Vol. 10 Summer 2006

Vancouver Island Field TripMt. Tzouhalem Quartz Crystals

Golden Hopes and Broken Dreams Lost and Forgotten Mines

Rendezvous 2006Hefley Creek BC

Petroglyphs in British Columbia History and Heritage

Salt Casting

The Pangaea Theory

Tips from the Frugal Tumbler

RockhounderB.C.

Rockhound’sCode of Ethics

1. I will respect private property and do no Rockhounding without the owner’s permission.

2. I will use no firearms or blasting material in rockhounding areas.

3. I will take garbage home or deposit in proper receptacles.

4. I will leave gates as found.

5. I will do no willful damage to materials or take more than I can reasonably use.

6. I will fill excavations which may be dangerous to livestock.

7. I will build fires in designated places or safe places only, and make sure they are completely extinguished before leaving.

8. I will not contaminate wells, creeks or other water supplies.

9. I will not tamper with signs, structural facilities or equipment.

10. I will obey all laws and regulations of forestry and game departments in the area in which I am hunting.

11. I will appreciate and protect our heritage of natural resources and wild life.

12. I will always use good outdoor manners.

The British Columbia RockhounderPublished Quarterly by the British Columbia Lapidary Society

Editor: Win Robertsonemail: winrob@shaw.ca Tel: 1-250-376-4878snail mail: #6 2401 Ord Rd. Kamloops, BC V2B 7V8

Design and Layout: Mairi Budreau Kamloops BC mairib@telus.net

Printing: Sure Kamloops Print & Copy Center North Shore, Kamloops BC

Vancouver Island Field Trip pg 4Petroglyphs in British Columbia pg 6Hunting For Canada’s “Hidden” Gems pg 8Golden Hopes and Broken Dreams ~ Lost and Forgotten Mines Howe Sound Part 4 pg 10Flourite pg 16The Pangaea Theory pg 17Salt Casting pg 23Tips from the Frugal Tumbler pg 22Lapidary pg 23Wagon Master Field Trips pg 24Rendezvous 2006 Hefley Creek BC pg 25Lakes District Rock and Gem Club Burns Lake Dist. Area Agates pg 27Rockhounder Club News pg 29Club Shows and Sales Fall and Winter 2006 pg 34Rendezvous 2007 pg 35

www.lapidary.bc.ca

20739 39 Avenue, Langley BC V3A 2V7 Tel: 604-­532-­0582 Fax: email: dsdixon@3web.net

Front CoverBritannia # 3 Concentrator Mill - Howe Sound, BC

Photo: James Laird

Contents

pg 14

SUBMISSION GUIDELINESText: Word DocumentArticle photos: 300 dpi min 4”x 6”Cover Photo: 300 dpi 8.5”x11” questions? answers Î mairib@telus.net

pg 8

pg 25

pg 6

previous page Photo Mairi Budreau © 2006 “Tranquille” Kamloops BC

Presidents Message

Harley Waterson Lapidary Society Executive

President Harley WatersonPast President John Bowman1st Vice President Walt Pinder2nd Vice President De Singleton3rd Vice President Elizabeth O’HeaTreasurer Diane BowmanExecutive Secretary Debbie DixonRecording Secretary Terry Bacon

3

I hope that everyone is enjoying the warmth of summer!I would first like to thank the

volunteers from the Thompson Valley club for all of their hard work organizing a terrific Rendezvous! There was a great turnout, lots of rock collecting, and a great auction! Thanks also to the other volunteers who donated time, and materials to the auction, and other activities.

So far this summer, Livia and I have taken a week and hooked up with several others who went to central Oregon to collect some goodies, and check out the vendors at the June events. Each year there are gatherings of vendors in Prineville, Madras and Sisters. The Madras event also includes field trips to several local digging spots. This year we took an entire week for the events and included a visit to the sunstone location near the town (?) of Plush, a visit to the Virgin Valley Opals near Denio Nevada, a visit to Happy Camp California for Idocrase & serpentine, plus we did the tourist tour around Crater Lake, and the Redwood forest. The entire trip was many miles of driving, and fortunately no hassles coming back across the border.

One interesting thing we found out is the owners of Quant’s Rock shop in Prineville are digging up the Carey Plume again. I was certainly keen to paw through some fresh rough materials at the shop! A trip to central Oregon is never complete without a stop at Richardson’s Recreational ranch. Always something new outside, and lots of it!

If you have never been to central Oregon, try to plan a trip around one of the rockhound events they organize through the year.

For the society, things are quiet! We’ll have a meeting this fall, and get back to work after the summer

continued on pg 23

It pays to attend your local club show.

OK, so you get to eat awful hotdogs and drink weak coffee, and listen to the same old stories, told by the same old boys, about the time that … you know what I mean. But every now and then, you get a surprise.

A nice surprise, that comes out of the blue, and is so unexpected that afterwards you’re left shaking your head in wonder. Just such an event happened to this writer at the last Victoria Lapidary & Mineral Club Show. Things had been going pretty much as they always did, and the Sunday crowd was beginning to thin a bit, as it often does about noon, when a lady in her mid-30s came up to our table and asked: “Can anyone tell me what these are?” In her hand she held a couple of clear, doubly terminated quartz crystals. Not quite as pretty as the ones from Herkimer in up-­state New York, but

as good as any I’d seen from China. They sell them by the pound bag at the Tucson Show. “Sure,” said I, smiling smugly, “they’re called Herkimer diamonds. Of course, they’re not real diamonds. They’re quartz. Where’d you get them?” “In Duncan,” she said. “Bought them in a store, did you?” Someone asked politely. “No,” came the unexpected reply, “I picked them up. I’ve got lots of them.” “What!” Came three voices from the other side of the

The Wanderer

table. Suddenly we were all very interested. To cut a long story short, it turns out the lady had found them while walking her dog on a newly cleared area that was slated to be a golf course.

In short order, the VLMS organized a field trip there (see the Rockhounder Vol. 9, Spring 2006, p. 30). Despite bad weather, some crystals were found.

The Geology:

The quartz material is hosted in a fri-able basalt that is currently exposed – for how much longer will depend on the developer. The area’s soil and trees have been stripped bare, leaving an expanse of volcanics visible. While the surrounding re-

gion is primarily Nanaimo Group sedimentaries (Upper Cretaceous sandstones), the rocks under the golf course are much older – pillow basalts of the Mt Sicker Formation, (Devonian – or about 400 million years old). They are thus part of the original base rocks making up the Wrangellia Plate on which Van-couver Island (and the Queen Char-lottes) lie.

Initially, collectors found the crystals on the surface, where the graders and bulldozers had left them, and the rain had washed them clear. Those easy pickings vanished fairly quickly. Now, the best sources are long shallow cracks that run east-west across the slope.

A screwdriver, a pair of gloves, and lots of patience seem to be

Vancouver Island Field Trip ~ Mt.Tzouhalem Quartz Crystals

...it turns out the lady had

found them while walking her

dog on a newly cleared area...

A few hundred metres below the trees, collectors dig in the basalt cracks to find crystals in a

sandy clay.

Typical crystals found at Mount Tzouhalem. Some are doubly terminated. Grid is 1 cm square

4

the key ingredients to successful rockhounding. The cracks are filled with a dense clay that can be pried out, and the crystals, measuring up to 8 cm in length (but more commonly 3-5 cm) are found in the clay. Some are extremely clear, when cleaned, others not so. Most are doubly-­terminated, making this site the first known source of this type on the Island.

How to get there:

Take the Maple Bay turnoff from the Island Highway in Duncan, heading east on Trunk Road (Hwy 1A) which turns into Tzouhalem Road and later Maple Bay Road. At 5.1 km turn right into “The Properties” and drive up-hill as far as you can (about a km) on the north slope of Mount Tzou-halem. Park on the uppermost road. From there, a 10-­minute walk uphill takes you across a moonscape of broken rock terraces (the future golf course). About 2/3 of the way up the slope from the upper paved road to the start of the trees, look for shallow clay-­filled cracks running across the slope.

5

The town of Duncan on Vancouver Island is in the lower left corner, Maple Bay is on the right. The star marks the approximate site of the crys-tal finds on the north flank of Mt Tzouhalem.

♦ ♦ ♦

6

A Petroglyph is an image recorded on stone, usually by prehistoric peoples, by means of carving, pecking or otherwise incised on natural rock surfaces.

The word comes from the Greek words petros meaning “stone” and glyphein meaning “to carve” (it was originally coined in French as pétro-glyphe).

These images had deep cultural and religious significance for the societies that created them.

The term ‘petroglyph’ should not be confused with neither the term “pictograph” -­ a more advanced symbol type, which uses the images to tells the chronological story spanning through time - nor with the more primitive cave painting.

Rock carvings and paintings are found throughout the inhabited world. In British Columbia alone, over 500 examples of this type of archaeological site have been recorded, more than in any other province in Canada.The rock carvings, or petroglyphs,

were made by the aboriginal people of the region by pecking and abrading selected rock surfaces with stone tools.

The paintings, or pictographs, were applied to rock with brushes, sticks or fingers. Pigments were usually made from powdered

minerals (ochres); haematite and limonite. A binder of animal fat or fish eggs

may have been added to make them adhere to the rock surface. The bonding ability and composition of the pigment is such that it easily outlasts the commercial paints of today. Over 90 per cent of all rock paintings are red.Locations for rock art carvings

and paintings were carefully chosen. They were places of power or mystery; places where the forces of nature were believed to be especially strong. They are marked by unusual natural features such as waterfalls, rock formations or caves. Nearly all sites are near water and may also be near old village sites or along trails or ancient trade routes.

For reasons not fully understood, a great many petroglyphs were carved on intertidal beach boulders submerged by the sea, or hidden below flooding rivers, appearing only when the tide is out or when the river water levels drop. Pictographs are almost always found safe and dry above the high-­water mark of rivers, lakes or inlets. They were usually made on smooth, light-coloured rock surfaces where the red pigment could be easily seen.

Petroglyphs and pictographs are the records of a people with no written language and are rare links with the past native cultures of the province. They record coming of age ceremonies, performed by youths, and were burial markers or guardians for the dead. They

commemorate potlatches and semi-secret events occurring during the winter ceremonials. Some, like the intertidal carvings of the coast, may have ‘called’ the fish into the rivers to be caught. Others marked the boundaries of hunting and fishing territories. Certain sites may have been part of secretive shamanistic rituals. A few were records of disaster: floods, landslides, storms, and wars. Many appear to have been the personal records of individuals’ experiences. Although in a few cases there are ethnographic

Petroglyphs in British Columbia ~ History and Heritage Tour Operators in British Columbia

They were places of power or

mystery;; places where the forces

of nature were believed to be

especially strong

A thought-­provoking likeness to a helmeted Vi-king Photo: M. Guille

explanations of why a particular carving or painting was made, the majority are still unexplained.

The age of very few petroglyphs and pictographs is known -­ and they are among the most recent. The stories of old people or the subject matter of some of the designs, for example historic sailing ships or horsemen, are often the only clues to age.

Of the 300 or so sites on the BC coast, fewer than 30 can be dated and most of these are approximate estimates at best. A few designs were made as late as the 1920’s, but no one knows how old the older ones are. We don’t even know which are the

older ones. The practice of making petroglyphs and pictographs is probably as old as man in BC. The

7first of the Indian people arrived in the province shortly after the ice of the last glacial age had begun to retreat some 14,000 years ago.

The earliest archaeological remains in BC, known at present, are between 9,000 -­ 12,000 years old. It is, however, extremely unlikely

that any existing petroglyphs or pictographs are that ancient since the natural forces of erosion: washing tides, abrading sand and gravel, wind, sun, rain, frost and vegetative growth, would have obliterated any early designs long ago. Field researchers often find vestiges of carvings and faint traces of paints too weathered to be recorded. The carbon 14 technique and other useful dating tools of the archaeologist can only rarely be applied to rock art sites. Estimates

of the probable age of existing BC rock art range up to a maximum of 3,000 years.

Researchers are attempting to record and understand rock art before the relentless forces of erosion succeed in destroying the sites completely. Only when we understand how these carvings and paintings were made can we begin to make recommendations for their preservation. Given time, techniques can be developed to cope with natural erosion. Human damage poses a far greater threat to rock art sites. Unlike natural erosion it is unusually swift and violent. Many sites have already been lost to construction and vandalism. A site that has survived several hundred years to natural erosion can be severely damaged or totally destroyed in a few seconds by souvenir hunters chipping away

at fragile surfaces, by thoughtless individuals who scratch, chalk or paint over the designs, or by the construction bulldozer.All rock art sites in BC are

protected by law. However, none can be considered as protected unless everyone recognizes them as vulnerable and respects them as a unique part of the cultural heritage of British Columbia.

