TORONTOTORONTO

Vol. 8, No. 4 April 1998 Call for Papers GSA TODAY — page C1 A Publication of the Geological Society of America Electronic Abstracts Submission — page C3 Antarctic Neogene Landscapes—In the 1998 Registration Refrigerator or in the Deep Freeze? Annual Issue Meeting — June GSA Today Introduction The present Molly F. Miller, Department of Geology, Box 117-B, Vanderbilt Antarctic landscape undergoes very University, Nashville, TN 37235, [email protected] slow environmental change because it is almost entirely covered by a thick, slow-moving ice sheet and thus effectively locked in a Mark C. G. Mabin, Department of Tropical Environmental Studies deep freeze. The ice sheet–landscape system is essentially stable, and Geography, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia, [email protected] Antarctic—Introduction continued on p. 2

Atmospheric Transport of Diatoms in the Antarctic Sirius Group: Pliocene Deep Freeze Arjen P. Stroeven, Department of Quaternary Research, Stockholm University, S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden Lloyd H. Burckle, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, NY 10964 Johan Kleman, Department of Physical Geography, Stockholm University, S-106, 91 Stockholm, Sweden Michael L. Prentice, Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824 INTRODUCTION How did young diatoms (including some with ranges from the Pliocene to the Pleistocene) get into the Sirius Group on the slopes of the Transantarctic Mountains? Dynamicists argue for emplacement by a wet-based ice sheet that advanced across East Antarctica and the Transantarctic Mountains after flooding of interior basins by relatively warm marine waters [2 to 5 °C according to Webb and Harwood (1991)]. However, those calling for relative ice-sheet stability since the Miocene have interpreted these diatoms as wind transported (e.g., Denton et al., 1991).

Pliocene Deep Freeze continued on p. 4

Glacial Transport of Diatoms in the Antarctic Sirius Group: Pliocene Refrigerator David M. Harwood, Department of Geosciences, University of Nebraska—Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588 Peter-N. Webb, Department of Geological Sciences and, Byrd Polar Research Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 INTRODUCTION Figure 1. Oliver Bluffs in the Dominion Range at lat 85°S and 1760 m above sea level. The outcrop of the Meyer Desert Formation is fresh, trimmed by The use of marine diatoms to date the Sirius Group (Fig. 1) is the most recent advance of the Beardmore Glacier (Denton et al., 1989), a focal point of the debate on Neogene Antarctic glacial history. and is eroding. The sequence of the Meyer Desert Formation at Oliver Bluffs The Pliocene age of the diatoms is not disputed, as diatom bios- comprises ~80 m of interbedded diamictite and laminated mudstone, with tratigraphy is well established for this region (Harwood and minor peat and marl, which represent glacial, fluvial, lacustrine, and marsh or swamp environments that accumulated near sea level and were subsequently uplifted at least 1300 m (Webb et al., 1996). Photo by P.-N. Webb. Pliocene Refrigerator continued on p. 4 GSA TODAY April IN THIS ISSUE Vol. 8, No. 4 1998 Antarctic Neogene Landscapes— Center Section — TORONTO In the Refrigerator or in Preliminary Announcement for the GSA TODAY (ISSN 1052-5173) is published monthly the Deep Freeze? ...... 1 1998 GSA Annual Meeting ...... C1 by The Geological Society of America, Inc., with offices at 3300 Penrose Place, Boulder, Colorado. Mailing address: P.O. Box GSAF Update ...... 9 1997 Presidential Address 9140, Boulder, CO 80301-9140, U.S.A. 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Written permission is required from GSA for all other debate—how to interpret evidence for the forms of capture, reproduction, and/or distribution of any and the preserved terrestrial record of age of these dynamic glacial deposits item in this publication by any means, including posting on authors’ or organizational Web sites, except that permission Quaternary glaciations suggests a cold based on interpretation of the apparently is granted to authors to post the abstracts only of their sci- polar ice sheet that expanded and con- age-diagnostic diatoms that they contain. ence articles on their own or their organization’s Web site tracted only modestly compared to providing the posting includes this reference: “The full paper was published in the Geological Society of America’s news- the much more spectacular comings and STABILIST VIEW magazine, GSA Today, [include year, month, and page num- goings of the great Northern Hemisphere Strong evidence supporting the sta- ber if known, where article appears or will appear].” GSA ice sheets. Over the past 15 years, glacial provides this and other forums for the presentation of bilist interpretation of a Miocene switch geologists and others have focused atten- diverse opinions and positions by scientists worldwide, from warm, dynamic ice sheet to cold, regardless of their race, citizenship, gender, religion, or polit- tion on older pre-Quaternary glacial stable ice sheet comes from features at ical viewpoint. Opinions presented in this publication do not deposits (Sirius Group) in the Trans- reflect official positions of the Society. high elevations in the Dry Valleys. There, antarctic Mountains that give tantalizing unconsolidated, unweathered, and un- SUBSCRIPTIONS for 1998 calendar year: Society glimpses of a much more dynamic Antarc- eroded ash beds within a few centimeters Members: GSA Today is provided as part of membership tic ice sheet that existed before the present dues. 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Other convincing glacial, geo- journal articles from 1972); $89 to GSA Members, others Neogene history of the Antarctic contains morphic, and paleoclimate data from the call GSA Subscription Services for prices and details. Claims: a remarkable event—the switch from For nonreceipt or for damaged copies, members contact Dry Valleys suggest that cold polar desert warm-based glaciations to cold-based Membership Services; all others contact Subscription Ser- conditions have prevailed there for a very vices. Claims are honored for one year; please allow suffi- glaciations as though the ice sheet were long time (since at least the middle Mio- cient delivery time for overseas copies, up to six months. taken from the refrigerator and put into cene), and the extent of these conditions the freezer. But controversy rages over STAFF: Prepared from contributions from the GSA staff has been interpreted to rule out the possi- and membership. when the earlier dynamic “warm” ice bility of a Pliocene dynamic Antarctic ice Executive Director: Donald M. Davidson, Jr. sheet was replaced by the present stable Science Editors: Suzanne M. Kay, Department of sheet (Denton et al., 1991, 1993; Sugden “cold” ice sheet. The stabilists say that Geological Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853; et al., 1995). Molly F. Miller, Department of Geology, Box 117-B, Vanderbilt this occurred before the middle Miocene, Supporting evidence for the stabilist University, Nashville, TN 37235. while the dynamicists claim that the Forum Editor: Bruce F. Molnia, U.S. Geological Survey, interpretation primarily from the marine warm glacial regime persisted until late MS 917, National Center, Reston, VA 22092 record of the Southern Ocean was sum- Managing Editor: Faith Rogers Pliocene time. The arguments range over marized by Kennett and Hodell (1995). Production & Marketing Manager: James R. Clark many aspects of sedimentology, stratigra- Production Editor and Coordinator: Joan E. Manly On the basis of oxygen isotope data, they phy, geomorphology, biostratigraphy, Graphics Production: Joan E. Manly, Leatha L. Flowers concluded that Pliocene sea-surface tem- micropaleontology, paleoecology, glacial ADVERTISING: Classifieds and display: contact Ann peratures were not significantly higher geology, geochronology, and marine Crawford, (303) 447-2020; fax 303-447-1133; acrawfor@ than today and noted that no change in geosociety.org. geology. The resolution of this debate has ice-sheet volume was recorded by the dis- important ramifications for our under- Issues of this publication are available as electronic Acrobat tribution of ice-rafted detritus. Since then, files for free download from GSA’s Web Site, http://www. standing of how the present global ocean- cosmogenic exposure-age analyses of clasts geosociety.org. They can be viewed and printed on various earth-atmosphere-cryosphere system personal computer operating systems: MSDOS, MSWin- suggest long exposure (> 4 m.y.) of the became established. Ice in Antarctica plays dows, Macintosh, and Unix, using the appropriate Acrobat Sirius Group (Kurz and Ackert, 1997; Ivy- reader. Readers are available, free, from Adobe Corporation: an important role in this system now and Ochs et al., 1995), and ice-sheet modeling http://www.adobe.com/acrobat/readstep.html. will continue to in the future. Understand- supports the stabilist interpretation This publication is included on GSA’s annual ing how the ice behaves and its role in the (Huybrechts, 1993). CD-ROM, GSA Journals on Compact Disc. global system requires knowledge of its Call GSA Publication Sales for details. 50% Total Stabilists interpret diatoms of Plio- Recoverd Fiber past behavior. We review here the broad cene age in the Sirius Group as wind- Printed in U.S.A. using pure soy inks. 10% Postconsumer evidence in this debate, and give some of

2 GSA TODAY, April 1998 Denton, G. H., Sugden, D. E., Marchant, D. R., Hall, B. transported, thus obviating the need for However, at the same time the warm- L., and Wilch, T. I., 1993, East Antarctic Ice Sheet sensi- a Pliocene age for this deposit and permit- based Sirius ice was overwhelming the tivity to Pliocene climatic change from a Dry Valleys ting it to be significantly older (Burckle terrestrial biota, it appears to have been perspective: Geografiska Annaler, v. 75A, p. 155–204. and Potter, 1996; Stroeven et al., 1996). carrying with it recycled marine micro- Dowsett, H. J., Barron, J. A., and Poore, R. Z., 1996, fossils, including foraminifera, radiolaria, Middle Pliocene sea surface temperatures: A global reconstruction: Marine Micropaleontology, v. 27, DYNAMICIST VIEW sponge spicules, and diatoms. Of these, p. 13–25. only diatoms are age diagnostic, giving Dynamicists have been amassing a Hambrey, M. J., and Barrett, P. J., 1993, Cenozoic sedi- diverse (Tertiary) ages, the youngest of large stratigraphic data base and convinc- mentary and climatic record, Ross Sea region, Antarc- which is Pliocene. tica, in Kennett, J. P., and Warnke, D. A., eds., The ing evidence for a wet-based ice sheet So when did the switch from wet- Antarctic paleoenvironment: A perspective on global (and a warmer Antarctic climate) during change, 2: American Geophysical Union Antarctic warm ice sheet to cold-dry ice sheet occur? their 20+ years of study of the glacigenic Research Series, v. 60, p. 67–74. It is difficult to reconcile the stabilist evi- deposits and enclosed flora and fauna Hill, R. S., Harwood, D. M., and Webb, P.-N., 1996, dence of cold, polar desert conditions in Nothofagus beardmorensis (Nothofagaceae), a new of the Sirius Group (e.g., McKelvey et al., the Dry Valleys since the Miocene with species based on leaves from the Pliocene Sirius Group, 1991; Webb et al., 1984; Wilson et al., Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica: Review of the specter during the Pliocene of a warm- 1998). Best exposed in the southern Palaeobotany and Palynology, v. 94, p. 11–24. based ice sheet “next door” to the Dry Val- Transantarctic Mountains, but also found Huybrechts, P., 1993, Glaciological modelling of the leys in the southern Transantarctic Moun- in the Dry Valleys and the Prince Charles late Cenozoic East Antarctic Ice Sheet: Stability or tains. Not surprisingly, stabilists favor the dynamism?: Geografiska Annaler, v. 75(A), p. 221–238. Mountains (Fig. 1; the correlative Pago- interpretation that the Pliocene age for Ivy-Ochs, S., Schluchter, C., Kubik, P. W., Dittrich- droma Group; McKelvey et al., 1995; but 10 the warm-based ice sheet deposits is erro- Hannen, B., and Beer, J., 1995, Minimum Be exposure note that some question the correlation, ages of early Pliocene for the Table Mountain plateau neously young, citing the well-known but not the age), the Sirius Group is a and the Sirius Group at Mt. Fleming, Dry Valleys; proclivity of diatoms for being blown Antarctica: Geology, v. 23, p. 1007–1010. hodgepodge of diamicts (neither well around by wind (Kellogg and Kellogg, sorted nor well lithified) and stratified Kellogg, D. D., and Kellogg, T. B., 1996, Diatoms in 1996). Yet the dynamicists have good South Pole ice: Implications for eolian contamination semilithified deposits that record deposi- reasons for interpreting the diatoms as of Sirius Group deposits: Geology, v. 24, p. 115–118. tion in a variety of glacial, fluvioglacial, glacially deposited and thus indicating Kennett, J. P., and Hodell, D. A., 1995, Stability or insta- glacial-marine, fiord, and lacustrine envi- bility of Antarctic ice sheets during warm climates of a Pliocene or younger age for the Sirius ronments. The reworked marine diatoms the Pliocene?: GSA Today, v. 5, p. 1, 10-13, 22. Group. They question whether the evi- in the Sirius Group are thought to have Kurz, M. D., and Ackert, R. P., 1997, Stability of the East dence for polar desert conditions in the originated in marine seaways in interior Antarctic ice sheet: New chronological evidence from Dry Valleys region can be used to inter- Bennett Platform, Antarctica: Eos (Transactions, Ameri- East Antarctica; in this scenario, an ice pret the ice-sheet behavior of the entire can Geophysical Union), v. 78, p. S185. sheet built up in East Antarctica during continent. Marchant, D. R., and Denton, G. H., 1996, Miocene and the Pliocene and transported the diatoms Pliocene paleoclimate of the Dry Valleys region, south- The two articles here concern one to the Transantarctic Mountains, where ern Victoria Land: A geomorphological approach: aspect of this debate: using diatoms to Marine Micropaleontology, v. 27, p. 253–272. they were deposited in the Sirius Group. determine the age of the Sirius Group. Unlike deposits of cold-based ice sheets, Marchant, D. R., Swisher, C. C., III, Lux, D. R., Stroeven and co-workers (stabilists) sum- West, D., Jr., and Denton, G. H., 1993a, Pliocene these deposits occur in packages many marize work in support of atmospheric paleoclimate and East Antarctic Ice Sheet history from meters thick. This and the widespread surficial ash deposits: Science, v. 260, p. 667–670. transport of diatoms (rendering them use- occurrence of the Sirius Group throughout Marchant, D. R., Denton, G. H., Sugden, D. R., and less as age indicators). Harwood and Webb most of the Transantarctic Mountains and Swisher, C. C., III, 1993b, Miocene glacial stratigraphy discuss their evidence for glacial transport and landscape evolution of the western Asgard Range, of the correlative Pagodroma Group and a Pliocene age. Antarctica: Geografiska Annaler, v. 75(A), p. 303–330. (which contains in situ bivalves and Marchant, D. R., Denton, G. H., and Swisher, C. C., III, Pliocene diatoms) in the Prince Charles REFERENCES CITED 1993c, Miocene-Pliocene-Pleistocene glacial history of Mountains in East Antarctica support the Arena Valley, Quartermain Mountains, Antarctica: existence of an extensive wet-based ice Anderson, J. B., and Bartek, L. R., 1992, Cenozoic glacial Geografiska Annaler, v. 75(A), p. 369–402. history of the Ross Sea revealed by intermediate resolu- sheet during the Pliocene (Webb et al., McKelvey, B. C., Webb, P.-N., Harwood, D. M., and tion seismic reflection data combined with drill site Mabin, M. C. G., 1991, The Dominion Range Sirius 1984; Barrett et al., 1992). As supporting information, in Kennett, J. P., and Warnke, D. A., eds., Group: A record of the late Pliocene–early Pleistocene evidence, dynamicists point to data from The Antarctic paleoenvironment: A perspective on Beardmore Glacier, in Thomson, M. R. A., et al., eds., global change, 1: American Geophysical Union, drillholes on the Antarctic continental Geological evolution of Antarctica: Cambridge, UK, Antarctic Research Series, v. 56, p. 231–263. Cambridge University Press, p. 675–682. margin (Hambrey and Barrett, 1993) and Ashworth, A. C., Harwood, D. M., Webb, P.-N., and McKelvey, B. C., Hambrey, M. J., Mabin, M. C. G., from seismic stratigraphic studies (Ander- Mabin, M. C. G., 1997, A weevil from the heart of Harwood, D. M., and Webb, P.-N., 1995, The Neogene son and Bartek, 1992; Bartek et al., 1997), Antarctica, in Studies in Quaternary entomology— Pagodroma Group in the northern Prince Charles to the known Pliocene warming event An inordinate fondness for insects: Quaternary Mountains, East Antarctica: International Symposium Proceedings, no. 5, p. 15–22. (Cronin and Dowsett, 1991; Dowsett et al., on Antarctic Earth Sciences, VII, Siena, Italy, Abstracts, Barrett, P. J., Adams, C. J., McIntosh, W. C., Swisher, p. 262. 1996), and to ice-sheet modeling (Huy- C. C., III, and Wilson, G. S., 1992, Geochronological Stroeven, A. P., Prentice, M. L., and Kleman, J., 1996, brechts, 1993), all of which are consistent evidence supporting Antarctic deglaciation three On marine microfossil transport and pathways in with their interpretation of a dynamic, million years ago: Nature, v. 359, p. 816–818. Antarctica during the late Neogene: Evidence from warm, wet-based ice sheet in the Pliocene. Bartek, L. R., Andersen, J. L. R., and Oneacre, T. A., the Sirius Group at Mount Fleming: Geology, v. 24, p. 727–730. Dynamicists’ case for a warm-based 1997, Substrate control on distribution of subglacial and glaciomarine seismic facies based on stochastic Sugden, D. E., Denton, G. H., and Marchant, D. R., ice sheet is bolstered by their recovery of models of glacial seismic facies deposition on the Ross 1995, Landscape evolution of the Dry Valleys, Trans- many components of terrestrial ecosys- Sea continental margin, Antarctica: Marine Geology, antarctic Mountains: Tectonic implications: Journal tems within the Sirius Group. Their find- v. 143, p. 223–262. of Geophysical Research, v. 100, p. 9949–9967. ings include twigs, leaves, moss, pollen, Burckle, L. H., and Potter, N., Jr., 1996, Pliocene-Pleis- Webb, P. N., Harwood, D. M., McKelvey, B. C., Mercer, seeds, and insects; much of the material tocene diatoms in Paleozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary J. H., and Stott, L. D., 1984, Cenozoic marine sedimen- and igneous rocks from Antarctica: A Sirius problem tation and ice volume variation on the East Antarctic is in excellent condition (Hill et al., 1996; solved: Geology, v. 24, p. 235–238. craton: Geology, v. 12, p. 287–291. Ashworth et al., 1997); unfortunately, Cronin, T., and Dowsett, H. J., editors, 1991, Pliocene Wilson, G. S., Harwood, D. M., Levy, R. H., and Askin, these are not good biostratigraphic indi- climates: Quaternary Science Reviews, v. 10, p. 115–296. R. A., 1998, Late Neogene Sirius Group strata in Reedy cators. At issue is not the existence of such Denton, G. H., Prentice, M. L., and Burckle, L. H., 1991, Valley: A multiple resolution of climate, ice sheet and ■ a biota, but its age: When did temperate Cainozoic history of the Antarctic ice sheet, in Tingey, sea level events: Journal of Glaciology(in press). R. J., eds., The geology of Antarctica: Oxford, U.K., conditions last exist in Antarctica? Clarendon Press, p. 365–433.

GSA TODAY, April 1998 3 Pliocene Deep Freeze continued from p. 1 TABLE 1. IDENTIFIABLE DIATOMS diatoms occur below that to a depth of RECOVERED FROM SURFACE LAYER AND 95 cm (Table 1; Stroeven, 1994, 1996; WINDBLOWN DIATOMS IN UNDERLYING SIRIUS GROUP TILLS AT Stroeven et al., 1996; Stroeven and Pren- ANTARCTICA MT. FLEMING, DRY VALLEYS, ANTARCTICA tice, 1997). The near-surface concentration is consistent with the eolian hypothesis. The discovery of marine diatoms in Diatom species Surface unit Till units (10 cm) (10–95 cm) Additionally, if Sirius Group sediments ice samples from the South Pole demon- recorded drawdown and renewal of the strated conclusively that in Antarctica Actinocyclus actinochilus 3-- East Antarctic Ice Sheet, one would expect marine diatoms could be transported long Actinocyclus ingens 1-- Actinocyclus senarius 1--to find diatoms in it that reflect habitats distances by eolian processes (Kellogg and Coscinodiscus marginatus 1--found on a deglaciated Antarctic land- Kellogg, 1996). Previously, the contrast Coscinodiscus oculu-iridis 1--scape. Burckle et al. (1996) explored this between the freshwater diatoms recovered Eucampia antarctica 5-- question through a comparison with the from Last Glacial Maximum ice from East Odontella weisflogii 11 micropaleontology of Scandinavian tills. Antarctica and the predominately plank- Stellarima microtrias 5-- Thalassiosira inura 2--They found that two persistent features tonic marine diatoms of the Sirius Group Thalassiosira kolbeii 1--characterized the Scandinavian tills: (1) was used as evidence against eolian trans- Thalassiosira lentiginosa 2--diatoms found in the tills reflected a wide port of Sirius diatoms (Burckle et al., Thalassiosira oliverana 2--variety of habitats over which the ice sheet 1988), but recovery of marine, brackish Thalassiosira torokina 4-- advanced and (2) the diatoms occurred in water, and freshwater diatoms in the Thalassiosira vulnifica 1-- varying abundances throughout the till. South Pole ice removed that impediment Note: Sirius Group till units were mostly bar- Such is not the case for the Mt. Fleming from the eolian hypothesis. ren, but some contained unidentifiable diatom Sirius Group tills where the diatoms are If diatoms were transported to the fragments. Compilation includes six samples predominantly of planktic marine origin Sirius Group by eolian processes, they (2.9 kg) of the surface unit, and 17 samples and occur preferentially in surface layers. should also be transported to other sur- (>7.4 kg) of the till units. Particles >25 µm faces, regardless of age (e.g., Stroeven and were analyzed. SOURCE OF DIATOMS AND Prentice, 1994). In a test of this hypothe- TRANSPORT MECHANISMS sis, Paleozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary, TESTS OF THE EOLIAN HYPOTH- metamorphic, and igneous rocks from the Where did the wind-transported ESIS WITHIN THE SIRIUS GROUP Dry Valleys and the Beardmore Glacier diatoms come from? Stroeven et al. (1996) area (Transantarctic Mountains) were If diatoms were wind transported suggested sea spray and/or uplifted marine examined, and diatoms and aggregates to the Sirius Group, they should be most sediments. The following scenario is con- of diatoms common in the late Cenozoic abundant at or near the surface. As a sistent with the diverse substrates (till, ice, Southern Ocean were recovered (Burckle, test, samples were collected at intervals and igneous, sedimentary, and metamor- 1995; Burckle and Potter, 1996). The beneath the surface of the Sirius Group phic rocks) ranging widely in age (Paleo- diatoms must have been introduced into (Mt. Fleming, Dry Valleys). The best pre- zoic to Holocene) that have yielded dia- these rocks by eolian processes. served and most abundant diatoms are toms. Onshore winds pick up nearshore in the top 10 cm, and rare, unidentifiable marine and brackish water diatoms as well

Pliocene Refrigerator continued from p. 1 and the known ability of strong Antarctic Pliocene and older microfossils in the winds to carry gravel-size particles near steep and eroding cliffs of the Meyer Maruyama, 1992; Winter and Harwood, the ground, we assert that surface contam- Desert Formation at Oliver Bluffs, Domin- 1997). The question centers on when and ination via eolian deposition or meteorite ion Range (Figs. 1, 2). Glacial transport how the diatoms were incorporated into ejecta cannot explain the occurrence of provides the simplest and most parsimo- Sirius Group deposits. Webb et al. (1984) suggested that diatoms were eroded by ice from marine strata in subglacial basins of Signy Island East Antarctica (Fig. 2) and transported to the Transantarctic Mountains, where they were deposited within the Sirius Group during the late Pliocene. It was recently Figure 2. Location map of proposed that diatoms were deposited by Antarctica showing loca- Weddell Sea wind onto the surface of the Sirius Group tions cited in the text. PCM as a contaminant, or, that they were asso- PCM = Prince Charles PCM ciated with the Sirius Group as a result of a Mountains; VH = Vestfold Pliocene meteorite impact (2.15 Ma) in the Hills; DV = Dry Valley VH region; B = Beardmore Pensacola Southern Ocean (Gersonde et al., 1997). In Glacier; S = Shackleton Tra ns this paper we contrast the characteristics an Glacier; DR = Dominion Byrd ta rc t predicted for each of these transport Range; R = Reedy Glacier; ic DR mechanisms (Table 1). names in red are of sub- R M Aurora Bentley o u glacial basins shown by S n Diatoms on the surface of a Sirius t a B i the outline, which reflects n Group deposit probably originate from s contour for 1000 m multiple sources, and care must be taken DV below sea level. Wilkes to distinguish those derived from eolian, Ross Sea glacial, and other processes, on the basis of diatom factors including age, ecology, size, and preservation. In spite of the well- DSDP 274 documented wind transport of diatoms

4 GSA TODAY, April 1998 Burckle, L. H., Stroeven, A. P., Bronge, C., Miller, U., as coastal freshwater forms and carry them CONCLUSIONS and Wassell, A., 1996, Deficiencies in the diatom evi- inland where they are deposited on various On the basis of paleohabitats of dence for a Pliocene reduction of the East Antarctic Ice substrates in areas such as the Dry Valleys Sheet: Paleoceanography, v. 11, p. 379–390. diatoms found in Sirius Group sediments and elsewhere in the Transantarctic Moun- Denton, G. H., Prentice, M. L., and Burckle, L. H., 1991, and on detailed stratigraphical observa- tains and in West Antarctic. Occasionally, Cainozoic history of the Antarctic ice sheet, in Tingey, tions of the Sirius Group on Mt. Fleming, R. J., et al., eds., The geology of Antarctica: Oxford, UK, winds may succeed in airlifting open-ocean we dismiss inferences that lead to the Clarendon Press, p. 365–433. marine diatoms as well and transporting belief that there was a significant draw- Gersonde, R., Kyte, F. T., Bleil, U., Diekmann, B., Flores, them inland to areas such as West Antarc- down of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet dur- J. A., Gohl, K., Grahl, G., Hagen, R., Kuhn, G., Sierro, tica, the Dry Valleys, and the Beardmore F. J., Volker, D., Abelmann, A., and Bostwick, J. A., ing the Pliocene, and we conclude that if Glacier area. If such winds were the only 1997, Geological record and reconstruction of the late such deglacial events occurred, they must Pliocene impact of the Eltanin asteroid in the Southern transporting agent of diatoms in Antarctic be Miocene or older. Ocean: Nature, v. 390, p. 357–363. rocks, we believe that the diverse occur- Kellogg, D. D., and Kellogg, T. B., 1996, Diatoms in rences would have immediately been rec- South Pole ice: Implications for eolian contamination ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ognized as the product of eolian transport. of Sirius Group deposits: Geology, v. 24, p. 115–118. We find another transport mecha- Supported by National Science Stroeven, A. P., 1994, Semi-consolidated glacial deposits on Mt. Fleming, South Victoria Land, Antarctica: A test nism compelling. Gersonde et al. (1997) Foundation (Office of Polar Programs) of the late Neogene East Antarctic Ice Sheet collapse mapped an extensive and chaotic terrain grants to Prentice and to H. W. Borns, Jr. hypothesis [M.S. thesis]: Orono, University of Maine, in the southeast Pacific Ocean and found and Burckle; by Swedish Natural Science 183 p. physical evidence for a bolide impact at Research Council grants to Kleman and Stroeven, A. P., 1996, Late Tertiary glaciations and cli- ~2.3 Ma. Further, the micropaleontological Burckle, and by a Swedish Society for mate dynamics in Antarctica: Evidence from the Sirius Group, Mount Fleming, Dry Valleys [Ph.D. thesis]: ages of the disturbed sediment (Eocene to Anthropology and Geography Andrée Stockholm, Sweden, Stockholm University, 85 p. Pliocene) matched the ages of the micro- grant to Stroeven. We thank C. Hatte- Stroeven, A. P., and Prentice, M. L., 1994, Do marine fossils found in the Sirius Group. They strand, P. Jansson, W. Karlén, J.-O. diatoms in Sirius Group tills indicate ice sheet disinte- concluded that the bolide impact made Näslund, and G. Rosqvist. gration?: Geological Society of America Abstracts with airborne a cloud of sea-floor debris, which Programs, v. 26, p. A-143. fell on Antarctica. This bolide impact REFERENCES CITED Stroeven, A. P., and Prentice, M. L., 1997, A case for Sir- ius Group alpine glaciation at Mount Fleming, South could have changed both the rain rate Burckle, L. H., 1995, Diatoms in igneous and metamor- Victoria Land, Antarctica: A case against Pliocene East and the source of airborne diatoms to the phic rocks from Queen Maud Land, East Antarctica: Antarctic Ice Sheet reduction: Geological Society of Antarctic continent. Instead of rare brack- improbable places, Improbable surfaces: Antarctic Jour- America Bulletin, v. 109, p. 825-840. nal of the United States, v. 30, p. 67–68. ish and/or freshwater diatoms, it could Stroeven, A. P., Prentice, M. L., and Kleman, J., 1996, have caused a marked increase in the rain Burckle, L. H., and Potter, N., Jr., 1996, Pliocene-Pleis- On marine microfossil transport and pathways in tocene diatoms in Paleozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary Antarctica during the late Neogene: Evidence from rate of pelagic diatoms of various Ceno- and igneous rocks from Antarctica: A Sirius problem the Sirius Group at Mount Fleming: Geology, v. 24, zoic ages over the Antarctic continent. solved: Geology, v. 24, p. 235–238. p. 727–730. Although this bolide hypothesis awaits Burckle, L. H., Gayley, R. I., Ram, M., and Petit, J.-R., Webb, P.-N., and Harwood, D. M., 1991, Late Cenozoic testing, it answers remaining questions 1988, Diatoms in Antarctic ice cores: Some implications glacial history of the Ross Embayment, Antarctica: Quaternary Science Reviews, v. 10, p. 215–223. unresolved by the eolian hypothesis. for the glacial history of Antarctica: Geology, v. 16, p. 326–329. Manuscript received September 15, 1997; accepted February 17, 1998 ■

nious interpretation of our observations CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE Size limits of Antarctic Eolian (Webb and Harwood, 1991). We focus on EOLIAN HYPOTHESIS Particles. Diatoms and marine diatomite the Meyer Desert Formation at this local- clasts in the Meyer Desert Formation are Several lines of evidence indicate that ity because it is the prime repository of a too large (>100 µm) to be transported by the Meyer Desert Formation diatoms were wide variety of stratigraphic and paleonto- eolian processes (Fig. 3). The size distribu- not transported and deposited by eolian logic data that has bearing on Antarctic tion of eolian particles in the Antarctic ice processes. paleoclimate, tectonics, and glacial history cores has a mode around 2 µm; maximum South Pole Diatoms Are from (Webb et al., 1996; Ashworth et al., 1997). sizes (equivalent diameter) are between 10 Patagonia. Diatoms in ice at the South and 24 µm (Basile et al., 1997). Material Pole (Kellogg and Kellogg, 1996) led to the SIRIUS GROUP DIATOM transported very long distances in Earth’s suggestion that marine pelagic diatoms in ASSEMBLAGES atmosphere is mostly smaller than 10 µm, the Sirius Group were wind-borne contam- and much of it is smaller than 2 µm (Pye, Diatoms within the Sirius Group have inants (Barrett, 1996). The South Pole 1987, p. 1). Empty valves of freshwater been found at 12 of 14 localities sampled, assemblages, however, are dominated by diatoms are common components in in varying abundance (Harwood, 1986a, freshwater diatoms and small marine ben- aerosol samples and can be transported 1986b). They commonly are highly frag- thic taxa. In addition, geochemical analy- around the globe, but these particles are mented as both isolated clasts in the ses of Antarctic ice cores from Vostok and typically <25 µm diameter or 60 µm long matrix and within clasts of diatomite up Dome C indicate that dust particles (Pye, 1987). These data from different to 240 µm in diameter (Figs. 3, 4). Most of (including diatoms) originate from Patago- environments indicate that the eolian the recovered diatoms are open marine, nian loess and the Argentine continental hypothesis does not represent a suitable planktonic forms, endemic to the Antarc- shelf (Basile et al., 1997), but not from mechanism to transport 100 to 240 µm tic region; benthic taxa are rare. In the Antarctic sources. Diatoms reported by size particles (Figs. 3, 4) to Sirius Group Meyer Desert Formation, 22 of the 60 Barrett et al. (1997) in regolith on the sur- sites high in the Transantarctic Moun- diatom species recovered are Neogene; face of the Transantarctic Mountains have tains. their combined ranges indicate a Pliocene a similar non-Antarctic source; 50% of No Source Identified for Eolian age. Diatoms consistently are rare, with a their specimens are of freshwater forms Diatoms. The present ice sheet obscures patchy distribution, even within a single that are absent to rare in the modern and most sources for fossil Antarctic diatoms. stratigraphic section. fossil flora of Antarctic lakes (Spaulding and McKnight, 1998). Pliocene Refrigerator continued on p. 6

