Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
September 2013 The Hound’s Howl, p
Volume 51, No. 7 Est . 1962 Volume 51, No. 7 Est . 1962 September 2013 September 2013
AIKEN GEM, MINERAL and FOSSIL SOCIETY AIKEN, SC
2 – June Meeting Minutes; Milestones; Oct 4 Copper Bracelet Class
3 – Eastern Fed Editor’s Awards; AMFED Future Rockhounds of America Program
4 – Sue Shrader’s Fused Glass Class; SEED
5, 6 – Summer Excursion: Richard and Janice Hightower Fossil Collection
6 – Summer Excursion; Sheffield Mine photos
7 – Make a Geode; Boy Finds Diamond
8 – Events; Upcoming Shows
9 – Calendar of AGMFS Programs;
Membership Form
In This Issue
THE HOUND’S HOWL
From the President
Walt Kubilius
September 13 Program: Trace Fossils
There's something spooky about a dinosaur foot-print trackway—an awesome feeling that at some point in the distant past, a creature walked by this very spot.
Dinosaur footprints are examples of trace fossils, a category that also includes burrows and feeding traces. "Trace" fossils are distinct from "body" fossils such as shells and bones, which show what the animal looked like. Trace fossils show how the animal behaved.
Walt Kubilius, in a slide-illustrated talk, explores various types of trace fossils, and what we can learn from them.
Source: Bolivia tracks images, Jerry Daykin, Cambridge, C r e a t i v e Commons Attribution License, http://imag-es.google.co.uk/imgres?
It’s Back to School time, which seems like an appropriate point to write about an
important feature of the AGMFS. For many years our club has taken on a mission of educational community outreach. These are some of the things that we do: Science Education Enrichment Day (SEED) is in its
24th year of showing the CSRA community the wide variety of science done in the CSRA. Each October, our members staff six tables containing a geode cracker, prime fossil and rock specimens, and a Geiger counter. Publicity about our Club and annual Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show are given out to the public, and specimens are chosen by 700+ kids. There’s always a long line at our tables! (see pp. 4 & 8)
Earth Day is an environmental awareness event
sponsored every April in Hopelands Gardens by the City of Aiken. AGMFS members are featured with five tables under a huge oak tree. Visitors look over posters of our activities, geological maps of SC, and jewelry, fossil, and mineral exhibits. Most popular are the bits of geodes from the geode cracker and specimens given away to the public as well as several middle school classrooms.
Our club provides a scholarship every year to a student
in the USCA Department of Biology and Geology. This year, we are giving $1,500.
AGMFS members visit elementary schools to give
presentations to children. In recent years, we have gone to Curtis Baptist School in Augusta as well as Aiken County schools of St Mary’s Help of Christians School, Warrenville Elementary School , and the Children’s Place.
AGMFS members donate materials for the Treasure
Dig as well as Grab Bags, and do most of the work bagging and labeling Grab Bag specimens for our annual Aiken-Augusta Gem and Mineral Show, held each March, as yet another way to interest children in the Earth sciences.
As your club president, I am proud of the things that our club members have done for the CSRA community over the years. I’d like to thank every member who has helped with any of these (or other) educational activities. I also want to encourage newer members to get involved in some of these programs.
September 2013 The Hound’s Howl, p 2
AGMFS Officers and Committees 2013
President: Walt Kubilius (803)643-3281 / [email protected] Vice President: Patti Bennett (803) 648-7215/[email protected]
Secretary: Linda Sarkany (803) 642-1284 /[email protected]
Treasurer: Kathleen Wallis (803) 643-3281 / [email protected]
Editor: Shellie T. Newell (803) 439-2625 / [email protected]
Editor Emeritus: Barbara Fenstermacher
Field Trip Chair/ DMC Liaison: OPEN Membership Chair: Barbara Fenstermacher Webmistress: Patti Bennett [email protected]
Federation and USCA Liaison: B. Fenstermacher Librarian: OPEN
Linda Sarkany
Milestones
Meeting Minutes ~ June
Walt Kubilius opened the meeting at 7 PM with 29 people in attendance.
The May minutes were approved and Kathleen Wallis presented the Treasurer’s report.
