B.C. Vol. 12 Summer 2009 Rockhounder Contents President's Message 2 Bursary Thank You Letters 3 Oldest Known Gold Artifact Discovered 4 Daisy, 45 years of Rockhounding 5 The History Of Lapidary: Part II 6 A Trip to Coon Hollow 11 What is a Mineral? 12 The Hauser Beds of California 14 Fraser Canyon 1858: BC born of Bloodshed 15 Cosmetic Minerals of Ancient Egypt 16 Safety: It's just Dust, isn't it? 17 The Earth's Crust: An Introduction 17 Madras 2009 20 Revamped ROM Mineral Gallery 22 The Best Field Trip: Similco Mine 23 Around the Clubs 24 Rendezvous 2010 30 Summer Camp 2010 32 For Sale 39 Club Shows 40

Cover Photo: Biggs Jasper. Photo By Mike Coulter Published Quarterly By the British Columbia Lapidary Society

20739 39th Avenue, Editor: Design & Layout: Printing: Langley, BC Win Robertson Mike Coulter Sure Kamloops V3A 2V7 [email protected] [email protected] Print & Copy Centre Tel: (604) 532-0582 (250) 376-4878 Cell - (250) 682-9134 (250) 554-1322 E-mail: [email protected] #6 - 2401 Ord Rd. Kamloops, BC 552 Tranquille Rd. www.lapidary.bc.ca Kamloops, BC V2B 7V8 V2C 5C2 Kamloops, BC

Summer 2009 | 1 President’s Message British Columbia Lapidary Society I would like to thank all the Rockhound club BursaryThankLetters You! members for having the confidence in me to make Our Rockhound locations do not have an unlimited me your president for the 2009-2011, two year term. supply of rocks and minerals.I encourage you to I’m pleased to have a talented and hard working take what you can use, only, and leave the rest for executive with which to work. I will do my best upcoming generations of Rockhounds.. to work with the executive and club members to For example, Hill 60, our main rhodonite source, conduct the business of the B.C Lapidary Society. once had an abundant pile, available for the picking. Now the pile is gone. While digging and some careful looking can still net you a piece of the pink, it is not as easy as it once was to find a quality piece of rhodonite.

Our old friend, Bill Wardle, used to say that he could go out to the Fraser River bars and pick up five jade slicks. Now most of us are lucky to find one in a lifetime.

When I started rockhounding in 1996, we used to see all kinds of sillimanite, and usually kicked the pieces aside. Now, even those are hard to find.

So you can see that it is important not to deplete the supply of interesting rocks and minerals from the locations we have already found, and to leave some behind for others.

It is also important to continue searching for new sites for future Rockhound trips. Here in B.C., we have our minerals hidden under several feet of overburden, and it requires lots of looking, digging, and a keen, Past president Walt Pinder, passing the observant eye to notice the small bits on the gavel to incoming president De Morgan surface that indicate the bonanza below..

I wholeheartedly thank the many members who give There is an abundance of material in this province overwhelming support to the work of the society. I of ours, and we have to continue to look for new am amazed at the time, energy and careful thought locations that have material for our hobby.. that so many of you are contributing daily, to ensure Happy rockhounding! the smooth running of the Society. De Morgan, Especially, I would like to thank the members of the President, B.C. Lapidary Society newly formed Rendezvous Committee, namely, Pat Boden, (BCLS-Rendezvous Liaison), Lorne Morris, Ken Dewerson, Win Robertson, along with myself. Your fresh ideas and thoughtful reflections regarding C&D Gemcraft Ken Dewerson Rendezvous are much appreciated, and this dedica- Lapis Gems Lapidary Custom Made Gemstone Jewelery & Repairs Authorized Dealer Precious, Semi-Precious Stones & Minerals tion will make Rendezvous an exciting and well run event for the enjoyment of all. Mohammad Yarzadeh David Barclay Tesoro M. Homayon Accredited Gemologist (C.I.G.) Metal Detectors There are 34 rock clubs in B.C. with growing, pas- sionate interest in rock collecting, lapidary work, 27 Roy’s Square Phone/Fax: (250) 766-4353 Box 42015, R.P.O. North #338-2330 Butt Rd. 250.707.0618 jewelry making, silversmithing, carving, faceting, (Yonge & Bloor) Tel: (416) 944-3123 Email: [email protected] Winfield, BC V4V 1Z8 Westbank, BC V4T 2I3 [email protected] intarsia and others. Toronto, ON M4Y 2W4 Fax: (416) 944-3309

2 | B.C. Rockhounder Summer 2009 | 3 Known Gold Carbon-14 dates for 45+ years of Courtenay Seascape” showcase after the Gem & ldestArtifacts in the Jiskairumoko range from 2009 Courtenay show. Lois, O 2155 to 1936 B.C., ? Rockhounding Mineral now 89 is an honorary lifetime Americas making the necklace The Facts Are Club. Over member of the Courtenay Gem & about 4,000 years old, “Daisy” Lois Stevenson the years Mineral Club, a wonderful person Lois has and some 600 years older The continents of North and and a true rockhounder indeed!! Discovered held every than the previous earliest South America were named By Gloria Duncan executive old has long been more than known gold artifacts in after the Italian navigator, G position a fashion statement, and wearing South America, or anywhere else Amerigo Vespucci (1454 97 Photographing t all started with a 50 pound in the club jewelry and other adornments in the Americas. 1512). Amerigo Vespucci I piece of Ocean Agate!! That’s and in May 1981 Lois was elected Polished Objects made of it often connotes prestige. owned a merchant business what got Lois hooked on rock- president of the Courtenay Club. And it did not take long for ancient Gold metallurgy is almost exclu- that equipped ships with Tips from the internet hounding. She and her husband She organized Vancouver Island people to figure that out. sively associated with societies supplies for their voyages. Louie found it at a rock shop Gemborees and worked at all club When photographing jewelry, with the expertise to create agri- Vespucci was an explorer in Rock Creek, B.C. while on shows - her specialty being Kids carvings etc. if there is a problem A team of scientists led by an cultural surpluses and hereditary himself and left accounts and a camping trip in 1963. When Corner and Spin & Win. She was with the reflective surfaces. Try archaeologist from The University elite members. Jewelry requires maps of 4 voyages he took to they returned home, they joined also the club’s “name tag sheriff” putting the piece in a refrigera- of Arizona has unearthed what is, time and skill to create, as well the New World; it is believed the Powell River Rock Club and (25 cents if you don’t wear you tor for a few minutes. When it to date, the oldest collection gold as sufficient capital required to he explored a large section from that point on camping was name tag to the meeting). Some comes out, it will immediately fog artifacts found in the Americas. acquire raw materials, a tall order of the north and east coast all about looking for rocks. Lois long time members have contrib- up and you will be able to take a for anyone who survives by subsis- of South America. Vespucci’s recalls that when they were uted many quarters to the Club good picture.” The finding suggests that even tence. The surprise of finding gold name, Amerigo was first camping, instead of bringing funds. In 1991, after 52 years in a early groups with limited resources artifacts at Jiskairumoko is that this adapted to America in a trans- fish back for dinner, Louie now happy and loving marriage, Lois There is also a product called recognized the value of status site was a simple village. lation of one of his narratives brought rocks. lost her dear husband Louie. She dulling spray, available from symbols. Mark Aldenderfer, a and later appeared on a world art supply stores and perhaps The artist who created the Jiskairu- The two were very active remained very active with the Club professor of anthropology at the map, as America, referring to photography shops. It costs moko necklace hammered gold members of the Powell River continuing to teach new members UA, and his team excavated a site the two continents North and around $8 for a good sized can. until it was flat enough to roll into Club, building their own shop and in her workshop the tricks of in the Peruvian Andes of South South America. The residue can easily be rubbed small cylindrical beads. The nine participating in all club activities. making the perfect cab and filling America, near Lake Titicaca. The off the object after taking photo- gold beads were interspaced with For years Lois was involved with any position in the Club that site, Jiskairumoko, is located in graphs. a drainage basin where groups several smaller green stones and a ROCK the Pebble Pups (kids) and taught needed her experienced hand. of hunters and turquoise bead in the as many as 13 at a time the skills of polishing cabochons. Now that Lois also enjoys putting her own Editor's note: gatherers were center. I tried out the fridge trick to take From Taslap, the newsletter of the Lapidary took patience. The kids proudly showcases together for the annual beginning to make FEVER pictures of some sterling silver Club of Tasmania. displayed their work at the annual shows. She has collected so the transition to The materials were pieces of jewelry and a jade (With apologies (deep) to John Masefield) a more settled not available from shows. much material over the years, that must go off to the beach again carving. Worked great! existence. the Titicaca Basin, I all it takes is a “brainwave” and or the bush or quarry or hill requiring either a the makings are at her fingertips. And all I ask is the time to search Dates for the trade or a trip of "She has collected so much as long as I have the will Archaic period, some distance to material over the years, that Besides rockhounding, Lois For a place unknown where I'd Try this! when Jiskairumoko acquire the gold and all it takes is a “brainwave” continues to enjoy camping in find a stone that's never been was inhabited by turquoise, or the and the makings are at her her van with the Comox Valley RV Hair spray is supposed seen before these people, are as finished necklace. Club, organizing activities in her And as we go a chance to know fingertips." to work very well as a early as 5,400 years Valley Vista community, playing some more of the Rockhounds dulling spray! ago and ending Evidence from Lois and Louis travelled through- crib, watching baseball and Jiskairumoko necklace. lore about 4,000 years (Credit: Photo courtesy Jiskairumoko out BC, across Canada, up to cheering for the I must go off to the club again to ago. of Mark Aldenderfer) supports the hypoth- Alaska and the Yukon in their Canucks. cut and polish and shine esis that the earliest metal industry camper. Three trips were made And find this time in the stone I The site Aldenderfer and the others in the Andes was with native gold. to Quartzite where they met As for the 50 lb. shine a piece that's perfect and excavated included a burial that It also offers some insights into friends and thoroughly enjoyed piece of Ocean mine contained a necklace made of ways in which wealthier people in the amazing variety of rocks on Agate that Now all I ask is for friends to turquoise and native gold that had society competed for and acquired display and for sale. They also started it all 45 join this wonderful hobby we're been hammered into shape, and power and prestige, pointing the travelled to Mexico and Hawaii, years ago - she sharing may have belonged to someone way for generations of rule by rockhounding and collecting all and Louie had And rock-hunting dreams by with an elevated rank in the hereditary leaders. the while. it slabbed and gem laden streams community. this photo is of This research was recently published in the When we're past life's stages of In 1980, the couple retired to Lois and her Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. caring. the Comox Valley and joined the “Ocean Agate 4 | B.C. Rockhounder Summer 2009 | 5 Diamond may have represented a true could be called a double rose cut, since off quickly. This style of phenomenal Origin of the Rose Cut Name versus faceted stones. The cabochon break away from everything that had the top and bottom are identical. cabochon cutting dramatized the star’s The name for the Rose Cut stemmed relies principally on surface reflected The History gone on before, but it is a cut stone that rays and minimized their tendency to from its alleged appearance of an light to dramatize the color, texture, of Lapidary is really too thin to display maximum That was interesting enough. Something break up. opening rose bud. Such a cut can show pattern, and surface quality of the brilliance as the cut is repeated on both else, of even greater importance than considerable reflected light, (called life). mineral. sides. the bottom reflections, became evident Major change or not, the advantages of In the absence of any design consid- part II to diamond cutters. With the addition of the Rose cut included the opportunity eration for optics, it is deficient in the The faceted stone utilizes reflection By Gerald Wykoff, CSM GG Notice that the corners are merely a second row of facets on each side, it to fashion flat stones. It also provided amount of color flashing. This is caused along with deflection. Light not only truncated. They are not the same width was obvious that external light perfor- maximum spread and/or yield for a by the stone splitting the white light into reflects from the surface but enters The Modern Age of Diamond as the main or bezel facets. This gives mance was substantially improved. Far crystal’s weight and size. Throughout its color spectrum, (called fire.) the crystal, reflects off the interior of Arrives the de Berguen cut a blocky or chunky more than any other cuts of the time, the 17th Century, the Rose cut found carefully placed and angled facets The impact on the French court on the appearance, a shape known better the Sancy cuts absolutely sparkled. primary use as ornamentation on It was cut in a variety of forms because then emerges again. Often as not, the brilliant, imaginative cuts, was such that today as a square emerald. Thanks to the Sancy influence, the rose costumes, scabbards, sword hilts, the original shape of the rough usually emergence captures some of the refrac- all of France and Europe soon began cut continued to grow in prominence. harness trappings, epaulettes, dishes, dictated the mode of cutting. The Dutch tion qualities, so the former is separated demanding brilliant diamonds. Without The truly important contribution Various innovations on the rose cut candlesticks, boxes, etc. rose is more pointed than others are. into its color spectrum too. a doubt, the age of the diamond had involved the appearance of triangular represented a dramatic departure from The Antwerp, (also called the Brabant,) truly arrived. Refinements, as could be break facets on both the crown and previous cutting modes. The Rose cut Some controversy still exists over the is not quite so high with steeper inclined When light enters a transparent crystal, expected, were to come along later. pavilion. These helped control and consisted of a flat-bottomed cut, with origin of the Rose cut. Western history base. its rays can be disciplined and con- discipline the light. In the absence of a hexagonal, (six fold,) facet arrange- books attribute the cut to the efforts of trolled. The amount and quality of light It should be recognized that de theory that would explain what was ments. These facets were stacked sym- French Cardinal Jules Mazarin, (1602- With the few exceptions cut in oval or returned to the eye demonstrates the Berquen, however brilliant his cutting occurring internally, the break facets metrically on the domed and faceted 61). The ferocious Cardinal contracted peach shapes, Rose cuts are generally ambitions of a faceted stone. Regard- breakthrough, was not concentrating improved scintillation by a quantum top, or crown. This crown appearance for many diamonds in behalf of the round. The double rose, cut on both less of your experience, you will always on brilliance and optics at the time. leap. Little wonder that society virtually duplicates what today is known French royal court, so many in fact, that sides, achieved some popularity in cut a lovely gemstone if you keep these The Sancy design and cuts he origi- responded so favorably to this innova- as an Apex Cut. The modern Apex cut an original type of faceting carried his the 19th Century. For the most part, simple principles in mind. nated were intended solely to produce tion. consists of a rose cut-type crown all name. double rose cutting, and keep in mind maximum yield in the Duke’s rough right, but it also features a fully faceted that the Sancy and the famous yellow Cardinal Mazarin’s Role consistent with good cutting execution. Sancy Diamond Introduces pavilion. Most reliable sources believe that it was Florentine were both cut in this fashion, Disputed This design ambition was totally suc- Bottom Cutting developed in Indian and then brought gradually transitioned into other formal Earlier mention was made of Cardinal cessful. Cutting the Sancy on both sides, The apex cut actually developed from to Europe by Venetian merchants. After cut designs. These newer innovations Mazarin. There is considerable contro- though, demonstrated that the bottom lapidaries who had discovered that the all, Indian cutters had produced the consist of brilloettes, pendeloques, versy over his rightful place in gemcut- Success though, still wrested payment of a gemstone could provide interesting way to exhibit a star stone best was famous Koh-i-Nur, (Mountain of Light). beads, and spheres. ting history. Yes, the 34-faced, rather in kind. The historically famous Sancy optical effects. Technically, the Sancy to cut a steep top, one that sloped This famous diamond was cut in the chunky, brilliant type of diamond cut is Rose style no later than 1530 as was Why hasn’t the Rose cut maintained its named after him. There is little question, the equally famous Great Mogul. popularity? Light discipline can be the though, that he merely ordered such only answer. When you consider that stones cut and contributed little design The latter explanation appears most Rose cuts are designed as a function or technical influence other than valid. Macles and thin fragments were reflected light the loss potential looms financing. plentiful in India. Indeed, cynical Indian obvious. Some 83% of available merchants are known to have hood- light enters a diamond. A diamond Mazarin became a Cardinal of the winked ignorant miners into believing reflects only 17% from its surface. The Church in 1640 and succeeded that the best test of a diamond was to remainder is internal reflection. That Richeleau in 1642 as First Minister of strike it a blow with a hammer. If the means that a Rose cut forfeits more France. A gem fancier par excellence, crystal did not withstand the hit, it could than 4/5’s of its potential brilliancy. he continued in that office until his not possibly be a diamond, the wily death. Throughout his life, he remained merchants explained. Considerations when one of Tavernier’s best customers. That Deciding on a Cut really seems to be his chief claim to Few hard, but brittle diamonds could The previous discussion represents lapidary fame. With a constant supply withstand such a destructive test. valuable considerations to take into of fine, large rough specimens, he When the miner departed after a testing account as you ponder the decision to commissioned many rose cuts. He session, the merchants gathered up the cut a transparent stone en cabochon commissioned so many in fact that broken pieces and fled back to town versus faceting it. Not everyone should some improperly have attributed the and the cutting shops. History simply expect to cut like CSM, Don Clark, as development of the rose cut to him. The does not record how many fine, large illustrated here. Nor is everyone an ac- rose cut actually was in vogue years Indian diamonds were destroyed this complished cabochon cutter or carver. before his time. way. The loss must have been substan- tial. India was famous as a reservoir of Just keep in mind that reflected light Upon his death, Mazarin left a will that large diamond crystals at the time. enhances surface colors and textures. bequeathed eighteen diamonds. The That is the great strength of cabochons will conditionally included de Berguen’s 6 | B.C. Rockhounder Summer 2009 | 7 Sancy, as well as the Mirror of Portugal, was given to brilliant cutting. The new European Cuts. Compared to modern Some critics have suggested that his mended angles appear more a figment cut in the step or trap style, developed to the French crown. His condition was designs were in a cushion shaped form cutting practices, they were character- diamond cutting production experience of the authors’ imagination and personal later. Once cutters realized how these that they were to be known as The known as old-mine cuts or Brazilian cut. ized by small tables, large culets, and could have led him to select angles that bias than they do as mathematically cuts dramatized and improved color, Mazarin Diamonds.Not surprisingly Still, the cutters remained faithful to the greater depth. would produce a pleasing silhouette based criteria. the incidence of step cutting steadily Mazarin is thus sometimes credited with triple cut mode. With 58 facets, such a while maximizing yield from the existing increased. Accordingly, cutters cutting theSancy. cutting design represented the forerun- In addition, English cutters opted for angles of rough octahedral crystals. In As more research emerges concerning developed greater appreciation and ner to the Old European, (essentially an thinner girdles than Dutch cutters. For any event, publication and acceptance the influence of refractive index and skill in showcasing color. It required Mazarin is also incorrectly credited Old Miner design, but rounded verses years, it was this difference that marked of Tolkowsky’s calculations pretty much critical angle, it appears that the varia- more advanced equipment, too, to cut with the breakthrough developed in the Miner’s squarish appearance,) and a stone’s cutting origin. Thus, when ended the experimentation that various tions in recommended angles have little the long, strictly disciplined facets so the brilliant cutting mode. This cutting the modern round brilliant. Smaller viewing an Old European cut, inspect cutters had been making over the years basis in fact. The problem with angles is necessary in step cutting. style featured a cushion shaped cut stones were single cut with 17 facets on the girdle: its thickness often reflects in their search for greater brilliance. also compounded when the true basis with 17 facets above the girdle and 17 the crown and 16, (not including a culet English or Dutch cutting. for cutting is considered. Responding to the appreciation of facets below the girdle. de Berguen had facet,) on the pavilion. Tolkowsky Calculates Ideal Brilliant Tolkowsky’s dimensions may have the long, classical proportions of the actually performed this design more earned a warm reception from cutters The diamond is primarily cut for bril- emerald cut, colored stone cutters’ ex- than 100 years earlier. Shape of the Crystal Still When the Polish engineer, Marcel but the optical performance of the result liance or the return of white light. Even perimentations in the last few decades Dictated Plan Tolkowsky, in 1914 published a theo- has never been questioned. His dimen- with brilliant colored diamonds, called have produced a series of magnificent History Reveals No Single Despite advances, the original shape of retical treatise on the ideal dimensions sions called for greater precision and fancies, the cutting remains directed innovations. These new designs mix Inventor the crystal still dictated the plan shape of the diamond, the modern round discipline. This led to the development toward brilliance. Not so with colored brilliant and color cutting techniques. It should be apparent that lapidary of the finished stone. When working brilliant form finally came into its own. of better machinery and tools. It likewise stones. With the exception of clear or history could not show any one single with octahedrons, the cut would invari- Marcel’s document established the placed more emphasis on machine river colors where brilliant cutting is Some innovations, which create a sort inventor of the round brilliant cut. Each ably come out squarish, or cushion accepted cutting angles for pavilions, bruting and sawing. the objective, most colored stones are of brilliant color spray or light fountain advance depended on better technol- shaped. If the shape was more of a (41 degrees,) and crowns, (34 degrees.) cut just for that, color enhancement or effect, go by such design name of ogy and then the creativity of cutters. rhombic dodecahedral then, a round Interestingly enough, Tolkowsky never Of considerable impact to the cutting promotion. A beautiful raspberry hued Radiant, Trilliant, Barion, and Princess. They coupled what knowledge they shape could be expected. provided one iota of mathematical or trade, the ideal diamond configuration garnet, or rich green emerald, is cut so For the most part, these mixed designs possessed of diamonds and colored optical proof that his angles represented was an almost immediate hit among as to dramatize the color. combine step cutting with brilliant stones to make use of the improvement In the 19th Century, more fully rounded the ideal. diamond buyers. Small diamonds were cutting. in tools, materials, or technique. diamonds were being produced. still cut primarily for yield, but on larger Universal Angle Set These gradually became known as Old and better quality gems the proportions Under these circumstances, brilliance Simultaneously, conventional step or A major step, though, took place late in became a virtual must as buyers literally becomes a subordinate goal. Based trap cutting showed a steady progres- the 1600’s in Venice. There a diamond measured the new dimensions. on math and raytrace analysis, the sion too. Square or rectangular facets cutter apparently named Peruzzi author, Gerald Wykoff CMG GG showed versus the kite or triangular facets of modified the Berguen double row style. Modifications to Tolkowsky’s original mathematically that almost any trans- the brilliant style, of course, mark step Peruzzi’s new 58-facet cut introduced computations were inevitable. The table parent crystal could be effectively cut cutting. The old table cut, for example, the concept of break and star facets. THE GEODE MAN became slightly larger and the pavilion with angles of 42-degree main pavilion is more closely related to a step cut This innovation was in effect a triple cut. girdle, or break facets became longer, and 36-degree main crown. He further than to a brilliant and this becomes ever Although the design was to undergo a 17315 29th Avenue sometimes extended to 8/10ths of the demonstrated the validity of these more evident as the square extends into number of variations, the configuration Surrey, BC V3S 0E8 distance from girdle to culet tip. angles by analyzing the mathematics of a rectangular shape. is essentially what is seen today in the the rainbow and its display of colors to round brilliant cut. Increasingly, recutters began adding the viewer from the 42-degree anti-solar For diamonds, a step cut is almost specializing in faceted girdles, especially after the position. invariably determined by the shape and The first name, Vincenzio, is often given -Faceted Montana Sapphires original patents ran out. Because grain of the rough. Yield is greater when for Peruzzi but intensive research shows -Cut Geodes colored stone fashioning is a derivative This colored stone angle set, he claims, cutting a non-standard configuration that, while Venice did have a Peruzzi of diamond cutting, the new theories represents the best, and most natural, cutting straight lines that match the family at the time, there was never -Brazilian Agate and shapes quickly spread throughout compromise between color and bril- rough’s outline. Yield understandably anyone named Vincenzio. -Thundereggs the lapidary industry. Lapidaries liance. Most diamond cutting consists suffers when a rounded brilliant cut is continued to experiment and it was of cutting the round brilliant or one of imposed on rough.Furthermore, step Remember: even the Peruzzi cut was -Rough & Polished Slabs not long before they realized that the its variations. The latter includes such cuts do not always require symmetry. blocky, not a perfect round. Also, -Petrified Wood chemical, optical, and physical per- cuts as the pear, marquise, oval, heart, even at this late date, rough diamonds sonalities of the various stones varied etc. It has been estimated that some There is another important benefit in and colored stones were still usually Ivan & Wendy Leversage considerably. 90% to 95% of all diamonds are cut step cutting. These cuts are deliberately rounded by the tremendously laborious in the round brilliant style or one of its deeper or thicker than brilliant cuts. It is technique of hand bruting. This was It was seen that cutting angles needed variations. Lapidaries, understandably this extra depth that provides the much especially true when the diamond 604-535-9005 modification for each variety of enough, facet commercially in the round better showcase for colored gems. occurred in the octahedral form. gemstone. Unfortunately, there is little brilliant mode at only slightly less than Please phone for an appointment scientific justification for many of the the diamond ratio. The laws of physics state that, the With the discovery of the Brazilian [email protected] published angles on colored stones. longer light travels through a medium diamond deposits, a great impetus Today, many of these so-called recom- Emerald, or square shaped diamonds, and is subjected to selective absorp-

