2000 Cedar Point Biological Station
In the summer of 1975, Dr. Bob Diffendal began a long-term study of the Cenozoic geology of western Nebraska for the UNL Conservation and Survey Division starting at Cedar Point just east of Kingsley Dam in Keith County. In that same year UNL established Cedar Point Biological Station (CPBS) on the grounds of a former girl-scout camp at Cedar Point. Since 1977 Bob has led interested CPBS faculty and students on evening trips around the station grounds to look at the local geology he had studied. In June of 2000 at the request of Al Kamil and Rich Alward, CPBS administrators, Bob added a one-day trip to geologic sites northwest of the camp along the North Platte Valley. Locations visited included a ranch west of Lisco, Nebraska, a ranch south of Broadwater, Nebraska, and Courthouse, Jail, and Chimney rocks. Bob plans to continue these activities in 2001. Images courtesy of the Cedar Point Biological Station, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
In 1978 Bob prepared a draft guidebook explaining some of the geologic history of CPBS at the request of the station director at the time, Dr. Brent Nickol. Bob with Roger Pabian, another CSD research geologist, completed the guidebook in 1979 and have made copies available to students and faculty doing research at the station since then. The guidebook, revised in 1993, is an open-file report (OFR-22) available through CSD publication sales (402-472-7523).
Rocky canyons at Cedar Point Biological Station (CPBS).
In CPBS Goodall Lodge, Bob and students look at fossils from Ash Hollow Formation.
Bob describes to students and faculty the geologic features to be seen on the walk.
Bob and students look at rock sample.
Students stand on top of a cemented paleosol ledge above a volcanic ash. Both ledge and ash are parts of the Ash Hollow Formation.
Diffendal leads students on geology hike on pasture west of Lisco, Nebraska.
Bob and students look at part of Ogallala Group exposed in cutbank.
Bob points out contact between two sets of ancient stream deposits.
Diffendal and students look at volcanic ash lentil in the Ash Hollow Formation south of Broadwater, Nebraska.
