The 2007 Treasures of the Earth Show is officially history. This annual high profile labor intensive event fosters achievement of the values that our founders sought to propose. As stated in our Articles of Incorporation, Article II, Section A, our purpose is "The exchange of information and the furtherance of the knowledge of Mineralogy, gem cutting and geology and to stimulate interest in the development of these studies." Our Show creates opportunities to interact with the community at large, generates scholarship funding, gives access to stuff you can’t find yourself and can’t live without, and enables us to informally interact with each other. It was some work but I got way more than I gave, and I bet you did too. Thanks of course to Paul Hlava our Show Chair and the able execution by his Show Committee Gwen Poe, Caroline Wood, Orlando Garcia, Grant Kuck, Hank Miller, Jay Penn, Mike Potts, and the Board, officially. The set-up crew had some new talent: Jim Hill, Merrill Haskell, and Suzi Weaver-Haskell all hit the ground running. As did Bob and Jan Burrows who dropped in from Honduras to help with tear down. Unbelievable loyalty you guys. Members still in the work force who made time to help included Jane Bardal, Mary Gibson, Ken Lovelett, Robert Lobato, Jim Van Loan, and Kathy Lawicki, to name a few. And it was good to see Marge Traulsen smiling at the Raffle booth. Jake Jacobs, and Jim and Sylvia Westmoreland pulled an all day stint at the Admissions table. Shew! I was displaced at the Admissions table by the well oiled machine of the Alvin Garcia family entourage. New members Marty and Rose Zinn donated some high class minerals to our club sponsored silent auction table that substantially increased the proceeds from that effort. Thank you Zinns for your generosity! Fred Aiken’s geology students at Rio Grande HS mounted a three panel display that was very informative. Way to go team! We liked it. If you’re not mentioned and I haven’t personally thanked you then shame on me. Thank you all for making the event a truly successful one.

Everywhere I look things are popping up. Or peeping around … (if, you like I, still have last fall’s leaves right where they drifted). New projects abound. Fruit from old trees re- energized by new members, some new contacts I’ve made, some renewed association with a broader community, all sustained by the guidance of the usual old gang of gems, rockers and fossils. We are partnering with APS to do outreach by representing the AGMC at a "Hobby Night" program for the families of Mitchell Elementary students. The RMFMS has sent information on

Accessing their considerable resources and experiences that they delight in sharing with societies like ours. Lots of new possibilities here. Ask me about it! The Junior Club Co-Chairs have accepted appointment and not been scared off by their first BOD meeting. Good luck o’ to us in the form of Jim Hill and Suzi Weaver-Haskell. And so on…Well I hope you’re making, or taking, the time to get out there. Be safe, be considerate, be legal and enjoy.

Suzanne Seymour

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The March club meeting was called to order at 7:35 by President Suzanne Seymour. Following a welcome to all, the mike was passed around for introductions of guests, new members, and visitors. Suzanne then updated the membership regarding her meeting with the RMFMS State Representative Yonis Lone Eagle who had traveled from Bloomfield to visit our show. He made some suggestions, gave a heads up regarding political action relevant to collecting on Forest Service lands being spearheaded by the Blue Ribbon Coalition, and encouraged us to send a club representative to the annual meeting and show being held in Roswell this year. And, sadly, he reported rumors of over collecting attributed to the AGMC. Many of the membership bristled at this, and Suzanne will press Mr. Lone Eagle for specifics. The February issue of the News Nuggets contains a piece on the ethics of collecting, please read and manifest these ethics...

Committee reports followed, with Grant Kuck reading a prepared debriefing and thank you from our Show Chair Paul Hlava who was in Costa Rica birding and dodging volcanic bombs. Of special note was the recognition that Jay Penn processed enough material donated to the Junior Table to fill 70 flats!!! And that was just the good stuff.

Rex discussed the upcoming trip to Orogrande on the 31^st. Turquoise can be found there but you will have to dig deep. Other material of particular interest is the orthoclase. He has prepared 10 page map packages for those who are definitely going. He also shared info on camping possibilities at Oliver Lee State Park, and a dining recommendation for Alfredo’s in Alamogordo.

