Warwick Field-Trip
April 24th, 2021 

Due to an unexpected snowstorm, the geology field trip scheduled for April 17 was postponed a week and held on April 24th. This time the weather cooperated and participants enjoyed clear skies and temperatures in the high sixties. Ten people participated including Geo division regulars Lou Hohos, Joanie MacPhee and Max MacPhee, as well as interested school-age children and Warwick and Erving rock enthusiasts.

 The group first made a quick stop at Wawbeek rock (pictured), a massive glacial erratic of Gneiss, and discussed the power of glaciers to push such a heavy boulder to its current location.  

 They proceeded to  “the pit” off of Hastings Pond road, where they found massive Garnet, Olivine/Peridotite, Quartz and Magnetite. Trip leader Max MacPhee brought a hand-magnet to demonstrate the magnetic properties of Magnetite. He also gave a demonstration on safest method to handle rock hammer to split rocks, with the assistance of young Hayley (pictured)

 The second stop brought the group to an old Black Tourmaline mine. Pictured is Max MacPhee holding a large rock containing minute feathery Black Tourmaline crystals.

 At the third and final stop, the group visited the house of Clare Green. There, they found more Garnets embedded in the stones of footpaths and stone walls, showing that the gem is abundant in the Warwick bedrock. An intrusive example of Pink Gneiss in the stone wall prompted a short explanation about the Pink Gneiss of Tully reservoir, and how it gets its color due to potassium in the feldspar minerals within the Gneiss.