Popular Petroglyph sites in British ColumbiaNanaimo, Vancouver Island Petro-glyph Provincial Park in Nanaimo provides the most concentrated and easily accessible collection of carv-ings in BC. Visitors can make their own petroglyph rubbings here, or at the Nanaimo Museum, where fur-ther information is provided on other petroglyphs in the area.

Port Alberni, Vancouver IslandOne of the finest panels of petro-glyphs to be seen in British Colum-bia is located on Sproat Lake, at the east end of Sproat Lake Provincial Park. Located west of Port Alberni, the park combines a visit to the petroglyphs with great recreation provided on Sproat Lake.

the Kwagiulth Museum and Cul-tural Centre in Cape Mudge Village. “Cup and Ring” carvings on Quadra Island are identical to those found throughout Britain and Ireland, par-ticularly in Northeastern England, and are estimated to date from the same era - over 5,000 years ago. The petroglyphs in the grounds of the museum were relocated from Cape Mudge beaches for their pro-tection.

Gabriola Island, Gulf Islands

Known as Petroglyph Island, nearly 100 petroglyphs are dotted all over Gabriola Island, accessible by a short ferry ride from Nanaimo.

The Gabriola Museum, located a short walk from the ferry dock, displays concrete replicas of a selection of the island’s stone carvings, allowing visitors to take rubbings of these mythical creatures (see photo on the right).

Thorsen Creek, Bella CoolaHundreds of petroglyphs have

fallen from a cliff-face and lie scattered among tree roots deep in the forest west of Bella Coola. Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl suggested that the Easter Islanders originated here because the incised rock symbols on the canyon face so greatly resemble the Polynesian stone carvings on Easter Island.

For more information about petroglyphs and pictographs contact

the Royal British Columbia Museum

in Victoria.

Sooke, Vancouver IslandEast Sooke Regional Park in yields magnificent Coast Salish petro-glyphs at Alldridge point, designated as a provincial heritage site in 1927. Here you’ll see petroglyphs carved in a style particular to the Strait of Juan de Fuca region.

Quadra Island, Gulf IslandsPetroglyphs abound along the beaches of Quadra Island, around Cape Mudge Lighthouse and at

Only when we understand

how these carvings and

paintings were made

can we begin to make

recommendations for

their preservation.

Petroglyph replica used for rubbings at the

Gabriola Museum ♦ ♦ ♦All the gold ever

mined in the world would fit inside a

baseball diamond (84’x84’x84’) and

would weigh 145,000

metric tonnes. This amount would make

3,836,043,358.8 one

ounce gold coins.

From ancient times, emerald has been considered one of the rarest, most beautiful and valuable gemstones.

No wonder that its recent discovery in Ontario, the Yukon and Northwest Territories caused a stir among min-eralogists and mining companies around the world. Mineralogy and crystallography professor Lee Groat in the Department of Earth & Ocean Sciences at the University of British Columbia has studied beryl deposits in northern Canada to discover the mysteries of gemstone properties and colour— specifically, the unique deep-turquoise stones so far found only in the northern Yukon.

Emerald was discovered in Canada in the 1940s near Dryden, Ontario, but it wasn’t until 1998 that the first major, and accidental, discovery was made by former UBC student Bill Wengzynowski. “Bill was working with Expatriate Resources, looking for copper, lead and zinc deposits, when the gem-quality beryl was found,” says Dr.

Groat, who X-rayed the sample and classified it as emerald.

Over the next several years, Dr. Groat and colleagues Jim Mortensen of UBC and Dan Marshall of SFU were involved in several geological and mineralogical studies of beryl deposits in the Canadian Shield and Cordilleran regions. The three main emerald occurrences are located at Tsa Da Glisza (formerly Regal Ridge) in southeastern Yukon, Lened near the Yukon-­Northwest Territories border, and the Taylor site in northwestern Ontario.

From Macrocosm to Microcosm

Emerald is defined as green gem beryl, with a chemical composition of beryllium, aluminium, silica, and oxygen (Be3Al2Si6O18). The colour of emerald is usually related to minor amounts of chromium, and depends not only upon the mix of elements but on the interplay of atoms in the crystal lattice. Emerald deposits

have different characteristics in different geographical areas. At the macroscopic level, the research is akin to geological detective work. First, the characteristics of the sites and the rock in which beryl is discovered is considered. Second, factors such as the ratio of elements like magnesium and iron found in tourmaline minerals and their proximity to emerald mineralization are identified. Third, how the elements combine to form various types of beryl and gem-quality emerald is analyzed.

At the microcosmic level, Dr. Groat uses advanced crystallographic techniques such as single-crystal X-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction, and electron probe microanalysis to assess the unique molecular characteristics of minerals and gemstones.

Scientifically Unearthing Canada’s Emeralds

Emeralds are rare because a main element of their composition, beryllium, is not usually found in the same area as chromium and vanadium, the trace elements that produce the emerald green colour. For instance, chromium is associated with oceanic rocks and beryllium is predominantly found in granitic rocks, explains Dr. Groat. “For emerald, you have to get beryllium together with chromium and these elements tend not to travel in the same geological circles.”

Exploration companies want answers to questions such as: what

Hunting for Canada’s “Hidden” GemsMari-Lou Rowley

Photo courtesy of True North Gems

Photo courtesy of True North Gems

8

9are the characteristics of a site that promote gemstone formation, and how can deposits be more easily located? UBC’s Dr. Groat has been working with industry partners True North Gems Inc. and Archer Cathro & Associates (1981) Ltd. to evaluate Canada’s three main emerald occurrences. In each case the geology is strikingly different.

In the Tsa Da Glisza site, the source of beryllium is granite and the source of chromium is the host rock, a mica schist. The emerald found in Ontario occurs right next to a granitic rock, not at a distance from it—at least several hundred metres—as at the other two sites. “It looks like the granitic material was mixed up with a schist to form an unusual black rock that has emeralds in it, so we are trying to explain how that happened,” says Dr. Groat. In the Lened area, the source of beryllium is a mystery. “It is probably coming from nearby granite, but that granite doesn’t have much beryllium in it.”

The emeralds found in the Lened site have another unique characteristic—their colour comes from traces of vanadium, not chromium. “When people first realized that vanadium could cause great colour as well, there was a

huge debate as to whether this type of beryl was really emerald,” says Dr. Groat. Today, gemmologists have relaxed their views. Since emeralds are notorious for having cracks and inclusions, it is the quality of the gem, not necessarily the type of colour-creating mineral (or chromophore) that determines its value. Dr. Groat’s work has enabled him to assess the nature and origin of fluids that lead to the formation of beryl/emerald, thereby providing molecular clues as to chromophore sources.

Tracking Canada’s Rare Blue Beryl

In the summer of 2003, armed with a geologist’s arsenal of equipment and aided by graduate students Heather Neufeld and Dawn Kellett, Groat and Wengzynowski took to the field in search of emeralds. Their work yielded another amazing, and accidental, find 100 kilometres northwest of the Tsa Da Glisza site—a brilliant dark blue beryl the colour of cobalt. A light blue specimen was found in 1976, but it wasn’t until October 2003 that Dr. Groat identified it—along with the samples they had collected that summer—as

true beryl. The find attracted media attention across the globe. “The question of its value still depends on how much of it there is, and how much can be cut into gemstones,” says Dr. Groat.

Blue gem beryl is commonly known as aquamarine, and its colour is due to iron, which is also not usually found in appreciable quantities with beryllium. The deep blue of the Canadian beryl renders it gemmologically distinct, and the stone has created a stir in the research community. As yet, scientists don’t know exactly what causes the blue colour in aquamarine. “We know it involves iron, but we don’t know the mechanism,” admits Dr. Groat. “And since the dark blue beryl has more iron than normal aquamarine, we thought it would be a good material to use to try to solve the problem.”

Mari-Lou Rowley is a science writer, poet and principal of Pro-­Textual Com-munications.

♦ ♦ ♦

This abbreviated article is reproduced with permission of the UBC Faculty of Science from SYNERGY >> JOURNAL OF UBC SCIENCE, Issue 1, 2006.

Howe Sound is a large coastal inlet located immediately northwest of Vancouver, BC. The Howe Sound area has had a long and colourful history of cultural and geologic changes. The earliest geological events are clouded in a sea of younger metamorphism, dating from at least 200 million years in the past. Cultural events are much more recent, possibly pre-glacial, however definitely dating from at least 12,000 years ago when the earliest known settlers arrived. The first settlers, now known as First Nations, arrived by water from the north and south following recession

of a 2 km thick continental ice sheet about 10 to 12 thousand years ago.

A general warming trend that continues to this day has caused greater annual rock exposure due to glacial recession. This warming trend enabled the First Nations and the later colonists to establish residence along the Southwest Mainland of BC. In the 1700’s, the Spanish, British and American explorers and traders arrived, looking for gold, silver and valuable furs. Fishing, farming, logging and mining were the primary pursuits of the settlers that soon followed. Today, the booming metropolis of

Vancouver is home to people from every region in the world.

Where to start this story of early mining ventures is problematic, certainly everyone who has ever lived here has made use of the stone for building. Beauty was inherent in certain finds such as chalcedonic agates, red jasper, calcite and quartz crystals. The metals copper, silver and gold were also highly desired for both their beauty and usefulness. The power of fire combined with early metallurgical technology gave birth to the new process of smelting ores. The smelting process allowed the

Golden Hopes andBroken Dreams~ Lost and Forgotten Mines of Southwest BC

Part 4 – Howe Sound

By James LairdLaird Exploration Ltd.Copyright 2006

10

11

ore from complex mineral deposits to give forth copious amounts of the pure metals.

The search for the complex sulphide-type of mineral deposits in BC certainly began with the Spanish explorers, but these adventurers were more driven to locate precious metal deposits of the purest and highest grades, such as the gold deposits at Zeballos on Vancouver

Island. Thus, true development of the Howe Sound mineral resources began mainly in the 1800’s with immigrants from Britain and the United States. Following the great discoveries of placer gold on the Fraser River system and in the Cariboo, mineral veins were sought and tested for their valuable commodities. Discoveries were made, towns were born, among them the thriving settlement of Britannia Beach. But I am getting ahead of myself, as these successes were still but dreams for the true oldest profession, the prospectors.

Howe Sound is home to one of the largest massive sulphide copper mines in the world, Britannia, which at one time was the largest copper mine in the British Empire. The Britannia discovery is a little clouded in controversy, as several people explored the area prior to

“discovery” in the late 1800’s. News of this discovery had the effect of spurring on the prospectors of SW BC to find another “elephant” by exploring the shores and mountains of Howe Sound. This article is an historical adventure following in their footsteps, or perhaps boat wakes.

There are presently three ways to get access to Howe Sound; the Sea to Sky Highway along the east side, by water, and by helicopter to the mountain peaks. The easiest access for most people is via the Highway north from Horseshoe Bay to the town of Squamish. Recent road construction and widening has broadly exposed new rock outcrops for inspection, but great care must be taken to find a safe parking spot. Due to the relatively narrow areas between shear rock walls and a busy highway, taking young

children along is not a good choice. Be conscious of your own safety as well; wear a hard hat and bright clothing.

Before we begin our road trip north, a little overview of the local geology would be useful. There are several ages of volcanic and intrusive activity present in the Howe Sound area, and a few volcanic-related sedimentary intervals. Each successive era has metamorphosed and altered earlier rocks, making age identification sometimes problematic. Most of the volcanic rocks and sediments formed under sea-­floor marine conditions, and are andesitic to felsic in nature. Much of the intrusive plutonic activity is granodiorite in composition, but gabbro, diorite, quartz diorite, quartz porphyry and granite can also be found.

