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Cuyuna Rock, Gem and Society The Explorer

December 2019

Potluck Christmas Party Saturday, December 14 Meal at noon.

Followed by white elephant gift exchange. If you would like to participate in the exchange, bring one or more gift (gag or not, rock related or not).

From 99----1111 that morning we will be finishing Franklin Art Center preparing boxes for the auction. Club Information Website -www.cuyunarockclub.org Email [email protected]

No Rock Wrappers in December. Meeting Place Lower level Franklin Arts Center 1001 Kingwood St, Brainerd, MN 56401 Don’t forget! Your dues are due. Directions $20 per household per year, January -December. .4 mile east of Business Hwy. 371 & Hwy. 210 intersection. Checks made payable to: (Castle turret water tower.) Cuyuna Rock, Gem, and Mineral Society. Date/Time You may pay them at the Clubhouse, or mail to: the 2nd Saturday of each month Cuyuna Rock, Gem, and Mineral Society, at 2 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 1001 Kingwood St., Ste. B -40 Club Dues $20/ family Brainerd, MN 56401 Free /unaccompanied juniors Membership runs from Jan. 1-Dec. 31st. Club Calendar Club Purpose: December 14 - Christmas Potluck Party; 9-11, auction To foster an interest (& encourage preparation meal at noon, festivities to follow. young & old) to study earth January 4, 2020 —live auction of the Club members’ Moe and Wagoner collections at the Sample show in Brainerd, 10:30 a.m. science, enjoy the art of , January 11 —Meeting hunting for rocks, and semi - February 8 —Meeting precious stones. We also strive to March 14 —meeting use what we know and acquire to April -Meeting date subject to change. Regularly scheduled date is the further educate everyone who has day before Easter. an interest in our hobby. May 9-10 -Annual Rock Show We are a not -for -profit Information subject to change. organization. Sponsored by the Cuyuna rock, gem, and mineral society

Live Bid No Buyer’s Premium

In conjunction with Sample’s agate, gem, & mineral show A portion of the proceeds donated to Smiles for Jake.

Saturday, January 4th The Brainerd Exchange (the railroad shops) 210 Black Smith Cir., Brainerd MN 56401

Time: 10:30 a.m. Viewing begins at 9:00 a.m. includes collections of large mineral specimens, micro , southwestern u.s. agates, , & geodes. individual specimens & 50 pails of material. More to be added.

For more information check out the website: www.cuyunarockclub.org. President Ed Opatz, 320-250-1363. December Rock Shows ditorium; Daily 10 -5; $6, under 12 free; Gem & Mineral Society ; Williamson Coun- Website: suffolkgem.com ty Ag Expo Park; Sat. 9 -6, Sun. 10 -5; Adults 6-8—COSTA MESA, CA: Gem Faire Inc.; 13 -15 —LAWRENCEVILLE, GA: Bell- $5, under 13 free; Website: http:// OC Fair & Event Center; Fri. 12 -6, Sat. 10 - point Gem Show; Gwinnett County Fair- www.MTGMS.org/show.htm 6, Sun. 10 -5; $7, under 12 free; Website: grounds; Fri. & Sat. 10 -6, Sun. 10 -5; $5, 14 -15 —PINECREST, FL: Miami Miner- http://www.gemfaire.com under 15 free; Website: www.bellpoint alogical & Lapidary Guild; Evelyn Greer 6-8—HUDSON, FL: Withlacoochee Rock- promotions.com Park; Daily 10 -5; $6, under 12 free; Web- hounds; Veterans Memorial Park; Daily 9 -5; 13 -15 —SANTA BARBARA, CA: Gem site: www.miamigemandmineral.com $3, teens $1, under 13 fee; Website: Faire Inc.; Earl Warren Showgrounds; Fri. 14 -15 —SAN ANTONIO, TX: Peppers www.withlacoccheerock hounds.com 12 -6, Sat. 10 -6, Sun. 10 -5; $7, under 12 Gems; San Antonio Garden Center; Sat. 9 -6, 7-8—EDMONDS, WA: Maplewood Rock free; Website: http://www.gemfaire.com Sun. 9 -4; free; Website: www.peppers - & Gem Club; Maplewood Rock & Gem 13 -15 —FLETCHER, NC: Mountain Area gems.com Clubhouse; Sat. 9 -5, Sun. 10 -5; free; contact Gem & Mineral Association; WNC Agricul- 20 -22 —SAN DIEGO, CA: Gem Faire Inc.; Mary Ann Collins, (206) 714 -3922; Email: ture Center; Fri. & Sat. 10 -6, Sun. 10 -4; free Scottish Rite Center; Fri. 12 -6, Sat. 10 -6, [email protected] admission; Website: www.americanrock Sun. 10 -5; $7, under 12 free; Website: 7-8—PATCHOGUE, NY: Suffolk Gem & hound.com http://www.gemfaire.com Mineral Club; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Au- 14 -15 —FRANKLIN, TN: Mid -Tennessee

