THE BACKBENDER’S GAZETTE
Volume LV ----- Houston Gem & Mineral Society ----- May 2025
Nevada Geology
Table of Contents
Click a Table of Contents Entry to jump to that article.
Houston Gem & Mineral Society
Regional and National
American Federation of Mineralogical Societies
AFMS website: https://www.amfed.org
South Central Federation of Mineral Societies
SCFMS website: 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
Articles are due on the 15th day of the month before the posting of the BBG.
Email content and comments to editor@hgms.org
President's Message
by LT Wilcox
Some activities this month:
We have a Donation Sale May 17th. And this is really more of a sale than an auction, with many items from the Anderson Estate in priced flats.
Auction only if there is competition.
We have a Field Trip coming up to the Fort Kerr House in Columbus. If you haven’t been before, don’t miss it!
The shop is in good shape and just waiting for you!
Vice-President's Message
by John Moffatt
Chris Garvie will present information on “The Complete History of Paleontology” at the May meeting on May 27th. Please save your Whiskey Bridge fossil questions for him!
Nevada Geology
by Sigrid Stewart
Have you ever flown across Nevada on the way to California? If, like me, you love to look at the geology passing by 30,000 feet below, you know that Nevada seems to consist of one mountain range after another, separated by desert valleys. In fact, there are 314 named mountain ranges in the state, and they ARE separated by 200 or more named desert valleys, all trending north-south. The mountain ranges were raised up by normal faults while the valleys were downfaulted and filled with eroded sediment. Some of the blocks are tilted and some of the faults merge underground into an almost horizontal plane. This type of topography is called horst-and-graben.
This is Basin and Range country. The Pacific tectonic plate collided with the North American plate 30 million years ago and is sliding northwest against it, dragging Nevada to the west. The crust underlying the whole state is being stretched by these tectonic forces and the faults are one of the results. Seismic activity is another. If you have an interest in Nevada geology, pick up a copy of Roadside Geology of Nevada. The cover photo alone will tell you volumes about the geology of the state.
But this is only relatively recent geologic history. The western edge of North America has had many plate interactions, with resulting erosion creating sedimentary formations and plate subduction feeding igneous intrusive bodies and volcanics. Consequently, Nevada geology is extremely complex and nearly every mineral and rock type can be found somewhere in the state. Lucky for the miners and geologists!
Well, this was on a trip to Las Vegas, and what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas … but we didn’t spend all our time there! What I told my granddaughter was that the Glitter Capital of the World can get on your nerves after a while, and then you need some outdoors time. On my previous (few) trips to Las Vegas, I had never seen Red Rock Canyon, so we made that a priority. Red rock outcrops are found all over the West and signify sedimentary formations with enough iron to color some of the rocks red.
Red Rock Canyon is west of Las Vegas on Nevada Highway 159. There is a visitors’ center at the beginning of the one-way loop road built for sight-seeing which explains some of the geology. The red and buff cliffs are Aztec Sandstone, formed from Jurassic age sand dunes displaying aeolian crossbedding, meaning that the wind played over and sorted the sand of an endless field of ancient dunes. Percolating fluids provided the coloring after lithification. The gray limestone in the background is Paleozoic and was thrust over the Aztec Sandstone in Cretaceous times. North of the overlook the sandstone cliffs disappear, dropped 4000 feet deep by the Keystone fault. After our tour of the area, it was time to head back to Las Vegas.
On my next trip, I would like to visit Mount Charleston, altitude 11,916 ft. From the Red Rock Canyon area and even from town, you can see snow on the peak, and there is a small ski area up there. There are camping spots and hiking trails. It’s probably a nice little summer getaway for folks in Las Vegas, too.
Our next outing was to the Spring Preserve, which has a small “Old Town” exhibit to show you how people lived in this area when it was first settled, and gardens with some cactus and native plants. There are many other historical and educational exhibits. The “Spring” actually was a spring, which produced a 20-foot mound and provided water for the original settlement. Alas, water wells depleted the water table and the springs in the area dried up. Once Las Vegas was a grassy meadow; in fact, “vegas” is Spanish for meadows.
