MEMPHIS ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
MAGS Rockhound News ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS
Volume 61 ◊ Number 04 ◊ April 2015 ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS
Show Off For The Show In this issue Show Off For The Fun, Games, & Prizes Show P. 1 MAGS And Federation April Program 2015 Show Notes P. 2 Come join your MAGS friends It's time once again to experi- Fabulous Tennessee for an exciting kickoff to our 36th ence the Earth Wide Open at the Fossils P. 3 Annual Memphis Mineral, Fossil, 36th Annual Memphis Mineral & Jewelry Show, on April 25 & 26. Fossil, & Jewelry Show at the Ag- Show2015 Speakers P. 4 Be among the first to see the ricenter International. There will Show Hospitality P. 5 world premiere of The Earth be hundreds of tables filled with 2015 Show Dealers P. 5 Wide Open, 1974-2015. You may high quality minerals, fossils, jew- Jewelry Bench Tips P. 5 see yourself, along with many of elry, beads, crystals, art and all the our other Members, helping out at pretty rocks. This year Cub February Board every step of putting on this great Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Boy Minutes P. 6 event. Scouts can come and meet the re- February Meeting We will have some of our past quirements for their badges in Minutes P. 7 Geology. We have tons of gems Show chairpeople talking about all April Birthdays P. 8 the fun they had putting the Show for our grab bags and gem dig (still Displays P. 8 together. Idajean Jordan, Alan 25¢ for 3 minutes of mining). New Parks, W. C. McDaniel, and Jim to this year's Show is Steve Arnold Field Trips P. 8 Butchko, along with some other and his meteorites. Steve has Save These Dates P. 9 MAGS Members, will share their done shows on national TV show- Natural Quasicrystal experiences. ing his space rocks and will be dis- playing, lecturing, and maybe even From Meteorite P. 9 If a video and Show chairs are selling at the show. Come to see, MAGS At A Glance P. 10 not enough, we will have a game or learn, buy, have fun, and to win the two and lots of prizes. We need beautifully sculpted bird or one of your support, so plan to come to the hourly door prizes donated by our meeting at 7:30 P. M. on April our dealers.. 10. It will be fun for all.
COME SEE THE WORLD PREMIERE OF THE EARTH WIDE OPEN, 1974-2015
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MAGS Rockhound News ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS 2015-2016 MAGS BOARD MAGS AND FEDERATION NOTES President–W. C. McDaniel 2038 Central Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104 ◊ (901) President’s Message 274-7706 ◊ [email protected] Welcome to Show month. 1st VP (Field Trips)–Charles Hill 1070 Park Swain Road, Grand Junction, TN 38039 As we approach or count down toward the opening of the ◊ (901) 626-4232 ◊ [email protected] Show, it is helpful to look at Show numbers. 2nd VP (Adult Programs)–Carol Lybanon Continued, P. 4 2019 Littlemore Drive. Memphis, TN 38016 ◊ (901) 757-2144 ◊ [email protected] MAGS General Membership Meetings and MAGS Youth Secretary–Mike Baldwin Meetings are held at 7:30 P. M. on the second Friday of 367 North Main Street, Collierville, TN 38017 ◊ every month, year round. The meetings are held in the (901) 853-3603 ◊ [email protected] Fellowship Hall of Shady Grove Presbyterian Church, 5530 Treasurer–Bonnie Cooper Shady Grove Road, Memphis, TN. 8695 Baylor Road, Arlington, TN 38002 ◊ (901) 444- 0967 ◊ [email protected] MAGS Website: memphisgeology.org Director (Asst. Field Trips)–John McLane 5346 Kristy Lane, Southaven, MS 38671 ◊ (662) We aren’t kidding when we say this is a newsletter for 609-3917 ◊ [email protected] and by the members of MAGS. If an article has a by- Director (Asst. Adult Programs)–Kim Hill line the author is a MAGS Member, unless explicitly 4755 Royal Elm Cove, Memphis, TN 38128 ◊ (901) stated otherwise (we welcome articles by nonmem- 388-7572 ◊ [email protected] bers). If there is no byline, the article was written or Director (Youth Programs)–James Butchko compiled by the Editor (a MAGS Member). Please 4220 Dunn, Memphis, TN 38111 ◊ (901) 743-0058 ◊ contribute articles or pictures (everybody likes pictures) [email protected] on any subject of interest to rockhounds. If it interests Director (Asst. Youth Programs)–Chris you it probably interests others. The 15th of the month is Scott the deadline for next month’s issue. Send material to 4220 Dunn, Memphis, TN 38111 ◊ (901) 743-0058 ◊ [email protected] [email protected]. Director (Librarian)–Ron Brister 3059 Old Brownsville Road, Bartlett, TN 38134 ◊ April DMC Field Trip (901) 388-1765 ◊ [email protected] WHERE: Hogg Mine, LaGrange, GA (fee site, $25) Director (Membership Services)–Bob WHEN: April 18, 8:45 A. M.-5:00 P. M. Cooper 8695 Baylor Road, Arlington, TN 38002 ◊ (901) 444- COLLECTING: Beryl, Star Rose Quartz, Black Tourma- 0967 ◊ [email protected] line, and Aquamarine Director (Historian)–Nannett McDougal- INFORMATION: Jeff Edwards, (334) 312-0572, Dykes ◊ 106 Maple Street, Stanton, TN 38069 ◊ [email protected] or (901) 634-9388 ◊ [email protected] [email protected] Newsletter Editor–Matthew Lybanon 2019 Littlemore Drive. Memphis, TN 38016 ◊ (901) 757-2144 ◊ [email protected] Links to Federation News Webmaster–Mike Baldwin ➡ AFMS: www.amfed.org/afms_news.htm 367 North Main Street, Collierville, TN 38017 ◊ ➡ SFMS: www.amfed.org/sfms/ (901) 853-3603 ◊ [email protected] ➡ DMC: www.amfed.org/sfms/_dmc/dmc.htm Show Chairman–James Butchko 4220 Dunn, Memphis, TN 38111 ◊ (901) 743-0058 ◊ [email protected]
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MAGS Rockhound News ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS referred to as the “kidneys of the all shape first, and then find spic- ocean” because they can pump ules under the microscope. No- large quantities of seawater remov- tice I wrote most. ing detritus. Most sponges are Enter Fabulous Tennessee Fos- sessile marine, meaning they at- sil Astraeospongia meniscu (Figure 1), tached to the sea floor or as epibi- arguably the most recognized fos- onts on another shell. As you sil sponge anywhere. Astraeo- might expect, their lack of a min- spongia literally means “star- eralized external skeleton, unlike sponge”, referring to the spicule that of corals, brachiopod, bi- shape visible on the surface, and valves, and other “higher” inverte- meniscus from the Greek for brates, severely hinders the likeli- Fabulous Tennessee “crescent” or saucer-shape. As- hood of sponges fossilizing, but all traeospongia, was named by Dr. Fossils is not lost! One group of cells Ferdinand von Roemer using Dr. Michael A. Gibson, University of within the walls of sponges does specimens from the “fossil glades” Tennessee at Martin secrete a mineralized hard part— of Hardin, Wayne, Perry, and De- spicules. Spicules are spike-like Astraeospongia meniscus catur counties in West Tennessee. calcite or silica skeletal secretions Roemer, 1854 Especially productive is the that adds some degree of rigidity Brownsport Formation ,where the Kingdom Animalia to the sponge and they can be soli- muddy limestone beds from which Phylum Porifera tary or fused into a framework, the sponge easily erodes were much like the framing of a build- Class Calcarea or Demospongia termed the “Meniscus Beds” due ing. The remainder of the sponge Order Heteroactinida to the abundance of sponges, and is soft tissue called spongin. later the Meniscus Limestone, by Family Astraeospongiidae Sponges readily decay upon death, Tennessee’s second State Geolo- Genus Astraeospongia so sponge spicules are common gist James Safford in 1861. Indeed, Species meniscus microfossils, due to their abun- this sponge now has the exalted dance and very small size, but en- Sponges, or porifera ("pore status of being an Index or Guide tire sponges are relatively rare in Fossil for the Middle Silurian to bearer"), are generally considered the fossil record. The porous na- to be “lower invertebrates” of Middle Devonian in North Amer- ture of sponges can enhance their ica. Nearly every paleontology “cell-grade”, meaning they lack the fossilization by allowing mud to ability to form tissue that can be program and nearly all courses on infiltrate the ostia and osculum, Earth history use this as the dis- used to then form organs, so no followed by another generation of circulatory, respiratory, or muscu- tinctive sponge