Tips and Trips Page 13 The Georgia Mineral Society February 2005 Ft. Drum, Florida – Rucks' Pit SFMS Field Trip Committee Saturday & Sunday, February 26-27, 2005 DMC Program of the SFMS Field Trip Committee 8:00a.m. to sundown Official Field Trip of the Mid-GA Gem and Mineral Society (Host) FEE SITE An Official Field Trip of the GEORGIA MINERAL SOCIETY WHAT: Fossil, calcite, and combination fossil/calcite collecting trip 9:30 am, Saturday, February 12, 2005 WHERE: Rucks' Pit, Fort Drum, Florida. Jackson’s Crossroads Amethyst Site WHEN: Saturday & Sunday, February 26-27, 2005, 8:00am - sun- Jackson’s Crossroads, Georgia down Wilkes County MEET: If you know the way, proceed on to the quarry; otherwise, (FEE Dig) meet at Hwy 441, Ft. Drum General Store, Ft. Drum, FL 8:00 am (not Ft. Drum Diner). Children: OK, Children allowed only under close adult supervi- COLLECTING HOURS: 8:00 am until sundown (It is essential sion. Please be careful of holes. that everyone is out of the quarry before dark!) Pets: OK, if they are well mannered. Pets allowed at this site on a ITEMS COLLECTED: There is an abundance of well-fossilized leash. and calcified marine shells. The sand and shell matrix rock is in Fee: This is a fee dig; There will be a $15.00 charge per adult the Nashua Formation (Pleistocene) and is composed of well- and this allows you one 5-gallon bucket full of goodies to take calcified shells. Any cavities within these fossils may contain cal- home with you. Children under 18 are free. cite crystals. Honey colored calcite crystals up to 1" in length can Contact information: Jay Batcha be found within large fossilized clam shells. Small calcite crystals Phone: 478-784-1965 (Day of dig if needed cell# 478-319-2859) within shells are very common. Fossilized bone and teeth, al- E-mail address: [email protected] though rare, can also be found at this location. Mail address: 4220 Cyndy Jo Circle, Macon, Ga. 31216 FEE: A $15.00 fee (children 13 and under are free) will be col- A Note from Rodney Moore: I have had folks from all over the United lected. States visit the site. Everyone has been delighted with his or her visit An adult must accompany children at all times. Dr. Ed Petuch except for one group that visited, which was the Georgia Mineral So- has written a book about the quarry with approximately 150 fossil ciety. There is plenty of amethyst on the property, as crystals in boul- shells identified that will be available for $12.00/copy. ders and as free crystals in the soil, however they are NOT like ap- SPECIAL CONDITIONS: It is recommended that you wear ples just hanging from a tree, and NOT like snakes that will leap up and bite you. I will try to schedule a machine to dig the area up prior sturdy shoes or boots and gloves. Daytime temperatures can o to the DMC visit but I can't guarantee that this will happen. The abso- vary as much as 40 F, so layered clothing is appropriate. This is lute cheapest that I can get a machine in is $550 and obviously I can't an active quarry and the sand/ rock along the quarry walls can do this just for the dig, but I will try to schedule some work to be done collapse without notice. Be extremely careful working next to prior to the field trip. steep walls. Some areas may be marked off, so do not go into COLLECTING: Amethyst crystals, facet grade amethyst, and these areas for your safety. clear quartz crystals. WHAT TO BRING: Bring buckets or backpacks along with paper SPECIAL CONDITIONS: Allowed one 5 gallon bucket full a mate- to wrap nice specimens, scratching tools, hammers, picks, shov- rial for each person. els, chisels, safety glasses, sunscreen, maps, lunch, and plenty of BRING: Sledgehammer, safety glasses, rock hammers, chisels, fluids. Bring a change of clothes. Collecting conditions are con- shovel, pick, scratching tools, and bucket with something to pro- sidered easy; however, safety should be a primary concern. tect your finds such as newspaper, bubble wrap, or, etc. We will Contact: Eddie Rucks Phone: 863-634-4579 have food and drinks to buy. Dress for the weather can be cold WHERE TO STAY: Okeechobee is the nearest town. I now this time of year! If you would like to bring stuff to trade, that know that it is very difficult to negotiate rates of stay due to fishing would be great addition to this field trip! tournaments that often occur. Below is a list of in Okee- Where we will meet: Dollar General Store in Tignall, Ga. (Tignall, chobee; however, January and February are peak times for south Ga. is between Washington, Ga. and Elberton, Ga. on Hwy 17) Florida motels. There are also many inexpensive motels in the When: 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, Saturday, February 12, 2005 Kissimmee area and on I-95, south of Melbourne, down to Ft. Directions to our meeting place: Pierce. Check ahead, some businesses are still closed due to Coming from the South: on I-20 take exit 172 which is Highway hurricanes. 78 and head north to Washington, Ga. In Washington take High- Motels Phone Number way 17 north to Tignall, Ga. The Dollar General Store is on the Budget 863-763-3185 left in Tignall. Inn Exp. 863-357-3529 Coming from the North: on I-85 take exit 173 which is Highway Flamingo 863-763-4894 17 and head south to Elberton, Ga. Continue on Highway 17 on Travelers Inn 863-763-3146 Elberton to Tignall, Ga. The Dollar General Store is on the right in Economy Inn 863-763-1148 Tignall. Scottish Inn 863-763-3293 DIRECTIONS: Ft. Drum is on Hwy 441 approximately 15 miles Accommodations: south of the intersection of Hwy 60 and 441 (Yeehaw Junction). Elberton, 302 Elbert St. Elberton, Ga. 706-283-2300 Go south of Ft. Drum General Store about 0.5 mile and turn east on 304th St. Go about 2.75 miles to the quarry entrance (north Shoney’s Inn, 14227 Jones, St. Lavonia, Ga. 706-356-3300 side of the road). There should be someone at the gate around 8:00a.m. George Libby, GMS Field Trip Chair , 115 Ann Denard Dr. Washington, Ga. 706-678-7925 Telephone: 770-978-2117 Fax: 770-985-4281 Howard Johnson, 1847 Washington Rd. Thomson, Ga. 706-597-9097 Cell Phone: 678-910-7476 email: [email protected] Express, 1893 Washington Rd. Thomson, Ga. 706-595-6500 Page 14 Tips and Trips February 2005 The Georgia Mineral Society FERNBANK MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY Weinman Mineral Museum 767 Clifton Rd, NE Cartersville, Georgia , GA CALENDAR OF EVENTS 404.929.6300 Winter 2005 For details on these exhibits, films, and events, please visit our website at www.fernbank.edu/museum or sign up for our broad- TEMPORARY EXHIBIT cast email at http://www.fernbank.edu/museum/e_news.html Lovely Upcoming Public Programs and Events February 7, 2005-July 16th, 2005

