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Rocky Mountain Federation News, Vol 49, Issue 4

Rocky Mountain Federation News

The official publication of the Rocky Mountain Federation of Mineralogical Societies, Inc. The RMFMS is a regional member of the

American Federation of Mineralogical Societies, Inc. and is issued monthly (except June and July). It is a privilege of membership of

the RMFMS and cannot be exchanged by the editor for individual club newsletters from other regional federations.

www.rmfms.org

April 2018

Volume 49, Issue 4


Contents

From the Editor ................................................. 2

Affiliations ......................................................... 2

Letter from the President – March 2018 .......... 3

AFMS Show & Convention: Raleigh, North

Carolina – April 6‐8, 2018 ................................. 4

Journey of a Rockhound ................................... 5

Colorado Springs Mineralogical Society’s Pebble

Pup and Earth Science Scholar Presents Paper

at Iowa State University .................................... 7

Geology of Leonardo’s Virgin of the Rocks ....... 8

Works Cited ....................................................... 9

Heading to the Federation Meeting in the Black

Hills: Agates ..................................................... 10

Calling All AFMS Uniform Rules Judges .......... 16

RMFMS Convention and Show ....................... 17

April/May Upcoming Shows and Events ......... 25

New Show Announcements ............................ 26

Show Flyers ..................................................... 27

RMFMS Board and Committees...................... 33

Cover photo courtesy and copyright of Erin

Delventhal of the San Juan County Gem and

Mineral Society. “Modified cubes of blue

fluorite in situ, Cooke’s Peak District, Luna

County, New Mexico”

From the Editor

It is such a joy to have articles sent my way for

this publication. From my experience with other

newsletter writing endeavors, it more often

takes begging and bribery to obtain good

content. Thanks for making this fun to do!

Special thanks to Erin Delventhal for

contributing spectacular photos with a smile.

Please submit your contributions for the next

issue by May 10th to [email protected].

Heather Woods, PG

Affiliations

The Rocky Mountain Federation of

Mineralogical Societies (RMFMS) is a member

of the American Federation of Mineralogical

Societies (AFMS).


Letter from the President – March 2018 By Liz Thomas

Well, what an interesting spring we are having. But that's okay we will

get through it. I just returned from Raleigh, North Carolina for the

American Rock and Mineral Society Convention and show. The biggest

thing I took away from this show is please do not try to have all your

meetings in one day. It will wear you out and you get a little hangry

(hungry + angry). But it turned out to be a great convention and show.

My husband, Ben and our vice president Bob Regner and his beautiful

wife Donna had a chance to attend the field trip out at the hiddenite mine.

Or that is where we thought we were going. We actually ended up at a

private location looking for hiddenite as well as other material. We did

come away with a few items but not too much. It was fun just enjoying

the day with all the rock hounds from all the other regions as well.

How many of you plan on attending our RMFMS show and convention in

Rapid City, South Dakota? It is shaping up to be a great show with a lot in

store. I am excited. The show starts on July 20 and ends on July 22 but

there are field trips planned for before and after. Make sure you go onto

our website to see what is coming, as well as, sign up for the show and

meetings.

Speaking of meetings. It is very important that each club gets their vote in on anything that might be

brought up at the convention. So in order to make sure this happens, if your club will not be represented

at the convention, we need to get a proxy form from you allowing someone else to vote for you. This is

very important because this counts as a quorum for the meeting. No quorum, no meeting. So I am

asking, please make sure you get a proxy signed and sent to someone to vote for you.

We will also need to be thinking about a show location for next year. If your club is interested please

contact me and ask any questions and I can get you all filled in on how the process works. Remember

you will not do this alone. We have a convention advisor to help you in every step of the way. We will

have the double show/convention in 2021 where we hold the RMFMS but add in the AMFMS but its just

one more day of meetings. So please talk to your club, get them enthused about a show and give me a

call or email me. These types of shows will really boost your attendance.

See you all in Rapid City!

Liz Thomas

RMFMS President

Hiddenite crystal from

Afghanistan. Creative Commons CC0 1.0 by Gery

Parent


AFMS Show & Convention: Raleigh, North Carolina – April 6‐8, 2018 By Richard Jaeger, RMFMS Past President

I attended the AFMS Show & Convention in Raleigh, North Carolina. Our Federation was represented at

the AFMS Board Meeting by Liz Thomas, RMFMS President and Bob Regner, RMFMS Vice President.

DeLane Cox also represented the RMFMS on the board as AFMS 2nd Vice President. Dr. Robert Carlson

represented the RMFMS at the Uniform Rules meeting and helped with judging the competitive cases.

Judy Beck, was elected as AFMS 1st Vice President. The Board Meeting was without any major

controversy. The AFMS Scholarship Foundation meeting followed the AFMS Board meeting. Our

Federation was represented by Gene Maggard, the Scholarship Foundation Treasurer, and by Liz Thomas

and Bob Regner. Other RMFMS officers and committee members who attend the show were Wayne

Cox, Peggy Maggard, and Richard Jaeger. Other members attending were Larry Beck, Josie Middleton,

Donna Regner, and Ben Thomas. Ron Carman, who attended, is almost an ‘honorary’ RMFMS member.

