Newsletter (Soft Blue design)
Author: Susan Brouwer

THE BULLETIN

JULY 2024

President’s message 1
Field Trip Reports………...…………..2,3
Rocks, Minerals & Today…………..8
CFMS + OTHER Shows……………….4
Board Members 5
Committee Chairs……………………..5
Instructors…..……………………...…...5
Birthday’s & Birthstone……….…….6
General Meeting & Potluck………..6
Meetings, hours…………………..…...9
Education Night………………………….3,7
Junior Rockhounds……………………..9
Flint Knappers Tarp, Ken Villars…..7
Classes………………………………………..10

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Let’s have a big
Welcome to our new club member.
JUNE 2024
REGINA HUFFMAN
Hope to see you all at the next General Meeting & events!
Come on in and share our potluck luncheon, join in with the comradery with new friends.
Listen in on new club news, events, goings on with others in the club, and learn how you can help to make us the best club in the high desert and
surrounding areas.
Pick up some rocks while you’re there, and get some rock work done after 2:30pm, the workshop is open

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE FOR JUNE 2024
Greetings to all members, those of you who joined us recently, and those that have been with the club. I want to thank you all for your help, and for making our club one of the best Gem and Mineral clubs in SoCal. A couple of things you should know:
Newsletter-After several years and many monthly issues, Jake is turning over our monthly newsletter, The Bulletin, to John Alcorn, later this year. I would like to thank Jake for all his efforts and John for stepping up for this important club function. Please help John by taking the time to submit short articles about your interests and passions. This will make the Bulletin more interesting for all.
Parking Lot- In the next week or so, we will have a paving company re-surface the blacktop and redraw the parking stripes. We may have to cancel a shop day or 2 to accommodate. Sorry for the inconvenience, but best to do this before our new tenant opens their door on July 1st.
Field Trips: Due to the summer heat, explorations to the desert are over until October. Please join me in thanks to Scott Gray, our WagonMaster who made this year’s trips a great success and helped spread our reputation as an active club throughout Southern California.
That being said, this weekend, we are invited over to Didi and Scott’s rock yard in Apple Valley to shop through their huge collection of rough rocks, many available for as low as $3 a pound. See details in separate article in this issue.
And again, thanks for all you do for our club. Dave Duncan President

Our friends, Didi and Scott of Let's Get stoned Lapidary have invited us to their rock yard and Lapidary shop this weekend to look through their vast collection of rocks for sale.
When: Saturday June 1st, 9am to 11am and Sunday 9am to 11am
Where: 9197 Bowen Ranch Rd, Apple Valley, CA - Use your GPS How much? Most of the rough rock is $3 a LB, but they do have another area with some harder to find rocks that cost a bit more. What to bring: Hats, gloves, buckets, spray bottles, sunscreen and a stool so you can sit while you look through the containers. Please join us and enjoy Didi and Scott's warm hospitality (and, of course, rocks!). Dave,
More info vvrocksandgems@gmail.com

