Pasadena Society, Inc. ROCKHOUND RAMBLINGS

JULY 1, 2010 THE NEWSLETTER OF THE PASADENA LAPIDARY SOCIETY

2010

SILENT

AUCTION

It’s time for the Silent Auction!

Great deals and fun to be had!

Bring an item to add to the

auction and your favorite ice cream or cookies to share at the July Meeting! Clockwise From Top: (1) The throughout history. The “AFRICAN JEWEL”, 5.77cts was considered to have magical Madagascar Pigeon Blood Red powers, and was worn by royalty Inside this issue: Ruby. Marquise cut and as a talisman against evil. It was Internally flawless. (2) The thought to grow darker when President’s Message 2 Delong Star Ruby. 100.32 car- peril was imminent, and to return ats. In 1964 the Delong Star Ruby to its original color once danger Membership Info 2 was the object of an infamous was past - provided it was in the burglary, carried out by Jack hands of its rightful owner! Ed’s Corner, Work- 3 Murphy, known as Murph the shop and Feature Surf. Following a ransom pay- were thought to represent ment of $25,000 the Delong Star heat and power. Ancient tribes was found at a designated drop used the gem as bullets for blow- Field Trips, 4 off site - a phone booth in Florida. guns, and it was said that a pot of Federation News (3) Rubies are popular for jew- water would boil instantly if a Feature and Rock 5 elry settings, such as this one in Ruby was tossed into it. Ground Shows white . (4) Go to page 4. to powder and placed on the tongue, this crystal was used as a Wrapping 6 Like a perfect red rose, the Ruby's cure for indigestion. rich color speaks of love and pas- Stone of the Month 7 sion. Called the "Rajnapura" or The word Ruby comes from the King of Gems by ancient Hindus, Latin "ruber," meaning red. Calendar 8 July's birthstone is among the most highly prized of gems …….. Continued on page 7 ROCKHOUND RAMBLINGS Page 2

President’s Message thinking about helping at next year’s personal reasons. Cal will continue show? Are there projects that you as secretary until I can find another have not worked on in a while, you’d secretary. Cal, from the board of It’s July, the start like to tackle? We enjoy the summer directors, we thank you for your of the “dog days for “down time” (in the rock collect- hard work. Can I get a volunteer of summer” is ing sense), so it’s a good opportunity from the club to serve as our Secre- upon us. Warm to pick up that project you’ve wanted tary? Call me at the number listed to hot days for us to work on and come to the Work on this page. to enjoy the cool- Shop to finish it. ness of air condi- On a more difficult note, I have re- …Drew Wilson, President tioners and fans. ceived a letter of resignation from Could this be a good time to start our Secretary, Cal Matthews, due to July Meeting and General Information

Officers Ice Cream Social slabs, tools or field trip acces- placing a higher amount Drew Wilson, President and Silent Auction! sories). on the line below the (626) 298-1534 Celebrate National Ice Bid sheets containing the most recent bid.

Cream Month by bringing name or description of the Chris Kyte, Vice President your favorite ice cream to items and the opening price At 8:15 the bidding will (626) 794-0519 share at the club’s Ice will be available on the tables close and the successful Cal Matthews, Secretary Cream Social! The Social where we will set items for bidders will be able to pay (626) 798-7481 and Auction will start at view and bidding. for their items and take 7:00 pm, so come a little their treasures home! Mark Nelson, Treasurer early. Silent auction items can be (909) 996-1784 viewed through most of the GOOD LUCK and Members are asked to bring meeting to allow members have fun! FAIR USE NOTICE. This items for auction that are and guests to write in their publication may contain copyrighted associated with the rock- name and bid amount. Other material the use of which has not ….. Sylvia Cliffe been specifically authorized by the hounding field (ie: stones, people can increase the bid by copyright owner.

