Roadside Geology of Pennsylvania

About this book

The hundreds of millions of years of history folded within Pennsylvania's rocks tell a remarkable story of destruction, creation, and transformation. With an assortment of maps, diagrams, photos, and expert descriptions, Roadside Geology of Pennsylvania is the ultimate travel companion for those who have little or no training in geology.

Bradford Van Diver expertly guides the traveler through the wonders of Pennsylvania's complex geology seen from the road. Like a lively storyteller, Van Diver keeps jargon to a minimum and translates intricate geological processes into basic explanations so you can understand the events that shaped the landscape of Pennsylvania.

Highly useful even for those who are just passing through, this guide makes the science behind this state's geology more accessible than ever. Roadside Geology of Pennsylvania has a place in the library of those who are interested in understanding and seeing firsthand the forces that have shaped the Keystone State.

Contents

Preface  iii
Getting Started   1
Rocks - Fossils of Time   1
The Pennsylvania Landscape   11
Pennsylvania and the Ice Age   16
Plate Tectonics   23
Oil and Gas   35
Coal   39

I. Allegheny Plateau   45
I-70: West Virginia Border - New Stanton   49
I-76: Ohio Border - Somerset   53
I-79: West Virginia Border - Zelienople   59
I-79: Zelienople - Erie   69
I-80: Ohio Border - Brookville   77
I-80: Brookville - Bellefonte   81
I-81: Wilkes-Barre - New York Border   89
I-84: Matamoras - I-380 Interchange   95
I-90: Ohio Border - New York Border   99
US 6: Scranton - Mansfield   105
US 6: Mansfield - Lantz Corners   113
US 6: Lantz Corners - Meadville   119
US 15: Williamsport - New York Border   127
US 62: Franklin - Junction US 6   131
US 219: Bradford - McGees Mills   139
US 219: McGees Mills - Maryland Border   145
US 220: South Waverly - Williamsport   149

II. Valley and Ridge Province   159
I-70: Breezewood - Warfordburg   163
I-76: Somerset - Carlisle   167
I-80: Bellefonte - Bloomsburg   179
I-80: Bloomsburg - Delaware Water Gap   183
I-81: Junction I-78 - Wilkes-Barre   197
I-380: Scranton - Crescent Lake   209
US 15: Amity Hall - Williamsport   215
US 209: Matamoras - Delaware Water Gap   221
US 209: Stroudsburg - Jim Thorpe   227
US 220: Williamsport - Port Matilda   233
US 322: Amity Hall - Martha Furnace   247
PA 61: Sunbury - Frackville   253

III. Southeastern Pennsylvania   259
I-76: Carlisle - Philadelphia   261
I-78: Junction I-81 - Allentown   275
I-81: Maryland Border - Junction I-78   279
I-83: Maryland Border - Junction I-76   291
US 15: Maryland Border - Amity Hall   295
US 30: Breezewood - Gettysburg   303
US 30: Gettysburg - Lancaster   311
US 222: Lancaster - Allentown   317
PA 9: Philadelphia - Junction I-80   320

Glossary   330
References   337
Index   340

Customer Reviews

Biography

Bradford B. Van Diver (1927-2002), was professor emeritus of Geology at SUNY, Potsdam. He began a history of rock climbing while studying at the University of Colorado and later he earned his PhD from the University of Washington. He taught at a number of institutions and was a member of several associations, including the Adirondack Mountain Club, the Colorado Hiking Club, and the Carolina Mountain Club. Van Diver was an avid mountaineer, hiker, photographer, woodworker, kayaker, skier, and world traveler.