Geology and Landscape of Michigan's Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Vicinity
A fully illustrated field guide to the geology and scenery of northern Michigan’s Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and vicinity.

Michigan’s Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore was established in 1966 to preserve one of the most exquisite freshwater coastal landscapes in North America. Located between Munising and Grand Marais on Lake Superior, the rugged coastline is anchored by the Pictured Rocks cliffs—soaring sandstone fortresses awash with natural pink, green, and brown pigments. While the Pictured Rocks’ geologic history is generally well understood by scientists, much of this information is scattered among different sources and not easily accessible to general readers. In Geology and Landscape of Michigan’s Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Vicinity, William L. Blewett synthesizes published and unpublished information on the park’s geologic history and combines it with vivid color photographs, detailed maps, and diagrams of the area.

Blewett examines the history and geology of the very ancient Precambrian, Cambrian, and Ordovician components of the Pictured Rocks dating back hundreds of millions of years, as well as the much younger unconsolidated Pleistocene (ice age) and Holocene (warm period since the ice age, including the modern landscape) sediments mantling the bedrock, most of which are no older than 12,000 years. He also details the history of the Lake Superior basin, tracing the events that shaped the modern shoreline from ancient times. For visitors to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Blewett has provided a detailed mileage-referenced road log to guide readers to the best and most accessible field sites, and, for the more adventurous, includes a day hike keyed to the geology. A comprehensive bibliography and index are also included at the end of the book for further research.

While it assumes an understanding of basic geologic principles, the volume is very readable and suitable for students, interested park visitors, and geologists, physical geographers, and those working in closely related fields such as archaeology, biology, ecology, and environmental science.

1104988662
Geology and Landscape of Michigan's Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Vicinity
A fully illustrated field guide to the geology and scenery of northern Michigan’s Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and vicinity.

Michigan’s Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore was established in 1966 to preserve one of the most exquisite freshwater coastal landscapes in North America. Located between Munising and Grand Marais on Lake Superior, the rugged coastline is anchored by the Pictured Rocks cliffs—soaring sandstone fortresses awash with natural pink, green, and brown pigments. While the Pictured Rocks’ geologic history is generally well understood by scientists, much of this information is scattered among different sources and not easily accessible to general readers. In Geology and Landscape of Michigan’s Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Vicinity, William L. Blewett synthesizes published and unpublished information on the park’s geologic history and combines it with vivid color photographs, detailed maps, and diagrams of the area.

Blewett examines the history and geology of the very ancient Precambrian, Cambrian, and Ordovician components of the Pictured Rocks dating back hundreds of millions of years, as well as the much younger unconsolidated Pleistocene (ice age) and Holocene (warm period since the ice age, including the modern landscape) sediments mantling the bedrock, most of which are no older than 12,000 years. He also details the history of the Lake Superior basin, tracing the events that shaped the modern shoreline from ancient times. For visitors to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Blewett has provided a detailed mileage-referenced road log to guide readers to the best and most accessible field sites, and, for the more adventurous, includes a day hike keyed to the geology. A comprehensive bibliography and index are also included at the end of the book for further research.

While it assumes an understanding of basic geologic principles, the volume is very readable and suitable for students, interested park visitors, and geologists, physical geographers, and those working in closely related fields such as archaeology, biology, ecology, and environmental science.

24.99 In Stock
Geology and Landscape of Michigan's Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Vicinity

Geology and Landscape of Michigan's Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Vicinity

by William L. Blewett
Geology and Landscape of Michigan's Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Vicinity

Geology and Landscape of Michigan's Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Vicinity

by William L. Blewett

Paperback

$24.99 
  • SHIP THIS ITEM
    Qualifies for Free Shipping
  • PICK UP IN STORE

    Your local store may have stock of this item.

Related collections and offers


Overview

A fully illustrated field guide to the geology and scenery of northern Michigan’s Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and vicinity.

Michigan’s Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore was established in 1966 to preserve one of the most exquisite freshwater coastal landscapes in North America. Located between Munising and Grand Marais on Lake Superior, the rugged coastline is anchored by the Pictured Rocks cliffs—soaring sandstone fortresses awash with natural pink, green, and brown pigments. While the Pictured Rocks’ geologic history is generally well understood by scientists, much of this information is scattered among different sources and not easily accessible to general readers. In Geology and Landscape of Michigan’s Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Vicinity, William L. Blewett synthesizes published and unpublished information on the park’s geologic history and combines it with vivid color photographs, detailed maps, and diagrams of the area.

