Newsletter of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists
730 17th Street, B1, Denver, CO 80202 • 720-672-9898
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.
PRESIDENT Ben Burke bburke158@gmail.com
PRESIDENT-ELECT Mike Tischer mtischer@gmail.com
1st VICE PRESIDENT Ronald L. Parker parkero@gmail.com
1st VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT Lisa Wolff lwolff@bayless-cos.com
2nd VICE PRESIDENT Matt Bauer matthew.w.bauer.pg@gmail.com
2nd VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT
Jason Eleson jasoneleson3@gmail.com
SECRETARY Sandra Labrum slabrum@slb.com
TREASURER
Anna Phelps aphelps@sm-energy.com
TREASURER ELECT
Holly Lindsey holly@energyfunders.com
COUNSELOR
Steve Crouch scrouch@whiteeagleexploration.com
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The Outcrop is a monthly publication of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists
DESIGN/LAYOUT: Nate Silva | nate@nate-silva.com
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Bridget Crowther bcrowther@rmag.org
OPERATIONS ASSISTANT
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LEAD EDITOR Nate LaFontaine nlafontaine@sm-energy.com
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
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RMAG Office: 720-672-9898
Fax: 323-352-0046 staff@rmag.org or www.rmag.org
F i e l d T r i p s
Aug 1 21 3
Aug 22
On this unique field trip you'll see more impact craters in one day than anywhere else on Earth Led by Kent Sundell, geology instructor at Casper College, who has studied and written extensively on this crater field, the Douglas Impact Site.
Join RMAG for a day visiting the famous Climax Mine one of the world’s leading open-pit molybdenum mining operations, operated by Climax Molybdenum Company a subsidiary of Freeport-McMoRan.
Sept 9
Tour of the historic Beulah Quarry, source of Colorado Capitol's most unique building stone, led by Quarry owner Ken Balleweg Also included is a visit to the Steelworks Center of the West in Pueblo.
Sept 3 0
Grab your bike and join Dr Donna Anderson on a tour of the geology of the Golden area Trip is 9 miles on a bike path
Registration for trips will generally open one month before the trip date. Check www.rmag.org for updates and details. Dates subject to change View website for additional info
October 20, 2022
Geoscience Community:
We greatly appreciate every Summit Sponsor and Event Sponsor that has contributed to RMAG over the last year. We could not exist without your support.
In RMAG’s 100th year we have emerged from the global pandemic to return to many of RMAG’s beloved programs, and we created new programing to meet the needs of our members and the greater geoscience community. Monthly luncheons returned to in-person, with the addition live streaming. The 2022 Golf Tournament sold out bringing over 100 golfers out for a great afternoon together. The Powder River Basin Symposium offered two days of talks and core viewing to a packed room with attendees from across the country. Members young and old celebrated RMAG’s past and future at the 100th Anniversary Party. But that’s not all, the Diversity and Inclusion Committee in conjunction with Education Outreach attended numerous community outreach events from Girl Scout Days at Dinosaur Ridge to the Juneteenth Festival, sharing our members love of the geosciences with the next generation. Short courses were held both in person and online creating educational opportunities for members in Denver and across the country.
2023 brings new opportunities for RMAG. Your sponsorship dollars will help RMAG bring to fruition the 2023 North American Helium Symposium, an exciting Field Trip season, and a dynamic list of luncheon speakers on topics ranging from the state of the industry to the Williston Basin to geothermal energy storage. These dollars will allow RMAG Members to impact the next generation at outreach events throughout the community and provide opportunities for the geoscience community to connect and build their network. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone on a more regular basis.
Your sponsorship dollars support our excellent publications including the monthly Outcrop newsletter and the quarterly Mountain Geologist journal We recognize your financial commitment with in-person signage, website and publication advertising, as well and social media posts before each online event. With a LinkedIn group of almost 3000 members, we make our sponsors visible to the geoscience community for both virtual and in person events.
Thank you to those who are already a Summit Sponsor, we look forward to your continued support in 2023. If you are not already a sponsor, please look at the many complementary benefits included with the sponsorship levels. If our annual sponsorships don't make sense for your company, or you wish to sponsor something specific, ask about our single event sponsorship opportunities. Please feel free to contact our staff with questions by email: bcrowther@rmag.org or by phone at 720-672-9898 ext. 102.
We and the staff of RMAG thank you all for your continued support and look forward to seeing you in person this year.
Ben Burke
Bridget Crowther 2023 RMAG President RMAG Executive Director
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Hi everyone! I hope you are managing to stay cool this hot summer and have had the opportunity to take advantage of some of the awesome field trips OTR has put on!
The July Board of Directors meeting took place July 12th, 2023, at 4:00pm online. All board members were present expect two. The Finance committee started off the meeting with an overview of the financial standing in June. The finances are looking much improved this month as the operating income is flattening.
The Continuing Education Committee is continuing to host hybrid lunches with great success. July was the last month that the lunches will be at Maggiano’s, moving forward they will be at DERL. The Membership committee is now accepting applications for the mentorship program so be sure to apply to be either a mentor or mentee! We are also continuing to host monthly events. August women’s coffee will be on
August 1st at Vibe Coffee sponsored by Dodson Dayfield. We are also hosting RMAG Night at Coors Field August 18th, so sign up today! The Publications Committee is still hard at work making sure there is high quality content for both the Outcrop and the Mountain Geologist. We would like to welcome Steve Tedesco as the new executive editor of the Mountain Geologist. The Educational Outreach committee did not meet this month. On the Rocks, has a full slate of great field trips planned this year. Registration is open for most so sign up today! Finally, Diversity and Inclusion committee has been hard at work bringing you member corners in each Outcrop as well as cohosting the women’s group coffee. The committee had a great turnout for both Pridefest and Juneteenth, so make sure you volunteer for the next event they participate in!
