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March 2002

Volume I, Issue 12

North Mississippi
Gem and Mineral
Society Officers

President: Floy Hawkins
P.O. Box 7312
Tupelo, MS 38802
(662) 844-7441
studioh@dixie-net.com

Vice President: Bob Marshall
68 CR 331
Iuka, MS 38852
(662) 423-3791

Secretary: Rena Everett
69 Jeff Street
Oxford, MS 38655
(662) 234-8561
mlgae@olemiss.edu

Treasurer: Shirly Randle
905 Poorhouse Road, E.
Starkville, MS 39759

Newsletter Editor: Sandy Grych
P.O. Box 283
Mathiston, MS 39752
(662) 263-8405
sigrych@yahoo.com

Next Meeting


Saturday, March 16
1 P.M.
Tupelo Public Library

Tupelo, Mississippi
Directions:
Take East Main Street to
Madison St.(near United Methodist
Church); turn North; go two blocks
to the corner of Madison and Jefferson
St. Library is there.

Or...

From Gloster Street turn east on to
Jefferson St. until you get to
Madison St.

Program:

Gem Identification

by Patty Thompson






Members make mark at annual MGMS show

NMGMS member Matthew Huber received the A.G. Clark Scholarship Award. A very active MGMS member in the 1950s, the senior Mr. Clark built display boxes and other things needed. When he died, his son decided to give a scholarship each year in his memory.
Matthew used the scholarship monies to purchase a specimen of Smithsonite for this collection. The 43rd Mississippi Gem and Mineral Society Annual Show was held on Feb. 23 and 24 in Jackson. Many of the NMGMS members participated in numerous activities in the show. The competition award winners are shown below.
George Everett: First Place. Division D, Class DST-6 ( Div. D is metallic work - silversmithing etc). Wirewrapping (various)
Matthew Huber: First Place, Best in Division, scholarship. Junior group, Division E, Class EGC-1 (Educational, General Audience, Concept) He did an education display on pyrite, the different types and some background.
Rachel Huber: Fourth Place. Junior group, Division D, Class D-4 (Jewelry, mixed types with stones)
Steve Huber: First Place, Division D Trophy. Group-Master, Division D , class D-10 (Jewelry with/without stones any proportion)





Happily Written

Rockhound reflects on her first gem show


By Jessie Frye
What are my impressions of my first visit to the Mississippi Gem and Mineral show? One word can describe my feelings: OVERWHELMED!! I can see that there must be a lot of work done beforehand and behind the scene.

I was most impressed to see the number of youth in attendance. Girl Scouts and Brownies are able to earn badges at the show.

One of the youngsters in our club won best in show for his exhibit of pyrite. His nine year-old sister won a 4th place ribbon for jewelry --her very first showing. Other members of our club were also blue ribbon winners for their exhibits.

Several people were demonstrating their crafts. Gems were being tumbled, polished, cut, faceted, mounted, wrapped, and made into gorgeous pieces of jewelry. These pieces can hold their own beside diamonds, emeralds, etc.

Sellers were from far and near. Several members of our club helped man the bag raffle table. The items for the raffle were all donated.

I am afraid I looked AND bought more than I helped! Next year, I need to get a job that will keep me busy all day. Then, maybe my checkbook won't suffer so.

*My eyes hurt from looking.
*My back aches from bending to do looking.
*My feet and legs are tired from looking.

But even though I have a crippled checkbook, I have some lovely pieces of jewelry and am already looking forward to and planning for next year.

The quality and beauty displayed is just awesome. AND-----everyone needs to see a well set rock table at least once in their lives.




NMGMS February Minutes by Rena Everett, Secretary

“The Present is the Key to the Past.”

March anniversary meeting reflects on one year of NMGMS

The monthly meeting of the North Mississippi Gem and Mineral Society was called to order by the President Floy Hawkins at 1:05 p.m. on February 16, 2002, at the Iuka Public Library in Iuka, Miss. There were 16 members and three guests present. The Boy Scouts present led members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Program Chairman Bob Marshall introduced our speaker, Dr. Wayne Canis, Professor of Geology at the University of North Alabama in Florence. Dr. Canis gave an excellent program on fossils in which we learned, among other things, that in fossil identification, “The Present is the Key to the Past.” Following the presentation, the president declared a break during which we could enjoy the delicious refreshments provided by the Iuka members and visit with Dr. Cannis and see the fossils that he had brought.

After thanking Dr. Canis for a great program, the president welcomed all members and guests. The minutes of the January meeting were approved as printed in The Nugget. In the absence of the treasurer, there was no treasurer’s report at this meeting. Program Chairman Bob Marshall reported that our own Patti Thompson will give a program next month on gem identification. Since next month is the first anniversary of our club, Arch Murphree asked that each member bring a display of “a year in review” to share with other members.

