T HE HO U N D ’ S HO W L
AIKEN GEM, MINERAL and FOSSIL SOCIETY
AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINA
Volume 50, No.9
November 2012
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From the Prez…
November 9 Program
Hurricane Sandy only blew in cooler
temperatures to our region, thank
goodness. Our good thoughts and
prayers go out to all those who were
affected by that storm, especially to the
first responder teams.
This window of pre-Holiday
season is a wonderful time to get out
and collect some of our Earth’s treasures. Saturday,
November 10th is our Club’s fee-defrayed dig at the
Diamond Hill Mine. We’ll have a great day together! It’s
a fantastic place to bring your entire family, because
there is plenty of quartz material of all sizes in the
tailings and—for the energetic—plenty of new ground to
explore. Remember that the weekend before was a
very expensive private machine dig, so opportunities
should be excellent to find something special. Details
can be found elsewhere in this issue.
Lost wax casting is the program for our
November meeting. Tim Steeper will be lighting the
flame and melting tiny pieces of wax to show us how to
model lost wax casting of jewelry. Many of us collect
gemstones and wonder what in the heck to do with our
“dragon hoard.” Purchased jewelry settings often seem
“ho hum” utilitarian. Want to see how custom settings
can be made? Using old dental and other tools, tiny
rods of wax, a heat source, and simple sculpture
techniques, Tim has crafted amazing pieces since he
was a teenager. He has sources for materials and
where your wax models can be cast, too. We’ve seen
him for many years demonstrating his craft during our
Gem and Mineral Shows and he’s taught at the lapidary
schools. This is our opportunity to get a lesson from an
expert.
See you at our next meeting on Friday,
November 9! Until then, Onwards and Upwards!
Shellie Newell
Model Making for Lost Wax Casting
We look forward to seeing Tim Steeper again and
gain from his many years of experience working with
lost wax casting. Many have been
fascinated at the annual March Show as
he demonstrated an uncanny ability to
work with minute wax models to render
delicate, precious metal jewelry.
Plan to attend the meeting to learn more about the
process and the fine points that result in such
exceptional workmanship.
☼☼
Holiday Meeting and Dinner
December 14
6.00 p.m.
Let us join together to
reflect on the past year that
seems to have passed so quickly and enjoy this special
holiday time with our family and friends.
Bring a favorite side dish that serves 10 or so (the
Club will provide the main meat dish) and a hobbyrelated, wrapped gift (~$10) for the rather unorthodox
“Pirate” gift exchange.
Notice will be sent if there is a change in the
meeting location due to holiday class schedule.
See you at 6 p.m.!
In This Issue
2 – Member News; 2013 Slate; October Program
Review
3 – Staurolite at Brasstown; SEED Scenes
4 – Show News; AGMFS Dig; DMC news
5 – Minutes; Federation News
6 – Amazing Places; Rock Cards; Jewelry Secrets
7 – Making a Vibratory Tumbler
8 – Bench Tips; Shows/Events; Code of Ethics
9 – Post-it/Tear-off Page
Hound’s Howl – 2
November 2012
Member News
Welcome New Members
Todd Anderson, Bryce and Collin
N. Augusta, S.C.
John Whatley – 1st
Tom Ciravolo – 8th
Carl Schmidt – 9th
Bobby Ohliger – 18th
Barbara Fenstermacher – 22nd
Aleia Woodard – 27th
John Potvin – 28th
Mike and Patti Bennett – 4th
Chet and Carolyn Nichols – 11th
Archie and Dorothy Sprague – 30th
☼☼
Election
The election of officers will take place at the
December 14 Holiday Meeting. At that time, any
nominations will be accepted from the floor. In addition,
an absentee ballot will be sent to all members so as
many as possible can cast a vote.
Nominating Committee Chair, Chris Glass,
presents the following slate:
President – Walt Kubilius
Vice President – Patti Bennett
Secretary – Linda Sarkany
Treasurer – Kathleen Wallis
Editor – Shellie Newell
☼☼
ORDER YOUR CLUB BADGE
AIKEN, GEM, MINERAL AND FOSSIL SOCIETY
YOUR NAME
Can be purchased at B & S Engraving
3733 Washington Rd., Martinez; 706-863-7501
Rocks and Then Some
I’ll put it this way: It doesn’t get any better than
having Kim Cochran present the basics about the
different rock categories, to see (and touch) excellent
specimens from each, AND
enjoy his anecdotes and
tidbits on how and where
they were formed and
acquired.
