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Strata Gem September 2002
President’s Message
Our annual steak fry was a great success. Everyone did a great job on crafts. They came up with some really cute crafts. We needed some different prizes on the wheel and as always the members came through with flying colors. We always have great prizes on our wheel. I would also like to thank all the people that helped for the steak fry. As always you did a great job, our steaks were the best. A big thank you to the cooks Don, Bob and Heinz for standing over the heat to cook for us. I would also like to thank Ruth, Erla, Jay and Selma for all thier hard work.
Our show is at our heels, don't forget we need all the help we can get on Thursday to help set up. If your name is listed to work please try to be there, if not let Jay know so he can make changes on the schedule. Remember this is the only event we have for all of us to work together to have a successful show, this is what we work for all year.
Remember to think about who you would like to elect for the position that are going to be vacant, Show Chairperson and President. Please try to get involved in what is happening in the club. We need everyones input and support to keep our club alive and well.
Remember To Do What Needs To Be Done For The Good Of All, Always Speak The Truth; But Only Of The Good In Others.
Enjoy Life's Journey But Leave No Tracks.
Donna M. Chavez President
Tooele Gem And Mineral Annual Crafts Day & Steak Fry Pavilion In Settlement Canyon August 17 2002 4:00 PM.
The meeting was called to order by president Donna Chavez, every one was welcomed. The new members were welcomed. The Treasurers report was read and approved, the minutes will be read at our next meeting. We discussed the show preparation’s, we decided to have the Tooele search and rescue to provide security. We will pay them the same as last year which was five hundred dollars, David Chapman will be our inside security. Any members that want to use the club show cases should let Jay Woods know.
Vicky Stewart has a show case that she wants to sell she wants $25.00 for it. Mary Titus gave a report on Kimberly’s equestrian youth club, they have done very good this year, and next year they will be number one. Dennis is going to southern Utah he ask if any one wanted him to collect some Obsidian for them. Remember to post our show flyers around, anywhere they will be seen. Our election for club officers is coming up we need somebody to take office so think about who we could get or volunteer yourself. Leona Adams birthday is coming up so send her a card or call her or visit her.
Minutes submitted by Larry Wilson, Secretary
Members News
Welcome New Members:
Note To Recent & New Members: Just to let you know. If you have a computer, there is a club CD. It has past issues of our newsletters, informational articles, rockhounding software & SCRIBE CD (newsletters from around country). Grab Dennis Chapman at the meeting and I will burn you a copy.
September Meeting: If there is time & interest, I will be talking about my rockhounding trip around Cedar City & Milford area. A friend I met on the Internet took Dave & I to interesting sites around Cedar City, we collected agates, magnetite crystals & obsidian.
Why Is My Name In The Show Assignments? We don’t mean to offend the new members, but we do have trouble getting people to sign up. This is one way to show we really need your help!!! If you can’t make your time PLEASE come in when you can, there will be someone there that will really need a break. If you can contact us if you can’t make your time, that too would be appreciated.
Hints On Setting Up Your Display Case
Editor's Note Since our show is very rapidly approaching finial stages. I thought the following tips on displaying might be of help to you. (From NFMS Newsletter 11/01 via Golden Spike News 12/01)
1. If you are going to wash your specimens, do it two or three days in advance because the heat from the lights can cause moisture to steam up the inside of the glass.
2. Be sure whatever you are displaying is clean, polished, dusted or whatever applies to the item. A silicone cloth or paper used just as stones are placed in a case gives last minute brilliance.
3. A soft thin glove worn when placing specimens in your case will prevent finger marks on polished surfaces.
4. Don’t crowd your case. If you are new at this use the show as an opportunity to evaluate other cases and take note of how many items are in the rest of the cases.
5. If you are displaying silver pieces, conceal a camphor bar in your case to delay tarnish time. Be sure to place it in a small dish, as it bleeds.
6. Arrange your items so the eye easily goes from one piece to another, or from one group to another. If arranging groups of items, one large specimen can be balanced by a group of smaller ones. The eye is trained to read ma straight line or follow a curved, graceful line. The case should look uncluttered and uncomplicated. Large items should go toward the back, the more spectacular specimens toward the center and small items in the foreground.
7. Labels are important because they provide information for the viewer and make the case more educational for children. Labels might be used to tell what the item is, what it is made of, where it is from, etc. Labels should be uniform in size and typed or printed. They should be placed parallel to the front of the case, but if you don’t want your name there that’s OK too. Names cannot go in competitive cases.
8. If your case does not have a liner and you are covering the inside with cloth, don’t use bright or printed colors as it takes the attention away from the specimens. However, rules can be broken and you may sometimes see an outstanding exhibit of Jade carvings against bright red satin. An off-white is usually used by some other pastel shade may be more to your liking.