to study because mud entombing the entire animal. of its easily recognized curved lature systems like you and I have. What results is a special style of Sponges use five different cell lens-shape and distinctive star-like preservation called a “cast-in-cast” pattern of large spicules. types to loosely assemble an or- in which two different generations ganic structure consisting of a of mud fill open space and entomb Ferdinand von Roemer (Jan. 5, layer of amoeboid or flagellated the sponge, which subsequently 1818–Dec. 14, 1891; Figure 2) was cells that create currents to pull decays leaving on the overall born in Hanover, Germany, where food-laden water through their sponge shape (cup or ball usually) he developed a keen interest in soft sac-like body. Seawater enters impressions of other features. If geology, earning his Ph. D. in pale- through tiny pores (ostia), and af- spicules are present, then they can ontology in Berlin in 1842. Soon ter being filtered of food, the wa- be locked into place to make a after, in 1845-1847, Roemer settled ter exits through a larger opening copy of the sponge shape. So usu- in Texas where his abundant and at the top of the sponge (osculum). ally paleontologists recognize insightful geologic studies were These filter-feeders are sometimes published as the most fossil sponges by their over- Continued, P. 4
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MAGS Rockhound News ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS President’s Message Show2015 Speakers Continued fom P. 2 The speakers and scout program will return for the 2015 show. The ★ 30000—square feet of exhibit program will be located in Section A in a curtain room called the Vug. space The featured speaker will be Steve Arnold, who appeared in the ★ 18000—dollars to produce Discovery Networks Meteorite Men TV Shows. Steve is best known for the show locating the 1,430 pound Brenham, Kansas, Pallasite Main Mass ★ 6000—number of tickets meteorite in 2005. distributed in the RockZone Saturday, April 25 Sunday, April 26 ★ 5500—number of postcards for mailing 11:00 am, Dr. Terry Panhorst University of 1:00 pm, Steve Arnold—From the Science Mississippi—How To Make Gold: The ★ 2200—average yearly ticketed Channel Show Meteorite Men Standard Hill Gold Mine, Mojave, California attendance since moving to the Agricenter 1:00 pm, Dr. Michael Gibson, Universtiy of 2:30 pm, Scouts, Herb Nicholson P. G.— ★ 400—hours of volunteers Tennessee, Martin—”Bite Me, Scratch Me, Geology Program for Cub Scouts and Girl Bore Me to Death: A Primer on Trace Fossils” Scouts ★ 325—number of tables 3:30 pm, Scouts, Alan Parks P. G.— ★ 290—about the number of 2:30 pm, Steve Arnold—From the Science Essentials of the Boy Scout Geology Merit MAGS Members Channel Show Meteorite Men Badge (minerals option) ★ 30—number of dealers ★ 1—the most important 4:00 pm, Bill Gilbert, MAGS Member— Pyrite, Fluorite Collecting in Spain number, and it is you W. C. McDaniel Fabulous Tennessee Fossils first ever West Tennessee (Figure 3), in which this distinctive fossil sponge is a Continued fom P. 3 mono- he changed Astraeospongium to As- common occurrence in most geol- graph traeospongia and provided a full ogy programs nationwide. It has from Texas on Cretaceous fossils taxonomic description, along with become the “poster child” sponge (1852), which later earned him the dozens of other fossils. Interest- for generations of students study- title of “Father of the Geology of ingly, he changed the name ending ing paleontology and historical Texas”. He also published his ob- without commenting on why. Fa- geology classes. Wards Scientific servations on Texas culture…from vorable reviews of Roemer’s book Supplier has been selling them for his German perspective. in 1861 by Tennessee’s second nearly 100 years (most recent price Sometime in 1846-47, Roemer State Geologist James Safford in a is $9.95 each) and on ebay it can visited the fossil-rich Silurian and series of articles on the Silurian be as much as $15. One peculiarity Devonian beds that had attracted and Devonian of West Tennessee of our specimens is that they are first Tennessee State Geologist for the American Journal of Science often