Author: Alan Molineux

The
bulletin
Newsletter of the
victor valley
Gem and
mineral club
Ph. (760) 243-2330
february 2010

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Your officers for 2010
2010 Executive Committee
President……………………...Cyndy Mandell……………..244-7169
1st V.P (Membership)..Gayland Graves……………..902-3249
2nd V.P (Education)…….Val Costello…………………..963-3974
3rd V.P (Gem & Mineral Show chairman)
(Vacant)……...…………………………………………………………….
Recording Secretary….Alan Molineux……………….951-7064
Treasurer…………………….Kerry Molineux .…………...951-7064
Corresponding Secretary..Lynn Hallock…………...951-1736
Board Members
Don Pomerenke………….…868-5264
Lloyd Guilliam..………….….962-6844
John Printz….…………...….957-7414
Carole Mc Michael..……..961-7659
Past President……………..Gil Gilbert………………….…868-6900
CFMS Representative...Pat Estes ………….…..……948-7324
Standing Committee Chairmen
Wagon Master…………..Blaine Witte…………………….244-8211
Historian…………………….Joe Kosik………………………….241-0894
Maintenance……………...Ed Deren .………………….252-7009
Librarian………………….…Dwayna Barron………………..963-3974
Newsletter…………...…..Alan Molineux…….…………...951-7064
Sunshine Lady…………..Pat Coleman……………………..985-2388
Displays………….………….Andrew Turner………………..962-0095
Raffles……………………...Ellen Gilbert..…...……………..868-6900
Scholarships……………..Andrew Turner….…………...962-0095
Photography………….....Alan Molineux…………………..951-7064
Hospitality……………..…(Vacant)…….………………………………………..
Tailgate……….…………….Brett Ward………………………948-1232
Virgil Melton…………………….948-2849
Training Coordinator..Lloyd Guilliam…………………962-6844
Instructors
Ed Deren, Jim Fosse, Gil Gilbert, Virgil Melton, Joe Kosik,
Pat Estes, Gayland Graves, Don Pomerenke, Charles Toles, Cyndy Mandell and Lloyd Guilliam, John Printz
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 January general meeting will be on Tuesday the 26th and the February meeting will be held on February 23rd at 7:30p.m.
We’re on our way!
Kerry and I will be off to Quartzite, Arizona this coming weekend. I’m very fortunate in that the club is sending me there to attend a S.C.R.I.B.E conference for me and my fellow newsletter editors. I hope to get lots of new ideas for the newsletter and make a lot of friendships and connections to help my job and benefit the club. No matter what happens there, I hope to come away with a lot of photographs of the conference and the Gem and Mineral Show….Ed

Upcoming shows
February 12th–21st.
Indio, CA
San Gorgonio Mineral & Gem Society. Riverside Co. Fair & Date Festival.
Gem & Mineral Bldg. Building #1
46—350 Arabia Street
Hours: 10a.m—10p.m. daily.
Bert Grisham ( 951) 849—1674.
bert67@verizon.net
February 26th & 27th
Northridge, CA
Del Air Rock Hounds Club
United Methodist Church
9650 Reseda Blvd. (At Superior St.)
Friday 3—9:30p.m. & Sat. 10am– 5pm
Julie Marin (818) 886-7190
http://delaairrockhounds.blogspot.com
March 6th & 7th
Ventura, CA
Ventura Gem & Mineral Society
Seaside Park, Ventura Co. Fairgrounds
10W. Harbor Blvd.
Hours: Sat. 10a.m—5p.m
Sun. 10a.m—4p.m
Andy Anderson (805) 987-0043
vgms_editor@roadrunner.com
www.vgms.org
March 12th, 13th & 14th
Victorville, CA
Victor Valley Gem & Mineral Club
Stoddard Wells Tailgate
Stoddard Wells Rd—7mls east of Dale
Evans Parkway. Hours 8—5p.m daily.
Brett Ward (760) 954-4323
Victor Valley Gem & Mineral Club
www.vvgmc.org

