Volume 4, Issue 1

P.O. Box 234

Needles, CA 92363

Editor:

Barbara Wiggins [email protected]

Volume 4, Issue 1 January 2009

NEXT CLUB MEETING Jan 19 at 6:00 p.m. PST

First Baptist Church 1421 Commercial St. Mohave Valley, AZ

Usually 3rd Monday of each

month, Oct-May

BOARD MEETING

30 minutes before Club meeting each month

A GOOD YEAR A brand new year is given us, It could be likened to a stone. It can be polished and enhanced, Or it can be left alone. We can sit and watch it pass, And wish we had our youth, Or we can use the years we have In search of love and truth. This year can be a better year, We can shine it to a glow. No year is bad, no year is good, Just people make it so. Let’s plan this year to be our best By sharing love with others, For peace will never thrive on earth Until we live as brothers.

Source: Chiasto-HI-Lites via Calgary Lapidary Journal, 12/2008

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

2. Club Information 3. Refreshments Schedule/Upcoming Shows 4. Quartzsite Happenings/A Beginner Guide to Quartzsite 5. Polishing Compounds 8. Act Blocks Burmese Jade & Ruby Imports 9. Power of Crystals 10. Slab and Specimen Photography 11. Christmas Party 12. Hints ‘n Such 13. Upcoming Field Trips/Field Trip Report

Blue Agate News Needles Gem & Mineral Club January 2009

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NGMC INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW

THE OBJECTIVES OF NGMC

To promote public interest in collecting and studying rocks and minerals. To preserve and perpetuate the lapidary arts. To provide field trips to obtain lapidary material and minerals for preservation and display. To provide an opportunity for the purchase, exchange and exhibition of specimens and materials.

The NGMC meets the third Monday of each month from October through May at 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time unless otherwise notified.

NGMC - 2009

President: Ann Ferguson 928-768-7150 Vice President: Allan Reed 928-763-3511 Treasurer: Lori Clary 928-234-3391 Secretary: Sally Hayward 928-768-7437 Past President: Corinne More 760-326-5005 Past President: Barb Ballard 928-768-6335 Auditor: Ramona Peterson 928-854-1853 Facilities Chair: Faith Reed 928-763-3511 Field Trip Chair: Bob Ferguson 928-768-7150 Membership Chair: Gisela New 928-768-5640 Refreshments Chair: Faith Reed 928-763-3511 Sgt at Arms: Pat New 928-768-5640 Sunshine Chair: Newsletter Editor: Barbara Wiggins 928-453-0948

HONORARY LIFETIME MEMBERS

George Truitt Norma Truitt Myrna Givens Corinne More Tom More

Membership dues are payable at the November meeting and delinquent after January 1. Please send dues to the official Club address on the first page of this Newsletter, attention: Treasurer.

This Club is a member of the California Federation of Mineralogical Societies (CFMS) http://www.cfmsinc.org/.

Membership per person: $15.00 year Name Badge: $ 3.75 Field Trip Fee: $ 1.00 “No Badge” fine: 25¢

FIELD TRIP GUIDELINES - NGMC

• Leader will state approximately how far, road conditions, and if 4WD is required when each field tripper signs in. • Each car is to keep the car behind in sight and STOP if the car is not in sight (unless otherwise stated by the leader). • Field trippers will notify the leader if they are hiking or driving to another site and their approximate return time. • Field trippers will notify the leader if they are leaving the group and sign out (with time). • Members wear name badges. • Handheld radios: stay on Channel 6

The Blue Agate News is published monthly except June, July, August and September. Articles are requested to be to the editor by the 15th of each month, preferably by email at [email protected] or call (928) 453-0948. The Blue Agate News is also published via email - if you have internet, please share your address with the Editor. This saves the club money and you will have the newsletter immediately. The Newsletter is in PDF format so it will be necessary to download Adobe Reader (free program) in order to view the newsletter. You can also view the newsletter on line at http://needlesgemmineralclub.blog spot.com/. Please e-mail Barbara with information at [email protected].

The Blog (Web Log) – Blue Agate News Online is free and can be updated frequently October through May. If you have information you want posted, please email it to Sally at [email protected] or sign up to contribute directly to the Blog. You may access the Blog at: http://needlesgem mineralclub.blogspot.com/


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UPCOMING SHOWS Jan 9-11--DEL MAR, CA: Show; Gem Faire Inc.; Del Mar Fairgrounds/Exhibit Hall, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd.; Fri. 12-7, Sat. 10-7, Sun. 10-5; $5 weekend pass; contact Yooy Nelson, (503) 252-8300; e-mail: [email protected]; Website: www.gemfaire.com. Jan 9-11--MESA, AZ: Show, "Flagg Gem & Mineral Show"; Arizona Mineral & Mining Museum Foundation; Mesa Community College, northeast corner of US 60 and Dobson Rd.; Fri., Sat. & Sun. 9-5; free admission; free activities and samples for children and teachers, more than 80 dealers, minerals, fossils, jewelry, beads, special displays, including the famous Peralta Stones; contact Ray Grant, (480) 814-9086; e-mail: [email protected]. Jan 9-11--POMONA, CA: Show, "The New Jewelry, Gem, Bead & Mineral Show," High Sierra Investment Group Inc.; LA Fairgrounds Fairplex, Bldg. 5, 1101 W. McKinley Ave.; Fri. 12-6, Sat. 10-7, Sun. 10-5; adults $6, seniors and students $3, children free; door prizes, gold-panning specialist and certified gemologist and appraiser on hand; contact High Sierra Investment Group Inc., 20385 Pahute Rd., Apple Valley, CA 92308, (702) 869-0269; e-mail: [email protected]; Website: www.HighSierraInvestments.net. Jan 23-25--BAKERSFIELD, CA: Show, "The New Jewelry, Gem, Bead & Mineral Show"; High Sierra Investment Group Inc.; Bakersfield Convention Center, 515 Truxtum Ave.; Fri. 12-6, Sat. 10-7, Sun. 10-5; adults $6, seniors and students $3, children free; door prizes, gold-panning specialist and certified gemologist and appraiser on hand; contact High Sierra Investment Group Inc., 20385

Pahute Rd., Apple Valley, CA 92308, (702) 869-0269; e-mail: [email protected]; Website: www.HighSierraInvestments.net. Jan 31-Feb 14--TUCSON, AZ: Show, "Arizona Mineral & Fossil Show"; Martin Zinn Expositions; The InnSuites Hotel, 475 N. Granada, and The Mineral & Fossil Marketplace, 1333 N. Oracle Rd., and Quality Inn, 1025 E. Benson Highway, and Ramada Ltd., 665 N. Freeway; 10-6 daily; free admission; more than 400 dealers from all over the world, free shuttle bus to other shows, Artists' Gallery at the InnSuites Hotel; contact Martin Zinn Expositions, P.O. Box 665, Bernalillo, NM 87004-0665, fax (505) 867-0073; e-mail: mz0955@aol. com; Website: www.mzexpos.com. Feb 2-9--TUCSON, AZ: Show, "Bead Renaissance Show"; J&J Promotions LLC; 3340 E. Michigan, next to the Holidome and Gem Mall; Mon. - Wed. 10-6, Thu. 10-9, Fri. & Sat. 10-6; contact J&J Promotions LLC, P.O. Box 420, Williamsburg, NM 87942, (575) 894-1293; e-mail: [email protected]; Website: www.beadshow.com. Feb 13-22--INDIO, CA: Show; San Gorgonio Mineral & Gem Society; Riverside County Fair- grounds, Gem & Mineral Bldg., 46-350 Arabica St.; 10-10 daily; county fair and National Date Festival; contact Bert Grisham, (951) 849-1674. Feb 20-22--SANTA BARBARA, CA: Show; Gem Faire Inc.; Earl Warren Showgrounds/Exhibit Hall, 3400 Calle Real; Fri. 12-7, Sat. 10-7, Sun. 10-5; $5 weekend pass; contact Yooy Nelson, (503) 252-8300; e-mail: [email protected]; Website: www.gemfaire.com. Feb 27-28--NORTHRIDGE, CA: Show, "GEM- boree"; The Del Air Rockhounds; United Methodist Church, 9650 Reseda Blvd.; Fri. 3-9:30, Sat. 10-5; free admission; educational activities, demonstrations, games, exhibits, beads, gems, jewelry, minerals, fossils, silent auction, tools, books, boutique, plants; contact Julie Marin, (818) 886-7190; e-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://delairrockhounds.blogspot.com. Feb 27-29--COSTA MESA, CA: Show; Gem Faire Inc.; OC Fair & Event Center/Bldg. 10, 88 Fair Dr.; Fri. 12-7, Sat. 10-7, Sun. 10-5; $5 weekend pass; contact Yooy Nelson, (503) 252-8300; e-mail: [email protected]; Website: www.gemfaire.com.

