Strata Gem

Tooele Gem & Mineral

May 2004

 

The Presidents Message

 

We had a nice show of people at our meeting. Thanks for supporting me.

 

Henry didn't demonstrate silver jewelry making, but says he will do it at home anytime someone call him to make an appointment.

 

Don borrowed a video called “The Town That Can't Stay Dead”. Thanks Jay for lending it to us. Everyone seemed to enjoy it.

 

We talked about another field trip May 22-23 out to Topaz Mountain. We will know more about it at our May meeting.

 

Jay thanked Larry for finishing the building that some of the club members volunteered to put up on his property last year, to put our rocks in for grab bag fills. It is a nice project.

 

A thanks to Mickey Miller for the beautiful tumbled rocks for our grab bags. Jay says they are swell. Thanks Robin for the treats.

 

Happy Mothers Day to Everyone

 

Good Luck and Good Health to everyone.

Your President

Ruth Smith

 

Tooele Gem And Mineral

Tooele Senior Citizens Center

April 13^th 2004 7:30 PM.

      

The meeting was called to order by president Ruth Smith everyone was welcomed.

 

The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved, the treasurers report was read and approved. We received an E mail from the past president of the Oregon Agate and Mineral Society their club is planning a trip to Utah they will be in Tooele around the third week of may, they will be leaving on the 20^th and returning on the first, he was wondering if our club would like to have a combined field trip with them, they will be here on the weekend of the twenty second and twenty third. Our field trip chairman Byron Scott said he would be glad to plan a trip to Topaz, it was discussed and decided that we would schedule a trip to Topaz we also would invite other clubs to join us. We will meet at the La Frontera Café on Saturday the twenty second at 9:00 am. People who live in Utah and Juab counties will meet us at Lynndyl.   

 

Ruth read a letter from Donna Chavez who represents the Great Basin Counsel, thanking us for our support, and asking if we would support the pow-wow again this year, we decided to donate five hundred dollars again this year. It was decided that we would not have the silversmith demonstration tonight we will watch a video instead, Henry said he would be willing to instruct people on silver work at his home, just get in touch with him for time and date. The Timpanogas club asked if we would like to go on field trips with them, we have done this in the past and it was a lot of fun, we decided to invite them to go with us on our field trips. Janet Nix will be getting our show posters and tickets printed soon. Jay woods reported that the siding is now on our storage shed, thanks to the hard work of Larry Higley. Melva and Byron Scott are going to make some more rock bags, Melva made a pretty afghan that will be for our Friday grand prize at the show, Jay reported that he got the polished rock from Mickey Miller, hey are extremely well done, and Mickey also donated several bunches more than we paid him for.   

 

Donna was informed that the chamber will no longer support the Festival of the old west next year, we will get some support this year, the county will be responsible next year, but we do not know what will happen then. The Utah Gold Prospectors will have an exhibit at our show again this year. Henry suggested that we put a notice in the paper when we have our field trips, and invite everyone to go with us., this might bring some new members to our club. Raeldon Baudino won the door prize. Larry Wilson will bring the treats for next month. The meeting was adjourned.

 

Minutes submitted by

Larry Wilson

Secretary

 

Loud & Clear

from George Loud

AFMS Conservation & Legislation Chair

 

Letters and Spreading the Word

I recently had the privilege of collecting in Magnet Cove, Arkansas with Jimmy Maclock, president of the Magnet Cove Mineral Club, and James Burns, an officer in the Magnet Cove and Little Rock clubs. The weather was perfect, no bug or snakes, and great camaraderie and miner­als. In Magnet Cove, meeting James Burns for the first time he extended his right hand in greet­ing while with his left hand he presented me with a copy of my last "Loud & Clear" column. He urged me to write my congressman and asked if I knew anything about the "Paleontological Resources Preservation Act." I replied that I was familiar with the article because I had written it. Kudos to James - we should all be writing and urging others to write.

j—' *   ·'

P.S. I got a lucky break upon breaking open the first rock I picked up - exposure of a sharp Leu-cite (or "pseudoleucite") xl in matrix. The sites where we collected were all on private lands and we had prior permission. If interested, I suggest you contact Robert Parker the owner of the Magnet Cove Stone Company (1-501-844-1727).

