30 years of geology + 3 courses in geology = a rich collaboration

Names: Jim McLelland, Ph.D., Visiting Professor of Geosciences
Davin Lyons ‘06

Project Title: Field mapping of bedrock geology within the southeastern Adirondacks

Project Description: Mapping, dating, and chemically analyzing billion year old rocks northwest of Saratoga Springs to describe exceptionally large geologic fold structures that reflect continental collision of Himalaya-like scale

Project Genesis: Jim McLelland’s geological field and laboratory investigation of the Adirondack Mountains began in 1965 and has continued unabated during his academic career. What his research uncovered was the presence of unusually large folds in the bedrock, some up to 150 kilometers in length. Since such structures are commonly associated with great mountain belts where continental collisions occur – India and Tibet, for example – their presence in the Adirondacks was problematic until Jim and his students developed the data to demonstrate continental collision also occurred in this region.

Project Outcome: Jim and Davin jointly prepared the results and have developed a poster for presentation at professional geological association conferences.

Quotes: “It was invaluable as a working experience in the field, especially for someone who, at the time, had just finished his first year and had only taken a small number of geology courses” – Davin Lyons

“The best research is that which resolves prior problems and hypotheses but also raises new ones as a consequence of itself” – Jim McLelland

Student Background:

Name: Davin Lyons
Home: Guilford CT
Class: ‘06
Major: Probably Geology
Minor: Chemistry
Skidmore Activities: Ultimate Frisbee, Backpacking VP of Outing Club
After Skidmore: Grad school, travel
Why Skidmore? “I came because of Skidmore’s location and the welcoming feeling on campus. But even after only one full year, Skidmore has offered me more opportunity, and more fun, than I ever expected from college.”