SOCGEMS MEETS THE THIRD WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH AT 6:30 PM
MEETINGS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO ALL
BRING A FRIEND!
Dorothy Visser Senior Center (San Clemente Senior Center)
117 Avenida Victoria, San Clemente
The Center has dedicated parking spots, as well as parking at the Bank of America next door (which is closed in the evenings). Park in the back parking lot off Avenida Rosa and enter through the back door.
Renée Newman became passionately interested in pearls in the early 1980s while conducting tours to Tahiti, Australia, China, Hong Kong, and Japan. Her passengers wanted to know how to judge the quality of the pearls and other gems they saw. In order to answer their questions, she enrolled in the GIA gemology program.
After receiving a GIA graduate gemologist diploma, she was hired as a gemologist at a wholesale firm in downtown Los Angeles where she got hands-on experience with diamonds, pearls, and colored gems.
Realizing there was a need for books on how to judge gem quality, she decided to write a series of books to help people identify and evaluate gems. The first edition of her Pearl Buying Guide was published in 1992. It’s now in its sixth edition. Additional information and reviews of her books are available on her website.
SURPRISING FACTS ABOUT PEARLS – OCTOBER 21
In the 1990s, California was a major source of natural abalone pearls, but California banned abalone fishing until 2036 to save the dwindling abalone population. Natural pipi pearls come from the small mollusk Pinctada maculata and are found in French Polynesia and the Cook Islands.
In addition to briefly discussing natural pearls, her pearl PowerPoint will include information on:
And more!
The South Orange County Gem and Mineral Society (SOCGEMS) meets Wednesday, October 21. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. at the Dorothy Visser Senior Center, 117 Avenida Victoria, San Clemente. Park in the rear and enter from Avenida Rosa. We will hold a raffle of pearl items, and refreshments will be served. Admission is free and open to all.
Newman’s books will be available for sale at a discount. Pay with cash or a check. Find information on her books on her website HERE.
Join our resident Rock Hounds on one of our monthly field trips! Check here and (probably more up to date) the SOCGEMS facebook page for upcoming rock hounding field trips!
* I will respect both private and public property and will do no collecting on privately owner land without permission from the owner.
* I will keep informed on all laws, regulations and rules governing collecting on private lands and will observe them.
* I will to the best of my ability, ascertain the boundary lines of property on which I plan to collect.
* I will use no firearms or blasting materials in collecting areas.
* I will cause no willful damage to property of any kind, such as fences, signs, building, etc.
* I will leave all gates as found.
* I will build fires only in designated or safe places and will be certain they are completely extinguished before leaving the area.
* I will discard no burning materials – matches, cigarettes, etc.
* I will fill all excavation holes, which may be dangerous to livestock.
* I will practice conservation and undertake to utilize fully and well, the materials I have collected and will recycle my surplus for the pleasure and benefit of others.
* I will support the Rockhound Project H.E.L.P. (Help Eliminate Litter Please) and will leave all collecting areas devoid of litter, regardless of how found.
* I will cooperate with Field Trip Leaders and those in designated authority in all collecting areas.
* I will report to my Club or Federation Officers, Bureau of Land Management or other proper authorities, any deposit of petrified wood or other material on public lands which should be protected for the enjoyment of future generations and for public educational and scientific purposes.
* I will appreciate and protect our heritage of Natural Resources.
* I will observe the ‘Golden Rule’, will use Good Outdoor Manners, and will at all times conduct myself in a manner which will add to the stature and Public Image of Rockhounds everywhere.
Each month it’s something new and interesting – we enjoy renowned speakers, field trips, and the pleasure of the company of other gem and mineral enthusiasts!
SEPTEMBER 2026
Darrell Clausen joined the Army Security Agency and was stationed in northern Thailand. This experience shaped his first novel, Flower Soldier, an international love story about a female NVA soldier and a captured American intelligence specialist in the mountains of Laos. He graduated from ICU University in Tokyo and, after ten years in Japan, returned to California, where he co-owns a tour agency and frequently travels to Asia and Europe.
Darrell is an excellent communicator, light-hearted and good-humored. His second novel, Chasing Rubies, follows a man obsessed with Burmese rubies as he tries to outrun an unscrupulous past. His love affair with the owner of a Beverly Hills jewelry shop takes him to the Thai-Burma border in search of a smuggled ruby he desperately wants. Still, he must embrace the life he tried to escape to discover what matters most.
Darrell has written many short stories about his experiences with people from different languages and cultures, and he thrives in international settings. His humor and knowledge make his address entertaining to any audience.
JULY 2026
SOCGEMS 1ST ANNUAL ‘ROCK ‘N SHOP’ EVENT
July 15 will be the SOCGEMS first annual “Rock ‘n Shop” event. We have eight club members bringing a wide range of rock- and gem-related items for sale. Bring cash or your favorite electronic payment method, and enjoy a fun evening browsing members’ items and showing off your own!
The first 25 people will receive a free item from a recent donation by jeweler Eric Lint.
We really appreciate everyone’s donations, as they help the club in so many ways.
JUNE 2026
THE ORIGINS OF JADE AROUND THE WORLD
SOCGEMS is excited to present this month’s guest speaker, Bill Kordel.
Jade is one of the few rocks that are accepted as three different minerals—Nephrite, Jadeite, and Omphacite. It is unique in the mineral world as the toughest material found in nature.
In Chinese mythology, jade is not just a precious stone, it is considered a symbol of absolute authority and the ultimate link between the earthly world and the divine realm. The supreme ruler of heaven and all realms of existence in Chinese mythology is known as the Jade Emperor.
We meet at 6:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month at the Dorothy Visser Senior Center, 117 Avenida Victoria, San Clemente (park behind the building on Avenida Rosa to enter).
Bill Kordela
Bill is trained in geology and testing and is a specialist in Jade with over 30 years of collecting in the field. He was trained and worked with Roger Merk, who he says was the best jade expert in Southern California. Bill has given many presentations across the state and to professional organizations. He has a scientific background with degrees in electrical engineering and science research.
MAY 2026
BEHIND THE SCENES AT NEW YORK CITY JEWELRY WEEK
SOCGEMS is excited to present this month’s guest speaker, Teri Brudnak.
Teri will bring an insider’s perspective to one of the country’s biggest jewelry events.
Teri Brudnak
Teri is the Membership Chair of SOCGEMS and the President of the Metal Arts Society of Southern California. In 2025, she exhibited at the Wearable Art Museum, a venue of New York Jewelry Week, where she also spoke about her work as a metalwork designer.
A Californian, she grew up painting and drawing. Her father, an Air Force pilot, sparked her lifelong interest in technology and science fiction. This led her to explore holography, electronics for jewelry, and glassworking. She began working with computers early in her career and has created video, 3D models, and other digital media, including 3D Fractals and Animation. She has exhibited her work around the world, including in Italy, Korea, Japan, and Indonesia, and has designed costume accessories and the insignia for Star Trek: The Next Generation.
APRIL 2026
LABRADORITE: THE NORTHERN LIGHTS STONE
SOCGEMS is excited to present this month’s guest speaker, Anthony Neenan.
Anthony has been working with this labradorite for years. Measuring 6.5 on the Mohs scale, it is workable as a gemstone for jewelry, and with its spectacular iridescence, it is a stunning material to work with.
It was discovered in 1770 on the Isle of Paul in Labrador, Canada. Inuit legends often refer to it as “fire stone” or frozen northern lights released from rocks by a warrior’s spear. It is also mined in Madagascar, Australia, Norway, Mexico, Russia, and the U.S.
He will have samples, and feel free to bring your own pieces for discussion.
Anthony Neenan
President, Vista Gem and Mineral Society
MARCH 2026
OPALS AROUND THE WORLD
SOCGEMS is excited to present this month’s guest speaker Fern Guerrero.
Fern Guerrero’s presentation will explore the origins of opals from Australia, Ethiopia, Mexico, and Brazil. As a longtime collector and active member of the Vista Gem and Mineral Club, Fern will display rare specimens and discuss the unique geological conditions that create play-of-color patterns.
Opals are primarily classified by their body tone (background color) and origin, with main types including Black, White, Boulder, Crystal, and Fire opal. Precious opals exhibit vivid “play-of-color,” while common opals usually have pastel shades. The rare Black opal is especially valued, along with the popular White or milky variety and matrix-embedded Boulder opal, which displays brilliant colors on a dark, natural backing.
Fern will have samples available, and attendees are encouraged to bring their own pieces for discussion. SOCGEMS will also have some opals for sale.
Fern Guerrero is known for sharing his extensive collection and knowledge of global opal deposits. A dedicated collector for many years and an active member of the Vista Gem and Mineral Club, he is an expert on the origins of opals from Australia, Ethiopia, Mexico, and Brazil.
FEBRUARY 2026
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST NATIVE AMERICAN JEWELRY
SOCGEMS is excited to present this month’s guest speaker, member Richard Birt.
Over the years, Richard has given a series of presentations on the history of Native American turquoise jewelry. For our February 18 meeting, he will discuss Navajo, Zuni, and Hopi jewelry from 1900 to 2025 and will display his personal collection. He has been collecting and working with turquoise since childhood. Additionally, he will discuss key mines in the Southwest and how to build a world-class collection. Richard is also the founder of the Facebook page, “Turquoise Theory History Formation,” which has over 2,000 members.
Additionally, jewelry artist and collector Melinda Churchfield will bring Native American pieces and some of her own to show and sell at the meeting. It will be very informative for fans of turquoise and Native American artists.
Richard Birt runs the largest turquoise academic site on Facebook, which houses the largest collection of white papers and mine identification postings, now totaling 6,000+. It has over 600 contributors. He has been cutting and collecting stones since 1972.
JANUARY 2026
ROCK, MINERAL, AND FOSSIL COLLECTING
SOCGEMS is excited to present this month’s guest speakers, Bruce Wight and Mike Yamada.
Learn about great places to go hunting for nature’s treasures with rockhounds Bruce Wight and Mike Yamada, who love being out in the field looking for geologic “gold,” while capturing excellent photos of their searches. The duo will bring samples of materials they have found, along with the equipment they use in the field to dig or extract their finds.
Bruce and his wife, Jo, spend their free time photographing around the world. You can view some of his work on Instagram at “outsideairimagery.” He has been a rockhound since he was a kid and remains as enthusiastic as a young explorer. Don’t miss this informative program with amazing photos, fun stories, and plenty of samples to spark your interest in digging in the dirt.
NOVEMBER 2025
COLORED DIAMONDS: EXPLORING THE RARE AND EXOTIC
SOCGEMS is excited to present this month’s guest speaker, GIA’s Senior Manager of Diamond Identification, Dr. Sally Magana.
Colored Diamonds: Exploring the Rare and Exotic. Colored diamonds are among the rarest gems in the jewelry world—one statistic shows that only one in every 10,000 diamonds is fancy colored. Dr. Magana will share her journey through some of the rarest of the rare and showcase some of the most fascinating fancy colored diamonds she has encountered.
During COVID, Sally spoke to our club twice via Zoom, so we are delighted to welcome her back in person to our San Clemente meeting on Wednesday, November 19. Dr. Magana is the Senior Manager of Diamond Identification at the Gemological Institute of America in Carlsbad, CA. She earned BS and MS degrees in Chemical Engineering from the University of Louisville, her Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University, and completed a Postdoctoral Associate position at the US Naval Research University. She has been with GIA since 2010 and has published many papers on diamonds. She specializes in laboratory-grown diamonds and spectroscopic characterization of diamonds.
Dr. Sally Magaña is a senior manager of diamond identification at the GIA laboratory in Carlsbad, California. Her areas of research include diamond physics, treatments, and lab-grown diamonds.
She earned a doctorate in chemical engineering from Case Western Reserve University, where her dissertation focused on boron and sulfur co-doping in CVD lab-grown diamond.
Dr. Magaña has been with GIA since 2006 and regularly publishes in the scientific and gemological literature regarding natural and lab-grown diamonds.
Dr. Sally Eaton-Magaña currently works at the Gemological Institute of America in research related to natural diamonds, diamond color, treatments, and the identification of lab-grown diamonds. She was also part of a collaborative team that studied the phosphorescence of the Hope Diamond in the Smithsonian.
OCTOBER 2025
GEMS ON CANVAS: PIGMENTS HISTORICALLY SOURCED FROM GEM MATERIAL
SOCGEMS is excited to present this month’s guest speaker, GIA Senior Staff Gemologist Britni LeCroy.
In her presentation, you will learn about the gemstones that “met their fate between a mortar and pestle before becoming immortalized as paint on a canvas, mural, or cave wall.” The study of pigments in artworks can reveal ancient trade routes of people during a specific time period, while the subject matter often reflected royalty or religious depictions due to the high cost of pigments created from Lapis Lazuli, Bone and Ivory, Cinnabar, Azurite, Pearls, and other precious and semiprecious gems. Invite your artist friends to join us for this intriguing presentation.
BRITNI LECROY
Britni LeCroy is a senior staff gemologist at GIA in Carlsbad, CA, and has worked there since 2018. She was awarded the Dr. Edward Gubelin Most Valuable Article Award for her article on “Gems on Canvas,” published by Gems and Geology in January 2023.
SEPTEMBER 2025
BEAUTIFUL CAVES OF THE WESTERN U.S.
with Exploration Geologist Mary Pat Weber
A cave is more than just a hole in the ground. These amazing formations serve as natural laboratories—preserving fossils, recording past climates, and providing homes for rare and unusual creatures. Their importance spans the physical, cultural, and ecological levels, which is why caves and karst landscapes are celebrated worldwide.
