Desert Messenger

January 1, 2014 ROCKS FROM PAGE 18 There is a science of gemology, however, which is a branch of mineralogy. The science of gemology studies, classifies, and creates rules or standards for the unique group of rocks and minerals that have been designated as gemstones. Gemstones are classified and graded in many different ways. Some of the characteristics taken into consideration are color, clarity, enhancements, crystal size, precious vs. semiprecious, faceting vs. cabbing grade, type of cut, and various other factors. The difficulty arises because not all gem RATS FROM PAGE 20 to be taught about desert rats. Mr. Mott explained, "It was only a packrat, sometimes called a trade rat or a white-throated wood rat." "Rosalee," he said, "since moving here have you tried to find something that you thought you might have misplaced?" I quickly recalled that I hadn't been able to find one of my earrings I had taken off and put on top of our chest of drawers. Oh yes, and then there was that extra brass key Charles had given me to our pickup. He had been more than a little annoyed that I had "lost it." And then there was that missing button with a little rhinestone that I had put on Miss Ellie's (Judge Mott's deceased wife) old treadle sewing machine to remind me to get some thread to sew it back on. Confused, I asked, "What do missing things have to do with that rat that ran across our floor?" "Maybe everything," Judge Mott suggested. "Do you recall that instead of the missing item there was something in its place, like Palo Verde beans or a mesquite bean pod? Packrats are sometimes called trade rats because they collect various objects and bits of material to store or use in the construction of their nests and as they scurry back home with one item, the packrat may see another that is more attractive, and so puts down the first one in favor of the second. Packrats are www.DesertMessenger.com 37 stones can be classified and graded with the same set of factors. Additionally, within the same group of gemstones, the characteristics may vary greatly. For example, Tourmalines come in many different colors, all with different value, and can be faceting grade or cabbing grade. Gemstones are usually graded within their specific species, like all beryls, sunstones, or turquoise, as opposed to across the board. Market prices are typically determined by collectors and based on specific collection. sets of factors surrounding each particular gemstone. We have gorgeous Tourmalines from the Himalaya Mine, amazIf you work with gemstones ing Oregon Sunstones from Plush, it is worth it to learn the pa- Turquoise from the Sleeping Beauty rameters of the market for the Mine in Globe, Sapphires from Monstone you work with. But if tana, Opals, and many other beautiall you want is beautiful rocks ful gemstones at RocksInMyHead. to add to your collection, We also have a fabulous selection of then a little bit of information rocks, minerals and fossils, as well as gleaned from the internet and a complete line of books and supplies. knowledgeable, trustworthy We are open at A37 in Rice Ranch, dealers should be sufficient to from 10am to 5pm, 7 days a week, help you find the right stone. Either and online at RocksInMyHead.com. way, gemstones are beautiful, excit- Our phone # is 605-376-8754. ing, and worthy additions to your especially fond of shiny objects like your earrings, Charles' key to the pickup, gum wrappers, bits of bone, pocketknives, and other trinkets. To a packrat, gathering items is sort of like going to an estate auction." I was amazed and told him, "I have never heard of a rat who liked jewel- and south into Mexico." I told Judge Mott and Charles, "Well, I'm glad to know that our desert packrats don't look anything like a wharf rat. I'm beginning to like that elusive little guy who probably made off with my earring and button." "Well," Judge Mott continued, "One could think that a packrat is cute, what with its big, panda-like ears that aid in hearing as well as provide a way to lose body heat during the summer. Their large eyes help it see its way around at night, as well as in its nest (midden) often found at the base of a prickly pear, beavertail, or cholla cactus as a mound made from decayed vegetation and sticks armored with a thick layer of the host cactus protecting the packrat from most predators, except badgers. This method of construction helps to keep the nest much cooler than the surrounding desert floor in summer, while helping retain the animals' body heat in winter. A packrat is most vulnerable when out foraging for food, when a snake, owl, badger, coyote, or a fox may try to have it for dinner. Packrats are primarily nocturnal and vegetarian surviving on a diet of spiny cactus, yucca pods, bark, ber- ry." To which Judge Mott explained, "First of all Rosalee, the packrat that you barely saw dash across the floor is not at all like the wharf rats in your grandparents barn. A packrat's body is about eight inches long and has a furry (not scaly and hairless) tail that is another five to seven inches long. Their tail has white fur on the underside and is grayish brown on top. The hairs on its throat are white, while the rest of its body is gray. An adult packrat can weigh up to one pound and they live in the deserts and pine forests of southern Nevada, Utah, Colorado, throughout most of Arizona, ries, nuts, seeds and any available green vegetation." With a twinkle in his eye and a wide grin beneath his handsome white mustache, Judge Mott brought me back to the challenge at hand, to follow and not kill our little packrat. He reminded me that unlike the packrat, who is an expert at navigating around the cactus spines that cover their nest mound, without proper planning I could end up covered with cactus stickers. The next day I decided to go on a hunt for our little packrat's nest. Since I sort of knew what I was looking for, it didn't take me long to find a large mound covered with beavertail cactus pads under a lowgrowing Palo Verde tree. It was an amazing work of architectural design, far too wonderful to destroy just to find a missing earring, button, or key carelessly left out for the taking. "Okay, Mr. Packrat, you win," I declared, "from now on I'll put shiny little things away and not entice you into a trade."

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