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BOULDER BUSTERS Volume #48 Issue # 4, 2013
HELL’S CANYON GEM CLUB
Serving the Valley for
61 YEARS
P.O. BOX 365
LEWISTON, IDAHO 83501
PURPOSE OF HELLS CANYON GEM CLUB, INC.
The purpose of this nonprofit, social club is to promote the rock hound hobby by providing opportunities for the collection, working
and displaying of gems and minerals, as well as educational programs in the field of geology.
MEETINGS: 2nd Friday of each month
Board Meeting 6 pm Regular Meeting 7 pm
VISITORS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME
Dues: Adult [per person] $15.00; Junior [under 18] Free with a responsible adult membership.
2013 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Past President
Steve Rand
Mel Wilks
Sally DeBruin
Marilyn Sharp
Linn Enger
208-791-2325
208-301-3939
509-758-7580
509-758-4218
208-746-4957
1st Year Trustee
Betty Wilks
1st Year Trustee
Torch Yates
2nd Year Trustee
Dan Cease
2nd Year Trustee
Lon Sharp
Federation Director
Jeremy Giard
Federation Delegate Gail Giard
HELLS CANYON WEBSITE: http://www.hellscanyongemclub.com
WEBMASTER: Rick Westerholm: [email protected]
208-301-3939
208-743-3358
509-254-1720
509-758-4218
509-758-2581
509-758-2581
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HOW TO FIND OUR MEETING PLACE
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BOULDER BUSTERS Volume #48 Issue # 4, 2013
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Hello Rockhounds,
Here we are and its April already, and the March auction went very well and I would like to thank the many people who
made it a success. Mel is working on putting together another field trip this month to the opal dig if anyone is
interested. Please get ahold of us if you are interested and if we have enough interest we will get it going.
This month is the Kennewick show, so that adds in another rock hunting for trip for everyone. We got our show theme
for this year “From Rocks to Gems” but still in need of a few of the chairperson positions filled, so see me or Linn if you
are interested in helping out.
I am still looking for someone to fill the secretary position so if you are interested let me know. Get involved it makes the
club more fun, so bring your “show and tell” and we will see everyone on April 12th.
Steve
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The Club has a Facebook page!!! Checkout our page, look, like or post. Use the link below.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hells-Canyon-Gem-Club/343645205755520?fref=ts
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TH
“REMINDER”, DUES WERE DUE BY FEBRUARY 15 . ACCORDING TO OUR BYLAWS, AFTER THAT TIME YOU WILL BE REMOVED FROM
MEMBERSHIP AND MAILINGS. IF YOU WISH TO CONTINUE RECEIVING BOULDER BUSTER BY EMAIL PLEASE LET ED
SHOEMAKER KNOW AT [email protected]
====================================================================================================================================
MARCH MEETING MINUTES
Board meeting March 8, 6:25pm
Minutes approved as printed in the newsletter. Motion by Mel, 2nd by Torch, motion carried
Motion to transfer $1000 to checking by Linn, 2nd by Torch, motion carried.
Motion to pay bills by Lon, 2nd by Linn, motion carried.
Jeremy and Gail Giard agreed to be our representatives to the Northwest Federation of Mineralogical Societies. The first
meeting will be April 20,21 in Kennewick, WA.
Motion to increase travel allowance for representatives to Federation meetings (2/year) from $300 to $400, per couple,
per trip by Lon, 2nd by Mel, motion carried.
Sally, our secretary has resigned so we are looking for another person to fill that position(male or female).
Linn and Ed are working on membership list, will meet with Marilyn to compile up-to-date list and remove non-paying
email contacts. 19 paper copies of newsletter sent in March, 13 have email address, trying to reduce expense of
printed copies. Motion by Lon, 2nd by Torch for Linn and Ed to finalize membership list and sort out mailed vs
email copies of newsletter. Motion carried. Linn will use his printer to print newsletter for April. The purchase
of a printer for the newsletter will depend on the number of printed newsletters that need to be sent out.
Membership chairman to make sure we have a membership form for each member, each year.
Mel reported on the cash flow for the coffee and snacks. $40 spent, $25 received.
Auction concerns: cashiers, ticket takers. Gail will be one cashier.
Discussion about check signers—Marilyn is only active signer. Old signer needs to be removed and at least one more
added. Motion by Mel, 2nd by Bruce to add Steve as signer , motion carried.
