2024 January Outcrop

OUTCROP Newsletter of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

Volume 73 • No. 1 • January 2024

OUTCROP | January 2024

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Vol. 73, No. 1 | www.rmag.org

OUTCROP Newsletter of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

730 17th Street, B1, Denver, CO 80202 • 720-672-9898 The Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists (RMAG) is a nonprofit organization whose purposes are to promote interest in geology and allied sciences and their practical application, to foster scientific research and to encourage fellowship and cooperation among its members. The Outcrop is a monthly publication of the RMAG.

2024 OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT

2nd VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT

Mike Tischer mtischer@gmail.com

Ali Sloan ali@sloanmail.com

PRESIDENT-ELECT

SECRETARY

Matt Bauer matthew.w.bauer.pg@gmail.com

Drew Scherer flatirongeo@gmail.com

1st VICE PRESIDENT

TREASURER

Lisa Wolff lwolff@bayless-cos.com

Holly Lindsey hrlindsey@bafatoy.com

1st VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT

TREASURER-ELECT

Nate La Fontaine nlafontaine@sm-energy.com

Astrid Makowitz astridmakowitz@gmail.com

2nd VICE PRESIDENT

COUNSELOR

Jason Eleson jason@geointegraconsulting.com

Steve Crouch scrouch@whiteeagleexploration.com

RMAG STAFF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Bridget Crowther bcrowther@rmag.org OPERATIONS ASSISTANT

Kimberly Burke kbure@rmag.org LEAD EDITOR

Nate LaFontaine nlafontaine@sm-energy.com CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Elijah Adeniyi elijahadeniyi@montana.edu Marlee Cloos marlee.cloos@bpx.com Danielle Robinson danielle.robinson@dvn.com

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Outcrop | January 2024 OUTCROP

2024 NETWORKING EVENTS MARK YOUR CALENDARS

JANUARY

10

JULY

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FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY

7 6 3 1

AUGUST 7 SETEMBER 11 OCTOBER 2 NOVEMBER 6

JUNE

5

DECEMBER 4

HAPPY HOUR TUESDAY 4PM *THURSDAY

JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE

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JULY 18 AUGUST 15 SETEMBER 19 OCTOBER 17 NOVEMBER 21

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JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY

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JUNE

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JULY 30 AUGUST 27 SETEMBER 24 OCTOBER 29 NOVEMBER 19

COFFEE HOUR

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THESE EVENTS AND TO SEE WHAT ELSE IS COMING VISIT: www.rmag.org/events

THURSDAY 10AM

OUTCROP Newsletter of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

CONTENTS FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

44 In The Pipeline

6 2024 RMAG Summit Sponsorship Packet

10 RMAG December 2023 Board Of Directors Meeting

44 Welcome New RMAG Members!

14 Lead Story: Gilsonite–Next Level Hydrocarbons

12 President’s Letter

45 Outcrop Advertising Rates

24 Hybrid Lunch Talk: Michael Rigby

46 Advertiser Index

26 Hybrid Lunch Talk: Mike Blum

46 Calendar

32 RMAG Diversity and Inclusion Committee: Past & Future 40 The Digital Toolbox: Rockd

28 Member Corner: Vishal Singh

ASSOCIATION NEWS 2 RMAG Summit Sponsors 4 RMAG Networking Events 11 DREGS & RMAG Happy Hour 13 RMAG Monthly Coffee Hour

COVER PHOTO

Mined out vein of gilsonite from the Rainbow deposit, Uintah County, Utah. This mine was active in the 1910’s-20’s. Mine was originally up to 2600’ deep and stretched for over 10 miles.

Photo by Riley Brinkerhoff

IN 2023 YOUR SUMMIT SPONSORSHIP DOLLARS SUPPORTED: MEMBERS

1,200

EVENT ATTENDEES

2,000

WEBSITE VISITORS

8,000

OUTCROP READERS

8,500

COMMUNITY CONTACTS

5,000

EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS

3,500

NETWORKING EVENTS

30

CONTINUTING EDUCATION EVENTS

15

FIELD TRIPS

9

OUTCROP | January 2024

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Vol. 73, No. 1 | www.rmag.org

October 20, 2023

Geoscience Community: We greatly appreciate every Summit Sponsor and Event Sponsor that has contributed to RMAG over the last year. We could not exist without your support.

The Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists celebrated a year of remarkable achievements, bringing together a global community of over 300 geologists for the Helium Conference for one of the first events exploring Helium production from exploration to processing. Monthly Women's Coffee, Membership Happy Hours, and thematic luncheons provided a supportive networking environment. In these gatherings, experts delved into diverse subjects, with topics that spanned from landslides to the intricate geology of the Permian Basin. RMAG also offered classes on oil and gas property valuation, enriching the skill set of members. A core workshop facilitated hands-on learning, and field trips to quarries, crater impacts and other geologic marvels ignited the spirit of exploration. Notably, the association extended its community impact through outreach at community festivals and classrooms across the Denver Metro area, emphasizing our dedication to advancing geological understanding and appreciation.

2024 brings new opportunities for RMAG. Your sponsorship dollars will help RMAG bring to fruition an extensive calendar of continuing education opportunities, an exciting Field Trips season, and a dynamic list of luncheon speakers on topics ranging from the state of the industry to hydrogen and more. These dollars will allow RMAG Members impact the next generation at outreach events throughout the community and provide opportunities for the geoscience community to connect and build their network.

Your sponsorship dollars will also support our excellent publications including the monthly Outcrop newsletter and the quarterly Mountain Geologist journal. We recognize your financial commitment with inperson signage, and website and publication advertising, as well as through social media before each online event. With a LinkedIn group of almost 3000 members, we make our sponsors visible to the geoscience community for both virtual and in person events.

Thank you to those who are already a Summit Sponsor, we look forward to your continued support in 2024. If you are not already a sponsor, please look at the many complementary benefits included with the sponsorship levels. If our annual sponsorships don't make sense for your company, or you want to sponsor something specific, ask about our single event sponsorship opportunities. Please feel free to contact our staff with questions about sponsorship by email: bcrowther@rmag.org or by phone at 720-672-9898 ext. 102.

We and the staff of RMAG thank you all for your continued support and look forward to seeing you in 2024.

Michael Tischer 2024 RMAG President

Bridget Crowther RMAG Executive Director

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730 17th Street, B1 Denver, CO 80202

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OUTCROP | January 2024

RMAG ANNUAL

SUMMIT SPONSORSHIP PLATINUM, GOLD, & SILVER SPONSORSHIP LEVEL

PLATINUM

GOLD

SILVER

$10,000

$5,000

$2,500

$835

$417

$208

$10,000

$5,000

$3,000

4

2

1

Contribution Level Monthly Cost

Benefits Value

RMAG MEMBERSHIP Active or Associate Membership in the Association for employees

RMAG WEBSITE BENEFITS Company Logo on Summit Sponsor Page of www.rmag.org

Large Logo & Link

Articles and Ads on special Advertisers web page

4 articles & 4 large ads

Medium Logo and Link 2 articles & 2 medium ads

Small Logo and Link 2 small ads

PUBLICATION ADVERTISING 12 months of Outcrop advertising: To receive 12 full months, company logos and ad art must be received no later than the 20th of the month in which you register.

The Outcrop (receive benefits for 12 issues, monthly online publication

Full page ad

2/3 page ad

1/2 page ad

Company Logo listed as an annual Sponsor in The Outcrop

Large Logo

Medium Logo

Small Logo

EVENT ADVERTISING Sponsorship will be acknowledged as part the summit sponsors at all RMAG Events. Additional Sponsorship Opportunities will be available for all RMAG Events.

Company Logo Looping in Slide Decks

Large logo individual Slide

Medium logo

Small Logo

Company Logo on Summit Sponsor Signage at all events

Large logo

Medium Logo

Small logo

RMAG EDUCATION EVENTS Registration points are cumulative and can be used for Symposiums or Short Courses. For example a Platinum Sponsor can send 4 people to the 2023 North American Helium Symposium, and register for 4 short courses.

Total Educational Tickets

6

3

1

RMAG SOCIAL EVENTS Registration Points are cumulative and can be used for any social event. For example, 1 point means 1 golfer, or 1 registration for Rockbusters. *2 points can be used for a golf hole if that makes more sense for your company.

Total Social Event Tickets

8

4

2

3

2

RMAG LUNCHEONS & FIELD TRIP TICKETS Registration Points are cumulative for luncheons or one day field trips.

Total Luncheon & Field Trip Tickets

5

For all event tickets please contact the RMAG office at staff@rmag.org to use your spots.

OUTCROP | January 2024

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RMAG 2024 SUMMIT SPONSORSHIP Payment Options

All sponsor benefits event tickets follow RMAG event registration deadlines.

All benefits end 12 months after registration.

RMAG 2024 ANNUAL SUMMIT SPONSOR OPPORTUNITIES Platinum Sponsor Gold Sponsor Silver Sponsor

Summit Sponsorship benefit term is for 12 months! Specify type of payment on signed form, and send logo and advertisements to staff@rmag.org Company: Company Representative: Address: City:

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Signature: ACH: contact the RMAG office at staff@rmag.or for directions.

Mail Checks payable to RMAG: Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists (RMAG) 730 17th Street, B1 Denver, CO 80202

RMAG events are subject to change. Cancellation or rescheduling of events does not give the sponsor the right to refund. Summit Sponsors will receive benefits at any new events added into the RMAG schedule.