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President’s Message
February 2nd, 2010
I hope you all got a chance to visit Quartzite sometime in January. I went twice just to take in as much as I could and of course I left a lot also. Is it just me or are rocks getting more expensive? So many things of beauty in one spot it should be illegal.
Our board, instructors, and members are working hard to keep the club and equipment in good order. We hope you are dropping in to take a class, attend our education nights, our general meetings, or just to work on your personal items during open shop. Val Costello, VP of Education, is working on publishing a list of speakers or video to be presented during the year, if you know of a speaker that you would like to have present at our club give Val a call.
Gayland Graves, our VP of membership, is working on a new 2010 updated roster of members based on those who have paid their dues for this year.
Our instructors: Gayland Graves, Lloyd Gilliam, Ed Deren, John Printz, Jim Fosse, Pat Estes, Cyndy Mandell, Don Pomerenke, Virgil Melton, and Charles Toles, are donating their time to keep the club open for our members to use on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.
We are desperately in need of someone to take over the kitchen duties this year. John Printz did an excellent job last year of organizing, stocking, inventorying, and providing us with everything we needed to have our potlucks. He has decided to accept the position of instructor and assist with the maintenance and repair of our equipment this year so we will need someone to run the kitchen and all the responsibilities that go with it this year.
Our annual Tailgate is fast approaching and will be held March 12,13, and 14th. We are lucky to once again have Brett Ward heading up the organization of this huge activity. He will need your support in the kitchen, auction, and assisting with the other activities of running the show. Please check with him to volunteer your time.
As always please feel free to contact me with any questions or suggestions: Cyndy Mandell: cell 760.508.1080 or 760.244.7169 or by email: cynmandell@yahoo.com

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Next Class February 17th, 2010
5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Instructor: Cyndy Mandell
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.
Pliers (called Breaker or Grazer $7.00 to $26.00) I recommend the Delphi Dragon 6” Running Pliers @ 10.00.
Safety Glasses and 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 Glass Pieces
.

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February 2010

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
	1	2 Instructor’s Mtg—6pm / Board Mtg 7pm / Board / Meeting—7p.m.	3 / Workshop / 1p.m.—9p.m.	4 / Workshop / 1p.m.—9p.m.	5	6
7 Workshop / 12 noon—5pm	8	9	10 / Workshop / 1p.m.—9p.m.	11 / Workshop / 1p.m.—9p.m.	12	13
14 Workshop / 12 noon—5pm	15	16 Education / Mtg— 7p.m.	17 / Workshop / 1p.m.—9p.m.	18 / Workshop / 1p.m.—9p.m.	19	20
21 Workshop / 12 noon—5pm	22	23 Potluck 6:30pm General / Mtg—7:30pm	24 / Workshop / 1p.m.—9p.m.	25 / Workshop / 1p.m.—9p.m.	26	27 / Club Clean –up day 9p.m / 9a.m.
28 Workshop / 12 noon—5pm

Deadline for the March issue of the Bulletin is Monday, March,15th.Ph.
(760) 951-7064 or email amolineux@gmail.com

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Victor Valley Gem & Mineral Meeting Guidelines
When you build bridges you can keep crossing them.
Rick Pitino Lead to Success
In the interest of improving our club’s image and to present ourselves in the best professional manner possible I am suggesting that we remind ourselves of these guidelines at every meeting.
1.Only one conversation at a time. Avoid talking to your neighbor or whispering to someone when a speaker is talking.
2.Address the problem don’t attack the individual.
3.Avoid hurtful statements. Once you have spoken it you own it.
Avoid making snide remarks, there is no place for them at the club.
4.Praise fellow board members for the work they do.
5.Avoid talking about people behind their backs. Confront whomever you have an issue with and talk to them to try to work out your differences.
6.Have fun! When you are having fun it puts others at ease and we can all have a good meeting. Let’s keep building those bridges.

Around the shop
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I went by the shop on Sunday, 01/17/’10 and took these photographs. I stopped by to take some photographs for the newsletter and Kerry wanted to do some wire-wrapping. When we first arrived at the club, the only other people who were there were the instructor, Jim Fosse and board member, Lloyd Guilliam. Later on, I was able to take pictures of Steve and Bobbie Kaufman working in the grinding room on their pet projects.
Remember, when I’m there with my camera, I hope to snap pictures of you working on a cab or slab and you may end up in the newsletter...Ed
.

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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.

