B.C. Vol. 19 Winter 2012 Rockhounder Published Quarterly By the British Columbia Lapidary Society Contents 105–3240 Mt. Lehman Road, PO Box 10072, Abbotsford, BC V4X 2M9 President’s Message 2 Email: [email protected] Letter from the Editor 4 Tel: (604) 852-1307 www.lapidary.bc.ca Meet the Executives: Heather Hunter 5 What is a Crystal? 6 Editor: Remembering James Laird 7 Katrinia Walter My Brazilian Emerald Mine Adventure 8 [email protected] (604) 853-1515 2013 Vancouver Island Gemboree 14 2785 Silvertree Court Rockhounder Puzzler 15 Abbotsford, BC V2S 5N6 Advice for Beginning Mineral Collectors 17 Jasper: Abundant and Beautiful 19 Printing: USA Exploration 20 Ultra Digital Printing Field Trips 27 5674 Production Way Club Contacts 28 Langley, BC V3A 4N4 (604) 533-5505 Around the Clubs 30 [email protected] 2013 Club Shows & Sales 32 Mineral Myths & Meanings 34 Design & Layout: Rendezvous 38 Sara Mortimer Summer Camp: Lillooet 39 [email protected] S.C.R.I.B.E. Meeting 41 Talk Shop: Grading & Pricing Crystals 42 Cover Photo: Sego: How to Stake a Mining Claim... 43 Crystal Cluster Jones Lake Power Broom Casting 48 Station Randall & Simone DeFehr, SAFETY: The Dust of it all 50 Abbotsford Rock & Gem Club In Memory of Lewis Ross Thompson 51 Share Your Spot 52 Back Cover: Arizona Adventure (Inside Back Cover) BC Gem Show 2013

Submit articles for the next issue by Share your trips and January 10th, 2013 to: knowledge by sending an Amanda Martinson PO Box 244 article to the Rockhounder Vananda, BC V0N 3K0 E mail: [email protected]

Winter 2012 1 President’s Message

Winter is once again upon us and the cold The Natural History museum has collections of In the past, Karl and I have been lucky enough clubs have members who don’t drive. But those weather gives us an opportunity to get back into dinosaurs, other fossils, rocks (including a piece of to visit Ottawa during a Peruvian art and artifacts members may still enjoy the opportunity to attend the workshop, attend club shows and, weather rock from the moon), minerals and gemstones, more exhibition put on by the Museum of Civilization. We the club events and other hobby-related activities. permitting, take in some of the field trips put on abundant than in any museum I have ever been in have also attended an exhibition at our own Vancouver If you have space in your vehicle, before you attend by the Society’s Wagonmasters. (You can find before - a true feast for the eyes and a must-see if Museum, showing works of local native artists. And your events, please consider giving the member a list of the trips on the Society web site). you are in London. The Rock & Gem magazine for of course, the UBC Museum of Anthropology has a a call to see if they would appreciate a lift.

June 2012 has an excellent article about the Natural permanent collection of fine west coast native artwork. This Fall I had the opportunity to visit London, History Museum and its collections. The magazine also I’ll sign off now and hope you all have a England for a few days, and I spent much of that Inspiration can come from many sources and includes an equally excellent article about Mary Anning good Winter season enjoying our hobby. time visiting the free museums offered by the we have certainly found it in the museums. who discovered many fossils along the cliffs of Lyme city. If anyone wants inspiration on personal Regis in the South of England. The Natural History On another note, we are delighted to announce Liz O’Hea adornment, I urge you to seek out museums that Museum also has an exhibit about her and her finds. that Amanda Martinson has agreed to become the have permanent exhibitions (such as the ones in new editor of The BC Rockhounder. Many of you the British Museum) and attend special exhibitions If you head South to Arizona in the Winter, and met Amanda at the 2011 Summer Camp on Texada put on by museums from time to time, to see what pass through Phoenix, a museum not to miss is the THE GEODE MAN Island. She has a lot of publishing experience and 17315 29th Avenue ancient and modern humans can make, either Heard Museum. There is an entry fee, but I feel the Surrey, BC V3S 0E8 I know quite a few of you bought and enjoyed with primitive tools or with today’s sophisticated money is well spent. The museum has a wonderful Specializing in her book about rockhounding on Texada. Please -Faceted Montana Sapphires ones. The results are truly awesome. The British collection of First Nations art and artifacts, mostly from assist Amanda all you can by submitting news and -Cut Geodes museum has exhibit rooms which show artifacts from the South West tribes. The turquoise is to die for! The -Brazilian Agate articles. She will take over from Katrinia in the -Thundereggs civilizations from around the world and throughout docents are extremely knowledgeable and taking one Spring, in time for the Spring 2013 edition. -Rough & Polished Slabs the ages. The goldwork, silverwork, enamelling, of their tours is advisable. We certainly learnt a lot. The -Petrified Wood stone cabochons, stone, glass and pottery beads and museum shop was very well-stocked and irresistible. One final thing: A thoughtful Society member ancient Chinese jade carvings are remarkable. mentioned to me the other day that most of our Ivan & Wendy Leversage 604-535-9005 Please phone for an appointment

[email protected]

2 B.C. Rockhounder Winter 2012 3 Letter from the Editor Meet the Executives Heather Hunter, Treasurer

Congratulations to Sara Mortimer, our graphic Amanda has probably already started working on design and art student in completing her first year the Spring edition of 2013. The email address editor@ associated with the design and layout of the BC lapidary.bc.ca will remain the same but will now be

Rockhounder magazine (4 editions). Sara is doing reviewed by Amanda. Please keep the articles coming a great job and will continue for the 2013 year along with photos – they are greatly appreciated. working with your new editor, Amanda Martinson. The 2013 Calendars were distributed to all clubs

Some of you may know Amanda from your trip to that placed an order. The Calendars are now sold out. What are your duties as a BCLS Executive? Banking, record keeping and giving reports on our financial situation for the projects we do. Texada Island. Amanda has written books on Texada I will continue to update the BC Lapidary Society How many hours per week do Some weeks nothing and some 2 – 3 hours a day Island and as such is very familiar with writing, you spend on BCLS matters? web site and welcome your comments or classified the software programs used for the magazine and How long is your position as a BCLS member? I don’t know. The bylaws I have say all directors’ ads for posting. I set up a new email address that can terms are one year, but there is no date on these of course rockhounding. Amanda is a member bylaws, so I do not know if they are current. be passed from one web master to the next associated of the Ripple Rock Gem and Mineral Club. Is your position a paid or volunteer position? Volunteer with maintaining the BC Lapidary Society web site. What Club do you belong to? I belong to the Thompson Valley Rock Club To contact me in regards to the BC Lapidary Society and the High Country Rockhound Club.

web site please email: [email protected]. How long have you been a club member? I have been a member of both clubs for 3 years. Before that I was a member of the Fraser Valley Rock & Gem Club for about 5 years. I’ve learned many things and made contacts Are you employed full time or part I am retired. with several new people as the editor of the BC time or are you retired?

Rockhounder magazine and I thank you, De What are your interests (associated with I enjoy looking for rocks with features that have Rockhounding, Lapidary, Silversmithing, etc.)? swirls of color and possibly some quartz crystals. Morgan - our featured writer and everyone for their I also enjoy working in copper and silver.

contributions and patience during my term as editor. What do you like best about your I am too new to this position to focus on position as a BCLS Executive? any one thing. Right now I am enjoying the challenge and meeting new people. Please welcome Amanda Martinson to the role What do you like least about your Keeping files neat. of editor of the BC Rockhounder magazine. position as a BCLS Executive? Amanda Martinson Is there anything else you would like 1. I don’t have a digital camera. Thank you. to share with the readers? 2. I dislike having my picture taken. Therefore, there is no picture. Katrinia Walter

Editor

4 B.C. Rockhounder Winter 2012 5 What is a Crystal? Remembering by Katrinia Walter

Sources: Wikipedia, Charms of Light & Love Is In the Earth James Laird by Debbie Brandon, Hastings Centre Rockhounds Crystals are solids that form by a regular mental, emotional and spiritual planes. Cleanses repeated pattern of molecules connecting together. and enhances the organs and subtle bodies and acts In some solids, the arrangements of the building as a deep soul cleanser, connecting the physical It is with much sadness that I must tell you that Jim passed away on November 16. Jim has been ill blocks (atoms and molecules) can be random or dimension with the mind. Clear Quartz enhances very different throughout the material. In crystals, psychic abilities. It aids concentration and unlocks since 2009. Jim was hospitalized since March 12. He received a liver transplant on November 3 and however, a collection of atoms called the Unit memory. Stimulates the immune system and brings Cell is repeated in exactly the same arrangement the body into balance. Clear Quartz harmonizes was doing really well but on the 8th his condition deteriorated due to post-op complications. He gave over and over throughout the entire material. all the chakras and aligns the subtle bodies. Because of this repetitive nature, crystals can take it a good fight however this was one battle he could not win. He passed away peacefully with me at his on strange and interesting looking forms, naturally. Quartz Crystals can be found in many localities. Two locations that I am aware of are Whistler side. He will be missed by many and his knowledge of BC Rocks and Gems will be sorely missed. Some crystals have formed by magmatic and and just outside of Chilliwack at the Jones Lake metamorphic processes, giving origin to large masses Power Station. Randall and Simone DeFehr of of crystalline rock. The vast majority of igneous rocks the Abbotsford Rock & Gem Club found the are formed from molten magma and the degree of Quartz Crystal displayed on the front cover of crystallization depends primarily on the conditions this edition at the Jones Lake Power Station. under which they solidified. Such rocks as granite, which have cooled very slowly and under great pressures, have completely crystallized; but many kinds of lava were poured out at the surface and cooled very rapidly, and in this latter group a small amount of amorphous or glassy matter is common. Other crystalline rocks, the metamorphic rocks such as marbles, mica-schists and quartzites, are recrystallized. This means that they were at first fragmental rocks like limestone, shale and sandstone and have never been in a molten condition nor entirely in solution, but the high temperature and pressure conditions of metamorphism have acted on them by erasing their original structures and inducing recrystallization in the solid state. Other rock crystals have formed out of precipitation from fluids, commonly water, to form druses or quartz veins. The evaporites such as halite, gypsum and some limestones have been deposited from aqueous solution, mostly owing to evaporation in arid climates. Jim and I became members of the Hasting Centre Rockhounds a few years ago when I got interested

Crystals also have healing properties and in silversmithing and lapidary work as I had Jim’s entire stock at my disposal. Jim was a vendor at many of varies depending on the crystal (Amethysts, Diamonds, Actinolite, Quartz, etc.). their shows in the past as well as Port Moody’s shows (and probably others that I’m not aware of).

I’ve chosen the “Master Healer” (Clear Quartz If you have a story you wish to share regarding James Laird please email Crystal) for the purpose of this article. The healing properties of a Clear Quartz Crystal will amplify [email protected]. Pictures are appreciated as well. energy and thought, as well as the effect of other crystals. It absorbs, stores, releases and regulates energy. Clear Quartz draws off negative energy of all kinds, neutralizing background radiation, including electromagnetic smog or petrochemical emanations. It balances and revitalizes the physical,

6 B.C. Rockhounder Winter 2012 7 My Brazilian Emerald Mine Adventure by Kelly Mears, Abbotsford Rock & Gem Club

While touring Brazil with a group of Rockhounders at the top where I climbed in grew smaller and smaller. have ever come to their little town in the middle of back in August 2009 we stopped off at a little town The dark grew darker as I dropped deeper into the nowhere. The only way we were able to communicate called Nova Era, in the Minas Gerais (mining district). damp hole hanging on for dear life. My excitement with our non English guide was through body language As we approached the quiet little town, a young local grew into a sense of panic when my plastic hard hat fell (since we didn’t understand Brazilian Portuguese man casually strolled past carrying a cage with a off my head into the dark abyss below (like it actually either). When I pointed to the little wires sticking out canary in it. Could this poor bird be used to check for would have made a difference anyway with a cave in). of the walls, the guide was able to express a universal poisonous gases in the mines to ensure the air quality “Kaboom” which we all clearly understood (dynamite was safe like they “used to do” ? Surely not, he must My imagination kicked in with nothing but darkness was our interpretation) and we laughed.. While we did have been just taking his pet bird out for a stroll. to stare at and crazy thoughts occupied my mind. How not find any emeralds in the mine that day, I found an would I know when to get off? How many levels are experience I will always treasure. These poor miners there in this mine, was this the 60 or was it the 300 feet work so hard and in such dangerous conditions to make or were they both the same, what if I missed my floor or a few dollars to feed their families if they are lucky it never stopped. What if this primitive elevator breaks to have a productive day in the mine. They lived in - I can’t see anything?? What if something happened to humble shacks and yet they were always smiling and the guide and my buddy Ron while they were waiting seemed very grateful for what they had. The pricey for me, what if they didn’t send the bird down today emeralds we see in North America are prices courtesy to check the air quality today. More What ifs??? And of ”the proverbial middle men” making their money off Suddenly, a small light appeared as I landed safely into the backs of the hard laboured miners risking their lives a wet puddle (a flashlight to be exact) and the smiling to feed their families. I bought what was left over of face of our guide and my friend Ron greeted me. some poor quality emeralds or perhaps it was just green Relieved to have arrived safely into a spot of light, I took beryl off the locals as a souvenir when I finally ascended in a breath. I’m safe, and then I breathed again with from my darkness. I was also hoping that my purchase Earlier, our tour guide had mentioned we could sigh of relief. I was ready to take a good look around was in some way helping their livelihood and economy possibly go down a 60-70 foot deep mine or 300 feet at the surroundings as best as the light would show. I in some manner. Some good quality emeralds were but he wasn’t sure. I believe 60 feet was what we was ready to see the Brazilian Emeralds studding the purchased by those who made the safe decision to not decided we were going for. I could hardly believe I was mine walls, the way I also dreamt it would be if they go down into the mine. The ones I bought were worth actually going down into an emerald mine. Hurriedly, weren’t laying around already. Our guide, who didn’t my weight in “emeralds” hanging in that harness in the A handful of locals gathered around with a small I bundled up in layers in an effort to prepare for what speak a word of English, pointed with his little flash shaft. My fellow Rockhounders found their treasures bowl filled with hand picked emeralds. Yes they were I perceived would be a cold dark place and wanted to light to the light colored veins in the walls of where we and I most definitely found mine. The miners risk for sale, and very cheaply. Some of us stopped to keep warm. I was immediately corrected and told it all hoped our green emerald crystals were hiding since their lives mining emeralds for a living, I risked mine buy, but the rest of us were too excited and carried on would be far too warm for coats and I would end up they weren’t clearly visible. The water dripped, and we for the pure adventure and experience. What is this through a tall field of grass. We past by banana trees peeling off layers instead. On the other hand, I liked dodged puddles and mud as we wandered through the “Emerald” all about that we were after in Brazil? and who knows what other unfamiliar creatures that the idea of having layers to protect myself from what homemade corridors, past small pumps, shovels and may have lurked between us and the small covered “creatures” I figured may lurk below. Reluctantly I logs propping up the walls. He handed us a pick axe First it is the mineral beryl which is beryllium hole in the ground. This was to be the opportunity stripped down to my blue t-shirt and jeans. My runners and pointed to the veins in the rock walls. He showed aluminium cyclosilicate. The hexagonal crystals (6 of a life time for me. For just $15 Riahs ($10 were the only other gear I wore. Our non-English us a sample he fished from a puddle and we all took sided) may be very small or range to several meters Canadian) we had the chance to actually go down speaking guide was just 4 feet tall, ideal for mining turns swinging at the hard rock, hoping to uncover our in size. The Biggest Emerald ever found was in 1969 and try our hand at mining in a “typical” primitive with the low ceilings. He went on down first to be treasures, but the closest thing we found was possibly weighing in at 7,025 carats. Another large one was the emerald mine. There are no mining regulations in there to greet us at the bottom or perhaps to keep us kyanite. Seeing how emerald mining was done in Brazil 632 carat “Patricia Emerald” in (Colombia). It was Brazil although an organization is trying desperately from picking up all the emeralds I imagined may be was a real eye opener. They worked by flash light in the uncovered by dynamiting the vein, and in the process to put something together to protect the miners laying around the ground. Ron went next and then dark, and it is actually quite hot in there. Today we an even larger crystal was said to have been blown up! from danger and from being exploited. They did I followed. One at a time we put on our protective were fortunate enough to have our cameras flashing however produce “a single” plastic hard hat for “plastic hard hat” (probably the only one in the whole to help illuminate the walls with even more light. Of Terminated crystals are relatively rare. Pure us to take turns sharing for our descent into the of Brazil since there were no mining regulations to course the miners don’t normally have tourists standing beryl is colorless (known as Goshenite) but most mine. There was a leg harness tied to a wire rope, protect the local miners). I then put on the leg harness, around lighting up the walls with cameras on a regular Beryls are frequently tinted by impurities giving a winch with a small machine and a deep dark hole held onto the rope tightly and was gradually lowered basis. In fact, we were probably the first tourists to them color and thus a specific name to go with it. I reinforced with logs to protect it from caving in. down by a winch into the darkness. The lighted hole

8 B.C. Rockhounder Winter 2012 9 My Brazilian Emerald Mine Adventure continued How to Classified Prices quoted are in Canadian funds Remove Dust Lapidary Equipment For Sale originally believed all green beryl were “Emeralds”. Zambia and Bahia (northeast Brazil) are also major Polishing motor $100.00 Its other Beryl cousins are (Aquamarine) blue sources of top-quality gemstones today. North Carolina or turquoise, Yellow to Gold (Heliodor), Pink in the USA is the largest source in North America. from Mineral Lee Facetor $300.00 - has 1/4 HP motor, runs (Morganite), and a Red beryl (aka Red Emerald). 1725 and 1140 RPM set on sturdy Resources: Wikipedia and a variety of aluminum frame, about 22” x 10”, Emerald is Beryl coloured by trace amounts of books including Gems of the World (Cally Specimens dop sticks, dop holder with index chromium and sometimes vanadium. The presence Oldershaw) and personal experience. by Eric Greene, Treasure Mountain Mining of chromium is what distinguishes emerald from Facetor 8” laps - master lap, two copper laps, ordinary green beryl (light-green toned gems) The www.treasuremountainmining.com diamond charged on both surfaces, #220/600 hue of an emerald must be bright green (vivid) and and #1200/3200, steel disc with #260 medium to dark in tone. Like all coloured gemstones, diamond, steel disc with#1400 diamond, they are graded using four basic parameters – Color, Q. I know that dust can harm minerals, and that the phenolic lap, ‘last lap’ and 6” disc factory Cut, Clarity and Crystal. The last C, crystal is best way to display them is in cases, but I have several coated #260, Crystalite 6” cab lap, and 3 Federal simply used as a synonym that begins with C for large specimens that have to go on open shelving. brand 5” dish shape laps with #180 grit, #260 transparency. Normally, color is by far the most What is the best way to clean dust off of minerals? I grit and #1500 grit - total - $210 for the laps important criterion for grading most gem stones. read something about using a sable brush. Would that However, when grading emeralds, crystal is almost work or do you have any other recommendations? Pixie polishing unit - $800.00 equally important. A fine emerald must be a pure Thanks for any help you can give me -Mary H. verdant green hue, but also be highly transparent to Lortone tumbler be considered a great quality. Emeralds also range in A. Dust is always a problem with specimens (two barrels - 3 lb size) - $40.00 hues of yellow-green to blue-green but it is the medium displayed on open shelves, window sills, etc. First, you to dark tones that are really considered emerald. are right that dust can harm some mineral specimens. Foredom flexible shaft motor Dust can be abrasive and attract pests, and it is difficult with # 30 handle - $130.00 Emerald has a hardness of 7.5–8 on the 10 point to remove dust from specimens with rough and porous Mohs scale of mineral hardness. Most emeralds surfaces without causing damage. Fortunately, almost Perfection casting centrifuge - $150.00 are highly included, so their toughness (resistance all minerals can be safely cleaned in water, which will to breakage) is classified as generally poor. remove the dust (check online first for a list of minerals Burnout Oven (make Jelenko) - $175.00 Emerald is graded by the eye. Thus, if an emerald that are water soluble). You can also use a can of has no visible inclusions to the eye (assuming keyboard dust remover to blow dust away (do this away Beading tool set, 12 + handle (unused) - $3.00 normal visual acuity) it is considered flawless. It is from the rest of your collection!). Many minerals which rare to find one that doesn’t have surface breaking are water soluble (halite, borate minerals, etc.) can be Quality wood carving chisels fissures and therefore almost all emeralds are treated, cleaned with rubbing alcohol, but I like using the dust (very little use) 7 tools - $40.00 that is “oiled”, to enhance the apparent clarity. remover for these. In general, I’d avoid using a brush, Occurance: Emeralds occur usually in granite as it may just move the dust around and into crevices. Rock Hammer $3.00 pegmatites, mica schist and limestone deposits. The ancient Egyptians mined emeralds as early as 3000 BC from a source by the Red Sea that was later Call Yurika at 778-868-1788... known as “Cleopatra’s Mine”. Many cultures from all offers considered. Hinduism, Aztecs and Incas both worshipped the stone and the Romans dedicated the color green to Venus, the Goddess of Love. Later in mid life they were believed to protect against evil spirits. Locations: Colombia historically produced 80-90% (now about 60%) of the best quality emeralds in the world. It is said that many were lost in shipwrecks by the Spanish conquistadors when they seized them (some as big as Ostrich eggs). The Spaniards were also duped into believing that real emeralds would not smash if hit by a hammer. Many more were lost that way until the Spaniards realized this theory was a trick to have them destroy the very Emeralds they were stealing.

10 B.C. Rockhounder Winter 2012 11 Port Mann Bridge PARK PLACE by Kelly Mears, Abbotsford Rock & Gem Club RV Park

Easy to find at the quiet end of town looking for a great place 88 Spaces each with Sewer, Water to spend the winter? we and Electricity Have you heard about the TReO Monthly passes will start January 2013, have got the answer! Clubhouse with Big Screen TV registration for the Port Mann Bridge? which is the first full month of tolling. Wi-Fi available through out the park Now under new ownership: Philip de Ridder North of I-10 at Exit 19 1-520-873-8513 or 928-927-6699 If you register before February 28, 2013 For rates and other information visit: When you purchase a monthly pass, you are http://www.parkplacervpark.net/index.html Best RV Park in Quartzsite Arizona and you have a payment method on file you’ll signing up for ongoing monthly passes. If you continue to receive the low introductory toll only want one, you will need to opt out after one rates ($1.50 per crossing) until November 30, month or your account will continue to be debited. 2013. Even when the regular toll rates ($3.00 per crossing) are implemented on March 1, 2013. Monthly passes operate on a calendar month basis and aren’t prorated. Each pass needs to be Classified As a regular driver across the new Port Mann pre-paid two days before the start of the month Prices quoted are in Canadian funds Bridge, you may find the convenience of an and are non-refundable once the month begins. unlimited monthly pass appealing. With a TReO decal installed and a payment method on file - The $30 early registration toll credit cannot be Kiln, Centrifugal Casting, Polisher, when registered before February 28, 2013 - the used to pay for the cost of the monthly pass. Display Case, Bench cost for a monthly pass (per vehicle) is: If you do not acquire a TReO decal then $50 / month for a motorcycle. This works out to each time you cross the bridge you must pay Call Bonita Ruttkay at (604) 275-4825 for price. paying for 50 trips across the bridge your toll within 7 days of crossing the bridge, at the introductory rate of $1.00 / in order to avoid being charged an invoice To view photos of equipment visit: trip. Every trip after that is free. processing fee of $2.30 per trip plus the toll fee. www.lapidary.bc.ca/classified.html

$75 / month for a small vehicle. This works out If you registered your car by November 30, Rockhounding to paying for 50 trips across the 2012, you will receive a $30 credit applied to bridge at the introductory rate of $1.50/ your TReO decal account. This credit expires on trip. Every trip after that is free. May 31, 2013 and any remaining credits will be Buy, Sell or Trade deleted from your account upon the expiry date. Spots $225 / month for a medium vehicle. This works Check out: out to paying for 50 trips across the bridge at the Registered vanpools, taxis and persons with Ripple Rock Gem and Mineral Club introductory rate of $4.50. Every trip after that is free. disabilities will need to register with TReO http://stuff2000.weebly.com/ and provide proof of exemption eligibility rock-hunting-spots.html Visit: http://ripplerockgemandmineralclub.com If you register after February 28, /buy_sell_trade/default.html 2013, monthly passes are: To register visit: https://www. Some great rockhounding spots treo.ca/register-vehicles. are listed on this site. $75 / month for a motorcycle. This works out to paying for 50 trips across the bridge at the regular Rockhounders East of the Port Mann Bridge may rate of $1.50 / trip. Every trip after that is free. find it useful to have a TReO account for crossing the Port Mann Bridge for a more direct route to Whistler $150 / month for a small vehicle. This works out for crystals and Rockhounders West of the Port Mann to paying for 50 trips across the bridge at the regular Bridge may also find it useful to have a TReO account For Sale – Shelves rate of $3.00 / trip. Every trip after that is free. for crossing the Port Mann Bridge to access the fossils Four cedar shelves are for sale and garnets of Harrison Lake or find opals in the Colour is matte black $300 / month for a medium vehicle at the regular Okanagan or gold panning on the Fraser River in Yale. Dimensions: Length 35 ½”, Height 26 ½” rate of $6.00 / trip. This works out to paying for 50 trips across the bridge. Every trip after that is free. The shelving can be turned one way with the shelves 5 ½” A word or two on monthly passes: wide and turned the other way and the shelves become 2 ½”. $25 ea or 4 for $80. You will need to sign up for your monthly pass by phone with one of their agents or in person Contact: Jennifer Moore at (604) 328-9766

at one of their Customer Service Centres. Classified Prices quoted are in Canadian funds or email [email protected]

12 B.C. Rockhounder Winter 2012 13 2013 Vancouver Rockhounder Puzzler Island GEMBOREE Y N F L U O R I T E T I R Y P by Janice Boyes, Courtenay Gem & Mineral Club Z T O S E R P E N T I N E R W

The Vancouver Island Gemboree will be It is hoped that Clubs will prepare music and skit(s) A E E I S L I S S O F U A O U hosted by the Courtenay Gem and Mineral Club for after the POT LUCK dinner on Saturday. P N D F T P S U M M E R Z C L on the weekend of July 26th, 27th and 28th. O I T A A C E X N M S D U K F We do not have secure fences around the

Registration and BBQ is Friday at 6:00pm. property so be prepared to keep wandering dogs T T A J J S E C A M Q C R H E

Registration fee: $10 per participant. on leash there are “wild things” at the back to C R Y S T A L L I Z A T I O N

tempt them to stray and a busy road at the front. E E G O O A A T L M M I T U I Choice of 3 field trips on Saturday morning: fossils, river & beach rocks (Oyster River Flowerstone There is room for campers, tents and motorhomes. M V E R I C H W P O E V E N T and Jaspers) and the third is to be determined. By arrangement, there will be a few tents available to E A M M H S S H O W C N P D E

borrow if you do not have one of your own. Just bring R R S I O M I N E R A L S E M The campsite is located at 2916 your personal sleeping bags, food, and contact Jack or Macaulay Road, Black Creek, BC. A T T N S L A T S Y R C A R E Janice Boyes in advance to secure the use of a tent. L E I V U G R U A S O N I D G Camping fee: $5 to help pay for the Porta Potties. There are B&B’s in the area and motels D T V O L C A N O R O T I D E There will be a Camp Kitchen (fridge, stove, in Courtenay and Campbell River (each are cold running water) and washrooms available. E S U O V Z E D N E R S N I F about ½ hour drive from the campsite). Saturday - make your own breakfast and leave for Field Trips at 9:00am. Contact information: Jack and Janice Boyes at AZURITE CAMP CLAIMS COLLECTION CRYSTALLIZATION CRYSTALS 2916 Macaulay Road, Black Creek BC, V9J 1B9, DINOSAUR EDITOR EMERALD Come prepared to join in and be part of it of FINS FLUORITE FOSSILS phone 250-337-8461 or E mail; [email protected] GEM GEMS JADE the fun and entertainment. The traditional “White MALACHITE MINERALS PYRITE RENDEZVOUS ROCKHOUNDER SAFETY Elephant” bucket draw - all size elephants welcome. SERPENTINE SHOW SMITHSONITE SPECIMENS SUMMER TOPAZ TRAVERTINE VOLCANO VUG WULFENITE

