STATE FAIR

 

Now that we are all enjoying the barbecues of summer and dreaming of cooler times ahead, remember the State Fair is just around the corner - starting September 6th through the 21st, 2003.  AGMC takes an active role in the fair by sponsoring the Minerals, Fossils, & Lapidary section of the Creative Arts competition and manning an information booth during each weekend of the fair.  

 

Volunteers are needed to help out with several different shapes and sizes of activities for this event.  Those helping will be richly rewarded with free parking and a full day’s admission to the fair.  Sign-up sheets will be available at the August AGMC meeting for the following activities:

 

Helping receive entries on Friday August 29th and Saturday the 30^th. This involves taking entries, giving claim checks, and helping with the entry display.

 

Judging the entries and setting up the club display on September 4^th..  Several people helping allows this part of the fair to be done quickly and effectively.

 

Manning our information booth..  This begins September 6^th and runs the three weekends of the fair. It is best if two people work each of the daily three-hour shifts during the weekend.  The time goes by quickly and is spent talking about the club, handing out samples to kids, and resting for or from your free day touring the fair.

 

Last but not least, we will need some club members who are willing to display samples of New Mexico minerals on a short notice basis.  We will be setting up the display on the September 5th but will not know the amount of space available until all entries are in.  I would like to have the names of those who are willing  to help out by providing exhibits so I can contact you after Labor Day  if needed.  Just a note of assurance, each sample you leave at the fair is given a claim check number, and the cases are locked until you pick them up on September 22nd.

Hank Miller  (255-7218/rgmhgm2@msn.com).

 

 

Rock Trips” Correction

 

Item #5 in the “At Home” section of the July NN article Rock Trips (Hints for Rockhounds) is corrected to read as follows:

 

The author uses the Althor plastic hinged boxes to store his treasures and puts them in serially identified beer flats.  There are nicer commercially available “beer type flats” of different sizes to accommodate some of your larger specimens.

 

Officers  2003

 

President- Orlando Garcia

home phone: 345-0520

e-mail: jabog02@msn.com

 

VP-Programs - Grant Kuck

home phone: 323-1520

 

VP-Field Trips- Kimberly Richie

home phone: 296-8847

 

VP-Special Events- Hank Miller

home phone: 255-7218

e-mail: rgmhgm2@msn.net

 

VP-Field Trips- Ray DeMark

home phone:  822-8715

e-mail: RayDeMark@msn.com

 

Secretary-Historian- Dave Moats

home phone:  892-8163

e-mail: beepbeep59@hotmail.com

 

Treasurer- Stephanie Bell

Home phone:  281-7192

e-mail: stephbell22@yahoo.com

 

Editor-  Darlene Nelson

Home phone: 271-4694

e-mail:  agmcnews@aol.com

 

Show Chair- Paul Hlava

home phone: 255-5478

e-mail: hpf1@quest.net

 

Membership- Donna Scott

Home phone:  934-6564

e-mail:  dutchessofalb@aol.com

 

Jr. Club: Carl Johnson

home phone:  344-3178

 

 

 

 

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: Darlene

Nelson, Editor, 817 Sagebrush Trail, Albuquerque, NM 87123, or email to agmcnews@aol.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 6:45 p.m. prior to the general meeting.  Board of Directors’ meetings are held at 7:30 pm on the first Monday of each month. (Call for location).  The public is welcome to both meetings.

 

 All memberships are family memberships and include all members of the household. Dues are $20. Send checks to the AGMC, P.O. Box 13718, Albuquerque, NM 87192 or pay the Membership Chair at the monthly meeting.

 

Information about the club can be accessed at www.agmc.info

 

 

President’s Message

 

State Fair time again, folks.  There are still open times for manning the club table at the Creative Arts building.  The club provides parking passes and free passes into the fair when you volunteer for a 3-hour time slot.  There will be mineral specimens to give away, back issues of the newsletter, and general information.  Don’t be shy now, you’ll have fun. 

