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Hints and Tips
Denim: Did you know that denim iron-on patches make excellent polishing disks? They win adhere to surfaces when ordinary glues will not Obtain the largest ones you can fit to your wheel disks and cut to fit.
Source: Rock Writing, 5/2006, via Blue Agate News, 2/08Same Size Cabs: Need two cabs of exactly the same size? Glue two slabs together with paper between them. Cut to size. Separate by soaking in water.
Source: Rockhound Rambling, 1~, via Blue AgateNews, 2!08To polish silver: Its amazingly simple! I usually use a
pyrex (glass) dish and line it with aluminum foil, because then I can either toss out or recycle the foil. An aluminum pan would work as well... or even better. I wouldn't use it for cooking later, though. Fill the container with hot water and toss in about Y4 cup of baking soda. Stir to dissolve and place yo u r silver pieces in the bath, in contact with the aluminum. Leave it for awhile, then pull the pieces out and rinse. Ta-da! Seems overly simple, but irs reasonably effective and totally harmless to people and the environment.
Source: The Rockorder ,10102, via Blue Agate News, 2/08Working Turquoise: In shaping turquoise, it is advisable to use only the 220 wheel rather than the coarser ones. The 100 grit wheel will take desirable material from such a soft stone. Some of the more friable and chalky types of turquoise are difficult to polish with cerium or tin oxide; by a mus/in buff with stick rouge. Since it is such a porous stone, oil may discolor it, so try sawing with a water coolant after soaking overnight in water. This helps prevent breaking .
From The pegmatite 12181 via Blue Agate News 03108Cabochon Storage: Keep polished cabochons in photo-slide protector pages. The pages fit in a 3-ring binder and each page has 20 individual pockets. The cabs are easily visible, but are protected. Coin collector sheets also work well.
From Rock Chips O!ilD4 via Strata Gems 02108Fossil Preservation: After cleaning, paint the fossil with diluted Elmer's glue (1/2 water). It dries fast and makes the fossil look sharp and clean. Because it is water soluble, it can also b washed off with water. From Chips & nps via Del Air Bulletin 03108
(AB the above hints are from Strata Gems, May and June 2010)
Same Size Cabs: Need two cabs of exactly the same size? Glue two slabs together with paper between them. Cut to size. Separate by soaking in water.
Source: Rockhound Rambling, 1~, via Blue Agate News, 2!08 -
What Are Minerals?
Minerals are defined as naturally occurring solid substances made of a regular, repeating arrangement of atoms and molecules. A mineral represents a highly ordered atomic arrangement and is formed by inorganic processes. Mineral deposits are located mostly in rock, unless they are moved from their point of origin to some other location by wind, rain or some other natural event. There are 92 types of naturally occurring atoms, which are called chemical elements.
These elements combine in various ways to make over 3,500 known minerals. However, only twelve elements, and fewer than one hundred minerals are relatively abundant. The eight most abundant elements in order of decreasing abundance are:
oxygen, silicon, aluminum, iron magnesium, calcium, sodium, and potassium. Scarce elements like copper and gold occur in rare minerals and are, therefore, valuable.
Minerals are grouped by their chemical composition. The six following common mineral groups consist of pure elements and one of the six respective compounds: metal and oxygen (oxides); silicon and oxygen (silicates); carbon and oxygen (carbonates); metals and sulfur (sulfides); sulfur and oxygen (sulfates); and fluorine chlorine or bromine (halides).
Minerals can also be grouped by their crystal shapes. There are six basic geometrical ways atoms and molecules are arranged in a crystal. These six arrangements are called the
six crystal systems. Minerals belonging to the same crystal system not only have similar outward appearances but also share similar properties.
Some minerals are very colorful, making them attractive to collectors. Of these, many are fragile and can fall apart or turn into powder once they are removed from their natural environment. Atmospheric gases of cities, higher humidity, or a drier climate can cause minerals to significantly change in color, structure and form.
Other minerals can fluoresce, or glow in the dark, when ultraviolet light strikes them. A very plain looking rock can contain minerals that show beautiful colors of red, yellow, orange, or blue when placed under an ultraviolet light. Good examples to try are diamonds, gypsum, fluorite, scapolite, calcite, or amber.
Source: The Milling Industry and Minerals, published by National Energy Foundation, 1992, revised May 1994, Via Rockhound Ramblings, September 2007 -
Mohs Scale
1. Talc -Hardness 1-2 can be scratched by a fingernail.
2. Gypsum -Hardness 2-3 can be scratched by a
copper coin.
3. Calcite -Hardness ~ can be scratched by a steel
pocket knife.
4. Fluorite
5. Apatite
6. Orthoclase- Hardness 6-7 will not scratch glass.
7. Quartz
8. Topaz -Hardness 8--10 will scratch glass.
9. Corundum
10. Diamond
The Mohs scale is a standard of 10 minerals by which the hardness of a mineral is rated. It was introduced in 1812 by the German mineralogist Friedrich Mohs (1773-1839). The minerals are arranged from softest to hardest Harder minerals, with higher numbers, can scratch those with a lower number.
Diamond is the ultimate gemstone, having few weaknesses and many strengths. It is well known that Diamond is the hardest substance found in nature, but few people realize that Diamond is four times harder than the next hardest natural mineral, corundum (sapphire and ruby).
But even as hard as it is, it is not impervious. Diamond has four directions of cleavage, meaning that if it receives a sharp blow in one of these directions it wiD cleave, or split A skilled diamond setter and/or jeweler wiU prevent any of these directions from being in a position to be struck while mounted in a jewelry piece.
As a g e m s t o n e , Diamond's single flaw ( perfect cleavage) is far outdistanced by the sum of its positive qualities. It has a broad color range, high refraction high dispersion or fire, very low reactivity to chemicals, raritY, and of course, extreme hardness and durability.
Diamond is a polymorph of the element carbon. G r a p h i t e is another polymorph. The two share the same chemistry, carbon, but have very different structures and properties. Diamond is hard, Graphite is soft (the "lead" of a pencil). Diamond is an excellent electrical insulator, Graphite is a good conductor of electricity.
Diamond is the ultimate abrasive, Graphite is a very good lubricant. Diamond is transparent, Graphite ispaque. Diamond crystallizes in the Isometric system and graphite crystallizes in the hexagonal system. Somewhat of a surprise is that at surface temperatures and pressures, Graphite is the stable form of carbon. In fact, all diamonds at or near the surface of the Earth are currentfy undergoing a transformation into Graphite. This reaction, fortunately, is extremely slow.
From
www .aalleries. com/minerals/elementskliamond/diamond. htrn
via Strata Gem JunelJuly 2010
Mohs Scale -
Are You a New Rockhound?
What to do? -Have you decided yet? If you're a new rockhound you may be confused by the many phases of our hobby. Do you wonder just, which Earth Science suits you best? Perhaps a little vocational guidance will help you make up your mind...
THE HOARDER:
Are you a hoarder at heart? Are your closet" attic and basement bulging at the seams with things you just can't bear to part with? If the answer is yes, I suggest you become a MINERAL COLLECTOR. WARNING-be sure you have at least one empty room before you start, because you won't be able to part with any of your collection and it will grow at an alarming speed.) if you are an apartment dweller, try collecting miniatures, and if your hacienda has only one room to hang your hat, micromounts are the thing for you. If you have a pack-rat personality, you can enjoy collecting beautiful minerals and crystals no matter how limited your space.
THE PERFECTIONIST:
Are you a perfectionist? Do you admire the perfect shape and beautiful color? If so, you're a born LAPIDARY. No lop-sided cabochons for you! They will all come out with perfect contours and you can be sure your cab, will have a mirror-like polish every tjrne.
UKENUMBERS?
Are you good at mathematics? Do you have the touch of a gentle breeze? May I suggest you try FACETING? This is one hobby where, a mind with a mathematical flair can whiz through a set of angles that would baffle a lesser genius. The results are probably more spectacular than of any other 'facets' of our hobby.
HOW ABOUT VARIETY?
Do you find it hard to stick to one thing for very long? May I suggest NOVEL TIES? You can try polishing flats and then use them for pen bases Try cab, and if you tire of them, make a picture out of them. Try a sphere and if you never get beyond the pre-form stage, make it into a paperweight.Do you think leftovers taste better than the original dish? Then I suggest TUMBLING for you. Just pick up all the leftover rocks around the house and put them into the tumbler. You'll be surprised what comes out!
OR, are you like a child on Christmas morning? For you, I suggest FLUORESCENTS. Each time you look over your collection, you will recapture the beauty of a lighted Christmas tree.
Do you keep a diary? Are you fascinated by history and the records of past life on this planet? You are the one to collect FOSSILS. You will find a wonderful pastime and sermons in bones, collecting the remains of these past earthlings.
Seriously, there are so many avenues to explore in the earth sciences. In addition, there's CARVING, JEWELRY MAKING and WEEKEND FIELD TRIPS, all worth a try! You would be wise to investigate them all until you find one (or several) that suits you best
HAYE FUN AND GOOD LUCK!
\
From ESCOMO, 11/87; via The Rock-lt, 10/09 Via The Rock Collector November, 2009
Via Strata Gems, May 2010 -
Building A Mineral Collection
by David F. English
When I choose a mineral specimen, either when I am trading or when I am buying, I find the following ideas give me a feeling of success.
First, I try to buy specimens that are not damaged. What is "damage"? Look for chips and places where the mineral has been banged up. Look allover the specimen. If the damage is hidden on the back of the specimen, it may not be a big deal. But, if the damage is on a crystal face or edge that is right in front, you may want to choose a different one.
Second, remember that this is your collection. The goal is to choose the specimen that looks good to you. This is Y.Q!:!!: collection. Collect the minerals that you enjoy. What looks good to you may not look great to another collector. That doesn't matter. What matters is that you are happy with your choice.
Third, you will have to learn by reading and by experience. The more you know about minerals, the more you will be able to identify a higher quality specimen. I find that a high price does not always mean the specimen is better. One year I saw magnetite crystals for $30 on one table, and larger, better crystals for $10 on another! Study mineral books, visit shows, go to mineral museums. ThC'.-='fure you see and learn, the more expert you will become.
Good luck building your collection. I hope you will find it to be a rewarding experience.
From the 7/07 Mini Miners Monthly via Pick & Pack, 7/07
The same specimen with damage (right). -
Swarf And How to Tame It.
Swart is that milky liquid you get when you cut cabochons or facet stones. Although it appears to be harmless, swart can be deadly to your plumbing system and lapidary equipment if not handled properly.
When you grind rocks to make cabochons or faceted stones, you're removing tiny bits of the rock and carrying them away from your work with water. When the water evaporates, the tiny rock bits are left behind as a sort of concrete gunk. Over time, this gunk will harden like concrete.
