1

REFRESHMENTS

Drinks: Amy McClellan Snacks: David McDade Please remember to bring paper plates, napkins, and cups. Ice is available at the

community center. It is your responsibility to find another member to substitute in the event

you are unable to fulfill a month for which you signed up. List for remainder of the year: drinks snacks JUL 11 MIKE BERKMAN LINDA GRIEBEL

AUG 8 DAVID SHERROD MORNING SHERROD

SEP 12 BILLY ERIC NEESE BONNIE & TOMMY SHANKS

OCT 10 DAN WOODS BETTY STEVENS

NOV 14 JEANETTE RIT CH VALYNN HELMS

HAPPY JUNE BIRTHDAY

4 Becky Fetzer 20 Christie Kirkland

4Tim Herbert 21 John Willard

6 Mary Belmont 24 Terry Fetzer

8 Elizabeth Neese 24 Lisa Morrow

9 Tommy Shanks 28 Frank Rowell

19 M. Phyllis Dice 28 Gerald Threadgill

Presidents article not received by time of printing

Inside this issue:

Program Corner

Birthdays

President’s Message

1

Get to Know Board Member

Meeting Minutes 2

THANK YOU, DAVID 2

Field Trippin’

Eliminating Flats

Fire Agate

3

Collecting Selenite

Books on Finding Gems

4

Reminders

Welcome New Members

Links

5

Club Information 6

PROGRAM CORNER

When: June 13, 2013

Where: 1751 Congressman William L. Dickinson Drive, Montgomery, AL 36109

Time: 7:00 P M

What: SURPRISE TOPIC

MONTGOMERY GEM & MINERAL SOCIETY

THE GOLDEN

NUGGET JUNE, 2013

13-06

The first amateur geologists were prospectors looking for valuable minerals and gemstones for commer-

cial purposes. Eventually, however, more and more people have been drawn to amateur geology for rec-

reational purposes, mainly for the beauty that rocks and minerals provide.

One reason for the rise in popularity of amateur geology is that a collection can begin by simply picking

up a rock. There are also many clubs and groups that search for specimens and compare them in groups as

a hobby. Information on where to find such groups can be found at libraries, bookstores, and "gem and

mineral shows". Tourist information centers and small-town chambers of commerce can also supply valu-

able local information. The Internet can also be a useful search tool as it can help find other amateur ge-

ologists.

The amateur geologist's principal piece of equipment is the geologist's hammer. This is a small tool with a

pick-like point on one end, and a flat hammer on the other. The hammer end is for breaking rocks, and the

pick end is mainly used for prying and digging into crevices. The pick end of most rock hammers can dull

quickly if struck onto bare rock. Rock collectors may also bring a sledgehammer to break hard rocks.

Good places for a collector to look are quarries, road cuts, rocky hills and mountains, and streams.

ROCKHOUNDING (COURTESY OF WIKIPEDIA)

CORRECTION:

In last month’s

issue, one

member’s name

was missing from

the list of

attendees at the

LaGrange Field

trip: Valynn

Helms did attend

that event.

2

I am a retired Alabama state worker. I guess I have done a lot of things in my life and one of them is

to have developed an interest in gems, minerals and such. That includes my being a member of the

Dothan Gem and Mineral Society. I have not been very active in that interest lately, especially in the

last few years. But my wife, Betty, suggested that we take a look at the club here and some interest

has been rekindled and so we joined the club and in 2013, I was invited to become a board member.

Outside of family, I guess my strongest current interest is in the sport of Hang Gliding. Be careful

about asking me any questions about that sport. I will happily bore you forever on that subject.

I would like to thank David Sherrod for meeting me at the shop on

Saturday, May 25. I won one of the scholarships to William Holland and

I decided to take the cabochon class. Since I wanted to get familiar

with the shop and machines, David was a big help. He sliced a quartz

rock from our property, drew a template on it, cut it out and then "cabbed"

it. (attached are some pictures) I can't wait to get to William Holland and

try my hand at it. THANK YOU, DAVID!

I would also like to mention that my nephew, Kent Aasand has graduated

with a degree in anthropology from Mississippi State. Here is a link to an

article on the MSU website about a project he has been working on

http://msstate.edu/web/media/detail.php?id=5993. I thought it was

interesting, you never know what you will find when you go on a dig!

GET TO KNOW YOUR 2013 BOARD MEMBER JAMES P. ANDERSON

THANK YOU FROM JEANETTE RITCH

MONTGOMERY GEM & MINERAL SOCIETY MINUTES MAY 9, 2013

The meeting was called to order by President Thad Cheatham and guests Crystie

Willard and Theresa Frank introduced themselves. Since there was no April meeting

due to inclement weather, the minutes for the March session were approved. Iris

McGehee read the Treasurer's report and it was approved by a show of hands. Lynn

Stauch indicated he had been asked by the Crump Center staff that we do a better job

of cleanup after our meetings. David Sherrod was approved to handle shop purchases

for the club and will buy a new trim saw blade and see which wheels need replacing

on the Genies. The gem and mineral show at Tannehill state park will be held June 1,

2 and is an excellent place to procure quality rough for cabochons. Thank you notes

from Faires Austin and Keith Harmon were noted. Iris McGehee stated that the de-

posit has been made to Alcazar Temple for our upcoming show in December. There

will be no May field trip. Refreshments were served and rock bingo was enjoyed by

the 40 rockhounds who were present after which the meeting was adjourned.

Our Annual Gem Mineral

and Jewelry Show will be at a new

location in December:

Alcazar Temple

Page 2

THE GOLDEN NUGGET

June's birthstones are the Alexandrite, the Moonstone,

and the pearl.

The meaning is health and longevity.

Its birth flowers are the honeysuckle and the rose

3

DATE: JUNE 15, 2013

TIME: 9:00 AM

LOCATION: Mel and Jane Barkley’s property in Macon County

DETAILS: Full day of fun for the whole family. Adventure, acres of woods,

running streams, stocked ponds, a hunting lodge, and rocks (of course). Mel is a wonderful

host and very competent guide to finding petrified wood and other treasures. Lots to do or you

can just enjoy nature. Some members even stay inside in the air conditioning and socialize.

It’ll be hot, but you can get wet walking in the running creeks.

WHAT TO BRING: Change of clothes & towels, bucket, water, digging tools if desired.

SPECIAL FEATURE: Rock Swap (swap, sell, buy, trade specimens - if you want to fea-

ture your own items, remember to bring a table & chair)

FOOD: Members need to confirm attendance. Call Iris McGehee at 262-

7275 with the number of people coming by June 11th so there will be an adequate supply of

hot dogs & buns and other goodies which will be furnished by the club. RESERVATIONS

REQUIRED BY June 11th.

Fire agate, a variety of chalcedony with an ancient and fiery beginning, is an all natural gemstone found only

in certain areas of Arizona, northern Mexico, and other parts of the southwestern United States. Approxi-

mately 24-36 million years ago these areas were subjected to massive volcanic activity during the Tertiary

Period. The fire agates were formed during this period of vulcanism when hot water, saturated with silica and

iron oxide, repeatedly filled cracks and bubbles in the surrounding rock, often forming a botryoidal (grape-

like) growth.

Fire agate gemstones have beautiful iridescent rainbow colors, similar to opal, with a measurement of hard-

ness on the MOHS scale of between 6.5-7 which prevent the issues of cracking and scratching. The vibrant

rainbow colors found within fire agates, created by the Schiller effect as found in mother-of-pearl and fire

opal, is caused by the alternating silica and iron oxide layers which diffract and allow light to pass which

forms the interference of colors known as fire. Besides the thin limonite and/or geothite iron oxide layers

there is no actual objects inside the gems, the fire agate visual effects arise from light interference within the

microstructure crystal layering of the gemstone.

Fire Agate Gemsare one of the hardest gemstones to produce, taking highly skilled lapidary skills and the

creative talents of a true artist. Dedication, patience and time will be needed if you plan on producing

quality fire agate cabochons, but the final rewards are truly spectacular. The fire agate stone also has a large

metaphysical following with the fire agate meaning and properites of being an excellent protection stone

which reflects negative energies, and healing properties for the stomach, nervous and endocrine systems.

FIELD TRIPPIN’WITH JEFF EDWARDS

FIRE AGATE ( CONTRIBUTED BY JACK KIRKLAND)

Eliminating Flats - (by Ted Robles)

A while back, someone was saying that he was having problems with getting "flats" on his cabs, that

there was insufficient “give” in his wheels, and it didn't seem to make any difference no matter how much

pressure he applied. That was his first mistake.

Diamond and corundum ate two different animals; relatively speaking, about the same difference as

between quartz and chalk. If you "lean into" a diamond wheel, you will get lousy results (flats, etc.) on

your stone, and your wheels will wear out long before their time. On diamond, you try to do your cutting

(and everything else) by almost not touching the wheel. Use essentially no force. Don't "grind" the stone,

let the diamond wear it away, but keep it spinning. The technique is simply to use the whole face of the

wheel, and keep your cab moving. Any time you stop, you just bought a "flat". Can't help it! It's the same

principle as sharpening a knife on any emery wheel. If you don't want notches in your blade, you keep it

moving. Do almost all of your cutting on the coarsest wheel you have. If you leave any flats on the pre-

form, you're going to have them on the final piece. Can't help it.

