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BOULDER BUSTER Volume #48 Issue # 10, 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
open
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
===================================================================================================================================
HOW TO FIND OUR MEETING PLACE
Page 1
BOULDER BUSTER Volume #48 Issue # 10, 2013
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Hello Rockhounds
Here it is October already and its ShowTime. Remember to sign up to help out, and read the show
schedule. Also it it is time to get the nominee’s together to fill the officer positions for next year if interested
contact Mel Wilks and let him know. The meeting this month we will be discussing the show and anything
we need to get ready there and a few other business items then we will have a visiting session. So bring in
some show and tell and remember to sign up to do a display case at the show we have lots of room. See
everyone on the 11th
Steve
are
===================================================================================================================================
September 2013 Meeting Minutes
Board Meeting September 13, 2013 6:40 pm
Present were Steve Rand, Mel Wilks, Marilyn Sharp, Linn Enger, Torch Yates, and Lonnie Sharp
Minutes were approved as printed in the newsletter.
Marilyn Sharp gave the Treasurer report. Motion to pay the bills was made by Mel Wilks, 2nd by Lonnie Sharp and was
approved.
Steve Rand reported Club Members will be allowed to set up a table at the rock show to sell their merchandise and will pay
the club 10% of their gross sales.
Steve Rand advised a Nominating Committee for next year's club officers is needed to be chaired by a board member. Mel
Wilks volunteered.
Linn Enger proposed the club buy a Brazilian White Agate from Charlie Brown as the Door Prize for this year's rock show for
approximately $135. Motion was made by Mel and 2nd by Torch and was approved.
Rick Westerholm advised the Website Domain Name three (3) year renewal at $30 is due. Motion for renewal was made by
Linn Enger, 2nd by Torch Yates and was approved.
Steve Rand advised he has completed the advertisement for the October Rock Show.
Patty Betz brought up a lack of handicap access may hinder member's attendance at meetings. Discussion followed. Tonight
we were downstairs which has no access. However, there is handicap access to the upstairs meeting room on the south side
of the building. Members were reminded of the continued challenge to actively search for a meeting place that is affordable
to the club. This has been ongoing since LCSC became too expensive for the club to rent the two rooms for our monthly
meeting place.
General Meeting called to order at 7:10pm
New Members and Guests: Mike & Andrea Stein, Dan Watson, Markin Vidlicka, a foreign exchange student from Slovakia and
his host father, Mark Hanchett.
Linn Enger passed out signup sheets for the show. Volunteers are needed in all areas.
Nominating Committee: Two (2) volunteers from membership are needed to help Mel Wilks obtain names for next year's club
officers. Jerry Northrup and Joe Schacher volunteered to help.
Rick Westerholm inquired if any members have gone to the crystal claim this summer. Please let him know as he has to
complete the required state paperwork on the amount of pounds removed.
Mel Wilks announced the consignment auction for rock materials (rocks, gems, equipment, etc) will be held Saturday, 9/28/13
at 10:00 am in Genesee. Rose and Orville's rock collection will be sold at this auction. If anyone else would like to consign
with him, the fee is 30% of the items sold. Mel can be reached at (208) 285-0143 or his cell at (208) 301-3939.
Jerry Northup inquired if the club could purchase some rocks from this auction for the club's silent auction at our October's
Rock Show. Motion to authorize Linn Enger to purchase up to $200 was made by Lola Collinsworth, 2nd by Rick Westerholm
and was approved.
Bruce Borgelt continued with the Program on elements and minerals.
Show & Tell: Jerry Blimka, Joe Schacher and Mike Stein brought items to pass around.
Door prize drawings were held.
Meeting adjourned at 8:15pm
(submitted by Gail Giard)
Page 2
BOULDER BUSTER Volume #48 Issue # 10, 2013
October 19th 2013 -------October 20th 2013
Display Application
Name ______________________________Phone_________________
Name of Spouse________________________(free admission to both)
Address__________________________________________________
City ______________________________State ________Zip________
Display Theme __________________Number of displays_________
 Do you need to borrow a case? Yes ____No____ We have federation
size cases with liners for your use.
