As I write this, the temperature is over 60, even though it is still January. The warm weather makes me long for the field trip season, and I have started planning where I want to go rockhounding this year. If you're feeling the itch to plan your outings, the Flatirons Mineral Club can provide some of the best resources around for planning your trips. First, check the club library. Ray Gilbert, club librarian, can provide you a list of the resources we have, including books, maps, and other information. Next, talk to other club members at the next meeting. Many of our members have a wealth of information about where to go and what to find. Lastly, plan on attending the club field trips. Better, yet, lead a field trip. Paul Boni can help you plan a club trip and will provide the necessary paperwork. Leading a trip last year was one of the most enjoyable activities I had with the club. 

See you at February's meeting.

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Club Meeting

Thursday, February 10, 7:00 PM

West Boulder Senior Center, 9th & Arapahoe

For our February meeting, we will be treated to some special entertainment. Club members Carol and Mihail Codrescu will come with other members of their folk-dancing group and will give us a short show (on the stage) of Romanian folk dancing. In addition we will have refreshments, door prizes and our usual short business meeting, and will swap stories from our rockhounding trips, time permitting.

Coming up for future meetings, we will have the renowned Ed Raines in March, and his topic will be "The Geology, Mineralogy, and Mining History of the Aspen District." For the April meeting, we will have Waverly Persons of the USGS talking about earthquakes and the effects of earthquakes. Our annual silent auction is tentatively scheduled for the June meeting.

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Jr. Geologists Finish the Rocks and Mineral Badge
Dennis Gertenbach

In January, the Jr. Geologist completed the requirements for the Rocks and Minerals badge. For the last several months, they have been studying about rocks and minerals, learning to identify minerals, identifying crystal shapes, and have put together an identification kit to help with mineral identification.

At the next meeting on Thursday, February 24, we will begin working on our second badge. The meeting will start at 7 p.m. and is opened to all club families. Please contact Dennis Gertenbach for the location.

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Get Your Newsletter By E-Mail!

Perhaps some of you have just gotten on-line over the recent holiday season, but you are still receiving your newsletter by surface mail. Now is the time to switch your subscription to an e-mail subscription. There are several advantages to getting the e-mail edition, as opposed to the print edition:

1. Color pictures--the printed version is in black and white only. If you have a color printer, you can print your newsletter and have the pictures in color!

2. Clickable URL's--for example, check out this nifty web site that has a complete on-line database of minerals and mineralogy: http://www.mindat.org. If you get the print version, you have to type this address in your web-browser's address box. But with the electronic version, all you have to do is click it!

3. More up-to-date--last minute changes, corrections, or additions can be made to the electronic version after the print version has already gone to press.

4. Faster delivery--you receive the e-mail version as soon as it is mailed out (within seconds).  The print version takes 2 or 3 days to be delivered after it is mailed.

5. Saves your club the postage and printing costs.

To access the electronic version of the newsletter, you will need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. This is a free download from the Adobe website (version 7.0 just released!): http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.

You can print the e-mail newsletter "back-to-back" on your own printer, so it will look just like the printed version (except the pictures will be in color if you have a color printer). See the instructions that came with your printer on how to do this.  Most printers make it very easy to do so, prompting you through the process, and showing how to insert the pages back in the printer to print the odd pages after the even pages are printed.

To change your subscription, you need to notify our membership chairperson, Trick Runions and you need to send your e-mail address to Dennis Gertenbach, who actually sends out the e-mail version of the newsletter.