I hope you all have a fantastic August and happy back to school! Until next time!
T R I C E R A T O P S G U L C H P R O J E C T
W Y O M I N G
A U G U S T 1 7 - 2 0
D i n o s a u r R i d g e h a s t e a m e d u p w i t h t h e M o r r i s o n N a t u r a l H i s t o r y M u s e u m a n d t h e G l e n r o c k P a l o n M u s e u m t o e x p l o r e t h e f o s s i l - r i c h L a n c e F o r m a t i o n t o l e a r n h o w f i e l d p a l e o n t o l o g y r e a l l y w o r k s A t t h i s i n f o r m a l f i e l d s c h o o l p a r t i c i p a n t s w i l l b e i n t r o d u c e d t o p r o j e c t - b a s e d p a l e o n t o l o g i c a l f i e l d w o r k w i t h l e c t u r e s t h a t s u p p o r t c u r r e n t r e s e a r c h p r o j e c t s Y o u w i l l p a r t i c i p a t e i n a n a c t i v e d i g s i t e t o f i n d f o s s i l s s u c h a s d i n o s a u r b o n e s , t e e t h , a n d o t h e r f o s s i l e v i d e n c e t h a t w i l l b e c u r a t e d i n t h e p e r m a n e n t c o l l e c t i o n o f t h e G l e n r o c k P a l e o n M u s e u m
M
S E P T E M B E R 2 3 & 2 4
E X P L O R E G H O S T R A N C H
N E W M E X I C O
O C T O B E R 2 7 - 3 0
T h e M o r r i s o n a n d G o l d e n F o s s i l A r e a s N a t i o n a l N a t u r a l L a n d m a r k s a r e c e l e b r a t i n g t h e i r 5 0 t h a n n i v e r s a r y ! D i n o s a u r R i d g e a n d s i s t e r m u s e u m M o r r i s o n N a t u r a l H i s t o r y M u s e u m w i l l l e a d t w o f u l l d a y s o f o u t d o o r l e a r n i n g a t t h e s e i c o n i c s i t e s D a y 1 w i l l f o c u s o n t h e L a t e J u r a s s i c f i n d s ( o l d a n d n e w ) . D a y 2 w i l l f o c u s o n t h e L a t e C r e t a c e o u s r o c k s o f M o r r i s o n a n d G o l d e n . E x p l o r e t h e i n c r e d i b l e l a n d s c a p e s m a d e f a m o u s b y a r t i s t G e o r g i a O ' K e e f e a n d l e a r n a b o u t t h e L a t e T r i a s s i c p e r i o d t h e r o p o d w i t h t h e t r i c k y n a m e , C o e l o p h y s i s , N e w M e x i c o ' s s t a t e f o s s i l . V e r t e b r a t e p a l e o n t o l o g i s t / g e o l o g i s t D r . L o u i s T a y l o r w i l l h e l p g u i d e a t w od a y / 3 - n i g h t e x p l o r a t i o n o f G h o s t R a n c h , N e w M e x i c o , t h e p a l e o n t o l o g y a n d a n t h r o p o l o g y m u s e u m s , h i s t o r i c a l f o s s i l q u a r r y , a n d n e a r b y g e o l o g i c a l s i t e s
For details on all of these field trips, and to register, go to: https://dinoridge org/programs-and-events/travel-and-field-programs/
This month I am exploring the intersection of planetary geology and petroleum geology with you. My vehicle for doing so is the upcoming OTR field trip to the Douglas, Wyoming, meteorite impact crater field hosted by Dr. Kent Sundell of Casper College. This field trip was delayed from its original June date. The trip is on August 12th; more details are available at rmag.org.
Astrophysicist Carl Sagan, as part of his epic 1980 television series, Cosmos, famously said in one scene, “If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.” Somewhat analogously, to understand the intersection of astrophysics/planetary geology and petroleum geology, we just first acknowledge the Earth’s place in the solar system. Earth inhabits the “Goldilocks Zone,” just distant enough from the Sun that its radiation is not destructive to organic life yet it still provides enough heat to keep conditions “just right,” like the temperature of the porridge in the fairy tale. The “just right” conditions extend to the condition of Earth’s atmosphere. Unlike Venus with its crushing atmospheric pressure, intense heat at surface, and caustic chemistry, and unlike Mars, with its lack of atmospheric pressure, dominant carbon dioxide atmospheric composition, and cold temperature, Earth is “just right,” and makes for a nicely termed “Standard Temperature and Pressure” known to chemists and petroleum engineers.
The atmosphere that gives us weather and occasional tornadoes in the Denver area is responsible for chemical and physical weathering processes that tear down and recycle any features that sit above mean sea level. Meteorite craters are included in those features that weather away over time leaving only impact structures that may not have any classic crater-shaped morphology. Unlike on the Moon and
any of the rocky planets or moons which do not have an atmosphere, impacts on Earth from celestial bodies weather away in geologically short order. Thus, it is quite a treat to be able to visit a meteorite crater field containing 40+ confirmed or suspected craters and impact structures right here in the Rockies of Wyoming.
The Douglas crater field is an opportunity to view and study the morphology of Lower Permian age craters on the surface. The craters only are present on surface within the outcropping Casper sandstone as it outcrops on the east side of Sheep Mountain anticline. This begs the question of how many impact structures might be present downdip of the exposures deeper into the Powder River Basin.
A 1998 article by Richard Donofrio in the May 11, 1998, Oil & Gas Journal notes that seventeen confirmed impact structures occur in petroleum-bearing zones in North America. The 180-mile wide Chicxulub impact structure in the northern Yucatan peninsula of Mexico is noted to have 453 active producing wells twenty-five years ago. This is the same impact structure famous for ending the Cretaceous period, causing the extinction of many megafauna species including the dinosaurs, and leaving a tell-tale iridium layer globally. Another large impact structures that is also an oil field is the Ames structure in Major County, Oklahoma. Discovered in 1990, the 8 mile in diameter structure contained 40 producing wells in 1998. The Planetary and Space Science Center at the University of New Brunswick and the Meteoritical Society both have comprehensive databases of all known and suspected impact structures worldwide containing additional information on these and other craters and impact structures.
Enjoy the August events and mid-summer in the Rockies!
ANY GEOLOGIST WOULD BE THRILLED TO DISCOVER a major basin reservoir, but what if by the age of 32 you found two of the largest reservoirs in the Wamsutter Arch of Wyoming; the Patrick Draw Field and Desert Springs Field?
If you did that in the early 1950’s, you’d be Bob Weimer (Fig. 1). Bob was working with Union Oil in the San Juan Basin and realized the importance of ancient beach sands from the shores of the Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway, and their potential as reservoirs and traps in their pinch outs. Bob followed the ancient sea north and went on to make his discoveries in the Wamsutter Arch and then two more major fields in the Powder River Basin: the Spearhead Ranch and Powell/ Manning Ranch fields. Bob’s explorations continued into the eastern half of the Green River Basin as well, but he eventually settled down in Golden, CO. to teach at the department of Geology and Geological Engineering (GE) at the Colorado School of Mines.
Dr. Weimer took a very applied approach to teaching, finding analog sites for field exploration in the Denver/Golden area. He designed many local field trips for students and the professional community at large. Bob knew that those same ancient beach sands cropped out on the campus, along with the entire sequence recording the regressions of the Western Interior Seaway. Professors of geology at the School of Mines are aware of the amazing geology right in our own backyard where the Paleozoic and Mesozoic-aged beds have been tilted up and even slightly overturned, exposing a series of formations whose chronological story can be followed by simply walking east.
Besides the in-situ geology in the area, geologists from the School of Mines had been collecting amazing samples from around the State and the world, and it was decided to make a Geology Museum housed in the same building with the GE department, Berthoud Hall. The collection grew as our community grew, eventually outgrowing the space in Berthoud
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Hall, and in 2002 moved into the new General Research Laboratory building located at 13th and Maple. Bob decided that this new Museum location should include an outdoor portion and began work on what is now known as the Bob Weimer Geology Trail.
Another resource at Bob’s disposal was the experimental drilling group on campus who liked to haul large blocks of various rocks to campus to practice turning rocks to Swiss cheese. These were dumped in an otherwise unused area of campus, but Bob noticed the pile and having extensive geologic exposure to the state, could identify from which formation each block originated. Figuring asking forgiveness was better than permission, he began hauling blocks up to the north end of what is known as the Freshman Parking lot on the west side of the campus. At one point security came to investigate what was going on, but Bob
simply informed them the President of the University had asked him to do it. That fib bought him the time to finish the project. Knowing the origin of the blocks, he began organizing them in chronological order, and separating general Colorado rocks (e.g., Green River Shale or Yule Marble) vs. those found in the Golden area. The Golden sequence he laid out goes all the way from the Coal Creek Quartzite (~1.7 Ga) to the Table Mountain Basalt (~62 Ma). The north end of the Freshman Parking lot is now affectionately called “The Rock Garden” (Fig. 2). The Rock Garden is a great learning tool for students who forget the order of formations in the Front Range or want to view a larger than hand-sample size rock.
As for the rest of the trail, one might think it simple to say, “We have excellent geologic exposure on the west side of our campus; let’s make a geology
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trail.” But it was only due to a series of fortunate and unfortunate events and efforts by Dr. Weimer that this trail exists. First the land had to be acquired by the University, as it had originally been mined for clay and coal in the 1800’s (Fig. 3). Once mining in the area was exhausted, reclamation began and was not finished until the 1970’s, or so it was thought. With the mining reclamation “complete”, Colorado School of Mines traded property to own that land and promptly built married housing, thinking the clays had been sufficiently compacted down to avoid foundation problems. It took less than a decade for the foundation issues to become critical and cost the University a lot of money to tear down those buildings, attempt further reclamation, and finally build parking lots and playing fields. The current Fraternity and Sorority Row was built on the edge of the mining operations. Even with the land avoiding major development, the trail was still not seen as something the University needed to invest in. So, Bob began inviting K-12 Earth Science teachers to come visit the new Geology Museum and then take a short walk to see some of the best sites on campus. This caught the attention of the Dean of Students, who put his support behind the project. Finally, in the early 2000’s, the Bob Weimer Geology Trail began to take shape.
The geologic story of the trail begins in mountains to our west. Though not technically part of the Bob Weimer Geology Trail, the “M” on Mount Zion is on the Front Range crustal block, and the campus is on the down-dropped Denver Basin block, with the displacement between the two being almost two miles. Bob liked to say you could walk over to Clear Creek Canyon and touch 1.7 Ga Idaho Springs gneiss, or you could start drilling on top of one of the Table Mountains and eventually hit that gneiss 11,000 ft. down. The uplift of the Rockies in the Laramide Orogeny caused compression and crustal shortening in our neighborhood resulting in all previously deposited Paleozoic and Mesozoic aged layers to tilt up, and on the campus to end up slightly overturned.
The oldest formation on campus on the far west is the Pierre Shale; a valley forming, swelling soil producing, 7000 ft thick unit of marine shale, laid down in the Western Interior Seaway of the Cretaceous. No matter how often it is stated, it still amazes: 7000 ft of
shale in the middle of our continent. The Pierre Shale is thinner in Golden as the Golden Fault runs through this relatively weak layer and truncates it while also covering many of the older sedimentary layers on the flanks of the Front Range.
Though ammonite and other mollusk and even the occasional pterosaur fossils have been found in the Pierre Shale, none have been found on campus. So, there are no stops on the trail directly in the Pierre. However, there is an excellent outcrop where the shale gets exposed as the terrain is lifted by a regressive sequence to a more resistant beach sand in the Fox Hills Formation (Fig. 4). The shale goes from grey reduced mud to brown/red oxidized mud as the Western Interior Seaway regressed from the area rather rapidly. The sea was falling, but the opening phases of the Laramide Orogeny also helped lift the area from marine to shoreline to terrestrial in a short geologic time that translates to a short walk on the trail.
The Fox Hills Sandstone at this outcrop is uniform fine sand but doesn’t show the fossil evidence that this was a mangrove swamp like some coastal areas of Louisiana or Mississippi. Such evidence is well-preserved though where the Fox Hills outcrops on Rooney Road. But on the Bob Weimer Trail, the Fox Hills contains a layer with crossbedding that lets us know all layers here are overturned, striking 140 degrees and dipping overturned 70 degrees to the west. At Colorado School of Mines, we use azimuth and right-hand rule measurements. Ash beds near this outcrop see the regression here between 72-69 Ma. The Fox Hills Sandstone is prominent in this outcrop and has an obvious fault breccia marked with yucca plants in its center. As one walks the trail, the trace of this mainly strike-slip fault is evident in multiple exposures of fault breccia, and a bend in this fault displaces our next unit eastward on the northern side of the trail, which is a short distance from our previous outcrop.
This is the Laramie Formation (Fig. 5). It is present on the trail as an alternating sequence of crevasse-splay sandstones depositing on muddy floodplain sediments and a distinct layer of bituminous-grade coal. The river channel was to our north and would occasionally experience levee breaches
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that rapidly buried the floodplains which means the west facing sides of the sandstones are an excellent place to look for fossil evidence. Specific leaf fossils let us know the Laramie was deposited in the Late Cretaceous about 68 Ma, and was in a tropical rainforest, as the leaves include the typical smooth-edged leaves with drip tips seen in modern rainforests and palm fronds. The Laramide uplift had barely started, so we were yet to reach our current altitude, but we had reached our current mid-northern latitudes.
Because the floodplain in our area was well drained at times, it developed a lot of kaolinite clay which became important in the early history of Denver. After almost complete destruction by fire of Denver in April of 1863, the city passed an ordinance that
new buildings must be made of brick or stone. Suddenly the nearby clays in Golden became valuable as kaolinite-rich clays are perfect for making brick and ceramics. But you need to fire the clay, and right in the same formation was a beautiful layer of coal exposed in a north-south trending stripe along the Front Range. Mining it was tricky though as the coal seam started dipping 70 degrees into the ground and came closer to vertical with depth.
Mining of the coal started north of Clear Creek around what is known as White Ash Mine Park, which is odd as it is the location of the Loveland Mine shaft. Development doesn’t work too well over here either. This portal led to a shaft that drove out drifts along the strike every 100 ft down to an ultimate depth of 600 ft. Drifting south the mining stopped short of
Clear Creek. Ultimately the coal mining moved over to campus, where the actual White Ash Mine shaft was located, and a statue of a miner now stands near the portal location along the trail. The Loveland Mine was soon after abandoned and allowed to fill with water.
In the late 1860’s, the White Ash Mine eventually reached a depth of 800 feet. Mining drafts every 100 ft down along the strike, the miners were cautious not to run into the Loveland Mine works as they drifted north. As a precaution, 400 ft thick walls of coal were left between the old and new mine works to protect from the water stored to the north. A train system was built to ferry the mined goods from Golden to Denver, with the end loading station located around the east end-zone of our football field.
Then in the mid 1880’s the dump on the surface caught fire. It was put out but caught a small area of the coal seam on fire which began to burn its way down. The State Mine Inspector came out to investigate and with the common wisdom of the time proclaimed the fire would put itself out underground with no oxygen. Today we know that burning coal can produce its own oxygen and continue to burn for decades (e.g., Centralia, PA.). There are currently over 30 known coal fires burning underground in Colorado, and we take them much more seriously. The White Ash Mine fire was allowed to burn down to the 400 ft deep drift and take a trip to the north eventually hitting the 400 ft wall of protective coal. On Sept. 9, 1989, as 10 miners (Fig. 6) were working the 600 ft levels, the protective wall failed 200 ft above them. All were killed in the flood, and no bodies could be recovered. The monument along the north end of the trail gives the names of these ten (Fig. 7). My students often ask what the three interlocking rings next to some of the names means. This symbol marked the members of the Odd Fellows fraternity which had many masons and miners in their ranks, and states
their missions as, “Visit the sick, relieve the distressed, bury the dead and educate the orphan.” This was their form of life insurance, and Odd Fellows Clubs exists to this day in Colorado.
