OCTOBER 2015

Monday, October 12, 2015 6:30 pm Executive Meeting 7:30 pm The Changing Gemstone and Bead Industries

and discuss some of the misnamed and new factory OCTOBER 12 PROGRAM manufactured gemstones.

Gemstone Beads 2015 – The Changing Gemstone and Ken Rogers has been recognized as one of the “go to” Bead Industries. New Finds, Fakes, Created, Dyed & people when someone, or firm, had questions about Enhanced – An Illustrated Talk by Ken Rogers gemstone beads. Ken has been a rockhound since he was 10, cut his first gemstone cabochon at age 15, and Join us for an evening with Ken Rogers who will talk learned silversmithing and jewelry making in his high about changes in the gemstone bead industry and how school art class. Ken had a 30-year career as a photo- they affect jewelers, beaders, lapidary enthusiasts and journalist, working for the world’s top magazines jewelry buyers. and corporations. When the photographic world converted from film to digital media, Ken returned On February 17, 1972 Nixon went to China, opened to the gem and jewelry world to manage a Beverly trade, and in doing so, woke up the “Sleeping Dragon.” Hills jewelry store and several gem bead companies. While China expanded its industrial growth it looked Since then Ken has returned to creating his own to its own natural resources, including historic and gem bead jewelry, consulting, lecturing, and helping craft industries. China opened and expanded their friends with their businesses. Ken has been a member mines, including Turquoise and many other gem of the Bead Society L.A. for the past 15 years and the stones. They retrained their craftsmen and developed Culver City Rock & Mineral Club for 10 years. new, modern, bead and gem cutting and carving facil- Charlene Aspray ities. Program Chair

As time went on, the PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Chinese started design- Hello fellow Club Members and rock hounds. ing and manufacturing new gemstones in their Autumn has arrived in Southern California and along factories. The Chinese with the changing season comes opportunity for all went as far as buying up members to get more involved toward further de- gem-mines in its neigh- veloping the Club into the most interesting, fun, and boring countries and community serving organization it can be. territories. Soon, the Chinese were able to control much of the world’s gem and bead market. Several currently serving club officers have expressed desire to let their tenure expire at the end of this In his illustrated talk, Ken will discuss what has year’s term which will allow new members to step in happened in Asia, where it is going, and how it will and help administer the club in 2016. affect us, here in the U.S. Ken will go on to expose Continued page 2 PRESIDENTS MESSAGE continued from page 1 It was first described in 1805 by Abraham Gottlob Nominations for all positions are now open and Werner. It was named for Sigmund Zois, who has sent should be forwarded to the nominating committee him the specimens from Carinthia (modern-day south- chairman, Steve Dover {[email protected]}. The ern Austria and northern Slovenia). Some sources for slate of nominated officers and committee chairper- Zoisite are Tanzania, Kenya, Norway, Switzerland, sons will be presented and discussed at the upcoming Austria, India, and Pakistan. October 12 meeting, with formal voting of officers at the following November meeting. Thulite, the variety from Norway, experiences manga- nese substitution, with up to two percent replacement Personally, I haven’t belonged to a group that has of the original calcium. It was named for the mythical been more fun than The Culver City Rock and Min- island of Thule, as some think it refers to Norway. It eral Club and I hope, if nothing else that my tenure is also found in Austria, North Carolina, and Western as President reflects those simple precepts: Come to Australia. Recently, high quality thulite was found in meetings, have fun, learn things and give back to the Okanogan County in Washington state. community that has nurtured us. If we can all pitch in and help serve the club in an officer or committee The variety from Tanzania is called tanzanite, and it chair capacity (even if only for a single year) we can is generally blue all enjoy the meetings and diversity of different opin- to violet. While ions and knowledge that keeps us strong and together it was originally in our common interest. just called blue Zoisite, Tiffany That said, I hope everyone saw the incredible super & Co. renamed moon, blood moon eclipse last Sunday September 27. for marketing What a great show and one we won’t see again until purposes. Nat- 2033! Hope to see everyone on the second Monday in urally formed October. tanzanite is

