SANTA LUCIA ROCKHOUNDS

ROCKONTEURJune 2014

Vol. 24 #6

--SPECIAL EDITION--

Hi, Folks! This is a special JAMES KING APPRECIATION EDITION of the Rockonteur. Our newsletterpublisher, James King, was injured in an automobile accident on May 30. We are hoping for his full recovery,but until he is able to resume his Publisher’s duties, we are going Back-to-Basics with an edition that shouldcover the information you need to know, with maybe a little fun as well, but will also serve as a reminder thatJames puts out an especially fine newsletter and we really appreciate him! We all wish you a speedy recovery,James! And thanks to Lisa King and Denise Halopoff for assisting with the newsletter under tryingcircumstances. Additional thanks to our special contributors, Jim Mills (Geology Geek) and new member NancyBodily! — Barbara Bilyeu, Past President

REFRESHMENTS

If your last name begins with E through J, please bring refreshments to share at the Junemeeting.

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

Dear Fellow Rockhounds

We've had a wonderful month of May here on the central California Coast. First was our SuperGem Show on the 3rd. and 4th. What a club. Members helping members etc. etc. As I said at ourgeneral meeting, we are doing great as a club. Everyone wants to know what our secret is?? I thinkjust being friendly and helpful to all our members makes for a well-rounded club. Field trips, show-and-tell, demonstrations, Jr. Rockhounds, I could go on forever. Just a big thank you to each one ofyou who make up our great club.

Our field trip to Walt's ranch went well. Lots of rocks collected and there are still more out there. A whole mountain side full of nice geodes. There were only about 20 takers on the trip but everyonebrought home good specimens. Walt did say that he only wanted our club to be able to enjoy hisranch. And the reason is that we follow his instructions and do no damage to his land. We will bewelcome to come again and enjoy new finds (per my conversation with Walt at the parking area.) Nowwe need to find new land owners who would allow us to collect on their land. Do make contact andask. You never know when someone might say yes.

One of our members was in an accident this past week, (James King) Our Newsletter Publisher. So for the month of June, our newsletter will be slightly abbreviated. With the help of other members,we will do our best to get the news out. More information on James as soon as Lisa keeps us updated. For now James is in Stanford Hospital under going several operations. We will keep you posted.

PROGRAM FOR JUNE

GOLD is on the schedule for our June program at the Templeton Community Center (601 Main Streetin Templeton) on Monday, June 16 at 7:00 PM. Mike Judy, a member of the Central CoastProspectors as well as a member of the Santa Lucia Rockhounds (“Huzzah!”) will share his passionfor gold as well as information on gold collecting techniques. It is sure to be a lively and interestingprogram!

LIBRARY

In support of Mike’s program, Librarian Barbara Bilyeu will be bringing the following titles fromthe Club library for members interested in learning more about gold and mining. Remember,the Library catalog is available online at slrockhounds.org under the Members tab. (Username: rockgems; password: jade) You may request specific titles to be brought for youto a meeting.

Gold Information Center. Man and his gold. 1984.

Bond, Marshall, Jr. Gold hunter: the adventures of Marshall Bond. Univ. of New Mexico Press, 1969.

Gardner, Erle Stanley. Hunting lost mines by helicopter. Morrow, 1965.

Harris, Bruce W. Gold miner’s handbook. Keene Engineering Co.,1993.

Heylmun, Edgar B. Los Burros Placers, California. California Mining Journal, January 1989.

Morrison, Tom. Hardrock gold: a miner’s tale. University of Oklahoma, 1992.

Wagner, Jack R. Gold mines of California. Howell-North, 1970.

Black, Jack. Gold prospector’s handbook. Gem Guides, 1987.

Bryant, Tom. The modern goldseeker’s manual. Bedrock Supply, 1990.

Harder, Emmett. These canyons are full of ghosts: the last of the Death Valley prospectors. Real Adventure, 2001.

Klein, James. Where to find gold in the desert. Gem Guides, 1994.

Lagal, Roy. Modern electronic prospecting. Ram, 1988.

Osborn, H. S. The prospector’s field book and guide. Lost Technology Series, 1901,1987.

Snowman, A. Kenneth. Carl Faberge: goldsmith to the Imperial Court of Russia.

Greenwich House, 1979.

Miller, Ronald Dean. Mines of the Mojave. La Siesta Press, 1976.

Nadeau, Remi. Ghost towns and mining camps of California. Ward Ritchie Press, 1965.

Reinstedt, Randall A. Monterey ’ s mother lode . Ghost Town Publications, 1977.

SCHOLARSHIP AWARD!

