GEM & MINERAL JOURNAL Official Monthly Publication of the Gem & Mineral Society of Lynchburg, VA, Inc FEBRUARY 2016 VOLUME 25~ ISSUE 2 www.lynchburgrockclub.org President’s Message: the Salem Gem & Mineral Show made by dealers from Hello To All, Ohio, they were real attention grabbers. They sold for WOW!! What a snow storm. There were only sixteen around $100 each, we will have to see how much it faithful members at the January meeting. I was really takes to make them before pricing. It will depend on size surprised to see anyone. We were suppose to install and design as well. We have learned everything else officers for the 2016 terms but did not have enough there one step at a time, so why not this project as well? to proceed. Maybe at the February meeting we will have It is good to see some bare ground slowly appear now better luck. The field trip for January to J.M.U. had to be from under the snow, I hope it won’t be too long before postponed until February 27th. I hope the weather will we can get back to collecting. Speaking of collecting, cooperate then. after the J.M.U. trip I hope to take a side trip to South There are some new items we want to teach anyone River in Green County and collect some of that beautiful that would like to get involved in to make at our monthly Lava Rock that is filled with Epidote Crystals and Red workshops. We may need some expertise from someone Jasper. It makes great bookends, clocks, candles and that is familiar with crafting like stain glass windows. The cabachons. We will talk about this at the February 17th plans are to take agate slabs along with geode slices meeting. I hope to see you all there. and turn them into beautiful Sun Catchers, by soldering then together with a thin metal border. We saw some at Keep Looking Down, John Haskins From the First V.P. Diamond The most popular gemstone. The hardest known substance. An amazing number of From the... uses. A round, brilliant cut diamond May all enjoy the most wonderful Valentine's Day this What is Diamond? showing "fire". © iStockphoto / year. It is so important to choose just the right gift for our Greg Stanfield loved one. So many of us think of roses and chocolates, Diamond is a rare, but how about earrings, a bracelet, or a ring? What naturally-occurring mineral should the gemstone be? How does one decide? What composed of carbon. Each will become our rock of choice? The article that follows carbon atom in a diamond is gives us lots of information on diamonds. Perhaps a surrounded by four other carbon diamond is in your loved one's future. Taken from atoms and connected to them http://geology.com/minerals/diamond.shtml by strong covalent bonds. This simple, uniform, tightly-bonded arrangement yields one of the most durable substances known. continued on page 13 FEBRUARY 2016 GEM & MINERAL JOURNAL PAGE 2 2016 ELECTED OFFICERS January Mee!ng Minu"s PRESIDENT - John Haskins (434) 525-8430 Meeting: Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2016 Treasurer: Frank Midkiff- not present [email protected] at the meeting. Attendance: 16 members First Vice President Program: Video on Gems Jack Curtin Host: Pam and Eric Routon were (434) 384 -6249 host for tonight’s meeting. Noel Weller Minutes submitted by [email protected] will host the February meeting. Linda Noble, Secretary Second Vice President On Time Drawing Winners: David Callahan Dave Woolley, Bob McIntire, Josh (540) 297-1853 [email protected] Baroch, Eric Routon, Noel Weller, Lynchburg Gem and Pam Routon. Mineral Society Secretary Linda Noble 50/50 drawing winner: Dave Inclement Weather (434) 332-4869 Callahan Policy: [email protected] President - John Haskins- Old Please remember- if the Editor - Natalie Darling Business: Announced there would be (434) 941-1899 no installation of officers at this Lynchburg City Schools are [email protected] meeting. closed or close early due to Treasurer - Frank Midkiff the weather conditions, then (434) 660-1565 New Business:Asked if anyone was our meeting will be [email protected] interested in doing a program for the Summit and there were no cancelled. volunteers. Members At Large- Dave Woolley asked if anyone was Bernardino Rivera & interested in taking a class from him Eric Routon on Gem Identification which would be 3 one hour sessions. Also if you can help with rearranging the case at Easter Island, see him for COMMITTEE details. CHAIR PERSONS: First VP: Jack Curtin- not present. Field Trips– David Callahan Second V.P. – Dave Callahan: Hospitality- Monthly Volunteers Upcoming field trips: The January 23 News Articles– Natalie Darling fieldtrip to James