Treasures of the Earth - 2004

 

Howdy Folks.  The show is coming up fast!  As I write this it is only 2 weeks to set-up Thursday.  I was really gratified by the wonderful response I got for set-up and tear down volunteers.  I expect that we’ll be able to set the show up in good time.  And the tear down should be a breeze.  Of course, if you didn’t sign up and feel like rolling up your sleeves, you can just show up and pitch in.  That means everyone will get finished quicker and so they can relax with coffee and a nice, healthy, dietetic donut!  And there will be hot dogs for the set-up workers to lunch on Thursday.  I’ve come up with a way to make tear down a bit easier but it has to get approved by the show committee first.  I do still need some folks to help with overnight security, especially Thursday.  If you are interested, call me at 255-5478 or email hpf1@qwest.net (that is a number one in front of the @ sign).

 

            Dealers.  I have NO booths left at the show – we are full up.  I keep getting new requests for space.  In fact, I have gotten 3 or 4 new dealer requests this past week.  I do put them on a back-up list for futures shows.

 

Publicity for the show is underway.  My supply of garish flyers is getting quite depleted.  I recently sent a stack of postcards out to each of our dealers who requested them.  Soon, we will mailing out about 4200 postcards to various lists of past attendees. The various rock and mineral magazines  have been contacted and Judy DeMark is preparing public service announcements for radio and TV spots.  Newspaper ads will be sent in at the proper time (YIKES – like next week).  Of course, one of the best advertising media is you.  Word of mouth invitations are one of our most popular and effective ways of getting new folks (and returnees) to come to the show.

 

Once again I will plead for more people to get involved with the show committee.  Judy DeMark is planning to coordinate activities for the kids.  BUT – we need lots more volunteers to help out (especially on Friday) or we will have to cancel that whole activity.  We are hoping that this part of the show grows with time.  Judy is also coordinating the Pot-Luck Supper.  Please help her out.  Bob Burrows will be our CZAR of donuts and do hospitality (keeping the coffee urns going and stocking the supply of donuts during the show).  Don’t forget that show workers get free admission to the show and free parking passes.  I have the passes and I will be passing out the passes (if I can pass that by you) to people at the meeting on the 22^nd.  If you are a club member but not working at the show you have to pay to park and to get in.  And you don’t have to work ALL the time.  Work a stretch then browse the exhibits and dealers and then repeat.  And please remember – make sure you have fun at our show!

 

No more later!  This is IT!

Paul Hlava040312

 

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Officers  2004

 

President- Grant Kuck

Home phone: 323-1520

E-mail:  gkuck@flc.org

 

VP-Speakers- Ray DeMark

Home phone:  822-8715

E-mail: RayDeMark@msn.com

 

VP-Membership- Kimberly Richie

Home phone: 296-8847

E-mail:  cattrax55@wmconnect.com

 

VP – Field Trips – Open

 

Secretary – Scott Wilson

Home phone – 792-0951

E-mail:  swilson@copper.net

 

Treasurer- Stephanie Melof

Home phone:  281-7192

E-mail: stephbell22@yahoo.com

 

Historian- Dave Moats

Home phone:  892-8163

E-mail: beepbeep59@hotmail.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

 

Special Events- Hank Miller

Home phone: 255-7218

E-mail: rgmhgm2@msn.net

 

Past President:  Orlando Garcia

Home phone: 345-0520

E-mail: jabog02@msn.com

 

 

 

 

The Club Newsletter; News Nuggets exists to assist the membership in communications and to provide information on club activities. Contributions from all members are welcome on any information that will promote club activities or that would be of interest to club members. News Nuggets is scheduled to be mailed approximately one week prior to the monthly meeting. Mail news, articles or comments to: DarleneNelson, Editor, 817 Sagebrush Trail SE, 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

 

And now in no particular order three items of Great Significance and one quick footnote:

 

First:  Your Show of Shows!  It's almost here!  But it's still not to late to get involved.  Whether you can help for a couple of hours or all day there are still some openings.  Check out Paul Hlava's letter in this issue and then come to the March meeting and sign up.

 

Second:  It’s time to Re-enlist!  The A.G.M.C. needs you!  And if you want your News Nuggets to keep coming, this is the month to make sure all your dues are paid up.  Only Members get our monthly newsletter and if you haven't paid your dues don't be surprised when the News Nuggets stop coming.