14 B.C. Rockhounder Winter 2012 15 Classified Bulletin Advice For Beginning Prices quoted are in Canadian funds Mineral Collectors Engraving Equipment For Sale - Notices by Eric Greene, Treasure Mountain Mining New Price www.treasuremountainmining.com Perfect for small business or additional income Cutting Porous Rocks [email protected] for existing business. ( Pick & Pack 10/01 – et al – RockChip Reporter 12/02) Vol. 41 No. 10 Rock Rollers Oct, 2004) New Hermes GTX floor model engravograph for jewelry, giftware, equipment, steel, When cutting porous rocks under a hardness of 5, aluminium, plastics, just about everything. soak the material in water for a week or more. You will I started collecting minerals when I was 8 years Both diamond tip engravers and motorized have no problem with the stone soaking up the oil. old, then quit when I discovered girls at age 13. Later creating a budget and a plan. Start by asking yourself, rotary engraving for plastics and metals. Fifteen in life, my interest was re-kindled when my son Dan how much do I plan to spend on specimen purchases sets of lettering fonts, a wide assortment of clamps was playing in the field behind our house and found a this year? Add up what you spent on minerals last and accessories. Everything in excellent condition. Notice – Price Increase chunk of glacial quartz with a vug containing crystals. year (you’ll probably be surprised by how much you My original goal was to share this wonderful hobby spent!). If you buy specimens for your collection solely New Price: $4,500.00 BC Rockhounder Magazine with my three children, especially the part about based on what you have to spend at any particular Contact: Eileen Phillips The BC Rockhounder magazine subscription fee going out in the woods and finding buried treasure. moment, you’ll have some good specimens that were 250-334-7253 (Courtenay BC) or increases to $26.00 CDN/year (includes postage within Gradually, this goal evolved, and I ended up being purchased when your pockets were full, and some email: [email protected] Canada) the rate for US subscriptions is $37.00 CDN/ bitten hard by the mineral collecting “bug” (some poor quality ones purchased when money was tight. year (includes postage) commencing January 1, 2013. would call it an addiction). As my passion grew, I Once you have a budget, divide it by the lowest plunged in head first, and began building a mineral possible number of specimens possible. So, if you Mineralogical Record Magazines For collection. As I proceeded, I made a series of blunders, have a $1000 budget for the year, see if you can bear Sale the results of which still plague me today when I open the thought of buying just five $200 specimens, or Pre-Owned one of the drawers containing my old collection. ten $100 ones. My impulse is frequently to buy a lot Unfortunately, I didn’t have a mentor – someone who of lower-cost specimens, because it’s fun opening a Complete Volumes could have steered me in the right direction, so that box that arrived in the mail containing a bunch of 1981: Volume 12 – 6 issues $59.00 I could avoid the pitfalls which, in retrospect, seem new specimens. That’s why it’s so important to have 1982: Volume 13 – 6 issues $65.00 so obvious today. So, here’s the advice I have learned a plan and stick to it. At the end of the year you’ll 1983: Volume 14 – 6 issues $51.00 through hard experience, and that I wish someone have fewer specimens, but if each one is carefully 1984: Volume 15 – 6 issues $40.00 had given me along the way. I hope it helps you to selected to meet a set of discriminating criteria, you’ll 1985: Volume 16 – 6 issues $40.00 build a collection of fine minerals and gem crystals have added specimens to your collection that look a that you will be proud of today, and that will still be whole lot better than a bunch of inexpensive ones. Incomplete Volumes Sold Individually a source of happiness and wonder in years to come. 1977: Volume 8 – Jan/Feb $15.00 Suggestion #3: 1977: Volume 8 – Mar/Apr $17.00 Suggestion #1: Don’t buy damaged specimens. 1977: Volume 8 – Jul/Aug $17.00 Always buy the best mineral specimen you I repeat, don’t buy damaged specimens with 1977: Volume 8 – Sep/Oct $5.00 can afford. damaged crystals! Forget the temptation to buy 1980: Volume 11 – Jan/Feb $6.00 I still have some old cabinets that are stuffed with $5, when you think you are getting a “good deal” at a 1986: Volume 17 – May/Jun $12.00 Gold Panning in the classroom $10 and $20 specimens. The vast majority have some low price. Always examine each specimen you are 1986: Volume 17 – Jul/Aug $12.00 damage and are only fair examples of the particular considering buying for damage such as prominent 1986: Volume 17 – Sep/Oct $12.00 with Yukon Dan mineral. Regrettably, they’re still only worth the $5, “dings”, dead areas with no crystallization, or contact 1986: Volume 17 – Nov/Dec $12.00 $10 and $20 I paid for them 25 years ago. What if I points where crystals grew up against something. had been more disciplined? What if I had purchased I used the word “prominent” above on purpose: Size of each issue is 8.5” x 11”. All one $100 or $200 specimen for every 10 or 20 of the challenge is that specimens that are perfect, volumes/issues are in good condition. 75 minute workshop; Reservations are highly recommended the inexpensive ones? What if I had only purchased with absolutely no damage, may be beyond your Purchaser will pay the postage. cost $6 per student and can be made by calling 604 867 9089 specimens of the best possible quality and condition? financial reach. In that case, pick specimens without Contact: Sharon Hamelin 604-581-8326 or Yukon Dan at 604 948 4941. Then I would have an impressive collection, with obvious or distracting damage, such as a specimen (Richmond BC) or email: [email protected] For more information, fine, captivating, impressive specimens that have with a single large crystal that has a damaged go to www.yukondan. Please call or email [email protected] appreciated in value, and will continue to do so. termination. You may have to accept living with com for future Gold Panning Workshop Dates. damage to crystals on the outside edge of a specimen, Suggestion #2: because a truly perfect specimen is 10 or 20 or Sponsors & support from Teck & Colorado Resources allows Yukon Dan to provide Set a budget, and have a plan. 100 times more expensive than you can afford. “Hands On” presentation to twenty schools in the Vancouver & surrounding areas. Many advanced collectors build their collection by This suggestion is vital if you want to improve both the quality and the long-term value of your collection.

16 B.C. Rockhounder Winter 2012 17 Advice for Beginning Mineral Collectors continued Jasper:

Suggestion #4: information about the mine, state or province, and Suggestion #7: Abundant and Do your research before you buy. country where it was collected. This little piece Develop a focus for your collection. Knowledge is the key to success in mineral of paper is important. Don’t throw it away! Choices, choices, choices! There are over 5,000 collecting. So use all the tools available to learn all Without a label, you have no way to distinguish a known mineral species, and so many of them are so you can about minerals. Visiting mineral museums, wulfenite from the famed Red Cloud Mine in Arizona extraordinarily beautiful and exciting that it is common Beautiful reading books, and the internet are all fine ways and one from the less-well known Geronimo Mine, for new collectors to start off with a helter-skelter by Marilyn Ferrier to learn more about minerals. I also suggest you which is on the other side of the same mountain. approach of buying whatever hits them as particularly from the internet via Pebbles 7/01 via Golden Spike News 8/01 subscribe to one or more of the popular magazines Collectors who purchase minerals for their attractive and striking. I have heard these collectors devoted to mineral collecting, including Rocks & metaphysical and healing properties, or for their beauty, called “lightning bolt collectors,” because they buy Minerals, The Mineralogical Record, and Gems often discard the labels because they don’t think they’re something whenever they are hit by the lightning & Minerals. Also, join a local gem and mineral important. When they decide to sell some of their bolt of “have to have it.” That’s why it is important Jasper is a silica mineral that is classified under club to learn from visiting speakers, to socialize specimens, they are dismayed to learn that a specimen to focus on one or two key areas of interest when cryptocrystalline quartz. It is opaque, fine-grained, with local collecting “experts” (and to view their is worth half or less than a similar specimen with the starting to build a collection. Fortunately, there are a dense (hardness 6.5-7). Its submicroscopic crystals personal collections), to go on field trips, and more label. When I evaluate a collection, I can sometimes nearly limitless number of focal points or “themes” allow most jaspers to take a high, enduring polish making (the snack table is usually the most popular area recognize it as coming probably from a certain locality, that a beginning collector can pursue. For example: it extensively used for jewelry. Iron oxide and other ore for viewing “specimens” at my club meeting). almost no one can tell the difference between a smoky • specimens of a particular mineral impurities determine the color. Because of its great quartz from Brazil and one from Switzerland? species (gold, tourmaline, etc.) abundance and diversity of pattern and color it Always buy the best mineral specimen A label may also be a historic document, which can • specimens of a particular size is part of almost all rock collections. add significantly to the value of a specimen. Think of (very small, decorator size, very large) Below is a list of some of the more commonly known you can afford. I still have some old the difference between a specimen from a particular • specimens from unique mining varieties of jasper. locality with a Smithsonian label giving date acquired, localities/countries of origin cabinets that are stuffed with $5, $10 and whom it was purchased from, etc., and one from the • specimens all in one favorite color Biggs Jasper: Browns/tans, complex distinctive $20 specimens. same locality with an unknown collector’s label. • specimens from a particular patterning, from Biggs, Oregon. Looks like So whatever you do, keep your labels, geographical area (e.g., your home state, the it has had a rough ride through history. whether in a separate box or with the specimen. United States, countries you’ve visited, etc.) I find that the internet is particularly useful The label is a valuable record. Antique dealers • specimens with a common element, Brecciated Jasper: Rounded fragments tool for learning about minerals. For example, call this provenance, and your newly acquired such as silver- or copper bearing minerals naturally cemented together in a gray base. take a look at the photo galleries on www.mindat. specimen is definitely an antique! com, and compare specimens there with one you Suggestion #8: Bruneau Jasper: Browns/tans with distinctive are considering purchasing. This will give you Suggestion #6: Build a relationship with a trusted mineral dealer. core patterns from Bruneau River, Idaho an idea of the range of quality available, as well Catalog your collection. Mineral dealers have the opportunity to travel to as what to look for in a particular specimen. When I built my collection, I started cataloguing the distant shows, buy from miners in distant lands, and Green Jasper: Very light to dark green colors, Another consideration is, where does a particular specimens early on. I printed out a unique number for purchase collections for resale. This means they can sometimes quite gemmy (color from chlorites). specimen come from? For example, do you know each specimen, and glued it on with white glue. Then, be of invaluable assistance in finding unique mineral what locality produced the finest azurites of all time? in an Excel spreadsheet, I recorded the following: specimens which will fill the gaps in your collection. Leopard Skin Jasper: Orbicular Jasper The best dioptase? The most excellent vanadanites? • Number Share your want list with them, and review their with a tan color, resembling leopard spots. Doing your homework will help you focus on selecting • Mineral species offerings regularly to see what is new. If they are specimens from the world’s premiere mines. These • Mine specifics (e.g., level 14) on the lookout for that “special” specimen you’ve Morrisonite: Desirable multicolored jasper are frequently referred to as “classic” localities, and • Mine name been looking for, it can help you fill a hole in your from the Owyhee River area, Oregon. fine specimens from these first-class sites are always in • County, State, and/or Province collection which has been empty for quite some time. high demand. Sometimes, even the best specimen ever • Country Orbicular Jasper: Jasper with rounded found at a less well known mine may not be as good as • When mined Conclusion rings throughout the stone. even a second-rate specimen from a premiere locality. • When & where acquired Above all else, collecting minerals should be fun! • Price paid Mineral collecting is an intensely personal hobby, Poppy Jasper: Yellow orbicular with red rings. Suggestion #5: • Other details (previous owners, where and the specimens you select are a reflection of your Always keep the labels. it is in your home, fluorescence, weight, etc.) own unique ideas about what makes a particular Red Jasper: From dull red to intense, bright red You may have heard this bit of mineral collector Today, there are dozens of software programs mineral specimen interesting to you. Make sure with some patterning (color from iron oxide). wisdom: A specimen with a label is a specimen available that will record all this information, every specimen you chose is a joy for you to behold. with scientific importance; without a label, it’s and which also make it easy to do a search to Follow that advice and you can never go wrong. Yellow Jasper: Some intense yellow-gold has been just a pretty rock (or worse, an ugly rock!). When see all of your azurite specimens, or all of the dug from the Red Top area in Eastern Washington you buy from a reputable dealer, he or she should specimens in your basement display case. provide a label giving the species name, and

18 B.C. Rockhounder Winter 2012 19 USA Exploration by Katrinia Walter, Abbotsford Rock & Gem Club

Although there are many places in British Columbia or destroy the Fins. As you climb the air becomes Mount Ida is generally pit collecting. to explore and collect, David and I enjoy the New thinner but your body adjusts pausing momentarily Mexico area. We have explored only a portion of New during your climb. Once at the top and inside the New Mexico is a vast state – where do you Mexico in 6 years. We spend approximately 2 weeks hole you realize that you too are the size of an ant. start upon your arrival? Our recommendation in New Mexico and 1 week travelling there and back. is the University of New Mexico’s Bureau of Geology and Minerals in Socorro, New Mexico Of course, we make stops on our way to (no admission fee). The museum has many New Mexico. A must stop is Moab Utah – the specimens from all over the world but in particular home of Canyonland National Park and Lin samples of what you are seeking in New Mexico. Ottinger’s Moab Rock Shop & Fossils. This is me.

