Author: Alan Molineux

The
bulletin
Newsletter of the
victor valley
Gem and
mineral club
Ph. (760) 243-2330
July 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)
Lois Papner……...…………………………………………………… 244-7169
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….………(951) 255-9158
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…………………….Jonathan Vanderloop…….245-2313
Maintenance……………...Ed Deren .………………….252-7009
Librarian………………….…Lois Papner…….………………..244-7169
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……………..…Mike Stafford…….…………..248-7404
Purchasing Officer…..Don Pomerenke……………...868-5264
Tailgate……….…………….Brett Ward………………………948-1232
Virgil Melton…………………….948-2849
Training Coordinator..Lloyd Guilliam…………………962-6844
Instructors
Ed Deren, Jim Fosse, Gil Gilbert, Joe Kosik, Pat Estes, Virgil Melton, Gayland Graves, Don Pomerenke, Charles Toles, Cyndy Mandell and Lloyd Guilliam, John Printz, and Ed Skidmore.

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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 an active role 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 will be on Tuesday the 22nd, and the July meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 27th at 7:30p.m.
concerning the
paper bulletin.
I think the most important thing to remember is, every member is valued in this club. Everyone deserves a Bulletin—however, if you can view it online that is great! Remember we are trying to be as “green” as possible. We realize that some folks don’t have a working online connection and so if you still require a “hard” copy, then contact our Bulletin Editor—Alan Molineux at (760) 951-7064.
Club Website—www.vvgmc.org

On the front cover
Here is a photograph of our recent field trip to the local Hector Mine. Members of the club who participated stopped and posed for a moment while our club president, Cyndy Mandell took a photo.
The field trip was on Saturday, June 12th and it seems to have been a very popular trip too!
Education night
We recently hosted Women in Min ing on Tuesday, June 8th. They were going to teach the members to make toothpaste and would also show them how to mine cereal.
As I have had no feedback so far, I don’t know how successful it was.
Val Costello, our 2nd V.P in charge of education said that Dr. Buchanan from the University of Redlands will speak to the membership at the Education Night—June 15th. He will be talking about Californian geology and seismic activity.
Our education nights are always the third Tuesday of the month and we try and start them at 7p.m.
Education nights are an opportunity to learn about the geology of our local area and it is also an opportunity to get together with you friends and fellow rock hounds.

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The recent hector mine field trip

Members are listening to their guide on what to see, expect and what to find.

The mine was quite a big operation and members collected specimens.

The mine had a well graded but steep road. Members caravanned their way up to the top.

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Field trips—with Blaine Witte.
Just a short note to fill you all in. If you weren't at the last general meeting you might not have heard that the may field trip to Gephart Road at North Edwards didn't really happen. Only one other person besides myself showed. I guess that might have been because we were running competition with the Fair that weekend. Don't know why I didn't see that coming. We did do a little scouting and expanded the collecting area I was familiar with though. We'll have to do that one another time I guess.
The Hector Mine trip was a huge success! We had 20 people show. James Barry from the mine gave and excellent tour. He talked about the history and the geology of the area, how the material is processed, the various commercial uses of Hectorite and showed us the mining operation it self. After this we were able to collect rocks from the mine. We went in to the pit and found agate and chalcedony. I collected one piece that probably weighs a hundred pounds or so. I have no idea what I'm going to do with it. We also found some interesting micro crystals that James had never seen at this location before. Then we moved on to some of their discard piles. Here we collected from piles that were probably 20 feet high or more. At the first location the material was chalcedony, some of it with purple and blue hues. Then we went to a site that had tons and tons of travertine. This material wasn't as nice there but still very interesting. Finally we went back to the entrance and on the hill behind the office we collected more agate. Everyone had a great time.
A few people weren't ready to give it up yet so those went out to the Lavic Jasper beds and spent an hour or so there before heading home.
Traditionally, I am told, we don't have trips in July and August because of the heat. At this point I don't have any thing planned. There are a couple of possibilities though. I'm looking into the Honeycomb Valley Off Road Tour out of the Discovery Center near Big Bear. There is also the possibility of a night trip to the OMNI mine in Lucerne Valley for fluorescents. I'll post information at the club and on the web site if this can be done.
Thank you to Cyndy Mandell for taking the photographs for me...Ed

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July 2010

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
				1 Workshop / 1—9p.m.	2	3 Workshop / 12 noon—5p.m.
4 4th of July / No Workshop	5	6 Instructor’s / Meeting at 6p.m. / No Board Meeting	7 Workshop / 1—9p.m.	8 Workshop / 1—9p.m.	9	10 Workshop / 12 noon—5p.m.
11Workshop / 12 noon—5p.m.	12	13	14 Workshop / 1—9p.m.	15 Workshop / 1—9p.m.	16	17Workshop / 12 noon—5p.m.
18 Workshop / 12 noon—5p.m.	19 Education / Night—7p.m.	20	21Workshop / 1—9p.m.	22 Workshop / 1—9p.m.	23	24 Workshop / 12 noon—5p.m. / Club cleanup 9a.m.
25 Workshop / 12 noon—5p.m.	26 Pot Luck 6:30 / & Monthly General / Meeting—7:30p.m.	27	28 Workshop / 1—9p.m.	29 Workshop / 1—9p.m.	30	31

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Deadline for the August issue of the Bulletin is Monday, July,20th. Ph.(760) 951-7064 or email me at amolineux@gmail.com

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V.v.g & M.c Board meeting - June
The landscaping will be rebid due to escalating costs.
Gayland Graves tendered (6) new applications for membership.
Dr. Buchanan will speak at the June Education Night.
We will attempt to raffle off a spot to the Zyzyx Jewelry Camp again—members only.
Lynne Hallock sent a thank you letter to Tony Meyer as he donated a Genie at the S.B County Fair.
Ed Deren will donate a saw table.
Alan Molineux offered to donate a box of office paper.
The (5) year plan committee will now be run by Cyndy Mandell.
Cyndy said the beading class she ran with Marilyn Pomerenke went well.
Pat Estes will run a silver class after the CFMS Show.
Cyndy Mandell and Lynne Hallock will be on the By Laws Committee.
There will be no board meeting minutes in July as most of the Board will be out of town on vacation.