And who better to guide us through this underground wonderland than Mary Pat? A true SOCGEMS favorite, Mary Pat has never met a cave she didn’t love. Knowledgeable, generous with her time, and full of geological insight, she eagerly takes every chance to explore and share her adventures. This month, she’ll lead us on a journey into some of the most stunning show caves of the Western U.S.—all with her signature blend of expertise and enthusiasm.
Together with her husband and partner, Dick, Mary Pat makes up half of the dynamic geological and exploration duo Weber & Weber. While her photographs aim to document sites and formations, she captures them with an artist’s eye—adding beauty, precision, and a touch of magic to each shot.
MARY PAT WEBER
Mary Pat Weber studied geology at Macalester College in MN and worked as an exploration geologist in Denver for Dames & Moore, an environmental consulting firm, and later in the petroleum industry. After moving to California, she completed an MBA at Pepperdine University and became president of a property management company.
JULY 2025
ALEXANDRITES AND THEIR ORIGIN
with GIA Colored Stones Supervisor Nicole Ahline
Alexandrite is a rare and highly valued gemstone known for its remarkable color-changing ability, often described as “emerald by day, ruby by night.”
The ‘Alexandrite Effect’ occurs when the gem shifts from green in daylight or fluorescent light to reddish-purple under incandescent light. It is a variety of chrysoberyl, and its color change is due to the presence of chromium.
NICOLE AHLINE
Nicole Ahline is a supervisor in the colored gem identification department at the Gemological Institute of America, where she has worked since 2016. Her current research focuses on the geographic origin of corundum and emeralds, as well as the source of color in colored diamonds.
Ahline has frequently contributed to Gems & Gemology magazine. She is originally from Chicago, IL, and completed her undergraduate studies in geology at Cornell College in 2015. In 2016, she enrolled at GIA for the Graduate Gemology (GG) program and earned her credentials that same year. She completed the Gem-A Gemology Diploma program in 2020.
JUNE 2025
WHAT’S IT WORTH? PRESENTATION, VIDEO, AND ONSITE VALUATION
Presented by Gina Watson
Celebrating 40 years in the family jewelry business and as the owner of Legacy Jewelry, Gina Watson has established a reputation for helping people sell their unwanted jewelry for cash. She is a certified GIA appraiser and actively supports the Orange County community by assisting individuals in downsizing and realizing profits from jewelry and precious metals they no longer want. “I find so many people have items that they never use, but they’d like to have more cash and they don’t realize how valuable that broken gold necklace can be,” she explains. Gina headlined the SOCGEMS 2024 Roadshow event, which was a significant success for both the club and the participants.
When our club Vice President, Warren Holt, had some gold nuggets to sell, they filmed the entire assay process together. Gina will explain the process, show the film, and club members with items to evaluate or sell can do so during and after the video presentation. She will walk you through the melting and refining process and share some behind-the-scenes trade secrets.
Gina also maintains an active online presence under the name Legacy Jewelry and Appraisers and Buyers, in addition to being present on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. She participates in many nonprofit fundraising events to support the community. Additionally, she regularly conducts online auctions of estate jewelry and can assist you in achieving the best value for special items you may possess. A portion of the sales proceeds on June 18 will benefit the club.
Sort through your unworn jewelry and bring it for evaluation and possible sale at the June 18 meeting. You’ll learn a lot about the booming gold market and the behind-the-scenes processes.
MAY 2025
THE ANCIENT ART OF CARVING AND ENGRAVING GEMSTONES
with Lisbet Thoresen
This month Liabet Thoresen shares her extensive knowledge on gem carving and engraving.
Carving gems to create beads, intaglios, and cameos, or glyptics, is one of humanity’s oldest occupations. It served as a vital industry that linked numerous ancient cultures of the northern hemisphere through the trade of raw and finished materials as well as the transmission of lapidary knowledge.
An overview of this long tradition is provided. It begins in the third millennium BCE with the civilizations of the Indus Valley (in modern Pakistan), Mesopotamia (in modern Iraq), and around the Mediterranean basin. As an artistic form, carving gems reached its zenith in the hands of Greek gem cutters.
Their sphere of influence extended to other contemporary and later cultures in India. By the fifth century CE, new uses and forms had supplanted old ones, concluding a tradition that had developed over millennia.
LISBET THORESEN, INDEPENDENT RESEARCHER, GEM ARCHAEOLOGY
Lisbet Thoresen is an independent researcher who has specialized in ancient gem studies since 1990. Her research focuses on gems known and used in the ancient world, their origins, and trade.
Previously, Lisbet worked in all aspects of the preservation, analysis, authentication, exhibition planning, and conservation of antiquities at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Malibu, California.
Over a 17-year museum career, Lisbet also performed research and lectured on topics related to art conservation and archaeometry (archaeological science, or gem archaeology).
APRIL 2025
FLUORITE: THE MOST COLORFUL MINERAL IN THE WORLD
with Dick Weber, Geologist
This month Dick Weber introduces us to the most colorful world of Fluorite.
Due to a spectacular range of colors and well-developed crystals, this mineral is highly sought after by collectors. Clear and colorless when pure, fluorite can exhibit every color of the spectrum from the deepest purple to bright oranges and reds. In addition to its aesthetic and scientific value, fluorite is a critical industrial mineral used in the production of thousands of commercial products.
Dick Weber was first introduced to the fluorite deposits of the Mississippi Valley while working on his geology degree. Actively collecting specimens for the last 15 years, he will bring a display showcasing pieces from famous locales.
Wednesday night meetings are held at the Dorothy Visser Senior Center, 117 Avenida Victoria, San Clemente, at 6:30 p.m. with refreshments, a raffle, a Buy It Now table, and more. The public is invited and it is always free to attend.
DICK WEBER, GEOLOGIST
Dick received his education in Minnesota and has a Master’s Degree in Geology from the University of Minnesota, Duluth. Along with his wife, Mary Pat, they have produced and presented numerous programs aimed at Rockhounds, Earth Sciences enthusiasts, geologists, and the curious. They are both actively involved in the Conejo Gem and Mineral Club in Thousand Oaks.
MARCH 2025
THE ARTS AND CRAFTS JEWELRY REVOLUTION
with Judy Colbert, GIA
The Arts & Crafts movement flourished from around 1880 to 1920 and was a reaction against the industrialization and mass production of the Victorian era. In jewelry, handcrafted quality and aesthetic design were emphasized over the use of precious materials. Motifs celebrating nature, such as flowers, foliage, and animals, were frequently incorporated into the designs.
In this presentation, Judy will discuss how this movement began, notable jewelers and their work, the techniques and materials used, and its influence on Art Nouveau and later jewelry styles.
Wednesday night meetings are held at the Dorothy Visser Senior Center, 117 Avenida Victoria, San Clemente, at 6:30 p.m. with refreshments, a raffle, a Buy It Now table, and more. The public is invited and it is always free to attend.
JUDY COLBERT, GIA
Judy Colbert is a graduate gemologist with a passion for jewelry history. After studying gemology at GIA, she worked for GIA for nearly 30 years as the manager of visual resources, overseeing the collection of photographic images used throughout the institute. In 2024, she co-wrote the book William Ruser, The Jeweler Who Charmed Hollywood, which was published by GIA and sold at the GIA store.
Judy is Manager of Visual Resources at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), a non-profit institute of gemological research and education in Carlsbad, California. She obtained her Graduate Gemologist diploma in residence from GIA. Prior to that, Judy worked at the Los Angeles Times for 14 years as Senior Permissions Coordinator, researching and licensing L.A. Times images and articles to the media, publishers, the tv and film industry, and commercial businesses.
In her current position at GIA, she specializes in image acquisition, rights management, image licensing, digital asset management, and special projects including writing articles and giving presentations on gem and jewelry-related topics. She holds a professional certificate in Intellectual Property through the University of California, San Diego Extension program.
FEBRUARY 2025
HISTORY, TYPES, AND VALUES OF DIFFERENT OPALS
with Veronica Purpura
Opals were rare and very valuable in antiquity and it was a gem prized by royalty. Until the discovery of vast deposits in Australia in the 19th century, the only known source of opals was Slovakia. Opal is the national gemstone of Australia, and Veronica has a large collection of opals to share with us as she explains the history, different types, and values of opals from around the world.
Join us at 6:30 p.m. on February 19 at the Dorothy Visser Senior Center, (AKA The San Clemente Senior Center), 117 Avenida Victoria, San Clemente. It has 25 dedicated parking spots, as well as parking at the Bank of America next door (which is closed in the evenings). Park in the back parking lot off Avenida Rosa and enter through the back door. We’ll see you there!
The Wednesday night meeting will be held at the Dorothy Visser Senior Center, 117 Avenida Victoria, San Clemente, at 6:30 p.m. with refreshments, a raffle, a Buy It Now table, and more. The public is invited; free.
Veronica Purpura
A Cal State Fullerton alumna with experience in the arts, events, gemology, and coaching, Veronica Purpura is the 1st VP of Programs at Searchers Gem and Mineral Society and Show Chairman of the American Opal Society.
She will organize the 55th Annual Opal, Gem and Jewelry Show this year and has extensive experience in teaching and showcasing opals.
JANUARY 2025
Stra Stefanovic is an entrepreneur with a diverse background and a relentless curiosity for new ventures. Seeking new opportunities, he has gained valuable experience in personal security, real estate, green energy, audio engineering, marketing, and luxury product development.
He has a strong passion for charitable work and dedicates his time and resources to various causes in the United States and Africa. His current passion lies in the world of rocks and minerals.
Stra Stefanovic discusses his mining adventures with Scott Struthers in Africa and highlights visits to mines in Kenya, Zambia, and Namibia. He will also share experiences in local mines, Pala Area and Little 3, and a recent trip to Jackson’s Crossroads Amethyst mine in Georgia.
NOVEMBER 2024
CREATING NATURE’S BEAUTY IN GOLD ALLOY AND ENAMEL
The Wednesday night meeting will be held at the San Clemente Community Center at 7 p.m. with refreshments, a raffle, a Buy It Now table, and more. The public is invited; free.
David Freda, in his own words…
“As far back as I can remember, I have always been interested in wildlife and natural history. At the grade school level, I collected and labeled over 200 species of butterflies and moths. In high school, I learned the process of taxidermy, banded birds, and pursued falconry for hunting purposes.
At the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, I painted numerous watercolors of many bird species, which aided in paying for my college expenses. To make bells for the falcons I flew, I took a metalsmithing/jewelry course, and at that point, I was immediately drawn to the techniques of jewelry making and interpreting the natural world using this medium.
Interestingly, the two techniques I least enjoyed were casting and vitreous enameling because I thought these processes were very basic and boring. Yet, I use these processes extensively in my work. My MFA at the State University of New York at New Paltz was integrating traditional metalsmithing with taxidermy techniques.
I have never lost my interest in nature and continue to find unending inspiration for compositions I would like to create. I seek out the unusual to produce pieces from interesting subjects that one might consider repulsive, transforming them into an object of desire. I am driven to create challenging pieces representing my mental snapshots of nature that appeal to me. I enjoy problem-solving and will work to test and develop a method, process, or tool that enables me to represent what I see. In my work, I use the gold alloy and enameling techniques I personally developed.”
OCTOBER 2024
GEM CARVING AND INTARSIA
Intarsia jewelry is an art form that involves layered stones precisely cut to fit together in a mosaic design. Patterns can be simple or complex, and Tania will show examples of her work and that of her students. She will also discuss gem carving, including what stones work best, tools, and techniques.
Her artistic journey spans over three decades, working with diverse media from lapidary stone carvings to metalwork and upcycled materials like surfite resin and used glass. Tania’s work celebrates the natural beauty of stones and the spirit of Cetaceans, reflecting her dedication to conservation efforts. She honed her skills through apprenticeships with notable teachers, including Connie Grundke, Carol Sivet, and the Gem and Mineral Society of San Diego in the 1990s.
The Wednesday night meeting will be held at the San Clemente Community Center at 7 p.m. with refreshments, a raffle, a Buy It Now table, and more. The public is invited; free.
Tania Massamiri, Ph.D
A very popular instructor at Saddleback College’s Emeritus Institute, Tania Massamiri has taught lapidary, gem carving, and intarsia for eight years as an Associate Faculty Member.
She is also a business owner, Integrative Wellness Therapist, and Researcher.
A graduate of the UCI College of Medicine with a Ph.D. in Pharmacology, Massamiri previously worked as a Senior Research Fellow at the Scripps Research Institute, Monsanto, and Covidien. She is a member of SOCGEMS.
SEPTEMBER 2024
DISCOVERING HIDDEN TREASURE
Gina Watson, a GIA-certified jewelry appraiser, comes from a long line of jewelry designers and store owners. For years she owned a jewelry store in the Aliso Viejo Town Center and then decided to concentrate on helping private clients. She started Legacy Jewelry Appraisers and hasn’t looked back. At the meeting, she will demonstrate, with a topaz and gold pendant, how she appraises an item and the options she recommends.
Gina will discuss a variety of topics including what assets are valuable in today’s market, scraping versus reselling jewelry, auction options, insurance versus fair market appraisals, and more. You can find out more about Gina on her Facebook page, Legacy Jewelry OC, and on YouTube and Instagram.
Gina will also discuss the club’s upcoming fundraiser, Jewelry and Gem Roadshow, to be held on October 26. She and Walter Lombardo will offer fair market appraisals on jewelry, gems, and minerals.
Gina Watson
Since 1984, GIA Gemologist Gina Watson has served the Orange County communities with her retail stores in Laguna Hills & Aliso Viejo and has been a second-generation Jeweler since 1969. She has been working with clients of 2nd and 3rd-generation families to buy, sell, or consign their treasures.
Gina Watson comes from a family of jewelers who have been doing business in Orange County for three generations. She opened her estate jewelry store in Laguna Hills in 1985 & her designer store in Aliso Viejo in 2001. Gina is a senior graduate gemologist from GIA in Carlsbad, CA. She has bought and sold jewelry, estates, and auctions; designed and manufactured signature pieces; and helped families and attorneys value, gift, and sell estate jewelry.
She established Legacy Jewelry in the mid-2000s as a concierge service to existing and new clients and Incorporated in 2018 with a strong presence in online sales. Legacy offers a large inventory of estate jewels, collectibles, and select items from private suppliers. In addition to buying and selling, custom designing, and consignments, Legacy’s capabilities include charity auctions and estate consulting, including valuation, cataloging, and disbursement.
Gina has two grown children and lives with her husband in Orange County. She is an avid horsewoman, Las Vaqueras Riding Club, and San Juan Equestrian Coalition member. With deep roots and ties to the community, Gina and her companies have assisted many local causes and charities through gifts, auctions, and opportunity drawings, including SJC Equestrian Coalition, The Wheelchair Foundations, Laura House, Adam Walsch, Huntington’s Disease, Business Groups, Health & Business Groups, Women Specialty Groups, and OC Performing Arts Center. She is a G.I.A. Graduate Gemologist of the prestigious Gemological Institute of America. She was honored as one of the judges for O.C. Catholic Woman of the Year, a recipient of the OC Federal Award, and was awarded as Laguna Hills Best Jewelry Appraiser.
JULY 2024
Therapeutic Application of Crystals, with Certified Crystal Practitioners Tammy McQuade and Beverly Rae
The presentation discusses the historical backgrounds and scientific research supporting how crystals are used therapeutically to improve individuals’ physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
Real-life examples are provided for the audience to apply their newly found knowledge with their favorite crystals.
In closing, Tammy and Beverly will guide the audience through grounding and cleansing visualizations with hands-on activities.
Tammy McQuade
Beverly Rae
Certified Crystal Practitioners
Tammy McQuade and Beverly Rae both have 35+ years in public education. During the pandemic, there was a lot of downtime, so they both took online courses and became crystal practitioners.
Tammy and Beverly treat clients in their homes with crystal body layouts to increase vibrational frequencies and improve overall well-being.
They enjoy educating others about the miraculous properties of crystals and how they positively impact our body systems.
JUNE 2024
Ron Hallum, PG, CEG
Ron Hallum graduated from San Diego State University with a BS in Geology. He is a Principal Geologist with Ninyo and Moore, a geotechnical and environmental engineering firm established in 1986 with locations in six states.
Ron has been with the firm for over 25 years and is currently working on landslides, slope stability, and fault studies with the Brightline High-Speed Train program to Las Vegas, the Rancho Palos Verdes landslide stabilization program, the Laguna Niguel landslide impacting La Paz Road into the Laguna Niguel Regional Park, and many others.
Slip Sliding Away… California Landslides, with Ron Hallum, PG, CEG
Especially after the rains, the news media is active with reports of landslides along the Pacific coast. Saving precious homes, monuments, transportation systems, and more is the purview of engineering geologists, like Ron Hallum, PG, CEG.
What causes landslides and how they can be stabilized to protect people and property, will be discussed at our June program.
Join us at 7 PM at the San Clemente Community Center Multi-Purpose Room, 100 Calle Seville, San Clemente, CA. Parking is a challenge, so come early to find a spot. Meetings are open to the public. Refreshments are served, fun raffles are held, and a ‘Buy It Now’ table always has surprises.
MAY 2024
Rachelle Turnier, Ph.D., GIA Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Dr. Rachelle Turnier recently completed her position at GIA as a Liddicoat Postdoctoral Research Fellow. She earned her Ph.D. in Geoscience at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, studying the isotope geochemistry of sapphires formed in various geologic settings.
Sapphires from Montana to Myanmar, with GIA’s Rachelle Turnier, Ph.D.
Within the ever-evolving world of gemological and geological research on gems, there is the ability to investigate gem minerals using higher precision and finer spatial detail than was ever previously possible.
Dr. Turnier will take a deep dive into the genesis of gem corundum, a chemically simple but geologically enigmatic mineral. She will compare gem corundum from Montana, USA, and Mogok, Myanmar to illustrate the complex and distinct geological dynamics of sapphire formation. Come and learn more about this fascinating precious gemstone and Dr. Turnier’s adventures in research.
Join us at 7 pm May 15, at the San Clemente Community Center Multi-Purpose Room, 100 Calle Seville, San Clemente, CA. Parking is a challenge, so come early to find a spot. Meetings are open to the public. Refreshments are served, fun raffles are held, and a Buy It Now table always has surprises.
APRIL 2024
Teri Brudnak, Artist and Educator
Teri grew up in the high desert of California and her love of light and color comes from the intense desert landscapes of her first home. As a child, she loved drawing and painting, so she studied Art at Cal State Long Beach where she developed an interest in metalsmithing and explored holography and electronics for jewelry and glassworking. She worked with early computers to create video and 3D models and is well-versed in digital media including 3D Fractals and Animation. She has exhibited her work nationally and internationally in galleries and exhibitions in the United States, Italy, Korea, Japan, and Indonesia.
Teri earned both her BA and MFA at CSLB and studied at UCLA. She has taught at Cypress College and East LA College. One of her many accomplishments was establishing a jewelry line with her best friend, and they ended up designing accessories for ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation.’ She is also President of the Metal Arts Society of Southern California. Her presentation will be fascinating!
Exploring the Geology and History of Jordan and Egypt, with Teri Brudnak
The Nile River created a fertile oasis for the Egyptian civilization but what was this land like before that time? Take a trip through deep time and the ancient civilizations that settled these lands in Egypt and Jordan.
MARCH 2024
Patrick R. Benesh-Liu, Ornament Magazine Coeditor
Patrick R. Benesh-Liu began working for Ornament Magazine in high school and joined the magazine full-time in 2005. He now co-edits the magazine with his father and has covered pop culture’s recent contributions to wearable art in the form of costumery, as well as numerous artists, craft shows, and museum exhibitions.
Ornament Magazine, from its beginning, has set the exciting challenge of documenting the art and craft of personal adornment. Ornament demonstrates the richness and diversity of this vast subject with a stunning display of creative works, past and present.
Patrick R. Benesh-Liu, Ornament Magazine Coeditor tells the story of Carl and Irene Clark, Navajo jewelry makers who pioneered their micromosaic inlay technique. History and other artists have been integral to their personal and aesthetic growth. The Italian master jeweler Fortunato Pio Castellani, from the 19th Century, inspired them to new heights when they read about his work at the Phoenix public library. Etruscan jewelry, Japanese mokume-gane, Damascus steel, niello, cloisonné, and countless other techniques and styles of jewelry from around the world fed their imagination. With a traditional vocabulary of symbols and forms drawn from their Navajo background, the jewelry made by the Clarks combines the best of old and new. Carl himself is a self-taught jeweler, who then passed on that knowledge to his wife Irene and his late son, Carl Jr.
Benesh-Liu will explain the personal history and progression of the Clarks over the years while giving context from the Native American culture to place their work properly within the vast constellation of Native art.
FEBRUARY 2024
Richard has been cutting turquoise since he was 11. He is also been an avid collector of vintage SouthWestern jewelry. Five years ago he authored a 3-part series of the history of SW Native American jewelry for SOCGEMS.
You can find the presentations posted HERE on the SOCGEMS YouTube Channel.
JANUARY 2024
NOVEMBER 2023
DISCOVERIES IN ARKANSAS …
Aaron Palke, Ph.D., is Senior Research Manager at the Gemological Institute of America in Carlsbad, CA. His area of expertise is colored gemstones–their geology, geochemistry, geographic origin, heat treatment, and other studies. Aaron received his Ph.D. from Stanford University and his B.Sc. in geology from The University of Tulsa.
His talk will be on ‘Discoveries in Arkansas’ and at the Crater of Diamonds State Park, founded in 1972. The three colors of diamonds found at the park are white, brown, and yellow, and some extraordinary diamonds have been found beside the giant Uncle Sam. The park is a 37-acre field, the eroded surface of a volcanic crater. Arkansas has other minerals naturally occurring there, including amethyst, garnet, jasper, agate, and quartz.
OCTOBER 2023
DINOSAURS AND SCIENCE – THE LATEST
SOCGEMS’s October general meeting features Ron Schmidtling, geologist, teacher, and author. Schmidtling has a Master in Geology from UCLA and a graduate paleontology fellowship there. He teaches at Columbia College, Hollywood, and has worked at the Getty Conservation Institute and UCLA. Schmidtling will also perform a few original dinosaur songs at the meeting.
SEPTEMBER 2023
TOPAZ FROM THE LONE STAR STATE
On September 20, Roy Bassoo will discuss gem-quality, naturally blue topaz which occurs in Mason County, Texas. This so-called “Texas Topaz,” has historically been one of the most sought-after gems in the USA because of its domestic provenance and rare natural blue color.
Bassoo will provide a historical account of Texas topaz from Mason County and discuss its geologic origin, compositional characteristics, manufacture, and significance to the gem trade.
The program is free to the public. Refreshments will be served, a raffle will be held and it’s a great way to meet gem and lapidary enthusiasts, rockhounds, and fellow earth science lovers.
Roy Bassoo, is a PH.D., graduate from Baylor University and a Postdoctoral Research Associate at GIA Research and Development in Carlsbad, CA. Heis a Geoscientist whose expertise covers a broad set of skills and experiences within both research and exploration.
He is currently a post-doctoral researcher at The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) involved in the study of diamond defects and how they manifest color.
His research as a Ph.D. student at Baylor University focused on diamond paragenesis, mantle geochemistry, and kimberlite volcanic processes using various geochemical, spectroscopic, and experimental petrology techniques.
He has consulted as a Geologist on various exploration projects and has had the opportunity to manage an exploration team that had further defined the volume and grade of a gold deposit.
JULY 2023
At the July meeting, two short presentations on Stabilizing Turquoise and CA Field Trips will be followed by Member Share from the audience (please bring an item or two to discuss – something you’ve made or found). After that, we will have sale tables with jewelry, stones, slabs, and more from Melinda Churchfield, Teri Brudnak, and Marjorie Woodbridge.
You are invited to share and sell your items too by registering with Ellen Dupuy HERE. Display tables will be shared by two members, so we need to know who’s coming to set up your table. Sellers are asked to arrive and set up starting at 6:30 pm. There is no charge, but 25% of sales as a donation to the club would be graciously received. This is always a fun meeting and we look forward to hearing from everyone!
WE ARE AN ALL-VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION
Each member steps up to do their share – We look to members for support of club activities, functions, and events. Membership is open to those with an interest in rocks, minerals, gems, Earth sciences, lapidary, jewelry making, related areas of crafts or collecting, and a general desire to spend time with other enthusiasts.
JUNE 2023
Suiseki is the art of selecting small, naturally occurring or shaped rocks that are appreciated for their aesthetic or decorative value. They are similar to Chinese scholars’ rocks. The stones are presented in two different ways: on a handcrafted wooden base (daiza) or on a tray, ceramic, or bronze bowl. The stones are often found in the desert or by rivers and should have an expressive shape, color, and texture.
Philip will explain the philosophy behind Suiseki and will bring many examples of stones in different displays. Philip crafts the wooden daiza himself. Suiseki is an increasingly popular hobby for those interested in rock collecting and he has spoken to many Gem and Mineral clubs about this ancient appreciation and displaying of rocks.
Philip Chang is a retired marine biologist who took up collecting Viewing Stones or Suiseki, in 2007.
suiseki: small naturally occurring or shaped rocks which are appreciated for their aesthetic or decorative value
‘It is not a silly thing at all to enjoy a stone in a tray. I see the whole world in a tiny stone. Some objects in this world are huge, and others are small, and they come in all shapes, but they are not that different when you look at their essence.’
MAY 2023
William Gelnaw, Ph. D., Paleontology Curator of Orange County Parks will discuss the large collection of fossils found in our area over the years and the fossils he curates to understand and preserve Orange County’s natural history. Will is a graduate of Paleontology at the University of Alberta and studied and worked at East Tennessee State University and the University of Texas at Austin.
FOSSILS OF ORANGE COUNTY, CA
with William Gelnaw, Ph. D., Paleontology Curator of Orange County Parks
Doors open at 6:45 for refreshments, the Buy It Now Table, and the monthly Raffle.
SOCGEMS meetings start at 7 pm at the LAGUNA HILLS COMMUNITY CENTER 25555 Alicia Pkwy, Laguna Hills.
Facebook always has up-to-date information or contact SOCGEMS President E. Dupuy here.
APRIL 2023
Judy Colbert is Manager of Visual Resources at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), a non-profit institute of gemological research and education in Carlsbad, California. She obtained her Graduate Gemologist diploma in residence from GIA. Prior to that, Judy worked at the Los Angeles Times for 14 years as Senior Permissions Coordinator, researching and licensing L.A. Times images and articles to the media, publishers, the tv and film industry, and commercial businesses.