Hope I haven’t left anyone out.

It was an enjoyable show with about 35 dealers but with only 10

display cases, with just 3 of those being competitive. The Awards

Banquet and the Breakfast with the Editors were well attended and

several Rocky Mountain Federation clubs and members received

awards. Richard Jaeger received the AFMS Recognition Award for

his years of service to the AFMS and our hobby. The McPherson Gem

& Mineral Club received a gold award in the All‐American Club

Competition; Judy Beck prepared their entry. Bob Regner won a

prize in the AFMS Endowment Fund drawings. Other Rocky

Mountain Federation members holding AFMS committee chairmanships this coming year will be Jay

Bowman ‐ Publications Chair, Robert Carlson ‐ Boundaries Chair, and Richard Jaeger ‐ Ways & Means

Chair.

I enjoyed visiting the North Carolina Museum of Natural History where it had been arranged for AFMS

members to have a behind the scenes look at the museum’s collections. I also enjoyed hiking in North

Carolina’s William Umstead State Park. On the way back I spent three nights in Nashville, TN visiting my

son Roger and enjoyed sightseeing around there and in Chattanooga, TN.

As usual, the most enjoyable thing for me was getting to visit with fellow rock hounds from across the

United States who I only see once every year or two, while at the same time making new friends. I was

literally able to visit with friends from Maine, Washington, California, Florida and many states in‐

between. The Eastern Federation and the Tar Heels Club were wonderful hosts for the show and their

members were friendly and helpful.

Next year the AFMS show is in conjunction with Midwest Federation Show and will be held in Cedar

Rapids, Iowa from March 16‐17. Hopefully a number of our Rocky Mountain Federation members will

be able to attend as this show will closer to our area.


Journey of a Rockhound By Bob Regner, RMFMS Vice President

Well as I recall, to the best of my recollection, it all

started about 50 years ago when I was just a

young’un. I remember going rock hounding with

my grandpa, Sandor Botos, aka Sanyi to all of us

kids. What I recall most was that he would take

what he found and make jewelry with it. The horn

coral we found one weekend was a piece of

jewelry a few days later. Down in his basement he

had a Craftsman Flat Lap machine. He taught me

how to use the machine to polish up my own

stones (some really fond memories here).

I never really lost interest in rock hounding but I

never pursued it either. I would of course never

pass up picking up a cool rock when I was out and

about. About 14 years ago, I took a job working in Trinidad, Colorado and this is where it all took off

again. When I was out working in the mountains, I would find different fossils like palm leaves, various

tree leaves, small crustaceans and of course the occasional insect. Any time I was in an area where there

might be something of interest on the ground I would always look, even if only passively.

We moved to Albuquerque a couple of years later and I would rockhound

where I could, even in river rock that people used to xeriscape their yards

with (start looking, you will be surprised with

the stuff you can find in river rock). One day I

decided to see if there was some kind of club

in the area for “collectors”. I could end it all

right here by saying that the rest is history but

that would be too easy and I know some of you

out there are sitting on the edge of your seats

to hear more.

Donna and I went on our first field trip 7 years ago. It happened to be the

clubs annual picnic to the San Pedro Mine and I was hooked! I started

asking all kinds of questions, going to meetings and not missing a single

trip. I believe it was maybe the third trip that we were on that the field trip chair at the time, Brian,

noticed my extraordinary interest and started talking to me about being the field trip chair. It took a

couple of trips before I gave in and told him I would give it a shot. Dang! That sure was a lot of fun. I

stayed in that position in our club for three years. After the second year there was a group that tried to

talk me into becoming president. The following year it became a necessity for someone to step up and

Photo of Donna and Bob Regner


at the request of most of the BOD at the time, I took the leap. I was really surprised at how well I took

to the position of president and how much I truly enjoyed it and even had fun.

I held the position of president of the AGMC for three years and never regretted it. There were a couple

of times where bad things happened that I wish I did not have to be part of, but I realized it was just part

of the job. I ended my presidency at the end of 2017 but am as involved with the club as much as ever.

A couple of years into my time on the board, I became aware of the RMFMS and was told we were

members just for the inexpensive insurance. This was unacceptable to me as I found out more about

the federation. The following year I got permission from the board to attend the convention in Cody,

Wyoming with Joel. We were so thoroughly impressed that as soon as I got back we started working on

getting more involved. By the following year at the convention in Wichita, Kansas, we volunteered

Albuquerque to hold the convention in 2017. A bit of work but once again it was rewarding and we

enjoyed it.

At the end of last year, through a series of events I was asked to become the VP of the RMFMS and I

graciously accepted. Which brings me to where I am now. I still collect every chance I get and still have

not decided on a favorite thing to collect. If I had to choose one or two things, I would say I still have a

passion for fossils and by Gods will, a passion for septarian nodules. Both of these I find in abundance

where I work and have permission to collect.

