Author Archives: mwilson

About mwilson

Mark Wilson is an emeritus Professor of Geology at The College of Wooster. He specializes in invertebrate paleontology, carbonate sedimentology, and stratigraphy. He also is an expert on pseudoscience, especially creationism.

Wooster Geologist Experiences New Zealand Earthquake — Story Will Follow

mwilson September 4, 2010 7:39 am

CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND–Wooster geology student Andrew Collins is studying abroad in Christchurch, New Zealand, this semester and was there during the 7.1 magnitude earthquake early Saturday morning. He is fine and I hope will be able to send us his … Continue reading →

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The academic year begins: Fall 2010 Geology Club at Wooster

mwilson September 2, 2010 11:59 am

Students, staff and faculty of the Geology Department, The College of Wooster (2010-2011). Front Row: Sarah Appleton (‘12), Megan Innis (‘11), Katharine Schleich (‘12), Anna Mudd (’13), Ilana Ben-Zvi (’13), Melissa Torma (’13), Jenn Horton (’13); Second Row: Tyler Rhoades … Continue reading →

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College of Wooster Department of Geology 2010 Annual Report

mwilson August 21, 2010 8:23 am

A year in the life of our department, superbly compiled and organized by our Administrative Coordinator, Patrice Reeder. It looks especially good in color! This report summarizes student, faculty and staff activities and has an extensive alumni news section.

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Last stop in Europe: The Senckenberg Museum of Natural History

mwilson August 18, 2010 1:33 pm

FRANKFURT, GERMANY–Isn’t that a great front yard for a Natural History Museum? Diplodocus longus strides by columnar basalt and a massive chunk of conglomerate. This is the Naturmuseum Senckenberg in downtown Frankfurt, about two blocks from my hotel. On my … Continue reading →

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Fossils on the Meuse-Argonne Battlefield

mwilson August 16, 2010 10:21 am

VIENNE LE CHATEAU, FRANCE–To my delight, while exploring the Meuse-Argonne area this morning, I found an exposure of marly Cretaceous sediments very near where my Grandfather’s tank brigade assembled for an attack at dawn on October 4, 1918. The sediment … Continue reading →

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Battle of the Mines: Vauquois, 1915-1918

mwilson August 16, 2010 8:16 am

VIENNE LE CHATEAU, FRANCE–The influence of geology on war is shockingly clear on the Butte de Vauquois (N 49° 12′ 20.20”, E 5° 4′ 11.42”). This large hill (290 meters in elevation) is an outlier of the chalky detritic sandstone … Continue reading →

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The military advantage of holding the Upper Cretaceous chalk highlands

mwilson August 15, 2010 12:08 pm

VIENNE LE CHATEAU, FRANCE–There is one strong geological control of warfare in northern France: the high areas are often thick, resistant Upper Cretaceous chalk while the valleys and plains below are usually poorly-consolidated greensands and clays. We’ve already seen these … Continue reading →

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Wooster Geologist in France

mwilson August 14, 2010 9:50 am

VIENNE LE CHATEAU, FRANCE–I’m on the last part of my European trip this summer. The International Bryozoology Association post-conference field trip ended in Frankfurt yesterday. I rented a car at the Frankfurt airport and drove southwest into northeastern France where … Continue reading →

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The Messel Fossil Pit: A world-class experience

mwilson August 13, 2010 11:23 pm

FRANKFURT, GERMANY–Last year at this time I had the privilege of visiting the Middle Cambrian Burgess Shale on an expedition led by my friend Matthew James of Sonoma State University in California. It was an extraordinary opportunity to visit one … Continue reading →

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Tunnels yet again — and a loess connection

mwilson August 13, 2010 5:06 pm

OPPENHEIM, GERMANY–This jewel of a town, with its large cathedral, half-timbered buildings and narrow streets, share surprising geological connections with Vicksburg, Mississippi — a city visited by Wooster geologists earlier this summer. Both are river towns which profited in good … Continue reading →

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