 

HR 2416 - Paleontological Resources Preservation Act

HR2416 has been referred to the House "Sub­committee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry." As of the date of this writing (April 2nd), there has been absolutely no movement regarding this bill in any House commit­tee. My best guess, based on conversations with congressional staffers, is that the bill will die in committee. However, there exists a real danger that it might be tacked onto another piece of legislation and "slipped through." If you have not already written your congressman, please do so. You can contact your congressman and send Email through the House web site at <www.house.gov>.

 

Archeological Sites

If you are a regular reader of this column (probably both implausible and impossible be­cause the column itself is not regular), you may recall my report of the story of the gentlemen who were arrested for collecting agatized coral in Florida. The site was on Florida State land and was posted with signs noting that removal of Indian artifacts was prohibited. There was no notice prohibiting the collecting of minerals or fossils. Notwithstanding the easily appreci­ated distinction between fossil coral and Indian artifacts, the collectors were arrested and spent the night in jail. They were released the next morning and eventually paid a small fine.

 

More recently I have received emails report­ing the October 20, 2003 arrest of divers in Ala­bama while diving for artifacts in the Alabama River, near Selma Alabama, and emails reporting that on January 3,2004 members of two families were detained and charged removing archeological resources from a protected area in the San Pedro Riparian Natural Conservation Area (Cochise Coun­ty, AZ) because their young children were pick­ing up "rocks" (of a nature which I have not been able to determine). On September 6, 2003 two collectors in Texas were cited by an Army Corps of Engineers Ranger for taking "property" from an "old fort site" notwithstanding that none of the collected items with them qualified as an "artifact" and 6PS evidence that they were not in the boundaries of the protected site. Note a connecting thread here? That's right, proximity to protected archeological sites. Now all of the foregoing incidents may have been miscarriages of justice, but a reasonable collector should take notice and give a wide berth to protected archeological sites.

 

Based on what little I know of the subject, my impression is that the agencies charged with the protection of public lands are currently un­derstaffed and under funded. Also they have seen major, real thefts of artifacts from public lands. See, for example, the convictions (with jail time) for theft of artifacts from Death Valley National Park, reported in the January 21, 2004 Park Service Morning Reports. Understand that the field agents of these agencies are under con­siderable pressure, but abuses should be reported to their superiors and to our representatives in congress.

 

George Loud

Via Bob Cranston

 

 

 

Q:        How do you stop a dinosaur from charging?

A:         Take away his credit card!

(From http://www.arcamax.com/afpops/1245.htm Submitted June 5, 2001 by Cain and Leigh, age 14 from Australia)

via T-Town Rockhound 11/03

 

Mineral Identification And Acids

by Michele Yamanaka in “Kid’s Korner” 11/02

 

ACID??? That’s scary stuff!! Yes - it can be. And you should never work with acid without following safety procedures. In fact, no one, no matter how old, should ever work with acid without having someone more experienced there as supervisor until he/she proves able to follow safe procedures and to demonstrate responsibility and caution.

 

What is an acid? It is a substance, usually in liquid form, that reacts with something else, causing the hydrogen of the acid to be freed and replaced with a positive ion of the other material. To make it simple: it will make something dissolve and often bubble.

 

Not all acids are equally dangerous. The safest acid to use is vinegar (acetic acid) and it is available easily. The other acids are dangerous. An acid easily found, but needing to be handled with care is muriatic acid, used to maintain swimming pools. It is a weak form of hydrochloric acid (HCL). Sulfuric acid, sulfarnic acid (a weak form is used to clean coffee pots and remove calcium), nitric acid, and oxalic acid (for iron) are other better known acids.