Kim’s program first
covered intrusive (plutonic)
and extrusive (volcanic)
igneous rocks with
specimens of Elberton blue
granite, Stone Mt. quartz
monzonite, decorative “Blue
Pearl” granite, Chunky Gal
Mt. dunite, pahoehoe lava,
pumice, porphyry from British Columbia, pitchstone,
obsidian, basalt and more.
On to sedimentary processes and products such
as conglomerate, breccia, shale, limestone, dolomite,
chalk, rock salt, gypsum, bituminous coal, petroleum,
and tar.
Last but not least, we learned about the formation
of metamorphic rocks by regional, contact, and impact
processes. Contact metamorphism can be seen at the
Cartersville Fault where the Piedmont is separated from
the Valley and Ridge. Some rock types from this
process are hornfels, marble, and quartzite. Regional
metamorphism involves large areas near mountain
ranges where the rocks are subjected to high
temperature and great pressure – gneiss and schist, in
all their foliated glory, are sure to be present.
Thank you, Kim, for taking the time to be with us
in your busy schedule and keeping the hobby and study
of geology alive and well!
B. S. F.
☼☼
As 2012 comes to a close, give some thought
to renewing your Club
membership. A renewal form is
included on page 9 for your
convenience. If you wish to be
noted on the
Birthday/Anniversary list,
please add the appropriate
dates so
they may be recorded. Also, next
month, a refreshment sign-up sheet will be
circulated – the work and cost can be shared if two
members participate each month.
November 2012
Hound’s Howl – 3
SE
SEED Scenes
Photos by S. Newell and B. Fenstermacher
☼☼
Staurolite at Brasstown
by Christine Glass, Aiken GMFS
Field trips are the best part of belonging to gem
and mineral clubs. It is especially enjoyable when
things fall into place to take off on an unexpected dig. A
recent trip began like that. I received an e-mail about a
new dig site for staurolite in Brasstown, North Carolina.
This was new territory just leased and untouched
except for the exploratory sample by the MAGMA team.
I called to get information and found the dig would
be held Friday through Sunday just before Sandy was
due to hit the East coast. The weather was still warm
travel conditions were good so Barbara and I talked
ourselves into a road trip planning to go overnight. I
made reservations at a bed and breakfast near the site.
We left Thursday morning enjoying a quiet drive
into North Carolina stopping at Lake Chatuge because
several web sites and books cited mineral deposits that
might be found. We did not find the deposits alluded to
but we did find wonderful fall scenery. We found out
later that the deposits we had been seeking were under
water or that we needed a boat to reach the area where
they could be found.
Early the next morning we drove to the dig site
joining those who had camped before the dig. We
signed a release paying a fee and began to prospect.
We hit pay dirt immediately by scratching in the gravel
layer. A few of the pieces were definite crosses or a
twinned crystal, most were covered by mud.
Any experienced prospector knows that it takes
effort to dig and screen in order to find specimens but
we were bringing up material with almost every scoop
of the shovel. The site was so productive that we skipped
lunch so we could work the spots we had started.
In the early afternoon a small Bobcat® scraped
away some of the red clay so people could reach the
gravel layer without the hard labor of digging through
the roots and brush with a shovel. More people joined
the dig including a couple bottle feeding a baby goat
named Gabby. I considered her an added attraction as
she skipped among us.
In the mid-afternoon we knew it was time to head
back but neither Barbara nor I wanted to leave as we
were still finding just enough material to keep us going.
We made the decision to stay another night and drive
back the next day. It was late afternoon when Barbara
and I hauled our buckets back to the car to leave.
We made a quick call to the inn so we could stay a
second night and our hosts graciously allowed us to
stay over. They recommended a casual restaurant in
Murphy for dinner. I was glad the atmosphere was
casual because I was wearing mud-stained jeans that
were beyond casual. After washing up I cleaned
the sink behind me.
The next morning we headed to the John C.
