WorldWide Drilling Resource

like to see local and state economies benefit from increased exploration. Ontario has several repositories throughout the province, and has demon- strated the usefulness of core libraries. Ontario claims the study of rock core in one of their facilities led to the opening of a new gold mine several years ago. Without core libraries, many sam- ples would never be available for study. They would most likely end up discard- ed and destroyed. Core facilities enable the public to see what rocks look like at 16,000 feet, and hold 1.9-billion-year- old cores in their hands. As Christine Edgoose said, “While you can do a lot of reading and a lot of research, noth- ing beats seeing the rock for yourself.” 26 OCTOBER 2014 In Memoriam Michael D. Brown (1960~2014) Gayle with Geoprobe ® sadly informed us of the sudden passing of Michael D. Brown on August 19, 2014. He was co-owner of Geo Lab Probing Services in Winder, Georgia. Michael was a 1978 graduate of North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee, Georgia; and a 1983 graduate of Southern Polytechnic State University where he received his bachelor’s degree. He was a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and National Ground Water Association; and was a state representative-elect for District 98. He was also a car enthusiast and a member of Glory City Church in Suwanee. Gayle described him as a “wonderful man”. Michael is survived by his wife of 25 years Lisa; children William and Bonnie; and extended family. The management and staff of WorldWide Drilling Resource ® extend their condolences to Michael’s family, friends, and colleagues. Libraries for Rocks Compiled by Amy White, Associate Editor WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Ever wonder where core samples end up once they’ve served their origi- nal purpose? Some of these samples go to core libraries and continue edu- cating the public about the subsurface for years to come. At core libraries across the world, researchers, consultants, students, earth scientists, government and industry geologists, and educators use rock materials for stratigraphy, sedimentology, paleontology, geochemistry, underground maps, structural geology, economic geol- ogy, and geologic reconstruction. Core libraries can also be an aid to public safety and land-use planning since they sometimes contain records of potential mine subsidence areas which should be avoided during construction plan- ning. Core library collections might include a combination of samples from oil and gas exploration wells; foundation bor- ing samples; ocean bottom sediments from water control studies; cuttings from water wells; pipeline samples; and rock sample suites from mining districts and geothermal areas. Core libraries gen- erally house samples from recently drilled wells along with samples from wells of the distant past. The Bureau of Economic Geology’s Houston Research Center is just one example of a wel l-establ ished core repository. This state-of-the-art facility is equipped to permanently store and curate over 900,000 boxes of geologic cores and cuttings. The Alice Springs Core Library in Australia is also home to a wealth of drilled cores. Christine Edgoose from the Department of Mines and Energy oversees operations at the library. She said the library is visited by academics from across the world a few times a year as they try to piece together the story of life. Curators hope collections at core libraries will lead to increased mineral and fuel exploration and development in various parts of the world. The saying goes, “For every mining job created, three additional jobs develop.” Curators would Core layout room at the Houston Research Center. Photo courtesy of net1.doe.gov /*% 3*-- :45&.4 /$ !& "3& %&%*$"5&% 50 5)& 8"5&3 8&-- */%6453:: "354 -0$"5&% "/% 41"3&4 1307*%&% '03 &9*45*/( &26*1.&/5 > 305"3: 5"#-&4 /08 130%6$&% 8*5) -"3(& 3*/( (&"3 "/% 1*/*0/ &&% &1"*34 05"3: 5"#-&4 < 6% 16.14 < "+03 $0.10/&/54 0/?5 '03(&5 3%&3 :063 $01: 0' = 3"/4'&3 0' &$)/0-0(:> 83*55&/ #: 0)/ ? 410*3 "3,&5 /*% )0/& < "9 888 &/*%%3*-- $0. ; 9$*5*/( $)"/(&4; Water plants early in the morning to reduce water loss to evaporation, defend against garden pests like slugs, and help prevent the growth of fungus.