The Petoskey Stone Oak Land County Earth Science Club March 2013

The Petoskey Stone Oak land County Earth Science Club March 2013 www.OCESC.com

March Program- Native Nations happens as you push and burnish the bezel.

Dwight Keith will show his collection But when setting a stone with corners, the Club Meeting of Native American artifacts. tendency is to push the long sides of the March 6th bezel down first. No compression occurs

7:30 along the sides, and all excess metal is left

Organizer for at the corners. Compressing everything

Board Meeting Programs/Refreshments Needed there is difficult. Often the only way to

Our Club needs an organizer for remove the extra metal at the corner is to 6:30 programs and refreshments. Please make a saw cut and fold the two sides in to

consider volunteering- see Dwight touch.

Keith or any club officer.

If you want a smooth bezel all around the

corners, the simple solution is set the

April Auction Preparation corners of the bezel first. Then push in and

We look forward to the April Auction, burnish the sides. In this way the necessary

and now is the time to get ready for it. compression is distributed along the length

Beginning Thursday, Feb. 14, we'll of all sides and not forced to occur at the

look over minerals, pick out the best corners. With the corners set first, the top

and get them ready. edge of the bezel can easily be compressed

Come, help us. We work from 1:30pm along the sides.

to about 4:00 or whatever time you

can help. We will do this for 3-4 Cheaper & Better Pickle

weeks. We have a good time handling

minerals, talking and learning about Most jewelers use a granular pickle mixed

them and just chatting. We need help, with water. The active ingredient is

so please come and join us. sodium bisulfate. This can be purchased

Katherine Van Hoy from local stores as a common pool

chemical used for adjusting the acidity of

Bezel Setting Problems the water. It's sold under various names, so

be sure to check the list of active

When bezel setting a cab that has ingredients for a brand that is 95% or more

rather sharp corners, have you ever sodium bisulfate.

had problems pushing the metal down

at the corners? It's a common problem An added benefit is that the pool chemical

often causing a wrinkle in your bezel is more pure in form than what is sold for

and a grimace on your face. jewelry use and does not cause the often found brown grime floating on the top of a

pickle pot. Upcoming Events (evenInt sor cdean rb feo for au nbed zate lw two wca.roptckurneg tem.he com or www.amfed.org/mwf/Calendar/) For detailed informatio n, please visits itnonediv,i dtuheal tclopub e’sdge web ofsi te.he bezel must More Bench Tips by Brad Smith are at be compressed and become shorter to facebook.com/BenchTips/ Nov 1 th ru Nov 29 - Rlaocy kdow Polni sonthinog t heC lsastones at. C WAiIt hB aui lding, 7-9or P sMee, Ctheut tbooking/s ha"Bpiencng/h polTipsishi forng J teawugelhtry by Leon Pearson, and ropeoundn t oor t heova publl stoneic. Cthionts anactt uWraaltleyr ford ParksM ak&i ngRe"c ronea tAionmaz 248on- 674-5441

Upcoming Events (events can be found at www.rockngem.com or www.amfed.org/mwf/Calendar/) For detailed information, please visit individual club’s website. OCES Club Silver Class continues—at the CAI Building. CAI building use fee is $1.00 per day of attendance. Taught by Marie Rathburg, for club members. Dates are Wednesdays February 27, 30, March 13, or 20 or 27 Roamin Club Auction, Mar. 2-3, 11-6PM, Schoolcraft College, 18600 Haggerty, Livonia MI, Free adm/parking Michigan Mineralogical Society Social and Swap, March 11, 7 p.m., Cranbrook Institute of Science, 39221 N. Woodward Ave. Contact: Millie Hurt, (248) 398‐6693 Jackson MI, March 15-17; Annual show; Michigan Gem & Mineral Society; Jackson County Fair Grounds American 1 Event Center; 200 W. Ganson; Fri. 11-7, Sat. 10-7, Sun. 11-5; adults $4 (discount coupon on Web site), seniors $2, students $1; www.mgmsrockclub.com Taylor MI Rock club Show, 13115 Telegraph Rd St John’s Lutheran Church ;Mar 16. 10 – 5PM. Info, call Lou – 734-259-8880 Bead Bonanza- Mar 17 10-5PM, Southfield Municipal Complex, 26000 Evergreen Rd., $5 Admission 37th Annual Gem, Mineral and Lapidary Show- 4/20-21; "Agates . . . Beauty, Color & Variety"Sat. 10:00 am-7:00 pm Sun. 11:00 AM-5:00 PM; Great Artist Demonstrations and Outstanding Dealers Lectures Displays, a Raffle and Tin Can Auction; info [email protected] 2013 Midwest Federation Show, April 6-7, Lincoln NE Wyoming MI; April 4-6; Annual show; Indian Mounds Rock & Mineral Club; Wyoming Village Shopping Center; 28th St., west of US 131; Thu. 9:30-9, Fri. 9:30-9, Sat. 9:30-8; free -- indianmoundsrockclub.com

