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.

Warning, Warning, the general meeting is the 4th Monday not the last Monday. We have 5 Mondays this month!!

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At the September meeting someone told me he still wasn't receiving his News Nuggets since he joined in March. I have the correct address in my computer. This is unacceptable. I sent him an email the next day and he received it.

If there is anyone else not receiving a News Nuggets, please let me know.

The deadline for News Nuggets articles is the second Monday of the month. The newsletter is emailed that evening. If you don't get your emailed newsletter by Wednesday, give me a call. It's sent out this early in the month so it can be printed and mailed by Friday. Hopefully, the snail mailed newsletters are getting to members by the 3rd Monday or a day or two later.

I really want to know if you aren't getting the newsletter. If there is a problem, I need to get it corrected. Be sure our email address is in your computers' address book. Thanks.

Amy Penn

Editor's note: Obviously anyone not getting the Nuggets isn't going to see this message. If you hear of anyone please pass this message on.

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Just a Thank You for ALL the wonderful, precious, diverse donations made to our September Silent Auction. It was a great success and every item was carried off by some smiling bargain hunter. Thank You.

Amy Penn

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If anyone has club property in their possession, please let me know soon. I'm conducting the year end count. Thanks.

Amy Penn

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The nomination committee has offered up the following people for elected positions on next year's board of directors.

President - Suzanne Seymour

Co-VPs Programs - Marcus Price

Anita Willard

Co-VPs Field Trips - Rex Nelson

Grant Kuck

Secretary - Janey Johnson

Treasury - Amy Penn

Memberships - Robert Lobato

Editor - Jay Penn

This slate will be presented to the membership at the October general meeting at which time any additional nominations will be accepted from the floor.

Voting will be at the November general meeting.

Rocks and Stuff along the Turquoise Trail, a General Geology Field Trip

led by Paul Hlava

This is a road trip with a lot of arm waving that will take us past a number of different kinds of rocks and mines. We’ll start with stops in Tijeras Canyon to look at Precambrian gneisses and granites, Permian red beds, and younger lamprophyre dikes. Then up highway 14 past various sedimentary rock exposures and a stop at the old gypsum (alabaster) quarry. On past more sedimentary rocks and a number of igneous rock intrusive complexes, with stops here and there to look at and/or collect some rocks and more arm waving. One of my favorite stops is a few miles south of Madrid where we might see/collect some fossils (Inoceramus clams) in metamorphic rock! We will pass through Madrid and Cerrillos, doing some arm waving at various features (gold mines, angular unconformity, overturned bedding, etc). I plan a stop in Cerrillos at (club members) Todd & Pat Brown’s "Casa Grande Trading Post" were we can restock provisions, get a cabbing demo from Todd, use the outhouse, and purchase a few curiosities of natural or cultural interest. Going further north, we will turn off 14 onto CR45 and take that short cut over to the La Cienega entrance to I-25. On CR45 we will stop to look at a volcanic neck (dacite), a famous turquoise mine (the Tiffany Mine – but we can’t go in - SORRY), goggle at the movie ranch in the distance, and collect cobbles of limburgite from a lava flow. The trip officially ends at the limburgite but I will lead you to the Cienega intersection. From here you can go south and back home or north and tour a bit of Santa Fe and maybe have dinner there before returning.

We will meet at the Einstein’s Bagels/Starbucks area of Four Hills Shopping Center and plan to leave there at 9:00 AM. Take it easy on the coffee, as there are few, if any, potty stops. It would be nice to car pool, as some of the stops have limited parking. Besides, you can visit more. Bring reasonable clothing for the weather: we won’t be doing any clambering over rocks so casual street clothes are OK. You can even wear normal shoes. Water and light snacks will get you through the day. The trip will end about 2 to 3 PM.

Questions? hpf5@qwest.net or 255-5478

Paul Hlava

Note: some suggested items to bring along include geology pick or a reasonable substitute, small collecting bag, a loupe, and a pencil and paper for those who desire to take notes. 

Rex and Grant

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Sedimentary rocks

Bring your test kit, journal, and favorite specimen to share.

