April - Aiken Gem, Mineral and Fossil Society

THE HOUND’S HOWL
AIKEN GEM, MINERAL and FOSSIL SOCIETY
AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINA
VOLUME 50, NO.4
APRIL 2012
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From the Prez...
April 13 Program
Aiken County is so verdant this time of year. Our
summer birds have returned from their migrations, tree
frogs and cicadas are at full serenade, and the
blossoms spectacular. Even the heavy pollen cannot
keep most of us indoors.
A great opportunity to spend a morning in lush
Hopeland Gardens is Aiken Earth Day on Friday, April
27 (9AM–1:30PM, lunch provided). Seven people are
needed to help students and parents to pick out
specimens, operate the geode cracker, demonstrate a
lapidary skill, chat with parents and teachers, and
generally promote our hobby. Sign-up sheets for this
event will be passed around during this month’s
meeting.
This month’s field trip is to one of the finest
collecting sites in our nation: Graves Mountain, near
Lincolnton, GA on April 28–29. It’s the biannual public
dig, so for a small donation, men driving golf carts are
available to help ferry you and your treasures. Steve
Huffman has offered to show Club members where to
hunt for rutile. Meet him on Saturday morning at 8AM at
the gate to take advantage of his expertise. Georgia
Mineral Society has lots of information on their
webpage, including a map and photographs of some of
the ~50 different minerals you can find here
“Parks of the Colorado Plateau:
Zion, Bryce Canyon, and more. . .”
We look forward to learning about the geology of our
western parks via this presentation by John Demko,
retired mechanical engineer from SRS. John’s
photographs will add to our appreciation of the natural
beauty of the parks’ formations.
John and his wife Nancy are also long-time members
of the National Audubon Society where Nancy currently
serves as the secretary of the local chapter.♦
May 11 Program
Annual Silent Auction
(http://www.gamineral.org/commercial-gravesmountain.htm).
Remember to bring your best specimen collected/purchased, or lapidary creation from last February
through this month’s meeting to show off to Club
members. You may even be voted our winner for April!
This month we have Chris Glass to thank for
bringing the snacks.
Finally, this month’s program about the Geology
of Bryce and Zion National Parks is a spectacular
overview of the canyon lands of our American West.
From the formation of hoodoos and natural bridges, to
evidence of violent volcanic explosions, earthquakes,
flooding and desert conditions, these rocks tell a myriad
of stories and unveil the beginning of life on our planet.
See you on Friday, April 13! (It’s our lucky
evening!)
Shellie Newell
In This Issue
2 – Member News; Show ‘n’Tell; The Tucson Experience
3 – Show Stats amd Winners; Earth Day
4 – Patsy Evins Studio; Trading Minerals, Tellus
5 – Tar River Trip Report; Graves Mt. Swap/Dig; DMC
6 – Rock ‘n’ Read; State Parks; Area Shows; Minutes
7 – “R is for Rocksicle”; Georgia Quarries
8 – Cleaning Limestone Fossil; Bench Tips; Rock Tumbling
Contest; GIA Gem Project; Area Shows; AFMS Convention
8A – Word Search
9 – Post-it-page
Hound’s Howl –2
April 2012
Member News
Show ‘n’ Tell at the March Meeting
Pleistocene fossil corals
(Brain coral and Montastrea)
found on the beach in Fort
Lauderdale were brought by
Walt Kubilius.
Welcome New Members
Gary and Pat Hert
Dakota C. Frye
Angela and Jerald Josey
N. Augusta
Columbia, S.C.
Sara and Dean Padgett Cathy Schumacher
Aiken
Aiken
Beautiful faceted stones
cut by Jay Gorday were
special treat.
a
Photos by B. Fenstermacher
♦♦♦♦♦♦
The Tucson Experience
13th – Steve Fenstermacher
nd
22 – Melissa Ashcraft
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Happy Anniversary!
9th – Steve and Nancy Fenstermacher
19th – Charles and Linda Sarkany
19th – Jay and Sue Gorday
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Our best wishes to Ashley Oxendine and
Kyle Nelson upon their marriage on
March 9.
