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Above is a picture of the Clearwater River bluff at Riverside Park in Red Lake Falls. Major Late Pleistocene glacial activity left these deposits. On close inspection, it’s possible to locate the boundary between the upper and lower units, which is separated by a concentration of cobble-sized rocks.
The Red Lake Surficial Sampler
This Sampler is useful to non-professionals who simply wish to learn more about the geologic history of Minnesota. It is not intended to be a one-stop, comprehensive sampler. It is useful to anyone with an interest in earth science or the geology of Minnesota.
Wood For the Fit Adventurer
Hint 1
With a good canoe and a GPS device of choice you can located the exposed logs. Save yourself a few strokes by driving to the Sportsmen’s Park in Red Lake Falls. The park lies in the triangle of land between Red Lake River and its largest tributary, the Clearwater River, at their confluence. Both streams have a high gradient at this point, flowing between the high bluffs of the Red Lake Formation and over cobble and boulder strewn bottoms.
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Red Lake County Surficial Sampler
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Untie the canoe, then paddle down river to these coordinates: UTM Lat = 47.8903, Lon = -96.30065. The logs are on the south bank of the Red Lake River.
Don’t forget your PFD. Don’t leave the shore without it. And an extra paddle, water, a snack or two, sunscreen, camera and a good buddy with whom you can share the experience always come in handy. Just make sure the buddy is willing to do his/her part of the paddling back up stream. You’ll both enjoy it.
Hint 2
Before you load the vehicle and hit the road, I recommend you visit the USGS Real-Time Water Data Web Site for streamflow conditions. Be aware of the water level. If the Red Lake River gaging station at Crookston has a reading above 6 feet, there is a good chance the logs will be submerged — not to mention having to deal with the river current. But then the rapids are easy paddling.
The Clearwater River is sometimes as large as its receiving stream, the Red Lake River, depending on recent patterns of precipitation. So click on the Red Lake Falls gaging station, too. This gives a reading for the Clearwater River water level. A heads-up number here is, again, 6 feet.
Pleistocene Logs
The oldest rock unit exposed in northwestern Minnesota, the Gervais Formation, is included in this sampler. Published literature states the age of the Gervais is not well defined. Attempts to perform radiocarbon dating on the organic material present in the formation were Carbon 14 dead, indicating that the formation was deposited greater than about 50,000 years ago.
A reliable sample of this organic material can be yours for a song. See additional specimens available on my Minnesota Rock, Fossil & Mineral Specimens 2 page.
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since September, 2007.