June 2016 Bulletin of the New York Mineralogical Club€¦ · June 2016 Bulletin of the New York...

The BULLETIN

OF THE NEW YORK MINERALOGICAL CLUB, INC

America’s Oldest Gem & Mineral Club F o u n d e d 1 8 8 6 I n c o r p o r a t e d 1 9 3 7

BENEFIT AUCTION

HARDER THAN

DIAMOND?

EGYPTIAN

DIAMONDS

JEWELRY GAME

POLONIUM

POISONING

TETRAQUARK

Great Specimens!

See page 8!

Volume 130 No. 6

June 2016

Annual Benefit Auction toOccur on June 8, 2016

Bulletin of the New York Mineralogical ClubFounded 1886 Ë New York City, New York Ë Incorporated 1937

Volume 130, No. 6 America’s Oldest Mineral & Gem Club June 2016

June 8 Meeting:th

Annual Benefit Auction!Additional Contributions ReceivedBelow is a partial list of additional auctioncontributions received from members sincethe Mineral Show. Thanks to everyone!

From Donna Dempsey� Antique Mineral Book� Brookite Thumbnail. . . . . . Arkansas� Perovskite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arkansas� Quartz with Inclusions.. . . . . MexicoFrom Howard Heitner� Sphalerite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mexico� Siderite. . . . . . . . . . . . . Roxbury, CT� Fluorite. . . . . . . . . . . . Weardale, UK� Polished Moss Agate.. . . . . . . Brazil� Almandine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maine� Garnet in Muscovite. North Carolina� Polished Zincite.. . . . . . . New JerseyFrom Alfredo Petrov� Flint Nodule. . . . . . . . . . NetherlandsFrom Lenore Weber� (3) Splendid Mining-Themed Sterling

Silver and Copper Spoons.. . . . USAFrom Mary Bogen� Vast number of specimens. . . . MiscFrom Eric Scerri (Author)� A Tale of 7 Elements. . . . . . . . . BookFrom Renée Newman (Author)� Exotic Gems #4. . . . . . . . . . . . . BookFrom Dan & Rob Lynch (Authors)� New York Collecting. . . . . . . . . BookFrom Jesus SanchezEpidote “Fan”.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Honduras

ReminderPersonal selling is not allowed

at this meeting!

By Mitch Portnoy

Don't miss this year’s auction! Allmembers (and their friends and guests)eagerly anticipate this

event each year and for goodreason. There are always a widevariety, impressive quality andgreat prices for all sorts of itemsthan can en h ance th e i rcollections.

We will hold the auctionfrom 6:15 to 9:00 p.m. inMezzanine C at the Holiday InnMidtown Manhattan. You may preview lotsfrom about 5:00 until 6:15 when the activitybegins. Make sure you arrive in time to viewall the lots. The auction proceedings cannotbe interrupted to allow more “personalviewing.” After some brief club business wewill start the auction. Reminder: Nopersonal selling is allowed at this meeting!

You have seen some of the donated itemslisted in the bulletin during the past fewmonths; more are included here (left). Andeven more contributions will likely come inon the evening of the auction! For newermembers, you can look forward to addingsome great items to your collection. For moreestablished members, you know how excitingthis auction can be. For everyone, expectterrific value!

For the first time an illustrated catalog(PDF) of all the lots is available for viewingand/or download on the Club’s website.The link to this document can be found on theCalendar Page below the entry about theBenefit Auction. In addition, the catalog pageswill be projected during the auction to aid youin seeing what lot is up for bid.

We will also use our AuctionManagement System Software again soplease arrive early to register your name intothe system and get your auction numberpaddle. Our treasurer, Diane Beckman, will berecording who successfully wins what and forwhat amount. This, too, will be projected atthe front of the room. Consolidated bills canthen be easily generated at the auction’s end.In addition, the recorded information can beused to summarize the auction in writing.

We will continue to offer the lots in thesame order as they are listed in thecatalog/listing. Most people have reacted

favorably to this procedure so we decided tocontinue it. In addition, we have again“grouped” the lots into logical categories.

This auction is the primary fund raiserfor the club. The money goesto underwrite the ever-increasing costs of the papermonthly newsletter productionand mailing, meeting speakerand room rental fees, banquetsubsidy, administrative costs,etc. (The yearly dues simplydo not cover all club

expenses!) We rely on your generosity tomake this a successful event. Please plan toattend and bid! And bring a friend or make adonation if you have not already done so.

A list of lots offered this year is on pages6-7 for your benefit and on which to takenotes. Please bring these pages with you to theauction since there will not be many extracopies available. This listing contains onlythose items that were received in time to print;there will be even more (surprise!) lots soldduring the auction itself. Please read theintroduction on the top of the page foradditional auction guidelines and suggestions.

You can see in the catalog/listing thatthere is a varied roster of lots on which to bid.However, we can never have too manyauction items. Don't be shy! Donations arestill happily accepted. Your duplicate mineral,gem, book, piece of jewelry can be a treasurefor someone else.

Issue Highlights

President’s Message. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Meeting Minutes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2World of Minerals: Mars Update (II).. . 3Harder than Diamond?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4New Tetraquark. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Benefit Auction Listing. . . . . . . . . . 6-7The 100: Great Specimens. . . . . . . . . . . 8Topics in Gemology: EgyptianDiamonds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Polonium Poisoning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Flat Earth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Rover’s 12 Years. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Jewelry Secrets Game.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Exotic Gems Volume #4. . . . . . . . . . . 13Science & the Brain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Club & Show Calendars. . . . . . . . . . . . 15

2 Bulletin of the New York Mineralogical Club, Inc. June 2016

President’s MessageBy Mitch Portnoy

NEW!Special July 5, 2016 Meeting Added!

Dr. Scerri is, frankly, a big deal. Ihave sent an announcement about thismeeting to many of our sister/brothermineral clubs in the area. I encouraged theireditors to put the above information in theirbulletins and asked their presidents to inviteall of their members to attend.

There will be many other activities andsurprises at this meeting relating to thelecture theme of the Periodic Table. If youever thought about bringing a friend to seewhat the NYMC is all about, this would bea good time! Do not miss this meeting!

The NYMC website will soon have aclassified advertisements page formembers only! If we do not have an emailaddress for you at this time (about 30members!) getting us one now, even forextremely limited use, would be great!

Receive Your Bulletin Electronically!Advantages� Early Arrival� Pristine Condition� Full-Color Version with Hyperlinks� Electronic Storage� Club Saves Money� Receive Special Mailings� Go Green!Requires� Email Request to Mitch

([email protected])� Adobe Reader (Free)Optional� Printer (B/W or Color)

Club Meeting Minutes forMay 11, 2016By Vivien Gornitz, SecretaryAttendance: 31President Mitch Portnoy presided.Announcements:� The monthly raffle was held in an

expanded version with the extra itemsfrom the Bogen Bequest.

� The July 5, 2016 meeting with a lectureby Dr. Eric Scerri was announced.

� The meeting day’s historical eventswere announced.

