Cabber Gabber - Mobile Rock and Gem Society

Volume 50 Issue 8 Mobile Rock & Gem Society Cabber Gabber August 2010 

Cabber Gabber 

Official Bulletin of Mobile Rock & Gem Society 

Clubhouse: 1324 Forest Dell Rd, off Moffett Rd, Mobile, Alabama 

www.mobilerockandgem.com 

G e n e r a l 

M e e t i n g 

7 : 0 0 p m 

A u g u s t 1 0 , 2 0 1 0 

A i n s l e y 

M c N e e l y 

C l u b h o u s e 

1 3 2 4 F o r e s t 

D e l l R d 

M o b i l e , A L 

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E : 

Executive Board Minutes 

General Meeting Minutes 

August Birthdays 

Birthstone of the Month 

Opal Column 

Upcoming MRGS Events 

Club Workshops 

Let’s Go Fossiling 

Junior Rockhound Report 

SFMS Workshops Update 

Hug Wire wrap Ring 6 

Dixie Mineral Field Trips 7 

Classified Ads 8 

Officers 9 

Calendar 10 

2 

3 

4 

5 

By Ben Davis, MRGS President 

“Squeaking Wheel Gets Oiled‖ 

For the record, the IRS has approved 

our appeal of the $1,571.80 penalty and 

has rescinded the entire amount. They 

also granted an extension of our 2009 tax 

due date until August 15, 2010. Ed Harris 

has already completed the 2009 tax forms 

and mailed them to the IRS on June 6, 

2010. 

The Mobile Rock and Gem Society 

(MRGS) is now listed in the latest issue of 

IRS Publication 78, The Cumulative List of 

Organizations. This is the list of organizations 

eligible to receive tax-deductible 

contributions. You can look us up on-line 

by going to IRS Publication 78, Search 

for Exempt Organizations and click on 

search now 

Thank you to the following members 

and people for donating the items indicated 

during July: Craig Dickinson donated 

a large fossil of dinosaur footprints 

to the club. The Dix family contributed the 

club logo carved in marble. Bobby 

Rogers provided the material and constructed 

the shadowbox for the club logo 

which is now displayed over the workshop 

door. Robert Johnson gave us a Graves 

faceting machine. Cathy Betancourt contributed 

more gold and our first sterling 

silver gift. 

Please remember we are still collecting 

gold of any sort and size. That old gold 

tooth crown the dentist returned to you 

could be a valuable tax 

deductable contribution. 

Check with your tax advisor. 

We have been so 

successful at collecting 

gold that we are expanding 

the program to 

include other noble metals, e.g. silver, 

palladium, or platinum. Contact Jerry 

Shirey, if you have a donation or questions 

about the program. 

Remember our annual auction of hobby 

related items will be held next month 

(September) at the regular meeting. This 

is one of our major fundraising events of 

the year. Please consider donating some 

specimens, tools, equipment, or other 

hobby related items. Our requests to 

various vendors for donations, managed 

by Jerry Shirey, are paying off: four video 

tapes and four gift certificates donated by 

Kingsley North and the book, Minerals, 

Fossils, and Fluorescents of Arizona, received 

from Arizona Desert Ice Press will 

be among the items to be sold at the 

auction. 

I heard that Glenn and Jeanette 

Wimpee, Beth Mayo, Kristin Mayo, and 

Kaitlin Fleshman were joined by Craig, 

Andrea, and Kristi Dickinson for a very 

successful day of collecting fossils at the 

Dam, a site on Conecuh River. 

MEMBER NEWS of July 25, 2010: 

Hudson McGallagher is the proud 

papa of a new baby boy, 4 lbs, 1 oz 

(7 weeks premature). 

Wife and baby are doing 

well in Women & Children's 

Hospital! 

HELP WANTED 

Knowledgeable stamp collector with 

experience in on-line EBay® auctions willing 

to volunteer as SFMS Stamp Program 

Chairperson to replace Jim Robinson. 

Responsible for stamp sales to raise 

scholarship funds. 

Contact Jim Robinson at (904) 221-5038. 

1


MOBILE ROCK AND GEM SOCIETY BOARD MEETING 

July 1, 2010 

The executive board meeting of the Mobile Rock and Gem 

Society was held at the clubhouse at 7pm. on July 1, 2010. 

Those attending the meeting were Jerry Shirey, Jim Darnell, 

Ben Davis, Phil Kaiser, Rodney Boone, Bonita Harris, Larry 

Landry, Gerald Ollhoft, Bobby Rogers, Ed Harris (guest) and 

Mary Daves. 

Ben Davis asked for several older issues of the 

Cabber Gabber for our website. The minutes of 

last month‘s meeting were accepted as published 

in the Cabber Gabber. Gerald Ollhoft read the 

treasurer‘s report, which was approved. 

