The Michigan Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the U.S. state of
Michigan
Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota to the northwest, Wisconsin to the west, ...
. The survey is headed by the State Geologist of Michigan.
The survey has been composed of three individual surveys: the first from 1837 through 1845, the second from 1859 through 1862, and the third from 1869 to present. During most of that time, the survey has been a department of the state government. Since 2011 however, the survey has been administered by the Department of Geosciences at
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University (Western Michigan, Western or WMU) is a Public university, public research university in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. It was initially established as Western State Normal School in 1903 by Governor Aaron T. B ...
.
History
First and second geological surveys
On January 26, 1837, Michigan was admitted as a state. On that same day, a bill was introduced and approved in the
state legislature
A state legislature is a Legislature, legislative branch or body of a State (country subdivision), political subdivision in a Federalism, federal system.
Two federations literally use the term "state legislature":
* The legislative branches of ...
to conduct a
geological survey of Michigan. Dr.
Douglass Houghton
Douglass Houghton (September 21, 1809 – October 13, 1845) was an American geologist and physician, primarily known for his exploration of the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan. It was the site of a copper boom and extensive copper mining beginning ...
, who created and planned the survey, convinced legislators to approve its creation and funding. The bill, titled "An act to provide for a geological survey of the state", was signed into law by Governor
Stevens T. Mason
Stevens Thomson Mason (October 27, 1811 – January 4, 1843) was an American politician who served as the first governor of Michigan from 1835 to 1840. Coming to political prominence at an early age, Mason was appointed his territory's a ...
on February 23, commencing the state's first geological survey. Owing to his effort in creating the survey, Houghton was named the first State Geologist. Abram Sager was appointed as Houghton's assistant for the zoological and botanical aspects of the survey. The survey was appropriated $3000 for its first year. The motivational factor for establishing a geological survey was primarily to secure supplies of
salt
In common usage, salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl). When used in food, especially in granulated form, it is more formally called table salt. In the form of a natural crystalline mineral, salt is also known as r ...
. Lesser reasons were to help dispel negative beliefs about the state and to investigate copper resources in the
Upper Peninsula
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan—also known as Upper Michigan or colloquially the U.P. or Yoop—is the northern and more elevated of the two major landmasses that make up the U.S. state of Michigan; it is separated from the Lower Peninsula b ...
. As established, the survey was expected to be completed in four years; however, it was soon realized that a proper survey of the entire state would take much longer.
In March 1838, the survey was divided into four departments: geological and mineralogical, zoological, botanical, and topographical. Each department was headed by a specialist under the direction of the State Geologist. In 1840, the botanical and zoological aspects of the survey were abolished by the legislature. They were perceived as offering the state little benefit, overriding Houghton's protests that they remain. In 1845, Houghton was out sailing on
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface areaThe Caspian Sea is the largest lake, but is saline, not freshwater. Lake Michigan–Huron has a larger combined surface area than Superior, but is normally considered tw ...
when a storm overturned his boat and he drowned. After this incident the survey was suspended, although Houghton's assistant and another surveyor continued to map the mineralogical deposits on the south shore of Lake Superior.
In the late 1850s, the Michigan Legislature received petitions from various interests to further investigate the state's salt resources, leading to the establishment of a second geological survey on February 15, 1859. Dr.
Alexander Winchell
Alexander Winchell (December 31, 1824, in North East, New York – February 19, 1891, in Ann Arbor, Michigan) was an American geologist who contributed to this field mainly as an educator and a popular lecturer and writer. His views on evolutio ...
of the
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...
was named State Geologist on March 9. Winchell spent much of his time from 1859 through 1862 conducting field work that culminated in a single comprehensive report. His report included a general description of the state's geology and more detailed descriptions of some of its mineral resources of economic interest, including
coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock, formed as rock strata called coal seams. Coal is mostly carbon with variable amounts of other Chemical element, elements, chiefly hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen.
Coal i ...
,
gypsum
Gypsum is a soft sulfate mineral composed of calcium sulfate Hydrate, dihydrate, with the chemical formula . It is widely mined and is used as a fertilizer and as the main constituent in many forms of plaster, drywall and blackboard or sidewalk ...
