Author: Alan Molineux

The
bulletin
Newsletter of the
victor valley
Gem and
mineral club
Ph. (760) 243-2330
october 2011

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Your officers for 2011
2011 Executive Committee
President……………………...Cyndy Mandell….…………..244-7169
1st V.P (Membership)..Sheryl Grenell….…………..242-7602
2nd V.P (Education)…….Lois Papner…………………...244-7169
3rd V.P (Gem & Mineral Show chairman)
Jonathan Van DerLoop..245-2313
Recording Secretary….Alan Molineux……………….951-7064
Treasurer…………………….Carole Mc Michael.……….961-7659
Corresponding Secretary..Lynn Hallock…………...951-1736
All ‘Phone Numbers Board Members
have an area code Don Pomerenke………….….868-5264
of (760) unless Jim Fosse……...………….…..245-8644
shown otherwise. John Printz…..…….(951) 255-9158
Gayland Graves……...…….902-3249
Past President……………..Gil Gilbert………………….….868-6900
CFMS Representative...Pat Estes ………….…..…….948-7324
Standing Committee Chairpersons
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…………..Bobbie Kaufman.………….….868-5120
Displays………….………….Vacant
Raffles……………………...Ed Deren……..…...……………..252-7009
Scholarships……………..Vacant
Photography………….....Alan Molineux…………………..951-7064
Hospitality………………..Mike Stafford………………..248-7404
Webmaster……………….Jim Fosse…………………………245-8644
Tailgate……….…………….Brett Ward………………………948-1232
Jonathan VanderLoop…….245-2313
Training Coordinator….Vacant
Instructors
Ed Deren, Jim Fosse, Gil Gilbert, Virgil Melton,
Pat Estes, Gayland Graves, Don Pomerenke, Charles Toles,
Cyndy Mandell, Terry Booth and John Hill.
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 64 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 October General Meeting was held on Tuesday, 25th at 7:30p.m. and the November General Meeting will be on Tuesday the 22nd.
Upcoming Club
Christmas Party
The Christmas Party will be held on December 12th, Monday, at 6:00 pm at the Golden Corral on Main St. in Hesperia, next to the new Super Target store.
It’s Coming Soon
It’s the time of year for our annual barbeque/picnic—Saturday, October 22nd 10—4p.m at Doris Davies Park in Victorville a time for us all to get together, eat, chat and make merry! Bring a potluck dish!

Petrified Pups
The Mitsubishi cement plant field has been changed from Oct.29th to Nov. 5th. This was due to a scheduling problem at Mitsubishi. All club members are invited. If you can’t make the October General Meeting (when we vote for new officers) then please call Cyndy Mandell (See p.2) or John Printz (See p.2) to let us know how many we can expect to make this field trip.
After the Oct.15th workshop we will be having a pup pot luck for any interested pups, their parents or guardians. It will be a time for us to socialize and discuss the calendar for next year.
Cyndy Mandell has volunteered to give a lecture/lesson (about 45 minutes long) to the pups on Earth Processes in November. The pups started to organize a big fund raiser but it has died. Is there someone who would be willing to revitalize this for the pups?
Club Calendar
You will notice change in the club calendar. This is the October issue of the Bulletin, but it has the November calendar. This was the way it was supposed to be, however over time the calendar slipped back to the way it was so that it became the same month as the issue it was in. The calendar was always supposed to be a month ahead and so I adjusted it this month...Ed
On The Front Cover
I stopped by the club on Sunday and photographed Corey Beck’s tool box—everything you need to lapidary work!

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Around the Club

These slabs have been attached to A table full of “leverites” to be put blocks of wood so they can be sawed. on the hill behind the club.

A prospective member brought in This is the new Intarsia machine that this into the club to be identified. can be used by all of the members.

A Genie is cleaned and ready for the The saw room showing some of the next member to work on a project. saws members can use.

