Google Earth Geology

More neat map stuff.

San Diego State University has some great Google Earth maps of geologic features. There is even a Geologic Map of the Grand Canyon for your next trip.

SDSU - Department of Geological Sciences - Google Earth Geology

Harry Allen

Digital Geological Map of AZ

The state Survey has a digital Geologic map ( one to 1 million scale) that can be seen as a overlay for Google maps. This is a cool way to look at the Geologic map at any scale and also have all the roads to orient your selves.


The Arizona Geological Survey Map Services Geological Map of AZ

It is not very detailed but it is a good overview of the state geology.

Harry Allen

Montezuma Well

Lee Allison's blog led me to Steve Ayres article in the Verde News. It is a article about the subsurface of the Montezuma Well . Very interesting.

Verde News - Years of exploring the curious bottom of Montezuma Well


Harry Allen

Western Association of Vertebrate Paleontologists

WAVP meeting Feb 12,13,14 2009

We went to a Vertebrate Paleontologists Meeting (WAVP) at the Petrified Forest last week. It began with a 200th birthday party for Charles Darwin on the 12th followed by a Field Trip in the Petrified Forest and a full day of professional papers.

The field trip started with a tour of the Fossil Prep. lab. This is where the bones go after they have been covered in plaster and removed to the lab. The Prep people remove the matrix and stabilize the bones. It is a real art.

The main fossil animal they have found in the Petrified Forest is not a true "Dinosaur" -- it is a Phytosaur --a large Croc like animal that lived in the streams of the Triassic . There are only a few true Dinosaurs found in the Park. Thanks to the New Mexico Museum of Natural History for the Phytosaur Illustration below:

The Field Trip was led by Bill Parker -the Staff Paleontologist in the park. He explained the new work they have been doing on the geology of the park. They have revised the stratigraphy as well as digging new fossils during the field season.



We had one off-trail hike into the muddy Chinle badlands to see one of the very productive fossil locations.

A Phytosaur tooth

The next day was four sessions of technical papers about the latest research in Vertebrate Paleontology - much technical and over our heads as non-specialists, but others very informative. Overall it was a great couple of days. Bill organized an excellent conference. He has also put together a very informative paleontology exhibit at the park headquarters (proving that a quality exhibit can be made with limited funds.)

Harry and Debbie Allen

Feb. 28 Field Trip to Sedona

Paul Lindberg will be leading the third in his series of field trips in the Jerome/Verde Valley/Sedona area on Saturday February 28. Car pooling is encouraged due to limited parking at some of the locations. Either a Red Rock pass or Golden Age pass will be required for each car.

There will be a car pool leaving Prescott at 7:45 at the Fry's parking lot on Willow Creek and Sandretto (south of Willow Terrace); meet behind the Wells Fargo Bank. We will rendevous with Paul at 9:00 at a viewpoint parking area on the south side of Highway 89A about a mile east of the Page Springs turnoff.

This will be an all-day trip, ending around 4 pm. Bring a lunch, water, and appropriate clothing, including hiking boots for some rock scrambling. Running shoes are not recommended.

We require a signed waiver for everyone on the trip. These are good for the May '08- June '09 year and will be available at the departure point.

Wayne Ranney to Speak at Library

Wayne Ranney will be speaking at the Prescott Library on Thursday, March 5 at 7 pm. He will be giving a presentation and book signing of the new book he has co-authored with Ron Blakey, Tracing the Ancient Landscapes of the Colorado Plateau.

GeoCommunicator

There is a web site that give map info. about where the federal land is -- so that you can wander about and not tresspass. You can also see maps of the mining claims.

Download the PLSS to make your own maps by adding any layer you need --topo ,Tand R ,Roads, Land ownership. Then print them out for field use. They also seem to have some other useful mapping tools if you need them.


GeoCommunicator Home

Harry

Anaconda movie star found in Columbia

Remember the 1967 movie Anaconda and the ridiculous large snake. They found fossil evidence for a even bigger one. Again a case of the the movies predicting the geologic past.

Associated Press: Ancient fossil find: This snake could eat a cow!

Harry Allen