Campbell Folk School gift shop to see some of the
crafts made by former students and instructors. The
workmanship in each product was exquisite and
detailed. If you are in the area it is worth a stop.
We also stopped by Clay’s Corner where New
Year’s Eve is celebrated with the annual Opossum
Drop. New York has a glitzy ball but Brasstown has a
real opossum and the opportunity to buy a t-shirt to
prove you have seen the action in person.
I am still washing staurolite and will be for the next
few weeks. This MAGMA dig is worth the drive when it
is open to the public again. It might be an interesting
club dig at some point.
Clay’s Corner convenience store where the ‘possum Drop is held.
Photo: B. Fenstermacher
Hound’s Howl – 4
November 2012
Show Setup and Takedown
Every year we hear that the magic happens when
it comes to building our Show. Things come together –
don’t sweat it. Those statements have a grain of truth
because things do come together because of a
dedicated group of members working overtime. Those
parroting the magic phrase usually come by once the
sweat equity is put in.
If you have ever known anyone who worked at
Disney you would realize that what happens in the
public venue only comes about because of the massive
work structure below the Magic Kingdom. It takes an
immense effort to keep the park attractive to visitors so
they want to visit. On a small scale the same is true of
our annual show.
We need members to volunteer early for set up and
take down. Why? It takes effort to get the Casino ready
for our displays and dealers. Tables have to be in
place, the stands and cases assembled and skirting
placed around the cases so our displays can go in. The
front desk must be organized and the demonstrations
area set up
In the middle of all this the dealers begin to come
in at noon to set up their booths. If we are short of labor
we are literally working on top of each other. That is not
an optimum condition for the dealers or us.
This year we may need a work day planned to
refurbish some of the case stands. Those assembling
them last year remember how shaky some of the
pieces were. Time takes a toll on all things and our
cases and stands are no exception.
A volunteer sheet will be passed around at coming
meetings if you can donate time to refurbish stands
please sign up. We will have another sheet for those
able to help with our Thursday show set up and the
Sunday take down. Please remember that the show is
not just the responsibility of the show committee but of
all members of the Aiken and Augusta gem members.
We need your help. Please volunteer.
Chris Glass, Show Co-Chair
Fee-Defrayed Dig for Club Members
Diamond Hill Mine
Saturday, November 10
The Board voted to set aside a total of $400 to
partially pay for Aiken GMFS members to enter the
Diamond Hill Mine. Here’s the deal. Sign in at the mine’s
entrance and pay the entire fee. Kathleen Wallis (Club
Treasurer) will reimburse you during the December
meeting, or, if you aren’t present, she’ll mail you a check.
The amount will depend on the number of people who
participate but will not be more than half price for an
individual.
This day was chosen because a machine dig is being
held on November 3rd, which extends the mine pits and
should expose plenty of new material. A pocket of beryl
was discovered this summer, some of which was yellow
and some was emerald green. Diamond Hill is an easy
site to find specimens, and the kids will have a lot of fun
scrambling up and down the hills. It’s also located fairly
close to Aiken.
Most people bring gloves, trowel, and a bucket or flat
boxes to collect at this site. There are six acres of spoil
piles to sort through. Those who are industrious and want
to break new ground might use a shovel, pick, or wedge
and sledge hammer, and a hand cart. Newspaper is useful
to cushion the crystal points for transport home. Do
include lunch and plenty of water, as the mine is located in
a rural area.
We’re hoping that all of our membership will be there
and that everyone will find lots of neat stuff. Remember to
pick up at least a few specimens for Grab Bags, too. Feel
free to invite your friends to participate, as the mine is also
open to the public that day.
[directions: http://dhmine.com/ or call Gina Clary
(864) 934-3744)]
Fee Schedule
$10 seniors (65+) ▪ $20 adults ▪ $15 for Veterans
$10 ages 13–17 ▪ $5 ages 6–12 ▪ free for those under 5
Shellie Newell
New DMC Website
http://www.amfed.org/sfms/_dmc/dmc.htm
Show Meeting
Thursday November 15, 2012
7:00 PM
The Georgia Radiation Therapy Center
821 Saint Sebastian Way, Augusta
(across from University Hospital ER entrance)
Look forward to seeing you at the meeting,
Richard McNutt and Chris Glass,
2013 Show Co-Chairs
New DMC Email
Address
[email protected]
November 2012
Hound’s Howl – 5
Augusta GMS Field Trip
November 17
Cunningham Farm
Fee: $25-adults, $15 teens
Meeting Minutes
The October 12 meeting was held at USC Aiken with a
short business meeting so we could enjoy our speaker,
Kim Cochran.
