TRMS T-TOWN ROCKHOUND
Tulsa Rock and Mineral Society February, 2017 Page 1
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TULSA ROCK & MINERAL SOCIETY ADDRESS: BOX 2292 TULSA OK 74101
2017 Officers are elected by club members in November
IPresident Donna Loffer 918-407-1194 918-371-5051 [email protected]
1st VP/Programs Eric Hamshar 918-284-3503 [email protected]
2nd VP/Field Trips Amy Puls 918-430-5858 [email protected]
Secretary Carlos Reyes 817-550-3171 [email protected]
Treasurer Sharon Richards 918-266-8826 [email protected]
Shop Foreman Billy McBay 918-455-0602 [email protected]
Editor Kay Waterman 918-521-4386 [email protected]
Webmaster/Library Martha Rongey 918-230-1094 [email protected] 2sw
Historian Roberta Wagle 918-695-1527 [email protected] Past-President Tony Rongey 918-619-7861 [email protected]
Directors Trinitie Hurd, 918-500-5401; Katie Parker, 620-202-0267; Julia Allande, 918-633-9822
2017 Committee Chairs are appointed by the new President
Chatpile Editor Wayne Mouser 918-582-8700 [email protected] Rock Donations Larry Wagle 918-695-1527 [email protected] Show Co-Chair Finis Riggs 918-232-8534 [email protected] Show Co-Chair Eric Hamshar 918-284-3503 [email protected] Club Scholarship Richard Jaeger 918-481-0249 [email protected] Fed Representative Liz Thomas 918-486-3788 [email protected] AFMS Uniform Rules Richard Jaeger 918-481-0249 [email protected] Publicity Martha Rongey 918-230-1094 [email protected] Need a VOLUNTEER for heading the Education Committee! Contact TRMS President Donna Loffer
The Tulsa Rock and Mineral Society, Inc. was organized in April 1958 to promote interest and provide
education in the earth sciences, in historical artifacts, in jewelry-making and all forms of the lapidary arts. Field trips, the
club workshop, monthly meetings and other activities provide opportunities for life-long learning.
Meetings: the second Monday of each month at the College Hill Presbyterian Church, 7th and Columbia Street,
Tulsa, OK. Refreshments and coffee begin at 6 p.m. Pebble Pups meet at 6:15 and the membership business meeting
and program commence at 7 p.m. ALL WELCOME!
The T-Town Rockhound, official bulletin of the Tulsa Rock and Mineral Society, is issued every month preceding
the regular monthly meeting. Permission is granted to reprint items from the newsletter unless otherwise designated, provided
that full credit is given to the author and the T-Town Rockhound. Please send items for the newsletter by the monthly
deadline, the 21st of the month preceding publication, to Editor, T-Town Rockhound: Kay Waterman,
[email protected] or mail to 1334 N. McFarland Place, Claremore, OK 74017. E-Mail Exchange Publications to
[email protected] (preferred) or mail to TRMS, Box 2292, Tulsa, OK 74101. The 2017 website for TRMS is
www.tulsarockandmineralsociety.org .
TRMS Membership: Single $12 - Family, $15, due Jan. 1. Mail: PO Box 2292, Tulsa OK 74101.
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Tulsa Rock and Mineral Society’s
T-TOWN ROCKHOUND February, 2017 Vol. 65 No. 2 tulsarockandmineralsociety.org
Forget the hasty, unkind word,
Forget the slander you have heard;
Forget you're not a millionaire;
Forget the gray streaks in your hair;
Forget the knocker, and the squeak;
Forget the bad day of the week.
Forget the quarrel and the cause;
Forget the whole affair, because,
Forgetting is the only way.
To forget the storm of yesterday.
Forget to even get the blues -
But don't forget to PAY YOUR DUES! $12 Single, $15 Family payable to TRMS
Send to TRMS, PO Box 2292, Tulsa OK 74101 or give to Sharon Richards, treasurer.
Sweets for
Valentine’s Eve TRMS Meeting!
TRMS is back to the routine meeting scheduling after Christmas and officer installation the past couple months. The February 13th TRMS meeting begins with a hospitality time at 6 pm, Pebble Pups at 6:15 and the business meeting and program at 7 pm. Program chairman Eric Hamshar reports the program will be a mineral-related video. Members with last names beginning with A through H are up to bat to bring snacks.
A tour of Tulsa Geo
Science Center on
Saturday, Feb. 4 will be
first field trip of the new
year! 2017 Field Trip
Chair Amy Puls reminds
members Feb. 4 is also a
TRMS workshop day 1-5 pm at ORU.
Come spend the day
with your rockhound friends!
Tulsa Rock and Mineral Society will be touring the Tulsa GeoScience Center Saturday Feb. 4, meeting at 12 noon for the one to two-hour visit. The Center is located at the intersection of 6th & Main in Downtown Tulsa. 610 S Main St Suite 300 Tulsa, OK 74119. It is on the west side in building One Main Plaza 3rd Floor.
Parking is on your own.
There is no designated parking for the GeoScience Center. There are garages and meter parking nearby. Closest free parking is FoolishThings Coffee a couple of blocks south of the center.
The Center has a gift shop.
