OUTCROP Newsletter of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists
Volume 63 • No. 4 • April 2014
2014 Award of Excellence For Teaching of Earth Science Sponsored by the
Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists THE WINNER RECEIVES A Plaque and a $1000 Cash Award If you teach earth science in K-12 and think you qualify, contact the RMAG office at 303-573-8621 for an application. Deadline is May 2. Previous winners were also selected to receive the Teacher of the Year Award from the American Association of Petroleum Geologists at the national and regional level. The RMAG is a professional organization representing over 2000 earth scientists working in the Denver and Rocky Mountain area. In its capacity as the leading geologic organization in the Rocky Mountain area, each year the RMAG Foundation provides funding for an annual award presented to a teacher in recognition of his or her commendable efforts in introducing young minds to the earth sciences. Check out the RMAG website at www.rmag.org.
Vol. 63, No. 4
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April 2014
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The Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists 910 16th Street • Suite 1214 • Denver, CO 80202 • 303-573-8621 The Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists (RMAG) is a nonprofit organization whose purposes are to promote interest in geology and allied sciences and their practical application, to foster scientific research and to encourage fellowship and cooperation among its members. The Outcrop is a monthly publication of the RMAG.
2014 Officers and Board of Directors RMAG Staff
Executive Director Carrie Veatch, MA cveatch@rmag.org Accountant Carol Dalton cdalton@rmag.org
Co-Editors
President – Matt Silverman MSilverman@bayless-cos.com
Treasurer – Reed Johnson rdjohnson@resoluteenergy.com
President-Elect – Marv Brittenham, brittmh@aol.com
Treasurer Elect – Paul Lillis plillis@usgs.gov
1st Vice-President – Michael Dolan mdolan@digforenergy.com
Counselor (2 Year) – Laura L. Wray laura.wray@wpxenergy.com
2nd Vice-President – Michelle Bishop mbishop@indra.com
Counselor (1 Year) – Terri Olson Terri_Olson@eogresources.com
Secretary – Nick Nelson nnelson@samson.com
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RMAG February Board of Directors Meeting By John South, Secretary, (j.south@fronterrageo.com)
The 2014 board meeting was it feasible to have every event be held on February 19, 2014. Due covered by insurance, including There was discussion to to my relocation connected with the wonderful “On the Rocks” a new job, I have resigned as excursions. have a new committee the secretary of the board. The The publications committee formed to run the board voted for Nick Nelson as has been hard at work and is my replacement in this position. set to submit an article to the recreational activities, Nick was the other candidate for Outcrop outlining the work they which would separate those secretary in the past election and have done. They have also done will be an excellent addition to the a lot of work to formalize the events from the continuing board. positions of editor and associate education committee. The financial repor t was editor for the various publications, provided by Reed Johnson and including establishing formal job included good news regarding our descriptions, term length, and current financial situation. Summit more. People who would like sponsorship, in particular, is going very well. There was to volunteer to help the editorial staff will be gladly discussion to have a new committee formed to run the welcomed! recreational activities, which would separate those Although my service to RMAG and the board of events from the continuing education committee. The directors was short, I am grateful for the opportunity membership committee has a desire to get a better feel I had to serve in this capacity and I assure all the for what members want, especially new members, and members of our wonderful society that you are all in to get notice of members who pass away. great hands. A lack of insurance for activities has been problematic in the past. The board discussed some options to make
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Vol. 63, No. 4
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April 2014
OUTCROP Newsletter of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists
CONTENTS Features
7 AAPG/RMS Cracking The Source Early Bird Registration 11 Lead Story: Rocks Made of Rainbows: Paint Mines Interpretive Park 18 South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Students form AAPG Student Chapter 20 Geoscience Legislative Reception 25 Mineral of the Month: April 27 Several Positions Open for ASSISTANT EDITORS to The Mountain Geologist 28 The Role of the Rocky Mountain Section 31 Did You Work on "The Big Red Book"? 34 Volunteer Position for the Managing Editor for Outcrop Open
Association News
2 2014 Award of Excellence for Teaching of Earth Science 21 Early Alert-RMAG
Publication: Oil & Gas Fields of Colorado 26 2014 RMAG Dues Renewal 33 Authors and Editors Needed: RMAG Oil & Gas Fields of Colorado 33 Connect with RMAG Online! 35 Position Open - Aide to the Executive Editor for The Mountain Geologist 35 Position Open Assistant Editor for The Outcrop 36 Thank You to Our 2014 3D Seismic Symposium Sponsors and Exhibitors! 37 RMAG 2014 Summit Sponsors 39 Submit a Manuscript to The Mountain Geologist
Departments
4 RMAG February Board
COVER PHOTO
Paint Mines Interpretive Park located 2.5 miles off Highway 24, southeast of Calhan in El Paso County, Colorado. Photo by Sharon Milito.
23 34 35 38 41 41
RMAG Luncheon Programs New Members In Memoriam In the Pipeline Advertisers Index Calendar of Events
of Directors Meeting 6 President's Column
Volume 63 • No. 4 • April 2014
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President’s Column By Matt Silverman
The Lessons of Ludlow
The darkest day in Colorado history is April 20th, and this year we mark two tragic milestones. It’s the fifteenth anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting in Littleton in 1999. Sadly, we all remember the horror of that, but it’s also the 100th anniversary of the Ludlow Massacre in 1914. On that day, just north of Trinidad, the Colorado National Guard killed several striking coal miners and, infamously, eleven children and two women at a tent city full of miners and their families. Vol. 63, No. 4
It’s a remarkable story, remembered now mostly by historians and labor leaders, but well worth a detour off I-25 between Pueblo and Raton to visit the lonely site and a granite monument. Ludlow included a violent clash between rich and poor, with immigrants from more than a dozen countries facing the wealthiest family of the day, the Rockefellers. They were all caught up in a struggle involving great fortunes, international politics and vast energy resources in a spectacular but perilous setting. Continued on page 8 » 6
April 2014
Early-bird Registration Sign up early and save $100. Rocky Mountain Section—AAPG Annual Meeting July 20-22, 2014 Registration opens mid-April. Visit www.aapgrms.org/2014 to register and save money!