“It was almost like being there” are the only words
that can describe how members absorbed Don Cann’s
commentary on his recent excursion to Tucson. Don has
been traveling to Tucson for the February shows since
2001 and, as he describes it, “Going everywhere in the
world in two weeks.”
His enthusiasm and delight in visiting the “Mecca for
Rockhounds” carried through to us also in his choice of
purchases that he generously passed on for a closer look.
So diverse and interesting: 1790 white jade nephrite
carving; an Ethiopian Cross (5); starfish fossil from
Morocco (4); carved serpentine horse (2); carved whale
bone ring that he gave to his wife Joyce (3); ancient
Roman and Greek coins mounted in silver; Chinese jade
carvings of the Qing Dynasty; 5-million-year-old plumeria
covered by tufa (1); 200-pound stalagmite from Three
River Gorge area; 1775-1825 Russian icon. . .
Photos by B. Fenstermacher
We welcome a new grandson for Sue and Art Shrader,
born March 24.
Our concern and support for Bill Reid as he continues
with treatments for lymphoma.
(1)
(2)
(3)
Condolences
It is with sadness that we learned of the death of
Kelly Ryan Cann, son of Don Cann on March 19 after a
short illness. Please keep Don and his family in your
thoughts and prayers.
Email address: [email protected]
(4)
(5)
April 2012
Hound’s Howl –3
Show Winners!!
2012 Show Stats
George Posten,
winner of the Show
Grand Prize, a
selenite from India.
1000
Grab Bags
Sold
Ticketed
Attendance
Fri. 268
Sat. 579
Sun. 307
Total 1154
TD “Hits”
1864
Ms.Breelyn Curtis,
winner of Relay for
Life raffle prize, a
cathedral amethyst
geode.
Friday
Students
Teachers/
Chaperones
537
537
Another successful Show has been achieved
and all who volunteered their time, talents
and materials in the planning and execution
should feel a sense of accomplishment.
Show Chair . . . . . . . .Herman Kunis, 706.855-7357
[email protected]
Publicity . . . . . . . . . Herman Kunis
Front Desk. . . . . . . . Kathleen Wallis, 803.643-3281
[email protected]
Treasurer. . . . . . . . . . Wayne Parker, 706.863-9171
[email protected]
Security/Grab Bags. . . Chris Glass, 803.278-5878
[email protected]
Treasure Dig. . . . . . . . Walt Kubilius, 803.643-3281
[email protected]
Exhibits . . . . . . . . . . . Gayla DeBose, 706.860-4684
Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . Maurine Resch, 706.592-7576
[email protected]
Dealer Dinner. . . . . . . Jane Waldrop, 706.869-8273
Nancy Lown
Set up/Take Down. . . . Tim Steeper, 803.663-3070
Jim Stoops, winner of Best-in-Show trophy, and
First Place, Minerals and Fossils. Rough and tumbled
stones are shown, along with an explanation of how
to tumble rocks.
Photos by Shellie Newell
View more Showcase winner photos by Shellie on
Aiken GMFS Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4035205763
42644.107830.100000541143283&type=1&l=fa4c9bb193
♦♦♦♦♦♦
City of Aiken Earth Day 2012
George
Pos
Friday, April 27
9 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Contact B. Fenstermacher if you plan to participate in
this community event; [email protected]
Hound’s Howl – 4
News from Patsy’s Blog – the
winner of the drawing for the
March Apple Blossom lampwork
bead! To join the
newsletter/blog and qualify for
future drawings, register at
www.patsyevinsstudio.com.
Also see more Apple Blossom
creations and take advantage of the 10%-off discount
offered on purchases made April 3 to April 10,
midnight.♦
Trading Minerals
By Paul Turner,
Emerald City RGC, Greenwood, SC
It was about 4 yrs ago when I was working on a
renovation project for our local Museum. One of the exhibits was to be a fluorescent exhibit. Being a small
town Museum and funding being what it was I decided
to field collect rocks for this display. In my research one
site came up as a place to find great fluorescent rocks:
Franklin, New Jersey. One problem here, I live in South
Carolina.
