Members Information
Attn: MMLS Members Important Message:
Dues Increase Coming for 2020! Adult dues will be increased to $20.00 per year (new members, adult and juniors still a $3.00 initiation fee). Junior Members will be increased to $2.00 per year. (Club will subsidize junior dues) A motion was made and passed at the May board meeting and at the May general meeting to increase membership dues as of next year. Our current dues of $15. 00 no longer meets our expenses. Increases in Federation Insurance to $4.25 per member, Rockpile expenses (we still print about 70 Rockpiles each month and email approximately the Rockpile to 19 members), yearly storage fees and other club expenses we incur during the year has forced us to raise dues. The board has looked over all our expenses and came unanimously to this decision.
Notice to Members:
If you would rather get your Rockpile by way of email let the editor know.
A Letter of Appreciation from the Midwest Federation of Mineralogical and Geological Society
A Letter of Appreciation from the Midwest Federation of Mineralogical and Geological Society (Commonly known as the MWF) We have received a letter of appreciation from Marge Collins, the MWF Chair for the AFMS Scholarship Foundation. Our donation to the AFMS (American Federation of Mineralogical Societies thru the MWF) of $100 has increased our club's participation level from 4900% to 5000% with $19.00 toward the 5100% level. The Midwest Federation is keeping track of all the clubs total donations and since our initial donation in 1968, we have donated a grand total of $6348.00. The AFMS Scholarship Foundation's goal is to accumulate and manage a fund whose income is used to finance scholarships. The 2018 MWF Scholarship Honoree, Bernice McCloskey (Milwaukee, Wisc.) has selected two students in the Ph.D. program at the U of W Department of Geosciences - Libby Ives and David
Cordie to receive a $4000.00 grant each. Pat Rutkowski Liaision to the AFMS Scholarship Foundation
Cordie to receive a $4000.00 grant each. Pat Rutkowski Liaision to the AFMS Scholarship Foundation
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Hello everyone,
The following information was shared by a fellow rock hound via Face Book. I thought you might find the events and information interesting and that you might want to get involved. So here it is:
My name is Dale Hartmann. My wife and I are members of the Lakeland Gem Club in Minocqua Wi, and the Copper Country Rock and Mineral Club in Houghton Mi. We now live in copper country outside of Calumet Michigan.
I wanted to let your members know about the amazing amount of rock hunting available in some very scenic country of the upper Michigan area aka the YOOper.
There is a vast variety of minerals and metals to be found at the hundreds of old copper and iron mines. Native copper in basalt, shale, conglomerate, native silver, iron ores, datolites, greenstones, kono dolomite, and on and on.
To be part of organized digs where they turn the mine dump over for you to hunt in. Just ask the Brainerd Mn club http://cuyunarockclub.org/wp/ about their fun times here. Also, their show is May 5th & 6th.
Or ask the Northwoods Geological Club (https://www.northwoodsgeologyclub.org/) about the amount of great rocks found. Take advantage of one of the rock club shows in this area and the opportunity and the shows museums and mine tours will be more than one can all check out. This club has some great field trips as well, so check out their website.
The first organized week of activities is the Keweenaw Mineral Days Tuesday, July 17, 2018 to Saturday, July 21, 2018.
Hosted by the A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum, the event provides legal surface prepared mineral collecting on rock piles of former mines in the Keweenaw Peninsula.
REGISTRATION WILL OPEN IN MARCH: site information is located at (http://www.museum.mtu.edu/visit/events/keweenaw-mineral-days)
The first show of the season is the Lakeland Gem Club show in Minocqua Wi on July 20 & 21th. (www.lakelandgemclub.com) the show has around 25 vendors. No organized rock trips yet to date, but maps are available to hunt the lower copper region around Rockland Michigan about a 60 minute drive. You can also take a great mine tour at the Adventure Mine Tour in Greenland Mich. (www.adventureminetours.com) guide service is also available.
The next show is the Ishpeming Rock and Mineral Club (http://www.ishpemingrocks.org/) their one day show is Saturday August 4th. They have vendors indoors and outdoors with a wide variety of items. They do have some awesome organized field trips on Friday, Sunday and Monday. You can register on line, just check out their website. Just a heads up! These openings go fast, so do not delay if you are planning to do this. Their digs end on Monday and the digs begin down in Houghton for the copper week of the Copper Country Rock and Mineral Club (http://www.ccrmc.info/).
Their organized field trips that go from Tuesday to Thursday, with a show from Friday to Sunday. During the week there is special events (dinners, auctions, presentations, silent auctions and open houses at local vendors). There is also a rock swap at the Quincy Mine Hoist on that Wednesday Evening at 5 PM. There is also a great mine tour at the Quincy hoist in Hancock Mich. http://www.quincymine.com/guided-tours-rates There is the Quincy smelter tours available just down the hill https://www.facebook.com/events/595879727191672
Another mine tour is a self-guided tour of the Delaware mine, north in Delaware Mich and say hello to their pet skunk Oreo.
