April Newsletter 2015 - Rhode Island Mineral Hunters

 VOLUME 51, ISSUE 1
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RIMH
JANUARY, 2013
Rhode Island Mineral Hunters, Inc.
© 2013 RIMH
Bowen-Lite
a 501(c)(3) NP Organization
www.RIMH.us
CUMBERLANDITE ~ OFFICIAL STATE ROCK ♦ BOWENITE ~ OFFICIAL STATE MINERAL
VOLUME 53, ISSUE 4
APRIL, 2015
© 2015 RIMH
Let The TREASURE HUNT Begin!
April 18th RIMH Mineral Auction
Hi Everyone,
The RIMH annual auction is just about two weeks away
and I know everyone is excited. We will have hundreds
of items from small
Malachite Crystals, AZ
gemstones and jewelry to
large mineral specimens,
Chalcopyrite Crystals, MO
from tools and books to glass
display cabinets. We will
have an entire collection for
sale. I myself have several
box lots to donate as I know
others will have. It is time to
go through your collections
2015 RIMH MINERAL AUCTION
April 18th ~ Noon
Viewing begins at 11:00 AM
Over 100 lots of great crystals, fossils,
cut stones, books, and lots, lots more!
Something For Everyone.
Special Lots For Kids Only Bidding!
NEW LOCATION
Kelley-Gazzerro VFW Post 2812
1418 Plainfield Pike, Cranston RI
Plenty of FREE PARKING!
Fluorescent Hackmanite and Sodalite
Quebec, Canada
and those boxes of rocks to see what you can donate or
sell. Please label all specimens if you can but we can
help with that if you are not sure.
Our new place at the KelleyGazzerro VFW Post 2812 located
at 1418 Plainfield Pike, Cranston,
RI and has plenty of free parking
and plenty of space to display our
minerals. Viewing for the auction
starts at 11:00 am and bidding starts
at 12 noon.
Bring your friends and family. Kids
are welcome too. Remember this is
a major fund raising event for our
organization and helps pay for our
show in October, printing and postage, field trip insurance,
mineral purchases for
Amethyst Crystals
our auction, speakers/
Brazil
lecturers
for
our
meetings, and other
sundry expenses.
This is also a great time
to join RIMH or renew
your membership too.
I am looking forward to
seeing you all there on
Saturday, April 18th.
Any questions just give
me a call or email.
Thanks!
Steve Emma, RIMH President
steve@steveemma.com401-751-5215
See page 5 of digital newsletter for more photos of auction lots.
Volume 53, Issue 4
Bowen-Lite
RIMH FIELD TRIPS
OUR NEXT MEETING
CONKLIN LIMESTONE QUARRY
Our April Meeting will be the annual
route 146 and Wilbur road, Lincoln, RI
RIMH MINERAL AUCTION
Noon, April 18
SNEECH POND COPPER MINE
Staples Road, Cumberland, RI
Sunday, 04/12/15
Viewing from 11AM
Kelley-Gazzerro VFW Post 2812
8:00 am – 11:45 am at Conklin
12:15 am - 4:00 pm at Sneech Pond
Conklin Quarry - Home to our state mineral bowenite,
a variety of antigorite found only in northern RI, plus
many other minerals. Great local collecting site! Many
of the minerals at this site fluoresce under ultra-violet
light. Good spot to bring children.
Sneech Pond - Many minerals can be found here including
malachite, azurite, magnetite, clinochlore, chalcopyrite.
We will caravan there from Conklin.
Directions to Conklin: 41.925654 N -71.458211 W
Coming from south: Take 146 N and enter quarry yard
on right side of highway just before the Wilbur Avenue
Bridge. Drive through the yard to the dumps in the back.
Coming from north: Take 146 S to the Route 116 north
exit and almost immediately turn left onto route 246
south. Go about ½ mile and turn left on to Wilbur Ave.
When you cross the bridge there will be a building on
the right followed by a white driveway into the quarry
dumps.
Minerals found: (Visit mindat.org for complete list.)
