Photos from the American Stone Quarry Trip, Jan 30, 2016.

All photos by Rob Greenberg.

American Stone Company Quarry on Jan 30

Hello everyone!

Because of the snowy/icy forecast, we are changing this trip to January, 30th.

Our next Geology Field Trip will be on Saturday January 30th at 10 am.  We will meet at the American Stone Company, which is just west of Carrboro on NC-54. Here's a link to the quarry:  https://goo.gl/maps/rXC6Y

We will once again visit an operating quarry, this time we will be looking at the amazing rocks of the Carolina Terrane.  These rocks record a time in North Carolina's past when there was active volcanism, hot springs, geysers, calderas, earthquakes and the formation of precious metals such as gold, silver and copper.

On this trip, we will learn about the geologic history and the special economic importance of these rocks.  There will also be a rare opportunity to collect rock and mineral specimens from this quarry such as pyrite, calcite and epidote, as well as intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks like volcanic breccias and tuffs.

Following the quarry visit, you'll have the option to visit Rob's home nearby (3 minutes away) for an informal rock and mineral identification session.  You are welcome to bring any specimens you have for curation. We'll also watch a short video, which provides a nice overview of the Piedmont's geologic history.  You are welcome to bring a lunch and we will provide a few snacks and drinks.

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, the quarry 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

Here are some things to know about visiting a quarry.

• Wear sturdy shoes (for safety sake open-toed foot wear is not allowed in a quarry) 
• Bring water, sunscreen and bug spray (yes, ticks can be out even in the winter!)
• Plastic or cloth bags are great to take home rock and mineral specimens. 
• Bring rock hammers (if you have them), and protective eye cover. Don't worry, we will supply some for the group.

Here's a link to a map where we will be meeting at 10 am:  https://goo.gl/maps/rXC6Y

The street address is 1807 NC Highway 54 West. Chapel Hill, NC  27516. Rob's phone number is 919-270-0028. The quarry phone number is 919-929-7131.

Please be prompt, the quarry operator is running a special tour for our group. If you happen to run late, we can be reached at  919-270-0028.

The quarry will supply hard hats, if needed. Please be prepared to follow any safety guidelines that the quarry operator requests of you. Footwear is required in the quarry as a safety measure; sturdy shoes are always a wise precaution when 'geologizing'.

We encourage participants to carpool together to the quarry if you can! Within the quarry, we will ask participants to carpool in order to minimize the amount of cars inside the quarry.  Be prepared when asked to do that.

Please feel free to forward this information 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

UPDATED - GEOLOGY FIELD TRIPS FOR 2016

Save the dates and tell others!!

Hello everyone!

We wish you a very Happy and Healthy New Year!  We've been busy over the break planning a new series of adventures for the group for 2016.

Most of our trips this year are local. However, if you and your family (and friends) would like to join us for the out-of-town June and September field trips, we will need to know ahead of time . 

Because of the unpredictable El Nino weather, we are scheduling Rain Dates for January, February and April trips. 

Detailed announcements will be sent out monthly.

To sign up - email rgreengeology@gmail.com or mwats028@gmail.com.

Please respond by January 17th if you wish to participate in the January quarry field trip.  Let us know how many in your group (adults and students).  

You may use Paypal to pay for field trips.  Use the email: rgreen08@gmail.com

You may also mail a check to:

Rob Greenberg

2218 Esther Drive

Chapel Hill, NC  27516

SATURDAY, JANUARY 23 – American Stone Company

(RAIN DATE, SATURDAY, JANUARY 30)

Meeting Time: 10:00 am

$35/student; no charge for parents or drivers. Email us to find out about multiple sibling or scout group discounts

We will visit an operating quarry, this time we will be looking at the amazing rocks of the Carolina Terrane.  These rocks record a time in North Carolina's past when there was active volcanism, hot springs, geysers, calderas, earthquakes and the formation of precious metals such as gold, silver and copper. On this trip, we will learn about the geologic history and the special economic importance of these rocks.  There will also be a rare opportunity to collect rock and mineral specimens from this quarry such as pyrite, calcite and epidote, as well as intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks like volcanic breccias and tuffs.

Following the quarry visit, you are cordially invited to Rob's home nearby (3 minutes away) for an informal rock and mineral identification session.  You are welcome to bring any specimens you have for curation. Bring a lunch to enjoy and we will provide a few snacks and drinks.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20 – Knightdale Quarry and outcrops along Falls Lake 

CANCELLED

SATURDAY, MARCH 19 – Geology of West Point on the Eno Park and Penney's Bend

Meeting Time: 10:00 am

(NO RAIN DATE)

$35/student; no charge for parents or drivers. Email us to find out about multiple sibling or scout group discounts

We'll visit two sites: West Point on the Eno Park and the Penny's Bend section of Eno River. On this trip we will explore the fascinating geology of the Durham area which is well exposed along the Eno River and learn more about how geology influences human activity. Penny's Bend is managed by the NC Botanical Garden and a 'hidden gem'. The unusual geology and soil features account for the river’s oxbow shape and the unique prairie-loving vegetation. The underlying rock creates a geological formation know as a diabase sill. For those interested, Rob will lead a hike along the MST.

