volume 61 issue 5 may 2012 the reason why 12 qq.pdfvolume 61 issue 5 may 2012 member of the rocky...
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Volume 61 Issue 5
MAY 201 2
www.wgmsks.org
Member of the Rocky
Mountain Federation of
Mineralogical Societies
Affiliated with the
American Federation of
Mineralogical Societies
The Reason Why
By Mary Clough
Each year (my 37th) as our WGMS show approaches we become busy and stressed.
We wonder why we keep doing this. My answer to this question came on Sunday
afternoon of the show. I was sitting in the lobby when a young lady pointed me out
to her mother. She had a big smile on her face as she rushed across the room with a
paper in her hand. She had drawn a picture as a 'thank you' for being invited to our
show on our education day. "She was so excited " her mother said, "she wanted me
to come so she could show me all the neat things she had seen and learned about!"
The picture appears in this months' QQ for all WGMS members to enjoy and to re-
mind us that is one of the reasons why. Thank you Alex! We will start working on
our 2013 show soon, knowing you and others will be there to enjoy our efforts!
Board of Directors
President ........................ Tony Giardina...................... 316-214-8227
Vice-President .............. Peggy Maggard…................. 316-742-3746
Secretary .................Monica Turner-Williams…...…..316-744-1568
Treasurer ....................... Sandy Whiting ..................... 316-744-8848
Membership ..................Susan Bannon ....................... 316-689-8256
Editor ............................ Carolyn White....................... 316-250-6182
[email protected], [email protected]
Field Trip ...................... Lyle Koerper .………….…316-722-7115
Publicity......................... Leo Heidebrecht................... 316-260-4591
Show Chair .................... Gene Maggard...................... 316-742-3746
Finance ............................ Bob Haines……………...316-683-9021
Director 2012……...…..Naomi Matney.…….……316-265-2665 Director 2013…………..Ardis Cruz……...………316-733-8727 Director 2014…………..Don Atherton…………..316-685-2725
Appointed Officers
Cheer .......................…Debby Moore………………316-558-0883
Curator..................... Greg Weisbrod .......................... 316-686-1810
Federation Rep......... Bill & Janet Smith .................... 620-296-4652
Gifts .............................. Paul Radiel ............................ 316-777-4174
Historian ....................... Mary Clough ......................... 316-943-1785
Hospitality .................... Debbie Winton .................... 316-841-8773
Insurance/Property…. Peggy Maggard ..................... 316-742-3746
Junior Leader ................Elizabeth Hixon.....................316-651-0054
Librarian ......................... Jim Yanda …....................... 620-455-2419
Webmaster…………..…Diane DeGood,……...…..316-794-8391
Dues: Club Year September 1 - August 31
Adult Membership ................................................................................. $10.00
Junior Membership (13-17) .................................................................. $ 5.00
(must have adult sponsor)
Quarry Quips Subscription ONLY ..................................................... $ 8.00
Please send dues to: WGMS Treasurer, c/o Susan Bannon, 11825 E 1st St N, Wichita KS 67206-2732
Our Annual show will be:
April 26, 27, 28, 2013
“Treasures of the Earth”
The Wichita Gem and Mineral Society Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit,
tax-exempt, educational organization. Our purpose shall be exclusively
educational and scientific; (a) to increase and disseminate knowledge of
the earth sciences pertaining to minerals, gems, rocks, artifacts, and
fossils and similar subjects; (b) to promote and perpetuate knowledge
of the lapidary arts; © to encourage field trips to study the earth sci-
ences, particularly of geology and mineralization in place and (d) to
encourage greater public interest and education in gems, fossils and
minerals, cooperating with established institutions in such matters.
The Wichita Gem and Mineral Society, Inc. meets the fourth Sunday of
each month at 2:00 p.m. in Room 101, Geology Building, Wichita State
University. - Except - January (Anniversary Party); April (Annual
Show); August (Picnic & Auction). (November and December meetings
are subject to University holiday closings.) Times and locations to be
announced/published. WGMS does NOT offer classes or workshops.
Board meetings are held on the Monday preceding the General meeting
at places announced and/or printed in the Quarry Quips, the official
bulletin of the Society. ALL members are urged to contribute material
for publication in the Quarry Quips, the deadline for ALL articles is
the Friday following the General meeting. All articles should be submit-
ted by e-mail to: [email protected] or snail mail to:
Carolyn White 2225 N. Fountain Wichita KS 67220
Club mailing address:
Wichita Gem and Mineral Society Inc. PO Box 1464
Wichita KS 67201-1464 Web Address: www.wgmsks.org
The Quarry Quips is published monthly by the Wichita Gem & Mineral
Society, Inc. Articles printed in this newsletter are the experiences
and/or opinions of the individuals submitting them, they do not
necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Wichita Gem & Mineral
Society or the editor. We are not responsible for their authenticity,
safety, or reliability. Caution and safety should always be practiced
when trying out any new idea. Articles written without a byline are
written by the editor.
