Rock of the Month Painite - Arlington Gem and Mineral Club

1408 GIBBINS ROAD, ARLINGTON, TEXAS 76011 Volume 70, Issue 3, March 2015
ROCKHOUND NEWS OF THE ARLINGTON GEM & MINERAL CLUB
Rock of the Month
Painite
In 2005, The Guinness Book of World Records called painite the world's rarest gemstone mineral.
March 2015
THE HOUNDS TALE
1
Rocks are everywhere, but . . .
CLUB PURPOSE: To encourage the study of
earth sciences, lapidary arts and other related
fields, and to enjoy good fellowship with those
who share like interests.
CONTACTS
[email protected]
World Wide Web Home Page
http://www.agemclub.org
Business meeting and program
1st Tuesday 7:30PM
Executive Committee Meeting
7:00PM on Last Tuesday of the Month
ARLINGTON GEM AND MINERAL CLUB
MEMBER OF
SOUTH CENTRAL FEDERATION OF MINERAL
SOCIETIES
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF MINERALOGICAL
SOCIETIES
March 2015
A lot of times we rock hounds are hunting
specimens around played out mines and the
very rocks we are looking for are the same
ones the miners considered as 'ore'. Many
times the rocks that came out of the mine
were taken to a crusher for processing.
Sometimes a crusher will serve several
mines and was centrally located. Look for
your specimens along likely transportation
routes between the mine and the crusher.
There is a gold mine near Durango where
the mine is 5,000 feet up the mountain and
the processing plant was in the ghost town
at the base of the mountain. The mining
company transported the ore in buckets on a
cable car system and most of the towers are
still standing. As anyone who has ever been
on a ski chairlift will attest, there is a
pronounced giggle as the cable goes past
the tower. If the ore transport bucket is a
little too full, some of the ore will end up
falling out. I found a few fist size rocks with
gold flecks in them near the towers. While I
was hoping for something nugget size, my
golden speckles was the best I could hope
for.
The Keweenaw Peninsula in Upper
Michigan is full of old copper mines and one
of the crushers, a truly massive structure,
was located near a makeshift harbor at the
beach. After spending several hours
scrounging thru stamp sand piles around the
crusher, I got out the USGS maps and found
several abandoned RR grades leading to the
crusher. I located one near an existing road,
parked the car and hiked maybe 100 feet
into the woods to the old RR bed. While the
tracks had been torn up decades ago and
the cross ties had all rotted away, the old
grade was still visible - rocky hump with
ditches on each side and as straight as an
arrow. Rocks containing veins of native
copper were strewn all over the old roadbed.
The only thing more numerous were the
swarms of mosquitos. Within an hour I had
all the native copper specimens I could ever
use and was searching for a bottle of
calamine lotion.
Good luck and good hunting, Neal Chisholm.
THE HOUNDS TALE
2
I N S I DE T H I S
ISSUE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
COMMITTEE MEETING: 7:00 PM, LAST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH
COMMITTEE MEMBERS SERVE AS UNPAID VOLUNTEERS. IF YOU
ARE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING TO FILL A VACANT POSITION
PLEASE CONTACT THE PRESIDENT.
ELECTED OFFICERS (Voting)
President
Secretary
Treasurer - Finance
1st Vice Pres. (Operational/Educational Classes)
2nd Vice Pres. (Programs)
3rd Vice Pres. (Field Trips)
4th Vice Pres. (Youth Programs)
Delegate at Large (Ombudsperson)
4
10 Most Rare Gemstones
6
It Takes A Club
6
2015 Annual Show Update
6
Old Saws & Pulleys
7
Enameling Workshops
8
Field Trips
10
Local Area Club Meetings
11
Lapidary Lab Schedule
10
Area Gem & Mineral Shows
10
2014 Year End Class Report
11
Feb. Class Schedule
12
Mar. Class Schedule
13
Facetor’s Swap & Lapidary
Shop Report
Webmaster
Sunshine
Newsletter Mailing
Grounds
Computer/Electronics Technology
Website Software Development
International Gem and Jewelry
AKS Shows
14
Jan. Meeting Minutes
THE HOUND’S TALE
Carrie Baum
Marlenia Cohen
Stephen Bennett
Emie Stewart
Jesse Baum
Billy Harris
Janet Gray
Ray Wilkes
APPONTED POSITIONS (Voting)
Past President (Donations Chairperson)
Bulletin (The Hound’s Tale) Editor
Show Chairperson
Lapidary Department Chairperson
Membership Chairperson
Carl Wells
Gerald Pennington
Anastasia Chaparro
Barbara Maloney
John Crabb
APPONTED POSITIONS (Non-Voting)
Library Chairperson
Building Chairperson
Hospitality Chairperson
Welcome Chairperson
Constitution and By-Laws Chairperson
Jewelry Making Chairperson
Long-Range Planning Chairperson
Parliamentary Procedure Chairperson
Historian Chairperson
Jacqueline Chirunga
VACANT
Jackie Peel
Sandra Brazzale
Karen Cessna
VACANT
VACANT
VACANT
VACANT
People interested in serving the club in these VACANT positions, please
contact President Carrie Baum.
OPERATIONS VOLUNTEERS (Non-Voting)
Jeremy Dubhros
Marge Harrand
Lois McCormick
Barbara Poplin
Torre Quinn
Darcy Sety
Joyce Speed
Kris Galbraith
Published monthly by the Arlington Gem and Mineral Club.
ADS AND ARTICLES
Lapidary related ads and articles from members of AGMC are welcomed.
They will be placed on a space available basis, first in first out. Include your
name and contact information. Send ads and articles to the editor at our
web site: http://www.agemclub.org, click on “CONTACTS” (upper right), then,
on the next page click on “Hound’s Tale Editor” (bottom center).
Alternatively, you can send them to [email protected].
Deadline date for ads and articles is the 15th of
the month.
March 2015
THE HOUNDS TALE
3
10 Most Rare Gemstones in the World; Rarer than a Diamond
Painite
In 2005, The Guinness Book of World Records called painite the world's
rarest gemstone mineral. First discovered in Myanmar by British
mineralogist Arthur C. D. Pain in the 1950s, for decades there were only
two known crystals of the hexagonal mineral on Earth; by 2005, there were
still fewer than 25 known specimens.
Colors may vary from brown to red and pink. It is also pleochroic, meaning
it can emit different hues depending on the angle you are coming from.
When placed under short wave ultraviolet light, this rare stone will emit and
fluoresce a strong green color.
