The BULLETIN

OF THE NEW YORK MINERALOGICAL CLUB, INC

America’s Oldest Gem & Mineral Club F o u n d e d 1 8 8 6 I n c o r p o r a t e d 1 9 3 7

ZACKRY WIEGAND

NEW GEOLOGIST

2016 NYMC

MEMBERS

BLACK IS BACK

AUCTION

DONATIONS

SNOWBALL

EARTH

May 11, 2016

Art of Light &

Minerals

WORLD’S FINEST MINERAL

See page 13!

Volume 130 No. 5

May 2016

Physicists Have Observed aNew State of Quantum Matter

Bulletin of the New York Mineralogical ClubFounded 1886 Ë New York City, New York Ë Incorporated 1937

Volume 130, No. 5 America’s Oldest Mineral & Gem Club May 2016

May 11 Meeting Presentation:th

Zackry Wiegand: “Subtle Bodies:The Art of Light & Minerals”

Subtle Bodies is a collection ofsculptural objects incorporating neon lightsand minerals that examine our relationshipwith Earth and Space. Created between2012-2014 the nine pieces present mineralsas relics of nature. Through forced

perspective andthe use of light theobjects becomeambiguous inscale and infinitein depth. Theability to perceivestars, galaxies, andnebulas in objectsthat come out ofthe Earth providesa meaningful and

tangible connection to Space bycompressing and demystifying our distancefrom it. Referencing cinematic lightingtechniques and narrative tropes found inscience fiction, the works simulate nature atits farthest and most ephemeral boundaries.By embracing those narratives and usinglight as visual tool, you can elevate theperceived significance of your ownminerals and document them accordingly.

Zackry Wiegand is New York basedartist and lighting designer from Vermont.His background in film production andarchitecture support a deep fascination withlight as a creative and narrative tool, andthemes of illusion and transition drive hiscuriosity with nature.

His interest in rocks and mineralsstarted early in his life. His family collectedwishing rocks (river stones with a completeline going all the way around), pieces of

quartz, and otheru n i q u e s t o n e severywhere they went,and his father is alandscaper who buildsstone walls. Rocksbecame valued objectswith the potential to be

found, and the process of searching forthem created a heightened awareness of thenatural world. He continues to be inspiredby minerals with unique optical propertiesand the various associations rocks andminerals have in pop-culture.

By Alfredo CarpinetiPhysicists have just observed in a real

material a mysterious state of matter thatwas first predicted 40 years ago. And if youthought quantum mechanics couldn’t getany weirder, think again.

An international team has observed forthe first time a quantum spin liquid, a statein which electrons break apart and behavein a very curious way. Electrons in typicalmagnetic materials are well aligned whenthe material is cooled downto absolute zero. But in aquantum spin liquid,electrons are not organized.

“This is a newquantum state of matter,which has been predictedbut hasn’t been seenbefore,” Dr. JohannesKnolle of Cambridge’sCavendish Laboratory, oneof the paper’s co-authors,said in a statement. It should be noted, it isnot really a “liquid” per se – rather, the termindicates that electrons are not lined up asthey should be.

Electrons are thought of as fundamentalindivisible particles, but they can also bemathematically described by twoquasiparticles bound together, onerepresenting the spin and one the charge.Quasiparticles are essentially thefundamental properties of the electronacting as individual particles, although theycan’t move freely through space.

In a quantum spin liquid, the spin andcharge quasipar t ic le can moveindependently from each other and theelectron is broken. The free spinquasiparticle is also a Majorana fermion, acurious excitation that is its ownantiparticle. The first Majorana fermion wasonly discovered last October.

“Until recently, we didn’t even knowwhat the experimental fingerprints of aquantum spin liquid would look like,” saidpaper co-author Dr. Dmitry Kovrizhin.“One thing we’ve done in previous work isto ask, if I were performing experiments ona possible quantum spin liquid, what wouldI observe?”

The new state was observed in crystals

3of ruthenium chloride (RuCl ). The team atthe Oak Ridge National Laboratory shotneutrons at the crystals and looked at themagnetic properties. The results arepublished in Nature Materials.

“This is a new addition to a short list ofknown quantum states of matter,” saidKnolle.

“It’s an important step for ourunderstanding of quantum matter,” addedKovrizhin. “It’s fun to have another new

quantum state that we’venever seen before – itpresents us with newpossibilities to try newthings.”

The understanding ofquantum spin liquid couldhave consequences forr o o m - t e m p e r a t u r esuperconductors andquantum co mp uters .

Quantum spin liquid could even be used asmemory storage for quantum computers.

Source: iflscience.com from April 6, 2016

Issue Highlights

President’s Message. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Meeting Minutes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2World of Minerals: Mars Update (I). 3A New Geologist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Volcanic Eruption Cause?. . . . . . . . . 4Even More Elements. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Cave Art Volcano.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Periodic Table Game. . . . . . . . . . . . . 7The 100: Black is Back.. . . . . . . . . . . 8Topics in Gemology: Rare Watches. . 92016 NYMC Members.. . . . . . . . . . 10Climate & Gravel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Snowball Earth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Lawrence Conklin Reprint. . . . . . . . 13Massive Blue Sapphire.. . . . . . . . . . 14New Low-Density Ice.. . . . . . . . . . . 14March ‘16 Show Dealer Donations. 15Banquet Invitation / Preview. . . . . . 15Curium. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Club & Show Calendars. . . . . . . . . . 17

Patterns formed by bombardingmaterials in a quantum spin liquid statewith neutrons

2 Bulletin of the New York Mineralogical Club, Inc. May 2016

President’s MessagesBy Mitch Portnoy

At last month’s meeting I presented amock-up screen of a “Members Only” tabon the website that would have classifiedads in a variety of categories that onlymembers could place or access. Reaction tothis benefit was extremely positive so I willcontract our webmaster to program the tab. We will start with a “RidesOffered/Wanted” category with more tofollow over the near future.

For many years now the Club hasproduced free postcards advertising theclub and given them out at meetings and atmineral shows. I presented 4 designs to agroup of members and there was noconsensus which to use. However, it turnedout it was actually cheaper to produce allfour than just two! They will be distributedover the next two years.

A large quantity of specimens from thelate Mitch Bogen’s collection have beendonated to the club. A lot of work has to bedone to organize the unbelievablydisorganized mess that they currently are in.The minerals will find their way into theauction, raffles, etc over the next fewmonths. At first inspection, I think they willalso form the foundation of a special benefitsale that we will have later in the year,perhaps during the summer.

I received the above item from esteemed dealerJames Zigras as a donation to our archives. Doesanybody know what it was used for?

Club Meeting Minutes forApril 13, 2016By Vivien Gornitz, SecretaryAttendance:45President Mitch Portnoy presidedAnnouncements:� The monthly raffle was held.� The meeting day’s historical events

were announced.� A Mineral Hardness (Mohs 10) game

was played, the first of a new series!Information about mineral hardness ingeneral was presented.

� A special door prize was given, a bookabout gemstone inclusions relating tothe evening’s lecture.

� A new book about the minerals of NewYork State and where to collect themwill soon be available.

� The NYMC items for sale (gemstonepens, backpacks, etc.) at the meetingwere exhibited.

� The Club’s upcoming events throughMarch 2017 were presented.

Special Lecture: Dr. Roland Scal –“Gemstone Microscopy”

In his recent presentation, Dr. RolandScal, professor at Queensborough CommunityCollege, revealed the hidden beauty andimportant information concealed in tinyinclusions embedded in gemstones. Regardedby many as flaws, these inclusions disclosemuch about the environment in which thesecrystals grew and where they originated,whether in nature or a lab, and even in somecases their home country. Knowing this canadd value to the stone, particularly foremeralds that originate in Colombia, ademantoid from Russia, or a ruby fromMyanmar (Burma).

Roland began by pointing out basicinstruments used to study inclusions—theoptical microscope and the scanning electronmicroscope (SEM) for viewing at even highermagnifications. The latter instrument also cananalyze an inclusion chemically, bybombarding it with x-rays. In general, themicroscopist uses darkfield illumination, inwhich light enters the field of view from anangle, rather than from directly below, tocreate a high contrast that shows up otherwiseoverlooked, subtle features.

Many colorful slides were shown toillustrate these points. For example, swirls andbubbles usually mean a stone is fake—i.e.,glass, but some natural fluid inclusions mayfreeze into a glassy mass. Randomly oriented,thin rutile needles in sapphire or ruby givesthese stones a “sleepy”, milky look, but whenthey intersect at 120° angles, the resulting stargem becomes highly desirable. The LindeCompany manufactured synthetic star rubiesand sapphires in the 1950s-1960s that couldbe easily spotted because they were just tooperfect. A zircon inclusion in an Australiansapphire became metamict (lost itscrystallinity due to natural radiation), whichset up stresses that fractured the host crystaland produced a halo. But tension haloesaround rutile, zircon and other hightemperature inclusions may also be evidencefor heat treatment. (Rutile needles alsobecome fuzzy and indistinct when heated).Black inclusions within a diamond point tographitization caused by the rapid transit tothe surface within a kimberlite eruption thatbrought the stone into a zone ofdisequilibrium (i.e., much lower temperaturesand pressures than where it first crystallized). In many cases, inclusions in gemstonescan indicate the country of origin. Forexample, Sandawana emeralds fromZimbabwe typically display actinolite needles,whereas Colombian emeralds have 3-phase

inclusions consisting of trapped brine, gas, andhalite. Demantoid garnets from the Urals arecharacterized by “horsetail” inclusions ofchrysotile, whereas demantoids from otherlocales have needles of actinolite, or otherminerals. In both examples, the Colombian andRussian gems are considered more valuablethan those from elsewhere.

The microscope unveils many otherinteresting internal features, such as growthzoning, changes of crystal habit during growth,or more importantly, whether a stone is naturalor lab-grown. The fairly rare Lechtleitersynthetic emeralds look heavily fractured likebroken glass, or “crazy paving stones.”Hydrothermally-grown synthetic emeraldsshow nail-head inclusions with phenacite, oftenaligned, which give the stone a roiled, hazyluster. Ramaura-grown rubies contain orangeyblobs of flux and metallic Pb, La inclusions.

Roland’s journey into the hidden world ofgemstones unlocked a whole new dimensionand host of fascinating and useful facts aboutthese lovely crystals.

Members in the News

� In 2003, one of John Betts’s mineralphotographs was used on a postage stampof Guinea-Bissau.

� Renée Newman, who spoke to the NYMClast year about exotic gems, has just hadher fourth book in the Exotic Gems seriespublished, focusing on jade and pearls.(More information to follow.)

May Meeting Game!

May 2016 Bulletin of the New York Mineralogical Club, Inc. 3

The World of MineralsThe World of Minerals is a monthly column written by Dr. Vivien Gornitz on timely and interesting topics relatedto geology, gemology, mineralogy, mineral history, etc.

The Minerals of Mars – An Update (Part I)

Mars, the Red PlanetMars, a planet of dramatic contrasts, displays heavily-cratered,

moon-like terrains in the southern highlands, towering volcanoes,the Valles Marineris canyon system (2000 miles long and 12,000feet deep) that dwarfs the Grand Canyon, deep channels gouged bybiblical-sized floods, dune fields rivaling the Sahara, and smooth,sparsely-cratered northern hemisphere plains. Its thin, mostlycarbon dioxide atmosphere has a surface pressure less than onepercent that of the Earth. Surface temperatures range from nearfreezing during southern hemisphere summer to -190E F at thepoles in winter. Although once much wetter, the red planet is nowbone dry and frigid (Table 1). Any liquid water either seeps intothe ground and freezes, or evaporates. Yet copious volumes ofwater once carved out dendritic (or branched) river valleys–nowdry–scattered across much of the cratered southern highlands.

Catastrophic floods streamlined teardrop-shaped “islands” in giantoutflow channels. River-like formations hint at to a formerly moreclement climate—one more hospitable for the origin of early life.Recent mineral discoveries strengthen this possibility.

Finding evidence for life on other planets has motivated recentspace exploration. “Follow the water” is NASA’s chief guidelinefor seeking possible life abodes–past or present–on Mars. Certaintypes of minerals can reveal important clues about pastenvironments and climates of a planet and its potential habitability.Most informative are those minerals, such as clays or evaporitesthat deposit at or near the surface by interaction with atmosphereand water. Instruments onboard orbiting spacecraft and surfacerovers have discovered the presence of sheet silicates, sulfates, andcrystalline iron oxides. These minerals date to a very early periodin the history of Mars, when water was more abundant.Furthermore, geologic mapping shows not only that some hydratedsheet silicates are much older than sulfates, but that the latterformed under markedly different geochemical environments. Asthe planet grew drier, new minerals formed under brinier, moreacidic conditions, which imply a harsher environment for earlylife. The overall scarcity of carbonates was also a surprise, since

2CO is the dominant constituent of the martian atmosphere,

2 2carbonates generally precipitate from CO - H O solutions, andevidence for aqueous alteration abounds.

(Continues next month)Astro Gallery of Gems, now along Fifth Avenue, is to open asecond location in a 1,200 square-foot-space on the ground floorof this six-story 1931 apartment building across from the AmericanMuseum of Natural History (102 West 79 Street). The gallery,th

which plans to to sell minerals, fossils and jewelry, as well asitems for children there, and is to have a storage basement, hassigned a 10-year lease and received a three-month rent concessionfor its build-out. Approximate annual rent: $171,000.

4 Bulletin of the New York Mineralogical Club, Inc. May 2016

The Origins of a Geologist:From the Shores of Lake Michigan to the Hallsof Oberlin CollegeBy Emilie Lozier

My love affair with geology began early. Wandering theshores of Lake Michigan as children, my sisters and I wouldcomb our fingers through the coarse sand grains. Occasionallyone of us would straighten abruptly, squinting at whatevertreasure our sifting hands had unearthed. Sea glass; shellyconglomerates; dull, rounded rocks that turned luminous colorswhen dunked in the surf. These objects were like precious gemsto us, and we stuffed our pockets full to bursting.

Years later I had amassed a respectable collection of rocksand minerals. With a backbone of lake stones from my summersof beach combing, it was fleshed out by a number of more“serious” specimens from my grandmother’s neighbor, Mitch.Whenever I would go to stay with my grandma in Manhattan,Mitch would invite me to look through his own considerablecollection and choose a mineral to take home.

Like many budding collectors, my choices were driven byan appreciation for distinctive shapes and colors. I chosehematite for its globular structure and metallic sheen, wavelitefor its radial spray of pale green needles. Months later, I stillfound myself puzzling over their unique beauty. I wanted tounderstand the whole story, the series of mechanisms that couldcreate minerals of such startling complexity.

This curiosity has stuck with me. As a student at OberlinCollege, I have stuffed my schedule full of geology courses,even while pursuing a major in chemistry. In my mind, thisapproach makes a lot of sense. With an ultimate goal ofgeochemical research, my foundation in chemistry must beunshakeable – and so I study chemistry. At the same time, it isthe tantalizing mystery of the Earth’s processes that drives me toshore up my knowledge of the natural sciences – and so I studygeology. In brief, while chemistry is my vehicle, geology is thefurnace that keeps the wheels turning.

Last summer, with one year at Oberlin tucked away in mypocket, I spent two months helping out in the Department ofEarth and Planetary Sciences at the American Museum ofNatural History. More specifically, I worked with JamieNewman, who assists in the curation of the Mineral and Gemscollection. Earlier in the year, Mitch had brought me to meetJamie and get a peek at the collection.

Although I’d been to see AMNH’s Hall of Minerals manytimes before, I was completely floored when faced with themuseum’s entire collection. Where before I had spent my timemarveling at a mere 5,000 specimens, here, ranged inunassuming metal shelves and cabinets, over 100,000 individualminerals stood waiting to be wondered over.Later, my job would be to go through just a subset of thiscollection, drawer by drawer, removing each mineral from itsbox, lining it up with its label and catalog number, and snappinga photo to be uploaded to the online database. To some, this dutymay seem monotonous, but to me it was a blast of energy,kindling in the fire of my curiosity. Here, I could hold in myhands the very objects of my passion. Every day I encounterednew oddities to pique my interest: a carpet of dark, glitteringazurites, a pale purple fluorite with a structure like a honeycomb,a septarian concretion all crisscrossed with cracks, and nativecopper entombed in a perfect, football-shaped crystal of calcite.

Even the more humble minerals did not escape my attention,and in the end these were the ones that taught me the most. Afterhandling countless examples of a single variety of mineral, Isoon gained an instinctive – albeit rudimentary – feel for itstypical hues, densities, and morphologies. One day, whenphotographing a drawer of calcites, I came across a mineral thatprovoked my suspicion the moment I picked it up. For its size,the specimen was much heavier than my hands-on understandingof calcites had led me to believe. Turning the mineral over in myhands I realized with a low thrill of excitement that its reverseside was coated with a thick layer of galena, a dense, lead-containing mineral.

Of all my experiences at the museum, moments like thesewere the ones that reminded me most dramatically of why it isI study the natural sciences. They brought me back to the daysspent darting in and out of Lake Michigan waves, holdinggleaming wet pebbles up to the sun and marveling at their gem-like colors. To the camping trips at Devil’s Lake State Park inWisconsin spent puzzling over the ponderous quartzite cliffs.Like the first geologists, my curiosity was purely visceral,stemming from that which I saw and touched and tasted. Today,this sense of primitive wonder remains to me an invitation, andall the motivation I could ever need.

What Causes A Volcanic Eruption?By Robin Andrews

A team of volcanologists led by the University of Liverpoolhave released a perhaps controversial Nature study on the causesof volcanic eruptions. Going against the current consensus, theyhave suggested that it isn’t huge pressure differences that triggervolcanic blasts, but a strange behavior of magma called“frictional heating.”

Volcanic eruptions, despite being studied for severalthousands of years in one form or another, are still relativelypoorly understood phenomena. Although volcanologists haveattempted to categorize eruptions as best they can, observingtheir underlying physical processes is impossible, and can onlybe interpreted after the act. The arguable “holy grail” ofvolcanology is to determine why exactly an eruption,particularly an explosive one, occurs, in order to aid our abilityto predict when the next one will happen.

Volcanic eruptions are largely thought to occur when thereis a huge pressure difference (or “gradient”) between the broiling

May 2016 Bulletin of the New York Mineralogical Club, Inc. 5

magma within the chamber and the outside world. When thisgradient becomes too large for the encasing rock to keep it in, itfractures, allowing the magma to violently decompress onto thesurface.

This chamber pressure is largely controlled by the gascontent of the magma, which itself is variably gloopy, or“viscous.” As the magma initially begins to decompress as itrises from the depths of the Earth, gas bubbles form from themagma in a process known as vesiculation, which increases theinternal pressure of the magma chamber. The more viscous andgassy the magma is, the greater the pressure gradient will be, andthe more explosive the subsequent eruption.

This new study, led by Yan Lavallée, professor ofvolcanology at the University of Liverpool, has concluded thattemperature, not pressure, is the controlling mechanism forvesiculation. Laboratory experiments were set up to melt varioustypes of igneous rocks in various ways. The team lookedcarefully at how each melting technique produced varyingdegrees of vesiculation, comparing their results with fieldworkon Santiaguito volcano.