In 2011 we detoured from our usual route and headed to Huntsville Alabama to see a friend and proceeded onto New Mexico with a stop in Mt. Ida Arkansas as David heard about the crystals of Mt. Ida. Our recommendation is to arrive Mt. Ida in the daylight as the town shuts down early and you will have The Curator, Dr. Virgil Leuth is always willing to Lin Ottinger made several dinosaur discoveries a difficult time in finding a place to park your RV or discuss his passion on collecting specimens if he is not including the Moab Man also called “Malachite Man”. to motel it. It is worth going to Mt. Ida but remember at a convention making a presentation. We spent time Mr. Ottinger claims that the Moab Man lived at the to get permission to collect in the mountains first with Bob Eveleth who is now a retired Field Engineer of Sterling silver with gold balls and a time of early Cretaceous period (man and dinosaurs polished dinosaur bone cabochon from the mine owners as they keep watch on their the Bureau and Mines. Bob is a wealth of information coexisting). Upon further examination it was property and they will arrive with their shot gun in not only on minerals to be found but also the history concluded that the fossils were probably 250 to 1450 hand. A great way to find out who the mine owners of Elfego Baca, who lived from 1865 to 1945. David years old, the result of burials of Native Americans. Mr. Wade spent time showing us his creations. are – pick up the local Chamber of Commerce Tourism and I are Old West fans. Bob is a friend of the Baca There is ongoing dispute over the discovery as it is Upon entering his shop you will most often paper. Most of the mines are listed along with the family. Elfego Baca was a gunman, lawman, lawyer & claimed that the sandstone from the region and the find him working on a piece behind his bench, owners and their telephone number. Many of the politician and Walt Disney made a TV Series called malachite prevented the bones from fully fossilizing. in the front of his store, Desert Sunset. mines are now closed to the public but the Sweet The Nine Lives of Elfego Baca. Mr. Baca was “the man One of the dinosaurs that Lin Ottinger discovered Surrender Quartz Crystals Mine is open to digging by who couldn’t be killed”; but this is another topic. was named after him by Dr. James H Jensen of Just outside of Moab Utah is the Hole N” The appointment and a nominal fee. Randy and Becky are Brigham Young University: Iguanodon Ottingeri. The Rock, a most unique home, carved out of a huge rock great people – don’t forget to ask to see the crystals Near Dixon, New Mexico is the Moab Rock Shop & Fossils is well worth the stop. in Utah’s Canyonlands Country. A 5,000 square foot they have for sale (www.sweetsurrendercrystals.com). Harding Pegmatite Mine. Don’t forget to ask for your free dinosaur bone. home is built in the rock which began construction almost a century ago by Albert and Gladys Christensen. The town of Moab is a tourist destination. There It took 20 years to complete. Not more than 2 minutes are many shops and restaurants to visit. A local further on Highway US 191 is another hole in the rock native artist, Sterling Wade, was very inviting. called Wilson Arch which was naturally created by wind and water freezing in the cracks of the Entrada Sandstone and over time the heating and cooling of the sandstone would break away rock leaving a natural hole. These free standing forms are called Fins and are protected by federal regulations to not deface

Sweet Surrender Quartz Crystal Mine

20 B.C. Rockhounder Winter 2012 21 USA Exploration continued

Pegmatites are widespread magmatic rocks that More information on the walking tour and how to The Very Large Array (National Radio Astronomy Don’t forget to check out the junk pile form confined bodies of various shapes and sizes. reach the Griegos can be found on the following web Observatory) lies 20 miles west of the Village of behind the factory – there may be a fee Pegmatite magmas are volatile rich fractions derived site: http://epswww.unm.edu/harding/harding.htm Magdalena. If you are interested in finding out more depending on the quantity that you collect. from other magmas, commonly a crystallizing granitic The town of Kelly New Mexico was founded in about the sounds from outer space this is one location pluton. This site is composed of six major minerals: 1883 at the foothills of the Magdalena Mountains. that you must visit. If you are lucky you might even I love finding Ghost Towns. It took us most of the quartz, albite, microcline, muscovite, lepidolite, and The original town of Kelly ceased in 1931 when the be there while the arrays are being realigned. day but we found the Town of Riley. It shows up on a spodumene. The four principal accessory minerals smithsonite deposits were exhausted but the Post Office GPS as a dot in the middle of nowhere, which is about are beryl, garnet, microlite and tantalite-columbite. remained open until 1945. A historical marker denotes right. It is approximately 25 miles to the northwest of the turn to Kelly from the Village of Magdalena. The the Village of Magdalena. We weren’t certain if there This is an extremely dangerous mine. Many village was founded in 1884 and continues to maintain would be much collecting at this site (there wasn’t) but of the chambers are flooded and rattlesnakes an existence. The mountain zone was named the it was fascinating to see some of the tumbled structures take refuge near the entrances. Magdalena Mountains when Spanish soldiers saw the of the once town of Riley and to discover the history face of a woman on the west face of the peak, which is of the area. It seems that although the Ghost Towns still there today. Many people make the pilgrimage to are deserted the churches are maintained and so was pray to Lady Magdalena at the foot of the mountain the graveyard. The oldest tombstone was from 1898. range. The church is the only structure maintained in Later I learned that Daniel Bustamante became a part of the ghost town of Kelly and mass is held once a year. history by being the only posse volunteer to ride with Sheriff Francisco Vigil after Bronco Bill Walters and Kid Johnson for robbing a train in Belen, New Mexico that Lady Magdalena. was transporting $50,000 in big bags of silver dollars. She is a side profile.

27 radio antennas in a Y-shaped configuration on the Plains of San Agustin. Jody Foster filmed Contact at the VLA. Her movie was partially based on fact.

One of the Harding Mine entrances & tailings The Travertine Factory is located half way between Socorro and Albuquerque in Belen, New Mexico. This is a great stop and if arranged in The property is preserved by the University advance you can tour the facility. The travertine of New Mexico as a mineral collecting locality mine is located on Native land and access is granted as well as a unique outdoor geologic laboratory. only to the owners of the Travertine Factory. Visitors are welcome, but must first sign the necessary release forms along with a donation that goes towards the upkeep of the area. Minerals that can be found at the Kelly Mine are Permission to visit the Harding Mine can be azurite, barite, wulfenite, smithsonite and many others. obtained from the department of Earth & Planetary Ghost Town of Riley Church Sciences department of the University of New Mexico or its caretakers Gilbert or Bernabe Griegos.

Daniel Bustamante resting place Kelly Tailing Washout from a flash flood Imagine the rocks you could cut with a saw this size 22 B.C. Rockhounder Winter 2012 23 USA Exploration continued

Bags of the coins are still missing, buried In northern New Mexico is the Valles Caldera A short distance from the Abó ruins is Corona somewhere west of Belen - forever lost, or so one National Preserve. You can tour the 89,000 acre New Mexico where you can collect along the story is told. Another is that Anastacio Baca who property which is situated inside a collapsed side of the highway. We did not find much at this witnessed the burial of the coins gave up his trading volcano crater. There is no collecting in this location, some crystals, jasper and quartz. Don’t post in 1903; moving his family to Quemado with area as it is a protected area not only for wildlife cross the wire fence as you will be on National a measure of wealth, seemingly legitimizing the but also the rituals of the local native tribes. Forest land and there is no collecting allowed. story of finding Broncho Bill’s buried loot. Chavez Canyon near Socorro New Mexico The excursion we look forward to every year is was the hunt for alabaster and desert roses. to the Sunshine Mines located in the Blanchard area of New Mexico. Fluorite, barite, calcite, wulfenite, linarite, pyrite, quartz and many other minerals can be found at these mines. These mines are private and permission must first be given – do not trespass. We are fortunate enough to know the mine owner and he invited us into his mines.

Valles Caldera National Preserve

Mount Taylor located in Grants New Mexico The seam down the middle of this picture is is a definite stop for the micromounter. There are Chavez Canyon malachite and petrified wood. Our friend is very beautiful micro garnets and topaz found here. knowledgeable about this Mountain Range as this is where he grew up. We would have never guessed This Canyon is very sandy and it is easy to spin the this was petrified wood until Larry showed us the wheels. We didn’t have much time here as we had to bark layers beneath the malachite. Fluorite can also head to the Sunshine Mines but worth the stop and be found at this location and further up the logging allow yourself time as you have to climb a few hills road is another reclaimed mine with fluorite lying Sunshine Mine #1 (mini-mountains) to find alabaster and desert roses. about. This fluorite is non-photosensitive. It will not change colour after prolonged sun exposure. During our many years to New Mexico we His mines are dangerous and a few students of the have never seen a rattlesnake except at the New We took New Mexico Interstate 50 back to Gallup University went into his mine without permission and Mexico State Fair and they were babies behind New Mexico. Larry told us about the region and went into an unsafe area (clearly marked). There was glass. There were occasions in which we heard who owned which ranch and when it turned back a partial collapse and one of the students died. Always them telling us we took the wrong way. into State Park land. The drive took much longer remember to respect nature and the mine owners. Mount Taylor - Grants, New Mexico to return via 50 but it was well worth the beautiful mountain ranges we saw and towns that once were or are only vibrant in the summer months. It was Unexcavated pueblo ruins at Abó date back to the great spending the day with Larry. We learned a lot. 1300s though there is evidence that Mogollon pit house builders had occupied the area beginning around 1150 AD. Abó is one of 3 cities that were lost until around 1853. Quari and Gran Quivera are the other 2.

This year we met some new friends in Gallup New Mexico. Larry took us to the Southern Zuni Mountains near Thoreau, New Mexico. We had Sunshine Mine support beam fun finding petrified wood with malachite.

24 B.C. Rockhounder Winter 2012 25 USA Exploration continued Field Trips January – April 2013

There were two new destinations we visited just In 2010 we took our standard route home passing One of the coliseums is wholesale only but a few miles northwest of Albuquerque; one being by Price, Utah. This is a must stop for dinosaur lovers. anyone can shop there. It is best to check out Field Trip: Fraser River Rock 5 volcanoes in a row. These volcanoes are dormant A good number of us have seen cartoons or images of this coliseum first and then look in on the other Field Trip: Yale Bar and you cannot collect but it is worth going out to the great Woolly Mammoth but it is another to stand shows (35 shows within the main event). Date & Time: January 13, 2013 (Sunday) 9:00 AM them and climbing one or two or all five (it is a very above or below a skeleton of a Woolly Mammoth. You Meeting Place: Bridal Falls - Rancher’s Restaurant easy climb as there are trails). We only managed realize just how large these animals were. It is like 53560 Bridal Falls Road, Rosedale, BC one as the heat of the day was too much. It takes stepping back in time when you visit the Prehistoric Material: Fraser River Mix (Jade, Serpentine, Jasper, Agate) a total of 1.5 hours to walk all 5 volcanoes. Museum – College of Eastern Utah (adults - $5 each). Equipment: Rock hammer, bucket, digging tools, gloves Vehicle: Car WagonMaster: Harley Waterson (604) 590-3289 Field Trip: Fraser River Rock Field Trip: Yale Bar Date & Time: February 17 , 2013 (Sunday) 9:00 AM Meeting Place: Bridal Falls - Rancher’s Restaurant 53560 Bridal Falls Road, Rosedale, BC Material: Fraser River Mix (Jade, Serpentine, Jasper, Agate) Denver Show – ¼ of the Equipment: Rock hammer, bucket, digging tools, gloves Wholesale Coliseum Vehicle: Car WagonMaster: Harley Waterson (604) 590-3289 Imagine unearthing this turtle and fish fossil in Kemmerer Wyoming. Field Trip: Nickel Silicate Not far from the volcanoes (by car) is the This year we took a longer way home driving to Field Trip: Near Yale, BC Petroglyph National Monument which protects one the mile high city of Denver Colorado to see the show Date & Time: March 31, 2013 (Sunday) 9:00 AM of the largest petroglyph sites in North America. that we’ve heard so much about. The Denver Gem Meeting Place: Bridal Falls - Rancher’s Restaurant Petroglyphs are symbols carved onto volcanic and Mineral Show this year featured Copper and 53560 Bridal Falls Road, Rosedale, BC rocks by Native Americans and Spanish settlers Copper Minerals. We spent 3 days in Denver and we Material: Nickel Silicate 400 to 700 years ago but some are 2,000 to 3,000 did not see the entire show. There is a Show-Mart Equipment: Rock hammer, bucket, digging tools, gloves years old. There are over 20,000 images pecked in Building (admission fee – adults $6) where the main Vehicle: Car stone (animals, people, crosses and others that are show is held and then there are 2 coliseums (no WagonMaster: Bob Morgan (604) 599-6938 more mysterious). Allow 4 hours possibly longer admission fees), an outdoor tent area (no admission depending on the heat of the day and pack in/out fees) and the hotels. We didn’t make it to the hotels Field Trip: Fossils water you will need it. This area has rattle snakes. and therefore are not aware of any admission fees. Field Trip: West Harrison Lake To us it seemed to be a cross between Tucson Date & Time: April 27 , 2013 (Saturday) 9:00 AM and Quartzsite Arizona. We had a great time. Meeting Place: Sasquatch Inn 46001 Lougheed Hwy, Now we want to plan our next trip to Harrison Mills, BC include a stop in Kemmerer Wyoming. Material: Fossils Equipment: Rock hammer, bucket, digging tools, gloves By now you will have realized that New Mexico Vehicle: Car, possible four wheel drive depending has many collecting sites. This is one of the reasons on rainfall that our friends chose to move to New Mexico from WagonMaster: Gordon Pinder (604) 556-6489 Pennsylvania. We are very fortunate that we met Al & Betty Tlush. Over the past 6 years we have made many friends in New Mexico and are blessed ALWAYS CALL THE TRIP LEADER THE that Al & Betty have shared so much of their lives DAY BEFORE TO ENSURE THE TRIP with us. In time we too will share the knowledge IN GOING, AND THAT THERE HAVE they have passed onto us. This is one of the great BEEN NO OTHER CHANGES. benefits of this hobby meeting fellow Rockhounders, sharing experiences, knowledge and localities which can be passed onto future generations.

