Department of Geological Sciences

Richard W. Ojakangas
Professor Emeritus
Ph.D. Stanford

Interests: Sedimentary petrology, sedimentation, sedimentology of Precambrian volcaniclastic and sedimentary rocks, Precambrian history of the Lake Superior region and the Baltic Shield, with emphases on economic deposits in sedimentary rocks, iron-formations, and ancient glacial deposits
Office: HH 225
Phone: (218) 726-7923
E-mail: rojakang@d.umn.edu

He received his BA in Geology from UMD in 1955, spent 2 years in the USAF in England, was an instructor in the UMD Geology Department for 1 year, received his MA in Geology from the University of Missouri-Columbia, spent 1 year (1960-61) at the University of Helsinki on a Fulbright, and received his Ph.D. from Stanford in 1964. He returned to UMD as a faculty member and spent 38 years on the staff. He retired in 2002. He has done geological research in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Utah, Missouri, California, Puerto Rico, Canada, Finland, Australia, Antarctica, India, South Africa, and Russia and traveled extensively elsewhere on geological field trips. He spent 10 summers with the Minnesota Geological Survey and 12 summers with the U.S. Geological Survey. He has published 59 refereed articles, 22 field guides and other miscellanea, 12 geologic maps, 72 abstracts, and 7 books. Selected publications are listed below.

Publications:

2006  Ojakangas, R.W. ,The World's Energy: Oil ,Uranium, Nuclear Power (An opinion article), Geologi (Finnish Geological Society), Nr. 3, p. 82-88.

2005  Ojakangas, Richard, Mark Severson, Peter Jongewaard, John Arola, Joel Evers, Doug Halvorson, G.B. Morey, and T.B. Holst,  Geology and Sedimentology of the Paleoproterozoic Animikie Grooup: Pokegama Formation, Biwabik Iron Formation, and Virginia Formation of the Eastern Mesabi Iron Range, and the Thomson Formation Near Duluth, Northeastern Minnesota, in Robinson, E., ed., Field trip guidebook for selected geology in Minnesota and Wisconsin:  Minnesota Geological Survey Guidebook 21, 278 p., prepared for the 2005 Geological Society of America North-Central Section Meeting, Minneapolis, MN, May 18-20, 2005.

2004  Ojakangas, R. W., Severson, M.J., Jongewaard, P.K., Arola, J.L., Evers, J.T., and Halverson, D.G., Geology of the eastern Mesabi Iron Range, northeastern Minnesota: Institute on Lake Superior Geology, 50th Annual Meeting, Duluth, MN, Proceedings, pt. 2, Field Trip Guidebook, p. 99-128.

2003, Zanko, L., Oreskovich, J., Severson, M., Heine, Hauck, S., Ojakangas, R., Oxidized taconite geological resources for a portion of the W. Mesabi Range: (west half Arcturus Mine to east half of Canister Mine) Itasca Co., Minnesota - A GIS-based resource analysis for land-use planning.

2001 Ojakangas, R.W. and Dickas, A.B., The 1.1Ga Intracratonic Midcontinent Rift System, Central N. America: Sedimentological setting and Interpretation of Two Deep Wells, Lake Superior Region. Sedimentary Geology, v. 147, p. 13-36.

2001 Ojakangas, R.W., Morey, G.B., and Green, J.C., The Mesoproterozoic Midcontinent Rift System, Lake Superior Region, U.S.A.: Sedimentary Geology, v. 141-142, p. 421-442.

2001 Ojakangas, R.W., Morey, G.B., and Southwick, D.L, Paleoproterozoic Basin Development and Sedimentation in the Lake Superior Region, North
America: Sedimentary Geology, v. 141-142, p. 319-341.

2001 Ojakangas, R.W., Marmo, J.S. and Heiskanen, K., Basin Evolution of the Paleoproterozoic Karelian Supergroup of the Fennoscandian (Baltic)
Shield: Sedimentary Geology, V. 141-142, p. 225-285.

1999 Ojakangas, R.W., Republished in Geological Society of America Special Paper 338, p. 137-153, in: Classic Cordilleran Concepts: A View from California, to Commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Cordilleran. (1 of 19 papers selected from the past 100 years).

1994 Sedimentology and provenance of the Early Proterozoic Michigamme Formation and Goodrich Quartzite, Northern Michigan - - Regional stratigraphic implications and suggested correlations: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1904-R, 31 p.

1993 Quartzites, in Precambrian: Conterminous U.S.; J.C. Reed, Jr., L.T. Silver, P.K. Sims, D.W. Rankin, R.S. Houston and M.W. Reynolds, (eds.) Geology of North America DNAG project, Geological Society of America V. C 2, p. 67-69.

1992 Matsch, C.L. and Ojakangas, R.W., Stratigraphy and sedimentology of
the Whiteout Conglomerate a late Paleozoic glacigenic sequence in the
Ellsworth Mountains, West Antarctica, in Webers, G.F., Craddock, C., and Splettstoesser, J.F.(eds.), Geology and Paleontology of the Ellsworth Mountains, Antarctica, Geol. Soc. America Memoir 170, p. 37-62.

