Tuesday, May 26, 2026, Canyon Range, Utah.

[ed. note: technical difficulties inhibited upload of this post when it was written — additional update forthcoming]

All is well at Geology Field Camp. Having completed our transect of Nevada, we are getting set up in Oak Creek Canyon of the Canyon Range just outside Oak City, Utah. Our trip across the Great Basin was glorious, with stunning geology and comfortable weather throughout. Last Wednesday, we began our foray into the Basin and Range with a new map project in the North Roberts Mountains, joined briefly by Tony Gesualdo, UGA geology alum and former USC-UGA field camp TA.

USC Geology Field Camp students mapped Kelley Creek Canyon of the North Roberts Mountains in central Nevada.

On Thursday, Tony and colleagues treated us with a visit to McEwen Gold’s exploration project in the southern Roberts Mountains, followed by a tour of their Gold Bar mine near Eureka, where USC geology alum Al Eichbauer just began employment as a junior mine geologist. Students and staff alike learned about and observed abundant concepts and details about base and precious metal mineralization and economic geology from Tony, senior exploration geologist Gary Edmondo, McEwen USA exploration manager Bob Kastelic, mine geologist Luke Benson, and exploration project geologist Josh Miller, himself a USC-UGA field camp alum and former TA.

McEwen Gold welcomed the USC SEOE Geology Field Camp to Gold Bar mine outside Eureka, NV, where we learned about mineralization and the various aspects of economic geology (and sampled some calcite to date mineralization!).

After moving camps to the bird-infested (a good thing! — as he is wont to do, JD has made a number of our students aspiring naturalists) Illipah Reservoir, the students completed a strip map and cross-section of Antelope Mountain in central Nevada, while Chase, JD and the Badger re-supplied our groceries and water in Ely. The Badger proceeded on to Hendry’s Creek in the northern Snake Range to grab our preferred site during what can be a busy Memorial Day weekend even in the most remote parts of the American West. With Antelope Mountain well-understood, the students and remaining staff met the Badger for our longest camp of the trip so far — something we are all grateful for.

Students examined staurolite-bearing mylonitized metasedimentary rocks in the footwall of the Shell Creek detachment up Hendry’s Creek in the Northern Snake Range of eastern Nevada.

After a hike to see staurolite-bearing metasedimentary rocks in the deepest exposed levels of the Snake Range, the students completed a stream-gauging survey and discharge calculation for Hendry’s Creek under the guidance of the multi-talented Lance Tully. The remainder of Memorial Day weekend was occupied by a two-day mapping project of the Schell Creek Range detachment system in ‘the Cove’ of the northern Snake Range — one of the most remarkable structures I have ever studied. Whereas we were able to examine the structure for the first time last year, geologic mapping this year provided a much greater understanding of the mechanics of such important systems.

Under the guidance of multi-instrumentalist Lance Tully, students learned how to conduct low flow subsurface hydrologic sampling such as that used by the SC Department of Environmental Services and the US EPA to monitor groundwater chemistry.

Field campers continue to play important roles in field camp life, and have quickly become a well-oiled machine that needs little guidance in camp duties. We have enjoyed supper including butternut squash soup with pan de chapa, farro with roasted carrots, toasted almonds and harissa sour cream, and chorizo/black bean/poblano tacos.

Beloved Field Camp jacks of all trades JD Ross and Lance Tully prepare hominy soup and Francis Mallman’s pan de chapa for supper in the Snake Range, Nevada.

USC geology field campers take part in the time-honored tradition of tire changing. Such unplanned activities tend to yield important team-building results and self-confidence. It is quite remarkable how well students — some who have never camped before — evolve quickly into incredibly resilient and self-sufficient humans during field camp. For me (Barbeau) this is one of the most universally applicable benefits to the experience, that pays off in any endeavor.

Onward