Glacial sculpting of Anvil, Gambier and Bowen Islands

Sea to Sky Highway near Sunset Marina

...these successes were

still but dreams for the true

oldest profession...,

Pevious page Looking across Howe Sound from Horseshoe Bay

The oldest defined rock package is the Twin Islands Group, exposed near Horseshoe Bay and along the first few kilometers of the Highway. These rocks are probably pre-­Triassic in age (>200 million years) and are composed of andesitic volcanics and sediments, now metamorphosed to amphibolite. Coarse orthoclase feldspar pegmatite dikes intrude the amphibolite, and some studies have shown microscopic corundum (sapphire) is present in the amphibolite. Small copper-bearing veins have been explored within these rocks where exposed on the shoreline near Horseshoe Bay at Hole-in-the-Wall, a world-famous salmon fishing location.The next youngest group of rocks

is the Jurassic Bowen Island Group, which has yet to be identified along the eastern shore of Howe Sound. It occurs on Bowen, Keats and Gambier Islands, and on the Sunshine Coast along the western

side of the Sound. It is composed mainly of marine andesitic flows and tuffs, with some volcaniclastic sediments. The Bowen Island Group hosts modest deposits of copper, silver, gold, lead and zinc, many of which are described in detail in Part 1 of this series.

Following a substantial interval, the Lower Cretaceous Gambier Group marine volcanics and sediments were deposited on the sea floor, and more importantly, they hosted a series of “black smoker” sulphidic vents which gave birth to the giant Britannia Mine orebodies. This group of rocks forms the bulk of Gambier Island, Bowyer and Anvil Islands, and much of the mainland adjacent to upper Howe Sound. Gambier Group rocks are the target of choice for prospectors, because of the potential to find the “next Britannia”.

The most recent era of volcanism is still upon us, namely the Garabaldi Group of non-marine volcanic rocks of Tertiary to Recent age. Mount Garabaldi and Black Tusk Mountain are clearly visible north of the town of Squamish, but smaller volcanic vents broke through west of Squamish and at Watts Point on Howe Sound. The vents near Squamish are visible as a series of tall vertical columns along the ridge west of town, postulated to have occurred when a volcanic event erupted through the dense glacial ice cover about 12,000 years ago. Mount St. Helen’s volcano in

Washington State erupted with great destruction in 1980, and the related Garabaldi chain of volcanoes is potentially just as active.

Intrusive plutonic activity seems to focus in two main eras, Mid-Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous, with lesser Tertiary to Recent events. Of particular interest are the Lower Cretaceous intrusions, which can host large porphyry copper-molybdenum deposits such as the +100 Mt. Gambier Island Cu-Mo ore deposit, and a number of other significant prospects. Among the most interesting of the potential porphyry copper prospects are the Howe Copper Mine, located west of Howe Sound near the headwaters of McNab Creek, and the Britannia West deposit located mid-way between Woodfibre Pulp Mill and Squamish on the western side of the Sound. Maps portraying the complex geology and mineral deposits of Howe Sound are available from the BC Geological Survey (BCGS) and the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC).

We begin our road trip heading north from Horseshoe Bay on the Sea to Sky Highway towards Squamish. We immediately encounter the Twin Islands Group rocks which are well-­exposed near the BC Ferries toll booths at Horseshoe Bay. These rocks show a fine-­grained texture and an overall grey colour with little obvious reason to examine them in detail. Accordingly, we are going to continue a few more kilometers north to the vicinity of Sunset Marina, where a pink granodiorite pluton is well exposed along the highway. The notable characteristics of this location are the abundance of dark basic dikes cutting the granodiorite, and the occurrence of malachite (copper) staining along a series of shear walls beside the highway.

As we proceed north a few kilometers from Sunset Marina, abundant iron-­staining marks a contact zone between granodiorite and Gambier Group andesite. Massive pyrite occurs near the contact in small shear zones, and felsic intrusive activity is noticeable in small breccia zones. Traveling north for a few more kilometers brings one to Newman Bluffs, the

Tunnel near the Bowena Copper Mine,

Bowen Island

Mt. Garabaldi Volcano behind Squamish

12

13site of several old tunnels driven on narrow copper veins. One of the tunnels is at the water’s edge, one is along the railway tracks below the highway, and a third is located uphill on the southern face of Newman’s Bluff. A large pyritic zone is exposed near a highway pull-out, and a trail leads up the bluffs from the pull-out. About 500 meters north of the pull-­out, near Lone Tree Creek, small veins carry calcite and quartz crystals, and red jasper occurs in the volcanics, particularly near the shoreline.

At Lions Bay, home to Laird Exploration Ltd., rusty Gambier Group volcanics host minor copper deposits at the Attorney and Opporgol showings. The precise location of the workings is presently unknown, and only a minor mention is given in the BC Minister of Mines Annual Reports. Perhaps someone reading this article will one day locate them, after undertaking a marathon through blackberry bushes and steep cliffs. After one passes the gravel pit mine

near Brunswick Beach, Gambier Group volcanics persist for many kilometres north to Brunswick Point, where argillaceous sediments make their debut. Rare fossils have been found here, however more interest has developed in the black argillite as a carving-­stone. On Brunswick Point, a small tunnel has been driven into rusty sediments at the water’s edge.

Continuing north on the highway, the Gambier Group rocks contact a large granodiorite intrusion in the vicinity of Porteau Cove, known as the Furry Creek Pluton. The intrusion occupies the lower valley of Furry Creek and terminates to the north against Gambier Group rocks at Britannia Beach. Home to the BC Museum of Mining, a striking reminder of days gone by is the huge Britannia #3 Concentrator Mill building, now undergoing

substantial restoration. The history of the Britannia Mine and its various communities are featured at the Museum, and underground tours are also available. This is a not-to-be missed stop along the Sea-to-­Sky highway, and a great family outing.

The Britannia Mine is a volcanogenic massive sulphide deposit, formed on the sea-­floor from “black smoker” vents about 100 million years ago. The mine hosts a series of copper, zinc, lead, gold and silver bearing ore bodies starting at the mountain top at 4100 feet elevation, plunging down to more than 2000 feet below sea level. The lower extent of the ore zone has never been determined. Mining stopped because of poor economics in 1974. More than 200 kilometres of underground workings exist in Britannia Mountain, from which 60 million tons of ore were extracted. Truly a prospector’s Holy Grail!

A short distance north of Britannia Beach, granodiorite of the Squamish Pluton intrudes the Gambier Group rocks. This large granitic mass shows up as a series of large looming cliffs above the highway, culminating in Squamish Chief Mountain, a world-famous rock-­climbing paradise. Also of note is Shannon Falls, a spectacular waterfall visible above the highway. At Watts Point along the shoreline, a young volcanic vent of the Garabaldi

Group broke through the Squamish Pluton granodiorite. The volcanic rock has been extensively quarried for industrial purposes.

Traveling the shoreline of Howe Sound by small boat is an adventure second to none. Personally, I use a 16-foot open aluminum boat with a 25 horsepower outboard motor for maximum load, speed and safety, combined with the capability to pull it up on any beach. Howe Sound is noted for its fierce winds and heavy rainstorms, particularly in the fall and winter, so novice boaters beware. Larger boats are available for rent at Sewell’s Marina in Horseshoe Bay, but these cannot be beached. If you have your own boat, launch sites are located at Horseshoe Bay, Sunset and Lions Bay Marinas, Porteau Cove, and Squamish.

A complete guide to the shoreline of Howe Sound with its hundreds of kilometers of bays, bluffs and beaches is beyond the scope of this article, so I will concentrate on several areas of interest, and leave new discoveries to the explorers.

Britannia Mine #3 Concentrator Mill

Brendan Laird prospects Howe Sound

...more interest has

developed in the

black argillite...

The western side of Howe Sound, from Squamish to Port Mellon, is only accessible by water, as are the islands. Starting near Squamish, the old porphyry copper-gold property named Britannia West is located mid-­way between the Woodfibre Pulp Mill and Squamish, uphill from the shoreline. This mine was active in the early 1900’s when several tunnels were driven, an aerial tramway to the shoreline was built, and a water-powered concentrating mill was constructed at the shore. Laird Exploration Ltd., owner of the property, is currently investigating the production potential of this old and forgotten mine.

There are many old tunnels and rock trenches located along the shore of Howe Sound, some have never been recorded or investigated by the BCGS or the GSC. Traveling

south from Woodfibre to Potlatch Creek, malachite staining and quartz veins are visible from the water about 1 kilometre east of the creek mouth.

An old adit is visible from the shoreline about 1 kilometre west of Potlatch Creek, minor copper mineralization occurs in this short tunnel.Near McNab Creek, several

malachite stained quartz veins can be spotted on the cliff wall east of the creek outlet.Two small deposits of copper, zinc, lead and silver, known as Crofton and Hazel, occur about a kilometre up McNab Creek on the east side. A number of trenches and shafts were used to explore the mineralized zones but no significant deposits were developed. A few kilometers west of McNab Creek, an old shale quarry near the shoreline

was once operated for roofing material. A few kilometres southwest, the Seaview zinc, lead, copper, and silver prospect shows at least three short tunnels and a shaft near the shore. Additional workings occur inland; Laird Exploration Ltd. owns the mineral rights and is currently exploring the area. At least one additional small tunnel was located between the Seaview prospect and Port Mellon; where minor copper mineralization was found.

Squamish Chief Mountain

14

Mt. Tantalus and Red Tusk Mt. behind Woodfibre Pulp Mill

MINES AND PROSPECTS OF HOWE SOUND

On north-central Gambier Island, a major copper-molybdenum deposit has been discovered. Political pressures have stopped development presently, but it could be mined in the future. On the northeast coast of Gambier Island south of Douglas Bay, a malachite-stained quartz-rich zone is visible at the shoreline. At Ekins Point on the northern tip of the island, a short adit explored a narrow quartz vein in argillaceous sediments of the Gambier Group.

On the southwest coast of Bowyer Island, an old tunnel was discovered at the shoreline. This tunnel investigated an interesting massive-sulphide copper deposit in Gambier Group volcanics. This cannot be considered a prospect

Chris Laird and Geologist Greg Thomson

on Bowyer Island

15

due to dense housing in the area, but it is a significant geological occurrence. Also of scenic interest is a rock arch present on the southeast tip of the island. On Anvil Island, a glacial clay deposit once supplied material for a brickworks, now just a faint memory.

There are a number of tunnels on the shoreline of Bowen Island, notably south of Snug Cove near the Bowena Mine. There are also workings in the vicinity of Cates Bay, the Bonanza Mine at Bluewater, and Galbraith Bay. No significant workings have been located on Keats Island as yet, but these may exist. A short tunnel showing a small

amount of malachite was found about one kilometer north of the BC Ferry terminal at Langdale.The mountains over-­looking Howe

Sound host many minor mineral deposits, but at least two have significant potential, Howe Copper Mine and Red Tusk. Both are best accessed via helicopter. The earliest significant discovery near Howe Sound was the Howe Copper Mine located in the 1860’s, now owned by Laird Exploration Ltd. This prospect has a series of high-grade copper-silver-gold veins hosted in a porphyry copper-molybdenum deposit, an environment similar to the Gambier Island copper deposit. In addition, museum-quality quartz and muscovite mica crystals have been discovered here. Many are glass-­clear, some are smokey or white, and a few rare Japan-law twins have been found.The Red Tusk gold deposit was

discovered by the author in 1980, following the trace of the Britannia mineral zone to the northwest across Howe Sound. The volcanogenic

gold, silver, copper, zinc, lead and barite deposit is hosted in Gambier Group felsic volcanic rocks similar to the Britannia Mine, but with much higher precious metal grades. When examined under a microscope, some of the richer rock samples showed rare minerals such as gold-bismuth occurring as maldonite and ruby silver. Microscopic corundum (sapphire), iolite in the form of blue-violet cordierite crystals, and red almandine garnet also occur in metamorphic rocks at Red Tusk. This extensive mineral deposit was explored under option to several major mining companies in the 1980’s, however, a change of political parties (again) in the early 1990’s brought all mineral property development in the Province to a stand-still, and forced a relinquishment of title. Today, this very promising discovery is again being explored and developed in light of high metal prices.

In summary, one of the richest and most promising prospecting areas in BC is at the doorstep of Vancouver. Given the billions of dollars won from the incredible Britannia Mine, the stakes can be very high, truly the “Golden Hope” of every explorer. As a historic mining area and a scenic journey, Howe Sound cannot be equaled for ease of access, challenge and beauty.

