E-Book Overview
Have you ever wondered how the Mississippi River was formed? Or why shark teeth have been found in the Iron Range of the Upper Midwest? Towering mountain ranges, explosive volcanoes, expansive glaciers, and long-extinct forms of both land and sea life were important parts of Minnesota's ancient history. Today the evidence of this remarkable heritage is revealed in the state's rocky outcroppings, stony soils, and thousands of lakes.Minnesota's Geology provides a history of the past 3.5 billion years in the area's development. In accessible language, Minnesota-based geologists Richard W. Ojakangas and Charles L. Matsch tell the story of the state's past and offer a guide for those who want to read geological history firsthand from the rocks and landscapes of today.The book's four sections give a short introduction to geology and Minnesota's place in geologic history; a historic timeline; a look at the metallic minerals, nonmetals, and water present today; and a geologic picture of today's Minnesota arranged in five geographical regions. This book is both a wonderful source of information for rock hounds and the perfect backpacking companion for tourists and outdoor enthusiasts. Lavishly illustrated with color and black-and-white photographs, as well as extensive graphs and maps, Minnesota's Geology will inform and delight for years to come.Richard W. Ojakangas and Charles L. Matsch are professors in the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Minnesota, Duluth.
E-Book Content
Minnesota's Geology The University of Minnesota Press gratefully acknowledges the assistance for publication provided by David and Sherrill Fesler. Minnesota's Geology Richard W. Ojakangas Charles L. Matsch Drawings, charts, and graphs by Dan Beedy University of Minnesota Press Minneapolis Copyright © 1982 by the University of Minnesota All righ