ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Mar 17-18 Show Drew over 4,200
"Geodes, Nature's Grab Bags," also featuring Stegodon & Cave Bear skeletons,
courtesy of Michael & Barbara Sincak from Treasures
of the Earth, was another great successThanks to the great group of members who came out for setup and running the show! This was one of the best groups ever to help with the show. All the display space was filled with a nice variety of exhibits - the first time in many years that all the space was filled. Ray Anderson from the Iowa Geological and Water Survey was a great addition, answering many questions and identifying specimens people brought in. Also, special thanks to Michael & Barbara Sincak for bringing the stegodon, cave bear, and reconstruction of Lyuba, the baby mammoth found in Russia. Attendance was great, even though it was St. Patrick's Day weekend and like summer outside. Dale is working on the show report.
Click for pictures from the show, taken by John Powelka
May 15 Meeting Program:
Eric Fritzsch will present a program about the minerals of the Black Hills
The Homestake Mine is one of the deepest mines in the world and gold was extracted from rock over 1 mile below the surface. Approximately 40 million ounces of gold has been hauled out of this single mine. The rock that comes out of this mine has been strictly controlled by the mining company and therefore there are relatively few mineral samples from the mine.
Collectors are often familiar with golden barite, sand calcite, and Fairburn agate from the area outside the Black Hills. This area is also well known for it's variety of abundant fossils which is out of the scope of the talk.
There are tens of thousands of granitic pegmatites and over 300 of these have been mined. Gemstones from the pegmatites are rare as these pegmatites formed at greater depths than those found at locations like California or Brazil. The pegmatites were mined for feldspar, mica, beryl, spodumene, and other industrial minerals. Crystals of spodumene to 40 feet long have been mined from the Etta Pegmatite.
Some of the most spectacular minerals found inside the Black Hills boundary are microscopic. Micromounters may be familiar with the variety of minerals from the Tip Top Pegmatite, but there are other secondary phosphates in other pegmatites around Keystone and Custer. The epithermal gold and silver deposits also have interesting secondary minerals such as the mines from around Galena, SD.
Many of the mines are collectable and good mineral specimens can still be found there today. Collecting can be done year round and the scenary is beautiful. There are a lot of geological attactions in the Black Hill (Dinosaur Hill, Mammoth Site, Mt Rushmore, Devil's Tower, Museum of Geology, Harney Peak, Needles drive, Spearfish Canyon, Homestake Open Cut, Black Hills Institute, Badlands, etc.) and the stratigraphy is well exposed. The Black Hills is about an 11 hour drive from Cedar Rapids and should be on everyone's "bucket list."
Since the office of editor is vacant, a postcard is being sent in lieu of the newsletter. If you would like to take on the position of Newsletter Editor, please contact a board member.
Bus Trip to Chicago Field Museum Proposed for Oct 20
- Sat., Oct 20, is proposed for a bus trip to Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History
- Minimum of 20 required.
- Cost will be between $56 and $70, depending on the number going.
- Leave about 5:00 a.m. Return about 10:00 p.m.
- Email Bill Desmarais if you are interested
CALENDARS OF EVENTS
to see events scheduled
by clubs in the Midwest area. to see a list of area events
prepared by Donald Johnson of the Eastern Iowa Paleo Project. for information on
Dinosaurs Unearthed at the Putnam Musuem in Davenport, IL, March 3 through July 8. The special exhibit is
the world's first exhibition to present life-size animatronic models of feathered dinosaurs. The exhibition will present
14 life-like animatronic dinosaurs, including two feathered dinosaurs, along with 22 fossil replicas, and two complete
life-size articulated skeletons.
Hosts/Hostesses Needed for Feb and April Meetings
February and April meetings are in need of 1 or 2 hosts or hostesses. Check out the list and email Dell to let her know when you can bring refreshments.
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