National Park College (NPC) brought geology to the forefront earlier this month with GeoJam, a hands-on expo held in the Student Commons building. The event welcomed students, faculty, and community members to explore the natural world through specimen identification, educational displays, and interactive activities.
Hosted by NPC environmental geologist Dr. George Maxey in partnership with the Hot Springs Geology Club, GeoJam was designed to formally address the frequent requests Maxey receives from students seeking help identifying rocks, minerals, fossils, and other geological finds.
Maxey said GeoJam was a way to share his passion and connect students with the natural world. He explained, “We take people through the process and show them how to identify the mineralogy and texture.”
Attendees brought in specimens for scientific analysis, filling out forms detailing where and how their items were discovered. Experts conducted tests on hardness, fluorescence, and radioactivity, with a Geiger counter available at the greeting table.
The event also featured guest speakers who presented on Arkansas geology and paleontology, along with a silent auction and door prizes, including a quartz crystal, a sandstone carving of Arkansas from Bennett Brothers Stone, and a fossilized oyster.
Among the standout displays was one of the world’s largest fulgurites, sand fused into glass by lightning, collected by Maxey in Texas in 2006. A 95-million-year-old Xiphinactus skull also drew attention from attendees.
GeoJam offered students a unique opportunity to engage in scientific inquiry outside the classroom while fostering community interest in local geology.