| A generalized drawing of the geology of the area discussed for this lab is illustrated below (and is also found in study guide). |
Figure 1. Geologic cross-section, State College, PA
| In this illustration the "bench" formed as a result of the differential weathering of the sandstone and shale formations, and the high ridge formed by the resistant Tuscarora sandstone is shown to the southeast of the map (below Tussey Mountain).
On this field trip we will travel from the Nittany Valley to the top of Bald Eagle Mountain and back. Some sites we will discuss include: (click on the image to enlarge the photo) |
 Nittany Valley |
 Valley view |
 Living Filter |
 More Living Filter |
 Nittany Valley view |
 Another Nittany Valley view |  View from Skytop | |
 Bald Eagle Valley- Allegheny Front |
 Toftrees Resort |
Web sites of interest
Lab Study Questions
Study Questions
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1. What is a living filter and where is one currently operating? 2. What kinds of sites and soils are recommended for use as living filters? (describe soil and land characteristics) what are the benefits of applying treated sewage effluent to farm and forest lands over conventional disposal methods? Are there any drawbacks to this system? 3. When observing road cuts of bedrock, there is a major difference between the Appalachian Plateau and the Ridge and Valley Province. What is it? 4. What is Karst Topography? 5. How was Mt. Nittany formed? 6. Why is the Toftrees area a better example of good land use planning than Park Forest Village? (Give three reasons or examples) 7. What is differential weathering? Illustrate or describe how it works on exposed, folded bedrock. Study Question Answers1. A living filter (land treatment system) is an alternative method for handling sewage (tertiary treatment) that uses a soil/plant system to treat effluent. Penn State has a living filter in operation. It is located near the deer pens, behind Toftrees.2. Characteristics include a deep, well drained soil with adequate cation exchange capacity (CEC) on a relatively level slope. Benefits include removal of wastewater, recharge of groundwater, fertilizer value for crops, reclamation of strip mine spoils. Drawbacks include potential groundwater and stream pollution, sinkhole formation, and public objections to waste water. 3. Valley and Ridge bedrock is much more folded than is the bedrock in the appalachian Plateau. 4. Karst topography is irregular, pitted topography characterized by caves, sinkholes, disappearing streams and springs. It is caused by water solution of underlying limestone and/or dolomite. 5. Mt. Nittany, once a valley, is made up of sandstone over folded shale and limestone bedrock. Over time, the less resistant shale and limestone have weathered faster, leaving this sandstone capped mountain at a relatively higher elevation. 6. Evidence that the Toftrees area is a better example of good land use planning than Park Forest Village includes the roads on the contour, greater amount of greenspace, more greenspace between buildings, better use of marginal land. 7. Less resistant rocks such as limestone and shale weather (by water) at a greater rate than more resistant rocks such as sandstone. As a result, with folded bedrock, the more resistant rocks remain and cap the mountains with the surrounding less resistant bedrock forming the valleys. (In some cases in the Valley and Ridge Province, an inverted topography with synclinal mountains and anticlinal valleys is formed as illustrated in figure 4 of your study guide. |
Exam Questions from Labs
Example Exam questions from Lab
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1. The Ridge and Valley Provice of Pennsylvania is a result of the erosion resistance of the ______________________ ridges. a. shale b. sandstone c. limestone d. all of the above e. none of the above 2. Which of the following is not an example of a parent material in the "Nittany Valley" area? a. alluvium b. glacial till c. shal d. limestone residuum e. sandstone residuum 3. Which of the following sites and/or soils is suitable for a living filter assuming allother factors are acceptable? a. an excessively well-drained soil b. a soil located next to a stream c. a silt loam soil d. a steeply-sloping site e. a shallow soil |
Click here for the Answers to these questions.
This document last modified on September 17, 2003
For information about this page contact Kate Butler at: katebutler@psu.edu
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