GSA TODAY, April 1998 5 Pliocene Refrigerator continued from p. 5

If the margin of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet has been at its present position since the middle Miocene (stabilist view), then there has not been a source of Antarctic diatoms available to atmospheric scaveng- Figure 3. Comparison of the size ing for 15 m.y. or more. Sea spray is not a range (silt) of particles commonly viable source; air-trap samples taken on carried by the wind and fossil sub-Antarctic islands yielded only very diatoms and diatomaceous sedi- small diatoms and a paucity of planktonic ment clasts present in the Sirius marine taxa (Chalmers et al., 1996). Group. The largest diatomaceous Diatoms in Paleozoic Rocks. In sediment clast from Oliver Bluffs is 240 × 170 µm in size; a field of a search for diatoms on a limited number similar grains is between 60 and of pre-Cenozoic sedimentary and igneous 120 µm. Individual diatom valves rocks Burckle and Potter (1996) recovered recovered from many Sirius Group well-preserved and abundant diatoms deposits in the Transantarctic (about 700 whole specimens per gram) Mountains reach near the normal upper size range for pelagic in sediment filling cracks. The recovered diatoms—100 to 140 µm—sug- diatoms differ markedly from those of the gesting a mechanism of transport Sirius Group in being much more abun- without significant loss of the dant, better preserved, and derived from larger specimens. Wind is unlikely an open ocean setting rather than from to produce this spectrum, because a continental shelf. Barrett et al. (1997) it would sort for size, leaving the larger particles behind, whereas ice reported between 0.2 and 7 diatom frag- would not discriminate. Size data ments per gram from the Sirius Group at for eolian particles are from Basile Mt. Feather, which is more consistent with et al. (1997), Pye (1987), and Rea our observations of diatom abundance. and Hovan (1995). Proponents of the eolian hypothesis imply that marine diatom assemblages should be ubiquitous in Antarctic air, soil, and outcrops. Lakes are obvious sediment traps for eolian particles, yet marine diatoms (fossil and recent) are absent or rarely encountered in Antarctic lakes (S. Spaulding, 1997, personal communica- tion). Furthermore, deltaic deposits <10 diatoms on the surface of the deposit at glacial or ejecta, the youngest elements km inland from McMurdo Sound contain Mt. Feather, Dry Valleys, it may allow a (Pliocene) of the recycled flora lead us to only severely broken marine diatoms with pre-Pliocene age for this deposit. However, the conclusion that the Meyer Desert For- relatively unbroken nonmarine forms since Pleistocene time, the Beardmore mation is a post–middle Pliocene deposit. (Kellogg et al., 1980). Glacier (Denton et al., 1989) has been Detailed comparison of the diatom floras Limited and Contradictory Data eroding the Meyer Desert Formation in within impact debris in the Bellings- from Mt. Fleming. Harwood (1986a) the Dominion Range, and any impact- hausen Sea with Sirius diatom floras is recovered a few poorly preserved speci- derived sediment would have been eroded needed to look for agreement and to mens from the Sirius Group deposit at Mt. from our sampling sites. define the remaining discordance. Fleming. Stroeven et al. (1996) prepared We acknowledge the possibility that additional samples in Harwood’s labora- Pliocene diatoms in meteorite ejecta could PLIOCENE WARMTH FROM tory, producing more data, but again, have been incorporated in basal sediments ANTARCTIC DATA diatoms were found to be unevenly dis- of the Sirius Group deposited by subse- tributed and very rare. Harwood identified A wealth of information on Antarctic quent glacial advance. In either scenario, and characterized the diatoms for this Pliocene warming can be found in recent study. Stroeven et al. (1996) and Stroeven and Prentice (1997) interpreted the results to indicate a marked reduction in diatoms Figure 4. Example of a from the surface into the deposit. We dis- diatomaceous sediment clast agree with this interpretation because of from the Meyer Desert For- the small number of diatoms and lack of mation, Dominion Range, demonstrated statistically significant dif- sample OB 5-7. Visible ferences between the samples. through this clast of diatom ooze are abundant fragments of diatoms, as well as high METEORITE EJECTA HYPOTHESIS numbers of Thalassionema sp. Another mechanism for diatom trans- and Thalassiothrix sp. This clast is 90 x 80 µm. Assem- port, proposed by Gersonde et al. (1997), blages dominated by Thalas- is based on recognition of a late Pliocene sionema and Thalassiothrix meteorite impact event (~2.15 Ma) in the are typical of Sirius Group Southern Ocean. Gersonde et al. suggested microfloras, reflecting the that ejecta-borne diatoms may have con- high productivity of East Antarctic interior basins taminated the Sirius Group. If this was the during times of deglaciation. source for Pliocene-Pleistocene marine

6 GSA TODAY, April 1998 TABLE 1. TRANSPORT MECHANISMS FOR DIATOMS IN SIRIUS GROUP, ANTARCTICA Characteristic Predicted for Antarctic Predicted for Meteorite Predicted for Observed in Eolian Pathway Ejecta Pathway Glacial Pathway Sirius Group Largest size of diatoms Small, generally Large sizes possible Large sizes possible Large diatoms up to 100 µm; and diatomite clasts <60 µm (Fig. 3) clasts of diatomite up to 240 µm Presence or absence of Absent Present Present Present: foraminifera, sponge larger marine microfossils spicules, radiolarians, ostracods Ecology of diatoms Freshwater and shallow Open marine from Mixture* Mixture † recovered marine predominate Southern Ocean Source of Antarctic Unclear—ice sheet covers landscape Bellingshausen Sea; >3600 km Subglacial basins, possibly Presumed recycled from diatoms (requires deglaciation to expose beds) from Transantarctic Mountains from local fjords in some cases subglacial basins (Fig. 2) Age range of Narrow § Wide potentially; Wide # Wide** Antarctic microfossils late Pliocene and older Relation between Not applicable; sediment clasts are Identical diatoms Identical; diatoms derived Identical; diatom assemblage diatom and too large for distant wind transport from clasts upon disaggregation composition is similar in dia- diatomite clasts in transport and lab preparation tomite clasts and the till matrix Presence or absence Present; southern Victoria Land Absent Absent? No ash in Absent of volcanic ash ash should be incorporated source basin with diatoms Presence or absence Present rare Absent Absent; no source Absent of pollen from in Antarctica outside Antarctica Distribution of diatoms Surficial; uniform on outcrop surfaces Surficial; uniform on Nonuniform; depends Nonuniform; productive in a stratigraphic section and across diverse landforms outcrop surfaces and across on distribution of samples from specific diverse landforms†† diatomite clasts horizons Presence or absence of Absent Absent Present Present diatoms on steep eroding cliffs

* All diatoms present in basinal sediments; nonmarine, benthic marine, planktonic marine. † Predominantly planktonic marine; rare benthic marine and rare freshwater. § Unless there are extensive exposures of Paleogene and Neogene marine sediments in Antarctica (now covered by ice sheet). # Glacial erosion, not age, selectively favors erosion and transportation of youngest sediment on top of basin fill. ** Cretaceous, Paleocene, late Eocene, late Oligocene, middle Miocene, late Miocene, early Pliocene, mid-Pliocene, Pliocene-Pleistocene. †† Alternatively, distribution may be within the deposit if ejecta blanketed landscape and was incorporated during subsequent deposition of glacial deposits. reports and summaries (Abelmann et al., From these data, it appears that there were more convincingly, the glacially trans- 1990; Wilson, 1995; Quilty, 1996; Dowsett brief intervals during the Pliocene when ported origin of diatoms in the Sirius et al., 1996; Gazdzicki and Webb, 1996; the refrigerator door was left open. Group, in our view, remains a viable Bohaty and Harwood, 1998). The absence mechanism. of calcareous nannofossils and Nothofagus CONCLUSIONS (southern beech) pollen in deep-sea ACKNOWLEDGMENTS For the eolian hypothesis to remain deposits was cited as evidence against viable, the following key questions related The following provided helpful dis- warmer Antarctic conditions during to the Meyer Desert Formation must be cussion and reviews of this manuscript: the Pliocene (Burckle and Pokras, 1991; addressed. How can particles >200 µm in S. Bohaty, M. Hambrey, R. Kettler, N. Kennett and Hodell, 1995; Prentice et al., diameter be carried to high elevation, Lindsley-Griffin, B. C. McKelvey, R. Pow- 1993); both of these fossil groups subse- against prevailing wind? How do these ell, A. P. Roberts, R. Scherer, J. Whitehead, quently were identified in Deep Sea biogenic particles penetrate laminated G. S. Wilson, and S. W. Wise. We thank Drilling Project and Ocean Drilling Pro- strata in vertical faces without disturbing S. Kooyman, R. Levy, C. Dicks, and D. gram cores. They indicate brief yet signifi- the stratigraphy? How do diatoms adhere Winter for technical assistance. cant warming events in the Southern to a near-vertical face of a compact Ocean (Bohaty and Harwood, 1998) and diamicton and penetrate faster than the REFERENCES CITED the expansion of mid-Pliocene Nothofagus rate of bluff erosion? And the most impor- vegetation in the Transantarctic Moun- Abelmann, A., Gersonde, R., and Spiess, V., 1990, tant question: Where are the exposures of Pliocene-Pleistocene paleoceanography in the Weddell tains (Fleming and Barron, 1996). The Pliocene, Miocene, Oligocene, and Eocene Sea—Siliceous microfossil evidence, in, Bleil, U., and Antarctic records are consistent with evi- Thiede, J., eds., Geological history of the polar oceans: strata that provided the source of pelagic dence of global Pliocene warmth and Arctic versus Antarctic: NATO Advanced Studies Insti- Antarctic diatoms? tute Ser. C, v. 308, p. 729–759. higher sea level (Cronin and Dowsett, We feel there is no compelling need 1991; PRISM Project Members, 1995; Ashworth, A. C., Harwood, D. M., Webb, P.-N., and to look to the atmosphere to interpret the Mabin, M. C. G., 1997, A weevil from the heart of Poore and Sloan, 1996). The diverse terres- data from the Meyer Desert Formation. A Antarctica, in Studies in Quaternary entomology— trial biota of the Meyer Desert Formation An inordinate fondness for insects: Quaternary Proceed- direct interpretation is grounded in geo- suggests that Pliocene mean annual tem- ings, no. 5, p. 15–22. logic simplicity: Diatoms within glacigenic peratures were ~15 °C warmer than those deposits were deposited by ice. Unless rele- of today [–16 °C in Francis and Hill (1996) vant evidence is presented that explains and –9 to –5 °C in Ashworth et al. (1997)]. the data from the Meyer Desert Formation Pliocene Refrigerator continued on p. 8

GSA TODAY, April 1998 7 Gazdzicki, A., and Webb, P.-N., 1996, Foraminifera Quilty, P. G., 1996, The Pliocene environment of Pliocene Refrigerator continued from p. 7 from the Pecten Conglomerate (Pliocene) of Cockburn Antarctica: Royal Society of Tasmania, Papers and Island, Antarctic Peninsula: Paleontologia Polonica, Proceedings, v. 130, no. 2, p. 1–8. Barrett, P. J., 1996, Antarctic paleoenvironment v. 55, p. 147–174. through Cenozoic times—A review: Terra Antartica, Rea, D. K., and Hovan, S. A., 1995, Grain size distribu- v. 3, p. 103–119. Gersonde, R., Kyte, F. T., Bleil, U., Diekmann, B., Flores, tion and depositional processes of the mineral compo- J. A., Gohl, K., Grahl, G., Hagen, R., Kuhn, G., Sierro, F. nent of abyssal sediments: Lessons from the North Barrett, P. J., Bleakley, N. L., Dickinson, W. W., Han- J., Volker, D., Abelmann, A., and Bostwick, J. A., 1997, Pacific: Paleoceanography, v. 10, p. 251–258. nah, M. J., and Harper, M. A, 1997, Distribution of Geological record and reconstruction of the late Spaulding, S. A., and McKnight, D. M., 1998, Diatoms siliceous microfossils on Mount Feather, Antarctica, and Pliocene impact of the Eltanin asteroid in the Southern as indicators of environmental change in Antarctic the age of the Sirius Group, in Ricci, C. A., ed., The Ocean: Nature, v. 390, p. 357–363. in Antarctic region: Geological evolution and processes: freshwaters, Stoermer, E. F., and Smol, J. P., eds., Siena, Italy, Terra Antartica, p. 763–770. Harwood, D. M., 1986a, Diatom biostratigraphy and Applied diatom studies: Cambridge, UK, Cambridge paleoecology with a Cenozoic history of Antarctic ice University Press (in press). Basile, I., Grousset, F. E., Revel, M., Petit, J. R., Biscaye, sheets [Ph.D. thesis]: Columbus, Ohio State University, Stroeven, A. P., and Prentice, M. L., 1997, A case for Sir- P. E., and Barkov, N. I., 1997, Patagonian origin of 592 p. glacial dust deposited in East Antarctica (Vostok and ius Group alpine glaciation at Mount Fleming, South Dome C) during glacial stages 2, 4, and 6: Earth and Harwood, D. M., 1986b, Recycled siliceous microfossils Victoria Land, Antarctica: A case against Pliocene ice Planetary Science Letters, v. 146, p. 573–589. from the Sirius Formation: Antarctic Journal of the sheet reduction: Geological Society of America Bulletin, United States, v. 21, p. 101–103. v. 109, p. 825–840. Bohaty, S. M., and Harwood, D. M., 1998, Southern Ocean Pliocene paleotemperature variation from sili- Harwood, D. M., and Maruyama, T., 1992, Middle Stroeven, A. P., Prentice, M. L., and Kleman, J., 1996, coflagellate biostratigraphy: Marine Micropaleontology Eocene to Pleistocene diatom biostratigraphy of ODP On marine microfossil transport and pathways in (in press). Leg 120, Kerguelen Plateau: College Staion, Texas, Antarctica during the late Neogene: Evidence from the Ocean Drilling Program Science Results, Leg 120, Sirius Group at Mount Fleming: Geology, v. 24, Burckle, L. H., and Pokras, E. M., 1991, Implications of p. 683–733. p. 727–730. a Pliocene stand of Nothofagus (southern beech) within 500 kilometers of the South Pole: Antarctic Science, Kellogg, D. E., Stuiver, M., Kellogg, T. B., and Denton, Webb, P.-N., and Harwood, D. M., 1991, Late Cenozoic v. 3, p. 389–403. G. E., 1980, Non-marine diatoms from late Wisconsin glacial history of the Ross Embayment, Antarctica: Qua- perched deltas in Taylor Valley, Antarctica: Palaeogeog- ternary Science Reviews, v. 10, p. 215–223. Burckle, L. H., and Potter, N., Jr., 1996, Pliocene-Pleis- raphy, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, v. 30, Webb, P.-N., Harwood, D. M., McKelvey, B. C., Mercer, tocene diatoms in Paleozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary p. 157–189. and igneous rocks from Antarctica: A Sirius problem J. H., and Stott, L. D., 1984, Cenozoic marine sedimen- solved: Geology, v. 24, p. 235–238. Kellogg, D. E., and Kellogg, T. B., 1996, Diatoms in tation and ice volume variation on the East Antarctic South Pole ice: Implications for eolian contamination craton: Geology, v. 12, p. 287–291. Chalmers, M. O., Harper, M. A., and Marshall, W. A., of Sirius Group deposits: Geology, v. 24, p. 115–118. 1996, An illustrated catalogue of airborne microbiota Webb, P.-N., Harwood, D. M., Mabin, M. C. G., and from the maritime Antarctic: Cambridge, UK, British Kennett, J. P., and Hodell, D. A., 1995, Stability or insta- McKelvey, B. C., 1996, A marine and terrestrial Sirius Antarctic Survey, 175 p. bility of Antarctic ice sheets during warm climates of Group succession, middle Beardmore Glacier–Queen the Pliocene?: GSA Today, v. 5, p. 1, 10–13, 22. Alexandra Range, Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica: Cronin, T., and Dowsett, H. J., editors, 1991, Pliocene Marine Micropaleontology, v. 27, p. 273–297. climates: Quaternary Science Reviews, v. 10, Poore, R. Z., and Sloan, L. C., editors, 1996, Climates p. 115–296. and climate variability of the Pliocene: Marine Micro- Wilson, G. S., 1995, The Neogene East Antarctic Ice paleontology, v. 27, 326 p. Sheet: A dynamic or stable feature?: Quaternary Science Denton, G. H., Bockheim, J. G., Wilson, S. C., and Stu- Reviews, v. 14, p. 101–123. vier, M., 1989, Late Wisconsin and early Holocene PRISM Project Members, 1995, Middle Pliocene pale- in glacial history, Inner Ross Embayment, Antarctica: Qua- oenvironments of the Northern Hemisphere, Vrba, Winter, D. M., and Harwood, D. M., 1997, Integrated ternary Research, v. 31, p. 151–182. E. S., et al., eds., Paleoclimate and evolution with diatom biostratigraphy of late Neogene drillholes in emphasis on human origins: New Haven, Connecticut, southern Victoria Land and correlation to Southern Dowsett, H. J., Barron, J. A., and Poore, R. Z., 1996, Mid- Yale University Press, p. 197–212. Ocean records, in Ricci, C. A., ed., The Antarctic region: dle Pliocene sea surface temperatures: A global recon- Geological evolution and processes: Siena, Italy, Terra Prentice, M. L., Bockheim, J. G., Wilson, S. C., Burckle, struction: Marine Micropaleontology, v. 27, p. 13–25. Antartica, p. 985–992. L. H., Hodell, D. A., Schlüchter, C., and Kellogg, D. E., Fleming, R. F., and Barron, J. A, 1996, Evidence of 1993, Late Neogene Antarctic glacial history: Evidence Manuscript received November 13, 1997; Pliocene Nothofagus in Antarctica from Pliocene marine from central Wright Valley, in Kennett, J. P., and accepted February 17, 1998 ■ sedimentary deposits (DSDP Site 274): Marine Micropa- Warnke, D. A., eds., The Antarctic paleoenvironment: leontology, v. 27, p. 227–236. A perspective on global change, 2: American Geophysi- Francis, J. E., and Hill, R. S., 1996, Fossil plants from the cal Union, Antarctic Research Series, v. 60, p. 207–250. Pliocene Sirius Group, Transantarctic Mountains: Evi- Pye, K., 1987, Aeolian dust and dust deposits, London, dence for climate from growth rings and fossil leaves: Academic Press, 334 p. Palaios, v. 11, p. 389–396.

in the Transantarctic Mountains be Summary explained? (3) Can the long exposures Molly F. Miller, Department of Geology, Box 117-B, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, indicated by the cosmogenic exposure TN 37235, [email protected] dating analyses be explained within the context of a dynamic ice sheet in the Mark C. G. Mabin, Department of Tropical Environmental Studies and Geography, James Pliocene? Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia, [email protected] Could both the stabilists and the dynamicists be correct? Perhaps pieces of the puzzle are missing. Might one of those Reconstructing the history of the Pliocene conditions from elsewhere in pieces fill a gap in understanding by link- Antarctic ice sheet during the Neogene is Antarctica (e.g., Prince Charles Mountains) ing the dynamicists’ and the stabilists’ the ultimate geological puzzle, requiring be reconciled with evidence for a polar data and interpretations? Antarctica exerts integration of vast arrays of disparate data desert in the Dry Valleys since the a major influence on global climate and that relate to only a small part of a large Miocene? (3) How could landscapes in the sea level. If we are to predict future climate continent. When did the Antarctic ice Dry Valleys remain unchanged for mil- change and its effects in Antarctica, we sheet switch from its wet-based and lions of years during which weathering, need an unambiguous interpretation of its dynamic “refrigerator” mode to its dry- periglacial, and eolian processes must have geologically recent past. based and stable “freezer” mode? Whether been operating? seen from the stabilist or dynamicist view- Similarly, questions the dynamicists ACKNOWLEDGMENTS point, key pieces of the “Neogene Antarc- need to answer include: (1) How can a tica: refrigerator or deep freeze?” puzzle dynamic warm ice sheet have existed at Three anonymous reviewers, Allan are missing. Stabilists need to answer ques- the same time as polar desert conditions Ashworth (North Dakota State University), tions such as: (1) Is evidence for a Neo- in the nearby Dry Valleys? (2) Can the and L. R. Bartek made valuable comments gene cold polar desert in the Dry Valleys amount of uplift implied by the presence on early versions of part or all of this indicative of continent-wide conditions? of Pliocene fiordlike deposits within the group of articles. ■ (2) How can clear evidence of warm Sirius Group at an elevation of 1700 m

8 GSA TODAY, April 1998 GSAF UPDATE

Valerie G. Brown, Director of Development, GSA Foundation GSA’s Fund-Raising Program: Continuing to Thrive

volunteers, to date, to participate in formal In 1997, our members and friends gave a grand total of $978,930 and informal geoscience education. An to GSA’s programs and activities. To each and all of you … additional gift of $15,000 helped under- write an interdisciplinary workshop follow- A B I G T H A N K Y O U ! ing consolidation of the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Biological Service. For the outstanding gift of $200,000 Throughout the year, we have called donations. More important, by their from Kennecott Corporation and Ken- attention to several individuals whose gifts investment in what were then new initia- necott Utah Copper, volunteers Paul Bailly are influencing GSA’s ongoing contribu- tives, they have been instrumental in and Frank Joklik share credit with R. A. F. tions to geoscientific excellence and launching GSA’s now successful agenda Penrose, Jr. As a founder and astute man- advancement. of education and outreach. ager of the Utah Copper Company, Pen- This month we spotlight the generos- For the Exxon gifts, GSA owes bound- rose developed the Bingham mining dis- ity of GSA’s corporate benefactors. Gifts less gratitude to R. W. (Bill) Bromery, whose trict ultimately acquired by Kennecott. In received in 1997 bring comprehensive advocacy on our behalf resulted in a five- turn, Kennecott dedicated its gift to found- Second Century Fund Campaign revenue year pledge amounting to $200,000. The ing the Institute for Environmental Educa- to $9,223,124. Of that, $896,416 has entire commitment has been dedicated to tion, GSA’s undertaking to increase the come from the geologic industries. developing programs promoting educa- presence of the geosciences in discussing The superstars in this category are tional collaborations between geology pro- and resolving environmental issues. Exxon and Kennecott. Together they fessionals and K–12 educators. The Partners account for over half of the corporate for Education Program has enlisted 1,700 GSAF Update continued on p. 10

Donors to the Foundation, January 1998

Biggs Excellence in Institute for Unrestricted— Ennio Marsella John G. Fyles Earth Science Environmental Foundation William B. Maze Caroline L. Gordon Education Education John W. Anthony Marlene L. McCauley Jinichiro Maeda Byrl D. Carey, Jr. Kennecott Corporation*◆ ARCO Foundation, Inc. Julie D. Morris Walter D. Mooney Jon Olsen◆ Elwood Atherton Garald G. Parker, Sr. Garald G. Parker, Sr. Gretchen Louise David A. Stephenson* Larry S. Bowlds◆ Loren A. Raymond◆ William A. Ranson Blechschmidt Fund Margaret Cooper John L. Rosenfeld* Anthony Reso*◆ John A. Kostecki* Minority Fund ◆ Charles C. Daniel III◆ Ernest E. Russell Nancy Riggs Michael L. Fellows Cady Memorial Richard J. Diecchio◆ Catherine F. Slater Michael Bessette Award Fund Research Grants Donald M. Fisher William E. Wertz Rochette James C. Cobb Philip C. Bennett Alan E. Fryar◆ Grant Y. Yip Reuben J. Ross, Jr. Elizabeth T. Bunce Caroline L. Gordon Clay T. Smith Drake International Unrestricted—GSA Paul K. Doss Tanio Ito Christopher J. Talbot Award Russell A. Brant Steven R. Dunn Stephen A. Kirsch John A. Willott William S. Fyfe Elizabeth T. Bunce Robert N. Ginsburg Stephen C. Kuehn Jay Zimmerman Robert P. Sharp Allen F. Glazner Shirley Dreiss Ed Landing Memorial William D. Orndorff GSA Foundation Judith A. McKenzie* Ian J. Richards Jeffrey A. Nunn Spencer H. Wood 3300 Penrose Place Michael B. Underwood Jay Zimmerman P.O. Box 9140 Boulder, CO 80301 Dwornik Planetary SAGE (303) 447-2020 • [email protected] Geoscience Award ARCO Foundation, Inc. Ted A. Maxwell Alicia K. Armstrong Thomas R. Watters Russell B. Bender, Jr. Enclosed is my contribution in the amount of $______. Thomas J. Carrington GEOSTAR Please add my name to the Century Plus Roster (gifts of $150 or more). Barbara B. Cheyney Wendy J. Gerstel Please credit my gift to the ______Fund. Robert D. Jarrett Hydrogeology David A. Stephenson* PLEASE PRINT Division Award Southeastern Section Name ______David A. Stephenson* Endowment Charles C. Daniel III◆ Address ______Richard J. Diecchio◆ ◆ City/State/ZIP ______*Century Plus Roster Alan E. Fryar ◆ (gifts of $150 or more). Loren A. Raymond Phone ______◆ Second Century Fund.

GSA TODAY, April 1998 9 GSAF Update continued from p. 9 WASHINGTON REPORT Joining Exxon and Kennecott, and equal in impact, are many other cor- Bruce F. Molnia, [email protected] porations whose support through this Washington Report provides the GSA membership with a window on the activities campaign merits particular appreciation: of the federal agencies, Congress and the legislative process, and international interactions Alton Geoscience that could impact the geoscience community. These reports present summaries of agency American Ground Water Trust American Institute of Professional Geologists and interagency programs, track legislation, and present insights into Washington, D.C., Amoco Foundation geopolitics as they pertain to the geosciences. ARCO Exploration & Production Technology Battle Mountain Gold Co. BHP Copper (Magma Copper Co.) BHP Minerals Burlington Resources/Meridian Oil Action Plan Marks 25th Anniversary Chevron Corporation Corning Inc. of Clean Water Act Cyprus-AMAX Minerals Corp. Drummond Company, Inc. “For 25 years we have made great progress in cleaning our waters; largely this progress E.G.& G. Idaho, Inc. has come by controlling pollution from point sources—from factories and sewage Eagon & Associates, Inc. plants. Yet, 40 percent of our nation’s waters are still too polluted for fishing and Eckstein & Associates, Inc. Environmental & Coal Associates swimming—25 years after the Clean Water Act. That is unacceptable. … We must Freeport-McMoRan, Inc. address the largest remaining challenge to cleaning our waters. We must curtail the Glamis Gold, Inc. runoff from farms, from city streets, from other diffuse sources of pollution that get Garman Geologic Consulting into our waterways and pollute them.“ Geochem Software, Inc. Geraghty & Miller, Inc. —President Bill Clinton, February 19, 1998 Husky Oil Operations, Ltd. Independence Mining Co. “I am pleased to join President Clinton today in announcing a new vision and new Kirkpatrick, Pettis, Smith, & Polian resources to restore and protect America’s rivers, lakes, and coastal waters. While this KSPS Leighton and Associates, Inc. is a national initiative, it is important to recognize that our action plan responds to, Marathon Oil Company and builds upon, leadership demonstrated by governors and communities across the Maxus Energy Corp. country.” MBNA Procurement Services —Vice President Al Gore, February 19, 1998 McCulley, Frick & Gillman, Inc. Meteor Crater Enterprises, Inc. Mitchell Energy & Development Corp. Mobil Oil Corporation On February 19, the Clinton Admin- Connecticut River. I vividly remember see- Mobil Oil Canada Morrison Petroleum Ltd. istration launched a new Clean Water ing many rivers across the country clogged Newmont Gold Co. Action Plan designed to address three with blue-green algae blooms and others Occidental Oil & Gas Co. major goals: (1) enhanced protection from being used as open sewers. I remember Prentice-Hall public health threats posed by water pollu- predictions about the “death of Lake Erie” Rio Algom Ltd. tion, (2) more effective control of polluted and frequent fish kills on many streams. Robertson Geotechnical runoff, and (3) promotion of water-quality It was in this environment that Congress Royal Gold protection on a watershed basis. On Octo- enacted the first comprehensive national St. Mary Land & Exploration Co. ber 18, 1997, the 25th anniversary of the clean water legislation, the Clean Water Santa Fe Pacific Foundation Santa Fe Pacific Gold Corporation Clean Water Act, Vice President Gore had Act, the primary federal law that protects SEC Donohue directed the Department of Agriculture our nation’s waters, including lakes, rivers, Shell Oil Company (USDA) and the Environmental Protection aquifers, and coastal areas. The act, with Daniel B. Stephens & Associates, Inc. Agency (EPA) to work with other federal its two fundamental national goals of Texaco Corporation agencies and the public to prepare an eliminating the discharge of pollutants Unocal Corp. aggressive action plan to meet the promise into the nation’s waters and achieving John Wiley & Sons, Inc. of clean, safe water for all Americans. The water-quality levels that are “fishable” WMX Technologies, Inc. Water Resources Center plan forms the core of President Clinton’s and “swimmable” was a direct result of a West Publishing Company Clean Water Initiative, unveiled in his Jan- growing public demand for a solution to Westbay Instruments, Inc. uary 27, 1998, State of the Union Address. serious and widespread water pollution. Xerox Corporation USA The President’s FY 1999 budget will pro- EPA statistics released with the action pose $568 million of new resources to plan describe the improvement in the initiate the plan. In implementing this quality of the nation’s waters over the past Digging Up the Past plan the federal government will support 25 years. In 1972, only one-third of the locally led partnerships that include a nation’s waters were safe for fishing and Most memorable early geologic broad array of federal agencies, states, swimming; today, it’s about two-thirds. experience: tribes, communities, businesses, and citi- In 1972, wetlands losses were estimated When I mapped garnet gneisses zens to meet clean water and public health at about 460,000 acres annually; today the on the New Hampshire seacoast, goals; increase financial and technical estimated annual rate of wetlands losses is Professor Billings assumed I assistance to states, tribes, local govern- about 70,000–90,000 acres. In 1972, agri- had mixed-up my thin sec- ments, farmers, and others; and help states cultural runoff resulted in the erosion of tions—I was outside the and tribes restore and sustain the health 2.25 billion tons of soil and the deposit of garnet zone. Actually, of aquatic systems on a watershed basis. large amounts of phosphorus and nitro- I had extended it. In 1972, I had just completed my —Ursula B. Marvin Ph.D. degree and was working on pollu- tion and flooding issues relating to the Washington Report continued on p. 11

10 GSA TODAY, April 1998 In Memoriam John F. Mann, Jr. John R. Castano 1921–1998 Houston, Texas April 20, 1997 Well-known hydrogeologist and GSA benefactor John Mann died of a Thomas L. Kesler heart attack on March 9, 1998. He was in Bakersfield, California, partici- Bellevue, Washington pating in a meeting concerning groundwater problems in the area of November 11, 1997 the Oildale suburb and the adjacent massive Kern River Oilfield steam John B. Lyons flood. Hanover, New Hampshire Over a 50-year career, Mann had become an influential hydrogeologist. February 19, 1998 His work centered on southern California, where he was an advisor to R. William Orr water districts, communities, companies, and individuals concerned Muncie, Indiana with supply, use, and conservation of water. Mann said he derived great personal as well as profes- August 1997 sional satisfaction from his chosen specialty, because he felt that the results of his work brought benefits to people that extended beyond mere technical and regulatory solutions. Thomas A. Simpson Northport, Alabama A major benefactor of the Geological Society of America, in 1994 Mann created a charitable December 14, 1997 remainder unitrust, of which the GSA Foundation is the remainder beneficiary. His subsequent con- tributions support the John F. Mann Institute for Applied Geoscience, founded to promote activities Jaan Terasmae of the geoscientific community in contributing to public awareness of environmental issues, and in St. Catharines, Ontario applying specialized knowledge and experience to professional education and opportunity. January 20, 1998 John Mann is survived by his wife, Carol, of La Habra, California; his brother, Jerold F. Mann, of Port Leo Y. Picard Washington, New York; and his sister, Janet McCormick, of Memphis, Tennessee. Jerusalem, Israel April 4, 1997 Memorial gifts may be sent to the GSA Foundation for the John F. Mann, Jr. Fund.