2013 Refreshments 2012 Programs Jan. Chris and Walt Jan. Lookout Mt/Rock City- The Whiteheads Feb. P. Keene, L. West Feb Trip to Poland, incl. minerals- K.VanHoy Mar. Mar Native American artifacts, Dwight Keith April April Silent Auction May Jackie Presson, Monica Rowe May June Banquet-Potluck June -- Sept. Sept. Oct. Oct. Nov. Nov Club Member Swap/Sale & Elections

Dec. Club Banquet-everyone bring a dish Dec. Banquet

***March Birthdays *** 3 Amy Hiller 21 Ben Hiller-Sawicki

Meeting Address: OAKLAND COUNTY EARTH SCIENCE CLUB Christ Lutheran Church 5987 Williams Lake Road Waterford MI 48329 Club Web Site—www.OCESC.com

Editor: Laura Sheffer, e-mail: [email protected] Midwest Federation Library: see http://www.amfed.org/mwf/resources/geologyprograms.html Rentals are open to all club members- contact Pat Powers, e-mail [email protected]

General Meeting: First Wednesday each month, September through June at 7:30 PM Board Meeting: Same day as General meeting, at 6:30 PM General and Board meeting are held at Christ Lutheran Church. Purpose: To associate the member families, to promote activities that help families learn about Earth sciences and lapidary arts, and to cooperate with other similar organizations. Grinding classes and workshops are held at the C.A.I. building- 5640 Williams Lake Rd. Open hours in the grinding room- $1.00/person/day payable to the C.A.I. Building.

Officers - 2012 OCESC is a member of MWF-AFMS President: Dwight Keith Committees: Vice-Pres: Tony West Programs/Refreshments- Open position Secretary: Chris Shull Classes- Tony West Field Trips- J. Rives Treasurer: Leon Pearson Children’s - R. Woerner Membership- E. Snyder By-Laws- C. Roller, P. Brady, Directors L. Pearson Library- L. Whitehead Bob Albertson (11-13) Historian- (open) Silversmith- E. Snyder Rod Krupka (13-15) Scholarship- R. Seibert Nancy Mathura (11-13) Rock Raffle- Shows- E.Snyder, Nancy Pfauth (11-13) K. Van Hoy Sunshine- N. Mathura Tom Pierson (11-13) Publ.- L. Sheffer, R. Seibert Web site- D. Whitehead Gerry Runkle (12-14) Grinding Room- L. Pearson Eleanor Snyder (Emeritus) Banquet-N. Lill, L.Pearson, N. Pfauth Roberta Thomas (11-13) Newsletter Contributions- All Members: Katherine Van Hoy (Emeritus) Articles and items of interest are welcome! – Please send them to the Linda Whitehead (13-15) editor (US Mail or E-mail) by the 13th of the month. See above for Editor’s address.

Membership Dues: Annual Membership dues (due each February): $20.00 per family unit or individual. Students pay $7.50 if not covered by family membership. Club name tag is $5.00 per person. ALL adults are required to wear their name tag. Contact: Eleanor Snyder.