Black Opal
Black Opal is a greenish type of opal with black mottling and gold flecks. Usually
found in ancient hot springs, the gem is usually tumbled smooth and cut cabochon.
The Black Opal differs from other Opal as it is formed on a darker (black) quartz-like
layer that enables greater refraction/reflection of the light to the top of the opal,
especially the reds and pinks.
Up to $20,000 per carat.
Musgravite
Named after the Musgrave Ranges, Australia, where it was first discovered. Its
hardness is 8 to 8.5 on the Mohs scale. Only eight specimens of this gem have been
identified. Musgravite, however, is very similar to another gem called taaffeite, so it is
possible that some taaffeites have just been misidentified. Up to $35,000 per carat.
Alexandrite
Alexandrite is a genuinely incredible gemstone. The
alexandrite variety displays a color change (alexandrite
effect) dependent upon the nature of ambient lighting.
Alexandrite effect is the phenomenon of an observed
color change from greenish to reddish with a change in
source illumination. To be clear: this color change is
independent of your viewing angle; a gemstone that shifts colors when you rotate it in your hand, is said to
be pleochroic, and while alexandrite is strongly pleochroic, it can also change colors independently of
viewing angle when viewed under an artificial light source. A variety of Chrysoberyl, alexandrite belongs to
the same family of gemstones as emerald. Up to $100,000 per carat.
March 2015
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Poudretteite
Poudretteite is an extremely rare mineral and gemstone that was first discovered as
minute crystals in Mont St. Hilaire, Quebec, Canada, during the 1960s. It was initially
thought to be extremely rare, but several of this gemstone was discovered in
Myanmar in 2003.
Grandidierite
Grandidierite is an extremely rare mineral and gem that was first discovered in 1902
in southern Madagascar. Like alexandrite and tanzanite, grandidierite is pleochroic,
and can transmit blue, green, and white light. This mineral is sometimes mistaken for
serendibite.
Benitoite
It was first described in 1907 by George D. Louderback, who named it
benitoite for its occurrence near the headwaters of the San Benito River in
San Benito County, California. It has a strong blue color and emits dispersion
similar to that of a diamond. Under ultraviolet light, it radiates an intense bluewhite color. Benitoites usually come less than a carat, though the largest ever
found weighed 15.42 carats.
Jeremejevite
Jeremejevite is a rare aluminum borate mineral with variable fluoride and
hydroxide ions. It was named after Russian mineralogist Pavel Vladimirovich
Eremeev (Jeremejev, Germany). It occurs as a late hydrothermal phase in
granitic pegmatites in association with albite, tourmaline, quartz and rarely
gypsum.
Serendibite
Serendibite is an extremely rare boron-bearing mineral that is only rarely found as
facet grade material. There appear to be only two sources for gem quality
serendibite, the Ratnapura area in Sri Lanka, and the Mogok stone tract in
Northern Myanmar.
Red Beryl
It was first described in 1904 for an occurrence, its type locality, at Maynard's
Claim (Pismire Knolls), Thomas Range, Juab County, Utah. Red beryl is very
rare and has only been reported from a handful of locations including: Wah
Wah Mountains, Beaver County, Utah; Paramount Canyon and Round
Mountain, Sierra County, New Mexico. Prices for top quality natural red beryl
can be as high as $10,000 per carat for finished stones.
March 2015
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It Takes a Club to Make a Club Show
The AGMC Jewelry, Gem, and Mineral Show is scheduled for June 13-14, 2015, at the Grapevine
Convention Center. Our Show Chairperson, Anastasia Chaparro, has started securing vendors to buy sales
spaces, coordinating advertising and promotions, and generally wheeling and dealing to make our show the
success we all, as members, expect it to be. She has also appointed a small cadre of volunteers to serve
as committee leaders for the myriad functions that have to be done before and during the show to make it
all happen. That’s all good and as it should be.
Kudo’s to you, Anastasia! Now get back to work and make it even better. June will be here before you know
it!
That’s the rub. Anastasia can’t do it all. Neither can her cadre of committee leaders. Nor should any of us
expect them to.
Without active, enthusiastic support (and work) from us, the members, all the planning and arrangements of
our show organizers would be for nothing. The show would fail from a lack of will to do our best to make it
succeed. It would be, at best, a lackluster event that neither vendors nor attendees would be interested in
participating in again. We, as members, would be diminished along with the reputation of our club.
But that’s not going to happen. We won’t let it happen.
It takes a CLUB to make a CLUB SHOW.
We’ll actively seek out ways to do something fitting our interests, schedules, and skills to help make a
stellar show. Along the way, we’ll find that doing so will not only turn out to be interesting and even fun, but
will also help us grow as people. Being a member of the club is more than paying dues and taking classes.
It is being part of a community of people with very diverse, yet surprisingly common, interests: Making.
Learning. Doing. Sharing. Helping. Having Fun with all of it. That’s what the club is all about.
Get in touch with Anastasia, [email protected] Find out which club member is organizing the
activities you are interested in helping with. If you don’t know what you may be interested in or able to help
with, talk to all of them. There’s something that’ll be good for you, and good for the show, guaranteed.
AGMC 2015 Annual Show Update
By Anastasia Chaparro, Show Chairperson
The show preparations are in full swing now, and we could surely use your help as a volunteer.
Remember you get a selling or displaying space in the club area for your participation if you help
out. We need people to display finished pieces. The sign-up sheets are still by the door, so
remember to take a look at them when you come in to do a class or lab. I have started a board on
Pinterest for the 2015 show with ads from our vendors with photos. It is constantly being added to.
Those of you who would like to send a link to our friends about the show, here is the webpage:
https://www.pinterest.com/mysticalnotes/2015-arlington-jewelry-gem-mineral-show/
Besides that, Renee Crouch who is the committee head for the Club Competition at the show is
looking for artists who would like to participate. The competition parameters will be available to you
in a week or two, and we will put copies up in the front near the door. It is a great way to have a
professional jeweler give you constructive advice and guidance as well.
March 2015
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Enameling Classes/Workshops
By Barbara Maloney, Lapidary Department Chairperson
There are several members of our group that attend our enameling workshops, held on the second
Saturday of the month, that have really been excelling at their enameling. Among the “regulars” are:
• Linden Blackmon, who just conquered plique a jour!
• Linda Trahan had also done a beautiful piece in plique a jour using a different method from the one
used by Linden. Linden filled a punched round hole of about 4 mm in clear coated copper, using a
piece of mica for a backing to hold the enamel in place. Linda had sawn very fine lines in fine silver
and used the traditional surface tension method to hold her enamel in place. Both methods were
successful! Those of us that tried one entire workshop to achieve these results, found out that it is a
lot more difficult than it seems. Our regular sifting techniques, both with and without stencils, have
really been yielding spectacular results.