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Sumatra Earthquake and Tsunami A selection of websites
provided by Pete Modreski

Obviously a great deal has appeared in the news media about this tragic event, and most of you have probably received numerous emails giving links to information resources about it through different science education listservers. I'll just list here what I think are several particularly good sources of information, some of which may be new to you. The USGS Website has, in addition to maps and data on the earthquake and aftershocks, an excellent set of "FAQ"s about the earthquake and tsunami—including such things as comments on the effect on the earth's rotation and the estimated amount of seabed movement caused by the quake. See the several links on our homepage, http://www.usgs.gov or go directly to http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqinthenews/2004/usslav/

Some other good sites about the earthquake, tsunami, and plate movements:

NOAA website: http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/spotlight/tsunami/tsunami.html

"How Tsunamis Work":  http://science.howstuffworks.com/tsunami.htm

IRIS (Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology): a chart showing seismic waves from the Sumatra earthquake as they arrived at seismograph stations all around the world: http://www.iris.edu/about/ENO/iow.htm

Also, the IRIS "Seismographs in Schools" program is described at:  http://www.iris.edu/edu/AS1.htm

and at the page below you can view a composite of 11 school seismograms showing the Sumatra earthquake: http://jclahr.com/science/psn/as1/indonesia04/as1indo.html

Tsunami visualizations (Carleton College): http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/visualization/collections/tsunami.html

Asia's Deadly Waves (NY Times): http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/html/international/20041227_QUAKE_FEATURE/index.html

Geology.about.com: Tsunamis: http://geology.about.com/od/tsunamis/

Schoolgirl saved family: http://geography.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.cbc.ca/cp/world/050102/w010210.html

A final note relating to plate tectonics, this web page of UNAVCO (see the first talk listed above) contains a map showing vectors (direction and magnitude) of plate motions on earth as actually determined from GPS measurements: http://sps.unavco.org/crustal_motion/dxdt/intro/ Also see  http://www.unavco.org/ and click on "Education & Outreach".

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Field Trip Chair and Secretary Still Needed
By Paul Boni

We're still looking to fill two positions, field trip chair and secretary. Neither job is difficult and both are important to the vitality of our club. I've been the field trip chair for two years, program chair for two years before that, and feel it's time to let someone else have a go at it. Emily Epstein has been our secretary for several years but has moved to Aurora. She has continued as secretary, commuting all that distance, but honestly, the commute is too much for her.

Field trips are one of the main attractions, especially during the summer months. There seems to be a pervasive impression that the field trip chair is expected to lead the majority, if not all, of field trips. This is simply not true. The field trip chair coordinates the field trips. This includes such simple tasks as scheduling trips, posting notices and schedules of upcoming trips in the newsletter, filing liability waivers, and soliciting club members to lead trips. Of course, you can lead as many trips as you like. Dennis Gertenbach, Trick Runions, Paul Boni, and others have already committed to leading one or two trips each for this coming summer. We just need someone to take responsibility for coordination the effort.

The idea behind a club such as ours is that we gather together to pursue a common interest. In this case our interest in minerals, fossils, and rock hounding. There are a few simple jobs that need be done in order to keep the group functioning. If you haven't served on the board yet, we'd love to have your help. It's a great way to get better acquainted with the most active club members and develop friendships. Experience is not required. Interest will do just fine.

One final point; There is a big advantage in being the field trip chair. You often get to go to the sites that YOU want to collect. Think about it, then contact Paul Boni or Dennis Gertenbach. We'd love to have you on board.

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USGS Map Store

The Map Sales room at the USGS is now run by the Rocky Mountain Nature Association, and now sells a large selection of books, maps, calendars, etc. published by the Nature Association, other agencies, and commercial publishers, as well as still selling over-the-counter all the map and book products of the USGS. The store is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays only; for more information call 303-202-4675, or (especially for any questions about ordering USGS maps and reports) call 1-888-ASK-USGS. Some new items available at the store include a large number of nature, hiking, geology, and historical guides to Colorado; several of John Fielder's books of scenic photography of Colorado; a relatively new Colorado Geologic Highway Map (published 2003 by GTR Mapping; $6.95); and our new boxed set of USGS Historical Trail Maps of Colorado, 11 folded maps + accompanying brochures, for $49.95.

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Measuring Earthquakes
From Rockhounding Arkansas- 1998, via Diggins From Dakota - April 2004

A recording device called a seismometer is used to measure earthquakes. The Richter Scale is what we hear about mostly, and scientists also use a scale called the Moment Magnitude.

The Richter Scale: A very important fact in this scale is that as each number goes up, the earthquake increases 10 times * in power.

