Bulletin of the Mineralogical Society 
of Southern California

Volume 81  Number 2                                          February 2010

The 862nd Meeting of The Mineralogical Society 
of Southern California

Tourmaline: Pegmatites of Southern California

By

Simon King

Friday, February 19, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.

Geology Department, E-Building, Room 220

Pasadena City College

1570 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena

Featuring:

February 19 Program

Our meeting is scheduled for Friday, February 19th.

Our presenter is Simon King speaking about Tourmaline Pegmatite of Southern California.  His talk will mention several of deposits but will mostly focus on the Himalaya mine in San Diego County.  He was present when a major pocket was discovered there in May 2008.  He was featured in a Travel Channel television show about this pocket.  He estimates that several hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of specimens were removed from this single pocket.  He will show many photos from this exciting pocket as well as display a variety of specimens.

Simon King has dug minerals in various pegmatites for about 45 years.  He was a member of the North Island Gem and Mineral Society and served as president for 12 years.  He led trips to the Himalaya mine for about 10 years.  He also teaches faceting, silver fabrication, sphere making and chain making.

 

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Report on MSSC 2010 banquet

By Geoffrey Caplette

An enjoyable evening was had at the 2010 banquet with spirited bidding on a large variety of minerals and literature. The normal changes of leadership within the club announcements were dispensed with as there is not anyone willing to help writing the minutes nor develop field trips. Alas, what happened to the micromounters seems to be happening within the MSSC as well.

John Koivula shared his research on inclusions in gemstones. The implications of their presence and chemical makeup are much more significant than one would realize on a cursory review. It was a joy to hear someone who really loves what he does.

Plea for help

We are in most critical need of a club secretary.  Just take a few notes, compose a few paragraphs 11 times a year. Give back to the club that has given us all so much.

 

Thanks to Ronald Thacker’s generosity.

There were more than three tables full of specimens, books and tools for the silent auction.

We Have a Very Serious Problem

By Shou-Lin Lee

If you find the report for the January program too short, that’s because we (MSSC) no longer have a secretary.  After four years of hard work, Patricia Caplette decided that it is time to pass the torch.  For the past four years, Mrs. Caplette dutifully recorded the minutes for the monthly meetings and the annual board meetings and kept the members informed.  Always in detail and on time, her hard work deserved a round of applause from us.  I was very grateful.

Unfortunately, no one volunteered to step up.  So here we are, 2010, no secretary, no field trip chair and no show chair, either.  What will be next?  Have you checked the list of MSSC officers, directors, and committee chairs on page 15 recently? 

First we stopped doing the show, because no one volunteered to be show chair.  Then we stop posting newsletters in the website.  Then we planned less and less field trips.  With less and less Society activities each month, trying to fill the newsletter with “news” of the Society becomes more and more challenging because there is not much to report.  Fortunately, we got a new webmaster and the website is finally up to date.  But now, without a secretary to write the program review and minutes, I may as well just reduce the newsletter to a one page flyer with the date and time of the monthly program title, the West Coast Show advertisement and the calendar of events.  The vitality of a Society relies on all its members’ participation.  Membership dues only contribute a part toward its survival. 

Speaking of membership, have you counted the number of names in the roster?  In the year 2009, we had a little over seventy paid members and about twenty something honorary and lifetime members.  Even in the membership department, we are shrinking too.  To say that the reason our membership is dwindling is because people no longer interested in minerals I would argue to the contrary.  There are more gem and mineral shows than ever.  The San Diego Gem and Mineral Society has more than 400 members and the Quartzsite Roadrunners Gem and Mineral Club have more than 800 members.  Quartzsite! of all places!  Even our neighboring city, the Monterey Park Gem Society, that does not have an annual show has more members than we do.  

Although my membership with MSSC is not very long, I am fully aware of the prestigious status MSSC enjoyed in the past.  Recently, I had a chance to meet Shirley Leeson, CFMS historian.  She told me that MSSC was a very prestigious society and used to be the model for all other clubs and societies.  In many of the shows I go to, I often meet people commenting on the big shows MSSC used to put on and then ask me when the next show will be.  I often smile awkwardly, mumbling something, not wanting to admit that we are shrinking.

What are we going to do when the day comes that no one is volunteering to be officers or directors?  Are we going to merge with some other society? 

If we want to continue to have the kind of quality program every month we now enjoy, we need to do some serious recruitment.  If we cannot do an annual show how about some educational symposium?  Programs is really what we are good at.

Let’s really work hard in recruiting new members and promoting our society.  Hopefully the following article rom CFMS newsletter about promoting our society can give you some ideas.

Silver Bullets ?

