Mallory Ramos

Thanks to FAST grant, this summer I had the opportunity to travel to the upper peninsula of Michigan along with fellow students Allison Quiroga and Jordan Vega. We worked together to refine the stratigraphic framework of the Middle Silurian rocks using samples we obtained from the Hiawatha National Forest. The field work we conducted for this project included identifying rock units according to previous descriptions, measuring the thickness of each unit exposed, and relating the rocks across the entire study area. This was incredibly difficult because all of the rocks have very similar appearances. We had to collect samples of rock to bring back to SHSU to try to refine our classification.

I am fortunate to have been included on this research as I gained a lot of experience both in the field and in the lab. I have not had any field experience and on this trip I was able to work in the field in extreme conditions learning various skills required of field geologists. Skills including mapping, use of a compass, creating stratigraphic columns, drilling cores samples, etc. When we got back to campus, I learned various new skills to obtain information from the samples we collected. I learned how thin sections are made, how to find the magnetic susceptibility, and gain more experience using x-ray diffraction.

I prepared samples for stable isotope analysis and magnetic susceptibility. Samples for stable isotope analysis were sent to the University of Alabama (http://www2.geo.ua.edu/asil/) stable isotope lab. Magnetic susceptibility was measured on core plugs collected in the field. Core plugs were measured for size and weighted to later normalize susceptibility (a unitless measure) by mass. Each core plug (52 total) was measured five times and average values were obtained. This was mainly due to the low values of the sedimentary rocks we obtained. The stable isotopes and magnetic susceptibility were plotted on graphic representations of the rock exposures. This allowed for rock units of the same formation to be related across large distances where erosion has produced gaps between the rocks exposed. This method was extremely helpful when comparing the rocks exposed in several quarries to natural rock exposures.

I am so grateful for this experience that the FASTW grant provided. I was able to work with a new group of professors and students. I had to face some fears and work in what I consider some extreme conditions. I really enjoyed our field work in the quarries. We spent the day taking notes, samples, and pictures as we climbed straight up the front of the quarry. While this sounds dangerous, we were able to use safety gear and basic climbing techniques to perform this task safely. Since I have a slight fear of heights, this was one of the most memorable experiences for me. At the end of the day, I was able to safely face my fear and felt great pride in my field work. Over the course of the next several days, we continued learning and having unforgettable experiences. When we got back to campus, I worked with my group preparing samples for the different analyses we would perform. I then spent time alone recording magnetic susceptibility and preparing the dataset for later use. This has been an amazing experience; I faced some fears, learned how to work in a group, as well as by myself, and learned many skills I will use in my future career. All in all, I am truly grateful this opportunity and the experience gained through the help of the FAST grant.