President Shellie Newell opened the meeting at
7:00 pm with 27 members present. Guest Mark Barnes
was welcomed.
Kathleen Wallis gave the treasurers report; the
USC. $1500.00 scholarship will be coming out of the
club funds in the near future. It was also decided that
the club defray the admission of members who attend
the November 10 dig at Diamond Hill. Members who go
pay their own way in and get reimbursed at the next
meeting
The executive board decided that a Lifetime
Membership in the Society will be presented to past or
present members in recognition of their service to the
Aiken Gem Mineral and Fossil Society. This year
nominated members include: Bob McDivitt, Yates
Donnan and Cecil Butler.
Barbara Fenstermacher reminded everyone that
volunteers were needed for Science Education
Enrichment day on October 13.
Walt Kubilius reviewed the upcoming programs:
November will be Tim Steeper with lost wax casting;
December is the annual Christmas party and pirate gift
exchange and January is the annual Jeopardy
tournament.
Chris Glass discussed the upcoming Gem and
Mineral show needs with an emphasis on helping with
publicity. Shellie stated that she was the current school
contact for the show. Members were asked to consider
putting in displays or demonstrating a lapidary skill that
could be learned.
Future meetings will have sign-up sheets for
displays, show set-up and take down and possible work
parties to get cases ready for the show.
The business part of the meeting ended at 7:20.
Door prizes were drawn and an array of snacks and
sweets brought by Herman and Gayla devoured before
the educational and enjoyable presentation on rock
cycles by Kim Cochran.
Respectfully submitted,
Julia Poole, Secretary
Federation News
Eastern Federation
The November EFMLS Newsletter contains
several articles of interest including
• an introduction by Cheryl Neary, the new
EFMLS President
• a Safety article by Ellery Borow encouraging anyone with
a good safety idea to share it with others
• minutes of the 2012 EFMLS meeting held in Harrisburg,
PA this past September
• a complete listing of the new 2012-13 EFMLS committee
chairs
You can read these articles by downloading the November
issue at: www.amfed.org/efmls/newsletters.htm
American Federation
The November AFMS Newsletter also
contains several articles of interest to
members....
• new information regarding land closures that may effect
our collecting rights on public lands are discussed
• new President Don Monroe encourages clubs to recruit
younger members to take on leadership responsibilities
• Safety chair Owen Martin discusses hurricane safety
• Web Site contest chair Dan Imel talks about changes to
the 2013 AFMS (and thus regional) web site competition
• a complete listing of the new 2012-13 committee chairs
You can read these articles by downloading the November
issue at www.amfed.org/news/default.htm .
--Both from Gem Cutters News, November 2012
Southeast Federation
The September Lodestar articles worth
noting. . .
▪ a president’s message by Jason Hamilton
from Jacksonville, Florida
▪ Emsisoft anti-malware recommended by Carl Talbott
after his laptop caught the “FBI Ransom” virus
▪ Carl Talbott’s lead article on gold and silver as money
▪ upcoming Shows in the south through mid January
▪ Be Safe – Be Well and current hazards to the southland:
European Hornet, West Nile Virus, Copperhead snake,
and hurricanes.
▪ Nominations Committee with current slate for election at
the October 20 Annual Meeting
(The next Lodestar will be published in November and can
be downloaded at < www.amfed.org/sfms/>.
--from crochet4aprincess.blogspot.com
Hound’s Howl – 6
November 2012
The 10 Most Amazing Places
on Earth
By Robert Lamb , Amanda Arnold
10. Uluru the Monolith
In "Avatar," a noble, indigenous people fight to
protect their sacred landmarks against an invading
culture. If you're pining for that sort of drama, then look
no further than Australia's Uluru-Kata Tjuta National
Park. Here you'll find mighty Uluru, one of the largest
geologic monoliths in the world.