(Conklin) Antigorite (var. ‘bowenite’), thulite, goethite,
churt, pyrite, serpentine, dendrite plus many others.
(Sneech Pond) malachite, azurite, magnetite, clinochlore,
chalcopyrite.
Tools needed: hammers & sledges, garden tools, wedges,
prybars, spray bottle w/water, protective eyewear,
close-toed shoes, TP, newspaper to wrap specimens, and
always, common sense. There are no sanitary facilities
at these sites.
Clothing: Dress for seasonal conditions. Long pants.
Car pooling: None. Meet at dig site.
1418 Plainfield Pike, Cranston RI
NEW LOCATION
LOTS OF FREE PARKING
April WILL NOT have the usual 2nd Tuesday
meeting at CCRI. That returns May 12th.
Unless otherwise noted, ALL general club meetings are
held the 2nd Tuesday of the month at CCRI, Warwick, room
1130 at 7 PM. General club meetings are open to the public.
Please check the RIMH website regularly
as times and locations are subject to change.
Executive Board meets at 7 PM
on the 1st Tuesday of the month.
April 7th, 7 PM
Meeting will be at: TBA
RHODE ISLAND MINERAL HUNTERS ~ 2015
OFFICERS
April, 2015
The RIMH is a 501(c)(3) organization.
President: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steve Emma
Vice-President: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Buck Leach
Secretary: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *Chris Tremblay
Treasurer: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dante Caprara
EXECUTIVE BOARD (includes above officers)
Louise Barbish, Tom Barbish, James Brenek, Rachel
Cesana, *Jen Davis, Don Fail, Joel Russo, Bill Wilson
DEPARTMENTS / COMMITTEES
Historian: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bill Wilson
Membership: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *Leo Doucet
Field Trip Coordinator: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joel Russo
Show Chairman: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Don Fail
Librarian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bill Neal
Editor: . . . Bruce Luscombe, bdluscombe@msn.com
Webmaster: . . . . . Bruce Hecker, bbhecker@cox.net
HALL/STATE FOREST QUARRIES
Connecticut
Sunday, 04/19/15
This is a joint Trip with the Southeastern Massachusetts
Mineral Club. Further information will be sent via e-mail
when available.
VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.RIMH.us
* indicates a new: officer / board member / duty for 2015
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Bowen-Lite
Volume 53, Issue 4
April, 2015
Beneski Museum Field Trip
GENERAL RULES FOR ROCKHOUNDING
For those who attended the club meeting 03/10/15 for the 1st
time and those who have not yet been on a field trip and listened
to the talk on safety, it was not designed to scare the daylights
out of you. You have to be aware of your surroundings and
be cautious – use common sense. In all the collecting trips
I’ve been on over the past several years, I only know of two
serious injuries to collectors.
Please note these are general rules all rock hounds should
follow. Although collecting specimens is both rewarding and
downright fun, it can be very dangerous.
It is never a good idea to go collecting by yourself. If you get
hurt, there is no one around to help you. If you do go it alone,
make sure someone knows exactly where you will be, and
always bring a phone with you.
When hammering rock, always be aware who is around you.
Flying shards of rock can severely injure a bystander or even
yourself.
When collecting at old mines, lookout for overgrown and
unmarked mine shafts that you could fall into. Do not enter
any mine adits (entrances) – you may fall into a deep shaft or
the old mine may be weak with falling rock, timbers, etc.
Some collecting sites require a significant hike in the woods
so bring a compass, trail GPS, or mark your trail in.
Most of all, always be alert of what you are doing, be
conscientious of who is near you. Always use common sense.
If you missed the
March
fieldtrip
to this museum
then you missed
a great event. We
saw a lot of great
minerals, crystals
and fossils. Bob
Sproule arranged
for a special guided
tour by Patrick R. Gonsoulin-Getty, PhD, assistant
professor (visiting) at UCONN. Patrick worked at
the Beneski Museum for a while and did (and is still
doing) specialized research into some of these famous
trackways. He gave us a lot of interesting facts about the
fossil tracks, things we would have never seen or know
if not for his guidance. Thanks Patrick!!!
