Page 6 – Dallas Gem and Mineral Society

Amethyst Rock Fossil Sale- June 13-15

Hey Ya’ll! Just wanted to give everybody a heads up about a local Rock & Mineral sale this weekend! RockTrader is hosting another AMAZING sale! I went to the last one & was blown away at the amount of material he has for sale!! There were 3-4 garages full of specimens that range from a couple bucks to thousands! Be sure to stop by and support our local Gem & Mineral community.

Amethyst - Dallas Gem and Mineral Society

Check Out RockTrader’s Facebook!

Amethyst Rock Fossil Sale
June 13, 14, 15 (9am – 5pm) – (Murphy, TX)

Sale date and times:
Thursday June 13 – 9am – 5pm
Friday June 14 – 9am – 5pm
Saturday June 15 – 9am – 5pm

Admission = Free
Parking = Free

Meteorites $10 each/ limit 5
Free fossilized coral $8 value for the first 1000 visitors / limit 1
Free rock collecting bag with purchase / while supplies last
Larimar cabs $5 each / limit 5
Beautiful Amethyst Cathedrals (5” to 5’) up to 65% off – Request pictures as inventory too large for whole sale
1000 rocks and fossils for only $5 each.

Specials Forms of payment: Cash Preferred Cash Preferred (Bring ATM receipt of that day get free rock(s) with purchase.)

Want invitation to future events: Send email with city to rocktrading@aol.com

Address Directions below:
1409 Oak Hill Ln
Murphy, TX 75094

(US-75, exit Park (go East ~6mi), McCreary (Left or N ~1/8mi), Hickory Top (left or W), Oak Hill Ln (Right or N to 1409 on left)

Gems and CabsMinerals – literally 1000(s) of exquisite minerals from around the world
Fossils – Beautiful specimens from around the world
Lapidary rough and slabs – lbs from around the world (see below)

Gems, Minerals, Fossils, and Lapidary rough (Too many to list, but here are a few.)
Gold nuggets, Actinolite, Adamite, Agate Geode, Alum Cactus, Amethyst – Brazil, Amethyst Geode Cathedral, Ammonites, Anglesite on Galena, apatite, Aquamarine, Aragonite, Arrow Heads, Arsenopyrite, Aventurine, aztec lapis, Azurite, Azurite Ball, Azurite on Malachite, Baby Tabasco Geodes, Bacon Calcite, Banded Calcite, Barite, Barite with limonite, Biotite Mica, Bismuth, Black Tourmaline, Blue Fluorite, Blue Lace Agate – Brazil, Blue Tourmaline, Book ends, Botryoidal Goethite, Botryoidal Hematite, Brazilian Amethyst/ Quartz/ Calcite, Brazilian Minerals, Brochantite (Green), Bumble Bee Jasper – Indonesia, Calcite, Calico Pyrite, carnelian, Chalcopyrite, Charoite – Russia, Chevron Amethyst, Chrysocolla, Cinnabar on Dolomite, Clam Shell Fossil, Cobaltoan Calcite, Copper, Dog tooth Calcite, Dolomite, double terminated aura quartz, Druzy Quartz, Erythrite, Faceted emeralds, Fire Agates, Fire Opal In, Flint – Poland, Fluorite, Fluorite – China, Fluorite Points, Fluorite Sphere, Fossilized Coral, Fossils, Fuchsite, fulgurites, Galena, Garnet, Gemmy Green Epidote, Geodes, Gold sheen Obsidian, Green Apophyllite, Green Tourmaline, Green Zebra Serpentine, Healerite, Hemimorphite, Howlite, Hydro Agates, Hydro Double terminated Quartz, Indian minerals, K2 (Azurite Granite) – Pakistan, Kyanite – Brazil, Labradorite, Lapis Lazuli – Afghanistan, large facetes, Larimar Cabs, larimar cabs and silver jewelry, lava, lepidolite, Lunar Moon sphere, Malachite – Congo, Malachite azurite specimens, Malachite Crystalline, Matrix Eggs, megalodon shark tooth, Meteorite Slices, Meteorites, Mexican Geodes, Missouri Druzzy Quartz, mixed stone pendulums, moldavite, Moon Stone – Sri Lanka, Moroccan Onyx, Native Copper, Natural Turquoise Rough Rock, Obsidian, Onyx, Opal Boulder and Louisiana, Optical Calcite, Orange – blue – Three Color calcite, Orange Quartz, Orpiment, orthoceras fossil, Palm Wood, Petrified Wood, Pink Tourmaline, Plumbogummite, pyramids, Pyrite, Pyrite “Sun”, Pyrite with Quartz, Quartz, Quartz Sphere, Quartz/ Amethyst, Rhyolite Utah/ Nevada, Rose Quartz, Roselite (magnesian) with Dolomite, Ruby In Zoisite – India, Rutilated Quartz, Satin Spar, Selenite, Selenite Shapes, Selenite , owers, septarian nodule geode eggs, Sharks Tooth, Sharks Tooth in matrix, shungite, Silicon Carbide, Silver cabs, Slabs, Small Watermelon Tourmaline slices, smelt quartz, Smithsonite specimens, Smoky Quartz Clusters, Sodalite, Spheres, Stibnite, Stilbite, stone pyramids, Strawberry Quartz, Tectites, Thick Agate slabs, Thulite, Tiger’s Eye – Africa, titanium coated black kyanite, Topaz, Tourmaline, Trancas Hollow Geodes, Trilobite, Turquoise, Udolite, Vanadinite, Variscite – Utah, veracruz amethyst, Watermelon Tourmaline, Wulfenite, Zebra Agate, and much much more!

