The Georgia Mineral Society *Atlanta, Georgia* Volume XXXV/Three March 2006
As I said, it does take a little time to catalogue. You also THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE have to find a numbering system which works for you. I tried five different numbering systems before I found the How long have you collected rocks, minerals, gemstones or one that I use now. My system could very well not work for fossils? Do you purchase them? Do you swap for them? you. It doesn’t matter as long as you do something. Do you collect them yourself? How much did you pay? With whom did you swap? Where did you collect them? In a few years, when you look at your specimen with When did you obtain them? Do you know what they are? documentation, you will know how you obtained the specimen, where it is from, how much you paid and even The above are very simple questions. You should know what it is. It isn’t a matter of us losing our minds, it is a the answers, but do you? matter of there being just too much information to remember about every specimen that we have. Most of us place our new specimens on display. Some of Kim Cochran, GMS President us just stick them away someplace. Many of the pieces may not see the light of day again for months or even FEBRUARY GENERAL MEETING years. When they do show up again, can you answer the above questions? You don’t need to know the answers 7:30 P.M., MONDAY, March 6, 2006 because they had a label giving the information. Chamblee Library 4114 Clairmont Road The truth is that time plays tricks on us. We may not be 770.936.1380 able to answer those questions in a few years. It is important that you have documentation on your treasures. Gem Identification I have collected for forty+ years. The oldest piece in my by Kim Cochran collection is from 1968. How do I remember the source of my specimens, when I obtained them, or how much I paid? It’s been three years since Kim’s last identification quiz, so Without documentation I might not know this about many of my 6,000 specimens. It is very important to keep some it seems fitting to have another one to keep us on our toes. kind of records. Being in charge of the “gem box”, Kim is sure to bring some beautiful eye candy for us. So bring your thinking caps, When I obtain a specimen, I log it into a book. Eventually, I there will be a prize for the one with the most correct get around to cataloguing the specimen. I record what it is, answers and for the runner-up also. the variety, size, location, and how it was obtained. A number is written on the specimen. There is a corresponding number on an information card and on the Show & Tell box in which the specimen is stored. You might say that this is a lot of work. It does take a little time, and I need to Mary and I have been to the Sheffield Mine (Star Rubies) be in the proper mood to catalogue. Still, it is important to and the Mason Mine (Sapphires) in Franklin, North do something. Carolina. We’d love to see what you’ve found!
You might wish to sell or swap a specimen. There are people that I have known who have sold or given away their entire collections. There have been many instances where I appraised or disposed of collections of those who Looking Ahead: have left us. I might know what the specimen is and where it came from. I might not. There can be a big difference in • April 3, and May 1, 2006 - Speakers to be announced.. the value of a specimen which has documentation compared to the same specimen which has no Dylan Porter documentation. GMS VP/Programs Page 2 Tips and Trips March 2006 The Georgia Mineral Society The Georgia Mineral Society, Inc. A Non-Profit Educational Organization Seventy Years of Tradition
Objective and Purpose: “To Educate the Youth of the State and the Members of this Society In the Field of Earth Science”
AFMS Education - All American Club 2003 Bulletin Contests: 2003: First Place Small Bulletin AFMS, Third Place Small Bulletin SFMS; 2004: First Place Large Bulletin AFMS & SFMS
Executive Board President Executive VP/Membership Vice President/Programs Secretary Kim Cochran Lizabeth McClain Dylan Porter Mary Porter 2695 Van Court 378 5th Street, Apt. 3 196 High Creek Drive 196 High Creek Drive Snellville, GA 30278 Atlanta, GA 30308 Roswell, GA Roswell, GA 770.979.8331 404.872.6310 770.998.1018 770.998.1018 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Treasurer Gem Section Chair Mineral Section Chair Fossil Section Chair Teresa Curl Kim Cochran Julian C. Gray Martha Brown 889 Veeler Road 2695 Van Court 524 Robin Lane 4837 Greenway Road LaFayette, GA 30728-6615 Snellville, GA 30278 Marietta, GA 30067 Norcross, GA 30071 706.764.2291 770.979.8331 770.973.3632 770.448.0876 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Junior Section Chair Micromount Section Chair Immediate Past President Trustee to 2006 George Prince Dave Babulski Douglas P. Daniels Frank Decaminada 2434 Caladium Drive 2677 Colony Circle 3660 Prince Way 795 Nile Drive Atlanta, GA 30345 Snellville, GA 30078 Tucker, GA 30284 Alpharetta, GA 30022 770.414.5533 678.580.2475 770.723.1359 770.992.8309 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Trustee to 2007 Trustee to 2008 Tips & Trips Editor Field Trip Co-Chairs Bill Waggener Patricia Joan White Carolyn L. Daniels George Libby Greg Grieves 9146 Sunset Drive 9146 Sunset Drive 3660 Prince Way 1730 Rhett Butler Dr. 1760 Northside Dr., Jonesboro, GA 30238 Jonesboro, GA 30238-4520 Tucker, GA 30084-8317 Lilburn, GA 30047 Apt 119 770.978.2117 Atlanta, GA 30318 770.478.5734 770.478.5734 770.723.1359 404.314.8143 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] May Show Chair December Show Chair Webmaster Education Chair Jay Gorday Kim Cochran Jim Flora Anita Westlake 1690 Granger Court 2695 Van Court P.O. Box 605 1253 Spencer Drive Chamblee, GA 30341 Snellville, GA 30278 Hiawassee, GA 30546 East Point, GA 30344 770.986.0822 770.979.8331 