 

     If you are planning to enter a display please call the fair (265-1791) for the premium book or have them send you page 149, Minerals, Fossils & Lapidary, for competition rules.  All displays are competitive!

 

     Our annual election of new officers for 2004 will take place at the November general meeting.  A Search Committee comprised of myself, Stephanie Bell and Hank Miller will take names of members wishing to serve on the Board of Directors and we will publish our selected and recommended slate of officers in the September and October issues of News Nuggets.  Anyone can still run for any office by having themselves nominated and seconded at the October General Meeting.  There will be no floor nominations on election night.  If there is a contested Board position due to a declared floor candidacy in October then the vote in November will be by written secret ballot with membership verification. An uncontested slate will be approved or disapproved by voice vote.

 

     If you have any questions about the election or open board positions please feel free to call any board member.  The new president will also have two appointed Ad Hoc board seats which can be filled after the election.

Whew! 

Off to the Contintail in Buena Vista.

-Orlando

 

 

Calendar of Events

 

AUG 15^th – 17^th   Lake George Gem & Mineral Show, Lake George, Colorado

Richard Parsons/303-838-8859/tazaminerals@att.net

 

AUG 30^th – Sep 1   Grant County Gem & Mineral Societies 20^th Annual Show

Silver City Recreation Center, 1016 N Silver Street, Silver City, New Mexico

 

SEP 6 – 21   New Mexico State Fair

Albuquerque, New Mexico

 

SEP 12^th – 14^th   Minerals of Gilpin County

Greater Area Denver Gem & Mineral Council, Denver Merchandise Mart, 451 E 58^th Ave, Denver, CO, Barb Melby/303-233-2516/www.denvermineralshow.com

 

SEP 25^th  - 26^th   London Bridge Rock Show., sponsored by the Lake Havasu Gem & Mineral Society, Lake Havasu City Communitiy Center, 100 Park Avenue, Lake Havasu City, AZ.  Manny Frisch/928-855-9324

 

OCT 10^th – 12^th   “A Rock Rustler’s Dream”, Huachuca Mineral & Gem Club, Cochise College, 901 N. Colombo, Sierra Vista, AZ.  Mike Anderson 520-456-9202 mikea@theblueopal.com

 

NOV 1^st – 2^nd   WOWW (Way Out Wickenburg Way Gem and Art Fair).  Wickenburg Gem & Mineral Society, Wickenburg Community Center, 160 N Valentine St, Wickenburg, AZ.  Ernie/Debbie Leschner 928-684-1252 timbuk2@globalcrossing.net

 

NOV 8^th – 9^th   New Mexico Mineral Symposium.  Macey Center/New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM

 

NOV 14^th – 16^th.   Flatirons Mineral Club Annual Show.  Boulder Elks Lodge, 3975 28^th St., Boulder, CO.  Gerald Naugle/303-591-2830

*********************************

 

 

New Mexico Mineral Symposium

 

Once the State Fair has ended, one of the year’s greatest attractions looms on the horizon, the twenty-fourth Annual New Mexico Mineral Symposium!  Mark your calendars!  It all takes place on November 8th and 9th, 2003, at the Macey Center on the campus of the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in Socorro, New Mexico.

 

The AGMC festivities start Friday, the 7th of November, with a mini Tucson sales event at the Super 8 Motel on the north end of town.  The actual symposium starts Saturday morning with the presentation of papers on mineralogy.  Informal discussions also take place during the day and continue through the cocktail hour and dinner.  The symposium concludes Sunday afternoon with a silent auction sponsored by the AGMC.  A few volunteers are always needed to help out.  The Club will have registration forms available at the August through October general meetings.

 

Don’t be put off by the academic sounding title “symposium”!  This is a down to earth presentation on New Mexico minerals with more than enough to interest both the amateur and professional alike.  So come on down, learn something about New Mexico,

and have a great time in Socorro.  Hope to see you there!

 

If you have any questions look for me at the next AGMC meeting or call Hank Miller at 255-7218 or e-mail me at rgmhgm2@msn.com.

Hank Miller

 

 

SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLES OR JOKES FOR PUBLICATION

 

 

August Door Prizes

 

If you haven’t noticed yet, the door prizes this year have come from everywhere on earth.  Dave Moats and myself hand picked most of them in Tucson this past February. 

 

This is your opportunity to add to your collection and help keep the door prize purchases as a self-sustaining part of the general meeting.  Remember, everyone gets one ticket just for coming to the meeting and additional tickets can be purchased before the meeting begins and during the break. .  This month we will be giving away the following ten very nice specimens with retail values as high as $30.

 

1.              An orange calcite crystal cluster (2”x4”) from Santa Eulalia, Mexico.

2.              A Tourmaline (Schorl) crystal cluster from Durango, Mexico.

3.              A wulfenite crystal on calcite from Los Lamentos donated by Jim Winchell in 2002

4.              An hourglass selenite from the Great Salt Plain near Jet, Oklahoma.

5.              A single, clear, apophyllite crystal 15x50mm from Jalgaon, India.

6.              A water clear quartz crystal from the Mt. Ida area in Arkansas.

7.              An epidote crystal cluster from the Minas Gerais, region in Brazil.

8.              A ‘sputnik’ aragonite cluster from Morocco.

9.              A nice blue Amazonite from Teller County, Colorado.

10.           A smoky Quartz xl. From Park County, Colorado

 

Tickets are only 25¢.  Buy a couple and support the door prize purchase fund.

 -OG

 

 

AGMC GENERAL MEETING

Monday, 28Jul03

 

Kimberly went over details of this Saturday’s Club picnic at the popular San Pedro Mine and had sign up sheets for those wanting to attend. Last year there were 88 people in attendance. We all enjoyed Dr. Jerry Simmons’ (mine care-taker) and Mr. Baca’s (owner) hospitality. They plan to be there again this year to show us around and explain some of the history and geology of the area. August 23 is the date set for us to again get a chance to tour and collect at the Moly Corp molybdenum mine where molybdenite is prevalent along with some beryl and fluorite. This trip is scheduled 3 days before the next General Meeting.

 

Orlando announced that the club’s yearly elections are coming up soon and the positions of Field Trip leader(s), and Secretary will need to be filled. If you are interested in helping out the club and incorporating some of your ideas, here is your chance. You are encouraged to volunteer to help to the fullest extent of your capabilities. New members, especially, should enjoy the change of pace, meeting people, and adding a new experience. The following is an article taken from the July 1983 News Nuggets

    

“Have you heard the story about the four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody? There was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it. Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it but Nobody did it. Somebody could have done it but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done!! Hopefully, we will not try to be Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody but will be a faithful Volunteer and do the best we can.”

 

 Loyd announced that long time member Bob Thomas died on Wednesday the 23 of July at age 91. Bob was our club’s past president in 1983 & ’84  and Field Trip Chairmen in 1982. He and his wife have been members since 1977. He retired as a U.S. Navy Commander and was a former 23-year resident of Belen where he was a very active contributing member of the community. Bob, when president of AGMC, was presented with a special award because, according to Betty Tlush, “His efforts go above and beyond the call of duty – he’s just a workhorse.” Born in Stratton, Colo., l911, Thomas’ early wanderings and jobs kept him working outdoors, and interest in the natural sciences was a must. He attended the University of California Berkeley, where he studied electrical engineering and specialized in communications and high voltages. After his retirement, Bell Laboratories needed a marine advisor and Thomas stepped into that position. A lot of research was involved in that job and even though he was “stationed at a desk,” he felt a special involvement in the projects “that went all the way around the world.” He worked on the laying of the Trans-Atlantic Cable, which he likened to “mapping across the ocean a road.” During his research, he was constantly picking up rocks and studying landforms. He retired from Bell in l976 and became involved in civic and community affairs. (The above condensed information was taken from our Club History Files.)