Promote your visibility in the geologic community by being a Sponsor. The RMS-AAPG annual meeting attracts hundreds of attendees. It’s a simple way to gain name recognition and to network with potential clients, partners, and employees. The RMS-AAPG Annual Meeting will include: Two days of technical presentations Three short courses Four field trips Two different core sessions A Teacher’s Program Social and Networking Events All-Convention Luncheon AND MORE!
Photo courtesy of: Scott Dressler-Martin, VISIT DENVER
For more information, visit www.aapgrms.org/2014 Hosted by: The Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists
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President's Column Continued from page 6
Vol. 63, No. 4
caught fire, and thirteen women and children were suffocated as they hid in a makeshift cellar beneath one of the tents. That heartbreaking loss is what led to the term, Ludlow Massacre. The strike district then erupted into a period of anarchy now known as the Ten Days’ War. Armed strikers seized several mines, and militiamen, strikers and others were killed. Over 100 lives were lost before U.S Army troops finally arrived on Wilson’s orders, ending the deadliest industrial conflict in American history. The walkout lasted until December 1914, and although conditions eventually improved, the strike was crushed. In the energy business, we cherish the words of Henry David Thoreau
who taught, “That government is best which governs least.” But this April 20th, let’s also take a moment to remember the lessons of Ludlow and to recognize the limited but legitimate role that government plays in our business, too. Inevitably, we will face increased involvement by county and municipal governments in fracking and other aspects of our business that have been largely regulated at the state and federal levels. So, this election cycle, let’s engage as fully as possible with our political friends and our foes so that we can together create government at all levels that is responsive to the essential balance of prosperity and safety in our lives.
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In September 1913, nearly 10,000 coal miners went on strike in southern Colorado to protest dangerous working conditions in poorly regulated mines, as well as feudal living arrangements imposed by the coal companies. Along with their wives and children, the miners were evicted from their company shacks and “sent down the canyon” to live in union-supplied tents on the high plains at the foot of the Rockies. Over twenty coal companies were involved, but the largest of these was Denver-based Colorado Fuel & Iron, controlled by the Rockefeller interests. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. became the lightning rod for the anger and bitter recriminations that followed, though he was just the most visible of the operators. Men, women and children endured a brutal Colorado winter in several of these tent colonies, the largest of which was at Ludlow, a railroad siding and village of a few buildings and nearby farms. Well-armed men on both sides were responsible for recurring violence, and Colorado, led by its weak governor Elias Ammons, lost control. Mine thugs, sheriff’s deputies and the National Guard were sent in to suppress the strike and to prevent the strikers from harassing replacement workers (or “scabs”). There were beatings and murders of the militia, the strikers and the scabs all winter, but President Woodrow Wilson rejected numerous calls for Federal intervention. On April 20, 1914, the militia opened up on the tents at Ludlow with machine guns and rifle fire, killing the leaders of the tent colony and other strikers. Tragically, many of the tents
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Vol. 63, No. 4
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April 2014
LEAD STORY
Rocks Made of Rainbows: Paint Mines Interpretive Park By Sharon Milito
On the windswept prairie 38 miles northeast of Tschudy (1978) mapped the paleosol in several locations Colorado Springs is a hidden jewel locally referred to as the in the Denver Basin, both through surface exposures Calhan Paint Mines. and drill holes, and Designated as a found the deposits Point of Geologic i n C a l h a n to b e Interest (POGI) the best exposure. by the Colorado Through pollen Geological Survey samples taken from (2006), Paint Mines above and below Interpretive Park is the paleosol they located 2.5 miles determined the off U.S. Highway 24, paleosol to be the southeast of Calhan, boundary between in El Paso County, Paleocene and Colorado. Each Eocene rocks within spring students the Dawson Arkose. from Patrick Their studies also Henry Elementary indicate a lengthy School in Colorado period of time during Springs escape the which there was rigors of school to neither deposition wander through nor erosion. This was the labyrinth of when the paleosol Dawson Arkose capping the claystones of the paleosol. canyons, badlands formed. Raynolds and hoodoos to experience Colorado history, the (2002) later concluded that the paleosol is the boundary grasslands ecosystem, and to get a taste of geology. between the D1 and D2 sequences of the Denver Following is a description of the Paint Mines from a Formation. geologic point of view as well as from the perspective “I liked the sandstone, the way it feels. You can touch of several fourth graders as recorded in their field it and it just crumbles.” The Dawson Arkose, a coursenotebooks. Student descriptions and reactions are grained, white channel sandstone, caps the clay, forming included here in italics. five-meter-tall hoodoos of brilliant colors “like a rainbow “Like rocks made of rainbows,” the prominent wonderland.” “It’s like another planet and the odd shaped feature of the Paint Mines is a gray, purple, orange and rocks are like mazes.” Ancient currents preserved in the buff paleosol consisting of “sandy claystones, clayey rock show the source of the sandstone to be Pikes Peak sandstones and conglomerates” (Soister and Tschudy, Granite (Raynolds, 2002) and provide “the evidence 1978). “The colors are extraordinary, and the textures for the uplift and erosion of Pikes Peak” (Johnson & are unbelievable. The clay is as colorful as an abstract Continued on page 13 » painting.” “It looks like red rock candy.” Soister and
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Lead Story Continued from page 11