 

WHY TEST WITH ACID? The same minerals reaction to acid can help identify the elements in them. Generally, only certain minerals will show a reaction to acid. This helps you narrow down what your mystery specimen may be. And certain minerals cause the acid to do particular things — a definite clue to what you have. Some minerals only react with a certain acid. Some only react if the acid is hot. For some, adding ammonia or another chemical will cause a second reaction that positively identifies. Here is a partial list:

 

ACID                      WHAT HAPPENS                      MINERAL or ELEMENT
Vinegar                      bubbles (usually slow) -               carbonate like a calcite, limestone
Muriatic                      bubbles fast                                carbonate like calcite, limestone
Muriatic                      solution turns green, then add      some kind of copper
                                  ammonia & it goes blue
Muriatic                      solution turns blue                       some kind of copper
Muriatic                      solution turns pink                       cobalt mineral present
Muriatic                      solution turns yellow                    some kind of iron mineral
Muriatic                      ‘rotten egg” smell                        a sulphide
Muriatic                      choking greenish fumes               a manganese oxide like pyrolusite
                                  manganite, psilomene
Muriatic                      a rubbery transparent gel             is a silica gel and forms on zeolites like
                                   forms on mineral                         natrolite, datolite, hemimorphite
Muriatic                      white porous spongy residue       zeolites, but also biotite, chrysocolla.
                                  left on mineral                             Rhodonite, serpentine, pectolite

 

(From “Kid’s Korner” in ??? 11/02 via MWF Newsletter 1/03 and GEM CITY ROCK NEWS 1/03)

via T-TOWN ROCKHOUND 5/03

 

Gemstones - Natural, Synthetic And Simulated

By Thalia Goldsworthy

 

Natural stones are the same as they came out of the earth, except for cutting and polishing. Most garnet, amethyst and ametrine are sold in a natural state.

 

Synthetic stones are laboratory—created stones from natural materials. These have the same chemical and crystal structure as the natural gems. Some manufacturers even insert inclusions to mimic natural occurrences. Rubies were one of the first gemstones to be lab—created. Now sapphires, emeralds, spinels as well as diamonds can be man—made.

 

Simulated stones can be defined as any material being used to imitate natural gemstones. Many different types of material are used including glass, plastic and less costly natural or man—made materials. Some of these simulations are more brilliant and color­ful than the material they imitate. Cubic zirconia is a very popular, inexpensive gem that does not occur in nature but is now manufactured in many countries around the world. It simulates diamond, and is used for many copies of genuine diamond jewelry pieces at less risk to theft or loss. With the addition of trace amounts of elements, close copies of the colors of other gemstones can be achieved.

 

Enhancing Gemstones

Enhancement is used with many natural stones. Various processes are used to add protection, color, stability or hardness and increase usability in jewelry. Some of the processes used are irradiation, heat treatments, dyeing, oiling, waxing and special construction techniques. Many other techniques are used in order to use valuable natural materials to best advantage.

 

Doublets are made from two pieces, usually with a durable quartz “cap” protecting the valuable natural material. Opal is often found for sale as doublets. Mosaic stones are doublets because of the backing needed to support the small pieces. Other types of doublets can be two pieces of one clear material with a colored “glue” used to simulate the more valuable material.

 

Triplets are three pieces. These use a very thin section of natural stone between a quartz cap and some other material - stone, glass or plastic — underneath. Opal that occurs in very thin seams can be used to great advantage with this technique. Heat—treating is one of the newer enhancement techniques. Stones of poor color can be transformed into very beautiful gems with carefully controlled heat treatment. Amethyst will convert to citrine, which is very rare as a natural stone. Rubies, sapphires and tanzanites are generally heat treated to intensify their colors.

 

Irradiation is used to change the color of stones. Clear or light colored topaz will turn a beautiful blue with irradiation and heat—treatment. Some quartz will turn a smoky gray to black with irradiation (this sometimes happens naturally). Reconstitution falls under the added materials category. For this process, natural stone of poor quality is ground into powder or small particles and combined with a binding agent such as plastic. Again, heat and pressure transform unusable material into solid, less expensive material for jewelry use. Larger pieces with uniform consistency can be manufactured than can be found occurring naturally.

 

Many other materials are added. Some stones are dyed. Tidy Bowl will transform white howlite into simulated “turquoise”. Some soft chalky materials, such as turquoise, are impregnated with plastic under heat and pressure, a process called “stabilization”. Emeralds are oiled to hide inclusions and to deepen color.

 

Laser beams are used to “burn” out flaws in diamonds. The very small controlled beam can remove flaws through almost microscopic holes that are not apparent to the naked eye. These made lesser value diamonds more usable. Laser beams are also used to engrave identi­fication on the girdle of many diamonds. These are invisible when the stone is in its setting and do not interfere with the appearance of the stone.

