![]() | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||
|
| ||
|
Wire
wrapping is a technique which involves wrapping wire around gemstones or
cut stones to make rings, pendants, etc. I
The Club will provide cups and napkins for the refreshments. Those volunteering to provide refreshments need only provide sufficient drinks, ice, and snacks, such as, cookies, cakes, crackers, or donuts. Please see Hazel Goode to volunteer.
If you enjoy the refreshments, please be prepared to take a turn in furnishing them. NOTE: if you volunteer to bring refreshments, please do so. If, however, you are unable to attend for whatever reason, call Hazel Goode, Lowell Baker, or Arvil Marion.
August
22, 2009 Annual Club Picnic September
11-13, 2009,
The Thirty-eighth Annual Gem and Mineral Show. As information to those
that are not already aware, the theme mineral for the 38th
Show, in honor of our club president is barite. So start thinking about
all those barites you have hidden away to proudly display at this
year’s Show.
Two hundred and
fifty pounds of geodes have been ordered. The banner space
has been reserved and the banner is being updated.
AFMS
Conservation & Legislation Chairman Back in October 2008, I planned to write about
“Conflict The
thing you need to be aware of is that efforts are well under way in the
US Congress to have these same I’ve
often heard that an elephant is a mouse built to government
specifications and now with the current trend
THIS
CAN HAPPEN TO YOU On
November 1, 2008, my fiancee, Dori, and I were criminally charged
with collecting Staurolites on U.S. Forest Service land. Local
collectors have been going to this location to collect Staurolites for
over 30 years. Our friends, Tonya and Barry, informed us of the location
in Blue Ridge. We visited this area four (4) times in the summer and
fall of 2008. The Staurolites we found on the surface were mostly poor
quality. However, just a few inches under the surface using a scraper we
found much better quality ones. We used hand tools including a scraper
and a small pick. I feel we were very careful not to damage the site. We
did not dig more than 6 or 7 inches and completely filled in our holes
and raked the dirt to ensure the site looked undisturbed. On November 1,
2008 Officer Mike Tipton of the USFS approached us. We did not attempt
to hide ourselves because we had no idea we were doing anything wrong.
He stated he had set up a video camera at the site and had been watching
us. This was very alarming to us. I assured him if he had approached us
that first time and explained that the Forest Service did not wish us to
collect here, we would have politely left and never returned. He will
attest to the fact that we were cooperative. He even complimented us
stating we were “not like most of the individuals he deals with.” Officer
Tipton approached us and asked us what we were looking for. We told him
we were looking for Staurolites. He did not know what Staurolites were,
but informed us we needed a mining permit to dig for any type of
mineral. He told us any Staurolites we find are government property.
Next he confiscated our scraping tools, knap sack and bucket. He
separated us and read me my Miranda rights. At this point he asked me if
I would allow federal agents to search my home in Rome for any other
federal property. When I said “no” my interview was over. Evidently
he tried to obtain a search warrant, but was unsuccessful. Officer
Tipton repeatedly inquired as to whether we sold rocks. I told him I
have never sold minerals and Staurolites have only intrinsic value. In
the past there have been locations in Blue Ridge (Hackney Farm) that
have allowed individuals to collect a bucket of them for $5.00. On
January 11, 2009, Officer Tipton gave us a courtesy call. He stated we
are being charged criminally with 261.9(a) destroying a natural feature
or property of the United States ($250.00 fine) and 261.9(b) removing a
natural feature or property of the United States ($250.00 fine). These
are criminal misdemeanor offenses and can result in a criminal record. I
strongly feel the section we are being charged under is both vague and
does not address the important point that we were collecting minerals.
Mineral collecting is generally allowed on most U.S. Forest Service
lands including public domain lands and acquired lands. Unfortunately,
each individual Forest Service can now make the rules (on acquired
lands) dictating the rules for rock hounding and Georgia has one of the
most restrictive policies. Under this charge it appears we are vandals
or even worse thieves. I told Officer Tipton I was considering going to
court. Five days later when I received my ticket it had doubled to
$400.00 for each offense for a total of $2000.00. In conclusion, I
feel strongly we took the utmost care to treat this land with care. We
spent at least 15-20 minutes each time to leave the ground looking
undisturbed. I feel the Georgia State Forest Service is treating mineral
collectors like criminals. Mineral collecting has in the past been
considered a wholesome and educational activity. In other states, the
USFS has been much more responsive to working with mineral collectors
and even encourages collecting. I am saddened that the Georgia State
Forest Service is now considering it a criminal offense. Thank you for
the time you spend considering this matter. (Signed) Robert
Madden, M.D. The Southeast
Federation of Mineralogical Societies, Inc. April 2009, Lodestar Page 11 Editor’s note:
It is hoped that the good Doctor will retain legal council and
not only defend himself in a court of law, but initiate legal
proceedings against this division of the Forest Service on not only
constitutional grounds, but everything else imaginable.
In my experience, useless bureaucrats do not like their fiefdom
to be subjected to scrutiny or the light of day. Perhaps they can
be brought to justice!
Saturday, MAY 2, 2009 Twelve FGMC members were fortunate enough to be included in the recent field trip to the Glendon Standard Minerals quarry to collect pyrite. While the mine has not been worked in the last six months due to a stockpiled pyrophyllite, there was still plenty of pyrite to be found. However, since very little material had been moved around recently, many crystals close to the surface had a rusty coloration in the surrounding pyrophylite. This made it easy to avoid damaging a large number of cubes. This rust was also caused problems for metal detectors to the point they were borderline useless.
Those that attend Dixie Mineral Council field trips owe Jim Stroud and Ken Reed a vote of thanks in resolving a potential problem dealing with liability insurance procured from a party other than the Southeast Federation. If they had not been successful, we would have been excluded from future Dixie Mineral field trips.
We’ll be heading to South
Carolina, more specifically to the Diamond Hill Amethyst site, on
Saturday, May 23rd. We have received permission from
the owner for the Club to have access on that day. We’ll be
digging for amethyst, smoky quartz, and white milky “skeletal”
quartz. We can start at sun-up, and dig as long as we wish (till
dark). Appropriate tools are digging implements, possible
chisels/hammers and (of course!) plenty of water and sunscreen. Maps and
details will be provided at the upcoming May meeting, or can be received
by contacting Jeff at (704) 758-5190 or Jeff@Crystal-Perfection.com
Children:
Over 12 years old can attend if supervised closely by parent or
guardian. Must wear appropriate safety gear. No
Pets TRIP:
Vulcan Materials Company’s Morganton Quarry COLLECTING:
This quarry has several rock types, which include augen gneiss, chlorite
biotite gneiss, amphibolite, and pegmatite. The following collectable
minerals have been found at this location: garnet, golden beryl, black
tourmaline, apatite, sphene, feldspar, biotite and muscovite books, and
siderite. The majority of these minerals are found in the pegmatite
zones. Garnets are almandine variety and have been found up to silver
dollar size. However, the majority of them are 1/8” to 1/4” in
diameter imbedded in the pegmatite.
SPECIAL
CONDITIONS: This
is an operating mine. All persons attending the fieldtrip will be
required to sign a hold harmless agreement, take 15 minute hazardous
training, and wear the required safety gear at all times. This includes
a hard hat, safety glasses, and steel-toed boots. We will meet at the
quarry office at 8 a.m., sign releases, receive instructions on
boundaries and safety, and be lead into the collecting area. We
must leave the quarry by 12 noon! In addition, all persons are asked
to stay away from the quarry walls. There is plenty of material loose on
the quarry floor. VEHICLES WILL BE PERMITTED INSIDE THE QUARRY ON
THIS TRIP and parked until leaving. BRING:
Hard hat, safety glasses, rock hammer, and something to carry and wrap
samples. DIRECTIONS
AND WHERE TO MEET:
Vulcan
Materials Company, Causby Quarry Road Morganton,
NC 28655 (828) 437-2616 Drive Time: This location is approximately a 1-½ hour drive from Winston-Salem,
NC. Contact: Jim
Stroud, if you have any questions concerning the fieldtrip. phone: 336-744-2940 e-mail address: stroudj@vmcmail.com mail address: PO Box 4239
Winston-Salem, NC 27115 "Field
trips are open to all members of associated clubs of the DMC program of
the SFMS Field Trip Committee and to all members of SFMS member clubs
who have provided their membership with liability insurance.
Because of insurance requirements, members of the GENERAL PUBLIC are NOT
invited on this or any DMC program field trips!"
HOGG MINE, LAGRANGE, GEORGIA - FEE SITE
"Field
trips are open to all members of associated clubs of the DMC program of
the SFMS Field Trip Committee and to all members of SFMS member clubs
who have provided their membership with liability insurance.
Because of insurance requirements, members of the GENERAL PUBLIC are NOT
invited on this or any DMC program field trips!"
JUNE
19, 20 & 21: ASHEVILLE GEM FEST 2009 Friday & Saturday, 10 am
– 6 pm Sunday 11 am – 5 pm
Asheville Gem Fest is a FREE gem and mineral show featuring quality
dealers from across the nation, fun activities for the entire family,
informative speakers and more! Don’t miss the kids’ activities
located outside on Pack Square or the several chances to win a
breathtaking mineral specimen. On
Saturday, June 20, there will be two featured speakers. At 1:00 pm, Dr.
Robert Lauf, PhD, will speak on Radioactive Minerals and at 3:00
pm Dr. Arvid Pasto, PhD, will present Fluorite. Both lectures are
free of admission. The Colburn Earth Science Museum will also be open
admission free all weekend, and their legendary silent auction will be
back, bigger and better than ever before. Colburn
Earth Science Museum * 2 S. Pack Square at Pack Place
* Asheville, NC 28801 * 828/254-7162 phone
828/257-4505 fax * http://www.colburnmuseum.org
Thomas Jefferson
The Forsyth
Gem & Mineral Club met April 16, 2009 at 7:30 at the Mideast
Division, main division office conference room of Vulcan Materials in
Winston-Salem, NC. Dick
Hartz, Treasurer, presided with 16 members and 1 visitor present. The program
was presented by Dick. He
showed a National Geographic video titled “Splendid Stones.”
Jim Stroud provided the video. The door
prize was won by Jim McCreery, who chose a piece of malachite &
chrysocolla. Refreshments
were provided by Trey Caldwell and the Hartzs. The
business meeting covered the upcoming field trips and the article about
fossils. Respectfully
submitted,
Nature’s Treasures: the monthly newsletter of the Forsyth Gem and Mineral
Club.
Return address: First Class Mail FGMC P. O. Box 21414 Winston-Salem, NC 27120
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||||