706.896.8040 404.761.7849 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Committee Chairs December Show Committee Chairs The article submittal due date for Bill Waggener 770.478.5734 Adopt-A-Highway the April 2006 newsletter is Show Chair Jay Gorday 770.986.0822 Assets/Equipment Open to Volunteers March 10, 2006. Dealer Chair Martha Brown 770.448.0876 Awards Patricia Joan White 770.478.5734 GENERAL MEETINGS Exhibits Open to Volunteers Curator/Gem Box Kim Cochran 770.979.8331 General meetings are held on the first Monday of John Trimble 770.425.5075 Building John Trimble 828.264.4811 each month. In the event that the first Monday is a Demonstrations holiday and/or the facilities are not available, the Historian Roxanne Lopez 770.436.0387 meeting will be held on the third Monday of the month. Hospitality Open to Volunteers Facilities Jay Gorday 770.986.0822 General meetings are currently held at the Chamblee Branch of the DeKalb County Library System. Any Treasurer Teresa Curl 706.764.2291 Hospitality Margaret Ronan 404.636.0720 deviations from the above schedule will be announced in Tips and Trips. Librarian Julian C. Gray 770.888.9331 Advertising Perry & Teresa Curl 706.764.2291 Parliamentarian Patricia Joan White 770.478.5734 The Georgia Mineral Society on the Internet: Dealer Dinner Patricia Joan White 770.478.5743 Kim Prakash & 770.879.0476 http://www.gamineral.org Refreshments Nancy Marden 770.447.8542 E-mail Early Notification Program: A field trip and club Database Patricia Joan White 770.478.5743 Special Events Bill Waggener 770.478.5734 news update service. To join, members are requested to send in their current e-mail address to: Grab Bags Kim Cochran 770.979.8331 Sunshine Barbara Libby 770.978.2117 [email protected]. Tips & Trips Patricia Joan White 770.478.5734 Auction Kim Cochran 770.979.8331 Labels Chat Group: Sign on at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gms_discussions/. To Set Up/Take Open to Volunteers Telephone George Libby 770.978.2117 subscribe, send an email to gms_discussions- Down [email protected]. SFMS Rep. Frank Decaminada 770.992.8309
Announcements for educational publications, continuing education classes, and shows or exhibits are provided in Tips and Trips as a service to GMS members. Appearance of the above in Tips and Trips does not constitute an endorsement by GMS. Tips and Trips Page 3 The Georgia Mineral Society March 2006 GMS MARCH FIELD TRIP DMC Program of the SFMS Field Trip Committee
March 11, 2006, 10:00 A.M.-NOON An Official Field Trip of The Gaston County Gem, Vulcan Materials Company, Southeast Division 1272 Duncan Road, Kennesaw GA. 30144 Mineral & Faceting Club (HOST) and 770.427.5277 An Official Field Trip of the Georgia Mineral Society
FEE: This is a free tour. 8:00 A.M. - NOON (EST) - SHARP! Saturday, March 18, 2006 COLLECTING: This is a working mine. They are currently Martin-Marietta Aggregates Quarry down to about 600 feet and are bringing up the hard granite to be crushed and used in industry. One of the information Statesville, NC officers from Vulcan will be bringing us down to the floor of this open pit mine and explaining their operations to us. We This is a working quarry and safety requirements are strict! may be able to collect some core samples from their drilling All participants will be required to wear hard hats, safety operations, but these are limited to what is available at the glasses and steel toe shoes. Upon arrival you will be time. We will just have to see what minerals might be in the required to sign a waiver of liability. There is a safety pegmatite. orientation and if you miss it, you may not be allowed into DIFFICULTY: Since this is a tour it is open to all and the quarry. Everyone will need to sign a release and should be just a matter of picking up the samples. Please receive information on boundaries and safety in the look under "What to bring". collecting area. Stay away from high walls and be cautious as to footing at all times! Watch for moving equipment! - WHAT TO BRING: Bucket or knapsack. We may be able to You will be much smaller than they are! use a break hammer but this will not be allowed unless you are wearing SAFETY GLASSES and a HARD HAT. COLLECTING: Garnets in mica schist. Occasionally you DIRECTIONS: may find kyanite, hornblende, quartz types, pyrite and From I-75: Take Interstate 75 north to exit 271, (Chastain rarely chalcopyrite. th Road), at top of ramp turn left on Chastain Road, go to 5 traffic light and turn left on Duncan Road, approximately ¼ WHAT TO BRING: You will need to bring your own food mile turn right into Vulcan Materials Kennesaw Quarry. Go to stop sign and turn right, turn into first drive on right. Park and drink to the quarry, but it is only a few minutes from the in front of the Training Building and enter on the right side interstate and town. Rock hammer, chisels, pry bar, under the covered area. scratching tools, buckets and newspaper to wrap your finds. From Highway 41: turn onto Barrett Parkway North (toward Town Center Mall), at 2nd traffic light turn left beside the Wachovia Bank onto Barrett Lakes Blvd. At 2nd traffic light DIRECTIONS: From Charlotte/Gastonia, take I-85 North to turn left onto Duncan Road. Approximately 1 mile turn left I-77 North. Upon arrival in Statesville take I-40 west 2 miles into quarry. Go to stop sign and turn right, turn into first to exit #150 which is Hwy 115. The quarry entrance is on drive on right. Park in front of Museum / Training Building the left- BEWARE OF TRUCKS! Severe conditions may and enter on right side under covered area. cancel the trip, but our weather is usually quite mild this time of the year. Meet at the quarry office at 8:00 A.M. Greg Grieves, GMS Field Trip Committee Co-Chair SHARP!
CONTACT: Contact Doug Dover 704.825.9580 for further questions. If no answer, leave a message or you can e-mail him at [email protected].