I also have gone back to where it all started when I recently

purchased a flat lap almost exactly like the one I learned on

some 50 years ago. I can’t wait to start cabbing up some of

the many fossils and minerals I have found in the past 7 to

50 years and maybe make Sanyi proud.

Bob Regner

RMFMS Vice President


Colorado Springs Mineralogical Society’s Pebble Pup and Earth Science

Scholar Presents Paper at Iowa State University By Steven Wade Veatch, Colorado Springs Mineralogical Society

Ben Elick, who has been a member of the

Colorado Springs Mineralogical Society (CSMS)

for more than five years, was the presenting

author of a paper on repeat photography he

coauthored at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the

Geological Society of America’s North‐Central

Section. The meeting was held at the Iowa State

University Conference Center in the Scheman

Building, on the campus of Iowa State

University, in Ames, Iowa. Ben has been

conducting field investigations and working on

this project since the summer of 2017.

Ben presented the paper on Tuesday, April 18.

According to Ben, “This is a real project with

real value. I am very proud of it.” Ben had a time

limit of 20 minutes to discuss his image‐rich

PowerPoint slides. He finished with 45 seconds

to spare for questions. One professor shouted

from the audience, “Good stuff. This is

important work.” The room erupted into a

round of applause for Ben.

The CSMS provided a travel grant that covered Ben’s registration for the

conference, hotel accommodations, and travel to and from Ames, Iowa.

In addition to being a member of the CSMS, Ben maintains a membership in

the Society for Mineral Museum Professionals. Ben is also a volunteer with

the Western Museum of Mining and Industry where he works on the mineral

collections. Ben is also working on a project to conserve the historic photos

in the Cripple Creek District Museum’s collection.

Ben Elick stands in front of his conference room

prior to his presentation at the Geological Society

of America. Photo by S.W. Veatch.


Geology of Leonardo’s Virgin of the Rocks By Steven Wade Veatch, Colorado Springs Mineralogical Society

Leonardo da Vinci (1452‐1519),

considered to be one of the greatest painters of

all time, used his knowledge of geology to

inform his art. Leonardo was also noted for his

work in sculpture, anatomy, mathematics,

architecture, and engineering during the Italian

Renaissance (about 1330 to 1450).

From a geological perspective, Leonardo

da Vinci’s paintings present a realistic portrayal

of nature. In his Virgin of the Rocks (1483‐

1486), on display in the Louvre in Paris, the

geological accuracy is striking (Pizzorusso,

1996). The painting’s subject is both the Virgin

and the rocks. The Virgin sits in front of a grotto

or cave. Various aspects of the grotto,

according to geologist Ann Pizzorusso (1996),

“are rendered with astounding geological

accuracy. Leonardo has painted a rich

earthscape of rock eroded and sculpted by the

active geological forces of wind and water.

Most of the rock formations . . . are weathered

sandstone, a sedimentary rock.” What looks

like basalt, an extrusive igneous rock formed by

the cooling of lava, appears above Mary’s head

and at the top right of the picture. Leonardo

even painted the columnar joints formed by the

cooling of the rocks. Also, just above her head

is a precisely painted seam between the

sandstone and igneous formations, and a rock

joint runs horizontally to the right of her head.

Art historians believe that the landscape in this

painting is not an actual place, but one

conjured up by Leonardo’s experience,

understanding of geology, and observation

(Issacson, 2017).

A second version of the painting, also called the Virgin of the Rocks (1495‐1508), is exhibited in

the National Gallery in London. This painting fails to depict such a faithful rendering of geology as the

Leonardo da Vinci’s Virgin of the Rocks (1483‐

1486). From his studies of geology, Leonardo

learned how the Earth works and improved the

realism of his paintings. Location: Louvre, Paris.

Oil on panel transferred to canvas. Height: 199 cm

(78.3 in). Width: 122 cm (48 in). Image is in the

public domain.


one in Paris. Despite decades of analysis by scholars, there are doubts that it is an authentic da Vinci

painting, but rather a copy of the original painting by another artist.

Leonardo da Vinci was ahead of his time in his understanding of geology, and he meticulously

recorded his observations in notebooks and journals (Bressan, 2014). After his death, his notebooks

ended up on the bookshelves in libraries and private collections throughout Europe, while other

notebooks disappeared into history (Waggoner, 1996).

Da Vinci wrote in one of his notebooks, the Codex Leicester, about the fossils he found as he

walked the countryside. Da Vinci recognized that fossils were the remains of once‐living organisms and

relics of former times and other worlds—traces of a past hidden to other thinkers of the time. Da Vinci

also observed that distinct layers of rocks and fossils covered large areas, and the layers were formed

at separate times—not in the single biblical flood (Issacson, 2017). And centuries before Darwin,

Leonardo conjectured through his understanding of rocks, fossils, and the slow processes of erosion

and deposition that the world is much older than what church fathers proclaimed (Jones, 2011).

