ROCKET CITY ROCKS AND GEMS The Monthly News Bulletin of the Huntsville Gem & Mineral Society Huntsville, Alabama Volume 43 No. 2 “We’ll go to the Moon for a Rock” February 2011 Program for 21 February 2011 Susan Burch will present a program on Cold Connections in Jewelry Making. Learn to join various metals without needing solder or fusing. Huntsville Gem & Mineral Society 2011. Reprinting Rights are granted for all material (except for minutes of the meeting and copyrighted articles) to any organization officially affiliated with the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies (AFMS) or Southeastern Federation of Mineralogical Societies (SFMS), provided credit is given to the author, the original publication, and this newsletter. INSIDE THIS ISSUE President’s Message……..2 Minutes Jan Mtg…………..2 Feb & Mar Birthdays & Anniversaries ….…. 3 Hours for Lab……………...3 Feature Articles………..4-6 2010 Officers and Committee Chairmen.…..7 Calendar……………..….…..8 The February Meeting will be 21 st , not 28 th because of a scheduling conflict at the Senior Center
Transcript
RROOCCKKEETT CCIITTYY RROOCCKKSS AANNDD GGEEMMSS
The Monthly News Bulletin of the Huntsville Gem & Mineral Society
Huntsville, Alabama
Volume 43 No. 2 “We’ll go to the Moon for a Rock” February 2011
Program for 21 February 2011 Susan Burch will present a program on Cold Connections in Jewelry Making. Learn to join various metals without needing solder or fusing.
Huntsville Gem & Mineral Society 2011. Reprinting Rights are granted for all material (except for minutes of the meeting and copyrighted articles) to any organization officially affiliated with the American Federation of
Mineralogical Societies (AFMS) or Southeastern Federation of Mineralogical Societies (SFMS), provided credit is given to the author, the original publication, and this newsletter.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
President’s Message……..2
Minutes Jan Mtg…………..2
Feb & Mar Birthdays & Anniversaries ….…. 3
Hours for Lab……………...3
Feature Articles………..4-6
2010 Officers and Committee Chairmen.…..7
Calendar……………..….…..8
The February Meeting will be 21st, not 28th because of a scheduling conflict at the Senior Center
February 2011 ROCKET CITY ROCKS AND GEMS Page 2
President’s Note Greetings once again from the President’s Computer. We have finally had our annual election and have our officers for this year. I would like to introduce them to you: Vice-President – Myra Soroczak; Recording Secretary – Ron West; Treasurer – Floyd Mims; Newsletter Editor – Bill Friday; Federation Liaison – Mildred Dodd; At-large Board Members – Mike Soroczak, Wayne Hall, and Past-President – Ed Kiker; and myself - President. This list, along with committee members and contact information, will be listed in the monthly newsletter. I would like to thank them. I don’t know about you, but I am getting tired of the cold weather. As it starts to get warmer, I hope that we can plan some field trips. The semi-annual hunt at Graves Mountain is in April, and will be covered more later. Field trips are activities that many join the club for and are necessary in order to maintain membership. So, if you have ideas for trips (with permission), please let us know. I would like to welcome the several new members that we have gained over the last several months. New people, with new ideas and capabilities are a welcome addition to the club. For their information and to remind everyone, there are several activities coming up in the near future. First, our annual auction will be held at the 25 April meeting. Setup will start at 6:00 pm in the ballroom of the Senior Center, and we will want to start the auction at 6:30 pm. The timing is critical because we must be out of the Senior Center by 9:00 pm. Please search your rock piles, used equipment,