Promoting Your Society Attracting New Members

(Reprint from C.F.M.S. Newsletter XLVI#1 January 2010)

By Elizabeth Myers

If you want to grow your society, what are the tools that your society uses to promote itself? Consider these:

• Newspaper advertising--  In the classified section of your local newspaper, do you have an ad in the meetings portion reflecting the date, time and location of your monthly meetings?  Does it list a contact telephone number?
• Telephone-- Does your society have a designated, locally listed telephone number to call for questions and information?  This could be tied to an answering machine, with a member responsible for returning calls. The cost per month is very reasonable and provides a lot of “stature” and “stability” to your organization.
• Handouts--- What sort of handouts do you have to distribute to someone who may be interested in joining (or just learning more about) your society?
• Postcards-- You can make your own “Got Rocks?” postcards which are pre-addressed to your society? mailing address. All that needed is the “sender’s” name, address and telephone number and a postage stamp.  With permission, these postcards can be left at libraries, chambers of commerce, select businesses (such as rock shops).
• Fliers-- You can print “bi-folds,” “tri-folds” or other such literature containing information about your Society for distribution at shows and to provide to prospective members.
• Displays-- would your local library, community center or county offices allow you to display rocks, gems, fossils and other items in their foyers?
• Internet-- Do you have a website?  Is it updated regularly?
• Subscriptions-- How about contacting your local library and donating a subscription to Rock and Gem Magazine (or other such publication)?  The library would greatly appreciate the donation; your society would receive the recognition; and new readers could be introduced to rockhounding.
• Replies-- How do you respond to “inquiries” about your society?  Consider sending an “acknowledgement letter” thanking the sender for their interest, a copy of a recent society newsletter, an application for membership (with a return envelope) and some literature (e.g. tri-fold, bi-fold, etc.) and inviting them to attend an upcoming general membership meeting.

These are just a few of the ways that “growing” societies continue to expand their membership.  If you would like more “details” or to serve on the committee, I love to hear from you.  

Field Trips South

Wiley’s Well Ant Hill-February 27

(Reprint from C.F.M.S. Newsletter XLVI#2 February 2010)

By Shep & Adam

With last year's great turnout of nearly 100 attendees we're doing it again.

WHERE: Ant Hill, Bakersfield, Ca

WHEN: February 27, Saturday at 9am

MATERIAL: 15 million year old fossils of shark teeth, whale teeth, seal teeth, porpoise teeth, whale bone, etc from Middle Miocene Marine beds.

MEET SPOT: 9AM NE of Bakersfield on corner of Lake Ming Rd and Alfred Harrell Hwy at the Chevron station. Alfred Harrel Hwy can be reached by heading east from Bakersfield on Rt 178 or heading east on Rt 58 to Comanche Rd then turning north. Comanche Rd becomes Alfred Harrell at Rt 178.  From here go about two miles to Lake Ming Rd and meet spot.  Here we will sign Waivers of Liability, see samples of specimens and receive digging instructions.

TOOLS: hammer, chisel or screwdriver, 1/4" mesh sifting screen or colander, shovel, bucket, zip lock bags, water spray bottle.  Hiking shoes and clothes to get dirty in.  From the meet spot we will drive about another mile to parking area then hike about 3/4 mile on a uphill slope which gets steep the last 200 yards.  The fossil trenches are near the summits of steep hills. Be advised: this is a known Valley Fever area although rarely a problem especially in winter.  Wear masks if concerned. Also snakes and spiders inhabit these hills. To find fossils requires a combination of sifting debris or prying out chunks of the "wall". These hills will soon undergo housing development so collect while you can.

Weather and roads: Roads are paved until last 300 feet to parking area. Weather is unpredictable although this soil is more rain tolerant. Dress accordingly for temperatures and conditions.

Public Lands Advisory Council South

California Desert Conservation and Recreation Act of 2010

(Reprint from C.F.M.S. Newsletter XLVI#2 February 2010)

By John Martin

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) introduces legislation that would withdraw 1.6 million acres of desert landscapes from public access. The 1.6 million acres is larger than the state of Connecticut and this legislation will close some of the best rockhound collecting areas in Southern California . 

The proposed legislation, known as the California Desert Conservation and Recreation Act, will designate 394,807 acres of wilderness from the Avawatz Mountains near Death Valley to the largest Sonoran woodland in North America along the Colorado River. The legislation would also create two new national monuments, the Mojave Trails (10 miles on each side of Historic US Route 66 from Barstow to Needles) and the Sand to Snow (Establishes a national monument covering approximately 161,000 acres of land between Joshua Tree National Park and the San Bernardino National Forest in San Bernardino and Riverside counties) — and expand Joshua Tree National Park (Approximately 2,873 acres in multiple isolated parcels of BLM land on the northern boundary of the park that abuts residential areas.) and Death Valley National Park (Approximately 37,379 acres, including a narrow strip of land between the southern boundary of the park (31,000 acres known as the “Bowling Alley” and a former mining area 6,379 acres known as the “Crater Area”) and the Mojave National Preserve (Approximately 29,221 acres on the northeastern corner of the park known as Castle Mountain.) It will also protect important waterways such as the Amargosa River (Extend the recent wild and scenic river designation 2 miles to include private lands just outside of Death Valley that have just been acquired by the BLM. Additionally, an adjacent 1.4 mile segment of the river would be named potential wild and scenic.), Deep Creek (This would authorize a wild and scenic designation of 20 miles running from the northern boundary of the San Bernardino National Forest down the mountain into the Mojave River.), Holcome Creek: (The bill would authorize 14.5 miles adjacent to Deep Creek.), Whitewater River (The bill would designate 24.5 miles of the river in the San Bernardino Mountains). Surprise Canyon Creek (This would protect 7.1 miles of riparian habitat along the western border of Death Valley that off-roaders used to be allowed to use for “rock crawling.) as Wild and Scenic Rivers .