Another day, we visited Valley of Fire State Park, which is a wonderful area to explore and much less crowded than Red Rock Canyon, which is right outside Las Vegas. The red rock formations there are also Aztec Sandstone of Jurassic age. Westward-flowing rivers carried the material eroded from the Appalachian Mountains, which were once of Himalayan stature. Many of the formations within Valley of Fire State Park have curious small caves.
Formations outside the park area are Triassic siltstones and marine sedimentary rocks. We returned to Las Vegas along Highway 167 (Northshore Road), turning onto Highway 147 (East Lake Mead Boulevard). At first, I was a bit disappointed, hoping that it would go along Lake Mead itself – it doesn’t – but it does traverse a series of the same formations found in the Grand Canyon, from the Mesozoic rocks of Valley of Fire State Park, through Paleozoic formations, and across the Great Unconformity to Proterozoic basement rock near Frenchman Mountain just outside Las Vegas.
At this point I have not really studied Nevada minerals other than to look at some lists and realize that the state is mineral-rich, and the geology is fascinating! I just might have to do that. After all, I have only seen a little of southern Nevada. It’s a big state.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horst_and_graben
Roadside Geology of Nevada, Frank de Courten and Noma Biggar, 2017
Photographs by Stephen Blyskal and Sigrid Stewart
Section News
Beading – Second Saturday, 12:00 PM
- May 10 -11:15 – 12:30 PM Current HGMS members of Beading Section & Daylight Section are invited to a Meet & Greet with HBS members, who will be joining the Beading Section as HGMS members. HBS will supply pizza & drinks. PLEASE RSVP SO WE CAN ORDER ENOUGH PIZZA . E-mail your RSVP to Beading@HGMS.org. Some free beads will be offered to HGMS members at this event.
- May 10 – 12:30 to 3:00 PM At our monthly meeting we will be making earrings. Some kits will be available or you can design your own earrings from our beading cabinet supplies and any supplemental beads that participants may choose to bring. Cost is $5.00 for up to 5-pairs of earrings. Creativity is encouraged. Bring special beads, if you wish to incorporate them into your earring designs. PLEASE RSVP so I can prepare kits. E-mail your RSVP to: Beading@HGMS.org
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!
Gemstones and Faceting – Second Thursday, 6:30 PM
Our next meeting will be May 8th at 6:30 pm.
- Topic to be announced.
Learn more about the Gemstones and Faceting Section here.
Lapidary and Silversmithing – Third Monday, 7:00 PM
The next meeting will be on May 19th starting at 7:00 pm. For the first meeting of the year, we will introduce all new members and plan what the group would like to work on during the year.
- Topic to be announced.
Email Lapidary@hgms.org if you have questions, and check out the Lapidary and Silversmithing Section page.
Day Light – First Wednesday, 12:00 PM – 3:00PM
At the May 7th Daylight meeting, Nancy Searle will lead the group in making glasses holders that can also be turned around and also used as a necklace. We have made them in the past, but many of us made them with heavy beads which were unsatisfactory. This time we will make them with lightweight beads that are owned by the section. If you have any lightweight beads of your own that you would like to use, please bring them. If you only have a few beads they might be combined with others that we have.
With Mother’s Day coming up, these make great gifts. They are of course great gifts we can make for ourselves! There is no charge for the session. Please register by May 5th so that we will have the appropriate amount of supplies available for all who want to participate.
FUTURE PROJECTS
- June 4th: Crochet a potholder. This is a great beginner project which will teach and give practice in doing a chain stitch and single crochet stitch. Experienced crocheters will love the double thickness of the design which provides extra protection. I found this pattern shortly before Covid. After I made one, I pitched all my old ratty potholders and crocheted more of these. Crochet is a great technique to make jewelry; however, we learned in January that it is more difficult for a newbie to learn on crochet thread rather than the thickness of yarn. So come learn how to do some basic crochet and make a practical project at the same time.