"Field trips are open to all members of associated clubs of the DMC program of the SFMS Field Trip Committee and to all members of SFMS member clubs who have provided their membership with SFMS liability insurance. Because of insurance requirements, members of the GENERAL PUBLIC are NOT invited on this or any DMC program field trips!"
DMC Program / SFMS Field Trip committee's purpose: To collect field trip information from it's member societies; schedule and coordinate field trip dates; disseminate field trip information to all member clubs so that each member society may publish this information as one of their "official" scheduled field trips.
Map from Mapquest.com Jim Flora, SFMS Field Trip Committee Chair Page 4 Tips and Trips March 2006 The Georgia Mineral Society ahead, some businesses are still closed due to hurricanes. FORT DRUM CRYSTAL MINE ROCK SWAP / FIELD TRIP Motels Telephone Number Ft. Drum, Florida Budget Inn 863.763.3185 Saturday and Sunday, March 11-12, 2006 Holiday Inn Express 863.357.3529 8:00 A.M. to Sundown Flamingo Motel 863.763.4894 FEE AREA Travelers Inn 863.763.3146 Economy Inn 863.763.1148 ITEMS COLLECTED: There are an abundance of well- Scottish Inn 863.763.3293 fossilized and calcified marine shells. The sand and shell matrix rock is in the Nashua Formation (Pleistocene) and is For more information contact: composed of well-calcified shells. Any cavities within these fossils may contain calcite crystals. Honey colored calcite Eddie Rucks crystals up to 1-inch in length can be found within large [email protected] or fossilized clam shells. Small calcite crystals within shells 863.634.4579 are very common. Fossilized bone and teeth, although rare, can also be found at this location. Jim Flora, SFMS Field Trip Committee Chair
FEE: $20.00/day/person $8.00/day/child (15 and under) All minors must be accompanied by an adult at all MINERAL SECTION MEETING times. The next meeting of the Mineral Section Swap tables will be set up, so bring your items to trade or will be held on Tuesday, March 21, sell. 2006. The topic will be the minerals of Mexico. John Trimble will be hosting Port-O-Lets will be provided. dinner around 6:30 P.M. and the meeting at 7:30 P.M. RSVP FOR DIRECTIONS: Ft. Drum is on Hwy 441, approximately 15 DINNER PLEASE! miles south of the intersection of Hwy 60 and 441 (Yeehaw Junction). Go south of Ft. Drum General Store about 0.5 John lives at 3549 Daventry Lane, Kennesaw, GA 30144 mile and turn east on 304th St. Go about 2.75 miles to the and can be reached at 770.425.5075 (home) or quarry entrance (north side of the road). There should be 770.722.0947 (cell). someone at the gate around 8:00 A.M. to collect money and liability waivers. If you have a topic of interest for future meetings or would like to host a Mineral Section Meeting, please let me know. WHAT TO BRING: Pants, sturdy shoes / boots, gloves and protective eyewear are recommended. Bring tools, Thank you! buckets/cloth bag, and newspaper to collect, carry and Julian C. Gray, wrap fragile specimens. The collecting area can be GMS Mineral Section Chair extremely wet and muddy. Bring a change of clothing along with plenty of water and a towel. GEM SECTION SPECIAL CONDITIONS: It is recommended that you wear sturdy shoes or boots and gloves. Daytime temperatures o Monday, March 27, 2006, 7:30 P.M. can vary as much as 40 F, so layered clothing is Kim Cochran’s House appropriate. This is an active quarry and the sand/rock 2695 Van Court, Snellville, GA 30078 along the quarry walls can collapse without notice. Be 770.979.8331 extremely careful working next to steep walls. Some areas may be marked off, so do not go into these areas for your Last month we discussed commercial names in gems and safety. gem materials.
WHERE TO STAY: Okeechobee is the nearest town! I This month, Barbara Libby will demonstrate making wire now know that it is very difficult to negotiate rates of stay wrapped jewelry. Supper will be served at 6:60 P.M. due to fishing tournaments that often occur. Below is a list RSVP required for supper. of motels in Okeechobee; however, January, February, and March are peak times for south Florida motels. There are Looking forward to seeing you there, also many inexpensive motels in the Kissimmee area and Kim Cochran, GMS Gem Section Chair on I-95 south of Melbourne down to Ft. Pierce. Check Tips and Trips Page 5 The Georgia Mineral Society March 2006 GMS LIBRARY NEWS MEMBERSHIP The GMS Library arrived in its new home here in Marietta Please join me in welcoming the following new members to on Saturday, February 4, 2006. Many thanks, first of all to GMS: Ellen and John Ehrenhard of Newnan, GA; Michael Dick Anderson for storing, boxing, and then patiently Peck of Dunwoody, GA; Bill and Gittel Price of Roswell, waiting for schedules to align so that the move could take GA; Scott and Teresa Rongey of Destrehan, LA; Joel place. Many more thanks to Joan White, Bill Waggener, Shiver and Jan Kirkham of Royston, GA; Ken, Barbara, and Sue and Jay Gorday for getting up early to move the Kenneth, and James Stewart of McDonough, GA; Mark, library. Once here, efficient unloading took less than Donna, Rachael, and Megan Wallace of Richmond Hill, twenty minutes. GA; and Rosemary Withers of Atlanta, GA. We’re glad to have you all join us. Dick Anderson and his predecessors provided a typed Happy rockhounding, catalog, although there have been a couple of donations Lizabeth McClain (including ~60 books from Anita) that need to be added to GMS Executive VP/Membership the catalog. A brief perusal of the holdings indicates that the GMS is quite fortunate to have this resource. There are many back