november 2011
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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.

Hired by George Anna Kaseman as Superintendent of Madrid coal mines, Oscar Huber was given free reign to operate. With little preparation for this role, he became a superb executive, far-sighted and talented. He loved beauty, justice, people and progress. Because of his leadership Madrid coal mining production increased tremendously bringing economic and social prosperity to the residents of Madrid. The town became world famous for its Fourth of July and Christmas celebrations.

Gabriel Sahd, born in Los Cerrillos, N.M. to Lebanese immigrants, devoted his career to Education. Retiring after 34 years, he devotes himself to many activities, including acting and various arts.

Hello, is it November already? Where does the time go? There were three items of interest from the last board meeting.

1) We approved an awards program for Junior Club members which includes 3 levels: a) certificates of recognition and $50 gift certificates for all who obtain all of the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies's rockhound patches b) certificates of recognition and checks for $100 for up to 3 members completing 8th grade who are selected "Outstanding Junior Club Member" and c) a certificate of recognition and a scholarship check for $1,000 to a graduating senior who has exhibited outstanding performance as a club member. WOW, how cool it that!!!!

The specific criteria for nominations for the b) and c) awards still needs to be developed and then a nominating committee of three club members will recommend the winners to the board of directors who will make the final selections. So there is still work to be done, if you wish to help develop the criteria and/or serve on the nomination committee contact our membership chair Joyce Kaser. Thank you Joyce for doing the research and putting together this well thought out proposal.

2) The board approved sponsoring a second gem, mineral, and jewelry show in the fall. As it stands right now it will be the first weekend in October starting in 2012 at the same location as the spring (TotE) show. The core committee for this effort is Jay Penn, Amy Penn, and Regina Aumente. By design this show will require minimal volunteers from the club by not having any of the TotE show frills, e.g. silent auction, mineral ID, junior table, admission fee, wolf, raffle, door prizes, table skirting, etc., etc. Just dealers and a food concession.

3) At the November general meeting we will vote for the board of directors for 2012. Since all positions are unopposed this will be a voice vote. As you can see below no one has come forward to fill the treasurer's position. The board considered withholding refreshments at the general meetings until someone volunteered ---- maybe not a bad idea. We have accomplished a lot in the last 6 years with Amy as treasurer in large part because we knew where we stood financially at any given time. The bottom line is that without a treasurer to track the money in a timely fashion club functions/progress will grind to a halt or at least a very slow crawl. PLEASE, PLEASE, consider helping out with this vital function. Maybe two or three of you can team up to split the load.

The installation of the 2012 Board of Directors will be at the year end pot luck/ party/ meeting/ silent auction on December 10, 2011.

Goodbye, since we don't publish a news letter in December this is my last President's Message. Based on a presentation I gave to the Junior Club over two years ago I was going to write a series of articles about what makes a good mineral specimen from the perspective of a new person to the hobby. I was thinking I'd find the time next year then this fall show thing came along. To the people who were looking forward to those articles I haven't forgotten but it may be another year or so until the fall show settles into a routine.

My final sentiments are to say a huge THANK YOU to the boards of directors and all the various standing committees for the last two years. The club improved greatly in all aspects because of your efforts.

883-4195

el.chivo.viejo@earthlink.net

President Jay Penn called the meeting to order around 7:38 p.m.

Three first-time guests were introduced to the audience followed by an explanation of the monthly raffle.

Jay announced the returning board members with Bob Regner set to replace Brian Anderson as field trip VP. Grant Kuck was nominated from the floor for the position of President. We are still in need of a candidate for Treasurer. At the November general meeting, the club membership will officially vote for 2012 board positions.

The next field trip is scheduled for Saturday, October 29th at Ojo Caliente. There was a discussion about possible weather conditions and what minerals may be found there. Paul Hlava noted that even some radioactive specimens had been found there in the past. The Socorro Symposium is scheduled for November 11, 12, and 13.

Amy Penn announced that she had a National Geographic article to loan out. Several people recommended the jewelry and mineral display in the museum. Members were reminded that museum displays are accessible only during regular museum operating hours.

Membership chair Joyce Kaser had no report tonight.

The Junior Club reported that 25 members were present tonight. Major activities included "mineral bingo" and gemstone legend and lore. Each junior got to take home a small mineral. The main topic for the next junior meeting will be instruction for collecting and displaying minerals.

