I would like to thank all of the volunteers who helped put on a great annual FMC club picnic this past Aug. 25th. There are some articles in this newsletter by past-president Dennis Gertenbach with photos of activities at the picnic.

I would like to welcome all present and new club members to the fall line-up of FMC monthly meetings, starting on Wed. Sept. 19th (change of date from usual meetings: as Sept 13th conflicts too much with the Denver Show). We will have Mr. Harry Covey talking on the “History of Mining Gold Tellurides in Boulder
County” with specimens on display. Harry is a longtime miner in Boulder County and gives an excellent talk on this subject.

Don’t forget to bring your family and friends to the Denver Gem & Mineral Show for at least one day of  Sept. 14th – 16th at the Denver Merchandise Mart located at 58th Ave. and I-25, see additional show information in this newsletter.

Finally, I would like to recognize the following new 2007 members of FMC (since the beginning of the year): Charles Bloch and family, Kurt Blumberg, Fred Cecconi and family, John Chesbro and family, Evan Crowell, Joan Dolloff and Family, Kim Dorvee and family, Al Goldberg and family,Craig Hazleton, Cindy Hoaglund and family, Paul Kendall and family, Cody Kroll, Steve Lubbs and family, Cynthia Mabary and family, Marie Mozdon and family, Richard Owens, Young Quan and family, Jim Siegwarth and family, Bill Spain and family, John Sybert and family, Mara Woods and family, Ken Yoshida and family and Bill Yurkosky and family.


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A Great Time at the Annual Club Picnic  
 

The annual FMC club picnic was held at the North Boulder Park on August 25. Approx 50 club members and guests attended for an afternoon of fun and club fellowship, plus some great food. Right at 380 sewn cloth grab bags were filled with mineral specimens for the upcoming Denver and future club shows. The money earned from selling grab bags at all of the show(s) is used for scholarships for college students studying the earth sciences. One of our club’s scholarship recipients for this next year, Maria Portela, was recognized at the picnic: see photo below. Currently, Maria is a graduate student at the Colorado School of Mines.

The highlight of the picnic was the recognition of Jan and Chuck Buda as this year’s Rockhounds of the Year. Chosen by the club membership, the Budas were honored for all the time they spend helping to make our club successful.

We want to thank all of the volunteers for their assistance with the picnic. And a special thank you to Gerry Naugle for organizing such a great picnic.

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Budas Honored as Rockhounds of the Year

At the club picnic this past month, Jan and Chuck Buda were honored as the club’s Rockhounds of the Year for 2007. They were chosen by the club membership for their efforts over this past year in support of club activities. As the FMC Rockhound winners for this year, Jan and Chuck were inducted into the FMC Hall of Fame and earned an honorary PhD in "Rockology". Their selection will also be announced in the American Federation of Mineral Societies upcoming newsletter under RMFMS / FMC reporting.

Each year, the club honors one person or couple who have been instrumental in making the club the success that it is today. Past recipients include Charlotte Morrison (2002), Paul and Martha Ralston (2003), Ray and Dorothy Horton (2004), John and Jeanne Hurst (2005), and Ray and Joyce Gilbert (2006).


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We Need Your Input

As the Club’s Board of Directors begins planning the program for the next year, we are seeking input from every member. What do you enjoy about the club? What you would like to see changed? Meetings, field trips, newsletters, Jr. Geologists, the annual show – please send us your thoughts and suggestions. Also, if  you have a great idea or two for something new, let us know. We’re always on the lookout for things that will make our club more interesting for our members.

Included in this newsletter is a survey that we are asking each member to fill out. Please return it to Jan Buda at the September meeting or mail it to The Flatirons Mineral Club, PO Box 3331, Boulder, CO 80307-3331. Your input is important to make our club even better!
 

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An Elephant Never Forgets!

A friendly reminder that the annual dues to the FMC become due on October 1st, 2007. The dues are still only $15 per individual (or) immediate family. You can pay in two ways:


SEND A CHECK TO: (made to) "Flatirons Mineral Club” (or) "FMC"
P.O. Box 3331
Boulder, CO 80307

(or) pay Gerry Naugle /Alex Cook, Treasurer (or) Chuck & Jan Buda, Membership Co-Chairs at any FMC monthly meeting. One of them is at the sign-in table upon entering the room for the monthly meetings. Your receipt is your new annual 2007-08 FMC membership card.

You can pay by CASH at an FMC meeting. Please do not send cash to the Club P.O. Box 3331 by USPS mail. Remember you can receive electronic (or) paper club newsletters containing the general meetings information, guided club field trips information, annual show opportunities, silent auction opportunities and an annual club summer picnic when you are a member of the Flatirons Mineral Club. The 2007-08 dues must be received by the club by Jan 31st, 2008 in order to stay current on the newsletters and club member benefits.


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Librarian Needed


The Flatirons Mineral Club has one of the best libraries of books, videos, CDs, and other resources of any of the rock clubs in the state. Our current librarian, Ray Gilbert, lives in Berthoud, which limits access for most of our club members in the Boulder area. We are looking for a new club librarian, who will store our club's books, provide a selection of books at each club meeting for people to check out, help club members find information about various aspects of our hobby, and periodically update the list of available resources for club members. Ideally, the librarian should have some space in their basement or a room at their home. If you would like to volunteer or to get more information about being the club librarian, please contact Ray Gilbert.
 

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Club Lapidary Equipment
 

IThe club owns a wide range of lapidary equipment that is set up in Charlotte Morrison’s basement and garage. This equipment is available for use by club members on Wednesday evenings or at other times by appointment. If you are inexperienced, but want to learn how to use the equipment, Charlotte will arrange for an experienced member to show you how to use the equipment. Be sure to call Charlotte at 303-499-9289 and let her know when you will be coming.

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Purgatory River Trip Cancelled
 

Unfortunately, the trip to visit the dinosaur tracks on the Purgatory River filled up before I was able to get everyone signed up. We will try and schedule this trip next year and will make sure we sign up with the Forest Service early enough so that everyone gets the opportunity to go.

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Jr. Geologists Program for the Year

We have a great Jr. Geologists program planned for the fall and winter. For September’s meeting, we will meet at Charlotte Morrison’s home to split shale from Florissant, which contain leaves and insects. Charlotte has several flats of shale that she is donating for the meeting. Please note: because the club meeting date
was moved, September’s Jr. Geologists meeting will be on the fourth Thursday, September 27.

Based on input from the kids involved in the program, we have a great program planned for the fall and winter. Beginning in October, we will begin working on the badges again. By popular acclaim, we plan to complete the requirements for the Rocks and Minerals, Collecting, and Fossils badges. The older members will be helping to teach these badges and will be able to finish the Leadership and Communications badges. At each meeting, we’ll have the rock of the month – a time to learn more about a special rock or mineral.

Other activities we have planned include:

• Special lapidary evenings to use the clubs equipment to cut specimens and polish stones.
• Preparing to display our specimens at the Towel Show in November and putting together a display case at the Club Show in December.
• Helping with the kids activities at the Club Show in December.
• Special Saturdays for the older kids to do experiments.

The Jr. Geologists program is open to all Flatirons Mineral Club families. For more information about the Jr. Geologists program, please contact Dennis Gertenbach or Todd Shannon.

 

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Hunting for Trilobites near Deckers

On Saturday, July 28, the club spent the day south of Deckers to hunt for trilobites and other Ordovician marine fossils. We visited a quarry in the Manitou Springs Formation, where many partial and complete trilobites were found. Donn Cook made the find of the day, a specimen with a nearly complete crinoid head and two partial trilobites. Everyone went home with great additions to their collections.
 

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Bring Your Field Trip Finds

IIf you found some great specimens at one of our club field trips, or on a trip of your own, please bring them to the next club meeting to show others. Everyone enjoys learning where to collect specimens and what can be found.

 

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Fossils in the News
Dennis Gertenbach

Largest Ancient Bird was a Glider

The largest bird ever to have flown the skies is Argentavis magnificens, who lived six million years ago in Argentina. A team of scientists have studied the fossil remains of this bird to determine how it could fly. Their findings suggest that the 155-lb bird, with a 23-foot wing span, was a glider, taking to the air in a similar manner as modern hang-gliders - running downhill or launching from a perch to pick up speed and lift. Argentavi probably did not have the muscle power to lift itself into the air from a standing position or to maintain continuous flapping flight.

