Philadelphia Mineralogical Society News: February, 2021 Page 1 Philadelphia Mineralogical Society News

PHILADELPHIA MINERALOGICAL SOCIETY NEWS: FEBRUARY, 2021 PAGE 1 PHILADELPHIA MINERALOGICAL SOCIETY NEWS

February, 2021 Volume 129, Number 2

A View From the Top Upcoming Programs by Karenne Snow, President by Bruce T. Mitchell, Program Chair

It's on! February 11 2021: Ron Sloto, Honorary Professor, The Society will be hosting its very first Outdoor West Chester University – “Mineral Localities of Mont- Show on Saturday, May 8, from 10 to 6, at the St gomery County, Pennsylvania” Michael's Picnic Grove in Mont Clare PA, just at the March 11 2021: James Van Fleet, “Fluorescent Miner- river next to Phoenixville. als of Pennsylvania” It's a lovely spot - huge, with a pavilion, lots of out- April 8 2021: Ryan Kerrigan, University of Pittsburgh – door space, room for our Kids' Corner, plenty of park- Johnstown, “Bells Mills Ultramafics– formation and ing, and indoor restrooms. Our DVPS partners (the geology” Fossil Fair) will be back with us at LuLu in 2022, so this is a Mineral Treasures show. These meetings will be zoom meetings. Links will be sent in future emails. Ed Goebel has started sending out letters to poten- tial dealers, Don McAlarnen is doing extra facilities work this year - beginning with the arrangements with St Michael's, and Vince is ordering our first-ever post- cards so we can start our publicity blitz. INSIDE THIS ISSUE This month, I am taking names and the times you have available to volunteer. Friday evening is devoted Club News 2 to moving tables. Saturday at 7:00 am, we set up ex- Field Trips 2-3 tension cords, admission tent, and kids' activities. Dealers arrive at 8:00 am, to set up so the parking Secretary’s Desk 4-5

attendants start in earnest. Saturday morning (10:00 - Things to do 5 2:00 pm) and afternoon (2:00 - 6:00 pm) shifts are primarily for admissions and kids. At 6:00 pm, we Thomas J. Ennis, Jr. Obituary 6 need the crew to put all the picnic tables back to their Geology 365 by Pam Pollister 7-8 original places. Around the Web 9-11 It'll be a rigorous but fun day. And instead of doing our annual rain dance, we'll be asking the sun to shine dues, Club News, Officers, 501(c)(3) Statement 12 in all its glory! Get ready!

PHILADELPHIA MINERALOGICAL SOCIETY NEWS: FEBRUARY, 2021 PAGE 2

couragement, knowledge that we are thinking of Club News them: Marilyn Tori PO Box 40 Holicong PA 18928 Important Notice: Because of the Covid 19 Pandem- ic, dues paid for 2020 have been extended to the end of 2021. If you still would like to contribute to The Ennis Family the club, any dues received from members in good @TJ's Rocks and Gemcrafts standing will be applied to the Lee Tori Fund for Min- Tom Ennis passed away from Covid eralogical Education. New memberships will be accepted for the current year. Philadelphia Mineralogical Society News Adult Life Membership Senior Membership (>60 years) 15.00 The Deadline for the newsletter is the twentieth of Adult and Family Membership 20.00 each month prior to publication date (i.e. Feb. 20 for Student/Junior Membership 5.00 (valid student I.D. required) March issue). Submissions and should be emailed to the editor, in 11 point, Calibri font. No issues are pub- For membership information, please contact: lished during July or August. Non-commercial reprint Vince Albicelli , 336 Wert Ave, Sellersville, PA 18960 permission is hereby granted unless otherwise re- (215) 896-3903/ [email protected] served so long as: (1) The Editor of the Philadelphia Mineralogical Society News grants written, reprint Facebook permission (2) The article is reproduced in its entirety, (3) the author of the article is credited, and (4) the Stay in touch with Facebook. During this time of so- source the Philadelphia Mineralogical Society News is cial distancing we want to make sure to keep in touch. credited. Please inform the editor of any information Please join our Facebook page “Philadelphia Mineral that you would like included in this section of the Society”. There you can find information, share your newsletter including but not limited to: birthdays, an- story, photos of your collections or whatever you feel! niversaries, illnesses and members’ news. Hope to see you on Facebook and be well. Virtual Opportunities: Pam Pollister