Proceeds help support its educational efforts.
Remember this is also a day
that the TRMS club workshop will be open from 1-5 pm. So for those who want to make a day of it, plan to visit the workshop at
ORU after the tour! For questions please contact
Amy Puls (918) 430-5858 or by
email [email protected]
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Field Trip Leader Amy Puls Announces Spring Happenings, Overnight Trips Sulphur River fossil trip in March, Great Salt Plains in April, Rose Rocks in May!
Hello all! I am Amy Puls. I will be organizing outings and field trips for the Tulsa Rock and Mineral Society club this year. James Puls is the oldest of my three boys. James is the curly haired high school kid who is a real fossil nut! He is working hard behind the scenes planning out some outings. Please follow him on Facebook at facebook.com/james.puls.581 James also has a youtube channel under James Pulz (yes with a z) you can "subscribe" for free on youtube as well and follow his video posts on fossils and rocks.. He will be posting information, picks and videos that you can share. You can also share your scouting trips and let him know if you would like to help us host a field trip that you think the club would enjoy. We are open to ideas! We are almost into February and I would like to give you all some reminders of our upcoming events.
Our first field trip of 2017 will be at the GeoScience Center in downtown Tulsa. (Details for our February field trip to the GeoScience Center are also on the front page of this month’s newsletter.) Meet at the
Tulsa GeoScience Center on February 4th at 12 noon. Tours generally last 1-2 hours. Location: The Geoscience Center is located at 6th & Main in Downtown Tulsa. 610 S Main St
Suite 300 Tulsa, OK 74119. There will be a sign out front on the sidewalk, this is a loading zone area. The GeoScience Center is on the west side in building One Main Plaza 3rd
Floor. Intersection 6th & Main.
Parking: Parking is on your own. There are parking garages and meter parking nearby. Some meters take credit some don’t. There is no designated parking for the GeoScience
Center. Closest free parking is Foolish Things Coffee a couple of blocks south of the center. Donor Gift Shop: Items are available for purchase and are considered donations. Many items for 25-cents to $1. We have authentic geo merchandise, no candy, stuffed animals or toys. Your support is appreciated. We accept: cash/credit/check. Remember this is also a day that the ORU lapidary workshop will also be open from 1-5 PM so for those who want to make a day of it, visit the workshop after the tour! Please let Wayne Mouser or Billy McBay if you plan to go to the workshop that afternoon. For MARCH - FOSSIL TRIP TO TEXAS SULPHUR RIVER! March 11th and 12th James Puls will be leading this trip as it is mostly a fossil finding trip and he is familiar with the area. This will require an overnight near Ladonia, TX either camping or hotel. More information is to follow. James also has a youtube channel under James Pulz (yes with a z) you can "subscribe" for free on youtube as well and follow his video posts on fossils and rocks. There are a couple videos of the Sulphur River that he has done. www.youtube.com/watche?v=8JzWxFCLXFQ www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kHEFF2Ou6c March 18th - Bob and Nancy Hicks will be hosting a potluck and rock swap/auction. More details to come but please save the date! Up coming March Rock and Mineral shows include Kansas City Gem Show March 10th 11
th and 12
th.
The Ada show will be March 24th and 25th.
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Field Trips, shows Continued: For APRIL- OSCMS will be having their swap/show in Stillwater on Saturday the 15th of April. I thought this will be "on the way to Salt Plains" for some who want to stop at the show in the morning and hit the Salt Plains in the afternoon or stay over and do the Salt Plains on Sunday. Camping may be available at Kaw Lake. Let me know your thoughts on this, maybe too much for one day?? Selenite crystal, Great Salt Plains April 21st and 22nd the Wichita KS WGMS rock and mineral show. April 29th Waco TX rock and mineral show. For MAY- May 12th and 13th Joplin Tristate Rock and Mineral Show.
May 20th Ken Siler has graciously set up a field trip for May 20th for ROSE ROCK!!! More information on that to come, save the date! Again, friend James on FACE BOOK!!!! For more information, photos, maps, and other great information as we get into our events will be on face book. (He is the only James Puls from Tulsa) on his Facebook page he posts interesting videos, photos and articles as well as reminders of upcoming events. It is a great way for us to share scouting trips for more ideas for future TRMS trips. For questions or concerns please don't hesitate to contact me, Amy Puls (918) 430-5858 or by email [email protected]
Rose Rocks, Noble OK Have a wonderful day!
Photo of Gene Cockrell’s backyard rock garden taken by Billy McBay--Septarian nodules, geodes, crystals, tuff, fossils.
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PEBBLE PUPS
This month we will take a look at gold. Each Pup needs to bring an object that is gold or has
gold as part of it, and also a piece of pyrite, “fools’ gold”. If you have a book about minerals,
please bring that, too. Do some research and find out about some event in history in which
gold plays an important part. If we get this done we may try our hand at a little gold
panning!
--Julia Allande
Gold vrs. Pyrite (Fools’ Gold)
Color Streak Luster Hardness Crystal shape Specific gravity
GOLD:
PYRITE:
How is gold used?
What makes gold valuable?
How did gold figure in a historical event?
