THE 760th MEETING
of
THE MINERALOGICAL SOCIETY
OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

7:30 p.m., Friday May 11, 2001
Geology Building E Room 210
Pasadena City College
Pasadena, California

Featuring a Talk
by
Robert Verish and Ron Hartman

"METEORITES  OR  METEOR-WRONGS?"
   
"Calling All Meteorites!!"

MAY  PROGRAM

This months special guest lecturers are Robert Verish and Ron Hartman. They will be presenting a program on the identification of meteorites. 

Mr. Verish, who works as a contractor for JPL's Deep Space Network (DSN), is one of the few people who has found, and eventually identified, a rock from another planet - two pieces of a meteorite - composed of a type of rock from Mars known as a shergottitic basalt.  While traveling home from his work site at NASA's Goldstone Tracking Station in the Mojave, Bob would take side trips to do some rockhounding.  Over the past 20 years he has amassed a large collection.  On one of these side trips, Bob picked up and took home some odd-looking, glassy rocks. At least 18 years would pass until he would see these rocks again while cleaning out his rock collection.  In the intervening years Bob had earned a degree in geology from Cal State University at Los Angeles and developed an interest in the space sciences.  Upon recognizing the rocks as being possible meteorites, he took samples of them to the Cosmochemistry Lab at UCLA, where their analysis eventually would show that these rocks had come from MARS!

Bob, also known on the Internet as "Bolide*chaser", has recently appeared in a segment of "Hunt For Amazing Treasures" on The Learning Channel. This video segment is a mini-documentary about his recent pursuits to try and find the original location and more of the Mars rock meteorite that he found while rockhounding.  Although Bob hasn't found any more Mars rocks, his efforts have resulted in several other new, stony meteorite finds for California and Nevada.  Currently in his spare time, Bob is the Principal Field Investigator for the Meteorite Recovery Foundation.

Ron Hartman is Professor of Astronomy at Mt. SACC, Walnut, CA.  He is in charge of that school's Planetarium.  He regularly presents shows to all grades of science classes and tours.  In the lobby of the Planetarium are several displays of meteorites, all from his personal collection.  The school kids are always quite impressed, since these displays rival those at the Griffith Observatory.

Ron is noted as being the first person to have gone to a desert dry lake to purposely LOOK for meteorites, AND (on his first trip) to actually FIND one.  Later, he found several more.  He published a paper in 1964 based upon these finds, which are now called the Lucerne Valley Meteorites.  In 1999, 36 years after making his first find, Ron found the 17th Lucerne Valley Meteorite.  Ron Hartman along with his son, Jim, are noted meteorite specimen preparers.  Their web site is: http://www.themeteoritesite.com/

Bob has offered to inspect any and all suspect meteorites.  So come to the next meeting and bring your 'space rocks' with you.
   

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

If the speaker listed in this Bulletin seems familiar, he is.  Due to a misunderstanding there was no speaker at the last  meeting.  Robert Verish has kindly consented to give his presentation at the May meeting.  As you can see, he has added Ron Hartman as his associate.           
      

PRESIDENTS COLUMN

by Dave Smith

As I indicated in the March meeting, I consider the filling of the Committee chair positions of the utmost importance for this society. It is fairly difficult to sell these positions because we haven't always a clear idea what duties each position entails.  Most of these positions don't require a huge amount of time or work from an individual. 

I would like to compile descriptions of these tasks and make them available for the membership to read.  This task has been undertaken before and many of these descriptions currently exist.  The problem has been a lack of a durable repository for these valuable documents. 

I have spoken with our Webmaster, Bill Besse, and we have agreed that these descriptions could easily be incorporated into the web page, giving us a location to retain the information and provide the most accessibility possible at the same time. 

I would like to request anyone that has any of these descriptions to send them in to me, or the society.  Additionally, if some of our fine members who have held these positions in the past could write up what they used to do as part of their job, we could utilize that input to create descriptions for any positions that don't have one written up yet.

This society was described by one of our most recent life member honorees, John Sinkankas, as "the most active and productive earth science organization in America".  In order to live up to such high praise, we need to reactivate these essential functions and I consider this to be the first step.  We will revisit this topic in future Bulletins for updates and some previews of some job descriptions of chairmanships we would most like to fill. 
   

CFMS  2001 SHOW

Greetings from Santa Lucia Rockhounds

Bea and Sherm Griselle, Co-Chair Show Committee-2001

The Santa Lucia Rockhounds, the host society for the CFMS 2001 Show, is pleased to welcome you to the Federation's 62°d Annual Gem, Jewelry, and Mineral Show. As you meet in Paso Robles, we are confident you will thoroughly enjoy a splendid three-day show. Come and meet with hundreds of other gem, jewelry, and mineral enthusiasts who will gather at our California Mid-State Fairgrounds.

The three-day show will feature over 150 excellent exhibits of some magnificent minerals, fossils, petrified wood, gems and jewelry. You will learn from demonstrators experienced in lapidary arts, fossil preparation, and use of tools and machinery utilized by rockhounds. There will be an extensive youth education and games area for young people. There will be 50 dealers offering a wide selection of quality items for sale to amateur rockhounds and experienced collectors. Attend the free Cracker Barrel get-together on Friday evening, which is open to all and will be an entertaining evening. The Banquet Saturday evening promises to be a very congenial event this includes the presentation of awards. The Editor's Breakfast on Sunday morning will be educational and entertaining and is a "must attend" for all society bulletin editors.

Extend your visit while you are in Paso Robles so you can enjoy our magnificent Central Coast with its natural attractions. Our beautiful rolling hills and valleys hold historic small towns, rivers and lakes, gorgeous oak forests, dozens of vineyards with wine tasting opportunities, golf courses, and ocean beaches, fishing, and cruises. Other attractions include California Missions, Hearst Castle, and the coastal towns of Cambria, Cayucos, and Morro Bay. The area's restaurants, motels, and mobile home parks are the best.

Get your Calendar 2001 out and write-in the CFMS 2001 Show, June 22 / 24, along with some extra days to visit our Central Coast and its many entertaining, historic and educational places and activities. I know that when you return home you will take with you wonderful memories of the show and your visit to the Paso Robles area.

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND FIELD TRIP

The Blanchard Mine, Bingham New Mexico

Carolyn Seitz will be hosting a field trip to the Blanchard Fluorite mine over the Memorial Day weekend, May 26, 27, & 28.  Some of the finest fluorites in the world have come from The Blanchard.  In addition to fluorite, it is also possible to find galena, selenite, smoky quartz, amethyst, wulfenite, linarite, brochantite and other minerals. 

The flyer in the center of the Bulletin gives more information on the trip.  For more reading on The Blanchard Claim, see Mineralogical Record's New Mexico issue - Volume 20, #1.  You can also visit Bob's Rock Shop online and their posted information about New Mexico collecting. The website is :

     www.rockhounds.com/rockshop/nmsites.html 

If you plan to attend please contact Carolyn by e-mail (cmseitz@mindspring.com) no later than Monday, May 21 with information about the number of people in your party and your expected arrival time.

The easiest route is via Interstate 40 to Albuquerque, South on Interstate 25, then east on US 380 to Bingham.  The distance from Pasadena City College to Bingham is 900 miles with a driving time of 13 hours 45 minutes.  This assumes no stops and an Interstate speed of 70 m.p.h.  Your time will vary depending on stops, and speed.  There are several attractions along the way such as the Grand Canyon, Meteor Crater, and the Petrified Forest.  In addition, if time allows, we recommend that you make plans to visit the New Mexico Museum on the campus of New Mexico Tech in Socorro.

What: We will be collecting at the very well known Blanchard Mine over Memorial Day weekend. Some of the finest Fluorites in the world have been found at The Blanchard. We will be collecting on the dump, in many exposed cut areas and it is possible the mine owners will allow collecting underground. MSSC does not sanction underground collecting at any time. If you choose to collect underground, you will do so at your own risk.

Accommodations: Dry camping is available at the base of the mine. You must bring all of your own supplies, food and plenty of water. There is room for RV parking and tents.

Children? Yes, you may bring children on this trip, but they must be well supervised and well under control.

Safety Equipment: Hard hats and miner’s lights are a must for underground collecting. For collecting on the surface, sunscreen, wide brimmed hats and gloves are recommended. Fluorite collecting is always hard rock mining. Bring appropriate collecting equipment – hammers, chisels, gads, pry bars, etc. No power tools will be allowed.

Snakes? Yes. Rattlesnakes are common in this area. No scorpions have ever been observed. Please do not bother the snakes and please do not kill or injure them unless you are in direct jeopardy. They serve a valuable purpose in this micro-environment.

Weather: You can expect daytime temperatures to be relatively high – as much at mid 90’s. Be prepared for cool evenings as it cools off quickly when the sun goes down.

Vehicle Access: High clearance four-wheel drive vehicles are a must for access to the collecting areas at the Blanchard. They are not necessary for access to the dry camping area. 

Cost: The cost for collecting will be $5 per day per person. All persons in your party are expected to pay this $5 per day – in cash - even if they are not directly involved in collecting activities. There will be no exceptions.

Mandatory Meeting: All people who wish to have access to The Blanchard for any or all of these three collecting days must be at the Blanchard Rock Shop in Bingham, New Mexico at 8:30 am on Saturday, May 26 to complete liability waiver forms and pay the collecting fee. If you do not think you can make it to the Rock Shop on Saturday morning, but expect to attend this field trip on Sunday and/or Monday, please make advance arrangements with Carolyn Seitz. PLEASE NOTE: PROOF OF CURRENT MEMBERSHIP IN THE MSSC MUST BE PRESENTED TO CAROLYN SEITZ PRIOR TO COMPLETION OF THE LIABILITY WAIVER FORMS. NO ACCESS TO THIS FIELD TRIP WILL BE ALLOWED WITHOUT PROOF OF MEMBERSHIP IN EITHER THE MSSC OR ANOTHER CFMS MEMBER CLUB OR SOCIETY. THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS. 

After all paperwork is completed at the Rock Shop in Bingham, we will caravan to the collecting site. At the collecting site, there will be a mandatory safety meeting before anyone is allowed to collect. 

If you are planning to attend, please inform Carolyn Seitz, email at cmseitz@mindspring.com, no later than Monday, May 21 with information about your expected date and time of arrival in Bingham and the number of people in your party.

CAVEAT: The claim owners for The Blanchard have made a request that no mineral dealers be allowed to participate in this field trip. Since they will not expect us to pay for the specimens we find on their claim, they do not want to be faced with having to compete with dealers when they are ready to sell their material. We have agreed to respect this request.