Geological Insights & Event News

Four Fort Lewis College graduating geology seniors presenting their thesis research: Nathanael Hunter on Utah's East Great Salt Lake fault, Gregory Palese on Elk Creek rock avalanche, Austin Peterson and Diego Schutz on the Dunmore vein system mineralization. President Jon Harvey encourages attendance at this traditional capstone event. Officer elections announced for May with all positions open except President-Elect. Annual summer picnic scheduled for August 29th at Junction Creek. Membership renewals due May 1st. Erik Hulm scheduled for May 13th talk on North America's Cordilleran Foreland.

March 2021 newsletter features Bob Biek from Utah Geological Survey presenting on the Marysvale gravity slide complex - three catastrophic mega-landslides spanning over 8000 km² in southwestern Utah during the late Oligocene to early Miocene. President Jon Harvey announces upcoming May elections for President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer and Editor positions, plus search for website manager and field trip committee volunteers. Four Corners Geological Foundation opens 2021 Master's Thesis Grant applications (due April 1). Meeting via Zoom on March 18th at 5:30pm.

Features Jeffrey Bader from North Dakota Geological Survey discussing structural inheritance in the Central Montana Uplift and how Paleoproterozoic conjugate shears influenced Laramide deformation. The presentation explores wrench-fault tectonics and implications for Williston Basin petroleum systems. President Jon Harvey welcomes members to virtual meetings. Upcoming talks include Bob Biek on Utah's Markagunt Gravity Slide, FLC senior research presentations, and Erik Hulm on Cordilleran foreland megasequence.

January 2021 newsletter features Dr. Vince Matthews on thrust faults as attenuation mechanisms in steep limbs of Laramide folds in Colorado. President Jon Harvey discusses continued virtual Zoom format due to COVID-19 restrictions and plans for eventual return to in-person meetings and field trips. Upcoming speakers include Jeff Bader on Central Montana Uplift and Bob Biek on Utah's Markagunt Gravity Slide. Foundation announces Director vacancy after Jim Corken's resignation. Events listed include Grand Junction Geological Society meeting and RMAG lunch talks.

Dr. Jessica Thompson Jobe from USGS Geologic Hazards Science Center discussing cryptic active faults on the margin of the Colorado Plateau and Rio Grande Rift in northern New Mexico. Jon Harvey encourages members to explore the USGS Quaternary Faults database and highlights potential M6-7 earthquake hazards from previously unrecognized faults with low slip rates. Newsletter includes extensive virtual field trip resources during COVID-19 isolation, upcoming 2021 speaker schedule, job openings for Project Geologist and Mine Surveyor positions, and regional geology meeting announcements.

November 2020 newsletter features Eric Kuhn and John Fleck discussing their book "Science Be Dammed: How Ignoring Inconvenient Science Drained the Colorado River." President Jon Harvey reflects on virtual meetings and fall semester field work at Fort Lewis College. Newsletter includes extensive virtual field trip resources during COVID-19 isolation, launches 2021 FCGS calendar photo submission project with November 27th deadline, and announces Rocky Mountain Section AAPG Teacher of the Year award to Rhoda Perkes. Meeting held via Zoom on November 19, 2020.