B.C. Vol. 12 Summer 2009 Rockhounder Contents President's Message 2 Bursary Thank You Letters 3 Oldest Known Gold Artifact Discovered 4 Daisy, 45 years of Rockhounding 5 The History Of Lapidary: Part II 6 A Trip to Coon Hollow 11 What is a Mineral? 12 The Hauser Beds of California 14 Fraser Canyon 1858: BC born of Bloodshed 15 Cosmetic Minerals of Ancient Egypt 16 Safety: It's just Dust, isn't it? 17 The Earth's Crust: An Introduction 17 Madras 2009 20 Revamped ROM Mineral Gallery 22 The Best Field Trip: Similco Mine 23 Around the Clubs 24 Rendezvous 2010 30 Summer Camp 2010 32 For Sale 39 Club Shows 40 Cover Photo: Biggs Jasper. Photo By Mike Coulter Published Quarterly By the British Columbia Lapidary Society 20739 39th Avenue, Editor: Design & Layout: Printing: Langley, BC Win Robertson Mike Coulter Sure Kamloops V3A 2V7 [email protected] [email protected] Print & Copy Centre Tel: (604) 532-0582 (250) 376-4878 Cell - (250) 682-9134 (250) 554-1322 E-mail: [email protected] #6 - 2401 Ord Rd. Kamloops, BC 552 Tranquille Rd. www.lapidary.bc.ca Kamloops, BC V2B 7V8 V2C 5C2 Kamloops, BC Summer 2009 | 1 President’s Message British Columbia Lapidary Society I would like to thank all the Rockhound club BursaryThankLetters You! members for having the confidence in me to make Our Rockhound locations do not have an unlimited me your president for the 2009-2011, two year term. supply of rocks and minerals.I encourage you to I’m pleased to have a talented and hard working take what you can use, only, and leave the rest for executive with which to work. I will do my best upcoming generations of Rockhounds.. to work with the executive and club members to For example, Hill 60, our main rhodonite source, conduct the business of the B.C Lapidary Society. once had an abundant pile, available for the picking. Now the pile is gone. While digging and some careful looking can still net you a piece of the pink, it is not as easy as it once was to find a quality piece of rhodonite. Our old friend, Bill Wardle, used to say that he could go out to the Fraser River bars and pick up five jade slicks. Now most of us are lucky to find one in a lifetime. When I started rockhounding in 1996, we used to see all kinds of sillimanite, and usually kicked the pieces aside. Now, even those are hard to find. So you can see that it is important not to deplete the supply of interesting rocks and minerals from the locations we have already found, and to leave some behind for others. It is also important to continue searching for new sites for future Rockhound trips. Here in B.C., we have our minerals hidden under several feet of overburden, and it requires lots of looking, digging, and a keen, Past president Walt Pinder, passing the observant eye to notice the small bits on the gavel to incoming president De Morgan surface that indicate the bonanza below.. I wholeheartedly thank the many members who give There is an abundance of material in this province overwhelming support to the work of the society. I of ours, and we have to continue to look for new am amazed at the time, energy and careful thought locations that have material for our hobby.. that so many of you are contributing daily, to ensure Happy rockhounding! the smooth running of the Society. De Morgan, Especially, I would like to thank the members of the President, B.C. Lapidary Society newly formed Rendezvous Committee, namely, Pat Boden, (BCLS-Rendezvous Liaison), Lorne Morris, Ken Dewerson, Win Robertson, along with myself. Your fresh ideas and thoughtful reflections regarding C&D Gemcraft Ken Dewerson Rendezvous are much appreciated, and this dedica- Lapis Gems Lapidary Custom Made Gemstone Jewelery & Repairs Authorized Dealer Precious, Semi-Precious Stones & Minerals tion will make Rendezvous an exciting and well run event for the enjoyment of all. Mohammad Yarzadeh David Barclay Tesoro M. Homayon Accredited Gemologist (C.I.G.) Metal Detectors There are 34 rock clubs in B.C. with growing, pas- sionate interest in rock collecting, lapidary work, 27 Roy’s Square Phone/Fax: (250) 766-4353 Box 42015, R.P.O. North #338-2330 Butt Rd. 250.707.0618 jewelry making, silversmithing, carving, faceting, (Yonge & Bloor) Tel: (416) 944-3123 Email: [email protected] Winfield, BC V4V 1Z8 Westbank, BC V4T 2I3 [email protected] intarsia and others. Toronto, ON M4Y 2W4 Fax: (416) 944-3309 2 | B.C. Rockhounder Summer 2009 | 3 Known Gold Carbon-14 dates for 45+ years of Courtenay Seascape” showcase after the Gem & ldestArtifacts in the Jiskairumoko range from 2009 Courtenay show. Lois, O 2155 to 1936 B.C., ? Rockhounding