The Laramie sandstones were left behind after clay and coal mining, exposing the west-facing fossil-bearing sides. The crowning jewel of the Bob Weimer Geology Trail is the west side of the large sandstone rib, the strike-slip fault located on the west
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side of the Freshman Parking lot, just north of Sorority/Fraternity Row. Its entrance is marked by a large block of drilled out Fountain Formation with a plaque from the National Park Service marking this site as a National Natural Landmark.
Preserved here are logs of downed trees and their stumps left behind, with evidence of insect damage in the old trees. But most visitors, children in age or children at heart, really want to see the dinosaur prints. Along the wall are triceratops and hadrosaur prints, and areas that can only be described as trampled ground or “dinoturbated”. Trackways step distance and foot size allow reconstruction of the size of the ceratopsians which were about 6 feet tall at the hip. The hadrosaur print just below the log imprint on this wall is a very well preserved three-toed print, with smaller prints surrounding. The best-preserved palm frond (Fig. 8) is also on this wall along with more leaf fossils. If you come to visit the Bob Weimer Geology Trail, take some time at this location to see what you can find.
The trail officially begins at the Geology Museum, where you can get a pamphlet with a map and explanatory images for the trail. But beware, the museum can easily distract people for an hour or two. If you can’t make it to Golden to experience the trail, there are videos of Bob Weimer himself giving a tour of the trail on YouTube. Search “Earth Explorations” on YouTube from CVshorey which includes six videos of Dr Weimer giving his tour on a windy day.
Bob passed away of natural causes at the age of 94 on August 25, 2021, but his legacy will live far
beyond his time exploring this world. And thanks to Dr. Weimer, we have a wonderful outdoor museum of local geologic and mining history we all can explore. And it also provides students good lessons about where not to build or buy a house.
P a l e o z o i c I m p a c t
C r a t e r F i e l d
P O S T P O N E D
N e w D a t e : A u g . 1 2 - 1 3 , 2 0 2 3
D o u g l a s , W y o m i n g
S e e m o r e i m p a c t c r a t e r s
t h a n a n y w h e r e e l s e o n
E a r t h ! D o n ' t m i s s t h i s
u n i q u e f i e l d t r i p l e d b y D r .
K e n t S u n d e l l .
HYBRID LUNCH TALK
Speaker: Emilie Gentry
Date: August 2, 2023 | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Fluid flow in geothermal reservoirs is an essential component to an open loop geothermal system and is characterized by fluid composition and permeability. The control of fault zones on the fluid flow and hydraulic conductivity in the subsurface is often underestimated when evaluating a reservoir. Permeability in fault zones is influenced by various scales of structural geology from tectonic setting to
regional faults to grain structures. In this talk, the role of fault zones in geothermal fields and the methods used to characterize fault zones will be discussed. Case studies in Wyoming and Rico, Colorado will be reviewed to demonstrate how a thorough understanding of permeability distribution in a geothermal reservoir is crucial for effective exploration, development, and maintenance of a system.
EMILIE GENTRY is a Senior Geothermal Geoscientist with TEVERRA providing geological mapping, resource assessment, and geothermal conceptual model development. Her technical expertise is structural and subsurface geology with experience in geologic research and oil and gas development, exploration, reservoir characterization, and regulatory affairs management. Emilie uses her knowledge in faults and structural geology and her experience in oil and gas to address major challenges in the geothermal industry and bring opportunity to the larger energy industry. She earned her B.Sc. in Geological Sciences from the University of Texas at Austin and her M.Sc. in Geology at Colorado School of Mines. Emilie is an active member of Women In Geothermal (WING) and was part of the WING Future Leaders Cohort.
NIGHT AT COORS FIELD
NIGHT AT COORS FIELD
NIGHT AT COORS FIELD
NIGHT AT COORS FIELD
FRIDAY, AUGUST 18TH @6:40PM
FRIDAY, AUGUST 18TH @6:40PM
FRIDAY, AUGUST 18TH @6:40PM
FRIDAY, AUGUST 18TH @6:40PM
COLORADO ROCKIES VS. CHICAGO WHITE SOX Tickets Starting at $35 Tickets Starting at $35 Register at www.rmag.org/RockiesGame2023
COLORADO ROCKIES VS. CHICAGO WHITE SOX Tickets Starting at $35 Tickets Starting at $35 Register at www.rmag.org/RockiesGame2023
COLORADO ROCKIES VS. CHICAGO WHITE SOX Tickets Starting at $35 Tickets Starting at $35 Register at www.rmag.org/RockiesGame2023
COLORADO ROCKIES VS. CHICAGO WHITE SOX Tickets Starting at $35 Tickets Starting at $35 Register at www.rmag.org/RockiesGame2023
HYBRID LUNCH TALK
Speaker: Kurt Randolph
Date: September 13, 2023 | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Presenter: Kurt Randolph, Adjunct Professor, University of Houston & Rice University
Subsurface risk and uncertainty are recognized as very important considerations in petroleum geoscience. And even when volume estimates are relatively accurate, the reservoir characteristics that determine well placement and performance can remain highly uncertain.
Even more important than minimizing error, is avoiding bias. Programmatic overestimation of success rates and volumes can put a company out of business. Underestimating leads to the regret of significant missed opportunities. Especially in exploration, one should expect to be disappointed; but you should never be surprised.
