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Board
Corner
Gerry Naugle
The FMC Board would like to encourage everyone to attend our March monthly meeting
at the West Boulder Senior Center (WBSC) on this coming Thursday, the 8th
when our presenter/speaker will be club member Cory Olin, speaking on
"How to
Clean and Prepare
Minerals". Should be a good and
informative session because Cory is at expert-level (he knows the ropes) in
this area.
We suggest for you to start your
'spring cleaning' early and bring your good residence-findings to the FMC
Silent Auction at the WBSC on April 12th.
See the S-A Flyer in this newsletter.
Gabi Accatino and Anita Colin
are working on the field trips for later this spring into summer and into
next fall. The information will be posted in the upcoming club newsletters
and e-bulletins as it becomes available. We had a real good recent field
trip to the NOAA building and to the "Science On a Sphere" within
there. Many thanks to club members
Anita, her husband Don Mock who led the field trip and to Gabi who works
there for the very informative session.
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Spring Club Programs
Gabi Accatino,
Co-Chairperson, Programs
The
program for our March meeting will feature our very own, Cory Olin. He will share with us his experiences for
cleaning rocks and minerals. He has a great deal of experience preparing
minerals since he is the proprietor of Olin Minerals.
I
remember the first time I saw Cory!
He was carrying a HUGE rock of something to show everyone at one of
our meetings. He's always ready to
share his knowledge and excitement for our hobby. The March meeting will surely be one of
those opportunities for us to learn from him.
Cory
asks that folks bring some specimens for which they have preparing
questions. He will also bring
specimens especially from Colorado.
Cory will describe cleaning methods that we amateurs can do at home.
While he won't actually clean specimens, I'm sure we will learn many tips
to transform all those buckets of rocks that we have in our garages into
beautiful specimens.
Join
us at our March meeting for an informative program with Cory Olin.
April
is our annual Silent Auction. See the flyer and bid-slips attached to this
issue of the newsletter.
May
is our field trip announcement meeting.
Additionally, Donna Ware will be presenting a short program on the digital
microscopes that she sells. Folks
will be able to bring in samples and use the scopes to look at their
treasures up close.
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Jr. Geologists
Activities
The
Jr. Geologists joined other geology club youth for a special field trip to
the Denver Museum of Nature and Science in January. They were treated to a private
behind-the-scenes tour with Dr. Ian Miller to learn about the Snowmass
fossils and some of the other fossils in the museum’s collection. Dr. Miller was one of the principle
investigators at the Snowmass fossil dig this past summer. In the afternoon the group toured the
Prehistoric Journey and the Coors Mineral Hall exhibits to learn more about
fossils and minerals. It was a
wonderful opportunity for the kids to learn first-hand about what
paleontologists have learned so far from the Snowmass fossils. Plus, they got to see many of these
fossils. Each participant received a piece of fossil mammoth ivory from the
USGS to add to their collections.
Our
March and April Jr. Geologists meeting will be at the Boulder Library
Reynolds Branch, 3595 Table Mesa Drive in Boulder. The March meeting will be Thursday, March
15th. April’s meeting has been moved
to Wednesday, April 18th.
The
Jr. Geologists program is open to all Flatirons Mineral Club families. Each month we learn about some aspect of
geology, plus earn badges for different earth science activities. For information about the Jr. Geologists
program, please contact Dennis
Gertenbach.
Specimens Wanted: For the Jr. Geologists, we are looking
for smoky and clear quartz crystals, calcite for hardness kits, and
specimens that are too big for grab bags that the kids would like. As you are cleaning out your collection this
winter, think about donating your unwanted specimens to the kids. Contact Dennis if you have specimens to
donate.
Helpers Wanted: We are looking for adults that would like
to work with the kids. Currently, we
are looking for club members with lapidary skills and equipment, computer
expertise to help the kids set up a website, and helpers who enjoy teaching
kids about geology and rock collecting.
