The Rockytier - LGMS: Lubbock Gem and Mineral Society

The Rockytier
Volume 20
Newsletter for the Lubbock Gem & Mineral Society of Lubbock, Texas
MONTHLY MEETINGS:
Lubbock Gem & Mineral Society Meeting:
Tuesday - December 2, 2008
7:00 p.m.
@ Forrest Heights United Methodist Church
3007 33rd St.
Lubbock, Texas
LGMS Board Meeting:
NO BOARD MEETING - Due to all the
Christmas parties, get togethers, etc…...
Shows Coming Up
December
5-7
El Paso Mineral & Gem Society
El Maida Auditorium, 6331 Alabama
El Paso, TX
Contact Info:
Jeannette Carrillo, (915) 533-7153
e-mail: [email protected]
2008
DECEMBER
M
E
R
R
Y
Number 12
JALAF
Canceled for this month.
JALAF for January:
Your Oddest Piece
C
H
R
I
S
T
M
A
S
January - February
31 - 14
Arizona Mineral & Fossil Show
Tucson, Arizona
Contact Info:
e-mail: [email protected];
Web site: www.mzexpos.com
Happy Birthday
12…………..…...….Archie Scott
February
20 - 22
Albuquerque Gem & Mineral Club
"Treasures of the Earth Show"
Albuquerque, New Mexico 41st annual show
Contact Info:
Paul Hlava, (505) 255-5478; e-mail: [email protected]
21 - 22
Hi Plains Gem & Mineral Society
Plainview, Texas: 47th annual show
Contact Info:
Happy Anniversary
DECEMBER
21……..…Orval & Mary Gryder
30…...Leland & Rhonda Taylor
Mildred Matlock, (806) 293-3476, (806) 293-3476
e-mail: [email protected]
May
16 - 17
Lubbock Gem & Mineral Show
Lubbock, Texas: 51st annual show
Contact Info:
Archie Scott, (806) 894-1584
Each month I have published the anniversaries
and birthdays for each member. If you have not
seen your name on one of the lists and it should
have been, please let me know. I can’t fix it if I
don’t know about it.
~Rhonda, your editor
1
DECEMBER
Volume 20
Rockytier
2008
Number 12
MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER MEETING
BIRTHSTONE FOR DECEMBER – TURQUOISE
I missed this meeting because it was
held on November the 4th, I was working
the election in Sundown. I had a great time, but it sure was
a long day (13 hours long). Anyway the whole point is that
I have no idea what went on and I have not received any
minutes from this meeting. So there you go.
There's something special about this sky-blue gem. The
American Indians mined thin turquoise veins and believed
the stone brought together the spirits of sea and sky to
bless warriors and hunters. A turquoise arrowhead
assured accurate aim. The Navajo considered turquoise
sacred, giving it as a special gift for some happy occasion,
and always wearing at least one bit of turquoise, even if it
was only a bead tied in the hair. Turquoise was used for
beads by the Egyptians also, as well as for inlay in gold,
as early as 5500 B.C. The oldest dated piece of jewelry is
said to be an Egyptian bracelet set with turquoise from the
oldest source of turquoise, the Maghara Wadi mines in the
Sinai Peninsula.
~Rhonda, your editor
MINUTES OF THE BOARD
OF DIRECTORS MEETING:
I did attend this meeting, we
discussed a few things, like the field trip
in January, the Christmas Dinner on
December 2nd. I haven’t received these
minutes either. Jim-you ok, this is not
like you. :)
~Rhonda, your editor
A
W
Or D
From Our President:
The word never came, and I told him he could not skip
out on it this month. Just wait till I see him!!
~Rhonda, your editor
The highest grade of turquoise has for centuries come
from the Persian mines near Nishapur, in the Iranian
province of Khorosan. The Persians have regarded
turquoise as their national gem. The stone occurs in
irregular patches and narrow seams in a brecciated
trachyte porphry associated with limonite.
“White Buffalo” Turquoise:
When discovered in the Dry Creek Mine on the
Shosone Indian Reservation near Battle Mountain,
Nevada, in 1993, they were not sure what it was. Because
of its hardness, it was decided to send it to have it
assayed and their suspicions proved correct; it was in fact
white turquoise. It was not until 1996, however, that it was
finally made into jewelry.
Turquoise gets its color from the heavy metals in the
ground where it forms. Blue turquoise forms where there
is copper present, which is the case with most Arizona
turquoises. Green turquoise forms where iron is present;
the case with most Nevada turquoises. White turquoise
forms where there are no heavy metals present, which
turns out to be a very rare occurrence. To date, no other
vein of white turquoise has been discovered anywhere
else and when this current vein runs out, that will be the
last of it. Because white turquoise is as rare as a white
buffalo, the Indians call it "White Buffalo" turquoise.
