Bedrock geology is a vast subject. Of greatest interest to naturalists are ways in which underlying rock types, alignments, fracture patterns, and variable resistance to erosion explain the shape of the land and the distribution of natural communities.

Here are some of the common bedrock types of Southeast Alaska.

Bedrock Geology

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Áak’w to Xutsnoowú cruise

Geopdf for Middle School teachers’ adventure   On Friday, March 31st, 2023, we are scheduled to depart Áak’w Tá, little…

2023 | Richard Carstensen | 5MB geopdf

Mass wasting finale

In class—our penultimate Wednesday—we reviewed Bay&Valley day, and then transitioned to the concluding Saturday field trip focusing on ‘serious-stuff-coming-downhill.’ For…

2022 | Richard Carstensen | Landforms class archives

Bay&Valley day: marine&glacial landforms

Morning: In the morning we visited coastal sites at Aanchg̱altsóow, nexus town (Auke Rec) and K’aan Héenak’u, porpoise little bay…

2022 | Richard Carstensen | Landforms class archives

Evening class-4: Jilḵáat debrief & roadtour prep

Wow! these cross-fingers worked! What an amazing trip! Even better than pure-blue skies, there were enough puffy clouds and mixed…

2022 | Richard Carstensen | Landforms class archives

The Cruise: landforms of T’aaḵú Aaní

On Sunday Sept-11 we motored 53 miles southeast from Áak’w into T’aakú Aaní, exploring landforms from the water. In Avenza,…

2022 | Richard Carstensen | geopdfs for T’aaḵú cruise

Nature near the schools: Landforms

Powerpoint & script for Discovery Nature Studies I didn’t come to geology by natural inclination. I was gently nudged by…

1990 | Richard Carstensen | powerpoint & script

Chilkat bedrock geology.

Rock-type units from USGS Here’s a geology map for field navigation in more accessible portions of the Greater Chilkat Watershed—US…

2022 | Richard Carstensen | geopdf—10MB—& 33-page draft chapters

Blackwell City Walk: info packet

Another great idea from Mike 2019: Cathy Connor and I (Richard Carstensen) have inherited a tradition spearheaded by our friend…

2019: updated 2024 | Mike Blackwell, Richard Carstensen & Cathy Connor | info packet and navigational geopdfs

Mid-May on Shaa Tlaax

Goats, geology & zonation on Shaa Tlaax, moldy top (Mt Juneau) Video-journal of the flora, fauna, and geomorphology that hikers…

2019 | Richard Carstensen | 4 minutes

Geopdfs Gold geology

High-resolution GeoPDF pair for field navigation in Dzantik’i Héeni (Gold Creek) watershed. In apps such as Avenza, on your phone…

2019 | Richard Carstensen | 2 geopdfs

Kaxdigoowu Héen (Montana Creek): presentation for SEAL Trust

Slideshow in two parts Kaxdigoowu Héen, going back clearwater has been one of my favorite places since I first explored…

2019 | Richard Carstensen & John Hudson | slide show in 2 parts: 38 & 22 minutes

Atlas of biogeographic provinces (excerpts from draft)

Heart and edge: Biogeographic provinces of Língít-&-K’áyk’aanii An atlas-in-perpetual-progress for the 22 biogeographic provinces of Lingít and Haida country. In…

2020, updates 2024 | Richard Carstensen | 48 page excerpt

Bedrock geology ArcGIS Online

Bedrock geology for Áak’w & T’aakú Aaní. Units based upon a shapefile by USGS, but color coded by 6 broad…

2015: update 2022 | Richard Carstensen |

Natural history of Juneau trails: A watershed approach

Guide to natural and cultural history of the CBJ, summarizing Discovery’s longterm study on contract with Parks & Recreation that…

2013 | Richard Carstensen | 72 pages (& 6-page digital download, 2023)

Reading Southeast Alaska’s landscape

How bedrock foundations, glaciers, rivers and sea shape the land How bedrock influences the shape of mountains and coastal landforms.…

2013 | Cathy Connor|Richard Carstensen | 28 pages

2011 spring newsletter: Geology and life

Connections between the living and non-living world Feature article on response of flora and fauna to geologic landforms and bedrock…

Spring 2011 | Richard Carstensen | 12 pages