THE BACKBENDER’S GAZETTE
Volume LVI ----- Houston Gem & Mineral Society ----- April 2026
Houston, We Have a Problem - Meteorites!
Table of Contents
Click a Table of Contents Entry to jump to that article.
President's Message
by Jeanean Slamen
Rebuilding Our Community Outreach
A recent increase in requests from regional libraries has prompted me to focus this month’s message on the state of our Society’s educational outreach. As an educational nonprofit, outreach is central to who we are. I encourage you to share your thoughts so we can continue this discussion in upcoming General Meetings, Section meetings, and other forums.
We support education in many ways, but our direct outreach to schools and community groups has declined as key volunteers have stepped back or moved away. Steve Blyskal and the Mineral Section continue to assemble rock kits for school groups visiting our annual Show, and Steve generously offers classroom presentations. At present, he is the only member I am aware of who regularly responds to teacher requests outside of the Show setting.
The Paleo Section has received multiple requests from libraries across Harris County and surrounding areas for their 2026 summer programs built around the theme “Unearth a Story.” These programs are centered on fossils and paleontology for a range of age groups.
With Neal Immega’s retirement from active involvement, we have struggled to recruit enough members who feel comfortable presenting these topics—leaving us unable to meet current demand.
We are at our best when communicating our love for rocks, gems, fossils and earth science in general. Lapidary, beading and jewelry making show how beautiful items can be created from the earth’s resources. Every Section can be a part of this rebuilding effort.
I would like to invite all Sections to help rebuild a strong “presenter volunteer group,” and I welcome your ideas as we reinvigorate outreach to both students and adults.
Here’s a proposed framework:
- Develop specific programs and train presenters at the Section level, around Section interests.
- Create program content for schools, Scout packs, and youth groups aligned with Texas TEKS curriculum standards. (I’m currently extracting earth science TEKS concepts by grade level and will make them available.)
- Identify existing grade-level earth science resources from internet and other sources and adapt them for our use.
- Consult current or retired teachers within our membership for guidance.
- Assemble a coordinated “teaching collection” of materials in portable containers.
- Use portable visuals such as retractable, self-supporting banners or posters to support presentations. If Section funds are scarce, the club could help with costs and sourcing.
- Adapt selected topics for adult audiences, as well.
- Start with one or two topics and define key points for a set timeframe (15 minutes, 30 minutes, etc.). Let Section members suggest how to build out the key points further.
- Practice presentations within Section meetings so speakers become comfortable.
Remember: enthusiasm, accurate information and clarity are what our community is looking for. You can provide all of that
If Sections commit to organized outreach, we will not only serve our community more effectively—we will strengthen our own knowledge, confidence, and connection to the Society. I encourage you to share your ideas, volunteer your interest, and take part in shaping this effort.
Let’s be strong ambassadors for the science, the arts, and the Society we value.
Vice-President's Message
by Julius Albonetti, 1st Vice President
For our April 28th General Meeting, Jessica Bamford, a member of HGMS, will make a presentation about the Moon. With the recent launch of Artemis II, the Moon is back in the news! She will talk to us about the surface of the moon, how NASA is looking at living on the Moon and other topics. She has a true passion on this subject and members are sure to enjoy her talk. We’ll see you there!
Houston, We Have a Problem - Meteorites!
by Sigrid Stewart
Lucky Houston area observers spotted a bright fireball streaking across the sky about 4:40 pm on March 21st and then heard a rumbling 5-second sonic boom. The 3-foot wide, one ton asteroid/meteoroid was not detected previously. As it descended into the atmosphere and began rapidly heating up due to atmospheric friction, it exploded about 29 miles up (at which point it could be classified as a bolide), and subsequently meteorites fell to land over a period of about 8 minutes in a swath across north Houston. One 6 lb. meteorite crashed through the roof of a house in north Houston near I-45 and FM 1960, bouncing off the floor and back up to the ceiling. The homeowner made an emergency call and the Ponderosa Fire Department responded in a first for that agency. The owner bagged the meteorite and contacted experts to verify the find, which was an ordinary chondrite, or stony meteorite.
