October, 2016
Cache Rock & Gem Club
53 North 200 West, Brigham City Utah 84302
Editor Anita McCollum
From the Top of the Rock Pile
Gary Warren Club President
Meetings are on
the 2nd Thursday We are into another month and
of the month at what a fun one! We will be going
Summit out to Moab/Hanksville on the 7th
8th and 9th of October for our field
Elementary trip and a good three day week-
7:00pm end. There are plenty of places to
80 West Main get Agate, Petrified Wood and
Smithfield other interesting minerals. This
year we decided to head for
Hanksville instead of Floy Wash to
Junior club members get Devils Toenails and maybe
meet separately after some Coprolites if possible, there
opening is more wood down in that area
announcements. also. I was talking with a someone
the other day that said there is a
Visitors are welcome.
crystal mountain down there
Annual Club somewhere that is nothing but
Membership Selenite, I am going to try and find
it. After talking with a lot of
Individual $15.00 people, we are moving our camp
Family $20.00 down to around Hanksville. We
will find a place out West of town
to camp and for those of you that
October 7th-9th want to stay at a motel, there are a
Moab Bound few in Hanksville that are available.
I will send out information a little
November 10th
Annual Auction later in the week so that you have
time to get things arranged for this
December trip.
8th We are getting into the colder
Annual Holiday Dinner months and I am not sure just how
long the shed will be in operation.
I am going to leave this to the shed
manager to make the decision.
We have been keeping it open as
scheduled so far but this might
have to change due to the
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Sunset at Floy Wash
Volume 4, Issue 10
weather, but again, I will leave this
up to Larry. When we get really
cold, we need to shut the shed
down as we do not have the heat it
takes to get the building warm
enough to keep the water from
freezing and we do not want to ruin
the machinery.
For our Club meeting in October
we are having Les Tyson come and
talk to us about what he is doing
with Coprolites, since we are going
down to an area where we can find
them this should be an interesting
meeting. We will be able to see
what you can do with the material
that you find while rock hunting.
At the November 10th meeting,
we will be having our annual
auction, so if you have anything you
want to donate to the fundraiser,
please let one of our officers know
and then be sure to bring it with you
in November.
In December, we will be getting
together for a holiday dinner. Last
year we held it at Chuck-a-rama and
had a really good time, so plan on
coming to this one. I will make sure
we get out information before our
meetings to help keep you updated
and reminded.
I hope to see a lot of you in
Hanksville with us this year, and for
sure, see you at our club meeting on
October 13th , 7:00 pm at Summit
Elementary School in Smithfield.
 September Meeting Page 2
Minutes by Jean Daddow

Thirty-six people were in attendance to the September Club Meeting.

