July 30 – The day started at 0800 with a ride to the Duluth Aquarium for breakfast. It was overcast and much cooler – cold to some – than Saturday, with a bit of rain and hail during the 10 minute ride. Following breakfast and an overview of the day, Jim Miller of the Minnesota Geological Survey and the University of Minnesota, and Betty Dahl, a retired state archeologist, set the stage for the day’s field excursion.

By 1130 the day had turned sunny and a bit warmer, and we were aboard a coach bus on a journey to look firsthand at some of the oldest rocks in North America and to visit culturally and historically significant sites inhabited by the native peoples.

With Jim and Betty as very knowledgeable guides we traveled back millions of years to read the story told by the rocks, and back many hundreds of years through local human history. But the following comments and quotes from workshop participants will better tell the story of the day’s events.

“Lesson for Geology – Teach the language, but make sure to read the story.”

“Native American history and tradition tied in so well with all of the sights and landmarks we toured.”

“Today was a day of exploring geology, native history and nature, and walking away with ‘rock souveniers.’”

“On a bulletin board in my classroom I had a saying ‘Earth’s history can be read in its rocks.’ It was welcome validation as a teacher to hear a scientist cite the same idea with such enthusiasm.”

“As a geology teacher it is important to take students beyond the identification of rocks and minerals to the interpretation….”

“The mid-continent rift and the Grenville orogeny information gave me a way to tie Lake superior to North Carolina geology.”

“The whole Grenville mountain building episode was fascinating. I had no idea that South America was once pushing up against North America and that was what stopped the continental rift. My fifth grade students are going to love hearing this part of the story.”

“What struck me is that Minnesota has spent more time at the earth’s equator in the last billion years than it has as it’s current location.”

“Remember it’s the story that’s important – the past which helps us with the future.”

And here’s a poem to close our first full day of exploring Lake Superior….

Lines of symmetry all around –
Is that a gabbro on the ground?
Oh no it’s not, but it could be
Basalt with calcite looking at me!

A gabbro is red or pink or gray
Careful! Diorite gets in the way!
Flows of lava go up and down
In Minnesota this we found!

Ojibwa secrets found on Ely’s Peak
A glacier lake whose birth we seek.
Hidden mountains and beaches too
When at the crest we came to view.

While four Great Lakes surround my state
And things from minerals we make
In Minnesota there’s a key
To life, and how things came to be.

And now a pictoral review of the day…

Geology at Ely Peak

Native Culture and History at Chambers Grove

Can you find the imperfection?

Geology at Leif Erikson Park

More Geology at Leif Erikson Park

An unusual perspective on geology

Getting a jump on homework

Now that’s a BIG aquarium!!

Team Michigan waits for a ride home. Jim, where are you?!?

Sailing home…