Gem Crafters & Explorer's Club Bulletin, Las Cruces, NM

Affiliated with the AFMS and the RMFMS

EL GAMBRISINO
March 2011 - Volume 53 - Issue 3

Minutes Feb. 18, 2011

By Secretary Brenda Gadberry

President Kathy Fuller Do we have any visitors here tonight? There were three, Nina Kingsley, Jeff Porter and Liz Truchey. Newcomers Brian and Maryann Talamonti joined tonight. Refreshments were provided by Valerie Peebles and Dave Shogren. Reminder that next months refreshments will be provided by Lee Attaway and Marie Mathewson. An observation was made that we are out of forks. For anybody who doesnt know; when you have the refreshment box, if we are out of any supplies, go ahead and purchase them, keep your receipt and the Treasurer will reimburse you. No one has signed up for June refreshments. We try to get at least two families to sign-up for each month. Pat Mauer has the sign-up sheet, so contact Pat for June refreshments. Kathy Fuller An announcement, March 5th, Rick Schwardt will be in town. Rick will have petrified coral for sale before the Deming Show at wholesale prices at mine and Erics place at 11:00am, March 5th. We are going to have a potluck luncheon at that time too. Show and Tell - Dave Smith and Eric Fuller both brought some show and tell items. Treasury Report - Pat Grace Beginning balance was $658.25; Deposits, $454.00 from memberships and the raffle; Checks, $60.00 for the Postmaster and PO Box; Ending Balance, $1,052.25. We collected some dues tonight, so the total amount will be more than $1,052.25. Kathy Fuller A motion has been made to move the raffle from January to the pool party in July, does anybody second? Valerie Peebles seconded the motion. The motion was carried. Kathy Fuller - Discussion about the Gila Wilderness wanting to close some roads. We are encouraging people to send in comments. The deadline for comments is coming up soon in March. A comment was made that the local Tea Party is upset and making their comments official. The people in Glenwood have hired a specialist in government jargon to help them in making their plea. He is charging $25 per hour for his services. Molly Wilkinson asked if the club could make a donation. Kathy replied that individuals can make their own donations and asked the club, do we want to make a donation? Pat Grace asked how keeping the

roads open will benefit the club. Eric replied If you want to have a place for your children, grandchildren to go then you need to be concerned. Kathy Fuller If we think the club should do something, then I will entertain a motion for the club to make a donation. Eric made a motion that the club donate $100 and was seconded by Valerie Peebles. The motion carried 40 to 2. Marie Mathewson The reason I said no was because I would like to see a budget and what the club needs to spend money on. Kathy replied Later I will be willing to visit with you and so will Pat. The only cost I currently know of is the Rocky Mountain Federation, post office, keeping the refreshment box stocked, raffle tickets, but usually we have more funds available than we spend. For anybody going to the campout at Hachita, we will be meeting at Loves Truck Stop tomorrow morning at 8:00am.

Program Notes: Feb.

Dave Shogren The speaker, our own Dave Shogren, gave a slide presentation of his last years trip to Peru. The program started our with a list of facts about Peru, one of which is that the per capita income there is $5,195 (US), a very poor country. Dave and friend Esther landed at at sea level in Lima. Esther has family there who provided them with a personal guide for their sightseeing trip. One of their first destinations was Cusco which at 12,000 feet in altitude resulted in altitude sickness for him. He stuggled with that and headaches for

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most of the trip. The natives put coca leaves in their mouths to hold or chew or they make tea to drink which helps them to be able to live and work at such high altitudes. These leaves are readily available in the markets. Dave said they helped some but not enough to get rid of the headaches.

Chancay were pre-Inca people who lived in an area approximately 60 kilometers north of Peru. Dave read us a short history of him, a truly amazing man. This musuem is private and owned by Esthers family so he was given a tour of not only the museum itself but of the vast storage areas. It was amazing to see how these many and varied treasures were so lovingly preserved and cared for. Again there were many pictures of Peruvian antiquities and the facitilities. Besides the great photos Dave gave a nice history of the area traveled and of the museum. Many thanks go to Dave for his time and effort put forth in this presentation. Dave has an interesting background himself which is another story?