August 2016 Ozark Earth Science Gem, Mineral, & Fossil Club News
9 year old Missouri girl finds 1.53 carat diamond at Crater of Diamonds State Park Blazing temperatures topping 100 degrees couldn't keep aspiring geologist and gem lover Grace
Houston from uncovering the find of a lifetime during her family's vacation to Crater of
Diamonds State Park in Arkansas. On Saturday, the nine-year-old from Missouri landed a 1.53-
carat diamond while wet- sifting with her grandma. Despite a National Weather Service Heat
Advisory, the determined young lady insisted on going back to the park for a second day of
prospecting after the first day failed to yield the gemstone she so desperately wanted. Houston's
family had planned the trip to Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro six months in
advance, but decided to keep it a secret so the fledgling geologist would be surprised. Via: THV11 Staff, KPNX July 26, 2016
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The Conglomerate News from the Chatpile Wayne Mouser,[email protected] January 9
th visitors were Lynn McBay and Bryan Siler.
TRMS lost two long-time members in January. Ruth Potts, 96, passed away January 1
st. Her service was
held January 7th
. Betty & Roger Wilson, Kay Waterman and Wayne Mouser attended her service. Kay and Wayne also attended funeral services for Larry Loffer, brother of Steve Loffer, Jan.28 in Owasso.
Jean Rhodd, 83, passed away January 5. Karen Wadlow, her granddaughter reported that Jean had two
successful surgeries in November and December. She had been moved to a nursing/rehab center in preparation to return home before her unexpected passing. Her service was held in Collinsville January 9th.
Lilik Hakola is going to visit her mother in Indonesia. Billy McBay, David Hogate and Wayne Mouser spent a couple hours visiting Gene Cockrell and seeing Gene’s rock garden,
January 11th
. Billy was thoroughly impressed and took lots of pictures. They lunched at Jason’s Deli.
Roxanna Chamberlain and her son and his wife from Houston flew to Newark January 18th, then drove to Cape May, NJ where they attended the graduation of her youngest grandson, Sam, from basic training in the Coast Guard. He has been assigned to the high endurance cutter Mellon which patrols waters from Alaska as far south as the coast of South America.
Sharon Trogdon’s first grandchild was born Dec. 5 in Oklahoma City. Her name is Charlotte Mae Reynolds. Sharon spent most of the month there.
Donna and Steve Loffer and Bennie and Liz Thomas headed out to Quartzsite AZ on December 29, to spend the month of January in Parker AZ. They rented a house to stay in so they can go to the rock shows in Quartzsite and rockhound in the area. Ben is determined to not rent a trailer to bring back the haul this year as he has in the past. Visitors have been Chris Thomas and Drew Wimple, Chester and Elaine Lee, (they left us a little worried because Chester could not stop picking up rocks and his little truck was loaded to the gills) Ardis and Joe Cruise from the Wichita, KS club, Kay Waterman and her sister Carol Fergason of Independence, MO. Roberta and Larry Wagle came in for 8 nights. Steve and Sharon Richards plan to come for 4 nights at the end of the month. Lots of pictures, lots of stories.
HERE’S AN OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME INVOLVED IN EDUCATON! A local Boy Scout troop is having a Mom and Me campout April 7. They are requesting a program on rocks and minerals as the
theme for their outing is science based about the Age of Discovery. If you have ideas and would like to help provide a program, please get in touch with Donna Loffer, 918-407-1194.
American Federation of Mineralogical Societies Website: www.amfed.org Does not publish in January
Rocky Mountain Federation of Mineralogical Societies Website: www.rmfms.org Website has not yet published a January newsletter.
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Compiled by Wayne Mouser from past TRMS newsletters
5 YEARS AGO FEBRUARY, 2012: There were 50 members and guests in attendance. First order of business was to swear in 2012 officers. Richard Jaeger did the honor. Five door prizes were awarded. Finis Riggs reminded members of the upcoming show committee meeting and gave a report on the TRMS/ORU workshop. Donna Loffer showed off her wire
wrapped necklace she had made at the shop. Virgil Richards made an announcement on the February Texas field trip. Lana Riggs thanked everyone for their well wishes in her recent illness. Finis Riggs made a motion to make Elmer Kitchell an Honorary member. Motion passed at both the Board meeting and general meeting to do this. Visitors introduced were Brian Hartman of Bartlesville, Ernest Crawford and Arlyn & Wilma Clary. Brent Shumard, program chairman introduced Nicole Paizis, a student at OSU who told us about her adventures the past 2 summers in Africa. She presented a slide program titled “Geologists vs Wild”.
15 YEARS AGO FEBRUARY, 2002:.President John Ravenscroft brought the meeting to order. 55 members and guests were present. Visitors were Ed & Margaret Hirerodt, Tina Colburn, Dale Astle, Don Davis, Mark & Ken Brown and Willard Elsing. Yvonne Dressel won the rock clock door prize. Claude Bolze, Program Chairman, introduced Dr. Nate Meleen, who presented a program on the Oral Roberts University - Elsing Museum. Volunteers are needed to form a task force for handling rock collections being offered to the club. Richard Jaeger, Field Trip Chairman announced the field trip is to visit the Elsing Museum. Richard announced the club library will be put on the club website. He also announced that the Board had voted to donate $25 to OSCMS in memory of deceased members, John Dickerson, W. F. “Dub” Roberts and Marion West. Penny Meyer, who is in charge of updating the club website gave brief comments about the website. Chris Fite wrote an article titled “Storage Box for Rock Slabs”. Kay Ulhorn wrote an article titled “Show Committee Report”.
25 YEARS AGO FEBRUARY, 1992:. Meeting was called to order by William Godley, 1st VP, filling in for Leon Reeder.
There were 54 members & guests present. Six door prizes were awarded. There was a display of rocks from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and free samples offered by Pat & Larry Gregory. Discount coupons for the Kansas City and Wichita rock shows were offered by Dixie Alf. Flora Oxford suggested making copies of the informational flyer about TRMS to pass out to prospective members. Carol Bridgewater asked for news for the conglomerate. Pat Gregory presented the program with a video about the geology, minerals and mining history of the Keweenaw Rift of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Field trip was to Rockwood Village club house for cookie & rock swap.
46 YEARS AGO FEBRUARY, 1971: The meeting was called to order by President Scotty West. 84 members and guests present. The President announced that the Executive Board had appointed Bob Tomer as chairman of the Feasibility Committee to study the possibility of obtaining a permanent place to be used for lapidary classes and lectures. Ruth Christensen announced that the “Editor’s Box” would be placed on the back table for news items from members for the bulletin. Percy Fly, Program Chairman, introduced Jim & Lucille Slack who shared their experience of finding, working and photographing the beautiful Iris Agate. Jim had slides to demonstrate their talk and samples on display. Another very interesting display was the “Icaacceles Rock” found in NW Arkansas a number of years ago. It is a concretion of friable sandstone and pyrite. Rock Rustlers Club met at the Buchanan home. Ruth Craig & Melva Hart brought and displayed and talked about fossils. Junior Gems met at the home of Mr & Mrs, Benzrl. Miss Vera Fly will tell about Rocks of Lake Superior. Jerry Deering wrote an article titled “Calcite”. Roger A. Moore wrote a review titled “Stonehenge - The Why, How and Who”. Ruby Collins wrote a “Let’s Get Acquainted” about C. T. (Scotty) West.
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Memories of Ruth Potts
Wayne Mouser: I became acquainted with Ruth Potts in the mid 1980's, when I helped Bob & Betty Letters put the T-Town
Rockhound together for mailing. Ruth was there to help, as well as other members. Ruth and I just hit it off. She liked to work opals as much as I do. She taught several members the art of silversmithing. She took several courses of metal working at TCC. She enjoyed working cabochons at the TRMS workshop at ORU. She also was quite a seamstress too. She sewed the TRMS Santa Claus suit for the club. She enjoyed woodworking with her Shop Smith, but she told me her husband Paul, made her get rid of it, for fear she would hurt herself with it. She her sister, Polly Williams, Richard Dodrill & Gary Cooper rode with me on several TRMS field trips and swaps. She was a fun person. She and I even made the peach run several times. Ruth made a silver pendant for the last really nice Australian opal I cut and polished. We gave it to Betty Letters for all the nice things she has done for both of us. The last time I saw Ruth in person was at our July show, although I did visit with her on the telephone since then. She was quite a gal. Those who knew her will miss her. From Kay Waterman: I have always admired Ruth Potts. She and her sister Polly Williams rode with Mary Watts and me when we joined the Kansas City rock club for a week of field trips in Colorado some years ago. During that trip, Ruth celebrated her 81
st
birthday. Always the ladies, Ruth and her sister were the ones who had perfect makeup and not a hair out of place each morning. They clambered over rocks with the best of the group and made no complaints. I hope to have her gumption as I age.
My Memories of Jean Rhodd
Wayne Mouser: I became acquainted with Jean Rhodd in the mid 1990's, around the time I was president of TRMS. Jean, Lilik Hakola, Gary Cooper, Ken Rowlett and I rode with Richard Dodrill on some field trips. One was to Richards Spur near Lawton, OK. She, Gary Cooper and I used to ride with Scotty West to scout locations for rock hunts. We attended Bob & Nancy Hicks’ workshop at Shawnee and the Stillwater workshop at Gene Potts’ house. She liked those rocks and always enjoyed rock auctions and rock shows. She was a fine and fun person to know.
Bench Tips (and Other Miscellany) More BenchTips by Brad Smith can be found at Facebook.com/BenchTips or
groups.yahoo.com/group/BenchTips/
Bench Tips for Jewelry Making and Broom Casting for Creative Jewelry are available on Amazon Sanding/polishing in Tight Places Often you'll need to sand or polish an area that's impossible to reach with even a small wheel on a flexshaft. Other times it might be the bottom of a pocket or inside bottomcorner of a box that needs to be finished. One trick for these
nit-picky jobs may be left over from your last Chinese dinner – a chopstick. I've found quite a few uses for these in the shop. Prepare the tip by simply sawing it off at a 45 degree angle. Then apply whatever abrasive grit you will need for the job or hold a strip of sandpaper around the end. Loose grit can be held onto the tip with a bit of Vaseline or oil. Tripoli or rouge can be just rubbed onto the end of the chopstick. Ochre Applicator Yellow ochre is used when you want to be sure the solder won't flow on an area of your piece while you're soldering another area. The only problem with ochre is coming up with a good way to store
and apply it. I use recycled nail polish bottles. They seal well and have a built-in brush applicator. Just clean them out with a little acetone or nail polish remover, and they're ready to go.