Leonardo da Vinci’s observations of fossils found on the tops of mountains wore a path through

his thoughts. Since fossils are found in the mountains, the surface of the Earth, Leonardo posited, has

changed over time. For example, an ancient sea is now dry land (Jones, 2011). Leonardo concluded

that as mountains formed, they lifted marine sediments—carrying fossil‐bearing rocks skyward to

become mountain peaks. Today, geologists know that tectonic plates and other geological processes

form mountains.

In another of his notebooks, the Codex Arundel, now housed in the British Library, Leonardo

describes graded bedding in layers of sedimentary rocks (Pedretti, 1998). He also had a basic

understanding of the superposition of rock strata, where the oldest rocks in a sequence of sedimentary

rocks are at the bottom. This concept would not be recognized until the second half of the 17th

century when Danish geologist Nicolas Steno, carrying the light of learning, took up the subject in 1669,

laying the foundation for modern stratigraphy and geological mapping (Capra, 2013).

Da Vinci never published his theories. He only wrote his observations in his notebooks, which

ended up scattered or lost. For more than three hundred years, his notes were not part of the

progression of science. It was left for future scientists to rediscover Leonardo's observations on the

vastness of geological time, sedimentary layering, and the significance of fossils, and to make these

discoveries part of science.

Leonardo da Vinci’s endless curiosity and boundless creativity made him the quintessential

Renaissance man. He was a keen observer of nature whose interest led him to paint nature not only

beautifully, but accurately.

Works Cited

Bressan, D. (2014, April 17). The Renaissance's Contribution to Geology: Landscape Painting. Retrieved from

Scientific American: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/history‐of‐geology/the‐renaissances‐

contribution‐to‐geology‐landscape‐painting/


Capra, F. (2013). Learning from Leonardo: Decoding the Notebooks of a Genius. New York: Berrett‐Koehler.

Issacson, W. (2017). Leonardo da Vinci. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Jones, J. (2011, November 23). Leonardo da Vinci's earth‐shattering insights about geology. Retrieved from The

Guadian: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2011/nov/23/leonardo‐da‐

vinci‐earth‐geology

Pedretti, C. (1998). Il Codice Arundel 263 nella British Library. Florence: Giunti.

Pizzorusso, A. (1996). Leonardo's Geology: the Authenticity of the Virgin of the Rocks. Leonardo, 440.

Waggoner, B. (1996, January 3). Leonardo DaVinci. Retrieved from University of California Musuem of

Paleontology: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/vinci.html

Heading to the Federation Meeting in the Black Hills: Agates By Mike Nelson, Colorado Springs Mineralogical Society, [email protected]

Study what you love, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life. It’ll be one great adventure.

David Gerrold

Frontispiece. Collecting agates 1966.

I do consider my life as one great adventure, much of it facilitated by my choice of a profession. As I

started college in 1961 every red‐blooded, all American boy wanted to be an engineer—at least it

seemed to me. So, off I marched to an institution of higher learning with two goals: 1) playing basketball;

2) becoming an engineer. I didn’t have the slightest idea what dedication (and skills) either of these

goals involved. Graduating from a rural central Kansas high school of 47 students (total all four grades),


I simply was not prepared to meet either of my goals. Somewhere a magic fairy on my shoulder said,

“drop basketball and pass math.” Next it was on to chemistry where as a sophomore I broke so much

glassware that I was going broke paying for it. In physics I was pretty much a failure at being proficient

with a slide rule. I had always liked rocks and minerals and loved the collecting aspect promised in the

college catalog—so off I went to sign up for geology and, it has been a great adventure every day! Even

today, nearly a dozen years after “retirement,” I am writing this in a state park down here in Arizona

taking some timeouts to go out and look at the rocks (pretty ugly volcanics at this location).

Most geologists that I know are quite fond of road trips and will go out of their way to stay off the

interstates and travel the Blue Highways. This is a term coined by William Least Heat Moon for secondary

roads, often printed in blue color, on Rand McNally maps. I have always been a Blue Highway sort of

person, partially due to my geology interests and partially due to my general inquisitiveness of all things

natural. It has been a good life.

Geologists, especially the gray hairs like me, also appreciate good road trip songs. Take your choice but

here is a Willie Nelson ditty:

On the road again

Just can't wait to get on the road again

The life I love is making music with my friends

And I can't wait to get on the road again

On the road again

I don’t know what all this chatter means, perhaps nothing except pleasant thoughts about trips gone by!

But I also believe that rockhounds of all stripes and ages appreciate Blue Highways and will grab their

hammers anytime someone shouts “road trip, who on!”

Well, the 2018 Rocky Mountain Federation of Mineralogical Societies will be meeting in Rapid City, South

Dakota, on July 20‐22 and the Western Dakota

Gem and Mineral Club would like to extend an

invitation to all rockhounds to Head to the Hills.

Just remember, Road Trip!

If I were to quiz rockhounds across the U.S.

about South Dakota’s most famous rock, I

suppose at least 98% would name the Fairburn

Agate. Within the boundaries of the

Federation states there are numerous localities

where one could collect a variety of agates;

however, none are as beautiful (and expensive)

as Fairburns and they are among the best‐

known agates from any locality in the world.

