Area's Geology & Anomaly
| Additional photos for this section: Album 1 |
| Comet Impact Inquiry |
| "Science Related" not "Scientifically Related" |
| Photo Albums: |
| 7. Oddballs |
| History |
According to the Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey, surface rocks and till/soil consist
of the late Wisconsinan Glacial deposits of native red sandstone, gray and black shale,
limestone, chert, flagstone, silica sand, clay and lime. Bedrock consists of sandstone and
shale Sedimentary rocks. The glacier brought very little exotic deposits, if any, to this portion of
the State.*
of the late Wisconsinan Glacial deposits of native red sandstone, gray and black shale,
limestone, chert, flagstone, silica sand, clay and lime. Bedrock consists of sandstone and
shale Sedimentary rocks. The glacier brought very little exotic deposits, if any, to this portion of
the State.*
Exotic deposits, consisting of both diamagnetic and magnetic materials, sit on small
water-worn pebbles surrounded by moist, thick soot. The deposit includes different aggregate
of glass-like cinder, graphite/glass-like carbon, alkalic igneous rocks, high silicate gabbroic
rocks and part iron materials all strongly attracted to a magnet. Other materials within the
deposit include pseudotachylites, dull carbon fragments, scoria, calcite blocks with strong
planar deformation features, shatter cones on rocks of various lithology some with rusted metal
projectiles, etc. The soil is highly magnetic.
water-worn pebbles surrounded by moist, thick soot. The deposit includes different aggregate
of glass-like cinder, graphite/glass-like carbon, alkalic igneous rocks, high silicate gabbroic
rocks and part iron materials all strongly attracted to a magnet. Other materials within the
deposit include pseudotachylites, dull carbon fragments, scoria, calcite blocks with strong
planar deformation features, shatter cones on rocks of various lithology some with rusted metal
projectiles, etc. The soil is highly magnetic.
Above the sloping bench, the mountain's side and top have fractured bedrock outcrops with
indented circular structures seen on the ground and on aerial maps. Numerous portions of the
bedrock appear as dislocated and fractured boulders perched precariously along its sides and
top. Its side has areas of folding filled with fragmented angular shale and sandstone.
indented circular structures seen on the ground and on aerial maps. Numerous portions of the
bedrock appear as dislocated and fractured boulders perched precariously along its sides and
top. Its side has areas of folding filled with fragmented angular shale and sandstone.
Map 1
Map 2
Photo
The area is a wooded, sloping bench, situated above a steep gorge sitting between two
mountains that shows numerous circular structures and a layer of exotic deposits. The bench’s
soil/till is moist heavy clay mix with a high amount of fragmented pebbles and cobbles, angular
mudstone/claystone and shale, many carbonate rocks, breccias of different lithology and
fractured boulders of sandstone and shale.
mountains that shows numerous circular structures and a layer of exotic deposits. The bench’s
soil/till is moist heavy clay mix with a high amount of fragmented pebbles and cobbles, angular
mudstone/claystone and shale, many carbonate rocks, breccias of different lithology and
fractured boulders of sandstone and shale.
Area’s Geology and Anomalies cover two of the lesser compelling criteria used when establishing
proof for the existence of an asteroid or meteorite impact crater. One being the area’s
morphology that covers the existence of raised rim circular, oval or horse-shoe shape structures
with depressions, which, may or may not have mid-center uplifts. Two references the geophysical
anomaly that involves gravity survey to show negative and positive anomalies as well as seismic
reflection survey to show layering of buried impact structures.
proof for the existence of an asteroid or meteorite impact crater. One being the area’s
morphology that covers the existence of raised rim circular, oval or horse-shoe shape structures
with depressions, which, may or may not have mid-center uplifts. Two references the geophysical
anomaly that involves gravity survey to show negative and positive anomalies as well as seismic
reflection survey to show layering of buried impact structures.
As this is a home-brew lab, neither gravity nor seismic reflection survey was conducted and while
the pixels are not very sharp, today’s on-line aerial photos and satellite maps show some details
of impact structures.
the pixels are not very sharp, today’s on-line aerial photos and satellite maps show some details
of impact structures.
Possible due to fractures in the shale and sandstone bedrock, numerous springs rise above the top circular
impact structures during high-water table. The result is a convoluted flow structure created by the water channeling
around the circles, giving the area a spider net appearance.
impact structures during high-water table. The result is a convoluted flow structure created by the water channeling
around the circles, giving the area a spider net appearance.
The full circular impact structure is express on aerial map where an outer rim, inner rim and point of impact is
evident (red arrow in map above). Approximately one-half of the structure’s rim is seen at ground level. The other
half has been removed, possibly by erosion and during construction of the partial driveway that ends at its southern
flank. The impact structure has two frequently traveled footpaths… a leveled path on its western flank and a path
over the uppermost portion of its rim. While the terrain is rough, note that soil up-rooted by trees and boulders, a lot
of which are on the ground, does not show on the aerial photos.
evident (red arrow in map above). Approximately one-half of the structure’s rim is seen at ground level. The other
half has been removed, possibly by erosion and during construction of the partial driveway that ends at its southern
flank. The impact structure has two frequently traveled footpaths… a leveled path on its western flank and a path
over the uppermost portion of its rim. While the terrain is rough, note that soil up-rooted by trees and boulders, a lot
of which are on the ground, does not show on the aerial photos.
Approximately one-third of the minute particles that make up the soil of the entire area are strongly susceptible to a
magnet.
magnet.
Specific to the Bench’s Dig Area:
One of many small circular
structures (in-front of red arrow).
Red diamond marks the spot, a
raised half circle, where the
exotic deposit was first
encountered. Structure below the
red square shows full rim and
indented center (upper right in
photo).
structures (in-front of red arrow).
Red diamond marks the spot, a
raised half circle, where the
exotic deposit was first
encountered. Structure below the
red square shows full rim and
indented center (upper right in
photo).
It appears that erosion and rebounding of the glacial ice covered areas partially erased some of the impact structures. Only,
numerous circular impact structures, on the sides and on top of the mountain, are visible on satellite imagery or aerial
photographs (seen in map 1 above and on additional maps in Album 1).
numerous circular impact structures, on the sides and on top of the mountain, are visible on satellite imagery or aerial
photographs (seen in map 1 above and on additional maps in Album 1).
A portion of a cylinder drill core, taken from the side of the mountain, shows blue sandstone/blue stone, a pale gray ash
colored area, a 2 cm rich glass-like graphitic / carbon layer with transparent crystals followed by another pale gray ash
covered area. Both of the drill core areas with a mixture of sandstone particles and ash show rust. (See Geologic Evidence
section for more information on the drill core.)
colored area, a 2 cm rich glass-like graphitic / carbon layer with transparent crystals followed by another pale gray ash
covered area. Both of the drill core areas with a mixture of sandstone particles and ash show rust. (See Geologic Evidence
section for more information on the drill core.)
The first recorded geological survey covering two neighboring counties, conducted during 1874 and 1880, describes a few districts with
haphazardly situated boulders and fractured rocks seemingly out of place with those of other previously surveyed counties. The author’s
report made it apparent that the glacial striations direction went South 20° west and the rocks appeared to have fallen from the
Southeast direction. He advised that the out-of-place boulders and fractured rocks “calls for some special explanation,” as they were
“quite apart from that of the general covering of Local Drift spread over the rest of the region.”
haphazardly situated boulders and fractured rocks seemingly out of place with those of other previously surveyed counties. The author’s
report made it apparent that the glacial striations direction went South 20° west and the rocks appeared to have fallen from the
Southeast direction. He advised that the out-of-place boulders and fractured rocks “calls for some special explanation,” as they were
“quite apart from that of the general covering of Local Drift spread over the rest of the region.”
