November 2005 ISSUE
Rockin’ Good Time
 |
EYE OF THE EXPERT |
BY JEANNE KEASCHUK
Senior Outreach Coordinator
Collectors of all ages showed up on Oct. 15 with bags, shoe boxes, cans and pockets full of earthly treasures and finds for geologists to identify. In fact visitors to the 12th annual APEGGA Rock & Fossil Clinic at the TELUS World of Science in Edmonton arrived early — and kept on arriving until the clinic closed at 4 p.m.
Some had to make several trips to their cars to bring in samples, and geologists even went out to the parking lot to examine a sample that was too heavy to bring to the clinic.
A constant stream of visitors flowed through all day long, and at times there were lineups. The people waited patiently for the experts.
As for the professional geologists and University of Alberta geology students who volunteered for the clinic, they were in their element. They loved it and enjoyed conferring with each other about some of the more unusual and difficult-to-identify specimens.
At the request of the owner of one oddly shaped green and brown, bubbly
boulder, Dr. Reg Olson, P.Geol., with Alberta Geological Survey, will undertake
more in-depth analysis to determine its identity.
Dr. Olson and Lynn Reich, Geol.I.T., have volunteered for several Rock & Fossil
Clinics, and this year they identified a fossil estimated to be between 350 million
and 500 million years old. A rare arrowhead was also identified, much to the
delight of one lady.
The Rock & Fossil Clinic is one event APEGGA hosts annually to celebrate Alberta Science and Technology Week, which ran Oct. 7 to 16 this year. Through activities and events hosted by various groups and organizations across Alberta, the week provides opportunities to make young people and the public aware of how science and technology impact the world.
There are also opportunities to meet the many professionals who have exciting
and rewarding careers in the fields of engineering, science and technology. And
the week is a chance for science-oriented individuals, groups, organizations
and companies to collaborate on celebration events.
A number of APEGGA branches supported community events in their areas, and the
APEGGA Rock & Fossil Clinics were hosted at science centres such as the TELUS
World of Science Centre in Edmonton and the Canmore Museum and Geoscience Centre.
Canmore Rocks, Too
The community of Canmore proved that its people, too, are rock enthusiasts, with
their attendance at the second annual APEGGA Rock & Fossil Clinic, held
at the Canmore Museum and Geoscience Centre Oct. 15. Engineers in Canmore offered
their support and volunteered to staff the hands-on science activities at the
clinic.
Janet Brown, P.Geol. one of two professional geologists who travelled from Calgary to help at the clinic, said she had a lot of fun and enjoyed seeing all the different samples. One sample of particular significance was an ammonite.
“This was a great find and a joy to identify,” said Ms. Brown. “The person who found it was very happy to know what it was — and I got to touch an ammonite.”
Three board members of the Centennial Museum Society of Canmore were also at the clinic to help out. Board member Rick Green, P.Geoph., extended thanks to APEGGA and its volunteers for bringing the clinic to the geoscience centre.
“I was very pleased with the public turnout,” said Mr. Green. “They came with fossils in hand and all wanted to discuss their pet rocks. This was a great success and we hope to work with APEGGA again next year to offer another Rock & Fossil Clinic.”