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Michigan Manufacturers and Geologists Forge Stronger Partnership on Resources, Energy, and Workforce
June 11th, 2025
Members of the Michigan Manufacturers Association (MMA) recently joined forces with the Michigan Geological Survey (MGS) for a collaborative meeting focused on Michigan’s natural resources, energy needs, and workforce development.
Exploring Michigan’s Subsurface: A Hands-On Approach
During the meeting, participants explored a detailed MGS subsurface model that highlights Michigan’s layered resources—from shallow freshwater aquifers to deeper mineral and energy reserves. The session included an interactive demonstration, where attendees used a bicycle pump to push air through rock samples. The experiment illustrated how air could easily pass through the porous sandstone but was blocked by the tightly cemented dolomite, underscoring the importance of geology in resource extraction and management.
Shared Priorities: Building a Sustainable Future
The discussion centered on several key areas where MMA and MGS interests align:
- Natural Resources: Michigan’s manufacturers rely on local geological resources—including critical minerals—for their operations. MGS supports these industries by providing essential data and expertise on the location, quantity, and quality of these resources.
- Carbon Capture and Storage (CCUS): The MMA advocates for policies that encourage investment in carbon capture, utilization, and storage. MGS contributes by conducting research and supplying up-to-date information on Michigan’s carbon storage potential, helping to guide responsible environmental practices.
- Energy: Reliable and affordable energy is crucial for Michigan’s economic growth. MGS plays a key role by supplying data and research on the state’s diverse energy resources, supporting informed decision-making for manufacturers.
- Workforce Development: The MMA champions work-based learning opportunities to build a skilled workforce. As part of Western Michigan University, MGS is committed to training the next generation of geoscientists, ensuring industry needs are met with sound science and practical expertise.
Strengthening the Link Between Science and Industry
This ongoing dialogue highlights the vital connection between geological science and Michigan’s manufacturing success. By working together, the MMA and MGS are paving the way for sustainable resource management, energy innovation, and a robust workforce that will drive Michigan’s economy forward.
19th Annual Petoskey Stone Festival Celebrates Michigan's Fossilized Treasure
May 15th, 2025
This Saturday, May 17, Barnes Park Campground in Eastport will host the 19th Annual Petoskey Stone Festival, a beloved event that brings together geology enthusiasts, families, and curious visitors to celebrate Michigan’s official state stone. The festival, running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., features live music, craft vendors, food, a petting zoo, stone-skipping contests, and the ever-popular Petoskey stone hunt, making it a highlight of the spring season for locals and tourists alike. For more information about the festival, visit the official Petoskey Stone Festival website
What Is a Petoskey Stone?
A Petoskey stone is more than just a pretty rock. It is a piece of ancient Michigan history. Composed of fossilized rugose coral (Hexagonaria percarinata), these stones date back approximately 350 million years, to a time when Michigan was covered by a warm, shallow sea near the equator. The unique honeycomb or sunburst pattern seen in polished Petoskey stones is actually the fossilized skeleton of coral polyps that once thrived in Devonian reefs.
Glacial activity during the last Ice Age played a crucial role in shaping and distributing Petoskey stones. As glaciers advanced and retreated, they plucked these fossilized corals from bedrock, smoothed their edges, and scattered them across the northern Lower Peninsula, particularly along the shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.
A Symbol of Michigan’s Natural Heritage
In 1965, the Petoskey stone was officially designated as Michigan’s state stone, reflecting its deep connection to the region’s geological and cultural history. The name “Petoskey” itself honors an Ottawa chief, Pet-O-Sega, whose legacy is tied to the area where these stones are most commonly found.
For many, collecting Petoskey stones is a cherished pastime-whether for their scientific significance, their natural beauty, or their role as a symbol of Michigan pride. The stones are often used in jewelry, decorative objects, and as educational tools to teach about ancient marine ecosystems and the state’s unique geological past.
Why the Petoskey Stone Matters
Beyond its striking appearance, the Petoskey stone offers a tangible link to Michigan’s prehistoric environment and serves as a reminder of the dynamic forces-both biological and geological-that have shaped the state over hundreds of millions of years. Its continued popularity underscores the importance of preserving and celebrating Michigan’s natural history.
As the festival returns for its 19th year, it remains a testament to the enduring fascination with these fossilized treasures and the vibrant community that celebrates them.
Educational Resources
If you want to learn more about how to find Petoskey stones and other unique rocks in Michigan, you can view our Michigan Rockhounding Youtube video.
We also have a 3D model of a Petoskey stone that can be viewed and downloaded on Sketchfab.
(Credit: Brad Switzer).
It's a Bird, it's a Plane....it's an Airborne Electromagnetic Surveying Helicopter!
April 21st, 2025
Low-altitude helicopter surveys are scheduled to take place over parts of Michigan and northern Wisconsin, utilizing airborne geophysical methods to map the region’s geology.
The airborne electromagnetic (AEM) survey aims to generate detailed images of subsurface electrical resistivity, thereby enhancing the geological understanding of regions spanning the Penokean orogen and the Midcontinent Rift System from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula into Wisconsin. This two-year project, scheduled for completion in 2025, is funded by the USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative. Its objectives include supporting mineral resource assessments, refining the regional geologic framework and mapping, and advancing water resource and surficial mapping studies. A key focus of the survey is to characterize major mineral systems, particularly those containing critical minerals associated with mafic magmatic, volcanogenic seafloor, and porphyry systems.
You can learn more about the project by reading a recent USGS press release.
USA's Oldest Rocks Are From Michigan!
March 13th, 2025
Although most scientists consider the oldest rock in the world to be Canada’s Acasta Gneiss, turns out the oldest rocks in the U.S. are from Gogebic County in the Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan. In the latest edition of GSA Today, they reveal that the Watersmeet Gneiss is estimated to be 3.62 billion years old!
MGS geologists have been actively mapping the Watersdome region in the UP and we are looking forward to sharing our findings with everyone! Keep an eye out for our next edition of the MGS Core Quarterly for more details about the oldest rocks in the U.S.
Watersmeet Dome.
Latest Issue of MGS Newsletter
February 18th, 2025
Check out the Fall 2024 issue of the MGS Core Quarterly Newsletter!
In this issue:
- Major Milestones and Progress in 2024
- Introducing New Staff
- MGS Cuttings Collection Supports CCUS
- Unlocking Michigan’s Subsurface Vault – Annual Core Workshop
- Cass County Surficial Geology Report
- Dark Data Brought to Light
- MGS Research Supports Food Security
- Core Stories – Updated Wayne County Bedrock Map
MGS is Rockin' a New Logo!
February 10th, 2025
Your eyes are not playing tricks on you. MGS is rockin’ a new logo designed with the help of Western Michigan University students. Will there be merchandise for sale with the logo in the future? Our crystal ball says “Outlook is looking good”.
Update about Michigan's Potash Deposit and Research
January 8th, 2025
Dr. William Harrison recently described Michigan’s potash deposit and the research we have been conducting about it. The article discusses the history of the deposit, where it is, and why it is particularly important now. He discusses the collection of potash rock cores that we preserve at MGRRE from 77 different wells in 9 counties. Research by MGRRE staff and students identified the geologic and stratigraphic distribution of this deposit, and analytical testing by industry has confirmed it to be the highest grade potash known throughout the world.
This story was also featured in the latest issue of Geologically Speaking, a Michigan Section AIPG Publication; see page 11.