The board accepted Gary A. and Patt J. Gilly as new members. 

They were guests at last month‘s meeting. 

Mary Daves reported on the June junior club meeting. The 

juniors studied gypsum and experimented with making a mold 

with plaster of Paris (gypsum). They also made a patriotic red, 

white, and blue bead bracelet. 

Larry Landry announced a field trip to Diamond Hill Mine 

July 17and a cabbing workshop Saturday, July 17, 9am-1pm. 

Jerry Shirey reported on the faceting class. The board voted 

to limit the basic class to the faceting of three stones, as there 

is a line up of students to learn. Bobby Rogers agreed to be a 

teacher‘s assistant in the faceting class. This will enable Bill 

Harbour and Jerry to teach an advanced faceting class soon. 

Rodney Boone and Jerry Shirey will check on the gemstones 

available for sale to our members. 

It has also been suggested that we should have a post office 

box to receive our mail. This will be checked on. 

Jerry Shirey reported that the fairgrounds insurance will not 

cover the dealers for camping. He also reported that he does 

not have enough scrap gold to make settings for faceted gems 

for the show raffle prizes. Rodney Boone reported he has no 

further payments from show dealers. 

It was discussed that our treasurer may need help with the 

501© (3) status, but nothing was decided 

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned. 

Respectfully submitted, Mary Daves, Secretary 

MOBILE ROCK AND GEM SOCIETY MEETING 

July 13, 2010 

The monthly meeting of the Mobile Rock and Gem Society 

was held at the clubhouse on July 13, 2010 at 7pm. 

The meeting was called to order by President 

Ben Davis. Liz Kaiser led the Pledge of Allegiance 

to the flag. The minutes of last month‘s 

meeting were approved as published in the 

Cabber Gabber. Gerald Ollhoft read the 

treasurer‘s report, which was accepted as read. 

Gary and Patt Gilly were accepted as members of the Mobile 

Rock and Gem Society. Ben Davis asked if anyone has a 

copy of the April 2008 Cabber Gabber to bring it to the meeting 

next month, to add to our website archives. 

Larry Landry announced a field trip to Diamond Hill on July 

17 and one on August 15 to Summerville, Georgia between 

Fort Payne and Chattanooga. Glenn Wimpee has not heard 

where the Alabama Paleontology field trip will be held this 

month. 

Bill Harbour reported that Robert Johnson has given the 

club a gift of a faceting machine. Bonita Harris reported on 

the wire workshop. Tricia Jennings displayed the copper wire 

necklace she made at the wire workshop. 

Don King will have a cabbing workshop this Friday night. 

Larry Landry will have a workshop this coming Saturday. Neal 

Hazen will have a workshop the next Friday. 

Bobby Rogers made a shadow box to hold the club logo 

carved in marble donated by the Eleanore Dix family. 

Jerry Shirey announced that he will have the postcards and 

flyers for the show by next month‘s meeting. Rodney Boone 

reported he has two more responses from the show dealers. 

Members are reminded that receipts are required to use for 

the non-profit status. The treasurer will receipt all monies received. 

Bonita Harris announced an additional mineral sale at the 

Dix home on Thursday July 22 from 9am – 3pm. This will be a 

field trip for the Ocean Springs and Harrison County clubs, but 

everyone is invited. 

Neal Hazen hopes to make our display at the Greater Gulf 

State Fair even better this year with more demonstrations, etc. 

The club auction will be at the September 14 meeting. 

Thanks to Rodney and Teresa Boone for the club clean-up 

this month. 

Neal Hazen announced that he has received study rocks, 

from a club in California, to teach school children about minerals. 

Ben Davis stated that the executive board will plan how 

this can be done. 

Phil Kaiser brought the program this month - a DVD on the 

Ron Coleman quartz mining . 

SHOW AND TELL: Craig Dickenson: Paleontological dig in 

March with Glenn Wimpee and brought back a big fossil, 

which he framed and donated to the club. Phil and Liz Kaiser: 

trip to the Baltic Sea area where they bought an amber 

gem tree. They also went to St. Petersburg, Russia, where 

they toured the palace of Catherine the Great and saw many 

of the treasures made with malachite and lapis lazuli. They 

also saw the reconstructed amber room in the palace. Don 

King: Ethiopian opal he polished and a catalog selling twisted 

round wire. We have been told you can only twist square wire. 