Darrell Robb extremely rare, Photo by Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0 President and is found only in the Mererani Hills. It is reddish brown in its MINERAL REPORT rough state, so heat treatment is required before the stone can be used for jewelry. In 2002, it was chosen Zoisite, Thulite, Tanzanite as the December birthstone by the American Gem Trade Association. Alternate December birthstones It may appear as blue, violet, green, brown, pink, are turquoise and zircon. yellow, gray, or colorless. Its luster is vitreous, while Minda Moe its fracture is conchoidal to uneven. While its specific Mineral Chair gravity varies slightly between varieties, it is in the range between 3.10 and 3.38. It is slightly harder than SHOP NEWS orthoclase feldspar, which is a 6 on the Mohs scale of hardness. Its streak is white. Shop schedule Check our website, www.culvercityrocks.org, for Zoisite belongs to the epidote group of minerals. It scheduled open time or call the shop (310-836-4611) can be found in metamorphic and pegmatitic rock. after the scheduled opening time to confirm that an Transparent Zoisite is generally used as gemstones, instructor has arrived. while other material is usually used for carving. Any- olite, which sources from Kenya, is prized for decora- Equipment Availability tive carvings because of the contrast between its green As of September 15 (when I was last at the shop before

Zoisite, black tschermakite, and ruby crystals. Continued next page

PAGE 2 OCT 2015 THE NUGGET SHOP NEWS continued from page 2 applied tightening force when compared with using writing this report) all shop equipment was in good scrap wood for preventing vise binding. In addition, working order and ready for use except for the 16- we have several rock gripping devices that sometimes inch slab-saw which needs a blade and jaw facing. (rarely) can hold the rock and can be clamped rela- tively easily in the vise. All three saws have resilient Slab saw practice materials lining the jaws which aid griping the rough Last month I outlined the steps for using the three surface of your rock. Tightening the jaw imbeds the large covered slab-saws. This month starts explaining rough rock surfaces allowing strong gripping. the details and why they are important. Adequate clamping is rarely easy and usually awk- 1) Turn on the exhaust fan. In use the saws produce a ward. Accept this and continue to learn what leads lot of heat and small rock chips. Circulating oil flush- more often to success. Avoid hurry and impatience, es the chips and cools the blade so it will not warp they are counter-productive. and jamb in the kerf (the cut or incision made by a (To be continued in future Shop News reports) saw). The exhaust fan draws the oil mist, produced by the cutting action, out of the Shop. In practice the fan Limited parking in back of the shop is open for use. is normally operating any time the saw room is occu- Park on the asphalt, off the alley concrete to avoid a pied and often for general Shop ventilation in warm parking citation. Please respect the space reserved for weather. Oil or dust in the air can cause health prob- the shop instructor next to the paddle-tennis court. lems such as allergies or emphysema. We currently On behalf of the Shop Committee use food grade mineral oil certified by the USDA Bruce Mensinger for use in food processing equipment where oil may come in contact with the food. BENCH TIPS

2) Clamp the rock to be cut in the saw’s vise and ad- DEBURRING A HOLE just thickness of the cut. When you drill a hole, there’s usually a burr pro- Securely clamping the rock to be cut is one of the duced on the most important steps and certainly the most frustrat- underside ing procedure in setting-up a cut. Failure will almost of the metal. always result in damage to the saw, especially to the Typically, burrs blade, and often to your rock. The difficulty comes are removed from having to do at least four things at once: find by filing or a way to orient the rock so that it can be securely sanding the area clamped, will be cut on a plane suitable for the project smooth, but do- you are cutting it for, allowing enough overhang from ing it this way the vise so that several cuts can be made (at least two will put scratch- if you want a slab with parallel surfaces), and bracing es on your piece the vise so that it clamps your rock and not just itself. that will have to I’d like to say this process gets easier with experi- be polished off. ence and practice, but in truth it is rarely easy when clamping irregularly shaped stones. There are some A quick way to remove the burr is to grab a drill aids which help. The vise in each of our covered slab- that’s two or three times larger than your hole. Sim- saws has been modified so that it accepts a comb-like ply twist it in the hole to cut off the burr. I usually metal bar that will maintain the right-hand side of the do this twisting by hand, but if you have many holes movable jaw so that side of the vise has a stable open- to do, it’s easier on your fingers to put the drill into a ing. This also aids putting most of the clamping force holder like a pin vise. on your rock rather than into binding. It can reduce Continued next page

