www.cochisecountyrock.org
“Finding and Grinding Rocks in Cochise County, Arizona since 1962”
May 2008
This issue edited by Debi Breese
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Sunsites Gem and Mineral Club General Meeting Minutes - April 14, 2008
President, Don Hammer, called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
Guests and visitors were acknowledged. New Members: Cory Jameson, Kim Harbster, and Pam Turnbull were welcomed into the Club.
Don asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the March meeting. It was moved, seconded, and the minutes were approved.
Walter gave the Treasurer’s Report. The current balance in the checking account stands at $1,885.64, with the CD at $3,112.71. Don reported that he’d received the wrong forms after $4 was sent to the AZ Corp. Comm. for Incorporation Articles.
Don announced that the Board had approved the purchase of a horse-related book to be donated to the Sunsites Library in memory of Carol Pontious. On behalf of the Club, Walter purchased the book, Dancing With Horses.
The Board approved and recommended to the Members that Larry Strout be given a lifetime Honorary Membership for his years of service to the Club. This was moved, seconded, and approved.
The Club’s Lapidary class is held from 6-9 p.m. on Thursdays. At this time, there are five students in this class. On Tuesdays at 10 a.m., there is a Silver Soldering class, which is a prerequisite to Silver Smithing. And, on the 1st and 3rd Monday afternoons of each month, two to five Members are in a Silver Smithing class. If interested in joining any of these classes, please call Don Hammer at: (520) 384-3105.
This month’s field trip in on the 19th, led by Doug Bundy. We will be going to French Joe Canyon looking for coral and jasper. High clearance vehicles are a must. Meet at Gas City in Benson at 9 a.m. For more detailed information, refer to the last Newsletter.
Announcements: Thank you to Barbara Schmidt, Carol Cartmell, and Diane Brower for supplying our refreshments. Volunteers for refreshments are needed for the Fall. Kindly sign Hospitality Sheet, always found on the front table.
Don indicated that the Club needed someone to host the June 7th picnic, and the Robert Millers of Elfrida volunteered. Our thanks to them, and a map and details will be published in the next Newsletter.
Don thanked everyone for coming, and the meeting was adjourned at 7:14 p.m.
The Business Meeting was followed by refreshments, the Rock Raffle, and the Program presented by the Robert Miller Family who shared their extensive knowledge and collection of many raw and some cut gem stones.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane Brower
Secretary
On Saturday April 19, 28 members and three guests assembled at Gas City in Benson and at 9:15 headed south on Highway 90 to the turnoff to French Joe’s Canyon. The last mile was a bit slow – the valley in that area is rock so the road was also rock. But everyone made it in, and Don assembled the group and showed them the coral and jasper to look for indicating that it could be found anywhere on the prairie or in the washes. Most scattered out searching the prairie, but a few hit the washes. Don found his boulder with the coral vein and managed to break it out, but the vein was badly fractured and practically useless. We all broke out lawn chairs and enjoyed the canyon ambiance during lunch and a few even found a bit of shade under a couple of mesquite trees. Then, most renewed the search and found some more coral and some pieces of a nice jasper. Many continued past 3 PM and a few even stayed longer. We all got some nice pieces and some got some larger rocks.
Field Trip – May 17
We will go to a marble quarry for finger agate on the north end of the Dragoon Mountains. Meet at 8 AM on Saturday, May 17 at Lizard Lane – milepost 5 on Dragoon Road – and we will leave promptly at 8:15. There is adequate parking along Lizard Lane. Bring light (garden type) digging tools, bags and pails and knee pads or something to kneel on. You will be kneeling on the ground digging in relatively soft dirt for pieces of finger agate that occurred between the marble and granite that was broken out during the quarrying operation. Keep anything that is not obviously marble - the agate occurs as pieces buried in dirt, is covered with dirt and usually has a buildup of calcite. Buy some muriatic acid at the hardware and an old glass bowl at the thrift store and put the agate in an acid/water solution to remove the calcite. High clearance vehicles, but not 4WD. Bring water, lunch, lawn chairs, sun protection, eye protection and heavy hammers and pry bars if you wish to tackle the agate vein on the mountain above the quarry. Remember no open toed shoes or shorts – long pants and solid shoes.
Lapidary and Silversmith
Classes
Silversmith classes are scheduled for the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month from 2 – 5 PM at the Lab behind the Fire Department.
Lapidary classes are in session on Thursday from 6 to 9 PM at the Lapidary Room behind the Fire Station.
