Tomah Wisconsin GPAA Chapter – December 2018

Welcome

Welcome to the 2018 GOLD FEVER Newsletter.  Another year, another gold prospecting opportunity.  If you have not tried to find gold, you need to give it a try.  Let us know if you need help to get started, there are many people with experience that the help you.

 Do not forget the Newsletter and pictures can always be found at:

President’s Message

Hello everyone I am back from deer camp where I successfully harvested my first buck in 4 or 5 years. I got a 7 pointer on Monday morning one of only two bucks shot by the 12 in our group, thou some did pass on some small bucks.

  Brought my camper home on Saturday. With all the rain and warmer temps the last two days the ground thawed and I got stuck in my own yard. Made some nice ruts too. I also hit the edge of the house with the camper and smashed my eve troughs and put a hole in the back of my camper! Welcome home!

 In December we will have our annual Christmas party. The club will supply the ham, buns, and drinks. If you would like to participate in the gift exchange bring a new gift wrapped that would be good for either a man or woman. Suggested price in the $10 to $15 range but you can spend more if you like. Once you bring in your gift you will receive a ticket for a gift then when your ticket is drawn you can take from the pill on the table.

  If anyone has been on a trip to prospect this past year and we haven't heard from you this is the meeting for you to talk!

  As I announced at the November meeting Dean Race is scheduled be at the Wausau meeting in February. If you are interested in buying a bag of his pay dirt you would need to get the money to me by the January meeting and I will purchase some for you. Last year he had bags for $50 and $150's.          Till the waters warm --                see you at the meetings Mike Fait                                                                                                                                                                               

Upcoming Events

 December 1, 2018 – Wausau Prospectors - Meeting/Program – Christmas Party

December 15, 2018 – Tomah Club Meeting Town of LaGrange Town Hall – at 1;00 pm – Christmas Party

January 19, 2019 – Tomah Club Meeting Town of LaGrange Town Hall – at 1;00 pm

Tomah Wisconsin GPAA Chapter Minutes November, 2018

Club Business:                                                                                                                                                              

 Last month 16 members attended the meeting. 

Happy Veterans Day thank you for your service!

Dean Race will be at the Wausau meeting in February if you would like a bag of his pay dirt you have to get the money to Mike Fait so he can buy a bag for you as the club doesn't have enough funds to purchase for all. Get the money to mike by the January meeting please lst year he sold his bags for $50 and $150.

  Next month the meeting is on Dec.15. We will be having our Christmas gift exchange. If you bring a gift you will receive a ticket for a gift. The gift should between  $10-$15. New stuff that is geared for our members tastes. Prospecting, outdoors or food is Ok.

 Mike Fait, Larry Bender, Gary Morrison, Kurt and Barb Bublitz all attended the Ohio gold show last month. We got to meet Emily Riedel of the Bering Sea Gold show. We went to numerus booths and talked to dealers, Mike Pung inventor of the gold cube was there as was the inventor of the gold claw pan. None of us liked the gold claw but we didn't really give it a good try either. The gold panning booth was liked by all they salted it with an ounce a day from Felix pay dirt. We didn't see anyone will the big nugget given away in the scrachoff by the panning troughs. On Saturday Kurt took second in the speed panning contest. The nuggets given away each day for the panning contest were donated by Emily. Members would like to have a gold show in Wisconsin again it would take a lot of volunteers. Think about it for 2020 or later I heard Indianapolis was interested in a show next year.

  Kurt explained about Yooperlits that are now being found on the lake shores of Michigan. You can google it is the latest craze!

 I didn't remember to write down all the donations but there were a lot of you. Thank you all.

50/50 raffle went to John Shwingle  

Gold nugget to Diane Kollin

Gold concentrates bag to Ted Ehrhardt

Have a wonderful thanks giving and a very merry Christmas

Outing as they now stand:

-       May 15 Tomah metal detecting outing site to be determined

-       June 7-8-9 Upper Michigan outing Wausau chapter to Ontonagon for copper ,Yooperlites and maybe gold

-       June 15 Nugget Lake outing –Tomah

-       July 13 weekend Muskellunge Lake Michigan outing - Tomah   gold in black sand, agates, fossils and Yooperlits

-       July 26-27-28 Midstate metal detectors club 23rd annual open hunt

-       August 9-10-11- Thermal City North Carolina outing - Wausau – Tomah

-       Sept 6-7-8 Snyder county Park outing – Wausau

-       September 21 Nugget Lake group dig -Tomah

Remember to bring a dish to pass for lunch!  Thank you.

Gold Price on 11/26/18 was $1,221.60               Silver Price on 11/26/18 was $14.19

Respectfully submitted by Diane North – Newsletter Editor

Tomah Gold Club e-mail:   

What are Yooperlites?     https://www.yooperlites.com/

Recently discovered by Erik Rintamaki, Yooperlite rocks are actually Syenite rocks that are rich in fluorescent Sodalite

In 2017, Erik went out on a beach in Lake Superior with a UV light and discovered dozens of these glowing rocks. To the naked eye, they look like gray rocks, but under the UV light, the mineral composite makes the rocks glow.  

