Rocky Echoes

               

MGMS sends an award winning 16 page bulletin to members each month to keep members informed and updated about the business and activities of the Society, Rocky Echoes also has educational informational items that are directly related to our hobby.

Following are excerpts from some past issues:

Mississippi Is Whale Country? by Betty J.

Why did Governor William Winter, on October 1, 1980, officially proclaim Mississippi as Whale Country? Why is there a fossil whale skeleton on the Mississippi Gem & Mineral Society letterhead? And what is the intimate relationship between the two?

It all began on a lazy July afternoon in 1971 when the John S. family - Dorothy, Steven, Janet, Alan, and Phillip, and of course John--all members of the Mississippi Gem & Mineral Society (MGMS)-hosted their relatives from Houston, Texas, members of the Houston Gem & Mineral Society, on a field trip along Thompson's Creek in Yazoo County, Mississippi, These experienced Rockhounds, believed the bones they discovered to be fossil whale vertebrae and teeth. They retrieved a loose vertebra and one tooth, leaving the remainder of the fragile bones in the hard limestone matrix. That evening they contacted Les P. and other members of the Fossil Study Group to take a look at their find.

When the P. family and Bobby S. returned to the site the next day with the S. family, they uncovered several vertebrae, some ribs and jawbones with teeth intact and the skull of a Zeuglodont, more specifically Zygorhiza kochii, an ancient whale which once swam the warm seas covering Mississippi during the Eocene period. . .

Library News by Janie H.

The devastation that has rolled over our state has affected us deeply.

I extend my compassion and concern to any who were displaced or had hardships to withstand. I must admit, though, the past days have given me a new appreciation of electricity, water and gas.

Our picnic is next on the agenda, and I hope to see you all there. Remember our auction and bring an item to auction. James M is in charge of the auction, and if you have any questions he can be reached at. . .

It is time to be thinking about our upcoming show, and as you know, the library is the best place to start on an exhibit.

This month, I am going to tell you about a book, Geology and Man Adams County Mississippi by Sarah Childress and Michael Bograd.

It explains much about the history and the geography of Adams County, it even gives something of the history of cotton in Mississippi, and that is not as straight forward as you would think.

It explains all the drainage basins of Mississippi, and takes an even closer look at the drainage of Adams County. Next it explains the geology of Adams County, and has several topographic, terrain, and geologic maps.

Here are some questions I found answers to in this book

The Clinton Nature Center Program

 

For the past few years, the MS Gem and Mineral Society has been working with the Clinton Nature Center to put on a program for youngsters about our rockhound hobby. Our latest program was this past January 29th. The members of the MS Gem and Mineral Society attending were Laura and Ron T., Jane and Lamar K., Ashley R., Ann H., Janie H., Betty J., Joy R., Dana D., and of course Matt D., who was very helpful. In addition, Charlie S. donated a bucket of gravel to be used during the program.

The children were very enthusiastic, and an entertaining and educational time was had by all. Thank you, Joy, for arranging this each year.
 

Mineral of the Month -- CHAROITE

 

Chemistry: K(Na, Ca)11(Ba, Sr)Si18O46(OH, F)-H2O, Hydrated Potassium Sodium Calcium Barium Strontium Silicate Hydroxide Fluoride.

Charoite is an unusual mineral and of rare occurrence. It is found to date in only one location: along the Chary River at Aldan in Russia. It formed from alteration of limestones by the close presences of an alkali-rich nephline syenite intrusion. The heat, pressure and more importantly, the infusion of unique chemicals into the rock is responsible for the transformations into new minerals such as charoite. Why charoite has not been found in other locations is not fully understood. But it is probably due to a combination of a chemically unique limestone reacting with a chemically unique intrusion and subjected to unique physical conditions.

Charoite is used as an ornamental stone and as a gemstone. It forms a swirling pattern of interlocking crystals. The color of charoite is described as a stunning lavender, lilac, violet and/or purple. All can be used as all are probably present in every swirling example. The look of charoite is unlike any other mineral and can't be mistaken. It has the appearance of purple marble, but really defies description. Its popularity would probably be much greater if not for its "synthetic" character. It simply looks unnaturally beautiful.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Copyright ©1995-2007 by Amethyst Galleries, Inc. http://mineral.galleries.com/default.htm and reprinted with permission

 

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