Interested in learning something new during this time In The Field of social distancing? The Central PA Rock & Mineral by Karenne Snow, Club from Harrisburg has generously opened their Field Trip Chair monthly Zoom meetings to anyone who is interested. If you’d like to be on the distribution list, send an email Our excursion on Sunday Jan 24 took us to Lancaster to Carrie Meyers, the current president County for an "outdoor museum" trip. We walked the at [email protected] To learn more about this Geology Trail Tour of Pequea's Silver Mine Park. club, please see their public Facebook page, https:// Nine of us gathered in the parking lot next to the trail www.facebook.com/ on a cold, but sunny, day. The park surrounds mine en- CentralPennsylvaniaRockAndMineralClub trances, gopher holes, and a lime kiln and the trail has A helping hand: Karenne Snow stops at each of these places plus a variety of outcrops showing the anticlines and synclines of the area. These people could use a helping hand, words of en-

PHILADELPHIA MINERALOGICAL SOCIETY NEWS: FEBRUARY, 2021 PAGE 3

The Ordovician age Vintage Dolomite and Conestoga and the Vera Cruz area. It's a long drive for me, so I tell you Phyllite are the formations through which quartz seams upfront - if there's snow/ice on the roads, I will cancel. ran. Quartz is the primary host rock for argentiferous galena from which silver was extracted. It wasn't particu- The Paleo Indians of Eastern PA, the Unami people of the larly rich, but sufficed for mining activities in the 1800s. Lenapes, quarried jasper for points and traded their material far and wide. The "classic" mustard-yellow jasper is We found portions of the dumps, though most dump found in many creek beds of Lehigh county. material was collected by mineral enthusiasts in the 20th century, before the mine entrance was covered and the Dress for the weather and bring boots for water in case park developed. we can access the stream on my itinerary. No tools necessary, but bring some bags. A walking stick would be a good We were also delighted to find the "treasure cache" idea. that Uncharted Lancaster (an adventure and history site) placed along one of the trails. The "silver crystal" in the We meet at 10 a.m. at the Macungie Memorial Park, off picture below was one of the pieces of treasure in the Main Street (Route 100), at the first circle drive on the left. box. If you travel in Lancaster County, check out the ad- Let me know if you are attending. ventures. Karenne Minerals.fossils.rocksATgmail.com My own adventure drive out there took me past vintage trains in Strasburg, a covered bridge (I found out Pennsylvania has 29 left) and a wonderful mega-flock of PMS Fieldtrip Requirements American Crows in cornfields. 1. You must be a PMS Member to participate. All that, and rocks! It was a good day. 2. All field trips are weather dependent. 3. Several of the trips are physically demanding! All trips require at least an average level of physical fitness! 4. Most quarry trips require members to be at least 18 years old, and to have a hardhat, safety glass- es/goggles, and steel-toed boots. However, there are a few quarries where younger members are allowed to collect as long as they are supervised by a parent. 5. Collecting equipment should include: rock ham- mers, chisels, pry-bars, boxes, packing material for specimens, such as newspaper, screens for sifting, etc. 6. Bring water, drinks and snacks for the day. Rocks seen along the Geology Trail: Dolomite, Phyllite 7. Wear appropriate clothing and footwear. with weathered pyrite, mica schist with quartz and gale- 8. Carry sunscreen, insect repellent, water and food. na, quartz with galena, quartz. To sign up for any field trip email the acting Field Field trips Trip Coordinator, Karenne Snow at: I have a hankering to hunt for jasper and artifacts, so [email protected] you're invited to join our February field trip to Macungie PHILADELPHIA MINERALOGICAL SOCIETY NEWS: FEBRUARY, 2021 PAGE 4

June may allow outdoor meetings Secretary’s Desk Pam Pollister Secretary Fall may resume in-person meetings that will also be presented virtually

• Rutgers Open House review from 30Jan2021

3 speakers, 1 was remarkable, all paleontolo- GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING of gy related. The Philadelphia Mineralogical Society, An annual event and a good opportunity to a Pennsylvania Nonprofit Corporation meet Rutgers professors and hear of their re Held on Thursday, January 14, 2021 search.

