| |
ROCKWOOD ROCKHOUND NEWS for DECEMBER 1999
Officers for 2000!
We are happy to announce that the following people have agreed to lead our club into the
new Millennium: Bob Morse will continue to serve as President while Andy Larson will once
again remain as our Treasurer. Helen Heitland will return to be our secretary. We are
happy to introduce our new member, Peggy Nuske, who will serve as our vice president.
Many thanks for a job well done go to Mary Parrott, retiring vice president and Dianne
Larson, retiring secretary.
We still need a historian and someone to be in charge of hospitality. Isn't there anyone
out there who would volunteer?
Christmas Potluck
Dianne and Andy Larson have graciously offered to host our Christmas Potluck in their home
on Saturday, December 11th at 6:00 PM. Call Dianne at 256-0241 to let her know whether you
will be bringing a salad, vegetable or dessert.
Entertainment will be furnished by some of our very talented members. We will listen to
and sing along with music furnished by Joan Schlichter. If we are lucky, Hank Schlichter
will tell another of his tall tales. Rumor has it that Andy Larson and some of our other
members may also perform. We will be exchanging "White Elephants" and collecting
canned goods for the Circle of Concern. There is a map at the back of the bulletin.
Welcome New Member Peggy Nuske
Peggy is a graduate of UMSL with a degree in education and is an expert in the geology of
Missouri. She has also agreed to serve as our vice president this coming year,
Dues are Due!
$15 per person
$20 per family
|
Rockhounding the Internet |
|
|
by David Miller St. Louis Mineral & |
Gem Society |
I'm not sure how many of you feel, but I can say I'm excited to see the year 2000 come
rolling in! For most of us, if not all, this will be the first time we experience a year
ending in "00". And of course with it comes a lot of uncertainty. But one thing
that is certain are the materials that we use everyday. And because of this, Mineralogy is
here to stay!
This month I thought we would close out the year by taking a look at the History that
brought our hobby here. Our hobby begins in the Valley of Indus near Mehrgarh, Pakistan
where lapis lazuli associated with turquoise and steatite were found in contexts dating
back to about 7000 B.C. Shortly after this, in 6000 B.C. we see the people of the
chalcolithic age (copper age) working with native metals. By the year 4500 B.C. we find
lapidaries in Iran and Mesopotamia cutting lapis, turquoise, amethyst and beryl. And by
2000 B.C. we see the Sumerian civilization in Ur incorporating gold into their jewelry.
Here are some other interesting dates in the History of our hobby:
· 387-272 B.C. - Beginning study of modern mineralogy preserved in the
book of rocks and minerals titled "On Stones";
Theophrastus
· 23-79 - "Natural History", a
37 volume encyclopedic review devoted to mineralogy; PEnus the Elder
· 980-1037 - 1st division of minerals
placed into 4 categories (stones & gems, ores, fuels, salts); Avicenne
· 1625-1698 - The birth of crystalline optics; Erasmus Bartholin
· 1720 - Recognition of 9 principal shapes among crystals; Cappier
· 1807 - 1st geological company; London
Geological Society
· 1811 - The beginning of the basis of a
mineralogical classification of rocks; Rene:Juste Hauy
· 1820 - Mineral hardness scale and the definition of the 7crystal systems by introducing
the monoclinic
and triclinic systems were published; Friedrich Mobs
· 1822 - "Treaty of Crystallography" by the father of crystallography;
Rene'JusteHauy
· 1830 - Introduction of Miller's notation of crystal faces; William H. Miller
· 1837 - I St published edition of "Dana's System of Mineralogy"; James D. Dana
· 1896 - I St radioactive minerals discovered; Becquerel
· 1912 - 1st experiment of X-ray diffraction on minerals by the early pioneer of X-ray
crystallography;
Max yon Laue
· 1913-1923 - The famous 20 volume "Atlas der Krystallformen"; V.M.
Goldsclunidt
· 1955 - 1st high pressure synthesis diamond: Bundy and Al!
· 1969 - I St samples of lunar rocks brought back by the Apollo 11 crew, 58 specimens in
all, weighing
21.6kg; Armstrong, Aldrin, Collins
As you can already see, our history beginning in Antiquity and following
through the Middle Ages, Revival, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries are full of discoveries in
mineralogy. And this list represents just a light sampling of what has happened thus far.
We still continue to explore not only the earth but also the universe. Who knows what new
things will be found in the next century. As it stands right now, our hobby is alive and
well. But it will only continue with the responsibility of us renewing the interest in our
youth!
Click here to see more about "The
Birth of Mineralogy" and "The History of
Mineralogy" along with pictorial representations incorporated into the text.
NOTE; click on the underlined words in text to see pictures
THEY ARE CALLED ROCKHOUNDS
By Mary LaVigna
On the rocky road of life you meet a few fellow travelers who have rocks on their minds
and sometimes rocks in their heads. We call them rockhounds.
