The Taconic Mountains tour highlights the geology and natural environment of several landscape regions, including the structure of the Highlands Province basement rocks, which were affected by the Taconic Orogeny. Students can view biotite-rich schists and the tight isoclinic folds of the Walloomsac Formation, as well as the Taconic angular unconformity at the south end of Becraft Mountain. Bedding thrusts are also evident within the Roundout Formation and overlying Manlius Formation. They can also examine metamorphosed Briarcliff Dolostone containing yellow, white and black chert layers and Everett Phylite, which represents a metamorphic lithologic transition from slate to phyllite. Dramatically folded calcareous rocks are visible at the Bennington, Vermont bypass, and students can also view Stark's Knob, where pillow lavas formed as Ordovician basalts erupted under the waters of a shallow sea.
- Subject:
- Astronomy
- Chemistry
- Geology
- Geoscience
- Physical Geography
- Physical Science
- Physics
- Space Science
- Material Type:
- Activity/Lab
- Interactive
- Provider:
- UCAR Staff
- Provider Set:
- New York State Earth Science Instructional Collection
- Author:
- Bob Mozer
- Date Added:
- 11/06/2014