• Randall Lantz made a fantastic stained glass pattern on a copper disk using sifting and pencil line
techniques. He was working with opaque and the piece was awesome.
• Leslie Williams has continued to work on wonderful bracelets and other pieces. She experienced
some difficulties when using opaques and transparent enamels together. We’re not quite sure why,
but the combination seemed to cause the enamels to turn sandy and peel off the work. It probably
has to do with differences in the coefficient of expansion and/or the softening points of the colors
involved.
• Nancy Leary continues her work with both sifting and using frit. She has produced some really lovely
works.
• Deb Savage hasn’t made it to class in a while, but she makes really nice enamels!
• Sue Poarch has been working at her home on the torch fired technique she learned recently at
another school. She said it was working out very well. We are all anxiously awaiting a class in this
new technique of hot combing the enamel.
March 2015
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Field Trip to Cameron, Texas
Purpose:
To collect Petrified Wood.
RSVP:
To [email protected] if attending
Date & Time:
Saturday, March 7th, 10am
Fees:
Petrified wood is $.25 per pound
Location:
We will be collecting at Sand Creek Farm and Dairy, Cameron, TX
Meeting Place:
Dairy Queen: 203 N Main, Calvert, TX 77837 at 10 am.
Preparations:
Water, sunscreen, basic collecting tools and buckets. Picnic lunch if desired.
Important Notes:
This is a farm that has an outcrop of petrified wood under their land which they are selling for $.25 per
pound. Some of the petrified wood is too porous for lapidary work, and is more suited for masonry or
garden rocks; but some works well, and is gorgeous, particularly the “pocket wood”, which was either eaten
by insects or rotted partially before it petrified, leaving small pockets of agate or drusy in the wood grain.
They also have some interesting iron ore available for the same price.
Some of the petrified wood has been gathered and dumped into a pile, which you can pick from, and the
rest is “in situ” – just waiting for you to discover and collect it.
They accept cash only.
Pets are not allowed.
Field Trips of the Dallas Paleontological Society
(You may need to be a member in order to participate in these field trips.)
Jacksboro field trip led by Jordan Lee
Saturday, March 21, 2015
10 am – meet in downtown square
Hunt until 2pm
What to Bring:
1. Have your backpack with your name on the outside.
2. Collecting bags/containers
3. Digging tools
4. Water and lunch
5. Sunscreen and a hat
6. Parents are welcome
*More info on the website coming soon! Thank you.
Jill Berenson - education chair [email protected]
Tynessa Morgan-Craft [email protected]
Michelle Scrudder [email protected]
March 2015
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Kids Fieldtrip - Martin Marietta Quarry
(TXI)
245 Ward Road
Midlothian TX
Saturday, March 7th
8 am. - 12pm.
You must sign up for this trip. You must be a member of DPS unless the trip doesn’t meet its quota. One
adult per family. Meet in TXI at the first parking lot on the left as you enter BEFORE 8 am so we can sign
the ‘no harm agreements’. This is the ATCO contact between the Eagle Ford Shale and the Austin Chalk
(Cretaceous period) Target finds are marine vertebrate: Cretodus, Ptychodus, Squalicorax and other shark
teeth. Other possibilities include occasional mosasaur, turtle and fish material. I like to remind everyone to
wear closed toe shoes (ankle high boots are best). You will also need a rock hammer, hard hat (quarry will
supply one if you don’t have one) and collection bags (plastic bags are fine). There are no bathroom
facilities once inside the quarry so please STOP AND GO before you get to the quarry. Attention: This trip
seems a little long for our youngest members so I suggest you let them hunt Pyrite during the second half of
the trip or perhaps I can arrange for you to leave at 10am with advance notice. [email protected] 903916-0083
Directions: 67 south towards Midlothian. Continue on 67 pass the Midlothian exits passing under Hwy 287
take Ward Road exit, follow feeder road, make left under 67, cross RR track. You are there. Parking lot is
on your left. Check the hotline 817-355-4693 ahead of any event for any last minute changes.
Sulphur River at Ladonia, Texas March 14
Our special guest, Nathan Van Vranken will be hosting a DPS fieldtrip on March 14th to the Sulphur River
at Ladonia, Texas. He is presently attending UT Permian Basin in Odessa obtaining his master’s degree in
paleontology and will be pursuing his PHD in the upcoming year. Meeting at the 2499 Fossil Park. Contact
information: Polly Mullinnex at [email protected] Cell 903-916-0083
Check the hotline 817-355-4693 ahead of any event for any last minute changes.
April 4th Lake Benbrook
Benbrook is a noted 80 million old late Cretaceous marine site. This Goodland formation represents a
shallow sea offering finds of gastropods, oysters, corals, clams, sea urchins and ammonites. This is a very
family friendly site and offers easy access to the fossil beds. [email protected] 903-916-0083
Check the hotline 817-355-4693 ahead of any event for any last minute changes.
April 18th and 19th Whiskey Bridge
This is a two day fieldtrip, but you are welcome to join the group on Saturday, April 18th, for a day hunt. We
will be hunting near the bridge over the Brazos River off Hwy 21 on the first day. The second day we will be
canoeing the little Brazos. At present I have not found a rental place so you will have to bring your own or
arrange to share one with another participant. This is the Cook Mountain Formation, Eocene marine
Fossils with some shark teeth.
Contact: [email protected] 903-916-0083 Check the hotline 817-355-4693 ahead of any event for any last
minute changes.
May 3rd thru May 8th Nebraska
Nebraska White River Badlands Fieldtrip Arrival date May 3rd. We will be hunting the Oligocene, Brule and
Chadron formations. Finds include turtle, Oreodont, Rhinoceros, three toed horse, rabbit, camel, canine
and feline material. Most abundant remains are Oreodont. There are accommodations on the ranch. Each
room has a microwave, frig and coffee maker. There is also a full kitchen in the main cottage guest may
March 2015
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use. We must have a min. of 5 people and a max of 10. Please Contact Polly at: [email protected], cell
903-916-0083 for prices or further information. You may arrange to pay by the day or for the full 5 nights, 4
days. With an extra half day free on Friday for those paying for the full 5/4.
Annual Denton Creek Canoe Trip - May 16th
This section of the creek flows through the upper Washita series of the lower Cretaceous. Assorted
bivalves, echinoids and cidarid plates have been found along with some plant material. This trip has been
canceled for the last two years due to a low water level in the creek. Always check the hotline for any
changes in this water sensitive trip. Trip leader for this trip will be Roger Farish. [email protected]
Check the hotline 817-355-4693 ahead of any event for any last minute changes.