Walt discussed four upcoming field trips including the summer excursion trip to the Hightower's on August 17. Other ideas on what to do during this trip in Franklin, NC included the free Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum, and the Mason Gem Mine, a Ruby and Sapphire fee site.
Vice-President Patti said the November program has been filled. It will be on the SRS Ecology.
On June 29 Sue Shrader will give a fused glass class at Shellie's home for a $30.00 fee, which includes all materials. A sign-up sheet and samples of fused glass jewelry items were passed around the room.
Walt stressed the need for a volunteer Club librarian to enter new books into our library, which is housed in a cabinet at the back of the room. Members were reminded to return any borrowed books or videos.
A couple from Tulsa, OK would like specimens from the Carolinas and Georgia, as they are making a display of specimens from all around the country. Please bring any you can part with to the next meeting and give to Walt.
A lot of material is needed for Grab Bags for our annual Show in March. Please donate your specimens. John and Susan Blas are the 2014 co-Chairs of the grab bag project. Information about a bag and tag party will be given at future meetings.
Show and Tell: Walt presented a large 30 lb conglomer-ate from New Mexico that contained ruby and sapphire.
The meeting adjourned at 7:30 PM. VP Patti took over the Silent Auction as Walt had to leave.
(continued in the upper right column)
We enjoyed refreshments brought by Kathleen Wallis while bidding on our Silent Auction items. Bidding ceased at 8 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
September 3 – Gayla DeBose
4 – Jessa Potvin
14 – Dean Fletcher
16 – Stephanie Bennett
22 – Joan Bozzone
24 – Pat Hert
29 – Barbara Ciravolo
September 13 – Kevin and Shelly
Woodard
Regina Jenkins
Over the last three years, Herman Kunis has
offered several beginner’s lessons in wire wrapped
items. In this class we’ll learn how to craft a
bracelet out of copper wire. The cost is $15. All
materials and tools will be provided. Please
bring your own jewelry tools if you have them—
especially nylon jaw pliers—otherwise we will share.
The class will be held at Shellie Newell’s home;
contact her for directions (see green box, top left).
Wire-Wrapped Copper Bracelet
Class with Herman Kunis
Friday, October 4, 6–8 PM
Silent Auction Item
at the September Meeting
Malachite
Bid and WIN!
September 2013 The Hound’s Howl, p 3
Eastern Federation’s Bulletin
Editor’s Competition Awards
The Eastern Federation comprises over 100
Clubs and each year, Club bulletins and the articles
within them are judged by an Advisory Committee.
In the September issue of EFMLS News, authors of
articles in our Aiken GMFS’ 2012 Hound’s Howl
placed or received Honorable Mention in a variety
of categories.
First through Third Place winning articles will be
sent to the American Federation for further
consideration. Do congratulate your fellow Club
members and think about developing your own
articles, drawings, or poetry submissions for
future issues of Hound’s Howl. Thank you, Barbara
Fenstermacher for entering these and other
Hound’s Howl contributions into this contest.
Read the complete article at WWW.AMFED.ORG/
EFMLS. Aiken GMFS winners, as listed in their order
of appearance in the EFMLS News, are:
Junior Articles. 2nd Place:
Jessica Potvim, “Droplets of Information”
Written Features. Honorable Mention
Shellie Newell, “From the Prez”
Jim Stoops, “Tellus Micromount Gathering 2012”
Michael Potvin, “Show-and-Tell, January:”
“Brook Run Crossing”
Original/Non-Technical Articles. Honorable Mention
Chris Glass, “A History – Aiken/Augusta Gem
and Mineral Show”
Original/Technical Advanced Articles. Third Place
Walt Kubilius, “A World of Granite”
Poetry. Third Place
Barbara Fenstermacher, “Our 24th Seed”
Future Rockhounds of
America Badge Program
excerpt from “Having Fun: Junior Activities”
by Jim Brace-Thompson,
Junior Activities Chair
Sponsored and underwritten by the AFMS, the Future
Rockhounds of America Badge Program is a free program of
guided activities to provide kids and youth leaders in local
AFMS-affiliated societies with 118 individual activities in 20
basic areas of our hobby: Rocks & Minerals, Earth Resources,
Fossils, Lapidary Arts, Collecting, Showmanship, Communication,
Field Trips, Leadership, Earth Processes, Earth in Space, Gold
Panning & Prospecting, Gemstone Lore & Legend, Stone Age
Tools & Art, Rocking on the Computer, The World in Miniature,
Special Effects, Fluorescent Minerals, Reaching Across
Generations, and Maps. All kids receive a Membership patch
upon enrolling. They earn badges by completing a minimum
of 3 activities in any one badge unit. Kids earning a minimum
of 6 badges earn a “Rockhound” badge as a mark of accom-
plishment and distinction. And those superstars earning all 20
badges become “Rock Stars” and receive an AFMS cloisonné
pin. Both Rockhounds and Rock Stars have their names in-
cluded in “Honor Rolls” posted to the AFMS website.
