Day 1 of the Ocean Core Teacher Researcher and Curriculum eXperience (TRACX) programm was not like anything I would have ever imagined. As a first time visitor to the USA and therefore Texas, being told we would be going through creeks and (geologically) through time, was something I was very much looking forward to!

After a long drive, and a quick stop at Love’s to buy cowboy hats, we departed on our way to the Brazos river, looking for the tsunami deposits, created after the impact event which sealed the fate of the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. Unfortunately, the water levels were too high, meaning we were unable to see the deposits at the Brazos. The deposits here are seen from the river bed, and so with water above two feet, it was not possible to see them. Nevertheless, our fearless leader, Chris Lowery, had a back up plan and an adventure for us.

From the river, we drove to a ranch, greeted by Longhorn cattle, all very curious to see what we were up to and why we were driving through their grazing fields. The wonderful owner of the ranch, Jacqui, escorted us to the creek, making sure no bulls escaped their pens, and then set us free to the creek. This is where the fun started. We were to walk up the creek, whilst watching out for snakes, scorpions and a whole host of other critters that could cause problems. It seems everything in Texas wants to hurt you, even the plants (I’m still not sure what poison ivy looks like!). After navigating water, mud, slippery rocks and a cotton mouth snake, we made it to the boundary in one piece.

Here the tsunami deposits were unmistakeable. Sandwiched between two layers of rocks, the location did not disappoint. Tektites, fossils, and hummocks all visible with a small scavenge within the rocks.

After spending some time here, we continued walking up the creek, stopping at another area where the boundary was clear, again, providing a plethora of treasures for geologists and scientists to look at and photograph.

After a wade back along the creek, some swimming more than others, we headed back to College Station, ready for our introduction at the IODP  building and our first look at the Gulf Coast core Repository (GCR). With absolute awe, we were lead in groups through the labs and into the core repository, everyone as amazed as the person next to them at the amount of cores stored here and the data, history and stories these cores can tell.

What a fantastic introduction to Texas and the TRACX programme and most certainly a day none of us will ever forget!

#NSFfunded Jodie – Newcastle, UK