The National Geographic Magazine, Vol. I., No. 3, July, 1889Various
Science
The National Geographic Magazine, Vol. I., No. 3, July, 1889
Various
Geography -- Periodicals
It may be assumed that the whole group of mountains formed by the
Permian deformation had been reduced to a moderate relief when the
Newark deposition was stopped by the Jurassic elevation. The harder
ribs of rock doubtless remained as ridges projecting above the
intervening lowlands, but the strength of relief that had been given by
the constructional forces had been lost. The general distribution of
residual elevations then remaining unsubdued is indicated in fig. 25,
in which the Crystalline, the Medina, and the two Carboniferous
sandstone ridges are denoted by appropriate symbols. In restoring this
phase of the surface form, when the country stood lower than now, I
have reduced the anticlines from their present outlines and increased
the synclines, the change of area being made greatest where the dips
are least, and hence most apparent at the ends of the plunging
anticlines and synclines. Some of the Medina anticlines of Perry and
Juniata counties are not indicated because they were not then
uncovered. The country between the residual ridges of Jurassic time was
chiefly Cambrian limestone and Siluro-Devonian shales and soft
sandstones. The moderate ridges developed on the Oriskany and Chemung
sandstones are not represented. The drainage of this stage retained the
original courses of the streams, except for the adjustments that have
been described, but the great Anthracite river is drawn as if it had
been controlled by the Newark depression and reversed in the direction
of its flow, so that its former upper course on the Cambrian rocks was
replaced by a superimposed Newark lower course. Fig. 25 therefore
represents the streams for the most part still following near their
synclinal axes, although departing from them where they have to enter a
synclinal cove-mountain ridge; the headwaters of the Juniata avoid the
mass of hard sandstones discovered in the bottom of old Broad Top lake,
and flow around them to the north, and then by a cross-country course
to the Wiconisco synclinal, as already described in detail. Several
streams come from the northeast, entering the Anthracite district after
the fashion generalized in fig. 13. Three of the many streams that were
developed on the great Kittatinny slope are located, with their
direction of flow reversed; these are marked Sq, L and D, and are
intended to represent the ancestors of the existing Susquehanna, Lehigh
and Delaware. We have now to examine the opportunities offered to these
small streams to increase their drainage areas.
The Jurassic elevation, by which the Newark deposition was stopped,
restored to activity all the streams that had in the previous cycle
sought and found a course close to baselevel. They now all set to work
again deepening their channels. But in this restoration of lost
activity with reference to a new baselevel, there came the best
possible chance for numerous re-arrangements of drainage areas by
mutual adjustment into which we must inquire.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account