Odontolite
Tooth Stone or Bone Turquoise is actually the bones
and teeth of animals, fossilized and colored blue or green
by iron phosphate. Its organic texture reveals its origin.”
~from The Voice, 12/08; via Golden Spike News, 12/06;
via Rock Chips, 12/07
FOR FUTURE INFORMATION
If possible could everyone have all the information I
need to put into the bulletin to me by the 20th of the
month. That would be great.
If you can’t let me know, I would like to have the bulletin
completed and in the mail on the Tuesday before the
LGMS regular meeting. Ok, thank-you so much!
~Rhonda
Note From The Voice’s Editor: There is another source
for White Buffalo – Tonapah NV. The Otteson’s have a
large turquoise mine there and have discovered several
small veins of White Buffalo. But it is still a rare find. For
more info see website:
http://www.tonopahturquoise.com/6.html.
~from The Voice, 12/08;
I Believe...
Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different
2
DECEMBER
Volume 20
Rockytier
2008
CRYSTAL ROCK GARDEN
MATERIALS NEEDED:
Water
Alum (found in the spice section of supermarkets)
Clear glass bowl
Clean rocks and pebbles
Number 12
OUR PROGRAM
There will not be a program for the December
meeting. We will discuss a few important business
matters then we are going to join in and enjoy our
Christmas Dinner.
Everyone Please Come!
~Rhonda, your editor
Time needed: Under 1 Hour
1. Bring 1/2 cup of water to a boil. Add 2 ounces of
alum, stirring until the alum is dissolved.
2. Pour the solution into a clear glass bowl half
filled with assorted clean rocks and pebbles. Within hours
you should be able to see alum crystals forming as glasslike squares. Within several days you should have a number of crystals to look at.
I haven’t tried this but I am, as soon as I can get to town
and get the Alum.
MEMBER NEWS
Have had no news about anyone. So I hope this means
everyone is happy, healthy and full of energy!
If not let me know.
~Rhonda, your editor
Ne Welc
w M om
e
Loy Kern
e
m
2831 67th St.
b er
Lubbock, TX. 79413
s
7974427
Sorrow looks back,
Worry looks around,
Faith looks up.
3
Ben Lesser,
has been a member in the past.
We didn’t get his information,
will update this later.
I will be sending out a updated Roster in January
DECEMBER
2008
e
pa
g
R
a
y’s
MAY 25, 2005
~by Ray Tyler
Number 12
OCTOBER BIRTHSTONE: OPAL
(yes I know it is not October)
MARRIAGE CLASS: 101 AND 102
Dug out of my waste basket
Nary a word is hearsay…everyone my very own
Sooner or later, a journey most folks will travel
So how can one know without a try
Dating was heaven and not meant to unravel
I guess the reason for the dating bliss
Yet to show reality that must come along
Hey: never knew cooking and cleaning was awaiting for most
Not to worry as my help mate is awfully strong.
Kinda wonder what's happening the very first year
The romance began to tarnish a bit
He insisted on going with the boys on boys night out
And thought for her a night out to be rather unfit.
Then out of the blue the situation turned about
When she told her honey a daddy soon he is about to be one
At first he marveled and swaggered at what he had done
He insisted and bragged she will soon give him a son.
He told all who would listen about the name
A junior was all as good as done
As the great day came to pass one late at night
A stork came down with a delivery by name of Joan.
He took on the notion and said so as much
Two’s company but three is a crowd
Never knew about a feeding at two in the morn
It’s his missed opportunity to be proud.
October's birthstone treats the eye to an explosion
of shimmering colors, not unlike those of a
magnificent rainbow following a summer rain. The
Opal derives its name from the Latin word "opalus,"
meaning precious jewel. Prized for its unique ability
to refract and reflect specific wavelengths of light, the
Opal was called "Cupid Paederos" by the Romans,
meaning a child beautiful as love. One legendary
explanation for this gemstone's origin is that it fell
from heaven in a flash of fiery lightning.
Ancient monarchs treasured Opals, both for their
beauty and for their presumed protective powers.
They were set into crowns and worn in necklaces to
ward off evil and to protect the eyesight. These
gemstones were also ground and ingested for their
healing properties and to ward off nightmares.
The Opal dates back to prehistoric times. It is a
non-crystallized silica, which is a mineral found near
the earth's surface in areas where ancient
geothermal hot springs once existed. As the hot
springs dried up, layers of the silica, combined with
water, were deposited into the cracks and cavities of
the bedrock, forming Opal. This gemstone actually
contains up to 30% water, so it must be protected
from heat or harsh chemicals, both of which will
cause drying and may lead to cracking and loss of
iridescence. Opal must also be guarded from blows,
since it is relatively soft and breaks easily.
As time went on he began to stay out late
Thought the redhead at the bar kinda cute
Thought the wife at home had let herself go
And his wifey now seemed so boring and mute.
