OUTCROP
Newsletter of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists
OUTCROP
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.
2024 OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS RMAG STAFF
PRESIDENT Mike Tischer mtischer@gmail.com
PRESIDENT-ELECT Matt Bauer matthew.w.bauer.pg@gmail.com
1st VICE PRESIDENT Lisa Wolff lwolff@bayless-cos.com
1st VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT Nate La Fontaine nlafontaine@sm-energy.com
2nd VICE PRESIDENT Jason Eleson jason@geointegraconsulting.com
2nd VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT Ali Sloan ali@sloanmail.com
SECRETARY Drew Scherer flatirongeo@gmail.com
TREASURER
Holly Lindsey hrlindsey@bafatoy.com
TREASURER-ELECT
Astrid Makowitz astridmakowitz@gmail.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 | n8silva.com
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Bridget Crowther bcrowther@rmag.org
LEAD EDITOR
Nate LaFontaine nlafontaine@sm-energy.com
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Elijah Adeniyi elijahadeniyi@montana.edu
Marlee Cloos marlee.cloos@bpx.com
Danielle Robinson danielle.robinson@dvn.com
RMAG CODE OF CONDUCT
RMAG promotes, provides, and expects professional behavior in every engagement that members and non-members have with the organization and each other. This includes respectful and inclusive interactions free of harassment, intimidation, and discrimination during both online and in-person events, as well as any content delivered by invited speakers and instructors. Oral, written or electronic communications that contain offensive comments or demeaning images related to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or appearance are not appropriate in any venue or media. RMAG reminds members of the diversity and mission statements found on our website. Please direct any questions to staff@rmag.org
Lake San Cristobal, nestled in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. The lake was formed about 700 years ago when the Slumgullion Earthflow, a natural landslide, dammed the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River. The site was visited in September by On the Rocks field trip participants. Look for an article about this excursion in next month’s Outcrop.
MEMBERS
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NETWORKING EVENTS
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FIELD TRIPS
COMMUNITY CONTACTS IN 2024YOUR SUMMIT SPONSORSHIP DOLLARS SUPPORTED: 1,200 1,200 8,000 8,000 5,000 4,000 23 13 10
October 30, 2024
Geoscience Community:
We sincerely appreciate the support every Summit Sponsor and Event Sponsor provided over the past year. Your contributions are vital to the success of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists (RMAG).
In 2024, the RMAG was proud to host a dynamic lineup of events, including the CCS Workshop, which provided an in-depth look at advancements in carbon capture and storage. Members explored the beauty and geological wonders of the Colorado Rockies with ten diverse field trips and shared our passion for geoscience with students across the region through classroom visits and community festivals. Additionally, we fostered connections among members through monthly lunches, coffees, happy hours, and our annual Golf Tournament.
Looking ahead to 2025, we are excited about new opportunities for RMAG. Your sponsorship will help RMAG realize a robust calendar of continuing education opportunities, an exciting season of field trips, high-impact short courses, and a dynamic lineup of luncheon speakers. In April 2025, we look forward to the North American Helium & Hydrogen Conference, building on the success of our 2023 North American Helium Conference. Your sponsorship empowers RMAG members to impact the next generation at outreach events throughout the community and provides invaluable networking opportunities for the geoscience community. Furthermore, your financial support plays a crucial role in our publication efforts, which include the monthly Outcrop newsletter and the quarterly Mountain Geologist journal.
In recognition of your financial commitment to supporting geoscience in the region we recognize our sponsors through in-person signage, advertising on our website, publications, and social media promotions leading up to each event. With a LinkedIn group of almost 3,000 members, we ensure our sponsors are visible to the geoscience community for both virtual and in-person events.
Thank you to our current Summit Sponsors; we look forward to your continued support in 2025. For those considering sponsoring, we encourage you to explore the many benefits included at each sponsorship level and consider how you can promote geoscience in the Rockies. If an annual sponsorship doesn’t suit your company’s needs or if you wish to sponsor a specific event, please inquire about our single-event sponsorship opportunities. Feel free to reach out to our staff with any questions about sponsorship at bcrowther@rmag.org or by phone at 720- 672-9898 ext. 102.
On behalf of the RMAG staff, volunteers, and myself thank you all for your continued support, and we look forward to connecting with you in 2025.
Sincerely,
Matthew Bauer
Bridget Crowther 2025 RMAG President RMAG Executive Director
RMAG 2025 SUMMIT SPONSORSHIP
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RMAG 2024 ANNUAL SUMMIT SPONSOR OPPORTUNITIES
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730 17th Street, B1 Denver, CO 80202
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P: (720)672- 9898 staff@rmag.org www.rmag.org
730 17th Street, B1 Denver, CO 80202
By Drew Scherer, Secretary flatirongeo@gmail.com
Season’s greetings, fellow geologists! As we cozy up for the winter months, let’s take a moment to reflect on the fantastic year we’ve had at the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists. Our board met on November 20th via Zoom, with all members present except for one. Bridget reported that November was a stellar month for membership numbers, social events, revenue, and the Outcrop publication.
The finance committee kicked things off with an overview of our finances. Despite a net revenue loss this month due to the investment portfolio, our balance remains as strong as a well-cemented rock formation. The continuing education committee has some exciting talks lined up for December and January and is already working on our 2025 schedule.
Our membership committee reported strong
showings at our October and November coffee and happy hour events, especially the Grand Junction happy hour, which was a hit with our Western Slope members. The publication committee is busy with a number of new, interesting articles to be released in upcoming editions of Outcrop magazine and The Mountain Geologist journal.
The GO committee had a great showing at the Girl Scout Day at Dinosaur Ridge, Rocky Heights Middle School Speech Class, Colorado Science Conference, and Parker Science Night. A big thank you to all who volunteered at these events. The On The Rocks committee closed out the year with great results, including 10 total trips for the season—the most we’ve had in recent memory. Most trips were at or near capacity, with a total of 210 field trip participants this year! RMAG would like to extend a special thanks to Rob Diedrich, who will be stepping down from the committee chair of the OTR committee after many years of selfless service. Thank
RENEW YOUR
And that’s all for this month’s board of directors update. We hope you all stay safe, warm, and have a happy holiday season! Let’s rock into the new year with the same enthusiasm and dedication that made 2024 a year to remember.
PRESIDENT’S LETTER
By Mike Tischer
Dear RMAG Members,
Onward!
We’ve almost made it through another year. I hope yours was filled with memorable moments and personal growth. What new skills did you acquire? Did you try something entirely new and enjoyed it? Did you reconnect with old friends or family members? I’m sure there were both challenging and rewarding experiences. Everyone faces ups and downs, but I genuinely hope that you can reflect on 2024 and feel a sense of accomplishment and pride.
At RMAG, we’ve been on a similar journey, and I’m thrilled to share that we had a very successful year. Our executive director, Bridget Crowther, has
compiled an impressive list of all the activities we offered to our members this year (see page 6). It’s truly remarkable! Thanks to Bridget and the many volunteers we engaged with, we were able to connect with a significant portion of our members. Even better, our recent membership survey revealed that most of you are satisfied with our offerings. Bridget has prepared a summary of this survey for this issue of The Outcrop (see page 36), but I wanted to share a few highlights with you. One particularly striking result was the overall satisfaction rating of over 4.5 (out of 5) for your organization. That’s fantastic! This is further supported by a very
high approval rating for the frequency of our events. Most of our members (over 80%) appreciate the regularity of our field trips, happy hours, luncheons, and other activities.
Another encouraging finding was the 18% of you who expressed interest in volunteering for RMAG. This organization relies heavily on volunteers, and it’s heartwarming to see so many of you willing to contribute.
We appreciate the time you took to provide feedback, as about 40% of our membership responded. We’ll carefully review your suggestions over the next few weeks and explore ways to make RMAG even more impactful for you in the coming year.
As the year draws to a close and I hand over the presidency to Matt Bauer, I find myself writing this just before Thanksgiving. It’s an opportune moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to those who personally supported and aided me and the organization.
First and foremost, I want to give a heartfelt, standing ovation to Bridget. Your unwavering dedication and engagement were instrumental in RMAG’s successful year. We are incredibly fortunate to have you as part of our team. To the board members and committee volunteers, we are deeply grateful for
your unwavering commitment and the positive impact you made. Your presence and efforts were truly remarkable, and it was an honor to work with such a dedicated group of individuals. Lastly, to my fellow RMAG members, I hope you had a wonderful time with us this year.
I’ll entrust you to the capable hands of Matt Bauer and the new board. Many of you are familiar with Matt, as he’s been on the board previously in the role as the 2nd vice president. He’s also given us several short courses over the past few years. Matt is the kind of person you can call an all-around great guy, and apparently, he’s much more organized than me. During our monthly meetings, he assured me that he’s already sorted through most of the president’s letters. Wow!
Thank you for a fantastic year! On behalf of RMAG and myself, I extend my warmest wishes for a joyous holiday season and a smooth transition into the new year. May 2025 bring even greater happiness and joy to you. I hope to see you at one of our events next year.
Oh, and one more thing, we have an exciting Outcrop planned for you this month. Why not take a look when you have some time, you know, amidst the holiday shopping and eggnog drinking. Enjoy!
STRONG TURNOUT FOR THE INAUGURAL RMAG CCS WORKSHOP
BY JASON ELESON & KAREN LECHTENBERG
CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE
(CCS) has emerged as a very active topic of discussion in recent years, both in the US and globally, as global average temperatures continue to climb. It’s increasingly evident that climate targets set from the Paris Accord may be out of reach in time by solely relying only on renewable energy sources. According to the International Energy Agency’s Net Zero roadmap, the annual CCS storage rate needs to grow from its current 45 million tonnes of CO2 to 1 billion tonnes by 2030 and 6 billion tonnes by 2050. This ambitious target has led to a rapid increase in demand for geoscience talent for CCS initiatives across the US.
In response to growing interest in CCS, RMAG hosted its first CCS Workshop on October 17th in Denver, attracting over 80 attendees eager to learn about how CCS works and to connect with industry experts. The event featured a dozen speakers on a diverse set of CCS topics, with networking breaks throughout the day, giving attendees the chance to connect, share insights, and discuss their takeaways.
The program concluded with a happy hour featuring a core viewing of a Colorado CCS geologic test well, presented by Carbon America and Core Laboratories, providing attendees with a unique, hands-on look at local CCS efforts. The morning sessions featured presentations by Karen Lechtenberg (Advanced Resources International), Shelagh Baines (Halliburton), Tom Bratton (Tom Bratton LLC), Kyle Trainer (Ridgeline Engineering), Anna Littlefield (Payne Institute for Public Policy) and Jason Eleson (Sproule). Their talks focused on subsurface aspects of CCS, covering topics such as an introduction to CCS (CCS 101), reservoirs and seals, geomechanical considerations, CO2 injection simulations, geochemistry, and case studies from previous CCS programs. David Riestenberg of Advance Resources International gave the keynote address, offering insights into the current landscape of CCS in the U.S., as well as upcoming opportunities and challenges. The afternoon featured a diverse lineup of speakers, including Alex Vigil (Well Done Consulting LLC), Danny Kingham (GSI Environmental Inc.), Taylor McCarroll (Purple Land Management), Paul Franke
FIGURE 1: Map of all RMAG states that depicts Class VI CO2 injection wells that are planned, under review for a permit, actively injecting, or denied. North Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado and Northern New Mexico stand out as hotspots for CCS industry activity.
FIGURE 2: Map of all RMAG states that depicts locations of CarbonSAFE projects. Phase I projects represent early regional screening activities, Phase II projects focus on storage site activities such as data collection and analysis, and Phase III represent the operational phase of CCS projects that include acreage acquisition and regulatory permitting efforts.
(Polsinelli) and Jessica Gregg (Tallgrass Energy). Topics included managing leakage risk from legacy wells, developing effective MRV (monitoring, reporting and verification) plans, addressing land and legal considerations, and ensuring compliance in a dynamic regulatory environment.
The presentation by Karen Lechtenberg demonstrated the large increase in private investment for Class VI CO2 injection wells in the RMAG member states, as shown in Figure 1. She also noted high levels of government-supported projects are found in this area, as shown in the number CarbonSAFE programs in Figure 2. Jason Eleson contrasted the historical CCS successes, such as the Sleipner CCS Project from the North Sea (Figure 3) with programs that have struggled, such as clogged water producers used for pressure maintenance in the Gorgon CCS project, located off the northwest coast of Australia (Figure 4). Alex Vigil demonstrated how advanced well steering techniques, such as magnetic ranging depicted in Figure 5, can be used to re-enter
and re-abandon legacy boreholes so that they comply with regulatory requirements and prevent potential leakage paths for CO2.
The presentations sparked lively discussions among attendees, inspiring numerous ideas, questions and comments. Technical discussions highlighted opportunities to enhance industry efficiency, such as a need for a comprehensive subsurface software capable of simultaneously simulating the thermodynamic, geomechanical, and geochemical behaviors of injected CO2, reservoir fluids, and the reservoirs themselves. Discussions also addressed the complexities of evaluating and managing risk associated with legacy oil and gas wells in heavily drilled areas. While these areas benefit from rich data sets, such as well logs and cores, the presence of existing wells creates a potential migration pathway for CO2 if they were not properly plugged and abandoned, or if they were not designed to withstand the corrosive effects of CO2 interacting with subsurface brines.Several speakers emphasized the need regulatory reforms to clarify MRV programs, ensuring they provide adequate coverage to identify and resolve any issues that may occur during injection. They also highlighted the need to streamline the complex network of local, state, and federal regulatory agencies that oversee approval of surface and subsurface evaluation and operational plans for CCS programs.
Several attendees weighed in on the event. Neel Duncan from IPT Well Solutions noted that the regulatory updates were quite informative and hoped to hear more case studies in future RMAG CCS programs. Rachel Frohman, an independent geologic consultant, noted that the format of a handful of talks followed by longer breaks were ideal for her to go ask speakers lingering questions that popped up during their talks. KC Oren from GeoStar Energy Partners found the information
FIGURE 3: Time-lapse seismic difference reflection amplitude maps at Sleipner, offshore Norway, cumulative for all layers from Eiken et al., 2011. Expansion of the plume in all directions is observed, as well as intensified reflections in the central part of the plume. The shape and movement of the plume is a function of reservoir variability, structural control and buoyancy of CO2.
FIGURE 4: Schematics of different well types and completion styles at the Gorgon Project, modified from Trupp et al., 2021. CO2 injection wells have performed to plan, but a drop in formation pressure combined with weakly cemented sandstones have created sand clogging in water production wells. Water injectors are required to maintain reservoir pressures below the frac gradient of the top seal due to the high CO2 injection rates for this program.
regarding public outreach, legal nuances and land challenges in both surface and subsurface applications to be most helpful. Robin Swank, owner of Conundrum Geological Services, noted that “the event made great use of attendees’ time at a reasonable price, so as a consultant, I was happy that I attended.” Many attendees want the even to return again next year, perhaps in a 2- or 3-day format, where more technical details can be discussed on topics ranging from geophysical considerations, CCS case studies, geologic characterization, MMV (Measurement, Monitoring and Verification) best practices and geopolitical risk factors.The engagement and feedback from attendees further underscored the value of these workshops. RMAG is excited to facilitate discussions that will drive the advancement of CCS technologies and help meet the growing demand for geoscience talent in this field. For more information on future workshops, luncheons, and programs, visit our website or reach out to any of our board members. RMAG would like to thank the attendees, as well as our generous sponsors: RMAG Foundation, Advanced Resources International, Inc., Ridgeline Engineering, Paragon Geophysical, Tracerco, Carbon Seismic, IPT Well Solutions, Polinelli, DBS&A, Canamera Coring, Columbine Corporation, ProDirectional Coring Services, and Land Noise Seismic Specialists.
FIGURE 5: Corrective action on legacy wells, where traditional concentric remediation methods are not feasible, is advancing through the use of intercept wells enabled by magnetic ranging technology. This method involves the introduction of active and passive currents to detect and map the precise locations of legacy wellbores that need interception and proper re-abandonment.
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HYBRID LUNCH TALK
Speaker: Alex Zumberge
Date: December 4, 2024 | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Innovative Subsurface Characterization and Recovery Techniques
Unlocking Uinta Basin Potential through Petrophysical and Geochemical Analyses
Presenter: Alex Zumberge, EVP of Operations GeoMark Research, Ltd.
The use of Tmax from programmed pyrolysis to understand maturity in the Uinta Basin is challenged by the high paraffin content of Uinta crude and the unique kinetic characteristics of its Type I kerogen. We address this challenge
via the Delta Tmax method, which relies on pyrogram shape analysis before and after solvent extraction to detect the onset of the peak oil window. Additional petrophysical evaluation is then paired with the learnings from Delta Tmax and
attributes including total porosity, oil saturation, and water saturation are produced after closed retort thermal extraction. Lastly, the extracted retort oils are characterized to provide a geochemical baseline in which produced oils can be compared against for production allocation. This multi-faceted approach provides a multitude of datasets from a single sample and allows for a comprehensive and integrated subsurface characterization of target zones within the Uinta Basin.
ALEX ZUMBERGE has extensive lab experience in oil and rock extract analyses with emphasis on correlation tools like bulk organic properties, lipid biomarkers and carbon isotopes. He has over fifteen years’ experience in a lab environment doing experiments himself as well as overseeing general sample/project flow through each analysis phase. Alex completed his PhD in Organic Geochemistry at the University of California – Riverside where he specialized on sterane/hopane relationships through time from the Precambrian to the present. Currently, Alex oversees all operations (oil, rock and gas labs) at GeoMark Research as Executive Vice President of Operations.
Speaker: Rachael Moreland
Date: January 8, 2024 | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Energy in Transition
The North American Landscape and Global Insights for 2025
Presenter: Rachael Moreland
As the energy industry navigates a pivotal year, 2025 promises to be shaped by a dynamic interplay of market forces, technological advancements, and geopolitical realities. Let's explore the state of the energy industry as we enter the new year, with a focus on North America as a critical hub for innovation, production, and policy shifts.
Key topics will include the outlook for oil
and gas markets amid the ongoing energy transition, the role of advanced technologies like AI and automation in optimizing operations, and the impact of shifting demand patterns and international policy frameworks. We'll also explore the influence of renewable energy integration, challenges in securing supply chains, and strategies for achieving both profitability and sustainability in a dynamic market.
RACHAEL MORELAND is a leading product management expert who believes in bringing people together to connect, collaborate, and innovate. She currently serves as Vice President of Global Energy Software & Advanced Analytics at S&P Global. She also serves on the board of directors for Energy Outreach Colorado, a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring energy affordability for all Coloradans. In early 2024 she was recognized as one of the Top 50 Women of Impact in Tech for her ability to craft and execute transformative strategies that drive business growth in high-tech, matrixed organizations. She believes in the power of diverse perspectives to fuel creativity, and her leadership philosophy is grounded in fostering a culture of trust and empowerment.
