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Strata Gem February 2005
President’s Message
I'm sorry that I missed the January meeting. I want to say "thank you so much" to Ruth Smith for taking over for me. We had 14 people at the meeting.
Melva Scott has the afghans made for the show. Byron and Melva have 500 bags made for our grab bags.
Larry Higley's father passed away on December 22nd. Our hearts go out to Larry and Ardith and their family.
Let's all make sure our dues are paid. Our steak fry will be august 20th. Keep that date in mind. Hope to see you at the next meeting.
Your President, Bob Titus
Tooele Gem & Mineral Tooele Senior Citizens Center January 11th. 2005
The meeting was called to order by Vice President Ruth Smith every one was welcomed. The minutes of our last meeting were read and approved the Treasurers report was read and approved. Larry Higley's father passed away the club sent a card expressing our sympathy to him and his family.
Heinz Jockisch had surgery and he is recovering at home and doing well. Kymberly Titus is going to Washington to a youth leadership conference, it was suggested that we help by sponsoring her, a motion was made to give her one hundred and fifty dollars toward her expenses, it was seconded and passed. We will have our grab bag fill on the eighteenth of June at Jay Woods home. Henry has reserved the pavilion for our Steak Fry, it will be on August 20th. Sherri Miller won the door prize. Duane Gren will be our field trip chairman this year. Larry Wilson will bring the treats next month. The meeting was adjourned, we will see a video on the lost wax process.
Minutes submitted by Larry Wilson, Secretary
Copper - The Ancient Metal (From Mineral Information Institute, Inc. Teacher’s Helper packet via The Rockpile 4/95)
Man's first use of the earth's natural resources was in the form of grasses, trees, animals, and stone. Tools and weapons were made from wood, bone and rocks. Flint, a form of silica, was one of the first used because it is a hard, dense mineral and could be flaked into a usable shape. Obsidian, a hard glassy volcanic rock, was also used. A steel knife, today, is no sharper than an obsidian knife or spear point.
Ancient people were our first "geologists" and "miners." They not only determined which rocks were best to use, but they learned how to make them into tools, hunting spears, arrows, fishhooks and ornaments. Shaping the stone was done by flaking it with sharp blows on the edges using another stone or deer antlers.
Stone-Age people knew nothing of metal. Colorful minerals were used for decoration or for barter. When emerald-green malachite (a copper ore) or a rusty-red hematite iron ore were found, they would be ground to a powder and used as pigments to decorate the face and body. They also used these and other colorful mineral pigments to paint the walls of caves and protected coves. Today, many minerals are used for paint pigments.
Can you imagine how excited these people were when they found native copper? It could be formed into decorative shapes and tools more easily than stone by pounding it with a stone on a hard surface. This great discovery was sometime after 6000 B.C. and is known as the Copper Age.
Flaking, grinding and pounding were society's first forms of manufacturing. Therefore, earth's resources were converted for man's use! The island of Cyprus, from which the word copper is derived, was a major source of copper to the Roman empire.
Over 4,000 years ago, when it was discovered that minerals could be melted, curiosity led man to combine melted metals (alloys). By accident they made bronze by adding tin to copper (the Bronze Age). Another combination of zinc and copper made brass. Both bronze and brass are stronger than pure copper. They do not corrode in air or water. Without these combinations of minerals and man's knowledge of mining and separating them, we would not have enough copper to take care of our needs today.
When copper tarnishes, it turns green to black on the surface. Some of the biggest deposits of copper were found by accident when prospectors noticed greenish rock protruding from the ground (this is called an outcrop). Many of these discoveries were huge mountains of copper ore that also contained other important minerals.
Throughout the thousands of years since native copper was discovered, man has made great use of this element. Copper has a chemical symbol, as do all elements. It is Cu. Minerals are seldom found in a pure state. They are found bonded together with other minerals.
Copper is one of the most useful of the metals, and probably the one first used by man. It is found native and in a variety of combinations with other minerals. It is often a by-product from silver and molybdenum ores. Copper has many colors from yellowish-to-reddish brown, red, pink, blue. Green, and black. The colors are determined by the other elements (minerals) combined with the copper.
