Author: Alan Molineux

The
bulletin
Newsletter of the
victor valley
Gem and
mineral club
Ph. (760) 243-2330
July 2009

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Your officers for 2009
2009 Executive Committee
President……………………...Gil Gilbert……………………..868-6900
1st V.P (Membership)..Gaylan Graves………………..902-3249
2nd V.P (Education)…….Val Costello…………………...963-3974
3rd V.P (Gem & Mineral Show chairman)
Virgil Melton……………………………………………948-2849
Recording Secretary….Alan Molineux……………….951-7064
Treasurer…………………….Carole Mc Michael .……..961-7659
Board Members
Don Pomerenke………………868-5264
Lloyd Guilliam..……………….962-6844
John Printz………….………….957-7414
Charles Toles………………….951-0372
Past President……………..Tom Laszlo…………………..…247-5369
CFMS Representative...Pat Estes ……………..……….948-7324
Standing Committee Chairmen
Wagon Master…………..Blaine Witte…………………….244-8211
Historian…………………….Joe Kosik…………………………..241-0894
Maintenance……………...Charles Toles.…………………..951-0372
Librarian………………….…Dwayna Barron………………...963-3974
Newsletter…………...…..Alan Molineux…….…………....951-7064
Sunshine Lady…………..Marie Gramata…………………245-3775
Displays………….………….Andrew Turner………………...962-0095
Raffles……………………...Charles Toles…...……………....951-0372
Scholarships……………..Andrew Turner….…………....962-0095
Photography………….....Alan Molineux…………………...951-7064
Hospitality……………..…John Prinz…………………………..957-7414
Tailgate……….…………….Brett Ward…………………………948-1232
Virgil Melton………………………948-2849
Training Coordinator..Lloyd Guilliam……………………962-6844
Instructors
Ed Deren, Jim Fosse, Gil Gilbert, Tom Laszlo, Virgil Melton,
Joe Kosik, Pat Estes, Gaylan Graves, Don Pomerenke and
Lloyd Guilliam
Club Website—www.vvgmc.org

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The victor valley gem and mineral Club
was organized in 1947 and has been the focal point of High Desert rock hounds for the past 61 years. The club takes active roles in various civic activities. Membership is open to all persons interested in the gem and mineral hobby and lapidary arts. Meetings are held at the clubhouse located at 15056-B, 7th Street (behind Kaman Bearing) in the center of Victorville. Visitors are always welcome. For further information,
call (760) 243-2330.
Meeting dates
Our June meeting was held on Tuesday, 23rd at 6:30p.m. and the July general meeting will be held on Tuesday the 28th.
Rock of the month
Agate
A variety of chalcedonic quartz that is distinguished by the presence of color banding in curved or irregular patterns (see illustration). Most agate used for ornamental purposes is composed of two or more tones or intensities of brownish-red, often inter layered with white, but it is also commonly composed of various shades of gray and white. Since agate is relatively porous, it can be dyed permanently in red, green, blue, and a variety of other colors.

(Rock of the month—continued)
The term agate is also used with prefixes to describe certain types of chalcedony in which banding is not evident. Moss agate is a milky or almost transparent chalcedony containing dark inclusions in a dendretic pattern. Iris agate exhibits an iridescent color effect. Fortification, or landscape, agate is translucent and contains inclusions that give it an appearance reminiscent of familiar natural scenes. Banded agate is distinguished from onyx by the fact that its banding is curved or irregular, in contrast to the straight, parallel layers of onyx.
Industry uses agates chiefly to make ornaments such as pins, brooches, paper knives, inkstands, marbles and seals. Because of its hardness and ability to resist acids, agate is used to make mortars and pestles to crush and mix chemicals. Because of the high polish possible with agate it has been used for centuries for leather burnishing tools. Idar Oberstein was one of the centers which made use of agate on an industrial scale. Where in the beginning locally found agates were used to make all types of objects for the European market, this became a globalized business around the turn of the 20th century:
Refractive Index 1.535-1.540
Specific Gravity 2.55-2.64
Hardness 6.5-7.0
Luster—vitreous to waxy

