March 2014 MSA Rockhound Record

The Rockhound Record Mineralogical Society of Arizona

March 2014 - Volume 73, No. 7

www.mineralogicalsocietyarizona.org

UPCOMING PROGRAM THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014

“Some Causes of Colors in Minerals”

Presented by Bob Jones

Bob Jones will present “Some Causes of

Color in Minerals.” What caused color in minerals was unknown until it was discovered that chromium was the cause of the red color in ruby. Since then, scientists have developed a good understanding of why certain minerals have color. This has led to

the development of a vast synthetic gem industry. The talk will highlight the known causes of color in our more popular minerals. Bob is an MSA Milestone Life Member, was

the MSA President in 1964, and is oldest living, founding member of MSA familial organization, the Flagg Mineral Foundation. He is a renowned collector, lecturer, author, and the Senior Consulting Editor of “Rock and Gem.” He was the 1992 inductee into

the National Rockhound and Lapidary Hall of Fame, the recipient of 1998 Carnegie Mineralogical Award, honoree of mineral species name, Bobjonesite, and most importantly, . . . Evan Jones’ dad.

REMINDER:

The meeting on March 13th will be at the Franciscan Renewal Center in the Father Owen Room.

Bob Jones with the MSA Mineral

Collection at the University of Arizona “Best of the Best”

Open House on February 7, 2014

Photo by Chris Whitney-Smith

PLEASE REFER TO

THE WHOLE MEETING ROOM

SCHEDULE ON THE INSIDE BACK PAGE

OF THIS NEWSLETTER.

The Rockhound Record - March 2014 – Page 2

2014 Officers and Committees

PRESIDENT - Chris Whitney-Smith (602) 405-1502

[email protected]

VICE PRESIDENT Mike Williams (480) 650-1090

[email protected]

TREASURER - Lynne Dyer (480) 396-2393

[email protected]

SECRETARY - Dawn Boushelle (602) 403-3031

[email protected]

PAPER NEWSLETTER DISTRIBUTION David Lay

[email protected]

MINERAL CURATOR Chris Whitney-Smith - (602) 405-1502

[email protected]

HOSPITALITY/DOOR PRIZES Bob Holm - (623) 247-1325

COALITION FIELD TRIPS Betty Deming - (602) 242-1553 [email protected]

CLUB FIELD TRIPS - C0-CHAIR PERSONS Julie Massey - (602) 882-0411

[email protected] Joey Philpott - (602) 828-9298

[email protected]

MEMBERSHIP Julie Massey - (602) 882-0411

[email protected]

REFRESHMENTS - Maria Nichols (480) 636-1251

STATUTORY AGENT - Terry Dyer (480) 396-2393

[email protected]

WEBMASTER - Patti Polk [email protected]

BOARD OF GOVERNORS Julie Massey (2014) Charles Krog (2014) Terry Dyer (2015)

Don Boushelle (2015) Bob Holm (2016) David Lay (2016)

Ray Grant (Past President)

Goodbye I find it necessary to bow out as

the newsletter editor to focus on other activities. I enjoyed designing and edit ing the newsletter for the past 3-1/2 years. I wish to thank all those who contributed to the newsletter

content. Please welcome Alice “Margie” LaBonte, the new editor. Thank you, Alice!

Lois Splendoria

NEW NEWSLETTER EDITOR STARTING WITH THE APRIL 2014 ISSUE

Alice "Margie" LaBonte [email protected]

Minerals of Arizona 22nd Annual Symposium sponsored by

the Flagg Mineral Foundation Friday April 4, Saturday April 5,

and Sunday April 6, 2014 Location: Clarion Hotel at Phoenix Tech Center; 5121 E. La Puente Avenue (NW corner of Elliot Road & I-10) in Phoenix. The Flagg Mineral Foundation has extended to members of MSA a discount of $5 off the $40 registration fee, so it will be $35 for MSA members. Complete information is being sent as a separate e-mail attachment with this month’s newsletter or will accompany your paper copy. Registration deadline is April 1.


A R I Z O N A M I N E R A L

C O L L E C T O R

NUMBER 166

By Dr. Raymond Grant

This was another great Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. Hope that many of you got had a chance to attend, and congratulations to the MSA juniors who entered and won prizes. I thought I would write about what was new from Arizona at the

show this month. By far the most exciting things were the new specimens from

the Rowley mine. You may have seen some of the material at the Flagg Show. There were hundreds of wulfenite with mimetite specimens for sale. One advertisement said “the most extensive public offering ever seen from this classic American locality”.

They were in a room at the Hotel Tucson City Center with the doors opening at 10 AM on Friday January 31, and people were waiting in line to get in at 10 AM. Also of interest are all the other minerals found recently at the Rowley. Many specimens of mammothite, which is a very rare mineral, have been found. The

crystals are small (micro) but abundant. Also, found are boleite, caledonite, chrysocolla, phosgenite, paralaurionite (or laurionite), iodargyrite, cerussite, anglesite, and other minerals that are still being determined.

The other classic locality being worked again is the Red Cloud mine. They have just started mining and a few new

wulfenite specimens were available at the show. Of course, specimens from many of the classic Arizona

localities are always on exhibit. There seemed to be a lot of Bisbee azurite displayed this year. Also, the show theme was 60 years of Diamonds, Gems, Silver and Gold, so there were several gemstones of Arizona displays and some great Arizona silver

specimens.

(Photos of minerals mentioned in this article on next page)


Rowley mine wulfenite and mimetite

at the Hotel Tucson City Center

Mimetite with some wulfenite,

Rowley mine, Evan Jones specimen

New Red Cloud mine wulfenite

mined in 2014

Carved Rowley mine

chrysocolla

Chrysocolla spheres made from

Rowley mine material

Photos by Ray Grant


PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

By Chris Whitney-Smith

The Tucson Gem and Mineral Show exhibit cases were spectacular! MSA Juniors did very well

and won top honors. Hopefully, all of our juniors will attend the March meeting and bring in their awards. See photos.

Thank you, Dr. Kevin Healy and Tony Occhiuzzi, for hosting MSA’s spectacular February

program at MCC Planetarium! See photos.

Meet Bob Jones at the March meeting. Bob has a long history with MSA and is a legend in the

rock, gem, and mineral universe. After Bob’s program, stick around for Silent Auctions for two

great books; Adult, Junior, and Visitor Raffles for some great minerals; a mineral trade event; fellowship; and refreshments.

Editor - The Rockhound Record

Lois Splendoria

Due to increased demands from a new job and limited time to work on newsletter, Lois’s final

newsletter will be March 2014 issue.

Lois’s work with MSA is a story of service and devotion. Lois is a Milestone Life Member in 2014

and has served as President 1998, 1999 and 2009 and worked the more strategically important position as Editor of our Rockhound Record newsletter for three different intervals: first time for

1 year, second time for 2 years, and most recently for over 3½ years.

On behalf of MSA, we are grateful for Lois’s many years of service. MSA is here largely due to

her talents and passion. We will always appreciate her contributions and can continue to enjoy

her Rockhound Record newsletter legacy as archived on MSA’s website under the Newsletters tab. Thank you, Lois, and we wish you well in all of your future endeavors.

MSA Needs You!

Editor

I am working with MSA Board of Governors to identify interested and qualified candidates to

take over the reins and fill some very big shoes. A Prospective Editor needs to be identified in the first week of March to allow for necessary turnover with Lois. Candidates should be

comfortable with Microsoft Suite, specifically Microsoft Publisher. If you are this person or know someone who fits the bill, please contact me directly. (LOIS SPLENDORIA’S NOTE: Refer to

Page 2 of this newsletter for more current information.)

March 2014 Trade Minerals

Joey, Joe, and Jeremiah Philpott are bringing minerals from their various Arizona travels for

trade at March meeting. See pictures: Rowley, Mimetite, Wulfenite and Barite, Garnets from

Aquarius Mountains, and various other minerals. Please bring in any minerals you would like to trade. See photos.

