A General Meeting Program “Ken Roger and Gemstone Beads...

Apr I l

2 0 16

“Well, I’m a standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona…”

Tony & Sandie Fender somewhere(?) in Arizona

General Meeting Program

“Ken Roger and Gemstone Beads”

Thursday, April 28 at 7:30 PM

The Rockhounder April 2016

Whittier Gem & Mineral Society

Elected Officers and Committee Chairmen

2016-17 Elected Officers

President: .............. Jerry Turner ....... ([email protected]) .................. (562) 696-3222

1st Vice President: ... Frank Winn ........ ([email protected]) .......... (626) 912-0404

2nd Vice President: .. Art Ragazzi ....... ([email protected])

Treasurer: .............. Jay Valle ............ ([email protected]) ................ (626) 934-9764

Secretary: .............. Yvonne Morton . ([email protected]) (562) 895-8667

Federation Director: Tony Fender ....... ([email protected]) .................. (626) 798-3913

Directors: ................ Joe Goetz ........... ([email protected]) ............... (626) 914-5030

................................ Marcia Goetz ..... ([email protected]) ............... (626) 914-5030

................................ Kathy Valle ........ ([email protected]) ............ (626) 934-9764

Appointed Chairmen

Budget/Finance: ........

Bulletin Editor: ......... Jay Valle .................. ([email protected]) ........ (626) 934-9764

Bylaws & Rules ........ Jerry Turner ............. ([email protected]) .......... (562) 696-3222

Claim Secretary: ....... Art Ragazzi ............. ([email protected])

Community ............... Kathleen Turner ....... ([email protected])........... (562) 696-3222

Relations: ......... Jenny Lizarraras ...... ([email protected]) ................ (562) 908-8707

Displays: ...................

Door Prizes: .............. Loretta Ogden .......... .............................................. (909) 598-2456

Field Trips: ................ Joe Goetz ................. ([email protected]) ....... (626) 914-5030

Librarian: ..................

Rockgabbers: ............ Tony Fender ............ ([email protected]) .......... (626) 798-3913

Show Chairman:........ Frank Winn .............. ([email protected]) .. (626) 912-0404

Social Secretary: ....... Kathy Valle ............. ([email protected]) .... (626) 934-9764

Regular Monthly Meetings: 7:30 PM 4th Thursday each month, 3rd Thursday in

November & December. No regular meetings in July & August. See Map on

cover for meeting place.

Board of Directors: To be announced.

Rockgabbers: To be announced. See pages 4 & 5.

Field Trips: Monthly except July & August. See inside bulletin for details.

Annual Dues: Adults – $15.00; Married couple – $25.00, Junior – $5.00

1-time initiation fee - $5.00


ROCKHOUNDER The Prez Sez:

T hose of you who attended the March general meeting know

that Ernie Lizarraras resigned as president of the Whittier

Gem and Mineral Society. In accordance with the WGMS by

Laws, the Board, at a special meeting, appointed me to serve the

remainder of the term as president.

As my first official act I wish to thank Ernie for his service and

pledge to pursue those activities that he set in motion.

We will have a show in October, and I trust that all of you who

have signed up for show positions will continue to actively

pursue those tasks. Ernie’s absence has upset the joint show

chairmanship set up at an earlier meeting. The general consensus

of the Board is that we need an independent Show Chairman to

monitor and coordinate activities. Frank Winn has generously

agreed accept the position. I know that all of you will support

Frank to produce an excellent show.

Enough said for now. I look forward to a successful term as your

president and for the success of the Whittier Gem & Mineral

Society as a whole.

Jerry Turner


WGMS General Meeting

Thursday, April 28, 2016 at 7:30 PM

“Gemstone Beads”

The Changing of Gemstone and Bead Industries:

New Finds, Fakes, Created, Dyed & Enhanced.