VICTOR VALLEY GEM & MINERAL CLUB PAGE 1

VICTOR VALLEY GEM & MINERAL CLUB JUNE 2024

FIELD TRIP REPORTS FROM WAGON MASTER SCOTT GRAY

Opal Mountain Field Trip May 11, 2024
Opal Mountain. With a name like that the collecting has to be good right? Well despite decades of rockhounds scouring the landscape there are still treasures to be found north of Hinkley. On Saturday May 11th former Wagonmaster Janet Fletcher led an all day field deep into the heart of opal country. After an early morning meet up where the route and rules for the day were discussed, we soon dashed off north on Hinkley Rd; everyone attending eager to get their rock on. This was a 4WD only trip and it was easy to see why: long sections of sand, rocky tracks, and steep stony descents lay ahead of us on a 50 mile round trip. Janet had her work cut it for her with the almost 40 members and guests following behind her in 18 vehicles. After approximately 10 miles of ever worsening road we made our first stop for the day to look for agate and soap bubble “jasper”. The soap bubble, actually a pretty patterned rhyolite, was pretty easy to find and some really does look like soap bubbles. The agate proved to be scarcer, although Loretta Wellinger managed to find a nice piece and Shona Schwab picked up a large gorgeous piece with waterlines and opal. All too soon we heard Janet’s 2 honks on her horn, the signal it was time to move on. I’m glad we did as this next stop was my favorite for the day. Although only a quarter mile away the soap bubble was bigger and better at site #2 in every way. This is also where the first pieces of opal started to appear and pieces of the soap bubble with veins of agate running thru it were stunning. I found several with orange opal veins that looked like lightning bolts in a lavender matrix of the soap bubble; my best finds of the day. Again, all too soon, the dreaded double horn honk startled us from our ground gazing and reluctantly everyone made their way back to the vehicles to move on. After a steep descent we started to head in a more or less westerly direction and in a few miles came to the location of the third stop for the day; a narrow canyon sandwiched between a larger hill on the left and an obviously volcanic outcrop on the right where we would be looking for more opal and agate in a reddish rhyolite matrix. After a brief geology lesson by Janet the group spread out; the minerals here were in a very condensed area. Perlite was everywhere, and some opal and agates were found. I luckily found 2 small thunder eggs, 1 with opal and 1 with agate. Beep beep! Again! This day was going by way too fast! But there was still a lot to see so move on we did. After another steep descent, this one the worst yet, and a few more miles we made it to stop # 4: Inscription Canyon. Narrow and shallow it can only be entered on foot. Inscription Canyon is akin to entering the hallway in a art gallery, with walls decorated with Native American petroglyphs instead of paintings. The petroglyphs, often on rocks with multicolored lichens, depicted human figures and animals and some were of geometric designs that makes one wonder what messages were the ancients trying to convey. After lunch and photos it was, again, time to move on. Cont….

SCOTT GRAY

Nearly 40 members and guests in 18 off road vehicles

Soap Bubble Jasper & orange opal

Inscription Canyon

THE BULLETIN PAGE 2

VICTOR VALLEY GEM & MINERAL CLUB JUNE 2024

Continued from page 2. Only a couple of miles south lies Scouts Cove, the former location of Tiffany And Company’s ill fated opal mining venture. There is definitely opal here, orange to butterscotch toned material, but the rock the opal occurred in was difficult to mine and the quantities recovered didn’t make this a profitable operation. Then our group proceeded to start going thru the remnants of the mine dumps where even the smallest chips of opal flashed in the afternoon sunlight. Thumbnail and larger pieces were few and far between, but the digging was fun and nearly every turn of the soil would reveal more pieces. This being the last scheduled stop for the day it was a very pleasant surprise when Brian and Loretta Wellinger wanted to take the group to a spot where they found cherry opal on a previous trip. The group unanimously agreed more opal was a great idea! Only about a mile or 2 away and right along side the road we were already on this bonus stop was a winner. Much of the cherry red opal occurs as thin veins or a thin coating on the rhyolite but both can polish up nicely if handled with care. Shona Schwab showed me a nice solid cherry red piece the size of a large gumball she located that was amazing, I can’t wait to see what she does with it. It was a long day and since we were 25 miles from anything resembling civilization everyone reluctantly decided to pack it in and call it a day. With great weather, breathtaking scenery, and lots of boasting rocks, Janet led a winner of a field trip, handling the hoard of rockhounds in a difficult area; the whole time explaining the geology and history of this historic site. With help from Mary Lou Fletcher and Steve Rucker helping run the caravan and identifying finds this was a trip all who attended will remember for a long time! I’d like to extend an extra special thanks to “Ruckie”, who graciously let Sasha and I ride with him. Thanks for the laughs and great conversations on the way in and out! Thanks Steve, you’re a boss!

Opal Mountain

EDUCATION NIGHT WITH LIA HAMILTON; Tuesday’s talk will be on Victor Valley Gem & mineral Club’s SAFETY RULES. Come on down to the club house at 6:00pm Jun 11, 2024. Members and Instructors are invited to review the rules as passed down by the California Federation Mineral Society. This is part of our keeping our requirements up to date for VVGMC and CFMS.
For those attending you will learn what you as a member, and those instructors working the clubs equipment and doing on site training, need to know for general safety and practices. We will cover equipment safety, tools, field trips, eye safety, fire & emergency safety, respiratory safety, chemicals, compressed gas safety and many other subjects will be discussed. Length will be 1 1/2 hour-2hours no later than 8:00pm. Jake Brouwer will provide snacks and drinks on his dime. He will also be giving out one white polypropylene apron for shop work for free to each person.
You will also get a print out of all the rules and practices at the event. BE SAFE WITH VVGMC AND THE CFMS