Raynolds, 2002). Clay has eroded sufficiently from and how colorful the world must have been back then. under the sandstone caps to form hollowed-out spaces, It must have been beautiful.” “I was imagining what was large enough for several students to sit inside. Large there before us a long time ago.” In the Paint Mines, fossil sandstone boulders leaves occasionally have accumulated on tumble from the creek the ground creating bank. “I saw a smooth, captivating obstacles shiny rock with a print on the trail. “The of a leaf on it.” “We caves are dark and found leaf fossils and cool. A lot of stuff lived discovered some coal between the rocks, a and even petrified lot of animals lived in wood.” Butterscotchthere.” colored fossil wood, Fossil evidence locally known as shows that the paleosol Parker Petrified Wood, is the 55 million year old is occasionally found remnant of an Eocene scattered in the creek rainforest (Johnson bed and along the trail & Raynolds, 2002). where it has weathered Fossil leaves reveal a out of the Dawson climate with the mean Arkose. average temperature Channel forms in the Dawson Arkose. A fossil tooth in the Laramide basins fragment found in an ranging from 9 – 23° C outcrop near Parker, (48 – 73 °F) (Thrasher Colorado reveals that and Sloan, 2009) the hippopotamusas compared to an like Coryphodon was average for Colorado an inhabitant of the Springs today of 2 – E o c e n e r a i n fo r e s t 17 °C (36 – 63 °F) (Johnson & Raynolds, ( C ur r ent Results), 2002). Coryphodon making the Eocene stood approximately one of the warmest a meter tall at the periods in Colorado’s shoulder, and had history. “It started like short, stocky limbs a perfect day, but the with feet that turned clouds got really black sideways. It hosted a and we saw lightning. I (Cover photo) Paint Mines Interpretive Park located 2.5 miles off large skull with long Highway 24, southeast of Calhan in El Paso County, Colorado. thought we would have canine tusks (Savage a tornado!” a n d L o n g , 19 8 6 ) . In the classroom, students learned that Coryphodon remains have been found in Eocene paleontologists draw conclusions based on the fossil deposits in Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, Texas, evidence. They had the opportunity to put this skill into and Ellesmere Island in the Canadian Arctic. Using practice in the field. “I was wondering how it was made Continued on page 15 »
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Lead Story Continued from page 13
to an art museum.” “I would tell someone to go there carbon isotope values from fossil teeth Eberle (2012) because the rocks are made out of clay and there are determined Coryphodon consumed flowering plants wonderful views.” and leaves. With over 700 acres The Paint Mines record of land situated in the a long human history s p a r s e l y p o p u l a te d including prehistoric and plains, the Paint Mines historic Native American provides for study of habitation as well as early grassland ecology. “We Euro-American settlers saw a lark bunting.” (Histor y Colorado). “There were snakes A rc h aeol og i s ts h ave there, not dangerous found stone dart tips and ones, just a bull snake.” arrowheads made from Upon return to school the indigenous petrified the teachers found a wood. “Archaeological short horned lizard had s u r vey s a n d te s t i n g become the unfortunate indicate that prehistoric occupant of a fourth people have utilized the grade pocket. “There’s area for 12,000 years. Dawson Formation Continued on page 16 » PM field trip 4 RMAG 2014 Ad2_Layout 1 2/4/14 2:49 PM Page 1 petrified wood was a favorite lithic material and flakes can still be observed in the Paint Mines” (Steve Snyder, personal communication, December 24, 2013). A strong portfolio of 1.5 million net acres onshore “I found an arrowhead and I was thinking about being an archaeologist”. The colorful clay was first used by Native Americans as ceremonial paint and for pottery (History Colorado). “I was imagining I was somewhere where the Indians lived long ago and that I was an Indian using the Indian clay to make bowls and pots and sculptures.” Subsequently, the clay was quarried in 1903 for bricks and ceramics. G. B. Richardson (1911) completed detailed analysis of the chemical properties With a history in the Rockies that spans nine years, Newfield Exploration continues in 1910, and determined the clay to grow, build and share—responsibly and sustainably. Key to our approach is maintaining to be suitable for brick, drain tiles a diversified portfolio of assets as we focus on driving advances in unconventional plays. and terra cotta. The majority of the It’s all done with an equal focus on people—our own family of employees and our communities. clay was shipped to Pueblo for lining An entrepreneurial spirit, sense of empowerment and access to the best in technology—these furnaces and for fire and building brick are the hallmarks of Newfield. Join us. And grow with us. (Richardson, 1911). The value of the clay extends beyond economic uses. www.newfield.com “I would compare the Paint Mines
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Lead Story
Continued from page 15
lots of nature out there!”
124(1/2):3-23. History Colorado. (n.d.). Calhan paint mines. Retrieved from http:// www.historycolorado.org/oahp/calhan-paint-mines, December 25, 2013. Johnson, K. and R.G. Raynolds. (2002). Ancient Denvers. Denver: Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Raynolds, R.G. 2002. Upper Cretaceous and Tertiary stratigraphy of the Denver Basin, Colorado, in Johnson, K.R., R.G. Raynolds, and M.L. Reynolds (eds.), Paleontology and stratigraphy of Laramide Strata in the Denver Basin (Part 1), Rocky Mountain Geology, 37(12):111-134. Richardson, G.B. 1911. Clay near Calhan, El Paso county, Colo., U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin, 470:293-296. Soister, P.E. and R.H. Tschudy. 1978. Eocene rocks in Denver Basin, in Pruit, J.D. and Coffin, P.E. (eds.), Energy resources in the Denver Basin. Denver Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists, Symposium, 231-235. Thrasher, B.L and L.C. Sloan. 2009. Carbon dioxide and the early Eocene climate of western North America. Geology, 37:807810.
In Summary: “My best memory about the Paint Mines was that we got to hike and when we were hiking I fell. But at least I got hurt doing something fun. I was feeling free.” “It’s an experience of a lifetime. The Paint Mines are like a paradise.” “I was just having fun and just having fun!”
References
Carlson, J. & Noe, D. (2006, Spring). Colorado's magnificent pogis. Rock Talk, 9(1), 17. Current results. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.currentresults. com/Weather/Colorado/average-annual-temperatures.php, December 15, 2013 Eberle, J.J. and D.R.Greenwood. 2012. Life at the top of the greenhouse Eocene world—A review of the Eocene flora and vertebrate fauna from Canada’s High Arctic. GSA bulletin,
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April 2014
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Geoscience Legislative Reception
Colorado Section President David Abbott, left, presenting Dr. Matthews with the AIPG Award.
Good food, familiar groups, left to right – RMAG, DPC and CSM in the corner, and good geoscience advocates.
Dave Applegate, left, Jerry Cuzella, center, review RMAG’s flyer with one of the State Representatives.
Angie Welch, Norwest Corp, discusses the environmental compliance work they do for their clients in the Raton Basin, while the CMA exhibit offers lots of ‘take-aways.’
