The fire department needs the meeting room in April. Our April 21st meeting is rescheduled to 4:30 pm.

Transcription

1 February 2012

2 The Petrified Digest Published monthly by the Ginkgo Mineral Society, Inc. PO Box 303, Wenatchee, Washington MEETINGS 3rd Saturday of the month, 2:00 PM Douglas County Fire Station, 377 Eastmont Ave, East Wenatchee OFFICERS President Richard Prevett Vice President Greg Peek Secretary Carol Smith Treasurer Bonni Martin Past President, member Executive Board Ron Gray COORDINATORS Field Trips Shop & Equipment Program/Education Hospitality Publicity Social Chelan County Fair Booth Rock, Gem & Jewelry Show Museum Newsletter Web Site Kathy King Bob Witt Greg Peek Open Charleen Prevett Maxine Anderson Carol Smith Richard Prevett Lori Ludeman Valerie Hampton Newsletter address: Jill Timm The Ginkgo Mineral Society was formed to promote the education of mineralogy and geology; to encourage the collecting of rocks and minerals; to provide field excursions to mineral collecting areas; and to promote interest in lapidary work. DUES: Individual - $20.00 Senior - $15.00 Family - $30.00 Lifetime (20+ yrs) - Free Exchange bulletins are welcome and appreciated. The fire department needs the meeting room in April. Our April 21st meeting is rescheduled to 4:30 pm. Club Calendar February March April Regular Meeting 21 Regular Meeting time change: 4:30 pm Youth Parade 18 Regular Meeting pay 2012 Dues 25 Wrap a rock workshop Leader Cheri McMillan 31 Saddle Mtn. Field Trip ROCK SHOP HOURS: currently by appointment; call Bob Witt to arrange shop time. Join the discussion! How would you like to see the shop schedule managed? Should we provide refreshments? Would you be willing to host? Come to the next meeting and add your voice.

3 VOL 34, ISSUE 2 THE PETRIFIED DIGEST FEBRUARY 2012 THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY The very first road trip Charleen and I took just to look for rocks was to Republic, WA. Charleen had read about the Stonerose Interpretative Center and that we could dig fossils there. An outcropping of Eocene era shale just at the edge of town contains numerous fossil impressions of various leaves and sometimes insects and small fish; alder leaves and Meta Sequoia being the most commonly found. The institute gets its name from a small dogwoodlike blossom that is sometimes found perfectly preserved between the layers of ancient mud. Hence, The Stonerose Institute. For a nominal fee the public can dig fossils from the shale. However, there are rules. You can dig all the fossils you want. But then, you must bring your find to the office building. Once there, the staff will look through your fossils and remove anything they think might have scientific value. Meaning, they get first choice. After that, you may keep any three fossils from what s left. We paid our fees and were told to follow the street up the hill another hundred yards or so and the dig site would be on our right. We could see it from the office, a small leveled area with two or three picnic tables, not much parking, and no shade. Like most of the other folks, we left the car in the shade near the office and made the short walk up the hill. My first impression of the bluff above the picnic tables was that of an old book lying on its side, its pages dried and crumbling around the edges. And, just like the book we use to press our leaves and flowers today, these pages have leaves and flowers pressed between them as well - from fifty million years ago! The small flakes of shale, most no bigger than my hand, crumbled from the bluff above, covering everything below, all the way down to the street. On occasion, a backhoe will come up and push the rubble into mounds, exposing fresh diggings. After a few hours digging in the hot sun, Char and I had accumulated maybe two dozen small leaf fossils of various shapes and species. And with all the heat, that looked like plenty. Once we had all our rocks in the cardboard box the Institute had provided, we decided it would be easier if one of us stayed with our rocks while the other went for the car. At this point in our relationship, Char wasn t trusting me with her car so it only made sense for me to stay with the rocks. While I waited, I was picking up flakes of shale that were lying along the edge of the street. Partial impressions were common; broken and discarded, they littered the ground. One little flake I picked up was blank on both sides but had a distinct seam down the center. A little bit of thumbnail action, and it opened right up. There it was, the mirrored images of a very small creature. It was so small I couldn t be sure it wasn t an insect, until I was able to look at him under a microscope. It was a fish alright. Less than a half inch long, his body was well preserved but his head looked like it had been smashed. It was explained to me that the weight of the sediment on the fish s air sacks will force the air out through the head, destroying it in the process. Of course, my little fish was the first thing they took. They told me that he might be studied and maybe I would get a letter telling me about it. Besides being just a little put out about not being allowed to keep my fish, I was more concerned that he would end up cataloged away in some warehouse, as lost to the world as he had been for the past millennia. I was sure I could offer him a home where he would be admired and appreciated, at least for a little while. I had him on. I d played him across all those millions of years. I had him to the surface, but for only for a quick look and he was gone again. I didn t get to keep the fish but I do get to keep my best fish story ever. -Richard Prevett-