*
Notes:
Clastic Sedimentary Rocks:
New Milford Sandstone Group, of the Catskill Formation including flagstone/blue sandstone, is buried sand grains cement together with lime
(calcite) and silica (quartz). Quartz sandstone morphs to quartzite.
Fine-grain shale/claystone/mudstone forms from mud and clay. Shale morphs to slate, argillite, and phyllite depending on the applied pressure
or heat. Mudstone morphs to argillite, a slightly metamorphosed mudstone or to slate with very high heat.
Mudstone may be gray calcareous shale with trilobite fossils. The black inside may have morphed argillite due to varying degrees of heat.
New Milford Sandstone Group, of the Catskill Formation including flagstone/blue sandstone, is buried sand grains cement together with lime
(calcite) and silica (quartz). Quartz sandstone morphs to quartzite.
Fine-grain shale/claystone/mudstone forms from mud and clay. Shale morphs to slate, argillite, and phyllite depending on the applied pressure
or heat. Mudstone morphs to argillite, a slightly metamorphosed mudstone or to slate with very high heat.
Mudstone may be gray calcareous shale with trilobite fossils. The black inside may have morphed argillite due to varying degrees of heat.
Sedimentary Target Rocks: Catskill over Chemung Rock Formation Series
Metamorphic and Igneous Rocks:
No crystalline rocks seen in this area during the second survey. Metamorphose rocks are found near the surface in the southeastern portion of
the State only, although, they could occur at greater depth under the entire state. No record of igneous rocks ever being encountered in this
area.
No crystalline rocks seen in this area during the second survey. Metamorphose rocks are found near the surface in the southeastern portion of
the State only, although, they could occur at greater depth under the entire state. No record of igneous rocks ever being encountered in this
area.
Chemical Sedimentary Rocks:
There are no pure limestone strata in the Catskill series. It is "an agglomerate of chips of slate or shale, fish bone fragments, pieces of fossilized
wood and often a large quantity of sand, all cemented together by lime." Thus, it is impure. Limestone, a calcium carbonate rock, morphs to
dolomite or marble.
Chert, Devonian era nodules, forms from silica, the dissolved siliceous skeletons of marine plankton. Bedded chert morphs to metachert, a very
dense, hard, light-color even-textured rock.
There are no pure limestone strata in the Catskill series. It is "an agglomerate of chips of slate or shale, fish bone fragments, pieces of fossilized
wood and often a large quantity of sand, all cemented together by lime." Thus, it is impure. Limestone, a calcium carbonate rock, morphs to
dolomite or marble.
Chert, Devonian era nodules, forms from silica, the dissolved siliceous skeletons of marine plankton. Bedded chert morphs to metachert, a very
dense, hard, light-color even-textured rock.
*
References made to the presence of minor amount of garnet gneiss boulders, however, not specific to the immediate area. Glacial till
deposits eroded from the top of nearby hills and bedrock.
deposits eroded from the top of nearby hills and bedrock.
The movement of the glacial ice, over and around the mountains, left their northern most sides
relatively rounded and their southern most ends with steep peaks. Both the north and northeast
side and top of the mountain, the direction from which the glacier transverse, are round with
minor loose rocks in contrast to the targeted south and southwest portions.
relatively rounded and their southern most ends with steep peaks. Both the north and northeast
side and top of the mountain, the direction from which the glacier transverse, are round with
minor loose rocks in contrast to the targeted south and southwest portions.
Aerial photo, with elevation set to zero for less likelihood of distortion, shows the bench, side and top of the
mountain with impact structures (map 1). Map 2 is a close-up on a small area of the bench that shows many
circular structures, some of which overlaps, on the ground. Exotic deposits stops at a line of soot covered
water-shaped round and fragmented pebbles on a circular structure's rim shown in photo above.
mountain with impact structures (map 1). Map 2 is a close-up on a small area of the bench that shows many
circular structures, some of which overlaps, on the ground. Exotic deposits stops at a line of soot covered
water-shaped round and fragmented pebbles on a circular structure's rim shown in photo above.