August 12-14, 2022 - Grand Marais, MI

Day One

We embarked our first gneiss adventure with an exhilarating journey to explore the geological wonders of Michigan's Upper Peninsula over a three-day excursion. The adventure began early as we gathered in the early morning with some breakfast (bagels and cream cheese) before we set off on our road trip northward. Our first stop was at the Topinabee Rest Area, where we stretched our legs and enjoyed a scenic overlook, marveling at the glacial landscape and examining interesting boulders around the rest area. 

After a quick lunch in Mackinaw City with breathtaking views of the Mackinac Bridge, we crossed the bridge and marveled at the impressive span connecting Michigan's Lower and Upper Peninsulas, eagerly anticipating our next destination. We tried to find a gypsum site along M2, but it is likely that development and private property has made this site inaccessible. We continued our journey towards the Fiborn Karst Preserve, an inactive quarry now in care of the Michigan Karst Conservancy. Navigating through the scenic northern Michigan landscape, we made occasional stops to confirm our route and locate the preserve, eager to explore its unique karst formations and sedimentary rocks.The quarry walls revealed layers of limestone and dolomite, showcasing the remnants of ancient seas and the geological processes that shaped the region over millions of years. 

We ventured back on the road to our next destination, Grand Marais. We Arrived at our accommodations and settled in, and were treated to a backyard on the shoreline of Lake Superior. While preparing dinner (burgers), some of us went out on the beach for a preliminary hunt for those infamous rocks that glow under UV light. After dinner we headed out to the beaches of Lake Superior around the Grand Marais area and under the darkening sky, we searched for hackmanite-rich syenites, much fittingly known as emberlites, using UV lights to reveal their characteristic fluorescence. We weren't as lucky in finding them on these beaches, probably swept clean by the plethora of rock hounds that comb the beaches throughout the spring and summer, but we did find a few interesting specimens. There were a few rocks that had a fluorescent white/yellow color, uncharacteristic of the syenites most people find. We are not sure what the fluorescent mineral in these samples are, but we were excited to find them. While digging through the small pebbles of the beach, we managed to find a tiny piece of an emberlite with its distinct orange glow, our only sample from the entire trip. Regardless, our discoveries added to the day's geological insights, showcasing the diverse mineralogy and natural beauty of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Day Two

The second day of our adventure began early with a visit to the Log Slide Overlook near Grand Marais. Perched high above Lake Superior, this vantage point, about 175 feet (53 m) above Lake Superior, offered breathtaking panoramic views of the rugged shoreline and the expansive waters beyond. The sand dunes dominate this shoreline, in places erosion revealing the bedrock beneath, evidence of ancient shorelines and geological processes that shaped the Great Lakes region.

From there, we traveled to Marquette to explore some outcrops of rock and mine dumps. We were impressed by the drastic change in geology while crossing into Marquette - the sudden onset of igneous and metamorphic rocks - was quite staggering. As we appraoched the Marquette Welcome Center on M28, we couldn't miss a giant outcrop of igneous rock across the road. WE made a quick stop and immedeatly several of us started sifting through the gravel road and being excited for all the jasper we were finding. We didn't stay long here and continued onward to Presque Isle Park, where we explored the rocky shores and encountered a variety of intriguing rock formations. The park's exposed bedrock displayed evidence of volcanic activity and glacial forces, offering a different insight into Michigan's geological history than the stories the sedimentary rocks were telling us on the east side of the U.P. 

Continuing our journey, we made a brief stop at the Tourist Park Dam, where we admired striking greenstone outcrops. These ancient volcanic rocks, shaped by lava flows and subsequent erosion and metamorphism, provided a glimpse into the region's very ancient volcanic past. 

Our next destination was Jasper Knob in Ishpeming, a serene hilltop offering sweeping views of the surrounding countryside. Here, we paused to appreciate the tranquil beauty of Michigan's interior landscapes and reflect on the geological forces that have shaped the region over millions of years. Hiking to the top of Jasper Knob was a treat, as we encountered the ledges and cave-like features of the outcrop and marveled at the magnitude of its size and the richness of hematite and jasper. Located within a tranquil neighborhood, one would not expect there to be such a geological wonder amidst the suburban atmosphere. 

The day has been overcast throughout, with spots of light rain here and there, but it offered for some cool summer temperatures and comfortable rockhounding experience. We left Jasper Knob and continued on to our next destination, an attempt to locate one of the mine dumps in a town called Champion. When we got there, we quickly realized that the roads are leaving a sparkly residue on our car's tires - it was specular hematite! Wee explored piles of mining debris and collected magnetites, hematites, tourmalines, and some varieties of minerals in metamorphosed rocks. These metallic ores, remnants of Michigan's rich mining history, underscored the economic importance of the region's mineral resources and gave us quite the perspective on again, how massive rock formations can be. We left Champion in a futile attempt to find some graphite in a town 30 minutes west, but the day was drawing to a close and we started heading back. When we got to Ishpeming again, we gathered for a well-deserved dinner at Congress Lounge & Pizza. Over pizza and lively conversation, we shared stories of our geological discoveries and marveled at the diversity of Michigan's geological landscapes in what felt like a completely different part of the world. 

Day Three

On our final day, we started packing to leave our accomedation before setting out for our journey back home. After we waited for some of our group to return from breakfast out in town, we set out along the scenic route along the shores of Lake Superior and made a stop at Perry's Landing to comb the beach for some rocks. The morning sunlight bathed the shoreline in a golden glow as we explored the beach, collecting smooth pebbles and searching for fluorescent rocks under the bright clear blue sky, another futile endeavor that we cherished regardless of the outcome. The roads took us to Tahquamenon Falls State Park next, where we were greeted by the thundering roar of the waterfalls cascading through the dense forest. The amber-colored waters of the Upper and Lower Falls, stained by tannins from surrounding cedar swamps, mesmerized us as we hiked along the trails and admired the geological formations carved by the relentless flow of water over millennia. These two tranquil settings on our trip back home offered a perfect conclusion to our geological adventure, allowing us to appreciate the natural beauty of Lake Superior and reflect on our journey through Michigan's Upper Peninsula.