Bulletin of the
Mineralogical Society
of Southern California
Volume 77 Number 9 September 2007
The
835th Meeting
of The Mineralogical Society
of Southern California
Visiting Volcanoes
By
Rosaly Lopes
Friday, September 14, 2007, at 7:30 p.m.
Geology Department, E-Building, Room 220
Pasadena City College
1570 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
Featuring:
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How to visit volcanoes without getting burnt
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Picnic at Fallbrook Mineral Museum
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Field trip to Cerro Gordo
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Report on collecting at Topaz Mountain
Visiting Volcanoes - Without Getting Burnt!
By Janet Gordon
Dr. Rosaly Lopes of JPL will tell us "How to Visit Volcanoes Without Getting Burnt" at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, September 14, in room E220 at PCC. A trip to an active volcano is the ultimate in adventure travel. The traveler can see one of the major geologic processes that have shaped Earth at work. Rosaly Lopes, author of The Volcano Adventure Guide, will be talking about visiting active volcanoes around the world safely and enjoyably. She will give essential information for anyone wishing to visit, explore, and photograph active volcanoes. The talk will highlight some of the world’s most fascinating volcanoes, their dangers, and how to visit them – without getting into trouble.
Dr. Rosaly Lopes at Mt. Yasur, Vanuatu.
From www.volcanoadventures.com.
Dr. Lopes is a Principal Scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. An expert on volcanism on Earth and the planets, Dr Lopes has studied volcanoes on Earth, Mars, Jupiter's moon Io and Saturn's moon Titan. She was included in the 2006 Guiness Book of World records for discovering the greatest number of active volcanoes anywhere (71 on Io). She has published three books, including "The Volcano Adventure Guide", the first travel guidebook to volcanoes. In 2005, she received the Carl Sagan Medal from the American Astronomical Society, in recognition for her work communicating science to the public and, in 2006, The Pasadena Women at Work award. She is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Royal Geographical Society, and the Explorers Club.
Picnic at the Fallbrook Mineral Museum
Pre-picnic sale at Tourmaline Room. Photo by Shou-Lin lee
On August 18, 2007, the MSSC joined the Fallbrook Gem and Mineral Society in Fallbrook, at the Fallbrook Mineral Museum, for a picnic. Many MSSC members attended the event, participated in the selling and purchasing of mineral specimens to support the museum, and enjoyed the potluck luncheon.
The highlights of the day were the opportunity to see the progress made in the development of the museum and to view the spectacular mineral specimens in the display cases. Of particular interest were the many fine tourmalines from San Diego County mines, including the Cryo Genie, Stewart, Pala Chief, Himalaya and Little Three. Also impressive were aquamarines from Pakistan, timber from a Roman copper mine, botryoidal malachite, kunzite specimens, petrified wood, and a large fossil tusk.
MSSC members also had the opportunity to meet participants in the Fallbrook club, obtain field trip location tips, view exotic minerals at the sales tables, and learn new mineral cleaning techniques, illustrated with “before” and “after” photographs.
Respectfully submitted by Pat and Geoff Caplette
This is the star display in Tourmaline Room. The piece measured about 4 feet by 6 feet. The label read: Reassembled tourmaline gem pocket using actual materials found in 1974 in the tourmaline Queen Mine, Pala, California. It was reconstructed by Peter Bancroft and John Barlow and their families. Barlow’s trip to the mine followed the U.S. Post Office issuance of the American Mineral Heritage stamps one of which depicted a tourmaline found in the Tourmaline Queen Mine in 1913. Photo by Shou-Lin Lee.
REPORT ON THE CERRO GORDO FIELD TRIP
By James Imai
The June field trip to Cerro Gordo, hosted by the Lone Pine club, was well attended with about thirty participants. Meeting at Lee’s Service Station, we were addressed by Francis Pedneau, an officer of the club, who gave a short talk on the history of the mine and its minerals. He showed a remarkable specimen collected from last years outing, about the size of a bowling ball, consisting of solid silver bearing galena. The silver content of the ore was stated to be as high as 20%, which made the silver bullion value alone, worthy of a day’s effort in the field. Of course, it is even more valuable as a specimin.
The group formed a long caravan up the dusty road, traveling at a prudent, safe speed, then parked at the mine and began collecting. Most collectors were rewarded with small specimens showing the soft blue Smithsonite, but few were outstanding. Once it was shown that the silver bearing galena on the dumps and tailings piles had oxidized to a dull black, non-metallic luster, good ore samples were generally obtained. A few soft blows to remove the weathered layer immediately revealed the brilliant “steeley” silver bearing galena hidden beneath. Weight, by itself, was usually not a good criteria, because much of the galena was in calcite or quartz. One of the best specimens collected that day from the dump was a fist-sized solid sample of several pounds. Some copper bearing Scheelite in quartz was also collected, although the characteristic fluorescence could not be verified until later. The day was hot and depending on the individual tolerance to heat, the group gradually broke up after lunch and randomly descended the mountain. The descent is very steep, and all were cautioned to use low gears and conserve brakes on the downgrades.
