Kutztown University's Geology
Program - Alumni News
What Kutztown University
Geology students did this summer (2008)
Contents
Current
students
Lauren
Storm
and Anthony Moorehead
(sophomores) -
investigating molybdenum deposits in Henan, China
We spent six weeks in
China
this summer - four in Beijing and then two
in Henan province. In Beijing, we took Dr. Friehauf's short
course on the Origin of Metallic Mineral Deposits at the China
University of Geosciences.
Although that kept us busy most of
the
time, we also had time to visit the many cultural sites in the
Beijing
area.
In Henan province, we
visited several molybdenum mines. Henan is
the
biggest molybdenum producing region in Asia and we were there to
study
how these deposits formed. Were they related to igneous
intrusions of molten magma (a.k.a. lava)? Did they form deep
within the Earth's crust or near the surface? What other
metals
were deposited in the rocks when the molybdenum ores formed?
What
can we determine about the chemical characteristics of the hot
geothermal waters that created the ores? How do these
deposits
compare to better-known deposits elsewhere in the world?
Research on ore deposits
in
China was difficult because the Chinese
government considers their metal deposits to be national
secrets.
Access to the deposits by western researchers is therefore
strictly
limited. None the less, we were able to collect some key
samples
for analysis in the laboratory here in the U.S.
Lauren: Our
six week research trip to China was somewhat of a culture shock.
It's
unbelievable to think that 1.3 billion people live in China, and
we
only saw a fraction of them during our travels. The expansion of
cities
and the growing need for more food and money has led everyone to
understand the true meaning of the "One Child Policy." The myths
that
we are told through publicity are simple misunderstandings that
lead to
communication problems between our countries. The difference
between
our geology program and theirs has made me even more thankful for
the
opportunities I've been given at Kutztown University. Our
close-knit
'society' would not exist in China because of a professor's
inability
to have time for each and every student. The accessibility for a
foreigner to study geology in China is very different then in the
United States, and I'm glad that we are able to have the
opportunities
that we have. I am honored to have been able to meet with so many
people- to hold conversations with, and to personally get to know
them.
This enlightenment will stay with me through gifts, emails, and
pictures as the years pass.
Anthony: Going to China
has
broadened my understanding about their culture and their way of
thinking. I am now able to recognize the misunderstandings
people
have about China and better sympathize with the Chinese
people. I
have gained a deeper understanding of economic geology and have a
better comprehension of mining operations in China. Coming
back
from China, I have realized that the true Chinese flavor of food
has
not yet reached the United States.
Jason Olshenske (junior) -
mineral
exploration in central Alaska
I have been in Alaska
since
May 12 and I have been working at a mineral
exploration camp in Chicken, AK for Full Metal
Minerals.
My jobs consist of core logging, soil sampling, general mapping,
and
odds and ends around the camp office. The
coolest job I have done here is claim
staking
from a helicopter (i.e. dropping 4x4's with rebar hammered into
them
from a helicopter using GPS waypoints). I have met many
people in
the industry and have taken quite a bit of knowledge from this
job. I have been offered a spot on the crew for next summer.
My personal experience
has
been a very good one. I have learned
much about the inner workings of an exploration camp, and have
seen the
amount of money it takes to keep a place like this going (it's all
up
to the investors). I have made some truly good friends and
met
some really cool and intelligent people. Core logging has
gotten
me accustomed to actually analyzing rocks rather than just giving
them
a blank stare. Getting to ride in a helicopter to get to
work has
been one of the coolest things I have ever done, not to mention
hiking
around in the back country of Alaska! Everything has been
amazing
and I would suggest for anybody interested in mineral exploration
to
experience something like this for themselves. It has been a
truly eye opening experience.
Casey Smith (junior) - coal geology
in Utah
I am an intern for Ark
Land
Western Exploration (Arch Coal), and am
working as a
Mine Geologist at the Skyline and Sufco underground coal mining
complexes in Utah. My responsibilities include: underground
mapping of differences in underlying rock and coal seams; the
collection of coal samples for a coal quality control summary
report;
providing oversight of an active exploration drilling program to
reveal
additional coal reserves or adding future years of life to an
active
mine; surface mapping of key rock layers using GPS waypoints; the
interpretation of down hole geophysical logs; and, tasked with
other
geological projects associated with a bituminous coal mine.
In
addition, I have received many hours of underground and surface
training taught by an MSHA (Miners Safety and Health
Administration)
instructor, and received a 40 hour underground miner
certification.
