www.dukelabs.com

Duke Geological Lab Home Page
Remember our Motto - "We're Not Good But We're Slow!"

Last Update 11 February

DUKELABS GEOTECHNICAL SPECIALTY SERVICES:

Structural Geologic Mapping

Petrographic Analysis

Hard Rock Tunnel Analysis

TBM Penetration Analysis

Seismic Hazard Assessment

Mineral Exploration

Geotechnical and Source Reports

Digital Imagery and Image Processing

INTERNAL LINKS

Upcoming Speaking Engagements

Upcoming 2008 Speaking Engagements :

Suffolk Mineralogical Club

Science Lecture Series

Monday, 25 February 2008 - East Islip Library

Geologic Controls on Megaconstruction in Subsurface NYC

Having spent many years specializing in investigating the surface and subsurface geology of NYC, Dukelabs very own Dr. Merguerian's lecture will concentrate on geologic controls on and means and methods of construction utilizing tunnel boring machines (TBMs) in the subsurface of NYC. With many concurrent construction efforts the subsurface of New York has become a veritable geotechnical laboratory. Merguerian's subsurface work has verified geological relationships established by surface mapping, has provided new insights into the tectonics and geology of New York City, and has provided insights into TBM penetration rates with regards to geological structure, metamorphic grade, and rock type in the New York City area. Such research paves the way for more efficient tunneling in crystalline terrains and has opened the field for municipal mega-construction projects including water, utility, and transportation tunnels. His Powerpoint talk will focus on exciting new tunneling contracts in the City of New York including the Third NYC Water Tunnel, the Second Avenue Subway, the East Side Access project, and the #7 Line Extension.

Place: East Islip Library

Directions: Take Southern State Parkway eastward to end and just before end it turns into Hecksher Park take Exit 45W and at end of exit there is a stop sign. The East Islip Library is diagonally across from stop sign.

Time: 7:00 PM start time

ASCE Metropolitan Section - Geotechnical Group

Tunneling Conference

Thursday, 08 May 2008

Evaluating Geological Controls on Hard Rock Excavation, NYC , NY

A number of geological properties of coalescing importance dictate the destiny of hard rock excavation in the city of New York . Critical to both surface and subsurface geotechnical design engineering, a thorough investigation of such properties can provide important performance and productivity clues during the bid- and as-built stages of major construction efforts and help to avoid the expense and inefficiency of changed condition claims. Investigations over the past century have shown that the geology of NYC is complex with over a billion years of geological history emblazoned in the rock mass. NYC’s former position at the core zone of convergent mountain building and deep-seated subduction during Proterozoic and Paleozoic times has created a unique set of geological formations and variable rock mass properties that, when ignored (i.e. – “Rock” is “Rock”), have proven to be an impediment to efficient mining and excavation.

Drawing from three decades of geological experience in NYC and geological data gathered from the NYC Water Tunnels (Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan), the Con Edison Utility Tunnel, East Side Access, South Ferry, World Trade Center and a multitude of shallow excavations throughout the city, the author will present case history information and offer suggestions to better mate various mechanical excavation means for site-variable geological domains of NYC.

Place: Pennsylvania Hotel, NYC, NY

Time: 8:00 AM start time

More Information?

Contact ASCE - (212) 229-2669

Upcoming Geology Field Trips

Geology For Teachers and Travelers:

Geology, Mines and Mineral Deposits of Western and Central Connecticut

26-27 April 2008

Geology 280-H (CRN: 24496)

Trip Leader: Dr. Charles Merguerian (Geology Department, Hofstra University)

Hofstra University Graduate Course (Spring Semester 2008)

The geology of western and central Connecticut is the focus of this Spring semester field trip conducted by Dr. Merguerian of Hofstra's Geology Department. Having spent many years mapping and collecting minerals in Connecticut to the present day, he is well-qualified to conduct a trip to examine the geological and mining history of this picturesque region. Come join this IDEAS weekend field trip to better understand the geological development of the Nutmeg state. For teachers and geology enthusiasts, rock and mineral collecting is a focus of this trip.