June 6th, Gore, Oklahoma
Bad weather has plagued the last two scheduled fieldtrips to Gore so we will try, once more, in hopes the
sun will shine on this year’s endeavor. The quarry is Pennsylvanian Age, Morrowan Stage. This is the very
earliest Pennsylvanian.
What will you find? Blastoids (the real attraction at this quarry) also occasional crinoids, Paleozoic shark
teeth, brachiopods, corals and other invertebrates. [email protected] 903-916-0083. Check the
hotline 817-355-4693 ahead of any event for any last minute changes.
July 11th Sherman Creeks - Shark Tooth Fieldtrip
A Cretaceous shark tooth trip. Fieldtrip leader Roger Farish. [email protected] Check the hotline 817355-4693 ahead of any event for any last minute changes.
August 15th Oliver Creek
This is a very family friendly fieldtrip offering assorted echinoids and ammonites....
Leader Roger Farish. [email protected]
Check the hotline 817-355-4693 ahead of any event for any last minute changes.
Local Area Club Meetings
Dallas Gem & Mineral Society, 10205 Plano Rd, off of Plano Rd, Dallas, TX, meets the 3rd Tuesday
of each month at 7 pm
Dallas Paleontological Society, EMGI (Bldg. H, Brookhaven College, 3939 Valley View Lane,
Farmers Branch, TX 75244), 2nd Wednesday each month at 7:30 pm
Farmers Branch Senior Center, Rock & Mineral Club, 14055 Dennis Lane, Farmers Branch, TX
75234, meets the first Thursday of each month from 10am - noon. NO FEES FOR THIS CLUB!
Fort Worth Gem & Mineral Club, 3545 Bryan Avenue, Ft Worth, TX, meets the 4th Tuesday of each
month at 7:30 pm
Cowtown Gem, Mineral, & Glass Club, 3300 Bryant Irvin Road, Fort Worth, TX 76109, meets the
2nd Tuesday at 7:00 pm (Note: These meetings may be relocated or delayed due to construction at
club site)
Oak Cliff Gem & Min Society, South Hampton Community Hospital, 2929 S. Hampton Rd, Dallas,
TX, 4th Tuesday each month at 7 pm
Pleasant Oaks Gem & Mineral Club, Garland Women's Bldg., 713 Austin, Garland, TX meets the
1st Thursday each month at 7:30 pm
March 2015
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Bench Tips, By Brad Smith
WINDING JUMP RINGS
Whenever you need a few jump rings the
same size, it's easy to grab a round rod
and wind as many as you need. But when
you need a lot of them, some form of
winder saves a lot of time. A variable
speed screw gun makes quick work of
winding the coils. Screw guns are quite
inexpensive at discount stores and are
remarkably handy for odd jobs in the shop
and around the house.
To wind a coil, just bend a right angle on
the end of the wire about a half inch long
and insert this into the screw gun chuck.
Then wind slowly, keeping a tight coil. I
like to rest the end of the mandrel on the edge of the table or bench pin. Finally, one note of
caution. If you are winding an entire length of wire, be careful as you get near the end of the wire.
If the end passes under your thumb, it can cause a nasty scratch or cut.
_____________
TOUCHING UP A BEZEL
Pumice wheels are good for touching up a bezel after you've set the stone. The hardness is about
6 on the Mohs scale, less hard than quartz, so it shouldn't scratch any of your agates or jaspers.
However, I'd avoid or be real careful of using pumice near the softer stones like turquoise, amber,
howlite, etc.
If you're unsure about the hardness of your wheels, test them on a piece of glass. Glass is about 5
½ on the Mohs scale, softer than quartz. So if the wheel doesn't harm glass, it's safe for use on the
quartzes and harder stones.
My preference is the one inch diameter ones such as those shown at:
riogrande.com/Product/AdvantEdge-Pumice-Wheels-Medium/332722?pos=2
March 2015
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Lapidary Lab Schedule, March 2015
By Barbara Maloney
3/3/2015
3/5/2015
3/7/2015
3/12/2015
3/14/2015
3/17/2015
3/19/2015
3/21/2015
3/25/2015
3/26/2015
3/28/2015
2nd Tues
1st Thurs
1st Sat
2nd Thurs
2nd Sat
3rd Tues
3rd Thurs
3rd Sat
4th Wed.
4th Thurs.
4th Sat
Andre
Jeremy
Ray
Randall
Lizzette
Jesse
Jeremy
Richard
Andre
Jeremy
Barbara
9am-12pm
7:30pm-9:30pm
9am-12pm
7pm-9pm
9am-12pm
7pm-10pm (FREE evening)
7:30pm-9:30pm
8am-12pm
1-4 pm
7:30pm-9:30pm
8am-12pm
Area Gem & Mineral Shows
Mar 7-8, 2015, Pasadena, Texas, Clear Lake Gem & Mineral Society, Pasadena Convention Center.
Mar 7-8, 2015, Big Spring, Texas, Big Spring Prospectors Club, Howard County Fair Barn.
Mar 7-8, 2015, Robstown, Texas, Gulf Coast Gem & Mineral Society, Regional Fairgrounds.
Mar 12-15, 2015, Deming, New Mexico, Deming Gem & Mineral Society, SW New Mexico Fairgrounds.
Mar 14-15, 2015, San Antonio, Texas, Southwest Gem & Mineral Society, San Antonio Event Center, 8111
Meadow Leaf Drive (Corner of I-410 and Marbach)
Mar 20-22, 2015, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Albuquerque Gem & Mineral Club, New Mexico State
Fairgrounds.
Mar 27-28, 2015, Ada, Oklahoma, Ada Gem, Mineral & Fossil Club, Pontotoc County Agri-Plex.
Apr 11-12, 2015, Abilene, Texas, Central Texas Gem & Mineral Society, Abilene Civic Center, N. 6th & Pine
Street.
Apr 17-19, 2015, Alpine, Texas, Chihuahuan Desert Gem & Mineral Society, Alpine Civic Center.
Apr 24-26, 2015, Dallas, Texas, The International Gem & Jewelry Show, Dallas Market Hall.
I'm sure you've heard about the spacecraft that the European Space Agency landed on the comet. It
skipped 3 times before falling into a ditch. The ESA was ecstatic and said their next space craft will be
taught how to jump rope.
March 2015
THE HOUNDS TALE
12
March 2015 Class News
By Emie Stewart, 1st VP (Classes)
Thank you for your interest in AGMC and its classes. All official class information and schedules
can be found here and in the Class Schedule published monthly by Emie Stewart. Information
received after the deadline will be announced at the monthly club meeting. Below are some of the
new classes coming up, plus important general information about the classes and how to sign up
for them. In addition, in an effort to better communicate with new members, a one-page New
Member AGMC Class Information document is now available from John Crabb when new
members join the club. If existing members would like a copy, please see John.
New Classes:
• Saturday, March 7, Carrie Baum will teach a workshop on wiring large beads for pendants.
The workshop is from 1-4 PM.
• Saturday, March 7, Janet Gray will teach a pearl knotting class from 1-3 PM.
• Monday, March 23, from 7-9 PM, Leslye Wilkes will teach a workshop on Byzantine chain.
• Saturday, March 28, from 1-4 PM, Katiri Peters will be teaching a workshop on making an
adjustable wire wrapped ring.
• Saturday, March 28, Janet Gray will be teaching an intermediate pearl knotting class.
• Monday, April 13, Don Whitney will be teaching a class on tool making, from 6-10PM.
• Saturday, April 18, from 1-3, Helen Vaught will be teaching a chain maille class.
• Jurgen Maerz returns to AGMC on Saturday and Sunday, April 18-19, to teach an all-day
workshop on flush setting and bead setting faceted stones, along with bright cutting. This is
an advanced technical class. Please see Emie Stewart for more information.
• On Thursday, April 23, Delbert Speed will teach a workshop on torch firing enamel beads.
The class is from 7-10 PM.
• A new beginning silversmithing class will be offered, beginning on Monday nights in May.
Sign-ups will be at the April meeting, in the cabbing room, beginning at 7:00 PM.
AGMC March 2015 Class Schedule
By Emie Stewart, 1st VP (Classes)
SPECIAL WORKSHOPS:
Keum Boo
Saturday, March 7, 1-4 PM
Instructor: Linda Trahan
Wire Wrapping Large Beads for Pendants
Saturday, March 7, 1-4 PM
Instructor: Carrie Baum
Beginning Pearl Knotting
Saturday, March 7, 1-3 PM
Instructor: Janet Gray
Byzantine Chain
Monday, March 23, 7-9 PM
Instructor: Leslye Wilkes
Granulation
Saturday, March 28, 1-4 PM
Instructor: Linda Trahan
March 2015
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Wire Wrapping: Adjustable Ring
Saturday, March 28, 1-4PM
Instructor: Katiri Peters
Intermediate Pearl Knotting
Saturday, March 28, 1-3 PM
Instructor: Janet Gray
ONGOING CLASSES:
Cab Class
1st Saturday, 1-4 PM
2nd Tuesday, 7-10 PM
4th Tuesday, 9 AM-noon
4th Wednesday, 9 AM-noon
4th Saturday, 1-4 PM
Instructor:
Instructor:
Instructor:
Instructor:
Instructor:
Beginning Fused Glass
Sundays, 1-5 PM
Instructor: Lois McCormick, Tom McCormick III
Glass Fusing Labs
2nd & 3rd Tuesdays, 7-10 PM
Instructor: Karen Cessna
Enameling Labs
2nd Saturdays, 1-5 PM
Instructors: Sue Poarch & Barbara Maloney
Ray Wilkes
Stephen Bennett
Carl Wells
Andre Meyer
Barbara Maloney
Faceting
Wednesdays, 7-9 PM
Instructors: Mike Knuth/Elaine O’Donley/Frank Krystinik/Donna Mallory/Dudley Barnes
Casting Lab
Thurs, Mar 12, 7-10 PM & Sat, Mar 14, 9-noon
Instructors: Jack Spinks and Katiri Peters
Silversmithing
Intermediate Silversmithing
Wednesdays, 7-10 PM
Advanced Silversmithing
Fridays, 7-10 PM
Instructor: Rotating; Class Assistants: Sue Bedell/Diane Neal
Instructors: Emie Stewart/Marlenia Cohen/John Crabb/Jayne Colburn
Special Projects in Silversmithing for Alumni
Thursdays, 1-4 PM
Instructor: Emie Stewart
AGMC Tentative April 2015 Class Schedule
SPECIAL WORKSHOPS:
Setting Faceted Stones: Flush, Bead, and Bright Cutting
Sat & Sun, Apr 18 & 19, all day
Instructor: Jurgen Maerz
Chain Maille
Saturday, April 18, 1-3 PM
Instructor: Helen Vaught
Tool Making
Monday, April 13, 6-10 PM
Instructor: Don Whitney
March 2015
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Torch Firing Enamel Beads
Thursday, April 23, 7-10 PM
Instructor: Delbert Speed
ONGOING CLASSES:
Cab Class:
1st Saturday, 1-4 PM
2nd Tuesday, 7-10 PM
4th Saturday, 1-4 PM
Instructor: Ray Wilkes
Instructor: Stephen Bennett
Instructor: Barbara Maloney
Faceting
Wednesdays, 7-9 PM
Instructors: Mike Knuth/Elaine O’Donley/Frank Krystinik/Donna Mallory/Dudley Barnes
Glass Fusing Lab
2nd & 3rd Tuesdays, 7-10 PM
Instructor: Karen Cessna
Enameling Labs
2nd Saturdays, 1-5 PM
Instructors: Sue Poarch and Barbara Maloney
Casting Lab
TBA
Instructors: Jack Spinks and Katiri Peters
Silversmithing
Intermediate Silversmithing
Wednesdays, 7-10 PM
Instructors: Rotating; Class Assistants: Sue Bedell/Diane Neal
Advanced Silversmithing
Fridays, 7-10 PM
Instructor: Emie Stewart/Marlenia Cohen/John Crabb/Jayne Colburn
Special Projects in Silversmithing for Alumni
Thursdays, 1-4 PM
Instructor: Emie Stewart
March 2015
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Obama to give free parks admission to fourth graders
By Gregory Korte, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — President Obama will announce Thursday that the National Park Service will
give all fourth graders and their families free admission to national parks and other federal lands
for a full year. The Every Kid in a Park initiative is part of an effort to get schoolchildren outdoors
and more active. It will start in the school year that begins next fall, which coincides with the 100th
anniversary of the National Parks Service in 2016. Family admission to national parks usually
costs $80 for an annual pass, but fourth graders and their families will be able to get a free pass
that will give them admission to national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and other federal public
lands and waters, according to a White House official who spoke on condition of anonymity to
allow the president to make the announcement. Obama will make the announcement Thursday in
Chicago, where he will announce that he's designating the Pullman neighborhood as a national
monument. The neighborhood, on the city's south side, was built by the Pullman Palace Car Co.
for the workers who made its sleeper cars for passenger trains beginning in 1867 — but it's most
significant for its role in labor unrest and civil rights advances. Obama will also announce
designation of Honolulu National Monument in Hawaii, where Japanese-American citizens and
prisoners of war were held in an internment camp during World War II, and Browns Canyon
National Monument in Colorado, a popular whitewater rafting destination along the Arkansas
River. The cost of the free passes for fourth graders will come out of a $20 million National Park
Service budget for youth engagement programs. With the help of the National Parks Foundation,
the Park Service will also provide grants for free transportation for schools that need it, and
educational materials for teachers. According to National Geographic, the best national parks
spots for children include Yellowstone in Wyoming, the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado, the Grand
Canyon in Arizona and the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee.
