Volume 4, Issue 5 October 2009

WELCOME BACK TO ALL OUR

P.O. Box 234
SOJOURNERS!!!
Needles, CA 92363

Editor:
Barbara Wiggins
bartobra@yahoo.com

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

NEXT CLUB MEETING
October 19 at 6:00 p.m. PDT 2 Club Information
3 Refreshments Schedule/Upcoming Shows
First Baptist Church 4 A few Minutes about Minutes
1421 Commercial St. 5 Trivially Speaking!!!!/Young Gem and Mineral Collector Earns Big
Mohave Valley, AZ Prize
6 How to become a Fossil/Malachite
Usually 3rd Monday of each 7 Crabby Old Man
month, Oct-May 8 Tote that Rock - Lift that Toolbag/Decline of the Rockhounding
Hobby
BOARD MEETING 10 Report on Claims Seminar
11 How to Make Rock Bugs and Spiders
30 minutes before Club 12 Hints ‘n Such
meeting each month 13 Upcoming Field Trips & Events/Trivially Speaking answers/Gem
ID/Rockhounds Live Forever/This ‘n’ That
Blue Agate News Needles Gem & Mineral Club October 2009

NGMC INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW

THE OBJECTIVES OF NGMC Membership per person: $15.00 year
Name Badge: $ 3.75
To promote public interest in collecting and Field Trip Fee: $ 1.00
studying rocks and minerals. “No Badge” fine: 25¢
To preserve and perpetuate the lapidary arts.
To provide field trips to obtain lapidary FIELD TRIP GUIDELINES - NGMC
material and minerals for preservation and
display. • Leader will state approximately how far,
To provide an opportunity for the purchase, road conditions, and if 4WD is required when
exchange and exhibition of specimens and each field tripper signs in.
materials. • Each car is to keep the car behind in sight
and STOP if the car is not in sight (unless
The NGMC meets the third Monday of each otherwise stated by the leader).
month from October through May at 6:00 • Field trippers will notify the leader if they
p.m. Pacific Time unless otherwise notified. are hiking or driving to another site and their
approximate return time.
NGMC - 2009 • Field trippers will notify the leader if they
President: Ann Ferguson 928-768-7150
are leaving the group and sign out (with time).
Vice President: Allan Reed 928-763-3511 • Members wear name badges.
Treasurer: Lori Clary 928-234-3391 • Handheld radios: stay on Channel 6
Secretary: Sally Hayward 928-768-7437
Past President: Corinne More 760-326-5005 The Blue Agate News is published monthly
Past President: Barb Ballard 928-768-6335 except June, July, August and September.
Auditor: Ramona Peterson 928-854-1853 Articles are requested to be to the editor by
Facilities Chair: Faith Reed 928-763-3511
Field Trip Chair: Bob Ferguson 928-768-7150
the 15th of each month, preferably by email
Membership Chair: Gisela New 928-768-5640 at bartobra@yahoo.com. The Blue Agate
Refreshments Chair: Faith Reed 928-763-3511 News is also published via email - if you have
Sgt at Arms: Pat New 928-768-5640 internet, please share your address with the
Sunshine Chair: Barb Ballard 928-768-6335 Secretary. This saves the club money and
Newsletter Editor: Barbara Wiggins
you will have the newsletter immediately. The
HONORARY LIFETIME MEMBERS Newsletter is in PDF format, so it will be
necessary to download Adobe Reader (free
George Truitt program) in order to view the newsletter. You
Norma Truitt can also view the newsletter on line at
Myrna Givens http://needlesgemmineralclub.blog spot.com/.
Corinne More
The Blog (Web Log) – Blue Agate News
Membership dues are payable at the Online is free and can be updated frequently
November meeting and delinquent after October through May. If you have information
January 1. Please send dues to the official you want posted, please email it to Sally at
Club address on the first page of this rockhound.ngmc@gmail.com or sign up to
Newsletter, attention: Treasurer. contribute directly to the Blog. You may
access the Blog at: http://needlesgem
This Club is a member of the California mineralclub.blogspot.com/
Federation of Mineralogical Societies (CFMS)
http://www.cfmsinc.org/.

