you know you are a rockhound if the sign on the side of...
TRANSCRIPT
VOLUME 26, ISSUE 2 February 2016
Words from the President:
Sorry, the February Newsletter is late.
Make sure to check out the show exhibit application and other important club information inside.
Good Humor:
You know you are a rockhound if the sign on the side of the road says "Falling Rock" and you pull over to
wait.
Junior RockHounds:
John McCabe presented Lapidary and Earth &
Space badges to several Junior RockHounds in
recognition of the work and activities they have
done in these areas over past few months. The club
gave a special congratulations to Ashland and
Mikara for earning six badges and becoming an
"official" Rockhound. Way to go Ashland and
Mikara! In February, Junior RockHounds will
continue to work on meeting the requirements to
earn additional badges. ~~TC~~
2016 OFFICERS CHAIR
PRESIDENT
Michael Judy
(805) 238-4469
VP PROGRAMS
Joyce Baird
(805) 423-5855
VP EDUCATION
John McCabe
(805) 464-0528
VP COMMUNICATIONS
Brett Weathersbee
(805) 550-2753
SECRETARY
Alice Rodriguez
(805) 369-4910
TREASURER
Doren Strane
(805) 712-8519
SR. DIRECTOR
David Nelson
(805) 423-0188
JR. DIRECTOR
Ralph Lawless
(805) 423-8965
PAST PRESIDENT
Open Position
Rockonteur Santa Lucia RockHounds February 2016
SHOW EXHIBIT "TRAINEE" NEEDED!
This is the last show I plan
to do as Exhibit Chairperson, and I
would love to be able to train a new
person to take over this position for
next year. This is the perfect
chance to get involved in our show
in a creative and rewarding way!
Please call or email Barbara at 434-
2708 or [email protected]
for more information.
Ventura Gem & Mineral Society
54th Annual Ventura Gem, Mineral, Lapidary, & Fossil Show
March 5-6, 2016
Want to see past Newsletters?
Visit www.slrockhounds.org
Click “Members Only”
Username: rockgems
Password: jade
Good Humor:
All the kids loved old Mrs. Mcgready...
she was so gneiss
2016 COMMITTEE CHAIR
CFMS Director
Open Position
Field Trips
Open Position
Membership
Brett Weathersbee
(805) 550-2753 [email protected]
Merchandise
David Nelson
(805) 423-0188
Museum & Library
Barbara Bilyeu
(805) 434-2708
Hospitality
Cathy McIntosh
(805) 239-2921
History
Mike Doherty
(805) 466-4061
Drawings
Michael Judy
(805) 238-4469
Silent Auction
Pete Duckworth
(805) 467-3413
Newsletter Editor
Tina Clark
(805) 238-4469
Interim Newsletter Publisher
Michael Judy
(805) 238-4469
Rockonteur Santa Lucia RockHounds February 2016
Great Pictures from Sam from the January Show & Tell (a former Junior RockHound).
January Show & Tell Highlights: Seventeen club members regaled the crowd with their prized treasures and captivating stories about how they stumbled upon them. Members shared treasures from as far away as Hawaii, Mexico, Montana, Mount St. Helens, and Mississippi as well from more local haunts such as Nipomo, Atascadero, Santa Maria, and Santa Margarita. Don Huntington won a prize for the most humorous story about the one of a kind rock he made himself inside a burning barrel. Turns out he found the round in Parkfield and to this days had not been able to have it identified. Ron Rusconi won the prize for the best specimen for a 10,000 to 12,000 year old ceremonial axe he found in Mississippi. Club member’s heads are still dancing with the memories of petrified wood, Nipomo agate, pipefish fossil, almandine garnets, Oregon sunstones and other specimens.~~TC~~
LIBRARY INVENTORY TIME
Please bring all Santa Lucia Rockhound Library items you may have checked out to our
meeting in March so an inventory can be taken. Thank you!
Rockonteur Santa Lucia RockHounds February 2016
Interview with a Rock Star Name Bob Baker How long have you been a club member? I've been a club member since the fall of 2011. What rocks you about rockhounding? My father became interested in rocks when I was 11. Since both my parents were teachers, our summer vacations were spent visiting one grandmother in Salt Lake City one year and the other grandmother in Alamogordo, NM the next year. My father got a book which showed locations along our route where collecting rocks and minerals was possible. Agates and petrified wood became my favorites. Once in high school my interests (cars, girls, sports, and student government) led me away from rocks. In college I had a number of geology classes which brought me back to rocks. After a 35 year career as a small business owner in San Luis Obispo, I retired. At that time my main hobby was fishing but I realized that I couldn't fish every day so I considered other hobbies. I had done a little leaded stained glass work and became a regular spectator at Sports Car, and Drag racing events. With the addition of Rockhounding there would be no boredom in my retirement. Now, after being retired for ten years, I spend more time on being a rockhound than anything else. What has been your greatest or most memorable find? Over the years I have found some beautiful minerals, but my greatest find was learning that I could gain access to private ranches in Nipomo where the world famous "Nipomo Sagenite, and Marcasite agates are found! Once these beautiful agates were discovered, ranchers limited access to their lands because of poor behavior of rockhound trespassers, including property and crop damage. However, because of my association with the Nipomo kids through high school, I have become the luckiest rockhound on the central coast with access to three ranches which have these world famous rocks. Tell us about a current project you are working on. One of my current projects is combining two of my hobbies, leaded glass, and agates. Instead of using glass alone, I'm using slabs of Nipomo Tube Agates and glass to make a window hanging which will allow back lighting the agates to expose their beauty. What is your favorite mineral? My favorite mineral is agate mainly because it comes in so many beautiful variations. Is there anything else you would like the club to know about you? I have a fascination with how rocks and minerals are created and because of my association with the Santa Lucia Rockhound Club, and its knowledgeable members, I am enjoying my retirement more than ever.
Rockonteur Santa Lucia RockHounds February 2016
THUNDEREGGS
By Barbara Bilyeu
Continuing with our tour of thundereggs of the
Western United States, we will now do a quick visit
to Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico! Utah
is best known for its famous Dugway Geodes,
which are thundereggs with hollow interiors, often
lined with druzy quartz crystals. Unfortunately, this
area is currently being threatened with closure by
the BLM and there is a grass roots movement
underway to keep it open. You can participate in
this endeavor by going online and typing "Dugway
Geode Beds closure" to learn where to send your
emails.
Colorado is famous for its Del Norte geodes which sometimes
contain beautiful plumes valued by jewelry-makers. Arizona's
classic Coolidge Dam thundereggs, known as "Arizona Star"
thundereggs, are very sought-after by collectors. A more
recently offered Arizona deposit, marketed as "Mushroom
Jasper", features thundereggs with intricate, colorful rhyolite
that emulates a forest of mushrooms!
DUGWAY, UTAH
DEL NORTE, COLORADO
ARIZONA STAR, ARIZONA MUSHROOM JASPER, ARIZONA
Rockonteur Santa Lucia RockHounds February 2016
THUNDEREGGS
By Barbara Bilyeu
~~Continue~~
New Mexico is by far the prime state for thundereggs in the Southwest. In the southern part of the state are many locations for world-
class thundereggs, most well-known being the thundereggs from the Baker Mine near Deming. This area was mined and described in
his publications on thundereggs by Robert Paul Colburn, better known as the "Geode Kid". Other discoveries include the spectacular
deposits called "Lava Cap", "Eggzilla", and "Fish Hook" beds, among others. New Mexico even has an area called "Rockhound State
Park" where rockhounds have been permitted to collect thundereggs and other rocks over the years. Please check on current regulations
if you plan to visit this park near Deming to collect your own rocks!
Next month: California!!
BAKER MINE, NEW MEXICO ROCKHOUND STATE PARK, NEW MEXICO
Rockonteur Santa Lucia RockHounds February 2016
SHOW EXHIBITS!!
