MAP OF THE APPALACHIANS VS THE ROCKIES

This map compares rock formations of the Appalachian mountains versus the Rocky mountains. Each points explains the geology of the rock.

As you scroll through this map, you can interact with each map to understand where the point is located relative to the United States.

The Appalachian Mountains are the oldest mountain range in North America that extend roughly 2,000 miles from Newfoundland to Alabama. The highest peak is Mount Mitchell in North Carolina and it stands at 6,648ft. These mountains formed 480 million years ago by continental collisions which caused volcanic activity and mountain building. They are much more eroded than the Rockies which gives them the more rolling hill characteristic.

This point located in the upper northeast region of the Appalachians is Green Mountain Quartzite in Vermont. It is part of very resistant Precambrian rock (super old!) with metamorphic gneiss

The point located just north of the 39 degree latitude line is Catoctin Mountain Volcanic Rock in Maryland. These rocks here are basalts, rhyolites and volcanic rocks that are of Precambrian age (super old!) that formed during the mountain building collision of the Appalachians.

The point located north of the 37 degree latitude line is located in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. It is roughly 1.1-1.8 billion year old metamorphic gneiss! Wow!

This point is the famous Chimney Rock located in North Carolina just north of the 35 degree latitude line. It is a granite formation that is over 500ft tall!

This point represents Marble Hill Georgia which is the marble capitol of Georgia and the Appalachians have some of the highest quality marble deposits in the United States!

I am now explaining the Rocky Mountains which is the highest mountain range in North America and they extend from Alaska to New Mexico for roughly 3,000 miles. There are over 50 peaks in the Rockies that are over 14,000ft tall. Tectonic plate activity uplifted the Rockies around 100 million years ago making them much younger and far less eroded than the Appalachians which explains their sharp jagged characteristic. Mount Elbert is the highest peak resting at 14,439ft.

This northern most point is Beaver's Head Rock in Montana. It was named by the Lewis and Clark expedition because they thought it resembled a beaver's head! It is mostly composed of limestone from a shallow sea that was present 350 million years ago.

The point located just north of the 41 degree latitude line is the Uinta Mountains in Utah. These rocks are reddish quartzite and sandstones that are metamorphosed sedimentary rocks deposited in a shallow marine basin that existed 700 million years ago.

The point located nearby Denver represents Pike's Peak granite that is 1 billion years old. It is known for it's granitic pegmatites which are very similar to granite except the crystals embedded in it are much larger in size.

The two points in the southwestern region of Colorado represent the San Juan Mountains. This is home to the Colorado Mineral Belt and is a highly eroded outcrop of volcanic ash from the Oligocene epoch which is relatively young! Hydrothermal fluids here carried gold and silver which was a primary mine location during the Gold Rush. Surrounding rock in this region is the Yule Marble outcrop that is 99.5% pure calcite (Truly amazing!). This pure marble was used to make the Lincoln Memorial.

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