VOLUME 26, ISSUE 4 April 2016 Words from the President: hat?! The Santa Lucia Rockhounds Rock & Gem Show at the Paso Robles Event Center is this month?! Have you volunteered to help yet? It’s not too late! Tina Clark from "The Clark Four" has agreed to serve in our new position of Volunteer Coordinator for the Rock & Gem Show. We have only half the volunteers we need as of now. At the next General Meeting Tina would love to sign you up for a shift or two. And don't forget, the next General Meeting is April 18 - that's the Monday right before the Show! One hour of volunteering goes a long way. As we all well know, one hour does not mean you are there for the whole day. For our volunteers who are planning on being at the show all day, one hour means a restroom break, a stretching break, a chance to relax and eat, or a chance to shop for something at the Show. Many Santa Lucia Rockhound volunteers didn’t have any time to be a customer at last year’s Rock & Gem Show. And I had to hear about it all year from Denise! PLEASE help and support the volunteers for this year’s Show. I would like to thank Tina Clark (new member 2015) for stepping in to the Volunteer Coordinator position for the Show; Brett Weathersbee (new member 2014) for working on advertisements for the Show; Dianne Brooke (new member 2015) for being one of the voices on the radio ads. The radio ads are 60 seconds long and will be aired on KJUG and the Q stations. Be sure to listen! Also, look for ads in the New Times and the Tribune, too. A Special Thanks to Kim Noyes for being the Dealer Chair. Kim and a few others have been contacting vendors for months. Having vendors is one of the most important parts of the Show. Without them we have no show! Over 30 vendors will be at the Show this year. Thank You to everybody who made contact with vendors for the Rock & Gem Show. Do you know that the number one advertisement in our survey at last year's show was...Yard Signs! Do you have your Yard Sign up in your yard, letting your neighbors and UPS drivers know about our Show? We have the Yard Sign Police roaming around checking to see who doesn't have their yard sign up in their yard. If you don't, there will be no gold star for you at the next General Meeting! So Please, put up those yard Signs! Hope to see everyone at the General Meeting and at The Show! ~~Mike Judy~~ General Meeting: 7pm Board Meeting: 6pm W April 18th 2016 OFFICERS CHAIR PRESIDENT Michael Judy (805) 238-4469 [email protected]VP PROGRAMS Joyce Baird (805) 423-5855 [email protected]VP EDUCATION John McCabe (805) 464-0528 [email protected]VP COMMUNICATIONS Brett Weathersbee (805) 550-2753 [email protected]SECRETARY Alice Rodriguez (805) 369-4910 [email protected]TREASURER Doren Strane (805) 712-8519 [email protected]SR. DIRECTOR David Nelson (805) 423-0188 [email protected]JR. DIRECTOR Ralph Lawless (805) 423-8965 [email protected]PAST PRESIDENT Open Position
Transcript
VOLUME 26, ISSUE 4 April 2016
Words from the President:
hat?! The Santa Lucia Rockhounds Rock & Gem Show at the Paso Robles Event Center is this
month?! Have you volunteered to help yet? It’s not too late! Tina Clark from "The Clark Four"
has agreed to serve in our new position of Volunteer Coordinator for the Rock & Gem Show. We have
only half the volunteers we need as of now. At the next General Meeting Tina would love to sign you
up for a shift or two. And don't forget, the next General Meeting is April 18 - that's the Monday right
before the Show!
One hour of volunteering goes a long way. As we all well know, one hour does not mean you are there
for the whole day. For our volunteers who are planning on being at the show all day, one hour means a
restroom break, a stretching break, a chance to relax and eat, or a chance to shop for something at the
Show. Many Santa Lucia Rockhound volunteers didn’t have any time to be a customer at last year’s
Rock & Gem Show. And I had to hear about it all year from Denise! PLEASE help and support the volunteers for this year’s Show.
