nljun2006
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”
June 2006
This issue edited by Paul McKnight
_________________________________________________________________
June Picnic
The annual picnic will be held at the home of the Bishops in Dragoon beginning at 11 am on Saturday, June 10. Directions: North on Johnson Road from Dragoon one mile. Turn right on Little Wing to 4780 on the right. Bring lawn or folding chairs and a hat or other sun protection.
The Club will supply the hot dogs, hamburgers, buns, and the condiments. The members will provide salads, side dishes, and desserts.
If your last name begins with A-G, bring a dessert. If your last name begins with H-P, bring a salad. If your last name begins with Q-Z, bring a side dish.
Sue Bishop says bring some digging equipment if you want. She claims to have blue Quartz in her yard. She has also promised the grilling services of her husband Richard, who she attests is an excellent griller.
If you need any additional info about the picnic or want to volunteer for something, call Jeannine Paterson at 826-1649. Also, please RSVP to Jeannine by June 5 so we will have some idea of how many people to buy meat for.
May Field Trip Report
On Sunday May 14, we went to a former gold mine on private property two miles north of Dragoon. We found some small chips of Turquoise and some Jasper and at least one piece of Galena.
Next Meeting is September
We have a tradition, going back to the ‘60s, of not having meetings during the summer.
May 8, 2006 Meeting Minutes
SUNSITES GEM AND MINERAL CLUB
POB 87
PEARCE, AZ 85625
May 8, 2006
Meeting called to order at 7:04 pm by Prisident Don Hammer; 18 members were present.
Don welcomed guests, Henie VanderBos, Carmen & Alan Loy and Brigette Benson.
Secretary’s report was approved as e-mailed.
Treasurer Larry Edget’s reported checkbook balance of $4,927.86 was approved.
Larry Strout reported the Lapidary group numbers 5 with everyone enjoying the class.
Silversmithing class will hopefully start in the fall.
Field Trip May 14th to meet in Dragoon at 9:00 am north of the RR crossing just before Johnson Rd. Trip to be to an old gold mine in Dragoon; possibly Turquoise as well.
Discussion was held on the Annual Picnic. Jeannine Paterson to Chair the Picnic which will be a cookout, June 10th at 11:00 am at Sue Bishop’s home. A motion was made and seconded by Larry Strout and Dick Yeager that the Club purchase hamburger, hot dogs and condiments. Members to bring a dish to pass. Last name starting with letters A – G; Deserts – H – P Salads; - Q – Z a side dish. Please contact Jeannine at 826-1649 no later than June 5th if you plan to attend.
Larry noted the “hat” for building expenses was on the front table.
Pres. Don invited all to enjoy refreshments thanks to the Yeagers and Connie Morrison, and to stay for the Video “The Making of the Chiricahuas”.
Meeting adjourned 7:20pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeannine Paterson
Secretary
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.
Club Calendar
June
10 Club Picnic in Dragoon. Saturday. 11 am
July
Field Trip – possibly I-191 North of I-10 for Chinese picture rocks
August
Field Trip
September
3 Board Meeting
11 Regular Meeting possibly featuring fluorescent minerals by Barbara Fenner
16 Field Trip
October
1 Board Meeting
9 Regular Meeting
21 Field Trip possibly an archaeological site
November
5 Board Meeting
13 Regular Meeting
18 Field Trip
December
3 Board Meeting
11 Christmas Party
Lapidary Classes! Silver Soldering/Smithing Classes!
Flint Knapping!
Lapidary workshop 1-4 pm on Saturdays. Silver Smithing Class will begin in the fall. Contact Larry Strout at 826-3991. Ralph Cartmell has offered to teach a class on flint knapping. Contact Ralph at 826-3051 or Larry Strout.
We’re head’en to
“AGATE 2006”
The “Rocky Mountain Rockhounds” and the “Chaparral Rockhounds” would like to cordially invite all Rockhounds to “AGATE 2006”, our annual ten-day, nine-night fieldtrip campout through the Labor Day weekend at Apache Creek, New Mexico, from August 26th to September 4th, 2004.
