The Golden Nugget President’S Message

Editor: Dolores Osborne-Hensley

September 2019 MONTGOMERY GEM AND M INERAL SOCIETY The Golden Nugget President’s Message

Greetings Fellow Rockhounds,

Program Corner Welcome to September and the unofficial start to Fall. It doesn’t seem likes its fall already with the 95 degree tem- peratures outside right now. When: September 17, 2019 We have a field trip set for Saturday, September 14, 2019 at club member Mel Barkley’s farm in Macon County. Where: Mureal Crump The address is 1847 Wire Road, Tuskegee, Alabama. If you exit off I-85 at the Wire Road exit, Exit # 42, turn right at the end of Center**, 1751 Congress- the off-ramp onto State Road 186 and then immediately turn right onto CR 53. Proceed approximately 1.5 miles. Turn right at the man William L. Dickinson Drive, Montgomery, AL gate marked with balloons or flags and proceed through a couple of gates all the way to the end of the dirt road to Mel’s cabin. 36109 We would like for everyone to be there by 9:30 am so we can get down to the Uphapee Creek and start collecting. We will col- lect until noontime and then head back to the cabin to eat lunch provided by the club. Please RSVP so we can get a head count Time: 7:00 PM and know how many hotdogs, chips and drinks to purchase. Please send me a message, let us know through the club’s website What: SFMS Metal Manipu- or Facebook sites. lation Workshop Show & Tell As a geologic side note, the Barkley property is pretty close to the contact between the Paleozoic Era, Inner Pied- Who: Dolores Osborne- mont Belt, some of the oldest rocks in the State of Alabama, and Mesozoic Era, Gulf Coastal Plains. A difference in age about Hensley & Nanette Gran- 300 million years. tham I would like to thank Mr. David Sherrod for his presentation last month on the film about metals and metallic minerals. **Remember to park in I’m a geologist in the metal industry so it was extra fascinating for me. back. Enter through the Our next club meeting is set for Tuesday September 17th, 2019 at 7:00 pm. We will be meeting at the Crump Com- glass door. Meeting room 1st door to left. munity Center in our regular meeting room. Ms. Dolores Hensley and Ms. Nanette Grantham will be making an exciting presentation on their experience this summer at the Southeast Federation workshop. They will have fantastic display of their work and Inside this issue: pieces created. So please don’t miss it. As always, please bring in some door prizes for our monthly meeting, the more prizes offered, the more opportunities President’s Message 1 to win. Refreshments & [email protected] 1 Chris Rutherford Program List Meeting Minutes 2 Refreshments & Programs G&M Show Updates 2 Please remember to bring paper plates, napkins, & cups. It is your responsibility to find another member to substitute in the & 79 Days to Go event you are unable to fulfill a month for which you signed up. (This is worth Scholarship Points) JR Rockhound News 2 Snacks Drinks Date Guest Speaker/Program (Plates & Napkins) (Ice & Cups) How to Slice Petrified 3 1/15/19 Dolores Hensley Nanette Grantham C. Rutherford/A Gem of a Year Wood into Slabs 2/1919 Paul Sadler Joanne Staley Joanne Staley/Metals Field Trippin’ 4 3/19/19 Frankie B. & Violet J. Leslie Armato Iris McGehee/Rock Bingo General Information 4 4/16/19 The Rutherford’s Sabrina Hammond David Niedzielsky/Crocoite Mining & Check It Out 5/21/19 Therese Frank Peggy Raines Therese Frank/Bead Embroidery

