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GEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY

2002 Annual Meeting

GANJ XIX Geology of the Delaware Water Gap Area

Friday, October 11 to Saturday October 12, 2002

The Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort, Shawnee-On-Delaware, Pennsylvania

Friday Afternoon and Evening

1:00  to 4:30 pm Registration

Oral Presentations 2:00 - 4:40 p.m.

2:00   Welcoming Remarks - Dana D’Amato, French and Parello Associates

2:20   Overview of the Geology of the Delaware Water Gap Area - Jack B. Epstein, U.S. Geological Survey

3:00   Trace Fossils of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area - Robert Metz, Kean University

3:20   Break

3:40   Paleontological Investigations of the New Jersey State Museum in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area - Shirley S. Albright and David C. Parris, New Jersey State Museum

4:00   Tocks Island and Other Proposed Delaware River Dams - David P. Harper

4:20   Copper Mines in the Delaware Water Gap Area - J. Mark Zdepski, JMZ Geology

4:40   Teacher’s Workshop - Rab Cika, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

5:40   Keynote Address - Frank J. Pazzaglia, Lehigh University

7:00   Banquet and Business Meeting

Saturday Field Trip

Saturday’s field trip was in and near the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.  The initial stop provided a view of the Delaware Water Gap itself from the Point of Gap Overlook in Pennsylvania.  Jack B. Epstein of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) provided an overview of the geology of the area.  Jack has had a long and distinguished career with the USGS and has done a great deal of mapping and other geologic work in this particular area.

The next stop, across the river in New Jersey, will be of note to those with an interest in economic geology and the history of the area.  Most are familiar with the famous zinc mines of Northwestern New Jersey.  However, prior to this, there were some attempts at copper mining in the Delaware River valley.  Evidence of these old mines still exists.  J. Mark Zdepski of JMZ Geology in Flemington, Don Monteverde of the New Jersey Geological Survey, and Donald Pace discussed geologic aspects of this stop.

Local history was also an aspect of the third stop.  David Harper discussed the geology and former proposal to build the Tocks Island Dam.  The plan to dam the Delaware River at this location generated much controversy in the 1960’s.  Rock cores for preliminary engineering studies will provide some of the background.  Robert Metz of Kean University showed trace fossils of the area using examples from the cores.  Most have seen many rock cores, but we think you’ll agree after this stop that you have not seen many of this size before. 

Don Monteverde discussed the regional geology of this part of the Ridge and Valley Province over lunch.

Our last stop, back in Pennsylvania, provided an opportunity to work off that lunch.  The USGS and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area have developed geologic guides to accompany some hiking trails in the area.  We visited the Arrow Island Trail to view some geomorphic features and shale/slate outcrops.

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