The Geoscience Legislative Reception, held on Thursday, February 27, at the University Club just north of the State Capitol building, from 5 – 7:30 PM had a wonderful showing of support from over a dozen professional societies and exhibitors. Betsy Murray, AIPG’s lobbyist, counted 14 legislators and 4 legislative aides. She said of the turn out: “This was a good attendance since it turned out we were up against the Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame! You just never know. Several comments from legislators included they enjoyed the “booths” as it’s not just food and drink but valuable information!” AIPG-CO also used the event to honor recently-retired State Geologist Vince Matthews. Other photos show the attendees, legislators and legislative aides in the University Club with some of the exhibits. RMAG members Ron Pritchett and Jerry Cuzella deserve special thanks for the work they each did to represent RMAG, contacting all the state legislators with a personal
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Vol. 63, No. 4
invitation and providing a CD with a comprehensive list of geologic literature and resources for mining, oil and gas and water resources of the state. Photos courtesy of Dave Abbott and Ron Pritchett.
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Target Audience: geoscientists, drilling engineers, and reservoir engineers
REGISTRATION - $200 member, $250 nonmember
Marriott Denver City Center Downtown SEEKING SPONSORS please visit WWW.RMAG.ORG or contact the RMAG office staff@rmag.org 303-573-8621, LIMITED EXHIBITOR SPACE Still Available!
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April 2014
RMAG Luncheon Programs – April 2nd
Roving Mars -- An Update on Recent Exploration of the Red Planet
By Ira Pasternack, Comet Ridge Resources, April 2, 2014
Each of the rover landing sites was specifically selected to optimize the potential for finding evidence of past life.
Our knowledge of Martian geology has undergone tremendous growth over the last decade due to the highly successful surface rover and orbiter missions that have been surveying and sending data back from the planet since 2004. Much of these data are readily available for free download from various NASA or affiliated organization websites (i.e., http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/). The talk will include some of the author’s favorite downloaded imagery and brief historical review of earlier probes sent to explore Mars, will demonstrate they have not always been so successful. Since American astronomer Percival Lowell popularized Martian “canals” as indications of intelligent life during the early 20th century, the search for signs of life on Mars continues to be a major focus of exploration. Each of the rover landing sites was specifically selected to optimize the potential for finding evidence of past life. The talk will present examples of some of the Martian depositional environments capable of sustaining life including fluvial valley networks and deltaic sediment bodies in lacustrine basins. Mars has a much more complete stratigraphic record than the Earth because of the absence of plate tectonics and lack of crustal recycling. Mars is the location of one of the tallest mountain peaks identified in the Solar System, “Olympus Mons”-- 3 times the height of Mount Everest--as well as the largest known canyon, the 1900-mile-long “Valles Marineris”. Although the talk is well beyond the normal scope of Rocky Mountain region geology topics presented at RMAG luncheons, there are numerous Colorado connections to the recent Martian missions beyond the similar red color of the rocks. Colorado companies were responsible for the construction of various key components or instruments onboard the rovers and orbiters. There are also Colorado ties to some of the scientists responsible for conducting the Martian research.
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Continued on page 24 »
Luncheon Reservations & Information Luncheon will be held at the Marriott City Center at California and 17th St. Please check the event listing in the lobby for the room. Check-in/walk-in registration begins at 11:30 a.m., lunch is served at 12:00 noon, and the talk begins at 12:20 p.m. The luncheon price is $30.00. To listen only to the talk, walk-in price is $10.00. If you make a reservation and do not attend the luncheon, you will be billed for the luncheon. Online registration closes at 4:00 p.m. on the Thursday before the luncheon. Cancellations are not guaranteed after that time.
Your attendance is welcomed and encouraged. Bring a guest or new member! OUTCROP
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Call 303-573-8621, email staff@rmag.org, or register online. www.rmag.org
RMAG Luncheon Programs – May 7th
Continued from page 23
Mississippian Heath Formation, a Self-sourcing Tight oil Carbonate Petroleum System, Central Montana By Richard J. Bottjer, Cirque Resources LP, Denver, CO
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Modern cores and well logs can be used to better define the upper and lower contacts of the Heath Formation as well as internal stratigraphic units in the Heath.
The late Mississippian Heath Formation is the primary target of an emerging tight oil play. The organic-rich shale beds of the Heath are well known as the primary oil source rocks for more than 100 MMBO of oil produced from the Tyler Sandstone and other reservoirs in central Montana, however, recent geological work, coring, and horizontal drilling has exposed the Heath Formation as an unconventional tight oil reservoir sourced by interbedded organic-rich shales and carbonates. The Heath Formation is the highest stratigraphic unit in the Big Snowy Group and is unconformably overlain by the Pennsylvanian (and/or latest Mississippian) Tyler Formation. Internally, the Heath is informally subdivided into, in ascending order, a lower “shale,” the Van Dusen Zone, Potter Creek Coal, Forest Grove Limestone, Cox Ranch Oil Shale, Heath Limestone, Loco Ridge Gypsum, and upper “shale.” Modern cores and well logs can be used to better define the upper and lower contacts of the Heath Formation as well as internal stratigraphic units in the Heath. Stratigraphic nomenclature within the Heath is poorly defined leading to different operators using different names for the same strata, due largely to extensive vegetative cover in the type area and previously limited subsurface control. Reservoirs in the Heath range from dolomite to limestone to calcareous shale. Porosity varies in these lithologies with microporosity present throughout the 450’ thick Heath interval, and larger pores being most common in the dolomitized carbonates. Intertidal to supratidal dolomites with up to 18 percent porosity interbedded with nodular anhydrites in the Heath Limestone indicate hot arid conditions dominated the near shore depositional environment in the middle part of the Heath. Stratigraphic correlations based on well logs and modern core descriptions suggest that a relative sea level fall resulted in reduction in the size of the Heath seaway. This eustatic change resulted in subaerial exposure of the thickest carbonates in the southern part of the Big Snowy Trough and deposition of silica-rich shales in a lowstand basin in the northern part of the Big Snowy Trough. The Heath oil play is not new. Oil production from reservoirs in the Heath was discovered in 1919 at Devil’s Basin Anticline. Modern horizontal drilling in the Heath started in late 2010, and to date 17 horizontal wells with TVDs ranging from 2000 feet to 5500 feet have been drilled in the Heath across a 4-county area in the Big Snowy Trough. Cirque acquired four 3D seismic surveys in late 2012 and successfully used them to guide location selection and geosteering in the latest two horizontal wells. Recent horizontal and vertical completions in the Heath Formation have initial potentials up to 447 BOPD and demonstrate the economic potential of the Heath. Additional vertical and horizontal drilling and completions should be attempted to further establish the best methods of recovery of this large oil resource with the best economics. April 2014
MINERAL OF THE MONTH: APRIL By Cheryl Whitney
Mineral Name: Amazonite (green microcline) Chemical Composition: KALSi3O8 Color: green Crystal System: Triclinic. This means that the crystal system is composed of vectors of unequal length, and no vector is at a right angle to one another. Luster: vitreous Cleavage: perfect Twinning: Carlsbad twinning is most common Specific Gravity: 2.54-2.57 Hardness: 6 Index of Refraction: 1.53 Locations include: Ural Mountains, Russia, several locations in Norway and Malagasy Republic as well as several locations in Colorado such as Pikes Peak, Crystal Peak, Cheesman Dam and Mt. Evans. Fun Fact: Microclines are some of the largest known crystals, since they are often formed in pegmatites, which are coarse grained masses of plutonic rocks. Plutonic rocks are cooled slowly at great depths, which leads to crystal growth. Amazonite is used for ornamental purposes. 1
2
.
Klein, Cornelis, and Cornelius Searle Hurlbut. The 22nd Edition of the Manual of Mineral Science: (after James D. Dana). New York ; Toronto: J. Wiley, 2002. MLA Odiorne, H. H. Colorado Amazonstone: The Treasure of Crystal Peak. Denver: Forum, 1978.
...Next Month: Cerussite Amazonite with Smoky Quartz and Albite. Photos Courtesy of Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum, Golden CO.
Have a mineral you want to see? E-mail c.whitney@alumni.nmt.edu
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Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists, RMAG 910 16th Street Mall, Suite 1214, Denver, CO 80202 (303) 573-8621 phone (303) 628-0546 fax www.rmag.org staff@rmag.org
2014 RMAG Dues Renewal 2014 RMAG Dues Renewal Name:____________________________________________________________________________________ Last
First
Please select one: No change in contact information Please update my contact information:
Address: __________________________________________________________________________________ City: ___________________________________ State: ______________ Zip Code: _____________________ Email address: _____________________________________________________________________________ 2014 Dues:
$41.00 (December 1, 2013 - November 30, 2014)
Other Optional Contributions: RMAG Contribution:
$_________
RMAG Foundation General Fund Contribution:
$_________
Total Contribution Payment: All contributions are tax deductible under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS.
$_________
(which supports the calendar of 2014 of RMAG events, including short courses, symposia, social events, monthly luncheons, and more)
(which helps support the following: Norman H. Foster Scholarship, University of Colorado (Bolyard) Scholarship, Colorado School of Mines (CSM) Scholarship, Colorado State University (CSU) Scholarship, Veterans Memorial Scholarship, Stone/Hollberg Graduate Scholarship in Structural Geology, Philip J. McKenna Scholarship, Babcock Scholarship)
Please return this form with payment: Payments may be made by check (payable to RMAG) or credit card (please either fill out the enclosed credit card authorization form or go to www.rmag.org to pay online). Easy steps to update your membership online: 1. Go to RMAG website at www.rmag.org 2. Click on MEMBERSHIP 3. Under MEMBERSHIP, click on Member Log In 4. Under the Member Login box, click where it says “Forgot your information? Click here” 5. Enter your current email address 6. You will then receive an email with your login information If this is unsuccessful, please contact the RMAG office at (303) 573-8621 or by email at staff@rmag.org for further assistance.
PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW SUITE NUMBER – 910 16TH STREET MALL, SUITE 1214, DENVER, CO 80202 Vol. 63, No. 4
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April 2014
Several Positions Open for ASSISTANT EDITORS to The Mountain Geologist
Making Unconventional, Conventional
The Mountain Geologist is looking for additional, volunteer, Assistant Editors to join the present staff. Assistant Editors copy edit submitted and revised manuscripts for adherence to The Mountain Geologist’s “Author Style Guide� and for readability. They help in all phases of manuscript publication. At least one editor will have some paleontological background. Another editor will focus on reviewing revised manuscripts and PDF proofs. Assistant Editor skills/background include having excellent command of English and several years experience in one or more earth-science disciplines, being detail-oriented, and having some experience with online publishing or related. Sometimes fast turnarounds are required. Please contact Joyce Trygstad Nelson, Executive Editor, jtpetr@aol.com.
