Lab #5:  Bedrock Geology and The Geological History of the Springfield Area.

The three main rock types are all formed under very different conditions and by very different processes. Igneous rocks, which form from the solidification of magma, are often associated with tectonic activity, including volcanism. The formation of metamorphic rocks is also associated with tectonic activity (though less directly than igneous rocks) as it requires enough heat and/or pressure to deform preexisting rocks. In contrast, sedimentary rocks form at much cooler temperatures as result of the lithification of preexisting sediment produced from a variety of surface processes (e.g., river flow, landslides, accumulation of organic material etc.).

Because of the close link between rock type and formation conditions, geologists use rocks to infer the geological history of a given area. Geologists specifically evaluate bedrock which is the solid and largely unbroken rock layer that lies beneath the softer, unconsolidated mixture of soil, dirt, and rock fragments known as the regolith. Though bedrock is often buried beneath the regolith, it can be exposed at the surface as a result of certain processes (e.g., road building through mountains, river erosion). These outcrops, together with bedrock samples obtained with advanced drilling equipment, allow geologists to survey wide areas of bedrock and piece together a geological history of a given region.

In this lab, we will investigate the geological history of the Springfield, MA area by analyzing the bedrock in our area. You will work with an online mapping tool to view the bedrock types of the area; you will then use your observations to draw some conclusions about the geological history of the area. Lastly, you will be asked to read and summarize a brief history of the Connecticut River Valley (which includes the city of Springfield) and compare your summary to your map observations.

You must submit a single typed document that includes all of your question responses, maps, and your summary. I recommend typing everything in Word or similar word processing software and saving your document as a PDF. If you have a problem doing so, please let me know.

Part I: Map Analysis

In Part I of the lab, you will investigate and compare the bedrock geology of a few specific places within the broader Springfield area using an online mapping platform. Instructions for how to access and use this mapping program are below. Follow these instructions and use the map to answer the questions below.

Accessing and Using the Mapping Program:

• Visit http://maps.massgis.state.ma.us/map_ol/oliver.php

• To add a place marker for a specific place:
  1. Type the location of interest (e.g., Springfield College, Blandford, MA) in the “Search for location” box at the top of the page.
  2. Check the address of the location in the “Location search results” pop up box to make sure it is consistent with the location you are interested in. Select “Zoom to center point” if it is.

• To add the bedrock geology map:
  1. Select the plus sign next to “Physical Resources” under the “Available Data Layers” menu at the top left of the page.
  2. Select the plus sign next to “Bedrock Lithology” within the “Physical Resources” menu.
  3. Click “Group A General” under the “Bedrock Lithology” menu.
  4. Use the map key on the bottom left to identify the dominant bedrock type.

Questions:

Using the mapping software described above, address the following questions about the bedrock geology of Springfield College, Blandford, MA and a location of your choice. In addition to responses to the questions below, you must submit a screen shot of the bedrock map for each location. These maps must be pasted into your word document.

• What is the dominant type of rock underneath Springfield College? What does this say about the formation environment of this area?

• Center the map on Blandford, MA, a town about 27 miles East of Springfield college. What is the dominant rock type you see? What does this say about the formation environment of this area? Does this make sense? Helpful hint: consider other geological features around Blandford, MA in your answer to this last question. You may consult other maps as necessary.

• Which do you think is older: The bedrock of Blandford or the bedrock of SC? Why?

• Center the map on a third Massachusetts location of your choice. This can be another town/city, a specific landmark, a family member or friend’s home, anything! Just be sure to explain why you chose the location you did. What is the dominant rock type you see? What does this say about the formation environment of this area?

Part II: A Summary of the Geological History of the Connecticut River Valley

While looking at the bedrock type of an area can offer insight into the geological history of an area, geologists often need to collect additional evidence to pull together a more complete picture of the paleo-environment and major geological events associated with the area. A local geologist,

Professor Richard Little, has done just that for the Connecticut River Valley, a region in New England that includes the Springfield area. In Part II of this assignment, you will read and summarize Professor Little’s “A Brief Geological History of the Connecticut River Valley” which can be accessed using the following link:  http://www.earthview.rocks/ctriver.html. In addition to your summary, you will briefly reflect on how the conclusions you drew from the map analysis in Part I agree or diverge from Professor Little’s assessment.

Your summary plus your reflection should be about 1 to 1 ½ pages (double-spaced, 12 point font, 1 inch margins). As with all written work, you must use your own words. Use of original or loosely paraphrased statements without proper citations is considered plagiarism. When in doubt, add a citation!

Lab #5:  Bedrock Geology and The Geological History of the Springfield Area.

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