At our August 1 meeting…
The Prez says
WHAT IS A NATURALLY OCCURRING SUBSTANCE
THAT IS USUALLY SOLID AND INORGANIC AND
HAS A CRYSTAL STRUCTURE?
Greetings fellow rock hounds... I spent the
day working on my lawnmower. It stopped
running last week and I traced the problem
to fossilized gas in the carburetor. Not a bad
diagnosis for a self-avowed non-rock
hound. Lucky for me I was able to use some
fossil-dissolving magic potion that cleaned
up the carburetor and after a short reassembly process, I was able to mow the yard
without further problems.
ANSWER: MINERALS
Our August program will continue with Lecture 5:
“The Formation of Minerals” from the DVD, The Nature of Earth: An Introduction to Geology. (We are
skipping lectures 3 and 4 since they cover tectonic
plates; our speaker for April 2016 was Ted Schulenburg, who discussed tectonic
plates in his program).
At the last meeting we had problems with
the PA system again. I was approached by a
club member who suggested that the club
buy some sort of PA system or new microphones that would work every time they are
used. Research into this matter is ongoing... reports will
be made to the
membership.
I see no reason to have an
Executive Meeting this
time, so I'll see everyone at
the regular meeting.
Andy Anderson
On the DVD, Professor John J.
Renton will be giving us a really
informative lecture and I know
you won't want to miss it.
[As usual, we encourage members to
bring snacks to share].
See you there,
Karen Anderson
Fredericksburg Rockhounds News
August 2016
Page 1 of 8
Fredericksburg Rockhounds Minutes, July, 2016
President Andy Anderson started the meeting at 7:05 pm. Glenn Thompson sent a get well card around for
everyone to sign for Wadene Lyle. She had an accident in her home while cooking and was in recovery.
Karen Anderson then introduced the evening program on fossil fish in Kemmerer WY. Lee and Judy Adams
had brought a slide show on finding the fossils in ancient lake areas and also brought several pieces of rock
to break open looking for fossils. Only a few tiny ones appeared but it was fun for the members who helped
Lee break them.
There was no old news or new news brought up. It was a rather short meeting so everyone could head out to
their July4th festivities.
Treasury Report (May & June):
Expenses
$3111.42
Income
$15.00
Checking
$4734.40
CDs
$8047.30
Cash on Hand
$2.00
Total
$12,783.70
July Meeting Door Prizes, per Shelly Verstuyft
Item .........................................Donated by .............................Won by
Fish Fossil ...............................Lee Adams ...............................Ken DeVos
Trilobite....................................Lee Adams ...............................Judy Carswell
Texas Rocks/Fossils Map ........Ed & Judy Beauford .................Sue Burkhart
Amethyst .................................Ed & Judy Beauford .................Shelly Verstuyft
Petrified Arizona Wood............Sue Burkhart ............................Ed Beauford
Apache Tears ..........................Lynn Post .................................Chester Hohmann
Crystal Cluster .........................Tom Carswell ...........................Judy Lackey
Agate .......................................Keith King ................................Beth Brady
Agate .......................................Keith King ................................Dan Moreno
Petrified Fern ...........................Lynn Post .................................Keith King
There may be errors this month and if there are I truly apologize. If you would like a correction please send
it to me at icemansc73@gmail.com and I will correct in the next newsletter. Thank you!
—Shelly Verstuyft
Fredericksburg Rockhounds News
August 2016
Page 2 of 8
The Paria Mountains
18 miles from Kanab, Utah in Hwy
89. Paria Wilderness, Utah, USA.
These mountains are found beside a
dirt road that connects to Highway
89 just before the Paria River. Hwy
89 takes you from Kanab Utah to
Page Arizona. The side of the mountains have spectacular colors (better
than the Grand Canyon, Bryce, the
Painted Dessert, the slot canyons and
even White Pocket) due to their encrusted minerals like iron oxides,
manganese, cobalt and others that
geologists describe.
Visit Amazing Geologist for more.
—Gritty Greetings 7/16
Fredericksburg Rockhounds members in the news
A recent Hill Country Community Journal article featured
Wendell Smith and his lapidary
and jewelry making work along
with fascinating details of his
education and career at Los
Alamos. How he met Gayle and
later romanced her is included
in the story.