1. Felt by instruments only.

2. Felt by sensitive people and sensitive animal. (10 times #1)

3. Felt by many people- feels like a passing truck. (100 times #1)

4. Felt by everyone; pictures fall off the wall. (1,000 times #1)

5. Damage- may cause weak walls to crack and fall. (10,000 times #1)

6. A destructive earthquake in populated areas; falling smokestacks, etc. (100,000 times #1)

7. A major earthquake causing serious damage (1,000,000 time #1)

8. A disaster-a great earthquake that produces total destruction to nearby communities (1906 in San Francisco-8.3) (10,000,000 times #1)

9. Lisbon, Portugal had the highest ever in 1775 at 8.9, until Sumatra earthquake of Dec 26, 2004, magnitude 9.0. (100,000,000 times #1)

The New Madrid Fault

Located in the "Boot Heel" of Southeast Missouri, the town of New Madrid sits on a major fault that extends into Arkansas. In the early 1800's, a series of magnitude 8 earthquakes occurred. Written accounts from eyewitnesses to this earthquake are quite remarkable. The size of this event leads geologists to suspect the New Madrid Fault is a failed rift valley: a place where the North American continent almost split into two pieces. What we know from history is that if something geologic has happened in the past, it can happen in the future. Earthquakes are not a matter of if they will happen, but when they will happen.

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Science Fair Judges Sought

Volunteers Sought: For those with a science background who can be available to help at any of these:

Denver Metro Regional Science and Engineering Fair - Monday, Feb. 28, at Denver Museum of Nature & Sciences, middle and high school level. Persons with a science background are invited to help as judges. You can register to volunteer at the website, http://www2.uchsc.edu/ahec/science/judges/index.htm or please call Suzy Harrington, 303-733-7277.  We can use the help!

Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) Regional Science Fair, Thursday, March 3, 2005, is in need of qualified judges. To be held in the UMC Glenn Miller Ballroom on the CU-Boulder Campus.  Please consider judging for all or part of the day. Register online, http://home.comcast.net/`anitta/, or on the Boulder Valley web site: www.bvsd.org

Search "Science Fair". Last year BVSD students excelled at the Colorado State Science Fair at CSU and the International Science and Engineering Fair in Portland, Oregon. The excellent feedback these students received from judges at our district fair was a contributing factor towards their success in these higher competitions. If you have colleagues, postdocs, or graduate students who might be interested, please share this message with them. Please email your response to Anitta Frant by Friday, January 28th, 2005 Anitta.Frant@bvsd.org or call 303-447-1010 x6025.

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Denver Gem and Mineral Show Mini Report, January 2005
Judy Knoshaug, Secretary

I know this is only January and the Denver Show is not until September, nine months away, but you all know how fast those nine months disappear and WOW! the SHOW IS HERE!! Ron Knoshaug, Club Liaison, is trying to prepare well in advance so club members will have the information they need when they need it. He is mailing the club packets to the clubs this month. The packets contain important forms and information for each club. The forms are the Job Descriptions and Worker Sign Up Sheets, the Working Exhibits Space Request, and the Program Information Sheet. 

These forms all have deadlines for being completed and returned to the responsible person on the Show Committee. Please be sure your club receives these forms from your Show Committee representative and ACTS on them. The Exhibit information and application forms are not complete at this time.  However, as soon as they are, they will be forwarded to each club as well.  Should your club have any questions about the forms, please be sure to contact Ron at 303-423-2923 or jrknoshaug@comcast.net.

The January Show Committee meeting was cancelled due to the bad weather. The next meeting is March 3rd at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science in Room 303 instead of the cafeteria. Anyone interested in the show is invited to attend. New members are always welcome and encouraged. Putting on the show is a big task.

Council President, Regina Aumente, is still waiting for 2005-updated information for each club. Please be sure your club provides her with 2005 officer and Trustee information.  If your club needs another form, contact her at 303-978-9926 or raumente@aol.com.

