidently, not on his breakfast menu as he could not be bothered by us! Some of the other wild life we saw included fox, deer, rabbit, squirrels, coyote and a
BLUE catapillar. The next couple days we enjoyed Superior, and Miami - their scenery, restaurants, rock shops. We got a great deal on the turquoise.
Finally, we reached Safford and the fire agate fields in exactly the same spot it showed on the maps! Began to rain as we parked our rigs but no matter. Both rigs broke open the doors
and out came 2 rockhounds from each, loaded with bags and tools and we saw we had reached "rock heaven"! They were even in the road and some almost looked as good as the magazine showed.
But upon examination we threw back a lot. There acres of them! Other campers were there, some for weeks and some with their polishing equipment. Some had prized pieces and some were still looking for a prize. Some were digging for the agates but
mostly we just picked them off the ground.
Next day was cold but beautiful. We worked all day and got as many agates as we could carry home. How good they are we may not learn till our next vacation when we will have time to work them!
But we can honestly say it was our BEST vaction ever and can highly recommend the area.
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Gems That Catch Your Eye: Optical Phenomenon and Common Inclusions
Several gemstones exhibit unusually beautiful displays of light in the form of iridescence, sparkles, and stars. The optical
phenomenon of each gemstone is caused by light interacting with atoms within the crystal structure. When atoms line up in a perfect plane,
the reflection of light has an amplified effect. Each optical phenomenon occurs for a specific reason. For example, Labradorite exhibits
"peacock colors" of yellow, green and blue flashes of color as a result of light reflecting off of lamellae within the mineral.
Lamellae occur when atoms within a cooling mineral segregate by size creating parallel planes in the atomic structure. This phenomenon
is called labradorescence, which is a specific form of light interference. Other optical effects include color change, chatoyancy,
asterism, and mineral inclusions. Mineral inclusions occur in a number of gemstones as small to microscopic minerals incorporated
into the structure of another mineral, like quartz. For example, sunstone is feldspar with inclusions of tiny copper crystals.
To learn more about this illuminating topic come to my workshop on Wednesday, July 23rd.
By Nicole - Geologist SSU & SRJC
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2008 Gem Show Updates:
Ladies & Gentleman, gather round, the planning of the 2008 show has officially started.!
The Ring Leader of this year's "circus" is Steve B. Working with him are several club members heading up various committees to make this years show even better than
those in the past. Last week a meeting was held with all committee heads to discus the ideas and review responsibilities for the various areas. It was a great
meeting full of eager and excited individuals who can channel their positive and creative energy into a specific direction.
With the framework set up, we are needing volunteers to step forward to assist an area of your desire. Committees will meet a few times in small groups to plan
and help organize things specific to that area for the show. Later more volunteers will be needed to fill in and assist with staffing the various areas during shifts.
If you would like to help with one of the committees, please come to the next General Education Meeting and talk to Steve or Tom.
To find out more about the show committee's check the website.
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A Message From
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Tom, your President
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DEAR GEM-N-I READERS:
In the past month we have had to visit the issue the Society is having with the financial expense and volunteer time of mailing the Gem-N-I out to
those of you who do not have home computers.
We all know the Gem-N-I has improved in leaps and bounds thanks to Kendra, so it will not be shrinking in size anytime soon & most likely expanding.
It has become a communications tool for just about everything and will include important information for volunteers working on the 2008 EXPO in October.
At present it is now costing us a little over 420.00 per year for copying and mailing, & takes one person a full day to execute the copying, sealing and mailing.
This falls on a volunteer who does quite a few other things as well. At the last board meeting we discussed the issue at length. Our goal is to decrease mailings
from approximately 35 downward to approximately 5. Several people have come forward and volunteered to work on getting a few editions out each month.
