Indiana Geological and Water Survey

Mountain Press publishes three geological guide series: Roadside Geology… (by state), which covers “big picture” geology that you would see while driving by on a major highway; Geology Underfoot…, which covers the geology of a particular region (Yellowstone, the Front Range, southern Utah, etc), with the assumption that you will drive to the places mentioned and look around; and (state) Rocks!, which covers sites of geological interest in each state. All of these start with a geological history of the area, then individual sites (or highways). Indiana Rocks! divides the state into regions (Northern Moraine and Lake, Maumee Lake Plain, Central Till Plain, Southern Highlands), then lists sites in each area. In Indiana, almost all of these are state, county, or city parks. I’ve visited a few of them, notably the state parks exposing fossils from the Ordovician Cincinnati Arch. (Versailles State Park – pronounced “verSALES” by the locals; Clifty Falls State Park, and the Falls of the Ohio). There are a lot of other places I’d like to see – notably the Kentland Dome impact crater.

In the eastern US, you don’t get the dramatic geology of the West, but there’s plenty of more subtle features. For Indiana, I’m reminded of Auden’s “In Praise of Limestone”.

Lots of pictures, a glossary, and an extensive bibliography of more scholarly works if you get interested.… (more)