Trip to the Geology and Land Survey Division of the MO DNR

Bowls and I had to make a day trip to the Geology and Land Survey Division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in Rolla this week to do an interview. We met Mimi Garstang there who is the former Missouri State Geologist. We wanted to talk to her  for a couple of reasons. She conducted a survey in the 1980s that mapped where all the coal and clay mines were in the City of St. Louis and we wanted to get a geological perspective on why the area was so rich in the clay–the raw material of our wonderful St. Louis Brick.

We conducted the interview among the artifacts in the Ed Clark Museum of Missouri Geology inside the headquarters of the division. I was unaware of the this little museum tucked away in Rolla. There are samples of some of the minerals found in the state along with an interactive earthquake kiosk and other educational exhibits about the unique geology of the state. Some of the most interesting artifacts to me were the ancient animal remains including a complete mammoth tusk. The division is one of the oldest state agencies and continues to be a quietly important part of the state government today. They do everything from assisting in environmental surveys, to helping the state determine what underground resources are available.

If you happen to be in Rolla it’s certainly well worth a couple of hours to explore the museum and learn something new about Missouri.

Here are some photos from our trip: