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Home , Charoite, Tinaksite

Cuyuna Rock, Gem and Mineral Society The Explorer

February 2020

February Meeting

Come anytime between 10 a.m. and noon to face polish on the Genie polisher. Bring several small (inch or less in diameter) /. You can work one or more, depending on how many people attend. Franklin Art Center Club Information Website -www.cuyunarockclub.org Email [email protected] Kids’ Program Meeting Place What IS that mystery rock? Lower level You can learn how to make a mineral Franklin Arts Center 1001 Kingwood St, Brainerd, MN 56401 identification kit to find out. Directions .4 mile east of Business Hwy. 371 & Hwy. 210 intersection. (Castle turret water tower.) Rock Wrappers Date/Time

An open gathering for wire wrappers the 2nd Saturday of each month starting at 10 a.m. on meeting Saturdays. at 2 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Hang out with other wrappers, and work on your Club Dues projects. (Bring all supplies needed.) Learn tricks $20/ family to make wrapping easier, a new design, Free /unaccompanied juniors or perhaps a new place to find supplies. All skill levels welcome! Membership runs from Jan. 1-Dec. 31st.

Club Purpose: Club Calendar To foster an interest (& encourage young & old) to study earth February 8 —Rock Wrappers at 10, Genie work from science, enjoy the art of lapidary, 10-12; Board Meeting at noon; General Meeting at hunting for rocks, and semi - 2:00; Kids’ Program at 2:00. precious stones. We also strive to March 14 —Meeting April 4 –Meeting Note change of date due to Easter weekend. use what we know and acquire to May 2 —Meeting Note change of date due to show. further educate everyone who has May 9-10 -Annual Rock Show an interest in our hobby.

Information subject to change. We are a not -for -profit organization. Mineral Encyclopedia 's Chemical Composition Uses of Charoite Charoite is a complex . Rocks containing abundant charoite with a ublished chemical compositions are in pleasing color and interesting pattern are Charoite disagreement. We checked numerous refer- often cut into gems or used as an ornamen-

ences, and each one presented a different tal stone. Charoite cabochons, beads, Charoite is the name of a composition. The compositions reported tumbled stones and other items made of purple to violet silicate - below are from the Glossary of Geology [3], high quality material can sell for high pric- mineral with a striking the International Mineralogical Association es. Charoite is also used to make small appearance. Its vibrant [4], and Mindat.org [1]. sculptures and small utilitarian items that purple color grabs a include vases, spheres, goblets, desk sets, person's attention. Then, (K,Na)5(Ca,Ba,Sr)8Si8O46(OH,F) small boxes, and decorative tiles. upon closer examination, ·nH2O [3] the viewer discovers interesting banding, - High quality charoite rough and items made swirls, scales, or radial and parallel habits. (K,Sr,Ba,Mn)15 -16(Ca,Na)32[Si70(O,OH) from charoite are not abundant in the mar-

180] (OH,F)4·nH2O [4] ketplace because the material is rare, costly, Many rocks that contain abundant charoite not regularly mined, and much of what is will accept a beautiful polish. As a result, (K,Sr)15 -16(Ca,Na)32[Si6O11(O,OH)6] produced is consumed in Russia. high -quality pieces of charoite can be cut 2 [Si12O18(O,OH)12]2[Si17O25(O,OH) into spectacular purple cabochons, or used 18]2 (OH,F)4·~3H2O [1] https://geology.com/minerals/ as an ornamental stone to veneer a delight- ful jewelry box. A pearly luster or Determining a composition for this mineral chatoyance often increases the beauty of Physical Properties of Charoite might be difficult for two reasons: 1) well - this gem. formed crystals and specimens of pure Chemical Classification Silicate

