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Understanding Nevada Turquoise

A businessman in the lapidary sector, Eugene Donlan leads TOPS- Turquoise and Rocks of Pahrump, Nevada, as president and chief executive officer. Nevada has the most turquoise mining operations in the United States, and its deposits rank among the most important on earth. Though turquoise mining in the state has slowed over the years, as little as four decades ago, the industry was growing very quickly. Part of the decline has to do with the intricacies of land leases from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and purchases and with gold mining ventures filing claims on vast amount of BLM property.  A fall in demand for turquoise also exacerbated the decline. However, demand is currently on the rise, meaning businessmen like Eugene Donlan may experience increased interest. The modern marketplace for turquoise is sustained by a patchwork of small, independent mines, which produce very high-quality stones. The men and women who own and run the mines work hard for profits that can fluctuate drastically.  Complementing its richness in turquoise, Nevada also produces a great deal of variscite, which is similar in color to turquoise, however, is softer and found in most states in the Southwestern U.S.

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The Basics of Sailing - Learning the Ropes

Based in Nevada, Eugene Donlan serves as the president and CEO of TOPS-Turquoise and Rocks. An experienced sailor, Eugene Donlan enjoys piloting sailboats in excursions off the coast of California in his free time. Before a sailor can truly command a craft, he or she must learn the function of various ropes, also called sheets" and sails. These include the “sheet,” a rope that sailors use to adjust sails. When loosened, a sheet permits a sail to move away from the boat, and when tightened, it brings a sail in closer. Each sheet commands a different sail and therefore has its own name. For instance, the sheet connected to the mainsail is known as the "mainsheet." Beyond the sheet, several other ropes make subtle changes that impact the performance of the boat. The halyard, for example, is a rope or wire responsible for hoisting the sail, and the boom vang pulls down the boom. For more information about sailing, visit the American Sailing Association's website at www.asa.com.

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Common Precious Stones and their Geographical Origins

Avid gemologist Eugene Donlan is the president and chief executive officer of TOPS - Turquoise and Rocks. Under the leadership of Eugene Donlan, the company purchases, manufactures, sells, and distributes turquoise and many other rough and finished rock and mineral based products. Precious gemstones are most commonly mined from the surface of the earth in a vigorous and thorough process that takes a lot of time, effort, and expertise. The exceptions are pearl and coral, which both come from fresh and saltwater sources. There are gemstone deposits in multiple locations all around the world, with certain areas developing a reputation for plentiful supplies of particular stones. Diamonds, which are often considered the most precious stone of all, generally come from central and southern Africa. Rubies have been primarily sourced from Burma, but they can also be found in India, Madagascar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Pakistan, Nepal, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania. Sapphire deposits have been found in Madagascar. More than half of the earth’s emerald mining takes place in Colombia, with a small percentage of emerald production also taking place in Zambia.

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Day Sailing in San Francisco Bay

The president of Mastodon Consulting since 2000, Eugene Donlon provides a broad range of advisory services to clients, including radio frequency identification (RFID) and bar code course development and instruction, in addition to implementing supply chain and inventory control solutions. He has worked with enterprises in numerous fields, including information technology (IT), manufacturing, and pharmaceutical companies. When he is not attending to his professional responsibilities, Eugene Donlon enjoys numerous recreational opportunities, including day sailing in San Francisco Bay.

Although it is not necessary to be an expert sailor to day sail in San Francisco Bay, it is not something that should be undertaken by a novice. A day sail should be planned carefully, taking tide, wind, and weather into account. For example, it is unwise to plan a sail against flood or ebb tides. The velocity and direction of prevailing winds are also important; sailing in winds that exceed a sailor’s skills, or the boat’s rating, should be avoided. San Francisco Bay lends itself to dozens of enjoyable day sails, but some areas can potentially be hazardous. For example, Hurricane Gulch is so named because of strong winds channeling down from Mount Tamalpais. Also, although the winds and currents at Yellow Bluff can be unpredictable, the area offers inspiring views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Point Bonita is the furthest seaward a day sailor should venture, but it is a good vantage point for observing ocean-going vessels. No matter where in the bay they venture, sailors will find interesting and sometimes extraordinarily beautiful sights, but they must attend to safety and should be alert for other boaters and ocean-going vessels at all times.