Editor’s note: National Parks, etc. in Texas:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument
Amistad National Recreation Area
Big Bend National Park
Big Thicket National Preserve
Chamizal National Memorial
El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail
El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail
Fort Davis National Historic Site
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Lake Meredith National Recreation Area
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park
Padre Island National Seashore
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site
Rio Grande Wild And Scenic River
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
March 2015
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LAPIDARY SHOP REPORT
By Barbara Maloney, Lapidary Department Chairperson
Thanks to Donald Whitney, saw #1 is up and running again. The spring that was sprung has been replaced
and, if we use the carriage release lever carefully, hopefully this problem won’t arise again! Please
remember the supervisors are there for your benefit. They can help you make certain your rock is in the
carriage properly, help you figure out the proper use of saws, and lend advice in so many areas. Please
use them as needed. That’s why we get paid the big bucks! Another issue with saws, both big and trim, is
that too much oil is being added. The oil barrel and the small jugs of oil are now being locked up. Hopefully
this will encourage members to ask a supervisor to add more oil, or clean a dirty trim saw if necessary.
Remember, adding more oil than necessary only creates an oily floor. It will not help you cut a rock that is
too large for the saw. When cutting a rock, it is necessary to have between ½ to 1/3 of the blade extending
above the top edge of your rock when it is in proper position to be cut (That means when your rock is
secured in the carriage or flat on the table of a trim saw). Also, if the oil is closer to sludge than a true
liquid, you may need to ask the supervisor on duty to change the oil on the trim saw. We obviously can’t
change the oil on the large saws during an open lab, but if one is really dirty, PLEASE report it to the
supervisor. Randall Lantz and Jesse Baum found that the Lake Valdez in front of saw #10 wasn’t due to
over filling, but rather due to a leak! We have a book for keeping needed repairs or cleaning needs noted,
so they can be addressed as time permits. Saw #4, has a problem with the tensioning bar that causes a lot
of vibration. Randall has found a solution for #4 and I’m getting to it. I guess some of you have given up on
my struggle with saw #2 (alias Satan). I haven’t given up, but my time now that school is in session is
running thin. I hope to get Harold Hoskinson or Travis Houston to help me find a suitable motor for #2’s
carriage. It is located in a deuce of a position to replace. I hope to get saw #3 cleaned up at the next big
saw class, put the blade back on, fill it with oil, and have it up and running by next month. If we manage to
find a suitable motor for #2, the stars align correctly, and my prayers are answered, we may even see it
back in action by next month! Please cross your fingers…
Things in the cabbing room seem to be going along smoothly. Thanks again for everyone’s efforts to use
the equipment correctly. If you forget what the proper procedures are please ask a supervisor for help if
they haven’t already offered!
Thanks to Elaine O’Donley for her gift of rock to the Club. Carl Wells, past President and donations chair,
cut out a double handful of slabs from this donation to add to our rock for beginning cabbing. They were
needed and much appreciated. If you have slabs, especially of agate or jaspers, that need a home, please
consider a donation to the slabs for beginning cabbing.
Remember that the flat lap now can polish your flat pieces, Mohs hardness of 8 or lower, to 14,000. We
should see some wonderful results on pieces for inlay, flat faced cabs, and some brilliant backsides on
cabs!
I was wondering how the membership felt about offering some kind of contests for cabbing. I was thinking
that we might have a contest every other month, so that most people in the membership would be able to
find the time to participate. I think I could get an outside authority from the club for a judge, possibly from
CERA or the Dallas Club. There would be two classes, beginning and advanced. You would choose where
your talents would belong. I was thinking of offering some really nice slab or rough for the prizes. Anybody
interested? Let me know your thoughts on the idea. Contact me at [email protected].
Important updates on lapidary shop news:
Stephen Bennett is willing to teach a class in amber. He said there would be no prerequisite required, he
would take up to six students, need only three hours on one day, and he would put together kits with
everything needed and get back to us with a price. He will be using wet dry sandpapers and a roller paint
tray insert for the tools (amber would gum up the wheels and belts on our equipment) and he would provide
an inexpensive piece of amber in the kit. He believed this would cost under $10. He doesn’t have time for
the class until this summer.
March 2015
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Jack Spinks said he would be willing to teach a class in Ethiopian opal. This would be a class with no
prerequisite, he would make the kits (again, we wouldn’t be using the wheels, he likes to use nail files). He
would like to teach this in April, probably on a Sunday afternoon. He would need three hours and I think will
take up to six students. He will get back to us on a date and cost.
Bob Boyd is willing to teach a class in cutting turquoise. He would require basic cabbing as a
prerequisite, take a maximum of six students who would need to provide their own material, and require
four hours on a Saturday afternoon. He would need the club to provide Zam and new four inch muslin
buffing wheels to be used on the silversmithing polishing wheels. He would be available for this sometime
this summer.
Jesse Baum has offered to give a class in cutting (slabbing) tiger eye. He would require the big saw
class as a prerequisite. He would also need a three hour time frame and would want four students. He is
willing to sell material, or the student could provide their own. He also offered a class in cabbing tiger
eye. He would require basic cabbing as a prerequisite and again is willing for students to provide their own
material or purchase it from him. He would take four students in this class. Since he is starting a new class
in “pre” silversmithing, he won’t be available until late summer or early fall for this class.
Frank Krystinik, can be persuaded to teach a class in cabbing Australian opal. He would require basic
cabbing and the students could provide their own material, or he might sell some of his. I think four
students would be the limit on this class and would require the three hours we usually see for cab classes.
I’m also working on him to teach another of the very popular doublet and triplet classes. No dates have
been discussed at this time.
