 |
May 2008
NORTHWEST GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
MAY 13, 2008 MEETING
SPEAKER:
MAY 13, Anne Trehu, Oregon State University, Gas
Hydrates in the Cascadia Margin. This will be a joint meeting
with the Association of Women Geoscientists
LOCATION: Talaris Conference Center 4000 NE 41st Street;
Seattle, WA 98105; 206 268-7000. Take NE 45th St. to the east,
past the University Village (East side of UW). Turn right
(south) onto Mary Gates Memorial Drive (five corner
intersection). MGM Drive will curve east and become NE 41st
St. The Talaris entrance will be several blocks to the east on
the left (north) side of the street. Turn left (north) onto
Talaris Way and follow the winding road to the conference
center. For a map, go to the website at
www.talarisconferencecenter.com
NO HOST BAR 5:30; BUFFET 6:30; SPEAKER 7:30
Dues are due!!! $30 for the year or $5 for full-time STUDENTS.
Send check to DAN SMITH at 10203 40th Ave SW Seattle WA 98146 To
all of you who have already paid your 2008 dues, thank you!
DINNER RESERVATIONS: @ $30.00 for NWGS members; $35 for
non-members. Send check to GINNY AGNEW 935 PINE STREET, EDMONDS,
WA 98020. Telephone 425 776 6151. Ginny’s email address is
agnewv@msn.com. Payment of
$30 ($35 for non-members) or $10 for students in good standing
at a college or university, must be received by the Thursday
preceding the meeting. LATE REGISTRANTS pay $40.
PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE NOT TO EAT WITH US ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THE
MEETING, BUT WE ASK A VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION OF $5 PER PERSON TO
HELP DEFRAY THE MEETING ROOM EXPENSE.
TO CHANGE EMAIL ADDRESS, or to report failure of your email
newsletter to arrive. NOTIFY DAN SMITH AT <nwgeo@yahoo.com>;
telephone 206 937 5313.
NWGS WEBSITE: <http://www.nwgs.org>.
JULIE MASURA is our website director. Her email address is
jmasura@u.washington.edu
POSTERS and POSTER PAPERS WE NEED A VOLUNTEER TO SERVE AS THE
POSTER COORDINATOR.
The executive board is currently working on the following items:
1. Preparing to apply for tax-exempt status with the Internal
Revenue Service. This will require revision of NWGS
organizing documents to comply with IRS standards. We
expect to submit revised Articles of Incorporation for
membership approval at the MAY meeting.
2. Proposed scholarship to enable students to participate in
NWGS Field Trips.
MAY 13, 2008 NWGS BOARD MEETING 4:30 PM at TALARIS CONFERENCE
CENTER.
April 8 Meeting speaker was JOHN WHITMER on the subject of ROCKY
MOUNTAIN EARTHQUAKES: MADISON CANYON [1959] & CHALLIS [1983.
The talk was based upon personal experiences & a photographic
record of repeated visits to the earthquake sites beginning
within two weeks after each event. Typical of earthquakes in the
Rocky Mountain Seismic Belt, these earthquakes were driven by
the influence of the Yellowstone Hot Spot & the associated
uplift in a parabolic pattern similar to the bow wave of a
ship. Consequent extension with basin subsidence on normal
faults was the mechanism for the earthquake. The Madison Canyon
earthquake was notable for the immense rock avalanche which
dammed the Madison River. The Challis (Borah Peak) earthquake
gave rise to remarkable dewatering features. Fault scarps &
associated small grabens are still visible at both earthquake
sites.
NWGS MEETING SCHEDULE
NWGS SPRING 2008 FIELD TRIP (June 21-22)
Ice Age Floods Field Trip of the Western Channeled Scabland
Field Trip Leader:
Bruce Bjornstad - Research Scientist with the Pacific Northwest
National Laboratory. Registered Geologist/Hydrogeologist in WA
State and author of a recent field guide titled: "On the Trail
of the Ice Age Floods".
Leaving from Seattle - $ 110
– Must be a member of NWGS (if you are not a member and wish to
join to go on the trip, please contact Dan Smith at
nwgeo@yahoo.com).
FOR INFORMATION, email Greg Ferris at
gfmonkey@gmail.com
(preferred) or call him at (206) 285-2119.
LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE, so get your payment in ASAP! Those who
have paid get top priority to go on the trip.
be prepared for all kinds of weather.
WASHINGTON CHAPTER, AEG: For information, contact by email:
Darrell Sofield
dsofield@geoengineers.com
RECOMMENDED READING
REIDEL, S. P. and T. L. TOLAN (1992). "ERUPTION & EMPLACEMENT OF
FLOOD BASALT: AN EXAMPLE FROM THE LARGE-VOLUME TEEPEE BUTTE
MEMBER, COLUMBIA RIVER BASALT GROUP." GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF
AMERICA BULLETIN 104(12; DECEMBER): 1650-1671
RONDENAY, S., G. A. ABERS, et al. (2008). "SEISMIC IMAGING OF
SUBDUCTION ZONE METAMORPHISM." GEOLOGY 36(4; APRIL): 275-278.
THATCHER, W. and F. F. POLITZ (2008). "TEMPORAL EVOLUTION OF
CONTINENTAL LITHOSPHERIC STRENGTH IN ACTIVELY DEFORMING
REGIONS." GSA TODAY 18(4/5, APRIL/MAY): 4-11.
THE NORTHWEST GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, a regional association of
professionals, students & other persons interested in GEOLOGY
provides a forum for the presentation & discussion of a wide
range of geologic topics, emphasizing those of the Pacific
Northwest or of fundamental scientific interest. Meetings:
SECOND TUESDAYS, OCTOBER THROUGH MAY, at the TALARUS CONFERENCE
CENTER, 4000 NE 41st Street; Seattle, WA 98105. Anyone may
attend the meetings. FIELD TRIPS (members only), June &
September (usually). PRESIDENT: David H. McCormack *
PRESIDENT-ELECT: Donn Charnley* PAST PRESIDENT: John H.
Whitmer * SECRETARY: Dan Smith * TREASURER: Ginny Agnew * FIELD
TRIP COORDINATOR: Gregg Ferris * PUBLICATIONS DIRECTOR: John
Figge
NEWSLETTER EDITOR: John H. Whitmer. 22533 SE 42nd Court;
Issaquah, WA, 98029; Phone 425 557 9271; E-MAIL <
john.whitmer@cablespeed.com>.
Meeting notices will be sent by e-mail, or by US Mail if you do
not have email (E-mailing announcements saves NWGS money). If
you have e-mail, but prefer announcements by US Mail, please
let us know. If you have moved or have changed your e-mail
address, please notify DAN SMITH at 10203 40th Ave SW Seattle
WA 98146; Phone (206) 937-5313 H; (206)296-8007 W; e-mail
nwgeo@yahoo.com
Our recent magnificent Symposium clearly showed that NWGS has a
wealth of diligent, capable people. We should be able to
maintain a lively, interesting, important Society far into
the future. We need to establish a way to encourage
people to serve & to prepare them for leadership roles.
WE invite you to join the group of people who keep the Society
going. Our Board meetings are a good place to begin. The
next Board meeting will precede the general meeting, at
4:30 PM at Talaris Conference Center, MAY 13, 2008.
