News Release

Bishop Campus

Cerro Coso College Geology – Rockin' the Eastern Sierra

December 13, 2006

The Cerro Coso College Geology Department will offer the following Geology classes at the Bishop Campus in Spring 2007. Registration for the Spring Semester is currently underway. Classes begin January 20, 07

Physical Science 101, General Earth Science is a 3 unit class meeting on Tuesdays from 11 a.m.-2:10 p.m. This course covers the study of the earth as an integrated system, earth-sun relationships and motions, weather, climatic types and regions, ecosystems, soils, natural hazards, resource management, landforms and the ocean.

Physical Science 102, General Earth Science Lab is a 1 unit class meeting on Thursdays 11 a.m.-2:10 p.m. This lab class provides practical experience in field methods and enhancement of topics discussed in Physical Science 101.

These classes satisfy the Natural Science General Education requirement and are transferable to the CSU and UC systems.

Both classes will emphasize local geology, resources, and geologic hazards in the spectacular natural laboratory of the Eastern Sierra and Owens Valley.

The Cerro Coso College Geology Department will also be offering two weekend field trip classes this Spring:

PHSC 103 (CRN 30674) is a 1 unit class scheduled for April 14-15 Eastern California Shear Zone – The spectacular mountain scenery of Eastern California is the product of young faulting and active mountain-building. The Eastern California Shear Zone is the name geologists give to this region and it was subject of a major international geology conference in Mammoth in 2005. One of the conclusions of the conference: the "New San Andreas" may be breaking through the crust in the Owens Valley. What does this mean for seismic hazards in the Owens Valley? In this weekend field trip Dr. David Miller will look at evidence for active faulting and mountain building in the Owens, Panamint, and Death Valleys. The class will camp Saturday night near Panamint Springs.

PHSC 103 (CRN 30675) is a 1 unit scheduled for May 4-5 Glacial Owens River – During glacial times the Owens River was much larger and flowed all the way from Mono Lake to Searles Lake and possibly as far as Death Valley. "On this field trip we will take a virtual float trip along the glacial Owens River down the stair step necklace of glacial lakes from Mono to Owens to China Lake to Searles Lake," stated instructor David Miller. "The class will leave from Bishop both days. Day 1 we will journey up Hwy 395 to Mono Lake and return to Bishop down the ancient river channel via Benton Hot Springs. On Sunday we will travel from Bishop to Searles Lake, stopping at Owens Lake, Fossil Falls, and the Trona Pinnacles," Miller explained.

For more information contact Dr. Dave Miller at damiller@cerrocoso.edu. Review the schedule of classes and register on line at www.cerrocoso.edu.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Joann Handeland, Director of Public Information (760) 384-6230