Day 4: Wednesday, 1/10/2018

Thanks to one our Costa Rican colleagues, geologist Carlos José Ramírez Umaña of Volcanoes sin Fronteras , Middlebury Geology students were allowed rare access to a hydroelectric dam and power plant currently under construction. The students were lead through the facility by Carlos and Fabián Valverde, one of the head geologists on the construction project, and learned about the importance of geology for such major construction projects. Fabián explained how it is critical to consider many facets of geology for his job, such as bedrock geology (locally, the stratigraphy includes ignimbrites, volcanic breccia, and andesite lavas), structural geology, geomorphology, and engineering geology.

In the afternoon, students spent more time underground touring a different kind of man-made tunnel – an in-progress hotel and event facility dug into a massive ignimbrite! This opportunity allowed students to get a rare glimpse of the interior of pyroclastic flow.

Students view the in-progress dam structure as Geologist Fabian Valverde lectures about his role in the project.

Walking through a tunnel which will eventually bring water to the turbines of the hydroelectric power plant.

Inside an ignimbrite – students pose in the ‘chapel’ of the in-progress hotel and event space built into a massive pyroclastic flow deposit.

Students peer through one of the ventilation shafts in the ignimbrite.