 

from Rock Chippings 3/01, via CFMS 4/01

via BRECCIA 4/01

via The Glacial Drifter 9/03

 

Emerald Replaced Gastropod

 

Four years ago there appeared in Colombia an unusual emerald in the form of a seashell. It was a mere 2 carats and of lower quality but, if genuine, would be of considerable importance in explaining the origin of emeralds from Colombia. It was unequaled as a rarity or a curiosity; however, being the only one known to exist, it was felt to be just too much of a freak occurrence to be significant scientifically. Recently however, three more emerald seashells have appeared, giving validity tot he first one and providing, along with some broken pieces, the basis for a preliminary study.

 

These emeralds are properly called emerald replaced gastropods. In the mineral kingdom it happens that the unit cells of a gem or mineral get petrified in the form of an organic material. Microscopic examination reveals that the emerald gastropod formation was one of carbonate destructive replacement; a molecule by molecule replacement of the grains of the shell structure by molecules, or unit cells, of emerald.

 

On the 2-carat gastropod pseudomorph the crystallization started at the outside of the seashell and proceeded inside. At the outside of the seashell the grains of crystallization are very fine or microcrystalline. Then, as the environment for the crystallization stabilized, the crystals got grainier, or larger. The crystals resulting from this druze effect are an unusual 1/4 millimeter in size on the inside part of the shell.

 

According to geologists familiar with the Colombian mining region, the existence of these emerald gastropods clearly establishes the low temperature mineralisation of the Colombian emerald. This is consistent with some of the newer theories of Colombian emerald mineralisation as opposed .to the high temperature metamorphic formation of most other emerald localities.

 

Albite is found in the veins of the trapiche emeralds and is found in Chivor and Gachala as well as Muzo and Coscuez. Albite is a feldspar, and Exploration Geologist Tony Mariano even found pseudomorphs of albite in Gachala of fossils (sic). Thanks to paleontologist Diana Gutierrez of INGEOMINAS for the fossil identification. Anthony Mariano, Ph.D. supplied info on the albitized fossils from the Gachala region of Colombia. Geologist William Rohtert identified the druze effect in the first gastropod.

 

(From Tips & Chips 9/02)

via T-TOWN ROCKHOUND 10/02

 

Did You Know?

 

Every year, more than 23,000 pounds of new minerals must be provided for every person in the

 

United States to make the thing we use, every day.

12,262 lbs. Stone used to make

Roads, buildings, bridges, various chemical uses.

 

8,854 lbs. Sand and Gravel used to make

Concrete, asphalt, road fill, blocks and bricks.

 

842 lbs. Cement used to make

Roads, sidewalks, buildings, bridges.

 

429 lbs. Iron Ore used to make

Steel - buildings, cars, trucks, planes and trains; other construction; containers.

 

384 lbs. Salt used in

Various chemicals; highway deicing; food and agriculture.

 

289 lbs. Phosphate used to make

Fertilizers to grow food; animal feed supplements.

 

275 lbs. Clay used to make

Floor and wall tile; dinnerware; kitty litter; bricks and cement; paper.

 

65 lbs. Aluminum (Bauxite) used to make

Buildings; beverage containers; autos; airplanes.

 

21 lbs. Copper used in

Buildings; electrical and electronic parts; plumbing; transportation equipment.

 

12 lbs. Lead used in

75% for transportation - batteries; electrical; communications; TV screens.

 

11 Lbs. Zinc used to make

Metals rust resistant; various metals and alloys; paint, rubber; skin creams and health care.

 

5 lbs. Manganese used to make

In almost all steels for; construction; machinery; transportation.

 

572 lbs. Other Nonmetals numerous uses

Glass, chemicals, soaps, paper, computers, cellular phones, etc.

 

20 lbs. Other Metals numerous uses

Same as nonmetals, but also electronics, TV and video equipment, recreational equipment, etc.

