[Rockhounds] Promoting Rockhounding - A Trip Report

[Kreigh Tomaszewski]

About two weeks ago I got an invitation via our club president to a 
potluck party being hosted by Dr. Kevin Cole, head of the Geology 
Department at Grand Valley State University. He was gathering the 
geology faculty, students, some other area professors, and the 
membership of the two local area rock clubs, for an informal afternoon 
of food and fellowship.

So early this afternoon I loaded up a grape salad, a thank you specimen 
for Dr. Cole (to make up for my late RSVP), my google map to his house, 
and headed off to the next county. I found the house without problems 
and was made welcome. I'm glad I went.

It was a lot of fun meeting the local geology community. We shared our 
summer field experiences (and some folks were literally taking notes). 
Rockhounds, faculty, and students all had something to contribute. 
There were probably 75 rockhound adults present, and I heard stories 
from over half of the states in the USA. The volleyball included the 
kids, and was great entertainment; family friendly parties are always 
fun.

Most stories were about field collecting, either as a hobby, or for 
geology field studies. But there were exceptions. One student spent his 
summer monitoring the drilling of wells for a geothermal plant in Utah 
that was pumping up 143 degree water, generating electricity with it, 
and injecting it back underground. Another student had done studies 
every 50 meters along the pathway of a proposed oil pipeline for a 
federal permit. A professor was collaborating with researchers on three 
other continents about a book on shoreline geology. One fellow had been 
studying sand grains to identify the precursor rocks from a 
pre-cambrian mountain.

I was not the only one to bring along a specimen. They were passed 
around and commented on. I sensed there was some surprise on both sides 
about how much rockhounds and geologists had in common. I was surprised 
at the lack of surprise when a student pulled two chisels out of her 
purse to discuss the merits of the two types of tips (first time I have 
seen a chisel come out of a purse in a social setting).

Several professors and students expressed an interest in joining one of 
the local rock clubs. At least one rockhound received a tentative 
invitation from a professor to speak to a class. We found we all had an 
interest in promoting geology awareness in the elementary grades. It 
may not have been a typical field trip, and I didn't bring home any 
rocks, but it was as satisfying as any day in the field.

If you club is not already connected to your local geology/education 
community I can only recommend you find ways to reach out and get 
connected. I think you will find it worthwhile.

Kreigh

P.S., In case you are wondering, I gave Kevin a specimen of Sillimanite 
that I collected with list member Pete Modreski a few weeks ago in the 
Denver area. It was well received and generated a lot of interest.