Here are some photos taken of the group as we toured
around the museum. The group broke for lunch in town
then returned for a final brief visit.
Special Note About Quarries
We visit several active quarries. Sometimes we find mediocre
stuff, but oftentimes we find some terrific stuff. We’ve had
many rewarding experiences throughout the years. However,
most quarries are dangerous places so quarry owners and
RIMH have strict rules about collecting:
- Always remember that the quarry owners are doing us a
favor by letting us collect – we definitely are not doing them
any favors so please be courteous and polite to whomever is
managing the quarry that day.
- Quarries can be very dangerous places. Quarries have
dynamited rock everywhere that has jagged edges and walls
that can be very high that contain loose rock that is just waiting
to fall.
- Never bang on a quarry wall – the vibration may cause a
rock slide that can severely injure or kill you!
- Be alert of what you and others are doing at all times. Stay at
least 50 feet away from all walls.
- Anyone caught too close to, or banging against, a wall may be
forced to leave the quarry immediately – either by the quarry
manager or the field trip coordinator. The last thing we want
to do is force someone to leave, so PLEASE pay attention to
what you are doing and use good ol’ common sense and this
shouldn’t be a problem – that nice specimen or pocket in the
wall is not worth your well-being.
Continued in May Newsletter
This is an amazing museum and it’s free too visit. Where
else can you go and see world class dinosaur tracks,
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Continued on page 4
© Rhode Island Mineral Hunters ● “Bowen-Lite” newsletter ● April, 2015
Bruce Luscombe
PO Box 360
N. Kingstown, RI 02852-0360
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RIMH
Beneski Field Trip . . . Continued from page 3
thousands of them, all found locally in the Connecticut
river valley, both MA and CT. If you didn’t get to attend
Discussing special features in trackways.
Diorama of CT Valley 190 million years ago.
then I suggest you put it on your family’s list of must
do’s when in the Amherst, MA area.
Bruce Luscombe, RIMH
More information can be found on their website:
www.amherst.edu/museums/naturalhistory
Here’s More:
THINGS I LOVE ABOUT ROCKS!
I’ve always loved auctions! The thrill of seeing interesting
and unusual pieces that I would never get a chance to selfcollect. They’re great for getting specimens from “old”
locations that are now under strip malls and parking lots.
Plus bidding and buying supports our club. This will be
fun for all, young and old. There will be special lots that
only kids can bid on.
Auctions are also a way for me
to share some of my favorite
or unusual pieces with others.
This year I’ve included some
of my favorite specimens from
Australia. You’ll see stalactite
pieces collected in the 1980’s,
unusual pineapple quartz crystal growths, lusterous
molybedenite, and famous “Morella Quartz” crystals.
Morella quartz is the Australian version of Herkimer
Diamond. They grow in singles and small clusters with
the crystals usually being fully terminated on all sides.
BUT Morella specimens are naturally a deep smoky
color. These are great additions to your collection if you
want something a little different and from far away.
Bruce Luscombe, RIMH
All newsletter photographs © Bruce Luscombe unless otherwise noted.
PLEASE E-MAIL THE EDITOR
This is YOUR NEWSLETTER! You need to contribute!
Photos-Articles-Information-Leads-Websites-Etc. Thanks.
Bruce Luscombe, editor - bdluscombe@msn.com
The “Bowen-Lite” newsletter is produced by and for the members of the Rhode Island Mineral Hunters, Inc. (RIMH).
All portions are copyright © 2015 - RIMH and/or original author / photographer. www.RIMH.us A 501(c)(3) organization.
Volume 53, Issue 4
Bowen-Lite
April, 2015
April 18th AUCTION
Get Your Piece of
The Treasure!
RIMH 2015 Mineral Auction ~ Free Admission ~ April 18th, 2015 - noon ~ VFW Post 2812, 1418 Plainfield Pike, Cranston RI
5 information: RIMH.US
Visit our website for more