Eager meteorite hunters and NASA scientists began to search the area of meteorite fall, which was indicated by weather radar. Weather radar was designed to track storms but is also capable of picking up tracks of solid objects like hail, dust – and falling meteorites! Of course, most of the mass of the meteoroid probably disintegrated during the fall.
12 additional meteorites (as of April2nd) have been found in the area of f Collins Park and in neighborhoods north of Cypresswood Drive near Collins Park, including Wimbledon Estates, Wimbledon Champions Estates, and Wimbledon Centre Court Estates. ONe was found on the side of the street in the grass. Homeowners should look for black rocks with a light gray interior. But don’t break them looking for the gray interior – have them checked by an expert!
Jacob Proctor of Katy Rock Shop jumped into action and immediately began working with radar maps to locate prime hunting areas. He reported “We have approvals from Collin Park District Authority to host a meteorite inspection station on Sunday for everyone to inspect their finds. YES we will have X-Ray Fluorescence to determine chemical composition for you also! This will be free of charge for everyone!”
Jacob says he may be able to exhibit the 2nd largest meteorite for a period of time at his shop. Interest in this meteorite fall will continue and there are probably more waiting to be found. Scientists are studying them to determine their point of origin.
References and links below.
More Fireballs in the Spring?
Every spring around the equinox there is an increase in the number of fireballs visible in the skies of the Northern hemisphere. Bill Cooker, speaking for the NASA Meteoroid Environment Office, says that the rate of such fireballs, meteors which are brighter than the planet Venus and can be seen in the daytime and produce sonic booms, increases by 10% to 30% in the spring. Some scientists speculate that the Earth passes through an area of its orbit with debris from a past comet or asteroid collision. No such peak has yet been detected in the Southern hemisphere.
The NASA Meteoroid Environment Office maintains NASA all-sky cameras which scans the sky above the U.S during the nighttime for fireballs. The cameras are located:
6 in north Alabama, north Georgia, southern Tennessee, and southern North Carolina.
3 in the northern Ohio/Pennsylvania area,
5 in southern New Mexico and Arizona
3 in Florida
Automated software calculates fireball orbits, velocity, and penetration depth in Earth’s atmosphere. Daytime meteors are tracked using ground-based radar systems and satellite-based lightning sensors to detect the ionized trails and light flashes. I would be willing to bet that military radar sees quite a bit more!
Recently the state of Ohio also experienced fireballs and possible meteorite falls. A 6-foot wide 7-ton fireball caused a loud sonic boom and fragmented over Valley City on March 17, 2026. Another brilliant fireball meteor was spotted over Ohio on March 23, 2026, around 9:31 PM ET, and was visible across several states. Multiple fireball sightings were reported in the region during March.
For videos, check out the KHOU 11 video and the Fox 26 report, in the References.
References:
Boom over Houston: From the Chronicle
https://share.google/KfxgGwlbyGr5FHvB9
More than you ever wanted to know about meteorites:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_meteoritics
https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/meteorite-falls/how-to-find-meteorites/
https://fireball.amsmeteors.org/members/imo/report_intro
The American Meteor Society web page has a public meteor reporting page that allows the general public to report large fireballs:
Boom heard across Houston! NASA confirms meteor over city. KHOU 11 video of fall
NASA: Houston ‘booms’ caused by meteor; meteorites may be in the area Fox 26 report and video of homeowner with meteorite
Section News
Beading – Second Saturday, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Starting in April 2026 the Beading Section Meeting will start at 10 AM rather than Noon. We will meet from 10 AM to 1 PM and those who choose to can join us for lunch afterwards.
Erin Chavez will introduce us to tatting (lace making) using thread. Bring a small crochet hook, if you have one.
NOTICE: Do you have a bracelet or necklace that needs restringing? The Beading Section will carefully restring your piece at an hourly rate of $15.00 + materials. Contact Beading @HGMS.org to make arrangements. All funds will go to the Beading Section.
Always bring beading mat, scissors, wire, wire cutter, round nose and needle nose pliers, thread, and beading needles if you have them.
Find out more about the Beading Section!