� A NYMC Website update was givenincluding the members-only ClassifiedsPage. (It’s almost done!)

� Members were invited to come and buyminerals from the Bogen Bequest.

� A special door prize was again given.� Two new books, Exotic Gems, Volume

4 and New York State Rocks &Minerals, were available.

� The Club’s upcoming events throughApril 2017 were presented.

Special Lecture: Zackry Wiegand–“The Art of Light and Minerals”

Zackry Wiegand began his talk bytelling us about his youth in Vermont andthe immediacy of nature and rocks for himthere. After attending film school here inNYC and becoming fascinated with the useof light by many famous directors(Hitchcock, Kubrick, etc.) he decided tocombine his desire to create, use light andreturn to the reality of nature by creatingworks (like the one illustrated above) withagate and changing light. Zack showed uspictures of about five of his recent beautifulworks as well as having an actual piece ondisplay. He ended his thought-provokingtalk with images of rocks, minerals andgeology in popular media like Star Trek.

Members in the News� Tony Nikischer lectured at the 43rd

Atlantic Micromounters Conference(April 22-23, 2016) with threepresentations in less than 24 hours!Tony’s topics included: #1 How NewMinerals Are Discovered and Named(i.e., nikischerite); #2 Minerals of theKola Peninsula; and #3 Rocks fromSpace.

� A tribute to the remarkable life andwork of Dr. Oliver Sacks was producedby the World Science Festival. Dr.Sacks, a longtime contributor to theFestival, was the the subject of thisyear’s opening night event on June 1,2016 in New York City.

Welcome New Member!Claudia deSimone. . . . . . . . . . . NYC, NYZackry Wiegand. . . . . . . . . . . . . NYC, NY

June 2016 Bulletin of the New York Mineralogical Club, Inc. 3

The World of MineralsThe World of Minerals is a monthly column written by Dr. Vivien Gornitz on timely and interesting topics relatedto geology, gemology, mineralogy, mineral history, etc.

The Minerals of Mars – An Update (Part II)(Continued from previous month)

Finding evidence for life on other planets has motivated recentspace exploration. “Follow the water” is NASA’s chief guidelinefor seeking possible life abodes–past or present–on Mars. Certaintypes of minerals can reveal important clues about pastenvironments and climates of a planet and its potential habitability.Most informative are those minerals, such as clays or evaporitesthat deposit at or near the surface by interaction with atmosphereand water. Instruments onboard orbiting spacecraft and surfacerovers have discovered the presence of sheet silicates, sulfates, andcrystalline iron oxides. These minerals date to a very early periodin the history of Mars, when water was more abundant.Furthermore, geologic mapping shows not only that some hydratedsheet silicates are much older than sulfates, but that the latterformed under markedly different geochemical environments. Asthe planet grew drier, new minerals formed under brinier, moreacidic conditions, which imply a harsher environment for earlylife. The overall scarcity of carbonates was also a surprise, since

2CO is the dominant constituent of the martian atmosphere,

2 2carbonates generally precipitate from CO - H O solutions, andevidence for aqueous alteration abounds.Mapping the Minerals of Mars

The orbiting European Space Agency’s Mars Express andNASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter carry instruments thatexamine the surface geology and mineralogy of Mars (Table 2).OMEGA, on board Mars Express, is a visible-infraredspectrometer that operates between 0.35 to 5.1 micrometers (µm)

in 352 channels with a spectral resolution of 7 to 20 nm andground resolution of 300 m to 4 km. CRISM on the MarsReconnaissance Orbiter “sees” in the visible to infrared between0.36 µm and 3.92 µm in 544 wavelengths at 18 meters per pixel.Other instruments on these and older orbiters image surfacelandforms, measure topography, and probe the subsurface (e.g., theMars Express MARSIS radar altimeter).

On the ground, NASA’s two Mars Exploration Rovers (Spiritand Opportunity) have also analyzed the chemical and mineralmakeup of martian rocks and soils (Table 1). Both Rovers carryAlpha Proton X-ray Spectrometers (APXS) which bombard thesurface with alpha particles from a radioactive source, producingbackscattered alpha particles, protons, and x-rays whose energylevels indicate the presence of specific elements. Alpha particlesdetect lighter elements (e.g., sodium, magnesium, aluminum,silicon) whereas x-rays pick up heavier elements such as iron,nickel, or cobalt. The Rovers also carry a mini-Thermal EmissionSpectrometer (TES) which obtains infrared spectra, and aMössbauer Spectrometer which identifies iron minerals.

The Curiosity Rover, specially equipped to analyze the surfaceof Mars, carries an array of sophisticated instruments. Theseinclude an x-ray diffractometer (CheMin) to identify minerals, alaser-induced breakdown spectrometer (LIBS) coupled to a highresolution point imager (ChemCam) to analyze mineral and rockcomposition, a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer and tunablelaser spectrometer (SAM) to measure gases, carbon and isotopecompositions, an x-ray spectrometer (APXS) to analyze soil androck chemistry, panoramic cameras, and a weather station.

(Continues next month)


Have Scientists Really Found SomethingHarder than Diamond?By Paul Coxon

Ask most people what the hardest material on Earth is andthey will probably answer “diamond”. Its name comes from theGreek word �δάµας (adámas) meaning “unbreakable” or“invincible” and is from where we get the word “adamant”.Diamond’s hardness gives it incredible cutting abilities that –along with its beauty – have kept it in high demand for thousandsof years.

Modern scientists have spent decades looking for cheaper,harder and more practical alternatives and every few years thenews heralds the creation of a new “world’s hardest material”. Butare any of these challengers really up to scratch?

Despite its unique allure, diamond is simply a special form, or“allotrope”, of carbon. There are several allotropes in the carbonfamily including carbon nanotubes, amorphous carbon, diamondand graphite. All are made up of carbon atoms, but the types ofatomic bonds between them differ which gives rise to differentmaterial structures and properties.

The outermost shell of each carbon atom has four electrons.In diamond, these electrons are shared with four other carbonatoms to form very strong chemical bonds resulting in anextremely rigid tetrahedral crystal. It is this simple, tightly-bondedarrangement that makes diamond one of the hardest substances onEarth.How Hard?

Hardness is an important property of materials and oftendetermines what they can be used for, but it is also quite difficultto define. For minerals, scratch hardness is a measure of howresistant it is to being scratched by another mineral.

There are several ways of measuring hardness but typically aninstrument is used to make a dent in the material’s surface. Theratio between the surface area of the indentation and the force usedto make it produces a hardness value. The harder the material, thelarger the value. The Vickers hardness test uses a square-basedpyramid diamond tip to make the indent.

Mild steel has a Vickers hardness value of around 9 GPa whilediamond has a Vickers hardness value of around 70 – 100 GPa.Diamond’s resistance against wear is legendary and today 70% ofthe world’s natural diamonds are found in wear-resistant coatingsfor tools used in cutting, drilling and grinding, or as additives toabrasives.

The problem with diamond is that, while it may be very hard,it is also surprisingly unstable. When diamond is heated above800? in air its chemical properties change, affecting its strengthand enabling it to react with iron, which makes it unsuitable formachining steel.

These limits on its use have led to a growing focus ondeveloping new, chemically-stable, superhard materials as areplacement. Better wear-resistant coatings allow industrial toolsto last longer between replacing worn parts and reduce the need forpotentially environmentally-hazardous coolants. Scientists have sofar managed to come up with several potential rivals to diamond.

Boron NitrideThe synthetic material boron nitride, first produced in 1957,

is similar to carbon in that it has several allotropes. In its cubicform (c-BN) it shares the same crystalline structure as diamond,but instead of carbon atoms is made up of alternately-bondedatoms of boron and nitrogen. c-BN is chemically and thermallystable, and is commonly used today as a superhard machine toolcoating in the automotive and aerospace industries.

Vickers test anvil

Microscopic BN crystal


But cubic boron nitride is still, at best, just the world’s secondhardest material with a Vickers hardness of around 50 GPa. Itshexagonal form (w-BN) was initially reported to be even harderbut these results were based upon theoretical simulations thatpredicted an indentation strength 18% higher than diamond.Unfortunately w-BN is extremely rare in nature and difficult toproduce in sufficient quantities to properly test this claim byexperiment.Synthetic Diamond

Synthetic diamond has also been around since the 1950s andis often reported to be harder than natural diamond because of itsdifferent crystal structure. It can be produced by applying highpressure and temperature to graphite to force its structure torearrange into the tetrahedral diamond, but this is slow andexpensive. Another method is to effectively build it up with carbonatoms taken from heated hydrocarbon gases but the types ofsubstrate material you can use are limited.

Producing diamonds synthetically creates stones that arepolycrystalline and made up of aggregates of much smallercrystallites or “grains” ranging from a few microns down to severalnanometers in size. This contrasts with the large monocrystals ofmost natural diamonds used for jewellery. The smaller the grainsize, the more grain boundaries and the harder the material. Recentresearch on some synthetic diamond has shown it to have aVickers hardness of up to 200 GPa.

Q-CarbonMore recently, researchers at North Carolina State University

created what they described as a new form of carbon, distinct from

other allotropes, and reported to be harder than diamond. This newform was made by heating non-crystalline carbon with ahigh-powered fast laser pulse to 3,700 °C then quickly cooling or“quenching” it – hence the name “Q-carbon” – to formmicron-sized diamonds.

The scientists found Q-carbon to be 60% harder thandiamond-like carbon (a type of amorphous carbon with similarproperties to diamond). This has led them to expect Q-carbon to beharder than diamond itself, although this still remains to be provenexperimentally. Q-carbon also has the unusual properties of beingmagnetic and glowing when exposed to light. But so far its mainuse has been as an intermediate step in producing tiny syntheticdiamond particles at room temperature and pressure. Thesenanodiamonds are too small for jewelry but ideal as a cheapcoating material for cutting and polishing tools.Source: iflscience.com from January 19, 2016

Picture of the Day: Elephant Rock, Iceland

New Tetraquark Particle Found at FermilabScientists have found an incredible new particle that’s part of theexotic family of tetraquarks. Tetraquarks are made of four quarks,which makes them quite unique. Most particles in nature are madeby either three quarks (like protons and neutrons) or just two.

The particle, called X(5568), was discovered thanks to Fermilab’sTevatron particle accelerator. It has a mass of almost six protonsand it is the first tetraquark to be made by four different types ofquarks.

Synthetic diamond closeup

Q-Carbon closeup


2016 New York Mineralogical Club Benefit Auction ListingWednesday, June 8, 2016 at the Holiday Inn Midtown Manhattan, New York City

A Fully Illustrated Catalog (PDF) is Available on the Website on the Calendar Page!Auction Procedures & Guidelines

This catalog contains short descriptions of the items being offered. Fuller descriptions are on the labels included with the items themselves. In addition, more items will be donated afterthis catalog is printed, including on the evening of the auction itself. Please allow yourself enough time to see all the lots. The auction proceedings will not be interrupted to allow additional“personal” viewing.

Each bidder will be assigned a number. This allows the club to keep track of the transactions, winning bids and successful bidders. Arrive early to sign up for one. The order of the itemsoffered will be determined by the auctioneer although the auction will proceed primarily in the numerical lot order of this listing.

Each lot will be offered with either a minimum bid or a starting bid determined by the auctioneer. Minimum bids may be determined by the auctioneer. Bids will be: in $1.00 incrementsto $10.00; in $2.00 increments to $20.00; in $5.00 increments thereafter. Some lots have a reserved price.

Each lot will be distributed to the successful bidder immediately. Only after the auction is finished should the successful bidder reconcile with the club volunteers. (They are recordingbids during the auction.) Cash or personal check only. No credit allowed. There are no consignment lots. All monies go to the club to support lectures, publications, prizes, the banquet, meetingroom expenses, etc. Items of unusual quality, size or rarity are in bold. Have fun!

Remember to Bring: Checkbook/Cash ! Auction Catalog ! Pen / Pencil ! Packing Materials ! Tote Bag(s)If you have any specific questions about any of the lots below, please contact Mitch.

Section 1: Desirable Collector Minerals

1. Amethyst. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . South Africa

2. Mottramite.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Durango, Mexico


4. Velvet Malachite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Congo

5. Barite/Marcasite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Morocco

6. Poker Chip Calcite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . China

7. Lepidolite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pala, California


9. Andalusite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lancaster, Massachusetts

(With Historic Hugh Ford Label)

10. Cuprite var. Chalcotrichite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arizona

11. Quartz. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New Jersey

12. Bournonite.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hunan, China

13. Tetrahedrite on Quartz. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Romania

14. Adamite & Austinite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Utah

15. Blue Spinel on Calcite.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kenya

16. Alfredopetrovite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bolivia

(Including R&M Issue with Article by A. Petrov)

17. Velvet Malachite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Congo

Section 2: Jewelry

18. Lace Agate, Opal and Amethyst in Sterling Silver Pendant

(Marked Charles Albert)

19. Large & Small Mabe Pearls in Sterling Silver Pendant

20. Turquoise Cabochons in Sterling Silver Pendant

(Marked Charles Albert)

21. Peridot and Rainbow Pyrite in Sterling Silver Pendant

22. Jasper in Sterling Silver Pendant

23. Diverse Bead (Pearls, Gemstone, Crystals) 18” Necklace

24. Double-Strand Rutilated Quartz Necklace

25. Large Blue Topaz with Small White Topazes Sterling Ring

26. Red Garnet Cabochon in Sterling Silver Pendant

27. Amber Inlay in Sterling Silver Pendant

28. Amber and Silver Choker

29. Sterling Silver “Weave” Pendant

30. Lead-Free Pewter Free-Form Necklace and Earrings Combo

31. Classic Knot Gold over Silver Earrings

32. Spectacular “Classical” Shell Cameo

Section 3: Gemstones, Cabochons & etc.