We have very adventurous and interesting fieldtrips every day from 50 to 200 miles roundtrip from our base camp. Each day we leave at 8:30 AM with a picnic lunch to different areas in the region to collect a very wide variety of rocks, minerals and/or crystals that can include: Agate, Banded Agate, Blood Stone, Bytownite, Calcite, Chalcedony, Crystaline, Fire Agate, Geodes, Golden Luna Agate, Halite, Hematite, Hypersthene, Jasper, Labradorite, Lava’s, Luna Blue Agate, Obsidian, Perlite, Plume Agate, Quartz Crystals, Spotted Agate and Thunder Eggs just to name only a few. A couple of our fieldtrips might be into the eastern portion Arizona along the state line. Several of the areas that we travel into, one will need a high-clearance or 4WD type vehicle. If you do not have this type of vehicle, don’t worry, someone would be happy to carpool with a little “$$$$” help for gas.
The very small town of Apache Creek is located in the central-western part of the state about 117 miles west of Socorro, NM, on NM-12 southwest of the small town of Datil, NM. Apache Creek campground, used as our base camp, is a beautiful and tranquil camping area with tall majestic pine trees towering over the entire camp area for plenty of cool shade during the warm days of August. The area is large and spacious enough for the largest of RV’s to the smallest of pup tents and everything in between. Being a rustic camp area, there are no facilities, water or electricity, just one coed chemical toilet, so you must come prepared. There is no cost or camping fees at Apache Creek campground. The town of Apache Creek has one main structure in town, a combination gas station / convenient store where one can buy the “very basics” and is where we get our spring water. The small town of Reserve is eleven miles to the southwest and has a grocery store, bank/ATM, garage/gas station and two small motels for anyone who does not want to campout. The majority of the time, Mother Nature cooperates. The weather in August has warm days in the upper 70’s to 80’s and cool nights in the 50’s with some possible 40’s and even 30’s. Occasionally, late summer thundershowers may wonder through the area to put a damper on things, so come prepared for the unexpected. The elevation of our base camp is about 6400 feet with day outings that can be up to 8500 to 9000 feet.
Every afternoon about 4:30 or 5:00 PM, most of the rockhounds get together and have a happy hour to socialize and talk about the day’s findings. Then everyone has supper on their own around 6:00 PM. Afterwards, we sit around the campfire and tell TALL stories of old mining, prospecting and Rockhounding glory days. If anyone can play a musical instrument, (I.E. guitar, fiddle, banjo, harmonica, etc.) be sure to bring it along to entertain everyone. The nighttime skies at Apache Creek are breathtaking. With no light pollution, one can see millions of stars. So, if you have a good pair of binoculars or a telescope, be sure to bring them too for some spectacular stargazing. On Friday afternoon after returning from our outing, we all get together for our traditional “Apache Creek Group Photo” at 5:30 PM. On the first and last Saturday afternoons, we all get ready for our traditional potluck supper at 6:00 PM. Everyone makes their favorite camp dish and we share them while telling more stories around the campfire. On the last Sunday at 9:00 AM, we have a Rolling Rock Club meeting.
Rockhounds that show up can camp-out anywhere from a couple of nights to the entire campout. Some just come for the last weekend to visit and see old friends. Some Rockhounds camp out for over two weeks. Everyone that comes always has a great time with all the camaraderie and collecting, and everyone ALWAYS goes home several pounds heavier. Each year, it only gets better. We really hope that your club members can join us this year to make some new friends and really have some good old “Rockhounding Fun and Adventure.” For the last 8 years, we have averaged about 35 Rockhounds that have attended the campout from at least five different states. Just the right size for a Rockhound get together. In addition, if you have a CB Radio, bring it along. We use CB Channel 15 on all our fieldtrips. And for local music and news, tune into Reserve's local radio station, KNMA at 104.5 FM.
