ESW Proclamation by the Governor National Earth Science Week Website
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Annual Earth Science Week field trip "Tuff All Over" National Earth Science Week (ESW) 2012 encourages people everywhere to explore the natural world and learn about the geosciences. The Nevada Bureau of Mines & Geology (NBMG) welcomes you to participate in its fifteenth annual Earth Science Week field trip. In keeping with the National ESW theme, “Discovering Careers in the Earth Sciences,” this year’s trip will focus on the Cenozoic geology of the Virginia Mountains, north of the Pyramid Highway and west of Pyramid Lake. You’ll see how geologists use geologic maps to unravel the history of the area, assess earthquake hazards from evidence of recent faulting, and evaluate the potential for mineral resources. You’ll be able to collect a variety of volcanic rocks, including several tuffs, and some diatomite, which has occasional leaf fossils. We will leave promptly at 8:00 a.m. each day from the Great Basin Science Sample and Records Library, the new building for information, publication sales, geologic and topographic maps, and geological samples of the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, on the west side of the campus of the Desert Research Institute, 2175 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV 89512. Please meet there beginning at 7:30 a.m. and no later than 7:45 a.m. if you would like a preview of the rocks that you’ll be able to collect. This will be a tough trip, not only because we will be collecting several different tuffs and traveling on rough roads, but also because there are no bathroom facilities (but lots of bushes and rocks) along the way and because the last (optional) stop involves hiking about 2.8 miles, partly up a steep road. The trip is free and open to the public. Be sure to bring your own four-wheel-drive vehicle, lunch, sunscreen, hat, first-aid kit, and plenty of water. Drivers with room to carry an extra passenger are encouraged to make that known when we assemble. Riders are encouraged to share gas cost. Total distance traveled by vehicle is approximately 80 miles round trip. Some of the driving will be slow, so make sure you have plenty of gasoline. You can use this guide to take the trip on your own at another time, if you can’t join us this year. Field trip participants wanting a tour of the Great Basin Science Sample and Records Library (GBSSRL), the new building for information, publication sales, geologic and topographic maps, and geological samples of the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, can meet there, 2175 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV 89512 (on the west side of the Desert Research Institute campus) at 7:15 a.m. Directions and a map to this facility are at this link: http://www.nbmg.unr.edu/Departments/GBSSRL/docs/GBSSRL_map_directions.pdf. We will leave the GBSSRL location in Reno at 7:45 a.m. Come visit our publication sales office anytime between 7:15 a.m. and 7:45 a.m. on the day of the field trip. Tuff-times discounts—October 20 and 21 only (7:15–7:45) All of the guidebooks described in the link below will be on sale for $20 each: Or buy one of these guidebooks and get a 2013 Nevada Geology Calendar for free: You can help Food Bank of Northern Nevada Bring in a donation of non-perishable food items and we will give you some topo map gift wrap to use for the holidays. Look for the FBNN collection bin just inside the door of the sales office. Here are some suggested items to bring—any of these would be very much appreciated: While visiting our office, you can also celebrate National Fossil Day (October 17) by picking up some free games and activities on fossils.
This year's field trip will appeal to people of all ages. Please sign up to attend on either Saturday, Oct 20th, or Sunday, Oct 21th (the same field trip is repeated on two consecutive days). You must sign up (sign-up) online prior to the trip and sign a waiver form: (waiver). Please print out a paper copy, sign and date, and submit prior to the field trip or bring to the field trip meeting place.
We will make a few geologic stops on our way. There will be several geologists along on the trip to help answer your questions about geology and identify a variety of rocks. There will also be an opportunity to learn more about geocaching and EarthCaching—a high-tech treasure hunting game using GPS devices. If you have a hand-held GPS unit, bring it, so you can find the geocaches and EarthCaches located near some stops.
All are welcome to come on the Earth Science week tour. Bring your own insured high-clearance vehicle, lunch, and the usual safety equipment for a day out in the field —WATER, hat, sunscreen, sturdy walking shoes or boots, first aid kit, collecting bags, and rock hammer if you have one. Please carpool with friends or come prepared to carpool with new acquaintances to save fuel. The complete road log for the field trip will be available at this site: (road log).
Questions about the field trip? Call D.D. at 784-4528. For more information about educational activities during Earth Science Week, go to the national Earth Science Week website at: http://www.earthsciweek.org/.
Be sure to check out our geologic guidebooks!
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