On the Rocks

A Newsletter of the Michigan Basin Geological Society

2006-2007 Number 4 www.mbgs.org December 2006

EVENTS

December 13, 2006: John French, will present MBGS’s ‘Kids Night’ program with Pluto and Beyond. We encourage attendees to bring children (who eat for free!) who may appreciate a discussion of Pluto’s status in our solar system.

January 10, 2007: Jon Cherry, will discuss Kennecott’s plans for nickel and copper exploration at their ‘Eagle Project’ in Marquette County.

A nice thank you for an elementary school outreach effort by Grant DeWitt. THANKS Grant!

Dear Mr. Hoane,
I just wanted to send you a big "Thank you!" from my sixty-six fourth graders at Cass Elementary School in Livonia for the wonderful Michigan Basin Geological Society rock sample kits. Mr. Grant DeWitt brought my science students these kits when he did his presentation for us on his job as a geologist, which he presents every year to my fourth graders during our rocks and minerals unit in science. My students always thoroughly enjoy Mr. DeWitt's outstanding presentation (Every year we have a few students who want to become geologists after hearing him speak!), but this year, they were exceptionally excited because they each received one of the rock kits. What a great way to foster education and interest in geology! Thank you so much for your very generous donation.
Gratefully,

Amy Wehner
Fourth Grade Science Teacher
Cass Elementary School
Livonia Public Schools

2006-2007 MBGS Officers

The Executive Committee meeting minutes are available on our website at www.mbgs.org

PRESIDENT: ROBERT REYNOLDS,

Reynolds Geological, LLC

509 Hall Blvd. Mason, MI 48854

517-676-9936, fax 517-676-8169, reynoldsgeo@voyager.net

VICE PRESIDENT: MARK NIDA

LEG, Public Service Commission

PO Box 30221, Lansing MI 48909

517-241-6136, fax 517-241-6121, mcnida@michigan.gov

SECRETARY: KEN PETRIE

Aurora Energy

1951 Penobscot Drive

Okemos, MI 48864

517-347-3043 kmpetrie@yahoo.com

TREASURER & PUBLICATIONS:

TOM HOANE FMFM, DNR

P.O. Box 30452, Lansing, MI 48909-7952

Bus 517-241-3769, fax 517-373-2443 hoanet@michigan.gov

BUSINESS MANAGER:

TOM GODBOLD OGS, DEQ

P.O. Box 30256, Lansing, MI 48909-7756

Ph: 517-241-1545, Fax 517-241-1595 godboldt@michigan.gov

PAST-PRESIDENT: DR. ROBB GILLESPIE

WMU Geology Department

1123 Rood Hall, WMU, Kalamazoo, MI 49008

269-378-5354, fax 269-387-5513 robb.gillespie@wmich.edu

CO-FIELDTRIP DIRECTORS:

MARK WOLLENSAK, CPG

Hamp, Mathews & Assoc, Inc.

15266 Ann Drive, Bath, MI 48808

Ph: 517-641-7333 Fax 517-641-7337

Cell 517-719-8321 wollensak@voyager.net

and

LEONARD ESPINOSA, FMFM, DNR

PO Box 30452, Lansing, MI 48909-7952

Ph: 517-335-3248, Fax 517-373-2443 espinosl@michigan.gov

NEWSLETTER EDITOR:

TOM WELLMAN, FMFM, DNR

PO Box 30452, Lansing, MI 48909-7952

Ph: 517-373-7666, Fax 517-373-2443 wellmant@michigan.gov

ELECTRONIC PUBLICARIONS:

MARK WOLLENSAK

AAPG DELEGATES:

DR. AUREAL CROSS, MSU,

Dept. of Geol Sciences, 206 Natural Sciences Bldg, East Michigan State University:

Lansing, MI 48824-1115, 517-335-4630/4639,

and

Dr. WILLIAM, HARRISON,

Western Michigan University

616-387-8691

william.

MEETING CANCELLATION POLICY

Monthly meetings will be automatically cancelled whenever the National Weather Service issues a "Storm Warning" for the Lansing area. If driving conditions are poor but a "Warning" has not been issued please contact any member of the Executive Committee for the status of the meeting.

