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2012 SPONSORED TRIPS (non-GSA)
The Geology of Canyon Country:
The Colorado Plateau of Eastern Utah
Moab UT, May 6 - 12, 2012
From the countless spires to the deep canyons, our journey wil reveal the geological story through time for the eastern Utah portion of the Colorado Plateau. During daily stops and planned events we will explore Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, Tertiary igneous intrusions, Cenozoic geomorphology of the Plateau, glacial features on the La Sal Mountains, alluvial fan deposits of the Ancestral Rockies, salt dome collapses (or meteorite impact?), and faults and folds associated with the salt diapirism and the Laramide Orogeny. We will also tour potash production from Paleozoic evaporites and areas significant to the Uranium mining boom of the 50s. Our geology guides will share other natural and cultural history highlights of the area with guests.
The level of instruction will appeal to all levels of geologic study (rock hound, professional geologists new to this area of the country, students, retirees, and teachers). 300 million years of geologic history will be covered with an emphasis on processes through geologic time on this portion of the Colorado Plateau.
Guests will each receive an extensive guidebook to use during the week and keep at the end of the program. The guidebook will cover all subjects of the trip using primary research papers when available.
Some hiking of up to 2 miles may be required, with elevation gains of 500 - 1,000 feet, over moderate terrain. This is an active program and not intended for those who cannot actively explore outcrops/ road cuts; some of which require hiking to reach (call provider with questions on the level of mobility that participants must have).
Program is in association with Mountains and Plains Institute for Lifelong Learning and
Service.
Trip Leader : Peter McCarville, MS Geology, Crawford, CO.
Cost : GSA members and partners $1599. Non-GSA members $1699. Costs based on double occupancy. Single supplement available.
Registration due by 26 March 2012.
More trip information
Download trip Itinerary
Download registration form
Trip in association with : 
Death Valley National Park:
Geology in a Land of Contrasts and Extremes
Furnace Creek, CA
March 5-11, 2012
CANCELLED FOR 2012
According to the Park Service Death Valley National Park is the “Hottest, Driest, Lowest! A superlative desert of streaming sand dunes, snowcapped mountains, multicolored rock layers, and water-fluted canyons”. Death Valley National Park (DVNP) is all of this and more in its 3 million acre size and convenient location near Las Vegas, NV.
Join us to explore the geology of these “contrasts and extremes” in Death Valley National Park.
“The Hottest!” We will be investigating the geology at various sites in the park in one of the mild seasons of the year (day time highs of 70-80 degrees F). In addition to a milder temperature on the human species, the flora and fauna are most accessible to the human traveler at these times and should provide us with an added benefit.
“The Driest!” We will have first-rate accommodations at Furnace Creek Ranch Resorts. This ranch was established in the 1880s as a working cattle ranch. Now it is home to comfortable accommodations, pool, golf course, and four restaurants. We will be staying and eating here when not in the field looking at the rocks.
“The Lowest!” Yes, and we will be visiting these “low areas” (and high ones too!) in order to take in the geologic story of the Park.
The program will visit various places within the Park in order to create a rich understanding of the Park’s Geology. The program will include visits to the following places: Harmony Borax Works, Mormon Point Turtleback, Lake Manly shorelines, Dante’s View, Zabriskie Point, Gower Gulch, Badwater, Titus Canyon, Devil’s Golf Course, Race Track Playa, Ubehebe Craters, Tucki Dunes, Hole-in-the-Wall, Artist’s Drive.
Time permitting, areas outside of the park to the south may be visited. These include: Shoshone (Tecopa basin), Amargosa Borax Works, and Tecopa Hot Springs.
The level of instruction will appeal to all levels of geologic study (rock hound, professional geologists new to this area of the country, students, retirees, and teachers). In addition to the Park’s geology, the guides will share other natural and cultural history highlights of the area with guests.
Guests will each receive an extensive guidebook to use during the week and keep at the end of the program. The guidebook will cover all subjects of the trip using primary research papers when available.
Elevations from –282’ to 9,000'. Steps, stairs, trails, hills; ability to walk 1 to 2 miles on uneven ground in varying weather is required. This is an active program and not intended for those who cannot actively explore outcrops road cuts; some of which require hiking to reach (call provider with questions on the level of mobility that participants must have).
Program is in association with Mountains and Plains Institute for Lifelong Learning and Service.
Trip Leaders: Peter McCarville, MS Geology, Crawford, CO and Dan Larsen, PhD Geology, Professor of Geology at University of Memphis, Memphis TN.
Cost : GSA members and partners $1,985. Non-GSA members $2,185. Costs based on double occupancy. Single supplement available ($570 pp). Shuttle service from/to Las Vegas is an additional $100 per person.
Trip in association with :
Survey of Colorado’s Mining Geology: Past and Present
Starting and ending in Colorado Springs, CO
June 24-30, 2012
When one thinks of Colorado the first thing that comes to mind is the Rocky Mountains (perhaps Pikes Peak) while the second is the boom and bust of Colorado’s mining history. Ever since gold was discovered in Cherry Creek (near Denver) in 1859 the state has had a rich history of extractive industries. Oil, gas, metals, coal, and building products are just some of the products that have been mined from the lands of CO while
many continue to be mined to this day.
Join us for a brief but intense survey of the past and present products mined in CO by actual visits to some of the areas that produced (and are still producing) these products.
The program is travelling-based and will visit such exciting places as:
1. The Garden of the Gods
2. The Cripple Creek and Victor Gold Mining District
3. Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
4. Leadville silver and base metals mining District
5. Climax Molybdenum mine and tailings
6. Yule Marble mine near Redstone CO and/or Gypsum mining in central CO
7. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
8. Coal Mining in the Mesa Verde Formation- West Elk Mine, Somerset, CO
9. Ouray- the Red Mountain and Silverton Mining Districts
and more
Tours and presentations at present mining operations will punctuate the trip with scenic drives and stops between our destinations acting as places for presenting the state’s geologic history. Emphasis will be placed upon Colorado’s Mineral Belt (its timing and petrogenesis), Tertiary Intrusives, and coal basins in CO. While no oil and
gas plays will be toured, a discussion of the current state of oil and gas will be part of the general CO geology.
In addition to the State’s geology, the guides will share other natural and cultural history highlights with guests as the tour loops through the state (see itinerary for details of the route).
The level of instruction will appeal to all levels of geologic study (rock hound, professional geologists new to this area of the country, students, retirees, and teachers).Guests will each receive an extensive guidebook to use during the week and keep at the end of the program. The guidebook will cover all subjects of the trip using primary
research papers when available. Although not provided, The Roadside Geology of CO, 2nd edition and Messages in Stone are recommended reading.
Elevations from ~5000’ to ~10,000'. Steps, stairs, trails, hills; ability to walk 1 mile on uneven ground in varying weather is required. This is an active program and not intended for those who cannot actively explore outcrops and road cuts; some of which require hiking to reach (call provider with questions on the level of mobility that
participants must have).
Program is operated by Mountains and Plains Institute for Lifelong Learning and
Service.
Trip Leader: Peter McCarville, MS Geology, Crawford, CO
Cost: GSA members and partners $1599. Non-GSA members $1699. Costs based on double occupancy. Single supplement available.
Registration is due by May 14th, 2012
More trip information
Download trip Itinerary
Download Registration Form
Trip in association with :
2013 GSA Geoventures
Antarctica and the Scotia Arc:
Tectonics, Climate and Life
December 28, 2012 - January 20, 2013
Join the Jackson School of Geosciences at UT Austin and the Geological Society of America for an expedition to one of Earth’s most dynamic ecosystems. With only 94 berths on the comfortable and safe 92-meter ice ship, M/V Marina Svetaeva, enjoy 12 landing days in the Southern Ocean with abundant time on shore to engage with the fascinating landscapes, geological formations and wildlife. This once in a lifetime trip is designed for the geologist and non-geologist alike.
Join Scientific Leader, Ian Dalziel and
World-Class Guest Lecturers:
• Richard Alley, Pennsylvania State University
• Rob Dunbar, Stanford University
• Rudolph Truow, Federal University of Rio De Janeiro
“Ian Dalziel’s cruise to the Scotia Arc in connection with the International Geological Congress was the best I ever participated in.” - Alan Smith, University of Cambridge
For information visit expedition Web site at www.cheesemans.com/jsg
Trip details are being continually updated. To get notification of updates, join our Geoventures E-News list. |
