Rockhound ramblings

NOVEMBER, 2014 THE NEWSLETTER OF THE PASADENA LAPIDARY SOCIETY - PASADENA, CALIFORNIA

INSIDE THIS

ISSUE

President’s

Message

2

Club News, Contact

& Club Information

2

Ed’s Corner

Workshop

Current Club News

Current Club Events

3

Feature Article Topaz

Let The Buyer Beware

4

Recent Events

5

Field Trip

Editor’s Quiz

Federation Report

6

Tips, Shows

Field Trip Report

Member-to-Member

7

Calendar 8

As Ed Imlay, our Education Chair, informs us in his column on page 3 - Topaz is the birthstone mineral of the month of November. This beautiful mineral comes in a number of attractive colors and presentations - as we see in this cover photo of Topaz on Rhyolite from Hacienda Rivera near Hidalgo, Durango, Mexico by John H. Betts of John Betts Fine Minerals . See more about Topaz on page 4.

(Continued on page 4)

Program Meetings: 6:45 - 8:45 PM on the third Tuesday of each month at the Pasadena Central Library at 285 E. Walnut Street. Guests are welcome! Field Trips are scheduled each month. Refer to the bulletin and website for date, location and info. Workshop: The use of the club’s equipment is available to members from 9am to 5pm on the 2nd Sun-day of each month in our shop at 123 E. Montecito Ave., Sierra Madre. There are two sessions - from 9am to 1pm and 1pm to 5pm. Equipment proficiency is required and instruction is free. Fees are $3 per session or $5 for a full day. Bring lunch!

Membership per calendar year is $20, $15 for a second adult member in the same house. Junior members and the third or more members at the same house are $10. Initiation fee is $2.00 per person and membership badges are $7.50. Renewals are due by the October General Meeting and delin-quent after December 31st. Mail checks for membership to P.O. Box 5025, Pasadena CA 91117-0025. Website: pasadenalapidarysociety.org Email: pasadenalapidary@aol.com Board Meetings: 7:15 PM on the sec-ond Tuesday of the month at the Ply-mouth Campus of the Monrovia Adult School. Map and directions are on the website. All members are welcome to attend!

Safety: Liability waivers, eye protection, closed-toe-flat-heel shoes and machinery safe-practices are mandatory for all participants. Work-shops and field trips are for adult members and juniors with adult supervision.

Membership Information and Meeting Locations

FAIR USE NOTICE. This

publication may contain copyrighted

material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the

copyright owner.

We are making such material

available in our efforts to advance

the educational understanding of the amateur jewelry fabrication and rock

collecting hobbies.

We believe this constitutes a 'fair

use' of any such copyrighted

material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law.

If you wish to use material from this publication for commercial or

purposes of your own that go

beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright

owner.

Newsletter Articles, ads or

corrections should be sent to the

editor: Mark Nelson, 1475 Paseo

Maravilla, San Dimas, CA,

91773. (909) 996-1784 or by

email to mnelsonair@aol.com

Officers present: Marcia & Joe Goetz, Martha Wilson and Linda Nelson. Chairs & Members present: Jenni-fer Jang, Chris Kyte, Ed Imlay, Mark Nelson, Elizabeth Weston. Officers/Directors Absent: None Marcia Goetz agreed to chair the Society’s 2015 Annual Show with the theme “Classical Gems And Minerals”. She will set show plan-ning meetings for November.

∞Workshop: A budget was approved for materials to make

Vice President Martha Wilson will show the second half of the video series called Cutting Cabochons. You can expect to learn expert lapidary techniques to advance your jewelry designs with your own stone cutting. This informative DVD is packed with step-by-step directions on selecting a stone, designing your piece, cutting, trimming and shaping your stone and how to polish and prepare it for a jewelry setting. Part 2 of 2. Don’t miss it!