lapidary products, and anything else that you might be willing to donate that would be appropriate for the auction. In the past, there have been machinery, supplies, jewelry and, of course, rocks. Please keep in mind that there are younger members. Remember, this is our largest fund raiser, so we need to have an ample supply of items to induce lively bidding and fellowship for all. By the way, this auction, as are all of our meetings, is open to the public. Our June meeting is the annual picnic and is currently being planned. It is a pot-luck affair and will be held on a Saturday, so please keep it in mind. Also as a reminder, we will be holding our 2011 show October 14, 15, and16, in the South Hall of the VBC. Last year’s show was enjoyable, but was “short” on volunteers. We have a great need for the involvement of all of our members, new and old this year if we want to make the show a success. We should be planning now for the show, and I encourage all of you to get involved. Finally, I would also like to remind everyone that 2011 membership renewals are past-due. These membership dues are a primary source of general revenue and fund the newsletter. These dues are among the lowest for the clubs in the Southeast Federation at $12.50 for single membership and $15.00 for family membership, and can be paid to Lori Willhoite. Charlie Willhoite, President
***************************************
Minutes of the HGMS from the month of January, 2011 The meeting was called to order by the Secretary, Ron West, due to the absence of the President, and Vice President, at 6:30 on January March 24, 2011. The program was a slide presentation by Bill Friday, for Ed Kiker who couldn’t attend, on the Calvert Cliffs Fossil Site, Chesapeake Bay MD. We had one visitor Merrie Duncan. She was allowed to choose a rock prize from the table. Floyd Mims gave the treasurer's eport. There is a balance of 1163.18 in the treasury. Overdue election was held and the following officers were elected. President: Charlie Willhoite VP: Myra Soroczak Treasurer: Floyd Mims
Liaison Secretary: Mildred Dodd Newsletter Editor: Bill Friday Directors at Large: Wayne Hall, and Mike Soroczak, with Ed Kiker as past President Ron West volunteered for the office of Secretary. New Business: Susan Burch passed out a listing of books available for checkout in the HG and MS library. The meeting was adjourned and refreshments were enjoyed by those present. Respectfully submitted, Ron West, Recording Secretary
February 2011 ROCKET CITY ROCKS AND GEMS Page 3
March Birthdays Erin Mize 5 Michael O'Dell 18 Donald Stickels 7 Ben Carroll 19 Carol Roden15 AnthonyBoyd20 Ola Ann Lee 18 Jerry Wilson 24
Anniversaries
Barbara Deckelman 7 John & Betty Olson 24 Robert & Gayle Joyce 18
HUNTSVILLE-MADISON COUNTY SENIOR CENTER
LAPIDARY LAB SCHEDULE Feb 2011 Daily: 7:30am till classes start, if any
(Must get key from desk before 9:00)
Monday: 9:00-12:00 Beginning Silver (West)
12:00-4:00 *Open Lab
Tuesday: 10:00-12:00 Silver Jewelry (West)
1:00-3:00 Silver Jewelry (Clarke)
6:00-9:00pm Potential Lapidary (Friday)
Wednesday 7:30-4:00 *Open Lab
1:00-4:00 Potential Lapidary (Friday)
Thursday 7:30-12:00 *Open Lab
12:00-3:00 Woodcarving (Copeland)
Friday 7:30-12:00 *Open Lab
* ONLY MEMBERS CERTIFIED BY QUALIFIED INSTRUCTOR
The Madison County Senior Center Staff offers all HGMS members who have successfully completed a Lapidary Certification Course to have access to the Lapidary Lab during regular hours, regardless of age. If you wish to sign up for a Lapidary Class,
contact Jim Treadway (256) 859-1484 or Bill Friday 256-883-8487
Where in the world to find rocks and fossils This is a worldwide list of important and/or well-known localities where fossils have been found. Such locations may either be a geological formation or a single site.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fossil_sites Geological formations consist of rock that was deposited throughout a specific period of time. They usually extend for large areas, and sometimes there are different important sites in which the same formation is exposed. In such cases, the sites should be listed under the appropriate formation. On the other hand, many formations are for all practical purposes only studied at a single site, usually the type locality. Mike Streeter has a new book out entitled A Rockhounding Guide to NC Blue Ridge Mountains and on his website http://www.mcrocks.com/page18.html, he also lists an index of field trip reports to rock hunting sites all over the US and the world. Click his home page to see his many other offerings.