Refreshments Schedule

January 2009 – Karen F. February 2009 – Mona D. & Kathy S. March 2009 – Carolyn L. & Linda C. April 2009 – Season End Pot Luck October 2009 – November 2009 – Paula A. & Gisela N. December – Christmas Party Pot Luck


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QUARTZSITE HAPPENINGS

SHOWS Prospectors Panorama - 4 Shows, Nov 1 - Feb 15 Rice Ranch “Yawl Come” Show - Nov 1 - Feb 28 Desert Gardens International Rock, Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show - Jan 1 - Feb 28 Tyson Wells - Rock/Gem/Mineral Show - Jan 2 - 11 9-5 daily - www.tysonwells.com Tyson Wells - Sell-A-Rama - Jan 16 – 25 - 9-5 daily Tyson Wells - Art & Craft Fair - Jan 30 - Feb 8 Quartzsite Sports, Vacation & RV Show - Jan 17 - 25

The Main Event - Jan 10 – 25 - General Swap meeting/Rocks/Gems/Arts/Crafts/Hit & Miss The Main Event - Jan 23 – 25 – Steam Engine Show - [email protected] Annual QIA Pow Wow - Jan 21 - 25 Hobby, Craft & Gem Show - Jan 28 - Feb 1 - www.quartzsitervshow.com Rock & Roll Classic Car Show – Jan 28 - Feb 8

OTHER EVENTS 6th Annual "It's Chili in Quartzsite" Chili Cook-Off & State Salsa Championship - Feb 28 - www.qz chamber.com Hi Jolly Daze Parade - Jan 3 - www.quartzsite tourism.us 4th Annual Willpower/Pawpower ATV Parade - Feb 7 Tyson Wells Bluegrass Festival - Feb 27 - Mar 1

SEASONAL SWAPMEETING Stage Coach Swapmeet - 1-928-927-8161 Totem Swap Lot - 1-928-927-8433 Hi Ali Swapmeet - 1-928-927-6791 Jenn's Place - 1-928-927-6605 Greasewood Park N Sell - 1-760-922-6322 Quartzsite Showplace - 1-928-927-4077 Quartzsite Traditional Swapmeet - 1-928-927- 7792 Lark - 520-906-0866 Liquidator Depot - 619-247-2347

A BEGINNER GUIDE TO QUARTZSITE by Terry Caskey, CCM&G member

Have you heard of Quartzsite and don't have any idea what it's all about? Well, I suppose that everyone who goes there has a different experience, but everyone with an interest in gems, minerals, rocks, junk, RV's, old books, rockhounders, camaraderie, or desert scenery should go there sometime. Some people go year after year, but I've only been there a few times. Quartzsite is located in the Arizona desert, a few miles past the California border on the way from Palm Springs to Phoenix. The first time I saw it was mid-January 2003. We were driving east on I-10 in Arizona and topped a hill that overlooked the valley. Below was a small town with a couple of gas stations surrounded by thousands of motor homes and trailers covering the desert floor for miles. The Chamber of Commerce claims 1.5 million people visit in the winter.


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During the 1960's some of the “Snowbirds” who had been coming to the area for years started a group called the Quartzsite Improvement Association (QIA). They were interested in improving the town and bringing some structure to their winter life. One of their first fundraisers was a rockhound tailgate show in 1967, which apparently was quite successful. It has become the QIA Pow Wow, the center piece of activities the last Wednesday through Sunday in January. It is one of the largest rockhound gatherings anywhere; with a large building filled with world class display cases and more than 400 dealers both in the building and the surrounding Pow Wow property. The town has grown a little since that first tailgate sale, with a few houses, a police and fire dept., a library, some stores, RV campgrounds, restaurants, etc. The summer population is probably no more than a thousand or so, but during the winter there are tens of thousands of people in the motels and camped in RV's all over the desert for miles in every direction. Many clubs and other groups camp together on the BLM land surrounding town. We stayed with the Old Timers Gem and Mineral Club, north of town in a free area. Some places closer to town require a small camping fee. In addition to the Pow Wow, there are many other dealers and vendors selling jewelry, rocks, rough material, crafts, fossils, stuff, things, crystals, and whatever. If you really want it, you probably can find it in Quartzsite. These dealers operate between early December and the end of February. Toward the end of January, they set up an enormous tent and hold a huge RV and sports

