Article • Natural History in the National Capital Area

National Capital Area Natural History - Geology

National Capital Parks-East


Geological Collections

Geological specimens include rocks, minerals, surface process samples, and soils. These specimens document the presence of geological materials, their mineral composition, structure and texture, and the processes that created them.

Rocks and Minerals

Mineral and rock collections from Rock Creek Park and Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park include aplite (quartz and feldspar), galena, lead sulfide, gold, garnet, mica schist, ilmenite (a titanium-iron oxide mineral that is weakly magnetic), hematite (iron(III) oxide), quartz, rose quartz, and granite.

Black and white photograph of Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, Conococheague Creek Aqueduct
Maryland Mining Company

Canals constructed along the Potomac River were lifelines for people living along the Potomac River from 1831-1924.

Geology
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Geology

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National Capital Area National History Collections - Geology

Part of a series of articles titled Natural History in the National Capital Area.

Last updated: May 23, 2023