See Dennis if you would like to help with the Jr. Geologists
program.
The
Jr. Geologists join other geology kids at the Denver Museum of Nature and
Science
Dr.
Ian Miller shows the kids some of the fossils recovered from the Snowmass
site
Miu
Iwabuchi examines a fossil log from Snowmass
North Table
Mountain Field Trip on May 5
For
the first field trip of the year, we will return to North Table Mountain
outside of Golden on Saturday, May 5.
North Table Mountain is a world-renown site for collecting zeolites.
Thomsonite, analcime, chabazite, mesolite, and calcite are quite common,
plus a number of other zeolite minerals can also be found.
The
hike from the parking area is about 3/4 mile, climbing about 700 feet in
elevation. This is a great trip to
take kids, as everyone will find specimens to take home. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
If
you would like to come on this trip, you can sign up at the March and April
meetings or contact Dennis
Gertenbach, trip leader.
A
chabazite specimen found at last year’s North Table Mountain trip
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FMC
Booth at Boulder Creek Festival
Anita
Colin
The Flatirons Mineral Club will have a
booth at the Boulder Creek Festival for Memorial Day weekend, 2012! This
will be a first for the club. We will have posters and specimen displays
advertising our club, as well as some activities for children. We will also
be selling grab bags and individual specimens with the proceeds going to
educational activities. The FMC booth will be on 13th Street in downtown
Boulder from 5 PM on Saturday, May 26 to 5 PM on Monday, May 28. We will be
looking for volunteers to help "man" (or "woman") the
booth. Consider it your Memorial weekend "field trip" with the
club. (Drinks and snacks will be provided!)
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Denver
Gem & Mineral Show Mini Report – “Cu in Denver”
Judy Knoshaug, Show Secretary
With all the snow this February, it is
difficult to remember that summer and the fun collecting season is only a
few short months away. Then summer
is followed by the Denver Gem & Mineral Show. What a great way to end the summer with
the most wonderful event in Denver for our hobby. Don’t forget the dates, September 14 –
16, 2012, and the feature, Copper and Copper Minerals.
Since many persons enter the Best of
Species competition at the show, here is some information about this
competition. The Best of Species
competition is open to any individual (amateur or professional), but not to
institutions, groups, clubs or businesses.
An individual may enter only one specimen in each size or type
category. A trophy will be awarded
to the best Species entry in each of the 7 categories listed on the entry
form, which are thumbnail, miniature, cabinet, oversize cabinet, field
collected, Best of Colorado and lapidary/jewelry. Specimen quality will be judged on the
basis of established standards for Copper Mineral species. Workmanship for lapidary/jewelry entries
must be that of the exhibitor.
Mineral species with the Cu cation in the first or second position
in the formula of the mineral are eligible. Judging Chair, Larry Havens, expands on
this information as follows since the judging will be more difficult this
year due to the theme: “It is tricky
judging this competition because, in each size category, we are probably
judging multiple species (i.e., apples and oranges). Therefore, we look for specimens with
good size for each category – as close to a full inch for thumbnails, etc.
- we consider the typical material from the location a specimen is from,
and ask how does this example stack up – how free from damage is each
specimen – if color or clarity is an issue in determining quality for the
specie, does the specimen show that quality to advantage – rarity may set a
specimen apart from its mates in a size category, but the other criteria
still play a role (for instance, a translucent, damage-free, aesthetic
azurite from Tsumeb would probably get the nod over a rarer Arthurite,
because the Arthurite specimen will likely be a cluster of tiny crystals. The subjective criteria of aesthetics and
“the wow factor” play a role as well.
That’s why we use multiple judges, knowing full well that opinion
will play a part in the choices made.”
So start thinking about entering this competition. Look over your collection for that
outstanding Copper mineral that just might win you a trophy. Purchased specimens are eligible except
in the “field collected” category.
Should you have any questions concerning the Best of Species
competition, please contact Larry Havens
at 303-757-6577.
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What’s the Difference between a Mammoth and a
Mastodon?
Dennis Gertenbach
The
Snowmass fossil site found in 2010 and excavated in 2011 is one the most exciting
Colorado fossil finds in the past 50 years.
Last month, it was featured on an hour-long Nova show. The site has yielded over 6,000 bones,
plus fossilized insects, mollusks, leaves, and branches from animals and
plants that lived 40,000 to 150,000 years ago. One of the unique features of this fossil
site is that both mammoths and mastodons bones, teeth, and tusks were
found. Most club members know that
mammoths, mastodons, and modern elephants are related – they are all large
animals with trunks and tusks. So,
what is the difference between a mammoth and a mastodon?
The
mammoth fossils found at Snowmass were from Columbian mammoths or Mammuthus
columbi. One of three mammoth
species that roamed North America during the Ice Age, Columbian mammoths
grew up to 13 feet tall and weighed up to 10 tons. They ranged from Alaska to central Mexico
and lived from 100,000 to 13,000 years ago.
Columbian mammoths inhabited savannas and grasslands. The tusks of the Columbian mammoth were
up to 14 feet long.
Columbian
mammoth (Illustration by Eric Parrish)
The
American mastodon or Mammut americanum was smaller than the Columbian
mammoth, measuring up to 10 feet tall and weighing up to 8 tons with
shorter tusks. Their range was
similar to the Columbian mammoth, with fossils found from Alaska to central
Mexico. They lived from 5 million to
13,000 years ago. Mastodons were
distant relatives of mammoths and elephants. Mastodons lived in wooded areas and ate
leaves, fruits, and stems from trees.
American
Mastodon (Illustration by Eric Parrish)
The
most obvious difference between mastodons and mammoths are their
teeth. Mammoth teeth were somewhat
similar to modern elephants. They
were grazers, with shallow ridges on the flat tops of the teeth adapted for
grinding coarse grasses. Mastodon teeth were cone-shaped, adapted for
browsing leaves and twigs.
Mastodon
tooth on the left and mammoth tooth on the right (from Smithsonian
magazine)
With
such different food and habitat needs – grasslands and savannas for the
Columbian mammoth and wooded areas for the American mastodon – how were
fossils of both animals found in the same location? The mastodon and mammoth fossils were
found in different layers at the Snowmass site. By studying the fossilized plants and
pollen found near the fossils, paleontologists discovered that the
landscape at Snowmass changed over time.
When mastodons roamed the area, the Snowmass site was covered with
trees. Gradually, the environment
changed to grasslands when the mammoths lived there.
****************
Dinosaur Tracks Museum in Denver to Close
One
of the best-kept secret geological wonders in the Denver area is the
Dinosaur Tracks Museum at CU-Denver on the Auraria campus. The museum not only has dinosaur tracks,
but contains reptile, amphibian, insect, and bird fossil tracks from around
the world. Unfortunately, this
museum is closing permanently at the end of May. At that time, the fossil tracks will be
moved permanently to CU-Boulder, where they will be stored for further
scientific study. However, the
tracks will not be displayed to the public.
For
the remainder of the spring semester, the museum will be open to the public
from noon to 5:00 pm, Monday through Thursday, or by special appointment.
During spring break (March 19-23) and after the end of the spring semester
(May 14-31) it will be open only by special appointment. The museum holds the largest collection
of fossil footprints anywhere. It is located in the basement of St.
Cajetan’s Church on the Auraria Campus.
Admission is free. Contact the museum office
at 303-556-5261 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
Dr.
Martin Lockley, world-renown expert on fossil track and museum director,
show dinosaur tracks to Spencer and Gavin Morrison and Megan Rairdon at the
Dinosaur Tracks Museum.