Also, Kerrville Daily times featured Bill Morgenstern and his
Fun Fossils and Cool Crystals
presentation at Riverside Nature
Center.
—Brenda Smith
Our prayers and hopes for a
speedy recovery are extended to
Lynn Post, who had knee
surgery on July 20th and is now
recuperating at home. Our best
wishes are also extended to his
wife, Lola, who has to put up
with him.
—Glenn Thompson
OUR SOCIAL COMMITTEE
We like to keep up to date on members who have had significant events
in their lives, such as earning a degree
or promotion, receiving an award, getting married, etc; or needing some kind
of assistance, or having a serious illness, injury or death in the family.
Fredericksburg Rockhounds News
If you know of an event for yourself or one of the other
members which you feel ought to be recognized in our
newsletter and at the next meeting, (and/or via special
email if it’s urgent), please contact Glenn Thompson. He
can be reached at 830-990-4521 (landline), 830-992-7443
(cellphone), uffda@beecreek.net, or U.S. mail at 7542
North State Highway 16, Fredericksburg, TX 78624.
August 2016
Page 3 of 8
The Horseshoe Crab:
The Living Fossil that Died in itsTracks
by Jim Brace-Thompson
A modern horseshoe crab
alongside a Jurassic ancestor
from the Solnhofen formation of
Germany shows just how little
these “living fossils” have
changed over the eons.
“Living Fossils” are plants or animals that remain
nearly unchanged from their ancestors. One example is the horseshoe crab. These so-called “crabs”
are more closely related to spiders and scorpions,
and they have a truly ancient ancestry that pops up
only sporadically in the fossil record. One reason we
don't find more of them is because their shells are
composed of chitin, which breaks down easily and
requires special conditions to be preserved as a fossil. But those fossils we do find are eerily similar to
today’s living species inhabiting shallow waters
along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the U.S. and
the coasts of Asia from Japan to India.
The oldest are in 445 million-year-old Ordovician
sediments from Manitoba, Canada. Compared to
today's horseshoe crabs, which can measure 20
inches from head to tail-tip, these were just 1.5
inches. More famous examples of fossilized horseFredericksburg Rockhounds News
shoe crabs have been found in 350-million-yearold-concretions of the Pennsylvanian Period from
Mazon Creek Illinois. Although again much smaller
than today's horseshoe crabs, they, too, are remarkably similar in anatomical details.
Perhaps most famous of all are the fossil horseshoe
crabs from Germany’s Solnhofen limestone dating
to the Jurassic Period. One of these was even preserved in a “death march.” It’s presumed to have
been washed into the toxic environment of a salty
lagoon, where it plodded along a muddy bottom,
leaving a trail of zig-zagging footprints before it
died and was covered with mud, to be uncovered—
along with its trail—155 million years later.
From Rock & Gem 8/16,
With Jim Brace-Thompson’s permission
August 2016
Page 4 of 8
King Tut’s meteorite dagger
After Howard Carter famously broke into the tomb
of the 14th-century BC Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamen in 1922, among the treasures he discovered was a beautiful dagger with a gold handle,
quartz pommel and iron blade. Archeologists have
long suspected that the blade was crafted from an
iron meteorite. Recently a group of researchers led
by Daniela Comelli of the Milano Polytechnic Institute decided to test that hypothesis by conducting chemical analyses of the blade. They found it
to be mostly iron with a nickel content of 10.8
weight percent and a cobalt content of 0.58 weight
percent (with a Ni/Co ratio of ~20, close enough to
the primitive chondritic ratio of ~21), accurately
determined through portable X-ray fluorescence
spectrometry. For comparison, a representative selection of 76 iron meteorites with a moderately
high Ni content (10-12 wt%) similar to that of Tutankhamen’s blade, has an average Co content of
0.57 weight percent. The blade composition most
closely matches that of the Kharga iron meteorite,
found in Egypt in 2000. Interestingly, a hieroglyphic phrase used to describe all types of iron in
the 13th century BC translates directly as “metal
from the sky,” anticipating Western understanding
of the origin of meteorites by more than 2000
years.