issues of Lapidary Journal, Rocks and Minerals, MAY SHOW NEWS and Mineral Record. There are also many books on jewelry making, faceting and cabbing, fossil hunting and The May Show plans are proceeding well. Martha Brown is paleontology, and mineralogy. Many valuable GMS getting back contracts from the dealers. We have one records and photos are also archived in this collection. dealer to replace. Perry Curl has already notified the rock magazines and web sites to include our information in their As soon as I can, I will update the catalog and post it on the calendars. Teresa Curl is getting set up to arrange our ads GMS web page, in Tips and Trips, or both. At that time the in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Creative Loafing. GMS library will once again be in business for member use. I can accept donations to the library on behalf of GMS at Speaking of Perry, he is giving up the publicity chair. He any time. Those donations will then be listed in a future has contacted all the magazines and websites and has Tips and Trips and added to the catalog. given them the information on our May Show. Kim will need someone to fill this chair for the December show. One last word on the library - As I briefly look through the Perry has everything documented well, so it should be easy titles in the GMS library, I see very little overlap with my for the next person to jump right in and take over. On own library. This is remarkable. My personal library of behalf of the December and May Show committees, along about 900 books, most about mineralogy, will also be with all of us in GMS, I would like to thank Perry for all the available to anyone who comes by to do research here. work he has done over the years arranging for the club publicity. He is always coming up with new and more ideas “Buy and use a good mineralogy book” – Neal Yedlin, to get the word out on our shows and club. Say thanks Micro-mounter. when you pass by his booth at the show. Best regards, Julian C. Gray, GMS Librarian Most of the Show Committee Chairs are filled, but we still need someone to coordinate Set Up/Take Down, Hospitality and Exhibits. There are plenty of opportunities FOSSIL SECTION MEETING for members to volunteer even if you do not want to be a Committee Chair. You can volunteer to help one of the There will be no Fossil Section Meeting this month. committees by calling the Committee Chair or you can let Information regarding the next meeting will be published in me know. You will be seeing sign up sheets at upcoming a future issue of Tips and Trips. meetings to volunteer to help and to provide food for the dealer dinner. We also need a few more grab bags and will Carolyn L. Daniels, Editor have a grab bag stuffing party at Kim Cochran’s house.
It’s also time to start thinking about putting in a display JUNIOR SECTION case or a giving a demonstration at the show. A display or demonstration is a good way of introducing/sharing our There will be no Junior Section meeting this month. The hobby with our visitors at the show. next meeting date and time will be published in a future issue of Tips and Trips. Jay Gorday Carolyn L. Daniels, Editor GMS May Show Chair Page 6 Tips and Trips March 2006 The Georgia Mineral Society SUNSHINE REPORT on our web site. (Later, it, along with Mini Grants and the Science Olympiad came under the umbrella of the We are getting close to spring Yea ! ! Education Committee.)
Congratulations to Amber Daniels, Requests began trickling in. The more we talked, the more former GMS junior member and the public wanted. Word of mouth spread our story: who we daughter of GMS members Doug and Carolyn Daniels, on her soon to be were and what we were trying to accomplish. Soon, published paper on two medicinal science teachers with little background in the earth plants and their effects on cancer cells. sciences were clamoring for our free programs and our enthusiastic support. Our success demanded more and Happy Birthday to all of you March babies listed below: more from our volunteers.
3/1 Darlene Hopkins Our list of speakers, once a healthy list of 20 volunteers, 3/1 Roger Lorts dwindled to 3. Some could only speak at night because 3/3 Bill Price they worked during the day. Others would only speak to 3/5 Julia Clark 3/5 Liane Rogers adults. Some only specialized in one topic. Others were not 3/6 Lori Lann willing to travel beyond the confines of their local county. 3/6 Chris Prosise Still others could not be reached by email or phone. The 3/7 Steve Kempf three that were left took on more and more. They traveled 3/9 Mark Wallace farther. They were giving talks several times a month. 3/10 Melanie Morgan Thomas Sometimes it was easier to leave the rocks and meteorites 3/11 Christian Jones and fossils and posters and grab bags in their vehicles 3/19 Gina Ballard because they knew they would need them again in a matter 3/30 John Parker of days. “Have Rocks; Will Talk” became the unseen logo 3/30 Niki Parker on our cars and trucks.
I guess none of our members were married in March, at And then it happened. The thing that all clubs fear and all least I do not know about it, so there are no anniversaries clubs feel: volunteer burn-out. The satisfaction of doing a to announce. Please keep me informed good job, giving a good speech, being appreciated, feeling the love, knowing you were doing something for the greater John Krebs had a hip replacement on Thursday, February good; suddenly it wasn’t enough any more. The day came 9, 2006. We are all thinking of you. With therapy you will when it was no longer a joy. It was easier not to take the be as good as new soon. time and exert the effort.
