Lone Pine Gem and Mineral Society Newsletter
February 2008
Group photo at January field trip
January field trip
This field trip report comes from our field trip co-chairman, Ray Ramirez
Our field trip to Saline Valley was unfortunately put on hold until next month when we will try again and hope the road conditions will have improved. It was a beautiful day to be out in the fresh air and getting lots of exercise climbing McMurry hill in search of quartz crystals. There were 21 participants plus a few young ones and pets. I think everyone had a great time and found a few crystals or fragments to take home but the smokies and monster crystals were elusive. Some of the crystals were coated in chlorite and others were reddish from the specular hematite staining in the fractures of the quartz. There was also a good deal of massive epidote scattered all over the hill and a few crystals as well.
Around 1:00 we regrouped down at the cars, had some lunch then headed a short distance to Uhlmeyer spring to collect sulphur. Several of us were brave enough to disregard the smell and dig into the deposit on top of the hill. Lots of pretty yellow stuff to be had for those that wanted to take some home. By 2:30-3:00 everyone was headed home.
The Bauer boys break apart sulphur
The Bauer boys belong to Lance and Darcy Bauer from Mammoth who joined us on their first field trip with us. I'm sorry, boys, I didn't get your names. The boys already look like accomplished rock hounds.
More field trip photos
The first image is an overview of the top of McMurry Hill as club members spread out in their search for crystals and other treasures. The second image is one of Pat Ramirez and Jessie Mobley as they discuss specimens they have found.
This next image shows how high we climbed as our parked cars are down far below. The last image is one of Dianne Tucker-LaPlount and her friend. Dianne is a relatively new member who joined us on her first field trip.
February field trip to Saline Valley
Next month we will attempt Saline Valley again, this time on Sunday the 24th. We will meet at 9:00 AM at the junction of HWY 395 and Hwy 168 near the big tree. Hopefully the weather will have cooperated so we won't need to go to plan B which will be another site somewhere near our meeting point. Until then, Happy Trails! - Ray Ramirez
Membership dues are due
Our club policy is that if your 2008 dues are not paid by March 1st you will be dropped from the club roster and no further newsletters will be coming. There will be another reminder in the March newsletter. Adults $20.00, juniors under 18 years of age are $10.00. We had a great membership year in 2007, ending the year with 80 paid members. Send your dues to our membership chairman: Jim Grandgeorge @ P.O.Box 977, Lone Pine, CA, 93545
Lone Pine Gem and Mineral Show
Showtime is coming May 2, 3, 4 2008, Tri-county Fairgrounds, in Bishop. Several dealers are attending. We'll have demonstrations of knapping, lapidary, sphere making, gold panning, glass fusion, and bead making. We'll also have colorful displays and children's activities.
The club owns some display cases, if you would like to display your own collection or work.
Ray will be leading field trips again. The destinations will be announced later.
We will definitely be needing your help. Please call Jeff or Francis. We also need tumbled stones for children's activities
Shop night
Shop night has been changed to the Tuesday after the club meeting. February shop night will be the 5th at 7:00 PM. For anyone who wants to, we meet for dinner at the Bonanza at 6:00 PM.
Quartzsite
Francee and I recently returned from Quartzsite where we attended what is probably the largest rock and gem show held anywhere in the world. Whatever you are looking for can be found there. Francee was able to find many; beautiful beads, findings, wire, and some new ideas. We also brought home some great specimans that we will be cutting. If any members are interested in Quartzsite, give us a call or stop by and we will be happy to show our finds. For rock hounds, Quartzsite, is an event that should be experienced at least once. - Francis Pedneau
Who says you can't teach a dog (or owner) new tricks?
Kisse & Dana check out the sulphur deposits. Dana is wearing the dog bowl hat. |
Linda and I managed to make the January field trip for the hunt for quartz crystals. Our rockhouding golden, Kisse, came along with us. The day and the views were beautiful and we were with friends. A great day all around. Kisse and I started up one of the steeper slopes. I was looking for crystals, she was looking for critters. And I only had to double back downhill a short way twice to recover a dropped tennis ball. (Kisse needs to carry a tennis ball because, well, she's a retriever.) After a good, steep climb we reached the top and began searching for crystals and critters there. We eventually worked our way north on the hill. After a good couple of hours rock and critter hounding I stopped for a drink. After I had drunk my fill I realized I didn't have Kisse's water bowl with me. I looked way, way down the hill at the SUV and considered the climb down then back up. It didn't look too inviting but I was sure that Kisse was as thirsty as I had been. It had to be done. |
Then it struck me. The hat I was wearing was a waterproof and windproof hat. I could just pour water into the hat and let Kisse drink out of it! I did and it worked like a champ. Kisse had her drink. I'd learned that my hat easily made a bowl!
Now, the windproof cloth on the inside of the hat was wet and it was a bit too cool on the hill to wear a water soaked hat. I hung the hat on a shovel handle sticking out of my bucket, inside out, to dry and went back to rock and critter hounding. The sun was bothering me a bit so I decided I'd put the hat on but put it on inside out so it would be dry against my head. Worked like a champ. In fact, as I pushed it inside out I noticed that the inside out hat REALLY looked like a bowl. Not only that but it's the outside that's waterproof, not the inside.
Now I'd learned that my hat easily worked as a bowl AND if you turned it inside out BEFORE you poured in the water a dog could get a drink AND I could wear a dry hat. - Dana Jeffries
Upcoming events
- Club meeting night: February 4th, Monday, at Lo-Inyo Elementary School at 6:30 pm. Join us for dinner at the Bonanza at 5:15.
- Shop night: February 5th, Tuesday starting at 7:00 pm. If you are hungry, join us at the Bonanza at 6:00.
- February Saline Valley field trip: Sunday, February 24th.
Contact numbers
- President: Francis Pedneau - 760-876-4319
- Vice President: Ray Ramirez - 760-872-062
- Show Chairman: Jeff Lines - 760-872-6597
- Newsletter editor: Linda Jeffries - 760-876-1009; linda AT lpgms.org
From your editor
I want to thank all of you that contribute material to the newsletter. You make my job so much easier. If any of you would like to see text or photos published, send them to me at Linda Jeffries, 694 Tuttle Creek Rd., Lone Pine, CA 93545. Or if you are online, you can send material by email to newsletter@lpgms.org or linda AT lpgms.org. Both addresses will get to my club in box.
If you send me an email message, make sure you are using one of the two addresses listed above. If you use the email address lpgmsnewsletter@lpgms.org, you will be sending your message to all the club members that are receiving the newsletter by email - something you may not want to do. That is why I now have the linda AT lpgms.org address, which is probably easier for all of you to remember and you'll be sure your message will go to only me.
We are getting more club members to sign up for email delivery, which saves your club considerable money. If you aren't getting your newsletter this way but would like to, send me an email and I'll add you to our list.
