DOCSLIB.ORG

Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Geologic Resources Inventory Report Natural Resource Report NPS/NRSS/GRD/NRR—2011/454 z ON THE COVER The moon rises over the hilly and wooded landscape surrounding the park and town of Woodstock. THIS PAGE Streams flow from The Pogue, a man made pond tucked into the hills of the park’s Mount Tom Forest. Fed by natural springs, this pond is one of the centerpieces of the park. Rocks in the park were deposited in and near ancient ocean basins and subsequently deformed during Appalachian mountain-building. National Park Service photographs by Ed Sharron (Marsh-Billing Rockefeller NHP). Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Geologic Resources Inventory Report Natural Resource Report NPS/NRSS/GRD/NRR—2011/454 National Park Service Geologic Resources Division PO Box 25287 Denver, CO 80225 September 2011 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Fort Collins, Colorado The National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science office in Fort Collins, Colorado publishes a range of reports that address natural resource topics of interest and applicability to a broad audience in the National Park Service and others in natural resource management, including scientists, conservation and environmental constituencies, and the public. The Natural Resource Report Series is used to disseminate high-priority, current natural resource management information with managerial application. The series targets a general, diverse audience, and may contain NPS policy considerations or address sensitive issues of management applicability. All manuscripts in the series receive the appropriate level of peer review to ensure that the information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended audience, and designed and published in a professional manner. This report received informal peer review by subject-matter experts who were not directly involved in the collection, analysis, or reporting of the data. Views, statements, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and data in this report do not necessarily reflect views and policies of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the U.S. Government. Printed copies of this report are produced in a limited quantity and they are only available as long as the supply lasts. This report is available from the Geologic Resources Inventory website (http://www.nature.nps.gov/geology/inventory/gre_publications.cfm) and the Natural Resource Publications Management website (http://www.nature.nps.gov/publications/nrpm/). Please cite this publication as: Thornberry-Ehrlich, T. 2011. Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park: geologic resources inventory report. Natural Resource Report NPS/NRSS/GRD/NRR— 2011/454. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. NPS 456/110526, September 2011 ii NPS Geologic Resources Division Contents List of Figures ................................................................................................................ iv Executive Summary ....................................................................................................... v Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................... vi Credits ........................................................................................................................................................................ vi Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose of the Geologic Resources Inventory ............................................................................................................... 1 Park Establishment and Setting .................................................................................................................................... 1 Geologic Setting .......................................................................................................................................................... 1 Geologic Issues .............................................................................................................. 7 Water Issues and Wetlands .......................................................................................................................................... 7 Disturbed Lands ........................................................................................................................................................... 8 Mass Wasting .............................................................................................................................................................. 8 Seismicity ..................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Geologic Features and Processes ................................................................................ 11 Glacial Features .......................................................................................................................................................... 11 The Pogue ................................................................................................................................................................. 11 Geology and History Connections ............................................................................................................................... 11 Ecological Relationships ............................................................................................................................................. 12 Groundwater Potential ............................................................................................................................................... 12 Paleontological Resources .......................................................................................................................................... 13 Karst Dissolution ........................................................................................................................................................ 14 Geologic History .......................................................................................................... 17 Proterozoic Eon (2,500–542 million years ago): Ancient Mountain Building and Iapetus Ocean Formation ................... 17 Paleozoic Era (542–251 million years ago): Building the Appalachians and Assembling Pangaea .................................. 