THE BULLETIN PAGE 3

#

VICTOR VALLEY GEM & MINERAL CLUB JUNE 2024

June 8-9, 2024 – Escondido, CA Palomar Gem and Mineral Club California Center for the Arts – at the Conference Center, 340 North Escondido Blvd., Escondido, 92025 Hours: Saturday 10AM – 5 PM, Sunday 10AM – 4 PM Held at the California Center for the Arts – at the Conference Center, 340 North Escondido Blvd., Escondido. Admission: $5.00, Children under 12 Free Contact: (425) 281-6218, tonifloyd41615@gmail.com Website: http://palomargem.org
June 15, 2024 – Bellflower, CA Delvers Gem and Mineral Society Holy Redeemer Lutheran Church, 14515 Blaine Ave., Bellflower, CA 90706 Hours: 10 AM – 4 PM Rock & Lapidary Extravaganza. Parking lot sale – Tons of Fun. Free Admission, Free Parking. Gems, Minerals, Equipment, Odds and Ends. delvings@yahoo.com
June 29-30, 2024 – Culver City, CA Culver City Rock & Mineral Club Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium, 4117 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA 90230 Hours: Saturday 10 AM – 6 PM, Sunday 10 AM – 5 PM 2024 Fiesta of Gems – The Culver City Rock and Mineral Club will present its 61st Annual Fiesta of Gems Show on Saturday, June 29, 2024 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday, June 30, 2024 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium, 4117 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA 90230. This year the featured gemstone is Turquoise. Admission and parking are free. For more information contact Janice Metz at culvercityrocks35@gmail.com Website: http://culvercityrocks.org
August 24-25, 2024 – Arcadia, CA Pasadena Lapidary Society Arcadia Masonic Lodge, 50 W. Duarte Rd., Arcadia, CA 91007 Hours: Saturday 10 AM – 5 PM, Sunday 10 AM – 4 PM Now in our 75th year, Pasadena Lapidary Society celebrates our 64th Annual Tournament of Gems. Contact: (626) 260-7239, marcia.pls.emails@gmail.com Website: https://pasadenalapidary.org

California Federation of Mineral Societies Show Dates
For the months of May, June closest to our location

THE BULLETIN PAGE 4

#

VICTOR VALLEY GEM & MINERAL CLUB JUNE 2024

VICTOR VALLEY GEM & MINERAL CLUB JANUARY 2023

BOARD MEMBERS, CHAIRS, INSTRUCTORS…..
President. / Dave Duncan, EMAIL : president@vvgmc .org
Vice President / Membership. Beka McNeil / EMAIL: vp@vvgmc. Org
2nd Vice President: Education. Lia Hamilton
3rd Vice President: Tailgate Chairman, Junior Rockhounds Chairman, Mark Lantz EMAIL marklantz53@gmail.com
Recording Secretary / Mark Lantz (temporary) / EMAIL: recordingsecretary@vvgmc org
Treasurer / Janalee (Jan) Arnold
Corresponding Secretary / Jake Brouwer
Board Member / 2 Year term - Lorie Cunningham, Pam Trozera
Board Member / Sara Arnold, Past President
Board Member / Cory Beck
Maintenance / Temporarily unavailable.
COMMITTEE CHAIRS…..
CFMS / Position is open
Wagon Master / Scott Gray
Librarian / Algot Stephenson
Newsletter / Jake Brouwer / EMAIL: jakelsdg@verizon.net
Photography / Temporarily unavailable .
Webmaster / Tech / Jim Fosse / EMAIL: info@vvgmc.org, In training, Angela
Auberry.
INSTRUCTORS:
Janet Fletcher Mary Lou Fletcher Dwayna Barron Chris Koch Stina Smith
Mark Lantz Dave Duncan Lia Hamilton Gayland Graves Beka McNeil Lorie Cunningham
ASSOCIATE INSTRUCTORS Algot Stephenson. Ann Musik

Send your articles in by the 23rd of
Each month! jakelsdg@verizon.net

VICTOR VALLEY GEM & MINERAL CLUB PAGE 5

VICTOR VALLEY GEM & MINERAL CLUB JUNE 2024

Welcome all club members to JUNE 2024 Our potluck luncheon for June 15, 2024 starts at 12:00pm. Birthday cakes for those celebrating this month will be needed for deserts. We ask all, that you bring with you an entrée, side dish, salad or fruit to the luncheon. The meeting will start with the pledge of allegiance, followed by a moment of silence to remember members and friends that are no longer with us. The General Meeting will start after tables are cleaned up. Try to make it, as in these meetings we discuss state of affairs for the club, planning, and other news. Afterwards there are door prizes of rocks, and minerals, and other items. Tickets will be passed out at the door. Extra tickets are available. We will also have rocks on display to enjoy and to have some fun with exciting rocks, gems, fossils and other related items available to members. Once the meeting is over those that wish to work in the shop may start. New for June; Kamen Building, volunteering, workshops and Education night, plans.

JUNE BIRTHSTONE: If you were born in June, your birthstone is the pearl, which happens to be the only gemstone formed by a living creature, Van Doren notes. These lustrous gems are made of calcium carbonite, just like the shells of the mollusks from which they come. "Pearls are luminous reminders that it's often the most difficult things in life that transform us the most beautifully," she explains, adding, "But just as it takes a mollusk much time and effort to transform a grain of sand into a pearl, it also takes us a lot of time and dedicated soul work to transform our greatest challenges into priceless radiance." This is a great stone for the two astrological signs of June: Gemini and Cancer. For Geminis, Van Doren notes, pearls can help calm the tendency to get easily distracted. And for Cancer, pearls can help soothe nerves. Leavy explains that pearls also have a strong association with the moon (which rules Cancer, btw). "This association makes sense because it literally looks like a tiny moon—it's brilliant, and shining, and lustrous," she says, adding, "the ancient Greeks and Romans believed this stone was actually formed from the light of the moon."

JUNE BIRTHDAYS
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR Special birthDAY
Jesse saldana
Russ Trozera
Ron Kauffman
Pat estes (lifetime member)
Robert aries (lifetime member)
We wish you all the best

ROCK STAR BIRTHDAY; JUNE IS THE BIRTHDAY MONTH OF LEGENDARY DEEP PURPLE DRUMMER IAN PAICE.
Paleontologists love their rock, whether it comes in fossil form or just cranking up some heavy music. That perhaps explains why so many newly discovered fossils have been named after rock musicians. The latest to be saluted in such a matter include Deep Purple's Ian Paice, Meshuggah's Tomas Haake and Deep Purple artwork creator Joe Petagno.
As revealed in a new Communications Biology article, the three new fossils all have ties to the rock community. Ophiopetagno Paicei was collaboratively named after the Deep Purple drummer Ian Paice and artwork creator Joe Petagno, while Muldaster Haakei carries a reference to Meshuggah's Tomas Haake. The two fossils are extinct brittle stars that were retrieved from 428-million-year-old rocks on the Swedish island of Gotland.

IAN PAICE

THE BULLETIN PAGE 6

VICTOR VALLEY GEM & MINERAL CLUB JUNE 2024 JANUARY 2023

Knapper’s Tarp June 2024: By Ken Villars, Victor Valley Gem & Mineral Club’s resident flint knapper. An introduction. Flintknapping is a form of lithic reduction used by people since ancient times to make tools, including weapons. A sharp flake could be used much like a modern break away blade razor knife (discard when dull). Even primitive children would likely be able to display the rudimentary knapping skill of making a sharp flake. At a minimum, these flakes would have been used to cut food, cordage, leather wood and anything else necessary.
Most people are aware of arrowheads, spear heads, and stone knives made by the ancients. You may have even found a whole or broken one yourself, or know someone who has.
You might not realize that knapping has been used in more modern times, from the pre-industrial to the beginning of the industrial, and even in some applications up to present.
Threshing sledges are essentially a wooden sled with horizontally placed blades sticking out of the bottom, that used knapped flint blades to help separate the heads of grain from the stalks and chaff (Deuteronomy 25:4). Stone blades were used in this application right up past the point where steel was readily available, until steel became inexpensive. In a place where flint was plentiful, broken, lost or worn sledge blades could be easily replaced by a farmer who had learned to knap them himself.
The word “knap” is believed to be of possibly Germanic origin, and refers to breaking off pieces of something.
In early industrial times, “flintknappers” was the word used to refer to the workers who made gun flints for flintlock rifles. It was an essential military industry, and grew from a specific ancient lithic technology having to do with repeatedly taking similar shaped thin long flakes (called “blades” by archaeologists) from specifically prepared platforms on a donor rock (called “the core”). The gun flint knappers would break the blades into shorter sections to make the gun flints.
There are people still using knapping to shape pieces of flint for stone walls and houses to this day; and you have probably heard about modern surgical experiments using obsidian flakes, which are extraordinarily sharp.
If you would like to view excellent and educational videos on flintknapping, I recommend my friend Jim Winn’s YouTube channel - Paleomanjim. Editors note: We hope to have an education night with Ken Villars in the near future.

