NOTE - There will be a new AFMS Newsletter editor beginning with the November, 1998 issue

Index -

DEE'S DOINS - Dee Holland

AFMS WEB SITE APPROVED

1997-1998 AFMS STALWARTS

NINE AFMS TROPHIES WON AT HOUGHTON, MICHIGAN - Anne Cook

PUBLIC LANDS ISSUES - Bob Cranston

SAFETY - It's Just Dust, Isn't It?
Part III - Hazards From Particular Types of Dusts - Peter R. Girardot, PhD

CRYSTAL PROBLEMS - A Poem - Cornelius S. Hurlbut, Jr.

A CORRECTION

CRYSTAL QUIZ

IGNEOUS ROCK LIST - Jane Huelsmeyer

SOME LAPIDARY CRAFTS-

THANKS AND GOOD BYE! - Mel Albright

LAGNIAPPE (A little something extra)

PUBLICATION INFORMATION

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DEE'S DOINS

Dee Holland
President, AFMS

The show and convention held in Houghton, Michigan was a great experience. There were field trips to many mines, mine dumps, and other locations guided by experienced persons. If you did not want to go on field trips you could visit the many museums and historical locations in the area. The show was very good with many dealers with an assortment of material. There were display cases of almost every type, and a good showing of competitive cases. Many thanks for a job very well done to Steve Whelan and his able helpers.
The next trip that is in the planing stage now will be to Tulsa, Ok. October 23-24-25 for the Rocky Mountain Federations show and convention.
I have just received word of the passing of Dr. Elwood Rees who was AFMS President in 1979-1980. Dr Rees passed away August 31, 1998.
All for now, - Dee

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AFMS WEB SITE
APPROVED

At the August AFMS meeting, the presence of the AFMS on the World Wide Web was approved. Plans are to obtain our own URL (address to most people) before long.It is hoped to include individual Federation sites there also. The temporary site is found at http://www.galstar.com/~mela/afms.html. It will be maintained until the permanent site is ready.

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1997-1998
AFMS STALWARTS

The success of the AFMS depends upon talented and dedicated people volunteering their time, talents, and efforts to AFMS. They contribute by continuing the work in the wide variety of programs that fall under the AFMS umbrella.
Below are listed those stalwart members who's efforts contributed to the great success of AFMS's 51st year:
At this point in the Newsletter were listed the 1997-1998 Officers, Directors, and Committee Chairs of the AFMS. This list is elsewhere on the web site.

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NINE AFMS TROPHIES WON AT HOUGHTON, MICHIGAN
Anne Cook, Uniform Rules Chair, 1996

At the 1998 AFMS/MWF show and convention, nine AFMS trophies were won, in addition to four Midwest Federation trophies. While most of the competitive exhibits came from the host Federation, there also were entries from the Eastern, Rocky Mountain, Northwest, and California Federations.
The following competitors received the AFMS trophies:
Trophy 8 for general thumbnails: James Sharp of the Mineralogical Society of Cleveland, MWF
Trophy 9 for restricted thumbnails: James Sharp (as above)
Trophy 12 for self-collected minerals: George and Kitty Judd of the Midwest Mineralogical and Lapidary Society, MI, MWF
Trophy 13 for petrified wood with special features: Ruby Lingelbach of the StiIIwater, (OK) Mineral and Gem Society, RMF
Trophy 15 for general Iapidary: Marvin Juhl of the Austin (MN) Gem and Mineral Society, MWF
Trophy 21 for specialized lapidary (in this case, clocks): Charles Humenik of the Stark County (OH) Gem and Mineral Club, MWF
Trophy 27 for education about a skill aimed at a general audience: William Orban of the Midwest Mineralogical and Lapidary Society of Dearborn (MI), NWF
Trophy 26 for education about a concept aimed at a general audience: Wait Vogtmann of the Midwest Mineralogical and Lapidary Society of Dearborn (MI), Trophy 32 f or fossils: NeiI and Connie Snepp of the Central Michigan Lapidary and Mineral Society, MWF.
In addition, blue ribbons, gained by scores of 90 or higher in AFMS competition, were won by Betty and Otis Witworth, of the Tuscarora Lapidary Society (PA); Bill Luke, of the NFMS at-large- Bea Schumacher of the Columbus (OH) Rock and Mineral Society; and Ken and Vera Kruschke of the Kern County (CA) Mineral Society.
The Lillian Turner Award, for the best case entered by a junior from the host Federation, was won by Alex Paavola of the Copper Country Rock and Mineral Club, host club to the convention, for a case of self-collected material from the Keweenaw Peninsula.
Next year's show, hosted by the Southeast Federation, will be in Nashville, TN. Start to prepare your case for exhibiting there!

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PUBLIC LANDS ISSUES
Bob Cranston, PLAC & ALAA

This month's issue will deal with a subject we have not approached previously. - Presidential Executive Orders:
Executive Orders give the Executive Department a way to circumvent Congress. The current flurry of E.O.'s started with the Gore Tax. That is the one that raised your telephone bill by about $3.50 (private line), the purpose of which was to help put the Internet in every schoolroom. E.O.'s are not new. Andrew Jackson used one to put the Cherokee Indians off their lands in what is known as the Trail of Tears. The Supreme Court declared the action illegal, but could not enforce the ruling. Abraham Lincoln used an E.O. to shut down Newspapers during the Civil War that did not agree with him. Franklin Roosevelt used E.O. 9066 in December 1941 to put 110,000 American Citizens of Japanese ancestry into concentration camps.
The current flap is over E.O. 13083 which is the most sweeping E.O. to date. This Order effectively reduces the Tenth Amendment to nothing The teeth of 13083 lies in Section 3(d), which reads as follows: "(d) It is important to recognize the distinction between matters of national or multi-state scope (which may justify Federal action) and matters that are merely common to States (which may not justify Federal action because individual States, acting individually or together, may effectively deal with them). Matters of national or multi-state scope that justify Federal action may arise in a variety of circumstances, including: (1) When the matter to be addressed by Federal action occurs interstate as opposed to being contained within one State's boundaries. (2) When the source of the matter to be addressed occurs in a State different from the State (or States) where a significant amount of harm occurs. (3) When there is a need for uniform national standards. (4) When decentralization increases the costs of government thus imposing additional burdens on the taxpayer. (5) When States have not adequately protected individual rights and liberties. (6) When States would be reluctant to impose necessary regulations because of fears that regulated business activity will relocate to other States. (7) When placing regulatory authority at the State or local level would
undermine regulatory goals because high costs or demands for specialized expertise will effectively place regulatory matter beyond the resources of State authorities. (8) When the matter relates to Federally owned or managed property or natural resources, trust obligations, or international obligations. (9) When the matter to be regulated significantly or uniquely affects Indian tribal governments.
It is the feeling of this writer, based on past actions with publiclands, that number 1, 3 and 8 could most affect the rockhounds. All that needs to be done is for an agency to suggest that the rules be standardized across the nation on all public lands and then set those standards to suspend all collecting privileges and other multiple uses on ALL public lands. The agencies would all have a Presidential edict to back them up. Wouldn't that make management an easy task? Just arrest anyone who uses the lands for any purpose.
Executive Order #13083 would also be invoked to put the NATIONAL ID CARD on a fast track. This card would be in the form of a federally designed drivers license. Ultimate plans call for a computer chip to be imbedded in the Card that would have, among other things, your Social Security number, finger prints, DNA and any record deemed necessary to keep track of you. No doubt this would be used in conjunction with the NATIONAL MEDICAL ID CARD currently being touted. This paragraph has nothing to do with our hobby, but we thought it was interesting. The Federal Register Vol. 63, No. 116, dated June 17, 1998, Pages 33220-33225 will put this plan into effect. Rep. Bob Barr (R-GA) has introduced H.R. 4196 to kill the Executive Order and H.R. 4197 to rescind the Federal Register notice. Anyone wishing to review Rep. Barr's thoughts can do so by going to his Web page at:
http://www..house.gov/barr/
By the way, most every Congressman has one of these Web sites in the federal listing (in Colorado Hefley is the exception).
ALAA Newsletter 8/98

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SAFETY

It's Just Dust, Isn't It?
Part III
Hazards From Particular Types of Dusts
Peter R. Girardot, PhD
Chair, Safety Committee, SCFMS

Part I of this series described the health hazards from fine dusts and Part II the control and ventilation of dusts. This last, Part III, details some particular hazards from certain dusts.
The record of occupational hazards from mineral dusts goes as far back as Pliny in 79 A.D. There is no excuse for gem and mineral workers and hobbyists not to be aware of it. The worst two are asbestos and silicates. Some workers choose to ignore the hazards with the view that the diseases that are caused can't happen to them, but we have news for them.

ASBESTOS

This group of six different asbestos minerals comprises hydrated silicates that are fibrous in growth habit. Chrysotile or white asbestos is one of the four most common, with crocidolite, amosite and anthophyllite following.
The fibers can be subdivided into ever-smaller fibers by grinding or abrasion; there is apparently no limit to the degree of fineness attainable. In this lies the hazard, because the human body cannot dispose of very fine fibers once they penetrate into the far reaches of the lung. The result is asbestosis, a diffuse or fibrous scarring of the lung, which is slowly progressive even after exposure stops. Symptoms
are shortness of breath and a dry cough, with no effective therapy, leading to an early death.
Lung cancer is also caused by asbestos and is enhanced by smoking. It is the same type of cancer as that caused by smoking. For unknown reasons, asbestos can cause a localized fibrous scar in the pleural cavity surrounding the lung. It is usually not fatal but interferes with lung function. The most rapidly fatal but least common complication of asbestos exposure is malignant mesothelioma, a tumor in the pleural lining of the lung. It may take 20 to 60 years to show up after exposure.
The common factor in all these asbestos-related diseases is the minimum 10-year latent period before symptoms show up. In this time, the macrophages in the body attempt to phagocytize or build a protective sac around the long fibers, all the while releasing hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anions. These reactive oxygen species damage other nearby cells and the long shape of the fiber prevents complete phagocytosis, which would otherwise protect the body from the invasion. Thus the shape
of the particle determines its toxicity, although there are other subsidiary chemical factors beyond the scope of this article.
The average human inhales 4480 fibers each day, but asbestos workers inhaled 1.5 million fibers a day. Gem and mineral people are somewhere in between, depending upon many variables, but they can lower the level at will.

SILICA

There are seven crystalline silica minerals. Of these, quartz is the second most common mineral in the earth's crust and varies from 22% to 65% in common rocks. Cristobalite, tripoli and tridymite are less common silica minerals. Diseases associated with crystalline silicas like these are silicosis, silicotuberculosis, and cancer.
Silicosis is caused by inhalation of quartz particles 0.5 - 0.7 micrometers in diameter which develop fibrous nodules in the lung's small airways. The nodules may grow together, causing blockage followed by heart or respiratory failure. As with asbestosis, the disease progresses even without further exposure. Silicotuberculosis - This is a silicosis that modifies the progress of tuberculosis. It is now less common in developed countries because of better dust control and chemotherapy.
SILICA AND CANCER
While there is limited evidence for silica as causing cancer, it was a cause in laboratory animals. The OSHA lists silica as probably carcinogenic to humans. As opposed to crystalline silicas, amorphous silicas are less toxic. These include diatomaceous earth, precipitated silica, fumed silica and fused silica.

SILICATES (or chemically bound silicas)

Per se, these are not particularly toxic, unless they are fibrous like the asbestos minerals. Unfortunately they may contain large amounts of free silica, then we are back to the situation in the above paragraphs.
Examples are vermiculite, soapstone, talc, investment plaster, enamel frits, ceramic glazes and clay.

METALS

Metallic dusts from grinding and polishing alloys of chromium, nickel, cobalt, lead, arsenic, selenium and antimony can cause skin irritation and allergies. These include silver solder, soft solder, stainless
steel, nickel silver, and silver blacks.

METAL COMPOUNDS

Here is where the high toxicity dusts containing metals occur, particularly when the compounds are water soluble or soluble in body fluids. Without detailing the specific toxicity, here is a partial list
of some of the many toxic ones. - African wonderstone, agate, amethyst, beryl, azurite, ceric oxide, cerrusite, chalcedony, cinnabar, clays, cryolite, erionite, feldspars, flint, galena, garnet, granite, greenstone, jasper, lapis lazuli, lepidolite, malachite, molybdenite, onyx, opal, porphyry, pumice, pyrolusite, realgar, rouge, sandstone, slate, talc, tripoli, turquoise, vermiculite, zircon, and zirconia(CZ).
Hazards from metals and metal compounds vary widely from metal to metal. For details, see the references cited below.
Safety never just happens - it must be planned.
References: 1) "Artist Beware", Michael McCann, Lyons and Burford Publishers, New York, 1992. 2) "Artist's Health and Safety", Monona Rossol, Allworth Press, New York, 1990. 3) "Health Effects of Mineral Dusts", George Guthrie and B. T. Mossman, editors, Reviews in Mineralogy, Vol 28, Mineralogical Society of America, Washington, D.C. pp. 7-59, 275-308, and 347-407.

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CRYSTAL PROBLEMS
Cornelius S. Hurlbut, Jr.

When first I studied crystals
I didn't have the knack
Of three dimensional thinking:
This skill I seemed to lack.

I'd turn and twist the crystal round
In hope that I could see
At least one axis or a plane
Of crystal symmetry.

The prism, pinacoid and dome,
The rhombic pyramid
All looked the same to me,
No matter what I did.

But now I've studied long and hard,
And think I'm somewhat wise,
For in no length of time at all
The cube I recognize.

Original source unknown;
Via Glacial Drifter, 6/98 and Memphis Archaelogical and Geological Society Newsletter, 9/98

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A CORRECTION

I want to correct a mis-statement in the latest issue of the AFMS Newsletter. In the "Each Club-Each Year-One Rockhound" article it states that I received the CFMS Golden Bear Award. It should read that I
received the local club award (same name) from the Orcutt Mineral Society. Thanks!
Wes Lingerfelt, Treasurer 97-98 California Federation of Mineralogical Societies Nipomo, CA.

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CRYSTAL QUIZ

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IGNEOUS ROCK LIST
Jane Huelsmeyer

Igneous rocks form from cooling magna. If magma erupts from a volcano and cools on the surface, extrusive rocks form. If the magma is trapped in the crust and cools there, intrusive rocks form.
INTRUSIVE ROCKS
(cools slowly underground, crystals are visible)
PERIDOTITE - see olive green crystals
GABRO - all or mostly black crystals
DIORITE - mixture of black and white crystals
GRANITE - three types of minerals (see quartz, white or pink feldspar and other mineral like mica or hornblends
EXTRUSIVE ROCKS
(cools fast on the surface, microscopic crystals)
BASALT - dull black or reddish brown, heavy rock, some may have bubble holes
ANDESITE - dull gray, heavy rock, may be light or dark gray
RHYOLITE - dull light-colored rock (any color but dark gray or black), heavy rock. Water solutions may form bands of color or color patterns
OBSIDIAN - shiny, glassy black rock with smooth surfaces and sharp edges. Used by Indians out west for arrow heads.
PUMICE - white to light gray rock, light weight, so full of holes it may float
SCORIA - black to reddish brown, light weight, so full of holes it may float
ASH - sand to flour size particles, usually light gray. Ash cemented together is called TUFF.
GEM CITY ROCK NEWS 7/98
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SOME LAPIDARY CRAFTS-

Channel work - The lines of the design are formed with vertical metal strip backed by horizontal sheet metal. The spaces between the strip are filled with polished rock or gem material. This gives color to the design.
Casting is the replacement of a item by forming a mold, removing the item from the mold material and filling the void left with molten metal and cooling.
Enameling is the fusion of ground glass on a metal surface.
Engraving is the formation of a pattern in a base material by removing metal from the base.
Filigree is the formation of patterns from wires twisted, coiled, or otherwise shaped and then soldered into a wire framework.
Wire-Wrapping is coiled, twisted and bound wire formed into a pattern which also holds and frames gem materials.
Intarsia and Mosiac are formed by forming a pattern from individual pieces of stone, slab, or tile.
Cameos are raised figures which form the image of an item
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THANKS AND GOOD BYE!
Mel Albright
Editor, AFMS Newsletter

This is my final issue as editor of the AFMS Newsletter. It has been an honor, an education, and has given me great joy to be involved with this publication.
I would like to give a

GREAT BIG THANKS

* To all those who supported my by regularly sending in material for the members to read. I'm convinced the future of the AFMS lies in the rank-and-file members knowing what is going on and why. This Newsletter is an excellent way to supply that knowledge.
* To Presidents Margaret Heinek and Dee Holland for entrusting this responsibility to me.
* To all that encouraged me with letters and e-mail and made me feel good by liking the job I did and saying so. I am amazed at the very few "bricks" I received in such a high visibility endeavor.
A note to fellow editors: This job is the same as all others - fitting items together, finding "fill" material of interest to your readers, getting as many names included as possible, and, on occasion, having to cut or omit material because of space limits (and yes, it hurts!). AND - This job is different from others in that priority 1 is to pass information about the AFMS activities on to the member clubs and individuals.
It's been fun - good bye and good news!
Editors are my heroes and heroines! - Mel

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LAGNIAPPE

(For you non-Cajuns, that's - A little something extra)

MAKE SURE YOUR JEWELERS SAW BLADE is mounted so that it cuts when pulled towards you or it will break. Lubricate the blade before using (beeswax is good.) To judge the size to use, figure two teeth should touch the material being cut. - Al Klein
A 5,805 CARAT EMERALD has been found in Russia's Ural Mountains. It has been named "the President" for President Boris Yeltsin. The 2 1/2 pund stone has excellent color and clarity and may be one of the most valuable emeralds ever from Russia. Initial appraisal placed its value at 1.5 million dollars. It will likely be a museum piece rather than being cut. Breccia

GIANT SLOTH TRACKS have been found near Saltville, VA. The tracks were 3 feet long and are estimated at 13,500 years old. The sloth weighed about 3000 pounds. Mineral Newsletter via Strata Gem
RHODOCHROSITE WAS FIRST DISCOVERED BY THE INCAS around the 12th century in Argentia. Generations later, Frank Mansfield rediscovered the mine. Most unusual formations with a circular pattern of light and dark occur in this treasure chest. Highly artistic pieces are carved out of this "Indian Rose". The name comes from Greek "rhodo" (rose) and "chros" (color".
The Mountain Gem via The Burro Express
ONLY ABOUT 50 DIAMOND MINES have ever existed. Only 15 now operate.
EMERGENCY EMERGENCY FLARES can be made from empty plastic milk cartons. Place a rock inside to hold them and light. They'll last about 10 minutes.
SAND MUST BE IMPORTED INTO EGYST for sandblasting. Local sand is far too fine.
POLISH TARNISHED SILVER CHAINS for a half hour in a tumbler with steel shot and burnishing compound. One chain at a time avoids tangles. The Rockpile
LINE YOUR HAT WITH ALUMINUM FOIL on hot sunny days to keep cooler. Rocky Trails
BROKEN EGG SHELLS make a good pot scrubber when camping. Rocky Trails

TOP 10 WAYS TO TELL IF YOUR TRILOBITE IS FAKE
10. It has a battery compartment.
9. It melts in your mouth, not in your hands.
8. The expiry date on the bottom says "Permian period".
7. It comes attached to a shower rope.
6. It has "Made in Morocco" stamped on the back.
5. It comes with a child-proof safety cap.
4. When you put it in water it grows green hair.
3. It's still twitching.
2. When you turn it upside down it's eyes close and it says "Waaaah".
1. It's from the Bre-X mine in Indonesia!
Ottawa Paleontological Society Newsletter. 5/97

Some music stores are in a CD part of town.
Campers need to have a positive in-tent.

HEADLINES
* Ban on soliciting dead in trotwood
* Lansing residents can drop off trees
* Local high school dropouts cut in half

We should be careful to get out of an experience only the wisdom that is in it - and stop there; lest we be like the cat that sits down on a hot stove-lid. She will never sit down on a hot stove-lid again, and that is well; but also she will never sit down on a cold one anymore. -- Mark Twain
Some mornings, it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps. -- Emo Phillips
Writing about music is like dancing about architecture.
Experience is that marvelous thing that enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
-- F. P. Jones
What is a committee? A group of the unwilling, picked from the unfit, to do the unnecessary.

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PUBLICATION INFORMATION

A.F.M.S. Newsletter is published monthly by the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies.
A.F.M.S. Central Office
Dan McLennan, P. O. Box 26523
Oklahoma City, OK 73126-0523
(405) 682-2151

ADDRESS CORRECTIONS AND CHANGES
SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION - Individual Subscriptions are available from the Central Office at $3.50 per year. Each club is entitled to 3 free copies. Normally these go to the President, The Newsletter Editor, and one other member. Please be sure to send the names and addresses of these three individuals to the AFMS Office and to update them with each change. AFMS loses 50 cents for every returned Newsletter
DISTRIBUTION QUESTIONS
Address maintenance and mail labeling are the responsibility of the AFMS Central Office.

The publisher does the actual mailing.

*****NOTE*****

NEW EDITOR STARTING WITH THE NOVEMBER 1998 ISSUE

A.F.M.S.Newsletter Editor
Mel Albright, Rt. 3 Box 8500
Bartlesville, OK 74003
(918) 336-8036
or mela@galstar.com

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