And finally, practice, practice, practice. Machines, like people, take some acquaintanceship before you

really know what you can get out of them. {Oregon Rockhound, l0/04; via The Rockpile, 09/02; via Rock Rollers, 02/02; via West Seattle Petroglyphs, 05/05; via Snoopy Gems, 08/05) (contributed by Terry Fetzer)

Oatman Arizona: Cuesta

Fire Agate Mine http://

www.fireagate.us/fire-

agate/oatman.shtml

Black Hills Arizona: BLM

Rockhounding Site http://

www.blm.gov/az/st/en/

prog/recreation/rockhnd/

locations/blk_hills.html

Deer Creek, Arizona http://

www.fireagate.us/fire-

agate/deer-creek-fire-

agate.shtml

Opal Hill California: Opal

Hill Fire Agate Mine

http://www.fireagate.us/

fire-agate/opalhill.shtml

Round Mountain Arizona:

BLM Rockhounding Site

http://www.blm.gov/az/st/

en/prog/recreation/

rockhnd/locations/

round_mtn.html

Saddle Mountain, Arizona

http://www.fireagate.us/

fire-agate/

saddlemountain.shtml

Slaughter Mountain,

Arizona

http://www.fireagate.us/

fire-agate/slaughter-

mountain-fire-agate.shtml

Here is a site that offers

links to other informational

sites about fire agate.

http://www.fireagate.us/

Page 3

13-06

4

Selenite is a crystallized form of gypsum. Chemically, it is a hydrous calcium sulfate. Gypsum is a common

mineral that takes on a great variety of crystal forms and shapes. On the Salt Plains, the crystals are formed

just below the salt encrusted surface. They are seldom found deeper than 2 feet below the surface.

Crystals take on the characteristics of their environment; the finer the soil, the more clear the crystals. Iron

oxide in the soil gives the crystals their chocolate brown color. Because these crystals form in wet soil, sand

and clay particles are included within the crystal. These particles often form an "hourglass" shape, found only

in this area. Other foreign objects in the soil, such as sticks, rocks, bones, and even cockleburs, are sometimes

included as the crystal forms.

Single crystals, penetration twins, and clusters are the typical crystal shapes most frequently encountered on

the refuge. Exceptional individual crystals measuring up to 7 inches long have been found, along with complex

combinations weighing as much as 38 pounds.

In certain places on the Salt Plains, gypsum and saline solutions in the soil are sufficiently concentrated to

promote crystal growth. When temperature and brine conditions are ideal, the crystals may form very rapidly.

When heavy rains or floods bring great quantities of freshwater to the plains, some of the selenite crystals may

go back into solution until conditions are right for recrystallization.

As long as nothing happens to change the mineral content of the waters draining into the Salt Plains, these

crystals will continue to form, just as they do today.

Crystal digging is permitted April 1 through October 15, sunrise to sunset.

No special permit is required. Collectors are permitted to remove up to 10 pounds of crystals plus one large

cluster for their personal use in any one day.

How is it Done?

1. Use a shovel to dig a hole about 2 feet deep and 2 feet across until you reach wet sand. You may feel the

shovel break through the crystals as it goes down. This cannot be helped as there is no way of predicting

exactly where a bed of crystals is located.

2. Allow 2 or 3 inches of water to seep in from the bottom.

3. Use your hand or a container to splash water gently against the sides of the hole. The agitated water will

wash the soil away from the crystals.

4. When you find a crystal formation, continue splashing to wash it free of the supporting sand and clay.

5. At this stage of the process, the newly exposed crystals are wet and fragile. Use great care in removing

them.

6. After removing crystals from sand, place them where sun and wind will dry them. Egg cartons or other

containers may be used for transporting the crystals.

"Fee Mining and Rockhounding Adventures in the West" by James Martin Monaco & Jeanette H .Monaco, 2007. "Fee Mining and Rockhounding Adventures in the Eastern US " by James Martin Monaco & Jeanette H .Monaco, 2010 "Gem Trails of (various individual states) by James Mitchell. (There are several of these for most of the western states) "Roadside Geology of (various individual states) by various authors. For example: "Gem Trails of New Mexico". Another good series is "Rockhounding (various individual states). For example: "Rockhounding New Mexico" by Ruta Vaskys and Martin Freed. These are field guides and are good source materials for locations to look for gemstones and fossils. They give very detailed information about what to find in locations that are pinpointed by GPS coordinates.

COLLECTING SELENITE (CONTRIBUTED BY JACK KIRKLAND) Read more at http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/oklahoma/saltplains/

BOOKS ON FINDING GEMS (RECOMMENDED BY JACK K IRKLAND)

Page 4

THE GOLDEN NUGGET

A good book on

your shelf is a

friend that

turns its back

on you and

remains a

Friend.