equipment show followed by a Hobby Craft and Gem Show then a Classic Car show in early February. If you get tired of going to shows and flea markets, there are many other things to do and see around Quartzsite. Ye Olde Timers Gem and Mineral Club has a charity auction towards the end of January and the QIA offers classes and field trips to the surrounding area. The sunsets are often spectacular if you are interested in photography, and if you like old, used books, check out the Readers Oasis. Source: Diablo Diggin’s, 12/2007, via The RockCollector, 12/2008

POLISHING COMPOUNDS by Dick Friesen

Everyone wants to know what the “best” polishing compound is and how it is used. Unfortunately I don't think there is a single “best”, just a better one for the stone in question, depending on your technique. But here are some of my thoughts on the subject. THE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM: Any recommendation for polishing difficult gems needs the added statement that the technique used is as important as the polishing compound selected. The techniques are not well described in any book, and I have found many books to be hard to follow or contradictory. Most books describe techniques for agate and that is about all. Since agate is about the easiest material to polish, that is not too helpful.


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In any discussion on polishing you can't really separate the sanding and polishing steps. If you are trying to polish a stone with magnesium (nephrite, serpentine, etc.); manganese (rhodonite, rhodochrosite, etc.); or any stone that has areas of differing hardness (lepidolite, charoite, etc.) expect to spend some time developing your sanding technique if you expect good polishing results. Most lapidary material will polish relatively easily if it has been properly prepared. TECHNIQUE When reading this, please remember: the information herein is based on the results achieved using my techniques. Your results with your techniques may be different. When I cut I usually work 50 to 100 stones at a time and patience is not my long suit. I sand with a lot of water. I normally use Crystalite 8”x3” diamond belts with moderate to heavy pressure at 1140 rpm. Polishing is done with 4” Flexodiscs and my compound of choice on soft leather at 1140 or 1725 rpm. I normally mix my polishes on the thin (watery) side and apply them with a spray bottle. Then I let the heat from polishing dry the polish until it starts to pull. I buy scraps of leather and cut my own pads. I have a fairly complete set of Diamond Pacific, Crystalite, Hi-Tech, Raytech, and 3M diamond products, most of them set up so I can quickly try different wheels to see which is working best on whatever I am cutting. My normal sanding sequence is: 220, 600, 800, 1200 or 1800, and 3000 or 3500 with steps left out depending on how the particular stone is cutting. POLISHING THEORY: Here is a quick overview on the state of polishing theory as I understand it. From: “CERIUM A Guide to its Role in Chemical Technology” by Barry T. Kilbourn, Published in 1995 by Molycorp, Inc. POLISHING THEORY, AS APPLIED TO GLASS “Polishing is the act of producing a sufficient degree of surface smoothness so that light, transmitted or reflected at that surface, is not disturbed by surface irregularities. The polishing mechanism is still poorly understood at the chemical/molecular level. Polishing results in glass removal and does show a dependence on chemical properties of the glass. The nature of the liquid present during polishing is crucial and