1) As of September 1, 2008, except for 'lifetime' members without computers, the Gem-N-I will no longer be mailed out without a 20.00 subscription fee attached
to the next Membership renewal. This means that if you have nine months to renewal you can still receive the Gem-N-I by USPS. We are trying to contact those who receive
it through the mail in every way we can.
2) If you have access to a library, Eve N. has offered to meet with you to teach you how to use the computer to find and download a copy from any public library (or computer).
Please give her a call at cell phone only, 415-272-8748 or email her at eve@infostations.com.
Our Annual Picnic is set for August 24th: Save this date. Once again we will have a party at Rodney's place in Windsor, and publish a map ahead of time. We won't take
the chance we took last year on a City park location. Fun games and relaxation. I'm wondering about a theme, like 'Rocks from Sonoma County' as a little educational side line,
and perhaps if we are lucky, a lecture on the geological formations of the old hill we are standing on?
Keep your fingers crossed, our new logo T-shirts should be in by the meeting & will be available for sale at the picnic. Bring your ideas to the next two General Meetings,
or call me at: 546-4537.
On another note, I'd like to mention that there are a lot of people with incredible energy who make this Society what it is.
I'd like to throw my hat off to Kendra and Josh, a never ending force for good. The best way to do that is to give them a little bit of space to be evil,
because that's fun too. HATS OFF !
Tom Dering
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Donation = Tax Write OFF
We are looking for items for the "Country Store" at Oct's Show.
Please clean your items first, then bring to JULY's meeting to get your receipt. We will have 2 other collection dates.
We are not accepting clothing, broken or damaged items. Thank you!
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In Memory:
John Snyder passed away March 26th. You may know John & his wife Betty as the hosts of Snyder's Pow Wow in Valley Springs. John had a stroke
about a year ago and never fully recovered. He was an avid rockhound who loved sharing his knowledge and passion for rocks. If you would like to
contact Betty & her family the address is: Betty Snyder, PO Box 177, Valley Springs, CA 95252
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Thank You!!
The following people deserve a round of applause for
their extra efforts in making our club stand out!!
Debbie G. - Mailing newsletter for SEVERAL years!
Debbie G. - Donating Lapidary Journal Magizines
Ken E. - Fixing the grinder
Kendra - Being nutty & doing so much
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Rock Sale
Ken E. will be selling some of his rocks from his collection over the next few months. You can wander next door and find some neat treasures, including some very nice mineral specimans.
A portion of the sale will be donated to the club.
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Realgar Speciman Sale $7
Kendra & Josh will be selling beautiful orange/red/yellow specimen's. $5 from each sale will
go to the club. There are 4 flats of specimens all of decent size and high quality many with visible crystal formations.
Add to your mineral collection today!
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In The News...
Finding New Material in Old Comets
AstroBio.net Posted: June 18, 2008
NASA researchers and scientists from the United States, Germany and Japan have found a new mineral in material that likely came from a comet.
The mineral, a manganese silicide named Brownleeite, was discovered within an interplanetary dust particle, or IDP, that appears to have originated from
comet 26P/Grigg-Skjellerup. The comet originally was discovered in 1902 and reappears every 5 years. The team that made the discovery is headed by Keiko
Nakamura-Messenger, a space scientist at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.
"When I saw this mineral for the first time, I immediately knew this was something no one had seen before," said Nakamura-Messenger.
"But it took several more months to obtain conclusive data because these mineral grains were only 1/10,000 of an inch in size."
A new method of collecting IDPs was suggested by Scott Messenger, another Johnson space scientist. He predicted comet 26P/Grigg-Skjellerup was
a source of dust grains that could be captured in Earth's stratosphere at a specific time of the year.
In response to his prediction, NASA performed stratospheric dust collections, using an ER-2 high-altitude aircraft flown from NASA's Dryden Flight Research
Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The aircraft collected IDPs from this particular comet stream in April 2003. The new mineral was found in one of the
particles. To determine the mineral's origin and examine other dust materials, a powerful new transmission electron microscope was installed in 2005 at Johnson.
