From owner-rockhounds-digest@drizzle.com Sun Jan 21 15:43:57 2001 Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2001 23:49:02 -0800 From: rockhounds-digest Reply-To: rockhounds@drizzle.com To: rockhounds-digest@drizzle.com Subject: rockhounds-digest V1 #753 rockhounds-digest Thursday, January 11 2001 Volume 01 : Number 753 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2001 00:50:52 +0000 From: niteowl@pageplus.com Subject: Re: Oldest rock Hi Bob and all, The forwarded information: "The oldest known intact rocks on Earth, located in northwestern Canada, are 3.96 billion years old." Somewhere recently I read the oldest rock found was Australia and dated 4.2 billions years old. Any one know for sure, or do I have to hunt facts up again?:>) Joseph Miller, Webmaster http://www.Colorado-Mall.com Sponsor your favorite Section of Colorado-Mall.com! E- mailto:sponsorship@Colorado-Mall.com Join our All ABOUT COLORADO a free weekly E-newsletter! To review archives and subscribe Go to: http://aboutColorado.listbot.com Or E- mailto:aboutColorado@Colorado-Mall.com with questions or comments! To be Happy, Joyous and Free Friends of Bill W. and Dr. Bob, Welcome! ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2001 09:21:28 EST From: JScully216@aol.com Subject: Re: Oldest rock CNN this morning reported the find of a zircon crystal over 4 billion years old. I did not catch where it was from. In a message dated 1/10/01 11:49:55 PM Pacific Standard Time, niteowl@pageplus.com writes: << Subj: Re: Oldest rock Date: 1/10/01 11:49:55 PM Pacific Standard Time From: niteowl@pageplus.com Sender: owner-rockhounds@drizzle.com Reply-to: rockhounds@drizzle.com To: rockhounds@drizzle.com Hi Bob and all, The forwarded information: "The oldest known intact rocks on Earth, located in northwestern Canada, are 3.96 billion years old." Somewhere recently I read the oldest rock found was Australia and dated 4.2 billions years old. Any one know for sure, or do I have to hunt facts up again?:>) Joseph Miller, Webmaster http://www.Colorado-Mall.com >> ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2001 08:22:50 -0700 From: "Peter J. Modreski" Subject: Re: Oldest rock Hi all, The oldest actual complete dated rock known in the world is still a gneiss from northern Canada, that is 3.96 billion years old. However, rocks of one age, can contain single, isolated mineral grains that are inherited from still older rocks. The mineral usually thus studied is zircon, because (1) zircon contains uranium and hence can readily be dated by lead-uranium isotope measurements, and (2) zircon is a very stable mineral, which may survive as intact crystals, even if the host rock around it is metamorphosed or even remelted. When the isotopic measurements are made with an ion microprobe, just the interiors of the zircon crystals can be analyzed, and the outer zones, which may have been subject to alteration, can be put aside. So, recent studies have reported that individual zircon crystals in old Precambrian rock in Australia are "inherited" from still older rocks, and the age of these zircon crystals has been measured to be 4.2 billion years old. There are several recent news stories which should be available on the www, about these old zircon crystals. (The crystals so studies are usually quite tiny--tenths of a millimeter or less in size.) Sincerely, Pete Modreski, Denver CO, pjmodreski@worldnet.att.net and U.S. Geological Survey, pmodresk@usgs.gov SCIENCE FOR A CHANGING WORLD http://www.usgs.gov > Hi Bob and all, > > The forwarded information: > "The oldest known intact rocks on Earth, located in northwestern Canada, > are 3.96 billion years old." > > Somewhere recently I read the oldest rock found was Australia and dated > 4.2 billions years old. > > Any one know for sure, or do I have to hunt facts up again?:>) > > Joseph Miller, Webmaster > http://www.Colorado-Mall.com > > Sponsor your favorite Section of Colorado-Mall.com! > E- mailto:sponsorship@Colorado-Mall.com > > Join our All ABOUT COLORADO a free weekly E-newsletter! > To review archives and subscribe > Go to: http://aboutColorado.listbot.com > Or > E- mailto:aboutColorado@Colorado-Mall.com with questions or comments! > > To be Happy, Joyous and Free > Friends of Bill W. and Dr. Bob, Welcome! > ################################################################# > # Rockhounds@drizzle Mailing Alias: rockhounds@drizzle.com # > # Web: http://www.drizzle.com/~afox/rockhounds/ # > # Subscription Services: majordomo@drizzle.com # > ################################################################# > ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2001 08:51:28 -0800 From: Art Berggreen Subject: Tucson get together? Any interest from those of us from these lists that are going to Tucson, in