october 11
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The Virgin Valley opal beds are perhaps the most famous gemstone locality in Nevada. Beautiful multi-hued opal has been formed by replacing wood or other plant material. There is a fee for digging, and the area is not open to prospecting. Bring a notebook and pen to take notes on details about collecting in this location.

OK, here's where we stand as of the last board meeting.

The bank account is in good shape.

Programs are scheduled through the end of the year and *Jane will soon start booking speakers/events for next year. If you have any ideas contact her.

The field trip schedule for 2012 is mostly complete, only the months of May, August, and September are not penciled in. If you can lead a trip, or have an idea for where we could go, call *Brian.

The TotE Show 2012 preparations are on schedule, yes we have to start working on next year's show almost as soon as this year's is over. Kevin Jarigese has agreed to act as the interface between the Rocky Mountain Federation of Mineralogical Societies (RMFMS) and the AGMC. He will let us know if we will be hosting the RMFMS convention during our show.

The news letters are still coming out even though *Bill's computer has been out of commission, how does he do that? *Earlene has been a huge help with this and all submissions should be sent to her as well as to Bill (somehow he still gets the info).

*Joyce has been working on some exciting changes to the New Member Packet, stay tuned.

Special Events, Junior Club, Secretary, Web Site, Raffle, Refreshments, and Archives are all chugging away doing great jobs.

We are sending a donation the New Mexico Mining Museum in Grants in the name of Jack Farley who went beyond the call of duty in hosting our club field trip in September.

We will soon send our yearly donation to support the New Mexico Mineral Symposium in Socorro. Nov 12 & 13.

NMTech and UNM have been contacted and are searching for the best person to receive our yearly scholarship awards.

The board approved the following slate of officers for 2012. This will be presented to the membership at the October general meeting where nominations from floor for all elected positions will be accepted. The elections will be held at the November general meeting. The installation of the 2012 Board of Directors will be at the year end pot luck/ party/ meeting/ silent auction on December 10, 2011.

President - Vacant

Treasurer - Vacant

Secretary - Bill Hoban (incumbent)

VP Programs - Jane Bardal (incumbent)

VP Field Trips - Bob Regner (new)

Membership - Joyce Kaser (incumbent)

883-4195

el.chivo.viejo@earthlink.net

President Jay Penn called the meeting to order around 7:34pm.

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

Jay announced that 50 Socorro Symposium fliers were available. Encouraging people to attend the symposium, Jay and several club members explained that many events at the Symposium were aimed at a general audience and were not overly technical. Also it was mentioned that mineral and mining artifact vendors would be available.

Bill Barr gave the field trip report on the Grants Ridge and Uranium Museum trip. He reported that the trip went well at the museum and also at the digging site where rhyolite lava and garnet specimens were seen.

Membership chair Joyce Kaser had no report tonight.

The Junior Club reported that 24+ members were present tonight. Mineral testing, especially on "mystery" minerals, was the main activity.

News Nugget editor Bill Barr thanked co-editor Earlene Shroyer for her hard work and reminded the membership that the News Nuggets is always interested in new material. Items may be e-mailed to either Bill or Earlene.

Paul Hlava reported on the TOTE show planning progress. He explained that in October 45 dealers would be invited to participate and are expected to commit soon to appearing at the show. Also, Paul explained how important the show is to AGMC and that more volunteers for next March’s show will be needed and appreciated. He reminded the members that the profits from the show fund the club’s scholarship awards and supplement the club dues allowing the dues to remain at the present affordable level.

Refreshment chairperson Cathy Lawicki reported that the 2012 refreshment sign up was available tonight. People desiring to provide snacks for a particular month are encouraged to sign up early.

Old business:

John Reinert thanked the members who volunteered for the AGMC booth at this year’s State Fair.

At next month’s general meeting, the list of candidates for the next election will be announced. People interested in the positions of club president and club treasurer are still needed.

New business:

The 2011 Christmas party will be held at the Community of Joy Church in Rio Rancho on Saturday, December 10th. Besides food there will be the presentation of this year’s scholarship awards and the silent auction. Members are encouraged to bring mineral specimens and other items to be auctioned.

Program:

The program tonight was a show-and-tell by several club members. First up was Sherry Miller showing slides and talking about the Crystal Park area of southwest Montana. She described the mineral collecting opportunities, beautiful scenery, and family activities available in this part of Montana.

Next up was Jay Penn who showed us some of his nifty collection of quartz minerals. He demonstrated some the many different appearances that polymorphs of silicon dioxide, aka quartz, may take.

