Photo courtesy of Murray Einarson | Haley & Aldrich
Photo courtesy of Christian D. Johnson | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Photo courtesy of Christian D. Johnson | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Photo courtesy of Christian D. Johnson | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Photo courtesy of Christian D. Johnson | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Photo courtesy of Christian D. Johnson | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
The Local Hanford Geology Tour was an add-on activity that took place on Monday, November 3, 2025. The four-hour excursion allowed participants to explore the geological history, processes, features, and materials in the Hanford Site area, with a special focus on their relation to the fate and transport of contaminants and their remediation in the vadose zone and groundwater.
The tour included three stops along the Columbia River where participants were able to learn about the site’s stratigraphy and structure, such as the Columbia River Basalts, the Pasco Basin, the Plio-Pleistocene Ringold Formation, and the Pleistocene Missoula flood deposits.
The tour was led by George Last, a renowned expert on Hanford's local geology and a former Pacific Northwest National Laboratory scientist. Last has over 40 years of experience in applied geology and hydrogeologic research, and has expertise in geologic controls over contaminant transport, hydrogeology, quaternary geology, and site characterization and remediation.
View the tour promotional materials below: