Monthly Archives: August 2010

Tunnels (again)

Mark Wilson August 9, 2010 3:44 pm

MAASTRICHT, THE NETHERLANDS–After mentioning the excavations in the Maastricht Formation limestones (latest Cretaceous) in the last post, I expected to be moving on the next day to a quarry. I hadn’t read the guidebook closely enough: we were planning to … Continue reading →

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Geology and Art History

Mark Wilson August 9, 2010 12:42 am

MAASTRICHT, THE NETHERLANDS–The tunnels dug into the soft Maastrichtian Formation limestones in this city have a long history starting with the Romans. At first the excavations were intended only to extract building stone, but with all the battles, sieges and … Continue reading →

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Wooster Geologist in The Netherlands

Mark Wilson August 8, 2010 4:37 pm

MAASTRICHT, THE NETHERLANDS–This is the first day of the International Bryozoology Association post-conference field trip. We took a train south from Kiel to Hamburg, Germany, and then connected with another train to Cologne. After spending a half-hour at the Cologne … Continue reading →

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The power of biostratigraphy: the Campanian-Maastrichtian boundary in the Late Cretaceous

Mark Wilson August 7, 2010 12:10 pm

KIEL, GERMANY–Comparing the two very different geological sections pictured above, you should ask how we know that they are precisely the same age. After all, they are thousands of miles apart and are quite different in their composition and fossil … Continue reading →

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International Bryozoology Association meeting ends, field trips begin

Mark Wilson August 6, 2010 3:03 pm

KIEL, GERMANY–The 15th meeting of the International Bryozoology Association ended this afternoon with the usual giving of awards, assessing the budget, and planning the next meeting (Sicily in 2013). I like this group very much. It is the best combination … Continue reading →

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Cretaceous soft-bodied bryozoans from the western USA

Mark Wilson August 6, 2010 2:30 pm

KIEL, GERMANY–I gave my presentation to the International Bryozoology Association meeting this afternoon. It was a fun project because it involved two of my favorite things: working with Paul Taylor from the Natural History Museum and advising an Independent Study … Continue reading →

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On giving a professional presentation

Mark Wilson August 6, 2010 1:46 pm

KIEL, GERMANY–There is an exquisite moment as you wait in the darkened hall for your turn to speak. The presenter just before finally says something like, “in conclusion …” Even though you knew this time had to come, your heart … Continue reading →

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A bryozoan paradise in northern Japan

Mark Wilson August 5, 2010 6:50 am

KIEL, GERMANY–One of the most interesting presentations at this meeting of the International Bryozoology Association, at least to a paleontologist, was by my friend Paul Taylor (Natural History Museum, London). He described a fauna of bryozoans which inhabited cobbles in … Continue reading →

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The advantages and disadvantages of building your city on clay

Mark Wilson August 4, 2010 3:36 pm

Lübeck, Germany–Do not adjust the image above. It is of the Holstein Gate (“Holstentor”) on the western side of the Free and Hanseatic City of Lübeck. On the left is a side view and the right is from the front. … Continue reading →

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Kiel Fjord and Canal, northern Germany

Mark Wilson August 3, 2010 11:47 am

KIEL, GERMANY–Geologists always try to see the geological context of cities they visit, usually by studying the form of the landscape (“geomorphology“) and peering under bridges and the like to find exposed rocks. I have been notably unsuccessful at this … Continue reading →

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