FLINT KNAPPERS TARP

Thanks to Lorie Cunningham

EDUCATION NIGHT WITH LIA HAMILTON AND PRESENTATION BY KEN VILLARS
Introduction to Lighting Small Reflective Objects: Follow up By the Editor and Ken Villars. We wanted to thank those who came to education night. It was a small group of 9 members, but quite larger on teachings, which were appreciated by all. Ken spoke about problems photographing small reflective objects, with an emphasis on solving problems, like learning to see what looks best, and or how to make it look better by changing direction, diffusing light, contrast and surface textures. Below you will find a few extra tips from Ken, not included in his 16pg handout at the clubhouse. How to Make a “Poor Man’s” “Magic Arm.” A simple to make “arm” to hold reflectors, light panels, etc. Thick, malleable copper wire (about 2 or 3 feet, at about $2 per foot), a 2” A clamp for about $1. I used 4 gauge wire (thickest available at the box stores). Attach the wire with tape. Secure a smaller clamp or clothespin or some tape to the end of the wire to hold whatever.
Making a Simple Light Panel. In our demo we used light panels to establish and control our main highlights. I made mine by cutting a window in foam core board and taping diffusion material over the opening. I recommend Rosco 3000 or 111 material (available online or at Motion Picture lighting supply houses like Matthews or Birns and Sawyer in Los Angeles). A double layer of Wax paper will do in a pinch, but will show texture in the highlights; and it is less heat resistant and durable than the cinema diffusion gels. A tab of tape at the back of the panel will allow you to hold it in place with your “poor man’s” “magic arm”, and a small piece of tape will hold the bottom where you place it on the table. Thanks for having me! Ken. .

THE BULLETIN PAGE 7

VICTOR VALLEY GEM & MINERAL CLUB JUNE 2024 JANUARY 2023

Rocks, Minerals and Today, Unearthing the Mystique of Black Obsidian: Nature's Volcanic Glass. By Cristiane Stoll. Today we will explore the mysterious allure of black obsidian, a strikingly beautiful volcanic glass that has fascinated humans for centuries. Black obsidian is more than just a pretty gemstone; it is a powerful natural phenomenon with a rich history and unique formation process that continues to captivate the minds of geologists, historians, and spiritual enthusiasts alike. Black obsidian is formed through the rapid cooling of felsic lava from volcanic eruptions. Unlike other types of rocks that crystallize over time, black obsidian cools so quickly that it doesn't have time to form a crystalline structure, resulting in its distinctive glassy texture. This natural glass can be found in volcanic regions around the world, including places like the United States (notably in Yellowstone National Park and the Cascade Range), Iceland, Japan, and parts of Central America. Its formation is a testament to the dynamic and sometimes violent processes that shape our planet, as it often emerges from the same volcanic activity that can create new landforms and alter landscapes dramatically. But black obsidian's appeal extends far beyond its geological origins. Throughout history, it has been revered for its sharpness, durability, and beauty. Ancient civilizations, such as the Aztecs and Mayans, used obsidian to craft tools, weapons, and intricate artworks. Today, it is often used in jewelry and decorative items, prized for its deep, dark luster and smooth, glassy surface. Beyond its physical attributes, black obsidian is also believed to possess metaphysical properties. Many crystal enthusiasts and spiritual practitioners regard it as a protective stone, said to absorb negative energies and provide grounding and clarity. Black obsidian offers a fascinating glimpse into the power and beauty of nature. Its formation is a reminder of the earth's fiery origins, and its historical and contemporary uses highlight its enduring significance. So next time you come across this enigmatic stone, take a moment to appreciate the incredible journey it has undergone – from the depths of a volcanic eruption to a treasured piece in your collection. Editor, thank you Crisitiane! Below find some photos of different obsidian cabs. Photo credit to AZBLUEROCKER.COM. Recommended by Jake fffBriBroue
JUNIOR ROCKHOUNDS WITH MARK LANTZ, PHOTOS BY KEN VILLARS