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Blue Agate News Needles Gem & Mineral Club
Refreshments Schedule
October 2009 –
November 2009 -- Paula A. & Gisela N.
December – Christmas Party Pot Luck
UPCOMING SHOWS
Oct 4--FALLBROOK, CA: Show, "Fall Festival
Of Gems"; Fallbrook Gem & Mineral Society;
Fallbrook Gem & Mineral Society & Museum,
123 W. Alvarado St.; Sun. 10-4; free
admission; vendors, raffle, silent auction,
wheel of fortune, gem ID, gold panning,
geode cracking, museum and gift shop open;
contact Mary Fong-Walker, 123 W. Alvarado
St., Fallbrook, CA 92028, (760) 728-1130; e-
mail: ikonmining@gmail.com; Web site:
www.FGMS.org
Oct 10-11--PAYSON, AZ: 12th annual show;
Payson Rimstones Rock Club; Mazatzal Hotel
& Casino Event Center - Bingo Hall, Tonto
Apache Reservation; adults $3, children
under 12 free; discount tickets available at
Payson Chamber of Commerce, Payson
Library, Parks & Recreation Office; contact
Barry Jones, (928) 476-3513
Oct 10-11--SIERRA VISTA, AZ: 35th annual
show; Huachuca Mineral & Gem Club; Elks
Lodge, Wilcox Ave., 1 block east of Buffalo
Soldier Trail; Sat. 9-6, Sun. 9-4; free
admission; live demonstrations, educational
displays, gems, jewelry, fossils, equipment,
lapidary supplies; contact Ingrid Baillie, P.O.
Box 1596, Sierra Vista, AZ 85636, (520) 459-
3718; e-mail: ibaillie@cox.net
Oct 10-11--TRONA, CA: Show, "Gem-O-
Rama"; Searles Lake Gem & Mineral Society;
SLGM Show Bldg., 13337 Main St.; Sat. 7:30-
5, Sun. 7:30-4; free admission; three field
3
October 2009
trips to Searles Lake to collect saline
minerals, mineral dealers, exhibits, tour of
Searles Valley Minerals manufacturing plants,
geode cutting and sales, sphere-making
demonstration, hourly prizes, grand prize
drawing; contact Jim & Bonnie Fairchild,
84830 12th St., Trona, CA 93562, (760) 372-
5356; e-mail: slgms@iwvisp.com; Web site:
www1.iwvisp.com/tronagemclub/
Oct 17-18--SEDONA, AZ: 9th annual show;
Sedona Gem & Mineral Club; Sedona Red
Rock High School, 995 Upper Red Rock Loop
Rd.; Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4; free admission;
speakers, kids' crafts, meteorite and other
displays, raffles, mineral identification, sphere
making and other demonstrations, rocks,
gemstones, minerals, fossils, beads, jewelry;
contact Pat McMahon, P.O. Box 3284,
Sedona, AZ 86340, (928) 300-8333; e-mail:
pdxprss@earthlink.net; Web site:
www.sedonagemandmineral.org
Oct 30--HENDERSON (LAS VEGAS), NV:
Wholesale show; Rings & Things; Fri. 12-4;
Henderson Convention Center (Ballroom
A/B), 200 S. Water St.; contact Dave
Robertson, (800) 366-2156; Web site:
www.rings-things.com/Show/
Nov 1--SCOTTSDALE (PHOENIX), AZ:
Wholesale show; Rings & Things; Chaparral
Suites Resort Scottsdale (Conference
Center), 5001 N. Scottsdale Rd.; Sun. 1-5;
contact Dave Robertson, (800) 366-2156;
Web site: www.rings-things.com/Show/
Nov 3--SAN DIEGO, CA: Wholesale show;
Rings & Things; Mission Valley Resort Hotel
(Ballroom), 875 Hotel Circle S; Tue. 1-5;
contact Dave Robertson, (800) 366-2156;
Web site: www.rings-things.com/Show/
Non 4--BUENA PARK, CA: Wholesale show;
Rings & Things; Knott's Berry Farm Resort
Hotel, 7675 Crescent Ave.; Wed. 1-5; contact
Dave Robertson, (800) 366-2156; Web site:
www.rings-things.com/Show/
Blue Agate News Needles Gem & Mineral Club
A FEW MINUTES ABOUT MINUTES
By Barbara Florio Graham
It's the part of any meeting that causes attendees
to yawn, stare out the window, or go to the back
of the room to refill their coffee cups. The reading
of the minutes of the last meeting seems so
unnecessary. If you attended the last meeting,
you already know what happened, and if you
weren't there, you probably heard about any
significant decisions soon afterwards.
Who cares? Why do we bother with minutes
anyway?
You may not realize that minutes are an official,
legal record of each meeting of an organization,
and the charter of your organization may require
that minutes be taken, transcribed, and then
signed by the President or Vice-President to
authenticate that they represent what actually
took place.
It's often a thankless job, but the secretary who
takes minutes has a larger responsibility than she
may understand. Official records of decisions that
were made and individuals elected or appointed
to handle specific tasks are essential to trace an
organization's history and progress.
History? Yes, history. Researchers often discover
amazing tidbits in the minutes of a long-defunct
organization, clues to the customs of the times,
the personalities involved in a heated discussion,
and the influence exercised by individuals who
later became famous in a totally unrelated field.
How much should you record, and is there an
easy way to accomplish this?
It’s important for minutes to include a few basic
items:
1. The full date (include the year!) location,
and time of the meeting.
2. Full names of everyone attending.
3. Who presided over the meeting (it isn't
always the President).
4. Titles of officers present who contribute to
important decisions, as it makes a difference
whether a significant change in procedure is
4
October 2009
suggested by someone on the executive board
or a brand new member who may not
understand that this change was tried before
and didn't work.
5. Motions made, the name of the person
making the motion and the seconder, and the
outcome of the vote.
If the secretary is vigilant about recording
seconders, she can remind the Chair if he forgets
to ask for someone to second the motion. The
easiest way to do this is to use a separate piece
of paper to record each motion. If you prepare a
bunch of these in advance, you will have the
same headings on each: Motion:, Made by:,
Seconder:, then a space for discussion, with room
further down the sheet if the motion is amended,
and a line at the very top of the sheet where you
record Motion Passed or Defeated, the number of
Yeas, Nays and Abstentions. These sheets
should be dated, so in case they're separated
from the body of the minutes, they can be easily
and quickly retrieved.
When a motion is amended and the amendment
passes, put a fine line through the original motion
(so it's still readable) and a check mark beside the
amended motion. If the amendment is defeated,
draw a line through that instead.
Do minutes have to be boring? Not necessarily.
It's important for the secretary not to add her own
interpretation of things, which might distort the
validity of the minutes, but it's certainly
permissible to say "a lively discussion ensued,
with Mr. J. insisting that this change would
improve attendance."
If the discussion includes angry outbursts, you
might say it "became heated," but it's never wise
to quote insults.
In fact, direct quotations are almost never
necessary, except for the wording of motions and
perhaps a colorful or meaningful phrase that's
worth recording.
Put yourself in the shoes of the person listening to
the minutes being read. Are they short, succinct
and yet complete? How about if you were
searching old records in preparation to write a