"Because of their exceedingly tiny size, we had to use state-of-the-art nano-analysis techniques in the microscope to measure the chemical composition and
crystal structure of Keiko's new mineral," said Lindsay Keller, Johnson space scientist and a co-discoverer of the new mineral. "This is a highly unusual
material that has not been predicted either to be a cometary component or to have formed by condensation in the solar nebula."
Since 1982, NASA routinely has collected cosmic and interplanetary dust with high-altitude research aircraft. However, the sources of most dust
particles have been difficult to pin down because of their complex histories in space. The Earth accretes about 40,000 tons of dust particles
from space each year, originating mostly from disintegrating comets and asteroid collisions. This dust is a subject of intense interest because it
is made of the original building blocks of the solar system, planets, and our bodies. Studying the inventory of particles from space that arrive at
Earth is also important in determining the types of molecules that could have been delivered to the early Earth to play a role in the origin of life.
Dust clouds give the interstellar medium around the blue nebula, NGC1999, its distinct hue. The dust scatters light and is sometimes referred to as the Reflection Nebula.
Credit: NASA Hubble
The mineral was surrounded by multiple layers of other minerals that also have been reported only in extraterrestrial rocks. There have been 4,324 minerals identified by the International Mineralogical Association, or IMA. This find adds one more mineral to that list.
The IMA-approved new mineral, Brownleeite, is named after Donald E. Brownlee, professor of astronomy at the University of Washington, Seattle. Brownlee founded the field of IDP research. The understanding of the early solar system established from IDP studies would not exist without his efforts. Brownlee also is the principal investigator of NASA's Stardust mission.
The comet researchers include Messenger; John Jones, a co discoverer of the mineral from Johnson; Simon Clemett and Michael Zolensky in Johnson's Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Directorate; Russ Palma, Minnesota State University at Mankato; Robert Pepin, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Wolfgang Kloeck, Roentgenanalytik Messtechnik GmbH, Germany; and Hirokazu Tatsuoka, Shizuoka University, Japan.
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July Birthstones - Ruby
Ruby is the accepted birthstone for July. It is also the accepted anniversary
gemstone for the 15th and 40th year.
Ruby is known as the "Lord of the Gems" because of its rarity
and beauty. Derived from the Latin word "ruber", it simply means
red. Ruby, like sapphire, is a variety of corundum and only exists as a
true red in color. The finest color is a vivid, almost pure spectral red
with a very faint undertone of blue, as seen in Burmese rubies which are
considered the finest.
The highest quality rubies are said to protect their owners from all
kinds of misfortune. A fine ruby assured the owner he would live in harmony
with his neighbors. It would protect his stature in life, his home and land.
Its protective powers were intensified when set in jewelry, and worn on
the left side. Many believed rubies possessed an inner flame which burned
eternally.
As part of the customary fashioning process, virtually all rubies are
heated to permanently improve their color and appearance.
As with all gemstones, care should be taken to protect it from scratches
and sharp blows.
The finest rubies emanate from Burma, having been mined there since ancient
times. Other sources include Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Tanzania,
Cambodia, Afghanistan and India.
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Perplexing Questions
From the Email Box
Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?
Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are flat?
Why do banks charge a fee on "insufficient funds" when they know there is not enough?
Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?
Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?
Why is it that people say they "slept like a baby" when babies wake up every two hours?
Do married people live longer than single ones or does it only seem longer?
How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?
Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?
Did you ever stop and wonder......Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, "I think I'll squeeze these pink dangly things here, and drink whatever comes out?"
Who was the first person to say, "See that chicken there... I'm gonna eat the next thing that comes outta its butt."
Why do toasters always have a setting so high that could burn the toast to a horrible crisp, which no decent human being would eat?
If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?
If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, then what is baby oil made from?
If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?
Finally the most perplexing question of them all.Why is it that Donald Duck never wears any pants, ever, but when he goes swimming he puts on shorts?