 Each displayer must provide his or her own insurance. Hells Canyon
Gem Club will not assume responsibility for loss or damage to any
exhibitor's property.
 There will be security guards on duty Friday and Saturday nights
provided by Club members.
 Setup: 12:00 to 9:00 P.M. Oct. 18th and 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. Oct 19th.
Please return applications to:
Linn Enger………..engerocks @ yahoo.com
475 Knollcrest Court, Lewiston, Id. 83501
Page 3
BOULDER BUSTER Volume #48 Issue # 10, 2013
October 9th
Need two or three volunteers to put up seven plywood signs as
well as the canvas banner. Get info. from advertising chairman.
October 17th
 Meet at N.P.C. Fairgrounds at 9:00 A.M.
 First group can start setting up tables as per Rick's
instructions.
 Second group can go with Ted and Linn to storage shed to
get equipment trailer.
 Linn Enger for layout of display case tables;
 Doug Debruin for layout of kids corner tables.
 Lola Collinsworth for layout of front door tables.
 Jerry Northrup for layout of the silent auction tables.
 Mel Wilks will be in charge of the demonstration tables.
October 18th





Meet at N.P.C. Fairgrounds at 9:00 A.M.
Put finishing touches on table set up.
Set up your personal display.
The dealers will start arriving around noon. Please do not
offer to help the dealers with their set up.
Pot Luck dinner for all Club Members and dealers at 6:00
P.M. Bring your questions about the potluck to the Oct.
meeting.
October 19th
 Finish your personal displays from 9:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M.
 Be at your work stations at 10:00 A.M. for opening of show.
October 20th
 Show opens at 10:00 A.M. and closes at 5:00 P.M.
 Take down your personal display first and then stay to help
with remainder of tear-down.
Steve Rand & Linn Enger; Co-Chairmen
Page 4
BOULDER BUSTER Volume #48 Issue # 10, 2013
STANDING COMMITTEES
GEM SHOW 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--- Steve Rand
6. Show & Tell Chairman---David & Jacque Dabritz
6. Displays Chairman--- Linn Enger
7. Claims Chairman---Rick Westerholm, Linn Enger and
Randy Squires
8. Historian Chairman---
7. Demonstrations Chairman---Mel Wilks
9. Library Chairman---
9. Silent Auction Chairman---Jerry Northrup
10. Sunshine Chairman---Mel & Betty Wilks
10. Kids Corner---Doug & Sally Debruin
11. ALAA---Linn Enger
(American Lands Access Association)
11. Admissions---Lola Collinsworth
2. Show Co-Chairman---Linn Enger
8. Floor Plan Chairman---Rick Westerholm
12. Security---Randy Squires
==========================================================================================================
NFMS MEMBER CLUBS’ SHOW SCHEDULE
(Partial list)
October 19-20
Sat 10–6, Sun 10–5
October 26-27
Sat 10–6, Sun 10–5
Hells Canyon Gem Club
November 9-10
Maplewood Rock and
Gem Club
Feb 8 & 9, 2014
Sat – 9 – 5
Sun – 9 – 4
Feb 14-16, 2014
Fri 9:30-5:30
Sat 9:30-5:30
Sun 9:30-5:30
March 1 & 2, 2014
Sat – 10 – 6,
Sun – 10 – 5
Mar 28 - 30, 2014
Fri 10–6, Sat 10–6
Sun 10–4
Whidbey Island Gem
Club
Bellevue Rock Club
Oregon Agate and
Mineral Society
East KingCo Rock Club
Rock Rollers Club of
Spokane WA
Nez Perce County Fair, 1229
Burrell Avenue, Lewiston ID
Vasa Park, 3560 West Lake
Sammamish Blvd SE, Bellevue
WA
Maplewood Clubhouse, 8802
196th St. SW, Edmonds WA
98026
Oak Harbor Senior Center
51 SE Jerome Street, Oak
Harbor WA
OMSI
1945 SE Water Ave. Portland
OR 97214
Pickering Barn, 1730 - 10th
Avenue NW, Issaquah WA
98027, (across from Costco)
Spokane County Fair & Expo
Center, N.604 Havana
Spokane WA
Linn Enger 208 746 4957
[email protected]
Dave Scott 425 643 0546
[email protected]
Lauryn MacGregor [email protected] PO Box 5657
Lynnwood WA 98046
Keith Ludemann 360 675
1837 [email protected]
Sonia Watt
[email protected] or
Jim Urbaniak
[email protected]
Robin Feiner 206 579 8448
PO Box 2203 Redmond WA
98073
Contact: David Rapp 509
891 6533
[email protected]
Page 5
BOULDER BUSTER Volume #48 Issue # 10, 2013
=========================================================================================================
OCTOBER BIRTHSTONES ARE TOURMALINE AND OPAL
TOURMALINE
Tourmaline (tur-mah-Leen) is a crystal boron silicate mineral
compounded with elements such as aluminium, iron, magnesium,
sodium, lithium, or potassium. The name comes from the Sinhalese
word "Thuramali" or "Thoramalli", which applied to different gemstones
found in Sri Lanka. Brightly colored Sri Lankan gem tourmalines were
brought to Europe in great quantities by the Dutch East India Company
to satisfy a demand for curiosities and gems. At the time it was not
realized that schorl (photo at right) and tourmaline were the same
mineral. Tourmaline is classified as a semi-precious stone and the
gemstone comes in a wide variety of colors. Most commonly black, but
can range from brown, violet, green, pink, or in a dual-colored pink
and green.
Tourmaline species and varieties
Commonly encountered species and varieties
Schorl species: Bluish or brownish black to Black—
The most common species of tourmaline is schorl. It may account
for 95% or more of all tourmaline in nature. The early history of the
mineral schorl shows that the name "schorl" was in use prior to 1400
because a village known today as Zschorlau (in Saxony, Germany)
was then named "Schorl". This village had a nearby tin mine where,
in addition to cassiterite, black tourmaline was found.
Dravite species: Dark yellow to brownish black—
Today this tourmaline locality (type locality for dravite) at the village
Dravograd, is a part of the Republic of Slovenia. The name dravite,
from the Drava river area, which is the district along the Drava River
in Austria and Slovenia.
Elbaite species: named after the island of Elba, Italy
 Red or pinkish-red—rubellite variety (from ruby)
 Light blue to bluish green—Brazilian indicolite variety (from indigo)
 Green—verdelite or Brazilian emerald variety
 Colorless—achroite variety (from the Greek meaning "colorless")
A lithium-tourmaline was one of three pegmatitic minerals from Utö, Sweden, in which the new alkali element lithium (Li)
was determined in 1818 by Johan August Arfwedson for the first time. Elba Island, Italy, was one of the first localities where
colored and colorless Li-tourmalines were extensively chemically analysed. In 1850 Karl Friedrich August Rammelsberg
described fluorine (F) in tourmaline for the first time. In 1870 he proved that all varieties of tourmaline contain chemically
bound water. In 1914 Vladimir Vernadsky proposed the name Elbait for lithium-, sodium-, and aluminum-rich tourmaline
from Elba Island, Italy, with the simplified formula (Li,Na)HAl6B2Si4O21. The first crystal structure determination of a Li-rich
tourmaline was published in 1972 by Donnay and Barton, performed on a pink elbaite from San Diego County, California.
The tourmaline mineral group is chemically one of the most complicated groups of silicate minerals. Its composition varies widely
because of isomorphous replacement (solid solution)
Tourmaline has become a favorite gemstone among jewelry designer,
and gem collectors the world over. Since it is available in a wide variety
of colors, it is ideally suited to almost anyone's taste. Tourmaline also is
known for displaying several colors in the same gemstone. These bicolor or tri-color gems are formed in many combinations; gemstones with
clear color distinctions are highly prized. One multi-color variety is
known as watermelon tourmaline, and features green, pink, and white
colors bands; to resemble its namesake, the gemstone is cut into thin
slices having a pink center, white ring, and green edge. Tourmaline is
found in many localities including Brazil, Afghanistan, East Africa, and
the USA.
Page 6
OPAL
BOULDER BUSTER Volume #48 Issue # 10, 2013
The name opal derives from the Greek Opallos, meaning "to see a change (of color)."