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www.rmag.org
The Role of the Rocky Mountain Section By C. Elmo Brown, President RMS-AAPG
Until I was asked to become an officer of the Rocky Mountain Section of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (RMS-AAPG or Section), I really didn’t know what constituted the Section or the role it plays in the region. I am finding as I visit a number of the affiliated societies that I was not alone in this ignorance. So, what is the RMS-AAPG and what is its role in relation to i t s a f f i l i a te d societies? A c c o rd i n g to the RMS-AAPG bylaws, the sole purpose of the Section is to hold an annual meeting specifically for members of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) in a 12state region covering an area from the Canadian border s o u t h to t h e Mexican border and east from the California border through Minnesota and South Dakota (Figure 1). However, the way the RMS-AAPG is organized and acts actually broadens that scope quite a bit so that all of the members of the 11 geological societies affiliated to the AAPG benefit from the Rocky Mountain Section. The RMS-AAPG executive committee that runs the organization is composed of a representative from each of the affiliated organizations within the Section boundaries plus five officers selected by the affiliated societies. Since each of the affiliated societies in the Rocky Mountain Section has a very diverse membership ranging into all aspects of geology from industry (petroleum, geothermal, mining, and environmental) to government to academia, each executive committee Vol. 63, No.4
member to the RMS-AAPG represents this diverse membership. In the last few years, the actions of the Section have also expanded from just promoting an annual meeting. This expansion has occurred through the creation of regional awards; through support of students and young professionals; through recognition of excellent earth science teachers in the region; and through direct financial support of the local affiliates. Plus, the RMSAAPG is one of the few sections within the AAPG umbrella that has a corresponding foundation which also p r o v i d e s financial support to the activities of the af filiated societies. AWARDS – L a s t ye a r, the Section implemented three new awards that recognize the accomplishments of geologists in the Rocky Mountain area. The first award, the Robert J. Weimer Lifetime Contribution Award, recognizes an individual whose research and achievements have promoted understanding of the geology of the Rocky Mountain region. Dr. Robert Weimer, Professor Emeritus of the Colorado School of Mines, was the first recipient of this in recognition of his contributions in understanding the stratigraphy of the Front Range and Denver Basin of Colorado. Another award, the Rocky Mountain Landmark Publication Award, recognizes authors or editors of a publication in the last decade that had an exceptional influence on the understanding of geology. In 2013, Susan Landon, Mark Longman and Barbara Luneau were recognized for this award for a pair of 28
April 2014
The Role of the Rocky Mountain Section publications that characterized the Niobrara Formation in the Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway. And the third award recognizes long and devoted service to the RMS-AAPG. Last year the RMS-AAPG Distinguished Service Award was presented to Lou Bortz for his long involvement with the Section and the RMS-AAPG Foundation. An existing award that should be of interest to the members of the affiliated societies is the Teacher of the Year Award given annually to a teacher who has exhibited excellence in the K-12 classroom. Candidates are chosen by RMS officers from a slate of nominees provided by the affiliated societies. Although the Section would love to have a nominee from each of the 11 affiliated societies, right now there are only three or four societies who provide a candidate. All nominees provided to the Section by the affiliates, but not winning the award, receive a $300 check while the winning teacher receives a plaque, a $2000 check, and is nominated to the national AAPG Teacher of the Year Award competition where another $5000 is possible. STUDENTS AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS – The RMS-AAPG recognizes that the students and young professionals of today will be replacing our seasoned geologists in our Rocky Mountain community and is actively promoting learning and social opportunities to this group through field trips and special events at the annual meeting. In fact, the organizing committee at this year’s meeting in Denver consists primarily of young professionals under the age of 35 and with less than 10 years experience. For students, the RMS-AAPG has
cveatch@rmag.org
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Continued on page 30 »
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The Role of the Rocky Mountain Section
Continued from page 29
financially supported the International Barrel Award (IBA) where teams from regional universities vie in a competition testing their competence in petroleum exploration. The money the Section provides to the IBA helps fund transportation and housing for the event. The Section also supports transportation to and from the Student Chapter Leadership Council where leaders of the student chapters get together and share best practices. FINANCIAL SUPPORT - Every year, after the RMSAAPG meeting is held, the net proceeds of the meeting are divided between the Section and the affiliated societies. While the RMS-AAPG retains fifty percent, forty percent of the net income goes to the host society, or societies, and the other ten percent is divided equally between the others. For several of the affiliated societies, this percentage take from the RMS-AAPG annual meeting is the bulk of their annual income. The RMS-AAPG Foundation also provides targeted monetary support for the affiliates through funding of specific project requests. These grants have supported guest speakers, field trips, publications, student chapters
at area universities, K-12 teacher and student activities, and such nonhydrocarbon-related endeavors as displays at the natural history museum in Albuquerque or funding of the state geologic map through the State of Idaho. ANNUAL MEETING - Which brings us to the annual meeting to be held on July 20-22 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver where there will be two full days of technical talks and poster presentations. The theme of the convention, Cracking the Source, emphasizes hydrocarbon source rock characterization and maturation. However, there will also be presentations focusing on nonpetroleum-related subjects including stratigraphy and structure of the Rockies. Field trips and short courses before and after the convention will focus on shale reservoirs and on the Cretaceous and Paleozoic stratigraphy of the Front Range. There also will be a special field trip just for students and young professionals highlighting the stratigraphy of the region, as well as a special course for K-12 earth science teachers. Registration for the meeting opens in mid-April and, at the time of this writing, exhibit and sponsorship opportunities still remain. So, plan on coming to Denver this July and enjoy, not only the technical and social aspects of the meeting, but Denver’s unique cultural and geographic setting at the foot of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. By participating, you will not only increase your geologic knowledge, but also monetarily benefit your own local society. For more information, go to www.aapgrms.org and for information specific to the annual meeting go to www. aapgrms.org/2014 or email the convention committee at RMS.AAPG.2014@gmail.com.
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Vol. 63, No. 4
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April 2014
LOCATION we’ll lease it, permit it, gather it and sell it
Did You Work on “The Big Red Book"? RMAG will soon be launching a GIS version of tectonic material from the RMAG Geologic Atlas of the Rocky Mountain Region (the “Big Red Book.”) We would like to talk to you, get your remembrances and take a group photo. If you are of one the participants in the original atlas or know someone who was and can assist with contact data, please telephone or email me. Thank you. We look forward to speaking with you.
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Kristine Peterson 303-980-6770 k.peterson@laramidegeo.com
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your ideas - we make them happen LEASING - PERMITTING - DAMAGES - ROW
303-279-0789 31
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April 2014
Authors and Editors Needed: RMAG Oil & Gas Fields of Colorado! RMAG is working toward the publication of a guidebook dedicated to short field studies of a set of selected oil and gas fields in Colorado. In large part the format will be similar to earlier publications of this type: a several page article that will include a one page summary with a small set of maps and cross-sections adequate to give the reader a lot of information in a short amount of time. The RMAG committee working on this publication has selected 85 fields for review. In addition, we expect to have extended discussion around several large “resource play� areas such as the Piceance Basin or the Greater Wattenberg complex including the recent horizontal Niobrara play. The committee is currently looking for authors to do field studies and to put together material for publication. Each author may contribute one or multiple field studies. We will also need a group of editors for both technical and copy (grammatical and graphical) review. Please volunteer! Committee contacts below:
Connect with RMAG Online! You can now connect to the RMAG on Linkedin, Twitter, and Facebook.
CONNECT WITH US ON LINKEDIN! LIKE US ON FACEBOOK! FOLLOW US ON TWITTER!
