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The Geology of
Baxter State Park and Mt. Katahdin
by
Dabney W. Caldwell
Maine Geological Survey
Bulletin 12
Revised edition originally published in 1972
Online Edition, 2006
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A note about the bulletin
The Geology of Baxter State Park and Mt. Katahdin by Dabney W. Caldwell was originally published in 1968. A revised edition was reprinted in 1972 and reflects the geologic understanding of the time. The bulletin went out of print in the late 1970's. The 1972 revised version is reproduced on this website. Since 1972, interpretations of the geology of the area have changed somewhat, but the localities and features discussed in the bulletin will be of interest to anyone planning to visit the park or climb Mt. Katahdin.
Related links
Table of Contents
Introduction
Bedrock Geology
- Introduction
- Description and distribution of bedrock types
- Katahdin granite
- Traveler rhyolite
- Sedimentary rocks
- Fossils
- A recommended geologic field trip
- Geologic history of the Baxter State Park area
- Relative age and absolute age of the rocks
- Geologic time scale
- Older sedimentary rocks
- Traveler rhyolite
- Younger sedimentary rocks
- Katahdin granite
- Structural geology
- Summary of the bedrock geology
Glacial Geology
- Introduction
- Glaciers and how they form
- Results of glaciation in Baxter State Park
- Features produced by glacial erosion
- Striations
- U-shaped valleys
- Cirques
- Arêtes
- Roches moutonnées
- Features produced by glacial deposition
- Unstratified drift deposits (erratics, till, moraines, ground moraine)
- Stratified drift deposits (eskers, kames, kettles, kame terraces, drainage channels)
- Sequence of events inferred from the glacial geology of Baxter State Park
Miscellaneous geologic features in Baxter State Park
- Potholes
- Streams and rivers
- South Branch Pond delta
- Landslides
- Features related to climatic conditions
- Patterned ground
- Rock streams
- Artic plant and animal life
- Patterned spruce and fir growth
Acknowledgments
Glossary of geologic terms
Selected references dealing with the geology of the Mount Katahdin area
Color plates - Geologic maps and cross section
Last updated on January 11, 2008