charoite have not been found; and, 2) Color Purple to violet, light brown. Charoite is a rare mineral, found in com- charoite is always intimately associated mercial quantities only in a few small and Weathers to chalky white. Color with and intergrown with numerous other caused by the presence of manganese. closely spaced deposits in the Sakha Repub- minerals. White lic of eastern Russia. It received its name from the Chara River, which drains that Luster Vitreous to pearly to silky Charoite is only known from rocks that are Diaphaneity Semi -translucent to opaque geographic area. - - either charoite rich or charoite dominated. Three directions of cleavage, The name used for these rocks is "charoite". but rarely seen because of the material's Geologic Occurrence Most people in the gem and lapidary trades The charoite of the Sirenevy Kamen texture. Breaks with a conchoidal simply refer to them as "charoite" and may . ("purple stone") deposit of eastern Siberia is not suspect that they are a rock which Mohs Hardness 5 to 6 thought to have formed when an alkali contains a variety of rare minerals. Specific Gravity 2.5 to 2.6 syenite intrusion encountered a dolomite Diagnostic Properties Purple to violet containing a significant amount of terri- Charoite is a contact metamorphic rock that genous clastic sediment. The result was a color; fibrous to swirly color pattern, usually contains a variety of alkaline calci- sometimes chatoyant, almost always complex geochemical environment of um silicate accessory minerals. These can hydrothermal metasomatism. impure. include miserite, benstonite, , Chemical Composition (K,Na)5(Ca,Ba,Sr) - , pectolite, and fedorite. These are 8Si8O46(OH,F) . nH2O Mineral rich fluids permeated the dolomite often associated with textural varieties of and surrounding rocks, forming charoite and Monoclinic charoite and include: massive (miserite), Uses Rocks containing abundant charoite a variety of other rare minerals with parallel fibers (benstonite), and radially with a pleasing color and interesting complex chemical compositions. The fibrous (canasite and tinaksite). pattern are often cut into gems or used as charoite in these rocks is impure and an ornamental stone. intimately mixed with microscopic particles of other rare minerals.

The World of Jaspers phy stone frequently appears as a triangular shaped stone and might be found in a gold- Calligraphy en -yellow color that has streaks of brown, The term calligraphy might be somewhat red, or green on it. The calligraphy stone is familiar to also called the elephant jasper, cobra stone, you, but how Miriam stone, and Arabic stone. It is called about callig- Your dues – its name due to the fossilized shells that it raphy stone has that appear somewhat like calligraphy. are due! have you heard of this The huge reserves of the stone may be before? found in the Himalayan Mountains of India.

The calligra- https://gemstagram.com/__trashed/ Dancing Dragon Its entire body was covered with feathers, complete with two plumes at the tail's end. We’re on Facebook! Dinosaur Discovered Cuyuna Rock, Despite its small size, it had a fierce, Gem & Mineral Society About 120 million years ago, a "dancing narrow face and a mouth full of sharp teeth. is a closed group, so you must ask to join. dragon" lived in China's Jehol Province. Like a bird, it had small, light bones and After being approved you can follow The discovery of a fossil belonging to the wing -like forelimbs. And there were also a the members’ posts and add small feathered number of feathers on your own information. dinosaur is new to its legs. science and helps Cuyuna Rock, Gem & Mineral Society bridge the gap The fossil was initial- Board Meeting Minutes between dinosaurs ly discovered in the Saturday December 14, 2019 and birds. fossil -filled Jehol Province a decade Meeting brought to order by President Ed Researchers ago by a farmer and Opatz at 1:37 pm. Board members present named the dino- was placed in China's were - Ed Opatz, Joanie Hanson, Vern saur Wulong Dalian Natural Histo- Iverson, Lilly Peterson, Lori DuBois. bohaiensis, which ry Museum. translates to "a Motion passed to approve minutes from the dancing dragon." https://www.cnn.com/ November meeting.

2020/01/20/world/new -dinosaur -bird - Treasurer’s Report - Kevin not present The dinosaur was about the size of a raven discovery -scn -trnd/index.html but double its length with a long, bony tail. today - tabled until January.

Motion passed to approve expenditure for polishing, the stone weighs 54.52 carats, auction posters to Ed. Six Most Expensive Fancy and is classified as a Fancy Dark Grayish - Colored Blue . (For more on the cursed Motion passed to change meeting date for history of the Hope Diamond, read our post April due to Easter. New date is April 4th, on the topic here.) The third most expen- 2020. Believed to have been sive colored diamond in the world, the Hope Diamond is valued at an incredible The club will be looking at options for discovered in updating website at January meeting. India in the $250 million and sits amid high security at 1600s, the the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Ed signed the new contract for the May Hope Dia- Natural History. show at the fairgrounds. $2000.00 for mond was 2020. bought by King Louis XIV in 1668. After https://www.truefacet.com/guide/6 - hundreds of years of grinding, cutting and expensive -fancy -colored -diamonds/ Julie Jo Larson - our newest board member will help Sharon as “Show Chair Assistant”. ly found a way that does work. My secret Jewelry Making Tip ingredient is Vaseline petroleum jelly. Mix The club will have a pile of rocks laced By Brad Smith in just enough to restore the consistency to with agates at the show for kids to hunt in

www.BradSmithJewelry.com something that's usable. If you use too for a fee.

much, the lump of solder will flow over a Ed and Sharon are working on food ven- Secret Ingredient wide area as soon as the torch starts heat- dors for the show. ing it.