California Federation of Mineralogical Society is Calling for Nomination of Scholarship Honoree from all Clubs and Societies
by Jo Anna Ritchey
MSSC can nominate someone as a CFMS Scholarship Honoree prior to the November Business Meeting.
The person must have made great contributions toward furthering the purposes and goals of the California Federation of Mineralogical Societies.
The person does not need to be a member of a Club or Society. Honorees selected (to be announced at the November business meeting) will have the opportunity to offer a $2,000 scholarship to the college or university of their choice.
The scholarship will go to a student who will be attending that school as a junior or senior in the fall term, majoring in the Earth Sciences or Jewelry Arts, and achieving a 3.0 grade point average. By October 15, 2007, write to: Jo Anna Ritchey, Chair, CFMS Scholarship Committee 224 Oaks Ave., Monrovia, CA 91016
Mineral Collecting at Topaz Mountain, Utah
By Steve Knox
It has been suggested that a field trip be conducted over the Labor Day holiday to visit the Topaz Mountain, UT site for minerals. For those considering the trip, this article is intended to present recent activities and possibilities for collecting. The site was visited this June for a couple of days to collect in the cove or ampitheater area which is probably one of the best known and easily collected locations in the range. Although a high clearance vehicle is recommend, it is possible, with care, to drive a standard car.
View of Topaz Mountain collecting sit. By Steve Knox
Situated about a forty minute drive time northwest of Delta, the range is composed of highly mineralized rhyolite, containing innumerable vents and pockets with sherry colored topaz. The crystals typically form up to an inch tall, although some are larger and may form clusters of crystals. They are often included at the base and clear toward the tip, but some are so heavily included that they are called topaz.? Larger crystals can be faceted into gemstones, but they fade to clear upon exposure to ultraviolet light, so care must be taken to keep them away from sunlight. At some locations, the crystals fade to a light pink. In addition to the topaz, other major minerals include garnet, pseudobrookite, bixbyite, hematite (blades), red beryl, and amethyst. Most pockets are small, averaging a few inches or less, and contain only a few crystals. On occasion, a vent or larger structure forms which can contain hundreds of crystals. When encountered, such areas can produce single crystals as well as matrix pieces with more than one species on the rhyolite. Combinations exist with topaz, pseudobrookite, and bixbyite all together. In other areas, small amethyst crystals line the pockets and form tubes several feet or more in length scattered with topaz on the amethyst.
Specifically on this occasion, the primary minerals collected were topaz and red beryl. At the site collected (see photo), approximately 100 or more topaz were collected each day with about 6-8 red beryls. The topaz were typically etched and loose in the pockets with 3-4 matrix pieces collected per day. The beryls are generally loose as well, however 4-5 matrix pieces were found, some being on the topaz. In addition, small (1-2mm) hematite blades were common and were often attached to the topaz. Pseudobrookite is also present in acicular needles up to 5mm. Within each area in the range, minerals may be scattered or in more abundance. Despite being heavily collected, the Thomas Range continually produces specimens with hard work, patience, and a little luck.
Pala Acquires Portion of Grieger Collection
Reprint from Gem News from Pala International
From 1933 into the late ’90s, Warner & Grieger Gems and 
Minerals (later simply Grieger’s) supplied and fascinated Southern California with their unique inventory of everything gem related. The original store in Pasadena (see photo at right) carried mineral specimens, gemstones, books, and gemology and lapidary supplies.
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A few jewels from Grieger’s faceted collection. Top row: 12.01-ct. colorless zircon, 27.4-ct. citrine, 8-ct. amethyst. Second row: 6.24-ct. tanzanite, 0.91-ct. benitoite, 4.36-ct. peridot, 11.3-ct. sphene. Bottom: 3.85-ct. rhodolite, (Photo: Wimon Manorotkul) |
It seems John M. Grieger’s true passion was in the mineral department, as he wrote in the introduction to the Warner & Grieger catalog on the occasion of the company’s tenth anniversary.
“Ten years ago I first experienced the thrill that comes with the ownership of one’s first mineral specimen. It is interesting to look back and reflect over ways in which this firm has grown from that seed. If everyone who reads this page could experience the fulfillment of desire that has been my good fortune, i am sure that they would pursue the fascinating hobby of mineral collecting with enthusiastic energy.”
