The Helena Mineral Society Newsletter

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Margery Mathews
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1 Gem, Mineral, and Geological Education and Experience March 2017 In This Issue: Page 1: From the Editor Page 2 Coming Events Page 3: Tidbits Page 4: Classifieds From The Editor: Agate: Cryptocrystalline quartz. Agate is a member of the chaledony group. Cryptocrystalline means, the crystals that form the agate can only be seen with a microscope under very high magnification. Agates can be found throughout Montana, the most sought after being the Moss Agate or Montana Agate found along the Yellowstone River from Gardiner to the confluence with the Missouri River. This agate is one of two Montana state gem stones, the other being Sapphire. There are many, many other agates to be found throughout the state. For example: along the Madison River there is a pale blue agate called, you guessed it, Madison Blue. Canyon Ferry Lake has agates along the shoreline, though it takes some diligent looking and a good eye to find them. White Earth is the source of an agate called Dead Top that has many varying colors. This agate was named by a former club member. Another famous locality is in the Big Horn Canyon south of Hardin. Dry Head Agates are found there, but, alas the collecting area has been off-limits for years. If you find a dealer that has any that are affordable, it will make a nice addition to your agate collection. Most rivers and streams in the western and central parts of the state contain agates in varying quantity and quality The Helena Mineral Society Newsletter

2 Helena Mineral Society Officers for President: Martin Landry Vice-president: Sally Caputo Secretary: Open Membership Chairman: Open Treasurer: Terri Smith Member-at-Large: Gene Hodge Historian: Carolyn De Martino Field Trip Chairman: Wayne Waters Show Chairman: Dan Caputo Program Chairman: Open Newsletter Editor: Gary Parisi The HMS Annual Show is fast approaching. April 7 through 9. Set up starts Friday at 1:00 PM at the Helena Civic Center. If you are working at the show, please park at least a block and a half away or in the parking garage to the east, it's free on weekends. Let the paying customers have the closer spots. HMS is in dire need of members to fill in the various positions at the show. PLEASE call Dan or Martin and let them know you can help out. There will be a pot luck at or about 5:30 Friday afternoon. If you attend, please bring a salad, dessert or whatever to share. HMS will provide fried chicken, drinks, plates and utensils. A big THANK YOU!!! to all who filled grab bags on Saturday. 741 bags were filled and there was a abundance of fine material. Field trips: A field trip is being planned in April after the show to the Silos area to comb the beach for agates and petrified wood. Possibly a tour of the new copper mine at White Sulphur. A trip to Hogback Mtn for fossils. If there is anywhere you would like to go- let Wayne know

3 A few photos from our trip to Quartzsite, AZ this last January Slabs, slabs and more slabs Arkansas quartz -3-

4 Helena Mineralogical Society Meeting Minutes From March 16, 2017 Submitted by Carolyn DeMartino Announcements Martin asked that we all sign up to work at the show and ask others in the club who don t come to the meeting to also sign up. Program Tonight s program was an Abandoned Mine Safety Video. It was a great reminder to Stay out and stay alive. Gary Parisi will reschedule his Quartzite talk. OFFICER REPORTS: Program Chair- Open Treasurer s Report Terri Smith Rental for the Civic Center is around $3,649. Security costs will be separate from this fee. There is a question about the web-site renewal fee. It needs to be determined if we paid 3 years for it and if it is up for renewal already. Motion made and accepted to accept the treasurer s report. Show Chair Dan Capute (in abstentia) The Gem and Mineral Show is Aprit 8 th & 9th The show has been posted in Rock & Gem Magazine. There will also be T.V. and radio announcements. Ryan Hannahoe will also do a Facebook Splash. Sean Moore took posters around to the vendors along the walking Mall. Don Balser put the word out in Clancy about the show The Independent Record still needs to be contacted about the show dates and times. Carolyn DeMartino showed club members the poster she made to put on the ticket booth to let people know about the High Desert Diversified activities upstairs. Sean Moore suggested adding a pick & shovel symbol on the poster. Wayne Waters gave directions to his house for grab bag filling on Saturday March 18, at 9 A.M

5 Fieldtrip Chair Wayne Waters Wayne wants to plan to go on the tour of the Black Butte Copper Mine near White Sulphur Springs. The Miss Beverly claim is open for business as the lake is no longer frozen and boats can cross it. We may go to the Hog Back Mountain fossil site sometime too. There is also red color garnet sand by Confederate Bay. We can also plan a trip to the Silos to collect petrified wood, agatized wood, and fossils along the shoreline of Canyon Ferry Lake. As always, please let Wayne know if you have ideas for fieldtrips or if you would like to lead a fieldtrip. Member At Large - Gene Hodge Gene mentioned that Opal Mountain Gem wants to sell some used equipment. Contact Charlie McDermitt at (406) , if interested. Historian/ Secretary-Carolyn DeMartino Carolyn mentioned the Independent Record article about club member Ryan Hannahoe s space photos being displayed in the NASA s Aeronautics and Space Magazine. New Business Wayne fixed the tires on the trailer. The HMS hand truck still needs a tire replaced. Special Notes Jim Bruce mentioned that the Small Miner s Exemption Claim form has changed. You just have to download form, complete it, get it notarized, and get it to the MT DEQ. Saturday, March 18 th, 9 a.m., Grab bag filling at Wayne Water s house. The address is 5485 Sahara Court. Friday, April 7, 1-5:30 p.m., Show set-up. Potluck will begin around 5:30 p.m. Fried chicken will be provided by the club from Vann s Thriftway. Please bring a potluck item to share. Saturday April 8, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Show Sunday April 9, 10 a.m. 4 p.m. Show On show dates, remember to park in the Parking Garage in order to save the main parking area for show attendees. Please make sure to sign up on the sign-up sheets to help out at the various show activities. If you would be willing to be a floater ; and help out at various activities without designating a time, that would be great too. The next monthly meeting will be Thursday, April 20, 2017 Present meeting adjourned at 8:40 P.M

Meetings The Helena Mineral Society meets at the Neighborhood Center, 200 S. Cruse Ave the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm. There is no regular meeting for the month of December.

6 Meetings The Helena Mineral Society meets at the Neighborhood Center, 200 S. Cruse Ave the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm. There is no regular meeting for the month of December. See you there! Friends, guests, and new members are always welcome To place a classified ad, please see me in person at one of our regular meetings or you may me (Gary) with your information at gjparisi72@yahoo.com. Ad will run in the newsletter for that month only unless specifically requested to run longer. Pictures and Articles Needed: If you have a picture that you want to share, please send it to me, along with a short description of the activity, where it took place, and when, and I ll put it in the newsletter. If you d like to share your field trip adventures with those members who are unable to attend, please feel free to contribute to the newsletter. Just me your experiences, and I ll make sure they re entered. Remember, this is your newsletter, and your contributions make it better. Helena Mineral Society, Inc. PO Box 736 Helena, Montana

Volume 6, Issue 3 March 2013

Little Gem s Volume 6, Issue 3 March 2013 General Meeting: Second Tuesday of the month Katherine Heidenreich Senior Center 1776 Airway Ave., Kingman, AZ 86401 General Meeting 7:00 PM Trent Szabo, president