Copper is malleable, ductile, and long lasting. Copper conducts heat and electricity better than any other metal except silver. It has a wide use in electric and electronic equipment. It is used for tubing and pipes for plumbing and can be made into sheets for roofing. Copper also is used in chemical compounds. Copper chemicals are used in plant sprays and to treat swimming pools to keep algae from growing. Copper and its alloys are important for parts of automobiles, airplanes, missiles and satellites.
Recycling of copper has been ongoing for man , many years. It is collected as scrap metal and separated from other metals and materials by smelting and refining. Recycled copper is called secondary copper, and it is processed at brass mills and made into new things for our use.
Since ancient man and his use of flint and obsidian, we have learned a lot about our earth and its many resources.
Each day, scientists learn more about the mineral wealth locked in our planet's crust. More is learned about new mineral wealth being born through volcanic activity. Earthquakes sometimes take away ore deposits. And at other times earthquakes bring new mineral deposits closer to the earth's surface. Science and technology have shown us how to find, extract, process, and use mineral resources to the benefit of man. We are lucky to live in this time of history.
COPPER FACTSCopper is a native element. The crystal system of native copper is cubic. It has a metallic luster and a specific gravity of 8-9 with a hardness of 2.5-3 and can be easily scratched with a knife. Native copper has no cleavage and its fracture is hackly. This element is heavy, ductile, and malleable. Native copper is copper red on fresh fracture but may be greenish or bluish or tarnished if weathered. It is often found with small amounts of arsenic, antimony, bismuth, iron, and silver.
COPPER ORESMalachite (pronounced mala-kite) is usually a bright green color and has a non-metallic luster. It has a light green streak and can always be scratched with a knife. Malachite, a copper carbonate, is an important ore of copper and is a good indicator of copper deposits. In its pure form it contains 57% copper; the rest is made up of carbonate and water.
Azurite also is a copper carbonate. Its streak is light blue. Malachite and azurite frequently occur together and are found in the upper weathered (oxidized) zones of copper ore bodies. Azurite is the scarcer of the two and has a soft blue color.
Chalcopyrite is an iron-copper sulfide. It has a brass yellow color. It is distinguished from pyrite by being softer and yellower. Its golden glint when in small specks in quartz often is mistaken for gold. The glint will disappear when turned at certain angles to the light while gold appears the same at all angles. Chalcopyrite is the primary ore of copper and is prevalent wherever copper ore is being mined below the surface zone.
Chalcocite is a copper sulfide. It is one of the highest grade and most important ores of copper and is opaque with a dark lead gray to black color. Chalcocite is often associated with and shows alteration to azurite, bornite, covellite, malachite, and native copper. Important deposits are found in Arizona's Bagdad, Jerome, and Superior areas. Other localities include Bingham, Utah; Santa Rita, New Mexico; Ely, Nevada; and the Genesee Valley district in California.
Bornite is a copper-iron sulfide. Its color is a natural bronze, but on exposure it tarnishes to the variegated colors that have caused it to be named "Peacock ore." It is rarely found on the surface but is prevalent in deeper levels of copper mines.
Turquoise is a hydrous aluminum phosphate with copper. To be desirable for gems the color should be green blue. The color is due to the presence of copper and is found near the surface of copper deposits. Sometimes it may appear as an outcrop.
Chrysocolla has various shades of blue to green and is a hydrous copper silicate. It is often found with azurite and malachite. Although its color is attractive, it is too soft to make good gem stones. Be aware of this fact when buying jewelry. Sometimes chrysocolla is passed off as turquoise.
DIG A LITTLE DEEPER
· What other elements are classified as native? · Take the new words you have learned today and put them in a list. Now use them to make a Word Search. Try your word search on a classmate or someone at home. · If there is copper or another mineral in your area. is it being mined? If so, write a letter to the mining company to find out if they give school tours. Maybe the company has a speaker who would come to your class to tell you more. Ask! · If you look around your classroom or your home you will find many things in which copper is used. Some are hidden - like the wiring inside a wall that brings electricity into your home or school. How many other uses can you discover?