getting together? People have tried to meet the past couple of years at the Executive Inn in the evening. My wife and I will be in Tucson from late Sun. 4 through early Sat. 10. Art ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2001 19:34:06 +0100 From: "Dillen" Subject: RE: Tucson get together? >-----Original Message----- >From: owner-rockhounds@drizzle.com >[mailto:owner-rockhounds@drizzle.com]On Behalf Of Art Berggreen >Sent: donderdag 11 januari 2001 17:51 >To: rockhounds@drizzle.com; rocksandfossils@egroups.com >Subject: Tucson get together? > >Any interest from those of us from these lists that are going to Tucson, in >getting together? People have tried to meet the past couple of years at >the Executive Inn in the evening. My wife and I will be in Tucson from >late Sun. 4 through early Sat. 10. > "Tried" is the right word : last year we were 6 (3 of them being man+wife + one close friend... me)... Hope the initiative will be more succesful this time (BTW I will not be in Tucson ; if all of a sudden 200 people get together I will get my conclusions... :>)) Greetings, and have fun in Tucson, Rik Dillen Doornstraat 15 B-9170 Sint-Gillis-Waas Belgium Tel. + 32 3 770 6007 E-mail dillen@online.be Homepage : http://user.online.be/dillen/index.html >>> Belgian minerals (ardennite, vantasselite, ferristrunzite and more) >>> An own find on a Korean stamp >>> Exchange list Mineral collector's page http://www.minerant.org >>> The Dana errata page >>> The virtual quarry >>> and much more ! ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2001 13:41:43 -0600 From: TED KOWALSKI Subject: RE: Franklin NC Gary: Am I the first to reply?? Your MASMILS will probably give more prospects in the area, but... For my money I like: The Woodcreek mine. It's west of Asheville NC off of Route 40. I believe it's the Canton exit heading North. Follow signs to the Pressley mine (Same mine different halves of the family & they're not friendly to each other). Woodcreek is before you enter the Pressley. It's one fee and you can dig to your hearts content for corundum... The more you dig, the more you find...Much of it can star. Mostly it is gray colored, but I've found some stones with blue and some that are purplish. The last time we were there we dug in the front of the property and found stones that were generally smaller. Before that we dug in the back and found much larger stones (my son has one that weighs almost 400 grams) I've been to several places near Franklin itself and I can't tell you that I liked any of them... I did find a later reference to the Jacobs ruby mine, but haven't made it back for a return visit yet. You can check on Jacobs at http://www.gemmines.com/. Last I heard the mine closed for the winter (maybe for good) and is now for sale. I also heard about a dig site in the local National Forest. It's outside of Franklin (North? Maybe East) and it's called the chunky gal prospect. I was told to go past where most people dig & cross the hilltop & to dig there on the hillside. I did see some of the stuff from there. It's corundum with a pinkish cast. I understand that most of these corundum pieces are still in the host rock & that the host rock is tough stuff so check the boulders & bring heavier tools. Oh, and a 4-wheel drive may help. Also on the list for a future visit... Just not this year. I was told by a campground operator in Franklin that people would "pan" for tumbled corundum stones in the river by his campground. Didn't get to try myself. Last suggestion is that you join the Franklin club... If you need a contact, check with Franklin's mineral museum... It's staffed with club members. Ted Kowalski Fredericksburg, VA USA Tkowalsk@email.usps.gov Ted@crystalgems.com -----Original Message----- From: owner-rockhounds@cascadia.drizzle.com Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2001 5:38 PM To: TED KOWALSKI; rockhounds@drizzle.com Subject: Franklin NC Well, it looks like Franklin NC is pretty close to Greenvile SC. Garsh...it'll be different to go to the "other" Franklin after years of the one in NJ. Let's get an early start on the "What's The Best Place for Native Stones in Franklin" discussion (this seems to happen every year...may as well start it now). Ground rules... No "salting". No "foreign" minerals. Thanks... gcb ################################################################# # Rockhounds@drizzle Mailing Alias: rockhounds@drizzle.com # # Web: http://www.drizzle.com/~afox/rockhounds/ # # Subscription Services: majordomo@drizzle.com # ################################################################# ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2001 13:14:11 -0600 From: Tom.Bowers@sematech.org Subject: Email lists of Interest to all Facets (no pun intended) of the Ho bby