The Pink Star, previously known as the Rox Box Six Most Expensive Fancy Steinmetz Pink, is the largest to A place to advertise Colored have been graded a Fancy Vivid Pink. Its rock items to sell and color and size rank it among the top three to inquire about items in its class. to purchase.

After five minutes of bidding at a 2017 - Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong, the oval The Cuyuna Rock, Gem & Society accepts shaped 59.6 - pink diamond broke the no responsibility for any dissatisfaction record for the highest price ever paid for a that may occur by either party, seller jewel: a whopping $71 million USD. or buyer. The Society does not profit in

any way by sales transactions. https://www.truefacet.com/guide/6 - - - - expensive fancy colored diamonds/ For Sale: Rock Drilling System Like new condi- Cuyuna Rock, Gem & Mineral Society Club, Board passed motion to approve tion. Includes 3 Board Meeting Minutes paying bills for the month. speed drill press, Saturday October 12, 2019 coolant delivery Shop - motion to make necessary improve- system, 3 spare Meeting called to order by President Ed ments to shop equipment approved. nozzles, maple Opatz at 12:10 pm. drilling block, 8 Met with Auctioneer for January show - oz. bottle diamond lube, Present were Treasurer Kevin Martini, looking for boxes to put rocks in for magnetic base coolant recovery/ splash Secretary Joanie Hanson and Board auction. tray, adjustable mini -vise, 6 piece diamond Members at Large - Vern Iverson, Lilly drill bit assortment. $150 or best offer. Peterson and Lori DuBois. No buyer’s premium and no online auction Call Bev Williams at 218 -821 -5684. - motion approved. Motion to approve August minutes was passed. Board approved scholarship for Matt For Sale: A variety of lapidary equip- Metzler. ment, including tumblers, flat laps, rock Ed obtained permission for cafeteria usage saws (10 -20’ blades), automatic cabbing for November 2, 9, Dec 14. Respectfully submitted, machine, 4 wheel cabbing machine, saw Joanie Hanson, Secretary blades. Call Ed Opatz at 320 -250 -1363. Treasurer’s Report - will be posted at Rock

The date of the Christmas party, December 14, will be your last chance to purchase anything outright that is going to the auction. Most of the material is from the collections of Dave and JoAnn Moe and Harry and Phyllis Wagoner. Newly Discovered Bird another significant spot on the map for like dinosaurs to the fliers we know today. fossil birds. The combination of characteristics Birds are ancient creatures. Every hawk, sparrow, pigeon and penguin alive today More than that, the skeleton of Fukuipteryx put Fukuipteryx in an unexpected place has ancestral roots dating back to the Juras- is preserved in three dimensions, meaning among early birds. “Our analysis revealed it sic, when the first birds were just another the bird’s bones are close to their shape in is the most primitive among the Early Cre- - life and have not been compressed over the taceous birds,” Imai says. Fukuipteryx form of raptor like dinosaur. Dozens of uncovered and described during the course of time. “To be honest, we were not shared a great deal in common with the last three decades have illuminated much of expecting to find such good material from a earliest birds while having the flashy tail fossil bird at our site,” Imai says. The pale- associated with more modern species. this deep history, but the rock record can still yield surprises. A fossil recently found in Japan is one such unexpected Rather than being a strange case, Fukuip- avian that raises questions about what teryx underscores a common theme in else may await discovery. evolution. “As early parts of evolutionary [diversification] become better sampled,

