You may guess from the appearance of this newsletter that the Geology Department at Union College is alive and well, and embarking on a new era. I know that Kurt Hollocher and Herman Zimmerman have kept you informed of the progress in reviving the department over the past few years. Now that the department has a permanent chair and three full-time faculty, we are ready to get on with the work of restoring the strong reputation which this department had for so many years. As the new chair, I will do my best to keep you informed of our progress.
I have known of the Geology Department at Union for over 25 years, having grown up in Scotia. Bill McClennan ('50) taught me earth science at Scotia High, and took me along on a Union Geology Department field trip in the early sixties. Since my arrival I have been learning about the history of geology at Union in somewhat more detail. I feel honored to have been chosen for this position, and I can see that the standards of the past represent worthy goals for us.
The reestablishment of Geology at Union is most directly tied to the generosity of John Wold ('38) in providing funds for the John and Jane Wold Chair of Geology. His unflagging efforts have set the stage for renewal of Geology here. At the same time, the reputation of Geology at Union has been the result of the many successes of the department's alumni. The strength of a department is most directly shown by the achievements of its graduates, and the Administration of the College is well aware of the quality of the program that was terminated in the late sixties.
The Geology Department is now larger than at any time in its history. While size alone is not a measure of a department, the complexities of modern geology require a certain minimum level of staffing. It is our hope to add one additional faculty member in the near future. At that point we will be in a strong position to give our students the kind of geological education they deserve. In the meantime we are establishing a regular curriculum on the basic principles and methods of geology. The department has also recently added a full time technician to assist with the many routine, but important, aspects of maintaining a geology department. We continue to share a secretary with Civil Engineering.
In addition to faculty, a modern geology department must provide its students the opportunity to use up-to-date equipment. I have prepared an equipment acquistion program which should accomplish this goal over the next 3 to 4 years. We expect to have facilities for X-ray diffraction, rock and mineral chemical analysis, physical properties measurements, sediment transport studies, field geophysics and rock mechanics work. We have begun to assemble a departmental computer network for teaching and research which can be linked to the College-wide computer system. Our emphasis will be on maximizing student opportunities for hands-on work with sophisticated equipment.
Another important element in geological education is adequate field experience. We have just purchased a new 15-passenger van for field trips. We are planning a series of field excursions for geology majors which should give them at least eight, and as many as sixteen weeks (in two week segments) of experience in the field during a four year undergraduate career (in addition to numerous short trips). While we have many ideas of our own concerning appropriate two week trips, we would appreciate having suggestions from you.
Finally, it is most important that we have good students. I have been meeting with local earth science teachers, and I intend to invite them, and selected students from their schools, on local field trips. Many bright, science-oriented students don't know of geology as such, even though they are interested in geological things such as fossils and minerals. I hope to increase the number of geology students entering Union by making more high school students aware of geology.
George H. Shaw, age 42, married - two children, BS Chemistry (U. of Rochester, '67), MS and PhD Geology (U. of Washington, '69, '71). NSF Graduate Fellow (Seattle, Washington, '69-'71), NSF Post-Doctoral Fellow (Edinburgh, Scotland, '72-'73), Asst. Prof. (Florida International U., '73-'74), Asst. Prof./Assoc. Prof./ Assoc. Head of Earth Sciences, U. of Minnesota ('74-88), John and Jane Wold Professor of Geology (Union, '88). Teaching: Env. Geol., Env. Sci., Min., Opt. Min., Phys. Geol., Intro. Geophys., Global Gravity, Min. Physics, Field Camp, Equation of State. Research: High pressure experimentation (elastic properties), structure and evolution of planetary interiors, core formation, crustal evolution, modelling of landform evolution.
Kurt T. Hollocher, age 33, married - no children, BS Geology (Antioch, '78), MS,PhD, Geology (U. Massachusetts, '81, '85). Instr. (Mt. Holyoke, '84-'85), Asst. Prof./Acting Chair (Union, '85-'88) Teaching: Phys. Geol., Min., Opt. Min., Petrol., Geochem. Research: Petrology, Geochemistry, structure and stratigraphy of metamorphic rocks and associated intrusives (especially in the northern Appalachians), Geochronology of metamorphic and related intrusives, Geochemical modeling.
Paul T. Ryberg, age 36, single, BS Geological Sciences (Lehigh '74), MS Geology (U. of Oregon '78), PhD Geosciences (U. of Arizona '84). Geologist (Union Energy Mining Div. '77-'80), Vis. Asst. Prof. (U. of Montana '84-'85), Vis. Asst. Prof. (U. Lehigh '85-'86), Vis. Asst. Prof. (Union '86-'88). Teaching: Phys. Geol., Hist. Geol., Env. Geol., Structure, Tectonics, Geomorph., Sedimentology. Research: Tectonostratigraphic analysis of orogenic sedimentary rocks, Basin analysis, deformation structures in sedimentary rocks.
