Let Geology Come Alive in New Mexico
May 15
– June 13, 2012
GPS,
Compasses, and Laptops provided
General Information
5 Days: Pennsylvanian Biostratigraphy of
Fort Worth Basin, and lake geochemistry, Arlington, TX
1 travel day to New Mexico
13 Days: Pennsylvanian and Mesozoic
Sedimentary Systems near Las Vegas, NM; Mapping & Structure of sedimentary
rocks, Taos Trough, NM.
10 Days: Regional Geology and mapping in
Metamorphic terrain: Rio Grande Rift, Jemez and Tusas
Mountains, NM
1 Travel Day to Arlington, TX
Hermit
Peak in background, Near Las Vegas, NM
Cost
Food, Lodging, Transportation: $1,500
(Food and Lodging at college dormitories
in New Mexico; Transportation by University Vans)
Tuition (Texas Resident): Approximately
$2,100
Prerequisites:
Mineralogy, Petrology,
Structure, sedimentology/Stratigraphy, Computer Literacy
Methods:
Students use GPS receivers and laptop computers that are provided.
Field data can be analyzed and displayed using the following software: RockWorks, Adobe Illustrator, GIS, PhotoShop
and Excel. Reports are written using Word.
For Information Contact:
Geology@UTA.edu
or
Department of Geology Box 19049
University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington, TX 76019
To Apply to Field Camp:
External (non-UTA) students need a GPA of
3.0 or better
Admission Deadline is April 15
Send an email to geology@UTA.EDU and provide the following:
e-mail address
mailing address
telephone number
Geology courses taken prior to
May 2012
Non-UTA students apply for admission to
UTA as a Visiting/Transient Student at
http://www.uta.edu/admissions/
Field Camp Schedule
May 15 – June 13,
2012
Tuesday, May 15
Arrive at Earth and Environmental Sciences Department,
University of Texas at Arlington – room 104 of the Geoscience Building
for introduction and first dayÕs activities
Directions and Maps are at http://www.uta.edu/maps/.
Tuesday,
May 15 – Saturday, May 19.
Pennsylvanian
Biostratigraphy of Fort Worth Basin (Nestell), and Lake
Geochemistry (Winguth)
Sunday, May 20
Meet at UTA at 7AM to pack vans and leave for Las
Vegas, NM at 8AM (approximately 11 hour drive)
Monday, May 21 – Friday, June 1
Structural Analysis of the Laramide Mountain Front at Las Vegas, NM; Late Paleozoic
and Mesozoic stratigraphy and sedimentary systems near Las Vegas, NM; Mapping
structure and stratigraphy near Las Vegas, NM.
Saturday, June 2
Travel from Las Vegas to El Rito,
NM. Afternoon field trip to Rio Grande Rift.
Sunday, June 3 - Tuesday June 12
Regional Geology and and
analysis of Igneous and metamorphic rocks in the vicinity of the Rio Grande
Rift (Lowell); Mapping metamorphic rocks in the Tusas
mountains (Wickham & Lowell).
Wednesday, June 13
Return to Arlington
General Policies
Field Camp 2012 will run from Tuesday, May 15 through Wednesday, June 13.
You should make no other plans for this period. You will be
occupied every minute.
1. Policies on alcohol and other drugs affecting judgment
and physical performance:
a)
No alcohol is to be consumed in any field camp vehicle, or during class hours.
No alcohol is permitted in a university operated vehicle.
b)
Obnoxious, harassing or abusive behavior, whether or not produced by drugs or
alcohol, will not be tolerated. People involved may be expelled.
d)
Alcohol is not permitted in the dorms of the New Mexico State Colleges where we
reside. Violators may be expelled from the dormitory..
2. Possession or
consumption of illegal drugs is not permitted under any circumstances.
3. An 8-hour period of quiet
will be observed where people sleep during the night.
4. Sexual Harassment consists
of physical and verbal behavior that is unwanted by anyone receiving it after
that person has told the perpetrator to stop. Sexual harassment can lead to
dismissal from the course.