Questions? Contact Jim Hill or Earlene Shroyer

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This month's talk is, "Discovery and History of Magdalena's Famed Kelly and Graphic-Waldo Mines," by Bob Eveleth. Bob is the senior mining engineer at the Bureau of Geology at New Mexico Tech and his talk is the result of years of research into the mining history of the region.

Beginning with the arrival of Col. John S. "Old Hutch" Hutchason and his prospecting entourage in late 1866, the true story of the Magdalena Mining District has never been completely told. Many of the pioneer prospectors were men who were destined to become pillars of New Mexico society - judges, newspaper editors and publishers, educations, leading politicians, and even a governor.

Some of the many paradoxes of the Magdalena district will be discussed as well. For example, most are unaware that the Magdalena Mining District was originally known by another name; ditto for how the Kelly Mine and the town acquired its name; and the monumental discovery in the Graphic Mine in 1904. The truth is far different than the widely published versions. Perhaps the biggest mystery of all is about Old Hutch himself, who is considered to be the "father" of the Magdalena district. When did he die and where is he buried? No obituary for Hutchason has ever been found.

The talk will conclude with a brief full-color slide show of the mineralogical treasures of the Kelly and Graphic mines. Whether your ancestors worked in the Kelly mines or you are a casual history buff, the presentation is guaranteed to be interesting, exciting and rich in regional mining history.

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Details at the October Junior Club meeting. (See above)

Questions? Contact Jim Hill or Earlene Shroyer

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 12 noon. Submit to editor.

Hint: This is an excellent place to post a need for a ride to field trips and other club events. Or, to offer rides to help cover fuel expenses.

Wanted: Rider(s) to/from mineral symposium in Socorro. Going 11/9 noonish, returning 11/11 late afternoon. Can take 2. Share fuel cost. Jay Penn, 883-4195

Wanted: 12 lb rotary tumbler and/or 12 lb barrel for tumbler. Prefer Lortone. Will consider larger and/or other brands. Also need grit for same. Jay Penn, 883-4195

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

I might change my mind tomorrow.

I saw an article about large diamonds being discovered in Lesotho Africa. It said that a 494 carat (the world's 18th largest) was recently found and will be auctioned in Belgium. A 603 carat stone from the same mine last year sold for $12.3M. A 215 carat flawless found in January sold for $8.3M.

Soooooo, what is our problem? How can we let a small country in Africa that few people have even heard of, out do us? I say we get out and show them what we're all about here in New Mexico. This is a big state and I'm sure we've got some bigger diamonds.

Let's go find us some world class minerals, (no sense limiting ourselves to only diamonds). Sure, we've got Bingham as a world class collecting location for several minerals but I don't see any of those making it into 3" long articles on the back pages of the news paper.

We've got to do better. After all we're the Albuquerque Gem and Mineral Club for gosh sakes.

The article went on to say that Lesotho is "ravaged by high unemployment, poverty and AIDS". Hmmmmm, maybe we're better off without the diamonds.

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Michael and Janey Johnson share a field trip they made, without the club.

Can they do that????

Day 1 We went to the Rice Museum of Rocks and Minerals, located just west of Hillsborough, Oregon, which specializes on Oregon material. The premier exhibition was the Alma Rose taken from the Sweet Home Mine in Colorado. The Rice family purchased this and the Alma King for $1M in the early 1990s. The Rose was magnificent and will be on display at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show in 2008. There were many other specimens on display, including opal, jasper, agate, and others. If you are in the area, it is well worth the trip to view the museum.

Day 2 Traveled to McDermitt, Nevada, to meet our friends (Rupps and Alricks) from Tucson.

Day 3 We went into southern Oregon and collected superb petrified wood that has many colors, including red, blue, yellow, green, olive, and brown. There are many fractures, so it was difficult to get pieces suitable for cutting, but we did find lots. We continued collecting petrified wood and moved to another area to collect wonderstone and something that is called "chicken tracks" because it has patterns on the top that resemble chicken tracks. This is just a novelty, but a few yard rocks spur discussion.

