Author: Alan Molineux

The
bulletin
Newsletter of the
victor valley
Gem and
mineral club
Ph. (760) 243-2330
June 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………………….…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……………..…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 May meeting will be on Tuesday the 25th, and the June meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 22nd at 7:30p.m.
May Education Night
John Muensterman spoke to the membership at the May Education Night.

On the front cover
As you know, our club has a booth at the San Bernardino County
Fair. Many of the members are either working at the fair booth or have displays to show the general public what it is we do—or they are doing both. This is something we do each year and many of our members donate their time and efforts to bring our club activities to the awareness of the public.
On the front page you can see Virgil Melton, and Doug and Sara Arnold working on various lapidary projects and fielding questions about the club and their activities from members of the public. More photographs are featured on page (4) of this issue. I’m sure the club president, Cyndy Mandell, will thank all those involved and will tell all about it in the next issue of the Bulletin. I would like to take this opportunity to thank her for photographing the event so that I could use the pictures in the newsletter.
Goodbye to a
paper bulletin.
This month’s issue is the first time the Bulletin will be automatically put on the club website, if you still require a “hard” copy, then contact our Bulletin Editor—Alan Molineux at (760) 951-7064.
Club Website—www.vvgmc.org
Education night
John Muensterman spoke at our May Education night. The photograph shows him lecturing to the membership and using our overhead projector.

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At the fair booth

Virgil Melton works at the fair. Barbara Minard stringing beads.

Sara and Doug Arnold are both working while manning the booth!

In addition to having members show the general public how and what we do, there were also displays set up by members so that the public could see finished products.

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ROCK OF THE MONTH—BLOODSTONE by Gayland Graves.
Medieval Christians often used bloodstone to carve scenes of the crucifixion and martyrs, for which reason it was also dubbed the martyr's stone. According to the legend about the origin of bloodstone, it was first formed when drops of Christ's blood fell and stained some jasper at the foot of the cross. A beautiful example of carved bloodstone with the seal of the German Emperor Rudolf II can be seen at the Louvre in Paris.
Even today, finely pulverised bloodstone is used as a medicine and aphrodisiac in India. Perhaps that explains why it is now rather difficult to find fine specimens of bloodstone on the market. Bloodstone is mined in India, Australia, and the United States.
Color: Bloodstone is a green stone with red spots. It also occurs in shades of dark green with red, brown and multicolored spots. The iron minerals cause the deep red and brown colors.
Description: Bloodstone is dark-green variety of the silica mineral chalcedony that has nodules of bright-red jasper distributed throughout its mass. Polished sections therefore show red spots on a dark-green background, and from the resemblance of these to drops of blood it derives its name. Its physical properties are those of quartz.
The name's origin: Bloodstone is a stone with red spots which resemble drops of blood, so it is received its name due to this similarity.
Heliotrope derives its name from Greek words meaning sun and turning.
Birthstone: Bloodstone along with aquamarine are traditional birthstones of Pisces (Fish): Feb. 19 - March 20.
Care and treatment: Protect bloodstone from scratches, sharp blows, harsh chemicals and extreme temperatures. The polish will be removed if you get this type of stone wet.
From the stone history: In the Middle Ages, bloodstone was attributed special powers as the spots were thought to be the blood of Jesus Christ. It was used in sculptures representing flagellation and martyrdom.
Shopping guide: Bloodstone is an inexpensive stone. It is often used for pendants and bead necklaces.
Healing ability: In ancient times, bloodstone was thought to be able to stop hemorrhages with the merest touch. Bloodstone relieves stomach and bowel pain. It strengthens blood purifying organs and improves blood circulation. Bloodstone has a positive influence on a bladder.
Mystical power: Bloodstone is used to help one become more knowledgeable in the ways of the world. Bloodstone is also believed to be a very magical stone.
Deposits: Bloodstone is found in Australia, Brazil, China, India, Kathiawar Peninsula and the USA (Wyoming).