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Turquoise in Nevada

A teacher of radio frequency identification (RFID), automatic identification data capture (AIDC), and bar code courses, Eugene Donlon also consults on these and numerous other issues with high tech companies, manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, among others. Having also received training in gemological studies at the Gemological Institute of America, Eugene Donlon has operated a gem store in San Juan Bautista, California, as well as three turquoise mines in Nevada. Turquoise is a mineral, a hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminum, formed when water percolates through aluminum-bearing rock in the presence of copper. Used as a gemstone by cultures worldwide, it is found today primarily in China, Iran, and the American Southwest, the world’s largest producer. Frequently found near copper mines, especially in desert or arid environments, it is prized for its color, which can range from blue to several shades of blue-green to green. If iron is present in the specimen, the color will be pale green to yellow. Solid-colored specimens are highly prized, but others with flecks of pyrite or spidery veining are also prized, depending on the appearance.  Until the 1980s, Nevada was the state that produced the most turquoise by value, and it continues to be an important source of the mineral. In Nevada, most of the contemporary mines are small, independent claims, although large enterprises operate mines in several neighboring states. One of the major factors affecting turquoise value and mining today is the use of treatments like waxing and oiling, dying, and stabilization or bonding, to increase the hardness and reduce the porosity of lower-quality specimens.

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Advice for Cutting Fuel Costs in a Recreational Vehicle (RV)

An experienced businessman, Eugene Donlan serves as the president and chief executive officer of Mastodon Consulting. In this position, he capitalizes on significant experience in business process development and IT management. Recreationally, Eugene Donlan spends time traveling around the country in his recreation vehicle (RV), a large fifth wheel. Unfortunately, rising fuels prices have discouraged a number of RV owners from enjoying their investment. With some foresight and diligence, however, individuals can continue to have fun in their RVs without having to worry too much about the cost of fuel. The most obvious answer to the fuel problem is to spend less time on the road, but individuals can also reduce costs by spending some time to map out the best routes and places to stay. If travelers want to visit sites in one general area, they can camp in a central location and take the truck on day trips. Also, sticking to flat terrain can reduce fuel consumption. High winds also lower fuel mileage, which makes it more economical to take a break from driving when winds become noticeable. Drivers should keep their speed at or below about 55 miles per hour to maximize fuel mileage. Also, as with cars, maintaining proper air pressure in the tires optimizes fuel mileage.

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Radio Frequency Identification and Its Uses

As the president of Mastodon Consulting Enterprises, Inc., Eugene Donlan consults with clients on several technologies, including radio frequency identification (RFID). Eugene Donlan holds certifications in RFID and RFID Supply Chain Management. Based on technology initially used in World War 2, RFID aids in the identification and tracking items and people. The most common RFID setup consists of a microchip attached to an antenna. A radio signal, which is sent by an RFID interrogator, powers the chip and is reflected back to the RFID interrogator from the antenna. The data is sent to the interrogator on the reflected RF wave. RFID is similar to bar coding, but has several advantages. Whereas bar-coded items must be used in close proximity to scanners; RFID can operate anywhere within the range of the RFID Interrogator antenna. Also, data, which is written to the microchip on the RFID tag, can be changed and rewritten up to 10,000 times. Once data is printed on the bar code label, it cannot be changed. Given these advantages, RFID equipment is more expensive than bar-code devices. Because of this, the two identification technologies will continue to be used for different applications.

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The Graduate Gemologist Certification Program

In addition to owning a technology consulting business, Eugene Donlan also serves as president and chief executive officer of TOPS-Turquoise and Rocks in Pahrump, Nevada. Eugene Donlan built this business with knowledge gained from his training at the Gemological Institute of America as a certified Graduate Gemologist . The Gemological Institute of America (GIA), headquartered in Carlsbad, California, with campuses in New York and London, offers instruction and practical experience in the jewelry industry. GIA courses cover topics such as the grading of diamonds and colored stones, the gem market, and identification of imitation diamonds. Students gain practice on equipment such as microscopes and polariscopes. Possible applications of the Graduate Gemologist diploma consist of careers such as appraising, retailing, and purchasing of gemstones. The GIA publishes alumni listings to help in networking. Distance education allows students to learn at their own pace from their homes. Holders of the Graduate Gemologist certification can go online to update their credential with the GIA’s continuing education program. Each month from February through September, graduates can access video information from experts, as well as the GIA multimedia library.

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What is RFID and How is it Used?

Since 2000, Eugene Donlan has served as president of Mastodon Consulting Enterprises, Inc. For over ten years, Eugene Donlan has also served as a senior instructor and consultant at RFID4U in Santa Clara, California. In his capacity as an instructor, Donlan teaches courses on RFID and its real-world applications. RFID stands for radio-frequency identification. Essentially, RFID uses radio-frequency electromagnetic fields to transfer data without requiring physical contact with an object. This technology dates back to covert listening devices developed in World War II, but the first modern RFID device wasn’t introduced until 1973. Today, RFID is being used in a wide variety of situations. In October 2012, two Texas school districts began requiring students to wear ID badges embedded with an RFID chip in an effort to lower the districts’ high truancy rates. In April 2013, Nissan issued RFID cards to attendees at their Paris car show. The cards allowed attendees to have their pictures taken and posted to Facebook and other social media channels. In May 2013, the FDA announced approval for the first blood-tracking device to use RFID technology. One of the most common uses of RIFD technology is in electronic toll collection (ETC) devices, such as those administered by California’s FasTrak.