biography. How much insight might you gain by
Blue Agate News Needles Gem & Mineral Club
reading archived minutes of the meetings he
chaired?
One more point. I've been involved on a couple of
occasions where the Chairman of the meeting told
the secretary to change the minutes. Unless the
secretary acknowledges having made an error
(such as the correct spelling of a proper name, or
some other fact) this is a serious situation that
shouldn't be ignored. The secretary is under a
legal obligation to report accurately what took
place, and no one, not even the Chairman, has
the authority to change that. Secretaries have quit
in protest under those circumstances.
That's why, after the minutes are read, you're
asked if there are an "corrections or omissions."
That's when those who were at the previous
meeting, including the Chairman, have a chance
to object. Otherwise, the minutes "stand as read,"
and pass into history.
Barbara Florio Graham is the author of Five Fast
Steps to Better Writing, Five Fast Steps to Low-
Cost Publicity, and Mewsings/Musings. She can
be reached via her website: www.Simon
Teakettle.com
TRIVIALLY SPEAKING!!!!
1. What gem is traditionally known as the
"Gem of Spring?"
2. What is the official state gemstone of
Alaska?
3. Where does the U.S. Government keep its
supply of silver?
4. A lump of pure gold the size of a matchbox
can be flattened into a sheet the size of which
of the following: a tennis court, a basketball
court or a football field?
5. What is known as the "Gem of the Gods?"
6. What distinction does the dinosaur,
"micropachycephalosaurus" hold?
7. What is known as the "Stone of Courage?"
Source: The Rockhound, 1/2009
Answers on page 13
5
October 2009
Young Gem and Mineral Collector
Earns Big Prize
by Erich Grundel
The Intel (formerly Westinghouse) Science Talent
Search is the premier forum for showcasing
America's future leaders in scientific research.
High school students from throughout the country
compete for scholarships based on their science
projects. These projects are typically conducted
at government or university laboratories and are
on a level of those conducted by senior
investigators. Traditionally the winners have
come from just a few disciplines: biology,
chemistry, mathematics and physics. This year
may have produced a first: a top place prize on a
project in the earth and planetary science
category that looked at the properties of a popular
gemstone mineral.
Gabriela Farfan is a high school senior from
Madison, Wisconsin. She is a member of a local
club and is particularly interested in minerals and
gems. One mineral that caught her eye is
"Oregon Sunstone", the state rock. This is a
feldspar that usually has a red color and can
display a schiller. It has been known that the
color is due to copper inclusions. Gabriella was
curious as to why some of the specimens from the
Dust Devil mine in Oregon looked red from one
angle and green from another.
Using x-ray diffraction, optical microscopy and
electron microscopy she found the answer.
Present in the host crystal are also inclusions of
zinc. Gabriela's theory is that there are aligned
nano-scale metal platelet inclusions which, when
viewed from different angles, give rise to the
observed colors. Gabriela also presented this last
year work at a meeting of the Gemological
Institute of America (GIA). For this work Intel
presented her with a $20,000 scholarship.
References:
http://www.scisvc.org/sts/68sts/FarFan.asp
http://geology.about.com/b/2009/03/27/congratula
tionsgabriela-farfan.htm
Source: The Rockhounder, 5/2009, via The
RockCollector, 5/2009
Blue Agate News Needles Gem & Mineral Club
HOW TO BECOME A FOSSIL
Freezing: Leaves the creature much as it was in
life. Its arteries may still contain dried blood. The
Ice Age mammoths of Siberia and Alaska froze.
Drying or Desiccation: Best known are the
camels and sloths in our southwest caves.
Wax and Asphalt: Natural paraffin makes an
excellent preservative. Many specimens have
been found in Polish mines. The most famous
asphalt fossils were found in the California La
Brea Tar Pits (la brea means the tar).
Simple Burial: English bogs are famous for their
buried forests. Sand dollars are mollusks, some of
which were preserved this way for up to 75 million
years.
Carbonization: Incomplete decay of volatile
substances leaves carbon behind, sometimes
reducing organisms to paper thin layers of shiny
black film that reveal much detail.
Tracks, Trails and Burrows: Dinosaur tracks are
the most famous of these. In Nebraska, the
Devil's Corkscrew once housed a beaver who dug
an eight foot spiral hole.
Castings and Coprolite: Ancient worms
swallowed sand to help digest small organisms,
then regurgitated these castings. Coprolite is a
polite word for petrified dung.
Gastrolites: Many ancient reptiles ground their
food with these stones (as do modern fowl). The
stones are rounded, smoothes, and even polished
at times and are known as gizzard stones.
Petrification: Our common stony fossils got that
way by mineralization, the replacement of
structure by dissolved minerals, or by secondary
replacement, such as when limey fossils are
dissolved and replaced by silica.
Molds and Casts: Natural molds in sediment
remain after organisms decay. Sandstone beds
reveal molds of shells and trees. The finest molds
are Northern European amber, which have
perfectly preserved insects.
6
October 2009
Imprints: Sandstone, shale and tuff reveal
external molds of very thin objects such as
leaves. Best known are the Illinois Coal Age plant
imprints.
Source: Numerous bulletins, original authors/
sources unknown via The Rock Bag, 3/1998, via
Rockhound Rambling, 5/2009
MALACHITE
Great care must be exercised in working with
malachite as it is poisonous in its raw state.
Never lick it to see the color. If you wet your
finger to apply it to the stone, do not put your
finger back in your mouth. Grind malachite
wet and wear a mask. When cutting it on the
saw, do not get the contaminated oil on your
skin. If you do, cleanse the affected skin
immediately.
If you smoke, you can tell very easily if you
are inhaling malachite dust because the
smoke will taste sickeningly sweet. The
reason for this sweet taste is that the copper
oxide dust mixes with the moisture in the
mouth, and this combination reacts with the
tar of the tobacco, turning it into saccharin, an
artificial sweetener.
When working with Malachite, saw about 10
degrees away from directly parallel to the
grain. This way when you are done with the
stone, you will get a bulls-eye effect.
Malachite is a fairly soft stone, try to cut the
slab a little thicker than other material. When
grinding, always wear a breathing mask. This
is toxic material and can make you very ill.
After grinding, sand first on a new 600 grit
sanding belt. For polishing, ZAM on hard felt
is recommended. Give the stone a little extra
time.
Source: RockVein, Winnipeg R&M Club, 4/
2004, via Quarry Quips, 6/2009
Blue Agate News Needles Gem & Mineral Club October 2009

