Regional Geology OverviewBedrock of

New York, New Jersey, & Puerto Rico

EPA Region II Fractured Rock Training

January 14, 2014Pierre Lacombe

Regional Geology Overview 2

State/Regional Geologic Maps

Regional time units maps eg. Silurian, Triassic

Regional rock/time units maps eg. Sandstone, gneiss

Site Hydrogeologic Maps and Sections• Show rock strata• Show geophysical strata• Show weathering induce hydorgeologic changes

Regional Geology Overview 3

Regional Geology Overview 4

Adirondack MtnMetamorphic (0 NPL)

Allegheny Plateau and Catskill MountainsDevonian (25 NPL)

Lake Ontario LowlandsSilurian (25 NPL)

Saint Lawrence Champlain LowlandsCambrian to Silurian (6 NPL)

Hudson LowlandsTaconic MtsCambrian to Silurian

(12 NPL)

Highlands Metamorphic (12 NPL)

Geology in Random Order

Regional Geology Overview 5

Regional Geology Overview 6

New Jersey 3 Fractured Bedrock Physiographic Provinces

Time Stratigraphic UnitsPrecambrian to JurassicEPA NPL SitesValley and Ridge 0Highlands 13Piedmont 50+

Ringwood

Fair Lawn

NAWC

Regional Geology

Regional Geology Overview 8

Glacial Cover

Glacial CoverRegional GeologyBedrock Geology hidden by glacial cover and urban cover

Regional Geology Overview 9

North Sedimentary (X NPL)

CentralSedimentary, Igneous (X NPL)

South Sedimentary (X NPL)

16 NPL Sites

Regional Geology Overview 10

Major NJ NY PR Rock Types

Sedimentary • Shale• Siltstone• Sandstone• Conglomerate• Limestone• Many more

Metamorphic • Gneiss• Schist• Slate• Marble• Many more

Igneous• Granite• Basalt• Diabase• Anorthosite• Many more

Most time are rock formations or units are made out of interlayered strata or intercalated masses the above rock types

Regional Geology Overview 11

ERA Period Epochs  NY and NJ Bedrocks PR Rocks  

Cenozoic

QuaternaryHolocene

noneCarbonates

 Pleistocene  

Tertiary

Pliocene  Miocene  Oligocene  Eocene

Volcanic & Plutonic Rocks

 Paleocene  

Mesozoic

Cretaceous   none  

Jurassic   Palasades and Wasatch Mt  

Triassic   Newark Basin  

Paleozoic

Permian   none  Pennsylvanian   western Allegheny

Plateau nearly none 

Mississippian   

Devonian   Allegheny Plateau & Catskill Mtns

NJ Valley and

Ridge

Silurian   Hudson lowlands & Taconic mountain Lake Ontario &

Champlain Lowlands

Ordovician  Cambrian  

Pre-Cambria

n

Proterozoic   Adirondacks MTS NY Highlands  

Archean   none   

Time Units Provence

Regional Geology Overview 12

State Geologic maps are: Gross scale Geologic Time/Group maps

County and Local geologic maps are Medium scale Geologic Formation maps

Site maps should be: Fine scale Rock strata maps of many types

Summary