The Bitterroot Conglomerate
Newsletter of the Bitterroot Gem & Mineral Society
Vol. XXVI issue 3
Minutes of the Bitterroot Gem and Mineral Society February 10, 2007
The Bitterroot Gem & Mineral Society (BGMS) meeting began at 2:00 pm on Sat. 02/10/07 with 25 members present. The meeting was chaired by Don Tibbs, as our president Larry Jones was out of town. The first item on the agenda was a pledge to the flag of the United States of America. The
next item on the agenda was a program presented by Don Tibbs on cabochon cutting and polishing of Montana Agate, and other lapidary materials.
Don showed several cobbles of Montana Agate, and asked members how they would cut slabs for cabochon making. Some said cut off an end first, and others said cut through the middle of the agate. Don then suggested that the best way was to candle the agate (shine a bright light through it)
to look for dendritic or pleasing patterns. Don also said that since a lot of Montana Agate has an opaque rind, one might have to cut off an end to make a visual window into the agate in order to see the patterns and colors. One of Don’s favorite scenes in Montana Agate, that he once saw, was a cabochon showing a dendritic pattern that looked like a Christmas Tree. He said that these are quite rare and quite valuable.
After an agate slab is cut to ¼ inch thickness or less, Don demonstrated how a template could be used to mark an ellipse or other shape on the slab by drawing the outline on the slab with a sharpened aluminum rod. This cabochon shape is then cut out with a trim saw or with tile nippers. This produces a pre-form cabochon. The pre-form could also be cut or nipped to a free-form (a random shape). The next step is to attach the pre-form to the end of a metal, plastic, or wooden rod; which provides a handle to manipulate the cabochon as it is being sanded and polished. Don uses nails for small cabochons, pencil size dowels for medium cabs, and pieces of broomstick for some large cabochons. After cleaning the pre-form with acetone, the pre-form is attached to the rod with superglue, epoxy, or dopping-wax. The dopping-wax is melted or softened with an alcohol lamp directly or by placing the lamp under a vented overturned coffee can, with a small can on the coffee can holding the melted wax. The heated coffee can is also used to warm the pre-form, when using dopping wax. After the cabochon is finished, it can be released from the superglue or dop wax by placing it in a freezer for an hour or longer. With epoxy, it can be released by soaking it in acetone for an hour or longer. Don also showed a mechanical cabochon gripper used to hold pre-forms.
Don demonstrated that pre-forms could be sanded manually with sanding blocks and wet emery cloth, if one had lots of free time; or by electrical powered lapidary machines with diamond impregnated wheels. Sanding is done with at least three different grits, such as: 200, 400, and 800 grit (as was done in our amber polishing class). The cabochon is usually sanded to a domed top; but can also be shaped with a flat top, or contoured to a natural surface for opal or fire-agate. The sides of the cabochon are sloped to enable a bezel or prongs on a metal setting to grip the stone. After sanding, polishing is done on a 50000 grit impregnated wheel or cloth; or on a leather or muslin wheel coated with a metal oxide paste. The metal oxide paste is made by mixing a small amount of water with tin oxide, cerium oxide, or aluminum oxide (Linde “A”) powder.
Don Tibbs’s program was finished about 3:00 pm, and was given a big hand of appreciation. Don then called for a 20 minute break for refreshment before the business meeting. Myra Peltier and Betty Hodge furnished the refreshments.
The first item in the business meeting was a call for a show of hands of those planning on going to the Spokane Show on March 10. The count of those showing hands, plus those previously signed, up comes up to 17. Our treasurer, Betty Hodge, said that she would take the $25.00/person bus fare at this meeting or on the bus on March 10. Betty said that people could board the bus at 8:00 at Lolo, east of the highway 12 and 93 intersection, or at 9:00 in Missoula at the K-Mart parking lot at the intersection of Reserve and Brooks.
The second business item was Don’s reading of the 2007 chart listing planned field trips and special events, which was prepared by Field Trip Chairman, Wayne Farley. Wayne said that he would update and submit this chart to Ralph Luther for inclusion in the next newsletter.
