April 2020 ◊ a Monthly Newsletter for and by the Members of MAGS

MEMPHIS ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

MAGS Rockhound News ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS

Volume 66 ◊ Number 04 ◊ April 2020 ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS

MAGS Show and In this issue MAGS Show and Other Other Activities Activities P. 1 President’s Message P. 1 MAGS And Federation Notes P. 2 Field Trip Reports P. 3 Fabulous Tennessee Fossils P. 4 2020 SFMS Workshop at William Holland P. 6 To Life!—Hemolithin P. 6 MAGS Notes P. 7 Until Next Year P. 8 Ready for Next Show P. 9 Jewelry Bench Tips P. 9 February Board Minutes P. 9 The 2020 Memphis Mineral, are cancelled until May. The February Meeting Fossil, and Jewelry Show is can- March 29th DMC Field Trip host- Minutes P. 10 celled and will not be rescheduled ed by the Mobile Rock & Gem for later in the year. The Agricen- Society has been cancelled and will 75 Million-Year-Old ter, our Show location, has can- be rescheduled at a future date. So DNA Evidence P. 11 celled all events until mid-May. far, the April 18 DMC Field Trip MAGS At A Glance P. 12 More details are in the article be- (see P. 2) is still on. low. These cancellations are in All scheduled club activities compliance with Continued, P. 3

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE W. C. MCDANIEL Editor’s Note: The photo shows W. C. awarding of trying to go forward. I always thought if the Grand Prize at the 2019 Show. the Show was cancelled it would be due Canceling the Show to a tornado roaring down Walnut and Now What? Grove Road or the New Madrid fault giving us a good shake, but a virus The decision to cancel the 41st an- roaring across the globe was not on nual Memphis Mineral, Fossil, Jewelry the radar. The Show is MAGS’s signa- Show was made of necessity and a realistic ture and most important assessment of the issues and consequences Continued, P. 3

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MAGS Rockhound News ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS 2019-2020 MAGS BOARD MAGS AND FEDERATION NOTES President–W. C. McDaniel (901) 274-7706 ◊ [email protected] Memphis Archaeological and Geological Society, 1st VP (Field Trips)– Kim Hill Memphis, Tennessee (901) 388-7572 ◊ [email protected] The objectives of this society shall be as set out in the Charter 2nd VP (Adult Programs)–Dave Clarke of Incorporation issued by the State of Tennessee on September (901) 308-0334 ◊ dclarke@fieldmuseum.org 29, 1958, as follows: for the purpose of promoting an active interest in the geological finds and data by scientific methods; to Secretary–Mike Coulson offer possible assistance to any archaeologist or geologist in the (901) 907-9441 ◊ [email protected] general area covered by the work and purposes of this society; to Treasurer–Bonnie Cooper discourage commercialization of archaeology and work to its (901) 444-0967 ◊ [email protected] elimination and to assist in the younger members of the society; Director (Asst. Field Trips)– Charles Hill to publicize and create further public interest in the archaeo- (901) 626-4232 ◊ [email protected] logical and geological field in the general area of the Mid-South Director (Asst. Adult Prog.)–Matthew and conduct means of displaying, publishing and conducting Lybanon public forums for scientific and educational purposes. (901) 757-2144 ◊ [email protected] MAGS General Membership Meetings and MAGS Youth Director (Youth Programs)–Mike Baldwin Meetings are held at 7:00 P. M. on the second Friday of every (901) 853-3603 ◊ [email protected] month, year round. The meetings are held in the Fellowship Director (Asst. Youth Prog.)–James Hall of Shady Grove Presbyterian Church, 5530 Shady Grove Butchko Road, Memphis, Tennessee. (901) 743-0058 ◊ [email protected] Director (Librarian)–Nannett McDougal- MAGS Website: memphisgeology.org Dykes MAGS Show Website: www.theearthwideopen.com or https:// (901) 634-9388 ◊ [email protected] earthwideopen.wixsite.com/rocks Director (Asst. Librarian)—Kay MacLaughlin We aren’t kidding when we say this is a newsletter for and by the (901) 465-6343 ◊ [email protected] members of MAGS. An article with a byline was written by a Director (Membership Services)–Bob MAGS Member, unless explicitly stated otherwise. If there is Cooper no byline, the article was written or compiled by the Editor. (901) 444-0967 ◊ [email protected] Please contribute articles or pictures on any subject of interest to rockhounds. If it interests you it probably interests others. Director (Historian)–Jane Coop The 15th of the month is the deadline for next month’s issue. (901) 685-8103 ◊ [email protected] Send material to [email protected]. Newsletter Editor–Matthew Lybanon (901) 757-2144 ◊ [email protected] April DMC Field Trip Assistant Newsletter Editor–Carol Lybanon WHERE: Johnson Creek Farm, Due West, SC ($is 25 fee) (901) 757-2144 ◊ [email protected] Webmaster–Mike Baldwin WHEN: Saturday, April 18, 9:00 A. M.-3:00 P. M. (901) 853-3603 ◊ [email protected] COLLECTING: Epidote, smoky quartz, amethyst, beryl Assistant Webmaster–Mike Coulson CONTACT: Jason Ashley, (864) 378-1908; or Mary Fisher, (704) (901) 907-9441 ◊ [email protected] 564-1594 Show Chairman–James Butchko (901) 743-0058 ◊ [email protected] Links to Federation News Past President–Charles Hill ➡ AFMS: www.amfed.org/afms_news.htm (901) 626-4232 ◊ [email protected] ➡ SFMS: www.amfed.org/sfms/ ➡ DMC: www.amfed.org/sfms/_dmc/dmc.htm