Those of us who use paste solders some- The club gave Matt Metzler a scholarship times find an old tube has dried out. There If your solder is in a syringe, it can be a for his 3rd year of Geology at U of M should be some way to recondition it, but little difficult to get the plunger out. I find Duluth. what to use? Calling tech support at the the easiest way is to poke a hole through suppliers didn't work for me. Either they the solder from the tip to the rubber plung- General Meeting don't know what the ingredient is or won't er (a bur shaft was the right size for my Saturday December 14, 2019 tell you the secret. tube). The hole allows air to enter between the solder and the plunger, allowing the Today is the Christmas party potluck and None of us likes to waste an expensive plunger to be slowly withdrawn. Once the white elephant gift exchange. material, especially at $16 - 20 a tube, so solder is out of I've often experimented with ways to reju- tube, you can All of the rock for the auction was prepared venate it. Mixing in a liquid flux doesn't easily add the today. work. When the liquid starts to boil off, it Vaseline, mix it

spatters the solder in all directions. up, and spoon it Looking for ideas for the 2020 field trips.

back into the Respectfully submitted, But after several failed experiments I final- syringe. Joanie Hanson, Secretary Agates From Around The Precious or Semi -Precious World Nolte Agate Green Lake, Wisconsin Like a , is an There are some parts of the limestone around opaque . Green Lake, Wisconsin that contain the It is a blue to geodes with orange to yellow agates rims and green (sometimes few solid agates had been found there. They yellow) mineral were apparently collected only once and are consisting of scarcely available. This locale is known for hydrated copper bright red drusy as well. and aluminum phosphate. Its chemical formula is CuAl6 The dolostone in the Morris Pit contains drusy quartz crystals as well as brown to (PO4)4(OH)8·4H2O. Turquoise belongs orange jasper, and thin pink to orange to white banded “cold water” agates termed to the triclinic crystal system and is a “Nolte agate” by local rockhounds. relatively soft gem, with a Mohs hardness of 5 to 6. https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/piggiepete -coldwater -agate -specimen - 1811838463 https://wgnhs.wisc.edu/minerals/quartz/ https://www.thoughtco.com/alphabetical - http://www.sailorenergy.net/Agates/AgatesWisconsinNolteAgateGreenLake01.html list -of -precious -and -semiprecious - gemstones -4134639

