june 11
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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. in the Sandia Room on the 2^nd floor. There is a short business meeting prior to the evening’s presentation, which begins at approximately 8:00 p.m. The Junior Club meets at 6:30.

by Earlene Shroyer and Jim Hill

The Albuquerque Gem and Mineral Club first thought about starting a club for junior members in 1983, with the first ‘Jr. Club’ meeting held in 1987. Our presentation with be a trip down memory lane, with photographs of field trips, classroom experiments, lapidary events and parties over the years. Junior members of the club will also share their thoughts about the club (see May Jr. Club report). Come and see the future of our club, the future of our hobby, and the future scientists that will be!

At the June board of directors meeting the board approved two people to fill vacant positions. The long vacant position of Membership Chairperson is being filled by Joyce Kaser. As most of you know Robert Lovato has been the interim Membership Chair until we could find a permanent (I don't mean that literally Joyce) replacement. Thank you Robert.

Joyce seriously consider taking on this job for quite some time before agreeing to accept the nomination. She did some checking around and made sure she fully understood the responsibilities, (actually I think she was running background checks on the board members). Anyway, she did accept and has come up with some very good ideas already. She will be an asset to the board as well as an excellent Membership Chair.

Nannette Aiken, our Secretary, had to resign because of work commitments (they kept sending her out of town just before meetings). After the last general meeting Bill Hoban volunteered to take on this job and will be starting in July. So we will be getting general meeting minutes published in the News Nuggets again starting with the August issue.

Bill has been helping out at club activities for some time now and told Amy that he was looking for a way to help on a regular basis. Well, look no more Bill; you have accepted an indispensible position in the club. Bill has been the secretary for another organization and can use Word to make electronic versions of the minutes which is very convenient for the rest of us.

Other business: The location of the year end party/potluck/silent auction has been moved to the Community of Joy Church in Rio Rancho. (I just heard the groans from the people living in the heights) After investigating ten or so different venues this was the best choice for availability, cozy atmosphere, cost, etc. Yes, it is a further drive for those of us living in the heights but a shorter drive for those living on the west side or Rio Rancho. When I went to check it out it took just under 1/2 hour from my house, much closer than any field trip I've ever been on. This event will be Sat, Dec 10, 6-10pm, near the corner of NM528 and Northern Blvd., mark your calendars!!

Walter Morris has been running his tumblers 24/7 for a month and a half now making pretty rocks for us to give away at the State Fair, TotE Show or any other place where that would be a good idea. When he is done he'll give them to Paul Kouts for storage and distribution. Thank you Walter and Paul.

Speaking of the State Fair, it is coming up soon. The AGMC has a booth and displays. This is a good opportunity to volunteer a little time and get free admission to the fair. Ask John Reinert (see list of officers on the last page) how you can help.

883-4195

el.chivo.viejo@earthlink.net

Our May 23rd meeting was attended by 27 AGMC Jr. Club members, with 2 new members joining! Our meeting was devoted to the planning and preparation for our June AGMC club presentation, a trip down memory lane which first began with the idea of a Jr. Club in 1983, then implemented in 1987 by Judy DeMark. Look how far we’ve come! Our Jr. club membership is now at 55 kids!

In preparation for the June club meeting and our presentation, I asked the kids what they

liked about THEIR club (and you can tell the examples I used); also what they would say to a friend to invite them to a meeting. I have corrected their spelling and some grammar just so it’s easier to read (and some were not easy to read…)

Their responses:

I like field trips because I get to learn more about the earth and what’s hidden. I like the activities because they are fun to do and you get to meet new people. I would tell a friend: I could tell my friend a rock isn’t just dust and pebbles, its part of history! I would also say that you have to have the joy and love of rocks! Rocks are just boring to regular people, but not to me!

I like experiments because you can explore in them. You should come to a rock club. It is every 4th Monday. You get to do experiments. There is many field trips.

I like door prizes because they are cool. I would tell my friends that you get to go on field trips and get prizes and meet new people and get badges and do experiments and stuff.

I like the door prizes. It gives me a chance to own great minerals without traveling (I’m lazy). I like experiments. We learn about chemicals and minerals. I would say it’s a great experience and you get a chance to do strange experiments.

I like field trips because we can go on hikes and have fun getting exercise and then we can pick up a beautiful specimen for free. I like the experiments because they are fun and educational and always exciting. What would you say to invite a friend? I would say it’s funner than it sounds because its very hands-on instead of just staring at rocks while listening to lectures.

I like door prizes because it’s fun to get rocks that are rare. I like field trips because I just like searching for rocks. You should come to our club because it’s fun to get, find, learn, and discover rocks.

I like field trips.

