Monday, December 3, 2007

Del Air Meetings Meetings Where and When?

Where and When?

Regular meetings are held on the First Thursday of each month at 7:30pm at:

Northridge United Methodist Church

9650 Reseda Blvd., Northridge, CA 91325

This is at the corner of Reseda Blvd and Superior. The parking lot is in the back of the church off of Superior. Take the 2nd driveway and we meet in a room just off the parking lot. Coming from other areas:

Take the #118 freeway west from the #405 and exit south on Reseda Blvd

or

Take #101 north from #405 and exit north on Reseda Blvd

Who can attend?

Guests are always welcome to our meetings and club functions!!

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Membership in Del Air


Club Benefits and Responsibilities

Membership in a Gem & Mineral Club that is a member of the California Federation of Mineral Societies and the American Federation of Mineral Societies.

Monthly general meetings with programs of interest and information to further our hobby.

Access to the Club Shop and use of the tools and equipment to work on all aspects of our hobby. Club work shops and special interest classes.

SHOP IS IN STORAGE. CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR A NEW LOCATION.

Access to equipment on a loan basis to work at home.

A Club Library on all topics of our hobby.

Monthly bulletin with up-coming functions and interesting articles on our hobby.

Monthly field trips to mineral collecting areas and other places of interest.

Club social events, where you can meet members and just have FUN, such as our annual picnic and our Holiday party.

Youth projects at monthly meetings, inclusion in all events and access to shop equipment with adult supervision.



Member Participation

MEMBERS ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO HELP RUN AND/OR PARTICIPATE IN OUR YEARLY CLUB ACTIVITIES

Gem & Mineral Show - This is a fund-raiser but, more importantly, a way to display our hobby to the public and try to build interest in our club. There is work to be done before the show, during the show and clean-up after the show.

Our Club runs on committee work. Members are asked to be on committees to help the Del Air Club run smoothly. The best way to learn who the other members are is to join the group.

We have other fund-raisers during the year, and your help will be needed at times. We usually have a Yard Sale, a Boutique (at our club show) and a Silent Auction at a general meeting. All of these events need items to sell, people to help sell them and ideas for something new.

Yearly Obligations: We ask members to participate, once a year, in displaying at a general meeting, helping with refreshments at a general meeting, and possibly having a Board meeting at their house.

We are an active, hard-working club. We are the only local club with our own shop. Currently we are looking for a new location - if you have an idea please send us an email at: DelAirRockhounds@gmail.com.
Maintaining the shop's equipment requires funds and your help to keep it in working order. From time to time we also need to update our machinery.
We have FUN TOGETHER and learn together, as we have members who can teach us.

Monday, July 30, 2007

Rockhounding Links!

bullet American Federation of Mineralogical Societies http://www.amfed.org

Banjo Creek http://www.banjo-creek.com/index.htm
bullet Bob's Rock Shop (you could spend days at this site) http://www.rockhounds.com
bullet Bob Verish - Authority on Meteorites http://bolidechaser.tripod.com
bullet California Federation of Mineralogical Societies http://www.cfmsinc.org
bullet Canadian Rockhound Geological Magazine http://www.canadianrockhound.com/


bullet Fossil Sharks, Skate, and Rays http://www.elasmo.com
bullet Gem and Mineral Exploration Company. http://gemandmineral.com

Gold Miners Headquarters http://www.goldminershq.com/FRAME/CLUBS/ROCK8.HTM
bullet John Betts Fine Minerals http://www.johnbetts-fineminerals.com/jhbnyc/articles.htm
bullet J.O. Crystal Company, Inc http://members.aol.com/Ramauras/jo_xtal.html
bullet Mt Ida Chamber of Commerce - Championship Crystal Dig
bullet Pat McMahan's agates with inclusions http://agateswithinclusions.com
bullet Pleasant Oaks Gem and Mineral Club of Dallas http://pogmc.org
bulletRockhounds Information Page http://www.rahul.net/infodyn/rockhounds/rockhounds.html
bulletSardinian Agates http://sardinianagates.altervista.org
bulletSierra Pelona Rock Club http://home.earthlink.net/~rhyde83/
bulletSmithosonian Gem & Mineral Collection (NEED NEW LINK)
bulletSteve Ivie's web page http://members.aol.com/irockhound
bulletUSGS Mineral Resources http://minerals.er.usgs.gov/
bulletWelcome to the Gemology & Lapidary Pages http://tradeshop.com/gems
bulletHistory of Rockhounding

Thursday, February 22, 2007

educational programs in your classroom


The Del Air Rockhounds Club promotes educational programs in your classroom.

