Photograph taken on June 15, 2025, during the 2025 University of Memphis Field Camp of hydrothermal hot springs at Yellowstone National Park. An amazing opportunity to experience active geologic processes.
was thick with the pungent smell of hydrocarbons. The land here was flat and arid, dotted with cactus, sandy soils, and only sparse patches of shade. There was one point where my field partner and I took solace under a large boulder (named that day as shade rock) to get some relief from the intense sun that day. While the terrain could be grueling, Elk Basin gave me a hands-on introduction to petroleum geology, structural traps, and the practical importance of subsurface interpretation. We also had the incredible opportunity to spend a full day exploring Yellowstone National Park. It was my first time visiting, and I was immediately struck by the overpower- ing sulfur scent in the air from geothermal vents and hot springs. What amazed me even more were the vibrant, almost otherworldly hues of the aquamarine and turquoise pools, a reminder of how geology can feel like magic.
There were many days when field camp felt like bracing for a
storm. Four weeks away from my family and the life I have built exacerbated the experience. Although there were many moments I felt waves of homesickness, I was fortunate enough to have gone to field camp with friends. The rigorous coursework and field excur- sions became doable as we worked together to think critically, solve problems, and make sound interpretations. My classmates and I shared snacks and laughs and kept each other sane when the heat grew intense. We survived cacti barbs, slips on rock formations, and rattlesnake and scorpion encounters. We survived 7:30AM starts, hiking across difficult terrain with heavy gear, taking strike and dip measurements, using the hammer test to access age of rocks found along glacial outwash, and finishing each night access- ing and mapping the data observed and recorded that day. The
Photograph taken on June 15, 2025, during the 2025 University of Memphis Field Camp of hydrothermal hot springs at Yellowstone National Park. An amazing opportu- nity to experience active geologic processes.
www.aipg.org Jan.Feb.Mar 2026 • TPG 17
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64