Margaret Sharp reported on the BGMS Gem & Mineral Show, which will take place on April 28 and 29 at the Senior Center in Hamilton, MT at 820 N 4th St. (intersection of 4^th St and Adirondack Ave.). Margaret said that she still needs more dealers, advertisers, show help, rocks & minerals for the silent auction, and door prizes. Ads for the show flyer are $25.00 for business size and $75.00 for a half page. The person selling the most ads will win a $50 gift certificate for items at the show. Those who buy ads will be later sent two tickets for the show and a thank you note. Tickets are $2.00 per person, and free to children under 10 years of age when accompanied by an adult. Steve Vieth will collect items for the silent auction. You can take them to Steve’s place at 309 Bailey in Hamilton, or call Steve at 363-2632 and he will pick them up. We need at least 180 lots for the silent auction. Mildred Soll brought in two items for the door prizes, a brass belt buckle with a Owyhee Jasper stone, and a sterling silver broach with a green Mount St Helens faceted volcanic-glass stone. Show cases at the show will not be formally judged, but will be judged by attendees at the show by dropping the best case number in a box. The case receiving the highest count will be judged the best case. Margaret said that she has sent our show dates to Rock & Gems and the NFMS for posting, and observed that they have been posted. She also plans on putting our show news on radio and TV. Also Margaret has a lot of flyers that she wants members to post at business here in Hamilton and other nearby towns. Margaret will take our show flyers to the Spokane show, and will see if she can pick up one or two more dealers from the Spokane Show to come to our show.
Don Tibbs asked for a volunteer to take over as BGMS historian, and Pat Tibbs said that she would take the position.
Don also asked for a volunteer for Program Chairman and did not get any takers. Steve Vieth, our 2006 Program Chairman, said he would continue through the next meeting, but that was it. Don Tibbs volunteered to give the next Program on Tuesday, March 27. Don said that he would talk to Jo Farley about taking over as Program Chairman.
The subject came up about using the church TV and VCR for giving programs, as there is a new pastor at the church. Ralph Luther, an attendee of the church, said that he would check with the new pastor.
The Door Prize was won by Nola Edgar, furnished by Ralph Luther. The prize was a magnifier with two articulating arms and a clamp on each arm. Per the rules of the game, Nola will furnish the next Door Prize for the March 27 meeting.
The 50-50 drawing took in $32.00, and half that amount ($16.00) was won by Carol Woodrum. The Treasurer’s Report made by Betty Hodge.
By Wayne Farley – Secretary
End of Minutes
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Article VII. Code of Ethics
The code of ethics for the conduct of field trips presented by the American
Federation of Mineralogical Societies, as indicated below, shall be adopted by the BGMS;
with the addition proviso, that in the interest of safety, no person shall carry a
firearm on any field trip without the expressed consent of the field trip leader
AFMS Code of Ethics
* I will respect both private and public property and will do no collecting on privately owned land without the
owner’s permission.
* I will keep informed on all laws, regulations of rules governing collecting on public lands and observe them.
* I will to the best of my ability, ascertain the boundary lines of property on which I plan to collect.
* I will use no firearms or blasting materials in collecting areas.
* I will cause no willful damage to property of any kind - fences, signs, buildings.
* I will leave all gates as found.
* I will build fires in designated or safe places only and will be certain they are completely extinguished before
leaving the area.
* I will discard no burning material - matches, cigarettes, etc.
* I will fill all excavations holes which may be dangerous to livestock.
* I will not contaminate wells, creeks, or other water supply.
* I will cause no willful damage to collecting material and will take home only what I can reasonably use.
* I will practice conservation and undertake to utilize fully and well the materials I have collected and will
recycle my surplus for the pleasure and benefit of others.
* I will support the rockhound project H.E.L.P. (Help Eliminate Litter Please) and will leave all collecting areas
devoid of litter, regardless of how found.
* I will cooperate with field trip leaders and those in designated authority in all collecting areas.
* I will report to my Club or Federation officers, Bureau of Land Management or other authorities, any deposit
of petrified wood or other materials on public lands which should be protected for the enjoyment of future
generations for public education and scientific purposes.
* I will appreciate and protect our heritage of natural resources.
* I will observe the Golden Rule, will use Good Outdoor Manners and will at all times conduct myself in a manner
which will add to the stature and Public Image of rockhounds everywhere.
