Earth Science Week 2005 - Looking Back

The weather was perfect on Friday, October 14 when the Florida Geological Survey held its annual Open House celebrating Earth Science Week. The new Schramm drill rig acquired by the FGS in June 2005 was prominently displayed on the front lawn of the Gunter Building. Drilling operations staff Craig Berninger, Ken Campbell, and Eric Harrington explained features of the rig which has a coring depth of 3000 feet. Core obtained in a current drilling operation was displayed on the porch so that participants could get a first-hand look at the rocks that supply water in our area, in keeping with this year’s national theme, “Geoscientists Explore our Earth”. Our mobile GEOLAB was open for visitors in the back parking lot. The event ran from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and we welcomed over 100 guests.

We were joined by Gary L. Mahon of the United States Geological Survey who demonstrated how water enters and flows through aquifers as well as how it becomes polluted using a ground-water model. Greg Ira and Jenny Dambek of the Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Environmental Education introduced students and scouts to the use of Global Positioning System units in an outdoors hands-on activity.  FGS staff geologists led indoor activities that included coloring and experimentation with the making of fossil molds for our youngest guests, fossil identification, carbonate dissolution experiments, and the examination of samples of rocks commonly found in Florida as well as igneous and metamorphic rocks using binocular microscopes.

On Scout Night, the evening of October 18^th we had about 50 guests including Cub Scouts with leaders and parents. Scouts and their parents toured our facility, were introduced to the Schramm by driller Craig Berninger. State Geologist Walt Schmidt led building tours while staff geologist Tom Greenhalgh discussed the formation of volcanoes and Paulette Bond introduced common rocks and minerals of Florida. These activities were specifically designed to allow scouts to fulfill badge requirements.