• Helping Hands – new section of the newsletter

The Philadelphia Mineralogical Society, a Pennsylvania Goals - Share information about fellow mem Nonprofit Corporation (the “Corporation”, met via Zoom bers who may need some help or encourage January 14, 2021. A total of 22 members were present. ment. You can make a phone call or send an Attached is a link to the notes from Thursday’s general email to reach out to that person to let them meeting, 14Jan2021 which are saved in the Drop- know they are in your thoughts. box: 20210114 PMS General Mtg Notes. • Rock Talk

Zincite (Bruce)

****************************************** • Minutes

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING of Will wait to review/approve/accept the The Philadelphia Mineralogical Society, minutes once they are published in an up coming newsletter a Pennsylvania Nonprofit Corporation • Treasurer (John Rateike) Held on Thursday, February 11, 2021 No report

• Membership (Vince) The Philadelphia Mineralogical Society, a Pennsylvania Nonprofit Corporation (the “Corporation”, met via Zoom Three new members and one renewal

February 11, 2021. Attendees (35 people): (see Dropbox • Field Trips (Karenne) document for the names) Jasper & Artifacts in Macungie and Vera Cruz. Welcome! Sunday Feb 28, 10 am • Announcements (Karenne) • The Show May 8, 2021 at St Michael's Picnic • Rock Talks: Grove in Mont Clare PA

March: John Frantz - Copper Vendors have been notified, 12 of 14 pavilion tables have been reserved. Grass reservations If interested in giving a 5-10 minute rock talk let are coming in more slowly due to having Karenne know more time to commit. (Ed) • The plan for upcoming 2021 PMS meetings:

Zoom meetings for foreseeable future PHILADELPHIA MINERALOGICAL SOCIETY NEWS: FEBRUARY, 2021 PAGE 5

Publicity – let Doug & Cheryl know if famil- iar with the Phoenixville Patch Things to Do

Volunteers – let Karenne know if avail able Micromineralogists of the National Capital Area, Inc. so she can start to compile the schedule Our virtual meeting is scheduled on Wednesday, Volunteer Times/shifts: Jan 27 at 7:30pm EST Zoom - Open link below. Program: “Some Pennsylvania Microminerals” by Fri. night - time tbd Steve Stuart of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Steve will introduce his photography setup and technique, fol- Sat. - 7-10am, 9-1pm, 1-5pm, 5-8pm lowed by a gallery of 50-60 images of Pennsylvania micros that he has accumulated since moving to the Responsibilities: state in April of 2017. Join Zoom Meeting Facilities- Moving tables Fri & Sat https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84344315748? pwd=ZDN5bXl4R2ZDVEFBK0JzY00yNVh6UT09 nights Meeting ID: 843 4431 5748 Admissions - Sat. 10 – 6 Passcode: 461327 One tap mobile Parking attendees– vendors and visi tors +19292056099,,84344315748#,,,,*461327# US (New York) Food – selling pre-packaged snacks and +13017158592,,84344315748#,,,,*461327# US drinks (Washington D.C)

Kid’s activities- set up, 10 – 6, and clean Dial by your location +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) up +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) • Programs (Bruce) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) Upcoming 2021 programs: +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) Meeting ID: 843 4431 5748 Mar. 11: James Van Fleet, “Fluorescent Min Passcode: 461327 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/ erals of Pennsylvania” kdxwDJvbWm Apr. 08: Ryan Kerrigan, University of Pitts burgh – Johnstown, “Bells Mills Ultramafics– formation and geology”

May 13: Don McAlarnen, “Moon Rocks”

• Welcome Ron Sloto, Prof. Emeritus of Geology at West Chester University

“Mineral Localities of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania”

