atlanta geological society...
TRANSCRIPT
JUNE MEETING Join us Tuesday, June 25, 2013 at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, 760 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta GA. The meeting social starts at 6:30 pm. This month is our annual Bar-B-Que Social meeting catered by Shane’s Rib Shack (same as last year). After dinner and giving away the door prizes, we will go see the IMAX movie Titans of the Ice Age.
Special thanks goes to this month’s sponsors:
1. Tony Trettel of Drilling Solutions Inc.
2. John Kilman of Kilman Brothers Drilling, Inc.
3. Jeff Johnson, EM Services
4. Tara Esbeck of AES Labs
5. Todd Roach of Piedmont Drilling
6. EcoVac Services, Inc.
See the following pages for more details about each of our generous sponsors. Please come and enjoy the social time and the interesting movie
Next meeting of the Atlanta Geological Society is June 25, 2013
Fernbank Museum of Natural History (Clifton Road) Social begins at 6:30 pm – Meeting begins at 7:00 pm
JUNE 2013
Atlanta Geological Society Newsletter
ODDS AND ENDS Ben Bentkowski, Newsletter Editor
Space is a crazy place. It’s full of incredibly hot stars, deep cold space, black holes and supernovae. Now add this fact to the list of crazy things about space: on Venus, it snows metal. The top of Venus’s snowcapped mountains are capped with two types of metal: galena and bismuthinite. Markus Hammonds at Discovery explains: As we now understand it, the snow on Venus’ surface is probably more similar to frost. On the lower Venusian plains, temperatures reach a searing 480°C (894°F). This is hot enough that reflective pyrite minerals on the planet’s surface are vaporized, entering the atmosphere as a kind of metallic mist, leaving only the dark volcanic rocks like basalt in the Venusian lowlands. At higher altitudes, this mist condenses, forming shiny, metallic frost on the tops of the mountains. Probably not the best place to take a vacation! Ben B, Newsletter Editor http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/smartnews/2013/06/on-venus-it-snows-metal/
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AGS JUNE SOCIAL SPONSORS
Drilling Solutions Inc. Drilling Solutions, Inc. is a very customer focused environmental and geotechnical drilling company that has been in business since 1994. With many successful projects completed since then, our goal is to create and provide a professional drilling service for each customer that we work with. We offer a wide range of Geotechnical and Environmental Drilling services, having drilled with hollow stem augers from 4" to 10.25" I.D. to depths of greater than 100' in both applications. DSI also utilizes a track mounted Geoprobe for smaller, high density areas, and we are licensed in Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee. DSI prides itself on having not only a professional, but a safe working atmosphere with our clients, from landfills to city pavement. Give us a shot! We know that you will be satisfied.
Contact Tony Trettle http://drillingsolutionsinc.com/home
180 Gateway Drive, Canton, GA 30115 ph: 678-493-8411 fax: 678-493-4656 Email: [email protected]
________________________________________________________________________________
Thanks to ECOVAC Services for providing support for the evening’s projectionist.
EcoVac Services is a remediation services firm/subcontractor formed 15 years ago with a multidisciplinary staff and affiliated offices positioned in numerous states. We pioneer and provide expedited and cost-effective in situ mobile remedial solutions for VOC/SVOC impacted sites. EcoVac Services is the world leader in dual phase multi phase extraction services, having conducted over 8,000 mobile dual phase/multi phase extraction events at over 1,500 sites throughout the United States (40 states) and Puerto Rico. Our EFR® process (mobile dual phase multi phase extraction) alone has been successful in removing over 1,000,000 equivalent gallons of contaminants for environmental groundwater remediation.
• The mobile dual phase multi phase extraction (EFR®) process was developed in 1988 by David M. Goodrich, P.G., co-owner of EcoVac Services.
• Nick Athens, co-owner of EcoVac Services, developed a patent relating to combining surfactant/chemical oxidant/cosolvent injection with mobile multi phase extraction dual phase extraction. This patent was awarded in December 2000.
• EcoVac Services opened a treatability study and R&D laboratory and is advancing “treatment train” technologies with great promise for the in-situ removal of viscous LNAPLs and DNAPLs Our remedial solutions occupy a substantially reduced carbon footprint - >75% less than fixed system alternatives.