In her current position at GIA, she specializes in image acquisition, rights management, image licensing, digital asset management, and special projects including writing articles and giving presentations on gem and jewelry-related topics. She holds a professional certificate in Intellectual Property through the University of California, San Diego Extension program.
MARCH 2023
Renée Newman became passionately interested in pearls in the early 1980s while conducting tours to Tahiti, Australia, China, Hong Kong, and Japan. Her passengers wanted to know how to judge the quality of the pearls and other gems they saw. In order to answer their questions, she enrolled in the GIA gemology program.
After receiving a GIA graduate gemologist diploma, she was hired as a gemologist at a wholesale firm in downtown Los Angeles where she got hands-on experience with diamonds, pearls, and colored gems.
Realizing there was a need for books on how to judge gem quality, she decided to write a series of books to help people identify and evaluate gems. The first edition of her Pearl Buying Guide was published in 1992. It’s now in its sixth edition. Additional information and reviews of her books are available on her website.
FEBRUARY 2023
Joseph W. Wright is a retired Geologist and City Planner who teaches geography at Mt. San Jacinto College.
He was a Staff Geologist for Utah County, Department of Engineers, Provo, Utah, and a CA City Planner for Arvin, Pomona, Corona, and Anaheim.
Since retiring has been making videos of CA’s geological wonders to share with the public.
Find his 60+ videos HERE on his YouTube Channel and HERE on Facebook.
Joe loves the outdoors, backpacking, and geology and is passionate about sharing it with others.
JANUARY 2023
By popular demand, the ever-knowledgeable and informative geologist, Walter Lombardo, will present in person and via Zoom, “Rubies and Sapphires of North America.” As the owner of Nevada Mineral and Book Company and a retired exploration geologist, Walt has over 35 years of experience related to mining and mineral exploration.
For 16 years he managed the Las Vegas Office of the Nevada Division of Minerals. Walt is a favorite speaker for Gem and Mineral Clubs around the nation on topics relating to geology, mineralogy, gemology, mineral resources, and mining fraud.
Doors open at 6:45 for refreshments, the Buy It Now Table, and the monthly Raffle.
SOCGEMS meetings start at 7 pm in the Multipurpose room at the San Clemente Community Center, 204 Avenida Del Mar.
Facebook always has up-to-date information or contact edupuy@me.com.
Walter Lombardo is a geologist with more than 35 years of experience in mineralogy, mining, and mineral exploration.
He worked for the American Borate Company in Death Valley (Billie Mine), for Cyprus Minerals Company in the California Mother Lode (gold), and several small exploration companies in the Southwestern U.S. (gold).
For sixteen years he managed the Southern Nevada Office of the Nevada Division of Minerals. And before retiring from the industry, he was a project manager for a company involved in worldwide exploration for uranium, gallium, and germanium.
Walter is the owner of Nevada Mineral & Book Company, a natural history gallery and earth science bookstore located in Orange, California. He has lectured nationwide on topics related to mineral resources, mining & mining fraud, mineralogy, and gemology.
NOVEMBER 2022
CHEERS TO 60 YEARS!
Join Us in Celebrating the SOCGEMS
DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY
with a special presentation
DIAMOND MINING IN GUYANA with GIA FELLOW ROY BASSOO
WEDNESDAY, 16 NOVEMBER 2022 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
ALL WELCOME – FREE ADMISSION – PLUS ANNIVERSARY CAKE!
OCTOBER’S GENERAL MEETING WILL BE IN PERSON
AT THE SAN CLEMENTE COMMUNITY CENTER
Roy Bassoo is a Geoscientist whose expertise covers a broad set of skills and experiences within both research and exploration.
He is currently a post-doctoral researcher at The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) involved in the study of diamond defects and how they manifest color.
His research as a Ph.D. student at Baylor University focused on diamond paragenesis, mantle geochemistry, and kimberlite volcanic processes using various geochemical, spectroscopic, and experimental petrology techniques.
He has consulted as a Geologist on various exploration projects and has had the opportunity to manage an exploration team that had further defined the volume and grade of a gold deposit.
OCTOBER 2022
Gems and jewelry are more than just beautiful. For millennia, they’ve been fraught with symbolism — thought to contain medicinal powers and be able to ward off evil or bring their wearer joy and good fortune. Some jewels, on the other hand, are the opposite and are rumored to be cursed!
Follow GIA Senior Research Librarian Rose Tozer as she explores people’s beliefs and superstitions about gems and jewelry throughout history. Learn about “cursed” gems, mourning jewelry, charms, amulets, jewelry symbols, such as the evil eye, and animal motifs, such as bats, scarabs, snakes, skulls, spiders, and more!
WEDNESDAY, 19 OCTOBER 2022 7:00pm – 8:30pm
ALL WELCOME – FREE ADMISSION
OCTOBER’S GENERAL MEETING WILL BE IN PERSON AT THE SAN CLEMENTE COMMUNITY CENTER
UNABLE TO ATTEND IN PERSON? JOIN US VIA ZOOM – REGISTER HERE
Rose Tozer is Senior Research Librarian at the GIA Library in Carlsbad, California. She has an undergraduate degree in library media from Chadron State College in Nebraska. After graduating in 1989, she was hired by GIA, moved to Santa Monica, and began her 33-year career working in the library. Rose specializes in the cataloging of digital and print materials, including rare books, and performs reference work.
She’s written several articles which have been published in Gems & Gemology, GIA’s quarterly journal, and the Fabergé Research Newsletter. She co-authored Tablet to Tablet, an exhibition catalog on GIA’s rare book collection in 2012
SEPTEMBER 2022
CRYSTALS + CHAKRAS
Do crystals really work? Why do I feel calmer when I hold a crystal? How do crystals relate to physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional well-being?
Certified Crystal Practitioners Tammy McQuade and Beverly Rae will cover these questions and more in their presentation on the metaphysical properties of crystals.
They will cover the history and science of crystals, the chakra basics, chakra balancing with crystals, and ways to use crystals for overall well-being in your daily life.
WEDNESDAY, 21 AUGUST 2022 7:00pm – 8:30pm
ALL WELCOME – FREE ADMISSION
JULY 2022
Prehistoric Jewelry from the U.S. Southwest
Robert Liu will discuss the prehistoric dwelling sites in AZ, NM, CO and Chihuahua, and the jewelry they contain, much of which is relatable to anyone interested in materials used in jewelry, and how they were made, now and in the ancient past. These sites are mostly within driving range of anyone in southern California.
JUNE 2022
Prehistoric Jewelry from the U.S. Southwest
Robert Liu will discuss the prehistoric dwelling sites in AZ, NM, CO and Chihuahua, and the jewelry they contain, much of which is relatable to anyone interested in materials used in jewelry, and how they were made, now and in the ancient past. These sites are mostly within driving range of anyone in southern California.
Robert Liu received his Ph.D. from UCLA in 1975. He founded The Bead Journal in 1975 and its successor, Ornament Magazine in 1978, with his wife Carolyn L. E. Benesh.
With Carolyn’s passing in 2020, Robert and his son, Patrick Benesh-Liu are coeditors of Ornament.
Robert is self-trained as a jeweler and photographer and has written extensively on ancient, ethnic, and contemporary personal adornment in over 760 major and minor articles and has presented over 120 lectures.
The author of Collectible Beads, he started collecting in 1972 and maintains a research bead collection.
MAY 2022
perpetual silent auctions featuring
rocks,
gemstones,
slabs,
and other treasures
‘buy it now’ table with
jewelry,
gemstones,
crystals,
PLUS a new member raffle,
complimentary refreshments, and more
PLUS cool people who love rocks
APRIL 2022
Dr. Sally Magaña is a senior manager of diamond identification at the GIA laboratory in Carlsbad, California. Her areas of research include diamond physics, treatments, and lab-grown diamonds.
She earned a doctorate in chemical engineering at Case Western Reserve University where her dissertation dealt with boron and sulfur co-doping in CVD lab-grown diamond.
Dr. Magaña has been with GIA since 2006 and regularly publishes in the scientific and gemological literature regarding natural and lab-grown diamonds.
Dr. Sally Eaton-Magaña currently works at the Gemological Institute of America in research related to natural diamonds, diamond color, treatments, and identification of lab-grown diamonds. She was also part of a collaborative team that studied the phosphorescence of the Hope Diamond in the Smithsonian.
Welcome to an IN-PERSON SOCGEMS MEETING
7 pm, April 20, 2022
San Clemente Community Center Multipurpose Room
“A Guide for Laboratory Grown Diamonds”
By Dr. Sally Eaton-Magana, Senior Research Scientist Gemological Institute of America
She will discuss different methods of diamond growth, trends over the last few years, and gemological methods of identification
The meeting is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:45 pm, Refreshments, Great Raffle Prizes, and fellowship with other rock and gem enthusiasts!
MARCH 2022
Richard is a lifelong resident of LA and a geology and gemology enthusiast since 1971.
He has conducted numerous field trips in the Mount Baldy area since 1973.
He studied collegiate-level field geology with Dr. Dee Trent, the preeminent authority of this area.
There is gold in them there hills, plus lapis and rubies.
Special Guest Speaker Richard Birt on The Gems, Mines, and Geology of LA Basin, Mount Baldy, and Orange County.
Featuring the geology of the local Orange County coastal area and fault systems of the San Gabriel Mountains.
Lapis Lazuli, Ruby, Fluorite, and Rhodonite
FEBRUARY 2022
Gary W. Bowersox is an experienced explorer, Afghanistan expert, gemologist, entrepreneur, president of the Gem Hunters Corporation, consultant for USAID, DAI, and World Bank, and seller of gemstones. He has over five decades in the international gem and mineral trade with sourcing gemstone rough in countries throughout the world.
Supported by a BBA from Western Michigan University (WMU) and MBA courses at WMU and the University of Hawaii, Mr. Bowersox joined the U.S. Army in 1964. He served until 1969, advancing to the rank of major and spending two years as chief of operations of the U.S. Army Audit Agency Pacific before his honorable discharge. He is a life member of the Vietnam Veterans Association.
Following his army service, Mr. Bowersox began what became his life’s work: exploring mineral-rich areas in Afghanistan and Central Asia, where he forged valuable professional relationships with local tribal authorities and specialized in the export, processing, and sale of high-quality gemstones. His work has been documented in two books he authored,
“Gemstones of Afghanistan” and “The Gem Hunter-True Adventures of an American in Afghanistan.” He was the subject of a documentary titled “The Gem Hunter in Afghanistan,” detailing his work in the gem mines of Afghanistan. Furthermore, Mr. Bowersox has lectured extensively and appeared on more than 1,000 television and radio shows.
After establishing and building a chain of jewelry stores in Hawaii in the 1970s, Mr. Bowersox incorporated two import and wholesale companies, GeoVision, Inc., in 1974 and Gem Hunters Corporation in 2004. He has sourced gemstones from Afghanistan, Brazil, and many other mining economies, including Sri Lanka, and imported them to the U.S. for sale, gaining a reputation as one of the world’s foremost experts on the Afghan gemstone trade.
Mr. Bowersox’s work has brought him into consultative roles with USAID and the World Bank. In 1995, he joined The Explorer’s Club and is currently the Chairman of the Board of the Hawaii Chapter. In addition to being recognized by Marquis Who’s Who, he was listed in Who’s Who in the Jewelry Business (1980) and Outstanding Young Men of America (1969).
Gary Bowersox on YouTube
The Official Gem Hunters Corporation Website
Gary Bowersox, “The Gem Hunter,” is a gemologist, explorer, entrepreneur, and expert on Afghanistan with over five decades in the international gem and mineral trade.
He has spent his career mining in mineral-rich areas in Central Asia, forging relationships with local tribal authorities and specializing in the export, processing, and sale of high-quality gemstones. He is the author of two books and the subject of a documentary and has appeared on more than 1,000 TV and radio shows.
By 2009, had he surveyed every emerald and ruby mine in Afghanistan.
JANUARY 2022
Lisbet Thoresen is an independent researcher specializing in integrating gemology, archaeology, and archaeological science, or archaeometry, into the study of ancient engraved gems, or glyptic, primarily Greek and Roman. Since 1990, her research has focused on the identity, sources, transmission, and trade of gem minerals used in the ancient world. The application of intentional treatments in the production of glyptic is another topic of special interest.
While ancient literature is an indispensable resource in ancient gem studies, for ancient texts in translation to be useful they must be regarded critically, not least concerning geographic place names, gemstone identification, and color terms. And so, the historiography of ancient literature has become another area of focus.
All these topics have informed Lisbet’s lectures and essays authored or co-authored for journals and books including Journal of Gemology, workshops and conference proceedings including the Sinkankas Symposium, and a contribution to Richard Hughes’s opus Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist’s Guide (2017).
Previously, from 1983 to 2000, Lisbet worked in all aspects of the preservation, archaeometry research, exhibition planning, and conservation of antiquities as Associate Conservator at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Malibu, California.
The Egyptian Red Sea Island of Zabargad, also called St. John’s Island, is arguably the world’s most famous and oldest known source of the forsterite-rich olivine known as peridot. Its earliest appearance in ancient glyptic (carved/engraved gems) coincides approximately with the island’s discovery around the late 280s BC or a little later. Both the island and its eponymous gemstone were called “topazos” by ancient writers. Later writers and historians presumed that Zabargad was the only source of peridot exploited in classical antiquity. However, they overlooked that Greek, Egyptian, Roman, and (later) Arab writers gave accounts of other sources of what may have been peridot but was known by different names.
