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SEPT. 2009
The CHATBOX is a monthly publication of the
MINERAL AREA GEM &
MINERAL SOCIETY (MAGMS)
The purpose of our club is to develop interest in
and increase knowledge of the earth sciences, minerals, rocks, fossils, and the
lapidary arts, and to bring about a closer association of persons sharing these
interests.
We shall achieve our purpose through regular planned open meetings, programs, publications, committees, monthly field trips, and special projects of assistance to the community.
We meet the second THURSDAY of each month at 7:00 PM at the Park Hills Senior Center, 224 W. Main St., Park Hills, Missouri. Visitors are always welcome
Annual dues are $18.00 per family or $12.00 per individual.
***** 2009 Elected Officers*****
PRESIDENT VICE-PRESIDENT SECRETARY: TREASURER:
Betty Marler Allys Bell, (Acting) Jack Sale
5084 Flat River Rd no.10 Club Street 1148 Rue Angeline
Farmington,MO63640 Park Hills,MO.63601 Bonne Terre,MO 63628
(573)431-2951 (573)518-1306 (573)562-7004
***2009
Committee Chairpersons***
BOARD MEMBERS: Field Trip Coordinator: Mark & Boneta Hensley
Jack Sale Hospitality: Betty Marler
Mark Hensley Refreshments: Allys
Bell & as shown in CHATBOX each month
Allys Bell Annual Rock Swap: Lloyd Marler (chair) & Mark and Boneta Hensley
Club Display Case:
Publicity: Joey Henry
Representative: Allys Bell, Art Hebrank
Annual Picnic: Ruth Mosier
CHATBOX
Editor: Robert W. Carroll
Midwest
Federation Representative:
St.
Louis Federation Representative: Ruth Mosier
Christmas
Party: Betty White
Science Committee: Art Hebrank
Submit articles for publication to the Editor, Robert W. Carroll 573-431-2148 E-Mail = bcarroll@charter.net, by the 20th of the month. Material may be reprinted provided credit is given to the CHATBOX. Publication of articles in the CHATBOX does not constitute endorsement by MAGMS or certify the accuracy of the material. Opinions expressed in articles and editorials are not necessarily representative of the opinions of the membership or the MAGMS.
Next meeting will be
at Park Hills Senior Center,
224 W. Main St., Park Hills, Missouri
Thursday September 10 7:00 PM
REFRESHMENTS: Boneta Hensley & Krystal Wilkinson
PROGRAM: Art Hebrank
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The program
at the September meeting will be presented by Art Hebrank --
Identification and Discussion of Missouri Rocks, Minerals, Fossils and
Ores.
Members are asked
to bring specimens to the meeting for identification and discussion - - - preferably Missouri specimens.
EVERYONE SHOULD
BRING SEVERAL SPECIMENS:
- Unknowns - - - to be identified and discussed.
- Specimens you can identify - - - but would like to know more
about.
- Just something real neat - - - that others might like to see
and know about.
Attach your name
and any information you have (especially locality) with the specimen.
This program is
an experiment - - - we'll see how it goes.
Of course, if no one brings specimens, it will be a short and useless
program. If everyone brings good
specimens – and Art knows what they are! – it might turn out to be fun and
interesting.
The success of this program is largely dependant on your participation - - - it can only be as good as the specimens you bring! So - - - - bring some good stuff!!
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Presidents Message:
Our next meeting is September 10. Our club picnic is September 13 at Hawn State Park. Let us all bring some rocks for a tailgate rock swap. Earth science kits will be ready to deliver before September. First, thanks to Alice who has did all the work putting things together.
The Science Kits were delivered 8-25,26-2009 by Allys Bell
and Betty Marler.
Your president Betty Marler
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Annual picnic
which will be on Sunday, September 13, 2009 at Hawn State Park. Come as
early as you wish. We will eat at 1:00 P.M. The club will furnish
the meat, bread, drinks, cups, plates and eating utensils. Bring a
covered dish, desert, etc.
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Minutes of MAGMS Meeting of August 13, 2009
The monthly meeting
was called to order on August 13, 2009 at 7:00 P.M. by President Betty
Marler. There were 21 members present and no visitors. The
door prize was won by D. Jennings, a nice piece of Barite/Calcite from New
Mexico.
The minutes and treasurers report were approved as printed in the CHATBOX.
Betty reported that several of our members are having health problems and we all wish them better health in the future.
Art reported on the Science Kits for the schools. He is having trouble finding a few specimens that he wants to use. It was voted on and approved to make this years Science Kits the same as in the past giving Art more time. This way Art won't be rushed to come up with the specimens he needs and the sets that Art is putting together will be given in September of 1010. Allys will order the items for the kits for September of 2009. Betty reported that our bylaws states that the Science Kits must be given to the schools in September.