A 223-page Badge Manual, along with an FRA Membership
Certificate, is provided to a local juniors activities leader upon
enrolling the kids of his or her society. In addition to check-
lists and activity sheets, this manual includes back-up pages
to provide essential information and pointers that make it
easy for anyone—even a rookie rockhound—to guide kids
through the activities. Again, an emphasis is on flexibility and
on adapting activities to match the age ranges and abilities of
the kids involved.
The full FRA Badge Manual is available online under the
“Kids Corner” tab on the AFMS website (www.amfed.org/
kids.htm), and I’m always happy to provide more details
[phone, (805) 659-3577, evenings and weekends; email,
[email protected]). Once again, this is a free service
made available through the good graces of the AFMS to all
affiliated societies to help ensure the future of our hobby by
involving and educating our kids about it—while having fun!
September 2013 The Hound’s Howl, p 4
June Fused Glass Class with Sue Shrader
Volunteer for SEED on October 12
One of our Club’s annual projects, Science Education Enrichment Day (SEED), is coming up next month. You can help give away rock and mineral specimens, crack small geodes, talk with 700+ parents and kids about our Club’s activities, and promote our annual Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show in March 2014. Contact Barbara Fenstermacher [(803) 649-0959] to volunteer for this important event. Set up begins at the Club’s booth, located in the Student Union Building on the USC-Aiken campus, on Saturday at 8:30 AM. Doors open to the public at 10 AM and close at 3 PM. Lunch and a cool T-shirt are provided (see page 8). Do let your neighbors and friends know about this wonderful event. (2012 photos by S. Newell).
(L→R) Trays of specimens (most of which were collected by Jim Stoops). Herman Kunis with a a SEED volunteer. Robert Glass talks about Chris Glass’ superb fossil and mineral specimens
on display. Bob McDivitt’s geode cracker is in the back (orange).
On June 29, Patti Bennett, Barbara Fenstermacher,
Sue Gorday, Joan Jewett, Margaret Marion,
Kathleen Wallis, new member Regina Jenkins, and I
gathered for an afternoon of learning how to make
fused glass pieces for jewelry. Camden artist as well as
an Aiken GMF and Columbia G&M Club member Sue
Shrader has been teaching the craft for several years
to Club members and the public.
Cut pieces of dichroic, iridescent, transparent, and
opaque colored glasses were in small trays down the
center of the table. There also were thin rods of glass
and tiny fragments called frit that could be sprinkled on-
to the glass design. All of the types of her glasses have
the same COE (coefficient of expansion), so that after
being glued into a sandwich, the rate of expansion as
the kiln heats up, melting the glasses together, and as it
cools down is the same. This avoids fractures in the fi-
nal piece.
“I love seeing what people choose,” she said. “I get
ideas of which materials look good together after firing
their pieces. Each item is unique because of the
placement of a sandwich of glass shards in the kiln as
well as the temperature and number of times each
piece is fired change the texture and colors.”
“This is great!” exclaimed Barbara. “We do the fun
stuff—the designing—and Sue takes it home to do all of
the work. I can’t wait to see what mine will look like.”
(L) Sue S. and Joan work together on a suncatcher.
(Top L→R) Margaret, Barbara. (Middle) Patti.
Tiny glass bits called frit are in the jar; Sue G’s
pendants in progress. (Bottom) Kathleen (L) and
Sue (R) seek the right size and color of glass.
