Dec2010
The Cochise County Rock
Monthly Newsletter of the Sunsites Gem & Mineral Club
http://sites.goggle.com/site/cochisecountyrock/
http://picasaweb.google.com/cochisecountyrock/
“Finding and Grinding Rocks in Cochise County, Arizona since 1967”
December 2010
This issue edited by Don Hammer
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The next General Meeting of the Sunsites Gem & Mineral Club is our Christmas Party on Monday December 13 at 6:00 pm at the Sunsites Community Center.
General Meeting November 8, 2010 minutes.
Meeting was called to order by Paul McKnight at 7 PM.
Visitors welcomed: Jim & Sue Huntley & Jim & Cherie Robbs.
Minutes of last meeting were approved as published.
Walter Sigel read finance report and it was accepted by all.
Field Trip: Sat Nov. 13 trip will be to San Simone for geodes. Will meet at Safeway parking lot in Willcox at 8:30 AM & leave at 8:45. High clearance vehicles suggested.
An extra field trip is planned to Johnson Mine on Dec 4th.
Christmas Party will be on Dec. 13 at 6 PM. Sign up sheets were available:
If last name begins with A – G bring salad, H – P bring dessert, Q – Z bring vegetables.
Election for new officers was presented by Zoe Schnabel and they are as follows:
President: Diane Dunn, Vice. Pres: Jack Light, Secretary.: Jim Brower, Treasurer: Walter Sigel; Member at Large: Carl Schnabel. Field Trip Chair.: Henri Van den Bos, Newsletter: Don Hammer. All were in favor.
The club has been asked to have a rock show at the Pearce Heritage days on Nov 26th & 27th and it will be in the Captain’s Store from 9 to 5 each day.
Set up will be at 10 AM on Wed. Nov. 24th.
The raffle was held after the intermission.
Program: Special speaker was John Magoffin, a pioneer in this valley. He had a very interesting talk of ranching in the early days of this valley. His wife, Mary, also was a big help to him on the ranch. Many questions were answered and all enjoyed hearing him
Christmas Party
The Club Christmas party will be held on our regular meeting date, the second Monday, December 13. But the meeting time is changed to 6 PM. The Club has two 20 lb turkeys which the Center ladies will cook for us and Zoe will do stuffing and gravy. If your last name begins with A-G you are asked to bring a salad, H-P a dessert, and Q-Z a vegetable dish. Also, if you would like to participate in the gift exchange, please bring a preferably rock or club related gender-neutral gift - under $10 and gift-wrapped. If you plan to attend but did not sign up at the November meeting, please call Zoe Schnabel at 826-0100 before December 9. Do it now before you forget and leave a message if she’s not home. Let’s all come out and kick off the holiday season in style.
November Field Trip
On Saturday November 13 12 members, a new member and three guests met in the Willcox Safeway parking lot at 8:30 and departed at 8:45. We took I-10 to San Simon and then country roads and the gas-line right-of-way to Roostercomb – a hill about 12 miles NE of San Simon. Most of us simply picked up the geodes from the ground but a few broke them off the parent outcropping. Geodes were abundant but not at all uniform – they could be almost any shape or size. We thank Henri van den Bos for arranging a very productive field trip.
Johnson Mine Field Trip
On Saturday December 4 33 members and 8 guests met in the parking lot of The Thing at 9:00 am and headed across the interstate to Johnson Mine at 9:15 am. We caravaned to Johnson Mine and met Clive and Shirley Bailey (an ex President of our Club) and did the formalities (sign waivers, etc.) and then proceeded to the conference room and groups of 11 went to the processing plant. We then explored some recent mine tailings where we could just pick up some nice specimens. Later we went to an early area of diggings and found all kinds of malachite and chrysocola. We thank Henri for his perseverance in finally getting this excellent trip arranged. http://picasaweb.google.com/cochisecountyrock/Dec2010#
Gem & Mineral Show at Pearce Heritage Days
The Old Pearce Preservation Associtation (OPPA) asked the Club to put on a Gem & Mineral Show at the Pearce Heritage Days. On Wednesday afternoon November 24 Carl and Zoe Schnabel, Walter and Hanni Sigel and Don and Joan Hammer arranged the displays of the Club’s rock collection, some of Don’s rocks and jewelry, Henri van den Bos’rocks and some historical Pearce photos in the Captain’s Store in Old Pearce. Zoe also brought a display of her magnificent silverwork. They along with Dianne Dunn, Elliot Hendricks and Paul McKnight manned the show during the festival on November 26 and 27. We had a lot of interest from festival participants, signed up nine new members and and thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the festival. OPPA have asked if we would do the show again next year. http://picasaweb.google.com/cochisecountyrock/Dec2010#
Lapidary and Silversmith Classes
Our lapidary, silver soldering and wire wrapping classes are once again available so if you’re interested call Larry Strout at 826-3991.
Dues are due. Dues are $15 for individuals and $25 for a family. Bring your dues to the next meeting or mail your check to Sunsites Gem & Mineral Club, PO Box 87, Pearce, Arizona 85625. Unpaid members were dropped on March 31.
Club Calendar:
December
13 Christmas Party
Upcoming Regional Events
December
3rd–5th
The El Paso Mineral and Gem Society Gem Show
It will be held at the El Maida Auditorium, 6331 Alabama, El Paso TX. Times: Fri. 10-6, Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5. Fees: adults and students $3, seniors $2, children under 12 free. What will be there: gems, minerals, fossils, beads, jewelry, tools, books, equipment, geode cutting, silent auction, and, demonstrations. For info contact Jeannette Carrillo, 4100 Alameda Ave., El Paso, TX 79905, (877) 533-7153; e-mail: gemcenter@aol.com. Come one, come all, and enjoy the fun. Share the info with your friends and family.
