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FIRST CLASS

CULVER CITY ROCK & MINERAL CLUB

the Nugget Lynne Lukert, editor 513 1/2 N. Norton Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90004

Monday, NOV 8, 6:30 pm ... Exec Committee: Monday, NOV 8, 7:30 pm ... General Meeting(Program: ”DESIGN IN SILVER AND STONE”)

2010

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

PAGE 1 NOV 2010 THE NUGGET

PROGRAM

Well, the year has only one month to go after this Nugget reaches you. I want to invite all of our club members to our Holiday Party (see details inside), on December 13th this year at the Rotary Plaza, on Overland Ave. just down the street from our monthly meetings. We’ll see most of this year’s officers, as well as the installation of our officers for 2011, have some great food, enjoy the company of our members and lastly have our “White Elephant” gift exchange (that’s putting it mildly) and generally have a good time. This is our big social “get together” of the year. I would be remiss in not congratulating Jetta, Vern, Gary and Ken for stepping up to the challenge of filling in for our October speaker on turquoise. It turned out to be one of the best presentations ever, bar none. For November we need everyone to make it to the meeting as we have our elections for the 2011 of-ficers and directors. In addition, all club officers who spend money for the club are responsible for submit-ting their 2011 budgets for review at the November officers meeting. Benchmark budgets to work from, were handed out at the October officers meeting. Also to note, the Shop committee got together in October and has made arrangements to begin resto-ration of our ‘slant top’ display cases for the 2011

show. If anyone would like to help out either with the cases or their liners and lighting, please contact Steve Dover as he’s heading this greatly needed cause to get these ready for our 50th anniversary show in 2011. Contact Steve if you want to put in your reservations for a display case early. Remember, more than one club member can go in on a display case. Please have a safe and fun filled Thanksgiving holi-day,

Rick Shaffer,President

310-391-8429

JANET FLECHERpresents

“DESIGN IN SILVER AND STONE”

There are different approaches to creating fine jewelry featuring natural stone. Janet Flecher combines both the rock and mineral approach of finding the rough material and finishing a stone which highlights the beauty of that particular material with the artistic ap-proach of designing a silver setting for a truly one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry. She will bring examples of polished stones along with finished pendants, rings and bracelets. You can preview her work and her phi-losophy at www.lizziedesigns.blog.com. Some pieces will be available for purchase after the program.

Ellen Moe,Program Chair

CULVER CITY ROCK AND MINERAL CLUB P.O. BOX 3324 Culver City, Ca 90231

MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE MTGOCT 11, 2010

PAGE 2THE NUGGET NOV 2010

• Those present: Rick and Mary Ellen Shaffer, Ellen Moe, Steve Dover, Lynne Lukert, Bruce Mensinger, Leda Rogers, Grace Sato, Dolores Dace, Robert Thir-laway, Jette Sorensen, Sylvia Binkley. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm by president Rick Shaf-fer.• The 2010 budget was reviewed - we need to set up the 2011 budget. • The Culver City Boy Scout House will have a yard sale October 23 from 9am to 3pm. • The Culver City Senior Citizens Association con-tacted us about the yearly donation for holiday food baskets. It was moved, seconded and passed to donate $250.• The Dayton Simmons program will be rescheduled (due to truck problems). Tonight’s program will be by CCR&MC panel re: turquoise. Next month’s program will be detailed the November Nugget. • The Holiday party and Installation of officers will be on Monday, December 13,2010 at the Rotary Plaza. Further details will be in the Nugget.Treasurer’s report: we are solvent.• Education Committee: Chair Dolores Dace reported that there is a new principal at El Rincon Elementary School, Ms. Ellen Craig; our 2009 contributions and specimens will be delivered soon. The Committee will prepare our 2010 suggested donations - books for the Science Lab and school library.• Show Chair: Robert Thirlaway reported that Next year, 2011, will be our 50th Fiesta of Gems. Robert reviewed the need for very active volunteers and a dealer co-chairperson. The Show dates are: July 9th and 10th, the second weekend in July, as usual.• Membership Chair: Grace Sato said we have 2 new members. The membership form is to be revised.• Shop: Steve Dover said there are 25 show cases: 5 to be rebuilt and refinished; 20 to be refinished. • Shop Chair: Bruce Mensinger reported that areas

have been cleared off for jewelry fabrication , etc., there are now 4 stations: a working dop pot; saws get-ting heavy use; we need a new blade on the 24 inch saw; will build a vacuum caster in the future. The Shop is an on-going project.• Web Master: Jette Sorensen Web Master is still de-veloping the web-site.• The meeting was adjourned at 7:25pm.

