2009 Midwest Chapter of the Friends of Mineralogy Symposium and Field Conference
Microdiamonds and meteorite impact structures
Saturday September 5, Miami University, Oxford, OH

Many people may have seen the recent PBS NOVA program called “Last Extinction”.  If you have not you can watch it online or check for the next TV broadcast at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/clovis/ . Scientists propose a radical new idea of what killed off the mammoths and other large animals at the end of the last ice age; a major comet impact. Evidence for this and other impacts includes the presence of microdiamonds in Earth’s sediments.

The theme of the 2009 Midwest Chapter of the Friends of Mineralogy Symposium and field conference is “Microdiamonds and meteorite impact structures”. The conference will include presentations by several scientists working on different aspects of these topics as well as field trips to the Serpent Mound impact structure and proximal mineral collecting sites in south central Ohio.

The conference, being organized by Nelson Shafer (Indiana Geological Survey) and John Rakovan (Miami University), will be held Saturday, September 5 in the Department of Geology at Miami University, Oxford Ohio. Speakers will include Dr. Ken Tankersley (Department of Anthropology, University of Cincinnati), Dr. Andrew Phelps (Materials Physics Lab, University of Dayton) and Greg Schumacher (Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Division of Geological Survey)

Schedule

The meeting will be in the Karl E. Limper Geology Museum, Department of Geology, Miami University. It is located on the first floor (basement) of Shideler Hall, Room 8. Directions can be found at: http://www.cas.muohio.edu/limpermuseum/VisitTheMuseum/index.htm#Directions

Parking at Miami University on weekends is free and does not require a permit. Two parking areas are convenient for the symposium. Bishop circle which is adjacent to Shideler Hall and Cook Field, which is across the street (Rt. 27/Patterson Ave.) from Shideler.

9 – 9:30 AM
Introduction by Nelson Shafer and John Rakovan

9:30 – 10:15
Evidence of the Clovis Comet at Sheriden Cave, Ohio
Dr. Ken Tankersley

10: 15 – 11:00
The Physics and chemistry of impact diamonds with examples from Popigai.
Dr. Andrew Phelps

11 – 11:45
The Impact of Ohio’s Extraterrestrial Visitor- Geology of the Serpent Mound Disturbance
Greg Schumacher

12 – 12:30 Lunch and Video “The Last Extinction”

12:30 – 1 Visit the Limper Geology Museum

1:00 PM Field Trip: Serpent Mound and Vicinity, OH