Washington Report continued from p. 10 grams that reduced water pollution from meeting clean water and natural resource individual sources, such as discharges goals. These strategies will spell out the gen into many waters; today, the amount from sewage treatment plants and facto- most important causes of water pollution of soil lost due to agricultural runoff is ries, and from polluted runoff. The plan and resource degradation, detail the about 1.25 billion tons annually and recognizes that clean-water strategies built actions that all parties need to take to phosphorus and nitrogen levels in water on this foundation and tailored to specific solve those problems, and set milestones sources are significantly lower. In 1972, watershed conditions are the key to the by which to measure progress. Funds sewage treatment plants served only 85 future. A watershed focus also helps iden- made available to federal agencies through million people; today modern wastewater tify the most cost-effective pollution-con- the FY 1999 Clean Water and Watershed treatment facilities serve about 173 mil- trol strategies to meet clean-water goals Restoration Budget Initiative will be used lion people. Still today, about half of our and to bring state, tribal, federal, and local to help states implement these strategies. nation’s over 2,000 major watersheds programs together to clean up and protect Pollution Prevention. Protecting pris- have serious or moderate water quality waters more effectively and efficiently. tine or sensitive waters and taking preven- problems. The action plan proposes a watershed tive action when clean water is threatened The philosophy behind the new approach built on several key elements, by new activities in the watershed can be action plan is to accelerate the improve- as follows. the most cost-effective approach to meet- ments of the past 25 years so that the Unified Assessments. The plan creates a ing clean water goals. The plan encourages problems in these watersheds will also strategic opportunity for states and tribes, states, tribes, and federal agencies to bring be corrected, resulting in all Americans in cooperation with land and resource core programs and existing resources having clean water that is safe for fishing managers on federal lands, to take the lead together to support watershed pollution- and swimming, the nation achieving a net in unifying existing efforts and leveraging prevention strategies to keep clean waters gain of wetlands by preventing additional scarce resources to advance the pace of clean. losses and restoring hundreds of thou- progress toward clean water. Unified Assistance Grants. Federal agencies sands of acres of previously impacted wet- watershed assessments are a vehicle to will provide small grants to local organiza- lands, and all of the nation’s waters being identify watersheds that will be targeted to tions that want to take a leadership role in free of the effects of sewage discharges. receive significant new resources from the building local efforts to restore and protect This plan is built around four key tools to President’s FY 1999 budget and beyond; watersheds. These grants will ensure that achieve clean water goals: (1) a watershed clean up waters that are not meeting water local communities and stakeholders can approach, (2) strong federal and state stan- quality goals; identify pristine or sensitive effectively engage in the process of setting dards, (3) natural resource stewardship, watersheds on federal lands where core goals and devising solutions to restore and (4) informed citizens and officials. federal and state programs can be brought their watersheds. 1. A Watershed Approach. The together to prevent degradation of water USDA is instructed to develop a strat- action plan proposes a new collaborative quality; and identify threatened water- egy for ensuring that agricultural produc- effort by state, tribal, federal, and local sheds that need an extra measure of pro- ers in 1000 critical rural watersheds have governments, the private sector, and the tection and attention. the technical and financial assistance they public to restore those watersheds not Restoration Action Strategies. The plan need to abate polluted runoff and to com- meeting clean water, natural resource, and encourages states and tribes to work with ply with applicable standards, using exist- public health goals and to sustain healthy local communities, the public, and federal ing federal programs and authorities like conditions in other watersheds. In the environmental, natural resource, and land past, most water-pollution control efforts management agencies to develop strate- relied on broadly applied national pro- gies to restore watersheds that are not Washington Report continued on p. 12

GSA TODAY, April 1998 11 Washington Report continued from p. 11 FUNDING BY AGENCY 1998 enacted 1999 budget the Environmental Quality Incentives Pro- ($, millions) ($, millions) gram, the Conservation Reserve Program, the Wetlands Reserve Program, and others. Environmental Protection Agency State Grant Assistance USDA is instructed to do this in a manner Polluted runoff control (Sec. 319) 105 200 consistent with its goals for watershed and State program management (Sec. 106) 96 116 basin-level planning. USDA is told to give Wetlands protection 15 15 preference to states that have mechanisms Water-quality cooperative agreements 20 19 in place to ensure effective cooperation Water-quality program management 248 279 among federal, state, and local agencies Total 484 629 as well as with local landowners and the Department of Agriculture public. Natural Resources Conservation Service The National Oceanic and Atmo- Environmental Quality Incentives Program 200 300 spheric Administration (NOAA) and EPA Locally led conservation 0 20 are instructed to have coastal non–point- Watershed health monitoring 0 3 source pollution-control programs in all Forest Service 29 coastal states by June 30, 1998, begin- Improve water quality on federal lands 239 308 ning with the highest priority watersheds. Agriculture Research Service NOAA and EPA are charged to work with Watershed health research 0 2 states to ensure that these programs are Total 439 633 fully approved by December 31, 1999. Department of the Interior NOAA and EPA will also develop an Bureau of Land Management action-oriented strategy to comprehen- Improve water quality on federal lands 133 157 sively address coastal nonpoint source Office of Surface Mining—Clean streams 5 7 pollution. U.S. Geological Survey: 2. Strong Federal and State Water monitoring and assessment 125 147 Fish and Wildlife Service Standards. The action plan calls on Wetlands restoration 36 42 federal, state, and tribal governments to Bureau of Indian Affairs strengthen existing programs to support Improve water quality on tribal lands 0 5 an accelerated effort to attack the nation’s Total 299 358 remaining water-quality problems. Fed- eral, state, and tribal standards for water National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Polluted runoff and toxic contaminants 0 13 quality and polluted runoff are key tools Harmful algal blooms 0 9 for protecting public health, preventing Total 0 22 polluted runoff, and ensuring accountabil- ity. Some of the specific actions called for Army Corps of Engineers in this action plan are identified below. Wetlands program 106 117 Improve Assurance that Fish and Shell- Challenge 21: Floodplain restoration initiative 0 25 fish Are Safe To Eat. Federal agencies will Total 106 142 work with states and tribes to expand pro- Interagency Projects grams to reduce contaminants— particu- Florida Everglades 228 282 larly mercury and other persistent, bio- California bay and delta 85 143 accumulative toxic pollutants—that can Elimination of overlap between Everglades make locally caught fish and shellfish and other water programs listed above -5 -5 unsafe to eat, and to ensure that the pub- Total interagency 308 420 lic gets clear notice of fish-consumption risks. Total clean water and watershed restoration initiative 1,636 2,204 Ensure Safe Beaches. Federal, state, and local governments will work to improve Define Nutrient Reduction Goals. EPA The action plan will include a strategy the capacity to monitor water quality at will establish by the year 2000 numeric for ensuring that lands and facilities beaches, develop new standards, and use criteria for nutrients (i.e., nitrogen and owned, managed, or controlled by federal new technologies such as the Internet to phosphorus) that reflect the different agencies are national models and laborato- report public-health risks to recreational types of water bodies (e.g., lakes, rivers, ries for effective watershed planning and swimmers. and estuaries) and different ecoregions of control of polluted runoff. The plan will Expand Control of Storm Water Runoff. the country and will assist states and tribes also include a strategy to ensure that fed- EPA will publish final Phase II storm water in adopting numeric water-quality stan- eral actions, programs, and activities do regulations for smaller cities and construc- dards based on these criteria. not contribute to the sprawl or other tion sites in 1999. EPA will also work with Reduce Pollution from Animal-Feeding forms of development that may exacer- its partners to make sure that existing Operations. EPA will publish and, after pub- bate the problem of polluted runoff or storm-water control requirements for lic comment, implement an animal feed- other water quality problems. large urban and industrial areas are ing operations strategy for important and EPA and NOAA are charged with implemented. necessary actions on standards and per- identifying steps to reduce the need for Improve State and Tribal Enforceable mits. In addition, by November 1998, EPA advisories on fish consumption, giving Authorities to Address Polluted Runoff. and USDA will jointly develop a broad, particular attention to toxics that affect Federal agencies will work with states and unified national strategy to minimize the fetal and childhood development. The tribes to promote the establishment of environmental and public health impacts action plan also identifies steps to ensure state and tribal enforceable authorities of animal-feeding operations. to ensure the implementation of controls on polluted runoff by the year 2000. Washington Report continued on p. 13

12 GSA TODAY, April 1998 Washington Report continued from p. 12 Federal Land Stewardship. More than for the Environmental Quality Incentives 800 million acres of the United States, Program to support watershed restoration, protection of children from exposure to including Alaska, is federal land. These and develop as many new agreements harmful organisms on our beaches and lands contain an immense diversity and with states as practicable to use the Con- other recreational waters. Additionally, wealth of natural resources, including sig- servation Reserve Enhancement Program EPA is tasked to identify the major sources nificant sources of drinking water and to improve watersheds. The plan also of nitrogen and phosphorous in the public recreation opportunities. By 1999, envisions new and innovative methods to nation’s waters, and to identify actions to the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) provide incentives for private landowners address these sources. In particular, EPA is and USDA will take the lead in developing to implement pollution-prevention plans, instructed to “accelerate the water quality a unified federal policy to enhance water- including risk-management protection criteria for waters in every geographic shed management for the protection of for adoption of new pollution-prevention region in the country.” Specifically, EPA water quality and the health of aquatic technologies and market recognition for will establish a schedule so that it and the systems on federal lands and for federal producers that meet environmental goals. states are “implementing a criteria system resource management. Federal land man- In addition, DOI will expand its existing for nitrogen and phosphorous runoff for agers will improve water-quality protec- Partners for Wildlife Program, which lakes, rivers, and estuaries by the year tion for over 2,000 miles of roads and restores degraded fish and wildlife habitats 2000.” EPA is instructed to “expedite new trails each year through 2005 and decom- and improves water quality through part- standards” for targeted problems of pol- mission 5,000 miles each year by 2002. nerships with landowners. The program luted runoff. Specifically, EPA “will expe- Federal land managers will also accelerate provides technical and financial assis- dite” its new strategy from animal-feeding the cleanup rate of watersheds affected by tance, and gives priority to threatened operations that produce polluted runoff, abandoned mines and will implement an and endangered species. and include in that strategy specific com- accelerated riparian stewardship program USDA, in consultation with DOI, will mitments to revise outdated regulations. to improve or restore 25,000 miles of develop a strategy to ensure proper stew- EPA is instructed to have final regulations stream corridors by 2005. ardship of federally managed watersheds for polluted runoff from storm water in Protect and Restore Wetlands. The and to restore watersheds adversely place by March 1, 1999. The USDA is action plan sets a goal of attaining a net affected by past management practices. charged to provide further guidance to increase of 100,000 wetland acres per year The strategy will target the needs to the states in submitting proposals “leading by the year 2005. This goal will be achieved address runoff from abandoned mines, to to as many agreements as practicable that by ensuring that existing wetland pro- eliminate unnecessary roads, to improve will address critical water quality, soil ero- grams continue to slow the rate of wetland road maintenance, and to ensure coordi- sion, and fish and wildlife habitat needs, losses, by improving federal restoration nated watershed management strategies including habitat needed for threatened programs, and by expanding incentives to regardless of jurisdictional boundaries. and endangered species.” USDA will work landowners to restore wetlands. Working with local landowners, USDA with states to identify whether such agree- Protect Coastal Waters. Federal agen- will develop a strategy for addressing ments could be used to protect important cies, led by NOAA, will work in partner- non–point-source pollution in those habitat for fish “in the Pacific Northwest, ship to improve the monitoring of coastal watersheds that consist of a mix of public California, and other areas where signifi- waters, expand research of emerging prob- and private lands; the aim will be to make cant natural resources may be affected by lems like Pfiesteria, amend fishery manage- more effective use of resources related to diminished water quality.” ment plans to address water-quality issues, high-priority restoration efforts in these 3. Natural Resource Stewardship. and ensure the implementation of strong watersheds. Most of the rainfall in the country falls on programs to reduce polluted runoff to 4. Informed Citizens and Officials. croplands, pastures, forests, wetlands, and coastal waters. Effective management of water resources rangelands before it enters rivers, lakes, Provide Incentives for Private Land requires reliable information about water- and coastal waters. Effective management Stewardship. The action plan relies on a quality conditions and new tools to com- of these lands and other resources is key to substantial increase in the technical and municate information to the public. Fed- keeping water clean and restoring water- financial assistance available to private eral agencies, led by the U.S. Geological sheds where water quality is impaired. The landowners as the primary means of accel- Survey (USGS), will work with states and action plan commits all federal natural- erating progress toward reducing polluted tribes to improve monitoring and assess- resource conservation and environmental runoff from agricultural, range, and forest ment of water quality, focusing on nutri- agencies to focus their expertise and lands. By 2002, USDA, working with fed- ents and related pollutants. Federal agen- resources to support the watershed eral, state, tribal, and private partners, will cies will also work with states and tribes approach described above. In addition, establish two million miles of conserva- these agencies will work with states, tribes, tion buffers to reduce polluted runoff and and others to enhance critical natural protect watersheds, direct new funding Washington Report continued on p. 14 resources essential to clean water.

Corrections About People In “Environmental Change, Geoindicators, and the Autonomy of Nature” by Antony R. Berger, January 1998 GSA Today (v. 8, no. 1), the caption GSA Fellow George H. Davis, University of printed with Figure 1 (p. 4) is actually the caption for Figure 2 (p. 5), and Arizona, Tucson, has been named a Regents Pro- vice versa. fessor, in recognition of national and interna- tional contributions in research and scholarship. To make housing reservations at Northern Arizona University for the Rocky Fellow Robert N. Ginsburg, University of Mountain Section meeting please contact Michael Ort, Dept. of Geology, Miami, will receive the Sorby Medal of the Inter- Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, [email protected], or national Association of Sedimentologists this Larry Middleton, [email protected], fax 520-523-9220. The final month, for outstanding contributions to sedi- announcement for this section meeting, in the February issue of GSA Today, mentary geology. had the wrong name.

GSA TODAY, April 1998 13 Washington Report continued from p. 13 increase direct support to states and tribes water-quality monitoring programs; and to carry out a watershed approach to clean increase efforts to restore nationally sig- to develop and use state-of-the-art sys- water; increase technical and financial nificant watersheds, such as the Florida tems, such as EPA’s Index of Watershed assistance to farmers, ranchers, and Everglades and the San Francisco Bay Indicators on the Internet, to communi- foresters to reduce polluted runoff and and delta. cate meaningful information to the public enhance the natural resources on their The publication of the Clean Water about water-quality conditions in their lands; fund watershed assistance programs Action Plan is just the beginning of what communities. and grants to engage local communities will be in some cases a multidecade effort. To support the new and expanded and citizens in leadership roles in restor- Many of the proposed actions will be sub- efforts to restore and protect the nation’s ing their watersheds; accelerate progress in ject to later public review and comment. waters as proposed in this action plan, addressing critical water-quality problems The federal agencies are mandated to work the President’s FY 1999 budget proposes on federal lands, including those related closely with states, tribes, and others to a Clean Water and Watershed Restoration to roads, abandoned mines, riparian areas, ensure successful implementation of spe- Budget Initiative. The initiative will and rangelands; expand and coordinate cific actions. In addition, regular reports will keep the public apprised of progress and remaining challenges. By the end of the year 2000 and periodically thereafter, status reports on progress in implement- ing watershed restoration plans and Have Enough Abstracts Forms for related programs will be provided to the President, the nation’s governors, tribal the 1998 GSA Annual Meeting? leaders, and the public. If not … request them NOW. FY 1999 Proposed U.S. Budget ☛ Increases Source: Office of Management and Budget (303) 447-2020, ext. 161 • E-mail: [email protected]. Funding Summary: Information is available under Total 1999 increase: $568 million For electronic submission Increase for 1999 over 1998: 35% the Meetings heading on the GSA home page at http://www.geosociety.org. Total increase 1999–2003: $2,338 million Remember Deadline for receipt at GSA is July 13. Total spending 1999–2003: $10,516 million ■

14 GSA TODAY, April 1998 At last... Interpretations of formerly classified data from the Black Sea region now available!

Regional and Petroleum Geology of the Black Sea and Surrounding Region Edited by A.G. Robinson AAPG Memoir 68

Noted authority Andrew Robinson has compiled this up-to-date research for all geoscientists interested in the region. Scientists from Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia and Turkey explore the diverse and complex geology of their respective coun- tries. Chapters focus on topics from tectonic evolution, to stratigra- phy, to structural evolution, to thrust belts and basins.

Also included are two oversize maps. One, courtesy of Petroconsul- tants, details the exploration status of the region; the other illustrates the area’s main tectonic elements.

This work, based on a daunting volume of literature, is an invaluable reference for both geoscientists and students of the area.

Catalog #557-40 AAPG Member price: $99 List price: $149 ✃ Order Form Save time, use our toll-free number to Please send me _____ copies of Regional and Petroleum Geology of the Black Sea and Surrounding Region at $99 each, member price ($149 non- order: members) plus surface shipping/handling of $5.75 in the U.S.; $6.75 in Canada/Mexico; or $7.25 outside N. America. Call for special handling. 1-800-364-AAPG 557-40 (U.S.A. Only) Member # __|__|__|__|__|__|__|__ Please have your AAPG member number ready, along with Name ______your credit card and catalog order numbers. Address ______AAPG Bookstore, P.O. Box 979, Tulsa, OK 74101-0979 USA City ______Fax: (918) 560-2652 • Phone: (918) 584-2555 State ______ZIP______Country ______E-mail: [email protected]

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Account Number ______Canada Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists Name (please print) ______Phone: (403) 264-5610 Expiration date______Signature ______United Kingdom Geological Society Phone: 01225-445046 • Fax: 01225-442836 VOLUME 26 April BULLETIN and NO. 4 P. 289–384 GEOLOGY Contents APRIL 1998 291 Controls on the distribution and isotopic composition of helium in deep ground-water flows The Geological Society of America Xiang Zhao, Theresa L. B. Fritzel, Hernán A. M. Quinodoz, Craig M. Bethke, Thomas Torgersen 295 Argument supporting explosive igneous activity for the origin of “cryptoexplosion” structures in the midcontinent, United States Volume 110, Number 4, April 1998 John Luczaj 299 Sierra Nevada uplift: A ductile link to mantle upwelling under the CONTENTS Basin and Range province Mian Liu, Yunqing Shen 411Ð421 Channel avulsions and related processes, and large-scale sedimenta- tion patterns since 1875, Rio Grande, San Luis Valley, Colorado 303 Crusader castle torn apart by earthquake at dawn, 20 May 1202 Lawrence S. Jones and Joel T. Harper Ronnie Ellenblum, Shmuel Marco, Amotz Agnon, Thomas Rockwell, Adrian Boas 307 Extraterrestrial Ni-rich spinel in upper Eocene sediments from 422Ð432 Provenance of PermianÐTriassic and Ordovician metagraywacke ter- Massignano, Italy ranes in New Zealand: Evidence from 40Ar/39Ar dating of detrital micas Olivier Pierrard, Eric Robin, Robert Rocchia, Alessandro Montanari C. J. Adams and S. Kelly 311 Long-term and short-term global Cenozoic sea-level estimates 433Ð449 Holocene flood-plain soil formation in the southern lower Mississippi Michelle A. Kominz, Kenneth G. Miller, James V. Browning Valley: Implications for interpreting alluvial paleosols 315 Upper-mantle stratigraphy of the Slave craton, Canada: Andres Aslan and Whitney J. Autin Insights into a new kimberlite province M. G. Kopylova, James K. Russell, H. Cookenboo 450Ð467 Exchanges of sediment between the flood plain and channel of the Amazon River in Brazil 319 Sea level–climate correlation during the past 1400 yr Orson van de Plassche, Klaas van der Borg, Arie F. M. de Jong Thomas Dunne, Leal A. K. Mertes, Robert H. Meade, Jeffrey E. Richey, and Bruce R. Forsberg 323 Fossil gap analysis supports early Tertiary origin of trophically diverse avian orders 468Ð482 Mass and fluid flux during accretion at the Alaska margin Robert Bleiweiss R. von Huene, D. Klaeschen, M. Gutscher, and J. Fruehn 327 Sedimentary record of the Late Cretaceous thrusting and collapse of the Salinia-Mojave magmatic arc 483Ð496 Tectonic controls on sedimentation and diagenesis in the Tonga Ronald C. Schott, Clark M. Johnson Trench and forearc, southwest Pacific P. D. Clift, C. J. MacLeod, D. R. Tappin, D. J. Wright, and 331 The Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary cocktail: Chicxulub impact triggers S. H. Bloomer margin collapse and extensive sediment gravity flows Timothy J. Bralower, Charles K. Paull, R. Mark Leckie 497Ð511 Cenozoic history of the Himalayan-Bengal system: Sand composition 335 Coseismic growth of basement-involved anticlines: The Northridge- in the Bengal basin, Bangladesh Laramide connection Ashraf Uddin and Neil Lundberg Jeffrey R. Unruh, Robert J. Twiss

Charleston transverse zone, Wasatch Mountains, Utah: Structure of the 339 Quantification of sulfur and phosphorus within secondary gold 512Ð522 rims on Yukon placer gold Provo salient’s northern margin, Sevier fold-thrust belt Gordon Southam Timothy Paulsen and Stephen Marshak 343 New ages for the climactic eruptions at Yellowstone: Single-crystal 523Ð536 Synkinematic granite emplacement in a shear zone: The Pleasant Hills 40Ar/39Ar dating identifies contamination pluton, Canadian Appalachians C. A. Gansecki, G. A. Mahood, M. McWilliams Georgia Pe-Piper, Ioannis Koukouvelas, and David J. W. Piper 347 Self-organization of submarine hydrothermal siliceous deposits: Evidence from the TAG hydrothermal mound, 26°N Mid-Atlantic Ridge L. Hopkinson, S. Roberts, R. Herrington, J. Wilkinson 351 Ridge-forming, ice-bounded lava flows at Mount Rainier, Washington D. T. Lescinsky, T. W. Sisson 355 Inferred syngenetic textural evolution in Holocene cryptic reefal microbialites, Heron Reef, Great Barrier Reef, Australia Geology Goes to Russia Gregory E. Webb, Julian C. Baker, John S. Jell 359 Pb and Os isotopic constraints on the composition and rheology and Nearby Countries of the lower crust Yemane Asmerom, Richard J. Walker GSA is participating for the fourth year in a program that pro- 363 Sea level higher than present 3500 years ago on the northern main vides low-cost journal subscriptions for libraries in the former Hawaiian Islands Soviet Union, the Baltic states, and central Eurasia. The Sci- Eric E. Grossman, Charles H. Fletcher, III ence Journals Donation Program, operated by the Open Soci- 367 Forecasting sizes and repose times of future extreme volcanic events ety Institute, arranges for distribution of the journals to the David M. Pyle libraries and research institutions, which have few resources 371 Paleozoic metamorphism in the Qinling orogen, Tongbai Mountains, central China for acquiring up-to-date scientific information. Xiaoming Zhai, Howard W. Day, Bradley R. Hacker, Zhendong You

In 1998, GSA’s journal Geology will go to 38 libraries (10 more 375 Subduction of ophicarbonates and recycling of CO2 and H20 than in 1997) in Azerbaijan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Mon- D. M. Kerrick, J. A. D. Connolly golia, Russia, Tajikistan, and Ukraine through the program. 379 Succession in a Jurassic marine cavity community and the evolution GSA ships the journals to New Jersey and New York; from of cryptic marine faunas Mark A. Wilson there, the Science Journals Donation Program ships them to the destination countries. The reduced-rate subscriptions— Forum for Geology 17.5% of the regular library rate—are purchased 382 Coeval development of Silurian stromatolite reefs in Alaska and the Ural Mountains: Implications for paleogeography of the Alexander by the Open Society Institute Foundation. The journals are terrane distributed free of charge to libraries in the regions served by Comment: T. A. de Freitas Reply: Constance M. Soja, Anna I. Antoshkina the Science Journals Donation Program. 384 Estimating the Final Size of Geology Manuscripts Using Electronic Files 384 Geology Editorial Policy

16 GSA TODAY, April 1998 TORONTOTORONTO 1998 Annual Meeting October 26-2926-29 ASSEMBLY OF A CONTINENT CALL FOR PAPERS Geologically, the countries of the North American continent share a set of structural units and geological history. Our theme, Assembly of a Continent, has a dual inter- pretation. It expresses, first, the commonality of the lands we occupy and, second, our hope and expectation that earth scientists will assemble from all areas of the continent, as well as from around the world. We are welcomed by a broad spectrum of Canadian hosts and cosponsors who enthusiastically encourage this assembly of scientists. 1998 COSPONSORS University of Toronto DEADLINES Cannacord Capital Ltd. Abstracts due July 13 Canadian Geological Survey Preregistration due September 18 Canadian Institute of Mining Geological Association of Canada FOR MORE INFORMATION McMaster University Call: (303) 447-2020 or 1-800-472-1988 Mineralogical Association of Canada Fax: 303-447-0648 Royal Ontario Museum E-mail: [email protected] Teck Exploration Ltd. Web: www.geosociety.org/meetings/98

REGISTRATION AND FULL DETAILS See the June issue of GSA Today.

IS GSA TORONTO ON YOUR OCTOBER CALENDAR? JOIN US OCTOBER 26–29.

