MAPPING THE VIRGINIAN JUNGLE: FIELD EDUCATION AMONGST RIFT-TO-DRIFT DEPOSITS OF THE CHILHOWEE GROUP, SW VA

With contemporary advancements and new techniques in geology, it seems as though the vitality of fieldwork has become less valued. With the aid of my professor-mentor, EDMAP funding, and a Radford University research fellowship, I was able to have a unique and rewarding field mapping experience in my first job as the primary undergraduate investigator of a research project.

In the Appalachian mountains, the Neoproterozoic to early Cambrian rift-to-drift transition during breakup of the supercontinent Rodinia was recorded in the Chilhowee Group. In the Blue Ridge province of SW Virginia, these sedimentary deposits tend to be highly weathered, covered by vegetation, and structurally complicated by Paleozoic tectonic events. Therefore, detailed field exploration has been our most productive method for re-mapping the Blue Ridge Scout Reservation (BRSR).

As the BRSR was last mapped by McDowell in 1968, the intent of this project is to develop an updated geologic map and structural explanation of the BRSR. This allows us to serve the Boy Scouts of America, as well as the VA Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy by contributing to the STATEMAP I-81 Corridor initiative. Our field exploration revealed transitional sequences and uncertain formational boundaries, leading us to refine our initial traverses to focus on stratigraphic, structural, and trace fossil analyses. Attention to detail became crucial in rock descriptions, and only extensive fieldwork could allow us to observe these transitional differences. Geology on foot helped with understanding how the topography changes with rock type, and how trails and streams vary over time from the original maps. Through communication with landowners, we also gained information on the historical relevance and various land uses in the region. By practicing leadership, I gained confidence with orienteering and interpreting measurements in terms of regional structure. Working with a mentor and a field assistant, my learning and teaching occurred simultaneously.

A summer of professional fieldwork has fueled my progress as an undergraduate student. Natural occurrences of geology are best understood through field exploration, in which I was immersed. This experience has focused my attention on real-life applications of my studies toward future advancement.