Copyright © 2012 Wichita Gem & Mineral Society, Inc.
Except for items that are specifically copyrighted by their authors, other
societies may use material published in the Quarry Quips provided that
proper credit is given to the Author (if author is a WGMS member it
will be so noted in the byline, please include this “WGMS member” in
the byline) and the Quarry Quips, and the sense or meaning of the
material is not changed.
Exchange Bulletins Welcome
Page 2 QUA RRY QUI PS WI CHI T A GE M & MI NER AL SOCIE TY ~ W ICHIT A, K S MA Y 20 1 2
2011 - 2012 Officers About our Club
Page 3 QUA RRY QUI PS WI CHI T A GE M & MI NER AL SOCIE TY ~ W ICHIT A, K S MA Y 20 1 2
Programs By Peggy Maggard
May Program:
May's program will be both educational and fun! Come and be part of a team of rockhounds seeking to identify several groups of specimens. This activity has been done in the past and has produced many laughs and memo-ries. Please come to our meeting prepared with your best information about some common and some not so com-mon specimens and meet and get to know each other while learning more about our fascinating hobby.
Mary Clough and Pat Clough-McCombs
June Program:
Elsing Museum- Tulsa Oklahoma
Are you eager to see some amazing rocks, gems, miner-als and other rare treasures? The June meeting will be a video from the "Expressions" television show about the Elsing Museum. Willard Elsing opened a rock and min-eral shop in Joplin, Missouri in the 1950's building on the ore minerals of the Tri-State Lead and Zinc mining area. By trading and buying, he built his collection to span ex-quisite specimens from around the world. The Elsing Mu-seum was opened on the grounds of University Retire-ment Village Home in Tulsa in the mid 1970's. Mr. Elsing lived on site and gave personally guided tours to anyone who came through the front door. In 2001, the collection was moved onto the Oral Robert's University campus and is being organized to be an educational resource for the public. July Program: Joe and Ardis Cruz will give a presentation on fossils. August: WGMS Picnic and Auction.
General Club Meetings
May 20 WSU Geology Bldg, Rm 101 2 pm
Jun 24 WSU Geology Bldg, Rm 101 2 pm
Jul 22 WSU Geology Bldg, Rm 101 2 pm
Aug 25 Community of Christ Church 12:30 pm
(picnic and auction)
Oct 28 WSU Geology Bldg, Rm 101 2 pm
Nov 18 WSU Geology Bldg, Rm 101 2 pm
Dec 16 WSU Geology Bldg, Rm 101 2 pm
Board Meetings
May 14 Community of Christ Church 7 pm
Jun 18 Community of Christ Church 7 pm
Jul 16 Gene Maggard’s House 7 pm
Aug 20 Community of Christ Church 7 pm
Sep 17 Community of Christ Church 7 pm
Oct 22 Community of Christ Church 7 pm
Nov12 Community of Christ Church 7 pm
Dec 10 Community of Christ Church 7 pm
Field Trips
May 26 Hardtner, KS, Bill and Janet Nature Museum (rated 5 star) and an afternoon of rockhound ing on nearby ranch land (about 100 miles)
The Year Ahead
We need volunteers to bring snacks for the
social hour following the meeting. Please
contact Debbie Winton at :
316-841-8773 or [email protected]
Membership News
We received 19 New Member Applications during the April show. Be on the look out for new faces in our upcoming meetings - introduce your-self and make them welcome.
Thank you to everyone who came by the membership booth to prepay their dues for 2012 - 2013 Membership year.
For everyone else, plan on paying your dues by the August meeting/auction. If your dues are not paid by September 1st, your contact information will not show in the 2012 - 2013 Membership Roster,
Page 4 QUA RRY QUI PS WI CHI T A GE M & MI NER AL SOCIE TY ~ W ICHIT A, K S MA Y 20 1 2
WGMS Meeting Minutes By Monica Turner-Williams, Secretary
New business:
Gene Maggard mentioned recent vest donations and discussion on how to distribute followed. The vests will be available at the May general meeting.
Peggy Maggard started discussion on alternate loca-tions for the fall swap meet.
Tony Giardina spoke about election of board mem-bers and forming a nominating committee for officer elections at the general meeting in June. Tabled until the May board meeting.
Meeting adjourned.
The April board meeting of the Wich-ita Gem & Mineral Society was called to order by Presi-dent Tony Giardina. Sandy Whiting, Carolyn White, Ardis Cruz, Leo Heidebrecht, Don Atherton, Bob Haines, Gene & Peggy Maggard, Lyle Koerper and Monica Williams were present.
Peggy Maggard made the motion to approve the min-utes from the previous meeting, Don Atherton sec-onded, motion passed.
Gene Maggard – no show report, show is ready!
Peggy Maggard stated that the program for the May general meeting would cover rock and mineral identi-fication.
