January 2014 Del Air Events and Information

Del Air Annual General Meeting: Jan 02, 2014
7:30 pm in our regular meeting room at:

Northridge United Methodist Church
9650 Reseda Blvd, Northridge, CA 91324
Guests Are Always Welcome At Our Meetings & Events.

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Jan 2014 Program:
How to Prospect Lapis Lazuli in America"
Presented By: Patrick Keegan

Yes, there is lapis lazuli in California! Over the past one hundred years, the Cascade Canyon lapis-lazuli
and corundum deposits in the San Gabriel Mountains, San Bernardino County, California have become
well known and almost legendary, yet it seems safe to say that few living people have ever been to the
outcrops. Patrick Keegan, a well-known prospector for Lapis Lazuli has dedicated his life to find these
beautiful gemstones in Cascade Canyon and display them for the world to see. He is the co-founder of
Lapis Minor, a silver/lapis company based in California and the organizer of the Lapis Lazuli festival near Mt. Baldy. Come join us and meet this legend and view the beauty of Lapis Lazuli from California.

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“Something” of the Month
For 2014, I will be relying on the Del Air membership to provide me “something” rockhound related that you would like to know a little more about at each of our general meetings. It can be anything earth science related such as a specific mineral species or a crystal shape or a specific mining location or even why an emerald is green. It’s up to you! I will pick a member at random at each general meeting to provide me a topic for the next months meeting. I will do my best to research it and put together a color handout highlighting specific information pertaining to each topic. I ask that all members try to bring something to each meeting related to that month’s “Something”. Please note I am not a PHD or university professor nor am I an expert in any category so please keep your topics fun and simple. I will kick of the new year with: “What Causes the Banding in Agates”

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QUARTZSITE, AZ–2014 SHOW INFORMATION

  

January 01-February 28: Desert Gardens - Gems & Mineral Sales
January 03-January 13: Tyson Wells Rock & Gem Show
January 06-January 26: Main Event - Swap Meet Type Sales
January 17-January 26: Tyson Wells Sell A Rama - Rocks, Minerals, Misc.
January 18-January 26: Sports, Vacation & RV Show - In the Big Tent
January 22-January 26: Pow Wow Show - Club Show, Rocks, Minerals & More

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The 2014 Del Air Board of Directors
President: Bob Knox; 1st Vice President: Jeff Dengrove; 2nd Vice President: Bob Backus;
Secretary: Bob Dearborn; Treasurer: Shellie Van Winkle; Federation Director: Chris Ward.

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It’s time again for the annual Del Air field trip to Gaviota and Refugio State
Beaches for fossilized whale bone. This is always a fun trip. Low tide is at
approximately 1:00 pm so we will meet at Gaviota Beach at around 11:00 am. We can
hunt for a while at Gaviota or move on down the road a bit to Refugio if there is no
material to be found at Gaviota. Dress in layers as the weather this time of year
can vary from cold and cloudy to sunny and warm. Bring buckets or canvas bags to
carry home your treasures. There’s no open stores nearby for food and water so
while you’re at it, why not pack yourselves a picnic lunch to eat on the beach when
you are done searching. Take US Hwy 101 Ventura Freeway approximately 100 miles
to Gaviota Beach Rd exit.

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Oct 2013 Dates, Info & Events

General Meeting Thurs, Oct 03, 2013

The Meeting Begins At 7:30 pm in our regular meeting room at:

Northridge United Methodist Church

9650 Reseda Blvd, Northridge, CA 91324

Guests Are Always Welcome At Our Meetings & Events.

Oct 2013 Program

         Evaporative Minerals of Searles Lake

Presented by: Stephen Mulqueen

Ever been to famous Searles Lake? Ever think of going to Searles Lake for the once a year field trip in October? If so, then this is a program you do not want to miss. Presented by Stephen Mulqueen, a veteran geologist for Kerr McGee Chemical Corporation. They operated the Trona facilities from 1979 to 1982. He will give us an in depth presentation on Searles Valley geography, geology, stratigraphy & mineralogy of the lake beds in addition to the mining history, techniques and industrial chemicals that were produced from this location and their uses. Come and join us for this amazing program.

Emmy Silverman-Program Chairwoman

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October 2013 Metal of the Month: Mercury

Please remember to bring any specimens you may have of this month’s metal or any other items you wish to share to the meeting on Thursday.

 

Del–Air Rockhounds Calendar of Upcoming Events

                       

Oct 2013

03: General Meeting: 7:30 pm in our regular meeting room @ Northridge United Methodist Church.

14: Columbus Day: Columbus landed in the America’s in 1492.

17: Board Meeting: 7:30 pm @ The Doyle’s home. (Check your roster for the address)

31: Halloween: Trick or Treat! Scary! Scary! Scary!

 

Attention All Club Members: 2014 Dues Are Now Due

Please start planning your budgets early so you will be able to turn in your 2014 annual dues to our treasurer, Shellie VanWinkle, no later than December 31^st, 2013. You may pay this in person with Shellie at the October or November general meetings or at the December Holiday Party. You may also mail it directly to Shellie. (check your roster for her address) at any time prior to           December 31, 2013. $26.00 members & $13.00 associates

There will be a special raffle drawing in January for all members that have paid their dues prior to Jan 01, 2013

 

2013 Del-Air Holiday Party     

Our annual Holiday Party will be held on our regular meeting day, the first Thursday of the month, December 5, 2013 beginning with an appetizer and holiday punch social at 6:45 pm with dinner being served beginning at 7:30 pm. Our dinner will be hosted once again by Boston Market and the menu will include your choice of rotisserie chicken or beef brisket along with choice of potatoes and vegetable, Caesar Salad and cornbread muffins and dessert. Beverages will include holiday punch, coffee, hot tea and water. Cost is $25.00 per adult. Children 10 & under are free. Please return this reservation form along with your check made payable to Del Air Rockhounds to Chris Ward either at the November meeting or via mail to

14203 Gilmore St. Van Nuys, CA 91401 absolutely no later than Thursday November 21, 2013.

Please make checks payable to: Del-Air Rockhounds Inc.

 

 

News from the AFMS    website: www.amfed.org

The California Federation of Mineralogical Societies took 4 honors at the AFMS Convention and Show in Jacksonville Florida this year. They were Cheri George for Beaded Jewelry, Vivian Roberts for Carving, Marion Roberts for Lapidary Spheres and the Del Air Rockhounds took the Bronze Award for the All American Club. Congratulations to all of the CFMS Winners!

November 2013 Del Air Field Trip

Saturday November 16, 2013

Wrightwood, CA

Weather permitting; the Board is currently planning a one day pot luck field trip to Wrightwood, CA for Jaspers and Actinolite. Club members Jim & Shellie Van Winkle have a home in Wrightwood just steps from the collecting area and have generously offered the use of their home as a meeting/staging/planning place. There is plenty of parking and roads are easily accessible with any vehicle. It is roughly an hour and a half drive from Granada Hills. We are encouraging all members to take advantage of this opportunity as field trips are becoming increasingly rare these days. Our July pot-luck-in-the-park was a great success with lots of good food and great camaraderie. We would greatly like to see this success duplicated in this event. We will have a sign-up sheet at the October and November general meeting. Please see member Jeff Dengrove to sign up and advise what you will bring for the pot-luck.