Section 14: Prohibited Uses of Donated and Acquired Lands

This section would prohibit the use of donated or acquired lands for development, mining, off highway vehicle use (except designated routes), grazing, military training and other surface disturbing activities. (This means Rockhounding) This prohibition would apply only to public lands within the California Desert Conservation Area.  It will not do any good to write to our senators but, we might find a sympathetic ear in some of the other 49 states or in the House of Representatives. If we value our rockhound hobby in Southern California we must act soon or the only way will be able to enjoy our public lands and deserts is by buying pictures of the Desert from those supporting this bill. Write your elected officials and voice your opinion and concerns

Email from Norman G. Lee, Bruce R. Lee’s Son

…., my name is Norman Lee and I had tried to make contact through the website address of mssc@mineralsocal.org, but was undeliverable. So I am contacting you instead. I had wanted to inform whomever, that in the Pictorial Society History portion of the website and the photo listed as "At the Show, members in a discussion, 1 October 1966. Left to right: Rock Currier, Milton Wise (back turned), Bob Pederson, unknown, Gus Meister.", the unknown person is my father Bruce R. Lee. My father and mother, Flo Harshbarger, were members of MSSC and raised my sister and I in the ways of MSSC life. Bruce lives in Sparks, Nevada, I live in Gardnerville, Nevada, my mom remarried Keith Harshbarger many years ago and still live in Altadena. Keith used to work for Rock Currier at JTI. Thanks for the website and I look forward to reviewing it often.

This is the picture Mr. Lee referred to.

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Can Anyone Help Peter Farquhar?

An email from: Peter Farquhar was forwarded to me regarding a rutile specimen collected from Champion Mine sometime in 1978.  Below is the body of the text:

“I'm wondering if you might be able to help me.  I'm researching the provenance of an unusual rutile specimen collected during an MSSC field trip to the Champion Mine in the White Mountains of California sometime in May 1978.  Would you know the exact dates of the field trip, who was among the thirty or so participants, and where could I might get a copy of the MSSC Bulletin(s) announcing and/or reporting on this field trip?

The rutile specimen is a complete eightling.  Have you seen or know about any other cyclic twinned rutile specimens from the Champion Mine locality?  I would appreciate any leads or information you might have.

WEST COAST SHOW MOVES TO FAIRPLEX AT POMONA

 

By WCGMFS staff

The Holiday Inn - Costa Mesa is no longer.  The site of the semi-annual West Coast Gem & Mineral Show for the last 20 years has become The Hotel Hanford.  It is being converted to a "Boutique Hotel" and the renovation will include smaller guest rooms and much larger beds which could not be moved during the semi-annual mineral & gem show.  The conversion of the hotel made it very "unfriendly" for dealers in a trade show. Time to move.

Not too long ago, four MSSC shows were conducted at Fairplex in Pomona, with great success.  Fairplex at Pomona offers a central location and plenty of exhibitor space in a wide-open exhibit building format. Moving the show to Fairplex will overcome two of the most serious problems encountered by show management in recent years.  There is plenty of parking at Fairplex (7000 spaces) and there's plenty of room for dealer displays.  Fairplex at Pomona is about a 30-minute drive from Costa Mesa, so it's more distant from San Diego but closer to major metropolitan areas to the north, west and east.

The West Coast Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show, at Fairplex Buildings 7 and 9, will include demonstrations, speakers, door prizes, special exhibits and much more to see.  The May 2010 show will include about 80 retail dealers and 15 wholesale dealers.  Speakers will include Rock Currier and Marty Zinn.  There will be a $5/adult admission charge and one free admission is offered with each parking receipt. Parking is $9/day.

For more information, visit www.mzexpos.com/westcoast_spring.htm.

Mark your calendar NOW and plan to visit the show on May 14-16, and Nov. 12-14, 2010.

2010 Calendar of Events

February 12-21, Indio, CA San Gorgonio Mineral & Gem Society Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival Gem amp;& Mineral Building Bldg #1 46-350 Arabia Street Hours: 10 am - 10 pm

February 26-27, Northridge, CA Del Air Rockhounds Club  United Methodist Church  9650 Reseda Blvd. (at Superior St.)  Hours: Fri. 3 p.m. -9:30 p.m. - Sat. 10-5  

February 26 - March 7, Imperial, CA Imperial Valley Gem & Mineral Society California Midwinter Fair & Fiesta G&M Bld Hours: 2/26-2/28 & 3/6-37 noon-10p.m.; 3/1-3/5 4p.m.-10p.m. Joe Rodrigues (760) 353-1965