The field trip/workshop is appropriate for all teachers grades K-12 and interested members of the general public. This course may be taken for 16 hours toward Professional Development credit or 2 semester hours of Hofstra University graduate credit. Leave Hofstra campus at 8:00 AM on Saturday 26 April; return at approximately 6:00 PM on Sunday 27 April 2008.

Fee: $275 (includes lodging and transportation, but does not include the cost of graduate credit.)

Information on Registering for this Course and other University Programs

Contact Dr. Janice Koch or Eloise Gmur, Hofstra Ideas Institute

Geology For Teachers and Travelers:

The Geology and Tectonics of Central California

23 July to 01 August 2008

Geology 280-J (CRN: 70623)

Trip Leaders: Charles Merguerian, Steve Okulewicz, Starr Lanphere

Hofstra University Graduate Course (Summer Session II, 2008)

Students may register for 4 s.h. Hofstra University graduate credit or get 32 hours toward in-service credit

All Inclusive Trip Fee (Less Tuition) = $2,000

This year, a new field trip is planned for central California (Geology 280-J [CRN 70623]; 4 s.h. graduate credit) to study a west to east transect of the state during Summer Session II. Students will study the geology from San Francisco eastward across the Sierra Nevada to Mono Craters with Professors Charles Merguerian and Steve Okulewicz of Hofstra's Geology Department. Registration will be limited to eight students and preference will be given to those registering for credit. A preliminary itinerary and deadlines are given below and a guidebook will be provided in advance of the trip. For now, we want to get an idea about how many students would be interested in attending. Thus, the following deadlines will be imposed:

15 March 2008 (or before) - Let IDEAS know of your intention to join the field course.

20 April - Deadline for a non-refundable $700 check deposit made out to Hofstra University to reserve a place in the happy van.

01 June - Deadline for additional $1300 expense payment. (All checks to Hofstra University.)

30 June - Deadline for course registration with the University.

16 July - Pre-trip briefing and lectures (1:00 PM in 162 Gittleson Hall).

Purpose and Goals of Course: Through an integrated lecture and field course, students will investigate the geology of California. The purpose of the course will be to create and to provide a hands-on introduction to geologic field observation and the methods needed to integrate conclusions based academic learning and observed scientific data. Thus, emphasis for the course will be placed on the tectonic, volcanic and sedimentary depositional processes observed and what conclusions can be inferred from the field data gathered. Field reports will be based on observations, measurement, analysis and interpretation in the subdisciplines of structure, stratigraphy, volcanology, petrology, field geology, cartography, mineralogy, and geochemistry. Brief mapping exercises will be undertaken to integrate observations with problem solving and interpretive analysis. A formal lecture precedes the field course. Student Powerpoint presentations will be based on each individual field report and will end the session (10 days off campus and at least 2 days on-campus; 4 s.h.) For Liberal Arts Credit.

View of the western foothills metamorphic belt of the Sierra Nevada Range.

Information on Registering for this Course and other University Programs

Contact Dr. Janice Koch or Eloise Gmur, Hofstra Ideas Institute

Current Events

Be sure to download our 1994 publication on the Glacial Geology of New York City, over 100 pages of pure fun - out of print for years and after you read it you'll know why it should have stayed that way!

Also, now for free download, a 1991 field trip contribution on the Geology of Long Island's North Shore, produced for the Long Island Geologists.

Dukelabs Active Links - (and more links below)

HMan 's Hammiewood Movie Spots

Godzilla Lab Manual

The New and Improved (any thinking person knows what they really mean: "over the Summer we corrected a few typos and changed a figure") Ninth Edition of the Introductory Geology Lab Manual, by Charles Merguerian and J Bret Bennington is now being distributed by Pearson-Prentice Hall Publishers. The fiscal cornerstone (or is that Waterloo?) of Prentice-Hall's first quarter, the manual offers twelve integrated hands-on laboratory modules with major emphasis on mineral- and rock identification, map reading and interpretation. Soon, there'll be more new editions than chapters! The manual features an appendix on the geology of the southern part of the New England Appalachians but could be easily customized for adoption in other regions of the country. (Read that as: "Hey, you guys in Marketing, how about some outside adoptions".) In a concise, no frills, and cost-effective manner, it covers the major topics in Physical Geology and is appropriate for both science and non-science University majors.

