FIELD CONFERENCE OF PENNSYLVANIA GEOLOGISTS

This year’s field conference will be held from October 8-10 and focus on the geology of Ohiopyle State Park and surrounding areas in the Laurel Highlands with a special emphasis on geoheritage attributes of several sites. During the last half of the 18th century George Washington and other adventurers made some history while they ventured over the rock strata in this region. In 1877, J.J. Stevenson, was the first to notice that the Youghiogheny River at one time flowed across the narrow neck of what today is known today as the Ferncliff Peninsula (see photo above).

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In the FCOPG’s 89-year history it has visited Ohiopyle twice, but the last time was nearly 60 years ago. Since then the area has been made into a state park, and we’ve learned more about the geology and evolutionary history of its landscape. Topics to be discussed during the 2020 FCOPG include: Pleistocene weathering and erosion rates related to Lake Monongahela and knickpoint migration in its Youghiogheny tributary; weathering rates of Homewood sandstone on Laurel Ridge related to the formation of Turtlehead Rock Bog and the preserved ecological record; understanding the complexity of ground water movement in Mississippian Mauch Chunk and Burgoon strata to form caves and its impact on underground mining and springs; the Paleozoic stratigraphy and structural geology of the area; and also some unique geologic and culturally historic aspects of Pennsylvanian and Mississippian strata exposed at quarries, water falls, rail trails, ridgelines and caves.  The headquarters will be the Seven Springs Resort in Somerset County.