Browsing by Subject "geology"

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Aggregate Resources Inventory of the Seven-County Metropolitan Area, Minnesota, St. Paul
(Minnesota Geological Survey, 1982) Meyer, G.N.; Jirsa, M.A.
Report and maps prepared for the Twin Cities Metropolitan Council detailing aggregate resources in the seven-county metropolitan area.
Bedrock geologic map of Carver County, Minnesota
(Minnesota Geological Survey, 1993) Runkel, A.C.
Bedrock geologic map of Carver County with bedrock topography contours.
Bedrock geologic maps, eastern half of Houston County, Minnesota
(Minnesota Geological Survey, 1995) Runkel, A.C.
Preliminary bedrock geologic map of the eastern part of Houston County, scale 1:100,000
A Bibliography of Published Research in Minnesota Related to the State’s Mineral Potential: June 2023
(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2023-06) Hudak, George J
The Minnesota Geological Survey (MGS) was provided funding from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) via the FY 2022 National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program for the “FY22 Minnesota Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program.” The program included two priorities that collectively involved 10 separate projects: Priority 1: Data Preservation • Project 1: Preservation of MGS Field Data • Project 2: Seismic Database and Geophysical Compilation • Project 3: Preservation of MGS Cuttings, Phase Three • Project 4: Minnesota Drill Core Library Inventory, Phase Two • Project 5: Data Preservation Workshop Priority 2: Mineral Potential-Related Information • Project 6: State Compilation of Mineral Deposits / Districts • Project 7: Mapping for USGS Compilation of Earth MRI Focus Areas • Projects 8: State Compilation of Borehole Data • Project 9: Prepare For, and Attend, and Follow-Up Earth MRI Workshop • Project 10: Preservation Plan for Critical Minerals As a Component of Priority 2, Project 7, “Mapping for USGS Compilation of Earth MRI Focus Areas,” the Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) was subcontracted by the Minnesota Geological Survey (MGS) to prepare a bibliography indicating published geological, geochemical, and geophysical research specific to Minnesota that supports inference of Mineral potential. Matching funding was provided from the NRRI University of Minnesota Permanent University Trust Fund to complete this work. The publications that form the basis of this bibliography are included in NRRI Technical Summary Report “Duluth Complex Geological Bibliography” (Hauck, 2017), “A Bibliography of Published Research in Minnesota Related to the State’s Mineral Potential” (Hudak, 2020), “Minnesota Data Preservation Report for 2019/2020: Updated Data Inventory, Preservation of Pillsbury Hall Rock Collections and Documentation, Assembly of Mineral Potential Related Information” (Thorleifson, 2020), and “A Bibliography of Published Research in Minnesota Related to the State’s Mineral Potential: June 2022” (Hudak, 2022). The following bibliography has been organized utilizing the USGS Mineral Systems approach for critical minerals inventory, research and assessment (Hofstra, 2019; Hofstra and Kreiner, 2020). As Minnesota has a preserved geologic history that spans greater than 3.6 billion years, a wide variety of geological processes encompassing several mineral systems have been active within the State. These include Chemical Weathering, Placer, Meteoric Recharge, Marine Chemocline, Volcanogenic Seafloor, Orogenic, Metamorphic, IOA-IOCG, and Mafic Magmatic. This bibliography includes references specific to each of these mineral systems, as well as a list of references related to potential by-products, recycling, and carbon mineralization publications focused on—and/or referencing—Minnesota resources.
Bulletin No. 1. The History of Geological Surveys in Minnesota
(Minnesota Geological Survey, 1889) Winchell, N.H.
Describes the enabling legislation and early attempts and problems establishing a geological survey in Minnesota
Bulletin No. 10. The Iron-Bearing Rocks of the Mesabi Range in Minnesota
(Minnesota Geological Survey, 1894) Spurr, J.Edward
Study of the rocks on the Mesabi Iron Range, Minnesota. In this bulletin the writer has endeavored to add to the knowledge of one of the most perplexing and fascinating fields in American geology. At the same time, some apology must be offered for the incompleteness of the work. Both time and opportunity have been too scanty for a thorough study and analysis of all of the problems which have presented themselves. New modifications of old principles. and new principles, will be found to bave been active in other areas, apart from that especially studied; and, not improbably, in this area itself. Economic geology in these departments is as yet rudimentary, but it is hoped that the main points bere presented will prove sound, and can safely be made the basis for more advanced work.
