Assume that the material in hand from which it is hoped to produce a micro mount has been reduced to about one and one-half inches square. In some cases a further reduction in size , using chisel and hammer, is not tempting fate. However, in most cases, heavy blows on a specimen of that size will defeat the purpose, leaving one to ponder on the great stability of crystal groups under one set of conditions while the utter lack of resistance to shock is so pronounced under different conditions. The safe procedure (not necessarily the "approved procedure, for the writer is not presenting these suggestions as infallible methods) is to depend upon a slow, evenly applied pressure, between sharp cutting edges. That certain amount of shock, or shattering which occurs at the moment of rupture of the gangue matter will be dealt with later. First let us examine some of the ways to produce an evenly applied and evenly controlled increasing pressure. The breaking device illustrated herewith is simple, inexpensive and efficient. The total cost was $1.65. Made three years ago it has been used by the maker, loaned to others and seems to be just as good as new with a long career ahead. The basic piece is a "C" clamp of malleable iron, purchased in the univeral "five and ten" for ten cents. The most expensive part is the cutter, made in a local machine shop, at a cost of $1.50 for material and labor. Two machine bolts 1/4 by 3 inches cost five cents. An oak block, 3 X 9 inches by 7/8ths thick, was secured honestly at no cost. In the center of the oak block a slot was cut to take the "C" clamp and hold it in an upright position. The slot was cut to conform approximately to the clamp outline and just deep enough to permit the fixed anvil of the clamp to come flush with the surface of the block. Two holes were drilled through the block and that portion of the clamp recessed into the block, thorough which the machine bolts were passed to fasten the block and clamp securely together. The clamp screw, with the swivel anvil, were in the upper arm of the clamp. A piece of steel, from one inch stock, was ground to a taper or wedge shape and tempered. In the broad end or top a recess was cut one-quarter of an inch deep, just large enough to permit the swivel anvil of the clamp to enter. The method of using the breaker is to place the material to be broken on the fixed anvil in such a position that when pressure is applied through the clamp screw to the cutting device, the line through the center of the screw, the cutting edge and the specimen down to the fixed anvil will fall close to but safely outside the area of material to be separated from the rock mass. To trim a specimen satisfactorily requires patience plus a first-hand knowledge of the breaking habits of rock and gangue minerals. To prevent fragments from flying about and also to steady the breaker one may place the side of his left hand on the block, encircling the clamp with the thumb and first finger until the cutting edge is brought firmly in contact and in the proper alignment with the material. Steadying the breaker with one hand, pressure is applied slowly through the screw. It is not always necessary to increase the pressure up to the actual breaking point. One may pause when a considerable pressure is on the specimen, though it does not appear to be yeilding. Frequently, in a matter of seconds only, during this pause, the specimen will beak with no further tightening of the screw. Sometimes the same effect is produced if the pressure on the screw is released by the smallest possible amount. Experience thus far indicates that the pause method is much more satisfactory than increasing the pressure uninterruptedly to the breaking point. Breaks are cleaner and there is less apt to be injury to the adjacent areas. By holding loose folds of cloth around a specimen in the breaking process damage to fingers will be avoided and fragments will not fly when rupture occurs. Editor’s note: This article is part of an old scrapbook containing newspaper clippings and papers pertaining to A. L. Flagg and the early history of our Foundation. It will be made available to interested members on request.

Foundation Members Saturday, May 16, 1998 at 1:00 P.M there will be a meeting of the Collection Committee to make some plans and work on our collection. All Foundation members are invited. Hope you can be there, We would like to see everyone who is interested be a part of this work!
Collection Committee Meeting Saturday, May 16, 1998 at 1:00 P.M. Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum 1502 W. Washington
Special Recognition Award to Bill Hunt The Arizona Mineral and Mining Museum Foundation presented an Award of Special Recognition to Bill Hunt at the Arizona Mineral Symposium last March. This award recognized Mr. Hunt’s great contributions to knowledge of Arizona minerals and localities. Ray Grant spoke at our March meeting of Bill’s familiarity with many Arizona localities, and his willingness to share his knowledge. Bill’s photomicrographs have appeared in many publications, notably Mineralogical Record, Volume 19, Number 3, “The Tonopah Bellmont Mine, Maricopa County, Arizona” written by George B. Allen and William Hunt.
Chairman’s Corner by Les Presmyk What a great spring we have had. If you have not gotten out to see the desert yet, you have really missed a lot of beauty. Even the area around the Red Cloud was blooming with yellow and purple flowers and the ocotillos were even starting to bloom. With summer just around the corner, anyone who is planning to get out in the hills needs to be prepared.
Let's take a minute and review a few of the common sense things to make your trip into the Arizona desert a pleasant one. 1. Water, Water, Water! Take a good supply and drink it. 2. A good jack, extra tools, and a tow cable. You never know when you will get stuck or experience some sort of mechanical breakdown. 3. Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be home. 4. Do not leave your vehicle. 5. Above all, if you find yourself in a tough situation, DO NOT PANIC! Before you make any decisions, grab your water bottle, sit down, and think before you act.