I would like to thank Tina Clark (new member 2015) for stepping in to the Volunteer Coordinator
position for the Show; Brett Weathersbee (new member 2014) for working on advertisements for the
Show; Dianne Brooke (new member 2015) for being one of the voices on the radio ads. The radio ads
are 60 seconds long and will be aired on KJUG and the Q stations. Be sure to listen! Also, look for ads
in the New Times and the Tribune, too.
A Special Thanks to Kim Noyes for being the Dealer Chair. Kim and a few others have been
contacting vendors for months. Having vendors is one of the most important parts of the Show. Without
them we have no show! Over 30 vendors will be at the Show this year. Thank You to everybody who made contact with vendors for the Rock & Gem Show.
Do you know that the number one advertisement in our survey at last year's show was...Yard Signs! Do
you have your Yard Sign up in your yard, letting your neighbors and UPS drivers know about our
Show? We have the Yard Sign Police roaming around checking to see who doesn't have their yard
sign up in their yard. If you don't, there will be no gold star for you at the next General Meeting! So
Please, put up those yard Signs!
Hope to see everyone at the General Meeting and at The Show! ~~Mike Judy~~
t the March meeting Junior Rockhounds made arrowhead points from obsidian. They had their choice of using modern
day tools or ancient ones, such as a deer antler. This month Jr Rockhounds have homework. They are supposed to bring in their favorite rock, particularly one they worked on themselves to the April meeting. At the meeting they will be working on their display for the Rocks & Gems Show. ~~TC~~
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March Meeting Gold Mine
he March meeting speakers shared a gold mine of information with Club members. Stuart and Nancy Schmidt revealed the
pits and perils of what it takes to operate their family owned gold mine in the Yukon Valley. Stuart led the presentation and fascinated us with both past and present gold mining practices, particularly related to the challenges in dealing with frozen ground. ~~TC~~
Drawing Donations Desired
ur Rock and Gem Show has always had a wonderful selection of items for our drawing, and we would like this
year’s drawing to be as wonderful as ever. There are going to be a few changes this year, one being that there will be a drawing twice a day, with three Grand Prizes that will be offered at the final drawing on Sunday. If you have any rock show related items that might be languishing at your house or lapidary room, please consider donating them to our drawing. Denise Haludy is Drawing Cooridinator this year, and she will be at the next General Meeting to graciously accept any and all rock related donations you might have. She just asks that any rock-like donation have a label stating what kind of rock it is, where it is from, and who donated it. We are using the "label" term loosley: a piece of paper taped to the donation will suffice! Thank you all for your enthusiastic donating! ~~DH~~
How long have you been a club member? About five to six years. I should remember, but my memory is getting selective. What rocks you about rockhounding? I like it all! Maybe the very best part is the traveling and collecting. There's nothing cooler than getting into a good spot and finding stuff on the surface or digging into a great pocket of thundereggs. The potential of what may be waiting to be seen is addicting to me. Just getting out into the often times remote areas where this stuff is waiting and seeing new countryside is great too. What has been your greatest or most memorable find? I think a thunderegg I found at the North Black Hills Geode Bed in the Wiley Wells area. The combination of waterline agate, fortification agate, tilt and colors is outstanding. It was just under the surface (float), and I pulled it up with a simple garden tool. It has some flaws but still is a winner. Tell us about a current project you are working on. It's not so much a specific project but a goal. I have my cutting and polishing down to where I get results I am satisfied with. But I think it could more predictable.....go smoother and faster. I am always tinkering with my equipment and procedures to try to achieve this. Also, I need to work with my contour polisher more. My initial attempts with it haven't been to my liking. What is your favorite rock? Thundereggs, hands down! What is your favorite mineral? Silica? :) Then fluorite. Is there anything else you would like the club to know about you? Don't ask me to be president, I'm not management material!
