Today was our first day collecting samples as a team. We had our first breakfast at our hotel in Rotorua, and were off for our first day of ~real geology~. Last night, Guil talked about how today would be less predictable than our previous days. He explained that this is because we would be looking for samples for their research on a specific eruption in the area, and they weren’t sure of the location and condition of outcrops. We were ready for anything!
First, we had to go through the ordeal of collecting permits for driving on backroads and retrieving samples for study in the US. We then drove to the Kinleith Forest and drove around for hours searching for an accessible outcrop. There were many hurdles along the way that put our skills as a team to the test: branches across the road, a fallen tree above the road, and two trees blocking the road with their roots still in the ground. But with rock hammers, all hands at work, and great communication, we were tree-umphant!
At the first outcrop, Darren showed us how to scrape away the moss with handy Japanese gardening tools to get to the ignimbrite deposit. Guil cranked up the motivation for finding pumice samples by starting a competition for the biggest single piece. After filling a few gallon-sized bags with pumice samples, we gathered around to watch Lowry scrape out a football-sized piece of pumice, and we all declared him the clear winner. We moved on to our second outcrop where we repeated this process, and Lowry again found the largest piece of pumice.
We returned to our hotel for the evening, and were set free for dinner. Instead of splitting up, the eleven of us decided to go together to a pizza place suggested by people who tried it the previous night. We had a wonderful meal, got to chat with the owners, and even made it on their Facebook page! (https://www.facebook.com/pg/capizzipizzeria/posts/?ref=page_internal)
Excited for our free day in Rotorua tomorrow!
Nora and Maddy
First, we had to go through the ordeal of collecting permits for driving on backroads and retrieving samples for study in the US. We then drove to the Kinleith Forest and drove around for hours searching for an accessible outcrop. There were many hurdles along the way that put our skills as a team to the test: branches across the road, a fallen tree above the road, and two trees blocking the road with their roots still in the ground. But with rock hammers, all hands at work, and great communication, we were tree-umphant!
At the first outcrop, Darren showed us how to scrape away the moss with handy Japanese gardening tools to get to the ignimbrite deposit. Guil cranked up the motivation for finding pumice samples by starting a competition for the biggest single piece. After filling a few gallon-sized bags with pumice samples, we gathered around to watch Lowry scrape out a football-sized piece of pumice, and we all declared him the clear winner. We moved on to our second outcrop where we repeated this process, and Lowry again found the largest piece of pumice.
We returned to our hotel for the evening, and were set free for dinner. Instead of splitting up, the eleven of us decided to go together to a pizza place suggested by people who tried it the previous night. We had a wonderful meal, got to chat with the owners, and even made it on their Facebook page! (https://www.facebook.com/pg/capizzipizzeria/posts/?ref=page_internal)
Excited for our free day in Rotorua tomorrow!
Nora and Maddy
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