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August 19, 2009

"High-Altitude Geological Trekking in Peru"

by Rick and Shari Kelley

Nevado Ausangate (elevation 6384 m) is a prominent landmark within view of the city of Cuzco in the Eastern Cordillera of southeastern Peru. Geologic features on and around the mountain, including young faulting associated with destructive earthquakes, young volcanism, hot springs, and high topographic relief, suggest that this massif may be actively forming and creating substantial seismic risk to this part of Peru.  Reconnaissance scale mapping and sampling of the Ausangate area was performed during a 12-day trek, on foot and on horseback, through the high country surrounding the mountain.


Rick standing under glacier on Ausangate

In this presentation, we will briefly report on the results of our reconnaissance scale mapping of the Ausangate area.  In addition, we will describe the landscape of a remote region of Peru that has shaped (and been shaped by) the indigenous culture in this area.

Shari Kelley is a Web Information Specialist and Field Geologist with the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, and an Adjunct Faculty in the Earth and Environmental Science Department, at New Mexico Tech.  She received her B.S. from New Mexico State and her Ph.D. from Southern Methodist University.  Her research interests include application of apatite fission-track thermochronology to tectonic and landscape evolution problems in the High Plains-Rio Grande rift-Rocky Mountain-Colorado Plateau region, and tectonic and landscape evolution of the Jemez Mountains, New Mexico.


Shari ... 'out standing in her field'......

Rick is a geologist and geographical information systems (GIS) analyst in the Earth & Environmental Sciences division at LANL.  He earned his B.S. in geology from New Mexico State in 1978.  Rick’s geologic experience includes oil and gas exploration, environmental geology, and hydrogeology.  For the last 12 years, Rick has specialized in geologic applications in GIS.

Rick and Shari are both avid hikers and backpackers, and have been LAM members for several years.

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