Gem Crafters & Explorer's Club Bulletin, Las Cruces, NM

Affiliated with the AFMS and a member of the RMFMS

EL GAMBRISINO
July 2009 - Volume 51, Issue 7

Notes from the Previous Meeting: President Dave Smith opened the June 19th meeting promptly at 7 PM with the announcement that there will be no regular meeting in July. However, on Sunday July 12th the Fuller's will host what is turning into their annual Rock Club Pool Party at their home. It will start at 2:00 pm for swimming and games and then at 5 pm dinner will be served. The Pool Party will be pot luck so please bring something to put on the buffet, munchies, real food, etc. There will be drinks and tableware supplied and if anyone wants something special to drink please feel free to bring. See attachment for directions. Dave thanked Doug and Alice Hall and Eric and Kathy Fuller for bringing the delicious refreshments this month. Dave then had the guests introduce themselves; Dan Aranda, Emilio Tapia, Gary Krivokapich, John Hamilton, Bill Brennand, Don Loern and James and Janet McKumpson. Please forgive me if I didn't get all of the names correct, ciphering is not my forte. Gary informed me that he would like to join our club and so I told him that I would email him a Membership Packet with application. Dan and Emilio are historians, full of information on local history. I understand that there were also several students attending. Welcome all! Lee Attaway, our Treasurer, was unable to attend so Maxine Wyman read her report. We have $1,578 in the checking account and $41 in petty cash for a total of $1,619. One check of $100 for dues to the Blue Ribbon Coalition was sent out. There still has not been any word from the NMSU Geology Department about sending them the $500 Scholarship money. Eric Fuller announced that there will be a Campout at Cloudcroft on July 24-26th. Doug Hall gave some general directions to a site that he is going to check out next week. This is an area for exploration. Details and directions to follow later. Dave cited the need to appoint delegates to the Rocky Mountain Federation of Mineral Societies annual convention which will be held in conjunction with the Roswell Show on October 2-4th. He is planning on going and urged all who can to attend. Kristine Kitchens was suggested as a delegate as she has family in Roswell and goes there often. I plan on attending the annual Editors meeting. Don Saathoff announced that he will hold a Mineral Meeting next Wednesday, the 24th. It will be at his lab at 6:30 pm. This off shoot of our Club is for anyone who is interested in minerals. If anyone needs directions to the Lab please give Don a call at 382-3464. Dave then asked Eric Fuller to introduce our Speaker for the evening, Chris Adams, Archaeologist for the USDA, Forest Service, Gila National Forest.

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Program Notes:
Chris Adams who is the Archaeologist for the USDA Forest Service, Black Range and Wilderness districts was our speaker on June 19, 2009. experiences with them. They will be coming back this summer. He teaches the students how to use a compass as they are all well versed in GPS and electronics but not in the basics. He has worked in the Palomas area and found cartridges and round ball ammo with chew marksApaches had to manufacturer their own ammo and chewed the lead balls to shape them. There were land status issues there until he found out that Ted Turner's men had moved a fence to make it more convenient for them to turn their trucks around. Turner gave permission to survey his land as long as the artifacts stayed together and would be made available to the people. This year they will be looking for an 1879 Camp Sherman site that is supposed to have a mass grave. He was also given permission to survey for historic sites in the Canada Alamosa area. He is also looking for grave sites at Byers Run and is interested in the Massacre Canyon site where monuments were put up in the early 1990s in the cemetery area. He plans to do a test with XRF machines which check soil for calcium leaching out and is going to bring in a cadaver dog to check for bodies. He found nothing relating to the fight and wants to find the actual site of the battle. Victoria killed the soldiers and stole the horses. He is also working with two NMSU students, one of whom wants to do his Masters and the other his doctorate on this site. He recently worked on a 1540-42 Coronado expedition site and found copper artifacts, also coins with holes in them apparently used as ornaments by the Native Americans. Many photographs of various sites and artifacts were shown us. He gets a lot of his historic photos from museums and libraries and then tries to find the site in the present. Chris told us that his main job is to keep roads open, grant access to fuel wood, check fences that are put in, etc. The archaeological work is basically done on his own time. It seems that there are only six archaeologists that work for the government that use metal detectors and he is one of them. One thing he emphasized several times is that "The story in the ground does not necessarily say what history has written. History tends to embellish". (Don't we all know that just from our own life experiences)! Those of you unable to attend you missed a very interesting, informative and enjoyable talk. (It almost made me want to go out and get a detector).

