ROCKHOUND RAMBLINGS SEPTEMBER 1, 2010 THE NEWSLETTER OF THE PASADENA LAPIDARY SOCIETY, INC. NOW HIRING Great pay and benefits. No experience required. See details on page 6 DIAMONDS From the ancient Greek αaδdάμαaς or adámas... “unbreakable". More than just carbon. See the Program on page 2 Sapphire is the birthstone for September. Shown here, the Bismarck Sapphire gets its name from Countess Mona von Bismarck who owned Inside this the 98.6-carat deep blue Sri Lankan sapphire since the time she issue: purchased it, perhaps during her visit to Sri Lanka in 1926, which was one of the stopovers of her worldwide honeymoon cruise with her President’s Message 2 millionaire husband Harrison Williams. 2 Membership Info The Bismarck Sapphire is a 98.6-carat cushion-cut sapphire with a combination of desirable characteristics such as the deep cornflower blue Ed’s Corner, Work- 3 color, well proportioned-cut, good transparency, and perfect clarity. shop and Field Trip Because the cut is said to be perfect and well proportioned it is believed that the sapphire had been re-cut at Cartier’s in the United States or in 4 Europe after it was purchased as a cut and polished stone in Sri Lanka, The Sapphire which has a cutting tradition as old as its ancient mining industry. The Sapphire 5 Sri Lanka always sold its gemstones as cut and polished stones even in ancient times, and never sold any gemstones in the rough. But, one of the disadvantages of this ancient cutting industry was that the cutters always Help Wanted 6 tried to maximize for quantity at the expense of quality. In 1967 Federation News Countess Mona von Bismarck gifted the invaluable necklace to the National Museum of Natural History of the Smithsonian Institution - who Terminology, Shows 7 provided this photo. ….. Continued on page 4 Calendar 8 ROCKHOUND RAMBLINGS September, 2010 Page 2 As the president of our group, I make a President’s Message Finally, to make our meetings as plea to you - our valuable members. enjoyable as possible we need a The last month or The club needs people to step up and couple of folks for “Hospitality”. two we have had help fill the club’s open positions. such beautiful Don’t worry, someone will work with weather. As we We, as a non-profit corporation, must you on each of these positions. See start towards the legally have a “Secretary”. page 6 for what is involved. end of summer, I would like to start We also need a person to do the This is your club so please, each of thinking again occasional job of “Publicity”. you, help us keep these key about Pasadena Lapidary Society, responsibilities filled. and the crucial business we have at For the club to run smoothly we need a hand. “Membership” chairperson. Thank you …Drew Wilson, President August Meeting and General Information Officers Door Prizes Ranch, Montana moss glittering stone? How Drew Wilson, President agate, Moss/plume agate common is it? Where (626) 298-1534 Did you need another from Graveyard Point are most found? Are reason to attend the Oregon, Opalized wood from they found in the U.S.? Chris Kyte, Vice President September club meeting? Gabbs Nevada and Oregon What qualities make (626) 794-0519 Sylvia and Vern Cliffe have Picture Stone. diamonds desirable? prepared GREAT drawing Cal Matthews, Secretary What else are they prizes. For the Main Prize used for? (626) 798-7481 you have your choice of either black Montana Bring your questions to Mark Nelson, Treasurer Plume Agate or Jade with the meeting. The pro- (909) 996-1784 iron crystals. The other Diamonds - beyond the gram for September will prizes will be Australian stunning Hope Diamond FAIR USE NOTICE. This be a fascinating pres- Chrysoprase, Flame agate publication may contain copyrighted (on left) or being “a girl’s entation on Diamonds material the use of which has not with angelwing, Stringer best friend”, what do you given by Dave Svenson. been specifically authorized by the moss agate from Priday really know about the 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 northeast corner of Santa all members for a nominal fee collecting hobbies. year is $20 per individual, Anita and Foothill in - normally on the first Sunday $15 for a second adult Arcadia. All PLS members of each month at Drew We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted member in the same house. are welcome to attend. Wilson’s home. Refer to the material as provided for in section Junior members and third or newsletter for hours and the 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. more members at the same General Meetings are held calendar for date. Location is house are $10. Included is on the third Wednesday of 252 Bella Vista in Pasadena. If you wish to use material from this publication for commercial or one 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 Lodge, 33 E. Sierra Madre for adult members and permission from the copyright December General Meeting. Blvd, Sierra Madre. Guests children with direct parental owner. Mail membership checks to are welcome! supervision. Eye protection P.O. Box 5025, Pasadena CA and closed-toe shoes are Newsletter Articles or 91117-0025. Field Trips are scheduled mandatory for all participants. corrections should be sent to the each month. Refer to the editor: Mark Nelson, 1475 Paseo Maravilla, San Dimas 91773. Board Meetings are held at newsletter for weekend and The Annual Show is held the ( 9 0 9 ) 9 9 6 - 1784 or to 7:00pm on the first location. second weekend of March at mnelsonair @aol.com Wednesday of the month at the Masonic Hall, 3130 the One West Bank at the Workshops are offered to Huntington Drive, San Marino. ROCKHOUND RAMBLINGS September, 2010 Page 3 DISPLAY TABLE EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH Ed’s Corner by Ed Imlay For the September meeting, please display any items of general interest, especially: workshop A visit to Carver School in San Marino is scheduled for projects, material from locations of recent or January 2011. upcoming field trips, and the birthstone of the If you know of a class that month: Sapphire. would like a presentation At the September meeting members and guests from Ed, please contact him are invited to display any items of general at edimlay @ hotmail.com. interest. If you have a rock that you can’t identify, bring it and members will tell you all Ed Imlay at local schools about it! ANGELS WANTED SEPTEMBER WORKSHOP By Mark Nelson TO FEATURE SPECIAL CLASS ! How do you want to be remembered in life? How about Our monthly workshop will on September 5th from 1:30 after life? Consider taking steps now to make an impact pm until 5:30 pm (no early birds, please). that will be felt for generations to come! SPECIAL CLASS: This month Corrine Imlay, will Many of us who subscribe to the “LA Rocks” yahoo group demonstrate crochet beading. Members requested her recently saw the 16" Huntington rock saw for sale for only to do this class because of the beautiful results of crocheting achieved in just one afternoon. Instruction $500. Wouldn’t that be a nice addition to the club’s work- begins at 2:00pm. Materials: Crochet Hook - size D / 3 shop? Unfortunately, except for donated equipment, the (3.25mm), craft wire (soft) - #26 or #28, beads or pearls - club is not in a financial position to take advantage of such 2mm to 4mm, wire Cutters. bargains. Our dues, door prize drawings, workshop fee and annual show just cover the expenses of the newsletter, This would be a good time to visit San Gabriel Bead workshop maintenance and meeting hall. Company. Take this bulletin into their store and ask their advice for beads suitable for crocheting. See their ad below. To truly accomplish our mission, to provide educational and personal enriching experience opportunities to our members and the general public, depends on funding. - A SPECIAL THANK YOU I wish to thank all those that help plain and simple. set-up the workshop and those that helped with the breakdown. We had quite a group of members at the Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have an income-generating August workshop. I know we all appreciate Chris Kyte non-profit foundation with assets that would enable the who brought fruit and ice cream. club to accomplish its mission aggressively? One great ……. Drew Wilson / Workshop Chairman way to do this is through estate planning. A simple codicil (626) 298-1534 or [email protected] (modification) to a will expressing the writer’s instruction that $5,000 or more be donated from the writer’s estate would work wonders with our mission. In next month’s bulletin we will publish a sample one page codicil for our members to use to become an “Angel”. There will be no PLS field trip in September due to the illness of trip leader Joe Goetz. The Searchers club is sponsoring an interesting field trip to the Calico area Sept. 25 & 26. Members may receive trip details at the general meeting or by contacting Joe Goetz at [email protected] or 626-914-5030. ROCKHOUND RAMBLINGS September, 2010 Page 4 The Sapphire By Mark Nelson As shown in the 423 The Star Of India carat Logan Sapphire The Star of India, at 563 carats, is the largest and (right), the striking deep most famous star sapphire in the world.