Flatirons
Facets
Published by The Flatirons Mineral Club
Volume 44, No. 5 June/July
2002
Flatirons Facets
P. O. Box 3331
Boulder CO 80307-3331
Flatirons Facets is
published monthly by The Flatirons Mineral Club. The deadline for submission of
articles to Flatirons Facets is the 20th of each month. Permission is granted
for reprint if credit is given to the publication and author unless
specifically restricted.
The Flatirons Mineral
Club is a non-profit organization, established March 9, 1957, and dedicated to
developing and maintaining interest in all aspects of earth science and
associated hobbies. The club meets the second Thursday of each month at 7:15
PM. We meet at The
Senior Center, 9th and Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder, CO. Guests and visitors
are welcome. Membership dues are $15.00 per year (beginning October of each
calendar year). People interested in membership can contact the club either by
writing to the above address or by attending one of the meetings.
****************
July
Program
Paul Boni
NOTE THE CHANGE OF MEETING PLACE FOR THIS MONTH'S MEETING ONLY!
Place: East Boulder Senior Center - 5660 Sioux Dr (off the S. end
of 55th St),
Time: Thursday, July 11, 2002, 7:15
Program: First, let's thank Bill Hutchinson for his excellent
presentation at the June meeting on Mt Antero aquamarines and other minerals. I
know we all learned something we didn't know about Mt. Antero from this talk.
Our July program will be: "A Morocco Buying Trip"--Ann
Black will be our speaker this month. Ann took a trip to Morocco, saw the
sights, bought some fabulous mineral specimens, and will be with us to share
the experience. She will bring some of those fabulous minerals for our viewing
pleasure.
August Program
THE ANNUAL PICNIC WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY,
AUGUST 17
Place: Boulder Senior Center, 9th & Arapahoe
Time: 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Program: The August program will be our 2002 annual picnic. This
is the occasion for preparing hundreds of grab bags for the fall shows. (Note: those who took home specimens at the
June meeting to prepare for the grab bags, please bring them to the July meeting
so that the Wednesday evening "grab bag parties" will have material
to work with.)
The picnic will be an indoor potluck. The club will provide soft
drinks and party trays, but hot dishes, salads and desserts will be welcome.
There are no cooking facilities so we won't be able to cook steaks or brats
this time
****************
Membership
Melinda Thompson
Membership lists dated December 2001 have been printed and
distributed. If you have not received yours,
extra copies will be available at the July meeting. If you need to have the list mailed, please call or e-mail me. I
will be updating the list frequently and will have new lists at the meetings
for handout, but updated lists will not be mailed.
I would like to have your e-mail address. Since postage is
expensive, the club would like to send newsletters electronically, if
possible. Also, we can circulate
information very quickly among members if we use e-mail. Send me a message.
Robin Skelton and Andrea Elliott are joining me on the membership
committee. We would love to have
another member to help at the sign-in table and make new members and guests
welcome.
****************
Introducing Your New Newsletter Publisher
Melinda Thompson has handed over her duties as Newsletter
publisher to Barry Knapp. The
transition has had a few kinks, hence the brevity of this month's newsletter.
We are always looking for interesting material, so if you run across an
interesting article or web site, please send it to Barry Knapp .
We would especially like to have original contributions, such as
reports on interesting localities you might have visited, or on any mineralogical,
gemological or lapidary topic that would be of interest to other club
members. For those of you who receive
the newsletter via e-mail, any web sites we publish should be clickable-an
advantage of receiving the e-mail version.
****************
Field
Trips
Mary
Golden
Not available at press time. Upcoming field trips will be
announced at the July meeting. If you
would like to lead a field trip, please contact Mary Golden.
Members of the FMC enjoyed a fascinating trip to the Sweet Home
Mine on June 18, where we had a two-hour conducted tour of the mine by Dean
Misantoni, the mine geologist, and the author of the geology report
("Geology of the Sweet Home Mine and Alma District") in the
July-August 1998 special issue of the Mineralogical Record on the Sweet Home
Mine. We saw many pockets of crystals including rhodochrosite that had not yet
been recovered, and witnessed drilling operations. As we ate lunch outside the mine, we heard the daily blast to
remove 6 more feet of rock in the mine.
After lunch we searched the tipple and road and found a few small
rhodochrosite specimens, including a couple of nice rhomboids. Also, many grab bag specimens of pyrite,
etc. were collected.