Recording Secretary Pro temDolores Dace

• The meeting was called to order at 7:30pm by presi-dent Rick Shaffer who led the Pledge of Allegiance. A quorum being established, the minutes were approved as published in the Nugget.• Visitors were welcomed: Chris Curtin, Harumi Oka-mura, Michelle Gnassmeier, Crystal Oelrich, Lesly Ross, Rocky Rhodes, Randal Rhodes, Jairo Ramirez, Haygo Salibian, and Bruce Ferguson.• An announcement was made about the Culver City Boy Scouts having a yard sale, October 23, 2010 at the Scout House from 9:00am to 3pm.• Program: The guest speaker was unable to be here He had to have his truck repaired in New Mexico. In-stead there will be a presentation on turquoise by Vern Lowe and Gary Mitchell moderated by Ken Rogers.• Show chair: Robert Thirlaway, next year is the 50th Fiesta of Gems. The theme will be Gold. The dates are July 9th and 10th, 2011. We need chairperson for vendors with a co-chair; be prepared and be a volun-teer; sell raffle tickets (90% goes to our non-profit do-nations: Senior Citizens and Culver City Schools.• Ken Rogers announced the L.A.Bead Society will be here in 2 weeks. There will also be a yard sale at his house - contact him.• November Program: will be presented by a local person; come and be amazed. (Ellen Moe) just re-turned from London (with the Lakers!) and did a bit

MINUTES OF THE GENERAL MTGOCT 11, 2010

THE NUGGETPAGE 3 NOV 2010

PROGRAM REPORT

The program was a presentation on turquoise by Vern Lowe and Gary Mitchell with Ken Roger mod-erating. First what turquoise is: its chemistry and character-istics. It is found in arid climates. It is formed of cop-per, phosphates and aluminum and is found in copper mines. It is found in China, Tibet and Persia(Iran). In the USA Native Americans called it “sky stones” and Shamans could tell the health of a person wearing tur-quoise by its color. They explained what is NOT turquoise: dyed howlite, ceramics. It is chalky, very soft and porous. There are many processes applied to it: stabilization; reconstitution (block); “colorshot” using color added to resin; oiling and waxing, high quality secret pro-cesses that make it denser. American turquoise: it has character and a “look”. The grades are: high gem grade (very hard), common grades and low grades. Treatments: enhanced - a sometimes secret process in which the structure of low or medium grade stone is improved through a patented process; oiled or waxed - a process in which a medium grade stone is soaked or “cooked” in oil or melted wax, or it is covered and polished with wax (cutting these stones using an oil lubricant can modify the stone which must then be la-beled as Oil treated); stabilized - low grade and chalk turquoise is combined or saturated with colorless resin

or other bonding agent usually under pressure or in a vacuum to harden and fill the material and darken the color; dyed - green, yellow or blue pigment is added to deepen a stone’s color or spread the color into the worthless matrix; new dyed -porous, low grade, vir-tually colorless turquoise stone is impregnated with colored dyes including magenta, yellow, green, etc., for a fashion or junk jewelry look; reconstituted - one of two processes - A) small scraps and junk turquoise are ground into a powder and mixed with epoxy resin and colored pigment to form “block” of “Block Tur-quoise”. Many times dark “stingers” are added to look like fine veining; turquoise chips and sometime chips of other material are mixed with epoxy resin to form “blocks”; doublets - a lapidary process where a thin layer of turquoise is glued to a base stone or other material so as to add thickness and stability to the fi-nal cab. Most low or medium grade is treated to raise its value, but in reality it may look better but it isn’t worth more. It is the duty of and in some places the law that the dealer must inform buyers of any treatment or en-hancements. Imitation turquoise: faience - an ancient glaze ap-plied to ancient glass and other materials; ceramics - color or glazed clay; veined white howlite - com-monly dyed turquoise blue, lapis blue, magenta, etc.; marble - dyed ; quartzite - dyed; plastic; glass; wood - dyed turquoise blue; shell - dyed turquoise blue; jas-pers - of a similar color or dyed. Similar looking stones: chrysocolla, faustite, ama-zonite, hemimorphite, chalcosiderite, varisite, smith-sonite, and shatakite (blue). This was a fascinating and informative presenta-tion.

Dolores DaceRecording Secretary pro-tem

of rock hounding on the Thames.• Field trip this month will be near Julian, CA.• Nugget: Editor Lynne Lukert said the deadline for the Nugget is the 18th or soon.• The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 pm followed by the coffee hour and trading Post.

