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.

The field trip for June will be the Hondo Canyon Trip where Staurolites can be found. Four wheel drive is a must, G.P.S.'s and whistles are recommended for this trip.

John Reinert reported that this year's State Fair is just around the corner, September 5th through the 21st. We will once again have a table at the fair. We will need help manning this table on Saturday and Sunday. The hours will be 9 to 12, 12 to 3 and 3 to 6. Also anyone wanting to display their rocks and minerals will be welcome.

Kathleen announced that she had all the months covered for refreshments except August. She also said she was starting to schedule people for January and February of next year.

The junior club had 11 members present. They made some rock critters and learned to make tumbled stones into jewelry.

We had six guests and new members: Andy Brown, Anna Marie Peterson, Heather and Thoma Eden, Daniel Michaels and Claire whose last name I did not hear. Paul Hlava's mother, Ruth, was with us also. At 8 p.m. the club adjourned to the program: Mineral Names, by Paul Hlava.

After the program refreshments were served and the door prize winners were: Jim Hutchins, Bob Hall, John Reinert, Robair Lobato, Thoma Eden, Chrissy Claris, Ciaran Connolly, Loretta Hoyt, Ciaran Connolly, Adelia Peters, Pat Brown, & Shela Sovan.

Submitted by Nanette Aiken,

Secretary pro tem

The June Jr. Club meeting was attended by 12 junior members, and concluded our section on Lapidary Arts.

The class included wire wrapping, rock critters (especially fun was our own creation of "box turtles"), painting, gluing, and just enjoying the hour having creative fun with rocks. A big THANK YOU to Jim Hill who brought in beautiful polished rocks that began as ordinary rocks in his driveway (treasurers are everywhere!), and Mama’s Minerals who graciously donated a large bag of colorful polished rocks.

The junior members who also attended the May meeting will be receiving their Lapidary Arts merit badges at the July meeting. Those that missed the May meeting can make up the requirements by attending the Lapidary Field Trip that will be scheduled in the future.

The August News Nuggets will be out a few days later than usual. We will be just returning from the Contin-Tail Show in Buena Vista, Colorado where we are doing our first show as venders.

If you're in the neighborhood (e.g. the Mt. Antero field trip) be sure to stop by our booth and say "Hi". We'll probably be in the back row. Even if you don't care to dig rocks at 14,000 feet the Contin-Tail (stands for Continental Tailgate) is a great show and the scenery in the Arkansas River Valley is nothing less than spectacular. There are many nearby locations for 1/2 day collecting field trips that you can drive very near to. Also, the mining museum in Leadville is awesome.

See the "Contin-tail Rock & Gem Show" article in the Miscellaneous Section for more details.

Printing and mailing the news letter is our single largest month to month expense with yearly costs per family approaching the $20 per family membership fee. The board has discussed this over the last few years and taken steps to minimize costs but more must be done.

So, -------- Due to the high cost and general hassle involved with mailing printed copies of the News Nuggets, the Board of Directors voted to suspend this practice effective with the January 2009 issue. That is to say that the November issue (we don't publish in December) will be the last printed copy of the News Nuggets that will be distributed to the membership.

Most households already receive the Nuggets via e-mail. We know this will present a challenge to people without computers at home, but we hope that everyone can use the time between now and January to figure out a way to read it on a screen or get a printed copy from: a friend/ relative/ club member with a computer, a computer at work, etc. If you cannot think of a way to get the Nuggets via e-mail please call me or any other board member and we will help you find a solution. We certainly don't want any member to go without getting the news letter. Let us know if there is a problem and we will work to solve it.

This notice (or an abbreviated version) will be published in every issue between now and November, so if someone calls us in January wondering why they didn't get their News Nuggets in the mail, we'll know they are only using it for bird cage liner anyway.

Jay Penn, editor, 883-4195

The State Fair is almost here! The AGMC sponsors the rock and mineral displays and disseminates information about our club and hobby.

We will be manning a table in the Creative Arts Building for the three weekends of the fair. Sept. 6-7, 13-14, and 20-21. There will be two persons needed for each of the three shifts each day: 9:00-12:00, 12:00-3:00 and 3:00-6:00. The people volunteering will get free parking and admission to the Fair for that day. It is a very rewarding experience!