 

Hank passed around sign-up sheets for members to volunteer their time in 3 hour shifts at the Club Table during the State Fair (Sep6-21). While sitting at the table you would be expected to promote the club by answering questions and volunteering information about the club and, if you can, identify the minerals that we are giving away.  For your efforts you will be given free admission and a parking pass. Hank is looking for judges for the competitive mineral displays which you also can enter. Check with Hank Miller as to those particulars. He should have the Premium Book at the next meeting for those wanting to know the categories for entering a competitive display. He also stated that at this year’s Symposium we will be charging a $20 fee per table to sell minerals which will facilitate the handling of that event. A “straw vote” was taken at this meeting concerning this procedure and it was favorably received.

 

Mike Potts brought some recently collected Harding Mine fluorescent minerals for us to see with the Club UV light after the meeting. The lithium aluminum silicate mineral eucryptite was among them. He also brought in a specimen he picked up on the West Mesa thinking it might fluoresce and it did - a bright green. Paul Hlava identified the mineral as opal. He said the contaminant making this opal fluoresce green is uranium in extremely small quantities, so small that it took some time for the science world to figure this out.

 

Paul has ready the 2004 Show Flyers and passed them out to members to take with them and give to interested persons or places like Visitor Centers on the Interstates and area mineral shows. 

 

Since Grant had to work tonight, Paul Hlava introduced tonight’s speaker, Mr. John Sobolewski who would give us a presentation as he did at last year’s Symposium on “Digital Photography of Minerals” via the use of Power Point provided by Paul’s wife.             

    

Mr. Sobolewski is Polish by origin and Australian by nationality. Although seventy five percent retired now, he has been teaching UNM classes in Computer Science and also working at Univ. of Washington. He has been a member of our club for about ten years but has been fascinated by minerals since age 12 in Australia where he was finding 12- inch books of mica. He would purchase a flat of minerals for that one mineral in it that he wanted and soon found his garage full of flats that he needed to do something with. That is when he started to sell minerals on E-bay. Well, you need good pictures to do that effectively so he became an expert in mineral photography. His photo equipment shows his emphasis on simplicity and cost containment with acceptable quality in the results. John stated that a quality slide-producing camera captures about one billion pixels which are picture elements. Current digital cameras capture between one and ten million pixels so if utmost quality is required, conventional photography is superior. It is, however, increasing difficult for the human eye to distinguish the difference with an increase in pixels and two to three million pixels is good enough. With digital photography there are great advantages to being able to easily store, retrieve, immediately view, delete, manipulate and transfer the photos verses conventional photos. You don’t have to have much experience in photography to get good results. You can create an electronic photo catalog of your collection. There are only small recurring expenses once all your equipment is in place. Digital photography is getting cheaper, better and easier to use. You can buy and sell specimens via on line auctions. The equipment needed is a personal computer, digital camera, light sources, image editing and management software and a few adapters, gadgets, and accessories. Any personal computer younger than 3 or 4 years old would do the job with large memory capacity and disk sizes. A writable CDROM is desirable for storing large numbers of images. A USB port in front of the computer for the camera is highly desirable as well as a color printer capable of printing 300 dots per inch or more for hardcopies, minimum requirements of two mega pixels or more and macro capability (4cm or less).  You will need a small diameter lens for microphotography (his Nicon can focus to 1.6 inches but 0.8 would be better) and at least a X3 optical zoom is needed for microphotography. Flash control that you can turn off for photos of thumbnail specimens is desirable. A self-timer is very important as he uses this for every picture while hand holding the camera and seldom uses a tripod. A protruding lens cover for attaching microphotography adapters is desirable and spot metering so you can focus on small items. Also recommended is a manual exposure control and focus, rechargeable batteries and charger and a non-telescoping lens. The camera’s memory should have as much capacity as you can afford. Cameras with special features such as red-eye reduction and digital zooms are not relevant for mineral photography.  Light sources should use the full spectrum. Incandescent bulbs are poor, halogen bulbs are better and the Solux 4700 degree K bulbs are best. The light source should be small, movable and produce a broad spectrum of illumination without strong hot spots. You can use mylar diffusers or tissue paper to accomplish this.  Image manipulation software is available and used to improve the image, crop, adjust tilt and contrast, etc. and ranges from simple to extremely complex. Accessories are similar to conventional photography such as a tripod, backgrounds of white, grey, or black, reflectors, diffusers, movable and a rotating platform for small specimens (he now uses mineral tack) to get the right angle and shot. Mr. Sobolewski uses a Nikon Coolpix 775, 1600x1200 pixels, 64 MB memory that cost $300 and has a HP Pavillion 750C computer that cost $775 plus the other accessories for a total of $1100.  He emphasized using a clean area and specimen (blowing thru a straw works) and posing the specimen to its best advantage by adjusting the light reflectors at correct angles. Since the viewer isn’t holding the specimen in his hand to rotate and see all the crystal faces it is of advantage  