Opals range in color from milky white to black with flashes of yellow, orange, green, red,
and blue. An opal's beauty is the product of contrast between its color play and its
background. Opal is a formation of non-crystalline silica gel that seeped into crevices in
the sedimentary strata. Through time and nature's heating and molding processes, the
gel hardened into the form of opals. The opal is composed of particles closely packed in
spherical arrangements. When packed together in a regular pattern, a three-dimensional
array of spaces are created that give opal its radiance. - See more at:
http://www.americangemsociety.org/october-birthstones#sthash.PFbCKr9T.dpuf
Opal is a hydrated amorphous form of silica; its water content may range from 3% to
21% by weight, but is usually between 6% to 10%. Because of its amorphous character
it is classed as a mineraloid, unlike the other crystalline forms of silica which are classed
as minerals. It is deposited at a relatively low temperature and may occur in the fissures
of almost any kind of rock, being most commonly found with limonite, sandstone,
rhyolite, marl and basalt. Opal is the national gemstone of Australia, which produces
97% of the world's suppy. The internal structure of precious opal makes it diffract light;
depending on the conditions in which it formed it can take on many colors. Precious opal
ranges from clear through white, gray, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, magenta, rose,
pink, slate, olive, brown, and black. Of these hues, the reds against black are the most
rare, whereas white and greens are the most common. It varies in optical density from
opaque to semi-transparent. For gemstone use, its natural color is often enhanced by
placing thin layers of opal on a darker underlying stone, like basalt. Common opal,
called "potch" by miners, does not show the display of color exhibited in precious opal.
Precious opal shows a variable interplay of internal colors and even though it is a
mineraloid, it has an internal structure. At micro scales precious opal is composed of
silica spheres some 150 to 300 nm in diameter in a hexagonal or cubic close-packed
lattice. These ordered silica spheres produce the internal colors by causing the
interference and diffraction of light passing through the microstructure of the opal. It is
the regularity of the sizes and the packing of these spheres that determines the quality
of precious opal.
Synthetic opal
As well as occurring naturally, opals of all varieties have been synthesized
experimentally and commercially. The discovery of the ordered sphere structure of
precious opal led to its synthesis by Pierre Gilson in 1974. The resulting material is
distinguishable from natural opal by its regularity; under magnification, the patches of
color are seen to be arranged in a "lizard skin" or "chicken wire" pattern. Furthermore,
synthetic opals do not fluoresce under UV light. Synthetics are also generally lower in
density and are often highly porous.
Two notable producers of synthetic opal are the companies Kyocera and Inamori of
Japan. Most so-called synthetics, however, are more correctly termed "imitation opal",
as they contain substances not found in natural opal (e.g., plastic stabilizers).
Other research in macroporous structures have yielded highly ordered materials that
have similar optical properties to opals and have been used in cosmetics.
Common opal
Precious opal consists of spheres
of silica of fairly regular size,
packed into close-packed planes
that are stacked together with
characteristic dimensions of
several hundred nm.
Besides the gemstone varieties that show a play of color, there are other kinds of
common opal such as the milk opal, milky bluish to greenish (which can sometimes be
of gemstone quality); resin opal, which is honey-yellow with a resinous luster; wood opal, which is caused by the replacement of
the organic material in wood with opal; menilite, which is brown or grey; hyalite, a colorless glass-clear opal sometimes called
Muller's Glass; geyserite, also called siliceous sinter, deposited around hot springs or geysers; and diatomite or diatomaceous
earth, the accumulations of diatom shells or tests.
Page 7
BOULDER BUSTER Volume #48 Issue # 10, 2013
Other varieties of opal
Fire opals are transparent to translucent opals with warm body colors of yellow, orange, orange-yellow or red. They do not
usually show any play of color, although occasionally a stone will exhibit bright green flashes. The most famous source of fire
opals is the state of Querétaro in Mexico; these opals are commonly called Mexican fire opals. Fire opals that do not show play
of color are sometimes referred to as jelly opals. Mexican opals are sometimes cut in their ryholitic host material if it is hard
enough to allow cutting and polishing. This type of Mexican opal is referred to as a Cantera Opal. There is also a type of opal
from Mexico referred to as Mexican Water Opal, which is a colorless opal which exhibits either a bluish or golden internal sheen.