Dean DuBois, Committee Chair 720-876-5366 dean.dubois@encana.com James Milne 303-894-2100 x5117 james.milne@state.co.us James Rogers 303-832-2328 jim_rogers1@comcast.net Steve Cumella 720-979-0718 steve.cumella@endeavourcorp.com Marshall Deacon 303-228-4215 mdeacon@nobleenergyinc.com Tom Feldkamp 303-228-4146 tfeldkamp@NobleEnergyInc.com Chris Martin 720-440-6134 CMartin@bonanzacrk.com OUTCROP
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New Members
Welcome to New RMAG Members...
Thomas Bell works at Greyco. Inc.
Scott Reyman is an Account Manager - Surface Logging Systems (U.S. Rockies) at Weatherford.
Charles Czarnecki works at Fairfield Industries
Rob Rice lives in Delta, Colorado.
Ashley Danowski works at Bonanza Creek Energy
John Roesink is a Senior Geologist at Bill Barrett Corporation.
Jessica Davey is a Student at Metropolitan State University of Denver.
Chrissi Ruby works at Conestoga-Rovers & Associates.
Inc.
Sharon Day lives in Denver, Colorado.
Cordel Schmidt lives in Denver, Colorado.
John Deery is a Geological Advisor at Hess Corporation.
Sarah Sherwood is a HZ Ops Geosteering Coordinator at Anadarko.
Pasquale Del Vecchio is a Geology Tech II at Great Western Oil and Gas Company.
Naomi Storey is a Sales Representative at Arcis Seismic Solutions. Jianhong Xu works at C&C Reservoirs.
Jason Eleson is a Senior Geoscientist at Koch Exploration Company.
Inc.
1 and 2 man Mudlogging Gas Referencing™ Geosteering
Summit Mudlogging Services
Amy Ellwein is a Geologist at Lidar Guys/Paradox Geologic. Kyrie Encinas works at Exploration Geophysics,
Mike Barber
Manager Serving the Rocky Mountain Region
Rachel Errthum is an Associate Geologist at QEP Resources.
230 Airport Rd. Unit D Heber City, Utah 84032
Daniel Haymond works at Noble Energy, Inc.
Ph (435)657-0586 Cell (435)640-1382 email: mbarber@summitmudlog.com www.summitmudlog.com
Marta Hodan lives in Golden, Colorado. Brendan Kelly is a Geotechnician at Yates Petroleum Corp.
Volunteer Position for the Managing Editor for Outcrop Open
Steven Kerschbaum is a Geophysicist at Transform. Gary Kowalski works at DESCO.
We are seeking a volunteer to assume the position of managing editor for the RMAG monthly newsletter Outcrop. Applicants must be experienced geoscientists capable of identifying and capturing stories of interest to the membership both within and outside of RMAG activities. The managing editor coordinates the production of the Outcrop with the RMAG staff and editors working directly with the layout artist. Availability to proof and cycle material and edits quickly is a must. Inquiries should be directed to Kristine Peterson @ laramidegeo.com, the current managing editor, or Larry Rasmussen, RMAG Publications Committee Chairman, larryR@whiting.com.
Jillian Kurek is a Geologist at Channel Energy, LLC Jorge Manrique works at Sierra Hamilton. Tanya Matherine Matcek works at DESCO. Joshua McFarland is a Student at University of Texas at El Paso. Daniel Moore is a Development Geologist at Bill Barrett Corporation. Andrew Pruett works at Nelson Engineering. David Puchrik lives in Denver, Colorado.
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Vol. 63, No.4
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Danielle Ebnother is a Geologist at Encana.
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April 2014
In Memoriam Stanley H. Collins, 90, Denver, CO., February 23, 1014. Stan was a long standing member of RMAG, working for National Cooperative Refinery Association and then as an independent and consultant. Stan is survived by his wife LaVern and their three children.
Inc. in 1982. Dynoil had ventures in Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Michigan and Australia. Tom is survived by his wife Peggy and three children. Rex W. Ulricksen, 90, Denver, CO., November 5, 2013 Rex began his career with Humble Oil Company which became Exxon. He worked for Exxon for 30 years and then joined Equitable Resources Energy.
Robert L. Rayl, 86, Centennial, CO., February 21, 2014 Bob worked for Phillips Petroleum (now ConocoPhillips) for 34 years, including Managing Director in the U.K. and director of the Western Division and head of the Denver office. Bob is survived by his wife Margaret who is still active in the RMAGA and by three children.
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Editor’s note: If you would like to write a more detailed In Memoriam for any RMAG member, we would be appreciative.
Tom Robinson, 76, Denver, CO., November, 2014 Tom was a Colorado School of Mines graduate. He worked for Mobil Oil Corporation, Vanderbilt Resources and Consolidated Oil and Gas prior to founding Dynoil
Position Open – Aide to the Executive Editor for The Mountain Geologist
Position Open – Assistant Editor for the Outcrop
The Executive Editor for The Mountain Geologist is looking for a volunteer Aide to assist in executive duties. These duties will vary and could include such activities as setting up files on the RMAG FTP file system for reviewers of submitted manuscripts, routine correspondence, assisting with budget development, copying and mailing paper copies of manuscripts, and scheduling. Position to last for two years. Applicant should be Denver area geologist and RMAG member.
We are looking for volunteers to assist in editing the Outcrop. Duties include copy editing articles and material, soliciting articles and assisting with compiling activities for the Pipeline, as well as assisting in filling in the duties of the Managing Editor on occasion. The Outcrop operates on a tight deadline and editors must be able to quickly turn around the material. If you are interested, please contact Kristine Peterson, k.peterson@laramidegeo.com or the RMAG office.