Thank you for your generous support!

P: (720)672-9898 staff@rmag.org www.rmag.org Vol. 73, No. 1 | www.rmag.org

730 17th Street, B1 Denver, CO 80202 9

OUTCROP | January 2024

RMAG DECEMBER 2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

By Sandra Labrum, Secretary slabrum@slb.com

OUTCROP | January 2024

in-person lunches this year to DERL with great success. The Membership Committee started the RMAG Women’s Group this year as well as making some highly anticipated changes to the mentorship program. We are continuing to have coffee in 2024 but will be making this event open to everyone! The Publications Committee welcomed a new editor for the Mountain Geologist this year, in addition to putting out high quality content for both the Mountain Geologist and the Outcrop. The Educational Outreach Committee and the Diversity and Inclusion committee have officially joined forces and will now be the Geoscience Outreach Committee. Diversity and Inclusion will still be a priority for the RMAG moving forward and as such we are implementing a D&I advisory board next year. On the Rocks planned and put on 7 successful field trips this year and are already hard at work planning for the 2024 season!

We also said goodbye to our outgoing board members. Ben Burke is leaving the presidency in the hands of Mike Tischer.

Matt Bauer is graduating from being our 2nd Vice President to being the President Elect. Ron Parker is leaving us as 1st Vice President and Lisa Wolff will be taking the role as our Vice President with Nate LaFontaine joining as 1st VP Elect. Jason Eleson is taking over as 2nd Vice President joined by Ali Sloan as 2nd VP Elect. Holly Lindsey is taking over as the Treasurer as we say goodbye to Anna Phelps. Astrid Makowitz will join as the Treasurer Elect.

Steve Crouch is continuing as the Counselor and finally I am finishing up as Secretary and turning it over to Drew Scherer.

Welcome to all the new board members and a sincere thank you to all the exiting board members. This year was excellent thanks to all of you! Happy New Year and looking forward to 2024.

Hi everyone! Happy New Year! I hope you all had a lovely holiday season are excited to start a brand new year. As this is my last board meeting update, I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for reading this every month! It has been a fantastic 2 years as your Secretary, and I truly appreciated the opportunity to serve.

The very festive December Board of Directors meeting took place December 15th, 2023, at 2pm in person at DERL. All board members except one were present. The Finance committee closed out the year with an overview of the financial situation and presented the budget for 2024. For the first time in a while this with be a flat budget!

Since most of the committees didn’t meet this month let’s look at the accomplishments they had this year. The Continuing Education Committee moved the

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Vol. 73, No. 1 | www.rmag.org

COME FOR HAPPY HOUR!

RMAG & DREGS HAPPY HOUR Join fellow local geoscientists for Happy Hour

T H U RS D AY J AN U AR Y 1 1 , 2 0 2 4 4 TO 6 P M CO D A BR EW IN G C O .

15965 S G ol de n R d. c 2 Go l den , CO 80401

RSVP

www.rmag.org/happyhour Vol. 73, No. 1 | www.rmag.org

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OUTCROP | January 2024

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

By Mike Tischer

Greetings from Afar! not least, we are preparing several workshops, including a workshop about critical minerals scheduled for the fall. This is your organization, so please let us know what you’d like to see from us.

We welcome all feedback! In addition to our regular programming, we have been working on a new strategic plan for the organization and how we see the future of RMAG over the next few years.

We’ll share more with you soon.

As somebody living in the US who has been traveling through Germany over the last few days, I couldn’t help but notice similarities and differences on how these two countries tackle today’s energy challenges. No matter where you land on the energy transition spectrum, it’s exciting to see new technologies and hear new ideas on how we can make our energy needs more sustainable; many of them require geologic expertise.

It is our job at RMAG to continue to provide a hub for all geologists, may that be for traditional or emerging industries; to support our members in navigating that transition; and to establish a community of like-minded individuals who can learn from and grow with each other. RMAG will continue to broaden its reach and be more inclusive while making sure to support our existing community. I hope you will continue on this journey with us.

So again, let me wish you a happy 2024! I hope that you will have a great year, make new friends and learn some exciting new things. I am really grateful that RMAG and I can be part of your journey and walk this path with you. Thank you for your trust in the organization and in me. With that, I raise another mulled wine to toast to the new year ahead, and I hope you will, too (with your own beverage of choice, of course). Until next month.

Dear RMAG members,

Let me be the first to wish you a Happy New Year!

Confused? Don’t be! I’m coming to you from the past. I’m writing this in December. This of course shouldn’t come as a surprise as Outcrop articles have to be submitted a few weeks in advance to make it to press. So here I am, on December 23, welcoming you to the new year.

I’m writing this from a small town in southern Germany, about 10 miles from where I was raised.

I’ve spent the last week visiting various Christmas markets in the area, drinking mulled wine and eating all sorts of Christmas cookies. The festive surroundings provide the perfect backdrop to reflect on the last year and the year to come.

I’d like to start out my reflections by giving thanks to the outgoing RMAG board and all the other volunteers in the organization that made 2023 such a success for us. You may have seen the info-graphic in last November’s Outcrop that shared 2023’s achievements. We organized and hosted dozens of events and engaged with thousands of folks, either in person or online. I was truly amazed to see how much we accomplished last year and how many lives we touched. I want to specifically thank our outgoing president, Ben Burke, and our Executive Director, Bridget Crowther, who kept things running so smoothly.

You guys rock!

With a new crew coming in this month, you can look forward to an exciting year ahead. We will have many opportunities to learn, network and have fun. We have a stellar set of field trips for you to get outside; we will be continuing our monthly luncheons, coffee and happy hours— prime networking opportunities!—and, last but OUTCROP | January 2024

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Vol. 73, No. 1 | www.rmag.org

COFFEE HOUR MONTHLY, THIRD THURSDAY @ 10 AM

JANUARY 18, 2024

SPONSORED BY:

VIBE COFFEE 1490 CURTIS STREET DENVER, CO 80202

Free / RSVP AT RMAG.ORG/COFFEE Vol. 73, No. 1 | www.rmag.org

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OUTCROP | January 2024

LEAD STORY

GILSONITE Next Level Hydrocarbons

than the Uinta Basin of northeastern Utah.

Its most famous tourist stop is a literal dinosaur quarry. The most profitable businesses are extractive industries tied to its subsurface geology. All the regions’ brochures have pictures of rocks, and its highest peaks were named for famous 19th century geologists.

Not least among its many geologic charms are the huge volumes of hydrocarbons that have been generated there. Many dozens of “oil springs” litter the map across the basin, as do names like Tar Canyon, Oil Seep Canyon, Asphalt Ridge, Seep Ridge, Oil Hollow, and Elaterite Canyon - features that testify to the massive quantities of hydrocarbons that have leaked to the surface. Of the many enormous hydrocarbon deposits in the Uinta Basin, gilsonite is unique, both in terms of its huge volumes and the narrow, extremely long vein swarms in which it is found (Fig. 1).

Gilsonite, also known as uintaite, is a solid, brittle asphaltite bitumen (Fig. 2), with few of the sticky, tar-like attributes we commonly associate with hydrocarbons. It fractures conchoidally, has a bright luster, is soft (Mohs scale 2), and is quite light (1.05 g/cc). It hydrofractured and injected itself into beds of the Eocene Green River and Uinta Formations when the Uinta Basin was at maximum burial during the Miocene.

OUTCROP | January 2024

Other solid hydrocarbons have been found and exploited in the Uinta Basin, such as wurtzilite, tabbyite, and ozokerite, but these are more often described as natural waxes rather than asphaltites. Recent industry production rates of 60,000 to 80,000 tons per year (Boden & Tripp, 2012) show that Utah’s gilsonite mines are healthy. With original resource-in-place estimates of 45 million tons in the Uinta Basin, mining will likely continue for decades to come. It is most famously found in narrow dikes (>30 ft wide), but also as sills, fracture fillings, and disseminated blebs. Gilsonite dikes trend NW-SE across the eastern portion of the Uinta Basin, near the Colorado border consistent with the prevailing far-field maximum horizontal stress direction.

Gilsonite, has been reported in various parts of the world such as Iran and Venezuela, but the Uinta Basin hosts both its type-section and largest deposits.

Until very recently, the Uinta Basin was the only place where gilsonite was commercially mined. However, within the last decade, Iran has opened large mines in the Zagros Mountains to exploit its large asphalt deposits. They brand their substance as gilsonite, however, this Iranian gilsonite appears to be pyrobitumen.

Pyrobitumen is the result of the thermal over-maturation of liquid oils, which is a very different process than how Uinta Basin gilsonite was created. Uinta basin gilsonite is the result of low maturity generation

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Vol. 73, No. 1 | www.rmag.org

ERHAPS NOWHERE IS MORE DEFINED BY ITS GEOLOGY

P

By Riley Brinkerhoff

Figu Map tren Uint Tripp cour Geo

FIGURE 1: Map of gilsonite swarms trending NW-SE across the Uinta Basin. Modified

from Tripp, 2004. Image courtesy of the Utah Geological Survey.

FIGURE 2: A. Dragon gilsonite vein. Vein is 3 ft wide with a slab of country rock in the middle. B. “Select” gilsonite from

underground workings on the Independent vein showing conchoidal fracturing. C. Hand sample of Iranian gilsonite.

