The Journal of Geology, May-June 1893: A Semi-Quarterly Magazone of Geology and Related SciencesVarious
Science
The Journal of Geology, May-June 1893: A Semi-Quarterly Magazone of Geology and Related Sciences
Various
Geology -- Periodicals
many of its tributaries had been developed, and when it was therefore a
smaller river, it is quite probable that further re-adjustments would
have occurred, and the stream been led away from the hard rocks onto
the softer beds to the west; but when they were reached the stream
had cut so deeply and so nearly to baselevel that it was safe from
capture. After the elevation of the peneplain the stream was revived
and disclosed more and more of these hard beds, but was then, owing to
the development and head-water growth of its tributaries, too important
a river to be diverted by any rival. A river of this kind may be
said to be “conformably superimposed” in distinction to one which is
superimposed from an unconformable cover.
_Revived streams._ It is important to recognize the effect of the
post-Cretaceous uplift upon the rivers at that time established. As
the land was baseleveled and the velocity of the streams decreased,
they lost in large degree their cutting power and sluggishly meandered
more or less in broad flood-plains. During and for a period after the
uplift, their cutting power was restored to them by virtue of their
increased velocity and they excavated the deep narrow valleys which we
find in the crystalline highlands. The upper course of the Housatonic
is a good example of a river re-adjusted to the structure during one
cycle, revived by uplift to a second cycle of erosion, and in places
“conformably superimposed” upon structures from which it would have
been led away in the ordinary course of re-adjustment. Its tributaries,
the East Aspetuck, Still, Shepaug, and Pomeraug follow courses
re-adjusted in one cycle and revived in a later uplift.
We can assert with the more confidence that such was the history of
the upper Housatonic, because we find in other states, in regions
whose history has been the same, similar examples of “conformably
superimposed” and “revived” streams. The Musconetcong and Pequest,
highland rivers of New Jersey, are streams “revived” from mature old
age to vigorous youth and “conformably superimposed” upon saddles of
gneiss between two limestone valleys.[44]
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