Carl Matzek
Environmental Geo-Science
Graduate in Spring 2010
2 Research Projects:
May 2008- May 2009                       May 2009- May 2010

Summary of my work:  Both of my projects are in an area is known as the Little Elk Terrane located in the Northeast corner of the Black Hills, South Dakota. I am examining the local folding of a metamorphic rock known as the Biotite-Feldspar Gneiss, to better understand the regional processes that formed the Black Hills. The 08’-09’ project was a general overview of the area to understand what was there and my 09’-10’ project will be more in depth mapping of the area. After my field work is complete I will compile the data and create a geologic map of the area. I will also be making “thin sections”, which are really thin pieces of rock that you can look through with a microscope to see the deformation in the individual crystals from the folding. Once completed I will be presenting my project to the Winona State Geoscience faculty and traveling to a Geologic Society of America meeting to present my project to Geologists from around the United States. This project will also be a part of multiple projects in the area that Dr. Stephen Allard is working on.

Future Goals: Upon graduation I plan on attending a graduate school to earn a master’s degree in hydrology. After being in the work force for a number of years I intend on going back to school to become a Professor and teach structural geology at a University. This picture is Dr. Allard and I measuring the foliation in the Gneiss.

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