Lapidary and Silversmithing – Third Monday, 7:00 PM
The next meeting will be on April 20th at 7:00 pm. For the April Workshop we will be using the spool polishers on Sapphire, emeralds and opals. This demonstration will be done by Steve Wilkinson, mastercutter. He will be bringing his spool polisher and the club has two polishers that I have refurbished. These will be available for the club members to use there at the workshop. We will also have another nice door prize -have to be present to win.
Email Lapidary@hgms.org if you have questions, and check out the Lapidary and Silversmithing Section page.
Day Light – First Wednesday, 12:00 PM
The Daylight Section meets the first Wednesday of the month from 12 to 3 PM.
Gemstones and Faceting – Second Thursday, 6:30 PM
Our next meeting will be April 9th at 6:30 pm. Topic to be announced.
Paleontology – Third Tuesday, 7:30 PM
The next meeting is Tuesday, April 21st at 7:30 pm. After Show ‘n’ Tell, we will have a talk.
Zoom link for the meeting: https://us02web.zoom.
or
Meeting ID: 860 5377 1923
Passcode: 826994
If you’d like to join the Paleo Section email list, send an email to hgmspaleosection@gmail.com and ask to be added.
Mineral – Third Wednesday, 7:30 PM
The next meeting is Wednesday, April 15th at 7:30 pm.
We will continue the Common Minerals program with the Zeolite Group. There will be many specimens to examine.
We will have a door prize and snacks, and a bigger Silent Auction. Come check it out!
Zoom link for the meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4517997588?pwd=SnZjckZBTnRMbHRxZitScE9WU3RWUT09
or
Meeting ID: 451 799 7588
Passcode: 623955
If you’d like to join the Mineral Section email list, send an email to mineral@hgms.org and ask to be added.
Youth, First and Third Saturdays, 10:00am – 12:00pm
Next meetings will be on April 4th and 19th.
Mostly we will be working on cabochons. Children must be accompanied by parents.
Donation Sale April 4th
Auction News: HGMS will hold a live auction for Minerals, Fossils, Equipment and Lapidary items on Saturday April 4th, 2026. The auction will take place in the main meeting room from 1 pm to 3 pm. I encourage anyone who is interested in upgrading their collection to attend. All bids will be final and will include state sales tax. Bring cash or your credit cards.
See the attached file for photographs and descriptions of what will be available.
Ray Kizer Donations Chairman Items up for Auction HERE
Rick Rexroad
by Rachel Ford
In Loving Memory of Richard “Rick” Rexroad
October 13, 1952 to March 13, 2026
Richard “Rick” Rexroad lived a life shaped by curiosity, generosity, and a deep and abiding love for the natural world. A Registered Geologist in the State of Texas, Rick devoted his career to understanding the earth, from his early work with the United States Geological Survey to years in petroleum geology and geophysics, and later a long career in environmental geology.
I met Rick in 2008, the very first year I set up in the swap area at the Houston Gem and Mineral Society show. My oldest son Kai was just three months old at the time. What I could not have known then was how meaningful Rick would become in our lives.
Over the years, Rick became a steady and familiar presence, especially at our show, the Contin Tail Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show in Buena Vista, Colorado, where he spent many years setting up in our booth. It was there that a special friendship grew between Rick and Kai. They bonded over fossils and petrified wood, sharing discoveries, stories, and a genuine excitement for the ancient past. Rick had a gift for teaching, and Kai learned so much from him. They were fast friends, connected by curiosity and joy.
Rick’s love of collecting took him all across the country, from Ordovician fossils in Cincinnati to geodes in Illinois, to fossil beds in Wyoming and Utah, and mineral rich landscapes in New Mexico. Closer to home, he collected throughout Texas, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, building a collection that reflected not just knowledge, but a true sense of wonder.
He gave generously of his time through the Houston Gem and Mineral Society as a shop host and fossil preparation lab leader, and he was a familiar face year after year in the swap area, always ready to share his knowledge, his stories, and his treasures.
Rick found joy in traveling with his wife, especially in all things French, volunteering at the Houston Zoo, working with fossils and minerals, and spending time with his beloved dog Lilly, his family, and his many friends.
Rick leaves behind a legacy of kindness, mentorship, and quiet enthusiasm. For those of us who knew him, he was more than a geologist. He was a teacher, a friend, and a steady presence who made our community richer.
He will be deeply missed.
