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NOV. 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.
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Next meeting will be
at Park Hills Senior Center,
224 W. Main St., Park Hills, Missouri
Thursday November 12 7:00 PM
REFRESHMENTS: Bill
Crites, Allys Bell, Betty Marler
PROGRAM: Bring
items for Sale, Christmas Gifts
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Presidents Message:
The November meeting has lots of important things taking
place. All four offices must be filled. The club bank books must be
audited. Christmas sale for club members, bring rocks and jewelry you
want to sell.
MAGMS Christmas
Party will be held on December 10, 2009 at 6:00 P.M. at Ryans in Farmington,
Missouri.
Your president Betty Marler
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Minutes of
MAGMS Meeting of October 8, 2009
The monthly meeting
was called to order at 7 PM by Betty Marler.
Numerous items was
discussed about Christmas party and positions to be filled.
Betty Marler
appointed nominating committee of Allys Bell, Bill Crites and Betty Marler.
Secretary
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Treasurer’s report
Date Transaction Debit Credit Balance
9/1/09 $3769.58
9/14
Picnic supplies Ruth Mosier $66.89 $3702.69
9/14
Mineral Card Sale $125.00 $3827.69
9/14
Picnic Auction $47.25 $3874.94
9/22
Membership in G.S.L.A.
$22.00 $3852.94
9/30/09 $3852.94
Jack
Sale Treasurer
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Thoughts-Prayers
Allys Bell
Helen Warren
Mabel Reed
Carnelia
Lueddecke
Marvin Lueddecke
Jean Carroll
Marvin Twiner
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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Tricia
Lueddecke 11-02 
Candace
Simpson 11-08
John
DeGonia 11-14
Trudy
Dalton 11-21
Robert
Carroll 11-25
Arlene
DeGonia 11-25
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|
Birth Month
NOVEMBER
|
Modern
Birthstones Yellow Topaz, Citrine |
Traditional
Birthstones Citrine |
Mystical
Birthstones Pearl |
Ayurvedic
Birthstones Topaz |
Other
Birthstones Diamond |
Citrine
Citrine is one of the most popular and affordable gemstones.
Named after the French word for lemon, "citron", most citrines are actually
more of a golden than lemon yellow. Citrine colors includes, yellow to gold to
orange brown and red shades of transparent quartz. In ancient times, citrine
was carried as a protection against snake venom and evil thoughts. Today
citrine is known as the merchant's stone and is associated with success
and prosperity.
Citrine colors
Natural citrines are mostly pale yellow to golden. Much of the citrine in the
market is heat-treated amethyst, which nearly always has a reddish tint.
Buying Citrine
Color
The chief determinants of value are color, clarity and luster. Natural citrine
is much preferred over the citrine produced by heat-treating amethyst.
Clarity
Since quartz is an abundant material, look out for transparent stones with
excellent clarity.
Cut
Citrines come in a wide range of calibrated shapes and sizes, and include both
faceted stones and cabochons. Portuguese cuts have become popular due to the
brilliance added by the extra facets.
Citrine location and deposits
The most important deposits of natural citrine are in Brazil. Other locations
include Argentina, Madagascar, Myanmar (Burma), Namibia Russia, Scotland and
Spain.
Common Citrine treatments
Natural citrine is untreated and will typically exhibit some color zoning. Many
of the citrine in the market have been produced by heat-treating amethyst. The
heat-treated stones will usually exhibit a reddish tint.
World-famous Citrine
None
Citrine gemology
Species: Quartz
Color: Light to dark yellow, gold-brown
Chemical composition: SiO, silicon dioxide
Crystal system: Hexagonal (trigonal), hexagonal prisms with pyramids
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale)
Specific gravity: 2.65
Refractive index: 1.544 - 1.553
Birefringence: +0.009
Optical character:
Color of streak: White
Absorption spectrum: Not diagnostic
Fluorescence: None
The Citrine zodiac, myth & legend
Citrine is often used as a birthstone of November along with topaz.