–Submitted by John Roup
Bench Tips
by Brad Smith
Get all 101 of Brad’s bench tips: “Bench Tips for Jewelry Making” and "Broom Casting for Creative Jewelry" are available on Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0988285800/)\
STRAIGHTENING WIRE
Have you ever pulled out some silver wire only to find that
it's all bent up? The easiest way I've found to straighten it
out is to stretch it a bit. Simply put one end in the vise and
grab the other end with a pair of serrated tip pliers. Then
pull just enough to feel the wire stretch like a rubber band.
This works best on smaller wire diameters, up to about 16
ga. Be careful if you are trying to pull hard on a thick wire.
Brace yourself in case the wire breaks or pulls out of the
pliers.
—Gritty Greetings 7/16
Fredericksburg Rockhounds News
August 2016
Page 5 of 8
Jul 29-Aug 1—ALBANY, OREGON: 2015 AFMS/NFMS meeting and WAMSI show—
Treasurers of the Northwest; Willamette Agate and Mineralogical Society; Linn County Fair and Expo
Building; 3700 Knox Butte Road; Fri. 10 am-6 pm, Sat. 10 am-6 pm, Sun. 10 am-4 pm; Admission is $4/
day or $10 for a 3 day pass, 12 and under free; AFMS meeting is July 28, 2016; contact Janice Van Cura,
(541) 753-2401; email: jvancura@peak.org; Web sites: www.wamsi.org and www.amfed.org/
Jul 30-31—FARMERS BRANCH, TX: Annual show; Cowtown Gem, Mineral, Glass, Jewelry & Art
Show, Brookhaven College Geotechnology Institute, Building H; 3939 Valley View Lane; Sat. 10-5, Sun.
10-5; Free Admission; contact Steve Shearin, 860 Stafford Station Dr. , Saginaw, TX 76131,
(817)-777-1997; e-mail: steve.l.shearin@lmco.com; Web site: cera-fw.org/gem-mineral-glass/
Aug 27-28—JASPER, TX: Annual show; Pine Country Gem & Mineral Society, The Event Center; 6258
Highway 190 West; Sat. 9-5, Sun. 10 -5; Adults/Seniors $3.00, Students/Children free; contact Jonetta
Nash, 737 FM 254 South, Jasper, TX 75951, (409)-384 3974; e-mail: jonetta.nash@yahoo.com; Web site:
www.pinecountry-gms.org
Sep 30 - Oct 12—SONORA, TX: Fall trip to 4M Ranch. The price is the same as in the Spring :$120.00
each with a 50% deposit. Make check payable to 4M Ranch and send to me (see below).
Price includes 3 days, 2 nights, 5 meals, and lots of fun: hiking, collecting cactus, and other things. An
instruction sheet will be sent out soon with details. We have 3 rooms for 4 people, and 10 rooms for couples. Don’t get left out—make your reservations NOW!
Claude H.Townsend, 5102 Village Green,. San Antonio TX 7821
210-655-8959, ctownsend@satx.rr.com
Oct 8-9—TEMPLE, TX: Annual show; Tri-City Gem and Mineral Society, Mayborn Convention Center;
3303 North 3rd Street; Sat. 9-6, Sun. 10-5; Admission $5, Children $2; contact Leslie Russell, 5 Fir
Court, Belton, TX 76513, (254)-493-7244; email: trinity4112@me.com website: www.tricitygemmineral.org [As of July 26, their website is still under re-construction].
Oct 21-23—AUSTIN, TX: Annual show; Austin Gem and Mineral Society, Palmer Events Center; 900 Barton Springs Rd; Fri. 9-6, Sat. 9-6, Sun. 10-5; Adults $8, Seniors $7, Children ages 13-18 $2 / 12 and under free; Friday is Youth Education Day w/field trips. contact Chip Burnette, 6719 Burnet Ln, Austin, TX
78757, (512)-458-9546; e-mail: showchairman@austingemandmineral.org; Web site: www.gemcapers.com
For more shows at later dates, or outside Texas, visit www.rockngem.com/
Fredericksburg Rockhounds News
August 2016
Page 6 of 8
Judy Carswell, Aug 1
Bonnie Dietrich, Aug 8
Thomas Mitchell, Aug 10
John Farmer, Aug 15
Mariah Chude, Aug 16
Tony Steele, Aug 16
John Roup, Aug 18
Donna Pelikan, Aug 20
Rena MacDonald, Aug 28
Sian Schilhab, Aug 28
The August birthstone is Peridot; the flower is Poppy or Gladiolus
If you’re among the 20± members who have been receiving paper copies of our
newsletters, but no emails providing a link to the online version, then we don’t
know your email address— and you’re missing a lot! The online version is in
color, and has live links to the websites and email addresses it mentions: just
click on the links and go directly to them.