The skeleton, named Fukuipteryx prima, it doesn’t surprise me when we see unexpected combinations of characteris- was described by Fukui Prefectural Uni- versity paleontologist Takuya Imai and tics,” says Stony Brook University colleagues today in Communications paleontologist Alan Turner. “Evolution Biology. And while numerous birds of rarely proceeds in a linear manner,” Turner adds, with features —like a similar geologic age have been named in — the past few decades, the details of these pygostyle sometimes showing up in combinations not seen before. bones and where they were found have experts a -flutter. Future discoveries will test the idea, but The 120 million -year -old fossil was discov- ontologists had hoped for fragments and got this one bird may indicate that the early ered in the summer of 2013 while searching most of a well -preserved skeleton. The fos- proliferation of birds through the late part of for fossils at Japan’s Kitadani Dinosaur sil differs from those found in China’s Jehol the Jurassic and early part of the Cretaceous Quarry. “One of my colleagues at Fukui Biota, which are smooshed and look like took on more varied forms than experts now Prefectural Dinosaur Museum spotted tiny bony pancakes. Given that Fukuipteryx is recognize. “I think as new localities are bones in a block of siltstone,” Imai says. At roughly the same age as those flattened fli- found with previously unsampled birds, we the time, it wasn’t clear what creature the ers, the skeleton offers experts a clear look should expect surprises,” Turner says, add- ing that experts have only just scratched the bones belonged to, but once the encasing at avian skeletal anatomy during the Early rock was chipped away, the structure of the Cretaceous. surface of ancient bird diversity. fossil became clear. The skeleton was an early bird, and an unusual one at that. In overall form, Imai and coauthors write, Fukuipteryx won’t be the last fossil flapper Fukuipteryx looks very similar to some of to surprise scientists. “I feel it is merely one Small bodies and hollow bones have made the earliest birds that evolved about 30 mil- of many currently unknown birds awaiting birds relatively rare finds in the fossil rec- lion years earlier during the Jurassic. to be discovered in the future outside of ord. Only a few unique fossil deposits, like Fingers ending in claws, for example, is a China,” Imai says. There is an entire world - - of early birds waiting in the wings. China’s 125 million year old Jehol Biota trait Fukuipteryx shares with one of the ear- or the United States’ 50 million -year -old liest known birds, Archaeopteryx. But the https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science - Green River Formation, allow paleontolo- tail of Fukuipteryx is short and ends in a - - - - - gists to get a good look at ancient avians. skeletal structure called a pygostyle. The nature/newly discovered fossil bird fills - gap -between -dinosaurs -and -modern -fliers - To find a well preserved fossil bird outside bony structure is an anchor point for muscle such places of exceptional preservation rep- and tail feathers, seen in modern birds and 180973551/ resents a noteworthy paleontological considered an important trait that birds discovery, and Fukuipteryx in Japan adds evolved along their transition from raptor -

Jewelry Making Tip By Brad Smith www.BradSmithJewelry.com

Quick Close Ups Your dues Often when trying to get a close -up photo with your iPhone or Android, you end up are due! with a fuzzy, out -of -focus image. Next time try using your loupe over the camera lens. It works quickly and easily. and hydrothermal metamorphism. Much of These S -Mo -S layers are stacked one on top

Mineral Encyclopedia the commercially produced molybdenite of another, but the bonds between the layers occurs as disseminated crystals in are very weak. The bonds between the lay- porphyry deposits where it is ers are so weak that light pressure can cause produced as a byproduct mineral. Lesser them to slide past one another - this explains amounts are produced at mines where the perfect and fragile of molybde- molybdenite is the primary product. nite. As a result, molybdenite has a slippery Minerals that are often found with molybde- feel and a lubricant quality that is very simi- nite include , pyrite, chalcopyrite, lar to graphite. , cassiterite, scheelite, and wolframite. Finely ground molybdenite is used as a sol-

id lubricant to reduce the friction between Countries with significant molybdenite sliding metal parts. Ground molybdenite is production include: Armenia, Canada, also used as an additive to some types of Chile, China, Iran, Mexico, Mongolia, Peru, high -performance grease. Molybdenite is a rare mineral composed of Russia, and the United States. The United molybdenum and sulfur, with a chemical States is a net exporter of molybdenum. Uses of Molybdenum Metal composition of MoS 2. It occurs in igneous Molybdenite as an Ore of Rhenium Molybdenite is the primary ore of molyb- and metamorphic rocks as gray hexagonal crystals and foliated masses with a metallic With an average crustal abundance of less denum metal, which is an extremely luster. Molybdenite is the most important than one part per billion, rhenium is one of important metal for making specialty alloys. ore of molybdenum and often contains the rarest elements in Earth’s crust. Most of Small amounts of molybdenum added to minor amounts of rhenium which are often the world’s known rhenium resource exists steel and other alloys can significantly in- produced as a byproduct. within the mineral molybdenite, substituting crease their toughness, heat resistance, hard- for molybdenum atoms in the mineral’s ness, strength, and resistance to corrosion. Physical Properties of Molybdenite crystal lattice. Molybdenum is an important ingredient in Molybdenite has physical properties that making stainless steel, steels, and a often cause it to be confused with graphite. Rhenium has one of the most surprising and variety of super alloys. Molybdenum metal Both of these minerals are gray to in indirect methods of production of any is also used in some electronic devices and color, have a very low hardness, and occur metal. "About 80 percent of the rhenium to make heating elements used in high - in hexagonal crystals or foliated masses. obtained through mining is recovered from temperature electric furnaces. Both minerals have a layered atomic struc- the flue dust produced during the roasting of ture with planes of extreme weakness. This molybdenite concentrates from porphyry https://geology.com/minerals/ gives them a slippery feel and makes them copper deposits." valuable as a solid lubricant. Physical Properties of Molybdenite