By Ken Rogers (Synopsis via LARocks )

J oin us for an evening with Ken Rogers who will speak on the

changes in the gemstone and gemstone bead industry, plus how

they affect jewelers, beaders, lapidary enthusiasts and jewelry buy-

ers. On February 17, 1972 Nixon went to China, opened trade, and

in doing so, woke up the "Sleeping Dragon". While China expanded

its industrial growth it looked to its own natural resources, including

historic and craft industries. China opened and expanded their

mines, including Turquoise and many other gem stones. They re-

trained their craftsmen and developed new, modern, bead and gem

cutting and carving facilities.

As time went on, the Chinese started designing and manufacturing

new

gemstones in their factories. The Chinese went as far as buying up

gem mines in its neighboring countries and territories. Soon, the

Chinese were able to control much of the world’s gem and bead

market. In his illustrated talk, Ken will discuss what has happened

in Asia, where it is going, and how it will affect us, here in the U.S.

Then, Ken will go on to expose and discuss some of the new, dyed,

enhanced and misnamed and factory manufactured gemstones.

Ken Rogers has been recognized as one of the "go to" people when

someone, or firm, had questions about gemstone beads. Ken has

been a rockhound since he was 10, cut his first gemstone cabochon

at age 15, and learned silversmithing and jewelry making in his high

school art class. Ken had a 30 year career as a photojournalist,

working for the world's top magazines and corporations. When the

photographic world converted from film to digital media, Ken re-


WGMS Board Meeting Scheduled Thursday, April 21 at 7:00 PM

at Jay & Kathy Valle’s House

All Members Welcome

For directions, etc.

Call (626) 934-9764

Rockgabbers

R ockgabbers for April was well attended. We made Tony’s

“double infinity” pendant. Everyone came away with the

pendant complete or nearly complete. This was followed by a

wonderful potluck.

Rockgabbers for May has been cancelled, due to the fact that we

will be at Whittier’s Founder’s Day Celebration.

For June, the 4th, we will be making Fold Forming leaves and

other shapes. For this project you will need light weight copper

or aluminum, shears, small anvil or something to hammer on, and

a planishing hammer, torches are optional. FYI we will be

working outdoors for this project as it can be noisy. As usual this

will be followed by a potluck dinner.

Tony and Sandie

turned to the gem and jewelry world to manage a Beverly Hills jew-

elry store and several gem bead companies. Since then Ken has re-

turned to creating his own gem bead jewelry, consulting, lecturing,

and helping friends with their businesses. Ken has been a member of

the Bead Society L.A. for the past 15 years and the Culver City

Rock & Mineral Club for 10 years.

Frank Winn


Mineral of the Month, by Jim Hooper.

(Images provided by Mindat and Wikipedia and are offered

copyright free for educational purposes)

Presents……

‘Hop in, Lets go for a Spinel’, or, ‘Is that you, Ruby?’

N o, it’s not Ruby. Spinel can refer to at least three areas in

mineralogy and gemology. It is a gemstone in its own

right and has the chemical formula MgAl2O4. It’s also used to

name of a group of Oxide family minerals known as the Spinel

Group. The ‘gemmy’ Spinels where elements can be substitut-

ed within the same atomic structure produce a variety of colors

and characteristics. The chemical formula points to a Magnesium-Aluminum

oxide mineral. And thirdly its given its name to a crystal forming process

called ‘twinning’ under the rigid guidance of the Spinel Law.

Spinel has a hardness factor of 7.5 – 8 making it a highly facetable gemstone

possessing global prestige in the jewelry world. When found in crystal form it

can be of various colors depending on the elements mixed in. It may be

colorless, but is more often shades of red, blue, green, yellow, brown or black.

The highly sought after red Spinel has often been confused with Ruby and

sometimes shares a Ruby producing locality such as India and Myanmar

(Burma). Spinel crystallizes in the isometric system. Common crystal forms

are cubic and octahedral, usually twinned (it’s the law!). It has an imperfect

octahedral cleavage and fractures are conchoidal. Diaphaneity ranges from

translucent to transparent.

