Costa Rica 2016
In July 2016, I joined a fieldwork of my PhD student Lydian Boschman, together with her MSc student Erik van der Wiel, Costa Rican colleague Kennet Flores from Brooklyn College, New York, and his MSc student Ardanna Bandoo from Trinidad and Tobago. We collected paleomagnetic samples from a large number of Large Igneous Provine and volcanic arc-related lavas, a well as radiolarian cherts in an attempt to restore plate kinematics within the Panthalassa Ocean – the PhD study of Lydian. Below you find an impression of the field trip.
Lydian Boschman, PhD student at Utrecht University, the Netherlands
Erik van der Wiel, Msc student at Utrecht University”
Ardanna Bandoo, MSc student at Brooklyn College, New York, USA
Kennet Flores, Assistant Professor at Brooklyn College, NY
…and me
We performed fieldwork on the Islas de Murciellagos and along the coast of the Santa Elena peninsula…which can only be reached by boat
On our way…before the waves crashed in on us and we got soaking wet 🙂
Ardanna volunteered as captain
Sampling targets: Pillow lavas…
…radiolarian cherts…
…and dikes
So in the morning, we started off with an exhausting boat ride in miserable weather…
…a swim to the beach in shark-infested waters…
…a relaxing stroll on the beach…
…for some…
Site inspection…
Getting the drilling gear in order…
…and rock n’ roll!
Next!
And on we go!
Damn core broke…
Erik passed his drilling exams with straight A’s
See?
Kennet, carrying bags of rocks to the next site
…and drilling!
Lydian, the field master, taking notes
…and testing local delicacies
…and fiercefully disapproving of my chert-sampling skills 🙂
On our way home
…at the end of a busy field day, with Maria Martha, a biologist from the National Park
Relaxing boat ride
I really enjoyed this trip 🙂
And so did Erik 🙂
Last day: dike sampling! Awesome geology, dikes intrusing mantle. We’ll see if we can demonstrate oceanic core complex formation here
Erik, chilling in the boat
And having fun with Kennet
Ardanna and Kennet after a wild and somewhat moist boat ride
A great sample collection!
And for the rest, some stunning scenery
Dead puffer fish
Frigate
Hermite crab
Iguanos
And other lizards
Pelicans…
More Pelicans
Lots of Pelicans…
…taking a crap in our canoo
Shells
Slugs
Turtles!
Fresh turtle nest!
…and great sunsets
Hope to return soon!