Skip to main content
Geosciences LibreTexts

14.5: Lab Exercises (Part B and C)

  • Page ID
    5715
  • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    Materials

    Download the file “GA Geologic Cross Section N-S.gif” from your course website. This cross-section runs north to south through the state of Georgia showing the subsurface geology across the Valley and Ridge, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain physiographic provinces. This cross-section will be used to answer question 25-28. This cross-section was provided for use with permission from Geological Highway Map, Southeastern Region, American Association of Petroleum Geologists. Also, download the “Chart of Surface Time and Rock Units” legend that gives a key to the symbols and rock units included in the cross-section. We will examine the physiographic provinces of Georgia by examining a couple of Georgia’s State Parks.

     

    Part B – Georgia Provinces

    Cloudland Canyon State Park

    Cloudland Canyon State Park (Figure 14.16) is located in Dade County and was established as a park in 1938. Many of the roads and civil infrastructure within Dade County were built following the designation of this area as a state park in order to allow access to the park. Cloudland Canyon State Park has multiple waterfalls as well as some of the most scenic overlooks within Georgia, especially in autumn. Search for 34 50 44.57N 85 28 40.92W in google earth and zoom out to an eye altitude of 5,000 feet.

     

    19. Examine the walls of Cloudland Canyon, what type of rock makes up the rim of the canyon?

    a. Granite

    b. Shale

    c. Sandstone

    d. Gneiss

     

    20. Zoom out to an eye altitude of 20 miles and examine the valley 6 miles to the southeast (34 43 10.37N 85 24 55.74W at the same eye altitude). What major geologic structure can be seen in this valley?

    a. Normal Fault

    b. Dome

    c. Horizontal Fold

    d. Reverse Fault

    e. Plunging Fold

     

    21. Cloudland Canyon State Park is located in which of the following physiographic provinces?

    a. Blue Ridge

    b. Valley and Ridge

    c. Piedmont

    d. Coastal Plain

     

    High Falls State Park

    High Falls State Park (Figure 14.17) is a small park located in Butts County and was designated as a state park in 1966. This park, located between Macon and Atlanta, has the largest waterfalls in central Georgia and sits on the Fall Line. The Fall line is a line of waterfalls that are caused by differences in rock strength between two physiographic provinces. Search for 33 10 42.13N 84 01 01.11W zoom out to an eye altitude of 2,500 feet.

     

    22. Notice that the Towaliga River Flows south, based on the position of the waterfalls, the rocks upstream are __________ to weathering while the rocks downstream are________ to weathering.

    a. more resistant, less resistant

    b. less resistant, more resistant

     

    23. Which physiographic province is located upstream of these waterfalls?

    a. Blue Ridge

    b. Valley and Ridge

    c. Piedmont

    d. Coastal Plain

     

    24. Which physiographic province is located downstream of these waterfalls? 

    a. Blue Ridge

    b. Valley and Ridge

    c. Piedmont

    d. Coastal Plain

     

    Georgia North to South Cross-Section

    Reminder: the following questions are based on the cross-section and legend provided on your courses website.

     

    25. Examine the Cartersville Fault that is the boundary between the Valley and Ridge and Piedmont Geological Provinces. Which type of fault is the Cartersville Fault?

    a. Reverse

    b. Normal

    c. Strike-Slip

     

    26. Which of the following statements regarding the four major faults within the Piedmont are true?

    a. The faults are all reverse like the Cartersville Fault.

    b. The faults are all normal like the Cartersville Fault.

    c. The faults are all strike-slip like the Cartersville Fault.

    d. With one exception, the faults are all similar in type to the Cartersville Fault.

    e. With two exceptions, the faults are all similar in type to the Cartersville Fault.

     

    27. Which geologic province has abundant plutons?

    a. Valley and Ridge

    b. Piedmont

    c. Coastal Plain

     

    28. What is the dip direction of the sedimentary layers in the Coastal Plain Province in Peach County?

    a. North

    b. South

    c. East

    d. West

     

    Part C – Georgia’s Natural Resources

    Search for 33 18 32.95N 82 26 08.55W and zoom to an eye altitude of 8,000 feet.

    29. What natural resource is being mined in this area?

    a. Gold

    b. Granite

    c. Kaolin

    d. Coal

     

    30. This mine is located in which of the following physiographic province?

    a. Blue Ridge

    b. Valley and Ridge

    c. Piedmont

    d. Coastal Plain

     

    31. The mineral that was weathered to produce these large deposits likely originated from which of the following physiographic province?

    a. Blue Ridge

    b. Valley and Ridge

    c. Piedmont

    d. Coastal Plain

     

    Search for 33 27 11.53N 84 56 12.56W and zoom out to an eye altitude of 5,000 feet. To answer the following questions also refer to Figure 14.15.

     

    32. Rainfall in this forest would be part of which of the following Georgia River Basins?

    a. Flint

    b. Tallapoosa

    c. Coosa

    d. Ocmulgee

    e. Oconee

    f. Chattahoochee

    g. Suwanee

     

    33. Zoom out to at least an eye altitude of 15 miles and examine the major river in this drainage basin. What overall direction does this river flow?

    a. Northeast to Southwest

    b. Southwest to Northeast

    c. Northwest to Southeast

    d. Southeast to Northwest

     

    34. Follow this river downstream, into what body of water does this basin ultimately flow?

    a. Atlantic Ocean

    b. Lake Lanier

    c. Lake Martin

    d. Gulf of Mexico

     

    35. How many times has this river been dammed to produce reservoirs that are most likely used for drinking water, power, or recreation?

    a. Once

    b. Twice

    c. Three times

    d. Greater than three times


    This page titled 14.5: Lab Exercises (Part B and C) is shared under a CC BY-SA license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Deline, Harris & Tefend (GALILEO Open Learning Materials) .

    • Was this article helpful?