Thanks to Lorie Cunningham

FIREWORKS OBSIDIAN
OBSIDIAN

SNOWFLAKE
OBSIDIAN

MAHOGANY OBSIDIAN

RAINBOW OBSIDIAN

FLOWER OBSIDIAN

Hello club members, and others. Mark Lantz spent 33 years in education on the 6th - 12th grade level in geology and earth sciences. Just one of his hobbies is lapidary work. When Mark volunteered for this position with the club, he studied for many hours honing his skills with the CFMS, and AFMS guidelines on teaching their programs for Junior Rockhounds. We all are so grateful to have him working with the youth in our community. What these children are learning here with the Victor Valley Gem and Mineral Club is something you will not find in many schools these days. So much has been cut from education in areas of the arts, music and in this case geology, earth sciences, and a hobby known as lapidary arts. Many families like the Villar’s are home schooling their children. Think about how this could help your family and give the club a call and see how you to can join with your family. Editor PS, summer is a great time to learn in the shop! AC! Give the club a call for your appointment & bring your children and see the wonders we offer!

THE BULLETIN PAGE 8

Victor Valley Gem & Mineral Club was founded in 1947, as a 501/C4 non profit education club. Visitors are always welcome.
Our objective and purpose is to disseminate knowledge of minerology & earth sciences. To encourage study in those subjects though various programs. To arrange field trips for exploration, study, and collection of specimens. The preparations, publication, and distribution of articles pertaining to these fields. The encouragement of interest of young people and fostering of classes in mineralogy and Lapidary Arts.

SHOP DAY:TUES JUNE 11, 18, 25, 2024
12:00pm - 5:00 pm
SHOP DAY: THURSDAYS - 2:00pm- 8:00
SHOP DAY: SATURDAYS—12:00pm-5 pm
SHOP DAY: SUNDAYS - 12:00pm - 5 pm

REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS AS FOLLOWS
CLUB CLEAN UP DAY: TO BE ANNOUNCED
INSTRUCTORS MEETING: TUES, JUNE, 2024, 3pm
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING: JUNE 4, 2024 4:30pm TIL FINISHED.
EDUCATION NIGHT: JUNE 11, 2025 6:00 PM
GENERAL MEETING: - JUNE 15, 2024. 12:00 - 2:00 pm, followed by our tradition door prizes, and more. Shop work resumes APPROXIMATLY 2:00 -5:00 pm.
JUNIOR ROCKHOUNDS: JUNE 8, JUNE 22, 2024 - 9:00 AM TO 11:45 AM

THE BULLETIN IS THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER...
Published by the Victor Valley Gem & Mineral club and is distributed free of charge electronically to the members by email. Views expressed by authors in the articles appearing in THE BULLETIN do not necessarily reflect those of the VICTOR VALLEY GEM AND MINERAL CLUB. The editor publishes content as presented with minor changes for continuity.
Articles from this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part in other lapidary newsletter if proper credit is given to the author and THE BULLETIN. Articles and pictures are due by the 23rd for each month. Please contribute when you can!
Primary Business Address
Your Address Line 2
Your Address Line 3
Your Address Line 4
Phone: 555-555-5555
Fax: 555-555-5555
E-mail: someone@example.com

MAILING LABLE

Please
place
stamp
here

76th
ANNIVERARY
YEAR
1947-1948
2024-2025

DAVE DUNCAN,
LORIE CUNNINGHAM

Going To Quartzsite? Here’s What You Need To Know!
Yep! It’s that time of the year again: Quartzsite! That on stop destination for all of us who love rocks, minerals, fossils, gemstones, jewelry and lapidary. Whether a day trip, a weekend, or a week, your time her will be well spent. Her are several tips for those making the adventure.