Rhenium has few uses, but they are very Chemical Classification Sulfide Molybdenite has a higher specific gravity Color Bluish gray to silver than graphite (molybdenite=4.7, graph- important uses. Over 80 percent of the rhe- nium consumed worldwide is used to make Bluish gray, gray ite=2.23). Molybdenite usually has a - the turbine blades of engines. These Luster Metallic slightly bluish gray color and a slightly Diaphaneity Opaque bluish -gray streak, while graphite's color blades must be made from super alloys that can survive in the extreme stress and high - Cleavage Perfect basal and streak are gray to black. Molybdenite Mohs Hardness 1 to 2 usually has a higher luster than graphite. temperature environment of a jet engine. Most of the remaining rhenium is used as a Specific Gravity 4.6 to 4.8 Experienced observers can often use these - Diagnostic Properties Greasy feel, color, subtle differences in color, streak and luster rhenium catalyst in petroleum refining. streak, specific gravity, hardness, crystal to separate graphite from molybdenite. A form, habit. variety of laboratory methods can also be Lubricant Uses of Molybdenite Chemical Composition Molybdenum used to identify molybdenite. Molybdenite has a layered atomic structure sulfide, MoS 2 Geologic Occurrence of Molybdenite in which a sheet of molybdenum atoms is Hexagonal Molybdenite occurs as isolated crystals, and sandwiched between two sheets of sulfur. Uses The primary ore of molybdenum. foliated masses in , rhyolite, or The bonds between the molybdenum and An important ore of rhenium. A solid pegmatite. Molybdenite is also found sulfur atoms are very strong. lubricant for metal -to -metal sliding in rocks that have been altered by contact surfaces.

Cuyuna Rock, Gem, & Sunshine We’re on Facebook! Mineral Society on the Web Requests Cuyuna Rock, www.cuyunarockclub.org Gem & Mineral Society If you know someone who could use a little is a closed group, so you must sunshine — birth, illness, surgery, family ask to join. After being approved you death —please contact can follow the members’ posts and add Christi Higgins at 320 -224 -6650. your own information. Agates From Around The World Precious or Semi -Precious Crowley's Ridge Agates Crowley's Ridge in Arkansas & Missouri

Crowley's Ridge Agates were found as - river worn pieces in the floodplains of Mis- sissippi River near Forrest City, Arkansas and the hard of Crowley's Ridge is said to be the source of those lace -like agates. Some agates may be found in Mis- sissippi, Missouri and along the Mississippi is a boron silicate

River all the way to Louisiana. that may contain any of a number of other

elements, giving it a chemical formula of The colors are typically dull yellow to tan (Ca,K,Na,[])(Al,Fe,Li,Mg,Mn) 3(Al,Cr, and widely fractured, but good specimens have been found with great banding details and Fe,V) 6(BO 3)3(Si,Al,B ) 6O18 (OH,F) 4. It rare reddish colors. Some agates would look best if left in their natural forms, some look forms trigonal crystals and has a hardness - best if contour polished, some looking best if oiled (ugh!), and others looking best if of 7 to 7.5. Tourmaline is often black but - cut. From time to time, they can be found along Crowley's Ridge tracing to the lace may be colorless, red, green, bi -colored, agate and quartz site at Washington county. Some agates apparently had been made red- tri -colored, or other colors. dish as a result of wildfires and it must be noted that some agates can be heat -treated to get bright red and white colors. - https://www.thoughtco.com/alphabetical list -of -precious -and -semiprecious - http://www.sailorenergy.net/Agates/AgatesArkansasCrowleysRidge01.html gemstones -4134639