I have met some pretty AMAZING people throughout my summer work
experience. I have learned many skills from them that
pertain to
this vital energy source. The scenery here in Utah has been
simply euphoric. Hiking in and about almost inaccessible
areas in
Utah has given me a sense of individuality and perseverance.
I
have found myself pushing harder and faster in the field on a day
to
day basis. One of the best experiences I had was traveling
the
back country of Utah via horseback to mark air supported drill
sites. This gave new meaning to the phase, “cowboy
up.” I
am looking forward to traveling to drill sites by helicopter this
coming August. The best part of this job has been
experienced 8
miles into the mountainside and under 1,000 feet of rock. I
touched and sampled rock layers that have not been exposed for
millions
of years, and only seen by a few people. I recommend that
everyone spend some time underground, and learn about this
essential
energy source.
Kristian
Bills (junior) - clay
mineral
exploration for brick making in Illinois
I
am
working as an intern for Oldcastle Manufacturing. I
am doing consulting work for Glen-Gery Brick:
Technical
Services Lab in
Shoemakersville, Pa to help them with finding cost affective raw
materials (shale/clay) and additives (sand) for different
company owned
bricks producing plants which are located in several U.S.
states: IL,
OH, IA, and PA. Along with finding
raw
materials, my other duty is to find localized and
buyable/lease-able
land parcels which could be used for quarrying of shale and/or
clay.
I have done fieldwork and exploration
near Marseilles (Illinois),
Clearfield, Bigler, and York (Pennsylvania),
as
well as Iberia
(Ohio).
I
also do testing on raw materials and additives that I, either
gathered
in the field or by commercial resources, to see if they are a
viable
source. The tests I perform are
firing
color and screen analysis. The
material is
screened with several different sized meshes (>2.38 mm) to
determine
the particle size ratio. The same
material
is then fired at 1970º F to determine the fired color
change. If the tests results are
shown to be in
specific standards then the materials move to larger scale
tests.
I
am also responsible for learning quarry management and
Department of
Environmental Protection regulations involving near surface
resource
recovery operations. This
includes
learning and
using state, county, and township regulations/ordinances
involving near
surface resource recovery operations.
My internships have shown me what it takes to do quarry
management,
geological exploration, and raw materials testing, but also
the
complexities of brick manufacturing. It was a great
experience in
economic and environmental geology and meeting people from
all walks of
life. I hope to share what I have learned this summer with
others in
the coming years!
Shelby
Lawson (junior) - monitoring
groundwater near limestone quarries in Pennsylvania
x
Connor
Messler (junior) - geophysics
and
archeaology with
Dr.
Christine Zitrides Atiyeh
(Art Historian in the Department
of
Fine Arts) in Bosnia and Herzegovina
I spent four and a half
weeks of this summer in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the majority of
the
time we were in Sarajevo, but we had a lot of opportunity to
travel
around the country and even make it to Croatia. The work was
divided
into two parts the first part lasted the first two weeks and was
the
actual geophysics; the second part was the dig itself. We
used a
Magnetometer and Ground Penetrating Radar to survey multiple
fields,
and based on those results (and government restrictions) we
decided
where to dig. My job on the dig was to help lay the grids for the
equipment, operate the equipment, and then when the time came I
helped
clean and excavate the sites.
Over all it was an incredible experience, and I would do it again
in a
heart beat. I was taught some of the basics of archaeology, and I
got
to dig. To be in Europe for that long was nice, the country was
gorgeous and the people were friendly. Sarajevo itself was
amazing, the architecture showed aspects from northern Europe, the
Mediterranean and Turkey often blending into one very unique
look. And the Call to Prayer was one of the most beautiful
things
I have ever heard, and is one of the things I miss the most. So if
you
ever have the opportunity to go to Bosnia and Herzegovina take it,
and
I assure that you will have a great time.
Recent
graduates
Edward
Tester (2008) - gold
exploration in
northern Nevada
I am currently working
as
an independent consultant for a junior gold exploration company in
northern Nevada called Golden
Gryphon
Explorations USA, Inc. We are based in Winnemucca,
Nevada. There
are three project areas to the north of Winnemucca in the Bilk
Creek
and Bottle Creek Mountains, and one project area is south of
Carlin,
Nevada in the Sulphur Springs Range.
The work in the Bilk Creek/Bottle Creek Mountains consists of
plant
sampling (for biogeochemistry), soil sampling, field mapping and
sample
collection, and general reconnaissance geology. The field mapping
and
recon are probably the most important as there is no published
geologic
map for the area. Here were are pursuing mercury and gold, along
with
other economic minerals. At an elevation of 4,500 ft, our camp is
a
one-room schoolhouse with running water, power, and a full kitchen
(It’s quite lavish).
