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Preface
- Wayne State University Press
- Chapter
- Additional Information
ix his book was a long time coming. It began in 1994 with the writing of a Pictured Rocks Resource Report on the park’s glacial geology, followed by a more ambitious report on ancient shorelines written as a “geoscientistin -the-park” during my sabbatical leave in 2004. Near the end of my stay, Gregg Bruff (the park’s chief of Heritage Education), suggested using the two reports as the basis for a book on park geology. I accepted the challenge with some trepidation, knowing full well that my academic responsibilities would slow the project considerably. This turned out to be something of an understatement, but over the next five summers (between committee meetings), I was able to finally finish the manuscript. My charge is made somewhat easier by the fact that an extensive literature exists on the park. Indeed, the geologic history of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is generally well understood by scientists, but much of the relevant literature is unpublished, outmoded, or scattered among a variety of journals, resource reports, and government documents. Accordingly, this book is designed to synthesize all published and available unpublished information on the park’s geologic history into one source, in what is hoped will be a lively, lucid, and richly illustrated narrative. It is targeted for the interested public but assumes at least a rudimentary understanding of basic geologic principles as might be taught in an introductory college geology or physical geography class. As such, the book should also be useful to geologists, physical geographers, and those working in closely related fields such as archaeology, biology, ecology, and environmental science. A detailed mileage-referenced road log is provided in the appendix to guide readers to the best and most accessible field sites, and, for the more adventurous, a day hike keyed to the geology is included. These features are augmented by a comprehensive references list located at the end of the book. The manuscript’s organization is chronological. After a short introductory chapter establishing the park’s geologic setting, we begin with the oldest rocks in the park and work our way to the present. The geology logically divides into bedrock Preface T x Preface and drift, and I’ve tried to present a balanced approach that gives emphasis to both. Some hard rock geologists may be disappointed with the attention given to the surficial deposits and landforms, but the park’s landscape (including Lake Superior) is essentially glacial and postglacial in origin, and Pleistocene and Holocene events are an important part of the story. My effort to broaden the appeal of the manuscript also requires that some basic geologic principles be explained at a length appropriate to their complexity. To the geologically proficient, these passages may seem like annoying remediation, and I ask for their patience and understanding. Finally, I am acutely aware of the dangers inherent in paraphrasing and simplifying the work of other scientists, many of whom are my friends and coauthors. I am also sensitive to my colleagues who might bristle at the thought of someone profiting from descriptions of their scientific work. To this charge I can only say that the book is written at the behest of the National Park Service to elucidate and inform, that books of this sort rarely make a profit, and that it is my ultimate intention to return any remunerations to Pictured Rocks through the Lake Superior Foundation. For any misinterpretations or factual errors, of course, I take full responsibility. [3.226.254.255] Project MUSE (2024-03-28 11:58 GMT) ...