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. The public is welcome at both meetings.

Board of Directors meetings are held at 7:30 p.m. on the first Monday of each month. All club members are welcome.

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. You are cordially invited to mail news, articles or comments to:

Jay Penn

2324 Alvarado NE

Albuquerque, New Mexico 87110

el.chivo.viejo@earthlink.net

Instructions for entering the Members' Page are provided in the new member packet.

Well the annual Treasures of the Earth Show is behind us now, and though the flu dealt a serious blow to the Show Committee [including Paul Hlava, the Chair] the rest of our club members soldiered on to acquit themselves admirably. In truth the year long efforts of many virtually assured that all the components came together well and ran like a well oiled machine.

My condolences to those of you who could not attend, as it was a great success with lots of wonderful things for sale, excellent displays to peruse, and bargains galore at the Silent Auction tables. Also included were many opportunities to socialize with fellow members who were there to help get it all together, and keep it running. And of course the Pot Luck dinner that kicks off the fun was up to the usual high standard thanks in great part to Gwen Poe’s organization and the scrumptious offerings brought by our members.

Many thanks and a hearty" Well Done !!!" to everyone who took a turn at staffing a station, helped set up or take down, submitted a display, or did any one of the myriad chores required to make the whole affair a success. Extra special thanks and acknowledgement go to a few who were there from beginning to end , namely Rex Nelson, Amy Penn, Jim Hill, John Reinert, Jay Penn, Ray DeMark, and Jake Jacobs…these folks are our special rocks. Also there at critical times with the guidance of their extensive past experience were Mike and Jovylyn Potts, Kimberly Richie, and Mike Sanders. Thank you, thank you, thank you all!!! Attendance was good and we made our goal to be able to enrich our scholarship fund.

On another note, from time to time we are asked by various school and civic groups to lend our expertise to their programs. This may entail judging science fairs, guiding merit badge achievement for scout groups, or participating in career/science nights at schools. And as it just so happens, all three kinds of events are coming up. If you are willing to help out with any of these projects, see me, call me, email me, and I’ll be glad to explain the details, and suggest ways you can help. Our youth are our future and I encourage the club membership to help enrich it for all of us by sharing our expertise and enthusiasm with them. Suzanne Seymour

The meeting was called to order by President Suzanne Seymour at 7:40 p.m. She welcomed guests.

Suzanne spoke about the Treasures of the Earth (TOTE) show, saying that it was a success thanks to the hard work of volunteers, many of whom worked extra long hours, as several people were ill and could not help as planned.

Since the speaker for this evening needed to leave early, Anita Willard introduced Tom Rosemeyer, who gave a colorful talk about gold mining in the San Juan region.

Rex then spoke about the field trip on March 29^th at the Nakaye Mines south of Truth or Consequences. On April 26^th, the field trip will be to the Mayflower Mine near Socorro. Signups are required at least two weeks in advance for that trip. Members will need to be able to hike up steep terrain.

Jim Hill said there were 18 juniors at the meeting tonight. He also introduced Rachel Shroyer, who took first place in the Earth Sciences Division (junior high level) at the Science Fair recently. Rachel summarized her exhibit for the club. Jim announced that Rachel also won for having the best junior display at the TOTE show.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 p.m. for refreshments and door prizes.

Submitted by Janey Johnson, Secretary

.________________________________

The topic of the March Jr. Club meeting was Fossils, and was attended by 14 junior members, along with several visitors. We started the meeting by awarding the junior members who attended the February meeting with their Rocks and Minerals Certificate of Achievement and merit badge.

We then began with a discussion of the geological time chart, with handouts that showed the different eras and their corresponding periods and epochs.

Next we discussed the different forms of fossilization: Molds and casts, mineralization or petrification, recrystalization, carbonization, and original remains. Jim and Earlene managed to "dig up" examples of each form, and the kids were asked to identify which era and epoch the fossils belonged to.

Finally, we talked about New Mexico’s state dinosaur, Coelphsis, a Triassic dinosaur that lived here 222-215 million years ago. This completed the requirements for the junior members to earn their Fossils merit badge, which will be awarded at the April Jr. Club meeting.

Earlene Shroyer

Thanks so much for helping produce a successful show.

Special thanks to each and every helping hand: from beginning to end; from the smallest tasks to the heaviest ones; from start to finish!

It was a pleasure to share time and space with you.

Gwen

The junior table at the TOTE show was a success again this year. By success I mean there was ample stock of good material for the juniors to buy at "junior" prices and everyone who worked the table seemed to have a good time.

If I remember correctly we had at least one Junior Club member (with an adult) working the table for every shift. A few adults told me that they didn't have to do anything; the kids were doing a great job on their own. Next year the Junior Club will take over full responsibility for making sure the table is manned.

Because of the increased quality/desirability of the specimens the table took in $100 more than last year while selling fewer items.

The Junior Club says THANK YOU to the following people whose generous donations made this booth possible.

Club Members: Rex Nelson, Dave & Karen Moats, Don Davis, Craig Pearson, Tim & Helen Faulkner, Jay & Amy Penn, Michael & Janey Johnson, Lanois Neely, Brian Anderson, Joseph DeStefano, Dick & Barb McDonough, Helen Wolf

Local Retailers: Southwestern Minerals, Mama's Minerals, Liberty Gem & Minerals, Indian Jewelers Supply Co. (Please support the local retailers who support us)

Out of Town Dealers: Rio Grande Rocks & Gems (Socorro), William Fencil Co. (Deming)

Jay Penn

The Silent Auction tables did extremely well during this years TOTE Show. Of course none of this would have been possible without members and friends contributing time and material. The auction table staff which consisted of Jim Hill, Jake Jacobs, John Reinert and myself would like to thank the following members for their contributions. Some contributed more than others but in general the list is in order of the largest contributions of material.

Ray DeMark, John Scully, Kay Walker, Jim Hill, Mike Sanders, Suzanne Seymour, Rex Nelson and Craig Pearson all contributed material that for the most part was self collected New Mexico minerals. Needless to say this made a lot of mineral collectors very happy and put many dollars into the club coffers.

And then there were several non club member contributors. Marty Zinn, a well known and generous benefactor of NM Tech's Mineral Museum, donated two flats of wonderful minerals. One of these was full of beautiful quartz specimens in keeping with this year’s theme mineral. Thank you Marty for your generosity. Another non member contributor was Jesse Kline. Jesse is a well known New Mexico mineral collector. He is especially known for his wanderings and explorations of pegmatites and not so well known but unique sites. From these sites he frequently sleuths out minerals that are not expected to be there. Thanks Jesse for parting with some of these unique specimens.

Several people may remember seeing occasional pieces of goethite show up on the table. These were made possible by Alan Perryman and Richard Overly of "Rio Grande Rocks and Gems". Thank you Alan and Richard. Needless to say these contributors made a lot of people happy.

This year’s silent auction staff had minimal experience with the exception of Jim Hill who helped last year. To make up for this, Mike and Jovylyn Potts spent the first day training and generally overseeing the first day's operation. Special thanks to both of these wonderful and generous club members. It was great working with you.

Rex Nelson and Jim Hill

The general meeting door prize/raffle specimens for the year are all organized. Almost 50% of our monthly prizes were donated. This allows the club to buy better specimens with the budgeted money. Our THANKS go to the following people and organizations for their generous donations.

Bob & Jan Burrows, NM Bureau of Mines, Rex Nelson, Pete Keiser, Craig Pearson, Amy & Jay Penn, Barb & Dick McDonough, Lanois Neely, Regina Aumente

The Mayflower Mine field trip is scheduled for Saturday, April 26. Alan Perryman from EMRTC will act as our guide and has recommended closing the list at 40 members. As of then we quit taking names. If you have signed up on the list provided, we are looking forward to your attendance. If you are not signed up, please do not show up or plan on bringing a surprise guest. The final list is being turned in as of Saturday the13^th. If you are not sure if you signed up, call Rex at 400-8239 as he has the list.

We will meet NLT 9:00 AM at the Macey Center parking lot on the campus of New Mexico Tech and caravan from there, as a group, to the EMRTC parking area. EMRTC personnel will possibly provide vans for us to go to the trailhead. If that turns out to be impossible, we will consolidate into as few vehicles as possible and convoy to the trailhead. This is absolutely necessary as there are limited parking spaces.