The World of Jaspers Agate: What Good Is a Moose? Kambaba By Joy Morgan Dey

This stone arises Agate is a moose with low self -esteem. He feels inade- straight from quate and plain, like an ugly brown rock, especially Madagascar and when he compares himself to his beautiful friends who South Africa. It is are named after . These friend help Agate to also a deposited see that just like his namesake, true beauty lies within. stone that inter- Stunning original watercolors, a witty, positive message twined with about self image plus bonus pages with and stromatolites and agate facts. Perfect for reading aloud. consists of micro- crystalline quartz.

Stromatolites, on the other hand, are Cuyuna Rock, Gem & Mineral Society Reminder of dates : hardened colonies made by primeval General Meeting Minutes Cottage Grove show Oct. 19, 20. - microorganisms as well as cyanobacteria November… 11/2 meeting & elections, Saturday October 12, 2019 - (blue -green algae). 11/9 Franklin Arts Center Holiday Craft Sale. Meeting called to order by President Ed - This stone is also known as Crocodile Alex Sample show January 4, 2020, Live Opatz at 2:00 pm. 33 members present, - Jasper, and Green Stromatolite Jasper. 1 guest. Auction need volunteers. Need buckets for rocks.

There are also alternative names for Reminder to sign in at meetings.

Kambaba such as Bambamba, Kabamby, Welcome new members. Shop training and use will be focus of

Cumbamba, Kakamba, and Kambamba. winter meetings. The Club is looking for a storage shed or 20 Nevertheless, Kambaba -Jasper is some- foot trailer. - times mistaken as a Nebula Stone. Show and Tell South Dakota trip. There is some equipment for sale in the - Kambaba Jasper can also in , rock club. See Ed if interested. Speaker Ed & Marcia Opatz on trip to Morocco. Germany, and France, in the USA, - Elections nominating committee Kevin Belgium, India, and the Netherlands. Martini, Lisa Hughes. Door Prize Drawing winners: Lisa Hughes, https://gemstagram.com/facts -about - Jim Bankey, Joan Guerra, Vern Iverson. Need a Host/Hostess for meetings to help kambaba -jasper -meanings -properties - - make sure people sign in and help with set and -benefits/ up and clean -up. Respectfully submitted, Looking for a member for be in charge of Joanie Hanson, Secretary Kid’s Club. What’s the Difference Between like natural stones without being chemically ic gemstones for sale. Although a synthetic Synthetic, Simulated, and optically identical to them. (Some may be a real gemstone, the term synthetic stones have no counterparts at all “synthetic” has strong popular connotations and Created Gemstones? in nature). Gemstones synthesized in a lab of being “not real” as well as “not natural.” that simply imitate natural stones are called

Synthetic Gemstones simulated gemstones or simulants. Gemologically, a synthetic stone may be You’ll hear many terms used interchangea- both real and not natural. Nevertheless, bly with synthetic, such as “artificial,” “lab - - - Simulated Gemstones some consumers may find this qualification grown,” “lab made,” “man made,” etc. All Not all simulants originate in labs. Glass hard to accept. Referring to synthetic as these terms identify gemstones created in pieces and assembled stones like doublets created gemstones may help skirt those laboratories, not in nature. and triplets are often used to simulate natu- associations altogether.

ral gems. Sometimes, vendors may present There are many processes for synthesizing one kind of natural gemstone as another, for Synthetic or created gemstones have been gems. Some are inexpensive, some are very example, a doublet cut to look like on the market since the early 1900s. Simu- expensive, but they’re all conducted artifi- a . Jewelers also frequently use , lated gemstones or “lookalikes” have been cially, in a lab. They may mimic or repro- both natural and synthetic, to imitate other around as long as people have valued gems. duce natural processes and use the same gemstones. Don’t assume that an old stone is a natural ingredients found in the natural stones. stone. However, these processes occur in labs, Regardless of its origins, a simulated not underground in nature. gemstone is a piece presented to “look like” Treated Natural Gemstones another gemstone. A close gemological There are many gemstone treatments and Some synthetic stones are chemically and analysis would reveal its true identity. enhancements used to improve natural gem- optically identical to their natural counter- Simulants are also called imitations, faux, stone rough. For example, heat is often used parts. For example, synthetic may and fakes. While a garnet simulating a ruby on to improve color and melt silk be real emeralds but not natural emeralds. may be a real garnet, it’s a fake ruby. Some inclusions. Some people would consider all Depending on the process used, synthetic vendors may be honest about selling simu- treated stones as synthetic or created gem- gemstones may even have the same lants. Others may not disclose what the gem stones. Personally, I don’t generally agree inclusions and flaws found in natural gems. truly is. (Sometimes, gems are sold with with this view. However, I think a gray area Or, they may have telltale signs they’re misleading names). Buyer beware. does exist. If a natural gem receives synthetic. Distinguishing between synthet- extreme treatments, it should fall under the ics and their natural counterparts can be Created Gemstones synthetic category. very difficult. People who sell synthetic gems rarely use

