Friends of Mineralogy, Colorado Chapter

Newsletter – January 2012

Next meeting January 12th, 2012 at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO

[Enter the museum via the staff/security entrance, to the left of the main entrance doors on the north side of the museum. Security staff will direct you to the V.I.P. Room, which is to the left, past the T-Rex Cafeteria area.]

(Board meeting 6:30-7:30)

Colorado Meteorites, and the Oct. 5, 2004 Berthoud Meteorite Fred Olsen

Fred, long a meteorite expert, will speak about the Berthoud meteorite, a eucrite meteorite believed to be a piece of the asteroid Vesta that fell and was collected on October 5, 2004. The Colorado School of Mines now possesses and has on display a 50-gram slice of the Berthoud meteorite, but the opportunity still exists (only until the end of January) if funds could be raised--$45,000 is needed—for some Colorado institution to purchase the remaining main mass, 247 grams, of the original 960-gram meteorite. Fred will give a presentation about Colorado meteorites in general, and the Berthoud meteorite in particular.

2011 FMCC Board of Directors: 2011 Chairpersons:

President, Pete Modreski , 303-202-4766 Vice-President, Jim Hurlbut, 303-757-0283 Treasurer, Lou Conti, 303-797-3205 Secretary, Alan Keimig, alan.keimig@gmail.com Co Secretary, Norma Keimig 303-755-9604 Director, Bill Chirnside (2012), 303-989-8748 Director, Larry Havens (2011), 303-757-6577 Director, Don Bray (2011), 303-681-3646

Membership/Hospitality Preservation, Jeff Self and Donna Ware Program, Pete Modreski, 303-202-4766 Editor, Bill Hutchinson, 303-452-9009 Liaison for DMNS, Alan Keimig 303-755-9604

Museum Musings Colorado School of Mines (CSM) Geology Museum Musings

Activity in our Geology Museum continues at a rapid pace. My fourth year at the helm of the Museum has seen great challenges and rewards. I’m proud to announce that we are now the second most visited university geology museum in the U.S. and the first with a lunar rock displayed. This took a lot of help from our Advisory Council, Student Aids, staff, Friends of the CSM Geology Museum (FCSMGM), donors, volunteers, specimen loaners, visitors, visiting researchers, CSM faculty, staff, administrators, and students who support us in so many ways. Here is the year in review. Our Advisory Council has met monthly. They ratified a Research Sampling Request Form, hosted a reception for the Empress of China rhodochrosite specimen last July, and oversaw improvements in our security and insurance. Continuing projects include improving our database and revising our collections protocols. I have met monthly with our twelve Student Aids to streamline our operation. Seven Aids are currently geology majors, and five are women! I’ve written several graduate school recommendation letters this past year for those who have graduated from our program. I held weekly meetings with our Collections managers and volunteers. These are the folks who maintain our collection, prepare new displays, and keep our Gift Shop well stocked. Our volunteer ranks have now risen to roughly 51. Our facebook fans number 478. Attendance in 2010 (the last year we have data for) was up 19% and Gift Shop revenues increased 10% in 2011, despite the national recession. These were possibly related to the reprinting and distributing of 10,000 museum brochures. We are grateful to have received grants from the Mining and Metallurgical Society of America, the Golden Civic Foundation, + the Greater Denver Area Gem and Mineral Council. Our “Friends of the CSM Geology Museum” now has over 84 members from around the world. The Friends ratified their by-laws, filed for non-profit status with the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office, and were mentioned in a note in Rocks and Minerals Magazine. The Friends ran a very popular field trip to Florissant to do some fossil viewing and collecting. In November, the Friends ran a field trip to the Questa molybdenum mine near Taos, NM. They are planning a trip to the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto next March. Friends members receive 20% discounts in our Gift Shop, and an e-mail newsletter. An application form can be found at: http://issuu.com/csmgeologymuseum/docs/friends_app. Some other tasks that I was involved with since my last communication included serving on an undergraduate honors committee at CU, processing numerous donations and loans, identifying many specimens, co-sponsoring a Russian Minerals Symposium on campus that was attended by 54 participants in September, having our XRF unit repaired, returned, and re-certified; speaking to CU alumnae in Vail about CO mining history, and having one of our specimens featured on the cover of a new mineralogy textbook. Our Annual Open House last September was an overwhelming success. Over 270 guests enjoyed our refreshments, music from the CSM string quartet, and our eleven new exhibits. We are innovatively using LED lighting and a digital photo frame for the first time. The eleven exhibits include: Ethiopian opals from the Tel Yohannes collection, Russian specimens from the Martin Zinn collection, Tsumeb specimens from the Eugene Wilson collection of Sandra Gonzales and Mark Danuser, Stalactites from the Henry and Patsy Schmidt collection, Micromounts from the Lazard Cahn, Dorothy Atlee, and Arnold Hampson collections; Silver specimens from the Cobalt, Ontario area from the Dr. Ed Metz collection, Mexican specimens from the Kerith Graeber collection, Colorado rare-earth minerals on loan from numerous private collections, and Julia Fisk Mine (Leadville) specimens form the Bill Hayward collection. Also, we have a new Apollo 15 Moon Rock on display, as well as meteorites believed to be from the asteroid Vesta. Another new feature is a sealed bid auction. Our Collections Managers have selected 13 high-end specimens that we are offering for sale through April, 2012 in a sealed-bid auction that is displayed in our basement. We invite dealers, museum curators, and collectors of all kinds to bid on these fine specimens.