We are making such material available in our efforts to advance Membership and Meeting Locations the educational understanding of amateur jewelry fabrication and rock Membership per calendar corner of Santa Anita and all members - normally on the collecting hobbies. year is $20 per individual, Foothill in Arcadia. All PLS first Sunday of each month at $15 for a second adult mem- members are welcome to Drew Wilson’s home. Refer We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted ber in the same house. Junior attend. to the announcement in the material as provided for in section members and third or more newsletter for the hours. 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. members at the same house General Meetings are held Location is 252 Bella Vista in are $10. Included is one on the third Wednesday of Pasadena. If you wish to use material from this publication for commercial or copy per family of the the month at 7:30pm at the purposes of your own that go monthly club newsletter. Sierra Madre Masonic Workshops and field trips are beyond 'fair use', you must obtain Renewals are due by the De- Lodge, 33 E. Sierra Madre for adult members and chil- permission from the copyright cember General Meeting. Blvd, Sierra Madre. Guests dren with parental supervision. owner. Mail membership checks to are welcome! Eye protection and closed-toe P.O. Box 5025, Pasadena CA shoes are mandatory for all Newsletter Articles or cor- 91117-0025. Field Trips are scheduled participants. rections should be sent to the each month. Refer to the editor: Mark Nelson, 1475 Board Meetings are held at newsletter for weekend and The Annual Show is held the Paseo Maravilla, San Dimas 7:00pm on the first Wednes- location. second weekend of March at 91773. (909) 996-1784 or to day of the month at the One the Masonic Hall, 3130 Hunt- mnelsonair @aol.com West Bank at the northeast Workshops are offered to ington Drive, San Marino. ROCKHOUND RAMBLINGS Page 3 DISPLAY TABLE EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH Ed’s Corner There were a lot of things to see at the May Ed Imlay meeting. The Fenders brought glass jewelry If you know of a class that fashioned from Mt. St. Helens volcanic ash. would like a presentation from Ed, please contact him Chris Kyte brought Owens Valley and at edimlay @ hotmail.com. thulite. Vern and Sylvia brought and , and Ed Imlay brought indicalite. Ed Imlay at local schools

The First American Gold Rush: The Forgotten Gold Rush by Jackie “Georgia Peach” Fisher, Austin Gem & Mineral Society From: The Stone Chipper, 6/09

When people think of the so called "Gold Rush." they States Mints in Dahlonega, Georgia and Charlotte, usually envision miners and donkeys headed west to N.C. These mints coined only gold. The mints California or north to Alaska, but there was an earlier existed for only 24 years and ceased operation rush to riches in America - in Georgia in 1829. Prior during the Civil War. to the Georgia Gold Rush of 1829 there was knowl- edge of gold in north Georgia. American Indians Gold from Dahlonega had a content of less possessed gold which they said came from the moun- tains. There were also reports that the Spanish and than 5% which caused the coins to have a green- French mined gold in north Georgia from 1560-1690. ish gold hue. The standard was .900 so the silver was left in the gold from Georgia. When A rich belt of gold was found in what was later to gold from California was brought to the mint, the become Dahlonega in 1828, and the Georgia gold silver content was around 15%. so silver was re- rush started in 1829. Dahlonega comes from the moved, possibly resulting in an orange gold color. Cherokee language meaning yellow money. By 1830, If gold content exceeded .900. was added 4,000 miners produced 300 ounces per day from an to achieve .900 fineness. area on Yahoola Creek. By 1831 an estimated 15,000 miners were in Dahlonega. By the early 1840's mining shifted to working on deposits. When miners heard of the California An Act of Congress in 1835 established the United Gold Rush, many left. Some 500 mines in 37 counties produced gold for many more years. An JULY WORKSHOP / LAPIDARY CLASSES estimated 870,000 troy ounces were produced between 1828 and the mid 20th century - when July’s Workshop will be on the second Sunday, July 11 at commercial production ended. 1:30pm. Navarro’s Creations I am pleased to share that Cal Matthews will be leading this 18 N. Mentor, Pasadena month’s lapidary class. He will be teaching beading tech- (626) 577-2077 niques. You can work on a project at the workshop and it will be yours to take home to finish and keep. Let Emilly Navarro create some- thing for you! Bring her a picture Drew Wilson / Workshop Chairman (626) 298-1534 or sketch of your dream design for a free quote.