Rachel Ford
Donations may be made to HGMS or the Houston Zoo in Rick’s Honor
Education
Register and see prices and content of upcoming classes here.
Taught by Susan Burch:
Beginning Wire-wrapped Pendant (Apr 11, 2026)
Taught by Carmen Fraticelli:
Textured Stacking Rings (Apr 19, 2026)
Twisted Hoop Earrings Class (Apr 26, 2026)
Wide Band Textured Rings Class (May 9, 2026)
Forged Dangle Earrings (May 17, 2026)
Bender's Cave
by Sigrid Stewart
Two researchers, John Moretti, a vertebrate paleontologist from the Jackson School of Geosciences at UT Austin, and John Young, a local caver, decided to investigate Bender’s Cave, near San Antonio, because of finds made by amateur cavers.
This cave is hard to access and contains an underground stream, so little paleontological work had been done there. They entered the cave and snorkeled though the stream filling their collecting bags with the abundant fossils of animals from the last Ice Age. Dr. Moretti told Live Science that the fossils they found “blew his mind”. Over a period of two years they searched 21 different areas of the cave, finding fossils of Megalonys Jeffersoni (Giant Sloth), mammoth teeth, bones from Camelops, a relative of the modern llama and saber-toothed tigers.
Daily erosion and occasional floods carried bones into sinkholes where they were eventually trapped in caves. The variety of species found helps paleoecologists describe ancient ecosystems. Based on some of the species, there was a warm period called an interglacial about 100,000 years during the Ice Age when temperature were moderate and the land was forested.
The really exciting discoveries were Holmesina septentrionalis, (a pampathere or giant armadillo), and the extinct Hesperotestudo (a giant tortoise). Both of these species would have needed warmer temperatures than the cooler grasslands often associated with Ice Age Texas. Based on those fossils, Moretti was able to group them with other fossils from around Dallas and the Gulf Coast.
Shop and Building News
Bearings are on order for both 24-inch saws, Hopefully that order will arrive this week and repairs can commence.
The 8-inch Titan cabbing machine is also being repaired.
Bench Tips
CUTOFF WHEELS
Cutoff wheels (also called Separating Discs) are inexpensive and do a great job cutting or shaping steel. You can use them to sharpen tool points, cut piano wire to length, make slots, and sharpen worn drills. Other uses include modifying pliers and making your own design stamps.
My preference is the one-inch diameter size. Be sure to hold the wheel firmly so nothing moves to break the disc and definitely wear your safety glasses. Those are little flakes of steel coming off the disk.
BTW – Cutoff wheels are not as good at cutting soft metals like copper, silver and gold. They will work, but soft metals tend to clog up the cutting edges.
DEBURRING JUMP RINGS
When cutting jump rings from large gauge wire for chain making, you’ll notice the saw leaves a small burr. An easy way to remove these is to tumble the rings with some fine-cut pyramids. It’s best not to tumble for a long period because it tends to remove the polished finish from the wire.
No tumbler, no problem. You don’t actually need a tumbler. I just put a handful of pyramids in a wide mouth plastic jar and shake for a bit. You can find these pyramids in the tumble finishing section of most jewelry supply catalogs.
The Nimrud Lens
by Sigrid Stewart
In 1850, Sir John Layard in 1850 excavated a 3,000-year-old piece of rock crystal at the Assyrian palace of Nimrud, today’s Iraq. Since that time, archaeologists and academics have debated whether it is merely a piece of jewelry or part of an early telescope. An Italian professor claims Assyrian knowledge of astronomy must be due to use of a telescope. The Assyrian depiction of the planet Saturn was a god surrounded by a ring of serpents. That might have been an interpretation of Saturn’s rings seen through an imperfect telescope. Galileo believed that the ancients knew about telescopes.
The Nimrud lens, which is also called the Layard lens, is oval and made of natural rock crystal. It has been dated to between 750 and 710 BC. It may have been ground on a manually-powered lapidary wheel.
Considered as a lens, its focal point is approximately 4.33 inches from the flat side, and its focal length is approximately 4.72 inches. Technically this is equivalent to a 3× magnifying glass, but it could be combined with another lens to give it greater magnification which is what a telescope does. It is also capable of concentrating sunlight so maybe it was intended as a “magical” device to start fires.