Among the other possible sources was a second Red Sea Island near the Gulf of Aden called Cytis. A flourishing international maritime trade developed between West and East by the closing decades of the second century BC, increasing markedly in the late first century, so the availability of gem peridot from sources other than Zabargad by the turn of the millennium is plausible. This trade was negotiated across a network of port cities along the Red Sea corridor and down the east coast of Africa to the Persian Gulf and the western seaboard of India.
Several nodes in the trading network were termini of overland routes and river systems that originated or passed through distant places rich in gem resources including peridot. The prospect seems still more tenable in the light of the visual appearance of some extant peridots in Graeco-Roman glyptic, which strongly resemble peridot from modern Pakistan and Myanmar. Analytical provenancing may provide compelling evidence that peridot from sources other than Zabargad Island indeed contributed to the repertoire of gemstones used by the cultures around the Mediterranean basin. Such a study was initiated in December 2021.
An overview is presented here, framed in the context of peridot’s ancient cultural history.
NOVEMBER 2021
Renée Newman developed her interest in gems while conducting tours to Asia, South America, and the South Pacific. Her passengers wanted information about the gems that were displayed in hotels and stores so she signed up for a colored stone grading course at the GIA in order to be able to answer their questions. The teachers there inspired her to complete the GIA colored stones and diamonds program.
After receiving a graduate gemologist diploma from the GIA, Renee was hired as a gemologist at a diamond wholesale firm in downtown Los Angeles. It provided hands-on experience grading diamonds and selecting colored gems and pearls for their jewelry. Armed with trade experience and gemological credentials, Renée decided to create books that showed readers how to visually evaluate the quality of gems. Her first book, the Diamond Ring Buying Guide, was published in 1989. Since that time, she has written thirteen more books on gems and jewelry, including the Diamond Handbook geared to trade professionals and her new book Diamonds: Their History, Sources, Qualities, and Benefits.
Renee’s books are used as consumer guides, gemology course textbooks, sales training tools, and appraisal references.
For more information about Renée and her books go to www.reneenewman.com.
At the October meeting, club members learned how to prospect for gold. When searching for gold you can find other treasures too. Diamonds were discovered in Brazil and California by prospectors panning for gold.
Renée’s PowerPoint will include a brief overview of where you can find diamonds in the U.S. She will show images of what American diamonds look like in the rough to help you spot them while prospecting and rockhounding. Other topics covered in her PowerPoint on diamonds include:
Renée will be available before and after her presentation to autograph books. Bring cash or a check if you would like to purchase copies of them.
OCTOBER 2021
Warren spent summers above the Arctic Circle in Alaska leading rafting trips. On one trip, he purchased a $6 plastic pan and one evening – in a place where the sun never sets – he tried his hand at panning. He ended up with a 16-gram gold nugget and that’s all it took – he was hooked.
He has over 25 years of experience in recreational gold prospecting. Warren has prospected across the country and in Alaska.
Warren is a lifetime member LDMA – The Lost Dutchmen Mining Association.
Lifetime member of the GPAA – The Gold Prospectors Association of America.
Member of the Route 66 Gold Miners, Brea Branch for the past 7 years.
Warren Holt will talk about prospecting equipment ad the principles of how gold is recovered.
He will also cover how to identify where to find gold.
SEPTEMBER 2021
During his more than 30-year career, Robert Weldon has contributed scores of publications, serving as colored gemstone editor at JCK and senior writer at Professional Jeweler. His photography has appeared on more than 30 G&G covers, and he has written numerous feature articles for the journal. He coauthored, with Dona Dirlam, Splendour & Science of Pearls (2013).
Since 2017, Weldon has been director of GIA’s Richard T. Liddicoat Gemological Library and Information Center. In recent years he has also been closely involved in providing gemological training to independent African miners.
Robert Weldon is the winner of the Accredited Gemologists Association’s Antonio C. Bonanno Award for Excellence in Gemology for 2020.
GEM VIRTUOSOS: THE DREHERS AND THEIR EXTRAORDINARY CARVINGS
AUGUST 2021
Dr. Sally Magaña is a senior manager of diamond identification at the GIA laboratory in Carlsbad, California. Her areas of research include diamond physics, treatments, and lab-grown diamonds.
She earned a doctorate in chemical engineering at Case Western Reserve University where her dissertation dealt with boron and sulfur co-doping in CVD lab-grown diamond.
Dr. Magaña has been with GIA since 2006 and regularly publishes in the scientific and gemological literature regarding natural and lab-grown diamonds.
Dr. Sally Eaton-Magaña currently works at the Gemological Institute of America in research related to natural diamonds, diamond color, treatments, and identification of lab-grown diamonds. She was also part of a collaborative team that studied the phosphorescence of the Hope Diamond in the Smithsonian.
THE HOPE DIAMOND: ITS SCIENCE AND STORIED HISTORY
The Hope Diamond has been admired for centuries and is likely the most famous diamond in the world. We’ll explore its incomparable journey and recount some of the recent scientific research that has revealed more of its secrets.
JULY 2021
Ron Ringsrud is the author of the book Emeralds, A Passionate Guide, a comprehensive and successful book of 23 chapters on emeralds. For 25 years he has independently imported emeralds from Colombia for the American jewelry trade. For three full years, he was Director of Emerald Quality at Muzo International, the company that operates the Muzo emerald mine in Colombia. Ron owns a home in Bogotá, Colombia, and is very familiar with the region’s miners, dealers, and cutting centers.
Ron was a featured speaker on Colombian emeralds at GIA’s 1991 International Symposium. He also lectured at the First World Emerald Congress in Bogotá, Colombia in 1998. In 2002, Ronald was interviewed and featured in a Discovery Channel special about Colombian Emeralds and was recently on a National Geographic Explorer program, also about Colombian emeralds.
In 2008 he was a featured speaker at the World of Gems Conference, lecturing about Colombian Emeralds. That conference was hosted by Gemworld International and the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA). Mr. Ringsrud has written articles for the prestigious Gems & Gemology magazine, published by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) where he won the award, ‘Most Valuable Article’ in 1986. His book Emeralds A Passionate Guide, has been popular in the trade, now translated into Italian, Russian and Spanish. He recently published an article, with Edward Boehm, Peñas Blancas A Historic Colombian Emerald Mine in the London-based Journal of Gemmology.
Ron also operates Clayhands, a non-profit organization in the US and in Colombia, teaching and promoting alternative construction methods like adobe, pressed earth, and cob which provides employment, sustainability, and cultural integrity.
EMERALDS – GEMOLOGY, GEOLOGY, and GOSSIP
An update on the most recent mining and marketing of emeralds by the author of Emeralds: A Passionate Guide.
GEOLOGY
GOSSIP
JUNE 2021
From a family salted with prospectors dating to western U.S.A. pioneer days, Brian Cook, geologist, lapidary artist, designer, philanthropist, resides between Tucson, AZ, and Bahia state, Brazil.
Brian met his lifelong muse, Kendra Grace, when she was an exchange student from Bahia, Brazil to Clairmont High School, (12th grade) in San Diego, 1974. Together they opened Nature’s Geometry Inc. in 1989 as a venue offering their art, gems, and minerals to the jewelry industry, and collectors, providing the lifestyle to raise a bicontinental, multi-cultural family. They have three daughters and two grandchildren.
During the 1980s Brian sourced minerals from Brazil for the gem and collectors trade. Starting in 1987, directing grass-roots exploration for precious metals in Brazil brought Brian to the Borborema Pegmatite Provence where his love of gem crystals and exotic minerals eventually led him to collide with the “Paraiba” tourmaline discovery as it was happening.
Currently mining golden rutilated quartz in Bahia, Brazil where his initiative is inspiring like-minded responsible sourcing advocates around the world to bring greater benefit for people and land to communities at the source. Brian is heading a project in Amazonas funded by Swarovski, which brings a fully traceable topaz to market while benefiting the mining community and the forest through reforestation and regenerative agriculture initiatives.
PARAIBA TOURMALINES
In the 1980s, Brian sourced material from Brazil and directed grass-rootS exploration for precious metals in the Borborema Pegmatite Provence, which led to the “Paraiba” tourmaline discovery as it was happening. This presentation will focus on two mineral localities—the Batalha Mine in Paraiba, Brazil, and the Novo Horizonte, Bahia district of golden rutilated quartz.
The Batalha Mine is the type locality for cuprian elbaite, “Paraiba Tourmaline”. We will see historical photos from the early discovery of 1989 talking history, geology, gemology into the 21st century. The Novo Horizonte mining district famous for golden rutilated quartz is an artisanal mining community ripe for demonstrating how sustainability can be designed into an extractive resource, the land, and the people.
MAY 2021
Walter Lombardo is a geologist with more than 35 years of experience in mineralogy and the mining industry. He has extensive contacts worldwide for minerals, fossils, and gemstones, many directly from the actual miners.
Since 2009, he has owned and operated Nevada Mineral and Book Company in Orange, CA. It has the largest inventory of earth science publications (new, used, and rare) in North America.
Prior to opening his own shop, Lombardo was Senior Geologist and Chief of Southern Nevada Operations for the Division of Minerals for the State of Nevada. In this capacity, he handled government affairs with state, federal agencies, mining companies, and mining trade organizations, liaison to mining policy and land-use groups, and public outreach and education.
He graduated from the University of Rochester with a B.A. In Geology and Anthropology.
FROM MINE TO MASTERPIECE: THE MINERALS USED FOR ART AND DECORATIVE GLASS
Glass has been manufactured for almost 4,000 years. Most people are not aware of the properties minerals impart to glass, whether it be color, refractive index or durability. This talk will discuss the major mineral constituents of glass and the properties imparted by them. Considerable attention will be placed on minerals as colorants, using art and decorative glass as examples of the broad range of colors in modern glass. Uranium, ruby, cobalt, and iridescent glasses will be explained.
APRIL 2021
Al Gilbertson was raised in the lapidary (gem-cutting) business, his folks operating a rock shop and jewelry store in Tehachapi, Ca. Al later provided custom gem-cutting (faceting) for McDonald Jewelers in Fresno, CA (1976-1984). His work eventually led him to become their manager while completing the coursework at GIA to become a GG and an American Gem Society Certified Gemologist (1979).
Al and his wife eventually moved to Oregon, where they operated an appraisal service (Gem Profiles), serving over 50 specialty and high-end jewelers in the Pacific Northwest ranging from northern Washington to southern Oregon.
Al had a strong interest in cut quality evaluation of diamonds and was a part of the American Gem Society Cut Task Force member (to work towards a cut grading system for round and fancy shape diamonds), ’98-’00. His patents (US6795171, US6665058) about utilizing a particular colored lighting system to analyze cut quality were acquired by the American Gem Society and are the foundation of their ASET technology for cut grading of diamonds.
With his strong background in cut evaluation, GIA hired Al in 2000 to be part of GIA’s team researching diamond cut evaluation. Al is one of GIA’s researchers that created GIA’s cut grading system for the round brilliant and is listed on several GIA patents for the cut grading system as one of the inventors. During his tenure at GIA, Al has written several articles related to the cut quality evaluation of colored stones (non-diamond) and co-authored many articles about the cut evaluation of diamonds. He has lectured in many forums about cut quality evaluation, even teaching classes related to understanding GIA’s cut grading system. Al is currently studying the influence of proportions and other factors on the appearance of fancy shape diamonds, working towards a cut grading system for fancy-shaped diamonds. Recently he is one of the creators of GIA’s new Jewelry Forensics class.
When he was an appraiser, Al had a concern about the correct terminology. His long-standing absorption in understanding what he was appraising led him to be concerned about how older style cut diamonds were classified and documented. When he joined GIA, part of his work involved investigating previous research and concepts about supposedly “well-cut diamonds.” As he dug into this history, he was surprised by some of what he found, which led him to question much of his personal understanding about how the American Cut or Ideal Cut had evolved. He continued his research into the history well beyond that which was required for his GIA project and wrote a book American Cut —The First 100 Years.
EVOLUTION OF DIAMOND CUTTING
Join SOCGEMS and diamond expert Al Gilbertson for the history of diamond cutting and concepts about supposedly “well-cut diamonds.”
GIA Manager of Cut Research, Al Gilbertson, authored the book, American Cut—The First 100 Years. Gilbertson was raised in the gem-cutting business with his family jewelry business and later for McDonald Jewelers, and helped create GIA’s cut grading system for the round brilliant and is listed on several patents.
MARCH 2021
Nathan Renfro, a native of western North Carolina, developed an interest in minerals during his late teens, which was sparked by his grandfather’s rock collection.
In 2006 he completed his undergraduate studies in geology and then went on to enroll at GIA for the resident Graduate Gemologist (GG) program as a recipient of the William Goldberg Diamond Corporation scholarship.
After finishing the Graduate Gemologist program at GIA, he was hired by the GIA laboratory as a diamond grader and soon transferred to the Gem Identification department in 2008.
Since then, Mr. Renfro has authored or co-authored more than one hundred gemological articles and lectured internationally to several gem and mineral groups. His primary areas of gemological interest are photomicrography and identification of inclusions, gemstone cutting and defect chemistry of corundum.
Mr. Renfro is currently the Manager of the gem identification department in Carlsbad, CA and also is a microscopist in the Inclusion Research Department. Mr. Renfro is the editor of G&G’s Microworld quarterly column which is published in the journal Gems and Gemology, where he is also a member of the editorial review board. Mr. Renfro also completed his FGA in 2014.