(Contributed by Linda Jaeger, TRMS) via T- TOWN ROCKHOUND 2/04 HINTS & TIPS
These hints & tips are reprinted from various newsletters. They have not been evaluated by the editor for safety or reliability and could be unsafe or could cause damage to your project. Please use caution and safety when trying out any new idea.
Epoxying Bell Caps By Jim Reynolds
To hold any tumbled polished stones while epoxying bell caps to them, I set them in 3/8" Perm-a-GumTM cords. Perm-a-Gum is a non-hardening sealing and caulking material put out by CalgonTM. We used this material when I was working in the refrigeration/air conditioning trade. I use round toothpicks to hold the bell caps while applying epoxy. Trying to hold them with your fingers or tweezers is too messy. I prepare about 800-1000 stones with bell caps each year and have found these to be very helpful tips. From the Glacial Drifter, May, 2004 ************* To clean fluorite, do not wash in hot or even warm water. The luster will vanish and be gone forever. It can be placed into muriatic acid to remove calcite, then washed in cold water. From several newsletters ************** Tips for beaders: Silk thread is very strong and is great for stringing but it lacks abrasion resistance. Nylon thread has abrasion resistance, but is not as strong as silk and stretches with the tension required for beading. The solution: Use silk for non-abrasive materials such as pearls, turquoise, mother of pearl and lapis. Use nylon for abrasive materials such as onyx, metal beads, amethyst and rose quartz.
To eliminate stretching after you have carefully knotted a strand with nylon, suspend the cord on a doorknob (several loops are okay), then hand a pair of pliers from the loops and leave overnight. The nylon is now pre-stretched and will not become loose after being strung.
Soaping or waxing the thread keeps it from tangling. Placing a moistened paper towel on your flat surface while working is helpful. To remove unwanted beads from a row, break them with a pair of all-purpose pliers.
Via T-Town Rockhound 7/04
At Day's End
· Is anybody happier because you passed his way? · Does anyone remember that you spoke to him today? · The day is almost over, and its toiling time is through; · Is there anyone to utter now a kindly word to you? · Can you say tonight, in parting with the day that's slipping fast, · That you helped a single brother of the many that you passed? · Is a single heart rejoicing over what you did or said; · Does the man whose hopes are fading, now with courage looks ahead? · Did you waste the day, or lose it? · Was it well or sorely spent? · Did you leave a trail of kindness, or a scar of discontent? · As you close your eyes in slumber do you think that God will say, · "You have earned one more tomorrow by the work you did today"?
by John Hall, in Chiasto-Hi-Lite 3-4/87 via Owyhee Gem 8/88 via Glacial Drifter 5/03
The Theory of Tumbling “Rotary” Reference: Orcutt Mineral Society webpage http:oms.home.netcom.com/ Author Unknown, From "Gems & Minerals," January 1995*
An understanding of the theory behind a process is always an aid to its practical application. This article will tell you how and why a rotary tumbler works.
Because of the interest in lapidary tumbling, some notes on the mechanics of the process may be of help to the lapidary. The method has been used in industry for many years in cleaning, deburring, and polishing metal, plastic, ceramic, and other materials. The following information has been gleaned, for the most part, from trade journals, catalogs, and technical literature. Some of it is from the author's personal experience.
The speed of rotation of the drum is all-important in the rapid working of the material in the drum. Surprisingly enough, there is just one speed at which the drum and its charge will work most efficiently. Faster or slower that this speed will increase the time necessary to finish the charge. The reason for this is easy to understand when we know the processes at work in either grinding or polishing in a tumbling drum. The mechanism is not one of tumbling, in spite of the name. A sliding motion of the contents of the drum does all, or least 90% of the work.
How Speed Effects TumblingThe rotary speed of the drum for maximum effect is that which causes a maximum sliding effect. Let us assume that we are using a hexagonal drum. The diagram shows the effect of the different speeds of rotation.
The material at "A" is doing little or nothing except climb the side of the barrel. At point "C" it begins to slide on its return to the bottom of the barrel and 90% of the grinding and polishing takes place is this area, "B." As the speed is increased from 15 rpm to 25 rpm, the start of the slide point moves to "D" but the total amount of the material contained in the sliding mass is less. If one has an open-end drum can watch the work as it moves in the barrel, these effects are readily apparent.