33. Faceted Paraiba Tourmaline 2mm Rd 10 pts. . . . . Brazil

34. Larimar (Blue Pectolite). . . . . . . . . . . . Dominican Republic

35. Polished Moss Agate Slice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brazil

36. (4) Gemstones/ Cabochons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Russia

Section 4: Lapidary Arts & Carvings

37. Large Lapis Rough Specimen. . . . . . . . . . . . Afghanistan

38. Small Moss Agate Bowl. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . India

39. Small Carnelian Ashtray. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA

40. Mounted Painting Stone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . China

41. Petrified Wood Slice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Southwest USA

42. Green Agatized Wood.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wyoming

43. Figurine on Massive Pyrite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peru

44. Figurine on Massive Pyrite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peru

45. Carved Rabbits in Serpentine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . China

46. Small Malachite Egg. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Congo

47. Serpentine Sphere. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . China


48. (2) Lapis “Fetishes” with Bails. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . China

49. Modern Marble Bear Fetish. . . . . . . . . . . . Southwest USA

50. Modern Jasper Bear Fetish .. . . . . . . . . . . . Southwest USA

51. Polished Fossil Horse Tooth (Pleistocene) with ChrysocollaInlay

52. Abstract Carving of a Bear. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA

53. Polished Amethyst Geode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brazil

54. Polished Emerald in Matrix.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bahia, Brazil

Section 5: Books, Magazines & etc.

55. Connoisseur’s Guide to Gems & Jewels by Ben Zucker

Autographed and dedicated to Eunice Miles of GIA fame.

56. Minerals of the World by Walter Schumann

57. Gemstones of the World by Walter Schumann

58. “Jade” and “Emeralds” by Fred Ward

59. 2x Mineralogical Records (2013)



62. 8x Gems & Gemology (various years)

63. Gem & Stone by Jen Altman

64. 3x Rocks & Minerals (various years)

65. extralapis No. 19 Achat (Agate, in German)

66. Mineralogy of New-York [Natural History of New York,Part III] Hardcover – 1842 by Lewis C. Beck, M.D.

Section 6: Fossils, Meteorites, Science, etc.

67. Set of 24 Different Mineral Specimens

68. Quartz / Anhydrite Cast.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New Jersey

69. Fossil Peccary Tooth

70. Fossil Dog Molar

71. Fossil Beaver Tooth

72. Fossil Bovine Tooth

73. Fossil Bovine (Cow) Molar

74. Fossil Hyena Tooth

75. Fossil Alligator Tooth

76. Fossil Barracuda Tooth

77. Polished Fossil. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Morocco

78. Synthetic Reddish Quartz.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Russia

79. Mica with Garnet Inclusions. . . . . . . . . . North Carolina

(Historic D’Agostino Label)

80. Very Flat Faden Quartz Cluster. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brazil

Section 7: Larger & Smaller Specimens

81. Large Labradorite.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Madagascar

82. Large Gemmy Green Fluorite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . China

83. Large Gemmy Apophyllite (small crystals).. . . . . . . . . India

84. Large Gemmy Apophyllite (large crystals). . . . . . . . . . India

85. Large Pink Stilbite.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . India

86. Large Calcite with Pyrite.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . China

87. Large Fluorescent Meionite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Canada

88. Large Fluorescent Fluorite. . . . . . . . . . . Weardale, England

89. Stranskite.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tsumeb, Namibia

Section 8: Miscellaneous

90. Flint Nodule. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Limburg, Netherlands

(Donated by Alfredo Petrov!)

91. Antique Copper Mining-Themed Spoon from Anaconda,Montana

92. Antique Sterling Silver Mining Spoon from Ketchikan,Alaska

93. Larger Sterling Silver Mining Spoon from Fairbanks,Alaska

Section 9: Late Arrivals & More Minerals

94. Exotic Gems Volume 4 by Renée Newman

95. Spectacular Smokey Quartz. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arkansas

96. Quartz Cluster. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arkansas

97. Gorgeous Water-Clear Quartz Crystals. . . . . . Arkansas

98. Rare Demantoid Garnet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kerman, Iran

99. Orpiment (Schortmann’s Label). . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nevada

100.Rare Green (Chromium!) Petrified Wood Slice. . . . . NA

101.Purple Mica. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New Mexico

102.Elbaite in Matrix. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mt. Mica, Maine

103.Descloizite (Ford Label). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Namibia

104.Gemmy Topaz Cluster. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charcas, Mexico

105.Amethyst(!!) In Matrix. . . . . . . . . . Brandberg, Namibia

106.Garnets in Schist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Manhattan, NYC

107.Schorl (Tourmaline) in Matrix.. . . . . . Manhattan, NYC

108.Huge Quartz & Pyrite.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA

109.Spectacular Prehnite & Quartz. . . . . . . Quebec, Canada

110.Malachite & Cerussite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NSW, Australia

111. Even More at the Auction (See you there!)


Collector’s Series – “The 100"The 100 is a monthly feature of interest to mineral collectors written by Bill Shelton, based upon his many years ofexperience as a mineral collector, educator, author, appraiser, philanthropist and dealer. Comments as well as suggestionsfor new topics are most welcome. Contact him at [email protected].

Great SpecimensTopaz, vesuvianite and zircon all produce collectible

pieces that appeal to me and at least someother collectors. I prize mine, especiallythe examples from the former SovietUnion. The finest in the world may befound elsewhere. In Mineralogy forAmateurs (1964) Sinkankas lists severalpossible localities in our part of theworld. For topaz, he mentions Lord Hill,Maine, Baldface Mountain, NewHampshire, Trumbull, Connecticut andAmelia, Virginia. Regarding vesuvianite,we find Sanford, Maine, Eden Mills,Vermont, Olmsteadville, New York andFranklin, New Jersey are given. Zirconsfrom Franklin are also noted. The best ofall may be specimens of topaz from Brazil, vesuvianite fromCanada and zircon from Canada. Gemsfor all three exist and here, Brazil, Burma,Madagascar and Russia seem importantfor topaz. Canada, Italy and Pakistan aresome major vesuvianite sources but bearin mind that this is infrequently seen andoffered as faceted stones. Burma, Ceylonand Thailand produce many importantgems noted as zircons. Perhaps all bluegems are the product of heat treatmentand I see them offered frequently and arewell-liked by the general public.

Fluorescence is interesting – muchtopaz is noted to fluoresce yellow (SW)from California, Idaho, Brazil andPakistan. Texas has some samples thatfluoresce blue-white; this may be seen insome pieces from Pakistan and Brazil as well. Old reports of ared FL response are noted for German specimens. Some sectorsof vesuvianites from Mexico have ayellow response under SW and LW.Zircon will often fluoresce yellow oryellow-orange – Mt. St. Hilaire, Canada,Colorado, California, and North Carolinaare some examples. Locally, Franklin is,I think, well-known for fluorescentexamples of zircon. There are a lot ofother places too and occasionally evenother colors, like red and green. Someamazing large FL pieces are encounteredfrom Goias, Brazil.