Professor Chatterjee, curator of paleontology at the Museum of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, and colleagues estimated the flight parameters of fossil bones and plugged this information into computer flight models. The models showed that the bird would have been a great glider, but the question arose of how did Argentavis become airborne? Like an albatross or a hang glider, Argentavis probably needed a sloping surface to run a bit to supply lift, and a headwind would have helped. This would have allowed the bird to take off without flapping his wings much.

Although Argentavis was the largest bird to have ever flown, it was not the largest animal to fly. That record goes to pterosaurs, flying reptiles that lived more than 65 million years ago that had wingspans exceeding 30 feet.

Dinosaurs Slowly Dominated the Earth

Researchers have found evidence in New Mexico that dinosaurs did not abruptly replace the species from which they evolved. A new study concludes that dinosaurs shared the Earth for millions of years with the species that were their ancestors, a new study concludes. Dinosaurs arose in the Late Triassic, 220-230 million years ago, dominating the planet in the Jurassic and Cretaceous, between 200 million and 65 million years ago.

Scientists had long thought the dinosaurs rapidly replaced their ancestor species, because the fossils' dinosaur ancestors had not been found in the Late Triassic. However, in 2003, a creature called Silesaurus was discovered in Poland from that time period. Now, researchers report in the journal Science that they have evidence from northern New Mexico that dinosaurs and their precursor species coexisted there for tens of millions of years. Their finds included bones from both early dinosaurs and dinosaur precursors. Also found were the remains of crocodile ancestors, fish and amphibians, all dating between 220 million and 210 million years ago.

Still unanswered is why the dinosaurs came to dominate their precursor relatives. The fossil record shows that the primitive dinosaur-like and crocodile-like reptiles become extinct, and only dinosaurs, crocodiles and pterosaurs (flying reptiles) survived. Dinosaurs may have outcompeted their reptilian relatives for resources,
or there may have been some catastrophic event, such as an asteroid strike or climate change, that the dinosaurs survived. After the extinction of these other reptiles, dinosaurs rapidly expanded into the ecological void.

What Caused the Great American Extinction?

Scientists have long argued about what many large mammals to die off near the end of the last ice age, about 13,000 years ago. Where they wiped out by hunters, were the mammals unable to cope with the changing climate, or was there something else?

Luann Becker of the University of California at Santa Barbara and her associates have a new theory. After studying a thin 12,900-year-old geologic layer across North America, these scientists believe they have discovered a new reason for the demise of most of North America’s large mammals - a major extraterrestrial impact roughly half the size of the one that killed the dinosaurs.

The group found evidence of the blast, including magnetic dust, trapped extraterrestrial gas, glasslike carbon full of tiny diamonds from the heat, and a layer of iridium from outer space. This evidence suggests that a three-mile-wide comet moving at 135,000 miles an hour blew up over Canada with the force of a million nuclear bombs. The fires and shock would have killed many of the animals. Others would have perished after the sun was blocked out by dust. Not all scientists agree with this new theory, but all agree it is an intriguing idea.

Mastodon Tusks Help Reveal Ancient Climate

To large mastodon tusks were recently discovered in a sandpit in northern Greece and may be the largest of their kind every discovered. Mastodons were similar to woolly mammoths but had straighter tusks as well as different teeth and eating habits. These recently discovered fossils are about 2.5 million years old. Also found were the animal's upper and lower jaws, still bearing teeth, and leg bones.

The largest tusk was 16 feet 4 inches and the other over 15 feet long. Scientists are studying the tusks and skeleton to learn more about how these animals lived and what the climate was like. By analyzing the growth rings in the tusks, scientists are studying the climate and environment during the time this animal lived. The scientists are also studying the fossils to learn why the mastodon became extinct, which remains a mystery. Mastodons, an ancestor of the elephant, roamed Europe, Asia and North America. They disappeared in Europe and Asia about 2 million years ago, but survived in North America until 10,000 years ago.


