May 2020 West Seattle Petroglyphs Page 1 Volume 55, Number 5
Monthly Bulletin of the West Seattle Rock Club, Inc.
Seattle, Washington
Website: http://www.westseattlerockclub.org
Our Club: Practices the Rockhound Code of Ethics
Meetings: Visitors are always welcome!
WEST SEATTLE PETROGLYPHS
Mike Wall, Editor P.O. Box 16145 Seattle, WA 98116 email: [email protected]
May 2020
Emerald May 2020 West Seattle Petroglyphs Page 2
WEST SEATTLE ROCK CLUB, INC. Mailing Address: P.O. BOX 16145, Seattle, WA 98116
The purpose of this Club is to promote the study and enjoyment of the Lapidary Arts with good Rock- hounding and good fellowship; and to further education and lapidary skills for all; to conduct field trips for exploration and collection of minerals, gems, rocks and fossils; to promote shows and displays; to publish a monthly periodical known as West Seattle PETROGLY PHS relating to club activities.
**************************************************************************************** OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS (2020):
President Brooke Babcock (360) 305-8106 Vice President Annette Nelson (206) 379-3677 Secretary Sue Fox (206) 835-0774 Treasurer Audrey Vogelpohl (206) 932-3292 Federation Director Audrey Vogelpohl 206) 932-3292 Director at Large Ken Schmidt (206) 932-3626 Mineral Council Reps Rich Babcock (206) 326-8951 Newsletter - Editor Mike Wall (206) 476-6471 Current Past President Scott Ryan (206) 354-2101
**************************************************************************************** COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS (2020):
Show Co-Chairs (2020 show) Sue Fox (206) 835-0774 Annette Nelson (206) 379-3677 Programs
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AFFILIATED WITH: Northwest Federation & American Federation of Mineralogical Societies Seattle Regional Gem and Mineral Show Committee Washington State Mineral Council ALAA – American Lands Access Association
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Meetings are held on the Fourth Wednesday of each month, except for November which can be on the THIRD or FOURTH Wednesday depending on Thanksgiving and no meetings in July and December The meetings are held in Adams Hall of the Tibbetts United Methodist Church 3940 41st S.W. (corner of 41st S.W. and S.W. Andover Street) Seattle, WA 6:15 PM – Junior Meeting 7:00 PM – Adult Meeting Dues are: $20.00 first year (including name badge), then: $10.00 per adult member per year or $15.00 for 2 adults in same family, $3.00 per junior member per year
VISITORS ARE INVITED AND ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO ALL MEETINGS
All material in this Bulletin may be reprinted if properly credited - Exchange Bulletins are most welcome. May 2020 West Seattle Petroglyphs Page 3
CLUB CALENDAR WHAT’S
INSIDE Next Meeting
Club Calendar 3 To Be Determined President’s Message 3 What’s Inside 3 Everything You Wanted to Know About Citrine But Were Afraid to Ask 3 PRESIDENT’S WSRC April General Meeting MESSAGE Minutes - No Meeting 4 2020 Refreshments 4 Safety Matters Covid-19 4 A Newbie’s Adventure … so far 6 Greetings WSRC, I hope everyone is feel- ing good and not too overwhelmed with Aluminum: As An Element, A Metal, everything going on. I must say, I really And In Minerals And Rocks 8 miss everyone and the community our club brings. It is hard to be so isolated. I am
we can. EVERYTHING YOU This Month we want to do a video during WANTED TO KNOW our normal meeting time so keep an eye out ABOUT CITRINE BUT for it. Annette is planning on doing a video watch party on our Facebook page. WERE AFRAID TO ASK Wednesday at 7 pm* normal meeting time. We hope to see you there. by Kat Koch
Natural Citrine (a type of quartz) is rare and is much Take care, lighter in hue than heat treated material. Natural Citrine color ranges from light yellow to orange- Brooke Babcock ~ yellow whereas almost all heat treated material range WSRC President in color from dark orange-brown to reddish-brown. Nearly all heat treated material has a reddish tint whereas natural Citrine does not. Most Citrine is made by heat treating Amethyst or Smoky Quartz from certain locales. Natural light colored Citrine is often called Lemon Quartz.