OCES GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING JANUARY 2, 2013: The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM. Both the December Minutes and Treasurer’s Reports were approved. The lift- chair just needs to be finished and inspected. Membership approved $500 for the deposit on chair. Also it is time for the audit; two people are needed. This does not take much time; both the 2011 and the 2012 years need to be checked. Thank you Eric Rathburg for volunteering. Grinding Room will start up again and will continue on Mondays & Tuesdays. Beading class by Tony will be starting January 11th at the church. We still need someone to handle programs and refreshments. Eleanor cannot teach the Silversmith Classes in the evening; perhaps a different time? The Library is open tonight. The Website looks great; Dave is always open to new ideas. We had two visitors that came with rocks to be identified by our group. Katherine says that sorting for the April Auction will be on Thursday afternoons at the CAI building. The MMS Banquet is January 19 with a very interesting speaker. The raffle took place. Tonight’s program will be a video about Lookout Mountain. Meeting adjourned at 8:50 pm. Respectfully submitted, Chris Shull, Secretary.

OCES BOARD MEETING FEBRUARY 6, 2013: The meeting was called to order at 6:50 pm. The January General Meeting Minutes were approved (no Board minutes for January 2013). The Treasurer’s Report was approved. We paid the Midwest Federation $362.00 for yearly dues. OCES dues ($20) are due now-see Eleanor. Our 2011 and 2012 audits are now complete. We also received a special certificate to acknowledge 45 years of the club’s existence, from the Federation. Grinding Room-4 to 5 regulars; bought oil for saws. Chair-lift has an electrical problem; more info next week. Sunshine - Please keep Lynnette and Monica in your get well thoughts. Beading Class- One more class before Tony goes to Florida. The class participants have decided to meet every Saturday on their own. Eleanor will not be able to teach Silversmithing, but Marie Rathburg has volunteered to teach. Please see Marie for dates and times. We received notice of the MMS Workshop in Kalamazoo in June. April Auction- Sorting for the auction will start on Feb. 14, 1:00 pm at the CAI building. (See Katherine). Our program tonight will be on Katherine and Eleanor’s trip to Poland. Meeting adjourned 7:20 pm.

OCES GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING FEBRUARY 6, 2013: Meeting called to order at 7:30 pm by President Dwight Keith. Both the January Minutes and the Treasurer’s Report were approved. We paid Midwest Federation for our yearly dues and insurance. OCES dues ($20) need to be given to Eleanor. Thank you to Dave Whitehead and Eric Rathburg for completing the 2011 and 2012 audits. Grinding Room was 4-6 people on a regular basis. Chair-lift has an electrical problem that needs to be checked. Midwest sent us a special certificate for OCES 45th anniversary. Sunshine- wishing Lynnette and Monica get wells. Beading Class will be done this Saturday, but participants will continue to meet informally on Saturday. Marie Rathburg will be taking over the Silversmithing classes. A big “ Thank You” to Eleanor for sharing her silversmithing skills with members for the past several years. We have info on the Taylor Metro Swap and also the June Kalamazoo MGAG workshop. Library is open tonight. April Auction sorting will start on Feb 14 at 1:00 pm at CAI building-see Katherine. Thank you to Lynnette and Phyllis for tonight’s refreshments. Welcome to our new member Ann McFaddon. Tonight’s program will be on Katherine and Eleanor’s trip to Poland. Respectfully submitted, Chris Shull.

“There’s no point in being grown up if you can’t be childish sometimes.” – Doctor Who

Ancient Fossilized Sea Creatures Yield Oldest Biomolecules Isolated Directly from a Fossil ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 22, 2013, from http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2013/02/130218164130.htm

Feb. 18, 2013 — Though scientists have long believed that complex organic molecules couldn't survive fossilization, some 350-million-year-old remains of aquatic sea creatures uncovered in Ohio, Indiana, and Iowa have challenged that assumption. The spindly animals with feathery arms – called crinoids, but better known today by the plant-like name "sea lily" -- appear to have been buried alive in storms during the Carboniferous Period, when North America was covered with vast inland seas. Buried quickly and isolated from the water above by layers of fine-grained sediment, their porous skeletons gradually filled with minerals, but some of the pores containing organic molecules were sealed intact.