Barbara Libby, GMS Sunshine Chair After serving on the Executive Board in some capacity since I became a member almost 18 years ago, it’s time I EDUCATION: OUR MAIN OBJECTIVE take a rest. I challenge each and every club member to recognize the importance of the Education Committee and How many of you know that the purpose and objective of not allow our educational focus to fade away. the Georgia Mineral Society is “To educate the youth of the State and the members of this Society in the field of Earth Anita Westlake Sciences”? Without an Education Committee or Chair, will Current GMS Education Chair this objective succeed? MICROMOUNT SECTION Some years ago, (I’ve forgotten how many), I proposed the addition of a “Speakers Bureau” to the long list of programs There will be no meeting for the Micromount and services the Georgia Mineral Society was already Section this month. The next meeting of the providing. I envisioned a single place where teachers, Micromount Section will be announced in a parents, kids, and other societies, clubs, and civic future issue of Tips and Trips. organizations could do “one-stop shopping” and find a speaker knowledgeable in the Earth Sciences. Soon, the Carolyn L. Daniels, Editor GMS Speakers Bureau was up and running and advertised Tips and Trips Page 7 The Georgia Mineral Society March 2006 Greg Grieves – Field Trips – Durham mine was a good trip, next trip is February 11 at Hogg Mine. George has FEBRUARY 6, 2006 been negotiating with Vulcan quarry in Kennesaw to GMS GENERAL MEETING possibly set up a tour and collecting (safety glasses/hard MINUTES hats required). Greg has been talking with the Paleontology club in Birmingham to collectively find closer sites. The meeting was called to order at 7:34 P.M. by President Kim Cochran at the Chamblee, May Show – Martha Brown (Dealer Chair) – dealer Georgia Branch Library. Approximately 37 people were contracts coming in, still looking for a mineral and a fossil present, including 2 new members (Ginny & Tom Peary). dealer.
SPEAKER Jay Gorday (Show Chair) – has show fliers, needs someone for set up/take down. Grab bag stuffing in April. Dylan Porter introduced Dr. Tim Chowns as the speaker of the evening. Dr. Chowns is a sedimentologist and Kim Cochran (Grab Bags) – have around 400 bags on professor of geology at the State University of West hand, another 400 being sewn. Also announced that Perry Georgia. He shared a Power Point ® presentation of his Curl has resigned as (free) advertising chair after the May on-going research of agates and geodes. After the show, will need a replacement for December show. program, Dylan presented a one year subscription of Rock and Gem magazine as a token of appreciation. Anita Westlake – Education Chair – announced her resignation after this month, contact Kim if you want to COMMITTEE REPORTS (8:43) volunteer. Jay Gorday spoke to a class in Stone Mountain. Joan announced that GMS was asked to have a booth at Mary Porter - Secretary – after a correction (lack of Fossil the annual GSTA meeting held February 16, 17 &18. She Section report) was recognized, minutes from the January and Bill will be there, more volunteers are needed. meeting were accepted as revised. Bill Waggener – Adopt a Highway – planning around Teresa Curl – Treasurer – not present, no report Easter, still needs info from Rob. available. Kim Cochran – Curator – after receiving the Zuber Lizabeth McClain – VP Membership – current collection last summer, it was taken back due to a legal membership is 615. Has some mail for Kim/Jay. disagreement. After consideration, it was decided to allow the collection to be donated to GMS a week and a half ago. Dylan Porter – VP Programs – next month’s meeting will be held March 6th – speaker TBA in Tips & Trips. Future rd st Kim Cochran (for Julian Gray) – Library – the library has dates – April 3 and May 1 . been moved and will soon be ready for use. Jay, Bill, Sue, and Joan were recognized for the move. Julian Gray – Mineral Section – not present. Joan White st announced next meeting is March 21 at John Trimble’s on Nancy Marden – Refreshments – provided by Eva Mexican minerals. Ostrofsky, Mickey and Lizabeth McClain.
Martha Brown – Fossil Section – next meeting is st Barbara Libby –Sunshine Chair – not present. George February 21 at her home. Anita Westlake will talk about Libby – please report any news to Barbara. Carolyn amber. Daniels announced that (daughter) Amber’s paper was accepted for publication, for which she was interviewed by Kim Cochran – Gem Section – last month they watched a th a local newspaper. video on gems. Next meeting is February 27 at Kim’s discussing commercial names for gemstones. Supper at OLD BUSINESS 6:30. Kim announced the donation of a trim saw to the club in Carolyn Daniels – Tips & Trips – deadline is Friday. If MS who suffered loss of their facility. articles are not turned in by Saturday they may not make it in the March edition. (Continued on next page)
Page 8 Tips and Trips March 2006 The Georgia Mineral Society FEBRUARY 6, 2006 concentrations during its formation. GMS GENERAL MEETING MINUTES (CONTINUED) As a sedimentologist, Dr. Chowns solicited input from the attending members, making me feel as if I was back in NEW BUSINESS school. There seemed to be some good discussions carried on after the meeting that will hopefully further his Kim – has fliers for the shows in Rome and Augusta. research. If you feel you have something to aid in his Lizabeth – has a calendar from a Paleontology club in research, feel free to email him at the above address. Texas if anyone is interested in looking at it. Dylan Porter, GMS Member DOOR PRIZES (9:03)
Margaret Ronan – Mickey McClain and Martha Brown were recognized for donations. Door prize numbers were BE SAFE – BE WELL called. A message from your SFMS Safety Committee – Don Monroe, Chairman A motion was made to adjourn meeting at 9:09PM. It was seconded, and unanimously approved. SIMPLE TOOLS
When I talk about Respectfully submitted, simple tools I am not Mary Porter, GMS Secretary referring to the term teenagers may use to FEBRUARY 2006 GENERAL MEETING describe their PRESENTATION REVIEW acquaintances that are among the less brilliant. Research into how are Agates formed. I am talking about tools that most of us use at one time or by Dr. Tim Chowns another. The tools that first come to mind are wedges, Professor at the State University of West Georgia, chisels and punches made of steel. Because we do use Geosciences Department these tools so often, we tend to ignore any hazards ([email protected]) associated with their use. Let’s talk about that a minute.
