WorldWide Drilling Resource

A Priceless Gift for OSU Compiled by Editorial Staff of WorldWide Drilling Resource ® The Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) was established in 1937. Since then, it has evolved from its early focus on mining into a critical source of information to help residents prepare for natural haz- ards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, and coastal erosion, in ad- dtion to regulating surface mining, and exploration for gas, oil, and geothermal resources. Since 1972, Oregon mine regulations have required drill operators to submit well records including core cuttings. These materials are kept confidential for four years if they originate from oil and gas wells, and five years if they come from geothermal wells. As a result of these regulations, the state’s core sam- ple collection has grown steadily. When DOGAMI made budget cuts they began looking for a new home for Oregon’s expanding core collection. In the process, scientists with the agency took a decisive step to preserve geologic records for generations to come by donating nearly 20 pallets of rock and sediment from decades of mining and drilling throughout the state. Oregon State University (OSU) was the recipient of this rare gift. The OSU Marine Geology Repository in Corvallis is funded by the National Science Foundation, and houses approximately 6000 cores. Historically, most of the library’s samples have come from oceans and lakes. In fact, the lab contains core samples from every ocean on the planet. For scientists seeking answers to questions about the earth and its environment, the university core warehouse is a hotspot for learning. The lab has samples dating back to the 1960s still being requested for study. In a good year, researchers check out as many as 15,000 samples from OSU. The cost to produce a core sample ranges from hundreds to millions of dollars, depending on the depth and setting of the drilled hole. The wealth of knowledge to be derived from these samples is priceless. Thanks in part to the generous donation from DOGAMI, the core laboratory at OSU now has well over 53,000 feet of core in-house, ready for a closer look. Alaska Miners Association Phone: 907-563-9229 Fax: 907-563-9225 ama@alaskaminers.org www.alaskaminers.org Alberta Water Well Drilling Association Tel: 780-386-2335 awwda@xplornet.com American Exploration and Mining Assn. Phone: 509-624-1158 Fax: 509-623-1241 info@miningamerica.org www.miningamerica.org Atlantic Water Well Association Tel: 888-242-4440 Fax: 902-435-0089 nsgwa@ns.aliantzinc.ca • www.nsgwa.ca WorldWide Drilling Resource ® is a proud member of these associations: Australian Drilling Industry Association adia@adia.com.au Black Hills Chapter of the ISEE President: Doug Hoy www.bitwconference.org British Columbia Ground Water Assn. Tel: 604-530-8934 Fax: 604-530-8934 secretary@bcgwa.org • www.bcgwa.org National Drilling Association Tel: 877-632-4748 Fax: 216-803-9900 www.nda4u.com New Zealand Drillers Federation, Inc. www.nzdrillersfederation.co.nz Northern Plains Chapter of the ISEE President: Billy Obermire Tel: 307-689-0050 www.bitwconference.org Nova Scotia Ground Water Association Tel: 888-242-4440 Fax: 902-435-0089 nsgwa@ns.aliantzinc.ca • www.nsgwa.ca Ontario Groundwater Association Tel: 519-245-7194 Fax: 519-245-7196 ogwa@ogwa.ca • www.ogwa.ca Women In Mining 866-537-9694 wim@womeninmining.org www.womeninmining.org 47 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® JANUARY 2017