Mineral Meeting Notes Feb.

Coca leave vendors Little bags and BIG bags

While in Cusco their hotel had WI FI but with varying degrees of sucess. The best results were obtained in the bathroom (interesting picture shown here). Many colorful scenes of the marketplace were shown. The clothing worn by the natives was not only colorful but had many intricate weavings and did I mention they dress warmly. The clothing tells a story and one can tell what town or area a person is from by the colors and weavings of their clothing (that is if youre a native). One vendor had large bowls of very colorful ground up minerals to be used for dying the wool. Everyone has heard about the Peruvians favorite dish the Guinea Pig, right? Well they had to try it and guess what according to Dave it tasted like chicken. It was served complete with the head (although the head had some kind of a red plant over it).

A large group of mineral lovers showed up this month for a learning session in Cubic/Isometric Crystal systems. There were fifteen of us present which included a new member and two visitors.

Don is explaining the axes of this cube. The Isometric crystals are always cubes. It was explained that they always had three mutually perpendicular axes of equal length. After a lot of discussion and examples we were told a good idea is to not look at the faces but to look at the axes only. Sure helped me a lot.

Thats the Guinea Pig Dave is pointing to. Photo by Chris Stewart. Corn beer is the favored beverage of the Peruvian natives with some 55 varieties of corn in use making many different flavors although Dave said it all tasted like corn to him. It is fermented for 24 hours and bingo, its ready to drink. From Cusco they took the train to Machu Picchu which is 14,000 feet in altitude. It was built in 1450 but was abandoned almost 100 years later. When the Spanish arrived in Peru in 1532 they never found Machu Picchu. Dave showed many beautiful pictures of the ruins and mountains. The highlight of the trip was his visit to the Armano Museum which was founded by Esthers grandfather Yoshitaro Amano. He designed and built the museum to house over 40,000 artifacts from the Chancay area. The

Brecken Uhl brought some rocks from the Hatchita trip (Sylvanite area) and he and Don checked them out under the microscope. From the happy look on Breckens face afterwards there must have been something good found.

Gemcrafters and Explorers Club Reminders & Gen. Info

"EL Gambrisino"

Volume 52, Issue 3, March 2011 Apache Tears by Shirley Greenberg

(9th Place AFMS 1995 Adult Article

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Our next meeting will be as usual on the third Friday of the month, Apr. 15th, Room 118, Gardiner Hall on the NMSU campus, 6:30 PM for socializing and 7 PM for the meeting. Our next meeting will be as usual on the third Friday of the th month, Apr. 15 , Room 118, Gardiner Hall on the NMSU campus, 6:30 PM for socializing and 7 PM for the meeting. Refreshments will be hosted by Lee Attaway and Marie Mathewson. The program to be announced later. At the last meeting Dave Smith passed around a picture of the 51 pound gold nugget that was featured at the Tucson Show last month. In the January issue of Rock and Gem it was not only on featured on the cover but had an article about it. I have a copy if you would like to read it, just let me know.. The Feb. issue of Rock and Gem had a field trip article titled Opalized Plant Fossils & Coral Pseudofossils by Robert Beard. This site, Rincon is not only in our own back yard but Eric Fuller led a club field trip there last month. Don and Cookie Saathoff had spent the three days prior to the Mineral Meeting changing up their mineral display in Dons Museum. It looks beautiful and Im sure they would be happy to show it to you but call first as they are busy people. As you all know the dues are now past due. For those of you who havent paid up by the March meeting you will be removed from the membership roster and this will be your last issue of our newsletter. There is still time so be sure to fill out the application form and send it with your check. An updated membership list will be issued near the end of the month. The deadline for sending in your letter to the Forest Service is coming up very quickly. If you havent done so please consider writing asking them to keep the forests open for recreation. See the News Flashes sent out earlier for details.