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In the Rough
John Hurst

We were chatting with Bob and Caren Johannes recently, when the subject of Ocean Jasper (discovered in 2000) from Madagascar came up. When Bob last talked with Gene Mueller of The Gem Shop (Cedarburg, Wisconsin), Gene indicated that the lava tube producing the Ocean Jasper has been totally mined out. Check www.thegemshop.com and you will find Gene's Grade A material is down to blocked pieces, priced by the piece (Bob thought at around $30/lb), his #2 grade is at $12/ lb. and tumble grade is $28/5lbs. His finished pieces, such as spheres ranged from $104 for a 2.375 inch one up to $345 for a 3.5 inch one. Polished slabs were priced by the piece. The point is, the "window of opportunity" on Ocean Jasper is closing fast and prices, as reflected by Gene, the primary supplier, are climbing fast. My suggestion is for those who are inclined to buy Ocean Jasper, if you see something you like in a rock shop or at a rock show, buy it today (yesterday would be better)! The selection will only get worse and the prices will be getting higher. Good luck to you on finding some great pieces!
 

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Upcoming Events, Nearby & Elsewhere 

Sep. 12, at the Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum, in conjunction with the Gem and Mineral Show, the CSM Museum holds an annual Geology Museum Open House, reception, and silent auction of mineral specimens, books, and related items. All are welcome to come; 7:30 to 10 p.m. in the Geology Museum, 13th and Maple Streets on the CSM campus in Golden. "Hors d'oeuvres, Cash Bar, Music". Call 303-273-3823 for more information.

September 14-16, Denver Gem and Mineral Show, this local event is the second-largest gem and mineral show in the entire U.S., and museums from all over the country, and the world, come to it with exhibits. Sponsored by the Greater Denver Area Gem and Mineral Council (a non-profit association of ten local gem and mineral clubs), and held at the Denver Merchandise Mart, I-25 at 58th Ave.; 9-6 Friday, 10-6 Saturday, and 10-5 Sunday. Included in the gem and mineral show is the Colorado Fossil Expo, and entire back exhibit hall filled with fossil displays and fossil dealers' booths.


At the same time, the Colorado Mineral and Fossil Show is an independent, free, open-to-the-public mineral show held the same week in Denver, Sep. 12-16, at the Holiday Inn Denver Central, 4849 Bannock St. (just north of I-70 and I-25).

Friday, Sept. 14, and the second Friday of every month through November, Free USGS GPS, Map, and Compass Classes. Building 810, Federal Center, Lakewood; 9-11 a.m. Map & Compass, 12-4 p.m., GPS class. Call 303-202-4689 or email gpsworkshops@usgs.gov for reservations, or see www.cr.usgs.gov/gpsworkshops/index.html for more information.

Sept 14 and following through Oct. 6 ... EcoArts is a series of events being held at or around the CU campus in Boulder: "Building from a foundation of solid scientific research, gather together a diverse array of artists, scientists, environmentalists, and others to create and participate in unique programs that will inspire, educate, and empower us all on specific issues surrounding the planet. That’s the premise behind EcoArts, a not-for-profit event assembling an amazing array of talent to address the specific environmental challenges that face us today and provide us with solutions for a sustainable future." See more info on their website at Events include tours, fairs, talks, performances, etc.

Sep. 22, Triceratops Trail free fossil tour day, Golden, CO: The Friends of Dinosaur Ridge will host a free Triceratops Trail Day on Saturday, September 22, 2006. Trained guides will be stationed along Triceratops Trail from 10AM to 2:30 PM in order to explain features, give short demonstrations, and answer questions. Roughly 1 mile of walking is involved. Parking is off 19th Street (look for the sign) just east of the traffic light at 6th Avenue and 19th St. in Golden. For directions and information see www.dinoridge.org, or call Erin Fair at 303-697-3466 x 11, or Tom Moklestad at 303-697-3466 x 13.

October 13, Field Studies in Paleontology (K-12) Starting from Cripple Creek, explore the geological and paleontological wonders along the Shelf Road. Follow the old wagon roads used to haul dinosaur bones from Garden Park to Canon City, visit a dinosaur quarry, and explore nearby dinosaur tracks. 0.5 semester graduate credit hour Colorado School of Mines. Time: 8:30am-5:30pm. Location: Cripple Creek Parks & Recreation. Instructor: Steve Veatch and Don Miranda. Optional Tuition Fee: $30 (payable during workshop). Registration Fee: $69. To register or for more information, contact: Cripple Creek Parks & Recreation at 719-689-3514

 

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Denver Show Kids’ Corner

Call for volunteers to help at the "Kid's Corner" booth at the Denver Show: As I think most of you know, this booth which we have each year at the Show features hands-on rock and mineral samples, a "Treasure Hunt" for which kids get a gemstone prize when they complete our quiz keyed to the exhibits in the show, and interactive earthquake demonstrations.