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New from the Colorado Geological Survey
The Colorado
Geological Survey website is loaded with data and free goodies. For
instance, 227 of their out-of-print publications can now be downloaded for
free in PDF format. A newly-designed map server allows you to view several
statewide maps of interest. They have an online Niobrara tool allows one to
determination of depth to Niobrara formation and thickness of the Pierre
shale at any point in the Denver Basin. A high-resolution image gallery
(not quite complete) contains downloadable files of geologic interest
around the state. There is also free
stuff for teachers and kids. All of the past RockTalk newsletters are
posted online. If you are planning
to visit other locations in the state, the Spring
2006 RockTalk describes numerous interesting geology-related sites in
Colorado.
Their
website is a work in progress, so check back often. One of the things in
progress is the posting of all 1:24,000 geologic maps in Colorado on the
website for free download. Be sure to check out their Facebook page
by simply clicking one of the Facebook icons on the home page to see what's
happening today at the CGS. They
post news notes, historical notes, and "did you knows" daily. Let
your children and teachers also know about this great resource.
****************
When
giant fleas roamed
By Rebecca Cheung (Science News, Web
edition, Wednesday, February 29th, 2012)
Fossils
show ancient insects grew as long as 2 centimeters
ANCIENT
BUG Fleas of the Mesozoic were relative giants, like this
15-millimeter-long fossilized male found in China. D. Huang et al/Nature
2012
The
flea’s features weren’t always set in stone. Ancient fleas were larger and had longer
siphons to suck blood with than today’s fleas, researchers report in a
study published online February 29 in Nature.
These
and other new details gleaned from middle Jurassic and early Cretaceous
fossils unearthed in China could help scientists piece together how these
disease-spreading bugs evolved. The
fossils date to between 165 million and 125 million years ago and measure
between 8 and 20.6 millimeters—as much as six times the size of a modern
human flea.
The
early fleas’ stiff bristles and claws suggest that these bugs latched onto
a variety of hairy or feather-covered animals, perhaps even dinosaurs, say
the scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the University of
Kansas in Lawrence and the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris.
****************
Scout Days at Dinosaur Ridge
Guides
are solicited for Boy Scout Day at Dinosaur Ridge. Guides get in free, free lunch and a
DinoRidge T-shirt. Some information about this event follows. If anyone is interested please contact Gerry Naugle.
Boy
Scout Day: May Discovery Day
Boy
Scout Day is an opportunity for Scouts at all levels to satisfy their
geology requirements and earn pins, belt loops and badges. These awards are
available through the Boy Scouts of America and not the Friends of Dinosaur
Ridge. More than 60 earth scientists and other volunteers, including
certified merit badge counselors, assist with the event.
Boy
Scout Day is held on the second Saturday of May, on May 12th, 2012, 9:00AM
to 3:00PM. Parking and check-in will be north of the Visitor Center at the
Thunder Valley Motocross south entrance off of Rooney Road (signs up on day
of event). Parking and check-in will NOT be available at the Dinosaur Ridge
Visitor Center. NOTE: please do not drop off any scouts at the Visitor
Center prior to parking as the check-in area is at the parking lot. Parking
is $5 per car paid as you enter. Please do not park along Rooney Road North
or West Alameda Parkway.
The
general public is invited to attend between 10:00AM and 3:00PM.
For
additional information: Clare
Marshall
303-697-3466
x 106
dinodiscovery@dinoridge.org
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Science Fair Judges Needed
Colorado
State Science Fair, April 5: The Colorado State Science Fair, Inc. Board of
Directors would like to take this opportunity to invite you to participate
as a Grand Awards Judge at the 2012 Colorado Science and Engineering Fair
(CSEF). The fair will be held at
Colorado State University in Fort Collins on April 5-7, 2012. Approximately 320 6-8 (Junior Division)
and 9-12 (Senior Division) grade student finalists from 13 Regional Science
Fairs will compete at the 57th Annual CSEF.
As a Grand Awards Judge, you will be selecting the 1st, 2nd, 3rd,
4th, and Honorable Mention award winners from your assigned category and
division.