Day 4 We went back to a different area in Oregon and collected some interesting jasper that is red, blue and yellow. We then moved to another area and collected purple cow agate. Janey remarked that it is called that because the first person to find it said, "Holy cow, it is purple." In the same area, we found and collected opalized wood that is yellow, brown, black and white. With this, we finished at McDermitt.

Day 5 We traveled to Caldwell, Idaho. This was a down day because we had to reorganize our trucks to make room for rocks, and we had laundry to do.

Day 6 We crossed the Snake River back into Oregon and went to a private claim to collect blue opal, which is found in geodes. This material is a bright blue and is very pretty. We found a nice amount in the tailings. Our only restriction (from the owners) is not to sell the opal. It is sold by the carat at Tucson and is gem grade quality.

Day 7 We traveled to another claim, by the same owners, and collected many pounds of gorgeous picture jasper. We do not have the restriction to not sell this. We did not have to dig for this, so we went to Graveyard Point in the afternoon and collected some very nice plume agate.

Day 8 We traveled to Prineville, Oregon. This was about a 7 hour drive, which meant no collection.

Day 9 We traveled to the Lucky Strike Claim and collected gorgeous thunder eggs filled with carnelian agate. The geodes varied in size, and the largest we got was about 10 inches in diameter. There were some that were 15-16 inches in diameter, but we did not find those. The eggs sold for $1/pound. We also purchased Blue Mountain agate which comes from another claim in Oregon.

Day 10 We traveled to Richardson’s Ranch and collected thunder eggs. These geodes are filled with Priday agate. These sell for 75 cents per pound.

Day 11 Said goodbye to our friends, the Alricks, and traveled back to Caldwell starting home. Stopped at Glass Butte (Oregon), and collected some very nice pieces of rainbow and mahogany obsidian.

Day 12 Said goodbye to our friends, the Rupps. Traveled to Moab, and spent one day looking for Dubinque agate and found a few nice pieces. Also found gizzard rocks from dinosaurs and some dinosaur bone. This was the end of a very successful rock-hounding trip for all of us. We look forward to cutting our rocks and showing the pieces to others. We will begin planning our trip for next September.

NOTE: If any club members want more information on locations, contact us at michaeljaney@aol.com.

Submitted by Michael and Janey Johnson

Friday the 28th of September was a windy and rainy night that made some people wonder if the AGMC field trip would take place as planned. But come Saturday morning the sun came out and 16 people gathered at the Chevron Mining Company headquarters in Questa. Our tour guide and chaperone for the trip was Bruce Walker, a knowledgeable geologist and an expert on the mine. During the course of our field trip Bruce took us to two different open pits where we saw geological features like alteration scars, ore body subsidence areas and a collapsed glory hole. Bruce also brought along a geological map of the Questa Valley that runs to Red River and talked about the mineralization answering club member's questions.

Because of threatening weather conditions Bruce moved us onto the collection pile earlier so the club members would have time to do a little collecting before the rains hit. The good news is that despite the threatening clouds the rain never came and we had a wonderful afternoon looking for minerals on the dump. In route to the collecting site our caravan was joined by 2 more club members bringing our total number to 18. The dump was relatively fresh with new material and the club was the first to have access to it.

The minerals that were collected by AGMC members include molybdenite, beryl, quartz, biotite, chalcopyrite, pyrite, fluorite, calcite, and feldspar. Ray DeMark found a complete fluorite crystal in a vug as well as a crystal of apatite in another vug. Rex Nelson, Bill Barr, and myself found some nice Anhydrite specimens. Charlie Shroyer,

Earlene's young son managed to break his hammer on the rock pile but he also found a pyrargyrite specimen that had replaced a feldspar phenocryst. It is not known at this time whether any members discovered celestite crystals. There were a number of mineral specimens with vugs in them and some of the crystals were just too small to really identify out in the field without a microscope.

Unfortunately during the course of this trip a number of people decided to leave the group without informing either of the Field Trip Coordinators, Rex Nelson, or myself, Grant Kuck. As we were on the Chevron Mining Company's property being escorted by their representative, Bruce Walker, it made the club look bad. This is exactly the kind of behavior that can cause the club to be banned from the Questa Molybdenum Mine. When we enter a secure area in a group we stay in a group until we leave and we all leave together. Rex and I apologized to Bruce and told him it would not happen again.