 

Third:  “Bring Out Your Rocks!  Bring Out Your Rocks!  Have you ever wondered if some of your specimens belong in a glass case or belong outdoors where they can inspire insects?  Well during this month's meeting Ray DeMark will be speaking on what determines the quality of a specimen.  This will be more fun if we have specimens to look at so bring in some of your rocks and minerals.

 

And now for one quick footnote.  Do you store rocks and minerals in boxes in your garage?  Why not donate some of them to the AGMC?  For one thing there is our March Show with it's silent auctions and kids table.  Plus we can always use door prizes and specimens for the annual rock and mineral symposium in Socorro.  So if the AGMC can help create a little more room in your life and garage...well I just want you to know we're there for you.

Grant!     

 

 

RENEW MEMBERSHIP DUES

 

T.O.T.E. SHOW POT LUCK

 

Thursday, March 25, is the set-up day for our club show.  It’s also the date of our famous SHOW POT LUCK. This year the Club will provide barbeque (beef and pork), rolls, coffee, and lemonade.  We are asking those who are attending to provide the rest of the accompaniments.  Check the list below to see what we would appreciate your providing:

 

Last names beginning with:  A – H

Bring:   Dessert

 

Last names beginning with:  I – O

Bring:  Salad

 

Last names beginning with:  P – Z

Bring:  Side Dish/Vegetable

 

Please remember to bring your own plates and flatware (the Club will provide extras for the dealers).  And remember alcoholic beverages are not allowed on the fair grounds!

 

We will start the food line at approximately 6:00 p.m.

 

Please call or email me if you have any questions.

Judy DeMark, 822-8715

judydemark@msn.com

 

 

Showtime! Volunteers?

 

 

2004 membership dues must be paid by March 31 to receive April News Nuggets

 

$20.00 PER HOUSEHOLD

 

PAY YOUR DUES BY MAIL

Fill out the form on Page 11 and send it to Stephanie Melof, PO Box 13718, Albuquerque, NM 87192-3718 or give it to Stephanie or Grant Kuck at the meeting.

 

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AGMC

General meeting minutes

22 Jan 2004

Grant Kuck, presiding

 

Visitors: Visitors at the meeting included two children, one long-time member who has been unable to attend for a long time, and six adults who were brand new members.

 

March Show:  Paul Hlava reported that the postcards are in - and they look great!  Some postcards were given out at the meeting to be distributed, along with the few remaining flyers. 

 

The last show committee meeting was very effective, and the show is in good shape at this time.

 

Parking passes will be available for all AGMC volunteers; pick up yours on Thursday at the show set-up. Dealers get two free passes for their use during the show.

 

Judy Demark is going to handle the potluck dinner for volunteers and dealers on Thursday night. This event is nationally famous! The dealers really appreciate it and it has become

known across the nation as a favorite and unique aspect of our show. Paul handed out a flyer to help folks plan for it the potluck; bring a dish according to the table on the flyer.

 

Judy is also doing publicity, and educational programs for kids at the show. She needs some volunteers to help and Paul started a sign-up list circulating. Judy will need at least two people per time slot. Activities will include a large sand box that is "salted" with rock and mineral  

specimens; youngsters will be given a short timed period to "mine" in the sand and keep the goodies they recover.

 

Bob Burrows will be handling the staff donut and coffee table during the show.

 

Sign-ups for teardown/setup are in good shape. Security is all set too.  Extra hands for setup and teardown are always appreciated no matter how many folks are already signed up. If you have a few hours to spare, please drop by and help out. Free parking passes are given to AGMC volunteers, so come out for setup and get yours, which is good for the whole weekend.

 

Paul reported that there are 38 dealers so far. Many are return dealers with a number of new ones in the mix.

 

Mike Sanders reported that the display cabinets will be ready on Thursday afternoon for participants to set up their specimens. All cases are allocated. 