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MAGS Rockhound News ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS

MAGS Show and Other Activities CDC COVID-19 material: ua=1 Continued fom P. 1 https://www.cdc.gov/coron- Coronavirus 2019 is different recommendations and require- avirus/2019-ncov/index.html than (for example) the flu in sever- ments from public health experts https://www.cdc.gov/coron- al ways. This variant of coron- and government officials. Access avirus/2019-nCoV/hcp/clinical-crite- avirus is a novel coronavirus, a to accurate and up-to-date infor- ria.html#foot5 new strain that has not been pre- mation is vital to staying informed The WHO (World Health Or- viously identified in humans. So on the COVID-19 crisis. A few ganization) is a major source of people don’t have natural immuni- online resources are listed here. information, along with providing ty if they haven’t previously been infected. And currently there is no The Johns Hopkins dashboard the preferred Hand Washing vaccine. People who are infected (Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Techniques. may not show symptoms immedi- Cases by the Center for Systems World Health Organization ately, which is the logic behind Science and Engineering (CSSE) at (WHO): “social distancing”. Johns Hopkins University (JHU)), https://www.who.int/news-room/ updated several times a day, is at q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses Will it ever go away? Here is https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/ an article from the senior adviser https://www.who.int/health-top- to the Director-General of the map.html. ics/coronavirus#tab=tab_1 World Health Organization: The Southeast Federation of WHO Handwashing technique: https://time.com/5805368/will-coro- Mineralogical Societies (SFMS) https://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/ navirus-go-away-world-health-orga- has provided links to several other How_To_HandWash_Poster.pdf? nization/. useful websites. Here are links to

President’s Message public event for 3. The biggest financial loss is So, some Whatnots of Continued fom P. 1 the year. The our direct show income from canceling the Show cancellation will admissions, information booth My back will not be sore or my have a significant impact and I and the Rockzone. That is the feet/legs swollen on the Monday would like to share some of that money we provide to the club morning after the Show. On the with you. accounts, fund community flip side, I did not get an addition- Financials events, provide show start up al specimen for my collection, funds for the next year and 1. The timing of the cancellation dealer’s wallets will be thinner, and placed money in savings/re- occurred prior to some of our missing the experiences of the serves for an event just like major expenses, so that is a Show will be noticeable. May the this. So, we are not broke. good thing, Our primary Show be with you. largest expense prior to the Now What? W. C. cancelation was a deposit to 1. We will not reschedule the the Agricenter and that will be 2020 Show to later in year. It is credited toward the 2021 canceled for this year Field Trip Reports Kim Hil Show. Several smaller purchas- 2. The 2021 Show dates are April es such as the printing of the Photo Credits: Kim Hil 24/25 with move-in April 23. and Jim Colins notecard will not be recover- Mark your calendar. able. 3. Over the next few months, we 2. Dealers will be offered a will look at ways and opportu- choice to receive a full refund nities to restore some funds to of their 2020 Show contract or the Show account. Pay atten- credit for booth fees toward tion and be prepared to help the 2021 Show. out. Continued, P. 5