The specimens are valued for their colorful

fortification patterns with an abundance of

Figure 1. Agate hunters might be able to book a room at

the downtown Fairburn Hotel.


reds (iron oxide), oranges (iron oxide) and blacks

(manganese oxides). The derivation of their name

comes from the small community of Fairburn, located

south, ~25 miles, of Rapid City near SD 79 (Fig. 1). On the way to Fairburn rockhounds should stop and

examine road cuts along Spring Creek to hunt for Prairie

Agates. Collectors then should travel east from

Fairburn along French Creek Road (good gravel) for

about 12 miles to a sign locating the collecting area

managed by the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands (Fig.

2). Although known to collectors for decades, these Fairburn beds still yield an occasional agate and as

many colorful specimens of jasper, quartz and

chalcedony as can be carried out by the collector (Figs. 3 and 4) There are other areas to perhaps collect

a Fairburn and for these mapped locations please refer to Zeitner (1998); however, some of these picking

spots might be on private lands so perhaps also check with the local BLM office, or the USFS (Buffalo Gap

National Grasslands).

The source area rocks of the Fairburn agates (see below) also contains a diagnostic invertebrate fauna

and silicified fossil shells sometimes appear with the Fairburn Agates out on the plains (Clark, 2009). In

fact, in 2014 I collected a partial fossil brachiopod and last summer the most exciting find was a silicified

fossil (where silica had replaced the original calcite hard parts) known as Chaetetes milleparacedus (Fig.

5). The chaetetids were long thought to be a type of tabulate coral where their long, slender tubes

contained tabulae or cross partitions (Phylum Cnidaria). However, studies in the 1980s determined the

chaetetids were a type of sponge (Phylum Porifera) (Fig. 6). Chaetetids are very diagnostic animals, easy

to identify and became extinct at the end of the middle Pennsylvanian (~307 Ma.).

Figure 2. The agate beds near Fairburn are well

marked. A primitive campground is also available.

Figure 3. (Left) The agate beds are extensive.

Figure 4. (Above) A plethora of macro‐ and micro‐

crystalline quartz is available.


The geology at the collecting site is as interesting as the specimens. French Creek has eroded the area

and exposed the Cretaceous Pierre Shale, the Chamberlain Pass Formation (Eocene) and

Eocene/Oligocene White River Group (mostly the

Chadron Formation), and Tertiary terrace gravels

(Fig.7). Rocks of the White River Group are famous

for producing mammals in Badlands National Park to

the northeast of the Fairburn beds. However,

rockhounds also will notice very distinct red‐orange‐

yellow “beds” between the Pierre and the Chadron.

Originally named the Interior beds (for exposures

near the village of Interior, SD), this “bed” is now

known to be a series of ancient soils developed on the

Pierre (mostly yellowish in color) and the overlying

Chamberlain Pass (at least the upper part of the

Chamberlain Pass has a red ancient soil imprinted).

These soils most likely developed in tropical‐like

climates (warm and wet) but perhaps alternated with

dryer periods.

So, rockhounds should just sort through the thousands of pebbles in the agate beds and keep a sharp

eye out. In general, the further away from the road(s) the better chance of finding an agate. See Figs.

8‐11.

Figure 5. Silicified and well‐rounded specimen of

Chaetetes milleparacedus collected in the Fairburn

Agate beds. Width ~4.5 cm.

Figure 6. Side (top) and cross sectional view (bottom)

of a stylized specimen of Chaetetes. Courtesy of

University of South Florida, http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/

Figure 7. The paleosoils (fossil soils) developed on the

Pierre Shale are mostly “yellow” in color while those

developed on the Chamerlain Pass are more red. Note

the lag gravels, the agate beds, covering the surface.


The really interesting story about the Fairburns involves their relationship with the Teepee Canyon

Agates in the Black Hills. This latter agate site, in limy beds of the Paleozoic Minnelusa Formation, is

located west of Custer, SD, along US 16 about two miles west of Jewel Cave National Monument, or

perhaps 14 miles from Custer. Most geologists now believe that the Minnelusa Formation in the Black

Hills is the source of the Fairburn Agates and the siliceous pebbles were transported out to the plains by

Tertiary streams draining the Hills. Pabian (Agates Database: www.snr.unl.edu) noted that

conglomerate beds in the lower part of the Chamberlain Pass Formation are the source of the Fairburn

agates at their "type locality"‐‐‐the original Fairburn beds. However, most people associate Fairburn

Agates with the Chadron Formation stratigraphically above the Chamberlain Pass Formation. Hunters

locate agates in situ in Chadron conglomerates, and in the lag, gravels covering many outcrops where

the finer sediments have eroded away leaving behind a veneer of pebbles (including agates). I remain

uncertain if I can distinguish between the Chamberlain Pass and Chadron formations so perhaps agates

come from both units. In addition, I have seen Fairburn‐type agates collected from the late Cenozoic

“high level” terrace gravels, and beds attributed to the Ogallala Group and/or "Western Derived Gravels"

(as distinguished on the State Geological Map of South Dakota). Collecting localities for Fairburn agates

seem to surround the Hills wherever the Chadron is exposed out on the Plains. The agates noted in the

other gravels probably represent reworked sediments of the Chadron.

