LITHOLOGIC AND GEOMORPHIC STUDY OF THE KITTATINNY RIDGE, APPALACHIAN MTS

The eastern-most ridge of the Appalachian Mountains, Kittatinny Ridge, extends from New York State south to West Virginia. The ridge is composed of erosion-resistant quartzite conglomerate throughout (Shawangunk Formation, Tuscarora Formation) underlain by sandstone, siltstone and shale (Bloomsburg Formation, Juniata Formation). The relatively consistent composition of the Kittantinny Ridge makes it ideal for analyzing how variations in climate and glacial history have impacted long-term erosion rates. This project measured the compositional consistency of the Kittatinny Ridge at different locations and what geomorphological implications the results might have. Rock samples of the Shawangunk and Tuscarora formations were collected at various locations along the ridge in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. These samples were tested using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) for bulk composition, percent pore space and cementation consistencies to determine erodability. Schmidt hammer measurements were also taken at the various collecting sites to determine rock hardness. River longitudinal profiles and valley hypsometries were measured to determine long-term erosion amounts along the ridge. This was done using geographic information system (GIS) ArcMap v. 10.0 and Arcinfo 10.0 to delineate the ridge and determine valley and river geometries. One-third arc second digital elevation models (DEMs) were downloaded from the National Map, and standard hydrologic GIS procedures (sinks filled, flow direction determined, flow accumulation calculated, and stream networks identified using a threshold of 5,000 cells) followed to determine watershed area and river networks. Preliminary results suggest that there were higher erosion rates along the southern extent of the ridge.