Programs & Research

How We Operate

Professional research programs at Reynolds Field Station are conducted by professional staff scientists from museums, and research scientists, professors and graduate students from universities. The institutions have entered into Facility Use agreements with Reynolds Field Station that jointly establish the programs’ purposes and goals. Some programs are focused on original research, and others are oriented to developing educational curricula. Each program has a lead investigator who establishes technical and programmatic direction. The lead investigator and Field Station management identify strategic collaborators who can provide additional expertise and are invited to join the research efforts. In some cases, students and citizen scientists may be invited to participate or assist on programs, through postings in our Newsletter.

Currently there are four active programs, designated by the lead organizations:

• Perot Museum of Nature and Science Paleontology
• New Mexico State University Geology Field Camp Curriculum Development
• New Mexico State University Mapping and Geochronology of Crevasse Canyon Formation
• New Mexico State University Analysis of Siderite-Bearing Deposits in the Crevasse Canyon Formation

We are continuously identifying and developing future programs two ways:

• The collaborative efforts of the active programs have identified future areas of related study [See Big Science Questions below].
• Ongoing exploration of the property has illuminated additional unrelated topics for new programs and research opportunities [See Upcoming Programs and Research Opportunities below].

We also anticipate that some visiting professionals will wish to join existing programs or have new research areas they wish to pursue. We welcome proposals through the Contact Us options.

 

Multi-Institutional Research

NOTE TO READERS OF THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS:
The program descriptions below contain technical words and terms with which non-professionals may not be familiar. To make them accessible to a wide audience, we will be providing a dynamic hover feature for technical words in the near future. The following is a link to the Glossary and Educational Material on the Education and Outreach page, where many terms are explained.

Interactive Glossary of Terms in the Context of Reynolds Field Station

Program: Perot Museum of Nature and Science Paleontology (PMNS001)

Purpose

The PMNS Paleontology program on the Reynolds Field Station and surrounding BLM lands aims to understand the terrestrial vegetation and fauna of the Western Interior during the Turonian-Coniacian stages of geological time. These stages capture a critical interval of change in western North American terrestrial ecosystems as flowering plants underwent an explosive increase in their number of species and their ecologies, spreading across the globe and displacing gymnosperms and ferns in many environments. The resulting turnover in the composition of terrestrial vegetation set the stage for the emergence of modern ecosystems. The time interval preserved in rocks exposed on the Reynolds Field Station and surrounding lands is one in which we have very few records of the ancient plant-life in North America. Any and all paleobotanical records from this time will be important contributions to the scientific record that enable us to better understand patterns of ecosystem changes across the continent. Furthermore, the terrestrial vertebrate fossil record of this time and place is woe-fully underrepresented compared to the rich record later in the Cretaceous; therefore, corresponding prospecting for vertebrate fossils will be an ongoing aim of the program.

Description

The PMNS paleontology program, under direction of Dr. Dori Contreras and Dr. Ron Tykoski, will take a multifaceted approach to reconstructing ancient regional vegetation from plant fossils collected from multiple facies and stratigraphic layers, including the study of fossil leaves, reproductive structures, pollen and spores, and woods. The integrated study of these various types of plant fossils and associated geological settings is important for building a wholistic view of vegetation across heterogeneous paleo-landscapes. PMNS research staff will work with students, museum volunteers, and other professional researchers to complete these studies.

Anticipated Results or Topics

The PMNS research program will produce scientific publications that will help reconstruct the ancient plant communities and ecosystems of the region, through description of the fossil plants documented at the RFS and surrounding area. Results will also be presented at professional conferences, as well as to the general public through various venues and societies. Media and public outreach will accompany publication of scientific findings to ensure broader dissemination, accessibility, and impact of the research findings.

Specimens collected on the RFS property, and on BLM land with valid permit, will be accessioned in the collections of the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. Specimens will be professionally prepared and curated following best practices and held in public trust in perpetuity, thereby guaranteeing their preservation and accessibility for future research and education in perpetuity.