Bulletin No. 11. Preliminary Report on the Clays and Shales of Minnesota
(Minnesota Geological Survey, 1914) Grout, Frank F.; Soper, E.K.
This bulletin is a preliminary paper outlining the principal results of an investigation of the clay resources of Minnesota, which was carried on during the summer of 1912. A more comprehensive report is now in progress and will be issued later. In general, the object of the work has been to assist in the development of the clay resources of Minnesota. The broader problems of ceramics are treated only incidentally. Some of the important scientific conclusions of the American Ceramic Society, of the Bureau of Standards, and of surveys of other states are briefly reviewed here in order that they may be more readily available to those whose chief interests are technical and commercial. A more extended treatment of the scientific results of the investigation will appear later. Specifically, the object has been (1) to investigate the sources of clay for every town of 1,000 or more inhabitants, and for each county of the State; (2) to ascertain the extent of several deposits now developed at only a few points; (3) to find new deposits; and (4) to determine the qualities of these deposits and of certain mixtures, to ascertain whether it is possible to produce some refractory wares, pottery, paving brick, and certain other high-grade products that are now carried considerable distances to the Minnesota markets.
Bulletin No. 12. Surface Formations and Agricultural Conditions of Northwestern Minnesota
(Minnesota Geological Survey, 1915) Leverett, Frank; Purssell, U.G.
This bulletin is a preliminary paper which treats the soils of only the northwest quarter of Minnesota. It will be followed by a report on the entire State, the field work for which will soon be completed. The work has been done in accordance with the agreement for cooperation between the United States Geological Survey and the Minnesota Geological Survey, entered into March, 1912. By this agreement the services of Professor Frank Leverett were secured for surveying the surface formations and soils. Mr. Leverett has been engaged for some twenty years in studying the surface geology of the Great Lakes region and because of his large experience in the greater area he is particularly well prepared to undertake the studies in Minnesota. He has spent, moreover, considerable time in the State studying its physiography in connection with the preparation of a monograph for the United States Geological Survey. Since the reorganization of the State Survey, the salary of Mr. Leverett has been met by the United States Geological Survey, while the greater part of his expenses have been paid by the State Survey. The State Survey has provided also for this work the services and expenses of Professor F. W. Sardeson, who has assisted in this work for the past three seasons. For brief periods, also, the State has supplied the services of Arthur H. Elftman, P. R. McMiller, and G. R. Mc- Dole. We wish to acknowledge the generous assistance of the Division of Soils of the Department of Agriculture of the University of Minnesota and of the United States Bureau of Soils, both of which have contributed unpublished data. The valuable contributions to the knowledge of the surface formations of Minnesota by the Minnesota Geological and Natural History Survey, under the direction of Professor N. H. Winchell, particularly those of Mr. Warren Upham of that Survey, have aided greatly in the preparation of this report. The section on climatic conditions in Minnesota has been generously contributed without any cost to the Survey by Mr. U. G. Purssell, Director of the Minnesota Section of the United States Weather Bureau. In the preparation of the maps and other data showing dates of killing frosts, lengths of growing season, rainfall, etc., Professor C. J. Posey has rendered efficient service.
Bulletin No. 15. Preliminary Report on the Geology of East Central Minnesota Including the Cuyuna Iron-ore District
(Minnesota Geological Survey, 1918) Harder, E.C.; Johnston, A.W.
The geologic work in the Cuyuna iron-ore district is being done jointly by the Minnesota Geological Survey and the United States Geological Survey. Since only a few outcrops of bed rock occur in the district or in the region adjacent to it, the study has been based largely on the results of exploration and mining work. Many drill cores and records of diamond drilling from various parts of the district have been examined, and in addition the occurrence and structure of the rocks as shown in the underground and open pit workings of various mines have been studied in detail, and detailed geologic and topographic maps have been made of several of the open pit mines. In order to gain a more comprehensive idea of the major structure of the rocks of east central Minnesota. and particularly to note if possible the relation of the rocks of the Cuyuna district to such major structure, a careful study of the rock outcrops of the region lying west, south, and east of the Cuyuna district was made. This included the detailed mapping of most of the rock exposures lying nearest to the Cuyuna district in Cass, Todd, Morrison, Mille Lacs, Kanabec, Pine, Carlton, and Aitkin counties, and a more general study of the outlying exposures in these counties and also in Stearns, Benton, and Sherburne counties. North of the Cuyuna district, in the region lying between it and the Mesabi district, no rock outcrops are known and the relation between the rock formations of these two districts will have to be determined by underground exploration.