As the speed is further increased to 35 rpm, the sliding mass almost disappears and the material rolls or tumbles to the bottom of the barrel. When this happens, grinding and polishing ceases for all practical purposes. All of these effects are easily are easily proven experimentally and anyone with a tumbling barrel can verify them.
Establish the Best SpeedThe speeds given are for illustration only and will vary with each individual case. Experiment with your drum until you find the right speed to give the maximum thickness of the sliding layers and consequently the maximum cutting effect. One manufacturer states that with a 30" diameter barrel operating at 20 rpm, the sliding layer is three inches thick.
I think that from the above and by reference to the drawing, it is plain to see that the maximum cutting rate will be obtained with a drum that is approximately ˝ full. More or less material, or charge, will decrease not only the number of pieces finished, but also will cut down on the cutting speed by decreasing the thickness of the sliding layer.
Many users of barrel polishing use only abrasive and water in addition to the pieces being ground or polished. However, some have found that the addition of such materials as sawdust, ashes, paper packing material, confetti, fiberboard, walnut shell meat, etc., are a great help especially in the final fine grinding and polishing.
source: Breccia 4/03 via The Rock Bag 6/03
Have You Heard The Expression
Have you heard the expression "rock caches"? It is said that the Indians and Spaniards used this trick to hide gold and other treasurers. The method was to chop a hole in a solid rock wall until it was the diameter and depth that they wanted. Then a lid was made that fit so perfectly that it was almost invisible. If you happen to be in an area where there are rock cliffs, keep a sharp look out for faint, circular dubious depressions that could indicate a cache. You may be lucky and find an old treasure that was hidden away years ago. If you have a metal detector, use it on the circle.
Source: Golden Spike News - Sept. 2003 Via Rock Chips June/July 2004
The Rock Hound Quiz
1. When you've been so busy going on field trips that your house is dirty, you: a) Clean House; b) Put the, vacuum in reverse and blow out the dirt; c) Learn to live with it. It will only come back if removed
2. When you are soaking rocks in the bathtub, kitchen sink and the lavatory and you need a bath, you: a) Remove me rocks from tub; b) Bathe in the creek; c) Stay dirty. In a short time you will be digging rocks and getting dirty again.
3. You are given the choice of being a guest for a weekend at the White House or going on a rock hunt, you; a) Take the first plane to Washington; b) ask the president to come to your house between rock hunts; c) Get out sour shovel and hammer. There are places in the hills you haven't explored yet.
4. When your back aches so badly you can barely move, you: a) Visit an orthopedist; b) Stay in bed; c) Go rock hunting There's no telling what goodies you will find.
5. When you have rocks on every surface of your furniture, tables, beds and chairs and in all the cabinets, drawers and shelves, in the basement, attic, garage and the floors are covered except for small paths to the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom, you; a) Have a sale or give away a lot: b) Dump some on the driveway (you can still see and enjoy them); c) Build an annex and two more garages.
6. When you have been awarded a 30-day, all expense trip around the world plus $50,000 spending money and the plane leaves the same day as a rock hunt is scheduled, you: a) Ask if the date can be changed to winter when there are no field trips; b) When you find the date can't be changed, you catch the plane; c) Go rock hunting.
7. When you have won free housecleaning daily services for five years, you: a) Grab it, sit back and relax; b) Let them clean a room which has no rocks in it. They might suck up a priceless gem in the vacuum; c) Turn it down. If they take all the dust off the tables etc., where would you write messages as to where you are rock hunting that day?
8. When you have broken your best hammer and shovel, and you have the choice of buying new ones or the week's groceries, you; a) Buy the food; b) Go on a strict diet for a ,seek; c) Move in and eat with your neighbors and buy the new tools.
9. When you have a one-day choice of buying a new vehicle at a large discount or rock hounding in a site where you have never been which is usually closed, you; a) Buy the new car; b) Take a long hard look at your old clunker which shows signs of being on its last legs; c) You go on the rock hunt. After all, it hasn't failed you in forty years of rock field trips.
