Alabama naturalist students take a history lesson through local geology
I have rocks in my head: quartzite, mica, granite, phyllitic graphite, graphitic schist, garnets, talc, feldspar, hornblende, quartz, gold and more. Since beginning the Alabama Master Naturalist course and helping with the Smith Mountain Park signage project for the Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association (CRATA), I cannot stop thinking about the rocks and minerals that give Alabama its impressive geological diversity and have influenced and shaped its biodiversity.
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm%649?:42==J[ 2 76H @7 E96 “C@4<D” =:DE65 23@G6 2C6 >:?6C2=D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmp C@4< :D 4@>A@D65 @7 2E =62DE E9C66 >:?6C2=D W2=E9@F89 D@>6 86@=@8:DED 2C8F6 :E @?=J E2<6D EH@ E@ 7@C> 2 C@4<X] p >:?6C2= :D 2? :?@C82?:4 D@=:5 E92E @44FCD ?2EFC2==J 2?5 92D 2 DA64:7:4 496>:42= 4@>A@D:E:@? 2?5 4CJDE2==:?6 A2EE6C? @C DECF4EFC6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm%23=6 D2=E :D 2 72>:=:2C >:?6C2=]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmr@CF?5F> W7C@> H9:49 CF3:6D 2?5 D2AA9:C6D 2C6 >256X[ 76=5DA2C[ 82C?6E[ >:42 WE96 D9:?J[ 7=2<J DEF77X[ 9@C?3=6?56[ E2=4 WJ6D[ 323J A@H56CX[ BF2CEK 2?5 8@=5 2C6 2== >:?6C2=D E92E 42? 36 7@F?5 :? @FC 2C62] "F2CEK :D 4@>A@D65 @7 4CJDE2=:K65 D:=:4@? 5:@I:56[ H9:49 :D 2=D@ 7@F?5 :? D2?5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm"F2CEK:E6 :D 2 >6E2>@CA9:4 C@4<] |6E2>@CA9:4 C@4<D H6C6 @?46 D65:>6?E2CJ[ :8?6@FD @C @E96C >6E2>@CA9:4 C@4<D E92E H6C6 492?865 3J 6IA@DFC6 E@ 9:89 962E 2?5 AC6DDFC6] %96 s6G:=’D q24<3@?6 @7 $>:E9 |@F?E2:? :D 4@>A@D65 AC65@>:?2?E=J @7 BF2CEK:E6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmv6@=@8:DED 36=:6G6 E92E E96 BF2CEK:E6 H2D >6E2>@CA9@D65 7C@> E96 D2?5 @7 2 36249 E92E >2J 92G6 366? AC6D6?E >:==:@?D @7 J62CD 28@] %96 AC6D6?46 @7 @E96C >6E2>@CA9:4 C@4<D 2?5 :8?6@FD C@4<D :? E96 2C62 8:G6 86@=@8:DED 4=F6D E@ 9@H E9:D A2CE:4F=2C C68:@? @7 p=232>2 7@C>65]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmp=232>2 :D 5:G:565 :?E@ 7:G6 5:DE:?4E A9JD:@8C2A9:4 C68:@?D 32D65 FA@? E96 86@=@8:42= >2<6FA 2?5 =2?5D42A6 @7 E96 2C62] %96 !:65>@?E C68:@? 4@G6CD 2? 2C62 7C@> E96 %2==25682 |@F?E2:?D D@FE9 :?E@ t=>@C6 2?5 {66 r@F?E:6D] %2==2A@@D2[ r@@D2[ #2?5@=A9[ r=63FC?6[ r=2J 2?5 r92>36CD 4@F?E:6D 2=D@ 2C6 :? E96 !:65>@?E #68:@?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm%9:D 2C62 :D 42==65 E96 7@@E9:==D @7 E96 pAA2=249:2?D[ 2?5 !:65>@?E :D uC6?49 7@C “7@@E @7 E96 >@F?E2:?]” $@>6 b__ >:==:@? J62CD 28@[ E96 4@?E:?6?ED @7 p7C:42[ $@FE9 p>6C:42 2?5 }@CE9 p>6C:42 4@==:565 E@ >2<6 FA A2CE @7 E96 DFA6C4@?E:?6?E @7 !2?862] %96 4@==:D:@? @7 p7C:42 2?5 }@CE9 p>6C:42 =2DE65 >2?J >:==:@?D @7 J62CD 2?5 7@C>65 E96 D@FE96C? pAA2=249:2? |@F?E2:?D[ 2D C@4<D H6C6 DBF66K65 2?5 962E65 2?5 7@C465 FAH2C5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm%96 !:65>@?E :D 7FCE96C 3C@<6? 5@H? :?E@ ?@CE96C? 2?5 D@FE96C? 5:DEC:4ED 3642FD6 E96 C@4<D :? 6249 5:DEC:4E H6C6 6IA@D65 E@ 5:776C6?E 2>@F?ED @7 962E 2?5 AC6DDFC6 2?5[ E96C67@C6[ 2C6 5:776C6?E]kDA2? 4=2DDlQpAA=6\4@?G6CE65\DA246Qm k^DA2?m %96 C@4<D @7 E96 D@FE96C? 5:DEC:4E H6C6 6IA@D65 E@ E96 8C62E6DE 2>@F?E @7 962E 2?5 AC6DDFC6] %96 8C2?:E6 @FE4C@AD @7 p=6I2?56C r:EJ H6C6 7@C>65 H96? E96 AC6DDFC6 2?5 E6>A6C2EFC6D H6C6 D@ 9:89 E92E C@4<D >6=E65 2?5 C64CJDE2==:K65 :?E@ 8C2?:E6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmxE :D E9@F89E E92E 2 492:? @7 G@=42?:4 :D=2?5D @77 E96 4@2DE @7 p7C:42 H2D >@G:?8 E@H2C5 }@CE9 p>6C:42 2?5 H2D 42F89E FA :? E96 4@==:D:@?[ H9:49 H@F=5 6IA=2:? E96 AC6D6?46 @7 :8?6@FD C@4<D :? E96 2C62]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmx? 724E[ E96 2C62 @7 %2==2A@@D2 r@F?EJ :? H9:49 $>:E9 |@F?E2:? =:6D :D AFKK=:?8 E@ 86@=@8:DED 3642FD6 E96 C@4<D 7@F?5 E96C6 2C6 F?:BF6j E96C6 :D 6G:56?46 @7 7@C>6C >F5 7=2ED E@ E96 H6DE[ G@=42?:4 :D=2?5D E@ E96 62DE 2?5 36249 56A@D:ED @7 BF2CEK\5@>:?2E65 D2?5 :? E96 >:55=6[ H96C6 E96 s6G:=’D q24<3@?6 :D =@42E65 36EH66? E96 p32?52 u2F=E 2?5 E96 z2EJ rC66< u2F=E] p4E:G:EJ 2=@?8 E96D6 72F=E =:?6D 7@C>65 E96 s6G:=’D q24<3@?6 3J AFD9:?8 E96 C@4<D E@86E96C 2?5 FA]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm%96 @E96C C@4< EJA6D :? E96 2C62 2C6 A9J==:E6[ H9:49 :D 2 >6E2>@CA9:4 C@4< EJA6 E92E C2?86D 36EH66? D=2E6 2?5 D49:DE :? :ED 568C66 @7 >6E2>@CA9:D>[ 2?5 D49:DE] x8?6@FD C@4<D 42? 36 7@F?5 E@ E96 62DE @7 E96 z2EJ rC66< u2F=E[ H9:49 :D 6G:56?46 @7 >28>2 2?5 =2G2 D66A:?8 :?E@ 7C24EFC6D :? 6I:DE:?8 C@4< 2?5 4@@=:?8]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmp=E9@F89 :E :D 72D4:?2E:?8 E@ :>28:?6 4@?E:?6?ED 4@==:5:?8[ >@F?E2:?D 7@C>:?8[ G@=42?@6D 6IA=@5:?8 2?5 C@4<D >6=E:?8 2?5 492?8:?8[ :E :D 2=D@ 6I4:E:?8 E@ 8@ @FE 2?5 9F?E 7@C E96 C@4<D 2?5 >:?6C2=D E92E C6DF=E65 7C@> E96D6 24E:G:E:6D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm%2==2A@@D2 r@F?EJ H2D @?46 2 8@=5 >:?:?8 C68:@? H:E9 b_ 24E:G6 >:?6D] %96 >:?6D >@DE=J 92G6 42G65 :? ?@H @C H6C6 7=@@565 H96? |2CE:? s2> H2D 3F:=E] %96 76H >:?6D E92E C6>2:? 2C6 @? AC:G2E6 =2?5 2?5 ?@ =@?86C J:6=5 8@=5 @7 2?J H@CE9] !6@A=6 DE:== A2? 7@C 8@=5 :? E96 DEC62>D 2?5 4C66<D[ 3FE x 5@ ?@E E9:?< E96J 6IA64E E@ DEC:<6 :E C:49]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmx7 J@F <?@H H92E E@ =@@< 7@C[ J@F 42? DE:== A:4< FA 82C?6ED 2=@?8 E96 D9@C6 @7 E96 =2<6] (96? A@=:D965[ E96D6 >2<6 2 =@G6=J 86>DE@?6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm%96 E@A A:4EFC6 @? E96 724:?8 A286 D9@HD 2 4@?E24E A@:?E 36EH66? E96 s6G:=’D q24<3@?6 "F2CEK:E6 @? E96 C:89E[ 2?5 2 D49:DE @? E96 =67E] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmx7 J@F G:D:E $>:E9 |@F?E2:?