PILOT BORING FLOWN BY GEO-STARS in Lincoln, Nebraska

It's true.  Geologists rock.

Of course it's also a play-on-words and a self-indulging glorification to our egos, but it's also a reflection of a unique group of people with a noble and earthy profession who care about our precious planet and do it with a positive attitude.

No where else was that more evident than working together on a PILOT BORING at Glacial Till Winery Vineyard with a group of GEOLOGISTS from the USDA-NRCS.

For those who were there, you know it too.  The camaraderie was obvious but the synergy was inspiring - I tip my hat to each of the USDA-NRCS team.  Despite the favorable temps we had an afternoon shower that made me happy that we ordered a big circus canopy tent.  But my favorite two moments were the times that (1) individuals read their prepared soil boring log intervals with the candid discussions, and (2) when Tim and Paul explained how they immediately recognized the upper 4.5 feet was "QUATERNARY FILL" and not 'HILLSLOPE COLLUVIUM" (like I initially thought it was).

In fact, the discussions under that tent inspired me to write an essay about the importance of experience.  Here's a section from that essay:

We squander the opportunity to learn when we choose to ignore geology, over relying instead on mapping secondary attributes such as lithology (I.e. soil classification), geophysics, or any HRSC tool.  Despite the importance of these measurements, none of them alone reveal the geologic story, that is, the geologic relationships of the sediments.

Opportunities to learn are priceless. Every project gives us a new chance to learn about geology.  We can choose to collect geologic samples and work toward deciphering the subsurface or we can try and short cut the process by only mapping secondary properties.  As geologists, we already know that every subsurface attribute is controlled by - drum role please.... the Sole Independent Variable (ie. The Geology).  

I'm looking forward to 2025 when we continuously sample the next soil boring from the VINEYARD HILL TOP.  The experience for connecting the subsurface relationships between the borings will indeed be PRICELESS.  

Special THANK YOU to Susan Grover, Ted Huscher, Ali Sealander, and Kari Scannella.  Ah heck, thank YOU to each person from the USDA-NRCS that day, you made it great!

Big Time Thank You to OLSSON DRILLING, INC. specifically Adam Snook and the lead superstar driller, Deacon Ludwig!  

Thank you too, to Tim Kemmis and Paul Hanson.  You guys rock in your own orbit and it's inspiring!

Lastly, thank you to Roger Nikodym, the newest addition to the GeoMan Club. LOL

-Dan Kelleher

Go Big Red!

"Prepared from the Beginning"

Molly Newell, President of EnviroNet, Inc. and her team deserve a special Congratulations on their successful completion coupled with a stellar performance during the full-day training event in their office, TAKING THE MYSTERY OUT OF THE SUBSURFACE.

The team’s positive engagement was among the highest performing classes I’ve ever taught. They were prepared to learn at the onset and it’s clear that they took their field analysis skills to the next level.  The Final Exams proved they are some of the most capable geo-professionals in the environmental and engineering industry.

What particularly impresses me is their understanding of subsurface depositional environments and ability to decipher subsurface relationships for the purpose of developing Conceptual Site Models. 

I've already been told that their projects are benefiting from learning and applying these critical skills for there contracted Hydrogeologic Site Investigations, Phase II and III ESAs, Ground Water Monitoring System Designs, and Remediation System Designs.  And I understand the training is especially benefitting in ways that Molly mentioned during the training applied to remediation design and costs utilized to develop the Analysis for Brownfield Clean up Alternatives (ABCA).

Keep up the good work!   -Dan

Hanover, New Hampshire

Visiting the COLD REGIONS RESEARCH & ENGINEERING LABORATORY (CRREL) was a long-awaited visit.   Interior photos are restricted due to some of the unique and sensitive research performed at the lab.   But the traditional engineering research is as fascinating as ever.  

Two types of research at CRREL pique my interest: (1) the mechanics of frost heave, and (2) modern analog studies for continental glaciation.  I tip my hat at those leading the research in both of these areas.

 

Augur Hole Road, there's no way I could pass this road sign without taking a photo of it.