1

No Stone

Unturned

KEN TIM

Above: Robbie, finding sapphires

Read his report inside.

Camping styles 1

SEPTEMBER 2019

Stromboli erupting.

This is Mother Nature at work

changing our Earth

Mount Stromboli is a composite volcano which has

persistant (near-constant) activity for at least 2-3000 years.

Most recent effusive (lava flow) eruptions were from Dec.

2002-July 2003, March 2007, Aug-Oct 2014 and now

August-September 2019.

Mediterranean Sea

Sicily

Italy

CONGRATULATIONS and THANKS

TO THE PEOPLE WHO VOLUNTEERED TO ACCEPT JOBS FOR THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.

All clubs like ours depend on the services of volunteers to keep running and all volunteers should

always be respected and thanked frequently for their efforts.

They will always do their best to fill the jobs that they have accepted.

President’s annual report is on page 3

There are several new faces who will be doing jobs this year and the complete list is on page 2.

2 CONTACT INFORMATION:

Phone: 0450 185 250

Email: cairnsmlc@gmail.com

Postal Address: PO Box 389, Westcourt. 4870. NQ 129 Mulgrave Road (in the Youth Centre Grounds)

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

President: Michael Hardcastle

Vice-president: Mike Rashleigh

Secretary: Jan Hannam

Treasurer: Joe Venables

Assistant Secretary: Allan Rose

Assistant Treasurer: Richie Williams

Extra Members MC: Tammi Saal

OTHER PERSONNEL:

Purchasing Officer: Jan Saal

Specimen Curator: David Croft

Specimen Testers: David Croft, Vic Lahtinen, Trevor Hannam

Cabochon Advisors: Jodi Sawyer

Faceting Instructors: Jim Lidstone, Joe Ferk, Trevor Hannam

Silver Instructors: Sylvia Rose, Jan Saal

Machinery Curators: volunteers needed

Gem Testing: Vic Lahtinen, Trevor Hannam

Librarian: David Croft

Facebook Admin: Tammi Saal, Peggy Walker

Webpage Admin: Richie Williams

QLACCA Delegate: Bill Reece

Youth Centre Rep: Bill Reece

Field Trip Advisors: Allan Gale, Craig Walker, John Heenan, Leigh Twine

Gem Festival: Trevor Hannam, Michael Hardcastle, Allan Gale, Tammi Saal, Mike Rashleigh

Auditor: Carey Accountancy

Safety Officers positions vacant

Club Banking details for anyone wishing to pay membership fees electronically:

Bendigo Bank BSB: 633 000

Gem Festival and Membership

WE WISH TO THANK THE FEDERAL

MEMBER FOR LEICHHARDT, HON.

WARREN ENSTCH, FOR FACILITATING THE

PRINTINGING OF THIS MAGAZINE.

CLUB HOURS:

Monday 4:00pm to 9:30 pm

Wednesday *8:30am to 12:30

*1:00pm to 4:00pm

Saturday *9:00am to 1:00

*12:00pm to 4:00pm

Workroom fees are $4 per session or part

thereof and must be paid before session begins.

The Club provides tuition in cabbing, faceting,

silver-smithing and lost wax casting

Note: The Club is closed for gazetted holidays

only and open on other club days

GENERAL MEETINGS:

General meetings are held on the 1st Saturday of

each month. When this is a public holiday, the

meeting is deferred until the following Saturday.

Note: Your Attendance at General Meetings

ensures that your voice will be heard when it

comes to making decisions concerning the

running of the club.

CLUB PURCHASING POLICY:

If you wish to purchase something on behalf of the

club, please notify the purchasing officer, Jan

PLEASE CONSIDER CONTRIBUTING MATERIAL

for “No Stone Unturned”.

Magazine Editor and Publisher: Jeanne Mora

The Editor reserves the right to choose and edit all

material featured in this magazine.

Although all care is taken to ensure the

accuracy of the material herein, the Editor

does not accept responsibility for any

inaccuracies which may inadvertently occur.

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PRESIDENT’S REPORT: ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2019

Let’s not forget the club’s aims: to encourage the lapidary hobby; participate in field trips;

collect and identify rocks and minerals; to promote harmony and respect between

members and others; assist, advise and instruct members in matters relating to lapidary

and jewellery making.