SATURDAY, APRIL 16 – Geology of the Morrisville Triassic Alluvial Fan and Graphite outcrop

(RAIN DATE, SATURDAY, APRIL 23)

Meeting Time: 10:00 am

Meeting Place: To Be Announced, we will send you directions to our meeting place.

$35/student; no charge for parents or drivers. Email us to find out about multiple sibling or scout group discounts

On this adventure, we will visit the site of an alluvial fan that developed during the rifting of Pangaea during the Triassic period followed by a neat outcrop of graphite schist in stream bed. This graphite records the earliest evidence of fossil life in NC! Then up to the Falls Lake area where we'll have our lunch by the dam at Falls Lake. If time allows, we can visit an outcrop of garnet-mica schist and collect there. Bring a lunch to enjoy!

SATURDAY, MAY 21 –  Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area and Few's Ford in Eno River State Park.

Meeting Time: 10:00 am

Meeting Place: To Be Announced, we will send you directions to our meeting place.

$35/student; no charge for parents or drivers. Email us to find out about multiple sibling or scout group discounts

On this trip, we will explore the fascinating geology of the Hillsborough area which is well exposed along the Eno River. The bed rock of the area formed more than 600 million years ago, in the center of a large and extensive chain of islands composed of actively erupting volcanoes. Geologists call this area the the Hillsborough Caldera located in the Central Volcanic Complex of the Carolina Terrane. We will visit the tallest spot in the area and check out the quarry where pyrophyllite (talc mineral) was mined. We will also explore the outcrops along the Eno River at Few's Ford and interpret their meaning in terms of the assembly of the supercontinent Pangaea. Easy to moderate hiking involved. Bring a lunch to enjoy, Few's Ford is a great place to picnic!

FRIDAY TO SUNDAY, JUNE 17-19 – Geological Excursion to Pocahontas County, West Virginia

$70/student, participants arrange own lodging and meal costs.

Two nights of camping at Watoga State Park or stay at a nearby motel. This amazing region is Rob’s undergraduate field research area. The geology and scenery are spectacular. The last trip was a real pleasure! Best outcrops east of the Grand Canyon! Rock, mineral and fossil collecting galore!

FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16-18 – Bald Head Island Discovery Weekend

Meeting Time:  Friday evening, TBA

Meeting Place: To Be Announced, we will send you directions to our meeting place.

Price to be announced.

We'll meet in Southport Friday evening and take the ferry to one of our state’s best-kept secrets! The Bald Head Island Conservancy, a beautiful facility on the beach, will host us. Accommodations are comfortable and clean dorm-style and we'll prepare and eat our meals together. It is the peak of sea turtle nesting season, so we may be fortunate to see hatchlings! We have run this trip several times and it has had rave reviews by the happy participants!

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22 – Gold Country!

Meeting Time: 11:00 am (to allow travel time for Triangle folks)

Meeting Place: To Be Announced, we will send you directions to our meeting place.

$50/student; no charge for parents or drivers. Email us to find out about multiple sibling or scout group discounts.

The geology, archaeology and precious metal resources of the Uwharrie Mountains are truly unique. We invite you to join us for our Fall 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. You may be one of lucky ones bringing home a gold specimen!

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12 - Mitchell Mill State Natural Area & Raleigh Gneiss 

Meeting Time:  10:00 am.

Meeting Place: To Be Announced, we will send you directions and coordinates to our meeting place.

$35/student; no charge for parents or drivers. Email us to find out about multiple sibling or scout group discounts

At our first stop, we will be having a special program at Mitchell Mill State Natural Area, a granite 'flatrock' area, courtesy of the B. W. Wells Association.  An expert naturalist will present a program about the unique ecosystem.  This is a great place to enjoy a picnic lunch. At our next stop, we will be visiting and collecting Raleigh Gneiss, a beautiful metamorphic rock that not only records an episode of high heat and pressure during mountain building associated with continental collision but is also treasured as a building stone. Our historic state capitol building is constructed of this attractive and durable stone.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3 - Geology of the Prairie Ridge Ecostation

Meeting Time:  10:00 am.

Meeting Place: To Be Announced, we will send you directions to our meeting place.

$35/student; no charge for parents or drivers. Email us to find out about multiple sibling or scout group discounts

The geologic story of the rock types and their geologic history was determined through many years of research by many investigators in the Piedmont of North Carolina and the immediate area surrounding Prairie Ridge.  This story combines many geologic investigations conducted within the Raleigh area and from other locations throughout the Southeast. The rocks visible in the creek at Prairie Ridge can be generally separated into three rock types: 1) muscovite schist, 2) graphite-bearing schist, and 3) granitic gneiss. To a geologist these rock types help tell the story of how a major portion of North Carolina formed.  The rock that underlie Prairie Ridge and the surrounding areas of Wake County record a long and sometimes violent geologic past of over a half billion years of Earth history.

Do you have ideas for where you would like to go, email us with suggestions!