Kathy Lawicki needs to fill six months of the refreshments detail.

Marcus Amshoff, naturalstonelights@yahoo.com , offered to set up a group interested in doing sculptural carvings. Or as he jokingly referred to it, setting up a "sand and gravel manufacturing company." He brought an example of the beautiful work he can teach you to do. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from one of our exceptionally talented members.

Marcus Price, Co-VP Programs introduced the evenings speaker. Dr. Virgil Lueth is the Senior Mineralogist with the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, and he presented a most excellent program. In compliment to our most recent show, Virgil gave us all the relevant particulars of Turquoise and then some. The constituents of this phosphate, CuAl6[Po4][OH]8-4H2O, and favorable conditions for emplacement are broadly represented in New Mexico. Worldwide deposits are found in association with porphyry copper deposits, and mostly in arid climates. Where New Mexico is being pulled apart in the Basin and Range area this mineral is represented in mines such as Chino, Tyrone (largest production and only crystalline), Hachita (where Laskey found consistent correlation with jarosite vein fill), Orogrande, Cerrillos (known by Native Americans and the Spanish), and Nogal (the most recent find). On the origins of turquoise he cites several models discussed by Pough. Magmatic, in pegmatites, as a product of late stage plutonism, metamorphic through phosphate metasomatism or hydrothermal circulation of magmatic fluids, or weathering of sulfide deposits by acid solutions and then reprecipitated. It is found in association with clays, jarosite, alunite, gypsum, and iron oxides such as hematite and goethite. The essential ingredient of copper is made available from chalcopyrite through the addition of sulfuric acid produced by the weathering of pyrite. The phosphorous comes from the dissolution of apatite, and the aluminum from the hydrolysis of potassium feldspar. Most New Mexico deposits are the due to the weathering of fractured granite emplaced during a period of intrusion 32mya. Turquoise deposits are dated at 10mya . So the ion stew cooked for 22 million years before precipitating turquoise from the neutralized acid solutions. Hmmm. Don’t think you should try this recipe at home. But as always listening to Virgil for even just a little while makes me feel a whole lot smarter. He had a lot more to say, too, about how importantly his favorite mineral, Jarosite, figures into all this. I think I got it. Thanks to Dr. Lueth for sharing the very inside info on our state mineral.

After the refreshments a dozen or more door prizes were awarded. Congratulations to all the lucky!

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The response at the March general meeting was fabulous. Another time for us to be with fellow members from ages 8-108 to play and have fun. The initial set-up will be with simple hand tools to create small scale pieces to sculptural carving pieces from hand size to about fifteen pounds suitable for alabaster and soapstone. Teaching has been a passion for Marcus Amshoff over the years. His main purpose is teaching you to know that you are doing it right when you are having fun. There is only one rule: If you are not having fun you’re breaking the rule. This opportunity is for all levels and skills. We nurture one another with our unique talents. Give Marcus a call at 505-920-3299 or email him at Naturalstonelights@yahoo.com. Come have fun and learn!

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Out of the Trivia Collection:

Did you know:  Absolutely pure gold is so soft it can be molded with the hands?

The subject for the Junior meeting this month is "WHAT’S IN THAT FUNNY BOX." We will be talking about rock and mineral collecting in general. If you have a collection already, please bring it to the show. There will be more examples of collections there to see and talk about. There will also be a MYSTERY MINERAL for you to try to identify so be sure to be there!

Suzi Weaver-Haskell and Jim Hill

Patricia M. Hester, BLM Regional Paleontologist, will discuss the discovery, the importance, some of the animals who made the tracks and outgoing activity associated with the Paleozoic Trackway localities in the Robledo Mountains near Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Our April field trip will be to the Royal Flush Mine near Bingham. We will commence gathering at the cattle guard on the road leading to the mining area at 8:30 AM. This is just east of the old Blanchard Rock Shop on US 380. At 9:00 we will start for the mine. The road to the mine is rough in spots and normally dry. If this is true the day of the trip there should be few problems until we get near the mine. Caravanning in 4-wheel drive or high clearance vehicles may be needed to go the final ¼ mile.