Bill Barr again thanked co-editor Earlene Shroyer for all her hard work on the News  Nuggets and announced he has a new computer. News items are always welcome and may be e-mailed to either Bill or Earlene.

Paul Hlava reported on TOTE show planning progress and handed out TOTE show fliers to the membership. Volunteers will be needed for all phases of the show and especially for Sunday afternoon takedown.

There are still some open slots for 2012 refreshments. Anybody who likes to eat is encouraged to sign up.

The November field trip is to the Blanchard Mine.

The Christmas party will be held on December 10th at the Community of Joy church in Rio Rancho. Rudy’s BarBQ was the consensus main dish. Please remember to bring side dishes and/or desserts and items for the silent auction. Visitors are always welcome!

Raffle tickets for the displayed minerals are available tonight as usual for $0.25 each.

Old business: None tonight

New business: None tonight

Program: Mr. Ted Phillips presented a comprehensive program on the ins and outs of finding opals in the Virgin Valley area of western Nevada.

After the feature presentation, the meeting was adjourned for refreshments and the evening raffle.

Respectfully submitted,

Bill Hoban, AGMC Secretary

The October Jr. Club meeting was attended by 25 members, with 2 new families and 5 new kids joining! We just keep growing and growing!

The October meeting was SPECIAL in that

we had the class split into two groups; one group learned about "Gemstone Lore and Legend" and earned a merit badge, while the other group played "Mineral Bingo" for wonderful prizes.

We learned about Anniversary stones – and that there are two different lists: "traditional" and "modern." For example, if you live to see your 100^th wedding anniversary, the "modern" list would have you receive a 10-carat diamond. The "traditional" list says you only have to be married 75 years to receive a diamond. Either way, cut to the chase and get that diamond while you can still enjoy it.

Next we learned about Birthstones and the Zodiac, with each learning what their sign and stone(s) where. Yes, there is a "modern" and a "traditional" birthstone for each, too. We understand that to mean that we have lots of special stones that keep us lucky!

Finally we talked about Mysticism and Minerals, learning about some of the "magical properties" that people both ancient and today believe some minerals contain – such as warding off evil thoughts (Amethyst) and for protection at sea - "the sailor’s gem" (Aquamarine).

Meanwhile, the other group got to play 3 to 4 games of Mineral Bingo to win beautiful specimens. For those who did not win at Mineral Bingo, all was not lost. There were great ‘give-aways’ and everyone went home with one, if not several, beautiful additions to their growing mineral collections.

Veteran rockhound Rex Nelson led the October field trip to a couple of pegmatite sites in the Petaca Mining District northwest of Ojo Caliente, NM. Thirty AGMC members made the scenic drive to the rendezvous point in the little town of La Madera. We shared a look at some mineral samples and then made the short caravan to the Globe Mine. The road was a rocky in spots and we skirted off road some to avoid what Rex called "the puddle," which would likely keep any vehicle that ventured into its muddy depths. The weather was sunny and very mild, perfect for the group who quickly took to the dumps searching for mangano- and ferrocolumbite, monazite and muscovite. Some fine specimens were located before we broke for lunch and organized everyone for our next spot, the Coats Mine.

The Coats location required some carpooling into higher clearance vehicles. We drove through the village of Petaca and up the road a short ways before we turned into what Rex called "the hole." It wasn't as bad as it sounded, but did require the clearance. Similar minerals were located at the Coats but it is also noted for manganocolumbite, biotite, spessartine garnet, and apatite or beryl.

The group slowly wound up their collecting started leaving around 3:00 p.m. A big AGMC THANK YOU to Rex Nelson!

The field trip to the Blanchard Mine will be the Saturday prior to Thanksgiving. We will meet at 9:00 a.m. on the road adjacent to the rock shop in Bingham (about two hours and 120 miles SE of Albuquerque on US-380) and proceed as a group to the mine. There will no collecting underground but I will give a tour of the Sunshine #3 adit to those who have not had an opportunity to see the underground workings.

Those going underground will need a hard hat and lighting.

Passenger cars can make it to the pad but high clearance and/or 4-wheel drive will be required to make it up the hill to the mine. Safety is paramount and long-sleeved shirts, pants, boots and safety glasses are recommended, particularly for children. Children must be closely supervised due to the inherent dangers of mining areas. There are no facilities or water at the mine, so be forewarned. Due to increasing concern over liability, there will be no underground collecting this year.

