by caverdan » Jan 24, 2011 4:12 pm
Geology Field Trip
Southern Route: Glenwood Springs to Marble to El Jebel
This field will be to three types of features found east and south of Glenwood Springs: hot springs with related karst, evaporite solution features, and rocks altered by Tertiary intrusions.
After the first stop at the Glenwood Springs hot spring adjacent to the pool, we will travel east to examine evaporite solution features along the Roaring Fork River. Proceeding south from Carbondale along the Crystal River we will stop at the coke ovens at Redstone and discuss the heating of Cretaceous coals by Tertiary intrusives.
Lunch will be at the millsite at the town of Marble adjacent to large blocks of marble and the milling equipment. After lunch the field trip retraces the route along the Crystal River with a stop at Penny Hot Springs near the Elephant Mountain Caves.
Continuing east along the Roaring Fork River and then ascending the hills overlooking El Jebel, the next stop is Dirty Pool Cave, an evaporite solution cave. The final stop on the return to Glenwood Springs will be an outcrop overlooking the Roaring Fork valley with a closeup view of the evaporite solution taking place in this area.
Date and Time: TBD
Leaders: Mark Maslyn, assisted by Richard Rhinehart and Doug Medville
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Eastern Route: Glenwood Canyon to Camp Hale
The Glenwood Springs-Camp Hale geology field trip route will start at the Glenwood Springs High School. The first stop will be in Glenwood Canyon where we will look at Precambrian rocks as well as outcrops of the cavernous Leadville Formation. From there we will continue up the beautiful and fascinating Glenwood Canyon. Our next stop at the mouth of Glenwood Canyon we will see more of the Leadville formation and talk about the famous Dotsero Springs and how it is related to the speleogenesis of the areas caves. Going further up the Colorado River we will stop near Dotsero Volcano, which is the youngest volcano in Colorado. Continuing along the Eagle River past the towns of Gypsum and Eagle we will then stop at a classic landslide to look at problems that arise when the local geology is not taken into account.
We will continue following I-70 past the towns of Wolcott, Edwards, Avon and we will stop at Maloit Park in Minturn for lunch. Here we will start to look at the many glacial features that are present nearby. If time allows we may be able to take a short hike up to an outcrop of the sandstones of the Cambrian Sawatch Formation to look at glacial polish and striations. After lunch we will stop at the Gilman Mine to talk about the very interesting silver mining that was associated with paleofill in the Leadville Formation. Here we will also learn about the extensive cleanup of the toxic waste generated by the Gilman Mine. Our next stop will be at the historic Camp Hale, where during WWII soldiers were trained for mountain and winter combat. Here we will continue to learn more about glacial geology and also about the Minturn Formation, which includes limestone bioherms that outcrop on the slopes above Camp Hale.
From Camp Hale we then start back to Glenwood Springs. As we travel down the Eagle Valley we will be looking at the unusual facies change in the Minturn Formation as we travel from the east to west. Also we will pass by a “mystery” boulder, which should stimulate the geology detectives on the trip. Our last stop of the day will be at the gypsum quarries near Gypsum. Here everyone will be able to collect samples of gypsum and selenite as we learn about the geology of the gypsum deposits as well as the drywall industry in Colorado. In general this route will include some of the prettiest and most spectacular views of Colorado in the state. For those not from Colorado this would make a perfect introduction to the local geology and scenery.
Date and Time: TBD
Leaders: Fred Luiszer and Ed LaRock (contact info to follow)
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Western Route
There will be a pre-convention field trip through western Colorado from Glenwood Springs to Grand Junction. This field trip will examine karst features in the Leadville Formation in Glenwood Springs and tufa caves at Rifle Falls State Park. It will also have a stop where claystone caves in the Wasatch Formation are described. Throughout the trip we will discuss the spectacular outcrops that are present along the route. Your trip culminates at the DeBeque Canyon Winery in beautiful Palisade, Colorado, where participants will be treated to light snacks and a wine tasting before the return trip to Glenwood Springs.
Date and Time: TBD
Leader: Harvey DuChene (contact info to follow)
Member: Colorado Madrats, SoCoMoGro,CWSG.