10. When your kitchen floor is dirty, you; a) Mop it: b) Pretend it's a lawn and plant grass seed; c) Go rock hunting.
11. When the roof is leaking, you; a) Repair it, b) Pray for dry weather; c) Go rock hunting.
12. When your mother-in-law plans a visit, you: a) Meet her at the airport and tell her you are delighted to see her, b) Tell her it is up to her to clean the rocks off the bed; c) Leave town for a rock hunt.
13. When the kitchen sink is full of rocks and all the dishes are dirty, you; a) Put the rocks outside; b) buy a small tub for rock cleaning; c) Use paper plates.
14. When you are offered a $50-million diamond necklace for ten dollars you: a) Buy it and put it with your other gems under the bed: b) Sell it and invest the money: c) Use the ten dollars for gas to go rock hunting. It's more fun to find your own gems.
15. When all your clothes are dirty, you: a) Stay home and wash them; b) Throw all of them away; c) Rotate them, wearing the cleaner ones first. After all, they w ill just get dirty again on a rock hunt.
16. When you have a broken arm and leg, you: a) Go to the emergency room; b) Drink herb tea and eat macrobiotic foods; c) Get a wheel chair. You still have a usable arm and leg left. Go rock hunting.
SCORE: All a and b answers score O. All c answers score 5.000 points each. Add up your score. I'm too tired from rock hunting to work out a complicated formula such as that. If you scored less than 150,000, you need more indoctrination.
From the Mountain Mineral Monthly May 2004 Thanks to JAX CMS 8/04 * Via The Glacial Drifter 8/04
Safety First - Eye Safety by Bill Klose, AFMS Safety Chairperson
Eyes require protection at all times of the year, whether it is protection from the sun on the way to a collecting site, protection from flying particles at a collecting site, or protection from chemicals, dust, or particles while process in our finds back home in the shop.
Eye hazards include particles, dusts, mists, vapors, fumes, gases, and ultraviolet light. Many of these hazards are encountered by rock hounds in pursuit of their passion.
Safety glasses or spectacles are designed to provide impact protection from flying particles and have heavier frames than normal spectacles with impact resistant lenses, usually of poly carbonate. These lenses can be tinted to protect the eyes from laser or ultraviolet light and the suns rays. As most particles enter the eyes at an angle, it is recommended that the frames accommodate and are worn with side side shields or have them “built in”. Safety glasses are available with corrective lenses, even bifocal and multifocal lenses. Do not use spectacles intended for protection from radiation and glare from the sun indoors where your vision may be impaired by the tinted lenses. Spectacles should be fitted to your eye and bridge size and temple length and should fit conformably over the eyes. The frame should be close to the face and supported by the bridge of the nose. Keep spectacles clean and clear of scratches. Store spectacles in a dry clean place where they will not fall or be stepped on. Scratched or damaged spectacles interfere with vision and do not provide protection for the eyes from fumes, vapors, liquids, and large particles and should be discarded.
Safety goggles provide a secure shield around the entire eye area to protect against hazards coming from many different directions and spread the force of impact over a larger area around the eyes than spectacles. Goggles are most effective when worn with safety spectacles and are also provided with impact resistant lenses that can be tinted if required. Goggles that are unvented or indirectly vented will provide protection from splash hazards. Goggles may be provided with fog free coatings.
Face shields are required when poring hot liquids, using acids to clean rocks or fossils, breaking rocks with hand or mechanical equipment, and while dressing grinding wheels. Face shields should never be used without goggles and safety spectacles and are available with protective head gear and chemical hoods.
Select the proper level of eye protection prior to starting any activity and remember that the risk of bypassing a level because “it will only take a second and I will be careful” could cost you one of your most precious possessions, your sight.
Another word of caution: Incidents of house fires are cropping up again because of the use of those electric plug-in air fresheners. In some instances the plastic housing of the unit is being melted from the electrical current flowing through it and causing fires. Use caution if you use these products - or better yet, switch to one of the non-electric types.
Via AFMS Newsletter 2/05
What Is Cherry Quartz?
Like "Goldstone", "Cherry Quartz" is a fancy man made glass from China. It is a very pretty mixture of clear glass with thin swirls and needles of pink.