(Photographs on Page 6)


Key Arizona Mineral Cases at Tucson Gem & Mineral Show

Flagg Mineral Foundation: Dave Shannon Collection

Mineralogical Society of Arizona Juniors

Harris Kominski 1st Place ribbon, Best of Show ribbon and trophy for Junior Thumbnails

Chloe Main 1st Place ribbon for Junior Miniatures

Dominic Diana Participation ribbon and honorable mention from past TGMS chair, Les Presmyk

Sammy Diana Participation ribbon and honorable mention from past TGMS chair, Les Presmyk

Arizona Mineral Minions

Flagg Mineral Foundation case

honoring Dave Shannon Photo by Shirley Fiske

Arizona Mineral Minions case

Photo by Shirley Fiske

Harris Kominski's case with the

Best of Show ribbon & trophy Photo by Chris Whitney-Smith

Harris Kominski in front of his case

Photo by Chuck Kominski


Chloe Main’s 2014 TGMS Case


Chloe Main in front of her

2014 TGMS Case Photo by Chuck Kominski

Dominic Diana’s case at 2014 TGMS


Sammy Diana’s case 2014 TGMS


C o n gr a t ul a t io n s , M S A J un i o r s !


General Meeting Minutes

February 13, 2014

By Dawn Boushelle, Secretary

The meeting, held at Mesa Community College’s Physical Science building, began in the

Planetarium. Tony Occhiuzzi introduced the Planetarium Director Dr. Kevin Healy. Dr. Healy presented Stars of the Pharaohs.

The meeting moved to one of the classrooms and was called to order by club President Chris

Whitney-Smith. Several guests introduced themselves and were welcomed by the club.

Announcements:

Gil brought Tucson Gem and Mineral show guides, and Shirley brought brochures from

the show to share with the group.

Dues for 2014 are now due. If you haven’t already, please submit your dues to the club

Treasurer, Lynne Dyer.

Chris reminded everyone about the silent auction, items in the auction include a nice

Azurite specimen and an Arizona Mineral Record.

The next club outing will take place on Sunday Feb. 23rd. The club will be going to

Amethyst Hill, for Fluorites and Amethyst, and the Purple Passion mine for Fluorescents and Wulfenite. Members should meet at the McDonald’s in Wickenburg at 7 a.m.

Chris reminded everyone about trading minerals; if anyone is interested, they can bring

specimens to the meetings.

Lynne Dyer mentioned there is lapidary equipment for sale, and if anyone is interested,

to contact her for details. The equipment is located near Southern and Price.

Tom LaBonte suggested, anyone who would like to take ad hoc rockhounding trips,

contact him.

The March Meeting will be back at the Franciscan Renewal Center in a different, larger

room. Bob Jones, author and senior consulting editor of Rock & Gem magazine will give a talk at the meeting.

If you would like to volunteer to bring refreshments to a meeting, a sign-up sheet was

available. If you didn’t get to sign up at the meeting, please see Maria Nichols.

Silver is the mineral of the month, and a few sample specimens were displayed.

Special thanks were given to Joe and Karen Nychay for donating much needed laptops to the club. They were presented a Certificate of Appreciation for their generous gift.

Carolyn Diana won the members’ drawing. Bob Lagodny won the guest drawing. John

Rusinek won the special drawing for the Hemimorphite from the 79 mine from the Dr. Ray

Grant collection

Refreshments were served and provided by Tony Occhiuzzi, Dawn & Don Boushelle, and Maria Nichols.

The evening’s business concluded and the meeting was adjourned.


John Rusinek, right,

Winner of the Raffle Prize Mineral, HEMIMORPHITE

from the 79 Mine

Gila County, Arizona (Dr. Ray Grant Donation)

Photo by Mike Williams

Tony Occhiuzzi & Dr. Kevin Healy

were awarded Certificatesfor presenting the February 2014

Program


Shirley Fiske was awarded

a Certificate from Chris Whitney-Smith for mineral

donations to the MSA

Photo by Mike Williams Les Presmyk was presented

a Certificate for Mineral Donations in 2013


Diane Moore (far left) & Dr. Carleton Moore

and other members in MCC Planetarium


SCENES FROM THE FEBRUARY 2014 MEETING

AT MESA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Ed Davis, who led the February

2014 field trip to the Purple Passion and Amethyst Hill

mines, was presented a

Certificate Photo by Chris Whitney-Smith

Dominic Diana (above left) and

Sammy Diana (above right) both won the Junior Raffle at the February meeting



MSA Field Trip - Saturday, March 22, 2013 - Cunningham Pass

Field Trip Co-Leaders:

Julie Massey - [email protected], Phone: (602) 882-0411 Joey Philpott - [email protected], Phone: (602) 828-9298

Material Found Here:

Bornite, Baryte, Brochantite, Calcite, Chalcocite, Chalcopyrite, Chrysocolla, Copper, Cuprite,

Pyrite, Malachite, Hematite and Magnetite

We will be collecting on the dumps of the numerous mines scattered throughout the old mining

district of Cunningham Pass. The area that we will be visiting is rich in copper, gold, and iron.

