Paleontology

Fossil Lake Oregon • May 10 to 21

Join the Museum staff to collect Late Pleistocene (Ice Age) fossil vertebrates, at Fossil Lake, Oregon, one of the most prolific fossil sites in North America. Activities include both leisurely and strenuous tasks and participants should be in good physical condition. Coordinated by and with permission of Dr. James Martin.

Giant Fossil Sea Reptiles from the Late Cretaceous Western Interior Sea • August 2 to 13

Join this expedition in South Dakota, to search for and help collect Cretaceous marine reptiles, particularly mosasuars and plesiosaurs. Activities include both leisurely and strenuous tasks and participants should be in good physical condition. Cost includes transportation at the site and field supplies. Coordinated by and with permission of Dr. James Martin and Mr. David Parris.

Little Houston Quarry July 12-23; and July 26-August 6.Join this camp to work at a Jurassic quarry site near Sundance, Wyoming with paleontologists from the Museum of Geology to excavate bones of Allosaurus, Apatosaurus, Camarasaurus, and Stegosaurus. Cost include supplies, handouts, and transportation to the site from Sundance, Wyoming. Coordinated by and with permission of Museum of Geology Staff.

The cost for these two week credit options is $650 for undergraduates and $750 for graduates. Graduates will be expected to complete a post-camp paper to receive their graduate credit.

Join us at the fascinating and prolific Little Houston Quarry in the Jurassic Morrison Formation, just west of Sundance, WY, in the scenic Bear Lodge Uplift of the northern Black Hills. Assist museum scientists in the quarrying of all your Jurassic favorites: Apatosaurus, Camarasaurus, Allosaurus, Diplodocus, and Stegosaurus. See a preserved world recreated with the excavation of a complete fauna, including fish, frogs, lizards, turtles, crocodilians, and a wide diversity of small mammals. Learn the tools and techniques necessary to conduct informative, productive, safe, and scientifically rigorous field paleontology.

Field Paleontology is a two-week experience that is designed to introduce students to the procedures of preserving and documenting fossil discoveries. We emphasize the fact that fossils are information so the geologic context of fossils as well as the distribution of fossils at a given site is meticulously recorded. Topics covered include field stabilization and excavation of fossil material, recording stratigraphic data, quarry mapping techniques, reading and interpreting topographic maps, proper documentation, and fossil systematics of the Jurassic Morrison Formation. Students taking the course for undergraduate credit will be graded based on their field notes, daily observations, and participation in field activities. Graduate students will be required to conduct a follow-up research project the following fall semester.

The session is two weeks long and begins with a meeting in Sundance, WY (details will be provided). The Museum provides daily transportation to the quarry. The first day will be spent with an orientation session for participants. Thereafter, the group will assemble each morning at a specified time (with all materials necessary to get them through the day: water, lunches, tools, and notebooks). After a brief review of the goals for that day, the participants will then drive to the site. During the day, breaks may be taken as a group, and short lectures will be conducted during down time. Lunch is at mid-day, and we usually wind up at about 4:30 - 5:00 pm before the drive back to camp or hotel. Each week consists of five work days; weekends are free for personal activities.

Our climate is continental in character which means that it can be quite hot (>40 Celsius) and sometimes cool (even in July). Rain is possible but seldom interferes with the work for very long. The best advice on clothing is to bring layers of clothing so that you can be comfortable from 5 to 40 degree C. A hat to keep sun off, sunglasses, and sunscreen are helpful. Other necessary materials include glasses that protect your eyes while chipping rocks, a rock hammer, a 2-inch wide natural bristle paintbrush, gloves, a small chisel, and a sharp awl. Canteen for water on hot days, a camera to record your experience, a notebook and pen to record observations, and a sense of humor make this a very rewarding experience.

Sundance is a town of about 1000 occupants and has all the necessary amenities including hotels, campgrounds, groceries, restaurants, laundry facilities, hospital services, etc. Acquiring lodging is the responsibility of the student.

Hotels include: The Bear Lodge Motel: (307) 283-1161, http://www.rangeweb.net/~bearlodge/

The Budget Host Arrowhead: (800) BUD-HOST, http://www.budgethost.com/myhotel.aspx?id=157

Deanne’s Motel: (307) 283-2262 The town also includes a comfortable campground with RV and tent facilities:

Mountain View Campground: (800) 792-8439, http://www.mtnviewcampground.com/default.aspx

NO PETS are allowed to accompany the participants.

For more information Contact:

Darrin Pagnac, Ph.D.

Haslem Postdoctoral Fellow

Museum of Geology

501 East Saint Joseph Street

Rapid City, SD 57701

Phone (Office): (605) 394-2469

e-mail: Darrin.Pagnac@sdsmt.edu

NOTICE: Because of the potentially hazardous nature of fieldwork, each student must be covered by medical insurance. Each student will accept the responsibility for his/her own deportment and for the deportment of the group. Neither contraband substances nor firearms will be tolerated. Any use of alcohol must conform to the laws of the State of South Dakota, the State of Wyoming, and the rules of SDSMT. Any potential student with known or suspected health problems, which might adversely affect her/his ability to perform under field conditions, must make arrangements to mitigate such problems before enrolling. Students may be removed from the program with concurrence of course faculty if a student proves to be a problem to this program. Only students registered in the course will be accepted at the site. It is the student's responsibility to accomplish registration.

Paleontology Field Camp GEOL 371 Undergraduate Field Paleontology PALE 671 Graduate Field Paleontology Two Weeks, Two Credits Various dates and locations Application Deadline March 15, 2010 Sundance, Wyoming
Cost: $650 undergraduate, $750 graduate. Cost includes tuition, fees, and daily transportation to the site. This camp is the option for college credit, ideal for undergraduates and graduate students. For a non-credit, family or tourist oriented option, contact the Museum of Geology.
Fossil Lake Oregon • May 10 to 21 Join the Museum staff to collect Late Pleistocene (Ice Age) fossil vertebrates, at Fossil Lake, Oregon, one of the most prolific fossil sites in North America. Activities include both leisurely and strenuous tasks and participants should be in good physical condition. Coordinated by and with permission of Dr. James Martin. Giant Fossil Sea Reptiles from the Late Cretaceous Western Interior Sea • August 2 to 13 Join this expedition in South Dakota, to search for and help collect Cretaceous marine reptiles, particularly mosasuars and plesiosaurs. Activities include both leisurely and strenuous tasks and participants should be in good physical condition. Cost includes transportation at the site and field supplies. Coordinated by and with permission of Dr. James Martin and Mr. David Parris. Little Houston Quarry July 12-23; and July 26-August 6.Join this camp to work at a Jurassic quarry site near Sundance, Wyoming with paleontologists from the Museum of Geology to excavate bones of Allosaurus, Apatosaurus, Camarasaurus, and Stegosaurus. Cost include supplies, handouts, and transportation to the site from Sundance, Wyoming. Coordinated by and with permission of Museum of Geology Staff. The cost for these two week credit options is $650 for undergraduates and $750 for graduates. Graduates will be expected to complete a post-camp paper to receive their graduate credit. Join us at the fascinating and prolific Little Houston Quarry in the Jurassic Morrison Formation, just west of Sundance, WY, in the scenic Bear Lodge Uplift of the northern Black Hills. Assist museum scientists in the quarrying of all your Jurassic favorites: Apatosaurus, Camarasaurus, Allosaurus, Diplodocus, and Stegosaurus. See a preserved world recreated with the excavation of a complete fauna, including fish, frogs, lizards, turtles, crocodilians, and a wide diversity of small mammals. Learn the tools and techniques necessary to conduct informative, productive, safe, and scientifically rigorous field paleontology. Field Paleontology is a two-week experience that is designed to introduce students to the procedures of preserving and documenting fossil discoveries. We emphasize the fact that fossils are information so the geologic context of fossils as well as the distribution of fossils at a given site is meticulously recorded. Topics covered include field stabilization and excavation of fossil material, recording stratigraphic data, quarry mapping techniques, reading and interpreting topographic maps, proper documentation, and fossil systematics of the Jurassic Morrison Formation. Students taking the course for undergraduate credit will be graded based on their field notes, daily observations, and participation in field activities. Graduate students will be required to conduct a follow-up research project the following fall semester. The session is two weeks long and begins with a meeting in Sundance, WY (details will be provided). The Museum provides daily transportation to the quarry. The first day will be spent with an orientation session for participants. Thereafter, the group will assemble each morning at a specified time (with all materials necessary to get them through the day: water, lunches, tools, and notebooks). After a brief review of the goals for that day, the participants will then drive to the site. During the day, breaks may be taken as a group, and short lectures will be conducted during down time. Lunch is at mid-day, and we usually wind up at about 4:30 - 5:00 pm before the drive back to camp or hotel. Each week consists of five work days; weekends are free for personal activities. Our climate is continental in character which means that it can be quite hot (>40 Celsius) and sometimes cool (even in July). Rain is possible but seldom interferes with the work for very long. The best advice on clothing is to bring layers of clothing so that you can be comfortable from 5 to 40 degree C. A hat to keep sun off, sunglasses, and sunscreen are helpful. Other necessary materials include glasses that protect your eyes while chipping rocks, a rock hammer, a 2-inch wide natural bristle paintbrush, gloves, a small chisel, and a sharp awl. Canteen for water on hot days, a camera to record your experience, a notebook and pen to record observations, and a sense of humor make this a very rewarding experience. Sundance is a town of about 1000 occupants and has all the necessary amenities including hotels, campgrounds, groceries, restaurants, laundry facilities, hospital services, etc. Acquiring lodging is the responsibility of the student. Hotels include: The Bear Lodge Motel: (307) 283-1161, http://www.rangeweb.net/~bearlodge/ The Budget Host Arrowhead: (800) BUD-HOST, http://www.budgethost.com/myhotel.aspx?id=157 Deanne’s Motel: (307) 283-2262 The town also includes a comfortable campground with RV and tent facilities: Mountain View Campground: (800) 792-8439, http://www.mtnviewcampground.com/default.aspx NO PETS are allowed to accompany the participants. For more information Contact: Darrin Pagnac, Ph.D. Haslem Postdoctoral Fellow Museum of Geology 501 East Saint Joseph Street Rapid City, SD 57701 Phone (Office): (605) 394-2469 e-mail: Darrin.Pagnac@sdsmt.edu NOTICE: Because of the potentially hazardous nature of fieldwork, each student must be covered by medical insurance. Each student will accept the responsibility for his/her own deportment and for the deportment of the group. Neither contraband substances nor firearms will be tolerated. Any use of alcohol must conform to the laws of the State of South Dakota, the State of Wyoming, and the rules of SDSMT. Any potential student with known or suspected health problems, which might adversely affect her/his ability to perform under field conditions, must make arrangements to mitigate such problems before enrolling. Students may be removed from the program with concurrence of course faculty if a student proves to be a problem to this program. Only students registered in the course will be accepted at the site. It is the student's responsibility to accomplish registration.
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