Howe Copper Mine Crystalline

Quartz Deposit

Quartz Crystal and Muscovite Mica, HoweCopper Mine

♦ ♦ ♦

Fluorite (Fluorspar)

Fluorite (Fluorspar) Gem-stone Meanings / Properties

Formerly called fluorspar. Fluorite can come in many colours. From rose to pink, yellow, green, purple, white, blue to nearly colourless. Many times, Fluorite is found banded with any of the above listed colours. Fluorite is the Latin word meaning “to flow”. It has been used both as flux and in the production of hydrofluoric acid for years. When this stone is viewed under UV light, it exhibits fluorescence, which is where the name “fluorescent” comes from. It is said to help clear the mind and help heighten mental achievement while increasing the ability to concentrate. It is also used in the treatment of bones, teeth and cell structure. Locations where fluorite is found include Canada, USA, South Africa, Thailand, Peru, Mexico, China, Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Norway, England, and Germany.

It is an interesting and beautiful stone because often more than one colour occurs in a single stone. The ancient Egyptians used fluorite to carve statues and scarabs, the Chinese have used it in carvings for over 300 years. In the 18th century, fluorite was powdered in water to relieve the symptoms of kidney disease.

Fluorite is said to absorb and neutralize negative vibrations. It makes one more receptive to the vibrations of other stones. Fluorite should be kept in every room of the home. Fluorite is known as the “Genius Stone”. It increases concentration and helps in decision-making.

Fluorite Healing Properties

Fluorite helps colds, headaches, flu, staph, canker sores, herpes, cancer, the ears, nose and throat.

Spleen, bones, teeth, lungs, it helps to heal viral infections, tumours and DNA. Fluorite is also good for detoxification, anxiety and insomnia.

Healers use it to help with ulcers as well as the respiratory tract by stimulating cell regeneration in these areas. It fortifies bones, improves arthritic or other joint ailments. It can be laid directly on the body.

Fluorite may be used with other stones. It helps to open the way for the power of other stones to be effective. It can be used as a meditation stone to help energise the body and raise the power of concentration.

Blue Fluorite

The Accountants and Analysts Stone - helps develop orderly, sequential thoughts and actions. Stimulates clear, concise communicative skills, brings peace, mental calmness and serenity.

Purple Fluorite

Purple fluorite increases spiritual balance and mystic visions, and expressions of the spirit.

Yellow Fluorite

Yellow fluorite enhances creativity and supports intellectual pursuits. Particularly good at stabilizing group energy, uniting groups, removing negativity from the room, and helping all to work toward the common good. Yellow is the colour of understanding.

White Fluorite

White fluorite represents merging of the individual with Universal Spirit. It builds purity of spirit and helps to clarify those aspects of our spiritual nature that it is time to release and let go, as they no longer serve our higher good.

Green Fluorite

Green fluorite is an amazing auric cleanser, use it in clockwise circular motions above the body to cleanse the aura. It helps with cellular healing and regeneration.

Eliminates negativity - transmuting negative vibratory states toward the light and love of the universe. Helps diminish mild trauma in the emotional body.

Physical - Cellular system. Emotional - Cleansing and refresh-ing. Spiritual - Cleansing and uplifting. Being able to experience higher levels of reality. Chakra -­ Heart

♦ ♦ ♦

16

A PETRIFIED FACTMany pieces of petrified

wood, especially those

from the northwest, have a center that looks like

wood, but with a layer of chalcedony or pumice

between the center and the outside. This indicates that that the tree was green when it was buried in hot ash. The water in the green wood evaporated, making

the wood shrink. The

outside was made into a cast by the heat, so the areas left between the cast and the wood were filled with chalcedony,

making beautiful pieces

of petrified wood.

The Agatizer 12/05, via The

Pegmatite 6/06

17

The Pangaea Theory

United States Geological Services

The Pangaea theory is one that states that all pres-ent continents were once together and collectively known as a ‘supercontinent’ called a Pangaea.

The word ‘Pangaea’ means ‘all lands’ in Greek, accurately defining the way the continents were 200 millions years ago before it split up. These split-up pieces drifted slowly apart and became the way they are today. Even until now, the shape of the Earth surface is still changing, and it will be forever, as long as the mantle underneath the Earth’s crust gets heated and convection currents in the magma keeps dragging the plates.

The Pangaea theory was treated with much skepticsm when it was first raised. But since then, there has been much evidence to support this theory.

In geologic terms, a plate is a large, rigid slab of solid rock. The word tectonics comes from the Greek root “to build.” Putting these two words together, we get the term plate tectonics, which refers to how the Earth’s surface is built of plates. The theory of plate tectonics states that the Earth’s outermost layer is fragmented into a dozen or more large and small plates that are moving relative to one another as they ride atop hotter, more mobile material. Before the advent of plate tectonics, however, some people already believed that the present-day continents were the fragmented pieces of preexisting larger landmasses (“supercontinents”).

The diagrams below show the break-­up of the supercontinent Pangaea (meaning “all lands” in Greek), which figured prominently in the theory of continental drift -- the forerunner to the theory of plate tectonics.

According to the continental drift theory, the supercontinent Pangaea began to break up about 225-­200 million years ago, eventually fragmenting into the continents as we know them today.

Plate tectonics is a relatively new scientific concept, introduced some 30 years ago, but it has revolutionized our understanding of the dynamic planet upon which we live. The theory has unified the study of the Earth by drawing together many branches of the earth sciences, from paleontology (the study of fossils) to seismology (the study of earthquakes). It has

provided explanations to questions that scientists had speculated upon for centuries -- such as why earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur in very specific areas around the world, and how and why great mountain ranges like the Alps and Himalayas formed.

Why is the Earth so Rest-less?

What causes the ground to shake violently, volcanoes to erupt with explosive force, and great mountain ranges to rise to incredible heights? Scientists, philosophers, and theolo-gians have wrestled with questions such as these for centuries. Until the 1700s, most Europeans thought that a Biblical Flood played a major role in shaping the Earth’s surface. This way of thinking was known as “catastro-­phism,” and geology (the

study of the Earth) was based on the belief that all earthly changes were sudden and caused by a series of catastrophes. However, by the mid-19th century, catastrophism gave way to “uniformitarianism,” a new way of thinking centered around the “Uniformitarian Principle” proposed in 1785 by James Hutton, a Scottish geologist. This principle is commonly stated as follows: The present is the key to the past. Those holding this viewpoint assume that the geologic forces and processes -- gradual as well as catastrophic -- acting on the Earth today are the same as those that have acted in the geologic past.

Tectonic Plates

The belief that continents have not always been fixed in their present positions was suspected long before the 20th century;; this notion was first suggested as early as 1596 by the Dutch map maker Abraham Ortelius in his work Thesaurus Geographi-cus. Ortelius suggested that the Americas were “torn away from Eu-

rope and Africa . . . by earthquakes and floods” and went on to say: “The vestiges of the rupture reveal themselves, if someone brings for-ward a map of the world and consid-ers carefully the coasts of the three [continents].” Ortelius’ idea surfaced again in the 19th century. However, it was not until 1912 that the idea of moving continents was seriously considered as a full-­blown scientific theory -- called Continental Drift -- in-troduced in two articles published by a 32-year-old German meteorologist named Alfred Lothar Wegener. He contended that, around 200 million years ago, the supercontinent Pan-gaea began to split apart. Alexander Du Toit, Professor of Geology at Jo-hannesburg University and one of Wegener’s staunchest supporters,

proposed that Pangaea first broke into two large continental landmass-es, Laurasia in the northern hemi-sphere and Gondwanaland in the southern hemisphere. Laurasia and Gondwanaland then continued to break apart into the various smaller continents that exist today.

Wegener’s theory was based in part on what appeared to him to be the remarkable fit of the South American and African continents, first noted by Abraham Ortelius three centuries earlier. Wegener was also intrigued by the occurrences of unusual geologic structures and of plant and animal fossils found on the matching coastlines of South America and Africa, which are now widely separated by the Atlantic Ocean. He reasoned that it was physically impossible for most of these organisms to have swum or have been transported across the vast oceans. To him, the presence of identical fossil species along the coastal parts of Africa and South America was the most compelling evidence that the two continents were once joined.

In Wegener’s mind, the drifting of continents after the break-­up of Pangaea explained not only the matching fossil occurrences but also the evidence of dramatic climate changes on some continents. For example, the discovery of fossils of tropical plants (in the form of coal deposits) in Antarctica led to the conclusion that this frozen land previously must have been situated closer to the equator, in a more temperate climate where lush, swampy vegetation could grow. Other mismatches of geology and climate included distinctive fossil ferns (Glossopteris) discovered in now-polar regions, and the occurrence of glacial deposits in present-day arid Africa, such as the Vaal River valley of South Africa.

The theory of continental drift would become the spark that ignited a new way of viewing the Earth. But at the time Wegener introduced his theory, the scientific community firmly believed the continents and oceans to be permanent features on the Earth’s surface. Not surprisingly, his proposal was not well received, even though it seemed to agree with

the scientific information available at the time. A fatal weakness in Wegener’s theory was that it could not satisfactorily answer the most fundamental question raised by his critics: What kind of forces could be strong enough to move such large masses of solid rock over such great distances? Wegener suggested that the continents simply plowed through the ocean floor, but Harold Jeffreys, a noted English geophysicist, argued correctly that it was physically impossible for a large mass of solid rock to plow through the ocean floor without breaking up.

Rejoined Continents

Undaunted by rejection, Wegener devoted the rest of his life to dogged-ly pursuing additional evidence to defend his theory. He froze to death in 1930 during an expedition cross-ing the Greenland ice cap, but the controversy he spawned raged on. However, after his death, new evi-dence from ocean floor exploration and other studies rekindled interest in Wegener’s theory, ultimately lead-ing to the development of the theory of plate tectonics.

Plate tectonics has proven to be as important to the earth sciences as the discovery of the structure of the atom was to physics and chemistry and the theory of evolution was to the life sciences. Even though the theory of plate tectonics is now widely accepted by the scientific community, aspects of the theory are still being debated today. Ironically, one of the chief outstanding questions is the one Wegener failed to resolve: What is the nature of the forces propelling the plates? Scientists also debate how plate tectonics may have operated (if at all) earlier in the Earth’s history and whether similar processes operate, or have ever operated, on other planets in our solar system.

What is a Tectonic Plate?

A tectonic plate (also called litho-spheric plate) is a massive, irregu-larly shaped slab of solid rock, gen-

...and the occurrence of

glacial deposits in

present-­day arid Africa...

18

19erally composed of both continental and oceanic lithosphere. Plate size can vary greatly, from a few hundred to thousands of kilometers across;; the Pacific and Antarctic Plates are among the largest. Plate thickness also varies greatly, ranging from less than 15 km for young oceanic litho-sphere to about 200 km or more for ancient continental lithosphere (for example, the interior parts of North and South America).

How do these massive slabs of solid rock float despite their tremendous weight?

The answer lies in the composition of the rocks. Continental crust is composed of granitic rocks which are made up of relatively lightweight minerals such as quartz and feld-

spar. By contrast, oceanic crust is composed of basaltic rocks, which are much denser and heavier. The variations in plate thickness are nature’s way of partly compensat-ing for the imbalance in the weight and density of the two types of crust. Because continental rocks are much lighter, the crust under the conti-nents is much thicker (as much as 100 km) whereas the crust under the oceans is generally only about 5 km thick. Like icebergs, only the tips of which are visible above water, con-tinents have deep “roots” to support their elevations.

Most of the boundaries between individual plates cannot be seen, because they are hidden beneath the oceans. Yet oceanic plate boundaries can be mapped accurately from outer space by measurements from GEOSAT satellites. Earthquake and volcanic activity is concentrated near ♦ ♦ ♦

these boundaries. Tectonic plates probably developed very early in the Earth’s 4.6-billion-year history, and they have been drifting about on the surface ever since-­like slow-­moving bumper cars repeatedly clustering together and then separating.Like many features on the Earth’s

surface, plates change over time. Those composed partly or entirely of oceanic lithosphere can sink under another plate, usually a lighter, mostly continental plate, and eventually disappear completely. This process is happening now off the coast of Oregon and Washington. The small Juan de Fuca Plate, a remnant of the formerly much larger oceanic Farallon Plate, will someday be entirely consumed as it continues to sink beneath the North American Plate.

Salt Casting By Callie & Dennis Chapman Tooele Gem & Mineral Permission to reprint for non-­profit proposes

Direct casting is an easy, low tech method of making beautiful freeform jewelry.