Figure 8. Fairburn agate collect “in the rough.”

Width ~3.0 cm.

Figure 9. Fairburn agate polished after collecting. Width

~2.5 cm.

Figure 10. (Left) Fairburn

agate collected “in the

rough.” Width ~8 mm.

Figure 11. (Right) Fairburn

agate collected “in the

rough.” Width ~3.0 cm.


If you are heading to crack rocks in the Teepee Canyon beds: 1) check

with the USFS office in Custer about any claimed land, and get a free map

and ask for directions; 2) take along a fairly large crack hammer; 3) use

eye protection and leather gloves; 4), wear long heavy pants, a long

sleeve shirt, and sturdy shoes. Be extremely careful of flying chips and

don’t try and trim any good possibilities in the field.

The quarries at Teepee Canyon (Fig. 12), and other nearby localities,

produce chert nodules from the late Paleozoic Minnelusa Formation;

some of the chert is “agatized” with holly leaf fortification agates. The

Minnelusa is described as “Light‐brown to red and gray sandstone,

solution breccia, limestone and shale [that is] Lower Permian and

Pennsylvanian {in age] (DeWitt and others, 1989). In past years these

agates from the Minnelusa were called “limestone agates” and most

collectors were adamantly opposed to any relationship between

limestone agates in the Hills and the Fairburn agates from the

surrounding plains. However, Roger Clark has constructed a detailed

study of the Minnelusa‐‐Fairburn relationship and any collector

interested in Fairburn agates should read his book (Clark, 2009)‐‐‐and the

agate photographs are spectacular (Figs. 13‐16).

Another agate that crossed

my knowledge path

somewhere in the past was

called the State Park Agate

(sometimes Game Lodge

Agates) and referred to

agates collected in Custer

State Park near the Game

Lodge. Clark (2009) refers to

these specimens as

limestone agates since their

source was also the

Minnelusa Formation (Fig.

17). Since rock and mineral

collecting is not allowed in

the Park, any of these agates

on display or for sale

evidently were collected

years in the past. This year I

happened to spot a tray of

Figure 12. Pounding limestone

looking for the agates. There

are numerous quarries similar

to the one above and every

piece of broken limestone has

been cracked with hand tools.

Figure 13. Teepee Canyon limestone

agate. Width ~3.2 cm. Figure 14. Teepee Canyon limestone

agate. Width 3.9 cm.

Figure 15. Teepee Canyon chert

nodule. Width ~2.5 cm.

Figure 16. Teepee Canyon chert

nodule agate. Width ~4.4 cm.


Park Agates for sale in a Custer rock and mineral shop—Ken’s Minerals.

According to the clerk, the original owner of the shop (opened 1936),

Kenneth Spring, Sr., picked up these Park Agates decades ago when

collecting was legal. So, I purchased a single specimen for my collection.

Collectors also may also hear the

term Pringle Agates (the community

of Pringle is located southwest of

Custer), also a limestone agate and

probably from the Minnelusa (Fig.

18). According to local shopkeepers

the Pringle Agates always appear to be “bleached.” I don’t know if

that is true since I have seen very few agates attributed to the

Pringle area. However, my single specimen is certainly “washed

out.”

This area of western South Dakota southeast and southwest of Rapid City is a great place to get on the

road again. Besides the numerous Blue Highways associated with the interior of the Hills, there are great

collecting sites and interesting geology in areas off the paved roads. Just remember, Road Trip!

REFERENCES CITED

Clark, R., 2009, South Dakota’s state gemstone—Fairburn Agate: Silverwind Agates, Appleton,

Wisconsin.

DeWitt, E., J.A. Redden, D. Buscher, and A.B. Wilson, 1989, Geologic Map of the Black Hills area, South

Dakota and Wyoming: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigation Series Map I‐1910.

Zeitner, J. C., 1998, Midwest Gem, Fossil and Mineral Trails: Prairie States: Baldwin Park, CA. Gem Guid

es Book Company.

Calling All AFMS Uniform Rules Judges By Jennifer Haley, AFMS Historian

During the AFMS convention in Raleigh NC this

month, it was brought to our attention that the

AFMS Judges roster could use some help being

updated. At the AFMS meeting I asked and was

given permission to work on updating the roster

to present day judges for them.

Those of you who have received AFMS Judge

cards over the years, and as recent as last year’s

CFMS‐AFMS Show, I need you to contact me

now with 5 bits of information: Your name, snail

mail and email address, phone number, and a

photo copy of your judge’s card. These cards

would have been given to you following an

AFMS Judges Training Seminar or immediately

after judging was completed at an AFMS Show.

Thank you for your help on this project!

Jennifer Haley, AFMS Historian

407 Tico Rd.

Ojai, CA 93023

Email: [email protected]

Figure 17. State Park Agate.