Dubbed "Ayers Rock" by Europeans, the 5.8-mile
(9.4-kilometer) wide slab of arkose (a type of
sandstone) resonates with sacred significance for the
Anangu people. Aboriginal paintings pepper its base,
as well as caves and waterholes held sacrosanct in the
spiritual tradition of Tjukuritja. While the Anangu have
visited the site for roughly 22,000 years, they only
regained legal ownership of the land in 1985 after a
century of European rule.
size of an ice rink, and situated 40 feet beneath
Buckingham Palace. That does not even include the
British Crown Jewels which are kept in the Tower of
London.
The Queen's personal jewelry is conservatively
valued at $57 million and most of it was received as gifts.
One of the highlights of the collection is the so-called
Timur Ruby, which is actually a magnificent spinel weighing
352.50 carats. It is inscribed with the names of several of
the previous owners, who were Mughal emperors.
Other fabulous gems in her collection include the
Cambridge and Delhi Dunbar Parure, a fantastic suite of
emerald jewelry which includes an emerald diadem; the
Prince Albert Brooch, a huge sapphire which was given to
Queen Victoria by Prince Albert the day before their
wedding; Queen Mary's large ruby earrings, and a vshaped ruby and diamond bandeau collar which the
Queen models on the front cover of the publication The
Jewels of Queen Elizabeth, by Leslie Field.
The British Queen also owns several of the large
diamonds cut from the Cullinan, the rough that produced
the Stars of Africa, the Cullinan I and II (530 carats and
317 carats), which are part of the Crown Jewels. She
reportedly refers to the Cullinan III and Cullinan IV, 94 and
63 carats respectively, as "Granny's Chips."
---From www.gemstone.org, International Colored Gemstone
Assn. (ICA)
☼☼
Uluru is the visible tip of a much larger rock slab
that extends deep into the Earth. In ages past, this tip
was underground as well, but hundreds of millions of
years of erosion have reduced the surrounding
landscape. Uluru gets its red complexion from clay and
rusted iron minerals within the sandstone. At dusk and
dawn, the monolith takes on even darker, crimson
hues.
Image Credit: Harvey Lloyd/Taxi/Getty Images
--From http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/curiosity/topics/10amazing-geological-features.htm
☼☼
Gems of the Rich and
Famous
Her majesty Queen Elizabeth II:
This monarch has jewelry. In fact she
has so much jewelry that she has a
special room to keep it in about the
Now you can play all
of your favorite card games
while studying rocks and
minerals. Each card in this
standard deck features its own
photo, helping you to become
acquainted with the names of
each rock specimen. Learning
has never been so much fun.
Kingsley North www.kingsleynorth.com has a line of
mineral and rock playing cards available. Very reasonably
priced at $5.95 a deck, they look to be a fun way to spice
up your Texas Holdem, Rummy, or how about
Cribbage??? Look for items # 2-0126 and #2-0053
.
☼☼
◊Diamond and engagement ring
tips!
◊What can void a jeweler’s return
policy?
◊What do you need to know to work
in a jewelry store?
◊What are the hottest jewelry items this year?
◊Create your own Chakra jewelry.
◊How to upgrade your diamond.
◊3 Great watch-buying dos and don’ts.
◊What are the marks stamped inside a ring?
◊Fun facts about diamond clarity.
And a lot more. . . http://www.jewelry-secrets.com/
November 2012
How to put together a
$600+ Vibratory Tumbler for
Half the Price
(Also known as how to turn a $120
Tumbler into a $310 Tumbler)
By Dan Imel, Rochester Lapidary Society
Ever have that great urge to have a 45-lb. vibratory
tumbler? Wince at the $600+ price tag that one of the
best units currently on the market, Thumbler’s
Tumbler, carries? How can you get around that?
Harbor Freight carries a
vibratory tumbler they rate
at 18 lbs. The unit is well
engineered and can run a
larger barrel. If you look at
the reviews, the barrel is
too thin for rock tumbling
but the unit itself is pretty
good. I decided to see what
I could do with one of these.
If you watch the sales,
Harbor Freight frequently has them for sale for $150.
Use their 20% off coupon available in most Sunday
papers and you now have a large tumbler for only $120.