In this article I will focus on using Sterling Silver and course rock salt. This salt casting gives you a great spiky, nugget effect (if you can set faceted stones, you have natural prongs). The disadvantage is you practically need to Bright Burnish it to get a polish, and that is the most costly part, but I think it is money well spent,and can be used in other projects.

Supplies • Silver: I use silver scraps, or get a 1 oz. fine silver coin (.999) and add 2.5 grams of copper (I pay 35-50 cents over spot at a local refinery or coin store), or finally you can buy Sterling Casting Shot (about $2+ over spot).

You are InvitedThis invitation comes from Rick Hudson, whom some of you may be aware has written 2 field guides about BC mineral collecting -­ one covering Vancouver Island, and a second covering the lower mainland. (This latter book has just been re-­issued by Harbour Publishing as a second edition.

Now, Ken Dewerson from Kelowna, and Dave Barclay from Slocan have teamed up with Rick to write the third in the series, covering the region from Kamloops and Keremeos to the Alberta border. This is your country. It’s a big area, and there are many potential sites. They are asking for your input.If you’d like to be involved by contributing sites, please contact

either Ken, or Dave, or Rick via email. You can get their emails from the bottom of this letter. What’s in it for you? Not much - you’ll be thanked at the beginning of the book (in the pages that no one ever reads), and you’ll get a free copy, signed by the authors, when it comes out in 2008.But more importantly, you’ll be helping to build the rockhound

tradition. Unless your club is very unusual, most of your members will be gray-heads. We need young blood, and one of the best ways to do that is to get families interested. Having a guide book is one of the best ways to rekindle the public’s interest, and putting a little back into the hobby we’ve all got so much out of. They hope to hear from you

Best wishes, rickhudson@shaw.ca kdewerson@shaw.cadavebarclay@telus.net

Rick Hudson

Extras

Solder, Bails, Chains, Stones, etc… Wait until you are finished, and you have let your imagination loose.

Let’s Make Some Sterling Silver

Preparing crucible: If you use a 2x4 chisel or grind a small cup to melt your Sterling in. A screwdriver or key will work on the magnesia block.

Get some Fine Silver (shot or 1 oz. coin). Divide the weight of the silver by 12.5 to determine how much copper to use (1 troy oz., 31 grams/12.5 = 2.48 grams of copper). Put it in your crucible and start melting. The silver will start melting before the copper so give it a quick stir with a pick (my pick is an old bicycle spoke glued in a dowel) to make sure copper is melted. Then pour in a coffee can full of water. Drain water and look for interesting pieces to save for future jewelry. Now you have very near 925 Sterling Silver (pickling will remove the discoloration but we will take care of that later).

Time For The Salt Casting This is done like making the Sterling Shot.

Almost Fill Soup Can With Salt

Melt & Pour Silver:

1. Put some of your Sterling Shot into the bowl in the crucible (I like to use no more than a 1/3 oz. on each piece, and do several in a sitting).

2. Light torch and begin melting. When melted together remove torch, add casting flux (a pinch of Borax or a few grains of casting flux), then reheat.

3. When it starts getting fluid, lift crucible to edge of the can of salt. While keeping the torch on the metal, you will see the spin, quickly tip and let the metal roll off the crucible.

Important: you have 3 visual levels of the metal.

1st Crusty ball. 2nd Spinning, it is actually the copper & silver separating,

this is when you pour. 3rd Boiling, TOO HOT, it jumps around and looks like tiny fireworks coming off the metal, the metal is actually vaporizing. If it get this hot you will have air bubbles in the silver that you won’t see till you’re done. Note: I don’t like to on direct casting, but stirring with a carbon rod will reduce air bubbles. Getting Salt Off Silver & Pickle: While hot, pick the piece out of the salt with the tongs and drop into water. Then let the salt soak off or pull it out and scrape it off. Now it is multicolored with black spots on the black (I only seem to get it with the salt casting), the best way to remove that black spot is to put soldering flux on the whole piece. Then reheat the piece (the flux will boil - foam - turn to syrup - then the piece will turn white, remove torch NOW! Next thing that will happen is the silver will start melting, but I’ve never had one collapse yet). Throw your pieces in warm or cold pickle, let it soak any oxidation that is left (warm pickle works faster). The copper tongs are a MUST to add or remove pieces from the pickle!!! After removing, drop in a baking soda and water mixture then rinse.

Bright Burnishing: • Steel Shot only: Add ½ tsp. 1 Tbsp. of or burnishing compound, your steel shot, and your pieces to the tumbling drum, add enough water to cover shot. Tumble for 16 hours or more.

• Abrasive Pyramids & Steel Shot: Mix it same as above (except use lapidary soap for the pyramids), but tumble for 1 hours with medium pyramids, 1 hours fine, 1-­3 hours steel shot. For a smoother texture double time with pyramids, more texture use only steel shot.

• Drying Steel Shot: If you use plain steel, rinse and put on cookie sheet, pop into a 250 deg. oven until dry. It will rust if stored damp!!! Note: Vibrating Tumblers are faster, but finding one that can handle the weight of the shot is harder to find. Now Is The Time For Your Imagination: Look at your pieces,

• Crucible: A block of wood (6 in. long 2x4), or a magnesia block, or a well used charcoal block. Make a little indent near one side to melt your silver in the wood or magnesia block.

• Empty Soup Can

• Extra Course Rock Salt: Like you use for home made Ice-cream or water softeners.

• Casting Flux: Borax works fine for the 2x4, but is too messy for the magnesia block or charcoal block, there I use regular Casting Flux (it only uses a few granules to clean the molten metal).

• Torch: Hand held propane torch will work fine or an acetylene & air torch. Magnesia blocks melt at 2000 deg., and acetylene & air torch flame is also around 2000 deg., so it will eventually melt the block. • Coffee Can With Water: To drench the 2x4 after use, soak the salt off of the piece.

• Soldering Flux: To clean the metal, and for soldering.

• Pickling Acid: To clean the metal

• Copper Tongs: A flattened copper tube will work. Flatten and bend, like tongs.

• Baking Soda: To neutralize the pickling acid.

Polishing Supplies

•Polishing Cloth

• Bright Burnishing Supplies:

o Small Rock Tumbler: Flat sides inside preferable.

o Steel or Stainless Steel Shot Mix: Enough to fill tumbling drum 1/3-­2/3 full. Seasoned with a little extra Pin Shot (stainless shot cost 3 times more, but doesn’t rust).

o Lapidary Soap and/or Burnishing Compound

o Abrasive Plastic Media Pyramids: Medium & Fine (Optional, but will reduce bright burnishing time).

20

21what do you want for the top, where and if a stone can be placed, where can I put a chain or hook it to something

1st Look for natural holes for a chain. 2nd Where can I drill a hole for a chain. 3rd Where can I solder a bail for the chain.Solder or drill now, run it though the steel shot again for a couple of hours again. You can do this before bright burnishing, but sometimes it is easier to see what you what after a shine is put on. Polishing: It is almost useless to polish with a buffer, so just wipe well with a polishing cloth. Finishing: Set or glue in any stones, and wipe with polishing cloth againGo out and buy the ingredients for homemade Ice-cream, use up the extra salt. Invite some friends over,

and enjoy the friendship & Ice-cream.

TIPS: It is always best to learn from several people and do what works for you. Here is a couple of good spots.

Bean Casting: http://www.frii.com/~dnorris/bean-casting.html

My suggestion to add: Use the beans dry. After 2-3 cast, the beans start to swell, and the casts start looking great, after 10, the beans are too swollen, they should be allowed to dry. Take out only the big pieces, as you cast more the metal will fuse to the smaller pieces, giving a great effect, they may need just a spot of solder for the ones that don’t fuse together. I prefer to bright burnish as described above.

Pine Needle Casting:

http://pineneedlecasting.homestead.com/Main.html

I prefer using soft, decorative, broom straw. It only has a few thick straws, and the softer one leaves a nice pattern. Remember to soak straw for about 20 min. before casting. To bright burnish, you can just use a steel or brass wheel for a hand held rotary power tool, and some white diamond prepolish

References: Don Norris at http://www.frii.com/~dnorris And many other good people.

♦ ♦ ♦

break. A couple of field trips and club picnics are planned, as well as the Abbotsford Show committee has already had a couple of meetings to get started on next year’s show.

One item that came up at the Rendezvous meeting was a lengthy discussion on insurance coverage,

and questions arose around workshop, guests, and field trips. We will circulate more detailed information soon to each and every club for discussion at your own meetings.

Win has told me that she is having this edition printed in a new format! We hope you like it!

As always, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or some suggestions for activities the Society can engage in!

continued from pg 3

♦ ♦ ♦

22

Use coarse grit at the beginning of tumbling rough.

Then either pan it out for future next step use or alternatively to just leave the course grit to break down and keep thumbing right up to the prepolish stage.

This greatly reduces the need for the 200 & 400 grits especially but can be successful to take you right to the prepolish stage which is

also a more reasonablely priced grit.

By using this method most rock will be successfully polished by using

only course, prepolish and polish provided the course grit is left to break down properly.

Also, when using this method periodically the tumbler has to be

opened and a bit of water added due to a steady thickening of the slurry.

Because course grit is usually sold cheaper than finer graded grits considerable savings can result but also more efficient use of your grit will result, especially if tumbling large quantities of material.

Most directions that I have seen for tumbling suggest starting with way too much grit which both wastes grit and actually slows down the grinding process.

After extensive research and

Tips from the Frugal Tumbler

finding this tip I tried starting with much less than the usually recommended amount and found it was indeed better.

I wrote the suggested starting amounts on my grit containers to make it handy for future reference.

My recommendation is to start with one rounded tablespoon of course grit for a small tumbler per pound of rock and reduce this even further to one level tablespoon per lb of rock for a large tumbler. For prepolish and polish you start with even less I only use one teaspoon per lb of rock for both prepolish and polish.

Happy Tumbling

Ron WhiteRobson BC

“Leaverite...

leave ‘er right there”

23

A lapidary (the word means “concerned with stones”)

is an artisan who practices the craft of working, forming and finishing stone, mineral, gemstones, and other suitably durable materials (amber, shell, jet, pearl, copal, coral, horn and bone, glass and other synthetics) into functional and/or decorative, even wearable, items (e.g. cameos, cabochons, and more complex facetted designs). The adjectival term is also extended to refer to such arts. Diamond cutters are generally not referred to as lapidaries, due to their highly specialized techniques which are required to work diamond successfully.

The arts of a sculptor or stonemason are generally too broad in scale to fall within the definition, though chiseling inscriptions in stone, and preparing laboratory ‘thin sections’ may be considered lapidary arts. The term is most commonly associated with jewelry and decorative household items (e.g. bookends, clock faces, ornaments, etc.) A specialized form of lapidary work is the inlaying of marble and gemstones into a marble matrix, known in English as “pietra dura” for the hard stones like onyx, jasper and carnelian that are used, but called in Florence and Naples, where the technique was developed in the 16th century, opere di commessi. The Medici Chapel at San Lorenzo in Florence is completely veneered with inlaid hard stones. A lapidary specialty developed from the late 18th century in Naples and Rome are the “micro-­mosaics” assembled out of many minute slivers of stone to create still life, cityscape views and the like.In China, lapidary work specializing

in jade carving has been continuous since the Shang dynasty.

There exists three broad categories of lapidary arts. These are the procedures of tumbling, cabochon cutting, and faceting. The distinction is somewhat loose, and leaves a broad range within the term cabochon.At present most lapidary work

is accomplished using motorized equipment and resin or metal bonded

LapidaryFrom Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia

♦ ♦ ♦

Keeping Hammer Heads Tight & Secure

Here’s a trick we’ve

borrowed from the blacksmithing trade,

where hammers get quite a workout!

Placing your hammer into automotive

antifreeze for about 48 hours swells the wood and fills the

wood fibers. The

hammer comes out clean—just wipe with

a rag and it’s ready to use. This seems to protect the hammer

against drying out (providing long-­lasting

results). Depending

on the climate where you live, however, the process may

need to be repeated

periodically.

diamond tooling in successively decreasing particle sizes until a polish is achieved. Often, the final polish will use a different medium, such as tin oxide, glasitite or cerium(IV) oxide. Older techniques, still popular with hobbyists, used bonded grinding wheels of silicon carbide, with only using a diamond tipped saw. Diamond cutting, because of the extreme hardness of diamonds, cannot be done with silicon carbide, and requires the use of diamond tools.

