Mineral of the Month Torbernite - Arlington Gem and Mineral Club

1408 GIBBINS ROAD, ARLINGTON, TEXAS 76011 Volume 70, Issue 7, July 2015
ROCKHOUND NEWS OF THE ARLINGTON GEM & MINERAL CLUB
Mineral of the Month
Torbernite
Torbernite Locality: Mashamba West MineSize: 3.2 x 2.5 x 1.4 cm.
July 2015
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2015 AGMC Club Show looks
like a success!
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]
Kudos to all the people who worked so
hard to present the 2015 AGMC Show in
Grapevine. I have seen many of our
members working on this event for an
entire year. The show looked great! The
new club display at the entrance to the
show was professional looking, and will be
an asset to future shows as well.
World Wide Web Home Page
http://www.agemclub.org
Thanks to all the people who…
• Showed their work in the club display
cases.
Business meeting and program
1st Tuesday 7:30PM
• Made sure our vendors were well
fed.
Executive Committee Meeting
7:00PM on Last Tuesday of the Month
• Labeled and bagged rocks for the
Silent Auction.
• Taught classes at the show.
• Met & prepared the plan for the
show.
• Obtained new vendors for the show.
• Worked the Silent Auction tables.
ARLINGTON GEM AND MINERAL CLUB
MEMBER OF
• Demonstrated their craft at the show.
• Made sure all the rocks, display
cases, etc. were carried to the show.
• Tirelessly worked at the end of the
show.
• Made sure the vendors were kept
happy during the show.
SOUTH CENTRAL FEDERATION OF MINERAL
SOCIETIES
• Sold tickets at the entrance to the
show.
There are a lot of people who work behind
the scenes to make the show a success –
thank you for your work and dedication this
year!
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF MINERALOGICAL
SOCIETIES
July 2015
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INSIDE THIS
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
Top Radioactive Minerals
6
AGMC Show Exhibit
7
AGMC Show Photos
10
Field Trips
APPONTED POSITIONS (Non-Voting)
10
Local Club Meetings
Library Chairperson
Building Chairperson
11
Bench Tips
11
Programs
12
Lapidary Schedule
12
Area Gem & Mineral Shows
13
July Class News
14
July Class Schedule
15
August Class Schedule
16
Lapidary Shop Report
17
June Meeting Photos
18
June Meeting Minutes
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
Hospitality Chairperson
Welcome Chairperson
Constitution and By-Laws Chairperson
Long-Range Planning Chairperson
Parliamentary Procedure Chairperson
Historian Chairperson
Lost and Found
Carl Wells
Gerald Pennington
Anastasia Chaparro
Barbara Maloney
John Crabb
Jacqueline Chirunga
Lauren Smith &
Jesse Baum
Jackie Peel
Sandra Brazzale
Karen Cessna
VACANT
Deana Whitney
VACANT
Ingrid Hoffens-Lantz
People interested in serving the club in these VACANT positions, please
contact President Carrie Baum.
OPERATIONS VOLUNTEERS (Non-Voting)
Webmaster
Sunshine
Newsletter Mailing
Grounds
Computer/Electronics Technology
Website Software Development
International Gem and Jewelry
AKS Shows
Darcy Sety
Marge Harrand
Lois McCormick
Barbara Poplin
Torre Quinn
Darcy Sety
Joyce Speed
Kris Galbraith
THE HOUND’S TALE
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.
July 2015
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Top Radioactive minerals (Occurrence & Identification)
http://www.geologyin.com
Uraninite
Uraninite crystals from Topsham, Maine (size: 2.7×2.4×1.4 cm)
Uraninite is a highly radioactive and interesting mineral. It is the
chief ore of uranium and radium, which is found in trace amounts.
Helium was first discovered on the earth in samples of uraninite.
Radium and helium are found in uraninite because they are the
principle products of uranium's decay process. Weathered or
otherwise altered uraninite produces some wonderful by-products
such as the beautiful uranyl phosphate minerals like autunite and
torbernite as well as uranyl silicates like sklodoskite and
cuprosklodowskite.
The structure is analogous to the structure of fluorite, CaF2. The
structure of fluorite is highly symmetrical and forms isometric
crystals such as cubes and octahedrons. Fluorite also has four
directions of perfect cleavage that produces octahedrons.