RMAG ON THE ROCKS
Fishers Peak Field Trip
‘On the Rocks’ Concludes Field Season with a trip to Colorado’s
Newest State Park
OCTOBER 12, 2024
By Rob Diedrich, On the Rocks Field Trip Committee
On Saturday October 12th, 2024, a fortunate group of RMAG members and friends enjoyed a truly unique geology field trip to Colorado’s newest state park, Fishers Peak (Figure 1). Led by Dr. Karen Houck, a geology professor at the University of Colorado Denver and consultant for the Colorado Geological Survey, and hosted by Fishers Peak Park Manager Crystal Dreiling, the trip explored the park’s vast 30 square miles. This diverse landscape features late Cretaceous sedimentary rocks capped by expansive Neogene-aged basalt mesas. Located just a few miles south of Trinidad, Colorado, and east of Interstate 25, the park offers an impressive network of hiking and mountain biking trails in its northern and highest region, including a trail to Fishers Peak at 9,633 feet. Our group, guided by Karen and Crystal, also had the special opportunity to see geological features in the central and southern park areas, which are not yet open to the public.
Our trip began at Fishers Peak’s main entrance where Karen introduced us to the park’s stratigraphy using RMAG Mountain Geologist publications and other books to illustrate the rock layers (Figure 2). The oldest unit exposed here is the Late Cretaceous Vermejo Formation consisting of fluvial and deltaic sands, silts, shales and coals deposited in a coastal plain environment. This formation is overlain by the Raton Formation, a thick sequence of sediments deposited in similar environments as the Vermejo. Plant fossils are abundant in each of these
formations (Figure 3). Historically, these stratigraphic units contributed to the regional economy through coal mining, which began in the early 1800s. Coal seams were mined from both the Vermejo and lower Raton Formations within and beyond the park’s boundaries. One of our early afternoon stops was the abandoned Turner Coal Mine (Figures 4 & 5), which operated from 1901 to 1912. The mine produced 535,000 tons of coal, which was sold to the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company for their Pueblo steel mill operation.
The K-Pg boundary in this region is contained in the lower portion of the Raton Formation about 65 feet above its basal contact with the Vermejo. While this boundary is clearly visible in several outcrops in nearby Trinidad Lake State Park (Figure 6), it has yet to be identified in outcrops within Fishers Peak. With the continued construction of new trails, roads, and park facilities, there is hope that an exposure of the K-Pg boundary will be revealed for park visitors to appreciate.
Overlying the Raton Formation are the lava flows that define the park’s distinctive landscape. The oldest of these flows is the Fishers Peak Basalt, estimated to be 7–9 million years old, which tops the mesas in the northern part of the park (Figure 7). In the southern section, the mesas are capped by the younger Bartlett Peak Basalt, around 3 million years old. These lava flows originally filled stream and river valleys that existed during the Neogene Period.
FIGURE 1: The namesake Fishers Peak at Fishers Peak State Park. The peak is the highest part of the park at an elevation of 9633 feet. It is composed of an alkalic basalt lava flow dated 7-9 mya. The basalt flowed from fissures and vents thought to be associated with the Rio Grande Rift.
FIGURE 2: Trip leader, Karen Houck, cleverly using field books and RMAG Mountain Geologist publications to represent rocks layers, builds the stratigraphic framework of the Fishers Peak area. Photo by Mike Tischer.
ON THE ROCKS: FISHERS PEAK
Over time, the surrounding strata weathered and eroded away, while the hard, durable alkali basalts resisted erosion. This process created the classic inverse topography characteristic of Fishers Peak’s landscape, with mesas displaying a prominent dendritic pattern in map view (Figure 8). In addition to basalt flows, Fishers Peak State Park showcases other fascinating volcanic elements. A laccolith associated with a stock called the Morley Dome is in the park’s central region, and features a tall rounded volcanic neck made of dacite (Figures 9 & 10) and estimated to be 6-7 million years old. A tall cinder cone (estimated 1 mya) is present on Bartlett Mesa just on the New Mexico side of the park’s southern border. Radiating from this cone’s center and down its slopes are dikes of fractured scoria (Figures 11 & 12). Our group also visited a large circular depression just west of the cinder cone, one of several in a linear alignment thought to be collapse features potentially related to an underground lava tube (Figures 13 & 14). The volcanism associated with these features is attributed to the spreading of the Rio Grande Rift, which opened fissures allowing magma from deep within the Earth’s crust to reach the surface.
We extend our sincere thanks to Karen Houck and Crystal Dreiling (Figure 15) for providing such an enlightening field experience (Figure 16). With this trip, the On the Rocks Field Trip Committee wraps up our 2024 field season. This year we organized a record ten trips, with sellout attendance on nearly every outing. Our journeys took us across Colorado, from Fort Collins to Trinidad and from Lake City to Dotsero. We explored volcanic features in the San Juan Mountains, investigated Permo-Penn deposition across the Front Range and in the Eagle Basin, hiked trails near Canon City where ‘Bone Wars’ paleontologists once roamed, and ventured into the Cave of the Winds. We examined outcrops via mountain bikes in Colorado’s high country and observed urban geology through a tour of historic stone buildings in Denver’s Capitol Hill. Our committee is dedicated to creating field experiences led by experts to unique and diverse geologic sites. If you have ideas for a future RMAG field trip or are interested in leading or coordinating a trip yourself, please contact us at staff@RMAG.org. We’d love to hear from you!
See you again ‘On the Rocks!’
FIGURE 3: Plants fossils, such as this palm frond, are commonly preserved in the sediments of the Vermejo and Lower Raton Formations and are indicative of a rain forest climate.
ON THE ROCKS: FISHERS PEAK
FIGURE 4: Our group examines rocks on a spoil pile from the abandoned Turner Coal Mine. The mine was active from 1902-1919, targeting a 5’ coal seam in the Raton. Coal mining was a big business in this region in the early 1900’s both in and outside of Fishers Peak SP. Mines targeted high quality bituminous coal in both the Vermejo and Raton Formations. Photo by Mike Tischer.
FIGURE 5: Plant and tree fossils are abundant in the Lower Raton Formation. These fossils were found near the abandoned Turner Coal Mine.
ON THE ROCKS: FISHERS PEAK
FIGURE 6: RMAG President, Mike Tischer, shows his excitement in locating the iridium rich clay layer deposited during the cataclysmic asteroid collision at the end of the Cretaceous. The photo was taken at nearby Trinidad State Park. An outcrop containing the K-Pg boundary has yet to be found at Fishers Peak, but park personnel are on the lookout for this unit as new trails and roads are developed.
FIGURE 7: The mesas at Fishers Peak State Park are capped by basalts which flowed into Neogeneaged paleo valleys. Spanish Peaks are seen in the background. Photo by Mike Tischer.
FIGURE 8: A Google Earth view of Fishers Peak State Park. The light-colored areas are the basaltic lava flows that form the park’s expansive mesas. These lavas filled Neogene-aged stream and river valleys. Through differential erosion these mesas now exhibit a classic example of inverse topography, with dendritic outcrop patterns seen in the caprocks, especially to the south. The image is roughly 10 miles by 12 miles.