I'll bring the sign up sheet to the July meeting or you can call me at 299-0732 to sign up, I'm looking forward to meeting new members who would like to get involved. Last year we had a great group of volunteers and a job well done.

For those who would like to enter specimens, the entry dates are:

Thursday, August 28th 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Friday, August 29th 8:00 AM tp 6:00 PM

Saturday, August 30th 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

John D. Reinert, State Fair Chair, 299-0732

The July field trip and picnic will be at the San Pedro Mine located near the intersection of NM 14 and NM 344 about 30 minutes from Albuquerque.

Mine owners Frank and Sally Baca are allowing us to rock hound and picnic on their property without any limit to the number of club members allowed to attend. This is a privately owned mine and therefore we must adhered to the owners instructions about where, when, and how much we collect, and otherwise conduct ourselves.

One stipulation is that we stick together as a group. The property is behind locked gates and once we enter, the gates will be re-locked until the field trip is over. Don't be late!!

Pets will not be allowed. There is no age limit for children attending, however all children will need to be properly attended at all times and not allowed to roam at will.

Ray DeMark will be our interpretive speaker during the mine tour. We will have a limited collecting time and then break for our picnic.

(Editors note: In the past the AGMC has lost the privilege of collecting at this desirable site due to members who wouldn't follow the rules. Our field trip VPs and other club members have worked hard to secure us another chance, please don't blow it.

The AGMC Collecting Ethics for Private Claims and the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies Code of Ethics are reprinted in the Miscellaneous Section of this issue. The AGMC ethics are also listed on the club website and are in the new member's package.)

WHEN AND WHERE: Take 1-40 east, exit 175 @ Tijeras Canyon, take Rt. 14 north towards Golden. It's a 30 - 45 min. drive. We'll meet in a large open area at the SE corner of NM 14 and NM 344 at 8:00. Waiver sheets will be filled out and collected at this time. At 08:30 we will depart to the gated mine property entrance. Don’t be late!

FOR COLLECTING: Bring the usual tools; pick, bucket, newspaper to wrap specimens, small spade/shovel, safety glasses, WATER, sunscreen, hat, gloves. In July the rattlers are slithering and mountain lions have been seen in the area in the last several years. Just be alert!! We suggest boots and long pants. You may want to bring shade or your camera. We will be carpooling with 4WD vehicles.

COLLECTING POSSIBILITIES: Garnets, pyrite, quartz, calcite, malachite, and many other different specimens. Iridescent garnets are frequently found and much sought after.

Around 1:00 we'll head back down for our picnic. Bring your own picnic basket, place settings, chairs, etc. There is a building we can use to get out of the sun but if you prefer sitting outside bring an awning for shade. A single porta-potty will be at the picnic site for our use. The club will provide drinks, ice and cups. I believe Gwen Poe plans to have an ice cream making session so plan on taking a turn or two at the crank. The last time she did this it was great stuff.

To add to the fun during the picnic, we will have a Members Tailgate Sale. Bring your rocks, minerals, gems, tools, etc., and money, to sell/trade/buy/show. Or as Amy says "Let's have a grand time!"

Rex

There’s more to a picnic than the date or the food!

Get ready; July 26^th will be a terrific day because we will be together.

Bring your own food basket. AGMC will provide drinks, ice, and cups. I will prep two (2) ice cream makers and will need helpers with the handles.

Bring a whistle, a blanket, a chair, a game, and an umbrella if you want to.

This is in addition to your collecting gear.

Thanks, Gwen

Questions concerning the field trip:

call Rex or Grant

505-400-8239 or 505-323-1520

Questions concerning the picnic:

call Gwen Poe

321-0818 or 247-1533

(Editors note: For some history of this site see the "San Pedro Mine" article in the Miscellaneous Section.)

I'm told this meeting will be about gold panning. At least that is the plan, pending getting someone from the gold panning club to support the event with expertise and material (mock gold?).

If this doesn't work out I'm sure Jim and Earlene will have something of equal or greater interest to do.

Questions? Contact Jim Hill or Earlene Shroyer

"Chasing the Green Goddess:

Dioptase in New Mexico"

by Robert E.(Bob) Walstrom

Robert E. (Bob) Walstrom, a retired geologist with experience in mining, hydrology and geochemistry, spent most of his professional career in Nevada. He has published numerous professional papers concerning geology, mineralogy, hydrology and other natural resource subjects. He is also a published photographer and artist and is recognized for his contribution to mineralogy by the mineral walstromite.