Madison University Silent Auction– Warren Darling has been postponed until February Swap for Rocks–Warren Darling 27th. Website– Casper Voogt Workshops– Dave Callahan FRA Adult Liaison- OPEN Membership- Thom Noble The Gem and Mineral Society of Lynchburg, VA. Inc. www.lynchburgrockclub.org FEBRUARY 2016 GEM & MINERAL JOURNAL PAGE 3 The program for the January 21,2016 meeting was a video on Gemstones. For the February 17, 2016 meeting, please join Natalie Darling for a program on her personal experience exploring PROGRAMS Rock Formations and Under ground Cities of Cappadocia, Turkey. Below: panoramic photograph taken at the rock city of Cappadocia, Turkey, 4/2015; N. Darling BenchTips by Brad Smith "Get all 101 of Brad's bench tips in "Bench Tips for Jewelry Making" on Amazon" SHARP KNIVES FOR CUTTING MOLDS USE YOUR THUMB Cutting molds is easier and more precise with a sharp When using multiple bits in a Foredom, we often have to blade. A new Xacto blade is sufficient for cutting RTV deal with several different shaft sizes - the usual 3/32 molds but is usually not sharp enough for vulcanized inch burs, the larger 1/8 inch shafts sizes and of course rubber. For that it's best to use scalpel blades available the many different sizes of drills. For some reason I from most jewelry supply companies. really dislike having to turn the key multiple times to open or close the jaws of the handpiece chuck. The #11 blade is triangle shaped, and the #12 is hawksbill shaped. I find the hawksbill is particularly nice So I have two ways to speed up that task. For opening for cutting the registration keys of the mold. up the jaws, I just remember "four", the number of turns I have to make to open the chuck just enough from the 3/32 bur shaft size to the larger 1/8 bur shaft size. For closing the jaws around a smaller shaft, there's a neat trick. Hold the new bit in the center of the open jaws of the chuck, put your thumb lightly onto the outer toothed collar of the chuck, and gently start up the Foredom. As the chuck turns, it will naturally tighten the jaws around the bur shaft or the drill bit. Then all you have to do is a final tightening with the key. The Gem and Mineral Society of Lynchburg, VA. Inc. www.lynchburgrockclub.org FEBRUARY 2016 GEM & MINERAL JOURNAL PAGE 4 Contact Information FIELD TRIP REPORT... for Field Trips David Callahan, Field Trip Chairman Home phone: 540-297-1853 Cell Phone- 540-874-5201 E-mail [email protected] The January 23rd field trip to JMU was re-scheduled to campus. It is unclear at this time if these trips will be February 27th because of the big snow storm. If you continued by his replacement so it is important to visit want to attend the February 27th trip, you must sign up these facilities now. again. Please see the new broadcast below. If you have any minerals that you want to identify, Thank you. bring them along. We should have time to run five or six David specimens thru the x-ray diffraction equipment. There will be microscopes available and other equipment for RE-SCHEDULED OFFICIAL COMBINED testing and viewing. Dr. Kearns also has a large GMSL and RVMGS FIELD TRIP fluorescent mineral collection for our viewing pleasure. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2016 (weather Dr. Kearns may have some surplus mineral books, permitting, use your own judgement) specimens, miniatures and micros for sale to benefit the 9AM until NOON museum, be sure to bring cash or your checkbook. This JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY, material will be first class and all the proceeds go toward Harrisonburg, Virginia future museum purchases. The museum will be open for GEOLOGY DEPARTMENT and MINERAL MUSEUM our viewing pleasure. Sign-up is required!call me, e-mail me or Driving directions to JMU in Harrisonburg, VA. from see me at the meeting I-81 north bound We will all provide our own transportation and park in * I-81 to Harrisonburg, VA. (About 2.5 hours driving time the JMU parking lot in the front of Memorial Hall (The old from Lynchburg and 1.5 from Roanoke). High School). Plan to arrive between 8:45 to 9AM. See (One good way from Lynchburg is Rt. 29N, Rt. 6W, the directions below and walk directly to the Geology Rt. 151N, Rt. 250W, I-64W, I-81N) Lab. If you need transportation or any other information, please call or e-mail me for assistance. This is Dr. * Exit 245 (Turn left on Port Republic Road) Kearns only available date. If the weather is bad, use your own best judgment before driving. * Proceed to South Main Street (Rt. 11) and turn right at JMU has a fully equipped geology lab with state of the light.