“The Carpentry” in Makhtesh Ramon: Unexpected columnar jointing

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

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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A day of geological exploration in the Negev: Matred Formation fossils and bonus petroglyphs

MITZPE RAMON, ISRAEL–Our third stop in our geological journey today was 19 km north of Mitzpe Ramon (N 30.76084°, E 34.72020°) at another outcrop of the Matred Formation (Middle Eocene). We again had silicification, but no corals this time, The … Continue reading
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A day of geological exploration in the Negev: Silicified corals in the Matred Formation (Eocene)

MITZPE RAMON, ISRAEL–Our next stop on this day of exploration was 32 km southeast of Mitzpe Ramon at outcrops of the Matred Formation (Middle Eocene). The location is N 30.36899°, E 34.98655°. Look at those coordinates on Google Maps and … Continue reading
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A day of geological exploration in the Negev: the Hazeva Formation (Lower Miocene)

MITZPE RAMON, ISRAEL–It is a tradition with the Wooster Israel expeditions to spend one day with our colleague Yoav Avni geologically explore areas beyond those associated with our present research topics. This is the way we plant seeds for future … Continue reading
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Stepping out of the Wooster Bubble

Two years into my college experience, I am used to feeling pretty comfortable on a daily basis.  I know life at the College of Wooster.  I know the quickest walking routes to class, at least one professor in every department, and how to make … Continue reading
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Goodbye, Makhtesh Gadol (for now)

MITZPE RAMON, ISRAEL–Today Team Israel 2013 had its last visit to Makhtesh Gadol, marking the end of Lizzie Reinthal’s and Steph Bosch’s fieldwork. We collected our last specimens from the Matmor Formation, which is exposed only in the center of … Continue reading
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Wooster’s Fossil of the Week: An echinoid from the Eocene of France

The above is a specimen of the echinoid Echinolampas ovalis (Bory de St Vincent, 1824) from the Eocene of Civrac-en-Médoc, France. We are looking at what is called the aboral surface — that part of the organism on the other … Continue reading
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Geoarchaeology in Timna Valley

MITZPE RAMON, ISRAEL–Wooster senior Steph Bosch is a double major in archaeology and geology. Rather than do a joint Independent Study project, she is actually doing two theses, which will no doubt be challenging this coming academic year, but she … Continue reading
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Wooster Geologists at the Red Sea

MITZPE RAMON, ISRAEL–It is a tradition for Wooster Geologists in Israel to have a day trip on Saturdays (Shabbat) to places of geological and paleontological interest. This year we choose to go two hours south to the city of Eilat … Continue reading
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