Leo Heidebrecht was following up on calls from TV and radio and discussed recent interviews and pub-licity for the show.
The following vouchers were submitted for payment: $200.00, Community of Christ Church ~ Donations/
Room rental
$735.68, Oce Document Imaging ~ copier mainte-nance
$1,860.00, Eagle ~ Show Publicity
$200.00, K-15 Storage ~ Show/Rent
$463.94, Lyle Koerper ~ Show Publicity /set up It was moved and seconded to pay the above vouchers.
Don Atherton mentioned that the students he has been tutoring in rock and mineral identification did very well at the state competition for Science Olym-piad. Congratulations!
Lyle Koerper reported that April 28th would be a field
trip to the Salt Flats in Oklahoma and May 26th is the
date for a trip to Hartner, KS. Please sign up if you plan to attend either field trip. There will also be an opportunity to join a 2 day 4-H trip to Western KS in May. More information will be in the newsletter.
President Tony Giardina has obtained the plaques for the Ray Adams Sphere collection and the Rock-hound of the year award.
Old Business:
Lyle Koerper brought up the Exporation Place service project to acquire Kansas mineral specimens for dis-play. Carolyn White made the motion that the club should participate in this project and the committee of Lyle Koerper and Larry Skelton should continue to explore the requirements. Followed by discussion on possible cost and what it would entail. Sandy Whit-ing seconded, motion passed.
Show Report
By Gene Maggard, Show Chari
First, a BIG thanks to all you Show Committee members and to all the general members that worked at the show. The show went really well with no serious malfunctions. When people work together good things happen.
Attendance was a little off from last year. Not sure why. Attendance by youth was way off according to Admis-sions Chair Peggy. Even so, most vendors indicated that they had a successful show and want to return next year. Financial information is not yet available. I should have a financial summary for the June QQ.
The last act for the 2012 Show Committee is to have a wrapup meeting. The wrapup meeting is scheduled for Monday evening, May 14 at 7pm at the Community of Christ Church. This is where we have our regular board meetings. The purpose of the meeting is to record ways that we think that the show can be improved for next year. These ideas will be then passed on to the 2013 committee.
Again, thanks to all those who worked and/or exhibited at the show. You made the show a great success.
WGMS Library
We have a lot of great books in the WGMS library. It is open when we have a club meeting at WSU. Members can check out books for one month.
Peggy Stambaugh passed away at Riverbend As-
sisted Living in Great Bend on May 10, 2012. Peggy
was born Oct 14, 1933 in rural Barton County, the
daughter of August E and Alice E (Smith) Christianson.
She graduated from Great Bend High school in 1951 and
was united in marriage to Weston L. “Wes” Stambaugh
July 19, 1953. The couple made their home in Great
Bend and were former members of the Golden Belt Gem
and Mineral Society and later the Wichita Gem and Mineral
Society. Her husband, Wes, passed away January 21, 2004.
Peggy served WGMS in the capacity of Junior leader and
served on the show committee.
Whether you served on the show committee, came to a work
day, helped set up or tear down, donated materials, created a
display, worked at a booth, demonstrated a skill, gave a presen-
tation, scheduled volunteers, made an announcement, assisted in
Education Day mineral identification, passed out flyers or invited
someone to come to the show…..
Thank You!! You put on another great show
Gene Maggard, Show Chair
Page 5 QUA RRY QUI PS WI CHI T A GE M & MI NER AL SOCIE TY ~ W ICHIT A, K S MA Y 20 1 2
Thank you to all who sewed, stuffed
and assembled our grab bags. Thanks also
to everyone who helped man the booth. You
are the best!
Carolyn White, Grab Bag Chair
Thank you to all the WGMS members who
helped at the admissions during our April
show. This is an important job and i really
appreciate everyone's help.
Peggy Maggard-WGMS Admissions Chair
A HUGE thank you to everyone who volunteered! There
are too many to thank individually, but with only a couple of
hiccups everyone came on time and there were some who
came and were available to help without even being on the
schedule. The Volunteers are a big part of what makes the
show go smoothly every year. Without you it just would not
happen. Ardis Cruz, Volunteer Coordinator
Set Up, Take Down Went Smoooth!
Thanks, and thanks again, to all WGMS members (and family and friends) who helped with show set up Thursday and take down Sunday evening. Set up was done so that dealers started setting up by 11:15.
Sunday Gene Maggard and I parked the storage trailer in the lot just north of Derby at 6:45. Even during the show there was a lot of movement of tables, etc. Many helped with willing expressions. The show is just over. I feel good about it. And we have probably learned some things that should be considered next year. Again, THANK
YOU.