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Beginning Fused Glass Class
Victor Valley
Gem & Mineral Club
Thursdays,
July 23rd, 30th and August 6th
5:00p.m.—9:00p.m.
One class only per member (six members per class)
Instructor: Cyndy Mandell
Kit Fee: Free
See supply list for details of required supplies
What to bring to class:
Glass Cutters available at hardware store or through Delphi Glass cost $5.00 to $35.00. I recommend a Toyo Pistol Grip
or a custom grip if you are planning on doing a lot of glass cutting or if you are concerned about the strength of your hand.
2. Pliers (called Breaker or Grazer) $7.00 to $26.00—I recommend the Delphi Dragon 6” Running Pliers @ $10.00.
3. Safety Glasses
4. Newspaper
Delphi Glass: delphiglass.com 1.800.248.2048 (call for catalog)
Supplied by the instructor:
I will have available a variety of glass, cutting oil, thinfire shelf paper, paint, glastac, decals, frit, confetti, spirals, stringers, molds, and other supplies as needed. You may purchase these items from me or order them in advance from Delphi or any other sources. While my prices will be reasonable, meaning I will charge what it cost me to buy the item, Fused Glass is an expensive hobby with the glass being the most expensive item. You will be making small pendants and the cost of supplies should run you around $20.00 to $25.00 approximately depending on how many items you make. This estimate is based on three to four pieces and again this is an approximate estimate it could be less.
Come and Have Fun Making
Beautiful One of a Kind Pieces
Cyndy Mandell (Instructor)

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From the May general meeting
Carole Mc Michael, the club treasurer said we paid our property taxes today.
V.P for Education, Val Costello presented Sheryl & Rhiane Grennell with a certificate for best beginner’s cabochon.
Cyndy Mandell & Virgil Melton Went to Topay Elementary School in Hesperia for Serendipity Days to teach the students wire wrapping.
Virgil Melton said the upcoming gem & Mineral Show in November eeds volunteers & donations. He has already contacted many of the dealers.
The county fair went well and many people visited our booth and displays.
Tom Laszlo said we need to organize a clean up day for the saw room.
Blane Witte, our Wagon Master organized a field trip this month to the Kramer junction area.
Next month we will go to Lavic Siding or the Calico area. That will be the last outing until fall due to the heat.
We have a new dop pot.
Ed Deren & Don Pomerenke are new instructors.
Charles Toles will run a course twice a month on saw instruction.
Members need to supply their own shot for the vibrating tumbler.

5

From the June board meeting
When items are donated to the club, we must follow the club by-laws.
Don Pomerenke & Ed Deren now have club keys.
Corrections to the new phone directory will be posted on the club bulletin board.
Don & Marilyn Pomerenke would like to do a course on how to set up a display. (Possible at the August education night.)
Virgil Melton is continuing to work on the upcoming November, Gem & Mineral Show.
We will be able to serve and sell food there but we would not be able to make it.
CFMS rep., Pat Estes said the CFMS has a travelling rock & cab display clubs can use.
Tom Laszlo said we need some new instructor badges. Gayland Graves will look into it.
Gil Gilbert will procure (2) wireless microphones for the general meetings.
Cyndy Mandell will be doing a fused glass class in July and August with a limited class size.
Don Pomerenke made a new member sign up form.
Mike Beaumont, a CFMS geologist will talk about San Diego Fossils at the June Education night.

July 2009

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
		National / Ice cream / Month	1 Workshop / 1—9p.m.	2 Workshop / 1—9p.m.	3	4 / American / Revolution / 1776.
5 Barnum’s / Birthday—1810.	6	7 Instructor’s / Meeting 6p.m. / Board Meeting / 7p.m.	8 Workshop / 1—9p.m.	9 Workshop / 1—9p.m.	10	11
12	13	14 / Pat Garrett / Shoots Billy the Kid / in 1881.	15 Workshop / 1—9p.m.	16 Workshop / 1—9p.m.	17 / Disneyland opens / in 1955.	18
19 / National ice cream / Day	20 / Man walks on / the moon in 1969.	21 Education / Night—7p.m.	22 Workshop / 1—9p.m.	23 Workshop / 1—9p.m.	24 / Amelia Earhart’s / Birthday—1897.	25
26	27 Korean / War cease-fire / 1953	28 Pot Luck / 6:30p.m. / Monthly General Mtg. / 730p.m.	29 Workshop / 1—9p.m.	30 Workshop / 1—9p.m.	31

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Wanted—Rocks, Lapidary,
Materials & Equipment.
Call Charles Toles.
Home (760) 951-0372 Cell (760) 220-6748.

White Buffalo & other turquoise
From various states.
Priced per piece
Contact Virgil Melton (760) 900-0507

Rocks, Rocks, Rocks,
Buy slabs, cabs & rough from Joe!
Brazilian, Moss Agate, Wood, Jasper,
and Obsidian.
There is a sale on Bolo cords.
Club members (any club) 20% off at my house or 10% off at gem shows. I sell crushed Agate, Wood & Jasper for tumbling at $1.00
per pound. Call Joe Kosik (760) 241-0894.