So how do you tame the swart? Never, never, ever, dispose of your swart in your plumbing system. Don't pour it down a sink or toilet because eventually that gunk will harden and eventually narrow your pipes. Because it's concrete-like when hardened, it will be almost impossible to remove! Instead, take your swart outside to a non-important part of your garden and dump it there -or if there is no garden handy, allow the swart to settle in the bottom of a bucket for a day or
two, then carefully pour off the now clear water, and scoop out the swart, put it in a plastic bag and toss it in the trash.
From Gem Cutters News, Nov 1984 via AFMS Newsletter, Oct 2007 -
BEASTS OF BURDEN
Three animals are outstanding examples of the Beast of Burden class: the mule, the camel, and the simple-minded rockhound.The mule is smart -put one pound more than his usual load on him, and he simply balks until it is removed.
The camel is even more decided in his ideas -try overloading him and he'll stay in the sand, and if you persist, will spit his cud at you.
But that simple-minded rockhound? He takes 15 to 20 pounds of equipment in with him, then tries to load on about 50 to 60 pounds of rock and carry it back to the car on the road. Does this sound familiar to anyone?
Via Quarry Quips 9/10, via BEMS Tumbler 7/10, via Conglomerate, 3/09; via The Rockpile, 2/09; from The TTown Rockhound, 11/08, via Rocky Mountain News, 10/10 -
ARE DIAMONDS FOREVER?
Diamond is the hardest substance known, but diamonds are not indestructible. Throughout history, people have confused hardness and toughness. One old belief was that if you placed a diamond on an anvil and struck it with a hammer, the hammer and anvil would shatter. Actually, hardness is the resistance to scratching while toughness is the resistance to breaking. Hardness and toughness are both related to crystal structure. It is impossible to scratch a diamond, but diamonds can be chipped or broken. Occasionally diamonds break during cutting or setting. They may also break or chip if they are knocked against a hard object. Diamonds are considered very durable gems; some have recorded histories spanning centuries. At various times in the past, gem traders have reportedly used the hammer and anvil myth to dupe miners. When offered diamonds, the traders were said to have shattered the stone to demonstrate that they were not diamonds. After the disappointed miners left, the traders picked up the pieces and sold them. Even to this day the confusion between hardness and toughness continues; many people cannot understand why their diamond broke when they dropped it down the garbage disposal or when a stone is struck a hard blow. Diamonds should always be checked for damage after they have hit against a hard object. A damaged diamond can be repaired by re-cutting the stone.
Ret:. BEMS Tumbler 3106; via The Quany, 6-7/00; via
The Rock collector, 5100; via The Cowtown Cutter, 4/00;
from The Rock Rattler, 6192, via Golden Spike News, 09/10 -
Ant Hills And Animal Burrows
(Author Unknown) SCFMS Newslette
One of the least know methods of finding mineral specimens is also one of the easiest, and many times one of the most productive. It consists of inspecting and testing the material that ants and other animal life bring to the
surface of the earth. Ants, gophers, prairie dogs, moles, etc. , are very busy miners, and they move a tremendous amount of dirt and rock to the surface. Some ants, for example, tunnel to the depth of fifteen feet, and a single ant nest can consist of a labyrinth of tunnels and passages and rooms going to a depth of fifteen feet and spread over more than an acre. Some excellent gemstones have been found in anthills, especially red gemstones.
Above from Gem City Rock News 11199, via The Stone Chipper07/03 Via Golden Spike News June 2010, via Strata Gem 10/10 -
The f uture of Our Collections by Jeff Self and Donna Ware
Friends of Mineralogy Colorado Chapter Preservation Committee One of the most overlooked, even ignored, aspects of mineral collecting is what happens to our collections after we are gone. What to us is a treasure to be studied, admired, even gloated over may be perceived by our heirs or the executor of our estates as no more than annoying dusty rocks, taking up space and cluttering up the place. We need to be aware that we are custodians for our collections and plan ahead for their future. We have personally climbed into dumpsters to rescue collections destined for the nearest landfill. These pieces were not thrown away out of spite but because they were seen as Granddad's (Grandma's) dusty boxes of rocks. Unfortunately Granddad had left no instructions for his family as to what to do with his collection. They had no idea of the value of the pieces, scientifically, financially or otherwise. The specimens had no labels with them to identify them or show where they came from. To the uninitiated they were only clutter to be disposed of. One of the first points to be considered to help protect our pieces is labeling. A well labeled specimen is less likely to be thrown out and is far more valuable than an unlabeled one. On the back of the label you might want to write how much the piece cost and the date of purchase. This makes it easier for others to realize these pieces should be dealt with appropriately. For self collected pieces an approximate value should be recorded as well. The next step to be considered is the disposition of the collection. What happens to our treasures when we are gone? If you leave the collection to a museum there are several things to consider. Museums do not have a lot of space to store material. They tend to take the pieces they are most interested in and dispose of the rest. If a museum is to inherit the collection be sure to give them permission to do with it as they see fit. That way they can add the appropriate pieces to their collection then sell the rest in their gift shop and/or trade for specimens they are attempting to acquire. This enriches and improves the museum. Be sure to talk to the curator of minerals at your museum of interest and see if they would be amenable to this. Many of your more common specimens can be given to schools to help educate children about minerals. Small quartz crystals, feldspars, -The Future of Our Collections calcites, etc., are always needed by schools. The U.S. Geological Survey often has need of just such pieces that they give out in teacher kits. Also many mineral clubs make Grab Bags for kids and they are always looking for more small pieces. Another thing to consider is family and friends. Is there anyone you would like to have "caretake" any of your pieces? Give this a great deal of thought. Some people may seem like they would be good candidates but they may only be saying what you wish to hear. Do they truly love the minerals or do they just love you and will say anything you wish to hear. "Gee these rocks are really neat". Another issue is the matter of perceived value. We once were asked to evaluate some pieces from an estate that a nephew was wanting for himself. The rest of the I family wanted anything he got to be taken out of his share of the estate. They believed the pieces he wanted must be incredibly valuable. The true value was far below the "wow" price. If the pieces had purchase prices on the back of the labels it would have saved everyone involved a lot of heartache. Do not forget anyone you may have been working with when you found some of the specimens. (self collected). Be sure any and all bequests are mentioned in Ithe will. A verbal agreement may not be enough. Another option is to leave instructions to sell the collection (or part of it) to a reputable mineral dealer. Many Idealers do buy collections. Consider leaving a list of mineral dealers who may be interested in your collection. i Mineral dealers do have to make a profit so the price offered will be quite a bit below the full retail value. But this does tend to deal with the entire collection in one fairly painless transaction. Or you can deal with part or all of the collection while you are still around. While this may not be an option for some due to the unhappiness not having the pieces would cause, this may be the simplest solution. You would get to enjoy the look on the faces of your friends and family when you give them the piece or pieces you wish them to have. You can give pieces to a museum and enjoy the pride of having given to them. There is also the possibility of selling the collection yourself. Possibly by setting up as a mineral dealer. However the cost of doing shows can be prohibitive, a large investment in time and money. Sale to a mineral dealer may still be the best option. You might be able to take that money and have the vacation you always wanted. These points are applicable to more than just minerals. Anything we collect should be considered as well: Books, antiques, mining memorabilia, family heirlooms, etc. Anything we care for and enjoy should have some thought put into its disposition. from Colorado Mineral Society -Mineral Minutes, August 2010 -
Cleaning Mineral
Specimens
Mineral Specimens may be poisonous under certain
conditions or when mixed with cleaners. Never heat
cinnabar or stibnite. They produce poisonous gases.
When in doubt about how to clean a mineral specimen
always consult a professional.
Here is a list of rules to use when cleaning with chemicals:
.Use chemicals that are clearly labeled and store chemicals that are clearly labeled.
.Keep a large container of clear water handy to
wash off any chemical spills.
.ALWAYS wear safety goggles & rubber gloves. .Don't work alone.
.Avoid splattering-
.Never pour water into acid, always add acid to
water.
.Keep an ample supply of baking soda handy for
acid spills-
.Keep an ample supply of vinegar for alkali spills. .Rinse specimens well.
Remember some minerals are damaged by chemicals or can be dissolved by liquids. Some methods may work on one type of mineral and not on another.
Now to cleaning...
I always start with dish soap and warm water. If that doesn't work then I use other chemicals. You can use oxalic acid to clean iron stains from minerals such as
Tips
quartz. Use it 1 cup oxalic granular to 1 gallon of water. It works best when warm. The hotter it is the better it works. This is also true of its fumes and vapors! Do not breathe the vapors. Hydrofluoric acid is the strongest acid there is. Do not use this unless you know what you are doing. It can cause serious injury or death. Hydrochloric acid can be used to dissolve carbonate minerals and deposits. A 5% to 10% solution is more than enough to do the job. The fumes from this acid can cause pneumonia, care should be taken when using it. Always make sure you have adequate ventilation.
One of my favorite chemicals to clean with is Lime- a-way@ or CLR@. They remove oxidation from most minerals include pyrite, arsenopyrite, & galena. You can use them straight from the bottle on a very soft cloth. To clean oxidation off of native metals copper or silver) the best thing to use is a copper or silver polish and a soft cloth. I once used a bottle of nitric acid to clean a large copper specimen and could not get the last little bit of oxidation off and a good friend (who happens to be a chemist) suggested a good copper polish. It worked better than the nitric acid. Nitric acid will clean copper well, but should be used with great care as the fumes become nitric gas and can overpower a person very fast. Even small amounts can cause pneumonia. Always do a test run in an inconspicuous place first.
Here are some specific ways to clean certain minerals: .Barite can be cleaned w~ strong solution of
hydrochloric acid (30%).
.For pyrite or marcasite, use oxalic acid, hydrochloric acid, Lime-away @ or CLR@.
.For the following you can try any acid except hydrofluoric acid: quartz, feldspar, labradorite, hornblende, tourmaline, & tremolite or any silicate mineral.
.Water soluble minerals, like the salts and sulfur,
use only ethyl alcohol to clean.
.Ammonia or bleach can be used to clean lichens
or algae off.
Soaking any mineral in any solution can cause the
luster to disappear. When soaking a specimen, do it for only a few seconds at a time until you see how fast it is coming clean. Some minerals may require a few seconds to weeks in an acid.
(Disclaimer: Information is provided as a guide only. Please follow instructions of any cleaning product you
use, as well as common sense!)