4 FEBRUARY 2012 The Petrified Digest Page 2 Above: A copy of the letter Richard Prevett received last Fall, more than three years after he found the fish at the Stonerose site. Perhaps in another three years he will learn more about his find. ROGER, THE ROCKHOUND SEZ: This month, a few quotes for your consideration: An archaeologist is the best husband a woman can have; the older she gets, the more interested he is in her. -Agatha Christie Wise sayings often fall on barren ground, but a kind word is never thrown away. -Sir Arthur Helps-

5 JANUARY 2012 The Petrified Digest Upcoming Shows AMFS Northwest Federation of Mineralogical Societies February Sat 10-6 Sun 10-5 Idaho Gem & Mineral Club Annual Gem & Mineral Show Expo Idaho Fairgrounds 5610 Glenwood & Chinden, Boise, ID Page 3 Central Fraser Valley Fairgrounds Haida Drive, Abbotsford, BC, Canada Chartered bus trip 4/14 available through Everett Rock & Gem Club; call April Sat 10-6, Sun 10-5 Idaho Falls Gem & Mineral Society 47th Annual Gem & Mineral Show Idaho Falls Recreation Center Memorial & B Street, Idaho Falls, ID March 3-4 Sat 9-6 Sun 9-5 Owyhee Gem & Mineral Society 58th Annual Rock & Gem Show O'Conner Field House, Canyon Co. Fairgrounds 2200 Blaine, Caldwell, ID April Sat 10-6, Sun 10-4 Yakima Rock & Mineral Club 51st Annual Parade of Gems Yakima National Guard Armory 2501 Airport Ln, Yakima, WA March Sat 9-5, Sun 10-4 Rock & Arrowhead Club 26th Annual Show Crystals Klamath Cty Fairgrounds 3531 S 6th St, Klamath Falls, OR April Fri 9-6, Sat 10-6, Sun 10-4:30 Willamette Agate & Mineral Society 57th Annual Show Polk County Fairgrounds 520 S Hwy 99, Rickreall, OR March Sat 9-6, Sun 10-5 Magic Valley Gem Club 61st Annual Magic Valley Gem Show Twin Falls Cty Fairgrounds 215 Fair Ave, Filer, ID April Sat 10-6, Sun 10-4 Hatrockhounds Gem & Mineral Society Annual Gem & Mineral Show Nature's Treasures Under Foot Hermiston Conference Ctr 415 S Hwy 395, Hermiston, OR March 31-April 1 Sat 10-6, Sun 10-5 Mt. Baker Rock & Gem Club 51st Rock & Gem Show Bloedel-Donovan Park 2214 Electric Ave, Bellingham, WA March Fri 8:30-6, Sat 9-5 Panorama Gem & Mineral Club 12th Annual Show Fort Colville Grange Hall 1 mile east of junction US 395 & Hwy 20, Colville, WA March 31-April 1 Sat 10-6, Sun 10-5 Sweet Home Rock & Mineral Society 64th Annual Rock & Mineral Show Sweet Home HS Activity Gym 1641 Long St, Sweet Home, OR March 31 April 1 Sat 10-6, Sun 10-5 SE Idaho Gem & Mineral Society 55th Annual Show Bannock Cty Fairgrounds Ifft Road, Pocatello, ID April Fri10-8, Sat 10-6, Sun 10-5 BC Lapidary Society From Mines to Gems April Sat/Sun 10-5 Grays Harbor Gem & Geology Society 44th Annual Earth's Treasures Grays Harbor Cty Fairgrounds 43 Elma/McCleary Rd, Elma, WA April Sat/Sun 10-5 West Seattle Rock Club 45th Annual Rock Show Alki Masonic Temkple th Ave SW West Seattle, WA May 4-6, Fri/Sat 10-6, Sun 10-4 Rock Rollers of Spokane 53rd Annual Rock, Gem, Jewelry & Mineral Show Spokane Fair & Expo Center N 604 Havana & Broadway, Spokane, WA May 18-20, Fri/Sat 10-5, Sun 10-4 Lakeside Gem & Mineral Club 2012 NFMS Annual Gem Show Rock'N the Country - No Leaverites Here! Benton Fairgrounds, 1500 S Oak St, Kennewick, WA

