Good day AGS Members:

On 14 January, we will meet virtually by ZOOM to celebrate our annual December ‘Scholarship’ meeting.

Day/Time – Thurs. Jan.; 6:30 pm.

Zoom URL - ZOOM URL - https://arizona.zoom.us/j/87210212100

This year we had a number of outstanding applicants for both the J. Harold Courtright and M. Lee Allison Scholarships, which made our job of selecting the best candidates very challenging.

Dylan Carlini

Dylan Carlini received a B. S. in Geology from the University of Oregon in December 2018.  He is currently working on an M. S. in Geosciences at the University of Arizona, where he is focusing his research on low-sulfidation epithermal veins of the Oatman mining district in Mohave County, Arizona.

Audrey Dunham

The 2020 M. Lee Allison Scholarship was awarded to Audrey Dunham.  Audrey received a B. S. in Geoscience with a minor in Geophysics from Penn State University in August 2017.  She is currently a fourth year Ph.D. candidate working toward a degree in Geosciences at the University of Arizona. Audrey's current research involves a diverse set of projects that highlight her passion for studying potential and unknown seismic hazards.

Hosted by the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society since 1955, the main show at the Tucson Convention Center has been referred to as the world's largest, oldest and most prestigious gem and mineral show.

After consulting with public health officials on how its 2021 event could be modified to minimize health risks, the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society sadly announced its decision to cancel its main show on Tuesday, October 27, 2020, citing concerns over the coronavirus pandemic and efforts to protect the public.

The Tucson Gem and Mineral Society is currently refocusing its efforts to bring things back to a higher level in 2022.

Robert A. Metz

Long time AGS member, Robert A. Metz passed on Friday, June 12, 2020.  Bob was a good friend and respected colleague, who will be missed by all who knew him.

Robert A. Metz was born in Cleveland, Ohio on December 22, 1932.   He received a degree in Geological Engineering (Mining) from the Colorado School of Mines in 1955 and began his career working at Kennecott's Chino mine near Silver City, New Mexico.  Bob was later moved to Kennecott's Ray mine before joining the Duval Corporation in 1968, where he briefly worked at the Sierrita mine before moving to their exploration department.  Following, his retirement from Duval's successor, Battle Mountain Gold in 1991, Bob worked as a consultant for major corporations in the United States, Latin America and Australia. 

In December 2014, Bob Metz was recognized for his 50-year membership with the Arizona Geological Society.  He also served as councilor, Vice Treasurer and Treasurer for the AGS during the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Plans for Bob’s memorial service will be announced at a later date. See this video tribute to Bob prepared by the Mining Foundation of the Southwest.

Rhodochrosite of Sweet Home Mine & Detroit City Portal - Blog/video

The Arizona Geological Society’s (AGS) first virtual evening presentation was a smash hit. More than 100 people ZOOMed in on the evening of 5 May 2020 to see geologist Phillip Perrson tell the story of the origin and mining history of rhodochrosite and associated Pb, Ag, Zn sulfides, tetrahedrite, and fluorite from Colorado’s renowned Sweet Home Mine and the newly opened Detroit City Portal.

Visit the Arizona Geology blog for a primer on one of the world's great rhodochrosite mines. There is a link, too, to the entire 55-minute presentation

To go directly to the 55-minute ZOOM presentation at AZGS Youtube channel.

Mike Conway

Arizona Geological Survey

Bob Downs, Univ. of Arizona Mineral Museum Curator & Prof. of Geosciences, is leading the effort to build out a University of Arizona Gem & Mineral Museum (UAGMM) at the former Pima County Courthouse in downtown Tucson. Building renovation is well underway with the museum scheduled for a soft opening at the Courthouse in Jan. 2020.

Two of the museum’s chief organizers, Eric Fritz (Mgr.) and Les Presmyk (Mining Engineer & mineralogist), approached AGS’s Jan Rasmussen (former Curator of the Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum in Phoenix) and AZGS’s Mike Conway about helping design an exhibit focusing on the geology of Arizona.

Jan and Mike have begun pulling together ideas for an Arizona geology narrative – one idea involves building a digital display showcasing Ron Blakey’s marvelous paleogeographic reconstructions of the Colorado Plateau and environs, complemented by geologic scenes, lithologies, and interviews as the cornerstone of the exhibit. 

HELP! But we want your help in gathering ideas on the elements of narrative (with visuals) expounding on Arizona’s geologic history. In short, we want your ideas, sketches, brainstorms, and musings to help us rough out a draft design by mid-July 2018 – 3 weeks away!  This is an important opportunity for you to influence a future wide audience about Arizona geology.

LOGISTICS

Arizona Geology Exhibit. Approximately 75 square feet is set aside for an Arizona Geology exhibit. An additional 15 square feet is provided for a porphyry copper display. (Will Wilkinson. FMI retired, is taking the lead here.)  

Audience. UAG&MM organizers anticipate a largely non-science audience of considerable age range and with limited knowledge of geologic concepts.

Timeframe. Time is short. AGS & AZGS representatives meet with the UAG&MM design team in mid-July, so the sooner you share your ideas the sooner we can begin evaluating them.  

Financial Resources.  Bob Downs, Eric Fritz and others in the management will pursue the financial resources for final exhibit design and construction.

How to help! Please send your ideas, sketches, and experiences gleaned from other mineral or natural history museums to Mike and Jan at the e-mail addresses below. We can meet to brainstorm ideas before the July 3 AGS meeting to discuss ideas.

Articles contained within the Arizona Geological Society Digests 1 through 22 are now available on-line at our publications page.  Our out-of-print Digests are available to the public, While our in-print Digests are only accessible to AGS members. 

Anyone who is interested in purchasing Printed Copies of In-Print AGS Digests can do so on-line or contact the AGS Secretary for more details.  Copies of current AGS Guidebooks and Digests are also for sale at a reduced price at AGS monthly dinner meetings.