Ben Davis: lace agate and a sphere he made. Ed Harris: 

opals he polished and reconstructed lapis and boulder opals 

from his opal class at William Holland School for the Lapidary 

Arts. Larry Landry: palm wood from the Dix collection and a 

geode from Bear Mountain that he polished. Tom Schmitz: 

wire wrap he did in the William Holland class, chains his wife 

made in her class. This is the first lapidary item Mrs. Schmitz 

has done, and he is quite proud of her work. Bonita Harris: 

flexible sandstone she got at the Dix sale, yarn quills that can 

Concluded on page 4 

2


Classes continue on 1st and 3rd 

Monday nights. 

Birthstone: Peridot Birthstone Color: Yellow Green 

―If fire appears to leap from the vibrant green surface of the 

Peridot, this may be 

because this gem is 

formed as a result of 

volcanic activity. ...The 

name Peridot comes from the 

Arabic word "faridat," meaning 

gem. … 

Peridot is a mineral named Olivine, 

which is found in a variety of 

greens, ranging from light yellowish 

green to a dark olive. Today, 

by Bill 

Harbour 

Happy August Birthday! 

Peridot is mined in Burma, Norway, Brazil, Australia, Hawaii, 

the Congo, and in Arizona.‖ 

http://www.about-birthstones.com/augustbirthstone.html 

Jim Darnell (Opalholic) 

jamezrobdarn@bellsouth.net 

Remember: OPAL WORKSHOP is August 14, 2010 

For those of you who have become fascinated with Welo Opal, 

here is an article from The American Opal Society July 2010 issue of 

The Opal Express. 

= = = = = = = = 

Celebrating 

Birthdays 

Christopher Cronk 

Margaret Crow 

Natalya Douglas 

Janet Henry 

Douglas Shaw 

Welo Opal Cutting Tips By Steve Newstrom 

In the last few weeks I've gleaned some new insights for 

cutting the new Welo opals. So I've updated the previous instructions 

I've provided on Welo Opal cutting/carving. Most of 

the opal from Welo is hydrophane opal. Hydrophane opal 

quickly absorbs water changing from crystal/semi-crystal to 

almost water clear. The play-of-color, though not entirely disappearing, 

fades out. But luckily this is only a temporary problem… 

when the finished cab or carving is left to dry for 3-4 

days, the colors return to normal. Some of this opal goes 

through a stage when drying, where the base color becomes 

VERY milky. This opal may require a longer drying time to 

return to it's (sic) original colors... up to 2 weeks. 

When cutting this material I use Elmer‘s Glue-All to glue the 

stone to a wooden dop stick. Allow the stone dry overnight, then 

coat the non-waterproof glue with a coating of clear fingernail 

polish to make it waterproof. I use a 220-grit diamond grinding 

dry wheel to rough grind the stone…dry. Opal‘s relatively soft 

and a 220-grit diamond wheel cuts fast enough and also doesn‘t 

leave the deep scratches (and won‘t be as likely to chip) that an 

80 or 100-grit wheel will…especially when working dry. Watch for 

heat and dust (use a mask if you‘re doing a lot of opal cutting: 

opal dust can cause silicosis), but with light pressure on a diamond 

wheel, opal doesn‘t heat much. But it is important to check 

your stones temperature often as Welo opal can be heat sensitive. 

This opal can also be dopped using super glue and aluminum 

or brass rods. Stones can be removed easily by heating the 

dopping rods and loosening the super-glue...careful of stones 

temp. I like to rough grind dry, to properly orient the stone. But 

once that is completed, I go to water-cooled cutting using a 320 

grit belt…for more shaping of the stone. 600-grit will remove any 

flat spots and course scratches…then onto 1200-grit and 3000- 

grit...polish using your favorite method for opals. Remove the 

fingernail polish with acetone (careful acetone is VERY flammable). 

Soak in water 2-3 hours and the stone should fall off of the 

stick. If not let the stone soak overnight. 

Carving Tips: I like to carve Welo dry, using a combination of 

Cratex points and felt buffs with diamond compound. Cratex can 

be used dry (careful of heat) and you won't have color change 

problems found when cutting wet. But the commercial colorcoded 

diamond compound in syringes will dye the opals. The 

1200 grit blue compound will produce opals of a nice robin's egg 

blue...so I mix diamond powder with baby oil for the 1200, 3000, 

14,000 and 50,000 grit stages. If you'd like a different consistency 

try Vaseline, melted bees wax, Crisco or vegetable oil. 

Keep in mind this is just one of many cutting techniques that will 

accomplish the same thing…a beautiful, well cut opal cabochon. 

The important things to remember are: cut slowly, avoid overheating 

your stones, smooth out flat areas and polish your opals 

well…checking carefully for scratches. 

If you have any questions (or comments) don't hesitate to call 

or e-mail...406-651-4947 or vsmithy@bresnan.net. 

From the village smithy opals - 

http://www.villagesmithyopals.com 

Permission is granted to use this article with author and source indicated. 