Further discussion on check signers, motion to add Linn as 3rd signer by Mel, 2nd by Torch, motion carried.
Motion to adjourn at 6:50pm.
Regular meeting called to order @ 7:08pm
Guests and new members—Nancy McDonald
Lonny is setup in the back, near the door to update the membership list and sign-up new members.
New secretary needed, asking for volunteers, see Steve after the meeting.
Old business:
Rock Show theme suggestions: A piece of the rock, Heart of the Rock, Rockettes, On the rocks, Rock on, Rockhounds
delight. From Rocks to Gems was selected by near unanimous vote.
Rock show advertizing by Steve, unless Rick will do it.
Mel discusses the Club auction next week, March 16th, LCSC Meriwether Lewis Hall, room MLH 100 (which is the
auditorium). Doors open at 9:30 for setup, bring a sack lunch, selling anything rock-related. Auction starts at
1:00pm, sale items taken until noon. Items brought to be sold, but not donated, will be charged 30% selling fee.
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BOULDER BUSTERS Volume #48 Issue # 4, 2013
Reserves OK, but will be charged on the reserve amount if not sold. Consigned items sold will be paid-out after
the auction is over.
Mel said if enough are interested, a field trip to the Opal dig on 3/10 will be planned. Several interested but only two
were able to go on that date. Will be re-scheduled for a later date.
Jerry reported on the Owyhee Gem & Mineral Show. Anyone can go to their monthly field trips. Their next field trip is
March 23rd to Graveyard Point. Contact Larry Beattie at 208-466-6184 for more information.
Ralph brought his “prize” rock from the Evans pit field trip. Ralph showed and explained how he had sawn slabs, a cube
and measured, weighed, compared to columnar basalt and otherwise dissected It. Bruce says it is an
Chalcedony nut polymorphed intermediate with glossular garnet on one end(say that quickly 5 times!!!).
Show and tell—many delightful items; before & after polishing, displayed and other by:Torch, Jerry, Ralph, Jerry’s son,
Rick and Betty. Thank you.
Break for snacks
Program by Bruce on Minerals. Short review of Periodic Table from last month, primary elements, 8 basic elements. A
discussion of how minerals are essential to health, ionic and co-valent bonding to form different gem stones and
different colored gen stones. Many samples of different kinds of minerals and rock types.
Drawing for door prizes.
Meeting adjourned
=========================================================================================================
FEDERATION REPORT - April 2013
The 2013 NFMS Mid Year Meeting will be held in Kennewick Washington in Building #16 at the Benton County
Fairgrounds, 1500 S. Oak Street This is the same location as the past seven years and coincides with the Lakeside
Gem and Mineral Club Annual Gem and Mineral Show which is held at the same location.
On Saturday April 20 the mid-year meeting will begin at 10 AM, with registration starting at 9:30 AM. RV camping
is available at the Fairgrounds with electricity and water available for $10/night. If you plan to use these facilities
please send an email to Larry Hulstrom at [email protected] prior to April 1 indicating date of arrival and
duration of stay so an accurate count can be kept and space can be planned. Payment will be collected upon arrival at
the Fairgrounds. There are a number of motels throughout the immediate area in Kennewick. See last month’s
newsletter for full information.
The ALAA has a meeting place arranged at Kennewick Saturday, April 20 immediately following the NFMS
meeting. There will be a "Round Table Discussion" regarding what is going on concerning public lands within the
boundaries of the NFMS.
=========================================================================================================
Wise Words--- When a woman says, “What”, it’s not because she didn’t hear you. It’s because she’s giving you a
chance to change what you said.
Shot my first turkey yesterday. Scared the hell outta everyone in the frozen food section. It was awesome!
Getting old is so much fun.
With my ailing memory, I’m thinking of changing my password to “incorrect”. That way, when I log in with the
wrong password, the computer will tell me….”your password is incorrect”.
Modern Technology
st
I was visiting my son and daughter-in-law last night when I asked if I could borrow a newspaper. “This is the 21
century, old man,” he said. “We don’t waste money on newspapers. Here, you can borrow my iPad”.
I can tell you, that stinking fly never knew what hit it…..
Starting tomorrow—Whatever life throws at me I’m gonna duck – so it hits someone else
Today’s housekeeping tip: Always keep several Get Well cards on the mantelpiece. That way, if unexpected
guests arrive, they’ll think you’ve been sick and unable to clean.
