Although we have not yet seen any white stuff in the air, or even had a frost in most of our region, it appears it is time to announce the closure of our field season and start thinking about next year. Our trips in 2014 are listed on the webpage, but for a quick summary, how about these numbers!
We participated as a club in 21 field events between late March and mid-October.
Eight trips were weekend or multi-day trips involving overnight stays (with two campouts).
Although the majority was in search of minerals, we had 7 trips targeting fossils.
We ventured to St. Lawrence County 5 times and to Ontario, Canada twice.
Several folks led individual trips this year, but our Field Trip Leader, Bill Chapman, planned and ran most of them. Many thanks to Bill for a wonderful field season.
As for 2015, we have some ideas of new places to go and we will return to many of this year’s sites, but we would love to hear from you where you would like to go. Anyone can lead a trip!
The leaves were changing (and even falling), but that did not deter a group of WCGMC folks from making a fourth trip to St. Lawrence County in late September. This time we were joined by 16 undergraduate geology majors from SUNY-Plattsburgh and their professor Dr. Mary Roden-Tice. It was truly wonderful to see so many young and eager folks enjoying geology and a day of collecting. The brilliant sun and the absence of mosquitoes did not hurt either.
Half of the SUNY-Plattsburg students have gathered near the top of the original Rose Road skarn site. Sky blue apatite has been spotted.
Mineral collectors know about the fine magnetite, sphalerite, hexagonite, chrome tremolite, lazulite, etc. that have come from the various mines in the Balmat-Edwards Zinc District of upstate New York. Mineralogists have studied the district for decades discovering new minerals like turneaureite and donpeacorite. But seldom are we offered such a wonderful opportunity to learn the geology of the district as afforded those attending the New York State Geological Symposium in Alexander Bay in October.
The opening address was delivered by William deLorraine, Chief Geologist for St Lawrence Zinc Co. in Gouverneur, NY. Bill is also the President of the St. Lawrence County Gem and Mineral Club. Continue reading Balmat-Edwards Zinc District – Geology→
Retired, collecting minerals and stamps, growing flowers and vegetables, and when the spirit moves, toying with technology