Folks, Now that all of the "forming and storming" of new email lists has subsided for the moment, I thought it might be useful for the group to compile a comprehensive list of all related-subject email lists. I'll start with this email to the ones that I belong to. Additionally, for example I know that there are others dedicated to dinosaurs, micromounts, faceting, petrified wood, geoliterature, LA-Rocks, Texas Geology, etc., etc. I don't have their email addresses for those who might be interested in joining, but I know others of you do. Perhaps we could start a string of listing all such emails that we as a combined group are aware of. Might be fun just to see what that list looks like. Tom ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2001 13:40:13 -0600 From: Gary Brown Subject: RE: Franklin NC Heh, heh... I just did a search in MasMils and my map turned blue with all the mines. I figure my betters could do a bit of high-grading for me! gcb At 01:41 PM 1/11/01 -0600, you wrote: > >Gary: >Am I the first to reply?? Your MASMILS will probably give more prospects in the >area, but... ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2001 14:06:49 -0600 From: "Mel Albright" Subject: RMFMS February Newsletter The February RMFMS Newsletter is now posted at http://www.rmfms.org Mel Albright Hug or call someone you love today! ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2001 15:34:53 -0500 From: "sandra moss" Subject: Franklin N.C. Gary, The contact numbers for the Woodcreek mine are: Branson Wood 704-648-1613 (son) Tom wood 704-648-2304 (father) The collecting fee is 15.00 for the day. The correct exit name is Newfound Road. Off I-40. If you're heading west on i-40 turn right off the exit. Follow the Old Pressly signs to the Woods house. If no one is there to collect the fee, just proceed to dig. Someone will usually show up to collect. The best bet is to get into the gravel layer of the creek, although I've had better luck digging in the creek hill side. The only corundum I have from there is bright blue (when wet). I found a 9 & 1/2 pound piece and a solid 4 and 1/2 pound piece the same day. These were found digging closer to the barn. I also have a wonderful big blue cluster from there. It is hard work, but a worthwhile dig. I also found arrowheads and 1 spear head that Tom Wood says is prehistoric. Many indian artifacts have been recovered in this creek. I have always given the pottery I've found to Mr. Wood. Hope this helps. Have fun, please say hello for me. Regards Sandy Moss stonelady@msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2001 16:03:43 -0500 From: "sandra moss" Subject: Chunky Gal Gary, Ask anyone in Franklin for directions to Chunky Gal Mountain. No 4-wheel drive is needed. At the parking area you would proceed on foot up the Mt., paths are visible. Not a long walk but considerably uphill. Pull straight into the parking area, the path should be directly ahead of you. The material there is Ruby in Zoisite. If you have the Audubon guide to minerals. There is a wonderful picture of the material on page 84. It looks a lot like the Chunky Gal material. It is very pretty, and I have seen some knock-out cabs made from it. I found many pieces of Ruby screening the dirt there. They are flat pieces that I suppose weathered out of the Zoisite. They are a very bright pink and solid. I brought home some large green rocks with the ruby sticking out of them. The color contrast is wonderful. In the summertime, this place is rattle snake heaven. I saw 2 large ones the last time I was there. Also someone had killed one (for shame) and left it on the trail. Ted is right, this stuff is HARD, take some large tools for breaking rocks. Regards, Sandy Moss stonelady@msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2001 14:36:17 -0800 From: Teresa Masters Subject: Re: [Fwd: "Lapidary Digest" #0] Kreigh and Hale, Whooppeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Teresa ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 00:29:31 +0100 From: "snjezy" Subject: RE: sector growth Thanks , it helps a lot..! I saw sector growth on tourmaline crystals of foitite-schorl composition (Fe!), and was manifested in brightly orange-brown coloured, sort of sharp edged "spots" on cross sections more or less perpendicular to c axis. Tourmaline crystals (3-5 cm in length) was dark brownish coloured, finely zoned, with few bluish zones and parts. I agree that most likely it is a result of rapid growth of crystals during agressive fluctuation of material rich fluids (wallrock derived). Could it be that the colour difference of particular sector is in oxidized states (valence) of Fe or Ti... ? Thanks again for answering, Nives P.S. Sorry for my bad english... ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2001 15:35:20 -0800 From: David Guin Subject: Theresa Masters Terrie, I did not get the posting about Bob Fitzpatrick. Could you send it again? Peace, dave ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2001 18:45:21 EST From: MrMineral555@aol.com Subject: Re: Tucson get together? I tried to go to the get together last year at Tucson but I couldnt find it and I think thats why lots of folks didnt show up. I got lost and somehow ended up in a meeting room with these people who I think were jehova witnesses and they werent very receptive to me talking about my minerals and stuff. One guy cussed at me and told me I had rocks in my head and I left feeling real iritated. Joe ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2001 18:47:44 -0500 From: Kreigh Tomaszewski Subject: [Fwd: FW: fyi] Oldest Rock Article This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - --------------77967F43494F Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Here is the article you were looking for...and you read it here on this list. Kreigh Tomaszewski Mailto:Kreigh@Tomaszewski.net Please visit our family web pages at http://Tomaszewski.net - --------------77967F43494F Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline Return-Path: Received: from 192.168.2.26 (127.0.0.1) by mail.home.tomaszewski.net with SMTP (Eudora Internet Mail Server 1.3.1); Wed, 10 Jan 2001 23:21:30 -0500 Return-Path: Received: from cascadia.drizzle.com (cascadia.drizzle.com [216.162.192.17]) by hood.cnchost.com id WAA29899; Wed, 10 Jan 2001 22:11:32 -0500 (EST) [ConcentricHost SMTP MX 1.19] Errors-To: Received: (from majordom@localhost) by cascadia.drizzle.com (8.11.1/8.11.1) id f0B32v705247 for rockhounds-doit; Wed, 10 Jan 2001 19:02:57 -0800 X-Authentication-Warning: cascadia.drizzle.com: majordom set sender to owner-rockhounds@drizzle.com using -f Received: from mantis.privatei.com (mantis.privatei.com [208.203.136.20]) by cascadia.drizzle.com (8.11.1/8.11.1) with ESMTP id f0B32sL05233 for ; Wed, 10 Jan 2001 19:02:54 -0800 Received: from peaktopeak (c176.denver.dial.forethought.net [216.241.33.176]) by mantis.privatei.com (8.8.8/8.8.8) with SMTP id UAA03221 for ; Wed, 10 Jan 2001 20:02:51 -0700 (MST) From: "Bob Loeffler" To: "Rockhounds" Subject: FW: fyi Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2001 20:04:20 -0700 Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 (Normal) X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook IMO, Build 9.0.2416 (9.0.2910.0) X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.00.2919.6700 Importance: Normal Sender: owner-rockhounds@drizzle.com Precedence: bulk Reply-To: rockhounds@drizzle.com A friend of mine gave this article to me today. I think she got it over the AP newswire (she works in a Denver PR firm). I thought it was very interesting. Bob Loeffler North Jeffco Gem & Mineral Club http://www.peaktopeak.com/minerals/njeffco/ JANUARY 10, 14:00 EST Scientists ID Oldest Known Crystal By JOSEPH B. VERRENGIA AP Science Writer Scientists have found a crystal believed to be at least 4.3 billion years old, making it the oldest known solid on Earth. And they say its sparkling facets contain hints that oceans, continents and perhaps even life itself developed much earlier than previously thought. The grain of zircon, hardly wider than a human hair, was born in a molten fury not long after Earth formed. It was discovered inside younger stone in what is now Australia. "It represents a significant advance in reconstructing Earth's Dark Ages," said geologist Alex N. Halliday of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich. He was not involved in the research. Zircon is a durable crystal made of silicon, oxygen and zirconium, among other elements. The oldest grain identified is one of a dozen very old crystals extracted from the Jack Hills section of northwestern Australia. Two studies of the grains were conducted independently by international research teams. Their results were published in Thursday's issue of the journal Nature. One study reports that the oldest zircon is at least 4.3 billion years old. The second study puts its age at up to 4.4 billion years old. "We are pretty confident," said T. Mark Harrison, a UCLA geochemist and co-author of one of the studies. "Two studies conducted independently apparently have come to the same conclusion." Both research teams dated the zircon grains by analyzing their isotopes of uranium. Uranium decays into lead. By calculating the ratio of uranium to lead, they determined that a dozen of the grains were very old indeed. Both teams used a high-resolution ion microprobe and a mass spectrometer to analyze the crystals. Earth is believed to have formed into a terrestrial planet 4.56 billion years ago when swirling space