You will need hard rock mining tools (hammers, chisels, etc.) to collect at the Blanchard mine. Beautiful specimens of fluorite, galena and barite are readily collectable and uncommon minerals such as linarite, brochantite, wulfenite, cerussite and many other rare minerals can also be found. Be sure to bring a hand lens to look for fascinating micro minerals. See you at Bingham on the 19th of November.

The trip will take us to Baker Ranch geode claim south of Deming, New Mexico, on January 21, 2012. We will be collecting geodes and/or thundereggs (nodules) that are filled with a brown agate surrounded by layers of banded light brown agate. When cut and polished, the specimens are very pretty. If you dig and get dirty, you will find nodules. We suggest you bring a rake or a hoe to move dirt.

Preceding the trip to Baker Ranch, we will meet in the southeast corner of Wal-Mart in Deming at 8:15 am. Wal-Mart is on Pine Street east of the highway that comes from Hatch to Deming and intersects with Pine Street (also Hwy. 70) at the first traffic light in downtown Deming. We will leave the parking lot at 8:30 a.m. and caravan to the Geode Kid’s house/office to examine nodules that they have dug, cut and polished. These nodules are for sale, and I suggest you pick out your favorite and work out a purchase agreement with the owners, who also have the claim to Baker Ranch and are letting us dig there. We will then caravan to Baker Ranch to dig for nodules. The drive is about 45 minutes. We will be the last to leave at 4:00 p.m., or sooner depending on the last other folks to leave. While we are not concerned about security, we do not want to be there alone. We will see many Border Patrol agents and probably sheriff's deputies. The drive back to Deming is 45 minutes to 1 hour. The first 4-5 miles are slow because of sharp rocks. We have ruined a tire on our truck there. The road does not require four-wheel drive or high clearance. There will be fences on the way in which will be closed, and the last vehicle in the caravan will need to close the gates. The same applies as you leave. The western rule is leave the gates as you find them. You may leave at any time throughout the day if you know the way back to Deming.

We will dig in the claim dump, NOT in the excavation. If anyone tries to dig in the excavation, he/she will be told to leave. This is a condition of digging there.

We are staying at the La Quinta on the east side of Deming. There are many motels in Deming. The restaurants we like are both on Pine Street, 1 block east of Gold Street. They are (Mexican) Si Señor, and (Italian) Palma’s Italian.

On Friday, if you go early enough, or Sunday, I suggest you visit the Deming Luna Mimbres Museum, 301 South Silver Street in Deming. It has some very nice mineral specimens and other good displays.

According to ancient American legend, when the thunder spirits living in the high recesses of snow-capped Mt. Hood and Mt. Jefferson became angry with one another, amid violent thunder and lightning storms, they would hurl these spherical rocks at one another. The hostile gods obtained these weapons by stealing eggs from the thunderbirds’ nests, thus the source of the name "Thunderegg".

If ever in Hillsborough, this museum is a must to visit. They have wonderful specimens to view, including the Alma Rose.

The thunderegg is not just a rock. It is a structure, sometimes a nodule and sometimes a geode. It occurs in rhyolite, welded tuff, or perlitic rocks. Scientists do not agree on the process forming thundereggs. Some believe the characteristic and unique internal pattern of the typical thunderegg is due to expansion and rupture of rock by gasses. Others suggest the pattern is due to desiccation (drying) of a colloid or gel. Whichever theory is correct, after the cavity contained within the egg is formed, further development is extremely variable in the amount of time needed to complete the egg.

Typically an egg has a russet colored outer shell that is often knobby and has a characteristic ribbed pattern. Frequently the inside of the outer shell has a relatively thin intermediate or transitional lining. The center of the egg is usually filled with agate, opal, or jasper. In some variations, the egg may be hollow or have a thin layer of chalcedony (agate) coating the interior.

November 1976 News Nuggets

(From The Mineralogist, August 1946)

The majority of mineral collectors and even the laymen are familiar with the many examples of replacement ("petrified") of wood by one of the varieties of quartz, including chalcedony, agate, jasper, and opal. Some of these are often very colorful, and in some instances entire forests are turned to "stone" in this manner.