A

B

C

Photo from Boden and Tripp, 2012. Photo curtesy of the Utah Geological Survey.

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Figure 2 A. Dragon gilsonite vein. Vein is 3 ft wide with a slab of country rock in the middle. B. “Select” gilsonite from underground workings on the

Photo from RAHA Gilsonite, Kermanshah, Iran

OUTCROP | January 2024

LEAD STORY

TABLE 1: Comparing elements and other features of Utah

gilsonite (Helms et al, 2011) and Iranian Gilsonite (RAHA Gilsonite (gilsoniteco.com)).

The Mahogany Bed (Fig. 4B), in the center of the Green River Formation, represents the largest lake extents and the richest oil shales, with organic matter commonly making up to 40% of the rock volume.

As the very organic-rich Mahogany Bed was buried deeper over the millennia, it became progressively hotter until the organic material underwent diagenesis into kerogen. Marine kerogens undergo

of bitumen from massively rich lacustrine oil shales.

This low-maturity bitumen never reached the thermal stress required to convert it to oil, which instead hardened into gilsonite. While both are asphalts, the Iranian deposits are also chemically distinct (Table 1).

This article will focus on the Uinta Basin variety.

The formation of Uinta Basin gilsonite started in an ancient lake that occupied the basin between 55 and 43 million years ago (Fig. 4A). Lake Uinta was huge, covering an area of ~6,200 square miles, and deep enough to be chemically stratified, with the surface being warm, sunlit, and oxygenated, and the bottom of the lake being anoxic, dark, and cold. Algae thrived on the surface of the lake, and after death, would settle on the lake bottom. Because of the anoxic conditions at the lake bottom, scavengers couldn’t survive, and the organic material stayed preserved.

Year after year, algal ooze and lake sediment (silt and carbonates) accumulated on the lake floor, progressively burying layer after thin layer of dead algae, eventually creating rock with enough algal material (alginite) to be classified as an oil shale (Fig. 4B).

Lake Uinta persisted for ~10 million years, enough time for Green River Formation sediments to accumulate in the basin center to a thickness of two miles.

FIGURE 3:

Vein of asphalt of the Iranian “gilsonite” variety being mined with heavy machinery

by RAHA Gilsonite, Kermanshah, Iran (gilsoniteco.com).

Ta Co Ut Gi 16 Vol. 73, No. 1 | www.rmag.org Figure 3 Vein of asphalt of the Iranian “gilsonite” variety

OUTCROP | January 2024

LEAD STORY

B

W

A

in ru i ve dR pl Rock Sprin gs u

plift

ift

Wa Sev satch ier P Oro latea gen u ic B elt

Lake Gosiute

Lake Uinta

San Rafael uplift Eocene – 57-43 Ma

Doug las C reek arch

Axia l

arch

Un co m up p a l i f hg t re

Claron Fm. (Bryce Canyon)

Figure 4 A. Map of Eocene lakes, including Lake Uinta in the Uinta Basin (Paleogeographic map modified from Blakey FIGURE 4A: Map of Eocene lakes, including Lake Uinta in the Uinta Basin (Paleogeographic map modified from Blakey). http://cpgeosystems.com/images/NAM_key-85Ma_LateK-sm.jpg). B. Photo of laminated oil shale of the Mahogany 4B:was Photo oil shale Mahogany Bed,from deposited when Lake Bed, deposited whenFIGURE Lake Uinta at of itslaminated maximum.

Note of thethe bitumen oozing a tuffaceous layer.

Uinta was at its maximum. Note the bitumen oozing from a tuffaceous layer.`

A

FIGURE 5A: Work done by Tim Ruble and others (2001) demonstrated

Gilsonite

Oil

Generation

Generation

the Figure complex5evolution of organic phases yields during artificial maturation A. Work done TimShale Rublesamples. and others (2001) demonstrated of Mahogany andby Black Kerogen fractional volumes the complex evolution of organic phases yields during artificial maturation of fall with exposure to heat stress but is not directly converted to oil and Mahogany and Black Shale samples. Kerogen fractional volumes fall with gas. Rather, kerogen is converted to bitumen, the direct predecessor to exposure to heat stress but is not directly converted to oil and gas.

Gilsonite. With greater heat stress, the bitumen may be converted to oil.

Rather, kerogen is converted to bitumen, the direct predecessor to FIGURE Example of the most common in Gilsonite Gilsonite.5B: With greater heat stress, the asphaltene bitumen may be converted to oil.

B. Example of the most common asphaltene in Gilsonite et al, (Helms et al, 2011).

Polymerization of large bitumen molecules such(Helms as 2011).

Polymerization large bitumen molecules such as this asphaltene this asphaltene led to theofsolidification of bitumen into Gilsonite. led to the solidification of bitumen into Gilsonite.

B

Modified from Helms et al, 2011

Modified from Ruble et al, 2001

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OUTCROP | January 2024

LEAD STORY

OUTCROP | January 2024

strongly suggesting that gilsonite intrusion occurred after movement on the fault had ceased (Boden and Tripp, 2012).

Gilsonite is an extremely versatile resource due to its distinctive properties, having commercial applications in inks, dyes, paints, insulation, paving mixes, and chemical fixatives. Industrial uses of gilsonite can be grouped into six major categories:

catagenesis into oil with exposure to thermal stress, but lacustrine alginite kerogens are more complex.

They first breakdown into asphaltenes and bitumens, which themselves undergo catagenesis into paraffinic oil with additional heat stress (Tim Ruble and others 2001) (Fig. 5A). By Oligocene time, the kerogens in the Mahogany Bed were buried deep enough and exposed to enough heat to begin converting to asphaltenes. The diagenesis of kerogen is an expansive process; as bitumen was generated, rocks in the Mahogany Bed became more and more over-pressured.

These oil shales are so rich that even though very little immiscible oil or gas was being generated at this low thermal maturity, enough bitumen was generated to create a massively over-pressured cell, eventually exceeding the yield strength of the rock. A column of sediments up to 3,000 ft above and below the Mahogany Bed was vertically hydrofractured in swarms, paralleling the maximum horizontal stress in a NWSE direction. Pore water appears to be the initial fluid that filled these fractures, followed by the much more viscous bitumen, forcing the fracture apertures of up to 17 ft (Boden & Tripp, 2012). Cooling and polymerization of the large asphaltic molecules (Helms et al, 2011) resulted in the solid gilsonite we find today (Fig. 5B).

We have good evidence that gilsonite is sourced from the Mahogany oil shales. Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis comparing biomarkers in gilsonite to Mahogany Bed oil shales show a strong similarity (Hatcher et al, 1992). Other comparisons of refractive index, infrared spectra, liquid chromatography results, and elemental composition show compelling similarities (Hunt, 1963). Field evidence also suggests that the Mahogany oil shales were the source; no gilsonite beds cut the Mahogany Bed (Boden and Tripp, 2012), rather they thin towards it, both from below and above (Fig. 6). Within the Mahogany zone, gilsonite veins split into multiple smaller veinlets as they approach the richest oil shales (Hunt et al, 1954).

The timing of the gilsonite vein intrusion is believed to be immediately at the end of the Laramide orogeny as the basin was at maximum burial and tectonic stresses relaxed (Verbeek and Grout, 1993). Gilsonite veins intrude into the Laramide-aged Duchesne Fault Zone with no deformation of the gilsonite,

1. Paving and roads - Gilsonite is commonly used to modify asphalt for road construction and repair.

It enhances the durability, flexibility, and resistance of asphalt pavements to weathering and traffic stress.

2. Oil and gas drilling - Gilsonite is used in drilling fluids for oil and gas drilling, serving as a key component to control fluid loss and stabilize boreholes. It is also added to casing cement to make it lighter and easier to circulate.

3. Ink and paint industries - Gilsonite is utilized in the production of high-quality inks and paints due to its ability to provide a deep black color and improve the ink’s adhesive properties.

4. Foundry and metal casting—Gilsonite acts as a binding agent in foundry molds, cores, and metal casting processes due to its adhesive properties at high temperatures.

5. Adhesives and sealants—Due to its high adhesive and cohesive properties, gilsonite is used to manufacture sealants, coatings, and adhesives.

6. Agriculture—Gilsonite is applied in farming as a soil amendment to improve soils and enhance growth (Boden and Trip, 2012). Prices of gilsonite vary from $250-$1800 per ton, depending on grading factors such as pulverization, oxidation, and silica content (Tripp, 2004). Some highend uses, like inks and chemicals, need very pure, clean gilsonite, whereas other uses, like mud additives, can use much lower grades.

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Local folklore holds that gilsonite was discovered soon after Fort Duchesne was founded with the establishment of the Uintah Reservation in 1861. A blacksmith tried to heat his forge with some “coal” that was found in nearby vertical veins. The black material caught fire normally when lit, but as the forge heated, this “coal” melted and flowed out onto the floor,

Vol. 73, No. 1 | www.rmag.org

LEAD STORY trying to create a market for this solid hydrocarbon in the nascent chemical industry of the U.S. It soon became known as gilsonite in his honor, rather than its scientific name of “uintahite.” It didn’t hurt that gilsonite is a lot easier to pronounce and further obscures the public’s awareness of the “center of the universe” status of the Uinta Basin Unfortunately for Gilson, the dike he had discovered was off-limits for mining since it was well within the reservation, which was closed to non-tribal settlers and miners. Not to be dissuaded, Sam Gilson

catching the blacksmith shop on fire (Barton, 1992).