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Mammals - the Wimps of the Dinosaur Age?
by Dennis Gertenbach  

Not necessarily. Recently, paleontologists have dug up a new species of carnivorous mammal that roamed China during the reign of the dinosaurs.  This creature was large enough to feast on young dinosaurs, which goes against the prevailing thought that mammals during this time were tiny mouse-sized creatures that scurried around in the underbrush, hiding from the dinosaurs.

Repenomamus giganticus was more than three feet long, about the size of a large dog. However, the fossil indicated that it looked more like a large badger and probably weighed about 30 pounds. The length of the jaw is about the same as a modern fox. The fossil represents the largest Mesozoic mammals ever found. A second similar, but smaller relative, Repenomamus robustus, was also found in the same area of northern China. This fossil was about 15 inches long, approximately the size of an opossum. Both of these fossil finds date back 130 million years

This second skeleton had the bones of a baby Psittacosaurus in its rib cage where its stomach was. The dinosaur bones are from a single individual and some are still articulated (connected together), making it unlikely that they were washed there after the mammal died. The articulation of the dinosaur bones, along with the mammal's sharp teeth, suggests that Repenomamus tore its prey limb from limb before gulping it down in large chunks. This mammal's last meal was a dinosaur, the first evidence that some mammals preyed on dinosaurs.

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Cutting Spencer Opal
By Evelyn Cataldo Reprinted from The Rockhound Gazette 10/97

After sawing the opal and finding the narrow band of color, lap down on a 180-grit diamond ripple disc until the fire begins to show. Use plenty of water to keep the opal cool. When the fire begins to show, move to a 600 fine diamond lap and continue lapping until you are about half way into the layer of fire. Dry the opal and clean it with alcohol. Next apply a coat of fracture sealer to the opal and let it set under a lamp or in the oven at 150 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes. Allow the stone to cool and wipe off the fracture sealer with a clean rag. Do not clean the fracture sealer off with acetone or alcohol. Now you are ready to glue the backing material onto the opal.

The best backing material is basalt or basanite. It is good and solid and less expensive than most other material. Obsidian is too brittle and is also too transparent when cut thin. Mix the glue according to the manufacturer's directions. Epoxy 330 is recommended. The glue should be the crystal clear type. If using a two-part epoxy, roll the two parts together slowly. If you mix it fast air bubbles will develop.

Make sure the backing material has been cleaned with acetone or alcohol if it has been sawed in oil. Coat the opal with epoxy. If you hold it under a light and tip it, you will be able to see any areas you may have missed. Place the opal on the backing and press down firmly. This will push any air bubbles out from under the opal. After the glue has dried, saw parallel to the backing material allowing approximately one-quarter inch again between the backing and saw blade. After some practice, you will be able to saw closer than this.

Lap the excess opal away, again using the ripple disc until the fire begins to show. Then finish lapping on the 600 fine disc. Lap as thin as possible. The opal should only be as thick as about two pieces of newspaper. Make sure the opal with backing is dry and clean. Apply another coat of fracture sealer and heat as before. Allow it to cool and wipe sealer off with clean rag. At this time you will decide where to place the quartz caps if you are using the pre-cut kind.

When the piece is ready to apply the quartz cap, mix the glue and coat the start with it. Again you can see any areas you may have missed by holding it up to a light and tipping it. Drop the caps straight down onto the start and press down firmly. If there are any air bubbles under the cap, they will look like bright silver spots. If air bubbles are present, remove the cap, apply a little more glue and replace the cap as before.

Now you are ready to finish your stones. Take a pocketknife and scrape all the excess glue away from the cap. If you are using dop wax, make sure the edge of the cap is visible all the way around the stone. Some people dop their stones with epoxy, also. Trim as much of the backing away from the stone as possible. Start grinding on a 600 lap at about 15 to 20 degree angle so that you undercut the cap. With a little practice, you will be able to trim just under the edge of the cap without touching it. This eliminates having to polish the cap. The backing should also be trimmed down to about one-sixteenth of an inch thick.

If you are not using the pre-cut caps, glue the slab of quartz on the start, mark out the size of stone you wish to make and cab just as you would a piece of quartz.

