Talks at Colorado Scientific Society Meetings in 2025
CSS January 2025 Meeting
Geologic Map Derivatives: From Pen and Paper to Digital Databases
Thursday, January 16, 2025 at 7:00 pm
Michael Frothingham, U.S. Geological Survey, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center
This meeting was held at Calvary Church Golden.
Geologic Map Derivatives: From Pen and Paper to Digital Databases
Abstract: Geologic maps are venerable hallmarks of earth science. While traditional pen and paper maps have impressively withstood the test of time, they are currently undergoing a revolution as maps are compiled into integrated databases. These new digital databases are becoming increasingly accessible and user friendly, with queryable data that enables new scientific applications and analysis. I present three examples of derivative geologic maps, generated from geologic map data compiled in the Seamless Integrated Geologic Mapping extension to the Geologic Map Schema (SIGMa GeMS). Using attribute queries and spatial intersections in a geographic information system, derivative maps are created from 1:100,000-scale geologic map compilations within the footprints of Cortez, Durango, Trinidad, and Aztec 1×2 degree quadrangles in Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. The derivative maps include: (1) an aggregate and infrastructure map, (2) a sand dune/sheet and infrastructure map, and (3) a surficial mass wasting deposits versus bedrock geology map. These maps illustrate where aggregate resources (e.g., unconsolidated gravel and sand) occur relative to civil infrastructure, identify areas where mobile landforms (e.g., sand dunes or sand sheets) pose potential future risks to roads, and explore correlations between surficial mass wasting deposits (e.g., landslides, rockfalls, debris flows, etc.) and the underlying bedrock geology. These examples demonstrate the utility of modern geologic map databases, highlight opportunities for improving subsequent mapping, and inspire the development of future derivative maps to address pressing geological problems and societal needs.
Michael G. Frothingham, PhD, joined the USGS in 2022 as a part of the Geologic Framework of the Intermountain West project in Denver, Colorado. His interdisciplinary research involves collaborations among structural geologists and geophysicists to study how seismic waves interact with structural features such as faults, shear zones, plutons, and foliated rocks from Earth’s surface to the deep crust. Michael’s research tools include GIS geologic mapping, microscope petrography, Electron Backscattered Diffraction, quantitative structural analysis, geophysical modeling, and boots-on-the-ground field geology.
View Zoom recording of Colorado Scientific Society January 2025, Geologic Map Derivatives by Michael Frothingham
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Duration: 00:56:38
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DISCLAIMER and FAIR-USE STATEMENT: The following Zoom-meeting recording contains content that expresses the opinions, viewpoints, and conclusions of the speakers and does not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or endorsements of the Colorado Scientific Society. This recording is made available to the public for general information and educational purposes only and is not intended to be used for profit. Any use of copyrighted material included therein for other purposes must obtain express written permission from the author.
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CSS February 2025 Meeting
Impact events: before, during, and after
Thursday, February 20, 2025
Catherine (Cat) Ross, CU-Boulder
This meeting was held at Calvary Church Golden.
Abstract: The ~66-m.y. Chicxulub impact event vaporized target rocks of the Yucatán Peninsula and scattered debris around the world. These materials are useful in reconstructing the event itself, as well as a number of resulting geologic processes including earthquakes, tsunamis, and wildfires. In addition to better understanding events that lead to the extinction of the dinosaurs and many other lifeforms, researching crater processes can also provide insights into how life begins. As records of early Earth’s history, impact craters provide potential “cradles of life” that influenced the habitability of Earth’s earliest biotic environments. Because they are a ubiquitous planetary process, novel research being done on this planet will provide clues for similar cratering processes on other planets. This research is more important as sample return missions from the Moon and Mars are planned.
Keywords: impact cratering, planetary processes, mass extinctions, geochronology
Speaker Background: Dr. Cat Ross is an expert geologist with a specialty in thermochronology and uses thermochron and geochron to study impact craters. She currently is an NSF Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder. Her interests lie in investigating punctuated events throughout Earth history using field observations, geo-/thermos-chronology, microstructural analysis, and geochemistry.
Cat will start a faculty position at Baylor University Department of Geosciences in Fall 2025.
Flyer to post: CSS Lecture, Feb-25-2025, Cat Ross on Impact Events
View Zoom recording of Colorado Scientific Society February 2025, Impact events: before, during, and after by Cat Ross
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Duration: 01:01:38
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DISCLAIMER and FAIR-USE STATEMENT: The following Zoom-meeting recording contains content that expresses the opinions, viewpoints, and conclusions of the speakers and does not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or endorsements of the Colorado Scientific Society. This recording is made available to the public for general information and educational purposes only and is not intended to be used for profit. Any use of copyrighted material included therein for other purposes must obtain express written permission from the author.
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CSS March 2025 Meeting
A Pleistocene Sediment Mega-Pulse: Unraveling the mystery of the Chemehuevi Formation of the Colorado River
Thursday, March 20, 2025
Harrison Gray, U. S. Geological Survey, Luminescence Dating lab
This meeting was held at Calvary Church Golden.
Abstract: A lot has happened on planet earth over the past 200,000 years. Climate, erosion, and the distribution of people have all changed radically over that period. As scientists, we wish to know how, when, and why these changes occurred and to use this knowledge going forward. At the USGS luminescence dating lab, we use the physics of light, electrons, and minerals to figure out the “when.” Knowing how quartz and feldspar sand can store electrons within their crystal structure, we can measure these electrons to figure out how old a sample is. Using this knowledge, we consider a recent project: the enigmatic Chemehuevi Formation of the Colorado River.
Harrison Gray, PhD is a Research Geologist at the USGS Luminescence dating lab in Denver, Colorado. Harrison applies luminescence dating to various USGS projects including geologic maps, natural hazards and beyond. Recent projects include dating sand deposits of the Colorado River in and downstream of the Grand Canyon, creating new two-dimensional “age maps” using a portable luminescence reader, and helping determine the age of footprints at White Sands National Park.
View Zoom recording of Colorado Scientific Society March 2025 – A Pleistocene Sediment Mega-Pulse: The Chemehuevi Formation of the Colorado River
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Duration: 00:44:39
Watching this video is best in full screen. (It may sharpen up images.)
DISCLAIMER and FAIR-USE STATEMENT: The following Zoom-meeting recording contains content that expresses the opinions, viewpoints, and conclusions of the speakers and does not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or endorsements of the Colorado Scientific Society. This recording is made available to the public for general information and educational purposes only and is not intended to be used for profit. Any use of copyrighted material included therein for other purposes must obtain express written permission from the author.