~Author

5

>June 15, 2013 Greensboro, NC Hagan Stone Park Shelter #6, 10am to 6pmwww.haganstonepark.com

>July 27 to August 5, 2013 Spruce Pine, NC 29th Annual Grassy Creek Gem and Mineral Show located at

the Parkway Fire and Rescue Department, 12966 Hwy. 226 South, Spruce Pine, NC (halfway between US

19E and the Blue Ridge Parkway (Exit 331)). Donna Collis at collisdonna@yahoo.com or Roger Frye at

rcfrye@bellsouth.net for information. (828) 765-5519 or (828) 766-6136

International Colored Gemstone Assn newsletter http://www.gemstone.org/

Georgia Meteorite Association http://www.meteoriteassociationofgeorgia.org/

William Holland www.lapidaryschool.org

Wildacres http://www.amfed.org/sfms/wildacres-retreat.html

Al Mineral Locality Index http://www.mindat.org/rloc.php?loc=Alabama%2C+USA

GIA http://www.gia.edu/3954/gia_home_page.cfm http://www.greatdanepro.com/somewhere%

20in%20time/index.htm

educational sources for young rock & mineral collectors and hobbyists

KidsLoveRocks.com http://fossilsforkids.com/

http://www.mineralcollecting.org/

FL Museum Natural History (fossils) http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/collections/overview/

http://www.montgomerygemandmineralsociety.com/

SE SHOWS http://www.rockngem.com/show-dates-display/?ShowState=ALL

L I N K S T O C H E C K O U T

REMINDERS

Bring cancelled stamps to meetings. Bring spare rocks, gems, minerals to any meeting in order to prepare for the Wheel of Fortune. Show your recent acquisitions at the monthly meeting so other members can experience a variety of different materials. NOTE: the shop will no longer be open on a regularly scheduled basis. The shop will be opened only by appointment. Please email or call any of the following individuals at ahead of time to set up a shop work date: Thad Cheatham, Jeff Edwards, Iris McGehee, or Harold Glover. Be sure to read your monthly copy of the LODESTAR which is emailed. Member input is not only desired but also needed. Communicate program requests to Jehle Flowers. Tell Jeff Edwards if you know of a potential site for a field trip. Talk to any officer or board member regarding the need for a class.

Page 5

13-06

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS:

THERESE P. FRANK ; CRYSTIE AND JOHN WILLARD

6

ery Gem & Mineral Society, Inc.

Except for items that are specifi-

cally copyrighted by their authors,

all material in this bulletin may be

freely copied. Please give credit to

The Golden Nugget and the appro-

priate author.

Meetings of the Montgomery

Gem & Mineral Society are held

every 2nd Thursday of the month at

7:00 p.m. at the Mureal Crump

Adult Center, 1751 Congressman

William L. Dickinson Drive (U.S.

231), Montgomery, AL 36109.

The annual gem show replaces the

The purpose of the Golden

Nugget is to inform members of

news about gems and minerals

along with news about club,

state, and regional activities of

interest to our members. Most

important, the Golden Nugget

provides a way for each of us to

share information about projects

and to pass on tips that will help

others enjoy our hobby. Unless

members are willing to contrib-

ute, the Golden Nugget cannot

meet this latter purpose.

Copyright 2013 by Montgom-

December meeting. Anyone interested in gems and

minerals is invited to attend. Field trips, workshops,

and classes are held at various locations. These are

announced at monthly meetings. Membership dues

are $15.00 for individuals and $20.00 for families

residing in the same household.

The Montgomery Gem & Mineral Society is a

member of the Southeast Federation of Mineralogi-

cal Societies, Inc. and the American Federation of

Mineralogical Societies, Inc.

In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107,

this material is distributed without profit or payment

to those who have expressed a prior interest in re-

ceiving this information.

General Information

MONTGOMERY GEM AND MINERAL SOCIETY

Club Officers for 2013 President: Thad Cheatham 462-3254 1st V P/Programs: Jehle Flowers 372-0837 2nd V P/Field Trips: Jeff Edwards 312-0572 Secretary: David Sherrod 201-4460 Treasurer: Iris McGehee 262-7275 Past President Lynn Stauch 386-7330 Directors: James Anderson 265-4643 Leslie Amato 284-3846 Board meetings are at 6:30 pm immediately before the monthly meetings.

THE GOLDEN NUGGETTHE GOLDEN NUGGET

Official Voice of the Montgomery Gem &

Mineral Society, Montgomery AL

Linda R. Griebel, Editor

The Golden Nugget

P. O. Box 801

Wetumpka, AL 36092-0801

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