The Geology &

Water Resources of
Star Island, Isles of
Shoals, NH
By Molly Mansfield
July 2012

A Local Case Study

Learn about local NH Seacoast geology

Way to learn more about geological
concepts
Cool examples of geological features
If youve never been to the Shoals,
hopefully still interesting and you
should visit
[Quote about geologists paradise!]

Where is Star Island?

Basics About the Shoals

9 Islands off the coast of NH and ME

Star Island is second largest
Star Island is about 43 acres in size

PART 1: The Geological

History of
the Isles of Shoals

Timeline
How do we know about the history?:
Dr. Katharine Fowler-Billings
(1902-1997) Geology of the Isles of
Shoals, 1959

Geological History Timeline

Geological History The

Story

Geological History The

Story

Geological History The

Story

Current Star Island

Topography

Geological History
Volcanoes in NH?

http://www.nhgeology.org/jurassi
c.htm
http://www.concordmonitor.com/
article/flash-ring-volcanic-notmeteoric?
SESSd3cf92a6ac82037f07e25b8
d2f511993=google

Pawtuckaway, Nottingham,
NH
Ossipee Mountain

Geological Features of
Star Island

What the glaciers left behind

Shape of the islands
Trap Dikes
Examples of Metamorphic & Igneous
Rocks
?
Sand unique sample

What the Glaciers Left

Behind

What the Glaciers Left

Behind
Shape of the Shoals

Trap Dikes

Rock Examples

What Rocks & Minerals are

Found on Star Island/the
Isles of Shoals?

Unique Sand

PART 2: Why Should We

Care About the Geology of
Star Island?
Understanding the Past:
Directly affects the
resources that were
available on the island in
the past
What Shoals were used
for in the past/how many
people could live there
Hotel Era: Golf & Biking
Where were people
buried on Star Island?
How do we do
construction now?

Understanding the Past:

Recent archaeological
study results
extending human
history of Shoals,
contributing to seacoast
area history/story
Present and Future of
Star Island as a Hotel &
Conference Center
water resources, long
term future of Shoals

Resources Available to Past

Shoalers

Well House on the Star Island Front Lawn

How Many People Could

Live on the Shoals? What
Did They Do? Where Were
They Buried?

Gosport Schoolhouse

Hotel Era: From Hotel to

Conferences, the
consequence of golf and
bicycles!

Under the Shoals

Discovery

Research done in
2009 extended the
knowledge of
human history on
the Shoals
Stone arrowheads
made of Rhyolite
a stone NOT found
on the Isles of
Shoals!

Present and Future of

Star Island

How do current
Shoalers get
water?
Sustainability
Focus
Long term global
geological change
doesnt look good
for the Shoals!

Water Resources on Star

Island

How did past Shoalers

get the water they
needed to survive on
Star Island?

1927 Fire Brigade

Water Resources on Star

Island

How do current
Shoalers get the
water they need to
survive on Star
Island?
Imported from
Portsmouth
Reverse Osmosis
Rain & Cistern
Wastewater

Reverse Osmosis

Rain & Cistern Water

Wastewater

Future of Water on Star

Island

Drilled for a
well/aquifer during
WWII - ~120 ft hit
fresh water but
then salt no good
Drill for a new
well?
Continue as is?
Expense?

What I Learned:

Geology is cool!
Impact on my daily life in a big way
Important to know about the geology of
the area in which you live cant
understand past, present, future without
understanding the geology of the past
and present
Fun to learn about a new lens to look
at an old familiar place
http://www.nhgeology.org check it out!

Questions?

Resources

http://www.historicnewengland.org/collections-archives-exhibitions
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wentworth_by_the_Sea_(1892),_New_Castle,_NH.jpg
Archive Photograph Collection Vaughn Museum, Star Island
Personal Interviews with Sumar Maji, Tietjen Hynes, Thomas Mansfield, Kristen Simard, Jack
Farrell, Anne Beattie
Google Maps Isles of Shoals, NH
http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/flash-ring-volcanic-not-meteoric?SESSd3cf92a6ac82037f
07e25b8d2f511993=google
http://www.nhgeology.org/jurassic.htm
http://quarriesandbeyond.org/geology/early_geologists_etc.html
http://www.gsnhonline.org/publications/TGSG.03.html
http://www.geology.wisc.edu/outcrop/1999/photoplate2.html

Resources Continued