Indiana students explore the geological wonders of Montana

Since 1949 Indiana University has maintained a geological station in the Tobacco Root Mountains because of the diverse geological setting found in Montana. The current Director is Bruce Douglas who has a PHD in Geology, has taught in this area for 31 years – 25 of which as the Academic Director and the last 3 years as the Director. He is quick to point out that it is because of the generosity of the local ranchers in allowing the students access onto their land that this program is so successful.

This station hosts students from Indiana University/Purdue University, other universities from around the world, high school students and Geology professionals during their summer sessions. Keeping the campus operational is Mark Toensing who is the year round Manager. In the kitchen is found Diana Caldwell, who used to live in the So. Boulder area and currently lives in Deer Lodge. She makes sure that she is in the kitchen each summer as she has been for the last eight years.

The kitchen help includes various students. For instance, two brothers Will and Joey Kersey from Bloomington, Indiana were introduced to the West by working in the kitchen. Will spent four summers in the kitchen and has taken one summer course. He plans to attend I.U. to study Geology and to become a teacher or go into mining. His brother Joey is the first year kitchen aid. He recently graduated from high school and is excited for this opportunity to explore the West. He is currently exploring his future options which include attending college at I.U.

Renan Havil, also worked in the kitchen at one time, is from Bloomington and an I.U. student in Environmental Science.

Beginning this 6 ½ weeks session, the thirty students were followed around by a film crew from Indiana University. They explored and mapped the rock formations found on the KG Ranch which is in the Lewis and Clark Caverns area. This is a unique area as the exposed rocks are as seen in text books.

The I.U. College of Arts and Sciences contracted the crew and will be making the film available to alumni. Other trips incorporated into the curriculum were to Yellowstone, Teton Park and Glacier National Park.

This particular day the students spent at the Bullion-Crystal Mine in the Basin Mining District. I took a moment before dinner to find out about some of the students. Melissa Mulford is working for a PHD in Geology and Micro-biology at I.U. She hopes for a degree in Geomicrobiology which she will use for teaching and to accomplish cave research.

This is her first time to the West and she is enjoying the mountains as Indiana is flat with some hills.

From the Philippines comes Jon Golla. He is a graduate of the University of Puget Sound and needed to finish a field camp in order to complete his Geology Major. He plans on attending Graduate School at New Mexico University. This is his first time in Montana and he is most impressed by the geo-thermal systems.

Another student at the University of Puget Sound is Angie Calderon who is from the bay area of California. She hopes to find employment in Environmental Geology and Geo-Chemistry.

The students headed out to dinner and then to finish their project on Superfund Sites.