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June 2010

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
		1 Instructor’s / Meeting at 6 p.m. / Board Meeting at / 7 p.m.	2 / Workshop / 1—9 p.m.	3 / Workshop / 1—9 p.m.	4	5 / Workshop / 12 noon—5p.m.
6 Workshop / 12 noon—5p.m.	7	8	9 / Workshop / 1—9 p.m.	10 / Workshop / 1—9 p.m.	11	12 / Workshop / 12 noon—5p.m.
13 Workshop / 12 noon—5p.m.	14	15 / Education Night / 7p.m.	16 / Workshop / 1—9p.m.	17 / Workshop / 1—9p.m.	18	19 / Workshop / 12 noon—5p.m.
20 / Workshop / 12 noon—5p.m.	21	22 / Potluck 6:30p.m. / Monthly General / Meeting 7:30p.m.	23 / Workshop / 1—9 p.m.	24 / Workshop / 1—9 p.m.	25	26 Workshop / 12 noon—5p.m. / Club Clean up 9 a.m.
27 Workshop / 12 noon—5p.m.	28	29	30 / Workshop / 1—9p.m.

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Deadline for the July 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 - May
John Muensterman will be the speaker at the May Education Night.
The upcoming Gem and Mineral Show planning committee will meet on Saturday, May 8th.
New equipment purchases are being organized.
We have one property appraisal but we are looking for another one.
Members are asked to volunteer to fill display cases for use at the upcoming County Fair.
A nomination committee is being formed for the upcoming club elections.
There will be no board meeting in July as a good many of the board will be away on vacation.
We are considering having a booth at another club’s Gem and Mineral Show.
The policy for purchasing used equipment is being reviewed.
The board is still trying to locate a plaque to commemorate the present lifetime members.

Mineral Kits
On Tuesday, June 8th we will be helping the Women In Mining group put together their mineral kits for school teachers. This will be our first joint effort with this mutual interest club in a new venture of helping each other with the education aspects of our two clubs. I hope our members will turn out for this evening event to get to know some of our mining neighbors and help with the kits. A time will be announced later.

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V.v.g&M.c General meeting - april
Corresponding Secretary, Lynne Hallock sent letters out thanking vendors at our recent Tailgate. She also sent a letter to club member Brett Ward thanking him for his organizational efforts.
The club will showing a display case of turquoise at the CFMS show coming up soon in La Habra.
Club Scholarship recipients will soon be announced and will be notified.
Our field trip for May will lead us down Gephardt Road at Boron.
Curtis and Marilyn Pierson are converting club library VHS tapes to DVD’s.
Women in Mining will be assembling mineral kits for teachers. They will be doing this at our club on June 8th.
Marilyn Pomerenke and Cyndy Mandell will be holding a beading class at the club shortly after the fair.
It was voted in the affirmative by the membership present to spend club funds to update club equipment.

Upcoming club field trips
By Blaine Witte, Club Wagon Master.
As of today we have 2 field trips planned for the next 2 months. The first trip will be out to the Boron area again. I have just come across a new site out off Gerhard Road that is next to the Borax mine operation. There we will find some interesting jasper some that resembles picture jasper and some that is purple or yellow pastel colored. Also in the same area is a small honey onyx deposit. Just below the onyx deposit you can find some small but beautifully colored agates. For the most part the jasper and agate is in float. The honey onyx will require picks, shovels, gads and hammers to get out.
This trip is scheduled for Sat. May 22. We'll be meeting at Kramer's Corner at the intersection of the 395 and the 58 at 8 a.m.
Bring your plenty of water and food. Wear plenty of sun protection. Most vehicles will not have a problem on this trip. Remember that rattle snakes will out this time of the year.
There is a strike going on at the mine but we were able to get in anyway. In fact it was a mine employee that showed us this particular site. Other sites will be closed to us if the strike is still going. If by chance we are prevented from going out the area I plan I have a back up plan. On the same trip with LA-rocks we went out to a new site at Kramer's Corner. Palm wood, bog, palm root and opalite/opal there. How knows, maybe we can do it all.
The 2nd trip is the Hector Mine trip. Yes, it finally came through! This will be on Sat. June 12. We'll be meeting at the rest stop off of the 40 just before the Hector Road exit (about 40 miles east of Barstow). Be there by 7:30 AM so we can caravan to the mine by 8 AM. They have a dress code that must be followed. Most important will be that you wear close toed shoes (tennis shoes are OK). Also wear layers of close because the temperature can vary widely from very cool to hot at the mine at that time of year I was warned. There is a good chance that they will let us collect from the dumps so bring your bag and hand pick. Club members have collected nice gem material there in the past.

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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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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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