3rd General Meeting of Aspiring Geopark

The 3rd general meeting of Cabox Aspiring Geopark was held Friday, March 4 at Memorial University’s Grenfell Campus in Corner Brook, with approximately 40 people in attendance.

In addition to updates on the past year’s developments and a review of the upcoming application process, MUN Geologist Andy Kerr gave a special presentation entitled ‘Newfoundland, the Bay of Islands, and the Geological Revolution’.

Geologist Andy Kerr of MUN’s Earth Sciences Department

Below are some of the highlights from that presentation.

IAT / Cabox Aspiring Geopark Chairperson Paul Wylezol outlined the GeoSite categories, beginning with five geological groupings: Ancient Continental Slope, Transported Continental Margin, Bay of Islands Ophiolite Complex, Little Port Island Arc Complex, and Carboniferous Cover Rocks of the Deer Lake Basin.

Paul Wylezol discusses the Geological Groups of the planned Geopark

Ancient Continental Shelf (above, click to enlarge)

Transported Continental Margin (above, click to enlarge)

Bay of Islands Ophiolite Complex (above, click to enlarge)

Little Port Island Arc Complex (above, click to enlarge)

Carboniferous Cover Rocks of the Deer Lake Basin (above, click to enlarge)

Geology was followed by a discussion about ecological and cultural Geosites, such as those related to James Cook and next year’s 250th Anniversary celebration.

James Cook Map of the Geopark Region, 1768 (above, click to enlarge)

After education, Geopark boundary and steering committee, the IAT’s Kevin Noseworthy closed out the meeting with a presentation on the technological components of the Aspiring Geopark, including 3D visualization, remote cell phone service and new website.