South of Carlin, in the scenic Sulphur Springs Range, at an
elevation
of 6,500 ft, our camp is more primitive (several RV trailers and
some
office tents that are run on gasoline generators). At Gryphon
Summit
project, we are primarily searching for disseminated gold (not
gold
flakes) and copper. Here I typically do field mapping, sample
collection, and sample analysis. A lot of my daily work involves
searching for and tracing igneous rocks in the mountains (up to
elevations of 8,300 feet!). We have several drill sites ready to
go,
but have not started any drilling programs yet.
Since I arrived in May, I have learned an incredible amount about
the
exploration industry (as Jay notes above, it IS all about the
investors. They keep the companies running.). I’ve also learned a
lot
about ore deposit and igneous systems and how everything
underground
interacts, and how those, in turn, play out on the surface (a
single
fragment of an igneous rock can indicate a LOT about what lies
beneath
your feet!).
For me, this has been/still is a great experience. Being out in
the
desert or in the mountains, miles from anyone with total silence,
allows you to really reflect on life and the earth and all its
treasures. For those interested in ore deposits, structural
geology,
and the great outdoors, a job like this comes highly recommended.
Elizabeth Runkle (2007) - mine
geologist at
Ray mine, Arizona
I started
working for ASARCO
at the Ray Mine Complex
less
than two months after receiving a B.S. in Geology.
I was hired by the Senior Geologist and could
not ask for a better boss. I have
learned so much these past few months and love the hands on
experience. Some of my job
responsibilities consist of
logging core and RC chips, geologizing blast holes, supervising
dewatering well
drillers, and Ore Control.
I live on
the outskirts of Tucson
and commute to Ray with two other coworkers.
The
commute is about 90 minutes and 75 miles
one way. I made the choice of living
in Tucson
because it
fits my
lifestyle more so than the smaller towns closer to work.
There is
much to keep me occupied in Tucson
on weekends and holidays. So far I
have
joined the Tucson Gem and
Mineral Society and the Old Pueblo Lapidary Club.
I
love to do mineral collecting and designing
objects out of rock. Working at Ray
also
allows me to obtain many great specimens.
My future
goals are to gain several years of experience at
Ray before going to graduate school. I
would like to attend the University
of
Arizona located in Tucson to
obtain
either an M.S. or PhD. Once that is
achieved my next step will be to
work in other countries.
“The
World
is a book, and those who do not travel read only
a page.” ~St. Augustine
Tim
Jenesky (2007) - hydrogeology in
eastern Pennsylvania
I’m
currently working
for ENSR
Environmental Consultants at our Langhorne, PA office.
Specifically, I
am in the Integrated Site Closure (ISC) group within the
company. I’ve
been
here since the middle of September and I am enjoying working on
environmental
issues. I am constantly looking to get my hands on as much
geology as I
can.
The aim
of
the ISC group is to adopt a site with some kind
of environmental impact, remediate the site based on government
regulations,
and close the site (many times for future use). To accomplish
this,
ENSR drafts
a plan for the site and will subcontract companies suitable for
the
remediation
activity at hand. We use subsurface drillers for soil
investigations,
monitoring
well installations, vapor intrusion, etc. These techniques help us
gain
an understanding of the site so we can
determine what needs to be done to clean-up the affected areas.
ENSR
drafts
reports and sends them to the appropriate environmental regulatory
agencies and
to our clients (some clients include Chevron, 7-Eleven Petroleum,
BP
Petroleum,
and JP Morgan).
What I do:
o
Field
work (groundwater sampling, soil sampling, oversight)
o
Constructing
groundwater contour maps
o
Using
AutoCAD to draft figures/maps
o
Report
writing/editing
o
Constructed cross sections
Jon Bernard (2007) - geophysics in
Las
Vegas, Nevada
I work
for Optim
Seismic Data Solutions, a small geophysical
company, in
their Las Vegas
operations unit as a Seismic Surveyor.
Optim SDS has
been contracted by Clark County Nevada to survey the entire
county,
including
the city of Las Vegas,
by using a highly secret technique known as ReMi. I have not been
allowed to
hear the secrets of this technique yet, and even if I did I cannot
tell
you,
but what I can tell you is this: ReMi is a method of analyzing
surface
waves to
obtain information to a depth of one hundred meters. Optim is
using
this to
site class the entire county for new construction and to protect
already
existing structures.
