The sedimentologist in me got excited, yesterday, when we found load casts and flame structures in a silt and sand outcrop far north of Farmington. Typically, these sedimentary structures are associated with rapid loading of more dense sand on soupy, less dense silty mud, which leads to balls of sand sinking into the silt and silt squirting up into the sand. This is the sort of thing we look for in order to interpret the conditions of deposition.
Today, we left the confines of surrounding hills and headed out onto the broad floodplain created by the ancestral Sandy River. This area is rich with farming activity now, but its low relief makes it a challenge to find outcrops. We do find two good outcrops along the river’s edge. The first was also the location of our biggest startled moment of the day. While walking through tall grass, I sensed something moving at my feet and peered into the grass. Just as Jeff became aware that I was cautiously peering into the grass, a turkey hen burst out of the grass within a few feet of us. Turkey chicks were scrambling every which way . . . we turned around and found another route.
Today, we left the confines of surrounding hills and headed out onto the broad floodplain created by the ancestral Sandy River. This area is rich with farming activity now, but its low relief makes it a challenge to find outcrops. We do find two good outcrops along the river’s edge. The first was also the location of our biggest startled moment of the day. While walking through tall grass, I sensed something moving at my feet and peered into the grass. Just as Jeff became aware that I was cautiously peering into the grass, a turkey hen burst out of the grass within a few feet of us. Turkey chicks were scrambling every which way . . . we turned around and found another route.
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