However, in uraninite, crystals are rare and the cleavage is not usually observable.
Notable Occurrences include Bergen, Germany; Autun, France; Cornwall, England; Mitchell Co., North
Carolina and Mt. Spokane, Washington, USA; Zaire; Wilberforce and Great Bear Lake, Canada; Portugal
and France.
Best Field Indicators are luster, color, radioactivity and streak.
Torbernite
Torbernite Locality: Mashamba West MineSize: 3.2 x 2.5 x 1.4 cm.
Torbernite is a popular mineral among collectors who seek
uranium bearing minerals. Its square tabular crystals are
distinctive, but might remind someone of the mineral
wulfenite, if not for the green color of torbernite. Autunite is a
structurally related mineral that also forms square tabular
crystals, but they are not typically solid green and autunite is
fluorescent in UV light.
The structure of torbernite is composed of phosphate
tetrahedrons linked to uranium-oxygen groups that form
distorted octahedrons. The phosphates and uranium groups
lie in sheets that are weakly held together by water
molecules. This structure produces the tabular habit, the one
perfect direction of cleavage and the relative softness.
Notable Occurrences include Cornwall, England; Mitchell Co., North Carolina and Utah, USA; Shaba, Zaire;
Germany and France.
Best Field Indicators are color, crystal habit, non-fluorescence, radioactivity, associations and brittle
cleavage sheets.
Zippeite
Zippeite is a rare mineral but is sought after by collectors who seek
uranium bearing minerals as well as minerals that have exotic names.
Zippeite fluoresces under ultraviolet light. The mineral is inconsistent
however in the color that is produced. Zippeite is formed as a
secondary mineral and as an efflorescent crust in uranium mines.
Efflorescent means it forms on the surface of a rock by the
evaporation of water when in contact with the dry air of the mine.
Thus, some zippeite specimens are the result of human intervention
(albeit unintentional) and some mineralogists do not consider these to
July 2015
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be pure mineral specimens. Remember, this is a radioactive mineral and should be stored away from other
minerals that are affected by radioactivity and human exposure should be limited.
Notable Occurrences include Cornwall, England; Utah and Colorado, USA and the Bohemian region of
Europe.
Best Field Indicators are color, crystal habit, fluorescence, softness, luster and radioactivity.
Metatorbernite
Metatorbernite from the Margabal Mine, Entraygues-sur-Truyère,
France. Size: 4 x 3 x 1.8 cm.
Metatorbernite is a dehydration product of its close cousin,
torbernite, hence the name. When the mineral torbernite loses
water and converts to meta-torbernite, it usually undergoes
pseudomorphism. A pseudomorph is generally an atom by
atom replacement of one mineral's chemistry to form another
mineral. The process leaves the crystal shape of the original
mineral intact. Pseudomorph means false (pseudo) shape
(morph). In this case, the conversion is not so dramatic since
it involves only the loss of a few water molecules; therefore, a
good pseudomorph is likely. The conversion is irreversible
and ongoing, and all collection specimens of a certain age are
almost certainly partially to totally converted. If accuracy is
demanded, all torbernite collection pieces of a few years of
age should be labeled as metatorbenite.
Notable Occurrences include Cornwall, England; Athabasca,
Saskatchewan, Canada; Shaba, Zaire; Saxony, Germany and
France.
Best Field Indicators are color, crystal habit, nonfluorescence, higher density than torbernite, radioactivity,
associations, and brittle cleavage sheets.
Uranocircite
Uranocircite (by Sklodowska226)
Uranocircite is a rare but popular mineral
among collectors who seek uraniumbearing minerals. Its square tabular
crystals are distinctive from the members
of the autunite/torbernite group of
minerals. Uranocircite's crystals are similar
to other members of this group, but they
tend to be flatter or not as tabular. Autunite
can be difficult to distinguish from
uranocircite by ordinary means. However,
in the slightly heavier uranocircite, the
color is usually more yellow and the
fluorescent color is greener.
The structure of uranocircite is composed
of phosphate tetrahedrons linked to
uranium-oxygen groups that form distorted
octahedrons. The phosphates and
uranium groups lie in sheets that are weakly held together by water molecules. This structure produces the
platy habit, the one perfect direction of cleavage, and the relative softness.
