From the Editor…

August 2003

TAR HEEL TAILINGS

From the Editor…

Hello all. I hope everyone has been waterproofing his or her rowboats for this rainy season. At least it beats a drought!
I am very pleased that new club members have volunteered to bring refreshments for the remainder of the year. We also have programs lined up for the rest of 2003.
Be sure to read the special articles this month from club members.
We have a special surprise for those of you who selected to receive the newsletter via email. The email edition will be sent beginning this month courtesy of Glenn. Thank you, Glenn
This month’s presentation will be by John Hiller, master faceter from Greensboro. John has many years of experience and much to teach.

Complete list of Refreshment Volunteers

August – Olivia Ruizamora
September – C & C Hummel

October – Dianne Rowlings

November – Christmas Dinner

AUGUST FIELD TRIP

CALL SHIRLEY TO COMFIRM THE FIELD TRIP IS A GO!!!

SHARED TRIP WITH GREENSBORO CLUB
When – August 23, Saturday 8:00AM – 12 noon
Where – Martin Marietta Woodleaf Quarry
Minerals – the zeolites – prehnite, laumontite, apophyllite, chabazite, stilbite along with calcite and

have been found in previous visits

Tools – hardhat, hard boots, NO SNEAKERS, hammer, pick, chisel, wrapping material, bucket,

flats, snacks, water, bug spray, sun protection

Miscellaneous – age 8 and up, bathrooms available in office

Directions – Catch Hwy 64 West, when Hwy 64 crosses US 52, continue on 64 about 10 miles to the junction of Hwy 801. Turn left (South) on 801 and go about 12.5 miles to Woodleaf. You will go thru Cooleemee and cross the Yadkin River before getting to the town of Woodleaf. Once in Woodleaf, you will pass a trailer park, and Cool Springs Rd. The next road is only about 30 yards away at a convenience store. Turn right and go about 700 yards. The entrance to the quarry will be on the right. Meet at the office.

JULY FIELD TRIP SUMMARY – MASON MOUNTAIN

By Vicki Corporon

We had such a good time at Mason Mountain! We weren't as lucky as Lee's son, who found a fabulous specimen of emerald that might weigh 4 carats, and he found it in the roadbed. Taking his lead and coming off the hill to scour the road region, all of us found beautiful mica and kyanite specimens and Shirley found a nice topaz and very clear ruby. Our rhodolite garnet haul made nicer yard rocks than gems worthy of faceting, but we even found some isolated garnets too ... an easier treasure than those tightly embedded in bedrock that would have to be "blammed" free with the sledge hammer they kindly provided us.

Similarly enjoyable was visiting the gem shows along Hwy 441 Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. Joe and I stocked up on slabs for cabochons, gem rough to facet, and memories of interesting new friends and the lay of the land for subsequent trips to Franklin. One couple offered to sell us their entire collection ... they were ready to retire. We weren't interested, but we certainly did appreciate their 30 years' investment in stone selection and silver work.

Cathy and Graham Cawthorne visited Franklin's wholesale show three days in a row, filling up their trunk. This week she will be at attending a weeklong course in jewelry making, and the following weekend they'll set up at the Sugar Creek Gem and Mineral Show as vendors.

Regrettably Glenn's illness kept his family from coming. We had planned to get to know them better since we, too, booked our stay at the Ramada Inn in Dillard. That accommodation was quite pleasant, with pool, pond for fishing outside, a terrific view off the balcony, a fridge in room, and attractive furnishings.

On our return to Raleigh, the first thing I did after hauling all the luggage inside was scrub off our rocks and delight in the sparkling treasures. Yeehaw! Our first collection of rhodolite garnets, with a few kyanite, mica, and quartz specimens in the bin as well. These rocks might not have a high dollar value, but they represented the gleanings from another fascinating Tar Heel Gem and Mineral excursion. This time the field trip enabled Joe and me to learn more about North Carolina gem mining, and about lapidary and faceting spin-offs. Everywhere we went, we encountered kindred folk that just love to see what nature offered for them to play with ... and they gladly provided materials and know-how to join them in the fun.
Wish you had been there too!


JULY MINUTES

Gary McCutchen gave a demonstration on silversmithing. Some club members had a hands on demonstration using the torch.