SE G&M Shows 4 6/18/19 Nanette Grantham Nanette Grantham John Martin/Oak Island Treasures Hunt for Petrified 7/16/19 James Easterling Jim Gaines David Sherrod/Fossils 5 Wood 8/20/19 Iris McGehee David Sherrod David Sherrod/Gem & Mineral Film Club Officers 6 9/17/19 The Rutherford’s Dolores Hensley Dolores & Nanette/SFMS Workshop 10/15/19 Joanne Staley Amy K. Coody Members/Membership Show & Tell Reminders & Social 6 Media Links 11/19/19 Potluck At Capitol Heights Methodist Church/2000 Winona Ave The Golden Nugget Page 2 Gem & Mineral Show Meeting Minutes Activities (this month) The August meeting was called to order by President Chris Rutherford who thanked 1. Confirmations: 21 David S and Iris for providing the refreshments. Teri Hamm was welcomed as a guest. vendors confirmed. The minutes were approved as published in the July newsletter. Iris delivered the treasurers' report which was submitted for filing. Dolores said she had 18 vendors 2. Public Relations Committee Chair is with confirmation letters and would recontact some and start working the waiting list. Candy Rutherford. If A field trip to Mel Barclay's property on the Uphapee Creek has been approved with interested in helping the date to be determined sometime in September. It will be on the webpage and in out, please talk to her. the newsletter. Articles for the best of show at the fair can be submitted September 3. Hospitality 25th, more information will be available at the next meeting. The club shirt project is Committee Chair moving along and everyone was encouraged to purchase one so we can show them off Needed: We are as a group at the December show. Therese had an example of the graphics to be used. looking for help in Leslie says she is available to open the workshop if given a couple days notice. Re- organizing the dinner freshments were served and everyone settled down to watch an educational NOVA on Thursday, the show DVD on metals from ancient to ultra modern hybrid alloys. Teri Hamm was voted in coffee station & making vendors feel welcome. as a new member. Door prizes were drawn for and the meeting was adjourned. Contact Co-chairs if you are interested. David Sherrod, Secretary 4. New Display Box CLUB TEE SHIRTS: We are closing the loop on the new design of the club logo for tee shirts. If you Ribbon Added: This are working the gem & mineral show year, we will all be wearing club tee shirts, please contact Sabrina year we will (334) 452-6298 (call or text) to put your name on the list (include size and how many). The shirts will be around $13.00 each (which is a great price) and will be available for sale during the show. The sign up add “The Presidents Presidents Award list will be at the September Meeting too. Ribbon” to Junior Rockhound News, by Miss Viviana Gray the display boxes. The Featured Gem and Mineral Show Vendor club President will select a box that Dwarven Stonecraft and Lapidary, LLC represents the club.

They are from Nashville, TN and will have fossils, crystals, jewelry, cabochons, rough and slabs for sale. The owners is David Schlabach. 79 Days E-mail is [email protected]

Count down from the September club The 2019 Gem and Mineral Show is 6 to 8 December 2019 at the Garrett Coliseum, 1555 meeting to the Federal Drive, Montgomery, AL. Doors open at 9:00 am (Friday), 10:00 am (Saturday) 6-8 December 2019 and 11:00 (Sunday), with a $2.00 admission fee ($3.00 weekend pass), free parking.

G & M Show Don’t forget to stop at the “Kid’s Corner”. September 2019 Page 3

How to Slice Petrified Wood Into Slabs By Steven J. Wamback (https://sciencing.com/slice-petrified-wood-slabs-8622274.html )

Petrified wood is a common fossil found in abun- dance in some areas. The fossilization process called permineralization fills in the natural pores of wood with minerals such as opal agate and quartz and leaves wood petrified, which means turned into stone. You can easily slice some of your petrified wood into slabs to see the internal beauty of both the original wood structure and its mineral altera- tion. Your slices of petrified wood will look great on display in a collection while serving as objects for further study. They make great gifts and souve- nirs of your paleontology adventure as well. Obtain a piece of petrified wood that you would like to slice into slabs. Select a piece that is not quite as thick as the exposed radius of the blade of your wet saw. You may have to obtain a wet saw with a larger blade radius to cut larger pieces of petrified wood. Be certain that your wet saw has sufficient water flow to keep your work lubricated while you are cutting your petrified wood into slabs. Follow the directions and safety recommendations in the instruction manual for your wet saw. Use a fence guide for your wet saw to keep the thickness of the slabs you are slicing uniform. Set the fence guide to the desired thickness of your slabs. If your wet saw does not have a fence guide, you can make one with a short piece of scrap lumber and a pair of clamps; or you can do your slicing "by eye" and hope for uniform thickness in your slices. Apply firm and uniform pressure to the rock as you pass it through the blade of the wet saw. Set your slices aside as you continue slicing through the remainder of your piece of petrified wood. Wash your finished slices of petrified wood in soapy water and rinse with clean water. You can polish your rock slices by ordinary lapidary processes later. Use your fingertips to rub in a spot of liquid dish soap onto the flat smooth surfaces of your petrified wood slabs to bring out the sparkle of the minerals and the detail of the wood until you are ready to permanently polish them later on. Tips: The art and science of cutting and polishing rocks is called lapidary. This also includes tumbling stones in a rock tumbler with decreasing sizes of grit until they are smooth and shiny. Learn the art of polishing rocks. To bring out detail, polish flat slabs of rock on pieces of plate glass using decreasing sizes of polishing grit until slab surfaces are smooth and shiny. In the absence of polishing equipment, rub rock surfaces with dish soap, rub with oil, or coat with clear polyurethane to help bring out the beauty and detail of sliced rock slabs for display. Your local monument company (gravestone and headstone artisans) may be able to help you with cutting and polishing rocks as well. Warnings: Be sure you have permission from the landowner before entering any land to hunt for rocks, fossils or petrified wood. Be aware of any state laws and pounds-per-day limits for collecting petrified wood. Do not remove anything from national parks or state parks. Petrified Forest National Park uses video surveillance and law enforcement to protect our petrified wood national treasures. Use caution safety glasses and adult supervision of children when using power tools such as wet saws. The Golden Nugget What to Bring to Dig: Change of clothes & towels, bucket, water, digging tools, if desired. Dig for petrified wood, chalcedony and/or artifacts. Page 4 Field Trippin’ - Barkley’s Property in Macon County

