Last updated: May 12, 2021
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NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Cowpens National Battlefield, South Carolina
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
[Site Under Development]
Hundreds of millions of years before armies from two continents collided at Cowpens, whole continents collided creating a mountain range (the ancient Appalachians) that rivaled today's Himalayas. The rocks within the park originally formed kilometers beneath the surface. Scores of millions of years of erosion exposed those rocks at the surface where they now tell the story of those epic Paleozoic collisions and crafted the battlefield landscape.
Geologic Features and Processes
Visible geologic features and active processes within the park include the following:
- Fluvial Features, Processes, and Issues
- Ravine Erosion
- Old Scruggs Lake and Fossil Pollen Record
- Restoration of 1781-era Wetlands, Green River Road, and Monuments
- Bedrock Outcrops
- Geologic Hazards (Earthquakes)
- Faults and Folds
Regional Geology
Cowpens National Battlefield is a part of the Piedmont Physiographic Province and shares its geologic history and some characteristic geologic formations with a region that extends well beyond park boundaries.
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 2795. To search for additional information, visit the Data Store.
A NPS Soil Resources Inventory project has been completed for Cowpens National Battlefield and can be found on the NPS Data Store.
Source: Data Store Saved Search 2839. To search for additional information, visit the Data Store.
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Cowpens National Battlefield
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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.For more information on the NPS Geodiversity Atlas, contact us.