Blewett examines the history and geology of the very ancient Precambrian, Cambrian, and Ordovician components of the Pictured Rocks dating back hundreds of millions of years, as well as the much younger unconsolidated Pleistocene (ice age) and Holocene (warm period since the ice age, including the modern landscape) sediments mantling the bedrock, most of which are no older than 12,000 years. He also details the history of the Lake Superior basin, tracing the events that shaped the modern shoreline from ancient times. For visitors to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Blewett has provided a detailed mileage-referenced road log to guide readers to the best and most accessible field sites, and, for the more adventurous, includes a day hike keyed to the geology. A comprehensive bibliography and index are also included at the end of the book for further research.

While it assumes an understanding of basic geologic principles, the volume is very readable and suitable for students, interested park visitors, and geologists, physical geographers, and those working in closely related fields such as archaeology, biology, ecology, and environmental science.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780814334416
Publisher: Wayne State University Press
Publication date: 03/15/2012
Series: Great Lakes Books Series
Pages: 200
Sales rank: 289,396
Product dimensions: 7.00(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

William L. Blewett is professor and chair of the Geography-Earth Science Department at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, where he teaches physical geology, geomorphology, and the geology of national parks. Prior to doctoral study, he was a researcher for National Geographic magazine in Washington, D.C.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Acknowledgments xiii

1 Introduction and Regional Setting 1

Introduction 1

Access 4

History and Mission of the Park 6

Getting Started: The Geologic Time Scale and Pictured Rocks Stratigraphy 9

Geologic Setting 12

The Pictured Rocks Landscape 14

2 Precambrian and Paleozoic Bedrock 17

Overview and Previous Work 17

Regional Correlation 18

Jacobsville Formation 19

Munising Formation 21

The Pre-Munising Surface 22

Basal Conglomerate Member 23

Chapel Rock Member 26

Origin of the Chapel Rock Member 29

Miners Castle Member 31

Au Train Formation 33

Fossils in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore 35

Geologic History: Sequence of Events 37

The Lost Interval 42

3 Ancient Lakes and Relict Shorelines 45

Introduction 45

Getting Started 46

Factors Affecting Lake Levels 47

Crustal Rebound 47

Ice-Marginal Retreat and Uncovering of Lower Outlets 48

Shoreline Patterns-Rebound and the Bathtub Revisited 50

Other Factors 52

The Lake Sequence in the Lake Superior Basin 53

Recognized Shorelines 53

Sequence of Events 54

The Modern Great Lakes 57

Features Related to Ancient Lake Levels in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Vicinity 59

4 The Ice Age 67

The Glacial Chronology 67

A Glacier Primer 69

Drift and Bedrock Surface Characteristics 73

Bedrock Topography 73

Drift Thickness 73

Drift Characteristics 74

Landforms 74

Moraines, Outwash Plains, and Heads of Outwash 74

Kingston Lake Kettle Chain 76

Drumlins 76

Kame Terraces 79

Spillways between Lakes Superior and Michigan 80

Previous Work 80

Deglaciation History 84

Discussions and Conclusions 86

5 The Holocene Epoch 89

Stream and Lake Networks 89

Streams 89

Lakes 90

Initiation and Evolution of Grand Sable Dunes 91

Previous Work 92

The Curious History of Sable Creek, Grand Sable Lake, and Grand Sable Dunes 95

The Pictured Rocks Cliffs 98

Of Agates and Erratics 103

The Human Imprint 108

Native Americans 108

The Sawmill Culture 110

Sand Point: A Lesson in Geologic Complexity 112

Appendix: Pictured Rocks Road Log 117

Munising 118

Munising Falls 118

Memorial and Olsen Falls 120

Miners Castle Area 123

Miners Beach (east) 125

Miners Beach (west) 127

Chapel Beach Area 132

Mosquito Beach Area 135

Melstrand Esker 138

Long Lake Channel 139

Kingston Plains 140

Kingston Lake Kettle Chain 141

Hurricane River, Au Sable Point, and the Jacobsville Formation 145

Log Slide and Grand Sable Banks and Dunes 148

Grand Sable Lake 150

Sable Fails Area 151

Donahey Woods Site 156

Grand Marais 158

References Cited 161

Index 173

From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews