THE 771^st MEETING
OF
THE MINERALOGICAL SOCIETY
OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

7:30 p.m., Friday April 12, 2002
Building E, Room 220
Pasadena City College
Pasadena, California

Featuring a Talk by

Cal Graeber

on

The Rogerley Mine

APRIL PROGRAM

The April speaker will be Cal Graeber, and his topic will be the Rogerley mine. The Rogerley mine is located in Weardale, County Durham, Northern England, and is noted for its high quality fluorite specimens. Unlike most mines the Rogerley is a specimen only mine, and has never been an ore producer. The mine is located in an abandoned limestone quarry of the same name. There is an interesting article in the January / February 2000 issue of "Rocks and Minerals" for those interested in more information on the Rogerly.

BLANCHARD MINE FIELD TRIP

Carolyn Seitz will be hosting a field trip to the Blanchard Fluorite mine over the weekend of May 11, 12 & 13. 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. Last year's trip yielded some spectacular minerals.

The flyer in the center of the Bulletin gives more information on the trip.

If you plan to attend please contact Carolyn no later than Saturday, May 4 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.

CRYSTAL RIDGE

Jim Schlegel

I will be taking my annual trip to the Inyo Mountains, near Crystal Ridge (Desert Gem Trails, M. Strong), the weekend of April 20 - 21. Over the years this area has produced many fine quartz crystals, several in my own collection, and I hope it will again this year. Some nice pieces can be found lying around but expect to dig or break some rock for the best. I will have examples from previous trips at the April meeting.

Driving time from L.A. to Independence is about four hours. See the map for details from Independence. The campsite is a “dry camp” so bring your own everything. Water, fire wood, tools, etc. There are a few places on the way to the campsite that passenger cars will not be able to pass, but otherwise the road is decent. Be sure to stop on the dirt road, just past the cattle pens, and look at the gravel berm that has been built up from grading. You will find “Apache Tears” are plentiful.

I expect to be at the campsite some time Friday before noon. Look for a big white truck. If it’s raining or expected to rain, I will not be going. If rained out, I will try to reschedule the trip before it gets too hot.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

Walt Margerum

It’s spring and the Owens Valley beckons. Even though I have been to the valley many times there are still many places not visited, and many places to revisit.

When I first came to California in the early 1960’s I would go to the valley, do some fishing, take some pictures, and if I saw a mine collect some minerals. I don’t remember exactly when I obtained my copy of the California Division of Mines and Geology Bulletin 189 “Minerals of California” by Murdoch and Webb, but it was shortly after it was published in 1966. For the first time I had a list of all of the major mineral locations in California. For many years, before each trip, I would begin with a search through the bulletin, making hand written lists of minerals by location. Then there would be a trip to the closest map shop to try to find maps. Finally a trip to the library to read the references listed in the bulletin, and copy what I could. A slow and tedious process.

To simplify the process I started to buy USGS, and CDMG documents and maps at shows, and through book dealers. I now have over 300 Bulletins, Reports, etc. covering most of the southern part of California, Nevada, and Arizona. Add to this my Mineralogy and Geology books, and my topo maps, and there is more information than can ever used, or reasonably stored. But I still had to hand copy the information for each trip. A slow and tedious process.

When I bought my first computer in the 1980’s one of my first software purchases was a database. This allowed me to input data taken from my growing library, and to save, sort, and retrieve the data in multiple formats. I was no longer limited by what I could write on paper, but what could be saved in a computer. Over the years I have put almost 10,000 separate entries into this database, which has migrated through four computers. With the recent improvements in computer technology I can now throw away all of my paper topo maps, because they have been replaced by digital maps. I print out what I need and don’t have to carry four maps for every location. Murphy’s Law requires that every location of interest has to be in the corner of four maps. I now scan in relevant information from my library on whatever location I choose, and bring it with me. I don’t have to worry about damaging rare, fragile, and sometimes costly documents. Now I don't have to go to the map store or library before each trip, and make hand written pages of locations and maps. All I have to do is push the print button. A fast and simple process

So, why then do I sometimes yearn for the good old days when I saw a mine and found what was there. Maybe some of it has to do with the thrill of the find. When you don’t know what’s there, everything is a treasure. Now I have a list of what I should find and am disappointed if I don’t find everything on the list. Maybe some of has to do with it being the twenty-first century. I’m not as young as I used to be. Maybe it is because many areas are now off limits. All of the good mines seem to be off limits.

But sometimes I still see a mine not on any list or map, and find what is there. And I still go to the Owens Valley for the scenery, and the fishing!

MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY MEETING

The 769th MSSC meeting was called to order at PCC at about 7:30 pm by Janet Gordon who was the ranking officer there at the time. Janet promptly introduced George Rossman who was the evenings speaker. I arrived just as George was beginning his talk.

The talk was a fascinating introduction to biominerals. It turns out that there are at least 60 of them. Have you ever wondered why sharks teeth are some much more resistant to decay than other teeth and bones? Now I know it is because they are composed of fluorapatite, rather than the more common hydroyapatite. Did you know that chitons are able to wear grooves in carbonate rock because they have harder magnetite teeth on their radulas (tongues).

George also discussed the magnetite compasses in organisms ranging from bottom dwelling bacteria to carrier pigeons, and mentioned that humans also have magnetite in their brains, but do not appear to know how to use it.

He also explained why bamboo is hard on gardening tools. It is full of amorphous silica or opal. He illustrated with a picture of a bamboo leaf with all the organic matter leached out. There was still a perfect likeness showing all the veins and cell structure.

The turn out was good, with many PCC students also in the audience.

After the talk Dave Smith conducted the short business meeting. Carolyn Seitz reported on the progress of the 2002 Show Committee. She said that everyone she spoke to in Tucson seemed enthusiastic about the plan to move the Show to the LACMNH. She also passed out nearly 10,000 Show Flyers in Tucson.

The meeting was then adjourned and we retired to the adjoining rooms for coffee and cake. Janet had brought a couple of good cakes and Dave had renewed our coffee supply.

Respectfully submitted by Bob Housley, Secretary

MINUTES OF THE MARCH MEETING

The 770th MSSC meeting was called to order by president Dave Smith at 7:40 pm. Dave promptly introduced the speakers for the evenings program, Gene Fritsche and Susan Bartz, who then gave a very interesting presentation on the Chixilub impact event that wiped out the dinosaurs and many other forms of life 65 million years ago.

Gene began by outlining the geology of the areas in Belize and Mexico where they along with groups sponsored by the Planetary Society studied the impact ejecta. Susan then continued with a short travelogue describing the people and the wildlife in the region as well as the terrain. Then Gene described impact features seen mainly in a singe dolomite quarry on his trip in 1989. Susan followed with a description on additional sites and features seen on her trip in 1995. Finally Susan finished up by presenting models for the impact processes needed to account for the observations. They also brought a suite of the ejecta samples for us to examine. The program ended about 9 pm and was followed by considerable vigorous discussion.

Dave then conducted a short business meeting before we adjourned for refreshments. Carolyn Seitz reported that preparations for the 2002 Show are coming along well, although the important detail of power still needs to be more fully investigated before final arrangements are made.

Our new Field Trip Chair, Walter Margerum, mentioned the trip Carolyn Seitz plans to lead to the Blanchard Mine in May on Mothers Day Weekend and asked for volunteers to lead other trips. Jim Schlegel said he plans on a trip to Crystal Ridge in April as in past years.

We then discussed the need for a work day to make some needed repairs on our trailer and on some of the cabinets. Someone, I believe Carolyn or Janet, said they would contact Warren and Rock and try to set up a work day in June.

Respectfully submitted by Bob Housley, Secretary

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

APRIL

6-7 Haciends Heights, CA Puente Hills Gem & Mineral Club
"Magic In Rocks" Steinmetz Park, 1545 Stimson Avenue
Hours: 10 - 5 both days
Bob Hess (562) 696-2270

6-7 San Diego, CA San Diego Mineral & Gem Society
Al Bahr Shine Center, 5440 Kearny Mesa Rd.
Hours: Sat 9:30 - 5 Sun 10-4
Anne Schafer (858) 586-1637
E-mail: annes@san.rr.com
Web Site: http://www.sdmg.org 

27-28 Lancaster, CA Antelope Valley Fairgrounds
155 East Avenue
Hours: 9-5 both days
Olan Flick (661) 943-3882

MAY

4-5 Anaheim, CA Searchers Gem & Mineral Society
43rd Annual Show, America's Treasures
Brookhurst Community Center, 2271 West Crescent Ave.
Hours: Sat 10-6 Sun 11-4:30
Betty Nelson (714) 530-1365 / bethar@msn.com
Nancy Norlund (714) 960-6957 / njnorlund@netzero.net 

4-5 Bakersfield, CA Kern County Mineral Society
Kern County Fairgrounds
Hours: 10-5 both days
Herm Rogers (661) 589-3348

18-19 Newbury Park, CA Conejo Gem & Mineral Club
Borchard Park Community Center, 190 Reino Road
Hours: Sat 9-5 Sun 10-5
Bob Stultz (805) 498-4220
Web Site: http://www.cgamc.org