Recording Secretary Pro-temDolores Dace

PAGE 4NOV 2010THE NUGGET

2011 SLATE OF OFFICER

2011 Slate of OfficersPresident - Rick Shaffer

Vice-President - Steve DoverTreasurer - Mary Ellen Shaffer

Recording Secretary - Sue AcostaCorresponding Secretary - Leda Rogers

Education - Dolores DaceFederation Director - Ellen Moe

Field Trips - openHistorian - Bruce MensingerLibrarian - Bruce Mensinger

Co- chair - openMembership - GraceSatoMinerals - Minda Moe

Parliamentarian - Leda RogersPhotography - Sylvia Binkley

Programs - Ellen MoePublications - Lynne Lukert

Co - Chair - Barbara FierPublicity - Charlene Aspray

Shop - Bruce MensingerShow - Robert Thirlaway

Social - Sue AcostaSunshine - Lili Gelberg

Trading Post - Steve DoverWeb Master - Jette Sorensen

Board of Directors:Anthony Ferrari (2011)

Leda Rogers (2011)

Lynne Lukert (2012)Woody Shaffer (2012)

Mary Ellen Shaffer (2013)(Male) open (2013) open

WEB REPORT

We will be creating a new “links” page and would like your input. Please send me links and suggestions for web sites you feel will be beneficial other members – be it vendors, collector sites, mines, your own web site, lapidary and jewelry educational sites, you get my drift.And, we are still looking for your pictures from club field trips, meetings and parties.Email your contributions to webmaster@culvercityrocks.org

Jette SorensenWeb Master

FEDERATION REPORT

There’s one big thing the Federation is trying to get started this year and that’s to send out their report via e-mail (their probably trying to save money) and, in turn having each member club re-send their report to their individual members (you guys). Soooo, what we can do is one of two things. You, our members can notify me if they want to receive the monthly Federation newsletter, or I can just send it out to everyone which we have an e-mail address for. Let me know how you want this done. In addition there’s a ‘Southern” field trips for No-vember:

Nov. 25 – 28 - Field Trip South - Wiley’s Well. We’ll talk about this at our November meeting, but here’s the list of trips they are taking;25th – Petrified Bay Laurel-Iron Wood by Colorado River, AZ26th – Fire Agate/Chalcedony. Pebble Terrace, Pais-ley Agates27th – Geode and Nodules Beds

Rick ShafferFederation Chair

PAGE 5 THE NUGGETNOV 2010

BIRTHDAYS

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

Just want to congratulate Gary Mitchell, Ken Rog-ers, and Vern Lowe on a job very well done. Their lecture on turquoise was put together in less than 24 hours and was one of the most informative and inter-esting talks that the club has had. Again, bravo to all three for a stupendous job. There has been four new members sign up and one renewal.

Welcome! Michelle M. Grassmeier,

Natalia Hofmann, Vilma Kere, and James Powers.

Yolanda Lumel (Renewal)

NOV 4 .... Leo LuNOV 7.... Kathy Mainzer

NOV 8 .... Angele Ryan M.D. NOV 11 .... Alan Grinnell

NOV 1 4 .... Gary Mitchell NOV 24 .... Charlene Aspray

New at the ShopThe Need: There comes a time when the little changes and ac-commodations made over months or years are recog-nized as having made a mess of an earlier organized plan. When user’s needs change, as new equipment becomes available and new methods are adopted, we need to reorganize and rearrange. More recently, great-er attendance has led to more crowding, precipitating changes we hope produce a better, more productive and pleasant workplace at our shop. Already changed: •Clutter reduced, • Rock supply culling started (outside and inside), • Outdoor workspace created, • Four workstations with bench pins added, • Dop-pot relocated to accommodate workstations, • An additional flex-shaft machine made available, • Flat lap wheels moved nearer to the lap machine, • Hooks for purses and coat storage added behind entry door (and no more lumber in the way), • Some maintenance tools moved, • Walls washed, • New, improved signs on walls near equipment or workstations. Lynne Lukert did a lot of this work. Thanks, Lynne. Also, Woody and Rick Shaffer. Thanks, guys.Planned changes: • Continue reducing clutter, • Move microwave oven to the food area near the entrance, • Move and/or store more efficiently rock and other material set aside for education, youth programs, and silent auctions, • Modify oil supply for trim saws, • Improve ventilation for trim saws,

