THE
772nd MEETING
OF
THE
MINERALOGICAL SOCIETY
OF
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
7:30 p.m., Friday May 10, 2002
Building
E, Room 220
Pasadena
City College
Pasadena,
California
Featuring
a Talk by
Dr.
Bonita Chamberlin
on
Afghanistan
its
Minerals,
Gems, and Geology
MAY PROGRAM
We've all seen the fine aquamarine, tourmaline, emerald and other specimens from Afghanistan in recent years, but this is only a start of the possibilities. Dr. Chamberlin is co-author of the book "Gemstones of Afghanistan" and has traveled extensively in that country for the last 25 years. Annually for three months and under very primitive conditions, she assisted local tribesmen of Panjsher, Badakhshan, Nuristan, and Sorobi in the mining, marketing and sale of gemstones and minerals. The gems were the only source of revenue available for the tribesmen because war had destroyed all other agriculture and animal husbandry. In addition, she has researched and documented gem and mineral deposits throughout the country, which has necessitated working with many tribal groups.
Dr. Chamberlin holds an undergraduate degree in anthropology from San Diego State University and a Ph.D. in biological sciences for the Universidad de los Andes in Bogotà, Columbia. She is exceptionally well qualified to share some cultural insights along with the geological information about this country that has so much of our attention today.
BLANCHARD MINE TRIP
The Blanchard mine field trip will be held on the May 11-13 weekend. Last years trip was a huge success; this years will be better. So plan to be there! You must sign up with Carolyn Seitz (Email: cmseitz@mindspring.com; Phone: 626-345-1223; Fax: 626-345-1225) no later than May 4 to go on the trip. See April Bulletin for details.
CERRO GORDO DIG
The Lone Pine Gem and Mineral Society will host a field trip to Cerro Gordo on June 30, 2002. The charge for collecting on the Cerro Gordo property is $20.00 per person per day. This fee will be waived on this day and we ask that those who participate make a donation to the Jody Stewart Memorial fund. We will meet at Lee's Frontier chevron, at the south end of Lone Pine and leave for Cerro Gordo at 8:00 AM sharp. Cerro Gordo was a major lead silver zinc producing mine that was discovered in the late 1860's. It is located in the Inyo Mountains east of Keeler at an elevation of 8500 feet. Jody Stewart and her husband Mike Patterson were in the process of restoring the Cerro Gordo ghost town at the time of her death December 7, 2001. Mike has has commited to carry on with the restoration project. Access to Cerro Gordo is via 9 miles of well graded mountain dirt road. High clearence vehicles are recommended.
Some of the minerals that can be found at Cerro Gordo are; azurite, calcite, caledonite, cerussite, chalcopyrite, chrysocolla, galena, gold, halloysite, hydrozincite, leadhillite, limonite, linarite, malachite, pyrite, quartz crystal, scheelite, silver, smithsonite, sphalerite, and sulphur. There are many fossils n the area. Any questions please call Francee M. Pedneau at 760-876-4319.
COLLECTOR’S NOTES
The Fernando Mine
by Walt Margerum
In early November 2001, Bob Housley, Al Wilkins and I visited the Fernando Mine located just East of Darwin in Inyo County.
The following description of the mine was taken from California Division of Mines Special Report 51 Economic Geology of the Darwin Quadrangle Inyo County, California, by Hall and Mackevett published in 1958.
The Fernando mine consists of two patented claims that lie adjacent to the Durham mine on the north, and both properties are accessible by the same road. The two mines have been worked as a unit through interconnecting workings. The Fernando mine was worked originally for its lead-silver values. The old workings are 500 feet N. 70° E. of the portal of the Fernando adit, and they consist of an inclined shaft 125 feet deep parallel to bedding and several levels driven from the shaft. Kelley (1938, p. 561) reports that on the 100-foot level mineralization along the Fernando shear zone is 30 to-40 feet wide and the ore consists of galena, cerussite, and anglesite in a gangue of limonite, calcite, and jasper. The only recorded production of lead-silver ore was in 1919 and 1920 when the mine was operated by Theo Peterson.