Grant & Rex

Oct 20,Turquoise Trail Geological Tour

Nov 24, Blanchard Mine at Bingham

Dec 8, Potluck Christmas Party

Questions? Contact Grant Kuck or Rex Nelson

Blanchard Mine, Bingham, NM

November 24th, 2007

For the month of November we are heading south to the Blanchard Mine group near Bingham, New Mexico. We will meet at 9:00 am on the dirt road just east of the rock shop on U.S. 380 in the "town" of Bingham.

In order to do some successful collecting you will need hard rock mining tools (hammers, chisels, pry bars, etc). You also need safety glasses along with long sleeve shirts and pants, please wear boots!

There may be an opportunity to collect underground, so if you desire to collect underground, you will need lights and a hard hat.

The Blanchard mines have produced world class specimens of fluorite and linarite along with a number of rare minerals including spangolite, brochantite, cyanotrichite just to name a few! This area is generally considered one of the finest collecting localities in the U.S.!

To reach the mine, take I-25 south to U.S. 380 (8 miles south of Socorro), then east on U.S. 380 for approximately 30 miles to Bingham. The drive time from Albuquerque is about 2 hours. More details will be available in the November News Nuggets.

Hope to see you there!

Grant and Rex

Here are events located in NM, TX, OK, CO, UT, and AZ for as far ahead as there is space available. You can get more comprehensive lists at: www.rockngem.com/showdates.asp

www.lapidaryjournal.com/cal1.cfm

Oct. 12-14--Moab, UT: Show; Moab Points and Pebbles Club; Spanish Trail Arena, 3641 S. Hwy. 191; Fri. 10-7, Sat. 10-7, Sun. 10-4; free admission; daily field trips, door prizes, demonstrators, displays; contact Judy Martin, P.O. Box 1459, Moab, UT 84532, (435) 259-2762; e-mail: judymrtn@yahoo.com; Web site: www.moabrockclub.com.

Oct. 13-14--Dallas, TX: Show, "North Texas Earth Science Fair"; North Texas Earth Science Association; Brookhaven College, EMGI Center, 3939 Valley View Ln.; Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-5; free admission; dealers, exhibits, minerals, fossils, jewelry, gems, free arrowhead for Scouts, teacher outreach, raffle, Geocash, mineral and fossil identification; contact Nick Theis, 1507 Brisbane Ln., Carrollton, TX 75007, (972) 242-2634; e-mail: n2theis@gmail.com.

Oct. 13-14--Payson, AZ: Show; Payson Rimstones Rock Club; Tonto Apache Reservation Recreation Center, Hwy. 87, mile marker 251, by the Mazatzal Casino; Sat. 9-5, Sun. 10-4; adults $3, children under 12 free with adult; display and sales of gems, minerals, fossils, fluorescents, jewelry, lapidary supplies, silent auctions, door prizes, education/kids' corner, spinning wheel, fossil activities; contact Jo McKenzie, (928) 474-4452;

e-mail: rocks2007@earthlink.net.

Oct. 13-14--Sierra Vista, AZ: Show, "A Rock Rustler's Dream"; Huachuca Mineral & Gem Club; Elks Lodge, 1 Elks Ln.; Sat. 9-6, Sun. 9-4; free admission; live demonstrations, educational displays, field trips, dealers, gems, jewelry, fossils, equipment, lapidary supplies; contact Bill Jaeger, P.O. Box 1596, Sierra Vista, AZ 85636, (520) 803-6590; e-mail: billjaeger@hotmail.com.

Oct. 13-14--Temple, TX: 38th show; Tri-City Gem & Mineral Society; Mayborn Civic & Convention Center, 3303 N. 3rd St.; Sat. 9-6, Sun. 10-5; contact Les Connally, (254) 939-7015.

20-21--Amarillo, TX: Annual show; Golden Spread Gem & Mineral Society; Amarillo Civic Center, downtown; Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5; jewelry, gems, minerals, fossils; contact Dee Hawkins, (806) 372-3949.