Depending on the number of layers and size of the
sandwich of glasses, Sue sets the her kiln to gradually
heat up to ~1500° and as gradually cool down. This
takes many hours. Then she buffs each piece and wire
wraps it, glues on a bale or attaches an earring hook.
In early July a few of us met Sue S. and Sharon
Sterrett for lunch in Lexington to pick up the finished
results. We couldn’t wait to open each package to see
the final fused items. Each woman’s pendants and
earrings was entirely different from anyone else’s.
“This was a wonderful class,” Sue smiled. “Everyone
listened to my instructions and was patient while I cut
new glass pieces for them. I had fun.”
Sue’s work can be found on her Serglasio Arts Face-
book page. Her slumped glass plates and bowls are featured
alongside her pendants and earrings in several shops in
Columbia, and she regularly has a booth at area craft
fairs. [My photos of our finished pieces are on Facebook and our
website (www.agmfs.org). Article by Shellie Newell]
Margaret
September 2013 The Hound’s Howl, p 5
Our 2013 Summer Excursion took us to the Appalachian Mountain region of Franklin, North Carolina. Janice and Richard Hightower (Stones and Bones Fossil Company) generously opened their lovely home to 10 Aiken GMF and 10 Augusta G&M members to see their personal collection of fossils.
The Hightowers didn’t intend to create an internationally known business of buying and selling fossils and minerals. Richard’s collecting hobby had grown so much it was taking a chunk out of the family’s financial reserve, so he and Janice decided that a few specimens should be sold. They were surprised at the enthusiastic response, and later had a booth at a few gem and mineral shows. In 1995, their son-in-law created a website for the company, the second fossil business on the Internet. The timing was right.
We were led into their converted garage where most of the collection is kept in a temperature and humidity controlled environment. Behind a wall is a desk containing dental and other tools plus archaeological glues. Here, Richard can unwrap fossil material still in the matrix or ball of mud and tinfoil to begin the
arduous task of cleaning, identifying, and assembling a specimen. He captures the dirt in a box to fill in cavities or to help shape the fossil properly. His fossils are known for their naturalistic poses. Often rocks are used to camouflage the armatures (structural supports) that hold up parts of the specimen. “I always tell a potential buyer if the fossil has been enhanced in any way,” Richard said.
“Dinosaur behavior was similar to that of animals today. The sick and old ones want that last drink of water, which is why so many bones are found in or nearby ancient water sources. Bones are scattered by predators that carry off or destroy them, so you may find only one or two in an area. Finding a complete skeleton is relatively rare,” he explained.
One dig site where the couple collects every summer is Wyoming’s Green River fossil fish formation. “It takes two people to work with the 6- by 9-foot plates,” Richard said. “On the plate’s edge you can see distinct layers and gently pry them apart, exposing the details of these plants and fish. Of course, you may not find anything or there may be plenty in the slab. These layers formed during the tropical Eocene Epoch when drought, cold weather, anoxic conditions, or volcanic activity caused massive fish kills in the lakes. Undisturbed by predators, the carcasses sank to the lake’s bottom and over time sediment covered them up. Survivors of the fish kill would reproduce until another killing event occurred, which eventually became another layer of preserved fossils. Only about 18 inches of this strata have fossils in it.”
Often their trips do not involve collecting. “One of the most important areas of dinosaur tracks we’ve experienced was when we were driving through a Hopi Reservation in Arizona. (continued on p. 6)
Summer Excursion: The Hightower’s Private Fossil Collection article and photography by Shellie Newell
(L→R) On their back porch, Richard and Janice discuss a few of their collecting sites. Each crab seems to emerge from ancient matrix. Early excavation of dinosaur ribs. Carboniferous Period seed cones and tree limbs, early horse bones, and a polished Megalodon shark tooth capped with hematite.
(L→R) Richard demonstrates how this Permian
Period reptile stood. Rare intact baby turtle.
Like today, few hatchlings survive to adult-
hood. Researching how an animal or reptile
moved is important for the specimen to be
posed in a lifelike manner; here a rock
eliminates the need for armature to support the
upper body of this protodinosaur.
