Michigan Technological University Digital Commons @ Michigan Tech Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports 2016 Geoheritage of the Keweenaw Peninsula Erika Vye Michigan Technological University, [email protected] Copyright 2016 Erika Vye Recommended Citation Vye, Erika, "Geoheritage of the Keweenaw Peninsula", Open Access Dissertation, Michigan Technological University, 2016. https://doi.org/10.37099/mtu.dc.etdr/301 Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/etdr Part of the Other Education Commons, and the Other Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons GEOHERITAGE OF THE KEWEENAW PENINSULA By Erika C. Vye A DISSERTATION Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In Geology MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY 2016 ©2016 Erika C. Vye This dissertation has been approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in Geology. Department of Geological/Mining Engineering and Sciences Dissertation Advisor: William I. Rose Committee Member: John S. Gierke Committee Member: Carol MacLennan Committee Member: Benjamin van Wyk de Vries Department Chair: John S. Gierke Dedication To all who marvel at the wisdom and magnificence of the talking rocks of the Keweenaw Peninsula. Table of Contents Preface ................................................................................................................................. viii Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................... x Abstract ................................................................................................................................. xii 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Global Geoparks ..................................................................................................................... 2 1.2 Geoheritage in the United States .......................................................................................... 3 1.3 Geoheritage in the Keweenaw Peninsula .............................................................................. 3 1.4 Description of work ................................................................................................................ 4 1.4.1 Description of Chapters .................................................................................................. 5 1.5 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 8 2. Advancing Geoheritage in the United States: Examples of Geoeducation, Geotourism and Geoconservation in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula ............................................................ 10 2.1 Abstract ........................................................................................................................... 10 2.2 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 11 2.3 Geoheritage in the US – the state of the art ..................................................................... 13 2.3.1 Protection of geoheritage sites in the US ......................................................................... 14 2.3.2 Global level ....................................................................................................................... 14 2.3.3 National designations ....................................................................................................... 15 2.3.4 National Geoheritage Outreach and Earth Science Literacy initiatives ............................ 16 2.2.5 Native Americans and Geoheritage .................................................................................. 18 2.4 Geoheritage of the Keweenaw Peninsula ......................................................................... 19 2.4.1 Geological background ..................................................................................................... 20 2.4.2 Early geoscience investigation .......................................................................................... 23 2.4.3 Cultural background .......................................................................................................... 24 2.5 Building a grassroots partnership for geoheritage in the Keweenaw ................................ 25 2.5.1 Education .......................................................................................................................... 26 2.5.1.1 Geosite inventory and website .................................................................................. 27 2.5.1.2 Boulder gardens in public places for landscape/educational use ............................. 28 2.5.1.3 Signage and self-guided geoheritage tours ............................................................... 29 2.5.2 Economic Development .................................................................................................... 32 2.5.2.1 Keweenaw Geotours .................................................................................................. 32 iv 2.5.2.2 Copper Country Geocache Passport .......................................................................... 33 2.5.3 International partnership .................................................................................................. 34 2.5.4 Geoconservation ............................................................................................................... 35 2.5.5 Decision makers ................................................................................................................ 35 2.5.6 Artists ................................................................................................................................ 37 2.6 Future Work..................................................................................................................... 37 2.6.1 Marine Geoconservation .................................................................................................. 38 2.6.2 Value of public lands ......................................................................................................... 39 2.6.3 Geopark Proposal .............................................................................................................. 39 2.7 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... 39 3. Geoparks in the United States – Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula ..................................... 41 3.1 Abstract ........................................................................................................................... 41 3.2 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 42 3.3 Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula ..................................................................................... 43 3.3.1 Geologic significance of the Keweenaw ........................................................................... 44 3.3.2 Aesthetic and cultural value of the Keweenaw ................................................................ 51 3.3.3 Economic considerations within the Keweenaw .............................................................. 54 3.3.4 Protected areas in the Keweenaw .................................................................................... 56 3.3.5 Education and Partnership in the Keweenaw ................................................................... 58 3.5.1 Outreach and partnership ............................................................................................. 58 3.5.2 Research ........................................................................................................................ 59 3.6 Key Geosites and Geodiversity Sites of the Keweenaw ..................................................... 60 3.6.1 Key geosites and geodiversity sites .................................................................................. 62 1. Eagle Harbor Lookout ........................................................................................................ 63 2. Brockway Mountain .......................................................................................................... 64 3. Horseshoe Harbor ............................................................................................................. 64 4. Hungarian Falls .................................................................................................................. 65 5. Great Sand Bay and Redwyn Dunes ................................................................................. 65 6. A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum ......................................................................................... 66 7. Greenstone Lava Flow at Clifton ....................................................................................... 66 8. Quincy Mine and Hoist ...................................................................................................... 67 9. Torch Lake .......................................................................................................................... 68 10. Calumet Unit .................................................................................................................... 68 v 3.7 Conclusion