The Women In Mining club has invited our members to attend a tour of the Shadow Mountain White Rock Quarry off 395 near Silver Lakes. This event will held July 27, 2010 at 5 p.m. it will also include dinner and a meeting at the Silver Lakes Clubhouse. More information will be made available later as details are ironed out. Perhaps we can car pool from our clubhouse to this event.
This is the first of what I hope will be many mine tours as the WIM hold their monthly meetings at different mines in the area and they have invited us to attend.

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V.v.g & M.c General meeting - May
Instructors will inspect each rock before our new equipment is used.
Invitations have been mailed out to (61) vendors for the upcoming Gem and Mineral fair in November.
We need volunteers to tumble stones for the Gem and Mineral Fair.
Lynne Hallock said the new club roster is under construction.
Pat Estes has been to Camp Paradise Jewelry Camp.
Kerry Molineux will do the club display for June.
Blaine Witte talked about the upcoming Hector Mine field trip.
The AFMS/CFMS show will be held in Whittier.
Ed Deren said a couple of the saws need oil changes.
Lloyd Guilliam will donate rocks for new members to practice on.
Pat Coleman (the Sunshine Lady) sent cards out to several ailing members.
Cyndy Mandell thanked all those who helped at the S.B County Fair.
Jonathan Vanderloop volunteered to join the election committee.

Women in mining field trips
WOMEN IN MINING CALIFORNIA CHAPTER MEETING
THURSDAY – JULY 20TH
MINE TOUR - Brubaker-Mann Inc. – WHITE QUARRY
4:30 PM - We will meet at 395 and Princess Pat Road to proceed to the White Quarry
DIRECTIONS:
Princess Pat Road is on 395 and is a couple of miles beyond the turn-off to Shadow Mountain Road, which leads to Silver Lakes. So if you're coming from Victorville, you'd take National Trails Hwy to Vista. Turn left on Vista, left on Helendale Road and right on Shadow Mountain Road. At 395, turn right and go a couple of miles to Princess Pat Road. There's a white boulder there.
6:00 PM DINNER AND MEETING:
Silver Lakes Club House
15273 Orchard Hill Lane
Helendale, CA 92342
A media award presentation will be made to Brubaker-Mann
For their many years of support
Everyone should be prepared to order off the menu and pay for their own meal.
DIRECTIONS: To get to the restaurant from the quarry:
Right on 395
Left on Shadow Mountain Road
Left on Silver Lakes Parkway
Right on Lake View Drive
Right on Club House Drive
The phone number for the restaurant at the Silver Lakes Club House is (760) 245-7700.
We must advise the restaurant the number of expected guests by 7/16/10. Please RSVP

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Wanted—Rocks, Lapidary, Antiques,
Collectibles, Tools & Clean Outs 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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ROCK OF THE MONTH—SERAPHINITE by Gayland Graves
Written and compiled by - Patricia Jean Martin
Seraphinite (or Serefina), also known by the name Clinochlore, is a common member of the Chlorite Group of minerals. Clinochlore derives its name from the Greek "klino" meaning "oblique" or "inclined" and "chloros" meaning "green" as it is commonly colored deep forest green to green-black with inclusions of silvery Mica. Seraphinite, is derived from the Latin word "seraphin" referring to the first order of angels. The allusion to angels is due to the feathery wing patterns made by the silvery Mica contained within the stone. The Mica inclusions exhibit a chatoyancy, giving Seraphinite a wavery sheen, much like Charoite.
Seraphinite forms through the metamorphic and hydrothermal alterations of other iron and magnesium silicate minerals. It crystalizes in the form of foliated or granular masses and also as tabular crystals.
A Chromium-rich variety of Seraphinite, called Kaemmererite, has a beautiful bright lavender to crimson color. The mineral Chamosite is an Iron-rich variety of Seraphinite. Seraphinite is mainly found near the Bratsk and Lake Baikal region of eastern Siberia, Russia, and has become a much sought after stone in the world of metaphysics and mineral collecting.
General Information:
Chemistry: (Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)4 O10(OH)8 - Magnesium Iron Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide.
Class: Silicates.
Subclass: Phyllosilicates.
Group: Chlorites.
Color: Usually a deep forest green with feathery silver-colored inclusions of Mica, but also found in yellow, red, brown, tan or white.
Luster: Vitreous to pearly.
Crystal System: Monoclinic; 2/m
Crystal Habit: Includes pseudohexagonal tabular crystals with pyramid terminations. Foliated, fibrous, granular, or massive. Twinning may be seen in larger specimens.
Cleavage: Perfect in 1 direction, basal.
Fracture: Uneven.
Hardness: 2 - 2.5
Specific Gravity: 2.6 - 3.0
Streak: Greenish-white or white.
Other Characteristics: Cleavage flakes are flexible but not elastic.
Notable Occurrences: Bratsk and Lake Baikal region of Siberia, Russia.
Best Field Indicators: Crystal habit, softness, color and cleavage.
Uses: Jewelry; Collector specimens. (This article was edited for brevity.)

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Another
bulletin
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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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