• Meeting adjourned at 20:45

PHILADELPHIA MINERALOGICAL SOCIETY NEWS: FEBRUARY, 2021 PAGE 6

Thomas J. In his free time, he was also an avid fisherman. If he was not with his rocks he was on the water. He en- Ennis, Sr., joyed all types of fishing, especially when his family was with him. He loved being with his family and 74 cooking the very best ribs at every given opportunity. January 31, 2021 He also loved and cherished animals, including the family dogs. Tom always considered Buffalo, NY his Thomas J. Ennis, Sr., 74, of home and insisted he had the best times there. He Glenmoore, went into the arms of his Lord and Savior enjoyed taking his family on vacation in the Thousand on January 31, 2021 at Brandywine Hospital. Born in Islands, NY. Buffalo, NY he was the son of the late James H. and Emi- His love will live on in his wife Sherry; sons: David ly F. Ennis. He was also the dedicated and loving hus- Ennis (Bridget) of Michigan, Michael Ennis (Laura) of band of Sherry (Birkenbine) Ennis for more than 46 Elverson, PA, and Thomas “TJ” Ennis Jr. (Amanda) of years. Jacksonville, FL: grandchildren: Brooke, Troy, Micah, He was a graduate of Upper Darby High School. After Alicia and Shawn; siblings: Mary Judith “Judy” Swid- graduation, he served as a corpsman in the US Navy on erski of Buffalo and James H. Ennis, Jr. of Absecon, the USS Independence. He went on to attend Keystone NJ, and loving extended family. He was preceded in Junior College where he and Sherry’s love story would passing by his parents. begin. He would transfer to West Chester University A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Monday, where he would graduate with degrees in Chemistry February 8, 2021 at St. Peter Catholic Church, 2835 and Business Administration. As a young adult, he was Manor Rd. West Coatesville, PA. For those unable to also a volunteer firefighter with the Highland Park Fire attend the service, it will be live streamed to his Company in Upper Darby, P.A. online obituary at www.SnyderFuneralHome.com. He dedicated more than 30 years working for Rohm Interment to follow at Brickerville United Lutheran and Haas as a Research Chemist. During his tenure he Church Cemetery. Memorial contributions in Tom’s was proud of his accomplishments including holding name may be made to a charity of your choosing. multiple patents for his various inventions. In 2002, he https://www.gofundme.com/f/rockhound-legend- would retire and focus on his true passion, ROCKS.

Tom developed a love of rocks from his father from early childhood. He became a 2nd generation rock shop owner and dealer, where he would source and distrib- ute rocks and minerals throughout the country. His rock shop, TJ’s Rocks and Gemcrafts, in Downingtown was where Tom was most often found. He enjoyed teaching children about rocks and watching their faces light up as he would crack open a geode. Tom was quite proud that he had one of the most extensive geode collections in the world. This was a passion he would pass along to his own sons who are now carrying on the rock business into the third generation. “Old rock dealers don’t die, they just petrify.” Why Dinosaurs hated Valentines’ Day PHILADELPHIA MINERALOGICAL SOCIETY NEWS: FEBRUARY, 2021 PAGE 7

Geology 365 By Pam Pollister, Philadelphia Mineralogical Society on behalf of the EFMLS

Author’s note: The following information is based off a presentation made by Ryan Klockner and reviewing the website. This is not a personal endorsement of the site but rather sharing information about an online resource that could be help- ful to mineral collectors and societies.

Have you heard about www.Geology365.com? It is a FREE resource for mineral collectors as well as for rock and mineral societies. Geology365 was the brainchild of Mark Klockner and his son, Ryan Klockner. As rockhounds, they knew the importance of documenting a collection and together created an outline for an online resource that all mineral collectors could use. In honor of his father who passed away in 2018, Ryan has fulfilled their vision by creating www.Geology365.com.

This article will focus on how you, a mineral collector, can use this free website. There are also many tools available in Geology365 to assist mineral societies in creating a website, managing membership and even fieldtrips. Those features will be the topic of a future article.

Collection Management

Geology365 allows you to easily create and maintain an electronic catalog of your rocks and minerals. Afterall, it is important for you – and your family - to know what is in your collection. There are fields for everything you might want to track and if there are too many options, you can select which fields you’d like to use. For example, the online database has fields for you to enter location, date collected/obtained, estimated value and other relevant details about each piece.

(Continued on page 8) PHILADELPHIA MINERALOGICAL SOCIETY NEWS: FEBRUARY, 2021 PAGE 8

(Continued from page 7) There is a limit of 365 specimens that may be included for free in your personal catalog. For $5/month you can add up to 1,460 specimens (there are additional options, as well, for larger collections). Each specimen has a public/private setting. If “private” is selected, only you can view the item on the website.

