WEB-BASED RESOURCES TO PROMOTE GEOHERITAGE IN MONTANA

The Montana Geoheritage Project has developed three web-based resource collections to introduce learners of all ages to the natural geologic wonders of Montana. This website was developed as a service learning project by students and advising faculty in the Dept. of Earth Sciences, Montana State University, who have contributed to the discovery, aggregation, organization, review, and dissemination of resources on the website. The goal of this project is to provide a portal to encourage geotourism of this area, to increase the public's appreciation of the natural heritage of this area, and to serve as an economic driver for the local community. The online resources include: 1) the Montana-Yellowstone Geologic Field Guide Database; this collection includes 54 field guides from the “gray” literature with information about routes, access, key geologic features, related literature, and suggestions for field educational activities if available; 2) Trail Guides to popular trails in the Bozeman MT area; these websites provide details about access, step-by-step guides to what you’ll see on the trails (rock types, land forms, minerals, fossils), interpretive imagery explaining geologic process or history, and resources such as articles and maps for further exploration; 3) Geoheritage of the Augusta-Choteau area; this area encompasses spectacular landscapes of the Rocky Mountain Front, Sevier-style fold and thrust belt structures, glaciated valleys, the Egg Mountain paleontologic site, Native American petroglyph sites, literary history as recorded in the works of Ivan Doig, issues of contemporary interest such as potential for energy development versus preservation of lands as wilderness areas, preservation of sacred Native American lands, and impacts of climate change on the region. We plan to use this model as a template to develop other geoheritage websites for geologic sites across Montana, and ultimately, we hope that other regions of the United States will develop similar sites. We hope that all learners will get off the interstate, take a trip down the backroads of this country, and better yet put boots on the ground to experience firsthand, with enthusiasm, understanding and interest, the geoheritage wonders of this country. Access the website at: https://serc.carleton.edu/203304