ROCKHOUND RAMBLINGS Page 4 FIELD TRIPS Did you like the flower on the may buy your pass there. We'll try our hand at cover page? The desert was in panning until early afternoon. bloom during our Memorial Day Field Trip to Owens Valley. This is Two-wheel drive cars are fine. In addition to only one of the many beautiful your gold pan you may want to bring a bucket, flowers that were blooming that shovel, a plastic mortar mixing tub a little larger weekend. and deeper than your gold pan, an extra gold pan, plenty of drinking water, sunscreen, a broad There were members and guests from the Pasadena brimmed hat, lunch, beverages, a change of and Whittier clubs. The camping area at Glacier shoes and pants and a folding chair. Joe will View was excellent, although a bit windy around demonstrate his favorite panning methods and it sundown. should be a fun day. “ ..... great places to collect while We collected spesartine near Bishop, fossils lost ....” Joe near Big Pine and Lone Pine and a return to Crystal Ridge for a variety of crystal formations. A short CFMS / AFMS INFORMATION drive into Nevada brought us to an area of opalized petrified wood and another site for . On Monday we went over Wingate Pass to another quartz crystal collecting area. Everyone had a great time! GOLD PANNING JULY 10 Thar’s Gold In Them Thar Hills! This month “Wrong Way Joe” and his The American Federation of Mineralogical Societies Future mule, Spot, are lead- Rockhounds of America program reaches out to children to ing a field trip to pan fan whatever budding interest they may have in rocks, fossils, and lapidary arts. They do this through a merit badge for gold on the East program of rewarding educational achievement in rock-related Fork of the San fields. Gabriel River. On Saturday the 10th we'll meet be- tween 8 and 9 AM along the river across from The The AFMS has extended an offer to the Pasadena Lapidary Oaks picnic area (where the club panned two years Society to be a part of this program. The program consists of an FRA Membership patch, 15 badges (Rocks & Minerals, ago). The Oaks is just east of Camp Williams where Earth Resources, Fossils, Lapidary Arts, Collecting, Showman- you should be able to buy the Forest Service Adven- ship, Communication, Field Trips, Leadership, Earth Processes, ture (parking) pass. If the USFS Information Station Earth in Space, Lore & Legend, Stone Age Tools & at the mouth of San Gabriel Canyon is open you Art, Gold Panning & Prospecting, and Rocking on the Com- puter), and a "Rockhound Badge" for kids who earn 6 of the 15 MOON TRIVIA - July 20th is National Moon badges. A guidebook with simple requirements for each of the Day, in celebration of the first lunar landing by 15 badges makes it easy for youth leaders to sign off on activi- ties as junior members complete them. Armstrong and Aldrin on this day in 1969. Where were you on this day? If you are planning to collect We need members who would like to help administer this pro- this month’s birthstone - the Ruby - by the full gram. Please reply to the Editor if you have an interest and we moon do so on July 26th. See page 8 for calendar. can discuss the details. Page 5 THE NEWSLETTER OF THE PASADENA LAPIDARY SOCIETY