He now resides in Silver City, New Mexico (since 2000) with his wife Bonnie, he is a life-long mineral collector.

June’s Field Trip found members of the Albuquerque Gem and Mineral Club gathering just outside of Pilar at the Rio Grande Gorge Visitor Center. This year’s trip was once again led by collector, dealer, and our club’s webmaster, John Scully. About 5 miles from the Visitor Center is the entrance to Hondo Canyon. From there it is about 2 miles of high clearance road, which was built for the express purpose of showing people why 4WD was invented. So finally after a half hour of shake, rattle, and roll 22 stalwart club members and one dog named "Howdy" reached a mountain meadow where we were able to park.

From there it was a ½ mile hike to the first of many collecting areas for staurolites. One member of the group I was with remembered a spot where there had been a lot of discarded screens used to sift the sand for staurolites. We went hiking in the hopes of finding the mother lode but to no avail.

In addition to the staurolites, the group I was with also found brown garnets in schist. There was also some matrix material with a number of staurolites in them. According to John Scully you can pick up 99 staurolites before coming across one that is in the perfect cross formation. Most of what I came across was on the ground but I did find some by doing a little digging. Jim Hill, one of the AGMC Board Members, makes a unique little digging tool that is shaped like a pick on one end and a rake with three prongs on the other. (If you ask him and agree to pay for his time and work he could very well make one for you).

About mid afternoon a gentle rain began to fall. It cooled things off and made it one of the nicest times of the day. Hiking back to the vehicle I came in, I ran into a couple of latecomers who brought the total number of club members on this trip up to 24.

I know what you’re thinking. Every time Grant does a field trip report he ends up writing about some restaurant with club members around a table, chowing down on good grub, and getting lots of drink refills. This time the tradition continued at the Embudo Station next to the Rio Grande River under some giant cottonwoods.

A standing ovation goes out to club member and web wizard John Scully for putting this trip together and leading it. Also another big, special thank you goes out to Brian Bondy for bringing on this trip a baggy of some really nice peridot crystals, a pair of earrings, and a faceted piece of peridot that had been made into a necklace and then donating them all to the club! Brian found all of the peridot on the club trip to Kilbourne Hole. Another tip of the hat and thanks goes out to Jim Hill who leads our Junior Club. Jim drove three other people and one afore mentioned pooch. When you carpool and then split the cost of gas you find that these field trips are not too expensive.

Till next time, keep looking down!

Grant & Rex

Jul 26, San Pedro Mine (AGMC picnic)

(Near Golden)

Aug 7-10, Mt Antero Colorado (Buena Vista)

Sep 27, Pueblo Park (Reserve)

Oct 25, Nacimiento Copper Mine (Cuba)

Nov 22, Blanchard Mine (East of Socorro)

Dec 13, Club Christmas Party

Questions? Contact Grant Kuck or Rex Nelson

Jeff Self and Donna Ware have invited our club to dig at Mt. Antero. They will meet us at the Buena Vista rodeo grounds concession stand (by the grand stand) at the Contin-tail gem and mineral show on Aug. 8, at 9am. From there we will go to the place where they set up camp. The camp is approximately 8 miles from Buena Vista, so people can stay in town, if they do not want to camp. The camp site is at 12,000 feet altitude. There are spots for 15 tents, and the camping is primitive, so you must bring your food and water. Food must be kept in the cars because there are bears present. You should plan on rain.

The road in is 4-wheel drive, high clearance vehicles only. We will dig the next day at 13,500 feet, and will probably not get much done the first day due to the altitude. We will probably go up the mountain early, so that we can dig before the thunder storms start. The road to the top is 3 miles, and the last ¼ mile is the worst. Donna tells me that we can park at a side road and walk the last ¼ mile. There is room at the digging area for 15 vehicles to park, and we will be blocked in. If we have more than 15 vehicles to go up, we will have to coordinate rides so that all can park, or some will stop at the side road and walk the last ¼ mile. Suzanne did that last year and lived to tell about it!