But there are a good many other minerals which have also been noted as a replacement of wood including aragonite, calcite, cinnabar, chalcocite, chalcopyrite, chlorite, dolomite, barite, azurite, malachite, sulphur, pyrite, marcasite, fluorite, gypsum, phosphorite, hematite, limonite, siderite, galena, sphalerite, and talc. How many of these have you represented in your collection, and do you have any examples not in this list?

Native copper might be included in this list, for in copper mines the wood used for timbering often becomes heavily impregnated with copper, deposited by the circulating waters of the mine. But this should probably be more properly called an impregnation rather than a replacement.

At a number of localities in the west fine examples of "casts" after wood are encountered in the great lava flows, the wood having become trapped in the lava, thus forming a cast. These, however, are not looked upon as true replacements, in the sense that silica in solution replaces wood.

Compiled, selected and annotated by Dave Moats, AGMC Historian

All memberships expire December 31st. Dues are still only $20 per household for 2012.

The membership form is in this newsletter as well as on our web site. You can print a copy and fill it out ahead of time to renew at the general meeting or mail it to: AGMC, PO Box 13718, Albuquerque, NM 87192-3718.

PLEASE: We need ALL THE INFORMATION on the form filled in for insurance and/or club purposes. Even if you filled out ALL THE INFORMATION last year.

______________________________________

This is the last News Nuggets for 2011. We don't publish in December, nor do we have a standard general meeting or a field trip.

This big event is cleverly scheduled almost exactly half way between Thanksgiving and Christmas on December 10th so we get three big feeds in a period of a month. Yahoo, I like food.

Everyone should expect to have a great time at the new location for our annual Potluck and Celebration. Gwen Poe suggests bringing a guest, and don’t forget to bring something nice for the silent auction and your special seasonal treats!

Every year the December general meeting is a potluck dinner with a silent auction.

The club provides the main course (usually barbecue and a ham), dessert, drinks and decorations. The membership brings a potluck dish to share, your own table settings and a white elephant for the silent auction. This can be anything (doesn't have to be a mineral or lapidary related item). This is how we rent the hall, buy the food, etc.

Special needs: help to make calls, do decorations, staff the auction and set up for the evening. Please join in the preparations. Call Jay Penn to offer a helping hand, 883-4195.

We have the room from 5 - 10 p.m. We must set up and completely clean up after ourselves. Here is the schedule:

Start setting up 5:00 p.m.

Start serving food 6:00 p.m.

Start Silent Auction 6:00 p.m.

Scholarship presentation 7:00 p.m.

Install 2011 officers 7:15 p.m.

Silent Auction ends 8:00 p.m.

Pay for what you won 8:00 p.m.

Start cleanup 8:30 p.m.

Out by 10:00 p.m.

Free pile of rocks: Take a few or many. This is medium to low grade lapidary material plus an assortment of stuff I cleaned out of my rock garden. Much of it is suitable for tumbling. Come pick through it on Sunday Nov 27, 10:00am - 4:00pm. Or make an appointment for after that date.

Sale or Trade: Brand new Indian Jewelers Supply Tomahawx diamond saw blade, 6" dia., .012" thick, with 1/2" arbor hole. They sell for $35. I'm asking $20. Or I'll trade for most anything lapidary related.

Tile saw, good for cutting agates, rocks, geodes, and trimming slabs. On stand, waist-high, water cooled, 10-12" blade. Good condition, $150.00.

Well-known New Mexican round hounder Calvin Webb is moving to Whitman, AZ -- along with his huge rock collection. He'll spend winters in Arizona and summers in Pagosa Springs. He has rocks for sale at a consignment store in Farmington and at a gift shop in Pagosa Springs. He'll also be selling out of his home in Whitman. He says he's pleased to be escaping from the snow and that there is great rock hunting in and around Whitman.

You can stay in touch with Calvin on e-mail. His address is Calviothebald@gmail.com.