 

From The Mineral information Institute used with permission via the AFMS Newsletter

 

 Via News & Views 1/04

 

 

Field Trips

 

Equipment for Field Trips suggested by Alan Berg

·        Pick Hammer-Adult size

·        3-5# sledge/crack hammer

·        Chisels of various sizes

·        Long handle scoop! Metal hand trowel

·        Short/long handle shovel

·        Regular hat/Hard hat

·        Container for special Samples

·        Safety glasses/goggles

·        Water and food

·        Note pad & pen to note Location, items found

·        Fluorescent lamp & battery Pack if in fluorescent area

·        Pry Bar

·        Hand Lens (loop)

·        Work gloves

·        Back Pack

·        Sunglasses

·        Sunscreen lotion 30

·        Small bags, sealable

·        Tick & insect spray

·        First aid kit

·        Kneeling/sitting pad

·        Big garbage bag in Case of rain

·        Screen &/or rocker & large plastic

·        Pan

High Country Gleamings 9/00

 

Why Dogs Make Great Rockhounds

Jim Reynolds

 

1.   Dogs love to dig holes

2.   Dogs are low to the ground so they can sniff out interesting specimens.

3.   Dogs love to hunt in packs.

4.   Dogs love to ride on dirt roads with great anticipation for the end of the journey.

5.   Every place a dog goes, it is like the first time they have been there, no matter how many times they have been there.

6.   A cold nose on a hot day feels good.

7.   Dogs only whine if they are not fed, never if they have traveled too far without a rest stop.

8.   Dogs will always follow you back up the hill to the car at the end of the day.

9.   Dogs love to wet everything to see if it shines.

From Chips 8/00

**************

·        Common bicarbonate of soda is one of the most reliable aids for outings.

·        It takes the itch out of bites and stings.

·        It soothes the irritation caused by poison ivy, oak or nettles.

·        It relieves sunburn and windburn and is also effective for any burns.

·        It sweetens ice chests as well as stomachs.

·        It removes odors (such as onion, garlic and fish).

·        It will loosen bug spatter from windshields.

·        It will help snuff out campsite fires or a fire in your car.

Chips 1/99 via Tumbler 6/02

Via Golden Spike News 7/02

 

The Great Diamond Hoax

 

In 1871, two prospectors, Philip Arnold and John Slack, appeared in San Francisco with quantities of diamonds that they had “found” in Wyoming. After depositing their stones in the vault of the Bank of California, they sat back and let the news of their find spread through the city. Tiffany’s valued the stones at $150,000. Soon, investors were approaching Arnold and Slack to develop their claim. Reluctantly, the two miners finally agreed to discuss their prospects with San Francisco’s most prominent financiers. The moneymen hired a mining engineer and the claim holders agreed to take the whole party too to examine the diamond field.

 

After a train ride, followed by four grueling days of traveling blindfolded on horseback, the party arrived at the richest gem field they had ever seen. Diamonds, rubies, and emeralds were peppered across the bare ground. There were even “small glittering piles resembling ant hills... encrusted with diamond dust.” ‘The mining engineer wrote a glowing report. ‘Some of the most astute businessmen of the day, General George S. Dodge, William C. Ralston, Thomas S. Selby, and Baron Von Rothschild, invested in the project. Arnold and Slack “reluctantly” sold their interest in the stake for $660,000. Not long after, Clarence King, a U.S. government geologist, went out to inspect the gem field. The precious stones were so thick, all you had to do was bend over one pick one up. Much to his surprise, however, King and his companion found one stone that was partially polished. Immediately, King contacted investors and the whole illusion collapsed. Not even the mining engineer had questioned the probability of finding diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires in the same place.

 

In retrospect, Asbury Harpending, one of the initial investors, wrote, “Why a few pearls weren’t thrown in for good luck 1 have never yet been able to tell.”

 

When the truth came out, it was revealed that Arnold and Slack had paid $25,000 to salt the area with second-rate diamonds and gemstones. Whether some of those salted stones are still in the area along the Colorado/Wyoming border is hard to say. But if you are in that area and find something that looks like a diamond, it just might be.

 

From Hunting Diamonds in California, by Mary Hill, via Chips ‘n’ Splinters, 2/96 and The Rock finder, 1/2000.

 

Via GRAVEL GAZETTE 6/02

 

Ironwood

by Elaine Bailey

 

Ironwood is one of the heaviest woods in the world. It weighs about 90 lbs. per cubic foot, making it almost twice as heavy as oak, ash, walnut, and other more common woods. This wood is so dense that it sinks in water rather than floating.

