Geodiversity Atlas—Northeast Coastal and Barrier I&M Network Index

Geology and Stratigraphy of the Northeast Coastal and Barrier I&M Network

The Northeast Coastal and Barrier Inventory & Monitoring Network (NCBN) consists of eight national park units along the eastern coast of Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia. Assateague Island National Seashore (ASIS), Cape Cod National Seashore (CACO), Colonial National Historical Park (COLO), Fire Island National Seashore (FIIS), Gateway National Recreation Area (GATE), George Washington Birthplace National Monument (GEWA), Sagamore Hill National Historic Site (SAHI), and Thomas Stone National Historic Site (THST) span the northeast and mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain from Massachusetts in the north, to Virginia in the south. The geographic distribution and low elevations of the NCBN parks along the Atlantic Ocean place the network parks in the path of Atlantic storms and hurricanes, especially resources associated with the barrier islands and seashores (for more on resources, see Coastal Geology). Geologically, the NCBN are largely represented by surficial deposits with limited exposures of Cenozoic bedrock. Consequently, only one geologic type section is identified for the parks of the NCBN.

A Brief Geologic History

A few examples of events and Network resources in each geologic time period are highlighted below, from youngest to oldest.

• See also, Geologic Time Scale - Geology (U.S. National Park Service)

Geology & Soils—Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network Parks

Type Sections—Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network

The geologic history above is excerpted from a report titled, "National Park Service geologic type section inventory: Northeast Coastal and Barrier Inventory & Monitoring Network". Type sections are essential reference locations for the geoscientists who study geologic history and paleontology. A summary of the type sections in each park can be found at the links below.

• Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland and Virginia (no designated stratotypes identified)

• Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts (no designated stratotypes identified)

• Colonial National Historical Park, Virginia (contains one identified stratotype)

• Fire Island National Seashore, New York (no designated stratotypes identified)

• Gateway National Recreation Area, New Jersey and New York (no designated stratotypes identified)

• George Washington Birthplace National Monument, Virginia (no designated stratotypes identified)

• Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, New York (no designated stratotypes identified)

• Thomas Stone National Historic Site, Maryland (no designated stratotypes identified)

The full Network report is available in digital format from:

• DataStore - National Park Service geologic type section inventory: Northeast Coastal and Barrier Inventory & Monitoring Network (nps.gov)

Please cite this publication as:

• Henderson T, Santucci VL, Connors T, Tweet JS. 2021. National Park Service geologic type section inventory: Northeast Coastal and Barrier Inventory & Monitoring Network. Natural Resource Report. NPS/NCBN/NRR—2021/2287. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado.

NPS Stratotype Inventory

Fossil Resources—Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network

Between 2002 and 2011, network-based paleontological resource inventories were completed for all the 32 I&M networks, and six of the earliest were completely updated between 2012 and 2016. The report linked below summarizes the paleontological resources of all park units in the Northeast Coastal and Barrier Inventory & Monitoring Network (NCBN). The report provides geologic background and paleontological resource data for each park to support management operations, planning, and science-based decision making as required by NPS management policies and the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (2009).

The full report is available in digital format from

• DataStore - Paleontological resource inventory and monitoring: Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network (nps.gov)

Please cite this publication as:

• Tweet JS, Santucci VL, Connors T. 2014. Paleontological resource inventory and monitoring: Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network. Natural Resource Technical Report. NPS/NCBN/NRTR—2014/897. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado.

Related Links

• Northeast Coastal and Barrier Inventory & Monitoring Network
• NPS Geodiversity Atlas
• NPS—Geologic Resources Inventory

Geodiversity Atlas pages—by Inventory & Monitoring Network

Geodiversity Atlas pages—by State, U.S. Commonwealth, and Territories