MWF News April 2017, Issue No. 561 Page 1
MWF News Midwest Federation of Mineralogical and Geological Societies April 2017 - Issue No. 561 Web Site - www.amfed.org/mwf Member of the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE IN MEMORIAM JOHN AND JUDY WASHBURN
Tom Whitlatch, President Donna Moore, MWF Secretary
Well, spring has sprung for most of us. It is a (Author’s Note: This article is mostly my good time to take the temperature of your club. Is it work, but several of the Washburns’ rockhound friends hot and growing, or cold and stagnant? I added to it.) remember when I first got interested in the club, I was one of the young ones. Anyone who has had anything to do with rocks Now, more than 25 years later, I'm seeing and minerals in Central Illinois for the last twenty my role now is that of one of the “old years has heard the names John and Judy Washburn. ones” who has served in many positions. Both were past presidents of the Midwest Federation. I have come to know what a commitment As a couple, they were the “go to” people for it takes to keep a club growing and in information and ideas for collecting and shows in this good health. It has been worth every area. Although they lived in Rochester, Illinois, they minute; I have several good friends and the loved to travel throughout Illinois, the Midwest, and satisfaction of seeing several younger people step up the United States collecting specimens and visiting to continue the work needed to keep the club going shows. Both were quite knowledgeable about various strong for many years to come. aspects of our hobby.
We work hard to plan club activities that are John was a geologist who worked for the fun, and where we can learn about rocks, minerals, or Illinois Department of Transportation in Springfield. geology. But sometimes we forget that there might be Judy was an English teacher who taught at the others who would also enjoy these activities. What a University of Illinois in Springfield, then worked at the good opportunity to add a new club member or two. Illinois State Museum in the children’s education area. (Continued on page 6) (Continued on page 3)
WHAT’S INSIDE?
AFMS Annual Meeting: Activities ...... 2 MWF Annual Meeting: Geologic Riches ...... 4 AFMS Annual Meeting: Judging Seminar ...... 2 MWF Annual Meeting: A Plea for the Silent Auction ..... 6 Bulletin Editors’ Aids ...... 10 MWF Annual Meeting: Registration Form ...... 5 John and Judy Washburn ...... 1 President’s Message ...... 1 Michigan Tech Leads in Discovery of New Mineral ...... 8 Upcoming Events ...... 11-12 MWF Annual Meeting: Delegate Registration ...... 6-7
Page 2 April 2017, Issue No. 561 MWF News
MWF OFFICERS looking for attractions above and beyond rocks, Ventura County is also home to the Ronald Reagan President: Tom Whitlatch Presidential Library & Museum, some 30 minutes 1147 Staub Court NE from the Fairgrounds. Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 319-551-3870 [email protected] To find out more about these and other attractions, go to the show website at http://2017CFMS 1st VP: David Root 2nd VP: Kevin Ponzio -AFMSShow.com. We of the Ventura Gem & Mineral 1051 Meadow Lane Post Office Box 44 Society look forward to hosting you at the national Jenison, MI 49428 Plymouth, WI 53073 show and convention, and to helping you enjoy your 616-498-4699 920-980-6413 [email protected] [email protected] visit to Southern California!
