upper shales
lower dolomite
Haw Ridge is part of East Tennessee's valley and ridge topography.
The region is characterized by elongated ridges running in a NE-SW
direction.
The ridges were formed during a mountain building episode about 250
million years ago.
The tops of ridges in Haw Ridge Park reach 1145' (high point
at Post 14
36.00213 -84.17472).
The full pool
level of Melton lake is 795'.
A thrust fault runs along the northwest base of Haw Ridge where the
older rocks were pushed up and over the younger rock formations.
The strata are angled up in a SE to NW direction and are particularly
evident in the northwest corner of Haw Ridge park, where
the underlying limestone (dolomite) is exposed.
The figure illustrates the major geologic formations of Haw Ridge. The lower southern part of the peninsula is shale (and red clay) of the Conasauga group (Ccl). The southeastern face of the ridge is part of the Rome Formation (Cr), shale and sandstone. The northwest face sits atop the limestone of the Chickamauga Group (Och). The northern section of the V trail exposes these latter two formations.
upper shales
lower dolomite
In the limestone outcroppings there are various fossils of ancient
sea animals (gastropods, brachiopods). See Kris Lights
photos (toward bottom of list) and
here
Related information
Haw Ridge Park
mountain biking (maps and trail info)
Haw Ridge Park
Canoe Trail
Haw Ridge Park geocaches
Friends of Haw Ridge
Tennessee geology
Tennessee landforms