Do you already have an electronic list of your collection and want to move it to Geology365? If so, you are in luck as there is an import feature that allows you to upload a csv or Excel file.

From a financial and practical standpoint, having your collection cataloged is a pre-requisite for insuring your minerals. This tool may also serve as a resource for you and your family if/when the collection must be moved forward.

Labels

Once you have minerals in the collection management system, Geology365 has a template to design custom labels. Once set up and saved, the custom format can be used for all your mineral labels. Capabilities remain in place if you later want to change the design of your label. As your collection grows you can print labels for just your new specimens.

Geology365 can also incorporate QR codes (Quick Response code) on the labels. When the QR code is scanned your com- puter or smart phone will automatically open www.Geology365.com to that specimen’s page where you can read the available information. Having a QR code on a label is a great way to assure that the mineral’s provenance is not lost to future generations. Conclusion

Geology365 was created by a father-son team who recognized the mineral collector’s need to catalog and label their collection. By sharing this website, Geology365 is a free and easy to use online resource that any mineral collector may use. Perhaps this is the year you will document and custom-label your collection. Let www.Geology365.com help you attain that goal.

PHILADELPHIA MINERALOGICAL SOCIETY NEWS: FEBRUARY, 2021 PAGE 9

'It turns out that the darkest green samples are Around the Web sufficiently chemically different to the blue's that we, as mineralogists, would define it as a new species.'

The new description has now been approved by the Beautiful new emerald governing body and the new species kernowite will be -green mineral described from Corn- published in Mineralogical Magazine in the new year. wall A journal started back in the UK in 1876 with founders from the old BM(NH). By Josh Davis First published 11 December 2020 New species of minerals

A sample of rock that was collected from a mine in When people talk about the discovery of a new spe- Cornwall some 220 years ago has turned out to be an cies many will tend to think of a new plant or animal. entirely new species of mineral. But when Carl Linnaeus first came up with the now While most new minerals are so small that their col- universal system of naming things in the eighteenth or isn't easy to appreciate, this latest addition forms century, he also included the minerals within this sys- large emerald-green crystals. tem.

Mike Rumsey is the Principal Curator of Minerals at This means that whenever a new mineral is described, the Museum and is the one who initiated the investi- it is also classed as a new species. 'Like other branch- gation and subsequently discovered the new mineral es of natural sciences, minerals and rocks were organ- with colleagues at the NHM and collaborators from ised by early scientists in a way that allowed people to Slovakia and the Diamond Lightsource in Harwell, Ox- recognise connections and links between them,' says ford. Mike. 'The term species in the life sciences really gained traction thanks to the work of Linnaeus. 'I was investigating a mineral called liroconite so we could curate it properly, but also because it's my fa- 'He also included the mineral kingdom in his classifica- vourite mineral!’ explains Mike. 'Liroconite is this tions, so minerals ended up with some of the same beautiful, gorgeous bright blue mineral that comes language for their descriptions. Other terms like ge- from Cornwall and I was trying to understand why its nus have not made it through though, as minerals color varies from bright teal-blue all the way to a dark don't really have a strongly hierarchical structure in emerald green. their organization, although that's something being discussed by scientists currently.'

To be described as a new species, a new mineral needs to meet a number of criteria.

These relate largely to determining what the chemistry of the new material is and how the atoms within the material are arranged in three-dimensional space and then how that arrangement repeats to make up the crystals that we see. This is what mineralogists call crystal structure. (Continued on page 10)