(Continued on page 9) May 2020 West Seattle Petroglyphs Page 4
WEST SEATTLE ROCK CLUB – GENERAL MEETING MINUTES
April 22, 2020
No April Meeting
after all, think of ourselves as leaders. It's what we do. 2020 REFRESH-
MENTS
The signup sheet is currently on hold for now. Thanks to everyone for bringing refreshments in the previous meetings! Hopefully things will get back to normal soon.
(On Hold for now, until our
meetings start up again)
SAFETY MATTERS
COVID—19 Vast quantities of information bits are circulating in Ellery Borow, AFMS Safety Chair the various media concerning the Covid-19 conta- gion. Some of the information is sound, some borders Pulling together to accomplish club goals is what we on rumor. Because the facts are still coming in, it is do--shows, field trips, educational programs and all urged that one have the most accurate information to manner of activities require a good deal of preparato- be safe and act safely. Reputable and trusted sources ry effort. A new common activity now faces us and for Covid-19 information include: our fellow club members. With a twister, we head to the shelter before it's in our neighborhood. With a WHO - World Health Organization flood, we head to high ground before the roads are inundated. In this instance there is a virus for which CDC - Center for Disease Control we need to pre-pare well before it is in our communi- NIH - National Institute of Health ty or our town. NIAD - National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases The problems associated with this virus, Covid-19, are nation-wide, world-wide. As responsible rock Checking with the above sources, as well as your people and club members we should consider being a part of the solution rather than the problem. We do, (Continued on page 5) May 2020 West Seattle Petroglyphs Page 5
(Continued from page 4) ry means of transmission, it is wise to keep own personal and trusted sources, plus your state and from using hands to rub ones face, especially local sources, would be wise in order have the most eyes, nose, and mouth. current and accurate advice. Though it seems older people suffer the worst Here is the not-so-short list of activities and means to effects of the virus, anyone, that’s anyone, can be safe, as of this writing: suffer serious results. Compromised immune and respiratory systems are particularly vul- Check with reputable sources to stay informed. nerable, although apparently-healthy people may also suffer serious consequences. The Watch for symptoms—dry cough, fever, chest latest mortality rate is between 5 times and 25 pains (respiratory distress) and shortness of times the average flu. This is serious. breath. Additional reported and beginning signs can include loss of sense of smell and As of this writing there is no know anti-virus gastro- intestinal unease. for Covid-19. Estimates run from late fall 2020 to summer of 2021 for a reliable, effec- As the community itself is part of the risk, and tive, and available anti-virus drug (the later indeed Covid-19-infected folks may, in the estimate is from the CDC). early stages, not realize they have the virus till symptoms show up. It is wise to exer-cise all If uncertain of infection, get tested. But be pertinent cautions. aware, if one is exposed, it may take as many as several days for the virus to replicate suffi- If one experiences the symptoms or suspects ciently for the test to detect its presence. they may have been in contact with the vi-rus, contact your health care provider, clinic, or Doctors suggest the usual precautions of good hospital to let them know your concerns. They diet, sufficient sleep, frequent exer-cise ,and may suggest visiting the facility or some other current flu shot. In addition, common sense course of action. By contacting the health care should prevail. provider first it gives them a heads-up of your situation so they can make preparations if a Frequently wash hands for 20 seconds with visit is warranted. Notification is a wise pre- soap and flowing water. This helps keep the caution because one would not want to spread virus from eyes, nose and mouth by casual or virus to others unintentionally, especially in intentional touch by hands. If hand washing any doctor's office or health care facility where for 20 seconds is not available, cleansing with patients may already have compromised a hand sanitizer having a high alcohol con-tent health. is recommended.
As Covid-19 transmission appears to be pri- Use ample common sense. The stores will not marily via lung exhalation, it is wise to main- run out of it. tain a social and physical distance from others. Six feet is a recommended minimum with 10 feet a suggested preference. Please remain vigilant and reasonable about being safe… because your safety matters. We are sure, as a Many recommendations exist to avoid gather- responsible rockhound, one would not want to bring ings of people. Recommendations have de- a virus back to one's home or family, or bring it from creased from gatherings of 250 people, to 100, one's family to another family. Please be safe. to 50 to 10 to now as few as two. Com-mon sense should be used in abundance. The disclaimer: Understand that this article does not profess to offer medical advice but merely compiles In certain instances a suitable face mask is data from several sources about the Covid-19 virus. suggested. A well fitted N-95 mask appears to For current information please check with trusted work well with restricting transmission. sources. Note—the words "well fitted." Beards impair a good fit. Surgical masks appear to be less ef- Ed: Another source—https://www.speaker.gov/sites/ fective. speaker.
