Astrogeology Committee
The only geologist to have walked on the moon to date (Harrison “Jack” Schmitt) Apollo 17, 1972.
The primary goal of the AAPG Astrogeology Committee is to emphasize the use of geosciences in the development of off-world exploration energy and other natural resources for development in the foreseeable future (more than 10 years hence). This is under the guidance and input provided by previous NASA geologists, Dr. Harrison “Jack: Schmitt and Dr. James Reilly and by industry professionals of the AAPG’s Energy Minerals Division, the Division of Professional Affairs, and the Division of Environmental Geosciences.
Off-world exploration requires a long-lead time in earth-based preparations, and discussions on the geological, geophysical, and geographical aspects of such exploration are the first steps in such exploration and eventual development and production of such resources. This will be accomplished by planning and implementing a series of annual programs, symposia or poster sessions at AAPG Conventions that emphasizes all aspects of astrogeology and its direct and indirect application to the exploration for energy (and other) resources whether they be located off-world or on Earth.
Incorporating the support and encouragement from the 35,000 energy resource geoscientists world-wide making up the AAPG, the AAPG Astrogeology Committee also seeks to encourage the younger generations who will one day participate directly in off-world programs by extending similar programs to develop and implement annual K-12 teacher outreach programs, either at an AAPG-sponsored meeting, or at a similar venue, and organize a Hedberg-type research conference on the extraterrestrial exploration for energy resources. The Committee arranged a diverse technical program for the 2008 Annual AAPG Convention in San Antonio, for the 2008 International Conference in Cape Town, and at the 2009 AAPG ACE in Denver (for details, see the following section entitled “Meetings”). A major program is being developed as part of the Houston 2011 ACE to honor the 50th Anniversary of President Kennedy’s “Within the Decade” Speech.
Committee Roster
Business Plan
Presentations and Reports:
- Lunar Helium-3 Value Chain: Investment and Funding (PDF)
- Dieter Beike, 2011
- Significant Uranium and Other Discoveries on the Moon May Indicate New Space Race is Afoot (PDF)
- Campbell, M. D. and W. A. Ambrose, 2010
Press Release (with Details) April 16 - Role of Nuclear Power in Space Exploration (3.85 Mb PDF)
- Contributions from the EMD Uranium (Nuclear Minerals) Committee
Michael D. Campbell, P.G., P.H., (Chair) Houston; Jeffery D. King, P.G. (Associate) Seattle; Henry M. Wise, P.G. (Member) Houston; Bruce N. Handley, P.G. (Member) Houston; M. David Campbell, P.G. (Associate) Houston - Developing Industrial Minerals, Nuclear Minerals and Commodities of Interest via Off-World Exploration and Mining
- Campbell, M. D., B. Handley, H. M. Wise, J. D. King, and M. David Campbell, 2009. Paper/Poster at the Conference of the American Association of Petroleum Geologist (AAPG), Energy Minerals Division Sessions, June 9, Denver, CO., 27 p.
- Water Ice on Mars and the Moon (6.23 Mb PDF)
- 2009, AAPG Annual Convention, 2009 - Denver
William A. Ambrose, #80055 (2009) - Nearside Megabasin: The Largest Basin from the Moon (6.51 Mb PDF)
- 2009, AAPG Annual Convention, 2009 - Denver
William A. Ambrose, #70066 (2009) - Giant Impact Basins of the Solar System (6.37 Mb PDF)
- 2009, AAPG Annual Convention, 2009 - Denver
William A. Ambrose, #70065 (2009) (6.37 Mb PDF) - Energy Minerals in the Solar System: Resources for the 21st Century Abstract and Slides
- 2008, American Association of Petroleum Geologists Annual Convention, April 21, 2008.
William A. Ambrose, Bureau of Economic Geology, John A. and Katherine G. Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX and Harrison H. Schmitt, Engineering Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Albuquerque, NM, US - Space Exploration: Real Reasons and Acceptable Reasons (30 KB PDF)
- by Michael D. Griffin, Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Quasar Award Dinner, Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, 19 Jan 2007
The document is the text of a speech given by Michael Griffin, former head of NASA. The topic of the speech is why we should be involved in space research, but actually, the speech has a much broader subject. It is particularly pertinent now (2010), with the cancelation of the shuttle program. - First-order Relationships Between Lunar Crater Morphology, Degree of Degradation, and Relative Age: The Crater Degradation Index Abstract and Slides
- 2006, American Association of Petroleum Geologists Annual Convention Program, v. 15, p. 4.
- William A. Ambrose, Bureau of Economic Geology, Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
- “Lunar Field Exploration Science” PDF
- Author: Harrison H. Schmitt
Meeting: Workshop on Lunar Science Associated with the Lunar Exploration Architecture, Tempe, Arizona, February 26-March 2, 2007. - “Wildcatting the Moon!” PDF
- Author: Harrison H. Schmitt
Meeting: Michael T. Halbouty Lecture, 2006 Annual AAPG Convention, Houston, Texas, April 10.
AAPG Convention Activities
- Technical sessions, abstracts, and PowerPoint Presentations
- Recent and Past:
Links of Interest
Reports
- Minutes: April 12, 2010 - New Orleans (Annual Meeting) PDF
- 2009 Annual Report
- Minutes: June 8, 2009 - Denver, Colorado (Annual Meeting) PDF
- Minutes: April 21, 2008 - San Antonio, Texas (Annual Meeting) PDF
- 2007 Annual Report