• Mailing Address: 105 Weatherstone Drive, Suite 610 – Woodstock, Georgia 30188 Phone: (770) 592-1001, Fax: (770) 592-1801, Toll Free: 888-4ECOVAC
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Environmental Sampling, Geoprobe and
Drilling Services
Founded in 2003, EMServices has a combined experience of over 50 years performing environmental testing services in both field and laboratory capacities. We are contracted by
consulting and engineering firms across the southeast to perform routine sampling services at well over 100 facilities annually. These services include groundwater sampling, natural
attenuation monitoring and soil gas surveys.
In addition to our comprehensive sampling services, we offer direct push and drilling services. These services are performed with Geoprobe 78 and 66 Series rigs (7822, 6620 and 6610 – track mounted) and a 54 Series indoor/limited access rig (540MT). These are capable of driving dual tube, screen point and PRT sampling solutions as well as completing top-down or bottom-up
injection activities. Both our 7822 and 6620 rigs have hollow stem auguring ability (up to 6.25 inch) to install conventional 2 and 4 inch monitoring wells and auto drop hammers for
geotechnical work. All our rigs can turn 2.5-4 inch solid augers for those hard probe areas.
We work under most regulatory programs and are well versed in today’s innovative sampling technologies. Our field staff is OSHA 40 Hour Certified and current on their updates. We own
today’s newest sampling equipment which arrives on your site clean, operational, calibrated and ready to work. This translates into less downtime for you and cost savings for your clients.
At EMServices, we strive to achieve the highest data quality available. With our experience, you
can assure yourself that the samples we collect are representative, scientifically valid and defensible.
Let us put our experience to work for you!
www.emservicesonline.com
Contact Jeff Johnson at (770) 823-7174
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AGS JUNE SOCIAL SPONSORS
Analytical Environmental Services, Inc. Analytical Environmental Services, Inc. (AES) is a full service, independent, woman-owned environmental testing laboratory. Since our establishment in 1992, we have earned a reputation for our dedication to providing high quality and legally defensible data in a quick, cost effective manner. Our staff of highly skilled, dedicated scientists provide certified laboratory analyses of toxic, hazardous, and non-hazardous water and wastewater, USTs, Industrial Hygiene, asbestos and lead. AES is certified by numerous state and national agencies. Through our certifications and participation in proficiency programs, we are able to provide our clients with the highest quality services available. Our broad spectrum of laboratory services has allowed AES to be the laboratory of choice for major corporations, engineering firms, government agencies, waste treatment facilities, and NPDES Permit holders. At AES, we pride ourselves on the precision of our laboratory and the accuracy of our results. Our clients depend on us for our quality, experience and technical assistance. We continually strive to excel in our field by offering the most comprehensive laboratory services in the industry, with competitive pricing and turnaround second to none.
Analytical Environmental Services, Inc. 3785 Presidential Parkway Atlanta, GA. 30340 Contact Tara Esbeck
Phone: (770) 457-8177 / Toll Free: (800) 972-4889 Fax: (770) 457-8188 OFFICE HOURS : Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. SAMPLE RECEIVING: Monday – Friday 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. For more information about our services email us at [email protected] Our gratitude goes out to Todd Roach and Piedmont Drilling for their continued support for the AGS Social, year after year. Please consider them for your next drilling project. For all your drilling needs, call Todd or John at 770-242-9040 They are located at 2722 Simpson Circle, Norcross, GA 30071 For examples of their drilling equipment, please see their website: http://www.piedmontdrilling.com/
Winner of 2003, 2007 GWPCA Award for Laboratory Quality
Assurance.
AGS JUNE 2013 Page 5
AGS JUNE SOCIAL SPONSORS KILMAN BROTHERS, INC. Kilman Bros. has been associated with a broad spectrum of drilling projects dealing with a host of concerns. We are competent in all phases of geotechnical and environmental drilling.
Geotechnically, we have experience in: deep rock coring for tunnel design, inclinometer and piezometer installations for monitoring slope stability, rock coring for mineral exploration and your standard investigation for a commercial building.