I like field trips because we always have something to do. I like experiments because that is a lot of stuff to do and amazing stuff. I would tell my friends to come because it is very fun.

I like rocks. (and the card was covered with drawings of rocks)

(she’s too little to write but she drew rocks, too)

I like experiments because its science and I love science.

I like rocks. (see Brandy, above – they drew the same rocks)

I like door prizes. I like the activities. I just love rocks.

I learn about rocks and minerals. I like experiments. I like door prizes. I like activities.

I like field trips. I like experiments. I like door prizes. I like activities. I would say you get free rocks, and you get badges.

I like getting prizes. I like feeling like a big girl because I can learn with the big kids. (mom helped write this)

Stephen

Hey would you like to come to our rock club? We have experiments and stuff like that.

I like field trips! because they’re fun. ‘Cause you learn a lot.

I like field trips because I can get exercise. I would tell my friend you get to hunt rocks.

Take field trips because you get to find new rocks and keep them.

I like field trips because we can collect our own minerals. You get free minerals on field trips.

I like door prizes. We get to collect. I like the activities. We get to make fun rock stuff. I would say to invite a friend is that they would love making the things and learning about them.

I like field trips. It’s fun. You will go on field trips.

I like field trips. We can get gems. I like the activities. I like experiments. I like door prizes. I would tell them that you learn about tons of rocks, do cool activities, have fun field trips. Most of all make friendships!

I love rocks. You get to start a rock collection!

???? (27 letters and numbers and no clue who it’s from)

I want to learn more about crystals.

I like field trips because of the camping and the excitement and the experience. I would tell my friend about the trips and the activities.

I like field trips because they are fun and interesting. What would you say to your friend to invite them – our club gets to go places that other kids don’t get.

See you at the next meeting!

A beautiful spring morning met the 22 AGMC members who traveled to the Dixon area to the Harding Pegmatite Mine.

Many of the group accompanied Jessie Kline on the suggested UNM Walking Tour up the North Knob and along the East Ridge, as well as above the quarry. We learned a plethora of information about the local geology and found many interesting treasures along the way. After the tour, the group spread-out to explore the nearby mine dumps for more collecting and to enjoy their lunches. Everyone bagged their 5 lbs limit which included samples of Epidote, Garnet (Andradite), Holmquistite, Beryl (Aquamarine), Apatite, Lepidolite, Rose Muscovite, Spodumene and other assorted minerals.

A big thanks to Jim Hill for arranging our visit with the UNM Department of Earth and Planetary Science and to Jessie, our expert tour guide for the day. You can learn more about the Harding Pegmatite Mine and view the walking tour at: www.unm.edu/harding/harding.htm.

Take I-40 West to exit 39 (Refinery) and go back across I-40 to a large area on the left where the State has piles of gravel. We will meet there at 9 a.m. Allow approximately an hour and forty-five minutes travel from Albuquerque. When you first get off at exit 39, there is a Pilot gas station with a Subway and Denny’s restaurant for those who may need gas, food, toilet break.

The area is a part of the various layers of the Chinle Formation, which accounts for occasional colorful petrified wood. While the types of trees are undetermined, the roots are mostly red on the outside with the inside being agatized into any number of colors, such as red, pink, yellow, black, while, orange, and sometimes purple. There are several areas where petrified wood with crystals on it can be found. There is a wonderful example of a very large petrified tree that fell into a ravine and broke into several parts about 3 feet in diameter. Scattered about are other types of fossils, Apache Tears, and Carnelian stones. For those interested in marine fossils, there is another area off Rt 400 South, exit 33, that contains Brachiopods and other shell fossils. Some have been replaced by crystals and are very interesting.

Since this is on State forest land, there are no facilities and you will need to bring food and water. Collecting is mostly exposed rocks, but you can use a small shovel or hand rake to help expose other specimens. Per State regulations, 25 lbs of rocks per person can be taken. While I myself have never seen any dangerous animals, this is a wild area and bears and mountain lions do live here. There is some uphill climbing and hiking sticks are a great help.

There are also chunks of marine plants. The areas will be marked with colored ribbons and maps will be provided. I live at Fort Wingate and have a nice rock garden for anyone who would like to visit. Jim Hill will be on hand with the AGMC club waivers for this field trip.

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 adhere 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. Absolutely no underground collecting.

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 8:00am. Waiver sheets will be filled out and collected at this time. At 8:30am we will promptly 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. 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 1:00pm 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. I believe the club will provide drinks, ice and cups.

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.

Our August field trip is in conjunction with the Contin-Tail Rock & Gem Show in Buena Vista, Colorado. Jeff Self and Donna Ware have invited our club to dig at Mt. Antero, an area noted for some of the best aquamarines found in the U.S., as well as smoky quartz, fluorite, phenakite and bertrandite. The collecting area is around the 13,500 foot level of the region and requires a high clearance 4-wheel drive to get there. If you don’t have a 4-wheel drive vehicle and you want to attend, make plans with others who might have room. Due to the high altitude this trip is recommended to only those who are in good physical condition.

More details to come, but we will rendezvous in Buena Vista on the morning of Friday, August 12, travel the 8 or so miles to a base camp at 12,000 feet altitude. We will dig the next day at 13,500 feet. 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. For those who want to spend time at the Contin-tail, the show starts Thursday, August 11.

Rex Nelson has changed the location of the October field trip from the Desert Jewel Claim near Glenwood, NM to the Mayflower mine near Socorro. This location is situated near Socorro Peak on land managed by EMRTC and NM Tech. Permission to enter the mine site is tentative and the number of people allowed to the site will likely be "at least somewhat" limited.

The Mayflower Mine offers many "micro" collecting opportunities, but does involve some serious hiking on rough terrain. More to come.

June 1976 News Nuggets

By Charlie the Lapidary

Moonstone is a term which is applied to each of two different feldspars if they are of gem quality. One type is glassy orthoclase, KAlSi3O8, which shows a blue opalescence. The other variety is albite NaAlSi3O8. These two feldspars usually form tabular crystals embedded in volcanic rocks. Feldspars that reflect a bluish sheen in certain crystal directions (this is known as adularescence) are properly called moonstone. Some of the properties of orthoclase and albite are:

Orthoclase

Crystal system: monoclinic

Habit: crystals usually short prismatic, somewhat flattened.

Hardness: 6

Density: 2.56

Color: white or pink

Streak: white

Luster: vitreous

Crystal system: triclinic

Habit: crystals usually tabular, commonly as irregular grains and cleavable masses

Hardness: 6

Density: 2.62 – 2.76

Color: white or gray

Streak: white

Luster: vitreous

A large producer of moonstone for many years has been Ceylon (Editor’s note: Now called Sri Lanka). In the United States, moonstone is relatively rare but has been found in Virginia, Colorado, California, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Rhode Island, and Delaware in small amounts.

June 1976 News Nuggets

This question was asked by Dr. P.C. Richwood, of the University of Iceland, in a letter in the April, 1976 issue of Geotimes magazine. He tries to provide some answers, and invites others to let him know if they can "top" his record-holders. The largest (in length and volume) reported single crystal appears to have been one of phlogopite, a type of mica; a phlogopite crystal 14 feet in diameter and 33 feet long, weighing 90 tons, was reported from Ontario. In weight, however, the "big flake" is outclassed by a beryl 6 meters (19.7 feet) long and weighing 200 tons, presumably found in the U.S.S.R. Some other heavyweights are:

Orthoclase (Urals, U.S.S.R.) – 10 meters x 10 meters x (?), weight 100 tons.

Feldspar (Norway) – 7 x 12 x 30 feet

Spodumene (Etta Mine, South Dakota) – 13 x 2 x 1 meters, 65 tons

Beryl (Maine), 5 meters long by 1.5 meters diameter

Gypsum (Wayne Co., Utah) – 5 feet long

A 44 x 22 x 8 foot mass of copper from Michigan and a 35.5 ton garnet from Norway have also been described, but it is not clear whether either of these is a single crystal or an aggregate. You can bet that none of the crystals mentioned above was removed intact, and (the ultimate challenge!) none has been cut and faceted whole. Just think of it, a fine emerald-cut aquamarine lashed to its mounting (the bed of a semi-trailer) with sturdy half-inch steel cable, as it rolls on its way to Tiffany’s showroom.

Compiled, selected and annotated by Dave Moats, AGMC Historian

For sale: 18" Diamond Pacific TR-18 Slab Saw with Powerglide Hydraulic feed, V-Guide rail and Multi-stage filter/recirculation systems. 220 volt model. Complete with diamond blade. Some rust on hood and rock vice has been modified. Very good condition. Current list price with blade, $8000. My price $1250.

6" diamond saw blade for lapidary, brand new, never used, Indian Jewelers Supply's Tomahawx, 1/2" arbor hole, 6" x .012 x 1/2", retails for $35, asking $20.

Here are events located in NM, TX, OK, CO, UT and AZ for the near future.

You can see a more comprehensive list at: www.rockngem.com/showdates

24-26—COLORADO SPRINGS, CO: 3rd annual rock fair; Colorado Springs Mineralogical Society, Rocky Mountain Federation of Mineralogical Societies; Western Museum of Mining & Industry, 225 N. Gate Blvd., I-25 exit 156A; Fri. 9-4, Sat. 9-4, Sun. 9-3; adults $5, children $2; dealers, gems, minerals, jewelry, fossils, talks, gold panning demonstration, rock identification, Kids’ Area, noncompetitive displays, silent auction, exhibitors, equipment demonstrations; contact Ronald Yamiolkoski, (719) 488-5526; e-mail: info@csms.us; Web site: www.csms.us

1-3—FARMINGTON, NM: Annual show; San Juan County Gem & Mineral Society; Farmington Civic Center, 200 W. Arrington St.; Fri. 10-6, Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5; free admission; silent auctions, prize drawings, raffle Sun.; contact Mickie Calvert, 5986 Hwy. 64, Farmington, NM 87401, (505) 632-8288; e-mail: mickie2@earthlink.net

16-17—FLAGSTAFF, AZ: Show, "Flagstaff Jewelry, Gem, & Mineral Show"; Radisson Woodlands Hotel, 1175 W. Rte. 66; Sat.10-5, Sun.10-4; adults $3, children under 12 free with adult; contact Sharon Szymanski, (480) 215-9101, or Val Latham, (602) 466-3060

11-14—BUENA VISTA, CO: 28th annual show; Contin-Tail LLC; Rodeo Grounds, Greg Dr. and Rodeo Rd.; Thu. 9-5, Fri. 9-5, Sat. 9-5, Sun. 9-5; free admission; more than 100 dealers, rocks, minerals, fossils, gemstones, jewelry, tools, equipment, demonstrations, fluorescent mineral display Fri. and Sat., free rocks for kids; contact Carolyn Tunnicliff, 1130 Francis St. #7010, Longmont, CO 80501, (720) 938-4194; e-mail: ctunnicliff@comcast.net; Web site: www.coloradorocks.org

If you have not been to the Contin-tail swap, you owe yourself a visit. Bring your walking shoes, sunscreen and water bottle, and spend a day or two of mind-blowing rock shopping!

18-21—WOODLAND PARK, CO: 2nd annual show; Rock Gypsies; Woodland Park Saddle Club, 19250 E. US Hwy. 24; Thu. 9-5, Fri. 9-5, Sat. 9-5, Sun. 9-5; free admission; outdoor show, more than 40 dealers and jewelers; contact Rock Gypsies, (719) 360-9665, or Kim or Bodie Packham, 87 Plum Creek Rd., Divide, CO 80814; e-mail: runninboar@hotmail.com

19-21—LAKE GEORGE, CO: Retail show; Lake George Gem & Mineral Club; US Hwy. 24, next to Post Office; Fri. 9-6, Sat. 9-6, Sun. 9-5; free admission; contact John Rakowski, PO Box 171, Lake George, CO 80827, (719) 748-3861; e-mail: President@LGGMClub.org; Web site: www.LGGMClub.org

27-28—JASPER, TX: 17th annual show; Pine Country Gem & Mineral Society; Sat. 9-5, Sun. 10-5; The Event Center, 6258 Hwy. 190W, 5 miles west of Jasper; adults $2, students and children free; rocks, gems, jewelry, minerals, door prizes, grand prize, spinning wheel, silent auction, lapidary demonstrations; contact Lonnie Stalsby, 258 CR 066, Jasper, TX 75951, (409) 382-5314

3-4—ARLINGTON, TX: Annual show; Arlington Gem & Mineral Club; Arlington Convention Center, 1200 Ballpark Way; Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5; adults $6, seniors and children $3, Scouts in uniform free; silent auctions, Gem ID, Kids’ Korner, door prizes, gem, lapidary and jewelry displays and demonstrations, Rock Food Table; contact Jack Spinks, 209 Overlook Dr., Midlothian, TX 76065, (214) 335-9452; e-mail: jlspinks@sbcglobal.net; Web site: www.agemclub.org

A few folks emailed me that they read the Mystery Mineral and try to decipher the mineral names. Email me at paulhlava@q.com 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 at paulhlava@q.com! I have been gratified by folks responding that they WORK at these

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 6:30 p.m. on the first Monday of each month. All club members are welcome.

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 87192-3718 or pay the Membership Chair at the monthly meeting. All memberships expire Dec. 31.

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 for any information that will promote club activities or that would be of interest to club members. News Nuggets is scheduled to be sent approximately one week prior to the monthly meeting, earlier if possible.

You are invited to send news, articles or comments to Bill Barr at wbarr@umich.edu. Please begin the subject line with AGMC.

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

Treasurer: el.chivo.viejo@earthlink.net

klawicki@gmail.com

Note: If you feel you have been put on or left off this list in error, please contact Bill Barr.