Exploring the A.T. at Bear Mountain James Phillips

Alec Shissias

Stefanie Almodovar

The HIGHLANDS are part of a larger geological outcropping, called the READING PRONG.

Extending from eastern Pennsylvania, through New Jersey and New York, and into Connecticut.

It is in this region on the Hudson River about 50 miles north of New York City that Bear Mountain State Park is located.

GEOLOGY

http://www.fs.fed.us/na/highlands/maps/highlands_map.jpg-The New York Walk Book

-http://3dparks.wr.usgs.gov/nyc/parks/loc9.htm

GEOLOGY

James Phillips

Alec Shissias

Stefanie Almodovar

--On the mountain the primary types of bedrock and granite gneiss and schist, which are highly metamorphosed sedimentary and igneous rocks.

--The minerals that compose these types of rocks are considered to be highly resistant to erosion and weathering.

--This has allowed Bear Mountain and other mountains in this region to retain heights between 1,200 and 1,300 feet.

SCHIST

GRANITE GNEISS

http://csmres.jmu.edu/geollab/Fichter/MetaRx/Rocks/schist1.html

-http://3dparks.wr.usgs.gov/nyc/parks/loc9.htm-The New York Walk Book

Exploring the A.T. at Bear Mountain

GLACIAL ERRATIC

HESSIAN LAKE

--The Wisconsin Glaciation is a geologic event that has really shaped and molded Bear Mountain.

--This Ice Age ended about 12,000 years ago.

--This event left many different features behind, all of which are evident on or near Bear Mountain, including: erratics, glacial lakes, polished rock surfaces, ice striations, pot holes, and fjord of the Hudson River.

GEOLOGY

James Phillips

Alec Shissias

Stefanie Almodovar

Exploring the A.T. at Bear Mountain

http://csmres.jmu.edu/geollab/Fichter/MetaRx/Rocks/schist1.html

-http://3dparks.wr.usgs.gov/nyc/parks/loc9.htm

-The New York Walk Book

GEOLOGY

James Phillips

Alec Shissias

Stefanie Almodovar

-http://3dparks.wr.usgs.gov/nyc/parks/loc9.htm

-The New York Walk Book

Exploring the A.T. at Bear Mountain

A Few Facts:-Highlands were formed 1 – 1.3 billion years ago, during the Greenville Orogeny

-While the Appalachian Mountains were only formed 480 million years ago

-The Elevation at the summit of Bear Mountain is about 1,300 feet

-The Presence of magnetite, a mineral rich in iron ore, is the reason why a compass is virtually unreliable when you are on this part of the A.T.

GEOLOGY

James Phillips

Alec Shissias

Stefanie Almodovar

Exploring the A.T. at Bear Mountain