An agate is defined as a laminated microcrystalline silica Get out the punch, steel wedge or cold chisel that you use
(SiO2). They can form in igneous rocks as amygdales in the most and take a good look at it. First area of concern lava flows from vesicles (gas bubbles) or the holes in lava. should be the “cutting” edge of the tool. Is it sharp and well Thunder eggs are formed in this manner. They also form in formed to accomplish the intended task? Often results sedimentary rocks, as in the Knox group from Summerville obtained can be improved by polishing this working area and Cedartown. These show their “growth” in the form of using fine sandpaper or even a buffing wheel. Next look at banded concentric circles. Onyx forms as planar geopetals the part of the tool that you strike with a hammer. This is (flat layers) , and flowstone (Ladds Quarry) shows flat where many hazards occur. If there is any evidence of banding. “mushrooming”, cracking or other damage you must correct this condition. A small piece of metal may be dislodged In low temperature formation, it is believed that the water from the tool and become a missile, which can penetrate level (or maybe the silicate as a gel) forms the boundary of the hand that is holding the tool or bounce back and strike the next crystal “growth ring”. It is also possible that the the user in the eye or injure bystanders. For this and other surface tension of the water or gel also plays a part in reasons we MUST ALWAYS WEAR SOME TYPE OF EYE determining the size of the “growth ring”. PROTECTION. Even a wood chisel can create chips, which can irritate the eye. During formation of banded concentric circle Agates (the same can be said of geodes), the silicate will “flow” along Many of our simple tools are hand made and may require micro-gaps created by the crystals growing in a helical more maintenance than a commercial tool. I imagine that fashion. I would guess, this is how the bands form in many, if not most of us have made a chisel, punch or different colors, with the coloring agent being at different stamp for a particular application. Metal selection is the Tips and Trips Page 9 The Georgia Mineral Society March 2006 first problem we face. I usually will go through my scrap boxes. Now you may ask, just why go against the bin and find a piece of tool steel such as an old file to make conventional wisdom and mount in the lid of the box? The my masterpiece. This is perfectly acceptable if we answer to that question deals with the home brew gimbal remember that when we do not know what alloy we are microscope mechanical stage I invented. I have always using, we are guessing when we try to harden or heat treat thought it a shame that much of a mineral micromount the finished tool. You may want to consult The Complete Metalsmith by Tim McCreight or another text for guidance. specimen was not available for viewing because much of it was hidden by the sides of the box. By mounting in the lid If you really aren’t comfortable of the box and then using the gimbal mechanical stage, I with this process or if the tool is can view the specimen through 270 degrees of rotation. really important to you, consider Thus allowing examination of areas of a specimen that talking with your local blacksmith would otherwise remain hidden by the conventional “In the who will probably be willing to box” type mount. For our example, I will show mounting of share a bit of his or her a Spessartine garnet specimen from Yunling,Zhangzhou knowledge. If you are going to make a lot of tools, it could be Fujiian, China. worth the investment to buy some tool steel. Usually the vendor will furnish information from the steel manufacturer detailing how to harden and heat treat the product.
We should not ignore simple tools made of other materials. There are a variety of non-ferrous materials such as brass, bronze, aluminum, pewter and even lead that are often employed. If you do chasing or repousse’ you probably use some of the aforementioned materials as well as wood. We do not use wood to a great degree and that is a pity. Rock maple and dogwood make great tools including hammers (mallets), wood planes and punches. Chasing silver and copper offer many opportunities to make dogwood punches which will show you that some of the “old ways” were excellent. The beauty of dogwood is that it can be used either green or dried with similar results.
If nothing else I hope that I have provoked some thought Photograph 1: Parts of the Micromount about simple tools and encouraged some of you to try some different ways of crafting. In the photograph shown above, we see the micromount box, a cork that has been cut to size to both support the from the SFMS Newsletter, Lodestar (2/06) specimen and allow it to fit inside the box, the mineral
specimen and the original specimen label.
THE MICROMOUNT CORNER Dr. David Babulski, Ed.D. I prefer to mount my specimens in pedestals in the “lid” of GMS Chair, Micromount Section the box. There are some who prefer to temporarily mount the specimen using tacky putty. There are no absolutes MAKING A BABULSKI-STYLE MICROMOUNT here so what ever technique works for you is the best one. Greetings everyone, I have a special Micromount Corner Because I use my gimbal mechanical stage when for you this month. I will describe how I create my special examining specimens, having the specimen permanently Babulski-Style mineral micromounts. Unlike conventional mounted on a pedestal allows positioning from horizontal to practice I do not mount in the “box” but rather in the “lid” of vertical in the stage without having the specimen fall off of the box. I use the black base type slip fit micromount the mount. For most of my micromounts I use small corks
(Continued on next page) Page 10 Tips and Trips March 2006 The Georgia Mineral Society Cleaner works well to wash out the brush after painting the THE MICROMOUNT CORNER pedestal. (CONTINUED) in sizes 0, 00, 000 and 0000 as the pedestals. I use a hobby razor saw to cut the cork to the proper length. The specimen is temporarily placed on top of the prepared pedestal and a micromount box is test fitted over this assembly to ensure that the box will not hit the top of the specimen. The specimen is then removed and, as shown in Figure 2 below, glued into place in the lid of the box. I use a solvent based adhesive called: Super Glue Corporation Model/Hobby Cement made by Pacer Technology. This adhesive does contain the solvent methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) so it must be used in a well ventilated area. (MEK is considered to be a hazardous substance - editor.) CAUTION: Use only a small dab of adhesive, using too much will leave an unsightly blob of dried adhesive at the base of the pedestal. Photograph 3: Painting the Pedestal Flat Black
After the paint has dried overnight you are ready to continue making the mount. The next step is to mount the specimen to the pedestal.
Photograph 2: Gluing the Pedestal in Place
Using a pair of forceps place the pedestal in place in the lid and move the pedestal in a very small circular motion; this helps the adhesive bond to the plastic of the lid.
Photograph 4: Mounting the specimen The next step is to paint the outside surface of the pedestal flat black so it blends in with the black of the lid as shown in I use a Q-tip® with the cotton part cut-off and a flat spot Photograph 3 below. This ensures that the pedestal will not carved on the end as a “glue stick”. I squeeze a bit of the distract from the specimen when it is viewed under the adhesive out on the glue stick and place it on the top gluing microscope. Use care to not get paint on the top gluing surface of the pedestal. This is a trial and error procedure. surface of the pedestal. I use Model Master Flat Back enamel paint for this purpose. Testors #1156 Brush (Continued on next page) Tips and Trips Page 11 The Georgia Mineral Society March 2006 position a specimen at any angle and have it held there for THE MICROMOUNT CORNER an extended period of time. I have my microscope fitted to (CONTINUED) a X/Y positioning device. (A surplus X/Y drill press vise)
If you use too much adhesive it oozes out and dries to an which moves the microscope in linear X and Y directions. ugly mass that detracts from the beauty of the specimen. If The gimbal stage allows me to move the specimen in you use too little adhesive, the specimen can detach from azimuth and rotational X and Y. Photograph 6 below, the pedestal. Next you carefully position the specimen on shows the specimen fitted in the Gimbal stage. top of the pedestal, as shown in Photograph 4 above. Allow the adhesive to fully cure, about six hours. Then, under the microscope, I use a very small brush and the flat black enamel paint to cover any exposed pedestal or dried adhesive. When the transparent portion of the box is fitted to the lid which is now the base, you have a very attractive micromount as shown in Photograph 5 below.
Photograph 6: Specimen in the Gimbal Stage
To date my micromount collection numbers over 2000 specimens most mounted in “Babulski Style” mounts. I would like to hear about how you mount your specimens. You can reach me via e-mail at [email protected]. Until next time may all your skies are blue and all your vugs be crystal filled.
Photograph 5: The Completed Micromount
All that remains is to attach the labels. Make sure to label each micromount as they are completed. Now the completed mount is ready to enter into the catalog and AFMS and SFMS the collection. As a side note, you can preserve your labels WEBSITES by coating them with a thin layer of Mod Podge. This is a Check out the SFMS (Southeast decoupage medium that you can buy at any craft store. Federation of Mineralogical Societies) and Once dried the Mod Podge forms a water proof plastic AFMS (American Federation of Mineralogical Societies) shield over the labels keeping them clean and preventing websites: the label adhesive from de-gassing and drying out. This causes the label to come off the box. http://www.amfed.org/sfms and www.amfed.org
As mentioned earlier in this column, I use a gimbal via Lodestar (SFMS newsletter; 2/06) mechanical stage of my own design which allows me to Page 12 Tips and Trips March 2006 The Georgia Mineral Society
AFMS ENDOWMENT FUND RAFFLE 2006
It is time for our SFMS members to support this AFMS effort. This program provides finances for educational programs that are distributed to all seven federations at no cost.
We welcome you lapidary work, mineral specimens, fossils, and other items that may b of interest to our hobby.
Your donation will be photographed, and a description written to identify its features.
Please complete the following form:
DONOR’S or DONORS’ NAME:
PERSONAL INFORMATION:
CLUB AFFILIATION:
ITEM DONATED:
DESIGNED AND CRAFTED BY:
MINERAL SPECIMEN & SOURCE:
FOSSIL NAME & SOURCE:
Please send to: Joy Bourne AFMS Endowment Fund RR #1, Box 159A Towanda, PA 18858-9739
Questions, phone 570.265.6454 or email [email protected].
Ken Anderson SFMS Member of the AFMS Endowment Fund Committee Tips and Trips Page 13 The Georgia Mineral Society March 2006 WEINMAN MINERAL MUSEUM CARTERSVILLE, GEORGIA TEMPORARY EXHIBITS CALENDAR OF SPECIAL EVENTS Exploring the Universe February 6-May 13, 2006 COOKIES and COKE LEARNING SERIES This exhibit brings together elements from various NASA 6:30 P.M.. Cookies and Coke, 7:00 P.M. Lecture facilities as it examines the many methods used to observe Free Admission our universe. Visitors will be able to view some stunning images as well as a genuine moon rock sample. Thursday, March 2, 2006 Confederate Military-Industrial Heartland Jose Santamaria, Executive Director James Ogden Weinman Mineral Museum (and GMS Member) P.O. Box 3663, Cartersville, Georgia 30120 James Ogden, historian from Chickamauga Battlefield, will Telephone: 770.386.0576, ext.401 speak on the mineral resources that aided the confederacy. Fax: 770.386.0600 www.weinmanmuseum.org Thursday, April 6, 2006 Kingston Saltpeter Cave Study Project Lecture and Book Signing Larry Blair FERNBANK MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 767 Clifton Rd, NE Atlanta, GA In 1980, an important discovery of vertebrate fossils was 404.929.6300 made in the Kingston Sltpeter Cave in Bartow County, GA. In the years since, 148 vertebrate and 16 invertebrate fossil For details on exhibits, films, and events, species have been identified. Larry Blair, one of the please visit our website at founders of the Kingston Saltpeter Cave Committee, will www.fernbank.edu/museum, present a lecture on the cave and the ongoing fodssil study project. He will also be available to sign copies of his book Or sign up for our broadcast email at: after the lecture. http://www.fernbank.edu/museum/e_news.html
Special Exhibits:
ROCKIN’ SATURDAY Chocolate: The Exhibition Free with Paid Admission Day of the Dead