We are a not-for profit organisation that provides tuition, equipment and facilities for people

in the community who would like to join a club to learn more about the arts of lapidary and jewellery making.

The State Government Gambling Community Benefit Fund has again contributed financially to the upgrading

the club rooms’ air conditioning units, which is much appreciated by our members. I thank the Government for

the grant and their support and assistance. Many thanks to our Federal Member Warren Entsch for facilitating

the printing of our monthly magazine and the loan of 6 marquees for this year’s 21st Gem Festival.

Many people from the community and the club have made donations to the club. To name a few items: lapidary

equipment, rock and mineral specimens, 2 gold nuggets, a sapphire, raffle prizes and money. On behalf of the

of CMLC, I thank everyone for your generous donations and support, helping increase the strength of the club.

This year’s membership has increased and at present the club has 121 financial members.

Our Annual Gem Festival, our major fund raiser for the year, did not disappoint, with a record number of people

attending and everybody kept extremely busy. The club rooms were continually full of guests. Thank you to the

Gem Festival and Management Committees and everyone else who volunteered and participated to make the

Gem Festival a successful event.

We amended the Club Constitution and registered it with the Queensland Government Office of Fair Trading.

Jeanne Mora retired from the position of Club Secretary. Thank you for your contribution over many years.

We purchased a smart phone and now have a debit card reader for cashless transactions.

We installed two new 6 wheel Gem Master Cabochon Machines and relocated the old ones outside. We

purchased and installed new air conditioner units and also a new camera for the microscope.

We were invited and attended the Cairns Gem Club’s Open Day and invited them to attend our Gem Festival.

We also attended Paramatta State School where we displayed agates, crystals and jewellery.

We had several information sessions for members this year including; Lost Wax Steam Casting, Making Silicon

Moulds using wax injection, and a presentation on the different jades in the world with carvings in several

different colours and a demonstration of practical First Aid for Fossickers.

Members attended four field trips this year including two trips to Mt Gibson and two trips to O’Briens Creek.

The ceilings, walls and floors of the saw room and the Gem and Mineral Identification room were painted.

I thank the Management Committee, Instructors members who purchased goods and everyone who assisted in

the harmonious operation of the club over the past twelve months.

Michael

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AROUND

THE

CLUB

A Warm Welcome to all our new club members.

Many happy Returns to all members celebrating a

birthday in November.

Our deepest sympathy goes to the family and friends

of the late club members, Peter Massey and Ian

McGuigan.

Now the dust has settled after the Gem Festival and

the Annual General Meeting, the next big event on our

calendar will be the club Christmas Party which is a

great event enjoyed by all those who attend. More

details on this will be published once the Management

Committee sorts out the details.

Now the weather has started to warm up and bush-

fires are burning everything everywhere, members are

reminded that our air conditioned workrooms are a

welcoming summer haven to begin work on Christmas

presents, or maybe entries for next year’s Cairns

Show.

Stock up on lapidary supplies and tools from the club

shop, a convenient and competitive place to shop for

DATES TO REMEMBER

SEPTEMBER

7 Cairns Mineral & Lapidary Club, AGM

(election of office bearers)

8 Ipswich & Dist Lap Club Show, Silkstone

State School, Prospect St.

7:8 AFG Seminar, Casino

14 QLACCA AGM Bribie Island Gem Festival,

191 Community Arts Centre, Banksia

Beach, Bribie Island

8 Fathers Day

14 QLACCA AGM, Bribie Island Gem Festival

14:15 Bribie Island Gem Festival 191 Community

Arts Centre, Banksia Beach, Bribie Island

15 Management Committee Meeting 5:00pm

15 Sunday Slog

21 Caloundra Gem Show, Caloundra Club

Rooms, 9 Caloundra St

OCTOBER

5 Club General Meeting 12:00 noon

5 QLACCA Management Committee Meeting,

Beenleigh Show

6 Beenleigh Gem Festival, Beenleigh

Showgrounds

7 Queen’s Birthday (Club closed on

Monday)

13 Sunday Slog

14 Club Management Committee 5:00pm

19-20 Toowoomba Gemfest, Centenary Heights

High School, Ramsay St, Toowoomba

Remember, if you lose a sock in the washing

machine, it comes back as a plastic lid that

doesn’t fit any of your containers

5 Captive Inverted Round

Last month, the pattern was for an inverted round chain. This month the pattern includes captured rings to make a Captive

Inverted Round.

