Gemstoners Up-coming Events
Affiliations and Links
Children of all ages are always welcome to attend our monthly meetings. They must be accompanied by a parent or another adult member.
Some of the items that you will find interesting are:
1. Talking with the members before and after the meeting.
2. Viewing the minerals and lapidary items brought each meeting.
3. Listening to and participation in the monthly talks from experts.
4. Trading and receiving specimens of rocks and minerals from local and other locations.
5. Going on the monthly events with other members and your parents to collect, observe nature and the different geological areas.
6. Enjoy the website and read about the club, it's history.
X- DANA SYSTEM OF MINERALOGY
by Robert Pedersen
The-Dana System of Mineralogy is a system where minerals are identifed, locations in the world, properties etc. of every know mineral.
One of our club members, Robert "Bob" Pedersen has taken the Dana system and updated it. He has added the new minerals each year since 1995, about 100 new minerals a year for the past 15 years and included them in an Excel file called X-Dana
He has given permission to put the file on our website for all to use and download.
This is a wonderful addition and he continues to add the new minerals yearly to X-Dana
You can open the file with Microsoft Excel or get a program from Open office.org
Click on the above file to view or download.
Show Information 2020
Click on Dealer Contract.pdf next to this box for printable Vendor Application if you would like to be in the show. Contract will have all pertinent information on it. Print out and fill in blanks, mail to address on top right of contract.
Kingman Academy Of Learning
3420 North Burbank Ave
Kingman, AZ 86409
June 9> Tue> Board Meeting is at 5:30 PM, followed by the General Meeting at 6:30. We are meeting at Centennial Park, at the West end Ramada where we had our Post Show picnic last year. Hopefully the Ramada will be free but bring a chair just in case. See you there.
June 16> Tue> Mineral Study Group is canceled. Hopefully it will start again in July.
June 20> Sat> Burro Creek- Mary's Wash. The source of some very nice brecciated jasper with browns, greens, pinks. Hard material and takes a good polish. We have also found purple agate and other material here. Meet at Bashas at 6:45, we leave at 7. 4WD.
June 27> Sat> Cedar City, Utah. Agates and jaspers. This is a first for many of us. John will be leading us as he and Minerva have collected there before. 2WD. Meet at Power House at 5:45, we leave at 6.
July 14> Tues> We will be meeting at Centennial Park again, at the Ramada closest to Beverly St. We had a very nice meeting in June, it was nice to be outside.Board meets at 5:30 with the General Meeting at 6:30 PM.
July 18> Sat> Kokoweef Mine in Cal. We are contacting Steve to make sure this date is good. We will be meeting at the Dennys in Searchlight at 7 AM for breakfast and will leave at 8. 2WD.
July 24 - 26> Flagstaff / Hollbrook> Some of us will be going up Friday. There are motels in Flagstaff & Holbrook, or camping at Bonito Campground in Sunset Crater Park. On Sat morning we will meet at the McDonalds in Flagstaff at 8 to go out to Dobell's for petrified wood. McDonalds is on the left side of 89 as you go N. From I-40 N take exit 201- Country Club Rd. More discussion on this as the date gets closer. 4WD. Gray Mtn will be the destination for Sunday before starting home.
Aug 8> Sat> We are going to make a cactus run, probably down Alamo Rd towards the lake. Should be Saguaro, Staghorn and Teddy Bear Cholla. Gloves, saw, trowel are helpful. 4WD.
Aug 11> Tue> Meeting location TBD. If the Senior Center has relaxed its rules we may be meeting there. We will wait for an update. Otherwise we will meet at Centennial Park. Board meets at 5:30, followed by the General Meeting at 6:30.
Aug 22. Sat> Cottonwood Rd. Geodes, ryolites, Chalcedony. Meet at Power House at 5:45 AM, keave at 6, 4WD.
Sept 8> Tue> Board Meeting 5:30 PM, followed by General Meeting at 6:30 PM.
Sept 12> Sat> Mushroom Jasper SE of Quartzsite. This is about a 3 hr drive. Meet at Bashas at 6 AM. 4WD.
Sept 26> Sat> Hualapai Wash. All kinds of material to collect in this area. Meet at Bashas at 7 AM. 4WD.
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NOTICE: Our 2020 Show has been canceled.
We are focused on the 2021 May Show.
Thank you to all the vendors who signed on for this year and contracts for the 2021 Show will go out this October. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Maillestorm Designs- Sandy Amazeen- Rough & finished stone, Minerals, Fossil & Meteorite specimens, Jewelry Supplies.
EarthStone Jewelry- Cal & Anita Stroud- Handmade Opal, Rock, & Dichroic Glass Jewelry.
Grounded Lifestyles- Nicole & David Lavoie- Shungite, Auralite 23, Super 7, Tumbled Stones.
Holley's Wire Works- Holley & Chris Mousley- Wire wrapped Jewelry, Cabs, Slabs.
Redneck Rocks- Teel- Cabs, Silver set Jewelry, Boulder Opal, Unique cabs for Jewelry making.
CDS Limited- Char Sangick- Rough Stone, Slabs, Cabs, Jewelry & much more.
Artful Expressions- Gayle Schnell- Hand crafted Jewelry
Grandpa Don's Rockhouse- Don Wininger- Minerals, Specimens, Lapidary information, Articles.
Walter Johnson Minerals- Walter & Cathy- Minerals, Specimens, Jewelry, Books, Lapidary.
C & C Bizarre- Cecil & Candy Newell- Beads, Stone Beads, Cabs, Jewelry, Handcrafted Artwork.
Creative Rock Hunters- Joe & Colleen Young- Innovative Rock & Metal Art, Gems, Jewelry
Catalina Blue Gem-Jared Ayers-Beautiful natural Gemstones, Turquoise, Silversmith Jewelry
NSGS Rocks- Wayne Scott- Polished Petrified Wood, Slabs, Misc. Minerals
Yucca Natural Stone Jewelry- Bob & Lauri Bouley-Hand made Cabs, Pendants, Necklaces, Bracelets, Rings
KGS Lapidary & Jeweler's Supplies- Jerry Kastner-Equipment, supplies, findings, jewelry
Shadow Hills- Martin Olvera- Geode Cracker, geodes, will open geodes for you
Stones of Taos- Greg Smith- Rough stone, custom cabs, finished Jewelry
Leaverite Lapidary- Jack Benedict- Knapped Obsidian knives, Oregon Thundereggs, slabs, Tumbled stones
Kerry's Custom Designs- Kerry Gray- Hand crafted Jewelry
Laudra Minerals- Aleta Huskinson- Rocks & Mineral specimens, lapidary items, wire wrap & Silversmith jewelry
Shirley's Beads- Shirley Darga- Beads, bead work, vintage items
Rocks to Riches- Deborah Rasmussen- Jewelry, metal work, much more
Wayne & Arlene Glover- Finished cabs, handcrafted necklaces, wire wrap cabs, earrings
Jack & Paul- Rough stone, slabs, cabs, hand crafted jewelry, specimens
Rockhounding 101
Survival:
1st Aid Kit-Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. Cactus, sharp rocks, stinging or biting bugs are constant.
Spare Tire-Always have a regular spare tire, aired up, and the tools to change it.
Full Tank-Always start the Field Trip with a full tank of gas. Most of our day trips will leave some in the case emergencies.
Food & Water-Always have water, at least a gal. Bring something to eat or snack on, you know your needs better than anyone.
Know your Heat Tolerance-Know your limits, do not go by someone else's abilities or limitations in the heat.
4WD- Always assume you will need 4WD and good clearance. Most of the places we go are off road, through sandy washes and up rocky inclines. Dealerships do not always outfit your 4WD vehicle with good off-road tires, check that your tires can bear the weight of a loaded vehicle over pointy rocks.
NOTIFY TRIP LEADER if you are going to leave the group. Do not leave this to others. The trip leader is responsible for everyone on the outing.
Tools for Collecting:
Rock hammer, Chisel, small Shovel, Saftey Goggles- A hammer is paramount. A regular hammer will work, but, the preferred tool is a rock hammer with a striking face on one side and a pick on the other. Estwing is a tried and true brand. A chisel is important, and in a pinch, a sturdy screwdriver will do the job. A small shovel is not necessary, but can come in handy. Depending on how much effort you want to exert a full size shovel is good, a regular pick is handy, and a good long pry bar, pointed on one end and flattened on the other, can really be useful. Safety goggles can save your eyes from the chips that fly off of the rock you are beating.
Bucket or Bag- A 5gl or 2gl bucket will work, a bag or an old backpack is easier to carry. Just know what you can handle and do not rely on others to pack your rocks back to your vehicle.
Spray Bottle-This is very handy to see what you just picked or dug up. It is also good for a quick cool down, clean your hands, etc.
Hat & Gloves-The hat can provide shade for your face and block the sun from your eyes as you search for rocks. A good pair of leather gloves will prevent small cuts and abrasions, cushion the blow of a hammer or chisel, and help eliminate blisters and splinters.
Fun Facts to Know and Tell:
Never lay your hammer (or anything else) down and walk away from it with the thought you will find it again. Painting part of it with a loud neon color will let people know it is yours when they come across it.
Don't pile "your" rocks and walk away. On the rare chance you locate the spot again, your rocks may not be there. No one is going to take them on purpose, but things look different in nature to others. Someone will think they just "lucked" onto a great find. When your bucket or bag is full, go and empty it and then return to collecting.
A whistle can be a life saver. It can summon others or help locate a stray.
Always be at least 10 minutes early to departure time at Field Trips. If the stated time is 7, be there at 6:45. This is the time to sign in and any last minute changes or info is given at this time. Always know who the Trip Leader is.
Please support our community minded donors!
National Bank of Arizona
The Gun Shop
Budget Blinds
True Value
Envy hair salon
4X4 Images- Angele Florisi
Fork in the Road restaurants
Arizona Game & Fish
Bureau of Land Management
Flashover Graphics
Dunkin Donuts
Suz salon
Thank you to the businesses that donated for the sake of our Event. To our Club Members and supporters: When you shop in these places let them know we are appreciative. A small thank you goes a long way.