, and salt in the
Lower Peninsula
The Lower Peninsula of Michigan – also known as Lower Michigan – is the larger, southern and less elevated of the two major landmasses that make up the U.S. state of Michigan; the other being the Upper Peninsula, which is separated by the S ...
, and iron in the
Upper Peninsula
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan—also known as Upper Michigan or colloquially the U.P. or Yoop—is the northern and more elevated of the two major landmasses that make up the U.S. state of Michigan; it is separated from the Lower Peninsula b ...
. In 1863 the legislature did not approve further funding for the survey, as the state treasury was dedicated to funding the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...
. Official termination of the survey occurred on March 7, 1863, by a joint resolution of the state legislature.
Third geological survey
1869 to 1920
By 1869 there was widespread public support for resuming the geological survey, and legislation was passed in March. The survey was officially known as the Michigan Geological and Biological Survey. An ''
ex officio
An ''ex officio'' member is a member of a body (notably a board, committee, or council) who is part of it by virtue of holding another office. The term '' ex officio'' is Latin, meaning literally 'from the office', and the sense intended is 'by r ...
'' Board of Geological Survey was created to oversee the department, consisting of the Governor, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and President of the State Board of Education. Unlike the previous two surveys, botanical and zoological investigations were not included. On April 24, Winchell was reappointed as State Geologist. This time Winchell's ideas for the direction of the survey were in conflict with those of the board. Winchell wanted to concentrate on a scholarly investigation of the Lower Peninsula, but the Board wanted the survey to focus on copper and iron resources in the Upper Peninsula. In response, the Board contracted independent surveys of the
Marquette Iron Range
The Marquette Iron Range is a deposit of iron ore located in Marquette County, Michigan in the United States. The towns of Ishpeming and Negaunee developed as a result of mining this deposit. A smaller counterpart of Minnesota's Mesabi Range, t ...
and the
Copper Country
The Copper Country is an area in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in the United States, including Keweenaw County, Michigan, Houghton, Baraga and Ontonagon counties as well as part of Marquette County. The area is so named as copper mining wa ...
. As a result of frequent debates and political infighting, Winchell resigned in April 1871.
Dr.
Carl Rominger was named as Winchell's replacement. Rominger worked "practically alone" from 1872 through 1876, focusing primarily on investigating fossil corals and elucidating the geologic structure of the
Michigan Basin
The Michigan Basin is a geologic basin centered on the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. The feature is represented by a nearly circular pattern of geologic sedimentary strata in the area with a nearly uniform structural dip towar ...
in the Lower Peninsula. He also supported the independent contractors who were investigating economic resources in the Upper Peninsula. In May 1885,
Charles E. Wright, who had previously been the state's Commissioner of Mineral Statistics, succeeded Rominger. He primarily engaged in the drawing of topographical maps and sketches of the geologic phenomena of the Upper Peninsula. After Wright's death in March 1888,
Marshman Edward Wadsworth
Marshman Edward Wadsworth (May 6, 1847 – April 21, 1921) was an American geologist and educator. He served as the first president of Michigan Technological University and was State Geologist of Michigan from 1888 through 1893.
Biography
Wad ...
was appointed as State Geologist. Under Wadsworth, the survey obtained its own offices at the
Michigan Mining School, having previously relied on private offices or the homes of the various geologists. In order that the Michigan Geological Survey could concentrate on
economic geology
Economic geology is concerned with earth materials that can be used for economic and industrial purposes. These materials include precious and base metals, nonmetallic minerals and dimension stone, construction-grade stone. Economic geology is a ...
, Wadsworth arranged for the
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey (USGS), founded as the Geological Survey, is an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior whose work spans the disciplines of biology, geography, geology, and hydrology. The agency was founded on Mar ...
to assume responsibility for studies of paleontology and other non-economic scientific topics.
The Board of 1891 to 1892 recommended to the legislature a number of changes. These included incorporating the office of Mineral Statistics with the survey, appropriating offices in Lansing, and hiring geologists who were independent of state universities and who could dedicate the whole of their time to the survey. In 1893, Wadsworth became aware of these intentions, and offered to resign from the Michigan Mining School if he were given a raise to $4,000 per year. His offer was rejected and Wadsworth resigned.
Dr.
Lucius Lee Hubbard was appointed State Geologist on July 1, 1893, with Dr.
Alfred Church Lane as Assistant State Geologist. The research results published by these two men, documenting the copper deposits in the Upper Peninsula, salt and gypsum deposits, and
petroleum
Petroleum, also known as crude oil or simply oil, is a naturally occurring, yellowish-black liquid chemical mixture found in geological formations, consisting mainly of hydrocarbons. The term ''petroleum'' refers both to naturally occurring un ...
resources in the Upper Peninsula, became noted reference tools for future geologists. During Hubbard's tenure the survey terminated its remaining connections with the Michigan Mining School and the University of Michigan, as the relationship was considered "beneficial to
he universities but detrimental to the survey". Hubbard resigned in 1899, and Lane became State Geologist in April. Lane moved the survey's headquarters from
Houghton to
Lansing
Lansing () is the capital city of the U.S. state of Michigan. The most populous city in Ingham County, parts of the city extend into Eaton County and north into Clinton County. It is the sixth-most populous city in Michigan with a popul ...
. During his tenure, the legislature reinstated funding for zoological and biological studies, and the first topographical survey was commenced. In 1909, Lane resigned to accept a professorship at
Tufts College
Tufts University is a Private university, private research university in Medford, Massachusetts, Medford and Somerville, Massachusetts, United States, with additional facilities in Boston and Grafton, Massachusetts, Grafton, as well as Talloire ...
, and was succeeded by
Roland C. Allen
Roland (; ; or ''Rotholandus''; or ''Rolando''; died 15 August 778) was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the Matter of France. The historical Roland was milit ...
in September.
Around the time that Allen became State Geologist, the survey took over the responsibilities of the Commissioner of Mineral Statistics, including preparing reports on the state's metallic and non-metallic minerals and conducting annual assessments of iron mines. The survey significantly reduced its activities during World War I due to a lack of funding and workers, but continued its topographical research, resulting in the relocation and marking of the
Ohio
Ohio ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Erie to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Indiana to the ...
-Michigan border. In 1919, Allen resigned and his assistant, Richard A. Smith, became State Geologist. In 1920, responsibility for the survey was transferred to the newly created
Michigan Department of Conservation. However, the topographical elements of the survey were transferred to other state departments.
1920 to present
In 1946 Smith retired, after 26 years as the longest-serving State Geologist to date. Dr.
Gerald E. Eddy succeeded Smith, and remained until 1951. He was followed by
Franklin G. Pardee from 1951 through 1952. William L. Daoust succeeded him as Acting State Geologist through 1954 and as State Geologist through 1964. After twelve years as the Department of Conservation's Director, Eddy was reappointed State Geologist in 1964. In 1968, the
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the agency of the state of Michigan founded in 1921, charged with maintaining natural resources such as state parks, state forests, and recreation areas. It is governed by a director appoint ...
was created, to which the survey was transferred, retaining its name as the Geological Survey Division.
Eddy was succeeded by Arthur E. Slaughter in 1971. R. Thomas Segall followed in 1981, serving until 1996. In 1995, the
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), formerly Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (Michigan DEQ, MDEQ, or simply DEQ), is a principal department of the U.S. state of Michigan for environmental issues. T ...
was created, taking over the survey. In 1996,
Harold R. Fitch became State Geologist. In 2002 and 2004, the survey was respectively renamed the Geological and Land Management Division and the Office of Geological Survey.
In 2010, Fitch began discussions with
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University (Western Michigan, Western or WMU) is a Public university, public research university in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. It was initially established as Western State Normal School in 1903 by Governor Aaron T. B ...
(WMU) to assume the non-regulatory functions of the survey. Funding cuts were restricting the survey's ability to perform any non-regulatory duties, so a transfer to a different institution would permit their accomplishment.
[ In October 2011, the survey was transferred to Western Michigan University's Department of Geosciences.] WMU professor Alan E. Kehew was then appointed director of the survey.[ In 2013, John A. Yellich was appointed director of the survey.]
List of State Geologists
References
Bibliography
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Geological Survey
Government agencies established in 1837
Geological Survey
Geological Survey