Minnesota's Geology [Paperback]

Richard Ojakangas (Author), Charles Matsch (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1982

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.

"This is certainly one of the finest books about the geology of any state in the United States. It is written at a level that should satisfy the visitor, the student, and even most professionals." American Scientist

"A stunning guide . . . Minnesota's Geology will be as valuable to the rock hound or student as it is to a trained geologist." Duluth News-Tribune

"Minnesota's Geology sets a standard of excellence for books about the geology of a region. . . . an unusually well-written and well-balanced book." Science Books and Films

Richard W. Ojakangas and Charles L. Matsch are professors in the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Minnesota, Duluth.

Product Details

• Paperback: 268 pages
• Publisher: Univ Of Minnesota Press; 1 edition (November 1, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816609535
• ISBN-13: 978-0816609536
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #883,838 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #48 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Earth Sciences > Geology > Specific Locations

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For those who enjoy geology, December 19, 2010

By 

Atheen M. Wilson "Atheen" (Mpls, MN United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Minnesota's Geology (Paperback)

This is a nice little book on Minnesota's geological history, but it's not for everyone. Although it's accessible to those with a basic high school science education, it probably won't be an easy read; and unless you have a particular interest in geology, it probably won't be an interesting read either. For those who've had a little earth history and have an interest in geology, however, it is a nice summation of the geology of the state.

While many books on earth history and geology in general give the reader an understanding of the dynamics of structural geology, a sort of layer cake approach to how things got the way they are, this one focuses specifically on the state of Minnesota. It is more like a piece of the layer cake. Because this entails separation from the total picture for the purpose of more intensely defining a particular state, the authors make frequent reference to the whole by adding in information from the surrounding states and occasionally from Canada and the rest of the US to clarify the local geological picture. This is especially the case for periods of rock-time removed by erosion.

For the most part, except for glacial and more recent restructuring, the geological record revealed by Minnesota's visible and prospected sites is very old, dating largely to the Precambrian and a little later, depending upon location. This means that, while there are fossils--mostly those of invertebrates--there are no or at least no discovered dinosaur remains, among other things. Any that might have existed have been removed by the action of glaciers over the past million or so years. If you want to know, however, how the lakes in Minnesota arose, what caused some of the unusual land forms, how the deposits of minerals on which the mining industry depends were formed, and why the state has occasional earthquakes, this is the book for you.

The final chapters of the book divide the state into sections that share a degree of geologic history, particularly that of the last 10,000 to 15,000 years. The landforms are described, and the information that they give is put into perspective for the reader. Short trips with details of the topography, geology, and local history are presented so that individuals and families can actually go to representative geologic sites for each. Highway information and towns are named, sometimes even specific turns, which makes it a useful tour book. Teachers interested in taking their students on a field trip might also consider the book and some of its recommended reading for instruction in this endeavor. Some of the section chapters give almost blow by blow accounts of glacial advances and retreats in the region and describe specific morphology that suggests and illustrates them. Since I live in the Twin Cities, my favorite is the SE section of the state, which includes that city. Having studied paleontology in class at the University, I was fortunate to have taken some field trips in and around this area to find and identify fossiliferous formations bearing invertebrates by one of the authors cited in the book, Robert Sloan. It was a great treat.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Geology... love it, March 31, 2007

By 

Melissa A. Stine - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Minnesota's Geology (Paperback)

I am using this book in conjunction with a naturalist class I am taking it is great... and highly recommended by others