Page 19 - 2009 DT 7 issues

thrust faulting. The origins and FRIENDS UPDATE
timelines of three of Red Rock’s
Keystone fault blocks, known as hanks to all our Friends of Red Rock Canyon members for your contin-
the Red Spring Thrust, are espe- ued commitment to this remarkable National Conservation Area. Your
cially controversial. TFriends Board of Directors and staff are busy supporting your commu-
Chester Longwell first described nity conservation efforts, and looking forward to building Friends to further
this structure in 1926 as the product benefit Red Rock Canyon.
of a separate thrust event pre-dat- The Friends offices moved to the BLM trailer at the end of January, with
ing Red Rock Canyon’s Keystone some disruptions in phone and internet services. Please be patient if you have
Thrust. A Yale geology professor tried to contact us . . . . This, too, shall pass. Stop in to see the new offices next
and member of the U.S. Geologi- time you’re at Red Rock.
cal Survey, Longwell spent most The Board, committee chairs and staff will be meeting in April to con-
of his distinguished life unraveling tinue a strategic planning process with a focus on development of funds,
Southern Nevada’s geologic history. members, and volunteers. We will be sending out a Members Survey prior to
Then in 1960 Longwell revised his planning, seeking your input and guidance as we plan for our future. Please
position, determining the Red Spring let us know of your ideas and recommendations to improve our contributions
Thrust blocks to be the leading edge to Red Rock Canyon.
We are looking forward to seeing you at the March 14 ,General Membership
of the advancing Keystone Thrust Meeting which features a Chili Cook-Off contest, complete with awards and
sheet—merely rotated, detached and prizes. Please plan on attending the informative meeting, as well as entering
overridden. In 1973, however, Lon- and bringing your favorite chili.
gwell reverted to his original 1926 Friends has taken the lead, partnering with the BLM for the 2009 Red
determination of two separate thrust Rock Canyon Photo contest. We want to feature our new Visitor’s Arrival
events, seconding the interpretations Center and may need to modify our plans to accommodate this priority.
of other geologists. We’ll keep you posted in the Desert Trumpet and via our website (http://www.
In 1988, geologist Vincent Mat- friendsofredrockcanyon.org).
thews vindicated Longwell’s 1960
reinterpretation of the Red Spring See you at the Rock!—
blocks, but placed them above the
Keystone slab rather than below it, as Pat Williams, Marilyn Demos Fravel,
Longwell had. His rigorous analysis Board President Executive Director
of the Keystone Thrust System con-
cluded that the entire fault complex
is the result of a single thrust sheet,
rebutting the long held dual thrust Friends Information Table Board Meetings Moved
sheet theory still supported by some
geologists today. THANK YOU to the following Until further notice, board
In April 2004 at a meeting of members who volunteered their
the American Association of Petro- time to “spread the word” about meetings will be held on the
leum Geologists, it was announced Friends to visitors during the months third Friday of each month in
that new mapping had substanti- the Community Room at the REI
ated Matthew’s 1988 models. The of November and January: store at Boca Park Shopping
Keystone Thrust had guarded its Clara Hatz, Richard Lewnau, Center due to the Visitor Center
secrets for more than 65 million Sarah Valentine, Linda Vetter, Ger- construction schedule at Red
years. After 82 years of sleuthing—a ry & Terrie Wojciechowski, Rosie Rock Canyon.
mere speck of time in the scheme of Porche and Chuck Williams.
things—we’ve finally succeeded in —Barb Jorgensen
prying them out. r
—Barbara Wolin News & Notes, continuted on p.6

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