Environmentally, we have completed projects involving all types of well installations including: recovery wells in 4”, 6” and 8” diameters, double cased monitor wells, ground water monitor wells, methane detection wells and chemical injection wells. In short, we are your one-stop drilling shop equipped and ready to service your specific needs.
SAFETY -- Kilman Bros. has dedicated itself to maintaining a safe workplace. In fact, safety is at the core of our business culture. We believe and enforce a proactive stance where safety is concerned and are constantly improving ourselves by incorporating learned lesson in our safety manual.
Our company, our clients, our employees and their families depend on the strict adherence and commitment to this program
EQUIPMENT AND TOOLING -- We pride ourselves on being the best equipped contract driller in the Southeast. In our equipment arsenal we have access to a CME 45, CME 55, CME 75 , CME 550, CME 75 mounted on a Morooka track carrier, Geoprobe model 6600 powered by a Bobcat, Geoprobe 6600 indoor unit Mini Sonic track mounted, Supersonic truck mounted, Atlas Copco T-3 and a truck mounted Longyear 38 core drill mounted on a military all-wheel drive truck.
We are tooled to drill with: hollow stem augers (3.25 ID, 4.25 ID, 6.25 ID and 8.25 ID), single and double tube core barrels (NQ and HQ), wet rotary (4”, 6”, 8”, 10” and 12”), air rotary (4”, 6”, 8”, 10”, 12” and 14”), sonic drilling (4”, 7” and 10”) to any depths necessary and in a multitude of different geologic formations.
CONTACT US -- Please contact us for any upcoming project needs or pricing.
We can be reached at
110 Grayson Ind. Parkway, Grayson, GA 30017
770.277.7729 phone, 770.277.7732 fax or [email protected]
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AGS PG Candidate Workshop
Date: Saturday, June 29, 2013
Time: 10:00am to 12:00pm
Venue: Fernbank Science Center, Classroom Annex
Speaker: Ken Bechley, P. G.
Subject: Glaciology and Glacial Geomorphology
The subject of this workshop will be Glaciology and Glacial Geomorphology. The presenter will be Ken Bechely, P.G. Ken has a BS and MS in Earth Science from Northern Illinois University and has been a PG in Georgia since 1993. Ken has been a consultant for 27 years, and was with the Illinois EPA for 13 years prior to moving to Georgia in 1986. He has firsthand experience with glacial features, so this promises to be a very informative class.
The class will be held in the classroom annex of the Fernbank Science Center from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. The address for the Center is 156 Heaton Park Drive, Decatur, Ga., approximately 1-mile north of the Fernbank Museum.
Please try to attend this workshop, Ken is an excellent speaker and glaciology is one of the curve balls ASBOG likes to throw on the exams.
Please forward this message to anyone interested in becoming a Georgia Registered Professional Geologist, or anyone who might be interested in the topic. The classes are open to all. Membership in the AGS is not required, however, $25 per year ($10 for students) is quite a bargain for one the most active geological groups in the Southeast.
If you have any questions, go to the AGS web site at http://www.atlantageologicalsociety.orgor contact John or Ken below.
We hope to see you there!
AGS Professional Registration Committee
Atlanta Geological Society
Ken Simonton, P.G. [email protected]
John Salvino, P.G. [email protected]
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BENEFITS OF AN AGS MEMBERSHIP • Location – AGS meets at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History,
which is a truly awesome facility central to most of our membership. • Cost – AGS membership ($25 general; $10 student) is the most
inexpensive for any geological society in the SE. • Active – AGS holds nine lectures a year and is one of the most active
geological societies in the SE. • AEG – For one of our lectures, AGS co-sponsors with the Association of
Environmental & Engineering Geologists to annually present the “Richard H. Jahns Distinguished Lecturer” while in Atlanta.
• PDH – AGS is recognized by Alabama, South Carolina, and other professional state boards to provide Professional Development Hours for our lectures, as well as field trips and workshops.
• PG Classes – AGS offers nearly monthly Professional Geologist development training classes in preparation for passing the ASBOG examinations and has been recognized by the Georgia State Geologist as enhancing PG test scores for participants.