THE NUGGET OCT 2015 PAGE 3 Bench Tips continued from page 3 Sato, Mary Ellen Shaffer, Rick Shaffer, Brad CLEANING STEEL SHOT Smith, Jette Sorensen and Joyce Watanabe. • The meeting was called to order at 6:44pm by Steel shot in a vibratory or rotary tumbler works great President Darrell Robb. to burnish and shine your finished silver pieces. But a • The August Executive Meeting minutes published common problem is how keep the shot clean. Carbon in the September Nugget were approved as read. steel shot can get rusty if exposed to the air, and even • Darrell Robb indicated Ken Rogers would make stainless steel a eulogy about Shep Koss, who passed away. shot can some- Brad Smith added that there was a crowd funding times develop campaign taking place to Support Shep’s disabled a blackish coat- brother. ing that’s hard • Treasurer Report: Franne Einberg said the to remove. Club was solvent. She made a motion, which was approved, to renew the Lapidary Journal My solution of subscription for two years. Ms. Einberg indicated choice to clean in October the Club was due to report to the State the shot is to whom the raffle proceeds would be donated. Classic Coke. It was decided approval to donate the entire Just pour an proceeds to the Friends of the Culver City Scout ounce or two House (FOCCSH) was to be obtained from the over the shot and let the tumbler run for an hour or so. Club members at the general meeting. A bad case might require a second cleaning. Some • Field Trips Report: Darrell Robb discussed folks like to let the bubbles in the Coke dissipate upcoming trips organized by the Federation and before using it so that gas pressure doesn’t build up in other Clubs. the tumbler barrel. I’ve heard that it’s the phosphoric • Federation Report: Rick Shaffer recommended acid in Coke that does the trick. that members visit the California Federation of Mineralogical Societies (CFMS) website to While you’re waiting for the shot to clean up, just familiarize themselves with several bills aimed to settle back and enjoy the rest of the Coke. decrease rockhounding rights and bring attention Exerpted from Bench Tips for Jewelry Making: 101 Useful Tips to their government representatives. • Membership Report: Jette Sorensen informed SAVE THE DATE the Club had approximately 150 members. She added that Felice Ganz would not be the DECEMBER 14, 2015 Membership Chair in 2016. • 2016 Board Elections: Jette Sorensen reminded HOLIDAY PARTY that in October the Board must put forth a new slate for voting in November. 6pm to 9pm • Program Report: Charlene Aspray indicated that Culver City Rotary Plaza there was no program secured for November Bring a side dish, salad, dessert or something special and requested ideas. Brad Smith said he had to share - along with something for the infamous presentation material that could be delivered by White Elephant gift exchange - more to come another member, as he wouldn’t be able to attend the meeting. MINUTES of the EXECUTIVE MEETING • Social Report: Mary Ellen Shaffer committed to September 14, 2015 provide Grace Sato with information on how to • Those present: Charlene Aspray; Steve Dover, contact the Rotary Club to reserve the recreation Franne Einberg, Ana Maria Guimaraes, Bruce room for the Club’s Holiday Party.

Mensinger, Darrell Robb, Leda Rogers, Grace Continued next page

PAGE 4 OCT 2015 THE NUGGET EXEC BOARD MINUTES continued from page 4 • A motion was approved to donate the 2015 Fies- • Webmaster Report: Jette Sorensen reported the ta of Gems raffle proceeds to the Friends of the Club had 451 “Likes” on Facebook, from all over Culver City Scout House (FOCCSH), a nonprofit the world. organization that benefited the Culver City scouts. • New Business: • Brad Smith announced he would be doing a • Leda Rogers raised concern regarding the shop demonstration on casting at the Boy Scout House rates increase. A motion was approved to propose the following Saturday. lowering the rates by the Shop Committee. • Ken Rogers made a eulogy to Shep Koss, who had • Gary Mitchell donated a framed chart displaying recently passed away and was one of the CFMS many samples of gems to the shop. trip leaders and a great supporter of rockhounding for many years. He informed there was a crowd The meeting adjourned at 7:28pm. funding campaign to support Shep’s disabled Submitted by Ana Maria Guimaraes brother, as well as a sale of some of Shep’s items. Recording Secretary Information about these events would be pub- lished in the Nugget. • The meeting adjourned; a break was held for re- freshments and a raffle, followed by the Septem- MINUTES of the GENERAL MEETING ber Program. SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 Submitted by Ana Maria Guimaraes Recording Secretary • The meeting was called to order at 7:41pm, the Pledge of Allegiance was made and a quorum was Fund Raiser Address established. for Shep Koss’ Brother • The August General Meeting minutes published in the September Nugget were approved as read. https://www.gofundme.com/shepkoss • Four guests were introduced. PROGRAM REPORT • Darrell Robb recommended Club members join a field trip to Searles Dry Lake, open for rock- SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 hounding once a year on the second weekend Charlene Aspray introduced Melinda Alexander, who of October. Other members who had visited the demonstrated how to use riveting as a stone setting place added the trip would be a fun experience for technique. families including kids. • Rick Shaffer indicated the California Federation Having received her Master of Arts degree from of Mineralogical Societies organized two trips California University at Los Angeles specializing in per month – one in Southern California, one in Metals, she is a jeweler and stone setter and teaches California; their website also had information at Irvine Fine Arts Centers. Ms. Alexander provided about trips organized by other clubs. He added the a step-by-step demonstration of her technique, shar- Club’s webpage had a link to the CFMS’s website. ing valuable tips on the best tools to use for each step, • Jette Sorensen indicated that a link CFMS link how to customize tools and how to obtain various was on the webpage. graphic effects on the metal. Several samples of her • Jette Sorensen announced the Club had 451 work were on display. “Likes” on Facebook. Submitted by Ana Maria Guimaraes • Darrell Robb indicated that nominations for the Recording Secretary 2016 slate must be made by the October meeting, OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS for elections in November. He asked members to consider volunteering for the nominations for the ● Michael Hill 10/5 ● Holly Westhoff 10/20 ● Jan Dunn 10/22 various chairs. ● Richard Parra 10/22 ● Charles Warner 10/22 ● Nickie Jessup 10/25 ● Gary Willens 10/25 ● Steven Dover 10/27 ● Steven • Franne Einberg informed the Club was solvent. Zagha 10/31 ●CONGRATS - Your cake is at the 10/12 meeting