Their experiments show that magma and partially moltenrocks moving up through a tube or “conduit” heat up as they doso. This temperature increase is caused by the “drag” of themagma against both the walls of the conduit and the internalcurrents within the magma itself.

“A good analogy to this is peanut butter,” Lavallée said ina statement. “When it is too cold and viscous, we plunge a knifeinto it and stir to warm it up and make it runnier.”

This “frictional heating” caused substantial temperatureincreases in the laboratory, which had several effects: Primarily,the formation of bubbles is easier when the magma is hotter, ormore energetically excitable. The more fluid, less confiningmagma also permits the more efficient growth of bubbles.

In addition, this temperature increase induced the melting ofsolid crystals within the magma, depositing a huge amount ofchemical compounds into the molten phase of the magma. Thisso-called “supersaturation” causes a chemical imbalance withinthe magma, which releases these compounds as gassy bubbles inorder to redress this.

These findings, if corroborated by other independent studies,have the potential to rewrite a key component of volcanologicalscience, potentially transforming how we determine when, andindeed how, the most dangerous volcanoes on Earth erupt.Source: iflscience.com from January 6, 2016

The Race to Find Even More New Elements toAdd to the Periodic TableBy David Hinde

In an event likely never to be repeated, four new superheavyelements were last week simultaneously added to the periodictable. To add four in one go is quite an achievement but the raceto find more is ongoing.

Back in 2012, the International Unions of Pure and AppliedChemistry (IUPAC) and Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP)tasked five independent scientists to assess claims made for thediscovery of elements 113, 115, 117 and 118. The measurementshad been made at Nuclear Physics Accelerator laboratories inRussia (Dubna) and Japan (RIKEN) between 2004 and 2012.

Late last year, on December 30, 2015, IUPAC announcedthat claims for the discovery of all four new elements had beenaccepted.

This completes the seventh row of the periodic table, andmeans that all elements between hydrogen (having only oneproton in its nucleus) and element 118 (having 118 protons) arenow officially discovered.

After the excitement of the discovery, the scientists nowhave the naming rights. The Japanese team will suggest thename for element 113. The joint Russian/US teams will makesuggestions for elements 115, 117 and 118. These names will be

What causes the world's explosive volcanic eruptions, like the 1980s blast atMount St. Helens, to occur? USGS

Is temperature or pressure more important when it comes to triggering explosiveeruptions? Credit: mik ulyannikov / Shutterstock

The expanding periodic table of elements. Shutterstock/Olivier Le Queinec

6 Bulletin of the New York Mineralogical Club, Inc. May 2016

assessed by IUPAC, and once approved, will become the newnames that scientists and students will have to remember.

Until their discovery and naming, all superheavy elements(up to 999!) have been assigned temporary names by the IUPAC.Element 113 is known as ununtrium (Uut), 115 is ununpentium(Uup), 117 is ununseptium (Uus) and 118 ununoctium (Uuo).These names are not actually used by physicists, who insteadrefer to them as “element 118", for example.

The Superheavy ElementsElements heavier than Rutherfordium (element 104) are

referred to as superheavy. They are not found in nature, becausethey undergo radioactive decay to lighter elements.

Those superheavy nuclei that have been created artificiallyhave decay lifetimes between nanoseconds and minutes. Butlonger-lived (more neutron-rich) superheavy nuclei are expectedto be situated at the centre of the so-called “island of stability”,a place where neutron-rich nuclei with extremely long half-livesshould exist.

Currently, the isotopes of new elements that have beendiscovered are on the “shore” of this island, since we cannot yetreach the centre.

How Were These New Elements Created On Earth?Atoms of superheavy elements are made by nuclear fusion.

Imagine touching two droplets of water – they will “snaptogether” because of surface tension to form a combined largerdroplet.

The problem in the fusion of heavy nuclei is the largenumbers of protons in both nuclei. This creates an intenserepulsive electric field. A heavy-ion accelerator must be used toovercome this repulsion, by colliding the two nuclei andallowing the nuclear surfaces to touch.

This is not sufficient, as the two touching spheroidal nucleimust change their shape to form a compact single droplet ofnuclear matter – the superheavy nucleus.

It turns out that this only happens in a few “lucky”collisions, as few as one in a million.

There is yet another hurdle; the superheavy nucleus is verylikely to decay almost immediately by fission. Again, as few asone in a million survives to become a superheavy atom,identified by its unique radioactive decay.

The process of superheavy element creation andidentification thus requires large-scale accelerator facilities,sophisticated magnetic separators, efficient detectors and time.

Finding the three atoms of element 113 in Japan took 10years, and that was after the experimental equipment had beendeveloped.

The payback from the discovery of these new elementscomes in improving models of the atomic nucleus (withapplications in nuclear medicine and in element formation in theuniverse) and testing our understanding of atomic relativisticeffects (of increasing importance in the chemical properties ofthe heavy elements). It also helps in improving ourunderstanding of complex and irreversible interactions ofquantum systems in general.

The Australian ConnectionThe race is now on to produce elements 119 and 120. The

projectile nucleus Calcium-48 (Ca-48) – successfully used toform the newly accepted elements – has too few protons, and notarget nuclei with more protons are currently available. Thequestion is, which heavier projectile nucleus is the best to use.

To investigate this, the leader and team members of theGerman superheavy element research group, based in Darmstadtand Mainz, recently travelled to the Australian NationalUniversity.

They made use of unique ANU experimental capabilities,supported by the Australian Government’s NCRIS program, tomeasure fission characteristics for several nuclear reactionsforming element 120. The results will guide future experimentsin Germany to form the new superheavy elements.

It seems certain that by using similar nuclear fusionreactions, proceeding beyond element 118 will be more difficultthan reaching it. But that was the feeling after the discovery ofelement 112, first observed in 1996. And yet a new approachusing Ca-48 projectiles allowed another six elements to bediscovered.

Nuclear physicists are already exploring different types ofnuclear reaction to produce superheavies, and some promisingresults have already been achieved. Nevertheless, it would needa huge breakthrough to see four new nuclei added to the periodictable at once, as we have just seen.Source: iflscience.com from January 5, 2016

36,000 Year Old Cave Art Shows AncientVolcanic EruptionBy Robin Andrews

Volcanology is a fairly ancient science, with descriptions ofdramatic eruptions going back at least as far as the year 79 C.E.,when Pliny the Elder sailed into the pyroclastic flows emergingfrom Vesuvius and his heir detailed the unfolding destruction.Now, a study in PLOS ONE has described what may be the

The completed seventh row in the periodic table. Wikimedia Commons

The Chauvet cave system has its own high-resolution replica. Getty

May 2016 Bulletin of the New York Mineralogical Club, Inc. 7

earliest known images of erupting volcanoes. These paintings,found in the Chauvet caves of France, are at least 36,000 yearsold.

This particular cave system was found to contain a series ofpaintings in 1994. Among them were menageries of animals – acommon theme in ancient cave paintings. Examples of humanhandprints were also found there. However, some of the artworkwas at the time too abstract to be properly identified.

Nearby, a new geological survey was conducted in theBas-Vivarais area, which aimed to look at the geologicalevolution of the area between 30,000 and 40,000 years ago. Thiscoincides with the period of time wherein the Chauvet cavesystem was occupied by humans. During this time, thegeological survey revealed that 35 kilometers (22 miles) awayfrom the cave system, a major volcanic eruption took place inthe Vivarais volcanic field, a series of volcanoes spread over 500square kilometers (193 square miles).

This research team, using geological mapping and isotopicdating, managed to provide the most accurate timings andprecise eruption characteristics of the volcanic activity ofVivarais to date. They note that the activity ranges from the calmand effusive (lava flows, for example) to the iridescent andviolent, with buried water and magma interacting explosively toform volcanoes known as maar volcanoes.

Indeed, carbon dating techniques show that the nearbyChauvet cave paintings were created during this time. The laterphases of painting focused around an extinct, deer-like creaturecalled a Megaloceros. Painted using a red pigment, perhapstraced with fingers, these Megaloceros appear to have aspray-like feature emerging from their heads.

These spray shapes are unique among over 340 ornate cavepainting sites in France and Spain, which made theiridentification problematic for a long time. The authors of thisstudy suggest that they appear to resemble the typical lavafountains reminiscent of Strombolian eruptions, gasslug-induced volcanic explosions.

Sebastien Nomade, lead author of the study, toldIFLScience: “We noticed that the shape is reminiscent of lavafountains that a young kid could draw.” Although it isimpossible to be certain, the authors are cautiously confident oftheir discovery, noting that the strength of the eruptions couldhave meant that the original artists likely felt compelled to paintthem.

Previously, volcanic imagery was found in Catalhoyuk incentral Turkey, and dated to be at least 8,000 years old. The

Chauvet cave paintings predate this Turkish example by around28,000 years, and if the Vivarais eruption theory is accepted bythe scientific community, its depiction in volcanic art will be theoldest in human history to date.Source: iflscience.com from January 11, 2016

Teach Kids Chemistry with this HomemadePeriodic Table Battleship GameBy Tom Hale

If you teach or have kids of your own, here’s a great way toget them into chemistry.

On the homeschooling blog Teach Beside Me, Karyn Trippshows how to create a Battleship-esque game with a periodictable.

All you need to do is print out four periodic tables, whichyou can easily find on Google Images. Along the left side, youthen label the rows alphabetically from a to i. You then set upthe a battlestation using two folders facing back-to-back andattached by a paper clip at the top. You can also laminate thesheets to make the game reusable.

As Tripp explains on the blog, “The kids can then markwhere they want to place their ships by circling rows of 2, 3, 4,and 5 elements on the lower table. They play by calling outcoordinates. If they miss they put an X on the spot they chose onthe upper table. If they get a hit, they circle it.”