PS I have a new crochet bracelet pattern using chain stitch and single crochet with beads. We will probably do it in the beginning of 2026. - July 2nd: Second Chances This will be an opportunity for those of you who missed an earlier 2025 project to get to make it. Whether you missed a month due to illness, prior engagement or whatever, you can come and we will get you set up with the project of your choice. This is also a chance to make a project again. Or if you didn’t complete a project, bring it in and we will help you finish it up.
- Please register for this session at daylight@hgms.org so that I will have the correct amount of supplies for the session. There will be a charge of $5.00 per participant.
Mineral – Third Wednesday, 7:30 PM
Our next meeting will be a hybrid meeting on May 21st at 7:30 pm.
The link for the Zoom meeting is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4517997588?pwd=SnZjckZBTnRMbHRxZitScE9WU3RWUT09
- We will continue the common rock-forming minerals series with Gypsum! We will discuss gypsum formation and bring specimens to show everyone. There will be snacks and a door prize.
- The idea is that there are lots of beautiful, exotic, expensive minerals, but there are plenty of common minerals that are accessible, inexpensive and easy to identify!
- Bring a mineral to show or identify.
Email mineral@hgms.org to request details.
Paleontology – Third Tuesday, 7:30 PM
The next meeting is Tuesday, May 20th at 7:30 pm.
Zoom link for the meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86053771923?pwd=ek5lNlk5SGFYNjN6U29ONU4xVElyQT09
Topic to be announced
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.
Youth, First and Third Saturdays, 10:00am – 12:00pm
Mostly we will be working on cabochons. Children must be accompanied by parents.
Field Trip News
Paleo Field Trip – Sunday, May 25, 2025 – 8:00 AM
We are now able to return to a historic home in Columbus, TX on May 25, 2025 at 8:00 a.m.
For those of you that have not been here before, the home is named Fort Kerr and it was completely covered with petrified wood during its construction. We have been invited by the owner to tour the outside of the home and possibly some of the inside, too. We will give the stragglers a few minutes to arrive, get everyone organized, and then tour the area around the home. Once we have completed the tour, we will then check out the piles of fossil wood left over from construction of the home and take what the owner allows us.
There will be a donation to the owner of $20. Please email field_trips@hgms.org to confirm that you will be going. I will reply from a different email.
I will send out the details of the trip as it gets closer. Again, we will meet at 8:00 a.m and should be done by noon. You may leave when you want. It will be likely be hot, so hat, sunscreen, water, etc. You know the drill.
For more information, you can read the article on a previous trip in https://hgms.org/backbenders-gazette-august-2023/
It’s a really cool building. You should go see it!
A Visit to the SNG&MS Shop
by Steve Blyskal
There is a lot to do in Las Vegas, but when you are with your wife and her sister, you might want to do something else while they go shopping at one of the giant casino/hotel/mall complexes! As a rockhound and long-time gem & mineral club member, what could beat visiting another club?
“Hi, I’m Steve, from the Houston Gem & Mineral Society!” I exclaimed to three rockhounds in the Southern Nevada Gem & Mineral Society shop. “Just getting away from the women for a bit. What’s going on?” I gave them my personal business card and one of HGMS’ cards and showed them some of my photos on mindat.org, plus photos of West Texas agate nodules and slabs I have cut. Having established myself as a rockhound, I was soon chatting with Jerry Hughes, Ron Mazz, and another member about their society.
I was interested in the similarities and differences between our two clubs. Theirs is a big one; they have over 600 members and 75 Junior members. Their shop, located in a business park, is open 6 days a week from 10 to 4 and on the 7th day they have classes, and they have enough shop supervisors to have different shifts. Members have individual lockers in the shop for their projects. The location is only a lapidary shop; they do not hold meetings there.