February Birthdays Jeff Neely 1 Tony Smith 10 Darrell Murphy 1 Jennie Proper 17 Julie Eve 2 Wayne Falkenburg 18 Doran Adams 6 Debra Impiombato 19 Barry Pollard 7 Jennifer Johnson 19 Cody Proper 7 Katherine Benson 28 Gopal Reddy Sunki 7 June Miller 29
Anniversaries Don & Marie Aldridge 12 John & Becky Marshall 14 Donald & Vicki Stickels 19
February 2011 ROCKET CITY ROCKS AND GEMS Page 4
Field Trip Report – William D. Patty Construction Quarry, Summerville GA, 29 Jan 2011, by Bill Friday
The field trip to Summerville Georgia was fun, and the weather was spectacular, but the pickings were slim. Julie Eve was at the quarry last fall, when a house-sized pile of freshly-dug rock rubble was out in the middle of the quarry, and she found a boatload of good stuff, and a lot of leverite (you should leave it right where you found it) as well, in that pile alone. On this trip, that pile had been completely hauled away, so we hunted the older piles, which
have pretty much been picked clean by prior visiting G&M clubs (web pages describing their trips are many). Not to say we got nothing, just not so much and few really nice pieces. Lem & Linda Myers with their girls got several interesting small boulders. Julie Eve, Gerdy Wyatt, Myra Soroczak, Rick Rentz and I got a few, some containing some good potential. But did I mention that it was fun and the weather was spectacular?
Graves Mountain "Rock Swap and Dig" April 29, 2011 Friday 8 am to 6 pm October 7, 2011 Friday 8 am to 6 pm, April 30, 2011 Saturday 8 am to 6 pm October 8, 20118 Saturday am to 6 pm May 1, 2011 Sunday 8am to 6 pm October 9, 2011 Sunday 8 am to 6 pm
February 2011 ROCKET CITY ROCKS AND GEMS Page 5
Conservation & Legislation News by John Martin, AFMS C&L Chair By now the 112th Congress has been seated and has been in session for about a month. Even though the 111th congress failed to pass the second “Omnibus Land Management Act”, S.303 “America’s Great Outdoors Act of 2010” and as S.2921 “California Desert Protection Act of 2010” died in committee the battle for public land access is not over. We did not accomplish any “Wins” this year, rather the legislation restricting the use of public lands was put on the back burner only to be reintroduced under a different title or attached to other legislative actions in this new congressional year. The environmental activist lobby has vowed to start their efforts anew with more vigor and determination than was exerted last year. If the Rockhound Community just sits by as the environmental lobby takes action we will eventually discover that all of our collecting sites have been added to more wilderness and our access roads and trails have been closed to travel except by foot traffic. The restrictive legislation is not only affecting the western states, but it is now being proposed in several legislative acts on the eastern seaboard and some Midwestern states as well. As the new congressional year marches forward the AFMS Conservation and Legislation Committee
will be doing their best to keep on top of the issues and trying to keep the Rockhounding Community advised of the changing conditions. As the new legislation becomes public and our collecting areas become at risk once again, it will take the combined effort of the Rockhounding Community as a whole to make a difference and let our voices be heard in Washington and your state capital. This will be the only way to keep our Public Lands and our collecting areas open to all public users now and for future generations of Rockhounds. We can not do it alone, we need your help, so when it becomes time to contact your elected officials please consider taking a little time and send that email, fax of make that phone call. To find your elected legislator and to see what the latest legislative activities are, the American Lands Access Association (ALAA) Website is a good starting point (www.amlands.org). For more information or advice on Conservation and Legislation please contact the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies Committee Chair. Via AFMS Feb 2011 Newsletter
Dues for 2011 were due in Jan, either at the meeting or by mail. They are $12.50 for individuals and $15.00 for families. Make checks payable to Huntsville Gem & Mineral Society and send to Lori Willhoite, at 2705 Jarvis St.S.W., Decatur, AL, 35603. Dues for members who joined for the first time after Oct. 1, 2010 are good through 2011. Please let Lori know if any of your information has changed, so records can be kept up-to-date. If you want to receive your Newsletters by E-Mail instead of on paper, let Bill Friday or me know. It reduces our Club expenses, but we need to make sure your E-Mail address is correct in our records. Lori Willhoite-Membership Chairman