Thank you to ALL that help with the Mineral Identi-
fication program that we do for the schools on Fri-
days. From set up to tear down it takes many peo-
ple to make that program be the success that it has
over the many years. I don't know who carried and
set up all of the tables but I do thank you! Our con-
trol man for curtains and lights was Joshua Hixon,
Alice Piper and May Springer covered tables with
paper and helped set the activity up. Mom, Mary
Clough was our door greeter and Bob and Nancy
Hicks were in charge of staging and check in. May
Springer, George and Vi Mack, Anna Hixon and my
brother Mike Clough all check the kids work and
made them feel welcome. Daughters Malinda and
Miranda took charge of tear down and packing!
Thank you to all of you for supporting a program
that educates and inspires others about our hobby.
Thank you!
Pat Clough, Schools and Scouts
Elwood King, 94, a long time Butler county farmer
and rancher died March 27, 2012 at Susan B. Allen
Memorial Hospital. Elwood was born June 30, 1917,
the son of Merton and Margaret (Chase) King. He
was united in marriage to Nola Neuman in 1943. In
1972 he was married to Erma Dealy. She proceeded
him in death in 2011.
Elwood was a member of the Wichita Gem and Min-
eral Society and the Butler County Historical Society where he
served on the board of trustees and as a volunteer.
Page 6 QUA RRY QUI PS WI CHI T A GE M & MI NER AL SOCIE TY ~ W ICHIT A, K S MA Y 20 1 2
Sign Up for Hardtner Field Trip
at May 20th WGMS Meeting By Lyle Koerper
Registration for the May 26 field trip to Hardtner, KS, will begin at the regular WGMS meeting Sunday, May 20. If you will not be at that meeting, you can register by contacting Lyle Koerper, field trip chair, at (316) 722-7115. Advance registration is important so that if plans change, you can be notified.
About the Hardtner trip:
Plan your own route to Hardtner, KS. Plan to arrive in Hardtner from 10 to 11 a. m. and go to the Nature Mu-seum in the middle of town. This five star rated mu-seum is located in several rooms of a former modern school building. There is a large sign outside.
Bill and Janet Smith, WGMS members, have created this museum. There are wonderful displays of gems and minerals, lapidary work, an outstanding entomol-ogy section , and more.
Lunch time will be at 12 noon. Bring your own. There are tables inside.
Sometime between 12:30 and 1 p. m. we will move out of town to do some rockhounding where the buffalo once roamed. The search will include both minerals and fossils. We think you will find that the Kansas prai-rie, especially in the springtime, is fascinating.
Bring clothing appropriate for the weather, water, lunch and snacks, collecting bags, and perhaps a rock ham-mer. The walking will be up and down with some rough spots, but children with supervision will be fine.
Check out the Quarry Quips next month for the first in a series of Dinosaur Trading Cards created by Mike Wingo. Unlike the cartoon drawing above, the images on these trading cards are created using the most sci-entifically accurate and up to date dinosaur replicas, offered by Museums like the Carnegie, and The Boston Museum of Natural History. Sometimes actual resin dinosaur models are used, that are professionally built and painted by some of the best artists in the Paleo-modeling scene. The initial set offers two models done by artist Bob Morales of Dragon Attack studios, for instance.
Planned series include Sauropods, Theropods, The Strange and Bizare, Wind and Waves, and Perfectly Pre-historic. You can print your cards 2 sided - photo paper or card stock is recommended. Collect them all!
Page 7 QUA RRY QUI PS WI CHI T A GE M & MI NER AL SOCIE TY ~ W ICHIT A, K S MA Y 20 1 2
Dinosaur Feathers in Amber?
Via 05/2012 The Glacial Drifter
(Article submitted by John Washburn. Published at htcp://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/ story/201 1/09/I5/sciencedinosatufeathcers..html. By Emily Chung. CBC News; via MWF News 12/11 & MMS Conglomerate March 2012.)
Feathers believed to be from dinosaurs have been found beautifully preserved in Alberta amber. The primitive, hair-like feathers known as protofeathers likely belonged to theropod dinosaurs similar to tiny Tyrannosaurus rexes that roamed the swampy forests of Alberta 70 million years ago, said Alexander P. Wolfe, a University of Alberta earth sciences professor who co-authored the research published Thursday in Science . "Protofeathers aren't known from any modem, existing groups of birds and therefore the most obvious interpretation is that they belong to dinosaurs!" he said. Theropods, which are thought to be closely related to modern birds, were already known to have feathers, based on features surrounding fossils found in China. But a lot of details were lost in the fossilization process. "The feathers get altered, they get substituted by minerals and you can't see any of the detail!"
Wolfe said. The protofeathers may look very hair-like, but the researchers confirmed they were feathers by look-ing at them under a microscope. Hair, found on mammals, has microscopic scales. Feathers, found in birds and dinosaurs, have features called nodes and internodes instead. "With amber, it's different. We actually have the actual object.... we actually have this protofeather for the first time in the flesh." The feathers are preserved down to the pigments that show what colour they are and microscopic details of their structure. "Based on the fact that the protofeathers were just single filaments or clumps of filaments, just two cen-timetres long, the researchers concluded 'these had noth-ing to do with flight", Wolfe said. Instead, he believes they were used to keep the dinosaurs warm.
