Rocky Mountain Federation News, Vol 49, Issue 5 Page 1 Rocky Mountain Federation News May 2018 Volume 49, Issue 5 The official publication of the Rocky Mountain Federation of Mineralogical Societies, Inc. The RMFMS is a regional member of the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies, Inc. and is issued monthly (except June and July). It is a privilege of membership of the RMFMS and cannot be exchanged by the editor for individual club newsletters from other regional federations. www.rmfms.org Rocky Mountain Federation News, Vol 49, Issue 5 Page 2 Contents From the Editor From the Editor ................................................. 2 Did you just go on the best field trip ever? Did you just finish polishing that amazing piece of Affiliations ......................................................... 2 petrified wood? Did your favorite Pebble Pup Letter from the President – May 2018 ............. 3 just get 1st place at the science fair for their Treasurer’s Report for the 2018 Convention .... 5 geology project? Tell us all about it and send a photo if you have one! Wyoming’s Rockhounds of the Year ................. 5 Obsidian ............................................................ 6 Please submit your contributions for the next issue by June 10th to [email protected]. Heading to RMFMS: Exploring the Black Hills with George Custer ......................................... 10 Heather Woods, PG RMFMS Convention and Show ....................... 18 April/May Upcoming Shows and Events ......... 26 Affiliations Show Flyers ..................................................... 27 RMFMS Board and Committees...................... 32 The Rocky Mountain Federation of Mineralogical Societies (RMFMS) is a member of the American Federation of Mineralogical Cover photo courtesy and copyright of Erin Societies (AFMS). Delventhal of the San Juan County Gem and Mineral Society. “Traylor Headframe at the Kelly Mine, Magdelena District, Socorro County, New Mexico” Rocky Mountain Federation News, Vol 49, Issue 5 Page 3 Letter from the President – May 2018 By Liz Thomas Wow, all the shows everywhere can make a person dizzy trying to figure out which direction to travel. And travel, my husband Ben and I have been doing a lot of it this year. A week in Quartzsite, Arizona in January; Kansas City, Missouri show in March; The American Federation for a week in Raleigh, North Carolina in April; Wichita, Kansas show in April; Tulsa, Oklahoma show in July, RMFMS show/convention in Rapid City, South Dakota in July for a week; Moab, Utah show in October for a week, and a lot of shows I will attend throughout the year. Then I looked at next year’s calendar and see I will be traveling even more. I sure am glad I have a very understanding husband that loves the hobby as much and even more than I do. He tells me all the time he is my Uber driver. I cannot say enough about our vice‐president, Bob Regner. He is a very busy and talented man. I hope you all read his article in last month’s newsletter. It was amazing and interesting. He is very eager to help in any way he can with the Federation. When I need advice, he is a great person to bounce things off of. He helps with my decisions and answers my questions with thought out answers. Thank you, Bob, for being a great Vice‐President and friend. And he has a most awesome partner in his wife, Donna. Not only is she beautiful outside, she is inside as well. She is a rock hound and will get just as dirty as the rest of us. I hope everyone got the list of the field trips for the convention in Rapid City, South Dakota. Two days prior to the show and two days after the show filled with field trips. I am in heaven. And there could be more offered. Which way are we going to decide will be difficult for me. Here is the list: Field Trips for the 2018 Show - Here are four planned trips. There should be more forthcoming as we move closer to the show date. Wednesday July 18, 2018 – Antelope Ridge This is an easy walking area and is very accessible from the road. You will find sponge coral on this field trip. Departure time to be determined. Thursday July 19, 2018 – Black Hills National Forest / Hill City area This field trip is centered around the Hill City region. It consists of two parts where each part explores distinct geological activity all within several mile radius. The region is in close proximity to Mount Rushmore National Park; the trip locations, however, are located with the Black Hills National Forest. The first stop will be Blackberry Trail. This is a contact metamorphic region where most of the Cambrian rock has been upthrust and metamorphosed through