only if active hydroxyl groups are present, in alcohols for example but especially in water, does the polishing phenomenon happen. When a glass - typically an alkali silicate - is in contact with water, a complicated series of steps take place: ion exchange, dissolution of glass constituents and possible structural changes. A surface region of the glass is modified and it is this softer hydrated layer that is removed or reformed during glass polishing. Classic abrasives produce an improvement in surface finish but leave a fine but definite roughness, the scale of which relates to the grain size of abrasive used. Several not-so-hard oxides are reasonable polishing agents and can remove and/or reform the soft hydrated layer. In general, optimum polishing rate coincides approximately with a Mohs hardness for the polish of around 6.5, very close to the hardness of most glasses.” ACIDITY AND ALKALINITY There is an argument that using a polishing agent that has a high or low PH will enhance the formation of the hydrated layer and speed up the polishing process. This argument says that for best results, you should add vinegar to polishes for the quartz family to lower the PH and add borax or use colloidal silica on stones containing magnesium or manganese. to raise the PH. Unfortunately it does not explain the fact that industrial process use cerium oxide in water, an alkali, to polish glass. Regardless, I have used vinegar when polishing agate and obsidian and it does seem to help. I think it shortens the life of the leather pads, though. SURFACE TENSION There is another argument that says that the correct answer is to lower the surface tension and that is all the vinegar or borax is doing. This theory says that the best additive is ethyl alcohol. Reducing surface tension reduces the surface-to-surface drag which eliminates chatter, resulting in a smoother surface. The surface tension of water is 73 dynes per centimeter and ethyl alcohol is 22.3 dynes per centimeter. (I have not tried this yet.) HYDRATED LAYER THEORY There are those who argue that the finer and finer scratch theory, when using diamond, is wrong and diamond polishing is just another way of removing the hydrated layer. I believe that several years ago I saw a paper showing scanning electron


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microscope photos of the surface of agate. The agate had been polished with diamond compound and the SEM photos showed the scratches. I have been unable to find a copy of this paper and I am relying on my memory for this. (Unfortunately, at my age, memory is the second thing to go - I don't remember what the first thing was.) I think in reality there is more than one way to accomplish a polish and there is probably some validity to all of the theories. THE OLD STAND-BYS: The oxides of cerium, tin, and chrome, as well as Zam (a proprietary mixture of aluminum oxide and chrome oxide with an unidentified binder) have been used for years. With patience almost all gem materials can be successfully polished with them. But newer polishes are available and in most cases are superior. Getting good quality cerium oxide can sometimes be a problem. Cerium oxide has been the polish of choice for the glass polishing industry. It has the advantage of being inexpensive and it can be formulated specifically for several different industrial processes. Unfortunately much of the cerium oxide that is available to lapidaries apparently comes from manufacturer's “over-runs.” Most, if not all, of the cerium oxide polishes are “optical grade” because that is what the industry uses them for most commonly. Unfortunately, not all of it is formulated correctly for lapidary use. You sometimes hear of “contaminated” polish but I think this is rarely the case. I think most lapidary supply houses get their polishes from a distributor, not directly from the manufacturer. I don't think we use enough for a manufacture to produce a run just for us. What I think happens is that the supply house asks the distributor for “cabbing grade” and the distributor, not knowing what that is, says he has this good buy on “optical grade” and that's what we get. Unfortunately, I can't help with a current source of cerium oxide, I got a large supply many years ago and I have not needed to replace it yet. Cerium oxide is the beginners' polish of choice for silicon dioxide (quartz family minerals). How it polishes glass, and therefore agate, opal and obsidian, has been relatively well researched. It is tolerant of a wide range of pressure and I have

used it on hard and soft leather, wood, felt, and synthetic pads. I won't say that there were no differences but the differences were not large enough to worry about. I put it on relatively wet and let the heat of polishing dry it until I feel it pull. I use tin oxide on soft leather on stones softer than obsidian and harder than plastic. On plastic (stabilized turquoise) I use Zam on a muslin buff. Chrome oxide has been recommended for years for stones that undercut or contain magnesium or manganese. For a long time I used chrome oxide mixed one to five with a 50/50 water-vinegar solution and 10% Linde A on hard leather. Now though, I find I have better luck with aluminum oxide and I rarely use chrome oxide any more. COLLOIDAL POLISHES: Colloidal polishes fundamentally are just the polish mixed with a dispersant to keep the particles from settling out. (I know a chemist would have a fit over that definition, but that is what the manufacturer said.) Because these compounds hold the abrasive in suspension better, they should require less polish to be effective, and should be faster then the standard polishes. Colloidal silica has a higher PH than most of the oxide polishes and should be one of the better polishes for lapis and rhodonite. I have tried to find the actual PH for polishes but I have not had any luck. The only information I have is that most (all?) of the oxides are alkalis and that colloidal silica is more alkaline than the others. What I have seen so far has not been encouraging though. These polishes were developed for faceting and may work better in that application, but I'm not a faceter. For cabbing, I have not been too impressed. They will polish, but I don't think they're any better than the non-colloidal version. Colloidal polishes of diamond, alumina, silica, cerium, tin, and chrome are available from: Rick Ford at mAji, PO Box 426, Beavercreek, Oregon 97004-0426, (503)632-3653. ALUMINUM OXIDE: There are several different aluminum oxides and each has its place. The one that one hears about most is Linde A. This is a .3 micron polish that


