June - September, 2012 Volume 44, No. 1, Page 1

General Meeting Thursday, September 20, 2012 7:00 p.m. Location: Clubhouse, 4619 69th Street North, St. Petersburg, FL

Bring in items you collected over the summer, or what you have made. Did you go to a mineral mine out of state? Tell us about it!

Special Presentation by Tom Smith Professional Gem and Diamond Cutter www.adamasfacet.com

It’s September and DUES ARE DUE once again. Please give them to the membership chair- person, or Jerry Heer, Treasurer at our General Meeting.

DUES ARE DUE! $15.00 Individuals—$20 per family

If your last name starts with A-M, please bring goodies to our meeting to share. Page 2 Rock-A-Gram June-September, 2012

Board Members

Julia Larson, President ...... 727-522-1254 Pat Davis, 3 Year Director/ Email: [email protected] Past President ...... 727-323-2147 Email: [email protected] Dave Schwebel, Vice President .. ... 727-547-0364 Email: [email protected] Dave Kane, 2 yr. Director ...... 727-799-2352 Email: [email protected] Jerry Heer, Treasurer ...... 419-344-9999 Email: [email protected] Dave Watson, 1 yr. Director ...... 727-541-2917 Email: [email protected] Stephen Redden, Recording Secretary 727-546-2052 Email: [email protected] Bucky Joseph, 1 yr. Director ...... 727-252-8142 Email: [email protected] Donna Sapp, Correspondence Debbie Bremer, Editor ...... 727-298-0061 Secretary ...... 727-420-0383 Rock-A-Gram Newsletter Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

SGAMS Clubhouse Address: 4619 69th Street North, St. Petersburg, FL 33709, www.sgams.com

Clubhouse Activities: Listed on mailer coversheet and announced at membership meetings. SGAMS Board of Director's Meetings: 7:00 p.m., 1st Thursday of each month; September - May. All members are in- vited to attend SGAMS Board of Director's Meetings at our clubhouse. We solicit your attendance, and constructive suggestions for improving our club. General Meetings: 7:00 p.m., 3rd Thursday of each month; September - May, at our clubhouse.

1st Annual Lapidary Yard Sale September 22, 2012 Starts 9:00 a.m.

Open to rock club members. Lots of barging! Dealers bring your tax id. Artemis Trading Company 4710 W. Trilby Avenue Tampa, FL 33616

Directions: Take Cross-town Expressway to Gandy Blvd., Go west 2 traffic lights. Turn left on Manhattan Avenue. Cross RR tracks, then take 4th street to right. House in on left in 2nd block.

Coral $2/lb Panama Agate $4/lb Tumble rough $.50/lb Botswana agate $10/lb Lake Superior Agate $10/lb Bloodstone $5/lb Unsorted agates $2/lb Ky Geodes $2/lb Ohio flint $4/lb Jade $4/lb Owyhee PJ $10/lb Mariposite $4/lb Mozarkite $4/lb Petrified Wood $3/lb

(Quantity discounts)

June-September, 2012 Rock-A-Gram Page 3

Monthly Bench Tips By Brad Smith The Vug, September 2012, Canaveral Moonstone, September 2012

CLEANING SOLDER OUT OF A BEZEL RAISING A CABOCHON Sometimes when you solder a bezel to a base plate, When a cabochon sits too low in a bezel, the bezel you end up with excess solder that needs to be re- hides a lot of the stone. Solution is to either sand moved before setting the stone. My choice of tool for down the bezel height or boost up the stone. Question this is called an "Inverse Cone" bur used in a rotary is what do you use to elevate your cab? tool or flex shaft. It cuts on both the bottom and the side and is shaped so that there's less chance of cut- I was taught to use fine sawdust but now think that ting into the bezel wall than if you used the more there's a better solution, especially for use in rings. I common cylinder bur shape. The 2 mm size is useful reason that rings will frequently get wet, which would for most any bezel. cause the sawdust to swell in size and push the stone against the bezel. Then when the sawdust dries out, FAUX SILVER the stone would be a little loose. In any case, I now I'm fortunate to live in a big city that has frequent prefer pieces of plastic sheet to boost up my stones. jewelry shows where I can buy supplies. But there are Pieces are readily available from product packaging certain risks in buying at one of these events or from or from old credit cards. I just cut a piece to loosely some of the online venues. Recently, a friend bought fit the bezel and drop in the stone (with some dental a package of 12 mm Sterling jump rings that became floss) to check it's height. copper plated in the pickle. TIP FOR A TRANSPARENT CAB There was no sign of any steel contamination, so I When bezel setting a transparent cabochon in silver, I tested them with a magnet to discover they were just worry that the silver will tarnish under the stone and plated steel. I ran into a similar misrepresentation a will destroy the brilliance of it's color and pattern. So couple years ago. I bought some "genuine" turquoise I take one extra step before setting the stone. I place a beads that I needed for 10mm cabs only to find they piece of thin silver Mylar plastic under the stone to were a white magnestie that had been dyed. The best act as a mirror that will never tarnish. solution is to carry a couple simple tools with you when you go to buy stones or findings. I usually carry This Mylar is readily available in craft and gift wrap a ten power loupe and a small vernier caliper to stores, or in a pinch from a party balloon supplier. measure things and a small, strong magnet with me. You may want to experiment with using colored or Dealers are not necessarily the problem. Many have patterned Mylar (i.e. diffraction pattern) under some no idea their metals are plated. They were duped stones. by their supplier. Regardless of who's to blame, I think it's worth reporting any problems you find to Have you ever wondered how to carve and polish a both the dealer and to the show promoter. freeform gemstone? Hans Meevis, a jeweler from Saint Martin, has a nicely done tutorial on his work with a 10 ct Aqua. It's definitely worth a read. Enjoy! http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nenam/freeform- gem-carving.htm

