EDITOR’S CORNER
One Less Thing on My Field-Bucket List
Jean M. Neubeck, CPG-11438
I’m sporting a camouflage cap this issue because that’s what I wore in the field while visiting Alaska. Not so I might blend with the residents (heavens no, they know who’s a tourist) but because you just can’t fret about your looks when you’re scouting for wildlife and scenery in the “Interior.” My poor index finger was cramped from taking more than 1000 photos. It’s understandable that for many, Anchorage was too great a haul to attend the recent annual meeting but it was a lifetime opportunity for me and tremendous fun for those lucky enough to make the trip. It was my first time in AK, so I was yet another geologist in a giant rock-candy store.
Like most AIPG events, one of the conference highlights is going on field trips to just about anywhere, guided by intrepid geologists who generously volunteer their time and knowledge to make sure us rockheads enjoy ourselves while we learn something geologic. It’s fair to say that I only “managed” to learn some things because despite the clear and informed presentations, it was hard to concentrate between gawking and snapping photos.
I sincerely appreciate all, but acknowl-
edge here only a few, of the people that contributed to successful (nobody got hurt!) and engaging experiences on the field trips I attended. Special thanks to Dr. Kris Crossen, who lead the “1964 Great Alaska Earthquake” trip; Dr. Nicholas VanWyck, CPG-10553, who graciously herded us through a 2-day trek to Denali Park and Usibelli Coal Mine (UCM); Bill Brophy and Justin Seavey from UCM; and Denali Park Geologist (really, how do you get that gig?) Dr. Denny Capps. Many thanks also to all the volunteers. I’m sure others would agree that all the field trips and the entire conference was an enjoyable experience.
To share a little of the coal mine tour… Okay yes, I skipped over Denali
but of course it was spectacular. It was wall-to-wall geology: mountains, forma- tions, landslides, faults, glaciers, more mountains plus bears and moose. Denali is a vast and pristine wonderland but you really need much more time than we could spend to explore even a fraction. So I’m focusing on the coal mine. As beauti- ful as Denali was (is!) I’m fascinated by construction so I was bowled over by the heavy equipment and scale of the surface mine at Healy.
Gracing TPG’s cover (and article pg. 47) are photos of reportedly, the most photographed outcrop in Alaska, and for good reason. The dark coal seams inter- bedded and in sharp contact with the buff-colored sedimentary rocks strike a geologic contrast that is awesome (yes, that’s the right use of that word). Sadly, UCM reports they have disappointed more than one geologist bucking for a mining job - they simply don’t need help to find the coal. Strike one.
We started out meeting in the Usibelli office building where historical photos and artifacts of their mining history are proudly displayed. Bill Brophy gave a short presentation to orient us to coal mining (remember the hierarchy of anthracite, bituminous, lignite, and peat?) and also summarized the physical setting, reclamation, water treatment, and coal’s use for cogeneration to produce both electricity and heat.
Donning hart hats and ever-stylish safety glasses, we toured the infrastruc- ture and maintenance that keeps the huge dozers and trucks running. Then we headed out to see the real action. I should sound more professional, but what can only be described as a humon- gous drag line (30-40 CY capacity) that requires two operators is used among other methods to remove overburden to access the coal. It looked like a fun job, but it’s serious work that requires a high level of skill. Strike 2.
And as large as that drag line dubbed “Ace in The Hole” is, the equipment is absolutely dwarfed by the scale of the mine’s geology with its steep headwalls, benched topography, and in-your-face stratigraphy in full display. At our request, Bill collected some fresh “hand specimens” so the collectors among us could keep a souvenir. The sub-bitu- minous coal is pretty friable, but my carefully wrapped samples survived the baggage handlers.
Family member and geologist Mitch Usibelli wasn’t with us but he provided summary descriptions of the stratigra- phy from a USGS report that liberally references the work of Clyde Wahrhaftig (USGS, now deceased). Wahrhaftig spent a significant part of his career focused on the Healy coal field, publishing numer- ous papers, and producing detailed geo- logic maps that still are actively used today. Field mapping is done - Strike 3.
Late in his career, Clyde also des- ignated the local coal formations of the Usibelli Group. You can download Clyde’s USGS maps to gain a good over- view of the local geology.
In addition to enjoying the field trips, I am blessed to have a cousin in Anchorage who guided me on our own excursions. I was thrilled to walk on the Mantanuska Glacier after living and working in gla- cial terrain for my entire career. Joe also braved a rainy cold day on a commercial tour of the “26 glaciers” in Prince William Sound, where we saw wildlife and cav- ing glaciers.
So while I struck out on job pros- pects, my Alaska tally is: 30+ glaciers, 9+ Dall Sheep, 7 Moose, 5 Grizzlies, 3 Bald Eagles, several Sea Lions and Sea Otters, one surface coal resource, and an undisclosed number of Alaskan micro-brewery beverages. Check that field-bucket list good!
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