Purposely crafted lenses may date back to 4,500 years to the 4th Dynasty of ancient Egypt and 3500 years ago in the city of Knossos on the island of Crete. Although many objects which could be evaluated as lenses have been found, the British Museum considers them not useful for that purpose. It might mean that they did understand the concept and were trying to achieve a practical prototype. Perhaps future archaeological investigations will clarify the matter.
image: The Nimrud lens. Source: The British Museum / CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
“World’s oldest telescope?” In BBC News 1 July 1999. Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/380186.stm
No name. No date. “Ancient Lenses” in Ancient Wisdom. Available at: http://www.ancient-wisdom.com/optics.htm
“The Nimrud Lens” in The British Museum. Available at: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/W_-90959
Memory Lane
Old Pins and Awards from eBay
from Jeanean Slamen
HGMS Board of Directors Meeting March 3rd, 2026
Meeting Minutes for February 3rd, 2026
submitted by Debbie Seid
| Board Member | Section Board Member | ||
| X | President – Jeanean Slamen | X | Beading – Lillian Skogsberg |
| X | 1st Vice President – Julius Albonetti | X | Day Light – July Olsen |
| 2nd Vice President – Vacant | Gemstones & Faceting – vacant | ||
| X | Treasurer – Rhett Cooper |
X | Lapidary & Silversmithing – Richard Good |
| X | Secretary – Debbie Seid | Mineral – Ray Kizer | |
| Past President – by invitation | X | Paleontology – Al Robb | |
Call to order: President Jeanean Slamen called the meeting to order at 7:41 pm. There was a quorum in attendance.
Approval of the minutes of the previous meeting, if needed: Debbie Seid reported that the February 2026 Board meeting minutes were approved by majority and published in the March 2026 Backbender’s Gazette.
review of Treasurer’s Report: The meeting began with a discussion about financial reports and budgets, where Jeanean shared that she had reviewed February financials with the bookkeeper and discussed scholarship funds and budget monitoring. The Board discussed reviewing budget categories, showing variances of greater than 10% from the budget, including the need for review of section budgets and authorizations. The discussion was tabled until a later date.
Treasurer Rhett Cooper presented the treasurer’s report which showed total income of over $12,500 and total expenses of $14,334.39 since January 1st. He reviewed various expenses, including electricity, internet, and fees related to building operations which were as expected due to running equipment and services.
Rhett covered financial updates, including a net income of $4,363.50 from show revenues. Jeanean confirmed that she has provided Scott Singleton with the budget for the upcoming 2026 show.
Program Committee Update: Julius Albonetti, provided an update on the program committee, mentioning speakers for March, April, and May, and work on one for August. Upcoming programs are announced in the weekly eBlast.
Membership Update: Jeanean Slamen provided an update as of February 16, 2026. The Membership Chair position is currently vacant due to Second Vice President, Sarah Metsa’s, resignation. The Board is actively recruiting to fill the position, but until then, membership roster updates will be handled by other Board members.
Announcements and reports of other Officers, Committee Chairs, or Section Board Representatives (as needed):
Faceting Section Chair (via Randy Carlson email): 14 new members have joined the Gemstones and Faceting Section since mid 2025.
Old Business:
Ventilation project status update: Debbie Seid reported that Al Robb has joined the Ventilation Committee providing his professional experience in safety and security management to the team. The team met with Tony Lucci and Richard Good to conduct a walkthrough of the HGMS shops on March 1 to assess ventilation needs in the jewelry, lapidary, and air abrasives shops. The team identified several quick fixes to address issues relating to securing oxygen and argon cylinders, and installing self closing hinges on the doors of the lapidary shop to contain noise, dust and oil mist within the shop. The team will explore the installation of an exhaust hood for venting ovens and kilns in the jewelry/silversmithing shop with benchtop ventilation for soldering at the benches.
Shop training and shop policies in development: Jeanean Slamen reported that work continues on development of Shop training and shop policies with final review and approval provided by Jeanean Slamen. Policies and procedures will also be needed for the TIG welder.
New Field Trip Committee: The Board is awaiting a proposal from the Co-chairs for the New field trip committee, Mathew and Allison Sklar, to provide a system for informing members of upcoming field trips with an equitable way to allow broader access to the trips.