The manual's primary focus is basic and simple in that it employs methods of logical and inductive reasoning. Rigorously tested for effectiveness at the undergraduate level over the past fifteen years, the writing style is crisp and the graphics, diagrams, and tables are easy to read. Removable worksheets are included, making the manual essentially useless for any intended student sell-back to the bookstore - a shrewd marketing decision made by the authors. This nifty two-color (in superb black and stunning white inside) 164-page manual is priced inexpensively and is available with a 45-page instructors manual. Educators (or those simply posing as such) may request an examination copy by contacting the Pearson-Prentice Hall College Division (ISBN: 0-536-30107-7).

On-The-Rocks Guidebooks

Over the decade from September 1988 to November 1998, Duke geologists Drs. Charles Merguerian and John E. Sanders conducted forty-two On-The-Rocks field trips within a 125-mile radius of the New York area. They coauthored twenty four illustrated guidebooks that, through detailed road logs and locality descriptions, took the reader out, On-the-Rocks (tm).

Each guide sports a spectacular 90# card stock cover and includes an extensive reference list and a host digitally remastered illustrations. Destined to become highly sought after collector's items and forever useful for oil spills, taking mushroom prints, and all phases of post-nuclear bartering, information and order blanks are available. We have compiled an On-The-Rocks web-based database of 185 field trip localities for our friends and colleagues.

Exciting News! Recent efforts by Dukelabs has resulted in a major step forward on production of the fabled "New Jersey Roadside Geology" guide. Fieldwork is underway with coauthor Dave Harper, digitizing and collection of images for the book has been completed. We expect completion in 2008.

Dukelabs' Favorite Links

As far as the links below are concerned, just a few notes as to what you may find. In a rare move toward organization and to give the appearance that we've effected a "major overhaul" of our webpage, we have worked on our linkages (we used WD-40 and needle-nosed pliers). New categories have been created and dead links and our editorial staff (dead wood) have been reduced to ashes. The Dukelabs Active Links section is devoted to latest our main public offerings including a link to our comprehensive On-The-Rocks Locality Database, our New York City/Appalachian Reference Database, Classic NYC Minerals Page, a Dukelabs Image Gallery, Shrine to Firecracker Labels, and many other venues.

The Dukelabs Archive acts as a repository (toxic dumpsite?) for all of our past five years of everchanging web offerings. New content and links from the Active Links eventually end up in the Archive section. With our new server and more time, this area should increase in dimension as we've already archived all of our old material and just need the time to massage it into shape. Dukelabs regulars can stroll down "memory lane" while newcomers have lots to read, download, ponder, and ultimately ignore.

The Useful Geological Links provides a rapid connection to an evergrowing constellation of geological links for students and professionals providing direct connections to almost all government-, state-, university-, and geotechnical data- and image sources with modest surfing and limited fees (read that as free). We also provide a direct link with the United Geological Survey's Mapping Information Program. Need to download an index map or to look up a geographic or topographic feature? Click on the USGS link and visit GNIS and other allied services for free help and support. See and download super images from space at the Visual Earth website. Remember, that "they are the government and they're there to help you". Far as we can see, with all of the wonderful resources of the web, government and private organizations have brought depth and quality to the information superhighway. Enjoy the electron flow.

Dukelabs Archive

Useful Geological Links

Duke Memorials

Note: The material on this page and subpages are protected by copyright statutes [© 2008] and can not be used for any commercial purpose unless you cut us in! Educators are free to use any and all of these materials for instructional purposes with proper acknowledgement.