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[[File:Physiographic provinces of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Geological Survey, 4th ser., Map 13, Pennsylvania Geological Survey of the PennDepCons&NatRes.jpg|thumb|The location of the Reading Prong (shown in dark pink) in [[Pennsylvania]]]]
The '''Reading Prong''' is a [[physiographic]] [[Geologic province|subprovince]] of the [[New England Uplands]] section of the [[New England province]] of the [[Appalachian Highlands]]. The prong consists of [[mountain]]s made up of crystalline [[metamorphic rock]].
The '''Reading Prong''' is a [[physiographic]] [[Geologic province|subprovince]] of the [[New England Uplands]] section of the [[New England province]] of the [[Appalachian Mountains|Appalachian Highlands]]. The prong consists of [[mountain]]s made up of crystalline [[metamorphic rock]].


==Location==
==Location==
The Reading Prong stretches from near [[Reading, Pennsylvania|Reading]], [[Pennsylvania]], through northern [[New Jersey]] and southern [[New York]], reaching its northern terminus in [[Connecticut]].<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=iuBAAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA631&lpg=PA631&dq=%22Reading+Prong%22+%22New+Jersey%22&source=web&ots=A4YvELTSpM&sig=bhT1XNJ6xEapThnjGUypVmQXLIU&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result#PPA630,M1 Forest Physiography]</ref> In Pennsylvania, the Reading Prong is simply referred to as such, while in New Jersey and New York, the mountains of the subprovince are referred to as the [[New York-New Jersey Highlands]]. Near the Hudson Valley, the term [[Hudson Highlands]] is often used. The portion of the prong that enters Connecticut is known as the [[Housatonic Highlands]].
The Reading Prong stretches from near [[Reading, Pennsylvania]], through the [[Lehigh Valley]] in eastern [[Pennsylvania]] northern [[New Jersey]] and into southern [[New York (state)|New York]]. It reaches its northern terminus in [[Connecticut]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=iuBAAAAAIAAJ&dq=%22Reading+Prong%22+%22New+Jersey%22&pg=PA630 Forest Physiography]</ref>
In Pennsylvania, the Reading Prong is referred to as [[South Mountain (Eastern Pennsylvania)|South Mountain]] while in New Jersey and New York the mountains of the subprovince are referred to as the [[New York – New Jersey Highlands]]. Near the [[Hudson Valley]], the term [[Hudson Highlands]] is often used. The portion of the prong that enters Connecticut is known as the [[Housatonic River|Housatonic Highlands]].


==Relation to other divisions of the New England Uplands==
==Relation to other divisions of the New England Uplands==
In addition to the Reading Prong, there are two additional subsections of the New England Uplands. A prong of the same rock belt extends from the Hudson Highlands south to New York City along the Hudson River. This region is often referred to as the [[Manhattan Prong]]. The [[Staten Island Sepentinite]] is also a southward extension of the New England Uplands.<ref>[http://training.fws.gov/library/pubs5/web_link/text/geolsect.htm Geomorphic Provinces and Sections of the New York Bight Watershed]</ref>
There are two subsections of the New England Uplands in addition to the Reading Prong. A prong of the same rock belt extends from the Hudson Highlands south to [[New York City]] along the [[Hudson River]]. This region is often referred to as the [[Manhattan Prong]]. [[Staten Island Serpentinite]] is a southward extension of the New England Uplands.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://training.fws.gov/library/pubs5/web_link/text/geolsect.htm |title=Geomorphic Provinces and Sections of the New York Bight Watershed |access-date=2008-08-01 |archive-date=2016-12-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228052711/https://training.fws.gov/library/pubs5/web_link/text/geolsect.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>


