Canadian Rockhound: Winter/Spring 2001 Editorial

The editor exploring the geology and terrane along the southern edge of the Canadian Shield in Ontario.

While living in Saskatoon between 1995 and 1998, I made many contacts with collectors, geologists and clubs across Canada through the internet. It was at that time that I realized the educational importance and potential of an internet magazine focussing on geology and the mineral collecting hobby. In just 5 years, the Canadian Rockhound went from a simple small collection of articles to become a full internet magazine with more than 100 online articles. The Canadian Rockhound is now visited and used by schools across Canada as a resource for teaching the earth sciences. An increasing number of members from mineral and paleontological clubs across Canada are begining to visit and enjoy reading the Canadian Rockhound. Of course, the Canadian Rockhound magazine will continue to provide useful and interesting information to collectors, beginners, and schools in Canada and around the world.

Introducing Nunavut

In this issue of the Canadian Rockhound, Nunavut Territory is featured for the first time. John Thomas from Iqaluit reports on the creation of the Iqaluit Rockhound Association this past year, and on some of the activities undertaken by this new organization. David Scott provides an interesting summary on Nunavut's geological history. This is followed by an article on some of the more well-known mineral localities in Nunavut. In the near future, we hope to publish more information on Nunavut in the Canadian Rockhound.

Manitoba: giant fossils and
threatened lowlands

Sturgeon Gill Point. This shoreline is localited in Manitoba's lowlands region. Photo courtesy of Roger Turenne.

This issue also reports on amazing fossil finds from Manitoba, and on the urgent need to protect Manitoba's fragile lowlands. Manitoba is a land of many beautiful pristine lakes, hills, parklands, sand dunes and shield country. Not the image of Manitoba that usually comes to mind! As someone who grew up and lived in Manitoba for many years, I was very surprised to learn that my home province possessed some of the most picturesque scenery in Canada. The photo of Sturgeon Gill Point by Roger Turenne shattered my stereotypic image of Manitoba as just another "flat prairie province".

The lowlands are a natural treasure that are in need of protection. In 1993, I visited the region while doing field work for the Manitoba Museum of Man and Nature. It was here that Kim Monson and Jack Dubois introduced me to the underground karst caves. These caves are home for the insect-eating Little Brown bats. The lowlands also contain interesting geological features, such as the cliffs at Sturgeon Gill Point. It is hoped that the lowlands will be protected as part of Canada's natural heritage for all to enjoy.

Acknowledgements:

I wish to thank all authors who contributed material for this issue. I am especially grateful to John Thomas and David Scott of the Canada-Nunavut Geoscience Centre for their contributions to the Nunavut feature. Doug Miller is thanked for providing mineral specimen photographs for the article on Nunavut mineral localities. I am grateful to Roger Turenne for supplying beautiful photographs for the article on the Manitoba lowlands. The Canadian Nature Federation and the Manitoba Museum of Man and Nature are also acknowledged for their cooperation and contributions.

As always, I welcome your comments, feedback and contributions. I hope you enjoy this delightful fifth anniversary issue.

Dirk Schmid, Editor

In this Issue:

Introducing Nunavut

Manitoba: giant fossils and threatened lowlands

Acknowledgements:

Manitoba: giant fossils and
threatened lowlands