The DGMS Shop

Oh Man, our shop is looking FANTASTIC!

Thanks to Norm, Joy, and the DGMS Army of Volunteers our shop is getting a much needed cleanup and makeover! They have been working long and hard to clean up and fix the machines, which is awesome because the shop is as busy as ever!

If you aren’t familiar with the Dallas Gem and Mineral Society’s workshop, we’d like to share what we have to offer. As a paid member (that has completed the Qualifying Class) you have access to all of the machines PLUS the communal knowledge of the crew that is always hanging around the shop. Gotta question, just ask, we are always willing to talk your ear off about rocks!!

Our Shop includes:

7 Genies for all of your cabochon shaping needs

2 Grinders, a Flat Lap, & a Dop Station!

5 – 12″ Slab Saws
4 – 18″ Slab Saws
2 – 24″ Slab Saws
3 Trim Saws!

And the newest addition to the Shop is this fancy new Keurig Machine!!!
Soda is available too! And don’t forget to leave a donation so we can keep the kitchen stocked with all your beverage needs!

As much as the DGMS Army has already gotten done, we are always looking to improve and maintain… with that said…. (so exciting)….

The shop will be replacing some of the 12 inch saws with new ones!!!
To fund this big expense the club will auction 3 nice specimens at the monthly meetings. Proceeds from our June 1st Rock Swap will also go towards the cost of the saws. Donations are always accepted at the shop and the monthly meeting.
HELP US HELP YOU!

So be sure to stop by the meeting which is next Tuesday, May 21st! A presentation on the New Geology Timeline will be given by Diane Brownly. As always, bring a dish to share if you can.

Dallas Gem And Mineral Society - Monthly Meeting

This Month’s Birthstone: Emerald

May is here, so here’s a post with a few fun facts about this month’s birthstone EMERALD (along with some horribly photoshopped pics… included free of charge)!

Dallas Gem and Mineral Society - May Birthstone Emerald

Mohs Hardness: 7.5-8

A variety or type of : Beryl

Get more technical info at: www.gemdat.org

Emerald is one of the most beloved and precious gemstones found throughout recorded history. They are referenced in several of the major religious texts including the Bible, the Koran, and the Veda. Mentions of Emeralds go as far back as ancient Babylon 4000 years ago.

One of the oldest Emerald mines was rediscovered recently in Egypt near the Red Sea. Although it doesn’t produce quality gems now, it was originally operated by the famed Cleopatra, they were one of her favorites!

The earliest reference to Emeralds in western literature is by the Greek philosopher Aristotle. He admired the stone and wrote about it’s abilities to help a person influence business and legal situations. He also believed they assisted with victory in trials and soothing one’s eyesight.

And can’t forget a more current Pop Culture reference from the book and movie “The Wizard of Oz”. I mean, come on, THE EMERALD CITY!!!

“Even with eyes protected by the green spectacles, Dorothy and her friends were at first dazzled by the brilliancy of the wonderful City. The streets were lined with beautiful houses all built of green marble and studded everywhere with sparkling emeralds. They walked over a pavement of the same green marble, and where the blocks were joined together were rows of emeralds, set closely, and glittering in the brightness of the sun. The window panes were of green glass; even the sky above the City had a green tint, and the rays of the sun were green.”
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
L. Frank Baum

Throughout history, Emeralds have been associated with Love and Relationships. It was said that if your lover was faithful, it would glow bright green, but if they strayed, it would turn a lifeless color.

Some believe they can turn negativity into positive energy, and promote kindness, trust, and harmony.

**And the May addition of the Rok Tok Newsletter is up!

Be sure to check it out, there’s some local shows going on this month, and a cool tip about easily twisting wire!

Digging in the Dirt: A Newbie Hunts Quartz in Arkansas

Have you ever been hunting for quartz up in western Arkansas??
If not…. GO NOW! Like this weekend, or leave today! It’s just too much fun!

I am a newer member of the Dallas Gem and Mineral Society, and have just gotten into the (addictive) hobby of Rockhounding. I’ve been around Dallas hunting for fossils like sharks teeth, but just found out, that with a short 4 hour drive, I can find clear quartz!

Dallas Gem and Mineral Society — Super clear Arkansas quartz point

There are many mines in the area where you basically “pay to dig”. This involves paying a fee for an entire day of digging around a spot (like the tailings area) and you get to keep whatever you find! You can spend all day searching for one perfect piece… or… like me… take bucket after bucket to the truck!

Quartz Hunting Tips

I read many posts about hunting quartz but I’ll add a few of my own common sense tips.
(I thought I new what I was doing, but there was definitely a learning curve)

Look for “black mirrors”

Sounds mysterious, but it’s not! Basically, dirt doesn’t stick to naturally terminated quartz points. They are so slick and shiny that the dirt just wipes off! I read about this online, didn’t quite get it, so I took a series of pics to illustrate it

Look for the dark “black mirror” shine, then plop down and start digging around it. It may just be a single point like this one, but it could also be just one of many points connected to a cluster.

If you find that your quartz is attached to a larger rock, be sure to leave the dirt on and just put it in your bucket. As much as you want to clean it off, it’s safer for the drive home.

Be realistic…

I’m not saying that you won’t find that $1000 quartz point, but it’s more likely that you come home with buckets of lovely milky quartz rock and a ton of smaller clear points.

I (unfortunately) get too excited that I’ll win the lottery, or hit the jackpot, or find a giant quartz point. It really depends on where you are hunting. I went to two very different mines, one place had bigger points, the other had smaller clusters.

That’s part of the fun of rockhounding, you never know what you’ll find!

If you don’t find what you want, you can always buy it!

While researching, nobody told me that the rock shops there are AWESOME!

You can basically spit and hit a rock shop, all of which have a huge variety of stuff. Everything from rare specimens to yards of tables with rough that they sell by the pound! I think I bought as much rock as I found!

Now what do I do with my rocks?

If you’re like me, you get home with multiple 5-gallon buckets of quartz, but what now?

There are many posts around the web that explain how to clean the iron staining off your quartz, but I’m gonna give you a couple pointers too.

1. Wash off as much clay and dirt with the hose.
Super Fast! Let the dirt dry out & hit them with a spray nozzle! If any points fly off, they aren’t attached well and will come off eventually.
* if you happen to be lucky and find an amazingly delicate piece, don’t listen to me

2. I think IronOut works the best.
I have been cleaning my quartz with both the Oxalic Acid and IronOut. It seems to me that the IronOut works faster!

Bonus Tip

Are you interested in going to the Ron Coleman Mine?

If you go after 3 pm, then you pay for the “day” which includes the rest of that day PLUS the entire next one! This is perfect if you are driving up from Dallas cause you don’t have to leave too early, and then you kinda get 2 for 1.

So in conclusion… ARKANSAS ROCKS! (literally)

Intergem Show April 19-21

Do you like SHINY stuff, then the Intergem Show is for you!

I headed over to the Intergem Show down at the Dallas Market Hall today. It was my first time going and didn’t know what to expect. It had EVERYTHING! Not only did it have any and every style / type / price tag of jewelry you could possibly imagine, but it also had so many other items that will help you spend your hard earned money.

Intergem 2019 - Dallas Gem and Mineral Society

Vendors range from offering $1.00 strands of beads, to $20 polished stone pendants, to $200+ loose cut gemstones. My mind was blown at the variety, color, and SPARKLE that one room could hold.

Along with jewelry there were quite a few vendors that offered raw and polished stones, slabs, and specimens… and you can always pick up that pain relieving ointment that you see at every expo, but THIS time you must have it.

And couldn’t go through the whole Intergem show without a stop by our very own DGMS booth! Fantastic to see everybody working hard on their Genies! Be sure to stop by, say hello & buy something from one of our members!

Intergem 2019 - Dallas Gem and Mineral Society Booth — Beautiful wire wrapped pendants by Laurie Eley for sale at our DGMS Booth!

Intergem - Dallas Gem and Mineral Society

Find more info about the Intergem Show and get discounted tickets HERE!

Show hours this weekend:

Saturday, April 20 : 10am – 6 pm
Sunday, April 21 : 11 am – 5 pm