Bill Barr with help from Jay Penn and Jim Hill showed us some of his favorite fluorite minerals collected from New Mexico and around the world. He utilized room lighting and long and short wave ultraviolet lights to demonstrate the different colors that these minerals can display when exposed to different wave lengths of light – pretty neat stuff.

Last, but not least, Jane Bardal talked about the recent club field trip to the wild but beautiful high country around Mt. Antero in Colorado.

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

Respectfully submitted,

Bill Hoban, AGMC Secretary

We have learned in the past that the Jr. Club meeting following EXPO NM can be a bit

chaotic with many new people joining our meeting for the first time. So the September meeting was all about our Mineral ID kits and how to use them.

At the meeting there were 24 Jr. club members (or soon to be members), half of which were Rockhounds. The kids had been asked to bring a "mystery" to the meeting to discover what it was. Tables were set up with different tests, one with a microscope, and with the assistance of the Rockhounds and using their ID kits, most of the mysteries were revealed, and many where actually fossils!

Next Jr. Club field trip is scheduled for October 16^th to the Ojito Wilderness. There is an area there - Morrison formation - where the kids will get to see and explore (but not collect) an incredible variety of ancient sea creatures. But the amazing selenite crystals that abound might be a different story….

Rex Nelson will lead the October Field Trip to the Petacta Mining District northwest of Ojo Caliente, NM (approximately 120 miles north of Albuquerque). There are two pegmatite sites, the Globe and Coats mines, which the AGMC last visited in 2007. The adits and shafts are closed but waste piles abound and occasional outcrops exist.

The general lists of minerals to be collected are as follows. Globe Mine: mangano and ferrocolumbite, monazite and muscovite. Coats Mine: manganocolumbite, monazite, fluorite, biotite, spessartine garnet, and apatite or beryl. The usual collecting tools and lots of water will be appropriate with ample paper to wrap specimens. Some shade is available but sunscreen will be needed.

We will gather at La Madera between 9:00 and 9:30 AM at the tee intersection of NM-111 and NM-519. To get to La Madera take US-285 North from Espanola to just north of Ojo Caliente and exit on NM-111. Continue on NM 111 for about 5 to 6 miles to La Madera. Allow about 2.5 hours for the drive from Albuquerque.

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 200 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.

There is a Special Mineral Specimen and Jewelry Display at the NM Natural History Museum that is EXCEPTIONAL. The Jewelry was entered as a contest from the members of the NM Jewelers Association. This exhibit will be at the Museum through Oct. 31.

The Museum is where we hold our AGMC meetings at 1801 Mountain Rd. NW. They are open 9 am - 5pm.

Their website is: www.NMnaturalhistory.org

Museum: Adults is $7, Seniors $6, Children $4

Planetarium: Adults is $7, Seniors $6, Children $4

Dyna Theater: Adults $9, Seniors $8, Children $6

Free Admission: To the Museum (only) is on the first Sunday of every month to NM residents with ID

Free Admission: To Seniors on Wednesdays.

Adults: 13-59, Children: 3 - 12, Seniors 60+

You can also check out classes and tours that the Museum has on their website. If you haven't been there in awhile, check it out again. Find out what our State Fossil is.

April 1977 News Nuggets

On Monday, March 14, 1977, the New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources in Socorro celebrated its 50th anniversary.

The Bureau was created on March 14, 1927, by an act of the Eighth State Legislature. Its purpose was to "encourage the exploration, discovery, development, production, and conservation of the State’s mineral resources through applied research and service work." The Bureau was initially designated a "department of the School of Mines" and was appropriated a budget of $15,000. (The original "School of Mines" is now called New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, of course.)

During the first 16 years, the Bureau was staffed by faculty from the School of Mines on a part-time basis. In 1943, the first full-time personnel were hired. Then in 1945, E.C. Anderson was appointed the first full-time director.

Today the Bureau supports a staff of nearly 80 and is directed by Dr. Frank Kottlowski. The annual budget for the Bureau is now $1,041,000 in State funds, plus another $2,000,000 in grants, contracts, and service to commissions.

Just recently, the 480th technical report of the Bureau was published. Of these, 423 have been published since 1951. Plans for the annual report this year are very special – a solid black cover with a beautiful photo of a New Mexico gold specimen. It will contain numerous very interesting articles and should be available after September 1977. It will be, as always, free. The annual report this year should make an interesting souvenir marking a half-century of remarkable development and progress on behalf of the State Bureau of Mines.