==Geology==
==Geology==
The Reading Prong is part of the [[Precambrian]] basement which is discontinuously exposed in the north-central Appalachians. The rocks that make up the prong consist of diverse [[gneiss]]es.<ref>[http://petrology.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/2/325 Metamorphic History of the Northeastern Reading Prong]</ref> The New England Province and the [[Blue Ridge Mountains|Blue Ridge province]] share many geological similarities, and some experts consider the Reading Prong merely a continuation of the [[Blue Ridge Mountains]] which reach their northern terminus at [[South Mountain (Maryland and Pennsylvania)|South Mountain]] near [[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania]], Pennsylvania. In the gap between the Blue Ridge and the Reading Province, the two mountainous regions descend into the Appalachian [[piedmont]]. Together, the Blue Ridge province and the New England province are often referred to as the [[Crystalline Appalachians]]. Rocks of the Reading Prong are characterized by elevated concentrations of [[Uranium]]. Decay of this Uranium produces gaseous [[Radon]], a potentially hazardous source of indoor contamination in structures constructed on the prong.<ref>[http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:gA1Ik_bPTQ0J:njedl.rutgers.edu/njdlib/downloadStat.cfm%3Frecord_id%3D417%26docType%3Dpdf+%22Housatonic+Highlands%22+%22Reading+Prong%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=8&gl=us&client=firefox-a Critical Geologic Features-Allamuchy Township]</ref>
The Reading Prong is part of the [[Precambrian]] basement which is discontinuously exposed in the north-central Appalachians. The rocks that make up the prong consist of diverse [[gneiss]]es.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090331065011/http://petrology.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/2/325 Metamorphic History of the Northeastern Reading Prong]</ref> The New England Province and the [[Blue Ridge Mountains|Blue Ridge province]] share many geological similarities, and some experts consider the Reading Prong merely a continuation of the [[Blue Ridge Mountains]], which reach their northern terminus at [[South Mountain (Maryland and Pennsylvania)|South Mountain]] near [[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania]].
In the gap between the Blue Ridge and the Reading Province, the two mountainous regions descend into the Appalachian [[Piedmont (United States)|Piedmont]]. Together, the Blue Ridge province and the New England province are often referred to as the Crystalline Appalachians. Rocks of the Reading Prong are characterized by elevated concentrations of [[uranium]], the decay of which produces gaseous [[radon]], a potentially hazardous source of indoor contamination in structures constructed on the prong.<ref>[http://njedl.rutgers.edu/njdlib/downloadStat.cfm?record_id=417&docType=pdf Critical Geologic Features-Allamuchy Township]{{dead link|date=February 2024|bot=medic}}</ref>


==Mountains of the Reading Prong==
==Mountains of the Reading Prong==
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*[[North Sugarloaf]]
*[[North Sugarloaf]]
*[[Breakneck Ridge]]
*[[Breakneck Ridge]]
*[[Bull Hill]] aka Mt. Taurus
*[[Bull Hill]], aka Mt. Taurus
*[[South Redoubt and North Redoubt]]
*[[South Redoubt]] and [[North Redoubt]]
*[[Sugarloaf Hill (Hudson Highlands)|Sugarloaf Hill]]
*[[Sugarloaf Hill (Hudson Highlands)|Sugarloaf Hill]]
*[[White Rock]]
*[[White Rock (Hudson Highlands)|White Rock]]
*[[Canada Hill]]
*[[Canada Hill]]
*[[Anthony's Nose (Westchester)|Anthony's Nose]]
*[[Anthony's Nose (Westchester)|Anthony's Nose]]


===West Hudson Higlands (north to south)===
===West Hudson Highlands (north to south)===
*[[Storm King Mountain (New York)|Storm King Mountain]]
*[[Storm King Mountain (New York)|Storm King Mountain]]
*[[Crow's Nest (Hudson Highlands)|Crow's Nest]]
*[[Crow's Nest (New York)|Crow's Nest]]
*[[Popolopen|Popolopen Torne]]
*[[Popolopen|Popolopen Torne]]
*[[Bear Mountain (Hudson Highlands)|Bear Mountain]]
*[[Bear Mountain (Hudson Highlands)|Bear Mountain]]
*[[West Mountain]]
*[[West Mountain (Hudson Highlands)|West Mountain]]
*[[Bald Mountain]]
*[[Bald Mountain (Hudson Highlands)|Bald Mountain]]
*[[Dunderberg Mountain]]
*[[Dunderberg Mountain]]