Come and join the fun for lapidary, silversmith, and wire wrap lessons. Interested, any questions? Call Irvin Pontious for lapidary at 824-0110. Silversmith - call Don Hammer 384-3105. Wire Wrap - call Larry Strout 826-3991.
The program for this month is the video “Making of a Continent – Part II” - California.
Summer Annual Picnic – 7 June
The Annual June Picnic will be at the home of Robert and Alicia Miller on Saturday, June 7, and will begin at noon. The Club will provide the bratwurst and soft drinks. Walter will do the grilling. Last names beginning with the letters A-M are asked to bring a dessert, while names beginning with N-Z are to bring a salad. Everyone will need to supply their own lawn chairs and picnic or card tables, and if possible, umbrellas for sun protection.
The Directions to the Miller’s home are as follows: traveling south from Elfrida, watch for the 65 mph speed limit sign on the outskirts of town. Continue on for 0.3 miles to Whitewater School Road; turn left (east). Travel 1.7 miles to the last house on the left of the paved road.
The deadline to sign up for the picnic is 31 May. Call or email Hanni Sigel before that date. 520-826-1009 or sigelhawa@vtc.net
Club Calendar:
May Aug
1 Board Meeting 28 Board Mtg
12 Monthly Meeting Sept
17 Field Trip 8 Monthly Mtg
29 Board Meeting 20 Field Trip
June Oct
7 Picnic 13 Monthly Mtg
19 Field Trip
Happy Mothers’ Day – 11 May
Upcoming Regional Events
Arizona Gem & Mineral Clubs (from RMFMS.org)
New Mexico:
P.O. Box 13718, Albuquerque, NM 87192-3718 Pres: Susan Seymour, (505) 877-3621; suzannerox5@aol.com
Carlsbad: Road Runner Gem & Mineral Club: 1801 Solana Rd., Carlsbad, NM 88220; Meets 1st Monday, 7pm at Senior Recreation Center, 1112 N. Mesa; Pres: Frank Pierce, (505) 885-7676; e-mail: marynixon@valornet.com
Farmington: San Juan County Gem & Mineral Society: P. O. Box 1482; Farmington, NM 87499-1482; Meets 4th Tuesday, 7:30pm in Sun's Dining Room at San Juan College, 4601 College Blvd.; Pres: Duane Gustin, (505) 402-9742; dbgustin@msn.com
Las Cruces: Gem Crafters & Explorers Club:
P. O. Box 3091, Las
Cruces, NM 88003; Meets 3rd Friday 6:30pm, (except July & Dec) at Breland Hall, room 189, NMSU Campus; Pres: LeRoy Unglaub, (505) 524-9497; pathfdr@zianet.com
P.O. Box 762, Los Alamos, NM 87544; Meets 3rd Tuesday, 7:30pm at Christian Church, 92 East Rd.; Pres: Joyce Guzik, (505) 672-0249; joy@lanl.gov
Roswell: P.O. Box 815, Roswell, NM 88203
Santa Fe Geological Society, Inc.: P. O. Box 1245, Sandia Park, NM 87047; Pres: Lee Winn, (505) 820-1085; e-mail: rwinn@cybermesa.com
Silver City: Grant County Rolling Stones Gem & Mineral Society: P.O. Box 1555, Silver City, NM 88062-1555; Meets 2nd Thursday, 6pm at Silver City Senior Center, 205 W. Victoria St.; Pres: B J Burch, (505) 388-4312; e-mail: mamafisch@aol.com
Truth or Consequences: Sierra Gem and Mineral Society: 813 Gold; Truth or Consequences, NM 87901; Pres: Leon Gorrell (505) 894-0559
Non-Affiliated Clubs for New Mexico
Clovis Gem & Mineral Society: 1587 BY 60-84, Clovis, NM 88101
Deming Gem & Mineral Society: P.O. Box 1459, Deming, NM 88031
Lordsburg: Rockamania Gem & Mineral Society: 208 Motel Dr., Lordsburg, NM 88045
President Don Hammer 520 384-3105
Vice-President Henri Van den Bos 520 384-0288
Secretary Diane Brower 520 826-4672
Treasurer Walt Sigel 520-826-1009
Delegate at Large Jack Light 520-384-4774
Hospitality Coordinator Hanni Sigel 520-826-1009
Ex-Officio President Paul McKnight 520 824-4054
Quote of the Month: Today is the first day of the rest of your life, so enjoy everything in your life today. (dlb)