BOARD MINUTES

September 15th, 2008

Officer Present: Ernie, Karen, Jim, Jeff, Gary, Ed and Karin

Ernie asked if Board wanted to move meeting to another evening and was decided to leave on same night as General Meeting.

SHOW: Gary was given mockup flyer, other points: case workshop, raffle donation list, Karen Carson would like postal cards to send to her customers, Karin notified Rock & Gem, CFMS and Rocks and Minerals magazine re show date, advertising in the Herald, Coast Weekly, Californian, Advisor and do we want a new show name? Decided to leave Parade of Gems.

CHRISTMAS PARTY: Will check with Ken O. re time of day on 12/7, evening requested.

PROGRAM idea: Ron Long, Carmel Club to speak on his dinosaur trips.

FIELD TRIPS: Boron 10/18 & 19, Holbrook , AZ - Walt Wright seminar 10/2-7.

WORKSHOP: Cabochon 9/20 Beck’s Ranch, 1 pm - will have 5 machines.

Ernie wants the Board to teach classes and signup sheet passed.

Membership cards arrived.

Via grape vine Ernie heard CFMS has hired an attorney to look into the Clear Creek closing.     

GENERAL MINUTES

September 15th, 2008

Officers as above + Peter

Gail won drawing. No guests.

TREASURER’S: Peter gave accounting from August - income from dues, silent auction ($283)  and expenses $66 hall rental. Bills - miscellaneous

CHRISTMAS PARTY: Ken will arrange for hours of 5 pm to 9 pm.

FEDERATION: Ed and Eileen attended the CFMS show in Ventura. Dues for both CFMS and AFMS are each expected to increase by 25¢ per member in 2009.  Santa Clara Club will host the annual CFMS show April 17 - 19 at the Fairgrounds and the club will hold their annual show at the same time. Big Show ! Riverside’s Orange Belt Club will host the 2010 CFMS show. Federation will host a workshop in near future “How to File a Mining Claim”. In November will be the fall meeting in Visalia and club insurance will be a topic.

ALAA was discussed in Ventura as a club we are recommend to join, Ed did find that more individuals are members rather than club representation.

Earth Science programs will have date changes: Camp Paradise will move to May 15-22 and for only one week and the Zzyyx will be held November 17 - 23,  2009. The university has scheduling that preempts the Federation.  There is a $50 increase in each camps’ fee. Camp Paradise application forms are on the CFMS website, ready to download.

Rock and Gem magazine will give the club an annual $6. rebate for each subscription either new or renewal. Forms will be at next meeting.

Ed’s pliers are missing from the chain workshop. Please check your stash.

California Mineral and Mining Museum’s free admission cards will be at next meeting.

We have recently lost 2 long time members: Louise McIntosh and Eva Deaver.

SHOW: March 14 & 15, 2009 - Raffle prizes offered by Jeff, Karin, Eileen, Ken and Karen, Ernie and we have Norma’s wirewrap, salt crystal, tumbler and sphere, will ask Julia and we need a cathedral. (I may have missed somebody). How many signs left?

Ernie was contacted by PBS regarding the club’s 1954 show dedicated to James A. Kraft, a serious rockhound and well know business man. He passed call on to Bert McIntosh who was president that year. Bob Brun’s mother was an officer that year.

Gary reminded everyone of Saturdays, 9/20, workshop. We can work on the intertribal items also.

Jimmy was AWOL and Ernie took over the program. Ed and Eileen had show and tell from Camp Paradise. Nice work guys! Gail, Karin, Jim and Marilyn and Kathee Wynn also attended this years camp. Adjourned 8pm  Submitted by Karin S.

The following article was lifted from the Santa Clara Club’s Breccia Newsletter 9/08, written by Ed &  Eileen Ferner and Larry & Winnie Moore

QUARTZSITE AND MOHAVE 2008

"IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY JANUARY

MORNING" as we left the SF Bay area. We had been expedited out, several days earlier than planned, by the endless series of rain storms pelting the area. We were headed for the annual QIA POW WOW at Quartzsite ---but equally important to check out collecting areas on the way to, and then around, Quartzsite.

We had hopes of being joined, later, by other

members of the SCVM&G club. We met up in Bakersfield [Ferners & Moores] and proceeded to Krammer Corners---arriving there about mid-day with clear skies, light winds and 65 degree

weather. We quickly found a remote spot to

stash our RVs and dug out our sketchy directions to the several Agate beds-- reputed to be located just SE of the intersection of Hwy's 395/58. We not so quickly found the primary bed, and the old "Kay Kee" claim, after sorting out missing landmarks [ cut down telephone

poles] and the many crossing roads. Both sites

were rife with Agate of much better quality, and more color, than was expected. Some of the material contained inclusions and flowers. Float existed over several acres and most varied from golf ball to softball size. Even better, and larger, material can be found with easy digging---sizable veins are reputed to exist-- but they avoided our short search. We selected several pounds of material for cutting and tumbling. A third site was near-by but the material there was small

[We dubbed it Pebble Beach]. Our guide info indicated a 4th site existed some 6 miles south, off 395, but we were unable to locate it.

At noon the second day we headed to the

North Edwards Travertine Onyx site--just off Clay Mine Road. We quickly located the site and immediately found veins of red, white, green, and yellow banded Travertine. It required gad and sledge hammer work to remove--while standing on your nose, at the bottom previously-dug four foot deep cuts.  One needs to be very selective as to colors and hardness ------but excellent material is there. We left one large piece there, about 1 1/2 ft in diameter, for the next visitor --in that it did not meet our hardness standards. We did take some 30#'s each of very, very pretty Travertine --in order to make a few cabs,

display pieces, and a sphere. The next morning was travel time--we headed for AVI and the Clouds Rock Show. One day was spent grading/stowing our material and spending modest amounts of money.

