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When: September 9, 2010 Where: Muriel Crump Center, 1735 Highland Ave, Montgomery, AL 36107-2643 Time: 7:00 P M What: HOW A TREE BECOMES FOSSILIZED Who: Dr. Richard E. Carroll, Professor / Paleobotanist, University of Alabama Be sure to bring your petrified wood specimens for this rare opportunity to

learn more about the fossilization process. (DON”T FORGET: October 14th meeting will feature Formation of Geodes by Gloria Adams of the Birmingham Gem Club.)

REFRESHMENTS Snacks: Betty Stevens Drinks: Harold Glover

Please remember to bring paper plates, napkins, and cups. Ice is available at the community center. List for remainder of the year: Oct Ardis Cecil Lynn Stauch Nov VACANT* VACANT*

*Really need volunteers for refreshments for month of November!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYBIRTHDAYBIRTHDAYBIRTHDAY

3 David Sherrod 10 Drucilla Hornsby

20 Harold Glover 23 Terry Toney

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September 2010 10-09

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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Volunteers are needed to demonstrate their lapidary skills at the Alabama National Fair, October 8 - 17. If you would be willing to go and spend an hour or more, please give your name to Iris McGehee and the time you can go. You will be given a ticket to the Fair and can take in all the sights there following your time demonstrating.

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My Point-A-Dam Adventure on 08/28/2010 by Amy G McClellan

On Saturday, August 28, 2010, me, my daughter Lauren, and my friend David were some

of the people who attended the Point-A-Dam fieldtrip. The weather was perfect for collecting.

The sun was NOT beating down on the collectors as the weather was overcast with rain to come

in the afternoon. It wasn't even HOT!! I enjoyed myself being able to just sit in the water with a

small shovel and using a classifier to sort through the sand and clay material leaving behind

fossils which were mostly sharks’ teeth that I was able to sift and find. I have sat and tried to

sort out the different kinds of fossilized teeth that I have found. A few extras that I was able to

find are believed to be the dental plate of a Drum Fish. Also, some other kinds of teeth found

were of barracudas, at least that is what I have being trying to find out by doing some research

from the Point-A-Dam area on specimens other people have also found there.

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I did come over prepared for the trip, but then again that can be a good thing. We all three

eventually took a break from fossil hunting as we sat down and had a sandwich and drink for

lunch, and then we began searching again after eating. My daughter Lauren did a lot of

swimming, and she really enjoyed that. Eventually later on that afternoon, the clouds darkened

and rain began to sprinkle on us. We gathered our things. The clay areas became dampened,

and the steps we made out of the area had to be made carefully. Unfortunately, my friend

David, did manage to fall on that slick clay stuff with his feet sliding out from under him. Bless

his heart, he was OK though. Then, we continued the walk to the car. We were very blessed

that no snakes were seen, as the thought of snakes in the water would have made getting in it

for me unbearable.

Driving home that afternoon there were areas of heavy rains that we drove through.

The day was enjoyed by all three of us, and getting home was a good feeling as we were a little

tired out. I plan on visiting there again. It was a trip enjoyed and well worth finding fossils.

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SUMMERVILLE LACE AGATE by Linda R. Griebel

If you remember, a Federation field trip to Patty Construction Quarry in Chattooga County, Georgia was announced for August 15th. Although several of our members had said they were going, only my husband Mike Berkman and I actually showed up at the site. It could have been because of the really heavy rain that was

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falling when we left Wetumpka on the 14th. However, I had checked the weather channel via the internet for Summerville and there was only a 30% chance of rain for that area. We endured about three hours of rainy driving which finally gave way to clear conditions when we neared the state line! Then the clouds lifted and we had a sunny afternoon when we arrived in Summerville, Georgia. It is a quaint small town nestled in low foothills in the northwest corner of Georgia. We found a motel and had supper in a local eatery. Early the next morning (Eastern Time), we arrived at the quarry where we met a very friendly group of rockhounds from various Georgia clubs. The process of collecting and identifying lace agate and druzy quartz were explained by the Carroll County club hosts who stayed available for examining our finds. Although it was very hot that day, the site itself was easy to explore and we scavenged lots of really streaked-looking rocks (agatized). We loaded up lots of medium-sized rocks, a few resembling cave onyx on the surface, and even a couple of large pieces for my gardens. We plan to bring several manageable specimens to the September meeting.