A day in
the
life of a Seismic Surveyor goes something like
this: In the dark of morning I drive to the office and pick up the
work
truck
and my crew. Together we drive to our field site, which changes
daily,
and with
the help of aerial photos (right) locate ideal sites to deploy our
equipment. An
ideal site would be defined as a quiet uninterrupted stretch of
pavement,
concrete, or packed dirt two hundred meters in length. This is a
rather
tall
order so sometimes we have to settle for stretches interrupted by
driveways,
soft unpacked dirt, or high traffic areas.
Upon
arriving at a suitable site, my crew springs into
action, deploying the two hundred meter cable and attaching twenty
four
geophones (left). I attach one end of the cable to a twenty four
channel
seismograph, powered by golf cart batteries, and connected to a
laptop
computer, and using a program called VibraSoft collect data for
about
ten
minutes (20 records, 30 seconds each, with continuous samples
every 2
milliseconds). My crew marks the ends of our cable with GPS
coordinates and saves this data in a hand held Trimble device with
a
built in IBM
Thinkpad
running ARCpad, a GIS
program. When all the data has been collected,
we breakdown the gear, pack it up, and head off to a new location.
We repeat
this process fifteen times a day which takes
between ten to twelve hours. To aid in the even distribution of
data
collection, Clark
County has
been
divided
up into books, sections, and subsections. A book is six by six
miles, a
section
one mile by one mile, and a subsection is eight hundred and eighty
feet
by
eight hundred and eighty feet (you may be able to see this in the
aerial photo,
section lines lie at the top, bottom, left, and right, and the
subsections are
shaded checkerboard style).
All
that said the final word is this: I work in the largest most
entertaining
office in the world (the city of Las Vegas), spend my days
outside
working long hours, but
get paid a great salary, good benefits, and have plenty of time
off.
David Riese (2007) - graduate school
in
paleontology at University of Kansas
I am a
first year master’s student at the University
of Kansas
studying paleontology. For my master’s thesis project I am
investigating the
origin of traces found in the Navajo Sandstone near Moab,
Utah.
The
geology department at the University
of Kansas
is
employing me
as a Teacher’s Assistant. I am the lead TA for an introduction to
geology
class, and I teach my own geology fundamental laboratories
section.
The University of Kansas
is located in the town of Lawrence,
Kansas.
Lawrence
is a beautiful
town with much history behind it. The Oregon Trail passed through
the
town of Lawrence
on the road of
what is now known as Jayhawk
Blvd.
In the 1850’s and 1860’s Lawrence
was also a center of an anti-slavery sentiment. Historic downtown
Lawrence
is an
area in the
town that as many shops and restaurants that are popular social
places
for
students and locals on Friday and Saturday nights.
As a
graduate student I find myself extremely busy. I always
have work to do whether it would be grading, preparing for a
lecture,
homework,
office hours, or working on my thesis. During my free time I do
many
things
around the town of Lawrence.
My fellow graduate students and I participate in intramural
sports, go
to
restaurants such as the T-Rex Cafe, and attend geology functions
such
as fossil
hunting. I have joined many professional societies and school
clubs to
facilitate relationships in the professional world. These
societies
include the
Geological Society of America (GSA), Society of Vertebrate
Paleontology
(SVP),
American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), Sigma Gamma
Epsilon (SGE),
and the paleontology club which I am the co-president for. Overall
the
experience of graduate school has been rewarding, and I look
forward to
making
new friends and continuing my education.
Megan
Orsulak
(2007) - graduate
school for
mining engineering at Pennsylvania State University
I will be attending Pennsylvania
State
University (main campus) starting this fall 2008 to acquire
a
Masters in mine engineering. I am interested in researching
the
science and engineering of high wall design and slope stabilities
or
underground roof control - two factors that play a big role in the
safety of mines for the men and women who work in them. I’m
looking forward to combine with what I learn in the mine
engineering
program with my geology background.
In the meantime, I work with Lehigh Coal and Navigation, (LCN)
at a large anthracite surface coal mine located in Carbon and
Schuylkill County. This is the first time LCN has ever taken
on
an intern, but it has been by far a great experience. I work
with
their mine engineer and surveyor. My job duties pretty much
vary
day to day. I have been working with a lot of AutoCAD, an
amazing
program with features and abilities to blow your mind. I
help map
the mine sites and prepare bonding permit maps for DEP and
MSHA.
Lately I have been assigned to help calculate future reserves of
the
mine site and analyze drill core data on a daily basis. The
networking alone from this job has been extremely
beneficial.
To Kutztown
University
Geology Program website
