Area’s geology is focus for club

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

EL MORRO — Members of the El Morro Gem and Mineral Club will meet Thursday to discuss local geology in the Zuni Mountains area.

Club member Philip Chambless said there are about 20 members, and the organization is always looking for new ones.

“We’ve actually expanded the club’s horizon to include natural history,” he said. “There are not a lot of gems in the area, but the name seemed appropriate.”

“We live in a geologically fascinating area,” George Steigerwald said. “At the last meeting I learned about fluorspar and about a mine near here, so I went out, found the mine and picked up a few samples.”

Steigerwald said he plans to bring the samples to the Thursday meeting and discuss what he has learned about the mineral.

He said he joined the club to learn about the geology of the area where he now lives.

“I have no geology experience and no background in minerals. It’s an interesting area that is rich in minerals,” he said.

Don Stamp said he joined the club when it was formed four or five months ago.

“It’s hard to determine what we are going to do with the club but I’m very interested in the geology of the area.

“I work in stones, I have a wholesale business,” he said. “I buy from the Zunis and sell to others.

“I really want to be able to tell people about the stones they are buying,” he said.

Chambless said the club meets the third Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. in the Old School Gallery near El Morro National Monument.

“Because of winter settling in this will be our last meeting until March,” he said. “We invite anyone who would like to join us to come to this meeting and again in the spring when we resume.”

The way to get there is to take New Mexico Route 53 from either Grants or Gallup and drive toward El Morro.
The gallery is just east of the monument.

Information:
(505) 783-4383.

To contact reporter Jim Tiffin call (505) 285-4560 or e-mail: jtiffin.independent@yahoo.com.