Notable Occurrences include Bergen, Germany; Autun, France; Cornwall, England; Mitchell Co., North
Carolina and Mt. Spokane, Washington, USA; Zaire; Portugal and France.
Best Field Indicators are color, crystal habit, fluorescence, radioactivity, associations and density.
July 2015
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2015 AGMC Show Exhibit
By Stevan Alcala
I took several classes at the Arlington Gem & Mineral
Club. I took a silversmith, casting, and cabochon class
two years ago. I found that the classes were taught very
professionally. I had been told by another person that I
know that the Arlington Gem & Mineral Club was the best
if you really were serious about learning. I came, I
learned. We had 2 pages of objectives for the display
and the finished product incorporated all of them.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------Thank you to everyone who worked
so hard on our 2015 Show. Our
success this year is evidence that
“It takes a club, not just a show
chairman, to put on a show.” This
year was truly a team effort, with
many new club members taking on
areas of responsibility.
There were many positives about
this year’s show, and everyone is
encouraged to take a few moments
to acknowledge and celebrate
those. During the show itself, there
was a general feeling of
enthusiasm and freshness. We
received many favorable comments
from show attendees. The new club display, designed by Stevan Alcala, received a lot of praise
for its professional appearance and helped set the tone for the show. We look forward to
displaying it at the clubhouse. Thank you to Stevan and his crew of helpers for all their hard work.
As we did last year, the President will appoint a strategic team to review the show’s performance
and to make recommendations for the 2016 Show. In the next month or so, we will be soliciting
your feedback about the 2015 Show and your suggestions about how we can improve our show
for 2016.
Thank you to everyone who supported AGMC by working the show, attending the show, promoting
the show, and participating in the show. We can’t do it without you.
Emie Stewart
July 2015
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Photos from the annual 2015 AGMC Show
Photo Essay Courtesy of Neal Chisholm
The hand and fingers of Doug Briscoe showing off
Barite Roses he 'just finds digging thru the sand'. I
guess it helps to know where to dig.
Stephen Bennett welcoming another rock enthusiast.
Cindy Fowler, the Unconventional Lapidarist,
explaining the finer points of collecting, cabochons and
using mom's credit card to the next generation of rock
hounds.
July 2015
Jerry 'the knife' Howard of JNE Lapidary. Beautiful,
large agatized wood in the background.
Our own Carrie Baum and smiling friends at wire
wrapping class.
Mr. Wallace of Just Ask Creations. Lauri Wallace was
on break, or maybe breaking some more plates. Repurposing broken pottery into pendants.
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Rock cracker!
Now see what is inside the geode.
Opening a geode in 60 seconds or less and
not breaking a sweat – only rocks.
JAWS! Or a case for better dental care. Andre Lujan of
Lone Star Fossils and the jaw of a “Moses-saur.”
Our own Andre Meyer faceting the day away.
July 2015
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Photos from the annual 2015 AGMC Show
Photo Essay courtesy of Nadira Charaniya
July 2015
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Field Trips of the Dallas Paleontological Society & others
(You may need to be a member in order to participate in these field trips.)
June 27, 2015, Denton Canoe Trip, Saturday
Denton Canoe Trip on again. Saturday, June 27 same schedule as before. We have rented 8 canoes
($35/day each). Contact Roger Farish ([email protected] or 972-898-2700) as soon as possible if you
need to reserve a canoe. If you have your own boat and would like to be notified in case there’s a change of
plans, which is very possible, please let us know who you are.
Canoe rental money will be collected on that Saturday. If you reserve a canoe and don’t show up, you’ll still
be responsible for the rental cost as we will have a boat there for you. A single person can rent half a canoe
and be paired with another attendee.
Should be good collecting – assorted bivalves and the echinoids Selenia mexicana, Hemiaster whitei,
Goniophorus whitnei, Holaster simplex, Macraster sp., Phyllacanthus sp. and cidarid plates have been
found along with various plant fossils.
Roger F. Farish, 5 Remington Dr. E., Lewisville, TX 75077 972-898-2700
www.TexasSharks.org
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.
