James R. Small

Professional Geologist, Environmental Mining Geologist

GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF MINNESOTA
2004 FIELD TRIP NUMBER  2
EDWARD KRAEMER & SONS QUARRY

            Date:       Saturday, July 17, 2004        10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (roughly 4 hour trip)

Leader:  James R. Small, Professional Geologist, Environmental Mining Geologist

HIGHLIGHTS:   This short field trip will focus on a large limestone quarry in Burnsville, Minnesota, with collecting stromatolites as a feature activity. Limestone in this quarry was deposited in the Ordovician, approximately 450 million years ago.  You will descend into this working quarry, operating one half of the day on Saturday with crushing and sorting processes active.  The surface of this limestone quarry exhibits glacial age erosion features, such as river wear, waterfalls, potholes and sinkholes.

WHEN AND HOW:  We will meet at Edward Kraemer & Sons, 1020 West Cliff Road, Burnsville.   South bound on Interstate 35 W: cross the Minnesota River, pass Black Dog road, and exit on Cliff Road.  Cliff Road is about 5.5 miles south of I-494.  Turn right (West) on Cliff Road at Knox (now abandoned) and travel less than 0.2 mile to Kraemer’s parking lot on right hand side where we may leave some of the cars and ride pool into the quarry.   North bound on Interstate 35:  Interstate 35 splits into 35 W and 35 E.  Follow 35 W and just north of this split, 35 W passes under 42. Travel north on 35 W, pass Minnesota 13 and exit on Cliff Road. Cliff Road is about 2.5 miles north of 42.  Loop around 3/4 th circle and duck under the expressway.  Cliff road makes a sharp left (West) at Knox.  Go less than 0.2 miles to Kraemer’s on the right.   

Check-in begins at 9:15 a.m.

Please arrive early to allow for timely start at 10:00 a.m. 

Bring a hard hat if you have one.  The quarry also has many.  Crow bars and other tools may help recover some stromatolites, and use an older car or pickup if you want heaps of stromatolites.   For those interested, we will move to Cliff Fen Park, 0.7 mi east of 35 W on Cliff Road, for a late bag lunch. 

++PLEASE NOTE++  Space is not limited.

COST: Cost of the field trip–$10 per member. Non-members pay an additional $5 fee.

Payments (check) will be accepted by mail (use address below) or on the day of the field trip (cash or check).    (Make checks payable to Geological Society of MN)

PLEASE CALL AND REGISTER: 

If you plan to participate, please call Bill Robbins at:  651-739-1146  evenings only,

or mail:    GSM
                 c/o William B. Robbins
                 2277 Stillwater Ave. E
                 Maplewood, MN  55119-3621

PREPARATION: Come prepared for any type of weather and terrain.  Come rain or shine.  Each field trip participant will be required to sign a waiver of liability prior to the start of the field trip. You may bring a bag lunch.

We will meet at Edward Kraemer & Sons, 1020 West Cliff Road, Burnsville