 

Dave Moats observed that the silent auction is a good way to sell excess minerals in your collection.  Tables are $20 for a 6 foot table. Three tables (total over the weekend) are $15 ea.  Details will be in the next newsletter.  There will be three auctions per day, all three days, at approx noon, 2PM, and 4PM (times may vary). Dave needs some volunteers to help set up and run the auction. Volunteers will need to be able to make change and have a basic knowledge of the minerals (for example, be able to differentiate between quartz and malachite). Dave is also accepting minerals for the kids booth (giveaways). Bring donations to the show on Thursday if possible, or contact Dave for other arrangements.

 

There will be two "Show Lieutenants" who will be able to assist dealers and others with administrative details at the show (Orlando Garcia and Scott Wilson). They should be able to handle most problems at the show, so see them first should a situation arise.

 

The New Mexico Facetors Guild will be demonstrating gemcutting again at this show; they will be next to the mineral ID booth.

Hank Miller passed around a sign up sheet for selling raffle tickets at the show; volunteers still needed to man the raffle ticket desk, particularly  

on Friday and Saturday. Volunteers get a free parking pass!

 

Field Trips:  Rex Nelson reported that the field trip scheduled for Saturday will take us to the Lordsburg mining district. See the last newsletter for details.  Possible localities to be visited include the Banner Mine and several other nearby groups. A 4WD is not needed. Collectors may have to walk (around 1/4 mile) into the Banner locality, but there is a chance that a guided tour of that area may happen. No underground collecting will be permitted. All attendees will need to observe sign-in/sign-out rules.  Meet at the McDonalds in Lordsburg at 8:30AM, leave for the collecting area at 9AM. Minerals available  include dogtooth calcite, peacock ore (chalcopyrite), various copper minerals (azurite and malachite) and related auxiliary minerals. Lordsburg is five hours travel time from Albuquerque.

 

Programs:  Ray Demark presented Dr. Virgil Leuth from the New Mexico Bureau of Mines (Socorro) to speak on "Pecos Diamonds - Quartz and  Dolomite crystals from the Seven Rivers Formation Outcrops of Southeastern New Mexico".  Dr. Leuth noted that Pecos Valley Diamonds (PVDs) are well known popular items at rock shows in the Roswell area and are fascinating minerals. Much debate has occurred regarding the occurrence of these crystals.

 

 Dr. Leuth called attention to the work of James Loften Albright - much of his talk is based on his manuscripts. Albright was a specialist in material from west Texas and New Mexico. His entire collection was donated to the museum at Socorro. Albright conducted a systematic study

of PVD occurrences, and his last paper (completed posthumously by Dr. Leuth) is the most complete work on this topic to date.  The Seven Rivers Formation area is part of the Guadalupe Reef Complex (which includes Carlsbad caverns).  It is unique in the world. The geologic history begins at 245MA, when the Permian Basin is part of the western edge of Pangea, near the equator. A number of large ocean bays were in the vicinity. The Capitan Reef lies on the border between the northwest shelf and the Delaware basin. This reef area has been extensively studied due to its presence at the Earth's surface today (this is a rare thing). 

 

The Seven Rivers Formation (SR) was a lagoon in the backreef. The escarpment at the Delaware Basin follows the reef stratigraphy. The exposed rocks at the upper levels were built as the reef grew. The lower levels are dark colored, forming in deep water with little oxygen, often forming petroleum deposits, which are economically important today.  The Seven Rivers is mostly gypsum evaporates, with an occasional red-bed sandstone layer tossed in for good measure. The red-beds often have gypsum nodules in them. The formation is very thick, with many layers of salts and evaporates deposited in succession. PVDs form in these layers, occurring in many colors and often in double terminated or odd crystal forms.

 

PVDs were first seen in 1583 by Don Antonio de Espejo. Scientific accounts were published by Tarr in 1929 regarding deposits near the townsite of Acme Lonsdale also reports in 1929 on pseudocubic quartz crystals found in the area. The name given to the crystals appears to have originated with the locals from an earlier time.

 

Few PVDs are found in the actual SR; most are found near Artesia on Hwy 83 and south from Riverside, towards Logan Creek.  An exposure of the SR outcrops near pumpjack in that area. This is the area where Tarr found his crystals including pseudocubic quartz crystals and dolomite rhombs. Crystals are also find near Lake Arthur. The Comanche Hill area east of Roswell is a famous old locality for red clusters of PVDs. Dunahoo Hills is barren, a surprise given it's proximity to established productive areas. The Dunlap Segment has several  productive areas: Gibbins ranch, Cavel school, Huggins Draw, Shannon Draw, Selmen Draw. Cavel School has roads covered with PVDs. The El Morros Mesa area near Overton Ranch has also produced large specimens.  PVDs are quartz, in a variety of forms. They form in the hexagonal crystal system often with prismatic terminations, some with rhombohedral faces.  A "Beta Quartz" form is often seen (really a "quartzoid"). Right-handed and left-handed crystal forms are seen.  Tarr 1929 showed how a rhombohedron can be modified to pseudocubic, then to quartzoid form, then to a hexagonal prism, a  pseudotrigonal dipyramid, then finally to a pseudotrigonal prism as the final form commonly seen as a PVD.  

 

 

Albright showed forms that don't follow this progression. Albright did some heating studies that showed the color of the crystals bleach out. This effect is not understood.  As they grow, some PVD crystal faces are mirror smooth; others are very rough, but regardless, they are still crystallographically oriented. Alternating may be seen to be rough rough and smooth on some specimens. This effect is also not understood and it may have an origin in the chemistry of the crystal growth. Some PVDs have organic matter trapped internally, almost always at at a particular area near a termination.

 

PVDs and dolomites both occur in gypsum, but almost never at the same time. Dolomites often appear dark and bear organic material (oil), even to the point of smelling of petroleum.  The PVDs are occasionally found occupying a partially filled cavity that appears to be in the shape of a dolomite. The physical constraints on the quartz crystal imposed by the shape of the cavity may cause the quartz to form as a pseudomorph after dolomite. The crystal colors and chemistry support this theory.

 

Dolomites show up in many forms as well, appearing much as a pseudocubic quartz would appear.  One theory follows conditions in redbeds (saline evaporates) that are similar to those found in a present day equatorial desert bay near the ocean at ' Lake McCleod in western Australia. The conditions there are suspected to be very similar to those that would have been present during Permian times.  The dry lakebed is called a majanna.  It is sometimes dry with a crust of salt, at other times it is flooded. Small areas of lagoons are trapped and evaporating (a sabkha); sometimes these are found with a spring in them.  These are limited in distribution and are quite rare. Different types of waters are present that may deposit and then dissolve dolomite and quartz. This area could be producing PVDs today, and would explain the observed distributions of PVDs the are locally prolific by sparsely found on a larger scale.

 

Other theories abound. One of these is the "Early Diagenetic" in which PVD-like crystals form under oxidizing conditions in association with dolomite. This has been seen in present times in the Persian Gulf, but the crystals are very tiny.

 

Other researchers claim that the crystals must be deeply buried in warm areas to grow larger.  This  may explain the trapped petroleum that is seen in some crystals. This is the "Deep Buried Diagenetic" theory and it can produce large crystals. This theory is being worked on today via fluid inclusion studies looking at the geothermometry of PVDs.  The largest crystals are found in the in the northwest area of the SR, overlapping into the area that produces aragonites, and this suggests the possibility of a large scale fluid transport mechanism. Stable isotope studies are also in progress that may provide some illumination of this possibility.

 

Dr. Leuth observed in summary that the "Beta quartz" crystals (pseudocubic) are beta in physical form only; they do not exhibit beta crystal structure. They might be more properly called "beta-oids".

 

Dr. Leuth concluded that is is likely that the processes proposed in both theories are in operation, giving rise to the large range of colors and forms of PVDs that are seen.

 

Dr. Leuth's article in New Mexico Geology has full details and maps of PVD occurrences - please get a copy of this publication for more information.

 

Special note: The New Mexico Mineral Symposium will be held Nov 13 and 14, 2004. It will be the 25th anniversary of this event - be sure to attend! 

 

Attendance:  Attendance for tonight was 73.

 

 Refreshments   Many, many thanks to June and Bob Brothers for providing the evening’s refreshments.

Scott Wilson, AGMC Secretary

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LORDSBURG MINING DISTRICT FIELD TRIP

FEBRUARY 28, 2004

 

It was a snowy, cold, overcast and windy morning when we arrived at the McDonalds in Lordsburg.  Sure didn’t look promising for a pleasant field trip! Though we were the first to arrive, soon our field trip leader Rex Nelson showed up, and shortly thereafter  another 17 stalwart AGMC’ers converged on the site.  Rex gave us a brief rundown on the mining area and explained the drill for the day.  Shortly, our caravan was headed south out of Lordsburg on Main Street.  We continued on past the turnoff to the ghost town of Shakespeare, staying on the Banner Mine road to the gate of the Banner Mine itself.  The mine site was very picturesque: building roofs and equipment covered with snow, clumps of snow-covered yucca trees standing below the huge wooden loading ramp and towering steel head-frame.  When the sun came out for a few minutes, every surface began steaming...a beautiful picture with the mist and the snow.  Robert Lowery, the Mining Supervisor of the Lordsburg Mining Company, met us at the gate. The LMC is actually a division of the St. Cloud Mining Company out of T or C. Robert has worked at this mine since the 1960s when he came here with Federal Resources Corp; he was their chief metallurgist and mill manager.   He gave a very informative “lecture” about the area and its history.  Originally called the Bonny Mine, activities started as a silver operation back in the 1870s.  Gold was also recovered, and for a few years, gold ore paid for the entire operation of the mine.  The silver played out by the turn of the century, but the mine was revitalized by the recovery of copper shortly thereafter and the copper mining activity was quite strong into the early 30s.  The Banner mine changed owners on several occasions and mining went on clear into the early 1990s.

 

After Robert’s initial orientation, most of the field trippers spent an hour or so picking up beautiful specimens of chalcopyrite that occurs in steeply dipping bands as thick as 15 feet.  These bands occur in fracture zones in the native andesite and go down to the 2500 ft level.  There were three major deep shafts on the property, all over 2000 ft deep.  The chalcopyrite often takes the form of peacock ore, so the specimens are quite colorful. 

 

 

Robert also gave a few of us a detailed tour of each the mine buildings explaining as we went along the details of the ore processing through the ball mill and the flotation concentrator.  The concentrator was still in amazingly good shape and the details of how the chemicals were added and then piped into the various chambers were made clear by Robert’s explanations.  He also explained how a huge air compressor ran most of the mine equipment, including the underground rock drills, thus reducing the requirement for large amounts of electrical power down deep in the mine.  Water that was scarce even back in the early mining days was pumped out of the mine (it was hot!) to be used in processing the ore.  The huge steel head-frame is still in great shape and is one of the best examples of such a structure in the Southwest.  Robert told the story of how one day in the early 70’s he was jolted by a terrifying noise that clearly spelled calamity in the making.  As he ran toward the hoist house, he saw a broken lift cable whipping around the drum, ripping everything in it’s path to shreds, even 12 inch steel I-beams!  The racket was deafening!  Most fortunately, the load that crashed 2000 feet down the shaft as a result of the broken cable was a load of ore – not a load of miners!  The old mine dormitory, made of adobe bricks, had been converted into a core storage area in the later years of mining and it was interesting to walk through the various rooms looking at tray-after-tray of cores, and numerous old journals detailing daily operations.

 

Meanwhile, the weather varied from brief periods of sunshine to blowing snow and rain squalls.  Fortunately, the two inches of snow on the ground melted quite rapidly and did not impede finding mineral specimens.

 

After the Banner Mine tour and collecting period, we drove back north to the 85 Mine.   Here, Robert gave another rundown on the geology and mining history.  The 85 Mine is now connected by tunnels to the Banner  mine to the southwest and the Atwood mine to the northeast.  At the end of the speech, Rex presented Robert with a $50 gift certification for Kranberries Restaurant.

 

People collected specimens at the 85 Mine; again, many good examples of Chalcopyrite were to be found.  Next, some collectors went over to the Atwood Mine where fine specimens of azurite were recovered – this being in the oxidation zone of the mining district.  Others in the group returned to the Banner area, driving further south to the Misers Chest Mine about a mile to the southwest of the Banner.  Here, the magnificent wooden head-frame of the old mine remains in pristine condition – one of the best examples of an early wooden head-frames still surviving in New Mexico.  At the base of the head-frame, we collected some of the finest chalcopyrite samples of the day. 