July 31 – August 7, DGMS Colorado Trip
The Dallas Gem & Mineral Society is hosting this trip to South Fork, Creede, Del Norte, Silverton, Salida,
and other local field trip sites in Colorado. Website with information:
http://www.dallasgemandmineral.org/2015-colorado-field-trip/
Please email Gerald Pennington if you are planning to attend. [email protected]
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, CERA’s Bryant Irvin Recreation Complex, 3300
Bryant Irvin Road, Fort Worth, TX 76109, meets the 2nd Tuesday at 7:00 pm.
Oak Cliff Gem & Mineral Society, Unitarian Universalist Church, 3839 W. Kiest Blvd.,
Dallas, TX, 75233, 4th Tuesday each month at 7 – 9:30pm
Pleasant Oaks Gem & Mineral Club, Garland Women's Bldg., 713 Austin, Garland, TX
meets the 1st Thursday each month at 7:30 pm
July 2015
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Bench Tips, By Brad Smith
SOLDERING PRONGS
I often use prongs to hold an irregular cab or other object on rings and pendants. But prongs can be a little
tricky to solder. You have to find some way to hold them all upright while soldering, and the simple butt joint
that looks strong sometimes breaks when you start to bend the prong over the stone. There's nothing worse
than having a prong break off when you're setting the stone *#~*!
I solved both problems with one little trick. It holds the prongs in position while soldering and it gives you a
stronger joint at the same time.
Locate and center punch the position for each prong. Then drill holes a little smaller than your prong wire.
Sand a small taper on the ends of your prong wires and stand them up in the holes. The wires support
themselves, soldering is easy, and the joint is stronger because of the increased soldering area.
TWISTING WIRE
Twisting wire can be done with an old hand drill but goes
much faster with a power tool. My preference is to use a
screw gun, although a Foredom should do well.
Just make a little hook out of coat hanger wire (or use a
screw-in cup hook) and chuck it up in your screw gun. Grip
the free ends of the wire in a vice and slip the looped end
onto your hook. Keep a little tension on the wires as you
twist.
Note that a power drill is too fast a tool for this unless you
have one with variable speed.
PROGRAMS
By Jesse Baum, 2nd V.P.
July 2015
August 2015
September 2015
October 2015
November 2015
December 2015
January 2016
July 2015
Proposal for a new Classroom
Septarian Nodule Presentation
Sri Lankan Gem Mine Presentation
Club Auction
MANDATORY Safety Meeting
Voting Day
To Be Decided
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Lapidary Lab Schedule, July 2015
By Barbara Maloney
7/2/2015
7/9/2015
7/11/2015
7/14/2015
7/16/2015
7/18/2015
7/21/2015
7/23/2015
7/25/2015
1st Thurs
2nd Thurs
2nd Sat
2nd Tues
3rd Thurs
3rd Sat
3rd Tues
4th Thurs.
4th Sat
Jeremy
Randall
Lizzette
Stephen
Jeremy
Richard
Jesse
Jeremy
Ray
7:30pm-9:30pm
7pm-9pm
9am-noon
9am-noon
7:30pm-9:30pm
9am-noon
7pm-10pm (FREE evening)
7:30pm-9:30pm
9am-noon
Area Gem & Mineral Shows
Jul 25, 2015, Houston, Texas, Fossil, Mineral Gemstone, Jewelry & Native Artifact Trade Show,
Houston Gem & Mineral Society, 10805 Brooklet, Houston, Texas 77099.
Jul 25-26, 2015, Farmers Branch, Texas, Cowtown Gem, Mineral & Glass Society, Brookhaven
College, 3939 Valley View Lane.
Aug 8-9, 2015, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Baton Rouge, LA Gem & Mineral Society, Fraternal
Order of Police.
Aug 15-16, 2015, Bossier City, Louisiana, Ark-LA-Tex Gem & Mineral Society, Bossier City Civic
Center.
Aug 22-23, 2015, Jasper, Texas, Pine Country Gem & Mineral Society, Events Center.
Sep 25-27, 2015, Humble, Texas, Houston Gem & Mineral Society, Humble Civic Center, 8233
Will Clayton Parkway.
Oct 9-11, 2015, Mount Ida, Arkansas, Annual Quartz Crystal Digging Contest,
http://www.mtidachamber.com/
Oct 10-11, 2015, Temple, Texas, Tri-City Gem & Mineral Society, Mayborn Civic Center.
Oct 10-11, 2015, Fort Worth, Texas, Cowtown Gem Mineral & Glass Society, CERA’s Bryant Irvin
Recreation Complex, 3300 Bryant Irvin Road, Fort Worth, TX 76109.
Oct 23-25, 2015, Austin, Texas, 2015 AFMS/SCFMS Show, and Austin Gem & Mineral
Show, Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road.
Oct 30-Nov 1, 2015, Glen Rose, Texas, Dallas Paleontological Society, Somervell County Expo
Center.
Q: Why wasn't the geologist hungry?
A: He lost his apatite.
Q: What do you do with dead geologists?
A: Barium.
Q. Where do you find the President of the jewelry company?
A. He’s the one in the Opal Office.
Q. Why did the aquamarine replace the bloodstone?
A. People were tired of seeing all of those bloody spots.
July 2015
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July 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.
New Classes:
On Thursday, July 9, from 7-10 PM, Jack Spinks will teach a class on polishing Ethiopian opal
using inexpensive manicure files. There is a materials fee of $30 which includes the opal rough
plus the files. Sign-ups will be at the July meeting.
Katiri Peters will be hosting the casting lab on Thursday, July 23 from 7-10 PM for investing, and
Saturday, July 25, from 9-noon for pouring. Please check the signup sheets if you are interested.
On Wednesdays, August 5 and 12, Carrie Baum will teach a two-session class on making jewelry
using metal washers. This class is open to anyone, and gives you a taste of metalsmithing. The
class is from 1-4 PM both days.
On Saturday, August 15, Jesse Baum will teach his stamped cuff bracelet class again. The class
is from 10 AM-6 PM, with a follow-on lab on Thursday, August 20, from 7-10 PM.
Emie Stewart will be teaching a class on stone setting with gravers on Saturday, August 29, from
1-5 PM. Signups will be at the July meeting, and you will need to give her your kit fee then if you
want her to order a kit for you.
Proposal for New Classroom:
The club president Carrie Baum has appointed a committee to investigate the feasibility of adding
a new classroom at AGMC. The committee consists of Emie Stewart, John Alexander, John
Crabb, John Haag, and Sue Poarch. The committee will make its presentation to the board on
June 30, and then to the membership on July 7.
General Information:
AGMC Facebook Page: The club’s Facebook page has over 490 fans, many of whom are not
even members! Visit the page regularly to see what’s new, and “Like” it and “Share” it with your
Facebook friends. This is free advertising for the club and its annual show.
Class Postings: Please be considerate of your fellow club members during class signup times.
A line usually forms just before 7:00 PM when the signup sheets for classes and workshops are
posted. Signup sheets are posted at 7:00 PM at the clubhouse on the 1st Tuesday night of each
month. Cabbing classes are posted on the hallway bulletin board. All other classes are posted on
bulletin boards at the front of the meeting area. They are usually posted a month before the class
is scheduled to begin, unless there has been a late addition to the schedule. Only current
members in good standing, who have paid their membership fee, may sign up. Whenever
possible, advance notice of upcoming signups is given in The Class News and on the club’s
Facebook page. The class schedule is emailed to club members approximately mid-month, and
published in the club’s newsletter, available via email. When you sign up, please include your
phone number and email in case the instructor needs to contact you, and make a note of what you
have signed up for, along with the instructor’s contact information. Also, please note the club’s no
show policy, set forth on each signup sheet.
