geological history of connecticut
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Geological History of Connecticut. Tectonic History Introduction. Paleozoic Era (450-250 million years ago) tectonic plates including Africa and Eurasia collided with the Proto-North American Plate. Super Continent Pangaea was formed - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Geological History of Connecticut
Paleozoic Era (450-250 million years ago) tectonic plates including Africa and Eurasia collided with the Proto-North American Plate.Super Continent Pangaea was formedSmall part of the African Plate (Avalonia) collided
with Proto-North AmericaLapetos Ocean was squeezed out from between the
colliding continents Continental Rocks of Proto-North America, Avalonia and
oceanic rocks and sediment deformed and metamorphosed into Granite and Gneisses schists (CT D.E.P. 2009)
Mountains such as the Appalachians where built
Tectonic History Introduction
Tectonic History Introduction cont.
Tectonic History Introduction cont.
Tectonic History Introduction cont.
Tectonic History Introduction cont.
Mesozoic Era (235 million years ago) plate tectonic process reversedPangaea began to break apartAtlantic Ocean Began to formAvalonia was firmly attached to North AmericaRift Basins began to form on each side of the
breakupThe Newark terrain in central Connecticut is the
eroded remains of one of these basinsContains 200 million year old sedimentary rocks and
intrusions of basalt from lava flows (CT D.E.P. 2009)
Tectonic History Introduction cont.
Tectonic History Introduction cont.
Tectonic History Introduction cont.
Glaciation played a major roll on how Connecticut is shaped today24,000 years ago was the
last glaciation that covered Connecticut took placeThe Glacier flowed south
until the weather was to warm to support it’s formation
Connecticut was covered with ice for about 5000 years
Glacial History Introduction
The glacier contained large amounts of rock, sand, and clay (glacial till)Large boulders were displaced
(Plucking)When the ice melted these
materials were deposited which formed a terminal moraine Terminal Moraine a large pile of
rock, sand, and clay piled up at the edge of the glacier, marking the boundary of the glaciers advancement
Long Island, Fishers Island, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, and Cape Cod were all formed by terminal moraines
Glacial History Introduction cont.
Terminal Moraine
Glacial History Introduction cont.
26,000 – 21,500 years ago
21,500 – 17,000 years ago
17,500-15,500 years ago
15,500 – 5,000 years ago
5,000 years ago to present
http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2698&q=323252&depNav_GID=1707 (2009)
Work Cited