17 Mesozoic Era (251–65.5 million years ago): Pangaea Separation, Atlantic Ocean Formation, and Appalachian Mountain Erosion ............................................................................................................................ 19 Cenozoic Era (the past 65.5 million years): Appalachian Mountain Erosion and Ice Age Glaciation .............................. 19 Geologic Map Data ...................................................................................................... 27 Geologic Maps ........................................................................................................................................................... 27 Source Maps .............................................................................................................................................................. 27 Geologic GIS Data ...................................................................................................................................................... 27 Geologic Map Overview ............................................................................................................................................. 28 Map Unit Properties Table .......................................................................................................................................... 28 Use Constraints .......................................................................................................................................................... 28 Geologic Map Overview Graphics .............................................................................. 29 Map Unit Properties Table .......................................................................................... 33 Glossary ........................................................................................................................ 35 Literature Cited ............................................................................................................ 41 Additional References ................................................................................................. 44 Geology of National Park Service Areas ...................................................................................................................... 44 Resource Management/Legislation Documents ........................................................................................................... 44 Geological Survey and Society Websites ..................................................................................................................... 44 Other Geology/Resource Management Tools .............................................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Poster Final
    Evidence for polyphase deformation in the mylonitic zones bounding the Chester and Athens Domes, in southeastern Vermont, from 40Ar/39Ar geochronology Schnalzer, K., Webb, L., McCarthy, K., University of Vermont Department of Geology, Burlington Vermont, USA CLM 40 39 Sample Mineral Assemblage Metamorphic Facies Abstract Microstructure and Ar/ Ar Geochronology 18CD08A Quartz, Muscovite, Biotite, Feldspar, Epidote Upper Greenschist to Lower Amphibolite The Chester and Athens Domes are a composite mantled gneiss QC Twelve samples were collected during the fall of 2018 from the shear zones bounding the Chester and Athens Domes for 18CD08B Quartz, Biotite, Feldspar, Amphibole Amphibolite Facies 18CD08C Quartz, Muscovite, Biotite, Feldspar, Epidote Upper Greenschist to Lower Amphibolite dome in southeast Vermont. While debate persists regarding Me 40 39 microstructural analysis and Ar/ Ar age dating. These samples were divided between two transects, one in the northeastern 18CD08D Quartz, Muscovite, Biotite, Feldspar, Garnet Upper Greenschist to Lower Amphibolite the mechanisms of dome formation, most workers consider the VT NH section of the Chester dome and the second in the southern section of the Athens dome. These samples were analyzed by X-ray 18CD08E Quartz, Muscovite Greenschist Facies domes to have formed during the Acadian Orogeny. This study diraction in the fall of 2018. Oriented, orthogonal thin sections were also prepared for each of the twelve samples. The thin sec- 18CD09A Quartz, Amphibole Amphib olite Facies 40 CVGT integrates the results of Ar/Ar step-heating of single mineral NY tions named with an “X” were cut parallel to the stretching lineation (X) and normal to the foliation (Z) whereas the thin sections 18CD09B Quartz, Biotite, Feldspar, Amphibole, Muscovite Amphibolite Facies grains, or small multigrain aliquots, with data from microstruc- 18CD09C Quartz, Amphibole, Feldspar Amphibolite Facies named with a “Y” have been cut perpendicular to the ‘X-Z’ thin section.
    [Show full text]
  • Taconic Physiography
    Bulletin No. 272 ' Series B, Descriptive Geology, 74 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR . UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CHARLES D. WALCOTT, DIRECTOR 4 t TACONIC PHYSIOGRAPHY BY T. NELSON DALE WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1905 CONTENTS. Page. Letter of transinittal......................................._......--..... 7 Introduction..........I..................................................... 9 Literature...........:.......................... ........................... 9 Land form __._..___.._.___________..___._____......__..__...._..._--..-..... 18 Green Mountain Range ..................... .......................... 18 Taconic Range .............................'............:.............. 19 Transverse valleys._-_-_.-..._.-......-....___-..-___-_....--_.-.._-- 19 Longitudinal valleys ............................................. ^...... 20 Bensselaer Plateau .................................................... 20 Hudson-Champlain valley................ ..-,..-.-.--.----.-..-...... 21 The Taconic landscape..................................................... 21 The lakes............................................................ 22 Topographic types .............,.....:..............'.................... 23 Plateau type ...--....---....-.-.-.-.--....-...... --.---.-.-..-.--... 23 Taconic type ...-..........-........-----............--......----.-.-- 28 Hudson-Champlain type ......................"...............--....... 23 Rock material..........................'.......'..---..-.....-...-.--.-.-. 23 Harder rocks ....---...............-.-.....-.-...--.-.........