April Meeting

Officers

Marcia Goetz, President (626) 914-5030

joenmar1@verizon.net

Carolyn Duncan, Vice President (909) 593-2781

gem.quest@verizon.net

Linda Nelson, CPA Secretary/Treasurer

(909) 592-1322 (909) 394-1276 Fax lnelsn@verizon.net

October Board Meeting by Linda Nelson, Secretary

President’s Message

Dear Members, We all had a great time at our silent auction and sale at the October workshop. Lots of good food helped to keep our

strength up for bidding and buying. Thank you to all who nominated and voted for our 2015 Rockhound of the Year! We’ll announce the names at the November program meeting.

Thanksgiving will soon be here and we can all give thanks for family and friends. For many of us our rock friends are our family also. They are the gems in our lives. Opps, can’t forget pets! The Thanksgiving field trip usually has great weather and the field trip is a great way to enjoy the outdoors. Since the trip is with the CFMS there should be people from other clubs to get acquainted with and share rock stories – some of the stories may even be true!

Our Annual Meeting and Christmas party is going to be on Thursday, December 11th, this year since Tuesday didn’t work out. We will have the potluck and raffle baskets. In lieu of crafts at the meeting we’ll have a special project for the December workshop. Details will be in the December bulletin. See you at the next meeting

…….. Marcia Marcia Goetz, President

November Program Meeting

NOVEMBER, 2014 Page 2

Meeting and General Club Information

The Annual Club Show is held the second weekend of March at the Masonic Center, 3130 Huntington Drive, San Marino.

Advertising - a business card size ad is available for $99 per year or $10 per edition. Submit text, logos, business card or other copy to the editor at the address or email listed on this page.

At the October Program Meeting Vice President Martha Wilson showed the first half of the video series called Cutting Cabochons. Members agreed that they left the meeting with lots of new ideas for selecting, cutting and shaping stones for making cabochons. ∞ Mona Ross WOWed the group with her beautiful images of opals and where they are found in the world.

October Program Meeting

repairs to the roof at the workshop during November.

ROCKHOUND RAMBLINGS

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE PASADENA LAPIDARY SOCIETY

EDUCATIONAL OUTEACH

By Ed Imlay Chair, Education Committee

To schedule my educational presentation to your group or school contact me by phone at (626) 286-8215 or by email at edimlay@hotmail.com.

Identification: Would you like to know the name of

a rock you have acquired? Set it on the table at the rear of the meeting room with a note asking “What is this?” If the interior of the stone is not evident, chip a small piece off or “window” it to reveal the interior (if it will not damage the appearance of the specimen). Display Table: For the November meeting, please display any items of general interest, especially workshop projects, material from locations of recent or upcoming field trips, and the birthstones of the month: TOPAZ

Ed’s Corner

Ed Imlay at a local school

Sunshine: Sheryl Aitken would like to visit Meteor Crater, in Arizona, with her Pasadena Lapidary Society friends. For now she is continuing treat-ment for leukemia. Prayers and cards only for now - Summerlin Hospital 657 N Town Center Dr, Las

Vegas, NV 89144. Do you know anyone who is not feeling up to par, has been sick or lost a loved one? On the silver lining side of things, do y o u k n o w w h o h a s achieved a goal, won a personal victory, or done something that deserves recognition? The Pasadena Lapidary Society has a Sunshine Committee to send cards and words of comfort and support and congratulations to those members who are in need or are deserving of it. Notify Trudy Krose

at 323-664-9598 or by email at mikekrose@roadrunner.com.

Welcome

New Members !!

Share the lapidary and jewelry hobby! Invite your friends and neighbors to one of our monthly meetings to learn more about the Pasadena Lapidary Society!

WORKSHOP This Month’s Workshop Program:

Chain and Bead Bracelet

Ed Imlay will demonstrate how to take any ordi-nary jewelry chain and turn it into something that will turn heads! The bracelet is made by remov-ing links from a segment of chain, and replacing the links with beads. Any simple chain pattern (cable or curb) can be used, but a “ONE-three-

ONE” pattern (eg: Figaro) is preferred. The bead replaces the middle link of a “three” section (ONE-one-BEAD-one-ONE). Wire closures (“S-hook” and “figure-8”) complete the project.

MATERIALS Chain: a pattern amenable to substituting a bead for a chain link. Beads: an odd number of 5, 6, or 7mm drilled beads. WIRE: a) similar in size and color to the chain links, for anchoring the beads. b) # 20 similar in color to the chain links, for closures. TOOLS Pliers: straight and bent “chain-nose”, “round-nose”, “wire-cutter”.

Meeting Refreshments: Meeting Refreshments — Thanks to Louise Stack and Susan Carter for October’s refreshments! Elizabeth

Weston and Valerie Stathatos are scheduled for the November meeting. We need volunteers for January and February 2015. ∞ Contact me at (323) 664-9598 or by email at mikekrose@roadrunner.com. ……. Trudy Krose

ROCK OF THE MONTH PRESENTATION Elizabeth Weston will introduce Hematite - Don’t miss it!

To be scheduled to talk about an interesting rock or mineral please sign up at the monthly meeting or email Martha Wilson.

The Beading Group will meet at the November Workshop to plan instructive projects for the upcoming year. Kathleen and Lisa Griffy, Jacci Cooper and Corinne Imlay will show us how to integrate beading and lapidary. Call Corinne Imlay at (626) 286-8215 for questions or suggestions of what you would like to see highlighted.

NOVEMBER, 2014 Page 3

ROCKHOUND RAMBLINGS

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE PASADENA LAPIDARY SOCIETY

"Who first comes to this world below In dreary November's fog and snow, Should prize the topaz amber hue, Emblem of friends and lovers true." Source: Gregorian Calendar

For fun Bring and wear something to

the Program Meeting —containing this month’s

birthstone!

A typical Figaro chain pattern

December Food Drive! Buy one extra item when you shop for the Thanksgiving dinner. Clean out your pantry! Bring them to a Society event this month or next. Non-Perishable Foods such as peanut butter, tuna, chicken, chili, beef stew, dry beans, pasta, oats, rice, cereal, milk (shelf

stable or powder), jelly, tomato sauces, soups, cooking oil and other baking Items, travel soaps and shampoo items. Bring Perishable Foods to the December Meeting such as fresh fruits and vegetables from your garden, milk, yogurt, cheese, eggs, cold cuts and frozen chicken.

“There are people in the world so hungry,

that God cannot appear to them ex-cept in the form of

bread.” Mahatma Gandhi

NOVEMBER, 2014 Page 4

The topaz has been known for at least 2000 years and is one of the gemstones which form the foundations of the twelve gates to the Holy City of the New Jerusalem. These so-called apocalyptic stones are intended to serve in protection against enemies and as a symbol of beauty and splendor. It cannot be proved conclusively whether the name of the topaz comes from the Sanskrit or the Greek, though the Greek name ' topazos ' means 'g reen gemstone'.

The ancient Romans dedicated the topaz to Jupiter and wore amulets of topaz in the belief that it would drive away sadness, strengthen the intellect, and grant courage.

(Continued from page 1)

The Beauty Of Topaz By Mark Nelson, Pasadena Lapidary Society

Use Caution When Buying Minerals By Mark Nelson, Pasadena Lapidary Society

Caveat Emptor - Latin for "let the buyer beware." This is, according to Cornell University Law School, a doctrine that often places on buyers the burden to reasonably examine property before purchase and take responsibility for its condition. This doctrine applies to the purchase of minerals - both in face-to-face and on-line transactions. Some dealers will intentionally or unintentionally mislabel their material as higher-valued items. One example, in the photo on the right, by John Betts, is of galena geodes from Morocco being sold as natural, while in fact these are fakes - created by gluing crushed galena cleavage fragments onto stalactitic quartz/chalcedony growths within a geode. John Betts, of John Betts Fine Minerals, advises finding a dealer that knows minerals, strives for accuracy, and stands behind the minerals he sells. “For example”, he says “all of my minerals have a Lifetime Guarantee: If a mineral specimen is ever tested, and I incorrectly identified the mineral species, I will refund the cost of the original purchase & shipping plus the cost of return shipping and the cost of the test. No dealer is perfect. Mistakes are made. I gladly accept returns when an error is made -- even if it is a specimen I sold years ago. I recommend buying specimens with no damage, or if you cannot afford an expensive undamaged specimen, you should buy specimens with no visible damage when displayed and the price should be reduced in compensation. So when buying minerals via the internet, be sure the dealer explicitly describes the damage and you should make a direct inquiry if a statement is missing (at least for specimens above $25).” The bottom line is that the Internet can be a great source for minerals and bargains, but you need to seek out reliable suppliers.

Dobell Ranch Petrified Wood Holbrook, Arizona

Great selection and prices on petrified wood! Open daily! AZ-77 south from the center of Holbrook. At the intersec-tion of US 180, turn left for 12.6 miles. Turn left at a white

sign for the historic visitors museum with a drawing of a female deer and a bell (Doe-Bell). Drive the old paved highway lined with petrified wood until it ends at the Dobell Ranch. Ask for Gordon Dobell or Tonya Black! Fill a 5-gallon bucket with petrified wood or select larger pieces for your own museum! A great weekend trip!

Show this page or a copy for a Special Rock Club Discount!

Tonya Black

Editor’s note: The Cover Photo and the photos used in this article are by permission of John H. Betts. Mr. Betts has been generous in permitting our society to use his digital photos for the education of our members. Looking for a perfect gift for a Rockhound? See his web site at johnbetts-fineminerals.com

Lapidary Club Special Tune any piano for only $100. Offer valid through 2014.

Topaz is a fluorine aluminum silicate, with a Mohs hard-ness of 8, and comes in yellow, yellow-brown, honey-yellow, flax, brown, green, blue, light blue, red and pink ... and sometimes it has no color at all !

Above: Topaz from the Thomas Range, Juab County Utah — by John Betts

Above: Topaz with black Hematite inclusions from Tepetates, San Luis Potosi, Mexico - by John Betts

Below: Topaz with black Schorl Tourmaline inclusions from St. Anne's Mine, Miami, Zimbabwe - by John Betts

ROCKHOUND RAMBLINGS

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE PASADENA LAPIDARY SOCIETY

Page 5

The club’s meeting raffle has been attracting some great prizes. This deep purple amethyst crystal will be the grand prize at Octo-ber’s meeting raffle.

The trip to Jalama beach was well attended with 22 total on Saturday and six on Sunday. The weather was beauti-ful with gentle breezes and a high of 75.

The campground is a long drive from the highway but the location is very pretty with a creek surrounded by lovely foliage and full of coots. We also saw a coyote, several raccoons, doves, a hummingbird, and lots of pesky seagulls.

On Saturday the group split with some going North for travertine onyx and most going south for Root Beer Agate and fossils. Lots of agate was found and numerous fossils trapped in sandstone. Jim Smith picked up a piece and split it with his hand and found a nice fish fossil.

Hailey, Paolo, Tanner, Susan Carter, Marlēnē and I broke apart a good number of pieces and found several n ice fossils including bones, fish parts, leaves and some w e c o u l d n ’ t identify.

DELTA ONE LAPIDARY Serving Lapidary Interests

Carrying quality machines by Covington, Graves, Inland, Grobet and Poly-Metric.

Gemstone & Jewelry Supplies & Tools.

We offer great prices and the best technical assistance in the lapidary industry.

On-Line Catalog: www.deltaonelapidary.com. Don’t see what you are look-ing for? Looking for technical or project advice? We sell quality materials, but we give our experience away freely! Call Jerry Hughes or Juli Dahl at (541)

563-7495 or email your question to Jerry@deltaonelapidary.com.

Jalama Beach Field Trip Report Story and photos by Chris Kyte

NOVEMBER, 2014

Ferdie Sanchez shown for scale at the cliffs along the beach.

The Sanchez family enjoys the brilliant white sand at the edge of the campground.

Thanksgiving Facts & Trivia Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird of

the United States.

Sarah Josepha Hale, an American magazine editor, persuaded Abraham Lincoln to declare Thanksgiving a national holiday. She is also the author of the popular nursery rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lamb".

Abraham Lincoln thought it was a good idea to unify the country after the Civil War and issued a 'Thanksgiving Day Proclamation' on October 3, 1863.

Hale’s contribution to Thanksgiving included the menu! She wrote numerous editorials stating that making a traditional Thanksgiving dinner should include turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes.

91% of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving.

In the United States, about 280 million turkeys are sold for the Thanksgiving celebrations.

Californians are the largest consumers of turkey in the United States.

Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November in the United States.

Although Thanksgiving is widely considered an American holiday, it is also celebrated on the second Monday in October in Canada.

In the United States, the day known as Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving and is considered to be the beginning of the traditional Christmas shopping season.

ROCKHOUND RAMBLINGS

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE PASADENA LAPIDARY SOCIETY

FIELD TRIPS By Joe Goetz

We are in for a treat! Two guided Field Trips this month! The first Field Trip this month will be November 1st and 2nd to the interesting collecting areas northeast of Barstow. We will meet in the parking lot of the Oak Tree Inn each morning at 8:00-8:30 AM. A group dinner will be Saturday at Peggy Sue’s Restaurant.

On Thanksgiving weekend we will be joining the California Federation (CFMS) at Wiley’s Well. We’ll be going with the CFMS which leads this trip annually over the Thanksgiving holiday . The dates are Thursday, Novem-ber 27th through Sunday, November 30th, 2014. This area is known to be productive for rockhounds. There is a lot of area to explore. You may even go to an area that no one has discovered and a new material will be found. For those joining us on Thursday, our Thanksgiving feast will be a potluck - prepare enough food for 8 people as everyone takes a ‘dibby dab’. With any luck the weather will be perfect to collect cutting material and a good time will be had by all. Details, directions and collectible material for both of these trips are on the Calendar page of the web site.

NOVEMBER, 2014 Page 6

FEDERATION NEWS By Joe Goetz

On Napa Geology: You either felt the (August’s) 6.0 magnitude quake or heard about it on the news - involving previously unknown active fault lines as well as faults that were thought to be inactive. The valley floor has a high water table with saturated sand and silt deposits which amplified the tremors, heightening damage.

The quake opened up ground water in some bone dry creeks in Napa and Sonoma County with water levels flowing with enough water to paddle a kayak and up to 10 feet deep! Some people who had dry wells now have water — this was not due to broken water lines! Read more of Jennifer’s on-site report at cfmsinc.org and click on the newsletter for October 2014.

Editor’s Quiz

Adults: A first-ever event is scheduled to occur on the 12th of this month. What is the significance of this event!

CFMS - California Federation of Mineralogical Societies

The answers to this month’s quiz can be found in the bulletin or on the Internet. The first Adult and Junior Members to correctly answer these questions will win a special prize at this month’s Program Meeting. See Editor’s email on page 2.

Juniors: What rhyme is Sarah Josepha Hale famous for writing?

AFMS - American Federation of Mineralogical Societies

Congratulations to Ferdie Sanchez and Nadine Ishizu for correctly answering that a Geo-site is a field trip locality geared towards educating rather than collecting specimen. Congratulations, also, to Alyson Nishimura for recognizing

the blue gem in the bulletin as the symbol of a gem show! Prizes will be awarded at the November meeting!

New Research on La Brea Tar Pit Fossils Shows Climate Change Drove Evolution of Ice Age Predators

Report by Kristin Friedrich, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

LOS ANGELES — Concerns about climate change and its impact on the world around us are growing daily. New scientific studies at the La Brea Tar Pits are probing the link between climate warming and the evolution of Ice Age predators, attempting to predict how animals will respond to climate change today. The La Brea Tar Pits are famous for the amazing array of Ice Age fossils found there, such as ground sloths, mammoths, and predators like saber-toothed cats and power-ful dire wolves. But the climate during the end of the Ice Age (50,000-11,000 years ago) was unstable, with rapid warming and cooling. New research reported here has documented the impact of this climate change on La Brea predators for the first time. Editor: Read the full story at

www.nhm.org/site/sites/default/files/pdf/PageResearchFINAL.pdf

Joe Goetz Field Trip Chairman

Somewhere in California ……… Joe Goetz

CFMS President Jennifer Haley

AFMS Officers as of November 1 from left: President - Marion Roberts; President-elect - Matt Charsky; Treasurer - Pat LaRue;

Secretary - Anne Cook; 2nd VP - J.C, Moore; 4th VP - Ann Monroe; 3rd VP- Jon Spunaugle; 5th VP - Judy Beck

ROCKHOUND RAMBLINGS

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE PASADENA LAPIDARY SOCIETY

November 1 - 2: OXNARD - Oxnard Gem & Mineral Society Oxnard Performing Arts Center 800 Hobson Way Hours: Sat. 9 - 5; Sun. 10 - 4, www.oxnardgem.com 1 - 2: RIDGECREST - Indian Wells Gem & Mineral Society Desert Empire Fairgrounds, 520 S. Richmond Road, Hours: 9 - 5 daily, www.indianwells.weebly.com 7 - 9: SANTA ANA - Wholesale and retail show; LLD Productions, Holiday Inn-Orange County Airport; 2726 S. Grand Ave.; Fri. 10-6, Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5; free admission; 80 wholesale and retail dealers, www.mzexpos.com

8 - 9: ANAHEIM - American Opal Society The Phoenix Club - Festhalle, 1340 S. Sanderson Ave. Hours: Sat 9 - 6; Sun 9 - 5, www.opalsociety.org 15 - 16: APPLE VALLEY - Victor Valley Gem and Mineral Show, Victor Valley Museum, 11873 Apple Valley Rd, Apple Valley, CA. Saturday 9 - 5, Sunday from 9 - 4 Display cases, raffle tickets, silent auction, spin the wheel, grab bags, gold mining, and lots of displays will be available. Our theme is “Treasures of the Victor Valley". www.vvgmc.org/gem-show. 29 - 30: WICKENBURG, ARIZONA - Wickenburg Gem & Mineral Soci-ety, Wrangler Event Center; 251 S. Tegner St.; Sat. 9-5, Sun. 10-4; free admission; more than 40 dealers, rocks, gems, beads, minerals, jew-elry, fossils, lapidary tools, kids' room, door prizes. www.wickenburggms.org

Library

UOP

Please plan to attend one of the shows and businesses listed on this page, and wear your club badge and vest when you do! - Editor

The single source supplier for jewelers and gemologists. 319 W. 6th St., Los Angeles, CA 90014 (213) 627-8004

Monday-Friday: 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Saturday: 9a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Supplies, displays, boxes, jewelry tools, precious metal, findings, fine jewelry, stones, settings and wedding bands. A wide variety of lighting, photography boxes, inventory software and product labeling supplies. Metalsmithing and lapidary supplies. Free catalog! www.aajewelry.com. Jewelry and Lapidary clubs are welcome !

NOVEMBER, 2014 Page 7

Member - To - Member WANTED: Society bulletins, minutes, correspondence, awards, photos, officer and member lists from before October 2009. Any condition. If you have any, bring them to a club function or email the club to arrange a pick up. We are building our Yearbook and need to know more of our history! We’ll copy and return them to you. Members are welcome to place a FREE message here for items or services wanted, for sale or for trade. Email submissions to: pasadenalapidary@aol.com.

Articles and photographs printed in this bulletin are as credited to their author. Items not so credited are written by the Editor. Photographs not credited are from the public domain or from the Editor and are used for educational purposes. Articles and photographs submitted for publication are welcome and must be received by the 15th of the prior month. The Editor reserves the right to edit any article submitted for publishing.