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Rocks in Your Classroom

Our Del Air Rockhound Club members will visit your classroom
with a presentation on geology.

bulletInteractive discussion
bulletSlide show
bulletHands-on specimens

Every student will have a chance to hold a variety of rocks and fossils in their own hands. Program is 30 minutes to an hour depending on age level.
To schedule your school visit contact:
Please include in your email, a name, phone number and school address.

email Us at delairrockhounds@gmail.com

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 7618, Van Nuys, CA 91409 - Phone # 818-714-0321


Saturday, January 20, 2007

Shop Hints


This page has helpful tips and techniques with links to some very useful information on display lighting and mineral cleaning.

Shop News:
Our shop is temporarily closed pending relocation to a new location. Provisions have been made to provide members limited access to some of the equipment until a new location can be secured. Arrangements can be coordinated at club meetings.

Shop Hints

SCRATCHES: Stones sometimes develop fine threadlike scratches while being polished. These may be due to grit which has penetrated the polish-buff. One grain will do it. To clean, hold a strip of plywood or balsawood firmly against the buff. The grit will embed itself in the wood, leaving the buff clean. (from Ghost Sheet, via Pegmetite)


CUTTING POROUS ROCK: When cutting turquoise, howlite or any other porous rock under the hardness of 5, soak the material in water for about a week, and you will have no problem with the stone soaking up oil. (from Earth Science News, via the Palomar Gem)


CUTING GEODES: When sawing geodes look for the largest dome on the specimen. This dome was in an upright position while it was formed. Saw through the largest dome and it is likely you will get the best picture. If the specimen is elongated or egg-shaped, saw lengthwise to obtain the best exposure. While there is no certain means to determine the interior of an agate nodule, or geode, these ideas are likely to be beneficial. (from G.I. Nugget, via NOC News)


CLEANING SILICAS: Clean pyrite with dupont #7 radiator cleaner at 1 Tablespoon per quart of water. Rinse with silute ammonia and then clean water. This oxalic acid based product will also clean quartz and other silicas. (via Serendipity Gems)


CABS: To work our the flat area in the center of a cab, mark the preform with intersecting lines forming a cross at the center. When you have ground and shaped the stone to its proper curve, the cross will have disappeared and the flat spot along with it. (via Yuba Sutter Gems 5/97)


PETRIFIED WOOD: Petrified wood should be cut lengthwise of the grain. This produces a more varied pattern. Sometimes cutting crosswise will give good patterns, but this is not usually the case. Limb sections are rather on the scarce side as they tend to disintegrate before they petrify. If they are cut diagonally and polished on one end, it adds to their beauty. (via Gems of the Rogue)


Mineral Cleaning for Amateurs
By John Betts
Many specimens collected in the field do not look like the ones that dealers are selling. Most collectors become discouraged or frustrated. These articles will give a few simple techniques clean the pieces you collect.
For the specifics on each cleaning technique, please follow the link to
John Betts' Articles

Oxalic Acid
Muriatic Acid
Mechanical Methods
Brass brush and Dental Picks
Ultrasonic Cleaner
Sand Blasting
Air Scribe
Water Gun
The "Waller" Solution
John has a wonderful collection of other articles, minerals and related topics. Please visit his web site
John Betts - Fine Minerals

Display Lighting of Minerals

By John Betts
The subject of displaying and illuminating minerals comes up all of the time. Every collector understands that there is no sense in collecting objects of beauty, like minerals, if they cannot display and share their appreciation with others.
This article will present basic lighting considerations and solutions that are unique to mineral collectors.

For the specifics on each topic, please follow the link to
John Betts' Articles
LIGHT SOURCES
BULB TYPE
COLOR TEMPERATURE
WATTAGE AND HEAT
FIXTURES
TYPICAL CASE EXAMPLES
John has a wonderful collection of other articles, minerals and related topics. Please visit his web site at John Betts - Fine Minerals