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BOULDER BUSTERS Volume #48 Issue # 4, 2013
Will be on Minerals, part 3
Presented by Bruce Borgelt
Once again Bruce presented the club with a
very interesting program on how the native
elements combine to form minerals and
rocks.
Thank you Bruce!
If you missed part 1 & 2, you missed good ones. Be sure to be
there for part 3. Please bring a copy of the SUMMARY
TABLE OF ROCK-MINERAL ASSOCIATIONS to the
meeting, Bruce will explain it’s use. The table is at the end of
the newsletter.
=========================================================================================================
IMITATION GEMS
Bruce Borgelt
Act II
The making of imitation gems started about 5000B.C. when Egyptians fashioned ornaments of faience, a glazed ceramic that
could be tinted to resemble turquoise. By 1600 B.C., cut glass had appeared, masquerading as any number of transparent
gemstones. During Roman times, in fact, a shortage of the material made glass trinkets more highly prized than many natural
gems. Composite gems made of a color matching imitation gem as the base and a thin layer of genuine stone on top appeared
next.
Most of the effort to create a imitation gem has centered around making a diamond. Many different kinds have been made, but
the Zircon is the most known. Cubic zirconia can be produced in batches of 100 pounds and sold wholesale for a few dollars a
carat, yet its optical properties make it almost impossible to distinguish from diamond by an untrained eye. Since diamonds
consist of only one element, synthesizing them would seem to be relatively uncomplicated. The difficulty is one of technique, of
creating---and containing---the enormous pressures and temperatures needed to pack carbon atoms tight enough to form
diamond. Many early attempts ended in large explosions that wrecked the laboratory. In the early 1950’s, scientists created a
hydraulic press capable of 1.5 million pounds per square inch and a temperature of more than 4,800 degrees F.. Today the same
basic technique produces some 44,000 pounds of industrial diamonds---small diamonds of no particular quality used as an
industrial abrasive. In 1970 a version of the same process (temperature and pressure must be held for over a week) was used to
create a few gem-quality diamonds weighing up to a carat. But the cost of producing them was so high that it remains cheaper
to mine gem diamonds.
A laboratory-grown ruby was the first triumph of gem synthesis in 1837. The first rubies created were milky, prone to cracking,
and very small. In 1902 a new process was developed that is still used today to make large imitation rubies.
Synthetic emeralds were first created in the late 1930’s. It is not easy to distinguish synthetic and natural emeralds, though the
synthetic variety is often more transparent, richer in hue and in some ways more perfectly formed than natural emeralds. The
latter is the easiest way to detect an imitation, using a microscope; the imitation is too uniform and perfectly formed compared
to the natural emerald.
Distinguishing between synthetic and natural gemstones while traveling, calls for vigilance and sometimes even experts lower
their guard. One expert was offered 4 large red rubies while on an expedition to Burma. They looked good and the price was
about half of the U.S. price (about $500,000). He almost bought them, but decided to do some investigation with a microscope.
He determined the gems were a synthetic Kashan ruby, made in Texas for about $100 a carat, then taken into the jungle to be
sold as the real thing.
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BOULDER BUSTERS Volume #48 Issue # 4, 2013
Auction 2013
is
big success
Thanks to Mel and Betty
Wilks and also to Bill
Stonecipher our club
auction was another good
one.
Thanks also, to everyone
who donated materials.
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BOULDER BUSTERS Volume #48 Issue # 4, 2013
APRIL BIRTHSTONE IS A DIAMOND
Chemistry:C, elemental carbon
Class:Native Elements
Subclass:Non-metallics
Group:Carbons
History of diamond
Diamond is the most familiar gemstone and it has a rich and
interesting history. Diamonds are known for their prismatic beauty
and hardness, and they are highly valued for these and other
qualities. At one time, it was even thought that if you took a
diamond into bed with you, it would cure your illness!
Science of diamond
Diamond is a form of carbon with a tightly bound crystalline
structure. It originates deep inside the Earth under intense pressure
and high temperatures. Diamonds are brought up to the surface by
very deep-seated volcanic activity. Diamond-bearing volcanoes are
called kimberlies, and they erupted millions of years ago.
Interestingly, both graphite (used in pencils) and diamond are forms
of carbon, but they have very different structures and properties:
graphite is opaque and soft, while diamond is transparent and the
hardest mineral on Earth. These differences occur because diamond
crystallizes in the isometric system while graphite crystallizes in the
hexagonal system.
As the April birthstone, diamonds are the ideal gift for a loved one.