SHOP REPORT

• Reduce the amount of oily lumber in the saw room, • Improve storage of saw-room hand tools for more convenient use, • Replace the centrifugal casting machine with a vacuum caster.Donation: Gary Mitchel donated several crates of rock. Good stuff. Thank you, Gary. The club has a detailed procedure for handling donated items. In compliance, some of this material has been set aside for education programs, youth programs, and silent auctions. The rest will be available at the shop starting Tuesday evening, November 16.Show Display Cases: We plan to rebuild/repair/re-varnish/replace as necessary to make the slant-top cases more presentable and to improve their lights. In order to accomplish this we need some additional help from our members; that would be you. Please vol-unteer a few hours to help so we can present ourselves at our best at the 50th annual Fiesta of Gems Show this coming year. Steve Dover is leading this project. Thank you, Steve.Roof Leaks: The deplorable state of the shop roof has been effectively stop-gap patched all this past year. When I checked

the tarps in early autumn they looked sound. Imagine the surprise when the tarps, all four of them, completely disintegrated two weeks later. I made another partial repair with a tarp. We are now (October 20) about to in-stall a full-coverage and much more durable tarp, similar to the one that the Boy Scouts are using so effectively on their section of the roof.

Bruce Mensinger

PAGE 7NOV 2010THE NUGGET

MINERAL REPORT

9 Online Booklets on Agates and Jaspers are Free!

The American Agate -Jasper Index is a proposed multivolume database that will become a reference source for the quartz gemstone materials from across the United States. The idea is to have several images showing what typical specimens from each locality look like so we can compare our unknown specimens with examples of famous and not-so-well known loca-tions .. These images would be divided up by specimen type (nodular, moss, fossil, etc) and not by site (except as to originating state) to allow a quicker access to the data. The goal of this project is not to create an online museum, so you won’t see multiple pictures of similar stones unless it is to show variations of the material, nor is it a field guide with directions to where these specimens can be found. Its sole intention is to pro-vide the collector a method of identifying material. Here’s how this project works: Our database will be produced from images provided by the rockhounds who want this project to succeed. Images will be sent to the editors (Mel Hixson and myself - lowellfos@yahoo.com) or posted on websites with the intention of being placed in the ongoing document. Because every image used will be in the public domain, it costs no money to produce and thus, it should be open to sharing freely to anyone who wants it. Because it’s rockhounds put-ting it together, it will be strong in the local collecting sites not often mentioned in national publications. The Index will also be updatable as new locations come in and better images are offered. The project is currently ongoing on the Rock Tum-bling Hobby site. We are moving slowly state by state to avoid costly mistakes and have been receiving submissions from across the United States. Mel and Lowell are members of the Ventura Gem and Mineral Society.

(This article was taken from the February 2010 - Ventura Gem & Mineral Society - Rockhound Ram-blings) More info can be found at the Rock Tumbling WEB site: http:/ /www.rocktumblinghobby.com

Here are the download links to the current 9 volumes.

Volume 1: Utah and Colorado (16 MB): http://www.4shared.com/document/mNXTQALM/ Agate_Index_ Vol_l_2nd_ed_.html Volume 2: Wyoming and Montana:http://www.4shared.com/file/224404408/51585e57/ Agate_Index_Vol_2.html. Volume 3: Idaho and Washington:http://www.4shared.com/file/229956030/cc07189f/ Agate_Index_Vol_3 .html. Volume 4: South Dakota, Nebraska,and Oklaho-ma http://www.4shared.com/file/242786005/91b2476f/Agate_Index_Vol_4.html.Volume 5: Texas- http://www.4shared.com/document/oCLei3tU/ Ag-ate_Index_Vol_5.html.Volume 6: The South-Mississippi, Louisiana, Ala-bama, Florida, Georgia, Arkansas, Missouri http://www.4shared.com/document/nXCjumab/Ag-ate_Index_Vol_6.html. Volume 7: Arizona (warning-I6 MB)http://www.4shared.com/document/XplaNpW1/Ag-ate_Index_ Vol_7.html Volume 8: New Mexico, Nevada (warning-16 MB)http://search.4shared.com/q/1/agate%20index%208 Volume 9: Oregon (warning-16 MB)http://www.4shared.com/document/-CARc_SR/Ag-ate_Index_ Vol9.html editor: lowellfos@yahoo.com.