University Research Programs

New Mexico State University Geology Field Camp Curriculum Development (NMSU001)

Purpose

NMSU’s Department of Geological Sciences will teach their summer field camp in 2025 headquartered at the Reynolds field Station. In Program NMSU001, Dr. Brian Hampton and graduate student Thomas Valenzuela will develop the curriculum for the portion of the field camp that will be taught on the Field Station property.

 

Description

Dr. Brian Hampton and Thomas Valenzuela will develop projects for upper division geology majors that focus on sedimentation, stratigraphy, facies determination, and related topics.

Anticipated Results or Topics

Assignments for use by NMSU Geological Sciences Summer Field Camp students and faculty.

New Mexico State University Mapping and Geochronology of Crevasse Canyon Formation (NMSU002)

 

Purpose

NMSU Geology Master’s students will map the Crevasse Canyon Formation on the Reynolds Field Station and surrounding Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands to understand the distribution of and changes in facies. Detrital zircon U-Pb age determinations, depositional environment analysis, and sandstone petrology will put the stratigraphic framework into an absolute geochronologic framework, allowing correlations with units of similar age throughout the Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway.

Description

With the mentorship of Dr. Brian Hampton, graduate students will map the Crevasse Canyon Formation, collect samples for detrital zircon and sandstone petrology analysis. Age determinations will be acquired at the Arizona LaserChron Center, sandstone petrology and depositional environment analysis will be performed at NMSU. Undergraduate students may be involved in certain aspects of this work.

Anticipated Results or Products

MS theses; geochronologic analysis of the Crevasse Canyon; sandstone petrology and depositional environment analysis of the Crevasse Canyon; at least one presentation at a conference; at least one published paper.

New Mexico State University Analysis of Siderite-Bearing Deposits in the Crevasse Canyon Formation (NMSU003)

Purpose

NMSU Masters students will investigate the siderite- and Fe-bearing rocks (Fe = symbol for iron) that are ubiquitous (everywhere) in the Crevasse Canyon Formation. Originally thought to be related to rhyolitic magmatism (volcanic), initial analysis determined that these lenticular (lens-shaped) and nodular (blob-shaped) features contain variable amounts of siderite, a mineral that forms during diagenesis or later fluid flow. Thus, these structures may reveal more about the Cretaceous diagenetic or early post-diagenetic processes and conditions such as pH (acidity), Eh (electrical flow potential), temperature, depositional environment, than they do about Cenozoic magmatism.

Description

With the mentorship of Dr. Jennifer Thines, and in collaboration with the mapping of NMSU Masters students advised by Dr. Brian Hampton, graduate students will collect a representative suite of samples for analysis by petrographic microscope for textural analysis, electron microprobe analysis (EMPA) for mineral chemistry analysis, and mass spectrometry for whole rock major, trace (rare), and stable isotope analysis. Undergraduate students may be involved in certain aspects of this work.

Anticipated Results or Products

MS theses; sample set with thin sections of the siderite- and Fe- bearing rocks, textural analysis; EMPA analyses; whole rock analyses; at least one presentation at a conference; at least one published paper.

Big Science Questions

In 2023, the focus of science and exploration was dominated by the abundance of Cretaceous geologic and paleontological discoveries that we were constantly tripping over on the property. Discussions in the field among the interdisciplinary teams about their preliminary observations stimulated bigger questions and conversations of tectonic and paleoclimatic scope, and global scale.

The pursuit of those bigger questions will benefit from the expanded participation of additional disciplines, such as geochemistry, paleoecology, micropaleontology and others. Collaborations and correlations with other researchers working on same age deposits in other areas in New Mexico and in states along the Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway will also enhance large-scale regional understanding. The Cretaceous exposures at the Reynolds Field Station have not been studied in depth prior to the current NMSU and PMNS programs. We expect integrative collaborations will bring additional perspectives and data that contribute to regionally coherent, tectonic-scale advances in
understanding.

The research teams have been collecting their hypotheses (theories), unanswered questions and anomalous (unexpected) findings into a dynamic list they have dubbed Big Science Questions at Reynolds Field Station. The list (BSQ for short) will be continuously refreshed with updated data and analyses, and will guide current and future research programs.

BSQ LIST

Upcoming Programs and Research Opportunities

Field exploration and new discoveries in 2023 illuminated additional unrelated topics that beg for attention as the focus of new near term programs. We have developed conceptual descriptions for three upcoming programs in Neoglacial Reconstruction, Ecology and Astronomy. We are currently pursuing new partnerships and collaborations with researchers and institutions for these programs. Contact Us if you have an interest in leading or participating in an upcoming program, or for more information.

Neoglacial Environment Reconstruction Program

Extraordinary, ancient cultural artifact discoveries at RFS indicate Indigenous inhabitation of the property during Paleo to Archaic Cultures / Early Holocene to Neoglacial periods.

We propose a Neoglacial Environment Exploration program in the valley and surrounding area where Paleo and Archaic Culture artifacts are found. It is a unique program in which we aim to integrate Indigenous students into multi-disciplinary science research programs exploring glacial and neo-glacial biology, climatology, geomorphological reconstruction, palynology, archaeology and culture. The Valley of the Ancient Hunters at Reynolds Field Station offers an opportunity to apply scientific tools in a multi- faceted reconstruction of the land, plants, animals and people who were present during Neoglacial times. We envision exploration that is intentionally and respectfully designed to be culturally relevant for Indigenous learners. We are committed to working with our Indigenous partners to craft an integrated approach in developing this program.

Primeval Piñon-Juniper Highland Ecology Program

Our pristine 1000-year old primeval forest at 7700’ elevation, with its diverse ecology and biological populations has never been harvested, mapped or researched.

We propose a collaborative field exploration program that brings together a present-day (“extant”) ecological constellation of biology, botany, entomology, soil science, geomorphology and climatology to study this ancient high altitude alpine forest, where deadfall logs have yielded tree ring counts greater than 700 (piñon) and 1000 (juniper) years. The isolation of this environment has allowed wildlife populations to flourish, with an intact and healthy life chain from apex predators to as yet unstudied
keystone species. This program offers broad educational avenues for students and citizen scientists to participate in tree ring studies, species surveys, and descriptive (and artistic!) botany. It is an opportunity to conduct long-term analyses of droughts, water conservation, wildlife studies, and the interaction of the fauna, flora and entomology with the environment, as examples. There is a possibility trees this ancient may have recorded exceptional solar coronal mass ejection events, a potential integration of botany with historical astronomy. We feel an extant-focused program will be a great complement to the paleo-focused programs already under way, and we are currently looking to identify institutions that are interested in engaging in our unique field lab.

Deep Time in Astronomy and Geology: A Dark Sky Exploration Program

An unparalleled dark sky, where no man-made light diminishes the astronomical viewing conditions, provides mind-expanding experiences for all constituents.

We propose integrating observational astronomy into the learning experiences of students and visitors. Our Board member, Mark Leonard, is a degreed astrophysicist who leads our astronomy program development. Our program is a guided tour of the night sky, starting with familiarizing aspects of the moon, solar system planets, the Milky Way, and constellations. Astronomical viewing equipment at the Reynolds Field Station will provide a deeper look at astronomical objects, some of which are not visible to the naked eye. The program introduces concepts of the astronomical distance in light years to specific objects seen through a telescope. Observations of telescopic objects step progressively farther back in time to the same moments in geological deep time, when the rocks at the Field Station were being deposited. In the future, we will also seek opportunities to integrate scientific astronomical observations with Indigenous Ways of Knowing the night sky.

Have an Idea for a Future Program?

We welcome suggestions and proposals for future programs at the field station. We are happy to discuss potential research, teaching and educational projects that align with our vision and mission!