The Cochise County Rock

Monthly Newsletter of the Sunsites Gem & Mineral Club

www.cochisecountyrock.org

“Finding and Grinding Rocks in Cochise County, Arizona since 1962”

September 2006

This issue edited by Paul McKnight

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Monthly Meetings Resume in September

On Monday, September 11, we will hold our first meeting of the fall at 7 pm at the Sunsites Senior Center. This meeting will feature a short discussion of those hard-shelled creatures we see crawling across roads during the monsoon: the Western Box Tortoise. This will be presented by Larry Edgett who has three of them staying as guests in his yard. He will tell us how to determine the gender of these reptiles as well as something about their eating habits.

Then, if we are able to persuade any of the participants in Agate 2006 to provide a short report, we will hear about that activity.

We will then have a video, “Gemstones of America” with Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

September Field Trip

Meet at the Willcox Safeway parking lot at 8 am Saturday, September 16, 2006 for an 8:15 departure. We will be collecting Opal near Duncan, AZ. Here is an explanation from trip leader Barbara Fenner, who will be speaking about fluorescent rocks at our October meeting:

Equipment needed: hammer, chisel, safety glasses, and gloves. (Opal shatters and if one uses a chisel and/or hammer, it could possibly turn the Opal into small pieces that are like flying glass particles. Even someone yards away could be injured.) The gloves are necessary because the Opal is sharp.

The Opal at this site is called Common Opal. It is massive and shiny and fractures like obsidian. It is not a precious Fire Opal. The colors range from porcelain white to chocolate brown.

One can put it to lapidary use but it must be worked slowly and carefully , being sure to keep it cool. Excessive heat will cause it to crack.

There are nice chunks of the Opal to be found as well as smaller pieces. Collecting the Opal should be easy. This is a nice area for collecting. Remember to bring special equipment for collecting good Opal from the exposed seams.

Meet at 8 am at the Safeway parking lot in Willcox. We will leave at 8:15.

August Field Trip Report

Two days before our August 12 trip for dentritic rocks near Stein, New Mexico, Bob and Barbara Fenner drove over for a preview. They found the road to the site washed out. Undaunted, they drove to an alternate site and checked it out. They found some copper minerals and some rocks with good fluorescing qualities.

So on the appointed morning, 4 vehicles headed out for the alternate site. We drove to Road Forks, New Mexico and headed south on Highway 80 toward Douglas. Before long we came to an abandoned mine dump and started collecting. The prettiest finds were Azurite and Turquoise. The ugliest finds were the fluorescing rocks. Your editor found a chunk of popcorn Aragonite.

Dues are due. $10 for individual and $20 for family. Please mail your check to Sunsites Gem & Mineral Club, PO Box 87, Pearce, AZ 85625.

Upcoming Regional Events

October 14-15 32^nd Huachuca Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show. At the Elks Lodge on Willcox Avenue, Sierra Vista, AZ. This is one block from Buffalo Soldier Trail. Free admission & parking; live demonstrations, educational displays, rocks, jewelry, gems, minerals, fossils, equipment, lapidary supplies, field trips & more. Even food! Saturday 9-6, Sunday 9-4. Free parking, free admission. Contact Larry at 520-459-5211. fax 520 459-5211 hmgcshow@c2i2.com

October 14-15 9th annual Gem and Mineral Show sponsored by the Payson Rimstones Rock Club.

Gems, Minerals, Lapidary Arts, and Hand-crafted Jewelry. Dealers will display and sell a vast assortment of jewelry, chains, gems, findings, rough slabs, minerals, fossils, books, tools and supplies. Saturday 9-5, Sunday 10-4. Admission $3, Children under 12 free. At the Tonto Apache Reservation Recreation Center on Highway 87 next to the Mazatzal Casino in Payson, AZ

Club Officers for 2006

President Don Hammer 520 384-3105

Vice-President Paul McKnight 520 824-4054

Secretary Jeannine Paterson 520 826-1649

Treasurer Larry Edgett

Delegate at Large Sue Bishop 520-586-2312

Club Calendar

September

11 Regular Meeting

16 Field Trip for Opal near Duncan, Arizona

October

1 Board Meeting

9 Regular Meeting featuring fluorescent minerals by Barbara Fenner

21 Field Trip possibly an archaeological site

November

5 Board Meeting

13 Regular Meeting

18 Field Trip

December

3 Board Meeting

11 Christmas Party

Huge Pink Quartz Deposit in Namal National Park in Sri Lanka

This huge Pink Quartz deposit is spread over 105 hectares in North West Sri Lanka. It is the largest known deposit in Asia and is 250 million years old. The pink color can be seen against the light green background of foliage and is a gorgeous scene under a moonlit sky.

This Pink Quartz belongs to a superior stone category. The Silicon Dioxide is infused with Vitanium, which gives it the pink color. Pink Quartz beads have been found in the surrounding areas in archaeological excavations, and Pink Quartz was used to decorate the windows of the Taj Mahal.

Adapted from Strata Gem 6/06 via The Crystal, Branford Lapidary and Mineral Society, Inc. 12/05, via The Rockcollector 1/06

Preview

The October meeting will feature a presentation by Barbara Fenner on fluorescent minerals. A special price will be available for members on the lighting devices that provoke a fluorescent response from rocks. We hope to arrange an archaeology outing for the October Field Trip. We will also need to approve a nominating committee for the November elections at the October meeting.