February 12, 10am-2pm, Opening Day Activities for Minerals have been among the key cosmetic ingredients Frogs: A Chorus of Colors (free with admission) through the ages. Beautiful mineral specimens combined with vintage advertising, artifacts, and hands-on activities help us February 14, 7:30 pm, An Evening of Romance (cost) explore the ways that minerals have made us all a little more lovely. February 26, 10am-2pm, Africa Day (free with admission)

March 1, 7pm, Lecture, Frogs: Vanishing Jewels of the Exhibit Preview and Lecture Amphibian World, Dr. Lawrence Wilson. (free, requires reservation) The Art of African Cosmetics Jessica Stephenson March 5, 10am-Noon, Nature Drawing Workshop with Thursday February 3, 2005 Nancy Lowe. (cost) Jessica Stephenson, Assistant Curator for African and Ancient American Art at Emory's Carlos Museum, will explore the use Special Exhibits: of various mineral cosmetics in ancient and contemporary cultures. This will be in conjunction with a preview of the Opening January 28: Hidden Wonders of the Appala- museum's temporary exhibit, "Lovely". chians: The Watercolors of Nancy Lowe

Opening February 12: Frogs: A Chorus of Colors *** COOKIES and COKE LEARNING Showing in IMAX: SERIES (Check our website for special screenings) 6:30 p.m. Cookies and Coke, 7:00 p.m. Lecture Free Admission Africa the Serengeti

Amazing Journeys (closes February 11) The Cartersville Mining District: An Historic Bugs: A Rainforest Adventure (opens February 12) Perspective

Julian Gray Martinis and IMAX, Friday evenings, 5:30-10:00 pm. Thursday March 3, 2005

Christine Bean, GMS Member and This presentation will cover the extensive mineral history of Geologist at Fernbank Natural History Museum the Cartersville Mining District in eastern Bartow County. Since the discovery of gold in near Allatoona in the 1830s, this has been one of the oldest mining districts of Georgia. Important Links Ongoing barite and ocher mining at New Riverside makes it the longest continuous mining district in the state. In between AFMS and SFMS Websites is a rich and colorful history of this special part of Georgia.