It's time to start thinking about what you are going to exhibit at our club's 25th anniversary show in April! The show theme is
Thundereggs (including agates and geodes), but a wide variety of exhibits is welcome. Please consider showing off your lapidary
creations, collections, and favorite rocks in an exhibit to share with our community. A limited number of club exhibit cases are available
for loan, so get your applications in early. The application form is attached. Please call or email Barbara at 434-2708 or
[email protected] if you have any questions!
EXHIBIT APPLICATION Santa Lucia Rockhounds Annual Gem and Mineral Show April 23 - 24, 2016
at the Paso Robles Event Center (Fairgrounds) Dear Friends, Another CHANGE this year for the Santa Lucia Rockhounds: we are changing our date once again (to avoid the antique show congestion), but will still hold our show at the Paso Robles Event Center (Fairgrounds, north of the Pioneer Museum). We would be honored to have your exhibit in our 25th anniversary show! Our show theme this year is the Thunderegg (including agates and geodes), but a wide variety of exhibits is welcome. Exhibit set-up time is from 12:00 noon until 7:00 PM on Friday, April 22nd, or between 8:00 and 10:00 on Saturday morning. Exhibits must remain in place until 5:00 Sunday afternoon. The Santa Lucia Rockhounds will have security in place during the show, but will not be liable for loss or damage to exhibits. Please complete the following form and return to: Barbara Bilyeu 620 Santa Rita Road Templeton, CA 93465 For further information, please call Barbara at (805)434-2708, or email at [email protected]. We look forward to your participation!
Detach here - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- Name_______________________________ Club_______________________ Address_______________________________City______________ZIP______ Phone__________________ Email_______________________ I have my own case_____ Upright______ Slant______
Outside dimensions are Length_____Depth_____ Height_____ Maximum wattage not to exceed 150 watts.
I need to borrow a case _____. A limited number of loaner cases may be available. They are standard 4’x2’x2’. Please provide your own liners.
Description of exhibit______________________________________________ Signature__________________________________ Date_________________
Rockonteur Santa Lucia RockHounds February 2016
The Rockonteur is the official monthly newsletter of the Santa Lucia Rockhounds. It is an independent publication containing news and information consistent with the mission of SLR and of interest to its members. Circulation is approximately 90 copies per issue.
Editor – Tina Clark Interim Publisher – Michael Judy (805) 238-4469 [email protected] Member submissions are encouraged and may be made by email or snail mail. We reserve the right to accept or refuse submissions and advertising that, in our opinion, do not reflect the standards of this newsletter, or are inconsistent with the objectives and purpose of the Santa Lucia Rockhounds. Submissions may be edited for content, grammar, spelling, punctuation and length without consent.
Rockonteur is not a creative writing outlet. However, all submissions that may be of interest to its readers and reflect the standards of the newsletter, will be considered for publication at the discretion of the editor or publisher.
Deadline: All submissions are due by midnight of the last day of the month but early submissions are highly appreciated and strongly encouraged. The publisher reserves the right to accept, reject or hold-over late submissions. Santa Lucia Rockhounds Website: www.slrockhounds.org
Webmaster - Vince Pellerin (831) 594-1381 [email protected]
Santa Lucia Rockhounds, Inc. is a charitable group organized as a California non-profit public benefit corporation. The specific purpose of the group is to promote the study of mineralogy, including (but not limited to) the fields of lapidary, metal working, jewelry design & fabrication, geology and field trips for collecting and related history. We encourage learning and good citizenship in a congenial atmosphere. We respect both private and public property and we strive to protect natural resources.
Annual Dues are $20 for the first adult and $8 each for every additional member in the same household. Dues are payable between 1 September and 31 December, in person at the meetings or by mail. Members in good standing receive the Rockonteur by mail or email. We are a member of the California Federation of Mineralogical Societies (CFMS) and affiliated with the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies (AFMS). Santa Lucia Rockhounds, Inc. is also a member of the American Lands Access Association (ALAA).
