Gem Crafters & Explorer's Club Bulletin, Las Cruces, NM

Affiliated with the AFMS and member of the RMFMS

EL GAMBRISINO
Jan. 2013 - Volume 55 Issue 1

Meeting Notes Nov. 16, 2012

Submitted by Sec, Brenda Gadberry
President: Brecken Uhl opened meeting and introduced Mike Gaines who gave a presentation on the Missoula Floods. Reminder: NMSU's management has complained about our club throwing trash into the school's trash cans. The club's trash will be disposed of only in trash bags provided by our club. Treasurer's Report: $1,319.55 total. Treasurer, Pat Grace announced that the club's dues are not enough to cover RMFMS' dues, insurance, and club expenses. Notice: Club will vote in January to increase dues to $10.00 per person for adults 18 years and older. NMSU's Scholarship Increase: Club discussed NMSU's scholarship increase and the needs of the club. Increase scholarship to $750.00 per year and/or spend funds on the club's needs. Snacks: Snacks were provided by Susy Gemoets & Ted Lewis, Ed & Nelly Leake, and Patti & Bill Pickert. Guests: Nancy Breard; Charles Combs; Jim Meehan; Leo & Kerry Ann Stiles. Club's Officers/Volunteers voted in for 2013: President, Cookie Saathoff; Vice President, Sheri Gaines; Treasurer, Pat Grace; Secretary, Brenda Gadberry; Refreshments, Pattie Pickert; Historian, Don Saathoff; Program Director, Eric Fuller; Editor, Maxine Wyman. Christmas Party: Club's Christmas party will be held at Pat Grace & Tony Nunez' home on December 8th at 6:00pm, Pot Luck, BYOB. Open House: Sheri and Mike Gaines, details will be emailed to the club. Mineral Meeting: Postponed until Nov. 28, 2012. January's Speaker: Club's NMSU scholarship recipient, Sarah Machin.

Program Notes - Nov. 16, 2012

Mike Gaines Club Member Mike Gaines, a retired science teacher, spoke to us on the historic Missoula Floods which are the worlds greatest scientifically documented floods. It wasnt just one flood but a series of some forty different occurrences that happened some twelve to fifteen thousand years ago. They covered a vast area in what are now Oregon, Montana and Washington.

USGS Map of the flood area

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In 1923 J. Harlen Bretz (1882-1981) came up with the theory that the only thing that could have formed the Scablands and deep gorges could have been catastrophic floods. It took until the 1956 before his theory was vindicated. It was an aerial photo that vindicated Bretz. It was taken in Montana and showed ripple marks, huge ripple marks. They showed a wave length of 2 to 500, a height of 50 feet and were some 3 l/2 miles long. It wasnt until seen from the air that they were recognized for what they were. Here are a few of the facts that Mike told us about this area that show a flood was involved: A finger of the Cordilleran ice sheet crept southward blocking the Clark Fork River and creating a 2,000 ice dam behind which was created the Glacial Lake Missoula which was some two hundred miles long. When this dam broke the water would rush out at a rate 10 times that of the combined flow of all the rivers of the world. Missoula River has bench marks 2,000 feet high. Scablands were scoured out of all soft material leaving only the basalt. This basalt is the second largest basalt flow in the world and is a couple of hundred miles wide. The Columbia Gorge was formed in forty to sixty hours of water flowing time. Pebble Pile A pile of river polished pebbles sitting on the edge of the river. It is sixty to seventy wide, one hundred fifty feet long and sixty feet high. This material was deposited on the river bank by an ice berg. Erratic stones (twenty ton boulders) found scattered around the Willamette Valley. These huge boulders came from Montana some 500 miles away. Hanging Valley Waterfall is an indicator of a catastrophic flood. Mike did a great job explaining the process that created this huge area. He created a lot of interest from the club with their many questions. I googled it for more information and found that there is a profusion of information to be had. One site follows:
For further information: http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Glossary/Glaciers/IceSheets/desc ription_lake_missoula.html Good info on the floods. Also Google has many websites concerning the Missoula Floods.

Reminders & Gen. Info

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL The next meeting will be as usual on the third Friday of the month, Jan.18th in Room 118, Gardiner Hall on the NMSU campus, 6:30 PM for socializing and 7 PM for the meeting. Our speaker will be Sarah Machin, a recipient of the club scholarship. The membership dues issue will be up for a vote at this meeting so be sure to attend. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who sent me articles and information and offered suggestions this past year. It was all much appreciated. LeRoy sent in the following item: The Doa Ana Archaeological Society will meet at 7 PM Tuesday, 8 January 2013, at the Good Samaritan Auditorium, 3011 Buena Vida Circle, Las Cruces. James Hester, Professor Emeritus, University of Colorado, will give a slide based presentation Adventures in Archaeology. He will share the unique events he experienced while doing Archaeology in the field for over forty years. The meeting is free and open to the public. Info 575-524-9497.

ROCKHOUNDS ARE FUNNY

The price of a steak may dismay them, and they may often pass it by, then turn around and spend more per pound on a rock! A Rockhound cant eat the rock, but will proudly display it, dust it, brag about it and then saw it up and polish it to perfection. Rockhounds have been known to move dirty dishes out of the sink so they can wash their rocks. They seem to find Rockhounding therapeutic. If they feel droopy or are moping around their house, if you ask them, theyll go rock picking with you because no matter what is ailing them, all the ailments are miraculously gone and they feel much better when theyre out amongst the rocks! Rockhounds will walk for miles in search of a good specimen, climb mountains and go down into gullies. They get hot, tired and bug-bitten but still continue on for that one special rock. Sometimes they will find their best specimen right next to the tire of their car at the end of the day. Rockhounds are geologist, mineralogist and paleontologist wannabes. They are interested in everything and are interesting themselves. They are curious, humorous, talented, skillful and all around wonderful people, who wear old shoes, fantastic hats, worn out jeans, and a big smile! via the Rockhound Record Nov. 05

Lettin the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easiern puttin it back. Will Rogers

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The 2012 Gemcrafters Christmas Party

The Party was another resounding success. The Pot Luck was delicious with more than enough to go around. Brecken managed the gift exchange and although it was fast and fun I missed the Chinese exchange (?). Maybe next year? Many thanks go to our Hosts Pat and Tony. Their home was fun filled with Christmas trees and decorations. We all got a chance to see Tonys very neat rock collection. I tried to get everyones pictures but I didnt get them all and I apologize to those who were missed. I will try to do better next year.

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By Kathy Fuller

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Hachita Campout Nov. 1-4, 2012

guys left. This was disconcerting. I like to think the only people we run into out in the boonies are all good guys. Thank goodness Sylvia was there or there would most likely have been a theft or two.

On Thursday, November 1, 2012, the Mauers and Fullers headed to Old Hachita to secure a camping spot for the club. The first evening was very mild and we did not have a fire. There was a fierce game of Dominoes played after dinner with Eric winning and I wont say who the loser was with a capital L. Friday morning we learned Mitch had twisted his bad ankle (an old war injury or was it a motorcycle injury?). Eric and Kathy headed west to explore old mining campsites. I ran into two border patrol agents on horseback that were very friendly. They said the main problem in that area was illegal drug loads, not so much illegal immigration. While we were gone Brecken arrived as did Don and Cookie, Dirk (a friend of Jim Huffs) who incidentally had a really neat Rubicon with a special tent (see photos). Others arriving on Friday were Ron and Sylvia Schade and Al Spencer. Breckens friend, Art arrived late Friday evening, but managed to make happy hour. All these were campers. Everyone headed out to their own destinations. Some looked at the old ruins; some looked for minerals and others relics of the mining days. Pat Mauer did a lot of sewing/quilting with a hand crank machine. Mitch made use of his time in camp by fletching arrowheads. Saturday the day trippers arrived to include Maxine and Jim, Bill and Patty, Al and Brenda and Dave Crumley from Deming and his buddy. Once again everyone went in different directions. Some wanted to experience some four-wheeling so followed Brecken to Sylvanite and Livermore Springs. Don and Cookie collected minerals near camp and the Fullers went to Pot Hook and old railroad siding as well as other locations. Lots of neat specimens were shared at happy hour that evening. Eric and I found some old coins and other mining artifacts. We had a camp fire that evening with wood brought by the Mauers and Fullers. It was a calm evening and the smoke generally went straight up. We did have the Mauers close their windows in case of uncooperative winds. The food spread was outstanding as usual. The list would be too long to list, but no one went hungry! I counted twelve campers and eight day trippers. A good turnout for sure! Sunday everyone once again dispersed to various locations and everyone departed for home at different times. Eric and I were the second to the last to leave. We spoke with Sylvia Shadde who had remained in camp with their four (4!) Chihuahuas (they have 8 total). She advised some guys eyed their generator which was placed away from their RV. They also eyed our trailer. Sylvia came out from her trailer and the