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Enhanced, Treated, Heated, Dyed, Stabilized, Created, Irradiated: Fake?
By Deborah Pfianz (from Rock Chips 6/01)

Gemstones and semiprecious stones hove been fiddled with for centuries to make them 'more' colorful, more eye-catching, and easier to work. This does not make them 'fake'; however one should know what some of those terms and treatments mean.

Heat Treated: this is the most common treatment and is as old as fire. Humans heated agate and jasper so as to be able to knap the stones for tools. Humans also heat gem material to enhance, clarify or create color in a stone. Amethyst is heated for citrine and ametrine. Zircon is heated to clarify the stone to clear white. Sapphires are heated to get the most amazing pinks and blues. Tigereye is turned blue or red. Carnelian turns orange-red Aquamarine may go from green-blue to blue. Rubies may lose a purplish tint. Iolite may be turned a deep blue. It is also used to enhance the 'color change' gems such as tanzanite.

Dyed: this is also a very common practice. Agate is dyed to get fancy pinks, purples, oranges, and blues-eye catching and very saleable. Chalcedony is often dyed; black is sold as onyx and green is sold as chrysoprase. Howlite is often dyed to look like turquoise, lapis, sodalite and charite. Turquoise and Jadeite are often dyed to enhance the natural color. Alabaster, coral banded calcite, and marble are dyed to enhance their color or to imitate other semiprecious stones.

Irradiation: while topaz is currently the most commonly irradiated gemstone (to get various shades and tones of blue) this is also how one gets those fabulously colored diamonds, In fact diamond was the first gemstone color treated with radiation. Stabilized Opals are often stabilized-either by filling such as with Opticon resin (similar agent) or by capping either as a doublet or triplet. Emerald has a long history of fracture filling due to its popularity and its tendency to be highly included and fractured. While natural oils hove traditionally been used for filling and stabilization, modern synthetic resins are now being used, such us Opticon, which are more permanent than the natural oils were. Turquoise and coral are also stabilized in such a manner so as to make them a bit more durable.

Created: this is a touchy subject for some folks. Much like formed pearls are real with a center of plastic or mother of pearl rather than sand. Still real, still a pearl just helped to grow by a human. Laboratory grown crystals of ruby, sapphire, diamond, emerald and star sapphire are real semiprecious stones. They just weren't grown in the earth.

So what is the answer: Real or FAKE? This 'real vs. fake' can be argued with all sides being technically correct. That is not the most important information one can have. The really important bit about this from a lapidary or jeweler's point of view is disclosure. Does one know up front that the stone you are getting has been 'helped along' by the human touch? Do you as a lapidary artist, gemsmith, jeweler, or craftsperson know what you are using? The beauty and art that we create with these stones is being helped along by our touch, much as it was to first get our attention. There is beauty in the knowing-be sure to shore that with those around you.

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Upcoming Events, Nearby & Elsewhere

Jan. 29 - Feb. 12, Executive Inn Mineral and Fossil Show, Tucson. A new name at same location. The place for first class minerals and first class dealers from Australia, Bulgaria, France, Germany, India, Brazil, China, USA, Poland, Spain, Russia, Peru and more. Best Western Executive Inn, W. Drachman St. & Oracle Rd., 333 W. Drachman St., Tucson, AZ 85705; (520) 791-7551. Advance Information: Nancy Mattern, (800)255-3371, (520) 791-7551; fax (520) 623-7803; e-mail bwinns2004@yahoo.com; Web site www.bwinns.com.  Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Tuesdays, February 1-15, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Denver Museum of Nature and Science Classroom 301. Geology of Australia and New Zealand, Dr. Bob Reynolds, research associate, Earth Science Department. Learn about the substrate beneath kangaroos and kiwis, the dynamic plate tectonics of New Zealand, and that Ayers Rock, like much of the Denver Basin, is made of sediments deposited at the foot of growing mountains! $60 member, $75 nonmember.

Wednesday, Feb. 9, in Colorado Springs, Colorado State Geologist Vincent Matthews will speak on "Should we be concerned about earthquakes in Colorado?" The talk will be at 7 p.m. in the Tutt Science Center (Lecture Hall) on the Colorado College campus, 1112 North Nevada (I-25 Exit 143 east on Uintah Street; turn south on Nevada. Parking is on the west side of the building and along the curb on Nevada Avenue. This free lecture is sponsored by the Friends of the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.