After learning to play in this way, you can then use moreadvanced ways to find the opponent's “battleships,” such asusing an element’s atomic number or mass number. You can alsomake a rule that a “ship” has to be in each group, i.e. one in thenoble gases, one in transition metals, etc.Source: iflscience.com from January 14, 2016

Niagara Falls: New York State Park System toPresent Plans to ‘Dewater’ American Side of FallsFollowing a public hearing, the dewatering is expected to occurwithin three years to replace 115-year-old bridges accessingGoat Island. The falls were first dewatered in 1969 for anerosion study.

The map of the Chauvet cave system (A), the general view of the“Megaloceros panel” (B), and the detail of the spray-like paintings (C).Nomade et al./PLOS ONE

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Collector’s Series – “The 100"The 100 is a monthly feature of interest to mineral collectors written by Bill Shelton, based upon his many years ofexperience as a mineral collector, educator, author, appraiser, philanthropist and dealer. Comments as well as suggestionsfor new topics are most welcome. Contact him at LAELIASON@msn.com.

Black is BackThis curious group of black minerals shares a common

status regarding fluorescence and gemstones - there is nothing tosay regarding either! Uranium, theelement, has a bearing on fluorescencebut it is unrelated to the species uraninite.Byproducts of course are a differentmatter.

Stibnite, a popular species forcollectors, can have well-formed crystalsthat occasionally reach 20 inches or so.Normal specimens and most of thoseknown to exist are modest sized singles orclusters to a few inches or less. The recentinflux of Chinese pieces allows anopportunity for anyone with most any sizebudget to get single crystals or evengroups. Prices seem remarkablyreasonable now that we have a largesupply. Prior to this, a few places hadsamples – France, Japan, Nevada andRomania are exemplary. They tend to besparsely represented in dealer stock andmany of these pieces will be expensive.Long ago, Sinkankas (1964) said“Probably the acquisition of a fine groupof Japanese stibnite crystals is to anamateur mineralogist an attainment equalto an art patron’s acquisition of an oldmaster.” The best pieces are silvery togray and may be iridescent so some, atleast, are not really black in appearance. Ican’t imagine a collector not consideringthis as a good addition to their suite.

Tetrahedrite is a very interestingspecies – many elements can enter thestructure including bismuth, silver andzinc. Arsenic can be present and whenenough is there, the species is properlylabeled as tennantite. A complete solidsolution series is evidently known to exist.The massive material may prove to be a bitelusive to identify but crystals are morereadily recognized. It is common forchalcopyrite to encompass the entirecrystal and that means an error in identitymight occur. Fifty years ago, a one inchcrystal was considered impressive. Notlong ago, I was fortunate to find a two inchbeauty from Dalnegorsk, Russia. But don’tbe overly impressed – the Handbooksuggests crystals exist more on the order ofsix inches in length today.

I would also like to inform serious collectors that somerecent samples from Russia have excellent luster and a minimumof coating present. Such a piece would be prized by many

collectors. In addition to Dalnegorsk, theformer Soviet Union has other places thatmight produce a fine specimen – here Iinclude Rudnyi, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistanand Ukraine according to the World ofStones magazine. If you like a specimenwith multiple species present, you willfind quite a few possibilities here rangingfrom gangue minerals to other potentiallyvaluable species. At times, the silvercontent in tetrahedrite is concentratedenough to make it a possible ore speciesfor copper and silver.

Uraninite is perhaps best known as asource of uranium and probablyconsidered in some circles as dangerousdue to radioactivity. Secondary speciesand traces of the uranyl radical are notedwith bright colors, fluorescence and,sometimes, high levels of radioactivity.This is much less applicable to uraninite.Species such as cuprosklodowskite,betafite and autunite may actually bemore radioactive than uraninite. Whencrystals are found, the price will probablybe moderate and the quality variable.Among some of the samples I have seen,those from Standpipe Hill, Maine aremost often noted to exhibit high quality.Generally, they are thumbnail sized andhave little or no matrix present. Other

sources in America include severalpegmatites in Connecticut, North Carolina,Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah.See mindat.org for a very long list ofknown places. Worldwide, Canada,Congo, England and South Africa arenotable sources. Pitchblende is a massive,sometimes impure uraninite that may beavailable but will likely be unattractive. Ifyou decide to own a crystal, say thumbnailsized, I believe the relative danger to youis minute. Perhaps you will be able tosource one from lesser known andavailable places such as Norway.

As a group, they may beunderappreciated in the collectorcommunity. Black is not the mostendearing quality for fancy collection

pieces anyway. Mindat.org reports 2,833 localities for stibnite,1,866 for tetrahedrite and 2,503 for uraninite. Does this come asa surprise to you?

Stibnite from Nevada

Tetrahedrite from Peru

Uraninite from Maine

May 2016 Bulletin of the New York Mineralogical Club, Inc. 9

Topics in GemologyTopics in Gemology is a monthly column written by Diana Jarrett, GG, RMV, based on gemological questions posed toher over the years by beginners and experts alike. Contact her at diana@dianajarrett.com.

All the Subtleties of TimeRecently, the Washington Post published a report about a shift

in paradigm with ultra-luxe consumers who at one time onlysported highly visible status-con labels. Now, they are regarded as“a little trashy” shoppers were quoted as saying. Instead, the storygoes, consumers eschew logo-stamped products plastered withnames like Van Cleef & Arpels, Prada, Gucci or Luis Vuitton.No Attention Please

My, how things have changed. In the world of luxurygoods, manufacturers may have relied wholly on namerecognition to push their brand to the fore. Status mindedconsumers happily participated in prominently flauntinglogos believing it added a certain snob-value to their ownidentity. But the recent disinterest toward blatant self -promotion visible on couture goods has already beenobserved with the serious timepiece crowd.Knowledgeable, cultivated and affluent, the last thingsavvy watch collectors want is attention focused onthemselves. They are the rare watch connoisseur.

Bonafide rare timepieces are those of the highestmanufacture and artistic merit, with discreet complications,often advanced technology, and crafted in limited editions.

People have been interested in knowing what time it is eons.The earliest form of timekeeping was a sundial created in Egyptaround 1450 BC. By the mid 16th century, countless expertwatchmakers were busy in Switzerland. The phrase Swiss-madewatch still denotes a fine timekeeping instrument. But inexpensivebattery-operated fashion watches have become so cheap that peopleoften toss their watch when its battery goes kaput. It’s Complicated

Still a robust market exists for haute horology sending pricessoaring into the six figures. That’s because rare watches havecomplications that enthrall both novice and seasoned collector. Anadvanced albeit discreet technology is also a potent draw foraficionados. But not every fan can play the game. Only those withdeep resources make the leap from admirer to high watch collector.

Watch expert Andrew Block understands haute-horology andits dedicated enthusiasts. He draws on 30 years experience inluxury brand management as president of California-based StephenSilver Boutique where he curates a collection of rare watches. “It’snot an inexpensive passion, but a rewarding one that develops overtime,” Block finds. “We’re talking about the finest examples ofcraftsmanship and art. Once you develop a passion for any art, younever loose it. With fine timepieces, the highest forms of watchmaking are true works of art.”

Today’s discerning collector appreciates cutting-edgetechnology inherent to luxury timepieces, especially when theythemselves are in a related field. Discreet complications resonatewith venture capitalists and tech-culture scions. Extraordinarilywealthy, they have no intention of flaunting it, however. The owneris usually the only one who knows how the watch performs.

Authority Alexis Sarkissian, CEO, Totally Worth It, hastracked the evolution of rare watches on a global scale. Even firsttime collectors are an educated set, he says. “More and morenovices enter the world of haute horlogerie. In the US especially,consumers educate themselves via the internet’s multiple outlets.My favorite resources are still great salespeople with the passionand faith to share their craft.” One cannot overstate the value of

knowledgeable personnel, Sarkissian believes. “Service replacesall the discounts in the world. These professionals will follow youon your collecting journey whether you own one or 50timepieces.”Dizzying Details

Limited edition watches fascinate collectors who understandtheir discreet complications. DEVON timepieces deliver apatented system known as interwoven Time Belts™. The

Ressence, with liquid under its crystal has no crown stemto wind. Instead, the functions happen on the reverse of thecase. Laurent Ferrier is the only brand offering a doublespiral tourbillon for enhanced security and accuracy. Bothof these brands are produced in very small editions ofbetween 50 to 100 pieces annually. Girard PerregauxChrono Hawk Hollywoodland pays homage to itsnamesake while boasting self-winding manufacturedcalibre with visible oscillating weight. Roger Dubouis’sskeleton tourbillon exhibits dynamic depth of field.Parmigiani Fleurier’s 21 house calibres are the basis ofthe brand’s success today.

“The coolest development in visual complicationscomes from the guys at Ressence working on a novel way

to display time,” Sarkissian informs. “Their elegant, extremelycomfortable case houses a beautiful, original and complicatedmechanism presenting time in a completely new way with nocrown. The time rotates around the dial 360° while being verylegible.” Top watchmakers are returning to core values ofcraftsmanship with some inner improvements. “Laurent Ferrierdemonstrates that principal,” he says.Mostly Manly

Each manufacturer’s creations are distinct, but the appealseems skewed towards the male sensibility. “Rare watches aremainly a male thing”, Sarkissian discovered. “Laurent Ferrierdeveloped the Galet Micro-Rotor with natural escapement in alady’s model. The response in the US to the lady’s version hasbeen lukewarm whereas the man’s model is in great demand. Thistrend is shared by just about all brands.” The majority of femalehigh-end collectors prefer quartz, brand recognition, plus anassociation with couture jewelry. Block concurs. “Women focuson fashion and style. Women truly understand the entire conceptof accessorizing – collecting watches for women goes beyondartistry.”What Next?

What territory remains unconquered for these timekeepers?“It may not be limited to the number of functions per watch,”Block considers, “but rather an innovative combining ofcomplications never seen before. It may be utilizing new materialsin combination with new technology. Smart watches are the nextfrontier to remain a relevant category for a younger demographicof luxury consumer.”

DEVON Ressence Type 3

Parmigiani Fleurier

10 Bulletin of the New York Mineralogical Club, Inc. May 2016

2016 Members of the New York Mineralogical Club, Inc.Toni Akhibi, Abuja, Nigeria

Alicja Andrejczuk, Scarsdale, NY

Scott Arsham, New York, NY

Carol Bailey, Flushing, NY

Linda Barrett, New York, NY

Charlotte & Lawrence Bassett, Thornwood, NY

Diane Beckman, New York, NY

Lorraine Bege, New York, NY

Russell Behnke, Meriden, CT

Raissa & Dr. Garrett Bennett, New York, NY

Ted Berkowitz, New York, NY

Philip Betancourt, Moorestown, NJ

John Betts, New York, NY

Mark Lowenthal & Gail Billig, Englewood, NJ

Michael Davis & Alberto Bird, Bronx, NY

Richard Blackman, Randolph, NJ

Andrew C. Blume & Family, New York, NY

Fran Radbell Bolinder, Tuckahoe, NY

Richard Bostwick, New York, NY

Pauletta Brooks, New York, NY

Alan Bronstein, Livingston, NJ

Mrs. Dale L. Brown, Bronx, NY

Kevan & Claudia Brown, New York, NY

Louis J. Brown, Bronx, NY

Otis Kidwell Burger, New York, NY

Eugene Carmichael, Kew Gardens, NY

Elaine Casani, Bohemia, NY

Andrew Chait & Family, New York, NY

Neil Chalfin, Englewood, NJ

Atilio Ciucci, Yonkers, NY

Bill Cotrofeld, East Arlington, VT

Catherine Corwin & Family, Brooklyn, NY

Lillian Cozzarelli, Brooklyn, NY

Bob Cullen, Mamaroneck, NY

Richard Currier, New York, NY

Ralph Dames, Kearny, NJ

Joan Daniel, New York, NY

Ann Darby, Elmhurst, NY

Joan Deignan, Bronx, NY

Nick Del Re, Brooklyn, NY

Donna Dempsey, New York, NY

Christine Domino, Woodside, NY

Joshua Dudley, Montclair, NJ

Tina Di, Flushing, NY

Alissa Duffy, Blairstown, NJ

Kevin & DG Duffy, Sunnyside, NY

Ray Eginton, Springfield Gardens, NY

Philip Elenko, New York, NY

Duane Farabaugh, Forest Hills, NY

Robert & Estée Fraser, Dupont, WA

Sam Gelman, Woodside, NY

Gary Golden & Family, Brooklyn, NY

Olga González, New York, NY

Vivien Gornitz, New York, NY

Joel & SusAnna Bernard- Grae, New York, NY

Fran Greder, Belleville, NJ

Richard Greene, Bronx, NY

Raymond Hakimi, Great Neck, NY

Dr. Daniel Hall, Columbus, OH

Dr. George Harlow, New York, NY

Parvin Hartramph, New York, NY

Richard Hauck, Franklin, NJ

Jeffrey Hayward, Staten Island, NY

Tema Hecht, New York, NY

Will Heierman, Stafford, TX

Howard Heitner, Tuckahoe, NY

Erica Hirsch, Ocean Grove, NJ

Pablo Hoffman, New York, NY

Sidney Horenstein, New York, NY

Irving Horowitz, Floral Park, NY

Gail Jaffe, New York, NY

Diana Jarrett, University Park, FL

Rudolph B. Jones, Fayetteville, NC

Arlene Joseph, New Milford, NJ

Tracy Jukes, Narberth, UK

Robert Karlovits, Staten Island, NY

Jacob & Ruth Kaufman, New York, NY

Michael & Robin Kessler, East Stroudsburg, PA

Victor & Margaret Krasan, Jamaica, NY

Saul Krotki, Seattle, WA

Patricia Dolan & Mark Kucera, Yonkers, NY

Alexandra Krummenacker, Glen Cove, NY

Matthew Langlois, New York, NY

Paul Vitaris & Lee Laurie, New York, NY

Delores Lawton, Brooklyn, NY

Delphine Leblanc, Hoboken, NJ

Barbara Brewka & James Lee, Bronxville, NY

Gail Brett Levine, Rego Park, NY

Florence Levy, New York, NY

The Litvin Family, Englewood, NJ

Eduardo Lopez, New York, NY

Richard & Marion Lopus, Hicksville, NY

Immacula Louisime, Jamaica, NY

Donna M. Luisi, Middle Village, NY

Robert J. Martinchek, Newington, CT

Andrew Mason, Briarcliff Manor, NY

Sydney Mazur, New York, NY

Dr. Charles Merguerian, Stone Ridge, NY

Stephen Milne, New York, NY

William Mirabello, Staten Island, NY

Miriam Mopper, Forest Hills, NY

Robbin C. Moran, Bronx, NY

Ethel Murray, New York, NY

Diane L. Nadler, New York, NY

Vanessa Napolitano-Lydon, Rego Park, NY

Cheryl Neary, Patchogue, NY

Jamie Newman, Brooklyn, NY

Nik Nikiforou, New Paltz, NY

Tony Nikischer, Keswick, VA

Keith & Barbara Noyes, Blauvelt, NY

Thomas W. Nugent, Woodside, NY

Tim O'Meara, Reston, VA

Christopher O'Neill, Brooklyn, NY

William O'Neill, Brooklyn, NY

Corinne Orr, New York, NY

Peter & Mady Palese, NYC, NY

Seymour Perlowitz, Brooklyn, NY

Alfredo Petrov, Desert Hot Springs, CA

Sivia Phoenix, Brooklyn, NY

Martin & Lillie Pope, Brooklyn, NY

Mitchell Portnoy, New York, NY

Alla Priceman, Larchmont, NY

Elayne Prince, Westport, CT

Rafael Ramirez, Newark, N

Eric Rampello, Levittown, NY

Joaquin Ramsey, New York, NY

George Rappaport, Staten Island, NY

Mohammad Qammer, Islip, NY

George Rappaport, Staten Island, NY

Daniel J. Record, Newington, CT

James Regnante, Forest Hills, NY

Vesta Sue Rhodes, New York, NY

Karen Rice, Rio Rancho, NM

Susan Ritter, New York, NY

Olivia Roach, Brooklyn, NY

Andrea Ross, Manchester, VT

Richard & Judith Biegner Rossi , Brooklyn, NY

Olga Rubio, Chester, NY

Susan Jane Rudich, New York, NY

Roman Rudinskiy, Brooklyn, NY

Jesus U. & Meyci Sanchez, Elizabeth, NJ

John F. Sanfaçon, Morristown, NJ

Alexsandra Santiago, Corona, NY

Victor Sapienza, Staten Island, NY

Naomi Sarna, New York, NY

Roland Scal, New York, NY

Peter C. Schneirla, New York, NY

Anna Schumate, New York, NY

Ronnee Medow Segal, New York, NY

Jack Segall, Cedarhurst, NY

Charles & Ruth Severson, Gwynedd, PA

William Shelton, Tucson, AZ

Michael Silver, Los Angeles, CA

Helen Skrobut, Brooklyn, NY

Candie Smith, Staten Island, NY

Charles Snider, New York, NY

Alma Barkey Sohmer, New York, NY

Paul & Jeannine Speranza, North Bellmore, NY

Atida Stein, New York, NY

Robin Sternberg, New York, NY

Steven B. & Max Stieglitz, New York, NY

Matt & Abbey Stolle, New York, NY

Kacper Szarejko, Ridgewood, NY

Linda Ultee, New York, NY

Ann Vitiello, Brooklyn, NY

Sam M. Waldman, Brooklyn, NY

Jessica Wasserman, New York, NY

Lenore Weber, New York, NY

Jeffrey P. Wiegand, New Rochelle, NY

Susana Wilches, New York, NY

Robin Wildes, New York, NY

Leonid Zakinov, Forest Hills, NY

Vanessa Zannis, New York, NY

Theodore Zirnite, New York, NY

Anne Marie Zumer, Wantagh, NY

May 2016 Bulletin of the New York Mineralogical Club, Inc. 11

New Climate Measuring Technique UsesGravel Coating Like Tree RingsBy Stephen Luntz

A new technique, if verified, could transform our capacityto understand ancient climates, arming us with far more detailedknowledge of what to expect in a warming world. The methoduses carbonate deposits between soil and gravel detritus in aridand semi-arid zones. These are laid down like tree rings,allowing us to learn about the climatic conditions at the time.

Paleoclimatology, the study of climates before we hadwidespread thermometers, has been hampered by a shortage ofsuitable proxy measures. Some tree species store indications ofthe conditions as they grew in their growth rings. Similarlystalactites, stalagmites, and lake sediments can provide aninsight into the local environment when they were laid down.

All have their limitations however. The further you go backthe less likely it is that there will be tree or coral records, andother measurements tend to be geographically restricted. Wehave only the vaguest knowledge of the climate over huge areasof the world at crucial points in time.

Professor Ronald Amundson of the University of California,Berkeley has published a new method in the Proceedings of theNational Academy of Sciences, and used it to chart thetemperature and rainfall of Wyoming’s Wind River Basin overthe last 120,000 years.

