I like to think I am the kind of core logger who tries to make the best of it, even if I am partly unhappy. I say, I LIKE to think of myself that way because people have unique perceptions of who they think they are versus the way they act. Same goes for core loggers. They arrive like locust from the sky to a new exploration project with their duffel bags choked with gear and secret caches of expensive coffee, chocolate syrup, and a bottle of hooch. Some new core loggers walk with a swagger as if to say,
“Don’t try to teach me how to identify K-spar alteration – I know ALL ABOUT it.”
Some walk kind of mincey like a mouse trying to get from one corner to the other corner of the room without being exposed. The mousy core logger might be thinking,
‘I hope I don’t make a fool of myself when I see chalcopyrite, or sericitic alteration, or anhydrite – or is it gypsum???? Oh MY GOD! What have I got myself into?? I should never have taken this job!!!!!’
I remember something my friend Ron Steib told me in Greens Creek: “If the core doesn’t make you feel stupid, you aren’t trying.”
That is so true. Just when you get a grip on a certain rock type and alteration to the point you can recognize it without getting out of the truck, the lithology changes. What had been your nice friendly qz-feldspar porphyry that ran bountiful for hundreds of meters suddenly crosses some stratigraphic boundary a hundred leagues deep just shy of the front porch of Hell. The new rock is so different that it looks like a porphyry from another planet.
“Hornfels is a friend of mine,
Breccia is a Frankenstein,
When I see a monzonite,
I am always filled with fright.”
– Jerry Garcia, 2008
I don’t know what day it is but I came here six geologists ago. I measure time by the arrival and turn-over of geos. Last guy who left had survived 6 geologists coming and going before he flew the coop. We were keeping an eye on him: Suicide Watch. He really should have left sooner. I am overdue by one geo standing, now. I can only tell by what I have observed.
There is a big burly Russian geophysicist here who told me there are only five things to worry about: hunger; thirst; anger; lonely; tired – all of which can be addressed by yourself. One night we danced in the dirt out by the company trucks for about 40 seconds when his favorite song played. I was disappointed when it stopped. The next day I said as much and he stood to face me with his hands on his hips and then pointed to the sky, “There will be more dancing!!” Then, he left.
A Chilean geo is due to return, as will the next one who has yet to leave. We recently lost a Drill Boss and a Camp Director but a new Drill Boss arrived (one who speaks French!) The Camp Director may return after evaluating the situation for face value (some people have preconceived ideas about what the camp is supposed to be, things like private rooms with private baths, DSL in their rooms, doors that close and peaceful solitude.)
We are missing a geotech and a go-fer (a guy who goes fer all the stuff the boss needs). They are A.W.O.L.. The camp cook has been taking time off too, which may be a bad sign. I don’t know what the issues are though there is always muttering (if one cares to listen) about food (I count the ears on the donkeys in town after some meals), noise (kids are experimenting with taking the mufflers off their “chopped” ATVs), music (at least 5 sources of polka going on at any one time), organization (it is interesting to take people from two different linguistic families and mix them all together with about 6,000 boxes of core to keep track of and then tell them to open each box and move them all around on tables and shelves…), beds / linens / pillows – (see pillow blog), etc.
Everyone has their own idea what could be better. As long as I am safe then that is what I mean by, “I like to think I am the kind of core logger who tries to make the best of it, even if I am partly unhappy.” The unhappy part is for me to solve according to the dancing Russian geophysicist.
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