If you have a specimen in your collection labeled Apache tear and want information about it you could have a problem. Not all rock and mineral books have a listing for Apache tears. This is because Apache tear is not a valid mineral name but is a well known nickname for some obsidian nodules. Obsidian is a rock, not a mineral. As you probably have guessed, these nodules are found in locations where Apache Indians lived in the U.S. Southwest. Apache tears have been found primarily in Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico. All Apache tears are obsidian, but not all obsidians are Apache tears. Obsidian is natural volcanic glass. Dont look for crystals of obsidian because you wont find any. The hot lava forming obsidian cooled much too quickly to allow crystals to form. Apache tears are found in grayish white volcanic material called perlite. Perlite is obsidian that has weathered and altered until it has become porous and lightweight. Each Apache tear lump will have an uneven coating of perlite clinging to it after being pried or dug from a mass of perlite. Tumbling and polishing will reveal a shiny glass pebble that may be black or smoky in color. Hold the tear to the light to see how translucent or transparent it is. It is interesting to note that the Apache tear and perlite surrounding it have been formed from the same volcanic material and yet the tears are dark in color and its coating of perlite is light in color. Perlite is used in making lightweight concrete and is also used in the manufacture of insulation. Obsidian, with a hardness of 5 to 5.5, is brittle and chips easily. Nevertheless it has long attracted gem cutters and gem carvers. Obsidian was used for bowls and cups as early as 3200 B.C. in Mesopotamia. Jewelry set with obsidian made about 1352 B.C. was found in the tomb of King Tuthankhamen. Apache tears are cut by faceters today because they are plentiful and inexpensive. References: Color Encyclopedia of Gemstones by Joel Arem Earth Treasures, Vol. 4, by W. Eckert Gems & Crystals from American Museum by A. Sofianides and G. Harlow Gemstones of North America by John Sinkankas Precious Stones by R. Metz Prospecting for Gemstones and Minerals by John Sinkankas Via The Rock Collector, Sept. 2004

DID YOU KNOW?

LONG JOHN SILVER

In the early days, Paul Revere's silver shop was not heated. So, his apprentices, like most people of the period, donned their underwear with the first chill and neither removed or washed it until it was too hot to stand it. Over this time, the daily dust of silver accumulated in the fabric. In the spring, the now heavy underwear was burned and the silver reclaimed. This is how we get the term Long John Silver. Source: via Blue Agate News 02/09

Dont forget the time change on March 13th. Spring forward one hour. Amazing isnt it what our politicians can do?

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FORAY INTO OLD HACHITA LAND TO EXPLORE, MAP AND GATHER SAMPLES
By Eric Fuller
The dangers were many, Wetbacks, Illegals, Human Traffickers, Drug Smugglers, Cartel Gangs establishing holdings in the US and Terrorists smuggling in parts for dirty bombs. We all thanked Congress for the 7 month moratorium on voting to create a border wilderness and haven for criminal traffic in the Potrillo Mountains. But we should be not afraid as the Feds have responded to our neighboring states pleas for help by posting powerful, proactive signs 80 miles from the border to shoo the criminals out.

cold winds would come! It was as if the plague of evil streaming across our border had more powerful evil gods fighting against us. We being fearless in our ignorance proceeded to the bowels of Hell. Our two hour trip was only paused for a stop at the Gauge exit, Bowlins Butterfield Station to empty storage tanks and equip ourselves with the last minute necessities.

Bowlins Butterfield Station

Near the Den of Iniquity of old Hachita our forward scout reported no closer camp sites than our holding position. We rounded up the fortress wagons and in short order the Happy Hour canopies and tables were in place. Little did we know of the evil awaiting us!

Obamas answer to Arizonas plea for help!