Well, the Museum wasn’t going to pay for me a trip
to collect them (I asked and they laughed). The problem still remained that we needed rocks. I decided to
ask someone to trade with me. I did some research and
found a list of clubs in N.J. I sent an email to the club
president and explained what I was doing and said that
if someone could send me some fluorescents I would
send them some rocks from Graves Mtn. mine in
Georgia. I figured that it was likely that most people in
New Jersey would not drive to Georgia to collect as I
would not drive to New Jersey to collect.
It was a few weeks before I got a call from a
gentleman in New Jersey asking about the trade. We
discussed the particulars, traded addresses and hung
up. A few days went by and a nice box of Sterling Hill
and Franklin specimens were waiting for me when I got
home. I was like a kid on Christmas morning. The
specimens were beautiful.
The trade went so well I decided to try again for my
personal collection. I had joined a few websites that
had discussion forums and asked a few members if
they wanted to trade. Got a few more responses and
those trades went real well. In fact, I can’t say I ever got
a bad trade. I have traded with people in California,
New Jersey, Maine, Oklahoma, Italy, West Virginia, and
North Carolina.
April 2012
The following are a few steps I have used to
establish trades:
1. Join a website discussion group. Many will have an
off-topic discussion or “Trades” section. Some of the
ones I use are McRocks, Rockhoundstation1, and
Mindat.
2. Contact clubs in other states. I use Bob’s Rock Shop
(online) to find the contact info for these. You can also
go to the different regional affiliates like the
Southeastern Federation of Mineralogical Societies for
club contact information.
3. Use pictures to help get an idea of what you are
sending and what you are getting. I hate to think
someone felt I cheated them.
4. Use the “If it Fits it Ships” flat rate shipping boxes
from the USPS. Medium is $10.95 and large is $14.95.
I have sent upwards of 27 lbs in the large box. I usually
skip the insurance as they are rocks and I can always
go get more. (Wait till you see the look on the teller’s
face when you tell them it’s just rocks)
5. Label your specimens. Include the mine, mineral or
rock names, locality and any extra information
necessary. (ex. Franklinite and Calcite, Franklin NJ,
Fluorescent Calcite-red)
6. Pack your items well. If a mineral is fragile it may not
be a good idea to trade it. Use lots of newspaper, foam,
old clothes or other media to insulate your specimens.
It’s up to you to make sure the minerals arrive in the
condition you described them.
7. Enjoy your new specimens.
I encourage everyone to trade. It’s a good way to
build friendships, learn the geology of different places,
and grow your collection.
--adapted from Lodestar, January 2012♦
RockFest 2012
June 9-10
RockFest features vendors from all over the
country selling gems, minerals, jewelry, fossils and
more. Kids can enjoy numerous hands-on activities and
demonstrations.
For more information visit www.tellusmuseum.org.
Those interested in becoming a vendor can call
Michelle Pate at 770-606-5700 ext. 417or e-mail her at
[email protected].♦
This informative Club website,
www.ncfossilclub.org, recently revised,
is worth a visit: an up-to-date calendar
of events; a complete inventory of back
issues of Janus which can be
downloaded by members, an extensive photo gallery of
North Carolina fossils, trip reports, outreach activities
and events, and new publications.
April 2012
Hound’s Howl –5
Tar River Trip Report
By Rufus Johnson, NCFC
The Tar River is one of my favorite hunting
grounds for petrified wood. I probably have 50 pieces or
more from here with some of them weighing hundreds
of pounds. Most of the wood ranges in age from the
Pliocene to Miocene epochs. However there is one spot
only a few hundred feet in length that appears to be
Pleistocene to recent in age. I have several pieces that
are half stone and half lignite from this site.
When Hurricane Floyd came through in 1999 it
washed many trees into piles on several places along
Tar River, Fishing Creek and other streams in eastern
North Carolina. I think the same thing happened
sometime during the Pleistocene. One of these piles of
trees apparently got covered with sand pretty quickly.
Over thousands of years the wood began to petrify.
Then Hurricane Floyd came along and washed out
the sand bar, which exposed the logs once again. A few
years later a couple of old rock hunting geezers came
along and discovered the piles of petrified wood. After
collecting several large pieces they noticed that these
pieces of wood were different than other pieces found
along the river. It was then that they decided to share the
site with other people.
