Meetings & Events Archive

SOUTH MOUNTAIN RHYOLITE: GEOLOGY AND ARCHAELOGY

Location: Penn State Mont Alto

One of the geological features that makes South Mountain so special is rhyolite, an igneous rock quarried extensively by Native Americans for making tools and weapons. Geologist Bob Smith provided an overview of the geology and distribution of rock formations that contains this stone within the South Mountain landscape. State Museum of Pennsylvania Curator Kurt Carr followed by discussing the cultural importance of rhyolite, and the important role that the stone played in Native American culture.