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January Board
Minutes
Guidelines printed in Bulletin are adopted for both Board meetings and General Monthly meetings.
Agenda and past board meeting minutes to be sent out in advance to all board members and committee members prior to an upcoming board meeting.
Board agreed to terminate meetings after 9p.m in order to curtail inordinately long meetings.
The deadline for on time dues payment has passed and a $5 late fee is now in effect. About 1/4th of the members are financial at the moment.
The board considered the donation of one viable slab per rock saw usage. This will be tried for 6 months and will then be reviewed.
Parking lot striping is almost complete.
December club cleanup day was a disappointment as only three people showed up. The next club clean up day will be held in February—see club calendar.

December general Meeting minutes
There were no general meeting minutes in December. We held the club Christmas party in lieu of the monthly meeting on Tuesday, December 15th.

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Rock of the month
By Gayland Graves
This months rock is going to be Charoite
Charoite (K(Ca;Na)2Si4O10(OH;F)·H2O) is a rare mineral, first described in 1978 and named for the Chara River. It has been reported only from the Sakha Republic, Yakutia, Siberia, Russia. It is found where a syenite, the Murunskii Massif, has intruded into and altered limestone deposits producing a potassium feldspar metasomatite.
Charoite is translucent lavender to purple in color with a pearly luster. However, it is a discrete mineral rather than a rock. Charoite is strictly massive in nature, and fractures are conchoidal. It has an unusual swirling, fibrous appearance, sometimes chatoyant, and that, along with its intense color, can lead many to believe at first that it is synthetic or enhanced artificially.
Though reportedly discovered in the 1940s, it was not known to the outside world until its description in 1978. It is said to be opaque and unattractive when found in the field, a fact that may have contributed to its late recognition. Charoite is used as an ornamental stone and sometimes a gemstone, generally as cabochons set into pendants.[citation needed]
Charoite occurs in association with tinaksite and canasite
Charoite is known for its primal power. It is a mineral, an unusual of rare occurrence, in the monoclinic crystal system. An opaque gemstone having a wild and swirling pattern of interlocking crystals. The colors, ranges from bright lavender, violet and lilac to that of dark purple, with white, gray and black veining.
It is believed that it is an all-round healer and works through, mainly, the immune system. Putting charoite under the pillow is said to release the fears that surface in dreams. The yoga guru claims this stone fosters a synthesis between the heart and the crown chakra. It helps to walk on spiritual path with awareness and manifests soul's wisdom and light in daily life.
Charoite occurs only in the Chara River area of Siberia. It is said that it might have been named after the Russian word Chary, which means "charms" or "magic." Charoite was first discovered in the year 1947 by Russian and the West came to know by 1978. The safest cleanser for Charoite is warm soapy water and is used for making exquisite jewelry items.

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Out in the field
With our Wagon Master—Blane Witte.
The trip out to Lavic in December was a pretty good success. We had about 14 people show up and we went out to 3 different sites. We found some fantastic jaspers and agates in abundance.
Sorry about not getting afield trip together for January. The Lead Mountain trip isn't coming together yet. Weather got in the way of another scouting trip in December. I'm going to have to put that one on the back burner for now I guess.
I was able to get out to the North Edward's area a few weeks ago for a scout trip out there. I'm planning a fieldtrip out there for February. We'll be going out to an onyx claim first. Bring along your shovel and pick for that one. There is a limited amount of float material for those that don't have heavier equipment. Then well go out to the Castle Butte area to collect. There are several spots there where you can collect a large variety of agate, chalcedony and jasper including petrified wood, palm wood, palm root and champanite. After this we will pick up a few sites that close to gather on the way out of the area. We found a very interesting material I'm going to call a flint. The color tended more to gray and beige when cut but what nice pattern and it took a fantastic polish. We also found some banded opalite. The area is also know to produce large pieces of petrified logs. That's not as abundant and you will have to dig to find it.
Bring lots of water, lunch, spay bottles, your rock hammer and safety goggles. Also bring you shovel and pick if you want to dig.
We'll meet at the same parking lot we did for the Kramer's Corner trip, between the Road House Cafe and to the Jack in the Box on the 395 just before highway 58 at 8 AM, Saturday, February 20th.
Education night
With our V.P of Education—Val Costello
Our January speaker was Megan Shadrick assisted by Dr. Don Buchcanan who braved the bad weather to give her presentation on LASER TECHNOLOGY & APPLICATIONS. Our February presentation will be given by Jamie Livingood of the BLM on CASUAL USE MINING and ABANDONED MINES.

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Snail
Mail
Stamp

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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