The mine is owned by Tom and Loretta Massis who have graciously consented to this trip. Please read the February Nuggets article on collecting etiquette. Tom will lead the trip and possibly will allow underground collecting. If so, you will need a hard hat and lantern. All visitors will be required to sign a liability release form. No unattended children will be permitted on this trip. If you bring a youngster, you are expected to stay with them constantly. The mineral collecting possibilities here are mostly galena, fluorite, and barite, but other minerals can be found. The galenas and fluorites are unusual in that the galena is sparkly and the fluorite is deep purple, making very beautiful specimens. Some of you may have checked out Tom and Loretta’s booth at the Treasures of The Earth Expo. If you did you likely noted some of their beautiful minerals that are for sale.

To reach Bingham, take I-25 to exit 139, eight miles south of Socorro. Proceed 30 miles west on US 380 to the Bingham (Blanchard) Rock Shop area. The gathering point is about 200 yards to the East on the old dirt road going south.

See you there with lots of collecting equipment and wrapping material.  Don’t forget food, water, sunscreen and a hat with a good brim.

WHEN: Saturday, May 19

10:00 AM – Noon

WHERE: Interface Mortgage

parking lot

6721 Academy NE

(directions below)

If you have mineral specimens that need trimming, bring them to the Trim Party. We will have the club trimmer available along with members who can show you how to use it.

This is a great way to remove excess matrix and isolate those showy crystals without using a hammer and chisel (which so often sends the  crystals flying in shattered pieces!) – or, just to make the piece display and stand better.

We will meet in the parking lot in front of my office and work outside. Interface Mortgage is in the Academy Office Park which is about half-way between San Mateo and Wyoming on the north side of Academy. Turn in at the main entrance by Bank of the West and go past the clock and flag poles to the second east-west drive. Turn west (left) and go down two buildings. The number, 6721, and the name, Interface Mortgage, is up on the face of the building. If you get lost, call me on my cell: 550-7880.

See you there!

Mike Potts

May 26^th: Dictator Mine

Next months field trip is scheduled for Saturday, May 26. The destination is the Dictator Mine in the Cuchillo Negro District of Sierra County. This is near Winston, about 25 miles west of I-25 South’s "Alamosa Canyon" crossing. In other words, a fairly remote area. Take adequate supplies and gas as the nearest city is T or C, about 35 miles away.
The Dictator is located on the north flank of Cuchillo Peak and situated along the contact of limestone and monzanite porphyry. The mining was mostly for a complex lead, silver, zinc, and copper ore. The adit, shaft, and waste piles are situated several hundred feet above NM 52 and accessed via a southerly primitive road on open range.
The road is not suitable for standard vehicles after the first 0.8 of a mile. From there, you would need to park and join others in more suitable vehicles. It is 2.2 miles total to the mine. There is a limited amount of camping space nearby, mostly on a slope next to the mine. Additional dry camping spots are available at the O.8 mile mark.
We will be primarily collecting fluorescent calcite and willemite. The calcite fluoresces brilliant crimson red and the sparser willemite fluoresces bright green. Smithsonite is scarce but can be collected and it fluoresces a pale pink. Galena, mottramite and azurite are some of the other minerals that can be collected. The adit is 400 feet long. The 130 deep shaft is dangerous and should not be approached. Those interested in collecting underground will need the usual safety gear, hard hats, safety glasses, lights, etc. The usual chisels, hammers, pry bars, etc. will be needed to collect in hard rock. Much collecting can be done easily in the dumps. Adequate materials should be brought for wrapping and preserving specimens. Buckets are ok for collecting some of the fluorescent country rock which is relatively ugly without the fluorescence. Portable UV lights are a real asset for collecting at this mine, either underground or at night.