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has been around for a long time. Linde also makes a .05 micron polish called Linde B and a 1.0 micron polish called Linde C. The Linde B is a little softer, 8 vs. 9 on the mohs scale. There are industrial processes that use the B and C polishes but they are not commonly used in the lapidary field. Linde A could be listed as an old stand-by except for its price: all of the Linde polishes are about $100 a pound. Reynolds has a set of polishes available through Diamond Pacific (Diamond Pacific Tool Corp., 2620 W. Main St., Barstow, CA 92311, (800) 253-2954) and I have had very good luck with their 0.2 micron polish at about $23 a pound. FitzCorp Inc. (P. O. Box 565, Point Blank, TX 77364, (409) 377-2409) has a 0.1 micron polish that they have a lot of research into. I have had good results with it. At $12.50 a pound I think it is a “best buy”. Myers 0.3 micron Rapid Polish (P.O. Box 646, Keller, Texas 76244, (817) 379-5662) gets my vote as the best jade polish I have tried yet. I wrote an article in the June 1998 Rock and Gem magazine. (Rock and Gem can be reached at (805)644-3824 if you are interested in back issues.) There is something about its structure that controls “orange peel” - the pitting resulting from some attempts to polish jade and other difficult stones - better than other polishes. There are several other suppliers of aluminum oxide polishing compounds and I think if you compare equal particle sizes they are all about equal in their results - but I have not tried all of them. I find as time goes on I am using aluminum oxides oftener and the old standbys less. Again technique plays a large part in this. I normally mix it thin and apply it with a spray bottle, then polish until the stone pulls. I have tried thick pastes applied with a brush and mixtures of water and vinegar and found very little difference in the polish; so use whatever technique works for you. DIAMOND COMPOUND: For difficult stones, this has been many cutters' polish of choice for a long time, but I am not one of them. I think the extender fluid hides the surface too much and it takes too long to get the polish I want. However, I know others use it and like it.

DIAMOND POLISHING BELTS: There are several manufacturers of diamond polishing belts and wheels and all do an excellent job on agate. If you do mostly agate I think the convenience is hard to beat. But with the harder-to-polish stones I always seem to do better with one of the other compounds. Source: Gem Cutters News, 10/2008 ACT BLOCKS BURMESE JADE & RUBY IMPORTS

The “Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE Act of 2008” is now in effect. Jadeite and rubies of Burma origin cannot be imported into the United States. This importation ban encompasses all Burmese origin jadeite and rubies, notwithstanding “substantial transformation” in Thailand or elsewhere. Burma is also known as Myanmar. U.S. Customs and Border Protection have issued new Harmonized Tariff System codes for all non-Burmese rubies and jadeite imported into the U.S. Shipments of rubies and jadeite from these non-Burmese sources must use these codes when entering the U.S. President Bush issued a proclamation stating that various U.S. government agencies, including Homeland Security, Customs, State, Treasury and the U.S. Trade Representative would take up the implementation of various requirements of the Act. The importation ban does not apply to Burmese jadeite or rubies that are imported for personal use, meaning for personal wear by the importer. Further, the bill does not address U.S. sales of any inventory of Burmese jadeite or rubies currently in the U.S. U.S. jewelers can sell existing inventories of Burmese jadeite and rubies already in the U.S. Cecilia Gardner, Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC) president, CEO and general counsel, said the Act has a serious and long-term impact on U.S. jewelry manufacturers who import jadeite and rubies. Source: http://www.jvclegal.org


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POWER OF CRYSTALS By Matty Z. Sereda