the word “synthetic.” You’ll almost always However, some synthetic stones just look find “created gemstones” instead of synthet- https://www.gemsociety.org/

A Few Tips for the Tucson Shows and pick up a specimen that may actually Rock Room turn out to be something exotic. This Club is unique because it has its own When you first meet a dealer, you must rock store. Here is an inventory of what is assess what type of dealer they are. Each Commercial collectors offer inexpensive available for Club members to purchase. type of dealer can fill a special need. At minerals from obscure localities. They Stop in when you come to the Clubhouse. spend the year digging minerals and are the retail dealer, you should recognize that Tucson is just another show for them and selling them at moderate profit. Every year Grit and Polish the price you pay will be the same in Tuc- I look for certain collectors with minerals Montana Moss & Blue Agate son as it will at the next show they do in a from Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon Geodes few weeks. But they have brought their best Oregon, Washington, California. Even

Desert Rose Plume Agate material to this show (often they have saved collectors from overseas will show in Tucson if they make a really big find. the REALLY special minerals specifically Yellow Jasper Bruno Jasper Because field collectors may not have big Owyhee Picture Jasper for Tucson.) So you should ask the dealer if finds every year, they may not attend Tuc- Brazilian Agates they have anything new or special. Remem- ber, the dealer knows his stock better than son every year. This results in their displays Tee Pee Canyon Agate you - use their knowledge to make sure you being at the fringe shows, not the big Hauser Bed Agate don't miss anything that a casual viewing of venues that have regular dealer rosters. Slabs of all sizes and types their minerals may not reveal. Septarian Nodules —Utah Obviously, there are dealers that blur they 79 Bed Geodes —Oregon The wholesale importers may have a large line between categories. Several notable Moroccan White Agate stock of minerals, in many levels of quality dealers sell large quantities of minerals at

Obsidian Mineral specimens and prices. You should look for new finds wholesale prices in the hotel pre -shows Dinosaur bone Condor Agate among their stock, since it is possible they (more about that later) and then move to the Mexican Luna Lace Agate may have a mineral find that nobody else Starolites (Cross Rocks) Convention Center to sell at retail prices. has. There is also the possibility that they Small Botswana Agate New material will be available soon from a have a new find, but don't know what the http://www.johnbetts -fineminerals.com/ recent donation. mineral is or it is possibly misidentified. jhbnyc/articles/tucson.htm This is your opportunity to take a gamble

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 December 2019 & 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 tells me we have quite a stash of white elephant gifts for the game at [email protected] 218 -343 -7037 the Christmas party. It should be good food and good fun. If you can come early (9 -11 a.m. ) we need help preparing auction boxes. Secretary —Joanie Hanson [email protected] We REALLY need help at the auction, which is Saturday, January 4. Most 218 -831 -2665 of the help is just to keep things organized. The building will open at 6:00 a.m., the show and viewing begins at 9:00, and the live auction starts at 10:30. Since we have never done this before it’s hard to know how much help we need. I would rather Treasurer: Kevin Martini have too much than not enough. Please call me if you can help. 320 -250 -1363. [email protected] [email protected] 218 -770 -8917 I have started the process with Carrie Ruud, Minnesota Representative, to consider changing the law to allow rock collection in the Cuyuna Recreational Area. Our Club and many other rockhounds that I have talked to are very interested in collecting bing- Director: Lori DuBois hamite in that area. Director: Vern Iverson Director: Lilly Peterson Our RV is headed south after January 1. If any of your are traveling that way and would like to meet at a show (Quartzsite, Tucson, Deming), or would like a collecting partner, let me know. I can never have too many rocks! Newsletter Editor: Marcia Opatz [email protected] Ed Opatz 320 -250 -8120