Jack Sale reported that the expenses will be posted in the CHATBOX starting next month.
Art and Ruthie
reported that they had attended the Greater St. Louis Association meeting.
Ruthie reported that things are going well for the MAGMS annual picnic which will be on Sunday, September 13, 2009 at Hawn State Park. Come as early as you wish. We will eat at 1:00 P.M. The club will furnish the meat, bread, drinks, cups, plates and eating utensils. Bring a covered dish, desert, etc. Tail gateing is requested. We will play Bingo so bring your white elephants for this. Ruthie has more games lined up for us.
Discussion was made about our MAGMS Christmas Party for this year. Ryans was mentioned and also having the meal catered to our meeting place. More about this later.
August field trip was to the Rock Show at Bridgeton and then to the Chain of Rocks Bridge and the Mississippi River gravel bar to hunt for rocks, etc.
The Mozarkite Society at Lincoln, Missouri will have their Rock Swap and Mozarkite rock hunt on September 18, 19 and 20.
We did not have a program for the month of August because of the Ice Cream Social.
The next MAGMS Meeting will be on September 10, 2009 at 7:00 P.M. at the Senior Center in Park Hills, Missouri.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:04 P.M. by President Betty Marler. Everyone enjoyed all the different kinds of ice cream, pie and fixings. Much visiting was enjoyed as well.
Carnelia Lueddecke, Acting Secretary
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Treasurer’s report
Description of transaction Payment Deposit Balance
7/1 $5546.03
7/7 Jack Sale, State Registration $10.00 $5536.03
7/10 Club Gift, Dylan Reese $50.00 $5486.03
7/14 Pre payment, Swap 2010 $35.00 $5521.03
7/31 $5521.03
Jack Sale Treasurer
Thoughts-Prayers
Helen Warren
Mabel Reed
Carnelia
Lueddecke
Marvin Lueddecke
Jean Carroll
Marvin Twiner
Helen Warren
Bill & Glenda Crites
Jerry Henry
If you would like to send a card or letter to any of these, you may get the
address from Betty Marler at 573-431-2951 or Robert Carroll at 573-431-2148.
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Lloyd
Marler 09-06 
Bonita
Hensley 09-10
Jack Sale 09-25
|
Birth Month
September
|
Modern
Birthstones Sapphire |
Traditional
Birthstones Sapphire |
Mystical
Birthstones Agate |
Ayurvedic
Birthstones Moonstone |
Other Birthstones Lapis Lazuli, Chrysolite |
Chrysolite
Peridot (pronounced peridow), a transparent green
gemstone popular since antiquity, presents a problem in nomenclature. In
America it goes by the name of chrisolite, but 'chrysolithos' meant a 'golden
stone' to the ancients who used the term to describe what we now call yellow
topaz; 'topazios', contrarily, referred to peridot. European mineralogists call
the stone 'olivine' but this term (like chrysolite) includes both gem and
non-gem qualities; more over, it has been wrongly used demantoid garnet.
Peridot is a member of an isomorphus series of minerals, halfway between a
magnesium silicate, forsterite, and and iron silicate, fayalite. It therefore
contains both iron and magnesium in proportions that vary a little from stone
to stone. Since iron also gives the gem its idiochromatic color, the depth of
this color differs between specimens , but is nearly always green. Khaki and
brownish stones occur as rarities but are noe particularly attractive. Stones
of lustrous brown and yellow shades, until 1951 taken to be peridots, were
identified in that year as belonging to a new and completely different mineral
species, sinhalie.
All peridots have a strong bire fringence which gives them a peculiar oily
lustre and is an important clue in their identification. Stones of the best
quality usually have a hardness nearer 6 than 7 and such stones should
therefore not be exposed to hard wear. Peridot doesn't fluoresce but displays a
distinctive absorption spectrum.
Peridot
forms at very high temperatures both in igneous and metamorphic rocks; it is
therefore found in a variety of environments. Crystals up to the size of pea
have been found embedded in meteorites. It is the only gemstone so far reported
to have been found in Antarctica.
The most famous source of gem material, probably mined since the days of
ancient Egypt and Rome, is the island of Zeberged (ST John's) of the coast of
Egypt in the Red Sea. This may well be the island mentioned by Pliny as the
source of the green 'topazios', famous in antiquity and one of the stones of
the Jewish High Priest's breast-plate.
Peridot of good quality came from there until the mines were closed down in
1914. Stones of even better quality come from the Mogok district in upper
Burma, though the output is restricted at present because of bandit troubles.