Look for the gem s h o w s symbol in the calendar on page 8.

LOCAL ROCK AND GEM SHOWS

Are Minerals Safe? By John H. Betts, John Betts Fine Minerals

Asbestos - most people react in violent fear of the word. The same reaction is generated for "Radioactive". Is it safe to collect these minerals? Yes. Collecting minerals is safe, even for these types of minerals. Asbestos causes asbestosis, a disease of the lungs, when short microfibers of this type of mineral are inhaled into the lungs. When asbestos is mined, the drilling and blasting generates the short microfibers. But a specimen sitting in your display cabinet is safe. However - you should not grind it up into a fine powder and blow it around your room with a fan and then do deep breathing exercises. Radioactive minerals are safe to collect, too. Distance is your best protection against radioactivity, and it takes surprisingly little distance to be safe since the hazard drops by the square of the distance. The dose from being 6" away from a specimen is 1/36th the dose of being 1" away. Actually the biggest danger from radioactive minerals is the Radon gas generated via radioactive decay. This gas is heavier than air and collects in the lower parts of your home. Because it is a gas, it is easily inhaled where it can cause health problems. But if your home has good ventilation, you are safe. If your home passes a radon test, then you will be OK. If in doubt, store radioactive minerals in your garage. Other minerals are unsafe if ingested. If you have infants or pets that like to chew on things, prevent them from ingesting any mineral specimen. Collecting minerals is a safe hobby. There is no reason to overreact. A little education is all it takes to understand minerals and safely handle them.

ROCKHOUND RAMBLINGS

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE PASADENA LAPIDARY SOCIETY

TIPS, HINTS AND SAFETY

Look for my on-line store at etsy.com maliakei bags or email me at pasadenalapidary@aol.com

—— Mary Kirmil —— Member, Pasadena Lapidary Society

Maliakei Bags and Accessories

Bandanas, Handkerchiefs, Drawstring Bags, Hair Scrunchies, Hawaiian

Totes - mini to jumbo sizes, Holiday & Seasonal Totes, Patriotic & Sports

Totes - a perfect gift for a Rockhound!

Pasadena, California

U.S.A.

Founded 1947

NOVEMBER 2014

The Pasadena Lapidary Society, Inc. Bulletin Editor: 1475 Paseo Maravilla San Dimas, CA 91773-3908

First Class Mail

RETURN SERVICE

REQUESTED

OUR MISSION The Pasadena Lapidary Society serves to educate its members and the community in mineralogy, earth sciences and training in the lapidary and jewelry arts – while promoting sound mineral resource stewardship based on environmental awareness and ethical behavior. The Society fulfills its mission year-round which may include field trips, lapidary workshops, outreach presentations, public mineral displays, an annual show, and monthly informational meetings open to the public.

The Pasadena Lapidary Society is affiliated with the California and

American Federations of Mineralogical Societies. Our editor is a

member of the Special Congress Representing Involved Bulletin Editors.

ROCKHOUND RAMBLINGS

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE PASADENA LAPIDARY SOCI-

November 2014 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30

Workshop Board Meeting

Program Meeting

All Saints Day

Ashura - Islam

Guru Tegh Bahadur

martyrdom - Sikh

Birth of Baha'u'llah - Baha'i

Men Make Dinner Day First Dog in Space 1957

First Hot Air Balloon Flight

1763

President John Kennedy assassinated

in 1963 22

Black Friday

Rosetta Landing !

Leonids Meteor Shower

Page 8

Field Trip to Whittier Claim in Barstow

Standard Time Starts Sunday, November 2, 2014 – at 2:00:00 AM clocks are turned backward 1 hour to 1:00:00 AM local standard time instead !!

November Weather: The National Weather Service models expect a weak El Niño event which historically favors enhanced odds of above-median precipitation across the southern third of California - great for rock collecting!