Captive Inverted Round is a nice weave for chunky necklaces for guys. In the right AR, it can be a rigid weave for sculptural use.

In order to be able to fit captive rings in the weave, you need to use rings with a relatively large AR. AR of 6.6 makes a chain that

fits 3 captives; AR of 5.7 fits 1-2 captives. Experiment to see what ring size fits your needs the best. You can capture rings,

beads, Barbie doll heads; anything that'll fit.

Step 1: Here you have

your starting, 4-

cage inverted round-

maille chain. 'Cages' are

the 3-ring units that form

the area where the cap-

tive rings will be going.

Step 2: Fold the end

rings back over the rest

of the chain. This is like

peeling a banana, or a

flower opening

Step 3: Place the closed

captive rings in the mid-

dle there. In this

example, I'm using 2

captive rings. You might

only be able to fit 1, or

50, depending on

the aspect ratio of the

rings . (see notes above)

Step 4: Now fold

back over the

captive rings, closing

the cage

Step 5: Add another

cage, fold over, add

captive rings

P S Don’t forget that

the whole look of chain

mail can be altered by

using wire with a

square profile of by

replacing rings with

twisted wire.

Note: If you plan to tumble polish your finished article, don’t use

glass beads as “captives”. The action of the tumbler will

probably shatter them.

Do not place articles that include glass, in pickle solution, as

they may be dulled by the acid also don’t use steel rings as

captives as they will turn the silver rings pink in pickle solution.

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4 Leaf

Clover

Pattern

No

instructions

needed for

this.

Just follow

the pictures

This is a very basic decorative chain that

works up quickly and looks great when you

add beads to the two rings you add in step

2. Once you've got going on this you can

change how you make it to be much

speedier but these instructions show the

basic method.

Note that until you finish the chain as

described in step 9, the start will want to curl

up and lose its shape.

Above:

If you don’t want to separate the motifs you can lose the extra

jump ring between steps 6 and 8. This gives you a chain with a

slight twist to it.

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Rules for Tools adapted from Lewton Brain’s list on “Ganoskin”

This article gives some examples of the kinds of rules that may be helpful when using tools.

The use of a power tool is too dangerous to allow students to use without special training. Create a list of rules

for usage, then a question for each of the rules. Students should get 100% on the test, receive personal

instruction and be watched by an instructor before they get their name on a list on the wall allowing them to use

the tool. It helps to have a rule set for a piece of equipment.

Most rules are just common sense and they only look overwhelming if you write it all down.

There are basic aspects of a common sense approach to working with tools Don’t put yourself or others in

danger and work safely electrically, physically, ergonomically, chemically and in terms of dust and exposure to

materials altered by using the tool.

HAND TOOLS

Hand tools are less dangerous in general than power tools, though they can inflict serious injury

easily. The most frequent injury in art schools is with tools similar to Stanley knives and saws. With

hand tools it is a good idea to:

• Maintain the tool well. Poor maintenance and dull edges on cutting tools lead to many an accident.

• Use eye and hearing protection as indicated by the tool. Using a jewellers saw for instance one

should use eye protection in case the blade snaps and a piece flies into the eyes, same for punch and

hammer use. Hammering requires adequate hearing protection.

Other hand tools will have their own particular safety issues.

• Don’t put your fingers on the anvil. That means that you don’t put your fingers where injury can

happen to them.

• Don’t, place your fingers in the path of a saw blade when sawing, where if the blade breaks it can

plunge into your finger.

• Don’t put your fingers in front of a tool. Always cut away from yourself. (This advice of course

counts for power tools too!)

• Organize your tools for easy use and access. Your workbench should be like the cockpit of an

aeroplane, everything organized for ease and frequency of use. You should not have to work to put

something away or pick it up.

POWER TOOLS

There are general rules for working with power tools, and we will start with them.

Understand your tool

• Read the owner’s manual carefully-at least three times. Learn its applications and limitations as

well as the specific potential hazards peculiar to the tool.

