Post-Conference Field Trip

(optional)

This two and one-half day excursion (Friday July 21st at noon to Sunday July 23rd at 7pm) will take us to major zeolite deposits in southwestern New Mexico and southeastern Arizona. These deposits represent middle Tertiary vulcanism, faulting, and groundwater interactions within an active tectonic regime.

Itinerary

Cave 2 of the Gila Cliff Dwellings - Image from US Dept of the Interior, National Park Service - Photographer Barry Nielsen We will depart at noon on Friday, July 21st, from the Macey Conference Center and eat a box lunch on the bus. While traveling south, we will pass through Truth or Consequences, then turn west and wind our way through the Black Range Scenic Area, and stop at Emory Pass (8,828 feet) to stretch our legs and enjoy the spectacular scenery. We will continue on to the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument (pictured at left - Image from US Dept of the Interior, National Park Service - Photographer Barry Nielsen) where we will explore a crystalline zeolite deposit as well as tour the ruins where Native Americans lived in stone houses in the recess of a cliff around 1300 AD. After a barbecue dinner at the Cliff Dwellings Visitor Center, we will spend the night in Silver City, New Mexico, our base of operations for the field trip.

Saturday morning we will drive south of Silver City to Bowie, Arizona, where we will explore the Bowie chabazite deposit, eat a box lunch, and return to Silver City where you'll have time to explore the city and have dinner on your own.

Sunday morning we will drive north of Silver City to Buckhorn, New Mexico, to explore the Buckhorn clinoptilolite deposit--a typical saline, alkaline lake deposit of authigenic zeolite minerals. After a box lunch, we will return to Socorro by way of Reserve and Datil, drive past the Very Large Array radio telescope, and arrive in Socorro around 5pm.

Cost

The field-trip fee is $225, and you must be registered as a regular, student, or companion participant in the technical meeting in order to join the post-conference field trip. (Note: Registered companions must be at least 12 years of age in order to participate in the field trips.)

Included in the fee are the following:

transportation by chartered bus
lodging for two nights (double occupancy)
barbecue dinner on Friday night
three box lunches
full-color field guide

After the Field Trip

We plan to arrive in Socorro around 4 pm on Sunday, July 23rd, and arrive in Albuquerque around 6 pm. If booking a return flight out of Albuquerque, ensure that the departure time from Albuquerque is not earlier than 8pm on the 23rd. Participants may elect to spend Sunday night in Albuquerque (see Accomodations page for suggested motels) and take an early departure on Monday the 24th.