Most of the world's Opal deposits are found in
Southern Australia. Other sources of this gemstone
are Brazil, Mexico, Czechoslovakia and Nevada.
Quality Opal is very expensive, made more so by the
caution that must be exercised in cutting, polishing
and setting it into jewelry.
Time marched on and he traded her in
On a newer model he thought was really cool
Soon the redhead tired and was looking around
Too late he discovered he was only a fool.
A gift of Opal is symbolic of faithfulness and
confidence. And the powerful energy radiating from
this fiery gemstone will surely illuminate any
occasion!
As Joany grew up and a raving beauty to behold
Her Mom now had more time for to preen
One day at the market as she turned around
Prince Charming was watching as both felt the zing.
I guess by now you can guess the rest
Her Prince Charming she knew would never flee
Along came the same stork to add to the nest
A more happy lady you would never, ever see.
As life goes on and it seems to be so
If its meant to be then be it will be
There’s a man for every woman and woman for every man
Seems like its been that way for eternity.
End
4
Volume 20
Rockytier
~from Rockhound Special, 10/08;
http://www.about-birthstones.com/octoberbirthstone.html
MUSICAL STONES
~by Bonnie Wood
In some sculpting, an artist taps a stone lightly with
a hammer to see if it’s “true”. If it emits a dull tone, it
has faults running through it that will crack it apart
when you work on it. A clear ring, one that hangs in
the air a moment, means it’s true, has
integrity, and, most importantly, will hold up under
repeated blows.
~from Rockhound Special, 10/08; via Golden Spike News, 8/01;
via Chips, 6/01; via Jasper’s Jargon, 3/01
DECEMBER
Volume 20
Rockytier
2008
Number 12
UPCOMING EVENTS
"Creating Metal Jewelry Without a Torch"
Lyn Stoll, Instructor
Create unique jewelry while learning chain making,
piercing, fold forming, rivets and patinas.
February 2009
Garden & Arts Center
4215 University Avenue
Lubbock, Texas
For more information:
(806) 795-1761
www.LynStoll.com
FIELD TRIP UPDATE
Archie had questions and Howie answered them:
•
Temperature - Range from the upper thirties to the seventies. Be prepared for that range. Usually it is in the
upper 60’s to lower 70’s.
• Reserve your rooms in Alamogordo, N.M. as soon as
you can. There is Airbase in Alamogordo and you
never can tell about what they might have scheduled.
• The area is bot rocky and dirt. Bring all kinds of tools:
picks, shovels, rock hammers, etc…. I might also suggest a water spray bottle to help spot the blue.
• Bring food and water for lunch and snacks for the
afternoon.
• I intend to leave Roswell that morning around 7:30 am,
gas up in Alamogordo and arrive at the gas station in
Oregrande around 10:30 am.
• We will meet Virgil there and proceed to the mine. It
will get dark about 4:00 pm so we ought to leave about
3:30 to get back to the highway by dark ten go into
Alamogordo for the night.
• It appears we will have about 15 from here (Roswell), a
couple from Carlsbad and several from Midland.
Should be quite a group.
Cheers,
Howie
ATTENTION:
I have put 2 recipes in this newsletter on page 7. I
have never tried them, or heard if they work or are
even good.
I just liked the names - ‘Christmas Rocks’
So my point is - USE AT YOUR OWN RISK!
~your editor,
OMG - IT’S TIME FOR DUES
(OMG - oh my goodness)
$
Yeah, I just bet you thought we would forget it this year.
Ha, Ha, never.
There are some great benefits with paying your dues.
Just take a look at these goodies:
1. On the first Tuesday of each month, you get to
attend the general meeting of the LGMS.
2. The next week following the LGMS meeting,
there is a Board of Directors meeting. We meet
at Home Plate Diner, some of us eat, then we
meet and discuss very important issues.
3. We have a yearly Ice Cream Social. Yummy
good time.
4. Our editor (that’s me) puts out a monthly
bulletin, that is very interesting. ; ) And you get
it free with paid dues, 12 times a year.
5. Yearly Christmas dinner.
6. Our LGMS show, it is so FUN, and a busy time.
Lots of hard work and you get to meet some
wonderful people.
7. You are part of a group of people with the same
interests as you, and some interests that are
different. Great learning opportunities!
8. There is so much more - our President, (the
new ones and past ones) programs, field trips,
the MEW, I could go on and on, but I wont.
Adults…………………….16 & up………………….…$22.50
Students…………………..6 - 16……………….………$5.00
Children………………....6 & under………………….….Free
What a Bargain!
5
When you are down to nothing ...
God is up to something.
See ya at the next meeting,
~Rhonda, your editor
DECEMBER
Volume 20
Rockytier
2008
AROUND ME
THE DINOSAURS
Hey, have you ever just looked at a rock. I mean just
look, stop every thing and just look.