MICHIGAN BASIN GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY PUBLICATIONS

Historical CD #1: Nine out-of-print publications from 1949 through 1965 and 1998, Devonian to Silurian Rock Fieldtrips to MI, WI, IL and Ontario, 2000, $15

Historical CD #2: Four out-of-print publications from 1947, 1959, 1983 and 1991, Northern Devonian and UP Fieldtrips in MI, 2001, $15

Historical CD #3: Six out-of-print publications from 1948, 1952, 1990 - 1995, Northern Devonian and UP Fieldtrips in MI, 2001, $15

Historical CD #4: Six out-of-print publications from 1957, 1958, 1961, 1967, 1968 and 1970, Northern LP and UP Fieldtrips in MI, 2004, $15

Historical CD #5: Five out-of-print publications from 1971, 1989, 2001, Southern LP, MI and Ohio Fieldtrips and Oil & Gas Fields Vol. 1 & 2, 1969 & 1992, 2006, $50

Special Price - Historical CDs #1, #2, #3, #4, & #5 for $75

NE Lower Peninsula Geological Field Conference, 2004, T. Black, M. Wollensak, 133 pp., illus., maps. On CD $10

Stratigraphic Lexicon for Michigan, 2001, prepared by MBGS and published by DEQ, 56 pp., chart, $2.65 picked up or $4 mailed, Can be ordered from MBGS or Office of Geological Survey of the DEQ

Price Includes postage, handling and any applicable sales tax. Orders for publications should be prepaid in U.S. Funds and addressed to: MBGS - Publications, P O Box 18074, Lansing MI 48901-8074

MBGS (Kids) Meeting

Wednesday December 13, 2006

Location: Coyote Creek

6951 Lansing Road,

Diamondale, MI 48821

5:30 to 6:15 PM – Social Hour

6:15 PM – Dinner

Presentation after Dinner

Cost (includes dinner) $25.00 (Students $15.00) (Kids for free!)

Topic: “Pluto and Beyond”

John French

SPE Dinner Meeting Reservation

Name:

Number Attending:

Fee Enclosed: Will Pay at Door:

Please make checks payable to MBGS and return to Thomas Godbold by December 11, 2006. Members are welcome to attend the presentation after dinner for no charge. Please contact Thomas Godbold to ensure adequate seating. Send reservations to:

Thomas Godbold

P.O. Box 30256

Lansing, MI 48909-7756

Ph: Bus Ph: 517-242-2545, Fax 517-241-1595

E-mail:godboldt@michigan.gov
Abstract: Pluto and Beyond

Pluto made the news last summer. Its status as a planet was withdrawn. This presentation will take a look at Pluto, what makes it different from the other planets in our solar system and why it was demoted. Also we'll look at what other worlds are out there past Neptune such as Eris and Quaoar. We'll also discuss NASA's New Horizons mission that was launched in January 2006 and is scheduled to fly past Pluto in July 2015.

Biography:

John French is a planetarium lecturer at the Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University. Besides presenting live star talks at the planetarium, John is also responsible for show production at the planetarium as well as programing the Digistar star projector. In 2006 his computer graphics won first place at the Digistar Users Group D-II competition in Salt Lake City. Before working for the Abrams Planetarium, John worked at The Cook Arts and Science Center in Corsicana Texas and prior to that, worked at the Buhl Planetarium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. John received his MSEd degree from Duquesne University and a BS in Astronomy from Penn State University.

Member Information for 2007 Membership Directory

MBGS is embarking on an update of it Membership Directory for 2007.

Please fill in whatever information you wish to have published in the 2007 MBGS Membership Directory. This information will not be sold or given out to any known solicitors, but to be distributed solely to members of the MBGS. If no information is received, we will list your name and the mailing address information that we have on file. If you wish not to be included in the membership directory, please specify below.

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[ ] I do not wish to be included in the 2007 MBGS Directory (place an “X” in the box)

Wanted: MBGS Newsletter Editor

Tom Wellman is retiring as MBGS Newsletter Editor after several years of service helping to keep us informed of MBGS news and meetings.

We need to find a replacement by July 2007. If you might be interested in this position, please let a MBGS officer know. It is not a difficult job and we provide on the job training. If you have questions on what the job involves, please contact Tom at wellmant@michigan.gov or 517-373-7666.