Bryce Hickson, author of Utah Geology For Kids, has offered to help promote geology with the club
through our Junior Members Club. Bryce has offered to supply specimen bags for filling, booklets
describing hands-on activities, and a classroom kit representing rocks, minerals, and fossils unique to
Utah. As part of the 4th grade curriculum, Utah DNR sponsors workshops to train teachers in Boxelder
and Cache county how to present the material to students. Club members Shawndra Johnson and
Dawnette Hunter are scheduled to attend the workshop with Hickson. Bryce is expected to visit our
club February of 2017. Something to look forward to.
BATC has been reserved for our 2017 Rock Show to be held Thursday through Friday, May 10 th to May
12th. We will set up on Wednesday, May 9th. Venders are already lined up for the show and Bryce Hixon
will be joining us during the Saturday show to demonstrate volcanoes. Due to anticipation of loss of
floor space at BATC, our 2018 show will need to find another venue. In order to maintain our current
size, we are looking for a space with about 13,000 square feet. An ad-hoc committee has been formed
to locate a new place. Shawndra Johnson is acting as Chair, Brian Ferguson, Dawnette Hunter, Anita
McCollum and Craig Stewart are supporting members. This venue, ideally, needs to be determined by
the 2017 show date. They will also be scouting for a location to move our equipment to for
(See club news, page 4.)
Stone Fishing in Wyoming at Fossil Safari
Fifty million years ago western Wyoming used to be a very large
freshwater lake complete with rocks, deltas, beaches and springs
supporting an abundance of life in a rich ecosystem. Now it is a
Fossil Safari by Shawndra Johnson.
dried lakebed that contains a myriad of fossilized remains laying
Articulated fish fossils embedded in limestone. The high desert is scattered with hills, rock
found in the area. outcrops, sagebrush and life found today still either swims, slithers,
skitters, trollops or flies. Occasionally some two legged creature
Amphiplaga brachyptera
shows up with a pick and shovel to uncover and discover what the
Diplomystus dentatus ancient face of this area looked like when it was young.
For such an adventure, in September, the club hit Fossil Safari just
Hiodon falcatus
west of Kemmerer. We were hosted and outfitted for a half day of
Knightia alta searching for fossils in split rock. The area is high in concentration of
articulated fossil fish, crustacean, amphibian, reptile and other rare
Knightia eocaena
exotics such as horse, bat, birds, insects and plant material. Inside
Mioplosus labracoides the quarry office is sampling of what has been uncovered at the site
and it is quite impressive in and of itself.
Notogoneus osculus
Step outside to the quarry and step back into a paleogenic time
Phareodus testis capsule. The staff had generously prepared for us by taking a front
end loader and scattering rock about the quarry floor for
Priscacara hypsacantha
convenience. Then there is the wall. Try one, try the other, try them
Priscacara liops both. Regardless, you are going to find fish, lots of fish and maybe,
just maybe, more.
Priscacara serrata
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October, 2016
 October Junior Members Page 3

Birthstone Ethiopian Opal

There have been anthropological reports of Northern African opal being
Opal used to make tools as early as 4000 BC, however, the first report of
precious gem Ethiopian opal was announced in the early 1990s as being
discovered in the Menz Gishe District, North Shewa Province. This opal was
A diverse group of
mostly in the form of nodules and was found in weathered layers of
stones that occur
rhyolite. This first mined opal was mostly dark brown and had a tendency
across the globe the
to crack making it rather unpopular.
including Utah. The Almost 20 years later, a new deposit was found that was different from
variety depends on other Ethiopian sources and more closely resembled sedimentary opals
the place of from Australia and Brazil. The opals found near the town of Wegel Tena, in
occurrence and can Ethiopia's Wollo Province, are lighter in background and have astonishing
be quite stunning. play of color with high transparency spreading throughout the entire gem
that can be faceted, carved or cabbed. Also, the material is more durable in
Mineraloid that it will not craze like other opals that dry out making it highly sought
after in the gem stone trade.
Hydrated silica Telling the fakes from the real material. The Welo opal from Wollo
Si02nH20 Province will turn clear when placed in water, when taken out, the opal
becomes cloudy but will return to its original luster after drying. Another
Mohs characteristic is that when the gem is placed on your tongue, it will feel
5.5-6 sticky. Ambient humidity will also effect its weight.

A new and upcoming From Down Under Boulder Opal

opal is coming out of
Ethiopia Boulder opals are found only in Queensland Australia. Silica gel seeps into
rock fissures of ironstone, solidifies and forms into opal as thin layers over
U.S sources for Opal and through the matrix. Since this opal is cut with the matrix, it is
are in Humboldt considered very durable. While water, lotions and oils are not considered
County, Northern detrimental, perfumes, bleaches and ultralsonic cleaners can and do
Nevada and Spencer damage these stones. To maintain the opal luster, periodic repolishing
Idaho should be considered from time to time.

Papa Jays Workshop Kids Club

Jay Andersens workshop will
remain open over the winter for
junior members to come learn, cut
and polish without competing with
Spencer Opal, ID
adults for equipment.
Contact Jay at 435-754-9742
to schedule a time. There is no
charge for Jr. members. Please note,
you must be accompanied by an
adult.
Virgin Valley Opal, NV
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Jean Daddow
The kids club had 8 in
attendance with Shawndra
Johnson leading the activity. The
kids studied various fossils. Using
handouts they identified different
fossils and which geologic era they
came from. They also drew some
of the fossils and created their
own unique fossils.
October, 2016
 Page 4
Wednesday 5pm-8pm , Saturday 10am-2pm
Club News
(Cont. from page 2.)
year-round use and possibly to accom-
I have modate our group meetings. Should you
Rocks in my
400 West ~60 South
Hyrum, UT have any ideas or questions regarding
Shed
either of these, please feel free to
contact someone on the committee.
Our fall trip is scheduled for October
Time is Winding 7 - 9th. This correlates with the Moab
th
Down for this Season Rock show. Base camp will be at just
at the Shed outside of Hanksville where motel
accommodations can be found. Do
Only trained shed crew are authorized anticipate heavier bookings due to the
to set up and run the saws.
Moab show. Be sure to look for signs.
Cost is ; Adults Jr. members
Member and Snowbird, Sherm
Wheels $2.00 $1.00 Thompson demonstrated specimens that
can be located around the Quartzite,
Slab saw cost 0.10 per inch of rough. Arizona area where he and Rickie spend
their winters. According to Sherm,
Desert Gardens and the Pow Wow are
two good shows to attend. Google it.

Up and Coming Shows in the Making

ANNUAL SHOW
MINERAL COLLECTORS OF UTAH
m-c-u.org
October 7, 8, & 9, 2016
Trolley Square
600 South entrance & 700 East
Salt Lake City, UT

Free admission.
Fri - Noon - 9:00 P.M.
Sat - 10:00 A.M. - 9:00 P.M.
Sun - 10:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.
Dealers, Exhibit Showcases, Wheel of Fortune,
Grab Bags, Hourly Drawings, great family fun and
educational in the Earth Sciences.
GRAND PRIZE DRAWING AT 4PM SUNDAY
Contact: Curt Forrester
fossilmin@gmail.com
801-368-4103

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October, 2016
 Page 5
Club Officers
Club President Gary Warren rock_hunter1@hotmail.com

1st Vice President Craig Stewart candmstewart@msn.com

2nd Vice President Dave Nielsen dsnielsen@live.com

Secretary Jean Daddow jean.daddow@gmai.com

Rocky Mountain Federation of
Treasure Kathy Farnsworthd farnsworth@hotmail.com Mineralogical Societies, rmfms.org

Board Members
Head Chair Dave Farnsworth dfarnsworth@hotmail.com

Shed Mngr. Larry Christophersen Larry-0021@comcast.net

Assist. Jay Andersen jandersen2014@outlook.com Special Congress
Representing Involved
Trip Mngr. Dave Nielsen dsnielsen@live.com Bulletin Editors
Trip Assist. Dustin Lofthouse scribe.rbnet.net

Jr. Member Mngr. Shawndra Johnson calandshawn@gmail.com

Assist. Sally Warren and Shelly Lofthouse
Rock Show Mngr. Craig Case case2cn@gmail.com
Assist. Jay Anderson

Advertising Mngr. Craig Stewart candmstewart@msn.com

Assist. Luann Wilmore

Web Master Craig Case case2cn@gmail.com American Federation of

Mineralogical Societies, amfed.org
Social media Mngr. Vacant

Welcoming committee Debra Fabre` n/a

Assist. Marsha Christophersen

News Bulletin Editor Anita McCollum anitamccollum@comcast.net

Bob & Maria Stewart

Mexicanroseagate.com
Large collection of silicates, mainly agate, jasper and quartz
from Mexico for sale online and at various rock and gem
shows. Our mission is to find, collect and sell the finest agate,
jasper, geodes and other forms of chalcedony, mainly from
family-owned property in Mexico, to offer to you at
affordable prices.
Rock Buckets
We still have 3 gal buckets of varied rough
rock for sale from club collection trips . The
cost of a bucket is $10.00 to club members.
If interested, contact one of the club
officers.

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October, 2016