And now you have more choices than ever. Get creative and give
the ultimate gift of beauty: a fancy-color diamond. Fancy-color
diamonds are natural, rare and truly exotic gem of the earth.
Diamonds in hues of yellow, red, pink, blue, and green range in
intensity from faint to vivid and generally the more saturated the
color, the higher the value. In fact, diamonds sparkling with intense
color are rare and may be priced higher than a colorless diamond of
equal size. Because fancy-color diamonds are very desirable, color
is sometimes introduced in a laboratory. These are correctly called
color-treated diamonds. When purchasing a fancy-color diamond,
the shopper should ask if any enhancements or treatments were
used to improve its color and/or clarity.
The diamond does not appear to have been known to the ancients
and is not given in any of the lists of birth-stones before the last
century. The diamond, typifying the sun, is the gem of light. Its
color is that of ice, and as the dew-drop or the drop of water from a
mountain stream sparkles in the light of the sun, so the diamond
sparkles, and it combines and contrasts with all known gems. Like
light, it illumines them just as the sun does the plants of the earth.
The diamond, the gem of light, like light itself when broken into a
spectrum, gives us all known colors, and by combining all these
colors it gives us white. Like gold, the diamond was made rare, so
that it must be searched for, and the mines and deposits contain
less of these two substances in a given area than of any other
known materials. As great nuggets of gold have occasionally been
found, so has a diamond been discovered large enough to make the
greatest ruler pause to pay its price.
Quartz crystal is an alternate
birthstone for April.
Photo by Ron Eng
Kimberlite is the ancient volcanic
rock where diamonds are found.
A cut diamond set between
sapphires. Photo by Ron Eng
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BOULDER BUSTERS Volume #48 Issue # 4, 2013
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HELLS CANYON GEM CLUB HISTORY
Some of the old timers will remember Floyd Mossler. Floyd wrote a history of the rock clubs in the
Lewis-Clark Valley, from 1937 to about 1978. His son, Michael has granted permission to the
newsletter to publish. This will be the third of six installments on his story. Enjoy.
At the regular meeting on March 9, 1941, it was decided that a rock display and show would be held
on March 15th and 16th at the Bollinger Hotel. Members were to have their display ready for display
by March 14,'1941. On March 16, 1941 the Bollinger Hotel's advertisement in the Tribune for this day
featured the Club's display of Stones and Minerals in the lobby. Also in the Tribune a headline of half
a column said "Idaho Variety in Rocks - Display Stones of all sizes and colors shown by Local
Rockhounds.
The rest of the year featured the Club's regular meeting and field trips, one of which was a trip above
Harpster for garnet and crystals. Everyone got some garnet and crystals. The field trips were
different than now, it made no difference who found the most of what or where. No one was left out.
Everybody came home with about the same amount of rocks. I wonder if there are garnets up there
yet. Maybe we should go see.
Also one other trip was up above Stites for arrow heads. I still have a few and I know I could go up
there and still find some.
In the year of 1942, the Club got smaller and began to drag. Meetings were not regular. Several
members left for the coast, to work in ship yards and other war projects. Gas was getting hard to
come by for other than essential needs. In the fall of 1942 a meeting was held and a large amount of
the members were present and a lengthy review of the clubs activities of the past 5 years were gone
over. This was printed in the paper the next day along with a notice of the clubs intentions for its
discontinuation. The cause was not due to lack of interest, but due to gas rationing and to conserve
gas and oil and lights and other things to help the war in progress. But, when you would see 2 or 3
persons together with a pocket lens examining a rock, there you would see members of a dormant,
but far from dead Clearwater Rock Club.
Now there was still lots of talk and people still walking around on the hills and rivers and creeks
close to Lewiston but no meetings or Club activities for a number of years. When the war was over
and gas became easier to get, and things got back to normal, people began again to wander out
fishing and camping and rocks and arrow heads began to come back in the lunch baskets. People
began to talk and show one another what they had found.
The urge to get back to rock collecting became the old fever, the rock pox. So in the year 1952 we
started the Hells Canyon Gem Club.
On January 17, 1952 the meeting was held at the College Elementary School Auditorium. C.C. Lame
opened the meeting with a talk on the idea of starting a new Club. All agreed so Mel Stewart was
elected President, his wife Alta Stewart was elected Secretary-Treasurer. Mr. Lame served on the
board of Directors that year with Francis Portorfos and Stanley Miller as Directors. Thirty-eight
people attended this meeting. In May, 1952, we held a small Gem Show at the College Elementary
School. This was more of an exhibit to show people the variety of rocks in this region, but polished
stones and rough ones were displayed, some jewelry also. No dealers - 50¢ admission - 2 days.