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MAGS Rockhound News ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS Fabulous Tennessee Fossils Dr. Michael A. Gibson, University of Tennessee at Martin FTF 63 Special Edition: UTM Coon Creek Science Center

I am writing this essay from my desk in the Evergreen Cabin at the Coon Creek Science Center (CCSC). I am here completely alone due to the Covid-19 virus outbreak. It is raining and everything is very gloomy. The students and facul- ty at UT Martin have been frantically adjusting to the Covid-19 outbreak, orders to move all classes from face-to- face format to online format, and restrictions with personal interactions. Everything is in disarray. I was supposed to be here at CCSC for three days with my Methods in Field Geolo- gy 220 class from UT Martin, doing numerous field training exercises. The University closed to face-to-face classes over a week ago and sent everyone home. We are practicing social distancing and limited group gatherings. However, CCSC is so remote with primitive cabins and facilities that we could meet and work without ever having to interact with one another directly. I had received special permission from the University to have the students in this class come to the CCSC in small groups, voluntarily, to finish their field work, because there just is no way to learn field work remotely or online. At that time there were no reported cases in West Tennessee outside of Shelby County. Each student was to have their own cabin, own shower stall, own toilet, and meals were to separately prepared and remotely eaten! We had it all worked out, but as the Covid-19 virus spread, cases popped up more locally and I was forced to cancel the field work indefinitely. I am allowed to work on-site alone, which I have done for two days now; me, one armadillo, a couple of field mice, and one small bird that accidentally got into the Mess Hall while the door was open and couldn’t find its way out for a while. So, I decided to “spring clean” some cabins and the kitchen. I also began to some organizing of materials in anticipation of spring, new endeavors, no virus, and seeing people up-close again. No ra- dio, no television, or any contact with the outside world for those couple of days was relaxing…except for the rain…but frustrating too. April is coming, along with April 1st, which we all know is April Fools Day! So this should be the April Fools edition of Fabulous Tennessee Fossils and I had planned a fun gimmicky fossil report for your enjoyment, but the forced isolation for the indefinite future forces me to use this essay as a platform Figure 1. UT Martin Coon Creek Science to make an important announcement that I Continued, P. 5 Center banner.

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MAGS Rockhound News ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS Fabulous Tennessee Fossils think will etc. We anticipate new programing plan to expand programing to in- Continued fom P. 4 make you as well, so watch for advertise- clude many more topics, such as happy. ments (as soon as the Covid-19 meteorology, physical geology, field Starting April 1st, April Fools Day, restrictions disappear). Our time biology, astronomy, agriculture, the Coon Creek Science Center table has been slowed down due to and more. Anyone interested in will be under a very long-term the crisis. I can work on the site volunteering to help us with work lease with the University of Ten- alone, and we can still send elec- at the site, wanting to make dona- nessee at Martin (20-40 years). It trical, plumbing, etc. companies to tions to support our work and will change operational hands to work as long as no one else is on programs, become a corporate become the UT Martin Coon the site, but it is challenging. sponsor for the site and site Creek Science Center! UT Martin No, this is not an April Fools projects, wants to arrange visits, or geology has worked the site and gag! Yes, UT Martin assumes con- wants more information, can con- helped the Pink Palace Museum, trol of the CCSC site April 1st. We tact us at the UT Martin Selmer/ who will still own the property, are finalizing the paperwork, McNairy County Center in coordinate research and other ac- working with the UT System folks Selmer, ((731) 646-1636), which will tivities since the early 1990s, but on signage, staffing, contracting, serve as the primary contact for now the Pink Palace is stepping etc. Once we are past the Covid-19 information and reservations for back and giving UT Martin total crisis, we hope to open-up the site groups. The CCSC is closed for autonomy over the site. UTM has for the public on a limited basis now until the Covid-19 crisis pass- taken control of the facilities and with lectures, tours, and collect- es, but watch for more announce- we are making lots of changes. We ing, and will be looking for volun- ments for the opening of the UT are cleaning-up the 32-year-old teers to train and help us collect Martin Coon Creek Science Cen- facility, adding new buildings, new fossils, educate the public, and ter. For now, clean your collections collections, refurbishing cabins, enhance the site’s aesthetics. We and get them in order. Stay safe. Field Trip Reports The weather we these sites we haven’t been able to you, I saw you there! Continued fom P. 3 ordered for the reach for a few years. Out of the Pickwick Lake five places he had picked out we Field Trip was almost perfect—No were able to hunt three of them. Rain! The sun was out, there were very few clouds, the wind was a bit chilly at times but all in all perfect fossil hunting weather.

