THE ROCKS OF CALVIN COOLIDGE STATE FOREST PARK AND THE STORY THEY TELL

The rocks of Calvin Coolidge State Forest Park can be divided into four distinct units or formations[4]. The geologic map shows these formations as distinct bands, each band representing a different formation and its intersection with the ground surface. Each formation is, so to speak, stacked upon the next older with the oldest forming the western band and the youngest on the east. Remember that these metamorphic rock formations were originally sedimentary in nature and were deposited in a nearly horizontal position on the floor on an ancient sea. The fact that they are now tilted indicates that earth movements have taken place sometime after the sedimentary rocks hardened but before the present time.

The Pinney Hollow formation, the oldest formation of rocks seen in the Forest Park, was named for the excellent exposures of this formation in Pinney Hollow, a valley located along the western border of Coolidge Forest. You can readily see this formation, in its most typical development, along State Highway 100A about three-tenths of a mile south of the Park entrance road. Here, a historical monument which commemorates the naming of Pinney Hollow, is embedded in this formation (See photograph, Fig. 3). The lean-to, tent platform and picnic areas are situated on this formation and its rocks are easily observed. It is interesting to note that some of the Pinney Hollow rocks seen in these camping and picnicking spots differ from the typical rocks seen along State Highway 100A. In fact, some of the rocks which are dark and are classed as phyllites, can be confused with the overlying Ottauquechee rocks. A transition zone, several hundred feet wide, exists between these two formations and in which the two distinct rock types are intermingled. This “mixture” zone indicates that there was no break in the original deposition of these two formations and therefore the rock record during this time is complete.

EXPLANATION

TRAIL

SECONDARY ROAD (GOOD)

SECONDARY ROAD (POOR)

STATE ROUTE 100A

STATE PROPERTY LINE

CONTOUR LINE WITH ELEV.

STREAM

FOLIATION

{FORMATIONS}

MISSISQUOI FORMATION

BETHEL FORMATION

OTTAUQUECHEE FORMATION

PINNEY HOLLOW FORMATION

TOPOGRAPHY FROM U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MAP

GEOLOGY BY H. W. DODGE, JR.

The Pinney Hollow formation, which is an estimated 2,300 or more feet thick, is primarily composed of pale-green schist[5] with abundant white quartz layers and lenses sandwiched between the dominantly greenish colored rock. Originally these metamorphic rocks were sand, mud and sandy mud deposited on a relatively shallow sea floor. After burial these sediments hardened into thin layers and lenses of sandstone, shale, and sandy shale. Metamorphism has since converted many of the shale minerals into mica flakes and some of the sandy shales produced crystals of the mineral garnet. The pale-green color of the Pinney Hollow schist is caused by the presence of the green mica-like mineral, chlorite, which developed during the process of metamorphism.

No fossils have been found in the Pinney Hollow formation of this region: however, evidence from other parts of Vermont indicate that 13 these rocks are of Cambrian or perhaps Ordovician[6] age. This dates these rocks as approximately 500 million years old.

The Ottauquechee formation, next above the Pinney Hollow formation and therefore younger in age, was named for the Ottauquechee River along which this formation is well exposed and was first studied in detail. The Ottauquechee River is located just north of Calvin Coolidge State Forest Park where it flows through the towns of Bridgewater and Bridgewater Corners. You can see this formation along State Highway 100A approximately nine-tenths of a mile north of the Park entrance road. Here, the formation crops out on the west side of the road, or on your left if traveling toward Bridgewater Corners (See photograph, Fig. 4). A hike along the recently diamond-blazed Coolidge Forest trail, which leads from behind the Ranger’s cabin to the Picnic area, affords an almost continuous view of this formation. The highly resistant quartzite layers within the Ottauquechee formation are very conspicuous features along this trail as they form several ridges trending across the footpath.

The Ottauquechee formation, estimated to be 3,000 feet thick, contains rocks which contrast sharply with the underlying pale-green schists. The formation consists of alternating black phyllite and layers, up to several feet thick, of dark- to light-colored quartzite. The black carbonaceous color of the phyllites and dark quartzites indicate the presence of life, either animal or plant, during the original deposition of the sediments forming these rocks. The phyllite was, before metamorphism, a black shale which formed from black muds rich in organic matter. From studies done in areas where black muds are accumulating today it seems quite probable that the ocean waters of Ottauquechee time were of a restricted nature, that is to say, the waters were stagnant due to the lack of oxygen. Pinney Hollow shallow marine water conditions remained, but for some reason, such as a barrier of islands or shallow water sand bars, the circulation of ocean waters was hindered, leading to the accumulation of stagnant organic matter on the ocean bottom. This organic matter gives the Ottauquechee phyllite and some quartzites a dark to black color.

No fossils have been found in the Ottauquechee formation of the 14 Coolidge Forest Park, but, as with the Pinney Hollow formation, evidence from other areas indicates a Cambrian or perhaps Ordovician age for this formation.

Above the Ottauquechee rocks lie those of the Bethel formation. Approximately 2,000 feet thick, this formation is composed mainly of pale-green schist with interlaminated thin layers of white to greenish quartzite. The rock presents a distinct banded appearance and contains conspicuous crystals of garnet and the black mica, biotite. The best view of this schist is found along State Highway 100A and slightly over two miles north of the Park entrance road. The relatively steep rock cliffs which line the west side of this road are composed of the resistant Bethel formation. In the northeast portion of Coolidge Forest Park several excellent exposures of this formation in contact with the underlying Ottauquechee formation can be seen, but, to reach these areas you would have to leave the beaten trail. If you are interested in visiting these contact locations it would be best to consult the geologic map for approximate directions.

A

MISSISQUOI FORMATION

BETHEL FORMATION

OTTAUQUECHEE FORMATION

PINNEY HOLLOW FORMATION

B

C

SHELTER VILLAGE

SLACK HILL

The conditions under which the Bethel formation was originally deposited are similar to those which existed during Pinney Hollow time. Shale, sandy shale and thin-bedded sandstones formed under shallow water marine conditions; however, restriction with accompanied organic accumulation did not occur. This formation is thought to be of either Cambrian or Ordovician age.

The easternmost, and therefore youngest formation to be found in the Park area is known as the Missisquoi formation. This formation, which is only partially represented here, is made up of dark phyllite, light blue-gray schist with conspicuous crystals of garnet and biotite, and gray quartzite. The rocks of this formation can be seen along Broad Brook which flows north along the eastern border of Coolidge State Forest Park.

This formation is considered Ordovician in age with the conditions of deposition being quite similar to those which existed during Ottauquechee time. Once again the ocean waters were restricted and organic-rich black muds accumulated in quantity on the ocean floor.