8 | B.C. Rockhounder Summer 2009 | 9 tion, the richer and purer will be the to remove unsightly flaws. However, paesina i.e., landscape stone. The experimenting, creating new forms very enjoyable stays. agate. I picked up a few that may visible hue. Thus, the step cut, which he gave no attention toward shape, Alberese stone together with, Arno and shapes, and taking an occasional Ida Bacon, mother of three active have some fire in them, once the most dramatically showcased in the symmetry, or beauty of form. lineato, an agate from the Arno river venture into light control. Michael rockhounds, two of whom I know: top layer is ground away, and great green emerald, finds great validity valley near Florence, assured the pre- Dyber, a winner of numerous inter- Cam Bacon, published author lots of the tiny, whole, artistically among colored stones. Because the The European cutters, and they are eminence of Florentine intarsia. Only national awards, represents a good and our trip leader, Terry Bacon, formed ones to use for wirewrap- trap cut is significantly deeper than generally credited with making diamond the Owyhee and Biggs Canyon jaspers example of the new, creative cutting former recording secretary of ping. When there is an abundance a brilliant cut, the resultant reduction cutting an art form, strived for pleasing of America’s Northwest can rival this edge. the BCLS and re-founder of the of material and it’s easy to find, it in the amount of brilliant white light shape and improved light performance. marvelous dark stones. The Alberese Abbotsford Rock Club, has just is very exciting to be out on a field actually enhances the color content. This same striving later led to the stone is a limestone patterned in grays In the last few years, cabs have had her 90th birthday. She goes trip. investigation of optical possibilities. The and browns, suggesting silhouettes. vaulted into public attention as everywhere, on all the trips with It is no accident that most emeralds cutters’ intent was actually to improve Arno lineato is striped in grays. cabbers developed forms in their own Cam and Terry. She is enthusiastic We stayed at that location for are cut in the step or trap mode. This upon the potential of a diamond’s right and also blended their innova- and unstoppable! Why, you ask, just a half-hour, and during that well-known preference has earned the physical, chemical, and optical proper- Boulders of the stone are first slabbed tions with classical faceting. Likely would anyone care to camp out time, I picked up a bag full of the cut the label - emerald cut. ties. In short, diamond polishing may and polished. Into this stone are fitted as not, the marriage could produce a there? Across the road and down chalcedony roses. I didn’t pick have been the contribution of the Indian or inlaid the contrasting stone. This Dyber creation or something more in a few miles, on a flat, nondescript up everything I saw, as they were Technology, Technique artisans. forms the incredible stone paintings and the carving mode from Larry Woods, area of desert, we emerged from everywhere we looked. I would Penetrates India art renderings that made Florence the marvelous geometric forms that our cars. There were desert roses like to go back there and camp Only in the last few years has modern The European, particularly the Italians center of intarsia. control and direct light. everywhere we looked. We were for a few days, taking the time diamond cutting penetrated India. The and the French, provided the craft of told that there were some with to head up into those hills to see hand held techniques of Indian cutters, diamond cutting. Tavernier, who was Even by today’s standards, the Flo- fire-agate, and those were the what else is around. What a fun together with a manually driven iron- thoroughly familiar with the diamond rentine techniques are astonishing. In ones with the dark brownish place to go! Thanks Ida and Cam cutting wheel, have been practiced for cutting industry in France and in Italy, the main workroom, the large grinding A Trip to Coon colour. Ida was out of the car and for taking us there! centuries. As a matter of fact, the famed could make such a rapid assessment. machines are located in the center of looking around at all of the desert international traveler and writer on gem He was thoroughly familiar with the the room, looking like old fashioned roses on the ground. With her blue lore, Jean Baptiste Tavernier, visited the spreading use of iron diamond cutting roll top desks without the top. Each Hollow eyes sparkling with energy, she With Miss Bright Blue Eyes Gastroliths diamond cutting shops of India in 1665. wheels and specialized tools utilized in craftsman, perched on a high stool at told of past times when she and By Ross Jones Even then, he observed that the skills European shops. He was also familiar the work station, operates a hand tool Trip # 3 from Quartzsite, Arizona her family would come down here by De Morgan, Feature Writer of the many cutters apparently had not with the growing body of optical which is driven by a foot pedal ar- and camp, finding fireagate in this Many ground dwelling birds are progressed much beyond their primitive knowledge. rangement. The pedal looks like an old area, and going also toward the noted for their habit of selecting beginnings. foot driven sewing machine. They are When we heard the news of nearby hills, where the material a field trip going for fire agate, and swallowing an assortment Europeans Thrust Ahead attached to a horizontal spindle with a is even better. I picked up many we were excited! There were 6 of stones to aid their digestive It was standard practice to rub the Knowing that Europeans were thrusting tiny abrasive wheel. desert roses that were whole processes. Stories abound diamond by hand over a diamond ahead with one superb diamond of us, from the Abbotsford and and unbroken, which I would Surrey clubs, down in Quartzsite, about how life for your everyday dust covered metal plate. Later, they development after another, he realized With his work on the table top in front of like to learn to wire wrap with a farmyard chicken in parts of fabricated a rotating wheel that could that colored stone progress, enjoying a him, a craftsman skillfully shapes slabs Arizona. We were heading toward technique I saw down here, using the California border on this field South West Africa became risky be turned by hand driven cranks. As sort of trickle down, was advancing in and pieces of the pattern into precise very thin silver wire and small, indeed after a large diamond was for technique, when an Indian cutter step. fitting parts. In earlier years, before the trip led by Cam Bacon, B.C. Gem crimped bends. I also kept a Show chairman and member of reportedly found in the gizzard of detected a blemish or inclusion he advent of electrically driven equipment, sharp eye for any big roses, and one Sunday dinner. would continue to orient the stone until Intarsia, also known as pietre dure or stones were cut by a wire mud saw the Abbotsford Rockhounders. the brownish ones with the fire reaching a soft grain direction. Then he mosaics, in hard stone, reached its setup. Pieces were sawed from the We went through Blythe, and would simply grind in a facet, removing highest level in Italy. Individual master- slabs with a bow type wire saw using a onto several long, dusty, gravel the defect. pieces have been traced back to the steady stream of grit and water. roads, when we encountered a early 17th Century. For nearly 400 years very well appointed campsite in You could spot an Indian cut stone and the famed Opificio delle Pietre Dure, Once the individual pieces had been the desert. By well appointed, evaluate its clarity with some accuracy. (workshop of hard stones,) in Florence cut to precise dimensions, they were I mean it wasn’t boon docking A poor quality stone was covered with has remained world famous for the lapped to equal depth on the big (camping in the dry desert haphazard facets. Furthermore, the exquisite marvels that flow steadily from machines. In the final stages, the pieces with NO services). There was imperfection removing facets offered no its workbenches. were, and still are, attached with mastic water, a small library under a consideration to symmetry. to a base of slate. rooftop with no walls, clean, Today, the work in the Opificio is mainly well-maintained, Cadilac version outhouses, and well spaced Probably the most acceptable distinc- restoration and contract stained glass Cabochon Advancements tion between Indian and European work. Some original work is done but it As splendid as were the faceting campsites. A very attractive spot diamond cutting as this: discipline. The is on a much smaller scale. In its heyday and inlay advancements, traditional called, “Coon Hollow”. We didn’t Indian cutter’s primary objective was to of incredible stone paintings, only cabochon cutting kept pace. For too see any coons, but Miss Bright polish the existing faces of a crystal. If royalty could afford such masterpieces. long, a cabochon consisted merely of Blue Eyes, also known as Ida necessary, he would cover the crystal What gave the Opificio its advantage a rounded egg shape. Resisting iron Bacon, informed us that she and with an abundance of facets intended was the nearby availability of pietra bound history, gem cutting artists began her family used to come down and camp here, having had some

