NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Moores Creek National Battlefield, North Carolina

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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.

In-depth geologic information is contained in the baseline inventory products of the Geologic Resources Inventory, see table below.

Introduction

Moores Creek National Battlefield (MOCR) is located along Moores Creek near the town of Currie, approximately 8 km (20 mi) northwest of Wilmington in Pender County, North Carolina. Originally established as a national military park on June 2, 1926, the park unit was redesignated as a national battlefield on September 8, 1980 (National Park Service 2016a). Encompassing about 35 hectares (88 acres), MOCR preserves the battlefield site of the February 27, 1776, Battle of Moores Creek Bridge, widely regarded as the first decisive Patriot victory of the Revolutionary War. Fought between North Carolina Patriots and Highlander Loyalists along the banks of Moores Creek, the Patriot victory prevented the consolidation of Loyalist armies and delayed a full-scale invasion of the South by British forces (National Park Service 2012b). The events that took place at the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge advanced the revolutionary cause in the South and led North Carolina to cast the first vote for American independence at the Continental Congress.

Geologic Setting

Situated in the Atlantic Coastal Plain physiographic province, the regional geology of MOCR consists of Cretaceous and younger units that form a relatively flat topography compared to the hills and ridges of the Piedmont and Blue Ridge Mountains. A prominent feature of the Atlantic Coastal Plain is a series of marine terraces that represent a series of separable transgressive–regressive sequences. These well-developed sequences record ancient shorelines that step down in elevation and age toward the Atlantic coast. In most areas these terrace sequences are flat-lying and parallel to the coastline, except where they occur near large river systems such as the Cape Fear River drainage, of which Moores Creek is a tributary (Thornberry-Ehrlich 2006). The general geology underlying MOCR consists of two rock units: the Pleistocene Socastee Formation and Holocene deposits. These units consist of unconsolidated to partially consolidated sands, silts, and clays that were sourced from the Appalachian Mountains (Thornberry-Ehrlich 2006).

Regional Geology

Moores Creek National Battlefield is a part of the Coastal Plain Physiographic Province and shares its geologic history and some characteristic geologic formations with a region that extends well beyond park boundaries.

Maps and Reports

Geologic Resources Inventory

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: NPS DataStore Saved Search 3020. To search for additional information, visit the NPS DataStore.

Soil Resources inventory

A NPS Soil Resources Inventory project has been completed for Moores Creek National Battlefield and can be found on the NPS Data Store.

Source: NPS DataStore Saved Search 3067. To search for additional information, visit the NPS DataStore.

Related Links

Moores Creek—Nature and Science

Moores Creek—Park Home

NPS—Geologic Time

NPS—Explore Regional Geology

NPS—Geology

North Carolina Geological Survey

North Carolina Geological Survey

Moores Creek 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.

NPS Geodiversity Atlas

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