Sometimes you can see your reflection or just dirt. I
always think that rocks are like humans. They are all
different. Sizes, shapes and forms. Some are dirty, some
clean. Some have gems, others don’t. There are ones that
have different rocks in them that make up one kind, like a
family, some of the same rocks mixed with other ones
make up another family.
Rocks can be your friend. But when it comes down to it,
a rock is just a rock.
I just learn to appreciate all the world has to offer.
~Kari Taylor
by - Professor A.E. Seaman
The dinosaurs are mighty beasts,
Renowned for bulk and strength.
Their necks are measured by the yard,
Their tails had greater lengths.
Their heads were very small, and
All in all they were not wise,
But what they lacked in intellect
They made up for in size.
But while their head held one small brain,
And none too finely wrought,
Their sacrum held a larger one,
And was their seat of thought.
There were ganglia knots along their spine,
Scattered from stem to stem:
While these were only scatter brains,
It gave them a chance to learn.
DIET ROCK
I am a little diet rock, as cute as I can be.
Although I’m sweet to look at, I’m both fat and sugar free.
When you get up each morning, lift me high into the air,
then set me on the floor 10 times,
before sitting on the chair.
Please place me on the table, at the place YOU plan to eat.
And remember I am watching what YOU do
and what YOU eat.
When you are serving up your plate,
please leave my section free.
I’ll reduce the calories, by the space you saved for me.
After you have eaten, although I’m just a rock,
please slip me in your pocket, and take me for a walk.
If YOU do this faithfully, then in a month or two,
although I’ll still be just the same,
YOU’LL be a slimmer you!
~by Gail Trigg
Merry
Christmas
Number 12
Such brains were fine for retrospect
For looking o’er the past
For since their forethought was so slight
The poor beasts could not last.
They failed to see the “rocks ahead”
That round them they might steer.
And so they met the fate of all
Whose brains are in the rear.
~from The Stone Chipper, 7/08;
via B.C. Rockhounder, Spring 2007;
via The Calgary Lapidary Journal, 11/07
DINOSAUR TRACKS
Primo Rivera played on a rocky hill near his home, in
Bolivia, when he was a kid. He had always wondered
about some dents in the rock. Well now 20 years later the
mystery has been solved - fossilized dinosaur footprints.
They are the oldest ever found in Bolivia, possibly 140
million years old.
The paleontologist thinks the footprints may be from
three different kinds of dinosaurs. One of them may have
been Ankylosaurus, an hrmored herbivore. The size of
the imprints suggest that they were medium size
dinosaurs, so about 30 feet in length. There are some
smaller ones thought to be baby tracks.
When Rivera was visiting a dinosaur park near the
regional capital of Sucre, Chuquisaca, he noticed that
what he was looking at looked like the dents in the rock
near his home where he grew up. When he ran across
members of a paleontologist team that were doing
research near his village he told them about the dents.
If Primo Rivera had not been so curious about the holes
in the rock, the tracks may have never been discovered.
6
~written by Eduardo Garcia, additional reporting
by Damian Wroclavsky in Buenos Aires, 2008
DECEMBER
2008
CHRISTMAS ROCKS
1st version:
RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Add
eggs. Stir in remaining ingredients in order. Mix well.
3. Drop by small teaspoonfuls onto greased baking sheets.
Bake for about 10 minutes until lightly brown.
~from the kitchen of Randall S., Katy, Texas
2nd version:
INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 cup butter
3 eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground mace
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 tablespoon strong brewed coffee
1/2 cup currants
1 cup raisins
1 pound pecan halves
1/4 cup candied cherries
1/4 pound candied pineapple, coarsely chopped
1/4 pound chopped candied citron
1/4 pound pitted dates
1/4 pound chopped candied orange peel
Cream butter & sugar until light & fluffy. Beat eggs until
foamy, add to mixture. Sift flour with spices, cocoa & soda.
Save out 1/2 cup of flour mixture. Add the rest of flour
mixture to butter mixture. Stir in coffee. Cut fruits into
small slivers & dredge fruit & chopped pecans lightly in
flour saved out for this. Add to fruit & the rest of flour to
batter, mixing thoroughly.
Preheat oven to 325° F (170° C). Grease cookie sheets.
Drop by teaspoon onto cookie sheet. Do not place too
close together. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes. Do Not over
brown. Store cookies in jars.
7
Number 12
QUESTION OF THE MONTH WHAT IS MALACHITE?
~by Don Shurtz, Pleasant Oaks G&MC
3 sticks (1 1/2 cups) butter or margarine, softened
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. allspice
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
1 8-oz. pkg. chopped dates
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
1 cup red and green candied cherries halfs,
chopped in small pieces
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
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Volume 20
Rockytier
~submitted by Lilli Cheatham
What is Malachite? Malachite is a type of butterfly, a
real estate development group, a type of ceramic wear,
and a beautiful green to blue-green stone. Of course, it is
the stone variety of malachite that we are interested in.