Animals are permitted to go on the tour with you. http://www.delawarecopperminetours.com/
One of the finest mineral museums is located at Michigan Technical College, the A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum (http://www.museum.mtu.edu/) this is a must see!
There is such a variety of rock and ways of rock hunting in the area. From beach combing for the various types of agates (lake superiors, Keweenaw point, Manitou Island etc. Also datolite, greenstones (chlorastrolite) zealites/mesolites/thompsonite, copper, epidote. There is also beach glass, aluminum slugs, pottery, drift wood and odd shaped rock to be found. A view box makes walking in the shallows a great way to find the larger nice items. http://www.superiortrails.com/agate-beaches-keweenaw.html
There is also the old mine dumps from the copper and iron mines that still yield loads of great minerals and metal combinations. You can also find the world’s rarest and oldest agate in the world, the copper infused agate found only in the Kearsarge basaltic flow in this area.
Coming as a group is a great way to share all the great specimens you will find. If you plan on attending
Having a metal detector guarantee’s you will find copper and most likely silver as well. We also offer guide services, metal detector rentals, maps, places to stay, places to EAT!!! Our site is www.copperagates.com we specialize in the various types of copper agates plus minerals and metals from all over Michigan. If you plan on attending during one of the copper weeks, be sure to get a motel or campsite as soon as possible as they fill up fast. Bring some of your local rock to trade and sell with locals as they love seeing rock from other areas.
Have any questions feel free to ask away!
Hoping to see you up in the YOOPER this year.
NOTE: You do not need any mine safety training to do any of these digs.
Dale
The following information was shared by a fellow rock hound via Face Book. I thought you might find the events and information interesting and that you might want to get involved. So here it is:
My name is Dale Hartmann. My wife and I are members of the Lakeland Gem Club in Minocqua Wi, and the Copper Country Rock and Mineral Club in Houghton Mi. We now live in copper country outside of Calumet Michigan.
I wanted to let your members know about the amazing amount of rock hunting available in some very scenic country of the upper Michigan area aka the YOOper.
There is a vast variety of minerals and metals to be found at the hundreds of old copper and iron mines. Native copper in basalt, shale, conglomerate, native silver, iron ores, datolites, greenstones, kono dolomite, and on and on.
To be part of organized digs where they turn the mine dump over for you to hunt in. Just ask the Brainerd Mn club http://cuyunarockclub.org/wp/ about their fun times here. Also, their show is May 5th & 6th.
Or ask the Northwoods Geological Club (https://www.northwoodsgeologyclub.org/) about the amount of great rocks found. Take advantage of one of the rock club shows in this area and the opportunity and the shows museums and mine tours will be more than one can all check out. This club has some great field trips as well, so check out their website.
The first organized week of activities is the Keweenaw Mineral Days Tuesday, July 17, 2018 to Saturday, July 21, 2018.
Hosted by the A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum, the event provides legal surface prepared mineral collecting on rock piles of former mines in the Keweenaw Peninsula.
REGISTRATION WILL OPEN IN MARCH: site information is located at (http://www.museum.mtu.edu/visit/events/keweenaw-mineral-days)
The first show of the season is the Lakeland Gem Club show in Minocqua Wi on July 20 & 21th. (www.lakelandgemclub.com) the show has around 25 vendors. No organized rock trips yet to date, but maps are available to hunt the lower copper region around Rockland Michigan about a 60 minute drive. You can also take a great mine tour at the Adventure Mine Tour in Greenland Mich. (www.adventureminetours.com) guide service is also available.
The next show is the Ishpeming Rock and Mineral Club (http://www.ishpemingrocks.org/) their one day show is Saturday August 4th. They have vendors indoors and outdoors with a wide variety of items. They do have some awesome organized field trips on Friday, Sunday and Monday. You can register on line, just check out their website. Just a heads up! These openings go fast, so do not delay if you are planning to do this. Their digs end on Monday and the digs begin down in Houghton for the copper week of the Copper Country Rock and Mineral Club (http://www.ccrmc.info/).
Their organized field trips that go from Tuesday to Thursday, with a show from Friday to Sunday. During the week there is special events (dinners, auctions, presentations, silent auctions and open houses at local vendors). There is also a rock swap at the Quincy Mine Hoist on that Wednesday Evening at 5 PM. There is also a great mine tour at the Quincy hoist in Hancock Mich. http://www.quincymine.com/guided-tours-rates There is the Quincy smelter tours available just down the hill https://www.facebook.com/events/595879727191672
Another mine tour is a self-guided tour of the Delaware mine, north in Delaware Mich and say hello to their pet skunk Oreo.
Animals are permitted to go on the tour with you. http://www.delawarecopperminetours.com/
One of the finest mineral museums is located at Michigan Technical College, the A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum (http://www.museum.mtu.edu/) this is a must see!
