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.

A pleasant spring afternoon of geology in Ohio

mwilson April 22, 2010 4:51 pm

WOOSTER, OHIO–I let my Sedimentology & Stratigraphy class talk me into an afternoon field trip to Spangler (or Wooster Memorial) Park just west of town. It was a perfect day of sunshine and cool breezes. While I made plans to … Continue reading →

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Lava pour!

mwilson April 16, 2010 9:02 am

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK–Today I gave a presentation at Syracuse University as part of the fifth annual Central New York Earth Sciences Student Symposium.  My topic was the rise of modern marine ecosystems in the Jurassic.  Exciting enough, of course, but … Continue reading →

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Dr. Whitey Hagadorn presents “The First Animals on Land” for the 29th Annual Osgood Memorial Lecture at Wooster

mwilson March 24, 2010 7:51 pm

WOOSTER, OHIO–This evening Dr. Whitey Hagadorn, an assistant professor of geology at Amherst College, gave the 29th Annual Richard G. Osgood Memorial Lecture to a large crowd of students, faculty and community members in Wishart Hall at The College of … Continue reading →

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The Mojave Desert Field Trip and Wikipedia

mwilson March 23, 2010 6:45 pm

WOOSTER, OHIO–One of the primary joys of being a geologist is the opportunity to see so many interesting sights in the field.  We can share a bit of the pleasure and advance public knowledge by posting some of our photographs … Continue reading →

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Wandering in the wilderness one last time

mwilson March 11, 2010 12:59 am

ZZYZX, CALIFORNIA–This was our last full day in the Mojave Desert, at least for this trip. Technically it was our coldest start yet (40°F), but the bright sun and lack of wind made it seem like our warmest. The day … Continue reading →

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Geological diversity: Tuffs, Sands, Limestones and Lava Flows

mwilson March 10, 2010 12:50 am

ZZYZX, CALIFORNIA–One of the most attractive aspects of geology is how many materials and processes are included in the study of the Earth. Today’s field experiences show this diversity. One of the best reasons to teach in a liberal arts … Continue reading →

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A most impressive volcano

mwilson March 9, 2010 1:16 am

ZZYZX, CALIFORNIA–Our second and last stop of the day was Amboy Crater, which is about halfway between Barstow and Needles, California, near Route 66. Meagen Pollock, our ace petrologist, prepared us well for this visit, so we’ll wait for her … Continue reading →

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Calico rocks

mwilson March 9, 2010 1:05 am

ZZYZX, CALIFORNIA–The day started very cold with a stiff, persistent wind and low dark clouds moving quickly across the mountain north of Soda Lake. We are comfortable in our rooms and the dining hall, but tend to notice the cold … Continue reading →

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Sure it is a bit windy out here, but look at these folds!

mwilson March 9, 2010 12:38 am
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A Windy Desert Day for the Wooster Geologists

mwilson March 8, 2010 12:39 am

ZZYZX, CALIFORNIA–The skies were brilliantly clear early this morning when we left the Desert Studies Center for points west. The price for the passage of the front was a stiff wind that kept up all day and even now is … Continue reading →

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