April 2008
NORTHWEST
GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
APRIL 8, 2008 MEETING
SPEAKER: JOHN WHITMER, ROCKY MOUNTAIN EARTHQUAKES: MADISON
CANYON [1959] & CHALLIS [1983]
LOCATION: Talaris Conference Center 4000 NE 41st Street;
Seattle, WA
98105; 206 268-7000. Take NE 45th St. to the east, past the
University
Village (East side of UW). Turn right (south) onto Mary Gates
Memorial
Drive (five corner intersection). MGM Drive will curve east and
become
NE 41st St. The Talaris entrance will be several blocks to the
east on
the left (north) side of the street. Turn left (north) onto
Talaris Way
and follow the winding road to the conference center. For a map,
go to
the website at www.talarisconferencecenter.com
NO HOST BAR 5:30; BUFFET 6:30; SPEAKER 7:30
dues are due!!! $30 for the year or $5 for full-time STUDENTS.
Send check to DAN SMITH at 10203 40th Ave SW Seattle WA 98146
To all of you who have already paid your 2008 dues, thank you!
DINNER RESERVATIONS: @ $30.00 for NWGS members;
$35 for
non-members. Send check to GINNY AGNEW 935 PINE
STREET, EDMONDS, WA
98020. Telephone 425 776 6151. Ginny’s email
address is
agnewv@msn.com. Payment of $30 ($35 for non-members) or $10
for
students in good standing at a college or
university, must be
received by the Thursday preceding the meeting.
LATE REGISTRANTS
pay $40.
PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE NOT TO EAT WITH US ARE WELCOME
TO ATTEND THE
MEETING, BUT WE ASK A VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION OF
$5 PER PERSON TO
HELP DEFRAY THE MEETING ROOM EXPENSE.
NWGS WEBSITE: <http://www.nwgs.org>.
TO CHANGE EMAIL ADDRESS, or to report failure of your email
newsletter to
arrive. NOTIFY DAN SMITH AT <nwgeo@yahoo.com>;
telephone 206 937 5313.
NWGS WEBSITE: <http://www.nwgs.org>.
JULIE MASURA is our website
director. Her email address is
jmasura@u.washington.edu
POSTERS and POSTER PAPERS WE NEED A VOLUNTEER TO
SERVE AS THE
POSTER CO-ORDINATOR.
OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS NEWSLETTER EDITOR. Your
incumbent editor
enjoys the job, but he is superannuated & must
eventually be
replaced.
The executive board is currently working on the
following items:
1. Preparing to apply for tax-exempt status with
the Internal
Revenue Service. This will require revision of
NWGS organizing
documents to comply with IRS standards. We
expect to submit
revised Articles of Incorporation for membership
approval at the
APRIL meeting.
2. Proposed scholarship to enable students to
participate in NWGS
Field Trips.
APRIL 8, 2008 NWGS BOARD MEETING 4:30 PM at TALARIS
CONFERENCE CENTER.
MARCH Meeting: STEPHEN C. PORTER of the Quaternary Research
Center, &
Professor Emeritus, Department of Earth & Space Sciences,
University of
Washington spoke about “Late Pleistocene glaciation of the
Pacific
Northwest: a 40-year retrospective.” When Steve began at
the UW
[1962], the conventional wisdom was that the Pleistocene began
about 1 Ma
& there were as many as four glaciations, ending about 20 Ka.
The
Alpine & Lowland glaciers were assumed to have advanced
simultaneously.
Glacial surges were not yet recognized. These concepts were
based
largely on work published in 1909, without the benefit of Plate
Tectonic
Theory, cores of ice & marine sediment, advanced dating
techniques, or
consideration of the Milankovich cycle. He has worked
diligently to use
these tools to advance glaciology. The first ice core [1969]
showed
many fluctuations in extent of ice cover in the past 500 Ka. A
later
core extended the data back to 1.5 Ma. A subsequent core study
showed
36 fluctuations. Mapping by Chamberlain [1894], Bretz [1913],
Flint
[1971], Crandell [eastern Puget Lowland], Easterbrook [northern
Puget
Lowland], Jack Armstrong & Fulton [southern B.C.], & Derek Booth
[subglacial hydrology] has contributed greatly to present
knowledge.
Clague & Jackson [1991] identified two topographic highs in the
Cordilleran Ice Sheet. It is now known that pre-last glaciation
drift
reached the southern edge of the Puget Lowland. Six glacial
advances of
the northern Puget Lobe are known. Chronology of the southern
Puget Lobe
is not entirely worked out. Current geochronologic data
indicates
that the Seattle area was ice-covered for 950 years during the
last
glacial advance - not sufficiently long to establish isostatic
equilibrium. By 14 Ka. the ice margin had retreated to north of
the
Canadian border. It is estimated that the ice margin advanced
135
meters/year & retreated 500 meters/year. Porter’s work in
Icicle
Creek Canyon showed that the moraines are progressively older
with
distance upstream. Moraines dated 710 Ka. & 12.5 Ka. are
thought
related to climatic cooling due to astronomic impact.
Insolation [i.e.,
the solar heat input] is the primary determinant of advance &
retreat of
Alpine glaciers. Sea ice extent also correlates with solar
radiation
intensity. Lowland glaciers do not fit this pattern. Many
significant
unknowns remain, e.g., the extent of ice cover between
glaciations; the
extent & chronology of fjord ice sheets in B.C. & Alaska; the
seaward
limit of ice sheets; & more detailed chronology of the Puget &
Couer
d’Alene lobes. Our increased understanding of regional
glaciology has
implications for Archeology. It is thought that there were
enough
ice-free refugia on the west coast of North America to permit
migration
along that route by boat. Migrants had reached southern South
America
by 13 Ka. Another hypothesis has migrants from Europe following
the
southern margin of the Atlantic Ice Sheet to North America.
There is
reason to think that some people witnessed the Lake Missoula
Floods.
There is no primitive society on earth that does not have a
flood
legend. Global warming actually began about 8 Ka. & current
data
indicate that insolation values are diminishing. The talk
caused
several people to rethink their understanding of Puget Lowland
glaciation
& that led to an up-tick of the learning curve.
NWGS MEETING SCHEDULE
MAY 13, Anne Trehu, Oregon State University, Gas Hydrates in the
Cascadia Margin. This will be a joint meeting with the
Association of
Women Geoscientists.
WASHINGTON CHAPTER, AEG: For information, contact by email:
Darrell
Sofield
dsofield@geoengineers.com
NATIONAL EARTHQUAKE CONFERENCE, April 22-26 at Westin Hotel,
Seattle.
Information at
http://www.earthquakeconference.org/Press_2008/NEC_FEMA_012308.pdf
UPS Professor STEWART LOWTHER died, March 25, 2008. AL
EGGERS sent the
following information: “Dear colleagues and students, I write
with
the sad news that Professor Emeritus of Geology Stewart Lowther
passed
away this morning in Tacoma. Stewart had taken another fall
last Friday
and succumbed to a complicating infection following surgery.
Information about a memorial will be forthcoming. Professor
Lowther
joined the College of Puget Sound faculty in 1956 after
completing
bachelor and masters degrees at McGill University (1949, 1950);
in 1957
he completed a Ph.D. in Geology at the University of Michigan.
