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8 of 8 found the following review helpful:
Stellar entry in the Roadside Geology series Nov 17, 2009
By Jvstin
"Paul Weimer"
Richard Ojakangas is a native Minnesotan whose life has been spent in learning about and teaching Minnesota's geological history. He taught at the U of M in Duluth for over 30 years, and is the author of Minnesota's Geology, which is probably the definitive geology book on the North Star State.
That book, however, is not quite meant for the casual reader (although its less imposing than many other books of the type). Minnesota has lacked a Roadside Geology style book for too long. After years without one, Ojakangas has finally written a book for the non-scientist, the latest in the Roadside Geology series, the Roadside Geology of Minnesota.
It's been worth the wait.
After an introduction to the geological history of Minnesota (as you might expect, the Pleistocene, with its glaciations, gets a lot of space) as well as some basic geology to get those who avoided the rock science in high school or college, the book divides into several sections based on Geography. (Northeastern, Northwestern/Central, Southwestern, Southeastern)In each section, Ojakangas gives a general overview of the Geology of that area followed by the meat of the book, Road Guides.
There are plenty of photographs, maps and diagrams to elucidate the text and keep travelers oriented as they visit the various highlighted sites. I learned about plenty of sites that were just off of my route in previous travels that I will definitely visit with book in tow. I had no idea, for instance, of a beautiful beach of rhyolite pebbles lies just 3 miles north of Gooseberry Falls. I'd never heard of Chimney Rock, a spire of sandstone a few miles off of US 61 on the way south from St. Paul. In addition, I have an appreciation for places and locales I have seen, now having a better geological context for them. The composition and nature of Barn Bluff in Red Wing, for instance. I had no idea there's a fault that has shifted the layers on one side of it!
Armchair amateur geologists who buy the Roadside series of volumes will not want to miss this latest volume.I most especially recommend this book, though, for any and all Minnesota travelers interested in the physical geology of the state to buy the book, read it, and then take it with you on your next road trip to, say, Gooseberry Falls, or Winona, or the Boundary Waters, or Pipestone. I certainly will!
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
very worthy addition to this series May 10, 2010
By W. Walker
One of the newest of this very informative series, perhaps the most qulaified person to undertake this project was chosen. Dr. Ojakangas has done a great job of reaching the nonprofessional curious. Although most of the surface geology of this sizable state is dominated by glacial deposits, Dr. Ojakangas often goes beyond the surface to dicsuss the apparent geological history in that region and to provide examples of underlying rock outcrops. Profusely illustrated with mostly color photos, diagrams and maps, it is well organized according to 4 rather distinct geological regions. About half the book is devoted to the most interesting and economically important region: the northeast, which Dr. Ojakangas is also most familiar with. Find out why Sioux Quartzite and St.Peter Sandstone, both composed of nearly pure well-rounded quartz sand grains, have such different erosional resistances and commercial uses.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Wonderful description of MN geology with good photos Jan 01, 2011
By Atheen M. Wilson
"Atheen"
Roadside Geology of Minnesota is virtually the same as the author's other book on the subject, Minnesota's Geology, by way of narrative content. Some of the passages seem to be almost verbatim, especially where dealing with the specifics of the geologic strata and their ages, origins, and types, subjects which have not been much debated for many decades. Where there is debate, the author states as much.
While this is generally true, some new data have been added, mostly with respect to recent conditions of the visible sites; not all still exist due to mining removal of some of them or ground cover obscuring them. There are also more frequent references to the historic and other significant points of interest throughout the state including personal and family reminiscences. The use of the old Soudan Mine for physics research--cosmic particle and dark matter--is noted, for instance, while the Kensington or "Viking" Rune Stone, discovered in 1898 by a Swedish farmer and now on display in the city of Alexandria and long declared a "fake," is noted now as being "reinvestigated." Also of note is the more recent suggestion of a level of what may be impact debris from the Sudbury event of about 1.85 billion years ago and found in the area of the Gunflint, almost 500 miles away.
While those who have read the author's earlier book will find most of the scientific data and narrative are the same, they will also discover that the photos here are better quality and more in number. Most especially more of them are in color and the color quality is generally better. This makes the characteristics of the formations clearer, which should make it easier for those who want to take the outlined tours to recognize them in situ.
This book, like the other, has a thumbnail sketch of geology and of the geology of the state in particular to help give an understanding of the underlying processes involved in creating the state's geologic character. It is, however, intended to be a roadside tour for personal or classroom edification and not a course in geology or earth history. A more thorough study of geology through general texts will greatly enhance the enjoyment of the tour book.
There is a fair amount of redundancy in description. Information often already given in the introductory chapters or in one of the chapters on a specific region may be repeated in later chapters, which can be a little irritating. One must remember, however, that the book is designed to be a tour book, and that unless one is intending to do the entire state in a few short days--rather difficult and thoroughly unlikely--the pertinent information at each type site is helpful, even if the reader has already "heard" it already. In short, each mini-tour is a compact unit with all pertinent information included in it.
Like Minnesota's Geology, the book is divided into sections based on general areas and rock regions of the state. Most of the state exhibits "recent" geologic events in the form of glaciations and glacial formations, though the northeast has examples of very early volcanism, of island arc formation, of mountain building, traces of convergent events and of rifting. This makes it a perfect area for class trips that want to hit the most "points" of the science of geology. Those who expect to find dinosaur remains will discover that while the animals may have walked the Minnesota landscape of the time, their remains have been removed from the scene by glacial mechanics. Whole periods of earth history have been removed leaving "unconformities" in the rock record.
For those who live in the state, the formations in your area--even of your specific town--may be discussed in detail, which should make the book more personally significant. It was for me. I grew up in the southeastern part of the state and found the discription of some of the terrains informative. I also studied geology and paleontology in college and had the experience of exploring many of the fossil bearing sites. The Twin Cities where I currently reside is well described in the book, and I have recently spent time in the region of Lake Pepin, whose formation and history is discussed as well.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Thorough and eminently readable Sep 24, 2010
By B. Campbell
"argomd"
Now fully disabled, I gained considerable pleasure from the clear, thorough, well-edited and well-illustrated text. Also delighted at the abundance of relevant photos. Professor Ojakangas made an immensely complex picture of Minnesota digestible, even poetic. I've at least one of every volume in this series, and this one is near or at the top with RG of Colorado (2nd ed.). Thanks to both author and publisher. Now I just have to find a way to travel there for a couple of weeks.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
What is that rocky outcropping? May 29, 2010
By Old Finn
A very accessible book that describes and explains the geological features of the roadside. Not too technical. Nice glossary included to explain most of the terms.
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