Geological map interpretation - Research Paper Example

Through history, the study of geographical and geological formation of the island defines most parts of Nova Scotia. The following paper expound on the rock formation, geological processes and interesting features that form the island. The analysis is based on geological maps and photographic maps of West Ironbound Island. The rock formation of the island depended on the features that are present. From the photographic maps of the shores of West Ironbound Island, Halifax Group of rocks are defined.

They interact with the upper larger group of Meguma rocks and divide into two major groups. These groups are Meguma Terrane and Avalon Terrane. The groups represent major continents that have been joined to form one large land mass. The Halifax group of rock bed is approximately 3600 meters deep. This layer overlay the Meguma Super group of rock. Turbidite rocks and metamorphosed rocks characterize the northern part of the island. Across the island, there are sedimentary rocks or metasediments with its thickness ranging between 5cm and 8 cm.

There are lithogies on the Halifax slate across the West Ironbound Island. These lithories are oval in shape and appear as structures deformed during the Carboniferous period. They have a thickness of 0.35 meters and a length of 0.75 meters. On the photographic maps, they are seen as circular moldings of layers of rocks. Multiple faulting and colliding of various continents is associated with West Ironbound Island. Various plates are noted colliding and crushing over each other. On the shores of the island, folding of Meguma Super group of rocks is seen.

The alignment of the folds shows where the force of folding originated. These folds present beautiful scenery and view from the adjacent land of Simpson. The deformations which occurred as glaciations, folding and faulting are associated with Acadian Orogenic compression events. The cleavages that appear in all localities dip with a 70 degrees to the south east of the island. The degree of dipping is evenly distributed in the whole of the island where cleavage is noted. This means that the compression force in Acadian Orogenic period was also evenly distributed.

On the geographical map, West Ironbound Island is located in the middle of the anticline. It falls within the Hinge line of the Anticline. West Ironbound Island is endowed with mineral deposits that have not been exploited. Igneous intrusions are evidence of low profile eruptions along the Meguma Super group layer. These intrusions leave deposits of quartz. Due to deformation in Acadian Orogeny era, cracks and fissures formed and accommodated quartz deposits. Quartz deposits are a source of iron and gold in some parts of the island.

These have been confirmed by geologists working on the vas Nova Scotia area. Asenopyrite is also associated with the area of the island. The exposed Halifax group of rocks on the island is composed of metalliferous hydrothermal stretch of quartz on the northern end. This stretch is not rich in gold but only iron pyrites. Glaciations’ is evident in the geological maps studied. The marine time province was covered with thick layers of ice in the last glacial period. The current shape of the marine time area was molded by the glacier.

Lose layers of rocks were eroded leaving behind a well polished top cover. This took place in the times of Mesozoic era. Glacial Till Drumlin is shown on different photographic maps in