Members agreed that it is not fair to the members of the host city to be solely responsible for refreshments. Sandy Grych offered to bring a birthday cake to our birthday meeting next month. Arch and Virginia Murphree will be responsible for refreshments at the meeting in Corinth with help from Ruby Marshall. Ot her members are encouraged to pitch in as they can.

Virginia Murphree cannot serve as stamp chairman any more. We will need to have a new stamp chair appointed. Virginia has received the list of requirements for participating in the Federation stamp program, and the requirements are many.

Bill Hawkins reported that the mineral of the month for March is aquamarine. Mary Reed and Susan Curry are working on our scrapbook and will have it ready to show to members at our birthday celebration.

Sandy Grych is attempting to send the newsletter electronically to those who have e-mail addresses. She asked that all members check the list that she made available to be sure that their addresses were correct. Matthew Huber has the January Newsletter on his Web Site - the address is .

If in looking for the newsletter, one stops at “schnoz,” the Huber’s web site is there. Sandy had also printed up some flyers for the Mississippi Gem and Mineral Show that will be held in Jackson next weekend.

George Everett has resigned as Field Trip chair. We may have to have roving field trip leaders and trips to coincide with our meeting places.

Floy again encouraged all members to attend the Federation workshops at Wildacres and William Holland. Since March is our anniversary, dues will again be due for the year. They are $10 for individual and $15 for families. Also in March, there will be many important things discussed in the business meeting:
  • Name for Junior Group
  • Club Logo
  • Will we continue to have a roving meeting place, or will we “light?”
  • Shall we have club meetings in July and August?
Either George and Rena Everett or Bob and Ruby Marshall will provide a video for the April program at Corinth. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Rena Everett, Secretary




Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Society’s meeting November 2-4, 2001

Hawkins “honeymoon” at club’s maiden voyage to SFMS

We approached going to the annual SFMS meeting like a couple of newlyweds going on their honeymoon. We had no idea where we were going to park our travel trailer much less know where the meeting would be held.

We jumped in feet first by attending the “cracker barrel” on Friday night unregistered. Thank goodness our hosts, the Wrights, were good friends with the owners of Aunt Jenny’s Catfish restaurant. Forty -plus people registered and pre-paid but over 80 hungry guests attended. We don’t know how Billie Wright kept the money in order. All of our senses were “tickled”, especially our feelings. We met some very warm and friendly rockhounds.

The Saturday a.m. business meeting was so important to our club. North Mississippi Gem and Mineral Society was accepted by a unanimous vote to become a member of the Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Societies. Our inexperience with federation meetings put the rest of the business meeting over our heads. George and Rena and Ruby and Bob can better explain to our club the agenda of the business meeting.

Saturday evening’s banquet was so enjoyable after we got over stewing about what to wear. Usually when attending such a large affair the food remains anonymous. Our senses of taste were delighted with the delicious food served at this banquet. We were also inspired and energized by the speeches given by the outgoing and incoming officers. This federation has been and will be in good hands. These people voted into these offices volunteer and give their all to the federation business.

The Editors Breakfast on Sunday morning was held to honor all who write articles for their various newsletters. Our own Rena Everett and Brenda Hankins each received Honorable Mention for articles written in the informational category for the Mississippi Gem and Mineral Society newsletter. As our club grows so does our newsletter.

We feel our first attendance at a federation meeting was exciting, stressful, but most of all successful. We can learn so much from our experienced members, and we should.

Respectfully submitted by
Floy and Bill Hawkins




Used stamps avail SFMS workshop scholarships



Members are reminded to bring used postage stamps to our monthly meetings. Virginia Murphree is the retiring project director.

Stamps need to be cut from envelopes, leaving a 1/4 inch margin of paper.

Recently, SFMS informed Virginia that stamps must also be sorted by “kind”. Plans are being made to have a short workshop following a monthly meeting in order to sort our club’s collection.

Participation in this Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Societies project allows NMGMS to submit names for the annual workshop scholarship drawing




You’re Invited to the

First Anniversary Meeting

of the NMGMS

Featuring:
  • Speaker: Pattie Thompson talking about Gem
  • Identification
  • Club & personal member displays of collections, photos, etc. of the last year
  • Installation of 2002-2003 club officers
  • Refreshments with a club birthday/anniversary cake




How is a rockhound like a melody?

By Sandy Grych

Riddle me this: How can we tell Maria Von Trappe (from the Sound of Music fame) was a rockhound?

Guess One: Because she sang “The hills are alive with the sound of music.” Maybe.

Guess Two: Because she sang about little white mountain flowers - edelweiss. Perhaps.

Answer: Because she sang “Do, Re, Me, Fossil, La , Ti, Do!”

Strangely, my rockhound friend Susan Curry can’t stand the Sound of Music soundtrack. (She had a college roommate who played it over and over and over again.) Ironically, I often call Susan the Old Fossil.

Afterall, Susan is a history teacher and college archivist. Furthermore, she uses an archeological filing system. Example of her train of thought: Let’s see, I filed the paper about three months ago. It should be in this stack about five to six inches down. (She discovers through stratification.)

I don’t know much about fossils. One time I found a piece of petrified honeycomb along the beach at Gills Rock, Wisconsin (in the Door County Peninsula). Maybe that’s not your usual a fossil, but personally I don’t know a belemnite from a cretaceous but Old Fossil Susan does.

Susan tells the childhood story of some beautiful trilobites her uncle gave her. She treasured them until her younger brother Tom stole and lost them. (Hey Tom, here’s a Christmas shopping idea: replace those fossils. I’ve only heard the story a ga-zillion times! Otherwise, you could buy her a telescope to replace the one you sat on as a kid.)

In my ignorant bliss, I thought maybe I’d try to learn a little about fossils online from the Royal Ontario Museum. The first heading that caught my eye was “How are fossils made and who studies them?” The “who studies them” part struck me as funny, like who in the world would study fossils? - Perhaps Susan Curry, Shirley Randle, the guy who brought a horse skull to the rockhound meeting in Jackson a couple of years ago.

So you already know I don’t know much, but here’s a quiz to see just how much you more-informed fossil rockhounds know. Let’s test your elementary knowledge of fossils:

Questions
  1. What are fossils?
  2. Who (in the world - my words) studies fossils?
  3. What parts of your body would most likely be preserved by fossilization?
  4. What are invertebrates?
  5. What is an exoskeleton?
  6. What are some modern invertebrates?
  7. Most fossils are preserved in what type of rock?
  8. Most fossils are of the remains of animals that once lived in or near what?
  9. What is the matrix?
  10. Where can one look online to play a fossil game?
Answers below




Table adds lifesaving treats


Sandy Grych donated 10 lifesaver-shaped colored beads to the food table at the MGMS Annual Show. The food table is sponsored by the Gulf Coast Gem & Mineral Society of Corpus Christi, Texas. A picture of one of the rock food tables is on page 1. The Pattillos provided the photos.




Wanted: Digital Photographers to get the picture!


By Sandy Grych

As newsletter editor, I’m looking for practical ways to improve The Nugget. Consequently, I think I might be able to place a photo or two in our newsletter.

If you have a digital camera (I don’t), please take some pictures at club meetings, field trips, etc. and email them to me. I might be able to use some of them.

I know this request sounds “tentative.” After our Christmas party, Bob Criss sent me about a half dozen great e-pics. I eagerly created a beautiful (at least I think it was) “Extra” for The Nugget using ALL of the pictures. Then, I tried to test run it over the internet using email. To say the least, it didn’t fly. The many colored photos and at regular size were using too much memory. (Many of you may have seen paper copies of this Extra page at the January meeting.)

Thus, I would like to occasionally use some of our original photos if I can get my system to handle it.




Electronic NMGMS travels well


By Sandy Grych

The first month of the Electronic NMGMS (E-NMGMS) went fairly well.

Junior member Matthew Huber established (by sharing his website) our WEB-Nugget by displaying the club’s monthly newsletter online at https://www.angelfire.com/mi/schnoz/club/newsletter.html

(Note: “onliners” may visit the rest of Matthew’s website at http://www.rocksandstuff.cc It features fossils and minerals collected by Matthew and wirewrapped jewelry created by Steve Huber, Matthew’s father.) As newsletter editor, I took a stab at emailing The Nugget to online members in February. It wasn’t a perfect process -one family never received it while a second family received only part of The Nugget. I, also, received other responses which seemed to indicate that the publication did arrive to them.

In the future, I will email the newsletter and then back it up with a second email announcing that The Nugget was sent. If an e-member hasn’t received the newsletter or received it only in part, please email me right away. I will try again using a little different process. If the second try doesn’t work, I’ll send a paper copy. My email address is shown on the front of the newsletter underneath the list of officers.
NMGMS Member Ruby Marshall submitted:

BONES TO PICK



The body of every organization is made from four kinds of bones.

1. There are Wishbones, who spend all their time wishing someone would do the work.

2. Then there are Jawbones, who do all the talking but very little else.

3. And the Knucklebones, who knock everything and everyone else who tries to do something.

But fortunately every organization has some

4. Backbones who get under the load and do most of the work..

(From Golden Spike News via Dusty Rocks, 11/99, to Rocket City Rocks and Gems, 1/2000)




Answers to above questions