Also, you’re missing important announcements, such as field trip updates,
event date changes, new training classes, and other late-arriving news which
can’t wait until the next newsletter.
If you have good internet access, PLEASE give us your email address. Our newsletter emails won’t clutter
or slow down your email software: they don’t have the newsletter attached, just a link to the online copy. If
you still need paper copies mailed to you, let us know when you send us your email address.
Bill & Cheryl Wildfong, wildfong@windstream.net
CLICK
leeapeman93@yahoo.com
Your hobby-related ad here:
$25 for 12 months
Mail a business card, with a check made out to
Fredericksburg Rockhounds, to the editors:
smithg@ktc.com
Fredericksburg Rockhounds News
August 2016
Bill & Cheryl Wildfong
342 W Water St
Kerrville TX 78028-4281
Page 7 of 8
Purpose of the Fredericksburg Rockhounds:
To share knowledge and appreciation of gems, minerals, fossils, and
other natural wonders, and the art of jewelry making. We do this
through educational monthly meetings, field trips, an annual gem,
mineral, & fossil show, and donations to schools. We’re affiliated with
the American Federation of Mineral Societies, and the South Central
Federation of Mineral Societies.
Membership and Meetings:
We meet at 7:00 P.M. on the first Monday of each month at the Golden Hub Senior Center, 1009 N Lincoln,
Fredericksburg, Texas (except in June, when we have our annual picnic). See map, below.
Annual dues are $3 for juniors (under 19 years), $8 for individuals, and $15 for families; due in January.
Newsletter correspondence and newsletter advertising: Bill & Cheryl Wildfong,
342 West Water St, Kerrville, TX 78028; phone: 830-896-8940, email: wildfong@windstream.net
All other correspondence: Fredericksburg Rockhounds, 110 N. Milam PMB 197, Fredericksburg TX 78624
Visit our website at fredericksburgrockhounds.org for more club info, field trip news, club photos,
and lots of interesting hobby-related website links.
CLUB OFFICERS for 2016:
President: Andy Anderson, 830-792-3560
1st Vice President: Tom Carswell, 830-792-2160
2nd Vice President: Karen Anderson, 830-792-3560
Past President: Frank Rowell, 325-247-1987
Treasurer: John Roup, 830-896-4955
Secretary: Shelly Verstuyft, 830-998-7350
COMMITTEE CHAIRS:
Programs: Karen Anderson, 830-792-3560
Field Trips: Patti Felts, 325-247-1987
and Sam Rodgers, 210-240-7721
Hospitality: Susan Olson, 830-997-8516
Social: Glenn Thompson, 830-990-4521
Membership: Brenda Smith, 830-895-9630
Historian: Sara Verstuyft, 830-998-7350
Media Equipment: John Crone, 830-669-2639
Annual Show: Jim Gedeon, 830-685-3342
Newsletter: Bill & Cheryl Wildfong (see above)
Newsletter Articles and Club Info
Articles for next month’s newsletter must be received by the 20th of this month.
Send them to Bill & Cheryl Wildfong at wildfong@windstream.net
A copy of the Club MEMBERSHIP LIST is available, TO MEMBERS ONLY, via email (or
paper mail if necessary). Contact Virginia Adian at v.adian@gvtc.com or 830-755-6105
The Club CONSTITUTION & BY-LAWS are posted on our website: fredericksburgrockhounds.org
USPS-mailed copies printed by COPIES & MORE, Kerrville, TX, copiesandmore.biz
Fredericksburg Rockhounds News
August 2016
Page 8 of 8