Newsletter went out today. All of you with Internet Access should have it! Also I am experimenting with a new online server...click on the newsletter you want to read (2009 only), when it loads, click "full screen". Not perfect yet, but I'm working on it.
Hope everyone has an awesome week!
Sally
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Can't view newsletters from Blog.
We will be unable to access the newsletters online until after Christmas...the host has apologized for this inconvenience and I'm trying to find another host for our club's newsletters from the Blog. It will then take some time to find and upload all the past newsletters. No one is sorrier about this than I am!
Sally
BTW (by the way), the Blog is up and running and fine!
Sally
BTW (by the way), the Blog is up and running and fine!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Updates!
Here is the latest, greatest information on Field Trips and other things you need to know:
October 24, Blue Agate Mine for required maintenance work and collecting - meet at 8 AM at the mine turn off, off of Havasu Landing Road.
November 7 - Peddlers Fair at the Episcopal church 2020 J Street in Needle. We need to be set up to sell at 8 AM. That means we need to be there about 7 AM. Please bring any material and/or call Jim Root if you can/will help.
November 13-15 Burro Creek. The group will be leaving Highway 93 and Burro Creek Crossing Road at 9 AM (Local Time). If you are spending the night, the group will be camping at the BLM camp ground. If you have further questions, call Bob or Allan.
The December field trip will be led by Mike S and he will have the details at the next Business Meeting on November 16, 2009.
The Pot Luck signup list is being circulated by Ann for the December meeting Pot Luck and Chinese Auction. If you haven't already signed up, please call her and let her know what you can bring.
Newsletters will no long be mailed. You can receive them by email, either your own or a friends or get a copy at the business meeting. Please keep Sally updated with current email addresses.
The nominating committee is looking for new members to volunteer. Be thinking about what talent you can share with our rock club.
When I think of more...I will post!
October 24, Blue Agate Mine for required maintenance work and collecting - meet at 8 AM at the mine turn off, off of Havasu Landing Road.
November 7 - Peddlers Fair at the Episcopal church 2020 J Street in Needle. We need to be set up to sell at 8 AM. That means we need to be there about 7 AM. Please bring any material and/or call Jim Root if you can/will help.
November 13-15 Burro Creek. The group will be leaving Highway 93 and Burro Creek Crossing Road at 9 AM (Local Time). If you are spending the night, the group will be camping at the BLM camp ground. If you have further questions, call Bob or Allan.
The December field trip will be led by Mike S and he will have the details at the next Business Meeting on November 16, 2009.
The Pot Luck signup list is being circulated by Ann for the December meeting Pot Luck and Chinese Auction. If you haven't already signed up, please call her and let her know what you can bring.
Newsletters will no long be mailed. You can receive them by email, either your own or a friends or get a copy at the business meeting. Please keep Sally updated with current email addresses.
The nominating committee is looking for new members to volunteer. Be thinking about what talent you can share with our rock club.
When I think of more...I will post!
Good Morning all you Rock Hounds!
Hope to see all of you tonight at 6 PM for our first business meeting of the season. (Board meets at 4:45 PM).
BTW, I am aware Fileden is doing work on their site and we are unable to access our newsletters. This should be corrected soon. Sorry for the inconvenience.
NGMC Secretary
Hope to see all of you tonight at 6 PM for our first business meeting of the season. (Board meets at 4:45 PM).
BTW, I am aware Fileden is doing work on their site and we are unable to access our newsletters. This should be corrected soon. Sorry for the inconvenience.
NGMC Secretary
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Monday night is our first NGMC Club meeting for the season. 6 PM at the First Baptist church in Mohave Valley. The Board of Directors is meeting 45 minutes earlier. I'm so looking forward to seeing everyone and hearing about their summer adventures!
I just received the following in an email and thought it had wonderful common sense information: H1N1 Prevention by Dr. Vinay Goyal is a MBBS, DRM, DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid specialist) having clinical experience of over 20 years. He has worked in institutions like Hinduja Hospital , Bombay Hospital , Saifee Hospital , Tata Memorial etc.. Presently, he is heading our Nuclear Medicine Department and Thyroid clinic at Riddhivinayak Cardiac and Critical Centre, Malad (W). The following message given by him, I feel makes a lot of sense and is important for all to know.
