Fieldtrips

National Limestone Quarry, Middleburg, PA

And (possibly) a New Fossil Site

April 3rd, 2010, 9:30 am to One-ish (depending on what we find or not)

Club members only - you can join by bringing an application form and dues to the field trip. See our home page for details on how to join.

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WHEN

At 9:30 am pointy (sharp) on April 3rd, 2010 (meeting at the Mine Office) the great swarming masses of us rock houndy types will congeal into a group or gaggle to attend to the obligatory safety briefing and sermon preparatory to pouncing on the unsuspecting mineral populace indigenous to that region.

Afterwards we may visit a fossil site discovered on the internets by intrepid internet explorer Casper "the friendly" Voogt.  Suedburg, PA fossil site.  Follow the link: http://digsfossils.com/fossils/pa_fossils.html

 

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WHERE

From US 15 south of Harrisburg, PA to National Limestone (you can figure out how to get to Harrisburg):Quarry Road, Middleburg, PA 17842 - Follow this link: http://www.mindat.org/loc-145516.html

Take the PA-581 E/Harrisburg exit toward I-83/Hershey   0.2 mi

Merge onto PA-581 E      2.0 mi

Continue onto I-83 N      1.2 mi

Take exit 43 toward Capitol/2nd St     0.6 mi

Keep right at the fork, follow signs for I-83/I-81   154 ft

Turn right at Paxton St      0.3 mi

Turn left at S Cameron St      2.6 mi

Continue onto US-22 W                   32.3 mi

Take the PA-333 exit toward Thompsontown/E Salem   0.3 mi

Turn right at PA-333 E      3.0 mi

Continue onto PA-235 N      0.7 mi

Turn left to stay on PA-235 N     2.8 mi

Turn right at PA-235 N/PA-35 N     0.2 mi

Take the 1st left onto PA-235 N     9.1 mi

Turn right at Beaver Ave/US-522 N

Continue to follow US-522 N     6.3 mi

Turn left at Royers Bridge Rd     0.9 mi

Continue onto Chestnut Hill Rd     0.7 mi

Turn right at Quarry Rd      46 ft

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WHY

Budlite, Cacoxenite, Calcite, Celestine, Fluorite, Nightlite, Strontianite, Suburbanite, WavelliteThe quarry is perhaps best known for its Strontianite and Wavellite.  Very nice when found.  There are also fossils and bits of caves in the limesone rubble and usually great quantities of Calcite.  And don't forget their world famous argyle socks!

At Suedburg there is a "Middle Devonian (375 mya) exposure of olive-gray siltstones and claystones of the Mahantango Formation.  The fossils here comprise mostly of brachiopods and bryozoans, and a few trilobites and crinoids...the minerals from this area have fossilized these ancient creatures painting them red, orange, yellow, blue, and purple."

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WHO

Any and all members in good standing of any eastern federation affiliated club.  Roanoke Club members also welcome (Special Dispensation).  All homo sapiens under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.  Non-humans must be leashed.  This includes outer-space people.

If you, dear reader, are not a member you may go to our website, www.novamineralclub.org, print off the membership form, fill it out and show up at the trip meeting with that and the appropriate of membership dues.  So, pony up!Be reminded that the trip coordinator is always to be praised and worshipped like the winner of American Idol.  No exceptions.

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WHAT

(stuff to bring)

Steel-toed Boots - a requirement.  In a quarry, everyone can hear you scream.

Safety Helmet - also a requirement.  A skull sometimes needs to be fashionably armor clad.

Safety Goggles - also a requirement, too.  See: screaming, above.

Heavy Work Gloves - also a requirement, too, as well.  Protect all your dainty appendages.

Other Handy Objects - non-must-ish, but a good idea.  Rock Chisels, Small Sledge Hammers, Large Sledge Hammers, Huge Unwieldy Sledge Monsters, Geologists Picks, Count Chocula Cereal, Heavy Plastic Containers (for large specimens), Egg Cartons (for small specimens), First Aid Kits, Snacks, Water, Plastic Sheeting (to protect the interior of your car) and formal evening wear, tuxes for the gents and flashy designer gowns for the ladies.  Let's be the best dressed mud covered folks out there.

SPECIAL NOTE: Due to the recession, little has been done at the quarry recently.  Thusly, we may have to dig deeper than usual.

LASTLY: Due to the vagaries of weather, the media, Portuguese internal politics and my own erratic behavior, the event may be canceled on the very whisp of a whim.  If there is any question as to whether the trip will come off or if you simply want to go on the trip contact me at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 571.344.4958 (c) or 703.754.2050 (h) and enjoy my jocular/strangely distressing answering machine message.