Rock Talk. White Mountain Gem & Mineral Club P.O. Box 3504 Show Low, Arizona

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1 Rock Talk White Mountain Gem & Mineral Club P.O. Box 3504 Show Low, Arizona Happy Mother s Day! Volume 16 Issue 5 May 2013 First I want to thank Sandra Angelo for being Acting Secretary and taking the minutes. It is very much appreciated. Without this information our absent and far away members would be in the dark. Speaking of in the dark... I gave out envelopes of raffle prize tickets for members to sell. Each envelope held 24 tickets. They can sell them a $1 a ticket or 6 tickets for $5. The 24 tickets represent $20 in contribution to the Club. The prizes will be part of the Annual Show Raffle. If any of our absent and correspondent members want to buy raffle tickets, they can call me at , or me at tmondragon@cableone.net, and I will send them tickets either to sell or to buy for themselves. We have some magnificent prizes. Please see the partial list elsewhere in the newsletter. And remember, your chances are better than in the lottery! On another note, Nanz Marshall is taking over the year-end prizes duty. We couldn't find Eunice's info on who had attended events in the first part of the year. So send Nanz a note if you have attended a fieldtrip, helped out at the storage shed, written an article for the newsletter, or given an educational program. New this year, you will also get a ticket in the year-end drawing if you bring a guest to a meeting and they join the Club. Whoo Hoo!! Bring all your friends who love to hear about your rockhounding adventures... the more the merrier. It is great when we extend ourselves into the community and we love to share that information. Bill and Linda Stalder will be giving a mini Gem & Mineral exhibition for 7 classes of 5th graders at the Blue Ridge Jr. High on May 16th from 11am to 3pm, and can use a few helpers. It is very rewarding working with the kids, and the teachers love us for helping them fulfill the Arizona Standards of Education in Earth Science. Please call Bill if you can help him and the community for a few hours. I happen to be the newest Lion's Club International member in the Show Low chapter, and as such am promoting the recycle of used--yet usable-- eyeglasses. The lack of eyeglasses denies children and adults the opportunities for education, employment and a better qualify of life. Please either turn in your old eyeglasses to me, or place them in a recycle box in your community. Thank you. Hope to see you all at the Highway Clean-up Saturday May 11th. We'll meet at K-Mart at 9am to caravan. And, of course, see you at the Show Set-Up on May 24th at the Casino Conference Center. Tonie President s Message For All Rockhounds in the area! May 18, 2013 Rock Talk is published monthly by the White Mountain Gem & Mineral Club, Inc. Any comments/info that members wish to have included in the monthly newsletter must be turned in to the editor at the general membership meeting or call the editor prior to the following Membership Dues: $15 for a single membership, and $20 for a couple/family. Dues are due the 1st of January of every calendar year along with a completed application. If you join in November of previous year, your dues will be good for all of the following year. Meetings: 1st Sunday of the month, (unless it falls on a holiday), at the VFW Post 9907, 381 N. Central Ave, Show Low, AZ. Turn north off of the Deuce of Clubs at the Burger King. Social 1:00pm, meeting 1:30pm. Bring snacks.

2 May 2013 Rock Talk Page 2 Elected Officers and Volunteers President Tonie MonDragon (859) Vice President Nanz Marshal (928) Secretary NEED A VOLUNTEER! Treasurer Larry Legge (928) Editor (928) Field Trip Chairman Sumner Christie (928) Board Members at Large Ron Ginn (480) Sandra Angelo (928) Rick Olson (928) Remember Our Fallen. Veterans Do. Volunteer Positions Show Chairman Rick Olson (928) walkaround@earthlink.net Advertise & Public Relations NEED A VOLUNTEER! Librarian NEED A VOLUNTEER! Education, Schools and Libraries NEED A VOLUNTEER! Greeter, Door Prizes, 50/50 Raffle Kathleen Varhol (928) Auctioneer Bill Stalder (928) Highway Clean-up Brookie Embry (928) Ruth King (928) Claim Filing Tonie MonDragon (859) Bonus Prizes Nanz Marshal (928) Historian need a volunteer Coalition Contact Ron Ginn (480) Sunshine Nanz Marshall (928) Web Master and Membership Chair Ron Ginn (480) wginn3@gmail.com Birthdays May June 6 - Jeannie Arneklev 10 - Sumner Christie 11 - Kathleen Varhol 19 - Don Benker 15 - Linda Stalder 19 - Sandra Angelo 19 - Debra Cox 22 - Karinita Hansen 27 - Larry Embry 29 - Kathleen Amator 30 - Stan Arneklev HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Ya ll!! MAY YOU HAVE MANY MORE!! A new show on the Weather Channel! Eunice s son Danny, is holding a yard sale at her house on the days of our Show, May 24 & 25. If ya ll are interested, come ahead! For the June 2013 meeting, members who s name begins M-Z, please bring snacks

3 May 2013 Rock Talk Page 3 General Membership Meeting May 5, 2013 The May 5, 2013 meeting of the White Mountain Gem and Mineral Club was called to order by President MonDragon at 1:20 pm. She invited all Members of the Board up to the front where she presented each with an Official Badge identifying his/her role. These badges are to be worn specifically during the show but also at other official events. Guest Gail Golembieski introduced herself. Bill Stalder made a motion to approve the minutes as published in Rock Talk with the second provided by. No changes were made and the minutes were approved unanimously. President Report: The highway clean up will be Saturday, May 11. Meet at the Big K Parking lot no later than 9am. Thanks to A L for providing the snacks. Please contribute to the cost of pitchers of beverages and tip. During the break, pick up an envelope of raffle tickets to sell for the show. There are also WMGMC pencils and a list of prizes to date. We are still collecting prizes for the raffle. Just a reminder, the show is a Club activity. We voted to have the show so everyone should plan to participate in some way. We still need a secretary. The Eunice McQuiston Fiber Arts for Women of a Certain Age will be on Friday, May Tonie s house. Everyone attending please bring tea sandwiches. Vice President Report: The VFW is hosting a craft show August 16 th and 17 th. Cost of a table is $25; proceeds are retained by the vendor. Nanz suggested that we have a Club table and proceeds can either go to the vendor and/or the Club. Nanz Marshall is taking over the year end participation prizes. Please give her a list of activities you have participated in. Each participation event will result in a ticket for the year end drawing at our Christmas/Holiday party. Education Program today will be presented by President MonDragon. It will be a report of a field trip to an underground cavern she went on in Cozumel. Treasurer Report: Income for May was $ and expenses were $225. We have paid our rent for use of the VFW Hall for our Club meetings for the remainder of the year. Editor Report: Please submit contributions to the newsletter to Karen via . She will include them in the publication as space permits. Contributions for the Eunice McQuistion Rock Food display should be given to Karen. She will acknowledge your donation and return it to you if you want. If you want any rocks from the McQuiston s, please plan to get them prior to May 23. Call Karen and she will meet you there. Please make a donation to the Club for your treasures. Field Trip Report: Thanks to George Wilkinson for allowing us to view his sandstone operation and visit his quarry. He allowed us to pick up whatever we wanted at his quarry and production facility. He even made a donation to the show raffle. There were 27 people at the field trip including a group from 4-H. Sandstone was also collected for children s activities at the upcoming show. The sink holes were awesome! Look for pictures and a detailed report in the May issue of Rock Talk. Show Chair Report: 20 vendors are scheduled! Show Fliers have been placed in libraries and community centers around the White Mountain communities. It was also suggested that fliers be given to local hotels and posted at the RV Park by Hon-Dah. Announcements have been on the radio and in the newspaper. Raffle prizes for are still needed. Rick has a list of places contacted. If you have a favorite business or organization that you patronize, please consider asking for a tax deductible donation. Several speakers have been scheduled for the show. If you would like to speak on a topic or give a demonstration, please contact Rick. Volunteers are still needed. Remember, if you volunteer, you get into the show for free. Please contact Rick to schedule time and activity. It was suggested that we use a balloon bouquet to highlight the vendor providing that hour s raffle. We have done this in the past and the vendors appreciate the recognition. Old Business: We are still trying to contact the Earth Science Museum about Eunice s donation of her 50 States Florescent Mineral Collection and the Club s $300 donation. Marty Zimmerman, from the museum, will be donating Earth Science kits for when we do shows for children. Nanz and David B. will continue working to resolve these issues. New Business: On May 16 th Bill Stalder will be bringing a mini gem and mineral show to Blue Ridge Jr. High on Porter Mountain Rd. Seven classes of 5 th graders will be attending between 11 am and 3 pm. Bill could use some assistance. Please contact him to volunteer. Kathleen was out ill, but Charlene Bingell stepped in for the door prize and 50/50 drawings. Linda Stalder won the door prize of postcards made by David Bingell. Bill Stalder won $21 in the 50/50. Druzy Mineral samples were won by Bill Stalder and Don Cassidy. Motion to adjourn by Sue Huber with Karen S. providing the second. Meeting adjourned at 3:12 pm. Respectfully submitted by Sandra Angelo, Secretary Pro Tem Coalition Field Trip for May 2013 The Field Trip for May will be to collect "zebra" agate, on Sat., May 11th, Meeting time will 9:30am, at the Christopher Creek loop, off highway 260, south side, between Tall Pines market and Landmark at the Creek restaurant. Collecting site is just east of Christopher Creek, near Sharp Creek campground. (Approximately 23 miles northeast of Payson) Leaders: Lynne & Terry Dyer The training leads us to live together harmoniously; the community runs smoothly. Please work together, cooperate and live in harmony. This should be what you bequeath to those coming after you. The Dalai Lama