Willowdale Gem & Mineral Club

The world of crystals is fascinating

and it is on the subject of quartz that I am

writing about. I have held a deep-seated

curiosity about quartz ever since I was a child. Strangely, it

is that interest in quartz crystals that has led me to informally conduct a systematic study of ancient religions and lore as well as seeking scientific information about crystals. Crystals have strange properties which have captivated human kind since prehistoric times. In remote antiquity, they were believed to have magical powers and healing properties. Today those beliefs still persist. I've chosen to focus attention on quartz for a very important reason; specifically, its piezoelectric properties. When heat or pressure is applied to quartz, it releases a negative charge. When the pressure or heat is taken away, the crystal stores a charge. Quartz resonates to its own frequency. It is because of this resonance that quartz is used in electronic devices. In computers and watches it ensures time is kept as accurately as possible. Why all the concern about the properties of quartz? The answer is simple. We too are chemical machines and as such we are affected by electromagnetic fields. If you do not believe it, try plunging a knife into an electrical socket and see what happens. Could it be there are affects (even minute ones) quartz crystals also have on the human body and other living things? Because quartz crystals vibrate to their own frequency, some believe they too can aid us in harmonizing our vibrations through the healing and restorative universal forces of light and sound. The late

Marcel Vogel (once an employee of IBM) conducted experiments on quartz crystals and found that the energies quartz stored and emitted could be useful in the healing and restorative processes. The dividing lines that separate faith from science can become somewhat blurred if one is open to the possibility that crystals may perhaps be beneficial to us. Even if one is not interested in the strange properties of crystals, one must agree they are beautiful to look at and interesting to hold. The fact that each crystal has a repeated pattern and follows a specific order within its structure is sufficient to catch one's attention even for a moment. They are truly magical things in themselves and not one is the same; just like us; not one is the same. We are made of the same thing crystals are made of - star dust. How precious we all are. Made from the dust of ancient suns; able to experience such beauty; to appreciate the wonder of it all. When I hold a quartz crystal in my hand, I imagine what it would be like to be inside; to experience and see the inclusions within the structure of quartz; landscapes with rainbows and cloudy skies and perhaps a waterfall. I find that by holding a crystal and by imagining what may be inside, I am able to be more open the creative juices that are available to us all. Crystals bring to surface the wonder of nature and of life. Try it yourself sometime. Pick up a favorite crystal and look into it to see what can be seen. Look at its beauty and consider how ordered it appears. Realize what you are holding is valuable because there likely isn't another one like it anywhere just as there isn't another you or me anywhere else. For what it is worth. That's My Opinion . Source: Vox Rox, 12/2008, via The RockCollector, 12/2008


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SLAB AND SPECIMEN PHOTOGRAPHY By Bruce Mensinger

Rock slabs and mineral specimens are often remarkably beautiful. I like to see and to share the excitement of a fresh-cut slab, to discover the intricate structure and pattern within the stone. Photography allows a way to add to and share this fascination and excitement. Outer Purpose or Use Photography has a wide variety of uses and serves all sorts of purposes. A few include: illustration, advertising, documentation, art, scientific study, teaching and professional specialty. Inner or Personal Purpose For the photographer, slab and specimen photography can provide a challenging subject, allow communication and sharing, offer expressive potential (art), and foster exploration and discovery. Equipment and Supplies To begin, the basic requirements are a camera, a place to work, light and a subject; all else are refinements and aids. Most modern cameras are digital and are usually far superior to film cameras for close-up photography. They offer direct viewing on an LCD panel, near zero cost per image recorded (encouraging experimentation), often have a macro (close focus) setting, automatically set focus and exposure, and allow immediate review of the recorded image. Three mega pixels is good enough for high-definition TV quality; more mega pixels allows for very large prints or to enlarge a small portion of the recorded image. A place to work can be a table, desk or countertop. Lighting can be sunshine or electric lights such as a desk lamp that can direct light to fall on the subject and not on the camera. The subject is the slab or specimen.

More elaborate equipment adds complication, expense and clutter; it also adds, in skilled hands, greater capability and higher quality results. I recommend starting out simply, then adding and upgrading as your interest and skills grow. Accessories and Aids What to add depends on what limitations you encounter. Blurry pictures caused by camera shake are reduced by using brighter lights and a tripod (specimens and jewelry) or a copy stand (slabs). Glare and reflections can be minimized by careful light placement and by a polarizing filter on the camera lens and, in some situations, also on light sources. Lighten dark shadows with added lights or reflectors such as small mirrors and white paper reflectors. Dull colors resulting from surface glare require better polish (on slabs) or smaller diameter, more distant light sources;

alternatively, immersion in water can often substitute for surface polish. Positioning and holding a slab or specimen is aided by museum clay or a beanbag. A bubble level is invaluable for leveling a slab and a camera so that focus is maintained over the entire image area. Add

props, stands, clamps, rubber bands and tape as necessity dictates to direct or block light and to position the camera or subject. Fancy stuff, such as fiber optic lights, polarizer for lights, a microscope, high-end cameras, specialized lenses, and professional software, is for after you are hooked on photography as much or more than you are already involved with rocks and minerals. Source: The Nugget, 11/2008


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CHRISTMAS PARTY On December 15 we gathered together to celebrate the Christmas season with a wonderful feast prepared by our members.