And so began the Tar River petrified wood trip on
October 8, 2011. We had a total of 9 people to show up
for the trip. We gathered our collection of boats, kayaks
and canoes and chucked them in the river pretty quickly,
then proceeded to splash our way up the river. About 45
minutes later we came across the first piece of petrified
wood. It was about 6 feet long and probably weighed
about 550 pounds. Since that is too much weight for this
old geezer to pick up, I left it alone and splashed up the
river a couple hundred more feet.
Finally we made it to the main collecting area, where
there are very many large pieces of wood with one piece
probably weighing over 1000 pounds. Everyone beached
the boats and started poking around in the mud to find
smaller pieces of wood. I think everyone found at least
a couple pieces, and I know for sure that everyone
found plenty of mud.
The day warmed nicely as soon as we started
finding petrified wood. There were several pieces large
enough, that I had to struggle to direct the people how
to get them in the boat. After all that directing I was
getting hot and tired so I sat on my kayak to rest a few
minutes. I looked down in the edge of the river and
thought I saw a large fossil. My heart stated racing
immediately, but after a few seconds I realized it was
just my reflection on the water. As I reflect back on the
day now, I think everyone enjoyed being out on the
river and away from the crowds.
Can’t wait to go back again.♦
Graves Mountain
"Rock Swap and Dig"
These digs are open to all. No need to sign-up, just
show up. Mark your calendar.
Fri., April 27, 2012, 8 am to 6 pm
Sat., April 28, 2012, 8 am to 6 pm
Sun., April 29, 2012, 8 am to 6 pm
The caretaker in charge of Graves Mountain, Clarence
Norman Jr., has announced plans to hold two three-day
digs and rock swaps on the Mountain during 2012. He will
have the mountain open to collecting from 8 am to 6 pm
each day. All participants must stop at the welcome table
in the hospitality tent to sign a liability release and make a
small contribution to defray the cost of opening the
mountain and providing port-o-lets. There will be several
golf cart-type, four-wheeled vehicles available to transport
those participants who have trouble walking long
distances. Don’t forget to tip your drivers! The dig will
cease and everyone is expected to be off the mountain by
around 6 pm each day. Participants will be allowed to park
in a designated area on the mountain.
Rock Swap and Hot Food/ Drinks: Junior will set aside
an area in the upper parking lot for tables to be setup for
daily rock swaps. Anyone who would like to setup a
table(s), please contact Junior at the phone numbers
listed below. Hot food cooked on the grill, cold drinks and
chips will be available for purchase on the mountain
during all three days of these events. Don't forget to bring
some extra money to buy the special "Graves Mountain
Rock Swap and Dig" T-shirt!
Contact Information: Clarence Norman Jr. (Junior) 706.359.3862 (his business) or 706.359.2381 (his home)♦
Bayou Pierre
Utica, Mississippi
Saturday, May 26, 2012
8:30 AM – 2:00 PM
An Official Field Trip of the Mississippi Gem & Mineral
Soc. (Host) and an Official Field Trip of the Aiken GMFS
What to find: Jasper, chert fossils, agates, petrified
wood, and sometimes (although rare) palmwood.
Lodging: There are motels a few miles north in Clinton
(mostly on Springridge Rd), please don’t stay in Jackson.
There are no motels in Raymond or Utica.
What to bring: Buckets or bags for putting rocks in, a
stick or tool to stir rocks with, sunscreen, insect repellent,
water, drinks and snacks. Also bring lunch to eat under
the trees, and we often share with each other.
What to wear: Light clothing, hat, sturdy shoes (you might
want to wade).
For further information call Janie Hand at 601-706-4629
or email [email protected]♦
Hound’s Howl-6
April 2012
ROCK ‘n READ
Princes of Jade by Edmund
Capon and William MacQuitty; the
grandeur and luxury of ancient China
and of the lives of Prince Liu Sheng
and his consort are reflected in this
impressive book. In 1968, by the
remotest of chances, Chinese
soldiers discovered the 2000-year-old
burial chambers of members of the
great Han Dynasty. Archaeologists found the body of
the prince encased in his remarkable jade suit. Never
before had anything like this been found, although
history recorded that such suits were occasionally
fashioned for Han emperors and other aristocrats.
Gradually, as the excavators carefully removed
and classified the tomb’s treasures, the richness and
variety of this important discovery became apparent.
Included also were bronze vessels, silver, gold, and
lacquer ornaments, decorated pottery and silks, and the
magnificent Poshan incense burner – unrivalled
examples of fine Han art.
Princes of Jade reveals the unsurpassed beauty
and quality of this first important dynasty while also
tracing the ancient history of China. Illustrated with over
150 photographs, including many pictures in colour.
For those who are interested in collecting and
working with jade, reading The Handbook of Jade by
Gerald I.Hemrich is a must! This little handbook is a
good starting point to learning about this beautiful stone
in all of its rainbow of colours. Chapters include jade
colour and quality, pseudojades, how to buy jade and
start your collection, how to find jade in the field if you
go collecting for it yourself (field trips to BC are
something to consider), and where jade can be found
around the world. Following chapters give tips on how
to start working with jade, whether as carvings or
cutting and polishing.
--Adapted from a review by Lori Wichink, the Calgary Lapidary
Journal, Feb. 2012♦
Music on the Mountain
Table Rock State Park
2-6 PM on the 2nd Saturday of the month
Enjoy traditional Blue Grass music as local musicians
gather to keep this inspirational talent alive. Visitors are
invited to bring their acoustic instruments to participate.
Free with Park Passport Plus. Information at:
<www.scparkstore.com/browse.cfm/park-passports/2,2.html>
Founders' Day Festival
Charles Towne Landing
April 14, 2012, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Travel back in time at Charles Towne Landing State
Historic Site and celebrate “the birth of South Carolina” at
the annual Founders’ Day Festival.♦
Georgia Mountain Hike
Sundays 4 PM until Aug. 28
Panola Mountain State Park - Stockbridge
This hike allows visitors to see Panola Mountain up close,
as the Ranger explains why it’s protected and what we
can do to preserve the natural beauty of granite outcrops.
Register in advance. $7 plus $5 parking. 770-389-7801.♦
March 16 Meeting Minutes
The meeting was called to order at 7:07 pm by Walt
Kubilius in the absence of Shellie Newell. Guests
Jerald and Angela Josey were welcomed to the group.
The treasurer report by Kathleen Wallis was
submitted with reminder to renew membership.
April program announced by Walt: John Demko will
talk about geology of Utah national parks. The Silent
Auction is scheduled for May. June is not yet finalized.
Overview of field trips by Walt: Glendon on April 21;
DMC trip to Utica, Miss. on May 26. Some members
will be going on the Augusta Club trip to Hogg Mine on
March 24. Chris Glass enlightened those who were
new to that area.
Education, USCA Liaison: Barbara Fenstermacher
reported receiving an acknowledgement from USC-A of
our scholarship donation for this year. We will again
participate in Earth Day on April 27, those who wish to
participate in our display should contact Barbara.
Show Report: In absence of Show chair Herman
Kunis, Kathleen gave attendance at 1154, 224 less
than in 2011; Treasure Dig brought in $466, second
best year (after 2011).
There was no new business to report.
Specimens for the month brought by Walt collected
on the beach at Fort Lauderdale: 3 different fossil coral,
Jay Gorday brought two faceted pieces with
extraordinary designs.
Members enjoyed refreshments brought by Sara
and Robert Padgett.
The program on the Tucson Experience presented
by Don Cann was greeted with enthusiasm by the
audience.
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara Fenstermacher, Acting Secretary
April 2012
Hound’s Howl –7
“R is for Rocksicle”
A Front Range perspective on managing and shipping
aggregates.
By Bill Langer
Rocksicle (rok-si-kuhl) noun – similar to a rock glacier,
which is a glacier-like mass of rock with interstitial ice.
Not too long ago, I had the opportunity to visit an
aggregate operation along the Arkansas River just
upstream from Cañon City, Colo. About 85 percent of
the material produced at the plant leaves by rail.
Although I went to see the geology, I was fascinated by
some of the intricacies of how rock is shipped by rail.
Besides that, I thought I might catch a glimpse of the
dreaded rocksicle.
Transportation methods
involve trade-offs between
capital expenditures and
operating expenses.
