GOL 135: Field Studies in Geology (a 1-credit, 1-day field course)

Section 060N: "The geology of Shenandoah National Park, Virginia"

Instructor: Callan Bentley

Field trip date:
Saturday, November 7, 2009

Rain date:
Sunday, November 8, 2009

Instructor contact information:

(703) 323-3276

Callan Bentley home

Columnar jointing in meta-basalt, Catoctin Formation, Limberlost Trail, Shenandoah National Park. Pencil for scale.

Basalt is an igneous rock that is erupted from the earth as lava. As the lava cools and becomes solid rock, it shrinks in size. To accomodate this contraction, polygonal cracks develop on the surface of the solidifying flow, and then extend down into the flow (perpendicular to the surface) as columns. Devil's Tower in Wyoming gets its characteristic look from columnar jointing, as does the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland. The Catoctin basaltic lava was extruded as part of the continental rifting of the supercontinent Rodinia, a process that opened up an ancient ocean, the Iapetus.

Before the trip:

Readings

Photos and graphics

Logistics

After the trip:

Your assignment

Proper formatting