to have mirrors reflecting light from several different directions to enhance the crystal faces. Avoid shooting blue and purple specimens under incandescent light and very high contrast situations. He showed pictures of several of his minerals among which was a beautiful double terminated red crocoite. He said only about 1% of crocoite crystals are terminated! Point and shoot digital cameras are not designed for microphotography. Microphotography is more difficult to master than macrophotography because it requires special adaptors. He designed his own adapters from plumbing supplies which when they are available commercially are found at quite an expense. The adapter (a small ring) must bring the camera lens to within one millimeter of the eyepiece lens when using a microscope. Mr. Sobolewski ended his talk by stating that the potential for new applications is very exciting and is addictive.

 

A question from the “peanut gallery” as to why some crocoite is orange and some red prompted Paul Hlava to explain. He said most color in minerals is due to electrons and the light/energy absorbed by them. You then see the color that is left. With crocoite things don’t work that simply. It is called the Band Gap phenomenon that causes the color differences in that mineral! You can refer to your physics 601 course for the full explanation.

 

We then broke for refreshments (thanks Gwen), door prize drawings and the purchase of minerals. John Sobolewski brought a nice selection of several flats of some reasonably priced, fine mineral specimens that were eagerly snapped up by members. Thus ended another enjoyable evening with the Albuquerque Gem and Mineral Club.

David Moats, Secretary

 

 

Mystery Mineral

For August, 2003

From the devious mind of Paul Hlava

 

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 announced at the meetings or published in the News Nuggets.  Good luck and have fun.

 

 

This Month’s Mystery Mineral is—

A very rare, secondary, hydrous halide mineral found in the oxidation zone of silver-bearing lead and copper deposits. Nicely formed, twinned, tetragonal crystals look like cubes.  Hardness = 3 to 3.5, Luster = vitreous to pearly, Cleavage = 1 one perfect, Fracture = uneven and brittle, Density 5+ Streak = light greenish-blue, Color = deep blue, indigo, to almost black.

 

 

Questions

What is the name of the mineral? 

What is the origin of the name? 

What is the mineral used for? 

What minerals might it be associated with?

 

Localities – (Just list the famous ones)        

--NM –

--USA – 

--World –

 

 

Answers to Last Month’s Questions

What is the name of the mineral?  Linarite

What is the origin of the name?  Linares, Spain

What is the mineral used for?  Accidental contributor to Pb and Cu ores.

What minerals might it be associated with?  Galena, chalcopyrite, malachite, cerussite, anglesite, barite, fluorite, quartz, brochantite, others

 

Localities – (Just list the famous ones)        

--NM – Hansonburg District

--USA –  AZ – Mammoth, Bisbee Queen, Grand Reef mines, also Utah, ID, MT

--World – Tsumeb, Namibia; Argentina; Chile; Spain; England; Germany.

