This is a bit retroactive back to March, but as it was 'field work' I thought I'd write about it, and share what I've been up to these past 7 months. Back in August 2007, I applied to the SEG Foundation, which sponsors student field trips all over the world. I'd become interested in a trip in January to visit Copper Porphyry style deposits in Chile. While I didn't get to go on that trip, I was accepted to go on a second trip in March. This trip included site visits to so-called Iron-Oxide Copper Gold (IOCG) deposits. So, in the middle of the semester, I packed my bags and jetted South for some field education in economic geology.
This is the view from the top of Mina Carola. Or at least the mountain which Mina Carola is 900 metres below.
Now that's a quartz crystal
Students got to stay at some nice budget lodging. Lots of culture. This was right in the main Plaza in Copiapo, a small mining town South of Antofagasta
Copper sheets = $$$ Each one of these stacks was around a ton, and at $3+ a pound..well.. You do the math.
This is La Portada, just North of Antofagasta. It wasn't all mines and minerals, we did get to do some sight-seeing as well. Though, our tourist stops typically had a lot of rocks too. This is a beautiful arched sea-mount. The beach was 'closed' as there was work being done to repair the stairs and walkway after a massive slump. The workers told us to come back when they were gone and we could go down no problem. Just ignored the 'Peligroso' signs.
The 6 of us who braved the construction for a beautiful sunset.
Mostly vultures and some pelicans line the cliffs behind us. It was an absolutely perfect evening of picnicking and wining on the beach.
Shots like this are why I finally bought a camera which gave me full control over my photos.
And this is why I am so into geology. The light blue is Chrysocolla - a copper oxide mineral. The dark green crystals growing in the centre are Atacamite, a mineral similar to Malachite, but without the water component. Beautiful rocks.
After the field trip was completed, a few of us had a few extra days in Chile. Guy Freemantle from South Africa, Troygar from Turkey, and Brian Goldsmith from Minnesota and I went to San Pedro de Atacama. A tiny little tourist village out in the desert. It was a little strange being in such a perfect tourist haven after traveling through the mining towns along Northwestern Chile. It felt a little like Disneyland. A little too perfect, and all the shops sold the same things. It is, however, a great jumping off point for climbing the many peaks of the Andes which are within a couple hours driving distance. We spent a day touring the salt flats, and another morning/day on a trip up to the El Tatio Geysers, which are above 4000m, and best viewed at sunrise. Which means we left San Pedro at around 4am.
Fresh off the bus, first place that sold beer, we stopped. From Left: Guy, Troygar, Brian, Myself
Moon over the salt flats.
Just before the sun came over the peaks
There's a vent which extrudes water which is not scalding hot, and they've dug out a bit of a hot spring. The ambient temperature was around 0˚C due to the elevation, and the fact we got there at sunrise. We were all very unprepared. We had packed for the desert, light clothes, and sandals (we'd left all our field gear back in Antofagasta). So we were quite chilly until we could get into the hot spring.
There's lots more photos from this trip. I learned large quantities of useful information from the professors involved in the program, and for any geology students reading this, get involved with the SEG as soon as you can to take advantage of opportunities like this.
Next update: A month in Spain: Traveling, Field School, and my Birthday
Until next Time,
Ciao.
PS. It is currently Nadaam in Mongolia, so a happy Nadaam to you all.
