Last updated: July 3, 2024
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NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina and Tennessee
Geodiversity refers to the full variety of natural geologic (rocks, minerals, sediments, fossils, landforms, and physical processes) and soil resources and processes that occur in the park. A product of the Geologic Resources Inventory, the NPS Geodiversity Atlas delivers information in support of education, Geoconservation, and integrated management of living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components of the ecosystem.
Introduction
Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM) is situated in the southern Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee (Blount, Cocke, and Sevier Counties) and North Carolina (Haywood and Swain Counties). The crest of the Great Smoky Mountains forms the North Carolina–Tennessee boundary and bisects the park from northeast to southwest in an unbroken mountain chain that rises more than 1,500 m (5,000 ft) for more than 58 km (36 mi) (Thornberry-Ehrlich 2008). Established on May 22, 1926, GRSM encompasses 211,419 hectares (522,427 acres) and preserves an exquisite collection of plants, animals, and geologic structures (Anderson 2017). The park was designated a Biosphere Reserve in 1976 and a World Heritage Site in 1983.
Geologic Setting
The geology of Great Smoky Mountains National Park consists predominantly of sedimentary rocks that span a wide range of geologic time from the Neoproterozoic Era (1,000–539 million years ago) to the Mississippian (359– 323 million years ago). Some of the oldest rocks of the park are metamorphic and igneous units that are more than one billion years old and date to the Mesoproterozoic Era. Rocks of GRSM preserve ancient depositional environments and were subsequently uplifted and modified by multiple tectonic episodes that include the Grenville, Taconic, Acadian, and Appalachian orogenies. The Great Smoky Mountains formed approximately 300–200 million years ago and contain geologic units that represent a transitional deformation style associated with different provinces of the Appalachian Mountains. The Great Smoky Mountains contain mostly rocks of the Blue Ridge Province (as part of the Blue Ridge–Piedmont crystalline thrust sheet; Hatcher 1987), in addition to some sedimentary rocks of the Valley and Ridge Province (Thornberry-Ehrlich 2008).
Paleontological Resources
All NPS fossil resources are protected under the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-11, Title VI, Subtitle D; 16 U.S.C. §§ 470aaa - 470aaa-11).
Cave and Karst
All NPS cave resources are protected under the the Federal Cave Resources Protection Act of 1988 (FCRPA)(16 U.S.C. § 4301 et seq.).
Abandoned Mineral Lands
NPS AML sites can be important cultural resources and habitat, but many pose risks to park visitors and wildlife, and degrade water quality, park landscapes, and physical and biological resources. Be safe near AML sites—Stay Out and Stay Alive!
Regional Geology
Great Smoky Mountains is a part of the Blue Ridge Physiographic Province and shares its geologic history and some characteristic geologic formations with a region that extends well beyond park boundaries.
Maps and Reports
The Geologic Resources Inventory produces digital geologic maps and reports for more than 270 natural resource parks. The products listed below are currently available for this park, check back often for updates as many maps, reports, and posters are still in progress.
- Scoping summaries are records of scoping meetings where NPS staff and local geologists determined the park’s geologic mapping plan and what content should be included in the report.
- Digital geologic maps include files for viewing in GIS software, a guide to using the data, and a document with ancillary map information. Newer products also include data viewable in Google Earth and online map services.
- Reports use the maps to discuss the park’s setting and significance, notable geologic features and processes, geologic resource management issues, and geologic history.
- Posters are a static view of the GIS data in PDF format. Newer posters include aerial imagery or shaded relief and other park information. They are also included with the reports.
- Projects list basic information about the program and all products available for a park.
Source: Data Store Saved Search 2889. To search for additional information, visit the Data Store.
A NPS Soil Resources Inventory project has been completed for Great Smoky Mountains National Park and can be found on the NPS Data Store.
Source: Data Store Saved Search 2960. To search for additional information, visit the Data Store.
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National Park Service Geodiversity Atlas
The servicewide Geodiversity Atlas provides information on geoheritage and geodiversity resources and values within the National Park System. This information supports science-based geoconservation and interpretation in the NPS, as well as STEM education in schools, museums, and field camps. The NPS Geologic Resources Division and many parks work with National and International geoconservation communities to ensure that NPS abiotic resources are managed using the highest standards and best practices available.