September 14, 2007
Bowling Green, Ky. - Four Western Kentucky University geology faculty members are leading the annual field conference of the Kentucky Society of Professional Geologists (KSPG) this weekend.
More than 100 professionals and students will be participating in the two-day conference centered on the area’s geologic resources.
Dr. Mike May and Dr. Ken Kuehn developed the theme they called, “Geology of the Mammoth Cave and Nolin River Gorge Region, with Emphasis on Hydrocarbon and Karst Resources.”
“This area is fertile ground for economic geologists,” Dr. Kuehn said, “…when we hear about karst resources, most people think of caves and springs but what about the limestone itself? Our local formation, the Ste. Genevieve Limestone, is the most quarried rock in the state of Kentucky for agricultural lime, power plant scrubbers vital for reducing acid rain and air pollution, and aggregate for concrete and roads. Most people aren’t aware that limestone aggregate alone is a half-billion dollar industry in Kentucky.”
The KSPG will formally designate the Kyrock area in Edmonson County as a Distinguished Geological Site on Saturday, Dr. May said. “Our deposits of shallow oil and natural rock asphalt are known internationally,” he said. “This will be a wonderful recognition for the Kyrock area that literally paved the way with natural rock asphalt across the state and nation and in places such as Havana and Rio de Janeiro.”
He also noted that there is now greater economic importance being placed on the proper development and management of heavy oils or so-called unconventional oil resources, which are plentiful in the region.
Dr. Andrew Wulff, assistant professor of geology, is serving as 2007 KSPG President and Dr. Fred Siewers, associate professor of geology, is the Secretary/Treasurer. “WKU is out in front on this one and we are proud to be in this leadership role. I think people will be very impressed with the geological richness of our area,” Dr. Wulff said.
Highlights of the conference will include a visit to Scotty’s Contracting and Stone, and a Rinker Materials Quarry, both in Bowling Green; an asphalt quarry near Kyrock; and Mammoth Cave National Park.
According to Dr. David Keeling, head of the Department of Geography and Geology, "faculty and student participation in this regional conference highlights our level of engagement with local communities and focuses attention on a little-studied aspect of Kentucky's economy and resources. The department’s geologists continue to take a leadership role in analyzing and explaining the value of regional resources to the state and in demonstrating how a geological understanding of our region is important for policy makers and residents alike.”
More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.For information, contact Ken Kuehn at (270) 745-3082.
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