8

Getting out in
the Field
With Blane Witte
By the time this newsletter is distributed we will have gone on our June field trip. On Saturday June 20th we went to Harvard which is past Calico and the Early Man site, just north of the I-15. This site is not in the books and hasn‘t been worked over. We will have met at Peggy Sue’s Restaurant next to the I-15 on the right side at 8am and caravanned to the site. The site is less than 10 minutes from there. The site is a hill that has a large white out cropping running though it. The out cropping contains the material we will be after. There are a variety of patterns and colors at this site. I have found large nodules of chalcedony about the size of coco nuts, petrified reed and bog, a beige brachiated jasper and peach plume agate all coming from the same out cropping.
We won’t have a field trip in July or August because the heat will be to much by that time. We’ll have one in September on Saturday 23 most likely. Details will be given be for then. We will soon be losing access to rock hounding areas in the Hector area. They may not be available to us by September. Some of these areas have been pick over, some are still productive. If these areas are still open I am thinking about going out to some of these next.
Please, remember that there are serious risks involved when we go on these trips! You are in a hostile environment and away from resources. Most of the risk can be managed with a little care. Watch out for rattle snakes. They like to hide under rocks and shrubs. Wear protective gear, especially for your eyes if you’re going to be breaking up rock. Gloves aren’t a bad idea either. Bring plenty of water (and food if you want). Wear protection from the sun (hats, sun screen). .
P.S. Everyone must sign in at the start of a trip.

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Around the shop

Brett Ward works at the table. Tom Laszlo talks to Kerry Molineux on one of his pieces. and Frank Gerney during a wire
wrapping class.

Lane Witte works on the Genie Virgil Melton shows Jonathan Van shaping one of his cabs. Der Loop one of his cabs.

Frank Gerney works on the Chieko Printz shapes a cab on the All-You_Need. All-You-Need

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Afms regional show
July 30th—August 2nd
Billings, Montana.
Northwest Federation—AFMS Combined Show.
Hosted by Billings Gem & Mineral Club
Holiday Inn, Grand Montana
5500 Midland Road, Billings MT.
Hours: 10—5p.m. daily
Doug True (406) 670-0506
Society Web Site:
www.amfed.org/nfms
Show Web Site:
www.amfed.org/nfms/nfmsshow.htm
On the front cover
Whenever I have trouble getting to the club, I give Kerry a camera and say—”Take some pictures for me, please!”
She’s been especially helpful as we are getting near our vacation and I try and get my newsletters done in advance.
This time, however, I took the picture myself. Victor Valley Gem & Mineral Club is not only a place to work on rocks, it’s a place for people to come together and trade stories –that, to my mind is just as important as working on our favorite pieces. Here we see Lloyd Guilliam, Chieko Printz and Kerry Molineux and Steve and Bobbie Kaufman sitting together, taking a break from their work—and just chatting!

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Upcoming lapidary events
July 11th & 12th
Culver City, CA
Culver City Rock & Mineral Club
Veterans Memorial Auditorium/Rotunda—4117 Culver Boulevard
Hours: Sat. 10—6p.m. Sun. 10—5p.m.
Contact Robert Thirlaway
(310) 213—7677 thirlawr@gmail.com
CulverCityRocks.org/fiesta.htm
August 1st & 2nd
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Gem & Mineral Society
San Francisco Co. Fair Building
9th Ave. & Lincoln Way,
Golden Gate Park.
Hours: Sat. 10—6p.m. Sun. 10—5p.m.
Carleen Mont-Eton (415) 564-4230
publicity@show.sfgms.org
http://www.sfgms.org
August 7th, 8th & 9th
Nipomo, CA
Orcutt Mineral Society
St. Joseph’s Church
298 S. Thompson Avenue
Hours: 9—5p.m. daily
Wes Lingerfelt (805) 929-3788
Rocks4u@proigy.net
http://www.omsinc.org
August 14th, 15th & 16th
Tehachapi, CA
Tehachapi Gem & Mineral Society
St. Malachy Catholic Church
407 West E Street
Hours: Fri. & Sat. 8—7:30p.m.
Sun. 8—5:30p.m.
Chuck Overall (661) 821-4650
Luckydog5433@aol.com

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Another
bulletin
Expressly for

Victor Valley Gem & Mineral Club
15056-B Seventh Street
Victorville, CA 92395-3811.
bulletin is the official monthly newsletter published by victor valley gem & mineral club and is distributed free of charge to both members and non members.
Views expressed by authors in the articles which appear in the bulletin do not necessarily reflect those of victor valley gem & mineral club. Responsibility is taken by the editor alone.
Articles from this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part in other lapidary news-letters if proper credit is given to the author and the bulletin.

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