Northwestern Vermont Geoscience Tour
Today we will remain in
the Burlington VT area and explore three more interesting sites. The
first site we will visit is one of geologic significance as well
as providing evidence of a past paleo-oceanic environment. Take
your daily data as we go and think about what you will describe in your
journal entries.
Redstone Quarry
This quarry that was in operation until the 1930's provided a lot of material for numerous buildings at the University of Vermont as well as some private residences in Burlington. The Quarry is at the end of Hoover Street on the left just past the rotary as you leave the center of Burlington on Route 7 about 2 miles from the ECHO starting point. The formation is called Monkton Quartzite and the rock varies from a deep maroon color to light shades of gray depending on the materials that were deposited in this ancient shoreline environment. The shoreline that was that of the Iapetus Ocean of the Cambrian time period and evidence of shallow water ripple marks in various orientations can be seen at this site (10). This stop will take about 3 hours including travel.
Both photos by M. Gale @ http://www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/geo/redstone.htm
This natural area is owned by the University of Vermont and while seldom crowded they prefer that visitors call ahead to avoid conflicts with UVM field trips. Contact Christine Massey at (802) 656-1344 for permission. There is no fee for this site nor are there any facilities but there is a Dunkin Donuts franchise nearby for a snack and restrooms. The reason for visiting this site is to see evidence of ancient shoreline environments and subsequent geologic action such as igneous intrusions in dikes and evience of how the heat of that action can cause contact metamorphism of the surrounding country rock. Close examination of the intrusions will reveal a vesicular texture providing evidence of the release of gases in magma as its pressure decreases and the gases come out of solution. Create a plan view diagram of the site in your journal and add features to this diagram as you explore the site.There are a number of interesting geologic features at this site with the dominant rock being Monkton quartzite. This rock is composed of round to angular quartz grains cemented together with SiO2, Calcite (CaCO3), and FeO2 which provides the coloration. It is an orthoquartzite that has not been recrystalliozed due to insufficient heat for metamorphism (11). At this site there are several examples of ripple marks that you should study to determine the shallow water current direction(s) that caused them. There is some fossil evidence of early marine organisms in the northwest corner of the site. What type of Cambrian organisms are represented here? The location that contains the marine fossils also has some narrow basalt dikes. looking east from this location you will see a large basalt dike that runs up the cliff face of the quarry. Where the dike is exposed observe its vesicular surface as well as the change in color of the Monkton Quartzite that is in contact with the dike. What caused both of those features? Observe the bedding planes and their variations in color. What might account for the variations in how red different bedding planes are as well as their change from a position of original horizontality? Conclude this stop by making any other observations you feel are significant and adding them to your diagram and jounal.
UVM Perkins Geology Museum
This small museum at the University of Vermont provides a great overview of the geology and paleo-lifeforms of our region. The museum is open from 9-6 M-F 11-6 S&S and is located in Burlington about 3 miles from ECHO at 180 Colchester Ave on the Trinity Campus of UVM. There is no entry fee and their phone number is (802) 656-8694 for reservations if a large group visit is intended. This portion of the day will take about 3 hours.