As you can see not everyone hunts rocks, some stay in camp and sew on the old crank machine as does Pat Mauer Mitch Mauer photo

Dirk Keelers Rig

The Cameo that Kathy found Kathy Fuller photo

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Not to be out done by wife Kathy, Eric found this bottle Kathy Fuller photo

Epidote Seam

Kathy likes BIG fires, Brenda and Alan Gadberry watching

Life is hard in the desert

And, of course, the required group photo (Someone took this on my camera, cant remember who, sorry)

Big Rock with Epidote To darn big to haul to the Bronco

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MINERAL MTG. Nov. 26, 2012

There were eleven attendees present at the meeting. Don talked about rare earth minerals and radioactivity. As several people had brought some things they wanted checked, he got out the Geiger counter. It was interesting to see the variations of signals that the counter sent out on these mostly common looking pieces. Valarie Peebles had brought some rocks that she wanted checked for fluorescence. Cookie got out their ultraviolet mineral lights to check them and which led to flats of her collection being brought out. We had a good time looking at the bright and varied colors brought out under the ultraviolet lights. Don explained fluorescence to us amongst all the ohhs and ahhs.

The same rocks under normal light (above) and then under the black lights (below). Amazing.......

Cookie, Larry Howell, Angela & Val Peebles & Kristine Kitchens.

Brecken was, as usual, using the microscope to check out material he had collected in his quest for precious metals namely gold. One very small nugget, barely visible with the naked eye that I looked at was so large and so beautiful under the micro. Isnt Mother Nature wonderful? Thank you Don and Cookie for all the time and energy you spend on us. Its much appreciated.

Some of Cookies collection

Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the Government take care of him, better take a closer look at the American Indian." - Henry Ford

Gemcrafters and Explorers Club UV Light & Fluorescent Minerals

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Mercury, Lead, Boron, Titanium; Manganese; and Chromium to mention a few. Quenchers of fluorescent light are Iron; Nickel; Copper; and Cobalt. The presence of these elements in even minute amounts can reduce or eliminate fluorescence in minerals. While in a few rare exceptions, like Copper Iodide, which is fully 1/3 copper, it will fluoresce brilliant red in longwave UV light. So it never hurts to give a specimen a try. Common mineral groups likely to fluoresce are Sheelite; Willemite; Apatites; Calcite; Dolomite; Aragonite; Uranium Group; Zinc minerals; and Lead minerals. Gemstones that fluoresce are Amber; occasionally Beryl; Corundum, ie. Ruby; Diamond; Spinel; Topaz; Zircon; Chalcedony; Opal; Quartz. Locations where fluorescent minerals can be found are Franklin and Sterling New Jersey with world renowned deposits. Oregon and Wyoming thunder egg deposits; Opal deposits in Nevada; Sheelite deposits in Arizona; Fluorite from Ohio; Uranium from New Jersey; and minerals found around hot springs in Texas and California. When cleaning minerals, be sure the soap used to clean them does not fluoresce. Also be sure the glue used to display fluoresce minerals does not fluoresce. I hope this might open up a new area of mineral interest for you. GOOD HUNTING!!!! Via Little Gems 9-2007