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Vintage Diamond Cuts -- Education and Information
Old European, Old Miners, Rose Cuts and more . . .Collectors are drawn to vintage and estate jewelry but usually need help
understanding the old cut diamonds in their pieces. The green and recycle preferences of a younger jewelry consumer sees
buying estate jewelry as a more responsible way to collect. Yet the older diamond cuts often appear strange to a novice.
Jim Fiebig, sales manager at Joseph’s Jewelers, West Des Moines, IA has a distinct vantage point for viewing these old
charmers. Family owned Joseph’s Jewelers has been
in business since 1871. What we call old cuts today were the latest diamonds when the store first opened. “We are five years
older than Custer’s Last Stand,” he reminds.
To the uneducated, old diamonds certainly appear confounding. “They used to come in and ask about ‘that big black hole in
the center of grandma’s diamond’,” he said. Years ago, jewelers advised re-cutting the oldies for their clients who were used to
modern round brilliants. “Back then,” Fiebig reminisces, “most of us just discussed re-cutting to proper proportions with minimal
loss to the diameter and great potential for increased brilliance. Those older cuts just weren’t as attractive to the consumer.”
Internet access has changed all that. Consumers are more savvy about a lot of things today, including their taste in
diamonds. Fiebig finds that shoppers have come up to speed about diamond cutting in general over the last 5 to10 years,
perhaps in part as a result of marketing the Tolkowsky cuts. “Older cuts now seem to garner more respect from the public.”
So now consumers seem quite onboard with keeping the integrity and charm inherent with these antique sparklers. That
shift in preference alters the conversation at the sales counter. They may not know all the names of earlier diamond cuts but
they like them just the same. “They don’t understand the difference between Old Mine vs. European cuts but they have
requested Rose Cut diamonds before.”
The bridal sector is ideal for old stones because engagement rings can become even
more sentimental by including family diamonds. “Many new brides come in with grandma’s
1920-1930's platinum engagement rings asking us to restore them,” Fiebig says. But the
decision is made on a case- by- case basis. “While this is sometimes possible,” he explains,
“I remind customers that the diamond is the soul of the ring. We can never add enough
metal to make it wearable daily for the next 25 years.” When restoring an old mounting is
not possible, he suggests new vintage style mountings. “Period-specific diamonds can find
proper homes in newly produced styles.”
Prominent jewelry appraiser, Charles Carmona, president of Guild Labs, Los Angeles,
has examined antique diamonds for decades. “It is increasingly true that the public has
preferred to keep their inherited stones as they are. But I’ve encountered those
sentiments since I started in the business in the late 1970s.”
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VINTAGE DIAMONDS, continued. Loyal customers have come to rely on him for guidance about their jewelry. “I always encourage my clients to keep the old
stones as they are.” Even damaged stones found in really old jewelry can keep their original appeal. “And if they are damaged,”
he advises, “repair them, keeping them as old cuts.”
That’s for aesthetic reasons, says Carmona. “Modern cut diamonds with excellent cuts all look alike. So if you have
something a little unusual, stick with it, and be a little different.” What about valuing an antique cut diamond? “You always
appraise them for what they are and not for their recut value.” he confirms.
Fortunately many old diamonds are still in circulation today. Gemologist-diamond grader Laurie Seuss reports that about
20% of the diamonds passing through the laboratory where she worked were antique cuts.
Those loose stones can find new life in a modern ring. “Depending
on the stone and its potential setting,” Seuss explains, “an older-cut
stone can make a new piece of jewelry look unique. The challenges with
Old Mine and Euro cuts are their extremely large culets and extremely
thin girdles.”
“Vintage jewelry is more popular than ever right now, and the
pieces that survived usually were the best quality available at the time.
Older cut diamonds have found their niche in this market. “The
market dictates demand and projects future traction of the old
diamond sector.” From the Bulletin of the New York Mineralogical Club September 2015
Alien Material? Meteorite in Sweden Quarry may have influenced evolution
A morsel of never-before-seen alien rock has been dug up in a limestone quarry in Sweden, where it had lain deeply buried for about 470 million years. An ancient space rock discovered in a Swedish quarry is a type of meteorite never before found on Earth, scientists reported June 14, 2016 in the journal Nature Communications.
"In our entire civilization, we have collected over 50,000 meteorites, and no one has seen anything like this one before," said study co-author Qing-zhu Yin, professor of geochemistry and planetary sciences at the University of California, Davis. "Discovering a new type of meteorite is very, very exciting." The new meteorite, called Ost 65, appears to be from the missing partner in a massive asteroid collision 470 million years ago. The collision sent debris falling to Earth over about a million years and may have influenced a great diversification of life in the Ordovician Period. One of the objects involved in this collision is well-known: It was the source of L-chondrites, still the most common type of meteorite. But the identity of the object that hit it has been a mystery.
