Santa Rosa, California
March, 2019 Letter from Your President Volume 43, Number 3 I hope everyone is handling our constant rain and staying warm and cozy. I saw some blue IN THIS ISSUE: birds this weekend so spring must be close at hand. I hope some of you had a chance to attend last weekend’s Vallejo Gem & Mineral Show. I attended with Jolene and Denny. President’s Message 1 We spent some time observing and came away with some things that we want to bring Meeting Notes 2 into the planning of our own show. If you did go, please make sure to share pros/cons Show Meeting Info 2 with either myself or Jolene. Board Meeting 3 Shop Clean-up report 3 Unfortunately, we now have a new opening on the board. If anyone is interested in Crossword Puzzle 3 joining the board as the Activities coordinator, please let me know. I will discuss this at The Mineral… 4 the next general meeting. The level of activities we have available to us may suffer if we Dues Due 5 don’t get some help added to the board to coordinate activities. Existing people can only Upcoming Shows 5 do so much. Our field trip coordinator Tim has promised a full calendar of field trips is on
Upcoming Classes 5 the horizon. We had a good conversation with him at last week’s board meeting. For this Upcoming Events 5 year we will have some scheduled trips on the calendar on weekends, plus we may have Crossword Answer 5 more ad hoc opportunities that come at the last minute during the week. Of course not Mighty T-Rex 6 everyone can make “during the week” trips, so we won’t be planning those specifically. As Sugilite 7 they come up we’ll use our blast email capabilities to make members aware and obtain a Grape Agate 7 participant head count. I hope to have a calendar available to share at the next general Club Info 8 meeting.
On the program front, our March general meeting will be focused on petrified wood. I’m Next General Meeting still trying to coordinate a formal presentation by a wood formation expert. Please bring any samples from your collection to share with other members. Perhaps we can help you First Wednesday of the Month identify what you have if you are unsure. I have been in contact with Rick Kennedy who you will recall appeared at a meeting last year and did a great presentation on March 6, 2019 Franklin Park Clubhouse Aquamarine mining. He is excited to come back and see us, and he and I are working on the specific topic of his upcoming talk. I also reconnected with Connor from Geotrope 2095 Franklin Ave, Minerals at the Vallejo Show about coming to an upcoming as well. While he is a regular Santa Rosa vendor at our show, he also is a trained geologist and a regular speaker on a variety of 7:30 pm topics with other clubs/groups. More to come on potential topics from Connor. PROGRAM: Looking forward to seeing all of you at our March Meeting General Meeting Petrified Wood Talk & Share Ken
Raffle Refreshments
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Up Coming Meeting Notes Refreshment Reminder *Bring a piece of Petrified Wood to share
*We will be having a Raffle. Feel free to bring a donation to Savory: Bill H. add to the raffle goodies if you like. Drinks: Janyce V. Sweet: ???
*Be ready to sign up for helping with the Gem Faire, Mark West Science Fair and the Club Show.
It’s not too late to get your Nice plastic engraved Name Badge…
See Heidi at the meeting to give her your name and $$. We’ll be ordering soon!
Yes!! We’re gearing up for the show now! The next Show meeting will be after our March 20 Board Meeting…7:30 pm. If you had a job last year and would like to do it again this year, please let me know. If you’d like to try your hand at something different, please let me know. If you are NEW to the club and would like to help with the show…
Let Me Know! I will have a list of jobs that need volunteers at the March meeting. Please be sure to sign up, before all the good ones are gone… It takes a village to put on a great show, so put it on your calendar and jump in
with both feet. Also, looking for new ideas to make our show even better. Bring your ideas to the Show Meeting March 20, 7:30 pm at the Workshop
~Jolene – 707-849-9551~
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Board Meeting Shop Clean-Up Day The March Clean-up Day went very well. There were 7 of us that came Board Meeting out to work on the Shop. Will be held A BIG thanks to Dennis, Heidi, Frank, Andy, Patrick, Jolene March 20, and Andrew (who was not even a member yet, but came to ~6:30 pm~ help anyway.)