PHILADELPHIA MINERALOGICAL SOCIETY NEWS: FEBRUARY, 2021 PAGE 10

(Continued from page 9) ing left. It’s an extinct locality, we can never go back.' 'In the crystal structure of liroconite, one of the positions where you can put an atom can contain either Because liroconite is such a famous mineral, there aluminum or iron,' explains Mike. 'For liroconite, the could be samples of kernowite in other museums that position is dominantly filled with aluminum and the have for all this time also been grouped with the liro- physical crystal ends up being blue. conite, so the community may well discover these now the other curators know what they're looking 'For the new mineral kernowite the position is in- for. stead dominantly filled with iron and the result isa green crystal. We think that the more iron the darker But with the demolition of the mine, it means that the green, but that still needs some more work and more samples of the mineral may never be found more samples to confirm. Both minerals have exactly again. the same crystal structure meaning that all the atoms 'What we've got is a bit like a little time capsule,' are in the same positions, it is just the chemical com- says Mike. 'The fact that this sample was preserved in position that varies.' a museum means that we can do this kind of research Cornish type because we'd never be able to go back and collect any more.' There are only around 100 new species of mineral described every year, and not many with large color- Hopefully other samples will be found in other pub- ful crystals. lic and private collections, but until that happens then the one sample held at the Museum and another in a It is even rarer to have a new mineral described private collection are the only known examples of from the UK, something which only happens once Kernowite in the entire world. every three or four years on average. The new species is currently known from a single location in Cornwall, https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2020/ which has given rise to its new name kernowite, after december/beautiful-new-emerald-green-mineral- Kernow which is the Cornish word for Cornwall. described-from-cornwall.html

'Based on it's mining history Cornwall is a world ****************************************** UNESCO heritage site known around the world for the Local Fossil Enthusiasts Discover New Fossils At discovery for many new minerals,' says Mike. Calvert Cliffs 'However, a lot of these discoveries happened over Prehistoric Cobia Named for Local Amateur Paleon- 100 years go when the mines were still active, so the tologists by Calvert Marine Museum discovery of a new mineral from Cornwall, particularly one that related to the regions most famous mineral, On April 27, 2019, local fossil enthusiasts Stephen is really quite amazing.' Groff and Marcus Jones found a partial skull of a fossil fish along Calvert Cliffs. Little did they know at the The mine from which kernowite has been found is time that it would turn out to be the find of a lifetime. also the location from which the majority of the world's liroconite is derived, which is highly prized Using a microscope, needles, and fine brushes, Groff among collectors. carefully removed the entombing sediments from around the 10 million-year-old bones to reveal a true 'Most liroconite comes from this place called Wheal treasure. This fossil-find consisted of the bony brain- Gorland,' explains Mike. 'The mine was used between case of a cobia – the first ever found in the fossil rec- around 1790 and 1909, but it has been demolished now. There is a housing estate on it and there is noth- (Continued on page 11) PHILADELPHIA MINERALOGICAL SOCIETY NEWS: FEBRUARY, 2021 PAGE 11 ord. The only known species of living cobia is a marine full credit to the finder(s). inhabitant that occurs nearly worldwide in a variety of tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate habitats The clay and sandy sediments in which the fossil and occasionally enter estuaries, feeding on crusta- was found indicate that the prehistoric environment ceans, cephalopods (squid and their kin), and other was a shallow marine one, perhaps even an estuary fishes. The hand-sized fossilized partial skull was similar to the present-day Chesapeake Bay. (The different enough from the living cobia that a new spe- Chesapeake Bay as we know it did not exist 10 million cies was named in honor of Groff and Jones, and pub- years ago.) A large number of predominantly marine lished recently in the Journal of Paleontology. species have been found in these deposits, with rep- resentatives from several groups of microscopic fos- Calvert Marine Museum Curator of Paleontology Dr. sils and invertebrates, like snails and clams, as well as Stephen Godfrey, along with fossil-fish expert Dr. an array of vertebrate species, including a host of Giorgio Carnevale of Torino, Italy, named the new sharks and rays, bony fishes, turtles, crocodiles, sea- species of cobia Rachycentron stremphaencus. When faring birds, seals, sea cows, dolphins, and baleen paleontologists describe a new fossil species, one of whales, and the very rare remains of large terrestrial the perks is that they get to invent a new name for mammals like extinct elephants and rhinos. the new species – and they can name it just about anything they like! In this situation, it seemed most Based on the ecological requirements of the only fitting to name it after the co-discoverers. So, the new living species of cobia, and a reconstruction of the species name “stremphaencus” is derived from a environmental conditions that existed when the fossil combination of the letters of“ Stephen” and “Marcus” cobia was alive 10 million years ago, it is reasonable with some rearrangement of the letters to make it to conclude that Rachycentron stremphaencus was a mellifluous. predatory fish that inhabited the subtropical to warm temperate Atlantic coast of North America during the Late Miocene, where it lived and hunted in shallow marine waters. Inspired by their recent contribution to the world of paleontology, Groff and Jones contin- ue to hunt for fossils along the shores of the Chesa- peake Bay.