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BGMS 2007 FIELD TRIPS & SPECIAL EVENTS 02/24/07 |
Mar. 10
Sat
|
241 mi Bus Trip to Spokane, WA with Missoula Hellgate Club to attent Spokane 48th Annual Show “Rocks & Minerals of the Northwest” |
Bob Riggs
Hellgate Club
406-543-3667 |
Apr 14-15
Sat-Sun |
Helena, MT: 58th Annual Show; Helena Mineral Society; Helena Civic Center, corner of Neill and Park Ave, Sat. 9-6, Sun. 10-5 |
Gary Parisi, (406) 442-1226; e-mail: gjparisi72@yahoo.com. |
Apr. 24
Tues |
BGMS Potluck & Auction: Corvallis Community Church CE Building behind Church 6:30 to 9:00 PM |
Jo Farley
406-961-0080 |
Apl 28-29
Sat-Sun |
BGMS Show, Hamilton Senior Center, 400 S. 4th St.; Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5 |
Margaret Sharp, (406) 363-1590; e-mail: sharp_margaret@msn.com. |
Apl 28-29
Sat-Sun |
234 mi to Billings, MT Gem & Mineral Show, Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5 |
Tom Stacheff |
May 5
Sat |
Field Trip with Hellgate Club to Deer Creek, 5 miles E. of Missoula - Selenite Roses (fluorescent tan with shortwave UV light), Meet at East Gate Shopping Center in Missoula at 10:00 AM |
Mick Mees
Hellgate Club
406-258-5294 |
May 12-13
Sat-Sun |
Bozeman 48th Annual Show; Bozeman Gem & Mineral Club; Gallatin Co. Fair Grounds, Black St. and Tamarack St.; Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-4, MT Council Spring Meeting |
Dan Carter, (406) 763-5034, or Doug Ellis, (406) 266-4452; e-mail: opalcrusher@hotmail.com. |
May 12 |
Open for a field trip |
|
May 19-20
Sat-Sun |
Field Trip to BGMS Blue Grouse Claim, 110 mi to 10 miles S. of Salmon, Idaho. Blue or white common opal, fire opal (if you are lucky), and chalcedony-agate (fluorescent green opal & agate with shortwave UV light. |
Ralph Luther
406-961-3663
lazya@luther.myrf.net |
May 26 |
Open for a field trip |
|
June 2 |
Open for a field trip |
|
June 9-10
Sat & Sun |
Challis, Idaho to collect agate and jasper at Lime Creek and Spar Canyon. Fluorescent-green agate at Spar Canyon. |
Wayne Farley
408-375-1341
wfarley@far.myrf.net |
June 16 |
Open for a field trip. |
|
June 23 |
Open for a field trip |
|
June 30 - July 1
Sat & Sun |
Montana Council State Fossil/Mineral Hunt
Sat. - Field Trip to Snowbird Mine, 70 mi to Lolo Pass. Collect Parasite (Ce), Quarts Crystals, Scapolite, Rutile, Annabergite, Fluorite. Meet at Lolo Hot Springs at 9:00 am, Collect 12 to 4 PM.
Sun. - Collect Fossils east of Missula |
Bob Riggs
Hellgate Club
406-543-3667 |
July 7 |
Open for a field trip. |
|
July 14 |
Open for a field trip. |
|
July 21-22
Sat-Sun |
Kalispell MT State Gem & Mineral Show
MT Council Summer Meeting |
Dana Anderson |
July 23
Mon |
Will try to get Kalispell Club to lead a field trip in their area associated with State Show. |
Wayne Farley
406-375-1341
wfarley@far.myrf.net |
July 28 |
Open for a field trip. |
|
Aug 3-5
Fri-Sun |
NWFM Show, Butte 67 Annual show, "Richest Hill on Earth"; Butte Mineral & Gem Club; Civic Center, 1340 Harrison Ave. (I-90, Harrison Ave. exit, turn north); Fri. 10-5, Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-5 |
Pete Knudsen,
(406) 723-8524 |
Aug. 6-11 |
NFMS Field Trips from Dicky Bridge Capground
Includes: Calvert Hill, Crystal Park, Black Pine Mine, Lemhi Pass, Hi 274 Pass E. of Anaconda. |
Tim Hoff
406-782-6077 |
Aug. 18 |
Open for a field trip. |
|
Aug. 25 |
Open for a field trip. |
|
Sept. 1 |
Open for a field trip. |
|
Sept. 8-9
Sat-Sun |
Missoula Gem & Mineral Show
MT Council Fall Meeting |
Bob Riggs
Hellgate Club
406-543-3667 |
Sept. 15
Sat |
80 miles, 2 hours, to Henderson Creek Rd, South of Hall, North of Philipsburg, Collect Dendritic Jasper and Agate
Meet at Skalkaho-Y at 8:00 am |
Wayne G. Farley
406-375-1341
wfarley@far.myrf.net |
Sept. 22 |
Open for a field trip. |
|
Oct. |
All month Open for field trips. |
|
Dec. 15
Sat. |
Christmas Party: Potluck & Auction
Corvallis Community Church, 2nd and Church Streets
CE Build. behind church. 1:00 to 4:00 pm |
Jo Farley
406-961-0080 |
Anyone that would like to plan and lead a field trip on any of the open dates please call Wayne Farley to set it up and have it announced to the group and also put on the web-site for all to see.
Presidents Column
Hi, everybody. Sorry I had to miss the last meeting but we had our vacation planned for over a year. We went to San Diego to see my great granddaughters, and wouldn't you know they gave us this terrible flu.
On our way back home we went over to Quartzite, Arizona. We missed the January rush but there were still so many vendors selling their wares we couldn't see them all in two days. We shopped till we dropped. I
have to admit I was very conservative with my purchasing. I still have to learn more. Some other vendors were a little high.
A couple of little blips. We didn't see Ralph & Penny or Jo & Don. The temperature was in the high 70's to 80's. Then when you come back home you freeze. We stayed in the little town of Brenda, about 14 miles outside of Quartzite. It was called Gold Rush RV Park and it was great. Every evening they had entertainment for $5.00 per person and it was great.
Now that we are back we have to change gears and get ready for our Gem and Mineral Show.
Larry
Editors Notes
If you have a special place you would like to go to on a field trip please let Wayne know as he is making up the field trip list at this time.
Our Club has been reduced in number because some have not renewed their membership for 2007. We expect some of them will miss us so much that they will come back soon.
The President, Larry Jones, is calling a number of members to find out how many are willing to accept a position as a committee chairperson and/or a committee member. Another meeting of the Executive Committee is planned to continue going over the Club’s By-Laws and look at correcting or revising them as necessary. If you have any input please let Larry or Wayne know at the next meeting or by phone.
How many of you have checked out the Club web-site at http://bitterrootgms.org which will be upgraded by Michael Wilder to include other items such as Club By-laws after they are revised, links to other useful sites and our proposed outings for this year if these are things you as Club members want. I can see many possibilities for the site. I’m quite sure that we could also be included in other sites which might give us exposure to people looking for a Rock Club in this area. What suggestions do you have? Michael is looking for some guidance from the membership so please write down what you want on the web-site and give it to Michael or to Ralph Luther. In addition to your suggestions please write down any web links you would like to have included in a links page on the web-site.
For Sale.An ore car from a mine in Nevada, In good shape. $500.00. Contact Posey at 961-4116
Wanted. A Faceting Machine. Please contact Mildred at 363-5224 or Cathy at 777-2598
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A fool and his money are soon elected.
Will Rogers
America is becoming so educated that ignorance will be a novelty. I will belong to the select few.
Will Rogers
BITTERROOT GEM & MINERAL SOCIETY is a member of the Montana State Council, Northwest Federation and American Federation. We support State and Federation projects and goals. We are guided by the AFMS code of ethics:
I will respect private property. No rockhounding without permission.
I will use no firearms or blasting material in rockhounding areas.
I will take all garbage home, or dispose of it in proper receptacles.
I will leave gates as found.
I will cause no willful damage to materials or take more than I can use.
I will build fires in designated or safe places only.
I will not contaminate wells, creeks or other water supplies.
I will appreciate and protect our heritage or natural resources and wildlife. I will always use good outdoor manners.
SAVE USED POSTAGE STAMPS FOR CANCER RESEARCH!
GIVE A HOOT - DON"T POLLUTE! KEEP MONTANA GREEN
