Geology Trip - Prairie Ridge & Graphite Outcrop, Wake County

SATURDAY, MAY 27

Meeting Time: 10:00 am (location will be sent once you register)
Cost: $35/student; parents free, sibling and scout discounts. 
(Please email rgreengeology@gmail.com for details.)

Our next Geology Field Trip will be to a real natural gem, located near the NC Museum of Art. We will be exploring the geology exposed at the Prairie Ridge Ecostation, 45 acres of Piedmont prairie, forest, ponds, a stream and sustainable building features set within a wildlife-friendly landscape. Prairie Ridge provides an exceptional outdoor learning space.

The rock types present - metamorphic schists and gneisses - help tell the story of how a major portion of North Carolina formed.  The rock that underlie Prairie Ridge record a long and sometimes violent geologic past of over a half billion years of Earth history.  Collectively the rocks of the Raleigh area record the formation of an ancient chain of volcanic islands (called Carolinia by geologists) that were active for millions of years with countless volcanic eruptions that formed piles of volcanic ash and lava flows.  During this same period of volcanic activity, erosion wore down the volcanic areas and deposited layers of sedimentary rocks in the form of mudstone, siltstone, and sandstone.

Following this visit, we will explore a neat outcrop of graphite schist in north Raleigh. Just a short hike down a trail along a creek, this unique and special rock represents the earliest traces of life in North Carolina.  We will be able to collect specimens at this outcrop. 

The cost of the Geology Field Trip is $35.00 per student.  There is no charge to parents/drivers.  Contact us if you would like details about a multiple sibling or scout group discount. 

Please let us know as soon as you can, if you will be attending and how many will be in your party : )

You can pay in two ways:   

1) Send your payment to Pay Pal - rgreen08@gmail.com.  - or - 

2) Mail a check to

Rob Greenberg
2218 Esther Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

Please feel free to forward this email to others who you think will be interested.  We would love to grow our list of geology enthusiasts!

We look forward to seeing everyone!

Mary Watson & Rob Greenberg

Mineral and Rock Collecting at the Glendon Mine

Local Geology Field Trip - Dec 3rd

Hello everyone!

We hope you have a very fulfilling Thanksgiving. While the weather is still beautiful and crisp, we look forward to getting out and having some fun outdoors, while we learn about some fascinating geology!

Our next Geology Field Trip will be on Saturday, December 3rd at 10 am.

Our first stop is a real natural gem, located near the NC Museum of Art. We will be exploring the geology exposed at the Prairie Ridge Ecostation,  45 acres of Piedmont prairie, forest, ponds, a stream and sustainable building features set within a wildlife-friendly landscape. Prairie Ridge furthers the NC Science Museum's mission of enhancing public understanding and appreciation of the natural environment by providing an outdoor learning space while acting as a model for renewable and sustainable energy.

The geologic story of the rock types and their geologic history was deciphered through many years of research by many investigators mapping in the Piedmont of North Carolina and the immediate area surrounding Prairie Ridge. 

To a geologist the rock types present - metamorphic schists and gneisses - help tell the story of how a major portion of North Carolina formed.  The rock that underlie Prairie Ridge record a long and sometimes violent geologic past of over a half billion years of Earth history.  Collectively the rocks of the Raleigh area record the formation of an ancient chain of volcanic islands (called Carolinia by geologists) that were active for millions of years with countless volcanic eruptions that formed piles of volcanic ash and lava flows.  During this same period of volcanic activity, erosion wore down the volcanic areas and deposited layers of sedimentary rocks in the form of mudstone, siltstone, and sandstone.

Following this visit, we will hike and explore the geology of nearby Umstead Park. This will be a chance for everyone to burn off some steam and enjoy a hike lead by Rob Greenberg. Bring a lunch to enjoy! Umstead has a beautiful picnic area.

The cost of the Geology Field Trip is $35.00 per student.  There is no charge to parents/drivers.  Contact us if you would like details about a multiple sibling or scout group discount.

Because, we like to have an accurate 'head count', please let us know as soon as you can, if you will be attending and how many will be in your party : )

You can pay in two ways:  

1) Send your payment to Pay Pal - rgreen08@gmail.com.  - or -

2) Mail a check to

Rob Greenberg
2218 Esther Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

Here are some things to know about the trip.

• Wear sturdy shoes 
• Bring water, snacks and a lunch to enjoy at Umstead Park
• Bring sunscreen and bug spray (ticks can be out anytime!)
• If you happen to run late, we can be reached at  919-270-0028.

Please feel free to forward this email to others who you think will be interested.  We would love to grow our list of geology enthusiasts!

We look forward to seeing everyone!


Mary Watson & Rob Greenberg

Photos from the October 22nd trip to Gold Country

Thanks to Yelena McManaman and Rob Greenberg for sharing these photos!!

Panning for gold on the Uwharrie River 

Mitchell Mill Natural Area and Garnet-Mica Schist Collecting Area

Hello Friends and Rockhounds.

Wherever you live or travel, geology is everywhere. Geology also unlocks the history that lies hidden in the land all around us—in a piece of granite, a hillside, a handful of sand, the rock layers along a lake shore, or the jagged peaks of a mountain range.

We would like to invite you to attend our next Geology Trip on Saturday, November 12th.

Starting at 10:00 am, we will visit the Mitchell Mill State Natural Area - part of the largest granite dome on the east coast. This is a 'granite flatrock' - an outstanding natural exposure of the Rolesville granite and its unique, endemic plant community.  

We will be having a special program at Mitchell Mill State Natural Area, a granite 'flatrock' area, courtesy of the B. W. Wells Association. Experts will lead us on tour of the unique, special biota that have specially adapted themselves to live on this granite flat rock environment.

There are unique geological features present that separate Mitchell Mill State Natural Area from any other park in the area. It is part of the largest granite dome on the East coast, measuring approximately 30 miles long, 13 miles wide and 40,000-60,000 feet deep. Today, the rock face is pitted, worn and covered in ephemeral pools. These pools fill with water when it rains and are home to salamanders, frogs, crayfish and other tiny organisms. 

Please bring snacks, lunch and drinks. This is a perfect place for a 'picnic' lunch and we will have a break here as we enjoy the geology and scenery.

Our next stop will be an excellent outcrop near Falls Lake where participants will have the opportunity to 'load up" on garnets and garnet-mica schist. This is a very hard rock, so safety glasses or goggles are a great safety feature, please bring yours if you have them. There is no limit on the time we can spend at this last stop, so you can collect as much as you want.

Rockhounds of all ages are welcome!!

We will provide rock, hammers, eye protection for the group and the other equipment necessary. Bring rock hammers and eye protection if you have them.

To register for the November field trip or any other field trip, or if you'd like more information, please contact rgreengeology@gmail.com. We accept PayPal or pay by check.

Upon registration, we will send you additional info about where to meet, what to bring along and answer any questions that you have for us.

Because of the cost of the equipment we provide, the cost of the Geology Trip will be $35.00 per student.  There is no charge to parents/drivers.  Contact us if you would like details about a multiple sibling or scout group discount. 

We will need an accurate 'head count', so please let us know as soon as you can, if you will be attending and how many will be in your party : )

You can pay in two ways:   

1) Send your payment to Pay Pal - rgreen08@gmail.com.  - or - 

2) Mail a check to
Rob Greenberg
2218 Esther Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

Thanks so much for your time and interest. Please feel free to forward this email to others who you think will be interested. We would love to grow our list of geology enthusiasts!  Have them contact me and I will add their information so they can receive announcements and updates.

Please spread the word about this trip to anyone you think it would interest!

Photos from the September 17th trip to Knightdale Quarry

Thanks to Yelena McManaman and Dilip Barman for sharing these photos!!