3rd, 4th and 5th
Tombstone Miners Mania 2010. Styled after the original western rock & mineral shows and the old time ‘tailgate miners’ that used to be at every western rock show, this event has something for everyone. Free admission and parking. Tombstone Territories RV Resort on Highway 82.
Betty 520-457-9505 www.tombstonegemshow.info
January 2011
7-9
39th Flagg Gem and Mineral Show. Jewelry, gems, beads, fossils, minerals and lapidary supplies. At Mesa Community College – the west parking lot. www.flaggshow.info
14th–16th,
54th Annual Gila County Gem & Mineral Society Show. Gila County Gem & Mineral Society Gila County Fair Grounds 3 miles North of Junction US 60-70, Globe, AZ; Hrs Fri- Sat 9-5, Sun 9-4 Live demonstrations, door prizes, food, displays, minerals & jewelry, etc. Nominal Admission, Contact: Show Chairman Val Lathem 602-466-3060, e-mail, val65@cox.net
3rd or 4th weekend –
they haven’t updated their Web site
Quartzsite Pow Wow – gems, minerals, jewelry, demonstrations, field trips and more. 928-927-6325
February
The Tucson Show www.tucsonshowguide.com
March
10-13 Rockhound Roundup – the Deming Show. Jewelry, rocks, minerals, displays and demonstrations, guided field trips and auctions. Bud Daily 575-267-4399; Jerry Abbey 575-543-8915 www.dgms.bravehost.com
Officers for 2010
President: Paul McKnight775-434-8395
V-President: Jack Light 520 824-4774
Secretary: Jim Brower 520 826-4672
Treasurer: Walter Sigel 520-826-1009 Delegate at Large: Glen Wirshing520-826-0167
Hospitality Coord: Zoe Schnabel 520-826-0100
Field Trip Coord: Henri vanden Bos 384-0288
Past President: Don Hammer 520 384-3105
FIELD TRIP ETHICS
Sunsites Gem and Mineral Club
revised by the Board of Directors on 2 December 2010
PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITIES
1. All participants must abide by the rules designated in the Field Trip Ethics document prepared by the Board of Directors and distributed to all field trip participants, as well as by any additional rules and guidelines established by the Field Trip Leader(s) on the day of the trip.
2. Any participants (members or guests) who are deemed by the Field Trip Leader(s) to not be following any of the guidelines governing field trip participation may be asked to leave at any point during the trip.
3. All participants must arrive for the field trip properly outfitted in terms of water and clothing, according to the safety guidelines outlined below. Any participant not properly outfitted may be prevented from joining the field trip and asked to leave by the Field Trip Leader.
4. All participants, including members, guests and children, must sign a field trip liability waiver, to be placed on file with the Club. Those who do not sign a waiver will not be permitted to participate in the field trip.
5. Members bringing guests will be responsible for paying the $1 per guest temporary membership fee for each guest, including any children.
6. Members bringing guests are responsible for informing guests of the necessity of signing a field trip waiver BEFORE the guest(s) arrive at the near-site meeting place. Guests unwilling to sign a waiver will not be permitted to participate in the field trip, regardless of how far they have driven to get to the site.
7. Parents or guardians are responsible for the safety and behavior of accompanying children. Children must be within visual sight of their parents or guardians at all times.
8. Participants are to leave gates in the position in which they were found upon arrival at the site.
9. Under no circumstances are participants to leave trash or other debris at a collecting site. Aside from collected material, leave the site in the condition in which you found it.
10. Field trip participants that appear to be intoxicated may be asked to leave at any point on the trip.
11. CONVOYS: While in convoy with other participants, the vehicle ahead is responsible for keeping the vehicle behind in sight at all times. If the vehicle behind stops for any reason, the vehicle ahead must stop to give aid if necessary. The lead and rear vehicles will keep in contact as necessary by cell phone or CB radios.
All participants must follow the safety guidelines set out below:
Safety Guidelines
1. Snakes, spiders, scorpions, bears, mountain lions, and other potentially dangerous wildlife are out and about at any collecting site. DO NOT put your hands and/or feet where you cannot see them! Most collecting sites are two hours or more from a medical treatment facility.
2. Bring sufficient water (at least 1 gal./ person) and food for yourself and any guests.
3. Wear appropriate clothing: long trousers, boots, comfortable shirts, and a hat.
4. Bring appropriate collecting tools.
5. Do not wander off alone – stay with the group.
6. Be alert to open mine pits, dangerous overhangs, and loose talus on waste dumps and quarry walls.
7. Be considerate of your fellow collector. Do not work above them or toss unwanted waste where it could cause injury to others.
8. If you must leave before the other participants, you must inform the trip leader.
9. DO NOT TRESPASS on posted land or patented mine claims.
10. You must respect and abide by the instructions of the field trip leader.
11. I understand that any and all field trips and/or activities of the Sunsites Gem and Mineral Club that I participate in may include one or more of the following hazards that may result in personal harm:
Substantial walking and/or physical activity; Unpredictable and Dangerous Environmental Conditions/Hazards including, but not limited to: encounters with poisonous, predatory, and dangerous wildlife; snow; rain; wind; very cold and very hot temperatures; lightening; altitude; open mine pits and excavations; loose rock; falling rock; avalanche; river hazards; mud slides; mud; ice; and other slippery conditions. Use good judgment, common sense and have a good time!