FIGURE 9: Trip leader Karen Houck describes the emplacement of the Morley Dome, a stock that has uplifted layers in the central portion of Fishers Peak. Photo by Mike Tischer.
ON THE ROCKS: FISHERS PEAK
FIGURE 10: The north flank of a laccolith related to the Morley Dome intrusion is seen in the background. The laccolith forms a circular volcanic neck in the central portion of the park. It is composed of a silica- and plagioclase-rich dacite.
FIGURE 11: A cinder cone with radiating dikes is seen on Bartlett Mesa just over the park’s southern border.
FIGURE 12: Scoria vented from the cinder cone.
FIGURE 13: A large circular depression is seen on Bartlett Mesa along Fishers Peak southern border. The mesa itself is capped by basalt flows that are ~ 3 million years of age. The cinder cone is seen in the distance.
ON THE ROCKS: FISHERS PEAK
14
15
FIGURE 14: The circular depression seen in Figure 13 is one of a series of depressions arranged linearly in a N-NW orientation as seen here in an image from Google Earth. They are thought to be collapse features associated with an underground lave tube.
FIGURE 15: Fishers State Park Manager Crystal Dreiling was the host for RMAG’s final field trip of the 2024 season.
FIGURE 16: Our group picture taken from the top of Bartlett Mesa located in the southern part of Fishers Peak State Park. The Spanish Peaks and Interstate 25 are seen in the background.
16
DECEMBER 4, 2024
RMAG Luncheon. Speaker Alex Zumberge. Talk Title: “Innovative Subsurface Characterization and Recovery Techniques: Unlocking Uinta Basin Potential through Petrophysical and Geochemical Analyses.” In Person or Online. Denver Earth Resources Library, 730 17th Street, B1, Denver.
WOGA Holiday Party. Liberty Energy, 950 17th Street, Denver, CO.
OUTCROP ADVERTISING RATES
RMAG Membership Survey Results
In the summer of 2024; as part of our new strategic plan, RMAG staff sent out an anonymous member survey to our 1,143 members at the time Thank you to the 40% of you who responded, providing a strong representation of the organization. With the last survey conducted in 2017, the goal was to re-establish who makes up our membership and how the Board of Directors and staff can better serve you
The version of the report presented in the December 2024 Outcrop is a condensed summary. Respondents shared such a wealth of written feedback that the full report spans 58 pages. To explore the full report, review the raw data (with identifying information removed), access the original questionnaire, or compare findings with the 2017 Membership Survey, please visit www rmag org/2024membershipsurvey
Since 2017, membership has significantly decreased from just under 1,800 members to approximately 1,200, seven years – and a global pandemic – later Nearly 70% of the membership is late-career or retired While the membership is still predominantly male, the percentage of female members has increased to almost 20% up from 14% in 2017. As a scientific association, it is unsurprising to discover 75% of members hold a master’s or doctorate degree, with geology as the primary discipline Threequarters of the membership is located here in Colorado, and nearly 75% of them are in the Denver-metro area
The membership is almost evenly divided into thirds: retired, employed, and self-employed. The majority identify as a petroleum geologist, with a fairly even spilt between working in conventional, unconventional or hybrid plays Notably, the Denver-Julesburg, Permian, and Powder River Basins are each receiving an equal share of your focus, an interesting shift from our 2017 survey.
Overall satisfaction with RMAG programing is high, with members indicating they are ‘satisfied’ to ‘completely satisfied’ across all categories Publications and continuing education opportunities are considered the most important aspects of membership, while networking and social events rank lower. Field trips remain a favorite component of our programming. Additionally, the frequency of programming meets members’ needs
Members provided a wealth of written feedback, expressing satisfaction with existing programming and
offering new ideas Suggestions included expanding programming beyond the Denver metro area, increasing online opportunities, and diversifying topics to include not just oil and gas but also hydrology, geothermal, and mining. Many members also suggested collaborating with other related societies, both in Denver and across the region
Most members rely on the weekly email for updates about association activities, and the frequency appears to meet your expectations While the website is functioning well overall, updates are needed Social media engagement is low, likely reflecting the aging demographics of our membership. However, if you are active on social media, we encourage you to follow our pages and share ideas for content
While our mission and name are not exclusive to oil and gas or the Denver area, the data reflect that the majority of our membership is based in the Denver metro area and works in oil and gas To expand our programming beyond current offerings, we need volunteers Seventynine of you expressed interest in joining a committee, and 37 are interested in serving on the board in the future If you indicated interest, keep an eye out for communications regarding committee meetings for 2025 We look forward to your contributions and thank you for your willingness to contribute to our association.
For everyone else, watch the email newsletter over the next few weeks, as it will outline the work of each committee If a committee’s focus aligns with your interests, we encourage you to join in 2025. If you have ideas and want to organize something in your area, please contact the office we would love to help you The Board and I are here to support you, but RMAG cannot do all it does without our members’ help
Thank you to everyone who responded. I would be remiss if I did not express my gratitude for your kind words It is a privilege to work with you, and I look forward to continuing to serve you and collaborate with the Board of Directors in our shared mission to support RMAG’s members effectively.
- Bridget Crowther RMAG Executive Director
Length of RMAG Membership
Q1
How long have you been a member of the Rocky
Q2
Q3 Gender
What is your gender?
Q4 Ethnicity
Please select your ethnicity:
Number of Responses - 460
Q5
DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
Highest Level of Education
What’s
Total Number of Responses - 449
Q6 Degree Major/Discipline
In what major/discipline is your degree in?
Total Number of Responses - 561 Types
Finance
Molecular Biology
Astronomy
Natural Sciences Mathematics
Environmental
DEMOGRAPHIC
Q10
EMPLOYMENT DEMOGRAPHICS
Employment Status
What is your current employment status?
Number of Responses - 462
How long have you been with your current employer/with your last employer?
Number of Responses - 344
Research / Academic Geologist
Geophysicists
Geochemist
Kinds of Engineering
Petroleum
Geomechanical
Geological
Reservoir Consultant
Underground Storage C-Suite
Other Postions
Advisor
Evaluator Geosteering Government
High school teacher
Hydrogeologist
Hydrologist Management
Metallurgical Technician
Mineral Appraisal
Project Manager Quality Control Geoteacher
Software Development Program Analyst Web developer
Q15
EMPLOYMENT DEMOGRAPHICS
Seeking Positions
Which category best describes the kind of position you are looking for?