~~GM~~
N
North Black Hills Geode Bed
Wiley Wells, CA
Accepting the 2014 Founders Award
From 2013 Founders Award (David Nelson)
Galen Moyer
Rockonteur Santa Lucia RockHounds April 2016
THUNDEREGGS - Central Coast
By Barbara Bilyeu
nd now, concluding our tour of thundereggs of the West, we
arrive back on the Central Coast of California, another unique
area for thundereggs. There are basically three areas in California
(aside from the desert) that are well-known for thundereggs, and we
will start with the one furthest to the north, Lone Hill. This site was
located in the Las Gatos area near San Jose, and was named for its
very prominent shape, arising from the flat valley floor. Over the years
it has been completely taken down and made into a quarry, its
thundereggs crushed for gravel! It is now a residential area, with only
a small neighborhood park left in its memory. Luckily, rockhounds did
collect some of the thundereggs, and they can still occasionally be
found in old collections.
Furthest to the south is Tranquillon Peak on Vanderburg AFB near Lompoc,
another producer of Central Coast thundereggs, now pretty much off-limits
to collectors. Over the years, thundereggs have washed down into the
ocean and occasionally turn up on the beaches, particularly Jalama Beach.
Thundereggs that have been ocean-tumbled are very difficult to distinguish
from similar black and gray ocean-tumbled chert and travertine, found in
profusion on Jalama, so it is a treasure when one is found! In the photo,
Ralph Bishop is holding a thunderegg from Tranquillon with a brilliantly-
colored quartz interior.
~~continue~~
A
Lone Hill in 1876
Lone Hill Thunderegg
Tranquillon Peak Thunderegg
Close-up
Ralph Bishop with a
Tranquillon Peak Thunderegg
Rockonteur Santa Lucia RockHounds April 2016
THUNDEREGGS - Central Coast ~~continue~~
And last, but definitely NOT least, we come home to
Templeton and Hwy 46W, our own stomping grounds and
the source of our club symbol, the biconoid. The biconoid is
one shape in which the
interior core of a thunderegg
can form, and it takes the
shape of two cones flattened
against each other -- looking
much like a flying saucer! For
many years local residents thought that they were unique to
Templeton. Farmers and ranchers found them in the fields,
sparkling in the sun because often the quartz-filled interiors
were broken by ploughs. In 1947, a specimen was sent off
for analysis to scientists at the state level who were unable
to determine what it was, not being familiar with
thundereggs. When articles were published about these
unique Templeton "mysteries", thunderegg collectors in
Oregon, where they have lots of biconoid cores, certainly
knew what they were and quickly identified them, but the
mystique has remained attached to the Templeton Biconoid. How the actual shape
formed inside a thunderegg is still being debated by scientists and enthusiasts, and is one
of the many fascinating things about thundereggs.
Thundereggs found in the Templeton area often show some sort of biconoid form, but not
all the interiors of thundereggs from this location are biconoids. You can see many fine
specimens at the Pioneer Museum where our club has an exhibit, and many more will be
on display at our club show in April. Although Templeton is being heavily built up, club
members and collectors are still finding them! But why are there any in Templeton at all,
since they are associated with volcanic activity? There are currently two theories as to
their origin. One is that they washed down from the volcanic formations near the top of
the Santa Lucia Range, near
where Hwy 46 W crosses the
summit. But the thundereggs from
this area are actually somewhat
different and don't contain the
same agate, fortification, and
inclusions such as sagenite found
in the Templeton specimens. So
the other theory is that the
Templeton thundereggs are from
a deposit worn away and lost long
ago in geologic time. The verdict
is still out, leaving scientific minds
to keep digging for answers, and
Santa Lucia Rockhounds to keep
digging for thundereggs!
Hwy 46 West Thunderegg
Templeton Biconoid
Complex interior of a
Templeton Thundereggs
Double Biconoid in a
Templeton Thunderegg
Rockonteur Santa Lucia RockHounds April 2016
he Rockonteur is the official monthly newsletter of the Santa Lucia Rockhounds. It is an independent publication containing news and information consistent with the mission of SLR and of interest to its members.