10 | B.C. Rockhounder Summer 2009 | 11 Which brings us to dinosaurs. It coloured arid, rocky landscape hematite, magnetite and goethite). up coal, for instance, are different form crystals that are too small honorary name mineraloid. Min- appears that dinosaurs too felt lie the historically important That loophole is now closed, but kinds of hydrocarbon compounds to see under the microscope. But eraloids are a small club: strictly the need to choose and swallow gastrolith collecting spots. there are minerals on the books derived from cell walls, wood, even these can be shown to be speaking it includes only opal an assortment of stones to aid that aren’t truly natural. pollen and so on. These are called crystalline at the nano-scale using and lechatelierite. Opal is a nearly digestion. In the early days of One of the fascinating features of macerals instead of minerals (for the technique of X-ray powder random combination of silica collecting petrified dinosaur gastroliths is their composition. Soft Minerals more see Coal in a Nutshell). But if diffraction, though, because X-rays (SiO2, the same as quartz) and remains, little notice was taken As with our diamond-pecking Traditionally, native mercury coal is squeezed hard enough for are a super-short-wave type of water formed under near-surface of the odd, smooth, rounded, chook, dinosaurs may also have is considered a mineral, even long enough, the carbon sheds all light that can image extremely conditions, while lechatelierite is a apparently water worn pebble been to some extent discriminat- though the metal is liquid at room its other elements and becomes small things. Having a crystal quartz glass formed by the shock found among the broken pieces ing in their selection of stones to temperature. At about 40 degrees graphite. Even though it is of form means that the substance of a meteorite impact or lightning of weathered stone and fossil be swallowed. below zero, mercury solidifies and organic origin, graphite is a true has a definite recipe, or chemical striking the ground. remains. It soon became evident forms crystals like other metals. mineral, carbon atoms arranged formula. It might be as simple as that these stones were worn So there are parts of Antarctica in sheets. Diamond, similarly, is halite’s (NaCl) or complex like, Other substances considered smoother even than river pebbles where mercury is unimpeachably carbon atoms arranged in a rigid say, epidote (Ca2Al2(Fe3+,Al) mineraloids include the gemstones and they were quickly identi- ?What Is a ? a mineral. framework. After some 4 billion (SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)), but if you jet and amber, which are respec- fied as gastroliths or digestion years of life on Earth, it’s safe to were shrunk to an atom’s size, you tively high-quality fossils of coal stones. One particular area of For a less extreme example, say that all the world’s diamonds could tell what mineral you were and tree resin. Pearl goes here Wyoming became a prolific Mineral consider the mineral ikaite, a and graphite are of organic origin seeing by its molecular makeup too, although I disagree because source of these previously over- hydrated calcium carbonate even if they aren’t strictly speaking and arrangement. by that logic, seashells should looked fossil forms. During the that forms only in cold water. It organic. be included. The last mineraloid 1930’s, Dr Barnum Brown from degrades into calcite and water But a few substances fail the is rather like the rusty car I above 8 degrees Celsius. It is the American Museum of Natural f you play “Twenty Questions,” X-ray test. They are truly glasses mentioned earlier: limonite is a I significant in the polar regions, the Amorphous History had dug extensively the first question is “Animal, or colloids, with a fully random mixture of iron oxides that, while ? ocean floor and other cold places, Minerals along the western slopes of the vegetable or mineral?” If the structure at the atomic scale. it may assume the shape of a but you can’t bring it into the lab A few things fall short in crystallin- Big Horn Range in his frenetic answer is “mineral,” it could mean They are amorphous, scientific proper iron-oxide mineral, has no except in a freezer. ity, hard as we try. Many minerals quest to find rare and large anything that isn’t alive or formerly Latin for “formless.” These get the structure or order whatever. dinosaur specimens. Gastroliths alive. That’s too vague for geology. Ice is a mineral, even though it were then largely overlooked. A mineral is any substance with all isn’t listed in the mineral field of four specific qualities. Minerals guide. But when ice collects in It was not until “Rockhound Are Natural: substances that form large enough bodies, it flows in its Fever” was established in the without any human help. population at large that gas- solid state—that’s what glaciers are. And salt (halite) behaves troliths became a popular item Minerals Are Solid: substances similarly, rising underground in to collect and display. Situated that don’t droop or melt or broad domes and sometimes almost in the centre of the USA, evaporate. Minerals Are Inorganic: spilling out in salt glaciers. Indeed, Mountain Gems Ltd. Wyoming has outcropping areas substances that aren’t carbon all minerals, and the rocks they of rock which are rich in dinosaur compounds like those found in are part of, slowly deform given Lapidary & Jewellery Supplies remains. Strata formed in upper living things. Jurassic (Morrison formation) enough heat and pressure. That’s New & Used Equipment what makes plate tectonics and lower Cretaceous (Cloverly Minerals Are Crystalline: sub- possible. So in a sense, no mineral formation) times are exposed to stances that have a distinct recipe is really solid except maybe Sterling Silver/Gold Filled Metals Classes in Silversmithing & Wireworks the elements along the western and arrangement of atoms. diamond. scarps of the Big Horn Range. That’s much better. Look at the Crystals Books Cut Stones Minerals Mineral Picture Gallery to see lots Other minerals that aren’t quite The area lies about 200 kilome- of examples that match these solid are instead flexible. The ters east of Yellowstone National criteria. But geologists still know 4611 Hastings Street Phone: 604-298-5883 Tues—Sun: 10am—6pm Park. To reach one of the most mica minerals are the best-known of some exceptional cases. Burnaby, BC Fax: 604-298-2669 Closed Mondays and Holidays prolific collecting areas from this example, but molybdenite is well known tourist mecca, follow another. Its metallic flakes can be V5C 2K6 Toll Free: 1-888-593-1888 Unnatural Minerals crumpled like aluminum foil. And Highway 14 through the city of Until the 1990s, mineralogists of course the asbestos mineral Graybull, cross the Big Horn could propose names for chemical chrysotile is stringy enough to River and twenty or so kilometers compounds that formed during [email protected] www.mountaingems.com weave into cloth. further on, just past the town of the breakdown of artificial sub- Shell, turn north along the road stances, things found in places which parallels Beaver Creek. like industrial sludge pits and Organic Minerals The rule that minerals must be Twenty to thirty kilometers up rusting cars (although iron rust is inorganic may be the strictest amongst the beautifully rainbow- the same as the natural minerals one. The substances that make 12 | B.C. Rockhounder Summer 2009 | 13 have realized that round rock rolls in Fraser Canyon 1858 people had turned the village into Americans, he declared himself The of downhill! We found no geodes, Moganite Quartz a tent city as they began their governor of the mainland colony Hauser Beds by Lowell Bailey California but there was a very hard jasper migration upriver in search of as well—an act that would eventu- seam, similar in colour and There are over 4000 minerals the gold. The gold they wanted ally be supported by London, by De Morgan markings to the famous and recognized by the International was in the gravel bars along the and would ultimately lead to the Quartzsite Field Trip #4 Commission on New Minerals WAR sought after bruneau jasper. We B.C. born of bloodshed Fraser. As the miners arrived, they creation of British Columbia. broke out some chunks for cutting and Mineral Names, each year By Craig Saunders found the river swollen with spring “Such stopgap measures, Although this trip does not scientist add dozens of others. run-off, so they set up camp however, ultimately proved inad- technically qualify as the Quartz- and slabbing. The material had The naked, decapitated body conchoidal fractures with a very Most you will never hear of, floating down the Fraser River and waited. For the Sto:lo, life equate to stem the rapidly dete- site area, I’m counting it into the most are insignificant, at least had been pretty good along that riorating situation,” writes Keith 5 trips, because we left from sharp edge, and was extremely one day in 1858 was just the fine-grained. I am certain it will to rockhounds or geologists, beginning. Before the end of the particular stretch of the Fraser up Thor Carlson, a history professor Quartzsite. We travelled into and most are found in only one until then. About 3,500 were living at the University of Saskatchewan. California, and it was a good hour take a good polish. year, more than 60 miners would small location, usually they are be dead in one of the bloodiest in relative peace with the 100 or so In July, the inevitable blow-up and a half drive to get to the extremely rare. One of these non-native settlers, and fighting off occurred. A miner apparently geode site. We stopped on a clashes in Canadian history. minerals which has been found The Fraser Canyon War was the occasional Yukletaw and Haida raped a Sto:lo girl. In retribution, hilltop, and Cam Bacon, our trip is Moganite, and it is not rare. So raiding parties. the Sto:lo killed and decapitated leader, picked up a nice, small basically a battle between the then why haven’t you found any, interests of First Nations— him, and sent his naked corpse geode with crystals inside. We you have! In the November issue of floating down the river. He was knew we were on the right track primarily the Sto:lo—and miners "Before the end of the year, National Geographic, there was a who had flooded into the valley in followed by three more miners, to find the Hauser Geode Beds small article about Princeton min- more than 60 miners would be also naked and headless. (The of California! Canada’s first gold rush. But it was dead in one of the bloodiest eralogist Peter Heaney and Jeffrey more than a cowboys-and-Indians place has ever since been known Post head of the Smithsonian clashes in Canadian history." as “Deadman’s Eddy.”) We left the small geode there, turf war. It was an event that Institution’s Department of Mineral demanded a military presence, Thus began the Fraser Canyon hoping for bigger and better Sciences, learned about the new But that summer, they returned to War. In the weeks that followed, finds, and continued on to the The Group marking Britain’s first real attempts mineral from reading an obscure to police its mainland territory, the Fraser and found thousands of the miners waged a bloody best site, a few miles farther up German scientific journal, which drunken, rowdy prospectors. The campaign against the Sto:lo and the road. The day was hot, and we Cam chose to dig a few hundred which was under real threat of yards back up the gravel road, said the new mineral was found in American annexation. A month miners developed a bad reputa- Nlakapamux. One American all had plenty of water with us to Quartz from Mogan in the Canary tion—they were rude, stole fish, regiment, commanded by Captain keep hydrated. and he found an area where after the war began, that territory nearly every boulder was loaded Islands. officially became the Colony of attacked and raped the natives. Charles Rouse sacked five com- with a lot of seamy agate, vugs British Columbia. And the war And they were competition for the munities and, according to some Once parked, we faced a good- Heaney and Post began to study gold. By June, Governor James reports, killed two score First sized hill. Ida Bacon, 90, sat in the with small crystals, and botroidal would see the last attempts at agate. I picked up a few small quartz in the museum’s collection treaty making before Britain’s Douglas realized the situation on Nations people. It was a short war, shade, and using X-ray diffraction and electron the Fraser was getting tense. A but a bloody one. watched the pieces, that had a chalcyd- priorities changed from fur trading ony coating with amazing microscopes. It was found in almost to development. First Nations man was shot at work. John all of the fine grained Quartz and Hill’s Bar, and a retaliatory killing Eventually some of the more Dool and pisolitic bumps on it. their collection is from all over the Until 1858, the shores of the Fraser only made the miners more edgy. moderate on the miners’ side met Mike, went world!! And it is in your collection To defuse the situation, Douglas up with Liquitem, a Sto:lo chief, down into We gathered at the end River had been the summer home of the day, to take a few too! Don’t look now, because and fishing grounds of various ordered the miners off half of and a Nlakapamuk chief called the dry creek Moganite is invisible to the naked Hill’s Bar and reserved it for First Spintlum. Liquitem, Splintlum and bed, with photos, and discuss the First Nations. Then a small group finds of the day. Everyone eye. Only a variation in atomic of men found gold in the river. Nations. Miners would have to an American miner named Snyder their shovels structure distinguishes the quartz obtain a permit to work there. negotiated a peaceful end to the and picks, The Diggers had material to take home, When their supplies ran out, they and we all had a good time crystals from that of Moganite. went to Fort Langley to re-stock This would be the last time a B.C. conflict, which had seen some 60 and dug. The results were worth Moganite indicates the presence of politician would sincerely negotiate deaths on the miners’ side and the digging, as they had each a digging and searching for interest- and word of their find spread like ing rocks. OIL, so in the future Moganite may wildfire. Soon American papers treaties for about 140 years. many more Sto:lo and Nlakapa- bucket of geodes at the end of help pinpoint petroleum deposits mux. Liquitem and Spintlum then the day. Rather than smash them, Thanks for taking us, Cam! began splashing out headlines in oil exploration. You may not crying “Gold! Gold! Gold!” and Douglas was a sympathetic ear for went upriver to meet with other and risk smashing the be able to see it but at least the Sto:lo. Born in British Guyana, chiefs and get their support for crystals, they decided hopeful prospectors—many Professional training courses leading you know its there, and when remnants of the California gold he married a woman with a First peace. to cut them at home. you introduce you next quartz Nations mother. Douglas was a Some of them had to “Accredited Gemmologist (C.I.G.)” rush—headed north to stake their by home study and extension courses specimen you can say its, it’s claims. Hudson’s Bay Company man, “By the time the Colonial Office’s good signals for an a specimen of Moganite and and the HBC relied on various concerns were relayed to agatized interior. •Diamond Expert (C.I.G.) Certificate Quartz. On April 3, the first group arrived in First Nations as suppliers. He’d Douglas,” wrote Carlson, “the •Fine Jewellery Appraiser Program Victoria. The Commodore sailed in commanded the fort at Victoria warring Aboriginal and American Bob and I scouted •Gem Study Tours Maybe one day you’ll hear of with 450 passengers. At the time, before becoming governor of the forces had themselves concluded around the hill, some oil exploration using the island colony. Seeing the gold a succession of hastily conceived climbing higher in For more details visit our website at www.cigem.ca that was more than the colonial electron and x-ray diffraction capital’s entire Caucasian popula- rush and knowing the annexation- ‘peace treaties,’ bringing a search of the round or write to C.I.G. PO Box 57010, Vancouver BC, V5K 5G6 microscopes looking for one of 604-530-8569 toll free: 1-800-294-2211 tion. By summer, some 20,000 ist (and anti-Indian) bent of the tenuous end to the bloodshed and geodes. We should the newest minerals Moganite 14 | B.C. Rockhounder Summer 2009 | 15 facilitating non-Native access to the anti-treaty attitudes in the The war also changed the nature molecules and are kept in motion asbestos, a silicate. Which silicas Fraser River gold.” colony—attitudes that have left of the young colony’s border. Only Part I by the impact of air molecules that are toxic? Crystalline silica is After the Fraser Canyon War, British Columbia in a terrible legal 140 years ago, it was a barely /////SAFETY are also in constant motion. Tests highly toxic, causing silicosis. After which came at the same time as mess. recognized thing. It existed at It’s Just Dust made recently in California about 10 or 20 years, chest X-rays Europe’s rapid industrialization and the whim of the individual and measured the particles left in the begin to show scar tissue. The first changing priorities for capitalists The province never recognized the could be ignored in the interests Isn’t It? By Peter R. Girardot, air from fireworks. Particles were symptoms are a dry cough in B.C., the relationship between authority of the Royal Proclama- of personal preference or PhD Chair, Safety Committee, SCFMS from the still detected on July 19 from the First Nations and Europeans would tion of 1763, in which King George economic mobility. With regiments American Federation of Mineralogical Societies July 4 fireworks. Why worry about forever be changed. Douglas may commanded that treaties would of American militia fighting on these fine particulates? They’re have been sympathetic to the be negotiated with First Nations the British side of it, the border Whenever we grind or polish inert, aren’t they? That depends on needs and desires of First Nations, prior to settlement. This refusal became a real issue for Douglas, anything, we make fine dust, fine the chemical nature of the dust. The Earth’s but by war’s end, his priorities had led ultimately to painful and costly and the Fraser Canyon War forced particles called Many of our cabbing or faceting been decided for him. Industry and court cases, including the historic his hand. He had to march in and particulates. In our clubhouses, materials are silicates, the most Crust: an introduction settlement became paramount, Delgamuukw v. British Columbia, assert his authority, making the some particulates can be seen in abundant minerals on the face By Andrew Alden, and the Colonial Office in London in 1997, perhaps Canada’s biggest 49th parallel more than an invisible the air, but some are of the earth, and most silicates made it clear that no Indian would and most famous land claims line through the mountains. too fine to be visible. We don’t contain free silica. Silica and The Earth’s crust is an extremely be allowed to get in the way. case, involving the Gitksan and And so, with the close of the worry about them because they silicates make silica and silicate thin layer of rock, like the skin of an The Fraser Canyon War is more Wet’suwet’en nations and the Fraser Canyon War, the stage was “are not there” (we can’t dust. Silica is the worst because apple in relative terms. It amounts than just a fascinating and little- ownership of some 58,000 square set for events that would take see them). We grind with water or of the way the body tries to ac- to less than half of 1 percent of the known fight. It’s one that illustrates kilometres of British Columbia. generations to play out. oil, which keeps down the dust. commodate the deposition of planet. But the crust is exceptionally We also wear such dusts in the deep lung. The important, and not just because we aprons to keep the spray from our reaction of the body is to try to live on it. Cosmetic Minerals to the Egyptians. Recent work water. Walker and colleagues clothes. When the droplets dry out, protect itself. It creates a sac of on cosmetic powders preserved were able to form these minerals then we have around the particle which is on The crust can be thicker than 80 in their original containers and using techniques accessible to the Ancient Egypt particulates on our aprons. We the inner surface of the lung. The kilometers in some spots, less than stored in the Louvre has turned ancient Egyptians. They followed wipe them off and that takes care growth of cells to produce the sac one kilometer in others. Underneath by Dr. Bill Cordua, up several rare minerals used as recipes for medicines described University of Wisconsin-River Falls of the problem. What about the is risky in that it may produce cells it is the mantle, a layer of rock some pigments. These minerals were on papyrus. This called for lead particulates that sprayed into the randomly and end up as cancer. 2700 kilometers thick that accounts Minerals have been used for either very rare or are unknown oxide mixed in water with salt, air instead of onto our clothes? That takes years for the slowly for the bulk of the Earth. The crust is adornment for millennia. The in Egyptian deposits. These are natron. The reaction is slow and They dry out in the air and end up developing forms of silicosis, but primarily made of granite and basalt Egyptians made an extensive use phosgenite (a lead chlorocar- delicate, but produced laurionite as solid particulates. So even if we eventually your body or mine may while the mantle beneath is made of of many familiar minerals, and, bonate) and laurionite( a lead that matches morphologically that grind wet, there are solid as well as or may not be able to adapt suc- peridotite. More about all that below. according to recent discoveries, chlor-hydroxide). Both would be found as face paint in Egyptian liquid particles produced in the air. cessfully to the situation. Slowly synthesized other compounds suitable for white pigments, if tombs. A similar technique should developing forms of “dusty lung Discovery of the Crust using relatively sophisticated found in quantity. Laurionite is a produce phosgenite. The delicacy Fine particulates are defined as disease”, bronchitis or silicosis Until just a century ago, we didn’t chemical techniques. famous mineral from the ancient of the process suggests a surpris- solid or liquid matter in a finely are the ones most artists and know the Earth has a crust. From Egyptians were fond of eye and deposits at Laurium Greece, where ing knowledge of wet-chemical divided state, specifically smaller craftsmen need to worry about. astronomical measurements, we face coloration of white, green it formed by the action of salty techniques 4,000 years ago. Clues than 0.0001 meter (or 10 microm- knew in the late 1800s that Earth and black. Generally these were water on slags. It also occurs for their formation could have eters) in size. “Dust” this size is Breathing such dusts from grinding wobbles in relation to the sky as if mineral powders mixed into pastes rarely in other oxidized zones come from observations of during breathed easily all the way into the or faceting may never be a it had a large, dense core. Beyond with fats. Minerals commonly over ore deposits, such as in the processing lung, down to its deepest parts. problem if you are old enough to that we had no clue, until the advent used to make black powders were Cornwall, England. Phosgenite is of galena or weathering of lead Coarser particles are caught in the die of something else first. Failing of seismology. Even today, almost galena (PbS), manganese oxides a bit more common, and can form articles. These papyrus list nose and throat, and are expelled. that, it is a crapshoot to breathe all we know for sure about the deep such as pyrolusite, magnetite (iron with laurionite and other minerals in addition, over 100 recipes They are generally no problem. such dusts. The conclusion is Earth comes from just one type of oxide), cuprite and tenorite (copper in oxidized zones. The conditions using minerals or synthesized With the fine particulates, though, that it is a risk I don’t care to take. evidence: the speed of sound in rock oxides), and stibnite (antimony of preservation of these minerals compounds or treatment of a we are not so lucky. Once deep in As an example, I have bought a as measured using seismic waves, sulfide). in Egyptian cosmetics make it variety of ailments. the lung, they take up residence number of uncut opals over the usually called seismic velocity. The Green eye paints used malachite unlikely that they are the effects It is apparent that ancient Egypt and cannot be removed. These are years, but have never cut one until rest is known from intricate, subtle (copper carbonate) and chryso- of subsequent weathering of the harbored its own creative sci- the ones to worry about, especially I recently had a ventilation hood modeling studies. colla (hydrated copper silicate). cosmetics, but were originally entists inspired by observations when they are less than 5 microm- installed over my cutting area. White face paint often came often pigment components. on minerals to create desired (if eters in diameter. All particles will Opals are silicates. Many other In 1909 the seismologist Andrija from cerussite (lead carbonate). Walter et. al., in a recent article unhealthy) products. settle out to the ground eventu- minerals are not silicates, but their Mohorovicic published a paper estab- One might speculate on the in Nature, speculate that the ally, so perhaps we can just wait dust is toxic for different reasons. lishing that about 50 kilometers deep health effects of spreading such phosgenite and laurionite were References: and they will go away. Not so, The same criteria apply to them in the Earth there is a sudden change synthesized by the Egyptians. - Lucas, A., 1962, Ancient Egyptian Materials poisonous compounds thickly over and Industries, 4th edition revised by J.R. Harris, because such fine particulates stay as far as breathing the dust is in seismic velocity—a discontinuity of one's face! Both could form from mixtures London, Edward Arnold Publishers. suspended in air almost concerned, but that is the topic some sort. The discontinuity makes The above mentioned minerals are of smelted lead oxides in the Walter, P. et. al., 1999, "Making Make-up in indefinitely. Part of the reason is Ancient Egypt", Nature, vol. 397, p. 483-484. of another safety article and so is the seismic waves bounce (reflect) common in deposits accessible presence of carbonate and salt that they are similar in size to large 16 | B.C. Rockhounder Summer 2009 | 17 and refract (bend), just as light behaves atmosphere. Granitic rocks are WANTED at the discontinuity between water and The midocean ridges migrate over the even less dense than basalt. In Interesting air. Ever since, that discontinuity, the Earth like Roombas, extracting the terms of minerals, granite has even Beer Can Tabs Mohorovicic discontinuity or “Moho,” basaltic component from the mantle more feldspar, less amphibole than Wendy Leversage, Richmond Club, is collecting has been accepted as the boundary as they go. What that means has to basalt and almost no pyroxene the tabs from beer/pop cans , the proceeds go to Websites between the crust and the mantle do with rock chemistry. Basaltic rocks or olivine, plus it has abundant Guide Dog Training. The company that buys the www.benchtube.com beneath. contain more silicon and aluminum quartz. In geologist’s shorthand, tabs gives double dollars because it goes to a than the peridotite left behind, which continental crust is felsic. charity. Jewelry Making Videos Crusts and Plates has more iron and magnesium. Basaltic This a great cause, save your tabs for Wendy. The crust is not the same thing as the rocks are less dense. In terms of Continental crust makes up less BenchTube is Ganoksin video plates of plate tectonics. Plates are minerals, basalt has more feldspar and than 0.4 percent of the Earth, but sharing area for jewelers and met- thicker than the crust and consist of amphibole, less olivine and pyroxene, it represents the end product of alsmiths (and for those interested in the crust and the shallow mantle just than peridotite. In geologist’s shorthand, a double refining process, first jewelry and gemstones). Participa- beneath it; the combination is stiff and oceanic crust is mafic while oceanic at midocean ridges and second tion is absolutely free! brittle and is called the lithosphere mantle is ultramafic. at subduction zones. The total (“stony layer” in scientific Latin). The amount of continental crust is lithospheric plates lie on top of a layer Oceanic crust, being so thin, is a very slowly growing. of softer, more plastic mantle rock (the small fraction of the Earth—about 0.1 asthenosphere or “weak layer”) that percent—but its life cycle serves to The incompatible elements that www.chapman.australianmuseum.net allows the plates to move slowly upon it refine the rocks of the upper mantle end up in the continents are The Albert Chapman Mineral Collection like a raft in thick mud. into new rocks with a lighter blend of important because they include elements. It also extracts the so-called the major radioactive elements We know that the Earth’s crust is made incompatible elements, which don’t uranium, thorium and potassium. This exceptional collection is of two grand categories of rocks: fit into mantle minerals and move into They create heat, which makes renowned worldwide for its miner- basaltic and granitic. Basaltic rocks the liquid melt. These in turn move into the continents act like electric alogical diversity, crystal perfection, underlie the seafloors and granitic rocks the continental crust as plate tectonics blankets on top of the mantle. The aesthetic appeal and high Australian make up the continents. The seismic proceeds. heat also softens thick places in content. The collection was featured velocities of these rock types in the lab the crust, like the Tibetan Plateau, in the Australia issue of Mineralogical match the velocities in the crust down Continental Crust and makes them spread sideways. Record in 1988. to the Moho, so we’re pretty sure that Continental crust is thick and old—on the Moho marks a real change in rock average about 50 km thick and about 2 Continental crust is too buoyant chemistry. The Moho isn’t a perfect billion years old—and it covers about 40 to return to the mantle. When boundary, because some crustal rocks percent of the planet. Whereas almost continents collide, the crust can and mantle rocks can masquerade all of the oceanic crust is underwater, thicken to almost 100 km, but B.C. Advertising by dealers enables us to provide this publication at a reasonable price. Please support them! Tell them you saw their ad in BC Rochounder. as the other, but even so everyone most of the continental crust is exposed that is temporary. The limestones Rockhounder who talks about the crust, whether in to the air. and other sedimentary rocks seismological or petrological terms, The continents slowly grow over that form on the continents are Name: Date: /2009 fortunately means the same thing. geologic time as oceanic crust and likewise lighter than basalt. Even E-Mail: Phone: In general, then, the crust has two seafloor sediments are pulled beneath the sand and clay that is washed types, oceanic crust and continental them by subduction. The descending off into the sea returns to the crust. basalts have the water and incompat- continents on the conveyor belt of Mailing Address: ible elements squeezed out of them, the oceanic crust. Continents are City: Province: Postal Code: Oceanic Crust and this material rises to trigger more truly permanent, self-sustaining Oceanic crust covers about 60 percent melting in the so-called subduction features of the Earth’s surface. Billing Address: of the Earth’s surface. Oceanic crust is factory. City: Province: Postal Code: thin and young—no more than about 20 km thick and never older than about The continental A Gift Subscription? 180 million years. Everything older has crust is made of been pulled underneath the continents granitic rocks, Enclosed is $______for ______year(s) subscription. ($14.00 + $8.00 postage CDN/year) by subduction. Oceanic crust is born at which have even (For US mailing postage is $12.00 CDN/year) the midocean ridges, where pressure more silicon Mail to: upon the underlying mantle is released and aluminum The British Columbia Rockhounder and the peridotite there begins to than the basaltic 2752 McCurdy Place Please make cheque/money order payable to: melt in response. The part that melts oceanic crust; Abbotsford, BC British Columbia Lapidary Society becomes basaltic lava, which rises and they also have V2T 5L2 erupts while the remaining peridotite more oxygen becomes depleted. thanks to the 2009 Order Form