At the Workshop The mats were all degreased, grinders well cleaned as well as Followed by Show meeting the floor. Moved some equipment around too. 7:30 We have plans to replace the old lights over the saws. That Can you find the hidden crystal? If you spot it, fill out the form at the next should be happening soon. General Meeting. You will be entered Be sure you come out and help at the next clean-up…and into a drawing for a prize. Good Luck! we’ll get even more accomplished.
Across 1. Yellow sapphire or yellow quartz gem The Mineral…. 4. Molten rock that issues from volcanoes Welcome to a new column 5. Very hard and very precious stone made for this year. I will be of crystalline carbon featuring a different mineral 7. Lustrous gem found within the shells of each month. I think it is very some molluscs 8. Ornament of precious metal often set with interesting and important to understand more about the stones and worn as an accessory 10. Rich green gemstone – May’s birthstone rocks we collect. Most of the 11. Small plane surface on a cut gem information in this column will
12. Transparent deep blue gem be from www.minerals.net . A 15. Deep yellowish green transparent gem web site that I found that (anagram of ‘diopter’) explains things in a fairly easy 18. (A metamorphic rock (anagram of to understand way. So, I am ‘singes’) 20. Gem carved in relief simply passing on someone 21. January’s birthstone (anagram of ‘argent’) else’s info to you, but I think it 22. Outer part of our planet, composed is quite informative. essentially of crystalline rocks, shares its I hope you enjoy and even name with the part of toast eaten least learn a thing or two. Feel free 23. This stone, much sought by ancient Down to visit the site for information 2. Transparent blue, blue-green, or green beryl; March’s birthstone alchemists, was believed to turn base metals 3. Art of cutting gems into gold on other minerals. 25. Study of the history of the earth as 4. Rock chiefly formed from organic remains (shells, coral) recorded in its rocks 6. June’s birthstone, named for a Russian Emperor 9. Small rounded stone worn down by the action of water Jolene 13. Carving or inscription on rock 14. Fibrous mineral that was used for insulation, but which is now removed from buildings as it causes some forms of cancer 15. Method of searching for gold 16. Famous stone that allowed historians to decipher Egyptian hieroglyphics 17. Purple or bluish violet quartz used as a jeweler’s stone 19. Very hard igneous rock used for making buildings and monuments (anagram of ‘tearing’) 24. Precious stone made or red corundum; July’s birthstone and an anagram of ‘bury)
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THE MINERAL JASPER Jasper is an opaque variety of Chalcedony, and is usually associated with brown, yellow, or reddish colors, but Jasper: may be used to describe other opaque colors of Chalcedony such as dark or mottled green, orange, and black. Jasper is almost always multicolored, with unique color patterns and habits. The appeal of Jasper is its interesting color patterns and formations. Though it can be a solid color, it is most often mottled, spotted, ringed, or striped. Each Jasper has a unique color or pattern, lending this gemstone much variety. Jasper is an ancient gemstone, and is mentioned in the bible and other classical sources. Though fairly common and affordable today, Jasper in antiquity was regarded as a valuable stone. Jasper is generally an inexpensive gemstone when used in jewelry. It is cut and polished into cabochons, and used as
beads for necklaces and bracelets. It is also carved into cameos which can be worn as pendants. Jasper has an over-abundance of variety names. Some variety names are generally used by collectors and dealers, but there are many made up by dealers to describe a locality or other habit. The varieties below are the well-known names or varieties that are commonly encountered. Seldom-used and localized trade names are not described here. Agate Jasper - Opaque multicolored Jasper, or Jasper with banding; may also refer to a single stone with a combination of both Agate and Jasper. Biggs Jasper - Jasper from Biggs Junction, Oregon, with varying light and dark color brown bands and pretty formations. Brecciated Jasper - Jasper in rounded fragments naturally cemented together in a gray material; appears similar to breccia.