Reprinted from www.rocks4u.com
via Sedonia Red Rocking News, Jan 2010
Via Quarry Quips July 2010 Via Strata Gem 10/10 -
A Mineral That Was As Good As Goid
Once upon a time, a mineral we now consider common was "worth it's weight in gold" -literally! That mineral is halite, more commonly known as salt. NaCI. It is a critical nutrient to all animal life, including humans. In fact, it is so important to survival that one of our four tastes was developed to detect it. (We can actually taste only four things: sweet, sour, bitter, and salty. Flavor, what we usually think of as "taste," is actually a combination of taste and aroma, i.e. , what we smell. ) The phrase "not worth his salt" comes from the ancient Greeks, when salt was used to pay for slaves. Roman soldiers were sometimes paid in salt. In fact, our word for monetary payment for work, "salary," comes from the Latin for salt-sal. Our word "salad" (from the Latin "s~" meaning "salted") comes from the Roman habit of salting their fresh greens. Today, many town names reflect their origins as sites of ancient or medieval salt mines or saltsprings. "Wich" or "wytch" is the Old English word for "brine well" (what we now call a salt springs) and is seen in names like Northwich and Middlewich. The German word for salt, "salz," appears in Salsburg ("salt city"), a large city located on the Salzach (meaning "saltwater" or "brine") River.
As with many precious materials, ancient lore grew around salt. It was so precious that the spilling of salt was deemed by the ancient Romans to be the work of the Devil. Salt thrown over the left shoulder (where evil lurks) was believed to drive the Devil away.
By Homer Eshbaugh, Random Facts Curator,
From Mwf News 11/08, Via Rocky Reader 12/08, Via Strata Gem 09/10 -
Rockhounding from a Different Perspective
BEASTS OF BURDEN
Three animals are outstanding examples of the Beast of Burden class: the mule, the camel, and the simple-minded rockhound. The mule is smart -put one pound more than his usual load on him, and he simply balks until it is removed.
The camel is even more decided in his ideas -try overloading him and he'll stay in the sand, and if you persist, will spit his cud at you.
But that simple-minded rockhound? He takes 15 to 20 pounds of equipment in with him, then tries to load on about 50 to 60 pounds of rock and carry it back to the car on the road. Does this sound familiar to anyone?
Via Quarry Quips 9/10, via BEMS Tumbler 7/10, via Conglomerate, 3/09; via The Rockpile, 2/09; from The TTown Rockhound, 11/08, via Rocky Mountain News, 10/10
Goblins Up Close
Goblin Valley, UT
Photo by Diane Bruce -
Cutting Geodes
When sawing geodes, look for a dome. The dome is on top when forming, so sawing through it will most likely give the best picture. If the geode is elongated, saw along the longest length for the best picture.
from: Chips n Splinters 9-09 via Facets 09-10 -
Rockhound Surprise
by Kim Mayer November 1999 The Coral Geode
Since the beginning of time until present day Earth's inhabited creatures have left something to convey. From ocean to ocean and sea to sea Mysterious treasures are waiting for thee Beneath mountains, valley, deserts, and streams Treasures are formed beneath and between In rivers and flatlands and muddy terrain Are the mysteries of minerals and answers to gain Minerals, fossils and crystals are formed and made into jewelry for all to adorn Then wrestle with Mother Nature to get the job done Sure is a lot of work, but also a 'ot of fun. In places where treasures are waiting to be found May take long hours of digging deep underground History unfolds right before our eyes When someone finds a Rockhound Surprise!
Via Strata Gem 10/09
-
Old Miner's Rule
While a miner's tools, equipment and personal belongings remain in or next to a digging, that is his until he relinquishes it either by removing said property or announcing that he is finis~ed digging in that area. Furthermore, specimens or rocks cached on or near said personal property are also the property of the miner and shall not be touched or removed without his expressed permission. Every Rockhound should obey this rule.
-from Geode Strata Data, 9/05 via Strata Gem 10/09
-
a nice Herkimer
900 × 675 - 146k - jpggeology.comI regularly have people come into our store and talk about the great deal they got on Herkimer diamonds or some other special named diamond. It is a shame that some dealers or individuals try to take advantage of someone by telling them they are buying a diamond I hope this article will help people understand a little bit about stones that are referred to as diamonds but are not.
Diamond Wrongs
by Dr. Bill Cordua, St. Croix Rockhounds From: St. Croix Rockhound's Leaverite News, 5108 (6111 Place -AFMS Original Adult Articles Advanced)Recently a student of mine, who had been looking for a gift for his girlfriend, asked me if Herkimer "diamonds" were particularly good diamonds. After explaining to him that Herkimer "diamonds" were really quartz, I began thinking about all the things rockhounds and jewelers call diamonds that are really diamond- wrongs. Sometimes this is an innocent practice (as in Herkimer "diamonds"), but it can be meant to mislead shoppers. In all cases it creates confusion and is sloppy nomenclature. Here are some of the diamond "wrongs" I have found online and what they REALL y are. Caveat emptor! Herkimer diamonds are quartz crystals found in vugs in dolostone in central New York. They are often sharply terminated, water clear, and sparkly against the gray dolostone or black bitumen matrix, but they aren't diamonds. Little Falls "diamonds" and Middleville "diamonds" are synonyms, named after several towns in the collecting area -obfuscation taken to the second level of confusion. "
Other clear quartz rock crystals that have been called diamonds are Alencon "diamonds," Cape
May "diamonds" Hawaiian "diamonds", Pecos "diamonds”, Colorado "diamonds" can refer to smoky quartz. Herradura "diamonds," Mexican "diamonds," and on and on.I had heard of Cape May "diamonds" when I was a kid. They refer to rounded pebbles of clear to white quartz picked up along the beaches around Cape May, New Jersey. Their source was the crystalline rocks in the upper reaches of the Delaware River. River and wave transport have rounded and sculpted them, making them popular among east coast beachcombers.
Pecos "diamonds" come from outcrops along the Pecos River in southeastern New Mexico, not far from Roswell. They often have a unique orange color and are associated with cavities in gypsum- bearing limestone and dolostone. But, pretty as these are, they aren't diamonds.
Radium "diamond" is also smoky quartz. Since quartz can be made smoky artificially by exposure to radiation, some of these specimens may not only be misnamed but also faked.
Alaskan "diamond" is similarly a type of quartz rock crystal, unless you find Alaskan "black diamond," which is polished hematite. Yes, it sparkles, but iron oxide is hardly the same as pure carbon. The Russians taught the native Aleuts how to cut and polish this material, which was highly thought of enough to serve as royal gifts. These are beautiful enough in their own right that one wonders what was necessary to give it a gaudy name. In addition, there is a Nevada "black diamond," but that is obsidian, a volcanic glass. Of course there is a real black diamond -a bizarre form also called carbonado, which may be extraterrestrial in origin.
Matura "diamond" refers to colorless zircon, which is found in the gem gravels of Sri Lanka. Zircon does have a adamantine luster, so clear varieties tend to resemble diamonds in their brilliance. However, they do have inferior hardness and are zirconium silicate, not carbon. Be also aware the zircon is not the same as cubic zirconium, an artificial product often used as an inexpensive diamond substitute.
Mogok "diamond," Saxon "diamond," Killicrankie "diamond," and Flinder's "diamond" are white topaz. Killiecrankie is on Flinder's Island off Tasmania, so the last three terms refer to the same thing. These are topaz from granite that have been worn loose and turn up in beach gravels. Topaz is a had, lustrous mineral to be sure, but these rank on an 8 on the Mohs scale -not 10 -and are not as rare. They also lack the brilliance of diamond's luster.
Here are some good online references about misleading mineral names:
httD:llwww .aemscaDe .com/html/misnomer .htm httR :llwww .iewelinfo4u .com/bewareofmisleadinggems tonenames.aspxfrom :Strata Gem 3110 via Bulletin of the Mineralogical Society of Southern California 1110
-
The Rockhound's Creed
Here take a lot of rocks, he said.
And all too gladly I was led
Where piles of rocks, a treasure
store Of agates, nodules, quartz,
and more
Were waiting for the cutter's wheel
To fashion them with felt and steel.
So fill your sack, I like to start Just
such as you in the cutting art:
And think not I am over kind,
For there are many who you find
Will gladly share and gladly show
The tricks of trade that you should know.
One thing we pass on -don't forget,
The more you give, the more you get.Via Rhymes of the Rockhounds
by Charles G. Schweitzer -
New Dinosaur Species Found in Utah
The fossilized bones of a creature the early Navajo call the "sand desert monster" have been confirmed as those of a new species of plant-eating dinosaur that scientists say roamed the red rock cliffs of southeastern Utah some 185 million years ago.
Seitaad ruessi (SAY-eet-AWD ROO-ess-EYE) is a rare and important find because of where it was found and because it fills a genealogical gap in the family history of the giant, long-necked, herbivorous sauropod dinosaurs that populated the later Jurassic, according to a report in PloS ONE, the online open- access journal of the Public Library 9-f Science.
Joseph Sertich, a former University of Utah master's degree student, and Mark Loewen, a paleontologist at the Utah Museum of Natural History, report that Seitaad ruessi is a much smaller, much earlier member of the sauropodomorphs family that evolved into the giant and abundant herbivores that are well-documented elsewhere in Utah.
The animal had a body a little larger than a modern rangeland sheep but had a very long neck and tail and leaf-shaped teeth. It could walk on its hind legs as well as on all fours, Loewen said.
"We know from geologic evidence that seasonal rainstorms like today's summer monsoons in the tropics provided much of the moisture in what was a sand sea, filling ponds and other low spots between the dunes and providing plants the dinosaur lived on," Loewen said.
The mostly intact skeleton was discovered in 2004 by Joe Pachak, a local historian and artist, while hiking in the Comb Ridge area near Bluff. Prior to that, the sandstone had revealed only some footprints, a few fossil remains of relatively small animals, including a carnivorous dinosaur; crocodile relatives; and proto- mammals called tritylodonts. Seitaad was likely the largest herbivore during that time period, according to the study report.
The dinosaur was apparently buried in a sand dune that collapsed around it. The Navajo legend of how the world was created includes a monster in the desert ("Seit'add") that swallowed its victims in sand dunes.
The missing parts of the skeleton, including the head, were lost to erosion during the past 1,000 years but were almost certainly visible to Native Americans living on the cliff just above where the fossilized remains were found, Lo ewe n said.
The "ruessi" in the name comes from another legend, a more modern one about a biped human poet and explorer "swallowed" int the same area in 1934 at age 20, but whose remains have never been found: Everett Ruess.
There is much more likely to be found in Navajo sandstone, the rock that covers major portions of Utah and is exposed throughout the Colorado Plateau.
From: Desert News, (www.deseretnews.com) March 24, 2010 -
I am not very good at being able to write what I am thinking or how best to say it. So I read a lot of articles, most are not worth passing on, but some are. You have seen such articles on past posts and you will see them on future posts. When I share these articles that are written by someone else I always give the name of the author and the source if known.
To Be or Not To Be??