Thursday, February 10, 7:00 p.m., Ricketson Auditorium, Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Book sale + signing, Evidence from the Earth: Forensic Geology, Dr. Ray Murray, geologist and retired vice president, University of Montana. Get the real dirt on crime scene investigation! Forensic geology has been a stalwart in the field of criminology since the days of Sherlock Holmes. In this lecture, Murray walks you through some of the most intriguing cases involving soil and rock evidence, and discusses the history of forensic geology, body finding, techniques for evidence collection and analysis, and how geologic evidence is used in court. $12 member/student, $15 nonmember.

February 10-13. Tucson Gem and Mineral Society 51st annual Tucson Gem and Mineral Show: "Minerals of China-Come and see the flamboyance and simplicity of Chinese minerals". Tucson Convention Center. For more information visit http://www.tgms.org/2005show.htm.

Friday, Feb. 11 - free GPS and Map/Compass classes at the USGS. Continuing on the 2nd Friday of each month, these free classes are held in Building 810 (near Map Sales) on the Denver Federal Center, Lakewood CO (main entrance on Kipling just north of Alameda). Morning sessions (9-11 a.m.) are map & compass reading, and afternoon sessions (12-4 p.m.) are on how to use a GPS.  You may register for either the morning, afternoon, or both classes by calling 303-202-4640.

February 19, 10-11 a.m.  Ice Age Mammoth Discovery Talk – Colorado Springs. Join geologist Steven Veatch for the fascinating story of a recently discovered Pleistocene era mammoth found near Florissant. Learn about the excavations and history of this Ice Age creature. $3.00. Reservations required. (719) 520-6387. El Paso County Parks Bear Creek Nature Center 245 Bear Creek Road Colorado Springs, CO 80906. From the intersection of I-25 and Highway 24, go west on Highway 24 to 26th Street, proceed south on 26th Street to Bear Creek Road.

Feb. 21-25 Annual Book Sale of geological and other books at the Colorado School of Mines, Arthur Lakes Library, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday 2/21, 9 - 4 daily thereafter. "A special silent auction for more expensive rare and collectible books will be held on Monday, Feb. 21, from 10:00 a.m. - Noon".  Please use the Library's Southwest (Handicap Accessible) entrance for book sale access.

Feb. 22 - June 19 - "Hatching the Past - Dinosaur Eggs and Babies" will be a special exhibit at the Aurora History Museum, 15051 E. Alameda Parkway, Aurora CO; call 303-739-6666 for more information. On Sunday, March 6, 2-3:30 p.m. there will be a special presentation, "Jurassic CSI"—join Dr. Bob Bakker in a Jurassic crime scene investigation.

Sat-Sun, February 26 & 27. Cripple Creek School of Prospecting: Learn about the basic principles of geology and prospecting using Cripple Creek and the Pikes Peak region as a backdrop for discussion. This popular two-day course covers where minerals and gems can be found in Colorado, the basics of geologic and topo maps field collection techniques and photography, and more. Participants receive a database to record their collection. Discounted lodging rates are available. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. each day. Cost: $119, including all fees and materials, and lunch. (Lodging not included.) Info: 719-689-3514. Early reservations encouraged - this class fills quickly! A free service to the public and the scientific community.

March 10 - 13, 2005, Deming, NM, 40th Annual, Deming Gem & Mineral Society Rockbound Roundup. S. W. New Mexico Fairgrounds. Buyers Market, Lapidary Equipment Displays & Demonstrations, Auctions, Guided Field Trips, Jewelry & Rock Related Items, Free Admission, Free Parking. Show Chairperson: Barbara Hamilton 505-544-8643. 

March 12-13, "Extinctions - Punctuations in time" will be a special two-day symposium sponsored by the Western Interior Paleontological Society. Early registration is $40 per day, $30 per day for students and teachers. CE credit available. For registration information see www.wipsppc.com or call 303-795-0077.