Our geology trail was formally dedicated as the Robert Weimer Geology Trail at a special ceremony 10/1. Bob was instrumental in having Stop #2 of our Geology Trail designated as a National Natural Landmark by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. We now have several hundred Geology Trail Guidebooks, available for $3 each, in our Museum Gift Shop. As for coming attractions, we hope to have our fifth Museum Book Sale combined with our next Garage Sale February 20-24th, 2012. Prices will decrease throughout the week. We gladly accept your book, journal, and specimen donations. We also welcome your participation in our sealed bid auction through April 20, 2012. Our Annual Open House is scheduled for September 12, 2012 from 6 to 9 P.M. In conclusion, I encourage your club to schedule a private visit at the CSM Museum. Simply pick three nights or weekends that your club would like to visit the Museum and have a club representative contact me at 303-273-3823. I’ll try my best to accommodate your club at one of those times. You’re also welcome to visit on your own during our normal hours: Monday – Saturday 9 A.M. to 4 P.M., Sundays 1 P.M. – 4 P.M., except for certain legal and school holidays. Admission to our Museum is free (donations are greatly appreciated), but parking fees are required in our lots and on campus streets Mondays through Fridays before 5 P.M. Further information is available on our website, or by phone.

From the EDITOR

On November 22, Bruce Geller, Jack Sliemers, Bob Jordan, Morgan Sonthagen and myself, responded to a request from Whitey Hagadorn at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science to help identify the minerals that were used to make the Konovalenkos sculptures. The carvings, gold prospectors, musicians, sauna and ice bathers and other characters inhabit the world of master carver and Russian expatriate Vasily Konovalenko. The intricately detailed carvings, capturing scenes from Russian folklife, are composed from an extensive palette of colorful gemstone materials. The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is home to the largest collection of these gem carvings outside of Moscow. Sixteen of Konovalenko’s sculptures are on exhibit at the Museum. It is the only such public collection and display in the Americas.

We were invited to the Museum while the exhibit was off limits to the public due to construction in that area. We were allowed access to the sculptures free from their protective vaults. During acquisition of the artwork a rough list was made of the materials used in the sculptures. The list of minerals was sometimes obviously incorrect as well as incomplete and we were asked to try and alleviate the inconsistencies and errors. We poured over the art with our hand lenses and flashlights trying to identify each mineral, gem or rock type that was had been used on his carvings. During this wondrous time we found acanthite crystals growing on the silver wire that was on some of the sculptures that had an ore base with sufficient sulfur to allow such growth to occur. Many of the mineral names we encountered on the original list were local Russian terms for different cryptocrystalline quartz. One specific type of carving material we encountered was called Beloretsk (belorechite) which was identified as a flesh colored quartzite from the Belaya River, Altay mountains near Zmeinogorsk town, Russia. Another strange name that was used was cachalong which was a term for opal. We spent two or three hours pouring over these wonderful sculptures and marveling at the artists ability to gracefully blend rocks and minerals into such fine works of art. As we examined the statues we encountered malachite, sugalite, rhodochrosite, lapis, sodalite, jade, aventurine, ruby, a myriad of agate, jasper and other cryptocrystalline quartz and the list goes on and on...