What if no one brought displays? The meetings would be missing out on a lot of fun and knowledge. I want to Thank Charles for a Charles Hill was our trip great trip and am looking forward leader and he planned a great time! We had a really nice size group to the next trip he is leading in He had checked the lake a few join in for the fun. We found trilo- April. It will be a tour of rock days before the trip and found out bites, corals, sponges, various oth- hunting sites around Memphis. er sea life fossils. I know I saw one they were actually releasing water , I want to apologize for not great sample of coral, not to men- so the good areas along the lake’s getting my February tion names, Jane…and the rest of edge were exposed. A couple of Field Trip report in Continued, P. 6

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MAGS Rockhound News ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS Field Trip Reports the newsletter • Fly Tying with Jeff Heer the Martian surface that are linked Continued fom P. 5 but life jumped • Intarsia with Bill Boggs to the existence of life (the Sample up and kicked • Loop-in-Loop with Chuck Analysis at Mars (SAM) instru- me in the pants and I got a little Bruce ment has found organic molecules behind. in several samples drilled from • Seed Beading with Jerri Heer Mount Sharp and the surrounding The trip for February,. 101 • Silver I with Pattie Appleby Agate finding, was a lot of fun, plains). And now there is some • Silver II with Dale Koebnick also had a great crowd of folks intriguing new evidence. show up and had another great day • Silver II–Hydraulic Press.with A team of researchers from of weather...also no rain. I want to Vickie Prilliman Plex Corporation, Bruker Scientif- Thank Leo, Jan, and Darryl for • Silver-Wear I and II with Jan ic LLC, and Harvard University has helping me out and showing folks and Keith Stephens found evidence of a protein inside how to find agates, corals, and • Wire II with Gene Sheridan of a meteorite. Amino acid poly- other rocky treasures. Moree details are at the SFMS mers previously observed in two Editor’s Note: Al official field trips 2020 Federation Week Workshops meteorites have been further are canceled til further notice. The website, https:// characterized in one of them via modified schedule below has details. www.sfmsworkshops.org/william- high precision MALDI (Matrix- holland-classes. Assisted Laser Desorption/Ioniza- The March trip to the Hedger tion) mass spectrometry to reveal gravel pit in Jonesboro was a big a principal unified structure of favorite of everyone’s, so I will To Life!—Hemolithin molecular weight 2320 Daltons (a definitely see if we can reschedule, Matthew Lybanon, Editor unit of mass defined as 1/12 of the maybe for the Fall. We have no proof of the exis- mass of an unbound neutral atom April’s trip was going to be a tence of life on other planets. of carbon-12 in its nuclear and tour of hunting sites in and around What would it take? A living alien electronic ground state and at rest) Memphis. It should be easy to being would be nice–or the fossil that involves chains of glycine and reschedule. remains of creatures that lived a hydroxy-glycine residues terminat- The biggest trip is the May long time ago. Buildings or other ed by iron atoms, with additional Gainesville, Florida, trip for shark artifacts would do, also. But we oxygen and lithium atoms. teeth and other fossils. That one I haven’t made first contact, and we In prior research, scientists don’t know about. Hopefully haven’t found cities on other have found organic materials, sug- things will calm down and we can worlds. The “canals” that as- ars, and some other molecules get back to a more normal world. tronomer Giovanni Virginio Schi- considered to be precursors to aparelli thought he saw on Mars amino acids in both meteorites 2020 SFMS Workshop may have been artifacts due to and comets—and fully formed pushing his observing instrument amino acids have been found in at William Holland past its limits (and the Italian comets and meteorites, as well. June 7th–12th, 2020. word “canali” which he used actu- But until now, no proteins had Workshop titles ally means “channels”). been found inside of an extrater- restrial object. In this new effort, • Cabochons with Paul Roberts We will have to rely on other the researchers have discovered a • Casting with Bill Harr clues. The SETI (Search for Ex- traterrestrial Intelligence) program protein called hemolithin inside • Faceting with Linda Searcy monitors electromagnetic radia- of a meteorite that was found in • Flame Painting with Janet tion for signs of transmissions Algeria back in 1990. Pace from civilizations on other plan- The hemolithin protein found • Metal Mania with Cindy ets. The Mars Rover has instru- by the researchers was a small one, Moore mentation to detect chemicals on and was made up Continued, P. 7

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MAGS Rockhound News ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS To Life!—Hemolithin into oxygen and hydrogen, thereby June 20: Local day trip Continued fom P. 6 producing an energy source that would also be necessary for the � April Birthdays development of life. 3 Donna Neal By no means is this proof that 11 Ryan Ledbetter there is life on other planets. But Pam Papich this is some of the best evidence 12 Finn Collins to date. 21 Ian Ashurst Ref: Malcolm. W. McGeoch, Sergei 23 Marilyn Shiffman Dikler, Julie E. M. McGeoch, Hemo- lithin: a Meteoritic Protein containing 27 Lori Carter Iron and Lithium, arXiv:2002.11688 Luken Ledbetter Model of the 2320 hemolithin [astro- ph.EP] arxiv.org/abs/ Tamie Dunn molecule after MMFF energy min- 2002.11688 (preprint) Kathy Bullard imization. Top: in space-filling 30 David Waddell mode; Center: ball and stick; Bot- Bella Wilson tom: enlarged view of iron, oxygen and lithium termination. � Want to Be a Member? White = H; orange = Li; grey = C; To become a MAGS Member, blue = N; red = O and green = Fe. just go to our website at Hydrogen bonds are shown by www.memphisgeology.org and print dotted lines. Credit: arXiv: out an application form. There is a 2002.11688 [astro-ph.EP] prorated fee schedule for new Members only. Mail the completed mostly of glycine and amino acids. application along with the dues It also had oxygen, lithium, and payment to the Membership Di- iron atoms at its ends—an Editor’s Note: Al scheduled MAGS rector shown on the form. If you arrangement never seen before. activities are canceled until May, and are unable to print the application, Proteins are considered by that date may be extended. The infor- you can pick one up at the sign-in chemists to be quite complex, mation shown in MAGS Notes should desk at any of our Friday night which means a lot of things would be interpreted to take this into account. Membership Meetings, or simply have to happen by chance for pro- � Adult Programs join at the meeting. Visitors are tein formation. For hemolithin to always welcome at our Member- have formed naturally in the con- April: “Show Biz”–Cancelled ship Meetings but membership is figuration found would require May: Activities, Demonstrations required to attend our field trips. glycine to form first, perhaps on the surface of grains of space dust. � Junior Programs The most important benefit of being a MAGS Member is getting After that, heat by way of molecu- April: “Show Biz”–Cancelled lar clouds might have induced to know and make friends with units of glycine to begin linking May: Mike Baldwin, “Making other Members who have similar into polymer chains, which at Paint from Minerals” interest in rocks, minerals, fossils, some point, could evolve into fully June: Mike Baldwin, “How Caves and archaeology. All new Members formed proteins. The researchers Form” will receive a New Member note that the atom groupings on Packet, a MAGS ID card, and a the tips of the protein form an � Field Trips monthly newsletter via email. Members are entitled to go on our iron oxide that has been seen in April: Local day trip–Cancelled prior research to absorb pho- monthly field trips and get free tons—a means of splitting water May 16-18: Gainesville, FL admission to our annual Show.