debris and gas clumped together. The researchers said the zircon crystals grew from molten granite that formed at high temperatures more than 10 miles below the Earth's surface. The oldest crystal's geochemical properties offer a glimpse into Earth's early conditions. Researchers said the zircon's high level of heavy oxygen isotopes suggest it was cooled by surface water after it formed. If correct, this means that oceans appeared 200 million to 300 million years after Earth's formation. In this water, they speculate, simple life might have spawned. Current research holds that life appeared on Earth 3.9 billion years ago. "Our results raise the possibility that a biosphere could have arisen on Earth 400 million years earlier than is now thought," Harrison said. "But it's not a smoking gun." The oldest known intact rocks on Earth, located in northwestern Canada, are 3.96 billion years old. "The stage was set 4.3 billion years ago for life to emerge on Earth," said University of Colorado astrobiologist Steven J. Mojzsis, Harrison's colleague on the study. "There was probably already in place an atmosphere, an ocean, and a stable crust within about 200 million years of the Earth's formation." - --------------77967F43494F-- ################################################################# # Rockhounds@drizzle Mailing Alias: rockhounds@drizzle.com # # Web: http://www.drizzle.com/~afox/rockhounds/ # # Subscription Services: majordomo@drizzle.com # ################################################################# ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2001 18:52:27 EST From: Lapidry@aol.com Subject: Re: Email lists of Interest to all Facets (no pun intended) of the Ho bby - --part1_6a.a4ffa6f.278fa13b_boundary Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Language: en Tom: I'll get things started, here's an article I wrote for the facetors in our=20 club last January. It's a year old so it may be a little outdated. Faceting Information on the Internet=20 By Dan Imel Below is a list of Internet sites worth visiting. To be included in this=20 article, they all include shareware software, designs or how-to information.= =20 Most of the sites listed are commercial sites where the owner is hoping you=20 will also buy from them. In most cases, I know little about the web site=20 owner or the quality of their material and neither recommend nor warn agains= t=20 buying from any of the sites listed.=20 First, a chance to download a sample of a very promising program still being= =20 developed: http://www.gemcad.ne= t/index.html The GemCad web site provides=20 multiple facet designs as well as most of the faceting software currently=20 available. Especially noteworthy is the new Gemprint preview by Robert=20 Strickland. This is a print-only preliminary version of the not yet released= =20 Windows version of GemCad. GemCad is probably the most popular program in us= e=20 for creating and viewing gem designs on your computer. Until now, it has onl= y=20 been available for DOS. The new Windows preview looks very promising. You ca= n=20 use it to view and print existing designs but it won=E2=80=99t allow you to=20= change=20 the refractive index or save modifications as well as several other=20 limitations the full version will have available when it is released. It als= o=20 provides a link so you may subscribe to Facetor=E2=80=99s Digest. This is on= e of the=20 better daily digests of information on faceting. I urge you to subscribe. Th= e=20 Facet Shoppe=E2=80=99s web site graciously provides all back issues of Facet= or=E2=80=99s=20 Digest in a monthly Zipped format. To download these files, go to: http://www.gemcutter.com/digest.htm=20 Another excellent site for facet information and designs are the facet pages= =20 on Bob=E2=80=99s Rock Shop. As of last count there are 43 designs available=20= for free=20 downloading as well as a Zip file of these designs that downloads very=20 quickly and can be viewed and printed by the Gemprint mentioned above. Also=20 available on the same page are a few how-to articles. Bob=E2=80=99s Rockshop= also=20 contains a great deal of non-facet related information. The address is: http://www.rockhounds.com/rockshop/gem_designs/index.html=20 If you=E2=80=99re interested in building your own machine or adding a digita= l=20 readout, try Jonathan Rolfe=E2=80=99s website. Jon, known as =E2=80=9CGearlo= ose=E2=80=9D on the=20 internet, is the maker of BATT polishing cast tin alloy laps. They've been=20 getting great reviews from the folks on the Facetor=E2=80=99s Digest. He als= o has=20 instructions for cutting a heart he calls =E2=80=9CLe Coeur de la Mer II=E2= =80=9D. Explore=20 around his site at: http://= www.gearloose.com/newgem.html=20 Excellent instructions for determining what you are doing wrong while=20 polishing can be found on Lance Kanaby=E2=80=99s site. I=E2=80=99ve spoken w= ith Lance (Mine=20 Design or GemData) to encourage him to post a few facet designs there also.