In certain instances gloves are suggested. (via AFMS Newsletter, May 2020)
Though respiration is thought to be the prima- May 2020 West Seattle Petroglyphs Page 6
experiences and projects with new folks like me. A NEWBIE’S ADVENTURE Thanks to all of you who have fanned the flames of my new passion, you have all been very influential in … SO FAR making a newbie’s initial journey a ton of fun.
By Mitch Wasserman
It’s been about a year since I retired and have embraced a new rock and fossil passion. My goal was to look down and be able to recognize the rock or fossil I was looking at, understand how it was formed There are countless geology, rockhounding and and how it got there. An associated idea was to join a lapidary books/videos out there that have helped me few clubs and enjoy what they had to offer. Within better understand the basics. I went into this thinking the last year I’ve made some great strides towards there were about 30 different rocks I needed to meeting my goals and wanted to share some of my understand. Little did I know there ends up being early journey with you and share a few initial thousands of unique mineral combinations with takeaways I’ve learned along the way. names a foot long...so much more to learn here.
The biggest takeaway so far is how much fun I’m In my quest to know more about basic geology I having learning about geology, rocks, fossils and came across a Central Washington University lapidary. Who knew this could be so much fun...I professor, Nick Zentner. Watching the short videos wish I started this years ago. and lectures from Nick on YouTube about local geology has been mesmerizing...I can’t get enough of Mother Nature has done some extraordinary things. these. He is totally entertaining, very knowledgeable Sometimes all it takes is to step back and look at the and imparts complex information in a way that big geologic picture to understand what’s happening. everyone, including me, can understand. Nick has got Other times a whole new world opens up by looking me excited to travel more throughout Washington at things through a pair of magnifying glasses. My State to see all the neat things in our own backyard. wife laughs at how silly I look each time I use the glasses, but it’s worth it. Some of the new shapes, This last year has taken me (and somewhat colors and combinations of things I have seen doing begrudgingly, my wife, Barb) to many remote and this have been absolutely extraordinary, things I amazing places to collect and experience. We’ve never knew existed before. been to Kemmerer Wyoming for fish fossils, the Blue Forest in Wyoming for petrified wood. I will The unanticipated bonus of joining a club has been always cherish the experience of splitting shale to meeting all the great people who are eager to discuss become the first human to free an incredibly well- their similar passions and are so willing to share their (Continued on page 7) May 2020 West Seattle Petroglyphs Page 7 preserved fish trapped for over 40 million years.
In central Utah we collected some colorful agate and things associated with dinosaurs. At the time I couldn’t tell the difference between agate and jasper...I can now. This was the first time I experienced very cool rocks lying around everywhere on the ground just waiting to be placed in my bucket. It did not take long to fill the buckets and begin to see a noticeable sinking of Barb’s car, who was not too happy with me and the weight of all the rocks. Who knew there was such a thing as Dinosaur poop (coprolite) and things from their bellies they needed for digestion (gastroliths) ready to collect… that was incredibly cool! Gem and Fossil show. I can’t even begin to describe the show’s enormity and complexity. You must Central Oregon totally turned me on to the wondrous experience it for world of thunder eggs, northern Oregon to jasper, yourself. I came away southern Oregon to obsidian (and flat tires). We also with a bunch of mined for Oregon sunstones and on the Oregon incredible rocks, coast, found marine fossils. In northern Nevada we fossils, memories and dug for fire opal. T-eggs became my first lapidary a strong desire to project. With expert tutelage from Eric and Rick, return for more. I’ve opened and polished a ton of them but still have Arizona and New more to go. Mexico yielded fire agate, chalcedony roses and a better respect for cactus (got a few needles stuck in my leg on day one).
Throughout these recent journeys and first year encounters I’ve gathered a few takeaways.
