Monthly Newsletter of the Sunsites Gem & Mineral Club
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“Finding and Grinding Rocks in Cochise County, Arizona since 1965”
February 2014
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The next GENERAL MEETING of the Sunsites Gem & Mineral Club is on Monday February 10, 2014 at 7:00 pm in the Sunsites Community Center. The program for the evening will be a DVD, entitled “1923 Grand Canyon Expedition,” a silent film compiled from footage shot during the 1923 USGS expedition down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. This is the earliest USGS film and one of the first black and white films distributed nationally. This film is the same video that was shown on PBS a while ago and is worthy of viewing again….certainly not boring. Further info may be had by Googling the Grand Canyon Expedition.
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CLUB DUES are due for 2014. Dues are $15 for individuals and $25 for a family. Walter Sigel will be collecting them at the meeting or you can mail your check to Sunsites Gem & Mineral Club, PO Box 87 Pearce AZ 85625.
OFFICERS 2014
President: Jack Light 520-824-4774
Vice President: Elliott Hendricks 520-471-8820
Secretary: Nadine Wirshing 520-507-3865
Treasurer: Walter Sigel 520-826-1009
Del. At Large: Carl Schnabel 520-826-0100
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Hospitality Coordinator:
Cheryl McLaughlin 520-507-1750
Speaker Coordinator:
Don Hammer 520-384-3105
Field Trip Coordinator:
Henri Van den Bos 520-384-0288
Newsletter:
Zoe Schnabel 520-826-0100
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Regional Events:
Kino Gem/Mineral Show (formerly TEP)
Feb 1-16 at: Kino Sports Complex
Free admission
Feb 1-15 Arizona Mineral & Fossil Show
Info: mzexpos.com $
Tucson Gem & Mineral Society
Feb 13-16 Tucson Convention Center
Info: tgms.org $
Complete Tucson Gem Show Schedule:
http://www.tucsongemshows.net/coming.html
March 6-9th Annual Rockhound Round-up in
Deming, NM. More info next month.
CLUB CALENDAR
February 27 Board Meeting
March 10 General Membership Meeting
March 27 Board Meeting
April 3 Board Meeting
April 14 General Membership Meeting
May 1 Board Meeting
May 12 General Membership Meeting
June 7 Picnic
After “summer break,” meetings resume in September.
Monthly Membership meetings are held at the Sunsites Community Center, beginning at 7 PM.
Board of Directors meetings are held at the Sunsites VFW, beginning at 3:00 pm
PRESIDENT'S REPORT, February, 2014
The field trip to the Johnson Camp Mine appears to have been a success. I saw lots of nice specimens go out and the weather was perfect. Also, I got to talk mining.
I should, however, mention something on a less upbeat note. When we called an end to collecting, there were a few people who seemed to ignore the call. The engineer who, very kindly, shepherded us around the mine wanted to attend a function with his daughter and, though he was very gracious about it all day, was a bit anxious to leave. We sometimes have a reason for calling a halt to the proceedings.
The shed is in place and somehow level. We're in the process of making up material lists for the electrical installation and benches and walls etc. Cheryl thinks we may be able to get materials donated by Lowes or Home Depot.
JACK
TO BE APPROVED:
MINUTES FROM JANUARY’S GENERAL MEETING
Jack Light opened the meeting at 7:10 PM.
The program was first on the agenda with Dr. John Ware from the Amerind Foundation. The program was entitled, “Southwest OR Northwest.” Dr. Ware presented a slide show and talk. He also allowed for a question & answer time. The program ended at 8:15 at which time a break was taken before going into the business part of the meeting.
We reconvened at 8:30 with a quorum present.
The refreshments were prepared by Zoe Schnabel, Cheryl McLaughlin and Tony Tyskiewicz. A big thanks to them.
Jack asked for a motion to accept the minutes of the last meeting, Carl Schnabel made the motion and Walter Sigel seconded it.All were in favor.
The Treasurer’s Report was given by Walter Sigel. He also commented on the new budget and read the figures.
Approval of the Budget was accepted by all.
Old Business: The shed has been moved and is now behind the Community Center.
It was recommended that Russ Vandeyacht and his wife be made honorary members since he moved the shed as a donation.
A motion was made and seconded on this recommendation and all were in favor.
