YOU TOTALLY ROCK, MARYLAND!

IGNEOUS ROCKS:
In Maryland, there are no opening volcanoes, therefore no extrusive igneous rocks. Deep inside
the earth, there is however magma, therefore intrusive igneous rocks do exist. Its also
important to note that tectonic processes drive the formation of igneous rocks.
How igneous rocks are formed in MD:
1.
Magma rises slowly and hardens
2.
Erosion of the Rock
3.
Plate tectonics move the land + rocks together
There are the paleozoic granitic igneous rocks (420-550 million years) and paleozoic basic
igneous rocks.
Name

Time Ago

Location

Diabase

181-230 million years

Harford, Mt. Cecil

Quartz Diorite

420-550 million years

Granite

420-550 million years

Gabbro

Paleozoic

Baltimore, Howard County,

and Harford County

Serpertive

Paleozoic

Sedimentary Rocks:
There are so many sedimentary rocks in Maryland! The most common is the quaternary
tertiary, the oldest is the cambrian, and the youngest is quaternary (by itself).Most are clastic
(made of fragments), a few are organic (fossils), and none are chemical (crystalline).

Examples of Clastic Rocks include:

Type/Time Period

Location

Quaternary (0-1 million years ago)

Dorchester, Wicomico, Worcester, Somerset

Tertiary (1-63 myrs)

Prince George's, Calvert, St. Marys

Cretaceous (63-135 myrs)

Upper Chesapeake, Anne Arundel

Triassic (181-230 myrs)

Upper left Frederick, left Montgomery

Mississippian (310-435 myrs)

Parts of Garrett ( right of Washington

County)

Devonian (345-405 myrs)

Middle of Garrett, Allegany (most of it)

Silurian (405-425 myrs)

Parts of Allegany

Ordovician (425-5020 myrs)

Middle of Washington County

Cambrian (500-600 myrs)

Left and right outline of Washington County,

and parts of Frederick

Organic rocks:
Permian (230-310 myrs)

Parts of Garrett

Pennsylvanian (230-310 myrs)

Fun Fact: Tectonic processes cause the formation of sedimentary basins and other sedimentary
environment!

Metamorphic Rocks:
There are both foliated and nonfoliated metamorphic rocks, along with both types of
metamorphisms: contact and regional.
Maryland has many of the basic metamorphic rocks except for Anthracite Coal, Hornfels and
Metaconglomerate.
Precambrian Metamorphic rocks come from...

1.
2.
3.
4.

South Mountain area and West Piedmont- in between Washington and Frederick
Western Piedmont- from Frederick up to Carroll County
Eastern Piedmont- from Montgomery to Howard, to Baltimore, all the way up to West
Harbord
Precambrian Basement Complex (1100 million years)- Southwest of Frederick, parts of
Howard and Baltimore.

DID YOU KNOW?

GEOLOGIC HISTORY
1.

Fossils

Background: Dinosaur fossils can be found in rocks located in Central maryland. These rocks
date way back to the Mesozoic Era, between the Triassic and Cretaceous Periods. These special
rocks are found in the Arundel Clay (Lower Cretaceous), the Severn and Mt. Laurel Formations
(Upper Cretaceous), and the Gettysburg Shale (Upper Triassic).
History: In 1859, Dr. Christopher Johnston was the first person to record dinosaur fossils in
Maryland. The first discovery was of teeth, and it was found in a Bladensburg iron mine.
Many different species of dinosaurs are thought to have existed in Maryland, including twelve
species of terrible lizards who wandered the area from the Late Triassic (228 million years
ago) to the Late Cretaceous (70 million years ago).
How: Fossils are created when bones, plants, shells, and other decay-resistant body parts of
land and sea creatures, are briskly buried in sediments, which then washed into low-lying
areas. These sediments eventually became fossilized.
Its important to remember that while not all fossils are petrified, the dinosaur fossils in
Maryland area. They have remained in the same place for millions of years until they were
revealed due to erosion or humans.
2.

Caves

Background: There are at least fifty three caves in Maryland, mostly in Western Maryland
(Allegany, Garrett, and Frederick Counties).
Uses: Scientists have discovered that a variety of insects and animals prefer living in caves and
making them their seasonal or permanent homes. Interestingly enough, it is said that native
human populations used these caves for shelter and religious ceremonies!

3.

Gold

Background: Gold can be found in rocks of the Piedmont Plateau, which is a belt of
metamorphic rocks extending from New York to South Carolina. Also, according to the
Maryland Journal in May, 1901, Many persons will be surprised to know that within easy
walking distance of the National Capital there are no less than a half-dozen gold mines in actual
operation. Prospecting is now a rather extensive industry along the banks of the Potomac, from
a point near Georgetown up the river, past Great Falls, a distance of perhaps ten miles. While
this quote might be outdated, and no mining is currently underway, Marylanders are still
hopeful to seek their fortunes in gold.