And Now The Adventure Starts

Oh Buffalo Bill what did you kill Buffalo Bill, Oh Buffalo Bill what did you kill Buffalo Bill But I digress; our Story starts out at 0:800 Hours Saturday, February 12 at our forward base, Loves Truck Stop. Thirteen intrepid explorers had gathered with 5 well equipped overland fortresses. Three reinforcements with a highly specialized scout and attack vehicle would arrive over the next two days. We had been told early on by the weather fibber that the chosen time would be good, but at the last day the fibber predicted horrendous winds. After all the weather fibber had been correct (at the last minute) about record setting freezing temperatures just a few weeks earlier. We all had beseeched the God of great knowledge Al Gore the inventor o the internet, carbon foot prints and global warming to return the global warming to us..to no avail he failed us again and the

Happy Hour Set Up

Our good news was the unexpected arrival of a Law Enforcement contingent from Deming Luna County Sheriff Raymond Cobos, an old acquaintance, had arrived to personally scout Old Hachita. He had been born and raised there. He was the last graduate from Hachita (new) high school. He had strategically placed old cans in the area since his youth. This personal army could tell him if the area had been entered by unknowns. He had even fabricated pans and strategically placed them. There allure would attract those with great curiosity and he also could tell

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of intrusions by their removal or rearrangement. He reported that the area had been violated. We would be on the lookout and take extra precautions. Most of us were packing heat, but the enemy had full automatic AK 47s and they are ruthless killers. Just last year less than 80 miles to the west they killed a rancher and his dog. The wind was starting and we debated on taking down our shelter canopies. We decide that they would withstand the predicted winds for that day (the weather fibber fibbed again). We traveled about 4 miles to the old railroad siding of Minero. There we found many interesting things. Kathy found a 1903 Barber dime.

Yes it was Buffalo stew. Mitch had fattened Ted Turner wallet on a buffalo hunt on the Armendaris Ranch. The stew was perfect without any wild taste. Everyone provided enough food for a feast fit for a king. Of the rocks collected Captain Jeff Porter had carved out a beautiful chunk with a nice vein of turquoise.

Captain Jeffs Turquoise carved from the vein with a pocket knife!

Kathy hits the jackpot!

The wind was picking up. A BLM Ranger stopped and talked with us. He advised us not drive on any dirt road not identified on the maps. He pointed to the dirt road we were on which was just off of the highway on the highway side of the Highway 9 fence. He was very pleasant and soon went on his way. He soon returned being concerned for our safety, as riding our ATVs adjacent to the highway would be dangerous. He said we could ride on that dirt road. It never occurred to him that the dirt road we were on (which was where the fiber optic cable was buried and which Dave Kirpatrick gave the club an Archeological talk on) was within the Highway 9 right of way and was not on BLM managed lands and was therefore not within his jurisdiction! Oh wellwhos watching the watchers? Returning to camp the wind, which had come up, had been buffeting the EZ-ups. Mitch and Pat had come to the rescue, removing the cloth canopies. Damage was kept to a minimum, a bent strut to be repaired. Mitch and Pat graciously opened their Fortress RV for happy hour. The remainder of those who were still afield began to wander in. The Mauers had prepared a delicious stew and each new comer was offered some along with the group singing: Oh Buffalo Bill what did you kill Buffalo Bill, Oh Buffalo Bill what did you kill Buffalo Bill

Day two was windy and cold as it was all night. We got a late start hoping for the next shift of day trippers. Brecken was the first to arrive. Two others arrived later. Off we went to Sylvanite via a new southern route with a long stop and hike to a mine in Stone Cabin Gulch. The hike was up a steep grade about of a mile. The wind was somewhat subdued by the terrain but was still a major nuisance. The mine and tailings dump were extensive. We will return with proper lighting to explore the mine. It was very safe having been carved into bed rock.

Mine Entrance with wood encased shaft

Chris found a radio collar, probably from a Big Horn Sheep who had wandered from the Game Preserve of the big Hatchet Mountains North to the Little Hatchets.

