Geology Field Study

GEOLOGY FIELD STUDY - SEPTEMBER 2022

Explore the geology of Harney County. In this three-night program, participants will learn about the Steens Mt. and geothermal activity in South Eastern Oregon desert.

Program, meals and lodging included in price of $550 per person. 

  • DATES: September 22 - September 25
    (check in before 5 pm on Sept. 22; check out Sept. 25 after breakfast)
  • MEALS: Breakfast served at 7:00 am, pack-away lunch for the field, dinner served at 6pm.
  • AMENITIES: There are various bathroom stops along the way.

Led by Michael Cummings

Michael is a retired Professor of Geology from Portland State University and has a long history with Malheur Field Station. He has been leading university and general-interest geology trips in the Northern Great Basin for decades.


PROGRAM SCHEDULE

SEPT 22 THURSDAY

  • Arrive anytime, unpack into E-Dorm.  Meet at Malcolm Hall in the AV room at 5pm
  • Evening session at the station 
  • Dinner at 6pm in Dining Hall
  • Introduction to the geology of SE Oregon

SEPT 23 FRIDAY
NORTH OF BURNS ON HWY 395

  • Breakfast at 7:00 am in Dining Hall at MFS – depart for field trip to:
    • Accreted terrains and evolution of western margin of North American during the Mesozoic
    • Dinner Creek Welded Tuff (16million) and its local relation to older rocks (Silvies River valley)
    • Divine Canyon Welded Tuff (9.7 million) and the younger westward trend of rhyolites
    • Prater Creek Welded Tuff (8.0 million) and the newly discover caldera source west of Hines
    • Rattlesnake Welded Tuff (7.0 million) and characteristics of zones in welded tuffs
  • Dinner at 6pm in Dining Hall at MFSEvening session: 
    • Columbia River Basalt Group (CRGB) and its relation to rhyolite centers in Eastern Oregon.  Newly defined extent of the Picture Gorge Basalt, a member of the CRBG.

SEPT 24 SATURDAY
CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF STEENS MOUNTAIN

  • Breakfast served at 7:00am in Dining Hall at MFS – depart for field trip to:
    • Explosion structures in Steens Mountain Basalt flows near the crest of Steens Mountain
    • Steen Mountain front and active faults
    • Mickey Springs – silica sinter deposits formed between about 30,000 and 18,000 years ago
    • Hot spring ecosystems
    • Pluvial Lake Alvord and shoreline features
    • Borax Lake – construction of a biomorphic mound and silica sinter from hot spring activity
  • Dinner served at 6pm in Dining Hall at MFSEvening session: 
    • Brief wrap up of what we’ve seen

SEPT 25 SUNDAY
Check out after breakfast, end of program


Mosquito Population
low > medium > high 0%

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