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MAGS Rockhound News ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS

Until Next Year Pictures from Past Shows https://youtu.be/0qho1g7dBOc is a link to a Show video made a few years ago—lots of pictures (all taken by MAGS Members).

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MAGS Rockhound News ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS Ready for Next Show

PRE-MADE BEZEL CUPS As a general rule of thumb I assume it's going to take me 15–20 minutes to make a bezel for an ordinary cabochon, so for some projects buying pre-made cups can save a lot of time. But if you go this route, keep in mind three Discover New Jewelry Tricks things. in Brad's "How To" Books Thanks, Danny Baker, for this picture of MAGSter David McAl- First, try to get cups made amazon.com/author/bradfordsmith ister showing off some treasures from fine silver, not sterling. Fine Stay safe, stay healthy, and if he’s prepared for the Show. As silver is softer and burnishes over possible stay home. the stone more easily. they say in baseball, wait till next Best to all, year. Second, you may have trouble Brad matching the shape and size of the Jewelry Bench Tips by stone with the shape and size of February Board Minutes Brad Smith the bezel cup. Purchased cups can only be found in a limited number Mike Coulson PROBLEMS WITH of standard sizes. You may have to Called to order 6:34. Present: W. C. SMALL DRILLS adjust your choice of gemstone to McDaniel, Mike Baldwin, Carol Ly- Drilling small holes can be a match the cup. The other consid- banon, Matthew Lybanon, Bonnie problem. With drills that are less eration is that pre-made cups of- Cooper, Bob Cooper, Dave Clarke, James Butchko, Mike Coulson, Jane than 1 mm (18 gauge or .040 inch- ten have fairly low side walls. Coop. es), some chucks will not tighten While these are fine for low-dome Secretary: January minutes were down well enough to hold the drill stones, they're not dependable for distributed and approved by the securely. stones with steep side walls. Board. The problem is easily solved in Lastly before setting, check Treasurer: Treasury report was re- either of two ways - with a chuck the fit of your gemstone in the viewed and approved by the Board. adapter or by buying your small cup, particularly around the bot- Bonnie has done liability and Show drills with a 3/32 inch shank size. tom. The bottom corners of a insurance, SFMS, and end of month Either way you have a large shank stamped cup are much more will send off for certificate. She will to be gripped in your drill press, rounded than a bezel you would do taxes in the next couple of weeks. Foredom or Dremel, so changing fabricate yourself. This causes a Membership: 5 new Members, some bits is fast and easy. problem with stones that have a individual and some family since last sharp edge around the bottom. Board Meeting. Matthew was award- Burnishing the bezel over one of ed the geode he won for early membership drawing. these stones will place a lot of stress on the stone and may cause Field Trips: January trip went well. Upcoming: February 22, 2020, Pick- it to crack. To avoid this, I wick. March 14, 2020: Hedger in round off the bottom edge of the Jonesboro, Ark. March 21, 2020, stone with a diamond file (or use Mozarkite. April, Local day trip. May sandpaper on soft stones). 16-18, Gainesville, Florida. June 20, Lo- Continued, P. 19

