Calendar

James Madison University Geology Department and a collecting adventure at Onyx Hill
January 24, 2009

What a great field trip, beautiful weather and a tremendous group. Of the 44 that signed up, 31 actually made the trip, and eight took the time to let me know they couldn�t attend. That leaves five that did not call to cancel so I guess that they are still wandering around somewhere out there. Please, if you sign up for a trip and some unforeseen circumstance keep you from attending, have the courtesy to let me know. I don�t� want to send out search parties to hunt for you. We do go to some remote places at times and people do get lost or have car trouble. I�d hate to leave you stranded in the back hills of Kentucky, North Carolina or even Virginia.
Dr. Kerns was prepared for us at 8:30 so the early arrivals ventured in to have some hot coffee and delicious sweet rolls. He had a big box of books for sale at very reasonable prices as well as many mineral specimens fairly priced and some for any donation you cared to give. All the proceeds of course go the betterment and upkeep of his Mineral Museum at JMU.
We had many minerals to identify and some from our last trip to Boxley�s Mt. Athos Quarry in Campbell County had been previously un-reported. A host of Zeolites were identified from the Haw River Quarry in North Carolina, a location we will explore in the spring. There was a lot of interest and many new members. There were many drawers to explore in the lab. Many filled with beautiful specimens and wonderful surprises.
Around 11:30AM, some of us departed for Travertine collecting at the old Onyx Hill Quarry near by. This quarry, and I use the term loosely, was in operation in the late 1800�s and early 1900�s for decorative stone. The Lynchburg Club�s interest was to obtain material from which to fabricate bookends, rock candles, spheres and slabs for our two fund raising events in the spring and fall. We will have workshops so that all members and interested people from both clubs can participate and learn how to work with this beautiful banded material with common hand tools.
It was a very interesting and fulfilling day. Most had gone by the time John, Nona and I had carried the rock down the hill and to the car. Royce and Chris really helped us by carrying some of the material. The field was planted and was soft so we couldn�t drive on it. A big thanks to all that helped and I believe that everyone collected some really unique material and had a memorable experience.
Field Trip Report submitted by Dave Callahan, field trip chairman.