First time visitors were introduced.
Karen Branch won the drawing.
Corinne Hummel gave a treasurers report.
Joann Lail can get the Rock & Gem magazine for $19.95 for a one-year subscription. Six dollars of each subscription sold to club members will be refunded to the club
Chris Ennis, Secretary


AUGUST BIRTHDAYS
Arnold & Julia Angel

Herb Biber

Walter Brandenburg

Stephen Challener

George Corkum

Robert & Joanne Dubrock

Teresa Filarsky

James Waggoner

GEM & MINERAL SHOWS

Aug 29-Sept 1	Hendersonville, NC Gem & Mineral Society
Sept 5-7	Winston-Salem, NC 32^nd Forsyth Club Show
Sept 12-14	Asheville, NC 5^th annual “Treasures of the Earth”
Sept 13	Rock Swap @ Greensboro 3^rd annual ***
Sept 19-21	Greensboro, NC “Frank Cox Productions”
Oct 3-5	Gastonia, NC 25^th annual Gaston County Club Show
Oct 17-19	Franklin, NC “14^th annual Leaf Lookers Gemboree”

***Contact editor for details and directions. I will be attending as a vendor. This is a very enjoyable event.

SCHTICKS AND STONES
By Marian Susann

A vaudeville term, schtick is a performer’s unique and repetitive action that eventually becomes a trademark. A stone can be just as personal.


QUESTION: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE STONE?

Quartz. I like their crystalline shape and they pop up when you least expect them. - TOM BAPPLE

Emerald and aquamarine. It’s my birthstone. I also like sapphires. I also like to find North Carolina stones.

- LESLIE BOOKER

Lapis Lazuli. The blue has got a depth of color, that’s a dark blue. I got my first 19 years ago I do believe from the Middle East. It’s one of the three stones sacred to the ancient Egyptians. - JOANNE DUBROCK

Lake Superior agate. As children we lived on Lake Superior and we’d search for Lake Superior agates. It’s a

childhood memory. I make brooches and beading from them. - BETTY FETVEDT

Blue sapphire. It’s so pretty. Beautiful stone. - JAY SMITH

Tourmaline. I like clear colors-green and pink. I also like watermelon tourmaline. - MIRIAM HENSON

Emerald. It’s my birthstone. It’s green, it’s lovely. And I’m going to find the big one, like that guy did, and never work again! - SHIRLEY GREEN

TIPS & HINTS
Double the life of your diamond saw blade by keeping the oil clean and keeping the feed on low. Adding 1/2 cup of liquid detergent to the oil acts as a coagulant and holds the grit to the bottom in a tight ribbon.

Water stained bottles and glass can be cleaned by soaking in a Sani-Flush solution.

A paste of baking soda and water removes bug spatters on your car without injuring the finish.

Clean and polish gold mountings with denture cream.

Here’s a quick, safe way to remove a cabochon that gets stuck in the bezel of a finding when grinding for a perfect fit. Don’t start picking and prying–take it to the kitchen, and have a towel or washcloth handy. Put a cup or two of water into a small pan and bring to a boil. Take a pair of needle nose pliers or tweezers and dip the offender in the hot water for one or two minutes. Remove and tap it gently with a pencil over the towel. It should drop out free and unharmed. The trick is very simple. The metal of the finding will expand more quickly than the stone, so the stone drops out.

Via Hound’s Howl

I purchased a beautiful Brazilian agate that was glued to a bola slide. When I asked the dealer how I could remove the agate, so I could display rather than wear it, he replied that he glued it with epoxy, and it was on to stay. Later I happened to ask another dealer if he knew of a way I could remove the agate. He said they do it all the time. Just put it in the freezer over night. The next morning use a knife with a thin blade and gently push the blade under the edge of the fastener. The tie slide will just pop off. I followed his instructions, and sure enough, it popped right off. I cleaned the remaining glue with nail polish remover, the dealer’s second suggestion if the freezer method didn’t work.

By Rita O’Neal from The Post Rock

Excerpts from Carolina Chats
By Carl Goerch Not copyrighted, help yourself

From local newspapers, through the years…

1804

Severe punishment – William Martin, convicted of perjury, was condemned to stand for two hours in the pillory, have both ears cut off, and pay a fine of 40 shillings. (Must not have been many liars – ed)

Much interest is being manifested throughout the state in the continued discovery of gold in Cabarrus County. Although no such large lump as that which was found last year has been discovered. During the past several months, considerable gold has been found and it is believed that operations from now on will be more extensive.
1805

There are 120 students at the University of North Carolina, despite the inclemency of the weather (it is February), which has made traveling exceedingly difficult. This is the largest number that has entered in some years. More are expected when the weather moderates.

A dispute has arisen between Georgia and North Carolina relative to the boundary line between the two states. This will hold up running of the line.
A hurricane swept through the countryside between Granville Court and Raleigh, doing great damage. Large trees were uprooted and houses were laid to the ground. Crops have been completely devasted in certain areas.
1807

Our state is greatly aroused over the possibility of war

with England. The President has ordered that militia be organized in the counties and this is now being done with great enthusiasm.
1808

The long existing boundary dispute with South Carolina is finally and amicably settled.