July 2015
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AGMC July 2015 Class Schedule
By Emie Stewart, 1st VP (Classes)
SPECIAL WORKSHOPS:
Polishing Ethiopian Opal
Thursday, July 9, 7-10 PM
Instructor: Jack Spinks
Fabricating a Basket Setting for a Pear-shaped Stone
Saturday & Sunday, July 18-19, all day
Instructor: Jurgen Maerz
Wire Findings
Tuesday, July 21, 1-5 PM
Instructors: Katiri Peters and Carrie Baum
Working with Turquoise
Saturday, July 25, 1-4 PM
Instructor: Bob Boyd
Wirewrapping Large Beads
Tuesday, July 28, 1-4 PM
Instructor: Carrie Baum
Casting Lab
Thursday, July 23, 7-10 PM: Investing
Saturday, July 25, 9-noon: Pour
Instructor: Katiri Peters
Instructor: Katiri Peters
ONGOING CLASSES:
Cab Class
1st Saturday, 1-4 PM –cancelled for holiday weekend
Instructor:
2nd Tuesday, 7-10 PM
4th Tuesday, 9-noon
Instructor:
July 29, 2015, 9-noon
Instructor:
th
Instructor:
4 Saturday, 1-4 PM
Stephen Bennett
Jesse Baum
Andre Meyer
Barbara Maloney
Beginning Fused Glass
Sundays, 1-5 PM
Instructor: Janet Gray
Glass Fusing Labs
2nd & 3rd Tuesdays, 7-10 PM
Instructor: Karen Cessna
Enameling Labs
2nd Saturdays, 1-5 PM
Instructors: Sue Poarch and Barbara Maloney
Faceting—cancelled for summer
Silversmithing
Beginning Silversmithing
Mondays, 7-10 PM
Instructors: Diane Neal/John Alexander
Intermediate Silversmithing
Wednesdays, 7-10 PM
Instructor: Rotating; Class Assistant: Sue Bedell
Advanced Silversmithing
Fridays, 7-10 PM
Instructors: Emie Stewart/Marlenia Cohen/John Crabb
Advanced Special Projects in Silversmithing for Alumni
Thursdays, 1-4 PM
Instructor: Emie Stewart
July 2015
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AGMC Tentative August 2015 Class Schedule
SPECIAL WORKSHOPS:
Washer Jewelry
Wednesdays, August 5 & 12, 1-4 PM
Instructor: Carrie Baum
Stamped Cuff Bracelet
Saturday, August 15, 10-6 PM
Instructor: Jesse Baum
Follow-up lab, Thursday, August 20, 7-10 PM Instructor: Jesse Baum
Stone Setting with Gravers
Saturday, August 29, 1-5 PM
Instructor: Emie Stewart
ONGOING CLASSES:
Cab Class:
1st Saturday, 1-4 PM
2nd Tuesday, 7-10 PM
4th Tuesday, 9-noon
4th Wednesday, 9-noon
4th Saturday, 1-4 PM
Instructor: Ray Wilkes
Instructor: Stephen Bennett
Instructor: TBD
Instructor: Andre Meyer
Instructor: Barbara Maloney
Faceting-cancelled for summer
Beginning Glass Fusing
Sundays, 1-5 PM
Instructor: Janet Gray
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
Silversmithing
Beginning Silversmithing
Mondays, 7-10 PM
Instructors: Diane Neal/John Alexander
Intermediate Silversmithing
Wednesdays, 7-10 PM
Instructors: Rotating; Class Assistant: Sue
Bedell
Advanced Silversmithing
Fridays, 7-10 PM
Instructor: Emie Stewart/Marlenia Cohen/John Crabb
Advanced Special Projects in Silversmithing for Alumni
Thursdays, 1-4 PM
Instructor: Emie Stewart
July 2015
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LAPIDARY SHOP REPORT
By Barbara Maloney, Lapidary Department Chairperson
Both May and June have proven to be very busy months for me on a personal level. I have managed to
purchase a new carriage motor for good old Satan, our alias for saw #2, and hope to talk Harold Hoskinson
into helping me get it installed in the near future. I am still looking for the new, old stock 56 frame motor for
saw #3. I hope to have it purchased and installed this month. There is a problem with trim saw #1 that
hopefully will be resolved this week, if the problem is nothing more than a defective set screw. Please keep
your fingers crossed for me! I want to try and hold a big saw class in July. I’m sure that the saws could use
a good cleaning and I saw quite a few of our members buying some wonderful rough that will need
slabbing!