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AUGUST 12TH MEETING HIGHLIGHTS After giving a short bio on his accomplishments, Dr. John Van Valkenburg told

members present at the August meeting that the field of archaeology was fairly recent

in the historical timeline. There had been a distinct separation between religion and

science; answers to the origin of the world were once considered only divine. As more

scientific discoveries were revealed which seemed to lead away from religion, there had

been a great amount of resistance to the age of the earth being millions of years old.

However, Van Valkenburg reminded everyone that science is not necessarily

contradictory to religion. He noted that more than 700 different dinosaur species have

been identified to date. Some of the very large dinosaurs actually had 3-5 hearts so

blood would pump all the way up the neck of the likes of a brontosaurus. The eventual

development of some dinosaurs ended up with hollow bones (= birds).

There was information which refuted claims that the oldest proof human

remains came from Africa since he indicated that a skull was found in Washington State

which was over 5 million years old and that American natives melted copper veins with

big fires - resulting in the first use of metals.

While displaying a multitude of artifacts, he gave interesting tidbits of

information about many of them :

� Coprolite (dino dung)

� Trilobites

� Pyrite (presence of iron) 570 million years old

� Ammonites

� Nataloid

� Dino footprint

� Petrified wood

� Vertebrae, rib and hip bones of a dinosaur

� Barite / rose stone

� Sharks’ teeth

� Saber tooth tiger tusk

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Montgomery Gem & Mineral Society Minutes August 12, 2010

The president, Frank Rowell called the meeting to order and recognized guests. Minutes were read by the secretary and were approved. Program chairman, Thad Cheatham introduced the speaker John Van Valkenburg. Mr. Valkenburg presented a program on Early Life - Fossils and displayed interesting artifacts. Refreshments were provided by Terry and Becky Fetzer and Drucilla Hornsby. The Treasurer's Report was read by Iris McGehee and filed with secretary. In the absence of the field trip chairman, Linda announced the field trip scheduled in the Andalusia area, Saturday, August 28. Linda has directions to the area. Linda told of an invitation by a local group to the Diamond Crater in Murfreesboro in November. No action was taken. Iris reminded that the Alabama Fair is October 8 - 17, and those who plan to demonstrate should notify her so that tickets can be obtained. Iris has contacted a CPA regarding filing forms with the IRS regarding our non-profit status and it was determined that it would not be necessary. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Mary Lou McHugh, Secretary _____________________________________________________________________________

WHAT’WHAT’WHAT’WHAT’S GOING ON DOWN THERE?S GOING ON DOWN THERE?S GOING ON DOWN THERE?S GOING ON DOWN THERE? (contributed by Terry Fetzer)

GOD: Frank, you know all about gardens and nature. What in the world is going on down there

on the planet? What happened to the dandelions, violets, milkweeds, and stuff I started eons

ago? I had a perfect no-maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil,

withstand drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long-lasting blossoms

attracts butterflies, honey bees and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of colors

by now. But, all I see are these green rectangles.

St. FRANCIS: It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites. They started calling your

flowers 'weeds' and went to great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.

GOD: Grass? But, it's so boring. It's not colorful. It doesn't attract butterflies, birds and bees;

only grubs and sod worms. It's sensitive to temperatures. Do these Suburbanites really want all

that grass growing there?

ST. FRANCIS: Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it and keep it green. They begin

each spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.

GOD: The spring rains and warm weather probably make grass grow really fast. That must make

the Suburbanites happy.

ST. FRANCIS: Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they cut it-sometimes twice a

week.

GOD: They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?

ST. FRANCIS: Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.

GOD: They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?

ST. FRANCIS: No, Sir, just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.

GOD: Now, let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so it will grow. And, when it does grow,

they cut it off and pay to throw it away?

ST. FRANCIS: Yes, Sir.

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GOD: These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer when we cut back on the rain and

turn up the heat. That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work.

ST. FRANCIS: You aren't going to believe this, Lord. When the grass stops growing so fast, they

drag out hoses and pay more money to water it, so they can continue to mow it and pay to get

rid of it.

GOD: What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees. That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I

do say so myself. The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty and shade in the

summer. In the autumn, they fall to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture in

the soil and protect the trees and bushes. It's a natural cycle of life.

ST. FRANCIS: You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have drawn a new circle. As soon as

the leaves fall, they rake them into great piles and pay to have them hauled away.

GOD: No!? What do they do to protect the shrub and tree roots in the winter to keep the soil

moist and loose?

ST. FRANCIS: After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy something which they call

mulch. They haul it home and spread it around in place of the leaves.

GOD: And where do they get this mulch?

ST. FRANCIS: They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch.