In Antiquity, as well as in the Middle Ages people believed that the cosmos is
reflected in gemstones. Citrine is assigned to planet Mercury. The esoteric
movement revived the ancient belief and the gem industry made it another
marketing tool to promote certain gems.
The healing powers of gems remain a controversial issue, but are mentioned for
centuries by healers, shamans and medicine men. Whether its factual or a
placebo effect doesn't matter, if it helps. The safest approach is to wear the
gemstone in skin contact to the troubled part of the body. Citrine is said to
be of help for backache.
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Good news for a change:
Mark And Boneta are proud Grandparents of our FIRST Beautiful
Grandchild Samantha Jo Hensley! Born on October 7th at 2:47 AM, weighs 7 Pounds
2 ounces and 19-1/4 inches long. Everyone is doing great!
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The Orlov
Diamond
by David
Dick,
Member of
the Chicago Rocks and Minerals Society
In 1759, Grigori
Grigohevich Orlov came to the attention of the heir to the Throne of Russia,
Grand Duke Peter, and his German-born wife, Catherine. Leading a riotous life
in Petersburg, Orlov soon became Catherine's lover. Peter couldn't have cared
less as he had a regiment of soldiers and a lover to play with to keep him out
of trouble. When Peter ascended the throne as Peter III, Orlov continued in his
favored position as lover to the Empress. In 1762, Orlov helped organize the
coup d'etat that dethroned Peter in favor of Catherine (known in history as Catherine
the Great). Peter was imprisoned and subsequently murdered (rumors said it was
ordered by Orlov). As a reward for his loyalty, Catherine made him a count,
adjutant general, director-general of engineers, and general-in-chief. His
entire family was showered with titles and gifts. Catherine's intention of
marrying Orlov was stopped by political considerations. The German-born
Catherine enjoyed remaining as Empress of all the Russias.
Meanwhile
Catherine's roving eye focused on a string of new lovers. Orlov was most
enraged and resentful of the intruders in Catherine's bedroom and the Imperial
"Pork Barrel." With
G.A Potemkin, Orlov felt his power slipping
away. Potemkin dazzled Catherine on her trip to the newly acquired Crimea. He
had built phony villages along her route filled with cheering peasants. When
she complained that a forest ruined the view from her bedroom on the visit,
Potemkin had it removed before she woke up the next morning. Orlov's complaints
annoyed Catherine. She felt she had paid him enough for his role that put her
on the throne. Orlov, although highly favored by Catherine, was losing ground
to Potemkin, who staged great festivals and shows. Orlov's new trump card was a
plan to give her a diamond worthy of her on the Empress' Saints Day. It was
embedded in a bouquet. The diamond came to be known as the Orlov diamond.
The history of the
Orlov diamond says it was stolen from the eye of a Hindu idol in Mysore, a
native state of Southern India. A French grenadier learned of an idol whose
eyes were two great diamonds. He planned the theft over a long period of time.
First, he deserted the army. He became a Hindu and obtained employment within
the temple, and in time he was admitted as a devout worshiper to the inner
shrine. A night of a great storm gave him the chance he had been looking for.
He pried one diamond loose and started to remove the other. Bolts of lightning
startled him. He heard noises and feared detection and death. He fled, scaled
the walls, swam the river, and escaped to Madras. He said nothing about the
diamond. Penniless, he got passage on an English ship, and confided his secret
to the captain who purchased the stone. The Frenchman went back to France to
live the life of a gentleman- the captain sold the stone for six times the
price he paid for it.
Passing from one
hand to another, the as yet unnamed diamond eventually reached Amsterdam. The
diamond's weight was 199.6 carats. It measured 7/8 of an inch high, 1¼ inches
wide, and 13/8 inches long. It was in the shape of half an egg. Catherine heard
about the stone and offered to buy it offering 104,166 pounds and an annuity of
over 100 pounds. She was refused. What she didn't know was that Orlov had
purchased the stone for 500 times what the Frenchman had received for it. On
Catherine's Saints Day, Orlov presented his bouquet. The Empress was enchanted.
She named the stone after Orlov and had it mounted on the top of the imperial
scepter's double eagle. There it remains to this day in the Kremlin's Diamond
Treasury. Orlov? The gift did not work. Potemkin remained Catherine's lover
until a younger man displaced him too. Orlov, enraged, left Russia in 1775. He
went to Switzerland, married his cousin, and upon her death in 1782, returned
to Russia. His mind deranged, completely insane, he died a year later. Is there
a lesson to be learned from the tale of the Orlov diamond? Perhaps! One
diamond, no matter how large or unique, doesn't buy an Empress or her bed.
- Form Pick and Dop Stick 4/99 via The Rock Collector, 3/02 May, 2002 The Shin-Skinner News Page 9
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Changing Smokey Quartz into Citrine
- by Mark
Liccini
SOME Smokey Quartz that
has been irradiated in Nature can be heated to make a Canary yellow Citrine.
SOME mines of clear
Quartz can be irradiated at 60 megarads Cobalt 60, which turns it into an
opaque or black Smokey Quartz, then heated to various colors of Citrine. The
one that goes Canary Yellow is what is
called Milk Quartz for the light silking, a
relative of Rose Quartz, which also goes that same bright yellow.
BUT not all Quartz will treat. Almost all will
go to Smokey Quartz on a low dosage of irradiation 0.5-1.5
megarads Cobalt 60. The heating step is 650
F., which is above the stated limit of these toaster ovens with glass door. But
if you leave the oven on for 2-3 hours, they rise up to that temperature. Since
the color change is often quick, you need to use an oven with a glass door,
preferably interior lighted, so you can see to remove the stones at the right
time. What it sounds like is you have a natural Smokey Quartz or one that as
been irradiated on low dosage to Smokey. If you heat it for a prolonged period,
it reverts to white.
The color, clear,
color progression you are thinking of is to heat brownish Amethyst to yellow or
orange Citrine. The progression is Amethyst, clear, then into Citrine, then
into clear again, if you overheat. This formula is 390C and typically done
commercially in a casting oven. This is sometimes done simply by burying the
Amethyst in sand out in the hot tropical sun. Another good way to do this kind
of heating with control of observation, is to place the stones in a test tube,
then heat it over a Bunsen burner, using a cotton ball as a stopper heat sink,
air retardant.
-
From Lapidary
Digest 3/00 via The Rock Collector, 2/02
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- By Ted
Rieth
HIGH
POINTS
If you were ever in the military or in the
Scouts, dig out your topographic maps...... Almost everyone knows that
Mt Everest is the highest elevation on this
planet at 29,028 ft (that's just a tad under 5.5 miles - straight up!).
Closer to home, here are some interesting high
points in the US:
North America's high point is Alaska's Mt
McKinley at 20,320 ft.
California's Mt Whitney, at 14,494 ft, is the
highest point in the 'lower 48'.
Pennsylvania's Mt Davis is our high spot at
3213 ft.
New York's Mt Marcy is the state's 'top' at
5344 ft and is also the tallest of the Adirondacks 46 peaks.
New Hampshire's Mt Washington (6288 ft) has
recorded the World's highest sustained winds of 231 mi/hr.
New Jersey's high point is named.......High
Point (1803 ft).
North Carolina's high point is NOT named High
Point; it's Mt Mitchell which, at 6684 ft, is the highest point east of the
Mississippi.
I thought Illinois was flat, but that 'record'
goes to Florida, which has the US's lowest high spot - the 345 ft Of the 50 high spots in the US, only six
states have peaks where climbers require technical mountaineering skills to
reach them - Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. Note that
five of them are conveniently packaged in the northwest.
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God Bless America