Via: The Charlotte Goldrush Ledger 8/10; the Rock-hounder 9/10

NOV SHOWS DATES

PAGE 8 NOV 2010 THE NUGGET

6-7 CONCORD, CA: Contra Costa Mineral & Gem Society; Centre concord (in clayton Fair Shopping Cen-ter);5298 clayton Rd. (near Ygnacio Valley Rd.)Hours: 10-5 both days; Harry Nichandos (925) 289-0454; Email: show9@ccmgs.orgWebsite: www.ccmgs.org

6-7 LANCASTER, CA: Palmdale Gem & Mineral Society; Antelope Valley Fairgrounds, 2551 West Ave. H & Hwy 14; Hours: 9-5 daily; Susan Chaisson-Walblom (661) 943-1861; Email: sichaisson@yahoo.comWebsite: palmdalegemandmineral.com

20-21 OXNARD, CA: Oxnard Gem & Mineral Society; Oxnard Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way; Hours: Sat. 9-5 Sun. 10-5; Frank Bouich (805) 271-0538; Email: show_info@oxnardgem.comWebsite: www.oxnardgem.com

2010 CCRMC HOLIDAY PARTYROTARY PLAZA

5100 Overland Ave (near Jefferson)Culver City

Monday, December 13th 6:30 till ___

The club provides turkey and ham main course and tableware. Members bring salads, sides, desserts and beverages.

Come and enjoy with all your friends!

Website: www.oxnardgem.com

Save this date on your calendar!

The purpose of the CULVER CITY ROCK & MINERAL CLUB is to bring together persons interested in the earth sciences, to engage in research and study in this realm, and to assist members in the collection and preservation of rocks and minerals and in the study of lapidary and related arts.........................................................................................................................http://www.culvercityrocks.org

NOV 2010THE NUGGET PAGE 9

Officers for 2010

President - Rick ShafferVice President - Steve Dover

Treasurer - Mary Ellen ShafferRecording Secretary - Sue Acosta

Corresponding Secretary - Leda RogersFederation Director - Rick Shaffer

Field Trips - Gary MitchellCo-chair - Open

Historian - Bruce MensingerLibrarian - Bruce Mensinger

Membership - Grace SatoCo-chair - Grace Sato

Minerals - Nic PanagosParliamentarian - Ed MontgomeryPhotography - - Sylvia Binkley

Co-chair - Leda RogersPrograms - Ellen Moe

Publications - Lynne LukertCo-chair - Barbara Fier

Publicity - Sylvia BinkleyShop - Bruce MensingerShow - Robert Thirlaway

Social - Sue AcostaSunshine - Lili Gelberg

Trading Post - Steve DoverWeb Master - Jette SorensenWorkshops - Yolanda Lumel

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Bruce Mensinger (2010)Ellen Moe (2010)

Anthony Ferrari (2011)Leda Rogers (2011)

MEETING SCHEDULES

General Meetings are held the second Monday of every month* at 7:30 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room in the Veterans Bldg., 4117 Overland Ave. Enter from the rear door. Guests are always welcome.

Executive Committee Meetings are held the second Monday of every month*in the Multi-Purpose Room in the Veterans Bldg Veterans Auditorium. All club members are welcome.

*Meeting days occasionally change due to Monday holidays or, in July, because of the Fiesta Of Gems show (July 2007).

DUES & FEESOne time Initiation Fees:

Individuals $20.002 Persons/Same Address $25.00Juniors $15.00

Yearly Membership Dues:Individuals $25.002 Persons/Same Address $35.00Juniors $10.00

(After July 1, dues are $15.00, $25.00 and $5.00 respectively.)

SHOP INFORMATION

The shop is open to all members in good standing over the age of 13 (13-18 have certain restrictions) who sign an indemnification form. Instruction is available at all sessions. Practice slabs are available.Location: 10866 Culver Blvd. in Culver City (behind the Boy Scout clubhouse and next to the paddle tennis courts)Shop Phone: (310)836-4611Hours: Tuesday 7:30pm - 9:30pm Bruce MensingerWednesday 10:00am - 2:00pm Vern Lowe (open by appointment)Thurdsay 10:00am - 2:00pm Woody ShafferSaturday 12:00am - 4:00pm Lynne LukertSunday 1:00pm - 4:00pm Bruce Mensinger

If no one shows, the shop may close early. If you plan to arrive at the shop more than a half hour after the opening time, phone the instructor

The NuggetThe deadline for all submissions is generally the 15th of every month. All articles or notes without a byline are written by the Editor. Permission to copy is freely given as long as proper credit is noted. The Nugget accepts paid advertisements by club members and non-members. The cost for an eight of a page (approx.. 2” high x 3.5” wide) is $7 per insertion, payable in advance. Ad location is at the discretion of the Editor. Ad layouts, copy, or business cards must be received by the 10th of the month. Send materials directly to Lynne Lukert, Editor, 513 1/2 N. Norton Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90004