Based on the World of Stones, topazis most frequently noted whilevesuvianite is the least mentioned amongthe three species. All qualify as classic in my mind andspecimens can be readily found in many museum collections andperhaps among collectors. Former Soviet localities are indeed

good sources for samples and have been known for quite a longtime. Topaz from the Urals, Transbaikal and Kazakhstan are

some examples. The pink topaz from theSouthern Urals is especially prized andmay be difficult to find in the presentmarketplace. Vesuvianite from the ViluiRiver region is often used to illustrateexceptionally fine crystal form. Certainpieces from the Urals have fine greencolor and high luster – hence they aredesirable specimens. Zircons from theKola region and the Urals make excellentmaterial for collectors too. Dana (1971)mentions Mursinsk and Nerchinsk fortopaz. Regarding vesuvianite, he listsAchmatovsk and Vilui while zircon isindicates for the Urals. Depending on

where you look, the list will vary and perhaps reflect the taste ofthe author; further a look at mindat.org will present a very

comprehensive accumulation of places. Worldwide, we should find ample

choices since mindat.org gives 1333localities for topaz, 1214 for vesuvianiteand 4146 for zircon. It is interesting to methat the most noted one of the three seemsto be the hardest to obtain in a finespecimen. A few of the localities notedare most widely known for exceptionalspecimens. Topaz, the imperial variety isfound at Ouro Preto, Brazil. Germany,Ireland, Nigeria and South West Africa allhave produced outstanding pieces forcollectors. Brazil and Madagascar arenoted for both large and fine specimens;the quantity of pieces from these two

areas is indeed impressive. Vesuvianite from Laurel andAsbestos, Quebec join Italy, Mexico and Norway as examples of

great sources for specimens. Zircon isperhaps at its best form Australia, Burma,Canada and Korea to name but a few.

America is rich in localities as well.I like topaz from California, Colorado andNew Hampshire. Vesuvianites fromVermont, New Jersey, New York andNevada suit me just fine. Zircons may befrom Colorado, New Jersey, NorthCarolina, South Carolina or Oklahoma.Don’t assume there are no others – but Ido like to give a smattering of possiblechoices. If you were to restrict me to onlythree items, I am going to pick a bluetopaz from the Urals, a green vesuvianite

form Vermont and a zircon form Madagascar. How do yourpersonal choices compare?

Topaz from Brazil

Vesuvianite from Canada

Zircon from Canada


Topics in GemologyTopics in Gemology is a monthly column written by Diana Jarrett, GG, RMV, based on gemological questions posed toher over the years by beginners and experts alike. Contact her at [email protected].

Royal Pedigree – Legendary DiamondsLabeled “Magnificent and Historic Platinum and Diamond

Necklace, Van Cleef & Arpels, France” by Sotheby’s New York,a richly provenanced necklace was their kingpin in the December9, 2015 sale of Magnificent Jewels in New York. Storied pieceslike that treasure are as coveted for their bonafide value as theyare for their history; and simply referred to as provenance in ourbusiness.

Pedigree in ProgressSo many elements contribute to an important jewel’s

provenance. The older the item, the greater opportunity exists fordeveloping a hypnotic pedigree, adding cachet to its nascentworth. The particular neckpiece we focus on here was a bespokeaffair created for Queen Nazli, second wife of Egypt’s KingFouad, (also spelled Fuad) by France’s great jewel house, Van

Cleef & Arpels. The massivecenterpiece adorned HerMajesty Queen Nazli on theoccasion of her eldest daughterFawzia’s wedding in 1939. Theroyal ceremony was consideredto be the most opulent event tohappen in Egypt since the timeof the great pharaohs. She hadalso commissioned a matchingtiara to complete her regalensemble. Queen Nazli wasdescribed as being literallycovered in diamonds from headto toe on that momentousoccasion.

For those taking notes,here are some details of thespectacular bib-style neckpiece.Over 600 round and baguette

diamonds totaling 217 carats were arranged in an elaboratesunburst motif to create the bib front of necklace. But that maynot have been her most prized possession. The Queen wascelebrated for her massive jewelry collection acquired throughouther life, and much of it was sold in 1975 by Sotheby Park Bernet.

The Queen’s Own PedigreeNazli Sabri, born in 1894 was the daughter of an important

political official in Cairo. Her lineage includes an impressiveheritage of high-ranking officials dating back generations toNapoleon’s time. A liberally educated young woman born intoa French speaking family, she was schooled in Paris with hersister at one point. So Nazli was ill-suited for the restrictiveharem-style confines of palace life in Cairo after her marriage.Continual squabbling at home often resulted in her husbandKing Fouad forbidding her to leave the palace. Insiders claim hewould slap her when she disagreed with him, and banish her toisolation. She did however bear him a son, which was her duty.They also had four beautiful daughters, one of whom laterbecame the Queen Consort of Iran. A Widow’s Way

Her husband was decades older than her, leaving her awidow at age 42. Her son Farouk became King of Egypt uponher husband’s death in 1936 and styled her as Queen MotherNazli after his ascension. As a widow she experienced newfound freedom, but apparently not to the extent she craved.When serious family bickering turned him against her, she fledto America sometime before 1950 where she lived the rest ofher life. The Egyptian monarchy was overthrown by revolutionin 1952 and many of the Egyptianroyals scattered throughoutFrance.Selling History

Piece by piece, herspectacular jewelry collection wassold off through the years tosupport her life in America. Thisnecklace was one such item soldat the Sotheby Park Bernetauction in 1975 and it quietlydisappeared into history with its extraordinary provenance. Theneckpiece remained in a private collection until it came back onthe block for this sale to benefit a charitable foundation. Beingout of circulation for so long, historians had speculated if atsome point, the necklace was broken up for its fine diamonds,and remade into a modern item as happens so often. Becausereally, how many people have occasion to wear such anelaborate piece of jewelry today? But gratefully for those whokeep track of legendary pieces like this, it had remainedcompletely intact.Disappearing Masterpieces

The workmanship and backstory of an historic treasure likethis necklace cannot be overstated. Its creation some 76 yearsago weaves a legacy filled with spectacular highs and somedramatic lows as the queen carved out a simpler life afterfleeing the turbulence in her homeland. Jewelry aficionados aregrateful to have this piece come back onto the world stage ifonly for a fleeting moment prior to its sale. While there aresome jewelers with old-world skills still designing today, mostlifestyles of the wealthy do not warrant these opulent pieces;with every passing year, we will glimpse less and less of thesestunning tours de force.

The Necklace

The Queen

The Royal Family


Litvinenko Poisoning: Polonium ExplainedBy Simon Cotton

The murder of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko wasone of the most high-profile assassinations of the decade. Itparticularly captured the public imagination because Litvinenkowas killed using polonium-210, a rare but deadly substance thatwas thought to have been slipped into Litvinenko’s tea. Now a UKpublic inquiry has issued its findings on the case. But what ispolonium?

Rare and RadioactivePolonium is a radioactive element that occurs naturally in tiny

amounts (which are harmless to us). It was discovered in 1898 byMarie Curie, during her research on pitchblende, an ore of uranium.It has the chemical symbol “Po” and Curie named it after Poland,her native country. If you look at a periodic table, you’ll findpolonium at the bottom of the group headed by oxygen and sulfur.