Saturday and Sunday on the last weekend are open days. For those not interested in going out rock collecting, there are several other things to see and do in the area:
New Mexico Bureau of Mines Mineral Museum is located in Socorro, NM on the campus of the New Mexico Bureau of Mines. The museum is one of the “Top Five Mineral Museums” in all of North America and well worth the trip.
Very Large Array (VLA) Radio Astronomy Telescope is where the movie “Contact” with Jodie Foster was filmed. If you are interested in Astronomy, you defiantly want to check this place out. They have a very interesting, informative and education Visitors Center.
Apache Creek South Mesa has some unique 600-year-old Petroglyphs located on the south side of the mesa. The site is only a two-mile roundtrip hike from the campground.
Reserve, NM is the place to be on the first weekend of the campout. On 26 August, the town will be having their County Fair with a Livestock Show, Arts & Crafts and a Rodeo.
Mogollon, NM is an old historic and famous ghost town in the Mogollon Mountains, Gila National Forest. There are Antique Shops, three interesting Museums, the “Mogollon Rock Shop”, the Old Theater and have lunch in the Old Town Café. On Saturday the 2nd of September, the town of Mogollon will be hosting the “Old Time Miners Reunion”. Old miners who worked the mines around the town will be there telling some great old stories from Mogollon’s Glory Days.
The Catwalk is a very beautiful, tranquil and scenic canyon for hiking. Therefore, if you love hiking, the Catwalk is for you. In addition, there are numerous places to go hiking throughout the Gila and Apache National Forests.
Silver City Gem and Mineral Show in Silver City, NM. The local club will be having their 23rd annual 3-day show during the Labor Day weekend. It is only a two-hour drive south and the very beautiful and scenic landscape will make the trip a memorable one.
Lodging: For those folks who do not wish to camp out, or need electricity and water for their RV, there are the following alternatives. Be sure to make any reservations as early as possible due to Bow Hunting season for Elk, which starts on Monday the 28th. The rooms and RV spaces fill up fast.
The Bunk House Bed & Breakfast in Apache Creek is 505-533-6949.
Apache Creek RV located near by is 505-533-6166
Rode Inn Motel on Main Street in Reserve is 505-533-6661. They have Cable TV, Direct Dial Phones, Queen Beds and a Laundromat.
Village Motel & RV Spaces on South Main in Reserve is 505-533-6600
Elk Country Café & Motel in Reserve is 505-533-6615
Dining: For those folks who wish to have a change of diet from camp food, there are the following alternatives.
Antonia's Casita Café in Reserve
Carmen's Restaurant in Reserve
Ella's Café in Reserve
The Rocky Mountain Rockhounds and the Chaparral Rockhounds host AGATE 2006. If you are planning on coming to AGATE 2006, please try to RSVP by mid August. For any additional information about Apache Creek or the camp out, please contact Yonis Lone Eagle at 505-860-2455 or via e-mail at: rockymountainrockhounds@yahoo.com .
The Chaparral Rockhounds
Roswell, New Mexico
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upcoming Regional Events
May 6-7 Mohave County Gemstoners present their annual show at Kingman Academy of Learning, 3419 Harrison St., Kingman, AZ. Contact Dave at 928-692-3797 or Bill at 928-565-9586.
May 13–14 59th Annual Show "Rocks & Minerals of the Colorado Plateau". Grand Junction Gem and Mineral Club, Two Rivers Convention Center, 1st & Main, Grand Junction, CO. Contact Don or Marj Gibboney, 193-27 Road, Grand Junction CO 81503, 970.245.2885
August 26-September 4 Agate 2006
October 14-15 Huachuca Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show. At the Elks Lodge on Willcox Avenue, Sierra Vista, AZ. Free admission & parking; live demonstrations, educational displays, rocks, jewelry, gems, minerals, fossils, equipment, lapidary supplies & more. Contact Larry at 520-459-5211.
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