The tungsten ore is along the Fernando shear zone 500 feet S. 70° W. of the old Fernando workings. The shear zone is prospected and developed by three adits. The Fernando or zero level totals 1,850 feet of drifts and crosscuts, and a winze extends 40 feet below this level. The intermediate level, 230 feet above the zero level, and the Alameda glory hole have 310 feet of drifts and crosscuts. An inclined shaft 130 feet deep near the portal of the Fernando adit connects with the 100-foot level of the Durham mine.
But it was not the scheelite or the lead silver minerals that were our goal. Hall and Mackevett also reported bismuthinite [Bi2S3] crystals to two inches, and bismutite [Bi2(CO3)O2] pseudomorphs of bismuthinite as coming from this mine. These were our goals.
From Darwin the topography looks deceptively easy. The road is on a small flat and to the east there is a small rise of hills. The map shows that it is a mere 800 feet from the top of the rise to the mine. It is only when you get to the top of that rise that the true nature of the topography is apparent. The vertical distance is 320 feet giving an average slope of about 24 degrees! If you have ever hiked down a 24 degree slope the first thing you realize is that no portion of it is ever average. Having said that, we did reach the Fernando mine area, and did find some bismusthinite, and bismutite. All of the bismuthinite we found has been at least partially altered, some of it to a black powdery native bismuth. Most of the bismutite found was massive replacements of bismuthinite, but two specimens were bismutite pseudomorphs of bismutninite. The largest being a 2 cm spray of crystals in calcite found on the dump. In addition Bob found some ketternite [CaBi(CO3)OF] just inside one of the adits. Several small lumps of scheelite were also found, but no crystals. Bob also found small colorless fluorite cubes. In case you are interested the hike back up the hill was even more fun than the hike down.
I
know it's there somewhere
MINUTES OF THE APRIL MEETING
The meeting was called to order at 7:35 by president Dave Smith. The hall was packed. Pat Stevens immediately introduced Cal Graeber, our speaker for the evening. The talk on the Rogerly Mine was very interesting and enjoyable and there were a couple of boxes of nice fluorite for us to look at afterward.
Following the program Carolyn Seitz reported that everything is going well with 2002 Show preparations and that the LCMNH is really supporting our efforts. Walt Margerum discussed upcoming field trips to Crystal Ridge, The Blanchard Mine, and Topaz Mountain.
The meeting was then adjourned for coffee, cookies, and conversation.
Respectfully submitted by Bob Housley, Secretary
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
The Bowers Museum of Cultural Art is holding a series of lectures, and films on "Gem's The Art and Nature of Precious Stones" through May 12, 2002. There will be a display of gemstones including the world's largest cut gemstone; 500,000 carats! The Lecturers will include John Sinkankas, Dr. John, Koivula, Dr. Peter Keller, Dr. Jeff Postand John Marshall. The Museum is located at 2002 North Main St., Santa Ana CA. Phone (714) 567-3600 or visit their web site at www.bowers.org for more information.
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
11-12 Reno, NV
Reno Gem & Mineral Society
Reno Livestock - Events Center,
Exhibit Hall; 1350 N. Wells Ave.
Hours: Sat 10-5 Sun 10-4
John Peterson (775) 356-8820
18-19 Yucaipa, CA
Yucaipa Valley Gem & Mineral Society
Scherer Community Center, First
Street & Avenue B
Hours: 10-5 both days
Linda Metcalfe (909) 359-7263
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
JUNE
1-2 Glendora, CA
Glendora
Gems
Goddard Middle School
859 E. Sierra Madre
Hours: Sat 10-5 Sun 10-4
Mark Thompson (626) 335-3814
1-2 San Diego, CA
San Diego Lapidary Society
A Bahr Shrine, 5440 Kearny Mesa
Road
Hours: 10 - 5 both days
Richard Large (858)693-0464
15-16 Cayucos, CA
San Luis Obispo Gem & Mineral Club
Cayucos Vets Hall at the Pier,
Cayucos Drive.
Hours: Sat. 10 - 6; Sun. 10 - 5
George Moore (805) 772-2321
29-30 Culver City, CA
Culver City Rock & Mineral Club
Veteran’s Memorial
Auditorium, Culver Blvd. & Overland Avenue
Hours: Sat 10-6 Sun 10-5
Rosalie Peschel (310) 397-4336
Linda Taibi
Web Site: http://www.gembiz.com/ccrmc/fiesta.htm