March 18 - 20, 2005, Cottonwood, AZ. 29th annual Verde Valley Gem, Mineral and Jewelry Show. Held at Mingus Union High School. Sponsored by Mingus Gem & Mineral Club. Show features 24 dealers, numerous exhibits, jewelry & lapidary dealers and supplies, raffles, silent auctions, fluorescent display, kid's activities and more. www.geocities.com/mingusgmc.

 April 22-24, Colorado Mineral & Fossil Show - Spring at the Holiday Inn-Denver Central (4849 Bannock St., west side of I-25 and north of I -70) and Best Western - Central Denver (200 W. 48th Ave., just south of the Holiday Inn). Free admission and free parking, 10-6 Fri. and Sat., 10-5 Sun. For information see http://www.mzexpos.com.

April 22 - 24, 2005, Wichita, KS, 52nd annual "Gemstone Artistry", Cessna Activity Center, 2744 George Washington Blvd. Sponsored by The Wichita Gem & Mineral Society. Silent Auction, Spinning Wheel, Jr. Rock Pile, kids day on Friday. Numerous vendors, and displays. Show chairmen: Gene Maggard 316-742-3746. E-mail: wgms2001@yahoo.com or visit www.geocities.com/wgms2001.

May 7 - 8, 2005, Grand Junction, CO. 58th Annual Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show, "Mesa County Barite", Two Rivers Convention Center, 1st and Main, Grand Junction Gem & Mineral Club, Inc. Show Chairmen: Gary and Pat Briels, 301 Kava Way, Grand Junction, CO 81503, Phone 970-245-7925.

June 11 - 12, 2005, Powell, WY, Wyoming State Mineral and Gem Show - "STONES and BONES", Park County Fairgrounds, 655 5th St. Hosted by Shoshone Rock Club (http://www.geocities.com/jacmac43/index.html). Show information: www.geocities.com/jacmac43hng-show05.htm .For further information contact: Mrs. Jane R Neal 1207 Rd 9 Powell WY 82435, 307-754-3285 or Mrs. Mary Ann Northrup, 736 Lane 13 Powell WY 82435, 307-754-4472. 

June 17 - 19, 2005, Colorado Springs, CO, The Colorado Springs Mineralogical Society will be hosting the Rocky Mountain Federation of Mineralogical Societies Show at its 41st annual Pikes Peak Gem & Mineral Show. The theme will be "Pikes Peak, A Rockhounds Paradise", featuring Colorado Gems, Minerals and Fossils. Five days of field trips will follow the show. CSMS will this year also be hosting The Rocky Mountain Micromineral Symposium. The symposium is co-sponsored by The Denver Museum of Nature and Science and The Friends of Mineralogy. For more information, call us at (719) 632-9686, e-mail us at csmsshow@cs.com or visit our website at www.csms.us.  Location: Phil Long Expo Center, 1515 Auto Mall Loop, Colorado Springs, CO.

Check our own web site for additional events, and further details: http://bcn.boulder.co.us/community/fmc/fmctk.htm

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Minutes of the Board Meeting - Nov. 29, 2004
Charlotte Morrison. Secretary

The meeting was held at Charlotte Morrison's house.  Present were Dennis Gertenbach, Terry O'Donnell, Ray Horton, Paul Ralston, Alex Cook, Gerry Naugle, Ray Gilbert, Lew Yoder, Trick Runions, and Charlotte Morrison.

Gerry Naugle has prepared a complete report on income and expenses for our recent club show.  The attendance was up, and with expenses we still added income to the treasury. On a poll taken as people came in to pay they stated the signs were more of an attraction than the newspaper advertisements.  Gerry reported that we got  12 new members at the show, that we have 73 renewals thus far, but that many have not yet renewed. Thanks to Emily Epstein for selecting speakers and instructors and printing a program. Alex Cook would prefer to have someone else named show chair. He will help.

Terry O'Donnell and Ray Horton have many ideas for our monthly club meeting programs. December will be our annual gift exchange party.  Ray Horton and Terry O'Donnell requested a musical February. Ed Raines is lined up for our March meeting.