Total Number of Responses - 100
Geothermal
Technical Leadership
Geo Teacher
Geoscience
Technician
Petrophysicists
Resource Enabler
Hydrogeologist
Software Geotech Board of Directors
AI Consultant/Trainer
Sales/Marketing
Q16
Employer Size
What is the Size of your Employer?
Total Number of Responses - 171
Number of Employees
Q17 As a self-employed member, how many employees do you have?
Total Number of Responses - 117
If
Q22
Other Basins
Anadarko
Appalachian Australia
Big Horn
EMPLOYMENT DEMOGRAPHICS
Basins, continued...
If you work in oil & gas, hydrology, or another industry, what basin(s) are your currently focused on?
Total Number of Responses - 1207
Bonaparte, Arabian
Eagle Ford East Texas
Greater Green River
Gulf of Mexico
Haynesville
Illinois Indonesia
International
Q23 Current Students
Jordan
Michigan North Park North Sea Paradox
Piceance
Prudhoe Bay, AK
Raton
San Juan
Sand Wash
South Texas
West Africa
Wind River
Q25
Membership Satisfaction
Overall how satisfied are you with your RMAG Membership?
Total Number of Responses - 444 (5 Completely Satisfied, 1 Completely Unsatisfied)
Q26
Education Programing Satisfaction
Overall how satisfied are you with the education programing i.e., luncheon speakers, core workshops, classes, symposia, conferences, etc. ?
Total Number of Responses - 413 (5 Completely Satisfied, 1 Completely Unsatisfied
5
Q27
“The Outcrop” Satisfaction
Overall how satisfied are you with “The Outcrop”?
Total Number of Responses - 418 (5 Completely Satisfied, 1 Completely Unsatisfied)
Q28
“The Mountain Geologist” Satisfaction
Overall how satisfied are you with “The Outcrop”?
(5 Completely Satisfied, 1 Completely Unsatisfied)
Total Number of Responses - 409
Q29
Networking Satisfaction
Overall how satisfied are you with the networking opportunities available, i e golf, coffee hour, happy hour, Rockbusters, etc ?
(5 Completely Satisfied, 1 Completely Unsatisfied)
Total Number of Responses - 370
Q31
Overall how satisfied are you with the field trips?
(5 Completely Satisfied, 1 Completely Unsatisfied)
Total Number of Responses - 332
Q32
Other Programming Satisfaction
Overall how satisfied are you with other association programing, i.e. volunteering opportunities etc. ?
Total Number of Responses - 327 (5 Completely Satisfied, 1 Completely Unsatisfied)
Aspects of Membership
What aspects of your RMAG Membership are the most important to you? Total Number of Responses - 442
Other Societies:
AADE
AAPG-DEG
AAPG-MED
AGI
American Chemical Society
American Economic Association
APEGA Association for Women Geoscientists
BSA
CEMS
CSEG
Other Societies
What other societies/associations do you belong to?
Total Number of Responses - 1171
OTHER SOCIETIES
Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists
Coast Geological Society
Colorado Environmental Management Society
Colorado Mining Association CSEE East Texas Geological Society
RMAG Events
EGU
ESA ESCONI FWGS Geochemical Society Geologists of Jackson Hole GSH
GSN GSL
GSP International Association of Geologists International Geothermal Association
In the past 12 months how many RMAG events have you attend?
Total Number of Responses - 454
International Geothermal Association
Karst Waters Institute Local gem and mineral clubs MMSA MSA
NABG Norwegian Geological Society OGS Pacific Section -AAPG Panhan
PBS-SEPM PGS PPDM PRSA PS RMAEP Russian Institute of Geosciences San Joaquin Geologic Society
SEPM-AWG 11 Shreveport Tulsa Geological Society
Sigma Xi
SIPES
SME DMC
SMMP
SMRI
Society of Mining Engineers
Southwest Utah Geological Association
STGS
SVP
SW Utah Friends of Paleontology
Tobacco Root Geological Society
TSOP WIPS
Q35
RMAG Events
Of the regularly scheduled events line-up, which have you attended in the past 12 months?
Total Number of Responses - 505 (multiple responses allowed)
RMAG Events
Why haven’t you attended any RMAG Events in the past 12 months?
Total Number of Responses - 187
REASONS NOT TO ATTEND
Q39
Additional Programming
If RMAG were to add additional programming, what would interest you?
This is a sample of the responses we received
Total Number of Responses - 124
Opportunities outside of traditional oil and gas
Business, political events that impact membership
Perhaps more job-seeking specific stuff
More virtual opportunities.
topics related to structural geology
More exploration talks - oil field case studies or recent discoveries overviews at the luncheon's Community outreach/education volunteer opportunities
The significance of Rocky Mountain basins and adjacent uplifts for oil, gas, helium; uranium, water and strategic and critical minerals
Lithium developments in the USA
More events that appeal to young people, like disc golf, red rocks night, mentoring programs etc
Old timers social events
A failure conference. Examples of ideas that didn't work. What was learned?
Opportunities for retraining A workshop/talk on tips for unemployed geoscientists to get back into the workforce
Hydrogeology of various formations of Denver Basin
This is a type of field trip, but more mine tours.
Clay shoot
Teaching opportunities
More O&G focused courses for more experienced geologists
Q40
Committee Volunteering Interest
If asked, would you be interested in volunteering on a committee?
Total Number of Responses - 438
More of the upcoming technologies like geothermal energy
Emerging plays, AI applications to oil and gas, economics
Short courses on log analysis/petrophysics or geophysics
Joint programs with other societies
(Friendly) competitions between companies would be fun!
Economic geology and environmental geology topics
I would be interested in recorded trainings or online seminars that would be useful for students interested in learning more about professional careers as a geologist
More mountain bike rides!
More conventional carbonates!
More Mountain Geologist articles.
Combining CO2 sequestration with geothermal energy recovery
Hydrogeology, Active Mines, Geomorphology
Happy Hours or something focused on bringing other societies together under the RMAG region - e g ,
WGA/MGS/NMGS, etc.
History of oil and gas plays.
Visiting lectures if not prohibitively expensive
Something on project management
West slope field trips
Board Service Interest
Do you have any interest in serving on the RMAG Board of Directors
Total Number of Responses - 439
Q44
Additional Feedback
Additional Feedback for RMAG Staff:
This is a selection of the responses
Total Number of Responses - 103
You provide important services that can easily be overlooked by the membership when done correctly Thanks for keeping RMAG functioning!
Good job RMAG team!!! Thanks for putting all of this stuff together!
I appreciate that it is always easy to get help.