Context matters too. For example, exploration play maturity has a strong influence on performance. Generally, chance of success increased and prospect success case volumes decreased with play maturity. For very mature plays, success rate decreased again. So, optimizing the efficient frontier, on a risk-reward basis, ensures a diverse and successful portfolio.
Seismic technologies also have had a significant
influence on success rates. Wildcats drilled based on 3D seismic data had about a +10% higher success rate than those based on 2D data.
For improved decision making, incorporating subsurface uncertainty into economic evaluations is critical. Expected Monetary Value (EMV) is an especially useful approach to address uncertainty.
Another consideration is the impact of technical or business dependencies. These tend to be underappreciated and can result in a wider range of outcomes. Such dependencies are important in considering aggregate assets, when linkages can reduce the protection afforded by the portfolio effect.
These principles and work practices of using scenario-weighted economic analyses will be demonstrated using an example from a deep-water West Africa oil prospect/development (Girassol). Based on ample public domain data, Girassol illustrates the application of probability-weighted economics across a spectrum of business stages.
KURT RUDOLPH received a B.S. in Geology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an M.A. in Geology from the University of Texas. He began his career as an Exploration Geologist with Unocal in 1978, until he joined Exxon Production Research in 1981. He held a variety of positions at Exxon/ ExxonMobil, including Research Geologist, Chief Interpreter in Kuala Lumpur, Technical Advisor for the Africa and Middle East Region, and Hydrocarbon Systems Resource Manager. From 2002 until his retirement in 2015, he was Chief Geoscientist with ExxonMobil Exploration Company in Houston. Since then, Kurt has been an Adjunct Professor at the University of Houston and Rice University. His interests include seismic attributes/DHI analysis, risking and assessment, sequence stratigraphy, and tectonics and sedimentation. Current research includes the Cretaceous Western Interior, Paleozoic orogenic systems of North America and northern Europe, and integrating subsurface uncertainty into assessment and economic analysis. He won Wallace Pratt Awards for the best AAPG Bulletin paper in 1994 and 2017, was an AAPG-SEG Distinguished Lecturer for 2001-2002, was the AAPG Michael Halbouty Lecturer for 2007, won best paper award for the Mountain Geologist (RMAG) in 2015, and will be an AAPG Distinguished Lecturer for 2023-2024.
I ended up involved in the geosciences through a combination of my love for the outdoors and a lucky encounter with Geology during my freshman year of college. Growing up in Montana, I developed an appreciation for nature and outdoor activities like hiking, backpacking, and cross-country skiing. When I entered college, I hadn’t decided on a career path yet. However, everything changed when I enrolled in Geology 101. From the moment I started learning about Geology, I was captivated. I found it to be not
only interesting but also intuitive. As I explored the requirements for a Geology major, I realized that it was the perfect fit for me.
One of the highlights of the Geology program was the capstone class, which was Field Camp. This course involved 6-8 weeks of immersive fieldwork, including hiking, camping, and geological mapping. It was a dream come true for someone like me who already loved those outdoor activities. During this time, I received positive feedback from my professors who recognized my natural ability to interpret the “squiggles” of logs and seismic data. Their encouragement further reinforced my decision to pursue Geology as my major.
My career can be characterized by seizing interesting opportunities, adapting to industry changes, and embracing entrepreneurship.
1. RockWare: After meeting a geologist at a social event called “Fat Tire Tuesday” in Ft Collins, I landed an interview at RockWare, a geologic software company in Golden, CO. I worked there as a salesperson, selling geologic software and teaching courses on the software. The real gem of RockWare was the owner, a creative geologist with captivating stories.
2. Delta Petroleum: While at RockWare, I received an unexpected job offer as a geotech from someone I met while teaching a course. Within three months,
I advanced to the role of geologist, marking the beginning of my petroleum geology career. I’m grateful to Karl Osterbuhr for jumpstarting my journey in the oil and gas industry. Delta had a fun company culture. Unfortunately, the 2008 commodity price drops resulted in Delta’s bankruptcy, and I decided it was time to move on.
3. Resolute Energy: I came across a job opportunity at Resolute through an industry kickball event. Joining the company, I worked on an Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) project. Under the guidance of an exceptional manager, I further refined my skills as an exploration geologist and developed a genuine passion for the “treasure hunt” that is oil and gas exploration.
4. Caerus Oil & Gas: Having connected with the management team during my time at Delta, I joined Caerus to help secure their Piceance Basin position. My time at Caerus coincided with significant personal milestones, marriage and starting a family, both of which were wholeheartedly supported by the company. Working alongside highly skilled professionals made it an incredibly fulfilling experience.
5. Mustang Resources: I had the unique opportunity to help open a Denver office for an out-of-state investor. This role provided me with a bucket-list item of earning overrides. After three years, we successfully flipped Mustang. The investor showcased exceptional business acumen and generosity, persevering through the 2014 price crash and making an astute decision to sell when presented with the right opportunity.
6. Roxy Energy: Founding my own geologic consulting company, Roxy Energy, allowed me to tap into my network, utilize my expertise, and enjoy the
RMAG’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee is featuring a monthly Member Corner. We hope you’ll enjoy learning about the diverse community of Earth scientists and wide variety of geoscience disciplines that comprise our membership. If you would like to appear in an upcoming column, or if there is someone you would like to nominate, please contact staff@rmag.org
benefits of a flexible schedule. As a result, I seized the opportunity to travel with my family to France and Japan. Moreover, I indulged in some midweek powder days during the winter, adding an extra touch of enjoyment to my professional journey.
