•  “Special Effects” in Minerals for May Meeting   
• Minutes of the April 14, 2006, Meeting           
• Minutes of the April Board Meeting           
• Free Gems & Gemology Archive Issues 
• Frederick H. Pough (1906-2008)              
• Calendar of Events               

 “Special Effects” in Minerals for May Meeting

Dr. George Rossman will present “Optical Phenomena in Minerals and Gems” on Friday, May 12, 2006 at 7:30 p.m.  Dr. Rossman is a world-famous professor of mineralogy at Caltech, a long-time MSSC member, and an engaging and always popular speaker. 

He will examine a wide range of optical phenomena including iridescence, labradorescence, stars, and opalescence in stones such as rose quartz, feldspar, rainbow obsidian and opal.  As usual, George’s talk will be a feast for the eyes with pretty pictures of the minerals themselves and corresponding high magnification electron microscope images that help determine the origin of these interesting special optical effects.

Minutes of the April 14, 2006 Meeting

The 818th meeting of the Mineralogical Society of Southern California was held on Friday, April 14, 2006.  President Ilia Lyles brought the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

She then introduced the speaker of the evening, Paul Adams, the past president of the Southern California Micro-Mineralogists.  Mr. Adams gave a presentation entitled:

“Recent Finds from the Majuba Hill and Willard Mines, Pershing County, Nevada.”

His numerous slides depicted not only the variety of crystal types and formations found in the copper and tin stopes of the Majuba Hill Mine, but also the hazardous conditions that exist in the mine including  narrow entrance points, sink holes, extreme humidity, inclines and  hard to access collecting areas.  The crystals collected, including copper arsenates, were generally one to three millimeters in size.  The relatively user-friendly open pit Willard Mine yielded a number of phosphate minerals. Among the outstanding finds were one-inch wavellite specimens.

Janet Gordon announced the recent passing of Fred Pough, field guide author, curator and significant contributor to the mineralogical community for many years.

Ilia Lyles stated that the next Board Meeting would be held at her home on April 23, 2006 at 2:00 p.m.

At show and tell, Shou-Lin Lee displayed opalized wood from Nevada and fire obsidian from Oregon.  Also on display were crystal specimens from the Majuba Hill Mine.

Marty Zinn’s Costa Mesa show will be held on May 12th, 13th and 14th.  The door prize was won by Hal Beesley.  Ilia Lyles brought the meeting to a close at 8:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Pat and Geoff Caplette

Minutes of the April Board Meeting

The April Board Meeting of the Mineralogical Society of Southern California was held on April 23, 2006 at the home of  President Ilia Lyles.  President Lyles brought the meeting to order at 2:15 p.m.  In attendance were the following MSSC members: Ilia Lyles, Jo Anna Richey, Walter Margerum, James Imai, Robert Housely, and Geoff and Pat Caplette.

Principal Topics:

Show Budget-Revised

Walt Margerum presented the Treasurer’s Activities1st Quarter 2006 Report.  Among the financial pages of his report was the Long Beach Convention Center settlement sheet.  The sheet attempts to bill the MSSC for the wrong convention room and occupancy date, among other problems.  The correction of the apparent clerical errors may serve to reduce the show loss by two to three thousand dollars. Walt Margerum will contact the appropriate convention center personnel regarding the billing problems.

Review of Current Finances

Walt Margerum pointed out that due to recent state legislation, nonprofit organizations now have to pay additional filing fees and related costs.  Such items are still relatively insignificant.

He also stated that the 1st Quarter Report did not reflect the approximate amount of $9,000 in assets that will be transferred to the MSSC as a result of the merger with the

Southern California Micro-Mineralogists.  The transfer can be accomplished as soon as the merger receives California Secretary of State approval. All required documents have been filed.

2007 Show

Walt emphasized that the MSSC could not afford to hold another large show. He stated that the original purpose of the show was to produce revenue to help balance the MSSC budget each year.  Instead of a commercial show, he suggested that the membership dues schedule be increased to accomplish the budget balancing. This approach was favorably received by those at the meeting.

Members discussed the many benefits received as a result of club membership, including the number and quality of speaker presentations, field trips, and information sources and contacts.

Some members, emphasizing the educational purposes of the MSSC, were in favor of combining exhibits, presentations and the like, at the annual picnic or micromount symposium.

Walt also indicated that the MSSC had additional display cases for sale.

SCMM Chair Position

Julie Curtis Steele, a member of the SCMM, has indicated her willingness to serve as Chairperson of the symposium.  It was moved, seconded and approved that she serve in such position. All members agreed it was advisable that the San Bernardino Museum curator and other concerned museum personnel be contacted by the MSSC in the near future for introductory purposes.

May and June Speakers

A number of potential speakers and sources for speakers were identified by club members.  The most promising candidates will be contacted promptly.

Field Trips

Proposed field trips included Topaz Mountain in Utah, the Kingston Range (amethyst) , the Champion Mine, and Dinky Creek. Walt Margerum and Bob Housely described possible trips to San Carlos and Haystack Mountain in the October-

November time frame.  Jim Imai was also familiar with the Haystack Mountain location.

Bulletin Editor

Members were informed that Shou-Lin Lee indicated her interest in becoming the new bulletin editor.  It was suggested that Ms. Lee meet with Janet Gordon to learn what is involved in preparing the bulletin each month.