1991 Matsch, C.L. and Ojakangas, R.W., Comparisons in depositional style of "polar" and "temperate" glacial ice; Late Paleozoic Whiteout Conglomerate (West Antarctica) and Late Proterozoic Mineral Fork Formation
(Utah): in Anderson, J.B. and Ashley, G.M., Glacial Marine Sedimentation; Paleoclimatic Significance, Geological Society of America Special Paper 261, p. 191-206.

1990 Davis, D.W., Pezzutto, F., and Ojakangas, R.W., The age and provenance of metasedimentary rocks in the Quetico Subprovence, Ontario, from single zircon analyses: implications for Archean sedimentation and tectonics in the Superior Province: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 99, p. 195-205.

1990 Archean sedimentation, Canadian Shield: in Precambrian Continental Crust and Its Economic Resources, S.M. Naqvi (ed.), Elsevier Science Publishers, p. 179-202.

1988 Glaciation: an uncommon "mega event" as a key to intracontinental and intercontinental correlation of early Proterozoic basin fill, North American and Baltic cratons: in Kleinspehn, K.L. and Paola, C. (eds.), New Perspectives in Basin Analysis, Springer Verlag, p. 431 444.

1986 Srinivasan, R. and Ojakangas, R.W., Sedimentology of quartz pebble conglomerates and quartzites of the Archean Bababudan Group, Dharwar Craton, South India: Evidence for early crustal stability: Journal of Geology, v. 94, p. 199 214.

1986 An early Proterozoic metagraywacke slate turbidite sequence: the Tampere Schist Belt, southwestern Finland: Bull. Geological Society of Finland, V. 58, p. 241 261.

1985 Review of Archean clastic sedimentation, Canadian Shield: Major felsic volcanic contributions to turbidite and alluvial fan fluvial facies
associations: in Evolution of Archean Supracrustal Sequences, eds. L.D. Ayres, P.C. Thurston, K.D. Card and W. Weber, Geol. Assoc. Canada Special Paper 28, p. 23 47.

1985 Evidence For Early Proterozoic glaciation: the dropstone unit diamictite association: Geologic Survey of Finland Bull. 331, p. 51 72.

1984 Ojakangas, R.W. & Weber, R.E., Petrography and paleocurrents of the lower Proterozoic Sioux Quartzite, Minnesota and South Dakota: in Shorter contributions to the geology of the Sioux Quartzite (Early Proterozoic), Southwestern Minnesota, ed. D.L. Southwick, Minnesota Geological Survey Rept. Invest. 32, p. 1 15.

1984 Marmo, J.S. and Ojakangas, R.W., Lower Proterozoic glaciogenic deposits, eastern Finland: Bull. Geol. Soc. America, v. 95, p. 1055 1062.

1983 Tidal deposits in the early Proterozoic basin of the Lake Superior
region the Palms and the Pokegama Formations: Evidence for subtidal
shelf deposition of Superior type banded iron formation: Ed. L.G. Medaris, Jr., In Early Proterozoic Geology of the Great Lakes Region, Geol. Soc. America Memoir 160, p. 49 66.

1982 Ojakangas, R.W. & Morey, G.B., Keweenawan sedimentary rocks of the Lake Superior region: a summary: In Geology & Tectonics of the Lake Superior Basin: A review: Eds. R.J. Wold and W.J. Hinze, Geol. Soc. America Memoir 156, p. 157 164.

1982 Morey, G.B. & Ojakangas, R.W., Keweenawan sedimentary rocks of eastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin: In Geology & Tectonics of the Lake Superior Basin: A review: Eds. R.J. Wold and W.J. Hinze, Geol. Soc. America Memoir 156, p. 135 146.

1982 Ojakangas, R.W. & Morey, G.B., Keweenawan pre volcanic quartz sandstones and related rocks of the Lake Superior region: In Geology & Tectonics of the Lake Superior Basin: A review: Eds. R.J. Wold and W.J. Hinze, Geol. Soc. America Memoir 156, p. 85 96.

1981 Ojakangas, R.W. and Matsch, C.L., The Late Paleozoic Whiteout
Conglomerate: A glacial and glaciomarine sequence in the Ellsworth Mountains, West Antarctica: In Hambrey, M.J. and Harland, W.B., Eds., Earth's pre Pleistocene glacial record: Cambridge University Press, p. 241 244.

1980 Ojakangas, R.W. and Matsch, C.L., Upper Precambrian (Eocambrian) Mineral Fork Tillite of Utah: A continental glacial and glaciomarine
sequence: Geol. Soc. America Bull. Part I, v. 91, p. 495 501.

1980 Darby, D.G. and Ojakangas, R.W., Gastroliths from an Upper Cretaceous plesiosaur: Jour. of Paleontology, v. 54, p. 548 556.

1980 The geological basis for uranium exploration in Minnesota: Proc. 53rd Annual Meeting of Minnesota Section, AIME and 41st Annual Mining Symposium, p. 19 1 to 19 33. (Also reprinted by Minnesota Geological Survey as reprint series #43.)