• Free Food – AGS offers free pizza and Coke at all of our regular meetings, sandwiches and hors d’oeuvres at the Jahns lecture, and a sit-down BBQ dinner at our June social.
• IMAX – As part of the June social, AGS and Fernbank present a free IMAX movie.
• Networking – AGS meetings include professionals, academics, regulators, and others who all share the same interest in geological sciences.
• Resume – AGS membership and even involvement in one of our many committees will enhance any resume.
Annual membership dues for the Atlanta Geological Society are $25 for professional membership, $10 for students, and $100 for corporate sponsorship (which includes up to 4 professional memberships). Please complete the application form and submit with your payment to the AGS Treasurer. For further details about membership, please contact the AGS Membership Chairman – Ben Bentkowski
cell -770-296-2529 [email protected]
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Bedmap2 gives scientists a more detailed view of Antarctica’s landmass
Scientists at the British Antarctic Survey have been working with a host of international collaborators to present the most detailed map yet of Antarctica’s landmass. Bedmap2 reveals a landscape of mountain ranges and plains cut by gorges and valleys much deeper than previously seen. Several features of the bed have been revealed for the first time including a new deepest point. The bed under the Byrd Glacier in Victoria Land is 2,870 metres below sea level making it the lowest point on any of the Earth’s continental plates. The map was compiled using datasets collected from radio echo sounding measurements, seismic techniques, satellite readings and cartographic data. A number of key statistics emerge;
• The volume of ice in Antarctica is 4.6% greater than previously thought
• The mean bed depth of Antarctica, at 95 metres, is 60 m lower than estimated
• The volume of ice that is grounded with a bed below sea level is 23% greater than originally thought meaning there is a larger volume of ice that is susceptible to rapid melting. The ice that rests just below sea level is vulnerable to warming from ocean currents
• The total potential contribution to global sea level rise from Antarctica is 58 metres, similar to previous estimates but a much more accurate measurement.
View the research paper http://www.the-cryosphere.net/7/375/2013/tc-7-375-2013.pdf
AGS JUNE 2013 Page 9
New Subduction Zone Forming Off Spain's Coast Becky Oskin, OurAmazingPlanet Staff Writer Date: 13 June 2013 Time: 12:12 PM ET
A budding subduction zone offshore of Spain heralds the start of a new cycle that will one day pull the Atlantic Ocean seafloor into the bowels of the Earth, a new study suggests. Understanding how subduction zones start is long-lasting mystery in plate tectonics, said lead study author João Duarte, a research fellow at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. Duarte and his colleagues reached their conclusion, detailed online June 6 in the journal Geology, by carefully mapping the underwater faults near Spain and west of Gibraltar, in a zone called the southwest Iberia margin. The zone has spawned several great earthquakes, including the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, which killed more than 10,000 people and may have sent a tsunami all the way to the Caribbean. The team discovered active thrust faults throughout the supposedly passive margin. Thrust faults form when the crust is squeezed, in this case between the Eurasian and African tectonic plates. "This shows that the margin is not passive anymore but is now being reactivated, i.e. a new convergent plate boundary is forming," Duarte said. "If you were looking for an embryonic subduction zone this is what you would expect to see." Email Becky Oskin or follow her @beckyoskin. Follow us @OAPlanet, Facebook & Google+. Original article on LiveScience's OurAmazingPlanet. http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/06/confirmed-1-billion-year-old-water-tastes-terrible/276946/
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Confirmed: 1-Billion-Year-Old Water Tastes 'Terrible' Saltier than sea water and the consistency of "very light maple syrup." Yuck. REBECCA J. ROSENJUN 17 2013, 4:11 PM ET
J. Telling
Last month, a paper published in Nature reported on some water that had been trapped 1.5 miles below the Earth's surface in Canada for a long while. How long? Based on an analysis of the isotopes of natural gases in the water, scientists believe it to be the oldest isolated water ever studied, at least 1 billion years old and maybe as old as 2.64 billion, slightly younger than the rocks that encased it.* For maybe half as long as the Earth's entire existence, this water has been sealed away, unexposed to the atmosphere.