Chemically, malachite is Copper Carbonate Hydroxide
with a chemical composition of Cu2C03(OH)2. Malachite
is sometimes found in its crystalline form, but generally
found in massive, botryoidal (meaning shaped like
grapes), fibrous, and stalagmitic forms. Malachite is often
found with azurite, and both are ores for the production of
copper. Malachite is relatively soft rating a 3.5 to 4 on
Mohs hardness scale. Still, malachite is often formed into
broaches, pendants, and other pieces of jewelry.
Botryoidal forms of malachite ore often just tumbled and
displayed as specimens, the wavy lines of light and dark
material forming interesting patterns as they warp around
the curved surface. Because it is relatively soft, malachite
can also be easily carved. Some of the most impressive
pieces of art made from malachite can be found at the
Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia which was
founded in 1764 by Catherine the Great. A large malachite
vase (Malachite Coupe) and the Malachite Room are part
of the collection. A virtual tour of the malachite room (and
others) can be found on the Internet, and would be well
worth the time spent. The columns in the room appear to
be solid malachite, but in fact are a malachite veneer
fabricated from smaller pieces that are perfectly fitted.
Malachite has been mined for thousands of years.
Archeological evidence indicates it has been mined in
Egypt for over 4,000 years. In Israel, malachite has been
mined and smelted at the King Solomon’s Mines for over
3,000 years. Large quantities of malachite are also found
in the Ural Mountains. Closer to home, malachite can be
found near Bisbee and Morenci, Arizona. If you want to
look even closer to home, malachite is mined at the
Marble Canyon mine (also know as the Texas Agricultural
Aggregates) near Apache Peak, Culberson County,
Texas.
~from Chips and Chatter,9/07; via Dictionary.com,
http://dictionary.reference.com/ Malachite,
The Mineral and Gemstone Kingdom,
http://www.minerals.net/carbonat/malachit/malachit.htm
Malachite, mindat.org,
http://www.mindat.org/locentry-198320.html
Marble Canyon Mine, http://www.mindat.org/loc-3251.html
The State Hermitage Museum,
http://www.hermitage.ru/html_En/index.html
Wikimedia Commons, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/
Image:Malachite_Zaire.jpg Wikipedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org
DECEMBER
Volume 20
Rockytier
2008
VOTE--GIRL SCOUTS!!!!!
Number 12
CHRISTMAS DINNER - What Are You Bringing?
A local bank here in Lubbock is having a Community
Rewards drawing, and Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma
Plains, Inc. - Lubbock Region - needs your vote!!!!!
At the LGMS meeting on the 4th of November there
was a sign up sheet for everyone to put there name down
and list which dish they were fixing and bringing to the
December Christmas dinner.
I guarantee your vote will be worth a "Million Dollars" to
all the girls and adults of our organization if we are one of
the winners. There will be 5 community winners, and we
want to be one of them.
Anyone that is not signed up, and you plan on coming,
you need to bring either a vegetable, a salad or a dessert.
It needs to be enough for your family and four more
servings. That way there should be enough to go around.
Girl Scouts is preparing our leaders of tomorrow!
"Girl Scouts, Where Girls Grow Strong".............
Thanking you in advance............and
So let’s get cooking and we well see you next week.
~Rhonda, your editor
VOTE -- GIRL SCOUTS!!!!!
The Girl Scouts of Texas - Oklahoma - Plains, Inc. has
been presented with an INCREDIBLE opportunity to earn
$10,000.00 by simply clicking a button and participating in
City Bank’s (located in the Lubbock Region)
Community Rewards program!!!
What is Community Rewards?
Community Rewards is a new program sponsored by
City Bank designed to assist nonprofit agencies and school
support groups by awarding a total of $50,000.00 to
qualifying local organizations that register to participate.
You might be asking are we registered for this great
opportunity? ABSOLUTELY!!! The actual competition for
those “rewards” will be done through online voting at
www.citybankonline.com .
How does Community Rewards work?
There will be five $10,000.00 “rewards” given during the
week of Christmas. (Let’s make our first Holiday Season as
Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains, Inc. a very HAPPY
one!!) the five victorious recipients will be those that receive
the most online votes between Sunday, October 26th (that
means THIS SUNDAY is when it starts) and Sunday,
December 21st. To accomplish this, we are encouraging
everyone staff, board members, donors, volunteers,
friends, and family to vote and vote often. Area residents
18 years old and up can vote daily through December 21st
for the Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains, Inc. Votes
will be tabulated automatically and updated daily.
Please pass this along to everyone you have an email
address for and share this exciting opportunity with them.
LESSONS IN LIFE
1. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an 'uplift' for
the bird following. By flying in a V formation, the whole
flock gains 71% flying range over each bird's flying alone.