Width ~9mm.

Figure 18. Pringle Agate. Width ~2.7

cm.


RMFMS Convention and Show


April/May Upcoming Shows and Events

April 27 – 28, 2018; Ada Gem, Mineral & Fossil Club’s “A Festival of Gem, Minerals & Fossils 2018” (See

flyer on page 27); Friday 8am‐6pm, Saturday 9am‐5pm; Free admission; Pontotoc County AgriPlex, Main

Building #1 (West side of AgriPlex), Ada, Oklahoma, at the NE corner of the intersection of State Hwy 99

(US 377) and the Richardson Bypass (State Hwy 1 & 3E). The show will feature various demonstrations

and displays of fluorescent rocks, minerals, fossils, lapidary and jewelry. Silent auctions of materials

donated by dealers and members will be held hourly. Special kid’s events include “The Fossil Dig”,

display specimens, fluorescent rocks display, “Spinning Wheel” and grab bags. Show Chair: Bobby

Freeman, (580) 235‐5946, [email protected], and additional contact: Ed Vermillion, (405)

527‐6431, [email protected].

April 28 – 29, 2018; CSM Geology Museum Garage Sale (See flyer on page 32); Friends of the Museum

Members Only Sale – Saturday, April 28th, 9am‐12pm, members receive a 20% discount, drop by and

become a member!; Public Sale – Saturday April 28th, 12pm‐4pm, and Sunday April 29th, 9am‐4pm; 1310

Maple Street, Golden, CO. A large selection of minerals, rocks, books, maps, journals, fossils, etc. Prices

vary by item or box. Most prices will drop throughout the event. For more information: (303) 273‐3815.

April 28, 2018; Oklahoma State Council of Mineralogical Societies Spring Swap; Saturday 10am‐4pm;

no admission fee, free parking; Oklahoma Territorial Plaza Park, 750 N. Main Street, just south of Hwy

33/US 177 intersection, Perkins, OK. No set‐up fee, provide your own table and tent, if desired. Live

auction to benefit the OSCMS Scholarship Fund at 11:30am. Open to the public.

May 4 ‐ 6, 2018; McPherson Gem & Mineral Club’s 26th Annual Rock Swap and Sale; Friday 9am‐6pm,

Saturday 9am‐6pm, and Sunday 10:30am‐3pm; 4‐H Fairgrounds, 710 W. Woodside, McPherson, KS;

Admission free. For more information, or vending space, contact Alan Hendrich (620) 747‐2265.

May 5, 2018; Colorado Mineral Society’s Silent Auction and Verbal Auction (See flyer on page 29);

Saturday 11am‐2:45pm; Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church, 920 Kipling Street (3 blocks north of West 6th

Ave.), Lakewood, CO. Minerals, fossils, faceted stones, lapidary equipment and materials, books,

jewelry, and fluorescent minerals. Door prizes every half hour, raffle at 2:45pm, special table for children

bidders only, verbal auction of museum quality specimens at 1pm. For more information:

www.coloradomineralsociety.org, or Ben Geller at [email protected] or (303)

550‐5993.

May 5 – 6, 2018; Mohave County Gemstoners Annual Gem & Mineral Show (See flyer on page 28);

Saturday 9am‐5pm, Sunday 9am‐4pm; Admission is free; Kingman Academy of Learning High School

Gym, 3420 North Burbank Ave., Kingman, AZ. Lots of fun: kid’s activities, silent auctions, educational

displays, rock and mineral displays. Lots of shopping: jewelry and gemstones, mineral specimens,

petrified wood and fossils, rock art and carvings. Hourly drawing for door prizes. For more information:

www.gemstoners.org.

May 5 – 6, 2018; Southern Nevada Gem and Minerals Society’s Spring Jamboree Gem and Mineral

Show; Saturday 9am‐5pm, Sunday 9am‐4pm; Parks and Recreation Building, 401 California Street,

Boulder City, Nevada 89005. For more information: www.SNVGMS.org.


May 10 ‐ 12, 2018; Cache Rock and Gem Club’s 2018: A Rock Odyssey Rock & Gem Show (See flyer on

page 30); Thursday and Friday 10am‐8pm, Saturday 9am‐6pm; Admission free, Bridgerland Applied

Technology College, West Campus, 1000 West 1400 North, Logan, Utah. Rocks, minerals, fossils, jewelry,

displays, education exhibits, hands‐on demos, supplies, vendors, door prizes, kids’ activities including

Wheel of Fortune, Mystery Bags, and Treasure Hunt. For more information:

cacherockgemclub.weebly.com.

May 12, 2018; Enid Gem & Mineral Society’s Annual Rock Swap; Saturday 9am‐4pm, Meadowlake Park,

1200 W. Rupe – South Side, Big Pavilion, Admission free. Shop and swap for a variety of lapidary items

including gemstone jewelry, tools, cabs, slabs, and beads. Rough and petrified wood will also be

available. Spin and Wind and Grab Bags for the kids. Vendor space only $5. Contact Sue Ogden for more

information (580) 242‐7288 and www.enidgemandmineral.org.