The next question: Is it drinkable? The answer: Not really, but a sip won't kill you. According to an interview in the Los Angeles Times, one of the paper's authors, Barbara Sherwood Lollar, has tasted it, and it was "terrible," she reports. "It is much saltier than seawater." Her description of its appearance doesn't make it sound very appetizing either:
What jumps out at you first is the saltiness. Because of the reactions between the water and the rock, it is extremely salty. It is more viscous than tap water. It has the consistency of a very light maple syrup. It doesn't have color when it comes out, but as soon as it comes into contact with oxygen it turns an orangy color because the minerals in it begin to form -- especially the iron.
Now onto the bigger questions: Is there life in this billion-year-old water? Lollar thinks it's possible. "The water has the same kind of energy that supports the microbial life found near deep-sea vents and in the South African gold mine," she the LA Times's Deborah Netburn, "We have shown these waters are habitable. The next question is whether or not they are inhabited." And if they are, the question will become what's living there and when did it arrive. Lollar and her team are investigating, but she says it will be about a year before they have results. http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/06/confirmed-1-billion-year-old-water-tastes-
AGS JUNE 2013 Page 11
AGS Members… Geology Enthusiasts Needed!! If you are an AGS member and would like to contribute to the Professional Registration Committee by leading a lecture on one of the subjects listed below, then please contact me either by e-mail or at the monthly AGS meetings. The lecture should be for one hour followed by a Q&A session. We need different speakers for each workshop. Your volunteering to teach on one of these subjects is essential to the success of the Professional Registration Committee – we need more widespread participation by the AGS membership. Speakers can be compensated for expenses and will receive certificates to acknowledge their participation. The following content domains are covered in the Georgia Professional Geologist exams: A. General Geology B. Mineralogy, Petrology, & Petrography C. Sedimentology, Stratigraphy, & Paleontology D. Economic Geology & Energy Resources E. Structure, Tectonics, & Seismology F. Hydrology & Environmental Geochemistry G. Engineering Geology
H. Quaternary Geology, Geomorphology, & Surficial Processes
We do not "teach the test" our aim is to review fundamental concepts of the earth sciences and acquaint candidates with industry specific information not easily obtainable from the literature. Please inform anyone who might be interested in becoming a professional geologist of our workshop. Please consider joining us even if you are not a P.G. candidate. The workshops are interesting and informative. Ken Simonton, P.G., Chair John Salvino, P.G. Professional Registration Committee www.atlantageologicalsociety.org
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Now Showing in the Fernbank IMAX movie theater:
Under the Sea Now showing through September 5, 2013
Dive into an IMAX® adventure to explore some of the ocean’s most exotic and isolated undersea locations and experience face-to-face encounters with the mysterious and unusual creatures found under the sea.
Titans of the Ice Age Now showing through August 15, 2013
Take an unforgettable journey back in time in this new giant screen adventure. Encounter some of the Earth's most awe-inspiring mammals, from saber-toothed cats and dire wolves to giant sloths and the iconic mammoths that lived 10,000 years before modern civilization.
Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Upcoming Public Programs and Events (All programs require reservations, including free programs)
AGS JUNE 2013 Page 13
Fernbank Museum of Natural History 767 Clifton Rd, NE, Atlanta, GA 404-929-6400
Special Exhibits On View: http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/explore-exhibits/special-exhibitions
Extreme Summer Adventures Summer adventures are in full swing at Fernbank Museum. From wild and wooly mammals to cold-blooded critters, and from super-silly family fun to eye-opening evenings, we've got your summer bucket list covered. 10. Dinosaurs are DINO-MITE. Your visit to Fernbank begins with a visit with some of Georgia’s oldest residents, a trio of Lophorothon atopus in the Dinosaur Plaza. 9. Enjoy a parents’ night out. Leave the kids at home (with proper supervision, of course) and enjoy an evening of cocktails and carnivores at Martinis & IMAX®. 8. Bubbles! Small bubbles, big bubbles, popping bubbles, floating bubbles—be sure to visit the bubble station in Sensing Nature. 7. Meet new animal friends. A terrific pair of terrapin turtles, an amazing trio of baby alligators and other live animals can be found in Fernbank NatureQuest. 6. Come face-to-snout with the world’s largest meat-eating dinosaur, Giganotosaurus, in Giants of the Mesozoic. While you're sizing up just how fast you’d have to be to outrun this prehistoric predator, don’t overlook (not that that’s possible) the largest plant-eating dinosaur, Argentinosaurus. 5. Go star gazing. Explore the nighttime sky in The Star Gallery, a unique space featuring 542 (yes, we counted) twinkling stars. 4. Get hands-on! Special hands-on programming will be offered in the Naturalist Center. Activities vary from animal encounters to science explorations and more. Dates and time will vary. Like us onFacebook for updates and be sure to check the activity sign when you arrive at the Museum. 3. Join us for special programs including Fernbank Forest Night Walks (June 14, July 5), Superhero Day (June 16), Reptile Day (July 20), Dinosaur Birthday Bash (August 24) and more. Check out our calendar of events for details on these programs. 2. Journey from the frozen tundra of the past to the cool ocean waters of the present in Fernbank's IMAX® Theatre. Featured films this summer are Titans of the Ice Age and Under the Sea, with additional films offered exclusively during Martinis & IMAX®. 1. From the speedy to the slothful, the towering to the tiny, and the furry to the armor-clad, come nose-to-snout with an amazing array of extraordinary critters in Extreme Mammals.
Extreme Mammals Opened March 2, 2013 through August 18, 2013
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Translated from German:
“He was searching for rocks an entire life Never to be satisfied Now he got one big Stone That will do in the End “
AGS JUNE 2013 Page 15
AGS Committees
AGS Publications: Allison Keefer Phone (404) 657-8642 [email protected]
Career Networking/Advertising: Todd Roach Phone (770) 242-9040, Fax (770) 242-8388 [email protected]
Continuing Education: Currently Open
Fernbank Liaison: Chris Bean Phone (404) 929-6313 [email protected]
Field Trips: Josh Jenkins Phone (770) 421-3412 [email protected]
Georgia PG Registration: Ken Simonton Phone: 404-825-3439 [email protected] John Salvino, P.G. [email protected]
Teacher Grants: Bill Waggener Phone (404)354-8752 [email protected]
Hospitality: Tom Watson Phone (678) 358-6943 [email protected] Social Media Coordinator: Carina O’Bara [email protected]
Newsletter Editor and Membership Ben Bentkowski Phone (404) 562-8507,(770) 296-2529 [email protected]
Web Master: Kathaleen Bentkowski [email protected] www.atlantageologicalsociety.org
AGS 2013 Meeting Dates
Listed below are the planned meeting dates for 2013. Please mark your calendar and make plans to attend. June 25th The Annual ASG Social and IMAX June 29th PG Study Class - Ken Bechley – Glacial Geomorphology July No AGS meeting July 27th PG Study Class- Dr. Julian Gray -mineralogy and structural geology August 27th AGS meeting August 31th P.G. Study Class
AGS Officers
President: Nils Thompson [email protected] Phone (678) 486-2766 Vice-President: Cassidy Sutherland Phone (770) 492-8230 [email protected] Secretary: Rob White Phone (404) 321-5399 [email protected] Treasurer: Stacey Durden-Phillips [email protected]
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ATLANTA GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
www.atlantageologicalsociety.org ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FORM
Please print the required details and check the appropriate membership box. DATE: NAME:
ORGANIZATION:____________________________________________________________
TELEPHONE (1): TELEPHONE (2): EMAIL (1): EMAIL (2):
STUDENT $10 PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP $25 CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP $100 (Includes 4 professional members, please list names and emails below) NAME: EMAIL: NAME: EMAIL: NAME: EMAIL: NAME: EMAIL: For further details, contact the AGS Treasurer: [email protected]. Please make checks payable to the “Atlanta Geological Society” and remit with the completed form to:
Atlanta Geological Society, Stacy Durden-Phillips, Treasurer, 2534 Centennial Commons View Acworth GA 30102.
CASH
CHECK (CHECK NUMBER: .)