Lesson: People who share a common direction
and sense of community can get where they are going
more quickly and easily because they are traveling on the
thrust of one another.
2. Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly
feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone and
quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the
'lifting power' of the bird immediately in front.
Lesson: If we have as much sense as the goose,
we will stay in formation with those who are headed where
we want to go.
3. When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into
the formation and another goose flies at the point position.
Lesson: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks,
sharing leadership, interdependent with each other.
4. The geese in formation honk from behind to
encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
Let’s Show Us the MONEY!!!!
~Janet Gentry
Lesson: We need to make sure our honking from
behind is encouraging, not something less helpful!
~from Rockhound Rambling, 02/03;
ref Bell Notes, Drywashers Gazette;
via Petrograph 11/01, NAPA GEMS 03/02.
INTERSTING FACTS
•
•
8
There are 92 naturally occurring elements on earth but only eight elements make over 98% of the minerals on
the Earth's crust.
There are over 2000 minerals on Earth, but only 100 are commonly found. 30 minerals make up the majority of
the rocks on Earth.
~I apologize, I don’t remember where I found these facts. Rhonda, your editor
DECEMBER
2008
‘KRYPTONITE’ DISCOVERED IN MINE
As reported from BBC News
Kryptonite is no longer just the stuff of fiction feared by
caped superheroes. A new mineral matching its unique
chemistry – as described in the film Superman Returns –
has been identified in a mine in Serbia. According to movie
and comic-book storylines, kryptonite is supposed to sap
Superman’s powers whenever he is exposed to its large
green crystals. The real mineral is white and harmless,
says Dr. Chris Stanley, a mineralogist at London’s Natural
History Museum. “I’m afraid it’s not green and it doesn’t
glow either – although it will react to ultraviolet light by
Fluorescing a pinkish-orange,” he told BBC News.
ROCKHEIST
Researchers from mining group Rio Tinto discovered the
unusual mineral and enlisted the help of Dr. Stanley when
they could not match it with anything known previously to
science. Once the London expert had unraveled the
mineral’s chemical make-up, he was shocked to discover
this formula was already referenced in literature – albeit
fictional literature.
“Towards the end of my research I searched the web
using the mineral’s chemical formula – sodium lithium
boron silicate hydroxide – and was amazed to discover that
same scientific name, written on a case of rock containing
kryptonite stolen by Lex Luther from a museum in the film
Superman Returns. “The new mineral does not contain
fluorine (which it does in the film) and is white rather than
green but, in all other respects, the chemistry matches that
for the rock containing kryptonite.” The mineral is relatively
hard but is very small grained. Each individual crystal is
less than five microns (millionths of a metre) across.
ELEMENTARY CLASH
Identifying its atomic structure required sophisticated
analytical facilities at Canada’s National Research Council
and the assistance and expertise of its researchers, Dr.
Pamela Whitfield and Dr. Yvone Le Page. “Knowing a
material’s crystal structure means scientists can calculate
other physical properties of the material, such as its
elasticity or thermo-chemical properties,” explained Dr. Le
Page. “Being able to analyze all the properties of a
mineral, both chemical and physical, brings us closer to
confirming that it is indeed unique.”
Finding out that the chemical composition of a material
was an exact match to an invented formula for the fictitious
kryptonite “was the coincidence of a lifetime,” he added.
The mineral cannot be called kryptonite under international
nomenclature rules because it has nothing to do with
krypton – a real element in the Periodic Table that takes
the form of a gas.
POWER POSSIBILITIES
Instead, it will be formally named Jadarite when it is
described in the European Journal of Mineralogy later this
year. Jadar is the name of the place where the Serbia
mine is located. Dr. Stanley said that if deposits
9
Volume 20
Rockytier
CONTUNIED>>>
Number 12
occurred in sufficient quantity it could have some
commercial value. It contains boron and lithium – two
valuable elements with many applications, he explained.
“Borosilicate glasses are used to encapsulate processed
radioactive waste, and lithium is used in batteries and in
the pharmaceutical industries.”
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6584229.stm
~from Rok Tok, 08/08;
via Chips and Chatter, 04/07, - Submitted by Scott Wingo
As reported from BBC News
THINGS I'VE LEARNED LIVING IN TEXAS
1. You don't have to wear a watch because it doesn't
matter what time it is. You work until you're done or it's
too dark to see.
2. You don't PUSH buttons, you MASH them.
now-YOU KNOW YOU ARE FROM TEXAS IF:
1. You measure distance in minutes.
2. You’ve ever had to switch from ’heat’ to ’A/C’ and
back to ’heat’ in a 24 hour period.
3. You use ’fix’ as a verb. Example: “I’m fixin to go to the
store.”
4. All the festivals across the state are named afte a fruit,
vegetable, grain, insect or animal.
5. You install security lights on your house and garage
and leave both unlocked.