DIRECTIONS, MEETING PLACE, AND TIME: Take I-25 South to Exit 89 on the south side of Alamosa Canyon. Exit right to the gravel pile on Rt. 181. We will commence gathering here about 9:00 AM. At 9:30 we will caravan to the mine with a brief stop at a Willow Creek local. There we will point out a small mine where unique micro mount minerals were written up in the New Mexico 1989 Mineralogical Record, (Vol. 20, Number 1) by our own Ray DeMark. The distance to the Dictator from the meeting place is approximately 26 miles. No facilities are available so take plenty of water, sunscreen, proper clothing, toiletries, and foodstuffs.  For reading about the mine and area refer to NMBMMR Bulletin 10, The Geology and Ore Deposits of Sierra County, NM. This bulletin is available at the NM Tech office on Central. See you there, Grant and Rex

Our club has been invited to visit private claims in Colorado for a field trip. That is such a bland statement, but hold your judgment until you hear the details.

The trip will be to the Crystal Peak area, west of Colorado Springs. There are three claims, two owned by Donna Ware and Jeff Self of Self-a-Ware Minerals, the third owned by a friend. The trip will include the Colorado Mineral Society and the Cheyenne Rock Club. The original schedule was a Saturday, but the third claim owner will have to work that day and can come on Sunday. The other clubs have opted to switch to Sunday. Donna called me with this information and offered to keep the Saturday open to us. This means that we can have a group on Saturday AND Sunday! There is a 25 person maximum per day. Because they will be camping overnight at the claims, those of us who can, are welcome to stay over and, yes, meet the other clubs on Sunday, AND enjoy a second collecting day. Example: 25 people can come for Saturday. 8 people stay over, then 17 people can come in on Sunday.

Ok, now that is out of the way….here is the detail:

When: June 2-3, 2007 Saturday and/or Sunday

Where: Crystal Mountain Gem Mine

Why: Expect to find: amazonite, smokey quartz, hematite, goethite, fluorite. May find: topaz, phenacite, cassiderite, columbite.

How: All surface collecting, no underground. Access: 2-wheel drive vehicle ok to the last ¼ mile, then 4-wheel drive needed, walk up, or "truck-pool."

Time: 9:00 AM

Meet: Divide Venture Market, Divide, Colorado

Additional Information: I-25 North to Colorado Springs, take exit for Woodland Park, west on 24/64. This is about 400 miles to Woodland Park, about 7 miles to Divide, 12 miles to 2-wheel parking area, and 12 miles to 2-wheel parking area. There will be copies of directions, instructions, and a map at the May 2007 general meeting, or if needed, I will mail them to you.

SIGN UP: Please call me to be on the list. Info needed is name, phone, number of persons, day attending, and if Saturday, if you plan to stay over for Sunday.

More Info: Elevation is 9200 ft., collecting area has no shade, so plan for sun, but it could be cold. The bears will be awake, there has not been previous evidence of rattlesnakes, but watch out for ticks. There have been sightings of fluorescent milky quartz, and the amazonite turns dark brick red under a fluorescent light. Bring your lamps and cameras!

There are similar considerations as for other private claim collecting:

There are campgrounds in the area, and lodging options in Woodland Park.

Please e-mail cat-trax@hotmail.com, or call 505-281-3886 to reserve a spot for an undoubtedly unforgettable trip.

Kimberly Richie, AGMC member

Beyond May you may look forward to a June trip to the Taos area where John Scully, our Webmaster and renowned mineral dealer will lead us to a remote wooded area to collect staurolites. He says that it is easy to get lost in this area so GPS’s are a good idea for this trip. He has also suggested a small group with no minors.

For July we are working on a field trip picnic combination and this is in the planning state.

Rex and Grant

What two unmentioned elements besides the variable metals, are present?