26 B.C. Rockhounder Winter 2012 27 B.C. Rockhounder Club Contacts Club Contacts Winter 2012

1120 Rock Club (250) 344-2108 Princeton Rock and Fossil Club Surrey Rockhound Club Club Contact: David Barclay [email protected] Club Contact: Franz Hoffer Club Contact: Adam Stebbing (250) 766-4353 (250) 295-3896 [email protected] [email protected] Hastings Center Rockhounds [email protected] Club Contact: Michael Edwards Thompson Valley Rock Club Abbotsford Rock & Gem Club (604) 987-1471 Raft River Rockhounds Club Contact: Helen Lowndes Club Contact: Georginga Selinger [email protected] Club Contact: Fay McCracken (250) 314-1943 (604) 852-1307 (250) 674-2700 [email protected] [email protected] High Country Rockhound Club [email protected] http://tvrc.ca Club Contact: Jan Kohar Alberni Valley Rock & Gem Club (250) 523-9532 Richmond Gem & Vernon Lapidary & Mineral Club Club Contact: Dot or Dave West [email protected] Mineral Club Club Contact: Pat O’Brien (250) 723-0281 Club Contact: Darlene Howe (250) 545-1274 [email protected] Interlakes Rockhounders (604) 274-4893 [email protected] Club Contact: Gary Babcock [email protected] BC Faceters Guild (250) 395-2772 Victoria Lapidary & Club Contact: Rob Giesbrecht [email protected] Ripple Rock Gem & Mineral Society (604) 820-8557 Mineral Club Club Contact: Patrick Lydon [email protected] Kokanee Rock Club Club Contact: Gord Burkholder (250) 480-5100 Club Contact: Bob Lerch (250) 923-1740 [email protected] Burnaby Laphounds Club (250) 226-7556 [email protected] Club Contact: Nancy Dickson [email protected] (604) 444-4464 Selkirk Rock & Mineral Club [email protected] Lakes District Rock and Gem Club Club Contact: Maureen Krohman Club Contact: Helen Brown (250) 367-9605 Courtenay Gem & Mineral Club (250) 692-7458 [email protected] For More Information Club Contact: Jack/Janice Boyes [email protected] about the BC Lapidary Society or a club (250) 337-8461 Shuswap Rock Club near you, visit us online [email protected] Maple Ridge Lapidary Club Club Contact: Susan McLellan www.lapidary.bc.ca Club Contact: Carol Kostachuk (250) 675-5027 Cowichan Valley Rockhounds (604) 463-9225 [email protected] Club Contact: Jennifer Proctor [email protected] (250) 732-6876 Spruce City Rock and [email protected] Parksville & District Rock & Gem Club Gem Club Club Contact: Marion Barclay Club Contact: Russ Davis Creative Jewellers Guild of BC (250) 248-6177 (250) 564-8556 http://creativejewellersguild.com [email protected] [email protected]

Creston Valley Prospectors Penticton Geology & Lapidary Club and Lapidary Club Club Contact: Gloria Bordass Club Contact: Eric Kutzner (250) 493-1027 (250) 428-5061 [email protected] Port Moody Rock & Gem Club Delta Rockhound Gem & Mineral Club Club Contact: Lisa Elser Club Contact: Mary Cool (604) 996-5620 (604) 943-5518 [email protected] [email protected] Powell River Lapidary Club Fraser Valley Rock & Gem Club Club Contact: Cindy Newport Club Contact: Karen Archibald (604) 487-0444 (604) 532-8734 or cell (778) 848-3242 [email protected] [email protected]

Golden Rock and Fossil Club Club Contact: Stan Walker

28 B.C. Rockhounder Winter 2012 29 B.C. Rockhounder Around the Clubs Winter 2012

Creative Jewellers Guild Respectively submitted by Ken McIntosh

President’s message – October 21, 2012 meeting: On a historical note, Ken read from the CJG minutes of 1957 and 1959 on the naming and renaming of the group. Ken asked the question “why do we meet?”, the reason being for the exchange of creative ideas in metal smithing as well as friendship & camaraderie. Adding that strength and vitality of members ensures ongoing attendance.

Elections were held. For Pres. Ken will stay on for another year, also Robin as Vice President and Dixie as Treasurer. Secretary Virginia will temporarily keep taking minutes when she is there. Thanks to Walt for running the elections!

A new logo for the Guild was suggested. Most were in favour, start thinking of a new design. The December 16th Creative Jewellers meeting was cancelled and the Christmas Potluck will be held on December 9th. The next meeting will be on January 20, 2013.

Tip #1 - Cotton Swab Polishing Points: Polishing in tight areas is difficult. To make the task easier, make your own polishing points using cotton swabs. Remove the cotton ends, then using an abrasive disc in your flexshaft, narrow the ends to a point. Use one swab to apply a small amount of polishing compound to the area you want to polish and mount another in your flexshaft handpiece, sticking out about 1”. To get a high shine, use a new, dry swab to finish the polishing. via Contenti Jewelery Making Supplies – February 2012

Tip #2 - Keep Cutting Lubricant Close At Hand: Before using your jeweler’s saw or a burr in your flex shaft, it is important to run it through lubricant wax to increase the life of your tools. To make this quick, burr out a decent size hole in the side of your bench pin and using a torch melt the edge of your wax and drip it into the hole. Once it’s dry it’s a quick move to run your saw blade through it with one simple motion before getting to work! via Contenti Jewelery Making Supplies – October 2012

All of the field trips noted on page 27, all club members are welcome, including our rockhound friends from the US! For updated information, please visit the Lapidary Society of BC.

Remember to wear layered clothing to be able to adjust to weather conditions at the location, bring a lunch and water on all field trips. Ensure your vehicle has a full tank of gas.

As always, any US rockhounds in good standing with their clubs are invited to join our field trips!

Washington State Mineral Council offers some great trips, just across the border: www.mineralcouncil.org (select field trips).

30 B.C. Rockhounder Winter 2012 31 2013 Club Shows and Sales

MAPLE RIDGE LAPIDARY CLUB B.C. GEM SHOW OKANAGAN GEM SHOW 3015 273 Street, Aldergrove, BC Year of the Dragon April 12, 13 & 14, 2012 July 20 & 21 2013 Demonstrations, Displays, Dealers Admission by donation February 23 & 24, 2013 Friday: 10:00am – 8:00pm Joint Hosts: 1120 Rock Club of Kelowna & Contact: Rozalia Brown, 604-794-7296, Saturday: 11:00am – 5:00pm Vernon Lapidary & Mineral Club Saturday: 10:00am – 6:00pm or email [email protected] Sunday: 10:30am – 4:30pm Sunday: 10:00am – 4:00pm Saturday: 9:00am – 5:00pm New Location (more parking): Abbotsford, BC Sunday: 10:00am – 4:00pm Maple Ridge Alliance Church For more information, visit: www.lapidary.bc.ca Winfield Memorial Hall PORT MOODY ROCK & GEM 20399 Dewdney Trunk Road, Maple Ridge, BC 3270 Berry Road, Winfield, BC CLUB Rocks, Minerals, Beads, Hand Crafted COURTENAY ROCK & Contact: David Barclay 250-766-4353, October 26 & 27, 2013 Jewellery, Crystals, Used Lapidary or email: [email protected] Saturday & Sunday 10:00am – 5:00pm Equipment. GEM SHOW Kyle Centre For more information, contact: 604-466-2843, May 4 & 5, 2013 125 Kyle Street, Port Moody, BC or email: [email protected] Courtenay Royal Canadian Legion Vancouver Island Gemboree 367 Cliff Ave, Courtenay, BC July 26, 27 & 28, 2013 Sales/Marketplace, Displays, For more information, contact: Courtenay Gem and Mineral Club Demonstrations, Prize Draws, Lapidary ALBERNI VALLEY ROCK & [email protected] 2916 Macaulay Road Workshop Tour, Kids’ Creative GEM CLUB Black Creek, BC Workshop, Rock Smash, Silent Auction, Annual Rock & Gem Show Registration fee: $10 per participant. Spin ‘n Win, Grab Bags, Food & RIPPLE ROCK GEM AND Beverages March 9 & 10, 2013 Camping fee: $5 to help pay for the Porta MINERAL CLUB SHOW Potties Admission by donation Saturday: 10.00am – 5.00pm June 8 & 9, 2013 Camp Kitchen (fridge, stove, cold Contact: Rose Kapp, 604-941-3023, or Email: Sunday: 10.00am – 4.00pm Timberline High School Gymnasium running water) and washrooms available. [email protected] Cherry Creek Hall 1681 S. Dogwood Street, Campbell River, BC Choice of 3 field trips: fossils, river 7 Corner Moore & Cherry Creek Roads, For more information, visit: beach rocks (Oyster River Flowerstone & Port Alberni, BC www.ripplerockgemandmineralclub.com Jaspers), third trip still to be determined. SURREY ROCKHOUND CLUB Setup Friday March 9 after 2:00pm Registration and BBQ Friday evening (BBQ at For more information, call Willow Cale KOOTENAY GEM & MINERAL 6:00pm) & campfire. October 26 & 27, 2013 250-723-0038 or email: [email protected] SHOW & SALE Saturday, make your own breakfast and leave 10:00am - 5:00pm for Field Trips at 9:00am. Sullivan Hall June 8 & 9, 2013 Saturday afternoon, Bucket draw white elephant 6306 152 Street, Surrey, BC VICTORIA LAPIDARY & Saturday: 10:00am – 5:00pm tables (bring elephants) Demonstrations, Displays, Dealers, Door Sunday: 10:00am – 4:00pm MINERAL SOCIETY Pot Luck supper, entertainment (be prepared to Prizes, Kids Stuff, Jewelry, Castlegar & District Recreation Centre March 15, 16 & 17, 2013 contribute your talent) & campfire. Used Lapidary Equipment for sale & Gold Panning, Geode Cutting, Vendors, Friday: 12:30pm – 8:30pm Sunday morning, pancake breakfast followed by much more Displays, Auction Saturday: 10:00am – 6:00pm Rock Auction. (donate a rock) and Break camp. For more information call 604-599-6938, or Bring in your “mystery” rock and have a Contact: Janice Boyes, 250-337-8461, or email: [email protected] Sunday: 10:00am – 4:00pm Geology Professor help to identify it! email: [email protected] Da Vinci Centre Adults $5, Children 12 & under $1

195 Bay Street, Victoria, BC Vendor spaces for 2013 are still available. For more information, call Patrick Lydon Vendors set up June 7, 2013. SUMMER CAMP DELTA ROCKHOUND GEM & 250-480-5100, or email: [email protected] Contact: Linda Barber 250-352-0428, or email: August 11 to 16, 2013 MINERAL CLUB Hastings Centre Rockhounds [email protected] November 2 & 3, 2013 Lillooet, BC HASTINGS CENTRE Saturday & Sunday 10:00am – 5:00pm For more information, visit www.lapidary.bc.ca ROCKHOUNDS RAFT RIVER ROCKHOUNDS South Delta Recreation Centre March 16 & 17, 2012 CANADA DAY SHOW 1720 - 56th Street, Tsawwassen, BC Hastings Community Centre FRASER VALLEY ROCK & Door prizes; rock auctions for children July 1, 2013, 11:00am – 5:00pm and adults; grab bags; demonstrations; 3096 E. Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC Blue Loon Grill/Clearwater Country Inn Grounds GEM CLUB Demonstrations, Displays, Dealers September 21 & 22 dealers; mineral, rock and gem displays; 449E Yellowhead Hwy 5, Clearwater, BC dealers For more information, call 604-298-0239, Contact: Fay McCracken, 250-674-2700, or Annual Rock & Gem Show Contact: Mary Cool, 604-943-5518, or email: [email protected] email: [email protected] Saturday & Sunday 10:00am – 5:00pm Old Age Pensioners Hall or email: [email protected]