The SFMS Newsletter, the Lodestar, and AFMS Newsletter *I-75 Exit 293 at Hwy 411 * are now available for all members to read on line at: (770) 386-0576 * www.weinmanmuseum.org

http://www.amfed.org/sfms and Jose Santamaria, (GMS Member and) www.amfed.org Director and Curator Weinman Mineral Museum Friends of Mineralogy PO Box 3663 Cartersville, Georgia 30120 http://www.friendsofmineralogy.org Ph: 770.386.0576 x401 Fx: 770.386.0600 Tips and Trips Page 15 The Georgia Mineral Society February 2005 2005 SFMS Workshop Update SHOWS, SPECIAL EVENTS, AND EXHIBITS We hope everyone had a great holiday and now is the time to February 11-13, 2005, Merritt Island, FL - Central Brevard Rock start thinking about the upcoming SFMS Workshop season. & Gem Club. Annual Symphony of Gemstones Show, Kiwanis Each person on the Lodestar mailing list should have received Island Park, 950 Kiwanis Park Road. Hours: 11th, 1:00 pm-5:00 a copy of a brochure describing the complete 2005 Workshop pm.; 12th & 13th, 10:00 am-5:00 pm. Contact: George E. Tolson schedule and class selection. Registration forms for all @ 321.783.4795. June 10-12, 2005 Workshop Sessions are due on or after February 15, 2005 along with a registration fee of $30 per person. This is a February 18 - 20, 2005, Vero Beach FL - The Treasure Coast Rock & Gem Society. Gem and Jewelry Show, Vero Beach change this year to allow everyone to register early without Community Center, 14th Avenue and 23rd Street, Downtown having to submit half the total registration fee. The postmark Vero Beach. Hours: 18th, Noon - 5:00 pm.; 19th, 10:00 am. - on your registration letter partially determines your priority for 5:00 pm.;20th, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Contact Pedro Araoz, 608 acceptance in classes that may fill early. Arcadia Road, Vero Beach, FL 32963 or 772.231.0005. For those not on the mailing list with Internet access the whole February 26 - 27, 2005 Jackson, MS - Mississippi Gem & brochure along with registration forms is available at the Mineral Society. 46th Annual Gem, Mineral, Fossil and Jewelry SFMS Web site at www.amfed.org/sfms/. With a PDF Reader Show, A & I Buildings, State Fairgrounds at High Street. Hours: that is available free from www.adobe.com, you may 26th, 9:00 am - 6:00 pm and 27th; 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. Contact: download the brochure and print copies on your computer. Ashley Redden, 601.925.8272 or [email protected]. Editors may print copies to include in their newsletters. Editors April 23, 2005 - SFMS Executive Board Meeting at the Memphis are free to reprint any of the material in the brochure in club Archaeological and Geological Society Show April 23 & 24 - newsletters. If you wish to reformat the material for your Memphis TN. 26th Annual Mid-American Mineral, Fossil, newsletter, simply save a copy as text using the Adobe Jewelry Show, Fairgrounds in Memphis, TN. Hours to be Reader and use that copy with your word processor. Editors announced at a later date. may contact the Education Chairman if they wish to have the Southeast Federation Annual & Show Brochure forwarded as a Microsoft Publisher document. Melbourne, FL We look forward to seeing you at a Wildacres or William November 12-13, 2005, 2004 Holland session. Hosts: The Canaveral Mineral & Gem Society Fred Sias, SFMS Education Chair

From the Lodestar, SFMS newsletter , January 2005 From the Lodestar, SFMS newsletter , January 2005 February 2005 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 General Meeting Tips and Trips DMC Field Trip 7:30 pm Deadline Jackson’s Xrds

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Junior Section Valentine’s Day GSTA GSTA GSTA Meeting 1:00 pm Don’t forget !!! Columbus, GA Columbus, GA Columbus, GA

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 GMS Field Trip Ft. Drum

27 28 Gem Section Meeting 7:30 pm

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