Secretary: Donna Moore Treasurer: Sandy Fuller 25235 N. State Route 97 8845 Grange Boulevard ...INCLUDING THE JUDGING SEMINAR Cuba, IL 61427 Cottage Grove, MN 55016 309-789-6501 651-459-0343 Jennifer Haley, AFMS 4th VP and Seminar Registrar [email protected] [email protected]
The AFMS Judges Training Seminar will be th th ACTIVITIES AT THE NATIONAL MEETING... June 6 and 7 at the Clocktower Inn in Ventura. The seminar is for judges, exhibitors, and anyone who Jim Brace-Thompson, CFMS-AFMS Show Publicity would like to better understand the AFMS Uniform Chair Rules. A registration form for the seminar is on page 9. On behalf of the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, I’ve been issuing invitations to attend and B. Jay Bowman’s class is two days of exhibit at this year’s national AFMS Show & classroom study of the AFMS Rules book, and then a Convention taking place June 9-11 in Ventura, day of practice judging on the first day of the CFMS- California. For those making such plans and traveling AFMS Annual Show, Friday, June 9th at the Ventura from across the country, I want to alert you to the County Fairgrounds, at 9:00 a.m. in the San Miguel/ many other things to do while in SoCal (short for Anacapa Halls. Southern California)! The fee for the course is $25 and includes lunch We have great fee digs up and down the state both days. With the knowledge you’ve gained from the for rare and valuable gemstones and fossils, including seminar, you will be able to improve your personal giant shark teeth at Shark Tooth Hill near Bakersfield exhibit skills and be able to better assist your home and or several tourmaline mines near Pala in San Diego neighboring societies with their exhibits. County. For those who want to stay at the inn, we were We also have world-class museums. For able to get the best room rates in town for you, along instance, one of the exhibits at the show will feature with free parking for guests staying at the Clocktower minerals from the Natural History Museum of Los Inn and for those attending the seminar. Free parking Angeles County, and another will highlight meteorites in Ventura is rare, so we are happy we could do this for from the UCLA Meteorite Gallery. Both places are you. within easy driving distance of Ventura – so long as you don’t hit the freeway during morning or evening Deadline for registering for the seminar is April rush hours (or any time in between). 30, 2017. For more information for registering at the inn, and for the seminar, please see the link for the In SoCal, you’ll also find the La Brea Tar Pits, AFMS Judges Training Seminar on the calendar of the the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History with CFMS website. great fossil and mineral displays, and more. For those
MWF News April 2017, Issue No. 561 Page 3
IN MEMORIAM JOHN AND JUDY WASHBURN, CONTINUED
(Continued from page 1) Judy was also a past president of LOESS, GESCI and the Midwest Federation, the last in 2009- John served mineralogical and geological 10. She served as Geology Chairperson for the MWF, societies at the local, Midwest and American levels. as well as being a former editor of its newsletter. He worked in the local clubs as a contact for many people who came to the club meetings to give John served as Archaeology Chairman and educational and informative programs. He served as Geology Chairman for the Midwest Federation. He field trip leader, making contacts with quarry owners also served as president of the federation in 2004-05. and managers to set up field trips for the club members After his term as president, he became the Illinois State to get into facilities to collect rocks, minerals and Director. He and Judy attended shows and met with fossils. He also was prolific in writing articles for the club members throughout Illinois. club and federation newsletters, sharing his knowledge and experience with other members. John was the Midwest Federation representative for the American Federation’s Endowment Fund the Judy was the detail person who did the last several years. He sold raffle tickets for the computer work and a lot of writing for printing of drawing for many years. John also served as the flyers, pamphlets, etc. She also loved working with AFMS All American Club Awards Chairman and the children’s activities. She served as newsletter wrote articles for the AFMS Newsletter about the best editor of the Lincoln Orbit Earth Science Society way to preserve the history of the local clubs for posterity.
A sampling of John and Judy’s extensive collection was included in the Mineralogical Record “Mineral Collections of the Midwest” in 2015.
Taking young rockhounds under his wing and mentoring them was something John did many times. He would encourage the juniors in the hobby and help them as he could. John was very knowledgeable about the rock, mineral and fossil collecting hobby, and shared that knowledge with many others.
John passed away during the LOESS Show on Photo of John and Judy Washburn by Regina Kapta. October 1, and Judy passed away on February 26. John and Judy added much to our hobby, and they will (LOESS) Bulletin in Springfield, Illinois, and was also be greatly missed. newsletter editor for the MWF for several years.
John was a past president of LOESS. He was on the board of that club, serving as field trip, program and show chairman for many years. A note from Ed Wagner of LOESS: Part of the As a past president and longtime member of the Washburns’ collection was sold last fall, but the rest will be going up for auction at Curry Howard Auction Geodeland Earth Science Clubs, Inc. board of th directors, John arranged for speakers for programs Service in Belvidere, Illinois on April 15 . I have during the show, as well as providing displays, and searched and cannot find that they have a website, but serving as an identification resource person during the the phone number is 815-544-2772. FYI, the auction shows held in Macomb, Illinois, each March. house only takes cash and check.