More Bench Tips by Brad Smith can be found at: Facebook.com/BenchTips or groups.yahoo.com/group/ BenchTips/ Page 4 Rock-A-Gram June-September, 2012

Upcoming Shows FEDERATION NEWS www.rockandgem.com, Stones and Bones, Vol. 9, Issue 9 American Federation of Mineralogical Societies April, 2012 September 21-23: Jacksonville, FL www.AMFED.org Jacksonville Gem & Mineral Society; Morocco Shrine Auditorium; 3800 Saint Johns Bluff Rd.; Fri. 2012-13 Regional Federation Shows and 1-6, Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5; adults $4; Web site: Conventions www.jaxgemandmineral.org California Federation Rocky Mountain September 22-23: Pompano Beach, FL TBA Federation TBA Wholesale and retail show; Intergalactic Bead & Eastern Federation Jewelry Show; Emma Lou Olson Civic Center; 1801 September 15-16 South Central NE 6th St.; Sat. 10-5, Sat. 10-5; adults $5, children Harrisburg, PA Federation (12 and under) free; precious and semiprecious gem- August 25-26 Midwest Federation Jasper, TX stone beads, sterling silver, findings, freshwater TBA pearls, hand-blown glass beads, vintage beads, crys- Southeast tals; Web site: www.beadshows.com Northwest Federation Federation TBA October 19-21 Tampa, FL October 13-14: Orlando, FL Florida Fossil Hunters; Central Florida Fairgrounds; 4603 W. Colonial Dr.; Sat. 9-5, Sun. 10-4; adults $4, children $1; fossils, rocks, minerals, artifacts, sup- Some links to help you keep track of plies, books, educational exhibits, children's dig pit, upcoming shows: silent auctions, raffle. Web site: Floridafossil- http://www.rockngem.com/showdates hunters.com http://www.jewelryshowguide.com/event/

October 20-2: Plant City, FL Tampa Bay Mineral & Science Club; Strawberry Other Web Sites: Festival Expo Bldg.; 2301 W. Oak Ave.; Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4; adults $5, students and children $4; more American Federation of Mineralogical Societies than 40 dealers gems, minerals, beads, fossils, tools, web site is at: http://www.amfed.org lapidary material, jewelry making supplies, jewelry, Southeast Federation of Mineralogical live demonstrations, jewelry classes, hourly door Societies Website at: http://www.amfed.org/sfms prizes; Web site: www.tampabayrockclub.com Check this site out for Wildacres & William Holland information October 27-18: Stuart, FL St. Lucie County Rock & Gem Club; Martin County The URL for CMGS web site is: Fairgrounds, 2616 SE Dixie Hwy. (A1A); Sat. 10-5, http://www.canaveral-mgs.com/ Sun. 10-5; demonstrations, displays, silent auction, raffle, Web site: slcrockandgem.org

November 3-4: Melbourne, FL Canaveral Mineral & Gem Society; Melbourne Audi- torium; 625 E. Hibiscus Blvd.; Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-5; adults $4, children (under 12) free; jewelry, demon- strations, minerals, beads, fossils, gems, gold, silver, tools, books, children's activities, door prizes; Web Now here is a real “Rock Hound’s” dream car! site: www.canaveral-mgs.com/ Piedmont Prospector, May, 2012, Volume 55, #5, page 2 June-September, 2012 Rock-A-Gram Page 5

The Georgia Mineral Society, Tips and Trips, June 2012 GMS FIELD TRIP Just a Rock? Friday, September 21, 2012 By Erica Nathan 8:30 a.m.

