Carroll County Gem and Mineral Society 

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MISSION STATEMENT

The purpose of this society shall be to effect a close association of those persons interested in the study of rocks, gems, minerals, the Earth Sciences and Arts relating to them,  and to promote good fellowship and friendship with others.

_________________________

OUR CLUB IS A MEMBER OF

The Southeast Federation Mineralogical Societies, Inc

 of the

American Federation Mineralogical Societies, Inc.

AND

we participate in

D.M.C. Field Trips

PREZ BOX..... 

June 2008

 I’d like to start off  with thanking everyone for having a successful auction and a wonderful picnic.  We had lots of delicious desserts and salads prepared to go along with the burger and dogs. I believe everyone had full bellies with they went home. - 
 I know I did.  We brought in over $200 from the auction. There were a lot of great deals to be had;         I was excited over the great big antique fish hook that we successfully bid on.

Now that summer is getting here and things are warming up and we are getting out more to treasure hunt...so are the bugs and critters coming out too. Remember when digging and looking for rocks to be extra careful while poking and walking thru the brush. I’ve got the itches and bites to prove it.   I’ve already had encounters with ticks, scorpions, poison ivy, and numerous types of vines with more sharp thorns than  blackberries.  As a new person to Georgia and the area - it seems everything here bites, stings, or scratches. So when looking for those treasures - gloves, boots, and repellents should be first in your gear. Always make sure you bring and drink lots of water to keep hydrated.   As the boy scouts say “be prepared”

                               See ya at the June meeting!   Bill

May 2008
Bluegrass music is born and raised on  tradition—just as our annual booth with the Villa Rica Gold Mine Museum during the Springfest Festival in Villa Rica every April.  This year was no exception!  What a joy as  we all helped excited children (young and old) on how to pan for gold and watch their eyes light up when discovering the treasures they found in their gem bags.   This Saturday, we sold 24 gem bags and 25+ pans of gold.   Carl Lewis, Fred and Sharon Hamlin were true  prospectors as they easily swish water around in the gold pans to find the gold—they have that     special touch  it takes with the gold pans just as my wife, Pam has a special way with the children as she helps with as much excitement as they have while finding the rock treasures in the gem bags. For us to take the time today to explain where the rocks came from and how to pan for gold, touched the lives of over fifty children—many of them exclaiming that they too have begun a rock collection.  It was exciting to see that the rock collecting “bug” can bite at an early age.!

                                             See you at the picnic!   Bill

April 2008  

Usually, on my business trips there isn’t much time for sightseeing, certainly no time for rock hunting.  My trips are   routine –plane, motel, car, plant, motel, and back to the plant the next day.  Repeat.  The only things I get to see are from the car coming and going.  Most of these places are often the industrial area of town.  My work destination this  trip was Pittsburgh, Pa.  I knew that Pa. and Ohio had abundant fossil locations, so I began looking for sites hoping I would have time this trip to rock hunt a little.  I learned that many of these sites are on private lands, closed, or no information and directions available at all.  I was able to find one location at Swartara State Park about 20 miles NE    of Harrisburg, Pa.  I found this site in the Pa country side of rolling hills covered in hardwood forests along a nice river.  This pit consisted of shale and cream colored sandstones.  The material was very brittle and crumbled easily.  Nothing was found on the surface, so I began splitting the grey colored shale.      I then began to find small pieces of fossils.  Mostly they were small and scalloped shells, many of the fossils were covered in rust colored material.  I was able to find a trilobite!  He (she) was about the size of  a dime and about 80% whole.  It may not be much, but is was my very first discovery of this type of fossil.

I’ve decided now that I should take the time each business trip to check out the area and perhaps bring a new rock discovery back home to my collection.  I encourage all of you to take the time to stop and enjoy your surroundings and find a rock.  You never know—it might be a million years old….saving a treasure of the past...safe in your collection! 

See you at the April meeting!  Bill