The Cochise County Rock
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Monthly Newsletter of the Sunsites Gem & Mineral Club
www.cochisecountyrock.org
“Finding and Grinding Rocks in Cochise County, Arizona Since 1962”
June 2006
This issue edited by Paul McKnight
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June Picnic
The annual picnic will be
held at the home of the Bishops in Dragoon beginning at 11 am on Saturday, June
10. Directions: North on Johnson Road
from Dragoon one mile. Turn right on
Little Wing to 4780 on the right. Bring
lawn or folding chairs and a hat or other sun protection.
The Club will supply the
hot dogs, hamburgers, buns, and the condiments.
The members will provide salads, side dishes, and desserts.
If your last name begins
with A-G, bring a dessert. If your last
name begins with H-P, bring a salad. If
your last name begins with Q-Z, bring a side dish.
Sue Bishop says bring some
digging equipment if you want. She
claims to have blue Quartz in her yard.
She has also promised the grilling services of her husband Richard, who
she attests is an excellent griller.
If you need any additional
info about the picnic or want to volunteer for something, call Jeannine
Paterson at 826-1649. Also, please RSVP to Jeannine by June 5 so we
will have some idea of how many people to buy meat for.
May Field Trip Report
On
Sunday May 14, we went to a former gold mine on private property two miles
north of Dragoon. We found some small
chips of Turquoise and some Jasper and at least one piece of Galena.
Next Meeting is September
We have a tradition, going
back to the ‘60s, of not having meetings during the summer.
May 8, 2006 Meeting Minutes
SUNSITES GEM AND MINERAL CLUB
POB 87
PEARCE, AZ 85625
May 8, 2006
Meeting called to order at 7:04 pm by Prisident Don Hammer; 18 members were present.
Don welcomed guests, Henie VanderBos, Carmen & Alan Loy and Brigette Benson.
Secretary’s report was approved as e-mailed.
Treasurer Larry Edget’s reported checkbook balance of $4,927.86 was approved.
Larry Strout reported the Lapidary group numbers 5 with everyone enjoying the class.
Silversmithing class will hopefully start in the fall.
Field Trip May 14th to meet in Dragoon at 9:00 am north of the RR crossing just before Johnson Rd. Trip to be to an old gold mine in Dragoon; possibly Turquoise as well.
Discussion was held on the Annual Picnic. Jeannine Paterson to Chair the Picnic which will be a cookout, June 10th at 11:00 am at Sue Bishop’s home. A motion was made and seconded by Larry Strout and Dick Yeager that the Club purchase hamburger, hot dogs and condiments. Members to bring a dish to pass. Last name starting with letters A – G; Deserts – H – P Salads; - Q – Z a side dish. Please contact Jeannine at 826-1649 no later than June 5th if you plan to attend.
Larry noted the “hat” for building expenses was on the front table.
Pres. Don invited all to enjoy refreshments thanks to the Yeagers and Connie Morrison, and to stay for the Video “The Making of the Chiricahuas”.
Meeting adjourned 7:20pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeannine Paterson
Secretary
Dues are due. $10 for individual and $20 for family. Please mail your check to Sunsites Gem & Mineral Club, PO Box 87, Pearce, AZ 85625.
Club Calendar
June
10 Club Picnic in Dragoon. Saturday. 11 am
July
Field Trip
– possibly I-191 North of I-10 for Chinese picture rocks
August
Field Trip
September
3 Board
Meeting
11 Regular Meeting possibly featuring
fluorescent minerals by Barbara Fenner
16 Field
Trip
October
1 Board
Meeting
9 Regular
Meeting
21 Field
Trip possibly an archaeological site
November
5 Board
Meeting
13 Regular
Meeting
18 Field
Trip
December
3 Board
Meeting
11
Christmas Party
Lapidary Classes! Silver Soldering/Smithing Classes!
Flint Knapping!
Lapidary workshop 1-4 pm on Saturdays. Silver Smithing Class will begin in the fall. Contact Larry Strout at 826-3991. Ralph Cartmell has offered to teach a class on flint knapping. Contact Ralph at 826-3051 or Larry Strout.
We’re
head’en to
“AGATE 2006”
The “Rocky
Mountain Rockhounds” and the “Chaparral
Rockhounds” would like to cordially invite all Rockhounds to “AGATE 2006”,
our annual ten-day, nine-night fieldtrip campout through the Labor Day weekend
at Apache Creek, New Mexico, from August 26th to September 4th,
2004.
We have very adventurous and interesting
fieldtrips every day from 50 to 200 miles roundtrip from our base camp. Each day we leave at 8:30 AM with a picnic
lunch to different areas in the region to collect a very wide variety of rocks,
minerals and/or crystals that can include: Agate, Banded Agate, Blood Stone,
Bytownite, Calcite, Chalcedony, Crystaline, Fire Agate, Geodes, Golden Luna
Agate, Halite, Hematite, Hypersthene, Jasper, Labradorite, Lava’s, Luna Blue
Agate, Obsidian, Perlite, Plume Agate, Quartz Crystals, Spotted Agate and
Thunder Eggs just to name only a few. A
couple of our fieldtrips might be into the eastern portion Arizona along the
state line. Several of the areas that we
travel into, one will need a high-clearance or 4WD type vehicle. If you do not have this type of vehicle,
don’t worry, someone would be happy to carpool with a little “$$$$” help for gas.
The
very small town of Apache Creek is located in the central-western part of the
state about 117 miles west of Socorro, NM, on NM-12 southwest of the small town
of Datil, NM. Apache Creek campground,
used as our base camp, is a beautiful and tranquil camping area with tall
majestic pine trees towering over the entire camp area for plenty of cool shade
during the warm days of August. The area
is large and spacious enough for the largest of RV’s to the smallest of pup
tents and everything in between. Being a
rustic camp area, there are no facilities, water or electricity, just one coed
chemical toilet, so you must come prepared.
There is no cost or camping fees at Apache Creek campground. The town of Apache Creek has one main
structure in town, a combination gas station / convenient store where one can
buy the “very basics” and is where we get our spring water. The small town of Reserve is eleven miles to
the southwest and has a grocery store, bank/ATM, garage/gas station and two
small motels for anyone who does not want to campout. The majority of the time, Mother Nature
cooperates. The weather in August has
warm days in the upper 70’s to 80’s and cool nights in the 50’s with some
possible 40’s and even 30’s.
Occasionally, late summer thundershowers may wonder through the area to
put a damper on things, so come prepared for the unexpected. The elevation of our base camp is about 6400
feet with day outings that can be up to 8500 to 9000 feet.
Every afternoon about 4:30 or 5:00 PM,
most of the rockhounds get together and have a happy hour to socialize and talk
about the day’s findings. Then everyone
has supper on their own around 6:00 PM.
Afterwards, we sit around the campfire and tell TALL stories of old
mining, prospecting and Rockhounding glory days. If anyone can play a musical instrument,
(I.E. guitar, fiddle, banjo, harmonica, etc.) be sure to bring it along to
entertain everyone. The nighttime skies
at Apache Creek are breathtaking. With
no light pollution, one can see millions of stars. So, if you have a good pair of binoculars or
a telescope, be sure to bring them too for some spectacular stargazing. On Friday afternoon after returning from our
outing, we all get together for our traditional “Apache Creek Group Photo” at
5:30 PM. On the first and last Saturday
afternoons, we all get ready for our traditional potluck supper at 6:00
PM. Everyone makes their favorite camp
dish and we share them while telling more stories around the campfire. On the last Sunday at 9:00 AM, we have a Rolling
Rock Club meeting.
Rockhounds that show up can camp-out
anywhere from a couple of nights to the entire campout. Some just come for the last weekend to visit
and see old friends. Some Rockhounds
camp out for over two weeks. Everyone
that comes always has a great time with all the camaraderie and collecting, and
everyone ALWAYS goes home several
pounds heavier. Each year, it only gets
better. We really hope that your club
members can join us this year to make some new friends and really have some
good old “Rockhounding Fun and
Adventure.” For the last 8 years, we
have averaged about 35 Rockhounds that have attended the campout from at least
five different states. Just the right
size for a Rockhound get together. In
addition, if you have a CB Radio, bring it along. We use CB Channel 15 on all our
fieldtrips. And for local music and
news, tune into Reserve's local radio station, KNMA at 104.5 FM.
Saturday and Sunday on the last weekend
are open days. For those not interested
in going out rock collecting, there are several other things to see and do in
the area:
New Mexico Bureau of Mines Mineral Museum
is located in Socorro, NM on the campus of the New Mexico Bureau of Mines. The museum is one of the “Top Five Mineral
Museums” in all of North America and well worth the trip.
Very Large Array (VLA) Radio Astronomy Telescope
is where the movie “Contact” with Jodie Foster was filmed. If you are interested in Astronomy, you
defiantly want to check this place out.
They have a very interesting, informative and education Visitors Center.
Apache Creek South Mesa has some unique
600-year-old Petroglyphs located on the south side of the mesa. The site is only a two-mile roundtrip hike
from the campground.
Reserve, NM is the place to be on
the first weekend of the campout. On 26
August, the town will be having their County Fair with a Livestock Show, Arts
& Crafts and a Rodeo.
Mogollon, NM is an old historic and
famous ghost town in the Mogollon Mountains, Gila National Forest. There are Antique Shops, three interesting
Museums, the “Mogollon Rock Shop”, the Old Theater and have lunch in the Old
Town Café. On Saturday the 2nd
of September, the town of Mogollon will be hosting the “Old Time Miners
Reunion”. Old miners who worked the
mines around the town will be there telling some great old stories from
Mogollon’s Glory Days.
The Catwalk is a very beautiful,
tranquil and scenic canyon for hiking.
Therefore, if you love hiking, the Catwalk is for you. In addition, there are numerous places to go
hiking throughout the Gila and Apache National Forests.
Silver City Gem and Mineral Show
in Silver City, NM. The local club will
be having their 23rd annual 3-day show during the Labor Day
weekend. It is only a two-hour drive
south and the very beautiful and scenic landscape will make the trip a
memorable one.
Lodging: For
those folks who do not wish to camp out, or need electricity and water for
their RV, there are the following alternatives.
Be sure to make any reservations as early as possible due to Bow Hunting
season for Elk, which starts on Monday the 28th. The rooms and RV spaces fill up fast.
The Bunk House Bed &
Breakfast in Apache Creek is 505-533-6949.
Apache Creek RV
located near by is 505-533-6166
Rode Inn Motel
on Main Street in Reserve is 505-533-6661.
They have Cable TV, Direct Dial Phones, Queen Beds and a Laundromat.
Village Motel & RV
Spaces on South Main in Reserve is 505-533-6600
Elk Country Café &
Motel in Reserve is 505-533-6615
Dining: For
those folks who wish to have a change of diet from camp food, there are the
following alternatives.
Antonia's Casita Café
in Reserve
Carmen's Restaurant
in Reserve
Ella's Café
in Reserve
The Rocky Mountain Rockhounds and the
Chaparral Rockhounds host AGATE 2006. If
you are planning on coming to AGATE 2006, please try to RSVP by mid
August. For any additional information
about Apache Creek or the camp out, please contact Yonis Lone Eagle at
505-860-2455 or via e-mail at: rockymountainrockhounds@yahoo.com
.
The Chaparral Rockhounds
Roswell, New Mexico
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Upcoming Regional Events
May 6-7 Mohave County
Gemstoners present their annual show at Kingman Academy of Learning, 3419
Harrison St., Kingman, AZ. Contact Dave
at 928-692-3797 or Bill at 928-565-9586.
May 13–14 59th
Annual Show "Rocks & Minerals of the Colorado Plateau". Grand Junction Gem and Mineral Club, Two
Rivers Convention Center, 1st & Main, Grand Junction, CO. Contact Don or
Marj Gibboney, 193-27 Road, Grand Junction CO 81503, 970.245.2885
August 26-September
4 Agate 2006
October 14-15 Huachuca Gem,
Mineral & Jewelry Show. At the Elks
Lodge on Willcox Avenue, Sierra Vista, AZ.
Free admission & parking; live demonstrations, educational displays,
rocks, jewelry, gems, minerals, fossils, equipment, lapidary supplies &
more. Contact Larry at 520-459-5211.
Club Officers for 2006
President Don Hammer 520 384-3105
Vice-President Paul McKnight 520 824-4054
Secretary Jeannine Paterson 520 826-1649
Treasurer Larry Edgett
Delegate at Large Sue Bishop 520-586-2312