Mississippi Gem &
Mineral Society
Announces its 52nd Annual
Gem, Mineral, Fossil and Jewelry Show State Fairgrounds
Jackson, Mississippi Trade Mart Building
Saturday February 26, 9 am – 6 pm Sunday February 27, 10 am – 5 pm
Adults $5.00 ▪ Students $3.00 24 Dealers of Gems, Minerals, Fossils, Jewelry, Beads,
Lapidary Tools and More MGMS Demonstrations of all Lapidary Art including Cabochon Cutting, Faceting, Flint Knapping, Wire
Wrapping, and much more ▪ Junior Demonstration Table ▪ Exhibits ▪ Touch and See with Braille Labels
▪ Colleges and Groups http://missgems.org
February 2011 ROCKET CITY ROCKS AND GEMS Page 6
MINERALS - Commercial Gold Mining in the Carolina Slate Belt by Carl Talbott, D. Sc, from SFMS Lodestar Jul 2011, via The Mountain Gem Franklin NC
On January 6, 2011 Revolution Resources Corp. announced that significant gold mineralization has been en-countered in the first drill holes completed at its Champion Hills Project located in the North Carolina portion of the Carolina Slate Belt (see map below). Although the Carolina Slate Belt was where gold was first discovered in the U.S., and although there has been widespread evidence of the presence of gold mineralization in this geological setting, western states such as California, Nevada and Alaska have been areas of primary focus for gold mining in the U.S. The Carolina Slate Belt, running through both North and South Carolina, hosts a couple of dozen historic gold mines. In fact, the region was the biggest gold producer in the United States before the California gold rush. There was a resurgence of activity in the region in the 1930s, but little further work was done until the 1990s when a couple of major mining companies began work in the area. The Carolina Slate Belt, in spite of its pro-lific production history, has seen little modern exploration, and historical gold production was all shallow, effectively chasing surface occurrences with primitive mining methods. The main reason the Carolina Slate Belt has taken a back seat to the western states is because the land in the Slate Belt is carved out into small, privately-owned properties, as opposed to vast areas of land owned by the U.S. government out West. During part of the 300
year history of the area, mineral rights were split off from the surface rights and land ownership became very fractured. In the 1980s, the owner-ship of much of the mineral rights was re-attached to the surface rights, making it practical, but still challenging, to assemble mineral property positions. However, once a land package of size is assembled, the permitting process, starting with drilling and going all the way through to production, is simpler than on government-owned lands. The little box labeled Ward-Sawyer Trend in the map below shows two primary properties currently held by Revolution Resources Corp. Ward-Sawyer is a major structural trend in the Slate Belt. The two properties, the Jones-Keystone Property and the Lofflin Property, are collectively known as “The Champion Hills Gold Project.” The Jones-Keystone Property at present measures 164 acres. During the 1930s there was some limited mining carried out, but mostly from a surface saprolite zone. The Lofflin Property measures 170 acres. There was also some limited surface mining on saprolite zones on this property during the 1930s. By teaming up with knowledgeable locals, Revolution was able to secure significant blocks of mineral rights that covered areas of primary geological interest. The property acquisition program is continuing, as the geological team pursues other targets of interest. Another mining company working the 400 acre Haile Mine in South Carolina estimates its gold resources at 4.2 million ounces.
Spring SFMS Executive Board Meeting
Augusta, GA - March 11 & 12 Host Club - Augusta Gem & Mineral
Society Meeting will be held in conjunction with
the 23rd Annual Aiken-Augusta Gem, Mineral &
Fossil Show. Show dates are Friday, Saturday & Sunday -
March 11-13 at Julian Smith Casino 2200 Broad St. Augusta, GA.
The show facility is only about 4 miles from the host hotel.