A newbie’s first year takeaways:
1. I wish I started rockhounding and lapidary a long time ago, it’s fun!
2. It’s safer and probably more productive collecting with others who know what they are doing and where they are going.
3. Books suggesting where to go are nice to give While visiting lighthouses on the coastlines of you some ideas but seem to be very dated and Washington, we collected some cool tumbled rocks others have read the same tips and have already and concretions. Saddle Mountain yielded my first gone to the same places… many of these places experience with petrified wood. In my own backyard are no longer sites to visit. I’ve rediscovered coal and neat sandstone. And who knew that among all those nuisance rocks in my 4. It seems like a lot of the real good places to backyard there was petrified wood! Thank you collect are on private property or have a claim. glacial till. 5. It seems like the best collecting information is Last summer/ fall Barb and I put our feet in sands/ from fellow rockhounders or local rock store beaches halving four different colors: tan sand in a owners...talking to other out-of-the-area club few places, green (olivine) and black (basalt) sand in members sounds like a good idea, too. Hawaii and white (gypsum) in New Mexico...pretty cool. 6. Sharing successful experiences/locations with those that have shared with you and fellow club Most recently we experienced the BIG Tucson Rock, (Continued on page 8) May 2020 West Seattle Petroglyphs Page 8
members is the right thing to do. ALUMINUM: AS AN 7. A bucket with a lot of rocks is heavy and cumbersome to carry long distances. For me, my ELEMENT, A METAL, old backpack stores a lot of rocks, keeps my hands free, and is good for tools, too. AND IN MINERALS
8. It’s tempting to grab everything you see but I’ve AND ROCKS learned to leave some for others to enjoy...I read a book where the author calls these “leaverites,” by Andrew Hoekstra or leaver right there. Aluminum is the most abundant metallic element in 9. Learned another phrase after putting a number of the earth’s crust (twice as common as iron), and the scratches on the side of Barb’s car,“rockhound third most common element in the crust (after oxygen pin striping”. and silicon). Yet aluminum was more valuable than gold not much more than one hundred years ago. The 10. I believe the best places to collect are the most French emperor Napoleon the 3rd is said to have remote or the hardest to get to, but Barb can find reserved aluminum cutlery for himself and special great things right in front of her when she first guests, while the rest had to be content with gold; the leaves the car...go figure. French treasury displayed ingots of aluminum next to the crown jewels. In 1884 the Washington Monument At the beginning of the year I became a Vertebrate was capped with a 9” pyramid of aluminum, the Paletology Curatorial Assistant at the Burke largest casting of the metal ever made at that time, Museum. When I’m able to return, come visit me on which was displayed at Tiffany’s jewelry shop before Tuesdays and watch me help organize the thousands it was placed on top. Aluminum was chosen for its of really neat plant and animal fossils. I hope to learn conductivity and because it wouldn’t stain. Years even more about fossils from this experience. later, after lightning melted a bit of the tip, a crown of small lightning rods was attached to the pyramid. In retrospect, I’ve been blessed to be able to experience quite a bit relating to my new passion in Metallic aluminum is almost never found in nature. such a short time. I’m very thankful for the Minerals containing aluminum include the feldspars, opportunities and the experiences. Who knew a kaolinite, kyanite and andalusite (aluminosilicates), person could learn so much in a year. However, I the zeolites, turquoise, many garnets, jadeite, spinel, also realize there is so much more to learn and beryl, topaz, staurolite, epidote, zoesite, muscovite, experience and I can’t wait to see and learn more. spodumene, and lepidolite. Because aluminum Thanks so much to all of you in making a new readily forms an oxide, it easily becomes bound into member of the club so welcome. I especially want to rocks, while less reactive elements sink to the earth’s thank Susan and Rick for their unlimited core. Aluminum is light—less dense—so it should be graciousness and willingness to share their vast no surprise that continental rocks, which have risen knowledge, experience and their home...you are two to the earth’s surface, are richer in aluminum than the very special people. oceanic crust or the underlying mantle (which is not molten magma—and continents don’t “float” on it).