1979 Sedimentation of the basal Kombolgie Formation (Upper Precambrian- Carpentarian), Northern Territory, Australia: Possible significance in the genesis of the underlying Alligator River's unconformity type uranium
deposits: U.S. Department of Energy Report GJBX 173 (79), 37 p.

1978 Kalliokoski, J., Langford, F.F., and Ojakangas, R.W., Criteria for uranium occurrences in Saskatchewan and Australia as guides to favorability for similar deposits in the United States: U.S. Department of Energy Report NO. GJBX 114 (78), 480 p.

1977 Donaldson, J.A. and Ojakangas, R.W., Orthoquartzite pebbles in Archean Conglomerate, North Spirit Lake, N.W. Ontario: Can. Jour. Earth Sciences, v. 14, p. 1980 1990.

1977 Ojakangas, R.W., Meineke, D.G., and Listerud, W.H., Geology, sulfide mineralization, and geochemistry of the Birchdale Indus area, Koochiching County, Northwestern Minnesota: Minnesota Geological Survey Rept. Inv. 17, 78 p.

1976 Uranium potential in Precambrian rocks of Minnesota: U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration, Report #GJBX-62 (76), 259 p.

1972 Tryhorn, A.D. & Ojakangas, R.W., Sedimentation and petrology of the Upper Precambrian Hinckley Sandstone of north central Minnesota: 100th Anniversary Volume of Minnesota Geological Survey, p. 431 435.

1972 Rainy Lake area: 100th Anniversary Volume of Minnesota Geological Survey, p. 163 171.

1972 Graywackes and related rocks of the Knife Lake Group & the Lake Vermilion Formation, Vermilion District: 100th Anniversary Volume of Minnesota Geological Survey, p. 82 90.

1972 Archean volcanogenic graywackes of the Vermilion district, northeastern Minnesota: Bull. Geol. Soc. America, v. 83, p. 429 442.

1971 Hooper, R.R. & Ojakangas, R.W., Multiple deformation in the Vermilion district, NE Minn.: Canad. Jour. Earth Science, v. 8, p. 423 434.

1970 Morey, G.B., Green, J.C., Ojakangas, R.W., & Sims, P.K., Stratigraphy of the Lower Precambrian Rocks in the Vermilion District, N.E. Minn., Minn. Geol. Surv. Rept. Invest. #14, 33 p.

1970 Morey, G.B. & Ojakangas, R.W., Sedimentology of the Middle Precambrian Thomson Fm., East Central Minn: Minn. Geol. Surv. Rept. Invest. #13, 32 p.

1969 Dickinson, W.R., Ojakangas, R.W. & Stewart, R.J., Burial metamorphism of the Lake Mesozoic Great Valley Sequence, Cache Creek,
California: Bull. Geol. Soc. America, v. 80, p. 519 526.

1968 Cretaceous sedimentation, Sacramento Valley, California; Bull. Geol. Soc. America, v. 79, p. 973 1008.

1967 Beall, A.O., Jr. & Ojakangas, R.W., Mineralogy of an Upper Cambrian K bentontite from Missouri: Jour. Sedimentary Petrology, v. 37, p. 952 956.

1965 Petrography and sedimentation of the Precambrian Jatulian Quartzites of Finland: Bulletin de la Commission Geologique de Finlande #214, 74 p.

1964 Ojakangas, R.W. & Keller, W.D., Glauconitization of rhyolite sand
grains: Jour. Sedimentary Petrology, v. 34, p. 84 90.

1963 Petrology and sedimentation of the Upper Cambrian Lamotte Sandstone in Missouri: Jour. Sedimentary Petrology, v. 33, p. 860 873.

BOOKS

1997 Earth Science (Science Literacy Series), Student Book, J.W. Walsh Co., 60 p.

1997 Earth Science (Science Literacy Series, Teacher's Guide), J.W. Walsh Co., 88 p.

1991 Introductory Geology, Schaum's College Outlines, McGraw Hill Book Company, N.Y., 294 p.

1982 Ojakangas, R.W. & Matsch, C.L., Minnesota's Geology: University of Minnesota Press, 255 p.

1979 Heller, R.L., Byrne, J., Kaufmanis, K., Ojakangas, R.W., Renaud, J.W., Earth Science (2nd Edition), McGraw Hill Book Company, 468 p. (I wrote 43% of book).

1976 Ojakangas, R.W. and Darby, D.G., The Earth Past and Present,
McGraw Hill Book Company, N.Y., 225 p.

1976 Ojakangas, R.W. and Darby, D.G., The Earth Past and Present,
McGraw Hill Book Company, N.Y., 225 p. (Translated into Japanese).

1973 Heller, R.L., Byrne, J.V., Darby, D.G., Dexter, W.A., Hawkes, H.B., Kaufmanis, K., & Ojakangas, R.W., Earth Science, Webster Division, McGraw Hill Book Company, N.Y., 468 p.