Welcome to Mylan Park!
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Whether you've lived here your whole life or are visiting from far away, there's no doubt that West Virginia has earned its nickname of "The Mountain State". While traveling Almost Heaven, you'll pass by some interesting rock features - but have you ever thought about the geologic history behind those formations? Mylan Park is situated on the border of two distinct groups of rock. Let's explore them together!
Geologic History of the Appalachian Mountains
Before we take a closer look at the specific geologic history of North Central West Virginia, let’s first understand what makes the Appalachian Mountains some of the oldest in the world! The formation of the Appalachians can be roughly summarized into seven key periods:
1. Precambrian to Early Paleozoic Era (Before 500 million years ago)
The oldest rocks in the region are part of the ancient basement complex, dating back over 1 billion years. These rocks include granites and gneisses, which were formed from the cooling and crystallization of magma deep within the Earth's crust. This basement rock was part of the ancient supercontinent Rodinia.
2. Cambrian to Ordovician Periods (Around 500-450 million years ago)
During the Cambrian and Ordovician periods, the region was covered by a shallow sea. Sediments accumulated in this marine environment, leading to the deposition of sandstones, shales, and limestones. These sediments eventually formed what is now known as the Cambrian and Ordovician sedimentary rocks, which are exposed in parts of North Central West Virginia.
3. Silurian to Devonian Periods (Around 450-360 million years ago)
The Silurian and Devonian periods were marked by tectonic activity as the Iapetus Ocean began to close. The collision of the North American plate with other landmasses (such as the microcontinent of Avalonia) initiated the first phase of the Appalachian Orogeny, the mountain-building event that began to uplift the region. This period also saw the deposition of marine shales and limestones, which can be found in the area.
4. Mississippian to Pennsylvanian Periods (Around 360-300 million years ago)
The most significant phase of the Appalachian Orogeny occurred during the Mississippian and Pennsylvanian periods. The collision between the North American plate and the African plate (part of the supercontinent Pangaea) led to intense folding, faulting, and uplift of the region. This period is characterized by the formation of the prominent mountain structures we see today.
During the Pennsylvanian period, extensive swampy environments developed in the region. The accumulation of plant material in these swamps led to the formation of coal beds, which are now a significant feature of the region's geology.
5. Permian to Triassic Periods (Around 300-200 million years ago)
After the peak of the Appalachian Orogeny, the region began to experience erosion. The uplifted mountains were gradually worn down by erosion, and sediment was deposited in surrounding basins.
6. Jurassic to Cretaceous Periods (Around 200-66 million years ago)
During these periods, the breakup of Pangaea led to the formation of the Atlantic Ocean. The region's geological activity decreased, and sedimentation patterns shifted. In North Central West Virginia, sedimentary rocks from these periods are relatively rare.
7. Cenozoic Era (Last 66 million years)
The Cenozoic era saw continued erosion and sediment deposition. The Appalachian Mountains, including North Central West Virginia, continued to erode and wear down. This era also saw the development of the region’s modern river systems and landforms.
Geologic Formations of Mylan Park
Mylan Park is located in North Central West Virginia, and as such is part of the Appalachian Mountains. One unique feature of Mylan Park is that it is located on two different types of rock - the younger Dunkard Group, and the older Monongahela Group. While both formations cover roughly the same geographic area (Southeastern Ohio, Southwestern Pennsylvania, Northern West Virginia, and Western Maryland), they come from different periods in geologic history. The Monongahela Group is part of the Upper Pensylvanian Period, and the Dunkard Group comes from the Early Permian Period. Both of these groups were formed roughly 300 Million Years ago.
Above is a geologic map of Mylan Park. The blue region represents the Monongahela Group, while the green region represents the Dunkard Group.
While visiting Mylan Park, take a moment to observe the natural landscape of the area (epsecially near the posted coordinates and waypoint below), and enjoy the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains. Hopefully, you'll discover why we call this place "Almost Heaven"!
LOGGING REQUIREMENTS
Please submit your answers and observations within seven days of your online log.
0) What is the name and GC Code of the Earthcache you are submitting answers for?
1) At the posted coordinates, take note of your elevation.
2) At the waypoint below, take note of your elevation.
3) Comparing the two elevations, which type of rock do you think was deposited first (Dunkard Group or Monongahela Group)? What observations led you to this conclusion?
4) Are there any features of the landscape that might suggest that you’ve crossed from one rock type to another?
5) Take a photo of yourself (or personal item) at either one of the waypoints, and list what group you were standing on when you took the photo. You can attach it to your found it log.
Thanks for visiting my Earthcache!