A little background information for starters: He's been with the government for 15 years and has a strong background in prehistoric sites. He started out in the Lincoln Forest where he did some work at Holliman AFB. It was here he found an apache site that led him into the world of Metal Detectors. After discovering some metal buttons he tried using his old 1975 detector but it had trouble with the salts in the ground. After contacting several manufacturers and traveling to several states to see them a training session in Arizona was set up to teach him to use their machines. The idea was to teach him so that he could teach others in his profession how to use them in their work. He figures that the learning curve is three to six months per machine. One thing led to another and now he travels with $25,000 worth of detectors, from small to table top in size. There is no one detector that will do it all. He has taught BLM and all the Forest Service in Region 3. He also works closely with the Indian tribes. He has spent time on sites in Scotland, England, Germany and Alaska. He has also detected at Little Big Horn and found twice as much as the 1980 survey did. He got his present job because of his interest in historic history. For two years in Carlsbad he worked with Howard University on a site. When he was transferred to the Black Range, Dr. King whose main interest is the Black Soldiers was delighted and got a grant to come out with her students and work with him. With Ted Turner's blessing they have set up base camp in Hermosa with the understanding that they record what is original at the site so that he can have a brochure printed up. We learned many interesting facts about Hermosa and Turner. Most of the students are inner city college students and he has had a lot of interesting and amusing

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Mineral Meeting News: Seven of us met at Don's Lab on Wednesday, June 24th. We had a mystery mineral someone had brought along and Don, patient as always, led us thru the process of discovery. There was a refresher course on the Moh's scale and how to use the Dana Book of Mineralogy. Don showed us a small plastic coated copy of the Moh's scale which Leroy Unglaub had made up for us many years ago. I still have mine also. Oh, our mystery mineral turned out to be a piece of calcite from the old Radium Springs "Marble" mine. It was another good informative meeting with lots of talk about mines and minerals. There will be NO mineral meeting in July. Details to follow for August. Reminders & General Info: Remember everyone - There is NO meeting in July. It's time for everyone to head for the mountains or maybe for you couch potatoes out there to just stay home and enjoy the air conditioning. Have a great July and will see you all at the Pool Party and/or at the August meeting.
This is one of those FYI things. I received an email last week that had a cure for bee and wasp stings. It said to put a penny over the bite site for 15 minutes and the pain and swelling would go away. Of course the cure was told to the writer by a Doctor, something about the copper drawing out the poison. I just kind of filed that info away in the back of my mind (in other words-good bye). To make a long story short I was working in the yard shortly after and got bitten by some ants. I normally have a bad allergic reaction to them, they are very painful for the first day, itch like the devil for several days and they swell up and the skin all around turns hot and red for several days and then black and blue, green etc. You guessed it, I remembered the penny thing and thought maybe it would work on ant bites so went ahead and taped the penny over the bite sites, all four of them. Low and behold, the pain went away and no swelling or discoloration on two of them. One site had two bites and did get red for several days but no pain, swelling or itching. I am now a believer and would like to share this neat cure with all you outdoorsy people. The pennies used were new ones-didn't think they had any copper in them. I will have to add a penny and some tape to the small roll of duct tape carried in my pack. Duct tape, oh that's for removing all those small little needles that the cactus plants like to stick you with when you're not looking. (I don't know, maybe I'm the only one who never heard of this before, if so sorry for the repeat). By Maxine (Doc) Wyman

I would remind everyone that I need input for the Bulletin. Many of you will be traveling, camping, getting out this summer having fun. How about an article or at least a call to me with information and/or pictures of your recent or past activities? Everyone would love to hear of your adventures. P L E A S E .. You must be getting tired of tales of my adventures by now; it's time for something new.
As there were no trips to report I added another report on one of my little forays into New Mexico. Hope it is of some interest to you.

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Trips & Such:

Fort Stanton Trip Report, May 30, 2009
By Maxine Wyman Jannette Hale and I decided to take a drive up to Fort Stanton for one of their Saturday tours. The Fort is currently being used for a drug rehab program and is not open to the public except for these tours. However, we found out that is soon to be changed as it has been named a State Monument and will soon be open to the public. The drug rehab people will be out this month and the State will begin an extensive program of restoration. They hope to have their Fort Stanton Live day in August once again this year. of it. They are taking people into it now on a very limited basis. Mike also told us about Petroglyph Rock and where the trail head was. We decided we didn't want to hike the mile and half trail (bum knee). As Jannette loves to fish and is always looking for a new fishing hole and camp site he told us a good way to get down to the Bonito River. We found the "road" and drove along a very high ridge for a ways and then down to the bottom of the canyon - a long very steep rocky road. There was a short walk to the river (what there was of it) and much to our surprise there was the Petroglyph Rock. The light was pretty flat so the pic isn't so hot. The only other people we saw were just leaving as we got there, were on the other side of the river and left walking up a rather steep trail - poor folks. I also found another smaller rock with several glyphs on it. The rock was an unexpected find for us, just goes to show you never know what you'll find once you get those wheels off the pavement.

Larry, Jack and Mike Our tour leader Jack, a volunteer with the Friends of Ft. Stanton, said he was pretty new at leading the tours but he had some great help along. Mike who is the BLM director for the Snowy River Cave program (who lives on the premises) was there in period dress as a civilian merchant and Larry from Alamogordo was in dress as a Dragoon. Both were well versed in the history of the Fort and freely shared that knowledge with us. One of the gentlemen in our tour was a former mayor of Ruidoso and he also knew much of the Fort and area. Fort Stanton is in very good shape compared to most of the Forts across the country as it has been in continuous use all these years. I won't go into the history of the place here (that's another story) but will say it is a worthwhile place to visit for all history buffs. The annual Fort Stanton Live Day is an event not to be missed. I was fortunate enough to attend one several years ago; there were re enactors from all over the state and Texas with a huge encampment and great show. We also heard of the exploration progress of the Snowy River Cave and of future plans for the public use

Petroglyph Rock All in all it was a good day, we met some very interesting people and seen a lot of pretty countryside along with the unexpected rock.

The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a government program.' Ronald Reagan

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"EL Gambrisino"

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Mystery Location:
This month we see an adit in another very popular local collecting site. It's in Dona Ana County and is very well known for its varied specimens, fossils and even some artifacts in the area. It's been the site of many of our most productive field trips in the past. The road (seen above the adit) is in very poor shape at present. Let me know where you think it is. Just email me at max4680@fastwave.biz

Last months Mystery Location is a favorite of historians and tourists alike. It is, of course, the old school house (which is now a museum) at Lake Valley. That mountain in the background is known as Monument Peak also affectionately known as Lizard Mountain (can you see it?). Answers in order of arrival: Joe Mork, Leroy Unglaub, Don and Cookie Saathoff, Lee Attaway. (I can only assume that most of you don't read the Bulletin as I know that most of you know where this site is. It was a test.)

Articles of Interest:
Geology Humor! You Might Be a Geologist If. You can pronounce the word molybdenite correctly on the first try. You associate the word hard with a value on the Mohs scale instead of work. You dont think of cleavage the same way everyone else does. Your spouse has had to ask you to move your samples out of the kitchen or out of the dishwasher. You think theres nothing wrong with looking at the stone facades of buildings with your hand lens. Youve ever purchased an individual, unfaceted rock, regardless of the price. You find yourself compelled to examine individual rocks in driveway gravel. You follow when you see the local universitys geology class going on a field trip. You dont think trilobites look like cockroaches. More can be found at www.geocities.com/jrsharfan/cool.html (It's worth a look)
Via Crack 'N Cab, Syracuse, NY, April 2007

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Upcoming Show Dates: Jul 30-Aug 2 Billings, Montana: AFMS/NFMS Show & Convention, Billings Gem & Mineral Soc.; Holiday Inn Trade Center. Contact Doug True (406) 670-0506 www.amfed.org/nfms/nfmsshow Aug. 6-9 Buena Vista, CO: Continental Tailgate at the Rodeo Grounds, outdoor show. Free admission. (303)833-2939 or (720)938-4194. www.coloradorocks.org Aug. 14-16 Lake George, CO; Lake George Gem & Mineral Club, next to Post Office, free admission. Contact John Rakowski (719) 748-3861 www.LGGMClub.org Aug. 29-Sept. 7 Apache Creek, NM: "Agate Rendezvous 2009", an Inter-federation Campout & Field trip Event. Please RSVP by Aug. 24th. Contact Yonis Lone Eagle, RMFMS VicePres. at 505-860-2455 or rockymountainrockhounds@yahoo.com Sep. 18-20 Denver, CO; "The Denver Coliseum Mineral, Fossil & Gem Show", Denver Coliseum,
contact Lowell Carhart (719) 886-7046 http://eons-expos.com There are also numerous shows in other locations - See www.rockngem.com for info.

Oct. 2-4

Nov. 13-15

Roswell, NM: Chaparral Rockhounds "Roswell Rock Rendezvous", Roswell Civic Center. The RMFMS Convention is held in conjunction with this show. Plan to attend if you can. More information to follow. New Mexico Mineral Symposium, NMT, Socorro, NM - For your planning, more information to follow.
For further information or shows go to www.rockngem.com or give me a call.

Thought for the Day:

If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?

Classifieds:
Sorry, no goodies this month. If anyone has an item they want to get rid of please use this feature.

Some Interesting Web Sites for you to check out:

Members occasionally send me web sites to check out and pass on plus the ones that I run across. Please send me any of your favorites that you think our members might be interested in.

http://nevada-outback-gems.com/Encyclopedia_pages/Gemstone_Encyclopedia.htm

Good Gem Site

http://www.treasurehuntersuniversity.com/treasure_symbols.html for the Treasure Hunters http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/nm/nmsierra.html Sierra County Ghost Towns

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Gemcrafters & Explorers Club, P.O. Box 3091, Las Cruces, NM 88003
Member of: American Federation of Mineralogical Societies: www.amfed.org Rocky Mountain Federation of Mineralogical Societies: www.rmfms.org Blue Ribbon Coalition: www.sharetrails.org

2009 OFFICERS:
President Vice President Treasurer Secretary Refreshments Historian Programs Newsletter Dave Smith Kathy Fuller Lee Attaway Susan Banning Pat Mauer Don Saathoff Eric Fuller Maxine Wyman 521-3103 524-0204 523-4017 532-9612 526-4939 382-3464 524-0204 649-4900 joandaves@msn.com kathyf@nmsu.edu leeretired@comcast.net skstauffer@aol.com mpmauer@comcast.net auagte2@comcast.net ghosthiker@gmail.com max4680@fastwave.biz

We meet on the third Friday of the month at Breland Hall, Room 189, NMSU campus at 6:30 pm for social and 7 pm for the meeting. There is no meeting in July. Dues are $10 per person per year and each additional family member is $2 per year. They are due Jan. 1st of each year. A membership form will be emailed to you to fill out and to be returned with your check BY MAIL to the treasurer.

Info for the Newsletter:

If you have information, articles, pictures or a website related to gem crafting, rock collecting or exploring and would like to share please give a call or email me at max4680@fastwave.biz. If you have a good idea or story to tell I will be more than happy to help you write it up. Also if you have minerals, outdoor or camping equipment, etc. that you would like to sell please let me know for the "Classifieds."

Gemcrafters and Explorers Club

"EL Gambrisino"

Volume 51, Issue 7

July 2009

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