Page 4 April 2017, Issue No. 561 MWF News
GEOLOGIC RICHES OF THE MWF ANNUAL MEETING SITE IN MINNESOTA
Sharon Smith, Show Chair on display and for sale at our show. Two more collectible minerals, extracted along with the iron ore The weather up here in north-central Minnesota in Cuyuna, are binghamite and silkstone. These formed has been quite mild as of late. As I write this, we are as silica replaced asbestos fibers in the host rock. Some expecting high 40s, about 30 degrees warmer than a of the old miners recognized the beauty and quality of typical February day. The sun is shining and it really these chatoyant materials and set some aside for does feel like spring! themselves. For years people collected from the old dump piles in what is now the Cuyuna Country State Members of the Cuyuna Rock, Gem & Mineral Recreation Area. At our show, you will see examples Society are working diligently to prepare for our 15th of these minerals, unique to the Cuyuna Range. Annual Agate & Mineral Show in Brainerd, Minnesota on May 6-7, 2017, where we are hosting the Annual Meeting of the Midwest Federation. Vendor contracts have gone out and registrations are arriving daily.
As the host club for the 77th Annual Midwest Federation Convention, we hope you have mailed in your registration materials to join us. If you haven’t, please do! We’d love to have you and if this weather indicates an early spring like last year, we should have some interesting activities lined up for your participation. A registration form is on the next page. Lake Superior Agate. Photo by Lech Darski, via Wikimedia Commons. The Croft Mine in Crosby will offer a tour for the group on Friday, May 5th. This exhibit/museum is located on the Cuyuna Iron Range in Crosby, Register now to attend the Midwest Federation Minnesota. Our club is named for the Cuyuna Range, Convention and join us for a memorable experience. one of three significant iron deposits in the state. The We look forward to sharing our area with other Vermillion is the northernmost, and it began shipping enthusiastic rock hounds! ore in 1884. The Mesabi Range is the largest and most important and it started shipping ore in 1892. Our For more specific information on the Brainerd Cuyuna Range first shipped iron ore in 1911 and is the Lakes area, contact the Brainerd Lakes Chamber of southernmost deposit. The Cuyuna Range lies along a Commerce at 800-450-2838 to request tourism 68-mile-long line, up to 10 miles wide, between publications by mail; you can view more on-line at Brainerd and Aitkin, Minnesota. www.explorebrainerdlakes.com. For convention information you may contact 2017 MWF Convention Though the area is covered by Pleistocene Chair Marge Jensen at [email protected] or glacial drift up to 200 feet thick, 1859 surveyors noted 218-838-8477. compass deflection there. While underground mines developed to remove the valuable ore of most ranges, ultimately iron mining operations on the Mesabi and Corrections from Marge Jensen, Cuyuna Cuyuna Ranges took place in enormous open pit mines Convention Chair: I made an error, in the article where steam shovels and other industrial machines published in March, about the date of the Croft Mine could remove massive amounts of ore. tour. It should have been Friday, May 5th, as stated in the above article. Also, the flyer for the Cuyuna show did not Of course, the state gemstone is the Lake specify that the agate giveaway will be on Sunday, May Superior Agate. You will see many amazing specimens 7th only.
MWF News April 2017, Issue No. 561 Page 5
th 2017 MWF 77 Annual Convention Registration Form Sponsored by Cuyuna Rock, Gem & Mineral Society Crow Wing County Fairgrounds Curling Club Building 2000 SE 13th St., Brainerd MN 56401 Saturday May 6th & Sunday May 7th, 2017 Saturday 9 – 5 Sunday 10 – 4
(All MWF meetings to be held Saturday at the clubhouse location, Lower Level, Franklin Arts Center, 1001 Kingwood St, Brainerd, MN 56401. Banquet on Saturday evening at 7:00 pm, as well as Meet ‘n Greet Friday evening to be held in the Curling Club Building at the Crow Wing County Fairgrounds with Cuyuna Rock Club furnishing a light meal from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm for AFMS & MWF Board Members and delegates.)
Registrant ______
Registrant ______
Additional Registrant(s) ______Address ______City ______State ______Country ______Zip ______Email ______Phone ______Club & Region ______AFMS Position(s) ______MWF Position(s) ______
One Day Show Pass $1.00 (per person) = $______
Two Day Show Pass $2.00 (per person) = $______
****NOTE: Service Personnel w/ID, Law Enforcement, Scouts in Uniform & Children 13 & under are free.
RV Camping at fairgrounds, # of Days _____Elec only $27./Day, Dump station avail = $______License Plate # of Camper ______State ______
Saturday: Box Lunch – $10.00 per person x _____ (number of people) = $______(Orders will be taken Saturday before 10 AM for delivery to meeting site.)