4 May 2013 Rock Talk Page 4 About You Collecting Rocks I think that there shall never be, An Ignoramus just like me. Who roams the hills throughout the day, To pick up rocks that do not pay. For there's one thing I've been told, I take the rocks and leave the gold. O'er desert wild or mountains blue, This month s member profile is Blue Thompson. She has lived here in the White Mountain area for 31 years. The things she likes best about living here is the climate, and the rural area. She has been a member less than 2 years, and her favorite rock is Fossilized Sponge in Purple Chert. Some of her most memorable moments as a club member are rockhunting in many fascinating places. She wants to find Fire Agate, (as do I, your editor!), and she loves the people and loves ROCKS! She is also a bead artist. We welcome her input into our club! I search for rocks of varied hue. A hundred pounds or more I pack, With blistered feet and aching back. And after this is said and done, I cannot name a single one. I pick up rocks where ere I go, The reason why I do not know. For rocks are found by fools like me, Where God intended them to be. (found in Fred McQuiston s work shop) May Days of Interest This is the business in Snowflake where we began our most recent field trip. They were VERY hospitable, and went over and above what we were expecting. They create MANY beautiful objects out of sandstone. If you can, show your appreciation by purchasing some of their creations for friends & relatives. 1 - May Day 2 - National Day of Prayer 5 - Cinco de Mayo 7 - National Teacher Day 9 - Ascension 12 - Mother's Day 15 - Shavuot 16 - Shavuot 18 - Armed Forces Day 19 - Pentecost 20 - Victoria Day (Canada) 26 - Trinity Sunday 27 - Memorial Day 30 - Corpus Christi

5 May 2013 Rock Talk Page 5 27 club members and guests met at Ed s IGA in Snowflake, and went on a pre-arranged tour of the Prior Stone Company. Sandstone is dug at the owner, George s, quarry, and brought to his facility, where it is made into various art forms, such as coasters, address markers, picture frames, etc. The picture sandstone is drilled, baked, cut, and grooved, and once finished, is shipped to distributors, or taken to art shows and sold. Prior Company employee Rick gave us the tour, and we were allowed to take plenty of scrap samples. Phase 2 of the outing was a trip to the sinkholes arranged by Rick. We continued on to George s quarry, where we were able to pick up pieces for ourselves. The pickins were good, and some nice pieces were found. All in all, it turned out to be a fine day. Our June trip will be to our claims. We will remember our departed members in the meadow. Then we will go on to hunt for crystals. Sumner April field trip to Snowflake was fun Show list of Raffle Prizes Schoolroom size wall chart of minerals Smithsonian T-Rex kit Vintage Zuni silver / turquoise Bracelet Garmin GPS Nuvi 50 $20 gift certificate from Darby s Café Agate bookends Pearl / 10K necklace / bracelet / earrings Turquoise / Crystal Bracelet Beaded Cabochon pendant necklace Dino Poop / Endangered Feces Wool knit hat and gloves Rock Hound / Hiker Basket 4 Beaded Sun catchers Fossil Preparation Kit with fossil Rotating / Lighted Display Stand 3 Beaded Wind chimes Rock Tumbler from Earth s Upper Crust 2 nd pearl necklace, bracelet, earrings Candle Basket from the Candle Factory Picture jasper pendant Native American Sand painting Rose quartz beaded necklace Wolferman s variety pack of baked goods Beaded bag with polished stones $15 gift certificate from Mountain Traders Beaded stone necklace / bracelet set 2 admission tickets Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum 2 admission tickets, Superstition Mountain Lost Dutchman Museum 2 admission tickets from Out of Africa Wildlife Park $30 gift certificate from Licano s Mexican Food & Steak House $25 gift certificate from Sal & Teresa s Restaurant 1 pulled pork sandwich & fries Grumpy Jake s BBQ 1 XLg Cheese pizza from Goob s Pizza, Springerville Hair product basket from Caboodles Hair Salon Dinner for 2 from Rusty Cactus, Springerville Sandstone lamp, candleholders, and coasters from C&E Rockshop 4 tickets to White Mountain Entertainment Theaters