Both images above http://www.uvm.edu/perkins/index.html
Visiting the Museum
The reason for visiting this museum is to build on the first days introduction to the area and to go into more depth about the geologic processes, geologic materials and fossils that we will encounter on other days of the trip. When entering the museum the small size (about 1000 square feet) may make the first time visitor wonder if they are really in the main "hall'' of the largest University museum in the State. In Vermont the scale of many things is smaller than what is expected elsewhere, but quality trumps quantity in this cozy little museum. There are a number of self guided tour handouts available at the museum as there is no regular staffing of the facility. Pick up a copy of Fossils of the Lake Champlain Region for use on the Day 4 trip. These handouts are useful not only for understanding the significance of many of the museum exhibits, but also for understanding many of the sites we will visit and the paleoenvironments that once existed in Vermont. The reference page link at the end of this website provides in depth access to their digital archives of their collections as well as outreach programs and information about remote sites managed by UVM, some of which we will visit on this 7 day tour. There is an older but nice relief map of the region on display to allow the visitor to orient themselves to some of the topography of Vermont. Check out that map first. There is a series of images on the wall portraying the evolution of the historical bodies of water in the Champlain basin that was discussed yesterday. See if there is any additional information that reinforces that previous discussion. There are a number of fossils on display from different time periods from various locations in Vermont. Create a geologic timeline with these specimens noting their geographic location where they were found in Vermont for future placement on a map of the region to establish a perspective of paleoenvironments in ancient Vermont. Make a special note of the display of ancient marine fossils found nearby as they tell part of the story of paleo-oceanic environments of Vermont. we will visit the collection sites of some of these specimens on day 4 of this trip. The pride and joy of this museum is its display of the Charlotte Whale (Dephinapterus leucas) the Vermont State fossil which provides definitive proof of the existence of the Champlain Sea about 12,000 years ago. Write down some general notes about the whale, its discovery and the errors in its mounting. On our way south on day 6 we may stop briefly at the site of the whales discovery along the railroad tracks in Charlotte Vt.
Make a final record of the Vermont rock and mineral collection types and location collected in the museum and any other items that you see that interest you.
Winooski Hydropower Station
A short drive about 1 mile down Colchester Avenue towards Winooski from the Perkins Museum you will cross the Winooski River then turn left on the first street on the other side of the river and find a place to park. By foot you can easily reach the public overlook for the Winooski River hydropower plant located at 16 Canal Street Winooski VT 05404 (802) 865-3423. Tours of the interior of the powerhouse are not a regular occurence due to the size of the facility but a visit may be arranged with enough prior notice. This stop should take 2 hours including travel.
http://www.lowimpacthydro.org/application-details.aspx?id=18 www.nu.com/aboutNU/images/fishfish.gif
Hydropower station details
A visit to this location is important because the need for energy combined with its geographic location means that Vermont must find local, but often small scale, sources of electrical power. The environmental awareness of Vermonters also drives the design of projects of this nature and steps taken to reduce the environmental impact of this site are in evidence here. This station was refurbished and went on line in 1993 and has three six foot diameter turbines that each take in 8,000 gallons of water per second producing 7.4 megawatts of electrical power per year (13). Visitors to the site can read the informative panels seen on the viewing platform on the left side of the image above and a summary of this information should be added to the trip journal. From this location determine the rock type that the splillway cuts through and later on this portion of the trip determine if the rock type changes at lower elevation about 400 meters downstream from the spillway. Check for fossiliferous inclusions and sketch any that you see. From the viewing platform area study the fish elevator mechanism and ascertain how it is used. Make a note of the fish species that use this device and other pertinent information on the information panels.
This facility was the first Vermont Hydropower dam to receive a low-impact certification fgrom the Low Impact Hydropower Institute which defines 8 categories of environmental conditions that should not be affected by hydropower facilities that are summarized below;
1. The river flows should be maintained at a level that is healthy for fish, wildlife and water quality.
2. The water quality must be maintained to state and Federal standards.
3. The facility allows for the passage of several categories of fish and does not allow entrainment of fish.
4. Action has been taken to protect various aspects of watershed health.
5. The facility does not negatively impact state or federal endangered species.
6. The facility does not negatively impact cultural resources.
7. The facility provides free access to the water and accomodates recreational activities on the public's river.
8. The facility will not continue in operation if it has been considered for removal due to negative environmental impacts (14).
This facility is an example of how human need for energy can be obtained with minimal environmental impact. Historically this part of the river has used hydropower for a variety of textile mills situated along its banks. The walking paths created during the hydropower refurbishment allow for a good view of some of the now converted mill buildings or ruins of previous mill power installations. Perhaps more interesting for the adventureous visitor are the remains of the previous hydropower structures and equipment from probably the early 20th century. Explore these ruins and try and imagine what was going on in this area when the industrial power of this area was in its early stages and how the human and environmental health would have taken a backseat to the industrial goals of the time. Inside the mill building along the walkway back to the parking area there are informational panels depicting the deplorable working conditions of that era. While not directly connected to the Geosciences, this historical perspective is interesing to those who may have enough time to linger at this site.