Here are some words of caution. The Mayflower mine is situated on the mountain face of Socorro Peak and there are dangerous cliffs and unmarked shafts in the vicinity of the mine. Vigilance will be required at all times. All participants should be prepared for a climb in excess of 500 feet in about 0.6 miles of hiking. In other words, you will need to be in good shape and accustomed to rigorous hiking and climbing. The young club members attending must be closely monitored at all times.

Specimens of the following minerals can be found: Mottramite, barite, vanadium, wulfenite, mimetite, willemite, and Hemimorphite.

In general, most of the material collected will be attractive micro sized specimens. A loupe is desirable for collecting at this site. Other considerations are as follows.

Do not wander off from the group.

Look out for each other.

Bring adequate food, water and toiletries. There are no food or bathroom facilities in this remote area.

We will depart for return as a group unless an emergency dictates otherwise.

A whistle could save you so bring one if possible.

Sunscreen, a shaded hat, tools to dig in dumps or hard rock, and wrapping material for specimens are needed. TP works for some of these specimens.

Vigilance for snakes and other critters will be required at all times.

We are absolutely not going underground so hardhats and lights are not needed.

If you drive up and take on passengers, please insure that they are with you when you leave.

Questions, call 505-400-8239 or 505-323-1520. See you there. Rex and Grant

For more information on this location see "Mines and Minerals----" article in the Field Trips section.

_________________________________

The junior club will be going to visit the fossil lab at the museum on the meeting night.

No other program is planned.

Yes, it will really happen this time.

Questions? Contact Jim Hill or Earlene Shroyer

"Volcanoes of New Mexico"

by Nelia W. Dunbar

Nelia is the manager of the Electron Microprobe Lab for the Earth and Environmental Science Department of the New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources at New Mexico Tech. (say that fast once).

She has an MS in geology and a PhD in geochemistry, both from New Mexico Tech.

Her research includes volcanology, igneous petrology, and economic geology, particularly on tephrochronology of New Mexico and Antarctica, as well as on magmatic processes.

She has spent the last 20 seasons doing volcanological field work in various parts of Antarctica.

Her talk will be an overview of volcanism in New Mexico, focusing specifically on activity in the past 5 million years and in particular on the very interesting volcanic activity of the Jemez Mountains and the Zuni-Bandera volcanic field.

She will also talk briefly about potential future volcanic activity in New Mexico.

_________________________________

I inserted a picture here of a really great marcasite specimen (see Mystery Mineral section) but when we went to e-mail the news letter the file size had increased from a normal size of 120 KB to over 11 MB (a factor of 100 for one picture!!).

The computer warned that it would take a long time to mail each file. We e-mail over 200 letters and I want everyone to get the Nuggets before the next meeting, I took the picture out.

If anyone knows of a better way to include high resolution pictures please let me know.

Once upon a time in the Land of Enchantment 35 people gathered by exit 51 just south of Truth or Consequences. Brother Rex Nelson (who preached about turquoise at a little church in Hachita, New Mexico during the last field trip) was on hand to lecture about the Nakaye Mining District. In addition he brought out a box of minerals he had collected from the area and led an impromptu show and tell session. After everybody was excited about what they could find Rex declared it time to go and lead us towards the mines.

Not everybody was able to make it up to the mines which required 4 wheel drive and alot of clearance. Those who couldn't make it found places to park below and either hitched a ride up or hiked the rest of the way. If the AGMC ever issued a driving award I would make sure Jim Van Loan got one for driving his Toyota Corolla almost to the top. I'm not sure but I suspect he's got a mountain goat under the hood. Bill Barr and I put our gear in Rex's truck and proceeded to hike up to the mines. Believe me it was alot easier than carrying everything. I was especially grateful for the ride down when I didn't have to walk or carry all my gear and all the specimens I had gathered.