 

Ironwood cannot tolerate freezing temperatures, so it is most prevalent at elevations less than 2,500 feet, along the hot, dry arroyos in Southern Arizona, the eastern edge of Southern California, and down into Sonora, Mexico. An ironwood tree takes several hundred years to reach maturity and at least another 50 years, and possibly up to 1,000 years, after it dies to season properly. In the spring the tree blossoms with thousands of small orchid—like lavender flowers, then seed pods containing small beans form. The ripe beans were sometimes ground into flour. If one were to pick the beans while they were fresh and green, the taste would be very like fresh garden peas. Actually, the ironwood tree belongs to the same family of plants as the peas grown in our family gardens.

 

Ironwood carving was made popular by the Sen Indians who live along the coast and islands of the Sea of Cortez. They made fish hooks, arrowheads, and spears. Small pieces of this wood were shaped into seals, dolphins, sharks, porpoises, and birds of the area as “toys” for their children. Because much ironwood has gone into bon­fires and fireplaces, carvers and jewelry makers today have difficulty finding wood suitable for this work. Cracks and check marks must be removed before beginning work. 700 to 1,000 lbs. of wood may have to be cut to get 60 to 70 lbs. of good, solid usable material.

 

Because of the extreme hardness of this fabulous wood, ordinary woodworking tools dull quickly. This means shaping and sanding the wood smooth is usually done with metal—cutting and lapidary (stone—cutting) tools. Some ironwood workers will even use carbide tools. Many workers cut the wood to suit outstanding grain and color variations — therefore, no two pieces of jewelry or carving are alike.

 

Due to the quantity of natural oil in ironwood, it is usually not necessary to put a finish on either jewelry or carvings. Shellac, varnish, or urethane are not used. Ironwood should be finished with fine sandpaper, then waxed. If the wax luster dulls, simply rub with a soft, dry cloth until the luster returns. Occasionally, a small amount of boot and shoe wax, such as Kiwi Paste Wax (brown) can be applied and polished with the soft cloth. Because of the heavy density of ironwood, its fibers will not expand and contract like softer woods. Therefore, carvings should be kept out of direct sunlight in extremely hot weather.

 

Beautiful finished carvings and jewelry can be seen in Arizona Gem and Mineral Shows. Color will vary in these lovely pieces of artwork from dark golden yellow to a reddish brown and from light brown to almost black.

 

in The Rock Vein, via The Agatizer, 2/96

from CFMS Newsletter 3/96

via The Glacial Drifter Feb./Mar. 2002

 

Tips By Richard

By Richard Peterson

 

Last month we talked about cutting rock in oil and a little about cutting rock in water, well, you can cut some softer or porous rock in oil. I am talking about rock such as sandstone, wonderstone, or the rocks that will absorb oil as you are cutting them.

 

What you do is soak the rock in water for about 24 hours, completely immersed. This will fill the pores in the rock with water. You then put it in the saw and start cutting. The water in the rock will, for the most part, prevent the rock from absorbing oil. As we all know, oil can ruin a good piece of scenic or prevent a polish on other rocks.

 

If you use this method, you should saw all the rock in your saw as quickly as possible and wash it well in a good detergent. If you let the rock sit for very long it will start to absorb some oil.

 

A good thing to have by your saw is a box of kitty litter to absorb the oil off of your rocks. Try it!

 

Via Rock Chips 7/03

 

Shop Hint

 

In shaping turquoise, it is advisable to use only the 220 wheel rather than the coarser ones. The 100 grit wheel will take desirable material from Such a soft stone. Some of the more friable and chalky types of turquoise are difficult to polish with cerium or tin oxide; try a muslin buff with stick rouge. Since it is such a porous stone, oil may discolor it, so try sawing with a water coolant after soaking overnight in water. This helps prevent breaking.

 

Via Rock Chips 7/03

 

Can Vinegar Help Polishing?

 

Using acid as an assist is polishing is an area that many facetors and cabochon cutters avoid, Too dangerous.

 

Yes, it can be dangerous. But please remember that plain vinegar contains enough acid to virtually eliminate scratching problems. You’ll be pleasantly gratified at the scratch-eliminating contributions of a bit of vinegar added to either chemical or diamond polish.

 

Via Rock Chips 7/03