=20 Other worthwhile faceting information is also posted on his site: http://www.gemdata.com/facet/facet1.html=20 Some good general information on faceting and other lapidary areas are=20 provided on John Miller=E2=80=99s Gemology and Lapidary Pages. I haven't fou= nd=20 anything in the way of designs or software but it=E2=80=99s still worth the=20= visit.=20 His web site is: http:= //www.tradeshop.com/gems/howcut.html=20 For more instructions on =E2=80=9CHow Too=E2=80=9D, try the Rock Peddler's s= ite.=20 Instructions on the use of many of the items they sell including tin and=20 ceramic laps and how to dop stones are available: http://www.donriddle.com/Catalog/p244.htm=20 A site with a true international flavor is the Swedish web site of=20 FACETTM=C3=96NSTER, Editor: Torbj=C3=B6rn Lorin: http://www.sarf.org/gems/design.html=20 The Josefina Cut designed by the editor of the site is available for=20 download. The site also provides several links for other mineral related=20 interests. Unfortunately for us English-speakers, only a portion is in=20 English but you can do the same thing I do and guess a lot.=20 Another good site for information is The United States Faceters=E2=80=99 Gui= ld site.=20 It lists available articles including Sequencing Facets by Fred Van Sant.=20 They also have an application form to join USFG available on the site. Their= =20 newsletter can be quite good. http://members.tripod.com/~USFG/#membership= =20 International Gem Society offers several articles in subjects like Faceting,= =20 choosing rough or retrofitting your facet machine with a digital readout as=20 well as how to use all those CD=E2=80=99s AOL keeps sending you to polish ge= mstones.=20 Their web site is: http= ://www.gemsociety.org/info/info.htm =20 Jeff Graham, Gram Faceting, has a nice web site showing several of his=20 designs. Most of these are also available at Bob's Rock Shop but a few are=20 new. Also available for purchase are a series of facet designs Jeff has=20 published. To view these designs, go to: http://www.faceters.com/designs/=20 The American Federation(AFMS) has a relatively new web site with various=20 information and around a half dozen designs available for downloading. Most=20 of these designs, too, have been published elsewhere but it=E2=80=99s a site= worth=20 checking out since I have a feeling that they'll have additional designs in=20 the future. Take the time to sign up for their e-mail list. The site for the= =20 designs is: htt= p://www.amfed.org/faceters/faqs_designs.shtml=20 I'll give one last site offering cutting diagrams: http://www.vipxlnet.com/lapilia/designa1.htm Most designs at Lapilia are= by=20 the site owner, Claude Marc-Aurele. You'll notice a few of his designs on=20 other sites such as Bob=E2=80=99s Rockshop but there are a few new ones here= also.=20 The above list of web sites is anything but complete. With the rapid growth=20 of the Internet, this would be next to impossible. It is, however, a list of= =20 many of the major sites. I hope you enjoy exploring all the possibilities.=20 Make sure you check out other pages on the web sites and other links you wil= l=20 find. You'll run across some fantastic pictures of both lapidary materials=20 and minerals. The most important part is HAVE FUN!!!=20 To use Zip files (used to condense files for faster download), you'll need=20 WinZip or a similar product to extract the files so you may use them. If you= =20 don't already have it, a fully functional trial version of WinZip is=20 available free. Their Web site is: http:/= /www.winzip.com. The current version=20 is 8.0. In a message dated 1/11/2001 2:15:18 PM Eastern Standard Time,=20 Tom.Bowers@sematech.org writes: > Folks, >=20 > Now that all of the "forming and storming" of new email lists has subsided= =20 > for > the moment, I thought it might be useful for the group to compile a > comprehensive list of all related-subject email lists. I'll start with th= is > email to the ones that I belong to. Additionally, for example I know that= =20 > there > are others dedicated to dinosaurs, micromounts, faceting, petrified wood, > geoliterature, LA-Rocks, Texas Geology, etc., etc. I don't have their ema= il > addresses for those who might be interested in joining, but I know others=20 > of you > do. Perhaps we could start a string of listing all such emails that we as= a > combined group are aware of. Might be fun just to see what that list look= s > like. >=20 > Tom >=20 - --part1_6a.a4ffa6f.278fa13b_boundary Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Language: en Tom:

I'll get things started, here's an article I wrote for the facetors in o= ur
club last January. It's a year old so it may be a little outdated.

Faceting Information on the Internet=20
By Dan Imel

Below is a list of Internet sites worth visiting. To be included in this=
article, they all include shareware software, designs or how-to informa= tion.
Most of the sites listed are commercial sites where the owner is h= oping you
will also buy from them. In most cases, I know little about th= e web site
owner or the quality of their material and neither recommend=20= nor warn against
buying from any of the sites listed.=20

First, a chance to download a sample of a very promising program still b= eing
developed: http://www.= gemcad.net/index.html The GemCad web site provides
multiple f= acet designs as well as most of the faceting software currently
availabl= e. Especially noteworthy is the new Gemprint preview by Robert
Stricklan= d. This is a print-only preliminary version of the not yet released
Wind= ows version of GemCad. GemCad is probably the most popular program in use for creating and viewing gem designs on your computer. Until now, it has o= nly
been available for DOS. The new Windows preview looks very promising= . You can
use it to view and print existing designs but it won=E2=80=99t= allow you to change
the refractive index or save modifications as well=20= as several other
limitations the full version will have available when i= t is released. It also
provides a link so you may subscribe to Faceto= r=E2=80=99s Digest. This is one of the
better daily digests of infor= mation on faceting. I urge you to subscribe. The
Facet Shoppe=E2=80= =99s web site graciously provides all back issues of Facetor=E2=80=99s <= BR>Digest in a monthly Zipped format. To download these files, go to:  =
http://www.gemcutter.com= /digest.htm=20

Another excellent site for facet information and designs are the facet p= ages
on Bob=E2=80=99s Rock Shop. As of last count there are 43 de= signs available for free
downloading as well as a Zip file of these desi= gns that downloads very
quickly and can be viewed and printed by the Gem= print mentioned above. Also
available on the same page are a few how-to=20= articles. Bob=E2=80=99s Rockshop also
contains a great deal of non-facet= related information. The address is:
http://www.rockhounds.com/rockshop/gem_d= esigns/index.html=20

If you=E2=80=99re interested in building your own machine or adding a di= gital
readout, try Jonathan Rolfe=E2=80=99s website. Jon, known as =E2= =80=9CGearloose=E2=80=9D on the
internet, is the maker of BATT po= lishing cast tin alloy laps. They've been
getting great reviews from the= folks on the Facetor=E2=80=99s Digest. He also has
instructions for cut= ting a heart he calls =E2=80=9CLe Coeur de la Mer II=E2=80=9D. Explore
a= round his site at: http://w= ww.gearloose.com/newgem.html=20

Excellent instructions for determining what you are doing wrong while polishing can be found on Lance Kanaby=E2=80=99s site. I=E2=80=99ve spoken= with Lance (Mine
Design or GemData) to encourage him to post a f= ew facet designs there also.
Other worthwhile faceting information is al= so posted on his site: =
http://www.gemdata.com/facet/facet1.html=20