Carl Wells has offered to teach a daytime basic cabbing class on the fourth Tuesday of the month from
nine to noon! The regular three hours would be required.
Andre Meyer, is also willing to teach a daytime class in basic cabbing from nine to noon, on the fourth
Wednesday of the month. He would then offer open lab from one to four on the same day. This would
allow those that just finished the cab class to continue cutting on their own materials, as well as allow
members a weekday open lab!
Sealing Cracks in Gemstones
By Gary Dawson
An old lapidary taught me an excellent trick for sealing cracks in gemstones. Some gems are inherently
unstable. If a client of mine wants one of these gems for inlay, or to be cut or set, I will often use this
technique - with full disclosure, of course - to make the stone suitable for use in these applications. Also,
with the growing trend of repurposing old jewelry, I am
seeing more sentimental gems coming across my counter
that require repair rather than replacement. Enter the
epoxy technique.
To get epoxy deep into a crack in a gemstone, mix it as
you normally would and then mix that compound in a
50:50 ratio with acetone. (I generally use water--clear
Epoxy 330, which is specifically formulated for use with
gemstones.) You can simply paint this new mixture on the
crack and it will penetrate very well. As the acetone
evaporates, it leaves epoxy in the crack, which cures
normally once the acetone is completely evaporated. This
curing process may take a few days rather than the
normal 24 hours for this particular epoxy, so don’t rush it!
To get even better results, immerse the gem in the epoxy-acetone mixture and then place it in a vacuum chamber
to boil the mixture, which draws the solution even deeper
into the cracks. A formerly unstable gemstone will be
ready to set, inlay, or cut after this treatment—and your
client will be glad you knew this handy trick.
March 2015
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Spinosaurus: The Largest Carnivorous Dinosaur
By Joseph Castro, Live Science Contributor | October 30, 2014
Spinosaurus was the biggest of all the carnivorous dinosaurs, larger than Tyrannosaurus and
Giganotosaurus. It lived during part of the Cretaceous period, about 112 million to 97 million years ago,
roaming the swamps of North Africa. Two Spinosaurus species have been named based on the regions
where they were discovered: Spinosaurus aegyptiacus (Egyptian spine lizard) and Spinosaurus
maroccanus (Moroccan spine lizard).
Spinosaurus means "spine lizard," an appropriate descriptor, as the dinosaur had very long spines growing
on its back to form what is referred to as a "sail." The distinctive spines, which grew out of the animal's back
vertebrae, were up to 7 feet (2.1 meters) long and were likely connected to one another by skin.
Recent fossil evidence shows Spinosaurus was the first dinosaur that was able to swim, and likely
spent most of its life in the water, according to a study published September 2014 in the journal Science.
"Spinosaurus had short hind limbs (like early whales and other animals that spent more and more time in
the water), dense and compact bones (penguins show a similar bone profile in cross section), wide and flat
claws and feet (possibly used in paddling), and a long and slender snout with conical teeth (perfect for
catching fish)," said Nizar Ibrahim, a University of Chicago vertebrate paleontologist and lead author of the
study.
There has been
much scientific
debate regarding
the evolution and
purpose of
Spinosaurus' sail.
Because of its size,
this dinosaur did not
have many
predators, but the
sail could have
been used to ward
off enemies, as the
dinosaur would
have appeared to
be twice its size with
the sail fully extended. The dinosaur's upper spine was fairly flexible, and its vertebrae had ball-and-socket
joints, meaning it was likely able to arch its back to a point. It may have been able to spread the sail when
threatened or looking to attract a mate. In a 1997 study published in the Journal of Paleontology,
paleontologist Jack Bowman Bailey proposed that Spinosaurus and the similar Ouranosaurus didn't have
sails after all, and instead had large, bison like backs. (Ouranosaurus was another spiny dinosaur, which
lived in the same general area as Spinosaurus a few million years earlier.) These humps, Bailey argued,
would have acted as dissipative "heat shields" that, unlike sails, would have helped the dinosaurs survive in
the hot and dry environment they were thought to have lived in (it's now known that their environment was
actually a lush swamp).
Other paleontologists have hypothesized that Spinosaurus used its sail to regulate its body temperature by
absorbing heat or storing fat. However, Nizar Ibrahim and his colleagues found that the spines were
composed of dense bones with few blood vessels and were likely wrapped snugly in skin, which doesn't
support the thermoregulation idea. "The sail was likely used as a display structure," Ibrahim told Live
Science. "It would have been visible from far away and even when the animal was swimming. This way, the
animal could convey information about its age, size and … gender to other animals, in particular other
Spinosaurus." Additionally, some paleontologists, Ibrahim included, have hypothesized that the sails were
brightly colored (much like the fins of some modern-day reptiles), making them even better display
structures. But, Ibrahim notes, "The sail likely had more than one function."
March 2015
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Spinosaurus was larger than both T. rex and Giganotosaurus, which was previously the largest
carnivorous dinosaur known. But it's unclear just how big Spinosaurus was, due to incomplete fossils. In a
2005 study in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, researchers estimated Spinosaurus was 52 to 59 feet
(16 to 18 m) long and weighed 7.7 to 9.9 tons (7 to 9 metric tons), based on extrapolations from skull
measurements. However, other scientists took issue with the study's methods, and instead claimed the
behemoth was 41 to 47 feet (12.6 to 14.3 m) long and 13.2 to 23 tons (12 to 20.9 metric tons), according to
a 2007 study in the same journal. The partial Spinosaurus skeleton Ibrahim his colleagues analyzed
suggests the specimen was 50 feet (15.2 meters) long and still growing. The fossils also suggest
Spinosaurus' long neck and trunk shifted the dinosaur's center of mass forward. This allowed the animal to
move easily in water, but made movement on land nearly impossible unless the dinosaur used all four legs.
Spinosaurus had a long and narrow snout at the end of its skull, and a small crest above its eyes. It had six
or seven needlelike teeth on each side of the very front of the upper jaw and another 12 teeth behind those.
There were also a few large, slanted teeth that interlocked at the end of the snout. While its jaw was
powerful, none of the teeth were serrated, making it unlikely that it could have used them to tear into tough
prey. This gives credence to the theory that it mostly survived on fish and carcasses.
Spinosaurus is thought to have survived primarily on fish, including giant coelacanths, sawfish, large
lungfish and sharks, which lived in the dinosaur's river system, according to Ibrahim. "The skull of
Spinosaurus has 'fish eating' written all over it, so those are the kinds of animals Spinosaurus would have
preyed on," he said. In addition to anatomical evidence, chemical analyses also suggest Spinosaurus
preferred to dine on fish, a 2010 study in the journal Geology shows.
