If you don’t know your Gowganda tillites and your huizingite found here in Ohio, it might be time to catch up on your geology with the rest of the country during “National Earth Science Week,” which takes place Sunday through Oct. 15.
In keeping with the theme of celebrating “Our Shared Geoheritage,” the weeklong event hopes to engage both the young, the old, and everyone in between while fostering a better understanding of the science of the earth underneath us and all around us, along with looks at paleontology, water quality and climate science. There is a focus on understanding how we can best use, manage and conserve our natural resources, while also becoming better stewards of the planet we call home.
Part of one of the many lessons on tap could include an explanation of the Gowganda tillites, unique rock boulders and cobble that were carried into Ohio by the glaciers during the most recent ice age. According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Geological Survey, a tillite is the product of glacial till that has undergone extremely high pressure because of burial and tectonics and become solid rock.
Gowganda tillite is associated with the Gowganda Formation, which is located in Ontario along the northern shores of Lake Huron. Glaciers carried material from this formation and scattered it across much of what is now the Midwest. Rubble from this glacial move can be found throughout Michigan and in the north and western sections of Ohio. Tillite is very dense and heavy for its size, and typically a dark bluish-green or olive-green in color.
Huizingite is a new mineral material associated with the Huron River oil shale fire site in Huron County. The fire started in the fall of 2009 and burned until the spring of 2011, with temperatures below ground reaching 800 degrees Fahrenheit, and this intense heat and prolonged burn created several exotic minerals, such as huizingite, boussingaultite, lonecreekite, and carlsonite. Huizingite was named in honor of Terry and Marie Huizing, Cincinnati mineral collectors and the editors of Rocks & Minerals magazine.
During “National Earth Science Week,” which is sponsored each year by the American Geological Institute, geologists in Ohio are scheduled to lead hikes and give presentations at certain state parks and nature preserves. The emphasis will be on exploring the natural wonders, resources and landforms of Ohio, which include the glacial grooves on Kelleys Island, some of the largest in the world. The grooves are believed to have been shaped about 20,000 years ago when ice a mile thick moved across this part of the continent, carving the unusual wavy formations in solid rock.
The ODNR has geology hikes and talks scheduled for Mohican State Park, Gallagher Fen and Blackhand Gorge state nature preserves, as well as at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. A complete list of the events in Ohio associated with “National Earth Science Week” is available at the geosurvey.ohiodnr.gov website. Maps and publications related to Ohio’s unique geology can be purchased from the Geologic Records Center or at the OhioGeologyStore.com website.
The ODNR Division of Geological Survey is also offering a limited number of free Earth Science Week teacher tool kits, which include activity sheets, materials to conduct experiments, posters, a calendar, and additional items to enhance the geology-based classroom lessons.
There are also several “Focus Days” planned next week to highlight certain geology-related themes, such as fossils, science literacy and Earthcaching, which is a high-tech field trip of sorts, combining the use of GPS technology with exploring the outdoors and the geological wonders of the planet.
BOATING SAFETY COURSE: An Ohio Boating Education course will be offered in two sessions next week at Bass Pro Shops in Rossford. The class will take place on Oct. 11 and Oct. 12 from 5-9 p.m., according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Watercraft. Preregistration is required because of limits on the class size. The course offers information on numerous boating topics such as the rules of navigation, both boating and personal safety equipment, signage on the water, and the specifics of Ohio’s boating regulations. Ohio law requires anyone born after Jan. 1 of 1982 to be able to show proof that they have successfully completed an approved boating safety education course if they operate any watercraft powered by a motor greater than 10 horsepower. For more information or to register for the course, contact the Maumee Bay Watercraft Office at 419-836-6003 or at the watercraft.ohiodnr.gov website.
OSPREY SIGHTING: Sightings of osprey are quite rare in our corner of the state, but reader Kevin Mitchell reports seeing a pair several times recently in the area of the W.W. Knight Nature Preserve, which is located just off River Road in Perrysburg. Once quite common throughout North America, osprey were hit hard by habitat loss and the widespread use of DDT and other chemical pesticides. Their numbers dropped significantly, and about 20 years ago Ohio started a program to strengthen the osprey population. Osprey are found around rivers, streams, reservoirs, and lakes where they display their exceptional hunting skills, folding back their wings and plunging into the water where their talons grab fish. In Ohio, osprey are more commonly found around Alum Creek Lake in Delaware County, and around several major lakes in the northeast portion of the state.
Contact Blade outdoors editor Matt Markey at: mmarkey@theblade.com or 419-724-6068.
First Published October 4, 2016, 4:31 a.m.