****************
Refreshments
We thank Ray and Dorothy Horton for their many months of service
providing refreshments at our meetings. But other volunteers are needed! The
August meeting will be our annual potluck picnic, but if you would like to volunteer
to bring refreshments for the July meeting, please contact Evan Elliott to make arrangements.
****************
Notes From the
Board Meeting
Evan D. Elliott
The June Board meeting was held at the Elliott's home on June 10.
Topics discussed included the selection of this year's FMC scholarship
recipient, Tashi Tshering of the Himalayan country of Bhutan (see below), and
the proper accounting practices for the scholarship fund.
Minutes were taken by Andrea Elliott, and highlights will appear
in the next issue.
****************
Why
I chose to become a Geological Engineer
by Tashi Tshering, Colorado School of Mines
& FMC 2002 Scholarship Recipient
Bhutan is a mountainous country, which seems to have potential to
produce many different minerals. At
present there are only about ten geologists working for the Division of Geology
and Mines, Bhutan. Therefore, much of
Bhutan has not been explored for mineral deposits, and the mining division in Bhutan is still at its infant
stage. So this is the main reason why I
chose to be a geological engineer and I am lucky to be attending the Colorado
School of mines, a renowned school especially for majors involving
geosciences. I will be graduating in
2004 or 2005 and will return to Bhutan to work for the government.
At CSM, I am planning to specialize in two options, namely mineral
exploration and geo-technical engineering.
By specializing in mineral exploration, I feel that I would be able to
initiate a project to explore the whole country and make a geologic map showing
all the regions having mining potential and which may have less impact on the
environment. This might help attract
entrepreneurs and promote the growth of the mining industry in Bhutan.
Bhutan is a developing country and not all
people of Bhutan have access to good roads.
New roads need to be built throughout the country and existing roads are
blocked much of the time during monsoon by landslides and soil erosion. Therefore, I am planning to specialize in
geo-technical engineering so that I can find some remedies to the soil erosion
problems. I hope to start a project to
survey the whole country and create a map of Bhutan showing the geologically
hazardous areas, ground stability, and soil types. This map could be used by planners and civil engineers in the
construction of new roads, so that problems such as landslides and soil erosion
might be lessened. Bhutan also has a very good potential for
hydroelectricity. There are many
hydroelectric projects coming up which involve building huge dams and tunnels,
where knowledge of soil stability is essential. So the map I envision might save lives and resources during the
construction of such projects.
****************
Legislative
Report, etc.
Dick Rodenburg
June 2002
Buzzword of the day: 'seamless networks'. Michael Milstein, writer
for the Portland, Oregon newspaper, The Oregonian, on May 1, 2002, reported that
on the previous day, national park superintendents from around the West met to
plan a Bush administration goal to build
"seamless networks" of parks around the country. The
"seamless networks" concept focuses on designating connections among
famous and lesser-known national parks, plus state parks, playgrounds and
inner-city parks. The superintendents point out that by building such
connections, they will inevitably create corridors that will also serve
wildlife. Without such corridors, they say, isolated national parks will become
over-crowded final refuges for wildlife, as well as for an increasingly urban
society trying to escape development and sprawl. The initiative has the support
of both Interior Secretary Gale Norton and National Park Service Director Fran
Mainella.
(Readers of this page have, since 1997, been aware of numerous
plans to create an overlay of corridors through both public and private lands
in the western states and Canada. These include the American Heritage Rivers
Initiative, the Wild and Scenic Rivers program, and the Yellowstone to Yukon
plan to make corridors for grizzly bears and wolves. Now put these and similar
programs in context with biosphere reserves, world heritage sites, the
Wildlands Project, and the land agencies' ongoing efforts to limit access by
closing roads as part of various National Forest and Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) transportation plans. Seemingly harmless plans are really carefully
orchestrated and well funded, and often quietly restrict our access to 'public'
lands. RLR)
On a brighter note: dateline, Denver. The Bush Administration has
proposed new rules that western states and local governments may be able to use
to support claims for rights of way across federal land. Jeff Holdren, a BLM
lands specialist, said the agency's proposed rule would merely provide another
method of settling right of way claims. Road proponents "would still have
to show they have a valid claim" Holdren said. This showing would have to
demonstrate that roads along such rights of way be deliberately constructed and
maintained. The issue is particularly heated in Utah, where many roads were
built under an 1866 law (R.S. 2477) to spur settlement in the west. Legislation
in 1976 repealed the 1866 law, but grandfathered in existing claims. These
claims have come under attack by environmental groups in recent years. The
proposed rules are subject to public hearings, and won't take effect for several months. USA Today, March 6, 2002.
Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt in April asked the President to consider
designating 600,000 acres of the San Rafael Swell as a national monument. On
May 1, President Bush directed Interior Secretary Gale Norton to begin
gathering public comments on the request. Denver
Post, May 2,2002.
Grand Junction. US Magistrate Judge Gudrun Rice has upheld the
federal government's user fee demonstration program. In so doing, twenty-six
protesters who took a motorcade of vehicles into the Canyon Creek fee
demonstration area near Ouray (Yankee Boy Basin and Imogene Pass) last July
were ordered to pay a $25 fine and a $10 special assessment. The program
charges for vehicle access to selected public lands. Rocky Mountain News, May 10, 2002.
Earlier, a Denver Post editorial urged legislative
support for Colorado House Joint Resolution 1051 opposing the federal
recreation fee demonstration program. The editorial pointed out that there is
something wrong with the concept of paying fees to enter 'public' lands. The
editorial also correctly pointed out that reason for the Forest Services'
current financial bind is congress itself, which has failed to budget adequate
funds for the jobs the agency is being asked to do. Denver Post, April 24, 2002.
****************
Colorado
Geology on the Internet
Dennis Gertenbach
A rockhound cannot beat the range of geology that can be found in
Colorado. From the sedimentary rocks in the plains to the ancient rocks that
make up the Rocky Mountains to the volcanic rocks in the San Juans, Colorado
has it all. For those interested in learning more about the geology in our
state, check out the following sites on the Internet.
There is a tremendous amount of information about Colorado geology
at Colorado-mall.com.
The site describes the various geologic areas within our state and even
includes a geologic map of Colorado. The viewer can find out about the geologic
history of our state, various rock formations, and geologic tours.
John M. Ghist at The
School of Mines Library has put together a resource list to learn more
about Colorado geology. Check out their site .
The University of Wisconsin, Stephens Point has set up a virtual field
trip to observe the geology and vegetation in the Indian Peaks outside of
Boulder.You can learn about glacial geology here.
A virtual
fieldtrip of the geology in the Golden/Morrison area was created for the 1997
IDIG Conference sponsored by the American Geological Institute. You might want
to look at the fieldtrip at this site, then hop in your car to check it out in
person.
For another fieldtrip of Colorado geology, this time of the
Central and Southern Rocky Mountains, go to James S.
Aber's page at Emporia State University.
An excellent general site for Colorado Geology is maintained by John M. Ghist. The site lists lots
of tours, hikes, and special geological places in our great state.
****************
John
Sinkankas 1915-2002
The gem and mineralogy world was saddened to learn of the death of
the renowned gemologist and mineralogist John Sinkankas on May 17, 2002 in San
Diego. John Sinkankas was the author of
many books on gems and mineralogy, including "Gemstones of North
America", considered the "Bible" on this subject, and the
excellent textbook, "Mineralogy for Amateurs" which has been through
several editions. He published many
papers in the professional scientific literature on gemology and mineralogy, as
well as frequent contributions to popular magazines such as Rock & Gem, and
Rocks & Minerals. His obituary
appeared in the June 16 issue of the New York Times.
****************
You Might Be
a Rockhound If ...
You can pronounce the word "molybdenite" correctly on
the first try.
You think the primary function of road cuts is tourist
attractions.
You can point out where Tsumeb is on a world globe
You own more pieces of quartz than underwear.
Your photos include people only for scale and you have more
pictures of your rock hammer and lens cap than of your family............
****************
FACETS Arrives Early via E-Mail
Club members are now receiving their monthly newsletters
electronically by e-mail. No longer are you at the mercy of the
post office to get your newsletter to you. With an electronic newsletter, you
will find out about upcoming programs and field trips much earlier than those
relying on the mail. Also, this saves club money for postage and printing that
can be used for educational programs. If you are not already receiving your
newsletter in a PDF format, e-mail Dennis
Gertenbach and begin next month.
****************
Crafts
Charlotte Morrison
Wednesday
evenings are Craft Evenings at the home of Charlotte Morrison from 7:00 to ???
p.m. (No craft evening is held during the week of the club's
regular program.) Please call Charlotte information or to share your ideas.
****************
Have you
checked out a book from the Flatirons Mineral Club library that you have not
returned? If so, plan to return it at the July meeting. If you are not sure if
you have a book checked out, contact Dennis Gertenbach.
Return to Facets Index
Return to Flatirons
Mineral Club homepage
Return to Boulder Community Network
home page
Updated 1/14/04