They swap stones and stories with each other and when Christmas comes they want rocks in
their sock and hobby equipment under the tree.
A Rockhound never leaves a stone unturned. He kicks them all. spit polishes some. and
pours water on boulders. always alert for a hint of color, a glimmer of hope that the
specimen may be good cutting material.
A Rockhound reads manuals and studies maps. He eagerly plans his next trip. When vacation
time comes he packs his pick and crowbar, hammer, water jug and whatever else he can think
of in his RV and drives off in search of... ROCKS. After
a long long time he arrives. He hoists a high all of his gear and trudges off, head thrust
forward. Eyes searching the ground ceaselessly, looking for IT. He
suffers through the heat. gets bruised knees, and gashed fingers. Finally there it is. the
rock of his dreams. He is sure of it. He labors mightily; to tear his rock from the clutch
of mother earth. He staggers with it the distance back to his vehicle. (its always a much
farther distance back than it was on the way out. that's the law governing rock finds.)
Driving home he experiences a deep feeling of satisfaction. The thought of future brags
and show and tell at the club meeting keeps stiff muscles and stinging insect bites at
bay. Before the next club meeting he cleans his rocks to show them off.
He may make a few cabs. He stores the remainder of his rocks in a box under his work bench
in his garage. As the years go Past and his specimens grow he stacks them ON
the workbench until he forgets he ever had a work bench. Such is the idyllic life of
rockhounds... Bless them. via AFMS Newsletter 09/99
DIAMONDS IN CANADA
Diamonds caused a mining rush just south of the Arctic circle in Canada's Northwest
Territory. They were First discovered by a Field geologist, Charles Fipke. He Followed
mineral clues for 8 years and began staking claims in the late 1980's. Now more
than 200 companies have staked out claims over a 75,000 square mile area. There are not
yet any producing mines. The Canadian Geological Survey is mapping the bedrock in the area
of rocks, tundra and frozen lakes. They report that the bedrock is at least 2.5 billion
years old and cut by many lava dikes younger than the bedrock. So Far, more than 100
diamond Pipes have been reported discovered.
Via The SHAWMISH ROKTANK March 1996
DEPARTMENT OF USEFUL? FACTS
· The only nation who's name begins with an A,but doesn't end in an "A" is
Afghanistan.
· The names of the three wise monkeys are: Mizaru: See no evil, Mikazaru: Hear no evil,
and Mazaru: Speak no evil
· When opossums are playing 'possum, they are not "playing." They actually pass
out from sheer terror.
· The Main Library at Indiana University sinks over an inch every year because when it
was built, engineers failed to take into account the weight of all the books that would
occupy the building.
· Each king in a deck of playing Cards represents a great king from history. Spades -
King David, Clubs - Alexander the Great, Hearts Charlemagne, and Diamonds - Julius Caesar.
· Texas is also the only state that is allowed to fly its state flag at the same height
as the U.S. flag.
Ken Gay via Hale Sweeny
AFMS Newsletter
November 12,1999 Minutes
The meeting was called to order at 7:40 by Bob Morse.
The minutes were read and accepted.
The treasurer's report was given by Andy Larson. Funds total, $3511.91.
The association distribution of funds for the August show will be realized in the future
and we may get 25% of the profit according to our club participation. Thank you to all who
gave time and effort!
Andy reported on the Chain of Rocks field trip for which we had 8 participants. It was a
cold day but everyone found something to take home and enjoyed the time together. Tomorrow
at 10 am whoever is interested is to meet at the beach again and search.
Roy Cottrell and Larry Toenjes served as, nominating committee with the following results:
Helen Heitland, sec. (transportation as needed)
Bob Morse, president
Peggy Nuske, vice-president (voted into membership)
Andy Larson, continue as treasurer until replacement
The club voted to accept these nominees to serve. Dianne Larson will replace Joan
Schlicter as publicity person. We all need to make effort in this area. Some help is still
needed at the Science Center exhibit, Nov. 12-21. Claudia and Dianne set up an exhibit for
this month at the Daniel Boone Library, on Clarkson and the Cottrell's plan to set up an
exhibit at the library in South county near them, for December. Bob shared about his
enjoyment in presenting rocks in many classroom settings. He may send out more postcards
to area residents who attended the August show to inform them of meetings. These efforts
help give the club visibility.
The Christmas potluck will be hosted by the Larsons,on Sat. Dec. 11th at 6pm. The club
will provide the meat and members provide the rest. Call Dianne (256-0241), to see what is
needed. Bring a White Elephant (something that needs a new home) and a canned good for
Circle of Concern.
Meeting adjourned at 8:15pm. Joan Schlicter won the door prize and Eleanor provided the
refreshments. Claudia did a great presentation on the tar pits of Hollywood.
Submitted by Dianne Larson, sec.
|