Bulletin No. 16. The Peat Deposits of Minnesota
(Minnesota Geological Survey, 1919) Soper, E.K.
This bulletin outlines and describes the peat deposits of Minnesota and indicates methods by which they may be utilized for fuel and other purposes. It contains also a discussion of certain areas of peat land in various parts of the state, and purposes for which they are best adapted, whether for agriculture or for the manufacture of peat products. The peat deposits of Minnesota are probably greater than those of any other state in the Union, the quantity of peat being sufficient to make more than six billion tons of good peat fuel. Because of the enormous areas of many of the peat deposits, it was soon realized that any detailed testing of the bogs could be done only on certain selected areas which seem to be especially well situated for development. Such a detailed testing of some of the largest deposits would require years to complete, and in view of the constantly increasing demand in Minnesota for a report on the peat, or muskeg lands of the state, and especially a demand for knowledge as to the agricultural possibilities of these areas, it was decided to examine as many localities as possible and to publish a report of a more general nature which would include descriptions of most of the larger muskegs and peat deposits. Enough soundings were made to determine whether the land should be classified as easily reclaimable, or as better adapted to the manufacture of peat fuel or other peat products. During the two seasons of field work every county in Minnesota was visited and detailed examinations were made in every county which contains peat. In addition to the data thus collected, a large amount of valuable data, including thousands of soundings, has been supplied by the engineers engaged in the various public and private projects for draining the great swamps of northern Minnesota.
Bulletin No. 17. The Magnetite Deposits of the Eastern Mesabi Range Minnesota
(Minnesota Geological Survey, 1919) Grout, Frank F.; Broderick, T.M.
The Mesabi range is a belt of iron-bearing formation about 100 miles long, located about 80 miles north of Duluth, which is situated at the west end of Lake Superior. The trend of the belt is east-north- east. The iron-bearing formation, commonly called taconite, is largely drift covered throughout the main range and has few of the topographic features of a "range." It is called a range because iron-bearing formations in other districts form ranges; and at the east end of the Mesabi district there are some rocky hills rising 200 to 400 feet above the general level. This report is a discussion of the eastern end of the range-that part which lies between the town of Mesaba and Birch Lake, a distance of about 20 miles. This portion of the range is commonly called the "east Mesabi." It is distinguished from the rest of the range by several features, besides the topography above mentioned. In this area, outcrops are numerous; most of the iron is in magnetic form; recrystallization has increased the size of grain and reduced the porosity; there has been very little leaching or enrichment; and in places the beds are more highly tilted. These several peculiarities make the east Mesabi a logical unit for separate study. The field work was done in the summer of 1917, by Frank F. Grout and T. M. Broderick. The Mesabi Syndicate (D. C. Jackling, and Hayden-Stone and Company) were at that time actively exploring certain parts of the area and Mr. W. G. Swart, in charge at the Duluth office, made the work much more effective by rendering many drill records accessible to the Survey. A large number of samples have been assayed in their laboratories.
Bulletin No. 18. The Foundry Sands of Minnesota
(Minnesota Geological Survey, 1923) Knapp, G.N.
This paper, on the sands of Minnesota, is a report of an investigation begun in 1918, at a time when there was a great demand for information about local molding sands. as a result of the traffic situation that made it difficult or impossible to obtain sands from sources that had previously supplied them. The inquiry, which was in charge of Mr. G. N. Knapp, showed that Minnesota contains an abundance of sands for founding nearly all products. equal to, or better than, the sands that had been imported. Part of the information embodied in the report was placed at the disposal of the metal founders as soon as it became available, either verbally or by means of mimeographed sheets. The field work showed also that molding materials are more widely spread over the state than was supposed. and a fairly comprehensive reconnaissance was made of a considerable part of Minnesota. Materials gathered from widely separated sources were tested in the laboratory and some were tested by founders in their plants. Minnesota contains an abundance of foundry sands and all materials commonly used for making molds in foundries of iron, steel, brass, and aluminum, except possibly a highly plastic refractory clay. An economic bulletin such as this is chiefly utilitarian. It should show the nature of materials used, the tests made to ascertain the value of the materials, and the distribution of the materials in the state. These subjects are taken up separately in this bulletin and the geologic and geographic distribution are discussed in some detail. The report does not contain a geologic map. To have included such a map would have resulted in duplication.