It was a beautiful day for collecting although a bit windy later in the afternoon. A number of people came away with some surprising specimens. Dave Moats found some beautiful barite specimens. Rex Nelson sat down next to Caleb Ababon to help him identify minerals he was digging up from a dump pile. Shortly thereafter the hole was greatly increased and the two were soon pulling out good sized pieces of really blue fluorite. Later Caleb was joined by Grandma Janet Howe, and brother Joshua and the rest of the family soon after. They continued to find pretty blue fluorite in the massive aspect. Rex also found one of the best preserved blue fluorites roaming around the dumps that I have ever seen. It actually had crystal faces! Who knows how it survived. Another prize from the collecting area was purple fluorite, especially beautiful when found in a matrix of barite. Some of the fluorite was weathered to pink by the sun and also fun to find.

Paulina Inigo found some wulfenite outside one of the mines. Roy Greiner started digging nearby and also found wulfenite. I dug next to Roy and guess what? I also found some wulfenite. Bill Barr came away with some really big pieces of blue flourite he collected inside one of the mines. He also came away with what I took to be the most beautiful, rich purple fluorite of the day until I took a closer look and discovered they were all pieces of purple glass.

Eventually enough fun was had by all and the remaining collectors decided to call it quits for the day. Of course we also decided we should meet in Truth of Consequnces at a Mexican restaurant where we could find sustenance for the long drive back to Albuquerque, after all rockhounding is serious appetite building work. So until the next field trip (read Rex's writeup this issue) keep looking down!

Grant & Rex

Next months field trip will be to Puerto de Luna, south of Santa Rosa, New Mexico. We are going to meet at 10:30 AM on May, 24^th next to the graveyard near the town of Puerto de Luna. The graveyard is located on the east side of state road 91 across the highway from the Catholic church and is easily seen. To reach Puerto de Luna, take I-40 east to Santa Rosa. Take SR 91 south (10 miles) to Puerto de Luna. The driving time to the destination is about 2 and half hours. After a short briefing we will depart for the collecting area.

Credits and thanks go to Ray DeMark for the information below: You can expect to collect fine crystals of Aragonite. They are found in a gypsiferous Permian formation. The Pseudohexagonal (cyclic twins) of aragonite occur in crystals up to 10" across which makes the locality noteworthy. Most of the crystals are found loose after they weather out of the enclosed formation. It is important to note that these crystals are not crystals of aragonite, but rather they have been replaced by dolomite and are thus a pseudomorph of dolomite after aragonite.

Questions, call 505-400-8239 or 505-323-1520. See you there. Rex and Grant

by Ramon S. DeMark

The Socorro Peak mining district is quiet today, but 120 years ago it was a different story. The town of Socorro, also known then as the "Gem City" was alive with mining and smelting activity, and there was great hope for a bright future (Silver City Southwest Sentinel, 1889).

During the early 1880s as many as 150 oxen and mule teams were busy hauling lead and silver ores from the Magdalena district (Kelly, Graphic, and other mines west of Socorro; Eveleth, 1983). They pushed through Blue Canyon on the south side of Socorro Peak ("M" Mountain) to the busy smelters of Gustav Billing in Park City, 2 mi west of Socorro. The ores from the Socorro Peak district also added to the activity. The Socorro Chieftain (1892) cites that "768,410 oz of silver came from Socorro Mountain mines: one half from Torrance and the rest from Merritt, Silver Bar, and New Find." Enthusiasm was riding high during this time. The Socorro Tunnel Mining Company of New Mexico prospectus (Robinson, 1881) uses the word "immense" on many occasions to describe the ore body and cites the "extensive deposits of auriferous rock that occurs." With regard to the mines on Socorro Peak, the Socorro Chieftain also writes: "It is a well known fact that these claims are permeated with an inexhaustible supply of silver in a chloride form." This is not exactly true because in 1904, Fayette Jones reported: "This once prominent smelting plant is now practically dismantled and with the dying fires of its stacks, the life of the Socorro district passed out."

Today we can still see the dumps of the mine shafts and the tunnels that fired the dreams of the early prospectors, miners, and residents of Socorro. On the east face of Socorro Peak they remain a silent testimony to the activity that once dominated the area. Much of the production history of these mines has been lost, and little of the mineralogy has been documented. In Rocks and Minerals magazine geologist and mineral collector Will Moats offers the most comprehensive information on the minerals of Socorro Peak (Moats, 1991).