There are nine different claims that we will be digging in We will dig for aquamarine, phenakite, smoky quartz and topaz, but the topaz is rare. While at Tucson at the TGMS, I saw a display case of aquamarine that has been dug since 2001, and some specimens were about 12 inches long. It was gorgeous stuff. The usual digging tools are needed, and a sieve is also useful. The specimens occur in pockets inside white granite and loose in the weathered gravel where the sieve is useful.

There will be another group there from Colorado. If you have items to trade, bring them. Make them small, as you don’t want to carry it up and down the mountain.

This trip is for those who are in good physical condition. If this does not fit you, this trip is not for you.

For those who want to spend time at the Contin-tail, the show starts August 7. We (the Johnsons) will travel to Buena Vista Aug. 6 to spend Aug. 7 at the show. See the "Contin-tail Rock & Gem Show" article in the Miscellaneous section for more details.

Grant Kuck and Michael Johnson are coordinating the trip with our hosts. Contact them if you have any questions.

Submitted by Michael Johnson, 821-1039

(See the "Contin-tail Rock & Gem Show" article in the Miscellaneous Section for directions to Buena Vista, CO and other information.)

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

I might change my mind tomorrow.

I want to thank Ciaran Connolly, Ray DeMark, and Amy Penn for their articles.

Please, have a heart and help out this poor, decrepit, brain dead editor. Send in: articles, jokes, tidbits, thoughts, collecting hints, money, scouting trip reports, lapidary techniques, money, vacation plans, details of your last back yard cookout, etc. I need material for lean months like the August issue will probably be.

by Ciaran Connolly, junior club, age 11

One day we decided to make a road trip to Utah to look for topaz, geodes, and trilobites.

The places we went were all centralized around Delta.

We decided to look for trilobites at a place called U-DIG-FOSSILS. There were very many trilobites there. One could split open a rock and about every other stone had one or two in it. There were also very many in the tailings. We found about 80 trilobites and imprints that were good enough to keep.

To find geodes and topaz we went to Topaz Mountain, and the Dugway geode beds. We were taken to find the minerals by a man named Loy.

First we went to his mining claim on Topaz Mountain. One thing I learned was that topaz loses its color in ultraviolet light (in a matter of days in direct sunlight). There were plenty of small clear ones in the dirt, but to find the bigger ones you have to split a rock open. The topaz crystals are amber color and form in pockets, called vugs, in rhyolite.

We then went to the Dugway Geode Beds. There are several acres of the area, but we went to his claim. He used an excavator, and dug to the geode layers (about 25 feet below ground). We used picks to cut apart the clay, and in about an hour we collected three large buckets of them. We went back to his rock shop, and cut open some of the geodes. They were filled with small crystals. We also brought many small ones to cut ourselves. Loy said that he usually lets people take one hundred pounds of the geodes, but we probably brought a hundred and fifty pounds, to two hundred pounds.

The best trilobite specimen is a popped out medium sized full trilobite. The best topaz specimen is a piece of rhyolite with several medium sized deep colored crystals. The best geode specimen was a large one and had several different pockets, and was bridged by several large crystals. We spent five days on the trip.

The end

San Pedro mine. The name itself conjures images of Spanish miners, marvelous minerals and enthusiastic AGMC members digging and scooping up garnets. To give our members a better sense of this storied mine, I will paraphrase the excellent article written for Rocks and Minerals magazine by our very own Mike Sanders in 1992. Mike has collected extensively underground at the San Pedro mine and writes with first hand knowledge.

The recorded history of the mine begins in 1776 when a Spanish map named the village in the San Pedro Mountains. By 1840, copper ore was being mined and carried by burro to Chihuahua, Mexico. Although operated primarily as a copper mine, gold has been recovered as well. In the early 1980s, an attempt was made to operate the mine for gold. This small scale operation was by and large unsuccessful, although it provided a boon to high graders, claim jumpers and midnight miners who collected wonderful specimens of leaf, wire and sponge-like masses of gold that were etched from enclosing calcite.

Additional minerals of interest to collectors include andradite/ grossular garnets, exceptionally large chalcopyrite crystals, Japan law and sceptered quartz crystals, some of which have amethystine heads, blocky and scalenohedral calcite crystals, malachite, hematite, adularia and micro crystals of antase and brookite. In recent years, wonderful orange to cream-colored scheelite crystals perched on quartz crystals have been found by Jerry and Phillip Simmons in the Apex Pit area.