We will be meeting approximately 12 miles north of the town of Wenden, at 9:00AM. To get to the meeting spot, take US 60 west out of Wickenburg, to Alamo Dam Road (paved). Go north on

Alamo Dam Road approximately 12 miles. We will meet right off of the pavement on the west

side of Alamo Dam Road. A four-wheel drive vehicle will be necessary to access most of the collecting sites beyond the meeting spot. If you don’t have a four-wheel drive, you can most

likely find a seat in another member’s vehicle at the meeting spot. Bring water, lunch, bug spray, and sunscreen.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to email Julie Massey or Joey Philpott, or call us at the numbers listed above. We hope to see you there!

ARIZONA GEM AND MINERAL SHOWS - MARCH AND APRIL 2014

March 15-16—COTTONWOOD, ARIZONA: Show and sale; CKM Productions, LLC; Mingus High

School; 1801 E. Fir St.; Sat. 9-5, Sun. 9-4; adults $3, children (under 12) free; dealers, jewelry, gems, minerals, raffles; contact Gayle Macklin, PO Box 21222, Sedona, AZ, 86341, (520) 921-

0100; e-mail: [email protected]

April 12-14—ANTHEM, ARIZONA: Daisy Mountain Rock and Mineral Club; Anthem School, 41020 N. Freedom Way; Sat 10-5, Sun 10-4; $3 admission, students and seniors $2; Gems,

minerals, fossils, fluorescents, jewelry, beads, wore wrapping, raffles, kids events. Contact Ed Winbourne (978) 460-1528; email: [email protected]

Samples of material from

Cunningham Pass

Explore <> Share <> Collaborate

Please help us Explore new field trip adventures.

Share your ideas and suggestions to improve our club.

Collaborate with each other at meetings and shows.

mailto:[email protected]


MINERAL OF THE MONTH - REALGAR & ORPIMENT

By Dr. Raymond Grant

Members are invited to bring one sample from their collection of the mineral of the month and give a brief story about where they collected it or something about the

specimen. Unknown minerals for identification can still be brought to the meetings.

Minerals of the Month for March are realgar and orpiment. Realgar and orpiment are two colorful arsenic sulfides. Realgar is usually bright red or red orange, and orpiment is various shades of bright yellow. Both minerals are monoclinic and are

commonly well crystallized, and both are very soft (hardness 1.5 to 2). Realgar is unstable and will break down on long exposure to light. Specimens are common from

the Getchell mine, Humbolt County, Nevada and more recently from China and Peru. These minerals are rare in Arizona. There are only two reported occurrences of

realgar and one of orpiment and both are very vague. They are in Galbraith’s Minerals of Arizona. In the first edition in 1941, he reports under Pinal County, “In 1915 several

pounds of orpiment and realgar were discovered in an undefined locality near the junction of the Gila River and Hackberry Wash.” I always question if some prospector carried the material there from someplace else like Nevada and dumped it there? In

the second edition, Galbraith reports realgar from Yavapai County, “Bradshaw Mountains, as specimen material from the vicinity of Castle Hot Springs.” This sounds

like a possible location, but it is still not very specific. So I have never seen specimens of either realgar or orpiment from Arizona.

Realgar from 2014 TGMS

Photo by Chris Whitney Smith

ORPIMENT ON BARITE 6.5cm from

El’ brussky Arsenic Mine Northern Caucasus Region, Russia

Marc Fleischer Specimen & Photo


Trade Minerals

GARNETS for March Meeting by Joey Philpott

Trade Minerals

for March Meeting by Joey Philpott

Contributed by Chris Whitney-Smith


Bob Lagodny Gilbert, AZ

Joined February 2014

Dalia Desert Hills, AZ

Joined January 2014

Richard Brundige

Flagg Legacy Life Member February 2014

Welcome, New Members

SILENT AUCTION ITEM FOR

MARCH 2014 MEETING

“NATURE’S HIDDEN RAINBOWS”

