The Natural History of Pikes Peak State Park:  Introduction to the Field Trip

 

 

Raymond R. Anderson

1

 

 

 

 

General Geologic Section at Pikes Peak State Park

 

 

Brian J. Witzke

3

 

 

Lower Sandstone – Cambrian Strata

3

 

 

Lower Dolomite Ledges – the Ordovician Prairie du Chien Group

4

 

 

Thick Massive Sandstone – the Middle Ordovician St. Peter Sandstone

5

 

 

Dolomite and Limestone – the Ordovician Platteville Formation

5

 

 

Ordovician Shale and Limestone – the Lower Galena Group, Decorah Formation

7

 

 

Uppermost Dolomite Ledges – the Ordovician Dunleith Formation, Galena Group

8

 

 

Valleys, Alluvium, Colluvium, and Loess - Quaternary Erosion and Deposition at Pikes Peak

10

 

 

References

11

 

 

 

 

The Cambrian Jordan Sandstone at Point Ann, Pikes Peak State Park, and in McGregor

 

 

Robert M. McKay

13

 

 

A Bit of Stratigraphic History

13

 

 

The Point Ann Sections

15

 

 

The “A” Street Section

20

 

 

References

21

 

 

 

 

A Profile of the Mid-Caradoc (Ordovician) Carbon Isotope Excursion at the McGregor Quarry, Clayton County, Iowa

 

 

G.A. Ludvigson, B.J. Witzke, C.L. Schneider, E.A. Smith, N.R. Emerson, S.J. Carpenter, and L.A. González

25

 

 

Abstract

25

 

 

Introduction

25

 

 

The McGregor Quarry Section

26

 

 

The Dickeyville North Section, Southwest Wisconsin

27

 

 

The Eureka, Missouri, Roadcut Section

28

 

 

Discussion

29

 

 

Acknowledgments

30

 

 

References

30

 

 

 

 

Andrew Clemens Sand Art

 

 

Richard J. Langel

33

 

 

Reference

33

 

 

 

 

Quaternary Geology of the Paleozoic Plateau Region of Northeastern Iowa

 

 

Stephanie A. Tassier-Surine

37

 

 

Introduction

37

 

 

Early Studies of Northeastern Iowa - the “Driftless Area”

37

 

 

General Description of the Paleozoic Plateau

38

 

 

Quaternary materials in the Paleozoic Plateau

39

 

 

Glacial Till and Loess Deposits

39

 

 

Mississippi River

39

 

 

References

41

 

 

 

 

Vegetation of Pikes Peak State Park

 

 

John Pearson

43

 

 

Forest

43

 

 

Prairie openings and glades

46

 

 

Old fields

47

 

 

Comparison with Wyalusing State Park, Wisconsin

47

 

 

Flora and rare species

47

 

 

Literature Cited

48

 

 

 

 

Wildlife of Pikes Peak State Park

 

 

Kim S. Bogenschutz

49

 

 

Wildlife Species

49

 

 

Wildlife Management

50

 

 

References

51

 

 

 

 

Archaeology of Pikes Peak State Park

 

 

William Green

53

 

 

Introduction

53

 

 

Previous Archaeological Research

54

 

 

Interpretive Summary

56

 

 

References Cited

59

 

 

 

 

History of Pikes Peak State Park

 

 

Jim Farnsworth

61

 

 

Introduction

61

 

 

Rocks Exposed in the Park

61

 

 

Pre-History of Pikes Peak

62

 

 

Military Activity in the Pikes Peak Area

63

 

 

Commerce and McGregor

65

 

 

Origins of Pikes Peak State Park

65

 

 

Information Sources

67

 

 

 

 

History of McGregor and Marquette

 

 

Ray Anderson

69

 

 

History of McGregor – 162 years on the Mississippi

69

 

 

    Jesse James Stops For Breakfast

69

 

 

    Agri-Grain Marketing in McGregor

69

 

 

    McGregor Historical Museum

69

 

 

    McGregor Statistics & Facts

70

 

 

A Brief History of Marquette

70

 

 

    The Isle of Capri Riverboat Casino

70

 

 

 

 

McGregor’s Own Ringling Brothers

 

 

Ray Anderson

71

 

 

The Ringlings in the McGregor Area

71

 

 

Ringling Brothers Mud Show Wagon

72

 

 

Ringling Brothers Bell Wagon

73

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lock and Dam Control of the Mississippi River

 

 

Ray Anderson

75

 

 

Mississippi River Pool 10

75

 

 

Commercial History of the Mississippi River

75

 

 

Project Design Considerations

77

 

 

Commercial Navigation: The Vision Realized

79

 

 

The Future

80

 

 

The Environment

80

 

 

Recreation

81

 

 

 

 

Upper Mississippi National Wildlife & Fish Refuge

 

 

John Lindell

83

 

 

Introduction

83

 

 

Visiting the Refuge

84

 

 

McGregor District

85

 

 

 

 

Effigy Mounds National Monument

 

 

Ray Anderson

87

 

 

Introduction

87

 

 

History of Effigy Mounds

87

 

 

Red Ochre Culture

88

 

 

Hopewell Culture

88

 

 

Oneota Culture

89

 

 

Historic Period

89

 

 

Other Area Attractions

90

 

 

Visiting the Monument

90

 

 

 

 

Wyalusing State Park and Area History

 

 

Ray Anderson

91

 

 

Introduction

91

 

 

Geology

91

 

 

Native Americans

91

 

 

Europeans

92

 

 

Fur-Traders

92

 

 

Buried Treasure

92

 

 

Miners

92

 

 

Farming

92

 

 

Creation of Wyalusing State Park

93

 

 

 

 

Field Trip Stops

 

 

 

 

 

Stop 1:  Introductions and Quaternary Geology of the Pikes Peak Area

 

 

Introductions by Ray Anderson

98

 

Quaternary Geology by Stephanie Tassier-Surine

98

 

 

Stop 2.  History of Pikes Peak State Park

 

 

Jim Farnsworth

99

 

 

Stop 3.  Introduction to Archaeology of Pikes Peak State Park and Discussion of Bear Mound

 

 

Bill Green

99

 

 

Stop 4:  General Discussion of Botany of Pikes Peak State Park

 

 

John Pearson

100

 

 

Stop 5:  Discussion of Mesic Forest Communities in Pikes Peak State Park

 

 

 

John Pearson

101

 

General Discussion of Rock Geology of Pikes Peak State Park

 

 

 

Brian Witzke

102

 

Discussion of Andrew Clemens Sand Art

 

 

 

Richard J. Langel

102

 

 

Stop 6: Ordovician Strata; Bridal Veil Falls Down to Sand Cave, The Pictured Rocks Area

 

 

Brian Witzke and Bill Bunker

103

 

 

Stop 7:  Discussion of Pre-History and Archaeology of Pikes Peak State Park and Hickory Ridge Mound Group

 

 

 

Bill Green

107

 

Discussion of the Dry Forest Community in Pikes Peak State Park

 

 

 

John Pearson

107

 

 

 

 

Stop 8.  Dunleith Formation at the Old Pikes Peak Quarry

 

 

Brian Witzke and Bill Bunker

109

 

 

 

 

Stop 9.  Platteville and Decorah Formations at the McGregor Quarry

 

 

Brian Witzke, Greg A. Ludvigson, Norlene R. Emerson

114

 

 

 

 

Stop 10. Overview of the Cambrian Jordan Sandstone in Pikes Peak State Park

 

 

Robert McKay

122

 

 

 

 

Stop 11.  Continuation of Discussion of the Jordan Sandstone in McGregor

 

 

Robert McKay

123

 

 

 

 

Stop 12.  Discussion of the Jordan Sandstone Caves in McGregor

 

 

Robert McKay

123

 

 

 

 

OPTIONAL FIELD TRIP STOP

 

(If Time and Daylight Allow)

 

 

 

 

 

Various Stops for Botanical and Archaeological Features of Interest

 

 

John Pearson and Bill Green

124

 

 

 

 

Appendix 1

125

Appendix 2

130

Appendix 3

137