The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is. While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):
1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).
2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).
3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.
4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. *Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but *blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.*
5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.
6. *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.
I just received the following in an email and thought it had wonderful common sense information: H1N1 Prevention by Dr. Vinay Goyal is a MBBS, DRM, DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid specialist) having clinical experience of over 20 years. He has worked in institutions like Hinduja Hospital , Bombay Hospital , Saifee Hospital , Tata Memorial etc.. Presently, he is heading our Nuclear Medicine Department and Thyroid clinic at Riddhivinayak Cardiac and Critical Centre, Malad (W). The following message given by him, I feel makes a lot of sense and is important for all to know.
The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is. While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):
1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).
2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).
3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.
4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. *Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but *blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.*
5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.
6. *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
TURQUOISE 'IN OUR BLOOD'
Only 2 Ariz. operations mine for gem year-round
Use in jewelry keeps state third in nation in 'sky stone' production
By Christine Rogel
Cronkite News Service
Tucson, Arizona Published: 10.13.2009
KINGMAN — Since 1962, members of Marty Colbaugh's family and their employees have been digging turquoise from a copper mine northwest of town, hauling it around in 5-gallon buckets, sorting through the rubble by hand and processing it into sky-blue and green gems.
Most of it becomes centerpieces in jewelry. Some goes into tile that a side business sells for $500 a square foot.
His business dates to a time when Kingman adopted the nickname "Turquoise Capital of the World." And even though many of the shops that sold "sky stone" to travelers are now gone, the mining operation Colbaugh's grandfather started in Mineral Park continues producing turquoise for a global market. "It's in our blood," Colbaugh said.
Arizona is the nation's third-largest producer of gemstones thanks to turquoise, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Yet there are only two commercial operations that mine the stone year-round: Colbaugh Processing Inc. in Kingman and Sleeping Beauty Turquoise in Globe.
"We're keeping an entire industry alive that is pretty widespread," Colbaugh said.
Turquoise mining in the Southwest started with Indians who prized the gem for decoration and for religious ceremonies.
Because turquoise is part copper, Bisbee and Morenci once had operations. Each fall in Bisbee, hobbyists are allowed into a rock dump for a chance at recovering a chunk of prized Bisbee Blue.
Arizona's soil has a higher silica content that makes the color and hardness of its turquoise sought after by collectors and jewelers, Colbaugh said.
Because the mineral composition of the soil varies by mine, stones from each are known for specific characteristics. Turquoise from Bisbee's Lavender Pit is renowned for its deep blue color and small black veins, while turquoise from Morenci is prized for including iron pyrite, also known as "fool's gold."
Sleeping Beauty turquoise from Globe is known for its uniform blue, while the turquoise Colbaugh produces has a spectrum ranging from blue to green.
The value of turquoise depends on its density, color and rarity and the veins running through the stone. Lower– grade stones are common and porous, absorbing creams and body oils that may alter their color over time.
"You could have two pieces of turquoise, one could be worth $5 and the other could be worth $5,000," Colbaugh said.
Most turquoise is fairly soft and must be stabilized, usually with a clear epoxy resin that also darkens the color. Stabilized turquoise is still considered a gem. Only 3 percent of turquoise from Colbaugh's mine is hard enough that it doesn't require processing. With a deeper and more consistent color, these are the most valuable stones.
China is the world's largest turquoise producer, and its turquoise is more affordable because of abundant supply, lower labor costs and fewer environmental restrictions. But Indian jewelry is much more valuable when made with turquoise from the Southwest because it's considered more authentic.
Colbaugh Processing, which also has a manufacturing facility in Hong Kong, distributes its turquoise to customers in Africa, Asia and South America as well as through the Home Shopping Network and QVC.