These days the mines of Socorro Peak beckon to the mineral collector, but access to the mines is only possible through the written approval of the Energetic Materials Research Test Center (EMRTC), an affiliate of the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. With the approval of EMRTC, I was able to visit the following Socorro Peak mines in preparation for this presentation: May Flower, Socorro (Woods) Tunnel, Silver Bar, Dewey Load, Merritt, Torrance, and the Maine Tunnel.

In most cases, hazardous underground conditions, vertical shafts, and collapsed drifts prevent underground inspection and collecting, but the mine dumps can produce most, if not all, of the minerals of interest to collectors (primarily microminerals).

Minerals collected during this investigation include: mottramite, mimetite, vanadinite, wulfenite, willemite, hemimorphite, bromargyrite/ chlorargyrite, barite, malachite, cerussite, chrysocolla, calcite, quartz, and gypsum. Caledonite, descloizite, and linarite (Moats,1991) and argentite/acanthite and fluorite (Lasky, 1932) have been reported but were not observed.

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank EMRTC director, Dr. John Meason, and associate director of administration and support, Mr. Rudy Correa, for granting permission to visit and collect at the Socorro Peak mines. I would also like to thank EMRTC engineer and raconteur, Mr. Alan Perryman, for his helpful assistance and for his company while visiting the mines.

References

Eveleth, R. W., 1983, Gustav Billing, The Kelly mine and the Great Smelter at Park City, Socorro County, New Mexico; in Chapin, C. E., and Callender, J. F. (eds.), Socorro region II: New Mexico Geological Society, Guidebook 34, pp. 89–95.

Chieftain, Newspaper, February 12, 1892.Socorro, New Mexico.

Jones, F. A., 1904, New Mexico mines and minerals; World’s Fair edition: Santa Fe, New Mexico Printing Company, 349 pp. plus biographical supplement.

Lasky, S. G., 1932, reprinted 1983, The ore deposits of Socorro County, New Mexico: New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources, Bulletin 8, 139 pp.

Moats, W., 1991, Minerals of the Socorro Peak district, Socorro County, New Mexico: Rocks and Minerals magazine, v. 66, no. 1, p. 56.

Robinson, M. E., 1881, Prospectus, The Socorro Tunnel Mining Company of New Mexico, Socorro Mountain, includes sketch of Socorro Peak.

Silver City Southwest Sentinel, Newspaper, November 12, 1889. Silver City, New Mexico.

From the 2002 New Mexico Mineral Symposium Program

The following is solely the opinion of the editor------------today.

I might change my mind tomorrow.

I've heard that some of the old timers in this club are great diggers. I wonder what they think about this.

Kimberley Big Hole - South Africa

This is disputably the largest ever hand-dug excavation in the world. This hole is 463 meters (1,500 feet) wide and 1097 meters (3565 feet) deep. The mine yielded 2,722 kg (3 tons) of diamonds before being closed in 1914. The amount of earth removed by workers is estimated to total 22.5 million tons.

(Thank you Anita Willard for sending this in)

I can here them now, sitting around the camp fire.

"Yep, I dug a hole like that once------------- but I quit when I didn't find anything."

(pause)

"Then I covered it up so no one would find my claim."

Congratulations to Rachel Shroyer for her exhibit titled "Mineral Identification of a Septarian Nodule" which was awarded First Place in the Junior Earth & Planetary Sciences category at the 2008 New Mexico Science and Engineering Fair held in Socorro, NM on April 5^th.

Rachel was also awarded a certificate from the Association for Women Geoscientists for high standards of innovativeness and scientific excellence in the geosciences, and has also been invited to enter the Society for Science and the Public Middle School's national science fair, to be held in Washington, D.C. this October. Way to go Rachel!

Editors note: Yahoo, Rachel !!!

The Northwest, Rocky Mountain and California Federations of Mineralogical Societies are hosting a Tri-Federation Rock Hound Rendezvous and Field Trip to Texas Springs, NV, over Memorial Day Weekend 2008 and all AFMS members are invited. The Texas Springs area is well known for spectacular pink agate limb casts, as well as, other agate and petrified wood.