When: September 14th, 2019 Where: Mel & Jane Barkley’s Property, 1847 Wire Rd, Tuskegee, AL Show Time: 9:30 am Directions: From I-85, take exit 42, Wire Road. Turn right off the ramp onto AL-186, Wire Road AND then immediately take a right onto CR 53. Proceed about a 1 ¼ miles and turn right onto a private driveway. Mel will have balloons or markers at the driveway to distinguish it. Follow the road all the way back to the cabin at the end, you will have to go through a couple of gates to get there. Reserve your spot by sending an RSVP to [email protected] for meal count. The club will be providing a hot dog & chips lunch. Contact Jeff Edwards at 334-296-5034 or Chris Rutherford at 334-372-2507.

General Information The Golden Nugget purpose is to inform members of news about gems & minerals along with news about club, state, & regional activities. Most important, the Golden Nugget provides a way for each of us to share information about pro- jects and to pass on tips that will help others enjoy our hobby. Unless members are willing to contribute, we cannot meet our purpose. Deadline for submitting articles, club news and/or announcements is the 2nd Tuesday of the month.

Copyright 2016 by Montgomery Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. Except for items that are specifically copyrighted by their authors, all material in this bulletin may be freely copied. Please give credit to The Golden Nugget and the appropriate author.

Meetings of the Montgomery Gem & Mineral Society are held every 3nd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at the Mureal Crump Adult Center, 1751 Congressman William L. Dickinson Drive (U.S. 231), Montgomery, AL 36109. The annual gem show replaces the December meeting. Anyone interested in gems and minerals is invited to attend. Field trips, workshops, and classes are held at various locations. These are announced at monthly meetings. Membership dues are $15.00 for individuals and $20.00 for families residing in the same household (Due at the February Meeting).

The Montgomery Gem & Mineral Society is a member of the Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Societies, Inc. and the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies, Inc. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have ex-pressed a prior interest in receiving this information. Check It Out! International Colored Gemstone Assoc. Newsletter http://www.gemstone.org/ Georgia Meteorite Association http://www.meteoriteassociationofgeorgia.org/ William Holland School of Lapidary Arts www.lapidaryschool.org Wildacres Retreat (SFMC Workshops) http://www.amfed.org/sfms/wildacres-retreat.html Alabama Mineral Locality Index http://www.mindat.org/rloc.php?loc=Alabama%2C+USA Gemological Institute Of America (GIA) http://www.gia.edu/ Florida Museum Natural History (fossils) http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/collections/overview/ American Lands Access Association, Inc. (protect of lands) http://www.amlands.org/ Gemstone List http://www.gemstoneslist.com/ Arizona Geological Survey http://www.azgs.az.gov/minerals.shtml If you are on SMITHSONIAN http://www.mnh.si.edu/ Facebook, like Ben Clements Mineral Museum http://www.clementmineralmuseum.org/ our page (link Educational Sources for Young Rock & Mineral Collectors and Hobbyists on page 6) KidsLoveRocks.com http://fossilsforkids.com/ http://www.mineralcollecting.org/ Southeastern Gem & Mineral Shows (www.amfed.org/sfms/index.html)  8 hr trip: 9-10 November (10:00-5:00) Canaveral Mineral and Gem Society 46th Annual Parade of Gems, Mel- bourne Auditorium, 625 East Hibiscus Blvd, Melbourne, FL (Admission is f$5, children under 12 free). Contact Don McLamb, CMGS President & Show Chairman at 321-723-2592 or [email protected]. September 2019 Page 5

Hunt for Petrified Wood https://www.sunnysports.com › blog › go-hunt-petrified-wood

Like animal fossils, petrified wood is an extremely cool relic of Earth’s ancient past. However, while both are technically fossilized remains, the two are actually quite different. To understand exactly why this is, let’s take a look at how this unique type of fossilized wood is made. Petrified Wood Formation Like other types of fossils, petrified wood is formed underground over thousands of years. However, many fossils are simply imprints of an animal left in sediment or ash, whereas fossilized wood forms when the organic material in the tree or vegetation is replaced by stone over time. Typically, the process begins when a tree is buried underneath ash or sediment, which preserves it and prevents decay from the lack of oxygen. Over time, water flowing through the sediment and into the wood leaves behind mineral deposits in the plant’s cells. Eventually, the organic materials within the cells start to decay, leaving the mineral deposits to replace the organic material. This results in the piece of wood turning com- pletely to stone while still keeping the original structure of the cell tissue, allowing you to see the tree rings and even individual cells if you look with a microscope. Typically, the organic material is replaced by a silicate material such as quartz, which leaves behind a clear or white colored stone. However, a wide range of different colors can also occur when other minerals are mixed in with the silicate. For instance, copper generally results in a green or bluish color, whereas iron can create shades of yellow, red, and brown. Where to Find Petrified Wood There are a number of different petrified forests located all over the globe, although the United States is home to far more than most countries. The majority of American petrified forests are located in the west- ern part of the country, with the exception of the Mississippi Petrified Forest and the Gilboa Fossil Forest in New York. South Dakota, North Dakota, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah are all home to fantastic petrified forests, as are Mississippi, Washington, and Oregon. Petrified wood can also be found in numerous places in South America, Europe, Australia, India, and China, among others. In most cases, the wood found in each location has its own unique charac- teristics due to variations in tree species, soil conditions, climate, and other environmental factors. This compels collectors to travel all across the globe in search of unique pieces. Searching for petrified wood can be combined with rockhounding for a fun day of digging up the geological past. See if there’s an area you can explore in your neck of the woods, or make it a part of your next vaca- tion! MONTGOMERY GEM AND M INERAL SOCIETY Reminders

 Please let a member of the board know if a member needs a get well card or any other communication for which a card is appropriate.

Club Officers  Bring spare rocks, gems, minerals to any meeting in order to prepare for the Wheel of Fortune, door prizes at the meetings and rock bingo. President: Chris Rutherford 334-372-2507  You are always welcome to bring your recent acquisitions to an event or 1st VP/Prgms: Vacant meeting, so other members can experience a variety of different materials. 2nd VP/Field Trips: Jeff Edwards 334-296-5034  NOTE: The shop can be opened on anytime by appointment with Leslie Secretary: David Sherrod 334-201-4460 Amato at 334-324-7997. (call please call 2-3 days prior to your desired date Treasurer: Iris McGehee 334-262-7275 to determine if convenient). Shop Fee: $1 per hour or $5 maximum. IOUs are no longer an option so plan accordingly. Newsletter Editor: Dolores Hensley334-538-2192  Be sure to read your monthly copy of the LODESTAR which is emailed. Junior Rockhound: Miss Viviana Gray Email: [email protected]  This is Our Society. Club member input is welcomed and vital to our suc- cess. If you have a suggestion about a guest speaker, program subject and/ Directors: Leslie Amato and Vacant or workshop, contact Chris Rutherford or via text message. If you have a Shop POC: Leslie Amato field trip suggestion contact Jeff Edwards at 334-296-5034.

Gem & Mineral Show Co-Chairs: Gem & Mineral Show Advertisement Links: Travel Alabama: https://alabama.travel/ Dolores Osborne-Hensley & Nannette Grantham upcoming-events/49th-annual-montgomery-gem-mineral-and-jewelry-show & Coliseum Events: http://www.thegarrettcoliseum.com. Board Member Meetings are 6:30 pm prior to the monthly meetings Social Media E-Mail: [email protected] (Members are encouraged to submit news updates & articles to e-mail address above) Website: http://www.montgomerygemandmineralsociety.com/ Facebook: If you are on Facebook, like our page. If you're not on Facebook, you can still view our page by going to https://www.facebook.com/MontgomeryGemClub

Look The Board Wants You: Do you want to be more involved in the club? Do you have some great ideas you want to share, other than during a regular meeting? We are looking to fill the following vacant positions:

1.) Vice President in Charge of Programs: Responsibilities include organizing guest speakers for 7 monthly meetings, filling in as President, in the absence of the President, and as a member of the Board. New Members can hold this position. How many meetings, do you ask? You only have to schedule 7 meetings through-out the year. The following meetings/months are already booked every year: January (Gem of a Year), March (Rock Bingo), October (Member Show & Tell), November (G&M Show Pre-Activities) & December (no meeting, the show is the meeting).

2.) Director: Member must have been a member in good standing for at least 1-2 years in our or another gem and mineral club or a returning member. Responsibilities include being an advisor to the board and club (were the experience comes in), and as a member of the Board.

If you are interested in filling a vacant position, please contact our President, Chris Rutherford at 334-372-2507.