Some good general information on faceting and other lapidary areas are <= BR>provided on John Miller=E2=80=99s Gemology and Lapidary Pages. I h= aven't found
anything in the way of designs or software but it=E2=80=99s= still worth the visit.
His web site is: http://www.tradeshop.com/gems/howcut.html=20

For more instructions on =E2=80=9CHow Too=E2=80=9D, try the Rock Pedd= ler's site.
Instructions on the use of many of the items they sell i= ncluding tin and
ceramic laps and how to dop stones are available:
http://www.donriddle.co= m/Catalog/p244.htm=20

A site with a true international flavor is the Swedish web site of FACETTM=C3=96NSTER, Editor: Torbj=C3=B6rn Lorin: http://www.sarf.org/gems/design.html
The= Josefina Cut designed by the editor of the site is available for
downlo= ad. The site also provides several links for other mineral related
inter= ests. Unfortunately for us English-speakers, only a portion is in
Englis= h but you can do the same thing I do and guess a lot.=20

Another good site for information is The United States Faceters=E2= =80=99 Guild site.
It lists available articles including Sequencing=20= Facets by Fred Van Sant.
They also have an application form to join USFG= available on the site. Their
newsletter can be quite good. http://member= s.tripod.com/~USFG/#membership
International Gem Society offe= rs several articles in subjects like Faceting,
choosing rough or retrofi= tting your facet machine with a digital readout as
well as how to use al= l those CD=E2=80=99s AOL keeps sending you to polish gemstones.
Their we= b site is:  http://= www.gemsociety.org/info/info.htm  

Jeff Graham, Gram Faceting, has a nice web site showing several o= f his
designs. Most of these are also available at Bob's Rock Shop but a= few are
new. Also available for purchase are a series of facet designs=20= Jeff has
published. To view these designs, go to: http://www.faceters.com/designs/=20

The American Federation(AFMS) has a relatively new web site with=20= various
information and around a half dozen designs available for downlo= ading. Most
of these designs, too, have been published elsewhere but it= =E2=80=99s a site worth
checking out since I have a feeling that they'll= have additional designs in
the future. Take the time to sign up for the= ir e-mail list. The site for the
designs is: http://www.amfed.org/faceters/faqs_designs= .shtml=20

I'll give one last site offering cutting diagrams:
http://www.vipxlnet.com/lapilia/desi= gna1.htm Most designs at Lapilia are by
the site owner, Claud= e Marc-Aurele. You'll notice a few of his designs on
other sites such as= Bob=E2=80=99s Rockshop but there are a few new ones here also.=20

The above list of web sites is anything but complete. With the rapid gro= wth
of the Internet, this would be next to impossible. It is, however, a= list of
many of the major sites. I hope you enjoy exploring all the pos= sibilities.
Make sure you check out other pages on the web sites and oth= er links you will
find. You'll run across some fantastic pictures of bot= h lapidary materials
and minerals. The most important part is HAVE FU= N!!!=20

To use Zip files (used to condense files for faster download), you'll ne= ed
WinZip or a similar product to extract the files so you may use them.= If you
don't already have it, a fully functional trial version of WinZi= p is
available free. Their Web site is: http://www.winzip.com. The current version
is 8.0.

In a message dated 1/11/2001 2:15:18 PM Eastern Standard Time,
Tom.B= owers@sematech.org writes:


Folks,

Now that all of the "forming and storming" of new email lists has subsid= ed
for
the moment, I thought it might be useful for the group to compile a
comprehensive list of all related-subject email lists.  I'll start=20= with this
email to the ones that I belong to.  Additionally, for example I kn= ow that
there
are others dedicated to dinosaurs, micromounts, faceting, petrified wood= ,
geoliterature, LA-Rocks, Texas Geology, etc., etc.  I don't have th= eir email
addresses for those who might be interested in joining, but I know other= s
of you
do.  Perhaps we could start a string of listing all such emails tha= t we as a
combined group are aware of.  Might be fun just to see what that li= st looks
like.

Tom






































































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