Saturday: Awards Banquet Dinner $20.00 per person x ______(number of people) = $______
Total Enclosed = $______
Mail completed registration with payment in full to Cuyuna Rock, Gem & Mineral Society no later than April 15, 2017, to:
Kevin Martini Cuyuna Rock, Gem & Mineral Society 1001 Kingwood Street, Suite B-40 Brainerd MN 56401 ***IF YOU ARE ENTERING AN EXHIBIT CHECK HERE ______Competitive______Non-competitive______Do you have your own case? Yes_____ No_____
Page 6 April 2017, Issue No. 561 MWF News
A PLEA FROM THE SILENT AUCTION CHAIR DELEGATES TO THE ANNUAL MEETING
Susan Stanforth, MWF Silent Auction Chair Tony Kapta, MWF Credentials Chair
The MWF National Meeting, hosted by the The Midwest Federation's 77th Annual Meeting Cuyuna Rock, Gem & Mineral Society, is coming to will be held in conjunction with the annual 2017 show Brainerd very soon, May 6th and 7th. This is my last of the Cuyuna Agate and Mineral Society on May 6 chance to convince, cajole, plead, entreat, implore, beg and 7, 2017. The show will be held at the Crow Wing for you to help make our Silent Auction the best ever. County Fairgrounds, 2000 SE 13th Street, in Brainerd, Am I sounding desperate? You bet I am. The Silent Minnesota. Auction benefits the MWF Endowment Fund, which is very important to keep our organization afloat. The Council of Delegates Meeting will be held May 6, 1 p.m., at the clubhouse location, the lower To those who have supported me in the past, level of Franklin Arts Center, 1001 Kingwood Street in THANK YOU, and I would really appreciate your Brainerd. Each member club/society is entitled to one kind, generous spirit once again. For those of you who (1) Delegate and one (1) Alternate to represent them, have not experienced the MWF auction before, please although each club is only entitled to one vote. show up and donate specimens, rock items, fossils AND your help at the table. Don’t be shy, now. The In this newsletter is a Delegate Registration th MWF auction is on Sunday, May 7 . If you have any form that needs to be filled out and then signed by the questions, call me at 815-229-4009 or email me at President of your club. This form is also available on [email protected]. the MWF website. Mailed the form to Tony Kapta, 1483 E. Wood Street, Decatur, IL 62521, or scanned If you have items to donate and need a pickup, and e-mailed to me at [email protected]. I’ll be at many of the rock shows in March and April in the Midwest. Just give me a call. Thank you. This is your club’s chance to send a representative to the annual meeting and vote on the business which will be before the members of the PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE, CONTINUED MWF. This also allows your delegate to report back to the club on what business was discussed. Finally, it (Continued from page 1) This is what is needed to keep each club growing and allows your club to be represented at an MWF function healthy. Also needed are people to come forward and and give your delegate an opportunity to meet serve the organization, passing along some of their representatives of other clubs and the Officers, State knowledge and experience. Don’t be afraid try; it can Directors and Committee Chairs of the MWF. There is be very rewarding experience for you. also the added benefit of being able to attend a great gem, mineral and fossil show. Now it is time for me to also promote the I urge you to consider sending a representative MWF. We have many hobbyists who give a lot of time from your club to the MWF Annual Meeting. I realize and effort to keep the federation running smoothly. that the trip is a financial burden, as it is to all of the Why not join them by offering your time to volunteer people who donate their time and money to take care of for one of the open chairman positions, like the business of making the MWF work for the clubs. Environment and Legislation, or any other position Helping other clubs is as important a part of having a listed in the directory. It is rewarding to know you are club as any of the other things that we do. doing your part to keep our hobby going strong. Thank you and have a great spring rockhounding. Hope to see you at the MWF Convention.
May Issue Submissions Deadline: April 5th!