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Unknown space rock continued: Ost 65 was discovered in Sweden's Thorsberg quarry, source of more than 100 fossil meteorites. Measuring just under 4 inches wide, it looks like a gray cow patty plopped into a pristine layer of fossil-rich pink limestone. The Ost 65 rock is called a fossil meteorite because the original rock is almost completely altered except for a few hardy minerals -- spinels and chromite. Analyses of chromium and oxygen isotopes in the surviving minerals allowed the researchers to conclude the Ost 65 meteorite is chemically distinct from all known meteorite types. By measuring how long Ost 65 was exposed to cosmic rays, the team established that it traveled in space for about a million years before it fell to Earth 470 million years ago. This timeline matches up with L-chondrite meteorites found in the quarry, leading the study authors to suggest the rock is a fragment of the other object from the Ordovician collision. The original object may have been destroyed during the collision, but it's also possible that the remains are still out in space. Meteorites may have influenced evolution Researchers think that about 100 times as many meteorites slammed into Earth during the Ordovician compared with today, thanks to the massive collision in the asteroid belt. This rain of meteorites may have opened new environmental niches for organisms, thus boosting both the diversity and complexity of life on Earth. Read more at http://www.geologyin.com/2016/06/unknown-alien-rock-found-in-swedish.html#ttfbKClHttTuYTcs.99
Acrocanthosaurus The Bones of Contention The True Story of Cephis Hall and Sid Love The Arkansas Hillbilly and the Choctaw Indian Who Outsmarted the Corporation and Saved the Dinosaur Book By Russell Ferrell
Biography: Russell Ferrell is a non-fiction historical writer and educator. He has worked as a journalist and educator and in several varied occupations. He owned and operated a cattle ranch in Atoka County, Oklahoma before moving to Red Oak, Texas, where he currently resides with his wife, Waynetta, and their four dogs and five cats. He was working on several projects in the historical field when he put them all aside to write the true story of Cephis Hall and Sid Love, the two amateur naturalists who discovered and excavated the Acrocanthosaurus in McCurtain County, Oklahoma - one of the greatest dinosaur discoveries and excavations in history. Ferrell is the author of two books: "Acrocanthosaurus - The Bones of Contention" and "The Bone War of McCurtain County." He released a revised version of The Bone War of McCurtain County in July 2015 - a shorter, but much improved, edition. Book Review from October 2016 Ozark Earth Science Gem, Mineral, & Fossil Club News, Mountain Home, AR
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SUNSHINE REPORT
FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS
Sean Abbott
Michelle Bicket Julie Brown
Madalynn Coons Julia Cross
Connie Draeger Natalie Hines
Kimberly Holcomb Linda Jaeger
Bob Lieser Kyla Morrissey
Wayne Mouser Steve Richards
Jessica Robb Sharon Rico
Jeff Wilson Tony Rongey
Ruth Williams Marianna Wilson
FEBRUARY ANNIVERSARIES
Bob & Barbara Avakian
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TRMS GENERAL ACCOUNT by Treasurer Linda Jaeger
Balance as of 12/14/2016 $3,270.20
date Income:
1/3/17 deposit dues $42.00
1/19/17 deposit dues & nametags $214.50
total income: $256.50
Expenses:
12/21/16 US Sign, name tags, ck#1607 $18.45
12/31/16 Richard Jaeger, reimburse stamps for Jan bulletin $74.80
1/4/17 Ink Images, print Jan bulletin, inv #25351, ck#1609 $108.63
total expenses: $201.88
Balance as of 1/19/2017 $3,324.82
TRMS WORKSHOP—A GREAT RESOURCE FOR CLUB MEMBERS! TRMS members are welcome to use the club workshop during the scheduled sessions. You will be asked
to sign a waiver if you work at the shop. Young people must be accompanied by an adult. Material for
cutting and polishing is available at the shop for $1 a slab. There is a charge for cutting a piece on the
big saw. Please, contact the shop foreman or the charge person 24-hours in advance.
TRMS WORKSHOP HOURS, ATTENDANTS
First Saturday-- 1 p.m – 5 p.m Wayne Mouser (918-582-8700)
Third Tuesday-- 5:30 - 9 p.m. David Hogate (918-630-4702)
Fourth Thursday-- 5:30 - 9 p.m. Billy McBay (918-407-6066)
Third Saturday -- 1 p.m. - 5 p.m Leon Reeder (918-346-7299)
The workshop is located next to Elsing Museum in the lower level of the Learning Resource
Center at Oral Roberts University. At the Lewis/81 St. parking lot stop light, take the first right turn,
just after the guard shack. Across from the baseball stadium, drive into the parking lot of the Learning
Resource Center and follow the path to the LRC north entrance. Go down on the handicapped ramp on
the right of the steps, or use the lower set of stairs and hit the Handicapped Entry button for access.
Inside, follow signs to Elsing Museum which will be one more flight down stairs. At Elsing Museum, turn
left, go down the hallway to the workshop which will be the second door on the right.