Joe P. Lowry, who runs a turquoise museum in Albuquerque and co-authored "Turquoise Unearthed," a book about the gem, said the labor required to produce turquoise and a low number of operating copper mines limit the number of commercial operations.
On average, a miner has to move a ton and a half of dirt to find a usable amount of turquoise, Lowry said. Some turquoise miners invest $500,000 to $1 million and never recover costs, he said. "You just never know. It's a gamble and it's a romance," Lowry said.
Most of it becomes centerpieces in jewelry. Some goes into tile that a side business sells for $500 a square foot.
His business dates to a time when Kingman adopted the nickname "Turquoise Capital of the World." And even though many of the shops that sold "sky stone" to travelers are now gone, the mining operation Colbaugh's grandfather started in Mineral Park continues producing turquoise for a global market. "It's in our blood," Colbaugh said.
Arizona is the nation's third-largest producer of gemstones thanks to turquoise, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Yet there are only two commercial operations that mine the stone year-round: Colbaugh Processing Inc. in Kingman and Sleeping Beauty Turquoise in Globe.
"We're keeping an entire industry alive that is pretty widespread," Colbaugh said.
Turquoise mining in the Southwest started with Indians who prized the gem for decoration and for religious ceremonies.
Because turquoise is part copper, Bisbee and Morenci once had operations. Each fall in Bisbee, hobbyists are allowed into a rock dump for a chance at recovering a chunk of prized Bisbee Blue.
Arizona's soil has a higher silica content that makes the color and hardness of its turquoise sought after by collectors and jewelers, Colbaugh said.
Because the mineral composition of the soil varies by mine, stones from each are known for specific characteristics. Turquoise from Bisbee's Lavender Pit is renowned for its deep blue color and small black veins, while turquoise from Morenci is prized for including iron pyrite, also known as "fool's gold."
Sleeping Beauty turquoise from Globe is known for its uniform blue, while the turquoise Colbaugh produces has a spectrum ranging from blue to green.
The value of turquoise depends on its density, color and rarity and the veins running through the stone. Lower– grade stones are common and porous, absorbing creams and body oils that may alter their color over time.
"You could have two pieces of turquoise, one could be worth $5 and the other could be worth $5,000," Colbaugh said.
Most turquoise is fairly soft and must be stabilized, usually with a clear epoxy resin that also darkens the color. Stabilized turquoise is still considered a gem. Only 3 percent of turquoise from Colbaugh's mine is hard enough that it doesn't require processing. With a deeper and more consistent color, these are the most valuable stones.
China is the world's largest turquoise producer, and its turquoise is more affordable because of abundant supply, lower labor costs and fewer environmental restrictions. But Indian jewelry is much more valuable when made with turquoise from the Southwest because it's considered more authentic.
Colbaugh Processing, which also has a manufacturing facility in Hong Kong, distributes its turquoise to customers in Africa, Asia and South America as well as through the Home Shopping Network and QVC.
Joe P. Lowry, who runs a turquoise museum in Albuquerque and co-authored "Turquoise Unearthed," a book about the gem, said the labor required to produce turquoise and a low number of operating copper mines limit the number of commercial operations.
On average, a miner has to move a ton and a half of dirt to find a usable amount of turquoise, Lowry said. Some turquoise miners invest $500,000 to $1 million and never recover costs, he said. "You just never know. It's a gamble and it's a romance," Lowry said.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Next meeting!!!
Just a tiny reminder to all NGMC members - Our next general business meeting is Monday October 19, 2009 at 6 PM Pacific Time at the First Baptist Church, located at 1421 Commercial Street in Mohave Valley.
There will be a Board of Directors and Committee Chairs meeting at 4:45 PM that date and place before the General Meeting.
Looking forward to seeing each and everyone of you!!!!
NGMC Secretary - Sally Hayward
Call me if you have any questions!
There will be a Board of Directors and Committee Chairs meeting at 4:45 PM that date and place before the General Meeting.
Looking forward to seeing each and everyone of you!!!!
NGMC Secretary - Sally Hayward
Call me if you have any questions!
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