The protofeathers were among a wide range of feathers found in Alberta amber specimens by Ryan McKellar, a researcher who recently completed his PhD under Wolfe's supervision. McKellar's research was initially interested in insects, but stumbled upon some very bird-like feathers in the process of sorting through amber from the Royal Tyrell Museum and the Uni-versity of Alberta's collection.
He decided to keep an eye out for other feathers. After sorting through around 4,000 chunks of amber, each less than two centimetres in diameter, he had collected a wide range, from the protofeathers to more complex feathers from the same time period that were most certainly from birds. Some were downy "like the kind you have in your pillow," Wolfe said. Others look like modem flight feathers. Some also had special features found in diving birds such as grebes.
Wolfe, an expert in amber chemistry, said such birds likely shared the same ecosystem as the dino-saurs. A steamy, 'very buggy' coastal forest similar to Florida's everglades, dominated by cypress and cedar-like trees. The remains of the forest were compressed into coal deposits in Alberta where the amber samples were found.
Wolfe said now that the new research, including photographs, has been published, he hopes re-searchers in other parts of the world where feather dinosaur fossils have been found will start keeping an eye out for dinosaur feathers in amber. He also hopes to do a biochemical analysis on the proteins in the feathers.
Stromatolites - The Oldest Fossil by Christine Young
Stromatolites are not only Earth‘s oldest of fossils, but are also an intriguing look into deep time on earth, the emergence of life, and the evolving of the beautiful forms of life of modern time. Recent discoveries provide strong evidence of microbial stromatolites extending as far back as 3.5 billion years ago. Scientists disagree on how to define stromatolites but a common definition is a laminated rock formed by the growth of cyanobacteria. Originally cyanobacteria were thought to be bluegreen algae, and algae were thought to be plants. Actually, cyanobacteria are prokaryotic bacteria. Regardless of when cyanobacteria ap-peared, it is widely accepted that they comprised the predominant form of life on early earth for some two billion years, and were responsible for the creation of earth‘s atmospheric oxygen, consuming CO2 and releasing O2 by photosyn-thetic metabolism. The creation of the modern atmosphere is perhaps the most critical event in geological history that powered the subsequent evolution of the aerobic forms of life, including all animals. Stromatolites were named from the Greek, stroma (bed, mattress, stratum) and lithos (rock). By transforming carbon dioxide into oxygen, the photosynthetic bacteria depleted the carbon dioxide in the surrounding water, causing Print Stone and Zebra Stone.
Information for this article came from : www.wikipedia.com, www.fossilmuseum.net; www.ucmp.berkley.edu; www.fossilmall.com and
www.wmnh.com. Via 5/12 Rocket City Rocks & Gems, via 3/11 Chippers Chatter, via Pick-Hammer News
As I began this article in February, my thoughts then were on amethyst, the February birthstone, and other pur-ple, violet, mauve, plum, lavender and lilac gems. To my surprise, the list of purple and purple-hued minerals turned out to be too voluminous for Quarry Quips (in fact, sufficient for a small book) so I decided to write about two relatively new entries to the gem field: sugilite and charoite which not only are decidedly purple but also are rare minerals found only in very few locations.
Sugilite (pronounced with a hard “g” as in the word “gum”) was first discovered in 1944 by the late Japanese petrologist Ken-ichi Sugi in an orange orchard on Iwagi Island, Ehime Prefecture in the Inland Sea of Japan. It was in the form of microscopic tan-colored crystals in blocks of aegirine-syenite (an igneous rock consisting mainly of feldspar and no quartz. In this case, it also contains acmite (also known as aegirine, a black, sodium-iron pyroxene). Sugilite remained unrecognized as a new mineral until 1976 when it was de-scribed and published by N. Murakami and others in the Mineralogical Journal [of Japan]. The same nondescript, tan mineral has since been found at seven other locations but only at the Wessels Mine, a manganese source, near Kuraman, South Africa, does the purple gem variety occur. Small pink crystals, too small for cutting, are found in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
Sugilite is an alkaline iron-mangano-aluminum silicate which frequently contains zirconium, KNA2Li3(Fe,Mn,Al,Zr)2Si12O30. It crystallizes as a mass of microscopic interlocking crystals in the hexagonal crystal system, has hardness (Mohs) 0f 5.5 to 6.5, vitreous luster and specific gravity of 2.74. A sugilite impregnated chalcedony is some-times substituted for the unadulterated gem but is distinguishable by its lower specific gravity around 2.65. For those with access to a refractometer, sugilite also may be distinguished by its refractive index, 1.607 which is higher than chalced-ony’s 1.544. It occurs in colors of brown, tan, light yellow, pink and purple. The deep purple gem color is attributable to the manganese and probably to its lithium content. Sugilite has been marketed as lavulite, royal azel or several other names prefixed by “royal. The correct mineral name, sugilite, remains the preferred term.