32 B.C. Rockhounder Winter 2012 33 Mineral Myths & Meanings: Part 2 As reported by www.prettyrock.com

Gypsum love, and fidelity. It can also signify beauty, generosity, meaning “blue.” In Asia, it was believed to contain Morganite Relieves stagnation, offers level-headedness. It is and purity. Jade also symbolizes love, health, wealth, magical powers. Lapis Lazuli was pulverized and Sisterhood, balances emotions, heals pain of separation, considered to be a “Lucky Stone”. Aids in coping and long life. 12 anniversary. Jade is derived from the used as a pigment for paint from pre-Renaissance a subtle and powerful love energy. Morganite found when life is too busy. Often used for center of Spanish word ‘piedra de ijada’, meaning “loin stone”. times until the mid 1800’s when it became possible its name in 1911 when it drew the attention of one medicine wheel. Used by Native American Indians over 5000 years in China as the royal gemstone, where to manufacture the color artificially. Physically, Lapis of the world’s most esteemed gemstone experts, in rain ceremonies. An Earth Keeper stone. it is known as ‘yu’, or ‘zhen yu’, meaning “genuine Jade”. Lazuli is thought to help cure, insomnia, depression, George Kunz of Tiffany & Co®. He named it in honor Stimulates progression. Career: Office Work Jade is as significant in China as Gold and Diamonds recurring fevers, and disorders of the throat, lungs and of millionaire banker and mineral collector John have been in the west. In Central America, the Mayans, immune system. Career: Vet / Work with animals Pierport Morgan. Morganite is believed to insinuate Hessonite Aztecs, and Olmec’s also treasured and honored Jade and nurture feelings of love, and to increase tenderness Clears negativity, eliminates feelings of inferiority, higher than Gold, often creating symbolic carvings Malachite in a relationship. Career: Social work / Adoption promotes positive change. The name is from and masks out of it. Physically, Jade has long been Lucky money stone, aids sleep, asthma, and labor, the Greek hesson, inferior, in allusion to its associated with the kidneys and is still a remedy intense and probing. Its name is probably derived Opal lower hardness and density than most other amongst healers of Nephritic Colic. Career: Judge/Law from the Greek word for green/herb, malache, for Hope - Aquarius garnet species varieties. Hessonite is known as its color, or possibly from the Greek word for soft, Promotes growth spiritually and physically, aligns Gomedhaka in Sanskrit and is believed in India Jasper malakos, for its low hardness. Was attached to an physical and etheric bodies. The opal is said to mythology to be the fingernails of the God Vala. Virgo infant’s cradle, to keep all evil spirits at bay and the be many things including the most powerful of Powerful physical healer, protects against negativity. child slept peacefully. Career: Chef / Food Related healing stones, the stone of hope, the stone of great Hiddenite Jasper gives one the courage to speak out and have achievement and even the “stone of the Gods”. It is Stimulates intellect, insight, universal love. It was personal independence. It also protects from fears in Moldivite said to be the stone of love, but only to faithful lovers. named after W.E. Hidden, who discovered this new the night. From the Hebrew word “yashpheh”, meaning Channeling interdimensional sources, catalyst for Opal is said to be a symbol of faithfulness and is gemstone in Alexander County, North Carolina in “glittering” or the Greek origin of the word jasper, important changes in life. An ancient legend said believed to assist the wearer with finding true love. 1879 - Hiddenite helps one’s ability to feel emotions, iaspis, means “spotted stone.” Career: Advocate moldavite was an emerald that fell from the sky, out The opal will bring misfortune to an unfaithful lover. releases fear, promotes compassion for others. of the crown of an angel. It is believed that moldavite The name opal is thought to be derived from the Kunzite was a gemstone used in the Holy Grail, and therefore Sanskrit ‘upala’, meaning ‘precious stone’. October Iolite Reduces insecurity, addictiveness, manic depression, exposure to the stone is said to quicken one’s spiritual birthstone. In Greek mythology, Opal was believed Gives accurate visions, releases discord, strengthens gives maturity. Named after gemologist GF Kunz evolution aid in the regeneration of body cells and to be formed from the joyous tears wept by Zeus liver, soul connector. Because iolite is pleochroic it - Promotes feelings of peace and inner strength. lend extra energy - a stone of communication, and after he defeated the Titans. It was also believed by resonates to both Archangel’s Michael and Gabrielle, Promotes self-love and self worth Kunzite is often think it stimulates cooperation and transfer of energies the Greeks that the owner of Opal would obtain the the Archangel of vision and prophecy. It was also referred to as the “evening” stone because of its between those of extraterrestrial origins and those power of giving foresight and the light of prophecy. known as water sapphire, although this term is no sensitivity to direct sunlight and excess heat. inhabiting Earth. Career: Astronomy/ Space related In ancient Arabic times it was believed that opals fell longer in use today. The name Iolite comes from the from the heavens in lightning, the flashes giving the Greek “ios”, which means violet. Ancient mariners Labradorite Moonstone stone its fire and flare. Career: Teaching / Education used iolite as a compass to guide their way to sea. Brings recognition of destiny, connects one with Lucky love stone, calming, introspective, assists It has been suggested that this mineral was used in the elements. Allows you to see through illusions with emotional release. The Romans thought Pearl the Norsemen’s Atlantic navigation to locate the and determine the actual form of your dreams and moonstone was formed out of moonlight and began Health - June Birthstone - Gemini sun’s position in cloudy weather (the strongest goals. It enhances intuition and psychic perception. wearing it in jewelry around 100 AD. The gemstone Once thought of by Arabians as tears of the gods. polarization of sky light, and the bluest hue in the has always been considered sacred in India, and According to Roman writer Pliny, Cleopatra iolite, is at 90° from the sun). Ancients believed that Lapis Lazuli Europeans of the Middle Ages thought by looking dissolved a priceless pearl earring in her wine it could unlock creativity in an artist. Career: Artist Libra into a moonstone, you would fall into a deep sleep and drank it as a testament to her love for Strengthens total awareness, ESP, skeleton, thyroid, and see the future. Moonstone is supposed to awaken Anthony- thought to cure everything from fevers Jade creativity. Egyptian cultures made a practice of tender passions if placed beneath the tongues of to stomach ulcers Career: Health related Pisces -Virgo burying a lapis lazuli scarab with their dead, and lovers during a full moon. Believed to be protective Reduces eyestrain and negativity, promotes longevity, believed it to offer protection. Greeks write of a for women and babies and to soothe and balance Peridot dreams. According to the ancient Chinese, jade sapphire which was included with gold - probably the emotions In India Moonstone is considered August birthstone - Libra represented many of their most valued attributes: referring to lapis. The name is a combination of the to be a sacred and magical stone, with the power Opens new doors, removes stress, fear, guilt, activates courage, wisdom, mercy, justice, emotional balance, Latin word lapis (“stone”) and the Arabian name azul, to bring about pleasant and beautiful dreams. personal growth. Increase patience, confidence and

34 B.C. Rockhounder Winter 2012 35 Mineral Myths and Meanings Part 2: continued

assertiveness. Heal the heart and lungs The name the name is from the Saxon word “Querkluftertz”, Sapphire Tanzanite Peridot is derived from the Greek word ‘Peridona’ meaning cross-vein ore . Career: Computers Wisdom - September birthstone -Pisces Stone of magic, facilitates spiritual awareness, which when translated means ‘giving plenty’. It is Goal motivator, strengthens loyalty, highly evolved stimulates insight. Stimulates the third eye and the said that the Egyptians mined for Peridot at night, Rhodochrosite spiritual stone. Jewel of chastity - At one time sapphires crown chakra so that you are better able to receive believing that the sun’s rays made the stone invisible. Strengthens mental power, finds new love. For were believed to exude heavenly rays that had the and communicate visions. It is also a very protective Native Hawaiians believed that Peridot gemstones loneliness, loss, healing of matters of the heart, power to kill all poisonous creatures. Persians thought stone inviting safety in all situations and activities. were the tears of the goddess Pele Peridot is said to inner child issues. Healing for abuse issues the earth rested on a giant sapphire and that the It is called the ‘stone of magic’ as it helps bring bring good luck, fortune, and peace. Career: Writer and insecurities. The name is derived from the blue of the heavens was its reflection. It is said to rid the ‘will’ into manifestation. Facilitates spiritual Greek words rhodos, meaning rose and khros one of unwanted thoughts and bring peace and joy awareness and insight, dispels negativity. The Masai’s Petalite meaning color. Career: Related to Children to the mind while opening intuition. Sapphire, the believe that Tanzanite is the stone of birth, and it is Enhances ability to feel energy, dissolves name for this particular type of Corundum is taken for this reason that they frequently gift their wives negative energy/black magic, the stone of Rhodonite from the Latin word sapphirus, meaning “blue”. with Tanzanite gemstones following the birth of Angels. The name is derived from the Greek Energy in trauma, assuredness, helps one achieve their first child Career: Mother / Child Care word ‘Petalon’ meaning ‘leaf’ and ‘Lithos’ . It is the greatest potential. Helps to transform Selenite thought to stimulate clairvoyance, clairsentience, your emotional foundation, making it more Flexibility, decision-making, clarity, strengthens Tiger Eye clairaudience and telepathic communication. solid and secure. Career: Education spinal column. Career: Dancer Psychic protector, great for business, helps achieve clarity. A stone to stimulates wealth and helps to Prehnite Rose Quartz Silver maintain it Cat’s eye lets you see everything. Use the Enhances personal relationships. Prehnite is Taurus Energy conductor, eases stress and cat’s eye for insight and you can be a very lucky person. a stone of unconditional love. It is used for Reduces weight, wrinkles; increases self-assuredness, improves speech, feminine energy. Roman soldiers wore tiger eye because they believed dreaming, remembering, & meditation. Helps love stone. Brings love, is calming and soothing. it was an “all seeing” eye. Even today, one meaning of to draw new friends. It is said to connect to It is used to increase self love and feelings of self Smokey Quartz tiger eye is as psychic protection. Career:Marketing the archangel Raphael. Career: Parent worth. Opens the heart to the beauty within Relieves depression, tension, balances sexual energies. and all around us, and will begin its healing Dissolves negative energy and lets positive energy in. Topaz Pyrite by reducing resentments. Career: Beauty Fidelity - November birthstone -Scorpio -Sagittarius Increases memory, concentration, spiritual and psychic Spinel Tissue regeneration, kidneys and bladder, enhances ability for students. Used for focus, practicality, Ruby The name is thought to be derived from the Latin word understanding. The name ‘topaz’ is thought to come logic, memory, scatteredness. It’s sunny golden color Passion - July Birthstone -Cancer - Capricorn ‘spina’ meaning thorn, a reference to its fiery color and from the Sanskrit ‘tapas’, meaning ‘fire’ . The Egyptians associates it with the sun, and with fortification and Mental balance, improves circulation, protects the sharp pointed crystals that are found within some believed that Topaz would protect them from harm strengthening of the mind. The name comes from sensitive natures. At the time of the Borgias (15th - Spinels. Spinels were often referred to as ‘balas rubies’ because they believed it was colored by the sun god Ra’s the Greek word meaning “a stone which strikes fire”. 16th Centuries), rubies were thought to counteract in ancient times. Many royal crown jewels thought golden arms.Topaz has also been biblically referenced Ancient Greek scientists believed the element of fire poison - and were therefore much in demand! Rubbed to contain rubies that have actually turned out be as one of the gemstones used to make the ‘Breastplate was hidden inside of Pyrite because of sparks that on the skin, these gemstones were once thought to Spinels. The Black Prince’s Ruby in the British Imperial of Judgement’ worn by Aaron. The Romans believed resulted when struck against steel and the pungent restore youth and vitality. In the Middle Ages, the State Crown is a actually a 170 Carat red Spinel. The in a similar theory and associated Topaz with their smell of Sulfur that it would emit. The Incas of ruby was viewed as a stone of prophecy - people Timur Ruby that has the engraved names of the Mogul sun god, Jupiter. In 1255, St. Hildegard offered a South America used large slabs of polished Pyrite believed it would darken when its wearer was in danger. emperors on its face was once thought to be a Ruby as simple remedy for failing eyesight: steep a topaz in as magnificent mirrors that were believed to hold For wealth, joy, sexual energy, power. It augments well. This magnificent 352 Carat stone is also in fact a wine for three days and then lightly rub it over the divine powers. It is believed that these mirrors are and intensifies all emotions. Ruby, the name for red Spinel, and is now owned by Queen Elizabeth of eyes - Worn round the neck, topaz was thought to continued to be used by crystal mystics today in order this particular type of Corundum is taken from the England. Spinels are associated with love, and help the cure madness. Helps to correct disorders in the body, to awaken psychic impulses Career: Engineering Latin word ruber, meaning “red”. Rubies worn by wearer to put their ego aside, and become devoted to manifests health, promotes kindness, compassion, men signified manhood and nobility. Rubies worn another person. The Spinel also encourages passion and empathy. Enhances awareness, helps a person to Quartz by women were said to invoke passion and power. and is said to increase the duration of one’s life. exert change in their world, good for manifestation Programmable stone, breaks bad habits, headaches, of dreams & goals. Topaz is said to increase the channeling stone. Enhances energy by absorbing, Rutilated Quartz Sunstone wearers intelligence, creativity and wisdom, and can storing, amplifying, balancing, focusing and Excellent for birthing process, enhances energy in Dissipates fearfulness, increases vitality, spiritual enhance one’s spiritual potential. Career: Designer transmitting. It channels universal energy. It is a other stones. Good for balance, repelling negative growth. Energizing, empowering, honors the male/god very good stone for astral travel, manifestation, energies and unwanted interference, and promotes energies, strengthens the life force. Career: Science Tourmaline scrying, channeling, dream recall and dream clarity of thought. Career: Nurse / Pregnancy related Leo work. Two most widely accepted opinions are Relieves fatigue, anemia, increases success and that the word Quartz is derived from the Greek love. Said to attract inspiration and diminish fear ‘krystallos’, meaning “ice”, Other sources insist

36 B.C. Rockhounder Winter 2012 37 Mineral Myths and Meanings Part 2: continued Rendezvous Summer Camp May 17 – 20, 2013 August 11 – 16, 2013

Hosted by: Thompson Valley Rock Club Hosted By: Hastings Centre Rockhounds by promoting understanding. It also encourages self-confidence. Strengthens body & spirit, good Location: Ashcroft, BC Location: Lillooet, BC for the nervous system. The name Tourmaline is widely accepted as being derived from the Singhalese Rendezvous this year will be held in Ashcroft, BC. View a list of accommodation in Lillooet. For more information on each expression tura mali, which when translated means accommodation visit Lillooet Accommodations. “stone of many or mixed colors”. This was certainly The Thompson Valley Rock Club will be holding believed by the ancient Egyptians who believed the main events in the Ashcroft River Inn. The Inn View a list of restaurants in Lillooet. For more information on each restaurant, visit Lillooet Restaurants. that when Tourmaline traveled from its home in the is close proximity to the Village RV park and main earth’s core to the surface, it did so along a rainbow, street plus it has ample parking. Accommodation More information will be posted as it becomes available. which subsequently gifted the gemstone with all of rates are currently being negotiated. the colors of the rainbow As with most gemstones, LILLOOET CAMPGROUNDS ancient civilizations credited Tourmaline gems The Village RV Park park offers water, power and with magical and mystical powers, including having a sani- dump. Special arrangements have been Cayoosh Campground Retasket Motel & RV Park the power to guard against danger and misfortune. made for tenters at the Village RV Park on the 100 Highway 99S – 1.5 km from Visitor Centre 1264 Bouvette Road - 3 km from VC. Tourmalines are said to have an especially strong grass. There are two washrooms with one shower Tenting & RV sites – washrooms, showers, sani. $30.00 with full hookup influence over friendship and love, lending in each. There is also free-dry camping available. $30.00 – Full hookup permanence and stability to both. Career: Military $20.00 – tenting AXELS B&B & Campground For more things to do in Ashcroft visit: http:// $10.00 – just for sani dump 2211 Texas Creek Road 4.5 km from VC. Turquoise www.ashcroftbc.ca/things_to_do. $5.00 – just for shower Power & water hookup. Showers, picnic area, Contentment - December birthstone-Taurus bar-b-que, grassy tenting sites. WIFI Friendship, mental relaxation, respiratory system. Additional information will be posted as it comes Fraser Cove Campground & Guest Cottage RV - $30.00 To the Aztecs it was the ‘stone of the gods’ and was available at www.lapidary.bc.ca or you may contact: 1234 Davis Road. – 4 km from Visitor Centre. Tent - $15.00 used extensively for religious artifact; in medieval Tenting & RV sites. Full or partial Europe it was thought of as a powerful talisman David Hunter hookups. $18.00 - $28.00 WIFI BC HYDRO CAMPGROUND The Persians in particular believed that the act of a PH: 250-453-9556 or E mail: [email protected] Cottage is fully furnished with a queen size Highway 99S – 6 km from VC. Turquoise changing color was a sign of impending bed, 2 futons, a roll away cot, 2nd bedroom It’s free!! RV & tenting sites. Pumps danger. For this reason Turquoise gems were often with bunk beds available on request (extra for fresh water, picnic benches, used to bejewel daggers and turbans as an effective charge), Satellite TV, phone, wireless internet, Pit style washrooms. Beautiful method of warding off the evil eye. Turquoise has private bathroom, kitchen (everything you location, close to Seton Lake. always been considered lucky and able to safeguard need), laundry & air-conditioning. (Sleeps or bring happiness. According to a 15th Century up to 7 people) - $99.00 – 129.00 legend, the stone loses its color when its owner is unwell or in danger and regains its brilliance Willows Campground when the illness, or danger, has passed. Cleansing, Located on the Highway 12 - 7 km from VC. protection, the “master healer”. It was the belief of the Tenting & RV sites. Full hookup, Native Americans that wearing Turquoise jewelry washrooms, showers, laundry. provided a direct connection to the heavens above Tenting $21.00 and sources of abundant water supply below, whereas RV $24.00 the Aztecs believed the stone was holy and often adorned their ceremonial masks with Turquoise gemstones. It is a wonderful healing and cleansing stone and provides protection. Career: Police