The hobby of collecting and enjoying fluorescent minerals is of recent origin. It really got its birth as the result of the search for strategic mineral ores during and after World War II. Thomas Warren founded UV Products Company just as Roosevelt was elected in 1932. He had to petition Congress to allow him to continue to buy ample supplies of copper and steel during WW II so he could produce UV bulbs. They were being used to find deposits of Sheelite, a much needed Tungsten mineral. Now let's take a look at UV Light. We have invisible light at both ends of the visible light spectrum. Our visible light lies in the range of 400nm to 700nm, an nm (nanometer) being 1/1,000,000 of a meter, Violet light being at 400nm and Red light being at 700nm. Infrared light lies beyond 700nm, and while invisible, it is sensed as heat. UV or ultraviolet light lies below 400nm, and while invisible, it is the spectrum of light that gives you sunburn. The UV light useful for a mineral collection is between 400nm and 250nm. Longwave UV light, also known as black light lies between 400nm and 350nm. Short wave UV light lies between 300nm and 250nm. While both types of UV light are produced by the sun, only Longwave UV light reaches the Earth, with Short wave UV light being absorbed by the atmosphere. The middle range of UV light, especially around 310nm is the sunburn causing light, it also activates it. D and provides bactericidal action. Most fluorescent minerals fluoresce most brilliantly in shortwave UV light. Shortwave UV light can be harmful to the eyes with anything beyond limited exposure. The shortwave bulb uses a vacuum tube filed with Argon gas to which a small drop of Mercury has been added. The tube must be made of high silica glass or quartz since sw UV light will not pass through most glass or plastic. A 40W incandescent light bulb would be considered dim, where at 15W sw UV light is capable of lighting up a whole mineral display. Minerals that fluoresce have an atomic structure that will respond to UV light. Most solids and nearly all minerals are arranged in a precise 3 dimensional array. As minerals crystallize on earth, it is common for stray elements to become incorporated as impurities. These are important because they cause a mineral that would not normally fluoresce to fluoresce. Such an impurity is called an activator. These impurities allow electrons in the atoms of the mineral to absorb energy from the UV light. The electrons then jump to a higher orbit. When they give up their energy and fall back to the lower orbit, they give off light and a minute amount of heat. This light is what we see as fluorescence. Common activators are Tungstate; Molybdate; and Uranyl ions.

UVTools M100 Ultraviolet Light Kit

M100 Enhanced Kit with Shortwave Light, Safety Glasses, Longwave Tube and 3 Fluorescent Specimens

Reviewer's Note: I recently acquired a UV Tools M100, an ultraviolet light regularly priced under $100 that has caught my eye in terms of features and performance for its price. The M100 is a battery powered field light employing a 9 inch, 6 watt shortwave ultraviolet tube in conjunction with a quartz filter as its ultraviolet light source. The M100 comes packaged as a standard kit that includes a pair of polycarbonate safety glasses and a fluorescent mineral specimen.

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This light will serve nicely as an entry level ultraviolet source for rockhounds with a developing interest in fluorescent minerals and will also make an excellent educational gift. The science underlying the phenomena of fluorescence in minerals runs deep. There is also a good deal of "wow lookit that" factor here, and so I am keen on ultraviolet lights and fluorescent minerals as vehicles for stimulating and involving inquiring minds in the science part of Earth science. The overall dimensions of the M100 are approximately 10 1/2" long x 2 5/8" high x 1 3/4" wide. Loaded with batteries the M100 weighs 1 pound, 6 1/2 ounces. The M100 is compact and light enough to stow and field carry in a small day pack or a belt pack with a large carry pouch when not in use. An adjustable carry strap is incorporated for field use. The above advertisement is not an endorsement of the product but supplied here for the interest of our club. The review was conducted by the staff at Rock N Gem website. For more information go www.uvtools.com .

angle. Then apply whatever abrasive grit you will need for the job or hold a strip of sandpaper around the end. Loose grit can be held onto the tip with a bit of Vaseline or oil. Tripoli or rouge can be just rubbed onto the end of the chopstick. More Bench Tips by Brad Smith are at: facebook.com/BenchTips/ or yahoogroups.com/group/BenchTips/