Paul Hlava 030810

 

 

 

NEXT FIELD TRIP  -  AUGUST 23

 

SAN PEDRO “SURPRISE” FIELD TRIP

August 2, 2003

 

Once upon a time there was a mine that produced such a variety of minerals (over 100) - and of such quality – that it acquired legend status.  After it closed, there were a few who could not face the idea that the wonders of the mine were no longer accessible to them.  And so, boys and girls, these selfish, short-sighted, foolish individuals decided to trespass, destroy property, and take what they could carry.  Because of these inconsiderate individuals, there was measurable doubt in AGMC BOD’s minds as to whether the club should even ask if we could visit this year.

 

All of this took place early this year.  As the summer approached, it seemed that the conditions were more favorable, and we decided to make our request.  The rest is self-evident.

 

Consistent with last year, Jerry Simmons had a surprise for us.  Until 7:00 p.m. the evening before the trip, I only knew to ask people to bring flashlights!  Yes, the imaginations ran wild.  There could only be one need for flashlights and that was a very dark place!  I believe our patience was rewarded!!!!!  Not only did Frank Baca, owner of the property, allow us to collect, but he also offered a short tour into the mine and cleared a large space in his barn to set up the pot-luck lunch!  It gave us a space to be out of the sun and sit comfortably to eat and visit.

 

So…to the beginning – We left the meeting place around 9:20 a.m.  There were two release forms to sign.  We had 58 attendees, and this year our lists matched.  After leaving all but twelve of the vehicles, we arrived at Garnet Ridge.  From there you can see the Ortiz Mountains and the Cerrillos District to the north, the Jemez Mountains to the northwest, and Mount Taylor to the west.  The spectacular vistas are impressive, but equally so is the view if you only look down around your feet!!!  There are sparkles everywhere as you realize that the “gravel” you are walking over is mostly garnets.

 

Adularia, a type of feldspar, chlorite-included quartz, calcite, and pseudomorphs of pyrite to goethite are also found at the top of the San Pedro.  The garnet is found to be many colors – red, brown, green, orange, yellow, and almost black.  The most sought-after is the iridescent garnets, which are often dark red, but show blue, green, or rainbow colors across the faces as the crystal is turned in the light.

 

The next stop was the Old Spanish cut – the original Spanish workings.  The tunnel opening is crowned with azurite and chrysacolla, but is too unstable to enter to explore other features.  This is the contact zone area where the intrusive stock broke through the existing limestone strata.  To the right side is marble and calcite, to the left is the product of the invading material:  garnet, chalcopyrite altered to leave chrysacolla, malachite, azurite, pyrite altered to goethite.  Much of the calcite had inclusions of chalcopyrite, now only a blue-green coated cavity where the crystal had been.  The last stop before lunch was the Richmond Shaft dump, where we collected the minerals mentioned above.

 

We headed for the barn – literally – for lunch.  Thank you to the members who brought tables and the generous array of foods.  Magic must have been afoot!!!  When I reached the barn, it was all set up.

 

After dessert of cheesecake bites, mini-eclairs, and cream puffs, we had a surprise for the Baca’s.  Ray DeMark picked a very nice specimen from the Blanchard as a Thank You from the club.  The piece is approximately 6” x 8” x 5” high covered with linerite, malachite, chrysocolla, and  

carmel-colored quartz crystals which had overgrown blue and purple fluorite.  Frank and Sally Baca were very pleased.  Jerry Simmons then presented them with a photograph of the group who had visited the week before – they had each autographed the picture for them.