    [Show full text]
  • The Geology of the Lyndonville Area, Vermont
    THE GEOLOGY OF THE LYNDONVILLE AREA, VERMONT By JOHN G. DENNIS VERMONT GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CHARLES G. DOLL, Stale Geologist Published by VERMONT DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MONTPELIER, VERMONT BULLETIN NO. 8 1956 Lake Willoughby, seen from its north shore. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ......................... 7 INTRODUCTION 8 Location 8 Geologic Setting ..................... 8 Previous Work ...................... 8 Purpose of Study ..................... 9 Method of Study 10 Acknowledgments . 11 Physiography ...................... 11 STRATIGRAPHY ....................... 16 Lithologic Descriptions .................. 16 Waits River Formation ................. 16 General Statement .................. 16 Distribution ..................... 16 Age 17 Lithological Detail .................. 17 Gile Mountain Formation ................ 19 General Statement .................. 19 Distribution ..................... 20 Lithologic Detail ................... 20 The Waits River /Gile Mountain Contact ........ 22 Age........................... 23 Preliminary Remarks .................. 23 Early Work ...................... 23 Richardson's Work in Eastern Vermont .......... 25 Recent Detailed Mapping in the Waits River Formation. 26 Detailed Work in Canada ................ 28 Relationships in the Connecticut River Valley, Vermont and New Hampshire ................... 30 Summary of Presently Held Opinions ........... 32 Discussion ....................... 32 Conclusions ...................... 33 STRUCTURE 34 Introduction and Structural Setting 34 Terminology ......................
    [Show full text]
  • Hikes with Views in the Upper Valley
    Hikes with views in the Upper Valley Introduction—All the suggested venues have the capacity to support a group of 15 people (including trip leaders) and four vehicles, maximum. All are dog friendly. Permission for group use comes from the contact entities listed for each hike. The hikes described are (with drive time from Hanover): 1. Enfield: Collette & Bicknell Trails (30 min) 2. Fairlee: Echo Mountain Trail (20 min) 3. Hanover: Moose Mountain South Peak (15 min) 4. Hanover: Moose Mountain South Ridge (20 min) 5. Lyme: Holts Ledge (25 min) 6. Lyme: Lambert Ridge Trail (30 min) 7. Norwich: Gile Mountain Tower (20 min) 8. Orford: Quinttown Road (35 min) 9. Orford: Eastman Ledges (35 min) 10. Plainfield: French’s Ledges (30 min) 11. Windsor: Brownsville Trail (30 min) 12. Windsor: Ascutney summit Loop (30 min to mountain toll road) Each is described, as follows: Name of hike Drive time from Hanover, NH Reward (with picture) Length (round-trip miles and elevation gained) Ease of use (clarity of markings, quality of footing) Website (unofficial; providing the best available information) Directions to trailhead (with Google maps link to approximate location) Suggested carpool meeting point (to minimize congestion at trailheads) Contact for venue Contacts Upper Valley Trails Alliance Compiler of suggested hikes: PO Box 1215 Stephen Flanders, member Norwich, VT 05055 Norwich Trails Committee (802) 649-9075 Norwich, Vermont [email protected] [email protected] Page 1 1. Enfield, NH Collette & Bicknell Trails Photos by Stephen Flanders, except where noted. Drive time from Hanover, NH: 30 minutes Reward: A shore-side view of Crystal Lake and aan opportunity for swimming.
    [Show full text]
  • Vermont Geology History Slideshow
    Vermont’s Geologic History May 1st Earth’s Early History GEOLOGIC TIME SCALE The Archean and Proterozoic Eons make up the bulk of Earth’s history Oldest Rocks Found So Far The Formation of Earth: This date comes from rocky meteorites, similar in composition to Earth, that formed ~4.6 Ga (billion years ago). Rocks of Archean Age (3.8–2.5 Ga) occur on every continent. The closest Archean rocks to us are in northern Minnesota. During the Proterozoic Eon (2.5–0.54 Ga) plate tectonic processes similar to those operating today began. Rocks of Proterozoic Age (2.5–0.54 Ga) make up large parts of the continents. In combination with the older Archean rocks, these old rocks make up the core of most continents. Most rocks in New England formed during the Phanerozoic Eon. This is the time when fossils are abundant and pervasive. Stratigraphic Column: Sedimentary rocks occurring in the Champlain Valley are displayed as a vertical stack, oldest at the bottom and youngest at the top. Purple = Shale Blue = Limestone Grey = Dolostone Orange = Sandstone Continuous layers of sedimentary rock consisting of the same type or types of rock are given names, e.g. The “Glens Falls Limestone” or The “Monkton Formation.” You’ve seen some of these rocks on today’s field trip. Vermont Geologic History Dunham dolostone Cheshire Quartz Sandstone: ~530 million years old Gneiss: ~1,100 million years old The oldest rocks in Vermont are gneisses. These rocks are ~1.0–1.3 billion years old. Graph shows the Pressure/Temperature “environments” that different metamorphic rocks form in.
    [Show full text]
  • Structures in the Dog River Fault Zone Between Northfield and Montpelier, Vermont
    University of New Hampshire University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository New England Intercollegiate Geological NEIGC Trips Excursion Collection 1-1-1987 Structures in the Dog River Fault Zone between Northfield and Montpelier, Vermont Westerman, David S. Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/neigc_trips Recommended Citation Westerman, David S., "Structures in the Dog River Fault Zone between Northfield and Montpelier, Vermont" (1987). NEIGC Trips. 413. https://scholars.unh.edu/neigc_trips/413 This Text is brought to you for free and open access by the New England Intercollegiate Geological Excursion Collection at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in NEIGC Trips by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A -6 STRUCTURES IN THE DOG RIVER FAULT ZONE BETWEEN NORTHFIELD AND MONTPELIER, VERMONT David S. Westerman Department of Earth Science Norwich University Northfield, Vermont 05663 INTRODUCTION The purposes of this trip are to examine the lithologic and structural character of rocks exposed in the Dog River fault zone (DRFZ) along a traverse between Northfield and Montpelier, Vermont, and in the process to better understand their tectonic significance. The rocks exposed within the DRFZ have long been recognized as significant from a stratigraphic standpoint, but recognition of their structural character is recent. This author has done detailed mapping along only a 10-mile section of the zone, but reconnaissance studies suggest that its structural character is similar north to the Quebec border and south as far as Randolph, Vermont, a distance of about 80 miles.
    [Show full text]
  • Stratigraphy of the East Flank of the Green Mountain Anticlinorium, Southern Vermont
    University of New Hampshire University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository New England Intercollegiate Geological NEIGC Trips Excursion Collection 1-1-1972 Stratigraphy of the East Flank of the Green Mountain Anticlinorium, Southern Vermont Skehan, James W. Hepburn, J. Christopher Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/neigc_trips Recommended Citation Skehan, James W. and Hepburn, J. Christopher, "Stratigraphy of the East Flank of the Green Mountain Anticlinorium, Southern Vermont" (1972). NEIGC Trips. 160. https://scholars.unh.edu/neigc_trips/160 This Text is brought to you for free and open access by the New England Intercollegiate Geological Excursion Collection at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in NEIGC Trips by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 3 T rip B -l STRATIGRAPHY OF THE EAST FLANK OF THE GREEN MOUNTAIN ANTICLINORIUM, SOUTHERN VERMONT by James W. Skehan, S.J.* and J. Christopher Hepburn* INTRODUCTION The Green Mountain anticlinorium in southern Vermont has an exposed core of Precambrian gneisses overlain to the east and west by metamorphosed Paleozoic rocks. The rocks of the west limb of the anticlinorium are chiefly quartzites and carbonates of a miogeosynclinal sequence. The east limb of the anticlinorium consists of a eugeosynclinal sequence of schists and gneisses from (?) Cambrian through Lower Devonian age. The purpose of the present field trip is to examine the stratigraphy of these schists and gneisses. A roughly west-to-east section across portions of the Wilmington and Brattleboro quadrangles (Fig. 1) will be followed.