Zircon 2013 S.C.R.I.B.E. MEETING The name Zircon is believed to of been derived from the Persian word ‘zargun’ which means “gold-colored”. In the middle New Meeting Date & Time ages, Zircon was believed to aid sleep, promote honor, and to bring prosperity and January 26, 2013; 8:30 A.M. (MST) wisdom to its wearer. Career: Librarian Senior Center on Moon Mountain Road, north of Main Street Quartzsite, Arizona

38 B.C. Rockhounder Winter 2012 39 Summer Camps: Lillooet continued S.C.R.I.B.E. LILLOOET HOTELS, MOTELS, B&B’S Meeting Date Set by Doug Arnold, S.C.R.I.B.E. President 4 Pines Motel 108 8th Ave. 250-256-4247 $72.00 – $85.00 Kitchenettes

Hotel Deoro 639 Main st. 250-256-2355 $72.00 incl. If you are making plans to attend the annual S.C.R.I.B.E. meeting in January on the breakfast Saturday during the week of the 46th Annual Q.I.A. Gem and Mineral Pow Wow in Quartzsite, Arizona please be advised that the meeting date has changed. Hotel Victoria 667 Main st. 250-256-4112 $84.00 The dates of the Pow Wow have shifted by one week and are now January 23-27. The S.C.R.I.B.E. meeting which was scheduled for January 19th will now be held January 26th from 9 a.m. to 12 Mile O Motel 616 Main st. 250-256-7511 $84.00 and up Kitchenettes p.m. (MST) at the Senior Citizen Center on Moon Mountain Road just north of Main Street. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. Editors are asked to bring copies of their bulletins to share.

Retasket Motel 1264 Bouvette Rd 250-256-2090 $79.00 incl. S.C.R.I.B.E. (Special Congress Representing Involved Bulletin Editors) is an international group of cont. breakfast current and former amateur lapidary, gem, mineral and earth sciences club editors, writers, webmasters and others. The purpose of S.C.R.I.B.E. is to improve communication and public relations among these clubs, Reynolds Motel 1237 Main st. 250-256-4202 $99.00 theme rooms Pub & Restaurant their federations, and other related organizations through involved bulletin editors. It serves as a resource to advise and assist new editors with old ideas and old editors with new ideas for publishing better bulletins.

Sturgeon Bay B&B 130 Haylmore Pl. 250-256-7792 $100.00 for 2 people To have an item placed on the agenda, for more information on S.C.R.I.B.E. or the meeting - send me an email at [email protected].

Axels B&B 2211 Texas Crk. Rd. 250-256-4819 $75.00 incl. full djfjfjg breakfast $40.00 cabin: 2 single beds, washroom, no breakfast B.C. Gem Show Volunteers Needed Visit Lillooet Camping Guide: http://lillooet.travel.bc.ca/camping/ B.C. Gem Show Comittee Volunteers Needed

For more information on each accommodation visit The following positions require a volunteer that is willing to take charge, organize, set up and take down at each Lillooet Accommodations: http://www.travelinbc.com/Lillooet.cfm B.C. Gem Show for their area of responsibility, arrange for volunteers to assist them and arrange for any materials they need. As part of the B.C. Gem Show Committee, you are expected to attend the B.C. Gem Show Committee Meetings held the 3rd Wednesday of every month except July and August at Sullivan Hall in Surrey, B.C.

Signs Posting & arranging for Two-Way Signs to be put up 1 month prior to the BC Gem Show. Post smaller signs within the City of Abbotsford limits on Thursday night before the BC Gem Show weekend. Make new signs as may be required. Liaison with individuals and companies willing to post signs on their property. Take down all signs, except Two-Way Signs, on Sunday evening after the BC Gem Show closes.

Education/Specimen Cards Volunteer required commencing for the 2013 BC Gem Show. This person should be available to attend meetings as soon as possible to assist in the transition. If you are interested in joining the B.C. Gem Show Committee as a volunteer, please contact Cam Bacon via email at [email protected] or telephone (604) 854 1711.

40 B.C. Rockhounder Winter 2012 41 Talk Shop Sego Resources Grading & Pricing Crystals How to Stake a Mining Claim in BC

Concept by David Lebow Concept by David Lebow Written Photo by Stuart Schmitt, Clear Creek Crystals Written Photo by Stuart Schmitt, Clear Creek Crystals Mt. Ida, Arkansas Mt. Ida, Arkansas www.arcrystalmine.com www.arcrystalmine.com

To start, you will need a personal or corporate BCeID and a personal or corporate FMC. Business BCeID (British Columbia Electronic Sorting, grading and pricing natural quartz crystal lines, smoky (natural radiation), generator points, Identification): this can be obtained for sale is an individual art rather than a science. Many double terminated, phantoms, inclusions, penetrators, from the BCeID website: factors are included in evaluating and determining manifestation, self-healed, Japanese twin, etc. the value of crystal (both wholesale and retail). Free Miner Certificate (FMC): fill out The following information is intended to help both To grade a crystal, assign a value on a scale the appropriate FMC registration form sellers and buyers evaluate quartz crystal with a of one to ten for each of the above categories. If Fee for Individuals: $25.00 (FREE more universal grading process. Each crystal point possible, have more than one person grade the for Seniors 65 years or older) or cluster can be evaluated on a 40 point system by crystal and average the numbers. The higher Fee for Companies: $500.00 assigning one through ten points for each of the four the number the more valuable the crystal. Fee for Partnership: $25.00 categories: clarity, perfection, shine and presentation. Why stake a claim? (individuals); $500.00 (corporate) Sorting and grading crystals for sale is a time Presence of favourable geology. To complete the transaction go to a Clarity is the degree of transparency of the consuming process. Each crystal miner has Presence of known mineralization. (ServiceBC, FrontCounterBC, or Mineral crystal point or points on a cluster. A crystal his own method. Some use numerical labels A new discovery! Titles Branch Office) that will be clarity can range from very milky to water clear. (No. 1, 2, etc.), some use alphabetical labels A hunch on something. listed for you at the end of the BCeID Most crystals have milky bases where they were (AA, A, B, C, etc.), and some use color codes or enrolment. You will be ID-proofed for or are attached to the matrix and will gradually combinations. Pricing can be by the piece, by Why not to stake! your BCeID, and can submit your be more clear as they terminate at the point. weight (pound, gram, etc.) or by the flat, table or Trying to overstake someone else. FMC application and fee. lot. As with most products, the larger the volume Believing you can build a summer cottage NOTE: A FMC is valid for a period of Perfection has to do with the amount of damage or quantity you buy, the lower the price per unit. 12 months from the date of issuance. (either natural or man made) to the piece. Some points also have what looks like sleet on one or As an example, if you want to buy a nice one pound In 2004 the method of staking claims For more information go to http://www.empr.gov. more of the sides or faces which can distract, crystal cluster out of a table or lot, it may cost you $25. switched from this (Ground bc.ca/Titles/MineralTitles/mineral/Pages/client.aspx or sometimes enhance, the overall quality. If you want to buy 20 pounds of clusters out of the same Staking) to this (Map Staking) table or lot, it may cost $15 a pound. And if you want Shine is a measure of the brilliance in the to buy the whole table or lot, it may cost $5 a pound. points. Some points have a film or etching Expect to pay more to pick the crystal you want. on the sides and faces that reduce the overall brilliance of an otherwise clear crystal. Any comments on this article or if there is something specific you would like to see as a Presentation is the initial impression the observer Talk Shop article email: [email protected]. will get as to how the piece will sit and present itself for viewing (or use). The amount of matrix at the base of clusters is one factor that will determine presentation. Some pieces can be trimmed or cut to enhance the presentation. This work will add to the expense. Another aspect of presentation is the unique features or characteristics found on certain crystals. Some of the words used to describe these Ground Staking Map Staking unique characteristics are: tabular, windows, time Go to the MTO website

42 B.C. Rockhounder Winter 2012 43 Sego: How to Stake a Claim... continued

The Map View The area selected will turn yellow. Then acquire title.

Enter your BC eID From the tab, there are numerous options http://www.empr.gov.bc.ca/Titles/MineralTs/default. We select Mineral Claim Registration aspxitles/mto/Page (acquisition)

Zoom in to the area of interest, After clicking acquire title, enter the code and until the red grid appears proceed to the checkout. Repeat as needed.

Select tool

Area selected by tool The Start Screen Select the Mineral Claim Tab Generally we use the Online Map to select our claims. Each red square is a cell, and each cell is 21 hectares. 15 Claims, 2056 Hectares Also make sure to select the affirmative Use the select button to select the area of interest. for reading the disclosure. How do you keep it? Explore it! Then select next. The value of exploration and development required to maintain a mineral claim for one year is at least • $5 per hectare for each of the first and second anniversary years, (b) $10 per hectare for each of the third and fourth anniversary years

44 B.C. Rockhounder Winter 2012 45 Sego: How to Stake a Claim... continued

(c) $15 per hectare for each of the - DDH 09 52.47 m of 0.41% fifth and sixth anniversary Cu, 0.12 g/t Au, and 2.11 g/t Ag years, and - DDH 11 62.79 m of 0.355% (d) $20 per hectare for each Cu, 0.165 g/t Au, and 2.52 g/t Ag subsequent anniversary year. - DDH 16 96.62 m of 0.31% (5) The value of the exploration Cu, 0.08 g/t Au, and 1.76 g/t Ag and development required to maintain a placer claim for one anniversary year is at least Mineralization on Miner Mountain $20 per hectare for one year is at least $10 per hectare.

Types of Exploration Percussion Drilling

Chalcopyrite in Quartz – Albite? vein percussion chips (PDH 61)

Large Chalcopyrite Vein in Chlorite Albite Matrix (DDH 21)

Trench Mapping & Sampling Diamond Drilling

Sego Percussion Diamond Drill holes 2012– Cuba Zone - DDH 21 100.39m of 0.946% Cu, 0.55 g/t Au, and 3.473 g/t Ag - DDH 24 128.02m of 0.344% Cu, 0.296 g/t Au, and 0.975 g/t Ag - DDH 28 69.5m of 0.257% Cu, 0.193 g/t A,u and 0.644 g/t Ag Sego Percussion Drill Holes 2011 – Cuba Zone • PDH 09 52m of 1.264% Cu, 1.061 g/t Au, and 3.79 g/t Ag • PDH 34 24m of 0.22% Cu, 0.144 g/t Au Geological Mapping & Sampling • PDH 66 46m of 0.509% Cu, 0.50 g/t Au • PDH 77 54m of 0.342% Cu, 0.473 g/t Au Banded Bornite and Chalcopyrite, in Calcite Vein in • PDH 94 82m of 1.006% Cu, Chlorite/Epidote/K-Spar altered Intrusive (DDH 16) 0.576 g/t Au, and 1.69 g/t Ag Sego Diamond Drill Holes 2008-2010 – Granby Zone - DDH 04 64.24 m of 0.46% Cu, 0.14 g/t Au, and 2.58 g/t Ag

46 B.C. Rockhounder Winter 2012 47 Editor’s Notes: IMPORTANT You have 3 visual levels of the metal. vaporizing. If it gets this hot you will Broom Casting When working with a torch or liquid metals 1st Crusty ball. have air bubbles in the silver that you by Dennis Chapman, Tooele Gem & Mineral 2nd Spinning, this is actually the copper & silver won’t see till you’re done. Permission to reprint for noncommercial purposes wear protective goggles, smock, and separating, this is when you pour. http://www.amfed.org/efmls/broomc5.pdf 3rd Boiling, TOO HOT, it jumps around Note: I don’t like to use a carbon rod on Photos by Marie Adshead, Fraser Valley Rock and Gem Club welder’s gloves. and looks like tiny fireworks coming direct casting, but stirring with one will off the metal, the metal is actually reduce air bubbles.

