A combined Lynchburg / Roanoke Field Trip opportunity with theNorthern Virginia Mineral ClubVulcan Manassas Aggregate Quarry8537 Vulcan Lane, Manassas, VA. 20109Saturday, March 27th 20107:30 a.m. – noonSign-up is required for this trip.  E-mail me, call me or sign up at the meeting.            David Callahan, 540-297-1853, dbcall1@aol.com )Meeting Time --- Meet at the Quarry Office parking lot at 7:30 a.m. (no later!!) for a Safety Briefing and the signing of waiver forms.Northern Virginia Trip Leader --- Ted Carver (703) 754-2050 (Home) email  jtcarve@msn.comAge Limit---Any youth 18 or younger, must be accompanied by a responsible adult.  All safety equipment is required.Directions ---   From the Lynchburg / Roanoke area, take I-81 north to I-66 east to Manassas Exit 44.  Go south on Rt 234 (Bypass) for 3.3 miles. Turn Left on Wellington Rd. (at light) --- go ½ mile and turn left on Vulcan Road. Cross railroad tracks and take immediate right into office parking lot.In looking at the map, it appears that you can save a little time by following Rt. 29north thru Culpeper.  Look on the right for State Rt. 28 in Remington, VA. This will be 10 to 15 miles north of Culpeper on US 29.  If you come to US 17 you have gone 3 miles to far.  Follow State Rt. 28 for 20 miles or so to the Rt. 234 Bypass.  Turn left or north for about 2 miles to Wellington Rd.  There should be a traffic light.  Turn right and go ½ mile and turn left on Vulcan Road. Cross railroad tracks and take immediate right into office parking lot.Safety --- Vulcan requires steel-toed boots, hardhat, safety glasses, long pants and heavy gloves.  Stay clear of all high walls. Note to Experienced members --- please keep a watch on all of us and say something to those who may not recognize danger before they get into trouble.What to Collect --- Prehnite, datolite, byssolite, pyrite, pectolite, apophyllite, many other minerals and other zeolites.Equipment/ clothing --- Rock hammer, 3 - 4 pound crack hammer, chisels, 5 gal. bucket, old newspaper for wrapping specimens, small pry bar. Optional -- large sledge hammer, long pry bar, extra buckets and a hand truck.  Your best tools are sharp eyes. Clothing depends on the weather. Rain poncho nice to have.Quarry Description / Hints --- Manassas Quarry is a trap rock quarry -- large square, deep hole in the ground with multiple levels. The predominate rock is dark gray diabase which is mined for crushed rock for road construction. Prehnite is the main thing we will try to find --- Hint: look for a white or light green streak of color in the gray rock and examine carefully. Breaking that rock open may reveal a pocket of light green prehnite. Prehnite is not abundant here, so it has been a hit or miss thing. Due to the severe economy, little blasting has been done at the quarry recently.  Therefor, pickins may be slim.   Hint ---Carefully search and investigate anything that is different. Vehicles --- We should be allowed to drive our vehicles into the quarry. The roads are generally good --- wide and relatively smooth --- but sometimes with water standing in pools on the lowest level. If it is wet and muddy, consider carpooling with someone who has a truck or SUV.Misc. --- Due to the vagaries of weather, the event may be canceled at any moment.  If there is any question as to whether the trip will come off, contact Ted Carver at jtcarve@msn.com or 703.754.2050. or David Callahan,                               email  dbcall1@aol.com Phone 540-297-1853	2010 SAFE QUARRY COLLECTING PRACTICES  The Gem and Mineral Society of Lynchburg, VA. Inc.The Roanoke Valley Mineral and Gem Society Inc. Always be on time and at the appointed place for a field trip so that you can hear and understand all the safety issues and hazard training before entering the quarry.    All of this information is very important for your safety and by not following all the rules to the letter, you stand a very good chance of getting injured or being escorted out of the quarry.  The two most abused safety rules are venturing too close to the high wall and going behind barriers.  The high wall is the most dangerous place in the quarry, and at the safety briefing you will be told how far to stay away from the wall.  If you abuse this rule, you will be escorted out of the quarry and, depending on the circumstance, may be banned from future quarry field trips.  This is serious business, folks, and as responsible club members, you are asked that if you see another member of our or another club venturing too close to the high wall or behind barriers, immediately get their attention and tell them in a polite manner that they are breaking safety rules and please move back to a safe area.  If they do not respond, immediately notify the field trip leader or a club officer and they will take care of the situation.  Several quarries in our area have been closed to collecting and clubs have been banned from all the company’s quarries for breaking these rules.  We do not want this to happen to our club, so we will rigorously support these rules.  Think of what would happen to this club if we were banned from all the Boxley Quarries.   It’s not a hard rule to follow folks.  Just pay attention to where you are at all times.  No mineral specimen is worth the consequences.  If a situation does arise where there is collectable material close to a wall, notify the field trip leader and he will ask the quarry foreman in charge if he could move the pile for us with their heavy equipment.  This has happened several times before.   PERSONAL EQUIPMENT  Have all your own personal required safety equipment with you and in good condition.  This includes the following:    An approved hard hat with all the webbing and bands intact.  Make sure that the hat is not cracked and the bands are not frayed or missing.  Make sure that the ratchet adjustment works or the adjustment holes are secure.   Make sure that all your hammers, chisels and other tools are properly prepared and the heads are not mushroomed.   Make sure that your safety glasses or goggles are clean and not scratched or broken.   Make sure that your steel-toed boots are in good condition. Make sure that the laces are not frayed or broken.  Make sure that the soles have tread and heels are not run over.   Make sure that your gloves fit comfortably and do not have holes. They should be leather or other strong material to protect your hands against cuts and missguided hammer blows.   Make sure that you have something to protect and carry your finds.  Bring wrapping materials, buckets, tote bags or a backpack.   Wear proper-fitting long pants and a long sleeved shirt to protect your arms and legs from falls or flying debris.   Bring sunscreen, snacks and plenty of water to drink.   If you have a medical condition that might endanger you, tell your field trip leader or at least a collecting buddy who will be with you.  Never wander off by yourself.  Always have a collecting buddy nearby. Stay with the group, always in eyesight or in hearing distance.  You may need to summon help or respond to others in need.