Aluminum metal was precious and rare; until methods were invented to extract it from rocks, where it exists in compounds, tightly bonded to other elements. Aluminum compounds like alum (sulfate salts of aluminum) have been in use since ancient times, but the metal was first isolated in the nineteenth century. Only in the 1880’s were commercial production methods developed to produce aluminum metal from ore (using the Hall- Heroult Process and the Bayer Process). Aluminum metal and its alloys are light, non-reactive and corrosion-resistant, non-toxic, conductive (thermally and electrically), splinter-proof, and non-magnetic, and with its decreasing cost the metal has become ubiquitous, with many uses both familiar (foil, cans, (via Rocky Trails, May 2020) pots and pans, furniture, and airplanes) and less (Continued on page 9) May 2020 West Seattle Petroglyphs Page 9
(Continued from page 8) familiar (capacitors, transformers, and other Some Natural Citrine that also has a “smoky” hue to it electrical/electronic equipment). and can be border line between Citrine and Smoky Quartz. This combination can also be banded. I have Aluminum is present in many common rock-forming samples in my collection of a gradual blend from silicate minerals, including the feldspars. But Lemon Citrine to Smoky Quartz and a the banded aluminum is commercially extracted from the type. minerals gibbsite, boehmite, and diaspore found in the ore rock bauxite. Bauxite is a fairly common and Quartz is the most common gemstone found on earth. widespread rock, with large reserves in Guinea, Some people feel It has a trigonal crystal system. Australia, Vietnam, Brazil and Jamaica. Australia There are many types of gemstones that are formed produces the most alumina (aluminum oxide) from from quartz. Just a few of them are Clear Quartz, ore, and China produces the most aluminum metal. Citirine, Amethyst, Ametrine, Smoky Quartz, Rose The major expense of producing aluminum is the Quartz, Tiger Eye, Chalcedony, Rutilated Quartz, electricity needed for electrolysis to extract the metal Blue Quartz (never clear), Carnelian and Prasiolite. from molten aluminum salt (alumina). Aluminum smelters are often located near cheap Interesting Quartz Lore: Roman naturalist and Naval sources of power, such as hydropower, even if far Commander of the early Roman Empire, Pliny the from the source of ore. Recycling of aluminum is Elder, believed quartz to be water, permanently frozen profitable because it uses far less energy (about 95% after great lengths of time. (The word "crystal" comes less) than producing metal from ore. There was a from the Greek word for "ice".) He supported this idea factory in Carson, CA (now closed), where aluminum by saying that quartz is found near the glaciers in the cans went in one end and rolls of aluminum sheet Alps, NOT on volcanic mountains, and that large came out its other end – the cans were stripped of quartz crystals were fashioned into spheres to cool the their paint in a rotary kiln, the metal melted, and then hands. This idea persisted until at least the 17th extruded as coils of new sheet. century. Pliny also knew of the ability of quartz to split light into a spectrum. He wrote in the first Aluminum salts also have many varied and important century a.d., they use to focus crystal heat from the uses. Sulfates of aluminum, like alum, are used in Sun to cauterize wounds. water treatment, hide tanning, textile dyeing, paper manufacture, and baking powder. Aluminum oxide Metaphysical Properties of Quartz: Quartz is the most (alumina) is used as an abrasive, in catalysts, and as a powerful healing stone of the mineral kingdom, able drying agent or absorbent. Other aluminum salts are to work on any condition. Clear Quartz is known as used for these same purposes and in a variety of other the stone of power and amplifies any energy or manufacturing processes. intention. Clear Quartz protects against negativity, attunes to your higher self, and relieves pain. (Via The Tumbler, May 2020; via Rockhound Rambling, 4/20; from Delvings, 4/20) American Indians on Using Quartz Crystals: American Indian shamans placed quartz crystals over their eyes to help them become more clairvoyant.
(Continued from page 3)
In some Amethyst deposits you will find natural Citrine. Some Natural Citrine has a “smoky” hue to it Sources: minerals.net, geology.net, gemhunters.com.au, and can be border line between Citrine and Amethyst several site on wikipedia.org, invoguejewelry.blogspot.com, and is then called Ametrine. This occurs from natural llewellyn.com heating having turned the Amethyst to Citrine. (via The Tumbler, May 2020)
May 2020 West Seattle Petroglyphs Page 10
2020 FIELD TRIPS
(Note: It is possible that some of the WSMC Fieldtrips are now back on again — as always please check with the fieldtrip leader before attending. See link below for possible field trips)
————————————————————————————————————— See WSMC for https://mineralcouncil.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/fieldtrips.pdf additional field trips and detail— Always check with the trip contact a week before the trip to get any updated information
2020 SHOWS
(Note: I am assuming all other near-term rock shows are either cancelled or possibly rescheduled at a later date)
————————————————————————————————————— See the Northwest Newsletter for additional show listings and times. Available online at: http://northwestfederation.org/newsletters.asp
How Can You Help
Your Federation: Save stamps and give to our club treasurer.
Your Hobby: Join ALAA. - Contact Lyle Vogelpohl
Other: Volunteer to teach beginners what you are good at.
To Learn More About ...
Cabbing … contact Lyle Vogelpohl … (206) 932-3292