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View west from the mine

At this point having started late in the day only about 3 hours were remaining of daylight. Half of the troupe opted to return to Old Hachita, the other 4 proceeded to Sylvanite by a route never taken before. Rockhounding and detecting proved to be very difficult as the winds were extreme and gusty in this canyon. Chris who had 19 years and 11 months in the Army demonstrated how to shoot a bottle at twenty feet with less than 15 shots! Actually the shot in which he aimed was a dead on hit. On the way out Arts vehicle received a nasty flat tire, completely unrepairable. As the truck had been loaned to Art it took some time to locate the jack and locking lug nut key. Chris with all of his military might broke the locking lug nut without removing it. Brecken was to the rescue with his monster Rubicon. He had anything a small army could possibly need except for a good cold weather sleeping bag. With cunning, skill, teamwork and a lot of luck the stubborn broken lug nut was removed, the spare put

on and we were on the way back to camp and Happy Hour about an hour away. That night was extremely cold and windy all to Breckens dismay as his sleeping bag was not up to it. He left early that morning. Day three started with subsiding winds and warming. I got to be very pleasant. Six of us descended upon Old Hachita wandering the mine dumps and desert. Kathy again found money, a 1919S Lincoln penny. The weather of the last day was great and it was what we had hoped for all weekend. None the less all had a great adventure and now it was time to head home unpack and rest!

THE END

Mineralogical Terms for Silver Jewelry

Via The Mountain Gem (July 03)

Fine Silver: commercially pure silver contains no alloy material. Sterling Silver: 925/1000 or 92.5% fine silver and 5% copper, a proportion set by law. Coin Silver: 900/1000 or 90% fine silver and the balance copper. This alloy was used for US silver coins before 1966. Since then dimes and quarters contain no silver. Half-dollars contain 40% silver. Commercial Silver: Silver that is 99.9% fine or higher. Foreign Silver: Contains varying percentages of silver. In some cases, the fineness is as low as 70%. Danish Silver: Silverware manufactured in Denmark is 83% fine silver and made to minimum Danish standards. It is 92% fine silver if made for export. Silver Plated Ware: Made by electroplating fine silver to a base metal alloy usually nickel silver, or Britannia metal, and sometimes brass or copper. The inexpensive process was perfected for industrial purposes around 1840. Sheffield Plate: Originally it was made by bonding sheet silver to copper then rolling and forming it into hollow-ware. The original process was abandoned about 1840 for the new method of electroplating. Imitations are made by plating silver on copper and sometimes erroneously advertised as Sheffield Plate. Nickel Silver: Is a composition of nickel, copper and zinc. It contains no silver.

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Florissant Fossil Beds: S. W. Veatch

New pollen evidence from the mammoth site at the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Colorado reveals environmental conditions during one of the warm, interglacial periods of Teller Countys Ice Age.

FOSSIL POLLEN REVEALS FLORISSANTS ICE AGE ENVIRONMENT By Steven Wade Veatch, CSMS/LGMMS Out of the mists of prehistorythrough fossil pollen and sporescomes an unprecedented glimpse into Florissants past. Experts used cutting*edge science to examine pollen and spores buried with a fossil mammoth to better understand the Ice Age world of Florissant. The Florissant mammoth lived and died more than 50,000 years ago, during the last Ice Age. Its bones were fossilized safely in the ground until a student intern found it in 1994. During careful excavation of the mammoth, all of the fossil material was collected and baggedincluding soil, gravel, and sediment samples. A molar tooth and part of the mammoths jaw were the main fossils recovered. Scientists used these to identify the mammoth as a Columbian mammoth. A lab recently analyzed a sample from the sediment layer just below the mammoth. The lab determined that the sedimentary layer is a limestone containing fine sandy and silty quartz grains. The lab first prepared the limestone for processing to recover pollen and spore grains. Solutions of corrosive chemicals such as potassium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid, and hydrogen fluoride removed the organic and mineral particles in the sample. The pollen, because it is composed of some of the most chemically resistant organic compounds in nature, survived this harsh chemical processing. Next, lab workers made microscope slides from the residual pollen and carefully examined them. When viewed with a microscope, pollen grains from different plants have distinctive appearances that can identify the plant species they came from. The pollen and spores were identified and counted. The lab work identified an amazing assemblage of Ice Age vegetation at Florissant, making it possible to reconstruct much of the local environment based on these tiny fossils. A major surprise was finding hickory (Carya) and oak (Quercus)both hardwoodsin the Rocky Mountains from a lab sample that was at least 50,000 years old. From microscopic examination of the hardwood pollen it appears that they grew locally during the Ice Age. There is no reason to think they are reworked from sediments redeposited from earlier times.