18 | B.C. Rockhounder Summer 2009 | 19 and other places she has NEVER might know. 7:30 Met some very us some rock. There were some There were some great strange to provide some shade. Again asked me to turn it on! Of course nice guys from South Dakota Mike opallized pieces too. Many if the crystals and some moss found. there was a second site down MADRAS because it was so hot and steep & Dale they gave us some rock rock hounds had brought their Weigh in was back at the main the road and over a small valley. 2009 hills I did not want to chance from S.D, we gave them Cams dogs and there was very little ranch site. It was a beautiful drive The second site was $ 2 a pound overheating the car so did not book on Arizona. The Field trip disagreements between any of with some fantastic scenery . Angel Wing Agate and there was turn it on. We got to Madras at started on time with everyone them ( both the dogs or the rock There were signs pointing to other a nice young man taking the $ . 3pm and checked in our motel ( signing a release and apx. 70 hounds ) Everyone seemed well sites throughout There were a couple recommended by Diane Bowman ) vehicles. It was to the Naches pleased with what they found. the ranch. We people working on by Desert Roses Sonny's, We even had a message Ranch north on Hwy. 97 right turn There was a scale there and you headed back a huge piece of blue waiting from Ron Vauthrin saying off the hwy. past the Richardson paid $ 1 a pound on site so if you to the motel agate, again there For many years I've heard talk of he would be down the following Ranch turn off. And follow up didn't want it you didn't have to temp. in the high was plenty to go a Rock & Gem Show / Sale Field dre's a great pool valley very pretty take it. We left there around noon, 90scloudless around you could trips at a place called Madras there too. It is only area junipers , mom & I went to McDonalds while Swimming pool work hard or easy Oregon ; finally I have the time off 3 blocks to the sage and very others stopped at the Richardsons was very nice. . From black to and I actually got to go. On June Pow Wow site so little water. Good Ranch. We were back at Madras Meet up with pale blue there was 30 my mom & I left for the magical I went to register road newly by 2 and I used the pool. Later we Sharon, Am lots of choice even place called PowWow Madras. We and bought a paved then we went back to the Fairgrounds for Hamlin , Frank some petrified mud stayed at Riversedge in Leaven- t-shirt. At that turned off on the the evenings entertainment. Ken & & Betty Tiemey balls. There was a worth Wash.( what a great place to time I also bought gravel, grass. Silvia arrived .We returned to our and others a the big muddy puddle stay the Wenatchee River at your some silver from Past the Polka motel by 10 to prepare for July 3 Ding Ho, there there that all the door step, pool & hot tub ) great Altamont. The Dot Ranch we trip. were 15 for dinner dogs were enjoying rooms great prices. To avoid the Fairgrounds was stopped and and everyone a very interesting border line ups expected with the all set up with 75 there every Mean while Ron Vauthrin said ordered 1 item place too. I paid Canadian Holiday July 1st. dealers and they McDonalds Wood backhoe where you we should skip this field trip for and we shared the boy in U. S. $ 2 had a list of the field trips. You looked were jasper pieces. There petrified wood /jasper at the great time great bill so he gave me We took Hwy. 97 south thru meet at the Fairgrounds at 8 am were some beautiful browns & Morrison Ranch and go to the people. Back to a brake because Yakima it follows a hilly route every morning .We bought A&W cream colours and some white Richardsons Ranch as they were the fairgrounds he collects those. along the desert with large tracts supper and KFC for the field trip. with the brown dots. opening up the old White Plume for the auction I got a nice display of hay fields. It was very hot. So July 2 Thurs. There was a lot of collecting in a Agate site for Iday only. Mom & of course I spent geode of botryoidal hot my mom actually ask for the Up early and ready to rockhound. small area , great parking not hard I were up by 6 am and had the some money but I agate .and a few Priddy Pit air-conditioning to be turned on. We were at the Fairgrounds early to find something of interest. Our complimentary bkfts. while we did keep it under other pieces. It was In all the years of going to Arizona enough to check for anyone we new South Dakota friends gave waited for Ron who slept in. Albert $ 100 . Beautiful clear night motel very hot there too. There were stopped in on the way to Richard- very busy for the weekend July 4 thunder egg beds somewhere sons. We got going by 8:10. U. S holiday. Some of the B.C. ers there too we decided to head out. from Canada’s first precious opal deposit Very hot and sunny again. We staying at Prineville . At the forks in the road we were Precious Opals stopped and got directions a debating the way out when Ron the store at Richardsons and we Sat. July 4 & another car came up they'd followed Ron. It was a dry dusty Fieldtrip to the McDonald Ranch, gone the wrong way, so we were road with an area of about 6 towards Richardsons turn right on the right road. Back at adras inches of very fine dust for about at the red barn offhwy. 97 north, mom had a milkshake to cool 100 feet a the last of the road. The follow to Watson Creek Rd. down. It is desert and it was very site was a creek bed that they road, up and over the hill and hot. Fairgrounds to listen to music had bulldozed out to the bed rock dale .Climbing to another hill unfortunately there was a mike and there were about 10 people the yellow flowers just starting problem but they tried anyways. already there pounding but mostly and some interesting red berries We won a door prize of$5 for the scrapping. We searched around again cloudless and hot. Past grocery store. and dug out a few thunder eggs , old granaries continue to the left Some clouds moved in and we we were directed to another site and down a slight incline and had a natural light show ( lighten- Opal Cutting Shop ∙ Retail Store ∙ Opal Digging just up the way. We also went left . A big area for parking the ing ) before the real fireworks there , there were about another many trucks. There on the ground started. 20 or so people hammering away many pieces of petrified woods at the walls for thunder eggs. The some opalized with many colours July 5 "Priddy Plume" There were some showing. The rancher had dug up Thin clouds some of the rock nice sample found and some of a fresh patch for us to sift thru and hounds pulling out today, it's the Okanagan Opal Inc. the left overs from the previous there was plenty to go around. last day we did another field trip 7879 Hwy 97 - 4 miles North of Vernon Ph: (250) 542-1103 Fax: (250) 542-7115 people. Including a small thunder We stayed and enjoyed the view, for thunder eggs. A different ranch [email protected] www.opalscanada.com egg Vi that had red Opal in it. there were big enough junipers on the north side this time thru