IT issues and email changes: Jeanean Slamen continues to address ongoing HGMS email and IT needs.
New Business:
Account for Shop Maintenance (proposed): Jeanean Slamen proposed the creation of a new bank account for shop maintenance in order to expedite shop maintenance needs and ordering of equipment and supplies without using personal funds to buy the materials before submitting an expense report. A credit or debit card would be provided to the Shop Maintenance Manager for this purpose. July Olson moved to create the shop maintenance account with Al Robb seconding. The motion carried unanimously.
Information and Discussion on current Board Issues:
Board Policy and Roles and Responsibilities Documentation: Due to the short tenure of board positions and the need for institutional memory, good documentation of board decisions via written policies, procedures, and authorizations is warranted instead of putting everything in the bylaws. This documentation would include roles and responsibilities for Board and Section Leader positions to ensure that changes in key roles are well understood and transitions are seamless for operational and financial purposes.
The Board agreed that policies should be documented in writing on HGMS letterhead, and reviewed annually to determine which policies/records to maintain or modify.
Member Concerns: Jeanean Slamen discussed a member’s concern regarding the load capacity for the second floor and asked for verification of load capacity. HGMS member and Board Section Representative for the
Lapidary Section, Richard Good, a retired licensed Professional Engineer, will draft the Board’s response to this concern for review at the April Board Meeting.
Addition of Fourth Scholarship: Jeanean reported that money accrued in the account provided by Art Smith’s royalties has reached the threshold of $2500, and can be used to award an additional scholarship this year. July Olson motioned to
award the scholarship, and the motion was seconded by Al Robb. The motion carried unanimously.
Adjournment: President Slamen adjourned the meeting at 9:33 pm. She informed the Board that per Robert’s Rules of Order, it is not necessary to make a motion to adjourn once there is no further business to conduct. The President or Presiding Officer will adjourn the meeting in future meetings without the need for a motion.
HGMS General Meeting Minutes March 24, 2026
submitted by Debbie Seid
President Jeanean Slamen called the meeting to order at 7:35 pm.
She welcomed 21 in person attendees and 2 online attendees. New members Madison Guinn and Jacob Berry introduced themselves as Paleo enthusiasts who were encouraged by Mike Dawkins to join HGMS when they attended the 2025 Show.
Approval of Minutes: The February General Meeting Minutes were approved by President Jeanean Slamen prior to posting in the March Backbender’s Gazette.
Committee Chair/Section Reports:
Minerals Section: Steve Blyskal, Minerals Section Chair, announced that the Minerals Section has been discussing common minerals in their monthly meetings. The April meeting will be about zeolites.
Scholarship Committee: Mike Sommers, Scholarship Committee Chair, is happy to have a 4th scholarship to award this year. Anyone interested in joining the Scholarship Committee and reviewing scholarship applications with him and his team can contact him at scholarships@hgms.org.
Membership Committee:
Jeanean Slamen reported that there has been 32 new or renewed memberships since the February General Meeting, bringing the total number of members to 276. A complete reconciliation of members will be done at the end of March.
Old Business:
Ventilation Committee:
Debbie Seid provided an update on the ventilation needs assessment for the HGMS jewelry/silversmithing, lapidary, and paleo air abrasives shops. While direct exhaust appears to be the obvious solution for ventilation, the ventilation team will benchmark other facilities for best practices.
Safety Committee:
Jeanean Slamen reported that safety procedures and training for shop users is in review. They will be published following her approval.
New Business: Jeanean Slamen
The April Club Cleanup is deferred until there is sufficient volunteer support; no volunteers have responded to date.
The 2nd Vice President and Membership Chair position remains vacant. The responsibilities for managing membership updates are currently being handled by volunteers on the Board.
Please encourage any member with an interest in outreach and good social skills to follow up with Jeanean Slamen at president@hgms.org.
A new account for shop maintenance will be created to facilitate the ordering of supplies and equipment. This will allow the Shop Maintenance Manager to purchase supplies with a debit card without having to front the money for the purchases before getting reimbursed. The creation of the new account was approved by the Board in the March Board meeting.