Samples were sent to William Blake, a mining geologist at College of California, who identified the material as solid hydrocarbon asphalts and christened the deposits “uintahite.” But nothing happened commercially until the late 1860’s when Samuel Henry Gilson, an American surveyor and prospector, caught wind of the strange black veins in the Uintah Indian Reservation. Sensing its potential, Gilson sent samples to beer makers as a possible barrel liner and other samples to paint makers as a pigment and fixative,

A

B

Figure A. Cro Note Maho with t high s Uinta B. Pho the ov upwa split in accum FIGURE 6A: Cross-section of a typical gilsonite vein. Note that the gilsonite dike originated in the Mahogany oil shale and propagated upward, with the thickest portion of the dike in the high shearstrength sandstones of the lower Uinta Formation.

FIGURE 6B: Photo of the Dragon vein as it approaches the overlying Mahogany Bed, looking upward at the mine ceiling. Note that it has split into many smaller veins and has accumulated significant debris.

Mahogany Oil Shale

Modified from Eldridge, 1901 and Boden, 2019. Image courtesy of the Utah Geological Survey.

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went to congress and asked the area around the origiplace. The town had been withdrawn from the reservation, so the army at the nearby Ft. Duchesne had nal dike be removed from the reservation and opened no jurisdiction, but hadn’t been installed into Uintah to mining. Aldophson Coors (of Coors beer fame) lobCounty, so county law officials had no jurisdiction eibied hard for the exclusion as he felt gilsonite would ther. Outlaws such as Butch Cassidy and Elzy Lay fremake an excellent lining for his beer barrels. By 1888, Figure 7 and prostitution flourquented the place.

Gambling congress agreed to remove the strip of land around ished, providing miner’s hard A.diversions Photo offrom thethe 66-degree curve at Moro the gilsonite vein from the reservation if the Utes work and long hours.

At its height, The Strip posagreed. Plied with illegal liquor, the Utes were asked Railway, with the grade exceeding 8 per c sessed four houses of ill repute and five saloons. At to allow the removal of a strip of land about four miles gauge railroad was built to transport gilso least 17 deaths due to gunfights occurred during its long. The tribe looked the land over and finding nothUinta Basin to the wider U.S. market. Pho brief existence (Barton, 2006). By 1904, 16 years after ing of value, agreed (Barton, 1992). The first gilsonite B. Photo boom town had begun.

Gilsonit Within months commercial shipments of gilsonite were being made by ox-drawn carts over a 110-mile Colorad route to the nearest railhead. The Strip, as the town Colorad was originally labeled, then later ironically called Sois in the ber City, and finally, Gusher, was a wild and lawless Photo from Bender, 2003

A

C

refinery coke an C. Photo cracking Figure 7 A. Photo of the 66-degree curveAmerica at Mor taken in Railway, with the grade exceeding 8 per gauge railroad was built to transport gil Uinta Basin to the wider U.S. market. Ph

B A

Photo from Bender, 2003

B

Photo from Bender, 2003

B. Pho Gilsoni Colora C Colora Photo from Bender, 2003 is in th FIGURE 7A: Photo of the 66-degree refiner curve at Moro Castle on the Uinta Railway, coke a with the grade exceeding 8 per cent. This C. Pho narrow-gauge railroad was built to transport crackin gilsonite from the isolated Uinta Basin to Americ the wider U.S. market. Photo circa 1907. taken i FIGURE 7B: Photo of the American Gilsonite refinery near Fruita, Colorado from 1957. The Colorado National Monument is in the background. The refinery converted gilsonite to coke and high-octane gasoline.

FIGURE 7C: Photo of the catalytic

Photo from Bender, 2003

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cracking towers of the American Photo from Bender, 2003 gilsonite refinery, taken in 1957.

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pipeline laid along the abandoned Uintah Railway route. Gilsonite production rose to about 470,000 tons in 1961 because of the pipeline and refinery. The gasoline was marketed under the trade name Gilsoline. Cars fueled with Gilsoline were reportedly easy to identify because their exhaust had a characteristic odor. The company sold the refinery in 1973 and redirected its marketing efforts to nonfuel uses of gilsonite. In 1981, Chevron purchased Barber Oil’s share of American, and in 1991, Chevron sold their interest. Today, the American Gilsonite Company remains the world’s largest gilsonite producer, maybe. There is still some confusion on what to call the Iranian production of 100,000 tons of asphalt per year. American is surely the largest producer of uintaite.

In 1980, an American Gilsonite employee estimated that about 5 million tons of mineable reserves remained in the basin, of an original estimate of 45 million tons. However, the discovery of new veins, as well as increased projected mineable volumes for small, known veins, has consistently increased gilsonite

its beginning, The Strip’s gilsonite veins had been exhausted, and mining moved to the Utah-Colorado border, where the famous Dragon vein had been found.

Shipping by oxen was ruinously expensive, such that a narrow-gauge railroad was finally built near Grand Junction, Colorado to haul gilsonite. Coming up the steep slopes of the Book Cliffs and over 8,441’ Baxter Pass, the Uintah Railway was the steepest, most crooked narrow-line railroad ever built in the United States (Fig. 7A) (Bender, 2003). The railroad ran until the Great Depression forced its closure.

The original Gilson Asphaltum Company was reorganized in 1948, becoming the American Gilsonite Company and was jointly owned by the Barber Oil Company and Standard Oil of California (now Chevron). The company’s research led to the use of gilsonite as a refinery feedstock to produce gasoline, high-purity electrode carbon, and other products (Fig. 7B). By 1957, American Gilsonite had constructed a refinery in Gilsonite, Colorado, that was connected to their Bonanza plant by a 72-mile-long slurry

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LEAD STORY

A A A

B B B

C C C

Figure Figure 8Figure 8 8 FIGURE 8A: Example of rocks a in typical in rocks of the Uinta B intruded Formation, A. Example A. Example A. Example of a of typical a of typical agilsonite typical gilsonite gilsonite exposure exposure exposure in rocks in of rocks the of gilsonite Uinta the of Uinta the B exposure Formation, Uinta B Formation, B Formation, this this one this one intruded one intruded into into a segment into athis segment aone segment of the of Duchesne the of Duchesne the Duchesne intruded into a segment of the Duchesne Fault Zone in western Uintah County.

FaultFault Zone Fault Zone in western Zone in western in western Uintah Uintah County.

Uintah County.

County.

B. Example B. Example B. Example of a of mined-out a of mined-out a mined-out gilsonite gilsonite gilsonite vein vein in Example Uinta vein in Uinta in A of Formation Uinta Formation A Formation rocks. rocks.

This rocks.

This mine mine was mine was active was active inactive the inrocks.

1920’s. the in 1920’s. the 1920’s.

Rainbow Rainbow vein,vein, southern vein, southern southern FIGURE 8B: aA mined-out gilsonite vein inThis Uinta A Formation ThisRainbow Uintah Uintah County.

Uintah County.

County. mine was active in the 1920’s. Rainbow vein, southern Uintah County.

C. Example C. Example C. Example of a of gilsonite a of gilsonite a gilsonite minemine shaft mine shaft from shaft from thefrom 1920’s the 1920’s thedescending 1920’s descending descending ~600’ ~600’ below ~600’ below the below surface. the surface. the surface.

Rainbow Rainbow Rainbow vein,vein, southern vein, southern southern Uintah Uintah Uintah FIGURE 8C: Example of a gilsonite mine shaft from the 1920’s descending ~600’ County.

County.

County. below the surface. Rainbow vein, southern Uintah County.

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is sucked up to the surface, where it is dropped into a bin next to the shaft headframe before being trucked to the processing plant in Bonanza. In Bonanza, the gilsonite is sorted, cleaned of impurities like authigenic quartz and barite or country rock, then sorted and sold to customers.

If you’d like to explore a gilsonite vein, they are not hard to find. Small surface exposures line the central and south-eastern portions of the Uinta Basin (Fig. 8A). Old mines are concentrated in the southeastern corner of the basin but are well marked on maps and easy to find (Fig. 8B). The small mining town of Bonanza is directly adjacent to the Independent Vein, with a paved state highway crossing the vein. Pieces of gilsonite litter old mining sites and are easy to collect. Veins being mined today are only open to the surface at shafts, but older workings are completely open along the length of the vein. Do not approach old workings as they are unstable and many hundreds of feet deep (Fig. 8C). Just like poison, one drop will kill you.

remaining resource estimates. Technology improvements in pneumatic systems and gilsonite removal have helped to open veins that were previously too narrow.

The gilsonite veins actively being mined are near Bonanza (Fig. 1) and were discovered by early prospectors who located surface exposures. Active mining occurs at the Cowboy, Independent, Little Bonanza, Wagon Hound, and Little Emma veins via underground mining methods. Mining consists of two major phases: (1) shafts are sunk at regular intervals along the veins, and (2) drifts and stopes are then extended laterally from the shafts. The top 30 feet of the vein is left intact for safety and reclamation reasons. Gilsonite mining is labor intensive because of its unusual occurrence in narrow (mineable widths down to 18 inches), deep, vertical veins, and the explosive hazards associated with gilsonite dust (Boden, 2019).