We worked as teams, Bruce and myself as one team, Jack and Morgan as another and Jordan as an independant and we recorded our findings. This gave him three sets a identifications from which to choose and compare.

After all was said and done Whitey took the three separate observations and compared each to the others to get a consensus of the visual identifications.

It was an honor to enjoy such a close proximity to such fine art.

Left: Experts Bill Hutchinson and Bruce Geller examining a growth of acanthite (acanthite is the low-temperature modification of silver sulphide) on the silver strings of the musical instrument.

Right: Bruce Geller showing Whitey Hagadorn, DMNS, the crystal growth.

Left: Bruce Geller, Bill Hutchinson and Bob Jordan

Right: Experts identifying gems and minerals of the Konovalenko sculptures. L-R: Jack Sliemers; Morgan Sonsthagen.

Expert Bob Jordan examining the art.

MINERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Symposium & Guest Speaker ScheduleSymposium & Guest Speaker ScheduleSymposium & Guest Speaker ScheduleSymposium & Guest Speaker Schedule CB: Crystal Ballroom

TB: Turquoise Ballroom

“MINERALS OF ARIZONA” “MINERALS OF ARIZONA” “MINERALS OF ARIZONA” “MINERALS OF ARIZONA” Thursday, February 9Thursday, February 9Thursday, February 9Thursday, February 9th th th th

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm (TB) Mineral Photography Seminar (TB) Mineral Photography Seminar (TB) Mineral Photography Seminar (TB) Mineral Photography Seminar Jeff Scovil Jeff Scovil Jeff Scovil Jeff Scovil 3:30 pm - 4:00 pm (CB) Society of Mineral Museum Professionals Board Meeting (CB) Society of Mineral Museum Professionals Board Meeting (CB) Society of Mineral Museum Professionals Board Meeting (CB) Society of Mineral Museum Professionals Board Meeting 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm (CB) Society of Mineral Museum Professionals Membership Meeting (CB) Society of Mineral Museum Professionals Membership Meeting (CB) Society of Mineral Museum Professionals Membership Meeting (CB) Society of Mineral Museum Professionals Membership Meeting 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm (CB) Society of Mineral Museum Professionals Program (CB) Society of Mineral Museum Professionals Program (CB) Society of Mineral Museum Professionals Program (CB) Society of Mineral Museum Professionals Program Workshop on: “To Gift oWorkshop on: “To Gift oWorkshop on: “To Gift oWorkshop on: “To Gift or Not to Gift to Museums” r Not to Gift to Museums” r Not to Gift to Museums” r Not to Gift to Museums” Friday, February 10Friday, February 10Friday, February 10Friday, February 10th th th th

9:30 am - 6:00 pm (TB) Arthur Roe Memorial Micromount Symposium (TB) Arthur Roe Memorial Micromount Symposium (TB) Arthur Roe Memorial Micromount Symposium (TB) Arthur Roe Memorial Micromount Symposium 9:30 am - 10:00 am (TB) Welcome and Scope Setup (TB) Welcome and Scope Setup (TB) Welcome and Scope Setup (TB) Welcome and Scope Setup 10:00 am - 11:30 am (TB) First Session Symposium Talks: (TB) First Session Symposium Talks: (TB) First Session Symposium Talks: (TB) First Session Symposium Talks: 10:00 am - 10:45 am “Collapse Brecc“Collapse Brecc“Collapse Brecc“Collapse Breccia Pipes ia Pipes ia Pipes ia Pipes –––– A Unique Copper Mineral Occurrence in Arizona, USA” A Unique Copper Mineral Occurrence in Arizona, USA” A Unique Copper Mineral Occurrence in Arizona, USA” A Unique Copper Mineral Occurrence in Arizona, USA” Ray Grant Ray Grant Ray Grant Ray Grant 10:45 am - 11:30 am “The Micro Minerals of Tiger, Arizona” “The Micro Minerals of Tiger, Arizona” “The Micro Minerals of Tiger, Arizona” “The Micro Minerals of Tiger, Arizona” Robert O. (Bob) Meyer Robert O. (Bob) Meyer Robert O. (Bob) Meyer Robert O. (Bob) Meyer

11:30 am - 12:15 pm “Bill Hunt's Arizona Micromount Treasures” “Bill Hunt's Arizona Micromount Treasures” “Bill Hunt's Arizona Micromount Treasures” “Bill Hunt's Arizona Micromount Treasures” Harvey Jong Harvey Jong Harvey Jong Harvey Jong 12:15 pm - 6:00 pm (T(T(T(TB) “Freebie” Tables, Socializing, Specimen Trading Session B) “Freebie” Tables, Socializing, Specimen Trading Session B) “Freebie” Tables, Socializing, Specimen Trading Session B) “Freebie” Tables, Socializing, Specimen Trading Session 11:00 am - Noon (CB) “Collecting at the Old Yuma Mine” (CB) “Collecting at the Old Yuma Mine” (CB) “Collecting at the Old Yuma Mine” (CB) “Collecting at the Old Yuma Mine” John Cesar John Cesar John Cesar John Cesar & Eugene Edward "Gene" Schlepp Eugene Edward "Gene" Schlepp Eugene Edward "Gene" Schlepp Eugene Edward "Gene" Schlepp 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm (CB) "The Ben Williams collection (CB) "The Ben Williams collection (CB) "The Ben Williams collection (CB) "The Ben Williams collection ---- a Lost Trove of Minerals from Bisbee" a Lost Trove of Minerals from Bisbee" a Lost Trove of Minerals from Bisbee" a Lost Trove of Minerals from Bisbee" EvanEvanEvanEvan Jones Jones Jones Jones 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm (CB) “The Mines and Minerals of the Globe(CB) “The Mines and Minerals of the Globe(CB) “The Mines and Minerals of the Globe(CB) “The Mines and Minerals of the Globe----Miami District” Miami District” Miami District” Miami District” Les Presymk Les Presymk Les Presymk Les Presymk 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm (CB) “Mineral Photography in Three Dimension” (CB) “Mineral Photography in Three Dimension” (CB) “Mineral Photography in Three Dimension” (CB) “Mineral Photography in Three Dimension” Harvey Jong Harvey Jong Harvey Jong Harvey Jong 3:45 pm - 6:00 pm (CB) Geo(CB) Geo(CB) Geo(CB) Geo----Literary Society Meeting & Speakers Literary Society Meeting & Speakers Literary Society Meeting & Speakers Literary Society Meeting & Speakers “Collecting Ariz“Collecting Ariz“Collecting Ariz“Collecting Arizona ona ona ona –––– A History of Mineral Collecting in Arizona” A History of Mineral Collecting in Arizona” A History of Mineral Collecting in Arizona” A History of Mineral Collecting in Arizona” Les Presymk Les Presymk Les Presymk Les Presymk Saturday, February 11Saturday, February 11Saturday, February 11Saturday, February 11th th th th