MWF News April 2017, Issue No. 561 Page 7
MIDWEST FEDERATION OF MINERALOGICAL AND GEOLOGICAL SOCIETIES COUNCIL MEETING DELEGATE REGISTRATION th Saturday, May 6 , 2017
The Midwest Federation's 77th Annual Meeting will be held in conjunction with the annual 2017 show of the Cuyuna Agate and Mineral Society, from the 6th through the 7st of May, 2017. The show will be held at the Crow Wing County Fairgrounds, 2000 S.E. 13th Street, Brainerd, Minnesota 56401. The Council of Delegates Meeting will be held at the clubhouse location, Lower Level, Franklin Arts Center, 1001 Kingwood St., Brainerd, Minnesota 56401. Each member club/ society is entitled to one (1) Delegate and one (1) Alternate to represent them. Each club is entitled to one vote. An alternate may vote in the absence of the delegate. Guests are invited but will not be able to vote.
The MWF Council of Delegates Meeting will convene on Saturday, May 6th, at 1:00 p.m., with delegate registrations beginning at 12:00 p.m. at the Franklin Arts Center. The delegate appointed by your club or society will represent your interests, and may bring up pertinent discussions and proposals. However, in order to expedite matters, if your society intends to have its delegate present any special motion at the meeting, please notify the Midwest Federation President, Tom Whitlatch, and the Secretary, Donna Moore, as to the nature of the subject, so that it may be placed on the agenda. This needs to be presented in written form. This should be done at least one month prior to the meeting.
Please fill out this form and return it to: CREDENTIALS CHAIRMAN TONY KAPTA 1483 E. Wood Street, Decatur, IL 62521 217-233-1164, e-mail [email protected] BEFORE April 15, 2017.
(DO NOT send this form to the show registration committee)
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROMPTNESS. ______
MIDWEST FEDERATION DELEGATE REGISTRATION FORM PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE TO AVOID ERRORS
THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT______Name of your club on this line
OF ______City and State on this line
HAS APPOINTED THE FOLLOWING DELEGATE TO THE 77th ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MIDWEST FEDERATION:
DELEGATE ______
ADDRESS______E-mail______
ALTERNATE ______
ADDRESS______E-mail______
DATE ______SIGNED ______, CLUB PRESIDENT
Page 8 April 2017, Issue No. 561 MWF News
PHYSICIST FROM MICHIGAN TECH LEADS IN DISCOVERY OF NEW MINERAL, MERELANIITE
Allison Mills, Michigan Technological University "Minerals have a natural wow factor, and while we use many of them daily without thinking twice, A team led by a physicist from Michigan some specimens are truly art," Jaszczak says, adding Technological University has discovered a new that minerals like the gems tanzanite and tsavorite, mineral, named for the region in Tanzania where it which come from the same mines as merelaniite, can comes from. be more eye-catching. But it doesn't negate the value of less showy minerals. John Jaszczak, a professor of physics, knew that something was very unusual about the mineral “Minerals also have an internal beauty in their specimen he was examining under the microscope of a crystal structures and in the way that influences their Raman spectrometer in the basement of Fisher Hall at properties,” he explains. “Learning about minerals with Michigan Tech. unique crystal structures grants insight into the nature of matter, and sometimes leads to new human-made On a hunch, Jaszczak decided to look into it materials, their inspiration comes from natural further. The diagnostic studies with Raman sources." spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy showed a layered structure rich in molybdenum, lead In the age of global communication, it's no and sulfur that may be a new mineral. Now, Jaszczak wonder that teasing apart the anatomy of merelaniite and the team he pulled together can confirm that gut took a team from around the world. Most mineral feeling: The tiny, silvery, cylindrical whiskers are discoveries start with boots on the ground – or, rather, indeed a new mineral—merelaniite. The journal below the ground. The Merelani mining district is a Minerals (DOI:10.3390/min6040115) published the well-known locale, not only for prized tanzanite and team's findings this week. tsavorite, but also for hosting a suite of other minerals increasingly prized by mineral collectors. Jaszczak has Detailed chemical and physical analyses of written numerous articles on the subject, including a merelaniite – a member of the cylindrite group – study on sulfides from the region. revealed a neatly stacked layered structure with sheets rolled in scrolls like tobacco in a cigar. These tiny "The Merelani district has been famous since whiskers, which to the naked eye look like very fine the late 1960s for . . . tanzanite, but this is really a hairs on other larger crystals, have probably been mineral collector's paradise and an exciting place to regularly cleaned off their host rocks containing other look for new minerals," says Jaszczak, who has co- more recognizable minerals that occur at the famous authored three other papers on the district’s minerals. gem mines near Merelani, Tanzania. "The importance of the area is the reason we wanted to give tribute to the miners and name merelaniite for the district."