Bulletin No. 19. Contributions to the Geology of the Mesabi Range with Special Reference to the Magnetites of the Iron-bearing Formation West of Mesaba
(Minnesota Geological Survey, 1924) Gruner, John W.
This paper treats the geology of that portion of the Mesabi Range that lies west of the town of Mesaba. The Mesabi Range east of Mesaba was recently surveyed by Grout and Broderick, and the Gunflint Range by Broderick. The subjects treated include (I) the stratigraphic subdivisions and structure of the iron formation, (2) the occurrence of large magnetite bodies, possibly ore reserves for the future, (3) the origin of the formation and of the ores. The geologic setting of the district as a whole is briefly reviewed.
Bulletin No. 2. Preliminary Description of the Peridotytes, Gabbros, Diabases and Andesytes of Minnesota
(Minnesota Geological Survey, 1887) Wadsworth, M.E.
It is proposed in the following pages to give a preliminary description of certain types of Minnesota rocks, to serve as a framework for a more complete discussion of the same in the final report. The field relations and to some extent the microscopic characters of the rocks described in the following pages have been given by the state geologist in the annual reports for 1879, 1880, and 1881, and in volume I of the final report. In some cases it will be found that the field relations have led the state geologist to different conclusions concerning the nature of the rocks in question from those adopted by the writer, who has based his views upon the correlation of the microscopic characters of rocks and their field relations, as studied by him elsewhere.
Bulletin No. 20. A Guidebook to Minnesota Trunk Highway No. 1
(Minnesota Geological Survey, 1925) Schwartz, G.M.
This paper is a description of the chief geologic features that may be seen along Highway No. 1 of Minnesota. This highway begins at the Iowa state line south of Albert Lea, and passes northward through the Twin Cities to Duluth and thence extends along the north shore of Lake Superior to the Pigeon River near Port Arthur, Ontario. The report includes thirteen maps which show the locations of roads, towns, and villages, and most of the rocks and land forms that are described in the text. Essentially all places mentioned in the text are located on one of the maps. The work was in charge of Dr. G. M. Schwartz who traversed the entire route and prepared the text. Numerous earlier reports by the Geological Survey of Minnesota and the United States Geological Survey were drawn upon for data and these are appropriately acknowledged in the text. A section on trees and plants is supplied by Dr. C. O. Rosendahl and Dr. F. K. Butters, of the University of Minnesota, and one on fish and game by Mr. Thaddeus Surber, The paper is intended for the use of the traveler and the general public and as far as practicable highly technical terms are avoided.
Bulletin No. 21. The Geology and Magnetite Deposits of Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota
(Minnesota Geological Survey, 1926) Grout, Frank F.
This bulletin treats the geology and mineral deposits of a large area in northern St. Louis County, extending northward to the Canadian boundary. It lies north of the Mesabi iron range and includes most of the Vermilion iron range. It lies south of the Rainy Lake area of Canada. Because it adjoins the world's greatest iron-producing area it has been the subject of much interest to explorers and prospectors seeking new deposits of iron ore and parts of the area have been surveyed by the United States Geological Survey and the earlier Minnesota state surveys. Much of the area, however, had not been surveyed in detail. The report includes a general map of the area (Plate I) several detailed maps of small areas of economic interest and 88 township plats. These township plats are essentially outcrop maps and cover the entire area. approximately 2800 square miles.
Bulletin No. 22. The Geology and Water Resources of Northwestern Minnesota
(Minnesota Geological Survey, 1932) Allison, Ira S.
This bulletin presents the results of an investigation of the geology and water supply of northwestern Minnesota. The area treated, as shown in Figure 1, page 2, comprises parts or all of twenty-six counties, for the most part west and north of St. Cloud; it includes about 28,725 square miles, or approximately one-third of the state. Field work was begun in 1924 and continued through three successive field seasons. The writer was assisted in the field during the entire season of 1924 by Mr. W. A. P. Graham, and for several weeks each by Messrs. G. A. Thiel and Francis Pettijohn. Subsequent field work was conducted by the writer alone. The field study consisted of inspection of wells, examination of materials from wells, collection of samples of water for analysis in the laboratory, interrogating well drillers, and gathering well logs and information regarding subsurface conditions. Samples of water for analysis were forwarded in glass-stoppered bottles of two-liter capacity to the laboratory at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, where the analyses were made immediately. All the analyses were made under uniform con- ditions by Dr. R. J. Leonard, of whose work the author wishes to express his appreciation.
Bulletin No. 23. The Limestones and Marls of Minnesota
(Minnesota Geological Survey, 1933) Stauffer, Clinton R.; Thiel, George A.
Minnesota has extensive deposits of calcium carbonate in the form of limestones, dolomites, and marls. This report deals primarily with the distribution and chemical composition of these carbonate deposits and the uses for which they are suited. The dolomites are the most widely distributed and the most readily available carbonate rocks in Minnesota. They are quarried in large quantities in the southeastern part of the state, where the lower Ordovician rocks are predominantly dolomitic limestones. Limestones high in calcium are far less abundant, being confined to several strata that are more limited in their distribution. Locally they have been quarried for their high lime content. The marls have been but very recently recognized as one of the valuable mineral resources of the state. These light, grayish muds underlie marshes, bogs, and lakes; they are not often visible at the surface. Most persons, therefore, are unfamiliar with the name, appearance, and distribution of marl. It can be distinguished from other muds by its light color, its abundant shell fragments, and its violent reaction with acid. The marl beds of Minnesota vary in thickness, but they are seldom more than thirty feet thick.
Bulletin No. 24. The Geology of the Rove Formation and Associated Intrusives in Northeastern Minnesota
(Minnesota Geological Survey, 1933) Grout, Frank F.; Schwartz, George M.
In the large area of Rove formation along the boundary of north- eastern Minnesota and Ontario there have been two important silver mines, both on the Ontario side of the boundary - Silver Islet and Silver Mountain. The existence of a number of smaller mines and prospects makes it certain that mineralization of this kind occurred over a wide area, and several other mineral occurrences have long been known; but no other important deposits have been developed. Since much of the area is concealed under glacial deposits and since only a reconnaissance geological survey had been made in the part of the area that lies in Minnesota, it seemed advisable to survey the area in more detail. An effort was made to map and study all large outcrops and most of the smaller ones, to record where the veins are and what is their nature, to map the formations more closely than before, and on these records to base an estimate of the probable mineral prospects of the district. The Gunflint iron-bearing formation, which has been treated before, is here referred to only incidentally. The Minnesota area of Rove slate is a narrow strip south of the international boundary from Pigeon Point to a few miles west of Gunflint Lake in Cook County. Since the base of the formation trends northeast into Ontario and the beds dip south, it is believed that eastern outcrops in Minnesota are at a higher horizon than those near Gunflint Lake.
Bulletin No. 25. The Architectural, Structural, and Monumental Stones of Minnesota
(Minnesota Geological Survey, 1935) Thiel, George A.; Dutton, Carl E.
The stone industry in Minnesota began more than a century ago when limestone was quarried to build part of Fort Snelling. From this small beginning in the early history of the territory, the industry has progressed, with periods of fluctuations and retardation, until today it has become the second in value in the mineral production of the state. The stone industry now gives employment to hundreds of persons, from trained administrators and salesmen to quarrymen and skilled stonecutters and carvers. Early geological surveys demonstrated that the state was endowed with an unlimited supply and a great variety of building material. The results of these surveys were published in earlier reports by the Minnesota Geological Survey and by the United States Geological Survey. Since the publication of these reports new varieties of stone have been located and quarried for commercial purposes, and numerous new properties have been developed in widely separated regions within the state. Furthermore, great strides have been made in the methods of quarrying and fabricating stone. Modern machinery has eliminated much of the tedious manual labor, and wastage has been greatly reduced by the utilization of by-products. In this report an attempt is made to acquaint architects, building contractors, and real estate firms with the merits of the various structural and ornamental stones quarried and fabricated in Minnesota. Until recent years our stone products were used more extensively in distant states than within our own communities. Minnesota stones enjoyed a national reputation for beauty and adaptability before their merits were recognized by our local builders. Even today many architects and structural contractors do not realize that more than fifty distinct varieties of architectural stone are quarried and fabricated in this state.

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