INTERESTING INCLUSIONS
Explore the Microworld of gems with GIA Colored Stone Manager, Nathan Renfro. Inclusions in gems are exceedingly important for gemologists as they can provide clues that identify what a gem is and they can also be used to detect treatments or even help determine where a gem came from.
Inclusions can be appreciated for their fascinating natural beauty as well. The bright colors and geometric forms found within the microscopic space of gem materials allow gemologists the opportunity to explore the interesting natural beauty contained within.
Come along with Nathan Renfro as he explores a wide range of gems in the microscope from A through Z.
FEBRUARY 2021
Trained as an ethologist/ichthyologist, Robert K. Liu received his Ph.D. from the University of California at Los Angeles, where he worked on experimental gerontology in the Department of Pathology, School of Medicine.
In 1975 he left biomedical research after founding The Bead Journal, which changed its title in 1978 to Ornament, a journal of personal adornment, which has been published for 46 years with wife and partner Carolyn Benesh.
Last September, we lost her at the end of that month, so it is now only Patrick and Robert at Ornament Magazine. Self-trained as a jeweler and photographer, he is co-editor of Ornament and has written extensively on ancient, ethnographic, and contemporary jewelry and personal adornment since 1974.
Over the past four decades, he has lectured extensively in the US, as well as the UK, and PRC and given workshops on jewelry photography and jewelry making, and published in 2014 The Photography of Personal Adornment.
He is also the author of Collective Beads, A Universal Aesthetic, and has written over 760 articles for or other published works, including pieces on scale modeling, military technology/history, and construction equipment. His latest book is on miniature naval ship models of WW II.
BEAD TRADE IN ANTIQUITY
The Spread of Material Goods and Ideas Through Time and Space
JANUARY 2021
Richard Birt runs the largest turquoise academic site on Facebook, which houses the largest collection of white papers and mine identification postings, now at 6,000 plus. It has over 600 contributors. He has been cutting and collecting stones since 1972.
NATIVE AMERICAN MODERNISM 1969 – PRESENT
In our third and final installment, we will explore how Native American Artists moved from tourist trade items to creating a global market for fine jewelry, lead by Charles Loloma.
We will explore the Turquoise Southwest Boom of 1974, and the fine art movement that was birthed.
NOVEMBER 2020
Mary Pat Weber studied geology at Macalester College in MN and worked as an exploration geologist in Denver for Dames & Moore, an environmental consulting firm, and later in the petroleum industry. After moving to California she completed an MBA at Pepperdine University and became president of a property management company. She is married to her college sweetheart who was also an exploration geologist.
As a mineral collector, Mary Pat is fascinated with stromatolites and in 2017 addressed the Anza-Borrego Desert Paleontology Society. She also never met an agate she didn’t like and favors the Condor agates from Argentina and the Mt. Hay Thundereggs from Australia. Active in local mineral societies, Mary Pat has won several blue ribbons and awards for her exhibit cases. The Webers have been the recipients of the CFMS & AMFS “Rockhound of the Year” award.
The Webers take every opportunity to see as much geology as possible wherever they go. As part of what they refer to as their “Rocks & Crocs” tour of 2007-08, they spent a month exploring the two main islands of New Zealand before going on to seek out the geologic highlights of Australia. Back in Southern California, the Weber’s have developed a series of programs based on these travel experiences.
Approximately 10 years ago Mary Pat Weber became interested in stromatolites, a complex melding of biology, chemistry, and geology, finding the topic both fascinating and frustrating.
Over the past few years, she has traveled to many well-known stromatolite locations in the US, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. Several specimens from her personal collection will be on display at the talk.
Active in local mineral societies, Mary Pat Weber has won several blue ribbons and awards for her exhibit cases.
Mary Pat Weber studied geology at Macalester College in MN and worked as an exploration geologist in Denver for Dames & Moore, an environmental consulting firm, and later in the petroleum industry. After moving to California she completed an MBA at Pepperdine University and became president of a property management company.
THE GEOLOGIC DIVERSITY OF NEW ZEALAND
When they say “big things come in small packages” they must be talking about the geology of New Zealand. From volcanoes to glaciers, caves, and fiords, it would be difficult to find so much geologic variety-packed within such a small geographic area anywhere else on this planet.
Dick & Mary Pat Weber, both geologists, spent four weeks in 2007 exploring every corner of this tiny island nation. Join us on November 18th when Mary Pat will take us on a tour of this fascinating country.
OCTOBER 2020
Robert Weldon winner of the Accredited Gemologists Association’s Antonio C. Bonanno Award for Excellence in Gemology for 2020.
For almost 300 years a buried treasure lay undisturbed below one of London’s busiest streets. Discovered by workmen in 1912, the Cheapside Hoard is the greatest single collection of Elizabethan and Stuart jewelry in the world.
The Cheapside Hoard is a hoard of jewelry from the late 16th and early 17th centuries, discovered in 1912 by workmen using a pickaxe to excavate in a cellar at 30–32 Cheapside in London, on the corner with Friday Street. They found a buried wooden box containing more than 400 pieces of Elizabethan and Jacobean jewelry, including rings, brooches, and chains, with bright colored gemstones and enameled gold settings, together with toadstones, cameos, scent bottles, fan holders, crystal tankards, and a salt cellar.
SEPTEMBER 2020
BONUS
Richard Birt runs the largest turquoise academic site on Facebook, which houses the largest collection of white papers and mine identification postings, now at 6,000 plus. It has over 600 contributors. He has been cutting and collecting stones since 1972.
SEPTEMBER 2020
Dr. Aaron Palke started his career in gemology as a postdoctoral research associate at GIA after earning his Ph.D. in Geology from Stanford University. During this time, Palke investigated the geological history of rubies and sapphires by studying minute inclusions in these precious gems. A senior research scientist at GIA, he helps lead-colored stone research efforts in order to provide more reliable country of origin determinations and treatment identification for rubies, sapphire, emeralds, and other colored stones.
He received his BSc in Geology from The University of Tulsa in 2008 and a PhD in Geology from Stanford University in 2014.
AUGUST 2020
Dr. Sally Eaton-Magaña received her Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Case Western Reserve University. She is based at GIA in Carlsbad, California, where she currently serves as the Sr. Manager of Diamond Identification.
JULY 2020
Richard Birt runs the largest turquoise academic site on Facebook, which houses the largest collection of white papers and mine identification postings, now at 6,000 plus. It has over 600 contributors. He has been cutting and collecting stones since 1972.
JUNE 2020
Walter Lombardo is a geologist with more than 35 years experience in mineralogy, mining and mineral exploration. He worked for American Borate Company in Death Valley (Billie Mine), for Cyprus Minerals Company in the California Mother Lode (gold), and several small exploration companies in the Southwestern U.S (gold).. For sixteen years he managed the Southern Nevada Office of the Nevada Division of Minerals. And before retiring from the industry, he was a project manager for a company involved in worldwide exploration for uranium, gallium and germanium.
Walter is the owner of Nevada Mineral & Book Company, a natural history gallery and earth science bookstore located in Orange, California. He has lectured nationwide on topics related to mineral resources, mining & mining fraud, mineralogy and gemology.
California is an extraordinary state for rockhounding. Geological forces have created one of the widest varieties of rocks and minerals found in any state. Known as the ‘Golden State’, California has named Gold as its state metal, Serpentine as the State rock and Benitoite as the State gemstone. California has a wide variety of gemstones to offer including diamond, spodumene (kunzite and triphane), tourmaline (elbaite and schorl), topaz, beryl (aquamarine and morganite), garnets (spessartine, grossular, andradite, uvarovite), quartz (rock crystal, amethyst, citrine, smoky, jasper, agate), opal, corundum (sapphire and ruby), vesuvianite (idocrase, “California Jade”, “Californite”), chrysocolla, azurite, malachite, lapis-lazuli, abalone and more.
This talk will feature benitoite, lapis lazuli and vesuvianite.
Benitoite is a rare blue barium titanium silicate mineral, found in hydrothermally altered serpentinite. It was first described in 1907 by George D. Louderback, who named it benitoite for its occurrence near the headwaters of the San Benito River in San Benito County, California. Benitoite occurs in several localities worldwide, but gemstone quality material has only been found in at one mine in California. In 1985 benitoite was named as the official state gem of California. Benitoite fluoresces under short wave ultraviolet light, appearing bright blue to bluish white in color. The more rarely seen clear to white benitoite crystals fluoresce red under long-wave UV light. The one known gem benitoite occurrence was mined out in 2004.
Lapis lazuli (lapis) is a rock, with its distinctive blue color coming from a combination of the minerals sodalite, hauyne and lazurite. Known primarily as coming from Afghanistan and Chile, California also has a few localities that produced cutting-grade material.
Vesuvianite (idocrase, “Pulga Jade”, “Californite”) is abundant in an area near Happy Camp, (Siskiyou County), as well as Pulga (Butte County). With a pleasing mottled green appearance, and a hardness of 6.5, it can be mistaken for jade. California vesuvianite has been mined for over 100 years, and at one time Tiffany & Company designated it as a birthstone.
This talk is #1 in a series.
MAY 2020
Richard Birt runs the largest turquoise academic site on Facebook, which houses the largest collection of white papers and mine identification postings, now at 6,000 plus. It has over 600 contributors. He has been cutting and collecting stones since 1972.
FEB 2020
Richard Birt runs the largest turquoise academic site on Facebook, which houses the largest collection of white papers and mine identification postings, now at 6,000 plus. It has over 600 contributors. He has been cutting and collecting stones since 1972.
Turquoise: Southwest America’s Sky Stone
Wednesday, February 12, 2020, Presentation
San Clemente Community Center
Turquoise is one of the most beloved stones found in America. The talk will cover the historic mines of Pre Colombian America, how it was traded by the SW Native Americans, and how it became the beloved stone of the Navajo, Hopi, Zuni and Pueblo people.
In 1880, began the adoption of Western mining interests, allowing it to be used internationally and for Native American tourist items sold through trading posts and railway stops. We will tell the rich history of California, Colorado and NM mines that drove the initial boom. And how Nevada and Arizona drove the mid century to today’s market. There were over 200 mines in the SW.
We will also celebrate the Modern Native American Jewelry Movement, lead by Kenneth Begay (Navajo) and Charles Loloma (Hopi).
JAN 2020
Lisbet Thoresen is an independent researcher specializing in ancient engraved gems, or glyptic. Her primary interest is reconciling gemological confirmation of gem-minerals that survive in historical collections of glyptic with the transliteration of gemstones described in primary (ancient) literary sources.
Her research also includes the possible geographic origins of gems known in the ancient world, their earliest dates of discovery, periods of use, and transmission, as well as gemstone treatments applied by ancient lapidaries. Her work has been published in professional gemological journals, conference proceedings, and most recently as a contribution to a book chapter on the History of Ruby and Sapphire co-authored with Richard Hughes in his updated opus on Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist’s Guide (2017).
Previously, Lisbet worked in all aspects of the preservation, analysis, authentication, exhibition planning, and conservation of antiquities as Associate Conservator at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Malibu, California. Over a 17-year museum career Lisbet also performed research and lectured on topics related to art conservation and archaeometry (archaeological science).
The Cultural History of Garnets
Wednesday, January 15, 2020, Presentation
San Clemente Community Center
The early use of gem garnets in glyptic (engraved intaglios, cameo carvings, and inlays) dating from antiquity (mid-3rd millenium BC) through the early Dark Ages (ca. 10th century AD) is discussed. Most ancient and many historical garnets preserved in museum collections lack information about where they were found, where they were produced, or where the raw materials may have originated. Garnet chemistry and structure together with observable features such as color and inclusions provide characteristic signatures that sometimes help to associate garnets with their geographic origin. Applied to ancient garnets and garnets belonging to later periods, analytical provenance studies throw light on the trade and transmission of material culture, which helps to improve understanding about a distant past that is otherwise opaque.
A survey of important analytical provenance studies on ancient and historical garnets is presented. Such studies help to characterize the garnet species known in different periods, and they help to narrow the field of their prospective geographic origins. This is especially interesting to consider in the light of ancient literary sources that describe transparent, red and purple colored gems and their sources. Analytical studies also contribute useful datapoints on garnet compositions found in nature that have not been observed in gem garnets of the modern gem market, which indicates that many ancient and historical mining localities are now lost.
OCT 2019
Judy Colbert is Manager of Visual Resources at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), a non-profit institute of gemological research and education in Carlsbad, California. She obtained her Graduate Gemologist diploma from GIA in 1994. Prior to that, Judy worked at the Los Angeles Times for 14 years as Senior Permissions Coordinator, where she licensed the use of images and articles owned by the L.A. Times. In her current position, she specializes in image acquisition, rights management, image licensing, and special projects including articles and presentations. She holds a professional certificate in Intellectual Property through the University of California, San Diego Extension program.
Peggy Tsiamis is a Visual Resources and Research Librarian in the GIA Library since 1999. She has a background in art history, fine art photography sales and jewelry retail. Peggy studied gemology at Santiago Canyon College and has her AJP and Diamonds Graduate diploma from GIA. She has a special interest in jewelry designers and jewelry history and is a member of ASJH.