In the cab room there continues to be less than clean machines being left on occasion. I’m not sure what
has occurred, but there have been complaints made by several supervisors. I want to stress that when we
keep the cab and saw rooms clean, we are preserving the health of our lungs. Please do your part to
ensure a safe work environment! I know I’m beginning to sound like a broken record, but it is so important
for all cabbers to use the entire face of the grinders and belts. After much discussion with supervisors and a
great deal of thought, I have come to the decision that those cabbers that repeatedly forget to use the full
face of the machines will need to take a refresher course in cabbing. Please realize this is NOT
punishment, but a chance for renewal of good technique and better products for your efforts! Those who
come to use the lapidary shop equipment are there to do their work, get help from supervisors, tell
supervisors if there is an equipment problem, report incorrect usage of equipment, AND assist with clean
up. It is impolite and NOTICED if someone habitually comes to do work and always leaves before clean-up
of the shop! You need to pitch in and clean up something before you go! If cabbing or sawing is going to
continue after you have to leave, offer to sweep, clean up around a sink, or drain an un-needed pan on a
duplicated machine. You helped get it dirty, help clean it up!
As silent auction chairperson, I want to repeatedly thank all those that helped with the bagging, tagging, and
identifying of rock for our show. There are no words to adequately express how grateful I am for your
efforts. The list of helpers is long and I am recalling them in no particular order, so here goes! Sue Poarch,
Stephen Bennett, Meghann Hansen, Amy Cubes, Jean Stephens, Linda and Charles May, Linden
Blackmon, Jackie Peel, Rene Crouch, Dale Miller, Jessie and Carrie Baum, Andre Meyer, Ed and Earlene
Davis, the young man that helped move rock (I didn’t get his name!), and any others that I may have
forgotten to list! These people are the backbone of the silent auction. I also want to thank all the members
and dealers that came to buy rock. Without their support we would have done very poorly, due to such low
attendance by the general public at the silent auction.
Let’s talk about enameling! First, my deepest thanks to all those enamellist that contributed work for display
in our first enameling showcase. Your works are outstanding and, thanks to Sue Poarch’s hard work, made
a beautiful display. I overheard several people talking about how lovely and interesting our enamellist’s
work was. I want to thank Sue Poarch for her contributions, and for putting together the display, Nancy
Leary, Linden Blackmon, Helen Vaught, Linda Trahan, and any others that provided work for the display.
Keep up the great work!
As many of you know, this was the first year that our club offered classes in jewelry making, glass,
enameling, and rock work. I believe these classes were a great success. Sue Poarch and I were coteachers of the enameling class. We had eight students and I believe a wonderful time was had by all. Each
student was able to get two pieces of work well started, if not finished. We gained at least one new
member from that group that is already an experienced enamellist! I believe that classes should be offered
at future shows at a somewhat higher price point, with at least a 2 to 2 ½ hour minimum class time, and a
little more time between classes for clean-up. I would definitely be willing to teach enameling again!
Hope to see you with your new rocks to cut and polish at the club.
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Photos from the June 2015 Club Meeting
Photo essay courtesy of Nadira Charaniya
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ARLINGTON GEM AND MINERAL CLUB
Date: June 2, 2015, General Meeting Minutes
Call to Order: President Carrie Baum called the meeting to order at 7:30.
Our program tonight is the second annual Ice Cream Social.
Drawings/Raffle:
• Name Badge/Sign In:
o Jean Meyer won a bag of beads.
o Nancy Leary won some unique slabs.
o Julie Dellaughter won some dichroic glass.
o Meredith Peel won an onyx slab.
• Raffle:
o Beatrice De Harro won a stone necklace.
o Patricia Babbit won a piece of Binghamite.
o Dale Miller won a slab of copper in matrix.
o Charles Graham won a cab.
o Sue Poarch won a piece of sodalite.
Revised Constitution – Last month we discussed changes to the constitution proposed by the
Constitution Committee headed by Karen Cessna. The revised constitution was emailed to all
members, and you were asked to send any comments or objections to Carrie Baum.
A motion was made by Nadira Charaniya to pass the changes to the constitution. Richard
Makatura seconded the motion. The motion was passed.
Secretary’s report - Marlenia Cohen - Minutes from last month were posted on the bulletin board,
and are included in the Hound’s Tale.
Treasure’s Report: Steve Bennett – We are solvent.
Classes - Emie Stewart –
• The widow of a former member, Jack Newsome, is asking for assistance with some faceting
rough valuation.
• Nova Wells has had a stroke. She is in recovery. However, there will not be a cabbing
class on the 4th Tuesday in June or July.
• There will not be a cabbing class on the first Saturday of July. Nor will there be a cabbing
class this coming Saturday. Leslye Wilkes is having surgery, and Ray will be with her.