THE NUGGET OCT 2015 PAGE 5 Contact: (760) 728-1130 UPCOMING SHOWS Email: [email protected] Website: www.fgms.org October 3 - 4: BORON, CA Mojave Mineralogical Society October 17: WEST HILLS, CA Boron Park Woodland Hills Rock Chippers 12000 Boron Avenue First United Methodist Church Hours: 9 - 4 daily 22700 Sherman Way Contact: Steve Breckenridge, (760) 559-0872 Hours: 10 - 5 Email: [email protected] Contact: Anita Niles, (818) 349-2943 Email: [email protected] October 3 - 4: VISTA, CA Website: www.rockchippers.org Vista Gem & Mineral Society Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum October 17 - 18: PLACERVILLE, CA 2040 North Santa Fe Avenue El Dorado County Mineral & Gem Society Hours: Sat 10 - 5; Sun 10 - 4 El Dorado County Fairgrounds Contact: Ray Pearce, (760) 535-5524 100 Placerville Drive Email: [email protected] Hours: 10 - 5 daily Website: www.vistarocks.org Contact: Karen Newlin, (530) 676-2472 Email: [email protected] October 10: MARIPOSA, CA Website: www.eldoradorocks.org Mariposa Gem & Mineral Club Rock Swap October 17 -18: WHITTIER, CA Mariposa County Fairgrounds Whittier Gem & Mineral Society Hours: 10 – 5 Whittier Community Center Contact: Nikki West, (209) 742-4234 7630 Washington Avenue Email: [email protected] Hours: 10 - 5 daily Contact: Marcia Goetz (626) 260-7239 October 10 - 11: ANDERSON, CA Shasta Gem & Mineral Society October 24 - 25: LOS ALTOS, CA Shasta District Fairgrounds Peninsula Gem & Geology Society 1890 Briggs Street Los Altos Youth Center Hours: Sat. 9 - 5; Sun. 10 - 4 One No. San Antonio Road Contact: Kelley O’Leary, (530) 772-7133 Hours: 10 - 5 daily Email: [email protected] Contact: Steve Jobe, (408) 834-5384 Website: www.shastagemandmineral.com Email: [email protected] Website: www.pggs.org October 10 - 11: GRASS VALLEY, CA Nevada County Gem & Mineral Society November 7 - 8: ANAHEIM, CA Nevada County Fairgrounds (Main Building) American Opal Society 11228 McCourtney Road The Phoenix Club Hours: 10 - 5 daily 1340 South Sanderson Avenue Contact: Anita Wald-Tuttle, (530) 277-6195 Hours: Sat 10 - 6; Sun 10 - 5 Email: [email protected] Contact: Veronica Purpura, (714) 501-9959 Email: [email protected] October 10 - 11: TRONA, CA Website: www.opalsociety.org/ Searles Lake Gem & Mineral Society SLG&MS Show Building November 7 - 8: OXNARD, CA 13337 Main Street Oxnard Gem & Mineral Society Hours: Sat 7 - 5; Sun 7 - 4 Oxnard Performing Arts Center Contacts: Jim & Bonnie Fairchild, (760) 372-5356 800 Hobson Way Email: [email protected] Hours: Sat. 10 - 5; Sun. 10 - 4 Website: www1.iwvisp.com/tronagemclub Contact: Josephine Martinez, (805) 701-1826 Email: [email protected] October 11: FALLBROOK, CA Website: www.oxnardgem.com Fallbrook Gem & Mineral Facility This month’s pink backgrounds and cover is for 123 West Alvarado Street Hours: 9 - 4 October as Breast Cancer Awareness month