CRABBY OLD MAN

What do you see nurses?.....What do you see?
What are you thinking.....when you're looking at me?
A crabby old man,.....not very wise,
Uncertain of habit.......with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food......and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice...."Oh, I do wish you'd try!"
Who seems not to notice.......the things that you do.
And forever is losing.......A sock or shoe?
Who, resisting or not.......lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding......The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking??? Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse....you're not looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am....... As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding,.........as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of Ten......with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters .......who love one another!
A young boy of Sixteen..........with wings on his feet
Dreaming that soon now.........a lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty-two.........my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows........that I promised to keep.
At Twenty-Five, now..........I have young of my own
Who need me to guide......And secure a happy home.
A man of Thirty...........My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other.........With ties that should last.
At Forty, my young sons.......have grown and are gone,
But my woman's beside me........to see I don't mourn.
At Fifty, once more,..........Babies play 'round my knee,
Again, we know children........My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me..........My wife is now dead.
I look at the future.....I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing.......young of their own.
And I think of the years.....And the love that I've known.
I'm now an old man.........and nature is cruel.
Tis jest to make old age.......look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles..........grace and vigor, depart
There is now a stone......where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass......A young guy still dwells,
And now and again........my battered heart swells.
I remember the joys........I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living........life over again.
I think of the years......all too few.....gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact........that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people.........open and see?.
Not a crabby old man....Look closer...see?........it's ME!!