There are also many other forms of lapidary, not just cutting and polishing stones and gemstones. These include; casting, faceting, carving, jewelery, mosaics (eg. little slices of opal on potch, obsidian or another black stone and with a clear dome (glass or crystal quartz) on top. There are lapidary clubs through-out the world and in Australia there is an annual gemshow, the Gemborree which is a nation-wide lapidary competition. The largest mineral show in the world is the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society Show held annually in Arizona, USA

Secondary meaning

Lapidary has a secondary meaning, “of inscriptions.” Since inscriptions were laboriously chiselled into stone, a “lapidary” style is crisp, accurate, formal, and condensed. Only the most accomplished can express themselves verbally in a lapidary style. “Brevity is the soul of wit,” as Polonius told the Claudius. The drawback to a lapidary style is, when you are good, people think you are quoting Voltaire.

photo courtesy of True North Gems

24

Sunday, July 30, Keystone Mine

This is a mine dump which has some crystals, pyrites, and sulfides. Bring a rock hammer, shovel, small shovel, and gem scoop for tools. Bring a snack and beverages. The location is north of the Coquihalla toll booth on an easy to access logging road. Cars are fine

This trip is being led by BobMorgan,& De Singleton and the gathering place will be at the parking lot at the bathroom building just before the Toll Booth. ( Hope side of toll booths ) Be there by 10:00AM.

Phone: De Singleton 604-­599-­6938 and Bob Morgan 604-534-7161

August, (no date set yet) MacAbee Fossils

Will be a field trip to the MacAbee fossils. This is a fee-dig for Fossils in a hard clay. Often found are leaves,occasionally insects, and rarely a fish will be found. This location is between Cache Creek and Savona. The meeting place for folks from the lower mainland will be the Husky Parking lot in Cache Creek at 10:00 AM. The fee is fixed for a group, so the cost per person will depend upon the number of people. Likely in the range of $20-30. Tools for this trip are the usual rock hammer, plus a putty knife for splitting the layers of clay. Bring something to wrap your specimens, such as kraft paper (leave newspaper at home…the ink on newspaper can rub off onto your specimens) Gord Pinder will confirm additional details, and we’ll announce those in a future edition, and update the web site.

Sunday, September 10, Nicoamen Plateau

For agates and zeolites. Most are found by surface hunting, but please bring a hammer, chisel, squirt bottle just in case you need to break some out of the host rock. This is also out in the back country on logging roads, and it is recommended that you bring a pickup, or other higher clearance vehicle due to road conditions. Also, bring food, beverages, and bug-spray.Meeting place for this trip will be the small parking lot at the Husky station in Boston Bar.Albert Kesselring is leading this trip. 604-888-5230. Please check the BC lapidary web site for updates:http://www.lapidary.bc.ca/ USwagson master trips are listed at:http://www.mineralcouncil.org/

Wagonmaster Field Trips

25

By John Bowman

The Victoria Day long week-end brought with it another Rendezvous, this time host-ed by the Thompson Valley Club, and held in Heffley Creek, a small community north of Kamloops.

After a quick drive on Friday, we arrived in mid-afternoon to begin registering people. Preparations were well underway with lots of people already set up in camp, showcases on display, Rockabout Gems already set up as the on-site dealer and a slab table and book table in operation. Around two hundred people registered before the weekend was out, with about 15 in attendance from our club.

We decided to go to places that we had not been to before so we selected the gold panning trip on

Tranquille Creek on Saturday. Although we had light rain for much of the day, it was still enjoyable panning for gold. There was obviously gold to be had as everyone found a few small flakes and a couple of people found good size flakes that day. Our field trip leader Eldon Graham was very helpful giving us a bit of the history of gold mining dating back to the late 1800’s that has occurred in the area. He took us to a pit that was being dug where we got our dirt to put through the gold pans. Eldon also brought along his metal detectors and since I had brought mine along, I was interested in doing a bit of exploration. One of the people on the trip found some old square headed nails with one of the metal detectors. Unfortunately the water levels in the creek were very high which limited the areas we could pan, but everyone still had a

good time and went home with a bit of gold.

Saturday evening included the big rock auction. Once again there was some excellent materials, with some lots going for hundreds of dollars. We ended up with a bag of snakeskin agates. The funds raised went to a good cause supporting both the Lapidary Society and the host club.

On Sunday, we decided to go to the Paxton Valley trip for agates. This is a pretty area, in the vicinity of Monte Lake. The weather was beautiful: sunny but not too hot, and I found a place to dig. It was a hole that someone had already started and I expanded considerably during the day and found quite a few agates. I found nothing spectacular, but a few pieces that were keepers and some small ones to put into the tumbler. There were a few good

Rendezvous 2006 – Heffley Creek, BC

finds including a very pretty crystal-­lined geode type of agate, and some good size agates. There are lots of agates to be had here and lots of area still to be explored.

We had to cut the trip shorter than I would have liked to get back to Heffley Creek to sell bucket raffle tickets. While I won one prize, two of the biggest winners were Deb Cleveland and my spouse, Diane who each won five or six prizes.

Diane won the most sought-after prize, a piece of stalactite from a cave somewhere that looks quite nice in our living room.

Sunday evening included the dinner, which came together alright although there was a salad shortage for those whose table was called last for dinner. The beef on a bun was good, however, and I think everyone had enough to eat. Following the dinner, was the annual

general meeting of the BC Lapidary Society. Since all of the officers were standing for re-election the meeting moved along very quickly. There was considerable discussion about our GMFC insurance coverage, which made me wonder how many people actually read the booklet that the GMFC sends out to all the clubs explaining what our insurance does and does not cover. We learned that the next Rendezvous will be hosted by the new Interlakes club and will take place at Roe Lake, which is in the Sheridan Lake/Bridge Lake area.I think those that did attend

the 2006 Rendezvous enjoyed themselves. I know that we did. Thanks to the Thompson Valley club and Rendezvous Chair Pam Lott for doing an excellent job of hosting this event. We appreciate the work that you did to make the event a success. We are now looking forward to summer camp in Port McNeil on Vancouver Island in August, which promises to be a good one. We look forward to seeing some of you there.

♦ ♦ ♦

26

27

Now that warm weather has finally come to us in Central BC we have started getting out on fieldtrips with the rockhound club from Burns Lake.

With the season being so short, they really make hay while the sun shines, with about 2 outings a month. Being new members of this club it is very exciting to explore this vast area. The first trip was on May 28, to

the north side of Babine Lake. One of the members arranged a barge to take us across the lake and pick us up at the end of the day. We explored endless logging roads and many roadcuts. Our most interesting stop was a huge pit. I wouldn’t have believed that you could find fossils and agates in the same location, but there they were! There was also a lot of varying quality common opal and a few, but very nice, pieces of flower-­stone. The fossils were in a

fine sandstone and mostly of leaves. One person found an exquisite piece with 2 complete bugs, something like may-­flies. Another found what might be a tiny flower which, I believe, is

Lakes District Rock & Gem Club Burns Lake District Area Agates

by Jo-Ann Boyd-Blomquist

extremely rare. It was so much fun in that pit that we stayed quite a while. And, of course, no trip is complete unless someone gets a flat tire. A little goop, a little compressed air, Ernie was back on the road in no time. There were some other sites we visited later that showed heavy mineralization alongside quartz veins. Might be worth looking up in the minfiles. took a GPS waypoint, just for fun.

The second trip was June 11, to the Taltapin Lake area. This was another exploration trip, following a map the logging company gave us showing roadcuts and pits. Only the wagonmaster had that map, so I made one of my own as we went along. I like to keep rutters of all our trips and make good use of my GPS, taking plenty of waypoints and plotting them onto a topo map. I also use the BackRoad MapBook as a reference guide (I’m kind of a mapoholic …. I admit it). This trip was extra fun because we had a true blue rockhound among us. Her

name was Becca and she liked to ride along with her head stuck way out the driver’s window. Yup, she’s a dog, but when she stood on her master’s lap you couldn’t see him and it looked like she was driving the car….and hanging out looking at the rocks at the same time. Very cute. We made many stops at many roadcuts and one in particular was abundant in agate and commom opal. I have to comment that agate picking here is so very different than on the sandbars of the Fraser River in the Lower Mainland. By the time they get down there, they are polished and pretty and certainly not abundant. At this location I was stunned that with every footstep I would find several. They are rough and in situ, but gorgeous all the same. A pretty light blue colour. We came home with a bucket full and I felt a little bit guilty. I found one about the size of a big potatoe (bigger than my fist) and thought that was a pretty good score. The locals say, though, that there are plenty out there bigger and better. Take me there, please!

♦ ♦ ♦

28

Another Alternative To Dop Wax

Use a hard plastic rod & super glue. File the end

of the rod flat & put a drop of glue on it & stick the

stone on it, when done just bend the rod & the stone

pops right off. A little glue might stick to the stone,

but if that worries you, a little acetone or nail polish

remover will take care of this. This might not work on

softer stones, but works on most

29

Review of May meeting

A variety of items on the agenda were dealt with at the monthly meeting on Friday, May 12. Summer Camp plans are well in hand with four new spots scouted out. A Whale Watching tour is organized. The campground is totally booked, but other areas in the community are available. Gemboree trips include upper Oyster and a fossil trip to Hornby. Timber West vetoed the Mt. Washington Mine trip. Charlie’s name, as past president has been added to the gavel. Rudy reported that the new grinder is a bit cranky. Hugh MacIsaac brought samples of iron , zinc, lead, gold, silver and copper from a local mine. Thanks to members for the coffee and goodies.

Rosewall Creek Day Trip Saturday May 13

Total crew was 15 plus two real rock dogs. The weather was perfect as we left our home at 9:30 to catch up with the club members at the park. Upon arriving we found Max already there and shortly after came Derek and Mary and then Don bringing in the next bunch. Once assembled, we grabbed our gear and everyone headed off in different directions. Fred and I stayed with Derek and Mary. We took a lovely walk through the

park and used the railroad tracks to get us over to the other side of the creek, thinking we were being very clever. The hike was pleasant enough but getting down to the water was proving a challenge. Lots of the bank had collapsed with erosion so we tried other locations, not too much further up the path. Finally we found a nice rock bar to get down to and start the earnest business of rock hunting. Derek

spotted some nice dallasite pretty quickly and reached into the water to retrieve it. Wow, what a shock the water temperature was. It is a glacier fed river. We all re-learned that lesson in a hurry. During our hunt, there were several informal baptisms. Mary was the first, taking a step and finding the water level was deeper that it appeared. Fred followed shortly on his attempt to get across the little side stream with one big step….that didn’t quite make it. Yep, he definitely filled his boots today and I received the complimentary shower that went along with the demonstration. We were having a good time finding all kinds of manageable sized dallasite and flowerstone. Then before we knew it, it was lunch time. We headed back to the vehicles along a well traveled path that took us up onto the highway and once across it, there was the path into the parking lot. We traveled in a very large circle the hard way. Oh well, what do you expect when the only place your eyes are really traveling is over the ground looking for rock. The sky and everything else simply does not exist.

At the only two picnic tables we found and I am sure there are more, we sat down and talked about our finds. Gordon, Jeannie and Phoebe and Nala, the real rock dogs came to have lunch with us. Beba, Bev Bowman, Barb Akelaitis and Joanne were at one table and Derek, Mary Fred and I were on the other with Don floating about taking pictures and Gordon too! You sneaky guys! Max came along just as we were finishing up and he had some beauties in his pack with the flowerstone taking pride of place. When everyone had put their lunch items away, most of them grabbed their packs and headed off to hunt some more. This time, following the river toward the ocean to see what could be found at the mouth.