Jerry showed me their lapidary set-up, which was impressive. They have seven slab saws, with up to 24” blades. Three of them were new-looking Highland Park Lapidary saws, and they also had a drop saw, which is handy for cutting chunks, big nodules, and geodes. They have a Highland Park Lapidary 18-inch flat lap with all the plates needed for grinding and polishing. There were 6 individual 6” Cab King machines that were METERED, so that users were only charged for the time they spent on a machine. These were connected to the water line and drain, like at our shop, but they were set up low so you could sit and do your work. The angled bases were made from a white countertop material.
They hold field trips and just had one to Tonapah, Nevada to hunt at some turquoise mines. Sometimes they go to the Muddy Mountains east of Las Vegas for minerals and gemstones (see a list here). They own the Ore Car claim which produces agate and chalcedony. For agate hunting they usually go to Northern Arizona for Mulligan Peak purple agate, rather than Northern Nevada, because it’s closer. They of course have the option of traveling to California (Cady Mountains) and Utah as well! I am a little jealous of their proximity to some good collecting.
They have an online newsletter like ours, called The Polished Slab, but also print out a few copies to keep at the shop for visitors. They have club business cards and a trifold flyer too. Members of course have many different interests. While they have some members who are mineral collectors, none were present that day. I offered to trade Texas agates and minerals for some Nevada finds, so I left my information with the members I met and hope to hear from some folks wanting to try out new material.
It was a very nice visit and a good break from the hustle and bustle of the Vegas strip and all the resorts. I am sorry I didn’t know about the field trips as we were there that weekend!
Education
Class: CABS 101
Date: Monday, May 19 from 10 to 2pm
Location: HGMS Clubhouse, 10805 Brooklet Drive, Houston, TX 77099, Center Classroom/Lapidary Shop
Instructor: Sharon Halton
Cost: Member Cost $65.00; Non-Member Cost $85.00
Minimum: 3-students; Maximum: 5-students
NOTE: Students must be at least 15 years old (exception with approval of instructor ONLY)
Anderson Estate Sale
May 17th, from 2PM to 5PM
Material will be available for viewing from Noon until the sale ends. Sales begin at 2 PM.
We are once again offering material from the Gary Anderson Estate to the club. Those of you who attended our auction last October or saw the material we sold at the Annual Show in November remember the beautiful materials he collected for over fifty years. This time we are configuring the sale as what is called a ‘Pounder Sale’ because a majority of the material will be in flats and will be priced by the flat. These flats will be priced to go out the door (i.e. wholesale price range). Although this is a sale, if certain flats have multiple people wanting to purchase, we will conduct an impromptu auction with the highest bidder winning the material.
The flats primarily contain Arizona petrified wood with variable amounts of agate. Most of the material is already slabbed but there is a fair amount of larger, unslabbed cutting rough as well. Gary was also very much into dino bone; this material has mostly been separated out into its own flats because of the price difference. There will be a number of these being offered in the sale. Note that some of the polished dino bone slabs will be offered as individual pieces due to the price difference.
Shop and Building News
On Wednesdays the shop hours will be extended to 10am to 8pm until further notice.
Come work for fun after work!
Bench Tips
See More of my Smart Solutions for Jewelry Making Series
http://amazon.com/dp/
Drilling Small Items
Small pieces need to be held securely while drilling to prevent them from spinning if the drill catches. Having sliced my fingers occasionally in my younger days, I avoid band-aids now by using flat-jaw pliers or a ring clamp. Pliers also save you if the piece gets hot. Put a little tape over plier jaws if needed to avoid scratches.
DRILLING A STONE
One of the things my students often ask to do is drill a hole through a piece of gemstone. The usual thought is to get a diamond drill, but I’ve been disappointed with them. I think the reason is that the tip of the drill is just pivoting in the hole and fails to cut well. When it looks like the drill isn’t cutting, the tendency is to push with more force. The drill gets hot, and the diamond grit falls off.
A much better approach is to use a core drill. This is a small hollow tube with a coating of diamond grit at the business end. The diamonds easily carve out a circular arc without undue pressure or heat buildup.
Core drills are readily available from lapidary and jewelry supply companies. They come in sizes as small as 1mm and are very reasonable in price. For instance, a 2mm diameter drill is about $6.
