Happy Chinese New Year! This year is the Year of the Ram/Goat/Sheep (the language is ambiguous). This statue is in Guangzhou, a city in China that is also known as the City of Rams. The Five-Ram Sculpture is one of the most famous structures in Guangzhou. It was made of marble and installed in 1959, and has become the emblem of the city. Legend has it that more than 2,000 years ago, the city was a barren land with people who despite hard work were suffering from famine. One day five immortals in five-color garments came riding on five rams, playing their legendary music. The rams held sheaves of rice in their mouths. The immortals left the sheaves of rice for the local people, gave blessings to the city and left. The rams turned into stone and the city became a rich and populous place.
Read about famous Rams here: http://www.shenyun.com/whatsnew/article/e/tFQkYjOR8PI/year-of-the-sheep-goat-chinese-new-year-history.html
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Estate Sale
The sale is over, so the contact form is no longer available. Thank you for your interest.
Happy January Birthdays!
Cake and photo by Stephanie Reed
We had several Show-Me Rockhound members with birthdays in January, and I got thinking about what kind of cake a rockhound would like. I’ve seen some amazing geology-themed cakes but I’m not skilled enough at cake decorating to come close to those. Then I saw these chocolate rocks at Price Chopper and I knew exactly what to do. This is the result. Happy birthday, David, Charley, and Sharon!
Mastodon Bones Found in Michigan Backyard
Photo: Rod Sanford/Lansing State Journal
Reblogged from ESCONI (Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois): When we say we enjoy finding fossils in our own backyard, we are usually speaking metaphorically. Eric Witcke means it literally. He and neighbor Daniel LaPoint were excavating a backyard pond at his home in Bellevue Township, Michigan, when they unearthed a paleontological treasure. They called in the some experts from the University of Michigan’s Museum of Paleontology and were told the 42 odd bones belonged to a 37 year old male Mastodon. The Mastodon lived between 10,000 and 14,000 years ago.
Daniel Fisher, the director of the U of M museum, has made two trips to confirm and examine the Bellevue Township find.
He said there have been a total of about 330 confirmed mastodon bone discoveries in Michigan — but just two in the last year. Most of the bones have been found in the southern half of the lower peninsula. Sometimes people find just a tooth or tusk.
LaPoint and Witzke’s collection includes several rib bones, leg, shoulder and hip bones, the base of a tusk and pieces of the animal’s vertebrae.
Fisher has spent several hours looking through what they found and believes the mastodon was a 37-year-old male.
“Preliminary examination indicates that the animal may have been butchered by humans,” said Fisher. Bones show what look like tool marks, in places.
The bones are between 10,000 and 14,000 years old. Fisher said once they’ve been donated to the museum the exact age will likely be narrowed to within 200 or 300 years.
The full story is here.
Gem Shows Updated
I have updated the list of gem shows for the beginning of 2015. There typically aren’t any gem or mineral shows in December or January but they are starting again so you can resume regularly checking this page. Remember, it’s not too early to start thinking about the big Kansas City show down by the airport.
IGAMS Christmas Party
At the IGAMS Christmas Party, there was a potluck dinner and a White Elephant gift exchange.
Photo by Stephanie Reed
We love the mineral specimens on your shirt.
Photo by Stephanie Reed
Everyone in a circle preparing for the White Elephant Gift Exchange.
Photo by Stephanie Reed
You could have received one of these! The gifts included rocks, wire wrapped necklaces, shark teeth, books about rocks, a hammer, a can of beans, calendars, and much more. Perhaps you’ll join us next year.
Photo by Stephanie Reed
A Lapidarist’s Night Before Christmas
‘Twas the night before Christmas
And all through the house
Not a Rockhound was stirring,
I felt like a louse.
For the lapidary gifts I was making this year
Lay down on my bench, UNFINISHED, I fear!
The pendant my dear wife wanted so much
As I polished the cab, it fractured with a touch;
And the lovely jade brooch for Grandma so sweet,
Just wouldn’t polish – it looked terribly beat.
As for Sister’s new bracelet with baroques dangling lightly,
I ran out of bell caps after the stores were closed tightly.
Then the tie clasp for Uncle that would make such a hit,
After I cut the cab, no mounting would fit!
And even Junior’s new crystal growing set
Though I’d sent for it months ago, had not arrived yet!
So I tossed and I turned as though caught in a trap.
I could not settle down for a “long winter’s nap.”
When all of a sudden I heard such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
I raced for the door then saw with a flick,
A red-suited man I was sure was Saint Nick.
As I reached for my robe and was turning around,
Down the basement stairs, Santa went with a bound.
He went straight to my workbench to see what I lacked,
Then with a nod of his head, he opened his pack.
Out tumbled such mountings and bell caps without stop,
I was sure Santa must own a lapidary shop!
He said not a word but went straight to work,
And finished each piece, then grabbed his pack with a jerk.
And shaking his white-bearded face with much glee,
Took out some new slabs I knew were for me!
Then laying his finger aside his nose,
With a nod of satisfaction, up the stairway he rose.
Went straight to the door, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim ‘ere he drove out of sight,
“Merry Christmas, Dear Rockhounds, and to you a good night.”
Source: Hy Grader, Coastal Waves 2005, Scribe 2010, Lake Rocker Newsletter 12/2012, The Gemrock 12/2014.
Rockhounds at the Library
Photo by Stephanie Reed
This is what a typical Show-Me Rockhounds meeting looks like.
Fall Gem and Mineral Show in KC
Photo by Stephanie Reed
We had a great time selling rocks at the 36th Annual Shows of Integrity Fall Gem & Mineral Show in Kansas City! If you missed it, mark your calendar now for the spring show on March 13-15, 2015 (same location, the KCI Expo Center). It will be even bigger!
Photo by D. Reed
When you spin our wheel, every spin is guaranteed to win a prize. This year, the prizes included turquoise, shark teeth, and Apache tears.
Photo by Stephanie Reed
Some of the rockhounds who helped set up and run the booth.
Announcing Agate Month
Hello, readers! First of all, thanks for reading the Show-Me Rockhounds Blog, even if you don’t live in Kansas City or you don’t collect rocks. I really appreciate all of you.
Second of all, I hereby declare October to be Agate Month. You are probably familiar with banded agates and maybe a few other types, but wait until you see how many other colors and patterns there are. So follow us as we post a unique agate every weekday for the month of October.
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