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Hints ‘n Such

These hints were gathered primarily from the bulletins of other clubs. They have not been evaluated for safety or reliability and could be unsafe or could cause damage to your project. Please use caution and safety when trying out any new idea. Wipe a piece of chalk over your jeweler's files. The chalk keeps the file from clogging and you can blow the chalk out. Silversmiths draw your jeweler's saw through a hunk of old candle wax or beeswax. It will coat the blade and you can saw faster. Source: Golden Spike News, 5/2004, via The Nugget, 11/2008

`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º° An aluminum scriber is often used with a template to outline stones. This same scriber can give you an idea as to the hardness of a particular stone. If you can see the mark but have to look carefully, the stone is about 7 Mohs. If the mark is very bold, the stone is about 5 Mohs. If the mark cannot be seen, the stone is more than 7 Mohs. Source: by Dug Duggel, Ft Lewis Rock Club News via The Rockcollector, 4/2005

`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º° Tourmaline and garnet both chip. Grind carefully on well-dressed wheels. Both stones are fairly heat sensitive. Sand wet. Linde A on leather is a good polishing combination for these gems. Source: Skagitt Gems, 1/2001, via Calgary Lapidary Journal, 4/2008

`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°

Mineral Oil has many uses. It is fine for preserving borax crystals from hydration changes. It makes varisite a deeper green and improves the appearance of fluorites and calcites. Source: The Memphis Archaeological Society via Rockhound Rambling, 12/2005

`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º° Good old Elmer's Glue mixed 50/50 with warm water works wonders at maintaining that "wet look" on all types of materials, including most shells. Just brush it on and let it dry if it gets dusty or dulled simply soak it in warm water and reapply. I learned this technique from one of my mentors when I wanted to display some petrified wood that looked great when wet but looked like a plain old rock dry.

Source: Clyde Gilbert, Oct 24, 2007, at Yahoo Groups, Rock Collecting and Field Trips

`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º° Use tin oxide dry on leather to polish fire agate - polishes in a heartbeat! Heat causes the top surface of the stone to flow, making it glassy. Source: The Pegmatite, 2/2004, via Rockhound Ramblings, 5/2007

`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º° If you have an item that has been epoxied incorrectly, it can be taken apart by soaking it in household vinegar. It works and is inexpensive. Source: Calgary Lapidary Journal, date unknown, via Rockhound Rambling, 11&12/2008

`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º° If you have a lot of dopping to do, a good way to keep stones at an even temperature is in an electric frying pan set at 200-250 degrees. Source: Rolling Rock Club newsletter, original date unknown via Rockhound Rambling, 11&12/2008

`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º° Moonstone will cleave. Be sure to grind it on a smooth wheel. It polishes nicely on felt with cerium oxide. Source: Skagitt Gems, 1/2001, via Calgary Lapidary Journal, 4/2008


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UPCOMING FIELD TRIPS Jan 10 Alamo Road – Linda

Jan 24 Oscar Jasper – Allan

Feb 7 Rainbow Jasper/Agate/Chert – Jim

Feb 21 Earp – Jim

Mar 7 Planet Ranch – Linda

Mar 21 Ludlow Weekend – Bob

Apr 11 Squiggly Jasper – Linda/Jim

Apr 25 Needles Mine – Bob

May 9 Golden Shores – Linda

FIELD TRIP REPORT

Dec 7, 2008 There were 14 people and 1 dog in 4 vehicles on the field trip to the Chambless area.

Garnets held together with soft matrix


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BLUE AGATE NEWS NEEDLES GEM & MINERAL CLUB PO BOX 234 NEEDLES, CA 92363-0234

Exchange Bulletins Welcome! Please send Exchange Bulletins to the address above

Or email to [email protected]

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Volume 4, Issue 1

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