That's the conclusion of Ohio State University geologists, who extracted the molecules directly from individual crinoid fossils in the laboratory, and determined that different species of crinoid contained different molecules. The results will appear in the March issue of the journal Geology. William Ausich, professor in the School of Earth Sciences at Ohio State and co-author of the paper, explained why the organic molecules are special. "There are lots of fragmented biological molecules -- we call them biomarkers -- scattered in the rock everywhere. They're the remains of ancient plant and animal life, all broken up and mixed together," he said. "But this is the oldest example where anyone has found biomarkers inside a particular complete fossil. We can say with confidence that these organic molecules came from the individual animals whose remains we tested."

The molecules appear to be aromatic compounds called quinones, which are found in modern crinoids and other animals. Quinones sometimes function as pigments or as toxins to discourage predators. Lead author Christina O'Malley, who completed this work to earn her doctoral degree, first began the study when she noticed something strange about some crinoids that had perished side by side and become preserved in the same piece of rock: the different species were preserved in different colors. In one rock sample used in the study, one crinoid species appears a light bluish-gray, while another appears dark gray and yet another more of a creamy white. All stand out from the color of the rock they were buried in. The researchers have since found similar fossil deposits from around the Midwest. "People noticed the color differences 100 years ago, but no one ever investigated it," O'Malley said. "The analytical tools were not available to do this kind of work as they are today."

O'Malley isolated the molecules by grinding up small bits of fossil and dissolving them into a solution. Then she injected a tiny sample of the solution into a machine called a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer. The machine vaporized the solution so that a magnet could separate individual molecules based on electric charge and mass. Computer software identified the molecules as similar to quinones. Then, with study co-author and Ohio State geochemist Yu-Ping Chin, she compared the organic molecules from the fossils with the molecules that are common in living crinoids today. Just as the researchers suspected, quinone-like molecules occur in both living crinoids and their fossilized ancestors. Though different colored fossils contained different quinones, the researchers cautioned that there's no way to tell whether the quinones functioned as pigments, or that the preserved colors as they appear today were similar to the colors that the crinoids had in life.

Part of why the crinoids were so well preserved has to do with the structure of their skeletons, the researchers said. Like sand dollars, crinoids have skin on top of a hard calcite shell. In the case of crinoids, their long bodies are made up of thousands of stacked calcite rings, and each ring is a single large calcite crystal that contains pores filled with living tissue. When a crinoid dies, the tissue will start 5

Fossilized Sea Creatures, continued to decay, but calcite will precipitate into the pores, and calcite is stable over geologic time. Thus, organic matter may become sealed whole within the rock. "We think that rock fills in the skeleton according to how the crystals are oriented. So it's possible to find large crystals filled in such a way that they have organic matter still trapped inside," Ausich said. The location of the fossils was also key to their preservation. In the flat American Midwest, the rocks weren't pushed up into mountain chains or heated by volcanism, so from the Ohio State geologists' perspective, they are pristine. Their next challenge is to identify the exact type of quinone molecules they found, and determine how much information about individual species can be gleaned from them. "These molecules are not DNA, and they'll never be as good as DNA as a means to define evolutionary relationships, but they could still be useful," Ausich said. "We suspect that there's some kind of biological signal there -- we just need to figure out how specific it is before we can use it as a means to track different species."

This research was sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the Geological Society of America Source: Ohio State University (2013, February 18). Ancient fossilized sea creatures yield oldest biomolecules isolated directly from a fossil.

Different species of the sea animals known as crinoids display different colors in these 350-million-year- old fossils. Ohio State University researchers have found organic compounds sealed within the pores of these fossilized animals' skeletons. (Credit: William Ausich, courtesy of Ohio State University)

NEWS ITEM - Trillions in Diamonds From BenchTips for March by Brad Smith

Russia has just declassified news that will shake world gem markets to their core: the discovery of a vast new diamond field containing "trillions of carats," enough to supply global markets for another 3,000 years.