Bridget does a great job, thanks for all of your hard work
I talked to Bridget about my computer problem about a year ago She was cordial and helpful, but ultimately, the problem wasn't solved. If she sends me an email, I get it. If RMAG sends a blast, I don't get it.
Very responsive!
Everyone is friendly, professional, and thorough
Bridget is wonderful You can tell an organization is run well, when you don’t see any problems I know it takes a lot of back-end work and planning to make that happen.
She’s also very responsive to questions and very helpful I really appreciated that she remembered me when I joined It helped me feel very welcomed
Thanks for all you do behind the scenes
Staff is always available and helpful
Current Communtication
Keep up the great work! I’m very lucky to live near this active geology community
OMG there is nothing but fantastic feedback Bridget is wonderful, so competent and very responsive. Grateful to have her!
You seem to be doing a sterling job as far as I can tell!
Supremely responsive!
Keep up GREAT WORK AND EFFORTS!!
I think Bridget does a great job running our organization with no other staff help or support We are lucky to have her.
I have been heavily involved with HGS (served on it
BOD and we turned around HGS) I was also very connected in AAPG and its current turn around
However, I view the RMAG as a go-by for how a society should be run I can add to RMAG, and I can learn from it
Excellent efforts and incredible work!
Bridget is a great administrator, real asset to the organization
Having full time staff for a professional society is wonderful Staff have been very responsive to my inquiries
How satisfied are you with the current level of and frequency of communication from RMAG? Total Number of Responses - 440 (5 Completely Satisfied, 1 Completely Unsatisfied)
Weekly Email
Do you read the weekly email updates from RMAG?
Number of Responses - 440
Q47
RMAG Website
How Satisfied are you with the RMAG website, RMAG org?
(5 Completely Satisfied, 1 Completely Unsatisfied)
Total Number of Responses - 422
SATISFACTION
RMAG Website
Q48
How often do you view the RMAG Website per Month?
Total Number of Responses - 441
Q49
Social Media
Do you follow RMAG on social media?
Total Number of Responses - 440
Q50 Social Media
Where do you follow RMAG?
Total Number of Responses - 112 (multiple selections allowed)
Q51
Association Communications
Social Media Presence
How satisfied are you with the current social media presence of RMAG?
Total Number of Responses - 83
WEBSITE SATISFACTION
(5 Completely Satisfied, 1 Completely Unsatisfied) Average 4.43
Q52
Social Media Presence
Is there anything specific you would like to see more of on our social media?
Total Number of Responses - 11
Promote the vendors, promote work people are doing More photos of members participating in field trips and events would be nice Right now it just seems like a page for disseminating information rather than attracting new members
I think the activity of RMAG in LinkedIn is appropriate (content and cadence). I wonder if we should encourage our volunteers more to either post, repost or like RMAG content, and if the board members should take a more active role in that endeavor Where RMAG is headed, and why I would advertise whenever a publication like TMG or Outcrop comes out.
Q53
I like having multiple notices from multiple sources: i.e. email blast & social media notifications Multiple and repetitive notices help with busy schedules and lives More of everything? Email announcements are good, but you know how it goes with email when you ' re slammed oh, this looks important but (crap) I can't read / digest that much content right now. I'll read / follow up later... and then never really follow through. :) Thinking like a retail marketer, if you hit us with the same message three times on multiple platforms we tend to remember announcements of volunteer opportunities
Additional Comunciation Comments
Any additional comments on RMAG communications:
Total Number of Responses - 31
I need to follow you guys! Assuming Instagram?
I generally feel like RMAG does a good job of communicating with its members I will now Just right.
Make sure emails all have RMAG prominent in the sender name
Didn't know there was a page to follow
I appreciate the emails, they are something I can read and review again later on
It may be that most of us are overwhelmed with various forms of communication. Perhaps I need to better pay attention.
Seeing articles from the Outcrop on social reminds me to read it all the way through if I get distracted the first time I open it
I'm not an overly active LinkedIn user, but it is fun to see posts that I either missed in the email blast or are additional fun notices and commentary by other members
I enjoy the pictures and field trip follow ups
For the most part RMAG is doing a really good job! All good Thanks to leadership and staff
I follow some social media
My employer still blocks social media.
Final Feedback
Q54
A good outfit!
Additional Feedback for RMAG
Do you have any additional feed back for RMAG?
his is a selection of responses
Total Number of Responses - 101
I have good memories of my time working in Denver I wish you well and intend to remain a member in retirement.
As I've said - can't imagine not being a member. I'll continue to lobby Oxy to continue their support. My feeling is that as a larger company and as a major participant in Rocky Mtn production it's incumbent on Oxy to be an active part of the geoscience community Keep up the good work as a longtime member and past president, I've been involved in helping RMAG grow and become an important part of a professional career - keep up the good work
The complete withdrawal from oil and gas for RMAG luncheons has been frustrating There seems to be a sense that the RMAG no longer knows its identity. I realize the name does not indicate any relationship to energy resources and mining, but that has always been where the RMAG has been focused In the energy community, there is a contradiction between those saying "oil and gas will be around for a long time" and those saying we are in a "transition " It seems like "transition" is a strong word, as many of the "transition" topics are not economically viable without government support A better description would be that we are finding "the mix" of future resources and ways to improve how we produce and use oil and gas within this mix, with fewer emissions (already much improved) Our messaging is confused because of these contradictions.
You are all great!
Rockbusters ball should have a student discount, especially considering it is on the Mines campus
Perhaps a $30 ticket that does not come with a drink ticket would get more students to come and make them more likely to also come to future RMAG events. Keep up the good work in yet another dynamic period for geologists.
I view RMAG as a regional organization, but there is not a lot of focus on RMAG serving as a resource for local/state geologic organizations in that region More collaboration between these small organizations with RMAG as a guiding regional organization could be beneficial as we all try to save these smaller (and moderate to bigger) organizations in this weird (postCovid)/(Gen Z don't care)/(Boomers don't want to volunteer but want to take take take) era
Keep up the excellent work
It’s a great organization and I have enjoyed being a member for many years (I think I joined in 1981 or 1982)
As I am retired, I mostly keep my membership to stay in touch with what the organization is doing and attend an occasional field trip.
Spread out your emails ... Once a week is plenty / perfect
To remain viable, may need to expand more into hydrology, environmental and other subsurface sedimentary minerals such as uranium, even aggregates, lime resources. Even topics such as precious gems and placer gold mining would be interesting As a geologist, earlier in my career, I was laser focused on petroleum geology, now I appreciate broader spectrum and really enjoy occasional branching off into other fields
Good job, great organization!
I feel RMAG is well-run and does a good job of serving our geo-community. The challenge is how to get more engaged volunteers It seems there are 50-60 members that form the core of the organization How do we get more involved?
Love that you remain independent For a volunteer organization, persistence >> growth. Don't take on too much. Keep in mind the future age demographics of your constituency
Really looking forward to seeing the results of this survey I hope we get enough response to better understand our membership Well done, Bridget!
You are a great local geological society
Free access for RMAG members to all back issues of Mountain Geologist, please.
I first joined RMAG over 50 years ago As I took employment opportunities far from Colorado, unfortunately I let my membership lapse I couldn't be more pleased to have renewed my membership It was a great professional organization then and it is even better now.
RMAG is my favorite professional organization.
I have a second home in Lake City Colorado Although I'm primarily in the oil & gas business, I've had interests in hard rock mining over the years, and I prefer igneous and metamorphic environments over sedimentary. I joined RMAG for this reason.
What happened to the annual photo contest?
For someone not located in the Denver area, I find that RMAG fills my needs and interests very well It is a very credible source of information
A well-managed professional organization
Final Feedback
Additional Feedback for RMAG, Continued...
Q57
Do you have any additional feed back for RMAG?
This is a selection of responses
Total Number of Responses - 101
Everything's great and I don't have much to say aside from that I'd like to see more networking opportunities
Great job
I think it would be interesting if you had something like Matt Silverman’s AAPG “Historical Highlights” column in the Outcrop that focuses on Rocky Mountain petroleum geology
With AAPG now publishing 90% of its articles on some play or basin in China, I appreciate RMAG still focusing on the Rockies!
There has never been an energy ""transition"" in the history of the earth. If you look at the data over the last 10,000 years, "" new "" energy sources are just added to the mix The oil & gas business will be here for countless reasons long after we are all dead in spite of all of this noise we hear Don't get sucked into current popular cultural philosophies The people of this country depend on us to do our job regardless of their bitching.
The time will come when global events will dictate our industry to stand up The Rand report states this is coming sooner rather than later
Thank you
Great organization that provides vital service to the geologic community.
Too bad RMAG no longer provides public issues information to its members
I served as Co-Editor of the 1989 Sandstone Reservoirs volume with Ed Coalson, and was a regular attendee for RMAG luncheons when they were weekly events back in the 1980s. I returned to Denver in Jan 2023, and am resuming my participation in RMAG and RMS-SEPM events I would be more than happy to help with publications once again in the future
Keep going with all the excellent work and new ideas I see a challenge maintaining momentum as the energy transition saps the high paying o&g jobs.
Organizations like RMAG, SEPM, GSA, AAPG etc are going to have to evolve if they are to persist. How to become relevant to the younger geoscientist? How to carve out a niche among the digital natives? Easier to ask than to answer
Downtown events are very difficult to attend when one does not work downtown.
A well-managed professional organization.
Great organization
Don't forget about the old timers We have a lot to offer
Western slope, for the most part, left out of things RMAG should seek out new ideas to make production of hydrocarbons carbon-neutral
Strong geologic organization in the current environment, adapting well to the changes in our industry…
So much is done by volunteers. I don't think the general RMAG member realizes how much work is done by the few, and that through contribution would be welcome and IMO needed for the organization longevity (avoiding active contributing volunteer burnout).
RMAG has been a very good organization, and I have kept or filed many of the publications I wish all of you continued success
Love it!
What happened to the annual photo contest?
For someone not located in the Denver area, I find that RMAG fills my needs and interests very well. It is a very credible source of information.
Being remote, any online activities are appreciated
Well run organization
I am hopeful that the organization thrives for another 100 years This will only happen if the younger generation participates and volunteers like I and many of my peers did way back when.
You provide a great service
Hope you make it another 100 years!!
No I am satisfied where things are at
Proud to be a member
Continue what you are doing
Keep going as long as the membership supports the RMAG.
while stating the obvious we need to attract more young people to the society, we need to continue to make the science appealing, exciting and attractive as a career no magic wand but increased representation with state legislators and educator's may help the cause of a rapidly declining industry as observed not just in the US but all around the world
RMAG is an excellent regional geological society The Outcrop is an excellent " newsy " publication I am not aware of any other regional geological society that maintains a journal of the quality of the Mountain Geologist.
More opportunities on CU boulder campus!
Online programming is great - thanks
Continue what you are doing
Keep up the great work!
Joao Gallotti is a student with George Mason University and U.S. Geological Survey in Arlington, Virginia
Chris Bowie with Devon Energy from Denver, Colorado
Kay-Cee Galay with Geoedges from Calagary, Alberta
Bill Cathey with Earthfield Technology, LLC from Richmond, Texas
Robert Bohn from Katy, Texas
Edmund Gustason with Enerplus Resources USA from Boulder, Colorado
Josh Sigler with XCL Resources from Denver, Colorado
Maddie Bishop is a student at Colorado Mesa University
Charlie Caselles is a student at Colorado Mesa University
Michael Longworth is a student at Colorado Mesa University
Christine Griffith with Texas A&M University from College Station, Texas
Amanda Monnette with Black & Veatch from Denver, Colorado
Ryan North with ISC Geoscience from Evergreen, Colorado
Sophia Palumbo is a student at New Mexico Tech from Denver, Colorado
Chris Cassle with Carbon America from Arvada, Colorado
Michael Hilmes with Carbon America from Arvada, Colorado
Earl White with Dolan Intergration Group from Westminster, Colorado
Matthew Bourbon with Petrotek Engineering Corporation from Broomfield, Colorado
Ceyhan Sahinkaya Akyol is a student at Colorado School of Mines from Golden, Colorado
Mark Grummon from Denver, Colorado
Jason Gumble with Kansas Geologic Survey from Lawerence, Kansas
Graeme Graigon with Rogii from Houton, Texas
Harold Rowe with Premier Corex from Houston, Texas
Christopher Laughrey with Stratum Reservoir with Evergreen, Colorado
William Little with W.W. Little Geological Consuling, LLC from Wellington, Utah
Expanded geologic focus:
• Reach
• Quarterly
• Permanent
• Quick
• Every
Why contribute?
Expanded geologic focus:
• Entire greater Rocky Mountain area of North America
• 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?
• Permanent archiving includes AAPG Datapages
• Reach a broad industry and academic audience
• Quarterly peer-reviewed journal
• Quick turn around time
• Every subdiscipline in the geosciences
• Quick turn-around time
https://www.rmag.org/publications/the
• Permanent archiving includes AAPG Datapages
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/
CALENDAR – DECEMBER 2024
RMAG offices closed December 25 to January 1