Big congratulations to member Chris Driesbach, who will be presented at the Junemeeting with our scholarship of $1000 to assist in his education at the Northern ArizonaUniversity at Flagstaff, where he will be studying geology. Chris started as a juniormember of the club many years ago, and has been mentored by many club members aswell as others in the rockhound community. We are all very proud of him. Congratulations, Chris!

THANKS!

Thanks to David Nelson, Kincy Scott, and Gene Bilyeu for showing up early on a Saturdaymorning to mow and clean up our lot on Railroad Street. Unfortunately, there was some trashdumped on the lot, which required a trip to the dump...

Thanks to former members Alan and Estella McElwain for their donation of jewlery androcks to the club. Thanks as well to Ralph Bishop from Santa Maria for a large donation ofrock to our show auction!

Thanks to Walter Fitzhugh and Richard Smithen for making possible the recent field trip toWalter's ranch on Hwy 46W for some joyful collecting! They also arranged the weatherperfectly.

Thanks AGAIN to Kim Noyes and the Show Committee and everyone who pitched in to helpat our annual show! Plans are underway for next year's show and your input and participationare welcome.

Did you know?A look at earth science odds and ends by a geology geek (Jim Mills)

Following our fun-filled field trip to the White Knob Quarry for fluorescent rocks last fall, I’ve beenreading up on the subject of fluorescence and came across a term that was new to me and perhapsnew to the other field trippers who went on that trip (although perhaps not new to David Nelson, ourclub expert on fluorescence!). The term is TENEBRESCENCE and it is defined as a mineral thatchanges color and stays in that altered color after being bathed in fluorescent light. This is not to beconfused with phosfluorescense defined as a mineral that continues to glow with its fluorescent colorafter the blacklight is turned off - but that afterglow color disappears immediately when the regularroom lights are turned on again. When the room lights are turned on to tenebrescent minerals whichhave been bathed with a blacklight the fluorescent color does not go away; they stay the same as theywere when being bathed with ultraviolet light.

Perhaps one of the better examples of this rather rare phenomenon is the mineral hackmanite. Hereis a “before and after” photo of the mineral following its lighting under a blacklight:

So, what is going on here? It is important to rememberthe atomic interactions that cause the phenomenon offluorescence when explaining tenebrescence, so let’sreview:

Under ultraviolet radiation, a fluorescent mineralabsorbs energy delivered by photons of the ultraviolet

light. This excites certain atoms in the crystalline structure and temporarily changes them to a higherelectronic state. These atoms will then begin to emit light of a lower frequency until you stop thedelivery of photons (i.e. by turning off the black-light) at which time they immediately return to theirnormal, lower-energy – higher wavelength frequency condition.

In the case of phosfluorescence, it takes longer for the atoms to return to their normal state,sometimes a matter of seconds and sometimes a matter of minutes, so that the mineral seems to glowwith the fluorescent color for a short period after you turn off the blacklight. But, of course, the glowcontinues to fade until it is no longer visible at all (and, of course, if you turn on the room lights itdisappears immediately).

In the case of tenebrescence, the change in energy level of the atoms is somewhat permanent andthe atoms will continue to emit a lower frequency of light until they are bathed with a differentfrequency of light photons. So, for hackmanite, after bathing with ultraviolet light the color appears tobe red instead of white after you turn on the room lights, but the red will begin to fade back to white asthe mineral continues to be exposed to normal, visible spectrum light instead of ultraviolet light. If youtake the hackmanite out in to the bright sunshine, the color will begin to fade back to the original whitecolor due to the influence of the different frequency of light photons.

Most tenebrescent minerals are also fluorescent. Here are photos of hackmanite showing itsfluorescent color under a blacklight:

It is interesting that the colors offluorescence and tenebrescenceare dramatically different. Thereare other minerals that exhibit thephenomenon of tenebrescence;sodalite and some varieties oftugtupite are two examples.

The entire subject of changingmineral colors by using differentforms of energy is a really

fascinating one. It is possible to change color using heat -- think of those “red” Brazilian agates thatstart out as gray but are turned permanently to carnelian color in the oven. Other minerals aresusceptible to color change with high energy radiation. Examples include spodumene (also calledkunzite by gemologists), quartz, topaz, beryl and tourmaline. The pre-World War I glass that hasturned purple from sunlight (often called “desert glass”) can also be colored purple by radiation. Soyou could take those old early 1900s jars out of Great Aunt Ethel’s basement and turn them intenseshades of purple in a short time with radiation rather than putting them on the roof for several years! Of course, we are all familiar with those eyeglasses which will darken in sunlight but lighten up whenindoors. But, they are made from plastic which is an organic compound and thus subject to totallydifferent molecular chemistry and physics than the inorganic compounds we call minerals.