By Virgil RichardsA dying hobby or a burgeoning trend? It seems like more and more people in this hobby are reluctant to take responsibility for the health and well-being of the hobby itself. Every month another collecting site is lost to progress, legislation, or ignorance. More and more it seems that individual collectors are seeing dollar signs instead of the aesthetic beauty of a specimen. It bothers me when a newbie rockhound asks: "How much is this worth?" When holding a new-found specimen.
Don't get me wrong folks; I'm not against selling specimens. For some collectors, it is the only way to sustain their hobby interest and to acquire new specimens for their collection. I'm not above selling a rock or two on occasion, depending on the rock, of course. I have pieces that can't be bought, and then there are those that I might very reluctantly part with for a price. Not because I want to make money from it, but because IF I'm going to let it go, it's going to cost you. And then there are those that I freely share with others. It's my last line of defense to not have to part with one of my cherished finds. This thinking doesn't necessarily apply to specimens that I may have acquired by other means, such as a purchased specimen; typically I may let it go for what I paid, as I'm not in this for profit.
That being said, I suppose it could be due to the fact that I get a certain sense of self-worth by adhering to my principles. I don't want to turn my hobby into a job if I can help it. That would lower the level of enjoyment I get from my pastime. I look around the house, and I see rocks that remind me of adventure, of camaraderie, of a particular event or even minor mishap that may have occurred on that collecting trip. They remind me that there is more to life than just work and obligations. It gives me something bigger to be a part of and contribute to.
The number of clubs have diminished over the past thirty- odd years that are affiliated with the Rocky Mountain Federation of Mineralogical Societies. Clubs that dedicate their activities to the hobby of rockhounding -the focus of this article. There are, of course, other societies devoted to Archeology, Anthropology, Paleontology, Mineralogy, and niche interests within them, not associated with our regional and national federations.
With decline in the number of clubs, so has the membership of clubs still operating. As the membership matures and moves on in these clubs, the pool of knowledge dwindles, and the willingness of members to volunteer their time and experience seems to dwindle as well.
In recent months, it seems at least a few of the clubs have been experiencing a boost in membership, some have even doubled their roster. The key to doing is activity. Classes, field trips, shows, programs, and demonstrations have helped to gain the interest of potential members and especially youth. These folks have a broad range of interests, and they are hungry for knowledge. Lapidary arts are becoming a point of interest for more individuals, and we all know the cost of good equipment is outrageously high these days. A casual interest in lapidary can quickly become a passion, and an expensive one. In today's economy folks can't afford new equipment and used equipment is getting harder to find at a reasonable price. A fully outfitted lapidary shop can cost anywhere between $10,000 and $30,000 or more to set up depending on an individual's interests. This can be a deterrent to a lot of potential members. One solution to this problem is a workshop where new members can try their hand at lapidary before selling their soul to the company store. Something every club should consider.Point: It takes a concerted and concentrated effort on the part of a few to afford opportunity to the many. Most clubs have a core group of people who will repeatedly volunteer their time and expertise, while the majority whistles and stares into space when volunteers are requested. Why most are reluctant to step up and contribute time and effort to keep their chosen hobby from slipping into oblivion is beyond me. Some have legitimate reasons, health, obligations, work, etc. While others are just along for the ride. The difference is reasons versus excuses. Anyone can have an excuse for not wanting to be involved at a higher level in an organization I could find excuses, but I choose to volunteer my time and knowledge for the benefit of the hobby, my local society, as well as state and regional organizations, and their individual members.
I hope that those reading this will take a moment and decide where they fit into this hobby. Everyone is good at something and has something they can contribute. I encourage you all, in fact, I CHALLENGE you to find an activity or position in which you can volunteer some time and give the core group a break.
Vigil G. Richards, Oklahoma State Director -RMFMS Rocky Mountain News, March 2010
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My Gem and Mineral club works very hard to try to keep the kids (or the young at heart) interested in the hobby of rock hunting. As soon as the weather is cooperative we start having field trips in trying to keep the interest up.
Here is an interesting article that was printed in our club news letter.
ROCKHOUNDING BOOKS FOR KIDS
by Jim Brace- Thompson, AFMS ChairDespite the Internet, where the answer to every question supposedly resides at the click of a button (or so the folks at Google or Microsoft would have us believe), good old-fashioned books still are a valuable and primary source of information and likely will be for a long time to come. A large number of books directed specifically to children and youth have been published on our hobby, but a problem is getting info on the variety of available books at one place to glean good titles to recommend to kids in your club.
A first stop ought to be your local library. Talk with the librarian at the reference desk to see what books, videos, and DVDs are on the shelves and available to borrow for free. You might work with the librarian to compile an annotated list that you could distribute to kids in your club and their parents, a list broken down by topics such as rocks and minerals, fossils, dinosaurs, field guides, lapidary arts and gemstones, etc. In addition to what's on their own shelves, most libraries have cooperative arrangements with other nearby libraries and, via online catalogs, can tell you about still more books you might be able to see through interlibrary loan. In promoting my own club's annual show last year, we set up a display in a lobby window case of the Ventura library and one of its branches, and the librarian on her own initiative set up a shelf and table of relevant books from their collection, and I was greatly impressed by the range.
You can also visit local bookstores and check out the kids, science and nature, guidebooks, and crafts sections. Bookstore managers might be willing to help you compile a list of available books in hopes of seeing some sales. In addition to general bookstores, check your yellow pages for specialty stores that cater to teachers. Such teacher supply stores are especially helpful in that the books they stock are usually activity- based and are labeled to indicate specific age and grade levels. Other good stops are the gift shops at natural history and science museums.
Finally, there are distributors who specialize in particular subjects and/or books just for kids. For instance, check out the web site of the Gem Guides Book Company (www.gemguidebooks.com/). They have a section labeled" Junior Rockhound" that groups nearly 30 titles from a variety of publishers of kids' books with topics ranging from rock and mineral identification to gold rush history, dinosaurs and fossils, volcanoes, gem stones, and more.
The best things about such kids' books are that they're written in clear language even I can understand and nearly always are filled with large colorful diagrams and suggestions for activities that make learning interesting and, of course, fun!
From AMFA Newsletter, February 2007 -
SHOP TIPS
A few tips from various sources.
Saw Coolant Temperature
One of the lesser known but more important facts about saw coolants is temperature. Coolants should be kept below 100°F. At higher temperature, the steel center in a diamond blade tends to expand, which causes the blade to bind in the cut or even become dished under extreme conditions. This not only slows down cutting but wears the blade much faster.
From MLMS Ghost Sheet 1987, via MOROKS, 03/09, via Strata Gem, 01/10
Salvaging Saw Coolant
When you need to clean the saw you can easily salvage almost all of the coolant. Place a couple of bricks on edge in the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket and then place a large size brown paper grocery bag on top of them.
Drain the clean oil into a separate bucket and then put the sludge and muck into the paper bag. It will take several days but the oil will seep thru the bag leaving clean oil in the bucket and all the sludge in the paper bag. The sludge is then much easier to dispose of.
Sharpening a Diamond Blade
Sometimes your blade will get to a point that it just bogs done and doesn't cut but still has diamond cutting rim area left. The diamond can get worn away by cutting at to fast of feed rate leaving bare metal exposed which of coarse won't cut. If you cut a common red brick or preferably an old carborundum wheel at a slow feed it will grind down the steel exposing the diamond again. Do this only for 4 or 5 minutes and check your blade. Hope this helps.
To identify and grind out pits in a cabochon, spray the rough cab with red enamel from an aerosol can. Then grind the paint off with a light touch. Pits and lines will stand out as bright red spots, making it unnecessary to wipe the cab constantly to see if the pits are out. This is especially helpful when grinding free-form cabs from fire agate.
Original source unknown, via The Nugget 09198 via Strata Gem 01/10
Doping
If the doping wax gets brittle from being reheated and cooled many times, add some shavings of wax from a candle to make it flow more easily
Do not overheat doping wax- it is weakened by excessive heat.
Use an old distributor cap to hold doped stones-depending on the cap you use, it can hold 5, 7, or 9 stones.
Curt Hays in Gem-Stone Diggings, 03198 ,
Super Fine Jewelry Cleaner
Mix together 114 cup white vinegar, 114 cup household ammonia, 118 cup dish detergent (NOT DISHWASHER detergent). Drop jewelry in. Rinse well and watch it shine. This is also good for copper bottom pans and silverware
from The Palomar Gem (date unknown) via Rockhound Rambling, 04/84 vas Strata Gem 01/10
Warning! Rock Pox Very contagious to both sexes
SYMPTOMS: Continual complaint as to the need for fresh air, sunshine, and relaxation. Patient has blank expression, sometimes inattentive to rest of family. Has no taste for work of any kind. Frequent checking of dealer's catalogs, lapidary and mineral shops longer than usual. Secret phone calls to rockhounding buddies is an apparent sign of the disease.
TREATMENT: Medication is useless. Disease is not fatal. Victim should go hunting as often as possible at the beach, mountain, or desert hunting grounds.
NOTE: If DAD and MOM both get it, they might as well sell the house and buy an RV!
taken from 01/09 Sedona Gem & Mineral Club letter. A reprinted warning from an old 1940's rock and mineral collecting magazine. Just as valid today, don't cha think?
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Shop Safety
Health and safety in the workshop
A note on a few safety reminders in your shop, lab, work room, basement, etc. These reminders may sound like I know all that but sometimes we need to run them threw our mind again.
As a rock hound sometimes the thing that I most look forward to the most is getting my "stuff' back to the house. I may have to use a pressure washer to blast off mud from my petrified wood, agate, jasper or what ever priceless pieces I have found, or maybe use some tools, be they hand or pneumatic, to chip off the tougher crust. Maybe if I'm lucky I found a good "round" of pet wood that I want to cut and polish. Ooooh, and I just found some beautiful agate and I don't know what I can do to that yet! What ever it is that I do there is almost always some inherent risk in the process. Below is a list of different hazards to consider in your shop..
Eye protection. As I mentioned above power washing is a good example of something a lot of us do that can potentially injure your eyes however certainly not the only thing. Almost every type of prep-work that wepractice necessitates eye protection: grinding, polishing, cutting, shipping, sand blasting, soldering, chemical cleaning, etc. Different types of eye protection should be used depending on your activities. For most of us protective glasses are good, however, goggles may need to be worn when using chemicals or when grinding certain materials. No matter how advanced modern medicine has become, glass eyes still don't look real.
Respiratory protection. Similar in some ways to eye protection respiratory protection can be very important when handling certain cleaning chemicals and when dealing with certain dusts. Asbestos is a common example of a respirator dust that although not inherently toxic can cause cancer, especially with smokers. Other dusts can temporarily clog breathing passages thus impacting, sometimes critically, the body's ability to get oxygen into the blood. Chemicals can be very bad, too, as the lungs can quickly introduce toxins into the blood. Grinding and polishing things like malachite or any kind of shell like abalone is very dangerous without a mask. Note some of the oils that we use in our cutting saws can be dangerous. Keep in mind that dust masks may not stop some dusts and certainly no airborne chemicals.