Geology Alumni
T. Yates Wilson '29 Henry W. Dill, Jr. '33 Jack Friedman '35 William H. Parsons '36 Raymond F. Robinson '36 Alvin Van Valkenburg, Jr. '36 John R. Bergstrom '38 Willard L. Hagedorn '38 John S. Wold '38 George F. Hanson '43 Brruce G. Gillies '44 Harold D. Fox '45 Oscar R Kruesi, M.D. '45 Robert T. Brady '47 Harrison G. Demgen '47 Harrie W. Mallery '47 Bernard D. McGrath '47 Leo C. Carpenter '49 David C. Fosmire '49 Robert M. Fuller '49 John H. Imrie '49 John J. Palmer, Jr. '49 Robert G. Wisner '49 George R. Macaulay '50 William E. McClennan '50 Robert A. Navias '50 John G. Niblock '50 Clement B. Tomlins '50 John H. Ostrom '51 John G. Parker '51 James H. Scott '51 Donald M. Hoskins, PhD '52 Kenneth G. Johnson, PhD '52 Charles E. Scovil '52 E.R. Sawtelle '52 Donald R. Akerblom '53 John M. Boardman '54 Richard B. Clary '54 David W. Glamm '54 Edward A. Laskowski '54 Donald H. Zenger, PhD '54 Herbert N. Benson '55 John M. Bird, PhD '55 John W. DeGoeyen '55 Ronald A. Dickson, Jr. '55 Carl J. Metzger '55 Sebastian T. Morabito '55 Peter Pirnie III, PhD '55 Edward J. Zimmerli, Jr. '55 Wesley E. Lemasurier, PhD '56 Louis M. Martucci, PhD '56 William P. Benjamin '56 Clifford C. Hartelius, Jr. '57 Lynn W, Hinman '57 Richard E. Lounsbury '57 Ronald R. Revette '57 Richard E. Winslow III, PhD '57 John D. Hatheway '58 Thomas F. Allen '58 Robert J. McCune '58 John T. Seward '58 Frank H. Crum '59 John L. Fauth, PhD '59 Kenneth O. Hasson, PhD '59 Osborne B. Nyr, Jr. '59 Ronald E Ombremski '59 Lawrence I. Benson '60 Caryl E. Buchwald, PhD '60 Donald H. Cady '60 Edward B. Hatfield '60 William R. Cox '60 William Potter '61 Anthony Alworth '61 M. Raymond Buyce '61 William T. Kirchgasser '61 Ross P. Sangster '61 John F. Schroder, Jr. PhD '61 Laszlo Z. Valachi '61 Norman G. Lavery, PhD '62 William E. Peabody '62 Philip L. Perkins '62 Thomas M. Pike '62 Elkanah A. Babcock '63 Charles M. Welden '63 Jon P. Broderick '64 John E. Dreier, Jr. '64 Timothy F. Freeman '64 William H. Older '64 Richard F. Risely, Jr. '64 Richard J. Wagner '64 Harold D. Nilsson '65 Richard L. Foland '66 Stephen W. Forster '66 Edward J. Kodl '66 Donald A. Werner '66 Joseph C. Whitney '66 Carl H. Hobbs III '68 William F. Priscott '68 Jeffry A. Smith '68 James H. Stratton '68 William D. Warcholik '68 Edwin J. Chambers, Jr. '60 John R. Dadeo '60 John M. Andrews '69 Paul G. Costello '69 Jeffrey Callister '70 John H. Jackson '70 Richard O. Sack '70 Robert B. Stone '70 Donald P. Krutenat '71 Richard Major '73 Peter Schiffman '73 Mark P. Dobday '75 Paul Emsbo '86 Andrew Lent '87
Friends
Nadine Gagnier '84
Jonathan Jameson '84
Robert Nesbitt '74
David Thurber '56
Angelo G. Angeledes '54
E.A. Hallman
Gwen Young
Norman Thompson '74
Daniel Silver '75
Danielle Cherniak '83
Carl Snyder '80
Lloyd Saberski '77
Thomas Engel '76
George W. Putman '51
Jon Titus '83
Dabra Seiken '84
Elizabeth Meyer '84
Thomas McKibbin '83
Elmer Rowley
Corinne A. Smith '83
Brant Bottum '75
Joseph Monkofsky '74
Maurice Deul '42
Herman Zimmerman
Richard W. Reeks '48
Randy Nisiobincki '79
James R. Lawrence '64
Lisa Korner '75
Jeffrey Gerst '80
When I came to Union College in 1985 I had just begun a project on the petrology, geochemistry, and structural geology of the metamorphosed roots of this Taconic island arc. During Acadian metamorphism the hot, low density gneisses rose to form structural domes reminiscent of the pattern of the original subvolcanic plutons. Recent erosion has exposed the Taconian gneisses and amphibolites in the cores of the domes, about 20 of which form a north-south trending belt known as the Bronson Hill Anticlinorium that extends from Long Island Sound into western Maine.
