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MSA MEETING PROGRAM & PLACE
Franciscan Renewal Center, (Piper Hall),
May 16, 2024 @ 7.30 pm Arizona time
"Fluorescent Minerals From Bisbee, Arizona”
Presented by
Richard W. Graeme IV
* Meeting is on 3rd Thursday.
* Okay to bring refreshments.
* MEETING will be In-Person and Zoom.
* Okay to bring (ONE) example of Mineral of the Month.
Join us May 16th for presenter Richard W. Graeme IV program “Fluorescent Minerals From Bisbee, Arizona.” Fluorescent Minerals are the least studied of the aspects of mineralogy, even post-mining minerals and radioactive minerals have been examined far more carefully from the locality. It took time for in a sense a more mature appreciation for minerals to develop for these minerals to be appreciated. They had to compete with species more obviously interesting, azurite, malachite and cuprite or at the time the strong economic interest in uranium minerals. Presently, 339 distinct mineral species have been identified from Bisbee of these, only 15 are recognized as fluorescent. We will look and the beginning of this interest and examine the species known and look at the future possibilities.
Rich was born in Bisbee, Arizona in 1968 and was collecting underground with his father and twin brother by age six. Minerals and mining were the focal points of his youth, with many hundreds of hours spent underground in Bisbee and other western mining areas collecting minerals and mining artifacts.
He has worked in the gold fields at Nome, Alaska, the fabled Sunnyside Mine at Silverton, Colorado and in the Continental Mine near Silver City, New Mexico as well as the Golden Queen Mine near Mojave, California, gaining first-hand experience in underground mining.
Because of the difficult times for the domestic mining industry, Rich switched from a mining major to education and received his degree in education from the University of Arizona in1999. He now taught science in nearby Sierra Vista for 25 years. During this time, he has authored or co-authored eight books, Including, The Mineralogy of Bisbee Volumes 1&2. Presently, volume 3 is well-under way with just over 200 pages.
Mark your calendars and register as Mineralogical Society of Arizona is proud to have Richard present his very special program for MSA!
Thank You RICHARD for your illuminating program and increasing MSA’s appreciation for All Things Bisbee!
Meeting starts at 7.30PM Arizona time.