Geologically, the San Pedro mountains have been formed by Tertiary intrusives penetrating basement Precambrian and Paleozoic sedimentary rocks (Permian and Pennsylvanian). These intrusive have "cooked" the enclosing sediments forming tactites, marble and hornfels and are responsible for the mineralization we see today. Surface collecting in the Apex pit area has in the past produced excellent crystals of andradite/grossular garnet (some of which are iridescent), sceptered quartz crystals, hematite and adularia.

Ray DeMark

References:

Sanders, M. R. 1992, The San Pedro mine, Santa Fe County. Rocks and Minerals. 67: 390-395.

_____________________________________

Contin-tail Rock & Gem Show

Aug. 7 - 10, 2008

Rodeo Grounds, Buena Vista, CO

There is FREE dry camping at the show grounds Monday Aug. 4 through Monday Aug. 11. We must be gone by 10am on the 11th.

No reservations needed, but check in at registration tent to see where camping is allowed. The area is flat, no trees, no electric, water from a faucet near the concession stand, there are porta-potties, showers can be had at the Laundromat in town or at near by pay camp grounds for a few dollars. Average temperature for August is 84/46. Expect a thunderstorm or two every afternoon. So why do we need the showers in town? ---------Oh yeah, warm water.

For campgrounds, RV parks, cabins, motels, etc. between Leadville and Salida go to:

www.buenavistacolorado.org/directory

Directions: I-25 N to Colorado Springs, take Rt. 24 to Buena Vista. Approx. 465 miles, estimate 7 hours driving time.

Or: I-25 to Santa Fe, take Rt. 285 to Espanola and on to Alamosa. Take Rt 17 for 42 miles and you're back on Rt 285. (Note: You can stay on 285, but using 17 is more direct). At Johnson Village take Rt 24 for the last 2 miles to Buena Vista. Approx. 300 miles, estimate 6 - 7 hours driving time.

Other Events in the Buena Vista Area:

www.buenavistacolorado.org

www.fourteenernet.com/buenavista

Aug. 7 - 10 Cotin-Tail Rock & Gem Show, over 100 booths.

Aug. anytime: National Mining Hall of Fame & Museum, wonderful museum, 120 W. 9th St., Leadville, 11am - 4pm daily, Adults $7, Seniors $6, Children 6-12 $4.

Aug. 7 Concert in the Forest Square Park in Buena Vista, 7pm, 719-395-8643, If inclement weather, it will be held in Heritage Museum.

Aug. 8 - 9 Gold Rush Days, East Main St., gold panning, gun fights, get a square dance lesson, costume parade. On the 9th is the Triple Crown Burro Race, or try the Duck Race. 719-395-6612 This event has 75 - 120 vendors, food, pancake breakfast, arts & crafts.

Aug. 9 Salida Aspen Concert, John Hel Auditorium @ Salida High School, 10th and D St., 7:30, $15.00, Ireland pianist, John O'Conor, 719-539-6153

Aug. 9 The Madams of Central Colorado - Humorous and educational show, not for children, 6:30, $15.00, 1 1/2 hrs. long, Meet the Madams, They tell how they got in the business, what they charged, how they kept from getting pregnant, 719-395-8458 or 719-395-6612.

Aug. 9 Historic Hutchinson Homestead, guided tour of this homestead, free admission, donations accepted, 10am - 2pm, 8913 W. Hwy. 60, call Glenn @ 719-539-4079.

Amy Penn

_____________________________________

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.

Share a Ride - I would like to invite fellow members to share a ride with me to the field trips, call Robert (Bob) Hall 505-869-6291.

As club members we are "hobby collectors". This means that we collect for our personal collection, pleasure, recreation, and interest. If you dig out your samples or specimens with hand tools and carry them away unassisted, you are a "hobby collector".

The following rules apply when collecting on a privately owned claim or mine:

Collect as defined above, as a "hobby collector".

The specimens collected may also include a reasonable amount of material to give as gifts, trade with friends and give to club members.

The amount collected should be below any amount (poundage, value, etc.) designated by the owner. If you aren’t sure, ask the field trip leader or the claim owner before you begin collecting.

You should have no intention of selling collected specimens, unless the owner gives permission to do so.