Circulation is approximately 90 copies per issue. Editor – Tina Clark Interim Publisher – Michael Judy (805) 238-4469 [email protected] Member submissions are encouraged and may be made by email or snail mail. We reserve the right to accept or refuse submissions and advertising that, in our opinion, do not reflect the standards of this newsletter, or are inconsistent with the objectives and purpose of the Santa Lucia Rockhounds. Submissions may be edited for content, grammar, spelling, punctuation and length without consent. Rockonteur is not a creative writing outlet. However, all submissions that may be of interest to its readers and reflect the standards of the newsletter, will be considered for publication at the discretion of the editor or publisher. Deadline: All submissions are due by midnight of the last day of the month but early submissions are highly appreciated and strongly encouraged. The publisher reserves the right to accept, reject or hold-over late submissions. Santa Lucia Rockhounds Website: www.slrockhounds.org Webmaster - Vince Pellerin (831) 594-1381 [email protected] Santa Lucia Rockhounds, Inc. is a charitable group organized as a California non-profit public benefit corporation. The specific purpose of the group is to promote the study of mineralogy, including (but not limited to) the fields of lapidary, metal working, jewelry design & fabrication, geology and field trips for collecting and related history. We encourage learning and good citizenship in a congenial atmosphere. We respect both private and public property and we strive to protect natural resources. Annual Dues are $20 for the first adult and $8 each for every additional member in the same household. Dues are payable between 1 September and 31 December, in person at the meetings or by mail. Members in good standing receive the Rockonteur by mail or email. We are a member of the California Federation of Mineralogical Societies (CFMS) and affiliated with the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies (AFMS). Santa Lucia Rockhounds, Inc. is also a member of the American Lands Access Association (ALAA).
Rock & Gem Shows
T
APRIL 2016 April 16 - 17: THOUSAND OAKS, CA
Conejo Gem & Mineral Club
April 23 - 24: ESCONDIDO, CA Palomar Gem & Mineral Club
April 23 - 24: PASO ROBLES, CA Santa Lucia Rock Hounds
April 23 - 24: SANTA CRUZ, CA Santa Cruz Mineral & Gem Society
MAY 2016 May 7 - 8: ANAHEIM, CA
Searchers Gem & Mineral Society
May 7 - 8: JACKSON, CA Amador County Gem & Mineral Society
May 7 - 8: RENO, NV Reno Gem & Mineral Society
May 13 - 15: YUCAIPA, CA Yucaipa Valley Gem & Mineral Society
JUNE 2016 June 3 - 5: LA HABRA, CA
North Orange County Gem & Mineral Society
June 4 - 5: GLENDORA, CA Glendora Gems & Mineral Society
June 25 - 26: CULVER CITY, CA Culver City Rock & Mineral Club
t's time to start thinking about what you are going to exhibit at our club's 25th anniversary show in April! The show theme is Thundereggs
(including agates and geodes), but a wide variety of exhibits is welcome. Please consider showing off your lapidary creations, collections,
and favorite rocks in an exhibit to share with our community. And we NEED some exhibit representation from the Junior Rockhounds!! You
Juniors are a major part of our club and the community needs to see what you can do! A limited number of club exhibit cases are available for
loan, so get your applications in early. The application form is attached. Please call or email Barbara at 434-2708 or [email protected]
if you have any questions!
EXHIBIT APPLICATION Santa Lucia Rockhounds Annual Gem and Mineral Show April 23 - 24, 2016
at the Paso Robles Event Center (Fairgrounds) Dear Friends, Another CHANGE this year for the Santa Lucia Rockhounds: we are changing our date once again (to avoid the antique show congestion), but will still hold our show at the Paso Robles Event Center (Fairgrounds, north of the Pioneer Museum). We would be honored to have your exhibit in our 25th anniversary show! Our show theme this year is the Thunderegg (including agates and geodes), but a wide variety of exhibits is welcome. Exhibit set-up time is from 12:00 noon until 7:00 PM on Friday, April 22nd, or between 8:00 and 10:00 on Saturday morning. Exhibits must remain in place until 5:00 Sunday afternoon. The Santa Lucia Rockhounds will have security in place during the show, but will not be liable for loss or damage to exhibits. Please complete the following form and return to: Barbara Bilyeu 620 Santa Rita Road Templeton, CA 93465 For further information, please call Barbara at (805)434-2708, or email at [email protected]. We look forward to your participation!