Mining is still done by hand using air-powered hammers to shatter the gilsonite. The shattered gilsonite is vacuumed up a tube at the bottom of the mine and

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LEAD STORY Utah, in Fouch, T.D., Nuccio, V.F., and Chidsey, T.C., Jr., editors, Hydrocarbon and mineral resources of the Uinta Basin, Utah and Colorado: Utah Geological Association Guidebook 20, p. 271–287.

Helms, J.R., Kong, X., Salmon, E., Hatcher, P.G., Schmidt-Rohr, K., and Mao, J., 2011, Structural characterization of gilsonite bitumen by advanced nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry revealing pyrrolic and aromatic rings substituted with aliphatic chains: Organic Geochemistry 44 (2012) 21-36.

Hunt, J.M., Stewart, F., and Dickey, P.A., 1954, Origin of hydrocarbons of Uinta Basin, Utah: Bulletin of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, v. 38, no. 8, p. 1671–1698.

Hunt, J.M., 1963, Composition and origin of the Uinta Basin bitumens, in Crawford, A.L., editor, Oil and gas possibilities of Utah, re-evaluated: Utah Geological and Mineralogical Survey Bulletin 54, p. 249–273.

Ruble, E.T., M.D. Lewan, R.P Philip, 2001, New insights on the Green River petroleum system in the Uinta basin from hydrous pyrolysis experiments, AAPG Bulletin, v. 85, no. 8 (August 2001), pp.

1333–1371.

Tripp, B.T., 2004, Gilsonite—an unusual Utah resource: Utah Geological Survey, Survey Notes, v.

36, no. 3, p. 1-3, 7.

Verbeek, E.R., and Grout, M.A., 1993, Geometry and structural evolution of gilsonite dikes in the eastern Uinta Basin, Utah: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1787-HH, 42 p., 1 plate, scale 1:250,000.

If you want to experiment with gilsonite, such as lighting it on fire or putting it in the microwave, I strongly suggest that you do so at your friend’s house.

Gilsonite will burn, but only poorly and with lots of thick, black smoke. It will also melt in a microwave, but your spouse will not thank you afterward for all the burnt spatter it will leave. Just friendly advice— and don’t ask how I came about that knowledge.

REFERENCES

Barton, John. 1992, Uinta Basin, in From the Ground Up: A History of Mining in Utah, edited by Colleen Whitley, Utah State University Press, 2006.

Bender, Henry E. 2003, Uintah Basin Railway: The Gilsonite Route, Howell-North Books, 239 pages, ISBN 0831070803, 9780831070809.

Boden, T., and Tripp, B.T., 2012, Gilsonite veins of the Uinta Basin, Utah: Utah Geological Survey Special Study 141, 50 p., 1 plate, CD. Boden, T., 2019, Independent Gilsonite Vein, Uintah County, in Milligan, M., Biek, R.F., Inkenbrandt, P., and Nielsen, P., editors, Utah Geosites, Utah Geological Association Publication 48 Eldridge, G.H., 1901, The asphalt and bituminous rock deposits of the United States, in Walcott, C.D., director: U.S. Geological Survey Twenty-second Annual Report of the United States Geological Survey to the Secretary of the Interior, pt. 1, p.

209–364.

Hatcher, H.J., Meuzelaar, H.L.C., and Urban, D.T., 1992, A comparison of biomarkers in gilsonite, oil shale, tar sand and petroleum from Threemile Canyon and adjacent areas in the Uinta Basin,

Well Log Digitizing • Petrophysics Petra® Projects • Mud Log Evaluation Bill Donovan

Geologist • Petroleum Engineer • PE

(720) 351-7470 donovan@petroleum-eng.com Vol. 73, No. 1 | www.rmag.org

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HYBRID LUNCH TALK Speaker: Michael Rigby Date: January 10, 2024 | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

The Energy and Carbon Management Commission and the State of Energy Presenter: Michael Rigby, ECMC pipeline study, a geothermal regulatory study, and a subsurface injection study. The ECMC is working hard to engage stakeholders, build regulations, and complete studies to provide safe and protective permitting and regulatory pathways for emerging industries under its purview. The Division will leverage its existing processes, database, and staff expertise as it expands and incorporates these new directives.

Through the passing of SB23-016 and SB23285, the COGCC has been converted into the Energy and Carbon Management Commission. Historically, the ECMC has regulated oil and gas development in the state of Colorado. These laws expand the Division’s authority into CCUS, deep geothermal, and underground gas storage. Additionally, several studies are required including a CCS safety study, a state geothermal resource assessment, a hydrogen study, a

MICHAEL RIGBY: A geologist by background. Started his career working for 3 different oil companies in operations and development in several basins across the country with a specialty in petrophysics and structural geology. For the last 5 years, he has been with the COGCC, now the ECMC, working on a variety of issues. Most recently, he has been leading the effort to address legal and regulatory barriers and considerations for emerging industries such as CCUS, deep geothermal, underground gas storage, and more. He has a passion for creating legal and regulatory pathways for emerging industries in order to position Colorado as a leader in safe and protective natural resource development.

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CALL FOR PAPERS

ABSTRACT DEADLINE: February 29, 2024

PETROLEUM HISTORY INSTITUTE

2024 ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM AND FIELD TRIP May 20-22, 2024

Canmore, Alberta, Canada

Investors and other interested parties at the Dingman #1 wellsite, Turner Valley, 1914 REGISTRATION AND EVENING RECEPTION Monday, May 20, 2024 PRESENTATIONS – ORAL AND POSTER – Tuesday, May 21, 2024 Proceedings to be published in the 2024 volume of Oil-Industry History

The theme for the Symposium is Exploration in the Canadian Rocky Mountain Foothills: From Drilling the Bumps to Deeper Insights.

Papers on all aspects of the history of the petroleum industry in Canada and around the world are welcome.

FIELD TRIP TO BOTH TURNER VALLEY AND THE MUSEUM OF MAKING – Wednesday, May 22, 2024 HEADQUARTERS HOTEL – Chateau Canmore Hotel info and event registration form will be posted soon at.www.petroleumhistory.org ABSTRACTS BEING ACCEPTED NOW Please send to Dr. Clinton Tippett at clintontippett88@gmail.com

We look forward to hearing from you.

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QUESTIONS? Contact Rick Green: vrgreen1@telus.net 25

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HYBRID LUNCH TALK Speaker: Mike Blum Date: February 7, 2024 | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Fingerprints of Tectonics and Climate Change in Sandy Turbidites of the Deep-Sea Bengal Fan Presenter: Mike Blum, Earth, Energy and Environment Center, University of Kansas. sand-sized turbidite deposition, and after ca. 10 Ma core locations were close enough to the shelf for thick sand-rich turbidites to become the dominant type of deposit. Second, after ~4000 km of fluvial and turbiditic sediment transport, the DZ U-Pb record faithfully represents Himalayan and Tibetan source terrains, especially the <300 Ma ages from the Tibetan Gangdese magmatic arc; Gangdese arc signals are present by the Early Miocene, and increase in significance over time. Third, we infer signals of climate change in the Plio-Pleistocene record. For example, sand-rich turbidites accumulated only during glacial periods of low sea level when river mouths connected directly with slope canyons. Moreover, sand-rich turbidites display different proportions of DZ U-Pb age groups than modern river sands, especially after the Plio-Pleistocene transition when Northern Hemisphere glaciation began in earnest. We speculate these differences reflect pre-glacial vs. glacial period sediment production: Miocene and early Pliocene periods were dominated by monsoon rains and production of sediment from lower elevations, whereas Plio-Pleistocene glacial periods are instead dominated by higher-elevation cold-climate and glacial processes.

The Himalayan-sourced Ganges-Brahmaputra (GB) river system and the deep-sea Bengal Fan represent Earth’s largest source-to-sink sediment-dispersal system. The Bengal Fan is a “one-of-a-kind” in terms of scale, the largest clastic sedimentary deposit on Earth, as well as a globally significant CO2 sink. IODP Expedition 354 (2015) drilled a 7-site transect in the middle Bengal Fan, ~1400 km south of the shelf margin to more fully understand the impacts of tectonics and climate on fan deposition. Our recent work has developed a detrital-zircon (DZ) U-Pb record of provenance and sediment routing from IODP 354 cores and modern river samples, and detailed sedimentological analyses of turbidites in the cores, which provides insight into a number of issues.

Bengal Fan turbidites record the strong tectonic and climatic forcing associated with the GB system in a number of ways. First, India’s NNE motion relative to Asia places IODP 354 drill sites ~800 km and ~400 km farther south from the GB delta at 20 Ma and 10 Ma, relative to where they are today. Prior to ca. 18 Ma, these locations were too far from the GB shelf to accumulate siliciclastics, whereas from ca. 18 to 10 Ma these locations accumulated muddy turbidites, but remained too far away for significant

MIKE BLUM is the Scott and Carol Ritchie Distinguished Professor in the Earth, Energy and Environment Center at the University of Kansas, where he teaches clastic sedimentology and surface processes. He received his Ph.D. in 1992 from The University of Texas at Austin, then held positions at Southern Illinois University, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Louisiana State University, and Exxonmobil Upstream Research before arriving in Kansas in 2014. Mike is a member of the IAS, a life member of AGU, a member and fellow of GSA, and a member of AAAS. He has been a member of SEPM since the early 1990s, and has served in various capacities, including Councilor for Sedimentology and SEPM President.