[ J@F >2J ?@E:46 E96 =:496? E92E 8C@HD @? E96 C@4< DFC7246]kDA2? 4=2DDlQpAA=6\4@?G6CE65\DA246Qm k^DA2?m r6CE2:? EJA6D @7 =:496? 8C@H 2E 2 AC65:4E23=6 C2E6] v6@=@8:DED 42? >62DFC6 E96 5:2>6E6C @7 E96 =:496? 2?5 FD6 :E E@ 56E6C>:?6 9@H =@?8 E92E C@4< 7246 92D 366? 6IA@D65 E@ E96 DF?] %9:D :D 42==65 =:496?@>6ECJ]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm%96 9@=6D D66? :? E96 C@4<D @7 E96 s6G:=’D q24<3@?6 2C6 E96 C6DF=E @7 5:776C6?E:2= H62E96C:?8] "F2CEK:E6 :D G6CJ C6D:DE2?E E@ H62E96C:?8[ 2?5 E96 9@=6D D66? 2C6 H96C6 =6DD C6D:DE2?E C@4< H2D H62E96C65 5@H? 2?5 6C@565 2H2J]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm|:42 DE:== 72D4:?2E6D >6[ 2?5 >@C6 D@ ?@H E92E x 92G6 D66? E96 9F86 D966ED :E 7@C>D]kDA2? 4=2DDlQpAA=6\4@?G6CE65\DA246Qm k^DA2?m x H2D E@=5 E92E =2C86 A:646D @7 >:42 2C6 42==65 3@@<D 2?5 6249 :?5:G:5F2= E9:? D966E 2 A286]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm$@2ADE@?6 :D[ E@ AFE :E 9@?6DE=J[ C62==J 4@@=] xE :D 2 E2=4] $@2ADE@?6 :D D@7E 6?@F89 E@ 36 42CG65 2?5 D4F=AE65 3FE :D 962E C6D:DE2?E] %96 }2E:G6 p>6C:42?D FD65 :E E@ >2<6 DE2EF6D 2?5 4@@<H2C6] %@52J :E :D FD65 7@C 564@C2E:G6 4@F?E6CE@AD] xE 92D 2 D@2AJ 766= H96? CF3365 2?5 42? 36 D4C2E4965 62D:=J H:E9 2 7:?86C?2:=] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmx 92G6 @?=J D4C2E4965 E96 DFC7246 @7 E96 DF3;64E @7 E96 86@=@8J @7 p=232>2 2?5 E96 =@42= 2C62[ DA64:7:42==J[ 3FE x 5:5 H2C? J@F 7C@> E96 @FED6E E92E x 92G6 C@4<D :? >J 9625] x 92G6 @?=J C646?E=J 7:?:D965 E96 p=232>2 |2DE6C }2EFC2=:DE 4@FCD6 2?5 92G6 @?=J 366? DEF5J:?8 E96 86@=@8:42= 9:DE@CJ @7 p=232>2 2?5 E96 86@=@8J @7 $>:E9 |@F?E2:? 7@C 2 76H >@?E9D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmx7 J@F 2C6 :?E6C6DE65 :? =62C?:?8 >@C6 23@FE p=232>2’D 86@=@8:42= 5:G6CD:EJ 2?5^@C 9@H :E 42>6 E@ 36[ x C64@>>6?5 C625:?8 k6>m$@FE96C? (@?56Ck^6>m 3J #] $4@EE sF?42?] (9:=6 4@?5F4E:?8 @?=:?6 C6D62C49 @? E96 C@4<D 2?5 >:?6C2=D @7 %2==2A@@D2 r@F?EJ[ DA64:7:42==J E96 s6G:=’D q24<3@?6[ x DEF>3=65 24C@DD D6G6C2= A2A6CD 2?5 C6A@CED 4@?46C?:?8 E96 qC6G2C5 +@?6 E92E H6C6 AF3=:D965 3J 8C25F2E6 DEF56?ED 2?5 AC@76DD@CD @7 pF3FC? &?:G6CD:EJ] %96J 2C6 E649?:42= 3FE :?E6C6DE:?8] %96 v6@=@8:42= $FCG6J @7 p=232>2 92D 2 AF3=:42E:@? 6?E:E=65 k6>mp=232>2’D #@4<D 2?5 |:?6C2=Di p vF:563@@< 7@C p=232>2 #@4<9@F?5Dk^6>m[ 7@C E9@D6 H9@ H2?E E@ 8@ C@4< 9F?E:?8]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmx A=2? E@ 4@?E:?F6 E@ AFE E:?J D65:>6?ED @7 :?7@C>2E:@? :?E@ >J 3C2:? 2?5 9@A6 E96J H:== >6E2>@CA9@D6 :?E@ 8C62E <?@H=6586 2?5 F?56CDE2?5:?8 @7 9@H E9:?8D 42>6 E@ 36[ 2D E96J 2C6 :? 362FE:7F= p=232>2]k^DA2?mk^Am