    [Show full text]
  • The Prosper Valley Vignettes
    THE PROSPER VALLEY VIGNETTES - A natural and cultural history of the watershed connecting the Vermont towns of Barnard, Bridgewater, Pomfret and Woodstock – By Corrie Miller, Winter 2006/07 By Corrie Miller, Winter 2006/07 THE PROSPER VALLEY VIGNETTES: At Home in the Valley – An Introduction My love affair with this valley began with a herd of cattle. I had just gotten a job in Woodstock and was driving along Route 12 to look at an apartment in Barnard. At the urging of a flashing yellow light, I slowed my car to a stop in front of a line of cows crossing the road. At the time, I didn’t know that I would take the apartment and travel this corridor every day for a year, eventually becoming familiar with every turn in the river and every slope on the surrounding hills. I also didn’t know that I would return to this valley three years later to do my master’s research, this time leaving my car behind and donning a pair of hiking boots to explore the same stream and hills in greater depth. In that moment as I watched the cows cross the road, I only knew that the valley already felt like home. Gulf Road Cut (left). Barnard, VT. Cut walls of bedrock mark the entrance into the Prosper Valley on Route 12. Photo courtesy of NPS. Gulf Brook Headwaters (right). Barnard, VT. Water drains the surrounding highlands and converges in this cascading stream in the Barnard Gulf, establishing the Gulf Brook. Each morning on my drive south to Woodstock, I crested the hill near the Barnard Gulf and coasted down the steep grade into the basin I now know as the Prosper Valley.
    [Show full text]
  • MINERAL COLLECTING in VERMONT by Raymond W. Crant
    MINERAL COLLECTING IN VERMONT by Raymond W. Crant Vermont Geological Survey, Charles C. Doll, State Geologist Department of Water Resources, Montpelier, Vermont SPECIAL PUBLICATION NO, 2 1968 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Figures Page 1. Index Map of Vermont Mineral L()cIities . 3 38. Slate Quarry, Poultney ............................................. 31 2. Metaiimrphic Map of Vermont ................................. 4 .39. NI ap showing the location of the mineral area, Rouiid 3. Geo logic NI ap of Vernio i it ....................................... 7 Hill, Shrewshorv................................. ..................... 32 4. Topograpl ii NI a!) S y 0)1)0 Is ....................................... 10 40. Map showing the location of the Molybdenite Prospect 5. Map showing the location of the Vermont Kaolin Coin- (1) and Copperas Hill Mines (2), Cuttingsville .............32 paiiy Quarry (1) and Monkton Iron Ore Beds (2) ......... 14 41. Map showing the location of the Marble Quarry, Dorset 6. Map showing the location of the Huntley Quarry, Leices- Nit., South Danhv ..................................................... 33 terJunction ............................................................. 15 42. Map showing the location of the Devil's Den, Nit. Tahor 34 7. Calcite crystals from the Huntley Quarry, Leicester 43. Smoky Quartz crystal from Devil's Den, Mt. Tabor ...... .34 Junction (times 1.6) .................................................. 15 44. Map showing the location of the Roacicuts on Route 155, 8. Map showing the location of
    [Show full text]
  • Stratigraphie Sequence of the Gile Mountain and Waits River Formations Near Royalton, Vermont
    Stratigraphie sequence of the Gile Mountain and Waits River Formations near Royalton, Vermont GEORGE W. FISHER I jjepartment Qf Earth and Planetary Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218 PAUL KARABINOS ABSTRACT been controversial. This uncertainty has the Gile Mountain belt near Royalton, The stratigraphie sequence of the Gile given rise to numerous difficulties in inter- Vermont, show that the Gile Mountain Mountain and Waits River Formations, preting the regional structure of eastern Formation is younger than the Waits River two major Silurian-Devonian lithostrati- Vermont. Extensive sequences of compo- Formation, indicating that the belt is a graphic units in eastern Vermont, has long sitionally graded beds at 19 localities across syncline. Canada * • t? * * i * *r ; * T v . Figure 2. Compositionally