Editors note: As AGMC members we are AFMS members and can attend this event. For directions, itinerary, camping info, contact persons, etc. go to:

www.rmfms.org

click on Field Trips

click on Tri-Federation Field Trip 2008

This section is for the not for profit exchange of goods and services between club members (cars, boats, rocks, minerals, tools, equipment, -------- anything). For profit (stock in trade) items will not be published.

Deadline for submission is the 2nd Monday of the month at noon. Submit to editor.

Hint: This is an excellent place to post a need for a ride to field trips and other club events. Or, to offer rides to help cover fuel expenses.

Here are events located in NM, TX, OK, CO, UT, and AZ for as far ahead as there is space available. You can get more comprehensive lists at: www.rockngem.com/showdates.asp

www.lapidaryjournal.com/cal1.cfm

19-20--Taos, NM: Mineral, Fossil, Gemstone & Jewelry Sale. Vendors are: Taos Rockers, GEOdyssey and D&J Rare Gems; 9:00am-6:00pm, 133 North Plaza, Taos (next to Garden & Soul); contact Cortney Stewart (575) 758-3350

18-20--Marfa, TX: Show, "Big Bend Gem & Mineral Show"; Chihuahuan Desert Gem & Mineral Club; AmVets Bldg., 300 S. Highland (Hwy. 67 S.),; Fri. 10-6, Sat. 10-6, Sun. 11-5; free admission; gemstones, minerals, jewelry, fossils; contact Paul Graybeal, (432) 729-4526; e-mail: paulgraybeal@sbcglobal.net

25-27--Denver, CO: Annual show, "Colorado Mineral & Fossil Show"; Martin Zinn Expositions; Holiday Inn-Denver Central, 4849 Bannock St.; free admission, Fri. 10-6, Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5; contact Regina Aumente, P.O. Box 665, Bernalillo, NM 87004, (505) 867-0425; e-mail: mz0955@aol.com; Web site: www.mzexpos.com

26-27--Waco, TX: 48th annual show; Waco Gem & Mineral Club; Heart of Texas Fairgrounds, Fine Arts Bldg., Bosque Ave.; Sat. 10-5:30, Sun. 10-5; adults $3, students $1, children under 6 free; door prizes, exhibits, demonstrations, 25 dealers, minerals, fossils, jewelry, children's wheel, silent auction, youth activities; contact Kay Coleman, 118 County Road 540, Fairfield, TX 75840, (903)389-8311; e-mail: rkcole8@peoplepc.com

1-4--Phoenix, AZ: Bead Expo Phoenix. 1st-4th, classes; 2nd-4th, expo. Phoenix Convention Center. Not juried. 610-232-5700, www.beadexpo.com. Open to the public.

2-4--Dallas, TX: 2nd annual show, "Dallas Fine Mineral Show"; Dave Waisman; Embassy Suites, 14021 Noel Rd., near The Galleria; Fri. 10-6, Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5; free admission; contact Dave Waisman, P.O. 8543, Spokane, WA 99203, (509) 458-2331; e-mail: svldave@aol.com; Web site: www.dallasfinemineralshow.com

3-4--Lubbock, TX: 50th annual show; Lubbock Gem & Mineral Society; Lubbock Civic Center, 1501 Mac Davis Ln.; Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5; exhibits, dealers, gems, jewelry, findings, rocks, minerals, fossils; contact Archie Scott, (806) 894-1584, or Ed Ries, (806) 799-2722

10--Prague, OK: PUBLIC AUCTION, Don & Sonja Bykerk, Lapidary Equipment, Rocks, Minerals, Specimens. 410 East Main, Prague, Ok. 10:00 am. 33+ equipment items sold at 10am followed by 250+ flats of rocks and minerals, contact bykerk@iteck.net

(editors note: I have a few copies of the list of items for sale, 4 pages)

10-11--Grand Junction, CO: 61st annual show, "Arts of Nature"; Grand Junction Gem & Mineral Club; Two Rivers Convention Center, 1st and Main; contact Dave McCollough, 3032 Milburn Ct., Grand Junction, CO 81504, (970) 523-5443

16-18--Grapevine, TX: Dallas Bead Renaissance Show. Grapevine Convention Center, 1209 S. Main St. 16th-17th, 10-6; 18th, 10-5. J & J Promotions L.L.C., 505-894-1293, fax 505-894-4080, info@beadshow.com, www.beadshow.com.