7
Blue Agate News Needles Gem & Mineral Club
TOTE THAT ROCK - LIFT THAT TOOLBAG
Mel Albright
AFMS Safety Chair
One thing that we rockhounds do a whole bunch -
pick up rocks - little rocks, bigger rocks, and big
rocks. Rocks by themselves, rocks in boxes,
rocks in buckets, rocks in sacks - all are ways we
collect and move rocks. And heavy tool bags are
lifted all too often.
The classic joke picture of rockhounds is a bunch
of people standing with straight legs, bent over at
the waist, and touching the ground with their
hands. It is too often true, unfortunately.
Another thing we rockhounds do is put those
heavy tools and rocks into a vehicle - or take them
out. - often by swinging things.
And - the result is a lot of bad backs, sore backs,
back strains, sometimes even permanently
damaged backs. So, we need to learn - AND
PRACTICE - the proper way to lift and lower
heavy stuff (actually - light stuff, too) without
hurting ourselves. To lift and move something,
several steps should be followed. We'll pretend
we're picking up a rock, but the rules are the
same for ANYTHING we pick up - even our dirty
socks.
1. Stand with your feet apart about shoulder
width, the rock between your feet, and one foot
slightly in front of the other (for balance).
2. Lower yourself by bending your knees until you
can grab the rock. The rock should be close to
your body. Keep your back straight and your chin
tucked in.
3. SLOWLY lift the rock by straightening up your
knees pushing with your leg muscles. Keep the
rock in close to your body. Do NOT twist
sideways.
4. Once standing, DO NOT TWIST your back. To
move the rock sideways, turn with your feet. Keep
the rock in close to your body.
5. Once you get where you are going with the
rock, reverse the steps you used to lift the rock.
Remember - KEEP YOUR BACK STRAIGHT!!
8
October 2009
6. If the rock must go into a trunk or car or
whatever, set it down on the edge keeping a
straight back. Then slide it into the vehicle. Most
of us will bend over at the waist and swing it in - a
sure way to get a bad back!
7. You aren't SUPERMAN OR WOMAN! If the
rock or bucket or bag is too heavy for you to carry
easily, do it another way! Get help. Use a skid
made from a heavy cloth or a wood slat with a
rope tied to the end. Roll the rock using a long
handled tool to pry with. Use your ingenuity!
Source A.F.M.S. Newsletter, 4/1998
DECLINE OF THE ROCKHOUNDING HOBBY
By Ed Tindell
President, CLGMS
I haven't had time to write one of these columns
for the last few months. I've been too busy. Rock
hounding is not all I do. Have you heard that one
before? I suppose it's my excuse as well as
anybody else's for not being more active at times.
I wonder. Let me explain.
I really enjoy job assignments at work that let
me be a consultant. You get to ask a lot of
seemingly stupid questions. Here's one: how
many rock clubs do you belong to? You
belong to our own club or you obviously
wouldn't be reading this. What other rock
clubs do you belong to? There are a lot of
clubs out there that one can belong to. Ok,
so you had to go and look thru your
checkbook to find out which clubs you have
paid dues to in the last twelve months
because you are only counting your active
memberships. Here's another one: how
many of the clubs that you belong to are you
active in? I hate to be the one to tell you this
but active doesn't mean your dues are paid
up. If your dues are paid up that makes you a
member in good standing but that does not
imply that you are an active member. I know
some of you are starting to wince as if in pain
Blue Agate News Needles Gem & Mineral Club
but keep reading this. Honestly answering
stupid questions can be good for the soul.
That's why I like consulting jobs. And I have
a point to make.
One more: what does it mean when you say
you are active in a club? Do you hold an
elected office? Are you currently staffing a
volunteer position? There are a lot more of
those in most clubs than elected officers. Do
you regularly attend the meetings of that
club? Do you write articles for their
newsletter? Do you give short talks or
demonstrations at club meetings? How about
full presentations as the main speaker?
When was the last time you donated a door
prize? Or attended a field trip? Or led one?
Do you help out with their show? Do you
volunteer to put rocks from your collection on
display at libraries and schools when that club
is asked to do so? On a scale of one to ten
how did you do? Be honest.
By now you should know how many clubs you
belong to and how active or inactive you are
in each of them. Now the next time any club
asks you to help out and you tell them that
you are too busy stop and ask yourself: why
am I too busy? Be honest. A few of you, life
situation not withstanding, do everything you
can for all of the clubs you belong too. I tip
my hat to you! Married people are most often
too busy with other non rock hound things.
Spouse, kids, house, cars, work, etc. Single
people tend to fill in all their available free
time with activities of one sort or another and
can stay pretty busy too. Looking for a mate,
road trips, searching for a job, attending
college, etc. All legitimate reasons. I'm guilty
- I have four other hobbies besides rock
hounding and I enjoy them all.
So here is my point: how many of you are too
busy to help out in a club because you are
already too busy helping out in all the other
rock clubs you belong too? I submit to you
that as human beings we are opportunists.
You've heard the old saying, "Sworn to fun,
loyal to none"? Be honest. Was the only
9
October 2009
activity you participated in with a club recently
a field trip or class? When you only actively
participate when a club has something to
offer you but can't recall giving anything back
recently what does that say about your
membership? It's called being a member in
name only. Being a member in name only in
one or more clubs is perhaps a hidden reason
that our hobby is slowly dying. The old guard
is retiring and often not enough new people