Photo of Scarborough Bluffs, Ontario, by Peter Mykusz © 1998 Geological Society of America The Huron Indians called it “Toronto”—the place of meeting. Today Toronto, the fourth largest metropolitan city in North America, has evolved into one of the most popular meeting destinations in the world, and the single most popular for U.S.-sponsored association meetings outside the United States. Toronto is a city of ethnic mix and cultural diversity that celebrates its exotic cuisines, neighborhood markets, and foreign cultures. Toronto is also the third largest theater center in the world, having many pre-Broadway runs, and is the place for enjoying some of the best theater in North America. The core of the meeting is at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre which is in the heart of the financial and corporate district but also faces the landscaped pathways along Lake Toronto Skyline — Photo by Peter Mintz Ontario. For a metropolitan city, Toronto is refreshingly safe ASSOCIATED SOCIETIES: and clean. Above all, the people are friendly and welcoming. You’ll find the exchange rate American Institute of Professional Geologists • highly favorable to the U.S. dollar—another welcoming feature of our Toronto meeting. Association for Women Geoscientists • Likewise, the new “open skies” airlines policy, together with easier immigration and Association of American State Geologists • Association of Engineering Geologists • customs guidelines, makes crossing the border easier than ever. Put GSA Toronto on Association of Geoscientists for International your October calendar! Development • Council on Undergraduate Research Geology Division • Cushman Foundation • Geochemical Society • Geoscience Information Society • Mineralogical Society of America • National Association for Black Geologists and Geophysicists • National Association of Geoscience Teachers • National Earth Science Teachers Association • Special Occasions Paleontological Research Institution • 150th Anniversary of Geology Dedication of the Don Valley Paleontological Society • Sigma Gamma Epsilon • at the University of Toronto Brick Works Society of Economic Geologists • Society of Do the names E. J. Chapman, A. P. The public dedication of the Don Valley Vertebrate Paleontology Coleman, Duncan R. Derry, J. Tuzo Brick Works is anticipated in conjunc- Wilson, M. A. Peacock, and W. A. Parks tion with GSA’s presence in Toronto. GSA’S DIVISIONS: ring a bell? The traditions established Excavations at the site of the former Archaeological Geology • Coal Geology • by these geological leaders have become brick works have revealed the most Engineering Geology • Geophysics • Geoscience well known to scientists and to the pub- complete record of climate change dur- Education • History of Geology • Hydrogeology • lic who have benefited from their aca- ing the last interglacial period. Once International • Planetary Geology • Quaternary demic excellence and commitment to threatened by housing development, the Geology and Geomorphology • Sedimentology • geology. All served as faculty of the site has now been acquired for public Structural Geology and Tectonics University of Toronto’s Department of use and geologic displays and educa- Geology. Congratulations to the present tion, thanks to the efforts of Toronto’s faculty and students of this cornerstone geological community. TableTable of Contents of the science. PDAC Mining Matters Welcome ...... C2 50th Anniversary of the American Congratulations to the Prospectors and Submitting Abstracts ...... C3 Geological Institute Developers Conference ongoing second- Symposia (Invited Papers) ...... C4 AGI is only one-third as old as the ary school educational program, fund- Hot Topics at Noon ...... C5 University of Toronto Department of ed by more than 50 Canadian mining International Surveys ...... C5 Geology, but likewise serves the pur- corporations. In 1997, Mining Matters Themes (Volunteered Papers) . . . . C6 poses of the geosciences. We congratu- won the Partnership Focus Award for IEE ...... C10 late AGI for its leadership and support promoting science literacy for the world Field Trips ...... C11 of its member organizations for of work for the elementary and second- Educational Programs ...... C12 50 years. ary level. You’ll be able to see Mining GSA’s SAGE Program ...... C13 Matters teaching materials in the Special Events ...... C14 University of Toronto’s exhibit booth. Registration, Travel, and Lodging ...... C14 Exhibits ...... C16 Special Programs ...... C16

C2 ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ Welcome GSA Today, April 1998 HowHow To Submit Your Abstract

SUBMIT ABSTRACTS VIA THE WEB April 15, the TEST DRIVE link will change to Abstracts with Programs books, have led to (www.geosociety.org) “SUBMIT an Abstract.” establishment of a $15 abstract fee for GSA Starting on or about April 15, abstracts for Annual Meetings. Implementation of the fee this year’s GSA Annual Meeting in Toronto PAPER STILL WORKS WELL follows the standard set by many other scien- can be sent to GSA via the World Wide Web. The electronic system has not yet replaced tific organizations many years ago. The non- (About 60% of the abstracts were submitted the familiar paper version of GSA’s abstract refundable fee must be sent with both paper electronically in 1997.) Note that you can form. Rather, the two systems operate in copy and electronic submissions. send electronic abstracts to GSA only via parallel. Paper forms already have been dis- the Web. They may not be sent by ordinary tributed for 1998, and they can be obtained PRESENTATION MODES e-mail. from GSA’s Abstracts Coordinator: ORAL MODE—This is a verbal presentation [email protected] or call before a seated audience. The normal length For the present, this system will accept only (303) 447-2020, ext. 161. of an oral presentation is 12 min- abstracts containing pure ASCII content; utes, plus three minutes for dis- Paper abstract forms are no graphics, tables, symbols, Greek, super- PLEASE SUBMIT ONLY cussion. Projection equipment available from: ONE COPY OF YOUR scripts, etc. may be included. If you must consists of two 35 mm projec- ■ Abstracts Coordinator at ABSTRACT—EITHER use these in your abstract, use the paper tors, one overhead projector, and GSA headquarters ELECTRONIC OR PAPER. form for now. We hope to be able to include two screens. Requests for video ■ Conveners of symposia ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ non-ASCII material in the future, but for projection and computer display ■ Advocates of theme most users the technology for that is not yet will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. sessions in place. However, if your entire content— Please let us know when you submit your ■ Geoscience departments of most colleges title, addresses, and abstract body—is pure paper if you have special presentation and universities ASCII and you have access to the Web, the needs. new system will make life much easier by ■ Main federal and state survey offices eliminating the more onerous tasks usually POSTER MODE—Each poster session connected with preparation of paper forms. ONLY ONE VOLUNTEERED speaker is provided with two horizontal, ABSTRACT MAY BE SUBMITTED freestanding display boards approximately The best part is that it takes only a few sec- Please submit only one volunteered abstract 8′ wide and 4′ high. Precise measurements onds to send an abstract and even less to get as speaker or poster presenter in discipline will appear in the Speaker Guide. The feedback from GSA. There will be no more and/or theme sessions. speaker must be present for at least two of mystery about whether we received your Multiple submissions as speaker-presenter the four presentation hours. submission. You’ll receive an immediate may result in rejection of all your abstracts. Papers for discipline sessions may be confirmation of receipt from GSA, with an Since almost all of the submitted abstracts submitted in either oral or poster mode. abstract number assigned, while you’re still are accepted, this helps avoid speaker- Papers for theme sessions, however, are to on the Web. Note: Some Web client servers scheduling conflicts and gives everyone be submitted only in the mode noted in the cut off their customers prematurely. The an equal opportunity to be heard. Note that theme description. If a Web page has advice about this problem this limitation does not apply to, nor does it theme abstract is and has suggestions for use of appropriate include, invited contributions to symposia. browser options. submitted in the ABSTRACTS FEE incorrect mode, the You are now able to test our new system, abstract will be trans- Costs for implementing an electronic strictly on a “get acquainted” basis. Nothing ferred automatically to a abstract submission system, as well as you send via this form before April 15 will be discipline session. saved at GSA or considered by GSA for the increasing costs for producing the printed 1998 Annual Meeting. Although you will receive an acknowledgment of receipt on any test abstracts you send, that is just part IT’S EASY TO SUBMIT ELECTRONICALLY of the test, too, and is meaningless. 1. Compose your abstract in your favorite word processor. Please do NOT compose To get acquainted with the form from now your abstract on-line since your server may disconnect during the time lag. until April 15, go to www.geosociety.org. 2. “Save” it as “text.” This will convert your data into pure ASCII. There you’ll find the link, “TEST DRIVE 3. Copy and paste this into the appropriate fields of the GSA Web form. GSA’s Web Abstract Form.” Just follow the instructions from there. If you discover any 4. Complete the personal information on the form, including credit card information glitches in our system during a test, please for abstracts fee payment (required for both paper and electronic forms). send a detailed e-mail message to: 5. Hit the “SEND” button. You’re done! We’ve included instructions, pull-down lists, [email protected]. Please include and helpful hints on the Web form to save you time and confusion. There’s even your telephone number so we can call if an error checker to make certain you include all the information we must have. more details are needed. On or about

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ABSTRACTS DEADLINE: JULY 13 SYMPOSIA S6 ■ THE LAC DE GRAS DIAMONDIFER- S1 ■ GEOLOGIC CONTEXTS FOR OUS KIMBERLITE FIELD, NORTH- All invited abstracts (electronic and paper) WEST TERRITORIES, CANADA. are to be sent to GSA, which will forward the PRE-CLOVIS ARCHAEOLOGICAL DEPOSITS IN THE AMERICAS. Society of Economic Geologists. A. Lee Barker, abstracts to the conveners for review. Southern Era Resources Ltd., Toronto; Buddy GSA Archaeology Division. C. Reid Ferring, Doyle, Kennecott Canada Exploration, Inc., University of North Texas, Denton. NEW FOR ’98! INTRODUCING Vancouver; Jon Carlson, BHP Diamonds, Inc., Kelowna, British Columbia. PARDEE KEYNOTE SYMPOSIA S2 ■ CONTROLS ON SEDIMENTATION AND STRATIGRAPHY IN MAJOR The first of the new Pardee Keynote S7 ■ MILITARY APPLICATIONS OF COAL-PRODUCING BASINS OF Symposia will be presented this year. These ENGINEERING GEOLOGY. NORTH AMERICA. GSA Engineering Geology Division. Judy Ehlen, symposia will be on the leading edge in a GSA Coal Geology Division. Cortland F. Eble, U.S. Army, Topographic Engineering Center, scientific discipline or area of public policy, Kentucky Geological Survey; C. Blaine Cecil, Alexandria, Virginia; M. Merrill Stevens, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston. address a broad fundamental problem, be University of Missouri—Rolla; Russell S. interdisciplinary, or focus on global prob- Harmon, U.S. Army Research Office, Research S3 ■ ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY VS. lems. Proposals included both a rationale Triangle Park, North Carolina. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: THE for becoming a keynote symposium and a ROLE OF COAL IN DEVELOPING S8 ■ RESEARCH ISSUES IN PETROLEUM list of proposed speakers. Selection was on a NATIONS. AND ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIC competitive basis. This year’s four Pardee GSA International Division; GSA Coal Geology GEOCHEMISTRY. Symposia were reviewed and accepted by Division; U.S. Geological Survey; Geological Geochemical Society (Organic Geochemistry Survey of Canada; Institute for Environmental the Annual Program Committee. Division). Michael D. Lewan, U.S. Geological Education. Allan Kolker, U.S. Geological Survey, Survey, Denver; Barbara Sherwood-Lollar, Support for this new keynote symposia Reston; L. Lynn Chyi, University of Akron; Fari University of Toronto. Goodarzi, Geological Survey of Canada, Alberta. series is from the Joseph T. Pardee Memorial S9 ■ GEOCHEMICAL INDICATORS OF Fund that was established with a generous S4 ■ ACCRETING THE CONTINENT’S ATMOSPHERIC INPUTS INTO COLLECTIONS OF EARTH SCIENCE gift from the estate of Joseph T. Pardee. TERRESTRIAL AND MARINE INFORMATION. ENVIRONMENTS. ■ Geoscience Information Society. Charlotte R. M. K1 TECTONIC EVOLUTION OF PRE- Geochemical Society. Oliver A. Chadwick, Derksen, East Palo Alto, California; Connie J. CAMBRIAN NORTH AMERICA I— University of California, Santa Barbara; Manson, Washington Division of Geology and A SYNTHESIS OF RECENT RESULTS. Rosemary C. Capo, University of Pittsburgh. Lithoprobe; GSA Structural Geology Earth Resources, Olympia. and Tectonics Division; GSA Geophysics S10 ■ DEVELOPING SUSTAINABILITY S5 ■ THE VOISEY’S BAY Ni-Cu-Co Division; 1998 Annual Meeting Committee. CURRICULA: A CHALLENGE FOR DEPOSIT: A WORLD-CLASS ORE Ron M. Clowes, Lithoprobe, British Columbia, EARTH SCIENCES EDUCATORS. DEPOSIT AT THE JUNCTION OF Canada; John A. Percival, Geological Survey of National Association of Geoscience Teachers; TWO FORMER CONTINENTS. Canada, Ottawa; Karl Karlstrom, University of Institute for Environmental Education, GSA ad New Mexico. Society of Economic Geologists; 1998 Annual hoc Committee on Critical Issues. Paul H. Meeting Committee. A. J. Naldrett, University ■ Reitan, University of Buffalo; Trileigh Stroh, K2 PATHFINDER AND GLOBAL of Toronto. Seattle University; Paul R. Pinet, Colgate SURVEYOR: NEW VIEWS OF MARS. University. GSA Planetary Geology Division. Daniel T. Britt, University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary S11 ■ STUDENT RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM. Laboratory. Sigma Gamma Epsilon. James C. Walters, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls; ■ K3 GEOLOGY AND BIOLOGY OF EARLY Charles J. Mankin, Oklahoma Geological ANIMAL EVOLUTION. Survey. POSTER Paleontological Society. Desmond Collins, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto; Nick Butterfield, S12 ■ GEOSCIENCE EDUCATION: Cambridge University, United Kingdom. PREDICTIONS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY. ■ K4 DEEP CRUSTAL PROCESSES. National Association of Geoscience Teachers. International Lithosphere Program; GSA Barbara J. Tewksbury, Hamilton College, Geophysics Division; GSA Structural Geology Clinton, New York. and Tectonics Division; Geological Association of Canada, Canadian Geophysical Union; S13 ■ CONVERSATIONS WITH THE EARTH: International Association of Geomagnetism PHILOSOPHERS AND GEOSCIEN- and Aeronomy; International Association of TISTS IN DIALOGUE ON THE ROLE Seismology and Physics of the Earth’s Interior; OF THE EARTH SCIENCES IN International Association of Volcanism and SOCIETY. Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior; American Geophysical Union. Alan G. Jones, Geological Institute for Environmental Education; Survey of Canada, Ottawa; David Fountain, International Association for Environmental University of Wyoming; Walter D. Mooney, Philosophy. Robert Frodeman, University of U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park; Randall Tennessee; Victor R. Baker, University of Parrish, NERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratory, Don Valley Brick Works Park and Toronto Arizona. United Kingdom. — Photo by E. B. Freeman C4 ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ Symposia GSA Today, April 1998 S14 ■ HUTTON, LYELL, LOGAN—AND S25 ■ RESPONSE TO HOLOCENE CLIMATE THEIR INFLUENCE IN NORTH Hot Topics at Noon CHANGE ON THE GREAT PLAINS. AMERICA. GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology GSA History of Geology Division. Gerard V. POPULAR SCIENTIFIC Division; Geological Survey of Canada; Global Middleton, McMaster University, Hamilton; Change and Climate History Program, U.S. Keith Tinkler, Brock University, St. Catharines, DEBATE AND LUNCH Geological Survey. Stephen Wolfe, Geological Ontario; Robert H. Dott, Jr., University of Monday through Thursday, Survey of Canada, Ottawa; Daniel Muhs, U.S. Wisconsin, Madison. October 26 through 29, Geological Survey, Denver. 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. S15 ■ IEE ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL S26 ■ PALEOECOLOGICAL AND FORUM: THE SUSTAINABILITY Metro Toronto GEOCHEMICAL SIGNATURE OF CHALLENGE I: ENERGY FOR THE Convention Centre CRETACEOUS ANOXIC EVENTS: A 21ST CENTURY. MEMORIAL TO WILLIAM V. SLITER. ■ IS ACCREDITATION OF THE Institute for Environmental Education; GSA ad Cushman Foundation; 1998 Annual Meeting PROFESSIONAL DEGREE IN hoc Committee on Critical Issues. Allison R. Committee. Timothy J. Bralower, University GEOSCIENCE NEEDED? (Pete) Palmer, Institute for Cambrian Studies, of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Brian Huber, Boulder, Colorado; E-an Zen, Reston, Virginia. ■ CAN STEREOCHEMISTRY EXIST IN Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.; SPACE? IMPLICATIONS FOR ORIGIN R. Mark Leckie, University of Massachusetts. S16 ■ RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES IN THE OF LIFE ON EARTH EARTH SCIENCES: A TEN-YEAR S27 ■ UNDERSTANDING GROUNDWATER ■ VISION. NATURAL ATTENUATION—WHAT ROLE IN ARID AND SEMI-ARID IN CONTAMINANT REMEDIATION National Research Council; National Science ENVIRONMENTS OF NORTH SCHEMES? Foundation. J. Freeman Gilbert and Craig M. AMERICA AND AUSTRALIA. Schiffries, National Research Council–National ■ WHAT IS THE FUTURE FOR SCIENTIFIC GSA Hydrogeology Division. Todd Halihan and Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C.; Ian OCEAN DRILLING? John M. Sharp, Jr., University of Texas at Austin; MacGregor, National Science Foundation, Craig T. Simmons, Flinders University of South Arlington, Virginia. Australia, Adelaide. ■ S17 ■ FAULT REACTIVATIONS, S22 LOCATING OLD MANTLE S28 ■ MULTIMODAL HETEROGENEITY IN NEOTECTONICS, AND SEISMICITY PLUMES. CLASTIC AQUIFERS: QUANTIFYING IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION. GSA Geophysics Division; Geophysics Division PERMEABILITY AND LITHOFACIES of the Geological Association of Canada; GSA Geological Association of Canada; GSA DISTRIBUTIONS. International Division. Richard E. Ernst and Structural Geology and Tectonics Division. GSA Hydrogeology Division; SEPM (Society for Kenneth L. Buchan, Geological Survey of Robert Jacobi, State University of New York at Sedimentary Geology). Robert W. Ritzi, Jr., and Canada, Ottawa; Millard F. Coffin, University Buffalo; C. F. M. Lewis, Geological Survey of David F. Dominic, Wright State University, of Texas at Austin. Canada, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia; Joe Wallach, Dayton, Ohio; J. Matthew Davis, University JLW Geosciences, Russell, Ontario. of New Hampshire, Durham. S23 ■ NORTH AMERICAN ICE SHEETS DURING MARINE ISOTOPE STAGES S18 ■ DEFORMATION MECHANISMS AND S29 ■ BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS: 3 TO 1: EXTENT, CHRONOLOGY, MICROSTRUCTURES. COMMUNICATING RELEVANT DATA, AND MODELING. GSA Structural Geology and ABSTRACT GEOSCIENCE ISSUES TO THE Tectonics Division. W. D. GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomor- PUBLIC. DEADLINE phology Division. John T. Andrews, Uni- Means, University of Albany. Science Awareness Through Geoscience JULY 13 versity of Colorado, Boulder; A. S. Dyke, Education. John J. Clague, and Robert J. Turner, ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Geological Survey of Canada, Ottawa. S19 ■ ACCRETIONARY Geological Survey of Canada, Vancouver; MARGINS OF Michelle Lamberson, University of British S24 ■ APPLICATION OF COSMOGENIC NORTH AMERICA. Columbia, Vancouver. NUCLIDES IN SURFICIAL Cushman Foundation. Charles A. Ross, Western PROCESSES AND GLOBAL CHANGE Washington University, Bellingham. S30 ■ INTERNATIONAL STUDIES. SURVEYS. S20 ■ ROLE OF PARTIAL MELTING GSA Sedimentary Geology Division; GSA 1998 Annual Meeting Committee. Richard A. F. Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology DURING EVOLUTION OF Grieve, Canadian Geological Survey. POSTER Division. John Gosse, University of Kansas; CONVERGENT OROGENIC BELTS. Jeffrey Klein, University of Pennsylvania. GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division. Michael Edwards, State University of New York at Albany; Olivier Vanderhaeghe, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia; Christian International Survey Program Teyssier, University of Minnesota. INTERNATIONAL SURVEYS INVITED TO GSA TORONTO S21 ■ EXPERIMENTAL PETROLOGY AND APPLICATIONS: A TRIBUTE TO 35 The 1998 Annual Meeting Committee is inviting geologists from international YEARS OF RESEARCH IN THE geological surveys to participate in a program in conjunction with the Toronto GOLDSMITH-NEWTON LABORATORY meeting. As in the program that debuted at the 1997 GSA Annual Meeting in AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO. Salt Lake City, the survey delegates will present technical papers and exhibits on Mineralogical Society of America; Geochemical Society. Dexter Perkins, University of North new geological or environmental developments in various countries. Dakota, Grand Forks; Andrea Koziol, University of Dayton; David Jenkins, Binghamton Information: Richard A. F. Grieve, Chief Geoscientist, Earth Sciences Sector, University, New York; David R. Pattison, Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Geological Survey, Room 209, 601 Booth St., University of Calgary. Ottawa, ON K1A 0E8, Canada, (613) 995-5372, [email protected] or [email protected].

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ABSTRACT DEADLINE: JULY 13 THEME TOPICS T03 ■ EL NIÑO 1997–1998: EFFECTS ON EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES. The full daily technical session schedule Please check the correct mode of the theme GSA Engineering Geology Division; GSA appears in the September issue of GSA session—poster or oral. If the abstract is Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Today and at www.geosociety.org. If you are submitted inaccurately, it will be transferred Division. Scott F. Burns, Portland State not a GSA member, please contact us, and automatically to a discipline session. University; Vincent Cronin, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. we will gladly send you the schedule after The El Niño of 1997–1998 is the most September 1. EXAMPLE SUBMISSION publicized El Niño event in history. Many people remember the last major event in DISCIPLINE SESSIONS Theme submissions must include: 1982–1983 when extensive flooding and land- ■ Theme number—T18 slides occurred in various regions of North Papers are submitted to ONE scientific ■ Key words of the theme title— America. Are similar events happening during discipline. The JTPC representatives organ- this present major climatic event? ORAL Methods for Quantifying Engineering Geology [5], Quaternary Geology/ ize the papers in sessions focused on this Unsaturated Permeability Geomorphology [26], Geoscience Information [11] discipline—for example, hydrogeology or ■ One category—Environmental mineralogy. T04 ■ LANDSLIDES AND Geology (#6 on abstract form) TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS. ■ THEME SESSIONS Mode for the session—Poster GSA Engineering Geology Division. Scott F. Burns, Portland State University; Jerry Papers are submitted to a specific pre- DeGraff, U.S. Forest Service, Sierra National announced title and to ONE scientific T01 ■ GOLD DEPOSITS ASSOCIATED WITH Forest, Clovis, California. category. Theme sessions are interdiscipli- ALKALIC ROCKS. Transportation systems are important to humans. Landslides occur along railroads, Society of Economic Geologists. A. Lee nary; each theme may have as many as waterways, and roads, causing disruption — Barker, Southern Era Resources Ltd., Toronto; three categories from which authors may Jeremy Richards, University of Alberta; Paul G. even endangerment—to human lives. This choose ONE. After each theme description Spry, Iowa State University. theme session will focus on case histories of below, the categories are identified by name A significant number of world-class gold landslides along these important routes in deposits of various types can be spatially and North America. ORAL and number as they appear on the 1998 Engineering Geology [5], Quaternary Geology/ genetically related to alkalic rock suites. This Geomorphology [26], Public Policy [25] Abstract Form. PLEASE SUBMIT ONLY IN theme session will highlight these deposits THE MODE AND CATEGORIES INDICATED through presentations of recent studies direct- T05 ■ ENVIRONMENTAL AND ed toward understanding the relationships in the description (oral or poster). An ENGINEERING GEOLOGY IN between deposits and lithology. ORAL abstract submitted in the incorrect mode Economic Geology [4], Geochemistry, Other [8], QUATERNARY DEPOSITS. will be transferred automatically to a Mineralogy/Crystallography [16] GSA Engineering Geology Division; GSA Qua- discipline session. ternary Geology and Geomorphology Division. T02 ■ NATURAL SOURCES OF MERCURY Scott F. Burns, Portland State University; Paul Karrow, University of Waterloo, Ontario. ROLE OF THEME ADVOCATE AND ARSENIC: SIGNIFICANCE IN REGIONAL CYCLES AND Quaternary surficial deposits are abundant in North America. Many environmental and engi- Each theme session has been proposed ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS. neering geology problems occur in these glacial, Institute for Environmental Education. Mae by an advocate. Advocates may not invite eolian, lacustrine, fluvial, and colluvial deposits. Sexauer Gustin, University of Nevada, Reno; speakers; however, they may encourage col- This theme session will focus on North Alan H. Welch, U.S. Geological Survey, leagues to submit abstracts, with the under- Carson City, Nevada. American case histories from these areas. ORAL Engineering Geology [5], Environmental Geology [6], standing that there is no guarantee of This session will explore natural sources of Quaternary Geology/Geomorphology [26] acceptance. JTPC representatives, in consul- mercury and arsenic in the environment, their tation with the theme advocates, will organ- contribution to regional biogeochemical cycles T06 ■ GEOMICROBIOLOGY. and the potential for anthropogenic exacerba- Gordon Southam, Northern Arizona ize theme sessions by August 8. tion of environmental distribution. ORAL University; Kurt Konhauser, University of Environmental Geology [6], Geochemistry, Other [8] Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom. Geomicrobiology comprises studies of geologi- cally significant transformations of inorganic Abstracts with Programs and organic compounds by microorganisms, including oxidative and reductive mineral dis- Purchase an advance copy through GSA Membership Services, Publication Sales, solution, mineral precipitation, and biogeo- or pick up a copy on site in the registration area. The Abstracts with Programs is chemical cycling processes, in both past and not part of your registration fee. For advance sales, contact Publication Sales, GSA present systems. ORAL Geochemistry, Aqueous/Organic [7], headquarters 1-800-472-1988, ext. 152. Member cost: $31, Nonmember cost: $38.75. Mineralogy/Crystallography [16]

■ JOINT TECHNICAL PROGRAM COMMITTEE FINALIZES PROGRAM: AUGUST 8 T07 SOURCES, TRANSPORT, FATE, AND TOXICOLOGY OF TRACE ELEMENTS The JTPC selects abstracts and determines the final session schedule. Speakers will IN THE ENVIRONMENT. be notified by August 24 (probably much sooner for abstracts submitted electroni- International Association of Geochemistry and cally). The JTPC consists of representatives from each of GSA’s Associated Societies Cosmochemistry, in memory of Helen L. and Divisions participating in the technical program. The JTPC technical program Cannon. Gunter Faure, Ohio State University; David T. Long, Michigan State University. chairs were nominated by the Toronto Annual Meeting Committee and approved Reports are invited on the identification of by the GSA Council. sources of trace elements in the environment, C6 ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ Discipline and Theme Sessions GSA Today, April 1998 their transport by water in ionic form or by ing inquiries to find answers. This session will sorption on suspended particles, the medical explore programs at any educational level consequences of transfer into the food chain, which include directed or independent inquiry, and the accumulation of toxic elements in sedi- but which involve students actively investigat- ment deposited in lakes and reservoirs. ORAL ing earth processes. ORAL Geochemistry, Aqueous/Organic [7], Economic Geology Education [9] Geology [4], Environmental Geology [6] T15 ■ EDUCATION ABOUT THE T08 ■ CONTINENT FORMATION, GROWTH, ENVIRONMENT: WHAT WORKS! AND RECYCLING. National Association of Geoscience Teachers; Paul J. Sylvester, Australian National Institute for Environmental Education. David University, Canberra, Australia. Barclay, Paul H. Reitan, and Marcus I. Bursik, Did the continents form in an early big bang, or University of Buffalo. have they progressively grown in volume Lab, field or classroom: we have lots of experi- because sediment recycling at island arcs and ences that have worked. Let’s share them! crustal delamination at collision zones have POSTER failed to balance new additions from the man- Geology Education [9], Environmental Geology [6] tle? After more than 30 years of study, are we any closer to an answer? ORAL T16 ■ GEOTECTONICS AT THE FRONTIER: Geochemistry, Other [8], Petrology, Igneous [21], A CENTENARY TRIBUTE TO DEBATE, Precambrian Geology [24] REJECTION, AND ACCEPTANCE OF ■ CRUSTAL DYNAMICS PARADIGMS T09 LUMINESCENCE IN GEOLOGY— IN THE GEOSCIENCES. 10TH ANNIVERSARY MEETING John James Murray, University of Manitoba, OF SOCIETY OF LUMINESCENCE Winnipeg; Gerald S. Smerchanski, University MICROSCOPY AND SPECTROSCOPY. of Minnesota. Society of Luminescence Microscopy and The evolution of ideas associated with the ■ Spectroscopy. William J. Meyers, State T12 TEACHING HYDROGEOLOGY TO crustal dynamics of Earth and other planets University of New York at Stony Brook; Pete UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE has afforded a century of vigorous debate and Modreski, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver; STUDENTS. revolutionary paradigm change. Papers are Maurice Pagel, Université de Paris, Paris, France. GSA Hydrogeology Division, National encouraged that explore historical, philosophi- This session focuses on use of luminescence Association of Geoscience Teachers. cal, pedogogical, and sociological implications in geologic problems. Geoscientists, whether Science Awareness Through Geoscience of novel concepts in planetary tectonics. ORAL Society members or not, are encouraged to Education. Laura L. Sanders, Northeastern Geology Education [9], Planetary Geology [23], submit abstracts based on: geochemistry, Illinois University, Chicago; Tim Allen, Keene History of Geology [12] petrology, structural geology, instrumentation. State College, Keene, New Hampshire. ORAL Unlike three decades ago, hydrogeology cours- T17 ■ NORTH AMERICAN GEOLOGY Geochemistry, Other [8], Mineralogy/Crystallography es are now taught in most geology programs. IN THE EARLY TO MIDDLE [16], Sediments, Carbonates [28] In this session, presenters share philosophical NINETEENTH CENTURY. ■ and pedagogical approaches and GSA History of Geology Division. T10 FIELD CAMP PEDAGOGIES: describe how to deal with the chal- PLEASE CHECK Gerard V. Middleton, McMaster ADJUSTING TO MODERN EQUIP- lenges of teaching hydrogeology. University, Hamilton, Ontario; MENT AND THE MODERN STUDENT. ORAL CORRECT MODE, Keith Tinkler, Brock University, St. Patrick A. Burkhart, Slippery Rock University, Geology Education [9], Hydrogeology POSTER OR ORAL Catharines, Ontario; Robert H. [13], Environmental Geology [6] Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania; Gregory S. Baker, ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Dott, Jr., University of Wisconsin, University of Kansas, Lawrence. Madison. Increasingly, field techniques and tools are T13 ■ CREATING LEARNING This theme session is designed to complement associated with portable (laptop) computers ENVIRONMENTS WITH THE Symposium 14, “Hutton, Lyell, Logan—And and GPS/GIS-related systems. Additionally, INTERNET AND MULTIMEDIA. Their Influence in North America,” but to today’s field camp student often has a nontra- National Association of Geoscience Teachers; accommodate submitted papers on a broader ditional geology background. This session will American Geological Institute. John C. Butler, range of topics—e.g., the influence of other provide an opportunity to share innovative University of Houston; Warren Huff, University European scientists on early American geology, pedagogical developments that have been of Cincinnati; Michelle Lamberson, University or studies of early American geology regardless employed successfully to address these devel- of British Columbia, Vancouver. of European influence. ORAL opments. ORAL This session examines experimentation with History of Geology [12] Geology Education [9] the Internet and other multimedia applications as potential facilitators for creating learning T18 ■ RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES IN THE T11 ■ BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS: environments. Abstracts are solicited for four EARTH SCIENCES: A TEN-YEAR COMMUNICATING RELEVANT related topics: (1) Learning on the Internet, (2) VISION. GEOSCIENCE ISSUES TO THE Learning with the Internet, (3) Assessment of National Research Council; National Science PUBLIC. Internet and Multimedia Impact, (4) Internet Foundation. J. Freeman Gilbert and Craig M. Science Awareness through Geoscience and Multimedia Success Stories. ORAL Schiffries, National Research Council–National Education; Institute for Environmental Geology Education [9], Computers [3], Geoscience Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C.; Ian Information [11] Education. John J. Clague and Robert J. MacGregor, National Science Foundation, Turner, Geological Survey of Canada, ■ Arlington, Virginia. Vancouver; Michelle Lamberson, University of T14 TEACHING THROUGH INQUIRY IN This session is designed to assist the National British Columbia, Vancouver. THE GEOSCIENCES. Science Foundation and the National Research Earth scientists are making considerable National Association of Geoscience Teachers; Council in developing a long-term vision for progress in making relevant geoscience infor- GSA Geoscience Education Division. Judi basic research in the earth sciences, which will mation more accessible to the public, thereby Kusnick, California State University, form the basis of a new long-range plan for improving societal geo-literacy. This session Sacramento; Barbara Manner, Duquesne NSF’s Earth Sciences Division. This session deals with success stories—innovative products University, Pittsburgh. complements Symposium #16 and will identify and programs that inform and educate non- Science education reform efforts at both the and explore major research opportunities in geoscientists. ORAL and POSTER K–12 and university level call for students to the earth sciences. POSTER Geology Education [9], Geoscience Information [11] learn science by asking questions and conduct- Public Policy [25]