silicified, even though they Gerard Troost to the region. In and Arts drew attention to the belong to the calcareous spicule 1854, Roemer published a list of work; however, the Civil War in- sponges. Hope you “soaked-up” his fossils, citing Astraeospongium terrupted serious study. Separate the information about this sponge with no other description—tech- portions of Roemer’s book were in this article—sorry, couldn’t re- nically an invalid taxonomic name eventually translated into English sist the pun! at this point. The next year he in 1874 by Thomas Vickers and Editor’s note: Do you have a fa- became a professor of geology and Charles W. Dietrich (Dietrich vorite Tennessee fossil you would paleontology at the University of translated the Astraeospongia por- like to learn more about? Contact Breslau, and in 1860 he published tion of the book) and published in Dr. Gibson at [email protected] his Die Silurische Fauna Des Westli- several issues of the Cincinnati to have it discussed in a future Quarterly Journal of Science. Today, chen Tennessee—Silurian Fauna of chapter. Continued, P. 5
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MAGS Rockhound News ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS Fabulous Tennessee Fossils Continued fom P. 3
Figure 2. Ferdinand von Roemer (photo credit— Digital Library of Univer- sity of Wroclaw)
Figure 1. Astraeospongia meniscus Roemer. This specimen shows an earlier sponge (lower larger cup) with a budding second small specimen on top, show- ing well-developed star-shaped spicules (Specimen in UT Martin collection) Show Hospitality 2015 Show Dealers JR Rocks Debbie Schaeffer Earthcrafts Yellow indicates new dealer. MS Enterprise All MAGS Members are in- Nature Bazaar vited to attend the MAGS Show Volunteer Gems Dinner. The Dinner will be held Geode Gallery Friday, April 24, at 6:30 P. M. at Fall Creek the Agricenter. The Show will Duncan Lapidary provide barbecue, buns, slaw, Shop/Mille beans, and barbecue spaghetti for Super Bead Mart Crystal Perfection MAGS members and Show ven- Eagle dors. Those MAGS Members at- Amber America Riddle Old Fairview Store tending the Dinner are asked to Rock Barrel bring a side dish or a dessert AND Custom Creations a case of water or a 12-pack of a Stones and Bones Jewelry Bench Tips by Coke product. Please be on the Mineral House Brad Smith lookout for an email signup list for Fantastic Stone DIVIDERS the Show Dinner. Hope to see Planetary Parts A set of dividers is a tool I find you there! Designer Cabs very useful in laying out the ge- MAGS provides a hospitality LK Enterprises ometry of a piece I'm making. It bag to all of the 30+ vendors at our C&N Gifts has two needle-like tips with an show. Please help out by bringing Arkansas Gem and Beads adjustment to set the spacing be- a donation of individually wrapped Earthworks tween them. chips, crackers, cookies, candy, Caveny Creations They can be used to transfer a etc. to the April MAGS Meeting Imperial Gems measurement. Let's say you need to be used in the hospitality bags. Javeds a 7 mm wide strip THANKS! McNeil of sheet metal. Set Continued, P. 6
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MAGS Rockhound News ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS Jewelry Bench Tips the spacing be- times when you need to clamp one checks each time we have a new Continued fom P. 5 tween the di- of your tools in a vise, for instance treasurer. Carol mentioned the stand- vider tips to 7 a drawplate. ing rule that states the Field Trip Vice mm on the ruler. Then lay the President can be reimbursed up to sheet on the bench, put one tip Get all 101 of Brad's bench tips $50 for field trip expenses. Bonnie will have a budget for 2015 before the against the edge, and run the di- in "Bench Tips for Jewelry Mak- ing" on Amazon. March Board Meeting. viders down the edge scribing a Membership Report: Bob told the line parallel to the edge. Board that member ID cards and Dividers can be used to mark February Board membership renewal receipts have equal segments of a line or arc. Minutes been mailed to out-of-town Members. For instance assume a line be- Mike Baldwin A membership directory will be avail- able soon