September 2013 The Hound’s Howl, p 6
We saw an old Coke flat with a hand-lettered sign that read: ‘Dinosaur Tracks, this way’ and an arrow,” said Richard. Janice laughed. “We thought, sure, we’re really going to see tracks out here. But we took a chance and drove down a dirt road to a tiny village. The houses were small and the people seemed quite poor.”
An older Hopi gentleman met them at the road’s end. When the Hightowers asked how much it cost to see the tracks, the man told them it was free to look, but their village would accept a donation. Absolutely no collecting could be done. The Hopi gentleman walked them to an area not far away. “We were amazed. It is a priceless treasure of trace fossils. The size, clarity, and number of tracks were superior to any other area we’ve seen. We actually walked over top of them.”
Richard tried to convince the gentleman that selling a few of the trace fossils from the outer edge of the fossil field could pay for a museum structure that would protect the specimens and provide entrance fees to help the village prosper. The man politely refused, saying that the land was sacred and must be respected. Since then, Richard has talked to several museum administrators in an effort to help the Hopi people to preserve this rich area in a way that is culturally sensitive, but as yet the right connection remains elusive.
One Eastern Kentucky land owner ferried Richard deep into his old coal mine through narrow tunnels on a small 2-person motorized cart. “It wasn’t for the squeamish,” Richard laughed ruefully. “That ceiling was so low that no one could’ve stood up straight.” At the bottom of the mine, Carboniferous fern fossils were in abundance in the horizontal shaft’s ceiling, where fern tree trunks, branches, and seed cones intertwined. “After that trip, I made a deal with the owner for him to excavate the fossils for us.”
Richard discussed the new laws in China, some South American countries, and Russia that prohibit the fossils from leaving the country. On the one hand preserving a country’s ancient history is important, but some areas in poorer countries are so fossil rich that instead of being curated, the fossil fields are eroding away. He emphasized that they only collect and deal in legal fossils.
One series of three trilobites were especially riveting. Most natural history museums do not have that quality of specimens in their displays. Richard leaves the preparations of those delicate types of specimens to the artists who love the intricacy of that extra fine work, as every detail of each trilobite’s body was seen.
“We’ve been so blessed that our business has done well,” smiled Janice. Richard agreed and talked about people from all over the world who they’ve met as well as those they’ve helped to market their material. “It’s important to give others the opportunity to succeed. Right now we’re taking some polished Megalodon teeth with hematite filling in the chipped off parts to our booths at upcoming gem and mineral shows. Now, serious collectors wouldn’t look at them twice, but maybe the public would be interested.”
Everyone enjoyed Richard’s wide breadth of knowledge about the variety of fossils in their collection. We are grateful to Janice and Richard for supplying us with lunch, but, even more
for their wonderful stories about their digs. The opportunity to get to know them a little better while seeing their personal collection made for quite a memorable day. (More photographs of the Hightower’s collecting trips are at http://
www.stonesbones.com/FieldTrips2.htm; visit them during our GMF Show in March. Additional photos are on our Club’s Facebook page.)
(Top L→R) Exquisite trilobite. One corner of their collection.
(Bottom L→R) Green River formation fossil fish are in the
background; an ammonite and triceratops horn are in the
front. Janice shows an amethyst from Uruguay to Patricia
and Richard McNutt. Next to it is a monosaur reptile jaw and
teeth, carved wood sculptures, ammonites, and a fossil fish plate.
Sluicing at the
Sheffield Mine
Outside of Franklin, NC, Barbara Fenstermacher, John Kolmar, and I spent a couple of hours searching for corundum. STN
September 2013 The Hound’s Howl, p 7
Make a Geode at Home from MiniMiners Monthly Vol 7 Number 7
Used with permission
Geodes are geologic formations that are created when
crystals form inside a vug or hole in an igneous rock.
Usually quartz- (and sometimes, calcite-) rich waters enter
the hole and the quartz crystallizes. A geode looks like an
ugly round rock on the outside.
But crack it open, and you will discover beautiful crystals
that sparkle and shine. Here’s a recipe for making a geode
at home.