Sent from my iPhone

Opal Mountain. With a name like that the collecting has to be good right? Well despite decades of rockhounds scouring the landscape there are still treasures to be found north of Hinkley. On Saturday May 11th former WagonMaster Janet Fletcher led an all day field deep into the heart of opal country. After an early morning meet up where the route and rules for the day were discussed, we soon dashed off north on Hinkley Rd; everyone attending eager to get their rock on. This was a 4WD only trip and it was easy to see why: long sections of sand, rocky 2 track, and steep stony descents lay ahead of us on a 50 mile round trip. Janet had her work cut it for her with the almost 40 members and guests following behind her in 18 vehicles. After approximately 10 miles of ever worsening road we made our first stop for the day to look for agate and soap bubble “jasper”. The soap bubble, actually a pretty patterned rhyolite, was pretty easy to find and some really does look like soap bubbles. The agate proved to be scarcer, although Loretta Wellinger managed to find a nice piece and Shona Schwab picked up a large gorgeous piece with waterlines and opal. All too soon we heard Janet’s 2 honks on her horn, the signal it was time to move on. I’m glad we did as this next stop was my favorite for the day. Although only a quarter mile away the soap bubble was bigger and better at site #2 in every way. This is also where the first pieces of opal started to appear and pieces of the soap bubble with veins of agate running thru it were stunning. I found several with orange opal veins that looked like lightning bolts in a lavender matrix of the soap bubble; my best finds of the day. Again, all too soon, the dreaded double horn honk startled us from our ground gazing and reluctantly everyone made their way back to the vehicles to move on. After a steep descent we started to head in a more or less westerly direction and in a few miles came to the location of the third stop for the day; a narrow canyon sandwiched between a larger hill on the left and a obviously volcanic outcrop on the right where we would be looking for more opal and agate in a reddish rhyolite matrix. After a brief geology lesson by Janet the group spread out; the minerals here were in a very condensed area. Perlite was everywhere, and some opal and agates were found. I luckily found 2 small thunder eggs, 1 with opal and 1 with agate. Beep beep! Again! This day was going by way too fast! But there was still a lot to see so move on we did. After another steep descent, this one the worst yet, and a few more miles we made it to stop # 4: Inscription Canyon. Narrow and shallow it can only be entered on foot. Inscription Canyon is akin to entering the hallway in a art gallery, with walls decorated with Native American petroglyphs instead of paintings. The petroglyphs, often on rocks with multicolored lichens, depicted human figures and animals and some were of geometric designs that makes one wonder what the messages were the ancients were trying to convey. After lunch and photos it was, again, time to move on. Only a couple of miles south lies Scouts Cove, the former location of Tiffany And Company’s ill fated opal mining venture. There is definitely opal here, orange to butterscotch toned material, but the rock the opal occurred in was difficult to mine and the quantities recovered didn’t make this a profitable operation. This was stop #4 and our group proceeded to start going thru the remnants of the mine dumps where even the smallest chips of opal flashed in the afternoon sunlight. Thumbnail and larger pieces were few and far between, but the digging was fun and nearly every turn of the soil would reveal more pieces. This being the last scheduled stop for the day it was a very pleasant surprise when Brian and Loretta Wellinger wanted to take the group to a spot where they found cherry opal on a previous trip. The group unanimously agreed more opal was a great idea! Only about a mile or 2 away and right along side the road we were already on this bonus stop was a winner. Much of the cherry red opal occurs as thin veins or a thin coating on the rhyolite but both can polish up nicely if handled with care. Shona Schwab showed me a nice solid cherry red piece the size of a large gumball she located that was amazing, I can’t wait to see what she does with it. It was A long day and since we were 25 miles from anything resembling civilization everyone reluctantly decided to pack it in and call it a day. With great weather, breathtaking scenery, and lots of boasting rocks, Janet led a winner of a field trip, handling the hoard of rockhounds in a difficult area; the whole time explaining the geology and history of this historic site. With help from Mary Lou Fletcher and Steve Ruckie helping run the caravan and identifying finds this was a trip all who attended will remember for a long time! I’d like to extend an extra special thanks to Ruckie, who graciously let Sasha and I ride with him. Thanks for the laughs and great conversations on the way in and out! Thanks Steve your a boss!