20 | B.C. Rockhounder Summer 2009 | 21 another nice area, great view of but take lots of water. The people camping at the Fairgrounds and area, with tailings piled around Sharp-eyed Bob Morgan, Mt. Hood and extinct volcanoes. of the town are friendly and ap- local motels ect. at reasonable the edge We found an abundance saw from a distance, a vertical Back to Madras by 12:30 Spent preciate the $ we spend. The rates. Keep in mind there are the of chalcopyrite, in an attractive pegmatite dike of biotite, bornite the rest of the day at the dealers. sheriff welcomed all and noted the usual dangers associated with the The Best surface glitter. There were surfaces and pink feldspar that he They had a lot of rough rock good we bring to the area. It is a desert such as heat, rattle snakes, shot with bornite, and it shone estimated to be about fifteen feet from the different states which is well organized event and partici- cactus . There were some vehicle Field Trip with purple and blue in the warm wide, running though the rock wall wonderful to see. The prices were pation of the ranchers is great. I casualties such as punctured gas Similco Mine Princeton sun. at the side of the pit. The roadside good and fair. I would recommend really enjoyed it and would return tanks & flat tires. going to the Pow Wow at Madras hopefully 2010. There is plenty of After a half hour, we moved to the second spot, an elongated large area with piles of rock on each side. cabinets has a computer touch Revamped ROM Here we stopped for lunch, screen at each side of the case, The Michael Scott collection is and were able to drive along Mineral Gallery where you simply touch the picture worthy of a visit in its own right. the site. While were were a Must-See of the specimen you are interested It is a spectacular collection of eating, Harley and Livia Submitted by John Bowman, in to get more detailed informa- rough and cut gems, including a Eastern Correspondent. Waterson made the find tion on where it came from, its number of different carvings from of the trip. Each had a ten chemical composition, etc. This Germany’s famous Idar-Oberstein Last fall, the mineral collection pound rock of biotite crystals is a great way to provide a lot of area. There is everything from a at the Royal Ontario Museum (black mica) on one side, and information without cluttering up 1600 carat tanzanite crystal, a re-opened after being closed brilliant purple-blue, peacock the display case with all sorts of beautiful necklace made with 165 for many months undergoing colours of bornite on the other signage. carats of spessartine garnets, a renovations. We recently had the side. We went back to the spot fantastic carved agate starfish, chance to visit the new gallery where they made their big find near the pit also had attractive We spent hours looking at the and a 22,700 carat tourmaline while in Toronto, and came away by De Morgan and picked up some of the small, samples of bornite, with the display cases so I will not go into crystal from California. There very impressed. On top of the attractive pieces that were left biotite and feldspar that had been detail regarding all is also a reopened, gallery, until November We donned our hard hats, and behind. They made very interest- trucked up from the mine, of the minerals on beautiful frog there is also an excellent special travelled in a convoy to three ing rock to collect as specimens, and were waiting for us to pick display. Suffice it carved from exhibition of the Michael Scott locations around the cavernous for they were artfully formed, with them up. After very little time our to say that there a chunk of private collection of gems. multi-layered pit of the Similco the two minerals intertwined. Our bags were full. are excellent ruby-zoisite, Mine in Princeton, B.C. We felt final stop, and the climax of the We had a fabulous day, with specimens of just a collection Those of you who have looked at very fortunate in that we were trip, was a look at the spiral road exciting rockhounding. I would like about every mineral of dragonfly mineral collections in museums invited to visit the mine to give special you can think of. gemstone will know that it is not easy to by Rhian Williams, who thanks to the There are a few brooches, properly display minerals in a is currently working Williams family, galleries of minerals a wonderful way that shows off their colour at the mine. Rhian’s and the Similco from specific collection of and conveys the information father and mother, security guard, localities, such watermelon rockhounds like to know regarding Dr. David and Anne for taking us to as the Mont Ste. tourmaline each specimen. The new mineral Williams are members this location and Hilaire locality in crystals gallery at the ROM, called the of the Abbotsford arranging this Quebec. There are from various Teck Suite of Galleries – Earth’s Rockhound club, and wonderful field a few large spec- localities, and Treasures, does the best job that organized a field trip for trip. It would tacular specimens a carved bust we have seen to date of carrying the rockhounds, to this not have been that have their own of Mephisto this off. Each of the glass display location. possible without cases including a made of ruby. Geothite This was a first time you. As well, I goethite cast from visit for our group, would like to Greece, a large sheet of natural If you are in the Toronto and many of us have offer our sincere copper from Michigan, and a area for business or longed to see the appreciation large specimen of barite desert pleasure, take the time to visit the inside of this mine for for allowing this roses. There is also an extensive ROM. Allow yourself a few hours many years. Mining companies down into the mine pit, and further field trip to be possible, to the meteorite collection for anyone as it will take that long to see the prefer not to have visitors because rockhounding in the upper area. mine manager, Eugene Mehr, and who is interested in space rock. fabulous collection of gems and of liability issues, so it was a rare We posed for pictures, and began thanks to the other employees There is also an ongoing video minerals. Congratulations to the privilege to be given the opportu- to look around for specimens. I who helped, Pat Kerr, Rich presentation that I found interest- museum for doing an excellent nity to visit the mine site. found a cream-coloured aplite with Joyce and Mark Rein. We had a ing, which shows video from the job of showing off their wonderful dendrites, formed from the black wonderful field trip. various localities around the world mineral collection. David, Anne, Rhian and the manganese oxide. Agate Starfish where the museum’s specimens security guard led the way to the came from. first stop. We were in a flat circular 22 | B.C. Rockhounder Summer 2009 | 23 B.C. Rockhounder Around the Clubs Summer 2009 Cowichan Valley Rockhounds jewelry as at Prineville, varied dinner out followed by a spec- PowWow adventure we’d been We continue with workshop and lovely. When we had been tacular fireworks display. I just to and it was a really fun holiday sessions throughout the summer. planning our trip there was talk can’t imagine being in the US on with terrific travelling companions. As should be this time of year of including Plush and sunstone the 4th without seeing fireworks. Our furry kids loved having all the members are busy holidaying, hunting. Good thing we didn’t go The next day we were in Bandon extra pats and hugs. If you have fishing, gardening and all those as it was and had been raining where we spent two nights on the opportunity to go for heavens’ Abbotsford Rock & Gem Club heavily with access difficult and beaches collecting and the Old sake GO! Our club plans on a few Lakes District Rock & Gem Club Club Contact: David Williams other good weather activities and Club Contact: Leanne Miranda, (604) 870-1024 yet we still have members wanting water pouring into the mines. Town Shopping. Clam chowder field trip outings this summer, then 250-698-7337 [email protected] to get together to continue with The prospect of flash floods in regular bowls, then sourdough Cobble Hill Fair, in August there [email protected] their hobby. doesn’t appeal to me one bit. bowls, fish and chips, collecting is a VI Zone meeting/BBQ, our Alberni Valley Rock & Gem Club The Jefferson County RV Park at agates, walking at fossil beach by club BBQ, September will be back Maple Ridge Lapidary Club Club Contacts: Dave West The VI shows and Gemboree their fairgrounds is a parking lot the lighthouse, wonderful days. to business as usual. Our Vice- Club Contact: Walt Pinder (250) 723-0281 are over and the Cobble Hill Fair on gravel/rock and let me tell you President John Boland is moving (604) 826-2342 [email protected] preparations for our club are well the folks driving through think The next time you are in Bandon to the Mainland this week and we underway, to be held the last they’re still on the freeway. Hot, visit the Walk Through Safari will really miss him. John has such Port Moody Rock & Gem Club Burnaby Laphounds Club weekend in August. We’re hoping hot and hot! and dusty dusty and south of town, Jailhouse Rocks a pleasant and positive attitude Club Contact: Andrew Danneffel Club Contact: Nacy Dickson to get together for a BBQ the so on. Our two furry girls certainly (stones, beads, jewellery- he is a and he was a pleasure to have as (250) 942-0617 (604) 444-4464 enjoyed the air conditioning as did rockhound) and Riverview Gems part of our membership. One of [email protected] Monday following to celebrate and we. and Gifts (they are Rockhounds- the Mainland Clubs will be lucky Richmond Gem & Mineral Club slide back into our regular monthly Club Contact: Eric Kemp stones, beads, jewellery) – be to have him as a member and Courtenay Gem & Mineral Club meetings and club business. (604) 278-5141 Club Contact: Jack Boyes Several weeks ago six of us, Apparently Jefferson County is prepared to spend! Just north we hope he visits us often. Life in (250) 337-8461 Doris and Gord Meyer, Donna the poorest county in Oregon of Florence on the left is the US the Cowichan Valley Rockhounds Ripple Rock Gem & Mineral Club [email protected] and Ken Buccholz and Mike and I with 20% unemployment, and Bead Warehouse (Sweet Creek Club is good. We hope you all Club Contact: Emily Faak headed to Prineville. After a stop it was very evident. A field trip Inc.) stone beads, books, findings enjoy a very pleasant and safe (250) 337-5724 Cowichan Valley Rockhounds at Shipwreck Beads in Lacey WA for replacement wood had sixty galore! On to Newport for another summer and maybe we’ll meet on [email protected] Club Contact: Gene Leavitt and another at Camping World vehicles lined up raring to go. two nights, the Aquarium is a a rock pile somewhere along the Selkirk Rock & Mineral Club (250) 246-4571 we arrived at the Prineville Crook We met our neighbours at the RV must see in addition to so many way. [email protected] Park, from Albany who also winter other places. A nice RV Park right On behalf of the Cowichan Valley Club Contact: Maureen Kromha County Fairgrounds. What a lovely (250) 367-9605 RV Park they have as part of the in Yuma. A lot of story-telling on the river by the Aquarium with Rockhounds, Ulla Williams. Creative Jewellers Guild of B.C. and we even learned how to spectacular views of the bridge Thompson Valley Rock Club Club Contact: Maria Tomsich fairground complex – we’d all go (604) 224-1951 back to Prineville just to tour the catch catfish with a tire?! Donna and old town across the way. Club Contact: Derek Neumann, [email protected] area. This is a big rodeo weekend spent one afternoon showing Then Sheila and Gary found us FRASER VALLEY ROCK (250)-578-0179 at Prineville with the High School the three ladies wire wrapping a family pub with specials – 16 & GEM CLUB [email protected] Creston Valley Prospectors and Rodeo Championships and on basics – what a nice group. We oz. steak (furry girls were happy The Fraser Valley Rock and Gem Victoria Lapidary & Lapidary Club Sunday an open rodeo that was met up with Sharon and Jim from that night), baked potato, salad Club celebrated their fiftieth an- Mineral Society Club Contact: Wally Remin, well attended. There was enter- the Parksville Club and saw a for $9.99 and a large glass/pint niversary by having a party from Club Contact: Cameron Speedie, (250) 385-0597 (250) 428-0413 tainment in the evenings from 9 to few of the Ripple Rock ladies in of beer/ale for $2.50!! That’s the 5 to 8 pm on Friday, June 12th [email protected] [email protected] 2 and yet it was very civilized and the distance bent over admiring Tues. night special, good thing instead of holding their regular well managed. the goodies on the tables. Add in we don’t live close by. Wed. meeting that night. Our previous Fraser Valley Rock & Gem Club Richardson’s Rock Ranch, Broken night was the Sizzler – two large members were invited to join in Vernon Lapidary & Mineral Club Bow Bead Shop, shopping and skewers of shrimp (size of our Club Contact: Robert Brown, We stayed in Prineville until the as well as any members from Club Contact: Dale Daignault (604) 794 - 7296 Tues. following their PowWow, more shopping at the Pow Wow, prawns), baked potato, salad bar other clubs to help celebrate this (250) 250-6603 [email protected] visiting Elkins Rock Shop (of a few BBQ get-togethers and a (chicken, two soups, taco bar, occasion. [email protected] course, three times) Maury great time was had by all. Doris salad bar, fruit bar, ice cream bar) A bountiful array of food was Yellowhead Lapidary Club Hastings Center Rockhounds Mtn., a petrified wood field trip and Gord headed out to Sisters, a and beverage - $9.99! Good thing enjoyed by the hungry crowd. Club Contact: Lita Hansen Club Contact: Linda Foy and several self-directed rock/ quick trip to the coast and home as we had shopped and were There were displays of history (604) 421-1068 photo opportunities including and Sheila and Gary Scott joined travelling with over 100 lb. of rock (250) 672-5876 from the past fifty years for [email protected] the reservoir before heading to the four of us for Madras, Sisters never mind the beads, bling and viewing which created a lot of Madras. Michele and Brent Heath and a week trip up the Oregon gifts. From Newport it was in and interest, plus an ongoing slide Coast. On July 4th we visited out of all the beach-side towns For More Information were also down that way but show. All the guests were able about the BC Lapidary Society or we didn’t see each other. I have Sisters, drove a very picturesque to Astoria then Kelso and back to choose a draw prize from a a club near you, visit us online not seen so much wire wrapped route to Roseburg for a lovely home. For six of us it was the first www.lapidary.bc.ca