There is such a variety of rock and ways of rock hunting in the area. From beach combing for the various types of agates (lake superiors, Keweenaw point, Manitou Island etc. Also datolite, greenstones (chlorastrolite) zealites/mesolites/thompsonite, copper, epidote. There is also beach glass, aluminum slugs, pottery, drift wood and odd shaped rock to be found. A view box makes walking in the shallows a great way to find the larger nice items. http://www.superiortrails.com/agate-beaches-keweenaw.html
There is also the old mine dumps from the copper and iron mines that still yield loads of great minerals and metal combinations. You can also find the world’s rarest and oldest agate in the world, the copper infused agate found only in the Kearsarge basaltic flow in this area.
Coming as a group is a great way to share all the great specimens you will find. If you plan on attending
Having a metal detector guarantee’s you will find copper and most likely silver as well. We also offer guide services, metal detector rentals, maps, places to stay, places to EAT!!! Our site is www.copperagates.com we specialize in the various types of copper agates plus minerals and metals from all over Michigan. If you plan on attending during one of the copper weeks, be sure to get a motel or campsite as soon as possible as they fill up fast. Bring some of your local rock to trade and sell with locals as they love seeing rock from other areas.
Have any questions feel free to ask away!
Hoping to see you up in the YOOPER this year.
NOTE: You do not need any mine safety training to do any of these digs.
Dale
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Attention Club Members: This information was received by our Rockpile editor and we are passing it on to you...
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Dear Fellow Rock hounds
It has been brought to my attention that our membership is looking for more interaction with other rock hound organizations by organizing such things as field trips, Swapnics, basically getting to know other rock hounds. We wish to extend an invitation to your members to attend our "in house" Rock Extravaganza on April 19, 2016 and to our annual *ROCK-A-RAMA" May 14 and 15, 2016. We would like to coordinate and share these and your events as many Clubs in the Midwest Federation as possible. You can call or text me at 440-213-1153. Our Club's Website is: parmalapidary.com You can email us at Parma lapidary@yahoo.com. Or like and follow us on Facebook. Sincerely, Susan Zaborowski President Parma Lapidary Club 
Hi everyone,
I just received an email from Tom Noe about an article in the ALAA newsletter. It concerns fossil collecting. The downloadable pdf file of the ALAA newsletter is below this notice. You'll find the article on page 5. If collecting fossils is your hobby, you'll want to know about new regulations that are going into effect. 
Hello,
I am a member of the spring River Gem & Mineral Club in Cherokee Village, Ar. We are, so far, the largest contingent of rockers in the State. We are hoping that someone from your club is interested in rock swapping and will do so with us. We swap varying sizes of mineral/fossil specimens (no rocks, no leaverites, collected on club field trips and/or individual member field trips). Each specimen is individually wrapped and identified. Each box should be a minimum of 10#. You can ship 10# in a medium size, flat rate, USPS box for approximately $12.00. We try to have the rocks shipped on the same day so we received them accordingly. We have been doing this for some time and have received unbelievable amounts and kinds of rocks from all over the country. Gemmers have commended us on our selections. I am sure you will like these “ gems”. Should you decided to exchange rocks with us, it will be like Christmas all over and the only time the rocks come to us instead of us going to the rocks. Anxiously awaiting your reply, I remain, Patricia A. Kimball-SRGMC kimballp.lpga@gmail.com |
The Following was Passed Along by the ALAA:
Dear MWI Editors, below is the ALAA excerpt for February, 2016. Will Rock hounds Still Have Access to Graveyard Point, McDermitt, Texas Springs' Davis Creek, etc.? The following sentence comes from the ALAA's board minutes of October 24: "The sage grouse issue is still with us and that alone could shut down the lion's share of the West." The issue is that sage grouse and their nesting areas have to be protected, and federal regulators are now discussing which activities will be allowed on land that is considered sage grouse habitat (10 million acres). Will they allow camping in these public areas? Hiking? Rock hounding? As of now, rock hounding is NOT considered a recreational activity that will be allowed on these lands. Below are two paragraphs from a long letter that past ALAA President Shirley Leeson wrote to BLM (Bureau of Land Management) officials in DC: "Many of the areas that will be impacted are located in SW Idaho, SE Oregon and N Nevada but also SC Idaho and NE Nevada. They include: Gravepoint Point, Texas Springs, McDennitt and Davis Creek, long-time rock hounding locations known throughout the US and internationally. But they are not the only the well-known areas, there are hundreds more. What is the economic impact on those small towns close by, and USFS and BLM camping grounds that won't be used any longer, with these areas closed to casual collecting? "Rockhounding as a recreational activity does not present a negative impact to the management of sage grouse and is allowed under federal law. We request that rock hounding be identified as a recreational activity in the ROD implementation plans, allowing rock hounds and the public to continue collecting rocks and minerals in sage grouse management areas." http://amlands.org/190534.html has lots more information on this. If you want to write Washington about this, do it soon. If any club members want to read Shirley's letter and the letter I wrote, contact me at tomnoe2@gmail,com. 
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