Author Archives: Mark Wilson

About Mark Wilson

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.

Never brag about your field weather

Mark Wilson July 5, 2009 9:33 am
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A Second Project Emerges on the Glorious Fourth of July

Mark Wilson July 4, 2009 1:57 pm

KAUGATUMA, SAAREMAA, ESTONIA–It is always an important moment for a Wooster geology research team when it identifies its final student independent study project. Today Palmer Shonk found his. There is a remarkable exposure of a high-energy deposit in the Aigu … Continue reading →

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Heavy Soviet Footprints Remain

Mark Wilson July 3, 2009 2:58 pm

TAGAMOISA PENINSULA, SAAREMAA, ESTONIA–The Soviet Union forcibly occupied Estonia in 1940-41, it was briefly replaced by German invaders from 1941 until 1944, and Soviet occupation resumed in 1944 until Estonian independence in 1991.  Tens of thousands of Estonians were deported … Continue reading →

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One Student Project Born

Mark Wilson July 2, 2009 2:35 pm

KURESSAARE, SAAREMAA ISLAND, ESTONIA–It was an exquisitely crystalline day of blue and gray here with clear skies, a sparkling sea, and beautiful limestones just waiting for the touch of our hammers. We continued to explore the Lower Silurian (Wenlock) of … Continue reading →

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The Baltic Boys

Mark Wilson July 1, 2009 3:06 pm

KURESSAARE, SAAREMAA ISLAND, ESTONIA–Like the Iceland team, our first full field day in Estonia was spent in reconnaissance on the islands of Muhu and Saaremaa. We visited an abandoned quarry just north of Koguva to examine Lower Silurian (Wenlock) dolomitic … Continue reading →

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Estonia Geology Research Team in Place (More or Less)

Mark Wilson June 30, 2009 10:55 pm

KOGUVA, MUHU ISLAND, ESTONIA–We are spending our first night together in a small model village (N58.59638°, E23.08559°) designed to show what farming life was like in 19th century Estonia. Our rooms have rough-hewn wooden walls, rope mouldings, and iron bedsteads. … Continue reading →

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Thoughts on Leaving Svalbard

Mark Wilson June 30, 2009 4:21 am

I’m now in Tallinn, Estonia, awaiting the arrival of Bill Ausich (OSU Professor), Rob McConnell, and Palmer Shonk (intrepid Wooster Senior Independent Study students). Our fieldwork will begin tomorrow once the team is assembled with our Estonian host, Olev Vinn … Continue reading →

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Geology Along the Fjords of Svalbard

Mark Wilson June 27, 2009 1:05 am

Today I took a day trip with about 25 other people on the small ship M.S. Polargirl in Isfjorden. The geology in view was fantastic, it didn’t rain, and the sun came out occasionally in the morning. I also got … Continue reading →

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A Bit of the Triassic in Svalbard

Mark Wilson June 27, 2009 1:00 am

NEAR DIABASODDEN, SVALBARD–Yesterday’s field trip was a brief survey of three Triassic (Anisian to Carnian) siliciclastic units, with students concentrating on the third. From bottom to top they are the Botneheia Formation (a gray to black shale with numerous bits … Continue reading →

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Any activity which involves survival suits and rifles …

Mark Wilson June 26, 2009 2:23 am

SVALBARD, NORWAY–A geological high adventure today when I joined a field trip of Norwegian faculty and international graduate students on a day trip to a Triassic section north of Longyearbyen. We met at the University of Norway research station (a … Continue reading →

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