HGMS policies and roles and responsibilities that are not described in the Bylaws will be documented for better transparency and will be reviewed annually. While documentation may be found in the back copies of the Backbender’s Gazette, ready documentation of key Board policies, decisions, and authorizations will facilitate ongoing operations especially during key role transitions.
An additional 4th $2500 scholarship will be awarded this year in addition to the three annual scholarships that HGMS grants. The 4th scholarship account is funded by the royalties from the Art Smith estate and after the account has reached the threshold amount of $2500.
Show-n-Tell: Steve Blyskal presented an azurite specimen from the Milpillas Mine in Mexico among other pieces he brought to the meeting, Holly Gardner described a dinosaur bone found by her husband David Gardner in Colorado’s Morrison Formation, and David Fitzhugh described his display of African specimens.
Joe Otillar showed and described the fifty-pound meteorite that he bought in Tucson, the 2 years of cleaning required to bring it to its present condition, and its history dating back to its founding in Argentina in 1576. Joe was prompted to bring his meteorite to show and tell following the recent incident involving a meteorite striking a home in the Houston area.
Door Prizes Drawing: Julius Albonetti won the sodalite door prize.
The next Board of Directors meeting is on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
The next Hybrid General Meeting will be on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
Many thanks to the members who made the meeting a success:
Karl Schleicher for the tech support
July Olson and Jeanean Slamen for refreshments Julius Albonetti for the guest speaker and program
Members were encouraged to feed the kitty to defray the costs for refreshments.
Adjournment: President Slamen adjourned the meeting at 8:03 pm.
Program:
1st Vice President Julius Albonetti introduced the speaker, Rebecca Hunt-Foster, paleontologist at Dinosaur National Monument who presented a compelling history of the site which predates the formation of the National Park Service, and the many dinosaur discoveries there which were transported for display at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and the American Museum of Natural History. Rebecca encourages people to visit Dinosaur National Monument for its diversity of fossils, its accessibility, its campsites, and to experience its dark sky status.
Upcoming Shows
Golden Spread Gem, Mineral & Treasure Society
Friday, April 3rd, 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm and Saturday, April 4th, 9:00 am -4:00 pm
Arts in the Sunset, 3701 Plains Blvd;
contact Kassidy Barlow, Kassidy.gsgmts@outlook.com
https://amarillotreasureclub.org/
64th Annual Fiesta of Gems, Southwest Gem and Mineral Society
Saturday, April 11th – Sunday, April 12th, 2026
Freeman Coliseum Exposition Halls, San Antonio, TX
35th Annual Show Chihuahuan Desert Gem & Mineral Club
April 17, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, April 18, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, April 19 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Alpine Civic Center, 801 W Holland Ave
contact Lisa Nix, (303) 818-5500; Rocksofalpine@gmail.com
Texas Mineral & Fossil Show
RMGM Productions
April 24-25, 10:00am – 6:00pm, April 26 10:00am – 4:00pm
Lonestar Convention Center.
9055 Airport Rd, Conroe, Texas
May
- May 2-3 Waco, Texas, Waco Gem & Mineral Society
- May 23-24 Fort Worth, Texas, Fort Worth Gem & Mineral Society
2026 CONVENTION of:
The American Federation of Mineralogical Societies and the Midwest Federation of Mineralogical and Geological Societies
Hosted by Chicagoland Gems & Minerals Association
UNITED WE ROCK!
49th Annual Show, May 23 & 24, 2026
Prairie Arts Center @Kane County Fairgrounds
525 S. Randall Rd., St. Charles, IL 60174
Sat. 10 am – 6 pm, Sun. 10 am – 5 pm
Adults $5, 2 day pass $8; Seniors (62+) and students $3; Kids under 13 free
Club Information
Houston Gem & Mineral Society
Regional and National
American Federation of Mineralogical Societies
(AFMS) https://www.amfed.org
South Central Federation of Mineral Societies
(SCFMS) https://www.scfms.net
Permission to use material originating in this newsletter is given freely providing that credit is given to the author and the source. Articles published in the BBG is may be edited for grammar and content.
BACKBENDER’S GAZETTE SUBMISSION DEADLINES
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Email content and comments to editor@hgms.org