Amundson’s technique relies on carbonate layers on thebottom of alluvial gravel debris. These deposits, known aspedothems, are far thinner than tree rings, and consequently givefar poorer resolution. Instead of being able to tell what a singleyear was like, they give an average over a thousand years.

“The cool thing that this study reveals is that within soil - an

unlikely reservoir given how ‘messy’ most people think it is -there is a mineral that accumulates steadily and creates some ofthe most detailed information to date on the Earth’s pastclimates,” Amundson said in a statement.

Amundson and his PhD Student Erik Oerter used laserablation to collect microscopic samples from pedothems. “It isevident that the carbonate coatings formed in concentric bandsaround the rocks, much like the annual growth rings in a tree,except that these laminations form over timescales of severalhundred years,” Oerter said. The ratio of Uranium-234 toUranium-238 indicates the age of the pedothem, while carbonand oxygen isotopic ratios provide an indication of temperatureand rainfall at the time

Moreover, plants preferentially remove carbon-13, so lowerlevels left in the soil are indicative of higher levels of plantproductivity, indicating better growing conditions.

This analysis revealed oxygen-18 levels spiked coincidingwith a “previously hypothesized” period between 55,000 and70,000 years ago. This has been explained as warm windsbringing summer rain from the Gulf of Mexico replacing wintersnows from the Pacific. The minor ice age conditions at the timewere very different from anything likely to occur soon.However, Oerter said, “The techniques that we developed cannow be applied to similar soil deposits to fill in key gaps in thepaleoclimate record,” including local effects of past climaticconditions most similar to the greenhouse effect we anticipate.Source: Iflscience.com from January 13, 2016

Snowball Earth Triggered by ExplosiveUnderwater Volcanoes?By Stuart Gary

Extensive underwater volcanism caused by the breakup ofan ancient supercontinent may have pushed the Earth into aperiod of extreme freezing 750 million years ago, according toa new study.

The research, reported in the journal Nature Geoscience,may also help explain how animal life began on Earth millionsof years later, scientists said.

“A Snowball Earth is an extreme event and the planet almostdidn’t get out of it,” one of the study’s authors Professor EelcoRohling, of the Australian National University, said.

The carbonate layers of this 3 millimeter sample are like tree rings, but laid downover tens of thousands of years. Credit Oerter et al/PNAS

During a minor ice age a persistant high pressure system over the Canadian icesheet reversed the dominant pattern of North American precipitation, bringingstronger rain bearing winds from the Gulf of Mexico during summer, and possiblysuppressing winter snows from the Pacific. Erik Oerter

12 Bulletin of the New York Mineralogical Club, Inc. May 2016

“Our hypothesis provides a single mechanism that explainsseveral different aspects of the Snowball Earth state.”

According to the Snowball Earth hypothesis, most or all ofEarth was covered in ice sheets at least once in the planet’shistory, but it is not clear what caused this extreme glaciation.

It had been widely thought that the run-off from rivers intothe ocean caused by the break-up of the vast supercontinentRodinia changed the chemistry of the ocean, reducing the

2amount of carbon-dioxide (CO ) in the atmosphere, which inturn increased global ice coverage.

The vast ice sheets covering the continents reflected sunlightaway from the Earth, further cooling the planet.

“That kicks the world through a tipping point into asnowball state where the oceans start to freeze over as well,”Professor Rohling said.

Key Facts:� Volcanic chemicals released in eruptions saturate

oceans, removing carbon-dioxide from atmosphere andcooling the planet

� Chemicals leached from glassy volcanic rock formedsediment on the sea floor

� The chemicals may also explain high levels ofphosphorus in oceans thought to be catalyst for originof animal life

“Our hypothesis provides a single mechanism that explainsseveral different aspects of the Snowball Earth state.”

According to the Snowball Earth hypothesis, most or all ofEarth was covered in ice sheets at least once in the planet’shistory, but it is not clear what caused this extreme glaciation.

It had been widely thought that the run-off from rivers intothe ocean caused by the break-up of the vast supercontinentRodinia changed the chemistry of the ocean, reducing the

2amount of carbon-dioxide (CO ) in the atmosphere, which inturn increased global ice coverage.

The vast ice sheets covering the continents reflected sunlightaway from the Earth, further cooling the planet.

“That kicks the world through a tipping point into asnowball state where the oceans start to freeze over as well,”Professor Rohling said.

“Our hypothesis provides a single mechanism thatexplains several different aspects of the SnowballEarth state.” Professor Eelco Rohling

“The sea ice forms because of the large scale glaciation onland.”

The Earth stayed locked in this state for millions of years.

2“Eventually land-based volcanism pumps so much CO intothe atmosphere that it pushes the planet out of the SnowballEarth phase,” Professor Rohling said.

But the existing hypothesis does not explain how thickdeposits of carbonate rock such as limestone — known as capcarbonates — were laid down as the Earth warmed.Volcanoes Altered Ocean Chemistry

Simulations by Professor Rohling and colleagues indicatedthe breakup of the Rodinia supercontinent may have releasedhuge volumes of volcanic chemicals that saturated the oceans

2and drew CO out of the atmosphere cooling the planet.As the supercontinent Rodinia started to break up, extensive

shallow marine volcanic activity produced large amounts ofglassy volcanic rock, called hyaloclastite, that readily breakdown releasing large amounts of chemicals into the ocean.

“In the past the big question has been: how could largecontinental weathering deposit so much mineral into the oceansif the land is covered in icesheets,” Professor Rohling said.

“The hyaloclastite eruptions do that — turning the oceanvery rich in calcium, magnesium, silicon and phosphorus.”

Eventually when the Earth warmed and the ice broke apart,light penetrated the oceans allowing algal life to pick up againand undertake photosynthesis.

“The phosphorus [leached from the hyaloclastite minerals]is a nutrient generating huge algal blooms which fix carbon andrelease oxygen, essential for the development of animal life,”Professor Rohling said.

Source: ABC Science Posted January 19, 2016

May 2016 Bulletin of the New York Mineralogical Club, Inc. 13

Lawrence H. Conklin passed away on February 7, 2016. He wasa NYMC member, collector, art lover, author, advisor andaesthete. For many decades he was America’s premier mineraldealer. In September of 1994 he was overwhelmingly elected anhonorary member of the New York Mineralogical Club. I reprintthis engaging article in his memory. – Mitch

The World’s Finest Mineral SpecimenBy Lawrence H. Conklin

Dedicated in Memory of Jay Lininger (1939-2004),Devoted Collector of the Mineral Specimens of Pennsylvania.

What is the finest mineral specimen in the world? In my mindthere is no question that it is the “Newmont azurite” at theAmerican Museum of Natural History in New York City.Judgments like this are, of course, subjective but there is noquestion that in my 65 years of examining fine minerals and 50years of buying and selling them that this is the best.

This great piece was found at Tsumeb, South West Africa(now Tsumeb, Namibia) in 1952. It is said that the worker whorecovered it, used the piece to pay an overdue bar bill and that itsat in the barroom, properly appreciated for the treasure it was,until the mine boss at that time, Charlie Stott, reclaimed it for theNewmont Mining Company.

My personal connection to this specimen goes back to theWinter of 1976-77 when Paul E. Desautels (1920-1991), who wasthe curator of minerals at the Smithsonian Institution at that time,came to New York for the specific purpose of garnering that greattrophy for the collection in Washington, and I was called upon toappraise it. I already had a pleasant and longtime relationship withthe Newmont people and other members of the Copper Council.

Upon hearing the shocking news that this great piece mightescape, I panicked. “This azurite,” I pleaded to the company’sboard, “should never leave New York.” I pointed out to them thatthey had such a fine, long-term relationship with the “AmericanMuseum,” and that now was surely not the time to break it. Theyreminded me that, after all, Desautels would be adding the azuriteto “the nation’s collection” and they liked that concept. I am surethat Paul had done his usual great job of public relations.

I then told them my tentative evaluation of the specimen, theyapproved of it, and even approved of my fee which was quite high.I got nowhere, however, in my further attempts to change theultimate fate of that azurite.

I had made my best shot at getting them to send the piece toCentral Park West, and, it fell, apparently, on deaf ears. Then I didit. I made them an offer they couldn’t refuse. (I love to quote fromthe “Godfather”) I actually found myself saying that I wouldforego my substantial appraisal fee if the azurite journeyedwestward across town instead of down south and, to my happysurprise, they promptly agreed.

Then I made another pitch for them to “throw in” to the dealthe magnificent “Newmont gold” an old-timer from Grass Valley,California and they said yes to that suggestion, too. I do not knowof a California gold specimen that I like more than this one.

On January 13, 1977 I typed and delivered my appraisal ofthat azurite and described it, simply, as follows: “Azurite, Tsumeb,Southwest Africa. A group of huge magnificent crystals on matrix.12x12x5 inches. $250,000.00.” At the same time I appraised theNewmont gold, an amazing mass of superb flattened, octahedralcrystals with no matrix, of 7x4-1/2x2 inches, for the same price. Iheard nothing more of the matter until I was made aware of anegatively-oriented article that appeared in the May, 1980 issue ofJewelers’ Circular-Keystone.

I wondered why a jewelry magazine became interested in thestory of an appraisal and donation of a mineral specimen, or evenhow they became aware of it. Nonetheless they published afull-page article about it, with a good color photograph of thespecimen, entitled: “The Newmont azurite: As priceless as MonaLisa?”

Of course the article was, in my opinion, nothing more than a“hatchet-job.” To begin, how could any reasonably knowledgeablestaff of reporters and editors think that the Mona Lisa was worthonly $250,000 in 1980? My sources tell me that $5,000,000 wouldhave been a better guess; and they got many of the facts in thestory completely wrong, too.