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November 5th and 6th:
Ridgecrest CA.
Indian Wells Gem and Min. Society. Desert Empire Fairgrounds (Mesquite Hall)
520 West Richmond Road
Hours: 9—5p.m. Daily.
John DeRosa (760) 375-7905
IndianWellsGems@hotmail.com
www.indianwells.weebly.com
November 5th & 6th:
Lancaster, CA
Palmdale Gem & Mineral Club
Antelope Valley Fairgrounds
2551 West Ave. H & Hwy.14
Hours: 9—5p.m. Daily
Cheri George (562) 243-8470
lizardwoman3@yahoo.com
www.palmdalegemandmineral.com
October 12th and 13th:
Yuba City, CA.
Sutter Buttes Gem and Min. Society
Yuba City Fairgrounds (Franklin Hall)
442 Franklin Avenue
Hours: Sat: 9—5p.m.
Sun: 9—4p.m.
Erik Anspaugh (916) 869-7272
rocks@hughes.net
www.sutterbuttes.net
October 19th and 20th:
Oxnard, CA.
Oxnard Mineral & Gem Society
Oxnard Performing Arts Center
800 Hobson Way
Hours: Sat. 9—5p.m. Sun. 10—4p.m.
Norb Kinsler (805) 644-6450
show_info@oxnardgem.com
http://www.oxnardgem.com

Upcoming club Gem Shows
October 22nd & 23rd:Los Altos, CA
Peninsula Gem and Geology Soc.
Los Altos Civic Center-Youth Center One San Antonio Road
Hours: Sat: 10—5p.m.
Sun.11—4p.m
Steve Jobe (408) 279-2069
steve jobe@sbc.global.net
www.pgps.org
November 5th & 6th:San Diego, CA
San Diego Gem and Min. Society
Al Bahr Shrine Center
5440 Kearny Mesa Road
Hours: Sat. 9:30—5p.m.
Sun. 10—4p.m.
Bob Hancock (619) 461-5783
Cell:(619) 889-6886
RHBOBHANCOCK@cs.com
www.sdmg.org
November 5th and 6th:Concord, CA
Contra Costa Min. & Gem Society
Center Concord
5294 Clayton Road (near Ygnacio Valley Road)
Hours: Sat. 10:00—5p.m. Daily
Harry Nichandros (925)289-0454 brs@ccmgs.org
http://ccmgs.org
Election of Club Officers
The club officers will be elected at the November General Meeting. Nominating Committee members are Corey Beck, Kerri Molineux, Gayland Graves, Jonathan Van Derloop and Pat Estes.

November 2011

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

Deadline for the November issue of the Bulletin is Monday, Nov.,14th. Ph.(760) 951-7064 or email amolineux@gmail.com

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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

Up to 25% off retail—
See the Sports Memorabilia Man
Jonathan Vanderloop at (760) 245-2313
We specialize in hard to find teams!
NBA, NASCAR, NFL, UFC
NHRA, COLLEGE, & NHL
sportsmemman@yahoo.com

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September Gem Hill Field Trip—by Blaine Witte
On September 24, 12 members ( Laura Witte, Argentina and Clyde Moore, Cory and Cheryl Beck, Jonathan Vanderloop, Deborah Savacool,, Ed and Peg Sohm, Jesse and Tina LaBau and myself) and 3 guests went out to Gem Hill. Gem Hill is off of Hwy 14, on the way to Mojave . We went to the west side of the hill where several small quarries have been made over the years that contain green opal and blue lace agate. Also there, one can find petrified wood and moss agate and blue nodules in basalt. The “moss’ agate is in float over the whole area. The materials in the quarries and the petrified wood require a lot of digging so most of our party went after float material. The “moss” agate is described as being green with yellow and green streamers that are similar to moss. Most of our party thought it was more brown than green. We’ll have to wait to see what it looks like after its cut to see it we have the yellow and green “moss.” Quite a few chunks of basalt with the blue nodules were also collected there. It seemed like things were going slow and folks weren’t interested in the quarries so after awhile I called everyone in to change locations. Looking back this might have been a mistake. I hadn’t realized that one of our party (Jesse Le Bau) had started to dig in the pit that has the blue lace agate and was just getting into material that was showing sings that he could be on to something.
After this we took the rough road to the other side of the hill. On this side of the hill there is an amazing amount of material in float. You could literally fill up your bucket in tem minutes if you wanted. However, the material on this side isn’t as good in general. Here you can find a different colors and patterns of banded rhyolite, agate, jasper and petrified wool, mostly in greens or brown. There is a huge vein of material up the hill that is the source of a lot of the material. The vein is 2 feet thick at points and is at least 50 feet wide. Chunks have fallen off that are as big as a large table top. Again, in general the material in this agate isn’t so exciting but if look close you can find some very nice material that kook like black agate with moss like inclusions. Our party stuck mostly to the float material and seemed to gravitate more to the banded rhyolite. However, few nice pieces of petrified wood where found on this side.
Each time I go out to Gem Hill I learn a little bit more about its secrets. I’ve been out there 4 or 5 times now. I think that next time I will take a more focused approach and not try to cover so much ground at a time. We now have a better idea of how to go after the blue lace agate and the petrified wood. Maybe in months to come we will try again for the nicer stuff that alluded us this time.

