My good friend Linda Dodge has gone ’round the rock garden to take pictures of rocks and description signs I missed. She has also taken better pictures in many cases of rocks I had already photographed. 78 photos in total, of which I suspect at least twenty will be posted here. Time to start processing. Captions will take a long time to do.
Parking is expensive at U.C. Davis during the weekdays ($10!?) but you can use that parking pass all over campus. Have a picnic in the Shields Oak Grove where I volunteered for many years. All of the arboretum is first class.
They have a fine equestrian center and if you are quiet and not too suspicious looking, you can walk through the stables and consider whether you really want to own a Percheron.
Most campus buildings are probably closed to the public, but when they reopen there are a variety of places to eat. You don’t need to be staff or a student to eat at most of them.
There’s a science library, a law library, and a main library.
If you have a bicycle you will fit right in.
Updates
My friend the practicing geologist confirms that I indeed found leucogranite with altered garnet in the Utah Hill area and that it is suitable for study use. I go back to the area this week to look for a pegmatite pocket. Follow me on Instagram, that’s where I report on my field trips.
06-23-2020
Rolf Luetke has closed Sunshine Gifts and Gallery until further notice. Business is too slow because of the pandemic.
— https://www.instagram.com/tgfarley/ Follow me on Instagram: tgfarley
This just in from the Geoscience Department at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, located in downtown Las Vegas. Session is back in and rock ID for the public continues as it has for some years. This year they have changed their days and increased their hours. The Department’s notice below, my comments below that.
From The Department
From: Geoscience Department Date: August 30, 2023 at 4:03:35 PM PDT Cc: Maria Rojas Subject: UNLV Visual Rock I.D. Sessions
Hello,
Here in the department, we hold visual Rock I.D. sessions on Monday 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Tuesday 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Thursday 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm (does not include holidays) for the Fall 2019 semester. We will not be accepting any more walk ins after 4:45 pm.
Rock IDs are visual inspections only; we do not keep or buy any rocks/fossil and we do not give any monetary value.
In terms of making an appointment, you don’t have to make one, you can just come during the listed time and day.
Regarding the limit on amount of rocks brought it, we have a limit of 3.
For parking and directions please click on this link for more information. https://geoscience.unlv.edu/rock-identification-2/
To do Rock I.D., make sure you come to Lilly Fong Geoscience Building Room 104. Questions or concerns feel free to contact us (702) 895-3262 ; [email protected]
— University of Nevada, Las Vegas Department of Geoscience 4505 Maryland Parkway Las Vegas, Nevada 89154-4010 702-895-3262 https://geoscience.unlv.edu/
My Comments
I’ve been to several sessions and met good people. You will be lucky if you run into Drew Barkoff, he is a P.hD student and has been a friend of my book. I am always astounded at what he knows and I learn tremendously every time I talk with him. I also met Sara last year, a Masters student. Everybody is excellent.
Locality is extremely important in any ID, of course, so bring in as much information as you can. A geologic map or a small printout of same, no matter how simple, will help tremendously. You can find these at either MyLandMatters.org or especially at Macrostrat.org. I once brought in a rock from Plymouth, CA and did not and could not expect anyone there to know the geology of the area. Bring a map if possible. Oh, and a small flashlight since the conference room is dim. And a loupe. They have some simple things like streak plates.
Parking can be tough. Many meters accept quarters but in some lots you will get only 10 minutes to a quarter. On many of those meters they have a credit card system also in place. You call the number on the meter and voice prompts walk you through a ten minute process to register your credit card, take down your license plate, and so on. It is frustrating and lengthy to set up for the first time, considering you will be in full sun the entire duration. If you return at a later date your account will be all arranged and it will be just a matter of calling the number back.
There may be other options for parking listed at the link the Department mentioned above that I do not know about. Check them out. If you are a short distance from campus a Uber of Lyft may be a good idea.
If you have large or heavy rocks, bring a cart or hand truck. You will need it, the Geosciences Building can be a long walk from wherever you wind up parking. Everything is on the first floor and handicap accessible. There is an outstanding display of rocks and minerals on the first floor and I noticed that they must have replaced all the lighting this semester. Things look great. This collection is almost worth a visit it just by itself. All campus staff is friendly and people will happily point you out to the Geoscience Building. Take water and they have a nice water fountain bottle filler near the conference room.
Good luck to anyone going and understand that at times people may get hung up or delayed for a little while before meeting you. Such is life.
