Valles Caldera Geology Tour (Part 1 of 6): Introduction

Introduction - Today we will take a field trip to the Valles Caldera, the world's type example of a resurgent caldera. Famous in the world of volcanology, the Valles Caldera is appropriately in the national park system and shares a border with Bandelier National Monument. Our field trip today will explore the rocks and landforms that tell the story of the caldera eruption - and some of the volcanic history of the Jemez Mountains. We will also take several Google Earth flyovers to provide a bird's eye perspective on the geology inside and outside the caldera. Join Kirt Kempter (geologist) and Javier Sernas (videographer,photographer) on this geologic field trip to the Valles Caldera.
Javier Sernas - jsproductions....

[@dannymccarty6680]

Nice job, Dr. Kempter. You’ve convinced me to overhaul the Jeep and make a run from San Antonio to the Valles Caldera National Preserve. I had planned on going to Washington’s Cascades and BC but that would involve 4 more days of hard driving to and from - I can be in the Valles basin in 12 hours. Hook’em! UT ‘74

[@cowboygeologist7772]

I'm a retired Geologist. This is a great video.

[@johnschmitt7957]

Thank you Professor Kempter and Javier and anybody else involved in the graphics and production of this series. I've watched the entirety but wanted to comment here to encourage anybody interested to get comfy and settle in. The series is excellent and gets better and better as it goes along and despite the modest graphics and low-key presentation is much more satisfying than anything I've seen on Discovery or the History channel in a long time. The subject provides a fascinating story that is informative and expertly told with effective integration of field instruction, google earthing, well done graphics and nicely captured in a spectacular setting. Enjoy.

[@nancytestani1470]

This is so good..wonderful stuff and you explain so well….take care..

[@JuliFowler]

The geology of my favorite place. Thank you!

[@julieinak]

Hi, Kirt, I really enjoyed your tour across the Caldera! Julie Grey Pollock

[@melindacash1268]

So beautiful there!

[@Jacob-yg7lz]

This is an amazingly high quality video. As someone who lives in northern NM and loves geology, this is exactly my cup of tea.

[@stephenkirby5141]

Thank you for putting this together.

[@greylance473]

You should check out Nick Zenter from Univ. Of Washington. Awesome geology by wonderful professors. Thank you!!!

[@tommunyon2874]

Last February, while flying back to Washington from a relative's funeral in Albuquerque, I got a spectacular view of the entire Jemez formation. I lived the first 18 years of my life on the Pajarito Plateau, so had seen the Jemez close up many times from many angles.

[@crochetedlace2838]

Very nice. I hope to see more videos.

[@Bapanese-nb6ql]

I'm from NM I live right by San I and I'm loving these videos I hope you make more

[@gsmith9531]

I wish I had something like this to watch before my trip to New Mexico last year. This is just so great! thank you

[@MountainFisher]

I live down in Las Cruces and I do believe I'll take this tour.

[@jameschandler3308]

This is incredible, I took geology with Geologic professor Mrs Ragland, and we covered alot of Valles Caldera but this is an absolute hands on perspective i find incredible and informative, thankyou Dr Kempter! 🤠👍

[@badmoon8663]

Very well done. I like the inclusion of Google Earth in the presentation. Hope there's more on the way!

[@harrietharlow9929]

Always been interested in the Valles and La Garita Calderas, so I was nlad too find this,

[@tommunyon2874]

Before the road was paved up into the Jemez beyond Los Alamos' west gate those first few hair-pin curves on the ascent were harrowing. I threw myself to the floor of our 1950 Ford the first time my father took us on a Sunday drive to the Valle Grande.

[@hollybyrd6186]

Beautiful landscape and enjoyed the video.

[@carltuckerson7718]

We did several field trips here with our graduate classes at UTEP and Dr. Anthony. Love this spot.

[@musicalcacti]

Good job! I hope more people see this!

[@philipburton9518]

Kirt: This series is amazing. That you made the best of the confinement of the pandemic is so wonderful. Do you conduct guided tours? I am serious about a day trip through Jemez with someone knowledgable like you. I summered there as a child; my grandfather had a trading post at Jemez Springs and a summer home at Seven Springs. I'm making a serious offer, so reply of we can discuss. Best wishes, Philip Burton, Santa Fe

[@RD1R]

I'd love for you to visit the Long Valley Caldera. It... Has me stumped. It's weird in a way I've never seen with volcano formation, and it's scale is comparable to Valles. The shcheer amount of magma and ash just doesn't add up.
-a former PNW and Northern AZ volcano lover & geology minor.

[@jackievitale2536]

There is a town under it. Volcanic glass. everywhere

[@Charbear25]

Omg what if this caldera and yellowstone erupted at the same time!

[@autotek7930]

I poke around in orogrande NM doing very amateur prospecting for gold. I love it out there in the desert but I'm looking forward to going up around cloudcroft as soon as I get my jeep done....again lol. It's there anything interesting geologically in cloudcroft?

[@washnon]

wish you show us the 3d geology

[@Charlie-qe6lv]

I ignore the "millions of years ago" narrative, but enjoy the actual science.

[@Charlie-qe6lv]

BTW, I did a week of paid training there for my science teaching. It was after the fires of 2014 and centered on the flora and fauna recovering, and the biological indicators of recovery, especially in the streams.