Monthly Archives: July 2013

Wooster’s Fossils of the Week: Dinosaur footprints of unknown provenance

Mark Wilson July 14, 2013 1:00 am

These are the only fossils in the Wooster collection I feel some shame about. They are tridactyl theropod dinosaur footprints. They are not spectacular, but they do the job for classes and visits by schoolchildren. I regret that we have … Continue reading →

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An ancient Nabatean, Roman and Byzantine city in the northern Negev

Mark Wilson July 12, 2013 12:58 pm

MITZPE RAMON, ISRAEL–Our final stop of the final day: Mamshit. Above you see some of the ruins of this city east of Dimona and a short distance west of the descent into the Dead Sea Rift Valley. The highest structure … Continue reading →

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Wooster Geologists in the Dead Sea

Mark Wilson July 12, 2013 10:20 am

MITZPE RAMON, ISRAEL–The Wooster Geologists in Israel spent their last full day in the country visiting the Dead Sea Rift Valley and an archaeological site. It feels very good to have packed our hiking boots away for the season. Above, … Continue reading →

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Last day of fieldwork for Team Israel 2013

Mark Wilson July 11, 2013 1:57 pm

MITZPE RAMON, ISRAEL–We like to think that Dr. Shelley Judge would be proud of our fieldwork today. The Wooster Geologists returned to Wadi Hawarim to finish our fieldwork for Oscar Mmari’s project on synsedimentary faulting in the Mishash Formation (Campanian, … Continue reading →

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Meeting a group of excellent young Israeli geologists

Mark Wilson July 11, 2013 10:45 am

MITZPE RAMON, ISRAEL–Today I had the pleasure of talking with four excellent Israeli students who form their nation’s team in the upcoming 7th International Earth Science Olympiad. Their advisor and coach, Hanan Ginat (on the far right), invited me to … Continue reading →

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Wooster Geologists in Jerusalem

Mark Wilson July 10, 2013 11:14 pm

MITZPE RAMON, ISRAEL–This is the beautiful 400-year-old Turkish wall surrounding Jerusalem. It and virtually all the buildings in Jerusalem is made of “Jerusalem Stone” (a set of Cretaceous micritic limestones, to be pedantic). When the sun rises or sets on … Continue reading →

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Return to the Ora Formation

Mark Wilson July 9, 2013 10:38 am

MITZPE RAMON, ISRAEL–The last location Wooster Geologists in Israel visited today was on the southern edge of the Makhtesh Ramon structure (N 30.58209°, E 34.89375°). Here are excellent exposures of the Ora Formation (Upper Cretaceous, Turonian). This curious feature was … Continue reading →

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Adventures in the Triassic: Exploring the Gevanim Valley in Makhtesh Ramon, southern Israel

Mark Wilson July 9, 2013 10:07 am

MITZPE RAMON, ISRAEL–The second visit of the day for Wooster’s Team Israel 2013 was to the Gevanim Valley on the south side of the Makhtesh Ramon structure. This is a fascinating place where Cretaceous intrusions formed an uplifted dome exposing … Continue reading →

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“The Carpentry” in Makhtesh Ramon: Unexpected columnar jointing

Mark Wilson July 9, 2013 9:25 am

MITZPE RAMON, ISRAEL–At first glance this rocky outcrop in the middle of Makhtesh Ramon appears to be a typical columnar-jointed basalt. We’ve seen this many times on our blog (for example here and here). However, these rocks are entirely a … Continue reading →

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A day of geological exploration in the Negev: the En Yorqeam Formation (Upper Cretaceous) at Makhtesh Ramon

Mark Wilson July 8, 2013 1:07 pm

MITZPE RAMON, ISRAEL–Our final stop on our geological tour today was close to our temporary home: on the northern rim of Makhtesh Ramon (N 30.62831°, E 34.81759). Exposed here is the En Yorqeam Formation (Upper Cretaceous, Cenomanian), seen above as … Continue reading →

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