6 SILVER THREADS AMONG THE GOLD FIELD TRIP SCHEDULE Being one of the few old time members left I remember when workshops were part of club meetings. At least 60% of the members made silver jewelry. Wire wrap was done once in awhile, but hot solder seems a lost art now. A draft field trip schedule is in the works from leader Kathy King. Below are the proposed events. Get more details or pick up a copy of the updated list at the next meeting. We'll also try to keep you informed of the dates in the newsletter calendar section. Two of our young ladies recently expressed an interest in learning the basics of silver solder and design. Since Ruth and I have the tools, the raw silver, and a very small shop at the house, we let Wanda Shaw and Christy Price loose at their own risk. Believe it or not, No burned fingers. The types of solder were discussed. The basic sliver, bezels, sheet available, and beginning layout were topics of discussion. They rapidly learned cleanliness is next to Godliness. Silver corrodes in air solder does not flow over corrosion. Also, use only brass or copper tools. Ferrous oxide (rust) turns silver a reddish color. Flux and sparex are chemicals used on silver. Sparex works best around 120 degrees farenheit, so a heater is required. A one to two minute immersion removes solder scale. Sparex is a mild acid, so caution and a thorough rinse in water are required. We ran out of time, and since we only touched a few basics, a second session will be set up in the near future. A good time was had by all. -Bill WilliamsROCK SALE The club received notice of a private moving sale / rock sale in Federal Way, WA. Material priced by the pound includes agate, geodes, petrified wood, common opal, and silver/copper ore from sources in Washington state as well as crystals and other assorted rocks. Also listed are display cabinets and a truck. Contact dwberg@comcast.net for information, appointment and directions. Items from the 2012 Suggested Schedule: February 25 - Wrap a Rock Workshop with Cheri McMillan at her home in East Wenatchee. March 31 - Saddle Mountain Field Trip, Richard Prevett, leader. A picnic will be planned as part of the day's activities. June 29 July 7 - Trip to Madras, OR with the Prevetts. More details later. May 26 Red Top Field Trip. A volunteer is needed to lead the group. August combined picnic/camping and rock trip to Crystal Mountain. A volunteer leader is also needed for this trip. September 29 Lake Wenatchee, Kathy King, leader. October 27 Wild Card (Saddle Mountain, Oregon, or??) November 24 Member Showcase December 29 Jewelry Making Workshop Additional field trips or updates will be discussed and added at club meetings. Saddle Mountain dig site

7 JANUARY MEETING HIGHLIGHTS Carol Smith showed a craft project using resin in trays lined with various rocks. She shared some of the tips learned along the way, as well as resources for more information on using poured resin. President Richard Prevett announced some changes in the coordinator positions. Fair and Shop: Carol Smith will head up the Chelan County Fair booth this year, and Bob Witt will begin looking for a shop space that has a bit more room as well as restroom facilities. A discussion on the shop schedule brought out suggestions for the posted shop times, volunteer hosts, and serving coffee and doughnuts or other refreshments to encourage both social interaction and learning shop skills. Hospitality: Richard would also like to establish a Hospitality position, to greet visitors and hand out information at the meetings. The coordinator would not need to fill the role at every meeting, but would develop a greeter schedule and keep track of the materials and the list of volunteers. He asked that members consider volunteering as the coordinator. Field Trips: Kathy King will be Field Trip Coordinator. She has developed a proposed schedule, which is featured in this issue. One suggestion was to hold meetings on a weekday evening during the months of May through October, when members would not have to drive in the dark to attend. This would leave weekends open for rock trips and family events. The November through April meetings could remain on Saturdays at 2 pm. A questionnaire will be developed to learn more about member interest in items such as workshop topics, available shop times, and the meeting schedule and location.. LETTER TO THE EDITOR Correction for the Next Issue: Last month's edition contained an absolute falsehood! I do not suffer tension from the people coming thru here. I look forward to Saturday when they come by. I've made so many new & good friends from them. I don't want any of them to believe that statement because it's not true. I look forward to getting to know more of them. There are some shop problems but they can be solved. I don't know where they'll find cheaper rent. -Marie Magnuson- Yard Sale: Wanda and Larry Shaw volunteered to host a Club Yard Sale at their home in East Wenatchee. They will plan for an April event and provide more details at the next meeting. Members are asked to save items to donate for the sale. Meeting Day and Time: Another important topic of discussion was a request to consider meeting on a different day of the week, especially during nicer weather. Having weekend meetings forces members to choose between attendance at meetings and possible rock hunting trips. Editor's note: The envelope also contained these wonderful pressed plants. Did you spot the Ginkgo leaf? Thank you, Marie!

8 FEBRUARY MEETING SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18 2:00 pm Douglas County Fire Station, 377 Eastmont Ave, East Wenatchee. Send your article ideas, trip notes or photos to CLASSIFIED ADS Open to members of Ginkgo Mineral Society FOR SALE: Frantom 10 inch Lapidary trim/slab saw Cabochon unit with 2 grinding wheels and a buffing plate. The saw has a gravity feed; just add weight and start cutting. The grinding stones have some life left but need to be dressed. The water system is not included but connections are there for the wheels. I built a cover for the saw and it will be included if you want it. It doesn t look too nice but it is functional. Since we have owned the saw, we have only used high grade mineral oil as a lubricant. It is a very nice running saw. We are asking $250 or OBO for the unit. For more information contact Paul Hampton at The Petrified Digest Valerie Hampton, Editor PO Box 303 Wenatchee WA 98807