Rockhound Ramblings
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Pasadena Lapidary 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 Ruby “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- Rubies 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 gold. (4) Go to page 4. to powder and placed on the tongue, this crystal was used as a Wire 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 beryl and at edimlay @ hotmail.com. thulite. Vern and Sylvia brought emeralds and quartz, 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 silver 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 fineness 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. copper 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.