1809

Our people continue to be stirred over reports concerning the highhanded action of the British government in connection with shipping on the high seas. It now appears as though efforts for an amicable settlement are hopeless.

Couple fined for digging on National Forest Land
  An unnamed husband and wife, were cited and required to pay a $200 fine for digging large holes near an old amethyst mine in the Charlie's Creek area in towns County (GA). The old mine was abandoned years ago, yet people still continue to dig in the backfill looking for gems. "Chattahoochee-Oconee Law Enforcement Officer Stuart Delugach said, "The damage done by this digging is consistent with what would be done with a backhoe on a construction site. People digging for these minerals have little to no payoff for a tremendous amount of work." Delugach went on to say that the man said he had been coming to the old mine since he was a kid and didn't know he was doing anything wrong.

Delugach said that from an environmental perspective, officers are noticing evidence of erosion caused by digging. The eroded soil damages plant life and ends up in streams causing the buildup of sediment that can harm aquatic species.

"Restoration of these damaged sites is extremely expensive due to the remote nature of the place where the digging occurs," said Tallulah District Ranger Dave Jensen. "It is difficult to get equipment into some of these places to rehabilitate and repair the damage.

Forest Service employees ask visitors to remember to leave no trace when visiting the national forest. By leaving plants, animals and resources in the forest, they will be available for other visitors to enjoy. Individuals caught removing resources from national forest land can be arrested and receive a misdemeanor charge of up to $5,000 and or six months in jail.
Hiawassee, Georgia, Towns County Herald, August 7, 2003

This is the second or third set of rockhounds to be fined at the Charlie's Creek amethyst mine dumps in the last three months!  This particular amethyst mine was abandoned over 70 years ago and has been a favorite collecting location for rockhounds and Georgia mineral clubs ever since.  The Weinman Mineral Museum, located in Cartersville, GA, has a spectacular display of Charlie's Creek amethyst specimens and is probably a good reason why so many mineral collectors try to visit this area.  (To find little success, I might add!)  This old mine is in a rather remote location and consists of several small (less than 1/4 acre) tree covered dumps that are a good distance up the mountain from the creek. 

This like so many old abandoned mines in the National Forest have been dug by mineral collectors for so many years that the landscape begins to look like the surface of the moon.  We need to help the Forest Service manage these sites!  These old mineral locations have, in reality, become historic rockhounding areas and need to be protected and set-aside by the Forest Service specifically for mineral and fossil collecting. 
SFMS Gem and Mineral Societies need to start thinking about creating a dialogue with their local District Ranger office in an attempt to adopt important historic mines in your local National Forest and to help the Forest Service develop and manage them!  A cooperative approach to this situation in our National Forests is what we need to strive for.    In North Carolina, a number of interested mineral collectors and local rock clubs are currently working with the local district Forest Service to have the old Ray mine designated and set aside as a "historic rockhounding area".   "Corundum knob" on Chunky Gal Mountain in Western North Carolina is an example of a special "rockhounding area" designated by the Forest Service.   The chunky Gal corundum location is only a few miles from the Charlie's Creek amethyst mine but both are located in different Ranger Districts. 

From my observations, it seems to me that each Ranger district chooses which of the National Forest Service regulations and policies to enforce and which ones not to enforce.  This inconsistent enforcement has caused a lot of confusion among the rockhounding community.  Each district Ranger office may even have additional published policies that they follow separate from the Ranger District next door.  Until we can get the Forest Service to establish and designate special mineral and fossil collecting areas within the National Forest that are operated under a single set of guidelines, we will have to visit each individual Ranger District to determine what the local policies are for collecting in their particular jurisdiction.
Before selecting a site, rockhounds should check with the LOCAL District Ranger offices to determine the following:

• 
  The location is on National Forest land.
  
• 
  Rock hounding is permitted in the area.
  
• 
  The mineral rights are not privately owned.
  

Attached you will find two recent articles published in The Georgia Mineral Society's newsletter, "Tips and Trips", on collecting in the National Forest in the Southeast.  Rockhounding, Mineral Collecting, and Our National Forests ("unofficial" advice and observation for the mineral enthusiast looking at National Forest lands...) by: John Nichols, Forest Geologist, Ouachita National Forest
[ http://www.fs.fed.us/oonf/minerals/rockhound.htm ]
“Forest Service Manual Title 2800 – Minerals and Geology (Amendment 2800-96-3)”,  Chapter 2860 – Forest Service Authorized Prospecting and Mineral Collecting
The full text can be found at www.amfed.org/sfms/fsm-2800.html
Jim Flora
SFMS Field Trip Committee Chair