In the Field...

Off we go...

Clint stands beside an outcrop of Holocene eolianite from ancient dunes that migrated across the island.

The class spent time examining a fossil reef that now makes up part of the coastline.

Coral types like Diploria, commonly known as brain coral, and Acrapora Palmata or elkhorn coral, can be seen in both plan view and cross section.

Dorissa examines the grainsize and cross bedding of the sandstone to try

and figure out where this coral reef existed with respect to the ancient shoreline.

Rainy day discussion. Clint doesn't seem to buy Heather's explanation of the formation of the caliche in the Cockburn Town fossil reef.

Storr's Lake, need we say more

Run the cursor over this image to see Callen and Ellen taking a coring of Storr's lake   Clint talkes about the possible explanations for the existence Stromatolites in this lake.

Part of a day was spent investigating Storr's lake (named after the famous islander Bernie Storr, whom some of us had the pleasure of meeting.) This lake is interesting because of its proximity to the ocean, its high salinity, and because it once contained living stromatolites. The stromatolites, now dead, cover most of the lake floor and make coring difficult.

Clint takes a salinity reading to help the class think about how the lake has changed over time. Hmmm, smell that water.

Link to Page 1, Page 3, Page 4

Return to Geology Department Field Trip Web Page

Return to the Carleton College Geology Department Home Page