May - Aiken Gem, Mineral and Fossil Society

THE HOUND’S HOWL
AIKEN GEM, MINERAL and FOSSIL SOCIETY
AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINA
VOLUME 49, NO. 5
From the Prez
It seems that Aiken has burst into bloom during the
last few weeks and, thankfully, the rains have knocked
down most of the pollen. It’s a lovely time to be outside
roaming a dig site searching for cool specimens.
All Aiken GMF members whose 2010 dues were paid
as of March 12 are eligible to participate in a dig for
quartz, amethyst, and beryl at Cunningham Farm on
Saturday, May 22. Normally the cost of digging at this site
is $25 per person. As a gift to members, our Club will pick
up the tab so everyone can enter for FREE that day. If
you plan to join us, please sign up either at the May 14
meeting or contact me directly [(803) 439-2625/e-mail
shellienewell@att.net] (before May 20 please) so that a
check can be cut. We gather no later than 7:45 AM at the
Huddle House in McCormick, SC on May 22. I expect this
to be a very popular event and encourage you to be there.
Be sure to bring lots of water, a sack lunch, and
sunscreen with your digging gear.
Christopher Moore, Ph.D., will speak at our May
meeting about the geoarchaeology of our Carolina bays.
He’s been involved with many different archeological sites
in South Carolina as well as in determining the bay rim
sedimentary layers. From the “camel-lot” site where many
bones from prehistoric camels have been found, to the
hunter-gatherer Paleoindian Topper site on the Savannah
River, to the recent Clovis point discovery, this evening
promises to be a fascinating insight into the links between
our local geology and plant, animal, and human
adaptation over the epochs.
Many thanks to all those who helped with the Aiken
Earth Day event in Hopeland Gardens on April 23.
Herman Kunis manned the geode cracker, Jay Gorday
brought his fabulous faceted gemstone display, Jim Jewett
discussed the tumbler/polisher, Chris Glass provided an
array of rock and minerals, Chet Nichols explained the
Geiger counter, Sarah Jolley showed off her wire-wrapped
jewelry, Joan and I gave away “Adopt-a-Rock” specimens,
and Barbara Fenstermacher assembled educational
material for teachers and home schoolers. Much gratitude
to Barbara for organizing this event with the City of Aiken,
gathering enough specimens to give away, talking with
many educators and parents, and hauling equipment and
a ton of material to and from Hopelands Gardens to make
it possible.
See you on Friday, May 14!
Shellie
MAY 2010
May 14 Program
Geoarchaeology of Carolina Bays
Our welcome to Christopher Moore, Ph.D., of
the Savannah River Archaeological Research Program
who will present a program on the geoarchaeology of
Carolina bays.
Discussions will include the latest
understanding of the archaeological site
formation process; the functional role of
Carolina bays within Paleoindian and
archaic systems; and the linkages
between climate, natural processes,
and human adaptation since the late
Pleistocene.
He will also help identify local artifacts, and, in turn,
tap our knowledge to identify rocks and minerals found at
the sites. Bring any artifacts you have for all to see. ■
June 11 Program
Our Annual Silent Auction
th
It’s not too early to prepare for our 12 Silent Auction.
Start looking now for items you wish to part with. These
can be jewelry you have lovingly crafted or purchased,
decorative items that show off minerals and fossils, books
related to the hobby, field trip needs, etc.
This is an opportunity to acquire some very nice
things – both for adults and kids – at some very nice prices.
Look for more information in the June newsletter.
~~~~~~
In This Issue
2 – Member News; Earth Day Report
3 – 4 “From Out of This World”
4 – Meteorite news; Tips
5 – Micromount Gathering; CSRA Archaeology
6 – Field Trips; Minutes
7 – Emerald City Club; SAVP Meeting; Rock ‘n Read;
Websites for Kids
8 – Kim Cochran and Ga. National Forest Regulations
Hound’s Howl –2
May 2010
Welcome New Member
Richard Graveline
Snellville, Ga.
Happy Birthday
Dorothy Sullivan – 5th
Mike Bennett – 7th
Shelly Woodard – 7th
Destiny Woodard – 11th
Stephany Filyaw – 13th
Buddy Applewhite – 19th
Steve D. Hutto – 26th
Gemii Williams – 26th
John Ligon – 30th
Sonya Kindt – 31st
The HOUNDS are HOWLING
about the
AIKEN GEM, MINERAL & FOSSIL SOCIETY.