Bruneau Jasper - Jasper from Bruneau Canyon, in Owyhee County, Idaho, with distinctive brown, cream, (and sometimes even red or green) banding and patterns. Cave Creek Jasper - Reddish Jasper found near Cave Creek in Maricopa County, Arizona. Deschutes Jasper - Jasper from a deposit slightly east of Biggs Junction, Oregon, near the Deschutes River, with good banding and interesting color formations. Egyptian Jasper - Form of Orbicular Jasper with white and gray circles on a red background. It is found as rounded pebbles on the beaches of Egypt. A similar Jasper is found on the beaches of Washington state and sometimes also labelled as Egyptian Jasper.
Green Jasper - Jasper with a light to dark green color. Green Jasper differs from Prase and Plasma since it is fully opaque. Jaspilite - Banded rock that is a mixture of Hematite and Jasper. Kinradite - Orbicular Jasper with concentric rings of colorless or white Quartz. Occasionally used as a synonym of Jasper. Leopard Jasper - Form of Orbicular Jasper with tan color rings, appearing similar to the spots of a leopard. Morgan Hill Jasper - Jasper from Morgan Hill, California, with small reddish and yellow "poppy" formations. Also synonymous with "Poppy Jasper". Morrisonite - Multicolored Jasper from the Owyhee River gorge in Malheur Co., Oregon. Moss Jasper - Form of Jasper or Chalcedony containing dense inclusions of green Hornblende that cause the pattern to resemble moss. Often used as a synonym for Moss Agate, though Moss Agate is translucent whereas Moss Jasper is opaque.
Ocean Jasper - Form of Orbicular Jasper found on the coast of Madagascar with small, tight, concentric ring formations. Opal Jasper - Form of Brecciated Jasper in which the cementing material is Opal. Orbicular Jasper - Jasper with rounded concentric rings throughout. Owyhee Jasper - Form of Jasper with scenic picture formations found near the Owyhee River in Oregon. Picture Jasper - Form of Jasper with scenic picture-like formations. Poppy Jasper - Form of yellow Orbicular Jasper with red concentric rings. Riband Jasper - Jasper with banded stripes, usually dark red, brown, yellow, or white bands. Ribbon Jasper - Form of Banded Jasper with think banded lines.
Rogueite - Green form of Jasper from the Rogue River in Oregon. Russian Jasper - Jasper from Russia, usually with reddish spots.
Stone Canyon Jasper - Yellowish Brecciated Jasper from Stone Canyon (near San Miguel), California. Wascoite - Jasper from Wasco Co., Oregon, with irregular yellow, pink, and red concentric bands. Zebra Jasper - Dark brown Jasper with lighter brown to white colored banding streaks. Jasper is common and found worldwide. Important deposits exist in India, Russia, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Egypt, Madagascar, Australia, Brazil, Venezuela, Uruguay and the United States (Oregon, Idaho, Washington, California, Arizona, Utah, Arkansas, and Texas).