I’d looked at these tumblers for a few years now and was
always scared off by the barrels. The solution: Buy the
Thumbler’s Tumbler barrel. You may have to order the
tumbler online if your local Harbor Freight doesn’t have
them in stock or you don’t have one locally. Not to fear,
they have a flat rate shipping of no more than $6.99 per
order.
Now, time for the modificationsY first, throw the
tumbler barrel away. It’s way too thin for rocks. You
might save it for the polish
stage but, in my experience,
it’s also so thin that it distorts
when you tighten down the
hand knob and isn’t worth the
effort. Mine had holes in it after
a little over 200 hours of 80 grit
and Harbor Freight doesn’t sell
replacements. Keep the
washers, etc. You’ll need to
search the web for the Thumbler’s Tumbler 45-lb barrel.
I found a place that sells them for $180 by the time you
add shipping.
Next, even before you use the tumbler the first time,
replace the 12-inch, 3/8-inch threaded rod that holds the
barrel in place. Why? The threading tolerance is too tight
for the grit you’ll get on it while tumbling and the hand
knob will lock up. Normal bolts and nuts don’t have as
tight of a tolerance and don’t have an issue. It’s not
pleasant, disassembling the tumbler from underneath
with a full barrel of rocks on top you can’t remove.
To remove the original rod, with the barrel off,
remove the four bolds holding the motor bracket to the
Hound’s Howl - 7
plate the barrel sits on. This gives you access to the nut
on the underside holding the rod in place. A new 12 inch
rod is about $2 at most major home improvement stores.
While you are at it, buy two large 3/8 washers and two
smaller 3/8-inch washers and place the largest washers
closest to the plate the rod passes through on each side
and the smaller next to that, add a 3/8-inch lock washer
on each side then thread on two 3/8 nuts and tighten,
one from each side, and you are done. You’ll also need
a new hand knob to hold the barrel down. They are
available for less than $5 at most wood working stores,
3/8-inch. Cost of all parts should be
less than $10 and you may have
many of the parts already. I couldn’t
try the original hand knob from
Harbor Freight, since I was never
able to get it off the rod. It may work
with a different rod. If it threads on or
off hard when you get grit on the rod, replace it before it
locks up. I’m a wood worker and buy bulk bags of knobs
for less than $2 each knob.
Now for that added touch that may be totally
unnecessary but doesn’t cost anything. Find the lid from
a 5-gallon bucket. Dry wall buckets are great. Drill a 3/8to ½-inch hole in the center. Place the lid face up
between the barrel and the plate the tumbler rests on.
I’m figuring that the lid will reduce wear on the
part of the barrel that tends to wear out first and its free,
so why not?
You’ll have to tighten the hand knob down tightly so
the barrel doesn’t move but this has been true for every
vibratory tumbler I’ve had that’s shaped like a donut.
I have about 2000 hours on the tumbler so far and it
seems to work as well as the $600+ version for roughly
half the price. I’m not putting the Thumbler’s Tumbler
down, they make a very fine product. I’m just providing a
more affordable alternative.
45 Pounds too big?
Not into 45-lb. tumblers? Think 18 lbs. would be more
than enough? Do the same thing with Harbor freight’s 5lb. tumbler and Thumbler’s Tumbler’s 18-lb. barrel. Total
cost should be about $130.
On the weight differences, the Thumbler’s
Tumbler’s barrels are only slightly larger than their
Harbor Freight counterparts. I think the difference is that
the Harbor Freight tumblers were designed for polishing
shell cases, etc. and, as such, have a lower weight to
volume rating than rock tumblers.
For barrels, I recommend The Rock Shed. They
seem to have some of the best prices I was able to find
online. http://www.therockshed.com/tumbler3.html
--from The Rockcollector, Nov. 2012
(Editor’s note: Our own Bob McDivitt fashioned similar
tumblers some years ago using Harbor Freight units. He
used the very large ones for tumbling hundreds of
pounds of Savannah River agate for Adopt-a-Rocks at
our Shows.)
Hound’s Howl – 8
November 2012
Bench Tips by Brad Smith –
Loose Heads
Flying off the handle is never good, particularly if it's
a hammer head. The traditional way to tighten a loose
hammer head is a bit of
work, but there's a fast and
easy solution available for
about 50 cents - superglue.
Simply put a couple drops
in from the handle side, let
it set up, and then a few
drops from the top side.