GALAXY BLITZ Upcoming Public Programs Saturday, March 11, 2006 Noon - 2:00 P.M. • Chocolate Lecture Series, Weinman Program Staff Inaugural Lecture, Tues Day, March 7, 7:00 P.M. Dr. Terry The Weinman’s laboratory Powis, Kennesaw State will become a simulated University, Chocolate and the space ship that will take Ancient Maya. (Free with you to galaxies unknown. registration; optional exhibit viewing costs You will even be able to extra for non-members) make your very own galaxy to take home. This Now Showing in IMAX (Check our website for special activity will complement the “Exploring the Universe” exhibit. screenings):
FOSSIL IDENTIFICATION Wild Safari Saturday, April 8, 2006 Noon -2:00 P.M. Grand Canyon: The Hidden Secrets Bill Montante and Jose Santamaria
Fossils are fascinating parts of nature. It’s difficult to Martinis and IMAX: Friday evenings beginning January 6, imagine that the image on your rock could possibly have 2006. once been a living organism. If you think you have a potential fossil, bring it to the museum and our panel of Christine Bean, experts might be able to help you. Fernbank Geologist and GMS Member
Page 14 Tips and Trips March 2006 The Georgia Mineral Society
SFMS CLUB & SOCIETY SHOWS/SWAPS then right at the church. (check with show contact for admission charges, if any) • From the north (Summerville, etc.) on US 27, turn March 10-12, 2006, August, GA - Aiken Gem, Mineral and left at the Bypass just past Berry College. Look for Fossil Society (Aiken, SC) and Augusta Gem and Mineral GA 293/Kingston Rd, turn left then right at the church. Society (Augusta, GA). 18th Annual Aiken-Augusta Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show. Julian Smith Casino, 2200 Broad Now that was easy! For more information, call Jose St., Augusta, GA. Hours: 10th and 11th, 10:00 A.M. - 7:00 Santamaria, Show Chair, at 706.233.9828. P.M.; 12th, 11:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Websites: www.homestead.com/aikengems and Jose Santamaria, Executive Director www.homestead.com/augustagems.
March 17-19, 2006, Rome, GA - Rome Georgia Mineral 2004/2005 REGIONAL FEDERATION SHOWS Society. The Valley and Ridge Gem and Mineral Show. New locality: Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, & CONVENTIONS Kingston Road (GA Hwy 293). Hours: 17th & 19th, 10:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M.; 20th, 1:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. Contact: Jose Santamaria, 706.233.9828. California Federation Hosts: Calaveras Gem and Mineral Society April 22-23, 2006, Memphis, TN - Memphis Archaeological Angels Camp, California and Geological Society. 27th Annual Mid-America Mineral, June 9-11, 2006 Fossil, Jewelry Show. Pipkin Building Midsouth Eastern Federation Fairgrounds (corner of East Parkway and Central Avenue. Hosts: Gem and Mineral Society of Palm Beaches, Inc. Hours: 22nd, 9:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M.; 23rd, 10:00 A.M. - 5:00 West Palm Beach, Florida P.M. Contact: James Butcko, 901.743.0058 or email at November 17-19, 2006 [email protected]. Website: www.memphisgeology.org. Midwest Federation Hosts: Midwest Mineralogical and Lapidary Society from the Lodestar , SFMS Newsletter (2/06) Southgate, Michigan May 13-15, 2006 The Valley and Ridge Gem and Mineral Show Northwest Federation Rome Georgia Mineral Society Hosts: Southern Washington Mineralogical Society Friday-Sunday March 17-19, 2006 and Mt. Hood Rock Club 10:00A.M. - 6:00 P.M. Friday and Longview, Washington Saturday, 1:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. on Sunday July 14-16, 2006 Rocky Mountain Federation A new locality will host this growing show: Chapel Hill Hosts: Stillwater Mineral and Gem Society United Methodist Church. This outstanding facility will prove very easy to get to for the out of town visitor to Stillwater, Oklahoma Rome. June 7-11, 2006 South Central Federation Directions: Hosts: Ark-La-Tex Gem and Mineral Society
• If you are approaching Rome on US 411, the first Bossier City, Louisiana light is the Bypass (Loop 1). Turn right, go about August 19-20, 2006 three miles to GA 293 (Kingston Rd.). Turn right, Southeast Federation (Phase 1)/AFMS Convention go 1/10 mile and the church will be on the right. Hosts: Middle Tennessee Gem Society
• From the south (Carrolton and Cedartown) on US Nashville, Tennessee 27, do not exit into Rome but stay on US 411. The Show: August 18-20, 2006 light past the Wal-Mart is at the Bypass, turn left, Convention: August 15-20, 2006 go about three miles to GA 293 (Kingston Rd.). Turn right, go 1/10 mile and the church will be on the right. Southeast Federation (Phase 2) Hosts: Montgomery Gem and Mineral Society • From Alabama (GA 20) drive into town, turn left at Montgomery, Alabama Redmond Circle (at the Sams Club), then right at the light. Follow this road - it will become the bypass. Look for GA 293/Kingston Rd, turn left from the Lodestar , SFMS Newsletter (2/06) Tips Tips and Trips TheMineral Georgia Society March 2006 Sun Mon Tu e Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3 4 Cookies and Coke Lecture at the Weinman Mineral Museum
5 6 7 8 9 10 11 GMS General GMS Field Trip - Meeting Kennesaw, GA & DMC Field Trip - Ft. Drum, FL 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 DMC Field Trip - Ft. Drum, FL DMC Field Trip - Statesville, NC
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 GMS Mineral Section Meeting March 2006 2006 March
26 27 28 29 30 31 Page 15 GMS Gem Section Meeting THE GEORGIA MINERAL SOCIETY, INC. P.O. Box 15011 Atlanta, Georgia 30333-5011 www.gamineral.org MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
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