• Bob Boyd will be teaching a class on turquoise, July 25, from 1-4.
• Katiri Peters will be teaching a casting lab in July.
• Carrie Baum will be teaching two wire wrapping classes. Wire Findings on June 21, from 14. Also, Wiring Large Beads on June 27, from 1-4.
• Jurgen Maerz will return July 18-19, to teach Basket Setting a Pear Shaped Stone.
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Don’t forget to submit pieces for the competition and for the display cases for the show.
You may want to get a lock with a key for the display cases. Pieces for the silversmithing
competition may be turned in to Emie Stewart up to Friday before the show. All other
pieces may be turned in to Renee Crouch.
Visitors are not allowed to sit in on classes.
Our Facebook page has 470 fans. Like us, and forward articles, to help advertise our show.
If you have content for the club page, please send it to Emie Stewart.
There will be classes during the show. You can pre-register online.
The Classroom Committee hopes to present on the proposed classroom at the July
meeting.
Programs – Jesse Baum – In July, we will have someone from the Perot Museum come present.
See the Hound’s Tale for other upcoming programs.
Juniors – Janet Gray – Thanks for the gifts for the Juniors.
• At the show, instead of a swimming pool to dig in, we will have an aquarium.
• Dealers will hole punch things for the juniors to get a gift.
• We will discuss the Arkansas trip more next month.
• The glass class still has some openings.
Field Trips – Billy Harris – There may be some schedule conflicts with some of the field trips. The
Arkansas trip, the Jasper trip, and the Colorado trip are all in August.
Donations – Carl Wells is not here tonight, but Barbara Betts has donated a bag of cabs.
Building Committee – Jesse Baum and Lauren Smith –
• Lauren Smith fixed the toilet again.
• The roof is waiting on the insurance claims adjuster.
Membership – John Crabb – We have 314 members. We can now take PayPal for membership
fees.
Newsletter – Carrie Baum reported that last month was the best she had ever seen.
Library – Jacqueline Chirunga – Please return your books. You may leave them in the drop box.
• Assistants are needed for the registration desk at the show, and for the raffle.
Sunshine Report – Marge Harrand – One get well card was sent to Elaine O’Donley. Cards will
be sent to Nova Wells and Leslye Wilkes.
Hospitality – Jackie Peel – If you brought a container, please take it home. Thanks for all the
goodies.
Show Report – Anastasia Chaparro –
• The show is a week from Saturday.
• We have brochures to pass out. 28 or our 30 vendors are listed in the brochure.
• If each club member can get three people to attend, that would be close to 1000 people.
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Stevan Alcala will be setting up our new show display at our show.
If you need to buy birthday or Christmas presents, try to find them at our show.
Display boxes can be reserved through Jesse Baum. You may take them home to work on
your display. We will be taking them over to the Convention Center on the Friday before
the show.
Assistants are needed with trucks and trailers, to move things from our clubhouse to the
Grapevine Convention Center on Friday.
New Member FAQs – We have finished a two page FAQ (frequently asked questions) to go in the
new member folder.
The Meeting Adjourned at approximately 8:43 pm.
Submitted by:
Marlenia Cohen
Secretary AGMC
Gemstone quiz… How much do you think you know?
1) For a Rock to be considered a Gemstone, it MUST have great what?
A) Clarity
B) Color
C) Beauty
D) Abundance
2) The Birthstone for which Month is considered a Kaleidoscope?
A) April
B) June
C) September
D) October
3) Hardness in Gemstones refers to what?
A) Its Resistance to Scratching
B) Its Durability
C) Its position on the Moh's Scale
D) Its ability to break along Planar Surfaces
4) Transparent Beryl is what Gemstone?
A) White Sapphire
B) Aquamarine
C) Cubic Zirconia
D) Watermelon Tourmaline
5) Are Synthetic Gemstones considered a Mineral?
A) Yes
B) No
1) C - Beauty - If it's not beautiful, no one would want it!
2) D - October - The Opal has constantly changing Colors!
3) A - Its Resistance to Scratching!
4) B - Aquamarine - Transparent Beryl is very Water-like!
5) B - No - Minerals are made in Nature! Synthetics are made in the Laboratory!
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