graded beds of micaceous quartzite rhythmically interbedded with garnet-mica schist in Gile Mountain Formation, 50 m east of contact with Waits River Formation in a Figure 1. Extent of Gile Mountain (Dgm) and Waits River pasture 2.8 km west of Royalton, Vermont (loc. A, Fig. 7). View is (Dwr) Formations in eastern Vermont, adapted from Doll and looking north; grading indicates tops to east, toward Gile others (1961); rectangle indicates area shown in Figure 7, at Royal- Mountain Formation. S! is parallel to bedding; S2 is parallel to pen. ton, Vermont. Pen is 16 cm long. Geological Society of America Bulletin, Part I, v. 91, p. 282-286, 7 figs., May 1980, Doc. no. 00506. 282 Downloaded from http://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/gsabulletin/article-pdf/91/5/282/3418989/i0016-7606-91-5-282.pdf by guest on 27 September 2021 GILÈ MOUNTAIN AND WAITS RIVER FORMATIONS, VERMONT 283 INTRODUCTION vidual graded beds can be traced laterally (see Fig.
    [Show full text]
  • Nulhegan Basin Division Habitat Management Plan
    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge Nulhegan Basin Division Habitat Management Plan Table of Contents Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................... 5 Finding of No Significant Impact ................................................................................................................. 6 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 10 1.1. Scope and Rationale .................................................................................................................... 10 1.2. Legal Mandates ........................................................................................................................... 10 1.3. Links to Other Plans .................................................................................................................... 11 Refuge Plans ..................................................................................................................... 11 Service’s Regional Plans and State Plans ......................................................................... 11 2. Background ......................................................................................................................................... 13 2.1. Refuge Location and General Description .................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • 4.PART-1.Pdf
    Part One The Physical Setting The Physical Setting s naturalists, land managers, and hikers, we constantly look for patterns in the landscape that help us make sense of the natural world. Of the things A that create patterns of natural community distribution, four are especially important and far reaching. The nature of the bedrock that underlies Vermont has a major influence on the topography of the land, the chemistry of the soils, and the distribution of particular plants, especially when the bedrock is near the surface. The surficial deposits (the gravels, sands, silts, and clays that were laid down during and after the Pleistocene glaciation) can completely mask the effect of underlying bedrock where these deposits are thick. Climate affects natural community distribution, both indirectly by causing glaciation and directly by influencing the distribution of plants and animals. Finally, humans have their impacts on the land, clearing, planting, reaping, mining, dredging, filling, and also conserving natural lands. Table 1: Geologic Time Scale Era Periods Time Significant Events in Vermont Geology (Millions of years before present) PrecambrianPrecambrian Over 540 Grenville Orogeny joins plates in Grenville supercontinent and uplifts Adirondacks. Paleozoic Cambrian 540 to 443 Plates move apart. Green Mountains and Ordovician Taconic rocks laid down in deep water of Iapetus Ocean. Champlain Valley and Vermont Valley rocks laid down in shallow sea. Taconic Orogeny adds Taconic island arc to proto-North America, raises Green Mountains and causes major thrusting. Iapetus Ocean begins to close. Silurian 443 to 354 Vermont Piedmont rocks laid down in eastern Devonian Iapetus. Acadian Orogeny adds eastern New England to proto-North America and changes Green Mountains.
    [Show full text]