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National Limestone Quarry, Middleburg, PA April 30th, 2011, 9:00 am

Northern Virginia Mineral Club

New-Style Official Collecting Trip Announcement

National Limestone Quarry, Middleburg, PA

And (possibly) a New Fossil Site

April 30th, 2011, 9:00 am to One-ish or perhaps Two-ish

WHEN: At 9:00 am sharp (ouch!) on April 30th, 2011 (meeting at the Mine Office of the Middleburg mine. That's the better of the two for our porposes.) a great swarming aggregate horde of us rocky hound sorts will coalesce into a throng to attend to the obligatory safety briefing and sermon, yes, sermon, preparatory to leaping unsuspected upon the mineral populace indigenous to those environs. Quarry Road, Middleburg, PA 17842 - Follow the link--> http://www.mindat.org/loc-145516.html. Afterwards we may visit a fossil site discovered on the internets by intrepid internet explorer Casper Voogt. Suedburg, PA fossil site. Follow the link--> http://digsfossils.com/fossils/pa_fossils.html

WHERE: From US 15 south of Harrisburg, PA at the Pennsylvannia Turnpike to National Limestone (you can figure out how to get to Harrisburg):

1. Head northeast on US-15 N 5.3 mi

2. Continue onto Camp Hill Bypass (signs for US-11 N/US-15 N/I-81/Marysville) 0.6 mi

3. Continue onto Walnut St 0.7 mi

4. Turn left at N Front St 1.3 mi

5. Continue onto US-11 N/US-15 N/S Enola Rd

Continue to follow US-11 N/US-15 N 32.9 mi

6. Turn left at PA-104 N 8.5 mi

7. Turn left at PA-35 S 0.4 mi

8. Turn right at Flint Valley Rd 0.2 mi

9. Slight left at Sr2 3005 131 ft

10. Continue onto Flint Valley 0.1 mi

11. Continue onto Freemont Rd 0.3 mi

12. Slight left at Quarry Rd 328 ft

13. Continue on until you see other people who look lost like yourself.

WHY: Cacoxenite, Calcite, Celestine, Gesundheit, Fluorite, Strontianite, Wavellite

The quarry is perhaps best known for its Strontianite, Wavellite and Argle-Barglelite. Very nice when found. There are also fossils and bits of caves in the limesone rubble and usually great quantities of Calcite. And don't forget their world famous apple fritters!

At Suedburg there is a "Middle Devonian (375 mya) exposure of olive-gray siltstones and claystones of the Mahantango Formation. The fossils here comprise mostly of brachiopods and bryozoans, and a few trilobites and crinoids...the minerals from this area have fossilized these ancient creatures painting them red, orange, yellow, blue, and purple." Fur real.

WHO: Any and all members in good standing of any eastern federation affiliated club. Roanoke Club members also welcome (Special Dispensation). All homo sapiens under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Non-humans must be leashed. This includes outer-space people.

If you, dear reader, are not a member you may go to our website, www.novamineralclub.org, print off the membership form, fill it out and show up at the trip meeting with that and the appropriate of membership dues. Pony up!

Be reminded that the trip coordinator is always to be praised and worshipped like the winner of American Idol. No exceptions.

WHAT: (stuff to bring)

Steel-toed Boots - a requirement. In a quarry, everyone can hear you scream.

Safety Helmet - also a requirement. A skull sometimes needs to be fashionably armor clad.

Safety Goggles - also a requirement, too. See: screaming, above.

Heavy Work Gloves - also a requirement, too, as well. Protect all your dainty appendages.

Other Handy Objects - non-must-ish, but a good idea. Rock Chisels, Small Sledge Hammers, Large Sledge Hammers, Huge Unwieldy Sledge Monsters, Geologists Picks, Count Chocula Cereal, Heavy Plastic Containers (for large specimens), Egg Cartons (for small specimens), First Aid Kits, Snacks, Water, Plastic Sheeting (to protect the interior of your car) and formal evening wear, tuxes for the gents and flashy designer gowns for the ladies. Let's be the best dressed mud covered folks out there.

SPECIAL NOTE: I am informed that we will be visiting the quarry shortly after a new shot blows the snoot outta the place. So, bon apetit!

LASTLY: Due to the vagaries of weather, the media, Portuguese internal politics and my own erratic behavior, the event may be canceled on the very whisp of a whim. If there is any question as to whether the trip will come off or if you simply want to go on the trip contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 571.344.4958 (c) or 703.754.2050 (h) and enjoy my jocular/strangely distressing answering machine message.

Even Lastlier: We gots to sign a waiver. The law heads have spoken.