At the Wessels Mine, sugilite is contained as massive layers and seams, associated with acmite and norrishite (mangano-lithium oxy-mica) within layered (sedimentary) manga-nese deposits of Precambrian age between 2.0 and 2.6 billion years old. Individual sugilite layers may be several centimeters thick. They and accompanying minerals were hydrother-mally injected through bedding planes and fractures of the manganese ore, chemically re-acting with it. This later but still Precambrian event is thought to be related to tectonic plate collision at the edge of the Kalihari Craton about 1.0 to 1.5 billion years ago.
The Wessels Mine sugilite is found at depth of 3,200 feet (975 meters) and is re-covered during the manganese mining process. In 1979, a commercial quantity of sugilite estimated to range from 10 to 20 tons was discovered. About half that amount reportedly is not of gem quality but probably could be used for carvings, bookends, etc. Of the remainder, most is reportedly opaque with a tenth of one percent said to be translucent “gel-sugilite” – the highly desirable “grape jelly.”
The layered manganese deposits of South Africa are among the world’s largest manganese sources and recov-ery of sugilite which is available only in limited volumes is secondary to mining operations. Considering the highly mechanized methods of modern mining, some of the limited volume of purple sugilite will undoubtedly go through the ore crushers and like other fine mineral specimens be lost for the collector. A rare mineral to begin with, hopefully additional purple sugilite will be found in other manganese deposits.
Charoite is another rare purple mineral suitable for gem purposes. It occurs only at one known location in the world, Sirenevy Kamen, a locality near the confluence of the Chara and Tokko Rivers in the Sakha Republic , Yakutsia , Eastern Siberian Region, Russia, an area about 325 miles (523 km) north of the northern tip of Lake Baikal. Taking its name from the nearby Chara River, charoite was discovered in 1947 by Russian geologists Yuri G. Rogov and his wife Vera P. Rogova.
QUA RRY QUI PS WI CHI T A GE M & MI NER AL SOCIE TY ~ W ICHIT A, K S MA Y 20 1 2 Page 8
Grape Jelly and Other Purple Stuff
Lawrence H. Skelton
Wichita Gem & Mineral Society
Sugulite,
From the author’s collection Photo by Amber Skelton
Sugilite from Wessels Mine in
Northern Cape Province,
South Africa
www.wikipedia.org/wiki/sugulite
Charoite. From the author’s collection.
Photo by Amber Skelton
Charoite is an alkaline metal fluoro-hydroxl silicate: (K,Na)6-7(Ca,Na)18[(Si6O17) (Si12O30)(Si18O45)](OH,F)
2.nH2O [Formula from Mindat.Org]. Its hardness ranges from 5.0 to 6.0 (Mohs) and specific gravity ranges from 2.54 to 2.78 depending on content of other minerals. Pure charoite has good three-directional cleavage and occurs as interlocked fibers and in massive forms. Fibrous interlocking crystals give a “swirling” appearance somewhat similar to the artificially made lapidary material “Victoria Stone.” Areas that are semi-transparent fit the “grape jelly” description. It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system and sometimes occurs Charoite frequently is admixed with aegirine (acmite), tinaksite (pale yellow to tan or pink colored), canasite (brownish-yellow to light green) and microcline. These and other rare minerals form a rock (Remember? A rock is a mixture of minerals.) appropriately named charoitite.
Charoite is found in the Murunskii Massif (an igneous or metamorphic, intrusive, structurally resistant rock mass ranging from 10 to 20 miles in diameter) within the Chara Block in the Precambrian age Alden Shield of Siberia. Whether charoite is of magmatic (igneous intrusive) or metasomatic (hot-fluid alteration of existing rock) genesis has been a topic of heated discussion but at present, the metasomatic “school” seems to have the cor-rect answer. The charoite forms at the contact of intrusive syenite (igneous rock composed mainly of alkaline feldspar with some hornblende or biotite) and trachyte (extrusive equiva-lent of syenite) with a carbonate rock which has been interpreted as limestone (sedimentary) or carbonatite (intrusive carbonate rock associated with alkaline igneous in-trusive rocks). Intrusion of carbonatite would explain the presence of fluorine, water, and thorium in accompanying fluids which would chemically react with the syenite or trachyte, forming new minerals including charoite. Russian geologists, V.A. Solyanik, V.A. Pakho-mova and M.A. Ushkova caution that steacyite , a mineral often accompanying charoite, contains thorium [and uranium] which may be in sufficient quantity to make the host rock (charoite) radioactive and that “this should be taken into consideration in the production of charoite jewelry.”