Spinel is found as a metamorphic mineral, and also as a primary mineral in

igneous rocks. In these igneous rocks, if the magma was relatively deficient in

alkalis compared to Aluminum, Aluminum oxide may form as the mineral

Corundum (Sapphire and Rubies) or may combine with Magnesia to form

Spinel. As such Spinel and Ruby are often found together.

Spinel has been used in jewelry for ages. Red natural spinel has actually

become more rare than rubies. And Spinel can also be produced in labs. The

synthetic Spinel is often used in inexpensive birthstone rings and for fortifying

or strengthening glass. Strong enough to be used as anti-ballistic glass in

armored vehicles. That’s pretty strong. While I didn’t locate specific

references to Spinel finds in Maryland, a number of minerals included in the

Spinel group have been found including Gahnite, Magnetite, and Chromite all

at the Mineral Hill Mine in Carroll County and the Chromite mine areas of


Soldiers Delight in Baltimore County.

Spinel crystals can be large. The Samarian Spinel is a 500-carat (100 g) Spinel

gemstone that is the largest of its kind in the world. It is part of the Iranian

Crown Jewels. It and a smaller 270-carat (54 g) Spinel were captured by the

Persian King Nader Shah during his 18th-century conquest of India. The

smaller of the two Spinel bears a 350-year-old inscription attributing its

ownership to Jehangir, a Mughal Emperor of India.

In this Portrait for the Coronation of Queen

Victoria by George Hayter (detail), wearing the

new Imperial State Crown show’s the ‘Black

Prince’s Ruby’ at the front. The ‘Black Prince’s

Ruby’ is actually a faceted Spinel weighing roughly

170 carats or 34 grams, and approximately the size

of a chicken egg. It is currently set above the 317

Carats or 63.480 gram Cullinan II Diamond in the

front of the Imperial State Crown. The ‘Black

Prince’s Ruby’ is one of the oldest of the Crown

Jewels of the United Kingdom. The history of the

gem dates back to the middle of the 14th century

and has been in the possession of the rulers of England since 1367 when first

given to its namesake, Edward of Woodstock (the “Black Prince”).

Occurrence

Spinel is found in Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Myanmar, and recently Vietnam.

Other locations include Tanzania, Kenya and Madagascar, Afghanistan,

Pakistan, Brazil, Australia, Turkey, Russia, Sweden, Italy, and the U.S.

Do you have any examples of this bold deceiver? If so please bring them to the

January meeting that we might see them and ooh and ahh over this very

beautiful gemstone celebrated the world over. See you there!

References:

<www.mindat.org>

<www.wikipedia.org>

Rock and Gem – Bonewitz, Ronald Lewis, DK Books

Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals – National Audubon Society, Chesterman,

Charles W. Chanticleer Press

The Gem Kingdom – Desautels, Paul E., Ridge Press

Gems, Crystals, & Minerals – Sofianides, A.S., Harlow,

George E., Simon and Schuster

Chippers’ Chatter 1/16


Multi-Club Field Trip

to the Santa Monica Mountains

for agates and fossils.

April 23, 2016

Meeting Place: 9 AM at the SW corner of Kanan and

Agoura Roads, Agoura

(Hwy 101, Kanan exit).

Car-pooling is strongly encouraged

due to limited parking at some sites.

Trip leaders: Jason Badgley, [email protected],

818-388-3220

& Andrew Hoekstra, ajhoeks-

[email protected], 562-584-3190.

If there is sufficient interest, Andrew Hoekstra may lead a

fossil collecting trip to Woodland Hills Sunday April 17th so

that

participants can continue that day to the Conejo show to at-

tend a 2 PM fossil program for juniors: Juniors can earn a

AFMS fossil patch by attending the talk “Fun with fossils”

presented by Mike Havstad - the hands-on session is open to

the public with no advance registration required. If a

participating kid is a member of a CFMS-affiliated club,

they will earn the AFMS/FRA Fossils Badge upon

completing the session. For further details, contact Mike at

[email protected].

