THE NEW WOLFVILLE-WINDSOR GEOLOGICAL MAP
The geological map of the area around Acadia University is probably still fairly familiar to most of you. You will recall the dark green patch of the North Mountain basalt in the north, the Triassic rocks of valley floor in yellow, the Windsor Group blue and the looming mass of the South Mountain in pink across the bottom of the map. Well, relax, it's all still there - but the new edition is much improved. On 11th May, 2000, the new edition of the map was unveiled at an open house in the Geology Department, attended by over 30 geologists and students, who took the opportunity to reminisce about the work that went into the production of the new map. On the marginal notes of the presentation copy of the map that is mounted in the department, it states "the new map is based upon the work by Dr. Reg Moore and the late Dr. Stewart Ferguson of Acadia University, begun in the 1960's and continuing to the 1990's. Drs. Moore and Ferguson and their work have inspired the many students and professors who have been part of Acadia University's geological community. The map is a great example of cooperation among Acadia University, Fundy Gypsum Company Ltd., and the Department of Natural Resources, and provides a greater understanding of the geology and natural history of the region and its mineral, energy and water resources."
Upon viewing the map for the first time, you are struck by the complexity of the deformation. In the area of the Windsor gypsum quarries, red fault lines and fold axes proliferate, the Summerville-Cheverie area is interpreted as comprising the footwall to a overthrust of Horton Bluff Formation rocks, and the White Rock quartzite has been intricately mapped, such that the map pattern resembles the wriggling of the grooves and mullions exposed on the White Rock Quarry corner of the Deep Hollow Road.
A more careful look at the map reveals the huge amount of information on it. Over 140 drill holes and every known outcrop has been located, some of these in amazingly remote locations, around the Devil's Burrow and the upper swamps of the Cogmagun River in Hants County, around every little lake and stillwater on the South Mountain, and even 2 km offshore from Evangeline Beach (of course, the Fundy tides helped those ones to be found). It speaks for the persistence and diligence of Stewart Ferguson and Reg Moore that so much outcrop information has been included. The geological interpretations may be controversial in some areas, but it is clear what the facts are that were used to make the map.
At the unveiling George Stevens reminded us of Stewart Ferguson's determination to find every outcrop, of how he followed the Nova Scotia Power crews as they replaced power-line poles, to see what rubble the augers would bring to the surface, and how he would trudge out on the mudflats with the falling tide to obtain more bedding orientation on the Wolfville sandstone. Reg Moore was also able to remind us of the effort expended by those of you who were his students in stratigraphy and paleontology classes - did you ever conceive of your strat projects being praised so?
Among those present at the unveiling were representatives from the Department of Natural Resources, and Fundy Gypsum Company Ltd., who also have spent many hours trying to unravel the geology of this area. Stewart Ferguson's daughter, Mary, was also able to be present, and reminisced on her visits as a little girl with her father to the area. And from across the Atlantic, we were pleased to welcome Simon Gould, who with his colleagues is currently investigating the geochemistry of the Triassic redbeds in the Wolfville and Blomidon formations.
A special bouquet is due to Bob Boehner (Dept. of Natural Resources, Halifax), who has doggedly pushed, wheedled and driven all those concerned into the final production of this map.