News

Location - Lafarge Quarry

The Lafarge Quarry is located in Dundas Ontario, near Hamilton, on highway 5, 6km west of the junction between highway #5 and highway #6.

Geology

1.8 metres, (6 feet) of Guelph dolostone underlain by 13 metres (44 feet) of Eramosa Dolostone of the Lockport Formation.

By: Amy Widdifield, Co-op high school student from Eastwood Collegiate Institute, Kitchener.

When most of us think of fossils, we think of dinosaurs. A fossil is the remains, or some other evidence, of a prehistoric plant or animal. Usually for fossilization, hard materials such as bone or shell are needed. After an organism dies, a quick burial in sedimentary material helps prevent decay, allowing the sediment to harden undisturbed over a long period of time. Very few organisms actually end up as fossils as the condtions needed are rarely found in nature.

By: Kristina Anderson, assistant curator

Today, planet Earth is believed to be around 4.6 billion years old. The geological time scale, which is in continual reconstruction, divides Earth history into broad spans of time. Many boundaries are marked by a biological event, such as the appearance of a new species. The Precambrian was originally defined as the time before life began. We now know this isn't true and even have examples within Ontario of life during the Precambrian.

By: Barbara Elve, UW Gazette

One of four new Networks of Centres of Excellence announced by the federal government this week -- the Canadian Water Network (CWN) -- will be based at the University of Waterloo under the direction of Earth sciences professor Bob Gillham (right). "The quality and safety of our drinking water is a top priority for Canadians," says Gillham. "Our research will focus on the effects of global climate change, declining water levels, and land use and its impact on Canada's supply of clean water."

By: Peter Russell

With the new focus on Earth Sciences in the curriculum teachers are looking for hands-on activities. I have had success with a fossil fish digging activity which has become very popular at gemshows, science openhouses and other events. Mothers and fathers assist their children to extract fossils sometimes for over an hour at a time! I am sure this enthusiasm will be generated for you too.

David Forget (1969-1989) was a first year Co-op, Geology Option student in the Earth Sciences Department when he suffered a tragic accident while working in northern Canada during his first work experience in 1989. The David M. Forget Award was instituted in his memory. An award is presented yearly to a second year student who writes the winning essay outlining their personal interest in the geosciences and -

By: Judy Halpern

I have been teaching for over 15 years and still have little difficulty finding magic in everyday experiences. Of course as I get older, more experienced and I dare say, more cynical, I may have to look a little harder but spending time outdoors with young children makes it an everyday possibility!

By: Christine Kulyk

As a science journalist, I attended GeoCanada 2000, a landmark conference held in Calgary last summer that brought together nearly 5,000 Canadian geologists and other earth scientists to discuss common concerns and plan new research directions. Subtitled The Millennium Geoscience Summit, it was the largest gathering of Earth science professionals that's ever been held in Canada.

By: Hesham Najiya and Jason Cole

Salt, or sodium chloride, has been used by man well before recorded history. In ancient times, man started realizing the importance of salt to their diet after they start cultivating their own farms and began relying less on wild game (which was the primary source of salt). Salt exploitation and use has interestingly shaped a major part of human history, probably more than any other mineral. Even the word soldier, derived from the Roman sal dare means "to give salt" because Roman soldiers were paid with salt as well as gold.