Page 87 - 2008 DT 12 issues

in a continental collision. The resulting The answers are there in the rocks, wait- Not a Volunteer Information
heat and pressure recrystallized them ing to be unlocked. The story of the earth Center user? Simply contact Vicki
into metamorphic rock—biotite schist is complex and wondrous, most defi- Sudduth, (702) 515-5360 or vsud-
and biotite gneiss. Newly discovered nitely worth reading.—Barbara Wolin dith@friendsofredrockcanyon.org for
rocks on the eastern shore of Canada’s scheduling options.
Hudson Bay, dated to 4.28 billion years Come out and play! Questions or comments? Please
old (a mere 300 million years after the contact Barb Jorgensen (775) 727-6784.
earth formed), may be the oldest remain- ome and play with Clara and
ing intact rocks yet found. The oldest Kate. November through Feb-
previously discovered zircon crystals, Cruary, we will be working on Mojave Max Successor Selected
about 4.4 billion years old, were incor- making the Red Rock Canyon Visitor
porated into younger rocks found in Center landscape beautiful. Clara and new Mojave Max has been
Western Australia. Kate will be pruning the trees and selected to carry on the work
Perhaps, it is thought, weakened bushes, pulling weeds and clearing A educating the public about
o
f

areas near the craton’s center were the landscape areas of dead and dying ensuring the health of the Mojave Desert
reactivated by collisional forces in the vegetation. We need your help! We’ll and its ecosystem.
meet at the Visitor Center at 8 a.m. on Max will temporarily take up
the 1 and 3 Saturdays of the month, residence at the Desert Tortoise Conser-
rd
st
as follows: vation Center until his digs are ready at
November 8, & 22; December 6, & the tortoise habitat at the new Red Rock
20; January 3, & 17; February 21. Canyon Visitor Center in 2010. He’ll be
Please advise Clara or Kate (702- gratified to learn that his “ladies” have
515-5353) if and when you plan to come been all excited to hear that he is coming
out and play. —Barb Jorgensen to the Conservation Center. They won’t
Calling all Friends Members! get to meet or even see each other until

they are returned to the Canyon and the
new habitat under construction. Never-
ant to have some fun, theless, word does travel.
formation of the Ancestral chain. Those meet new people and
mountains eroded away and were buried Wshare information about
in sediments. The modern Rockies and Friends of Red Rock Canyon
the uplift of the Colorado Plateau (the and volunteer opportunities?
Laramide orogeny) occurred between During November and Decem-
80 million and 40 million years ago. To ber, Friends of Red Rock Canyon
make a very long story short, beginning will continue to staff an information
65 million years ago, the Kula plate’s table in the Red Rock Canyon Visi-
leading edge intruded beneath the con- tor Center on Saturday and Sunday
tinent and initiated the beginnings of the between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and will
Laramide orogeny. It is suggested that likely have a presence over holiday
the succeeding Farallon plate created weekends and during “peak” visita-
traction under the continent (rather than tion periods. Training and all needed
compression of the western margin) as it materials will be provided. Just wait until they get a look at him!
slid beneath, about 65 million years ago. There are two ways to sign up for Handsome little devil. His carapace (top
The uplift of the modern Rockies and the this fun new position: part of the shell) is 12 inches long. His
Colorado Plateau were ultimately driven Are you a regular user of the Vol- height at mid-shell is 8.9 inches and he
by horizontal subduction of the Farral- unteer Information Center? You can weighs 10 pounds. He’s a youngster at
lon slab—a reasonable, if complicated, sign-up on line! Go to the following about 19 years old. The original Max,
explanation for how the Rockies came link: https://www.volgistics.com/ex/ who left us in August and is sorely
to be inland . . . for now. portal.dll and log-in to your account. missed, was reputed to have hatched in
The enigma of the Rockies persists. Click on “My Schedule” tab and all
It will take more sleuthing, more mea- volunteer openings will show with a
surement, inference and interpretation. “Help Wanted” sign. News and Notes, continued on page 5

FORRC/November/2008 Page 3