Veins of aplite cutting across granite

Granite layered with veins of biotite

Sign up for the Uwharrie Gold Panning Adventure - Saturday, October 22nd

Hello Friends and Rockhounds, 

We are very excited about our next geology trip to the 'Gold Country' of NC.

The geology, archaeology and precious metal resources of the Uwharrie Mountains are truly unique. We invite you to join us for our October adventure to Morrow Mountain State Park to be followed by trying your hand at gold panning in the adjacent Uwharrie National Forest, an area rich in cultural and natural history.

We'll start the adventure at the Morrow Mountain Summit - a scenic overlook and picnic area. Morrow Mountain is the highest peak in the area, at an elevation of 936 feet, from its summit we enjoy a truly spectacular view of the Pee Dee River and the rugged topography of the park that forms a stark contrast with the rolling countryside of the Piedmont plateau.

Bring a lunch/snacks and drinks and enjoy some social time with the group. 

The Uwharries are ancient Mountains. Now worn down to rounded ridges, these pinnacles are the remains of one of the oldest mountain ranges in the eastern United States. This beautiful landscape is the result of powerful geological forces that began millions of years ago. Over time, wind and water eroded lofty peaks to their more subdued profile we see today. 

The discovery of artifacts in the area attests to the presence of Native Americans 10,000 years before European settlement. 

Our program begins with a short hike during which we explore the geology and archaeology of the park. The program continues with a guided tour at the new exhibit hall commemorating the history of the Uwharries. Exhibits include hands-on rocks and minerals, American Indians, plant and animal communities, and early settlers.

The exhibits provide a perfect way for us to introduce you to gold history and gold panning techniques. 

The adventure continues with gold panning along the watershed of Uwharrie River. 

The first substantial gold strike in the United States was discovered near this area in 1799, and gold was discovered in the Uwharrie Mountains throughout the 19th century. A mini-gold rush occurred here during the Great Depression. Interest peaked again in this recession as gold increased to $1900/ounce. Today the price per ounce is closer to $1300.

Panning for gold in the forest's streams and rivers remains a popular activity. Recreational panning is allowed on most of the Uwharrie National Forest. No fee or permit is required as long as only shovel and pan techniques are used and no significant stream disturbance results.

We will provide gold pans and the other equipment necessary. Bring rock hammers and eye protection if you have them. We will provide some for the group.

To register for the October field trip or any other field trip, or if you'd like more information, please contact rgreengeology@gmail.com. We accept PayPal or pay by check.

Upon registration, we will send you additional info about where to meet, what to bring along and answer any questions that you have for us.

Because of the cost of the equipment we provide, the cost of the Geology Trip will be $60.00 per student.  There is no charge to parents/drivers.  Contact us if you would like details about a multiple sibling or scout group discount. 

We will need an accurate 'head count', please let us know as soon as you can, if you will be attending and how many will be in your party : )

You can pay in two ways:   

1) Send your payment to Pay Pal - rgreen08@gmail.com.  - or - 

2) Mail a check to
Rob Greenberg
2218 Esther Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

Thanks so much for your time and interest. 

Please feel free to forward this email to others who you think will be interested. We would love to grow our list of geology enthusiasts!  Have them contact me and I will add their information so they can receive announcements and updates.

**********

This is a very scenic part of our state!! If you would like to turn the gold panning adventure into a weekend getaway, please click on the links below:

Morrow Mountain State Park has more than 15 miles of hiking trails, camping, stay-overnight-cabins and swimming.
http://www.ncparks.gov/morrow-mountain-state-park 
Uwharrie National Forest has camping (with hot showers), fishing, hiking, boating and off-roading.
http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/southern/uwhcmp.htm

Other area attractions include:

Seagrove, NC - pottery capital of NC
http://www.discoverseagrove.com/

NC Zoo
http://www.nczoo.org/