If you are interested in reading more about these interesting phenomenon, there are goodexplanations of all of them on Wikipedia. There is also a wonderful summary in a website calledGemologyOnline.com written by Barbara Voltaire. The photos I have used in this column were foundon a blog by Paul Garland dated 2/23/06. There is plenty more to learn in these interesting webpages.

Just thought you would like to know!

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Mother Jade

By Nancy Bodily

More and more these days I embrace my alone time, and this was my Mother’sDay gift: Geoff in Florida for his cousin’s college graduation; Cass working atthe Cayucos Candy Counter for the day; dogs fed and happy; and me, topdown on the Z, music (of course), my long, hippie hair flowing free, headedout in search of elusive jade on the wild and powerful Big Sur coast.

This was a day made for driving, mid-morning blue sky dusted with clouds and out my windshield Highway 1!This the road of West Coast legend. A road at the whim of an age-old battle between water and land.

Curves, ocean, music, coffee, horsepower, jade.

My destination Willow Creek. Its craggy shoreline sidles up to Jade Cove where the savage go in search of greenstones the size of boulders, but I am neither savage nor interested in underwater excavation. I search the littlejewels from shore, these gifts from mother ocean who has rocked and held and shaped her ancient stones intoperfection, only to leave them for the picking for those of us willing to search.

Following the contours of the coast, I climb slowly up from the flats of SanSimeon where Hearst Castle stands as a reminder that while the rich mayenjoy a good view they have terrible taste in home décor.

Past the bellowing and ripe Sea Lions, past the hillside carpets of periwinklelupine and native grass I climb higher as the Monterey Pine and tighteningroad hasten the heart and steal my breath.

I have been to the Big Sur coast only twice, and found the experienceoverwhelming. At no point does the ocean seem as incomprehensiblymassive in its expanse, and yet the

lumbering North American land mass is doing its mighty best to pushback, and to be present at this point where these two energies collidewith such force is to be moved in strange and mysterious ways.

Henry Miller, who lived in Big Sur, said it best “...One feels exposed —not only to the elements, but to the sight of God.”

And this time I was going in alone, in a fierce, driving machine.

The BMW Z3M Roadster was made for driving Highway 1, and with afew bold moves around motor homes and gawking lovebirds, the Z and Ibecame one with road, curve and sky.

Willow Creek is one of the few places a road winds down to the sea, where I found the ocean in ferment, and afield of boulders on either side of the creek to welcome me.

I chose a direction, crossed the boulder field and rounded the point to amagnificent beach laden with possibilities. I spent hours on that beach,mindful of the tide. My hands in the earth and sea, sifting through stone wornof the ages, at times the ocean sounding like a jet fighter, and at times myconnection to the earth so strong I hardly noticed the sound. And oceanpolished jewels of agate, quartz, serpentine and jasper winked and whisperedto my sensibilities.

Did I find jade? Not until Mike and his dog Cocoa, came by in that friendly,surf warrior way, asking if I’d had any luck. He and a few otherbeachcombers shared the beach with me, though they didn’t stay for long. I

laughed and explained that I didn’t know if I’d found what I was looking for because I wasn’t sure what I waslooking for. He said he had only found one small piece and he dug it out of his pocket, and then held it up to thesun to show its translucence. And then in a sweet Mother’s Day offering, he gave me that little piece of jade andwished me luck.

Jade. Once you’ve found it, you know what you are looking for. At once translucent and cloudy, it offers a deep,dull hue, rich and smooth to the touch. On a beach filled with history, it is elusive, and requires one slow down,take in the mighty ocean, the sun, and filter the earth through your hands.

SANTA LUCIA ROCKHOUNDS

BOARD MEETING MinutesMay 12, 2014

Attending: Richard Smithen, Laurie Wylie, Mary Caparone, John McCabe, David Nelson, Barbara Bilyeu, Gene Bilyeu,Lisa King, Mike Doherty, Denise Halopoff, Vince Pellerin, Mike Judy, Kincy Scott, Tom Wylie, Dale Conrad.

MINUTES OF LAST MONTH’S BOARD MEETING and GENERAL MEETING

Published in newsletter. Mary Caparone moved to accept the minutes as published. The motion received a secondfrom David Nelson and was passed.

REPORTS:

President – Rich Smithen thanked Barbara Bilyeu for a great job at the show and commended all volunteers fortheir help.

Treasurer – Meeting income: Silent Auction $23; Drawing $25; Badge patrol $3; Merchandise $92; Library$15.75; 50/50 Drawing $20. Laurie reported that show revenue was up from last year and we should turn a profitafter all bills have been paid. The treasurer’s report was approved after a motion by Mary Caparone and a secondfrom Barbara Bilyeu.

● Secretary / Correspondence - Vince Pellerin filling in for Rachael Denny reported the receipt of a couple of postcards and two newsletters.

