Geology of Delaware
The geology of Delaware consists of two physiographic provinces located in the
Coastal plain
The coastal plain in Delaware is by far the largest province, encompassing all of the state south of the
As recently as five million years ago, much of present-day Delaware was submerged as the floor of a shallow sea, the
Atlantic coastline
Delaware has a 25-mile (40 km) coastline that includes the communities of
Off shore there are two
Piedmont
The Piedmont Physiographic Region of Delaware only includes the hills of northern New Castle County, which rise to approximately 400 feet (120 m) above sea level. The Piedmont extends into neighboring Pennsylvania and Maryland.
The rocks exposed in the Piedmont are metamorphic and igneous rocks that are approximately half a billion to 1.2 billion years old. The only
Geologic features
- Cape Henlopen DGS Special Publication 26
- Red Clay Valley DGS Special Publication 20
- Pollack Farm Fossil Site DGS Special Publication 21
Geological formations of Delaware
Delaware Geological Survey
The Delaware Geological Survey is the primary source of information about Delaware geology and hydrogeology, such as surface and sub-surface geologic rock formations, extent and quality of aquifers, stream and groundwater monitoring, water supply, earthquakes, floods and droughts, coastal processes (tides, beach erosion), topographic mapping, state mapping and GIS coordination. DGS research and service activities are focused on five areas: (1) geology, (2) hydrology, (3) natural hazards, (4) the state geospatial framework, and (5) information dissemination. These efforts impact a wide variety of issues ranging from water resources, agriculture, environmental protection, and energy and mineral resources to economic development, land-use planning, emergency management, public health, and recreation.
References
- ^ Plank, M.O., and Schenck, W.S.,(1998). Delaware Piedmont Geology Including a guide to the rocks of Red Clay Valley: Delaware Geologic Survey SP-20, p 17
- ^ McKenna, K.K., and Ramsey, K.W. (2002). An Evaluation of Sand Resources, Atlantic Offshore, Delaware. Delaware Geologic Survey, Report of Investigation No. 63, Newark, Delaware.