Chuck the core drill in a drill press, Dremel or Foredom and be sure to keep the drilling zone wet to cool the tool and to flush out debris. Also, if you’re drilling a through hole, ease up on the pressure as the drill is about to cut through. Otherwise you may chip off some of the stone surface around the hole.
Seeing
by Edward Clay
To see
in the art and skill of lapidary.
one must use eyes to acknowledge
where to remove some
to make the remainder fit.
But machines might do this.
It is also
to see
with heart and mind
to discern the beauty inherent
in the stone beneath our feet.
To understand with
experience and intellect
how to shape and work
bringing this beauty out.
Hopefully finding joy
in the learned ability
to share this seeing
with the world about.
Calling self lapidary artisan
I found that joy
learned the skills and was able
to see.
Sadly
while the heart still feels
while experience is remembered
with age the eyes began to go.
But I will continue
as best I can
and hope my small example
of persistence
will aid another to begin
to see.
End
HGMS Board of Directors Meeting
Meeting Minutes for April 1st, 2025
| Board Member | Section Board Member | ||
| X | President – LT [Logan] Wilcox [LT} | X | Beading – Maggie Manley [MM] |
| X | 1st Vice President – Jeanean Slamen [JS] | X | Day Light – Fred Brueckner [FB] |
| X | 2nd Vice President – Sarah Metsa [SM] | X | Gemstones & Faceting – Randy Carlson [RC] |
| X | Treasurer – Sharon Halton [SH] |
X | Lapidary & Silversmithing – Richard Good [RG] |
| X | Secretary – Daniel Rodriguez [DR] | X | Mineral – Ray Kizer [RK] |
| X | Past President – Nancy English [NE] | X | Paleontology – Mike Dawkins [MD] |
| X | Web & Show – Scott Singleton [SS] |
The Board minutes for April 1st, 2025 willl be posted as soon as they are available.
HGMS General Meeting Minutes
Minutes for April 22, 2025
by Nancy English
President LT Wilcox called the meeting to order at 7:40 pm.
He welcomed twenty-two attendees: nineteen in-person and three online.
He asked for new members and guests to introduce themselves. No new members attended but three guests introduced themselves and said they wanted to join. John Moffitt invited Jim Porter. George Vogt has been collecting and wanted to be with other rock hounds. Alan Murphy is a member of the Clear Lake Gem and Mineral Society. He works near the HGMS Clubhouse and came by to take a look at us. He recently rockhounded at the Pigmon Ranch.
Approval of Minutes: The minutes of the March 25, 2025, General Meeting have not been published yet. We will vote on them at the May 27, 2025, General Meeting. Look for them in the April 2025 BBG in the next week.
COMMITTEE/SECTION REPORTS
Please look for reports of future Section meetings and programs in the BBG calendar, on the Website https://hgms.org/events, or by reading the weekly Events Blast from Houston Gem and Mineral Society/publicity@hgms.org. If you are a member and not on our email list, please contact the Publicity Chair at News@hgms.org, using the Subject Line: “New Member to be added.”
Secretary English invited Section Chairs and Standing Committee Chairs to make any announcements.
Donations, Sales, Auction Committee (DSAC): Ray Kizer is having knee surgery. The May 15, so the May 17 auction event is changed to a pounder sale. Scott Singleton and Sigrid Stewart are configuring the sale as a ‘Pounder Sale’ because a majority of the material will be in flats and will be priced by the flat. These flats will be priced to go out the door (i.e., wholesale price range). Although this is a sale, if certain flats have multiple people wanting to purchase, we will conduct an impromptu auction with the highest bidder winning the material.
Education Committee: Maggie Manley per Nancy English.
There are two classes posted on the website: Cabochon 101 – May 19, and Twisted Hoop Earrings – April 27.
Field Trip Committee: Paleo Field Trip -Sunday, May 25, 2025 – 8:00 a.m. We are now able to return to a historic home in Columbus, TX on May 25, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. See the April 20, Events Blast for details.
Membership Committee: Sarah Metsa via Nancy English, reported the following membership numbers at the April 1, Board of Directors meeting.