Sent from my iPhone

Opal Mountain. With a name like that the collecting has to be good right? Well despite decades of rockhounds scouring the landscape there are still treasures to be found north of Hinkley. On Saturday May 11th former WagonMaster Janet Fletcher led an all day field deep into the heart of opal country. After an early morning meet up where the route and rules for the day were discussed, we soon dashed off north on Hinkley Rd; everyone attending eager to get their rock on. This was a 4WD only trip and it was easy to see why: long sections of sand, rocky 2 track, and steep stony descents lay ahead of us on a 50 mile round trip. Janet had her work cut it for her with the almost 40 members and guests following behind her in 18 vehicles. After approximately 10 miles of ever worsening road we made our first stop for the day to look for agate and soap bubble “jasper”. The soap bubble, actually a pretty patterned rhyolite, was pretty easy to find and some really does look like soap bubbles. The agate proved to be scarcer, although Loretta Wellinger managed to find a nice piece and Shona Schwab picked up a large gorgeous piece with waterlines and opal. All too soon we heard Janet’s 2 honks on her horn, the signal it was time to move on. I’m glad we did as this next stop was my favorite for the day. Although only a quarter mile away the soap bubble was bigger and better at site #2 in every way. This is also where the first pieces of opal started to appear and pieces of the soap bubble with veins of agate running thru it were stunning. I found several with orange opal veins that looked like lightning bolts in a lavender matrix of the soap bubble; my best finds of the day. Again, all too soon, the dreaded double horn honk startled us from our ground gazing and reluctantly everyone made their way back to the vehicles to move on. After a steep descent we started to head in a more or less westerly direction and in a few miles came to the location of the third stop for the day; a narrow canyon sandwiched between a larger hill on the left and a obviously volcanic outcrop on the right where we would be looking for more opal and agate in a reddish rhyolite matrix. After a brief geology lesson by Janet the group spread out; the minerals here were in a very condensed area. Perlite was everywhere, and some opal and agates were found. I luckily found 2 small thunder eggs, 1 with opal and 1 with agate. Beep beep! Again! This day was going by way too fast! But there was still a lot to see so move on we did. After another steep descent, this one the worst yet, and a few more miles we made it to stop # 4: Inscription Canyon. Narrow and shallow it can only be entered on foot. Inscription Canyon is akin to entering the hallway in a art gallery, with walls decorated with Native American petroglyphs instead of paintings. The petroglyphs, often on rocks with multicolored lichens, depicted human figures and animals and some were of geometric designs that makes one wonder what the messages were the ancients were trying to convey. After lunch and photos it was, again, time to move on. Only a couple of miles south lies Scouts Cove, the former location of Tiffany And Company’s ill fated opal mining venture. There is definitely opal here, orange to butterscotch toned material, but the rock the opal occurred in was difficult to mine and the quantities recovered didn’t make this a profitable operation. This was stop #4 and our group proceeded to start going thru the remnants of the mine dumps where even the smallest chips of opal flashed in the afternoon sunlight. Thumbnail and larger pieces were few and far between, but the digging was fun and nearly every turn of the soil would reveal more pieces. This being the last scheduled stop for the day it was a very pleasant surprise when Brian and Loretta Wellinger wanted to take the group to a spot where they found cherry opal on a previous trip. The group unanimously agreed more opal was a great idea! Only about a mile or 2 away and right along side the road we were already on this bonus stop was a winner. Much of the cherry red opal occurs as thin veins or a thin coating on the rhyolite but both can polish up nicely if handled with care. Shona Schwab showed me a nice solid cherry red piece the size of a large gumball she located that was amazing, I can’t wait to see what she does with it. It was A long day and since we were 25 miles from anything resembling civilization everyone reluctantly decided to pack it in and call it a day. With great weather, breathtaking scenery, and lots of boasting rocks, Janet led a winner of a field trip, handling the hoard of rockhounds in a difficult area; the whole time explaining the geology and history of this historic site. With help from Mary Lou Fletcher and Steve Ruckie helping run the caravan and identifying finds this was a trip all who attended will remember for a long time! I’d like to extend an extra special thanks to Ruckie, who graciously let Sasha and I ride with him. Thanks for the laughs and great conversations on the way in and out! Thanks Steve your a boss!

________________________

Thanks.

Ken

Going To Quartzsite? Here’s What You Need To Know!
Yep! It’s that time of the year again: Quartzsite! That on stop destination for all of us who love rocks, minerals, fossils, gemstones, jewelry and lapidary. Whether a day trip, a weekend, or a week, your time her will be well spent. Her are several tips for those making the adventure.