GOD: Enough! I don't want to think about this anymore. St. Catherine, you're in charge of the

arts. What movie have you scheduled for us tonight?

ST. CATHERINE: 'Dumb and Dumber', Lord. It's a story about....

GOD: Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story from St. Francis.

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Additional Photos from Point-A Dam Field Trip on August 28, 2010 (Linda Griebel)

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REMINDERS>>> � Bring cancelled stamps to meetings. � FAIR DATES ARE OCTOBER 8-17, 2010. Be sure to get items ready for display.

� Bring spare rocks, gems, minerals to any meeting in order to prepare for the Wheel of Fortune.

� Show your recent acquisitions at the monthly meeting so other members can experience a variety of different materials.

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SHOP REMINDER The shop will be opened only by appointment. Please email or call any of the following individuals ahead of time to set up a shop work date: Frank Rowell, Terry Fetzer, Iris McGehee, or Harold Glover. NOTE: the shop will no longer be open on a regularly scheduled basis. _____________________________________________________________________________

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Links to check out International Colored Gemstone Assn newsletter http://www.gemstone.org/ Georgia Meteorite Association http://www.meteoriteassociationofgeorgia.org/ William Holland http://www.lapidaryschool.org/schedule.html http://www.amfed.org/sfms/william-holland-retreat.html Wildacres http://www.amfed.org/sfms/wildacres-retreat.html Al Mineral Locality Index http://www.mindat.org/rloc.php?loc=Alabama%2C+USA GIA http://www.gia.edu/3954/gia_home_page.cfmhttp://www.greatdanepro.com/somewhere%20in%20time/index.htm Where to find treasure: http://www.treasureplaces.com/index.php/Main_Page

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SE SHOWS (for other areas, click on http://www.rockngem.com/showdates.asp)

Sept 24-26--JACKSONVILLE, FL - Morocco Temple, 3800 St. Johns Bluff Rd. S; Fri. 1-6, Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5;

Tom Frame, Jgms_show@hotmail.com

Oct 2-3--LEXINGTON, KY: Ky National Guard Armory, 4301 Airport Rd.; Sat. 10-6, Sun. 12-5; adults $1, child

50 cts, or $3 family, Allen Ferrell, KYROCK2010Kentucky@yahoo.com; www.lexingtonrockclub.com

Southeast Federation Field Trips >>September 25

-9:00 AM - 3:00 PM ET - Amos Cunningham Farm; Due West/Antreville Area,

South Carolina Fee site $25 adult; children under 13 $15- collecting minerals: beryl crystals, amethyst, smoky quartz. Take picks, shovels, rock hammers and scratching tools; plenty of drinks and a picnic lunch unless you want to drive a few miles for lunch. Steve Huffman at 706-210-2988 or steve.huffman@dsm.com. On the day of the field trip call 706-288-6771. ____________________________________________________________________________

Club Officers for 2010

President: Frank Rowell 277-7023 1st V P/Programs: Thad Cheatham 462-3254

2nd

V P/Field Trips: Jeff Edwards 312-0572 Secretary: Mary Lou McHugh 272-1817 Treasurer: Iris McGehee 262-7275 Directors: Jim Gaines 285-1988 Mel Barkley 277-2722 Board meetings are at 6:30 pm immediately before the monthly meetings. _____________________________________________________________________________

General Information The purpose of the Golden Nugget is to inform members of news about gems and minerals along with news about club, state, and regional activities of interest to our members. Most important, the Golden Nugget provides a way for each of us to share information about projects

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and to pass on tips that will help others enjoy our hobby. Unless members are willing to contribute, the Golden Nugget cannot meet this latter purpose. Copyright 2010 by Montgomery Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. Except for items that are specifically copyrighted by their authors, all material in this bulletin may be freely copied. Please give credit to The Golden Nugget and the appropriate author. Meetings of the Montgomery Gem & Mineral Society are held every 2

nd Thursday of the month

at 7:00 p.m. at the Mureal Crump Adult Center, 1735 Highland Avenue, Montgomery, AL. The annual gem show replaces the December meeting. Anyone interested in gems and minerals is invited to attend. Field trips, workshops, and classes are held at various locations. These are announced at monthly meetings. Membership dues are $15.00 for individuals and $20.00 for families residing in the same household. The Montgomery Gem & Mineral Society is a member of the Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Societies, Inc. and the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies, Inc. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information.

The Golden Nugget P. O. Box 801 Wetumpka, AL 36092-0801

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Official Voice of the Montgomery Gem & Mineral Society, Montgomery AL

Linda R. Griebel, Editor thegoldennugget@hotmail.com