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Tulsa Rock and Mineral Society February, 2017 Page 15
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Submit items for the “On the Road Again” page to editor Kay Waterman by the 20
th of the preceding month by email at
February 9-12—TUCSON, AZ: 63rd Annual show; Tucson Gem and Mineral Society, Inc., Tucson Convention Center; 260 S. Church Avenue ; Thu. 10-6, Fri. 10-6, Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5; Admission $13 , Children 14 and under free with a paying adult; Exhibits from private collections and museums from around the world. Lecture series based on the theme of the Show "Mineral Treasures of the Midwest." Junior Education Area provides children with a wealth of mineral and earth science information. Sat. Night Program includes a silent auction, voice auction, slide competition, awards ceremony, and buffet. Contact TGMS Office, P.O. Box 42588, Tucson, AZ 85733 (520)-322-5773; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site:www.tgms.org March 10-12—KANSAS CITY, MO: 56th Annual show, The Association of Earth Science Clubs of Greater KC, KCI Expo Center, 11730 Ambassador Drive, KC. FRI 10am-8p m; SAT 10am-7pm; SUN 10am-5pm. Directions: Exit 112th St off I-29 OR off I-435 take the Kansas City International Airport exit (Cookingham Dr) Admission: Adults $6, 2-day pass $10, 3-day pass $14. Children 5-12 $3, under 4 free. Auction 7 pm Saturday. March 9-12—DEMING, NM: 52nd Annual show; Deming Gem & Mineral Society, Inc., SW New Mexico State Fairgrounds, Deming; 4100 Raymond Reed Blvd.; Thu. 9-5, Fri. 9-5, Sat. 9-5, Sun. 9-5; Free Admission. Guided field trips, silent auction on Friday night, live auction Saturday night, geode cutting, educational displays, fossil digging for kids, jewelry & rock related items, lapidary equipment, coffee, donuts, breakfast and lunch available. ; contact Cindy Jordan, P.O. Box 1459, Deming, NM 88031, (575)-694-3598; e-mail: [email protected]; Website: theDGMS.com March 24-25—ADA, OK: Annual show; Ada Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Club, Agriplex; 1710 North Broadway; Fri. 8-6, Sat. 9-5; Free Admission; There will be demonstrations of earth science-related hobbies, flint knapping, rock polishing and wire wrapping polished stones. Children will enjoy the show's wheel of fortune and fossil dig, where there is an opportunity to find, identify and keep the fossils they find. A small participation fee applies. The fluorescent display is always interesting. Contact Bobby Freeman 1111 East Central Blvd, Ada, OK 74820.
2017 RMFMS CONVENTION and SHOW March 16, 17, 18, 19, 2017 The Albuquerque Gem & Mineral Club, Albuquerque, NM hosts 2017 RMFMS Convention&Show 2017 RMFMS Conference Agenda Dates: March 16-20, 2017 Thursday, March 16th, 2017 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm RMFMS Competitive Exhibit Setup - Expo NM 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. Registration – Delegates & Credentials - MCM Eleganté Hotel 4:00 p.m. Judges Meeting - Expo NM 5:00 p.m. Judging of RMFMS Displays - Expo NM Friday, March 17th, 2017 9:00 a.m. RMFMS Executive Committee Meeting - MCM Eleganté Hotel 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Treasures of the Earth Show - Expo NM 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. Registration – Delegates & Credentials - MCM Eleganté Hotel
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Tulsa Rock and Mineral Society February, 2017 Page 16
Saturday, March 18th 2017 8:00 a.m. – Noon Registration – Delegates & Credentials - MCM Eleganté Hotel 9:00 a.m. Editors/Webmasters Buffet Breakfast - MCM Eleganté Hotel 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Treasures of the Earth Show - Expo NM 1:00 p.m. RMFMS Delegate Meeting - MCM Eleganté Hotel 6:00 p.m. Happy Hour / Social Mixer - MCM Eleganté Hotel 7:00 p.m. RMFMS Awards Buffet Dinner - MCM Eleganté Hotel Sunday, March 19th, 2017 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Treasures of the Earth Show - Expo NM 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Pick up Displays - Expo NM 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Local Field Trip to Nacimiento mine, Cuba, NM* Monday, March 20th, 2017 8:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. Local Field Trip to Blanchard Mine, Bingham, NM* *Note: Transportation for field trips is not provided. Trip to Blanchard mine, requires 4x4 only if you want to go to the top of the mountain
For more complete information, please see the Rocky Mountain Federation website for sign-up materials or see the
Albuquerque Gem and Mineral Club website: www.agmc.info
Minutes of the General Membership Meeting/Officer Installation January 9, 2017 Meeting called to order at 7:04pm at Golden Corral on 71st and Garnett. Treasurer’s report accepted as printed. 36 people present with 1 visitor , Lynn McBay. Vote on Bylaws, moved by Julia Allande and Dolores Wall to accept changes. Discussion on members and board members who live out of state. Fieldtrip to GeoScience Center show in downtown Tulsa on February 4, 2017 at 12:00pm. New website for TRMS is tulsarockandmineralsociety.org. Show Committee Meeting is the third Monday of the month at 7pm at the Church. Motion to adjourn, nothing further. Meeting ended at 7:47pm. Respectfully submitted, Carlos Reyes, Secretary
These are the minutes from the general membership meeting for December, which were not submitted in
time for the January newsletter.