Be sure to get the thin
superglue, not gel. It penetrates better. Packages of two
superglues are usually available at the 99 cent store.
Announcing: "BenchTips for
Better Jewelry Making", a new
book for beginning and
intermediate jewelers by Bradford
Smith. It contains 101 useful
Bench Tips to help improve skills
and increase quality at the bench.
The 96-page book is filled with
close-up photos to explain the
techniques and makes a great gift
for the holidays - Just $16.95
For more details, see: http://CreateSpace.com/3976439
or http://Amazon.com/dp/0988285800/
More BenchTips are at facebook.com/BenchTips or at
groups.yahoo.com/group/BenchTips◙
☼☼
Shows and Events
November 9-11, 2012 Pascagoula, Miss.
Mississippi Gulf Coast GMS Show; Jackson County
Fairgrounds, Civic Center Bldg.
November 9-11, 2012 Louisville, Ky. Kyana GS Show;
Resurrection Lutheran Church, 4205 Gardiner View Ave.
November 9-11, 2012 Orlando, Fla. Central Florida MGS
Show; Central Fla. Fairgrounds, 4603 W. Colonial Dr.
November 10, 2012 Richmond, Va. Richmond GMS Rock
Swap, Ridge Baptist Church Meeting Hall, 1515 E. Ridge Rd.
November 16-18, 2012 Marietta, Ga. Cobb County Gem
& Mineral Society Show; Cobb County Civic Center, 548 South
Marietta Parkway
November 16-18, 2012 Columbia, S.C. Columbia Gem &
Mineral Society Show; Jamil Temple at 206 Jamil Rd.(exit
106A off I-26)
November 17-18, 2012 West Palm Beach, Fla. GMS of
the Palm Beaches Show; S. Florida Fairgrounds Expo Center
East, 9067 Southern Blvd.
November 23-25, 2012 Mobile, Ala. Mobile Rock & Gem
Society Show; Abba Temple Shrine, 7701 Hitt Rd.
November 23-25, 2012 Salem, Va. Roanoke Valley MGS
Show; Salem Civic Center, 1001 Boulevard
November 30-December 2, 2012: Montgomery, Ala.
Montgomery Gem & Mineral Society Show; Garrett Coliseum,
1555 Federal Drive
December 8-9, 2012 Franklin, Tenn. Mid-Tennessee
Gem & Mineral Society Show; Williamson County Ag Expo
Park,4215 Long Lane, Franklin
☼☼
AFMS Code of Ethics
_I will respect both private and public property and will
do no collecting on privately owned land without the
owner’s permission.
_I will keep informed on all laws, regulations of rules
governing collecting on public lands and will observe
them.
_I will to the best of my ability, ascertain the boundary
lines of property on which I plan to collect.
_I will use no firearms or blasting material in collecting
areas.
_I will cause no willful damage to property of any kind fences, signs, buildings.
_I will leave all gates as found.
_I will build fires in designated or safe places only and
will be certain they are completely extinguished before
leaving the area.
_I will discard no burning material - matches, cigarettes,
etc.
_I will fill all excavation holes which may be
dangerous to livestock.
_I will not contaminate wells, creeks or other water
supply.
_I will cause no willful damage to collecting material and
will take home only what I can reasonably use.
_I will practice conservation and undertake to utilize
fully and well the materials I have collected and will
recycle my surplus for the pleasure and benefit of others.
_I will support the rockhound project H.E.L.P. (Help
Eliminate Litter Please) and Will leave all collecting
areas devoid of litter, regardless of how found.
_I will cooperate with field trip leaders and those in
designated authority in all collecting areas.
_I will report to my club or Federation officers, Bureau of
Land management or other authorities, any deposit of
petrified wood or other materials on public lands which
should be protected for the enjoyment of future
generations for public educational and scientific purposes.
_I will appreciate and protect our heritage of natural
resources.
_I will observe the “Golden Rule”, will use “Good
Outdoor Manners” and will at all times conduct myself
in a manner which will add to the stature and Public
“image” of rockhounds everywhere.
- from <www.amfed.org>, American Federation of
Mineralogical Societies
November 2012
Post-it/Tear-off Page
Hound’s Howl – 9
Model Making
For Lost Wax Casting
By Tim Steeper
November 9
Room 200, Science Building – USC-Aiken
7:00 – Business meeting
Refreshments – John and Susan Blas
2012
2012 AGMFS Officers and Committees
Refreshments/ Program
January 13
Jim & Joan Jewett / Jeopardy_____
February 10
_Linda Sarkany__/ __Display Cases
March 16 (new date) Sara Padgett /_Tucson Experience
April 13
__Chris Glass /_Parks Colorado Plateau
May 11
J.Poole & C. Dunbar_/_Silent Auction
June 8
Kathleen & Walt /_David Cicimurri
July/August
Summer Excursion
September 14
_Chris Glass_ /_Geology of Turkey_
October 12
Gayla DeBose_/ Kim Cochran
November 9
__John Blas_/_ Lost Wax Casting_
December 14 @ 6:00
Holiday Dinner Meeting
Election/Gift Exchange
President: Shellie Newell (803) 663-7752
Vice President: Walt Kubilius (803)643-3281
Secretary: Julia Poole (803) (803) 341-9728
Treasurer: Kathleen Wallis (803) 643-3281
Editor: Barbara Fenstermacher (803) 649-0959
< [email protected] >
118 Ashwood Drive, Aiken, SC 29801-5154
Field Trip/DMC Liaison: OPEN
Stamp Chairman: Sarah Jolley (803) 645-9608
Libraran: OPEN
Webmaster: Patti Bennett
Federation & USCA Liaison: B. Fenstermacher
The Aiken Gem, Mineral and Fossil Society
2013 Membership Application
Current Date ____________
Please check one: New ☐
Renewal ☐
Name__________________________ DOB (mo/da)______ Spouses Name:___________ DOB______
-
Address_________________________________________________________________________
Email Address:_______________________________________________ DO Anniversary________
Children’s Names (those active in club only) and DOB ______________________________________
Home Phone:__________________ Work Phone:________________ Cell phone:______________
I give my consent to the Aiken Gem, Mineral and Fossil Society ( AGMFS) to use my name and likeness for
publicity purposes and to promote Society activities. Check one: Yes ☐
No ☐
Please check one type of membership and newsletter preference.
Dues Family $20 ☐
Dues Single $15 ☐
☐ Email (free to all members)
Dues Student $2 grade/school ☐
☐ Snail mail (additional $10/address/year for postage/handling)
Make check payable to: Aiken Gem and Mineral Society
Mail to:
Kathleen Wallis, AFMFS Treasurer
1142 Ridgemont Drive
Aiken, SC 29803
Treasurer’s Use
cash _______ check #________
Amt: _______ Date: ___________
The Hound’s Howl
Aiken Gem, Mineral & Fossil Society
P.O. Box 267
Aiken, SC 29802-0267
First Class Mail
November 2012
Program: Model Making for Lost Wax Casting
Presented by Tim Steeper
November 9 @ 7:00 p.m.
USC-Aiken Science Building, Room 200
The Aiken Gem, Mineral and Fossil Society operates as a non-profit, educational organization affiliated
with the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies, Inc., the Eastern Federation of Mineralogical and
Lapidary Societies, Inc., and the Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Societies, Inc.
The purpose of the Society is to stimulate interest in collection of gem and mineral materials and fossils
and to impart knowledge of lapidary work, mineralogy, paleontology, collecting and classification of minerals
and fossils, and the application in the art so greater pleasure may be derived from these activities.
The Society meets at 7:00 p.m., second Friday of the month, in Room 200 of the USC-Aiken Science
Building located in the university complex on University Parkway in Aiken. There are informal meetings in July
and August. The annual dues, payable by December 31, are $20 for a family membership, $15 for a single
adult membership and $2 for a junior member.
The Hound’s Howl is published ten times a year by the Aiken Gem, Mineral and Fossil Society. An annual
subscription is $10.00 for posted delivery. Unless it is otherwise noted, permission is granted to reprint material
from this bulletin for non-profit usage provided the sense or meaning of the material is not changed and proper
credit is given to the club and author. Material written by the editor may not have a by-line.
The Society’s website, www.aikengmfs.org gives more information about the history of the club, the
annual show, field trips, education links, and community projects.