Gordon, Jeannie and the dogs headed for home and Derek and Mary did too. Once the rest of the crew had left, I thought of settling in for a snooze when Denise, Aaron and Farrell came back from their trek. It appears Aaron had a slight water bath of sorts as well. None the worse for wear, they had collected a few pieces too. Once I was certain everyone had been accounted for, I had a nap. By 1:30 most were back for the final time and we started for home. Don mentioned that gas was 1.13 at the Tempo store and thought we might like to know. Sure did. We were just off the E. Thank you Don for a great day

out. It was fun and very enjoyable to rockhound with friends on such a lovely day. I hope everyone brings some of their treasures to show at the next meeting. I know there were some great finds. Dian (another roving reporter)

SELLING ON BEHALF OF OWNERSCall Gordon Billings 1-250-286-6600

Item # 1 One 15 inch Lortone Flat Lap – Two trays and includes some grits; $200.00 Item # 2 One 10 inch Gem Ray Trim Saw –includes blade and motor; $100.00 Item #3 One 18 inch Royal Slab Saw includes ½ hp motor and blade; $1000.00 Item #4 One 8 inch Dunbar Grinder/Polisher includes Expando Sanding Drum With belts leather polishing disc and ¼ hp motor; $100.00 Dogs feel very strongly that they should always go with you in the car, in case the need should arise for them to bark violently at nothing right in your ear. Readers Digest – 12/01

ROCKHOUNDER CLUB NEWS Ripple Rock Gem & Mineral Club

30

Island Gemboreeby Janice Boyes

In spite of forecasts of a rainy weekend, it turned out fine. Friday was windy, which meant that Mabel Baaske and Julie McWilliam had problems keeping the paperwork from blowing away while they did registrations. Mary Harris was selling the meal tickets. My great gratitude and thanks to those 3 lovely Ladies for their work. Lois had the coffee pot on soon after she got there and helped put the tent up. My blessings on her too.

Once the tent was up and the tables set up, Tom and Jackie Finnie came in to start preparing the BBQ. Gloria Duncan was right in the thick of things, cutting and slicing. It was a wonderful barbecue, of hotdogs and hamburgers, all the trimmings and potato salad and coleslaw and pickles. 39 people filled their happy faces. Thanks to the Finnies!! The evening was spent visiting the beach and old friends, with more registering and signing up for field trips. Lois was up at the crack of dawn,

brewing the coffee. Soon folks started drifting in to register and get ready for field trips. Total registration was 51 by the end of the afternoon. Some folks came and registered just to attend the Pot Luck and entertainment. The Upper Oyster

River trip took off a few minutes late, after 9am, after Wagonmaster Jack Boyes did the pre-­trip briefing. Due to the timing of

low tide, the Lower Oyster trip and the Fossil Trip to Hornby Island left later. Jennifer Waller took her group about 10am and Russ Ball led the way for the Buckley Bay ferry about 11am. The reports I have had back from the folks on the trips, was that everybody seemed to have a good time. While the field trippers were out,

those who stayed in camp had a very quiet time. Lois, Mabel and I were on our own. Mabel and I watched the local deer while having lunch. Then Barclay’s arrived from Parksville, and Hoyes came back from a trip to town, and we sat around and visited. Jennifer’s group was first back

and all looked happy. I’ll ask for a report from Jennifer about the trip. Then the Upper Oyster group came in. They made it to Norm Lake, but snow wasn’t far away. The word is that it was beautiful up there.

The Fossil trip returned last, after Lois and Gloria had the White Elephant tables arranged, and the pot luck tables were set out ready to receive the offerings. The Pot Luck Supper was very

good, as they usually are when Rockhounds put their minds to it. Once that was cleaned up, (migawd but Mabel and Gloria just never stop working) the White Elephant fun

started. Numbers were drawn and people picked treasures from the tables. Lots of fun. With Russ doing introductions and acting one of the lead parts, the skit provided by Dot and Dave West, who

unfortunately couldn’t be with us, got underway. Titled “I wanna be a Wagonmaster” the skit starred Jack and Russ, with walk on parts

by Jan Boyes, Joan McCormack, Mabel Baaske, and John Barnhardt. That was followed by Gloria leading us (the North Island Leaverites and friends) in a rocky rendition of “Those were the Rocks , my friend” with extra verses provided and sung by brave volunteers from the audience. The darn tune just won’t go away. As the evening wore on, some headed home and those of us who were camping out, gathered around the fire by Russ’s tent, and enjoyed the twilight and conversation. There may have been a bit of beer too, for those who were old enough. Sleep came easily afterwards.

Once again, Lois was early on the job, getting the coffee brewing, as the Schumphs arrived to start breakfast. Bev and Stan Schumph mixed pancakes and crisped sausages and bacon, while Jan and Gloria lent a hand flipping pancakes. The breakfast spread was wonderful, with juices and fruit, and syrups and sauces (strawberry sauce by Jennifer—Yummy) and pancakes with personality. A delicious breakfast. Following the breakfast was

the rock auction—we had to have one, because Max brought rocks. Other folks brought rocks too, so with Russ as auctioneer to start, it got underway. The Rock Auction brought in $174.

We were very pleased to have with us, Don Furey from Everett, Washington, Alice and Elmer Clarke from Surrey, with family members, Sheila and Jeremy Clarke, from Victoria, Blaine and Maggie Bickel from Richmond. I hope they enjoyed their time on the Island. The rest of the attendees were from Island

ROCKHOUNDER CLUB NEWS cont’d

31

clubs. There were 20 members from Courtenay, 8 from Ripple Rock, unless you count the fact that half of the Courtenay members are also Ripple Rock members, which brings it up to 17 from Ripple Rock. Max and Mabel represented Ripple Rock and Alberni, and Mabel did more work than most of the Courtenay Club members, including Jan. There were 6 from Cowichan Club, 7 from Victoria, 4 from Parksville, 2 from Richmond, 2 from Surrey, 1 or 3 from D’Esterre Club in Comox, since 2 of Courtenay Club also belong to D’Esterre, and one from Maplewood Club in Washington. Pretty good figures, I think. Total of 51

registered attendees at Gemboree 2006. 39 enjoyed the BBQ, and 34 enjoyed the breakfast. There were more at the Potluck, but I wasn’t counting. The end. Now I’m gonna sleep for a week.

Our Roving Reporter Mabel asks that a double thanks for an excellent Gemboree should be going to the following – Jack, Jan, Lois and Gloria.Gemboree Fossil Field Trip

Russ Ball, Wagonmaster of the Fossil Trip to Hornby Island

A report on the fossil trip? Well, we went, we saw, we conquered the beach. Actually there were 8 out of scheduled 9 participants went on the trip to Hornby Island, ranging in age from early teens to an octogenarian. The trail from the road down to the beach area proved to be a bit of a challenge for some, but the rope put in place previously by the Vancouver Island Paleo Society kept us from any mishaps.

Some of the participants immediately struck out on their own around the reef, as the tide was out quite a ways and there

was considerable area to explore. I remained with the “learner” group and explained what to look for and demonstrated some techniques, then set them on their way to explore.

It wasn’t long before we started finding some promising signs, and there were some nice collectible pieces found by almost everybody.

Among the pieces found were some nice examples of inoceramous – a bi-valve; baculites- a variety of ammonite;; and some chunky but attractive petrified wood. There were also some new pieces found that are so far unidentified, but I believe them to be a type of cephalopod.

Return trip was pleasant, lots of funky and twisted music to accent the drive home, with return to the Gemboree campsite at approximately 5:30 in time for an awesome dinner and evening’s entertainment.

May Program

Professor Rosa Stewart of Victoria University gave a most interesting talk with slides of her trip to South America, including Peru, Argentina and Bolivia. She had wonderful pictures of MachuPichu with it’s wide terraces, the perfect stonework and trapazoidal windows and doorways. Wewere also treated to views of Lake Titicacca and the floating islands where people live and work. We saw lovely houses and churches with a lot of Spanish style balconies. We saw areas where Eva Perron lived and La Boca where the Tango originated; a very interesting program.The last field trip was to Mt.

Tzouhalem near Maple Bay for double-terminated quartz crystals and was quite successful. The field trip for May is set for Sunday May 28, to Blue Grouse Mine for garnets, calcite etc. Meet at Colwood Comers.

Usual arrangements apply.One of our older members, John

Birrell who is now 93 and who lives in Calgary is always very busy in our hobby. Recently he drew attention to himself and his latest project and was written up in the Calgary Herald showing his intarsia picture of Calgary’s skyline. This stone picture was featured at the Calgary Gem and Mineral Show at the beginning of May this year. It took four months to complete. Well done John, keep the projects coming.

As the Victoria Lapidary and Mineral Society prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2007, it is clear that the club’s success should be credited to the quality of the membership. A core contingent of steadfast members have provided continuity to the club and provided consistent service to its members for years. Looking to the future, it is also important to

think about recruiting and retaining new members to the club. To this end, the club has added a “New Members” standing agenda item to General Meetings, starting in June 2006. This time will be devoted to new members, to inform them about the many features of the club, let them know about opportunities to get involved in the committees and initiatives, and hear their feedback on how to keep the club relevant to them.

People are drawn to the club for various reasons. For me, the opportunities for basic lapidary lessons and field trips were too good to pass up. It was the generous spirit of the club and its members that motivated me to try to contribute to the club’s ongoing success. Hopefully there are other rockhounds and rockhound wanna-­be’s out there who will feel the same way.

ROCKHOUNDER CLUB NEWS cont’d Island Gemboree continued

Victoria Lapidary & Mineral Society

32

Richmond Gem & Mineral ClubRendezvous 2006

Traveling on the slick and muddy country road through the farmer’s rain drenched fields to Buse Lake, the convoy of rockhunters eager for the elusive Blue Agate arrived unharmed and in full rain gear. With gumbo sticking to our boots and pick in hand, the first piece of Blue Agate was soon discovered and the hunt was on. What a start to a great

WORKSHOPS October 28 & 29,2006“CLASPS” with Rodney Kessler. Sign upsheets have been circulated at the meeting.

Call Mary if you haven’t signed up yet.

Mini Workshops in the Fall: Woven Wire Bracelet; Random Filigree; Fun with Wire.

Report On the 2006 SymposiumSubmitted by Al Evens

The Symposium of May 2006 was poorly attended in comparison to previous events like this that we have put on. Before renting a property in a new location or setting dates we need an increase in membership. This past Symposium we had to out source the kitchen to the Ladies of the Royal Purple who did a great job which relieved us of shorted manpower for food service. Also with only about 6 members for set up and take down, it is not easy.

With all members demonstrating, selling tickets, manning the door and various other chores it does not leave any time for members who have paid their way in to view the demonstrations. Without at least twice as many able bodied members it is too much for the ones doing the work, for two days without time off. I think it is beyond our Club’s capability at this stage. Also, we have to look at why there

is low attendance from Lapidary Clubs and Jewellery Schools.

Congratulations to Ron on winning the Peoples Choice Award at the Symposium, his prize was a silver bracelet carved by Ritchie and donated by Yvonne. Also, Gerry was the lucky winner of the Special Prize a Chrysoprase Pendant Carved by Guenter.

Show and Tell: Al-Carved amber pendant, Ron-Silver Bracelet (Peoples Choice Award); Maria-2 malachite cabs and wire design; Jean-­Lariat necklace with cast silver components and freshwater pearls; Gerry- Chrysoprase Pendant (Special Prize he won).

Revealed - Runners of 20,000 B.C. (via Lapis of Sydney & Canberra Newsletter) Hundreds of human footprints dating back to 20,000 B.C. - the oldest in Australia and the largest collection of it’s kind in the world have been discovered in Mungo National Park in Western New South Wales.

They were left by children, adolescents and adults at the height of the last ice age as they ran and walked across the moist clay of the area near Willandra Lakes. Some people seem to have been hunting with one very tall man sprinting at 20 kmh.The first of these footprints was

spotted by Mary Pappin Jr. of the

Mutthi Mutthi people two years ago. More than 450 more have been uncovered by a team led by Steve Webb of Bond University.Professor Webb said the find

provided a unique glimpse into the lives of those who lived in the arid inland. “It brings these people to life in a way no other archaeological evidence can. You can see how the mud squelched between their toes.Feet of History

457 footprints made by adults and children found in Mungo National Park. Footprints 19,000 -­ 23,000 years old laid down in wet clay containing calcium carbonate that hardened like concrete, then covered in a protective layer of clay

and sand. Prints between 13 cm and 30 cm (size 11) in length.One track of a man almost 2

meters tall running at 20 km/h.On 13th August our trip will

be to Copper Canyon to look for flowerstone and jasper. August 19. VLMS Picnic, Beaver Lake Lower Parking lot.September 17 Tailgater at Jonanco, White Rapids Road, Nanaimo.