There are 5,179 minerals listed by the International Mineralogical Association, and their Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC) receives more than 80 proposals each year for new ones. Many turn out to be variations of existing minerals. To discern the new from the variable, mineralogists and physicists put samples through a battery of rigorous tests, particularly to discern their chemistry and crystal structure. High-resolution image of merelaniite. Photo by John Jaszczak; used by permission. (Continued on page 10)
MWF News April 2017, Issue No. 561 Page 9
AFMS JUDGES TRAINING SEMINAR
When: Tuesday, June 6, Wednesday, June 7, 2017 Where: Clocktower Inn, 181 East Santa Clara Street, Ventura, Ca 93001
Please fill out the application below and return to: Jennifer Haley, Registrar 1577 Kenewa St. Ojai, CA 93023
Registration Deadline: April 30, 2017
Please Print Name______
Address______
Email Address______
Regional Federation______
Club/Society______
Division you are interested in: Open____ Minerals____ Lapidary____ Jewelry____ Education____ Meteorites____ Fossils____ Petrified Wood____ Scrimshaw____ Beading____ UV____ I’m bringing an exhibit for evaluation ______
YOU MUST BRING AN AFMS UNIFORM RULES BOOK, UPDATED TO 2017. This can be download on the AFMS website. Bring a pen and notepaper with you. There is $25 fee per person which includes a lunch on Tuesday & Wednesday. Checks should be made payable to Jennifer Haley and must accompany the application. Lunch-check one: T-Rex style (meat eater) ___ or Brachiosaurus style (vegetarian) ___.
CLASS SCHEDULE: Tues & Weds 10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. in the Sante Fe Banquet Room at Clocktower Inn. Evaluation of exhibits begins on Friday, June 9, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, 10 W. Harbor Blvd, Ventura, CA. The Judging Room will be in the San Miguel/Anacapa Halls.
CLOCKTOWER INN: If you would like to stay at the inn, we got the best room rate in Ventura, along with free parking which is also unheard of for Ventura. Another perk, the inn is very close to the Ventura County Fairgrounds. YOU MUST MAKE YOUR OWN RESERVATION. The room block is under the name, AFMS. Complimentary parking for anyone staying at the hotel, and for attendees at the seminar. $129.00 Plus tax per room with one bed per night for single or double occupancy. $139.00 Plus tax per room with two bed per night for single or double occupancy. $100.00 per each additional person up to quad occupancy $15 extra for rollaway bed. Free Breakfast Daily from 7-10 AM, for those staying at the hotel. Free Wifi Above Rates will apply three days prior to, and three days after the seminar. The deadline to make your reservation to stay at the inn is May 15, 2017. Hotel contact: Vicki Samra (Sales) 805-652-0141 [email protected]
For more information contact, Jennifer Haley: [email protected] or phone: 707-332-3032
See you there! Marion Roberts, AFMS Uniform Rules Chair 2017
Page 10 April 2017, Issue No. 561 MWF News
MICHIGAN TECH LEADS IN DISCOVERY OF NEW MINERAL, CONTINUED
(Continued from page 8) The growing team then sought the help of Luca “It is one thing to find a mineral that is Bindi, a professor at the Università di Firenze in Italy probably new; it is quite another thing to be able to and an expert in solving complicated crystal structures. perform all of the required analyses to satisfy the He helped run x-ray diffraction studies to put all of the CNMNC for approval of its status and a new name,” pieces together. The results revealed a complex Jaszczak says. structure made up of layers of molybdenum disulfide alternating at the atomic scale with layers of lead Although Raman spectroscopy gave Jaszczak sulfide, along with other elements, including the first hard evidence that the mineral may be new, vanadium, antimony, bismuth and selenium. more work needed to be done. Because merelaniite is composed of two different kinds of layers at the atomic Although it is not a showcase gem, merelaniite scale, and because they curve to form cylinders with a is attractive, and as the analyses show, it has an scroll-like structure, it was particularly difficult to intricate, microscopic internal beauty as well. A better determine the fundamental crystallographic understanding of the crystal chemistry of these exotic parameters. The chemistry of the new mineral was also materials may eventually find useful applications. a challenge to determine with precision. For both of these challenges, Jaszczak needed additional help. Echoing physicist Richard Feynman, Jaszczak notes, "Science is about taking pleasure in finding Jaszczak teamed up with Mike Rumsey and things out, and we’re delighted to have uncovered and John Spratt at the Natural History Museum in London described this beautiful new mineral.”