He
retired from full-time teaching in 2004, though continued both
to conduct
research on rock microtextures and microanalysis and to help
students and
faculty colleagues with electron microscopy, x-ray
microanalysis, and
digital imaging. Many at the university have learned from or
collaborated with Professor Lowther in the classroom, in the
field, and
in the electron microscope laboratory. Earlier this year,
Stewart
fulfilled a long-time wish to contribute a new scanning
electronic
microscope to Puget Sound, an instrument we hoped he would be
able to see
move into its new home in Harned Hall. Always the teacher and
field
geologist, Stewart had most recently joined a trip with
colleagues and
students over the January break to study volcanic geology on the
Big
Island of Hawaii. Having lost his wife, Nettie, in 2006, Puget
Sound
colleagues and friends were truly Stewart’s family. Please
extend
your thoughts especially to members of the Geology Department
and all who
will miss his spirit on the campus. Kris BartanenAcademic Vice
PresidentDean of the University
RECOMMENDED READING
HOOKE, R. L. (1991). "POSITIVE FEEDBACK ASSOCIATED WITH EROSION
OF
GLACIAL CIRQUES & OVERDEEPENINGS." GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
BULLETIN
103(8; AUGUST): 1104-1108
POLAND, M., A. MIKLIUS, et al. (2008). "NEW EPISODES OF
VOLCANISM AT
KILAUEA VOLCANO, HAWAII." EOS 89(5; JANUARY 29): 37-38.
PORTER, S. C. and T. W. SWANSON (1998). "RADIOCARBON AGE
CONSTRAINTS ON
RATES OF ADVANCE & RETREAT OF THE PUGET LOBE OF THE CORDILLERAN
ICE SHEET
DURING THE LAST GLACIATION." QUATERNARY RESEARCH 50: 205-213.
THE NORTHWEST GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, a regional association of
professionals, students & other persons interested in GEOLOGY
provides a
forum for the presentation & discussion of a wide range of
geologic
topics, emphasizing those of the Pacific Northwest or of
fundamental
scientific interest. Meetings: SECOND TUESDAYS, OCTOBER
THROUGH MAY, at
the TALARUS CONFERENCE CENTER, 4000 NE 41st Street; Seattle,
WA 98105.
Anyone may attend the meetings. FIELD TRIPS (members only),
June &
September (usually). PRESIDENT: David H. McCormack *
PRESIDENT-ELECT:
Donn Charnley* PAST PRESIDENT: John H. Whitmer * SECRETARY:
Dan Smith *
TREASURER: Ginny Agnew * FIELD TRIP COORDINATOR: Gregg Ferris
*
PUBLICATIONS DIRECTOR: John Figge
NEWSLETTER EDITOR: John H. Whitmer. 22533 SE 42nd Court;
Issaquah,
WA, 98029; Phone 425 557 9271; E-MAIL <
john.whitmer@cablespeed.com>.
Meeting notices will be sent by e-mail, or by US Mail if you do
not
have email (E-mailing announcements saves NWGS money). If you
have
e-mail, but prefer announcements by US Mail, please let us
know. If
you have moved or have changed your e-mail address, please
notify DAN
SMITH at 10203 40th Ave SW Seattle WA 98146; Phone (206)
937-5313
H; (206) 296-8007 W; e-mail
nwgeo@yahoo.com
Our recent magnificent Symposium clearly showed
that NWGS has a
wealth of diligent, capable people. We should be
able to maintain
a lively, interesting, important Society far into
the future. We
need to establish a way to encourage people to
serve & to prepare
them for leadership roles.
My term as President is ended. The duties of
President-Elect &
President have been far less daunting & much more
rewarding than I
had anticipated. It has been an honor to hold
those positions.
There has been a wonderful cadre of people to do
the work & come up
with the ideas to keep the Society “the greatest
enhancement to
the quality of life in the entire area.”
I invite you to join the group of people who keep
the Society
going. Our Board meetings are a good place to
begin. The next
Board meeting will precede the general meeting,
at 4:30 PM at
Talaris Conference Center, APRIL 8, 2008.
John H. Whitmer, Past President
Past Newsletters
March
2008
NORTHWEST GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
[clip_image003.png] MARCH 11, 2008 MEETING
SPEAKER: STEPHEN C. PORTER Professor Emeritus, Department of Earth &
Space Sciences, University of Washington
Late Pleistocene glaciation of the Pacific Northwest: a 40-year
retrospective
LOCATION: Talaris Conference Center 4000 NE 41st Street; Seattle, WA
98105; 206 268-7000. Take NE 45th St. to the east, past the University
Village (East side of UW). Turn right (south) onto Mary Gates Memorial
Drive (five corner intersection). MGM Drive will curve east and become
NE 41st St. The Talaris entrance will be several blocks to the east on
the left (north) side of the street. Turn left (north) onto Talaris Way
and follow the winding road to the conference center. For a map, go to
the website at www.talarisconferencecenter.com
NO HOST BAR 5:30; BUFFET 6:30; SPEAKER 7:30
dues are due!!! $30 for the year or $5 for full-time STUDENTS.
Send check to DAN SMITH at 10203 40th Ave SW Seattle WA 98146
To all of you who have already paid your 2008 dues, thank you!
DINNER RESERVATIONS: @ $30.00 for NWGS members; $35 for
non-members. Send check to GINNY AGNEW 935 PINE STREET, EDMONDS, WA
98020. Telephone 425 776 6151. Ginny’s email address is
agnewv@msn.com. Payment of $30 ($35 for non-members) or $10 for
students in good standing at a college or university, must be
received by the Thursday preceding the meeting. LATE REGISTRANTS
pay $40.
PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE NOT TO EAT WITH US ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THE
MEETING, BUT WE ASK A VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION OF $5 PER PERSON TO
HELP DEFRAY THE MEETING ROOM EXPENSE.
TO CHANGE EMAIL ADDRESS, or to report failure of your email newsletter to
arrive. NOTIFY DAN SMITH AT <nwgeo@yahoo.com>; telephone 206 937 5313.
NWGS WEBSITE: <http://www.nwgs.org>.
POSTERS and POSTER PAPERS WE NEED A VOLUNTEER TO SERVE AS THE
POSTER CO-ORDINATOR.
OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS NEWSLETTER EDITOR. Your incumbent editor
enjoys the job, but he is superannuated & must eventually be
replaced.
The executive board is currently working on the following items:
1. Preparing to apply for tax-exempt status with the Internal
Revenue Service. This will require revision of NWGS organizing
documents to comply with IRS standards. We expect to submit
revised Articles of Incorporation for membership approval at the
February meeting.
2. Proposed scholarship to enable students to participate in NWGS
Field Trips.
JANUARY 8, 2008 NWGS BOARD MEETING 4:30 PM at TALARIS CONFERENCE CENTER.
February Meeting: Dave Montgomery, University of Washington,
Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations. Unfortunately, your Editor missed
the meeting & has no abstract or information to report.
NWGS MEETING SCHEDULE
APRIL 8, TBA
MAY 13, Anne Trehu, Oregon State University, Gas Hydrates in the
Cascadia Margin. This will be a joint meeting with the Association of
Women Geoscientists.
WASHINGTON CHAPTER, AEG: For information, contact by email: Darrell
Sofield dsofield@geoengineers.com
RECOMMENDED READING
MASSON, T. M. and DAVID. R. MONTGOMERY (2000). "INFLUENCE OF SEDIMENT
SUPPLY, LITHOLOGY & WOOD DEBRIS ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF BEDROCK & ALLUVIAL
CHANNELS." GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA BULLETIN 112(4; APRIL): 591-599
Fox,KF; Fleck,RJ; Curtis,GH; Meyer.CE (1985): Implications of the
northwestwardly younger age of the volcanic rocks of west-central
California. GSA Bulletin 96(May), 647-654
Montgomery,DR; Gillespie,AR (2005): Formation of Martian outflow channels
by catastrophic dewatering of evaporite deposits. Geology 33(Aug),
625–628
THE NORTHWEST GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, a regional association of
professionals, students & other persons interested in GEOLOGY provides a
forum for the presentation & discussion of a wide range of geologic
topics, emphasizing those of the Pacific Northwest or of fundamental
scientific interest. Meetings: SECOND TUESDAYS, OCTOBER THROUGH MAY, at
the TALARUS CONFERENCE CENTER, 4000 NE 41st Street; Seattle, WA 98105.