ROCK & MINERAL TERMINOLOGY - may grow naturally but is usually hand cut. This defini- PART FIVE tion includes the meaning of a specific cuts for gems. desert pavement - A closely packed layer of faceting - Cutting from a rough stone into a gem, creating rock fragments concentrated in a layer along a facet the Earth's surface by the deflation of finer par- ticles. LOCAL ROCK AND GEM SHOWS: desert varnish - A thin, shiny red-brown or July 2-4--PASADENA, CALIFORNIA: Show; Interna- black layer, principally composed of iron man- tional Gem & Jewelry Show Inc.; Pasadena Convention ganese oxides, that coats the surfaces of many Center, 300 E. Green St.; Fri. 12-6, Sat. 10-6, Sun. 11-5; exposed desert rocks. adults $8; open to the public Web site: www.InterGem.com dichroic / dichroism - Literally means "two colors". A mineral that exhibits one color when July 10-11--CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA: 49th an- viewed from one angle but a different color nual show, "Fiesta of Gems"; Culver City Rock & Min- when viewed from a different angle is said to eral Club; Veterans Memorial Auditorium, 4117 Over- display dichroism. land Blvd.; Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5; free admission; 27 ven- dors, rough and polished rocks, minerals, jewelry, beads, dodecahedron - Twelve sided polyhedron; all demonstrations (glass lampwork bead making, faceting, sides are equidimensional and either rhombic precious ), half-day classes, kids' games, or pentagonal. If the dodecahedron is com- books, magazines, hourly drawings, grand prize raffle; posed of rhombs, it is known as a rhombic do- contact Robert Thirlaway, 28602 Mt. Whitney Way, decahedron, or simply as a dodecahedron. If it Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275, (310) 213-7677; e- is composed of pentagons, it is known as a mail: [email protected]; Web site: http:// pentagonal dodecahedron or pyritohedron. culvercityrocks.org Minerals shaped as dodecahedrons belong to the isometric system. Minerals with this prop- July 17-18--SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA: Show, erty are described as dodecahedral. "Bead Faire"; Gem Faire Inc.; Santa Monica Civic Audi- torium, 1855 Main St.; Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5; weekend doubly terminated - Exhibiting a pinched crys- pass $5; Web site: www.gemfaire.com tal figure on both bases. druse - Cavity in a mineral or rock filled with protruding crystals. The hole is either com- pletely filled with crystals or just partially. drusy - Aggregate composed of prismatic crys- tals protruding from a cavity or wall. extrusive rock - An igneous rock formed from lava that has flowed out onto the Earth's sur- face, characterized by rapid solidification and grains that are so small as to be barely visible to the naked eye. facet - A desired surface displayed in a gem. It Page 6 THE NEWSLETTER OF THE PASADENA LAPIDARY SOCIETY Jewelry and Wire Wrapping Supplies: Basic Tools You Need...And Don't Need By Chris Telden Are you finding interesting rocks, crystals and wrong size, mar the wire like nobody's busi- fossils on field trips or rock and gem shows? ness, and get easily misaligned, but they don't last Consider wire wrapping techniques to show off your very long. find. Wire wrapping, a versatile technique used in many jewelry projects, is one of the easiest jewelry This is one tool you should not go cheap on. Get making skills you can learn. Since you need not deal the best--I'm personally a fan of the Lindstrom with , glues, ovens, fire or epoxies, you'll brand for all my jewelery making pliers, but you find you need only a minimum of work space and may find other brands work as well. Lindstrom is can make wire wrapped jewelry anywhere - even at the only brand of quality that I've tried. home. And because the technique uses an absolute minimum of equipment and tools, buying profes- Flat-nose Pliers for Jewelers sional quality jewelry pliers and other wire wrapping Flat-nose Pliers or Chain-nose Pliers: These pliers supplies won't break your pocketbook. are used for bending and manipulating wire, crimping beads, and holding wire in place while Best of all, you needn't pay for expensive formal training. You can teach yourself or take an afford- able class through a shop such as Farrin O’Connor FARRIN O’CONNOR Design (see ad on this page). DESIGN 146 W. Bellevue Drive, Pasadena

Basic Wire Wrapping Tools This is another “hidden gem” You will be told by "reputable" sources that you for those interested in lapidary need ten, twenty, even thirty special tools and pieces and jewelry work. A fully- of equipment to jewelry. Not true. I stocked store with books, tools, myself started small and built up my collection of beads and findings awaits you. Learn how to make jewelry from tools and supplies as I needed them. Here is my nothing-to-finish in their one- advice for what you should get if you want to give day classes. See upcoming classes and instructors at wire wrapping a fair try, but don't want to spend www.farrinoconnordesign.com/classes thousands of dollars on fully equipping your shop. Or call them at (626) 796-5300. Free parking in a Then, after you've had some experience, you can fenced lot. buy the tools you know you'll need.