7. CryptoKnight Energy: Amidst COVID, when geologic consulting was scarce and commodity prices briefly turned negative, I co-founded CryptoKnight Energy with the goal of converting waste gas into electricity for bitcoin mining. Unfortunately, the timing and market conditions presented significant challenges. Despite investing over a year in a major deal and having the agreement documents within reach, the falling bitcoin prices caused the opportunity to unravel. As a result, CryptoKnight Energy transitioned into a side hustle with a single small mine in Colorado, and I ultimately returned to geologic consulting.
8. NTEC Helium: After CryptoKnight Energy, I returned to geologic consulting, but this time for the exploration and development of helium.
In my diverse career, I have chosen to pass on as many opportunities as I have actively pursued. There has never been a single definitive path that felt right for me to follow.
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In January 2023, I joined NTEC Helium as their first employee after previously consulting for NTEC. As the Manager of Subsurface Helium Operations, I work under the General Manager of the Helium team. My responsibilities include overseeing the drilling, completion, and production processes for helium wells. Utilizing my geologic expertise, I actively contribute to the expansion of our current asset and the identification of potential future assets. Additionally, I work on budgeting, production forecasting, long-term asset development plans, and the establishment of an asset team.
The exploration and production of helium is still in its early stages, and every day brings new knowledge and challenges. It is fascinating to explore for helium. I look forward to making NTEC Helium an economic success.
The best career lesson I’ve learned: Build strong relationships, acquire knowledge, and prioritize exercise. Networking is vital for meaningful connections and growth, and helps create lifelong friendships. Attending events opens doors. Despite family responsibilities, I make time for networking and nurturing connections. I also prioritize fitness for stress relief. The gym, a social hub for energy professionals, shaped my long-term commitment to fitness amidst work and family.
My favorite field trip was rafting the Grand Canyon with Schlumberger. This unique opportunity allowed me to explore the Grand Canyon alongside a group of fellow rock nerds. The trip was a oncein-a-lifetime experience, filled with geologic hikes and lessons provided by Schlumberger. We navigated rapids so immense that they have their own scale, swam beneath numerous waterfalls, and spent nights sleeping under the stars. It was a truly magical adventure that will forever hold a special place in my memory.
I joke about my superpower being my memory, which has been an invaluable asset in my career. I possess the ability to effortlessly recall old names of wells or people when needed.
A lesser-known fun fact about me is that I’m an identical twin, which leads to occasional instances of mistaken identity. With the two of us roaming the town, it is quite common for such mix-ups to occur. As an outgoing and friendly individual, if we know each other and cross paths without a greeting, it’s probably not me.
S t o r i e s i n S t o n e : C o l o r a d o I c o n s - T h e B e u l a h M a r b l e a n d C o l o r a d o F u e l & I r o n W o r k s T o u r
S e p t e m b e r 9 , 2 0 2 3
R E G I S T R A T I O N O P E N S A U G U S T 9 T H
T a k e a g u i d e d t o u r o f t h e C o l o r a d o F u e l & I r o n W o r k s i n P u e b l o . T h e n h e a d t o B e u l a h f o r a t o u r w i t h B e u l a h Q u a r r y o w n e r , K e n B a l l e w e g , w h o w i l l g u i d e u s o n a 1 / 2 m i l e l o o p h i k e t h r o u g h t h e a r e a s o f h i s t o r i c q u a r r y o p e r a t i o n s .
The RMAG and the RMAG Foundation are very pleased to announce TWO 2023 Earth Science Teacher of the Year Awardees! The two finalists are Shirley Davis, science teacher at Windsor Charter Academy Early College High School (WCA), Windsor, Colorado and Dr. Yajaira Fuentes-Tauber, science teacher at Rocky Mountain High School, Fort Collins, Colorado. Both personally receive $2000 to further their professional development, and each high school receives $2000 to be used for Earth Science purposes, as directed by each Earth Science teacher awardee.
Out of several applicants, two outstanding teachers rose to the top. The RMAG Foundation generously increased funding to give two awards, like in 2020. One is an early-career teacher; the other a mid-career teacher. Both teach high school, where earth science is not generally taught as a stand-alone course in Colorado.
Shirley Davis is a second-year teacher who teaches Earth and Space Science and Planetary Astronomy to grades 9 through 12 students. She uses multiple teaching styles, resources, and materials to ensure each student achieves academic success. She uses labs and projects along with various knowledge checks to increase her students critical thinking skills and problem-solving skills. WCA’s Earth Science course is an extensive class providing students with information about the Earth’s geological processes, past and present, its place in the solar system, natural resources, and the many changes the Earth has under gone including climate change, natural disasters, and tectonic activity. Shirley plans to use award funds to
add more learning materials, lab equipment and student activities so she can continue to adequately educate all her students.
Hannah Mancina, Director of High School Education at Windsor Charter Academy, said “One of Shirley’s most impressive strengths is her unique ability to set high expectations for student performance while matching that with unparalleled support.” Additionally, Ms. Mancina stated, “I have observed
hundreds of students grow under Shirley’s conscientious watch not only in their mastery of science standards but also in their self-discovery and critical thinking. Repeatedly, students recognize her as a teacher who has helped them towards their path to graduation and as well as a teacher they trust and respect.”
Parent Holly Stephens, in her letter of recommendation, said “I have witnessed her ability to make complex scientific concepts accessible and comprehensible to students of varying abilities” and “Mrs. Davis fosters a positive and inclusive classroom community. She creates a safe and supportive space where all students feel valued, respected, and encouraged to participate.”