February 27 - 28: VALLEJO, CA
Vallejo Gem & Mineral Society March 4 - 6: NEWARK, CA
Mineral & Gem Society of Castro Valley
March 5 - 6: ARCADIA, CA
Monrovia Rockhounds March 5 - 6: VENTURA, CA
Ventura Gem & Mineral Society March 12 - 13: SAN MARINO, CA
Pasadena Lapidary Society March 12 - 13: SPRECKELS, CA,
Spreckel's Veterans Hall March 12 - 13: TURLOCK, CA
Mother Lode Mineral Society, Modesto
March 19 - 20: LEMOORE, CA
Lemoore Gem & Mineral Society March 26 - 27: ANGELS CAMP, CA
Calaveras Gem & Mineral Society
March 26- 27: ROSEVILLE, CA
Roseville Rock Rollers Gem & Mineral Society
April 2 - 3: CHICO, CA Paradise Gem & Mineral Society
April 2 - 3: TORRANCE, CA
South Bay Lapidary & Mineral Society
April 8 - 10: VISTA, CA
Vista Gem & Mineral Society April 9 - 10: MARIPOSA, CA
Mariposa Gem & Mineral Society
April 16 - 17: SAN JOSE, CA
Santa Clara Valley Gem & Mineral Society
April 16 - 17: THOUSAND OAKS, CA
Conejo Gem & Mineral Club April 23 - 24: ESCONDIDO, CA
Palomar Gem & Mineral Club April 23 - 24: PASO ROBLES, CA
Santa Lucia Rock Hounds May 7 - 8: ANAHEIM, CA
Searchers Gem & Mineral Society
May 7 - 8: JACKSON, CA
Amador County Gem & Mineral Society
May 13 - 15: YUCAIPA, CA
Yucaipa Valley Gem & Mineral Society
Rockonteur Santa Lucia RockHounds February 2016
Board Meeting January 2016
Meeting was called to order by Pres. Mike Judy with the flag salute.
Member present were: Mike Judy, Joyce Baird, Brett Weathersbee, John McCabe
Alice Rodriguez, Doren Strane, David Nelson, Mike Doherty and Denise Halopoff.
Guest present was Alvaro Rodriguez.
Correspondence included information on the Ventura Show.
Reports:
President: Mike welcomed new board members.
Treasurer: It was reported that the bank account balance still includes the money from the sale of the property.
V.P Programs: Asked about how the General Meeting would run with the show and tell. It was explained that people would just go up
and show their stuff.
V.P. Education: John requested a vote on making the scholarship $1000. Brett moved and Joyce seconded. Vote passed. John also
announced that he needs mineral specimens.
Sr. Director: David asked about pens, but they had not been dispersed yet. There was a motion to purchase 100 pins for $77. Moved
by Joyce and seconded by Alice.
President: Mike announced a possible club outing to ByBy's place possible in Feb.
Also the reason that the account is high is due to issue with CD. Non-Profits fall under business corp, so need to continue search for
CD.
Past President: It was announced by Mike that the Past President resigned last December. It was discussed whether to open to other
past presidents to come on board. Mike was to present it at the General meeting.
CMFS/INS: Mike announced that this position also resigned in December.
Hospitality: Cathy Macintosh will be taking over.
Newsletter: Mike will continue until someone takes over
Drawing: Mike and Denise will be doing the drawing table
Show chair: Layout back to the Estrella building.
General Meeting January 2016
Meeting called to order by president, Mike Haludy, with the flag salute.
Eva Rodriguez was the sunshine kid.
Reminder that renewal dues are due. If you paid for a new Club Member from July 2015, you will receive a $10 credit to this
year's dues. See Brett or Christine for membership renewal/questions.