We received a request from Dinosaur Ridge to contribute to their membership.  Dennis called for the motion, and it was seconded and approved, that we would join at the $100 level.  We will receive their newsletters, two books, and a place for field trips.

Gerry Naugle, as treasurer, moved that more money for the scholarship fund be sheltered.The motion was approved.

Alex Cook suggested that we adopt an operating budget to guide our purchases and expenses.  There was discussion on ways to decrease expenses and increase income. Our dues structure does not pay all of our expenses. Trick Runions suggested that we advertise the e-mail delivery of the newsletter on page 1.  Advantages are: color photos, clickable URL's, and the saving of trees. Dennis would like to table this item and have the board members think of new ways to earn money.

The fact that we do not have a field trip chair for 2005 was discussed.  It was pointed out that the field trip chair would not be expected to lead every trip, but would coordinate trip leaders and keep a box of maps.  Paul Boni will write a message of encouragement to get a field trip chair or committee.  Dennis will lead one or two trips, and Trick one.

The club has acquired a Cloud Dome for close up photography.  At present, Emily Epstein has checked it out.  There will be a list for members to sign up for it at the next club meeting.

Dennis Gertenbach has all the information for the Junior Geologist merit badges organized by the American Federation of Mineral Societies.  Dennis obtained their 96-page manual off of the Internet.  The badges are free. 

For the next board meeting, Dec. 27, Dennis suggests a potluck dinner at his house, 1283 W. 27th Drive, North Lakewood.

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Minutes of the Board Meeting, Jan 31, 2005

Terry O'Donnell as Vice President called the meeting to order at the home of Caroline and Alex Cook.  Present were Terry O'Donnell, Alex Cook, Ray Gilbert, Ray Horton, Trick Runions, Shirley Mehta, Paul Boni, Lew Yoder, Gerry Naugle, Paul Ralston, and secretary Charlotte Morrison.

Terry O'Donnell and Ray Horton, program chairs, have established the next few months' programs: February, Valentine Party; March, Ed Raines, a well-known mining history expert and member of several clubs; April, Waverly Persons, the international earthquake expert; May, Jack Thompson from Colorado Springs on Colorado topaz (Colorado Springs will host the Rocky Mountain Federation show in June.); and June, our annual silent auction.

Gerry Naugle gave the treasurer's report. The books are in order, including the pre-payments on tables for our November show. We have a letter from the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, and Gerry Naugle will pursue this, with the hope that we may receive a grant from SCFD for our activities.

Another correspondence is from the Boulder Ranger District, concerning the planning of trails in Lefthand Canyon.  Trick took this letter, and will discuss our position with Cory Olin.

Alex Cook and Gerry Naugle have completed the 2004 audit of the books. Alex has made up a budget for expenses we will have. Expenses above the revenue from annual dues are made up with the show and silent auction. Discussion ensued about setting the annual dues at a different rate for e-mail newsletter subscriptions. Another significant expense is the rent to the City of Boulder for our meeting room. $800 was spent on shop equipment. The board is preparing a plan for increasing equipment in the workshop when we earn more money.

The membership has been purged of the old members that have not paid 2005 dues. The mailing label count is down to 62 from 78, with a few members newly requesting e-mail delivery.

Paul Ralston is thinking about the next Life Member award. At the present this honor is awarded every other year, and Paul will consult the bylaws for the list of requirements, to help plan for the next award in 2006.

Thanks to Ray Gilbert for a splitter box for electricity at the November show. Ray Gilbert, librarian, has enough new books and magazines to update the library list. We also need to update the property list.

Dorothy, Ray, and Barry Knapp will have refreshments for the February meeting, and Ray invites any club member to bring some appropriate Valentines Day refreshment. Do we have a refreshment list for the February meeting, to keep track of the refreshment boxes that are taken home to a dry place each month?

Alex Cook has a letter from Ron Knoshaug who will be the field trip coordinator for joint field trips with the Mile Hi Rams.

The next board meeting will be February 28 at the home of Charlotte Morrison.

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