6 May 2013 Rock Talk Page 6 Show Dates Show Update May Pinetop, AZ Annual Gem & Mineral Show White Mountain Gem & Mineral Club HonDah Resort and Casino Convention Center 777 Hwy 260, junction of SR 73 & 260, Pinetop, AZ Sat. 9-6 and Sun All adults, $2.00, Juniors 16 & under free (with an adult) Contact: Rick Olson (928) walkaround@earthlink.net June 5-9 Flagstaff, AZ Annual Gem & Mineral Show Coconino Lapidary Club & Silver Saddle Outdoor Market corner of Rte 89N & Silver Saddle Road Daily, 9-4, free admission Contact Becky Cox (928) bcox@fusd1.org July Flagstaff, AZ Annual show; Val Latham, Sharon Szymanski; Radisson Hotel Ballroom; 1175 W. Hwy. 66 Fri. 9-5, Sat. 9-4; adults $3, children free with adult contact Val Latham, 840 W. Charleston Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85023, (602) Val65@cox.net On Sunday, March 24th, a group from the club that included Karen, Tonie, Stan, Jeanne, Bill, Linda, Ron, Nanz and myself, descended upon our storage locker to sort, separate and evaluate the many items kept there for use at this year's show and general club use. It took a little over 3 hours, but thanks to a nice sunny day with temps warmer than predicted, we got a good handle on what we have on hand and what needed work on. With that in mind, we scheduled another visit to the storage locker on Sunday, April 28th at 1 pm to do a bit more organizing, and put together specimens for Grab Bags, Silent Auction and Spinning Wheel. Also, there are still a few time slots on the schedule for the show that need 1 or 2 people to help the show run smoothly. With "shifts" in two-hour increments, you will be surprised how quickly the time goes by. If you would like to help, any assistance would be appreciated, so that we can be fully prepared at show time. If you need directions or have any questions, please call me at I want to thank everyone for their support. Rick Olson, your Show Coordinator So I am going to try to start a little trend here for folks of a certain age group. Cancers come from somewhere. As an RN, I am concerned with friends & acquaintances health. If you have any favorite healthrelated issues or concerns, send me a kite, ( ), and I will do research on the subject, and give it a whirl in the newsletter., Editor

7 May 2013 Rock Talk Rio Secreto Nature Reserve, Quintana Roo, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico by Tonie MonDragon Page 7 In February 2013 I took a Caribbean Cruise and one of the ports was the Island of Cozumel off the Yucatan Peninsula, and one of the excursions was to Rio Secreto Nature Reserve. First a little history... Millions and millions of years ago the dinosaurs roamed and the Yucatan was underwater. Then a large meteor landed in what is now the Caribbean, creating the Chicxulub Crater. This occurrence led to the extinction of dinosaurs and among other things caused the waters to recede. The mollusks, coral and other reef organisms began the process of sedimentation and fossilization that created the limestone plain making up most of the Yucatan Peninsula and islands of the Caribbean such as Jamaica and the Caymans. In present day around the edge of the Crater on the Yucatan is a series of cenotes. Cenotes are caves formed from sinkholes where the limestone layer beneath the surface collapsed, exposing virtually the only potable water source on the Peninsula. There are no rivers and only a few marshy lakes on the Yucatan so the nearly 100 inch annual rainfall permeates the limestone. The fresh water then floats over the denser saline water. The Mayan Civilization believed these cenotes to be paths to the underground and sacrificed gold, jade and copper images to their Gods and not a few humans. An English explorer around the early 1900 s discovered that the human bones were those of young men, sacrificed for their strength. In mid-century a French expedition explored the cenotes and found there were connected by the largest underground water system in the world. About caves, there are live caves and fossilized caves, there are caverns that are deeper caves and there are grottos where access is attained from the sea. The Rio Secreto Nature Reserve was discovered just before 2007 when a man entered a hole in the ground. It was found to be part of a 7.5 mile underground river system consisting of several live caves and caverns, some submerged. There are 15 separate above ground outlets. The year around ambient temperature is 64 degrees. My visit began when the cruise ship docked at Cozumel. Immediately there was a 45 minute ferry ride to Playa del Carmen on the mainland, then a 20 minute bumpy van ride to the Reserve. We were assigned a locker and given a wet suit and water shoes to wear and told to shower to remove our body oils. They are very keen on preserving the integrity of this natural wonder. We were given helmets with headlamps and a life vest to wear. Before entering the cave we were purified by a Shaman ceremony. This is after all still sacred ground to the Mayans. Our descent into the cave system was by a series of carved stone stairs with a rope hand railing. The eight people in our group were guided through the cave rooms by an experienced guide/naturalist. We were not allowed to touch anything and we could not take pictures. It was pitch black without our headlamps. Our collective headlamps shown on beautiful limestone stalactites and ribbons from the roof, and other formations and stalagmites on the floor as we walked about 1.5 miles during the next hour or so. There were many roots of the surface plants that snaked over the ceilings of the caves. We also saw one live plant that would die that day from lack of sunlight. It was not an easy walk. There were underwater steps up and steps down of up to 18. The water level varied from inches to 9 feet where we had to swim. There were many obstacles such as small stalagmites below the water s surface and huge stalactites from the cave roof to duck under. At one point we had to float on our backs through a very narrow opening to another room. At the lowest point we were about 60 feet underground. Of course, the float surface varies due to the rainfall. Following our excursion we were treated to lunch. The excursion costs about $120 with the van ride, and $99 if you transported yourself to the Reserve (which is 100% Mexican owned). However, bear in mind it might take between $1,000 and $2,000 to get to the Yucatan in the first place. There was a photographer to record our journey and the slide show was shown at the meeting after my talk. I could write much more about this experience, but if you go to you will see pictures of the exquisite natural formations and the bats, flora and fauna.