https://southernmarylandchronicle.com/2021/01/12/ local-fossil-enthusiasts-discover-new-fossils-at-calvert -cliffs/

****************************************** A word of warning! Digging in the cliffs is dangerous Scientists Take Fundamental and is prohibited without a permit on all state and Measurements of Einsteinium federal lands. On private land, permission must be for the First Time obtained from the owners before digging. If you see a The highly radioactive element skull, bone, or unusual fossil in the cliffs, please report was first created in a 1952 hy- it to the Calvert Marine Museum at 410-326-2042. drogen bomb test. https:// The museum appreciates getting this information and, www.smithsonianmag.com/ if justified by the importance of the find, will make smart-news/scientists-take-fundamental- every effort to obtain the necessary permission and measurements-einsteinium-first-time-180976928 have trained personnel collect the specimen, giving PHILADELPHIA MINERALOGICAL SOCIETY NEWS: FEBRUARY, 2021 PAGE 12

THE PHILADELPHIA MINERALOGICAL SOCIETY — OFFICERS and DIRECTORS

Board of Directors Newsletter Editor: Scott Peters President: Karenne Snow (610) 715-3693/[email protected] (609) 353-4101/[email protected] Meeting Raffle Coordinator: Niki Hinkson (610) 543-4093 Vice President: Vince Albicelli Field Trip Leaders: (215) 896-3903/ [email protected] • Chris Duerr (610) 637-2549 Secretary: Pam Pollister • John Schmidhauser (610) 578-0446 (215 290-1972/ [email protected] • Karen Stauffer (215) 850-2189 Treasurer: John Rateike Field Trip Committee: (215) 576-0741/[email protected] • College Connection: Art Schelling (484) 412-8459 Program Chair: Bruce Mitchell • Scout Connection: Stan Molchanow (215) 482-4015 (724) 584-6720/[email protected] Annual Show Committee: Field Trip Chair: Vacant • Deb Craig (610) 267-334-3110 (xxx) xxx-xxxx/[email protected] • Chris Duerr (610) 637-2549 Show Chair: Karenne Snow • Ed Goebel (215) 884-0384 (609) 353-4101/[email protected] • Doug Klieger (610) 644-2492 Past President: Deb Craig • Cheryl Leibold (610) 644-2492 (267) 334-3110 /[email protected] • Don McAlarnen (610) 247-5097 Board Member at Large: Lee Mcilvaine • Bill Prince (215) 674-0738 (215) 713-8020/[email protected] • Karenne Snow (Chair) (609) 353-4101 Appointed Positions • Pam Pollister (215) 257-4322 Webmaster: Joel Sloane • John Rateike (215) 576-0741 (610) 238-9925/www.philamineralsociety.org

The Philadelphia Mineralogical Society is a member of the Eastern Federation of Mineralogical and Lapidary Societies and the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies, and has been recognized by the I.R.S. as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization incorporated in the state of Pennsylvania. The purposes of the Philadelphia Mineralogical Society are the study of the science of Mineralogy and its related subjects; to bring into a close relationship students, amateurs, profes- sionals and others interested in Mineralogy; to provide a common meeting ground where such may be freely discussed; and to promote in general the study and progress of Mineralogy. These purposes are accomplished through general meetings, an annual show, field trips, presentations and displays. The Philadelphia Mineralogical Society meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month (with the exception of July and August) at 7:00p.m. at Cathedral Village 600 E. Cathedral Road, Philadelphia, PA 19128. Visitors are always welcome to attend general meetings. Anyone interested in joining the club may talk to any officer about the dues and membership requirements. Website: www.phillyrocks.org

PHILADELPHIA MINERALOGICAL SOCIETY DUES

Important Notice: Because of the Covid 19 Pandemic, dues paid for 2020 have been extended to the end of 2021. New memberships will be accepted for the current year.

Adult Life Membership $250.00 Senior Membership (>60 years) 15.00 Adult and Family Membership 20.00 Student/Junior Membership 5.00

For membership information, please contact: Vince Albicelli , 336 Wert Ave, Sellersville, PA 18960 (215) 896-3903/ [email protected]