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Upcoming Field Trips—Blaine Witte.
Our next field trip is scheduled for October the 8th out to the OMYA mine. There has been a time change since the announcement at the General Meeting. Howard Brown I requesting that we arrive there by 6PM. This is so that there will still be enough light to get in a short tour of the operations there before it gets dark. After this you will probably get a video presentation and then go out after dark for the fluorescents. If you are hoping to hook up with people at the club you will need to give yourselves time to do that. We are limited to only 12 people this time. Your must sign up to reserve a place. I will probably not attend this one to give room for someone else since I have already been on this one. You will need to bring a black light (short wave). If you don’t have this Howard will have one that he will use . The temperature can vary greatly in that time so be prepared for that. Wear study shoes long sleeve shirts and long pants. If you have a hard hat bring it. Trucks or SUV are highly recommended. Bring your hammer and bag.
To get there take Hwy 18 into Lucerne Valley , at the intersection of the 247 turn right like you are going to Big Bear. Not far up this there is a road that angles off to the right. This is just opposite from a general store. I think it is the first turn to the right you can make. This will take you to the OMYA plant. There is parking at the main office building there.
What is a Karat?
By Cyndy Mandell
When spelled k-a-r-a-t, instead of c-a-r-r-o-t, a karat is not something you may want to have your teeth chomp on but something you may want to get your hands on. Karat is a jewelry term. In diamonds “carat” refers to the weight. When it comes to gold, the karat stamp indicates the amount or fineness of the gold. Pure gold is 24 karat. Although beautiful, 24-karat gold is generally considered too soft for jewelry, so the gold is alloyed or combined with other metals, such as copper, nickel, silver or zinc.
Most gold jewelry in the U.S. is 14 karat or 18 karat. Fourteen-karat gold contains 14 parts gold and 10 parts other metals. Eighteen-karat gold has a proportion of 18 parts gold to six parts other metals. By U.S. standards jewelry must be at least 10 karat to be called gold.
Alloys used with gold help harden the gold and may also give it a particular tint Nickel, zinc and copper are added to create white gold, while the addition of copper alone produces pink gold.
When shopping for jewelry, it’s a good idea to look for the karat stamp on the piece because only karat gold jewelry is really gold.

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September General Meeting
Minutes
Lois Papner—2nd V.P Education said there would be no speaker in October but Eric Melchiorre would be speaking on California gold found in the Holcomb Valley area at the Education night in November.
Jonathan Van DerLoop mentioned a rock carving class in Whittier on Oct. 24th.
Cody Poppert will put on a club display for November.
Blaine Witte, the club Wagon Master told of recent field trips and an upcoming field trip to the Omnia Mine in Lucerne Valley.
Black chairs are still being sold for $10 each.
There is a new intarsia machine for member’s use.
Cyndy Mandell made a plaque for the Mitsubishi company and they gave the club a check for $200.
Cyndy Mandell bought two cordless microphones with Jim Fosse’s help and paid less than $50 for the pair. Cyndy Mandell donated a couple of buckets of rocks for auction.

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October Board Meeting Minutes
The 1st V.P Membership passed around an application to join the club.
The CFMS rep. told us about camps Paradise and Zyzyx.
John Printz told us about the upcoming Petrified Pups field trip to the Mitsubishi mine and a pot luck for mid November.
Mitsubishi gave Cyndy a check for $200 as a thank you for making a limestone slab plaque for them.
Jonathan Van DerLoop is checking an Oro Grande venue as a possibility for a Fall Tailgate.
Mike and Marilyn Stafford are working on the upcoming club barbeque/picnic.
Prudential provided a bid to supply two work mats per week for the club house.
Pat Estes will check restaurants for a room suitable for the upcoming Christmas party.
Photos from the recent club picnic

Snail
Mail
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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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