Outcrop and thin section scale descriptions of Silurian carbonates within the Hiawatha National Forest, Mackinac County, Upper Peninsula, Michigan, USA

Silurian carbonate outcrops within the southern part of the St. Ignace District of the Hiawatha National Forest (Mackinac County, Michigan) were examined to develop a local description of the exposed geology. The bedrock geology consists of the Manistique Group (dominantly the Cordell Formation) and the Engadine Group (Rockview Formation, Rapson Creek Formation, and Bush Bay Formation). Building on observations and differentiation from previous investigations, outcrops were selected to describe the macroscopic characteristics of these formations in attempt to develop a local description that would be more useful compared to confusing regional descriptions for researchers and forest officials. In Mackinac County, the Cordell Formation is a dark-to-light gray, chert-rich dolostone with abundant corals, stromataporoids, brachiopods, and echinoids. The Rockview Formation is a dark gray-to-white, chert-poor dolostone with microbiolite laminations, and brachiopod molds. The Rapson Creek Formation is a light gray-to-white, chert-free dolostone with abundant stromatoporoids. The Bush Bay Formation is light reddish brown to white in color, chert-poor, crystalline dolostone with abundant echinoids, brachiopods, and corals.