If interested in collecting fossils on April 17th instead of on

April 23rd, please contact Andrew Hoekstra


Tony & Sandie Fender somewhere in Arizona...

“I ’m a standing on a

corner in Winslow,

Arizona…”

“...flat bed Ford...

If you zoom in on the buildings you will realize you are looking at the

OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona. Though Doc Holiday was

nowhere to be seen, his place is just down the street (not shown).


Its a Fossil - Its a Mineral - Its Ammolite!

By Shannon Phillips

A mmolite is my current obsession. I first

learned about it less than a year ago and

since then, I have been fascinated with the

gorgeous iridescence and the textured surface

of this fossil turned gemstone.

Although ammolite is classified as a mineral by

the province of Alberta to prevent export

complications, it is not a mineral. It belongs to

a family of materials called mineraloids,

naturally formed or transformed substances that

resemble minerals, but lack crystal structure. Some of the world’s most

beautiful and prized gems, including opal, amber, jet, pearl, obsidian and, of

course, ammolite, fall into this category. Each has an interesting story, but let’s

focus on the lively colors and unusual origins of ammolite. Ammolite was

welcomed into the gemstone family in 1981 by the World Jewelery

Confederation and is one of only three stones given this designation in the past

50 years.

Commercial mining of ammolite began in Canada that same year and

continues to this day. Ammolite was formed in marine shale on the eastern side

of the Rocky Mountains. As ammonites inhabiting the shallow sea that covered

the region died, their shells settled at the bottom of the seaway where they

were covered with sediment, mostly layers of ash from the volcanic activity in

the area. The primary distinction between these ammonite shells and others

found worldwide is that the iridescent surface of the preserved Canadian

varieties is thick enough to be cut and polished.

While iridescent ammonite shells can be found at multiple locales, the

fossilized shell commercially mined and marketed as ammolite is restricted to

Calgary, Alberta, Canada. In this location and only a handful of others on a

smaller scale, the ammonite shells were sealed in mineralrich sediment, which

prevented the outer layer (nacre) of the ammonite shell, composed primarily of

aragonite, from converting to calcite. Gem quality ammolite is found in two

stratigraphic zones, one thirty meters deep and the other 65 meters deep, which

makes pit mining the most viable largescale mining method. One company,

Korite, produces most of the ammolite on the market (around 90%). A handful

of other claims exist in the area and are worked on a small scale. There are no

commercial occurrences outside of Alberta.


Ammolite’s value is based on several factors. One is its iridescence, which is

caused by the diffraction of light from tightly packed plates of aragonite

crystals. This diffraction means that every color of the spectrum is possible in

ammolite, although the most common colors are red, green, and, to a lesser

extent, gold. The most desirable pieces have vibrant colors that display

changing colors as the angle of light changes. Chromatic shift and rotational

range are the other two factors when considering the quality of a piece.

Chromatic shift is the change from one color to another depending on the angle

of light and the viewer’s position. Dramatic changes of color are the most

desirable. Rotational range indicates that strong colors can be seen throughout

a 360 degree range of motion, which is not the case with many pieces of

ammolite.

The nacreous layer is so thin, usually between .5 and .8 mm, ammolite is often

sold as a doublet, attached to a backing of shale, or as a triplet with a backing

and a dome of quartz or synthetic spinel. The material is so fragile that in all

but the most remarkable pieces, it must be stabilized with epoxy resin or

another treatment in order to be worked.

The gem is especially popular in Japan and with tourists to the Alberta

province.

Ammolite is fossil, mineral, and gemstone all in one which makes it special, a

rare natural occurrence. With its range of rainbow colors and spectacular

patterning, ammolite makes an interesting collector specimen and an alluring

set stone. While it is widely available now, the supply won’t last forever,

which, for me, is as good a reason as any to stock up on as much ammolite as I

can.