"Bench Tips for Jewelry Making" by Brad is now

available as an e-book for Kindle and Nook readers. Free apps allow it to be read on most phones, tablets, and home computers. The book can be found at several locations:

Kindle edition - www.amazon.com/dp/B00A5ELDRU Nook - www.bn.com/w/?ean=2940015848915 Print www.createspace.com/3976439

Bench Tips From Brad Smith

OCHRE APPLICATOR Yellow ochre is used when you want to be sure the solder will not flow onto an area of your piece while you're soldering on another area. The only problem with ochre is coming up with a good way to store and apply it. I like recycled nail polish bottles. They seal well and have a built-in brush. Just clean them out with a little acetone or nail polish remover, and they are ready to go. SANDING/POLISHING IN TIGHT PLACES Often you'll need to sand or polish an area that's impossible to reach with even a small wheel on a flexshaft. Other times it might be the bottom of a pocket or inside bottom corner of a box that needs to be finished. One trick for these nit-picky jobs may be left over from your last Chinese dinner - a chopstick. I've found quite a few uses for these in the shop. Prepare the tip by simply sawing it off at a 45 degree Dendrites are perhaps the most common geological oddity. They usually resemble a tiny fern frond. The term Dendritic refers to a branching figure. They are usually formed in thin hard-bedded shale and limestone. Concentrations of black manganese oxide percolate into the cracks leaving behind dendrites.
via BEMS Tumbler, 5/06; via Gneiss Times, 4/06; via The Glacial Drifter, 5-6/96; from The Fossil Enquirer, 1/89

Gemcrafters and Explorers Club UP COMING SHOW Dates:

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JAN.19-20FREDERICKSBURG, TEXAS: Annual show; Fredericksburg Rockhounds; Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park; Pioneer Pavilion, 1601 S. Hwy. 16; Sat. 9-6, Sun. 10-5; free admission; hourly door prizes, fossils, geodes, exotic minerals, meteorites, gems, jewelry, findings, "mystery" rock identification; contact Jeff or Brenda Smith, 208 Castle Pines Dr., Kerrville, TX 78028; e-mail: jeffbrenda@ktc.com ; Web site: www.fredericksburgrockhounds.org FEB. 2-17TUCSON, ARIZONA: Wholesale and retail show; The Rock Show; Kino Sports Complex; 2500 E. Ajo Way; Daily 9:305:30; free admission; minerals, jewelry, cabs, slabs, beads, lapidary equipment, rough rock, crystals; contact Trym Gibbons, PO Box 246, Cortaro, AZ 85652, (800) 983-0133; e-mail: rockshowtucson@gmail.com FEB. 14-17--TUCSON, ARIZONA: 59TH Annual Tucson Gem & Mineral Show, Tucson Convention Center. For more information visit www.tgms.org FEB. 16-17MESA, ARIZONA: 47th annual show; Apache Junction Rock & Gem Club; Skyline High School; 845 S. Crismon Rd.; Sat. 9-5, Sun. 10-4; adults $3, students with ID $1, children (12 and under) free; dealers, jewelry, gems, cabochons, beads, rocks, specimens, slabs, fossils, lapidary equipment and supplies, hourly door prizes, silent auction, grand raffle, gem tree-making activity, Wheel of Rocks; contact Kelly Iverson, (480) 325-2705; Web site: www.ajrockclub.com \ FEB. 23-24LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO: Annual show; Friends of the Museum; Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum; 4100 Dripping Springs Rd.; Sat. 8-5, Sun. 10-5; adults $4, children (under 4) free; gems, minerals, fossils, jewelry; contact Diane McMellen, (575) 522-1232; e-mail: Diane@HelpingHandsEvents.com ; Web site: www.LCMuseumRocks.com MAR. 7-10DEMING, NEW MEXICO: 48th Annual Rockhound Roundup Gem & Mineral Show and Sale; Deming Gem & Mineral Society; SWNM Fairgrounds; 4200 Raymond Reed; Thu. 9-5, Fri. 9-5, Sat. 9-5, Sun. 9-5; free admission; jewelry and rock-related items, displays, demonstrations, spinning wheel, geode cutting, guided field trips, children's corner, silent auction, live auction, door prizes, cash raffle; contact Maurice Crawford, 713 W. Spruce St. PMB 726, Deming, NM 88030, (575) 546-0056; e-mail: thedgms@gmail.com ; Web site: www.dgms.bravehost.com MAR. 15-17ALBUQEURQUE, NEW MEXICO: Annual show; Albuquerque Gem & Mineral Club; Albuquerque State Fairgrounds, Expo NM; 300 San Pedro NE, enter from San Pedro at Copper St.; Fri. 10-6, Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5; adults $3, $1 Fri., children (under 13) free; 45 dealers, exhibits, minerals, fossils, jewelry, crystals, cut stones, displays, books, raffles, silent auction, door prizes, Creative Arts Center; contact Paul Hlava, (505) 265-4178; e-mail: paulhlava@q.com ; Web site: www.agmc.info