Museum or exceptional quality pieces belong to the mine owner unless otherwise stated. If you are not sure, show the specimen to the owner. This rule applies to exceptional pockets and to "hot spots."

A large measure of the enjoyment of our hobby consists of collecting in the field. For that reason, the members are proud to endorse the Code of Ethics below. It is suggested that field trip Chairs present a copy of this code to landowners when asking permission to enter private property.

I will respect both private and public property and will do no collecting on privately owned land without the owner's permission.

I will keep informed of all laws, regulations, or rules governing collecting on public lands and will observe them.

I will, to the best of my ability, ascertain the boundary lines of property on which I plan to collect.

I will use no firearms or blasting material in collecting areas.

I will cause no willful damage to property of any kind - fences, signs, buildings, etc.

I will leave all gates as found.

I will build fires in designated or safe places only and will be certain they are completely extinguished before leaving the area.

I will discard no burning material - matches, cigarettes, etc.

I will fill all excavation holes, which may be dangerous to livestock.

I will not contaminate wells, creeks or other water supplies.

I will cause no willful damage to collecting material and will take home only what I can reasonably use.

I will support the Rockhound project H.E.L.P. (Help Eliminate Litter Please) and will leave all collecting areas devoid of litter, regardless of how found.

I will practice conservation and undertake to utilize fully and well the materials I have collected and will recycle my surplus for the pleasure and benefit of others.

I will cooperate with field-trip leaders and those in designated authority in all collecting areas.

I will report to my club or federation officers, Bureau of Land Management or to the authorities, any deposit of petrified wood or other material on public lands which should be protected for the enjoyment of future generations for public educational and scientific purposes.

I will appreciate and protect our heritage of natural resources.

I will observe the "Golden Rule, " will use "Good Outdoor Manners," and will at all times conduct myself in a manner which will add to the stature and public "image" of rockhounds everywhere. From: RMFMS newsletter, Volume 37, Issue 9, November 2007

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

Last year I discussed minerals that are named for some physical property that they possess. 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 hydrous silicate of a common metal and an uncommon non-metal. The material is secondary in origin and most material comes from evaporate deposits of gypsum or anhydrite in arid environments. It is almost always found as nodular or tuberose masses. The monoclinic crystals are quite rare. Translucent, colorless or white with a dull luster, Sp. Gr. = 2.58, H = 2.5 to 3.5.

What is the name of the material?

What is the origin of the name?

What metal does it contain?

What non-metals does each contain?

What is it mined and used for?

What kind of treatment does this gem get?

What gem does it usually substitute for?

Do you have some in your collection?

In NM –

In the USA –

In the World –

What is the name of the material? Jade

What is the origin of the name? From the Spanish, piedra de ijada, "stone of the side," because it's supposed to cure kidney ailments if applied to the side of the body.

What are the names of the two minerals? Nephrite and Jadeite

What metal(s) do each contain? N – calcium, magnesium, silicon, and a bit of iron. J – sodium, aluminum, and a bit of iron, chromium, or others.

What non-metals do each contain? Both have oxygen and N has hydrogen

What is/was it mined/used for? Décorator items now and tools (ax heads and adze heads) in the distant past.

What kind of treatment does this gem get? None for the good stuff but mediocre stuff can be dyed to look like the best.

What form is the usual product of this gem? Carvings of Oriental scenes or figures.

Do you have some in your collection? Yes.

In NM – none

In the USA – CA, NV, OR, WY, WA

In the World – China, Canada, Guatemala, Italy, New Zealand,

Paul Hlava

July 12, 2008

NEXT MEETING: Monday, July 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.

"Chasing the Green Goddess: Dioptase in New Mexico"

by Robert E.(Bob) Walstrom

Robert E. (Bob) Walstrom, a retired geologist with experience in mining, hydrology and geochemistry, spent most of his professional career in Nevada. He has published numerous professional papers concerning geology, mineralogy, hydrology and other natural resource subjects. He is also a published photographer and artist and is recognized for his contribution to mineralogy by the mineral walstromite.

He now resides in Silver City, New Mexico (since 2000) with his wife Bonnie, he is a life-long mineral collector.

Albuquerque Gem & Mineral Club

Jay Penn, Editor

PO Box 13718

Albuquerque, New Mexico 87192