I joined up with Mike
and Terry, who showed me
around their operation. The first thing I noticed when we
entered the pit were humongous boulders, some almost
10 feet in diameter, strewn all over the place. Terry
must have seen my strange expression, because he
politely commented that the previous owners of the
operation didn’t have a real good handle on what they
were doing. It was no surprise to learn that the
operation was bought out of bankruptcy in 2003. Which
brings me to the following:
Lesson 1: A rail-base operation can fail in good times
(early 2000s) if it is not managed well and can survive
in bad times (2008 until now) if it is managed well.
Mike pointed out that when his people weren’t
working the pit face, they were setting aside some
boulders for sale as landscaping material, and breaking
and crushing others for use as aggregate. But getting
the operation back on track was more difficult than just
shoving around boulders. Negative experiences with
the previous owners left customers, vendors, permitting
and regulatory staff, and local citizen groups extremely
skeptical about how the operation would function under
the new owners. It had taken years of responsible
operations and intense community interactions to
regain the confidence of those whose trust had been
lost by the previous owners.
Lesson 2: Earning a social license to mine can be
a very complicated, time-consuming exercise.
Loading and emptying rail cars is capital intense.
Their loadout facility is very simple — a spur (track) to
the facility, two front-end loaders, a hopper, a scale,
and a conveyor. The cost — $1.25 million, not counting
the track. Mike has permits for a new distribution yard
in the south Denver metro area, where anticipated
demand is expected to require significant imports of
aggregate. The cost — $2.5 million, just for the offloading facility.
Lesson 3: The choice between rail and truck
transportation methods involves trade-offs between
expenditures of investment capital and operating
expenses, flexible systems versus fixed route systems,
high-volume shipments versus individual shipments,
and transport distances.
I noticed that each car was being loaded with 1
1/2-inch to 3/4-inch crushed rock, prepared specifically
for use as ASTM #4A Ballast Rock. The cars can apply
ballast directly to the rail bed, thus eliminating the need
for an off-loading facility. The ballast was granite, which
was the preferred rock for the intended application, and
is sufficiently durable that it does not deteriorate during
transport. Also, there were sufficient stockpiles to
immediately meet the need.
Lesson 4: Transportation management is geared
toward providing the customer with the right product,
arriving in the right condition, at the right time, at the
right place, and at the right price.
We stopped at the plant office just before I left.
Terry started to check the forecast temperatures along
the route from the operation to their distribution yard in
Colorado Springs. I asked, “Why?” The answer: They
were shipping washed rock, and if the temperature fell
below freezing for too long a time, the wet rock would
freeze into a solid lump, and the rail car would remain
out of commission until spring.
Bill Langer is a research geologist who spent 41 years with
the U.S. Geological Survey. This article is one in the series
“Carved in Stone” published in the June 2011 issue of
Aggregates Manager magazine. Permission was given by the
author and the magazine to reprint the article in the Hound’s
Howl. ♦
http://quarriesandbeyond.org/states/ga/ga-photos.html
List of Quarries in Georgia & Quarry Links,
Photographs and
Articles
If you are into old
maps (early 1900s)
showing physiographic
and topographic
divisions, granite,
granite-gneiss, and
porphyritic granite belts and quarries in 24 Georgia
locations, you’ll enjoy what this website offers. It is kept
up-to-date and the author Peggy B. Perazzo requests
any new information from viewers.
April 2012
Hound’s Howl – 8
Cleaning your Limestone Fossil
by Martha S. Brown
The southern half of Georgia is full of limestone
fossils. When you have an opportunity to bring home
these fossils, they always have the limestone matrix in the
wrong place. So how do you clean these fossils:
Option 1: Leave it outside. Sometimes when you
lean it against the house and leave it for a while, the
weather will soften the fossil enough to clean it. If you are
lucky the fossil will be slightly harder than the matrix.
Option 2: Leave it in the basement. You really didn’t
want to clean it anyway.
Option 3: Try to clean it. Remember you may need
rubber gloves with other protective equipment. What can
you use? Some limestones are softer than others. You
can use a sharp exacto knife or file to clean off the rough
part of the matrix. You can use dental tools or needles for
the final material.