9. If your items need stands, you can purchase stands or make them. If the bottom of your case is covered with cloth you can slip an appropriated size object such as a block of wood or a can under the cloth to make a riser. You can make stands out of 4-prong drapery hooks. You can take both ends out of tuna cans and spray paint them off-white. You can heat plastic cups until they start to soften and mold them into stands. Stands can be made out of coat hangers.
(These ideas are for non-competitive displays.) 10. Here is a list of supplies you might find handy when you set up your case: polishing cloth, glass cleaner, paper towels, push pins or tacks, scotch tape, lint-free gloves for handling display items, scissors, and an extra light bulb. The club cases have overhead lights, but if you are putting in extra lighting you may need a multi-outlet plug and extra extension cord.
11. Anyone putting in a competitive case should consult rules for competition and suggestions specifically for competition. Suggestions given here are for non-competitive cases, in which instance you can really do anything you want. The cases that get the most attention and give the most pleasure are usually the most original ones, so if you are displaying for the first time, feel free to act on your own instincts.
Via T-Town Rockhound 7/02
Kids Corner Natural Tumbler by Keri Dearborn
We’ve all seen grastroliths, rocks tumbled smooth in the gut of dinosaurs, but there are creatures living today that provide the same service. Ostriches swallow pebbles to grind the food in their gizzard. As with the dinosaurs, the grinding action in the ostrich’s digestive system tumbles the pebbles. The Masai people of East Africa have been using these tumbled stones in jewelry and ceremonial pieces for thousands of years. Who needs a tumbler when you have an ostrich?
from Del Air Bulletin 2/01 via Golden Spike News 3/01 via Glacial Drifter 11/01
Cutting Chips To Cabs By Dennis Chapman Permission to reprint for noncommercial purposes
I was once told that we miss out on quite an opportunity just getting big rocks to slab, cut & polish, and ignoring smaller rock chips. You know he was right, with chips you can see just about what you are getting, they are cheap or easily found, and very few bad surprises.
Tools · Grinder: I like flat disk grinder because you can do all of it on one machine. · Old toothbrush to clean wheels. · Dop Sticks: several different width dowel sticks. · Dop Pot Or Alcohol Lamp · Dop Wax Stick · Jug Of Water & Spray Bottle of Water
Pick Some Rock Chips Find what you want to be the top, mark it if you like. Look at the sides and see what you will have to cut off for the bottom.
Now Lets Start Cutting I like to use diamond wheels & they aren’t very expensive on flat disk grinders. Most stones you can start with 100 grit, but I have had to use a light touch at 180 then do most my cutting at 325 on softer stones. · 100 Grit rough cut (metal wheel with diamond) · 180 Grit medium cut (metal wheel with diamond) · 325 Grit light cut to smoothing out (diamond in resin disk) · 600 Grit (diamond in resin disk) · 1200 Grit (diamond in resin disk) · 40,000 Grit diamond paste on felt wheel · Raybright A or other oxide polish on felt wheel
Start with the 100 grit wheel (180 for softer stones. Ones with a hardness of 5 use a light touch to rough it out, then move to 325). Make sure water is dripping near the center of the wheel.
By hand cut the bottom flat, small flat spot on top, and rough spots on the sides. Make sure you cut around 1/8” on the sides, this will be for the bezel when you set the stone. Now your shape will start to appear.
Tip: If you are cutting different types of stones, start with the softest and move to the harder. This will avoid scratching the softer stones.
Clean Disk It is always best to clean your wheels when done. This will make cutting easier and avoid scratches if you start with a soft stone next time. Wet wheel, scrub with toothbrush, then spin dry.
Time To Dop If you use a dop pot, turn it on and let the dop wax melt. When the wax is ready place the stone (top down) on the flat area of pot and put a drop of water on the stone. When the water evaporates it is hot enough to take the wax. With one hand, put the one end of the dowel in the wax. Next WET YOUR FINGERS (you will get a good burn if they aren’t wet) on the other hand. When you pull the dowel out the wax, it will want to drip, so quickly move the stick on to the stone and press wax down to with WET FINGERS.
If you don’t have a dop pot, you will need an alcohol lamp and a way to heat your stone. I use an old iron held upside down in a vise. Place a piece of foil over the flat side. Heat one end of the dop stick with the alcohol and wipe on dowel. Heat your stone with a drop of water on the stone. When the drop of water starts to evaporate, heat stick over lamp. When then wax wants to drip off, wet fingers and apply stick to stone.
Rough Cut On Stick With the 100 or 180 grit disk slightly cut the sides in for the bezel.
Now come the confusing part. You will be cutting the dome as if it was a square stone. Once you have done it, it is a very easy method.
Imagine a line going around your stone from your lowest bezel cut on the side. Now you want to make 4 curved cuts from edge to center. Looking down on the stone you will see an X on the top. From the side view, keep checking the curve of the dome is what you want.
Now just cut the high areas above the bezel edge, working from edge to center. Removing the lines you just made until you get a nice round dome.