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Dues are Due If your name is listed below it means it’s Upcoming Rock Shows time to renew your membership. Please fill out a membership application and mail to It’s never too early to plan a trip… the PO Box, turn it in at the general meeting March 8, 9, 1: Pomona, CA or drop it off at the workshop 80th CFMS Show & Convention Past Due: Janet A., Susan I., Sandy F., March 9 -- 10: Turlock, CA Johnathan D., Joy C., Kathy B., Mike W., March 23 – 24: Roseville, CA John B. March 23 00 24: Angels Camp, CA April 13 – 14: Mariposa, CA Due end of January: Janyce V., October 19 – 20: Santa Rosa, CA Mike/Laura/Brooke B., Rob/Dakota M. Put this on your Calendar NOW! Due end of February: Sam B., Scott/Elijah B., Steve S. For mor info about shows go to: http://www.cfmsinc.org/shows/cfmsshow.htm
Rock Crossword Answers Upcoming Classes Upcoming Events Wire Wrap a Cabachon with Gem Faire – April 19-21 We will have a booth at Jolene $45 – includes a stone and the Gem Faire to advertise silver–filled wire our Club and upcoming Thursday, May 9, 6:30 -- 9:30 pm Show. There will be 2 Fold Formed Bracelet with shifts, 4 hours each. Sign up at the General Meeting. Jolene Quarry Hill Earth Day $40 – includes copper sheets for one
bracelet April 13 Enjoy a day in a beautiful S unday, Apr. 28 10:00am – 1:00 pm setting talking with people Be sure to get your about the club. Contact Newsletter article to Jolene by Heidi for more info. rd the 3 Wednesday of the Mark West Science Fair month to be included in the April 27 – 10 am-2 pm upcoming issue. Looking for 3 or 4 people to Looking for interesting
pull together the display articles about rocks, geology, a and work with kids at the great trip you took, etc. show. Send info to … More info about all at the [email protected] Thank you! meeting. Rockhound Magazine
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Another interesting fossil article sent in by Doug C. Thank you! Mighty T. Rex Began As
Cute, Deer-Size Dino
By Mindy Weisberger, Senior Writer | February 21, 2019 01:46pm ET
A newfound tyrannosaur species reveals that the mighty T. rex had a small start. Credit: Jorge Gonzalez
The fearsome Tyrannosaurus rex was an enormous dinosaur. However, this giant carnivore had very humble beginnings, according to a new fossil discovery. Paleontologists recently discovered an early ancestor to T. rex that was positively puny, about the size of a small deer. The scientists found fossilized leg bones and teeth of T. rex's predecessor at a dig site in central Utah known as the Cliffs of Insanity. These fossils came from a previously unknown tyrannosaur species and filled a 70-million-year gap in the family tree of North American tyrannosaurs, researchers reported in a new study. [Image Gallery: The Life of T. Rex] Scientists named the newfound tyrannosaur species Moros intrepidus. "Moros" means "the embodiment of impending doom," and "intrepidus" is the Latin word for "intrepid," referencing tyrannosaurs' bold migration into new habitats across Cretaceous North America, the study authors wrote. The fossils were bones from the tyrannosaur of doom's right hind leg and foot, dating to 96 million years ago. In life, the animal was a slender dinosaur that stood no more than 4 feet tall (1 meter) at the hip. It was likely a juvenile that was nearly full-grown — at least 6 to 7 years old — when it died, according to the study. But even though the deer-size dinosaur lacked the power of the much-bigger T. rex, it would still have been "a formidable predator," lead study author Lindsay Zanno, a paleontologist at North Carolina State University and head of paleontology at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, said in a statement. "Moros was lightweight and exceptionally fast," Zanno said. "It could easily have run down prey while avoiding confrontation with the top predators of the day." The diminutive dinosaur's closest relatives — and the origins of the tyrannosaur lineage — were traced to Asia, according to the study. Primitive tyrannosaurs had populated North America by at least 150 million years ago; at the time, they were outmatched by the bigger allosaurs, another group of large meat-eating dinosaurs. Big tyrannosaurs that usurped the allosaurs, such as T. rex, emerged later, and were established on the continent around 81 million years ago. But what happened in the group over the millions of years in between — when tyrannosaurs evolved "from wallflower to prom king" — has been a long-standing mystery, Zanno said. With the discovery of M. intrepidus, scientists now see that tyrannosaurs remained small for millions of years longer than previously thought and that it took only about 15 million years for the pint-size tyrannosaur of doom to evolve into the towering T. rex of the late Cretaceous. Over that period, a changing climate wiped out the allosaurs, opening a niche that tyrannosaurs then filled, the researchers reported. The findings were published online today (Feb. 21) in the journal Communications Biology. (https://www.livescience.com/64830-t-rex-ancestor-little.html)
Go to this site and see what the world looked like at different times during the Eras.