Mystery Mineral Response:

By Ray DeMark

The claims that now constitute the Royal Flush mine were first located as the Royal Flush nos. 1 & 2 in December 1947. Development work started in 1949 and Royal Flush nos. 3 & 4 were added to the original claims and sold to Ben B. Scott who organized the Scott Mineral Company. Two or three cars of lead ore were shipped to the El Paso Smelter. In late 1949, the Royal Flush group was sold to Erwin & Bishop of Houston who operated the mine under the name of the Mex-Tex Mining Company. Ore from the Royal Flush mine produced in 1951 and 1952 was reported to contain 30-55 percent barite, 12-23 percent fluorite, and about 5 percent galena, in a gangue of quartz, calcite and limestone. In 1952 the Hurlow Mining & Milling company erected a mill on the northeast end of the district. In the early 1960s, Galber, Inc. mined and explored the Mex-Tex, Royal Flush and other mines in the area and shipped several carloads of lead concentrate by track and rail to the ASARCO smelter in El Paso. This was pretty much the end of the line as far as ore production for the Royal Flush mine. Claim ownership from the 1960s to 1987 is murky but all claims reverted to public domain in 1983. In the spring of 1987, Tom Massis located claims on the royal Flush properly and has maintained ownership since that date. Tom has graciously allowed us to collect on his claims on Saturday, the 28^th of April.

"I Just Love Rocks!" was heard all day for the three days of the show. Juniors were just ecstatic about buying rocks for 5¢, 10¢, 25¢. "Oooh, I can get another one!" We had a great time seeing their faces.

First a Thank You to the volunteers who staffed the table this year: Carl Johnson, Nikita Bogdanov, Martin and Cari Wormser, Paulina Inigo, Kathy Chavez, Lannois Neely, Virginia Lawless, Gwen Poe, and Paul Blain.

And a Thank You to dealers who donated material at the show: Marcus and Patricia of Natural Stone Lights, Bill and Jeanette of William J. Fencil Co. and, Ed of Ed's Prospecting Supplies.

And Thank You to all the club members who donated material over the years.

We started with 70 flats of material. "This is only 10¢?" One of my goals was to move out all the material so we can make a fresh start next year. I envision individually boxed specimens with name and location labels (like the grownups buy) instead of flats with what appear (to a kid) to be a pile of rocks. "Look at this big rock I got"

After a somewhat slow start on Friday we started making up flats of an assortment of specimens, a sort of starter collection. "Can I weigh this rock?" These were sold at the silent auction tables for more than we would have gotten at the junior table. I saw several flats go to young people who were over age 17 but still quite young (to me anyone under 30 is quite young). People liked being able to get a collection of minerals all at once. "I have rocks everywhere at home" We got rid of about 12 flats that way. I suggest we carry this idea over to the junior table next year, offering mini flats of an assortment for a few dollars. Or letting the juniors make up their own, for a set price based on flat size. "2 for 10¢ or 3 for 25¢, ---------------- I want 3!"

Saturday and Sunday were steady and a lot of material left in the hands of kids. "I'm coming here first next year" At 1:45 on Sunday I pulled 8 flats of the best individually boxed specimens off the table to be the starter material for next year. Then at 2:00pm everything was free to all comers, regardless of age. "Is all this stuff really free?" At 5:00 we only had 2 flats of rubble left to carry home and dump. It was surprising to me that something people won't pay 5¢ for; they will fill up a bag of if it's free.

I think we had a very successful junior table, a lot of minerals and knowledge was transferred to young people. "She said this is a garnet" I learned that most kids don't yet have an appreciation for minerals, the hottest item was tumble polished stones followed by quartz crystals and jewelry. Everything else was a distant third. If an adult accompanied the junior then there was some guidance toward the mineral specimens. The mini collections idea may help expand the interest next year. The scouting type groups were very enthusiastic, especially the girls, who would have thought? In general the children bused in by the schools were the least informed/ coached/ interested/ allowed to purchase.

"Do you have any more big rocks?" Whether or not I coordinate the junior table next year I'm ready to start receiving junior table donations so the job of sorting, preparing, cleaning, labeling, boxing, etc. can be spread out over the year instead of all in the last 2 months. Of course the more that is done before it is donated the less we have to do. But please don't bag the specimen, if it isn't good enough to be in a box it probably isn't going to generate much interest in the kids.

