Brevard Gems
Web address: www.centralbrevardgems.org
NEWSLETTER
FOR CENTRAL
BREVARD ROCK
AND GEM CLUB
REMINDERS:
Next regular
meeting is
June 4th at
6:00 p.m. at
the Merritt
Island Library.
Board Meeting
is Monday,
June 1st at
7:00 p.m.
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE:
Meeting
Minutes
2
Meeting
Minutes
Continued
3
Activity
Calendar
3
Just for Kids 4
June’s
Mineral
5
Open Shop Hours: Sun. 1-4 PM;
Wed. 9 AM-12 PM, 1-4 PM, and 6-9 PM; and
Thurs. 6-9 PM. (except on meeting nights)
V O L U M E
4 ,
I S S U E
President’s
Message
There will be a meeting
at the Library on
Thursday, June 4, at 6
pm. Since we had the
picnic early this year, we
are having a June
meeting and will make it
as social as we can. We
hope everyone will
please bring something
lapidary to talk about:
the most recent thing
you made, your favorite
piece, samples of what
you sell, a specimen or
interesting rock you
found, etc., and tell us
about them. Many of
you don’t get to tell us
what you make or do in
the lapidary field and we
would like to know. The
Library restricts any
private sales so please
don’t sell anything in the
Library. We will have
refreshments and more
door prizes than usual
also.
6
The shop will be closed
on July 4 and 5 for the
holiday but otherwise will
be open for regular open
shop hours all summer.
Please come to learn new
things and plan to work on
any of your projects.
We have added four
books on casting to the
shop library which may be
borrowed. Club books
may be signed out for
your use, but please
return them for the use of
others.
Our meetings are on the
first Thursday of every
month at 6 pm at the
Merritt Island Library on
Courtenay Ave (Rt 3),
Merritt Island, across the
road from the Merritt
Island High School.
There are no meetings in
July and August.
At the meeting, ask Craig
about faceting, ask Lucy
about fused glass and
beading, ask John about
casting or cold
connections work with
copper, ask Tom about
wirewrap, or ask Michele
about cutting opals or
wirewrap. Bill will be away
J U N E
2 0 1 5
for the summer and
plans to teach again in
the Fall.
We suggest new
members start with
cutting cabochons at
any open shop or in a
class with Mario if you
let him know. If you
prefer to start with metal
work, talk to John about
cold connections.
Faceting instruction will
continue at Wednesday
morning open shop with
Craig over the summer.
Silversmithing and
cabbing can be taught
by supervisors at any
open shop session.
Please ask so they can
assist you with finding
materials.
Remember our next
meeting will be June 4,
6 pm, at the Merritt
Island Library. If any
member is able to travel
to Alabama for the
quarterly SFMS meeting
on June 6 to represent
our club, please let
Michele know so she
can appoint you as our
delegate.
Michele Huntington
2015 President
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PAGE
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Meeting Minutes
CBRGC General Meeting—May 7, 2015
Michele called the meeting to order at 1800 hours at the Merritt Island Library. Pledge of
Allegiance.
Approval of minutes for April 2, 2015 as published in the March newsletter was requested by
Michelle and approved by the general membership present. 17 members were present.
Treasurer’s report was submitted by Eivor Brown and filed for audit.
Membership report was presented by Michelle as Sara was absent. Membership total is 100
members for 2015. (unconfirmed)
Show 2016 is scheduled for February 6-7 at Kiwanis venue. Show Banner for outside venue is
being researched by Roz.
Workshop report: Workshop committee met May 4, 2015 at 6 PM. Craig had contacted
Diamond Pacific re Genie warranty repair. Vacuum pump sold at picnic has table that goes with it
still at shop. No bids were received for the Lortone saw/grinder. New shop light fixture by sink
being installed by John. Lighting improvement also planned at saw corner. Table by 18” saw
moved by Mario next to refrigerator to hold rolling mill. Thanks to Pete and Roz for trimming palm
tree at the front door of shop. Current shop hours are Sunday 1-4, Wed. 9-12, 1-4, 6-9, and Thurs.
6-9. Assistance with cabbing, metal or silversmithing, and any other projects will be provided
during open shop as possible.
Class Schedule: Bill will teach Faceting 9 am -12 pm Weds mornings until May 20 and Craig
will provide instruction through the summer. Michelle will teach either beginner or intermediate
wirewrap on Tues evenings from 6-9 dependent upon interest. Mario and Roz will teach cabbing
on Mon evenings from 6-9. John and Lucy are offering Beginning Silversmithing on Tues evenings
from 6-9. Sign-up sheets are available for classes. Roz will collect a $10 fee when classes are
signed up for as a deposit for the first class and to hold your place in class. Members are
encouraged not to wait for a class to learn to cut cabochons, silversmithing, chain making, or
fused glass. They can come into the open shop to learn and find out what materials are needed
for just $5.00. Shop supervisors are still being sought.
