Time is flying by. We have just completed our second week of field camp! During this past week we got our first real taste of working on our own in the field, which was exciting and nerve-wracking! We also took a field trip to Black Rock Desert and Marysvale Volcanic Fields where we learned about igneous rocks and how they are deposited.
Here is a run-down of week two of 2017 OSU Geology Field Camp!
Monday- Wednesday: The first three days of this week consisted of mapping an area south of Ephraim. On Monday we had a nice walk through in order to define the bedding units, as well as describe the lithology of the rocks as a group. After lunch, we went our separate ways with our partners to continue mapping. Once on our own, we had to really utilize the skills that our instructors had taught us, which is easier said than done. By the end of Monday we all had a nice plan in place for the next two days of mapping. Tuesday was another full day in the field, and Wednesday was a half day. The second half of Wednesday was consumed by working on our assignments which were due that night. Working continuously up until the deadline, I realized that this is truly how the real world works. Deadlines are real, and we had to use our time very wisely in order to get all of our work done on time. I’ve never experienced such a rushed feeling with an assignment, and I’m learning how to manage my time which is preparing myself and everyone else for our work as professional geologists in the future. Turning in that assignment was a huge relief and accomplishment. Bring on the next one!
Thursday-Saturday: Our field trip this week was in the Black Desert and Marysvale Volcanic Fields, and surrounding areas. The purpose of this trip was to gain a better understanding of how igneous rock deposits form and what conditions cause the wide variety in compositions and structures we observe. From a structural stand point, we studied two different tectonic environments. We saw calc-alkaline eruption deposition that occurred due to subduction, and bimodal suite depositions that occurred due to extensional environments. We observed both pyroclastic rocks as well as plutonic rocks. A large portion of this trip was looking at the different pulses of energy that a volcanic eruption can have, which causes various depositions of igneous rocks. We learned how to distinguish between an ash fall and ash flow by looking for stratigraphy within the bedding and how to discern how hot a layer was during deposition by looking for clues of welding and induration. Our camp site, Castle Rock Campground, was absolutely beautiful and we spent time studying the deposits there as well. At this location we were able to observe a normal fault that caused a lower (older) unit to be raised while a higher (younger) unit was lowered to be level with each other. I learned so much on this field trip. I was becoming so accustomed to mapping sedimentary rocks that I forgot how incredible igneous rocks are. Even though I have learned so much about igneous rocks through textbooks, this trip opened my eyes to so much more than a textbook ever could. Here are some pictures of the trip!
A collapsed scoria cone.
An amazing lava tube, which was once a conduit for flowing lava, but is now a solidified tunnel.
Castle Rock Campground. The distinct formation seen in this image is due to erosion of the Sevier River Formation.
Columnar jointing of Joe Lott Tuff.
I think its safe to say that everyone is exhausted. Most of us are not used to being out in the sun for 9 hours a day and hiking. Even though we are all still adjusting to the routine, spirits are high. Friendships are being made and fun is being had.
Everyone is excited for the 70th reunion activities to begin! Past field camp goers should be arriving this week. We are excited to meet them and learn from their experiences at field camp.
Lastly, I just want to give recognition to our professors and TAs. We are all extremely lucky to have such amazing faculty instructing us. Their knowledge is incredible, and we are all benefiting so much from their help.
Until next week,
Becky Anderson