The article quoted my dear, longtime friends, Dave Wilber andCharlie Key as saying my appraised value was too high. Dave gotbogged down, as usual, in an invidious comparison with aspecimen that he had recently sold and stated that it was finer thanthe azurite. I did not agree at that time with Dave’s estimation andI still do not agree. The superb phosphophyllite that he sold issurely a wonderful specimen but the main crystal, it must beremembered, needed to be reglued to its rock matrix. Charlie wasa little more generous when he explained: “To some extent you’reappraising in a vacuum on a piece like this.” Indeed, appraising the“unique object,” mineral specimen or whatever is, to say the least,quite challenging.

14 Bulletin of the New York Mineralogical Club, Inc. May 2016

That the museum staff loves the azurite is shown by the factthat it is the only mineral specimen discussed and illustrated ontheir web site. A rather poor picture and a simple description canbe seen at— http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/expeditions/treasure_fossil/Treasures/Newmont_Azurite/newmont.html?50.

Happily, the Newmont azurite is on everyday display at themuseum but in my opinion the lighting of it could be greatlyimproved. The specimen appears almost black in color and it isnot; it is a fine, deep blue.

If you agree with my choice for the world’s finest mineralspecimen or perhaps, more importantly, if you disagree, I shouldcertainly welcome your comments.

Newmont Mining Company deserves much thanks for theirgenerous gifts to the museum. I thank Jamie Newman of the Earth& Planetary Sciences Department at the museum for all her helpand encouragement and special thanks to Dr. George E. Harlow.Photographs courtesy of the American Museum of Natural History.

Massive Blue Star Sapphire Mined in Sri Lanka

Gemologists in Sri Lanka claim that the largest blue starsapphire yet has been discovered in a mine in the country.

The gemology institute in the capital Colombo has certifiedthat the gem weighs 1404.49 carats and say they have not certifiedanything larger.

The gem is valued at at least $100m and the current ownerestimates that it could sell for up to $175m at auction.

Sri Lanka’s gem industry, for which sapphire is the mainexport, is worth at least £70m ($103m) annually.

Blue star sapphires are so named because of the distinctivemark found at their center.

“The moment I saw it, I decided to buy,” the current owner,who wishes to remain anonymous, told the BBC World Service’sNewsday program.

“When the stone was brought to me I suspected that it mightbe the world’s largest blue star sapphire. So I took a risk andbought it.”

The owner said it was “absolutely confidential” how much hepaid for it. The previous record holder weighed 1,395 carats.

The new gem was mined in the city of Ratnapura, in southernSri Lanka, which is known as the City of Gems.

It has been named The Star of Adam by its current owner,after a Muslim belief that Adam arrived in Sri Lanka after beingsent away from the Garden of Eden. It is claimed he then lived onthe slopes of a mountain now known as Adam’s Peak.

The owner of the Star of Adam said he bought it thinking “thiswas not a piece of jewelry but an exhibition piece”.

Speaking to the BBC, Armil Samoon, a leading gem andjewelry dealer in Sri Lanka, confirmed this was the largest bluestar sapphire in the world.

A 17kg (37.5 pounds) rock containing sapphires was revealedin 2013, but the final weight of the gems inside is not yet known.

Sri Lanka’s Gem and Jewellery Association said in 2011 thatthe engagement ring for Catherine Middleton, the Duchess ofCambridge, included a sapphire mined in the country in the 1970s.

It was previously owned by Diana, Princess of Wales.

Super-Low Density Ice ProposedBy Stephen Luntz

Researchers have raised the possibility of a new form of ice,one that would break the record set two years ago for low-densitysolid water.

Anyone with access torefrigeration is familiar with one formof frozen water, and walking outsidein winter at high latitudes or altitudesintroduces us to another. We mightexpect the possible ways to turndihydrogen monoxide into a solid endsthere, but the flexibility of thehydrogen bonds in water have allowedthe creation of 17 crystalline phases of water. Now researchersthink they have designed another.

Two years ago a French-German collaboration produced iceXVI, the least dense form of ice known. However, scientists arealways keen to break a record, and now Professor Xiao ChengZeng of the University of Nebraska, Lincoln has theorized a formthat would have a density of just 0.6 grams per centimeter cubed,25 percent lighter than ice XVI.

“We performed a lot of calculations (focused on) whether thisis not just a low-density ice, but perhaps the lowest-density ice todate,” said Zeng in a statement. “A lot of people are interested inpredicting a new ice structure beyond the state of the art.”

Zeng is the inventor of “Nebraska Ice”, a form that contractswhen frozen, rather than expanding. Icebergs made of NebraskaIce would sink to the bottom of the ocean, rather than float, whichwould have been good news for the Titanic, but might haveunfortunate effects on ocean ecosystems.

As with a number of other theoretical ice structures, no onehas created the structure Zeng has proposed, but in ScienceAdvances he outlines the conditions under which it might occur.The key to Zeng’s brainchild is for water to freeze under what isreferred to as negative pressure. Instead of normal atmosphericpressure pushing in on the freezing material, the pressure goesoutward. Improbable as this sounds, it is not impossible to achieve,but the paper noted, “In the laboratory, applying and maintainingvery large tension or negative pressure up to -6000 bar would bevery difficult.” Atmospheric pressure is 1.01 bar.

Moreover, the colder the conditions under which the iceforms, the higher the negative pressure required. At 250K (-10°F)the outward pressure would need to be -3411 bar, four times asmuch as at the bottom of the Mariana Trench. At coldertemperatures the pressure required gets even higher, -5834 bar atnear absolute zero.

Zeng’s new ice is so light because the water molecules forma near hollow, cage-like structure of 48 molecules.

“Water and ice are forever interesting because they have suchrelevance to human beings and life,” Zeng said. “If you think aboutit, the low density of natural ice protects the water below it; if itwere denser, water would freeze from the bottom up, and no livingspecies could survive. So Mother Nature’s combination is just soperfect.”Source: iflscience.com from February 16, 2016

The structure of the watermolecules in the proposed newphase of ice.

May 2016 Bulletin of the New York Mineralogical Club, Inc. 15

Dealer Donations for the June ‘16 Benefit AuctionThe following list includes all the donations that the

March 2016 NYC Mineral & Gem Showdealers made to the Club this year:

Amazon Imports� (2) Faceted Paraiba Tourmalines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BrazilAurora Minerals1. Geode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brazil2. Polished Emerald in Matrix.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bahia, BrazilAYS International3. Prehnite Beads. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NABary Gems4. Carnelian & Silver Earrings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IndiaJohn Betts Fine Minerals5. Pyromorphite (ex. J. Marshall). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scotland6. Quartz on Calcite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anthony’s Nose, NYChina South Seas7. Carved Red Coral / Gold Filled Chain Necklace. . . . China Crystal Circle8. Several Wonderful Carved Fetishes. . . . . . . . . . . . SW USA9. Several Wonderful Gemstone Carvings. . . . . . . . . . . . . NAExcalibur Minerals10. (12) WW Minerals, Fossils, Meteorites, etc... . . . . . . . MiscExotic Russian Minerals11. Synthetic Red Quartz. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RussiaGems Art Studio12. Selection of Russian Minerals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Russia

(Corundum, Staurolite, Orpiment, Eudialyte, etc.) Great Opals13. Boulder Opal Pendant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . EthiopiaHighland Rock & Fossil14. Fossil. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Morocco15. Serpentine Sphere. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . China16. Quartz Drusy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arizona17. Mounted Picture Jasper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . China18. Rose Quartz Heart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA19. Ocean Jasper Drusy.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MadagascarKhyber Minerals20. Nondescript, Useless “Mineral”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pakistan?Mahalo Minerals21. Gemmy Apophyllite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . India22. Platy Quartz.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BrazilMalachite & Gems of Africa23. Velvet Malachite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Congo24. Company Pen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . USAMargola Minerals25. Polished Multicolor Fluorite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ChinaAlfredo Petrov Rare Minerals26. Alfredopetrovite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bolivia27. R&M Magazine with Article by A. Petrov. . . . . . PeriodicalRaj Minerals28. Stilbite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PakistanRocko Minerals29. Polished Larimar Specimen.. . . . . . . . . Dominican RepublicHoward & Betsy Schlansker30. Large Calcite with Inclusions & etc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ChinaSomethings31. Wide selection of jewelry, especially pendants!. . . . . . . NA

[Although not represented at this show (Arlene does theNovember show only) she contributes nevertheless!]

October Banquet Invitation & Preview

16 Bulletin of the New York Mineralogical Club, Inc. May 2016

Curium’s Part in Solar System FormationBy Stephen Luntz

Curium, an element heavier than any that exist naturally onEarth today, played a part in the formation of the Solar System,traces left behind in a meteorite suggest. The discovery providesus with a better understanding of how the Sun and planets formed,and how giant stars die.

Elements heavier than uranium, known as transuranics, existonly in the laboratory on Earth. Curium, jointly named after Marieand Pierre Curie, has an atomic number of 96, four places beyonduranium. “Curium is an elusive element. It is one of the heaviestknown elements, yet it does not occur naturally because all of itsisotopes are radioactive and decay rapidly on a geological timescale,” said Dr. François Tissot of the Massachusetts Institute ofTechnology in a statement.

Like all transuranics, curium’s isotopes have half-lives shortenough that any formed in supernovae, and incorporated intoplanets at the birth of the Solar System, decayed long ago. Mostcurium isotopes have half-lives of a few thousand years or less.The longest lived isotope, Cm-247, has a half-life of 15.6 millionyears, tiny compared to the age of the Solar System (4.6 billionyears).

However, when Tissot examined the Allende meteorite, hefound a portion of it was a ceramic. He dubbed it “Curious Marie,”suspecting it might once have contained curium. In ScienceAdvances, he reveals evidence for this theory.

Cm-247 decays via plutonium 243 to eventually becomeuranium 235. Any material that formed with Cm-247 in it shouldhave more U-235, relative to other isotopes of uranium, than thesame material formed in the absence of Cm-247. On Earth,geological mixing obscures such variations, but meteoritespreserve a record of the Solar System’s formation.

“The idea is simple enough, yet, for nearly 35 years, scientistshave argued about the presence of Cm-247 in the early SolarSystem,” said Tissot. Some studies found excess U-235 inmeteorites, but other explanations have been made. Finding tracesof curium is hard because it is estimated that even in the earlySolar System there was almost 10,000 times less Cm-247 thanU-235.

Tissot’s approach was to study a portion, known as aninclusion, rich in calcium and aluminum, rather than the wholemeteorite. The chemistry of these inclusions excludes mosturanium, in this case 99.9 percent, but should incorporate curium.“We were able to resolve an unprecedented excess of U-235,”Tissot said. “A finding that can only be explained by live Cm-247in the early Solar System.”

“The possible presence of curium in the early Solar Systemhas long been exciting to cosmochemists, because they can oftenuse radioactive elements as chronometers to date the relative agesof meteorites and planets,” said coauthor Professor NicolasDauphas of the University of Chicago.

Dauphas concluded that the quantity of Cm-247 producedindicated it was formed in the same process as iodine 129 andplutonium 244, two other long-decayed isotopes whose legacy wedetect. The discovery will help us understand how supernovaeform heavy elements.Source: iflscience.com from March 8, 2016

Website of the Month:New York Mineralogical Club

The New York Mineralogical Club has existed for 130 years.They have not had a website for that long, but now that they dothey are able and willing to share their knowledge with any andall who care to hit their site. The site is very easy to rememberhttp://www.newyorkmineralogicalclub.org/, but this should linkyou there also. Naturally, they would hope you join and membershipinformation is readily available. But like us, they permit muchof their bulletin information to be accessed by all and thereappears to be over 50 years of them for you to open on theirwebsite. The latest issue has stories on turquoise, rare earthminerals in coal in West Virginia, gold, earthquakes, and awhole lot more. Looking back into last year, I enjoyed amulti-part series on garnets authored by Vivien Gornitz and aninteresting article on low temperature minerals in September.But with 175 pages alone in the 2015 file, there is still a lot forme to read. Certainly seems worth the $25 annual membershipto have your own Bulletin mailed to you monthly. If you plan to be in the New York City area the first weekendof March they are hosting their Spring NYC Gem and MineralShow in the Holiday Inn in Midtown Manhattan. Of course ifthat is too soon for you to plan a trip to the big city they do it allover again this fall, November 12-13 this year: perhaps a goodtime to plan a trip to the big city. The club currently boastsabout 250 members and meets the second Wednesday of mostmonths.Source: Wayne County Gem and Mineral Club News March 2016

This slice of the Allende meteorite, the largest carbonaceous chondrite ever found,shows the 1.5-centimeter-long (0.59 inch) pink ceramic inclusion that once containedcurium. Origins Lab, University of Chicago

False color close up of the “Curious Marie” inclusion. Calcium is in red, aluminum isblue, green for magnesium; field of view is 0.5 millimeters (0.01 inches). François L.H.Tissot

May 2016 Bulletin of the New York Mineralogical Club, Inc. 17

2016-17 Club Calendar

Date Event Location Remarks & Information

May 11 Meeting at 6:45 Holiday Inn Midtown ManhattanSpecial Lecture: Zackry Wiegand (Artist) –“Subtle Bodies - The Art of Light & Minerals”

June 8 Annual Benefit Auction Holiday Inn Midtown Manhattan Details to follow; Online catalog available!

July/August Officers Meeting / Open House (?) / Special Sale (?) TBD – Stay tuned!

September 14 Meeting at 6:45 Holiday Inn Midtown ManhattanSpecial Lecture: Eric Rampello (1 Timer!) –st

“Tips in Building a Mineral Collection”

October 19 Annual Banquet Holiday Inn Midtown Manhattan Opal theme; Details to follow

November 16 Meeting at 6:45 Holiday Inn Midtown ManhattanSpecial Lecture: Anne Pizzorusso –“The Renaissance, Dante and Geology”

December 14 Meeting at 6:45 Holiday Inn Midtown ManhattanSpecial Lecture: Howard Heitner–“Pseudo-What?!”

January 11, 2017 Meeting at 6:45 Holiday Inn Midtown ManhattanSpecial Lecture: Mitchell Portnoy–“NYC Parks’ Monument Stones”

2016 Show or Event Calendar

Date Event Location Remarks & Information

April 23-24 NJESA Mineral Show Franklin School, Franklin, NJ For Info: Russ Brarens – (908) 421-1045

May 21-22Southern Vermont Mineral,Rock & Gem Show

Grace Christian School,Bennington, Vermont

For Info: Bill Cotrofeld – (802) 375-6782

June 4-5Orange County MineralSociety Mineral Show

Museum Village, Monroe, NYComplete Mastodon Skeleton!Orange County Mineral Society, Sponsor

June 4-5 Gemfest 2016Greater Canandaigua CivicCenter, Canandaigua, NY

Gems, Minerals, Fossils, Beads & JewleryWayne County Gem & Mineral Club, Sponsor

June 11-12Celinka Gem & MineralShow

Our Lady of Mount Carmel,North Ocean Ave. Patchogue, NY

Diverse dealers, 10 am - 5 pm both days

July 27-Aug 1 AFMS Convention/Show Albany, Oregon Article Contest Results; Details to Follow

July 30-31 Gem & Mineral ShowCutchogue East ElementarySchool, Cutchogue, New York

Sponsor: Long Island Mineral & GeologySociety

September 24-25Franklin & Sterling Hill Gem and Mineral Show

Franklin Elementary School,50Washington Ave, Franklin NJ

Franklin Mineral Museum sponsors as theironly large fundraising event

October 21-23 EFMLS Convention/Show Rochester, New York Article Contest Results; Details to Follow

November 12-13Fall NYC Gem, Mineral &Fossil Show

Grand Ballroom, Holiday InnMidtown, New York City

20+ diverse dealers; lectures; wholesalesection (with credentials); Club Booth

Also, for more extensive national and regional show information check online:AFMS Website: http://www.amfed.org and/or the EFMLS Website: http://www.amfed.org/efmls

George F. KunzFounder

The New York Mineralogical Club, Inc.Founded in 1886 for the purpose of increasing interest in the science of mineralogy through

the collecting, describing and displaying of minerals and associated gemstones.

Website: www.newyorkmineralogicalclub.orgP.O. Box 77, Planetarium Station, New York City, New York, 10024-0077

2016 Executive CommitteePresident Mitchell Portnoy 46 W. 83rd Street #2E, NYC, NY, 10024-5203 email: mitchpnyc@aol.com. . . . . . . . . . . . (212) 580-1343

Vice President Anna Schumate 27 E. 13th Street, Apt. 5F, NYC, NY, 10003 email: annaschumate@mindspring.com. . . (646) 737-3776

Secretary Vivien Gornitz 101 W. 81st Street #621, NYC, NY, 10024 email: vgornitz@gmail.com . . . . . . . . . . . (212) 874-0525

Treasurer Diane Beckman 265 Cabrini Blvd. #2B, NYC, NY, 10040 email: djbeckman@aol.com. . . . . . . . . . . . (212) 927-3355

Editor & Archivist Mitchell Portnoy 46 W. 83rd Street #2E, NYC, NY, 10024-5203 email: mitchpnyc@aol.com. . . . . . . . . . . . (212) 580-1343

Membership Mark Kucera 25 Cricklewood Road S., Yonkers, NY, 10704 email: mark_j_kucera@yahoo.com. . . . . . (914) 423-8360

Webmaster Joseph Krabak (Intentionally left blank) email: joe@americangeode.com

Director Alla Priceman 84 Lookout Circle, Larchmont, NY, 10538 email: priceman.a@gmail.com. . . . . . . . . . (914) 834-6792

Director Richard Rossi 6732 Ridge Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY, 11220 email: rossirocks92@aol.com. . . . . . . . . . (718) 745-1876

Director Sam Waldman 2801 Emmons Ave, #1B, Brooklyn, NY, 11235 email: samgemw@optonline.net. . . . . . . . (718) 332-0764

Dues: $25 Individual, $35 Family per calendar year. Meetings: 2nd Wednesday of every month (except July and August) at the Holiday Inn Midtown Manhattan, 57 Streetth

between Ninth and Tenth Avenues, New York City, New York. Meetings will generally be held in one of the conference rooms on the Mezzanine Level. The doors openat 5:30 P.M. and the meeting starts at 6:45 P.M. (Please watch for any announced time / date changes.) This bulletin is published monthly by the New York MineralogicalClub, Inc. The submission deadline for each month’s bulletin is the 20th of the preceding month. You may reprint articles or quote from this bulletin for non-profit usageonly provided credit is given to the New York Mineralogical Club and permission is obtained from the author and/or Editor. The Editor and the New York MineralogicalClub are not responsible for the accuracy or authenticity of information or information in articles accepted for publication, nor are the expressed opinions necessarily thoseof the officers of the New York Mineralogical Club, Inc.

Next Meeting: Wednesday, May 11, 2016 from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm

Mezzanine , Holiday Inn Midtown Manhattan (57 St. & Tenth Avenue), New York Cityth

Special Lecture: Zackry Wiegand — “Subtle Bodies: The Art of Light & Minerals”

New York Mineralogical Club, Inc.Mitchell Portnoy, Bulletin EditorP.O. Box 77, Planetarium StationNew York City, New York 10024-0077

FIRST CLASS