Dr. Yajaira Fuentes-Tauber has taught high school for 16 years. She applies geoscience in her environmental lessons to prepare students for post-secondary education, the workforce, and citizen engagement. Content explores the interconnectedness of the geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. Hands-on activities accommodate diverse learning styles, abilities, and needs. Dr. Fuentes-Tauber plans to use award funds to expand access to Earth Science education that promotes stewardship and links to the school’s start-up community garden.
For the last several years, Dr. Fuentes-Tauber’s students have participated in a stewardship program, Caring for Our Watersheds, which hosts a contest where students prepare a grant proposal addressing the question, “What can you do to improve your watershed?” Her students have had at least one team selected for the finals since 2018, which, as Ivonne Morales at the Poudre Learning Center pointed out, is amazing because her 9-10th grade students compete against 11-12th grade and AP students. Morales also pointed out that Dr. Fuentes-Tauber has
been key to making the contest more inclusive by providing real-time feedback to both her students and to the program team and developing resources for her students based on their individual needs. All of which are shared with other teachers to create a more robust program.
Tyler Ann Nickel, Assistant Principal at Rocky Mountain High School, said, “Yajaira’s ability to get her students to work hard and truly believe that they can achieve and be successful in a science class is admirable.” Furthermore, she said that, “Dr. Fuentes-Tauber is passionate about students and about science, has high expectations, is engaging, builds strong relationships with students, has amazing content knowledge, is inventive and organized, and is always looking to learn and grow.”
With the mission to inspire and educate current and future geoscientists, the RMAG Foundation recognizes the importance of these dedicated teachers who provide earth science education. In honoring them, the RMAG is pleased to encourage and foster interest in STEM careers in general and particularly in earth science. Both teachers will be recognized at the August 2 RMAG luncheon and will be given a complimentary one-year membership to the RMAG, funded by the RMAG Foundation. Congratulations!
Ismael Arreola
Lakewood, Colorado, is a geologist at Flow Geologic Consulting, LLC.
Scott Causey, Bayfield, Colorado,is a geologist at Red Willow Production Co.
Martha Coder lives in Louisville, Colorado.
Christohpher Greenlee
Tulsa, Oklahoma,is a geoscientist at Mesa Verde Petroleum, LLC.
Shelby Johnston
Wheat Ridge, Colorado, is a Physical Scientist at U.S. GAO.
Christina Jones
Arvada, Colorado, is lead WJM at Kohl’s.
Linda Robdia is a student member.
Sam Scott is with 1876 Resources, LLC in Denver, Colorado.
Sarah Stierwalt
Lakewood, Colorado, works at Terra Guidance.
8/2/2023
RMAG Monthly Luncheon. Denver Earth Resources Library. Emilie Gentry, Speaker.
8/12-13/2023
RMAG On-The-Rocks Field Trip. Paleozoic Impact Crater Field. Registration Open.
8/18/2023
RMAG Night at Coors Field. Rockies vs. White Sox’s. Get Tickets today!
8/22/2023
RMAG On-The-Rocks Field Trip.
Climax Mine Open Pit. SOLD OUT!
9/9/2023
RMAG On-The-Rocks Field Trip. Colorado Icons - The Beulah Marble and Colorado Ruel and Ironworks Tour.
9/12/2023
2023 RMAG Golf Tournament. Sponsor Today!
Why contribute?
Expanded geologic focus:
Why contribute?
• Reach
• Quarterly
Expanded geologic focus: Entire greater Rocky Mountain West Texas and New Mexico
• Permanent
• Quick
Expanded geologic focus:
• Entire greater Rocky Mountain area of North America
• Every
• West Texas and New Mexico to northern British Columbia
• Entire greater Rocky Mountain area of North America
• Reach a broad industry and academic audience
• Great Plains and Mid-Continent region
• West Texas and New Mexico to northern British Columbia
• Quarterly peer reviewed journal
• Great Plains and Mid-Continent region Why contribute?
• Reach a broad industry and academic audience
• Permanent archiving includes AAPG Datapages
• Quarterly peer-reviewed journal
• Quick turn around time
https://www.rmag.org/publications/the
• Permanent archiving includes AAPG Datapages
• Every subdiscipline in the geosciences
• Quick turn-around time
https://www.rmag.org/publications/the
• Every subdiscipline in the geosciences
Expanded geologic focus:
area of North America
• Entire greater Rocky Mountain area of North America
northern British Columbia region
• West Texas and New Mexico to northern British Columbia
• Great Plains and Mid Continent region
Email: mgeditor@rmag.org
https://www.rmag.org/publications/the -mountain-geologist/
RMAG’s Educational Outreach committee wants to create a collection of Colorado rocks that can be paired with the Colorado geological map. The committee will use these rocks as an educational tool to teach elementary, middle, and high school students about the geology of Colorado, geological processes, and Colorado mineral resources.
While you are on your summer vacations to the many wonderful areas in Colorado, please consider picking up rocks for our collection. We ask you note where you collected the rocks and the formation name. ROCKD is a great app that uses your location and geological maps to “map” the formation under your feet. Keep in mind to collect rocks where it is allowed.
Some examples of rocks from formations that we would love in our collection:
• Maroon
• Leadville
• Chinle
• Green River
• Navajo/Nugget
• Entrada
• Lodore
• Dakota
• Sawatch
• Igneous and Metamorphic rocks
• Wasatch
• Volcanics (San Juan – Flat Tops)
When your rocks are ready, contact us at edoutreach@rmag.org
Thank you!