Chemical safety. The most common chemical accidents usually have something to do with the above mentioned issues and involve acids, soaps, other caustics and solvents. PLEASE READ the safety notes or MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) on all chemicals you may use. Some need to be used in areas where there is good ventilation, others require high-end respirators and still more may necessitate protective clothing. Not common in the shop, but you never know! Also, be aware of the potential danger of mixing chemicals and as a general rule don't do it. Most of us have probably heard that mixing chlorine and ammonia, two of our most common household chemicals is bad. Essentially the mixing of the two releases chlorine into your air -very bad.
Hearing protection. What? You didn't hear me the first time? Do you remember the pictures of all the trees blown down in the same direction after Mount St. Helens erupted? Loud noise does the same thing to the ear and much like the trees once the filia (hearing fibers) are damaged they don't stand themselves back up. If you are working with noisy equipment wear ear plugs or something like you would wear at the shooting range.
Ideally flammable liquids will be stored in a flammables storage cabinet. If you have a pretty good sized shop then one of these is a good investment. Be sure to have an adequate fire extinguisher at easy access. Hazards involving fire and electrical vary in type and risk level. Overloaded plugs can be a problem in shops. Keep in mind that just because a tool isn't turned on doesn't necessarily mean that electricity still isn't running through it. Fire and shock are both risks in this situation. It's safer to keep your equipment unplugged and properly stored when not in use.
For some general rules: Always wear eye protection. Keep your shops cleaned and well organized. Make sure electrical chords are in good condition. Keep reactive things away from each other, be they chemicals, electrical, fire hazards or combinations of each. Don't mix chemicals. Practice safety in your shop and enjoy your hobby.
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quamarine
Namibia: 'Gem War' Breaks Out in Erongo Mountains
Mohs scale hardness: 7.5-8
The counterfeit of emeralds are aquamarines. Aquamarine, meaning "water of the sea" is a birthstones for the month of March (along with bloodstone and jasper).
Most Aquamarines have pale blue color but deeper blue hue of aquamarines are actually more valuable. Aquamarine is used very much in high quality jewelry.
In my state of Colorado there have been many beautiful aquamarine crystals collected on top of mount Antero high above timber line. You need to be in good shape and have good lungs to be able to do the hard work required at the high altitude where the crystals are found.
Mount Antero is located just south west of Buena Vista Colorado. There are also many other popular stones collected in the Buena Vista area.
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OK
Now here are my feelings on this LAND CLOSURE CRAP. I am 72 years old and grew up in western Colorado where we had thousands of acres of public land (public land meaning for everyone to be able to use and enjoy). I am a very serious environmentalist and taught my three children to have the same values.
We spent most of our weekends hiking, rock hunting, camping, fishing, and big game hunting. I could always drive in to the areas that we enjoyed and we always had a rake and trash bags to clean up when we left, sometimes even cleaning up after other people so that we and others could continue to enjoy all of these wonderful places and thats the way it should be. Well it’s not that way any more. The Tree hugger IDIOTS think the only way to protect our public land is to close everything they can to only those few that are young and healthy enough to hike in. This changes thousands of acres of what used to be public land use to limited to a small minority privileged land use. And These Tree hugger IDIOTS want to keep closing more. There is something really wrong with this picture.
I think it is time for all of you that think we should still have PUBLIC LAND start fighting back before we lose it all. It will happen if we don’t fight back and quit letting these IDIOTS take it all away from us.
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If you are a Rockhoun, Hiker, Hunter, Fisherman or anything else involving the use of public lands you need to read this.
Legislative Action Affecting
Rockhoundsby John Martin,
AFMS Conservation & Legislation ChairWith the current political climate in Washington today the environmental activists are having a field day with our congress members trying to persuade them to introduce new wilderness legislation, and it is working.
Here are just a few of the attempts that are currently taking place across
our great country.California -Senator Diane Feinstein is introducing the California Desert Conservation and Recreation Act which if enacted will restrict usage of almost 2 million acres of California's Public Desert Land with the creation of 2 new national monuments, 7 new wilderness areas, and the expansion of Death Valley National Park. Two million acres is almost the size of the state of Connecticut! Can you imagine restricting the state of Connecticut to no roads, no rock fossil, sea shell or mineral collecting? That is what is being attempted for California.
Colorado -We've been told that a well financed pro-environmental
wilderness bill is coming to Colorado. Called the "Hidden Gems
Wilderness." this will encompass 600,000 acres and close them to all.
The environmentalists are pressuring Congressman Jared Polis to
introduce the bill. Please have your members contact Congressman
Polis and express your concern. The money to get this bill passed is
from big foundation money from Washington, DC. Don't let outsiders
come in and lock up Colorado's public land.Montana -A huge wilderness bill is coming to Montana disguised as a
Forest Job and Recreation Act. It seems that its true motive is to put
Montana land into Wilderness. Jon Tester, Senator from Montana is
being urged by the pro-environmentalists to sponsor this bill. The
proposed amount of land in this proposal is 677,000 acres. You might
want to alert the clubs in Montana and research this information.
Contact Senator Tester's office locally and ask about the proposed bill.
They will try and tell you it's about forests and jobs --NOT SO!
According to Brian Hawthorne, Blue Ribbon Coalition, any new
recreation areas. This has a lot to do with forest management and
timber logging, but what is already in place, if put into use would take
care of the problems, according to former Forest Service Planner Fred
Hodgeboom and now president of Montanan's for Multiple Use
organization. .A.s the new bill is written it creates area for new
environmental lawsuits to stop logging on land that has been
susceptible to forest fires, disease and insect devastation.
Most of the lands are on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. This bill eliminates a lot of existing recreational opportunities.
Oregon -House Bill 3609 Oregon Marine ReseIVes. "Marine Reserve" is an area within Oregon's Territorial Sea or adjacent rocky intertidal area that is protected from all extractive activities, including the removal or disturbance of living and non-living marine resources, except asnecessary for monitoring or research to evaluate reserve condition, effectiveness, or impact of stressors. This bill will create reserves all along the public coast of Oregon where it will be unlawful to Collect, pick, cut, mutilate or remove living or non-living natural products or dig up or remove any soil, rock, or fossil materials from the ocean shore. "Natural product means living or non-living natural products on the ocean shore, including marine plants, minerals, shells, rocks,
and sand. The Oregon Coastline is famous as a heavy hunting ground for Agates, Jaspers, Fossils and Pyrite Cubes. The proposed Marine Reserve will eliminate Rock hunting that Oregonians have historically done for over a century along the Rocky Shores of Oregon's Coast.
Utah -America's Red Rock Wilderness Act S. 799 & HR 1925. The American's Red Rock Wilderness Act of 2009 will designate as wilderness certain Federal portions of the red rock canyons of the Colorado Plateau and the Great Basin Deserts in the State of Utah. This
bill, if enacted, would designate 9.4 million acres of land managed by the Bureau of land Management (BlM) in Utah as Wilderness. The areas considered for closure are:
.Great Basin Areas -2,240,827 acres
.ZionlMojave Desert Areas -160,000 acres
.Grand Staircase-Escalante Areas- 1,771 ,717 acres
.Moab-laSal Canyons Areas -256,815 acres
.Henry Mountains Areas -444,204 acres
.Glen Canyon Areas -906,446 acres
.San Juan-Anasazi Areas -520,606 acres
.Canyonlands Basin Areas -689,884 acres
.San Rafael Swell Areas -1,098,773 acres
.Book Cliffs/Uinta Basin Areas -1,015,821 acresThere is no question that our access to Rockhounding sites would be severely curtailed, if not totally destroyed, by these bills. Sec. 209 withdraws entry and disposition of minerals, so we can't pick up anything anyway. On the national front the Clean Water Restoration Act of 2009, (S. 787) , will treat, as 'waters of the United States', those features that were treated as such pursuant to the regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Corps of Engineers in existence before the dates of the decisions referred to in paragraph, including--
(A) All waters which are subject to the ebb and flow of the tide;
(8) All interstate waters, including interstate wetlands;
(C) All other waters, such as intrastate lakes, rivers, streams (including intermittent streams), mudflats, sand-flats, wetlands, sloughs, prairie potholes, wet meadows, play lakes, or natural ponds;
(D) All impoundments of waters of the United States;
(E) Tributaries of the aforementioned waters;
(F) The territorial seas; and(G) Wetlands adjacent to the aforementioned waters; What this basically means that if enacted will put all ponds, streams, seasonal mud holes on public and private land under the control of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and not the private property owner.Also of interest to Rockhounds is the' Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2009', (H. R. 699) which was introduced to the House of Representatives on January 27, 2009. This Bill will modify the requirements applicable to locatable minerals on public domain lands, consistent with the principles of selfinitiation of mining claims, and
for other purposes. It will impose limitation on patents (Claims), require a royalty be paid for the removal of minerals, add or increase hardrock mining claim maintenance fees, effect of payments for use and
occupancy of claims. All of these actions may have negative effects on Rock Clubs or Societies which currently hold or may be trying to file claims on BLM, Forest, or other public lands.What can we as rockhounds do? Use the internet, email, Fax, or the US Postal Service to contact both your state and federal elected officials and let them know what your concerns are regarding the closure and withdrawing of public land from public usage. Support and join organizations like the Blue Ribbon Coalition, <www.shaetrails.org>, American Land Rights Association, <www.landrights.org>, AMERICAN LANDS ACCESS ASSOCIATION (A.L.A.A) <www.amlands.org> .
These groups are fighting to keep our Public Lands Open to all Public Users. Please support and use the American Federation of Mineralogical Society and your Regional Federation of Mineralogical Societies, they have information and resources that can help in all aspects of Rockhounding. If anyone hears of new or pending
legislation in your state or Regional Federation please feel free to contact me with the pertinent information and I will attempt to investigate and disseminate the information to those who may be affected. I can be contacted at <webmaster@ amlands.org> or through the AFMS Website.
AFMS Newsletter- Dec. 2009- Jan. 2010 -
February birthstone: Amethyst
Originally mined in the Ural Mountains in Russia, this beautiful reddish purple stone was traded throughout Europe. Found in excavated grave sites the amethyst crystal was collected and treasured by many different tribes for its mystical qualities. The oldest crystal object found dates to 7500 B.C. in the areas of France, Switzerland and Spain. Egyptian amethyst beads and amulets were discovered in tombs and dates to 3100 B.C. More -
Spring in the desert is only a month or so away and I am getting anxious to go rock hunting.
www.rockhoundkids.com/rh-kits.html
Spring is when the rattle snake come out of hibernation so beware, Drive slow and with extra caution the first time in on the dirt roads. You may come around the bend and find a monster washout.
Be sure to take a first aid kit, extra food and water just in case that unexpected thing happens. If you are going out alone, be sure to let someone know where you are going.
These things may sound silly, but I have seen experienced people get into trouble because they didn’t pay attention to these simple precautions and were not prepared. So when the snow has melted and the mud has dried up, go out and have fun.
Woman's rocky past led to career in gems and minerals
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montanakids.com/facts_and_figures/state_symbo.THE STORY OF MONTANA AGATE
It has always been a mystery how the peculiar little scenes got inside a rock as hard as agate. It is the claim of geologists that the spots were caused by infinitely minute seams or fissures in the softer parts of the rock being filled with metallic oxides when the world was young. These oxides created four different colors that form various combinations of color when blended together, or appear in single colors in each rock.
The red color is oxide of iron. The black is oxide of manganese. The green is oxide of copper. The blue is oxide of nickel. This theory has been elaborated upon by the help of high powered microscopes which show the tracings of little canals to tiny that the naked eye could not detect them, but the oxides remained-staining the rocks in wonderful designs. The fern-like and branch effects of the trees, grass, and shrubbery come from the fact that the tiny canals branched out in various subdivisions forming smaller canals from a common center- In addition to these canals, the rock became flawed through shrinkage while passing through a period of evaporation, which, according to scientists, has taken more than three million years to reduce the stone to the hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale.
These canals and flaws have been perfectly healed by soft silicate formations of which the stone is a part, and the evaporation has caused the oxides to take on such forms as seen on the window after a frosty night. Technically , Montana Agate is known as "dendritic" agate and the moss spots are called "dentrites". It is the third hardest stone in the world and is cut only with a diamond saw. There can never be two pieces alike even though cut from the same stone.
From- The Roadrunner News 02/06 via Osage Hills Gems
There have been many pieces of beautiful jewelry made from Montana agates. -
LINCOLN'S MARBLE LEAKS
Did you know that the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. is sprouting stalactites and stalagmites in its basement? This phenomenon is caused by water seeping through the marble. Though the Memorial is a little over 55 years old, the formations have grown several feet in length. When the Memorial was built, engineers sank 122 cylinders to bedrock fifty feet underground. The base of the Memorial is set high above the ground on a rectangular platform, thus forming a cavernous space beneath the floor. This is where the stalactites and stalagmites are growing
Source: Rockhound Ramblings 2/06 via Show-Me Rockhounds 11/05 -
Identifying True Amber {Succinite)
by Garry Platt
Since the screening of 'Jurassic Park', interest in the mineral, amber, has grown significantly. Unfortunately so has the quantity of fake amber coming on the market. Some of these pieces have insect inclusions skillfully placed in the body of the matrix. The British Natural History Museum recently discovered that a bee preserved in amber, thought to be one of the oldest known examples of this particular species, was, in fact, a fake and probably no more than 150 years old. (More of this bee later.) Evidence of this nature; that even the best can be fooled should alert all collectors to the possibility of being misled or simply cheated. In some cases, copal, which is tree resin which has not yet fully fossilized in amber and may be anything up to three to four million years old is described as true amber. Debate still rages in the UK about certain Kenyan deposits as to whether they should be called copal or amber and I have heard of similar arguments concerning deposits found in South America. There are a number of simple tests which can be carried out on amber to check its authenticity . I have listed here all the basic methods I have come across. More sophisticated and complex tests are possible but they require access to laboratory equipment. These more complex tests include: Refraction Index, Precise Specific Gravity and Melting Point.
When examining a specimen, you should try at least three of the following methods detailed here. If the item in question fails anyone of the tests, it could well mean the piece is not true amber.
HARDNESS Amber has a hardness on Mohs scale in the region of 2 -3. Using appropriate scratch sticks it should be reasonably straightforward to test the sample under question.
HOT NEEDLE Heat a needle point in a flame until glowing red and then punch the point into the sample for testing. With copal the needle melts the material quicker than amber and emits a light fragrant odor. Amber when tested does not melt as quickly as the copal and emits sooty fumes.
SOLUBILITY Copal will dissolve in acetone. This test can be done by dispensing the acetone from an eye dropper onto a clean surface of the test specimen. Place one drop on the surface of the test piece and allow to evaporate, then place a second drop on the same area. Copal will become tacky, amberwill remain unaffected by contact with acetone.
UV LIGHT Copal under a short-wave UV light shows hardly any color change. Amber fluoresces a pale shade of blue.
FRICTION Rub the specimen vigorously on a soft cloth.
True amber may emit a faint resinous fragrance but copal may actual begin to soften and the surface become sticky. Amber will also become heavily charged with static electricity and will easily pick up small pieces of loose paper.
TASTE This test was introduced to me by an antique trader who specialized in amber beads. She explained that one of the most reliable tests she used was to taste the amber specimen after washing it in mild soapy water and then plain water. While she could name no
distinction between copal and amber, she could easily identify plastics and other common substitutes because of their unpleasant or chemical taste. Amber has hardly any taste at all. As a method for identification, I have not seen this procedure recorded elsewhere. I can vouch for its effectiveness as a non destructive method of differentiating between amber and certain other substances often misleadingly labeled amber.
FLOTATION (Specific Gravity) Mix 23 gms of
standard table salt with 200 mi of luke warm water. Stir until completely dissolved. Amber should float in such a mixture and some copals together with various plastics sink.
INCLUSIONS Infrequently amber contains Flora or
Fauna inclusions. Correctly identifying the trapped insect or plant should be an excellent indicator of a piece's authenticity. Most inclusions from ancient amber are of species which are now extinct or significantly changed.
POLARIZED LIGHT Place the suspect piece of amber between two sheets of polarizing glass or plastic. (Kokin Filter Systems which sell lens accessories for cameras sell such products.) Rotate one of the polarizing lenses slowly through 360 degrees. In the body of the amber a display of rainbow colors should cycle through the transparent parts of the material. This is due to interference patterns being induced in the polarized light because of the internal strains and stresses within the amber itself. My general experience with this method is that genuine amber and copal always show these color changes, where as some acrylics, polymers, and certain plastic do not. Amber which has been drilled and then later filled with a contemporary inclusion and resin also reveals itself via the clear disruption of the color display. Essentially, an amber piece which does not show interference patterns is unlikely to be true amber.
From Golden Spike News, 11/06 -
Some should know information for those die-hard rockhounds that go
rock hunting in the cold winter season.There are two bad effects that you can get from being too cold too long. One is hypothermia and the other is frostbite.
HYPOTHERMIA is low body temperature. Warning signs are slurred speech, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, uncontrollable shivering, and a sensation of extreme exhaustion.
If you suspect hypothermia, take the person's temperature. If it is below 95°F or 35°C, seek emergency medical help immediately! If that is not available, or will take a long time, start by warming
the person SLOWLY.
Warm their body first -if needed, cuddle with them. Get them into dry clothing and cover them well with a warm blanket - including their head. No alcohol, drugs, coffee, hot beverage, or food should be
allowed. A warm broth is great. Do NOT warm their arms and legs first because this drives cold blood towards the heart and may cause heart failure!
PREVENTION of hypothermia is mainly common sense. Avoid hard work -pushing a car, shoveling snow, walking in drifts, and the like. The strain of cold with hard labor can cause a heart attack. Avoid working up a sweat. Remove outside clothes layers to avoid perspiration and overheating and then put the layers back on when you finish. Don't eat snow. If you want a snow cone, take the snow indoors.
FROSTBITE is simply frozen body tissue. The warning signs are a loss of feeling and a white or pale appearance in the extremities -fingers, toes, ears, nose, or cheeks.
TREATMENT of frostbite requires immediate medical help. If you must wait, slowly re-warm the affected areas. But, remember, if they also have hypothermia, the body must be warmed first.
PREVENTION of frostbite means two things. One is proper clothes -mittens, layered waterproof clothes, double socks, and so on. The other is ordinary commonsense -DON'T go out in
extremely cold weather if you can avoid it at all. If you must go out, don't stay long at one spell. Come in and warm up frequently.
Reference for this article: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service. www.crh.noaa.Qovlifo.html
AFMS Newsletter, 10/97 -
How to Cut Obsidian
Authocunknown
GOLD SHEEN: To get the most out of mahogany gold sheen obsidian, saw with the bands, as if they were a stack of plates, and you wish to unstuck them. Watch for "fire spots" in gold sheen. It is not plentiful, but opal like colors do sometimes occur in mahogany gold sheen.
IRIDESCENT: There are two types of iridescent obsidian. In cutting both correctly, the orientation of the color is most important. One type of obsidian is banded and the color lies in the bands. On the unbanded types of obsidian the surface has to be chipped to find the color. The banded type will have several colors or shades, while the unbanded types will have only one color. Cut the banded material parallel to the bands to get effect. To get a rainbow effect, cut the stone at an approximately 15-degree angle across the bands.
MIDNIGHT LACE: Lace-patterned obsidian should be cut across the surface pattern that you desire to reproduce. Although obsidian is comparatively soft, it is still very important to sand away all scratches before going to polish. Some advise that wet sanding be done, since obsidian is heat sensitive and very brittle. For final polish, felt with cerium oxide is the choice. Should you be faceting some particularly gemmy obsidian try cerium oxide on Lucite@, but keep it wet.
RAINBOW OBSIDIAN: Cut parallel to flow layers. These can be seen by examining fractured surfaces using an overhead single lamp bulb. As [the layers] are not always straight, it may be necessary to turn the stone slightly in the saw. Examine each slab set with either water or saw oil to see if the correct angle has been obtained.
SAFETY TIP: After obsidian is sawed, be sure to bevel the
edges all around on your fine grinding wheel to keep them from flaking and chipping. Wear goggles or glasses at all times. If a small chip of glass ( obsidian) got into your eye, it would be hard to remove as it is transparent and hard to see even with a powerful magnifying glass, and the edges may cut your eye to a great extent before it could be removed.
GRINDING OBSIDIAN CABS: Approach yourgrinding wheel with the material at a slight horizontal angle. If brought straight in, it may be a "shattering" experience, as obsidian fractures conchoidally and this is a sure way to do it.
POLISH ON OBSIDIAN: Keep the polishing wheel wet. A dry polishing will result in blisters and scratches. Obsidian is relatively inexpensive, easy to obtain and soft. With proper understanding of its glassy properties you can obtain some beautiful results.
-from Golden Frog, February 2005 Via The Rock Collector October, 2009 Via Strata Gem, November 2009 -
Still Think its Jade?