Mike and his students work on modern and ancient sediment-dispersal systems in North America and elsewhere, and his research focuses on fluvial to shallow-marine processes and deposits, as well as source-to-sink relationships. He has published on topics such as fluvial responses to climate and sea-level change, Holocene sea-level change along the Gulf Coast, evolution and fate of the Mississippi delta, and detrital-zircon provenance and geochronology records of fluvial system evolution and sediment dispersal to deep sea environments.

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MEMBER CORNER

Meet Vishal Singh Technical Sales Geologist, Terra Guidance HOW DID YOU END UP INVOLVED IN GEOSCIENCES? I grew up being taught that medical, law, and business were the only successful careers out there. As much as I loved geology, I never discovered its many applications. I spent several years in the healthcare world, realizing that it wasn’t the career for me. I reconnected with my geology roots and was amazed with all its diverse utilizations. I made the decision to change professions and graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a focus on basin analysis and sedimentology. I hope to use this knowledge to advance my career in the energy industry.

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?

I was born and raised in the bayou country of Beaumont, TX. I’ve lived in Texas my entire life, migrating from Houston to Austin and eventually settling in Dallas with my family.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?

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My first job was waiting tables. After obtaining my bachelor’s in psychology/neuroscience at Texas A&M, I went into healthcare as a social worker/bereavement counselor for hospice and home health patients. At the time I was planning to get my master’s in developmental psychology. As much as there is a demand for this study, I did not have a passion for this career. I made my transition after working a few years in the industry.

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WHAT JOBS HAVE YOU HAD DURING YOUR CAREER?

RMAG’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee is featuring a monthly Member Corner. We hope you’ll enjoy learning about the diverse community of Earth scientists and wide variety of geoscience disciplines that comprise our membership. If you would like to appear in an upcoming column, or if there is someone you would like to nominate, please contact staff@rmag.org.

I graduated with my geology degree during COVID when the job market was in shambles. I had two options: either sit around or go out and start gaining experience. I worked as a mudlogger for roughly 1.5 years. I worked in the Haynesville, Permian, DJ, and Powder River. I eventually started mudlogging for Terra Guidance and moved into their geosteering department soon after. I fell in love with their company culture, and the quality people they attract. When the opportunity came, I made the decision to become one of their geoscience reps.

Now I reach out to like-minded oil and gas operators in the community, who seek professional geological services. My job is to listen, learn, educate, and build relationships by finding ways to enhance their drilling programs and quality of life. When an operator commits to us, whether it’s for geosteering, mudlogging, or data analytics, I have a responsibility to build a strong relationship. I do this by establishing clear SOPs, maintaining consistent quality staff, and conducting periodic technical reviews for clients and our team members. When clients know that we are fighting for them and listening to them, that’s how we forge long-term trust.

connections. I had to push myself out of my comfort zone by going out to meet new people and build a network from scratch. Throughout this process I realized how tight knit this community is. I’ve met some of the best people in my career path, and I hope to continue connecting with more geologists in all disciplines.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE WORK & FAMILY?

My company gives me this luxury. Terra Guidance puts people’s quality of life at the forefront.

They understand how hectic the oil and gas industry is. The company seeks to change traditional thinking by allowing their employees more liberties, to manage their priorities outside of work. Being a fully remote organization is one of the ways I get to spend more time with my family.

WHAT IS THE BEST CAREER LESSON YOU HAVE LEARNED SO FAR?

Embrace humility. Know that there are always people out there that can teach you something, show you new perspectives and methodologies. I’ve met several people, in several industries, throughout my life that have been stuck in dead end jobs. One of their biggest flaws is that they truly believe they know everything, and don’t seek guidance from others. Humility keeps you open to self-improvement in all aspects of life. Making mistakes is part of life and we all have flaws. The challenge is to recognize these flaws and then find ways to ameliorate them. You will be amazed at how far this mindset will take you.

IF YOU COULD LEARN TO DO ANYTHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

I would like to learn to hunt. It’s possible I fantasize the conservationist lifestyle, but there’s something about it that feels fulfilling to me. I love the idea

WHAT BARRIERS HAVE YOU HAD TO OVERCOME ON YOUR PATH TO BECOMING A GEOSCIENTIST?

My biggest challenge was coming into this industry with no prior geology background or

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MEMBER CORNER

of being fully immersed outdoors, tuning out the world’s day-to-day grind, and being able to go out and provide your own source of food. I know how challenging this really is and, with zero hunting experience, I realize it might take some time before I see the results.

IF YOU COULD VISIT ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD THAT YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN, WHERE WOULD YOU GO?

I would go to Japan and spend a week walking the Nakasendo Trail. This ancient trail was built by the shogunate during the Edo period and was the connection from Kyoto to the area of present-day Tokyo. Although most of the trail has vanished due to modern construction, there are still a few villages, frozen in time, where you can stop for food and boarding along the way. Obviously, I can’t do the entire trail in one week, but I would love to experience a piece of this fascinating period.

WHAT CHORE DO YOU ABSOLUTELY HATE DOING AT HOME?

Mowing the lawn. I tell my wife that I don’t want to disturb the Earth’s natural processes.

IF YOU COULD PLAY A SCENE IN A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHICH CHARACTER WOULD YOU PLAY? Any John Wick scene would suffice.

IF YOU COULD TRAVEL TO ONE OF THE PLANETS, WHICH PLANET WOULD YOU GO TO AND WHY? I’d want to visit Titan over a planet. Its geology seems so primordial and extreme. I would love to see that!

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CONSIDER PUBLISHING IN THE

We invite you to contribute to the vibrant and dynamic Outcrop, where your geological discoveries can find a home among like-minded professionals. Whether you have a compelling geological story, ground breaking research, insightful book reviews, or something else looking for it’s geologic home, the Outcrop is the ideal space to share your expertise with the geological community. Our publication process ensures a swift transition from submission to publication, allowing your work to reach a global audience in a timely manner. Additionally, every published lead article is entered to win the Outcrop article of the year, and entered to win a free RMAG field trip.

Join us in fostering knowledge exchange and advancing the field of geology by considering The Outcrop as the premier outlet for your valuable contributions.

Contact the outcrop Editor Nate La Fontaine with your submission at nlafontaine@sm-energy.com

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RMAG Diversity & Inclusion Committee Past & Future Jeff May, Diversity and Inclusion Committee Chair Steve Crouch, RMAG Counselor

PAST ACTIVITIES: 2023

To help meet our goals, the Committee initiated and continued to work on a wide variety of programs. You may have noticed one feature that we sponsored in the monthly Outcrop newsletter, the Member Corner, which highlights the wide diversity of geoscientists and specialties in our organization. Be sure to check out the many fascinating people, and their unique backgrounds, who comprise our membership. We also partnered with the Membership Committee to sponsor the monthly Women’s OUTCROP | January 2024

Group coffees. This gathering provides our female members mutual support, networking opportunities, and exposure to RMAG activities. If you haven’t attended one of the coffees yet, plan to do so in 2024 (when it will be expanded to all members). We promise it will be fun!

In 2023, we also increased our wonderful collaboration with Dinosaur Ridge, exposing diverse, often underrepresented groups to geology, paleontology, and the Ridge’s many programs. Working with Libby Prueher, Dinosaur Ridge’s Outreach Coordinator, we co-hosted activity booths at numerous events throughout the year. RMAG provided displays of cool rocks and fossils, shark teeth that kids could “dig” (sift) from pails of sand and take home, a spin wheel game, and a variety of giveaways such as little plastic dinosaurs, stickers, and RMAG pins. We are especially grateful to the RMAG and RMS-AAPG foundations; Rebecca Johnson Scrable spearheaded a request for their financial support that helped offset costs for booth space and supplies.

Our first joint endeavor this year took place during the Westwood Community’s Cinco de Mayo celebration (on May 6). The event, which occurs annually in a traditionally Latino neighborhood, is a family-friendly remembrance and festival. Diversity and Inclusion Committee member Natalie Hook worked with Libby to coordinate RMAG volunteers staffing the booth (Figure 1) and assisted with set up and tear down. It was a blast helping kids learn about dinosaurs and rocks, dig for fossils (Figure 2),

As RMAG moves into its second century, the demographics of our membership and the disciplines encompassed by our organization will be changing. To help pave the way for these transitions, the Diversity and Inclusion Committee was established in early 2021. Its mission was to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within RMAG, the greater geoscience community, and the public arena. One goal was to instigate meaningful change within our organization by breaking down systemic barriers that inhibit inclusion and welcoming the full range of cultures, genders and gender identities, sexual orientations, races, abilities, ages, and geoscience disciplines into RMAG. Another major goal was to provide diverse students and underrepresented communities greater exposure to the Earth Sciences. Ultimately, we were striving to provide a respectful and convivial geoscience community as well as educate and inspire individuals of all backgrounds and identities.

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FIGURE 1:

(Above) Joint RMAG-Dinosaur Ridge booth at the Westwood Community’s Cinco de Mayo celebration (photo courtesy of Terri Olson).

FIGURE 2:

(Left) “Digging” for fossils was an especially popular activity at the Cinco de Mayo event (photo courtesy of Terri Olson).

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DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION COMMITTEE: PAST & FUTURE major, and NASA astronaut who served on the International Space Station in 2022. And the younger kids were delighted by all the pretty rocks (Figure 4), fossil “digging”, and mask coloring (Figure 5).

