July 14th, 2018 Red Top West Side Field Trip Report

Field trip reports

We had a group of 7 vehicles and 15 people from CMS and guests from the Marysville Club for this trip on July 14th. The weather was great.  Clear blue skies, mid-70s, a breeze blowing in from the west.  Gorgeous views over the Teanaway River Valley.

After meeting at the Mineral Springs Store, we drove 7 1/2 miles on gravel.

From road looking to the west:

 

This is what we’re looking for (these agates polished from last year’s dig):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After digging a couple of hours, breakaway lunch group:

And a few that didn’t break for lunch:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few pieces barely washed:

A couple of crystal plates:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the tail end of my day I dug out 4 large jasper-agates.  Anxious to see what a slab of that looks like.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phillip’s haul (posted on the Facebook Group page)

And after washing and sorting the rhyolite out of mine:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trip Report Submitted by Roger Danneman CMS Field Trip Leader.

Updated: July 17, 2018 — 10:11 am

Presidents Message

  • From the Top of the Rock Pile Our annual club picnic went off great. The grass and Arboretum area was not wet or muddy, plus it didn’t rain while we were there. We had the usual club members attend, plus a few new faces. I forgot to count how many people attended, but I estimate around 40. Thank you, Angie and Brian, for shopping for the food and setting everything up. Thumbler’s Tumblers donated a tumbler for our picnic auction and another one for our holiday auction in December. The new double-barreled 15# tumbler sold for $120, approximately one-third the …

Meeting Announcements

  • We are going to show a video of the most unusual and amazing things found in Amber. It isn’t just insects. We are also going to have a recap of how our Gem Show did last month. Show ‘n Tell: An item that has something trapped inside or a picture rock, thunder egg, or geode that looks like it has an insect, animal, or face inside.

  • This meeting will cover the “Geologic History of Washington State.” The meeting will be an interactive program designed to tell the story of the complex geologic history of our state. It works for kids as well as adults, with families working together to assemble the state.   Show ‘n Tell: Favorite rock or mineral from Washington.

  • Glen Ripper is a leading authority on Obsidian. He is a walking encyclopedia which should make this an interesting and educational meeting. Show ‘n Tell: Obsidian – let’s see your colors.

  •   We start the day off with a potluck holiday meal. The club provides roasted turkey and ham. Members fill in with their favorite holiday potluck dish. We follow our meal with the election of officers for the coming year. Our final activity is our club auction. It is a great time to pick up great bargains on rough rocks, polished rocks, slabs, fossils, opal, etc. Our Young Tumblers can use their Rock Bucks to purchase auction items. This meeting is also our semi-annual food drive for the Kent Food Bank. Please remember to bring something. The Food Bank has informed us that they need feminine hygiene products and grape or strawberry jelly. People donate loads of peanut butter but never jelly. They also receive very few donations of feminine hygiene products.

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