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.

The War Was Not Long Ago

Mark Wilson June 11, 2009 2:29 am

PUTILOVO, LENINGRAD REGION, RUSSIA–Nearly every evening one of the many vodka toasts of our geological party is: “To the great victory over the Germans!”  This may be because all of our study sites were on one frontline or another during … Continue reading →

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On Not Knowing the Language of Your Colleagues

Mark Wilson June 10, 2009 2:27 am

NEAR KHAMONTOVO, LENINGRAD REGION, RUSSIA–By the end of this summer I will have worked with five different languages: Hebrew, Russian, Finnish, Norwegian, and Estonian.  Six if you count the political lecture I received in Arabic from a Syrian Druse in … Continue reading →

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How Russian Geologists Remove a Tick

Mark Wilson June 9, 2009 2:27 am

NEAR KHAMONTOVO, LENINGRAD REGION, RUSSIA–Using about 25 cm of thread, they tie a simple slip knot in the center.  The loose loop of this knot is placed around the tick’s body and then worked down to its embedded head.  The … Continue reading →

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Goal!

Mark Wilson June 8, 2009 2:23 am

BABINO, LENINGRAD REGION, RUSSIA–Today we visited an active quarry, which is a different experience from the riverbank exposures and abandoned quarries we have been frequenting.  Quarry mud has a special character — a kind of purified mud, the kind of … Continue reading →

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Typical Geological Field Day in This Part of the World

Mark Wilson June 8, 2009 2:20 am

LENINGRAD REGION, RUSSIA–Before I describe the usual routine we have for this fieldwork, I should note that we are in the “Leningrad Region”, which is distinct from the “St. Petersburg Region” in a formal political sense.  The Leningrad Region is … Continue reading →

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The Other Kind of Deep History

Mark Wilson June 7, 2009 2:16 am

STARAYA LADOGA, LENINGRAD REGION, RUSSIA–This place, known as “Old Ladoga” is where the Russian state began.  It is an important trade junction situated on the Volkhov River not far from where it enters Lake Ladoga.  The Viking roots of this … Continue reading →

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Eating Well in Russian Geologist Style

Mark Wilson June 7, 2009 2:11 am

NEAR KHAMONTOVO, LENINGRAD REGION, RUSSIA–Like most American travelers, I worry most about foreign food and bathrooms.  The food, at least, turns out to be delightful. I try to drink just water and tea where possible, but I am occasionally encouraged … Continue reading →

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Ordovician Hardgrounds

Mark Wilson June 7, 2009 2:06 am

SYAS RIVER, LENINGRAD REGION, RUSSIA–The main geological attractions for me on this expedition are the abundant carbonate hardgrounds in the Lower and Middle Ordovician in this part of the world.  A carbonate hardground is a cemented seafloor.  What were soft … Continue reading →

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A Tunnel to a Frozen Past

Mark Wilson June 6, 2009 2:06 am

SYAS RIVER, LENINGRAD REGION, RUSSIA–“Do you have a light? We are going into caves tomorrow.” I must admit to a bit of trepidation, hearing that question. I indeed have a small flashlight, but not one I’d like to have with … Continue reading →

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First Find

Mark Wilson June 5, 2009 2:02 am

NEAR KHAMONTOVO, LENINGRAD REGION, RUSSIA–When you’re a paleontologist in the field with other geologists for the first time, you need to prove your general scientific worth by either saying witty things or finding an excellent specimen right away. I went … Continue reading →

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