THE UPPER RED MEMBER OF THE MOENKOPI FORMATION, IRON AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES, UTAH AS A SITE FOR RESEARCH INCORPORATED INTO THE CURRICULUM OF A SEDIMENTOLOGY/STRATIGRAPHY CLASS, A STUDENT'S VIEW

Incorporated research is an integral part of the curriculum in the Department of Geosciences at Southern Utah University. Fall semester, when the weather is spectacular, the entire Sedimentology/Stratigraphy class undertook a regional study of the upper red member of the Moenkopi Formation in Iron and Washington Counties, Utah. The ten projects were distributed over approximately 50 miles of outcrop.

The procedure for the projects was as follows. Initially the entire class spent four afternoons in the field in lower members of the Moenkopi Formation learning techniques of measuring and describing sedimentary rocks and making notes. Each student selected a complete stratigraphic section with the help of the professor and then measured, described, and interpreted the 350 to 400 foot thick clastic/volcanic section. Interpretation was based upon the large variety of clastic/volcanic sediments and the abundant sedimentary structures and trace fossils that were present. The professor was able to make additional visits to each student in the field to supervise progress and assist with the learning process. In addition to the final report, each student prepared and delivered a PowerPoint® presentation on the results in a “formal” setting. Several students have developed ongoing research projects from this initial exercise. This experience has served as an initial introduction to fieldwork and research and offered a source of projects for future research.