are joining to maintain stable yet alone
growing memberships in many clubs across
the country. When that happens the old
80/20 rule, "80% of the work is done by 20%
of the people", changes to 85/15, then 90/10,
etc. When it gets to 100/0 the club dies. Our
club is still fairly large as clubs go with 100
members at last count but despite that we are
like a lot of other clubs that are slowly
heading upwards with the 80/20 rule. With
that said I sometimes wonder how long our
club - or any club for that matter - will
continue to exist.
I believe there is a way to turn this situation
around. We need to change our nature as
human beings from opportunists to loyalist.
Of all the clubs you belong to which are you
most loyal too? If you had to drop your
membership in all the clubs you belong to but
one which would you keep? What if the
mineral federations adopted a one club only
membership rule? Some clubs might
disappear! The memberships of many clubs,
especially those in areas with more than one
local club, would certainly go down but a
more true picture of membership would
emerge, because members in one club would
not be counted as members in many other
clubs as well. Would more members not be
too busy to help out when asked? I believe a
lot of them would not be so busy helping out
the other clubs they no longer belonged to,
and if they are loyal to the one club they
stayed a member in, I believe they would.
We can be our own worst enemy or our own
best friend. It's up to us.
Source: Stoney Statements, 7/2009
Blue Agate News Needles Gem & Mineral Club
REPORT ON CLAIMS SEMINAR
By Dick Pankey
Every rockhound that has collected on BLM
or Forest Service land has come upon claim
markers and wondered “what should I do
now?” Are they old or new? Is the claim
active? May I/should I enter? May I collect?
Well we got the answers at the “What
Rockhounds Need to Know About Claims”
seminar given by Dr Gregg Wilkerson from
the Bakersfield BLM District Office. This
seminar was hosted by the Contra Costa
M&GS on Saturday, March 21, 2009 in
Pittsburg, CA. We had a good turn out of forty
five rockhounds from northern California that
attended this very informative seminar. The
cost of the seminar was $5.00 which includes
coffee and sweet goods, and a lunch of hot
dogs with all of the trimmings, chips and a
beverage. Eleven CCM&GS members
attended and a Big Thank You to those that
helped with set-up, clean-up and in the
kitchen.
Gregg Wilkerson is a geologist in the
Bakersfield Field Office. He performs geologic
and hydrologic research and investigations
for resource management as Program Team
Leader and BLM Certified Mineral Examiner.
His duties involve mineral appraisals, land
exchanges, conveyances, mineral sales and
leases, wilderness withdrawals, mining claim
occupancy trespass, surface use
determinations, CERCLA removal or
remediation, water quality remediation, and
hazardous abandoned mine closures. Gregg
is technical advisor to the Buena Vista
Museum of Natural History in and has
mapped and described fossil deposits
throughout California. He also leads the BLM
Geologic Field Trips throughout California in
association with the Buena Vista Museum.
Gregg gave broad, detailed coverage of claim
processes and procedures. What we learned:
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October 2009
• A claim is a property right granted by
Mining Homestead Act of 1872 that was
amended by Mineral Leasing Acts (1920),
by Federal Land Policy and Management
Act (FLPMA) and by Appropriations Bills
since 1984 (no patents). There is an
excellent article on claims and the Mining
Law of 1872 in the August 2008 Rock and
Gem magazine starting on page 64. This
outstanding article covers the history,
purpose, updates/changes over the years,
and current status of the Mining Law.
• There are 4 types of claims: Lode claims,
placer claims, mill site claims and tunnel
sites.
• The validity of a claim is dependent on
the mineral being “locatable” which is
determined by the Prudent Man Rule and
the Marketability Test. Which means “do
you think it is worth the effort” and “can you
sell what you found?” All claims are
assumed valid by the BLM until challenged
or you apply for a “use permit.” To
establish validity a Validity Exam is
conducted by a Certified Mineral Examiner.
• Minerals are locatable; rocks are not,
they are “salable.”
• To stake a claim the material (mineral)
must be locatable, be on Federal Land (not
private or state land) and the Federal Land
must be open to “mineral entry” (not in a
Wilderness, a National Park, or the like.)
• To stake a claim, you must construct a
Discovery Marker including a statement of
claim, post corner markers, file with County
Recorder, send exact copy to BLM and pay
the fees.
• The fees are: Notice of Location -$15;
Amendment of Location - $10; Transfer of
mining claim/site - $10; Recording of
annual FLPMA filing - $10 and Deferment
of assessment work (“holding fee”) - $100.
Blue Agate News Needles Gem & Mineral Club
• Geodes and unique agate (Horse
Canyon) are claimable; obsidian and
common agate is not claimable.
• To find out if a claim is current or valid it
is best to check with the BLM or County
Recorder. You will need the location of the
claim in question in map terms of
Township, Range and Section. Claim
locations can also be found on
www.geocommunicator.gov web site. If
you are out on BLM land and come upon a
claim locate the Discovery Marker to see if
the paper work in it is current. To be
current the paper work must list the name
of the claimant, the material claimed, the
location of the claim (Township, Range and
Section) and filing date/update in the
current year (September 1 to August 31.)
If not current you are free to collect.
• Gregg recommends that filing and
maintaining claims on our significant
rockhounding sites is a good way to
establish and preserve our right for access
and use. Some CFMS societies already
have done this and it is recommended that
more societies do it.