for electronic distribution. tween A and B that might be Meeting called to order at 6:34 P. M. straight or curved, and you want Concerning the Institutional Mem- Present: W. C. McDaniel, Charles bership which was discussed at the to divide it into five equal lengths. Hill, Carol Lybanon, Mike Baldwin, January meeting, W. C. said that Dr. Set the dividers to an estimate of Bonnie Cooper, James Butchko, Bob .Connolly only wants Chucalissa to be the distance. Starting at Point A, Cooper, Kim Hill, Matthew Lybanon, associated with MAGS through use the dividers to mark off five Nannett McDougal-Dykes, Marc membership in order to keep our his- lengths along the line. If you end Mueller, Chris Scott, John McLane, toric association intact for the future. up short of Point B, lengthen the Paul Sides and MAGS Member Kathy Chucalissa would pay MAGS $100 for distance on the dividers. If you Baker. W. C. nominated John McLane this dual membership. W. C. sug- as assistant field trips. Appointment end up overshooting Point B, gested that we offer a $5 discount on approved by unanimous vote. MAGS membership to Chucalissa shorten the length of your divid- Secretary's Report: January min- ers. After a few tries, the length members. A motion was made by utes were delivered to Board Mem- Nannett to establish the institutional on the dividers will be the exact bers via email earlier in the week. Sec- distance you need to mark the five membership allowing Chucalissa retary Mike Baldwin distributed hard members to become MAGS members segments. copies which were reviewed and ap- for a $5 discount. Motion carried. Dividers can let you quickly proved by unanimous vote. Field Trip Report: Charles is pre- find the center of a circular disk. Treasurer's Report: Bonnie pre- paring a booklet with information sented the January report. W. C. With one tip of the dividers at the about past field trip locations. He is asked that we defer a CD deposit dis- seeking information on Coon Creek. edge of the disk, set the other tip cussion until Bonnie gets all the to an estimate of where the center 2015-16 winter trips will include one treasurer's materials from the previ- to the Ledbetter Farm in Livingston might be. Fix one tip of the divid- ous treasurer. Bonnie reviewed line ers at the 3 o'clock position and and a return trip to Jonesboro. Up- items for Board Members and pro- coming trips include: March 7, Shelby scribe an arc with the other tip vided the Board our January account Forest; March 20-23 Ammonite trip to near the center. Do this again balance. W. C. reviewed the club and Texas (signup sheets at the February from the 6 o'clock, 9 o'clock, and Show checking account structure for Membership Meeting); March 28, 12 o'clock positions. The arcs at new Board Members. Based on re- Crater of Diamonds in Murfreesboro, the center will form a small four- ports from Shady Grove we did not Ark. Charles noted that only Mem- sided box. The center of the box pay rent for four months each in 2011 bers can go on any MAGS field trip. is at the center of the disk. and 2012. Bonnie explained the fee Paul recommended that we always structure for payment of monthly send a letter of thanks to landowners PIECE OF LEATHER rent to the church and treasury re- for allowing us to collect. Several peo- cords show that we do owe the church ple have signed up for the Texas trip Leather has a multitude of for the time mentioned. Bonnie and and now Matthew would like to get uses in the shop. I often use a W. C. will contact the church to clear confirmation from participants. The scrap of it to avoid scratching the up this matter. New checks have W. group may be staying in Gainesville back of a piece of jewelry while C.'s address on them so we do not this year, since it has better accom- setting stones. It's also great for have to change the address on the modations and more Continued, P. 7
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MAGS Rockhound News ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS February Board Minutes food choices stated that the newsletter looks good thew Lybanon reported that MAGS Continued fom P. 6 than Valley because of contributions from mem- did well in the AFMS and SFMS View. bers. Many thanks and congratula- newsletter contests. Certificates and Adult Program Report: Carol re- tions to Matthew for an outstanding trophies were on display on the back ported that the February program will job as the Rockhound News editor. table. Matthew stated that the March be presented by Elizabeth Carranza Historian Report: Nannett re- 20-23 field trip to Texas is in the plan- (University of Memphis), about her ported that MAGS will have a table ning stage. A head count estimate is adventures in Peru. She will have set up at Shelby Farms on April 4. She needed in order to get hotel discount. some specimens for sale and all the will help children make pet rocks. Matthew also shared information proceeds will go to help a very impov- There will be a volunteer signup sheet about a Magic Springs (Arkansas) dis- erished community in Peru. The at the Membership Meeting. Looking count rate being offered to MAGS March program will be presented by at May-June for a rock swap at the members. Ron Brister submitted an David Hanes from Tupelo, about his home of Jimmy and Hisami McNeil. inventory of overdue and missing dinosaur bone collection. Carol has There will be a field trip on May 9. books. James Butchko said grab bag asked Members to send her pictures Nannett will pick a day and coordi- construction for the show will take from older shows. Kathy Baker needs nate with the McNeils for May 23 or place in April. Carol reminded Mem- information several days in advance June 20. bers of the volunteer signup sheet. for press releases of upcoming meet- Show Report: James reported that Every Member will get an invitation ings, which will appear in the Com- all but one dealer space is confirmed. to Sign-up Genius to sign up for the mercial Appeal’s Cordova edition. The Show Meeting will follow this Board show. If you don't like filling out September program will be presented Meeting tonight. forms online, call Carol and she will by Lori Carter from Atlanta, on sand. Old Business: sign you up. Charles Hill reminded Display Report: Kim asked for ‣ Magic Springs and Crystal Falls and members of the field trip to Noncon- ideas on gifts for display winners. Water Theme Park in Hot Springs, nah Creek this Sunday, February 15. It Junior Program Report: James Arkansas ,has informed the Ly- will be cold and perhaps snowy. Sig- reported that he will present the Feb- banons that MAGS Members (only) nup available. March: Shelby Forest ruary Junior program on fossil identi- can purchase tickets at a discount trip list is full; March 20-23 will be fication. The junior program for prices. ammonite trip to Texas; March 28 March will be magnets with the Ly- ‣ Cleanup and organizing day at the field trip to Crater of Diamonds. May banons. In April the Juniors will make shed will be March 7. Shelf con- to 20-mile Creek and May 16 to a banner for the Show. In May, Herb struction information was shared by Southaven. June 20 to Turkey Creek Nicholson will share information Charles. He will build off-site and with Bob. July to Crow Creek. about local fossils with the Juniors. transport to the shed before the Displays: Ten adults presented dis- Librarian Report: Marc asked that shed party. Charles, W. C., Kim, Jim, plays, many of them based on the $200 be added to the 2015 budget for and Chris will survey the shed at theme for the month—crystals. books and bookends. 10:00 on Saturday, February 7. Program: Juniors dismissed to their Web Report: Mike reported that the Meeting adjourned at 7:53 P. M., fol- program. Carol introduced the adult MAGS website has been updated for lowed by a Show Committee meeting. program: "Only you love what you February. The current newsletter is know" with Elizabeth Cruzado Car- online. Corrections have been made February Meeting ranza, graduate student at the Univer- to the Club page. sity of Memphis. She spoke about the MemphisGeology.org has been en- Minutes history of Machu Pichuu, the Chavin tered in the Southeast Federation Mike Baldwin culture [one of the first religious cen- Website Contest for 2015. Meeting called to order at 7:34pm by ters in Peru], the Moche culture [fa- Newsletter Report: Matthew in- Charles Hill, First Vice President. 51 mous for ceramics], and the Nazca formed the Board that MAGS did members and 8 visitors attended. culture [desert dwellers]. Elizabeth quite well in the Southeast and the Business: Bob Cooper reported that worked with Piara Ancash Regional American Federation newsletter con- a new MAGS membership directory Archaeology Research Project tests for 2014. Previously we had the is in progress which will be updated as through Hualcayan archaeological site certificates for the AFMS. We now new Members join. New this year at investigations of the formative peri- have certificates and trophies for the the Show: you must present your ods and mapping of the Panchochuco SFMS winning entries. Matthew membership card to get in free. Mat- sector. Hualcayan is a Continued, P. 8
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MAGS Rockhound News ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS February Meeting Minutes modern agates and fossils from Noncon- creek that meanders through that Continued fom P. 7 day com- nah Creek along with green mar- part of north Mississippi and munity bles, and some cool mounted mi- holds great promise. Large pieces with many problems, including pov- cro specimens,that were actually of petrified wood have been found erty, lack of education, health needs, being given away. there, but most important to me and family violence. Elizabeth shared are the garnets I found. Also, for her commitment to this community The winner this month was through educational programs which yours truly with my Nonconnah whoever is interested, I plan on she hopes will cause change and im- Creek finds and green marbles. giving a short class on panning. Panning for heavies is something provements. She is producing a book Next month, to keep things about the history of Hualcayan, which all rockhounds should learn. fun, how about we do something is due out this summer. Local students On June 13 we are going to and women design and craft jewelry, in a Easter theme, say anything egg shaped—either natural or Turkey Creek in northern Missis- bags and other items indigenous to sippi. This trip will be led by Bob the area to raise money for their manmade. Also, anything good and Bonnie Cooper. We will be community. Elizabeth was involved in you bought at a previous MAGS the design and construction of a cul- Show. And as always, there is ran- looking for marcasite, pyrite, and tural heritage center and museum dom. Whatever may tickle your fossils. Bonnie found a mosasau- featuring history and archaeology fancy will definitely tickle ours. rus vertebra at Turkey Creek the with a 350+ book library, a computer last time the club went there, so Remember, WE ARE center and a community center. be sure to follow her lead. Meeting adjourned at 8:32pm. ROCKHOUNDS. We LOVE seeing rocks or artifacts of any July is almost always a hot month. Therefore, there is no April Birthdays kind!! So step up, keep our meet- ings even more interesting, and better time for a wet, shady creek 1 Carmel Verrier bring it in so we can enjoy it too. in eastern Arkansas. On July 11 we will be going to Crow Creek, 6 Kathy Nagel THANKS, 8 Evie Von Boeckman which has a fossilized oyster bed Kim and gravel deposits. One can find 17 Caleb Bearden everything that is found in local 21 Emily Neal Field Trips gravel beds and creeks, but the 27 Halley Scott Charles Hil colors are different. You will see Lori Carter Hi again to all MAGS Mem- fewer gray shades and more reds Kathy Bullard bers and others reading this. It is and yellows. In addition, Crow 28 Sonya Suarez time to talk about the next wave Creek has some of the most strik- 29 Luis Ortiz of field trips. ing banded chert I’ve seen. 30 David Waddell In April we have the MAGS So ladies and gentlemen, here Show, so we have no field trip. On it is. We do this for you with the Displays May 9, we start with a trip to 20 hope that you will enjoy this as Kim Hil Mile Creek hunting for shark much as we do. Remember, you must be a club member to go to a Well, Rockhounds, in March teeth and other Upper Cretaceous field trip. I’ll see you there. we had four display (big sigh…sad fossils. This is a place where you face). I guess maybe it was the are going to get wet. Most of us Charles rain that kept folks from bringing have been there, I think; but I their specimens in. We saw a firmly believe one can never have lovely ammonite, so people could too many shark teeth. see what could be found on the We will have a small trip on Texas field trip. There was some May 16. We are going all the way beautiful green schist with garnets. to Southaven. There is a small There were also recent finds of
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MAGS Rockhound News ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS Save These Dates
April May June
Gary Patterson, MAGS Show, Minerals & Fossils: Adult Programs University of Memphis History and More After You Collect Them CERI
Herb Nicholson, MAGS Show, “Fossils common to Junior Programs Mike Baldwin Make posters Tennessee and surrounding states”
9: 20 Mile Creek Field Trips None 13: Turkey Creek 16: Southaven
MAGS Meeting Dates: April 10, May 8, June 12 MAGS Show Dates: April 25 & 26 sicrystals can be visualized by Paul Steinhardt, a Princeton Uni- imagining a tiled floor," according versity physicist, said. "So, each to a statement by Princeton Uni- layer has this 10-fold symmetry versity in a press release. "Tiles and then the layers are stacked that are six- sided hexagons can fit with equal spacing." neatly against each other to cover The quasicrystal, with compo- the entire floor. But five-sided sition Al71Ni24Fe5, was discovered pentagons or 10-sided decagons in the Khatyrka meteorite. This Carol presenting speaker trophy to laid next to each will result in gaps meteorite was collected several March meeting speaker David Hanes between tiles." years ago in the Koryak Moun- (photo credit: Kim Hil) tains in Chukkotka, Russia. (The first natural quasicrystal formed Natural Quasicrystal outside of the laboratory, reported From Meteorite by Steinhardt and his colleagues in 2009, is patterned somewhat like a We think of minerals as crys- soccer ball, with 12 pentagons. talline, but there is another possi- They found it in the same meteor- bility. An article published online ite.) The newfound quasicrystal is March 13 in Scientific Reports by a The quasicrystal structure as made up of nickel, aluminum and team from Princeton University revealed by an electron beam iron—an unusual structure in na- and the University of Florence in ture, because aluminum binds to Italy, describes a natural quasicrys- This quasicrystal, not yet oxygen and prevents attachments tal with decagonal symmetry, named, is the second ever found in to nickel and iron atoms. found in a meteorite that crashed nature and the first natural deca- to Earth 15,000 years ago. gonal quasicrystal ever found. Ref: Luca Bindi et al, Scientific "When we say decagonal, we mean Reports 5, Article number: 9111 The newfound mineral is that you can rotate the sample by doi:10.1038/srep09111, Received called a "quasicrystal" because it 1/10 of the way around a circle 08 January 2015 Accepted 18 resembles a crystal, but the atoms around a certain direction and the February 2015 Published 13 are not arranged as regularly as atomic arrangement looks the March 2015 they are in real crystals. "The dif- same as before," lead researcher ference between crystals and qua-
APRIL 2015 PAGE 9 MEMPHIS ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
MAGS Rockhound News ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS MAGS At A Glance April 2015
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 Board Meeting, 6:30 pm, St. Francis Hospital 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Show Meeting, 6:30 Membership pm, Agricenter— Meeting, 7:30 pm, open to all Members “MAGS Show, History and More” 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 MAGS Archaeology Interest Group, 10:00 am, Chucalissa 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 MAGS Show Setup, MAGS Show Setup, MAGS Show, Agricenter, 9:00 am-, Show dinner 6:30 Agricenter, 9:00 fill grab bags pm am-6:00 pm 26 27 28 29 30 1 2 MAGS Show, Agricenter, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Memphis Archaeological and Geological Society 2019 Littlemore Drive Memphis, TN 38016
APRIL 2015 PAGE 10