We were originally told that Cherry Quartz was a new synthetic or irradiated quartz. After a little more research, we found it to be a glass material. We believe most of the newly circulating stones referred to as something-or-other quartz are actually glass. This includes Cherry Quartz, Blueberry Quartz, Watermelon Quartz, Pepper Quartz and Cloud Quartz.
Some people use the name "Strawberry Quartz" for the stone we call "Cherry Quartz." However, true Strawberry Quartz is a naturally occurring (if somewhat rare) strawberry-colored stone with sparkly hematite needles. It is found in Russia and Mexico.
Rings & Things product flyer 09/03 Via Golden Spike News 8/04
Cool Tip
Is it Citrine or Topaz? Clean the stone, then use a toothpick, put a drop of water on the table of the stone. The water will form a high bubble on real topaz. On quartz, the water flattens out.
From The Rockhounds Record, May 2004 Via T-Town Rockhounds 7/04
Let's Make A Butterfly By Bob Johnson
They have been called "winged Flowers", "flying gems", and "jewels of nature". What-ever the expression, everyone will agree that butterflies are beautiful. Butterflies, along with birds, are the flying fantasy of color in the animal kingdom that counter-balances flowers in the plant kingdom.
When we talk about insects, it is usually with distaste, but butterflies actually fall in the class of insects. They come under the order of lepidoptera which contains about 140,000 species. Only the order of beetles (coleoptera) is a larger group. There are only about 20,000 species of butterflies. The remainder of the species in the order lepidoptera, about six times the number of butterflies, are classed as moths. These two groups differ in several ways. Butterflies can be seen in the daytime and moths are nocturnal creatures, flying at night. Another difference is in the antennae, or feelers. Moths have feelers that are feathery, plumey or hairlike, while butterflies have antennae that are club-like with a bare knob on the end.
The vivid colors, however, are what makes butterflies so attractive and this is why a lapidary so often attempts to imitate the butterfly in polished stone. The lapidary, in making the reproduction of a butterfly, has an infinite variety of colors, shapes and sizes to choose from. Some butterflies have a wingspan of less than one-half inch while the largest is the Victoria of the Solomon Islands with a wingspan of nine inches. The largest in the United States are the swallowtails with a wingspan of five inches.
The lapidary also has an infinite variety of colors and patterns in rocks to choose from when he begins his project. Banded materials such as agates and jaspers are good for a butterfly project. Brazilian agate or fortified agates, like those found in some geodes, have good banding. Jaspers, like Bruneau or Biggs Canyon, provide good patterns than can be used in the imitation of butterflies. Other materials that make good butterflies are wonderstone, picture rocks and rhyolites, all of which are banded stones.
In making a butterfly, it is necessary to have two pieces for the wings that are alike, but are opposites or mirror images of each other. This sounds difficult, but frequently is achieved by using two slabs from the same rock which are facing the same cut of the saw blade.
To get two wings that are identical, make a single wing template from a piece of cardboard or other material. Use one side for a wing and then turn it over for the opposite, but identically shaped, wing. Be sure to mark which side of the pieces you want to polish in the very beginning. It is very easy to make a mistake with pieces that look alike and you don't want to end up with two wings for the same side of the butterfly.
When you polish the wings, leave the inner edge unpolished where the wing is attached to the body so it can be glued to the body. It should also be beveled slightly to give the butterfly the appearance of being in flight.
Butterfly collectors use a V-shaped board with a groove in the middle of it when preparing their specimens for mounting. This same board can be used by the lapidary when gluing the pieces of a butterfly together.
The body of the butterfly can be cut from the same material as the wings without any pattern that shows in the wings or it can be made from a darker piece of material, a brown or a black piece of rock, Here again you may want a simple long, slender, along the body so the wings can be glued to it.
You also may want to put feelers, or antennae, on your butterfly. These can be made of wire, silver, copper, or anything else you desire. Don't forget to put the knob on the end of the antennae. Legs can be added if you are a stickler for detail. They can be made of the same wire as the antennae. Just remember the butterfly is an insect and has six legs.
Now your butterfly is ready for showing and bragging, we hope. Good luck.
From Serendipity Gems 3/85 Reprinted From The Glacial Drifter 3/86 Via The Glacial Drifter 8/04 |