What better way to reinforce what you’re learning in the classroom than to go out and experience it in person? That’s what Geology instructor Katie Burles believes. She recently took her Introduction to Geology (Geology 105) students out to the Bull River Mine Site. The mine, owned by Purcell Basin Minerals Inc., was operational in the 1960s and 70s and is currently working toward receiving a mine permit to reopen.
Katie explains, “The mine targets a supergene-type copper mineralization and an underlying copper-silver vein system. The majority of the original infrastructure is currently in place from the previous periods of operation.”
While at the site, students were led by Purcell Basin Minerals representatives, Tim and Rick on an incredible tour of the processing plant as well as a surface tour. Students were treated to information on safety, the mine’s history, the current state of development, and, of course, geology!
“I can’t honestly say enough about the tour,” says Geology 105 student Braeden. “It exceeded my expectations. Tim and Rick answered any question we threw at them and did so in a way that was clear and concise for us.”
As an added bonus, students were allowed to take samples of rocks and ore home with them. “The highlight of the field trip was taking home cool rock samples,” said Maddi, another Geology 105 student.
This, for sure, was a field trip that rocked!