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm (TB) “Bisbee Mines and Minerals” (TB) “Bisbee Mines and Minerals” (TB) “Bisbee Mines and Minerals” (TB) “Bisbee Mines and Minerals” Richard (Dick) Graeme Richard (Dick) Graeme Richard (Dick) Graeme Richard (Dick) Graeme 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (CB) 33(CB) 33(CB) 33(CB) 33st st st st Annual FMAnnual FMAnnual FMAnnual FM----TGMSTGMSTGMSTGMS----MSA Mineralogical Symposium MSA Mineralogical Symposium MSA Mineralogical Symposium MSA Mineralogical Symposium “Minerals of Arizon“Minerals of Arizon“Minerals of Arizon“Minerals of Arizona” a” a” a” 10:00 am – 10:10 am. Introductory Remarks Introductory Remarks Introductory Remarks Introductory Remarks Symposium CoSymposium CoSymposium CoSymposium Co----Chairs: Julian C. Gray and Raymond Grant Chairs: Julian C. Gray and Raymond Grant Chairs: Julian C. Gray and Raymond Grant Chairs: Julian C. Gray and Raymond Grant 10:10 am – 10:30 am “The Mineralogy of Arizona: Past, Present, and Future” “The Mineralogy of Arizona: Past, Present, and Future” “The Mineralogy of Arizona: Past, Present, and Future” “The Mineralogy of Arizona: Past, Present, and Future” Marcus Origlieri and Raymond Grant Marcus Origlieri and Raymond Grant Marcus Origlieri and Raymond Grant Marcus Origlieri and Raymond Grant 10:30 am – 11:00 am “History and DevelopmeHistory and DevelopmeHistory and DevelopmeHistory and Development of Mining in Arizona before Statehood (1912)” nt of Mining in Arizona before Statehood (1912)” nt of Mining in Arizona before Statehood (1912)” nt of Mining in Arizona before Statehood (1912)” Jim McGlasson Jim McGlasson Jim McGlasson Jim McGlasson 11:00 am – 11:30 am “How Minerals from Bisbee helped Arizona gain Statehood” “How Minerals from Bisbee helped Arizona gain Statehood” “How Minerals from Bisbee helped Arizona gain Statehood” “How Minerals from Bisbee helped Arizona gain Statehood” Richard Graeme Richard Graeme Richard Graeme Richard Graeme 11:30 am - 12:00 noon “Gemstones of Arizona” Gemstones of Arizona” Gemstones of Arizona” Gemstones of Arizona” Wolfgang Mueller Wolfgang Mueller Wolfgang Mueller Wolfgang Mueller 12:00 noon - 1:30 pm LUNCH BREAK LUNCH BREAK LUNCH BREAK LUNCH BREAK 1:30 pm - 2:00 pm “Mines and Minerals of the Amole District, Tucson Mountains, Pima County, Arizona” “Mines and Minerals of the Amole District, Tucson Mountains, Pima County, Arizona” “Mines and Minerals of the Amole District, Tucson Mountains, Pima County, Arizona” “Mines and Minerals of the Amole District, Tucson Mountains, Pima County, Arizona” Anna Domitrovic Anna Domitrovic Anna Domitrovic Anna Domitrovic 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm “Tombstone … The Town too Tough to Die … Shady Ladies, Shootouts and Tellurium “Tombstone … The Town too Tough to Die … Shady Ladies, Shootouts and Tellurium “Tombstone … The Town too Tough to Die … Shady Ladies, Shootouts and Tellurium “Tombstone … The Town too Tough to Die … Shady Ladies, Shootouts and Tellurium Minerals” Minerals” Minerals” Minerals” Peter Megaw Peter Megaw Peter Megaw Peter Megaw 2:30 pm - 3:00 pm “150 years of mining, 100 years of Statehood, 50 years collecting” Les Presmyk “150 years of mining, 100 years of Statehood, 50 years collecting” Les Presmyk “150 years of mining, 100 years of Statehood, 50 years collecting” Les Presmyk “150 years of mining, 100 years of Statehood, 50 years collecting” Les Presmyk 3:30 pm - 4:00 pm “Arizona Gold” “Arizona Gold” “Arizona Gold” “Arizona Gold” Erik MelchiorreErik MelchiorreErik MelchiorreErik Melchiorre

Coming Earth Science Events, Jan 2012

DGMG Jewelry Gem & Mineral Show February 24-25-26, 2012 Friday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Jefferson County Fairgrounds 15200 W. 6th Ave. Golden CO

February 28 The Little Creatures of Snowmass Learn about the little creatures that lived along with the mammoths and mastodons at the Ice Age site near Snowmass Village. Richard Stucky, curator of paleoecology and evolution at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science will introduce you to the chipmunks, voles, salamanders, shrews and other small creatures discovered to date. 7 p.m., Ricketson Auditorium, Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

Membership in FMCC and National FM is $13 for 2012. Next meeting March 8th. Payment by check can be sent to our Treasurer or any Board member. Your newsletter editor encourages all FMCC members to send your email address so that you will receive

the newsletter electronically. The email version of the newsletter is in color; the paper version will have

none. Please send your email address to Editor Bill Hutchinson at wmhutchi5@q.com. Also if you only

want a paper newsletter but are presently receiving an email newsletter, please let your editor know.

Friends of Mineralogy–Colorado Chapter

P.O. Box 5276

Golden, CO 80401-5276