heat and pressure. One should expect to find pyrite, feldspar, mica schist, mica and biotite as well as some other metamorphic materials along a stream bed. The trails are somewhat rugged. Hiking boots and jeans suggested. The second stop will be sand caves. Aptly, no formal name for the spot, but a favorite where trilobites of Cambrian origin can be found. This was a site intended to mine fracking sand, however, the sand particles did not meet the specifications and tunneling was discontinued. Several short, interconnected caves are present and some rough terrain hiking can be had. Hiking boots and jeans suggested; bring a high intensity flashlight for photography. Rocky Mountain Federation News, Vol 49, Issue 5 Page 4 The rally point will be the Civic Center parking lot 0800. Expect to depart by 0830. Maps will be handed out prior to departing. Monday July 23, 2018– Railroad Butte/Farmingdale Farmingdale is about 25 minutes east of Rapid City and is part of the National Grasslands recreation areas. You will be able to find agates (prairie agates and possibly one of those illusive Fairburn agates), coral, petrified wood, chalcedony and other treasures. The area is accessible by car, but if the weather has been on the wet side, you will want to make sure that you keep your vehicle on the trails or in the gravel parking areas. Since this area is prairie and our summers can be quite warm, remember to bring water for drinking and a spray bottle with sufficient water to bring out the ‘color’ in your finds. Sturdy shoes and jeans are also recommended because there can be knee high grass and the slithery creatures that reside in the grasslands. We will meet at the Civic Center at 8am and depart at 8:30am. Maps will be provided at the Civic Center on the day of the field trip. If you have a smart phone and would like to download a map of the National Grasslands area, download the “Avenza” app and download the Buffalo Gap NG – Fall River Ranger District MVUM map. Tuesday July 24, 2018 – Conata Some of the things you will be able to find on the field trip to Conata Basin are prairie agates, petrified wood, Fairburn agates, coral and a lot of other beautiful rocks. Meeting time has not been determined. More information forthcoming. Be safe and Be kind to the land Bring water to drink, food to eat, chairs to rest, sunscreen to not burn, tools, buckets and anything else you might need. One very important thing, if your club does not have a representative attending the convention, please print off the proxy, fill it out and send it to me or give it to someone that is going to the convention so that we will have a quorum as well as your club has a say on the votes. If you have any questions on this, please ask. You will find all the forms for the show on our website under shows. I truly hope you or someone from your club will get to join us in South Dakota. Thank you Liz Thomas Rocky Mountain Federation Mineralogical Society President Rocky Mountain Federation News, Vol 49, Issue 5 Page 5 Treasurer’s Report for the 2018 Convention By Gene Maggard, RMFMS Treasurer RMFMS ended fiscal year 2016‐17 with 78 member clubs and a total individual membership of 10,577 members, an increase of about 700 members. There was not just a few clubs that accounted for the increase membership. Although some clubs lost members, the general trend continued to be increasing membership in many clubs for fiscal year 2016‐17. We have one club from 2016‐17 that has decided not to renew their RMFMS membership for fiscal year 2017‐18. We have 78 member clubs in RMFMS for fiscal year 2017‐18. Individual membership numbers turned out better than I expected. We have 9,680 dues paying members this year compared to 9,685 last year. Total membership is 10,680 this year compared to 10,577 last year. A first half fiscal year 2017‐18 financial report will be distributed by email to all clubs prior to the July convention. Most income and expenses for 2017‐18 have already occurred and there are no big surprises. About the only remaining expenses will be associated with the convention and will be reflected in the annual report at the end of the year. Wyoming’s Rockhounds of the Year By Stan Strike, RMFMS Wyoming State Director Bob Carlson Jr. was nominated as the Riverton Mineral & Gem Society’s Club Rockhound of the Year and was selected as Wyoming’s 2017 State Rockhound of the Year. Bob is the field trip coordinator for the RMGS and also belongs to the Natrona County Rockhounds. He coordinates between RMGS and the Natrona club to organize combined club field trips each year. Bob loves to share his rock collection, especially with kids.