• Gregg also recommends that we attend
meetings and be involved in the BLM and
Forest Service Management Use planning.
So what’s next? Gregg has already been
contacted by some southern California
societies to present a similar seminar.
Hopefully, one can be schedule in the near
future. Next we need to get more info about
club claims. There are proposals in Congress
for major revisions to the Mining Act that
could eliminate the claim process as soon as
2010. We need to act now. I would like to
hear from all societies who have or had a
society claim: Who has one? Contact info for
the person responsible for the claim? What
has been your experience? This needs to be
done sooner than later. If your society has or
had a claim, please e-mail or send me this
information. Within the year (the sooner, the
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October 2009
better) we need to have a seminar/meeting
with societies that have a claim and those
societies that want or might want to have a
claim. We will also identify suitable sites and
identify insurance and liability issues.
Source: C.F.M.S. Newsletter, 6/2009
HOW TO MAKE ROCK BUGS AND SPIDERS
Supplies: tumbled stones, pipe cleaners, glue
(a multipurpose cement such as Bond 527),
white and black acrylic paint, and toothpicks.
Using the white acrylic paint and a toothpick,
paint the white of the eyes on the stones.
Use the black paint to paint the pupil of the
eye. If you prefer, those cute wiggly eyes
may be used.
The legs for the spider will number eight so
use two of the chenille stems, cut them in
half. Gather up these four pieces and twist
the wire in the center about three twists. The
bugs will end up with four legs so use only
one stem and cut it in half and then twist the
two pieces in the center at least three times.)
Bend the ends of the stems to simulate feet.
The gluing is the last step. Place the tumbled
stone on the center of the stems where the
twist is located and estimate where the glue
needs to be applied so that the stems and
stone will be glued together, without having
glue exposed. Apply the glue to this area and
center the stone and set upright so that the
weight of the stone will help the glue adhere
to the stone and the stem legs. Complete
drying takes 2 - 24 hours. Have fun!
Source: http://www.stoneageindustries.com/
how_to_make_rock_bugs_and_spiders.html
via RockCollector, 6/2009
Blue Agate News Needles Gem & Mineral Club
Hints ‘n Such
These hints were gathered primarily from the
bulletins of other clubs. They have not been
evaluated 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.
When sawing geodes, look for the largest dome
on the specimen. This dome was in an upright
position while formed. Saw through the largest
dome and it is likely you will get the best picture.
Source: Cutting Remarks, 5/2008, via Yellow-
stone Deposit, 6/2009
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Thought for a Christmas Gift - Make a set of
Coasters: Get out that box of slabs you plan to
use someday and blow off the dust. Pick out six
that you can trim to four-inch squares. Then,
round the corners and bevel the edges so that the
squares will have smooth edges. Polish the best
side -- either on your equipment or by spraying
with a waterproof acrylic. Back the other side with
self-sticking felt. The thickness of the squares
does not have to match. Finished? You now
have a set of six unique coasters in a variety of
colors and patterns. Of course if you have a huge
supply of slabs and want a matched set of
coasters, go for it! They make nice gifts.
`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°
Always grind, sand and polish tiger eye in the
direction of the fibers of the material to eliminate
undercutting and damaging the fibers at the
surface.
Source: Skagitt Gems 01/2001, via Calgary
Lapidary Journal, 4/2008
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If you have an item that has been epoxied
incorrectly, it can be taken apart by soaking it in
household vinegar. It works and is inexpensive.
Source: Calgary Lapidary Journal, date unknown,
via The Slate, 9/2008, via Rockhound Rambling,
11 & 12/2008
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October 2009
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Make your own gemstone buttons by cutting a set
of round cabochons, or whatever shape you want.
Glue them to the back of a flattened-out bell cap
so that the loop becomes the button shank. Or,
you can fit your cabs into the base of those
manufactured settings used for making covered
buttons.
Source: Thunder Bay Gems via Calgary Lapidary
Journal, 4/2008
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Keep polished cabochons in photo - slide
‘protector’ pages. The pages for a 3 ring binder.
Each page has 20 individual pockets. The cabs
are easily viewed but are protected.
Source: Thunder Bay Gems via Calgary Lapidary
Journal, 4/2008
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Wipe a piece of chalk over your jeweler’s files.
The chalk keeps the file from clogging and you
can blow the chalk out. Silversmiths draw your
jeweler’s saw through a hunk of old candle wax or
beeswax. It will coat the blade and you can saw
faster.
Source: Golden Spike News, 5/2004 via
Rockhound Rambling, 5/2008
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When polishing, do not use a saucer, dish or pan
and messy brush to apply the polishing agent.
Such methods invite contamination. Instead, use
a plastic spray bottle. Put the polishing agent into
the bottle, add water and a small stone or buck
shot. The purpose of the stone or buck shot is to
agitate and stir up the polishing powder when you
shake the bottle. Shake well and squirt the
solution on the felt, leather or poly pad. No more
contamination. No waste of polishing agent and
the polishing agent may be applied exactly where
you want it.
Source: Thunder Bay Gems via Calgary Lapidary
Journal, 4/2008
Blue Agate News Needles Gem & Mineral Club October 2009