The pollen and spore assemblage is a tiny time capsule from Florissants Ice Age and reveals that Florissant had a dry climate during this interglacial periodindicated by the abundance of pine pollen and rock moss (Selaginella). The landscape was relatively open and covered with vegetation. Scattered stands of pine, along with some hardwoods growing near streams, dotted the landscape. Groundcover included asters, daisies, sunflowers (Compositae), and sagebrush. Most important was the rock moss, which grows on rocks and thrives on direct sunlight. Rock moss is a key indicator of a dry climate. Florissants fossil mammoth and associated material continues to yield scientific information. The current pollen study is important because in the continental United States there is little information on interglacial floras. The Florissant pollen adds significantly to our understanding of North American interglacial floras. The Florissant mammoth and its associated pollen has not only unlocked some of the secrets of Florissants Ice Age, but has earned an enduring place in the paleontological record. Because most plant species have distinctive pollen shapes, botanists can identify from which plant the pollen came, allowing scientists to determine the plants found in a certain place at a given time. Note: Steven Veatch is the principal investigator working on the Florissant pollen project. His team includes David Jarzen of the University of Florida, Estella Leopold of the University of Washington, and Herbert Meyer of Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.
via TTown Rockhound/Tulsa Rock and Mineral Society 12/2010

Is It Possible?
In the Midwest section of the country, trilobites are generally found in a curled-up position. No one is certain as to why they didn't die in a flattened position as those found in the West and other countries. It really is an exceptionally easy problem to solve. It is without a doubt a matter of economics. The Trilobites in the Midwest were more economical and able to make ends meet. Via the Boulder Buster 05/04

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Something here for the Mineral Mtg. people more terminology

GROWTH HABITS OF SINGLE CRYSTALS

Barrel-Shaped: Self descriptive term applied to such crystals as vanadinite and mimetite. Bladed: This describes the appearance of crystals that are almost equal dimension in all directions and look like children' toy blocks. Some of the feldspars, galena and fluorite can be so described. Columnar: These crystals are thick and fairly elongated, shaped in miniature like the columns of a building. Examples include beryl, quartz and tourmaline. Sometimes the word prismatic is used to describe the same crystals, because the dominant faces on columnar crystals are usually called prisms. Capillary: From a Latin word meaning hair, capillary is often used interchangeable with filiform, also from Latin, meaning thread-shaped. The terms describe minerals such as silver, which is sometimes found as thin wires, or millerite, which is found in long, very thin, stiff wires. Pyramidal: This expression is used when the ends, or even the entire crystal, looks vaguely like three-, four-, or sixsided pyramids. Examples include wulfenite and anatase. Stubby: Such crystals are also sometimes described as stout or equant. All these terms try to draw an image of crystals that are neither flattened or elongates, but are nearly the same dimensions in all directions. Tourmaline, apatite and beryl can be columnar or prismatic, but they may also be of shorter lengths and stubby. Tabular: This means that the crystal growth has been flat, with only minor thickness. Wulfenite is often tabular. Torbernte is almost always tabular.

via Cutting Remarks 06/09

For heaven sakes please hang tight and dont blow away in the winds. We have some time to go before the windy season ends and it would be nice if everyone shows up for the next meeting and doesnt have to come here from Georgia or there abouts.

Happy St, Pattys Day to you all. (Now if we could only figure out a way to get that pot of gold from him).