Update on Dix Mineral and Rock Sale 

New minerals and specimens are being found regularly at 

the Dix house. A new room of mineral specimens was 

discovered on 7-25-10! These will be sorted and available 

for resale in the near future. 

There is a possible sale of the house pending, 

so the next sale may be the final opportunity to 

―mine‖ from this collection. With thousands of items 

remaining, don‘t miss out! 

Please watch the website 

www.mobilerockandgem.com for updates. 

3


Jim Darnell—program chairman 

August: Ainsley McNeely 

September: Auction 

October: General meeting; Greater Gulf State Fair 

November: MRGS Show Meeting 

December: Christmas Party 

he voice of the MRGS Fossil Study Group 

By Dick Stober 

No article this month. Watch for 

upcoming articles in the future 

editions of Cabber Gabber. 

Friday, August 13 7pm-until, Saturday, August14, 2010 

9am -1pm Larry Landry (251) 653-8459 

7pm first and third Mondays 

Bill Harbour (251-666-2434) or Jerry Shirey (251)786-4777 

Tuesday, August 10, 1:30-5pm (General meeting day ) 

Bonita Harris (251)865-9157 

Contact 

Jeanette Wimpee (251) 957-6675 or 

Beth Mayo (251) 401-2505 

Junior Rockhounds Meeting 

Crystals and fossils 

Saturday, 9-noon, August 28, 2010 

Diana Tedder, DDS, Youth Leader (251)675-0518 

AUCTION COMING SEPTEMBER 14! 

This is a favorite meeting each year and 

an important fundraiser for MRGS. Donations related to 

the lapidary arts are accepted. 

UPCOMING SHOWS 

August 13-15, 2010: Gulfport, MS - Harrison County Gem & 

Mineral Society. 35th Annual Harrison County Gem & Mineral 

Show, West Harrison Community Center, 4470 Espy Ave, Pass 

Christian, MS. Hours: Fri 12-7, Sat 9-6, Sun 10-5. Admission: 

Adults $3 & children under 12 free with paid adult. Contact: 

Tomsey Westermeyer Show/Dealer chairman at: 228-586-5279 

or e-mail at: tomsey@cableone.net 

September 4-6, 2010: Brunswick, GA - Golden Isles Gem & 

Mineral Society. 2010 Annual Gem, Mineral, & Jewelry Show, 

Glynn Place Mall, I-95 exit 38, GA Spur 25 to Golden Isles 

Parkway, 2 miles. Hours: Sat 10-7, Sun 12-6, & Mon 10-5. Admission 

$3. Contact Patricia Cox 912-265-4259 or hepacox@comcast.net 

September 4-7, 2010: Hendersonville, NC—Henderson County 

Gem & Mineral Society. 28th Annual Gem, Mineral, Jewelry 

Show & Sale, Whitmire Activity Building, Lily Pond Rd. Hours: 

Sat & Mon 10-6, Tue 10-5. See www.hcgms.org 

September 10-12, 2010: Winston-Salem, NC - Forsyth Gem & 

Mineral Club. 39th Annual Gem & Mineral Show, Educational 

Bldg, Dixie Classic Fairgrounds (free parking through Gate #9 

from 27th St only). Hours: Fri & Sat 10-7, Sun 12-5. Contact 

W.A. Marion at mariona1@yadtel.net 

September 23-26, 2010: Jacksonville, FL-Jacksonville Gem & 

Mineral Society. 22nd Annual Show, Morocco Temple, 3800 St 

Johns Bluff Rd. Hours: Fri 1-6, Sat 10-6, & Sun 10-5. Adults $3/ 

day or $5/weekend 

“Minutes” continued from page 2 

Mary Daves, librarian 

Check out the new set-up of the library. Our library is well 

stocked with mineral, rocks, and gem books, 

jewelry making books, faceting books, cabbing 

books, and so much more. 

REMEMBER! Please return any overdue 

books, tapes, magazines, etc. at the next meeting. 

Thank you! 

be used for mandrels. Roger Crow: agate he polished. 

Cindy Harbour won split the pot. We also had one door 

prize - a third hand - which Don King won and donated to the 

junior members of our club. 

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned 

to enjoy refreshments brought by Susan Ollhoft, Imogene 

Shaw, Selena and Lotus Buccola, Barbara Davis, Eva Hendrix, 

Mary Lou Landry and Mary Daves. We also continued our silent 

auction for fifteen minutes after adjournment. 

Respectfully submitted, Mary Daves Secretary 

4


William Holland – Silver 1 

by Amanda Price Jr. Rockhound 

Mobile Rock and Gem Society 

I was very excited to learn I had been awarded the Southeast 

Federation of Mineralogical 

Societies, Inc. Workshop Youth 

Scholarship to attend William 

Holland this past June. I chose 

to take Silver 1 taught by Mrs. 

Barbara Fields. I was given the 

opportunity to set some of the 

cabochons that I made the previous 

year while at William 

Holland. 

I never expected the class to be so exciting. We learned how 

to solder. We made a variety of pieces including a twisted bracelet, 

a closed back pendant, an open back pendant, a three-band 

bracelet, and a ring. I especially enjoyed making the open backed 

pendant. Therefore, I made another one later in the week. 

Working with silver requires a lot of patience and skill. I 

endured my share of hardships while creating my works of art. 

Working with the torches and hot metal required undivided 

concentration. 

Silversmithing is a very rewarding hobby and since attending 

William Holland, I have acquired both a torch and a dremel and 

plan to continue the craft at home. 

I will never forget my experiences at William Holland and I 

hope that others from my club will attend in upcoming years so 

that they can get the enjoyment that I did. At William Holland, 

you can meet new people who share the same interests that you 

do, you can learn new things, and you can simply have a good 

time. I hope to attend next year‘s workshop. What exciting hobby 

will I discover next 

Photo shows the items 

that Amanda made in her 

silversmith workshop. 

Kristen Hinton, a MRGS 

junior Rockhound, also 

won a SFMS junior scholarship. 

Her article and 

picture will be in the September 

Cabber Gabber. 

At left is her work from the 

June workshop at William 

Holland. 

Tom Schmitz won the Mobile Rock and Gem Society scholarship. 

He chose to attend the Southeast Federation of Mineralogical 

Societies June workshop at William Holland School of 

Lapidary Arts in Young Harris, Georgia. Below is his display of 

handcrafted items from that workshop. 

Photos courtesy: 

Karen Price 

SFMS WORKSHOPS UPDATE Danny Griffin, Education Committee Chair Lodestar July 2010 

The June William Holland workshop has passed. Enrollment was better than expected, but the session was not full. My thanks go out to 

Steve Henegar (Director), Lisa Roberts (Registrar) and all the attending students. I would also like to extend my thanks to Suzanne and all the 

staff at William Holland School of Lapidary Arts. Don‘t forget the August, September and October workshops. They will all be upon us before 

you know it. Look over the schedule, pick a fun class, and signup for a week! 

I am always surprised when the enrollment for one of our workshops is low. The cost is amazingly cheap when compared to similar workshops 

being offered in the southeast. For example, The Florida Society of Goldsmiths has an annual week long session at Wild Acres each 

year. Their cost for the week is $600 for members and $650 for non-members. That‘s quite a bit of difference in cost for a workshop that‘s 

probably very similar to our own! 

I believe that low enrollment hurts us in several ways. If we have a volunteer instructor lined up to teach a class and are forced to cancel 

their class due to low enrollment does that encourage them to volunteer next year Probably not! We have contracts with William Holland 

School of Lapidary Arts and Wild Acres Retreat each year. When we have low enrollments it cost the SFMS either monetarily or in the number 

of spaces available to us the following year. If we are not self-supporting or are getting fewer rooms each year, it will get to the point where we 

can‘t afford it or we‘re forced to cancel a workshop entirely. Is it worth that 

Also, consider this: When you have an instructor who volunteers their time, you can be assured they are in it for the enjoyment of passing 

along their craft and in the interest of supporting the Federation. ... They love their craft so much that they‘re willing to teach it without monetary 

gain. In fact, most spend their own money, and many hours, preparing for their classes….Supporting the SFMS by enrolling in one of the 

workshops is an important factor in keeping this valuable resource available for future generations of lapidary enthusiasts. 

5


The following pattern is presented courtesy of Angela Stober. 

6 WIRE LOVER‘S KNOT RING WITH FULL SHANK WRAP ( HUG RING) 

1 

CUT 6 PIECES OF 4 1/2 " LONG WIRE 21 GAUGE SS WIRE STRAIGHTEN THEM, LINE UP AND TAPE TOGETHER 

ON BOTH ENDS 

2 MARK THE MIDDLE POINT 

3 CUT 1 PIECE OF 20" LONG - - 21 GAUGE 1/2 ROUND WIRE 

MARK THE MIDDLE OF THE HALF-ROUND WIRE AND BEND IT IN HALF WITH THE FLAT NOSE PLIERS 

4 

5 

APPLY THE BENDED LOOP OF THE HALF ROUND TO THE MIDDLE POINT OF THE SIX PIECES OF WIRE 

AND START WRAPPING THE HALF ROUND FROM THE MIDDLE POINT OUTWARD, ONE END AT A TIME 

6 

WRAP THE MIDDLE PART OF THE SIX" PIECES OVER THE RING MANDREL AND BEND IT TO SIZE 3 

( Doesn't matter what size you are making as you can stretch it out later. ) 

7 BEND THE 6" PIECES PAST THE SIDES OF EACH OTHER 

8 

CUT A 2" LONG PIECE OF 21 GAUGE SQUARE WIRE, BEND IT AT SLIGHTLY OFF THE MID POINT SO ONE SIDE 

IS LONGER THAN THE OTHER 

9 

APPLY THE 2' PIECE OVER THE CROSSING POINT WITH CROSSING POINT OF THE 6 WIRES WITH THE LONGER 

SIDE AT THE BOTTOM 

10 

TIGHTEN THE 2" PIECE OVER THE CROSSING POINT WITH THE FLAT NOSE PLIERS, TIGHTEN THE 6 PIECES 

TOGETHER AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE, THEN WRAP THE 2" PIECE OVER TO THE TOP AND BRING DOWN THE 

OTHER SIDE NOW THERE ARE 2 BANDS OVER THE TOP OF THE CROSSING POINT OF THE 6' PIECES 

11 NOW ADJUST THE RING SIZE AS NEEDED ON THE RING MANDREL 

12 

TWIST THE WIRES ACCORDING TO YOUR DESIRE - ALL, EVERY OTHER, ETC DO BOTH ENDS [ I TWISTED THE 

1ST & 6TH ON BOTH ENDS ] 

13 

ONE WIRE AT A TIME BEND THE WIRES AROUND AND BEND THE WIRES OF ONE END DOWN OVER TO THE EDGE 

OF THE RING AND BEND UNDER RING AND CUT OFF JUST SHY OF THE OTHER SIDE. DO THE SAME THING 

TO THE OTHER END OVER THE OTHER SIDE OF EDGE. 

14 

UNDO THE 2' PIECE FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE RING AND THROW AWAY. IT'S PURPOSE WAS ONLY TO 

WHEN YOU BENT THE 6 WIRES TO MAKE THE PATTERN. 

15 

CRIMP WIRES WHERE CUT UNDER THE RING TO KEEP THEM FROM SCRTCHING FINGER WHEN WORN. 

IF NECESSARY RE-CUT AND OR FILE TO SMOOTH ENDS[ STRAIGHTEN AS NECESSARY WITH KNIFE POINT 

TO ACCESS EACH SEPRATELY TO RE-CUT OR FILE. RE-CRIMP AS NEEDED ] 

Note this is for size six. Adjust wire lengths accordingly for other sizes. 

6


Dixie Mineral Field Trips 

The Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Societies, Inc 

The Friendly Federation - Founded in 1976 to serve. 

DMC Program of the SFMS Field Trip Committee Copyright © All rights reserved. 

Website for DMC http://www.gamineral.org/dmc.htm 

An Official Field Trip of the Mobile Rock and Gem Society 

Larry Landry—MRGS Field Trip Chairman 

An Official Field Trip of the Carroll County Gem & 

Mineral Society, Inc. (Carrollton, GA)(HOST) 

Patty Construction Quarry 

Summerville Lace Agate 

Chattooga County, GA 

August 15, 2010 8:30 AM EST 

MEET: At the site, on US 27 in Chattooga Co. Ga. This 

is in the NW corner of the state of Georgia. 

Tools: Eye protection is a must for anyone wishing to 

break apart material with a rock hammer, or sledge. 

Chisels would be valuable, as would small ground 

shovels and rakes. A small cart or hand truck may be 

useful for hauling larger pieces of take home material. 

Much of the material is covered with a chalky white 

chert, and a pail of water is sometimes handy for dipping 

and identifying the better material. 

DMC FIELD TRIP SCHEDULE 

Year - 2010 

August - Carroll County Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. (Carrollton, GA) 

September - Augusta Gem & Mineral Society (Augusta, GA) 

October - Gem and Mineral Society of Lynchburg Virginia, Inc. 

November - Middle Tennessee Gem & Mineral Society 

(Murfreesboro, TN) 

December - Forsyth Gem & Mineral Club (Winston-Salem, NC) 

Year - 2011 

January - Jacksonville Gem & Mineral Society (Jacksonville, FL) 

February - Rome Georgia Mineral Society (Rome, GA) 

March - Gaston County Gem, Mineral & Faceting Club (Gastonia, 

NC) 

April - Cotton Indian Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. (Stockbridge, GA) 

May - Charlotte Gem & Mineral Club (Charlotte, NC) 

June - Northeast Georgia Mineral Society (Cornelia, GA) 

July - Gem and Mineral Society of Franklin, NC (Franklin, NC) 

August - OPEN 

September - Georgia Mineral Society (Atlanta, GA) 

October - Memphis Archaeological and Geological Society (Memphis, 

TN) 

November - Aiken Gem and Mineral Society (Aiken, SC) 

December - Athens Rock and Gem Club (Athens, GA) 

Other: Bring plenty of fluids. This is a good site for 

children. Any pets MUST be on a leash at all times. 

Facilities: In town about 2 miles away. 

Special: THIS IS AN ACTIVE QUARRY. NO ONE WILL 

BE ALLOWED ANYWHERE NEAR ANY OF THE 

MACHINERY ON THE PREMISES. ANY VIOLATION 

OF THIS RULE MAY JEOPARDIZES FUTURE FIELD 

TRIPS TO THIS SITE. 

DMC CONTACT: 

Lori Griggs, Carroll County GMS President 

Home: (404) 538-7442 

E mail: serenitygirl37@yahoo.com 

September 25, 2010 

Amos Cunningham Farm 

Due West/Antreville Area, South Carolina 

9:00 AM - 3:00 PM 

FEE SITE 

Field trips are open to all members of associated clubs of the DMC 

program of the SFMS Field Trip Committee and to all members of 

SFMS member clubs who have provided their membership with SFMS 

liability insurance. Because of insurance requirements members of the 

general public are NOT invited on this or any DMC program fieldtrips! 

DMC Program/SFMS Field Trip committee's purpose: To collect 

field trip information from its member societies; schedule and coordinate 

field trip dates; disseminate field trip information to all member 

clubs so that each member society may publish this information as 

one of their "official" scheduled field trips. 

"Earth first...we'll collect on the other planets later." 

7


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mobilerockandgemsociety 

Email: mobilerockandgemsociety@yahoogroups.com. 

You must be a member to post. If you have any question, 

please contact Bill Harbour at bcharbour@comcast.net. 

Wear your club badge. Don‘t have one 

See Jerry Ollhoft, and he‘ll be glad to order you one. 

Windsong Opal Imports 

Jim Darnell 


Member: MRGS & AOS 

(228)-875-2310 

Opal Beads and more 

alabamapaleo Yahoo! Group 

MRGS Contact: Glenn Wimpee 

Specializing 

in: Opal 

rough and 

finished 

stones 

The club sends canceled stamps to the Southeast Federation 

for the scholarship fundraiser. Those who 

bring the stamps are eligible for a scholarship 

drawing to a SFMS lapidary workshop. 

Please No ―Forever‖ stamps, unless NOT 

cancelled. 

Please do not cut the stamps, leave some room around the 

stamps., and do not cut the perforations! 

BRING YOUR STAMPS EACH MONTH 

Union Chapel Mine, Steven C. Minkin Paleozoic Footprint 

Site 8am-noon, 2nd Saturday of each month. Meeting 

Place: 8am Wal-Mart on Highway 78 in Sumiton, AL. 

Supplies: Bring water bottle, hammer & chisel, cardboard 

flats, paper for wrapping specimens, toilet paper (multipurpose 

paper). 

The MRGS new members club brochure explains 

all the society‘s ‗happenings and doings‘. 

These brochures are available at the clubhouse. 

Membership cards available. 

See Jim Darnell. 

MOBILE ROCK & GEM SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION 

Applicant‘s Name________________________________________________________ Today‘s Date ________________ 

Mailing Address ______________________________________ City______________ State_______ Zip______________ 

Telephone Home (___) ______-___________ Work # (___) ______-___________ E-mail_______________________________________ 

I (we) am (are) applying for: 

____ Husband & Wife Membership $25.00 per year (Jan. 1– Dec. 31.) includes MR&GS Cabber Gabber newsletter 

____ Individual Adult Membership $15.00 per year (Jan. 1– Dec. 31.) includes MR&GS Cabber Gabber newsletter 

____ Family Membership (Husband & Wife) $25.00 /each Junior $3.00 includes MR&GS Cabber Gabber newsletter 

____ Junior Membership (ages 9-17) $5.00 per year (Jan. 1– Dec. 31.) no MR&GS Cabber Gabber 

Applicant’s Signature_________________________________________ Birth month_________ 

Spouse’s Signature __________________________________________ Birth month_________ 

Sponsor_________________________________________________________ Date____________ 

Make checks payable to: 

Mobile Rock & Gem Society 

Mail to: Jerry Ollhoft 

7981 Yorkhaven Road 

Mobile, AL 36695-4906 

8



PURPOSE OF THE MOBILE ROCK & GEM SOCIETY 

MOBILE ROCK & GEM SOCIETY 

Annual dues are from January 1– December 31. 

Clubhouse: 1324 Forest Dell Rd, off Moffett Rd, Mobile, AL 

Meeting Date: 2nd Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM 

1. To stimulate an interest in lapidary, mineralogy, petrology, paleontology, 

geology, and related subjects. 

2. To sponsor an educational program within the membership, to 

increase the knowledge of the members in the properties, identification 

and evaluation of rocks, minerals, fossils, and other related 

subjects. 

3. To cooperate and aid in the solution of its members’ problems in 

the society’s objective. 

4. To cooperate with other mineralogical and geological clubs and 

societies. 

5. To arrange and conduct field trips to facilitate the collection of 

minerals. 

6. To provide opportunity for the exchange and exhibition of specimens 

and materials. 

Membership is open to anyone 9 years or older who is interested 

in lapidary, mineralogy, paleontology, or other related earth 

sciences. Membership can be obtained by written application only, 

accompanied by the prescribed dues as set forth by the Constitution 

and By-Laws of the Mobile Rock and Gem Society. 

OFFICERS and Board of Directors for 2010 

President: Ben Davis 

251 649-6358 

11900 Hampton Rd 

Mobile, AL 36608 

bluefox2@worldnet.att.net 

Vice-President: Jim Darnell 

228-875-2310 

7121 Oakhurst Drive 

Ocean Springs, MS 39564 


Treasurer: Gerald Ollhoft 

251 633-9103 

7981 Yorkhaven Road 

Mobile, AL 36695-4906 

ollhoft2@mchsi.com 

Secretary: Mary Daves 

251 928-9335 

120 Pier Ave 

Fairhope, AL 36532-1230 

mldaves44@hotmail.com 

Editor: Cabber Gabber: 

Bonita Harris 

251 865-9157 

12520 Jeff Hamilton Rd 

Mobile, AL 36695 

bonitaharris@mchsi.com 

*Directors: 

Phil Kaiser………...….251-479-7447 

Bill Harbour................ 251 666-2434 

John Hendrix ……….. 251 866-7553 

* One required for quorum at 

Executive Board meetings 

Copyright 2010 Mobile Rock and Gem Society Cabber Gabber . All rights 

reserved. Except for items that are specifically copyrighted by their authors, all 

materials in this bulletin may be freely copied. Please give credit to Cabber 

Gabber. Unless otherwise credited, articles are by the editor. 

Articles are due by the 20th of each month. 

COMMITTEES 

Cancelled Stamp Chair: John Hendrix…….…………….....…251 866-7553 

Clubhouse: Bobby Rogers…...........................................................251 649-2106 

Field Trip Chairman: Larry Landry……..……….……………...251653-8459 

5501 Linwood Steiner Rd 

Theodore, AL 36582 

maryloulandry@aol.com 

Librarian: Mary Louise Daves …………………...mldaves44@hotmail.com 

Nametags: $7.00 each in advance. 

See Jerry Ollhoft. 

Phone Committee: Nick & Genie Lukes…………….…….......251 479-8912 

Shop Chairman: Larry Landry……..………………………..….251 653-8459 

Show Chairman: Jerry Shirey……….……....………….……...251 786-4777 

Show Dealer Chairman: Rodney Boone……………...……....251 633-5551 

Special Events & Refreshment Committee: ..…Selena and Lotus Buccola 

251-377-0059 

Stamps for Scholarships: John Hendrix …………….……... 251 866-7553 

johnau64@bellsouth.net 

Sunshine Committee: If you know of a member who is sick or hospitalized, 

please contact 

Teresa Boone…………...251 633-5551 or 

Anna Marie Brown……...251 432-0566 

Webmaster: Jennifer Thorman …….……………jenniferthorman@aol.com 

Jeanette Wimpee…………………......geenet@centurytel.net 

Youth Activities Chair: Diana Tedder, DDS……….…….…....251 675-0518 

Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Societies 

Dixie Mineral Council: http://www.amfed.org/sfms/index.html 

William Holland School of Lapidary Arts and Wildacres 

http://www.amfed.org/sfms/.pdf 

9

Mobile Rock and Gem Society 


bonitaharris@mchsi.com 

Cabber Gabber Editor: Bonita L. Harris 

1324 Forest Dell Rd, Mobile, AL 36618-1726 

August 10, 2010 

Ainsley McNeely 

Peridot 

August 2010 

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 

1 2 3 4 5 7pm Executive 

Board Meeting 

6 7 

8 9 7pm 

Faceting Class 

10 1:30-5pm 

Wire work class 

7:00pm 

General Meeting 

Ainsley McNeely 

11 12 13 7pm-until 

Cabbing Workshop 

14 8am-1pm 

Cabbing Workshop 

Opal Workshop 

Paleozoic Field Trip 

DM Field Trip 

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 

22 23 7pm 

Faceting Class 

24 25 26 27 28 9am-noon 

Junior Meeting 

29 30 31

Cabber Gabber - Mobile Rock and Gem Society

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