There are around 30 different isotopes of polonium ranging inatomic mass from 194 to 218, only differing from each other intheir neutron number. The important one is polonium-210, whichhappens to be the one discovered by Curie.

Uranium atoms slowly decay into other atoms, eventuallyending up as lead but with polonium as one stop on the way.Because of this radioactive decay, polonium atoms are continuallybeing formed and decomposed so the element does not naturallyaccumulate in any significant amount.

Although polonium-210 was first isolated from uranium ores,today it can be artificially made by bombarding atoms of the metalbismuth with neutrons. According to an expert who testified to theLitvinenko enquiry, only one place in the world had a polonium“production line” – a closed nuclear facility in Sarov, just under500 miles south-east of Moscow – and the sample used in themurder was highly likely to have come from here.Highly Toxic

Polonium is one of the most toxic substances known.According to some sources, it is up to a trillion times more toxicthan hydrogen cyanide. It is radioactive because it emits alphaparticles (helium ions). Because these are easily absorbed by othermaterials, even by a few thin sheets of paper or by a fewcentimeters of air, polonium has to be inside your body to damageyou.

It’s this radiation that has made minuscule traces of poloniumuseful in anti-static brushes, which are used to remove static chargefrom sensitive equipment. The fact that its alpha particles are soeasily absorbed also make it hard to detect by radiation detectorssuch as Geiger counters, so polonium is probably easier to smugglethan some other lethal agents.

If polonium is known to have entered the body very recently,there is a chance of removing it by gastric aspiration (sucking outthe stomach contents) or lavage (washing the stomach out withwater). Chelating chemical agents, the sort that are used to treatheavy metal poisoning, can also remove polonium from the bodyif administered very quickly. But once it gets into the blood, it islikely to cause acute radiation syndrome and you will die ofmultiple organ failure.Effect on the Body

The alpha radiation breaks apart the chemical bonds in livingcells, damages DNA and creates lots of very reactive free radicalions that can do further damage. One specific result is a reductionin your white blood cell count which, apart from anything else,can make you more susceptible to infection and requires bloodand platelet transfusions.

The liver, kidneys, spleen and bone marrow are particulartargets and are massively damaged by the alpha-radiation. Therapid damage to the gastrointestinal tract causes nausea andvomiting. Bone marrow failure can result in days. One other targetis hair follicles, which is why Litvinenko lost his hair before hedied.

Alexander Litvinenko is not the first casualty of polonium. In1956, Marie Curie’s scientist daughter Irène Joliot-Curie died ofleukemia that she is believed to have contracted through exposureto polonium years before. There have also been claims thatPalestinian leader Yasser Arafat may have been exposed to it ina similar way to which Litvinenko was.Source: iflscience.com from January 21, 2016

Flat Earth Theory Is Still a ThingTake it from the latest flat-Earth truther, Tila Tequila.By Andy Campbell

If only this “debate” could fall flat.There are still people out there who believe the Earth is flat

– and if a few recent news stories are any indication, they’remaking a comeback.


The argument is nothing new. The theory re-emerged in thelate 19th century, when truthers thought all that Earth-is-roundscience and whatnot was part of a conspiracy to debunk religion,according to the Pacific Standard.

We’ve reported on flat-Earth truthers more recently, and wegive them the same level of credence as people who believe thereare reptilian aliens living in underground networks in Montauk,New York, controlling locals’ minds.

But when TV personality Tila Tequila went on anow-infamous Twitter rant about the Earth being flat earlier thismonth, the headlines followed, along with more conspiracytheories.

The leading flat Earth theory holds that our planet is actuallya disc and that gravity is an illusion. As The Huffington Postreported in 2012:

Earth is a disc with the Arctic Circle in the center andAntarctica, a 150-foot-tall wall of ice, around the rim. NASAemployees, they say, guard this ice wall to prevent people fromclimbing over and falling off the disc.

Earth’s day and night cycle is explained by positing that thesun and moon are spheres measuring 32 miles that move incircles 3,000 miles above the plane of the Earth. (Stars, they say,move in a plane 3,100 miles up.) Like spotlights, these celestialspheres illuminate different portions of the planet in a 24-hourcycle. Flat-earthers believe there must also be an invisible“antimoon” that obscures the moon during lunar eclipses.

The theory’s main proponent, the Flat Earth Society, has madesome waves over the years, but truthers’ baffling arguments werelosing most of their steam – until now. Tequila, who said late lastyear that she was struggling with mental illness and drug addiction,got the conversation going again.

If that weren’t enough, YouTube user and former trutherTigerDan925 – who has 25,000 subscribers and has posted 18 flatEarth videos – caused a stir for turning the flat Earth theory on itshead by conceding this month that Antarctica is a continent, not awall.

His video has apparently created a rift in the flat Earthcommunity.

The Guardian reports:

“[This is] just the tip of the iceberg,” said flat-Earth convertMark Sargent, who used his two decades of work in the tech andvideo game industries to create the site enclosedworld.com anda YouTube series called Flat Earth Clues. “There’s dissensionin the ranks all over the place.”

“It’s almost like the beginning of a new religion.Everyone’s trying to define it. And they’re turning on each otherbecause there’s no unified theory.”

For the record, the Earth is a bumpy spheroid. But it doesn’tseem like flat-Earth truthers – or Montauk lizard aliens – are goingaway anytime soon.

Source: Huffington Post Science January 22, 2016

The Opportunity Rover Was Supposed to Last90 Days. It Just Celebrated 12 Years on MarsBy Alfredo Carpineti

On Sunday, January 24, NASA’s Mars rover Opportunityreached 12 Earth years on the surface of Mars, having landed onthe same day in 2004.

It was budgeted to last 90 days, with a life span of a fewmonths, before it was thought its solar panel would be covered indust and stop working. But thanks to a number of factors,including wind on Mars, the tenacious rover has been able toendure the harsh Martian environment for much, much longer.

The rover has begun to show its age, becoming more difficultto maneuver and having memory storage problems. Also, two ofits scientific instruments have now stopped functioningcompletely. Problems aside, though, Opportunity continues toproduce an abundance of science.

Opportunity is currently exploring a region rich in clayminerals that would have formed in wet conditions. The area iscalled Marathon Valley, since it’s 42 kilometers (26 miles) – theOlympic marathon distance – from Opportunity’s landing site inEagle Crater.

“With healthy power levels, we are looking forward tocompleting the work in Marathon Valley this year and continuingonward with Opportunity,” Exploration Rover Project ManagerJohn Callas said in a statement.

The rover is currently removing surface crust from rocks inthe valley, and the texture and composition are being examinedwith the use of its robotic arm.

The Martian winter started in January, so the solar energy thatthe rover is currently receiving is significantly lower than usual.The team positioned the rover in a more favorable sun-facingorientation, which has increased the amount of power the solarpanels are generating, allowing for power-consuming operationslike drilling and rock-grinding.

“Opportunity has stayed very active this winter, in partbecause the solar arrays have been much cleaner than in the pastfew winters,” said Callas.