For SaleTwo drop saws for sale phone - 383-7792.One Hilquist double arbor on wheels. Fitted with sanding wheels. Phone 479-­7881

Victoria Lapidary and Mineral Society continued

ROCKHOUNDER CLUB NEWS cont’d

TIPS AND TRICKS:Before starting a wire wrapped

piece, when straightening the wires, I put a little baking soda on my cloth. It removes any tarnish that may have been forming and removes the dull coat that gold filled accumulates. The piece is ready to sell This works great when wrapping at shows. ~ Debbie (Online)

Creative Jewellers Guild of BC

33

Fraser Valley Rock & Gem ClubHints & Tips

Soapstone carvings that have become a little dull may be heated in the summer sunlight and while still warm apply wax. Rubbing should restore the soft luster. This

weekend! Heffley Creek Community Hall was abuzz with activity; demonstrations of shopcrafts by club members, an auction with some great material, a bucket draw that held everyone’s attention and Monday’s breakfast, which served the best tasting pancakes.

The refreshment tables and Sunday’s dinner brought out the best of everyone. Conversation came naturally and friendships developed. Many thanks must go to the members of the Thompson Valley Rock Club, especially those in the kitchen who kept us all well

Richmond Gem and Mineral Club continued

nourished with delightful home-baked goods, coffee and tea.

“The best place to find

a new mine is beside and old mine”

same treatment can be used for an emergency touch up on jade. An electric light bulb or other moderate heat source may be used instead of the summer sun.

Strata GemsTurquoise has a tendency to glaze

over when sanding. To get a good finish, try letting the carving stand covered in water in between the grinding and standing processes. Then sit it in water or keep it quite wet as the sanding proceeds.

Marge Lauerman

Have you polished a fine dark cab only to find white specks of oxide in the cab, after spending a lot of time on it? Dark materials (such as black agate, petrified wood and dark jasper) can be cleaned by using black jewelers’ rouge and a muslin buff. The buff will remove most of the white compound and the rouge will render it almost invisible.

Stoney Statements

When polishing tigereye - for that gloss finish, polish once, dry the stone, then put a drop of vinegar on it. Leave a couple of minutes and give it another polish.

Chips

ROCKHOUNDER CLUB NEWS cont’d

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Vernon Lapidary & Mineral ClubSeptember 7 -­ 9, 2006“Mall Show & Sale”Villiage Green Mall27 Street at 48 Avenue, Vernon, B.C.For more info. Mike de Tourdonnet: 250-542-0616

Surrey Rockhound ClubSeptember 23 & 24, 2006“Annual Show”Saturday & Sunday 10am-5:00pmSullivan Hall6306 152nd Street, Surrey B.C.For more info. Alice Clarke: 604-­584-­5592

Club Shows & Sales Fall & Winter 2006Fraser Valley Rock & Gem ClubSeptember 30 & 31, 2006“Annual Show”Saturday & Sunday 10am-4:00pmOAP Hall273 Street, Aldergrove, B.C.For more info. Kim McNeal: 604-607-­7393

Penticton Geology & Lapidary ClubOctober 6, 2006“Mall Show & Sale”Cherry Lae Mall, Food Court area Mall2111 Main Street, Penticton, B.C.For more info. Gloria Bordass: 250-493-­1027

Richmond Gem & Mineral ClubOctober 21 & 22, 2006“Annual Gem Show”Saturday 10am-4:30pm, Sunday 10am-4pmRichmond Cultural Centre7700 Minoru Gate, Richmond, B.C.Admission by donationFor more info. Donnamae Chionis: 604-277-3222

Port Moody Rock & Gem ClubOctober 28 & 29, 2006“Annual Show”Saturday & Sunday 10am-5:00pmKyle Centre125 Kyle St. Port Moody, B.C.For more info. Ken Ayers: 604-­936-­4672or go to the club web: Pt. Moody Rock & Gem Club

Vernon Lapidary & Mineral ClubNovember 3 & 4, 2006“Mall Show & Sale”Villiage Green Mall27 Street at 48 Avenue, Vernon, B.C.For more info. Mike de Tourdonnet: 250-542-0616

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Map to Roe Lake

May 18 - 21, 2007

Roe Lake Community Hall, Roe Lake, BC, hosted by the Interlakes Rockhounders, Lone Butte, BCand the British Columbia Lapidary Society. The Hall is located on Highway 24, between Sheridan & Bridge Lakes.There will be free dry camping available at the hall.

Planned activities:Late Friday afternoon and evening - Registration and setting up of display casesSaturday -­ Field trips, Rock Auction at 7:00PMSunday -­ Field trips, Bucket Raffle - 4:00PMSunday 6 pm – Catered dinner. The Annual General Meeting of the British Columbia Lapidary Society will be held after the dinnerMonday morning -­ Pancake breakfastClub members are invited to display their treasures and demonstrate their skills. If you require a Society case Please contact Mike Bolivar, Tel. 250-­593-­4007

Field trips will be posted later

Mountain Gems, Burnaby, B.C. will be the Rendezvous dealerPhone: 604-­298-­5883, Fax: 604-­298-­2669 Toll free: 888-­593-­1888Website: http://www.mountaingems.comE mail: maclellan@telus.netDonations for the bucket raffle and the rock auction are needed and greatly appreciated

Accommodations:

Loon Bay ResortC1 Airmail Road, RR 1Lone Butte, B.C., V0K 1X0 CanadaPhone: (250) 593-­4431 • Fax: (250) 593-­4188 Web: http://www.loonbayresort.com

Rendezvous 2007

CampgroundLakeside, 30 amp power, water and sewer $ 26. Lakeside, 30 and 15 amp power, water - $ 24.Lakeview Pull-­through, 30 amp power, water and sewer (big rig friendly) - $ 24.Tent sites - $ 20.All prices are for one vehicle and 2 people. Children under 6 years are free. For every additional person we charge $ 2.00 per night.Dogs: Each dog is 1$ per night (up to a max.of 20$) for the campsite.

Summer / Winter Log Cabins1 - Bedroom Log Cabin (Queen bed and a bunk bed) for max. 4 people - $ 80.-2 - Bedroom Log Cabin (2 Queen beds & sofa bed) for max. 6 people per night - $ 105.- (Summer / Winter Log Cabins)Equipment 2- Bedroom Log Cabin: bathroom with shower, kitchen, living-dining room with sofa bed,electric heating and oven, covered verandaEquipment 1- Bedroom Log Cabin: bathroom with shower, kitchen,dining room, electric heating and oven, covered veranda.

Summer Cabins1- Bedroom Cabin (2 single beds) for max. 2 peopl - $ 60.2- Bedroom Cabin (2 double beds & sofa bed) for max. 6 people per night - $ 75.Equipment: 2 room cabin: kitchen, toilet (shower in the shower house).All Cabins have Living-Dining room,

an extra sofabed and a covered porch.Equipment: 1 room cabin: kitchen, toilet (shower in the shower house).All Cabins have Living-Dining room and a covered porch.

Greenlees on the Lake, B&BMailing Address C#69 Sheridan West Site Lone Butte, British Columbia V0K 1X0 Phone : (250) 593-­4171 Toll Free Phone : (877) 593-­4171 Fax : (250) 593-­4171 Web page: http://www.bbcanada.com/3783.htmlNumber of Rooms: 4 Beds Available: Twin, Queen, Bathrooms Available: Shared, Pricing per night from $55 Single Room, $65 Double Room. Large log home situated on shores of Sheridan Lake. 7186 Boulanger Road. Whimsically decorated with antiques.A walk down memory lane. Enjoy the great outdoors, summer or winter, on our deck over looking beautiful Sheridan Lake. Stroll to the waters edge to enjoy our water, fowl, ducks, and our majestic loons. Families welcome. Full breakfast. Country evening ‘Mug-up’.

Piney Point Resort C# 5, East Sheridan Lake Road R.R. # 1 Lone Butte, B.C. V0K 1X0 Telephone: (250) 593-­4614 Fax: (250) 593-­4613

36Fax: (250) 593-­4613 E-­mail: visit@sheridanlakebc.com Web page: http://www.sheridanlakebc.com/

Piney Point Resort has six cozy lakefront log cabins. The cabins feature spacious private decks with a spectacular view of Sheridan Lake. We have only eighteen RV and camping sites so overcrowding is not a problem. The RV sites are equipped with 30 amp power, water, firepits and picnic tables. Some sites are pull-thrus to accommodate very large rigs and most have septic hookups. Our Facilities include: Modern washrooms with flush toilets and hot coin operated showers located directly behind the cabins. We also have Laundry facilities, an RV Sani dump, boat launch, camp store and billard room. Lakefront Log CabinsAll cabins have electric heat, hot and cold running water, refrigerator with freezer, 4 burner electric stove with oven, and microwave oven. Cooking and eating utensils, pots, pans, dishes, and glassware are supplied, including drip coffee makers with filters and toasters. Clean up supplies include dish towels, soap, and garbage bags. Bring your own bedding and bath towels or for a small fee we will supply them. 1 bedroom (twin beds) $68.00 per night 2 bedroom (2 doubles & 1 single) $78.00 per night All rates are based on double occupancy Children under 6 are FREE Additional persons $5 eachPets: $5.00 each per day, per cabin- Please bring your own bedding, bath towels and personal supplies. Bedding can be supplied for a one time charge of $6.50 per bed.

Sheridan Lakeside B & BDenise & Michael Millham7592 East Sheridan Lake RoadLone Butte, B.C. VOK 1XO Phone: 250-­593 2322http://www.sheridanlakesidebb.com

Enjoy our country hospitality in a beautiful log home with breathtaking view of the lake from all rooms. All

accommodations are completely separate with their own private entrance. We offer four charming bedrooms. Two rooms feature private bathrooms and french doors opening on to your own deck with lakefront. The other two rooms share a full bathroom. Relax in the private large living room in front of a cosy fireplace, enjoying Satellite TV or games. For your convenience there are adjoining kitchen facilities as well as a BBQ firepit on the lake. The more adventurous may also enjoy tipis on the lake! Boat Launch and swimming dock available.Included is a delicious Swiss style breakfast Pets are welcome too .The Sheridan Lakeside B & B is a non-­smoking log home, but we offer a covered smoking area facing the lake with table and chairsDaily Rates per room, incl. breakfast*: Single C$ 65.— to C$ 75.-- Double C$ 75.— to C$ 85.-- Tipi C$ 12.-- per person (please bring your own bedding)

Moondance Bay Resort7237 Johnstone Rd.Bridge Lake, BC V0K 1X0(250) 593-­2244moondancebay@bcinternet.nethttp://www.moondancebay.com/pages/accomm.html

Moondance Bay Resort offers private cabins with a view of Bridge Lake, steps from the lakeshore, and clean lakeside campsites. Reservations are highly recommended.The MonticolaA premier cabin, the Monticola is a fully-updated 2 bedroom cabin with 1 Queen bed, 2 singles, and a double sofa-bed. It boasts stylish furnishings and laminate floors throughout. It has a full kitchen with dining table and chairs, and a full bathroom with a tub shower. Sleeps 6. $135The MontanaAnother of our premier cabins, the Montana is a fully-updated 2 bedroom cabin with 1 Queen bed, 2 singles, and a double sofa-bed. It also has tasteful furnishings and laminate floors throughout, as well as a full kitchen with dining table

and chairs, and a full bathroom with a tub shower. This cabin also has an electric fireplace. Sleeps 6. $140The Eagan & The CrystalThe Eagan and the Crystal are fully-updated 1 bedroom duplex cabin units, each with 1 double bed as well as a double sofa-bed in the livingroom. Enjoy stylish furnishings and laminate floors, as well as a kitchen (excluding oven), dining table & chairs, and full bathroom with a tub shower. Sleeps 4. $105The Birch & The WillowThese modern studio, duplex cabin units have an open, spacious feel and are very private. Each has a new Queen bed, sitting area with a double sofa-­bed, kitchenette (excluding oven), and a full bathroom with a tub shower. Sleeps 4. $105The CreeksideThe Creekside is a rustic one room cabin, located near the campsites, with 1 double bed, 1 single, and a double sofa-­bed. It has a kitchenette with refrigerator & propane stove, cold running water and electricity. Sleeps 5 $60CampsitesOur lakeside campsites include the use of picnic tables and fire pits. Clean showers, washrooms and laundry facilities and a public telephone are steps away in our Showerhouse, built in 2002.Campsite $20With Power & Water $25-$27

There are many more resorts and B & Bs in the area.Check your BC 2006 Approved Accommodation Guide for further accommodation information

♦ ♦ ♦our new look...

as you may have noticed the Rockhounder has a new look!Mairi Budreau, a Digital Art and Design student at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops has re-designed our Magazine for work experience.Please send us your feedback

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Cinnamon Ridge, Kamloops BCPhoto © 2005 Mairi Budreau