5. Any threat of bodily harm,
explicit or implied, can be considered an assault and can lead to dismissal from
the course.
Equipment and Supplies
The university provides all special items and materials needed to carry out
individual projects (Computers, GPS Receivers, Compasses, Hand Levels, Jacob
Staffs, and Maps)
The following list includes items that you will need, but are not
provided by the University:
á
Stout
footwear; at the least, light boots with strong soles
á
Belt
for field equipment
á
Long
Pants for protection against brush
á
Rain
Poncho
á
Water
container(s): (2 liters recommended)
á
Dark
glasses with UV protection (avoid eye damage)
á
Day
pack
á
Field
medical kit (minimum: Band-Aids, Neosporin and aspirin)
á
Sun
Protection (avoid Skin Cancer): Sunscreen - 15 or greater, Hat, and Shirt
á
Bedding,
towel, washcloth, toiletries
á
Rock
hammer
á
Hand
lens
á
Field
note-taking equipment: clipboard for field maps, Engineers Field Notebook
(5Óx7.5Ó), pencils (#2 or #3,) and something to sharpen them with, eraser.
á
Ruler,
Protractor, Triangle, colored pencils
á
Calculator
á
Optional:
camera, binoculars, Knife
Equipment Prohibited: Firearms and other
weapons
Weather
Weather will vary from hot and dry (in the low 90Õs) to mild and raining.
Temperatures at night in may be in the 50Õs. Shorts are fine along roadcuts, but wear long pants and sleeves when mapping to
avoid cuts by brush. Choose your clothing with care, and remember that the more
comfortable you are in the field, the less distracted you will be from your
work.
Safety Precautions
Everyone is perfectly safe if they are
aware of dangers and take precautions. In the field, people have hand
communicators and work in teams so there is someone nearby if you get into
trouble. The following are the primary dangers in New Mexico:
Falling
Most minor injuries come from slipping and falling in the field. There are no
trails, and loose rocks and steep hillsides are common. Always walk slowly and
look before you step. Keep away from cliff edges which may give way. Please
get in shape before you come; take a strength or aerobic class.
Plague
Northern New Mexico is a plague area. Plague is usually carried by fleas,
which live on most mammals and rodents. Avoid close contact with rodents and
other mammals, and if you develop a fever, see a doctor. Plague is easy to
arrest in the early stages.
Hantavirus
Northern New Mexico also reports cases of Hantavirus, which can also be fatal
if not treated early. It is spread through rodent fecal matter that accumulates
in old buildings and nests. Stay out of abandoned buildings and don't rummage
around in animal or bird nests.
Dehydration and heat exhaustion
In New Mexico, you will be usually working in low humidity at elevations around
7000Õ. Before setting out, drink as much water as you can and carry at least 2
Liters of water with you. Move slowly and steadily. If you do get
overheated and/or dizzy, find shade, drink water, and rest a while.
Potable water
Don't drink from streams, pools etc. All have nasty pathogens and parasites.
Nasty little critters
Ticks, mosquitoes and gnats are rare, but a horse fly may bite you. Ticks are
dangerous as a carrier of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Fever is the main
symptom, so see a doctor if you have an elevated temperature. Lyme disease is
possible but not common in New Mexico. Ticks will crawl around on you for
some time before sucking, and it is sufficient to check yourself at the end of
the day.
Nasty big critters
Bears and mountain lions exist in the New Mexico Mountains. A bear was seen in
201, as well as mountain lion tracks. If you do see one, let your partners
know, donÕt turn and run, but back away slowly, facing the animal.
Nasty plants
Scrub Oak, brush and cactus can cut and puncture your legs if you donÕt wear
long clothing that covers your limbs. Poison Oak and Ivy occur in damp, shady
canyons.
Lightning and hail
Afternoon thundershowers (with hail) may occur. If you hear or see an
approaching storm, leave high ground IMMEDIATELY. Large hail stones can
injure you, so use your backpack or clipboard to protect your head if
necessary.