Earth Day at Hopelands Gardens
What a grand and glorious morning we enjoyed on
April 23 at Hopelands Gardens. The weather was perfect,
attendance of energetic school children stimulating, and
lunch was delicious.
Five tables were covered with diverse club offerings
ranging from the geode cracker, Geiger counter, tumbler,
and flat lap to beautiful necklaces fashioned from crystals
of quartz, amethyst and other gemstones. Sarah Jolley
showed these works of lapidary art next to rough stones –
a remarkable transformation that wowed our visitors.
Adding to the lapidary was a display of faceted stones by
Jay Gorday who also brought a number of large mineral
specimens. Joan and Jim Jewett answered questions,
gave out club information, and replenished Adopt-a-Rock
bins of quartz and coal fossils. Herman Kunis headed right
to the cracker and succeeded in giving away the
remainder of the Trancas geodes. The crystal treasure
that lies within never ceased to amaze (both him and the
students). Shellie Newell helped explain the different plant
fossils in the Durham coal specimens; the large poster
with photos she fashioned also helped in identification.
Remember to send Joan Gallagher-Jewett, keeper of the
Club scrap book, any newspaper articles/pictures, photos,
or news of the Club’s activities and accomplishments.
You can reach her at: (803) 642 - 8728 /
catladygallagher@gmail.com / 251 Khaki Ct., Aiken 29803
Castle Hayne Trip Report
Eight Aiken GMFS members went to Castle Hayne
N.C. on May 7 for a day of fossil collecting in an active
limestone quarry. Attendees included Dave Dunlap,
Barbara Fenstermacher, Jon Kindt, Walt Kubilius, Shellie
Newell, Sharon Sterrett, Kathleen Wallis, and Frank Lee.
The Rocky Point quarry has Eocene age limestone and
marl – about 45 million years old – which is also the same
age as the sediments in Aiken County, and the materials
in the Harleyville and Cross quarries.
In the morning, we were finding oysters, small
scallops, tiny shark teeth, and bryozoans. These were
nice, but we were hoping to find sea biscuits and sand
dollars. There was no luck until Jon Kindt came across a
productive area, three hours after we entered the mine!
Everybody was able to bring home some sea biscuits, and
a couple folks found sand dollars.
Fortunately, we still have something to aspire to:
maybe next time we’ll find some brachiopods, or maybe
an “auriculatus” shark tooth.
Walt Kubilius
Shellie Newell showing Durham fossils to Mead Hall students;
photo by Barbara F.
Chet Nichols, our uranium geologist, brought
specimens that worked the counter and prompted
thoughtful expressions to young faces. Thanks also to
Chris Glass, who could not attend but loaned mineral and
fossil (many nice petrified wood) specimens for viewing
and touching.
Schools that visited were Mead Hall Episcopal, St.
Mary’s Catholic School, East Aiken Elementary, Aiken
Elementary, North Aiken Elementary and East Aiken
Elementary.
(More photos can be seen on www.aikengmfs.org)
May 2010
Hound’s Howl - 3
From Out of This World
April Program on Meteorites by Anita Westlake
The thought that she was seeing material from the
origins of our Solar System awakened Anita Westlake to a
passion for meteorites. Since her friend, Jerry Armstrong,
handed her a specimen in 2002, she’s pursued learning
about and collecting them. Anita is the co-founder and
current President of the Meteorite Association of Georgia
(MAG).
Meteors can be bits of asteroids, planets, or comet
tails from the farthest regions of our galaxy. Around one
hundred tons of space rubble enter the Earth’s
atmosphere
every day, but
few pieces
withstand the
extreme
temperatures
(3,000°–
24,700°F) and
ram pressure
(compressed
air in front of
the speeding
meteor that
causes the air
to heat up, in
turn heating up
the meteor)
without
melting,
Lunar meteorite found in Northeast Africa.
vaporizing or exploding. Most are quite small, pea- to
dust-sized, when they cross into the outermost
atmosphere (60 miles above the crust) at speeds ranging
from 11 to 70 km/sec. Some meteors can be seen as
shooting stars.
Meteorites are heavier than Earth rocks. Note the metal cube
at the top is a magnet. Photos by Shellie N.
A meteor’s composition, speed, and angle of entry
determine if it can survive to hit the ground. When a
meteor impacts the Earth’s crust, it is termed a meteorite.
Meteorites can be iron (91% iron, 8.5% nickel, 0.5%
cobalt), stony (36% oxygen, 2.6% iron, 1.8% silicon, 1.5%
aluminum, 1.4% magnesium, 1.4% nickel, and 1.3%
calcium), or a mixture of both called stony-iron. Some
scientists speculate that meteorites provided the seeds of
life on Earth. A few found in Antarctica and Australia
contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PANHs), which
are critical molecules in DNA and RNA that hold
information for hemoglobin (oxygenates blood) and
chlorophyll (photosynthesis in plants), as well as amino
acids. Only about ten meteors larger than three feet wide
hit Earth’s crust per year. Most of these are lost to
vegetation or fall into the oceans. The ones that impact in
our Southern states are covered by plants or water and
deteriorate rapidly because of humidity. They are more
easily discovered in dry climates like deserts. Most people
use a metal detector to find them because most look quite
innocuous but are far heavier than expected.
“Meteor events have been recorded throughout
human history,” Anita said. “They were feared as anger
from the gods. In the Middle Ages they were called
thunderstones, because it was believed they formed
during thunderstorms and fell to Earth from clouds.”
The first modern record of what may have been a
meteorite event occurred in Siberia in 1908. Witnesses of
the Tunguska event reported seeing a fireball across
hundreds of miles, and hearing an explosion that caused
extensive fire damage to villages and forests near its
impact site. To this day no meteoric material has ever
been found at Tunguska and some speculate that a comet
crashed into that area. The first crater scientifically proven
to be caused by a meteor is located near Winslow,
Arizona. It’s about a mile wide, 600 feet deep, and the rim
rises above the surrounding desert about 150 feet. A
much larger crater off the Yucatan Peninsula is thought to
be the “dinosaur killer” that caused global firestorms,
volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, and vaporized terrestrial
rocks, thus exterminating most species about 65 million
years ago. Dust from this event may have blocked light
from the sun for decades or even centuries.
Anita brought a few of her collection of meteorites
and tektites, which are nodules of natural silica (glass) and
impurities formed from the tremendous heat and pressure
when a meteor impacts the rock and sandy layers. Some
tektites are dark, dense, and only slightly translucent.
Others, such the green Moldavites from the Czech
Republic, are valued for their gemmy quality. Surplus
meteorites after academic study can be sold in grams or
kilograms in weight and dimensions in centimeters and
millimeters.
“While the science is fascinating, what really interests
me about meteorites are their stories,” Anita said. “It’s the
provenance–the scientific record–that determines its value
along with size, weight, rarity, and aesthetic appeal.
Meteorites found just lying on the ground are called finds,
and usually are less valuable than those linked to a
specific, witnessed event, which are called witnessed
falls.”
►
Hound’s Howl-4
May 2010
►►
She talked about her Claxton L5 chondrite specimen
that demolished a mailbox in Evans, Georgia in 1984.
Another specimen, the Peekskill stone, demolished the
trunk of a parked 1980 Chevy Malibu in 1992 in New York
City. Interest is also high for parts of the object they hit. If
the lady who owned the old Malibu hadn’t scrapped it, she
could’ve sold bits of it to collectors for far more than the
original selling price for the entire vehicle. Anita’s most
valuable piece is from a witnessed fall over 50 years ago,
from a meteorite bouncing off a radio and hitting the side
of an Alabama lady resting on her sofa. Some features of
Anita’s collection show regmaglypts (thumbprints), fusion
crust, flow lines, and orientation.
She related what could have been a disastrous
kitchen experience. When Anita attempted to use nitric
acid to uncover the Widmanstätten metal pattern
(crystalline patterns that grow centimeters in length under
extremely slow cooling over one million years–proof of its
extraterrestrial origin), she accidentally poured ethyl
alcohol back into the nitric acid bottle. Luckily Anita figured
it out immediately and ran to the kitchen doorway where,
after several seconds, a tiny plume of grey smoke
appeared above the bottle. Gathering up her three dogs
and closing them behind a bedroom door, she dialed 9-1-1
to report the incident. The hot line operator calmly
instructed Anita to: “Get out of the house. Now!” She said
that the crew wearing full Hazmat gear were not amused
when she told them what she had been doing with the
acid, especially when she insisted they go inside to save
her dogs. Thankfully, they all got out safely and the clean
up was accomplished in good order. Anita is banned from
getting any more nitric acid, however.
When asked about whether a meteorite had been
found from the March 20, 2009 event heard by many
Aiken GMF members, Anita was cautious. “Yes, I can
confirm that it was a meteor and that people have looked
for meteorites nearby the area they suspect where it fell.
But two men were arrested for trespassing on private
property and the owners do not want anyone to search
their land.”
Most of our Aiken GMF members gathered
around the counter, looking at the variety of her meteorite
and tektite specimens and asking questions long after
Anita’s presentation was over.
Shellie T. Newell
(Additional photos can be viewed on www.aikengmfs.org.) ■
Georgia Meteorite on Display at
Tellus Science Museum
The meteorite that arrived with a loud sonic boom in
Cartersville, Georgia last March did some damage to the
roof and ceiling of an unoccupied house. The homeowners
brought it to the Tellus Science Museum for identification,
and Curator Julian Gray was thrilled, to say the least,
when he saw what it actually was.
Generously, the owners agreed to loan the 294-gram
specimen to the Museum, and it is now on display with
pieces of the damaged roof for visitors to view. This is only
the 25th meteorite found in Georgia, and executive
director Jose Santamaria considers it extremely rare,
especially since it is a witnessed fall and the first one
documented as hitting a house.
“This type of meteorite is 4.567 billion years old and
originated in the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter.
It may have been traveling at 50,000 to 70,000 mph when
it entered Earth’s atmosphere,” Gray said. “Ram pressure
and friction slowed the meteoroid, but it still had enough
force to punch through the house. It is exciting to ponder
the hundreds of millions of miles that this meteorite
traveled before ending up on a bedroom floor in
Cartersville.”
Tellus Science Museum is located 40 minutes north
of Atlanta in Cartersville. The world-class facility spans
120,000 square feet and features four galleries. For more
information, visit www.tellusmuseum.org.
Tellus Science Museum
100 Tellus Drive, Cartersville, GA 30120
Media Contact: Joe Schulman, Director of Marketing
770-606-5732 or joes@tellusmuseumorg
--adapted from Star-O-Lite ,May 2010■
Antarctic Search for Meteorites
Shop Tip
The ANSMET program, funded by the Office of
Polar Programs of the National Science Foundation, has
recovered more than 10,000 specimens from meteorite
stranding surfaces along the Transantarctic Mountain.
Find answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the
program on http://geology.cwru.edu/~ansmet/.■
(DuPont #7). About 2 T. of cleaner in an aluminum pan
with about 2 quarts of water is adequate. Action is rapid.
To rinse, use a diluted ammonia solution to neutralize the
residual action in the specimen. Follow this with clean
water. Use in well-ventilated area, wear hand and face
protection.
◘ Pyrtie can be cleaned using radiator cleaner
–from the Leaverite News, May 2008 via Pick&Pack, Sept. 2008
May 2010
Hound’s Howl - 5
The 9th Winter Micromount Gathering
Advent Christian Village, Dowling Park, Florida
February 24-26, 2010
The annual Winter Gathering got off to a start with
early arrivals showing up Wednesday, February 24. The
main group mostly arrived on Thursday afternoon and
evening. By Friday we had 15 attendees and 17
microscopes in evidence. This year we missed a halfdozen regular participants who could not make it for a
variety of reasons. Even with the somewhat lowered
attendance, we had an enthusiastic and active group of
micromounters.
There was not a formal program this year; however,
Henry Barwood provided updated lists of minerals from
the Arkansas syenites and Friday afternoon showed a
Power Point presentation on the syenite minerals grouped
by the lithology of their host rocks. Because of the informal
nature of the talk, there was a great deal of discussion as
the images were presented. Saturday, there were
additional presentations on phosphate minerals (Henry),
mounts prepared from the give-away table (titled: Free is
Good) by Earl English and the minerals of the Benjamin
Prospect near Cragford, Alabama (sulfides and arsenates)
by Bob Stevens.
As in previous years there was an enormous amount
of give-away material available. Henry brought two
buckets of unexamined pegmatite from the 3M Quarry and
Jones Mill Quarry that was distributed among the
participants. There were at least 50 egg cartons of
minerals provided for examination. By late Saturday
evening, the group began to disperse and pack up for their
trips home.
Saturday we had our usual luncheon as part of the
program and, as always, there were abundant snacks
(much of them homemade) available throughout the
meeting. Martha and Ed Cunningham did, as always, a
magnificent job of organizing things, and the Lodge at
Advent Christian Village is a wonderful site to host the
event from.
The 10th Winter Gathering will be the last weekend in
February, 2011 (24th-26th), so mark your calendars!
(This is adapted from a report written by Henry Barwood
and submitted for the newsletter by Jim Stoops who
attended the meeting.)■
Hidden Crystals by Michael Kessler
How many tetragonal trapezohedrons are in this design?
Used with permission.
(ans. p.9)
“50,000 Years Ago in South Carolina”
For those in our community who received the
February 2010 Aiken Electric Cooperative’s South
Carolina LIVING, be sure to read Marc Rapport’s feature –
“50,000 Years Ago in South Carolina.” Our
archaeologically-productive CSRA is the focus and brings
evidence of “continuous human occupation in South
Carolina for at least the past 13,000 years.” The possibility
of a much longer period of human habitation is also
explored.
Chris Judge, a Native American studies instructor
(USC-Lancaster), is interested in how early people lived
their daily life. These sites are noted as providing key
information: the Topper Site; the Fig Island shell ring
complex on Edisto Island; Mississippian mound sites near
Camden; the Catawba Indian villages in Lancaster and
York counties; and the Kolb Site in Darlington County.
Excavations at the Topper Site reveal artifacts that
radiocarbon date to 50,000 years ago. Dr. Albert
Goodyear began working at this site in the 1980s and
volunteers can assist in digging at the Paleoamerican
Expedition during a 5-week period in May and June.
Information can be obtained on http://allendaleexpedition.net.
“Discoveries at the Topper site have revealed evidence that
suggest humans were living in the western hemisphere during
the last Ice Age. In this picture, you see excavations down to the
50,000-year level.” (Photo by SCIAA/ Jessica Beltman)
For help with artifact or possible archaeological site
identification, contact the S.C. Institute of Archaeology and
Anthropology at (803) 777-8170. The Institute’s Web site
is at cas.sc.edu/sciaa. To view more on this article with
photos visit http://www.ecsc.org and link to Magazine
Article Archive.
USED BY PERMISSION, Copyright 2010 SOUTH CAROLINA
LIVING MAGAZINE
(Editor’s note: A short write-up on the Allendale Expedition can
be found in the February 2010 Hound’s Howl.)■
Hound’s Howl - 6
May 2010
Joint Dig with Augusta Club on May 22
Amos Cunningham Mine
Due West area of S.C.
All Aiken members who wish to attend the Club-Paid
Dig must sign up at the May 14 meeting or contact
Shellie Newell directly [(803) 439-2625/e-mail
shellienewell@att.net] before May 20.
Also, plan to arrive at the dig by 7:30 a.m.
Augusta Club June Field Trip
Saturday June 26 – Hogg Mine in LaGrange Ga.
Rose Quartz, Tourmaline & Beryl ($35/adult & 0$/child)
Meet: Directions and Meeting Place TBA.
--from Star-O-Lite, April 2010
( Aiken club members are invited to attend all Augusta
club field trips.)■
Meeting Minutes – April 9
***********************************************************
“Amos has been digging with some heavy equipment
lately so there should be some good new areas to explore.
It is a Fee Dig, but the Aiken Club voted to pay the
fee for their members.
Tentatively, Steve Huffman, field chairman for
Augusta Club, says he will have everyone meet at 7:45
Saturday morning at the Huddle House in McCormick - the
one in front of the Food Lion store. The mine is above
Abbeyville out near Diamond Hill Mine. (More definite
directions are forthcoming.)”
--from Wayne Parker, Augusta Club Treasurer, by email,
May 6, 2010
******
GREUTLE-LAAGER, Tennessee
(near Chattanooga)
June 19, 2010
Time: 9:00 a.m. CDT
An Official Field Trip of the Tennessee Valley Rock and Mineral
Club (Chattanooga), (HOST)
and an Official Field Trip of the Aiken GMFS
Collecting: Fossils from the Mississippian/Pennsylvanian
Eras. Easy hunting – no fee –good access.
Directions: West of Chattanooga on i-24, exit 134 top of
Monteagle Mt.; west on us 41 for 1/2 mile; Piggly Wiggly food
store is on left just past Kangaroo convenience store. Will meet
in Piggly Wiggly parking lot at 9 a.m. CDT. Meeting time is
important as site is 30 minutes from meeting place.
What to bring: pick, rock hammer, safety glasses, chisels,
scratching tools, screen, buckets, newspaper with which to wrap
your finds, gloves, and of course plenty of water.
Where to stay: Monteagle is between Nashville and
Chattanooga. The exit is marked by billboards for the
Smokehouse Motel/Restaurant, rooms are available.
Contacts: Jack Weaver, phone # 423-596-0640 after 9 p.m.
EDT or any time on day of hunt.
=Shellie Newell opened the meeting at 7:05 p.m. with 24
attending.
=An accounting of the current treasury status submitted by
Kathleen Wallis was given by Shellie.
= A review of programs by Bill Reid: The so-called
"Camelot site" will be included by Chris Moore at the May
program. Many fossils of Ice Age mammals have been
found there. He'll also discuss several historical sites,
Native American village excavations, and the geology of
the estuaries and bays of the Carolinas.
= Preparations for Earth Day discussed; thanks to Rana
OBryant, Sarah Jolley, the Jewetts, and Herman Kunis for
volunteering to man the display.
= A reminder by Joan Jewett, Keeper of the Scrap Book,
to send her snapshots of members or articles in
newspapers regarding Club activities.
= Club-Paid Dig: The club voted on various dig sites to
see where we would have our first Club Dig. The
Cunningham Farms option offered on May 22 by far
generated the most response with 14 total votes. Looks
like it’s time to bring out the tools, folks! We've got some
rockhounding to do! :)
WE NEED A FIELD TRIP CHAIRMAN/WOMAN!!!
Duties would consist of organizing field trips and local
digs. No need to always be at these trips/digs...just to help
set them up.
=Our guest speaker was Anita Westlake, who shared
with us a small portion of her fascinating specimens of
meteorites, the stories behind them, and their often littleknown physical characteristics. Some of these specimens
included meteorites from as early as the 1800s, one that
once ended in the untimely demise of a cow, and even an
actual piece of the moon. (No, it wasn’t green cheese.)
Some Interesting Facts Shared: If it’s hovering, it’s a
meteor. If it’s on the ground, it’s a meteorite.
Meteorites are magnetic and VERY heavy for their size.
Sometimes have regmaglypts or "Thumbprints."
They can look burned, but may not be hot when they hit
the ground. Meteorites are not radioactive. If one falls on
anything you own, you're probably going to come into
some money really soon.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ashley Oxendine, Secretary
May 2010
Hound’s Howl -7
Emerald City Rock and Gem Club
The club has a trip planned for Memorial Day
weekend to visit the Wray Mine and possibly a few other
spots in the area. I would like to get a consensus on who
would be interested in attending and what the group
should plan for lodging. There is a great place nearby in
Hot Springs on the French Broad. They have a
campground with showers and cabins (sleeps 5-6) as well
as chalets for rent. If there are enough people we can rent
a few cabins and tent sites. People who attend are more
than welcome to leave after one day of digging. This area
has lots to offer such as hiking the Appalachian trail,
rafting, mine tours, NC museum of minerals, Blue Ridge
Parkway, Mt. Mitchell, et
Hot Springs is VERY POPULAR! If we are going to
camp as a group we should reserve soon as they may
already be booked up.
Please let me know if you plan on attending this trip
and what your plans are: Paul Turner, 864-223-3575
--received by email 4/08/2010■
Rock ‘n’ Read
Darwin’s Armada: Four Voyages and the Battle
for the Theory of Evolution, by Iain McCalman. W. W.
Norton & Co., New York,
2009, $29.95 hardcover,
400 pp., ISBN 9780393068146.
“You should read it if you
want to understand the
personalities and
motivations of the first
supporters of the theories
of evolution, not because
you’re expecting a blowby-blow accounting of the
war. I would recommend
it heartily to those
interested in paleohistory
and scientific
personalities.”
-From a review by Lynne M. Clos, Fossil News, Feb. 2010■
Southeastern Assn. of Vertebrate
Paleontology
South Carolina State Museum
3rd Annual Meeting
Fossil Websites for Kids
By Shelly Woodard, AGMFS
http://home.howstuffworks.com/fossil-activities-forkids.htm/printable This is a great website for beginners. It
will help elementary school children look for fossils outside
their own backyard. All the equipment that they will need
to begin their fossil hunt can be found in your house.
http://www.fossilsforkids.com This website is fantastic. It
covers everything from questions to dinosaurs. There is a
page on safety while collecting fossils and one that shows
you what tools to use and how to use them.
http://www.sdnhm.org/kids/dinosaur/ Site of San Diego
Natural History Museum. Links are: Finding Fossils;
Dinosaur Bytes; Name That Reptile; The Mystery of the
Ankylosaur; and Jurassic Jumble (an interactive puzzle).■
June 2-4, 2010
More Tips
Regular registration: $100
Student registration: $60
Field Trip: $25
Call for Abstracts and Register Information can be
downloaded at
http://www.museum.state.sc.us/events/seavp.aspx.
Early registration is requested.
Abstracts must be submitted no later than May 14.
◘ How to Remove a Tick – Apply a glob of liquid soap to
a cotton ball. Cover the tick with this and swab it for 15-20
seconds. The tick will come out on its own and will be
stuck to the cotton ball when you lift it away. –from The
Facets, 09/09 via Pick&Pack, 10/09
◘ Prevent Silver from Tarnishing – Apply a thin coat of
Alberto VO5 Conditioning Hairdressing with a soft cloth to
clean, polished, dry, silver decorative items. Wipe off
excess, leaving behind a very thin, virtually invisible
protective coating. The protectants actually prevent
tarnishing. –from T-Town Rockhound, 08/09 via Pick&Pack,
10/09
May 2010
Hound’s Howl – 8
President’s Message, April 2010
By Kim Cochran
As each of you know, last year we lost our ability to
collect on National Forest lands. Many individuals have
paid fines and have been threatened with prison time.
Recently two U.S. Forest Rangers spoke to the
Northeast Georgia Gem and Mineral Society in Cornelia.
The forestry service has established guidelines which
they consider fair to collectors. Compared to the
rockhound friendly rules of the past, the new ones are
very restrictive. A copy of these rules is printed in this
issue. We are encouraged to check in at one of two
ranger stations in the Chattahoochee National Forest.
One is located on US-129 north of Gainesville. The other
is on US-441 near Tallulah Falls. In the Oconee
National Forest there is an office on US-441 north of
Eatonton. The offices are closed on the weekends.
The collecting site cannot be privately owned or be
under a current mining claim. It appears that both
Charlie's Creek and Laurel Creek are off-limits. We are
restricted to digging no deeper than six inches into the
ground. The amount allowed to be collected is what
they consider to be enough for personal use. This is
between one piece and ten pounds. No collected
material can be sold. It is obvious that those making the
rules are not collectors. They have no idea how much
material is donated to schools and other groups for
education. Ten pounds will not go very far.
At this time it seems that groups will not be allowed
to collect. Individuals up to possibly three or four will be
allowed. It was recommended that a copy of the
guidelines be kept in the vehicle of each collector. One
potential problem is that each ranger may have his
own interpretation. At this time, I know of no one who
has collected under these rules. Please note these rules
cover Georgia’s National Forests only. The forests of
each state will have their own rules.
As it stands now, we are allowed to collect once
again. We are limited but at least there is the possibility
of visiting some of our favorite sites.
--from Cotton Indian Gems, May 2010■
Gold Panning and Rock Hounding
Guidelines
Gold Panning:
In most cases, stream-bed (placer) gold does not
exist in sufficient quantity to constitute economically
recoverable deposits. Usually no more than a few cents
worth of gold can be panned in an hour; however,
there’s always a chance of finding a stray nugget or odd
pocket of finer gold. Recreational panning for gold in
most stream beds is allowed. Special permission,
permits, or fees are not required as long as significant
stream disturbance does not occur and when only a
small hand shovel or trowel and a pan are used. Instream sluices and suction dredges are NOT allowed.
Contact the District Ranger office to be sure the
stream is on national forest land. The district office can
also give you information on road access and road
conditions. Some forest areas are easily accessible by
family autos while others may be inaccessible, or
accessible only by four-wheel drive vehicles. Some
roads close seasonally and remote areas may only be
accessible by foot. You can find information on seasonal
road closures on our Motor Vehicle Use Maps.
Rock Hounding:
A “rock hound” is any amateur who hunts and
collects rocks and minerals as a hobby. Within the
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, rock hounds
may find a wide variety of sedimentary, metamorphic,
and igneous rock types, along with many individual
minerals. Recreational rock hounding may take place at
areas where minerals are loose and free on the surface.
Before selecting a site, rock hounds should check
with the District Ranger offices to determine the following:
The location is on National Forest land.
Rock hounding is permitted in the area. Special
permission, permits, or fees are not required to take a
handful of rock, mineral, or petrified wood specimens
from the surface of National Forest lands for personal
use. You can collect a specimen if you can see all or
part of it exposed on the surface of the ground. You can
remove up to 6 inches of soil immediately around the
specimen you are collecting. Do not dig so much as to
cause significant surface disturbance that leads to
damage of natural resources. You may collect
reasonable amounts of specimens. Generally, a
reasonable amount is up to 10 pounds.
You can only collect specimens for personal use
and non-commercial gain. Commercial use involves
any trading, bartering, or selling of rocks, and minerals
from National Forest system lands. Rock hounding must
not be confused with commercial mineral activities which
are governed by mining and mineral leasing laws. No
mechanical equipment may be used and any collection
must not conflict with existing mineral permits, leases,
claims, or sales.
You can purchase maps of the ChattahoocheeOconee !ational Forests online at your convenience.
The best sources of information on minerals are State
Geological Survey offices, university geology
departments and libraries, mineralogical societies, and
rock hounding/lapidary clubs.
Causing ground disturbance or collecting minerals
for commercial gain without a permit is punishable by
fines and potential restoration costs.
-- from Cotton Indian Gems, May 2010
[Editor’s Note: The May issue of Lodestar publishes the
(N.C.) Nantahala and Pisgah National Forest policy
statement for rock hounding/gold panning/metal
detecting. It can also be viewed on their website
www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc.]
May 2010
Hound’s Howl -9
Geoarchaeology of Carolina Bays
By Christopher Moore, Ph.D.
May 14, 2010
Room 200, Science Building, USC-Aiken
Business Meeting at 7 p.m.
Refreshments provided by Herman Kunis
FIELD TRIPS
EVENTS
May 22, Augusta Club-sponsored trip to
Cunningham Mine, Due West, N.C.
June 22, DMC, Greutle-Laager, Tenn.
June 5-6, Birmingham, Ala., Alabama MLS Show, Tannehill
Lronworks Historical State Park
June 5-6, Marion, Ky., Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum
Show, Fohs Hall, 201 N. Walker Street
August 13-15, Gulfport, Miss., Harrison Co. GMS Show,
West Harrison Comm. Center
Sept. 10-12, Winston-Salem, N.C., Forsyth GMC Show,
Educational Bldg., Dixie Classic Fairgrounds
2010 AGMFS Officers and Committees
Refreshments/ Program
2010
January 8
Sarkanys_ /Jeopardy
February 12
__Chris Glass__/ Show Prep/Grab Bags
March 19 (new date) _Gayla Debose / _Show Review_
April 9
__Sarah Jolley_/ Meteorites______
May 14
_Herman Kunis_/Geoarchaeology Carolina Bays
June 11
_______________ /Silent Auction
July/August
Summer Excursion
September 10
_Muniz/Scott /Summer Show ‘n Tell
October 8
_Chris Glass_/ Kim Cochran____
November 12
Fenstermacher /Silent Auction
December 10 @ 6:00
Holiday Dinner Meeting
Election/Gift Exchange
President: Shellie Newell, 803.663-7752
V.P.: Bill Reid, 803.644-2988
Secretary: Ashley Oxendine, 803.292-4387
Treasurer: Kathleen Wallis, 803.643-3281
Editor: Barbara Fenstermacher (803) 649-0959
< Bfenster2@bellsouth.net >
118 Ashwood Drive, Aiken, SC 29801-5154
Field Trip/DMC Liaison: OPEN
Stamp Chairman: Sarah Jolley, 803.645-9608
Libraran: Bill Reid; (803) 644-2988
Libraran: Bill Reid, (803) 644-2988
Webmaster: Patti Bennett, (803) 648-7215
Federation & USCA Liaison: B. Fenstermacher
THE AIKEN GEM, MINERAL AND FOSSIL SOCIETY new / renewal (please circle)
2010 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
Current Date:____________
NAME:___________________________DOB (mo/day)______ SPOUSE’S NAME:____________DOB______
ADDRESS________________________________________________________DOAnniversary:________
CHILDREN’S NAMES (those active in the club)and DOB:__________________________________________
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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. Yes ____
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DUES:
FAMILY-$20.00
SINGLE - $15.00
STUDENT - $2.00
(grade & school)_________________________
Make check payable to: AIKEN GEM & MINERAL SOCIETY
Mail to: Kathleen Wallis, AGMFS Treasurer
1142 Ridgemont Drive
Aiken, SC 29803
Treasurer’s Use:
cash:______ check #:______
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Hound’s Howl
Aiken Gem, Mineral and Fossil Society
P.O. Box 267
Aiken SC 29802-0267
FIRST CLASS MAIL
May 2010
May Program: Geoarchaeology of Carolina Bays
By Dr. Christopher Moore
Meeting date: May 14 at 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. A map of the campus can be
downloaded on our website. The annual dues, payable by December 31, are $20 for a family membership, $15
for a single adult membership and $2 for a junior/student member.
The Hound’s Howl is published ten times a year by the Aiken Gem, Mineral and Fossil Society. An annual
subscription is $9.00. 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 web page, www.aikengmfs.org gives more information about the history of the club, the
annual show, field trips, and community projects.