This booth is organized and materials provided by the USGS, but we depend on volunteers from Friends of Mineralogy and several of the other clubs to have enough people to staff it. If you enjoy talking with kids, and are "trainable" as far as helping to run some of these demonstrations, we would love to have you help at this booth. So when you sign up to help at the show, please also consider offering to help at the Kid's Corner. Those who are willing to help with a shift here should please contact directly Pete Modreski,  303-202-4766.

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The Board of Flatirons Mineral Club wants to know what you think of the club!

Please complete both sides of this survey and return it at the October 2007 meeting or send it to Flatirons Mineral Club, PO Box 3331, Boulder, CO 80307-3331. (If you need more space to answer, please use additional sheets of paper, and number your responses.) Remember -- this is your club and it will be as good as we all make it! THANKS!

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS. Complete only one survey for each member of FMC. If you have a Family Membership, have each person in your family who is a member (who participates in the club in any way) complete the survey. If a question is not applicable to you, put "NA" as the answer. If more than one answer is correct, please check all that are correct. Please remember, there are no wrong answers. There is only information that we hope can be used to make the club better.

1. Why did you join Flatirons Mineral Club? (FMC)

2. What is your "age group"?
[ ] 15 or under
[ ] 16 or over

3. (a) Do you attend the FMC monthly meetings? [ ] Yes [ ] No

(b) Do you attend ONLY the special meetings? (Towel Show, Silent Auction, Holiday Party)  [ ] Yes [ ] No

(c) If you attend the monthly meetings, do you attend [ ] regularly? [ ] sometimes?

(d) If you do not attend the meetings, please explain why not.

4. What topics would you suggest be presented at the monthly meetings?

5. (a) Does the newsletter provide information relevant to your interests? [ ] Yes [ ] No

(b) If not, please explain why not.

6. What information would you suggest be added to the newsletters?

7. (a) Do you visit the FMC website? [ ] Yes [ ] No

(b) If not, please explain why not.

8. What information would you suggest be added to the website?

9. (a) Do you participate in the FMC field trips? [ ] Yes [ ] No

(b) If not, please explain why not.

10. (a) Would you like to see more FMC field trips offered? [ ] Yes [ ] No

(b) If so, would you like to see more   [ ] one day field trips  [ ] overnight or longer field trips  [ ] both types

11. What locations or minerals would you suggest for possible field trips?

12. (a) Do you participate in FMC's Junior Geologists programs? [ ] Yes [ ] No

(b) If not, please explain why not.

13. What programs or information would you like to see added to the Junior Geologists program?

14. (a) Would you be willing to teach a small class or assist in teaching a class in a particular area of your expertise or interest (for example, jewelry, lapidary, etc.) on a Wednesday night? [ ] Yes [ ] No

(b) If so, what area of expertise or interest?

15. (a) Would you be willing to present a topic in a particular area of your expertise or interest at one of the monthly meetings? [ ] Yes [ ] No

(b) If so, what topic?

16. (a) Do you attend the FMC show in December? (In October, in previous years.) [ ] Yes [ ] No

(b) If not, please explain why not.

17. What would you suggest be done differently or better at FMC's show in December?

18. (a) Do you volunteer  [ ] at the FMC show in December?  [ ] at the Denver show in September?  [ ] to lead field trips?  [ ] in other ways at FMC?

(b) If not, please explain why not.

19. How do you see yourself volunteering to help FMC stay active and vigorous?

20. (a) Would you like to assist one of our current volunteers to learn the job they do?

(b) If so, which job?

21. What else would you suggest be done to make FMC a better club?

22. AND FINALLY! What is your favorite mineral specimen?

(If you would like to teach, present or volunteer, please contact any of FMC's Board members.)

THANKS FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION!

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Updated 4/14/08