Option 4: Soda water can be used to soak your
limestone fossil. It works really slowly and patience is
necessary. I believe Perrier water is soda water. You just
soak it for a day or so, clean it off and soak it again.
Option 5: If you decide to use an acid, you will want to
use it outside. Fumes can be dangerous and corrosive.
Pour the acid into the water. One acid is called The
Works®. It’s sold by Wal-mart in the cleaning department
for toilet bowls. The packaging says it removes rust, lime
scale and hard water stains. DO NOT MIX WITH ANY
OTHER CLEANER.
So those are your choices. If you have a really good
specimen, you might want to practice on a poor specimen
first. Remember safety first always. It’s not worth hurting
yourself or others.
World Rock Tumbling Championship
The Feather River Lapidary and Mineral Society of
Oroville, California is holding their annual Rock Tumbling
Championship. It is $40.00 to enter the competition.
The prizes are $250.00, $100.00 and $50.00.
Application and entrance fee must be postmarked no
later than May 7, 2012. Each applicant will be sent
three pounds of Arizona petrified wood to tumble. After
tumbling return the best ½ pound for judging. Entries
must be received no later than September 23, 2012.
--from Rocky Trails, April 2012♦
The GIA Gem Project,
<http://www.gia.edu/
research-resources/gia-gemdatabase/index.html> has, so
far, catalogued over 200 gems.
The GIA (Gemological Institute
of
America) received
Dr. Edward Guberlin’s collection of approximately 2800
gems representing 225 different minerals in 2005.
Working out of Switzerland, he had collected for many
decades.
At the left on this site are listed five specific
minerals as well as other gems already included in this
on-going project. Click on the named gem then click on
the catalogue number for a wealth of information
some of which is very technical.
–adapted from The Rockhounder, April 2012♦
--from Tips and Trips, April 2012♦
Area Shows and Events
More BENCH TIPS by Brad Smith
Sheet Wax with Adhesive – I was shopping in the
jewelry district last weekend for supplies for our organic
casting class and came upon a new product that may
interest some of you. Often I want to increase the
thickness of a model by adding a layer of wax on the
back side. For instance, models like a leaf or a flower
petal do not cast well unless you add a little extra
thickness. Problem is trying to apply a coating of wax
that's smooth and even.
The new product I found is an easily moldable
sheet wax with an adhesive coating. This lets me press
a leaf onto it, trim the wax to the leaf shape, and then
gently bend the sandwich to the contour I want. The
wax is available in a number of different thicknesses
from about 26 ga to 14 ga.
If interested, my supplier is: Jewelry Tools & Supplies
412 W. 6th Street #1011;Los Angeles, CA 90014
213 624-8224.
Message #372; More BenchTips by Brad Smith at
groups.yahoo.com/group/ BenchTips/ or
facebook.com/BenchTips/♦
April 27-29—Irvine, KY: Blue Grass Gem & Mineral Club
Show; Estill County Central School Gym;
http://bggamc.intuitwebsites.com
May 5-6—North Charleston, SC: Lowcountry Gem &
Mineral Society Show; Charleston Area Convention
Center; International Blvd.;
www.lowcountrygemandmineralsociety.org
May 11-13—Marietta, GA: Georgia Mineral Society
Show; Cobb County Civic Center; www.gamineral.org
May 11– 13 Franklin, NC Gem & Lapidary Wholesalers
Show Watuga Festival Center; www.glwshows.com
May 11– 13 Franklin, NC Highlands Road Gem Show.
NE corner of Highway 441 Bypass and Highlands Road;
[email protected]♦
“A Celebration of Agates”
AFMS Convention, Show and Seminars
July 26-29, 2012
2400 Lindbergh Drive, Minnetonka MN
www. minnesotamineralclub.org/2012show.htm
Hound’s Howl – 8A
Courtesy of Mini Miners Monthly
A Monthly Publication for Young Mineral Collectors
Vol. 6 No. 1 January 2012
Permission was granted from Diamond Dan Publication for reproduction in this newsletter.
April 2012
April 2012
Post-It Page
Hound’s Howl – 9
“Parks of the Colorado Plateau:
Zion, Bryce Canyon, and more. . .”