Girasol opal is a term sometimes mistakenly and improperly used to refer to fire opals as well as a type of transparent to semitransparent type milky quartz from Madagascar which displays an asterism, or star effect, when cut properly. However, there is a
true girasol opal that is a type of halite opal, that exhibits a bluish glow or sheen that follows the light source around. It is not a
play of color as seen in precious opal but rather an effect from microscopic inclusions. It is also sometimes referred to as water
opal as well when it is from Mexico. The two most notable locations of this type of opal are Oregon and Mexico.
Peruvian opal (also called blue opal) is a semi-opaque to opaque blue-green stone found in Peru which is often cut to include
the matrix in the more opaque stones. It does not display pleochroism. Blue opal also comes from Oregon in the Owhyee region
as well as from Nevada around Virgin Valley.
Sources of opal
Australia produces around 97% of the world's opal. 90% is called 'light opal' or white and crystal opal. White makes up 60% of
the opal productions but cannot be found in all of the opal fields. Crystal opalor pure hydrated silica makes up 30% of the opal
produced, 8% is black and only 2% is boulder opal.
The town of Coober Pedy in South Australia is a major source of opal. The world's largest and most valuable gem opal "Olympic
Australis" was found in August 1956 at the "Eight Mile" opal field in Coober Pedy. It weighs 17,000 carats (3450 grams) and is
11 inches (280 mm) long, with a height of 4 3⁄4 inches (120 mm) and a width of 4 1⁄2 inches (110 mm).
The Virgin Valley opal fields of Humboldt County in northern Nevada produce a wide variety of precious black, crystal, white, fire,
and lemon opal. The black fire opal is the official gemstone of Nevada. Most of the precious opal is partial wood replacement.
The precious opal is hosted and found within a subsurface horizon or zone of bentonite in-place which is considered a "lode"
deposit. Opals which have weathered out of the in-place deposits are alluvial and considered placer deposits. Miocene age
opalised teeth, bones, fish, and a snake head have been found. Some of the opal has high water content and may desiccate
and crack when dried. The largest producing mines of Virgin Valley have been the famous Rainbow Ridge, Royal Peacock,
Bonanza, Opal Queen, and WRT Stonetree/Black Beauty Mines. The largest unpolished Black Opal in the Smithsonian
Institution, known as the "Roebling Opal," came out of the tunneled portion of the Rainbow Ridge Mine in 1917, and weighs
2,585 carats. The largest polished black opal in the Smithsonian Institution comes from the Royal Peacock opal mine in the
Virgin Valley, weighing 160 carats, known as the "Black Peacock."
Another source of white base opal or creamy opal in the United States is Spencer, Idaho. A high percentage of the opal found
there occurs in thin layers.
Summary from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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BOULDER BUSTER Volume #48 Issue # 10, 2013
EARTH SCIENCE AND LAPIDARY SPECIAL INTEREST
LICENSE PLATE
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
SUPPORT IDAHO KINDERGARTEN — 6 TH GRADE EARTH SCIENCE EDUCATION!
Three years ago, a special interest license plate was designed to promote Idaho as the
Gem State. The concept of the plate is to use the revenue generated from license plate
sales to directly give back to our students and increase knowledge of rocks, minerals,
gems, fossils, earth science and lapidary arts.
In 2012, Legislature decided to discontinue special interest plates, accepting no more
new designs, but allowing Idaho to keep the existing programs/plates active. However,
we need to meet a quota every year of active registrations. We are at risk for losing our
plate program if sales do not increase by Dec. 31, 2013.
Therefore, we are calling on teachers, students, rock hounds, mineral and gem lovers to
spread the word and save our plate.
Schools benefit by receiving the extra funding to give kids what they want and need to
promote education in earth sciences. By increasing education for the K-6 graders, we
ensure Idaho's future protection of our most valuable resource, Gems and Minerals.
Please, contact your local DMV today to upgrade your current license plate or purchase a
new registration — to the Earth Science Lapidary plate. Personalized plates are available
online.
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