Lapidaries and jewelers should constantly attempt to
call gemstones and rough materials by their correct names. The term jade is applied to many non jade
stones, such as:
.Korean Jade is bowenite, a hard variety of serpentine;
.Transvaal Jade is a massive variety of green,
grossular garnet;
.Amazon Jade is aventurine;
.American Jade is a rock -a mixture of idocrase
and grossular;
.Australian Jade is chrysoprase; Colorado jade is
green microcline;
.Jasper Jade is green jasper;
.Flukien, Manchurian and Honan Jades are all soapstone;
.Mexican Jade is green-dyed marble or calcite;
.Oregon Jade is dark green jasper;
.Silver Peak Jade is malachite.
It would be clearer to beginners if jade were called
jade, malachite called malachite, aventurine called aventurine.
From Carmel Valley Prospector
via Calgary Lapidary Journal, June 2009
via Strata Gem, November 2009 -
Try Suiseki
Ever wonder what to do with that unusual/weird/odd/interesting rock you have collected but just don't know how to display? Does it have fascinating geological features? Looks like a mountain? A face? Makes a pretty scene? Try Suiseki!
Suiseki (Sui=water, Seki=stone) was first practiced by the Chinese during the Song Dynasty, 960-1279. They are generally referred to as Chinese Scholars Stones. Also called Viewing Stones -the art of enjoying rocks and stones in their natural state. Early on, these stones were considered quite valuable and were revered for their uniqueness. The Chinese created gardens that resembled nature-natural wonders. These small garden rocks were eventually exported through Korea to Japan.
What is Suiseki? Suiseki is the study and enjoyment of naturally formed stones as objects of beauty. The art of Suiseki involves the collection, preparation, and appreciation of naturally formed stones that have not been altered. They can befound on your trip to a rock quarry, by the side of the road, in mountain streams, on ocean beaches, in deserts; anywhere that nature may have deposited or shaped them. The rocks are chosen to represent part of a scene in nature, such as a waterfall, a cave, mountain, or landscape. They may also represent objects such as men, animals, boats, whatever. They may be chosen because they are uniquely patterned. The unusual Japanese chrysanthemum stones are probably the best known example of these.
An example of this stone that was shown at the Suiseki exhibit at the National Arboretum was about five feet tall.
Suiseki are displayed on a specially made base, called a Daiza, of lacquered wood that fits perfectly around it to elevate it and make it stand out. Each base is designed to suit a particular Suiseki. Some Suiseki may be set in a ceramic suiban with either sand or water.
These stones were considered quite valuable and revered for their uniqueness. The Chinese are more known for their more vertically oriented stones, most notable the Linghi rock from China. The Japanese are more known for their horizontal stones, especially mountain stones.
There are three main category grouping in Suiseki. The first and most popular being SCENIC LANDSCAPE STONES. These may evoke impressions of distant mountains. Islands, waterfalls, caves, river formed terraces, lakes, and other examples of natural topography.
OBJECT STONES CONSTITUTE ANOTHER PRIMARY GROUPING. Included are stones resembling man-made objects such as boats, bridges, and old Japanese thatched huts. Also prized are animal-shaped stones, bird stones, and stones that resemble fish, insects, and human figures.
PATTERN STONES make up the third category. They are valued for their unique surface patterns resulting from variations in color, unusual texture, and contrasting mineral inclusions. Best known of this group are the Japanese chrysanthemum stones. Others include tiger-striped stones, celestial (sun/moon/star) patterned and stones and abstract pattern stones.
Suiseki are often on display at Bonsai shows. For anyone who becomes seriously interested,
here's a list of some 'must haves' in your library:
The Japanese Art of Stone Appreciation by Covello and Yoshimuara, World Within Worlds, The Richard Rosenblum Collection of Chinese Scholar's Rocks by Mowry, Scholar's Rocks in Ancient China by Kermin Hu, and Awakening the Soul, The National Viewing Stone Collection by Jim Hayes. These are all great books and well photographed.
Excerpts from Georgia Olmstead, The Mineral Newsletter, 9/07 and Frank English, www.aeocities.com/suiseki,
from Pick & Pack, 12/07 -
Dinosaur Dance Floor Unearthed in Arizona!
Multitude of beastly tracks likely belonged to at least four different species.
More than 1,000 dinosaur footprints along with tail drag marks have been discovered along the Arizona-Utah border. The incredibly rare concentration of beastly tracks likely belonged to at least four different species of dinosaurs, ranging from youngsters to adults. The tracks range in length from 1 to 20 inches (2.5- 51 centimeters)."The different size tracks may tell us that we are seeing mothers walking around with babies", said researcher Winston Seiler, a geologist at the University of Utah.
The tracks were laid about 190 million years ago in what is now the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument.
"There must have been more than one kind of dinosaur there" said researcher Marjorie Chan, professor and chair of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Utah. "It was a place that attracted a crowd, kind of like a dance floor."
While the site is covered in sand dunes now, the researchers say the tracks are within what was a network of wet low watering holes between the dunes. In fact, the tracks provide more evidence of wet intervals during the Early Jurassic Period, when the US Southwest was covered with a field of sand dunes larger than the Sahara Desert. Chan and her colleagues, including Seiler, described the dinosaur track site in the October issue of the International Paleontology Journal Palaios.
By studying the sizes and shapes of the tracks, Seiler suggests four dinosaur species gathered at the watering hole, though researchers have yet to match the prints with specific species. Currently, the tracks are named for their particular shapes and include:
Eubrontes footprints measure 10 to 16 inches (25 to 41 cm) long and have three toes and a heel. These tracks likely were made by upright- walking dinosaurs with a body length of 16 to 20 feet (5- 6m), or smaller than Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Grallator tracks are about 4 to 7 inches (10- 18 cm) long, are three toed and were left by small dinosaurs only a few feet tall.
Sauropodmorph tracks, more circular than the other types, were left by creatures that walked on four legs and were the largest dinosaurs at the site. Their tracks range from 6 to 11 inches (15- 18 cm) long. Seiler said the tail dray marks are associated with these circular foot prints, so they likely were made by Sauropods.
Anchisauripus tracks measure 7 to 10 inches (18- 25 cm) long and were made by dinosaurs that range from 6 to 13 feet (2 -4 m) in length.
Numerous dinosaur track sites have been found in the western United Sates and elsewhere around the world. For instance, tracks from a herd of eleven giant Sauropod dinosaurs were discovered in the ancient coastal mudflats of Yemen. But the new discovery is rare in the density of tracks. "Unlike other trackways that may have several dozen footprint impressions, this particular surface has more than a thousand," said Seiler and Chan write.Chan first visited the site of the dinosaur tracks with a US Bureau of Land Management ranger who was puzzled by them. Chan initially called them potholes, which are erosion features common to desert sandstone. "But I knew that wasn't the whole story because of the high concentration and because they weren't anywhere else near by but along that one surface."
One unnamed reviewer of the Palaios study still believes the holes are features, according to a statement released by the University of Utah. In 2006, Seiler saw the tracks and had similar thoughts. "At first glance, they look like weathering pits -a field of odd potholes", he said. "But within about five minutes of wandering around, I realized these were dinosaur footprints."
Taken from MSNGBC.com UveScience.com for more on this story. From Gneiss Times, May 2009, Voi40, Issue 20
-
Dryopteris
A Fossil Fern From Florissant Steven Wade Veatch, CSMS
Ferns are among the fossil plants found in the Florissant Fossil Beds of Colorado .Fossil plants like these ferns are records of prehistoric life-providing information about when an organism lived, where it lived, and how it lived. Fossils are vital in helping paleontologists reconstruct ancient environments and establishing the geologic history of the Earth.
The origins of ferns are not well understood (Kendrick and Davis, 2004), but continued study of fossil ferns may reveal more about their beginnings. The earliest recognizable ferns come from the Carboniferous (359-299 million years ago).
Ferns have large complex fronds (leaves) and are spore bearers. Some ferns are non-woody, but other ferns are woody and are called tree ferns. Ferns were common late Paleozoic plants and widespread in the Mesozoic.
Today ferns are the most common and diverse spore-bearing land plants with over 10,000 species (Lane, 1992) .They generally live in moist, shady areas of the forest understory.
Dryoptelis, from the Greek, dros (oak) and ptelis (fern) occurs in Florissant's Eocene fossil flora as well as other Tertiary floras. Its common name-wood fern-is from the preferred woodland habitat of most Dryoptelis species. Other common names include shield fern, Goldie's fern, male fern, and buckler fernsToday Dryoptelis is a genus of about 250 species of ferns growing in the temperate Northern Hemisphere and in eastern Asia. Fronds are bipinnate (branching of leaflets at right angles to the central axis). The leaflets, or pinnules, are lobed. Fertile pinnules have round sori, which are fruit dots or reproductive bodies (Tidwell, 1998). Many of the species have solid root stocks forming a crown with a ring of fronds.
Dryopteris guyotti was abundant in past geologic ages. Broad, flat leaves helped the fern catch more sunlight. Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument specimen number 3135a.
References Cited:
Kendrick, R. and Davis, P ., 2004. Fossil Plants, Smithsonian Books, Washington, D.C. 216 p.
Lane, N.G., 1992. Life of the Past, MacMillan Publishing, New York. 334p.
Meyer, H. M., 2003. The Fossils ~rissant, Smithsonian Books, Washington, D.C. 258 p.
Tidwell, W.D., 1998. Common Fossil Plans of Western Nolth America, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C. 299 p. From Pick & Pack, June 2009 -
Improved Light Fixture
For all of you using Diamond Pacific, Genie, or Titan Machines, here is a story you can relate to. Have you ever been grinding away and had your hand slip and hit the rim of the light fixture? Ouch! Hot! That 75 to 100 watt incandescent light bulb is hot and really using up the electricity .Try to put one of the compact Flourescent Bulbs {CFB) in and they stick out the bottom of the light fixture causing all that light to go everywhere and not on your work. Then after a few days of use, the bulb breaks at the seams from all that vibration. The bulb is dangling from wires and the rest of the guts are still in the fixture with all that water splashing all around. Alas, I have found the best of both worlds. Try one of those small Halogen 35 watt mini flood lamps. It puts a real bright light right on your work, the rim of the light fixture stays cool and you are only using 35 watts to get better light than the 75 -100 incandescent bulb. When selecting the halogen bulb there are two sizes: one has a short neck, with will fit, but requires some creative twisting; the other style has a longer neck and will make the installation of the bulb in the fixture a breeze. So when that inefficient 100 watt bulb finally blows out, try a compact Halogen spot lamp as a replacement. Your work area will look brighter and you will be using less energy and running a lot cooler.
