May 2015 Meeting Minutes
Minutes of the Meeting of Shenandoah Valley Gem and Mineral Society
Meeting date: May 11th, 2015
Intro:
President Michael Pabst called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm. There were 33 members present and 2 visitors.
Old Business:
1. Minutes were approved from April.
2. Thanks to Mike, Karen & Debbie for the refreshments tonight.
Pat will bring them in June. Anyone can sign up to bring snacks for a monthly meeting by clicking this link:
http://www.shenandoahvalleyrockclub.org/next_meeting_info/sign_up_to_bring_refreshments.php
New Business:
1. Several members met with the officers to discuss plans for the show in September. It was decided that we need to emphasize the need for volunteers and member displays.
2. If you’d like to present a program, please talk to an officer at a meeting or sign up at this link:
http://www.shenandoahvalleyrockclub.org/next_neeting_program/sign_up_to_present_program.php
3. Be sure to keep up with our website www.shenandoahvalleyrockclub.org and our Face Book page “Shenandoah Valley Gem and Mineral Society” for updates and information.
❖ ❖ ❖
Program Report:
Tony Nikischer presented a wonderful program on “Minerals from Kola, Russia”
He talked about the mining industry there, and showed some beautiful photographs of the region and many minerals from the area.
We learned the area is desolate, except for the mines and the mining towns. The area is south of the Barents Sea, near Finland.
We visited the areas of Khibiny, Lovozero, Kovdor, and Afrikanda. Some of the minerals mined there are apatite, amazonite, iron, phlogopite mica, as well as minerals like labuntsovite and loparite found in syenite rock.
He told us that the mines have a great relationship with Moscow State University, and that mining will sometimes be halted so an expert, such as Dr. Igor V. Pekov can visit the area, and identify the minerals.
Dr. Pekov (48) is a senior researcher and chair of mineralogy, who has already identified 65 new minerals.
Tony welcomed everyone to visit his shop in Charlottesville.
The address is:
1885 Seminole Trail, Charlottesville VA
(Rt 29 and Woodbrook)
Tel: 434-964-0875
www.excaliburmineral.com
He has an astonishing variety of minerals, rare and common, for sale.
❖ ❖ ❖
Notes from The Rock Shop - April 2015:
The Rock Shop was open for its monthly session on Saturday, May 16th, 2015. Five members attended to work on various projects.
Shayna continued working on material she collected locally in Louisa County. Now that it was whittled down to size, she was able to slab the unakite she started with last month. The epidote and quartz had its turn in the 14” slab saw and several good cuts resulted. A number of agates from Idaho got worked on the cabbing machines and are heading for a happy ending in jewelry pieces Shayna crafts.
Our president Michael dropped in while his spouse Karen was attending Jilly’s wire wrapping session next door. He had a souvenir in the form of Atlantisite he obtained on their trip to New Zealand, and he did some work on it to polish it up some from its original form. He also had some picture sandstone that he was able to polish up some, but its relative softness worked against it there. A piece of jasper Jack had on hand became a free-form cab - Michael’s first!
Our new Michael diligently worked a piece of Amazonite he collected at The Morefield Mine, Amelia Courthouse VA on a recent trip. Leo assisted him with the process and finding the best within the stone, and a nice gem came into being. He also had a chance to work a Richolite Serpentine scrap into a cab. This was a little bigger piece, and Michael was able to take a few more liberties with it than the Amazonite and got a good-looking cab prepared.
Jack and Leo arranged a heavy-duty extension cord overhead to connect the 14” saw to a different circuit than the 24” saw so we don’t trip breakers. Jack also worked some Azurite/Chrysocolla, Polychrome Jasper, and a white plume agate through the Titan to see if they were workable materials before he slabs up more of the same rocks. All indications are that they will do great.
The next Rock Shop date is Saturday, June 13th, 2015 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM. The facility is open to all members and free to use (but we ask for a contribution to the Repairs and Supplies Tip Jar on the central bench if you can make one)
Thanks,
Jack
❖ ❖ ❖
June meeting: Monday, June 8th at 7:30 PM
(Socializing and refreshments at 7:00 pm)
Waynesboro Church of the Brethren
364 Bridge Road
Lower parking lot—Side Door entrance!
Program: This will be an important meeting! Scott Gregory, our treasurer, will explain how to do display boxes for our show.
We will also be discussing the show details, and how everyone can be involved!
(The auction has been canceled for this particular meeting, but if members wish to bring items to “swap” or give away, please do so.)
Refreshments: Pat
Volunteers for Refreshments, 2015:
February: Deborah Grimm & Pat Lantz
March: Jilly Weigel
April: Charlie
May: Mike/Karen/Debbie
June: Pat
July: N/A - Club Picnic
August: TBD <<--NEED A VOLUNTEER!!
September: TBD <<--NEED A VOLUNTEER!!
October: TBD <<--NEED A VOLUNTEER!!
November: TBD <<--NEED A VOLUNTEER!!
December: N/A - Club Christmas Dinner
Deborah Grimm, Secretary
❖ ❖ ❖
Club Officers and Staff 2015
President – Michael Pabst
Vice President – Leo Cloutier
Show Co-Chairs – Dean Hostetter
Educational Outreach -- Deborah Grimm
Secretary/Newsletter -- Deborah Grimm
Field Trip Coordinator - Dean Hostetter
Treasurer – Scott Gregory
Web Site Coordinator – Jack Glenn
Club web site: shenandoahvalleyrockclub.org
Club Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ShenandoahValleyGemMineralSociety
Club email: svgem-min-club@live.com