Sources:

Dryden, T., & Brown, L. A. (n.d.). Ammolite Value, Price, and Jewelry

Information. Retrieved February 29, 2016, from https://www.gemsociety.org/

article/ammolitesjewelry- and-gemstone-information/

King, H. (n.d.). Ammolite: The Gemstone with Spectacular Color Properties.

Retrieved February 28, 2016, from http://geology.com/stories/13/ammolite/

Mychaluk, K. A., Levinson, A. A., & Hall, R. L. (spring 2001). Ammolite:

Iridescent Fossilized Ammonite from Southern Alberta, Canada. Gems &

Gemology, 4-25.

Via Crack ‘N Cab 3/16

https://www.gemsociety.org/article/ammolitesjewelry-%20and-gemstone-information/

https://www.gemsociety.org/article/ammolitesjewelry-%20and-gemstone-information/


What is Turquoise?

By Bea Dietz

T he most simple’s way to explain would be…volcanos erupted,

mountains collapsed and wind, rain and air pulverized rocks to make

dust. That dust settled in protected areas and created layers. Rain washed iron

or cop-per particles over the dust and infused the dust with metals. These

layers became Turquoise.

Is Turquoise really a rock? To me it is. The reality is that Turquoise is very

soft when in the ground and breaks very easy during a mining process To

mine very large pieces is a dream and does not happen very often. The largest

piece ever mined weight 180 pounds, the largest piece I ever saw weight 5.5

pound.

The color of Turquoise depends on the metal content of the host rock and the

surrounding rock. Generally speaking, the higher the amount of cooper in the

host rock the bluer the Turquoise. As more iron is in the host rock, the

greener the Turquoise. The colors can be deep sea blue known as “Persian

Blue” found in Iran or the lighter blue like “Baby Blue” from Turkey. The

USA produces a light blue Turquoise in Arizona out of the “Sleeping Beauty

Mine” and we also have the “Fox Mine” in Nevada with a black Matrix and

“Bad Boys of Cripple Creek” with a green Turquoise and it is the hardest

Turquoise in the USA. It measures 6.7 to 7.7 on the Moh’s scale.

How can you tell where the Turquoise is mined from? The matrix will tell

you. The fine lines or deposits in the Turquoise will tell you.

Coarse black lines .................... China, Africa.

Finer black lines ...................... Colorado, Nevada, South America.

Brown Lines or brown mass .... Nevada, Colorado.

White or silver lines ................ Iran, Turkey ( Silver Lace).

“White Lace” is very rare in Colorado, but it has been found.

China has a bad reputation in the Turquoise world.

When shopping for Turquoise you will have different price brackets to shop

from. Untreated, natural Tur-quoise is the most expensive Turquoise. Only

10% of all jewelry is made with untreated Turquoise. Enhanced Turquoise is

infused with liquid quartz. Stabilized Turquoise is covered with epoxy, heated

with high tempera-tures and covered with wax. Reconstructed Turquoise is

pulverized and mixed with other stones, than made into a paste. Heated and

dyed into the color of Turquoise and sold as the real thing.

Via Canaveral Moonstone 1/16


Is it Hard or Tough?

T he terms “hardness” and “toughness” are sometimes confused when

comparing qualities of gemstones, and there is a great deal of difference.

Diamond is by far and away the hardest, for it will scratch, cut, or polish any

other stone.

But for toughness (resistance to chipping and breaking), jade has it beat by a

country mile. A diamond will easily cut and scratch jade, but a jade hammer

can crush diamond to powder. The cross-matted structure of jade makes it

almost impossible to break. Never fear if you accidentally drop a solid jade

cabochon on cement. If it breaks, better check it, it’s probably not jade. The

Chinese used jade as an anvil just as we use steel; sometimes the same anvil

was used for several generations. Jade, used for axes and hammer-like tools

centuries ago, was a practical, useful, and highly valued material.