8 White Mountain Gem & Mineral Club presents Our Annual Jewelry, Gem, & Mineral Show featuring Jewelry, Gems, Minerals, Beads, Slab & Fossil Dealers, Lapidary Equipment & Supplies Silent Auction, Door Prizes, Grand Raffle, Wheel of Fortune, and MUCH More! May 25 & 26, 2013 Saturday, 9am - 6pm Sunday, 10am - 4pm at the HON-DAH Resort Casino Convention Center 777 Hwy 260 Pinetop, Arizona (Junction of SR 73 & 260) Admission: Adults - $2, ($1 with coupon) Juniors, (16 & under) - free if accompanied by Adult Show Chairman - Rick Olson walkaround@earthlink.net Club Website: Sponsor is a Non-Profit Organization

9 May 2013 Rock Talk Page 9 Sign-Up Schedule for Club Show Saturday, 25th Time Admissions (2-3 members) Raffle Tickets & Merchandise (2 members) Silent Auction & Spinning Wheel (2-3 members) Kids Activities (1-2 members) Fluorescents (1 member) Announcements (1 member) 9-11 Tonie MonDragon Sandra Angelo Sue Huber Richard Inman Jodie Inman Bill Stalder Linda Stalder Nanz Marshall Rick Olsen 11-1 Ruth King Brookie Embry Peggy Lancaster Kathleen Varhol Jeannie Arneklev Larry Legge MaryAnn Mosley 1-3 Tonie MonDragon Sandra Angelo Kathleen Varhol Kathy Amator Tish Bill Stalder Linda Stalder Sue Huber Larry Legge Rick Olsen 3-5 Clete Hinton Dee Budde Aaron Ulibarri Sharon Rapier Ruth King MaryAnn Mosley 5-6 Dee Budde Ron Ginn Sue Huber Bill Stalder Linda Stalder Rick Olsen Sunday, 26th Time Admissions (2-3 members) Raffle Tickets & Merchandise (2 members) Silent Auction & Spinning Wheel (2-3 members) Kids Activities (1-2 members) Fluorescents (1 member) Announcements (1 member) Brookie Embry Dee Budde Ruth King Mari Bass Blake Hahn Nanz Marshall Rick Olsen 12-2 Ruth King Brookie Embry Peggy Lancaster Ron Ginn Clete Hinton Nanz Marshall Mary Ann Moseley 2-4 Ursula Wilson Edie Christie Jeannie Arneklev Sumner Christie Bill Stalder Linda Stalder Nanz Marshall Rick Olsen Setup Stan & Jeanne Arneklev Ursula Wilson Blue Thompson Don Cassidy Sumner Christie Take Down Stan & Jeanne Arneklev Bill & Linda Stalder Blue Thompson Sumner Christie If you see anywhere you might like to volunteer, call Rick (928) , or alkaround@earthlink.net. Come On Folks! We need help to make this work!!

10 White Mountain Gem & Mineral Club P.O. Box 3504 Show Low, Arizona May Emerald Find-a-Word emerald rebirth foresight goodfortune youth smaragous green greek egypt columbia brazil afghanistan zambia clarity chromium beryl inclusion loyalty faithfulness friendship memory clairvoyance faith taurus Courtesy of the Editor,