Oct. 26-29, Live Oak, TX - San Antonio Bead Renaissance Show. Live Oak Civic Center, 8101 Pat Booker Rd. 26th-27th, 10-6; 28th, 10-5. J & J Promotions L.L.C., 505-894-1293, fax 505-894-4080, info@beadshow.com, www.beadshow.com.

Oct. 26-28--Salt Lake City, UT: Show, "Fall Festival of Gems"; Wasatch Gem Society; Utah State Fair Park, 155 North, 1000 West; Fri. 10-6, Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5; adults $2, Scouts and leaders in unifrom free, children under 12 free; contact Paul W. Cooper, 10821 Melissa Kaye Dr., Sandy, UT 84070, (801) 501-0559; e-mail: ppwcooper@msn. com; Web site: www.wasatchgemsociety.com.

Oct. 27-28--Sedona, AZ: Annual show; Sedona Gem & Mineral Club; Sedona Red Rock High School, Hwy. 89A and Upper Red Rock Loop Rd.; Sat. 10-5, Sun 10-4; free admission; dealers, rocks, gems, crystals, jewelry, fossils, petrified wood, lapidary equipment, rough rock, displays, demonstrations, raffle, kids? corner; contact Pat McMahan, (928) 634-2404, or Linda Yee, (928) 203-9476; Web site: www.sedonagemandmineral.

2-4--Black Canyon City, AZ: Show, "Rock-A-Rama"; Braggin' Rock Club; Albins Civic Center, 19055 E. K-Mine Rd.; Fri. 9-4, Sat. 9-4, Sun. 9-4; free admission; mineral displays, raffles, dealers; contact Don Ingalls, P.O. Box 308, Black Canyon City, AZ 85324, (623) 374-5344.

2-4--Golden, CO: 2nd show; Denver Area Mineral Dealers; Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 15200 W 6th Ave.; Fri. 10-6, Sat. 10-6, Sun. 11-4; free admission; 12 dealers, minerals, fossils, jewelry, gems, gem rough; contact Dan Unruh, (303) 986-3647; e-mail: bunruh@champmail.com.

2-4--Round Rock, TX: 17th annual show, "Fossil Fest 2007"; Paleontological Society of Austin; Old Settler's Park, Hwy. 79, next to the Dell Diamond; Fri. 9-5, Sat. 9-5, Sun. 9-4; adults $1, children under 6 free; displays, demonstrations, hands-on fossils, dealers, spinning wheel, door prizes; contact Linda J. McCall, (512) 422-2322; Web site: www.texaspaleo.com.

2-4--Tulsa, OK: Bead Renaissance Show; J&J Promotions LLC; Expo Square, Trade Center, 4145 S. 21st St.; Fri. 10-6, Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5; free admission; contact J&J Promotions LLC, P.O. Box 420, Williamsburg, NM 87942, (505) 894-1293; e-mail: info@beadshow.com; Web site: www.beadshow.com.

3-4--Oklahoma City, OK: Show, "Discover Treasures of the Earth"; Oklahoma Mineral & Gem Society; Modern Living Bldg., State Fair Park, NW 10th and May Ave.; Sat. 10-6; Sun. 10-5; adults $5.50, children 12 and under free with adult; demonstrations of beading, faceting, cabochon making, sphere making, silversmithing, wire jewelry making; contact Arlene Burkhalter, 1267 Kingbird Ln., Choctaw, OK 73020, (405) 732-0808; e-mail: maburkhalter@cox.net; Web site: omgs.org.

3--Tucon, AZ: 6th annual silent auction; Old Pueblo Lapidary Club; 3118 N. Dale; Sat. 9-2; free admission; contact Danny Harmsen, (520) 323-9154.

3-4--Midland, TX: 45th annual show; Midland Gem & Mineral Society; Midland Center, 105 N. Main St., corner of Wall and Main; Sat. 9-6, Sun. 10-5; dealers, live demonstrations, exhibits, silent auction, kids' corner, geode cutting, fluorescent mineral room; contact Sharon Musselman, P.O. Box 2881, Midland, TX 79702, (432) 687-2177; e-mail: mgms@mgms-tx.com; Web site: www.mgms-tx.com.

