UMR Journal -- V. H. McNutt Colloquium Series
Publication Date
01 Dec 1982
Abstract
The UMR Journal has had an interesting but somewhat sporadic history. The topics of papers that appeared in UMR Journal 1 in 1968 under the general title of “A Coast to Coast Tectonic Study of the United States” covered the major tectonic features of the contiguous United States from the margin of the Atlantic continental shelf to the Pacific coast. Each paper was authored by a recognized expert for the specific province reviewed. UMR Journal 2, which was published in 1971, related to “Alaska—Its Mineral Potentials and Environmental Challenges”. This UMR Journal 3 emphasizes the geology, genesis, and energy resources of a marginal basin and selected interior basins in the midcontinental region of the United States. Authors of the papers were selected for their comprehensive knowledge of the subject areas. The papers were originally presented in a colloquium held in the Department of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Missouri-Rolla during September and October of 1980.
Because the Precambrian basement rocks as well as their composition and possible internal structures in the sites of the basins-to-be are considered essential to basin development, Edward C. Lidiak, a long-time researcher on the basement rocks of the Midcontinent and a contributor to the basement map of the United States,, initiated the colloquium. He was followed by L. L. Sloss, who described the backyard he knows so well, the Michigan basin. He succinctly and knowledgeably described this classic basin and the problems associated with developing a model capable of accommodating the known facts of its history.
Although a presentation was originally scheduled for the Illinois basin, factors beyond the control of the colloquium convener and the selected author required a modification of the subject matter. Hence, H. R. Schwalb of the Illinois State Geological Survey detailed the interface of the southern part of the Illinois basin with the Mississippi Embayment. He presented some intriguing views of this unique tectonic area of the Midcontinent.
Boyd R. Haley of the U.S. Geological Survey and semi-resident geologist of Arkansas most ably reviewed the results of his research on the Arkoma basin. He illuminated the contrasts that exist between a basin that is marginal to a mobile belt and a basin that is located on a craton.
The relatively young and less geologically developed Forest City-Salina basins were described by Don W. Steeples of the Kansas Geological Survey. His broad ranging report on the geology and geophysics of these basins brought forth some novel concepts concerning the development of the basins and their energy resources.
The topic of the final presentation of the colloquium was concerned mainly with the North Dakota portion of the Williston basin. Because of the renewed and successful exploration efforts being expended within this basin, this presentation by Lee C. Gerhard of the North Dakota Geological Survey and University of North Dakota was and should be of particular interest to members of the profession. He thoroughly documented his subject and added new approaches to the solution of problems related to basin development and energy sources.
We believe that this printed record of these presentations will be read with interest by members of the geologic profession, in industry, government, and academia. It is our hope that it will assist in the understanding of the geology and genesis of the basins and in the continued development of their energy resources.
The V. H. NcNutt Colloquium series has been sponsored by the V. H. McNutt Memorial Foundation, which was initially established for the Department of Geology of the University of Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy, now the University of Missouri-Rolla, through the generosity and thoughtfulness of Mrs. V. H. McNutt, wife of the late Vachael H. McNutt, well known as “Mac”. It was he who discovered the Carlsbad potash salt deposits and numerous oil and gas fields in the United States. Mac was a graduate of the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy in 1912 and was a member of the faculty of the Department of Geology before beginning his eminently successful consulting career. His co-worker, Mrs. Mac, as she is affectionately known, established the V. H. McNutt Memorial Foundation in his memory, stating that she wanted to show in some form more concrete than words the debt that both of them owed to the Department for the training Mac had received.
Income from the Foundation has been a great boon to hundreds of students in geology. It has provided them with undergraduate scholarships, summer field camp scholarships, graduate fellowships, and other forms of financial aid. The Department also benefits, because it can invite special speakers, purchase selected equipment, support short course attendance for its faculty, and obtain supplemental items, all through the income from the Foundation. It is also because of this income that even a larger segment of the geologic profession can benefit through the publication of the papers presented in colloquiums such as these. To Mrs. Mac, wise counselor and dear friend, and to her late husband, Mac we are ever grateful.
Paul Dean Proctor
John W. Koenig
Editors.
The V. H. McNutt Committee - 1982
Department of Geology and Geophysics
University of Missouri-Rolla
S. K. Grant
R. E. Morgan, Chairman
G. E. Rupert
Paul Dean Proctor
A. C. Spreng
Document Version
Final Version
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 1982 University of Missouri--Rolla, All rights reserved.
First Page
3
Last Page
4
Recommended Citation
Proctor, Paul Dean and Koenig, John W.
(1982)
"Preface,"
UMR Journal -- V. H. McNutt Colloquium Series: Vol. 3, Article 2.
Available at:
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/umr-journal/vol3/iss1/2