Pala International recently acquired part of John M. Grieger’s personal collection, which included minerals; rough, cabochon, and faceted gems; books; and instruments.
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Samples from the Grieger mineral collection, recently acquired by Pala International. (Photo: John McLean) |
permission to reprint this article was given by Pala International.
Editor’s note: Carolyn Seitz read the above article in Gem New from Pala International April 2007 issue and took the initiative to obtain the permission to reprint the article. After I received her email we started chatting about the story we heard about Grieger’s and wondering whatever happened to Grieger’s. Following are some of those emails. If you have more information regarding Grieger’s please drop me a mail. I will publish them on a later date.
Whatever Happened to Griegers?
Janet Gordon: I think Rock Currier can give you more details of the end-of-Grieger’s story, but it goes something like this. After Grieger’s moved to the location on Foothill, the employees showed up for work one day to discover that they were locked out and the boss was nowhere to be found. Eventually people got inside and discovered that all the cut gems and cash were missing and that the computers had been wiped clean of all records. As far as I know the boss has never been found. Grieger’s never really reopened after that. I can remember buying tiger-eye from Grieger’s when it was on Walnut and I was a very little kid. They had lots of bins of pretty rocks to look through. My father bought some slabs of variscite, agate, malachite and other interesting items and built them into the fireplace hearth of the house my parents built right after my dad graduated from Caltech. It was to be a temporary measure until they could afford something better, but the minerals were still there when the house was sold decades later.Later Grieger’s moved to a fancy new building on Arroyo Parkway and displayed big mineral specimens in the exterior showcase windows. I think the place is now a gym. Their move to Foothill was to a larger facility.Carolyn Seitz:
I have a vague memory that Grieger's, which was on Lake Avenue at one time, moved over to Foothill Boulevard. I went there one day with another MSSC member, Steve Shailer. At that point - and this would have been about 8 years ago, the Grieger's on Foothill was closed, although it appeared they were still occupying that site.
At the last MSSC show in Pasadena, a mineral dealer who was new to MSSC, signed up to be a dealer and he had purchased a great deal of the stock from Grieger's when they were moving from Lake Avenue to Foothill. At that point, I think that dealer said that he bought the lots of flats at auction - and for very little money.Shou-Lin Lee:
I heard story about how it closed and often wonder whether it is just rumor. The story goes like this: the owner of Grieger's disappeared, did not bother to move the inventory either, and after some time lapsed, the owner of the property where the store was located, auctioned off all the store content. Was that really what happened? As a matter of fact, earlier this year I purchased a box of pink fluorite rough at Quartzsite and was told that the box was part of Grieger's old inventory.
2007 Calendar of Events
September 15-16 2007, Redwood City, CA Sequoia Gem & Mineral Society Community Activities Building 1400 Rosewood Ave. Hours: 10-5 both days Carol Corden (650) 248-7155 Website: sqms.driftmine.com
September 15-16 2007, Paso Robles CA Santa Lucia Rockhounds Pioneer Park Museum 2010 Riverside Drive Hours: 10-5 both days Mike Doherty (815) 466-4061
September 20-23 2007, San Bernardino CA Orange Belt Mineral Society, Inc. Western Region Little League Ball Park 6707 Little League Dr. Hours: 9 a.m. - Dusk each day Emma rose Couveau (951) 288-6182
September 22-23 2007, Downey, CA Delvers Gem & Mineral Society Woman Club of Downey 9813 Paramount Blvd Hours: Sat. 10 - 6; Sun. 10 - 4 Steve Miller (562) 633-0614
September 22 2007, Los Altos, CA Peninsula Gem & Geology Society Recreation with Rocks RanchoShopping Center Foothill Expressway & Springer Road. Hours: Sat 9:30am-4:30pm
September 29-30 2007, Stockton, CA Stockton Lapidary and Mineral Club Scottish Rite Masonic Center 33 West Alpine Ave. Hours: Sat. 10 - 5; Sun. 10 - 4 Nettie Meissner (209) 858-2263
September 29-30 2007, Monterey, CA Carmel Valley Gem & Mineral Society Monterey Fairgrounds 2004 Fairgrounds Rd. Hours: Sat. 10 - 6; Sun. 10 - 5 Sky
October 7 2007, Fallbrook, CA Fallbrook Gem & Mineral Society "Fall Festival of Gems" FGMS Museum 123 W. Alvarado Hours: 10 - 4 Mary Fong-Walker (760) 723-3484 FGMSORG/organization/orglocations/html