■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ C7 GSA Today, April 1998 Theme Sessions T19 ■ GEOPHYSICAL STUDIES OF THE T22 ■ WHAT ARE WE DATING? UNDER- T26 ■ ROLE OF PARTIAL MELTING CRUST AND LITHOSPHERE. STANDING THE CRYSTALLOGENESIS DURING EVOLUTION OF GSA Geophysics Division; GSA Structural OF U-Pb GEOCHRONOMETERS. CONVERGENT OROGENIC BELTS. Geology and Tectonics Division. Walter D. GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division. Michael Edwards, State University of New Mooney, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park. Desmond Moser, University of Utah; David York at Albany; Christian Teyssier, University This session focuses on the deep structure, Scott, Geological Survey of Canada, Ottawa. of Minnesota; Olivier Vanderhaeghe, composition, and evolution of the crust and U-Pb geochronology data, fundamental to many Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia. subcrustal lithosphere. Relevant data come tectonic models, are now being obtained from Orogenic evolution is typically characterized by a from seismic reflection and refraction profiles crystal domains in complexly zoned mineral period of crustal thickening followed by thermal and from studies using nonseismic geophysical geochronometers (e.g., zircon, monazite). We relaxation and late collapse. This session will techniques. The aim is to highlight new results invite papers that address their poorly understood examine magmatic events during this transition, from the continent, its margins, and adjacent crystallogenesis, the geologic conditions that in both active (e.g., southern Tibet) and collapsed ocean basins. ORAL affect their morphology and internal structures, (e.g., American Cordillera) belts. POSTER Geophysics/Tectonophysics [10], Structural and the accuracy of results. ORAL and POSTER Tectonics [32], Structural Geology [31], Geology [31] Tectonics [32], Petrology, Metamorphic [22], Petrology, Igneous [21] Geochemistry, Other [8] T20 ■ CONTROLS ON THE STYLE, T27 ■ APPLIED GEOLOGICAL DISTRIBUTION, AND INTENSITY T23 ■ DEEP CRUSTAL PROCESSES. REMOTE SENSING. OF DEFORMATION AROUND International Lithosphere Program; GSA Geophysics International Union of Geological Sciences. FAULTS AND FOLDS. Division; GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Divi- Vern Singhroy, Canada Centre for Remote GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division. sion; Geological Association of Canada, Canadian Sensing, Ottawa. Mark P. Fischer, Northern Illinois University, Geophysical Union; International Association of In this discussion of the application of remote Dekalb. Geomagnetism and Aeronomy; International Associ- sensing and GIS visualization techniques to Fluid flow and storage characteristics, reservoir ation of Seismology and Physics of the Earth’s geological and environmental studies, particu- potential, P-T-t history, and kinematic evolu- Interior; International Association of Volcanism and lar emphasis will be on case studies using tion are all determined by or interpreted from Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior; American Geo- recent SAR, hyperspectral, and high-resolution physical Union. Alan G. Jones, Geological Survey of deformation patterns associated with faults optical sensors. ORAL Canada, Ottawa; David Fountain, University of Wyo- and folds. For this session we seek field, experi- Remote Sensing [27] ming; Walter D. Mooney, U.S. Geological Survey, mental, and modeling studies that clarify how Menlo Park; Randall Parrish, NERC Isotope Geo- T28 ■ ARCHEAN CRATONS: various structural, stratigraphic, and other science Laboratory, Keyworth, United Kingdom. EVOLUTION AND ASSEMBLY. factors influence these deformation patterns. How is continental lower crust formed? How does The aim is to facilitate better predictions of it evolve? How does it interact with its overlying Tom Skulski, John Percival, and Wouter Bleeker, Geological Survey of Canada, Ottawa. fold- or fault-related deformation. ORAL upper crust and underlying mantle? These funda- Structural Geology [31], Tectonics [32], Petroleum The Precambrian rock record reveals complex mental questions form the core of this session, Geology [19] orogenic patterns reflecting growth of Archean which will bring together geologists, geochemists, cratonic lithosphere. We encourage papers and geophysicists to discuss deep crustal physical T21 ■ FROM CRACKS TO CREEP: dealing with structural, petrological, and chemical processes. ORAL and POSTER EVOLUTION, BEHAVIOR, AND Tectonics [32], Geophysics/Tectonophysics [10], geochronological, and geophysical data that PROCESSES WITHIN MATURE Geochemistry, Other [8] constrain models of Archean tectonics and fuel FAULT ZONES. the debate on the role of plate tectonics in GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics T24 ■ TECTONIC EVOLUTION OF Archean continental growth. ORAL Division. Joseph Clancy White, University of PRECAMBRIAN NORTH AMERICA. Precambrian Geology [24], Tectonics [32], Geophysics/Tectonophysics [10] New Brunswick, Fredericton. Lithoprobe; GSA Structural Geology and This session invites contributions from field, Tectonics Division; GSA Geophysics T29 ■ TONALITES, TRONDHJEMITES, AND experimental, and modeling studies that relate Division;1998 Annual Meeting Committee. to the complex mechanical and chemical evo- Ron M. Clowes, University of British GRANODIORITES AND RELATED lution of mature fault zones, associated macro- Columbia, Vancouver; John A. Percival, ROCKS: ANCIENT EXAMPLES scopic behavior, and the micromechanical Geological Survey of Canada, Ottawa; Karl AND MODERN ANALOGUES. processes. ORAL Karlstrom, University of New Mexico. Robert J. Stern, University of Texas at Dallas; Structural Geology [31], Geophysics/ What have we learned about this topic since A. Krishna Sinha, Virginia Polytechnic Tectonophysics [10], Petroleum Geology [19] the Decade of North American Geology? Major Institute; Makoto Arima, Yokohama National new aspects are: (1) geophysical data to provide University, Yokohama, Japan. the third spatial dimension—depth; (2) isotope The TTG suite is an element of Archean base- studies to contribute to understanding of juve- ment around the world. Similar rocks occur in nile vs. recycled lithosphere; (3) high-precision juvenile island arcs in the western Pacific and geochronology to give the fourth dimension— provide natural analogues for the Archean TTG. time; (4) integration of the studies, including Models for the TTG origins range from crustal geodynamic modeling. ORAL and POSTER. anatexis to slab melting to fractional crystal- Tectonics [32], Geophysics/Tectonophysics [10], lization. This session will bring together scien- Precambrian Geology [24] tists interested in comparing modern and ancient TTG suites. ORAL and POSTER T25 ■ NAFTA: NORTH AMERICAN Petrology, Igneous [21] FLOATING TERRANE ACCRETION. International Geological Correlation Program T30 ■ ENVIRONMENTS AND TIMING 376. Jarda Dostal, St. Mary’s University, Halifax, OF THE LAST INTERGLACIATION: Nova Scotia; J. Duncan Keppie, Universidad VEGETATION, PALEOHYDROLOGY, Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City. AND CLIMATE. Correlations of Precambrian, Paleozoic, and GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomor- Mesozoic-Cenozoic in the Grenvillian, the phology Division. B. Brandon Curry, Illinois Appalachian-Ouachitan, and Cordilleran oro- State Geological Survey, Champaign; Michel gens of Canada, the United States, and Mexico Lamothe, Université du Québec à Montréal; will be used to examine North American ter- Richard G. Baker, University of Iowa. rane provenance. ORAL An appraisal of continental environments dur- Tectonics [32], Geophysics/Tectonophysics [10], ing the last interglaciation is timely, given con- Concretions, Slate River, Thunder Bay, Ontario — Geochemistry, Other [8] Photo by E. B. Freeman cerns over future climate change. This session C8 ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ Theme Sessions GSA Today, April 1998 links records of lithology, biostratigraphy, pale- T35 ■ HOLOCENE CLIMATE CHANGE T39 ■ PALEONTOLOGICAL DATABASES ohydrology, and geochronology and provides ON THE GREAT PLAINS. AND TAXONOMIC DECISIONS. data to compare with marine records and for GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology; Paleontological Society. Colin Stearn, McGill general circulation models. ORAL Terrain Sciences Division, Geological Survey University, Montreal. Quaternary Geology/Geomorphology [26], of Canada; Global Change and Climate In this decade, the possibility of rapid data Paleontology/Paleobotany [18], Paleoceanography/ History Program, U.S. Geological Survey. retrieval from computer databases to a world- Paleoclimatology [17] Donald Lemmen, Geological Survey of wide constituency has become a reality. Many Canada, Calgary. groups of paleontologists are compiling data- T31 ■ THE POWER OF PALEOLIMNOLOGY: In this presentation of Holocene paleoecologic bases at the generic and specific level. In this STATE OF THE ART AND FUTURE and morphostratigraphic records of the Great session, we will discuss the problems and pos- DIRECTIONS. Plains of North America, the focus will be on sibilities of such compilations. ORAL Marianne S. V. Douglas, University of Toronto; the role of both climatic and nonclimatic con- Paleontology/Paleobotany [18] William M. Last, University of Manitoba, trols, based upon regional and site-specific Winnipeg. studies, and relevant to contemporary issues of T40 ■ SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHIC Papers on advances, regional studies, and inte- climate change, land-use management, water CONTROLS ON ORGANIC FACIES. grative paleolimnological techniques will cross resources, and regional sustainability. ORAL Bradley B. Sageman, Northwestern University; traditional boundaries of geology, biology, Quaternary Geology/Geomorphology [26], Thomas J. Algeo, University of Cincinnati. chemistry, and hydrology to provide insight Paleoceanography/Paleoclimatology [17], The quantity and quality of preserved into future progress. ORAL and POSTER Stratigraphy [30] organic matter vary predictably Quaternary Geology/Geomorphology [26], ABSTRACT Paleoceanography/Paleoclimatology [17], T36 ■ SURFICIAL PROCESSES among systems tracts because pro- Environmental Geology [6] AND LANDSCAPE DEADLINE duction and preservation of hydrocar- bon-prone organic matter are influ- DYNAMICS WITHIN JULY 13 ■ enced by factors (water-column T32 ON THE NATURE AND ORIGIN OF ARID AND DESERT ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ stratification, dissolved oxygen and STONE LINES AND LITHOLOGIC ENVIRONMENTS. nutrient levels, sedimentation rates) DISCONTINUITIES IN SEDIMENTS U.S. Army Research Office; Desert Research AND SOILS. that depend on relative sea level. Analysis of Institute. Russell Harmon, U.S. Army Research organic facies within sequence stratigraphic GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphol- Office, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina; contexts promotes understanding of both ogy Division. Randall Schaetzl, Michigan State Steve Wells, Desert Research Institute, Reno, ancient carbon cycling and source rock accu- University; Donald Johnson, University of Nevada; Valerie Morrill, Conservation Illinois, Urbana. Program, U.S. Army, Yuma, Arizona. mulation. ORAL Stratigraphy [30], Geochemistry, Subsurface stone lines and lithologic disconti- Arid and desert environments are common Aqueous/Organic [7], Petroleum Geology [19] nuities are an integral, though genetically con- across North America. Commonly occuring troversial, part of most tropical, subtropical, within zones of geologic, climatic, or ecosystem T41 ■ GEOLOGICAL EVOLUTION OF and mid- to high-latitude landscapes, including transition, they are particularly sensitive to MEXICO: ITS RELATION TO recently deglaciated lands. Papers in this ses- human activities. This session will provide an CONTERMINOUS NORTH AMERICA. sion will explore the nature of and genetic interdisciplinary forum for the discussion of José F. Longoria, Jr., Florida International processes that produce stone lines, to improve current research on surficial processes and University, Miami; Dante Moran Centeno, our models of landscape evolution. ORAL landscape dynamics within arid and desert Quaternary Geology/Geomorphology [26], Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, environments. ORAL Mexico City; Rogelio Monreal, Universidad Archaeological Geology [1] Quaternary Geology/Geomorphology [26], Environmental Geology [6] de Sonora, Hermosillo, México. T33 ■ CONTINENTAL GLACIATIONS: For this session on the paleogeographic recon- CONTINUING DEBATES. T37 ■ PALEONTOLOGY SOLVES GEOLOGIC struction of Mexico and its relation to the dynamic evolution of the rest of North Steven L. Forman, University of Illinois, PROBLEMS. America, we seek contributions on the paleo- Chicago; Julie Brigham-Grette, University Paleontological Society; Society of Vertebrate geographic development of any segment of of Massachusetts. Paleontologists. Michael Woodburne and Nigel Mexico, with special emphasis on tectonostrati- Despite recognition for over a century that Hughes, University of California, Riverside. graphic terranes, their paleogeographic recon- continents have been glaciated, controversy As a result of their complexity, abundance, and struction, and their relation to coeval succes- continues on the nature of Quaternary ice morphological variation, fossils provide power- sheets. It extends to defining limits, deglacial sions across North America. ORAL ful constraints on the age, paleoenvironment, Stratigraphy [30], Tectonics [32], dynamics and history, and theories on the biogeographic province, and diagenetic and Paleontology/Paleobotany [18] intrinsic instability of ice sheets. Geologic obser- tectonic histories of a wide variety of sedimen- vations coupled with understanding of glacier tary rocks. This theme session will illustrate T42 ■ ONSHORE-OFFSHORE CORRELATION bed dynamics will offer new insights. ORAL how a broad spectrum of paleontological stud- Quaternary Geology/Geomorphology [26], Paleocean- OF CENOZOIC STRATA, WESTERN ies are critical to a diverse range of geological MARGIN OF NORTH ATLANTIC. ography/Paleoclimatology [17], Marine Geology [14] questions. ORAL Paleontology/Paleobotany [18], Stratigraphy [30], W. Burleigh Harris, University of North Carolina, T34 ■ TERRESTRIAL RECORDS OF LATE- Structural Geology [31] Wilmington; Marylin Segall, Bountiful, Utah. GLACIAL AND HOLOCENE CLIMATE Correlation of onshore-offshore Cenozoic strata CHANGE IN THE AMERICAS. T38 ■ THE END-PERMIAN MASS along the western margin of the North Atlantic Donald T. Rodbell, Union College, Schenectady; EXTINCTION: PALEOZOIC NEMESIS. is complicated by differences in techniques of study, databases and stratigraphic terminology. Jan T. Heine, University of Washington; Mel A. Paul B. Wignall and Richard J. Twitchett, Reasoner, Institute of Arctic and Alpine University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom. This interdisciplinary theme session will focus on techniques of correlation and recent Research, University of Colorado; Geoffrey O. The end-Permian mass extinction is increas- advances. ORAL and POSTER Seltzer, Syracuse University. ingly contested; marine anoxia, volcanic winter, Recent findings indicate that climate change Stratigraphy [30], Sediments, Clastic [29], and meteorite impact have all been proposed Sediments, Carbonates [28] during the last deglaciation in the Americas as kill mechanisms. This session will include was regionally dissimilar. This session will focus discussion of timing of extinction, associated T43 ■ INTERPRETING FOSSIL on continuous paleoclimatic time series (lake facies, geochemical changes, and paleoceano- EARTHQUAKES FROM THE sediment cores, ice cores, tree rings) and semi- graphic events of this, the greatest biotic crisis STRATIGRAPHIC RECORD. continuous records (moraine and lake-level of all time. ORAL chronologies) to identify patterns and mecha- Paleontology/Paleobotany [18], Stratigraphy [30], Frank R. Ettensohn and Nicholas Rast, nisms of regional climate change. ORAL Geochemistry, Other [8] University of Kentucky. Quaternary Geology/Geomorphology [26], Seismically generated structures in the older Paleoceanography/Paleoclimatology [17] Phanerozoic stratigraphic record of the craton

■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ C9 GSA Today, April 1998 Theme Sessions GSA’s Institute for Environmental Education and the deep sea? What is the relative importance of continuous vs. periodic transport? How do John F. Mann Institute for Applied Geoscience these processes respond to changes in sea level For the seventh year in a row, GSA’s Institute for Environmental Education and climate? How do different processes affect the morphology of shelf, slope, and rise? ORAL (IEE) is sponsoring the Annual Environmental Forum. This year’s forum, “The Marine Geology [14], Sediments, Clastic [29], Sustainability Challenge I: Energy for the 21st Century,” will offer thought-pro- Paleoceanography/Paleoclimatology [17] voking presentations and productive dialogue on one of the most controversial and pressing environmental issues of our time—dependence on nonrenewable T51 ■ PALEOECOLOGICAL AND fossil fuel resources. How can geoscientists contribute to public understanding of the economic GEOCHEMICAL SIGNATURE OF realities and environmental consequences of this dependence and contribute to resolution of CRETACEOUS ANOXIC EVENTS: A this problem? MEMORIAL TO WILLIAM V. SLITER. Cushman Foundation. Timothy J. Bralower, IEE is an issue-driven, nonadvocacy, outreach program of GSA; its primary goal is enhanc- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Brian ing the effective contribution of geoscientists and the geosciences to a wide array of environ- Huber, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C.; mental issues. Other IEE-sponsored sessions, indicated on these pages, include topics such as R. Mark Keckie, University of Massachusetts. communicating geosciences to the public, and in the classroom; interdisciplinary discussions The late William V. Sliter was a branch chief of pale- on ecosystems, hydrogeology, and environmental assessments; the ethical responsibilities of ontology and stratigraphy at the U.S. Geological geoscientists in conducting and sharing scientific research; and sustainability. Survey and Director, Editor, and President of the Cushman Foundation. Sliter devoted his career to the study of Cretaceous organic-rich sediments, interior are largely absent, primarily because of T47 ■ GROUNDWATER FLOW AND source rocks for much of the world’s petroleum; misinterpretation. This theme session will SOLUTE TRANSPORT INTO THE these are the subject of the session. POSTER demonstrate the significance of such phenom- GREAT LAKES. Paleoceanography/Paleoclimatology [17], Marine Geology [14], Micropaleontology [15] ena, how they can be distinguished, and how GSA Hydrogeology Division. F. Edwin Harvey, they enhance understanding of mid-continen- University of Nebraska; Shaun K. Frape, ■ tal earthquake hazards. ORAL University of Waterloo, Ontario. T52 THE LAC DE GRAS DIAMONDIF- Stratigraphy [30], Engineering Geology [5] Growing concern over the quality of Great EROUS KIMBERLITE FIELD, NORTH- Lakes waters has prompted this session, which WEST TERRITORIES, CANADA. T44 ■ GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY. focuses on determining and characterizing Society of Economic Geologists. A. Lee GSA Hydrogeology Division; Institute for groundwater inputs to the Great Lakes. Topics Barker, Southern Era Resources Ltd., Toronto; Environmental Education. Abe Springer, include: techniques for locating and measuring Buddy Doyle, Kennecott Canada Exploration, Northern Arizona University; Scott Bair, Ohio groundwater flow, characterization of ground- Ltd., Toronto; Jon Carlson, BHP Diamonds, State University. water quantity and quality, solute transport Inc., Kelowna, British Columbia. The concepts of safe yield and conjunctive use through bottom sediments, and regional-scale The discovery of the Lac de Gras diamond- of groundwater have found new life under the groundwater-flow modeling. ORAL iferous kimberlite field in Canada’s Northwest term “sustainability.” Research presentations Hydrogeology [13], Quaternary Geology/Geomor- Territories in late 1991 was one of the most will document the sustainability of local or phology [26], Geochemistry, Aqueous/Organic [7] significant new mineral discoveries in North regional aquifers and models for groundwater America, and worldwide. Exploration and aca- monitoring. ORAL and POSTER T48 ■ RADIONUCLIDE TRANSPORT demic studies will highlight the regional frame- Hydrogeology [13], Environmental Geology [6], EXPERIMENTS AT UNDERGROUND work, descriptions of deposits, and the nature Engineering Geology [5] RESEARCH LABORATORIES. of the Earth’s mantle in the area. POSTER Economic Geology [4] U.S. Department of Energy/Yucca Mountain T45 ■ CAPTURE ZONES IN Project. Robert A. Levich and Russell L. ■ FRACTURED ROCK. Patterson, Las Vegas; Ronald M. Linden, T53 ORIGIN AND TRANSPORT OF Kent Novakowski, National Water Research Henderson, Nevada. NON-HYDROCARBON GASES Institute, Burlington, Ontario; Ed Sudicky, This session will comprise papers on experi- IN SEDIMENTARY BASINS. University of Waterloo, Ontario. ments investigating radionuclide transport, as Chris Ballentine, University of Michigan; This session will bring together hydrogeologists related to waste disposal, including colloidal Barbara Sherwood Lollar, University of and engineers who are developing and apply- transport, thermal effects, microbial interac- Toronto. ing new techniques for the definition and tion, fracture, and matrix flow. ORAL This session will focus on isotopic and design of capture zones in fractured rock. Hydrogeology [13], Geochemistry, Aqueous/ geochemical techniques which address the Papers will describe the development and/or Organic [7], Environmental Geology [6] origin and transport of non-hydrocarbon gases application of accurate models that are easily such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and noble applied to represent transport in the fractured T49 ■ HYDROGEOLOGIC CONTROLS gases within sedimentary basins. Studies domain. ORAL ON ECOSYSTEMS. that resolve the multiple origin of these gases, Hydrogeology [13] GSA Hydrogeology Division; Institute for set constraints on the controls and timing of Environmental Education. Edwin A. inputs, and identify modes of transport are T46 ■ SOLUTE TRANSPORT IN Romanowicz, Duke University; Andrew Reeve, of particular interest. ORAL AQUITARDS: FIELD STUDIES. University of Maine, Orono. Geochemistry, Other [8], Petroleum Geology [19], GSA Hydrogeology Division. Vicki Remenda, This session will focus on how hydrogeological Geochemistry, Aqueous/Organic [7] Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario; processes and the geologic setting control biologi- Garth van de Kamp, Environment Canada, cal, biogeochemical, and physical processes and T54 ■ ASSEMBLING A NEW Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. the distribution and composition of plant and UNDERSTANDING OF MARS. Solute movement in aquitards, whether by dif- animal communities in many ecosystems. ORAL GSA Planetary Geology Division. James R. fusion or advection, can have a major influence Hydrogeology [13], Quaternary Geology/Geomor- Zimbelman, Smithsonian Institution; Kenneth S. on water quality in adjoining aquifers. phology [26], Geochemistry, Aqueous/Organic [7] Edgett, Arizona State University, Tempe. Laboratory experiments provide information Mars Pathfinder and Mars Global Surveyor are on transport processes, but they may miss the T50 ■ FROM CONTINENTAL SHELF TO providing data that expand upon, and some- effects of large-scale features and may not ABYSSAL PLAIN—LINKS BETWEEN times challenge, the post-Viking view of the reflect in situ conditions. This session will focus SEDIMENT TRANSPORT AND Red Planet. Volunteered abstracts are solicited on field studies of flow and solute transport in MORPHOLOGY. for presentation of new results and interpreta- fractured and intact aquitards. ORAL William W. Hay, GEOMAR, Kiel, Germany. tions stimulated by (but not limited to) these Hydrogeology [13], Environmental Geology [6] What are the processes that mobilize shelf and new geological and geophysical data. ORAL slope sediments and transport them to the Planetary Geology [23], Quaternary Geology/ Geomorphology [26], Geophysics/Tectonophysics [10] C10 ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ Theme Sessions GSA Today, April 1998 FieldField Trips

The 1998 GSA Annual Meeting in Toronto moraine, a massive accumulation of mid- A WESTERN QUEBEC GRENVILLE TRANSECT. will provide a very special opportunity for continental glacial sediments that dominate Thursday, October 22 through Saturday, many American visitors to learn about the the north shore of Lake Ontario; the Niagara October 24. Cosponsored by GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division. Jacques geology of southern Ontario and southern escarpment, another spectacular geomor- Martignole, Dept. de Géologie, Université Quebec, as well as that of the northeastern phologic feature of southern Ontario; and de Montréal, Montréal, PQ, H3C 3J7, Canada, United States. Niagara Falls. Most trips, but not all, will (514) 343-7734, fax 514-343-5782, martigno@ start and end in Toronto. ere.umontreal.ca. This trip starts in Val-d’Or, Professionals and students attending the Quebec (one-hour flight from Montreal) and meeting are strongly encouraged to take ends at the Montreal International Airport. advantage of the lower airfares for Saturday FOR MORE INFORMATION Maximum: 25. Cost: $335. night stay-overs. This significantly reduces Contact the trip leader or the 1998 Field Trip Co-Chairs: Pierre-Yves F. Robin, POSTGLACIAL SURFACE PROCESSES the costs associated with premeeting OF NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND. (905) 828-5419, and Henry C. Halls, field trip participation. Thursday, October 22 through Sunday, (905) 828-5363, Dept. of Geology October 25. Cosponsored by GSA Quaternary The theme of the meeting, Assembly of Erindale College, University of Toronto, Geology and Geomorphology Division. a Continent, is, in part, a reference to its 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON Paul Bierman, Dept. of Geology, University focus on the Canadian Lithoprobe program. L5L 1C6, Canada, fax 905-828-3717, of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405-0122, [email protected] or (802) 656-4411, fax 802-656-0045, pbierman@ Two geological transects and two other [email protected]. zoo.uvm.edu. Will start in Burlington, Vermont, excursions through the Grenville province and end in Toronto. Maximum: 25. Cost: $270. of the Precambrian Shield will in fact be directly related to Lithoprobe seismic tran- The following list is tentative and subject to STRATIGRAPHY, SEDIMENTOLOGY, AND PALEOCOMMUNITIES OF THE BLACK RIVER sects. Assembly of a Continent is also a refer- change. Further details will be given when AND TRENTON LIMESTONE GROUPS ence to the fact that the Geological Society registration for the meeting begins in June. (ORDOVICIAN), EAST OF LAKE SIMCOE, of America has a continental, not just U.S., ONTARIO. Costs are given in U.S. dollars. scope. Many of the trips will offer an oppor- Friday, October 23 through Sunday, October 25. tunity to explore southern Ontario, south- Mike Brookfield, Dept. of Land Resource PREMEETING TRIPS Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, eastern Quebec, northern Pennsylvania, and FROM FRONT TO INTERIOR: A SOUTHERN N1G 2W1, Canada, (519) 824-4120, ext. 2654, New York State. Several trips will feature very ONTARIO TRANSECT OF THE GRENVILLE fax 519-824-5730, [email protected]; recent results from studies of Paleozoic PROVINCE FROM SUDBURY, ONTARIO, El Gadi, Derek Armstrong, Dave Rudkin, and paleontology and stratigraphy. Some of the TO THE ADIRONDACKS, NEW YORK. Carl Brett. Maximum: 28. Cost: $330. trips will provide an opportunity to discuss Wednesday, October 21 through Sunday, October 25. Cosponsored by GSA Structural TECTONIC, EUSTATIC, AND CLIMATIC results of work done in response to public as Geology and Tectonics Division. J. A. “Tony” CONTROLS ON COAL DEPOSITION, well as scientific concerns about hydrology, Davidson, Geological Survey of Canada, 601 FROM LATE MISSISSIPPIAN TO environmental geology, Quaternary geology, Booth St., Ottawa, ON, K1A 0E8, Canada, LATE PENNSYLVANIAN. Friday, October 23 through Sunday, October 25. and geomorphology in southern Ontario. (613) 995-4793, fax 613-996-8059, tdavidson@ Cosponsored by GSA Coal Geology Division. Other trips will focus on the Oak Ridges gsc.nrcan.gc.ca; Mike Easton. Maximum: 35. Cost: $505. Cortland Eble, Kentucky Geological Survey, 228 Mining and Minerals Bldg., University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, (606) 257-5500, fax 606-257-1147, [email protected]; Blaine Cecil. Maximum: 40. Cost: $350.

FENITES, CARBONATITES, AND OTHER ALKALIC ROCKS IN THE BANCROFT- HALIBURTON-MUSKOKA REGIONS, GRENVILLE PROVINCE, ONTARIO. Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25. Sid B. Lumbers, 7 Calle Alejandra, Santa Fe, NM 87505, (505) 466-1233, fax 505-466-1236; Vince Vertolli. Maximum: 22. Cost: $160.

REGIONAL QUATERNARY GEOLOGY AND HYDROGEOLOGY OF THE OAK RIDGES MORAINE AND GREATER TORONTO AREAS, SOUTHERN ONTARIO. Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25. Cosponsored by GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division. David Sharpe, Geo- logical Survey of Canada, 601 Booth St., Ottawa, ON, K1A 0E8, Canada, (613) 992-3059, fax 613- 992-0190, [email protected]; P.Barnett, H. Russel, L. Dyke, M. Hinton, R. Gerber, and Horseshoe Falls, Niagara Falls — Photo by E. B. Freeman T. Brennand. Maximum: 35. Cost: $125. ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ C11 GSA Today, April 1998 Field Trips HYDROGEOLOGY OF THE GROUNDWATER EXPERIMENTAL FIELD LATE GRENVILLIAN HORIZONTAL NIAGARA FALLS AREA. SITES AT THE BASE BORDEN RESEARCH EXTENSION AND VERTICAL THINNING Saturday, October 24. Cosponsored by SITE AND OTHER SITES IN THE OF PROTEROZOIC GNEISSES, GSA Engineering Geology Division. Kent S. WATERLOO AREA. CENTRAL ONTARIO. Novakowski, Canada National Water Research Friday, October 30. Cosponsored by GSA Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31. Institute, CCIW, Environment Canada, 867 Engineering Geology Division. Dave Rudolph, Cosponsored by GSA Structural Geology and Lakeshore Rd., P.O. Box 5050, Burlington, ON, Dept. of Earth Sciences, University of Waterloo, Tectonics Division. Walfried M. Schwerdtner, L7R 4A6, Canada, (905) 336-4610, fax 905- Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada, (519) Dept. of Geology, University of Toronto, 336-4972, [email protected]; 888-4567, ext. 6778, fax 519-883-0220, Toronto, ON, M5S 3B1, Canada, (416) 978-2062, P.Lapcevic. Maximum: 30. Cost: $70. [email protected]. fax 416-978-3938, [email protected]. Maximum: 40. Cost: $70. utoronto.ca. Maximum: 22. Cost: $150. CLASSIC QUATERNARY GEOLOGY SITES OF TORONTO. CHERT, CORN, ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE SILURIAN-DEVONIAN STRATIGRAPHY Sunday, October 25. Nick Eyles, Sciences Dept., AND PREHISTORIC LAND CLEARANCE: OF THE NIAGARA ESCARPMENT. Scarborough College, University of Toronto, THREE GEOARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDIES Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31. 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, M1C 1A4, ON THE NIAGARA ESCARPMENT. Carlton Brett, Dept. of Earth and Environ- Canada, (416) 287-7231, fax 416-287-7204, Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31. mental Sciences, University of Rochester, [email protected]. Maximum 60. Cosponsored by GSA Archaeological Geology Rochester, NY 14627, (716) 275-5713, fax 716- Cost: $55. Division. Ronald F. Williamson, Archaeological 244-5689, [email protected]; Brian Services Inc., 528 Bathurst St., Toronto, ON, Pratt. Maximum: 28. Cost: $210. HISTORY OF GEOLOGY FIELD TRIP TO M5S 2P9, Canada, (416) 966-1069, fax 416- NIAGARA FALLS. 966-9723, [email protected]; Peter L. Sunday, October 25. Cosponsored by GSA SPONSORED BY SOCIETY Storck and Robert I. MacDonald. Maximum: 20. OF ECONOMIC GEOLOGISTS History of Geology Division. Keith Tinkler, Dept. Cost: $195. of Geography, Brock University, St. Catharines, GOLD DEPOSITS OF NORTHERN ON, L2S 3A1, Canada, (905) 688-5550, ext. 3486, HYDROGEOLOGY AND LATE QUATERNARY SONORA, MEXICO. fax 905-688-6369, [email protected]. HISTORY OF POINT PELEE NATIONAL Monday, October 19 through Friday, ca; Gerard Middleton. Maximum: 50. Cost: $80. PARK, ONTARIO. October 23. Kenneth F. Clark, Dept. of Geo- Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31. logical Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, POSTMEETING TRIPS Cosponsored by GSA Engineering Geology El Paso, TX 79968-0555, (915) 747-5843, fax 915- Division. Allan Crowe, Canada National Water 747-5073, [email protected]. This trip begins CLASSIC QUATERNARY GEOLOGY SITES Research Institute, CCIW, Environment and ends in Tucson, Arizona. Maximum: 45. OF TORONTO. Canada, 867 Lakeshore Rd., P.O. Box 5050, Cost: $670, includes field trip transportation, Friday, October 30. Nick Eyles, Burlington, ON, L7R 4A6, Canada, all meals, accommodations (double occu- Sciences Dept., Scarborough College, (905) 336-4585, fax 905-336-4400, pancy), and guidebook. University of Toronto, 1265 Military [email protected]; John Trail, Toronto, ON, M1C 1A4, Canada, Coakley, C. J. Ptacek. Maximum: 30. (416) 287-7231, fax 416-287-7204, Cost: $170. [email protected]. Maximum: 60. Cost: $55.