• If possible have a knowledgeable professional show you how to use the tool.

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• Review the manual’s information once every six months or so.

• Use Safety Glasses all the time. Use a face shield as well over the safety glasses if flying chips or particles

are an issue, as when grinding.

• Use hearing protection. Make sure that you have good hearing protection with noisy tools or high pitched

noises from working materials, or noise that goes on for any length of time. Ear muffs are handy and easy to use,

but ear plugs sometimes have better ratings for cutting sound. Check your catalogue when you order them.

• Beware Dust! Be careful of dust producing activities, there are fire hazards from having combustible powders

around (cotton, wood, titanium dust) and there have been cases of electric motors catching fire from dust that

drifted into them. Not to mention the standard serious hazard of breathing in particles that will damage your lungs.

Use an appropriate dust mask if your job generates dust-best though is local ventilation to remove the dust from

the work area safely. Be very aware of the fire hazard with combustible dusts.

• Ground all electrical tools (unless double insulated). Never remove the third prong from a three prong plug.

Plug it only into a three hole receptacle.

• Don’t use power tools in a damp or wet environment.

• Make sure your electrical system can deal with the tools you are using it with. If you have to use an extension

cord use the shortest possible one you can. People die from electric shock when using tools. Please take

electrical safety seriously. Install a ground fault circuit interrupter to shut off electrical current in the case of a

short.

• Keep all guards in place on a tool, make sure they are in working order. Numerous industrial accidents

happen when people take the guards supplied off the tool. Make sure that the tool is mounted securely if it is a

mounted tool.

• Keep your work area clean. Put things back in their places as you use them. Having a crowded or cluttered

work area makes accidents more likely to happen. Aim for a really clean and tidy bench area and floor. Clean as

you go!

• Keep your work area well lit with multiple light sources in order to eliminate shadows. Sharp shadows can be

misleading. Diffuse light sources don’t cast shadows which makes fluorescents a reasonable general lighting for a

workshop (daylight wavelength).

• Keep children away from power tools and their use. All guests in the shop would wear safety equipment and

be at a safe distance from the work area.

• Safely store tools when not in use. Tools not in use should be stored in dry and locked-up place out of reach

of children. Do not leave a tool running unattended or when not in use. Consider a power lock out for power tools.

• Don’t force a tool or try and make it do more than it was intended for. It will be safer and work better if it is not

strained or you are not putting excessive pressure on it while using it.

• Use the correct tool for the job. Don’t force a small tool to do the job of a heavy duty tool. Use a tool for the

purpose it was designed for, using a tool wrongly has been the cause of many an accident. Never, for instance,

use a power sander for wet sanding – its a good way to get electrocuted.

• Wear the right work clothing for the job. No loose clothing, jewellery or hair to get caught in moving parts.

Keep long hair up, so it cannot get caught in machinery. Keep dust and chemicals out of the rest of your life.

Aprons work well but a pair of coveralls may be best. Avoid flammable clothing in the workshop-you can easily go

up like a torch from a spark. Use flame resistant (perhaps cotton) coveralls.

9 • Never abuse a power cord. Don’t carry a tool by its cord or pull on the cord to disconnect it from the wall

socket. Keep the cord safe from heat, oil and sharp edges. Also keep it out of the way of the working tool, I’ve

seen a number of power cords that have been sliced through by the tool itself, such as a circular saw. Inspect

your power cord and plugs once in a while.

• Hold your work securely at all times. Always have your workpiece properly anchored. A drill bit catching in

something can turn a piece of metal into a propeller like a meat grinder. The same goes for other kinds of work.

Use clamps, a vice, pitch or other clamping methods to hold work down while you go at it with a power tool.

• Always have secure footing. Keep your balance and footing stable. Slipping can be dangerous. And always

look behind you if moving backwards, as you do when drawing metal – one time I almost speared myself onto a

blow-horn forming stake when a wire I was drawing suddenly gave way. I also had a disturbing encounter once

with an anvil horn in front of a class while moving backwards.

• Maintain those tools! Keep your cutting tools sharp at all times. Follow the manufacturers instructions for

maintenance, lubrication and changing parts or accessories.

