Principles of Geology

Field Trip

Saturday, October 6th

(MAP)

Purpose:

To observe and describe the structure and stratigraphy of Ordovician and Pennsylvanian rocks in the LaSalle Illinois area and interpret the geologic history of the region.

 

Recommended Gear:

We will be visiting active quarries, natural stream cuts, and parks. We will be outside most of the day so dress appropriately. Watch the weather forecast on Friday. Wear field boots if you have them. Be prepared to get dirty! We will probably be a little tight on bus space so please do not bring any unnecessary gear.

 

Suggested Attire:                                                       Equipment Needed:

Long pants, long-sleeved shirt                                                 notebook (optional)

Sunglasses                                                                   pens or pencils (optional)

Boots                                                                           day pack

warm jacket                                                                 canteen or water bottle

hat and gloves                                                              camera, film (optional)

rain gear

 

Lunch

You will need to bring your lunch and any other food an non-alcoholic beverages with you. We will not be stopping anywhere to purchase food. We will eat lunch around noon, when we arrive at Stop 3.

 

Schedule:

7:50 a.m. Depart Circle Drive at the Bone Student Center (west side). Be sure to arrive a little early with

breakfast eaten. Pack a lunch. First bathroom break won’t be until 11:00, so monitor your coffee intake.

 

Stop 1: LoneStar Cement Company Quarry; Early to middle Pennsylvanian stratigraphy and depositional environments. All

participants MUST wear a hard hat in the quarry. A safety orientation will be given at the first stop! All

participants MUST read and sign releases to enter the quarries.  We will collect fossils here.  You may want to bring a baggie.

 

Stop 2: Buffalo Rock State Park; Ordovician St. Peter Sandstone, Pennsylvanian Colchester Coal, coal mine reclamation, geomorphology of Illinois River Valley.

 

Stop 3: Mattheissen State Park: Lunch, Middle Ordovician stratigraphy and depositional environments.  This is where the waterfall and caves can be explored.

Head for home by ~4:00 p.m., arrive by ~5:00 p.m.

 

 Hope for good weather!