-Jess
Works Cited
Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. “Canadian Shield.” Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 4 Nov. 2015. <http://www.britannica.com/place/Canadian-Shield>. The Canadian Shield
- is the largest mass of exposed precambrian rock on the earth
- has experienced uplift, orogeny, and erosion
- glacial erosion helped to shape much of the present day landscape of the shield
- most glacial activity occurred during the Pleistocene Epoch
- Canadian Shield extends from Northern Canada to the Northeastern United States
“Geological History of the Adirondacks.” Adirondack Park. Greg Smith, n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2015. <http://www.adirondack-park.net/history/geological.html>. Information Learned:
I. Composition of the Adirondack Mountains
II. History of the Canadian Shield
III. Formation of the Adirondacks
“Geology of the Adirondack Park.” New York State Park Agency. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2015. <http://apa.ny.gov/about_park/geology.htm>. Concepts and Terms:
i. Formation of Glaciers in the Adirondack Park: The Adirondack Glacier formed when the snow that fell during the winter didn’t melt all of the way in the summer. Over millennia the weight of the snow accumulated, compressing the snow underneath into ice. The weight compressed the snow on the bottom until it was soft enough to flow.
ii. Impact of Glaciers on the Adirondack Park: The Adirondacks are new mountain from old rock. They were carved by glacial movement and slow pulverization of the rock beneath the glacier.
iii. Alpine Glacier: Smaller glaciers that formed at high elevations before being consumed by the continental glacier.
iv. Cirque: Bowl Shaped indentations or amphitheatres carved by alpine glaciers
v. Horn: Occurs when two cirques overlap, creating a distinctive horn shape
vi. Kettle Holes and Kettle Ponds: Occur when iceberg sized chunks are buried in sediment during the melting process. When the icebergs melted they left large holes filled with water.
vii. Eskers and Kames: Ridges of sediment buildup in the shape of rivers cause during outwash are called Eskers. Kames are circular indentation also caused by the movement of water during outwash.
viii. Soil and Forest Soil: Because the Adirondacks are relatively new, the soil of the region tends to be thin, sandy, and lacking in nutrients. Forest soils have a layer of detritus covering them. The decomposition of this detritus makes these soils far more rich than those found in non forested areas.
ix. Glacial Outwash: melted glacial waters that deposit sediment
x. Glacial Till: soil and rocks displaced and created by glacier
xi. Formation of Water Systems: melted glacial waters help to carve lakes, rivers, ponds, and streams
xii. Rivers and Streams: In the Adirondacks many were created by glacial melt, sediment and rock deposits on the bed are often a result of the outwash
U.S. Geological Survey. “Geology of National Parks, 3D and Photographic Tours.” United States Geological Survey. United States Department of the Interior, n.d. Web. 4 Nov. 2015. This source offers tourist sites of geological interest in the New York, New Jersey, and Eastern Pennsylvania regions.
Geologic Sites of Interest:
I High Point State Park, NJ offers exposed Silurian Shawangunk Conglomerate Rock and view of the Pocono Mountains
II Delaware Gorge offers exposed Late Devonian Sedimentary Rock of the Catskill Group
III Mesozoic Basins section describes history of the area from the formation of Pangea through the formation of the Connecticut and Newark Basins
IV Palisades section describes history of the palisades visible from the Tappan Zee Bridge on the Hudson River
V I-280 Road cuts provide a snapshot of sediment deposits in that area