Austin Glen Formation Research Paper

The Austin Glen formation, which may be found at the Johnson Iorio Memorial Park, encompasses an abundance of clastic sedimentary rocks. More specifically, thin black shale and thick graywacke compose this formation. The thin black shale may be described as fine grained and its color derives from lack of oxidation. This indicates the rock formed in deep ocean conditions. The shale layers are thin, and are approximately two to three centimeters wide. On the other hand, the graywacke shale, which is about fifteen centimeters, is thicker than the black shale. The graywacke is a sandstone and is coarse grained. The black shale and graywacke alternate between layers due to turbidite deposits. In other words, the larger grains are deposited
The Martinsburg formation is older, while the Shawangunk formation is the younger formation. For this reason the Martinsburg formation was on the bottom, or underneath the other formation. The principal of superposition may be applied to this ridge. Furthermore, the Martinsburg includes clastic sedimentary rocks, like the Austin Glen formation. The layers alternate between shale and graywacke once again. However, here there is more shale then there is graywacke. The black shale is in hundreds of small breakable pieces, while pieces of the graywacke are almost brown due to weathering. The similarities between the formations allow us to date them at approximately the same age. The Martinsburg formation formed in the Middle Ordovician period as well. The layers here are on an angle. The strike direction is north to south, and the dip direction is northwest. On the other hand, the Shawangunk formation consists of quartz conglomerate. This rock may be described as almost white, or a tan color, a coarse grain size, and the pebbles in the rocks are curved, or sub-rounded. In addition, the dominant mineral is quartz, there is no visible cleavage, and the width of the approximate horizontal layers are huge meter-sized thickness. This formation formed in the Upper Silurian period, or approximately 420 to 425 million years