The Cochise County Rock

Monthly Newsletter of the Sunsites Gem & Mineral Club

www.cochisecountyrock.org

“Finding and Grinding Rocks in Cochise County, Arizona since 1967”

May 2009

This issue edited by Don Hammer

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The next General Meeting of the Sunsites Gem & Mineral Club is on Monday May 11 at 7 pm at the Sunsites Community Center. This will be the last General Meeting until September 14.

The Cochise County Public Health Emergency Planning and Preparedness Program is providing a very valuable workshop entitled “Emergency Preparedness for You and Your Family”. We will discuss 4 important topics:

Get a Kit, Make a Plan, Be informed, and Get involved.

All of these steps are possible for everyone. We simply need to “Get to it.” No matter what your situation you can always do more in the area of preparedness.

Upon joining the Emergency Planning and Preparedness Program within the Cochise County Health Department, Marilyn Godfrey, the instructor has been working hard to get out to all the communities in the County and increase their preparedness level, by encouraging people to simply start and make it a priority. "It is better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.”

The likelihood that you and your family will recover from an emergency tomorrow often depends on the planning and preparation done today. While each person’s abilities and needs are unique, every individual can take steps to prepare for all kinds of emergencies from fires and floods to potential terrorist attacks. By evaluating your own personal needs and making an emergency plan that fits those needs, you and your loved ones can be better prepared. Whether you have always been working on preparedness or just now seeing the need, you will find something new in this workshop that you can improve on. Join us for an evening of ideas and possibilities in being better prepared for the next emergency. It isn’t a matter of “if” it is going to happen but “when.”

April 13, 2009 General Meeting Minutes

Paul McKnight called the meeting to order at 7:00.

There were no changes made to the minutes of our last meeting and they were approved as published.

Walter gave the treasurer’s report which was approved as given.

An announcement was made concerning Lapidary as follows: If you plan on attending Lapidary on any given Thursday evening, call Larry in advance in order to assure that he will be there to open up the facility and lead the session.

Henri and others reported on the last field trip led by Dr. Ware at the ancient Native American gardens located north of Safford. The site is situated on a plateau above the Gila River valley. Rocks were formed in grids on the flat areas and terracing on the slopes to contain rain water. Rocks were also used for mulch.

The field trip on April 18 will focus on an area just south of Sunizona where we will look for jasper. Meet in the old restaurant parking lot at the corner of US 191 and 181 at 8:30 for departure at 8:45.

June picnic. Walter and Hanni have discovered a site with an open area and shade trees in the Middle March area which will be ideal for a picnic. After some discussion, club members voted unanimously to have the picnic at this site in June. A sign-up sheet was passed around and further details will be forthcoming.

Diane Dunn displayed pictures from Black Hills Back Country Byway, http://www.arizonabeautiful.com.

Bob and Barbara Fenner brought samples from their last trip which they gave for the rock raffle.

Refreshments were provided by Barbara Schmidt and Debbie Breese.

Adjournment at 7:18

After refreshments a DVD presentation from the series, “The Nature of Earth, an introduction to geology” was shown. The segment focused on mineral identification.

Respectfully submitted,

Jim Brower, Secretary

April Field Trip

On Saturday April 18, 20 members and three guests met at Mustang Mall at 8:30 and at 8:45 went south a couple of miles and a couple of miles east to a lone hill SE of Apache Lair restaurant. The hill had several mine sites and rocks lying all over the ground on the hill and on the nearby prairie. Apparently the miners had set off a large charge that scattered rock all over the place. Needless to say it was not difficult collecting and everyone got plenty of red jasper. We found a few small pieces of a very nice yellow jasper and finally a few of us located the source and found some workable pieces. Later most of the group relaxed enjoying a sunny, windless day with good company. We thank Diane Dunn and Henri van den Bos for a very productive field trip.

Ride Sharing

Anyone needing a ride or wanting to share for a Club event should attend the General Meeting and work out ride arrangements at the meeting.

May Field Trip

On Saturday May 16 meet at 8:30 am in the parking area north of the Old Store in Pearce. We will be going back to the Commonwealth Mine for amethyst and lacy agate. Bring digging tools, heavy rock breaking tools, water, lunch, sun protection, bags or pails and lawn chairs.

June Picnic

On Saturday June 6 meet at the Sunsites Community Center at 11:00 am. We will caravan from there to the site in Middlemarch Canyon. The Club will provide the bratwurst and soft drinks. Last names beginning with A-M bring a salad, names beginning with N-Z bring a dessert. Bring chairs and a table if you have one. There is NO water available and NO restrooms – only Mother Nature. High clearance is not needed. Sign-up sheet at the May 11 General Meeting or call or email Walter or Hanni Sigel (520)826-1009 sigelhawa@vtc.net. Signup deadline is May 31, 2009.

Lapidary and Silversmith Classes

Lapidary classes are in session on Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at the Lapidary Room behind the Fire Station. Call Larry Strout at 826-3991 if you plan to attend. Larry is also teaching silver soldering, a prerequisite to silver smithing. Keith McRobert has resumed teaching silver smithing. Call Don Hammer at 384-3105. Come and join the fun of lapidary, silversmith, and wire wrap lessons. Interested, any questions? Wire Wrap - call Larry Strout.

Dues

Dues are due. 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 from the Club roster on March 31.

Club Calendar:

May

11 General Meeting

16 Field Trip

28 Board Meeting

June

6 Club Picnic

Upcoming Regional Events

July 2009

3rd–5th

23rd Annual San Juan Gem and Mineral Show

Arlington St. Civic Center, Farmington, NM

10:00am til 6:00pm, Free admission

Show chairperson: Mickie Calvert, POBox 1482, Farmington, NM 87499 mickie2@earthlink.net

30th–August 2nd

American Federation of Mineralogical Societies

Billings, MT, http://www.amfed.org/show2009.htm

30th–August 2nd

Northwest Federation Annual Convention & Show

Billings, MT, http://amfed.org/nfms/

31st–August 2nd

Prescott Gem and Mineral Club Annual Show and Sale

http://www.prescottgemmineral.org/shows.htm

Friday July 31 and Saturday August 1 - 9:00AM to 5:00PM

Sunday August 2 - 9:00AM to 4:00PM

Admission $2.00, Children under 12 free w/adult

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Field House

3900 Willow Creek Rd, Prescott, AZ.

Show Chairman: Pam Jackson lpjack65@gmail.com

Jewelry, Rough Rock, Slabs, Lapidary Equipment, Minerals, Fossils, Beads and Beading Supplies. Free Raffle Ticket with paid admission

October 2009

2nd–4th

Rocky Mountain Federation of Mineralogical Societies

Roswell, NM ; RMFMS 2009 Show information

10th–11th

Payson Rimstones Rock Club 12th Annual Gem & Mineral Show

Mazatzal Hotel & Casino Event Center - Bingo Hall

Tonto Apache Reservation

Admission: $3/Adults, Children under 12 Free

Discount Tickets Available @ Payson Chamber of Commerce, Payson Library, Parks & Recreation Office

Barry Jones, 2009 Show Chair, 928-476-3513

10th–11th

Huachuca Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show

At the Elks Lodge on Wilcox Avenue; Sierra Vista, Arizona

Free admission and parking; live demonstrations, educational displays, rocks, jewelry, gems, minerals, fossils, equipment, lapidary supplies & more! 35th Annual Show presented by the Huachuca Mineral & Gem Club-proceeds benefit the club's scholarship fund. Contact Ingrid at 520-459-3718

Arizona Gold - For the Amateur Prospector

From azgs.az.gov January 23, 2009

Where is the gold? Each year we receive dozens of calls and letters from amateur prospectors asking just that question. Well, now we have an answer - sort of. To assist the amateur prospector, the Arizona Geological Survey is now releasing a number of reports and maps describing historic gold strikes in Arizona as free, downloadable PDF’s at:

www,azgs.az.gov/minerals_gold.shtml. The reports are largely non-technical, easy to read, and well illustrated with pictures and maps.

For nearly 100 years, the Arizona Geological Survey(AZGS) and it’s predecessor agencies documented, compiled, and published reports of gold in Arizona. Most of that material, however, is out of print and out of mind.

The cornerstones of this online collection are “Gold Placers and Placering in Arizona” and “Arizona Lode Gold Mines and Gold Mining” The chief author, E. D. Wilson, was a well known and respected geologist who served Arizona for more than 40 years. Each publication includes a county-by-county breakdown of proven gold finds, handy tips on finding gold for the amateur prospector, and useful guides for panning or harvesting gold.

Other materials available on our prospector’s webpage includes reports and maps on copper and/or gold in Payson, Oatman, and Tombstone. There is a short note on the Copperstone mine – one of Arizona’s most recent gold strikes, as well as information on radioactive minerals, how to identify minerals in the field, and a dated how-to guide for developing small mines. For additional information, email Michael.Conway@azgs.az.gov

Club Officers for 2009

President: Paul McKnight 520-824-4054

V.President:Henri van den Bos 520 384-0288

Secretary: Jim Brower 520 826-4672

Treasurer: Walter Sigel 520-826-1009

Delegate at Large: Larry Strout520-826-3991

Hospitality Coord: Zoe Schnabel 520-826-0100

Past President: Don Hammer 520 384-3105