16-18--Albuquerque, NM: Bead Renaissance Show; J&J Promotions LLC; New Mexico State Fairgrounds, 300 San Pedro; Fri. 10-6, Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5; free admission; contact J&J Promotions LLC, P.O. Box 420, Williamsburg, NM 87942, (505) 894-1293; e-mail: info@beadshow.com; Web site: www.beadshow.com.

17-18--Mesquite, TX: Show; Dallas Gem & Mineral Society; Resistol Arena Exhibition Hall, 1818 Rodeo Dr., LBJ Expwy. Exit 4; Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5; adults $8, children $3; Scout badge training, kids' mine, door prizes, silent auctions, grand prize drawing, educational displays; contact Mike Russell, Dallas Gem & Mineral Society, P.O. Box 742033, Dallas, TX 75374, (214) 906-8834; e-mail: twinman72@yahoo.com; Web site: www.dallasgemandmineralshow.com.

23-25--Scottsdale, AZ: Show; Gem Faire Inc.; WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Rd.; Fri. 12-7, Sat. 10-7, Sun. 10-5; weekend pass $5; contact (503) 252-8300; e-mail: info@gemfaire.com; Web site: www.gemfaire.com.

24-25--Wickenburg, AZ: Show, "Way Out Wickenburg Way Gem and Art Show"; Wickenburg Gem & Mineral Club; Wickenburg Community Center, 160 N. Valentine St.; Sat. 9-4, Sun. 9-4; adults $3; door prizes, grab bags, silent auction; contact Lucille Burroughs, 481 America St., Wickenburg, AZ 85390, (928) 684-0099; e-mail: gnlu@w3az.net.

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 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. 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 geographic localities. This year I thought I’d concentrate on minerals named for some physical property that they possess.

This month’s MM is a rare halide with a very low index of refraction found in pegmatite veins. It is monoclinic but it has no cleavage (It can have parting yielding cuboidal forms), usually white but can be clear, gray, reddish brown or brownish black, vitreous to greasy but rarely pearly, Sp. Gr = 2.97, H = 2.5, transparent to translucent.

What is the name of the mineral?

What is the origin of the name?

What is/was it mined/used for?

What happens when a clear piece is immersed in water?

Do you have some in your collection?

In NM –

In the USA –

In the world –

What is the name of the mineral? Cylindrite

What is the origin of the name? The shape of the mineral (rolled sheets).

What is it mined/used for? Tin and maybe byproduct antimony.

What metallic element(s) is(are) present? Tin, lead, and iron.

Which metal is most important and what is it used for? Tin by far. It is used in a number of low melting alloys and bronze, protective coatings (tin cans), making of float glass, electrically conductive coatings on glass for panel lighting and frost-free windshields, a tin-niobium alloy is superconducting.

Besides sulfur what other non-metallic or semimetallic elements are present? Antimony

What is this element used for? Lead alloys - lots of uses, batteries, ammo, cable sheathing, also some compounds used as flame retardants, paints, enamels, glass, pottery.

Do you have some in your collection? No.

In NM – none. In the USA – none

In the world – BOLIVIA, Argentina, Russia, Ukraine

Paul Hlava

October 3, 2007

NEXT MEETING: Monday, Oct 22^nd, 2007. 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.

This month's talk by Bob Eveleth is the result of years of research into the mining history of the region. Bob is the senior mining engineer at the Bureau of Geology at New Mexico Tech. The true story of the Magdalena Mining District has never been completely told. Some of the many paradoxes of the Magdalena district will be discussed as well. The talk will conclude with a brief full-color slide show of the mineralogical treasures of the Kelly and Graphic Mines. Whether your ancestors worked in the Kelly Mines or you are a casual history buff, the presentation is guaranteed to be interesting, exciting and rich in regional mining history.

Albuquerque Gem & Mineral Club

Jay Penn, Editor

PO Box 13718

Albuquerque, New Mexico 87192