From Mineral Mite, 6/00; via The Conglomerate 10/15, via The Backbender’s

Gazette 1/16

Turritella Agate - The Name Is False!

T urritella agate is found in Sweetwater County, Wyoming and around

Superior and Wamsutter, Wyoming, too.

The little snail that inhabited the shell lived in the Eocene about 40 million

years ago. These fossils were not laid down in a sea, but in a fresh-water lake.

The shell is highly silicified, more so than the brown matrix from which they

can be etched. Whoever named this agate only knew that the sea snail

Turritella had a high spiral shell. He jumped right in with this name without

bothering to check the species out. The name has stuck, causing many people

to be misled. These fossils are not even in the Turritella family; the true name

is Oxyterma genera. A few years ago, this species was known as Goniobasis

genera, but further research caused the additional name change. You better

check your collection right now and perhaps bring your identification

up-to-date with the correct name on the beautiful little gastropod.

From Gem Cutters News 2/2003, via Rock Buster News 11/2014, via Rock

Collector 5/2015, via Stoney Statements 5/2015, via Gritty Greetings 6/2015,

via The Backbender’s Gazette 1/16


Upcoming CFMS Gem Shows

Apr 8-10 VISTA, CA. Vista Gem & Mineral Society

Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum

2040 North Santa Fe Avenue

Hours: 9 - 5 daily

Apr 16-17 THOUSAND OAKS, CA. Conejo Gem & Mineral Club

Borchard Park Community Center

190 Reino Road at Borchard Road

Hours: 10 - 5 daily

Website: www.cgamc.org

Apr 23-24 ESCONDIDO, CA. Palomar Gem & Mineral Club

California Center for the Arts, 340 N. Escondido Blvd.

Hours: Sat 10 - 5; Sun 10 - 4

Website: www.palomargem.org

Apr 23-24 PASO ROBLES, CA. Santa Lucia Rock Hounds

Paso Robles Event Center, 2198 Riverside Ave.

Hours: Sat 10 - 5; Sun 10 – 4

Website: www.slrockhounds.org

May 7-8 ANAHEIM, CA. Searchers Gem & Mineral Society

Brookhurst Community Center, 2271 W. Crescent Avenue

Hours: Sat 10 - 5; Sun 10 - 4:30

Website: www.searchersrocks.org

May 13-15 YUCAIPA, CA. Yucaipa Valley Gem & Mineral Society

Yucaipa Music & Arts Festival, Adams St. & Yucaipa Blvd

Hours: Fri 6 - 9; Sat 11 - 10, Sun. 12 - 6

Website: www.yvgms.org

Jun 3-5 LA HABRA, CA. North Orange County Gem & Mineral Soc

La Habra Community Center, 101 W. La Habra Blvd.

Hours: Fri 5 - 8; Sat 10 - 6; Sun 10 - 5

Website: www.nocgms.com

Jun 4-5 GLENDORA, CA. Glendora Gems & Mineral Society

Goddard Middle School, 859 E. Sierra Madre Avenue

Hours: Sat. 10 - 5; Sun 10 - 4

http://www.cgamc.org/

http://www.palomargem.org/

http://www.slrockhounds.org/

http://www.searchersrocks.org/

http://www.yvgms.org/

http://www.cfmsinc.org/www.nocgms.com


Editor: Jay Valle, 1421 Latchford Avenue, Hacienda Heights, CA 91745

Home: (626) 934-9764; E-Mail: [email protected]

Bulletin exchanges: are welcome and requests should be sent to the editor.

WGMS MEETING LOCATION!

Whittier Community Center

7630 Washington Ave. Whittier

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Meeting Date: April 28, 2016

Location: Whittier Community Center

(See page 4 for information)

A General Meeting Program “Ken Roger and Gemstone Beads...

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Transcript of A General Meeting Program “Ken Roger and Gemstone Beads...