When you pick up an igneous rock, you may not recognize it Starke, FL as a common rock like granite or basalt. Rocks are harder to GMS will hold a field trip to Starke, FL for a identify than minerals because they have many more contrib- tour of the DuPont Titanium Technologies uting factors. One of these factors is texture. There are four main textures that can be found in igneous rocks. They are heavy sand quarry. called vesicular, glassy, aphanitic, and phaneritic. Let’s learn COLLECTING: a bit about them! Sand that contains ilmenite, zircon, and

Type: Vesicular, Description: No crystals, lots of tiny staurolite. holes formed by bubbles during cooling, Example: Pumice BRING:

Type: Glassy, Description: No crystals, looks like a chunk You will need to bring a small shovel and of glass, Example: Obsidian baggies in case we can collect there (we will receive samples of the minerals on the tour). Type: Aphanitic, Description: Lots of tiny crystals As always, bring lunch/snack, plenty of fluids, which are seen best under magnification (like a 10x sunscreen, and a hat. loupe), Example: Basalt All participants must sign a liability waiver Type: Phaneritic, Description: Lots of large crystals, to visit the working quarry. Example: Granite Safety Equipment Required: Hard hat, How do these textures form from magma? safety/steel toed boots, and safety glasses. Let’s start with vesicular. The magma cools so quickly that GMS has a few sets of basic safety equipment the bubbles don’t even have time to reach the surface and are available for $10 per set. Each set includes a trapped in the rock. Magma that cools very fast doesn’t have a chance for crystals to form at all creates volcanic bump hat (similar to a hard hat but not as glass. This makes our glassy igneous rocks. sturdy) and safety glasses (you get to keep the set), but you will have to bring your own Aphanitic rocks are formed when magma cools quickly, but boots. Otherwise, you can purchase hard hats slowly enough for the bubbles to dissipate and then begins to and safety glasses at most hardware stores. If form tiny crystals while cooling. you do not have the required safety equipment you will not be able to visit the quarry. When magma cools slowly, larger crystals have time to form in the magma. When completely cooled, this magma Important: There is no limit on the number becomes the phaneritic rocks. of people but it would be better if we can limit the number of vehicles to 10 plus 4 wheel Erica Nathan is 13 years old. She is a member of the Co- drive will be necessary, so we will meet at a quina Kids and Tomoka Gem and Mineral Society in Or- Wal-Mart near the quarry where we can rear- mond Beach, Florida. Erica is a very talented young collec- tor and growing geologist. She shared the following with us: range vehicles appropriately. “I would like to . . . share my knowledge with other young rockhounds. I learned about granite, the subject of my page, Here is contact information of club that is at a two week course run through Duke TIP at Trinity Uni- arranging field trip, please contact if you versity in San Antonio, Texas.” Erica has been selected as wish to attend. the “Junior of the Year” in the Southeast Federation of Min- eralogical Societies, SFMS, for the past two years. She also Charles Carter, GMS Field Trip Chair (Georgia Min- developed one of the new badges, Reaching Across Genera- eral Society - Tips and Tricks, September Newsletter) tions, for the AFMS junior rockhound badge program. Telephone: 770-998-7949

Courtesy of Mini Miners Monthly A Monthly Publication for Young Mineral Cell Phone: 770-891-5947 Collectors Vol. 6 No. 1 January 2012 ©2012 Diamond Dan Publications. e-mail: [email protected] Page 6 Rock-A-Gram June-September, 2012

SFMS 2012 Annual Meeting October 19 - 21, 2012 - Tampa, Florida Co-Hosted by the Tampa Bay Mineral & Science Club and The Imperial Bone Valley Gem, Mineral & Fossil Society Lodestar, August 2012

Cracker Barrel: When: Friday 10/19/12 at 7:00 p.m. Where: Tampa Club House, 10207 Fisher Avenue, Tampa, FL 33619 (from hotel: turn right on Adamo Dr. (Hwy 60), turn left on Falkenburg, go a few blocks and turn right on Fisher).