Gemcrafters and Explorers Club UP COMING SHOW Dates:

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MAR 10-13--DEMING, NEW MEXICO, 46TH annual Rockhound Roundup, S.W. New Mexico Fairgrounds, Deming, NM. Thurs. thru Sun. 9-5 pm. Free Admission. Jewelry & Rock related items, Lapidary Equipment, Displays and Demonstrations, Guided Field Trips; contact Bud Daily 575-267-4399; web site www.dgms.bravehost.com MAR 18-20--ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO: 42nd annual show, Treasures of the Earth"; Albuquerque Gem & Mineral Club; Creative Arts Center Bldg., State Fair Grounds, EXPO NM (San Pedro entrance); Fri. 10-6, Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5; adults $1 Fri., $3 Sat. and Sun., kids 12 and under free; more than 40 dealers, displays, door prizes, silent auctions, mineral and gem identification, juniors' booth, live wolf, geode cracking, faceting demonstration, gold panning and more; contact Paul Hlava, (505) 255-5478; e-mail: paulhlava@q.com MAR 25-27LOVELAND, COLORADO: 50th annual show; Fort Collins Rockhounds; The Ranch, Larimer County Fairgrounds, Thomas M. McKee 4-H, Youth & Community Bldg.; Fri. 4-8, Sat. 9-6, Sun. 10-5; adults $4 ($7 weekend pass); under 18 $1, children under 12 free with adult; pyrite, exhibits, door prizes, grab bags, silent auction, demonstrations, dealers, gems, minerals, fossils, beads, rough rocks, equipment; contact Dave Halliburton, Fort Collins Rockhounds, P.O. Box 482, Fort Collins, CO 80522, (970) 493-6168; e-mail: fcrockhounds@yahoo.com ; Web site: www.fortcollinsrockhounds.org MAR 26-27ANGELS CAMP, CALIFORNIA: Show, Jump for the Gold; Calaveras Gem & Mineral Society; Calaveras County Fairground, 101 Frogtown Rd.; Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4; adults $4, children 12 and under free with paying adult; exhibits, demonstrations, kids activities, silent auction, sales, raffle, door prizes, dealers, fossils, jewelry, meteorites, books, lapidary supplies, slabs, gems, beads; contact Tak Iwata, 18310 Coyote Meadow Rd., Sonora, CA 95370, (209) 928-5579; e-mail: Tak2me@msn.com ; Web site: www.calaverasgemandmineral.org APR 9-10ABILENE, TEXAS: Show and sale; Central Texas Gem & Mineral Society; Abilene Civic Center, 1100 N. 6th; Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5; adults $3, children $1.50; geode cracking, fossils, minerals, gems, jewelry, lapidary demonstrations, findings, beads, tools, supplies, rough; contact Betty Scarborough, 422 CR 606, Tuscola, TX 79562, (325) 668-2374; e-mail: waltswife1029@yahoo.com ; Web site: www.txol.net/rockclub APR 15-17ALPINE, TEXAS: Show, Alpine Agate Festival; Chihuahuan Desert Gem & Mineral Club; Alpine Civic Center, Hwy. 90W and 13th St. N; Fri. 9-6, Sat. 9-6, Sun. 11-5; free admission; South Central Federation convention, grand prize, door prizes, silent auctions, field trips, kids corner, demo dealers; contact Mary Brogan, P.O. Box 1111, Alpine, TX 79831, (432) 386-2340; e-mail: marybrogan@rocketmail.com ; Web site: www.cdgmc.org MAY 6-8McPHERSON, KANSAS: 19th annual sale and swap; McPherson Gem & Mineral Club; McPherson 4-H Bldg., 710 W. Woodside; Fri. 9-7, Sat. 9-6, Sun. 10:30-3; free admission; buy or swap, rocks, gems, minerals, fossils, jewelry, door prizes, displays, collections, free rock identification, fluorescent mineral exhibit, kids spin-and-win; contact Jim Nutter, 1611 Jody Ln., McPherson, KS 67460, (620) 241-2433; e-mail: mcphersongemmineral@hotmail.com MAY 30-1LUBBOCK, TEXAS: 53rd annual gem and mineral show; Lubbock Gem & Mineral Society; Lubbock Memorial Civic Center, 1501 Mac Davis Ln.; Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5; adults (13+) $4, seniors (65+) $3, ages 6-12 $2, under 6 free with adult; wire-wrapped stones, precious stones, jewelry, minerals, fossils, rough rock, dealers, demonstrators, exhibits, hourly door prizes, silent auction, grand prizes; contact Archie Scott, 2709 Belvedere Rd., Levelland, TX 79336, (806) 894-1584; e-mail: archie.scott73@yahoo.com JUNE 24-26COLORADO SPRINGS, CO : 2011 RMFMS CONVENTION & Show hosted by the CO. Springs Mineralogical Society; Contact Gene Maggard RMFMS Chair gandpmaggard@wildblue.net or Ron Yamiolkoski, CSMS Chair yamofthewest@gmail.com For further information or shows please check: www.rockngem.com Who knows, there just might be a good rock show in the area of your travels.