BULLETIN EDITORS’ AIDS
Sharon Marburger, Bulletin Editors’ Aids Chair
I received entries from seven clubs for the 2017 Bulletin Editors Competition. I am pleased that the number of submissions was up from the past two years. Way to go, Editors! I'm looking forward to even more next year.
All of the entries have been judged, and the top three winners in each category are on their way to the American Federation for judging. After the May MWF A close-up view of merelaniite. Photo by John Convention in Brainerd, Minnesota, I will have the Jaszczak; used by permission. competition results published right here in your MWF News. The national winners will be announced at the June AFMS Convention in Ventura, California. I will publish the Midwest Federation winning entries in the to determine the chemical composition of the new September MWF News, which will be the first issue mineral. To help with understanding the crystal following that convention. structure, Steve Hackney, professor of materials science at Michigan Tech, was able to provide crucial Keep up the good work, Editors. Remember, high-resolution images using transmission electron pick out a potential winning article or feature each microscopy on ultrathin samples prepared with a month, set it aside, and it will be much easier at the end diamond knife by Owen Mills, director of Michigan of the year to gather those items for submission in the Tech’s Applied Chemical & Morphological Analysis 2018 Bulletin Editors Competition. Laboratory.
MWF News April 2017, Issue No. 561 Page 11
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Date and Time Organization Place Contact
March 24-26 Rock Hobby Club of Greater St. Louis Machinists Hall, 12365 St. Charles Rock Road, Roy Hurlburt, [email protected] Fri 4-8, Sat 10-7, Sun 10-5 Bridgeton, MO
March 25 Midwest Mineralogical & Lapidary St. John’s Lutheran Church, 13115 Telegraph, Lou Talley, [email protected] Sat 10-5 Society (rock swap) Taylor, MI
March 25-26 Badger Lapidary & Geological Society Craig Center Building, County Fairgrounds, Debbie Wehinger, [email protected] Sat 9-5, Sun 9-4 1301 Craig Avenue, Janesville, WI
March 25-26 Cedar Valley Rocks & Minerals Society Hawkeye Downs Expo Ctr, 4400 6th Street SW, Marvin Houg, [email protected] Sat 8:30-6, Sun 9:30-5 Cedar Rapids, IA
March 25-26 Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois Dupage County Fairground, 2015 Manchester, John Good, [email protected] Sat 10-5, Sun 10-4 Wheaton, IL
April 1 Rock River Valley Gem and Mineral North Suburban Library, 6340 N. 2nd Street John Wood, [email protected] Sat 10-3 Society (demos and displays) Loves Park, IL
April 1-2 Des Plaines Valley Geological Society Leisure Center, Des Plaines Park, 2222 Birch, Lois Zima, 847-298-4653 Sat 9:30-5, Sun 10-4 Des Plaines, IL
April 1-2 Lincoln Gem & Mineral Club Lancaster Event Center, 4100 84th Street, Ed Dvorak, [email protected] Sat 9-6, Sun 10-5 Lincoln, NE
April 6-8 Indian Mounds Rock and Mineral Club Roger’s Plaza Town Center, 28th Street at Kreigh Tomaszewski, [email protected] Thurs & Fri 9:30-9, Clyde Park, Sat 9:30-8 Wyoming, MI
April 8 St. Croix Rockhounds Valley Creek Mall, Weir Drive at Valley Creek David Rusterholz, Sat 9-2 Road, Woodbury, MN [email protected]
April 8-9 Columbus Rock & Mineral Society Northland Performing Arts Center, 4411 Craig Kramer, Sat 10-6, Sun 11-5 Tamarack Blvd., Columbus, OH [email protected]
April 8-9 Fulton County Rockhounders Donaldson Community Center, Wallace Park, George Coursey, Sat 10-5, Sun 10-4 250 S. Avenue D, Canton, IL [email protected]
April 8-9 Southern Illinois Earth Science Club City of Marion Pavilion, 1602 Sioux Drive, Mike Chontofalsky, Sat 10-6, Sun 10-5 Marion, IL [email protected]
April 22-23 Akron Mineral Society Emidio Expo Center, 48 E. Bath Road Sandy Sharter, [email protected] Sat 10-6, Sun 10-5 Cuyahoga Falls, OH
April 22-23 Brukner Gem and Mineral Club Lundgard Building, County Fairgrounds, Dewey Buck, [email protected] Sat 10-6, Sun 10-4 North County Road 25-A, Troy, OH
(Continued on page 12)
NOTES ON UPCOMING EVENTS
Two Michigan clubs, the Copper Country Rock and Mineral Club and the Ishpeming Rock and Mineral Club, present a week of activities in combination with their respective annual shows. Ishpeming will hold two field trips to a mine and a quarry site Aug. 4th through 6th; Copper Country will hold a reception and lecture, banquet and auction, and four field trips to mine sites Aug. 8th through 11th. Reservations are advised. Nathan Bergler from the Coulee Rock Club of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, who attended both clubs’ activities last year, wrote that “The registration fee for the CCRMC field trips pays for a bulldozer and operator the morning of the hunt, so collecting is done on freshly exposed unsearched tailings.” He also reminded readers that the A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum in Houghton, Michigan is near all of the clubs’ activities.
From Randy E. Phillips of the Neville Public Museum Geology Club, Wisconsin: “Due to a change in terms at the venue for the club's April Rock and Mineral Show, it has become financially unfeasible for us to hold the show. We regret the need to cancel, but could not justify the possible financial loss. We are starting to work on the 2018 show.”
ValeriePage 12 J. Meyers, Editor April 2017, Issue No. 561 MWFNon News Profit Org Midwest Federation of Mineralogical and Geological Societies U.S. Postage [email protected] PAID Post Office Box 13456 Fiatt, IL Overland Park, KS 66282-3456 Permit No. 1
CALENDAR OF EVENTS, CONTINUED
(Continued from page 11)
April 22-23 Central Illinois Gem and Mineral Club Lester Building, Progress City, 1 College Park Tony Kapta, [email protected] Sat 9-5, Sun 10-4 Decatur, IL
April 22-23 Chippewa Valley Gem & Mineral Eau Claire Expo Center, 5530 Fairview Drive, Paul Tubbs, 715-834-5747 Sat 9-5, Sun 10-4 Society Eau Claire, WI
April 22-23 Summit Lapidary Club Emidio and Sons Expo Center, 48 E. Bath, Bob Powers, [email protected] Sat 10-6, Sun 10-5 Cuyahoga Falls, OH
April 29-30 River Valley Rockhounds Webster County Fairgrounds, 22770 Old Robert Wolf or Jim Baumer, Sat 9-5, Sun 11-4 Highway 169, Fort Dodge, IA [email protected]
May 5-7 Kalamazoo Geological & Mineral County Expo Center, 2900 Lake Street, Jerry Van Nocker, Fri 4-8, Sat 10-6, Sun 10-5 Society Kalamazoo, MI [email protected]
May 6 Central Arkansas Gem, Mineral & Elder Johnson Pavilion, Burns Park, Barbara Champagne, Sat 9-3 Geology Society (rock swap) North Little Rock, AR [email protected]
May 6-7 Cincinnati Mineral Society Sharonville Convention Center, 11355 Jim or Judy Budnik, [email protected] Sat 10-6, Sun 11-5 Chester Road, Sharonville, OH
May 6-7 Cuyuna Rock, Gem, & Mineral Crow Wing County Fairgrounds, 2000 SE 13th, Sharon Smith, [email protected] Sat 9-5, Sun 10-4 Society Brainerd, MN
May 6-7 Heart of Wisconsin Gem & Mineral Marshfield H.S. Fieldhouse, 1401 Becker Road, Cynthia Kelman, [email protected] Sat 10-5, Sun 10-4 Society Marshfield, WI
May 12-14 Central Missouri Rock and Lapidary Knights of Columbus Hall, 2525 N. Stadium Mary Wozny, [email protected] Fri noon-7, Sat 9-5, Sun 10-4 Club (Route E), Columbia, MO
May 19-21 Tri-State Gem and Mineral Society Joplin Historical and Mineral Museum, 504 Chris Wiseman, Fri & Sat 10-6, Sun 10-3 Schifferdecker, Joplin, MO [email protected]