Post by Sharon Faulkner on Sept 29, 2006 7:48:51 GMT -5
Geologists feast on local wonders
By Kyle Marksteiner
September 29, 2006
CARLSBAD — The ongoing wave of oil and gas employees driving down Dark Canyon Road Thursday morning may have wondered what all the fuss was about near the entrance to the canyon. A group of geologists from around New Mexico were gathered there to study fossils and formations near the side of the road. Most carried notebooks and cameras, along with small items they used to provide scale for their pictures.
It was one of several similar tours going on Thursday, which was the first day of the New Mexico Geological Society's 57th Annual Field Conference. Pre-conference field trips, which included tours of local potash mines and the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, took place on Wednesday.
It's the first time the Carlsbad area has hosted the conference since 1993. This year's theme "Caves and karst of southeastern New Mexico," highlights both some of the area's natural wonders and ongoing scientific research taking place in Carlsbad. Karst is irregular limestone in which erosion has formed fissures, sinkholes, caverns and underground streams. "Every year, there's a three day field conference somewhere in New Mexico or maybe one of the surrounding states," Lewis Land, karst hydrologist for the National Cave and Karst Research Institute said. "Usually, the focus is on the geology of some part of the state. This year's theme is specifically on caves and karst."
Land is also affiliated with the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources. He's vice president of the state geological society and is one of the hosts of this year's conference.
Thursday's tours included visits to limestone caves in the Guadalupe Mountains. Space on some tours was limited, so members of the society divided into groups. Experts on geology of the area and local caving gurus were also present.
On Friday, visitors will focus on the geology and evaporite karst of the Castille Formation in Parks Ranch Cave. On Saturday, the scientists will visit the area around Bottomless Lakes State Park, near Roswell. The 123 society members attending are staying at Washington Ranch, south of Carlsbad. They have some background research in the form of a 350-page book, designed for the conference, which outlines every detail of their trip. The book is dedicated to geologist Carol Hill.
Full Article
By Kyle Marksteiner
September 29, 2006
CARLSBAD — The ongoing wave of oil and gas employees driving down Dark Canyon Road Thursday morning may have wondered what all the fuss was about near the entrance to the canyon. A group of geologists from around New Mexico were gathered there to study fossils and formations near the side of the road. Most carried notebooks and cameras, along with small items they used to provide scale for their pictures.
It was one of several similar tours going on Thursday, which was the first day of the New Mexico Geological Society's 57th Annual Field Conference. Pre-conference field trips, which included tours of local potash mines and the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, took place on Wednesday.
It's the first time the Carlsbad area has hosted the conference since 1993. This year's theme "Caves and karst of southeastern New Mexico," highlights both some of the area's natural wonders and ongoing scientific research taking place in Carlsbad. Karst is irregular limestone in which erosion has formed fissures, sinkholes, caverns and underground streams. "Every year, there's a three day field conference somewhere in New Mexico or maybe one of the surrounding states," Lewis Land, karst hydrologist for the National Cave and Karst Research Institute said. "Usually, the focus is on the geology of some part of the state. This year's theme is specifically on caves and karst."
Land is also affiliated with the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources. He's vice president of the state geological society and is one of the hosts of this year's conference.
Thursday's tours included visits to limestone caves in the Guadalupe Mountains. Space on some tours was limited, so members of the society divided into groups. Experts on geology of the area and local caving gurus were also present.
On Friday, visitors will focus on the geology and evaporite karst of the Castille Formation in Parks Ranch Cave. On Saturday, the scientists will visit the area around Bottomless Lakes State Park, near Roswell. The 123 society members attending are staying at Washington Ranch, south of Carlsbad. They have some background research in the form of a 350-page book, designed for the conference, which outlines every detail of their trip. The book is dedicated to geologist Carol Hill.
Full Article