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Outcrop Deadlines
for the Outcrop advertising is the 1st of the month, the deadline for other content is the 5th of the month. OUTCROP
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THANK YOU TO OUR 2014 3D SEISMIC SYMPOSIUM SPONSORS AND EXHIBITORS! EXHIBITORS 3D Imaging Technology Absolute Imaging Inc. Breckenridge Geophysical Buckley Powder Co CGG Cougar Land Services Dawson Geophysical DESCO Environmental Consultants Drillinginfo Earth Signal Processing Ltd. Edge Technologies Inc. FairfieldNodal Geokinetics, Inc Geomage, Inc Global Geophysical Services Hardin International Processing, Inc. Horizontal Solutions International ION Geophysical Ken Turnbull Land Broker LoneStar Geophysical Surveys NodalSeismic Inc Paragon Geophysical Services, Inc PetroDE Pinnacle—A Halliburton Service Resolve GeoSciences, Inc. Rocky Mountain Oil Journal Schlumberger Geosolutions Schlumberger Information Solutions SeisWare, Inc. SIGMA3 Integrated Reservoir Solutions Summit Geophysical LLC Tesla Exploration TGS Ubiterra Corporation Vista Geoscience, LLC XtremeGeo
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Vol. 63, No. 4
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April 2014
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In the Pipeline April 2, 2014
April 22, 2014
RMAG Luncheon. Speaker: RMAG Luncheon. Speaker: Ira Pasternack. “Roving Mars – An Update on Recent Exploration of the Red Planet.” Marriott City Center.
DWLS Spring Workshop. “Pore Systems, Conductivity, Saturation and Permeability.” Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO. April 24, 2014
April 2-4, 2014
RMS-AAPG Young Professionals Happy Hour. Paramount Café 4:30-6:30.
Hart DUO. Denver, CO. April 11, 2014
April 29, 2014
DIPS Luncheon. Speaker Mike Pinnel. “Thrust Belts.” For reservations: aeglerd@directpetroleum.com or 303-285-9136.
RMAG Geosteering Forum. Marriott Denver City Center Downtown. See page 22. April 29, 2014
April 15, 2014
RMS-SEPM Luncheon. Speaker Paul Heller. “Bimodal Stacking Patterns Based on Outcrop Measurements from Wasatch and Morrison Formations.”
DWLS Luncheon.
April 30, 2014 PTTC Workshop. Speaker Bob Knoll. “The Trade-Offs in Drilling the Perfect Horizontal Well.” For more information contact Mary Carr (mcarr@mines.edu) 303.273.3107. May 7, 2014 RMAG Luncheon. Speaker: Richard J. Bottier. “Mississippian Heath Formation, a self-sourcing tight oil carbonate petroleum system, central Montana, USA.” »
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Horizontal Bakken, Mission Canyon, Red River, Dupero, Three Forks and Ratcliff formations Joseph H. Large
If you have any events that you would like to post in this column, please submit via email to Holly Sell at holly.sell@yahoo.com or to the RMAG office at rmagdenver@aol. com for consideration.
President
www.rpmconsultinginc.com 1600 Broadway, Suite 1510, Denver, CO 80202 (Office) 303 595 7625 | (Fax) 303 595 7628
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o t t ip r c s u n a M a Submit viewed , online, peer-re ly er rt a u q a is Geologist eologists The Mountain Association of G in ta n ou M ky ountain by the Roc itors for The M d E journal published . 0 0 6 2 t ou geology culation is ab on or relate to s since 1964. Cir cu fo at th ts p me manuscri Geologist welco environs. ntain region and ou , please M ky oc R . .S ntain Geologist ou of the U M e Th r fo t p manuscri d under When writing a le G u id e ” fo u n ty S r o th u “A te: www. w n lo a d a b le the RMAG websi re fe r to th e d o on ” st gi lo eo G g to this The Mountain uscript accordin “Publications – an m r u yo te ri w d editors. por tant to both authors an rmag.org It is im r fo e m ti on si quiries to itigate revi ; please send in style guide to m 3 1 0 2 in ed at d ublished is being up refer to issues p The style guide or om l.c ao r@ ditor at jtpet the Executive E ise. hen questions ar in 2012-2013 w te (1964the RMAG websi Back Issues on e bl la ai av is d index .org). See A bibliography an age, www.rmag p eb w st gi lo eo Geologist, Mountain G to The Mountain 2009, see The ex d In d an hy ly 2011, e Bibliograp tain Geologist, Ju n also, “Cumulativ ou M e Th , op h Michele Bis 1999-2010” by Mountain 9-80 . v. 48, no. 3, p. 5 ble on DVD (The la ai av e ar al rn the jou Mountain Back issues of 22, no. 4; The v. , 5 8 9 1 t p ce rough the -2005 ex o. 4) available th Geologist 1964 n , 2 2 v. , 5 8 9 1 -2010 with website. Some AG M R e th Geologist 2006 on e onlin 3-573-8621, or RMAG office for e th om fr RMAG office, 30 le b la avai copies are also issues in hard $15.
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OUTCROP
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Tim has cabin fever.
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Vol. 63, No. 4
40
April 2014
Advertisers Index AAPG......................................... 10, 17
Donovan Brothers Inc..................30
Noble Energy.................................. 8
American Business Conferences.....9
Fluid Inclusion Technologies......27
Peterson, Kris............................... 18
Bowler Petrophysics...................... 18
Geosteering..................................16
RPM Geologic, LLC...................... 38
Bradsby Group................................ 31
Gustavson, John B.......................18
Stoner Engineering, LLC.............. 32
Breckenridge Expl. Inc.....................9
Horizontal Solutions Intl..............18
Summit Mudlogging Services..... 34
Canadian Discovery....................... 12
Karo, James C..............................31
URTEC........................................... 19
Columbine Logging.........................27
Lario Oil & Gas Company.............12
Weatherford Laboratories........... 40
Daub & Associates........................ 30
MJ Systems..................................14
Weber Law Firm, LLC................... 33
Decollement Consulting, Inc........ 14
Mazzullo Energy Corp..................33
Whitehead, Neil H........................ 20
The Discovery Group, Inc................30
Newfield Exploration.................. 15
WPX Energy.................................. 29
Dolan Integration Group.................12
A PR I L 2014 SUNDAY
anuary MONDAY
1 TUESDAY
1
WEDNESDAY
2
THURSDAY
3
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
4
5
Hart DUO RMAG Luncheon Speaker: Ira Pasternack
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
DWLS Luncheon
RMS-AAPG Young Professionals Happy Hour
DWLS Spring Workshop
27
28
29 RMAG Geosteering Forum RMS-SEPM Luncheon
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DIPS Luncheon
30
PTTC Workshop
41
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