Monthly Archives: May 2010

The Battle of Vicksburg and Geology

Mark Wilson May 29, 2010 9:26 pm

VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI — The Wooster Geologists southern USA team spent the better part of the day at the site of the Civil War Battle of Vicksburg (May 18-July 4, 1863).  As is the case with virtually every battle, the local … Continue reading →

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A paleontological meeting at the Owl Creek Formation

Mark Wilson May 28, 2010 8:38 pm

RIPLEY, MISSISSIPPI — On our last full field day we met a team from the American Museum of Natural History (led by paleontologist Neil Landman) and converged on the famous Late Cretaceous Owl Creek Formation exposures near Ripley in northern … Continue reading →

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A more recent history

Mark Wilson May 28, 2010 7:53 pm

BALDWYN, MISSISSIPPI — When possible on these geological field trips we explore the local culture and history of the region in which we are temporary guests.  This morning we visited the small Civil War battlefield of Brice’s Crossroads (June 10, … Continue reading →

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Bryozoan Paradise at the K/T Boundary

Mark Wilson May 27, 2010 9:23 pm

NEW ALBANY, MISSISSIPPI — One of the main advantages of being a geologist in a liberal arts program is the diversity of experiences our students and faculty have.  While some Wooster geologists are enjoying a “soft rock” adventure in the … Continue reading →

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Which came first?

Mark Wilson May 27, 2010 8:24 pm

NEW ALBANY, MISSISSIPPI — The Cretaceous oyster above was collected from the Coon Creek Beds of the Ripley Formation (Upper Cretaceous) near Blue Springs, Mississippi.  The holes are borings called Entobia which were produced by clionaid sponges which built a … Continue reading →

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PA Geological Survey Field Trip

mpollock May 27, 2010 7:00 pm

Sorry to have kept you waiting so long for the ending of the PA diabase field trip. Last Friday, we spent a wonderful day in the field with a group from the PA State Geological Survey. After a week in … Continue reading →

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Fixing your search images

Mark Wilson May 26, 2010 8:54 pm

NEW ALBANY, MISSISSIPPI — The kind of science our paleontological field team is doing ultimately depends on unpredictable discoveries.  We came to this part of the world based on the recorded experiences of generations of geologists who assembled maps of … Continue reading →

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Geologists a bit weathered after a week of southern sun

Mark Wilson May 26, 2010 6:50 pm

A week’s worth of fieldwork done.  All is going well.  We have learned so much since we arrived last week so fresh and clean.  Mark Wilson, Caroline Sogot, Megan Innis and Paul Taylor.  Two more days of fieldwork to go.  … Continue reading →

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An abundance of Cretaceous shark teeth

Mark Wilson May 25, 2010 9:28 pm

STARKVILLE, MISSISSIPPI — OK, Andrew Retzler, please identify these teeth as best as you can in the comments below!  For everyone else, Andrew will be leaving with me in little more than a week for Israel where he will be … Continue reading →

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We meet the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary in Mississippi

Mark Wilson May 25, 2010 9:18 pm

STARKVILLE, MISSISSIPPI — George Phillips took us to a series of Starkville outcrops today straddling the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary.  The boundary here is gradational and generally marked by a color change from gray in the upper Prairie Bluff Formation to light … Continue reading →

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