Anyone may attend the meetings. FIELD TRIPS (members only), June &
September (usually). PRESIDENT: David H. McCormack * PRESIDENT-ELECT:
Donn Charnley* PAST PRESIDENT: John H. Whitmer * SECRETARY: Dan Smith *
TREASURER: Ginny Agnew * FIELD TRIP COORDINATOR: Gregg Ferris *
PUBLICATIONS DIRECTOR: John Figge
NEWSLETTER EDITOR: John H. Whitmer. 22533 SE 42nd Court; Issaquah,
WA, 98029; Phone 425 557 9271; E-MAIL < john.whitmer@cablespeed.com>.
Meeting notices will be sent by e-mail, or by US Mail if you do not
have email (E-mailing announcements saves NWGS money). If you have
e-mail, but prefer announcements by US Mail, please let us know. If
you have moved or have changed your e-mail address, please notify DAN
SMITH at 10203 40th Ave SW Seattle WA 98146; Phone (206) 937-5313
H; (206) 296-8007 W; e-mail nwgeo@yahoo.com
Our recent magnificent Symposium clearly showed that NWGS has a
wealth of diligent, capable people. We should be able to maintain
a lively, interesting, important Society far into the future. We
need to establish a way to encourage people to serve & to prepare
them for leadership roles.
My term as President is ended. The duties of President-Elect &
President have been far less daunting & much more rewarding than I
had anticipated. It has been an honor to hold those positions.
There has been a wonderful cadre of people to do the work & come up
with the ideas to keep the Society “the greatest enhancement to
the quality of life in the entire area.”
I invite you to join the group of people who keep the Society
going. Our Board meetings are a good place to begin. The next
Board meeting will precede the general meeting, at 4:30 PM at
Talaris Conference Center, February 12, 2008.
John H. Whitmer, Past President
|
February
2008
NORTHWEST
GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
FEBRUARY 12,
2008 MEETING
SPEAKER: February 12, 2008 Dave Montgomery,
University of Washington,
Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations
LOCATION: Talaris Conference Center
4000 NE 41st Street;
Seattle, WA 98105;
206 268-7000. Take NE 45th St. to the
east, past the University
Village (East side of UW). Turn right (south) onto Mary Gates
Memorial Drive (five corner intersection). MGM Drive will curve east and become
NE 41st St. The Talaris entrance will be several blocks to the east on the left
(north) side of the street. Turn left (north) onto Talaris Way and follow the
winding road to the conference center. For a map, go to the website at
www.talarisconferencecenter.com
NO HOST BAR 5:30; BUFFET 6:30; SPEAKER 7:30
dues are due!!!
$30 for the year or $5 for full-time STUDENTS.
Send check to DAN
SMITH at 10203 40th Ave SW
Seattle WA 98146
To all of you who
have already paid your 2008 dues, thank you!
DINNER RESERVATIONS: @ $30.00 for NWGS members; $35 for non-members. Send
check to GINNY AGNEW 935 PINE STREET, EDMONDS, WA 98020. Telephone 425 776
6151. Ginny’s email address is
agnewv@msn.com.
Payment of $30 ($35 for non-members) or $10 for students in good standing at a
college or university, must be received by the Thursday preceding the meeting.
LATE REGISTRANTS pay $40.
PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE NOT TO EAT WITH US ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THE MEETING, BUT
WE ASK A VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION OF $5 PER PERSON TO HELP DEFRAY THE MEETING ROOM
EXPENSE.
TO CHANGE EMAIL
ADDRESS, or to report failure of your email newsletter to arrive. NOTIFY DAN
SMITH AT <nwgeo@yahoo.com>;
telephone 206 937 5313.
POSTERS and POSTER PAPERS WE NEED A VOLUNTEER TO SERVE AS THE POSTER CO-ORDINATOR.
OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS NEWSLETTER EDITOR. Your incumbent editor enjoys the
job, but he is superannuated & must eventually be replaced.
The executive board is currently working on the following items:
1. Preparing to apply for tax-exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service.
This will require revision of NWGS organizing documents to comply with IRS
standards. We expect to submit revised Articles of Incorporation for
membership approval at the February meeting.
2. Proposed scholarship to enable students to participate in NWGS Field Trips.
JANUARY 8,
2008 NWGS BOARD MEETING 4:30 PM at TALARIS CONFERENCE CENTER.
JANUARY MEETING: Scott Burns, Portland State University,
Terroir - Geology of Oregon and Washington Wines
Scott was an undergraduate at Stanford University. He
earned a Ph.D at Colorado University. He is renowned for his expertise on
landslides. In recent years, the geology of wine has become his passion. He
defines terroir as the total elements of the vineyard. The mystique of terroir
in the Pacific Northwest
is the relationship of soils to wine. Factors making wines different from one
another are the variety of grape, geology & soils, climate, vineyard management
& the winemaker. The French, whose classification system dates from 1866,
consider terroir more important than grape type in the production of fine wine.
Well-drained, ancient soils make good wine. Red soil, from advanced age &
weathering, is good. Many people believe that 80% of the quality of a wine is
attributable to the vineyard & only 20% to the vintner. Vineyard managers have
learned over centuries that drainage, color, orientation of slope, elevation &
latitude are critical for growing good wine grapes. The vines must be stressed
for that purpose. Too many nutrients in the soil enable the vine to produce
leaves at the expense of grapes. Hot, dry conditions at the right time are
vital. There must be more than 180 frost-free days per year. The goal is to
coerce vines to produce grapes rather than leaves. The grapes must have sugar
content sufficient to produce alcohol content no less than 12%, which is
necessary to kill the yeast. Only in recent decades have people recognized the
similarity of conditions in parts of the
Pacific Northwest to those in the wine
country of France.
Our latitude & long, dry summers are favorable. Southwest France, where there
is no soil, & Red Mountain, eastern Washington, with rocks & gravel for soil,
produce the best wines. In
France &
Oregon, the bottomlands are not good
for wine - too many nutrients. In
Washington, the opposite prevails, for
the bottomland soil is derived from nutrient-poor, coarse Lake Missoula Flood
sediments. In Oregon,
the growers farm the slopes & do not irrigate. In
Washington, they farm the bottomland
& irrigate intensely. The parent rocks of our soils are Columbia River Basalt,
Loess, marine sediments of the Coast Range, & Lake Missoula Flood sediments.
They produce a large variety of soils. The climax of the talk was the
wine-tasting event. Participants tasted a wine from marine sediment soil & a
wine from Columbia River Basalt soil. 27 tasters preferred the marine
sediments; 11 chose the basalt. Scott’s observations have led him to the
hypothesis that if a tract of land grows abundant poison oak, it has fine soil
for a vineyard.
Naturally, Scott’s talk was greatly enjoyed. I look forward to having him
return to talk about landslides!
NWGS MEETING SCHEDULE
March 11, Anne Trehu,
Oregon State University, Gas
Hydrates in the Cascadia Margin
APRIL 8, TBA
MAY 13, TBA
WASHINGTON CHAPTER, AEG: For information, contact by email:
Darrell Sofield
dsofield@geoengineers.com
RECOMMENDED
READING
DENNIS, A. J. and J. W. SHERVAIS (1991). "ARC RIFTING OF
THE CAROLINA TERRANE IN NORTHWESTERN SOUTH CAROLINA." GEOLOGY 19(3; MARCH):
226-229.
SHAW, J. and R. GILBERT (1990). "EVIDENCE FOR LARGE-SCALE
SUBGLACIAL MELTWATER FLOOD EVENTS IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO & NORTHERN
NEW YORK STATE."
GEOLOGY 18(12; DECEMBER): 1169-1172
MALMQUIST, D. L. (1991). "GALAPAGOS ISLANDS: A HOLOCENE
ANALOGUE TO THE WALLOWA ACCRETED TERRANE." GEOLOGY 19(7; JULY):
675-678
THE NORTHWEST GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, a regional association
of professionals, students & other persons interested in GEOLOGY provides a
forum for the presentation & discussion of a wide range of geologic topics,
emphasizing those of the
Pacific Northwest or of fundamental scientific interest.
Meetings: SECOND TUESDAYS, OCTOBER THROUGH MAY, at the TALARUS CONFERENCE
CENTER, 4000 NE 41st
Street; Seattle, WA 98105. Anyone may attend the meetings.
FIELD TRIPS (members only), June & September (usually). PRESIDENT: David H.
McCormack * PRESIDENT-ELECT: Donn Charnley* PAST PRESIDENT: John H. Whitmer *
SECRETARY: Dan Smith * TREASURER: Ginny Agnew * FIELD TRIP COORDINATOR: Gregg
Ferris * PUBLICATIONS DIRECTOR: John Figge
NEWSLETTER EDITOR: John H. Whitmer. 22533
SE 42nd Court; Issaquah, WA, 98029; Phone
425 557 9271;
E-MAIL <
john.whitmer@cablespeed.com>.
Meeting notices will be sent by e-mail, or by US Mail if
you do not have email (E-mailing announcements saves NWGS money). If you have
e-mail, but prefer announcements by US Mail, please let us know. If you have
moved or have changed your e-mail address, please notify DAN SMITH at
10203 40th Ave SW Seattle
WA 98146; Phone
(206) 937-5313 H;
(206) 296-8007
W; e-mail
nwgeo@yahoo.com
Our recent magnificent Symposium clearly showed that NWGS has a wealth of
diligent, capable people. We should be able to maintain a lively, interesting,
important Society far into the future. We need to establish a way to encourage
people to serve & to prepare them for leadership roles.
My term as President is ended. The duties of President-Elect & President
have been far less daunting & much more rewarding than I had anticipated. It
has been an honor to hold those positions. There has been a wonderful cadre of
people to do the work & come up with the ideas to keep the Society “the greatest
enhancement to the quality of life in the entire area.”
I invite you to join the group of people who keep the Society going. Our
Board meetings are a good place to begin. The next Board meeting will precede
the general meeting, at 4:30 PM at Talaris Conference Center, February 12, 2008.
John H. Whitmer, Past President
January
2008
JANUARY 8, 2008 MEETING
SPEAKER: Scott Burns, Portland State University, Terroir -
Geology of Oregon and Washington Wines
LOCATION: Talaris Conference Center 4000 NE 41st Street;
Seattle, WA 98105; 206 268-7000. Take NE 45th St. to the east,
past the University Village (East side of UW). Turn right
(south) onto Mary Gates Memorial Drive (five corner
intersection). MGM Drive will curve east and become NE 41st
St. The Talaris entrance will be several blocks to the east on
the left (north) side of the street. Turn left (north) onto
Talaris Way and follow the winding road to the conference
center. For a map, go to the website at
www.talarisconferencecenter.com
NO HOST BAR 5:30; BUFFET 6:30; SPEAKER 7:30
dues are due!!! $30 for the year or $5 for full-time STUDENTS.
Send check to DAN SMITH at 10203 40th Ave SW Seattle WA 98146
To all of you who have already paid your 2008 dues, thank you!
DINNER RESERVATIONS: @ $30.00 for NWGS members; $35 for
non-members. Send check to GINNY AGNEW 935 PINE STREET, EDMONDS,
WA 98020. Telephone 425 776 6151. Ginny’s email address is
agnewv@msn.com. Payment of $30
($35 for non-members) or $10 for students in good standing at a
college or university, must be received by the Thursday
preceding the meeting. LATE REGISTRANTS pay $40.
PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE NOT TO EAT WITH US ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THE
MEETING, BUT WE ASK A VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION OF $5 PER PERSON TO
HELP DEFRAY THE MEETING ROOM EXPENSE.
TO CHANGE EMAIL ADDRESS, or to report failure of your email
newsletter to arrive. NOTIFY DAN SMITH AT < nwgeo@yahoo.com>;
telephone 206 937 5313.
POSTERS and POSTER PAPERS WE NEED A VOLUNTEER TO SERVE AS THE
POSTER CO-ORDINATOR.
JANUARY 8, 2008 NWGS BOARD MEETING 4:30 PM at TALARIS
CONFERENCE CENTER.
DECEMBER MEETING: [ABSTRACT PROVIDED BY THE SPEAKER]: The
Galapagos Islands are well known among biologists as well as
the general public for their unique biological communities
consisting of numerous indigenous and endemic species,
including the 13 species of "Darwin's finches". These unique
islands are also well known among geologists as an
archipelago of volcanic islands produced as a hot spot
manifestation of the Galapagos mantle plume. From an "Earth
systems" perspective, where the Earth's primary components,
the geosphere, biosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere
interact and influence each other, numerous large- and
small-scale examples of geospheric controls on the
development and distribution of life in the Galapagos
Islands have occurred.
DECEMBER BOARD MEETING: The NOMINATING COMMITTEE chose Donn
Charnley as candidate for President-Elect. Donn has served
the Society long & well as founding member & secretary for
many years, but has never before been president during this
incarnation of the NWGS. He is, however, a past president
of the original Northwest Geological Society [a.k.a. “The
Poodle Dog Society.”]
The board is preparing a new set of By-Laws designed to make
the Society compliant with IRS rules for non-profit
organizations. It is also working to encourage greater
participation of members in management of the Society.
At the December general meeting, Donn Charnley was elected
President-Elect by unanimous acclaim.
NWGS MEETING SCHEDULE
February 12, 2008 Dave Montgomery, University of Washington,
Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations
March 11, Anne Trehu, Oregon State University, Gas Hydrates in
the Cascadia Margin
RECOMMENDED READING
KIVER, E. P. and M. D. MUMMA (1971). "SUMMIT FIRN CAVES, MOUNT
RAINIER, WASHINGTON." SCIENCE 173: 320-322.
BEN-AVRAHAM, Z. and M. D. ZOBACK (1992). "TRANSFORM-NORMAL
EXTENSION & ASYMMETRIC BASINS: AN ALTERNATIVE TO PULL-APART
MODELS." GEOLOGY 20(5; MAY): 423-426
BOOTH, DEREK B (1986) THE FORMATION OF ICE-MARGINAL
EMBANKMENTS INTO ICE-DAMMED LAKES IN THE EASTERN PUGET
LOWLAND, WASHINGTON, DURING THE LATE PLEISTOCENE." BOREAS,
Vol. 15 pp. 247-263.
GRAND CANYON geology field trip in June, 2009 for a 9
day trip rafting the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon.
Trip begins and ends in Las Vegas. Meet at McCarran
airport, travel by charter bus to Marble Canyon via Zion
National Park, spend 7 days rafting the river and studying
geology, helicopter out and return to Las Vegas by small
planes from the north rim. Estimated cost is $2600 and
includes everything except sleeping gear rental ($50) and a
couple of meals. Party refreshments and guide tips are
included. A $300 deposit to Hatch River Expeditions is due
in January, 2008 when the exact date is established. Those
interested should contact Dave Lazor at
jdlazoroilngas@aol.com or 360-829-2634. There is a
maximum of 28 folks (two motor driven rafts) and about half
the positions are filled. The June 11-19, 2008 trip is
filled, but back-up folks are welcome to state their
interest.
THE NORTHWEST GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, a regional association of
professionals, students & other persons interested in GEOLOGY
provides a forum for the presentation & discussion of a wide
range of geologic topics, emphasizing those of the Pacific
Northwest or of fundamental scientific interest. Meetings:
SECOND TUESDAYS, OCTOBER THROUGH MAY, at the TALARUS CONFERENCE
CENTER, 4000 NE 41st Street; Seattle, WA 98105. Anyone may
attend the meetings. FIELD TRIPS (members only), June &
September (usually). PRESIDENT: David H. McCormack *
PRESIDENT-ELECT: Donn Charnley* PAST PRESIDENT: John H. Whitmer
* SECRETARY: Dan Smith * TREASURER: Ginny Agnew * FIELD TRIP
COORDINATOR: Gregg Ferris * PUBLICATIONS DIRECTOR: John Figge
NEWSLETTER EDITOR: John H. Whitmer. 22533 SE 42nd Court;
Issaquah, WA, 98029; Phone 425 557 9271; E-MAIL <
john.whitmer@cablespeed.com>.
Meeting notices will be sent by e-mail, or by US Mail if you do
not have email (E-mailing announcements saves NWGS money). If
you have e-mail, but prefer announcements by US Mail, please
let us know. If you have moved or have changed your e-mail
address, please notify DAN SMITH at 10203 40th Ave SW Seattle
WA 98146; Phone (206) 937-5313 H; (206) 296-8007 W; e-mail
nwgeo@yahoo.com
AN INVITATION [OR EXHORTATION] 2008
NORTHWEST GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY normally conducts election of
officers at the DECEMBER MEETING. This is a vitally important
function, for the survival of the organization depends upon the
willingness of a few members to take the responsibility & do the
work required to keep the Society alive & well. I have seen two
fine organizations perish in the past quarter century. One of
them was the ancestral Northwest Geological Society. Its death
was a great loss to me & to the geological community.
Our recent magnificent Symposium clearly showed that NWGS
has a wealth of diligent, capable people. We should be able to
maintain a lively, interesting, important Society far into the
future. We need to establish a way to encourage people to serve
& to prepare them for leadership roles.
My term as President is nearly ended. The duties of
President-Elect & President have been far less daunting & much
more rewarding than I had anticipated. It has been an honor to
hold those positions. There has been a wonderful cadre of
people to do the work & come up with the ideas to keep the
Society “the greatest enhancement to the quality of life in the
entire area.”
I invite you to join the group of people who keep the
Society going. Our Board meetings are a good place to begin.
The next Board meeting will precede the general meeting, at 4:30
PM at Talaris Conference Center, December 11, 2007.
John H. Whitmer, President
December 2007
DECEMBER 11, 2007
MEETING
SPEAKER: OUR OWN TOM BUSH with: STEP ASIDE DARWIN,
GEOLOGY RULES IN THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
LOCATION: Talaris Conference Center
4000 NE 41st
Street; Seattle, WA 98105;
206 268-7000.
Take NE 45th St. to the east, past the
University Village
(East side of UW). Turn right (south) onto Mary Gates Memorial
Drive (five corner intersection). MGM Drive will curve east and
become NE 41st St. The Talaris entrance will be several blocks
to the east on the left (north) side of the street. Turn left
(north) onto Talaris Way and follow the winding road to the
conference center. For a map, go to the website at
www.talarisconferencecenter.com
NO HOST BAR 5:30; BUFFET 6:30; SPEAKER 7:30
2008 dues are due!!!
$30 for the year or $5 for full-time STUDENTS.
Send a check made out to NWGS to DAN SMITH at
10203 40th Ave SW,
Seattle WA 98146
To all of you who have already paid your 2008 dues, thank you!
DINNER RESERVATIONS: @ $30.00 for NWGS members; $35 for
non-members. Send check to GINNY AGNEW 935 PINE STREET, EDMONDS,
WA 98020. Telephone 425 776 6151. Ginny’s email address is
agnewv@msn.com. Payment
of $30 ($35 for non-members) or $10 for students in good
standing at a college or university, must be received by the
Thursday preceding the meeting. LATE REGISTRANTS pay $40.
PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE NOT TO EAT WITH US ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THE
MEETING, BUT WE ASK A VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION OF $5 PER PERSON TO
HELP DEFRAY THE MEETING ROOM EXPENSE.
TO CHANGE EMAIL ADDRESS, or to report failure of your email
newsletter to arrive. NOTIFY DAN SMITH AT < nwgeo@yahoo.com>;
telephone 206
937 5313.
POSTERS and POSTER PAPERS; WE NEED A VOLUNTEER TO SERVE AS THE
POSTER CO-ORDINATOR.
DECEMBER 11, 2007 NWGS BOARD MEETING 4:30 PM at TALARIS
CONFERENCE CENTER. All are WELCOME!
ABSTRACT FOR DECEMBER 11 MEETING: The Galapagos Islands are
well known among biologists as well as the general public
for their unique biological communities consisting of
numerous indigenous and endemic species, including the 13
species of "Darwin's finches". These unique islands are also
well known among geologists as an archipeligo of volcanic
islands produced as a hot spot manifestation of the
Galapagos mantle plume. From an "Earth systems" perspective,
where the Earth's primary components, the geosphere,
biosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere interact and
influence each other, numerous large- and small-scale
examples of geospheric controls on the development and
distribution of life in the Galapagos Islands have
occurred. Tom Bush
NOVEMBER 13, 2007 MEETING: THOMAS L. PRATT (USGS & UWESS):
“HIGH RESOLUTION SEISMIC IMAGING OF ACTIVE FAULTS IN THE
PUGET LOWLAND.” Tom devoted 7 minutes to provide
information equivalent to ”a college degree in geophysics”
to prepare us to understand the seismic sections on which
his interpretations are based. Kink bands indicate a bend
in a fault. Kink bands, fault propagation folds,
breakthrough faults, growth triangles, bedding plane shear &
deformation fronts are useful clues to tectonic structures.
The deformation front of the Seattle Fault marks the
southern end of the
Seattle
Basin. South of the deformation front, the strata dip
steeply in contrast to the flat-lying beds in the Basin to
the north. His interpretation of the data indicates a fault
propagation fold above the Seattle Fault. The strata south
of the fold crest (Newport
Hills) dip southward about 70 degrees. There is an
occasional back thrust. The
Vasa Park
Fault dips southward, with older rock thrust over the soil.
It is thought to be a splay of the main fault, which is at a
deeper level. Since Miocene strata have not been removed,
it is thought that
Vasa Park
fault motion was 500 meters or less. Estimated motion on
the main Seattle Fault is 8 to 10 km., with about 2 km.
movement on the back fault. Very good data from a profile
done in the 1970’s is only recently being analyzed. The
data indicate a main fault dipping 45 degrees south, with a
splay cutting to the surface. This configuration seems to
prevail across the Puget Lowland. To the south, the Tacoma
Fault dips northward. Beneath eastern Tacoma, it breaks
into several splays. Wave-cut platforms in Hood Canal &
Henderson Bay stop abruptly to the south. A prominent 2
meter fold scarp, detectable only on LIDAR images, marks a
kink band from a growth fault active in the Quaternary. A
large magnetic anomaly north of the fold is imputed to
volcanics. South of the fold, the anomalous unit is deeply
buried. About 2 generations of earthquakes are recorded in
the sediments.
NWGS MEETING SCHEDULE
January 8, 2008 To Be Announced
February 12, 2008 To Be Announced
March 11, 2008 To Be Announced
RECOMMENDED READING
Pollack, H. N. (2007). "Scientific uncertainty & public policy:
Moving on without all the answers." GSA TODAY 17(MARCH):
28-29
Ildefonse, B., D. K. BLACKMAN, et al. (2007). "OCEANIC CORE
COMPLEXES & CRUSTAL ACCRETION AT SLOW-SPREADING RIDGES." GEOLOGY
35(7; JULY): 623-626
Tolstoy,M;
Vernon,FL; Orcutt,JA; Wyatt,FK (2002): Breathing of
the seafloor: Tidal correlations of seismicity at Axial
volcano. Geology 30(Jun), 503-506.
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING TO BE HELD FOR AN ICE AGE FLOODS
INSTITUTE CHAPTER IN THE SEATTLE/PUGET SOUND AREA
Mon., Dec. 3rd, 7:00 pm, at the Lynnwood Public Library,
19200 44th.Ave. W. (right behind Fred Meyer store). For
more information contact Mark Sundquist ( 206-817-5299,
wonderseeker@aol.com)
or Dale Middleton ( 206-784-3146,
dmiddleton1@earthlink.net).
GRAND CANYON geology field trip in June, 2009 for a 9
day trip rafting the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon.
Trip begins and ends in
Las Vegas.
Meet at
McCarran airport, travel by charter bus to Marble
Canyon via
Zion National Park, spend 7 days rafting the river
and studying geology, helicopter out and return to
Las Vegas
by small planes from the north rim. Estimated cost is $2600
and includes everything except sleeping gear rental ($50)
and a couple of meals. Party refreshments and guide tips
are included. A $300 deposit to Hatch River Expeditions is
due in January, 2008 when the exact date is
established. Those interested should contact Dave Lazor at
jdlazoroilngas@aol.com or
360-829-2634. There
is a maximum of 28 folks (two motor driven rafts) and about
half the positions are filled. The June 11-19, 2008 trip is
filled, but back-up folks are welcome to state their
interest.
THE NORTHWEST GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, a regional association of
professionals, students & other persons interested in GEOLOGY
provides a forum for the presentation & discussion of a wide
range of geologic topics, emphasizing those of the
Pacific Northwest
or of fundamental scientific interest. Meetings: SECOND
TUESDAYS, OCTOBER THROUGH MAY, at the TALARUS CONFERENCE CENTER,
4000 NE 41st
Street; Seattle, WA 98105. Anyone may attend the
meetings. FIELD TRIPS (members only), June & September
(usually). PRESIDENT: John H. Whitmer * PRESIDENT-ELECT: David
H. McCormack * PAST PRESIDENT: Susan Carol Bradford * SECRETARY:
Dan Smith * TREASURER: Ginny Agnew * FIELD TRIP COORDINATOR:
Gregg Ferris * PUBLICATIONS DIRECTOR: John Figge
NEWSLETTER EDITOR: John H. Whitmer. 22533
SE 42nd Court; Issaquah, WA, 98029; Phone
425 557 9271;
E-MAIL <
john.whitmer@cablespeed.com>.
Meeting notices will be sent by e-mail, or by US Mail if you do
not have email (E-mailing announcements saves NWGS money). If
you have e-mail, but prefer announcements by US Mail, please
let us know. If you have moved or have changed your e-mail
address, please notify DAN SMITH at
10203 40th Ave SW
Seattle WA 98146; Phone
(206) 937-5313
H; (206)
296-8007 W; e-mail
nwgeo@yahoo.com
ELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR 2008
NORTHWEST GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY normally conducts election of
officers at the DECEMBER MEETING. This is a vitally important
function, for the survival of the organization depends upon the
willingness of a few members to take the responsibility & do the
work required to keep the Society alive & well. I have seen two
fine organizations perish in the past quarter century. One of
them was the ancestral Northwest Geological Society. Its death
was a great loss to me & to the geological community.
Our recent magnificent Symposium clearly showed that NWGS
has a wealth of diligent, capable people. We should be able to
maintain a lively, interesting, important Society far into the
future. We need to establish a way to encourage people to serve
& to prepare them for leadership roles.
My term as President is nearly ended. The duties of
President-Elect & President have been far less daunting & much
more rewarding than I had anticipated. It has been an honor to
hold those positions. There has been a wonderful cadre of
people to do the work & come up with the ideas to keep the
Society “the greatest enhancement to the quality of life in the
entire area.”
I invite you to join the group of people who keep the
Society going. Our Board meetings are a good place to begin.
The next Board meeting will precede the general meeting, at 4:30
PM at Talaris Conference Center, December 11, 2007.
John H. Whitmer, President
We need someone to serve as Poster Coordinator.
This would involve recruiting or encouraging
people, particularly students, to exhibit posters at the meeting &
setting up the necessary display
boards or easels.
A fine poster by Eric Cheney attracted a lot of attention at the
November meeting. It outlined his work in the Leavenworth-Roslyn
area which is leading to a new understanding of the nature of the
Chewaukum Graben & of the Swauk & Chumstick Formations.
The October Northwest Geological Society Field trip, led by Eric
to the Chewaukum Graben was a great learning experience, providing
an entirely new understanding of the Chewaukum Graben & the regional
stratigraphy. We are grateful to Eric & to Dave McCormack, who
organized this field trip when they were extremely busy preparing
for the October Symposium.
November 2007
NORTHWEST GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
NOVEMBER 13, 2007 MEETING
SPEAKER: Dr. Tom Pratt, USGS/UW Oceanography, Update
of- and Findings on- the East End of the Seattle Fault
This will be a joint meeting with the Association of
Environmental and Engineering Geologists.
LOCATION: Talaris Conference Center 4000 NE 41st Street;
Seattle, WA 98105; 206 268-7000. Take NE 45th St. to the
east, past the University Village (East side of
UW). Turn right (south) onto Mary Gates Memorial Drive
(five corner intersection). MGM Drive will curve east
and become NE 41st St. The Talaris entrance will be
several blocks to the east on the left (north) side of
the street. Turn left (north) onto Talaris Way and
follow the winding road to the conference center. For a
map, go to the website at www.talarisconferencecenter.com
NO HOST BAR 5:30; BUFFET 6:30; SPEAKER 7:30
dues are due!!! $30 for the year or $5 for full-time
STUDENTS.
Make checks payable to NWGS, then send check to:
DAN SMITH at 10203 40th Ave SW Seattle WA 98146
To all of you who have already paid your 2007 dues,
thank you!
DINNER RESERVATIONS: @ $30.00 for NWGS members; $35
for non-members. Send check to GINNY AGNEW 935 PINE STREET,
EDMONDS, WA 98020. Telephone 425 776 6151. Ginny’s email
address is agnewv@msn.com. Payment of $30 ($35 for
non-members) or $10 for students in good standing at a
college or university, must be received by the Thursday
preceding the meeting. LATE REGISTRANTS pay $40.
PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE NOT TO EAT WITH US ARE WELCOME TO
ATTEND THE MEETING, BUT WE ASK A VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION OF
$5 PER PERSON TO HELP DEFRAY THE MEETING ROOM EXPENSE.
TO CHANGE EMAIL ADDRESS, or to report failure of your
email newsletter to arrive. NOTIFY DAN SMITH AT <nwgeo@yahoo.com>;
telephone 206 937 5313.
POSTERS and POSTER PAPERS WE NEED A VOLUNTEER TO
SERVE AS THE POSTER CO-ORDINATOR.
NOVEMBER 13, 2007 NWGS BOARD MEETING 4:30 PM at
TALARIS CONFERENCE CENTER.
MAY 8, 2007 MEETING: We were honored to have ROWLAND
TABOR speak to us about “LIVING THE HIGH LIFE IN THE
NORTH CASCADES.” Rowland began his 35-year career with
the USGS in 1952 on a project with Cater & Crowder,
mapping the Holden Quadrangle. The goal was to find more
copper there. Transportation of supplies & equipment was
provided by Ray Courtney, a long-time horse-packer from
Stehekin. Rowland;s role was to hike in fromt of the
party, felling trees to clear a path. Helicopter use
began in 1960 & Rowland experienced a lot of “one-skid”
landings. Rowland expressed major indebtedness to Ralph
Haugerud for his part in that mapping project. Early on
they recognized three major crustal blocks & the Ross
Lake Fault. The North Cascades is comprised of
Pre-Tertiary terranes dating from 400 Ma to 100 Ma. Orogeny
occurred in the lower Cretaceous-Early Tertiary
interval. Eocene transtension gave rise to pull-apart
basins. Uplift, erosion, & glaciation shaped the
magnificent landscape. Peter Misch established the basic
framework of the Northwest Cascade System, including
rocks offset on the Straight Creek. Rowland gave a
comprehensive review of the geologist history of that
system, which consists of volcanic “arcs stacked on
arcs,” with major thrust faults, extensional fault,
magmatism, thermal metamorphism, uplift & major
glaciation. He noted that meltwater from the glaciers
had a more profound effect on that landscape than did
glacial ice. This included a major outburst flood into
the Skagit River drainage. Rowland’s work has
enlightened not only the geologic community, but the
general public & mountain climbers as well. Quite a few
people brought their treasured copies of the book by
Tabor & Crowder, “ROUTES & ROCKS IN THE NORTH CASCADES”
to be autographed.
This was the beginning of a momentous time in the
history of the Northwest Geological Society. The next
event was a highly enlightening June field trip to the
North Fork, Nooksack River & to Sucia Island. We landed
at Fossil Beach on Sucia Island. There we saw many
fossils, including belemnites & ammonites. The September
Field Trip, led by Eric Cheney was to the Swauk
Pass-Leavenworth area. Eric is mapping that area &
revising the stratigraphy & structural interpretation
there.
The climax of the 20-year history of the NWGS was the 13
October Symposium, which succeeded beyond anything I
could ever have imagined. The program was outstanding,
with topics which were timely & relevant to the major
issues & problems which confront our region. The
location was perfect for this size of the audience
(which exceded our expectations. The organizers did
their work so well that I was not aware of any
significant hitch.
The quality of that Symposium leaves no doubt that the
Northwest Geological Society has a cadre of diligent,
capable people who make the organization strong. The
NWGS is a significant entity in the geologic community
of the region. Not only is it the greatest enhancement
to the quality of life in the Seattle region, but also
it is of major importance to the region. It is an honor
to be an officer in this organization.
BRIAN F. ATWATER was elected to the National Academy of
Science in May, 2007. PHYSICS TODAY July 2007 p.
76. Congratulations, Brian.
NWGS MEETING SCHEDULE
December 11, 2007 To Be Announced
January 8, 2008 To Be Announced
February 12, 2008 To Be Announced
March 11, 2008 To Be Announced
WASHINGTON CHAPTER, AEG: For information, contact by
email: Darrell Sofield dsofield@geoengineers.com
RECOMMENDED READING
DOLAN, J. F., D. D. BOWMAN, et al. (2007). "LONG-RANGE &
LONG-TERM FAULT INTERACTIONS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA."
Geology 35(9; SEPTEMBER): 855-858.
STRECK, M. J., W. P. LEEMAN, et al. (2007).
"HIGH-MAGNESIAN ANDESITE FROM MOUNT SHASTA: A PRODUCT OF
MAGMA MIXING & CONTAMINATION, NOT A PRIMITIVE MANTLE
MELT." GEOLOGY 35(4; APRIL): 351-354
SCHERMER, E. R., J. R. GILLESPY, et al. (2007).
"ARC-PARALLEL EXTENSION & FLUID FLOW IN AN ANCIENT
ACCRETIONARY WEDGE: THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS, WASHINGTON."
GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA BULLETIN 119(5/6;
MAY/JUNE): 753-767.
GRAND CANYON geology field trip in June, 2009 for
a 9 day trip rafting the Colorado River in the Grand
Canyon. Trip begins and ends in Las Vegas. Meet at
McCarran airport, travel by charter bus to Marble Canyon
via Zion National Park, spend 7 days rafting the river
and studying geology, helicopter out and return to Las
Vegas by small planes from the north rim. Estimated
cost is $2600 and includes everything except sleeping
gear rental ($50) and a couple of meals. Party
refreshments and guide tips are included. A $300
deposit to Hatch River Expeditions is due in January,
2008 when the exact date is established. Those
interested should contact Dave Lazor at
jdlazoroilngas@aol.com
or 360-829-2634. There is a maximum of 28 folks (two
motor driven rafts) and about half the positions are
filled. The June 11-19, 2008 trip is filled, but
back-up folks are welcome to state their interest.
THE NORTHWEST GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, a regional
association of professionals, students & other persons
interested in GEOLOGY provides a forum for the
presentation & discussion of a wide range of geologic
topics, emphasizing those of the Pacific Northwest or of
fundamental scientific interest. Meetings: SECOND
TUESDAYS, OCTOBER THROUGH MAY, at the TALARUS CONFERENCE
CENTER, 4000 NE 41st Street; Seattle, WA 98105. Anyone
may attend the meetings. FIELD TRIPS (members only),
June & September (usually). PRESIDENT: John H. Whitmer *
PRESIDENT-ELECT: David H. McCormack * PAST PRESIDENT:
Susan Carol Bradford * SECRETARY: Dan Smith * TREASURER:
Ginny Agnew * FIELD TRIP COORDINATOR: Gregg Ferris *
PUBLICATIONS DIRECTOR: John Figge
NEWSLETTER EDITOR: John H. Whitmer. 22533 SE 42nd
Court; Issaquah, WA, 98029; Phone 425 557 9271; E-MAIL
< john.whitmer@worldnet.att.net>.
Meeting notices will be sent by e-mail, or by US Mail if
you do not have email (E-mailing announcements saves
NWGS money). If you have e-mail, but prefer
announcements by US Mail, please let us know. If you
have moved or have changed your e-mail address,
please notify DAN SMITH at 10203 40th Ave SW Seattle WA
98146; Phone (206) 937-5313 H; (206) 296-8007 W; e-mail nwgeo@yahoo.comNWGS Membership Form Membership: Yearly Dues
Professional=$30/yr Student=$5/yr
Please complete form and mail to DAN SMITH at 10203 40th
Ave SW Seattle WA 98146
Make checks payable to NWGS.
Name: Date:
Address:
City: State: Zip:
Home phone:
Email Address:
Employer/Affiliation:
NORTHWEST GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
10203 40th Ave SW
Seattle WA 98146
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