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.

Wooster’s Fossil of the Week: A starry bryozoan from the Upper Ordovician of southern Ohio

Mark Wilson September 11, 2015 12:01 am

At this time of the year I pick out one interesting specimen from the fossils my Invertebrate Paleontology class collected on their first field trip into the Upper Ordovician of southern Ohio. They did so well this week that I … Continue reading →

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Wooster Geologist in New Zealand

Mark Wilson September 7, 2015 7:54 pm

Many of our students enjoy a semester or year abroad during their college time. Andrew Wayrynen ’17 is right now in New Zealand, one of the favorite destinations of Wooster geologists. He has generously shared some of his recent geological … Continue reading →

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Wooster Paleontologists return to Caesar Creek Lake

Mark Wilson September 6, 2015 8:28 pm

Ohio is a wonderful place for paleontologists. One of the reasons is the thick, productive set of Upper Ordovician rocks that are exposed in the southwest of the state in and around Cincinnati. It is an easy drive south from … Continue reading →

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Wooster Geologists begin a new academic year

Mark Wilson September 5, 2015 2:54 pm

The Wooster Geology Department has started the 2015-2016 school year during beautiful late summer weather. Above is the traditional first-of-the-year image of the Geology Club. Everybody is happy to be a geologist. Here are 12 of our senior geology majors … Continue reading →

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Wooster’s Fossil of the Week: A mystery fossil for my Invertebrate Paleontology students

Mark Wilson September 4, 2015 12:07 am

At the beginning of my Invertebrate Paleontology course I give each student a fossil to identify by whatever means necessary. I challenge them to take it down to the species level, and tell me its age and likely place of … Continue reading →

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Twenty-Ninth Annual Report of the Geology Department at The College of Wooster

Mark Wilson August 31, 2015 1:33 pm

Every year our Administrative Coordinator Patrice Reeder masterfully assembles the Annual Report of Wooster’s Geology Department. Every year this document grows in detail, creativity and information. This year’s report is now available at this link. The Annual Report is our … Continue reading →

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A Wooster Geologist goes to a Bigfoot meeting

Mark Wilson August 29, 2015 8:17 pm

ORRVILLE, OHIO — The First-Year Seminar course I teach at Wooster is called “Nonsense! (And Why it’s So Popular)“. It is ostensibly about exploring irrational ideas in human society, such as astrology, conspiracy theories, pseudoscience, quack medicine, the “paranormal” and … Continue reading →

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Wooster’s Fossil of the Week: An encrusted and bored oyster from the Upper Jurassic of northern England

Mark Wilson August 28, 2015 12:39 am

This week’s fossil is a celebration of classes beginning again at Wooster, and a memory of excellent summer fieldwork. It isn’t especially attractive, but it has paleontological significance. We are looking at a broken surface through a thick oyster from … Continue reading →

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Wooster’s Fossil of the Week: A blastoid from the Lower Carboniferous of Illinois

Mark Wilson August 21, 2015 12:29 am

It is sometimes hard to believe that exquisite fossils such as the above are sometimes very common. The above is a theca of the blastoid Pentremites godoni (DeFrance, 1819) found in the Lower Carboniferous (Mississippian) of Illinois. (Thanks to expert … Continue reading →

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Wooster’s Fossil of the Week: A very large Upper Jurassic ammonite from southern England

Mark Wilson August 14, 2015 12:35 am

The shard above doesn’t look like much. It comes from a specimen far too large for us to excavate, let alone pack onto a plane for the trip home. Here’s a view of one of the full specimens still in … Continue reading →

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