Monthly Meetings were once again resumed. With field trips 3 or 4 times the first year and 1 field trip
each year that included a picnic. Watermelon fields were enjoyed now and then. Talks were always
included in each meeting with displays and sometimes demonstrations. We had members from
Orofino, Genesee, Moscow, Pomeroy, Anatone, Culdesac and other small towns.
Just to mention a few of the members then, were Mr. and Mrs. Don Axtell. He was a Wonder Bread
Truck driver from Spokane. She was a school teacher. They are now living in Arizona, near
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BOULDER BUSTERS Volume #48 Issue # 4, 2013
Quartzsite.
Mr. Mel Stewart was a partner in Lewiston Refrigeration at the time. He and his wife were given a
life time membership in the Club, the only people to have that honor.
Mr. C.C. Lame came in as a member from the old club and several others did like wise. Mr. and Mrs.
Bill Curtis were from the old Club. Mr. and Mrs. Jess Knepper were new members. They were
running a Meat Market and Grocery Store at the time another members were Chauncy and Mrs.
Kunkle. He was one of the most willing workers in the Club and was really missed when they left the
Club. He was a very capable person, an expert Cab maker. He was a carpenter and made a lot of
his furniture in his home and is now engaged in building old time spinning wheels that are of standard
size and really work. He is employed at Camas Prairie Railroad. They are truly fine people.
Esther and Alvin Putman became members. She was one of the most efficient workers in the Club
at that time, getting ads for shows. She has held most all of the offices in the Club at one time or
another including putting out the news letter and so has her husband. He was treasurer for a long
time. They are still very active in the Club today.
Mr. and Mrs. Tom Duffy came in from the old Club. They are now retired but still living on Prospect
Avenue, here in Lewiston.
Mr. Joe Blalock was the 3rd president of the Club ahead of Larry Hansen. He dropped out of the
Club and started up a rock and mineral shop in his home in Clarkston. He named it Hells Canyon
Gem Shop. He was very good at tumbling rock and he hauled home tons of beach agate from the
coast in Oregon. He had a nice shop. He later had some trouble with the rock Club and sued the
Club, but lost the suit. It cost the Club several hundred dollars. This caused trouble in the Club and
several members dropped out and Joe Blalock and others formed a new club in Clarkston, with him
as president. They named it Jewel Crafters Gem Club. It lasted only a couple years and then split up.
Larry and Bonnie Hansen, he was the 5th president of the Club, and served 2 terms, 1956 and 1957.
He started the first rock shop on Main Street. He was a very good workman in making rock jewelry.
He was one of the first big collectors of Sillimanite.
Also a member was Al Fisher, a man of 65 and a carpenter. He was the best Sphere maker the Club
had. He made them from the size of golf balls up to 5 inches in diameter. He made his own
machinery, he also made fine jewelry. He has long since gone to the Great Beyond.
It was during the term of Larry Hansen that the Club put on its first real show that had dealers and
trading and selling and the biggest the Club has ever had.
It was held at Joe Thometz Pavillion in North Lewiston. Five women with Mrs. Putman as chairman
canvassed the town for ads that paid for the show directory. They worked the whole town and North
Lewiston and Clarkston and sold over 60 ads that paid for the directory and some left over. There
were dealers from all over and many local displays. Al Fisher had a Sphere display. The Club, after
all expenses were paid, made nearly $4,000. We featured the Lady in Jade from San Francisco,
California.
There were people from as far away as Florida at the show. Over 3700 people attended the 3 day
show. The Lewiston Broncs Baseball Team played the Tri-Cities team on the days of the show. Boat
rides up 61 miles on the river, had special rates during the show. Potlatch opened the Mill to visiting,
for 2 days and field trips to garnet mines and sillimanite areas. It was a big show.
CONTINUED NEXT MONTH
=========================================================================================================
AUNTY ACID’S TEXT CODE FOR SENIORS
ATD—At the doctors
Bff---best friend fell
Btw—bring the wheelchair
Byot-bring your own teeth
Fwiw-forgot where I was
Gha—got heartburn again
imho—is my hearing-aid on
lmdo—laughing my dentures out
ttyl---talk to you louder
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BOULDER BUSTERS Volume #48 Issue # 4, 2013
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FOR SALE
Big oak roll top desk which was used for a
faceting bench out in the shop. If someone
would like to buy it, I am asking $200 for it.
The old faceting machine could be thrown in
with the desk at two hundred dollars for
both.
Contact Orville or Rose at:
208-476-3840
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BOULDER BUSTERS Volume #48 Issue # 4, 2013
STANDING COMMITTEES
GEMSHOW COMMITTEES
1. Bulletin Editor—Lynn Enger, Ed Shoemaker, Mel Wilks, and
Dan Cease
2. Membership Chairman---Lon & Marilyn Sharp
1. Show Chairman---Steve Rand
3. Juniors Chairman---Mike Horne
3. Show Treasurer---Marilyn Sharp
4. Field Trip Chairman—
4. Dealer Chairman---'Gail Giard
5. Program Chairman ---
5. Advertising Chairman---
6. Show & Tell Chairman---David & Jacque Dabritz
6. Displays Chairman---
7. Claims Chairman---Rick Westerholm, Linn Enger and
Randy Squires
8. Historian Chairman---
7. Demonstrations Chairman---
9. Library Chairman---
9. Silent Auction Chairman---
10. Sunshine Chairman---Mel & Betty Wilks
10. Kids Corner---
11. ALAA---Linn Enger
(American Lands Access Association)
11. Admissions---
2. Show Co-Chairman---Linn Enger
8. Floor Plan Chairman---Rick Westerholm
12. Security--==========================================================================================================
NFMS MEMBER CLUBS’ SHOW SCHEDULE
(Partial list)
April 6-7
Sat 10–6, Sun 10–5
Southeast Idaho Gem
& Mineral Society
Bannock County Fairgrounds
10558 Ifft Road, Pocatello ID
April 13-14
Sat 10–6, Sun 10-5
April 20-21
Sat 10 – 6, Sun 10 –
4
April 20-21
Sat 10–5, Sun 10–4
Idaho Falls Gem &
Mineral
Yakima Rock &
Mineral Club
Idaho Falls Recreation Center
B Street, Idaho Falls, ID
Washington National Guard
Amory, 2501 Airport Lane,
Yakima WA 98903
Benton Franklin County
Fairgrounds, 1500 South Oak,
Kennewick WA
April 27-28
Sat 10–5, Sun 10–5
Lakeside Gem and
Mineral Club
NFMS Mid-Year
Meeting
West Seattle Rock Club Alki Masonic Temple, 4736
40th Avenue SW, Seattle WA
May 3-5
Fri 10–6, Sat 10–6
Sun 10–4
May 18-19
Sat 10–6, Sun 10–5
Rock Rollers Club of
Spokane WA
May 18-19
Sat 10–6, Sun 10–4
Bitterroot Gem &
Mineral Society
Hatrockhound Gem &
Mineral Club
Spokane County Fair & Expo
Center, N.604 Havana at
Broadway, Spokane WA
Hermiston Community Center
415 South Highway 395,
Hermiston OR
First Interstate Center, Ravalli
County Fairgrounds, 100 Old
Corvallis Road, Hamilton MT
Anna Capell 208 221 9458
PO Box 3089 West Neeley Loop
American Falls ID, 83211
Jim Bosley 208 520 1819
[email protected]
Marti Sondgeroth 509 248 6401
(evenings) [email protected]
Mary Lou Omstead
[email protected] 509 783 2798
Lyle & Audrey Vogelpohl 206 932
3292 [email protected]
www.westseattlerockclub.org
Mike Shaw 509 251 1574
[email protected]
Mike Filarski
[email protected] 541 922
5091 cell 541 571 2593
Mike McConnell
[email protected]
406 777 0536
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BOULDER BUSTERS Volume #48 Issue # 4, 2013
IMPORTANT MINERAL DISCOVERY ANNOUNCED
A team of mineralogists from The Smithsonian,
The American Museum of Natural History and
NASA have been involved in a detailed study of
the mineral pyrite for the past 10 years. In one of
the most important scientific articles published this
century, Dr. Amy Thyst, Dr. Feldon Spar, and Dr.
Mallard A. Kyte revealed their discovery. Here is a
quote from their article:
“For centuries the mineral known as “pyrite” has
been believed to be composed of iron and
sulfur. Hundreds of so-called miners have died
in poverty because they discarded their “fool’s
gold.” Well-meaning but ill-informed amateurs told them they did not have gold, but pyrite or fool’s
gold. Our detailed studies of the inner atomic bonding of the molecules in “pyrite” have revealed
that pyrite is composed of very little iron and sulfur. As a matter of fact, the iron and sulfur is
present only as an included impurity. Pyrite
is actually a densely packed
variety of gold. We have concluded that “pyrite” specimens should be labeled as “dense
gold.” It is the density of the closely packed gold atoms that gives ‘”pyrite” its hardness. Informed
mineralogists and mineral collectors already know that gold and “pyrite” crystallize in the same
crystal system (isometric, also called cubic). Now we know that this is not by chance or accident.
Curators at The Smithsonian Institution, The American Museum of Natural History, as well as
hundreds of large and small museums around the world have begun the painstaking task of
relabeling their “pyrite” specimens as “dense gold.” It goes without saying that the value of nearly
every mineral collection in the world - museum, professional and amateur - have jumped
dramatically in value due to this important discovery. If you have “pyrite” in your collection, please
change your labels to read “dense gold.” You may also wish to have your collection insured, too.”
And if you believe any of this . . . . . . . . . . April Fools!
==========================================================================================================
You Might Be a Rockhound If . . . . .
 You purchase things like drywall compound just to have another nice bucket to carry
rocks in.
 The club you belong to uses rocks for center-pieces for the annual Christmas
dinner.
 The first thing you pack for your vacation is a chisel and a hammer.
 You spend hours and hours in the ugliest room in your house.
 You give directions like, "turn right at the green farmhouse...
 You bought the ugliest boots available cause they were water proof.
 You know what findings are for.
 You watch the scenery in movies instead of the actors.
 Your company asks you not to bring any more rocks to the office until they have
time to reinforce the floor.
 The local jewelry stores & libraries give out your name for information on rock clubs.
 You examine individual rocks in driveway gravel.
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BOULDER BUSTERS Volume #48 Issue # 4, 2013
SUMMARY TABLE OF ROCK-MINERAL ASSOCIATIONS
IGNEOUS GROUP
Rocks
Deposits and Minerals
Rhyolite
Tin ores in fissures: cassiterite (wood tin), topaz, black tourmaline; cavities
and fissures: hyalite opal, common opal, precious opal. Examples: in San Luis
Potosi, Queretaro and other Mexican States
Trachyte
Fissures: turquois, kaolinite, minor sulfides; cavities: opal.
southwest United States; Mexico
Basalt
Amygdaloidal: native copper and silver, quartz, datolite, prehnite, calcite,
epidote, chlorite, pumpellyite, adularia, zeolites. Example: Keeweenaw
Peninsula, Michigan
Pillow basalt: quartz, calcite, prehnite, pectolite, apophyllite, zeolites,
chlorite, babingtonite, minor copper and silver, minor sulfides, etc. Examples:
basalt sills of Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Connecticut, Oregon, etc.
Diabase
Seams and fissures: silver, copper, cobalt-nickel ores, apophyllite, prehnite,
datolite, zeolites. Examples: diabase bodies in Ontario, Canada, and east
United States
Granitic
Veins, seams, and altered zones: cassiterite, topaz, scheelite, wolframite,
black tourmaline, quartz, fluorite, arsenopyrite, muscovite, molybdenite,
bismuth, etc. Examples: Saxony, Germany; Czechoslovakia. Uranium ores in
veins: Example: Great Bear Lake, Canada Gas cavities lined with pegmatitic
material: feldspar, quartz, topaz, beryl, phenakite, fluorite, siderite,
goethite, etc. Examples: Pikes Peak granite region, Colorado; Conway red
granite region, New Hampshire
Granitic
Pegmatites
Often emplaced in metamorphic rocks as small to large bodies, usually of veinlike shape: feldspar, quartz, mica, tourmaline, beryl, garnet, columbite,
tantalite, amblygonite, pollucite, spodumene, topaz, and many others.
Examples: pegmatite regions of southern California, Maine, Brazil, Madagascar
Syenite
Veins: quartz, gold, sulfides.
Nepheline
Syenite
Distinct crystals (phenocrysts): corundum, zircon; masses: sodalite, cancrinite.