6. You know what a ’DAWG’ is.
7. You carry jumper cables in your car...for your OWN
car.
8. You only own four spices: salt, pepper, Tabasco and
ketchup.
9. The local papers cover national and international
news on one page, but requires 6 pages for local
gossip and sports.
10. You think that the first day of deer season is a national
holiday.
11. You find 100 degrees Fahrenheit ’a little warm.’
12. You know all four seasons: Almost Summer, Summer,
still Summer and Christmas.
13. Going to Wal-Mart is a favorite past time known
as’goin Wal-Martin’ or off to Wally World.
14. You describe the first cool snap (below 70 degrees) as
good pinto-bean weather.
15. A carbonated soft drink isn’t a soda, cola or pop….it’s
a Coke, regardless of brand or flavor. Example: “What
kinda coke you want?”
16. Fried catfish is the other white meat.
17. We don’t need no stinking driver’s ed...if our mama
says we can drive, we can drive!
Not EVERYONE can be a Texan,
it’s an art form and a gift from God!
~from my Aunt Sher in Houston, TX
DECEMBER
2008
SAFETY - COLORFUL AND DEADLY
Colorful and deadly - is that what you want in your
fireplace? Dr. Jeff Freeman is a PhD chemist from the
Osage Hills Gem and Mineral Society. Recently, he ran
across several articles about making colorful flames in your
fireplace. He immediately sounded an alarm. There is a
BIG SAFETY HAZARD in some of the chemicals listed in
these articles. Part of Jeff's article is:
"Attention - Safety Alert on "Colorful Flames" Article!
By Jeff Freeman
I have seen this article in exchange bulletins about
making colorful flames. I needed to point out two potential
hazards associated with the article that were not
mentioned. The original article is given below:
"Colorful Flames - Prepare for a colorful holiday fireplace by
soaking pine cones or small sticks in one of the follow
solutions. Using a plastic bucket, mix one gallon of water to one
pound of chemical. Soak overnight. Put in as many items as the
solution will cover. Listed are some suggested chemicals to use
and the color they will produce when burned. Most can be
purchased at the drug store; at least three can be has at the
supermarket."
Table salt - yellow; Borax - vivid green; copper sulfate blue green; potassium nitrate - violet; strontium nitrate red; copper nitrate - emerald green; barium nitrate - apple
green; potassium chloride - purple; calcium chloride orange; copper chloride - blue; lithium chloride - purple"
THE DANGERS
The main hazards are with the nitrates. Nitrates supply
oxygen to organic materials; they are used to make
gunpowder and explosives. A Material Safety Data Sheet
(MSDS) for nitrates contains the following warnings: 1.
strong oxidizer; 2. may explode when heated; and 3. mixtures of nitrates and organic materials are potentially
dangerous. For safety's sake, do not use nitrates to make
colored flames! (Editor's note: one MSDS even says
"contact with clothing or other organic material may cause
fire")
The second hazard deals with the use of barium.
Water-soluble compounds of barium are poisonous (see
the Merck Index, volume I 1, pgs 153-156). Any barium
solution left over from making colorful flames would be
poisonous, even the ashes left over from the fire could be
poisonous. Please do not use barium for green flames; use
boric acid instead!
SAFE FLAME MATERIALS
If you want to make colorful flames, please use the
revised list below. They will work! Note: lithium gives a
crimson flame, not purple.; table salt - yellow; borax or
boric acid - light green; copper sulfate - green; strontium
chloride - red; potassium chloride - violet; calcium chloride orange; copper chloride - blue; lithium chloride - crimson"
HEY EDITORS
Go through that pack-rat file of things to use and throw away
every list for making colorful flames and put Jeff's list above in
your files.
10
Volume 20
Rockytier
~from AFMS, 05/1998
Number 12
FYI
(for your information)
SOME IDEAS TO PROTECT OUR PRIVICY
Google has a feature which enables you to type a
telephone number into the search bar and hit enter and
you will be given the person's name and address. If you
then hit MapQuest, you will get a map to the person's
house. Everyone should be aware of this! It's a nationwide
reverse telephone book.
If a child gives out his/her phone number, someone can
now look it up to find out where he/she lives. The safety
issues are obvious, and alarming.
Note that you can have your phone number removed or
blocked. (I tried my number and it came up along with the
map-quest and directions straight to our house. I did fill
out the removal form for myself, and encourage all of you
to do the same. Quite scary.)
Please look up your own number. In order to test whether
your phone number is mapped, go to:
google ( http://www.google.com)
Type your phone number in the search bar (i.e. 555-5551212) and hit enter.
If you want to BLOCK Google from divulging your
private information, simply click on your telephone number
and then click on the Removal Form. Removal takes 48hours.
This may not apply to you if you have an unlisted number
or cell phone as primary contact.
Just think how many places you write your phone
numbers down - work, Wal-Mart, school, almost any type
information asks you for it.
