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Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Printed in the Manitoulin Expositor
MANITOULIN - Fossil enthusiasts and rock
hounds of Manitoulin will be thrilled
with a long-overdue geology guide book
that was to be launched today
(Wednesday) at the Gore Bay Museum.
'Manitoulin Rocks!' is a new publication
put together by three geology professors
from the University of Waterloo, all of
whom were to have been present at the
launch. Profusely illustrated and
written in an easily readable style,
this book provides a professional
outline of the rocks, fossils and
landforms of the Manitoulin area.
Funding from the LaCloche Manitoulin
Business Assistance Corporation (LAMBAC)
and FedNor, combined with support from
the Gore Bay Museum's remarkable curator
Nicole Weppler, made the publication of
this valuable resource possible.
The three scientists who authored the
tome - Mario Coniglio, Paul Karrow and
Peter Russell, all affiliated with the
University of Waterloo's earth sciences
department - spent several years
compiling information and photos that
elucidate the remarkable geology that
can be discovered on Manitoulin.
Maps and directions to 50 field
locations on the Island are included.
Promotional material from the publisher
describes the book as "an ideal
reference guide for tourists, teachers,
students, nature lovers, or anyone else
who wants to understand the natural
history of the world's largest
freshwater island."
The book is 130 pages in length, with
full color production and over 150
diagrams and images. It was
written expressly for the non-specialist
and fills a void for an appreciation of
the Island's geological richness.
"For well over a century, Manitoulin
Island has been a mecca for earth
scientists from all over North America,"
a press release from the University of
Waterloo notes.
As the authors themselves write in the
book, the Manitoulin area "is an
excellent natural laboratory to learn
more about the earth." And as the
northernmost expression of the Niagara
Escarpment in Ontario, "the area offers
an impressive diversity of
well-displayed geological features in a
relatively small area."
The first half of the book explores a
broad range of concepts needed to
appreciate the geology of Manitoulin,
addressing both the ancient LaCloche
Mountains and the sedimentation that led
to the fossil rich limestone and
dolomite formations on Manitoulin.
The book's second half details specific
areas on Manitoulin where readers can
make their own first-hand observations
of the Island's geology and landforms.
Detailed maps, directions and even GPS
(global positioning system) coordinates
are provided.
Bill Caesar; a local fossil aficionado
who is quoted in the book, is thrilled
that the resource has been made
available. "This book will forever
change your perspective of our Island,"
he enthuses.
Copies of 'Manitoulin Rocks!' are
available for $25 plus tax at a number
of Island locations, including the Gore
Bay Museum, the Expositor office, and
Turner's of Little Current.
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