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

19-20—PAYSON, AZ: 14th annual show; Payson Rimstones Rock Club; Mazatzal Hotel & Casino Event Center, Bingo Hall, Tonto Apache Reservation; adults $3, children under 12 free; gems, minerals, fossils, lapidary equipment, education center, spinning wheel, silent auction; contact Margaret Jones, (928) 476-3513 or (928) 970-0857

26-27—WICKENBURG, AZ: 11th annual show, "WOWW Gem Fair"; Wickenburg Gem & Mineral Society; Wickenburg community Center, 160 N. Valentine St.; free admission; Sat. 9-5, Sun. 9-5; more than 40 dealers, gems, minerals, jewelry, door prizes, grab bags, spinning wheels, raffle; contact Beth, (480) 540-2318 or (928) 684-0380

2-4—EL PASO, TX: Annual show; El Paso Mineral & Gem Society; El Maida Auditorium, 6331 Alabama; Fri. 10-6, Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5; adults $3, seniors $2, students $3, children (under 12) free; gems, minerals, fossils, beads, jewelry, tools, books, equipment, geode cutting, silent auction, demonstrations; contact Jeannette Carrillo, 4100 Alameda Ave., El Paso, TX 79905, (915) 533-7153; e-mail: gemcenter@aol.com; Web site: epmgs.com

9-11—LONGMONT, CO: Annual show; Flatirons Mineral Club; Boulder County Fairgrounds Exhibit Bldg., 9595 Nelson Rd. (at Hover); Fri. 10-6, Sat. 9-6, Sun. 10-5; $3 Fri., $5 Sat. or Sun., children under 13 free with adult; 16 dealers, gems, rocks, minerals, jewelry, lapidary equipment, exhibits, demonstrations, kids’ gold panning, scavenger hunt, mineral identification game, dig site; contact Ray Gilbert, Flatirons Mineral Club, PO Box 3331, Boulder, CO 80307, (303) 774-8468; e-mail: HOSS1ONE@cs.com; Web site: http://bcn.boulder.co.us/community/fmc/fmcshow.htm

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 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 found in the Hansonburg District of NM. This year I’ll work on minerals from the Harding (pegmatite) mine and area.

This month’s MM is an uncommon orthorhombic mineral (but material in the Harding is never shows crystal faces). It can be found in certain hydrothermal veins and in certain pegmatites. It shows distinct to good cleavage but only in microscopic grains. It is transparent to translucent with a vitreous to pearly to waxy to dull to earthy luster. The luster decreases as the material goes from coarse to fibrous to scaly. The color can be yellow (Harding) to brown, greenish, green-grey, grey or black - . It has a gray streak. Sp. Gr. measured 6.7 to 7.4, calculated 8.15; H = 2.5 to 3.5.

What is the name of the mineral?

What is the origin of the name?

What metals does it contain?

What non-metals does it contain?

What is the name of the other end of the series?

What rare metal does it contain?

What elements are more abundant in the black grains at the Harding?

What other minerals might occur with it?

What is it mined and used for?

Do you have some in your collection?

What is the name of the mineral? Spessartine

What is the origin of the name? Named after its type locality in the Spessart Mts, Germany.

Where is the type locality (place where first found)? Named after its type locality in the Spessart Mts, Germany.

What metals does it contain? Manganese (Mn), aluminum (Al), and silicon (Si); FYI most spessartine has a minor amount of iron (Fe) in it.

What non-metals does it contain? Oxygen (O)

What other minerals might occur with it? The common pegmatite minerals (quartz, K-spar, albite, muscovite, lepidolite, etc.). At the Harding it is also found in the rocks just outside the vein so we need to add biotite, bityite, and epidote.

What other mineral might it easily be confused with? Almandine – the iron analog. The spessartines inside the chill zone have very little iron – about 3% and they are pink in color. Spessartines in the amphibolite host rock carry about 6% iron and are much redder.

What is it mined and used for? Specimens

Do you have some in your collection? Yep, both kinds.

List some famous localities

In NM – Harding Pegmatite, Grants rhyolite (50-50 spessartine and almandine)

In the USA – AZ, CA, CO, CT, MA, UT

In the World – Afgahanistan, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Madagascar, Namibia, Pakistan, Russia, South Africa, Sweden, Tanzania

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 or Earlene at earlene@communityofjoy.com 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.

This is your club membership form. Please include all the names to be included in your Household Membership. This information is required by the Rocky Mountain Federation of Mineralogical Societies, RMFMS, for insurance and dues purposes.

Annual dues are $20.00 per household. Please complete all the information below.

New members joining in July or August pay dues of $10.00 for the rest of the year.

If you join September through December you can pay dues of $10.00 for the rest of the current year, OR pay $20.00 in dues which will pay you through December of the following year.

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