Direct casting is an easy, low-tech method of making • Rotary Power Tool: Smaller pieces you can metal roll off the crucible. stored damp!!! beautiful freeform jewelry. In this article I will just use a steel or brass wheel for a hand held 4. Set crucible down and pour water over the Note: Vibrating Tumblers are faster, but focus on using Sterling Silver and broom straw. This rotary power tool, and some white diamond top of the straw to put out any fire and finding one that can handle the weight of the broom casting gives you a great stalagmite and prepolish. (Optional if you bright burnish) cool metal. It doesn’t hurt to submerge shot is harder to find. stalactite effect. If you do larger pieces you will straw in the same pan you soaked the straw should bright burnish it to get a polish, and that Bright Burnishing Supplies in to make sure the metal is cool. If Polishing is the most costly part, but I think it is money • Small Rock Tumbler: Flat sides inside preferable. you are using a 2x4 you will need to drench it too. 1. If you didn’t bright burnish it, you will well spent, and can be used in other projects. • Steel or Stainless Steel Shot Mix: 5. Place bundle on the cookie sheet and take need to polish by buffing it with some zam. Enough to fill tumbling drum 1/3-2/3 full. off rubber bands and look for the pieces of 2. When it comes out of the bright burnishing Supplies Seasoned with a little extra Pin Shot (stainless silver in there. The small pieces make it is pretty well polished, but a • Silver: I use silver scraps, or get a 1 oz. fine silver coin shot costs 3 times more, but doesn’t rust). nice accents for other jewelry. good wipe with a polishing cloth (.999) and add 2.5 grams of copper (I pay • Lapidary Soap and/or Burnishing Compound will improve the looks. 35 – 50 cents over spot at a local refinery • Abrasive Plastic Media Pyramids: Medium & Fine Finishing or coin store), or finally you can buy Sterling (Optional, but will reduce bright burnishing time). 1. Clean the pieces of all burned & unburned Setting A Stone Casting Shot (about $2+ over spot). straw, you may need to reheat with the 1. Put your stones in your setting. Small • Crucible: A block of wood (6 in. long Polishing Supplies torch to burn off the excess. Be careful not needle crystals & tourmalines look 2x4), or a magnesium block, or a well used • Polishing Cloth to melt the small prongs. wonderful in the groves. You can set them charcoal block. Make a little indent near 2. Solder on a bail. And if you want, a crown with a little instant glue or epoxy. one side to melt your silver in the Extras or cup for a stone if you want. wood or magnesium block. Solder, Bails, Chains, Stones, etc… Wait until you are 3. Throw in an acid pickle to remove any Reference • Empty Soup Can: To stand finished, and you have let your imagination loose. dark oxidation on the silver. Pull out the Don Norris’s Needle Casting: the bundle of straw upright. piece with copper tongs and drop http://pineneedlecasting.homestead.com/Main.html • Broom Straw: Old straw broom, decorative Let’s Get Started into the baking soda and water mixture broom straw from a craft store, Prepare The Straw to neutralize the acid. Then rinse. Jay Bown: long pine needles etc… 1. Bundle the straw (about 2-3 inch) in a 4. Put a steel or brass wheel on your hand http://www.tech-inc.com/gcbook/ • Dish Pan: Or anything big enough rubber band. held rotary power tool, add a little white for the straw to soak in water. 2. Soak it in a pan of water for about 20 diamond prepolish to the wheel and lightly And Many Other Good People • Rubber Bands minutes. work off any white residue left on the piece. Thanks to Quartzsite Roadrunner Gem & Mineral • Casting Flux: Borax works fine for the 3. Put bundle in the soup can and spread top You can skip this step if you bright burnish. Club for allowing me to photograph & use their 2x4, but is too messy for the magnesium end. The more the straw is spread, equipment for this article. block or charcoal block, there I use regular the larger and fatter the piece. Bright Burnishing: Casting Flux (it only uses a few granules Optional but better results. to clean the molten metal). Optional Melt & Pour Silver 1. Steel Shot only: Add ½ tsp. to 1 Tbsp. of • Torch: Hand held propane torch will 1. Put some of your Sterling Silver into the burnishing compound, to your steel shot, work fine or an acetylene & air torch bowl in the crucible (I like to use no more and your pieces to the tumbling drum. Magnesium blocks melt at 2000 deg., and than a 1/3 oz. on each piece, Add enough water to cover shot. Tumble acetylene & air torch flame is also around and do several in a sitting). for 2-8 hours (depends on how 2000 deg., so it will eventually melt the block. 2. Light the torch and begin melting. You much white residue you have). • Large Cup Of Water: To extinguish will know if you need casting flux, if you 2. Abrasive Pyramids & Steel Shot: Mix it the straw and cool casting. have some bright glowing floaties on top same as above (except use lapidary soap • Cookie Sheet: Anything with a lip around the of the silver when it starts to ball up. If for the pyramids), but tumble for 1 hour edge to catch the silver when you open the straw. needed, remove torch and add casting flux with medium pyramids, 1 hour with fine, • Silver Solder (a pinch of Borax or a few grains of 1-3 hours with steel shot. For a smoother • Soldering Flux: For soldering. casting flux), and then reheat. texture double time with pyramids, more • Pickling Acid: To clean the metal. 3. When it starts getting fluid (it will jiggle texture use only steel shot. • Copper Tongs: A flattened copper tube when you can shake it), lift crucible to the 3. Drying Steel Shot: If you use plain steel, will work. Flatten and bend, like tongs. top of the broom straw. While keeping the rinse and put on cookie sheet, pop into a • Baking Soda: To neutralize the pickling acid. torch on the metal, quickly tip and let the 250 deg. oven until dry. It will rust if

48 B.C. Rockhounder Winter 2012 49 S A F E T Y In Memory of The Dust of it all by Dr. Peter R. Girardot, SCFMS Safety Chairman Lewis Ross Thompson via - Pegmatite 10 / 99 via Calgary Lapidary Journal by Janice Boyes Ripple Rock Gem and Mineral Club It’s just dust - isn’t it?” the sac is risky in that it may produce cells randomly Whenever we grind or polish anything, we make and end up as cancer. That takes years for the slowly fine dust -fine particles called “particulates”. In our developing forms of silicosis, but eventually your body clubhouses, some particulates can be seen in the air, or mine may or may not be able to adapt successfully but some are too fine to be visible. We don’t worry to the situation. Slowly developing forms of “dusty about them because they are “not there” (i.e. we can’t lung disease”, bronchitis or silicosis are the ones see them). We grind with water or oil, which keeps most artists and craftsmen need to worry about. down the dust. We also wear aprons to keep the spray from our clothes. When the droplets dry out, then Breathing such dusts from grinding or we have particulates on our aprons. We wipe them faceting may never be a problem if you are old off and that takes care of the problem. What about enough to die of something else first. Failing the particulate that sprays into the air instead of that, it is a crapshoot to breathe such dusts. The onto our clothes? They dry out in the air and end up conclusions - that it is a risk I don’t care to take. as solid particulates. So, even if we grind wet, there are solid as well as liquid particulates in the air. As an example, I have bought a number of uncut opals over the years but never cut one until I recently Fine particulates are defined as solid or liquid had a ventilation hood installed over my cutting area. matter in a finely divided state, specifically smaller Opals are silicates. Many other minerals are not silicates than 0.0001 meter (or 10 micrometers) in size. but their dust is toxic for different reasons. The same Lewis Ross Thompson was born in Vancouver, 3rd At one time and at the same time he was President of “Dust” this size is breathed easily all the way into the criterion applies to them as far as breathing dust is of January 1931. His father was in the military and they both clubs serving both clubs well. He was Show Chair lung, down to its deepest parts. Coarser particles are concerned but that is a topic of another safety article. moved to various parts of the country as military folks of the 1997 GMFC show, and did an outstanding job. caught in the nose and throat, and are expelled. They Why are silicates toxic? Crystalline silica is highly are prone to do. During the 1930’s life was tough, as Lewis served as Wagonmaster often for both clubs. are generally no problem. With the fine particles, toxic, causing silicosis. After about 10 or 20 years, chest it was for many. Eventually he ended up in Montreal though, we are not so lucky. Once deep in the lung, X-rays begin to show scar tissue. They first symptoms Québec, where he met and married Isabel and they Lewis was a Mason from his Montréal days and they take up residence and cannot be removed. are a dry cough and shortness of breath. Lung function settled down to raise their family of 3 children. held offices in Montréal and also in the Valley. These are the ones to worry about, especially tests change. After a certain point the disease becomes when they are less than 5 micrometers in diameter. All progressive, even with the elimination of further He had secured a position with SunLife Ross says, “Lewis was a true friend and if you needed particles will settle out to the ground eventually, so exposure to the silica dust. Emphysema, smoking, selling insurance but continued to look for help all you had to do was ask and he would be there. perhaps we can just wait and they will go away. Not so, aging and increased susceptibility to lung infection other employment. He finally got a call from He was not afraid to take on tasks that shake others, because such fine particulates stay suspended in air are complicating factors. Tridymite and cristobalite communications at CP Rail and went to work for and while he may have talked a lot, he is missed”. almost indefinitely. Part of the reason is that they are forms are more toxic than the quartz and tripoli forms them for 35 years, retiring from CP in 1987. similar to large molecules that are in constant motion. of silica. Silicates such as soapstone, talc, vermiculite Lewis was a source of information, and always and clay usually contain bound silica, but may have During his time in Québec, Lewis Ross willing to share what he knew. He did lapidary Tests made recently in California measured large amounts of free silica, hence may be toxic. Thompson was an avid Rockhound with the and sphere making and was always ready to particles left in the air from fireworks. Particles were Silicates themselves are slightly toxic by inhalation. Montréal Gem and Mineral Club, and continued share his time, his skills and his creations. still detected on July 19 from the July 4 fireworks. to be a member even after the move to the west There is no substitute for good coast. He arrived in the Comox Valley in June 1990 He is survived by and will be greatly missed by Why worry about these finer particulates? They’re personal hygiene in the workshop. and joined the Ripple Rock Gem and Mineral Isabel Thompson, mother of his children Gary, inert, aren’t they? That depends on the chemical Club soon after his arrival and the Courtenay Gem Roberta (Kevin), and Christopher (Dana); his loving nature of the dust. Many of our cabbing or faceting and Mineral Club approximately 1 year later. companion Joan McCormack; sister Sheila Washer, materials are silicates, the most abundant material and brother Alan Thompson, and his extended family. on the face of the earth, and most silicates contain About the same time, Ross Thompson and Rose free silica. Silica and silicate dust. Silica is the worst of Eagle Gem and Gifts, arrived, and also joined He passed away peacefully at St Joseph’s because of the way the body tries to accommodate the clubs. To make things easier for the rest of the Hospital on Wednesday, December 5, 2012. the deposition of such dust in the deep lung. The club members, Lewis, who had been called Ross by reaction of the body is to try to protect itself. It friends and family, decided that in the club circles A Celebration of his life will be held on January creates a sac around the particle which is on the inner at least, he would go by Lewis. Having two Ross 12, 2013 at 2:00pm, at the Comox Valley Funeral surface of the lung. The growth of cells to produce Thompsons in the rock clubs was confusing. Home on Ryan Road, in Courtenay BC.

50 B.C. Rockhounder Winter 2012 51 Share Classified Remembering Your Spot Prices quoted are in Canadian funds Lewis Ross Thompson

Chilliwack River Road: Lapidary Materials For Sale by Charles Hallstrom, Ripple Rock Gem and Mineral Club Foredom, motor, shaft, key chuck $150.00 Fossils & Pyrite Silver polishing machine 6” $120.00 REAL FEET AND WOODEN LEGS Silver polishing machine 3” $50.00 by Cam Bacon Dremel tools $15.00 My first trip as a Rockhounder Abbotsford Rock & Gem Club Dremel drill press $8.00 Was really quite a fright. “Don’t bring too much gear,” they said Centrifugal and vaccum “It’ll just be over night.” A good location for a day trip and to casting equipment Call for price get good samples of pyrite cubes and Tools and material for plating Call for price Well we drove for hours on a dirty old road fossils is Chilliwack River Road. Power supplier - voltage controls Call for price And finally arrived at start Electro formers Call for price “They’re crazy as pet coons” I thought Take exit 119A off of Highway 1 and head south on Chrysocolla Call for price “I’ll just follow that old fart”. Vedder road. At the 25 kilometer mark turn left on Chillliwack Lake road and follow this road along the Chrysoprase $0.40/gram He had real feet and wooden legs river until you arrive at Sleese Creek Forest service Lapis $0.40/gram And a two-tone toque on his head road. This is approximately 20.4 kilometers from the Turquoise $0.40/gram – $0.90/gram He gave everyone a two-tooth smile bridge at the turn off. Turn right onto Slesse Creek Rhodochrosite Then he turned to me and said. forest service road and follow it for about one mile (slabs & pieces) $0.30/gram – $1.00/gram where you will cross a bridge or perhaps not as the Malachite $15.00/pound “The Greeks had their king of Gods bridge was removed at the time of this writing. Ocean picture rock $1.00/pound I think his name was Zeus. In the creek and throughout the area you will Obsidian $0.15/pound He lived up in the mountains find crinoids fossils. Agate modules $0.50/pound By the eternal fountain of youth.

Contact: John Doyle 250-763-8015 (Kelowna BC) I know you think were searching I so regret never writing an article on Lewis For that youthful fountain But you know; all the good rocks as I did so many others. He was a great guy. I do Are right on top the mountain. however remember our first trip rockhounding The best of rocks are hard to find You know mother nature’s kind of cruel.” and Lewis was the Wagonmaster. Oh sure I thought, is he full of it, You don’t learn that in any school. At the beginning of the trip Kevin and I

We climbed and crawled for hours and hours thought - they’re all nuts, every last one of And it got really bad, then worse. Type of terrain: Forest roads possibly I knew right then, there were two ways out, them! But Lewis explained some things and require four wheel drive vehicle. By parachute; or hearse. sparked our interest and the rest is history. Clothing: Jeans or pants that can get dirty I nearly died thirty times that day & wet, hiking boots, hat for shade, gloves & How could they call this pleasure? layered clothing depending on time of year. Then there it was, my find; my prize! And the thrill of hidden treasure. Equipment: Bucket, shovel, hammer. Well it rained and rained and blew all day Other: Water to drink, lunch and/or snacks. And the bugs ate us up at night Then I carried that rock back down the hill Be sure to get your copy of Cam Bacon’s latest They called it, Leaverite. book Gem Trails of British Columbia, volume 2. I went to look for rocks that day To Share Your Spot email [email protected]. Way up on that mountain. But returned with many treasured friends And some water from that fountain. 52 B.C. Rockhounder Winter 2012 53 SARA MORTIMER

Illustration & Design

[email protected] 604 512 7265 sara-mortimer.tumblr.com

54 B.C. Rockhounder Winter 2012 55 your B.C. Advertise Starting at Rockhounder $30 per year! Send in your interesting stories about Here club events, up and coming shows or Business Card $30 sales, photos, even amusing anecdotes Eighth-page $40 and interesting facts! Quarter-page $60 Make the most Half-page ad $120 Full-page ad $240 of your BC Full-page inside back cover $360 Rockhounder Full-page inside front cover $400 Advertising fees prorated for partial year. Submission Guidelines: All ads are black and white, no taxes. Text: Microsoft Word Document For further information contact: Article Photos: 300dpi (min) 4” x 6” Katrinia Walter, (604) 614-5702 300dpi (min) 8.5”x 11” Cover Photos: email: [email protected]

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