You will need the following materials:
1. 3/4 cup of alum powder
2. White glue
3. Paintbrush (small)
4. Container (a large, clean mayonnaise jar or a kitchen
bowl will work well)
5. Food coloring
6. Hot water
7. Serving Spoon
8. Plastic Easter eggs
Day 1
1. Paint the inside of 1/2 of a plastic Easter egg with a thin
coating of white glue.
2. Sprinkle alum powder on the glue. Be generous—you
want to cover as much of the inside of the egg with alum
powder as possible. Turn the egg over and shake out
the excess alum powder. Set this aside and let it dry for
one day so that the glue is completely dry and hard.
Day 2
1. Pour 2 cups of very hot water into your container. Caution:
Have an adult help you so that you do not get burned by
the hot water!
2. Put 50 drops of food coloring into the hot water and stir it
with a spoon.
3. Stir in 3/4 of a cup of alum powder into the hot water.
You will see that not all of the alum dissolves in the water:
you will have some alum powder on the bottom of the
container. You can then put the container with the alum
water in your microwave and heat it for 1 to 2 minutes.
Remove the container very carefully (again, have an
adult help you with this step) from the microwave and
stir the mixture again with the spoon.
4. Let the water cool for 20 to 30 minutes.
5. Carefully place your plastic Easter egg from Day 1 on
the bottom of the container. Be sure the inside that you
coated with glue and alum powder faces up.
6. Put the container in a warm place in your house for a full
day. The water will begin to evaporate and alum crystals
should grow on the inside of your plastic Easter egg.
The longer you let the water evaporate, the larger the
crystals will grow!
7. When the crystals are the size you like, carefully remove
your geode from the container. Pour out any water that
is still in the geode. Carefully place it on a paper towel
and let it air dry.
8. You have created your very own geode. Try it again with
many different colors and create your own home-made
geode collection.
Suggestion: Try this with other soluble salts that you can
buy at the local pharmacy. Try to make a halite (salt) geode
or a copper sulfate (chalcanthite) geode.
©2013 Diamond Dan Publications. This article is the property of Diamond Dan Publications and cannot be copied or reused in any format (printed or electronic) without written permission of Dia-
mond Dan Publications, 278 Howland Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620 or [email protected]. Subscriptions: 12 issues (1 year) (PDF) $9.95. Delivered by email to each subscriber. Make checks payable to Diamond Dan
Rare 5.16-Carat Brown Diamond Found
by 12-Year-Old Michael Dettlaff
Located in the Ouachita Mountains
of Arkansas, Crater of Diamonds
State Park is unusual. This 37-acre
plowed field is the only diamond-
producing area in the world where the
general public can actually keep the material they find.
Last July, the Dettlaff family from Apex, NC were visiting the
Park. “We were probably there about 10 minutes and I was
looking around on the ground and found it on top,” Michael
Dettlaff told ABCNews.com. “It was very glassy. Very
smooth.”
Experts at the Diamond Discovery Center were almost as
thrilled as young Michael. It’s the 12th largest diamond found
since the area became a State Park in 1972 and the 8th largest
certified by Park staff. They estimated that the jellybean-sized,
honey brown stone would be worth $15,000 after cleaning
and shaping.
"If it can get cut and it's valuable, I think I'd probably want
to have it cut and sell it," Michael said. "If it's not, well, then it's
a souvenir."
Thank you Susan Blas for sending the link. Article excerpted from:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/north-carolina-boy-finds-diamond-state-park-article-1.1424461#ixzz2dYbLa9yf; ABC News, and Crater of Diamond State Park websites. The geology of the Park can be found at http://www.craterofdiamondsstatepark.com/history/why.aspx
Photo sources (top: Associated Press; bottom: Crater of Diamonds State Park brochure
September 2013 The Hound’s Howl, p 8
FIELD TRIPS & EVENTS
September 20–22: Jacksonville, FL. 25th Annual Gem and
Mineral Show, Admission $3/day or $5 all days. 40 Dealers.
Sponsored by the Jacksonville Gem and Mineral Society.
Morocco Shrine Auditorium, 3800 St. Johns Bluff Rd,
Jacksonville, FL 32224. Contact K. Olson: (904) 981-0293;
September 28–29: West Friendship, MD. 49th Atlantic Coast Gem,
Mineral and Jewelry Show. Host: Gem Cutters Guild of Baltimore.