The Soviets discovered the bonanza back in the 1970s beneath a 35-million-year-old, 62-mile diameter asteroid crater in eastern Serbia known as Popigai Astroblem. http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2012/0917/Russia-reveals-shiny-state-secret-It-s-awash- in-diamonds

Heat Treating Rocks You have just removed a slab from an agate rough, and you are disappointed with the color. The overall color is washed out white. At this point, most rockhounds would toss both the slab and the rough into their rock garden and write off the investment in the piece. Well, there may be life yet in that nondescriptive piece of rough. Try heat treating agate, jasper, petrified wood and many other types of rocks. Almost any sedimentary rock can benefit from the process. A recent example was a piece of dull brown agate. After heat-treating, it became a deep red.

How, you ask, does one go about heat treating a piece of rock? The process is relatively simple, but is a trial and error process. The slab should be immersed in a small pan of sand and placed in a range oven. Turn the oven temperature to warm - about 200 degrees, for about one hour to expel any moisture trapped in the stone, then raise the temperature 25 degrees every half hour until the temperature is up to 350 degrees. Leave it at this setting for two hours, then turn off the oven and allow the rock to come to room temperature without opening the door. Now you can check the results. If you are satisfied, you can slab the rough and heat-treat the lot. If not, turn the slab over and repeat the process. You can skip the time at 200 degrees since all the moisture has already been baked out by now. Raise the temperature to 400 degrees at this time. Continue raising the final temperature by 50 degrees until the results you want are reached. Most ovens will go up to 500 degrees. If you need to go higher, some special oven will be required. Via MMS Conglomerate 2/2013, The Quarry, The Tumbler 1/2013, et.al., from Texas Faceters Guild News Letter, 11/04

Fossil Succession from USGS.gov Three concepts are important in the study and use of fossils: (1) Fossils represent the remains of once- living organisms. (2) Most fossils are the remains of extinct organisms; that is, they belong to species that are no longer living anywhere on Earth. (3) The kinds of fossils found in rocks of different ages differ because life on Earth has changed through time.

[ Above ] Stratigraphic ranges and origins of some major groups of animals and plants.

How do scientists explain the changes in life forms, which are obvious in the record of fossils in rocks? Early explanations were built around the idea of successive natural disasters or catastrophes that periodically destroyed life. After each catastrophe, life began anew. In the mid-nineteenth century, both Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace proposed that older species of life give rise to younger ones. According to Darwin, this change or evolution is caused by four processes: variation, over-reproduction, competition, and survival of those best adapted to the environment in which they live… All of the new information has supported Darwin's basic concept--that living beings have changed through time and older species are ancestors of younger ones. 7

Oakland County Earth Science Club c/o Christ Lutheran Church 5987 Williams Lake Rd. Waterford, MI 48329

ALAA Strives to Keep Public Lands Opens for Rockhounds By Dick Pankey, 2012 President, ALAA

There are many threats to the use and access of our public lands. Access restrictions have taken place through presidential, legislative and Land Use Plan (LUP) decisions, because we, the users, have not effectively represented our wants to political leaders, and have not participated fully in the LUP process. ALAA is the advocate and the leader for positive action to change the pattern of ever-increasing restrictions to our use and access. Apathy and not being involved are our greatest threats. . . . Compared to the anti-access organizations, we are a small, minimally funded organization. We do not have a paid staff. We are volunteers dedicated to fighting for the rights of all rockhounds and everyone who wants to recreate on our public lands. There are many opportunities for you to be involved in our efforts to save access and retain the right to use these lands.

Does this catch your interest? Would you like to be more involved? Do you have the spark of an idea for something that you would like to do to make a difference? Find out more about us at www.amlands.org. ALAA is the lobbying arm of the American Federation, working on behalf of rockhounds to keep public lands open and accessible to all, including the elderly and handicapped. (Excerpted from the April to June, 2012, ALAA Newsletter, via The Tulip City Conglomerate)