GSM Field trip to Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky

Saturday, June 21 – Friday, June 27

FIELD TRIP:  The point of this field trip is to investigate the southeastern edge of the Illinois Basin and the fluorite mining district.  The Illinois basin was formed during mid to late Cambrian in a period of mid-continent rifting.  The rifting failed and the basin filed with Paleozoic sediments.  In the late Paleozoic, renewed geologic activity caused hydro-thermal emplacement of the fluorite in northwestern Ky. along the bounding faults.  One of these bounding faults is the Reelfoot fault that was responsible for the New Madrid Quakes in 1812, the largest recorded quake in North America.  The area we will be visiting is one of the most scenic areas of Illinois and Kentucky.  The anticipated cost will be $60 - $100, but that does not include your individual costs of transportation, lodging and meals.  The field trip will only be for GSM members, however a non-member may join GSM in order to go on the field trip.

Southeastern Illinois and Western Kentucky GSM Tour June 18-28, 2008

Marion, Kentucky Field Trip-----Preliminary

Day 1 Minneapolis to Galena, Illinois 317 mi

Overnight in Galena

Day 2 Galena tour and lecture of the Upper Mississippi Lead-Zinc District. Driftless area, Galena formation, mining, and mineralogy.

Geo. Guide

Day 3 Galena to Rosiclare ---Mainly a travel day and on-board study. 490 mi

Overnight in Rosiclare or see * Day 4,5,6 at bottom of page.

Day 4 Rosiclare Tour the American Museum , lecture and visit Shawnee

National Forest, flourite district, structured geology,

mineralogy, igneous intrusions, etc Geo Guide

Day 5 & 6 Rosiclare to Marion---Day and night tours of the Clement 43 mi

Flourite Museum, day and night digs, many mining digsites.

Marion promises to be a great event. (Flouresence ) Geo Guide

Day 7 Marion to Mammoth Cave National Park. Near Cave City,Ky. 200 mi

Day 8 Tour Mammoth Cave area---no plans as of yet.

Day 9 & 10 Cave City to Minneapolis 1000 mi

* Days 4,5,6 Rosiclare, Ill and Marion, Ky. Are within 1 hr of each other. Ergo,

overnite food and lodging can be acquired and we can base ourselves out of

Rosiclare, Paducah, Eddyville, and /or Marion. We have maps and

Information on campsites, motels, B&B’s, and diners.