Gneiss Rock Cut!
The route of the Minneapolis & St. Louis through Morton over the Minnesota River cuts through 3.5 billion year old gneiss. There are many railroad rock cuts in Minnesota, but none of them cut through bedrock this ancient. I also like Morton Gneiss above all other of Minnesota's stone varieties. It has a fascinating geologic formation beyond its characteristic banding. A train in good light here to highlight the colors would be sublime!
A red board was on the track behind me due to high water levels. Many low areas in the Minnesota River Valley were flood, especially in the New Ulm area. The communities west of Morton on the Minnesota Prairie Line were temporarily cut off of rail service.
Gneiss Rock Cut!
The route of the Minneapolis & St. Louis through Morton over the Minnesota River cuts through 3.5 billion year old gneiss. There are many railroad rock cuts in Minnesota, but none of them cut through bedrock this ancient. I also like Morton Gneiss above all other of Minnesota's stone varieties. It has a fascinating geologic formation beyond its characteristic banding. A train in good light here to highlight the colors would be sublime!
A red board was on the track behind me due to high water levels. Many low areas in the Minnesota River Valley were flood, especially in the New Ulm area. The communities west of Morton on the Minnesota Prairie Line were temporarily cut off of rail service.