24 | B.C. Rockhounder Summer 2009 | 25 Around the Clubs Summer 2009

generous supply of rock related Vancouver Island Zone’s underway. We offered a beach On Sunday morning we again Gem & Mineral Federation of While it may be bureaucratic, gifts. 2009 Gemboree trip for lapidary quality material, joined in with others on the Fair- Canada GMFC clubs ought to be a bit To round things off, Elsie Young, By Linda Strand, Corresponding Secretary, a fossil trip and a gold panning grounds for our breakfast. After Presidents Message bureaucratic; based on our code Vancouver Island Zone, 2008 to 2010 Peter Hagar trip. Those who didn’t go on a breakfast and a final cleanup we of conduct: Promptly catalogue, our charter member, cut the The Parksville and District Rock I was in Manitoba recently to field trip spent the time visiting had another special set of door identify and preserve specimens anniversary cake. It was a very and Gem Club hosted this year’s see a fossil discovery centre and or shopping. We also set up the prizes for the local organizers who collected, and ensure that proper congenial crowd and everyone Gemboree. We chose a spot that told that Manitoba appears to be material for the rock auction and registered and helped to clean up. provision has been made for the seemed to enjoy mingling as all had some shelter as we were told taking a strict approach to collect- for the “tin can” auction. We were done by noon on Sunday. ultimate disposition of your collec- rockhounds do. some members were getting older ing fossils. Every fossil belongs The Parksville and District Rock tions to preserve this Heritage for This was a prelude to the annual and would prefer to have protec- to the province, which, I think is About 2:30 we started the auction, and Gem Club have many people future generations. Report unique show, “Crystal Dreams”, which tion from the uncertain weather common to other Provinces. We and our masterful auctioneer, to thank for making this Gemboree geological, palaeontological and will be held at the Old Age of early June here in Paradise. asked about participating in fossil Claude Levesque, worked through a success. Sixty eight Registrants mineralogical occurrences, par- Pensioners’ Hall, 3015 - 273rd digs, and the people there were the long table of rocks, success- attended, mostly from Vancouver ticularly vertebrate finds, to your St., Aldergrove on September proud to say that their discovery fully finding bidders for each lot! Island, but also from as far away nearest museum, university, or the 26th and 27th from 10 am centre is the only one among the to 5 pm each day. It will be as Salmon Arm! Thank you! Geological Survey of Canada. If The tin can auction also moved Prairie Provinces allowing public you review our code of conduct, featuring displays of the various digging. In terms of the public activities over the past fifty years a variety of things from one our objectives about promoting household to another. We are sure keeping anything they find, the education about palaeontology along with our regular features answer is no. But I saw pictures including a silent auction, that many items will reappear next and Earth Sciences ought to be year! of people with their finds, and in similar to the government pa- member displays, demonstra- the case of something significant, tions, club dealers and door After the auctions were done, the laeontologists. I think the critical tables were set up for our own you have naming rights. In Sas- importance of every single fossil prizes. Admission is by donation. katchewan, the great meteorite Refreshments will be provided potluck. The food was great and in ones province needs to be varied. Because our Club had hunt goes on under the direction examined carefully. The mines by the ladies of the Royal Purple. of researchers at the University Hope to see a good number received official word that we had in each province destroy more The location was the Coombs become part of the BCLS in 1984, of Alberta. They are recruiting fossils in a year than a century of you for the conclusion of our Fairground where there was plenty volunteers, and although you can’t fiftieth year celebrations. we felt justified in also celebrating of rockhounds has collected, of room for dry camping and a our 25th Anniversary with BCLS. keep what you find, it goes to the cut, cabbed and sold over the covered shelter (barn). We also A local grocery store donated a researchers or the landowner- you past century. With current digital reserved a small hall for the BCLS get a picture taken of you and huge cake, decorated with our Registrants freely parted with photography, it seems that we can “Book Lady”, Sharon Hamelin, to your find. When governments club’s crest. money that goes into our Zone satisfy the government people, sell books. There was room in the give you the verbal equivalent of Bank Account. Thank you! who are trying to protect a non- building so we also invited Ross a whack across the head with a After supper we completed our Registrants and the BCLS donated renewable resource, that what we and Rose Thompson from Cour- rock hammer and say, “It’s not Silent Auction and gave away material to auction. A special collect is in good custody and will tenay’s Eagle Gem & Gifts to bring for people like you,” we have Door Prizes. Then everyone thank you must go to Max Baaske do more to promote education supplies for sale. Both accepted, a problem, and we better start pitched in to clean up. Some who donated many buckets of and interest about palaeontology and they had a locked, secure, dry talking about it. Rockhounds like hearty souls sat around the material, especially dumortierite and the Earth Sciences, than any spot for their products. to collect rocks and fossils, campfire and visited while others and porphyry. Thank you! other approach. The signs went up around sometimes alter them, and even returned home, satisfied with their Local businesses donated items Coombs just before lunch on sell them. Apparently, we have treasures, we hope. for door prizes. Thank you! VACANCY Friday the 5th. Folks arrived become the wrong kind of people. And finally, we could not have The Gem and Mineral Federation throughout the afternoon, and It’s important to find out if that’s done this without the active of Canada have a vacancy for the those who arrived early got to the intent of the lawmakers, participation of our club members. office of Secretary. The positions shop first at the slab sales tables, or if they’re just a little fossil- Many of us had little or no experi- main function is to record the which were set up in the shelter. boneheaded. With some com- ence with a “Gemboree”, and minutes of the meetings and As it happened, the Coombs munication, the real objectives we were carefully guided by the teleconferences. I know there Community was having a potluck can probably be met with more experienced (I am not saying old) must be many club secretaries, or supper on the Fairgrounds and success. In Saskatchewan, every members. Thank you! retired secretaries doing excellent we were invited to join. So about fossil is owned by the province. While the weekend was not jobs for their clubs who would fifteen of our Registrants brought However, we can get permits to perfect, we had a good time, appreciate the promotion to the potluck offerings, ate heartily with collect them, and even dispose of came home with new “stuff”, and national level. our neighbours, then returned to them (even after a bit of lapidary once again are glad to have found Contact: our end of the grounds for visiting. work.) The government people Peter Hagar at (306) -585-2560 Elsie Young, helping cut the Anniversary Cake this rockhounding hobby and the Saturday morning the sun shone are willing to work with us on that, fellowship that comes with it. or e-mail brightly as our field trips got which should be encouraging. [email protected]

26 | B.C. Rockhounder Summer 2009 | 27 Around the Clubs Summer 2009 Parksville and District Rock was set up to shield people from Seems rockhounding contributes email lists as well as some old and Gem Club both sun and rain. That afternoon to a long life. After a rousing friends. I bought a Polymetric By Linda Strand, Secretary protection from both the sun and version of “Happy Birthday”, a OMF concave machine and am The past few months have been the rain was necessary, but thanks lovely cake was shared by all. looking forward to spending very busy for our Club. We now to Max and his shelter, we stayed Marge confided that the many some frustrating hours learning have 45 members. We met on cool and dry. years of field trips and other those techniques! Along with the first Tuesday of each month We had a lot of material to related activities contributed to Polymetric, John Franke of the from January to May. Meetings auction! An old-time member some of the most memorable Facet Shoppe was there selling stopped for the summer and will had donated her rock pile which times the couple have had. laps and rough. I bought some begin again in September. had Texada porphyry and Salt synthetic material from him to Saturday lineup before departure from Vernon Arts Centre Our Club co-hosted a Show in Spring Island rhodonite among prototype new cuts, and I highly Once that was settled, off we how easy it was to find the Peridot May with the Courtenay Gem & other treasures. Max Baaske also recommend him as a dealer. went to find a place to camp. crystals! It was on almost in every Mineral Club. This was a new and donated buckets of material. The Guild did an extraordinary Most places where still closed or basalt rock we turned. Some very interesting experience for us. We Other members donated plants, job of pulling this all together just too full because of the May sandy ones, others with bigger shared the profit from the Show, rock, finished products, and even and we’re both hugely grateful. long weekend, but we found a crystals, but lots to be found! Not and now have a little more cash in one surprise bag. President and Corresponding membership is nice camping spot overlooking a the size you can use on faceting our bank account. We are grateful auctioneer, Claude Levesque, available for people living outside beautiful lake. We even scored but they are very beautiful just the to the Courtenay Club for asking successfully auctioned off each Oregon which entitles them to hot water for the morning same with colours ranging from us to participate. lot, so a lot of material has shifted the monthly newsletter, “Facets”. showers, a must for some of us! pale yellow to dark emerald green. into rockhounds hands for Potluck dinner was fun with lots Later in the evening, there was a further use! Neil Schnee and birthday boy, Les Websites to check: of food and a chance to meet and Rock Auction back at the Winfield Flanagan. Photo, courtesy, Marlene www.facetersguild.com chat with members from other Community Centre. Lots of rocks Our Treasurer, Mabel Baaske www.polymetricinc.com clubs. Nice group of people. We and some fossils were in display has kept our Club’s finances Faceters Guild www.gemcutter.com went back to our camping site for people to bid on. The big in superb order. We are very Conference Review attraction being a huge amethyst lucky to have members like by PMRC member, Lisa Elser geode. It went for more than Mabel, Max and Marion. They 26-28 was the date of the $300.00 The next day we went have the experience, skill and Columbia-Willamete Faceters The Rendezvous 09 on the fossil, opalized shell and ability to guide the club. They Guild conference which was Through the eyes of a first agates field trip. This was on are certainly valued by the held just out side Portland. Tom timer a private claim and the person inexperienced members of and I drove down and from the photos and article, Lisete Cirqueira in charge was very helpful and the Executive! Summer is now initial reception on Friday to the There were four of us leaving A month later we hosted the upon us. It is time to recharge the last roundtable discussion on that Friday morning to Winfield 2009 Gemboree. This also was rockhounding batteries before Sunday, we were impressed in the Okanagan Valley, Lynne a new experience for most of the next season of meetings and and thrilled with the event. We’d Johnston, Tom Schlegel, our members, but this too was a fieldtrips is upon us. initially signed up to see Bob Christine Laurin and myself. success. We generated enough Long, one of the faceting greats. The weather was nice and the revenue for the Vancouver Island He and his partner Norm Steele hours it took us to get there Zone to pay its expenses for the Port Moody Rock & created meetpoint faceting, a were soothed by the beautiful next year. Because our club joined Gem Club mathematical framework that landscape the BCLS in 1984, we celebrated Our last meeting before summer underpin tools like Gemcad. and good Every gem designer today Tom and Christine taking opal and opalized shell with a 25th Anniversary Cake. We was a nice turn out. The actual company. from a very large conglomerate. have created a cd with a time line meeting went smoothly and we stands on their shoulders. It was early and sample information sheets Spending time with Bob and afternoon had plenty of time to socialize, and thought we were going to which we have passed on to the listening to him speak about his when we show our treasures and take in have a nice peaceful night’s rest. Victoria Lapidary and Mineral experiences and discoveries got to our some refreshments. Thanks to not the case! I do not think anyone Society in the hope that they was worth the trip alone. Robert destination. Andrew for bringing the wonderful had any sleep what so ever. A can build on the information we Strickland, author of Gemcad, We were cheese selection and everyone group of very loud and inconsider- compiled. gave several talks, including an one of the first to register and else for the various beverages. ate people had a party right next Our last activity before summer advanced session on Saturday pick up Member, Suat, gave everyone to our tents. was our annual yummy potluck night. BothTom and I are feeling the field trips we wanted to take attending a handy cloth tote bag Luckily they were thrown out and auction. This was held at the much more confident in our that weekend. There were four from S&S Studio. Many thanks. the very next day and we never home of our long time member, use of the program and learned different possibilities; Banded "Of course Tom being a guy just had to Another special happening during had any other problems with keep on climbing and was always on higher Marion Barclay. As usual her some very, very useful tricks. Agate & Opals; Peridot; Fossils, the evening was the celebration noise Tom and myself decided to ground than myself. Cost him a black nail - garden was lovely. Max Baaske of Les Flanagan’s 90th birthday. There were many people there Opalized shell and Agates. Ouch, that had to hurt!" had built a tarpaulin shelter that who we’d known only from venture uphill, and it was amazing 28 | B.C. Rockhounder Summer 2009 | 29 Around the Clubs Summer 2009 The British Columbia Lapidary Society HOME & AWAY GUEST HOMES extremely knowledgeable. It was Rendezvous 2010 250-256-0009 a really good experience to be Accomodations 615 Summer St, PO Box 1754, out on fossil bed. Its very different Rendezvous 2010 Lillooet, VOK 1VO from just trying to identify a rock May 21 - 24, 2010 4 PINES MOTEL At Lillooet Esso, turn right on 7th, left at Summer. Back at Winfield, there was a mini Elks Hall, Box 36, 108 - 8th Avenue Exclusive, modern 3 bedroom, 2 bath homes; show with dealers, second hand 640 - Moha Road, Lillooet,BC V0K 1V0 large rooms; comfortable living rooms with extra machinery and a bucket Raffle. A Lillooet, BC Tel: 250 256-4247, sofa beds; spectacular Eraser River & mountain nice catered dinner was served Hosted by the Interior Zone Toll Free: 1-800-753-2576 views from decks, patios; fully equipped kitchens at the end of the long day and Fax: 250 256-4120 with microwave, dish- washer; laundry; satellite we shared our exciting finds. On Field trips will be posted Located in the heart of Lillooet, 19 brand new units, TV; private; secure heated garage; monthly rates; Monday it was pancake breakfast at registration suites with jet tubs, units with twin, double, queen Smoking Policy: outdoors only in designated areas; and saying goodbye to all those or king beds direct dial phones, all rooms air con- Cash, Personal Cheque, Travellers Cheques; Club members are invited to display their collections and demonstrate new faces and heading home. The ditioned. Kitchenettes with fridge and microwaves, Pet Policy: pets allowed, call for details; CP: 30 their skills. If you require a Society case please contact Win Robertson; long weekend seemed rather short complimentary tea and coffee, smoking and non- days. Tel. 250-376-4878 or E-mail [email protected] after. smoking units If 2 Units-$85-115; Add'l $14 For more information visit www.homeandaway.ca Free dry camping is available at the hall for the weekend. 47 units - $55 - $125, additional person - $17. For more information visit www.4pinesmotel.com KOMAREVICH ORIGINALS LTD. STURGEON BAY B&B 1510-7th Street S.W, Calgary, AB T2R 1A7 Rod and Michelle Graham Will be the dealer at Rendezvous, 130 Haylmore Place If there are any special requests for items we carry please contact: PO Box 1130, Lillooet, BC V0K 1V0 Mike at Phone: 403-244-3244, Fax: 403-244-3424 GOLDPANNER HOTEL Phone: (250) 256-7792 or E mail: [email protected] 250-256-2355, Fax: 250-256-0228 Studio: (S) $80.00 (D) $90.00 Toll Free 888-256-2354, Suite: (S) $80.00 (D) $90.00 Visit the store at: www.komarevichoriginals.com 639 Main St, PO Box 70, Lillooet, VOK 1VO Three people/Two rooms $120.00 With queen, doubles, twins; free high-speed More strategy planning. It involves standing Four people/Two rooms $150.00 around, leaning on trucks and drinking water wireless internet; secure access, phone system, Queen size Futon available add'l $10.00 cable TV, movie channel, air-conditioned, in-room coffee/tea, fridges, full bath, continental Planned activities: breakfast(seasonal); hotel built in 2003; non- BUMBLE ROOT B&B smoking facility; 250-256-0332 Friday Help Out Major CC, Cash, DC, Travellers Cheques; Pet Policy: 104 - 9th Ave, Lillooet, VOK 1VO afternoon and evening: Donations for the no pets; CP: 48 hrs no refund. Main St, turn left at Lou's Family Restaurant. Your - Registration and setting up of 22 Units-$63-95; Add'10 own private home away from home; fresh baked display cases. bucket raffle and For more information visit: goods every morning; kitchenette; private entrance; Friday pm: the rock auction are www.goldpannerhotel.com non-smoking facility; 6:30 - ????, Pot Luck Dinner Major CC, DC, Travellers Cheques; Pet Policy: pets needed and greatly allowed, call for details; CP: 24 hrs. Saturday AM: appreciated. MILE "0" MOTEL 2 Units-$85-95; Add'l $20 - Field trips, Rock Auction at 250-256-7511, For information visit www.bumblerootbandb.com 7:00PM Toll Free, 888-76-4530, Fax 250-256-4124 CAYOOSH CREEK CAMPGROUND Sunday AM: E mail: [email protected] 250-256-4180, Toll Free 877-748-2628, - Field trips, Bucket Raffle at 5PM Directions: 616 Main St, PO Box 219, Lillooet, VOK 1VO E mail: [email protected] Downtown; centrally located; quiet, spacious units; 100, Hwy 99, PO Box 1548, Lillooet, VOK 1VO Sunday 6:30pm Lillooet is located along the banks of the Fraser River at view of mountains & Fraser River; air-conditioned; (Apr-Oct) East side of Fraser River, below Lillooet on - Catered Dinner the Junction of Highway 99, kitchenettes; 2 room suites; honeymoon suite; Hwy 99. The Annual General Meeting of Highway 12 and Highway 40. balconies; jetted tub; 46 cable channels; compli- Spacious riverside setting, pull through RV-sites; the British Columbia Lapidary mentary coffee; ice; smoking and non-smoking hookups; treed & grassed tent sites; deluxe on-site Society will be held after the It is conveniently accessible to the Lower Mainland, Whistler, rooms available. RV rental; firepits; clean washrooms; 'free hot dinner Major CC, Cash, DC, Travellers Cheques; pets showers; reservations welcome; DC, MC, Travellers Monday morning Kamloops, and the Cariboo. Jade is part of the geographical history of the region and allowed, call for details; CP: 24 hrs notice. Cheques, VI; Pet Policy: pets allowed, Elec, Water & - Pancake breakfast can still be found on the shores of the local rivers and in the 36 Units-$50-95; Add'$10 central dump-station Inc42 Sites. surrounding mountains. For more information visit Per 2 persons $19-24; Add'l $2.5. www.mileomotel.com For information visit www.cayooshcampground.ca