By some reports, the charoite deposit is nearly depleted but others estimate remaining resources at ”some tens of thousands of tons.” However, far from all that remaining is of lapidary quality. Lesser grades have been used in Russia as decorative building stone and possibly some charoite is rich enough in thorium to be used as an ore material. As always, Russian sources are tight-lipped on such topics. As of 2008, government authorities were planning an open-pit mining operation for charoite. Like other “freak” minerals (sugilite, benitoite and red beryl for example), the Sirenevy Kamen charoite may indeed be the only such deposit in the world and when it is depleted, the lovely purple gem will no longer be available.
References cited:
American Geological Institute, 1976. Dictionary of Geological Terms, Revised Edition: Garden City, N.Y., Anchor Press/ Doubleday, 472 p.
Birykov, V. M. and Berdnikov, N. V., 1993. “The Paragenetic Relations Between Charoite Mineralization and Alkali Metasomatism”: International Geology Review, Vol. 35, No.7, p. 585 – 602, London, Taylor & Francis Group. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00206819309465544#preview. Downloaded 5 March 2012.
Ehlers, E. G. and Blatt, H., 1982. Petrology – Igneous, Sedimentary and Metamorphic: San Francisco, W. H. Freeman & Co., 731 p.
Gnos, E., Armbruster, T. and Villa, I. M., 2003. “Norrishite, K(Mn23+Li)Si4O10 (O)2, An Oxymica Associated with Sugilite from
the Wessels Mine, South Africa: Crystal Chemistry and 40Ar-39Ar Dating” (abstract): American Mineralogist, Vol. 88, No. 1, p. 189 – 194. Http:// ammin.geoscienceworld.org/content/88/1/189.abstract. Downloaded 27 February 2012.
Mitchell, R. H., Smith, C. B. and Vladykin, N. V., 1994. “Isotope Composition of Strontium and Neodymium in Potassic Rocks of the Little Murun Complex, Alden Shield, Siberia” (abstract): Lithos, Vol. 32, No. 3-4, p. 243 – 248. http://www.sciencedirect/science/article/pii/0024493794900426. Downloaded 2 March 2012.
Shigley, J. E., Koivula, J. I. and Fryer, C. W., 1987. “The Occurrence and Gemological Properties of Wessels Mine Sugilite:”Gems & Gemology, Vol. 23, No. 2, p. 78 – 89.
Solyanik, V. A., Pakhomova, V. A. and Ushkova, M. A., 2008. “Charoite – A Champion among Mineralogical Discoveries in the Second Half of the 20th Century:” The Journal of the Gemmological [sic] Association of Hong Kong, Vol. 29, p. 77 – 80. http://www.gahk.org/journal/2008/charoita.pdf . Downloaded 28 February 2012.
Page 9 QUA RRY QUI PS WI CHI T A GE M & MI NER AL SOCIE TY ~ W ICHIT A, K S MA Y 20 1 2
Charoite.
www.wikipedia.org/wiki/
QUA RRY QUI PS WI CHI T A GE M & MI NER AL SOCIE TY ~ W ICHIT A, K S MA Y 20 1 2 Page 10
Show Calendar
For a more complete list of all shows go to: http://www.rockngem.com/showdates.asp
or refer to a copy of Rock & Gem Magazine.
May:
18-20—JOPLIN, MISSOURI: 6th Annual Outdoor Rock Swap;
Tri State Gem & Mineral Society; Schifferdecker Park, 7th and
Schifferdecker Ave.; Fri. 9-6, Sat. 9-6, Sun. 9-4; free admission;
contact Chris Wiseman, PO Box 555, Joplin, MO 64802; e-mail:
26-27—FORT WORTH, TEXAS: 61st annual show, ; Fort Worth
Gem & Mineral Club; Will Rogers Memorial Center; 3401 W.