As we head into our summer hiatus, the show activity really begins to increase. All of the regional and national federation shows are on the horizon. The Carnegie Museum is putting on its first ever gem and mineral show in August. I would like to ask all of our members to think about writing an article for upcoming issues about your summer collecting trips and any shows you may have attended. Also, if you see any exhibits that really catch your eye, take the time to find out the name and address of the owner(s). Write a brief description of the exhibit and send it to me. The MSA and TGMS Shows are always looking for new and exciting exhibits. As successful as our first two sales were this year (the January Flagg Tail-gate Show and the March Symposium), it has made us realize one thing. We are getting to the point where we need donations of minerals, fossils, lapidary materials, and anything else related to the earth sciences. Maudine Sullivan gave us our largest single donation last year and that will help for the next few years. But, the cupboards are getting a little bare. So, if you hear of collections that may be available, let one of the Trustees know. Have a great summer and bring back lots of good rocks and great stories for our first meeting in the fall.
Field Trip On June 6, all Foundation members and their families are invited to dig "Payson Diamonds" on Prospect No. 1 claim. The meeting place will be the Forest Service cabins at the Diamond Point Lookout turn-off at 9:00am. Unless there has been a recent rainstorm, this locality is accessible to all vehicles.
Diamond Point Fieldtrip Directions. Take Hwy. 260 east from Payson (towards Showlow) and turn at the Tonto Village/Control Road. If you get to Kohl's Ranch you have gone too far. Go past Tonto Village about 4 miles to the Diamond Point Lookout road. We will meet along the road in front of the Forest Service cabins. If you miss the meeting time, the turn-off is 1.1 miles from the intersection towards the lookout tower.
The Liquid Mineral By Jan Walls Reprinted from the May, 1989, issue of Gem’n’i, the bulletin of the Scottsdale Gem and Mineral Club.
Of course there are two truly "liquid" minerals... but we probably know more than we need to know about good ol' H2O. But how about that other liquid anomaly, Mercury? Probably the closest most of us have come to Mercury is in our fever thermometer. And when it breaks we chase the mercury all over the sink. The name is taken from Mercury, the Roman messenger of the Gods- he was able to move quickly from one place to another. Mercury is seldom found in its natural state, but usually as Cinnabar, Mercury Sulphide, a bright red mineral - 8 times heavier than water (Liquid Mercury is 13 times heavier than water.) It is not a common mineral, but where it is found, it is usually in large concentrated areas. Almaden, Spain and Idria, Italy were the big Mercury producers from ancient times. Finds in America took on the names of their precursors...New Almaden and New Idria - both in California -were among the first in this country. How convenient that Mercury was found in gold -rich California, for early Mercury miners roasted and collected the mineral for use by the Gold miners. For one of Mercury's unusual properties is that it will "grab onto" gold and silver... the miners would pour Mercury into the Gold-laden sands. The Mercury would adhere to the fine particles of the metals, and being so heavy, would allow the sands to be washed away. Then the globs of Mercury-Gold could be gathered into a fine cloth and squeezed until the Mercury filtered through and the gold left behind. Many of the miners would simply roast the mixture in a frying pan, driving off the Mercury vapors, leaving a panful of Gold. Unfortunately, they would, all too often, inhale the Mercury fumes, becoming our first victims of Mercury poisoning. The Mad Hatter of Alice in Wonderland fame was Mad because of the Mercury used in the felting process of early England's hat-making industry. Liquid Mercury is extracted from Cinnabar by the roasting method. Heating the Cinnabar to boil off the Mercury- passing the vapors through a cooled tube, condensing it back into the silvery liquid. Like cooling steam into water droplets. For the serious mineral collector, new imports from Hunan, China have recently appeared on the market. Vivid red specimens of exquisite Cinnabar and even gem quality specimens are available, but for a considerable price. For the Arizona Rockhound, Cinnabar can be found in the Sunflower area, showy specimens of white Quartz streaked with the brilliant red. It was reported that a large roasting retort was seen at one of the mines- wonder if it is still there?
Editors note: This is the sort of article I like! Fun to read, and showing the interests and ideas of our members. The title The Liquid Mineral. does contain a contradiction, as many of you know. The definition of a Mineral requires a definite crystal structure. Therefore, solids only need apply for full fledged Mineral status. Native Mercury is a naturally occurring substance with a homogenous chemical formula, has a crystal structure when frozen (I think), and any of us would place a native Mercury specimen in our “Mineral” collections with our Opals, Amber, and Fossils. (My Mercury specimen came out of a thermistat :>) Mercury is listed in Michael Fleisher’s 1983 Glossary of Mineral species. (I know, I should get a new one!). What do you think ...are Native Mercury and Water only minerals when frozen? Is Carbon Dioxide a mineral in Saturns rings? Is it possible to cut a gemstone from Ammonia at -460 degrees F.? Should I capitalize the names of Minerals as I choose to do? This seems to me to be a ripe field for discussion, so share with us your thoughts on these matters.
Thanks to Susan Celestian, our Museum’s Curator of Education, for proofreading assistance and input.