30 | B.C. Rockhounder Summer 2009 | 31 Around the Clubs Summer 2009

Summer Camp 2010: OVERLANDING STOPPING PLACE had numerous items available Ripple Rock Gem & Mineral quite as low but the samples of to the rockhound who offered Club dallasite, epidote, and garden August 2 - 7, 2010 the most money or had the best Abbotsford Gem Show rocks were readily available. A trip Telephone: 250-677-4392, luck. Discussions on which field Submitted by G. Burkholder up the mountainside opposite the Toll free: 888-893-1628, trips to go on evoked images of It was a dark and very early lake didn’t prove as rewarding. [email protected] treasures just waiting for us to morning that greeted the 14 The views, however were terrific! P.O. Box 66 find and bring home. Everybody members in the parking lot of the Everyone appreciated the Little Fort, BC V0E 2C0 had an opinion on which field Tyee Plaza who were going o the wonderful camp meal that was Known as the Hub of the North Thompson, trip would be the most rewarding Abbotsford show on the chartered shared around noon. Doug has a the small community of Little Fort is located and the easiest to get to. bus. Doug’s care in organizing flair for cooking dogs and onions. in the North Thompson Valley region of and planning the trip was precise Another great outing! British Columbia, Little Fort is west of the to say the least. We waited as Thompson River on the Yellowhead Highway long as we could for late arrivals Gemboree 2009 Parksville 5, at the junction with Highway 24, between and departed for Parksville and The weather was great, the Barriere and Clearwater. the next addition to the group. We location was great, and the collected the final contingen at the people were great. I was only Accommodations: LOST HORSE MOTEL THE RIVERMOUNT MOTEL ferry terminal. Our numbers were For accommodations information in 137 Hwy 24, PO Box 41, & CAMPGROUND able to get to Coombs for the Clearwater or Barriere Check the BC now 42 strong rock enthusiasts. Little Fort, VOE 2CO 4462 Hummingbird Rd Hwy 5 S, day on Saturday. I pulled into the Accommodations Guide. The show itself lived up to its Junction of Hwys 5 & 24, PO Box 68, Little Fort, VOE 2CO Coombs Fairgrounds at about billing as one of the best around. 1 hr north Kamloops. Single, 4 km north of Little Fort on Hwy 5. 7:45 AM and saw a few The arena was not overly crowded OVERLANDER STOPPING double & queen beds; kitchens; Sleeping units; Combination baths; campers and trailers in the field. I but there were a large number of PLACE combination baths; satellite TV; satellite TV; RV parking campsites; parked on the side and went into 4 km south of Little Fort, patrons milling around snapping phones; wireless internet access; flush toilets; showers; firepits; firewood; a large covered area to register. 85km north of Kamloops. up deals, finding the treasures Smoking Policy: non-smoking picnic area; sani-station; licenced The coffee was on and the folks Grassed & treed sites; hidden among the heaps of rooms available; Cash, DC, MC, restaurant; home cooking; from Parksville were busy organiz- pull throughs; full & partial offerings and eyeing the items Travellers Cheques, VI; Pet Policy: Smoking Policy: smoking in designated ing the different field trips and hookups; firepits; laundry; they could wait a bit longer before pets allowed, call for details; CP: areas only; Cash, DC, MC, VI; Pet setting up for the auction. sani-station; rock & gift handing over the cash. Not one 5 days. Policy: pets allowed, call for details; CP: Our group of 8 vehicles left for the shop; washrooms, coin 250-677-4288, 3 days. among our group came home on Nanaimo River and a day of gold showers; toilets; heated pool; Toll Free 866-567-4677 250-677-4477, Toll Free 866-816-7912, the 7pm ferry from Horseshoe panning. We drove about 15 kilo- horseshoe pit; pay phone; Bay without something to talk For more information visit: [email protected] Going on a field trip is exciting! meters west of the Island Highway playground; Cash, DC,MC, about. Jewelry, rocks, equipment www.littlefort.ca 8 Units-$60-75; Add'l $7, 13 Sites - per You never know what is ahead up a gravel road to the site of an Travellers Cheques, VI; 5 Units - $55-75; Add'l 5; LS 2 persons $14-22 for you, but there will always and ideas were happily passed old gold mine from the 1930‘s. 40 Sites - per vehicle $17-28 Rates be the possibility of finding that around. Arrival back at the During the depression miners treasured memento. Even if you shopping mall in Campbell River would walk a trail from Nanaimo Richmond Gem & Mineral several of our members. Dorreh Bringing food to the pot luck do not find that piece of rock, was just a bit after 11 but we all to the site and pan about $3.00 Club purchased some very interesting dinner enabled Darlene and I to having the adventure of getting bustled off content with the day. worth of gold per day. There were, Thanks again to Doug Murray for originally, six or seven small log Hard Work Collecting Rocks! green aventurine and brown jasper meet with many of our fellow to the site and observing the doing all of the work in making cabins but only the remains of one Whether you collect rocks with breccia. Both took a great polish rockhounds that we had not seen natural environment around this day such a success! of them is still standing. The area hand tools or a wallet, it can be when made into cabochons. Our for a while. Not all treasures were you can be breathtaking. Being was awash with spring wildflow- hard work. From volunteers worked to be found in the ground. The uncomfortable in a pile of Upper Campbell Lake ers. There were tiger lilies and reports by our hard to help make rock auction and bucket raffle broken basalt columns can pay Dallasite Sunshine, warm tem- honeysuckle all around. The sun members the BC the show a success off. After spending a couple of peratures and a bit of a breeze was sparkling off the river below Gem Show was a and some were hours looking for agate and not welcomed the dozen rock hounds us and the mosquitoes all seemed success. Dealers also lucky. Trapper finding anything worthwhile, in the Canadian Tire parking lot to have taken the day off. did a brisk business won a micromount Darlene had enough, exhausted for the formation of our convoy There were lots of different styles and bargains were of a Rutile crystal and sore, she sat down on a to collect rock on Saturday, April of gold pans in use, from the found. During the (great specimen) pile of broken basalt columns. 25.Doug’s puppy has grown traditional steel ones to plastic first hour on my and other members To make her surrounding more considerably since we last saw pans with special ribs designed to first day back to the also won prizes comfortable, Darlene decided to him at Port McNeil last summer! I capture the gold. It was not hard workshop, I had the for volunteering. shift some rocks. The first rock guess he’s not the only one, eh! to find gold, but the flakes were pleasure of viewing The Rendezvous she turned over revealed a ten The site at the Upper Campbell really specs and they were difficult rough rock and experience was also inch geode made up of quartz was clear of snow this year and to separate from the black sand. slabs purchased enjoyed by many crystals and agate. A good find the water level in the lake not If everyone had pooled their gold at the show by of our members. and a good day! 32 | B.C. Rockhounder Summer 2009 | 33 Around the Clubs Summer 2009 we probably did make our $3.00 report. We noticed license plates pretty much collected by the with the Ammonites was inac- that day. from AB, SK, and ON and from locals, but we still found 7 smaller cessible because of deep muddy Vancouver Island Several members have also After lunch and a little more just about every state in the US. pieces. Heidi also found a fos- roads. However, ever vigilant, we Zone Report formed a faceting group. One gold panning we headed back I had all the Motels for the trip silized coral and we picked up a picked some nice selenite crystals April 30, 2009 Club goal is to have as many towards home but stopped off there, as well as for the stays in number of nice Jasper pieces in right out of the mud. Linda Strand, Corresponding Secretary, members as possible attend and at Elkhorn Creek for a short Montana pre booked. This turned the vicinity. The last fieldtrip on Saturday was Vancouver Island Zone, 2008 to 2010. support other Club shows. supposed to go to a good fossil hike. The creek bed is all shale out to be a wise decision, since The following is a summary and there were shell fossils to we know of some people who had Tuesday brought a geological tour site north of Hysham. It had to be Parksville & District Rock and canceled because of Thunder- of recent club activities in the Gem Club: be found all along the banks. to overnight in their car because of the Prior mountains, led by Vancouver Island Zone. The We spent about 45 minutes all the motels were booked out. local Geologist Dr. David Lopez, storms and mud. We had some The Club had a delicious pot inside information of a gravelpit N information is taken from the luck turkey dinner for Christmas there until everyone had a few We left Vancouver on Wednesday, who provided a lot of insight into Spring Zone Meeting. samples then headed back up July 29. and with overnights in the genesis and geological history of Terry. One other couple joined and raised some money through us there in the afternoon and we a Silent Auction. The Lapidary the highway to Coombs. Grand Forks (in friends house), of the area. It ended with a stop at Alberni Valley Rock and Gem The Parksville Club did an Eureka and Stanford arrived on a hillside where we collected the picked up a lot of chalcedony, Shop Manual is available for jasper, petrified wood and a little Club: a donation of $10. The Club excellent job of setting up for the Saturday around noon in Billings. plentiful Jurassic fossil Gryphaea, The Club had a very successful sale. There were tables down Three and a half days made for an a Bivalve, type of oyster, also of that “Montana Agate”. is preparing to co-host the Show with over 1600 people show with Courtenay which one side of the building with lots easy and relaxed driving schedule. commonly known as “Devils attending on March 7-8th. There of slabs for sale and each one After some lunch and checking Toenails / Claws” because of their On Sunday, on our way back is a new experience for most home, we met up with a couple were dealers, demonstrations, of its members. Planning is individually priced. Along the in we walked across the street to strongly curved shape. club and personal showcases, back wall were the silent auction the Convention Centre where the from Bozeman, whom I had also underway for the 2009 contacted via e-mail beforehand, and childrens’ activities. Gemboree which will be held items and all along the far side show was. We got some more On Wednesday everybody drove A highlight was the beef dinner the rocks were sorted by variety, information for the upcoming on to Miles City in the morning and they brought us to a site at the Coombs Fairgrounds in on Portal Creek in the Gallatin on Saturday night where old Coombs on June 5 to 7. ready for auction. The front of fieldtrips and then set out to see from where we went on to a large and new friendships were the building held all of the bucket the Pictograph Caves, located a Gravel Island in the Yellowstone mountains where they know of a very big jasperized tree trunk. We established. The Hall is already Ripple Rock Gem and Mineral auction items. The auction short distance outside of Billings river. The collecting there tuned booked for next year on March was already in progress when I in a Montana State Park. out to be poor because all the had the right heavy tools along, Club: so I was able to break off one big 13th and 14th. The club is now The Club has had field trips to returned from gold panning so rocks where still covered in mud looking forward to fieldtrips. I missed out on the dumorturite On Sunday we spend pretty much for the lack of any strong precipi- piece (16 kg) and a number of the Fraser River Bar, Oyster smaller pieces with nice colours. River and organized a bus load that I was hoping to score but the whole day at the show and tation previously. That evening we Courtenay Gem and Mineral there were lots of other things were hard pressed to see every- checked into a motel in Glendive. The big junk has a hand sized of members to attend the BC surface of amethystine Quartz Club: Gem Show in April. Planning that I couldn‘t do without. There thing. It was huge. The display The Club is preparing to co-host were many enticing aromas cases were of excellent quality. Thursday morning we went S crystals on it. for the 2010 GMFC Show is its annual Show with the Parks- going along fine, and the Club coming from a row of slow They get critically judged in a of Glendive to a fossil locality. ville Club. It will be held on May cookers and crock pots down by variety of categories. Amongst the Cretaceous Hell Creek formation. On Monday we made a brief stop is hoping to swap dates for the at Gem Mountain outside of Phil- 2-3. There has been one field 2010 Gemboree with the Victoria the silent auction items. I had to many dealers one stood out from This was not very plentiful and trip to Oyster River, although leave before dinner but I am sure the rest : GARGOTI from India. most people soon lost interest. lipsburg and sifted a small bucket Society. of material from Rock creek, snow, ice and cold got in the that it was good. Thank-you to Heidi could not resist and buy However we were on a gravel road way of a lot of possible field all the members of the Parksville one of the many specimens with and there was plentiful collecting, which yielded about 40 little Victoria Lapidary and Mineral Sapphires with a combined weight trips. The Club’s Workshop is Society: Rock and Gem Club a dark blue fuzzy ball of Cavensite with large pieces at the margin of moving to a nearby building still sitting on Stilbite and Heulandite. the road, which went on in both of 20 carats And then it was time The Society had its annual to come back home again, with on Boyes’ property, and the Club Christmas pot luck dinner along AFMS Meeting Very pretty. directions for tenth of kilometre. is contemplating the need for a Jasper and petrified wood were one more overnight in Spokane with members giving donations Billings Montana and a very good Bavarian lunch in separate ‘Saw Shed’. to the Food Bank and a gift by Hilmar Krocke The first fieldtrip on Monday went plentiful and Agates were there Leavenworth. exchange. The Workshop is Lapidary Club of West Vancouver to the famous Bear Canyon agate to be found. What is commonly Cowichan Valley Rockhounds: Heidi and I decided to go to this If anybody plans a collecting trip available. Plans for the site. (See article in the July “Rock called “Montana Agate” is a clear The Club’s Christmas pot luck years meeting of the American to Montana please do not hesitate 2009 Show were underway and Gem “ magazine) Chalcedony typically with black supper was well attended with Federation of Mineralogical to contact us for tips and connec- (and the Show was successfully 130 cars, close to 300 people, inclusions of manganese oxide lots of fun and great cuisine. Societies in Billings, after I had tions. By the time you read this finished just before the Spring portapotties brought on site, water either as “moss”, or isolated blobs Activities included a successful seen the interesting schedule of we will have been to and returned Zone meeting). Members had a in coolers, grilled Hamburgers or arches, or banding. Silent Auction and recognition fieldtrips that were planned for from Brazil. Since I know that a field trip to Island View Beach, and Hot Dogs, and three tables of Long Term members. Since the whole week following. number of other people (6 or 8) and have more interesting full of all kinds of food. What a Friday we went to a fossil site in Christmas many members have Since we did not see any other from BC will be going on that programs planned for the spring. production. All organized by the the Pierre Shale of the Cretaceous been extremely active in lapidary, BC license plate, we assumed same mineralogical tour, I trust Billings Club. The larger pieces period. There were huge concre- silver smithing, wire wrapping, we were the only ones and somebody else will write a report of this black and white, intricately tions filled with layers of Brachio- beading, geology and field trips. therefore I feel obliged to write a patterned Agate have all been pods etc. Unfortunately the area about it.