Lancaster; Sat. 9-6, Sun. 10-5; adults $5, seniors and students $4,
military in uniform and children (under 16) free; contact Steve
Hilliard, PO Box 418, Decatur, TX 76234, (817) 925-5760; e-
mail: [email protected]; Web site: frotworthgemandmin-
eralclub.org
25-28—SCOTTSBLUFF, NEBRASKA: Annual show; Panhandle
Rock & Gem Club; Riverside Zoo Campground; 1600 S. Beltline
Hwy. W.; Fri. 8-5, Sat. 8-5, Sun. 8-5, Mon. 8-5; free admission;
buy, trade, sell, rocks, fossils, minerals; contact Dale Tikalsky,
(308) 632-5574; e-mail: [email protected]
June:
2—DELTA, COLORADO: Show; Delta County Rock Wranglers;
Heddles Recreation Center; 530 Gunnison River Dr.; Sat. 9-5; free
admission;; contact Harry W. Masinton, (970) 856-3861
8-10—PARK HILLS, MISSOURI: Annual show; Missouri De-
partment of Natural Resources, Mineral Area Gem & Mineral
Society, Greater St. Louis Association of Earth Science Clubs;
Missouri Mines State Historic Site; south side of Hwy. 32, 1.5
miles west of Hwy. 67; Fri. 9-6, Sat. 9-6, Sun. 9-4; free admission;
contact Boneta Hensley, (573) 760-0488; e-mail: mojelly-
[email protected]; Web site: http://mostateparks.com/park/
missouri-mines-state-historic-site
16-17—RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA: 32nd annual show;
Western Dakota Gem & Mineral Society; Pennington County
Events Center; Campbell and Centre St.; Sat. 9-6, Sun. 10-4;
adults $3, seniors and students $1.50, children free contact Paula
Hohn, PO Box 3620, Rapid City, SD 57709, (605) 484-3754; e-
mail: [email protected]; Web site: www.wdgms.org
Member Birthdays
May:
03 Velma Collins
04 Jessica Rempe
11 Lilith Warren
16 Shannon Dixon
17 Marcia Norton, Jeremy Smith
23 Arleta Seery
24 Jay Super, Sally Henning,
Ramona Lingafelter
25 Gary Moore
26 Larry Springer
27 Charity Walker
28 Barbara Hoppins
June:
04 Kelly Dixon
08 Michael Bayouth
12 Joreen Florenzen
13 Ananda Smith
14 Sara Murphy, Diane DeGood
15 Mary Clough
19 Johnny Saunders
22 Joshua Hixon
24 Anna Smith
25 Naomi Matney
29 Janet Khoury
30 Elwood King
DINOSAURS IN SOUP
In 2007, a team of scientists from the Chinese Academy
of Sciences was excavating several dinosaurs in Ruyang
County in Henan Province, when they learned that local
villagers had been digging up dinosaur bones for dec-
ades, grinding them up and adding them to soup. The
calcium-rich bones, believed to be from flying dragons,
were also added to traditional medicines, to relieve diz
ziness and leg cramps. Once the villagers learned the
bones were from dinosaurs, they donated over 400 lbs. to
the scientists, for research purposes. Cost of "flying
dragon bones": 20 cents per pound.
(Reference: vuww.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,288044,00.html)
Via The Glacial Drifter May 2012, via The Pegmatite Nov 2009
Page 11 QUA RRY QUI PS WI CHI T A GE M & MI NER AL SOCIE TY ~ W ICHIT A, K S MA Y 20 1 2
Member Bulletin Board A spot where members can post announcements, items wanted or for sale. First come, first serve, priority to new items. (text only)
Beading Bee, Wednesdays 4pm - ??? Marci Fleeker’s house, 2166 S. Topeka, 262-8392, Bring your
own project
Two Bit Ranch rocks, fossils minerals and petrified wood will open for business one day a
month starting Saturday, May 12th from 10:00 to 4:00.
We have lots of very nice mineral specimens, rough material for tumbling, cutting and polishing
and also fossils. Our tentative June open day will be Saturday the 16th from 10:00-4:00.
You may call if you would like to set up an appointment to come shop or need directions. Our address is
712 W. Harry St. Andover Joe & Ardis Cruz
It is Time to Renew Your Membership
For those of you who wish to be ahead of the game, you may remit your 2012-2013 dues now. Please use the form below when you pay
your dues. We hope that this form will help catch changes in your address or email.
Dues are due by August 31, 2012. They are past due on September 1st, 2012.
Membership renewal form
Please provide the following information along with your dues payment.
Please “print clearly”
Name(s):_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
My address, phone and email address is correct in the 2012 directory ____Yes ___No (if no make corrections below)
Street Address or P.O. Box #___________________________________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip Code:_________________________________________________________________________________________
Phone Number(s):____________________________________________________________________________________________
Email Address(es):___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Type of membership: __________# Adults @ $10.00 each, ______ # Juniors @ $5.00 each (12-17)
Amount Enclosed $_______________________ Checks must be made out to: WGMS
Please turn in or mail this form and your payment to:
Susan Bannon, Membership Chair, 11825 E 1st St N, Wichita KS 67206-2732
WI CHITA GEM & MI NERA L
SOCI ET Y , INC
QUARRY QUIPS
Carolyn White, Editor
2225 N. Fountain
Wichita, KS 67220
Quarry Quips Article Deadline: Friday, June 1st
Send articles to Carolyn White. Contact information at top of page.
TIME VALUE
Page Club Business Page Special Interest
2 About Our Club RMFMS / AFMS News: none
3 Calendar - WGMS Events Cover The Reason Why
7 Field Trips 11 2012-2013 Membership Renewal Form
4 Meeting Minutes 7 Dinosaur Feathers in Amber
10 Member Birthdays 10 Dinosaur Soup
3 Membership 10 Gem Show Calendar
2 Officers 7 Hutchinson Rock Swap, May 19th
3 Programs 11 Member Bulletin Board
4 Show Report 7 Stromatolites - The Oldest Fossil
Next Meeting:
Sunday, May 20, 2pm,
WSU Geology Bldg, Rm 101
Next Field Trip:
May 26 Nature Museum & rockhounding
Hardtner, KS