At PrideFest, the spin wheel was an unexpected hit, with lines of people often 10 to 15 deep waiting for their turn. It was truly amazing how many preteens knew about the three different kinds of rocks, and how many adults fondly remember their high school geology classes! More than one person said our booth (Figures 6 and 7) was the most interesting and fun at the celebration, with the small plastic dinosaurs a much-coveted prize. Altogether, we interacted with over 650 youth and almost 750 adults at Juneteenth and, amazingly, over 1100 youth and 3700 older teens and adults at PrideFest. We certainly met one of the primary missions of RMAG: “To promote interest in geology and allied sciences and their practical applications.”

Continuing our collaboration with Dinosaur Ridge, we added RMAG’s Educational Outreach

and color dinosaur masks! Over 300 youth visited the booth along with almost 350 adults.

June was especially full, with two back-to-back weekends of public events. Our booth with Dinosaur Ridge at the Juneteenth (June 17-18) and PrideFest (June 24-25) celebrations was even busier than last year! Committee members Rebecca Johnson Scrable and Natalie Hook acted as RMAG’s liaison for the Juneteenth and PrideFest booths, respectively, coordinating materials, volunteers, and logistics. This year, we added a spin wheel activity that proved particularly popular (Figure 3). If it landed on “igneous”, “metamorphic”, or “sedimentary”, we would help the “contestant” try and select that kind of rock from our display while chatting about the rock cycle. Then they could choose one of our various giveaways. Many adults also enjoyed discussing our Black geoscientists poster, which included photos of geology major Colin Powell along with Jessica Watkins, a Fairview High School (Boulder) graduate, Stanford undergraduate and UCLA PhD geology

FIGURE 3:

Diversity & Inclusion Committee member Christophe Simbo helps a Juneteenth attendee with the spin wheel (photo courtesy of Jeff May).

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FIGURE 4:

The joy of learning about rocks, with RMAG volunteer Beverly Halliwell-Ross at our Juneteenth booth (photo courtesy of Bill Ross).

FIGURE 5:

Kids lined up to color T. rex and Triceratops masks at our Juneteenth booth (photo courtesy of Jeff May).

FIGURE 6:

RMAG volunteer Sandy Kaplan helped staff our PrideFest booth (photo courtesy of Ron Parker).

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DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION COMMITTEE: PAST & FUTURE

Committee to the mix and shared a booth at Parker Science Night (November 4, rescheduled from the snowed-out June 4 date). This free, experiential learning event encompassed hands-on science, technology, and engineering activities and exhibits. In addition to a dinosaur drawing activity, our volunteers helped mostly elementary-aged kids identify minerals using the Mohs hardness scale, streak plates, and a magnet. It was so gratifying to see the scientific method in action followed by many “eureka” moments.

Our major attraction, though, was the earthquake simulator and iPad seismometer provided by Enrique Chon and Nate Rogers of the ColoFIGURE 7: During PrideFest, kids had a blast “digging” for fossils, which they rado Geological Society (Figure 8). got to keep along with other small geology-related giveaways (photo courtesy of Committee member Ginny Gent was Natalie Hook). responsible for helping bring all this together. By the evening’s end, we clinoforms, and folds and faults on long offshore had interacted with over 375 kids and 285 adults. seismic lines. The kids did a remarkable job workDuring last year’s PrideFest, we made an espeing in teams to depict the Earth beneath our feet cially productive contact with The Center on Col(Figure 9). Then in July, Ginny Gent, Sarah Compfax, an LGBTQ+ community and resource center. ton, and Jeff May led about 15 attendees of The CenThe Center’s youth group, Rainbow Alley, is always ter’s Summer Academy program on a field trip along looking for engaging, educational programs for Dinosaur Ridge (Figure 10). We tried to make the their weekly informal drop-ins. In conjunction with trip interactive, incorporating activities that encomthe Educational Outreach Committee, we presentpassed lots of questions, observations, and discused some geoscience talks, hands-on activities, and sion. As former teachers, Ginny and Sarah were espea field trip for their often-marginalized middle and cially adept at keeping the kids in line and engaged, high school members during 2023. In January, Jeff even on a cool, rainy day.

May presented a slideshow and led a discussion on None of these activities and events would have geology careers, followed by a roundtable chat by been possible without the dedicated Diversity and Committee member Luis Escobar Arenas about beInclusion Committee members, who in 2023 including a gay geoscientist. Then we passed around rocks, ed Luis Escobar Arenas, Dan Bassett, Ginny Gent, Naminerals, and oil samples, which produced lots of talie Hook, Astrid Makowitz, Chantel Maybach, Kajal “ohs” and “ahs”. Afterward, one of the kids told Iyan Nair, Rebecca Johnson Scrable, Christophe Simbo, Nario, the Coordinator of Youth Services, that they and Cam Uribe. We also benefited from the help and decided to become a geologist! Music to our ears . . . advice of Nate Rogers, Rob Diedrich, and Cat CampContinuing our interaction with The Cenbell along with special guidance, insights, and experter’s youth in March, Katie Joe McDonough, Educatise of RMAG Executive Director Bridget Crowther tional Outreach Committee member, presented a and RMAG Board liaison Steve Crouch. A final, speslide show on geophysical imaging, followed by a hands-on activity tracing the Moho, unconformities, cial thank you goes out to the small army of RMAG OUTCROP | January 2024

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DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION COMMITTEE: PAST & FUTURE

FIGURE 8:

The earthquake simulator and iPad seismometer, demonstrated

by Enrique Chon from the Colorado Geological Survey, was a huge hit during Parker Science Night (photo courtesy of Nate Rogers).

ON TO THE FUTURE

During the past couple of years, the Educational Outreach Committee has moved beyond just classroom and field activities for a K-12 audience. Under the leadership of Donna Anderson, the Committee added more presentations for adult service groups as well as larger public events for community youth (see the December 2023 Outcrop article by Donna Anderson et al.). It became apparent that both RMAG’s Educational Outreach and Diversity and Inclusion committees had developed overlapping goals and interests. Therefore, based on consensus of the two committees followed by a vote of the RMAG Board, Steve Crouch formed a steering committee to review the missions of the committees, investigate overlap and redundancy, and present recommendations to better achieve the goals of each committee and the needs of RMAG as we enter our next 100 years.

Vol. 73, No. 1 | www.rmag.org

The steering committee first met in mid-August and finalized recommendations to the RMAG Board of Directors for their November meeting after multiple reviews by both EO and D&I committees. To better achieve the goals of each committee while fostering diversity and inclusion throughout all facets of RMAG, the steering committee recommended the current Education Outreach and Diversity and Inclusion committee members be merged into a single Geosciences Outreach Committee. The Geosciences Outreach Committee will revamp their mission statement to encompass educational, scientific, and diverse community outreach that isn’t already being handled by another existing RMAG committee.

D&I event programming will be planned and handled within Geosciences Outreach to continue our successful engagement with diverse communities.

In addition, a reimagined Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board was created, comprised of RMAG’s Executive Director, the Counselor, and two to three additional members appointed for two-year terms to ensure both continuity of work and fresh perspectives. The Advisory Board has been tasked with

volunteers, too numerous to list, who helped staff our booths throughout the year. You know who you are, and you are MUCH appreciated!

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DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION COMMITTEE: PAST & FUTURE establishing association goals and metrics for success that will be presented to the Board of Directors biannually. The Advisory Board will meet at regular intervals to evaluate all RMAG programing and offer help and recommendations on how to achieve our D&I goals across all aspects of the organization. Furthermore, the Advisory Board will seek out additional resources and training that can be made available to RMAG leadership and members when appropriate.

Finally, the steering committee researched diversity, inclusion, and equity mission statements from a variety of educational, government, and industry organizations.

The goal was to compose an official RMAG D&I mission statement with similar succinctness and significance that will guide and empower the Geosciences Outreach Committee and the D&I Advisory Board. The mission statement will be posted at the top of our organization’s Diversity and Inclusion webpage: “RMAG recognizes the importance of diversity and inclusion and is committed to maintaining scientific excellence in an intellectually accessible and culturally enriching environment that thrives on our diversity for scientific collaboration free of all forms of discrimination and abuse.”

As we move forward, we could use YOUR ideas, experience, and energy. We need and welcome new Geoscience Outreach Committee and Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board members and volunteers!

If interested, please contact staff@ rmag.org.

OUTCROP | January 2024

FIGURE 9: Seismic interpretation exercise, directed by Katie Joe McDonough, for

The Center on Colfax’s youth group (photo courtesy of Jeff May).

FIGURE 10: Committee member Ginny Gent leading a discussion along Dinosaur

Ridge for The Center on Colfax’s Summer Academy participants (photo courtesy of Jeff May).

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Publish with…

Publish with…

Expanded geologic focus: Why c • Entire greater Rocky Mountai • Rea • Qu • West Texas and New Mexico • Per • Great Plains and Mid-Contine • Qu

• Expanded geologic focus: • Entire greater Rocky Mountain area of North America Expanded geologic•focus: Why contribute?

West Texas and New Mexico to northern British Columbia • Entire greater Rocky Mountain of Northregion America • Great Plains andarea Mid-Continent • Reach a broad industry and

Eve

• Westaudience Texas and New Mexico to northern British Columbia academic • Quarterly reviewed • Greatpeer Plains and contribute?