New Business: 2014 audit status is pending with Roberta. Aluminum can collection has
been suspended at shop as it is no longer cost effective. Club mugs are available at the meeting
for $5.00 each. Club tote bags will be available at shop for $3.00 each. No new status on cookbook. Library showcase Suntree November. Picnic/Auction was held on Saturday April 18th at
KARS Park. Thanks to Cheryl and Rick for coordinating the food, Tom and Craig for grilling, Bill,
Emily and Sue Grindle for both the auction or material and equipment and the silent auction, Eivor
and Sue N for recording auction bids. Club made $488.00 minus $99.00 in expenses. Part of the
expenses will be recovered by the soft drinks/bottled water returned to the shop after the picnic.
This will amount to approx. $22.00 which makes the picnic net profit $411.00. A fun day was had
by all who attended and we hope to make 2016 an even better event.
Announcements: SFMS Federation website is afms.org/sfms. Their newsletter is the Lodestar, which members can receive by signing up via email. There will be a SFMS Meeting in
BREVARD
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Minutes Continued
Melbourne in September 2015. Details will be available as received from SFMS in the coming
months. William Holland School of Lapidary Arts in Ga has classes May through October –
www.lapidaryschool.org
A break was taken for refreshments and Mario selected four raffle prize winners. Bill Dewey presented a DVD “Gems of America” which was informative and well received by the members present. Meeting was adjourned at 1945 hours.
Activity Calendar
Note: Dates for Kumihimo will be announced at the June meeting
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Just For Kids
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June’s Mineral— Goshenite
Physical Properties of Goshenite
Goshenite
from Russia
Goshenite is the white to colorless variety of Beryl.
Beryl is best known for its gem varieties Emerald
and Aquamarine, as well as the lesser known
Heliodor and Morganite, but the variety Goshenite is
less frequently used as a gemstone being that it
lacks the color appeal of the other varieties.
All Goshenite gems are faceted from colorless
crystals; white Goshenite is usually opaque and
never used a gemstone. The name Goshenite
originates from the type locality of Goshen,
Hampshire Co., Massachusetts, where Goshenite
was first described, but this locality has produced
few specimens of interest. Since Goshenite is much
more common than the other Beryl gem forms, only
very clean and transparent specimens are faceted
as gemstones. Goshenite is sometimes coated with
a green foil and made to resemble Emerald, as its
physical properties are identical to Emerald.
USES:
Goshenite is used as a minor colorless gemstone,
though it is more often faceted for collectors rather
than for mainstream jewelry.
Chemical Formula
Be3Al2SiO6
Crystal Structure
Hexagonal
Color
White, Colorless
Luster
Vitreous
Specific Gravity
2.6 - 2.8
Cleavage
3,1 - basal
Mohs Hardness
7.5 - 8.0
Refractive Index
1.57 - 1.58
Transparency
Transparent
Double Refraction
.006
Mineral Class
Beryl
localities, especially in Brazil, Russia,
Pakistan, China, Burma (Myanmar), and
Namibia.
SIMILAR GEMSTONES:
Goshenite is similar to the other colorless
gems such as Quartz, White Topaz, White
Sapphire, and White Zircon. It can also
resemble Diamond, but lacks the fire and
dispersion and is also much softer.
TREATMENTS AND ENHANCEMENTS:
Due to its relative availability and inexpensive prices,
Goshenite gemstones are never treated or
enhanced.
SOURCES:
Goshenite is found in many of the Aquamarine
Information from: Minerals.net
Goshenite
from Brazil
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Club Purpose:
The purpose of this club is to foster interest in and to promote knowledge
and appreciation of minerals, gems, fossils, and the earth sciences.
We also disseminate information and instruction in the lapidary arts and the
utilization of precious metals in our crafts.
These purposes are accomplished through regular meetings with informative
programs, workshops, study groups, and field trips.
OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Officers:
President:
1st Vice President:
2nd Vice President:
Secretary:
Treasurer:
Directors:
Emily Holston
Roz Mestre
Tom Brown
Lucy Caracoglia
Michele Huntington
Bill Dewey
Sara Fellows
Cheryl Ostman
Eivor Brown
2016
2016
2015
2015
(321) 799-8536
(321) 453-5594
(321) 453-6901
(321) 890-7530
(321) 635-6572
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Shop Location:
407 Imperial Blvd, Unit D
Cape Canaveral, FL
(Imperial is located off A1A just south of the Port)
Member of Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Societies, Inc. - www.amfed.org/sfms/
Affiliated with the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies - www.amfed.org
Club Fundraising
We need a Fundraising Coordinator to bring in some
cash! Do you have an idea for raising money? Would
you be willing to lead our efforts? Please contact
Michele Huntington at [email protected]
NOTE: We are no longer collecting stamps
or cans.
Mary MacLaughlin, Editor
(321) 322-7907
[email protected]
Deadline for items for September issue is August 19th.
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