• Keep your power tool disconnected when not in use. Unplug them before servicing and when changing any

attachments such as blades, bits, cutters and so on.

• Take out chuck keys as a habit. Make it a permanent ‘check-list’ item that you remove all keys and adjusting

wrenches before turning a tool on. Also make sure that any power switch is off before plugging a tool into the

power receptacle.

• Don’t put your hands or fingers into danger, near sanding belts, moving machinery parts and so on. . “Always

know where your fingers are”.

• Never have solvents around that could cause an explosive atmosphere which could be ignited by the normal

sparking of the motor. Never, for instance, use solvents or petroleum based products to clean a tool, not only is

there a fire hazard but such solvents can damage plastic portions of the tool and possibly cause an early failure of

such a plastic part..

• No alcohol, medication or other drugs when operating powered equipment. It is the same as when you are

tired: these things can alter your reactions. You need to stay alert, and to be afraid of what most power tools can

do. Solvent exposure has been known to be an accident cause because of what it does to your mind and reac-

tions. Remember, too, never hurry or rush a job, this can result in an accident.

• Inspect your tool regularly. If a part is damaged, make sure that any repairs to it are properly done before

resuming use of the tool. A damaged part may be the cause of a radical failure and an accident.

• Do not allow familiarity with using a tool to lull you into a careless mistake. Always respect your tool and fear

what it can do to you in an accident. Remember that when using machinery only a fraction of a second is enough

time to really cause you some serious bloody damage.

Another caution just from me: Using acids in a closed area may corrode your metal tools. Keep

the acid (Pickling Solution) outside for preference.

Review these guidelines once every six months to keep you aware of them

10 THE THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF VOLCANOES

COMPOSITE VOLCANOES

Composite volcanoes, sometimes known as strato

volcanoes, are steep sided cones formed from layers of

ash and lava flows. The eruptions from these volcanoes

may be a pyroclastic flow rather than a flow of lava. A

pyroclastic flow is a superheated mixture of hot steam,

ash, rock and dust. It can travel down the side of a

volcano at very high speeds with temperatures over 400

degrees celsius.

Composite volcanoes can rise to over 8000 feet.

When composite volcanoes erupt they are explosive and

pose a threat to nearby life and property. This is because

of the thick, highly viscous lava that is produced by

composite cone volcanoes. This viscous lava has a lot to

do with why they are shaped the way they are. The thick

lava cannot travel far down the slope of the volcano before it cools. Composite volcanoes are usually found at

destructive plate margins. Examples of composite volcanoes include Mount Fuji (Japan), Mount St Helens (USA)

Mount Pinatubo (Philippines) and Mount Stromboli which is currently erupting (see front page)

The diagram above is a simple cross section of a composite volcano

SHIELD VOLCANOES

Shield volcanoes are low with gently sloping sides and are

formed from layers of lava. Eruptions are typically non-explosive.

Shield volcanoes produce fast flowing fluid lava that can flow for

many miles. Eruptions tend to be frequent but relatively gentle.

Although these eruptions destroy property, death or injury to

humans rarely occurs.

Shield volcanoes are usually found at constructive boundaries

and sometimes at volcanic hotspots. Examples of shield

volcanoes include Mount Kilauea and Maunaloa on Hawaii which

has been continually erupting for many years.

The diagram at right is a simple cross section of a shield

volcano.

DOME (ACID LAVA CONES)

Acid lava is much thicker than lava which flows from shield volcanoes. Dome volcanoes have much steeper sides

than shield volcanoes. This is because the lava is thick and sticky. It cannot flow very far before ot cools and

hardens. Example are Puy de Dome in the Auvergne region of France which last erupted over 1 million years ago

and the Seven Sisters on the Atherton Tablelands, Australia.

NOTE: One of the minerals produced by a volcano (obsidian or volcanic glass) is frequently included in

items of jewellery, especially “snowflake” obsidian.

11

To Err is Human!

To blame it onto

someone else, shows

Management potential

I often worry about the safety of my children.

Especially the one who is rolling his eyes at me and talking back right now!

LAZY is such an ugly word!

I prefer the term

SELECTIVE

PARTICIPATION

Musings Many thanks to

Carolyn Whittaker for

sharing these assorted

musings with us.

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