February Rock Shows 22 -23 —PASADENA, TEXAS: Clear Lake Auditorium; Fri./Sat. 9 -5, Sun. 10 -4; free; Gem & Mineral Club; Pasadena Convention Website: www.mingusgem.club 1-2—MERRITT ISLAND, FL: Central Bre- Center; Sat. 10 -6, Sun. 10 -5; $7, ages 6 -12 29 -1—DES PLAINES , IL: Des Plaines vard Rock & Gem Club; Kiwanis Recrea- $3, under 6 free; Website: http:// Valley Geological Society; Des Plaines Park tion Center; Sat. 10 -5, Sun. 10 -4; $5, under www.clgms.org/page2.html District Leisure Center; Sat. 9:30 -5, Sun. 10 12 free; Website: www.central 22 -23 —JACKSON, MS Mississippi Gem & -4; $3, under 12 free; contact Frank Lavin, brevardgems.org Mineral Society; Mississippi Trade Mart, 60176, 815 -222 -8197; Email: 8-9—OAK HARBOR, WA: Whidbey Is- State Fairgrounds; Sat. 9 -6, Sun. 10 -5; $6, [email protected] land Gem Club; Oak Harbor Senior Center; Students $3, under 5 free; Website: http:// 29 -1—SEATTLE, WA: North Seattle Lapi- Sat. 9 -5, Sun. 9 -4; free; contact Keith missgems.org dary & Mineral Club; Crown Hill Center; Ludemann, (360) 675 -1837; Email: 22 -23 —PLAINVIEW, TX: Hi -Plains Gem Daily 10 -5; free; Website: [email protected] & Mineral Society; Ollie Liner Center; Sat. www.NorthSeattleRockClub.org 14 -23 —INDIO, CA: San Gorgonio Mineral 10 -6, Sun. 10 -5; $3, students $1; contact 29 -1—MESA, AZ: Apache Junction Rock & Gem Society; Riverside County Fair & Bobby & Kitty Shipman, (806) 685 -3748; & Gem Club; Skyline High School; Sat. 9 - National Date Festival, Gem & Mineral Email: [email protected] 5, Sun. 10 -4; $3, under 12 free; Website: Building; Daily 10 -10; Adults $11, seniors 22 -23 —BOISE, ID: Idaho Gem Club; Expo https://www.ajrockclub.com/ $10, youth 6 -12 $9, under 6 free; Website: Idaho; Sat. 10 -6, Sun. 10 -5; $4, under 12 https://www.facebook.com/sangorgoniogem free; Website: http://idahogemclub.com/ The newsletter can - — - — 15 16 ANTIOCH, CA: Antioch Lapidary 22 23 BELLEVUE, WA: Crystallography include want ads Club; Contra Costa County Fairgrounds; Gem Mineral Market Bellevue; Daily Sat. - - for buying, selling, Daily 10 5; $6, under 13 free; Website: 11 6; $2, under 13 free; Website: https:// and trading. www.antiochlapidaryclub.com tinyurl.com/BellFeb2020 15 -16 —GEORGETOWN, TX: Williamson - Please contact February 2020 March 2020 County Gem & Mineral Society, Inc.; 27 -1—PORTLAND, OR: Oregon Agate & Marcia Opatz, the Georgetown Community Center at San Ga- Mineral Society; OMSI Oregon Museum of newsletter editor, briel Park; Sat. 10 -6, Sun. 10 -5; $3, ages 6 - Science and Industry; Daily Fri. 9 -5; free; at [email protected] 12 $2, under 6 free; Website: Website: http://www.oregonagate.org to place a free ad. www.wcgms.org 28 -1—COSTA MESA, CA: Gem Faire; OC 22 -23 —VALLEJO, CA: Vallejo Gem & Fair & Event Center; Fri. 12 -6, Sat. 10 -6, Sunshine Mineral Society; Solano County Fair- Sun. 10 -5; $7; Website: http:// grounds; Daily 10 -5; $6, under 12 free; www.gemfaire.com Requests Website: vjgems.org 28 -1—JACKSONVILLE, FL: Gem Faire; 22 -23 —ALBANY, NY: New York State Morocco Shrine Convention Center; Fri. 12 - If you know someone Academy of Mineralogy & Capital District 6, Sat. 10 -6, Sun. 10 -5; $5 Website: http:// who could use a little Mineral Club; New York State Museum, www.gemfaire.com sunshine — birth, illness, surgery, family Daily 10 -5; $5, under 12 free; Website: ny- 28 -1—CLARKDALE, AZ: Mingus Gem & death —please contact sam.org Mineral Club; Clark Memorial Clubhouse Christi Higgins at 320 -224 -6650. Career Information for Jobs water cycle and how water eventually evap- Earth's topography and geography as they orates back into the atmosphere and returns survey land. Surveying land involves taking Related to Earth Science to the oceans. Hydrologists may also con- measurements and collecting other data to sult on water -related projects, like hydroe- make detailed maps of particular areas. Geoscientists lectric power plants, and research ways to These technicians are trained to use a varie- Geoscientists conduct field studies and minimize pollution or erosion into valuable ty of surveying instruments and computer examine other physical aspects of Earth. water resources. These professionals need a programs used to create maps. Most of these bachelor's degree for entry -level jobs, but workers need a high school diploma, and They may collect and analyze aerial photo- graphs, rock samples and more to learn some may have a master's or higher. possibly additional training in areas like geographic information systems (GIS). about the planet's past and present. Their findings may help to predict future condi- Geographers tions in particular areas. Their findings are Geographers study Earth through maps, Atmospheric Scientists also used to create detailed maps and charts field observations, satellite images and Atmospheric scientists use different proper- of different areas. Geoscientists generally more. They examine how the land, features ties of the atmosphere to study and predict need a bachelor's degree, and may need to and even human geographic features vary weather and climate patterns. They may acquire a license to work with the public. across locations. They may work at a local look at the temperature, dew point, atmos- and/or global scale. They collect and ana- pheric pressure, wind speed and more to use Atmospheric, Earth, Marine lyze geographic data to create maps, graphs computer models to help produce various and reports of their findings. Geographers weather forecasts. These forecasts may be and Space Sciences Teachers, rely heavily on geographic information used in times of severe weather to warn Postsecondary systems (GIS) to collect their information. people about safety concerns, schedule Atmospheric, Earth, marine and space These scientists need a bachelor's degree, transportation activities and more. They sciences teachers at the postsecondary level and may need a master's degree for may also research long -term weather or often conduct independent research projects advanced positions. climate patterns of different areas. Atmos- in addition to teaching courses in their sub- pheric scientists need at least a bachelor's ject and area of expertise. All postsecondary Surveying & Mapping Technicians degree, but usually need a master's or Ph.D. teachers are responsible for creating lesson Although they may not directly use Earth for research positions. plans, assignments, tests and other assess- science, surveying and mapping technicians ments to evaluate their students. Some of must understand some of the basics about https://study.com/articles/ these professionals may also advise students jobs_related_to_earth_science.html and/or oversee the work of graduate students. Most postsecondary teachers hold Earth Science Careers a Ph.D. to conduct research, but some smaller institutions, like community Job Title Median Salary (2018) Job Growth (2018 -2028) colleges, may allow teachers to only hold a Geoscientists $91,130 6% master's degree. Atmospheric, Earth, Marine & Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary $90,860 4% Hydrologists Hydrologists $79,370 7% Hydrologists focus their research efforts on Geographers $80,300 3% bodies of water and water quality and avail- Surveying and Mapping Technicians $44,380 5% ability issues, but also examine how water Atmospheric Scientists moves across Earth. They also study the (Including Space Scientists) $94,110 8%

Earth’s oldest fossils was found in Isua greenstone in Greenland. There have been claims of evidence dating back as far as 3,850 million years ago, but these are not universally accepted. Scientists continue to refine dating methods to get reliable data on the earliest life on earth.

Brazilian Agates Cuyuna Rock, Gem, & Rock Room Tee Pee Canyon Agate This Club is unique because it has its own Hauser Bed Agate Thundereggs Mineral Society on the Web rock store. Here is an inventory of what is Slabs of all sizes and types www.cuyunarockclub.org available for Club members to purchase. Septarian Nodules —Utah 79 Bed Geodes —Oregon Stop in when you come to the Clubhouse. The website will be taking on a new Moroccan White Agate look in the near future. Make sure Grit and Polish Mineral specimens Montana Petrified Wood you check it out! Dinosaur bone Condor Agate Montana Moss & Blue Agate Mexican Luna Lace Agate Oregon Geodes Starolites (Cross Rocks) Chalcedony Desert Rose Small Botswana Agate Plume Agate Yellow Jasper New material will be available soon from a Bruno Jasper recent donation. Owyhee Picture Jasper

Marcia Opatz, Editor Cuyuna Rock, Gem & Mineral Society 1001 Kingwood Street

Suite B-40 Brainerd, MN 56401

FIRST CLASS MAIL

The Agate Explorer Club Officers February 2020 & Board of Directors Official Publication of the Cuyuna Rock, Gem & Mineral Society [email protected]

Members of AFMS & MWF President: Ed Opatz [email protected] 320 -250 -1363 Notes from the President Vice -President: Sharon Smith Marcia and I belong to another rock club and were collecting with them [email protected] while in Quartzsite, Arizona. One of the woman fell and sustained a 218 -343 -7037 compound fracture of her wrist, and a cut on her head. Secretary —Joanie Hanson That got me thinking. Would our Club be prepared for a medical emergen- [email protected] 218 -831 -2665 cy when we are far away from a town?

Here were some of my thoughts after the fact: Treasurer: Kevin Martini • know where you are, and how to describe where you are (crossroad street, GPS coor- [email protected] dinates) That was part of the issue where we were in Arizona. We were FAR off the [email protected] beaten track. I needed to climb a hill to get a cell phone signal. 218 -770 -8917 • - Bring a well stocked first aid kit. Hopefully someone has had first aid training. • Priorities are: don’t move a victim, stabilize neck, stop bleeding, prevent shock, Director: Lori DuBois cover wound, keep conscious, if possible. Director: Vern Iverson • When in a group, assign jobs. Director: JulieJo Larson

There was a happy ending to the mishap in the desert. The woman got airlifted to a hospital with an orthopedic unit where she is on the mend. Newsletter Editor: Marcia Opatz [email protected] 320 -250 -8120 Ed Opatz