Ken Milan of the AAPG Explorer reported in 2003 that most folks are blissfully unaware of geologic hazards until those threats hit home - literally, in the case of rock falls or landslides. David Lopez, senior research geologist with the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology, hopes to prevent that from occurring in developing areas of Billings, Mont., where new residential construction can be found in areas that put homeowners close to the edge of geologic forces at work. His work in helping revise and complete the geologic map of the state made him aware of several hazard areas in his hometown of Billings, and his passion for mapping led him beyond the project's original scope.
He completed a set of maps showing three hazard areas - rock falls, landslides and bentonite or swelling clay. One map shows the area's geology and three companion maps show the hazard areas, accompanied by photographs and explanations to help non-geologists understand the documents and the potential problems they illustrate. Because of the maps, homeowners have a clearer understanding of potential problems before building or buying a house. "They are absolutely wonderful," said Billings consultant Betsy Campen. "David's main love in life is mapping, and he has done a great job here ... and a great service to Billings." The dramatic scenery provided by Billings' landmark Rimrocks is the area that has spurred upscale development in reas threatened by rock falls and slides from the 80 million-year-old Eagle Sandstone, which is a major gas- bearing formation in other parts of the state.
Campen said her own home, built in 1982, once was threatened when a huge, square block above and behind her house split and teetered. The rock had to be blasted away, she said. Lopez said that even when people are aware of the potential dangers, often they are willing to gamble that their homes will escape damage. Billings is located in central Montana and not prone to earthquakes, but temblors in the western or southwestern parts of the state could trigger rock falls or other events in the area, Lopez said. As an example of the far-reaching effects of geologic events, Campen cited a 1940s earthquake in Yellowstone that closed a hot spring miles away, effectively shutting down the tourist attraction in the town of Joliet, near Billings.
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