|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5
JJJJJJJJJJJJJJ
P.O. Box 1404 Venice, FL 34284-1404
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
The purpose of our club, organized in 1967, is to foster an interest in minerals, gems, fossils and lapidary arts, to give people with these interests the fellowship with each other and a chance to interact with informative meetings, programs and activities and to present our hobby to the community at our annual show. We also try to foster an interest with the children of our community and to share our knowledge through programs and displays in the local schools and libraries.
½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½
Meetings are held the first Monday of the month, October through May, except as noted below, in the Meeting Room at the Venice Public Library, 300 S. Nokomis Avenue, Venice, FL.
ANNUAL DUES ARE $10 FOR SINGLES OR $15 FOR FAMILIES
Mon 7:00pm Oct 2, 2006 “Show & Tell” (including rainbow calsilica)
Mon 5:30pm Dec 4, 2006 Dinner Meeting and White Elephant Gift Exchange
Mon 7:00pm Feb 5, 2007 Silent Auction—Club Members
Mon 5:30pm May 7, 2007 Dinner Meeting—Pyrite Display by Members
SHOW January 27-28, 2007; Sat. 10 am to 5 pm; Sun. 10 am to 4 pm
President: & Newsletter Editor: Geraldine Vest (941) 408-1711; Gvest201@yahoo.com
Past President and Liaison with AFMS: Allen Brown (941) 926-4171; allen_brown19467@msn.com
Vice President: Ursula Jablonski, (941) 484-9956; ujjablonski@comcast.net
Secretary: Barbara Walker (941) 488-1302
Treasurer: Tom Granata (941) 484-1533 sunshine5585@earthlink.net
Assistant Treasurer: open
Webmaster: Duane Daniell (941) 375-8858 duanedaniell@yahoo.com
Show Chairs: Ralph & Eileen Marble, (941) 922-2135 marblesgems@verizon.net
Publicity Chairs: Kathy & Ross Young (941) 377-8054 KatYoung@comcast.net
Educational Committee: Tom Granata (Chairman), Rob Campbell & Geraldine Vest
Senior Trustee: Tom Ladd (941) 755-6428
Trustee and Show Chairman: Ralph Marble, (941) 922-2135 marblesgems@verizon.net
Trustee: Gifford Smith (941) 698-0183 gif@gls3c.com
Trustee: John Mort (941) 794-2185 mayjohn008@aol.com
P. O. Box 1404; VENICE FL 34284
6:00pm to 9:00pm GALA MAY DINNERMONDAY, MAY 7, 2007 AT 6:00PMHELP—please come at 5:45pm to set up tablesThe club will supply fried chicken, drinks and tableware. Members: bring a vegetable, salad or dessert to complement the chicken. Those signed up so far are: Arnheiter, Lyle & Priscilla (2) [S], Brown, Allen (1) [V], Campbell, Rob (1) [V], Coe, John & Judy (2) [D], Compagnone, Donna (1) [D], Gould, Jr., Pat (1) [S], Granata, Tom (1) [S], Jablonski, Ursula (1) [V], Janotta, James & Patricia Harrington (2) [D], Ladd, Tom & Helen (2) [F], Meyer, Katrina (1) [S], Mort, John & May (2) [D], Pascucci, Linda (1) [D], Smith, Gifford (1) [S], Somos, Leslie & Suzi (2) [D], Stuparich, JoAnne (1) [D], Turzanski, Jan & Darlene (2) [V], Vest, Geraldine (1) [V], Walker, Barbara & Gordon (2) [S], Winesette, Joe (1) [V]. (X) = number attending, [D] = dessert, [F]= Fruit, [S] = Salad, [V] = Vegetable So far, 28 people responded that they were attending and are bringing [6V], [6S], [7D],[1F] If you did not sign up and still want to come call Geraldine Vest (941) 408-1711 so that she can purchase enough fried chicken for you. If it is a last minute decision—come anyway because we usually have extra chicken. SHORT PROGRAM: PYRITE HABITS By Club Members Please bring any interesting pyrite samples or samples from interesting locations for show and tell |
œœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœ
MESSAGE FROM YOUR PRESIDENT: Geraldine Vest
Hugh Sheffield, representing the Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Societies, Inc. {SFMS} attended our April meeting. Our club was a member of the Eastern Federation of Mineralogical Societies {EFMS} until about 2 years ago when we changed our affiliation to the SFMS. The SFMS sponsors various workshops and, since we are members, we can participate in these workshops. I copied the information from “The Lodestar”, the SFMS’s publication for our new members. (See later pages.) Several club members have attended classes at William Holland, including Ursula Jablonski, Jan & Darlene Turzanski, Barbara Knodel, Allen Brown and probably others. Allen Brown has taught several classes there. If you have questions, call these members.
I get “The Lodestar” by e-mail and I would be glad to e-mail it to any interested club member or you could get it directly from their website.
Website at: http://www.amfed.org/sfms/lodestar_newsletter.html
E-mail: address is sfms@amfed.org
William Holland offers classes during the spring, summer, and fall, but anyone can take them on a first come first serve basis. The SFMS classes are reserved for members.
²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²
Minutes from the March Meeting: Barbara Walker, Secretary
Barbara Walker was unable to attend the April meeting.
Thirty-nine members and four guests attended the regular meeting of the Gulf Coast Mineral, Fossil & Gem Club, held in the Venice Public library.
The report on our show was that it made quite a lot of money for the club, and President Geraldine Vest suggested that we might use some of our money for a club outing, such as a rented bus to take us to the Melbourne show next fall. Tom Ladd suggested visiting a museum, These ideas met with general approval. Also approved was a gift certificate to be given to Ralph & Eileen Marble for their work on the show.
Gifford Smith reported that the theft that he suffered after the show will be at least partly compensated by insurance. He believes the robbery took place in the restaurant parking lot while he was having dinner, and he suggests that all show participants refrain from eating out with a car full of merchandise. Local pawnshops have been canvassed to try to find some of his wire-wrapped pieces.
March 23 will be the date of the advisory committee meeting with the board members at Geraldine’s house. There are eight people or couples on the advisory committee but all of the members are invited.
After the raffle, conducted by Ursula Jablonski, Sam Upchurch presented an interesting program on the characteristics of fluorite. President Geraldine Vest suggested that the club members should bring fluorite specimens to the April meeting and that she would bring her fluorescent light and light box.
CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES TO OUR MEMBERS CELEBRATING:
Birthdays:
MAY: Richard Stevens [5/4], Katrina Meyer [5/10], Vivian Peters [5/11], Robert Dunham [5/11], Jack Simmons [5/21]
JUNE: Alice Tholen [6/1], Diane Prokop [6/7], Gifford Smith [6/9], Helen Dunham [6/16], Nancy Hintlian [6/21], Trish Morehead [6/23]
JULY: Barbara Walker [7/2], Fred Buti [7/2], Ralph Marble [7/5], Allen Brown [7/28], Jim Davis [7/28]
AUGUST: Dr. Eugene M. Gillum [8/12], Tom Rogers [8/16], Charlotte Coffey [8/16], Doug Chevalier [8/21], Lou Zark [8/27], Flo Harms [8/28], Evalyn Jones [8/31]
SEPTEMBER: Tom Ladd [9/1], Joe Winesette [9/2], Richard Dry [9/5], Ruben Ledbetter [9/6], Thomas Granata [9/10], Karen K. Harris [9/11], Pat Stelzer [9/15], Helen Gardner [9/18],
YAnniversaries:
JUNE: Thomas & Elizabeth Rogers [6/1], Don & Donna Budd [6/12], Walton & Vivian Peters [6/16], Allen & Nancy Brown [6/23], Richard & Lila Stevens [6/24], Jack & Mary Simmons [6/26], Charles & Roberta M. Clark [6/27]
JULY: Frank & Pat Stelzer [7/28]
AUGUST: Jan & Darlene Turzanski [8/6], Thomas & Kathy Granata [8/8]
SEPTEMBER: Ralph & Eileen Marble [9/2]
UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
UPCOMING SHOWS 2007
May 4-6, Orlando, FL—Gem & Lapidary Wholesalers, Inc. Osceola Heritage Park, 1875 Silver Spur Lane. 4th- 5th, 10-6; 6th, 10-3, 601-879-8832, fax 601-879-3282, info@glwshows.com, www.glwshows.com
May 18-20, Sarasota, FL—Frank Cox Productions, 172nd Gem, Jewelry, and Bead Show, Municipal Auditorium, 801 N. Tamiami Trail (Hwy. 41). Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. 941-954-0202, frankcox@comcast.net, www.frankcoxproductions.com
May 19-20, Clearwater, FL—The Bead Mercantile Show, Radisson Hotel Clearwater Central, 20967 U.S. 19 North 423-639-7942, www.beadmercantile.com
Oct. 2007 Tampa FL—Tampa Bay Mineral & Science Club—48th annual show, Florida State Fairgrounds, Martin Luther King Blvd., just west of US Hwy 301. Hours Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm. Contact: Doug Heym (813) 626-6997, rockclub@tampabay.rr.com www.tamparockclub.homestead.com
SOME HABITS OF PYRITE CRYSTALS
by Geraldine Vest, Ph.D., F.G.A, G.G. GIA
Have you ever wandered why pyrite has different habits? Some pyrites crystals show beautiful cubic crystals that look like they are polished, other cubic pyrite crystals look like their cubic faces have striations running in different directions on opposing faces, or the crystal habit is a pentagonal dodecahedron (an awfully big word shortened to “pyritohedron” by mineral collectors), infrequently the crystals are octahedrons. In rare cases, pyrite crystals may take a few other forms, like a diploid. Frequently, combinations of forms exist on the same crystal! Why? What causes this? Sorry, I do not have all the answers.
I think that one of the interesting topics in Mineralogy is the habit of crystals. Garnets also have the cubic crystal structure, but they hardly ever form cubes, never “pyritohedrons” or octahedrons. Fluorite commonly forms cubes, octahedra, and a few rare habits. Again, why? The answer is that the symmetry of the minerals is the controlling factor, but for a given mineral, there are various habits possible. Much work needs to be done before a clear picture is available. The information about which possible habit occurs is a function of temperature, pressure, available nutrients and chemicals, acidity of the solution, to name a few of the variables. This data about specific minerals is not readily available but one of the members of the Florida Friends of Mineralogy group suggested that I get in touch with a former member, Professor James B. Murowchick, since part of his Ph.D. (1) work dealt with pyrite crystal habits. I will briefly summarize the conclusions of interest below.
Murowchick, as a graduate student at Penn State, studied the effect of temperature and saturation on the morphology of pyrite in a hydrothermal process. He varied the temperature from 250oC (482oF) to 500oC (932oF) and the concentration of the pyrite in the hot water solution. Below, his results are summarized.
1. For low concentrations of pyrite in the hot water and the lowest temperature—needles formed. After the crystal was nucleated, it formed a defect called a “dislocation” as shown in Figure 1. This led to the formation of a “screw” and the crystal grew by adding molecules along the spiral step as shown in Figure 2’5. This leads to rapid growth in one dimension, perpendicular to the step.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5
2. After these crystals were nucleated in the more concentrated solution and at higher temperatures—cubic crystals grew by adding molecules in a step fashion illustrated in Figure 6 below. The actual crystal grew in all three dimensions as shown in Figure 7.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3. As the temperature increased, and to some extent the concentration, the cube no longer forms, at an intermediate temperature the octahedron forms and at the highest temperature, the pyritohedron forms.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4. At the highest concentrations and the highest temperatures, dendrites formed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) James B Murowchick, H. L. Barnes, Effects of Temperature and Degree of Supersaturation on Pyrite
Morphology, The American Mineralogist, Vol. 72, Nos. 11-12, November-December 1987
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Combined forms: faces of the pyritohedron and the diploid are not common
|
Diploid |
|
Pyrite (ex Nelson Coll.)
Cakmakkaya Mine,
Murgul, Artvin Prov., Turkey (2.8x2.2x2 cm) Isaias Casanova IC Minerals |
I purchased this specimen from IC Minerals in April. I will bring it to the May meeting with a collection of other pyrites
GMV |
||||
|
Pyritohedron |
|
The striations on this cube are due to the oscillatory growth between the cube and
the pyritohedron, with the cube predominating but with the evidence of
the pyritohedron faces remaining.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