 

At last the hardhats and flashlights came out and the first group went into the mine.  While we waited, several of us stood around the entrance enjoying the 65 air blowing out into the 90 degree air.  I went in the second group.  The temperature dropped noticeably, and the humidity increased.  The best path to walk was between the ore car rails. We visited three places.  The most interesting was the wheel room where the machinery and cable that transported men and ore to and from the lower levels of the mine was still in place.  Mr. Baca accompanied our group, sharing his ideas about creating the on-site museum.  They have many of the original photos, underground maps, and core sample records.  Speaking of which, Mr. Baca let us “collect” what he called “tortilla rollers”, aka core samples.

 

I have only one “Exceptional Find” to report:  Rex Nelson found two clear septered quartz crystals, which measured almost 2” tip to base.

 

Special thanks to Jerry Simmons for coordinating, guiding and sharing his knowledge with us.  Much appreciation to the Baca’s for opening their home and sharing their day.  Their intention is to preserve and share this place for our generation and beyond.  Thank you for saving this treasure we know as the San Pedro Mine.

Kimberly

 

 

SEE YOU AUGUST 23 AT MOLYCORP

 

 

 

MOLYCORP EXCURSION

Saturday - August 23

 

TO:  MolyCorp, Questa, NM.

 

WHEN:  Saturday, August 23, 2003

 

MEET:  Adm Bldg parking lot.

 

TIME:  9:00 a.m.

 

DRIVING TIME:  3 hours from Alb

 

TOOLS:  Surface collecting, rock hammer handy for breaking up larger pieces.

 

VEHICLE:  4-wheel/high clearance for road to collecting site.  We will be leaving excess cars at Admin Bldg.

 

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:  We are required to wear hard hats and safety glasses on MolyCorp property.  Please bring if you have – especially the glasses.  The company will have hats to lend.  Please wear long pants.

 

AGE REQUIREMENTS:  No one under the age of nine years will be admitted.  This is a safety requirement of the company.

 

BE SURE TO BRING:  Lunch, plenty of water (elevation is about 8,000 feet), safety glasses, sunscreen, and hat.

 

DIRECTIONS:  Take I-25 North to Exit 276 North – Rt 599 bypass around Santa Fe.  Turn left (north) at intersection of Hwys 84-285.  Follow the highway through Espanola.  The road number changed to Hwy 68 into Taos, where it changes again to Hwy 522.  (Stay on the main streets through these towns and you should have no trouble.) 

Continue on Hwy 522 into Questa, approximately 20 miles.  Turn right in Questa onto Rt 38 toward Red River (east).  Your next turn is at 3.5 miles.  There will not be an identifying sign.  The turn is left and across from the Goathill Campground.  Follow this road uphill ½ mile or so.  The Administration Building is on your left.

 

If you are considering driving up Friday, there are 4 or 5 campgrounds in the area – Rt 38 between Questa and Red River. 

:

            Goathill – very basic

            Columbine – tent & hook-up

            Fawn Lakes – no info

            Elephant Rock – no info

            June Bug – no info

 

These are National Forest sites, so I believe the overnight fee is $10.

 

Mr. Bruce Walker, on-site geologist, will be our host.  The general plan is that he will give us a geologic overview of the area, history of the mine, and discuss a recent anomaly detected on the property.  Mr. Walker enjoys our club visits, in part, because we ask questions!  Let’s do our part!

 

We can expect to find molybdenite, a bronze-toned variety of biotite, pyrite, and green fluorite.  Other minerals found here include calcite, purple anhydrite, dolomite, quartz, and aquamarine in veins.  Some 1 to 2 mm crystals have been located.  Also occurring with the biotite is clear to cream colored microcrystals of fluorapatite.  They are easy to overlook due to size but do fluoresce orange under shortwave UV.

 

There are no facilities at the collecting site, which is the huge pile of ore that has been transported to the surface for processing.  Just think!  As you explore, you will be the first to see or touch most of the material you will encounter.

 

I am looking forward to a great visit at MolyCorp.  Any questions, please call Kimberly at 296-8847.