The work I have done involves studying the mineralogy and chemistry of these rocks in order to better understand their origins and place in the tectonic development of the Northern Appalachians. It turns out that most of the rocks are indeed similar to modern island arc igneous rocks, and that they have igneous structural relationships and chemical compositions that survived metamorphism. However, I have been able to show that the Taconian gneisses in Massachusetts are more complex than similar rocks elsewhere in the Bronson Hill belt, and that the geologic history of western New England still holds some surprises.
I have recently been working with Bob Tucker of the Royal Ontario Museum and Peter Robinson of the University of Massachusetts to measure the ages of these Taconian rocks using uranium-lead geochronology of zircons. These ages show that the "Taconic island arc" mentioned above is actually of Upper Ordovician to Lower Silurian age, younger than the Middle Ordovician age generally believed to be the time of development of the classic Taconic fold and thrust structures. In addition the gneisses contain dikes of Lower Silurian age that crosscut structures that were previously thought to be Devonian. It seems that there is a previously unrecognised Lower Silurian episode of metamorphism and deformation! Also, Silurian and Devonian metamorphism caused some of the gneisses to melt, producing pegmatites and other varieties of light colored dikes that cut the gneisses.
Last year Andrew Lent ('87) and I did some work showing that some amphibolites which lie unconformably above the Taconian gneisses are systematically rich in garnet and iron-magnesium amphiboles, in contrast to amphibolites in the Taconian gneisses that are systematically poor in these minerals but rich in epidote, augite and sphene. Andrew presented this work at the Northeastern Section meeting of the GSA in Pittsburgh, and we have published a paper in Northeastern Geology as well.
John R. Bergstrom '38.
Professor had retired from the Geology Department at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire.
Stephen J. Egemeier '66 .
It is my melancholy task to inform you of the death of Stephen Egemeier in 1985, after a brave battle with cancer. I knew Steve personally, as he was a graduate student at Rochester while I was an undergraduate. We went caving together, and I distinctly remember one trip where we did a little "cave enlarging" with the assistance of a few sticks of dynamite. He was an avid spelunker, and was involved in important work on speleogenesis. Our community has been deprived of an energetic and imaginative individual.
Prof. Shaw attended meetings of the American Geophysical Union Public Affairs Committee and the American Institute of Physics Committee for Public Policy in October. He is serving his fourth term on the AGU Public Affairs Comm. and is in his second term as the AGU representative on the AIP Comm. for Public Policy. He is also chair of the AIP subcommittee for selection of AIP's Congressional Science Fellow.
Prof. Ryberg attended the Eighth International Conference on Basement Tectonics in Butte, Montana from August 8-12. He presented an invited paper: "Comparison of Sedimentary Petrologic Sequences Produced in Mesozoic Extensional and Convergent Tectonic Settings in North America" His results will be published as a paper in the conference proceedings.
All three of us attended the Centennial GSA Meeting in Denver during November. Prof. Hollocher presented a paper entitled "Partial Melting of Tonalitic Gneisses during Regional Metamorphism, Bronson Hill Anticlinorium, West-central Massachusetts." The requirements of scheduling inexpensive airline travel gave us a few extra days after the meeting. We rented a car and took a "departmental" field trip through western Colorado and eastern Utah, during which we examined the structures at the northeastern edge of the Ancestral Rockies uplift near Gunnison, the Oligocene volcanics of the San Juan Mtns., the late Tertiary faulting which gave rise to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison River, Unaweep Canyon (an abondoned drainage of the Colorado River), The Mesozoic sediments of the Colorado Plateau, the laccolithic Sierra La Sal, the striking weathering and joint controlled features in Arches National Park, and the escarpments and cuestas developed on the late Mesozoic and early Tertiary rocks of the northern Colorado Plateau. It was a very stimulating trip, and we will be including these areas on field trips with students in the future, as well as using examples from these areas in our lectures.
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