Minutes of General Meeting 12 December 2016 Meeting was called to order at the Church at 7:00 PM by President Tony Rongey. Minutes of previous meeting were approved as printed in the bulletin. Treasurer’s report as written in the newsletter was approved as printed. Count-off revealed 66 people present. No door prizes were given. Hospitality Chair Wayne Mouser introduced one visitor and new member Mike Lacer. Each Pebble Pup present drew a wooden specimen display box from a blind grab bag. By-Laws Committee reminded all the by-laws changes that would be printed in the January newsletter will be voted on in February, completing the By-Laws updates. Tony reminded all the annual installation dinner would be at the Golden Corral on 71st street. The locale is reserved from 6 o’clock on. Finis Riggs asked for a brief Show Committee meeting at the end of tonight’s meeting. All are invited to attend.
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Tulsa Rock and Mineral Society February, 2017 Page 17
Sharon Richards reported for the Audit Committee the completion of 2015 Audit with all in good condition. 2016 Audit is
planned for February, pending selection of an audit committee.
Due to the fact that a Director elected last month was in fact not eligible for the position, another Director was
nominated and elected by acclamation: Julia Allande. The Treasurer-elect having backed out of the position, a
replacement Treasurer was nominated and elected by acclamation: Sharon Richards.
Finis Riggs offered a blessing for the meal.
Program for the night was the meal and a “Dirty Santa” gift exchange.
Nothing further, meeting adjourned 9:10 PM. Respectfully submitted, Julia Allande, 2016 Secretary
Toxic Ghost Town—Picher, OK Hi fellow rockhounds! It's amazing the interesting things that can be found on the internet. You know I
don't send out these tidbits very often but simply couldn't let anyone miss this. I have a subscription to this Amusing Planet website and it's so very interesting. Some of you might want to check it out just for general information of cool places, things, etc. around the world. Since this one hits home here in OK and is rock-related, I just had to send you the link. Enjoy, Sue Ogden, Stillwater Rock and Mineral Club editor.
http://www.amusingplanet.com/2016/11/the-toxic-ghost-town-of-picher.html The northeastern corner of the US state of Oklahoma was once the most productive lead and zinc mining areas of the world. The metals were discovered here in 1914, just in time for the increased demands for ammunitions created by the First World War. Soon there were hundreds of mines and thousands of people toiled under the ground working for the Picher Lead Company. The town of Picher, along with the nearby towns of Cardin and Treece in Kansas developed overnight.
At its peak, Picher’ mills processed nearly 5,000 tons of raw ore a day. They crushed the ore into fine grains and melted it in giant smelter to filter away the impurities. Only a fraction of the melted ore produced actual valuable minerals. The useless residue, contaminated with toxic metals, were piled up outside the mines until
it created a 7,000-acre ridge containing 70 million tons of mine tailings, and 36 million tons of mill sand and sludge. This fine-grained mine tailings known as chat, blew all over the town and people breathed them in. When it rained, the runoff from the chat piles got into the local water supply. Pictured: fine-grained chat piles next to residences in Picher are unstable.
In the 1980s, the government launched a cleanup operation to make Picher livable again, but even in the mid-90s, close to two-third of Picher’s children were still suffering from lead poisoning. In 2006, the Army Corps of Engineers discovered that the town was severely undermined by massive voids
that could collapse at any moment. Based on this report, the government gave its final verdict: Picher was to be evacuated.
The final blow came in 2008, when a tornado ripped across the town killing eight people and causing extensive damage. Rebuilding Picher was now out of question. The only option left was to leave it behind.
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Tulsa Rock and Mineral Society February, 2017 Page 18
TRMS February, 2017 The club regularly meets at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of the month at the College Hill Presbyterian Church, 7th and Columbia near the TU tennis courts. Hospitality hour precedes each meeting, with coffee and snacks. Visitors
are always welcome. Pebble Pups meet at 6:15 preceding the general membership meeting.
For Workshop sessions contact the name listed or foreman Billy McBay at 918-407-6066 24 hours in advance.
26
27
28 Lunch
Golden Corral
21st
/Memorial
11:30 am
President’s Day honors
all American Presidents.
Abe Lincoln’s birthday is
Feb. 12. George
Washington’s is Feb. 22.
Sunda
y
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
In Just Spring When the world is Mud-lucious and puddle-wonderful…….
1 2 Groundhog Day
3 4 WORKSHOP
1 pm - 5 pm
Call Wayne
Mouser
918-582-8700 5 6
7 TRMS board
meeting 7 pm
College Hill
8 9 10
11
12 13
Club meeting
6pm Coffee
6:15 Pebble Pups
7 pm Meeting
14 Valentines’ Day
15 16 17 18 WORKSHOP 1 pm - 5 pm
Call Leon Reeder
918-346-7299
19 20 President’s Day
SHOW MEETING 7PM
AT THE CHURCH
Call Eric Hamshar
918-266-3612
918-284-3503
21
WORKSHOP
5:30 pm – 9 pm
Call David Hogate
918-630-4702
22
23 WORKSHOP
5:30 pm – 9 pm
Call Billy McBay
918-407-6066
24 25