Compiled, selected and annotated by Dave Moats, AGMC Historian

The New Mexico Mineral Symposium provides a forum for both professionals and amateurs interested in mineralogy. The meeting allows all to share their cumulative knowledge of mineral occurrences and provides stimulus for mineralogical studies and new mineral discoveries. In addition, the informal atmosphere allows for intimate discussions among all interested in mineralogy and associated fields.

This year's symposium will consist of a day and a half of formal papers presented in 30-minute time blocks. Papers will focus on mineral occurrences from New Mexico and adjacent states, as well as Mexico. A few selected papers may be presented from other parts of the world. An informal pre-symposium social and tailgating session will be held at local motels beginning on Friday, November 11, 2011 and will last through the weekend. No formal field trips are planned.

A silent auction, sponsored by the Albuquerque Gem and Mineral Club for the benefit of the Mineral Museum, will be held on Sunday afternoon, November 13. The auction will be open to the public and all interested may buy or sell. All sellers pay a modest fee to the club to benefit the symposium and Mineral Museum. More information will be available at the symposium.

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

15-16—GRAND JUNCTION, CO: 64th annual show; Grand Junction Gem & Mineral Club; Two Rivers Convention Center, 1st and Main; Sat. 9-6, Sun. 10-5; adults $3, children 12 and under free with parent; dealers, demonstrations, children’s corner, special attractions; contact Wayne McMackin, 191 Lumley, Grand Junction, CO 81503, (970) 640-9271; e-mail: wmcmackin@msn.com; Web site: www.grandjunctionrockclub.org

15-16— SEDONA, AZ: Annual show; Sedona Gem & Mineral Club, Sedona Red Rock High School, 995 Upper Red Rock Loop Rd.; Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4; free admission; more than 40 dealers, Kids’ Corner, guest speakers, slide shows, raffles, grand prize; contact: Gayle Macklin, PO Box 21222, Sedona, AZ 86341, (520) 921-0100; e-mail: gayleis@gmail.com; Web site: www.sedonagemandmineral.org

21-23—AUSTIN, TX: Annual show, "Gold"; Austin Gem & Mineral Society; Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Rd.; Fri. 9-5, Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5; more than 30 dealers, jewelry, beads, gems, minerals, crystals, fossils, spheres, equipment, exhibits, touch table, fluorescent minerals, member collections, silent auction, demonstrations, faceting, cabbing, fossil cleaning, polymer clay, "Youth Education Day" Fri., Gem Mine, Wheel of Fortune, Jewelry Making, door prizes, grand prize; contact Susan Postlethwait, 6719 Burnet Ln., Austin, TX 78757, (512) 458-9546; e-mail: showchariman@austingemandmineral.org; Web site: www.gemcapers.com

4-6—BLACK CANYON CITY, AZ: Annual show, "Rock-A-Rama"; Braggin Rock Club;

High Desert Park, 19001 E. Jacie Ln.; free admission; gems, rough, slabs, minerals, crystals, jewelry, equipment; contact Don, (623) Don, (623) 374-0202, or Braggin Rock Club, PO Box 308, Black Canyon City, AZ 85324

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 a somewhat uncommon isometric mineral. It can be found as nice crystals in magmatic, pegmatitic, and metamorphic rocks.. It exhibits no cleavage, fracture is sub-conchoidal. It is transparent to translucent with a vitreous luster. The color can be red, reddish orange, yellowish brown, reddish brown, or brown. It has a white streak. Sp. Gr. = 4.12 - 4.32, H = 6.5 - 7.5.

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 What is the name of the mineral? Bityite

What is the origin of the name? Named for Mt. Bity in Madagascar.

Where is the type locality (place where first found)? See above

What metals does it contain? Calcium (Ca), beryllium (Be), lithium (Li), aluminum (Al), and silicon (Si)

What metals (not in formula!) that give it its color. Oops, question left over from last month.

What non-metals does it contain? Oxyhen (O) and hydrogen (H).

What other minerals might occur with it? Other silicates that contain Li and Be plus the common pegmatite and amphibolite minerals

What other mineral might it easily be confused with? feldspar

What is it mined and used for? It is not mined, too rare.

Do you have some in your collection? Yep.

In NM – Harding

In the USA – CT – Strictland quarry, NC – Foote mine

In the World – Germany, Italy, Madagascar, Norway, Russia, and Sweden

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.