The GSM 2018 Summer Field Trip will be July 27-29 in the North Maine Woods.  You must register for this trip as space is limited!

Registration is $10 per person.  Please fill out the registration form and submit by July 13 with your payment.  See the form for more details.

2018GSMfieldtrip_RegistrationForm_fillable

The presentations for the Fall 2017 meeting are now posted and can be found on the following link:
Fall 2017 Meeting

The Geological Society of Maine
2018 Spring Meeting

Featuring
Student Research Presentations
Friday, April 6, 2018, 1:00pm
Hosted by the Earth and Environmental Science Program at Unity College
Unity College Center for the Performing Arts
Unity, ME

This is an opportunity for students to present current geologic research in a formal yet collegial
atmosphere. Students from Maine schools, or students enrolled elsewhere and working in Maine are
invited to present their work in oral or poster format. Members of the Society are eager to learn
what students are doing. Interested students must submit an abstract by March
21, 2018 (midnight).

Information Flyer

Parking Information

The State of Maine is seeking proposals for services as the lead hydrographer for the Maine Coastal Program’s Mapping Initiative.

A copy of the RFP, as well as the Question & Answer Summary and all amendments related to this RFP, can be obtained at the following website: http://www.maine.gov/purchases/venbid/rfp.shtml

Proposals must be submitted to the State of Maine Division of Procurement Services, located at the Burton M. Cross Office Building, 111 Sewall Street – 4^th Floor, Augusta, ME 04330.  Proposals must be submitted by 4:00 pm, local time, on March 6, 2018, when they will be opened.  Proposals not received at the Division of Procurement Services’ aforementioned address by the aforementioned deadline will not be considered for contract award.

The Maine Coastal Program’s Mapping Initiative acquires seafloor and marine habitat information including bathymetry and backscatter data, sediment information, fauna type and abundance, and water column data. The data contribute to numerous ongoing efforts including identification and characterization of potential sand and gravel resources that may be used for beach replenishment, assessment of nearshore sand movement over time to inform beach nourishment projects, investigations of cable areas and other State Submerged Lands Programs interest areas, and marine habitat modeling. This project also provides new data that are incorporated into National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) nautical charts.

Again as in the past 10 years, Alison Jones and Fred Beck will be leading an 8-day rafting trip of about 188 miles through the Grand Canyon.   Many GSM members have made this trip in the past, some going twice.  The trip begins at Lee’s Ferry, Arizona, and ends at Whitmore Wash followed by a short helicopter ride to an airstrip at the Bar 10 Ranch on the North Rim.  The dates are August 6-13, 2018.  From there you will be flown to Las Vegas or Lee’s Ferry.

The emphasis of these trips is of course about the geology, from Precambrian through the Permian as well as an abundance of more recent events including volcanism, breccia pipe formation, spring deposited travertine, debris flows and much more.   At least two modest hiking trips are made each day into slot canyons or other side canyons and tributaries to visit waterfalls, fossils, archaeological sites and just to get out and stretch our limbs or swim in clear warm water.  Some choose not to do some of the side trips and just relax or read near the rafts while others go adventuring.

There are usually as many non-geologists on these trips as geologists and they get as much out of the trip as the geologists; a perfect geologic classroom.  We have often had teenagers on these trips and that has added to the fun.

The outfitter we use is Hatch River Expeditions, one of the most experienced companies licensed to operate in the Grand Canyon.  There will be two 34-foot inflatable boats powered by 30 HP outboards.  No paddling or rowing on this trip.  Each raft accommodates 16 people as well as all our gear, food, etc.   All meals are prepared by the Hatch guides and Hatch also provides all tents, cots, bedding, etc.

If you are interested in more details, contact Fred Beck at fmbeck@fmbeck.net or Alison Jones at ajones@clearcreekassociates.com.  We anticipate that we will have a full complement of travelers by the end of this September so an early commitment is advised.