A few folks emailed me that they read the Mystery Mineral and try to decipher the mineral names. Email me at hpf5@qwest.net and let me know your guesses by copying the Questions below and answering them. This includes AGMC members and everyone else who reads "News Nuggets". I have gotten very few responses, folks. EMAIL me! I have been gratified by folks responding that they WORK at these minerals. Good, that IS the idea. This way you learn about them.

The Game Plan – I will describe a mineral and you have to guess/ decipher /research the name of the mineral and the answers to the other questions asked about uses, history, notable facts, etc. I expect the Top Guns in the club to be able to guess the name off the top of their heads. The learners will need a reference book or two. You will benefit most if you do not ask others for the answers but work it out for yourselves. When you have decided on the name you can compare notes with others or wait for the answers to be published in the News Nuggets. Good luck and have fun.

This year I thought I’d concentrate on minerals that are used as gemstones. Hmm, I might even include a rock or two used as gems.

This month’s MM is a silicate mineral mostly found in contact metamorphosed limestones (marbles). It is Isometric-hexoctahedral (the most symmetrical crystal class) and sometimes forms dodecahedral crystals in the marbles although it is usually found massive. It has one indistinct cleavage (dodecahedral therefore 6 planes) and the fracture is uneven or irregular. It is vitreous, transparent to opaque, and blue to azure blue, Sp. Gr. = 2.38 to 2.45, H = 5 - 5.5.

What is the name of the mineral?

What is the origin of the name?

What is the name of rock rich in this mineral?

What metal(s) does it contain?

What non-metals besides oxy does it contain?

What is/was it mined/used for?

What kind of treatment does this gem get?

Can you name any minerals related to this one?

Do you have some in your collection?

In NM –

In the USA –

In the world –

What is the name of the mineral? Marcasite

What is the origin of the name? Arabic or Moorish name for pyrites and similar material of uncertain origin

What metal(s) does it contain? Iron

What is/was it mined/used for? Not much. Specimens, minor gem material - yeah, really. There is a lot of jewelry coming out of Indonesia, etc. that is studded with small, faceted marcasites.

What treatment does this gem get? None.

Can you name a few minerals that are related to this one? Pyrite is a polymorph and arsenopyrite is an isomorph. (OK. Look up the terms!)

Do you have some in your collection? Indubitally. In addition to some from WI and IL, I have a beauty from the Austin TX chalk collected by former AGMC member Mason Estes (deceased). Try and visualize the missing photo in the "AGMC This Month" section.

In NM – none

In the USA – Mississippi-Valley deposits in the central USA – WI, IL, IN, MO, KS, OK, etc.

In the World – all over, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Spain, England, etc.

Paul Hlava April 13, 2008

NEXT MEETING: Monday, Apr 28^th, 2008. The Albuquerque Gem & Mineral Club meets on the 4^th Monday of the month. All meetings are held at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History, 1801 Mountain Road NW in Old Town, Albuquerque, New Mexico. The entrance is on 18^th Street. The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. There is a short business meeting prior to the evening’s presentation, which begins at approximately 8:00 P.M.

by Nelia W. Dunbar

Nelia is the manager of the Electron Microprobe Lab for the Earth and Environmental Science Department of the New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources at New Mexico Tech.

She has a MS in geology and a PhD in geochemistry, both from New Mexico Tech.

Her research includes volcanology, igneous petrology, and economic geology, particularly on tephrochronology of New Mexico and Antarctica, as well as on magmatic processes.

She has spent the last 20 seasons doing volcanological field work in various parts of Antarctica.

Her talk will be an overview of volcanism in New Mexico, focusing specifically on activity in the past 5 million years and in particular on the very interesting volcanic activity of the Jemez Mountains and the Zuni-Bandera volcanic field.

She will also talk briefly about potential future volcanic activity in New Mexico.

Albuquerque Gem & Mineral Club

Jay Penn, Editor

PO Box 13718

Albuquerque, New Mexico 87192