February 2011 ROCKET CITY ROCKS AND GEMS Page 7
PURPOSE OF THE SOCIETY: The Huntsville Gem & Mineral Society is a non-profit educational organization for people interested in mineralogy, geology, paleontology, and related lapidary arts. Its primary purpose is the education of the members and the general public in these areas. This purpose is accomplished through programs, shows, lectures to school children and organizations, and exchange of rocks, minerals and artifacts. DUES: Annual dues are $15.00 per family, $12.50 per person, and are due on January 1st of each year MEETING PLACE: Huntsville/Madison County Senior Center, 2200 Drake Ave, Huntsville, AL Fourth Monday of each month except for April picnic/rock swap, Christmas Dinner and major holidays CHAPTER MAIL ADDRESS: Rocket City Rocks & Gems, Mildred Dodd, 2702 Morgan St., Huntsville, AL 35805 This Society is affiliated with the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies and the
Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Societies
2011 COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Membership: Lori Willhoite (256) 340-3448 Property: Jim Treadway, (256) 859-1484 2705 Jarvis Street S. W. Decatur, AL 35603 [email protected] Mineral ID: Vacant Scrapbook: Dianna O’Dell, (256) 828-1813 Librarian: Susan Burch, (256) 828-1727 Curator: Bob Neuschaefer, (256) 650-0400 Club Publicity: Jeff Neely (256) 572-0448 2011 Show Chair: Tony Smith, (256) 852-3210 Education & Craftsmanship: 2011 Show Vendor Chair: Marcia Stone, (256) 653-4744 Bill Sweetman,(256) 539-8503 2011 Show Publicity Chair: Tony Smith, (256) 852-3210 Hospitality: Bonnie & Jim Treadway 2010 Show Treasurer: Floyd Mims, (256) 778-8097 (256) 859-1484 HGMS Website: www.huntsvillegms.org Field Trips: Bill Friday, 256-527-8227cell Webmaster: Jennie Proper, (256) 585-3100 & Ed Kiker – (256) 722-4793 3215 Stone Path Lane SE, Hampton Cove, AL 35763 Constitution & Bylaws: Peggy Sweetman, (256) 539-8503
2011 HUNTSVILLE GEM & MINERAL SOCIETY OFFICERS
President: Charlie Willhoite, (256) 340-3448 2705 Jarvis Street S. W. Decatur, AL 35603 [email protected] Vice President: Myra Soroczak, (256) 446-9938 875 Lime Kiln Hollow Drive, Muscle Shoals, AL 35661 [email protected] Recording Secretary: Ron West, (256) 883-8729 2603 Lancelot Dr., Huntsville, AL 35803 [email protected]
Newsletter Editor: Bill Friday, (256) 883-8487 2508 Excalibur Dr., Huntsville, AL 35803 [email protected] Directors at Large: Mike Soroczak (256) 446-9938 [email protected]
Wayne Hall ((256) 232-6575) [email protected] Ed Kiker, (256) 722-4793 [email protected] Liaison Secretary – Mildred Dodd – Rocket City Rocks & Gems, 2702 Morgan St., Huntsville, AL 35805
2011 CALENDAR 21 Feb ‘11- Regular HG&MS Meeting, Madison County Senior Center, 2200 Drake Ave, Huntsville, AL 6:30pm 28 Mar ‘11- Regular HG&MS Meeting, Madison County Senior Center, 2200 Drake Ave, Huntsville, AL 6:30pm 25 Apr ’11 Annual Rock Auction Fund Raiser, Madison County Senior Center 2200 Drake Ave, Huntsville, AL 6:30pm 23 May ’11 - Regular HG&MS Meeting, Madison County Senior Center, 2200 Drake Ave, Huntsville, AL 6:30pm Jun ’11 - Annual HGMS Picnic – time, date, and place to be determined 21 Jul ‘11- Regular HG&MS Meeting, Madison County Senior Center, 2200 Drake Ave, Huntsville, AL 6:30pm 28 Aug ‘11- Regular HG&MS Meeting, Madison County Senior Center, 2200 Drake Ave, Huntsville, AL 6:30pm 25 Sep ’11 Annual Rock Auction Fund Raiser, Madison County Senior Center 2200 Drake Ave, Huntsville, AL 6:30pm 14-16 Oct ’10 – Annual Rock, Gem, Jewelry Show 1 Von Braun Center, South Hall 23 Oct ’11 - Regular HG&MS Meeting, Madison County Senior Center, 2200 Drake Ave, Huntsville, AL 6:30pm 22 Nov ’11 - Regular HG&MS Meeting, Madison County Senior Center, 2200 Drake Ave, Huntsville, AL 6:30pm 12 Dec ’11 - Annual HG&MS Christmas Dinner Meeting, Madison County Senior Center, 2200 Drake Ave, Huntsville, AL 6:30pm
Rocket City Rocks & Gems Bill Friday, Editor 2508 Excalibur Dr. Huntsville, AL 35803
HGMS February 2011
Deadline for the next Newsletter will be 16 Mar 2011