Howard County Fairgrounds.
September 28–29: 49th Annual Atlantic Coast Gem, Mineral &
Jewelry Show, hosted by the Gem Cutters Guild of Baltimore.
Howard County Fairgrounds, West Friendship, MD.
October 4–6: Lincolnton, GA. Public dig at Graves Mountain.
October 4–6: Dallas, NC. 35th Annual Gaston Gem, Mineral &
Faceters Club Show. Fri & Sat 9 am–6 pm; Sun 9 am–5 pm. Gaston
County Park, Hwy 279, Dallas Cherryville Hwy, Dallas, NC (1/2 mile
off Route 321. Free admission.
October 5–6: Lexington, KY. 23rd Annual Gem, Mineral &
Jewelry Show, Rockhounds of Central Kentucky (ROCK).
Sat 10-6, Sun 12-5. $2 adults/$1 children, $5 max family.
Contact: A. Ferrell, (859) 277-2469; www.lexingtonrockclub.com
October 11–13: 43rd Annual New Orleans Gem & Mineral Show.
Best Western Plus Landmark Hotel, Metairie, LA 70002. Contact:
(504) 888-9500.
October 19–20: 54th Annual Gem/Mineral/Jewelry Show and Sale,
Tampa Bay Mineral and Science Club. Contact
www.tampabayrockclub.com, (813) 831-1944.
November 2–3: 44th Annual Gemarama 2013. “Shades of Red”
sponsored by the Tuscarora Lapidary Society. The School at
Church Farm, Business Rte. 30, 1/2 mile west of Frazer Rte 30 exit
off of Route 202, Exton, PA.
November 21–24: Tellus Science Museum, Cartersville, GA.
SandFest 2013. Sponsored by Georgia Mineral Society and
the International Sand Collectors Society (ISCS).
November 22–24: 46th Annual Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show.
Sponsored by the Columbia, Gem & Mineral Society. Jamil Temple ,
206 Jamil Rd (exit 106A off I-26) , Columbia, SC. Admission $5.
Contact Sue Shrader (803) 736-9317; www.cgams.org
November 23-24. 22nd Annual Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show,
Northern Virginia Mineral Club. George Mason University, “The Hub”
Ballroom, Braddock Rd. & Rt. 123, Fairfax, VA.
December 13-15: Norcross, GA. 19th Annual North Atlanta Gem,
Mineral, Fossil & Jewelry Show, North Atlanta Trade Center,
Norcross, GA. Contact www.mammothrock.com/show_info.com.
UPCOMING SHOWS
NOTE: Aiken Gem, Mineral and Fossil Field Trips are open ONLY to all members of associated clubs with the Dixie Mineral Council (DMC) of the Southeastern Federation of Mineralogical Societies (SFMS) [this includes members of Aiken Gem, Mineral and Fossil Society and Augusta Gem and Mineral Society] who are in good standing with their club [dues paid]. The general public is NOT invited to any other DMC program field trip because of insurance liabilities. Society members will receive details of monthly field trips via email.
This year S.E.E.D. is proud to be a Satellite Event of the USA Science & Engineering Festival in Washington D.C. Along with S.E.E.D., organizers of the USA Science & Engineering Festival hope to have a million people join in across the nation,
and the best part—IT’S ALL FREE!
Barbara Fenstermacher once again is organizing the specimens that will be given away at our Club’s tables during this annual event. Volunteers are needed! A sign-up sheet will be passed around at our Sept 13 meeting or you can contact her at (803) 649-0959 to help. We have a lot of fun and the kids
are SO excited to pick out their minerals and rocks.
September 2013 The Hound’s Howl, p 9
The Aiken Gem, Mineral and Fossil Society: 2013 Membership Application
Current Date ____________ Please check one: New ☐ Renewal ☐
Name________________________________ DOB (mon/day)______ Spouse’s Name:________________ DOB______
Address ____________________________________________________________________________________________
Email Address:______________________________________________________________ DO Anniversary ________
Children’s Names (those active in Club only) and DOB _____________________________________________________
Home Phone: ________________________ Work Phone: ____________________ Cell phone: ____________________
I give my consent to the Aiken Gem, Mineral and Fossil Society ( AGMFS) to use my name and likeness for publicity
purposes and to promote Society activities. Check one: Yes ☐ No ☐
Please check one type of membership and newsletter preference.