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MAGS Rockhound News ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS February Board Minutes cal day trip. take to the scout office for distribu- Wednesday, March 18, 1:00-2:00. I Continued fom P. 9 July 18, tion to all scouts and leaders that did this event last year and about 80 Malvern & visit the scout office between now children attended. Last year I did Magnet Cove. August 22, Flora, Mis- and the Show. my standard Rock Talk. I think I sissippi, Petrified Forest. September Upcoming events and club pro- will do the fluorescent display this 19, Arkansas Diamond Mine. October motional opportunities: year, and distribute Rock Show post 17, Local day trip. November 21, Hot • Feb 19-21: 5th Grade Classes at cards and “Information About Springs Phantom Mine. December, three elementary schools in Rocks and Minerals” sheets. No outing. Hendersonville, NC. My brother • Mar 28: 14th Annual Scouts Adult Programs: February, Mike lives in Hendersonville and he has Rock at Graceland. Saturday, Gibson on the Vulcan quarry spread the word about the Rock March 28, 10:00am-3:00pm, at (rescheduled from November’s meet- Talks that I do in the local schools Graceland’s new event facility. ing). March, Lou White. April, Show around this area. As a result I have About 1,000 Boy and Girl Scouts Meeting. May, Activities, Demonstra- received several calls from Hender- and their families are expected to be tions. Will try to get rest of the pre- sonville teachers and we have coor- in attendance. James Butchko tradi- sentations scheduled soon. dinated efforts for me to speak to tionally mans this booth. James, will Junior Programs: Feb 14, Lunar the students at one school on Feb you be manning the booth again this Geology w/Mike Baldwin. Mar 13, 19, another on Feb 20 and the third year? I am available to help. Geology Along I-40 w/Mike Baldwin. on Feb 21. I plan to print about 500 Library: Library is doing fine. Apr 10, Preparations for the Rock of the “Information About Rocks Show: Meeting tonight following Show w/adults. May 8, Making Paint and Minerals” sheets to give to the board meeting. March 2 next meet- from Minerals w/Mike Baldwin. Jun students, and encourage them and ing. 12, How Caves Form w/Mike Baldwin. their families to join the Hender- Rock Swaps:No swap in January or Jul 10, Finding Precious Stones and sonville Rock Club. February. Next swap will be on Satur- Gold w/Charles Hill. Aug 14, Indoor • Mar 4: Bluf City Canoe Club. day, June 13, hosted by W. C. Rock Swap w/adults. Sep 11, Making Wednesday, March 4 at the main Editor: Things going along well. Crystals w/Mike Baldwin. Oct 9, Flu- public library, 3030 Poplar. Meeting Have info on Adult and Youth pro- orescent Minerals w/Mike B. Nov 13, time is 6:00-8:00 with set-up at grams as well as field trips. Native Peoples of North America w/ 5:00. I will be presenting basically Web: Newsletter not posted yet due Mike Baldwin. Dec 11, Holiday Party the same program that I do for the to family death. w/adults. Jan 08, 2021, first youth pro- schools, plus a few more bigger dis- gram with the next director. play items, like petrified wood, fossil Old Business: Talked with Melissa Recent club promotional oppor- starfish, trilobites, coral, and quartz and option for donation. Had hi-res tunities (Mike Baldwin): crystals. This will be a great oppor- photos made of some of the collection and would like to have some of • Feb 1: Chickasaw Council’s Uni- tunity to promote MAGS and the them printed for display around Chu- versity of Scouting/Cub Scout Rock Show. calissa. W. C. has purchased some Pow Wow, Saturday, February 1, • Mar 6-8: SFMS Executive door prizes for display drawings. 7:00am-4:00pm, at Getwell Church, Meeting and Rockhound 7875 Getwell Road, Southhaven, Roundup. 10 x 20 spaces are avail- New Business: W. C. Purchased a MS. This is an annual event for Boy able for $25 for the three days plus lot of stuff in Tuscon. Scout, Cub Scout, and Venturing park entrance fee. Clubs are encour- Adjourned 7:05. leaders. I had two tables set up. One aged to bring items to swap, items was a display of rocks, minerals, fos- to sell, and information about their February Meeting Minutes sils and Native American relics. The next Rock Show. Attendees not sell- Mike Coulson other was a MAGS information ta- ing only need to pay park entrance Called to order at 7:07. Welcome to all ble. There were approximately 100 fee. This would be a good opportu- in attendance. Be sure to vote for dis- leaders and 150 Scouts that came by nity to promote MAGS, our pro- plays, prizes displayed. Four new visi- the tables. I handed out information grams, and the Show. I have Rock tors. sheets and Rock Show post cards. I Show post cards to take with me. Show: Jim Butchko: Would like to gave one of the Boy Scout district • Mar 18: Lichterman Nature collect some dona- executives about 500 post cards to Center STEM Camp Talk. tions for Rock Zone Continued, P. 11