New Business: The Field trip to Johnson Camp is on Saturday Jan. 25th.Only 20 people will be able to go as per Johnson Mine. We will meet at “The Thing”at 9 AM and will leave at 9:15.
Since there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30.
Respectfully submitted by Nadine Wirshing.
Secretary.
Field Trip Report: Johnson Mine Trip Jan. 25th
Prior to going down into the pits, everyone went through “mini hazard recognition training” and was provided with hard hats to wear. Jack Light led the field trip and told the members about the strata of Johnson Mine with additional info from the Johnson geology engineer. A brief explanation of the processing was covered as well as permitting the club members to collect in two different pits. The copper bearing minerals included malachite, azurite, as well as chrysocolla. Nice specimens went home with everyone.
On Monday Jan 13 the future lapidary shop was moved to the Community Center by Russ Vandeyacht with 6 club members assisting him, The were Jack Light, Elliott Henricks, Walter Sigel, Don Hammer, Carl Schnabel and Glen Wirshing. The greatest surprise was that Russ did not accept the check that was prepared for him. Russ said that moving the shed was a donation.
THANK YOU RUSS!
THE PASSING OF A FRIEND
Laurence “Larry” Strout
1924-2014
Laurence “Larry” Strout, of Pearce/Sunsites, died on January 27, 2014 at the age of 89. He was born March 5, 1924 in Portland, Maine.
Larry served in the Army Air force during WW II stationed in England for three years and was an aircraft engine mechanic. For more than 25 years he worked as an electronic engineer for North American Aviation in Downey, Calif. which later became Rockwell International and then Boeing.
In 1990 Larry and his wife Fay moved to Pearce/Sunsites, Ariz. Larry was very active in the community, he was a member of the Pearce Cemetery Assoc., Cochise Stronghold Lions Club and a member of the Elks Lodge in Azusa, Calif. He had a great love for gem and minerals and was the lapidary trainer for the Sunsites Gem and Mineral Club, and a trainer for wire wrapping jewelry.
He served in all of the officer positions in the Gem & Mineral Club at various times.
Larry was voted honorary membership in the Gem and Mineral Club in 2008.
He was preceded in death by his wife Fay in 2003. Survivors include his son, Pete Strout of Sunsites; grandsons, Kimbel and Darrell Strout; and his great-grand-daughter, Abigail Strout.
A graveside service was held on Saturday Feb 1, 2014 at the Pearce Cemetery. Contributions may be made to your local charity of choice. You may express condolences at www.westlawnchapelmortuary.com
The Sunsites Gem & Mineral Club, Board of Directors, voted to name the Club’s new lapidary building – “Larry’s Lapidary Lab”.
FIRE AGATE is a variety of chalcedony containing inclusions which produce an iridescent effect or “fire” in rainbow colors. Alternating silica and iron oxide layers diffract and allow light to pass creating the “Schiller effect” also known as fire.
The hardness of fire agates is between 6 and 7.
The semi precious gemstone is found only in certain areas of Northern Mexico and the Southwestern US (primarily CA, AZ and parts of NM). Approximately 24-36 million years ago these areas were subjected to massive volcanic activity during the Tertiary Period of volcanism when hot water, saturated with silica and iron oxide, repeatedly filled cracks and bubbles in the surrounding rock. Areas in AZ include the Black Hills (BLM) and Round Mountain (BLM) as well as “secret places.” It is illegal to collect fire agates on BLM lands and then sell them.
FIELD TRIP on February 15, 2014
We will meet at the Lordsburg Rest Stop off of Rte 10, exit #20 at 9:30 am, departing at 10 am to a locality known as “Duncan Fire Agate.” The location is between Lordsburg & Duncan, NM. Bring light digging tools, hand rakes, as well as a misting bottle. Remember your hats, sunscreen, water, chairs and lunch.
Most of the road to the site is a graded dirt road however the last stretch is rough and a rugged vehicle will probably be necessary.
This area of the AZ/NM border has proven productive and everyone should go home with beautiful pieces of chalcedony, some with fire.
When in the “field,” look for bubbly brown bumps often within whitish chalcedony. This may be an indication that the stone contains “fire.”
NOTE: Drive time from Sunsites to Exit #20 in NM is approx. 1 ½ hr.
If you have a question or comment about the Cochise County Rock, you may contact the editor (Zoe) at: ssgmeditor@gmail.com