UPCOMING FIELD TRIPS & EVENTS ROCKHOUNDS LIVE FOREVER

by Hugh Sheffield
10/24/2009 - Blue Danube Mine - We will (8th Place 2003 AFMS Adult Poetry)
need to do some work as a result of our Mine
Committee meetings. Though our bodies may age and die
On this one truth you can rely,
11/13-15/2009 - Burro Creek - A weekend Rockhounds live forever more
trip before it gets too cold. In all the beauty we still adore.
For teaching, science and trade
12/12/2009 - Golden Shores Area led by Will soon from our memories fade,
Mike Spicer But a Rockhound’s beautiful stones and ware
Are preserved forever here.
We see a gem or specimen bright
TRIVIALLY SPEAKING answers from And know a Rockhound valued this sight.
page 5 From nature’s lure of minerals great
These lowly Rockhounds did create.
So mourn not their passing by
1. Emerald
For in their hobby Rockhounds never die.
2. Jade
3. U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY
Source: MOROKS newsletter, 2/2006, via
4. A tennis court
Rock Slab News, 7/2009
5. Opal
6. It was the dinosaur with the longest name
and it was also the smallest dinosaur.
7. Ruby THIS ‘N’ THAT
By Mike H

Synthetics Any One: It's believed the 70% of

Gem ID
amethysts on the world market are now
synthetic. This has only been discovered in
Is it cubic zirconium or diamond? If the stone
the last few years. The hardness of real
is loose, turn it upside down on its table and
amethyst is 7, and appears on the Moh scale
slide it over a thin black line on a piece of
as quartz. Many of the low cost Amethysts
paper. Then look straight down through. If
are of high quality, and are deeply colored
you see a circle in the center of the stone,
and can be found in inexpensive jewelry.
you have a cubic zirconium, as diamond won’t
This is often due to the cost of testing the
display this.
stone being higher than the cost of even the
natural stone, so it is not often performed.
By Don Ashby, Gemrock, 4/1999, via
Therefore, be aware of a cheap amethyst that
Rockhound Rambling, 3/2009
looks like a perfect stone.

References:
The easiest way to find http://www.24carat.co.uk/a2z.html (Gemstone
Information) and Tim McCreights (1991) The
something lost around the Complete Metalsmith: An Illustrated
Handbook via The Surrey Rockhounder via
house is to buy a replacement. The RockCollector, 6/2009

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Blue Agate News Needles Gem & Mineral Club October 2009

BLUE AGATE NEWS

NEEDLES GEM & MINERAL CLUB
PO BOX 234
NEEDLES, CA 92363-0234

Exchange Bulletins Welcome!

Please send Exchange Bulletins to the address above
Or email to rockhound.ngmc@gmail.com

WYOAQHA photo ‘07

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