The March Field trip took 27 members of the AGMC in 17 vehicles to the Jarilla Mountains. The collecting area is just northwest of a town called Orogrande, which is 35 miles south of Alamogordo on U.S. 54. Because there were so many sites to collect from we broke up into numerous groups. Rex Nelson led a group to the orthoclase location. Bill Walker and Kay Walker took a group to the garnet area. Jake Jacobs led a group to search for turquoise. And on the way in Jim Westmorland gave us a lecture on the historical mining town of Brice, which alas is no more except for some ruins here and there. Jim also remained available near the old townsite of Ohaysi to provide information to anyone interested in historical data.  Club members came away with a number of specimens such as turquoise, garnets, orthoclase, chrysocolla, hematite, selenite, chalcopyrite, and pyrite. Dave Moats came away with some chalcanthite, Rex Nelson found some wollanstanite, and the award for the heaviest yard rock, if not the biggest, goes to Grant Kuck and his twenty pound chunk of iron ore. Dioptase was also reportedly found by a club member.

At the end of Saturday 10 members elected to camp out at one of the collecting sites, enjoying a big campfire before turning in. Some people slept in their vehicles and some pitched tents. Overnight temperatures dropped down into the lower 40’s but everyone seemed to be warm enough. On Sunday people explored other collection sites as well as some historic ones such as the Brice Cemetery. By late afternoon most members had called it quits with the exception of Jay Penn who planned on exploring the area through Wednesday.

Our next field trip is scheduled for April 28^th at the Royal Flush Mine, thanks to the generosity of Tom Massis.

Beginning at 9 a.m. we will gather at the cattle-guard east of the Blanchard Rock Shop. Be sure to read all about this trip in Rex Nelson’s article also in this month’s News Nuggets.

I hope to see you on our next field trip and in the meantime keep looking down!

Grant and Rex

President: Suzanne Seymour

Home Phone: 505-877-3621

E-mail: suzannerox5@aol.com

VP – Programs: Mike Sanders

Home Phone: 505-256-1797

Co-VP Programs: Marcus Price

E-mail: priceabq@aol.com

VP – Field Trips: Grant Kuck

Home Phone: 505-323-1520

Co-VP – Field Trips: Rex Nelson

Home Phone: 505-271-4694

E-mail: sagebrushhome2@aol.com

Secretary: Open; Please come forward

Membership: Kimberly Richie

Home Phone: 505-281-3886

Cat-trax@hotmail.com

Treasurer: Amy Penn

Home Phone: 505-883-4195

Email: el.chivo.Viejo@earthlink.net

Historian: Dave Moats

Home Phone: 505-892-8163

E-mail: beepbeep59@hotmail.com

Editor: Patricia Amshoff

Home Phone: 505-920-3299

E-mail: naturalstonelights@yahoo.com

Show Chair: Paul Hlava

Home Phone: 505-255-5478

E-mail: hpf5@qwest.net

Junior Club: Suzi Weaver-Haskell

Home Phone: 505-890-4401

powitree@hotmail.com

Junior Club Co-Chair: Jim Hill

Home Phone: 505-865-2914

HILLJDA@juno.com

Past President: Orlando Garcia

Home Phone: 505-345-0520

E-mail: jabog02@msn.com

The Club Newsletter: News Nuggets exists to assist the membership in communications and to provide information on club activities. Contributions from all members are welcome on any information that will promote club activities or that would be of interest to club members. News Nuggets is scheduled to be mailed approximately one week prior to the monthly meeting. Mail news, articles or comments to: Patricia Amshoff, Editor, 3 Placita de Oro, Studio 6, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501, or e-mail at naturalstonelights@yahoo.com.

The Albuquerque Gem & Mineral Club was organized on January 22, 1944. The club is a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement and enjoyment of the Earth Sciences and associated subjects. Its primary purpose is the exchange of information and the furtherance of knowledge of Mineralogy, Fossils, Geology, Rock Cutting and Gem Faceting and to stimulate interest in the development of these studies.

All meetings are held at the NM Museum of Natural History, Albuquerque, NM. The general meeting is held on the 4^th Monday of the month (unless otherwise announced) at 7:30 p.m. The Junior Club meets at 6:30 p.m. prior to the general meeting. Board of Directors meetings are held at 7:30 p.m. on the first Monday of each month.

Payment type: □ Check Date Received_______

□ Cash $__________________

□ Other_________________

PO Box 13718