National Earth Science Week encourages people everywhere to explore the natural world and learn about the geosciences. The University of Nevada, Reno's 19th annual Earth Science Week field trip and the annual Great Basin Science Sample and Records Library open house is part of a national celebration of Earth sciences. Both events are free and open to the public.

Earth Science Week Field Trip (Sunday, October 16, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Visit a million-year-old lava flow, fossil sites and major earthquake faults at the annual Earth Science Week field trip sponsored by the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology. The field trip will explore those features and more of the geology along the Truckee River from Reno to Pyramid Lake on Sunday, Oct. 16. The tour is fun, educational, family oriented, free and open to the public. 

The field trip, "A River Runs Through It - Geology along the Truckee River Valley from Reno to Pyramid Lake" begins at 8 a.m. at the Great Basin Science Sample and Records Library located at 2175 Raggio Parkway. There will be several geologists in attendance to help answer questions about geology and to identify a variety of rocks. 

Participants in the Sunday field trip must sign up online prior to the field trip and sign a waiver form. Please print out a paper copy, sign and date, and submit prior to the field trip or bring to the field trip starting point. Be sure to bring your own water, lunch, sunscreen, hat, first-aid kit, walking stick, gloves, camera, binoculars, bag or bucket for collecting samples, safety glasses if you use a hammer, and GPS receiver (optional). The day's activity will involve hiking and climbing around rocks, so wear appropriate outdoor clothing and sturdy shoes or hiking boots. 

Please click here for more information. The field trip guide and details will be posted soon.  

Annual Open House (Saturday, October 15, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
The public is also invited to celebrate Earth sciences with a day of presentations, displays, tours and activities at the Bureau's Great Basin Science Library on Saturday, Oct. 15. 

"The Open House is an opportunity for the public to learn more about Nevada's amazing geology, bring your questions for our geologists and cartographers," said Jim Faulds, director of the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, a public service department of the University's College of Science. 

The free event includes ongoing activities for kids of all ages like learning to gold pan, finding earthquake faults on aerial photographs and playing geology games - with prizes. 

Attendees can bring a rock for free identification, meet scientists, view maps and equipment on display, buy publications on special sale and enjoy refreshments.

Presentation schedule:
10:30 a.m. to 11:20 a.m.
Controversies Surrounding the Origin of the World's Two Largest Gold Belts: The Witwatersrand of South Africa and the Carlin Trend of Nevada by John Muntean, associate professor, research geologist and director of the Ralph J. Roberts Center for Research in Economic Geology 

11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.
Geothermal Energy: So Hot Right Now by Bridget Ayling, associate professor, research geologist and director of the Great Basin Center for Geothermal Energy 

1:30 p.m. to 2:20 p.m.
Unravelling the Earthquake History along the Most Exciting Road in America: Quaternary Faults and Paleoearthquakes in Central Nevada by Rich Koehler, assistant professor and research geologist 

2:30 p.m. to 3:20 p.m.
Earth's Flex and Flow in Nevada by Dr. Bill Hammond, professor and research geodesist