Mid-Continent region Why journal https://www.rm • includes Reach a broad industry and academic audience • Permanent archiving AAPG Datapages • Quarterly peer-reviewed journal • Quick turn around •timePermanent archiving includes AAPG Datapages https://www.rmag.org • Every subdiscipline in the • Quick turn-around time geosciences • Every subdiscipline in the geosciences

Expanded geologic focus: • Entire greater Rocky Mountain

rea of North America area of North America orthern British• Columbia West Texas and New Mexico to northern British Columbia region • Great Plains and Mid Continent region

Email: mgeditor@rmag.org

https://www.rmag.org/publications/the-mountain-geologist/

Vol. 73, No. 1 | www.rmag.org

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OUTCROP | January 2024

THE DIGITAL TOOLBOX

Rockd

By Lisa Wolff

This installation is an attempt to bring free to low-cost digital geological tools to our membership. If you would like to contribute or have a suggestion, please reach out to staff@rmag.org.

Login S can crea or skip l bottom)

Rockd is an incredible mobile app that utilizes your phone’s Opening screen of GPS location to show you where you are on a surface geologic map. It has the abilityRockd to show you what formation you’re standing on, the fossils found within 20 Opening km (12 miles), the of paleogeogscreen (this justRockd agroups cool shot raphy of that point, and the is mineral associated with the formation you’re standing on, all with references but doesn’t need to be included (Peters et al.; 2018). used if it doesn’t (this iswork just aincool shot Rockd (pronounced rocked) was designed developed by the layout) but doesn’tand need to be Dethe Macrostrat LabOpening at the University of Wisconsin-Madison screen of if it doesn’t work in used partment of Geosciences and is funded by the department and Rockd the layout) Macrostrat is the National Science Foundation (EAR-1150082). an incredible compilation and resource of geological data from (thiscolumns is just to a rock coolunit shotdescriptions, all intemaps to stratigraphic but application. doesn’t need to be grated into the Rockd Rockd is not just North Ameriused if it doesn’t work in the app, one can ca either, it’s a global application.

Upon opening create an account the or skip log in and go straight to the dashboard, layout) showing you the geological information from you GPS location. the Rockd From there you can navigate to the mapWhat to explore or choose from application logo looks one of the buttons at the bottom showing paleogeography, fossils,

Login Scre can create y or skip logi bottom)

like. The more Whatcolorful the Rockd version is from the latest application logo looks update RockdApp v3. like. The more colorful

version is from the latest update RockdApp v3.

What the Rockd application logo looks like. Thelogo more colorful What the Rockd application is from looks like. The more version colorful version is the latest Login Screen where you can create your update RockdApp v3. from the latest update RockdApp v3. account or skip login (at the bottom)

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Vol. 73, No. 1 | www.rmag.org

Main Dashboard Main screen Dashboard screen showing theshowing geological the geological Main Dashboard informationinformation from your from your screen showing GPS location.

GPS From location. this From this the geological screen you can screen create youacan create a information checkin, gocheckin, the go from the your take GPS location. geological map, geological a map, take a From this strike and dip, strike access andscreen the dip, access the you can create paleogeographic paleogeographic history, a history, checkin, go the look up the look fossilupand the fossil and geological map, mineral assemblages mineral assemblages takethe a strikewith and the associated with associated location. Taken location.

Taken a the from a dip, from access downtown Denver downtown Denver paleogeographic location. location. history, look up the fossil and mineral assemblages associated with the location. Taken from a downtown Denver location.

Map view showing Map view blue show location bubble, location surface bubbl geology andgeology structures. and st Structures and Structures surface and geology detail geology increases detail with zoom. with zoom.

Map view showing blue location bubble, surface geology and structures.

Structures and surface geology detail increases with zoom.

Seriesofof paleogeographic models the downtown Denver location.

Adjusting thebar at the top changes the time and view.

Series paleogeographic models fromfrom the downtown Denver location.

Adjusting the slider slider bar at the top changes the time and view.

Vol. 73, No. 1 | www.rmag.org

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THE DIGITAL TOOLBOX

The maps available are notThe just from North are America global arebut included in maps available not justbut from Northmaps America global maps the app. Detail increases withare theincluded zoom level. in the app. Detail increases with the zoom level.

From Fromthethemap map view, view,one onecan can LEFT: From the click clickononany anycolor color one can and andmap getgetaview, detailed a detailed description description ofthe the click on of any color formation formation and get a detailed represented. represented.

The The description of white whiteballoon balloon the formation located located north northofofThe represented.

Greeley Greeley is isthe the white balloon Laramie Laramie located north of Formation.

Formation.

Greeley is the Laramie Formation.

Details Detailsgi thetheLaram Lara Formation Formati bybythetheapp a references referenc

RIGHT: Details given for the Laramie Formation given by the app with references.

OUTCROP | January 2024

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Vol. 73, No. 1 | www.rmag.org

THE DIGITAL TOOLBOX

Confluence Resources is an upstream exploration and production company Confluence Resources is an confluenceresources.com upstream exploration and Vol. 73, No. 1 | www.rmag.org production company confluenceresources.com

resource needs additional support. If you have questions, feel free to reach out to any of the people below.

• Principal Investigator – Shanan Peters peters@geology.wisc.edu • Research Scientist and Software Developer – Daven Quinn - daven.quinn@wisc.edu • Founding Developer – John Czaplewski • Frontend Developer – Justin Janisch

minerals, or even take a strike and dip with the Brunton tool. The main dashboard is where you can create a ‘checkin’ and track your adventures but this does require a login. In the checkin screen you can upload your own photo, outcrop descriptions and add observations, as well as rank the quality of the location.

Checkin’s can be private or public for other users to view and search for. Another fun feature of the application is field trips that have been uploaded by other users. One can search through popular field trips or nearby field trips. I have found Rockd to be especially fun and educational along road trips in areas I’m not familiar with the geology. I encourage you to check it out as it’s available on Iphone app store and the Google Play store.

This review was done with permission from the Rockd team. If you are interested in supporting the continued development of Rockd, please visit https:// macrostrat.org/#donate. While the NSF grant supported the initiation of Macrostrat and Rockd, the continued operation and development of this free

FOR MORE INFORMATION

• https://rockd.org/ • https://macrostrat.org/ • https://strata.geology.wisc.edu/

REFERENCES

Peters, S. E., Husson, J. M., & Czaplewski, J. (2018). Macrostrat: A platform for geological data integration and deep-time earth crust research. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 19, 1393-1409. https://doi. org/10.1029/2018GC007467

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IN THE PIPELINE

JANUARY 10, 2024 RMAG January Luncheon.

Speaker: Michael Rigby, Talk Title, “The Energy and Carbon Management Commission and the State of Energy” In person or Online. Denver Earth Resources Library, 730 17th Street, B1 Denver

Negotiating Gray Areas of Concurrent Surface and Mineral Development: An Overview of Who Owns What and the Documents Needed to Avoid Liability for Operations.” The University Club 1673 Sherman St. Denver CO 80203

JANUARY 18, 2024

JANUARY 11, 2024

RMAG Coffee Hour.

VIBE Coffee. 1490 Curtis Street

RMAG & DREGS Happy Hour.

CODA Brewing CO. 15965 S. Golden Rd. C2, Golden CO 80401

JANUARY 24, 2024 SPE January Luncheon.

Speaker: Dane Gregoris. Talk Title “DJ Basin Play Fundamentals; How the Basin Stacks up Across North America

SPE YP January Lunch and Learn SPE YP January Happy hour JANUARY 17, 2024

JANUARY 25, 2024

DAPL January Luncheon.

Speaker: Bresee Carlson. “Navigating and

YPE Denver Happy Hour

WELCOME NEW RMAG MEMBERS!

Kelly Bruchez

Jesse Chadwick

with BRY Corporation is from Bakersfield, California

with the Bureau of Reclamation is from Denver, Colorado

with Wasatch Energy Management is form Springville, Utah

with Anschutz Exploration Corporation is from Edmond, Oklahoma

with BRY Corporation and is from Torrance, California

is from Denver, Colorado

Stephen Phillips

John Stachowiak

Justin Arakaki

Megan Casillas Timothy Engel

Wayne Millice

with TGS and is from Houston, Texas

with TCO Land Services and Compliance is from Denver, CO

is from Denver, CO

with SM Energy is from Denver, CO

Rick Nordheim

OUTCROP | January 2024

Leslie Diedrich

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Vol. 73, No. 1 | www.rmag.org

OUTCROP ADVERTISING RATES 1 Time

2 Times

6 Times

12 Times

Full page (7-1/2” x 9-1/4”)

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Vol. 73, No. 1 | www.rmag.org

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ADVERTISER INDEX

•Confluence Resources ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 43 •Donovan Brothers ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 23 •Larson Geoscience �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 23 •Lewan GeoConsulting ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 45 •LMKR Gverse Geographix ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 21 •Paul Denney ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 29 •Petroleum History Institute–Call For Papers ����������������������������������������������������������� 25 •Sproule �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 27 •Tracerco ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 27 CALENDAR – JANUARY 2024 SUNDAY

MONDAY

7

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

1

2

3

8

9

10 RMAG January Luncheon.

14

15

16

17 DAPL January Luncheon.

21

22

23

24 SPE January Luncheon.

28

29

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THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

4

5

6

11

12

13

19

20

26

27

RMAG & DREGS Happy Hour.

SPE YP Lunch and Learn | Happy Hour

18 RMAG Coffee Hour.

25 YPE Denver Happy Hour

31

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