As may be inferred from the name, peridots are found in the diamondiferous
periodotite pipes in South Africa, but these tend to be small. Gem-quality
stones are mined in Minas Gerais, Brasil, while paler stones are found in
Norway and darker stones in the gem gravels of Ceylon. Peridot is also found in
Queensland, Australia and Arizona.
Peridot is not particularly brilliant and the most appropriate cuts for it are
the step cut or the scissors cut. It is set in necklaces, broches,
earrings and other jewels and looks charming
surrounded by small amethysts, rubies or garnets. It has been widely used in
regalia and reliquaries, where it often masquerades as emerald. Famous
treasures in which peridots are incorporated are on display at the Cathedral of
Cologne in Germany and in the Armoury of the Kremlin, Moscow. Imitations exist
in glass doublets, synthetic spinel and synthetic corundum but these rarely
attain the right color and never the strong birefringence so characteristic of
peridot.
Peridot forms at very high temperatures both in igneous and metamorphic rocks;
it is therefore found in a variety of environments. Crystals up to the size of
pea have been found embedded in meteorites. It is the only gemstone so far
reported to have been found in Antarctica.
The most famous source of gem material, probably mined since the days of
ancient Egypt and Rome, is the island of Zeberged (ST John's) of the coast of
Egypt in the Red Sea. This may well be the island mentioned by Pliny as the
source of the green 'topazios', famous in antiquity and one of the stones of
the Jewish High Priest's breast-plate.
Peridot of good quality came from there until the mines were closed down in
1914. Stones of even better quality come from the Mogok district in upper
Burma, though the output is restricted at present because of bandit troubles.
As may be inferred from the name, peridots are found in the diamondiferous
periodotite pipes in South Africa, but these tend to be small. Gem-quality
stones are mined in Minas Gerais, Brasil, while paler stones are found in
Norway and darker stones in the gem gravels of Ceylon. Peridot is also found in
Queensland, Australia and Arisona.
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MAGMS Field Trips….
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Cedar Valley Rocks &
Mineral Society
ROCK & MINERAL AUCTION
September 26 ---27 2009
Amana, Iowa
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August 15th, 2009
Field Trip
We
scheduled a last minute trip to the Bridgeton Rock & Mineral Show in St.
Louis and a trip to the gravel bar at Chain Of Rocks Bridge Access Area at the
last club meeting on August 13th. We counted 6 members present at the show! It
was a great show with good buys to be found! There were really neat show exhibits.
Especially, from Mastodon State Historic Site and the Washington University
Collection. There were working exhibits such as a sphere making machine in
progress! There was also a nice fluorescent room set up to explore! Are own
club member Art Hebrank brought a nice exhibit from the Missouri State Mines
Museum to show the public! We then departed the Rock Show for a quick lunch and
trip to the gravel bar at the Chain Of Rocks Bridge Access Area. There we all
spread out and found nice agates, petrified wood, crinoid fossils, jasper,
quartz and one arrowhead to name a few! We all had a lot of fun and enjoyed the
day! September there will not be a field trip due to our annual MAGMS Picnic!
Everyone come and enjoy the picnic! More Information at next club meeting on
field trips in October and November! See Ya!
Thank you,
Mark & Boneta Hensley, MAGMS Field Trip Coordinators
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Pictures by Boneta Hensley
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Two Little Boys
After
a hardy rainstorm filled all the potholes in the streets and alleys, a young
mother watched her two little boys playing in the puddles through her kitchen
window. The older of the two, a five
year old lad, grabbed his sibling by the back of his head and shoved his face
into the water hole.
As
the boy recovered and stood laughing and dripping, the mother ran to the yard
in a panic. "Why on earth did you
do that to your little brother?!" she asked as she shook the older boy in
anger. "We were just playing
'church' mommy,"he said.
"I was just baptizing him.....in
the name of the Father, the Son and in...the hole-he-goes."
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A new supermarket opened in Plano, TX. It has an automatic water mister to keep the produce fresh. Just before it goes on, you hear the sound of distant thunder and the smell of fresh rain. When you pass the milk cases, you hear cows mooing and you experience the scent of fresh mown hay. In the meat department there is the aroma of charcoal grilled steaks with onions. When you approach the egg case, you hear hens cluck and cackle, and the air is filled with the pleasing aroma of bacon and eggs frying. The bread department features the tantalizing smell of fresh baked bread and cookies.
We don't buy toilet paper there any more.
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Customer: My
keyboard is not working anymore.
Tech support: Are you sure it's
plugged into the computer?
Customer: No. I can't get behind the
computer.
Tech support: Pick up your keyboard
and walk 10 paces back.
Customer: ! OK
Tech support: Did the keyboard come
with you?
Customer: Yes
Tech support: That means the
keyboard is not plugged in. Is there another keyboard?
Customer: Yes, there's another one
here. Ah...that one does work...
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God Bless America