THE NUGGET OCT 2015 PAGE 6 The purpose of the CULVER CITY ROCK & MINERAL CLUB is to bring together persons interested in the earth sciences, to engage in research and study in this realm, and to assist members in the collection and preservation of rocks and minerals and in the study of lapidary and related arts...... http://www.culvercityrocks.org Elected Officers for 2015 MEETING SCHEDULE President - Darrell Robb General Meetings are held the second Monday of every Vice President - Jette Sorensen month* at 7:30 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room in the Veterans Treasurer - Franne Einberg Bldg., 4117 Overland Ave. Enter from the rear door. Guests are Recording Secretary - Ana Maria Guimaraes always welcome. Corresponding Secretary - Jan Ferguson Executive Committee Meetings are held the second Monday Education - OPEN of every month* at 6:30 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room in the Historian - Bruce Mensinger Veterans Bldg. Auditorium. All club members are welcome. Parliamentarian - Ellen Moe Committee Chairs: *Meeting days occasionally change due to federal holidays or to accommodate the Fiesta Of Gems Show. Federation Director - Rick Shaffer Field Trips - Open DUES & FEES Librarian - Bruce Mensinger One time Initiation Fees: Membership - Felice Ganz Individuals $20.00 Minerals - Minda Moe Photography - Bruce Mensinger 2 Persons/Same Address $35.00 Programs - Charlene Aspray Juniors $15.00 Publications - Co-Chairs Barbara Fier, Yearly Membership Dues: Jan Ferguson, Jette Sorensen Individuals $25.00 Publicity - Janice Metz 2 Persons/Same Address $35.00 Show - Brad Smith Juniors $10.00 Co-Chair - Hellena Jones-Elbling (After July 1, dues are $15.00, $25.00 and $5.00 respectively.) Shop Committee - President, Vice President, Instructors Social - Grace Sato SHOP INFORMATION Co-Chair - Joyce Watanabe The shop is open to all members in good standing over the age Sunshine - Leda Rogers of 18 who sign an indemnification form. Junior members (13 - Trading Post - Steve Dover 18) must be accompanied by an adult. Instruction is available at Web Master - Jette Sorensen all sessions. Practice slabs are available. Location: 10866 Culver Blvd. in Culver City (behind the Boy Board of Directors: Scout clubhouse and next to the paddle tennis courts) (2015) Rick Shaffer - Jette Sorensen Shop Phone: (310) 836-4611 (2016) Steve Dover - Leda Rogers Hours: (2017) Bruce Mensinger - Ana Maria Guimaraes Tuesday 7 – 9:30 pm - Bruce Mensinger Wednesday 10 am – 2 pm - By appointment, Contact Us: see http://culvercityrocks.org/lapshop.htm Thursday 10 am – 2 pm - Various instructors Phone: (310) 836-4611 Saturday Noon – 4 pm - Lynne Lukert Address: P.O. Box 3324, Culver City, CA 90231 Sunday Noon – 4 pm - Rick Shaffer FaceBook: www.facebook.com/CCRMC If no one shows, the shop may close early. If you plan to arrive Twitter: www.twitter.com/culvercityrocks more than a half hour after the opening time, phone the Yahoo: h t t p : / / g r o u p s . y a h o o . c o m / n e o / g r o u p s / instructor at (310) 836-4611 ccrmc/info The Nugget The deadline for submissions is the 15th of every month. All articles or notes without a byline are written by the Editor. Permission to copy is freely given as long as proper credit is noted. The Nugget accepts paid advertisements. The cost for an eighth of a page (approx. 2” high x 3.5” wide) is $7 per insertion, payable in advance. Ad location is at the discretion of the Editor. Ad layouts, copy, or business cards must be received by the 10th of the month. Send materials to Culver City Rock and Mineral Club, P.O. Box 3324, Culver City, CA 90231, Attention: Editor.

THE NUGGET OCT 2015 PAGE 7 the NUGGET

VOLUME 56 CULVER CITY ROCK & MINERAL

ISSUE 10 CLUB, INC. OCT 2015 CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA, USA FIRST CLASS

CULVER CITY ROCK & MINERAL CLUB ROCK & MINERAL CULVER CITY The Nugget P.O. Box 3324 Culver City, CA 90231 Address Change Requested Frances Aldrich