ProProfessional Horizons: GSA Short Courses

GSA-SPONSORED SHORT COURSES DEFORMATION MECHANISMS AND MICROSTRUCTURES. Registration information and course Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25. descriptions will be published in the June Cosponsored by GSA Structural Geology and issue of GSA Today. For additional informa- Tectonics Division. Jan Tullis, Brown University; tion, contact Edna Collis, Continuing Christian Teyssier, University of Minnesota; Education Coordinator, GSA headquarters, Holger Stunitz, Geology and Paleontology Institute of Basel University, Switzerland. [email protected], or see GSA’s Web site, Fee: $250, students $230. C.E.U. 1.6. www.geosociety.org. PHASE I ENVIRONMENTAL SITE Fees are given in U.S. dollars ASSESSMENTS. PREREGISTRATION DEADLINE: Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25. Cosponsored by GSA Engineering Geology SEPTEMBER 18 Division. Raymond C. Kimbrough, Tom Joiner ANALYTICAL METHODS AND ANALYSIS OF VEINS IN SEDIMENTARY & Associates, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Fee: $245, APPLICATIONS IN PROVENANCE STUDIES ROCKS—AN INTRODUCTION FOR students $225. C.E.U. 1.6. OF LITHIC ARTIFACTS. STRUCTURAL GEOLOGISTS. Sunday, October 25. Cosponsored by GSA 3-D SEISMIC INTERPRETATION: A PRIMER Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25. Archaeological Geology Division. Patrick J. Julig, FOR GEOLOGISTS. Cosponsored by GSA Structural Geology and Darrel G. F. Long, Laurentian University, Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25. Tectonics Division. David V. Wiltschko, John W. Sudbury, Ontario. Fee: $220, students $200. Bruce S. Hart, New Mexico Bureau of Mines Morse, and Will Lamb, Texas A&M University; C.E.U. 0.8. and Mineral Resources. Fee: $240, students Zachary Sharp, University of New Mexico. $220. C.E.U. 1.6. Fee: $290, students $270. C.E.U. 1.6. C12 ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ Field Trips and Courses GSA Today, April 1998 APPLICATIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CLASTIC FACIES AND SEQUENCE ISOTOPES IN GROUNDWATER STUDIES STRATIGRAPHY FOR GRADUATE TO SOLVING HYDROLOGIC AND STUDENTS ONLY. GEOCHEMICAL PROBLEMS. Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25. Sunday, October 25. Cosponsored by GSA Sponsored by Exxon Production Research Hydrogeology Division. Ramon Aravena, Company. Information: Morgan Sullivan, Exxon University of Waterloo; Ian D. Clark, University Production Research Company, 3120 Buffalo of Ottawa. Fee: $190, students $170. C.E.U. 0.8. Spdwy., Houston, TX 77098, (713) 966-6396, fax 713-965-4114, or Art Donovan, Exxon BUCK ROGERS, FIELD GEOLOGIST: 21ST Production Research Company, (713) 965-7608. CENTURY ELECTRONIC WIZARDRY FOR MAPPING AND FIELD DATA COLLECTION. ISOTOPE PALEOBIOLOGY AND Sunday, October 25. John H. Kramer, Condor PALEOECOLOGY. Earth Technologies, Inc., Sonora, California; Sponsored by Paleontological Society. Todd Fitzgibbon, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Information: Richard Norris, Clark 117, MS-23, Park. Fee: $240, students $220. C.E.U. 0.8. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543-1541, (503) 289-2839, DESIGN AND CREATION OF STATE-OF-THE [email protected]. ART, INTERACTIVE, MULTIMEDIA CD-ROMS FOR USE IN TEACHING GEOLOGY. FORUMS Sunday, October 25. Parvinder S. Sethi, Radford Whitefish Falls Field Camp, Manitoulin Isle, Sudbury Area University, Radford, Virginia. Fee: $230, — Photo by Karyn Gorra. Courtesy of University of DIGITAL DATABASE FORUM. students $210. C.E.U. 0.8. Toronto, Dept. of Geology Sunday, October 25. Sponsored by Geoscience Information Society. Information: Adonna DETECTING ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS Fleming, Owen Science & Engineering Library, USING BENTHIC FORAMINIFERA AND NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GEOSCIENCE #3200, Washington State University, Pullman, THECAMOEBIANS. TEACHERS WORKSHOP ON INNOVATIVE WA 99164-3200, (509) 335-7601, Sunday, October 25. Cosponsored by Cushman AND EFFECTIVE TECHNIQUES FOR [email protected]. Foundation. David B. Scott, and Eduard G. TEACHING GEOSCIENCE. Reinhardt, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Saturday, October 24. Sponsored by National GEOLOGY AND PUBLIC POLICY FORUM: Nova Scotia; Francine M. G. McCarthy, Brock Association of Geoscience Teachers, GSA SAGE GEOSCIENCE ETHICS IN ENVIRONMENTAL University, St. Catharines, Ontario; R. Timothy Program, with partial support from National AND NATURAL RESOURCE ISSUES. Patterson, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario. Science Foundation. Information: R. Heather Wednesday, October 28. Sponsored by GSA Fee: $230, students $210. C.E.U. 0.8. Macdonald, Dept. of Geology, College of Geology and Public Policy Committee and William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187- Institute for Environmental Education. GEOTECHNICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL 8795, (757) 221-2443, fax 757-221-2093, What is the appropriate role for the geosciences APPLICATIONS OF TIME DOMAIN [email protected]. in a democratic society struggling with the REFLECTOMETRY. ever-changing, symbiotic relationship between Sunday, October 25. Cosponsored by GSA Engi- NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GEOSCIENCE humans and Earth? How do the goals of neering Geology Division. Kevin M. O’Connor, TEACHERS WORKSHOP, MORE ON democracy, science, and sustainability shape GeoTDR, Inc., Apple Valley, Minnesota; INNOVATIVE TEACHING TECHNIQUES: our personal and professional ethics? How Charles H. Dowding, Dept. of Civil Engineering, SHARING WHAT YOU’RE DOING. can geoscientists be effective researchers and Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois. Sunday, October 25. Sponsored by National problem-solvers in conflicts that are often Fee: $190, students $170. C.E.U. 0.8. Association of Geoscience Teachers, GSA SAGE enmeshed with politics and power? How do the Program, with partial support from National geosciences respond when the issues transcend TEACHING PRACTICAL HYDROGEOLOGY: Science Foundation. Information: R. Heather political boundaries and governing systems? HOW TO MAKE DO WITH SCANT Macdonald, Dept. of Geology, College of Special guest panelists will offer perspectives “REAL WORLD” DATA. William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187- from both within and outside the geosciences, Sunday, October 25. Cosponsored by GSA Hydro- 8795, (757) 221-2443, fax 757-221-2093, setting the stage for open discussion among the geology Division. Donald I. Siegel, Syracuse [email protected]. forum attendees and beyond. University. Fee: $170, students $150. C.E.U. 0.8.

OTHER COURSES, WORKSHOPS, AND FORUMS Registration and information can be obtained from the contact person listed for GSA’s SAGE Program for K–16 each course. GSA Educational Programs invite you to join us in Toronto for an exciting K–16 TECHNIQUES IN HYDROTHERMAL Education Program, with something for everyone—geoscientists, undergradu- ORE DEPOSITS. ate and graduate students, and K–16 teachers. Workshops begin on Saturday Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25. Sponsored by Society of Economic Geologists. and Sunday, so plan to preregister and come early if you want to participate. Information: Peter Larson, Washington State There will be workshops on “Directing Undergraduate Research,” “Innovative University, Department of Geology, Pullman, and Effective Teaching,” “Exploring the Solar System,” and “Exploring Plate WA 99164-2812, (509) 335-3095, fax 509- Tectonics.” We will also offer a workshop on ”Learning from the Fossil Record,“ 335-7816, [email protected], or Jeremy and a session on the PROMISE project will round out the schedule. Monday Richards, Dept. of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, also marks the beginning of a great series of technical sessions, symposia, and AB, T6G 2E3, Canada, (403) 492-3430, fax 403- forums on a variety of education topics. We will also have our annual Earth 492-2030, [email protected]. Science Educators Reception, complete with the always popular Rock Raffle and an Earth Science Information Share-a-thon.

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EVENING HIGHLIGHTS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25 MONDAY, OCTOBER 26 Some very special events will introduce 1998 PATH Walking Tour Alumni Receptions Annual Meeting attendees to Toronto’s Walk the PATH to the GSA Welcoming Party. Plan to join your former classmates for ambiance and unique attractions. Look for This guided tour will help you get acquaint- an evening of memories and renewed detailed descriptions and pricing informa- ed with Toronto’s amazing underground. connections. tion in the June issue of GSA Today. The PATH and its labryinth of paths offer TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27 hundreds of restaurants, shops, and SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24 Royal Ontario Museum Wine and Cheese extraordinary geologic features. Dinner and the Reception Toronto PATH Welcoming Party Explore the treasures of the fabulous Royal The PATH is Toronto’s downtown walkway (meeting registration required) Ontario Museum (ROM). The evening linking 10 kilometers of underground Celebrate the grand opening of the 1998 begins with a wine and cheese reception in services, restaurants, shopping, and enter- GSA Annual Meeting and Exposition at the Eaton Hall, where you’ll meet the curators of tainment. Join us for a geological and histor- Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Join col- the various exhibits and get an inside look at ical tour of Toronto’s underground, culmi- leagues and exhibitors this world-renowned facility. nating with dinner at a Toronto landmark at a reception brim- WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28 restaurant. The tour begins at the Sheraton ming with interna- Pub Crawl Centre Hotel. Finish with dinner and drinks tional flavor and Toronto Visit some of Toronto’s finest pubs. Guides, at the intriguing Old Ed’s Restaurant, with its hospitality. familiar with various brews as well as the museum of antiques, art objects, and the- fascinating history of the area, will lead the atrical memorabilia. way in this fun-filled evening.

RegRegistration, Travel, and Lodging

REGISTRATION Thursday. Guest and spouse registrations do MEMBERS PAY LESS … not include technical session access. GSA JOIN NOW! Preregistration Deadline: September 18 members will automatically receive registra- If you are not yet a GSA member, NOW tion information and forms during the first is the time to join. Nonmembers who Cancellation Deadline: weeks of June. If you are not a member and become GSA members by October 1, 1998, September 25 would like registration forms and further can preregister at the member rate. You will information, contact the Registration Registration materials will be available save a substantial amount on your registra- Coordinator, GSA headquarters, in June GSA Today. That will be the only tion fee by paying the member rate—almost [email protected]. complete registration issue. exactly the amount you would pay to join Meeting registration fees have not been es- GSA. That’s like joining GSA for free! For fur- Make plans now to take advantage of the tablished as we go to print. However, for your ther information, contact Membership June registration opportunity. Registration budgeting and travel authorization requests, Services at GSA headquarters, is required for events, which will fill quickly. please use the estimated preregistration fees [email protected]. There are considerable savings on registra- below (U.S. dollars). Final fees will be pub- tion fees if you register early. One-day regis- ACCESSIBILITY FOR lished in the June issue of GSA Today. tration is available on-site Sunday through REGISTRANTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS GSA is committed to making every event ESTIMATED REGISTRATION FEES ADVANCE ON-SITE at the 1998 Annual Meeting accessible to all people interested in attending. If you Costs in U.S. dollars Full Meeting Full Meeting One Day have special requirements, such as hear- Professional Member $210 $255 $128 ing-aided equipment or wheelchair acces- Professional GSA Member 70 or older $160 $205 $ 78 sibility, indicate them on the meeting Professional Nonmember $255 $300 $148 registration form, or contact Kathy Lynch, Student Associate Member $ 75 $100 $ 51 GSA headquarters, ext. 114, klynch@ Student Nonmember $100 $125 $ 61 geosociety.org. Please let us know your needs by September 25. Guest or Spouse (no technical session access) $ 75 $ 75 n/a K–12 Professional $ 25 $ 35 n/a Cont. Ed. or Field Trip Only $ 35 $ 35 n/a C14 ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ Special Events and Registration GSA Today, April 1998 obtained by contacting any local Customs office, some federal bookstores, and many travel agents.

GSA STUDENT ASSOCIATE MEMBER TRAVEL GRANTS Skydome Stadium and CN Tower — The GSA Foundation has awarded matching Photo courtesy of grants to the six GSA Sections. The money, Metropolitan Toronto Convention & when combined with equal funds from the Visitors Association Sections, is used to assist GSA Student Associates traveling to GSA meetings. The following sections offer assistance to the Annual Meeting in Toronto. The remaining two sections, Cordilleran and Rocky Mountain, offer assistance to their section meetings. For information and deadlines, contact your Section Secretary. TRAVEL FEDERAL AND STATE EMPLOYEES ■ North-Central: Robert F. Diffendal, Jr. GSA’s official travel agent (to be listed in Please put your request in NOW for foreign (402) 472-7546, [email protected] June GSA Today), is committed to obtaining travel. Canada is still regarded as foreign ■ Northeastern: Kenneth N. Weaver the best possible fares for GSA Annual travel by the federal government as well as (410) 554-5532, [email protected] Meeting travelers. Advance bookings with many state governments. Be sure the GSA ■ South-Central: Rena M. Bonem Saturday night stay-over are the best route Annual Meeting in Toronto is on the (254) 710-2361, [email protected] to lowest fares. However, as with all airline “approved” travel list. ■ Southeastern: Harold H. Stowell (205) 348-5098, reservations, please use caution regarding U.S. VISA HOLDERS change and cancellation penalties that [email protected] Please get in touch with your consulate accompany low-fare tickets. This applies NOW. You may travel easily into Canada, but especially to field trip and continuing edu- LODGING you may encounter some questions when cation participants, whose trip or course GSA has booked rooms at eight properties returning into the United States. Citizens or may be canceled after the September 18 that offer special convention rates ranging permanent residents of other countries preregistration deadline. from CAN$86 (US$60) to CAN$155 (US$109) must have a valid passport and/or a valid single, and CAN$86 (US$60) to CAN$177 The Lester B. Pearson International Airport visitors visa and should contact their local (US$124) double. A block of 600 rooms is is located in the northwestern corner of Canadian Embassy, Consulate, or High reserved at the Sheraton Centre, which is Toronto and is about 30 to 40 minutes from Commission Office for further qualification. the headquarters for the meeting, and will downtown. Airport shuttle services are pro- TRAVEL AND IMMIGRATION host most social and business events. Other vided from the airport to downtown hotels INFORMATION FOR participating hotels include the Royal York, for a small fee. For further information on CONVENTION DELEGATES Marriott Eaton Centre, Days Inn Toronto, Ontario contact the Canadian Tourism Delta Chelsea Inn, Bond Place, Strathcona Commission, 235 Queen St., Ottawa, ON, Citizens or permanent residents of the Hotel, and Toronto Colony Hotel. In addi- K1A 0H6, Canada, (613) 954-1900. Their Web United States can usually cross the border tion, several lower cost properties will be site is www./info.ic.gc.ca/tourism. For local without difficulty or delay. However, certain available to student registrants. Toronto information contact Tourism types of identification are required by both Toronto, P.O. Box 126, 207 Queens Quay W., Canada and U.S. Immigration. For native- Most activities will take place at the Metro Suite 590, Toronto, ON, M5J 1A7, Canada born Americans and/or U.S. citizens, Toronto Convention Centre, the Sheraton, (416) 203-2600. Their Web site is Canadian Immigration requires either a and the Delta Chelsea Inn. www.tourism-toronto.com. passport or a birth certificate, supported by photo I.D. For return entry, U.S. Immi- GSA SHUTTLE “We’re not in Kansas anymore, …” gration officials also suggest that you have Only two of the Toronto hotels are within And crossing the border is EASY—thousands one of these items with you, in addition to easy walking distance from the Convention of people do it every day. There are just a your normal identification. A permanent Centre; however, GSA will provide daytime few basic things to remember. Visit the GSA resident who is not a citizen is required to shuttle service between the other GSA- Toronto Web site for links to travel informa- possess a 1551 or 1151 form (“Green Card”) selected hotels and the Convention Centre tion: www/geosociety.org/meetings/98, by both U.S. and Canadian Immigration. throughout the week. Service will be extend- then e-mail us if you have questions: ed to all GSA hotels during the evening [email protected]. “KNOW BEFORE YOU GO” BROCHURE—U.S. hours. This brochure informs travelers of applica- ble exemptions, restrictions, etc. It can be

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EMPLOYMENT INTERVIEW GUEST PROGRAM DEMO THEATER SERVICE A hospitality room will be provided in The GSA Demo Theater offers individual GSA will again be offering its Employment the Sheraton Centre Hotel for registered demonstrations of geoscience products, Interview Service. Each year, this program guests to meet, enjoy refreshments, and services, and new technologies. Also includ- provides valuable job-matching opportuni- obtain information on Toronto and ed are shareware and freeware opportuni- ties in the geosciences. At the 1997 meeting, surrounding areas. Formal and informal ties. The presentation schedule will appear in Salt Lake City, participating employers tour information will also be available. on GSA’s Web site in August and in the on- conducted over 504 interviews with nearly Guest registration includes an exhibit hall site Program. If you are interested in show- 211 applicants seeking employment! pass, but does not give access to technical casing your product, service, or sessions. (A guest can obtain a temporary shareware/freeware, contact the Exhibits As in the past, booths will be provided for pass to see a spouse or friend present Manager by e-mail: meetings@ employers to interview applicants registered his/her paper.) geosociety.org. with the Employment Service, and GSA staff will be on hand to coordinate the schedul- PRELIMINARY LIST OF ing of interviews. In particular, students ORGANIZED TOURS completing doctoral and master’s theses Open to All GSA Registrants during 1998 are encouraged to check the Look for detailed tour descrip- job offerings. tions and prices in the June issue See the July 1998 issue of GSA Today for of GSA Today. applicant and employer forms and further ■ Bird watching information, or contact Terry Moreland, ■ City tour Employment Service Manager, GSA ■ Niagara Falls tour, including headquarters, [email protected]. Butterfly Museum and lunch Information is also available on GSA’s at a winery Web site, www.geosociety.org, in the ■ McMichael Gallery, Membership Services section. Kleinburg—guided tour ■ Festival Theatre Trip GRADUATE SCHOOL ■ Cooking class INFORMATION FORUM ■ Art Gallery of Ontario— This forum provides an opportunity for guided tour undergraduate students planning to obtain ■ High Tea at the King Edward advanced degrees to meet one-on-one Hotel with representatives of graduate schools. ■ Don Valley Brick Works This informal setting provides a unique Museum and Park tour, and opportunity to discuss interests and explore walk along the stream to programs. A list of participating schools will Mount Pleasant Cemetery appear in the June and September issues of GSA Today. If your school is interested in participating, contact GSA headquarters, meetings@ geosociety.org. The reservation deadline Exhibits is August 15. The 31⁄2 day 275-booth exposition will showcase more than 170 organizations rep- resenting the latest geological publications; geological software; scientific instru- mentation; microanalysis and photographic equipment; geoscience educational supplies; gems, minerals, and fossils; resource information from environmental, STUDENTS! national, and state agencies; field supplies and gear; geoscience associations, labo- FREE BREAKFAST ratory services, miscellaneous services, and information on earth science programs GSA President, Vic Baker, invites at major institutions. Find out more about our current 1998 exhibitors by visiting all the students registered for our on-line Product and Service Guide. www.geosociety.org/meetings/98. the meeting to join him and many other GSA officers for a Exhibitors can reach more than 6,000 influential and key decision-makers from free buffet breakfast hosted by the geoscience community, meeting face-to-face with attendees and developing Exxon early on Monday morning, new customers, increasing sales, and educating current customers on your organi- October 26. Put this one on zation’s benefits. For information on becoming an exhibitor and taking advantage your calendar now! of this highly cost-effective marketing opportunity, contact the Exhibits Manager, GSA headquarters, [email protected]. C16 ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ Special Programs and Exhibits GSA Today, April 1998 1997 PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS Deep Mantle Plumes and Geoscience Vision

George A. Thompson, GSA President, 1997

Joy and amazement at the beauty and grandeur of this World of which Man can just form a faint notion —Albert Einstein

INTRODUCTION sustaining. A glance through the program Clearly, the theory of plate tectonics, of this meeting [the 1997 GSA Annual now about 30 years old, tops the list of Humans, perhaps alone in the animal Meeting] will demonstrate that a large great unifying concepts in earth sciences. world, have a basic spiritual hunger to fraction of the program is devoted to To illustrate its power for communication soar beyond the mundane. This has led to GSA’s efforts to educate at all levels. with the public: Anita and I, who are superstition and magic, but more impor- Now, what does all this have to weekend tree farmers, discovered that a tantly to a serious awe and reverence for do with deep mantle plumes? logger friend with an abbreviated high the nighttime sky and a hunger for under- school education knows all about plate standing Nature in all its variety. This GEOSCIENCE CONCEPTS tectonics—mostly learned from public spiritual hunger was a theme of Eldridge television and popular reading, but not far Moores in his address to you a year ago, Great unifying concepts or models, from the accurate scientific mark (Fig. 1). and I carry on the theme. Einstein may sometimes called paradigms to make them And besides the fun of plate tectonics, have been a geologist at heart. Geoscience, more mysterious, not only cut through the no exploration program can afford to along with astronomy, provides a far more barriers of specialization and jargon among ignore it! fantastic reality than magic, of our tiny ourselves but also allow us to communi- A second great unifying concept is place in the immense span of time and cate the beauty and challenge of science to that of biological mass extinctions and the space—in the case of geoscience we enjoy nonscientists, a goal advocated by Richard role of asteroid impacts. The resulting fits a full range from the spiritual to useful Feynman: ‘’The world looks so different after and starts of evolution are responsible for applications. We geoscientists are lucky learning science. For example, trees are made the rise of mammals like us. Despite ero- to be able to enjoy that vision and also of air, primarily. When they are burned, they sion and subduction, impact structures to find oil, manage groundwater, mitigate go back to air, and in the flaming heat is are abundant on Earth. The Manicouagan landslides, and predict volcanic eruptions. released the flaming heat of the sun which was impact crater on the Canadian shield, for Most important, we need to learn, and to bound in to convert the air into tree. [A]nd in example, (Fig. 2) is 70 km in diameter and help our fellow humans learn, to interact the ash is the small remnant of the part which is 210 m.y. old. Meteor Crater, Arizona with Earth without degrading it irretriev- did not come from air, that came from the (Fig. 3), is 1.2 km in diameter and has an ably, to live sustainably beyond our indi- solid earth, instead. These are beautiful things, age of only 25 ka. I show Meteor Crater in vidual tiny niche in space and time. and the content of science is wonderfully full memory of Gene Shoemaker, who studied I am pleased to report that your Soci- of them. They are very inspiring, and they can it so well. The implications of larger ety is doing an excellent job of reaching be used to inspire others.” [Quoted in out, in education and in public policy, National Science Education Standards, through two programs that are largely self- National Academy Press, 1996.] Presidential Address continued on p. 18

Figure 1. Tectonic plates on Earth. The Hawaiian seamount chain is near the upper left. From NASA.

GSA TODAY, April 1998 17 Figure 2. The Manicouagan impact crater on the Canadian shield, 70 km in Figure 3. Meteor Crater, Arizona, 1.2 km in diameter and 25 ka. diameter and 210 m.y. old. From NASA. From NASA.

Presidential Address continued from p. 17 the simplest interpretation of present evi- Even at the world scale of Figure 1 one can dence—the criterion of Occam’s razor— make out this chain. About 40 hotspots impacts for life and for evolution are I’ll be at the risk illustrated in a cartoon of are usually identified worldwide; a com- staggering. They include the confirmation Jack Oliver’s showing Occam accidentally pilation for the western hemisphere is of impact splashes from Mars onto Earth cutting his own throat. shown in Figure 4. Some of these are and intense speculative interest in the almost certainly secondary, produced by possibility of transfer of fossils or even CONCEPT OF DEEP MANTLE sublithospheric buoyant flow from major of primitive life among the planets. PLUMES plume heads (e.g., Ebinger and Sleep, Third are the extremophiles, life 1998). In contrast to plumes, ordinary Mantle plumes are the mothers of forms that live in extremes of boiling convection expressed at ocean ridges flood basalts and of the greatest dike water and in rocks at depths and tempera- cools the mantle, and, as pointed out to swarms on Earth (e.g., Ernst and Buchan, tures that seem like pure fantasy. They are me about 30 years ago by Tanya Atwater, 1997); they help to drive tectonic pro- an abundant biomass, unsuspected until the ridges move about with respect to cesses and to deposit ores. Their surface recently, and their implications for evolu- each other. This is easily seen in the ridges expression, long-lived hotspots, such as tion, for chemical changes, and for appli- surrounding Africa (Fig. 1), where the Hawaii, Iceland, and Yellowstone, form a cations are barely imagined. comparatively stationary Finally, my own current fascination reference frame over which with an important unifying concept is the tectonic plates perform with deep mantle plumes. Tuzo Wilson their slow dance, making (1993) did not live to deliver his talk on volcanic tracks such as the the neglect of deep mantle plumes, but Hawaii-Emperor seamount he would be excited to learn of progress chain, which tracks the dif- since 1993. I focus here on the geophysical ferential movement and tectonic aspects, and outline without between the hotspot and much qualification models that in some the Pacific plate (e.g., Tar- cases are quite speculative. By adopting duno and Cothrell, 1997).

A 2770 km depth Figure 4. A compilation of hotspots in the western hemi- sphere; the Cape Verde hotspot is high- lighted for this paper. From unpublished work by Stephen Gardoll (University of Western Aus- B 2700 km depth tralia) and Andrew Long Figure 5. The Farallon subducted slab independently imaged by P (Stanford Uni- and S waves (A and B, respectively) in a section across North Amer- versity). ica. Blue represents seismically slower and therefore cooler regions. The base of each section is near the thin D” layer, transitional from the mantle to the liquid core. From Grand et al. (1997).

18 GSA TODAY, April 1998 surrounding mantle, and buoyantly uplifts a region roughly 1000 km in diameter to produce a topographic bulge about 1 km high (Sleep, 1997, and references therein). Decompression melting in and around the plume head can produce immense vol- umes of magma rapidly, generating huge dike swarms and erupting as flood basalts, whose volumes are typically several mil- lion cubic kilometers. The plume tail (the Figure 6. Earthquake tee under the golf ball) lives on as a rising tomographic image of convective column for tens to hundreds of the Iceland plume millions of years and produces a track of column to a depth volcanism such as the Hawaii-Emperor of about 400 km. seamount chain if the overlying plate is From C. Wolfe (Wolfe et al., 1997). moving relative to the plume. It is impor- tant to emphasize that the starting head and the presumed flood basalts that sig- naled the first emergence of the Hawaiian plume are long gone—probably subducted at the Aleutian trench. Hawaii and its hotspot track, as well as Yellowstone and Iceland, are solely manifestations of plume tails.

Mackenzie Dike Swarm and Intrusive Sheets Giant, radiating dike swarms are ridges must move apart because there is heterogeneity in the thin (200 km) core- key to recognizing ancient mantle plumes no subduction within the African plate. mantle transition zone (e.g., Kuo and Wu, even where tell-tale flood basalts have Deep mantle plumes, on the other hand, 1997; Wysession et al., 1992), an unstable been tectonically or erosionally removed supply the cooling mechanism for Earth’s situation that leads to buoyant rise of (e.g., Ernst and Buchan, 1997). A striking liquid core. incipient plumes, which are too small example is the 1.265 Ga Mackenzie swarm Improved earthquake tomography to be clearly imaged at these depths. of northern Canada (Fahrig and West, shows that at least some subducted slabs Plumes in laboratory models (e.g., 1986) (Fig. 7) with an extent of about plunge all the way to the core-mantle Whitehead and Luther, 1975) develop 2000 km! Dikes make their own fractures transition zone, the D’’ layer of seismology a rising viscous column topped by a in the brittle crust, inflate to widths of (Fig. 5). The Central America and Japan voluminous head several times as large— tens of meters, and propagate, at about subducted slabs are similar (van der Hilst imagine a mushy golf ball on a mushy tee. the rate a person can walk, for hundreds et al., 1997) to the Farallon slab. Earth- In nature, the rising column is perhaps of kilometers. quake tomography also demonstrates as thin as 100 km in diameter, and the In addition to dike swarms, which are a surprisingly low velocity and lateral head is many times larger. When the usually mapped aeromagnetically, seismic head reaches the base of the lithosphere, reflection imaging has discovered exten- a geologic drama begins. The column of sive subhorizontal intrusive sheets in the the Iceland plume is shown to a depth mid-crust. Some are connected with the of about 400 km in the earthquake tomo- Mackenzie dikes (Mandler and Clowes, graphic image of Figure 6. The plume head 1997). The Winagami reflection sequence, (the golf ball) has already dispersed from of an age bracketed between 1.89 and the Iceland plume by buoyant flow into 1.76 Ma, has been found over an area of and along the rift, as computationally 120,000 km2 in western Canada (Ross and modeled by Sleep (1997). Eaton, 1997). The intrusive sheets, typi- The starting plume head, hundreds cally about 10–300 m thick, usually cut of degrees hotter than normal mantle, spreads laterally beneath the compara- tively refractory lithosphere, incorporates Presidential Address continued on p. 20

Figure 8. Sub- horizontal intrusive sheets in the Pre- cambrian crust of Arizona, imaged from a single large explosion (Goodwin Figure 7. Simplified map of the Mackenzie giant et al., 1989). radiating dike swarm (1.265 Ga) of northern Canada. S marks coeval sills: black area indicates coeval Coppermine volcanics. From Ernst et al. (1995).