In 2004, researchers found a tooth belonging to Irritator challengeri — a spinosaur, or dinosaur in
Spinosaurus' taxonomic family, Spinosauridae — embedded in the remains of a Cretaceous pterosaur
(flying reptile). The find, detailed in the journal Nature, suggests the fish-loving spinosaurs also hunted (or
scavenged) nonaquatic animals. Spinosaurus lived in Egypt and Morocco. There is speculation that the
Sahara is rich with Spinosaurus fossils, but the harsh environment makes them difficult to unearth. Very
few Spinosaurus fossils have been discovered, and no complete remains have been found. The first
Spinosaurus partial skeleton was unearthed in 1912 by Richard Markgraf in the Bahariya Formation of
western Egypt. These original remains, which were described and named by Ernst Stromer in 1915, were
destroyed in Allied bombing raids on Munich, Germany, during World War II. It is only due to Stromer's
meticulous notes, including detailed descriptions and sketches, that much of the scant knowledge
surrounding this dinosaur has been retained.
In 2011, a neck vertebra
from a dinosaur,
believed to be a
spinosaur, with a snout
resembling that of a
crocodile was found in
Australia, showing that
the dinosaur family had
a much wider range
than scientists had
previously thought
possible, according to
the study published in
the journal Biology
Letters.
March 2015
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ARLINGTON GEM AND MINERAL CLUB
Date: February 3, 2015, General Meeting Minutes
Call to Order: President Carrie Baum called the meeting to order at 7:35.
Programs – 2nd VP Jesse Baum - Our Program: a DVD entitled Collecting Rocks and Minerals by
Physical Geography II Series. Next month’s meeting will be by Delbert Speed on Everything You
Wanted to Know, But Didn’t Know to Ask.
Break
Sandra Brazzale has some new helpers in the welcome group. Jan Schulte and Julie Dellaughter
will be assisting with the raffle tonight.
Drawings/Raffle:
• Name Badge/Sign In:
o Sue Hjelm won a piece of ammonite.
o Erlinda Romero won a piece of petrified wood.
o Charles Graham won an onyx slab.
o Fielding Jones won an onyx slab.
• Raffle:
o Frances Johnson won a piece of sodalite.
o Sue Porch won a piece of White Buffalo turquoise.
o Frances Johnson won a piece of blue agate.
o Alayna Frost won a string of beads.
o Laura Smith won a piece of glacial float copper.
o Alayna Frost won a glass pendant.
Secretary’s report - Marlenia Cohen said minutes from last month were posted on the bulletin
board and are included in the Hound’s Tale.
Treasurer’s Report – Steve Bennett reported that we are solvent.
Classes -- 1st VP Emie Stewart listed new classes:
• Last Saturday we had a class scheduled with 10 students signed up and four people on the
waiting list. Only four students showed up for class. If you can’t make it to class, call the
teacher and let them know. Someone else might want your spot! Repeat offenders of the
No Show Policy will be waitlisted for all classes.
• March 7th, Linda Trahan will be teaching Keum Boo.
• Also on March 7th, Janet Gray will be teaching Beginning Pearl Knotting.
• March 18th, a new Faceting class will begin.
• March 12 and 14 there will be a Casting Lab.
• March 14th there will be an Enameling Lab.
• March 28th, Granulation will be taught by Linda Trahan.
March 2015
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•
•
•
•
•
Also on March 28th, Janet Gray will teach Intermediate Pearl Knotting.
The Wire Findings Classes are full, but will be taking 15 instead of 10.
In May, there will be a new Introduction to Silversmithing. Signup will be at the April
meeting. There is a $162 building fee. Expect to spend about $500 for your tools. It will
last eighteen weeks.
AKS is February 27-March 1st.
InterGem is April 24-26.
Nova Wells asked that we consider offering more daytime classes, for those who don’t drive at
night.
Youth Programs – 4th VP Janet Gray – Sandra Brazzale reported for Janet. The next meeting is
the third Saturday of the month.
Delegate at Large – Ray Wilkes – The first Saturday of the month for the cabbing room is listed as
9 a.m., but Ray will be here at 8 a.m. Any comments, or suggestions for the club, please send
them to Ray.
Donations – Carl Wells – Nothing new to report.
Show Report – Anastasia Chaparro – We need volunteers.
• Anastasia is working with American Rockhound Magazine to get our show mentioned.
They feature sites to go hunting. See Americanrockhound.com.
• We should have 10 confirmed checks by the end of the week.
• Interested vendors may contact Anastasia.
Lapidary – Barbara Maloney –
• Saw #2 is still down. We need a new carriage motor.
• Richard Makatura helped repair saw #3.
• Next Big Saw class will be in April.
• Saw #1 needed a new spring. Don Whitney helped get it running again.
• Saws are being overfilled with oil, so the oil is being locked up, so only supervisors can refill
saws.
• We now have flat laps up to 14,000 grit. Don’t polish anything harder than Mohs 8 on them.
You must rinse, and dry them before you put them back in the separate bags.
Membership – John Crabb – We have 283 members.
Library – Jacqueline Chirunga – New members, stop by and see what the library has to offer.
Please return any overdue books.
Sunshine Report -- Marge Harrand - A sympathy card was sent to Elaine O’Donley. A get well
card was sent to Debra Hartz.
Hospitality – Jackie Peel - Thanks for all the good food you brought tonight. Don’t forget to take
home leftovers. Free coffee will be available after the break.
March 2015
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Old Business – Darcy Sety is working on getting our new website ready for rollout in mid-February.
New Business – Thanks for all of your suggestions. Keep sending in suggestions. Some of the
suggestions under consideration:
• Sandra Brazzale suggested a mentor program for new members.
• Stacy Hactel suggested that we have business cards to hand out to interested people.
• Ingrid Lantz will be supervising our new Lost and Found.
• We need more classroom space, and have formed a committee to look into that. Emie
Stewart is the chairman. Sue Porch, John Alexander, John Crabb, and John Haag are also
on the committee. They will report back at the end of March.
• For the Wish list, Ray Wilkes has asked for slabs for the beginning cabbing class. Agate
and jasper are preferred. Jesse Baum has asked for new AV equipment.
Volunteer Opportunities –
• AKS has enough volunteers.
• Building Committee – Jesse Baum and Lauren Smith are co-chairs of the building
committee. They could use additional volunteers to help keep things in our clubhouse in
order.
The Meeting Adjourned at approximately 9:05 pm.
Submitted by:
Marlenia Cohen
Secretary AGMC
March 2015
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