Jr. Rockhounds: John welcomed a new member, Chris Murphy. Amanda and Karen earned their Lapidary Arts Award; Amanda,
Karen, Chris, Faith, Hezekiah, Ashlyn and Makala earned their Earth & Space badges. Ashlyn and Makala also qualified to
become official rockhounds!
Buttons for 2015 board members were handed out to Beverly Brown, John McCabe, Brett Weathersbee, Rachel Denny, Rachel
Miller, David Nelson and Doren Strane. New board members were welcomed: VP of Programs, Joyce Baird; VP of Education,
John McCabe, VP of communications, Brett Weathersbee, Secretary, Alice Rodriguez, Treasurer, Doren Strane.
Rockonteur Santa Lucia RockHounds February 2016
**Must Read**
CFMS Position Statement on The New Southern California National Monuments
In light of recent developments the California Federation of Mineralogical Societies has decided to refrain from sponsoring, leading or
participating in any collecting fieldtrips into the stated below regions of Southern California until the final Management Plans are
finalized, published and become effective. Collecting of Rocks, Minerals and Fossils in the Southern California Deserts and National
Forests was delivered a catastrophic disappointment this year with the creating of four new National Monuments by Executive
Order. In 2015 the San Gabriel National Monument was created and closed several collecting areas which now lie within its
boundaries. On February 12, 2016 President Obama created three new National Monuments in the deserts of Southern California. The
Mojave Trails National Monument, the Sand to Snow National Monument and the Castle Mountains National Monuments all were
created by Executive Orders. Within these monuments lies some of the best Rockhound and collecting areas in California and
to list just a few: The Cady Mountains, Lavic Siding, Afton Canyon, Oro Belle and Big Chief Mines and many abandoned
mines in the Southeastern San Bernardino Mountains with mine shafts, prospecting pits, and tailing piles of interest to
Rockhounds. The following is quoted from the Presidential Proclamation of the Mojave Trails National Monument.
(It is included in each of the Presidential Proclamations.)
"All Federal lands and interests in lands within the boundaries of the monument are hereby appropriated and withdrawn from all forms
of entry, location, selection, sale, or other disposition under the public land laws, from location, entry, and patent under the mining laws,
and from disposition under all laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing, other than by exchange that furthers the protective
purposes of the monument or disposal for the limited purpose of providing materials for repairing or maintaining roads and bridges
within the monument consistent with care and management of the objects identified above."
"For purposes of the care and management ... the Secretary, through the BLM, shall within 3 years of the date of this proclamation
prepare and maintain a management plan for the monument and shall provide for maximum public involvement in the development of
that plan including, but not limited to, consultation with tribal, State, and local governments."
"Warning is hereby given to all unauthorized persons not to appropriate, injure, destroy, or remove any feature of the monument and
not to locate or settle upon any of the lands thereof."
Again, In light of these developments the California Federation of Mineralogical Societies has decided to refrain from sponsoring,
leading or participating in any collecting field-trips into these regions of Southern California until the final Management Plans are
finalized, published and become effective. More information will be distributed as it becomes available.
Below are hyperlinks to the Presidential Proclamations
Presidential Proclamation -- Establishment of 3 National Monuments in Southern
California - February 12, 2016
Mojave Trails National Monument - The Cady Mountains, The Marble Mountain Fossil Bed, Bristol Mountains, Piute Valley
and Cadiz Valley, Ship Mountains, Little Piute Mountains, and Sacramento Mountains, Afton Canyon, Lavic Siding, Chuckwalla
Spring, Hummingbird Spring, Barrel Spring, Fenner Spring, Cadiz Dunes, Amboy Crater, Pisgah Volcano lava flow are all
inside the monument.
Sand to Snow National Monument
Castle Mountains National Monument
San Gabriel National Monument in 2015
Thank you for your support and understanding on this important issue.
John Martin – President
California Federation of Mineralogical Societies
February 15, 2016
Rockonteur Santa Lucia RockHounds February 2016
Santa Lucia RockHounds
P.O. Box 1672
Paso Robles, CA 93447
Address Correction Requested