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Monthly Archives: April 2012

Missouri History Museum to show Brick documentary tonight — April 24, 2012

Former State Geologist of Missouri Interviewed for Documentary Brick by Chance and Fortune: A St. Louis Story

Visitors to the Missouri History Museum Tuesday, April 24 are invited to watch Brick by Chance and Fortune:  A St. Louis Story, a feature length documentary about brick in St. Louis by Bill Streeter.  The documentary pays homage to the rich heritage of brick architecture in St. Louis, which was home to some of the largest and most innovative clay working companies of the nineteenth century.  The documentary will begin at 7 p.m. in Lee Auditorium.  Admission is free.

Among those interviewed and appearing in the film include Mimi Garstang.  Mimi served as State Geologist of Missouri and Geology and Land Survey Division Director from 2000-2008.  In the film, Mimi discusses the geology and abundance of clay in St. Louis, which made it possible for the brick industry to thrive in the city.  Many fine examples of brick work produced still exist.  The documentary also features historians, preservationists, a city alderman and others who share a love for St. Louis brick.  The documentary won “Best Local History Feature” in the St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase. 

After the film, stay for a discussion with filmmaker Bill Streeter; Michael Allen, director at Preservation Research Office; and author and historian NiNi Harris.  Learn more about the film and watch the trailer at www.stlbrickfilm.com.  – Joe

 

Posted on Apr 24, 2012

Don’t have time to read? Listen to audio versions of articles in our magazine

Mp3 files are available for the last two issues of our magazine

Last fall, we began offering audio versions of articles that appear in our magazine.  For example, our Rock Matters Mp3 file about meteorites can be found here.  See this link for the e-print version.  Visit the magazine’s main page for links to all e-print and mp3 versions.  –Joe

 

Posted on Apr 24, 2012

Missouri River — Lewis and Clark Expedition Trading Cards

The Missouri River -- Lewis and Clark Expedition Educational Trading CardsHuge price reduction from $8 to only $2 per set

This colorful set of 80 cards highlights the Missouri River’s outstanding natural resources as it follows the path taken by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark’s Corps of Discovery Expedition two hundred years ago.

Read about Missouri state parks, conservation areas, sites of interest and scenic river towns. See riverside statues and monuments honoring Lewis and Clark’s journey, murals within the Capitol building, portraits of the explorers, along with numerous breath taking river scenes.

Additional trading card sets highlighting Missouri’s natural resources are also available.

We offer online ordering, or you may call 573-368-2125 or drop by our Rolla office at 111 Fairgrounds Road, Rolla, MO 65401.  For directions, please see this map.  –Joe

Posted on Apr 23, 2012

Mark Twain Cave is a type of cave found nowhere else in Missouri

Maze Caves are found in only few places in the U.S.

Mark Twain CaveMaze caves like Mark Twain are the most unique karst features in the state.  Maze caves were created when water was sandwiched between layers of shale and was only able to move along fractures in the limestone, dissolving out a network of passages in a regular pattern.  They exhibit tall straight canyons among their many features.  Caves in Missouri can be divided into two patterns: maze and branch work. Whichever pattern a cave becomes mainly depends upon the movement of water through the subsurface. Most caves in Missouri are branch work caves that form when water moves through a single conduit and branches into tributaries, much like a surface stream.  Read more in the latest issue of our Missouri Resources Magazine.  Also, see our Geologic Column publication.  –Joe

Posted on Apr 10, 2012

Missouri Hosts a Robust Limestone Industry

Limestone:  Missouri’s Billion Dollar Industry

Limestone in Missouri

Missouri hosts a robust limestone industry that mines rock and processes it into a variety of vital products for the state, the nation and the world.  Missouri limestone has been used as dimension and ornamental stone in many buildings across the United States including the U.S. Department of Commerce building, the Library of Congress, the National Archives and Missouri’s own state capitol.

Limestone Limestone known as “Carthage Marble,” perhaps the most widely recognized of Missouri’s marbles has been extensively used across the nation and can be seen on the campuses of the University of Michigan, Stanford University, the University of Notre Dame and Missouri State University.  Read more in Missouri Resources Magazine.  Also see the Geologic Column of Missouri. and learn more about other industrial minerals in Missouri.  –Joe

 

Posted on Apr 09, 2012

Mark your calendar for 10 a.m. Friday, April 20

Earth Day at the Capitol

Logon and watch a live video broadcast from the department’s Earth Day celebration from 10 a.m. to noon April 20, 2012.   We will be there with rocks, minerals, fossil and educational trading cards about Missouri’s vast natural resources.

The department sponsors and hosts the event at the Capitol each year.  Activities include information booths, games and displays about the environment.  Many other state and federal agencies join the department and bring additional environmental displays and exhibits to the event.

The 18th annual Earth Day celebration will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m on Friday, April 20, 2012, in Jefferson City on the south lawn of the Missouri State Capitol.  Learn more about Earth Day at the Capitol.

 

Posted on Apr 09, 2012

Check out our educational posters today!

Geology posters

Looking to decorate a wall in your office?  Consider one of our rock and mineral posters, or one about fossils, caves or other topics related to Missouri geology.  Check out all 10 posters by going to missourigeologystore.com.  Shop from home and have your poster delivered to your door, or have it shipped to a friend or relative.  –Joe

 

 

 
 

 

 

Posted on Apr 09, 2012

Publication of the Month – Springs of Missouri

Books make good gifts

Springs of Missouri Missouri is blessed with an abundance of springs that have played a major role in the settlement and development of the state.  Loaded with information about springs, this 267 page book is an excellent guide to all the major springs in the Missouri Ozarks and it is clearly written for all audiences.  This book is filled with wonderful photos, illustrations and maps and is a bargain at only $15. Tax and shipping are extra.  Order online from the Missouri Geology Store.  –Joe

 

 

 

Posted on Apr 06, 2012

Protecting Missouri’s Domestic Drinking Water

Clean, safe drinking water

Protecting Missouri's Drinking WaterMore than 150,000 domestic wells are used to supply drinking water to more than half a million Missourians. Staff with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Geology and Land Survey Division are dedicated to protecting these precious groundwater supplies now and for the future. One way we protect drinking water is by using equipment to locate problems in domestic wells. Check out this video to learn more.  –Joe

Posted on Apr 06, 2012

Visit the Missouri History Museum April 24 and see a Great Documentary about Brick

Former State Geologist of Missouri Interviewed for Documentary Brick by Chance and Fortune: A St. Louis Story

Visitors to the Missouri History Museum Tuesday, April 24 2012 are invited to watch Brick by Chance and Fortune:  A St. Louis Story, a feature length documentary about brick in St. Louis by Bill Streeter.  The documentary pays homage to the rich heritage of brick architecture in St. Louis, which was home to some of the largest and most innovative clay working companies of the nineteenth century.  The documentary will begin at 7 p.m. in Lee Auditorium.  Admission is free.

Among those interviewed and appearing in the film include Mimi Garstang.  Mimi served as State Geologist of Missouri and Geology and Land Survey Division Director from 2000-2008.  In the film, Mimi discusses the geology and abundance of clay in St. Louis, which made it possible for the brick industry to thrive in the city.  Many fine examples of brick work produced still exist.  The documentary also features historians, preservationists, a city alderman and others who share a love for St. Louis brick.  The documentary won “Best Local History Feature” in the St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase.

After the film, stay for a discussion with filmmaker Bill Streeter; Michael Allen, director at Preservation Research Office; and author and historian NiNi Harris.  Learn more about the film and watch the trailer at www.stlbrickfilm.com.  – Joe

 

Posted on Apr 05, 2012