Redstone Quarry
This quarry that was in operation until the 1930's provided a lot of material for numerous buildings at the University of Vermont as well as some private residences in Burlington. The Quarry is at the end of Hoover Street on the left just past the rotary as you leave the center of Burlington on Route 7 about 2 miles from the ECHO starting point. The formation is called Monkton Quartzite and the rock varies from a deep maroon color to light shades of gray depending on the materials that were deposited in this ancient shoreline environment. The shoreline that was that of the Iapetus Ocean of the Cambrian time period and evidence of shallow water ripple marks in various orientations can be seen at this site (10). This stop will take about 3 hours including travel.
Both photos by M. Gale @ http://www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/geo/redstone.htm
This natural area is owned by the University of Vermont and while seldom crowded they prefer that visitors call ahead to avoid conflicts with UVM field trips. Contact Christine Massey at (802) 656-1344 for permission. There is no fee for this site nor are there any facilities but there is a Dunkin Donuts franchise nearby for a snack and restrooms. The reason for visiting this site is to see evidence of ancient shoreline environments and subsequent geologic action such as igneous intrusions in dikes and evience of how the heat of that action can cause contact metamorphism of the surrounding country rock. Close examination of the intrusions will reveal a vesicular texture providing evidence of the release of gases in magma as its pressure decreases and the gases come out of solution. Create a plan view diagram of the site in your journal and add features to this diagram as you explore the site.There are a number of interesting geologic features at this site with the dominant rock being Monkton quartzite. This rock is composed of round to angular quartz grains cemented together with SiO2, Calcite (CaCO3), and FeO2 which provides the coloration. It is an orthoquartzite that has not been recrystalliozed due to insufficient heat for metamorphism (11). At this site there are several examples of ripple marks that you should study to determine the shallow water current direction(s) that caused them. There is some fossil evidence of early marine organisms in the northwest corner of the site. What type of Cambrian organisms are represented here? The location that contains the marine fossils also has some narrow basalt dikes. looking east from this location you will see a large basalt dike that runs up the cliff face of the quarry. Where the dike is exposed observe its vesicular surface as well as the change in color of the Monkton Quartzite that is in contact with the dike. What caused both of those features? Observe the bedding planes and their variations in color. What might account for the variations in how red different bedding planes are as well as their change from a position of original horizontality? Conclude this stop by making any other observations you feel are significant and adding them to your diagram and jounal.
UVM Perkins Geology Museum
This small museum at the University of Vermont provides a great overview of the geology and paleo-lifeforms of our region. The museum is open from 9-6 M-F 11-6 S&S and is located in Burlington about 3 miles from ECHO at 180 Colchester Ave on the Trinity Campus of UVM. There is no entry fee and their phone number is (802) 656-8694 for reservations if a large group visit is intended. This portion of the day will take about 3 hours.
Both images above http://www.uvm.edu/perkins/index.html
Visiting the Museum
The reason for visiting this museum is to build on the first days introduction to the area and to go into more depth about the geologic processes, geologic materials and fossils that we will encounter on other days of the trip. When entering the museum the small size (about 1000 square feet) may make the first time visitor wonder if they are really in the main "hall'' of the largest University museum in the State. In Vermont the scale of many things is smaller than what is expected elsewhere, but quality trumps quantity in this cozy little museum. There are a number of self guided tour handouts available at the museum as there is no regular staffing of the facility. Pick up a copy of Fossils of the Lake Champlain Region for use on the Day 4 trip. These handouts are useful not only for understanding the significance of many of the museum exhibits, but also for understanding many of the sites we will visit and the paleoenvironments that once existed in Vermont. The reference page link at the end of this website provides in depth access to their digital archives of their collections as well as outreach programs and information about remote sites managed by UVM, some of which we will visit on this 7 day tour. There is an older but nice relief map of the region on display to allow the visitor to orient themselves to some of the topography of Vermont. Check out that map first. There is a series of images on the wall portraying the evolution of the historical bodies of water in the Champlain basin that was discussed yesterday. See if there is any additional information that reinforces that previous discussion. There are a number of fossils on display from different time periods from various locations in Vermont. Create a geologic timeline with these specimens noting their geographic location where they were found in Vermont for future placement on a map of the region to establish a perspective of paleoenvironments in ancient Vermont. Make a special note of the display of ancient marine fossils found nearby as they tell part of the story of paleo-oceanic environments of Vermont. we will visit the collection sites of some of these specimens on day 4 of this trip. The pride and joy of this museum is its display of the Charlotte Whale (Dephinapterus leucas) the Vermont State fossil which provides definitive proof of the existence of the Champlain Sea about 12,000 years ago. Write down some general notes about the whale, its discovery and the errors in its mounting. On our way south on day 6 we may stop briefly at the site of the whales discovery along the railroad tracks in Charlotte Vt.