Ponderism for the Day:

If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?

Letters to the Editor: I think that this beautiful sunrise was accompanied this morning by about 28F in my little camping unit. I think that one of my toes fell off and is still back at Hachita being fought over by a couple of timber wolves! I had to get the Jeep on the road just to warm my core back up - which happened about the time I hit Love's truck stop. I actually wore BOTH stocking hats and I had three sweaters on. Should have brought my ski gear! Fun trip, but next time I'll go properly-equipped. Brecken Uhl 02/21/11 Some Interesting Web Sites for you to Check Out
think others might be interested in and I will pass them along.. Please send me any of your favorites that you

www.azgs.az.gov/minerals-gold.shtml A gold site from the geological dept. of Arizona

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Gemcrafters & Explorers Club, P.O. Box 3091, Las Cruces, NM 88003
Member of: American Federation of Mineralogical Societies Rocky Mountain Federation of Mineralogical Societies Blue Ribbon Coalition www.amfed.org www.rmfms.org www.sharetrails.org

2011 OFFICERS & volunteers:

President Vice President Treasurer Secretary Refreshments Historian Program Director Newsletter EditorKathy Fuller Al Spencer Pat Grace Brenda Gadberry Pat Mauer Don Saathoff Eric Fuller Maxine Wyman 534-0204 405-1939 202-2862 202-0200 526-4939 382-3464 524-0204 649-4900 truthfinderpoly@gmail.com alzpaiz@yahoo.com patricia.j.grace@us.army.mil brendagadberry@comcast.net patricia.pat.mauer8@gmail.com auagte2@comcast.net ghosthiker@gmail.com gambrisina@gmail.com

We meet on the third Friday of the month at Gardiner Hall, Room 118, NMSU campus, Las Cruces, NM at 6:30 pm for social and 7 pm for the meeting. There are no meetings in July and December. Dues are $10 per person per year and each additional family member is $2 per year. They are due Jan. 1st of each year. A membership form will be emailed or mailed to you in December to be filled out and returned with your check BY MAIL to the treasurer.

Our purpose shall be to gather knowledge and provide educational benefits to members on geological, archaeological, lapidary, and mineralogical topics of interest, to include assistance to members in all lapidary problems, the study and identification of minerals and gem stones in the rough, the field study of geological formations which produce minerals and gem stones, the collection of minerals and gemstones, and the exploration of any geological or archaeological topic or area which may be of interest to the membership.

NOTE: All articles and photographs are by the Editor Maxine Wyman unless otherwise noted. Any address or email changes must be sent to me at: gambrisina@gmail.com

Info for the Newsletter:

If you have information, articles, pictures or a website related to gem crafting, rock collecting or exploring and would like to share please give me a call at 649-4900 or email me at gambrisina@gmail.com If you have a good idea or story to tell I will be more than happy to help you write it up. Also if you have minerals, outdoor or camping equipment, etc. that you would like to sell please let me know for our FREE "Classifieds." Maxine Wyman, Editor