V.P. Education - John McCabe reported that a scholarship application had been received from club member ChrisDriesbach. He will be attending Northern Arizona University majoring in Environmental Geology. John read hisletter of application and moved to grant him a scholarship. The motion was seconded by Barbara Bilyeu and passedby the board. John is currently working with the Junior Rockhounds on fluorescent minerals. He will give a talk ata school in San Miguel this Wednesday. He also reported that the club can use any funds collected by sellingCuesta College donated rocks for a scholarship if the club so desires.

Junior Director – David Nelson distributed an inventory of merchandise remaining. He requested and was grantedpermission to purchase two smaller totes to carry merchandise.

● CFMS Director – Gene and Barbara will attend a CFMS meeting in Pomona at the end of this month.

Field Trips – Highway 46 West, Walt’s ranch, Sunday, May 25 . There will be a sign up sheet at next Monday’sclub meeting. There is a tailgate sale in Nipomo on the 24th.

Membership – Lisa King reported that online applications have been eliminated. She handed out a specialapplication for junior membership without parents being club members. She will forward to the webmaster anapplication that potential members can download and bring to the meeting.

Insurance – Show insurance ended up being $100 more that quoted due to a clause inserted by the City.

● Pioneer Museum Liaison – Rich will attend two meetings tomorrow.

Library – Barbara requested that the library list previously emailed to the webmaster be posted online.

Historian – Mike Doherty thanked everyone for their donations of show pictures. He requested that Nick Sherwinbe given an official thank you from the club for allowing the club to use his trailer for show set up and tear down.

Drawing – Mike Judy thanked Barbara, Gene and Galen for donating some fine drawing prizes.

● Website Editor – Mary Caparone requested a history of website hits prior to our show to determine if her advertising was effective . Vince will email a report to Mary and Rich.

Newsletter Editor – Denise requested that when sending pictures or articles for inclusion in the newsletter pleasemake the submissions timely. They need to be received a few days before the end of the month to be included in thenewsletter.

BUSINESS:

Mike Judy had a question about meeting chair availability. There are extra chairs in a closet at the general meeting venue.

Denise reported that the Feather River Club has a rock tumbling contest that awards a $250 first prize with a $40 entry fee. It is open to all club members.

Mike Judy reported that as a guest speaker for the SLO Rockhound club he received a $25 gift certificate and encouraged our club to do the same.

Mike also encouraged the board to share some local dig sites to make it easier to find someone to coordinate field trips.

General Meeting of the Santa Lucia Rockhounds May 19, 2014

The meeting opened at 7:05 P.M. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Richard Smithen thanked all the Club members who participated in putting on our annual show, reportedly the most well-attended event that has ever taken place in the Pioneer Museum. More rocks will be needed for the silent auction and the Kid's Booth next year.

Wayne Mills reported that the Orcutt club will be holding their tailgate sale this coming Saturday from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., and that the Central Coast Cactus and Succulent Society will be holding a cactus and succulent show and sale at the Ludwick Center in San Luis Obispo on the same day. Richard Smithen remindedeveryone that the CFMS show will take place at the Los Angeles Fairplex in Pomona from May 30th to June 1st.

A field trip is scheduled to Walt Fitzhugh's ranch this coming Sunday, May 25th. Everyone who plans to go should meet in the Orchard Supply Hardware parking lot on Theater Drive at 8:00 A.M. Please note-this trip is open to Club members only.

Richard Smithen stated that if anyone happens to be visiting the Pioneer Museum, and sees other visitors handling the exhibits in an inappropriate manner, he should be informed-he is, after all, on the Museum's Board of Directors, and has the authority to deal with such matters. John McCabe said a few words about the Junior Rockhounds, and gave special recognition to two members-Cora, who was formally inducted into the group, and Hobie, who has earned his Official Rockhound certificate. Denise Halopoff thanked everyone who brought refreshments, and Barbara Bilyeu announced that the library catalog is now online.

The featured program for the evening was a video, presented by Kim Noyes, on the topic of California's earthquakes, with a particular focus on the 1906 event, and the research that has been conducted since that time. After the showing of the video, Kim announced that the next meeting of the Show Committee will take place on May 28th, in the Pioneer Museum at 7:00 P.M.

At 8:39 P.M., the meeting adjourned for refreshments and the drawings, dispersing between 8:50 and 9:00 P.M. The brag table featured specimens of chert, serpentine, and jasper, a large piece of obsidian, and some spear points belonging to Don Resconi. Hoping the Earth stays steady under your feet, I am respectfully yours, Rachael Denny, Secretary

SANTA LUCIA ROCKHOUNDS

P.O. Box 1672

Paso Robles, CA 93447