All
judging will take place on Thursday, April 5th from 10:15 a.m. to 5:45
p.m. Judge check-in will be from
9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Team
Captains will be required to check-in before 9:15 a.m. and will need to
stay until 8:30 p.m. to serve on the All-Fair Judging Team to select the
three best projects from each division.
Online Registration at the CSEF
Website:
*
Home page for the Colorado State Science and Engineering Fair: http://www.csef.colostate.edu/
*
Grand Awards Judge Information page:
http://www.csef.colostate.edu/Judges.htm
*
To register to be a Grand Awards Judge for the 2012 CSEF, please go
to http://129.82.204.188/csef/gaj/login.php
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Upcoming
Events
Fri.,
Mar. 9, 7:30 p.m., at the monthly meeting of the North Jeffco Gem and
Mineral Club, Pete Modreski of the USGS will give a slide show and talk on
“23 Pegmatites in 5 Days, a Colorado Field Trip Saga”. Meeting is at the
North Jeffco Community Recreation Center, 6842 N. Wadsworth Blvd.,
Arvada. All are welcome to attend.
Thurs,
Mar. 15, 7:00 p.m., monthly meeting of the Colorado Scientific Society, at
Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church, 20th Ave. at Simms St.,
Lakewood; topic will be Paleogeography of the Denver, Cheyenne, and
Colorado Headwaters Basins, from the Latest Cretaceous through the Eocene,
to be given jointly by Marieke Dechesne, Bob Raynolds, and Jim Cole, of the
Denver Museum of Nature and Science and the USGS.
Mar
23-25: The Fort Collins Rockhounds Club presents the 51st Annual Gem and
Mineral Show on March 23 (Friday, 4-8 p.m.), March 24 (Saturday, 9 a.m. - 6
p.m.), and March 25 (Sunday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.) at The Ranch/Larimer County
Fairgrounds in the Thomas M. McKee Building, Loveland, Colorado. This
year’s exhibits feature Fossils and Quartz. Demonstrations including
lapidary and wire wrapping will be presented throughout the weekend. Door
prizes, mineral specimen grab bag sales and the silent auction are ongoing.
Gem and mineral dealers sell everything from rockhounding equipment and
ore-grade specimens to fine jewelry and stone beads. Adult admission is $4.00 for one day or
$7.00 for a 3-day pass. Student (12-18 years old) admission is $1.00.
Children under 12 free when accompanied by adult. For more information, http;//www.fortcollinsrockhounds.org,
e-mail mailto:fcrockhounds@yahoo.com
or call the show chairman at (970)493-6168
Sat.
& Sun., March 31 - April 1, Hands of Spirit's 15th Annual Spring
Mineral and Jewelry Open House from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. You're sure to find an incredible
selection of the finest crystal and mineral specimens, stone carvings, and
a lovely selection of jewelry. Refreshments will be served. Call 303-541-9727 for directions and
further information. http://www.handsofspirit.com.
Friday,
April 13th, North JeffCo Gem and Mineral Club Gem Silent Auction, at the
APEX Community Recreation Center, 6842 Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada. Jewelry,
gemstones, mineral specimens, craftwork, and rock-craft equipment may be
available for sale. Event begins at 6:45 pm, checkout starts about 9:15 pm.
No early checkout. Free admission, free parking, and free refreshments will
be served. Cash or check only. For more information, call Merlene Solis at
720-212-5550 or email at linumas@gmail.com.
April
20-22, Colorado Mineral and Fossil Spring Show, Ramada Plaza Hotel (formerly
the Holiday Inn), 4849 Bannock St, Denver, CO 80216 (frontage road on west
side of I-25, north of I-70); free admission and parking; hours 10-6 Fri.
& Sat., 10-5 Sun. For more info see http://www.mzexpos.com/colorado_spring.htm
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Updated 4/1/12
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