- Single adults – 149
- Couples – 34
- Families – 15
- Youths – 10
- Lifetime members – 69
Safety/Policy Committee: The Board is researching a new security system with better cameras and clearer pictures. They are planning to fix the ventilation system for the whole building.
OLD BUSINESS
Vice President John Moffitt asked members to look for the progress of Old Business items in the Board of Directors Meeting Minutes in the latest BackBenders Gazette (BBG) on the HGMS Website https://hgms.org under Publications.
Bylaws: The Board did not have enough time to complete the HGMS Bylaws discussion at the April 1, Board meeting. Nancy English, Sarah Metsa, and LT Wilcox stayed after the meeting to go over the current bylaws and changes line by line. The Board will tackle them again on May 6, 2025.
NEW BUSINESS
DSW Landscaping: per Audrey Kelly via email.
The landscaping assessment was not enough to cover replacements. Due to lack of funds the new plant installation is tabled until further notice. I’m sure this will come up again at the Annual meeting. If it does not, please bring it to the Board then or now if you like.
The trees after Hurricane Beryl were a large cost that was not fully understood until all of the dead branches started falling out. $6,000 of the allocated 15$k was spent on tree trimming. This did not leave enough after removing over 120 dead shrubs and installing the rock beds.
Nancy English will ask Audrey if the Dunn Southwest Board will allow HGMS to plant their own bushes.
Vice President Moffitt asked for any further New Business.
Ray Kizer reminded people to bid on the Silent Auction items during the break.
The Texas Fossil and Mineral Show in Conroe starts April 25 and goes through April 27, 2025.
The next Zoom Board of Directors meeting will be on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.
The next Hybrid General Meeting will be on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. Chris Garvie’s “Complete History of Paleontology” will be presented.
Show-n-Tell: No presenters tonight.
Drawing: Mark Segall won the Staurolite in Metamorphic shist.
Vice President Moffitt reminded everyone:
- Debbie Seid provided refreshments.
- During the break
Feed the Kitty! Your donations go to offset the cost of the snacks.
Thank the volunteers who made tonight possible.
Adjourn: James Eleckel moved to adjourn. Sarah Metsa seconded it, and it passed.
Adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
Vice President John Moffitt explained that: Chris Garvie will not be presenting on Tuesday, April 22nd but he will be here for the May meeting on May 27th. Please save your Whiskey Bridge fossil questions for next month. John Moffitt presented “Advanced Trilobiology” at the General Meeting on Tuesday, April 22.
Upcoming Shows
Waco Gem & Mineral Club 65th Annual Show
05/02/2025 – 05/04/2025
Sat. 10:00am – 5:00pm, Sun. 10:00 – 5:00pm
Lee Lockwood Library and Museum,
2801 E. Waco Drive, Waco, Texas
www.facebook.com/wacogemandmineralclub
Texas Mineral & Fossil Dallas/Plano Annual Show
05/16-3035 – 05/18-2025
Fri. 10:00am – 6:00pm, Sat. 10:00am – 6:00pm, Sun. 10:00am – 6:00pm
Plano Event Center, 2000 E. Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano TX
contact Sandra Gonzales
www.rmgmpromotions.com
Fort Worth Gem and Mineral Club Annual Show
05/25/2025 – 05/26/2025
Sat. 9:00am-5:00pm, Sun. 10:00am – 4:00pm
Will Rogers Memorial Center/Roundup Inn,
3401 W Lancaster, Fort Worth TX
contact Glenda Bradley
fwgmc.info@gmail.com
fortworthgemandmineralclub.org
Arlington Gem and Mineral Club Annual Show
06/14/2025 – 06/15/2025
Sat. 9:00am – 6:00pm, Sun. 10:00am – 4:00pm
Grapevine Convention Center, 1209 S Main St.
Rolling Rock Club Meeting Sunday at 9:00am
contact Terri Brewen
(817) 939-1100
tbrewen@sbcglobal.net
www.agmc57.org/