34 | B.C. Rockhounder Summer 2009 | 35 Around the Clubs Summer 2009 The Shop Gone East 2009 shop to chat & get our permit $ Vernon Lapidary & Mineral Springs in May 21-23/1960. profit of $396.00 In 1975 Bert & Etta Thorburn By Terry Bacon 10 for the right to collect at the Club Over 300 people from across Beginning in 1966 our meetings worked very hard to get a grant pit. The pit is a municipal gravel 1959 – 2009 the province attended including were held in the library of to buy machinery for a work Since Diane Bowman moved to pit that is behind the fairgrounds Afternoon of February 20th 1959 a group from the Vernon club. Beairsto School with the annual shop. April 1976 we opened a the capital Ottawa we have been in the community of Souris. It is was clear and cold in Vernon, Pearsons from Tappen found a dues of $4.50 for a family and shop in a little shed at Howard trying to get together to rock about a 1/2 mile from the rock B.C. with a fresh skiff of snow rare blue agate geode (11inches $3.00 for a single. House after Bert wired and set it hound . Well this spring we got shop to the pit and its paved all swirling over the sidewalks and by 6 inches) which was July 18 and 19 1981 Vernon up. That lasted for 3 years and out to Winnipeg were my Mom but about 400 feet which is hard roadways. Soon to be elected estimated at $100 per pound. Club hosted the 4th annual the shop was moved to Stevie & myself met up with her. It is packed gravel. There is no shade Bob King and Harold Cochburn In early May 1961 a 1660 Gem and Mineral Federation of Normies garage. 1980 the shop almost the same distance from there or facilities so go prepared President and Vice-president of pound agate was found in the Canada show. It was held at the moved again to the Arts Center Abbotsford to Winnipeg as from the bathrooms are at the park the Vernon Lapidary and Mineral area around Winfield by Lew Rec. Center gym and had over which is now the Boys and Girls Ottawa so it seemed like a good about 1/4 mile away. club explained the ideas and Carswell, Andy Maksymchuck, 40 cases, 53 non-competative Club near the rec. Center. Again place to start. Leaving B.C. right The collecting is very easy as concepts to 16 eager people. Dave Nickefort and Doug cases and 13 competative cases Bert wired the place. The shop, you pick up agates , jaspers Etta Thorburn (Sec.), Luicelle Holmes of Vernon. They man- covering lapidary handicrafts open 2 nights a week, was well and all kinds of petrified Loque (Tres.) and Margaret handled it on to a truck and and collections. There were 13 attended, and was supervised woods on the surface. If you Munk (Historian) joined the first weighed it at the truck scales. dealers and as many demonstra- by our own Arnold Schoepp. In happen to be there when the executive of the club. Larry On the 24 weekend in May, 1961 tors plus lots of other activities. addition he taught members the screener is working its even Lougheed and George Menzies Vernon hosted its first rendez- The chairman was Gordon Millar skills of his craft. July of 2000 better as it sorts the rocks and from Kelowna’s 1120 club vous. 225 people attended assisted by Ann Millar. It was a it was moved to the Lions Den the operator usually sets the (started 3 years earlier) were some from Calgary and Oregon. great success and the GMFC, Basement. Lack of use and the agates aside for collectors. The in attendance to help organise Field trips went to Monte Lake, the B.C. Gem and Mineral rent forced a move to store in area is where the glaciers met where they could. Douglas Lake, Whitemans Creek, society and our club each Clara and Henry Rodrique`s and started Robbins Creek and Pinaus Lake. pocketed $1200. shed. April of 2002 it was moved to melt and retreat so there are Three weeks later a trip was It was here a 60 pound piece 1984 May we turned 25 years old to the Science Center but the many varied rocks to be found taken to Kelowna to learn about of jasper was taken along with celebrating the annual society rent became an issue and we from many geological eras. some equipment and look at many 20 – 30 pound chunks. rendezvous in Paddlewheel Park, moved in December of 2007 to The unfortunate part is the the collection belonging to Geo. Stories started popping up about Vernon attended by 250 people. our present place at the Arts city is using the pit as a junk Menzies. Following that there members getting lost on outings Etta Thorburn (the first sec. and Center. storage area for old vehicles so were expeditions to Penticton serious enough to have to warn only active charter member) was the area is being used up. We and Kamloops clubs for more all members at several meetings. given a life membership pin. A The Vernon Lapidary Club is Diane at the Gillis Pit in Garson. were there for a couple hours expertise. The first field trip was A May 1962 trip to the Enderby comical fashion show put on a vibrant active club. We have and had plenty of rock. There to be to Monte Lake and down cliffs yielded lots of agate and after dinner by the ladies of the 113 rockhounders, including 26 was a skim of dirt on most ( the Douglas Lake road. These crystals lying around to be club proved to be a big treat. pebble pups. We hold 3 mall after Rendezvous we headed east as it was early season )so it was sites proved to be very popular picked up. They also found In 1986 the club started mall sales each year – Apr. Sept. May 21 2009. The weather was mostly guess work on what they through the years – still yielding common opal and calcite. sales – one day to start going to And Nov.and along with the good and so was the traffic. We all were going mostly by the shape good finds of agate nodules, During this year Vernon sent 2 days in April and November. Kelowna 1120 Club host the arrived in Winnipeg at the you can tell the agates. These calcite, green moss agate display cases and specimens to We advanced to 3 day sales in Gem and Mineral show in July same time May 23 and had the are Montana type with golden to (Douglas Lk.) a blue common Kamloops and Kelowna shows. September 1992 but went back 18 & 19 Winfield Memorial Hall. good fortune of my cousin Val clear with dendrites in. The woods opal and some jaspers. By December 15th 1962 there to 2 days last year when the mall Dealers and demonstrators will having space for us all at her are of many kinds that have from were 55 rockhounders in Vernon started charging. be present house. She even gave us spare soft to opal / agate/jasper mixes. In November of 1959 in Kelowna attending the Christmas party It goes without saying that the keys so we could come & go as There is a lot of material there the zone society meetings were at the Fish and Game Club. Every year from spring to fall club has been and will only be a we pleased. Diane & I started and it seems no matter what you formed with the “purpose of A phonograph, amplifier and members have been very active success and a fun place through calculating what all we could pick up it will be something worth promoting a closer relationship records were brough for the collecting material from the field the hard work of everyone cover in the time we had. keeping. Upon returning home between the parent body and dance and $4.75 was made trips and transforming it into pitching in to help, each with I washed up my collection and other distant clubs by forming raffling off a bottle of cheer. Also unique jewellery and other items their talents and time. Thank you First on the list was a trip to have been pleasantly surprised at regional groups ie. Vancouver, a cover charge of $.25 was used like book ends, pen stands, gem one and all in the last 50 years the famous Souris rock pit in the colours and variety of stones. lower mainland and southern to cover the hall rental of $15.00 trees, clocks and more. Others Manitoba it’s about a 2 hour interior.” The Vernon club was Charging into 1963 February 4-6 have learned silversmithing, opal For recognition of their efforts in drive west and slightly south of well represented. we held our first gem show and cutting and triplet making,wire the past we would like to honour Winnipeg just out of Brandon. So We returned to Winnipeg and Most of meetings in the early sale in the Legion Hall for Winter wrapping cabouchon making our life members on May 24 Sunday off we went planned our next day Gillis years were held in the homes of Carnival. Tours of students (500) faceting, gem tree making and Ruby Gay, Ted and Gert Basell in Diane’s car, leaving my mom Quarries about 1 hour from the members and the executive. were shown through by their tumbling Arnold and Suzie Schoepp to visit family. After a nice drive my cousins place. It is in the A ‘rock hunt’ was held in Shaw teachers. The club made a huge Clara and Henry Rodrique to Souris we stopped at the rock community of Garson and has

36 | B.C. Rockhounder Summer 2009 | 37 Around the Clubs Summer 2009

been a quarry for limestone since We did get some nice crystal Lake Superior Agates on display ones come from would be at low hammered some of the purple the Hudson’s Bay area. Back at before WW 2 . Again the road is replaced gastropods; we did not donated by locals. Although you water in the very early spring. crystals out and wandered around Winnipeg I loaded all my rocks paved except right at the site. find any trilobites but I do have are not allowed to collect in the This is another area I would love there were some nice points and my mom and we headed Stop at the office and get the one from a previous visit. As is state park you can search around to return to for a longer stay. We and good colour . Again surface west. We did stop at Regina permit and instructions. The stone usual there were others collecting the are and in the old municipal stayed at Superior Shores Resort collecting proved good too as Beach ( where Bob & Rae Sprong here in world famous and has but they were going big for bbqs yards by the airport. We purchased for around $119 a night but it they had used a cat to move a ) dealers at our Gem show come been used in many churches, par- and patios our hammers were some very nice books on the did include a massive heated lot of rock they had exposed from. Unfortunately they were liamentary buildings and private helpful but a portable saw would Agates and a book on sites to pool ,huge hot tub that was both and shifted some nice dark red / not home and we stopped at a residences. It is used for walls and have helped, We collected and check on lake Superiors shores on inside and outside all overlooking purple pieces and points out. town called Mortlach at a rock walkways and is very durable. marveled for most of the day, the way north. We spent the night Lake Superior. shop. There the owner had some returning to Winnipeg in there and visited the tourism office When we had had enough we local petrified wood and some the early evening. This the next day. All too soon it was time to move headed back to the car with our local ammonites on display. is another site that if you on we drove north and crossed buckets full and he tallied up One of which was about a foot have time you should Moose Lake is a small town and back into Canada to Thunder Bay what we had. He also had nice in size and looked like apiece of take in even if you do not the gentleman a the tourism area and prepared for our last field trip pieces for sale but we had found concrete until broken open to collect it is an impressive told is of a few areas to check. We which was to an amethyst mine what we wanted so did not need expose the ammonite within. It piece of Canadian history. stayed another night and collected recommended by the 2 harbors to buy any. While we were there was very interesting but before I At their home office on small pieces on the gravel roads rock shop . A short drive out others came having followed the could ask about the area a bus the outskirts of Winnipeg I think that if you talked to the of Thunder Bay on paved road signs in. They asked him many of school kids came in , so I left you can see a catalog farmers when they till the fields we turned at a town ? Pearl we questions but not many stayed with the thought of going back to of homes and buildings you would find much bigger ones. followed a gravel road to the Blue to collect. Back at the hotel we inquire at another time. where this stone has been We headed north thru Duluth and Point Mine. It is a small mine tallied up and got ready to part. used along with getting stopped at every beach we could blasted out of hard rock where It was a great trip with Diane Incase you are heading east The Amethyst Mine more information from you can go and collect to your and we saw a lot of area and check into Agate Days at Two the friendly employees there. hearts content. The owner of the many interesting sites including Harbors And Moose Lake Agate The Geological Survey of Canada mine spends Vz his time there a light house which we toured in Days as there are big celebra- describes it as follows ‘Some We had taken my vehicle for and Vz in the United States. Minnesota and we saw animals tions in the areas that sound like folks call it tapestry stone, and this site so we unloaded at that are not familiar to us., wood a lot of fun and collecting.They they prize, especially, its random home base I put my rocks in We walked to the site and he chucks. seem to be in June or July and fossils; gastropods, brachiopods, a growing pile in Vals garage. explained how he was using an check out Minnesota State Park. Trilobites, corals and snails. As Diane loaded her car and we expanding product to create a On my way back to Winnipeg There’s a lot going on in the world the flesh of these once living planned for the next sites. bigger crack in the hard rock to there was an interesting sign on of rocks everywhere and never creatures decayed, a limey mud Well the next sites were the expose more amethyst without the side of the highway stating enough time. So good luck good filled the casings and hardened to elusive Lake Superior Agate. explosives. He then left us , we that all the waters flow north to rock hounding and take care! rock. ‘Tyndall Stone from the Late Diane and I took our own Ordovician 450 million years ago. vehicles as we planned on parting at Thunder Bay .We The weather that day was drizzly headed south and entered Minesotta but other than very muddy at the United States at a small assess, we did find many areas of For Sale the start it dried out nicely and crossing on a secondary road small agates and jaspers less than the slight breeze kept the bugs into Minnesota. We spent the Vz inch. The weather was great Felker (Golden Rimlock) away. Diane and I clambered over first night at a nice casino called and the company wonderful. We Loratone Slab Saw the rubble pile which is huge the Seven clans in Thief River Falls spent 2 night s at Two Harbours 24" Diamond Blade. 12" pieces vary in size from manage- where Diane spent her allowance area and visited the rock shop - $450.00 plus shipping. - $425.00 able to bigger than trailers. It on a spectacular jacket of hand there. They have a nice museum It has never been used! consists of left overs from the cut designed suede .The room display and of course rocks for 3/4" arbor, tensioned to run at commercial sales such as ones was nice and because it was mad sale. The owners were friendly and 14" Loratone Drop Saw that got broke in transit or off Monday it was only $ 39 including helpful. I did pull a rock about 3 570 R.P.M. - $475.00 shaped. You will be amazed at the a meal! The next day we headed inches in size out of the lake with Serial #95689 0. Assorted rough rocks & many patterns and shades of grey out enjoying the scenery and my scoop on one of the beaches. Email - [email protected] that are there. We collected many noticing the amount of water lying The last day in the states we 1025B Quesnel Canyon Rd slabs, lots' a freebies! corrals and took pictures of the around. Our first real stop was were at Paradise Beach which Quesnel , BC V2J 6S4 pieces too big to move including Moose Lake where they have a is huge but it was a drizzly and giant snails. state park with the Geological grey day so the agates did not Morris C Turner - 250-983-8363 Ron Stevens – 604-437-6862 interruptive Centre, It has many show up so well .Where the big

38 | B.C. Rockhounder Summer 2009 | 39 Club Shows Fall 2009 BCLS Interior Zone Surrey Rockhound Club "Tailgate Sale" Annual Gem Show Saturday Sept. 19, 10am - 3pm October 17 & 18, 2009 South parking lot Sat. & Sun. 10 am to 5 pm Swan Lake Nursaryland Featuring Hwy 97 Vernon, BC "Splendor of Rocks" Rocks, crystals, jewellry, tools & used Sullivan Hall equipment, 6302 152 Street Hot dogs, hamburgers, coffee etc. Surrey, B.C. "Lotsa' neat stuff" Dealers with rocks, crystals, minerals, gem stones, Everything Hobby Related beads, gifts & lapidary supplies. Contact: Artists demonstrating silversmithing, gem tree Gloria Bordass, 250-493-1027 making, chain making, beading and wire knitting. Lorne Morris, 250-675-4461 or Displays of rocks, minerals, jewelry and [email protected] gemstones. Hourly door prize, silent auction, lunch counter & more.! Admission by donation Fraser Valley Rock & Gem Club 50th Annual Gem Show Penticton Lapidary & Geology Club September 26 & 27, 2009 "Mall Sale" 10 am to 5 pm October 23 - 25, 2009 Featuring "Crystal Dreams" Cherry Lane Shopping Centre Help us celebrate our 50th Anniversary 2111 Main Street "Silent Auction, Lunch Counter, Penticton, BC Door Prizes and More!" Old Age Pensioners Hall 3015 273 Street, Aldergrove, B.C. Vernon Lapidary & Mineral Club Dealers with rocks, crystals, minerals, gem "Mall Sale & Display" stones, beads, gifts & lapidary supplies. November 6 & 7, 2009 Artists demonstrating silversmithing, gem Mall hours tree making, chain making, beading and wire Village Green Mall knitting. 27th Street & 48th Avenue Displays of rocks, minerals, jewelry and Vernon, BC gemstones. Contact: Admission by donation Pat & Phylicia O'Brien 250-545-1274 [email protected]

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40 | B.C. Rockhounder