Line 39: Line 44:
{{Expand list|date=August 2008}}
{{Expand list|date=August 2008}}
*[[Pochuck Mountain]]
*[[Pochuck Mountain]]
*[[Maple Hill (New Jersey)|Maple Hill]]
*[[Wawayanda Mountain]]
*[[Wawayanda Mountain]]
*[[Sterling Hill (New Jersey)|Sterling Hill]]
*[[Hamburg Mountain]]
*[[Hamburg Mountain]]
*[[Sparta Mountain]]
*[[Sparta Mountain]]
*[[Lookout Mountain (New Jersey)|Lookout Mountain]]
*[[Allamuchy Mountain]]
*[[Hackettstown Mountain]]
*[[Hackettstown Mountain]]
*[[Danville Mountain]]
*[[Watnong Mountain]]
*[[High Rock Mountain (New Jersey)|High Rock Mountain]]
*[[Jenny Jump Mountain]]
*[[Mount Mohepinoke]]
*[[Baldpate Mountain]]
*[[County House Mountain]]
*[[Mount No More]]
*[[Scotts Mountain]]
*[[Oxford Mountain]]
*[[Marble Mountain (New Jersey)|Marble Mountain]]
*[[Upper Pohatcong Mountain]]
*[[Pohatcong Mountain]]
*[[Silver Hill (New Jersey)|Silver Hill]]
*[[Musconetcong Mountain]]


===Reading Prong of Pennsylvania (north to south)===
===Reading Prong of Pennsylvania (north to south)===
{{Expand list|date=August 2008}}
{{Expand list|date=August 2008}}
*[[South Mountain (eastern Pennsylvania)|South Mountain]]
*[[Chestnut Hill (Northampton County, Pennsylvania)|Chestnut Hill]]
*[[Morgan Hill (Pennsylvania)|Morgan Hill]]
*[[Hexenkopf Hill]]
*[[Christines Hill]]
*[[Pektor Hill]]
*[[Focht Hill]]
*[[Kirchberg (Pennsylvania)|Kirchberg]]
*[[Swoveberg]]
*[[Kohlberg (Pennsylvania)|Kohlberg]]
*[[Lehigh Mountain]]
*[[Saucon Hill]]
*[[Applebutter Hill]]
*[[South Mountain (Eastern Pennsylvania)|South Mountain]]


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{Mountains of Pennsylvania}}
⚫
[[Category:Geology]]
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Appalachian Mountains]]
[[Category:Appalachian Mountains]]
⚫
[[Category:Geology of New Jersey]]
[[Category:Geology of New York (state)]]
[[Category:Geology of Pennsylvania]]

Latest revision as of 23:16, 7 February 2024

The location of the Reading Prong (shown in dark pink) in Pennsylvania

The Reading Prong is a physiographic subprovince of the New England Uplands section of the New England province of the Appalachian Highlands. The prong consists of mountains made up of crystalline metamorphic rock.

Location[edit]

The Reading Prong stretches from near Reading, Pennsylvania, through the Lehigh Valley in eastern Pennsylvania northern New Jersey and into southern New York. It reaches its northern terminus in Connecticut.[1]

In Pennsylvania, the Reading Prong is referred to as South Mountain while in New Jersey and New York the mountains of the subprovince are referred to as the New York – New Jersey Highlands. Near the Hudson Valley, the term Hudson Highlands is often used. The portion of the prong that enters Connecticut is known as the Housatonic Highlands.

Relation to other divisions of the New England Uplands[edit]

There are two subsections of the New England Uplands in addition to the Reading Prong. A prong of the same rock belt extends from the Hudson Highlands south to New York City along the Hudson River. This region is often referred to as the Manhattan Prong. Staten Island Serpentinite is a southward extension of the New England Uplands.[2]

Geology[edit]

The Reading Prong is part of the Precambrian basement which is discontinuously exposed in the north-central Appalachians. The rocks that make up the prong consist of diverse gneisses.[3] The New England Province and the Blue Ridge province share many geological similarities, and some experts consider the Reading Prong merely a continuation of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which reach their northern terminus at South Mountain near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

In the gap between the Blue Ridge and the Reading Province, the two mountainous regions descend into the Appalachian Piedmont. Together, the Blue Ridge province and the New England province are often referred to as the Crystalline Appalachians. Rocks of the Reading Prong are characterized by elevated concentrations of uranium, the decay of which produces gaseous radon, a potentially hazardous source of indoor contamination in structures constructed on the prong.[4]

Mountains of the Reading Prong[edit]

Housatonic Highlands (north to south)[edit]

East Hudson Highlands (north to south)[edit]

West Hudson Highlands (north to south)[edit]

New Jersey Highlands (north to south)[edit]

Reading Prong of Pennsylvania (north to south)[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Forest Physiography
  2. ^ "Geomorphic Provinces and Sections of the New York Bight Watershed". Archived from the original on 2016-12-28. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
  3. ^ Metamorphic History of the Northeastern Reading Prong
  4. ^ Critical Geologic Features-Allamuchy Township[dead link]
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