Geology, Vol. 1 [of 3] : $b Geologic processes and their resultsSalisbury, Rollin D.
Science
Geology, Vol. 1 [of 3] : $b Geologic processes and their results
Salisbury, Rollin D.
Geology
If, on the other hand, the axis of the anticline or syncline to be
eroded was not horizontal, that is, if it _plunged_, the topographic
result would be somewhat different. Suppose a plunging anticline to
be truncated at base-level. If either end of the fold plunged below
the plane of truncation, the outcrops of a given layer on opposite
sides of the axis would converge in the direction of plunge, and come
together at the end. At a stage of erosion antedating planation (say
late maturity) there would have been a ridge, or a succession of hills,
in the position corresponding to the outcrop of a hard layer, with a
canoe-shaped valley within. If two hard layers were involved, instead
of one, there would be two encircling ridges, with a curved valley
between them, and a canoe-shaped valley within the innermost (Fig.
146). If the anticline plunged both ways, the valley enclosed by
the hard-layer ridge would be canoe-shaped at both ends (Fig. 147).
In such a case there would be likely to be a low gap (water-gap) in
the rim of the valley through which the drainage which degraded the
surface escaped, but there would be likely to be but one, for if
two or more streams had drained the area of the valley at an early
stage of erosion, one would be likely to have captured the others
(see p. 138) before late maturity. A succession of doubly-plunging
anticlines and synclines might give rise to a very complex series of
ridges and valleys. Illustrations of the above phenomena are found at
various points in the Appalachian Mountains, especially in eastern
Pennsylvania.[56]
[Illustration: +Fig.+ 143.—The same as Fig. 142 at a later stage of
development.]
[Illustration: +Fig.+ 144.—The Natural Bridge of Virginia, from the
southeast (Walcott, U. S. Geol. Surv.)]
[Illustration: +Fig.+ 145.—A natural bridge in development. Two
Medicine River, Mont. Corresponds to the stage represented by Fig.
142, and the view corresponds to that shown diagrammatically at the
right-hand end of the figure. (Whitney.)]
In the structural adjustment which goes with the erosion of
folds, it often happens that the valleys come to be located on the
anticlines, while the outcrops of the hard layers on the flanks of the
anticlines, or even in the original synclines, become the mountains.
The adjustments by which valleys come to be located on anticlines
are somewhat as follows:[57] Fig. 148 represents two doubly-plunging
anticlines with a syncline between, the relative elevations being shown
by contour lines. At the outset, the drainage of such a region must
have followed the structural valley, and its initial course, consequent
on the slope, must have been down the axial trough. Drainage from the
anticlines into the synclines would have promptly developed valleys,
and the valleys would soon have acquired streams.
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