 

Come mid-afternoon, several of the group met at the small ghost town of Shakespeare where Manny Hough, long-time resident of the town (and also the town blacksmith) gave our group a tour of the town.  We explored many of the old buildings, some of which had been restored to their original splendor.  We went into the Last Chance Saloon, The Grant House where the Butterfield Stage Station was originally located (and probably the telegraph office as well), the blacksmith shop and more. From a historical standpoint, the location was known as Mexican Spring in the early 1800s and was a watering place for Indians, Spaniards and wagon trains on the road to California. In the early 1870s, when silver was discovered in the area, the 3000-person town that sprang up here was named Ralston.  The silver played out by 1873 and the town dwindled until 1879 when a new wave of silver and gold mining took place.  During this time, the town was renamed Shakespeare.  This boom came to an end in 1893 and the town became virtually a ghost town.  Mining picked up again in 1907 and has been “on-again, off-again” ever since. 

 

By 4 PM, the overcast skies and cold west wind got the better of most every-one’s sense of humor and we all headed back to Lordsburg to plan the tomorrow’s activities.

By Tom Katonak

 

…..Thank you Jan Burrows for arranging the Shakespeare Ghosttown tour…..

 

 

ROYAL FLUSH   April 3

 

Our next field trip will be on Saturday, the 3rd of April.  We will be visiting the Royal Flush mine in the Hansonburg mining district.  We will meet at the small "town" of Bingham at 9:00 a.m.  Bingham is reached by taking I-25 south to U.S. 380 (8 miles south of Socorro) and then east for 30 miles to Bingham.  Fluorite, barite and galena crystals are common at the mine.  Hard rock tools (hammers, chisels, etc.) will be needed, as well as hard hats and safety goggles.  Tom Massis is the owner of the Royal Flush mine and has graciously allowed us to spend the day at the mine collecting specimens.

Ray DeMark

 

 

FOR SALE

FLORESCENT MINERAL COLLECTION

Collected in the 1950's and 60's.  Seventy or so medium sized specimens, many identified as to mine, location and type. Most are from Southern  

California, Arizona and Nevada.  Many smaller pieces and fragments.  In original case.   Trade for good natural turquoise or ??.  Bruce Moffitt, 286-1112 or moffitt@lobo.net

 

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Your membership must be up to date to receive the April News Nuggets!

 

Mystery Mineral

For February, 2004

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

an anhydrous silicate of a common alkaline earth element that seldom occurs as distinct crystals but usually forms masses of fibrous crystals.  It is a product of the metamorphism of limestones and is often associated with Calcite, Grossular, Vesuvianite, Diopside, and Epidote.  It is white with a white streak but can be colored gray, yellow, red, or brown.  Hardness 5, Sp. Gr. - ~2.84, triclinic with 3 cleaveages all parallel to a common axis, luster - silky, fracture – fibrous to splintery.

 

Questions

What is the name of the mineral? 

Who is the mineral name for? 

What is the mineral used for? 

 

Localities – (Just list the famous/important ones)        

--NM –

--USA –

--World –

 

 

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Answers to Last Month’s Questions:

 

What is the name of the mineral?  Sphalerite

 

What is the mineral name for?  Greek (sphaleros) for misleading, treacherous, or

slippery because it was often mistaken for galena but yielded no lead.

 

What are some of the mineral’s nick names?  Blende (German – to blind or deceive for same reason), ruby-jack, black-jack, marmatite, cleiophane, and zinc-blende.

 

What is the mineral used for?  Ore of Zn

What other metals are byproducts from this mineral?  Gallium, germanium, cadmium, and indium.  AND sphalerite is the MAJOR source for these metals.

 

What is the other metal dissolved in the structure that causes the yellow to brown to black colors?  Iron

 

Localities – (Just list the famous/important ones)        

--NM – Lots of places, Central Dist., Magdalena Dist., Black Range

--USA – Tri-State district (MO-KS-OK), SW-WI, TN, NY, AZ, NJ, lots of others.

--World – Yugoslavia, England, Switzerland, Australia, Spain, Mexico, etc.

 

Paul Hlava 040203

 

 

 

Albuquerque Gem & Mineral Club

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Send this form and check to:   AGMC

                                                     PO Box 13718,

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OR GIVE TO STEPHANIE MELOF OR GRANT KUCK AT THE MEETING.

 

 

PLEASE PAY DUES BY MARCH 31 2004.

 

MEMBERSHIP LIST IS REVISED MARCH 31.