Make a final record of the Vermont rock and mineral collection types and location collected in the museum and any other items that you see that interest you.
Winooski Hydropower Station
A short drive about 1 mile down Colchester Avenue towards Winooski from the Perkins Museum you will cross the Winooski River then turn left on the first street on the other side of the river and find a place to park. By foot you can easily reach the public overlook for the Winooski River hydropower plant located at 16 Canal Street Winooski VT 05404 (802) 865-3423. Tours of the interior of the powerhouse are not a regular occurence due to the size of the facility but a visit may be arranged with enough prior notice. This stop should take 2 hours including travel.
http://www.lowimpacthydro.org/application-details.aspx?id=18 www.nu.com/aboutNU/images/fishfish.gif
Hydropower station details
A visit to this location is important because the need for energy combined with its geographic location means that Vermont must find local, but often small scale, sources of electrical power. The environmental awareness of Vermonters also drives the design of projects of this nature and steps taken to reduce the environmental impact of this site are in evidence here. This station was refurbished and went on line in 1993 and has three six foot diameter turbines that each take in 8,000 gallons of water per second producing 7.4 megawatts of electrical power per year (13). Visitors to the site can read the informative panels seen on the viewing platform on the left side of the image above and a summary of this information should be added to the trip journal. From this location determine the rock type that the splillway cuts through and later on this portion of the trip determine if the rock type changes at lower elevation about 400 meters downstream from the spillway. Check for fossiliferous inclusions and sketch any that you see. From the viewing platform area study the fish elevator mechanism and ascertain how it is used. Make a note of the fish species that use this device and other pertinent information on the information panels.
This facility was the first Vermont Hydropower dam to receive a low-impact certification fgrom the Low Impact Hydropower Institute which defines 8 categories of environmental conditions that should not be affected by hydropower facilities that are summarized below;
1. The river flows should be maintained at a level that is healthy for fish, wildlife and water quality.
2. The water quality must be maintained to state and Federal standards.
3. The facility allows for the passage of several categories of fish and does not allow entrainment of fish.
4. Action has been taken to protect various aspects of watershed health.
5. The facility does not negatively impact state or federal endangered species.
6. The facility does not negatively impact cultural resources.
7. The facility provides free access to the water and accomodates recreational activities on the public's river.
8. The facility will not continue in operation if it has been considered for removal due to negative environmental impacts (14).
This facility is an example of how human need for energy can be obtained with minimal environmental impact. Historically this part of the river has used hydropower for a variety of textile mills situated along its banks. The walking paths created during the hydropower refurbishment allow for a good view of some of the now converted mill buildings or ruins of previous mill power installations. Perhaps more interesting for the adventureous visitor are the remains of the previous hydropower structures and equipment from probably the early 20th century. Explore these ruins and try and imagine what was going on in this area when the industrial power of this area was in its early stages and how the human and environmental health would have taken a backseat to the industrial goals of the time. Inside the mill building along the walkway back to the parking area there are informational panels depicting the deplorable working conditions of that era. While not directly connected to the Geosciences, this historical perspective is interesing to those who may have enough time to linger at this site.
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