http://dinosaurpictures.org/ancient-earth#0
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Original Manganoan Sugilite "GEL" Purple sugilite on a matrix Smithsonian Exhibit History of barytecrystals, Wessels Mine in Northern Cape Province, South Africa,
Sugilite (/ˈsuːɡɪlaɪt/ SOO-gi-lyt) is a rare pink to purple cyclosilicate mineral with the complex chemical formula KNa2(Fe, Mn, Al)2Li3Si12O30. Sugilite crystallizes in the hexagonal system with prismatic crystals. The crystals are rarely found and the form is usually massive. It has a Mohs hardness of 5.5 to 6.5 and a specific gravity of 2.75 to 2.80. It is mostly translucent. Sugilite was first described in 1944 by the Japanese petrologist Ken-ichi Sugi (1901–1948) for an occurrence on Iwagi Islet, Japan, where it is found in an aegirine syenite intrusive stock. It is found in a similar environment at Mont Saint- Hilaire, Quebec, Canada. In the Wessels mine in Northern Cape Province of South Africa, sugilite is mined from a strata- bound manganese deposit. It is also reported from Liguria and Tuscany, Italy; New South Wales, Australia and Madhya Pradesh, India. Note: The mineral is commonly pronounced with a soft "g", as in "ginger". However, as with most minerals, its pronunciation is intended to be the same as the person it is named after; in this case, the Japanese name Sugi has a hard "g", as in "geese" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugilite)
A number of trade names for sugilite have emerged. Material more lavender than purple is sometimes called “Royal Lavulite.” Hotazel, South Africa has inspired names such as “Royal Azel” and “Royal Lazelle.” The Wessels Mine itself has also inspired the name “Wesselite. (https://www.gemsociety.org/article/sugilite-jewelry-and-gemstone-information/)
Grape Agate A marketing name for a highly botryoidal, amethystine microcrystalline -quartz/chalcedony from Indonesia. Color can range from deep purple to very pale amethystine or whitish shades. (Poorly
colored ones sometimes get dyed more violet - Caveat emptor.) There are also less commonly green ones (colored by inclusions of some clay mineral), and even specimens with purple and green spherules
together.
From the collection of John Kolsrud.
Photo by Jolene Coon https://www.mindat.org/min-51479.html
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Santa Rosa Mineral and Gem Society, Inc. Northern Californian's Rockhound Hangout for Sonoma County
The Santa Rosa Mineral and Gem Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization formed for the purpose of increasing the knowledge and understanding of the science pertaining to minerals, gems, and other similar materials; to the art of cutting, grinding and polishing those materials; to the classification of minerals and rocks; and to encourage and assist Junior Members in furthering their interest in mineralogy, archaeology, paleontology, geology and related subjects. The Santa Rosa Mineral & Gem Society is a proud member of: American Federation of Mineralogical Societies (AFMS) http://www.amfed.org/ California Federation of Mineralogical Societies (CFMS) http://cfmsinc.org/
Mailing Address Workshop Location Workshop Hours Monday Nights 7:30 – 10 pm SRMGS 5690 C Old Redwood HWY Tuesday Nights 7:30 – 10 pm P.O. Box 1852 Santa Rosa, CA Saturdays 9:30 – noon –Jr. Precedence Windsor, CA 95492 Shop equipment is available for Member use ONLY. (707) 596-3487 (Leave a The shop is located on the EAST side Message) of Old Redwood Hwy, next to the Member Dues Auto Body, and about a half mile Individual -- $40/year south of Shiloh Road Family -- $40/first member $20/each additional Jr. Only ( 8 – 18 years) -- $20/year
Executive Board 2019
President Directors At Large Ken D. Andy H. -- Shop Foreman Vice President Tim D. – Field Trips Kristin T Secretary Wendy D. Visit our Website: http://srmgs.org Treasurer Jolene C. Newsletter archive: Federation Rep http://srmgs.org/newsletters.php Heidi H. Newsletter editor: Jolene C Past President Conny A.
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