The rover is fully funded until the end of 2016, and the JetPropulsion Laboratory is currently working on the next extensionproposal. In the last review, Opportunity received the highestrating of any ongoing Mars mission.

Source: Iflscience.com January 27, 2016

Opportunity grinding rocks in the Marathon Valley. NASA


(Answers next month!)


Exotic Gems, Volume 4 How to Identify, Evaluate & Select Jade & Abalone Pearls

By Renée Newman, GG

Buying jade is a challenge because its value can varysignificantly depending on its quality and treatment status.Moreover, fake jade is prevalent in the marketplace. ExoticGems, Volume 4 describes with text and photos how to evaluatejade quality, as well as detect imitations and dyed jade. Theguide also illustrates advanced detection techniques, andcompares price factors and characteristics of jadeite and nephritejade. Abalone pearls are also covered, with tips on how toidentify and evaluate them. This is the fourth in a series of booksthat explores the history, properties, qualities and geographicsources of exotic gems. If you’re interested in jade or abalonepearls, Exotic Gems, Volume 4 can provide you with the in-depthinformation you’ll need to be a smart buyer and seller.Paperback / 6" x 9"136 pages, 338 color photosInternational Jewelry PublicationsISBN 978-0-929975-50-4

Renée’s book is available for purchase at Club meetings!

Book ReviewBy Eric Hoffman

The latest in Renée Newman’s series of fascinating bookson unusual gemstones, this volume tackles the difficult subjectof jade. You might not think of jade as “exotic” but it is in facttwo different stones, found all over the world, in almost everycolor, and is very commonly imitated, treated, enhanced, andfaked. This book will help you pick your way through the jademinefield.

Newman begins with a look at why jade was so highlyvalued by diverse cultures around the world, of which theChinese were preeminent. She carefully explains the two truejades (nephrite and jadeite) as well as their less commonconfusing cousins: omphacite, kosmochlor, and maw-sit-sit. Thelong list of jade imitators is well covered and illustrated.Relevant gemological instruments are introduced and discussed.The average reader will have easy access to the basic ones, butdon’t expect your local jeweler or appraiser to own the moreadvanced-- and therefore most useful-- instruments.

While nephrite is thoroughly discussed and illustrated,clearly the book’s emphasis is on Burmese jadeite, the jade mostcommonly encountered in high-end jewelry. The quality factorsfor jadeite are well explained and illustrated. A major issue withjadeite is how to tell natural (Type A) color from polymerinjected and dyed (B and C) imitators. It makes a hugedifference in price, as well as durability, so Newman treats thesubject extensively. While basic instruments can offer somehelp, the most reliable diagnostics require expensive labinstruments operated by trained technicians, a service you wouldhave to hire out. Price factors are touched on here and there, butas jade is almost always sold by the piece rather than by weight,few generalities can be made.

Jade sources and cultures are next described, with individualchapters for China, Burma, Guatemala, Canada (today’s topsource of nephrite), and the several USA jade sources, includingthe fine black nephrite once found in Wyoming. One last chaptercovers secondary locales: Russia (famous for nephrite cats-eyes),New Zealand (Maori jade), Taiwan, and more, even a discussionof Turkish “purple jadeite” (a very impure stone). The USA banon importing Burmese jade (and rubies, too) is briefly discussed.

An extra treat is a chapter on abalone pearls, a subject rarelywritten about. Newman covers what they are, where they arefound, and how they are cultivated, as well as price factors andhow to care for them. New Zealand Paua pearls are covered aswell.

As in Newman’s previous gemstone books the coverage isthorough and the writing clear. An odd distraction is thedefective kerning (letter spacing) on many pages. The numerousphotographs are exceedingly helpful but in a book this size mustnecessarily be small and so can not have the resolution onewould find in an “appreciation” type book.

If you have any interest at all in jade as a gemstone RenéeNewman’s latest book is a must-have.

© 2016 Eric J. HoffmanSource: Newsletter of the Association for the Study of Jewelryand Related Arts (ASJRA)Permission to reprint granted.


Here’s What Science Does to Your BrainBy Ben Taub

Having walked on the Moon, discovered the Higgs Bosonand figured out how gravity works, it’s safe to say humans arepretty good at doing science. Our brains, however, were notoriginally designed for space travel or particle physics, whichposes the question: How does the human brain adapt its ancientfunctions for cutting-edge science?

To try and answer this question, researchers from CarnegieMellon University in Pennsylvania took a look at what happensin the brains of physics students while they ponder advancedscientific concepts. The results of their study are published in thejournal Psychological Science.

While the participants in the study were all highly educatedscientists, their brains were no different from those of the veryearliest humans, who faced their greatest challenges in theuntamed jungles and plains of the prehistoric world, rather thanthe lab. As such, their brains were – and are – hardwired with allsorts of capabilities designed to help them survive in the wild.

However, with nature now more or less conquered, theseancient brain systems are no longer needed for their originalpurposes, and are more commonly used for grappling withabstract scientific concepts. To figure out how the brain’sprimordial machinery is adapted for this new type of challenge,the researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI) to pinpoint which parts of the brain became active astheir subjects thought about 30 different scientific notions.

An analysis of their results led them to suggest that thehuman brain is inherently programmed with four fundamentalcapabilities, each of which was in some way integral to our earlysurvival as a species, yet which now contribute to our aptitudefor science.

Study co-author Rob Mason told IFLScience that “this wasthe first time we’d looked at abstract concepts taught in a classiceducation setting, and found that brain areas that typicallyrespond to more primitive things responded to physics terms.”

Amazingly, by looking at the combinations of brain regionsactivated by each of the 30 concepts, the researchers were ableto predict which of these the participants were thinking about.

For instance, the brain’s capacity for “causal motionvisualization” was probably originally very handy when trackingmoving objects that early humans wanted to either avoid or eat.

The regions of the brain associated with this function were foundto be activated when participants thought about abstract conceptsrelated to motion, such as “momentum.”

The second basic cognitive function relates to the ability toperceive “periodicity,” which would have helped ancient humansnotice regular natural events such as lunar cycles. The brainregions involved in this process responded to concepts that arerelated to periodicity, like “wavelength.”

Brain regions involved in “algebraic representation,” whichrefers to the ability to calculate unknown values, became activewhen participants mused over concepts such as “velocity.”

Finally, the idea of “energy flow,” which helped earlyhumans understand how energy from the Sun transfers heat toother objects, is controlled by parts of the brain that werestimulated when participants pondered “electric fields.”

Summing up their findings, the study authors claim thatthrough education, it is possible to repurpose the brain’s ancientsystems, adapting the basic capabilities that once helped ourancestors survive to process abstract scientific concepts.

“If we can map out science concepts in the brain, we cangear the way we instruct or test, based on which parts of thebrain are active when you’re thinking about them,” says Mason.

No matter how much you learn, however, you’ll alwaysbasically be a caveman with “science brain”.Source IFLScience.com April 18, 2016

Classic Postcard from 1960

The old postcard pictured above was found in one of the boxescontaining minerals from the Mitchell Bogen Donation.