The Famous, Unknown Hollywood Jeweler
Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2019, Presentation
San Clemente Community Center
Beverly Hills jeweler, William Ruser, is mostly remembered for his whimsical figural jewelry with freshwater pearls. Very little has been written about his life and the other exceptional quality work he created for Hollywood’s elite such as Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra, Barbara Stanwyck, Joan Crawford and many others. Through research and interviews, two GIA gem historians will present a program about the artist and jeweler, Willian Ruser, at the monthly Oct. 16, South Orange County Gem and Mineral Society meeting, 7:15 pm, at San Clemente Community Center.
Judy Colbert, is Manger of Visual Resources in the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and co-authored the book with Peggy Tsiamis, the Visual Resources and Research GIA Librarian, revealing details about Ruser’s personal and professional life in a well-illustrated book entitled The Jeweler Who Charmed Hollywood, to be published by GIA shortly.
They will also unravel some of the mystery surrounding the copycat “Children of the Week” jewelry he created, which is based on an 1800’s nursery rhyme that begins, “Monday’s child is fair of face.”
Born in 1908, Ruser began his career in jewelry design in Atlantic City, and moved to Beverly Hills in the 1930’s. After serving in the Army Air Corps in World War II, he opened his own jewelry store, Ruser Jewels, at 300 Rodeo Drive, with his wife, Pauline.
His creations were known for their three-dimensional platinum and diamond jewelry, as well as their cutting-edge use of baroque, freshwater pearls, which was very unusual at the time. His work was featured in many Hollywood films of the period, most notably in Sorry, Wrong Number, with Barbara Stanwyck, and his work was included in the book, Hollywood Jewels.
Ruser retired in 1969 and sold his business location to Van Cleef & Arpels. He died in 1994. The GIA authors both have an interest and extensive background in jewelry history and have earned diplomas from GIA as well as being staff members of the internationally known gemology authority institute for many years. This should be a fascinating and visually exciting presentation.
SEPT 2019
AUGUST 2019
A geologist and rockhound enthusiast will share location details and probable specimens to discover at a presentation on Classic California Rockhounding Sites at the monthly South Orange County Gem and Mineral Society meeting, 7:15 pm, Wednesday, August 21, at the San Clemente Community Center. The meeting is free and open to the public.
Richard Birt, has been active in gem and mineral collecting, lapidary, gold smithing and geology for over 50 years. He still has the piece of Rhodonite he collected as a 13-year old in Heath Canyon in Wrightwood, CA. He has been leading geology classes in the field for over 40 years.
Birt will bring samples of materials he’s found at various sites, including geodes and fire agate from Wiley Well; lapis lazuli from Mount Baldy; petrified wood from Boron Dry Lake and blue agate from Acton.
The speaker earned his MBA in 1981 from Claremont Graduate School, and studied geology at Pomona College and USC. He is founder of RytePath, a customer targeting analytics marketing company.
JULY 2019
Dr. James Shigley is a distinguished research fellow at the Gemological Institute of America in Carlsbad, California. Prior to joining GIA in 1982, he studied geology as an undergraduate at the University of California Berkeley, and later received his doctorate in geology from Stanford University. He helps direct GIA’s research activities on the identification of gemstones, and has ongoing research interests in the natural environments of gem mineral formation as well as the characterization of gem materials.
Dr. Shigley is the author of more than 180 published articles on diamonds and other gemstones in various journals, and has been a well-known speaker on gemological topics to both professional and general audiences on more than 300 occasions.
Earning a geology undergraduate degree from University of California Berkeley, and a Ph.D. in geology from Stanford, since 1984, Dr. Shigley has authored or coauthored 195 scientific articles, including 79 for Gems & Gemology; of which 27 of those articles received the journal’s Most Valuable Article award.
In December 2018, Dr. Shigley was awarded with GIA’s highest honor, the Richard T. Liddicoat Award for Distinguished Achievement, for his many contributions to gemological research. For more than 30 years, Dr. Shigley has been recognized internationally for his research on diamonds, colored stones and gem identification.
Dr. Shigley’s studies identified methods of separating natural from laboratory-grown diamonds, documented important gem localities and established characteristics of HPHT laboratory-grown diamonds. He was instrumental in the creation of the GIA Gem project, a collection of 2,800 stones that is used for research, education and exhibition.
JUNE 2019
MAY 2019
APRIL 2019
MARCH 2019
One of the most abundant minerals in the world, quartz is also one of its most important minerals for use in GPS systems, oil and gas industry, watches, hearing aids, televisions and much more. Quartz is also considered a metaphysical mineral with energy for humans like an antenna for the TV. Learn more from Dennis Carey, “the Crystal Collector,” at the monthly South Orange County Gem and Mineral Society meeting, 7:15 pm, Wednesday, March 20, at the San Clemente Community Center.
Carey began collecting gemstones as a young rock hound who found tourmalines and emeralds, but his attention soon turned to collecting quartz crystals, the most abundant and well-known mineral on earth. Carey believes he has one of the most significant collections of quartz in the world with thousands of specimens, a few of which he will bring to show.
A graduate of Providence College in Rhode Island, he studied economics, and was a world class runner in marathons headed to the Olympic trials, when a freak accident sidelined his running career.
He earned a living in pharmaceutical sales, but began his passion of mining, trading and collecting quartz and learning about its physical and metaphysical properties.
He resides in Dana Point, CA.
FEBRUARY 2019
Patrick Keegan has been prospecting for the semi-precious stone since he was 12 years. His first discovery of the blue rock was a “eureka” moment for him. He’s been prospecting for it ever since. He has a video, “The Prospector,” on YouTube, of prospecting for lapis on Mt. Baldy. To get to the mine, he has to climb 2500 feet in one mile, through poison oak, wild brambles of blackberries, over fallen logs, and up rock-covered steep slopes. But for him, the experience is almost “religious.” “You search all your life to find something you are good at,” he explains, and for him the search is an important part of his personal journey.
As a lapidary artist, Keegan feels the rough rock is “art itself. The stone is already there in the rock, and I’m just exposing it, maximizing the potential it has.” He will bring samples of his finds and creations to the meeting.
Patrick Keegan is an event coordinator, sound engineer, and ex-touring music technician who now is a prospector and lapidary/silversmith artist.
He resides in Upland, CA.
Lapis Lazuli prospector and lapidary/jewelry artist, Patrick Keegan is the guest speaker at the monthly South Orange County Gem and Mineral Society meeting, 7:15 pm, Wednesday, February 20, at the San Clemente Community Center.
Lapis is one of the oldest mined stones and has been found in ancient burial sites from the 3rd century, BC. It was a prized stone in Egypt and favored by the pharaohs for its deep blue color.
Patrick will be offering a macro-outlook on the history of Lapis Lazuli, as well as personal experiences prospecting a California deposit near Mt Baldy.
JANUARY 2019
Renée Newman became passionately interested in gems in the early 1980’s while conducting tours to Asia, South America and the South Pacific. Her passengers wanted to know how to judge the quality of the gems they saw. After searching in bookstores and libraries for this information, Renée discovered that little had been written on the subject of gem quality evaluation, so she decided it would be worth creating books with photos that showed how to judge gem quality.
After receiving a graduate gemologist diploma from the GIA, she was hired as a gemologist at a wholesale firm in downtown Los Angeles. It provided hands-on experience grading diamonds and selecting colored gems and pearls for their jewelry. Armed with trade experience and gemological credentials, Renée decided to create books that showed readers how to visually evaluate the quality of gems. Her first book, the Diamond Ring Buying Guide, was published in 1989. Since that time, she has written twelve more books on gems and jewelry. They are used as gemology course textbooks, sales training tools, appraisal references and consumer guides. For more information about Renée and her books go to reneenewman.com.
Jadeite and nephrite prices are continuing to reach record highs at jewelry auctions. Before the 2008 Beijing Olympics, nephrite was viewed more as a trinket than as a worthy jewelry material. However, that changed when the Olympic medals were inlaid with nephrite and people learned that nephrite jade was the original Chinese “stone of heaven.” Since then, jade prices have risen rapidly and the allure of nephrite jade in China has soared. Well known designers in the West like Todd Reed and Roberto Coin are using nephrite jade in high-end jewelry.
When gem materials go up in value and popularity, the desire to imitate and treat them increases. Some fakes are obvious, while others aren’t. In addition, treated jade, may be worth less than some fakes. In her presentation to our group, Newman will give practical tips on how to distinguish fake and treated jade from natural jade using examples of modern jade jewelry and carvings. Her presentation will help you
Renée will be available before and after her presentation to autograph books. Bring cash or a check if you would like to purchase copies of them. Her Exotic Gems: Volume 4 book is the fourth in a series that explores the history, lore, evaluation, geographic sources and identifying properties of non-traditional gems. It describes with text and photos how to evaluate jade quality and detect imitations and dyed jade. Information about the book is available HERE.
NOVEMBER 2018
Debi McKee, a 7th generation healer, and native Californian, will be presenting about 12 different crystals and minerals and discussing their subtle properties and energy bodies, at the monthly South Orange County Gem and Mineral Society meeting, 7:15 pm, Wednesday, November 21, 2018, at the San Clemente Community Center.
According to McKee, every crystal has unique combinations of minerals, just as humans are different combinations of minerals and water. She believes that everyone reacts differently to each crystal depending on the individual’s needs, deficiencies and emotional status. She will bring a variety of crystals to pass around and demonstrate how to “feel” or interact with each one.
Precious stones and crystals have been thought of as healing objects by a variety of cultures worldwide, including the Hopi Native Americans of Arizona and Hawaiian Islanders. The Chinese have traditionally attributed healing powers to jade.
McKee plans to discuss the properties of citrine, amethyst, black tourmaline, jasper, chrysocolla, lapis, hematite, quartz and others. She will also provide a handout and will have some crystals for sale after the presentation.
McKee has a B.A. in Textile Merchandising and Fashion Design, and a Graduate Degree from I.C.I. Institute of Denver Colorado. She spent 29 years in the fashion Industry worldwide and 20 years practicing and teaching crystal healing energy.
“I learn so much about gems and minerals from members of the SOCGEMS club, and they learn things from me as well,” she said. She thinks this will be a different type of program from the typical SOCGEMS presentation.
OCTOBER 2018
On October 17, Master Faceter and Award Winning Gem Carver, Meg Berry will explain the process of taking a raw stone and turning it into a beautiful gemstone through the art of faceting, and gem carving.
Berry moved to CA from Michigan in 1974, and quickly discovered a passion for cutting gemstones. In 1977, she graduated with a “Master Faceter,” certificate and apprenticed for three years to Bob Livingstone and worked in the downtown Los Angeles jewelry district as a colored stone cutter. She moved to San Diego County in 1980, and in 1989 began working full time for Pala International in Fallbrook, which owned the Himalaya tourmaline mine, among others, as well as The Collector Fine Jewelry stores.
Needing more variety in her work, Berry began exploring gemstone carving and eventually phased out of Pala to concentrate on her own original work. Currently she facets exclusively for a few select clients and spends the majority of her time carving designs from tourmaline, garnet, topaz, aquamarine and a wide variety of other colored gems.
Berry has won a total of nine American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) Cutting Edge/Spectrum competition awards. Seven were awarded for her faceting and in 2016-17, two for her gemstone carvings.
SEPTEMBER 2018
NAPA ROCKS and TRICERATOPS with CFMS President JENNIFER HALEY
In 2004 I discovered what would become a new love in my life, rock and gem clubs. I was in my 40’s then and had just moved back to my grandparents ranch I had always adored in the Napa Valley, with my husband to grow wine grapes. I loved rocks, but never knew there were clubs. As a child, an older vintner in the valley gave me a silver ring he made with a tumbled gem silica chrysocolla stone. That gorgeous blue stone with windows of translucency has always stayed in my mind as something magical. Even more intriguing was the fact a human being could make something as beautiful as this from silver and a stone that came from the ground. There was also an older couple in the valley I loved visiting. He was a retired sea captain and his wife a skilled gold and silver smith. Her workshop was part of their home. She’d sit me down with a cup of hot chocolate and peanut butter on French bread toast, and I’d enchantingly watch her work. She was known for making sterling silver baby gifts like a child’s first spoon, cups and rattles, along with elegant hammered sterling serving spoons with grapes and leaves.
Years later my high school counselor signed me up for a jewelry making class. We were taught many of the lapidary arts; cutting and polishing stones, silversmithing and lost wax casting. Since I was headed for nursing school, my last graded jewelry project was a “germ” pin in silver done in lost wax casting. Unknown to me he had entered “the germ” in a Bank of America contest for students, and I had been awarded $200. He told my parents I needed to become a jeweler and handed them a tool and equipment list.
In my spare time in college I loved to explore my grandparent’s property in the hills. I found stones I had never seen before in the valley that had been uncovered by a running spring. They were beautiful patterned agates. I found two World War II veterans at the Veterans Home of Yountville who had a lapidary shop there, and the three of us cut and polished the rocks freeform that summer. I can’t tell you what a thrill it is to be working with a rock this way. The more we worked the stones the beauty the stones held inside, bestowed itself upon us.
The first thing I noticed about the people in rock and gem clubs is how warm and friendly everyone is. The clubs have been like a second family or home away from home for me ever since. Moving forward, the club I belonged to encouraged me to become personally involved at the California Federation of Mineralogical Societies (CFMS) level. This year I was given a rare opportunity to serve as the president of the California Federation of Mineralogical Societies (CFMS) for a second time.
