March 16th, 2019 Baker Lake Field Trip Report

Field trip reports

We had beautiful weather for this fieldtrip to Baker Lake and Swift Creek.  There was still quite a bit of snow to cross, but the waters were relatively shallow and easy to pick with waders and gloves.  7 CMS members made this trip. There’s interesting jasper (with golds, greens, browns, and reds) metamorphed into layers and swirls, a lot of quartz veined rock, and a blueish agate in sand/gravel pockets.  Iron is present, giving bright reds to some of the material.  I found at least one nephrite tremolite jade rock which is predominately light cream in color and had a density of 3.4.  Other rocks from the trip will be further diagnosed.  I put a batch in my tumbler and plan to bring some for the April meeting.  All in all, I think a good spot for a March trip while the reservoir is at a low point and plan to return next year.
Submitted by Roger Danneman CMS Field Trip Guide.

Updated: May 6, 2019 — 4:23 pm

Presidents Message

  • Digging It!  Thanks to everyone who joined us in March for Maureen Carlisle’s fascinating look at the world of professional paleontology digs. Our next meeting on April 9 is a great club tradition: Rock Bingo! Whether you’ve been a member for decades or you just joined last month, Bingo is the ultimate fun night for everyone kids included. All you have to do is bring three rock-related gifts (rocks themselves are just fine!), wrapped so that they are hidden, and then show up at 7pm on the 9th. Everyone is a winner – win a new treasure for your shelf and …

Meeting Announcements

  • Come one, come all and play ROCK BINGO! With schools out for many local school districts, we invite members, guests, and especially families and kids to come and enjoy one of our most fun nights of the year. Everyone is guaranteed to win at this FREE event! All you have to do is bring three wrapped presents – presents can be rocks, gems, minerals, crystals, fossils, cabochons, slabs, jewelry, tumbled stones – anything you think might be a nice gift for a rock enthusiast. 

  • Our own Mike Blanton will bring his expertise to this club meeting program – he will share the tools, tips and tricks he has developed to drill holes in stones and minerals so you can do more with the rocks you find. Show and Tell: bring a rock you’d like to make into something else.

  • Club Wagonmaster and rock shop creator Roger Danneman will present an overview of the new club shop – including equipment, scheduling, stewards, and what you can expect from this exciting new resource.  Show and Tell: bring a rock you want to polish or make into a cabochon (or something you’ve already polished or made)

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