Erik's Story

"I have a little story that goes with my discovery. About 15 years ago I taught my brother-in-law Jason Klein how to find agates on the shores of Lake Superior north of Newberry, and he took to agate picking like no one I've ever seen. He became a rock hound just like me. Well he stumbled across some literature from the Fluorescent Mineral Society about UV lights. And we always dreamed about hitting our beaches at night and seeing the beach turn into a world of fluorescing stones and minerals. So fast forward 15 years and I happened to be on eBay and saw an affordable longwave UV flashlight. So on a whim I ordered one. So in June of 2017 I left for the beach at 4:00 am. I got to the beach just in time to use my cheap 3 LED longwave UF flashlight and found 2 very small Yooperlites about the size of a dime. I went 4 more times and only found have a dozen stones. Then I upgraded to a 100 LED UV torch and that's when the fun began in the fall of 2017. My largest find so far was over 5 pounds. Now I have upgraded even further to Convoy S2+ UV and a shortwave lamp. So I hope to open even more secrets of our Lake Superior beaches."

How to find Yooperlites

Note: Please use common sense! Know where you're going. Respect private property and be aware of the regulations in your state for harvesting rocks or minerals. I am following by the rules of the State of Michigan - you are allowed to harvest up to 25 pounds of rocks per year (DNR).

Please note the following restrictions at Whitefish Point. Rock collecting is not permitted there.

Where do you find Yooperlites?

In my personal experience, anywhere I've located agates, I've located Yooperlites. In the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, I've found Yooperlites anywhere from Whitefish Point to Grand Marais. I've also found them in gravel pits in Minnesota. Other folks have reported finding them on Lake Michigan near the Chicago area and also near the Point Betsie Area.

Note: It is illegal to take anything from any National Park or area, including the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore area.

Things you'll want to take

I recommend getting to the beach before dark. You want to be aware of your surroundings before it gets dark out. Bring a white flashlight - it's difficult to navigate your way with just a UV light. I bring glowsticks with me - I use one to mark the area where I went down to the beach, so I can find my way back to my vehicle. It's very easy to get lost on the beach in the dark. Bring a snack, water and extra batteries in a backpack with you. This also provides you with an easy way to store any rocks you may find.

Things to bring:

-       UV light (see below) 

-       White LED light for navigating  

-       Glowsticks  

-       Backpack with snacks & water 

-       A travel plan that you've shared with a friend 

-       Bring a friend - don't travel alone!

Officers – elected for 2019.

President – Michael Fait (mgfait@charter.net) 715-384-9265   (Cell phone to be used only on meeting days = 715-305-8319)

Vice-President – Gary Morrison 715-316-2555

Secretary – Jeanne Morrison 715-316-2555

Newsletter Editor - Diane North (dbnorth@centurytel.net) 608-635-7031

Treasure – Gayle Fait (mgfait@charter.net) 715-384-9265

Outing Chairman – Jeff Hastings (monkeyhast@frontier.net)  (608) 637-3097

Claims Director – Richard Niemyjski (richnski@frontiernet.net) 608-637-3295

State Director – Mike Flint (mwink12@excite.com) 608-372-0694

APPROVED DEALERS:

Deer field Detectors.  Dealer for Whites, Fisher, Garrett, Minelab, Bounty Hunter, Detector Pro Detector & Pinpointers, Sunray Detector Accessories, & many misc. detecting accessories.  Deerfield Detectors, N3091 CTY Rd. B, Hancock, WI 54943 (715) 572-1845 or e-mail stmill@uniontel.net or http://www.deerfielddetectors.com/

Wisconsin Area Clubs

he Kettle Moraine Prospectors of Wisconsin – We still meet in the Community Center in Plymouth, Wi.  on the second Saturday of the month, providing the church doesn't have something else on their schedule .- 1:00 PM Meetings  Contact: Chuck Riel – 414-328-3194 or visit wisgold.org/index.html

Midstate Metal Detecting Club – meets every 3^rd Wednesday at 7:00 pm at Shooters Bar and Restaurant at the intersection of Hwy 39 and 54, next to the Shell Station.  Contact: Steve Miller 715-572-1845

Wausau Prospectors – meets the 1^st Saturday of the month at 11:00 am at the Village Town Hall in Brokaw Wisconsin. Address is: 218 2^nd St., Brokaw, WI. Take US 51 north of Wausau and take exit 197. Then go east on county road WW. At the 4 way stop in Brokaw take a right. You are there (just past the Credit Union).  Contact:  Kurt Bublitz 715-340-2831 or e-mail lizzy101@charter.net

Wisconsin Michigan Prospectors.GPAA Chapter – holds their meetings on the 3^rd Saturday of every month at 11:00 am, at meeting location for the next few months at Newinghams Supper Club at 722 Main St. Wausaukee, WI 54177. Contact Ron Smith.