Dues Family $20 ☐ Dues Single $15 ☐ Dues Student $2 grade/school ☐
Family: Spouse and children under 18 living at the same address
Newsletter preference: ☐ Email (free to all members)
☐ Snail mail (additional $10/address/year for postage/handling)
Make check payable to: Aiken Gem and Mineral Society
Mail to: Kathleen Wallis, AFMFS Treasurer Treasurer’s Use
1142 Ridgemont Drive cash _______ check #________
Aiken, SC 29803 Amt: _______ Date: ___________
2013 Aiken GMF Meetings & Calendar
MONTH REFRESHMENTS PRESENTER PROGRAM
Jan 11 Linda Sarkany Walt Kubilius Rockhound Jeopardy
Feb 8 Jim and Joan Jewett Jay Gorday, Chris Glass & Richard McNutt
Exhibiting at the Show Sign ups and other 2013 Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show business
Mar 8–10 25th Annual Aiken–Augusta Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show
Mar 15 Barbara Fenstermacher Philip Van Emmenis Diamond Gems vs. Industrial Use
Apr 12 Shellie Newell Chris Cicimurri McKissick Library Mineral Collection
April 17 Aiken Earth Day, Hopelands Gardens
May 10 John and Susan Blas Chris Moore, PhD Archeological Research Institute
June 14 Kathleen & Walt Kubilius All Members Silent Auction
June 29 Sue Shrader, Serglasio Arts: Fused Glass Class
Aug 17 Summer Excursion—Visit to Janice and Richard Hightower
Sept 13 Patti Bennett Walt Kubilius Trace Fossils
Oct 4 Herman Kunis—Wire Wrap Bracelet Class
Oct 11 Sharon Sterrett & David Dunlap
Kim Cochran TBA
Oct 12 Science Education and Enrichment Day (SEED) at USC-Aiken
Nov 8 Chris Glass Sean Poppy Savannah River Ecology Lab
Dec 13 Everyone! Holiday Dinner and Pirate Gift Exchange
Aiken GMFS Classes ~ Fall 2013:
Oct 4 Copper Wire Woven Bracelet Class with Herman Kunis Sharon Sterrett: Pine needle basket weaving
around a resin-coated mineral specimen
The Hound’s Howl Aiken Gem, Mineral & Fossil Society Aiken Gem, Mineral & Fossil Society
P.O. Box 267 P.O. Box 267
Aiken, SC 29802Aiken, SC 29802--02670267
The Aiken Gem, Mineral and Fossil Society operates as a non-profit, educational organization affiliated with the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies, Inc., the Eastern Federation of Mineralogical and Lapidary Societies, Inc., and the Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Societies, Inc.
The purpose of the Society is to stimulate interest in collection of gem and mineral materials and fossils and to impart knowledge of lapidary work, mineralogy, paleontology, collecting and classification of minerals and fossils, and the application in the art so greater pleasure may be derived from these activities.
The Society meets at 7:00 p.m., second Friday of the month, in Room 200 of the USC-Aiken Science Building located in the university complex on University Parkway in Aiken. There are informal meetings in July and August. The annual dues, payable by December 31, are $20 for a family membership, $15 for a single adult membership and $2 for a junior member.
The Hound’s Howl is published ten times a year by the Aiken Gem, Mineral and Fossil Society. An annual subscription is an additional $10.00 for posted delivery, otherwise it is sent via e-mail delivery. Unless otherwise noted, permission is granted to reprint material from this bulletin for non-profit usage provided the sense or meaning of the material is not changed and proper credit is given to the club and author. Material written by the editor may not have a by-line.
The Society’s website, www.aikengmfs.org, offers more information about the history of the club, our annual Gem, Mineral
and Fossil Show, education links, and community projects. See photos of our field trips and events on our Facebook page.
13 September 2013 at 7 pm Walt Kubilius ~ Trace FossilsWalt Kubilius ~ Trace Fossils
USCUSC--AikenAiken Science Building, Room 212Science Building, Room 212
First Class Mail