Human brains are hardwired for surviving in the wild, but have becomescientific tools. Africa Studio/Shutterstock

The human brain is hardwired with four basic capabilities that help usunderstand scientific concepts. Carnegie Mellon University


2016-17 Club Calendar

Date Event Location Remarks & Information

June 8 Annual Benefit Auction Holiday Inn Midtown Manhattan Online catalog available! See website!

NEW!Tuesday, July 5

Meeting at 6:30 Holiday Inn Midtown ManhattanSpecial Lecture: Dr. Eric Scerri –“The Periodic Table, Its Story & Its Significance” http://ericscerri.com/

NEW!Sunday, July 17

Officers Planning Meeting Mitch’s Apartment, ManhattanPlanning by officers and invited members to plan 2016banquet, 2017, publications, etc.

August Open House (?) / Special Sale (?) TBD – Stay tuned!

September 14 Meeting at 6:30 Holiday Inn Midtown ManhattanSpecial Lecture: Eric Rampello (1 Timer!) –st

“Tips in Building a Mineral Collection”

October 19 Annual Banquet Holiday Inn Midtown Manhattan Opal theme; Details to follow

November 16 Meeting at 6:30 Holiday Inn Midtown ManhattanSpecial Lecture: Anne Pizzorusso –“The Renaissance, Dante and Geology”

December 14 Meeting at 6:30 Holiday Inn Midtown ManhattanSpecial Lecture: Howard Heitner –“Pseudo-What?!”

January 11, 2017 Meeting at 6:30 Holiday Inn Midtown ManhattanSpecial Lecture: Mitchell Portnoy –“NYC Parks’ Monument Stones”

February 8 Meeting at 6:30 Holiday Inn Midtown Manhattan Annual Members’ Show & Tell

March 8 Meeting at 6:30 Holiday Inn Midtown ManhattanSpecial Lecture: Alfredo Petrov --“Iris Quartz”

2016 Show or Event Calendar

Date Event Location Remarks & Information

May 21-22Southern Vermont Mineral,Rock & Gem Show

Grace Christian School, Bennington,Vermont

For Info: Bill Cotrofeld – (802) 375-6782

June 4-5Orange County Mineral SocietyMineral Show

Museum Village, Monroe, NYComplete Mastodon Skeleton!Orange County Mineral Society, Sponsor

June 4-5 Gemfest 2016Greater Canandaigua Civic Center,Canandaigua, NY

Gems, Minerals, Fossils, Beads & JewelryWayne County Mineral Club, Sponsor

June 11-12 Celinka Gem & Mineral ShowOur Lady of Mount Carmel, NorthOcean Ave. Patchogue, NY

Diverse Dealers, 10 am - 5 pm both days

July 27-Aug 1 AFMS Convention/Show Albany, Oregon Article Contest Results; Details to Follow

July 30-31 Gem & Mineral ShowCutchogue East Elementary School,Cutchogue, New York

Sponsor: Long Island Mineral & Geology Society

SaturdayAugust 6

Annual Mineral Sale Morris Museum, Morristown, NJTo benefit the Museum’s mineral collection;$5 admission fee; J. Sanfaçon donation

August 12-14East Coast Gem, Mineral &Fossil Show

West Springfield, Massachusetts200 dealers, lectures, exhibits, wholesale section;relatively easy public transportation access

September 24-25Franklin & Sterling Hill Gem and Mineral Show

Franklin Elementary School,50 Washington Ave, Franklin NJ

Franklin Mineral Museum sponsors as their onlylarge fund-raising event

October 21-23 EFMLS Convention/Show Rochester, New York Article Contest Results; Details to Follow

For more extensive national and regional show information check online:AFMS Website: http://www.amfed.org and/or the EFMLS Website: http://www.amfed.org/efmls

George F. KunzFounder

The New York Mineralogical Club, Inc.Founded in 1886 for the purpose of increasing interest in the science of mineralogy through

the collecting, describing and displaying of minerals and associated gemstones.

Website: www.newyorkmineralogicalclub.orgP.O. Box 77, Planetarium Station, New York City, New York, 10024-0077

2016 Executive CommitteePresident Mitchell Portnoy 46 W. 83rd Street #2E, NYC, NY, 10024-5203 email: [email protected]. . . . . . . . . . . . (212) 580-1343

Vice President Anna Schumate 27 E. 13th Street, Apt. 5F, NYC, NY, 10003 email: [email protected]. . . (646) 737-3776

Secretary Vivien Gornitz 101 W. 81st Street #621, NYC, NY, 10024 email: [email protected] . . . . . . . . . . . (212) 874-0525

Treasurer Diane Beckman 265 Cabrini Blvd. #2B, NYC, NY, 10040 email: [email protected]. . . . . . . . . . . . (212) 927-3355

Editor & Archivist Mitchell Portnoy 46 W. 83rd Street #2E, NYC, NY, 10024-5203 email: [email protected]. . . . . . . . . . . . (212) 580-1343

Membership Mark Kucera 25 Cricklewood Road S., Yonkers, NY, 10704 email: [email protected]. . . . . . (914) 423-8360

Webmaster Joseph Krabak (Intentionally left blank) email: [email protected]

Director Alla Priceman 84 Lookout Circle, Larchmont, NY, 10538 email: [email protected]. . . . . . . . . . (914) 834-6792

Director Richard Rossi 6732 Ridge Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY, 11220 email: [email protected]. . . . . . . . . . (718) 745-1876

Director Sam Waldman 2801 Emmons Ave, #1B, Brooklyn, NY, 11235 email: [email protected]. . . . . . . . (718) 332-0764

Dues: $25 Individual, $35 Family per calendar year. Meetings: 2nd Wednesday of every month (except July and August) at the Holiday Inn Midtown Manhattan, 57 Streetth

between Ninth and Tenth Avenues, New York City, New York. Meetings will generally be held in one of the conference rooms on the Mezzanine Level. The doors openat 5:30 P.M. and the meeting starts at 6:30 P.M. (Please watch for any announced time / date changes.) This bulletin is published monthly by the New York MineralogicalClub, Inc. The submission deadline for each month’s bulletin is the 20th of the preceding month. You may reprint articles or quote from this bulletin for non-profit usageonly provided credit is given to the New York Mineralogical Club and permission is obtained from the author and/or Editor. The Editor and the New York MineralogicalClub are not responsible for the accuracy or authenticity of information or information in articles accepted for publication, nor are the expressed opinions necessarily thoseof the officers of the New York Mineralogical Club, Inc.

Annual Benefit Auction: Wednesday Evening, June 8, 2016

Mezzanine C, Holiday Inn Midtown Manhattan (57 St. & Tenth Avenue), New York Cityth

Auction Lot Viewing from 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. — Auction Proceedings from 6:15 - 9:00 p.m.

New York Mineralogical Club, Inc.Mitchell Portnoy, Bulletin EditorP.O. Box 77, Planetarium StationNew York City, New York 10024-0077

FIRST CLASS

Mitch Portnoy

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