Also discussed were various proposed format changes to make the bulletin less labor intensive to complete. 

July Board Meeting

The July meeting will be held at the home of Jim Imai.  

The board meeting was brought to a close at 4:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Pat  and Geoff Caplette

Gems & Gemology Archive Issues for 1934-1980 are Free Online

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is now offering its archive of back issues of Gems & Gemology through 1980 online at www.gia.edu/gemsandgemology with free access.  Just click on the “issues 1934-1980” button to obtain pdf files of all 192 issues.

The following is reprinted with the gracious permission of Wendell Wilson.  Others wishing to reprint this should contact him for permission via the citation at the end.

Frederick H. Pough

(1906-2006)

Frederick H. Pough was born in Brooklyn, New York on June 26, 1906, the son of Francis H. Pough, a chemist and manager of the Union Sulfur Company's refinery, and Alice Hooper Backler. His parents had met at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where Francis taught chemistry and Alice was a student in 1899.

Fred enrolled at Washington University in 1924, and transferred to Harvard the following year, graduating cum laude in 1928. His family moved to St. Louis, Missouri around 1930, and Fred worked there briefly as an insurance salesman, then returned to Washington University for graduate school; he did his Master's work at the Rueppele iron mine in Stanton, Missouri. He spent the years 1931-1932 in Heidelberg, Germany studying mineralogy under Victor Goldschmidt (he was Goldschmidt's last American student). He was awarded his M.S. (1934) and PhD (1935) degrees by Harvard, on the basis of his studies on phenakite morphology and paragenesis with Goldschmidt.

Fred taught mineralogy for a while at Harvard, then took a position as Assistant Curator at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. During the war he worked as a field mineralogist for the Manhattan Project in Brazil in 1941, and served in the Army Signal Corp in 1943. Returning to his post in the American Museum following the war, he was promoted to chairman of the Department of Geology and Mineralogy in 1952. From 1955 to 1964 he was President of Gem Irradiation Laboratories in New York, doing pioneering work on the irradiation of diamonds.

From 1964 to 1967 Fred served as Director of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. He then worked as an organizer of mineral-oriented tours for a San Francisco travel agency, and as consulting mineralogist for such companies as Harry Winston and Bulova, and was thereafter self-employed as a consultant under the company name of Mineralogy, Inc.

Fred served as gem expert for Jewelers' Circular-Keystone, contributing editor for Lapidary Journal (since 1945), and a consultant for the Gemmological Association of Japan. He was a Life Fellow of the Mineralogical Society of America and the Geological Society of America, and an honored member of many other professional organizations. He was awarded the Derby Medal by the Brazilian Geological Survey (1945), a Bronze Medal by the Royal Geographical Society of Belgium (1948), the Chilton Editorial Achievement Award (1972), the Hanneman Award (1988), and the Carnegie Mineralogical Award (1989).

Fred's principal fame as an author rests on his Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals, first published in 1953 and thereafter in numerous subsequent editions, total sales of which have exceeded one million copies. Generations of mineral collectors grew up with this book at their side. Fred also wrote hundreds of popular magazine articles, and numerous articles in technical mineralogy journals; he published the first descriptions of the new minerals brazilianite, mackayite and blakeite. He also supplied the mineralogical, gemological and geological definitions of terms for various dictionaries and encyclopedias, and has even produced educational films.

Fred Pough was a virtual legend in mineralogy and mineral collecting, his name and works universally known. He remained active, energetic and feisty in his old age, traveled and lectured widely, and was attending the Rochester Mineralogical Symposium at the time of his death on April 7, 2006.

WILSON, Wendell E. (2006)

             Mineralogical Record Label Archive, at  www.mineralogicalrecord.com. 

References:

 GAIT, R.I. (1991) Who's who in mineral names: Frederick H. Pough. Rocks & Minerals, 66, 462-463.

 WILSON, W.E. (2006) Notes from the editors: Died, Frederick H. Pough, 99. Mineralogical Record, 37 (3), 197.

Calendar of Events

May 6-7, Bakersfield, Kern Co. Mineral Society “Art in Stone” Kern Co. Fairgrounds, 1142 S. P. St., Hours 10-5 both days. Buster Ordiway (661) 563-8310, CaOrdPAT2aol.com.

May 6-7, Lone Pine, Lone Pine Gem & Mineral Society,Eastern Sierra Gem & Mineral Show, Tri County Fairgrounds, Hours: Sat. 9-5, Sun. 10-4, Fransic Pedneau (760) 876-4319, franceem@qnet.com.

May 13-14, Reno, Reno Gem & Mineral Soctiety, “Jackpot of Gems” Reno Livestock Events Center, Exhibit Hall 1350 N. Wells Ave., Hours: Sat, 10-5, Sun. 10-4. John Peterson, j+p@powernet.net.

May 20-21, Newbury Park, Conejo Gem & Mineral Club, Borchard Park Community Center, 190 Reino Rd., Hours: Sat. 9-5, Sun. 10-4:30. Sal Scarpato (818) 707-9972m salscarpato@sbcglobal.net.

May 20-21, Yucaipa, Yucaipa Valley Gem & Mineral Society, Yucaipa Community Center, 34900 Oak Glen Rd., Hours: Sat. 9-5, Sun. 10-4. William Jochimsen (909) 790-1475. Bjm2285@aol.com.