making scrolls, hooks or loops. My big secret is Jewelry Pliers that I use only a flat-nose pliers. I've never owned Jeweler's pliers are the most important tools you can a chain-nose pliers for jewelry making. own if you do wire-wrapping. The prices for the

jewelry pliers you'll need to wire wrap range from When I was shopping for flat-nose pliers, I could about $7 to about $80 per tool. not find a Lindstrom or quality one, so I bought a

cheap $7 one--and I have to admit it did the job Round-Nose Pliers for Jewelery Making perfectly. What I wanted it to do was hold the wire Round-nose Pliers: Round nose pliers are used for without marring it too much, and smush crimp making loops and wrapping wire. The cheap round beads, and its shape was sufficient to do this. I nose pliers are worlds different from the quality, never found it necessary to get an expensive ($50- more expensive brand. I used a cheap pair of round- $80) pair, though I have needed to replace it a nose pliers for about a month before I had to give it up or give up jewelry making. Not only are they the couple of times. …………. Enjoy the hobby! Page 7 THE NEWSLETTER OF THE PASADENA LAPIDARY SOCIETY

… Ruby Continued … It is a variety of the rutile needle inclusions) in a certain way. This is one ex- mineral Corundum, and is found as crystals ample where inclusions increase the value of a gemstone. within metamorphic rock. Corundum is the Furthermore, rubies can show color changes — though second hardest mineral, after . It comes this occurs very rarely — as well as chatoyancy or the in a variety of colors, and is considered a Sap- "cat's eye" effect. phire in any color except red, which is desig- nated as a Ruby. Rubies range in hue from an orange red to a purplish red, but the most prized The glowing ruby shall adorn gems are a true red in color. Large sized Rubies Those who in warm July are born are very rare and valuable. They will be exempt and free The history of Ruby mining dates back more From love doubt and anxiety. than 2,500 years ago. The most beautiful crystals are thought to be from Burma, but quality Rubies are also found in India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Kenya, Tanzania, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the United States.

A ruby’s red color is caused mainly by the pres- ence of the element chromium. Prices of rubies are primarily determined by color. The brightest and most valuable "red" called Pigeon Blood Red, commands a huge premium over other rubies of similar quality. Next to color follows clarity. All natural rubies have imperfections in them, including color impurities and inclusions of rutile needles known as "silk". The Ruby In Ancient Texts Gemologists use these needle inclusions found in natural rubies to distinguish them from The Bible refers to the ruby as adorning the Breastplate synthetics, simulants, or substitutes. Usually the of Aaron as well as being a crystal mentioned by the rough stone (shown at right) is Prophet Isaiah in his book of prophecy. heated before cutting. Almost all rubies today are treated in some Mentioned in Sanskrit texts, the ancient Hindus were so form, with heat treatment being the enchanted by the color of Rubies that they called them most common practice. However, Ratnaraj "the king of gems". rubies that are completely untreated but still of excellent quality com- Ancient Ceylonese legends (modern day Sri Lanka) mand a large premium. relate the story of the destruction of their demonic King Ravana. They believed that after his demise, his blood Some rubies show a 3-point or 6-point asterism set into Rubies resulting in their intense red color. or "star". These rubies are cut into cabochons to display the effect properly. Asterisms are best In the 13th century, the renowned explorer Marco Polo visible with a single-light source, and move wrote that Kublai Kahn, the Mongol Emperor of China, across the stone as the light moves or the stone is once offered an entire city for a Ruby the size of a rotated. Such effects occur when light is man's finger. reflected off the "silk" (the structurally oriented

Pasadena Lapidary Society Page 8 July The Pasadena Lapidary Society, Inc Bulletin Editor: 2010 1475 Paseo Maravilla San Dimas, CA 91773-3908 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

The Pasadena Lapidary Society is affiliated with the California and American Federations of Mineralogical Societies.

July 2010

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

July Is National 1 2 3 Start of Ice Cream Dog Days Month Of Summer 4 5 HOLIDAY 6 7 7:00 PM 8 Liberty Bell 9 10 FIELD TRIP Board Cracks. Meeting 1835

11 1:30 PM 12 13 14 15 16 Apollo 11 takes 17 Work off for the Moon Shop

18 19 20 First 21 7:00 PM 22 23 24 lunar AUCTION and landing ICE CREAM SOCIAL 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Full Moon