For further information or shows please check: www.rockngem.com Who knows, there just might be a good rock show in the area of your travels.

Thought for the Day: There are worse things than getting a call for a wrong

number at 4 AM. It could be a right number.

Some Interesting Web Sites for you to Check Out

think others might be interested in and I will pass them along..

Please send me any of your favorites that you

http://www.rockhounds.com/rockshop/rockkey/index.html Key to identifing rocks. http://geology.about.com/od/nutshells/u/pathbasics.htm All kinds of info on geology.

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Gemcrafters & Explorers Club, P.O. Box 3091, Las Cruces, NM 88003
Affiliated with: Member of: Member of: American Federation of Mineralogical Societies Rocky Mountain Federation of Mineralogical Societies Blue Ribbon Coalition www.amfed.org www.rmfms.org www.sharetrails.org

2012 OFFICERS & volunteers:

President Vice President Treasurer Secretary Refreshments Historian Program Director EditorCookie Saathoff Sheri Gaines Pat Grace Brenda Gadberry Patti Pickert Don Saathoff Eric Fuller Maxine Wyman 382-3464 495-0248 202-2862 202-0200 532-9351 382-3464 524-0204 649-4900 imaginethattoo@comcast.net sheriagaines@gmail.com tony.nunez.pat@gmail.com brendagadberry@comcast.net wpickert@Q.com auagte2@comcast.net ghosthiker@gmail.com gambrisina@gmail.com

We meet on the third Friday of the month at Gardiner Hall, Room 118, NMSU campus, Las Cruces, NM at 6:30 pm for social and 7 pm for the meeting. There are no meetings in July and December. Dues are $10 per person per year and each additional family member is $2 per year. They are due Jan.1st of each year. A membership form will be emailed or mailed to you in December to be filled out and returned with your check to the treasurer.

Our purpose shall be to gather knowledge and provide educational benefits to members on geological, archaeological, lapidary, and mineralogical topics of interest, to include assistance to members in all lapidary problems, the study and identification of minerals and gem stones in the rough, the field study of geological formations which produce minerals and gem stones, the collection of minerals and gemstones, and the exploration of any geological or archaeological topic or area which may be of interest to the membership.

NOTE: All articles and photographs are by the Editor Maxine Wyman unless otherwise noted. Any address or email changes must be sent to me at: gambrisina@gmail.com or 4680 St. Michaels, Las Cruces, NM 88011.
Permission to reprint is granted if acknowledgement is given. We reserve the right to edit all material submitted for publication

Info for the Newsletter:

If you have information, articles, pictures or a website related to gem crafting, rock collecting or exploring and would like to share please give me a call at 649-4900 or email me at gambrisina@gmail.com If you have a good idea or story to tell I will be more than happy to help you write it up. Also if you have minerals, outdoor or camping equipment, etc. that you would like to sell please let me know for our FREE "Classifieds." Maxine Wyman, Editor