Sunday, 6 October

Tour of the Western Snake River Plain

(Last to day register for or cancel the tour is September 12)

The Western Snake River Plain (WSRP) is a fault-bounded, Miocene-Pliocene (~17.5 to ~2 Ma) sedimentary-volcanic basin. Its origin is tied to the initiation of the Basin and Range faulting to the south, the passing of the Yellowstone hotspot, and the eruption of the Columbia River basalts. This field trip will involve a driving tour of key geological features that tell the story of the WSRP geology, including the Bruneau Sand Dunes State Park, hydrothermal limestone, oolites, and pillow basalts.

Logistics for the trip are still being worked, but the current plan involves an roughly 8:00 am MT departure from Boise State’s campus (a 20-min walk from the Boise Centre conference venue), roughly four stops over the course of a four-hour drive, and return to Boise State’s campus by about 4:00 MT. A trip registration fee of $40 will cover the cost of transport and a boxed lunch. Total capacity is 40 participants.

Boise’s typical weather in early October can be highly variable, hot or cool. Participants should wear sunscreen, layers to accommodate variable weather, and comfortable walking shoes (the trip will involve short hikes and so will not be accessible). Participants should also bring sufficient water and snacks for a full day. The vehicles will have a small amount of storage for supplies.

You must register for the meeting to add tour to your registration. There is no tour-only option. Last to day register for or cancel the tour is September 12.

This field guide is designed to lead participants through a day-long tour of unique modern and ancient sedimentary depositional environments in the western Snake River Plain of southwestern Idaho, which may be of interest to planetary scientists asking questions about how both wind and water interact with life, minerals, and magmas to produce distinctive geomorphic and geologic records preserved in rock.