~Rhonda, your editor
CELL PHONES
Did you know our cell phones are no longer private? As
of this week all cell phone numbers have been turned over
to telemarketers.
WHY, I want to know.
Now they can call your cell and it will cost you minutes.
I am not happy about this. Between me, Leland and the
girls we have 1000 anytime minutes. I want to use them
for friends and family, not someone who is going to tick
me off or drive me crazy. My son has a different plan and
has only 200 anytime minutes. My kids are always very
careful about using their minutes, now some stranger
could cause them to go over.
Now off my soap box, you can call the following “Do Not
Call” number and list your numbers and they should be on
the list for 5 years. I have done this for my cell and home
phone, and have made my kids list their phones.
(888)382-1222
~Rhonda, your editor
DECEMBER
Volume 20
Rockytier
2008
Number 12
December
Sunday
7
El Paso
G & M Show
14
21
Anniversary
Mr. & Mrs.
Gryder
28
Monday
Tuesday
1
2
8
LGMS
Christmas
Party
Wed.
Thursday
3
4
9
10
11
15
16
17
18
22
23
24
25
29
30
Anniversary
Mr. & Mrs.
Taylor
Business
Meeting
CANCELLED
Christmas
Friday
Saturday
5
El Paso
G&M
Show
6
12
Archie
b-day
13
19
20
26
27
El Paso
G & M Show
31
January
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
LGMS
Meeting
7:00 pm
Wed.
Thursday
Friday
1
2
3
7
8
9
10
17
4
5
6
11
12
13
14
15
LGMS
Board Meeting
7:00 pm
16
18
19
20
21
22
Leland b-day
23
25
Orogrande
Field Trip
Head for
home.
26
27
Sharon b-day
28
29
Sherry b-day
Orogrande
Field Trip
Leave for
RoswellSpend nite
30
I Believe...
That even when you think you have no more to give, when
a friend cries out to you - you will find the strength to help.
11
Saturday
24
Orogrande
Field Trip
Spend nite in
Alamogordo
31
Arizona
Mineral &
Fossil Show31-Feb 14
Lubbock Gem & Mineral Society is a non-profit organization recognized under section 501( C ) ( 3 ) of the Internal Revenue Code as
an educational entity. Donations in any form are tax deductible as outlined by the IRS.
Member of South Central Federation of Mineral Societies
Member of American Federation of Mineralogical Societies
Lubbock Gem & Mineral Society
Rhonda Taylor, Editor
P.O. Box 429
Sundown, TX. 79372
Email - [email protected]
THE ROCKYTIER
THE ROCKYTIER is the official Bulletin of the Lubbock Gem and Mineral Society, Box 6371, Lubbock, TX. 79493.
Meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month @ Forrest Heights United Methodist Church - 3007 33rd St. Lubbock, TX.
at 7:00 p.m. unless announced otherwise.
Annual dues are: $22.50 for adults, $5.00 for students 6-16 and free for children under 6.
Exchange editors are free to copy anything of interest from THE ROCKYTIER provided credit is given to the author of the
article and THE ROCKYTIER.
The purpose of the Lubbock Gem and Mineral Society shall be (1) to bring about a closer association of those persons
interested in the Earth Sciences and Lapidary Arts;
(2) to increase and disseminated knowledge about rocks,
minerals, fossils and other geological materials;
(3) to encourage the study of rocks, minerals, fossils,
artifacts, collecting and lapidary work and (4) to conduct meetings, lectures, displays and field trips.
ELECTED OFFICERS & DIRECTORS WHO ARE VOTING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President…………...…………..………..…………...…..Ed Ries (806)799-2722
Past President………………….……………...…..Sharon Scott (806)894-1584
VP and Program Chair………….…...……………………...……………..…open
Secretary………………………….…..…….…......James Harris (806)797-6377
Treasurer………………………….....…………….......Jann Hon (806)745-4888
Director (first year)…………………..........Robbie Christopher (806) 863-2692
Director (first year)………………..…...…….….....Bob Gingery (806) 790-7931
Director (second year)…………..……...…….....Joann Stewart (806)795-0366
Director (second year)………………………...Emerson Tucker (806)795-6754
APPOINTED VOTING BOARD MEMBER POSITIONS
Editor………………………………………….…..Rhonda Taylor (806)229-4029
Education Chairperson………….……...……..Bobby Housour (806) 746-5969
Show Chairperson……………………………..…...Archie Scott (806)894-1584
Field Trip Chairperson……………..…………...Henry Housour (806)744-8579
NON-VOTING APPOINTED POSITIONS
Greeter………………………...……………..……..Dave Swartz (806)793-8045
Benevolence……………………..……….………..Sharon Scott (806)894-1584
Web Master…….…………..…………………………..…………..not at this time
Club Vests……………….……………...…….....Gwen Housour (806)744-8579