Mammoth Cave, the world's longest cave, is a two and one half hour drive from Lexington. The cave is a national park, world heritage site, and an international biosphere reserve. The field trip includes a cave tour, examination of the regional surface geology, and the hydrocarbon resources associated with Mississippian and Pennsylvanian strata in the region. This trip is co-sponsored by the Kentucky Society of Professional Geologists and will have dual duty as the Annual Fall Field Conference for the Society.

In addition to visiting Mammoth Cave, we will drive past the Arthur Oil Field near the southwestern edge of the National Park and then northwest to investigate the Mississippian-Pennsylvanian unconformity at the Nolin Reservoir Dam. Significant relief (exceeding 50 meters) is associated with the unconformity in the Brownsville Paleovalley at the Nolin Dam. Both basal Pennsylvanian and Mississippian sandstones visible in the gorge of the Nolin River near the reservoir have been exploited as tar sands and some seeps will be visible in the spillway cuts. From the reservoir, we will travel to the old asphalt mining town of Kyrock, KY, located near the Nolin River. In Kyrock we will see abandoned quarries that contain conglomeratic and asphaltic sandstones and we will investigate the colorful history of asphalt mining in the region including a tour of the former Kyrock mining engineer's 1920s home. There is renewed interest in heavy oil and asphalt resources, which will be discussed on the trip.

The temperature in the cave stays between 12.7C and 18C, so visitors are encouraged to carry light jackets. Also because the cave floors and stairs can be slick and wet, visitors should wear durable, flat-soled footwear that offers good traction. The walk into and out of the cave is relatively easy on paved trails. Other stops at Nolin Reservoir and Kyrock are easy walks. Climbing will not be required and most walking will be at the edge of paved or gravel surfaces.

KSPG members who would like to depart from Lexington and take the bus to MCNP can sign up for the field trip only ($75) and do not have to register for the full AAPG meeting. First priority for the bus ride will be given to full AAPG registrants, but KSPG members are welcome on the bus if space is available. KSPG members are encouraged to sign up for the trip through KSPG in order to participate in Friday's events and the annual banquet as well.