By John Demko
April 13, 2012
Room 200, Science Building, USC-Aiken
Business Meeting at 7 p.m.
Refreshments provided by Chris Glass
Field Trips – p. 5 ☻ Shows/Events –p. 6 & 8
2012
Refreshments/ Program
2012 AGMFS Officers and Committees
January 13
Jim & Joan Jewett / Jeopardy_____
February 10
_Linda Sarkany__/ __Display Cases
March 16 (new date) Sara Padgett /_Tucson Experience
April 13
__Chris Glass /_Parks Colorado Plateau
May 11
J.Poole & C. Dunbar_/_Silent Auction
June 8
Kathleen & Walt /______________
July/August
Summer Excursion
September 14
_________ /_______________
October 12
Gayla DeBose_/ Kim Cochran
November 9
__John Blas_/___________
December 14 @ 6:00
Holiday Dinner Meeting
Election/Gift Exchange
President: Shellie Newell (803) 663-7752
Vice President: Walt Kubilius (803)643-3281
Secretary: Julia Poole (803) (803) 341-9728
Treasurer: Kathleen Wallis (803) 643-3281
Editor: Barbara Fenstermacher (803) 649-0959
< [email protected] >
118 Ashwood Drive, Aiken, SC 29801-5154
Field Trip/DMC Liaison: OPEN
Stamp Chairman: Sarah Jolley (803) 645-9608
Libraran: OPEN
Webmaster: Patti Bennett
Federation & USCA Liaison: B. Fenstermacher
The Aiken Gem, Mineral and Fossil Society
2012 Membership Application
Current Date ____________
Please check one: New ☐
Renewal ☐
Name__________________________ DOB (mo/da)______ Spouses Name:___________ DOB______
-
Address_________________________________________________________________________
Email Address:_______________________________________________ DO Anniversary________
Children’s Names (those active in club only) and DOB ______________________________________
Home Phone:__________________ Work Phone:________________ Cell phone:______________
I give my consent to the Aiken Gem, Mineral and Fossil Society ( AGMFS) to use my name and likeness for
publicity purposes and to promote Society activities. Check one: Yes ☐
No ☐
Please check one type of membership and newsletter preference.
Dues Family $20 ☐
Dues Single $15 ☐
☐ Email (free to all members)
Dues Student $2 grade/school ☐
☐ Snail mail (additional $10/address/year for postage/handling)
Make check payable to: Aiken Gem and Mineral Society
Mail to:
Kathleen Wallis, AFMFS Treasurer
1142 Ridgemont Drive
Aiken, SC 29803
Treasurer’s Use
cash _______ check #________
Amt: _______ Date: ___________
The Hound’s Howl
Aiken Gem, Mineral and Fossil Society
P.O. Box 267
Aiken SC 29802-0267
Our 50th Anniversary Year
FIRST CLASS MAIL
April 2012
Program: Parks of the Colorado Plateau
Meeting date: April 13 at 7:00 p.m.
USC-Aiken Science Building, Room 200
The Aiken Gem, Mineral and Fossil Society operates as a non-profit, educational organization affiliated
with the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies, Inc., the Eastern Federation of Mineralogical and
Lapidary Societies, Inc., and the Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Societies, Inc.
The purpose of the Society is to stimulate interest in collection of gem and mineral materials and fossils
and to impart knowledge of lapidary work, mineralogy, paleontology, collecting and classification of minerals
and fossils, and the application in the art so greater pleasure may be derived from these activities.
The Society meets at 7:00 p.m., second Friday of the month, in Room 200 of the USC-Aiken Science
Building located in the university complex on University Parkway in Aiken. A map of the campus can be
downloaded on our website. The annual dues, payable by December 31, are $20 for a family membership, $15
for a single adult membership and $2 for a junior/student member.
The Hound’s Howl is published ten times a year by the Aiken Gem, Mineral and Fossil Society. An
annual subscription is $10.00 for posted delivery. Unless it is otherwise noted, permission is granted to reprint
material from this bulletin for non-profit usage provided the sense or meaning of the material is not changed
and proper credit is given to the club and author. Material written by the editor may not have a by-line.
The Society’s web page, www.aikengmfs.org gives more information about the history of the club, the
annual show, field trips, and community projects.