We couldn’t resist sharing pics of Christmas Tree Agate, found by a member of Pasadena Lapidary Society while out visiting the Southern Cady Mountains/Lavic Siding area.
Christmas Tree Agate
North Cadys Fieldtrip; Nov. 27-29, 2020
PLS Members visited one of our favorite spots for gemstones in the North Cady Mountains, about three hours northeast of Pasadena, over Thanksgiving weekend.
The Cady Mountains have produced more gemstones than almost any other Southern California location and we explored the northern part of the range, looking for jasper, agate, fluorite, calcite, and amethyst in places where few rock hounds go. You can join us in the Cadys sometime in the future, by becoming a member of Pasadena Lapidary Society. Check out the photos below to see some of our finds.
Jasper agate
Calcite with fluorite
Mud tube agate
Orbicular red jasper
March Program Meeting CANCELED
Our March Program Meeting, originally scheduled for Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in the Donald Wright Auditorium of the Pasadena Central Library, has been canceled based on guidance from the Pasadena Library administration in consideration of the Coronavirus. Information will be posted here in the weeks to come regarding the April Program meeting. Stay safe out there.
Rhodochrosite Focus of February 18th Meeting
Rhodochrosite is so popular with members of Pasadena Lapidary Society that we’re bringing back a two-part video featuring the mining and geology of this lovely mineral. Part One will be presented at the Tuesday, February 18th program meeting. Rhodochrosite is a manganese carbonate mineral that ranges in color from light pink to bright red.
The February Rock of the Month Talk speaker is PLS member Karl Stull. Karl will share some tips and ideas for organizing a co-op display case for Pasadena Lapidary Society’s Annual Gem Show, coming in April.
April 2020 Show CANCELLED
PLS Takes a Look at Picture Rocks for January 21 Program Meeting
Pasadena Lapidary Society members are continually picking up rocks, wondering what might be inside if cut. More often than not, as one might guess, the inside of a rock can be very similar to the outside. Every now and then, however, we’re happily surprised to find a sparkling cluster of crystals, bursts of unexpected colors or even images inside a rock. These images can be eerily realistic, or perhaps resemble an impressionist painting of beach scenes, faces, landscapes, etc. Ken Rogers of the Culver City Rock & Mineral Club, will be the featured speaker at our Tuesday, January 21st meeting when he discusses “Pictures in Rocks”. Attendees of the meeting are encouraged to bring their own favorite picture rocks to share on the Display Table.
Our January Rock of the Month talk will be presented by PLS member David Lacy with a focus on Feldspar. Did you know that Moonstone and Labradorite are feldspars? Come to the meeting to find out more about this luminescent mineral.
The Tuesday, January 21st meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium of the Pasadena Main Library at 285 E. Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA 91101. Open to the public. FREE. Come join us for some rock fun!
NO DECEMBER PROGRAM MEETING
We will be holding our annual Christmas Party instead of the December program meeting. The members of Pasadena Lapidary Society wish you a lovely and memorable Holiday Season.
PLS November 12 Meeting Features Kokoweef Caves
Pasadena Lapidary Society’s November meeting is being held one week early — on Tuesday, Nov. 12.
Have you heard the legend of the river of gold in the Kokoweef Caves of the Mojave Desert? Several versions of the story are out there, involving three Paiute brothers, George, Buck and Oliver Peysert, who discovered a limestone cave with a huge crystal stalactite and an underground river containing gold.
Pasadena Lapidary Society member Carolyn Duncan, who visited the Kokoweef Caves some 30 years ago and brought back specimens of cave onyx, will provide a presentation on this legendary part of the Mojave Desert. She will be displaying some of the specimens at the meeting.
Junior PLS member, Alyson Nishimura, will discuss rocks and minerals of the Yermo, CA area for the November Rock of the Month Talk.
Our meeting will be held in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium of the Pasadena Central Library at 285 E. Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA 91101. Tuesday, November 12, 6:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.
A view from 95,000 feet up…
With the snow-capped Sierras in the very distant background, our little meteorite and Golden Bear pose for the Earth to Sky Calculus camera.
The Pasadena Lapidary Society (PLS) just sent a meteorite slice back to space!! PLS members engaged the Earth to Sky Calculus Club to launch a helium balloon carrying a pallasite meteorite slice from a launch site near Bishop, CA, up 95,000 feet into the stratosphere, often called “the edge of space”. A pallasite meteorite is a rare type of stony-iron meteorite containing olivine crystals of peridot in an iron-nickel matrix. The meteorite weighs 9.75 grams and was found originally in the Republic of Belarus. The balloon traveled over the snowy Sierra Nevada of central California on February 23, 2019. After the balloon popped, the meteorite was parachuted back to Earth, landing on the eastern edge of Death Valley National Park, where it was recovered the next day. The meteorite will be on display at the upcoming California Federation of Mineralogical Societies (CFMS) Gem and Mineral Show, March 8-10, 2019 at Fairplex, Expo Hall 6, in Pomona. An image of the meteorite will be viewable in the days to come by way of spaceweather.com. It will be back-dropped against the blackness of space and the curvature of the Earth, in a frame announcing the CFMS Show, along with a ‘Golden Bear’ figure (unofficial mascot of the CFMS).
PLS, a non-profit organization, is co-hosting the CFMS show, entitled California’s Natural Treasures. The show features many exciting things to experience: a Kid’s area with fun games about rocks, minerals and fossils; grab bags containing rocks, crystals, and minerals; special exhibits such as the aforementioned meteorite, display cases where members of different rock and gem societies in the CFMS show off their talents and compete for awards; gold-panning for real gold; wonderful, highly-coveted raffle prizes made and donated by PLS members; a silent auction with colorful rock slabs, collectible mineral specimens and other items; live demonstrations of jewelry making and other lapidary skills; dealers with meteorites, gems, minerals, jewelry, fossils, tools, equipment, books, maps, and many other unique items. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for teens 12-17, seniors (60+) and active military; Free for kids under 12, accompanied by paying adult. Hours are 10-5 Friday and Saturday, and 10-4 Sunday.
Calling All PLS Members
Please visit this page for important information regarding the CFMS Show next month:
https://pasadenalapidary.org/pls-members-corner-2/