By John Marin via the CFMS Newsletter, 1012008 -
Color in Quartz
Amethyst: Lavender color is caused by trace amounts of ferric iron and aluminum. These impurities when acted upon by natural radiation, turn the quar1z purply; when heated to 300 degrees, turn the quar1z white; when heated to 500 degrees turns yellow(citrine); when exposed again to x-rays the quar1z turns purple.
Rose: The current theory is that the pink color in quar1z is due to the presence of titanium or manganese.
Smokey: Light to dark brown color of quar1z is probably caused by exposure to natural radioactivity. When heated the quartz turns yellow and then white.
Milky: This variety of quar1z is caused by presence of numerous bubbles of gas or a liquid, white, cloudy to translucent, depending on the size of the inclusions.
Citrine: Yellow to brown color of these quartz are caused by inclusions of colloidal iron hydrates. When heated the quar1z turns white, when exposed to x-rays the quar1z turns dark brown.
Blue: An unusual color in quartz, blue is caused by tiny rutile, tourmaline, orzoisite inclusions. In chalcedony, blues and greens are from the copper oxidation zone. Aventurine: Colors in these varieties are due to sprinkled flakes of fuchsite (green mica) or hematite (red).
Carnelian: This variety of quartz is colored by the presence of the iron oxide, hematite.
Source: Taken from Petrograph 2001 ref" A. McKinnon in Rockonteur, 5100 via Golden Spike News, 3107 -
with the color. The overall color is a washed out white. At this point, most rockhounds would toss both the slab and the rough into their spouse's rock garden and write off t investment in the piece.
Well, there may be life yet in that nondescript piece of rough. Before consigning it to the rock garden, try heat treating petrified wood, agate, jasper, and many other types of rocks. Almost any rock can benefit from the process. A recent example was a piece of dull brown agate. After heat treating, it became a deep red.
How, you ask, does one go about heat treating a piece of rock? The process is fairly simple, but is a trial and error process. The slab should be immersed in a small pan of sand and placed in a range oven (NEVER in a microwave oven). Turn the oven temperature to warm, about 200 degrees for about one hour to expel any moisture trapped in the stone. Then raise the temperature 25 degrees every half hour until the temperature is up to 350 degrees. Leave it at this setting for two hours. Turn off the oven and allow the rock to come to room temperature without opening the door.
Now you can check the results. If you are satisfied, you can slab the rough and heat treat the lot. If not, return the slab to the oven and repeat the process. You can skip the time at 200 degrees since all the moisture has already been baked out by now. Raise the temperature to 400 degrees this time. Continue raising the temperature by 50 degrees until the results you want are reached. Most ovens will go uup to 500 degrees. If you need to go higher, some special oven will be required.
If you wife balks at your using her oven, borrow a neighbor's roaster oven and use that. They work even better.
Source: Glacial Drifter, August 1997 via Pick & Pack, May 2001 -
Some Interesting Information about
Aquamarine (A Beryl)
Aquamarine is a gemstone the color of
seawater and that is literally what its name means-
seawater. It is also a variety of beryl and iron and is what
gives this beryl its color. Aquamarine is not as valuable
as an emerald but has the same crystal structure as
the emerald, which is hexagonal. The hexagonal
system structure has one sixfold axis of symmetry.
(For those of you who understand this technological
lingo, my hat is off to you!)The Bible mentions the term "beryl" and this
gem was valued in ancient times as it is now. The
aquamarine was popular for jewelry in the 1Oth
century , but is probably less so now. However,
because of its rarity and very hard composition,
it is a very desirable gemstone.Beryl Facts: Hardness is 7-8, Specific Gravity is
2.6- 2.9, Color is colorless or white when pure (and
can be many other colors), it has white streak, it is
translucent to transparent, and it has a glassy luster.
Aquamarine can be cut into a cabochon form
and the growth lines within the structure will give it a
cat's-eye effect or six-rayed effect (which reminds
me of a star sapphire). Aquamarine can also be cut
in a brilliant cut or octagonal step cut.Large crystals of aquamarine can also be
found. In 1910 one was found in Brazil that weighted
243 pounds! (I'd sure like to see THAT specimen.)
There are deposits of aquamarine on most
continents, including the United States but the best
quality aquamarines come from Brazil. Time to start
learning Spanish, folks!The formula of this mineral is Be3A12Si6018.
A formula shows how different atoms make up a mineral.
A subscripted number (2) shows how many atoms of
one element are joined to atoms of another element.
For example, two oxygen atoms (02) are joined to
one atom of silicon (Si) in quartz (SI02).
(The above article was written by Sue Smith, But the
scientific and technical information was abstracted from
Pockets -Rocks & Minerals written by Sue Fuller and
Rockets Gemstones written by Emma Foa) from
The Sooner Rockologist, March 2008 -
Can Rockhounding Improve Various Skills?From Don Kauffman, CPRMC
An article noted on Sciencedaily.com* indicated that there is a tendency for technology to produce a decline in critical thinking and analysis. A study by an LA psychology professor also indicated a decline in "reading for pleasure. Further analysis of the article stated that learning has changed as a result of computers, interaction with the Internet, and video games.
Those of us who have experienced all the technological changes in the past 30 to 40 years don't need a doctorate orprofessorship to make such deductions. Take a look at a 5-6 year old grandchild who is more adept at playing GameBoy than turning book pages. Try Internet access with your dialup computer after school lets out for the day (Yes, I'm a Slow ski; no COMCAST High speed ) Watch newscasts and listen to furor over a violent or R-rated video game. Last but not least, do you ever see as many children outside in nice weather as when you were a kid?
The process of learning and growing up these days is dictated by technology. Utilizing technology should be a process of learning to achieve a balance in living and learning. Reading and visual skills should complement each other.
The article premise is fairly well summarized by the following statement: "Most visual media are real-time media that do not allow time for reflection, analysis, or imagination." Most modes of technology offer immediate answers, reward, or problem solving. Vocabulary development also suffers.
Technology is not the sole answer to learning and development because vital skills are being lost. Today's youngsters may be largely print illiterate, fail to think critically, or visualize concepts. They may become distant, isolated, and lack social skills. Headlines have already noted that many fail to get adequate exercise and outdoor activity.
Our youth need something better to do in order to develop their intellectual, reading, digital, and manipulative skills. What is my answer to helping young people (or anyone) develop reading, vocabulary, visual, and tactile keenness? My answer: try introducing them to rockhounding.
For most of us it is a good bet that our first introduction to rocks and mineral was through a class in school followed by a book in a public or school library. Others may have first experienced mineral wonders by seeing the collection of a relative, parent, or friend. Still others may have experienced discovery of an unusual rock or even a chance fossil during a hike or outing. We then experienced wonder at just what they had seen or found. Reading books and articles about our hobby excites the imagination and initiates an urge for outdoor exploration. Seeing pictures in both books and on the Internet may facilitate the search for interesting, collectible rocks, minerals and fossils or collecting locations. Through use of both books and computers a collector can acquire skillful recognition of formations, rocks, and minerals to be utilized when out in the field.Can rockhounding help you improve your vision? After some experience as a rockhound your answer may be "Yes'. After years of collecting a rockhound may have better vision at arm's length. If you have ever distinguished a delicate crystal pattern on a rocky surface or in a small pocket without aide of a magnifier or a tiny red garnet crystal nestled in a sea of smoky quartz; If you have kicked over a rock you observed to be "just a little different" along a rocky path and found an exquisite fossil on the underside or if you have ever visually isolated a single fossilized clam shell from a rather mundane sedimentary rock-strewn landscape, only to shortly find a whole bed of brown Brachs, then you realize that rockhounding has improved your visual acuteness.
Can skills exercised by rockhounding aide you in everyday matters? A keen eye developed by looking down at the ground in search of minerals or fossils may help locate a set of car keys tracked to a snow bank. A discerning eye can differentiate a copper penny or a silver coin of any denomination on a street or sidewalk after darkness sets in and without aide of a fluorescent lamp or flashlight. If you have ever picked up one of your wife's lost beads or findings from the floor in a roomful of carpeting, then you would say rockhounding has provided you skills to solving some everyday problems.
Another benefit of rockhounding is motor skills. Rockhound experience in field trimming a specimen develops accuracy. There may fewer sore fingers on home projects using hammers after field experience with a rock hammer. Field experience with a diamond cutting saw may help make home use of a circular saw a cinch (without removing one of your appendages).
Rockhounding may prove helpful in improving social and leadership skills. One person reads a book then shares information and a picture. A specimen is collected and shown to others. Soon a network of excited rockhounds forms a group. The group becomes
a club (if one is not already established). The club has a show. The show provides activities, books, specimens, and lots of people socializing who are enjoying a variety of learning activities, experiences, and situations all dealing with rocks and minerals or fossils. Club people then reinvest time and money in additional group and educational pursuits. Many rockhounds are elected to club offices or serve on committees and write about their experiences for the club newsletters.Last but not least, rockhounding may improve your knowledge of business matters. Once you have accumulated an almost inexhaustible pile of rocks, minerals and fossils, you can supplement other excursions and trips by selling your finds at club nights, at other shows, or out of your home or another location. A final provoking thought from research... 'More than 85 percent of video games contain violence, and multiple studies of violent media games have shown that they can produce many negative effects, including aggressive behavior and desensitization to real-Iife violence." Misdirection of technology can be a disastrous waste of time. Directionless youth need to develop a more meaningful pastime.
Rockhounds learn very quickly that their hobby is an excellent outlet for life's little frustrations and tensions. Did you ever notice that some of the calmest and coolest rockhounds you know are the ones wielding large sledges that reduce boulders to collectible smaller pieces?
Rockhounding is an excellent experience for all ages. Most rockhounds are extremely helpful in providing a meaningful demonstration for others as to how to identify and collect specimens. Field experiences require combined skills of walking or hiking to a collection site, visual identification of a potentially productive vug or formation, specimen selection, mentally planning a method of extraction and physical exertion applied with tools to remove material from a rocky host matrix. Once a specimen is collected rockhounds are usually on a collecting high filled with enough excitement to continue on to other adventures.
So, get the kids (grownups, too) a book about rockhounding. Show them your collection. Introduce them to a night with the club. Invite them out to join in an outdoor collecting activity. Tell them how rockhounding will help improve many aspects of their lives through development of visual, physical and social skills.
After several field collecting experiences rockhound novices should be eager, more knowledgeable and on the way to seeking more collecting experiences. They will be thanking you before long and will soon be showing others their discoveries from the wide world of rockhounding.
University of California -Los Angeles. "Is Technology Producing A Decline In Critical Thinking and Analysis? ScienceDaily 29 January 2009.
From Rock Buster News, JuneReference:source of inspiration and interpretation, an article of fact and speculation.
University of California -Los Angeles. "Is Technology Producing A Decline In Critical Thinking and Analysis? ScienceDaily 29 January 2009.
From Rock Buster News, June
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