GSA TODAY, April 1998 19 Presidential Address YELLOWSTONE MANTLE PLUME continued from p. 19 The Yellowstone plume first emerged at the McDermitt caldera along the Ore- across rock fabric and reside at a range of gon-Nevada border about 16–17 m.y. ago mid-crustal depths. Similar subhorizontal (Fig. 10), although it may have had ances- intrusions are common the world over. tral expressions (Geist and Richards, 1993; Figure 8 shows a seismically imaged exam- Opplinger et al., 1997). From this center, ple from Arizona (Goodwin et al., 1989). dikes raced southward for hundreds of The explanation for the process of subhor- kilometers, forming the northern Nevada izontal sheet intrusion is intriguing (e.g., rift, and northward to feed the Columbia McCarthy and Thompson, 1988; Parsons River flood basalts (Pierce and Morgan, and Thompson, 1991). As shown in Figure 1992; Zoback and Thompson, 1978; 9, dikes inject perpendicular to the least Zoback et al., 1994). The Nevada aeromag- horizontal stress, as in artificial hydraulic netic map (Fig. 11) shows the expression fracturing, but unlike the hydrofrac pro- of the northern Nevada rift and subparal- cess, magma chills against the fracture lel or radiating rifts to the west. A map of walls, inflates the dike, and in so doing exposed dikes in part of the rift is shown increases the horizontal stress until the in Figure 12. A region perhaps 1000 km vertical stress becomes least. Melt then in diameter was buoyantly elevated per- shoots off in horizontal sheets, again per- haps 1 km by the starting plume head and pendicular to the least stress, lifting the has now tectonically extended and sub- crust above. Injection of a 5-m-thick dike sided. The effects of the plume in the is equivalent to a very large normal-fault northern Basin and Range province and Figure 9. Progressive (from top to bottom) effect earthquake in its effect on the elastic stress eastern Sierra Nevada were dramatic of dike injection on stress relations in an extending in the crust. Dike injection always tends to and profound. (normal faulting) environment. The Mohr dia- decrease the stress difference and therefore The extended crust is only half as grams show how dike inflation tends to increase to suppress faulting and earthquakes. thick as needed to support the elevation, the least horizontal stress, diminish the stress dif- Deep crustal reflection imaging now and the excess buoyancy is in the upper ference (shown by the diameter of the Mohr cir- has the resolution to illuminate tectonic mantle (Fig. 13). The relic of the Yellow- cle), suppress normal faulting, make the vertical stress least, and lead to injection of horizontal events and processes in three dimensions. stone plume head is a mass deficiency cal- sheets. From Parsons and Thompson (1991).

Figure 10. Emergence point of Yellowstone plume (large star), its track on the Snake River Plain, and its present position at Yellowstone (small star). The line Figure 11. Aeromagnetic map of Nevada; the most prominent extending south from the large star indicates dike swarms of the northern Nevada anomaly is associated with the dike swarms of the northern Nevada rift. To the north are shown the Columbia River flood basalts (CP) and their feeder rift. Smaller subparallel anomalies west of the rift probably indicate dikes. Heavy lines at left indicate the position of the Mendocino fracture zone at concealed dikes radiating from the emergence point of the Yellow- three time intervals. From Zoback et al. (1994). stone plume. From Blakely (1988).

20 GSA TODAY, April 1998 Figure 13. Probable location of the plume head of the Yellowstone hotspot, expressed as mantle mass deficiency (or excess buoyancy) per unit area, as cal- culated from crustal seismic data and gravity constraints. From Parsons et al. (1994).

Figure 12. Dikes of the northern Nevada rift exposed in the Roberts Mountains. From Zoback et al. (1994).

culated by Parsons (Parsons et al., 1994) from seismic and gravity data. Meanwhile, the North American plate was moving south- westward, carrying much of the material of the plume head with it, while the plume tail or stem produced a remarkable volcanic track along the eastern Snake River Plain to its present location beneath the Yellowstone Plateau (Fig. 14; topographic track is 100 km wide). Remarkably, as the Basin and Range terrane extended south- westward in this region, breaking into large normal-faulted blocks and producing large earthquakes, the Snake River Plain somehow extended along with the surrounding mountains but without large normal faults or earthquakes. The key to this puzzle is revealed by lines of basaltic vents and minor rifts, marking dike swarms that extend across the plain (Fig. 15). The plain stretched by dike injections in a process akin to ocean-ridge spreading (Fig. 16). The Yellowstone mantle plume, in summary, powered much of the late Cenozoic tectonic and magmatic activity in a broad region.

CENTRAL ATLANTIC (CAPE VERDE) PLUME Primary evidence for the giant Central Atlantic, or Cape Verde, plume (Fig. 17) is an extraordinary system of Jurassic dia- base dikes (Fig. 18) that radiated from approximately the Blake Plateau off the southeastern U.S. coast for thousands of kilome- ters into North America, South America, and Africa at a time Figure 14. Plume track of the Yellowstone hotspot, forming the eastern when these continents were still joined. May (1971) recognized Snake River Plain, and Basin and Range fault blocks to the north and the unity of this dike system in a paper, published, I’m happy south of the plain. Yellow marks earthquakes. From Parsons and to say, in the GSA Bulletin. Corresponding flood basalts are seismi- Thompson (1991). cally imaged offshore (Lizarralde and Holbrook, 1997; Kelemen and Holbrook, 1995; Fig. 19 here), and along with intrusive rocks Presidential Address continued on p. 22

GSA TODAY, April 1998 21 Figure 16. Model for aseismic strain by dike injection in the eastern Figure 15. Lines of basaltic vents and minor rifts (dashed yellow lines) extending Snake River Plain (ESRP) and transition to block faulting off the plain. across the eastern Snake River Plain. From Parsons et al. (1998). From Parsons et al. (1998).

201 Ma, Early Jurassic (e.g., Deckart et al., 1997; Weems and Olsen, 1997, p. 199). But well before the magmatic activity broke out, eastern North America began to pull apart in the extensive system of Figure 17. Location of Triassic, sediment-filled rifts roughly paral- the Cape Verde and lel with the coast and with the earlier Pale- other plumes at 210 Ma. ozoic structures. The plume head underlay From unpublished work this region (Fig. 17). When magma broke of Stephen Gardoll through the lithosphere, radial and then (University of Western Australia) and Andrew rift-parallel dikes were injected for thou- Long (Stanford sands of kilometers. The pattern is com- University). plex in detail; for example, in North America a pulse of magma generated a prominent subcenter of dikes radiating from near the coast of South Carolina (Ragland et al., 1983). In the hard Paleozoic and older rocks, the pressurized magma fractured and injected the rocks as dikes. Figure 21 Presidential Address continued from p. 21 shows a part of the Virginia geologic map (Virginia Division of Mineral Resources, that inflated the crust, they are responsible 1993) with generally straight dikes cutting for the East Coast magnetic anomaly the older rocks. But in the softer sedimen- (Fig 20). Here are the missing flood basalts! tary rocks of the Triassic Culpeper Basin Modern, high-quality radiometric dates on in Virginia (Fig. 22), the magma ballooned dikes and flows on the three continents into huge irregular dikes, sills, and blobs. cluster around a starting time of about Similarly, in the Gettysburg Basin in Penn-

Figure 18. Giant swarm of Early Jurassic dikes radiating from offshore eastern North America (star) into the three continents before breakup. Figure 19. Cross section of the Atlantic margin of North America constructed from seismic images. From Ernst et al. (1995). From W. S. Holbrook (Lizarralde and Holbrook, 1997).

22 GSA TODAY, April 1998 Figure 20. East Coast magnetic anomaly (ECMA), produced by the flood basalts and intrusions shown in Figure 19. From W. S. Holbrook (Lizarralde and Holbrook, 1997). Figure 21. Part of the geologic map of Virginia (Virginia Division of Mineral Resources, 1993), showing the diabase dikes (red) cutting hard Paleozoic rocks. Width of area shown is 40 km.

sylvania, shown at a larger scale in Figure 23 (Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources, 1980), one sees the ballooning of the diabase intrusions. Here the master fault of the half-graben is on the north side and is now almost obliterated by the intrusive diabase. Also on the north side is the location of the great Cornwall magnetite deposit, which operated from well before the Revolutionary War until 1972, when a hurricane shorted out the power supply to the electric pumps. Ore deposits like Cornwall derived their iron and copper, as well as the heat for hydrothermal circulation, from the diabase intrusions, and Figure 22. Another part of the geologic map of Virginia, also an area 40 km wide, showing the diabase ballooning in the Triassic sedimentary rocks of the Presidential Address continued on p. 24 Culpeper Basin.

Figure 23. Part of the geologic map of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Depart- ment of Environmental Resources, 1980), 8-km-wide area, showing the northwest-dipping bands of Triassic sedimentary rocks (lower right) in the Gettysburg Basin. The huge irregular diabase intrusions (orange) balloon in the Triassic sedimentary rocks and mask the northern boundary fault of the half-graben. The northern bound- ary is the site of the historical Cornwall iron mine.

GSA TODAY, April 1998 23 Figure 24. Location of the Cape Verde plume at 170 Ma, after initial opening of the Atlantic Ocean. From unpublished work by Stephen Gardoll (University of Western Australia) and Andrew Long (Stanford University).

Figure 26. Earth, the blue-green water planet, is uniquely beautiful. From the National Academy of Presidential Address continued from p. 23 advancing across and beyond the Cape Sciences. Verde plume. Thus, the plume was cap- Paleozoic carbonates precipitated the ore. tured by the nearly stationary African Thus, a convective plume originating at plate around 150 Ma and remains on the continental crust to stretch, namely by the core-mantle boundary shaped our African plate today. emplacement of dikes, like the stretching landscape and history in this region! at oceanic ridges. Meanwhile, the Atlantic had begun CONCLUSIONS These dramatic tectono-magmatic to open (Fig. 24). We can trace the path of The immense volume of the hot events are not mere passive consequences the Central Atlantic plume and identify it plume head, and the lesser ongoing flow of the Atlantic opening or, in the west, clearly as the Cape Verde plume (Fig. 25). of the Cape Verde plume column, pro- passive consequences of older compres- The Atlantic fracture zones (e.g., Kane; see foundly influenced the tectono-magmatic sion and subduction, but resulted from Fig. 25) show the path of opening. The events on three continents. In western powerful new inputs of plume energy. oldest magnetic stripes preserved in the North America, the Yellowstone plume The paradigm of deep mantle plumes, ocean floor on both sides of the Atlantic head spread widely, burped out the like plate tectonics or asteroid impacts, date to about 170 Ma. As the African plate Columbia River basalts, and reactivated supplies a wonderful unifying concept for held nearly stationary in the hotspot Basin-and-Range uplift and extension. geoscientists and for communicating our frame of reference, North America sailed The Yellowstone plume column, or tail, science to the world at large. Walter Sulli- slowly away to the northwest at about the left a spectacular track, the eastern Snake van said it well: “The discovery that there rate a fingernail grows. And the early Mid- River Plain, on the moving plate, and on is order and logic in the seeming random- Atlantic Ridge also moved northwest at the way revealed to us another mechanical ness of nature can be a quasi-religious half the North American rate, quickly process besides normal faulting for the experience. There is great beauty to be found there, and the succesful teachers and writers who, having glimpsed it, are driven to share it with others.” [Quoted by Bruce Alberts in address to National Academy of Sciences, April 1996] Earth, our beautiful blue-green water planet (Fig. 26), is clearly the best of the lot and deserves all the care that we can give to it!

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am indebted to many colleagues who, sometimes unknowingly, served as inspiring teachers. I am especially indebted to Norm Sleep and Tom Parsons for illuminating discussions of the grow- ing knowledge about mantle plumes. The support of a talented and generous GSA staff made my year as president enjoyable and, I hope, productive.

REFERENCES CITED Blakely, R. J., 1988, Curie temperature isotherm analysis and tectonic implications of aeromagnetic data from Nevada: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 93, Figure 25. The present-day Atlantic ocean, showing fracture zones and magnetic chrons in relation to p. 11,817–11,832. the Cape Verde hotspot. The fracture zones, marking the path of opening, lead clearly from the center of the Jurassic radial dike swarm (approximately at the Blake Plateau) to the Cape Verde hotspot. See text for further explanation. From Exxon Production Research (1985). Presidential Address continued on p. 25

24 GSA TODAY, April 1998 LETTER

The recent article by Eugenie Scott on “Creationism and external to literally interpreted Biblical claims, that will win Evolution” in the January GSA Today (SAGE Remarks) prompts over a creationist, because there is none, for the rules by this comment. As one who has been teaching for many years which one assesses “truth” are fundamentally different for an undergraduate course on Darwin and the Origin of Species, I each side of the debate. would like to provide another, rather different perspective on the creationism and evolution debate. I have found that focusing on the underlying epistemolo- gies of different realms of knowledge—science, religion, the The approach I have found most useful for my students is arts—is more instructive for students as a way for their discov- to make clear the distinct epistemological differences between ering what is more likely credible and useful with respect to the rival claims of creationists and evolutionists. The episte- certain aspects of human experience. Thus, one should rely mology of each side is diametrically opposed: what they on the epistemology of science for the removal of a cancer; know, how they know it, and the limits of their knowledge. religious belief might console after the death of a loved one; The creationist is unequivocally committed to textual content, and the arts can enrich aesthetic experience. namely the literal meaning of Biblical Genesis, and disbelieves anything that contradicts that content. The evolutionist, by This emphasis on an epistemological approach to knowl- contrast, is thoroughly committed to method, namely drawing edge will win over many more adherents to evolution in par- logical inferences from reproducible observations. Whereas ticular, and science more generally, than the fruitless debates the evolutionist will revise current content if the results of the about creationism that too often degenerate into “is”/“isn’t.” method so dictate, the creationist has no method and simply Leo F. Laporte relies on an inerrant text. University of California It is not rational, therefore, for the well-meaning evolu- Santa Cruz, CA 95064 tionist to expect that there is some critical body of evidence,

Presidential Address continued from p. 24 Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 102, p. 22,855– matism in the Proterozoic of western Canada: Geology, 22,875. v. 25, p. 199–202.

Deckart, K., Feraud, G., and Bertrand, H., 1997, Age Mandler, H. A. F., and Clowes, R. M., 1997, Evidence for Sleep, N. H., 1997, Lateral flow and ponding of starting of Jurassic continental tholeiites of French Guyana, extensive tabular intrusions in the Precambrian shield plume material: Journal of Geophysical Research, Surinam, and Guinea: Implications for the initial open- of western Canada: A 160-km-long sequence of bright v. 102, p. 10,001–10,012. reflections: Geology, v. 25, p. 271–274. ing of the central Atlantic Ocean: Earth and Planetary Tarduno, J. A., and Cottell, R. D., 1997, Paleomagnetic Science Letters, v. 150, p. 205–220. May, P. R., 1971, Pattern of Triassic-Jurassic diabase evidence for motion of the Hawaiian hotspot during Ebinger, C. , and Sleep, N. H. , 1998, Cenozoic magma- dikes around the North Atlantic in context of predrift formation of the Emperor seamounts: Earth and Plane- tism in Africa: One plume goes a long way: Nature positions of the continents: Geological Society of tary Science Letters, v. 153, p. 171–180. America Bulletin, v. 82, p. 1285–1293. (in press). van der Hilst, R. D., Widiyantoro, S., and Engdahl, E. R., Ernst, R. E., Head, J. W., Parfitt, E., Grosfils, E., and McCarthy, J., and Thompson, G. A., 1988, Seismic 1997, Evidence for deep mantle circulation from global Wilson, L., 1995, Giant radiating dyke swarms on Earth imaging of extended crust with emphasis on the tomography: Nature, v. 386, p. 578. western United States: Geological Society of America and Venus: Earth-Science Reviews, v. 39, p. 1–58. Virginia Division of Mineral Resources, 1993, Virginia Bulletin, v. 100, p. 1361–1374. Ernst, R. E., and Buchan, H. L., 1997, Giant radiating state geologic map: Charlottesville, Commonwealth of dike swarms: Their use in identifying pre-Mesozoic Opplinger, G. L., Murphy, J. B., and Brimhall, G. H., Jr., Virginia, scale 1:500,000. 1997, Is the ancestral Yellowstone hotspot responsible large igneous provinces and mantle plumes, in Weems, R. E., and Olsen, P. E., 1997, Synthesis and revi- for the Tertiary “Carlin” mineralization in the Great Mahoney, J. J., and Coffin, M. F., eds., Large igneous sion of groups within the Newark Supergroup, eastern Basin of Nevada?: Geology, v. 25, p. 627–630. provinces: Washington, D.C., American Geophysical North America: Geological Society of America Bulletin, Union Monograph 100, p. 297–334. Parsons, T., and Thompson, G. A., 1991, The role of v. 109, p. 195–209. magma overpressure in suppressing earthquakes and Exxon Production Research, 1985, World tectonic map: Whitehead, J. A., and Luther, D. S., 1995, Dynamics topography: Worldwide examples: Science, v. 253, Houston, Texas, scale 1:10,000,000. of laboratory diapir and plume models: Journal of p. 1399–1402. Fahrig, W. F., and West, T. D., 1986, Diabase dike Geophysical Research, v. 80, p. 705–717. Parsons, T., Thompson, G. A., and Sleep, N. H., 1994, swarms of the Canadian shield: Ottawa, Ontario, Wilson, J. T., 1993, The neglect of migrating plumes Mantle plume influence on the Neogene uplift and Geological Survey of Canada, Map 1627A. as a major weakness in the earth sciences [abs.]: Eos extension of the U.S. western Cordillera?: Geology, (Transactions, American Geophysical Union), v. 74 Geist, D., and Richards, M., 1993, Origin of the v. 22, p. 83–86. Columbia Plateau and Snake River Plain: Geology, (16, suppl.), p. 299. Parsons, T., Thompson, G. A., and Smith, R. P, 1998, v. 21, p. 789–792. Wolfe, C. J., Bjarnason, I. T., VanDecar, J. C., and More than one way to stretch: A tectonic model for Solomon, S. C., 1997, Seismic structure of the Iceland Goodwin, E. B., Thompson, G. A., and Okaya, D. A., extension along the plume track of the Yellowstone mantle plume: Nature, v. 385, p. 245–247. 1989, Seismic identification of basement reflectors: hotspot and adjacent Basin and Range province, USA: The Bagdad reflection sequence in the Basin and Range Tectonics (in press). Exxon Production Research, 1985, World tectonic map: province–Colorado Plateau transition zone, Arizona: Houston, Texas, scale 1:10,000,000. Tectonics, v. 8, p. 821–831. Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources, 1980, Geologic map of Pennsylvania: Harrisburg, Penn- Wysession, M. E., Okal, E. A., and Bina, C. R., 1992, Grand, S. P., van der Hilst, R. D., and Widiyantoro, S., sylvania, scale 1:250,000. The structure of the core-mantle boundary from 1997, Global seismic tomography: A snapshot of con- diffracted waves: Journal of Geophysical Research, Pierce, K. L., and Morgan, L. A., 1992, The track of the vection in the earth: GSA Today, v. 7, no. 4, p. 1–7. v. 97, p. 8749–8764. Yellowstone hotspot: Volcanism, faulting, and uplift, Kelemen, P. B., and Holbrook, W. S., 1995, Origin of in Link, P. K., et al., eds., Regional geology of eastern Zoback, M. L., and Thompson, G. A., 1978, Basin and thick, high-velocity igneous crust along the U.S. east Idaho and western Wyoming: Geological Society of Range rifting in northern Nevada: Clues from a mid- coast margin: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 100, America Memoir 179, p. 1–53. Miocene rift and its subsequent offsets: Geology, v. 6, p. 10,007–10,094. p. 111–116. Ragland, P. C., Hatcher, R. D., Jr., and Whittington, D., Kuo, B.-Y., and Wu, K.-Y., 1997, Global shear-velocity 1983, Juxtaposed Mesozoic dike sets from the Caroli- Zoback, M. L., McKee, E. H., Blakely, R. J., and Thomp- heterogeneities in the D″ layer: Inversion from Sd-SKS nas: A preliminary assessment: Geology, v. 11, son, G. A., 1994, The northern Nevada rift: Regional differential travel times: Journal of Geophysical p. 394–399. tectono-magmatic relations and middle Miocene stress Research, v. 102, p. 11,775–11,788. direction: Geological Society of America Bulletin, Ross, G. M., and Eaton, D. W., 1997, Winagami reflec- v. 106, p. 371–382. ■ Lizarralde, D., and Holbrook, W. S., 1997, U.S. mid- tion sequence: Seismic evidence for postcollisional mag- Atlantic margin structure and early thermal evolution:

GSA TODAY, April 1998 25 Institute for Environmental ENVIRONMENT MATTERS Education Geologic Field Trip Access to National Forests

John Dragonetti and David Applegate, American Geological Institute Government Affairs Program, 4220 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22302-1502, [email protected]

Among geoscientists, there is no stead Act of 1862 prevailed, government common is the sheer size of the lands activity quite so cherished as the geologic land would frequently pass into private overseen by the Forest Service—three field trip. For students and professionals, ownership, with forests cleared for farm- times that of the National Park System. the opportunity to get out on the outcrop ing and other purposes. This situation Currently, the National Park Service man- and experience the natural laboratory is changed dramatically when the first ages 78 million acres, the Forest Service for many the defining experience of our national forests were established with manages 191 million acres, and the occupation. Likewise, summer field camp passage of the Forest Reserve Act of 1891. Bureau of Land Management manages 266 remains a key component of undergradu- This Act allowed the President to set aside million acres. It is anticipated that these ate geoscience curricula. Many of these lands containing forests as “public reserva- acreages will increase as the public seeks to field trips and camps take place in the tions.” Subsequent legislation, such as the expand its ownership of lands containing western United States, much of which is Organic Administration Act of 1897, the cultural, historical, or other unique fea- federal land managed principally by the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, and the Tay- tures as well as locations of environmental Department of the Interior’s National Park lor Grazing Act, have broadened the origi- sensitivity or scenic attraction. Service and Bureau of Land Management, nal authority and extended similar rule to and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s other public lands. Access Restrictions Forest Service. Although field trip leaders The large-scale disposal of public In the National Park System, geo- are accustomed to restrictions on access lands ended in 1976 with the passage of logical field work requires permits for any and sample collecting at national parks, the Federal Land Policy and Management kind of sample collection (not just fossils), they are used to minimal contact with Act that mandated the public ownership and fairly stringent reporting specifica- other land managers. Within that context, of government lands in perpetuity. Lands tions are in force. Special-use permits for GSA and other professional societies have administered by the Forest Service and groups and other restrictions go with the received several complaints this past year the Bureau of Land Management after territory. But several field trip leaders have from geologic field trip leaders concerning 1976 are managed under the concept of been surprised to find out that special-use entry onto Forest Service lands—specifi- multiple use, and regulations have been permits are also required for their visits to cally, incidents in which they were told adopted to govern timber sales, grazing, national forests. In the Shoshone National that they were considered to be outfitters recreation, mineral development, and Forest in Montana, for example, a docu- or guides and would need to obtain proper other uses. Although the nation’s citizens ment has been designed specifically to permits to conduct their field trips. can gain admittance to almost all federal make it clear that forest managers consider Because of the importance of these lands, the agencies responsible for moni- course work on public lands to be an insti- activities to our community, these soci- toring activities on lands under their juris- tutional use for which a special-use permit eties asked the American Geological Insti- diction have been mandated to protect must be obtained. tute’s Government Affairs Program to look resources, prevent degradation of the land, Forest Service regulations broadly into this matter. AGI then initiated con- assure public health and safety of those define outfitting or guiding as the provi- tact with Forest Service geologists in an occupying such lands, confirm that acces- sion of virtually any sort of services, attempt to determine the extent of the sibility responds to the overall public need including “education, research, training, problem. At present, the incidents appear and provide for a fair-market return to the [or] interpretation.” Consider the follow- to be isolated, and both we and the Forest public from commercial uses. ing determining factors: (1) Is there an Service hope that further incidents can be It appears that the current situation entry or participant fee charged? (2) Is the avoided through improved communica- of heightened enforcement of permitting primary purpose to sell goods or services? tion at all levels. Such improvement will regulations has evolved over time for a (3) Is the field trip leader compensated in have the added effect of increasing land number of reasons, including increased any way (even just expenses) for the trip? managers’ awareness and understanding sensitivity for the protection of govern- (4) Is the institution reimbursed for costs of geoscience activities, which can lead in ment-owned vertebrate fossils and archeo- related to the trip? If the answer to any time to the improved use of science in logical remains and sites, and an ever- one of these questions is affirmative, then public land-management decision making. growing concern for the environment, the trip could be considered outfitting particularly through the protection of vari- or guiding. But the regulations draw an Brief History of Access ous sites designated as Wilderness areas. important distinction between commer- to Public Lands There has also been a dramatic increase in cial outfitting, “in which outfitting ser- public use of Forest Service lands. Whereas Procedures regarding the use of fed- vices are provided as a business,” and visits to the National Park System have eral lands have changed dramatically over institutional outfitting, “in which outfit- remained nearly constant in recent years, time, for the most part tracking changes in ting services are provided by an estab- the number of visitors to national forests public perception of what (and whom) lished organization or institution having has risen rapidly in part due to the less these lands are for. Many still share a phi- significance to society (e.g., church, uni- stringent use restrictions on these lands. losophy that there should be unobstructed versity) in order to contribute to the cause Ironically, the volume of people seeking to access to properties designated as public of the organization.” Permits are required get away from National Park Service regu- lands, a way of thinking that dates back to for both categories, and issuance of a per- lations is forcing Forest Service managers earlier days when there was essentially no mit is not automatic. Factors such as party to adopt more stringent controls. management of the public domain, much One factor making interaction with of which was perceived as an uninhabited Environment Matters National Park Service personnel more wasteland. In the days when the Home- continued on p. 27

26 GSA TODAY, April 1998 Natural Hazards: Mitigation, Not Litigation

David J. Verardo, 1997–1998 GSA Congressional Science Fellow

Against the backdrop of one of the was motivated by increasing national most developed El Niño events recognized exposure, over the past 30 years, to losses to date, natural hazards are receiving a from a broad spectrum of natural hazards. great deal of attention at the National This increased exposure results from sev- Academy of Sciences, by an innovative eral factors, including continued popula- to natural hazards has been less than satis- consortium of public and private groups tion growth and development in disaster- fying from a technical and policy stand- called Public Private Partnership 2000 prone areas. The goal of the NRC study is point. Without standard and accurate (PPP 2000), and in the U.S. Congress. to create standard economic measures to measures of loss, mitigation is hampered The National Research Council (NRC) estimate losses. Currently, the economic and public safety is jeopardized. Board on Natural Disasters appointed a costs of natural disasters vary widely In a 1996 report to the NRC, “Under- new committee on Assessing the Costs of because there are no consistent measures standing Risk: Informing Decisions in a Natural Disasters and held its first meeting for estimating losses. Although mitigation Democratic Society,” the Committee on December 15–16, 1997. The two-year costs are known, it is often unclear how Risk Characterization outlined several study was initiated by the Federal Emer- best to implement mitigation or preven- gency Management Agency (FEMA) and tive measures. Consequently, the response Mitigation continued on p. 28

Environment Matters Bridging the Gap nity to work with the geoscientists and continued from p. 26 land managers at this agency to develop For field trip leaders accustomed to a better understanding of how scientific bringing groups onto public lands without size and land-use allocation may be con- field trips should be treated. Establishing obtaining a permit or notifying the land sidered in the decision to issue a permit. a national precedent for this type of use managers, being told that they need to do Geoscientists leading business-related trips could provide guidance to individual so may come as a shock. Questions such as could fall under the commercial definition forests that might otherwise develop cost, number of permits issued, time it and face stiffer requirements. their own standards. takes to obtain a permit, and the paper- In the long run, the geoscience work involved all leap to mind. The logis- Special Cases community is better served by increased tics of organizing a field trip or field camp communication between field trip leaders Land managers have a particular may seem daunting enough without the and participants, field camp personnel, sensitivity for behavior within Wilderness litany of regulations and designations and individual researchers with the people areas and other specially designated areas described above. Ensuring that the laws who are responsible for managing public such as sites where vertebrate fossils exist. designed to protect public lands do not lands. A growing concern within our At such locations, the removal of material interfere unduly with those who seek to profession is the lack of attention paid to is highly regulated. In Wilderness areas, study and learn from those lands will take geoscience input when it comes to land- removal of specimens can be accom- a concerted effort by individual geoscien- management decisions. Although contacts plished only with written permission or tists as well as the societies that represent made at the level of an individual forest under a special-use permit, and commer- them. or regional headquarters may seem incon- cial activities are essentially prohibited. For an individual trip, the borders sequential to some, the nature of agencies Therefore, field trips not specifically for national parks and forests are generally such as the Forest Service is that a great designed for scientific investigation clearly marked, and boundary information deal of the decision-making authority and might not be able to gain access to those is also readily available at each of the nine power are distributed at precisely those properties. Forest Service regional offices where there levels, not concentrated in Washington. With respect to vertebrate fossils, is a staff geologist in residence who, along Although such a view is undoubtedly there is an existing permit process that with the regional special-use manager, optimistic, we hope that it will put the allows the collection and removal of fos- may provide help. Permits for entry onto concerns of field trip leaders into a sils for placement in an accredited institu- Forest Service lands may be applied for broader context. AGI and GSA will con- tion on permanent loan. In such at the forest headquarters. Many of the tinue to look into this matter to determine instances, the government retains owner- national forests also have a geologist on whether unduly burdensome require- ship, and such materials may only be staff. When planning field trips, the earli- ments are being placed on geological field transferred from the authorized establish- est possible communication with the For- trips that might hamper our colleagues’ ment with the written permission of a cer- est Supervisor, District Ranger, or any of ability to enjoy and participate in these tified Forest Service officer. The Forest Ser- the geologists on the national forest staff tremendous learning opportunities. In vice is particularly interested in protecting is highly recommended. Not only will this order to improve our own understanding, rare and unique vertebrate fossil sites from provide the field trip leader with the per- we particularly welcome comments from deterioration by overuse. As a result, cer- mit conditions that might apply to geo- geoscientists reading this article who have tain national forests reserve the right to logical investigations within a specific for- had experience with the U.S. Forest Service require that information on particular fos- est, it may provide valuable insights as to or other land management agencies. sil localities or specimens collected be kept the existence and location of little-known The AGI Government Affairs Program confidential. Such a requirement runs geological features. Contact information is supported by AGI’s 31 member societies, counter to normal scientific reporting can be obtained from the Forest Service including GSA. For information on environ- practices, and efforts must be made to Web site, http://www.fs.fed.us. mental, energy, resource, and science policy limit the exercise of this requirement to For the geoscience community, the issues, visit the program’s Web site at only the most sensitive cases. concerns raised by field trip leaders over www.agiweb.org. ■ Forest Service policy present an opportu-

GSA TODAY, April 1998 27 Mitigation continued from p. 27 managing catastrophic risks. An interac- 1998, to hear testimony on disaster miti- tive session focused on the actuarial gation. The hearings began with impas- guiding principles for examining risks that aspects of risk and described a national sioned testimony by Representatives Joe have direct application to natural hazards. situation in which insurance premiums Skeen (R—NM), Howard McKeon (R—CA), First, risk characterization should be a and risks from natural disasters were and Ted Strickland (D—OH) describing decision-driven activity directed toward decoupled. Forum participants questioned devastation in their districts from natural informed choices and problem solving. whether insurance rate regulation was jus- hazards. Although those present at the To be of value to decision makers, risk tified and if catastrophe insurance could hearing understood that natural disasters characterization should follow a phased be expanded. Participants also discussed cannot be fully prevented and had praise approach beginning with scientific studies the role of science and modeling in guid- for FEMA’s handling of recent emergen- that provide baseline information. This ing hazard policy and mitigation. At the cies, it was apparent that no one wanted is followed by analysis that must be con- core of the discussion was the role that the nation to lurch from one disaster pro- veyed in a manner meaningful to the government and the private sector could ject to another within a patchwork of “fail nonspecialist. Evaluating a risk situation play in providing hazard awareness to the and fix.” There is a burgeoning sense in requires a broad understanding of the rele- public and affected industries. Congress to develop a comprehensive pol- vant losses, harms, or consequences to the The third forum in the series, in icy for dealing with natural disasters that interested and affected parties. The com- January 1998, centered on the problems aids the public through cooperative miti- mittee further described risk characteriza- of “Cities and Megacities at Risk” from gation and legislation rather than adver- tion as an analytic-deliberative process natural hazards. The issue of natural sarial litigation. This effort, however, wherein early and explicit attention to disasters is of importance to Oregonians requires advice from geoscientists if it problem formulation yields substantial and in an opening statement, Senator Ron is to succeed. benefits. Furthermore, flexibility in anal- Wyden (D—OR) remarked, “In my home Natural-hazard risk assessment is ysis and deliberation by interested and state of Oregon, we are keenly aware of a passionless diversion of mathematical affected parties allows a problem to be the dangers posed by natural disasters and models with natural processes and shaped and redefined as the circumstances are following a comprehensive strategy of responses as variables and fatalities and of data collection and analyses evolve over earthquake and tsunami risk reduction…. property damage as output. The reality of time. Following flooding in Oregon during the a natural disaster is no abstraction; lives The importance of embracing such spring of 1997, several policy issues came are lost, communities are disrupted, and tenets is echoed by participants in PPP to light including the need for flexible people are changed. It is incumbent upon 2000. PPP 2000 is a coalition of 19 agen- funding for disaster relief projects and fed- geoscientists to work with legislators so cies, comprising the Subcommittee on eral recognition of the benefit of land use that those with an intimate knowledge Natural Disaster Reduction (SNDR), part plans and regulations that prevent settle- of earth processes and natural forces can of the National Science and Technology ment in disaster prone areas and remove guide the legislative process. Council’s Committee on the Environment people from vulnerable areas.” Conceptually, public policy is like and Natural Resources, the Institute for The Oregon viewpoint on natural geologic time and the national debt. Few Business and Home Safety (IBHS), and hazards was further illuminated by the can fully comprehend the significance several nonprofit organizations. The goal shared experiences of Oregon State Geolo- of billions of years or trillions of dollars of PPP 2000 is to “seek new opportunities gist Don Hull and Deputy State Geologist because the numbers are beyond everyday for government and nonprofit, private John Beaulieu. Hazards in Oregon result experiences. Likewise, developing public sector organizations to work together to principally from geologic processes such as policy often seems daunting because of reduce vulnerability to and losses from earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic erup- the vast range of possibilities and opinions natural hazards in communities through- tions. Oregon’s strategy for coping with throughout America. In a practical sense, out the Nation.” Meeting these goals cen- such risks centers on the systematic map- formulating public policy hinges on com- ters around fostering an open dialogue ping of hazards, assessment of risk posed munication within a relatively small group between public and private groups by future hazard events, land-use plan- of people who trust one another. It does through a series of fourteen forums offered ning, safer new buildings, strengthening not follow from some theoretical abstrac- in Washington, D.C., and organized by older buildings, and public education and tion of an issue or the people’s will. William H. Hooke, chairman of SNDR, training in schools. Systematic mapping of The bottom line is that until people and Harvey G. Ryland, president of IBHS. hazards provides the basis for broad public embrace disaster reduction as a public The first forum, convened in September understanding and, in turn, subsequent value, human and organizational behav- 1997, focused on initiatives in the insur- steps to reduce risk. Some highlights iors will not change and society will repeat ance sector. Of great concern were state from the Oregon perspective included its mistakes until it appears as though, as laws that guarantee insurance, at subsi- the FEMA-guided development of a new baseball-great Yogi Berra once quipped, dized rates to all citizens, with the effect of model for calculating risk, the HAZUS “It’s déjà vu all over again.” ■ creating unintentional incentives to build model, which used Portland, Oregon, as the initial prototype for model design; or rebuild in disaster-prone areas. As noted Dave Verardo, 1997–1998 GSA Congressional by Tim Cohn of the U.S. Geological Sur- Oregon state legislation that was passed in Science Fellow, serves on the staff of Senator Ron vey, forum participants discussed several 1995 to limit the construction of critical Wyden (D—OR). This one-year fellowship is ideas, such as making natural disaster buildings such as schools, hospitals, and supported by GSA and by the U.S. Geological reduction a public value, disaster impact fire stations in coastal areas that have been Survey, Department of the Interior, under Assis- statements, structural and nonstructural mapped as vulnerable to tsunami impacts; tance Award No. 1434-HQ-97-GR-03188. The mitigation, establishing effective warning improved building codes that have led to views and conclusions contained in this article systems, examining mitigation financing, construction of safer new buildings; and are those of the author and should not be inter- creating databases containing disaster hazard-awareness education in Oregon preted as necessarily representing the official poli- cies, either expressed or implied, of the U.S. gov- schools in grades K–12 that includes earth- information using standardized classifica- ernment or GSA. You can contact Verardo by tions and formats, and including all stake- quake drills and training and evacuation mail at 717 Hart Senate Building, Washington, holders in discussions on natural-disaster drills for tsunamis. DC 20510, by phone at (202) 224-3430, or by reduction. In Congress, the U.S. House of Repre- e-mail at [email protected]. At the second forum, in November, sentatives Water Resources and Environ- the emphasis was on the uncertainty of ment Subcommittee met on January 28,

28 GSA TODAY, April 1998 GSA ANNUAL MEETING — 1999 Denver, Colorado CALL FOR FIELD TRIP PROPOSALS We are interested in proposals for single-day and multi-day field October 25–28 trips beginning or ending in Denver, and dealing with all aspects Colorado Convention Center of the geosciences. Please contact the Field Trip Co-Chairs: Alan Lester Bruce Trudgill GENERAL CO-CHAIRS Dept. of Geological Sciences Dept. of Geological Sciences Mary J. Kraus, David Budd, University of Colorado University of Colorado University of Colorado Campus Box 399 Campus Box 399 TECHNICAL PROGRAM CHAIRS Boulder, CO 80309-0399 Boulder, CO 80309-0399 Craig Jones, G. Lang Farmer, University of Colorado (303) 492-6172 (303) 492-2126 fax 303-492-2606 fax 303-492-2606 Due date for symposia and theme proposals: January 6, 1999 [email protected] [email protected]

GSA SECTION MEETINGS—1998 CORDILLERAN SECTION, April 7–9, California State University, Long ROCKY MOUNTAIN SECTION, May 25–26, Northern Arizona Beach, California. Information: Stan Finney, Dept. of Geological Sciences, University, Flagstaff, Arizona. Information: Larry Middleton, Dept of California State University, Long Beach, CA 90840, (562) 985-8637, Geology, Box 4099, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, [email protected]. (520) 523-2492, [email protected]. Preregistration Deadline: April 24, 1998.

Call for Symposium and Field Trip Proposals, 1999 Cordilleran Section Centennial Meeting

The GSA Cordilleran Section Centennial meeting will be at Dept. of Geology and Geophysics, University of California, Berke- the University of California, Berkeley, June 2–4, 1999. The theme ley, CA 94720; (510) 642-5868, [email protected]; or is Century of the Pacific Rim: The Past as Prologue to Eldridge Moores, Dept. of Geology, University of California, the Future. Hosts will be the Department of Geology and Geo- Davis, CA 95616, (916) 752-0352; [email protected]. physics, the Museum of Paleontology and the Earth Resources Center of the University of California at Berkeley. Sponsors will Proposed Invited Field Trips: be the Association for Women Geoscientists (San Francisco Bay • Sierra Nevada Foothills Accretionary Belt Area chapter), the Paleontological Society, the Seismological • Franciscan Metamorphics at Panoche Pass Society of America, and the Society of Engineering Geologists. • Franciscan of the San Francisco Bay Area The focus for this meeting is the impact of Cordilleran • Coast Range Ophiolite geology and paleontology on the global geological framework. • High Sierra Glacial Geomorphology Symposia and field trips will highlight the many geological, geo- • San Andreas Fault physical and paleontological studies that have originated with • Long Valley Caldera Cordilleran geoscientists, and the contributions these scientists • Environmental Geology of the Homestake Mine and Cordilleran sites have made to the advancement of the field • Gold Deposits of the Mother Lode over the past 100 years. We will also look to future contributions • The Salinian Block that geoscientists and educators can make to the global environ- • Geology of the Hayward Fault ment in the next 100 years. The invited program and field trips • Mining History of Diablo Range, Black Diamond to New Idria are listed below. Suggestions for additional technical sessions and • Cenozoic Volcanism at the Sutter Buttes field trips are welcome. • Transect Across California (via train; private car on AMTRAK) • Accretionary Tectonics of the Klamaths and Trinity Alps Proposed Invited Symposia and Technical Sessions: • The Geysers • Cordilleran Geology, Past and Future: Impact on Global • Geology of the Wine Country Geological Framework • The Monterey Formation • History of the Cordilleran Section, Its Geologists and • Bodega Bay, San Andreas Fault Paleontologists • Mesozoic Paleontology and Stratigraphy in Southern • Pacific Rim Symposium on Mine Restoration San Joaquin Valley • Pacific Rim Symposium on Ore Deposits To suggest other field trips, contact, by May 15, 1998, Field • Earthquake Source Mechanisms Trip Chair Steve Graham, Dept. of Geological and Environmental • Sedimentary Record of Cordilleran Tectonics and Earthquakes Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-2115, (650) • Evolutionary History of Pacific Rim Biota 723-0507, [email protected]. • Paleoceanography of the Eastern Pacific Ocean For further information, contact General Chair Doris Sloan, • Geochronology from the Cordilleran Perspective: Pioneering Dept. of Geology and Geophysics, University of California, Berke- Methods and Applications ley, CA 94720, (510) 642-3703, [email protected]. • The Role of Hydrogeologic Uncertainty in Subsurface edu. The Web site is at http://socrates.berkeley.edu/~earthres/ Remediation GSApage.html ■ To suggest other symposia or technical sessions, contact, by June 1, 1998, one of the program co-chairs: George Brimhall,

GSA TODAY, April 1998 29 CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING

Published on the 1st of the month of issue. Ads (or can- transport in porous media supplemented with practical cellations) must reach the GSA Advertising office one Positions Open experience. Background in stochastic applications to gw month prior. Contact Advertising Department (303) flow/transport is desirable. The Geohydrology Section has 447-2020, 1-800-472-1988, fax 303-447-1133, or 9 full-time professionals with additional support personnel. CONCORD COLLEGE e-mail: [email protected]. Please include com- Emphasis on state-of-the-art field studies and comple- Needed — Assistant Professor of Physical Sciences at plete address, phone number, and e-mail address with all mentary theoretical research. Opportunity to pursue indi- Concord College to teach a wide range of subjects in correspondence. vidual and cooperative research of relevance to Kansas geology, serve as academic advisor for an Interdisci- and teach/advise students at KU. Complete announce- Per line plinary Degree program in Environmental Geoscience and ment available from S. Cox, Personnel Services (785) Per Line for each serve as Interim Department Chair for a small Physical 864-3965 or from http://www.kgs.ukans.edu. Ref: for addt'l month Science Department (chair may become permanent). 98W0189. Application deadline: June 1, 1998, postmark. Classification 1st month (same ad) Salary $30,000 to $35,000 based on qualifications and For further information contact Jim Butler at experience with additional pay for summer/overload Situations Wanted $1.75 $1.40 [email protected]. KU is an EO/AA employer. teaching. Earned doctorate in geology. Teaching experi- Positions Open $6.50 $5.50 Consultants $6.50 $5.50 ence and knowledge of Appalachian geology desirable. QUATERNARY GEOLOGIST Services & Supplies $6.50 $5.50 The candidate should have strong written and oral com- DESERT RESEARCH INSTITUTE Opportunities for Students munication skills. Concord College is a four year, liberal QUATERNARY SCIENCES CENTER first 25 lines $0.00 $2.35 arts state supported college with an enrollment of about POSITION #P-30-027 additional lines $1.35 $2.35 2,600 students in southern West Virginia. Please send let- The Quaternary Sciences Center (QSC) of the Desert Code number: $2.75 extra ter of interest, vitae, and three letters of reference to the Research Institute (DRI) has an opening for a geologist Human Resources Office, Concord College, P.O. Box specializing in the study of earth surface hazards and Agencies and organizations may submit purchase order or 1000, Athens, WV 24712. Application review began Latin America Business Development. The preferred level payment with copy. Individuals must send prepayment 3/15/98 and will continue until position is filled. Concord of appointment is Assistant Research Professor. Appli- with copy. To estimate cost, count 54 characters per line, College is an affirmative action/equal opportunity cants must have a Ph.D. and demonstrated experience in including all punctuation and blank spaces. Actual cost employer. the application of geomorphology and/or Quaternary geol- may differ if you use capitals, centered copy, or special ogy toward the evaluation and identification of natural haz- characters. HYDROGEOLOGIST ards, such as but not limited to earthquakes, landslides, Kansas Geological Survey, University of Kansas, debris flows, volcanic and anthropogenic disturbances to To answer coded ads, use this address: Code # ----, Lawrence. Full-time position on KU staff at faculty-equiv. fluvial systems. Fluency in Spanish and/or Portuguese; GSA Advertising Dept., P.O. Box 9140, Boulder, CO rank of assistant or associate scientist depending on qual- good communication skills including the ability to work 80301-9140. All coded mail will be forwarded within ifications. Requires Ph.D. (or expected within 6 months) with scientists from diverse fields, as well as representa- 24 hours of arrival at GSA Today office. with hydrogeology emphasis. Research/publications on tives from government agencies and private businesses in simulation of physical/biochemical processes affecting Latin America; and demonstrated ability to develop and CALENDAR

Boyd, Room N-131, Norman, OK 73019, (405) Contamination in Central and Eastern Only new or changed information is 325-3031, fax 405-325-7069, [email protected]. Europe, Warsaw, Poland. Information: Warsaw ’98 published in GSA Today. A complete listing Symposium, Florida State University, 2035 East May 22–23, Recent History of the Illinois- can be found in the Calendar section on Paul Dirac Dr., 226 HMB, Tallahassee, FL Kentucky Fluorspar District symposium and the Internet: http://www.geosociety.org. 32310-3700, (850) 644-7211, fax 850-574-6704, field trip. Information: Alan Goldstein, Falls of the [email protected]. Ohio State Park, P.O. Box 1327, Jeffersonville, IN 1998 Penrose Conferences 47131-1327 (812) 280-9970, ext. 403, falls3@ September 18–20, National Association of aye.net, http://www.cismall.com/fallsoftheohio/ Geoscience Teachers—Far West Section Fall May symposium.html. Field Conference: Geology of Yosemite National May 14–18, Linking Spatial and Temporal Park and Pinnacles National Monument, California. June Scales in Paleoecology and Ecology, Information and registration: Garry Hayes, June 25–27, Council on Undergraduate Re- Solomons, Maryland. Information: Andrew S. Modesto Junior College, 435 College Ave., search 7th National Conference, Los Angeles, Cohen, Dept. of Geosciences, University of Modesto, CA 95350; [email protected], California. Information: Council on Undergraduate Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, (520) 621-4691, http://virtual.yosemite.cc.ca.us/ghayes/nagt.htm. Research, 734 15th St., NW, Suite 550, Washington, fax 520-621-2672, [email protected]. DC 20005, (202) 783-4810, fax 202-783-4811, September 27–Oct. 2, AIH-IAH Joint Confer- June [email protected], http://www.cur.org. ence, Gambling with Groundwater, Las Vegas, June 4–12, Evolution of Ocean Island Volca- Nevada. Information: AIH/IAH Conference, 2499 July noes, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador. Information: Rice St., Suite 135, St. Paul, MN 55113-3724, fax July 13–17, Society for Industrial and Applied Dennis Geist, Dept. of Geology, University of 612-484-8357, [email protected]. Mathematics (SIAM) Annual Meeting, Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, (208) 885-6491, Toronto, Ontario. Information: SIAM Conference October fax 208-885-5724, [email protected]. Coordinator, 3600 University City Science Ctr., October 8–13, Dust Aerosols, Loess & Global July Philadelphia, PA 19104-2688, (215) 382-9800, Change: Interdisciplinary Conference and Field July 4–11, Processes of Crustal Differentia- fax 215-386-7999, [email protected]. Tour on Dust in Ancient Environments and Con- tion: Crust-Mantle Interactions, Melting, temporary Environmental Management, Seattle, September and Granite Migration Through the Crust, Washington. Information: Alan Busacca, Crop and September 9–14, 6th International Conference Verbania, Italy. Information: Tracy Rushmer, Dept. Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Pull- on Geoscience Information (GeoInfo VI), of Geology, University of Vermont, Burlington, man, WA 99164-6420, (509) 335-1859, fax 509- Washington, D.C. Information: Science Editing & VT 05405, (802) 656-8136, fax 802-656-0045, 335-8674, [email protected], http://www.eus. Information Management, 1998 International [email protected]. wsu.edu/c&i/programs/dust.htm. Meeting, American Geophysical Union, 2000 September Florida Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20009, October 19–20, Seismological Society of September 13–17, Ophiolites and Oceanic [email protected], http://earth.agu.org/ America Eastern Section 70th Annual Crust: New Insights from Field Studies and editorinfo98. Meeting, Millersville, Pennsylvania. Information: Ocean Drilling Program, Marshall, California. Charles K. Scharnberger, Dept. of Earth Sciences, September 14–17, Environmental and Information: Yildirim Dilek, Dept. of Geology, Millersville University, P.O. Box 1002, Millersville, Engineering Geophysical Society, European Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, (513) 529- PA 17551, (717) 872-3295, fax (717) 871-4725, Section, Barcelona, Spain. Information: Victor 2212, fax 513-529-1542, [email protected]. [email protected], http://www. Pinto Miguel, Fac. Geol., University of Barcelona, millersv.edu/~esci/esssa98. (Abstract deadline: G.P.P.G. c/Marti Franques s/n, Barcelona 08071, September 18, 1998.) 1998 Meetings Spain, [email protected], phone 34 3 4021396, fax 34 3 4021340, www.geo.ub.es/ May ~eegs4/index.html. Send notices of meetings of general interest, in May 2–6, 34th Forum on the Geology format above, to Editor, GSA Today, P.O. Box 9140, September 15–17, Fourth International Sym- of Industrial Minerals, Norman, Oklahoma. Boulder, CO 80301, E-mail: [email protected]. posium and Exhibition on Environmental Information: Oklahoma Geological Survey, 100 E.

30 GSA TODAY, April 1998 promote opportunities for applied and basic research in GEOMORPHOLOGY POSITION graduate transcripts, a brief statement of teaching philoso- Latin America. In addition, this position will be responsible The University of Arizona Department of Geosciences phy, and three current letters of recommendation to: for the Institute-wide development of the business, applied invites applications for a tenure-track appointment in geo- Chairperson of Soft-Rock Geology Search Committee, research, and basic research opportunities in Latin Amer- morphology, preferably at the assistant professor level. A Department of Physical Sciences, P.O. Box 730, Kutztown ica. Candidates must also demonstrate abilities in quanti- Ph.D. or equivalent degree is required. University, Kutztown, PA 19530 by April 21, 1998. Kutz- tative geomorphologic analyses of landscapes; Quater- We seek applicants with a strong background in geo- town University is an AA/EEO employer. Also on World- nary geologic field methods including geologic mapping, morphology, with expertise in one of several sub-disci- Wide Web at http://www.kutztown.edu/acad/geol. stratigraphic analyses, and dating of Quaternary deposits; plinary areas, including, but not confined to, tectonic, flu- experience in the application of these Quaternary geologic vial or glacial geomorphology. Preference will be given to TECTONIC GEODESY: field methods in investigations of problems related to earth candidates with a strong record of publication and poten- PROFESSOR AND DIRECTOR OF THE surface hazards, landscape stability, landscape reclama- tial for obtaining research funding. Commitment to under- INSTITUTE FOR CRUSTAL STUDIES tion, and/or environmental assessments; and experience graduate and graduate education is essential, and prefer- The Department of Geological Sciences at the University working with geotechnical firms. This position will be ence will be given to candidates with demonstrated of California at Santa Barbara invites applications for a located either in Reno or Las Vegas, Nevada. To Apply: teaching ability. senior faculty position in Tectonic Geodesy. The appoint- Submit (a) curriculum vitae; (b) statement describing The Department of Geosciences is strongly committed ment will be at the full professor level, with 50% in Geo- research interests and goals; and (c) the names, to excellence in surface process studies, partly through logical Sciences and 50% as full-time Director of the Insti- addresses, and telephone numbers of four references to: collaborations with allied units on campus, including tute for Crustal Studies (ICS), commencing July 1, 1999, Recruitment Office, Desert Research Institute, P.O. Box Hydrology, and Soils, Water, and Environmental Sci- for a nominal period of 5 years. After that time the appoint- 19040, Las Vegas, NV 89132-0040. Application Deadline: ences, where searches in fields closely related to geomor- ment will become 100% in Geological Sciences. To ensure full consideration, applicants are encouraged to phology are being developed, the Tree-Ring Laboratory, We seek an individual who conducts internationally have all information on file by May 1, 1998. The date for and the U.S. Geological Survey. recognized research in the fields of quantitative crustal assumption of this position is July 1, 1998. For additional The selection processes will begin July 1, 1998 and will deformation and plate tectonics. The appointee to this information regarding this position, contact Dr. Eric continue until the position is filled. Interested applicants position will develop and teach undergraduate and gradu- Mcdonald, at [email protected], Search Committee should submit a curriculum vitae, a statement of research ate courses about the continuing tectonic evolution of the Chair. For complete position description visit our web site and teaching interests, and a list of at least three refer- Earth in general and of southern California in particular. at www.dri.edu. ences with addresses, e-mail, phone and fax numbers to: The appointee will also supervise graduate student Joaquin Ruiz, Chair, Department of Geosciences, Uni- research in these topics. LECTURER/RESEARCH ASSOCIATE IN GEOLOGY versity of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, phone: (520) The ICS Director leads an organization with about A non-tenure track teaching/research position to teach two 621-6024, fax 520-621-2672, [email protected]. eight staff members and about 40 Principal Investigators courses and conduct research during the academic year The University of Arizona is an EEO/AA Employer. whose research activities focus on seismology, neotecton- 1998Ð99. One of the courses will be an introductory M/W/D/V. ics, petrology, tectonic evolution of the Earth, and vadose course in Earth Systems Science and the other either zone monitoring of contaminants. The ICS portfolio geomorphology or geochemistry. The successful applicant FACULTY POSITION IN SURFICIAL PROCESSES includes approximately 55 research projects totaling about will be expected to conduct research in his/her specialty. FRANKLIN & MARSHALL COLLEGE $6M. Administrative or project leadership experience is Collaborative research with members of the department is The Department of Geosciences invites applications for desirable. encouraged if possible. an entry-level visiting faculty appointment for the aca- The preferred deadline for applicaitons is June 1, 1998; The Ph.D. is required. Applicants should send letter demic years 1998-99 and 1999Ð2000. The successful however, applications will be considered until the position stating research interests, a resume, and three letters of candidate will teach undergraduate courses in geomor- is filled. Please submit a curriculum vitae, statement of recommendation to: Leonard Alberstadt, Geology Depart- phology, hydrology, introductory environmental geology, research, teaching, and administrative experience, along ment, Box 1805, Station B, Vanderbilt University, and a seminar in environmental problems. Expertise and with the names of three references to: Professor Arthur G. Nashville, TN 37235 USA. Deadline for receiving applica- the ability to teach a course in GIS are also desirable. Sylvester, Search Committee Chairman, and Associate tions is May 1. A Ph.D. in the geosciences, an ongoing program of Director, Institute for Crustal Studies Department of Geo- For additional information about the department and research and some teaching experience are required. logical Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, the university see our WEB site: http://geo.cas.vander- Women and members of minority groups are particularly CA 93106-9630. bilt.edu. encouraged to apply. Please send letter of application UCSB is an equal opportunity/affirmative action Vanderbilt University is an equal opportunity educa- including a statement of teaching and research interests, employer. tional institution. curriculum vitae, graduate transcripts, and three letters of recommendation to: Rob Sternberg, Chair, Department of CLASTIC SEDIMENTARY GEOLOGY Geosciences, Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS 17604-3003 ([email protected]). Review of appli- Services & Supplies The Department of Geology and Geophysics and the cations will begin March 16 and continue until the position Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska invite is filled. LEATHER FIELD CASES. Free brochure, SHERER applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position Franklin & Marshall is a highly selective liberal arts col- CUSTOM SADDLES, INC., P.O. Box 385, Dept. GN, to begin fall, 1998 or spring, 1999. We seek a creative, lege with a commitment to the integration of teaching and Franktown, CO 80116. field-oriented clastic geologist with broad interests in tec- research. For additional departmental information, see tonics and basin analysis. The position will carry signifi- our web page at http://www.fandm.edu/departments/ cant responsibilities in both teaching and research. Geosciences/Geosciences.html EOE/AA. Opportunities for Students Requirements include a Ph.D. in geology, with exper- tise in clastic stratigraphy, sedimentology, and/or petrol- DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL SCIENCES Graduate Research Assistantships in Earth Surface ogy. Teaching responsibilities will include historical geol- KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY Processes. Research assistantships are available at Iowa ogy, sedimentology, physical geology, and other HARD-ROCK GEOLOGIST (TEMPORARY) State University for motivated Ph.D. and M.S. students sedimentary geology courses. The successful candidate is Applications are invited for a full-time, temporary faculty with interests in glaciology, geomorphology, or environ- expected to develop an externally funded research pro- position in Hard-Rock Geology beginning August, 1998. A mental geology. Research opportunities include field gram, supervise M.S. and Ph.D. students, and collaborate Ph.D. in Hard-Rock Geology is required along with a com- experiments on glaciers in Norway, laboratory and field with existing faculty with interests in structural geology mitment to undergraduate teaching. Primary responsibili- studies of sediment deformation beneath glaciers and on and tectonics, carbonate stratigraphy and sedimentology, ties include: Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology, Struc- hillslopes, and field studies of gully development in loess and reservoir modeling. Experience and interest in tural Geology, and Physical Geology. The teaching load soils. For more information, contact Dr. Neal Iverson, petroleum-relevant research are essential, and petroleum consists of twenty-four contact hours per academic year. Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences, industry experience is desirable. Submit a letter of application, curriculum vitae, undergrad- Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011. (515) 294-8048. Applicants should send a résumé and publication list, uate and graduate transcripts, a brief statement of teach- e-mail: [email protected]. Departmental web site: statement of research and teaching interests, copies of ing philosophy, and three current letters of recommenda- http://www.geology.iastate.edu. key publications, and names, addresses, telephone num- tion to: Chairperson of Hard-Rock Geology Search bers, and e-mail addresses of three references. Send Committee, Department of Physical Sciences, P.O. Box Teaching Assistantships. Geology Department at Cali- applications or requests for further information to: Clastic 730, Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA 19530 by April 21, fornia State University has teaching assistantships avail- Geologist Search Committee, Department of Geology and 1998. Kutztown University is an AA/EEO employer. Also able for students wishing to pursue a M.S. in geology. Geophysics, University of Alaska—Fairbanks, Fairbanks, on World-Wide Web at http://www.kutztown.edu/acad/geol. Appointment carries tuition waiver and $10,000 salary for AK 99775-5780. Screening of applications will begin on academic year. Department strengths are in the areas of May 15, 1998, and continue until the position is filled. A DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL SCIENCES sedimentary geology, petroleum geology, geophysics, more complete position description is available at: KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY hydrogeology and geochemistry, structural geology, and http://www.uaf.edu/geology/jobs. SOFT-ROCK GEOLOGIST (TEMPORARY) environmental geology. Bakersfield is located in the heart The University of Alaska is an equal opportunity/affir- Applications are invited for a full-time, temporary faculty of California's petroleum and agricultural areas and abun- mative action employer and educational institution. position in Soft-Rock Geology beginning August, 1998. A dant opportunities exist for industry-supported thesis pro- Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Your Ph.D. in Soft-Rock Geology is required along with a com- jects. For additional information and application materials application for employment with the University of Alaska is mitment to undergraduate teaching. Primary responsibili- contact: Robert Horton, Graduate Coordinator, Depart- subject to public disclosure under the Alaska Public ties include: Paleontology, Sedimentation, and Physical ment of Geology, California State University, Bakersfield, Records Act. Persons hired by the University of Alaska Geology. The teaching load consists of twenty-four con- CA 93311-1099, (805) 664-3059, or visit the department's must comply with provisions of the 1986 Immigration Con- tact hours per academic year. Successful interview and web site at http://www.geol.csubak.edu/Geology/. trol Act and are expected to possess a valid social security demonstration of ability are required qualifications. Submit number. a letter of application, curriculum vitae, undergraduate and

GSA TODAY, April 1998 31 Electronic Abstracts Submission Page C3 Abstracts Due July 13 Preregistration Due September 18 Registration and Housing Information June GSA Today Program Schedule September GSA Today and the Web FOR INFORMATION: GSA Meetings Department, P.O. Box 9140, Boulder, CO 80301, (303) 447-2020, (800) 472-1988, [email protected], http://www.geosociety.org

1998 ANNUAL MEETING AND EXPOSITION October 26–29, 1998 Tectonics AND ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ OF THE NortheasternNortheasternNortheastern Geochemistry Caribbean ■ edited by ■ Edward G. Lidiak and ■ David K. Larue, 1998

This up-to-date account of the geology of the northeastern Caribbean plate boundary region is the first general summation of this region since the publication of the DNAG series volume (H) on the Caribbean region (1990). The primary focus of this Special Paper is on the tectonics and geochemistry of the plate boundary, with emphasis on the island of Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rico trench, and adjacent areas. Following an introduc- tory chapter on tectonic setting and stratigraphic correlations of the vol- canic strata in Puerto Rico, five papers deal with geochemical aspects of these and related igneous rocks. A second group of three papers deal pri- marily with the tectonics and stratigraphy of Tertiary and younger rocks along the north coast of Puerto Rico and in the adjacent Puerto Rico trench. This is essentially a companion to GSA Special Papers 262 and 295; all three concern the circum-Caribbean plate margins. SPE322, 222 p., indexed, ISBN 0-8137-2322-1, $68.00, Member price $54.50 Volume is 8-1/2" x 11" paperback. Price includes shipping and handling. 1-800-472-1988 www.geosociety.org GSA Publication Sales P.O. Box 9140, Boulder, CO 80301 303-447-2020; fax 303-447-1133