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| SRGMS Newsletter |
Continued |
Class Schedule
You do not need to be a SRMGS member to sign up for classes.
Fees are based upon $10/hr instruction.
30% of all class fees are turned over to SRMGS.
Beginning Faceting - 2.5 hours
Every Tuesday (except on third Tuesdays of the month!), 7:30-10 pm
Prerequisite: None (materials only as needed)
Fee $25 Max. Students: 3-4
Pete Peterson has taught this class previously and is back at it again. For anyone who does not know him, you're missing out! Years ago he was a student of
Biff Cicio a California faceter who taught in the Bay area. The class is full of fun anecdotes and pertinent information. Pete knows his gems (and rocks).
Space is LIMITED. We will be covering Choice and Limits of Material, Gem Rough, Cutting Rough to Size, Pre-forming, and work on your first Round Brilliant.
Contact Pete Peterson at 833-2683 to sign up.
Egyptian Chain- 4 hours
Wednesday 7/16/08, 6:00 to 10:00 pm
Prerequisite: Basic Wire + materials list
Fee $40. Max. Students: 6
Spirals have shown up in the traces of most ancient cultures around the world. Learn this 4000-year-old spiraling technique as you
create your own sterling silver bracelet, complete with a handmade clasp that is part of the design. We will also cover oxidizing
your chain to look more like the ancient jewelry it represents. Kendra, the Santa Rosa Mineral & Gem Society webmaster and newsletter editor,
has been really looking forward to this class! Come and spiral your heart out!
Contact Eve at eve@infostations.com
Register at least 10 days before date of class to ensure time to order materials.
Gems That Catch Your Eye: Optical Phenomenon and Common Inclusions - 1.5 hours
Lecture by Nicole Myers of SSU, SRJC, and COM
Wednesday 7/23, 7-8:30 pm
Prerequisite: None
Fee $10 Max. Students: NONE
Several gemstones exhibit unusual optical phenomenon that make them particularly eye-catching. These optical effects are the result
of atoms within the mineral interacting with light causing iridescence, sparkles, and stars. Optical effects include color change,
chatoyancy, asterism, labradorescence, and mineral inclusions. Mineral inclusions occur in a number of gemstones where small
to microscopic minerals are incorporated into the structure of another mineral. Several minerals are often found as inclusions,
such as micas. Come to this workshop to learn more about how light interacts with minerals and gemstones.
Sawing & Soldering- 6 hours
Saturday JULY TBA, Noon to 6:00 pm
Prerequisite: Basic Wire + materials list
Fee $60. Max. Students: 6
Join me for an introduction to essential techniques and tools for basic jewelry fabrication, including working with a jeweler's saw
and butane micro torch. We will make and saw jump rings, learn to solder them closed and then into a chain, melt little ball-end head
pins and touch on a sterling toggle clasp. Also covered are safety procedures, a 10-page handout and lots and lots of helpful tips.
Contact Eve ateve@infostations.com
Register at least 10 days before date of class to ensure time to order materials.
Remember to check the website to see the full class schedule list (includes additional months).
You can find this under EVENTS -> CLASSES.
Field Trip
Keith has planned a variety of trips that range from hiking difficulty 1 (low) to 5 (high).
Next trip
Due to the busy month, no trips are planned for July!
Difficulty level:
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Upcoming Gem and Mineral Shows
July 12-13, Culver City, CA
Culver City Rock & Mineral Club
Culver City Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium
4117 Overland Avenue
Sat 10-6 pm Sun 10-5
MaryEllen (310) 391-8429
SRMGS WORKSHOP LOCATION
5690 C Old Redwood Hwy
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(707) 528-7610
Wanted Tumbling Material!
Calling all rockhounds, we are looking for tumbling material for the 2008 show. For those who are cabbing, we are wanting your scrap, broken and end-pieces of neat material to tumble.
For those who have asked the question, size does not matter. :o)
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