AUGUST 2018
PETE GOETZ
President, American Opal Society
Goetz has been president of the American Opal Society for over ten years. He graduated from San Diego State University after studying structural geomorphology or the processes and interactions that form landscapes. After a career in retail, he returned to his earth science passion and taught physical science, earth science and astronomy in the Anaheim School District for 22 years.
In his early years he actively collected rock and mineral samples, then focused his study on opals, turquoise and pearls. He enjoys researching, writing and speaking about opals as a way of sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm about the gem. Goetz will bring samples of opals from different sources including Australia and Peru.
The American Opal Society will host its 51st annual Opal Show in November with educational programs, demonstrations and vendors.
Pete Goetz, the President of the American Society, will present a slide show and show samples of opals from around the world at the monthly meeting of the South Orange County Gem and Mineral Society, on Wednesday, August 15, at 7:15 pm, San Clemente Community Center.
The public is invited to attend and learn more about this fascinating gem that was originally discovered in ancient times in Slovakia, and in the 19th century major deposits were found in Australia, which became the worlds largest source of opals. Today, Ethiopian opal production is competitive with Australian.
JULY 2018
THE FASCINATING WORLD OF FACETING…
On July 18, Bob Johnson, a stone cutter, will discuss the fine art of creating a beautiful, glittering jewel out of raw material he’s found or purchased, at the monthly South Orange County Gem and Mineral Society meeting, 7:15 pm, at San Clemente Community Center.
Johnson began cutting stones in 1978 when he decided that hauling raw rock and gem materials to sell at 25-27 rock shows a year, all around the country, was getting to be “heavy work.” “If I cut a big stone into a gem stone, I could put a bunch into a Tupperware and it weighed less and cost more.” He retired from the gem trade in 2014 and has since put his love of stone cutting to work by teaching others.
His favorite stones to cut are sapphires, amethysts and sunstones. Johnson worked 10 summers in Montana digging sapphires in a remote area 23 miles from the nearest town. “Moose would walk through the camp and an occasional bear. It was an exciting place,” he remembered. He has also mined sunstones in the desert area of Southern Oregon.
Johnson will explain the process of taking a raw stone and turning it into a beautiful gemstone through the art of faceting, and will bring samples to illustrate the transformation.
Johnson considers himself a rock hound. “I’ve collected for years and some might call me a hoarder. But I love what I do, even if I didn’t make much money at it.” Once he bought a 1992 pickup with a handful of uncut gem stones. At the DMV, they wouldn’t give him a registration until he named a price. Johnson laughed and said, “I finally told them it cost me $500. They wouldn’t write down that the deal was done with a handful of rocks.”
JUNE 2018
ENTER INTO THE WORLD OF TOURMALINES…
Ron Schmidtling loves to host digs at Pala Chief Mine, where there are Tourmalines, Aquamarines, Quartz, Kunzite … everything.
He is a Scientific Consultant to the J Paul Getty Trust, and a former Geological Consultant for the Getty Museum.
Ron is a Paleontologist and worked for the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles and is Science Instructor at Columbia College Hollywood.
APRIL 2018
Eric Brooking will discuss “Turquoise, A Vanishing American Treasure,” at 7:15 pm at San Clemente Community Center, as part of the monthly speaker series presented by South Orange County Gem and Mineral Society.
Brooking explained in a recent interview that American mined turquoise is highly desirable and is a uniquely American stone. “The tradition of the American Indian using turquoise and silver created a mystical appreciation of turquoise and popularized it. But now, many of the mines are played out and it’s very hard to find.”
Brooking began mining at an early age when his father leased a tourmaline mine in the early 1970’s. They discovered fire agate and Brooking, “got the mining bug.” Today, he and a partner have a turquoise mine in Nevada and he sells stones and makes jewelry from this American turquoise. “So many stones today are enhanced or stabilized. I will talk about that and how it affects the value and beauty of natural turquoise,” he said. Brooking will bring samples for sale.
He is also a vintner and owner of Brooking Vineyards the only estate winery in Vista, CA.
MARCH 2018
Denise Nelson designs, imports and sells fine gems, pearls and jewelry and has traveled to five continents to visit mines, pearl farms, trade shows and many gem and jewelry-related venues. Her visits to the Smithsonian gem-vaults and to many extensive private collections have given her an opportunity to see and study items rarely displayed and researched. GIA recently presented her with an Alumni Leadership Award for her work as the Ambassador of their Washington D.C. Alumni Chapter.
My father was a talented and widely respected jeweler in Vietnam. In the old days, in my home country, it was considered a great privilege and honor to apprentice with him. One was more than willing to tolerate the six months or so spent cleaning the shop, polishing and making jump rings, only to “progress” to spending day after day making simple wedding bands–just to be asked to melt them down and start over because they weren’t round enough! The great mystery of why he was so hard on us was finally revealed to me the day he said, “If you want to be a good jeweler, it takes skill and repetition. To be a ‘great jeweler’ also requires patience, dedication, courage, and a special love for your trade. Having these qualities makes you worthy to work in my shop.”
Today at Galatea, we have an Olympic team of jewelers all of whom share our philosophy and love for the trade.
We create each piece of our jewelry as if it is to be worn by our own beloved.
View the exquisite work of Master Pearl Carver Chi on his website HERE
JANUARY 2018
The Art of Photography ‘What Do You See?’
Mike Woodward’s dynamic images are done via photomacrography. Woodward states that he uses a “technical copy setup with cross-polarized Altman CDM 150 (ceramic metal halide) lighting, a 4 × 5-style camera set up vertically like an enlarger would be, with a polarized macro lens.
The capture of the image is a digital scan back that does a 60-second, 103-megapixel scan, directly to the computer. After the image is captured, it is processed for traditional photographic prints, or the image can be printed on canvas, gallery wrapped, and stretched.
Most viewers have the perception of the images being a painting when printed on canvas. This blurs the line between photography and painting, especially with abstract art from stones, because the image is not recognized as a photo.” In fact, one of his photos of an Oregon thunder egg was used as an abstract art painting for an episode of the television show Weeds.
Children and Questions are encouraged.
We hope you can join us!
Mike has been collecting, cutting, polishing, and photographing stones and fossils since he was five years old. From this a passion for geology, art from nature and a love of science was born. Mike says his “collection of photographic images of stones and fossils peers deeply into their abstract patters, revealing a part of nature normally hidden from view. I am attracted to the story inside the stone that unfolds once the image has been enlarged.
NOVEMBER 2017
Opal Mining in Australia
The Leslie Neff/Larry Hoskinson duo have spent almost 4 years in Australia starting in 1985 and our last trip was in 2015. Their travels have taken them to Australia a total of 14 times.
Each trip after the first has included a visit to Coober Pedy, which will be the focus of this month’s meeting presentation.
Their first trip here was in 1988, when the road from Adelaide to Darwin was not even all paved. The road was completed that year and it became easier to get to Coober Pedy. It still is not what we in the USA would call easy, you can drive, take a train that lets you out 20 miles from town, or fly to Adelaide and get on a VERY small plane to fly into Coober Pedy, the good news is that is a fun opal mining field not far from the airport.
The program covers various opal-mining techniques: useful travel information on how to get from Sydney to Coober Pedy and around Cooper Pedy once you arrive.
The presentation shows underground living, which is what Hoskinson and Neff do there, as well as surface and underground mining.
It will include lots of pictures of the wild life that you can easily see from the car, including kangaroos, emus, brown snakes, Wedge tail eagles with a wing span as wide as a car and a variety of amazing birds. The slideshow will conclude with photos of rough and finished opal.
Larry will give a demonstration on how to find opal using a black light.
There will be samples of rough and finished opal, books and maps – a fun travelogue on Australia. Questions are encouraged.
OCTOBER 2017
Artist Jeff Fulkerson has been creating stunning, imaginative jewelry for over 30 years.
A contributing artist to Lapidary Journal’s Jewelry Artist Magazine, his work has also been seen in Art Jewelry Magazine. Jeff is a recipient of the Courtney McGowan Design Award as well as a blue ribbon award winner for his jewelry in design and construction at the San Diego County Fair. Some of his awards include Best Educational Exhibit, Coordinator’s Cup (2005 and 2009), and Best Single Jewelry Piece (2005 and 2009). His meticulous execution and attention to detail is becoming well known among industry professionals.
Jeff has taught at the Museum of Man in Balboa Park and Granite Hills High School in El Cajon, California. He was part of the staff at Bead Fest and the Bead & Button Show, and he currently teaches at Oskadusa in Solana Beach, California.
Upcoming projects include releasing new How-To instructional books, and a series of instructional videos for Jewelry Artist Magazine. Fulkerson is also the inventor and designer of multiple jewelry making products, including the innovative Bead Bandit and Steady Stamp.
A self-taught silver-smith with a background in construction and design, he counts himself fortunate to have studied with many great Native American artists throughout the years. They are most notably, Richard Tsosie (Navajo), Jesse Monogya (Hopi/Navajo), and Michael Cheatham (Cherokee).
SEPTEMBER 2017
Dr. Aaron Celestian did his undergraduate degree in Geology at the University of Arizona in Tucson, and both his Master’s and Ph.D. were awarded to him at Stony Brook University in New York. While at Stony Brook, he was appointed as a Visiting Researcher at the Carnegie Institute’s Geophysical Laboratory for a year.
After his Ph.D., Dr. Celestian taught Environmental Sciences at CUNY Queen’s College, and later moved to Bowling Green, KY where he was an Associate Professor of Geology and Director of the Advanced Materials Institute at Western Kentucky University.
Now the Curator of Mineral Sciences at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, Dr. Celestian is working with Earth materials and their synthetic analogues for their uses in industrial and environmental technologies. He continues his work in areas of environmental sciences that interface with the mining, oil & gas, and pharmaceutical industries where he feels he can make the biggest impact in finding new ways to advance materials science based on the natural design of minerals.
Dr. Celestian spoke on THE SCIENCE OF MINERAL COLOR, an illuminated discussion about the science of mineral color, their use as pigments, and how they have been used from pre-history to the modern era.
JULY 2017
Walt Lombardo is the owner of the Nevada Mineral and Book Company. Located in Orange, CA, his shop boasts the largest selection of Earth Science books and objects in North America.
Mr. Lombardo is a geologist with over 30 years of experience related to mining and mineral exploration. He will be speaking about Sapphires found in North America, including Montana and North Carolina. Fascinating … see you there!
RUBIES and SAPPHIRES of NORTH AMERICA
Rubies and sapphires are varieties of the mineral corundum, which is made of the elements aluminum and oxygen. Although corundum is commonly used as an abrasive because of its extreme hardness, the gem varieties ruby and sapphire have long been known for their beauty and durability. Most people are not aware that there are significant resources of these gems in North America. The talk will focus on three major geographic areas: the sapphire deposits of central Montana; the ruby deposits of North Carolina; and the recently discovered ruby deposits of Greenland. We will discuss the geology and origin of the deposits, the history of mining, and the color range and beauty of these gemstones.
JUNE 2017
Dayton Simmons, a native of Kansas City, has been involved with turquoise since he set his first piece at age 12 in 1975, never realizing at the time how deeply connected he would eventually become with the wondrous gemstone. 20 years later, he moved to Santa Fe, NM to become a turquoise trader. He established his business, Silver Day Trading Co, and has never looked back. Miners, mentors, and teachers of all sorts have provided a most unique education for Dayton – a degree not currently available at any institute of higher learning, even GIA. He is currently involved in the industry as a surveyor of gem grade natural turquoises and fine turquoise jewelry, a miner, an expert repairman of antique American Indian jewelry and an educator on various aspects of turquoise.
The presentation will focus on the fact that well over 95% of all turquoise currently available on the market is NOT NATURAL, which is defined as turquoise that is hard enough to cut and polish as it comes out of the ground. This includes rough material, cut cabochons, beads, carvings and finished jewelry. The vast majority of said material has gone through one of several artificial hardening processes to make it commercially viable.
Become aware of the various turquoise treatments, learn about discerning natural turquoise from treated material and have an opportunity to see and feel the difference.’
Dayton will be bringing specimens to show and to sell as well (be still my heart) Zuni and Native American Carvings.
Dayton’s turquoise presentation was filmed and is used by the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) for student training on turquoise.
TURQUOISE
Turquoise is a blue to green mineral made up of copper, aluminum, and hydrous phosphate.
Turquoise has long been considered a valuable gemstone and is one of the oldest known gemstones. It is rare and valuable in finer grades and has been prized as a gemstone and ornamental stone for thousands of years owing to its unique hue.
FUN FACT: The iconic gold burial mask of Tutankhamun, inlaid with turquoise, lapis lazuli, carnelian and colored glass.
MAY 2017
The South Orange County Gem and Mineral Society held their 32nd Annual Silent Auction and Sale. Thank you to all who donated rocks and gems and other stuffs for the club to auction off and sell. A special shout out to the many helping hands that bagged rocks, ran tables, served food and drinks, and basically made the auction the most successful on record! Our members are THE BEST!
FEBRUARY 2017
The South Orange County Gem and Mineral Society welcomed Thomas Spinks of the Anza-Borrego Paleontology Society
Tom is a retired public service economist who has started a second career in paleobotany learning to identify petrified woods and other fossil plant materials.
He has a BS in Agriculture from South Dakota State University and a MS degree from the University of Minnesota Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics. He has attended fossil wood identification seminars held in Grand Junction, Colorado and has been working as a paleo volunteer at the ABDSP since 2012, learning about the curation of fossil plant materials.
JANUARY 2017
Mike Woodward Stone and Fossil Photography