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MAGS Rockhound News ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS February Meeting Minutes gifts. Continued fom P. 10 Carol: SignUp Genius is ready to go and will go live in March. When available, please sign up for as many 2 hour slots as possible. In the upcoming months, more and more information will come out. Field Trips: Kim Hill: January trip to Photographs of cartilage cells from skull of Hypacrosaurus nestlings. On the left, Nonconnah was successful. February two cells at the end of cell division are seen, with material consistent with con- 29: Pickwick. March : Jonesboro densed nuclei. In the center, a higher magnification image of another cell shows Quarry. chromosomes. On the right is an isolated dinosaur cartilage cell that reacts with Keep in mind May for Gainesville, the DNA stain Propidium iodide (red dot, inside the cell). This stain suggests Florida, trip hunting for Megalodon there is still endogenous dinosaur DNA in this 75 million-year-old cartilage cell. teeth and other shark teeth. Photo credit: Alida Bailleul and Wenxia Zheng Junior Program: Lunar Geology by to Hypacrosaurus stebingeri—a type sults to the emu confirmed the Mike Baldwin. of duckbilled dinosaur that lived findings. Library: Four new books in the li- in what is now Montana during brary. The researchers also tested the the late Cretaceous period—were microstructures for the presence Adult Programs: Program present- conducted by Alida Bailleul, a pa- ed by Dr. Michael Gibson, UT Mar- of chemical markers consistent leontologist from the Chinese tin, on Parson’s Vulcan Quarry and with DNA using two complemen- the work he has done there over the Academy of Sciences and corre- tary histochemical stains that bind years. March, Lou White with some sponding author of a paper de- to DNA fragments within cells. stories to tell and display some of his scribing the work. She noticed These chemical markers reacted collection. May probably a demon- structures within certain tissues with isolated cartilaginous cells, stration night. that were consistent with chon- supporting the idea that some Displays: Jim Butchko, found Coral; drocytes, or cartilage cells, and fragmentary DNA may remain Kim Hill, Jan and Leo, Nonconnah within these were internal struc- within the cells. finds; Carol, Parsons; Dan, Lace tures resembling nuclei and chro- Agates (Dixie Mineral trip) and mosomes. The findings further From the abstract: “Specific Wood. support the idea that these origi- DNA staining is only observed Adjourned 7:48. nal molecules can persist for tens inside the isolated cells, suggesting of millions of years. endogenous nuclear material sur- vived fossilization. Our data sup- 75 Million-Year-Old The team performed immuno- port the hypothesis that calcified logical and histochemical analyses cartilage is preserved at the mole- DNA Evidence of tissues from the 75-million-year- Matthew Lybanon, Editor cular level in this Mesozoic mater- old hatchling skull, comparing the ial, and suggest that remnants of Researchers from the Chinese results to those from an emu skull once-living chondrocytes, includ- Academy of Sciences and North at a similar stage of development. ing their DNA, may preserve for Carolina State University have The cartilaginous tissues and millions of years.” found evidence of preserved frag- chondrocytes from the dinosaur ments of proteins and apparent skull reacted with antibodies to Ref: Alida M Baileul, Wenxia Zheng, chromosomes within isolated cell- collagen II, but the surrounding John R Horner, Brian K Hal, Casey like microstructures in cartilage bone did not react with collagen M Holiday, Mary H Schweitzer, Evi- from a baby duckbilled dinosaur. II antibodies. This is significant dence of proteins, chromosomes and Microscopic analyses of skulls because collagen II is found only chemical markers of DNA in excep- from a clutch of eggs, embryos, in cartilage, while collagen I dom- tionaly preserved dinosaur cartilage, hatchlings and nestlings belonging inates in bone. Comparing the re- National Science Review, nwz206, https://doi.org/10.1093/nsr/nwz206

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MAGS Rockhound News ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS MAGS At A Glance April 2020

All scheduled MAGS activities are cancelled until May.

Memphis Archaeological and Geological Society 2019 Littlemore Drive Memphis, TN 38016

APRIL 2020 PAGE 12