Mineral now 89 is an honorary lifetime Americas making the necklace The Facts Are Club. Over member of the Courtenay Gem & about 4,000 years old, “Daisy” Lois Stevenson the years Mineral Club, a wonderful person Lois has and some 600 years older The continents of North and and a true rockhounder indeed!! Discovered held every than the previous earliest South America were named By Gloria Duncan executive old has long been more than known gold artifacts in after the Italian navigator, G position a fashion statement, and wearing South America, or anywhere else Amerigo Vespucci (1454 97 Photographing t all started with a 50 pound in the club jewelry and other adornments in the Americas. 1512). Amerigo Vespucci I piece of Ocean Agate!! That’s and in May 1981 Lois was elected Polished Objects made of it often connotes prestige. owned a merchant business what got Lois hooked on rock- president of the Courtenay Club. And it did not take long for ancient Gold metallurgy is almost exclu- that equipped ships with Tips from the internet hounding. She and her husband She organized Vancouver Island people to figure that out. sively associated with societies supplies for their voyages. Louie found it at a rock shop Gemborees and worked at all club When photographing jewelry, with the expertise to create agri- Vespucci was an explorer in Rock Creek, B.C. while on shows - her specialty being Kids carvings etc. if there is a problem A team of scientists led by an cultural surpluses and hereditary himself and left accounts and a camping trip in 1963. When Corner and Spin & Win. She was with the reflective surfaces. Try archaeologist from The University elite members. Jewelry requires maps of 4 voyages he took to they returned home, they joined also the club’s “name tag sheriff” putting the piece in a refrigera- of Arizona has unearthed what is, time and skill to create, as well the New World; it is believed the Powell River Rock Club and (25 cents if you don’t wear you tor for a few minutes. When it to date, the oldest collection gold as sufficient capital required to he explored a large section from that point on camping was name tag to the meeting). Some comes out, it will immediately fog artifacts found in the Americas. acquire raw materials, a tall order of the north and east coast all about looking for rocks. Lois long time members have contrib- up and you will be able to take a for anyone who survives by subsis- of South America. Vespucci’s recalls that when they were uted many quarters to the Club good picture.” The finding suggests that even tence. The surprise of finding gold name, Amerigo was first camping, instead of bringing funds. In 1991, after 52 years in a early groups with limited resources artifacts at Jiskairumoko is that this adapted to America in a trans- fish back for dinner, Louie now happy and loving marriage, Lois There is also a product called recognized the value of status site was a simple village. lation of one of his narratives brought rocks. lost her dear husband Louie. She dulling spray, available from symbols. Mark Aldenderfer, a and later appeared on a world art supply stores and perhaps The artist who created the Jiskairu- The two were very active remained very active with the Club professor of anthropology at the map, as America, referring to photography shops. It costs moko necklace hammered gold members of the Powell River continuing to teach new members UA, and his team excavated a site the two continents North and around $8 for a good sized can. until it was flat enough to roll into Club, building their own shop and in her workshop the tricks of in the Peruvian Andes of South South America. The residue can easily be rubbed small cylindrical beads. The nine participating in all club activities. making the perfect cab and filling America, near Lake Titicaca. The off the object after taking photo- gold beads were interspaced with For years Lois was involved with any position in the Club that site, Jiskairumoko, is located in graphs. a drainage basin where groups several smaller green stones and a ROCK the Pebble Pups (kids) and taught needed her experienced hand. of hunters and turquoise bead in the as many as 13 at a time the skills of polishing cabochons. Now that Lois also enjoys putting her own Editor's note: gatherers were center. I tried out the fridge trick to take From Taslap, the newsletter of the Lapidary took patience. The kids proudly showcases together for the annual beginning to make FEVER pictures of some sterling silver Club of Tasmania. displayed their work at the annual shows.