By Robert Jones

Donation and Photo by Dr. Raymond Grant

MARCH 2014 RAFFLE DONATIONS

ADULT RAFFLE ITEM

Dr. Ray Grant donated

Calcite & Hemimorphite from

Potosi Mine, Santa Eulalia Chihuahua, Mexico

JUNIOR RAFFLE ITEM

Mr. Mineral (Dana Slaughter)

donated a collection of minerals


January 2014

INCOME

Proceeds from MSA Booth at Flagg Show $ 494.49

Raffle:

Malachite Donated by Chris Whitney-Smith $ 65.00

Pyrite/Dolomite Donated by Ray Grant $ 38.00

Silent Auction:

Book Donated by Ray Grant $ 50.00

Dues $ 496.00

TOTAL $ 1,143.49

EXPENSE

Bulletin $ 78.58

Uncle Bob's storage unit (6 mos.) $ 274.86

P.O. Box (6 mos.) $ 27.00

Gift Card $ 105.44

Badges $ 19.65

TOTAL $ 505.53

February 2014

INCOME

Dues $ 96.00

Raffle $ 20.00

Silent Auction $ 60.00

TOTAL $ 176.00

EXPENSE

Past Presidents’ & Life Badges $ 32.49

TOTAL $ 32.49

MSA TREASURER’S REPORT JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2014


DUES REMINDER

Your dues for 2014 is now due. If you have not

already mailed your dues to the treasurer, please bring it to the meeting. You may also mail it to

Lynne Dyer at the following address:

Lynne Dyer, Treasurer P.O. BOX 30031

Mesa, AZ 85275-0031

Dues rates are as follows:

Families & Couples - $20.00 Single Adults - $12.00

Junior members, Honorary members, and MSA Milestone Life members are exempt from payment

of dues. MSA Legacy Life members are exempt

after the initial payment. More information is

available about this on the website under the “MSA CLUB” tab.

New Meeting Location, Dates, Times, and Maps

MEETING DATE PLACE ROOM START TIME

March 13 Franciscan Renewal Center Father Owen 7:30 p.m.

April 10 Franciscan Renewal Center Padre Serra 7:30 p.m.

May 8 Franciscan Renewal Center Padre Serra 7:30 p.m.

June 12 Franciscan Renewal Center Padre Serra 7:30 p.m.

July NO MEETINGS IN JULY & AUGUST

August

September 11 Franciscan Renewal Center Padre Serra 7:30 p.m.

October 9 Franciscan Renewal Center Father Owen 7:30 p.m.

November 13 Franciscan Renewal Center Padre Serra 7:30 p.m.

December 11 Franciscan Renewal Center Father Owen 7:00 p.m.

Franciscan Renewal Center

5802 East Lincoln Drive Scottsdale, AZ 85283

Arrive 7:00 p.m. Meeting at 7:30 p.m.

Verify Room Name Above “Padre Serra” Room in Piper Hall

“Father Owen” Room in Halle Building

Members, please feel free to bring minerals for trade to the meetings.

TRADE MINERALS

Visiting Mineralogists

& Rockhounds,

please get in touch with us!


Purpose: To promote popular interest and education

in Earth Science, and related fields (Geology, Mineralogy, Paleontology, and Lapidary arts). To foster a fellowship among individuals interested in Earth

Science and enable our members to better identify materials we collect, and how to display or further process these materials. To teach all generations about

rocks, minerals, fossils, and what can be done with them, and be collaborative in community of groups with similar interests to our Society.

Meetings: 7:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month, September through June. See Page 3 of this newsletter for more details.

Dues: Families & Couples - $20.00, Single Adults - $12.00. Junior members, Honorary members, and MSA Milestone Life members are exempt from payment of

dues. MSA Legacy Life members are exempt after the initial payment. Please mail your dues to:

Lynne Dyer, Treasurer P.O. BOX 30031

Mesa, AZ 85275-0031

ID badges are available from the Treasurer.

Mineralogical Society of Arizona Founded 1935

A Non Profit 501(c)(3) Organization

AFFILIATIONS

www.rmfms.org www.amfed.org

Rocky Mountain

Federation of Mineralogical Societies

American Federation

of Mineralogical Societies

Reprinting permission granted with proper credit

given.

First Class Mail

LOIS SPLENDORIA, EDITOR MINERALOGICAL SOCIETY OF ARIZONA P.O. BOX 30031 Mesa, AZ 85275-0031

Documents

March 2014 MSA Rockhound Record