Examples: bodies of nepheline syenite rock in Ontario, Maine, Arkansas
Granodiorite
Monzonite
Disseminated: "porphyry" copper ores. Examples: in numerous places in southwest
United States. Molybdenite. Example: Climax, Colorado
Altered zones: scheelite. Example: Bishop, California
Diorite
Gabbro
Veins containing native metals and sulfides in numerous localities. Large
masses: magnetite, ilmenite, pyroxenes, copper, nickel, and iron sulfides.
Example: Lake Superior region
Anorthosite
Large coarsely crystalline masses: labradorite, magnetite, ilmenite.
New York; Iron Mountain, Wyoming; Labrador
Peridotite
Masses: chromite, nickel ores with olivine, pyroxene, spinel, platinum,
magnetite, pyrrhotite, etc. Examples: New Caledonia; eastern Pennsylvania;
Siskiyou County, California. Single crystals: diamond, pyrope garnet, enstatite,
etc.
Examples: Murfreesboro, Arkansas; numerous localities in Africa
Examples: in
Example: Ontario
Examples:
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BOULDER BUSTERS Volume #48 Issue # 4, 2013
SEDIMENTARY GROUP
Conglomerate
Copper, silver. Examples: Keeweenaw Peninsula, Michigan; Ontario. Diamond.
Example: Brazil.
Gold. Example: Witwatersrand, Union of South Africa
Sandstone
Disseminated: uranium-vanadium ores. Example: Colorado plateau. Cavities:
quartz crystals. Example: Hot Springs region, Arkansas. Seams, veins, and
disseminated: cinnabar, galena, sphalerite, barite, celestite, strontianite,
calcite, gypsum, anhydrite, etc. Examples: numerous localities. Fossil
replacements: uranium-vanadium ores, as above; quartz after wood, etc.
Example: Colorado plateau
Shale
Seams and cavities: boron minerals, sulfates and carbonates in playa deposits.
Example: Searles Lake, California. Strata and seams: anhydrite, gypsum.
Concretions and replacements: pyrite, marcasite, goethite; fossils: jet, amber.
Examples: numerous localities
Limestone
Sulfide veins and disseminated deposits: sulfides of lead, copper, zinc
principally. Examples: Cananea, Sonora; Mapimi, Durango, Mexico; many others.
Seams and geode-like openings: barite, celestite, strontianite, fluorite,
quartz, minor sulfides. Example: Clay Center, Ohio
Chert
Breccia openings, seams, veins: lead, zinc, and iron sulfides, minor quartz;
calcite. Example: tri-state district of Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri
Saline Rocks
Strata: halite, gypsum, anhydrite, sylvite, carnallite, etc. Examples:
Carlsbad, New Mexico, deposits in New York, Michigan, California, Germany, etc.
METAMORPHIC GROUP
Gneiss
Disseminated pods, single crystals, lenses, stringers: almandite, graphite,
cordierite, corundum, mica, andalusite, kyanite, staurolite, ilmenite, etc.
Examples: Gore Mt., New York; Swiss Alps
Schist
Disseminated pods, single crystals, lenses, stringers: garnet, graphite, talc,
pyrophyllite, serpentine, chlorite, magnetite, tremolite, actinolite, epidote,
brucite, mica, etc. Examples: Wrangell, southeastern Alaska; numerous localities
in California, Alpine regions, Appalachian Mountains, etc. Often intruded by
pegmatites
Serpentine
Disseminated and vein-like bodies: garnierite, pyrrhotite, chromite, chrysotile
asbestos, magnesite, brucite, actinolite, jadeite, cinnabar, etc. Examples:
southern counties of Oregon and northern counties of California; "barrens" of
Maryland, etc.
Quartzite
Cavities: quartz. Examples: numerous localities
Slate
Cavities: quartz. veins: quartz with gold and sulfides. Scattered crystals:
pyrite. Examples: numerous localities
Phyllite
Scattered crystals and pods: staurolite, andalusite, kyanite
Marble
Scattered crystals, pods, lenses: sulfides, phlogopite mica, graphite, corundum,
spinel, chondrodite, grossularite garnet, scapolite, pyroxenes, and amphiboles,
etc. Examples: northern New Jersey, southern New York marble belt
Marble Skarn
Scattered crystals, pods, lenses: magnetite, spinel, corundum, graphite,
andradite and grossularite garnet, wollastonite, scheelite, pyroxenes and
amphiboles, scapolite, sulfides, zincite, willemite, many other species.
Examples: scheelite ore bodies in California; Franklin, New Jersey; Brewster,
New York; Riverside County deposits, California, etc.
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