The next AM we proceeded to the Parker area

and set up camp. The first site visited was the Purple Agate site just west of Earp/Parker---it was a site visited previously ---when we were lacking adequate tools [gads, hammers] to collect the most desirable materials. After a short hike we spent the full morning banging out soccer ball sized material. It contained both reds and purples that will work up very, very well.

It is a site that well warrants future returns. That afternoon we headed north on Ca. HWY 95 to the Havasu Lake Rd. and then east towards the Colorado River--- again to collect Agate, Jasper and Pastilite. A complete hill of Antique White Agate [with red and blue inclusions] exists right next to where you park.

In addition, several ridges/acres of materials,

of various grades and type, were found within a half mile radius. One needs some experience with this site in order to select the best materials. We collected enough to be "better educated" about what to select on future visits. A second site is reputed to be about 3 miles further down the road [with some geodes] but the rapidly-lowering sun cut off our day.

The next morning we headed to the Planet

Mine--located NE of Parker. The area has shafts, washes, and pits spread over a mile radius---and all contain abundant Hematite and Copper materials --of all sizes. If you are a mineral addict, and well schooled in their identification, it’s a collectors dream ----most of

what we got is likely yard rock [but pretty]. Down the Swansee Road, about 2 miles, is another mine site containing highly colorful Botryoidal Hematite/Copper specimens. We have collected there in the past but skipped it this time. The trip to the Planet Mine is worthwhile, even if you are not a rockhound, just for the raw scenic beauty.

We picked up stakes the next AM and proceeded

to Plomosa Road--just north of Quartzsite. We

would be joining members of the YOTMC --and we also hoped some of our local club members to show. There are at least four collecting areas that we know of, just off Plomosa Road, between HWY 95 and Bouse. The first, located right at the pass, is a long wash with abundant seams of green-banded Rhyolite- --it is hard and works well. As with most Rhyolite, you need to select the better color combinations and the very hardest. We have been there in the past, but

skipped it this time.

The second site, some 5 miles further down

the road, consists of a 1/4 mile long outcrop of what

locals call "Bacon Rock" Travertine. Pieces can be

hammered out, with bands of red, blue, and other colors,

of about any size you have the energy to remove.

We collected enough for spheres.

The third site, located about 3 miles before

Bouse, consists of two long ridges of lapidary grade Hematite. Bubbled specimens are especially prized forjewelry. On the SW side of these ridges, colorful Jasper can be found as float and in seams. The float is heavily

varnished, and edges must be chipped to identify it. Long seams are often found following heavy rains --according to locals. We found none --but did get interesting float.

The fourth site, at least that we found, is about 1 1/2 mile NE of "downtown" Bouse. The site again has colorful Agate/Jasper spread over a very large area. Large pieces were scarce, but the area has real promise--- we will return and try digging in the future. We collected

several pounds and will be a better judge as to

what to collect next time.

The YOTMC group typically has several field

trips planned--before the POW WOW--but not this year. We did take a one-day trip with some members out NW of Quartzsite on Moon Mountain Road ---past the Sunset Marble Mine and to the Dome Basin Mine --at the road end. We were in search of rumored Wood ---but we found none. We did find, however, lots of snowy

Quartz, Copper Materials, and Marble----and eight Desert Mountain Sheep. We did manage to collect specimens of each that was of interest to each of us---- except for the sheep!!!

We visited the hills, just short of the Marble

Mine, the next day--interesting Quartz specimens had been reported there. [on the Federation DVD] The area is indeed full of Quartz seams of various colors and size. If Quartz is your thing, it’s well worth a visit. We

briefly visited the sites just a few miles SW of Quartzsite, but collected little. Both have good carving material and also lots of minerals that may be of interest. [For more info, get the Federation DVD].

The Brenda area, out East of Quartzsite, also

offers some excellent Red Jaspers --we did not make it there this visit, but it’s always worthwhile and should be high on your "must visit" list. We spent the balance of our time at the various Rock Shows offered at Quartzsite

[Desert Gardens, POW WOW, etc.] They were enjoyable and managed to take a sizable amount of our money. The YOTMC also held their annual auction during the POW WOW week and it was an excellent event.

We would recommend most of the sites we visited to future Quartzsite visitors. You need to keep in mind that these areas have been collected for years, but there is still a lot there. The Roadrunner club hosts field trips during the POW WOW and the YOTMC typically the week before.

In January of 2009 the schedule for Quartzsite is as follows. The "Main Event" starts on January 4 and ends on January 31st. The QIA Pow Wow runs from January 21 through 25th. We are also members of the Ye Old Timers Mineral Club (YOTMC) who are 50 years of age or older. The YOTMC sets up a dry camp on Plomosa Road (north of town) and have an auction, breakfast, soup pot luck and field trips at that time. You can join ($10 ) while there and they camp together from January 20 through 25 (at a minimum). Eileen and I will most likely join in with them again this year. We may also do some rock collecting on the way down to Quartzsite (as we did last year), while at Quartzsite, and on the way back home. We will let you know our schedule when we get around to making one up. Regardless, if you are available, we would definitely recommend you plan to spend some time in Quartzsite next January and to bring your money and credit card with you as you are sure to find some good buys that you cannot resist!"

FORWARDED EMAILS

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