On odd shaped pieces, you might not have the X, just remember where the lines meet is the high spot. Cut from edge to center.
Tip: Use a bright light or sunlight to check your progress. Rough stage, moisten stone and see how the reflective light dances over stone. The light should move evenly across the stone.
Smoothing & Polishing This is just a matter of making little scratches out of big ones, until you don’t see them anymore. You may have to keep working the bezel edge & the dome until you get to the shape you want. After the 325 grit it’s just a matter of checking for flat spots with light & taking out scratches. Eventually you will actually feel the flat spots in the stone through your wrist. I think of it like peeling a potato, at first it will grab & release, but soon it will cut the layer nice and smooth. At 600 grit you can start doing a little rocking & rolling, smoothly rock the stone back & forth and side to side.
The Diamond Paste: Squeeze ¼” line of paste on your finger and smear it on the felt pad, 1-3 times (not necessary each time), add just 3-5 drops of water around the wheel. And cut the same way as above. If the paste sticks to the stone like toothpaste it needs a light mist of water to thin it up. If comes up like specks in water it is too thin, just keep working the stone and it will thicken.
Oxide Polish: Polishing the stone helps seal & preserve the stone. Spray a mist of water on the felt wheel until damp. Work in a small pinch of polish (not necessary each time). You work the stone just like the diamond paste, if the paste sticks to the stone like toothpaste it needs a light mist of water to thin it up. If comes up like specks in water it is too thin, just keep working the stone and it will thicken.
Taking The Stone Off The Stick Just pop it in the freezer for 10-20 minutes & you can just add pressure to the bottom and it will pop off. While the stone is still cold you can pick off any dop wax that is left.
Happy Cutting!!!
References: · Gene Chapman (cutting technique of my father) · Phil Salm & Bob Titus (for help & advice along the way) · And many others
Copy with color pictures can be found at:
Gem Show Calendar
Sept. 13-15 Denver Gem & Mineral Show, sponsored by the Greater Denver Area Gem & Mineral Council, Denver Merchandise Mart Expo Hall, 451 East 58th Ave., Denver, CO.
Sept. 27-29 Tooele Gem & Mineral Show, Tooele City Recreation Complex, 400 W. 400 N., Tooele, UT.
Oct. 11-13 Moab Points & Pebbles Show, Spanish Trail Arena 3641 South Highway 191, Moab, UT.
Oct. 11-13 The Huachuca Mineral and Gem Club Show, Oscar Yrun Community Center, Sierra Vista, AZ
Oct. 18-20 Wasatch Gem, Utah State Fairpark, Promontory Hall, North Temple & 10th West, Salt Lake City UT.
Oct. 19-20 Hells Canyon Gem Club Inc. Show, Nez Perce County Fairgrounds 1229 Burrell Lewiston. ID
Oct. 19-20 Chaparral Rockhounds Show, 500 South Richardson Roswell, NM
Nov. 9-10 Lake Havasu Gem and Mineral Society Show, Lake Havasu City Community Center, 100 Park Ave, Lake Havasu City, AZ
Nov. 16 Arizona City Gem & Mineral Society Show, Arizona City Community Center, 13270 S. Sunland Gin Rd, Arizona City, AZ
Nov. 21-23 2nd Annual W.O.W.W. Gem and Art Fair, sponsored by the Wickenburg Gem & Mineral Society, Community Center, 160 N. Valentine Street, Wickenburg, AZ
2003 July 11-13, RMFMS Show and Convention, hosted by the Natrona County Rockhounds Club, Parkway Plaza Hotel and Convention Center, Casper, WY.
Hints
Is It a CZ, or diamond? If the stone is loose, turn it upside down on its table and slide it over a thin black line on a piece of paper. When looking straight down through a CZ, you will see a circle in the center of the stone. A diamond won't do this.
Is it citrine, or topaz? Clean the stone, then, using 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.
If you are cutting a star stone and are looking for the star, white Karo syrup works better than anything. A single drop on the stone, under a strong light, will show you where the star is.
And.... it was late one night when I ran out of the chemical ($23.00 per gallon wholesale) that I use in the ultrasonic bath to remove the investment from fresh castings. Believing something else had to work, I tried everything around the shop. If it weren't for the fact that I like cider vinegar on my sardines, I never would have found out that vinegar not only works, but it works better than the stuff I had. It also leaves gold castings almost shiney. It's also a lot less expensive.
Above all from from Don Ashbury via The Breccia, 2/02
The Three Z'sJust as butter, buttermilk and milk are three different things, so are zircon, zirconium and zirconia.
Zircon is a natural stone which can be faceted like a diamond.
Zirconium is a metal. During the nuclear accident in Pennsylvania the bubble allowed the temperature to rise so high that the Zirconium tubes in which the uranium pellets are contained I cracked and warped'.
Cubic Zirconia is the ultimate diamond stimulant now on the market.
Via Owyhee Gem, 11/01 Via The RockCollector 3/02
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