May 12 – 13, 2018; Grand Junction Gem & Mineral Club’s Beauties of the Earth; Saturday 9am‐6pm,

Sunday 9am‐4pm; Admission $5, Seniors & Military $4, Kids under 12 Free; Two Rivers Convention

Center, Grand Junction, CO. One of the largest shows in western Colorado and eastern Utah, new silent

auction items every 15 minutes. Books & gifts, kids’ activities, beads & fossils, jewelry, mineral

specimens, rough material, finished stones, tools & equipment, silver smithing, chain‐making, lapidary,

faceting, wire wrapping, interactive exhibits, displays & demonstrations. For more information:

www.grandjunctionrockclub.org.

May 19 – 20, 2018; Cheyenne Mineral and Gem Society’s 19th Annual Cheyenne Mineral, Gem & Rock

Show (See flyer on page 31); Admission $3, Children under 12 free; Archer Complex, Laramie County

Fairgrounds. Exhibits, jewelry, fossils, minerals, dealers, grab bags, silent auction, fluorescent minerals,

and free gold panning. See large dinosaur models, free dinosaur coloring books for kids and an hourglass

selenite crystal per paying adult while supplies last. Contact Jan Shively at (307) 369‐1565.

New Show Announcements

August 3 – 5, 2018; Prescott’s Gem & Mineral Club Show & Sale;

Friday and Saturday 9am‐5pm, Sunday 9am‐4pm; Admission $5,

Seniors 65+, Vets, and Students $4, Children under 12 free; Prescott

Valley Event Center, 3201 Main Street, Prescott Valley, AZ. Free

parking. Over 60 vendors. One of Arizona’s largest shows outside of

Tucson! For more information: www.prescottgemmineral.org.


Show Flyers


RMFMS Board and Committees

President Liz Thomas [email protected]

Vice President Bob Regner [email protected]

Secretary Wayne Cox [email protected]

Treasurer Gene Maggard [email protected]

Historian Cinda Kunkler [email protected]

Past Presidents Richard Jaeger Diane Weir

[email protected] [email protected]

Arizona State Director Jodi Brewster [email protected]

Colorado State Director Kathy Honda [email protected]

New Mexico/Texas State Director

Dr. Robert Carlson [email protected]

Oklahoma/Arkansas State Director

Virgil Richards dws@dances‐with‐snakes.com

South Dakota/Nebraska State Director

Sondy Hemscher [email protected]

Wyoming State Director Stan Strike [email protected]

Utah State Director Tom Burchard [email protected]

Editor Heather Woods [email protected]

Publications Contest Linda Jeager [email protected]

Webmaster Jim McGarvey [email protected]

Finance Robert Hains (Chair) Wayne Cox


Convention Advisory Dr. Robert Carlson [email protected]

Insurance Gene Maggard [email protected]

RMRMS Show Chairman Dr. Martin Kocanda [email protected]

Nominations Richard Jaeger (Chair) Judy Beck Dr. Robert Carlson

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Fluorescent Technical Pete Modreski [email protected]

Fossil Technical Roger Burkhalter [email protected]

Lapidary Bill Smith [email protected]

Mineral Technical Pete Modreski [email protected]

Programs Contest Gene Maggard [email protected]

Program Library Gene and Peggy Maggard

[email protected]

Webmaster Contest Jennifer Gerring [email protected]

Boundaries Bill Smith [email protected]

Membership Directory Kay Waterman [email protected]

ACROY Sheri Johnson [email protected]

All American Club DeLane Cox [email protected]

International Relations Mike Nelson [email protected]

Long Range Planning Judy Beck (Chair) [email protected]


Dr. Robert Carlson DeLane Cox


Name Badges Richard Jaeger [email protected]

Parliamentarian Gene Maggard [email protected]

Permanent Address/Trophies Dr. Robert Carlson [email protected]

Junior Program Terri Harris [email protected]

Ribbons Peggy Sue Moore [email protected]

Scholarship Richard Jaeger [email protected]

Supplies Finis Riggs [email protected]

Safety OPEN

Credentials Janet Smith [email protected]

Public Relations DeLane Cox [email protected]

Gold Pan Award Dr. Robert Carlson (Chair) Richard Jaeger

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Public Land Advisory (PLA) Colorado/Nebraska/North Dakota

Mike Nelson (Chair) [email protected]

PLA Arizona Dr. Alex Schauss [email protected]

PLA Kansas Jared Kyner [email protected]

PLA New Mexico/Texas Mel Stairs [email protected]

PLA Oklahoma/Arkansas Stan Nowak [email protected]

PLA South Dakota Brandon Nelson [email protected]

PLA Utah/Nevada Jack Johnson [email protected]

PLA Wyoming Richard Gerow [email protected]

Uniform Rules Lee Whitebay (Chair) Jay Bowman Roger Burkhalter Dr. Robert Carlson Paul Otto

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

mountain federation news - rmfms

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