A beautiful day for a field trip for theVirginia Master Naturalists in training for the Blue Ridge Foothills and Lakes Chapter.
As a kid did you ever collect rocks? Did you find them pretty? I will admit to you, I did!
Today I learned about rocks. Geology was taught in the field by uber knowledgeable Geologist William Henika. If you see any geological survey maps of this state you will most likely be looking at Appalachian Regional Geology Research Associate and Adjunct Professor of Geology at Virginia TechWilliam Henika's work.
Got Rocks? Know which ones you got?
BRFAL Chapter in Training take on the geology of Virginia
Mr Henika led a group of us along the western border of the Piedmont physiographic province (Piedmont Upland Foothills physiographic subprovince) near the Eastern edge of the Blue Ridge where the Piedmont surface descends gently eastward from the Blue Ridge Mountains to Smith Mountain Lake.
According to Henika, in this physiographic province, gently rolling hills underlain by deeply weathers Precambrian metamorphic schist and granite, and gneiss characterize the geology of this area of the Eastern Blue Ridge geologic belt.
As a group we were able to walk along the creek bed and learn about the rocks, from the sedimentary rocks of the Atlantic Coastal Plain to the east often being pushed up to the harder more resilient metamorphic rock to the West.
My goal in taking this Virginia Master Naturalist course is to identify what I see, when I am out and about enjoying 35 State Parks, so they become a fount of knowledge.
Remember you are never too old to learn something new!
Folded and Faulted Sedimentary Rocks as explained by Geologist Bill Henika
- If you want to know more about the Virginia Master Naturalist program click here.
- Or learn more about this Blue Ridge Foothills and Lakes Chapter, goto their website.
Remember Virginia State Parks are all about Family, Friends and Fun!