Business Meeting: When: Saturday 10/20/12 registration 8:30 a.m., Meeting 9:00 a.m. Where: Strawberry Festival Fairgrounds, Expo Building, 2301 W. Oak Avenue, Plant City, Florida (in conjunction with Tampa’s annual gem & mineral show) (from hotel: go to Falkenburg and turn left, drive approx. 4 miles and turn right on Hwy 92, continue for approx. 11 miles, turn right on Woodrow Wilson St and continue about 2 blocks.)

Banquet: When: Saturday 10/20/12 6:30 p.m. Where: Best Western Banquet Room. Cost: $15 per person (we need a headcount by 10/5/12)

Awards Breakfast and Editor’s Meeting: When: Sunday 10/21/12 8a.m. Where: Tampa Club House.

Reservations: Best Western Brandon Hotel & Conference Center 9331 E Adamo Drive, Tampa, Florida, 33619 Reservation number is (813) 621-5555

A block of 30 rooms has been reserved at $59 per night, plus tax. To ensure we get credit for the blocked rooms, please mention that you are with the SFMS when registering and checking in. The Reservation Cut-Off date is 9/30/12. (Take I-75 to Exit 257 (SR60/Adamo Dr). Follow SR 60 West one mile. The hotel is on the left (South) side).

Meetings: The Friday night Cracker Barrel, Sunday awards breakfast and Sunday editor’s meeting will be held at the Tampa Bay Mineral & Science Club House, located at 10207 Fisher Avenue, Tampa, FL 33619. The Friday night refreshments and Sunday breakfast will be provided by the Imperial Bone Valley Gem, Mineral & Fossil Society.

Saturday’s Business meeting will be held at the Strawberry Festival Fairgrounds in the conference room above the Tampa Gem & Mineral Show. Federation attendees will have free access to the show. Expo Building, 2301 W. Oak Avenue, Plant City, Florida.

The Saturday Banquet will be held at the Best Western in the banquet room. Catering will be provided by Beef O’Brady’s. Cost is $15 per person.

If you plan on attending or would like some more information or maps, please contact Cindy Reed (IBV) [email protected] 863-255-5256. We need an accurate head count for the banquet by October 5.

May-September, 2012 Rock-A-Gram Page 7

WE THANK OUR ADVERTISERS FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE ALL OUR MEMBERSHIP TO VISIT AND PATRONIZE THEIR BUSINESSES.

Clubhouse Class Schedules (As of September 6, 2012) FACETING: Mondays 6-9 p.m.

CABBING: Mondays 6-9 p.m. Wednesday (by appointment only with 24 hour notice) Contact Bucky Joseph at 252-8142 or 289-6930 Saturdays - TBA

For further information regarding other classes, contact instructors listed below.

CABBING (Mon): Bucky Joseph at 252-8142, [email protected] or Dave Watson at 541-2917, [email protected] (Sat): TBA

CHAIN: Stephen Kraybill, 418-4519, or [email protected]

FACETING: Mondays, Dave Schwebel, 547-0364

METAL WORKING: Don Roberts, [email protected]

KUMIHIMO: Japanese weaving technique, Sue Black at 345-8994 or email [email protected]

WIRE WRAPPING: Dave Watson at 541-2917 or email [email protected]

ROCK-A-GRAM

This is the official newsletter of the SUNCOAST GEM AND MINERAL SOCIETY, INC. P.O. Box 13254, St. Petersburg, Florida 33733-3254

This Society is a member of the SOUTHEAST FEDERATION OF MINERALOGICAL SOCIETIES, INC., and its parent society, the AMERICAN FEDERATION OF MINERALOGICAL SOCIETIES, INC.

The general purpose of this society is to promote popular interest in education and research in the earth sciences and lapidary arts, and to cooperate with other similar organizations.

General Meetings are held the third Thursday of each month, September through April at 7:00 p.m., at our clubhouse, 4619 69th Street North, St. Petersburg, FL. December and May meetings are special meetings and a time and place will be announced in this bulletin. The public is cordially invited to attend the general membership meetings.

Dues: $15.00 single or $20.00 couple/family; due annually each September. All exchange bulletins should be sent to the Rock-A-Gram editor.

Feel free to copy any material from this bulletin, but please list all byline credits.

ROCK-A-GRAM (Official Bulletin) Suncoast Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. Debra Bremer, Editor 1349 Lakeview Road Clearwater, FL 33756

Clubhouse Activities September - May

Board Meeting: (September - May) First Thursday: 7:00 p.m.

Clubhouse Open: Mondays, 6- 9 p.m. Wednesdays, By Appointment Saturday, TBA

Faceting, Classes: Mondays, 6-9 p.m.