2025 Carolina Geological Society Meeting and Field Trip – Updated June 20, 2025
November 7-9, 2025
Headquarter location is Morganton, NC.
River and Topographic Evolution in Western North Carolina: Evidence from Linville Gorge and the Laurel Creek Lineament, Spruce Pine, NC
Lead by Brad Johnson (Davidson College) and Jackie Langille (University of North Carolina at Asheville)
Meeting Description
Stream captures are a primary mechanism by which the Blue Ridge Escarpment evolves. While many of these captures are small, portions of larger fluvial systems can be captured and pulled over the escarpment creating powerful, erosive rivers. On Saturday we will look at the Linville River and evidence of its capture from the North Toe River.
Linear fracture systems associated with Cenozoic topographic rejuvenation occur throughout western North Carolina. On Sunday we will visit stops to discuss new evidence for uplift on one of these fracture systems, the Laurel Creek Lineament, as well as learn about new fracture data from the Asheville 100k geologic map by the NCGS.
Schedule
Friday Evening: Annual CGS business meeting and dinner at the Morganton Community House (parking is available or walk from the meeting hotel)
Saturday full day field trip: Depart from the meeting hotel to visit Camp Creek, Linville Falls, and the Brushy Creek drainage divide as evidence for capture. If time allows, we’ll stop in North Cove on the way back to Morganton to see hydrology – bedrock interactions.
Sunday half day field trip: Depart from the meeting hotel to visit one of the QuartzCorp quarries in Spruce Pine to observe joints and faults of the Laurel Creek Lineament.
Accommodations
The Fairfield Inn & Suites Morganton Historic Downtown (400 N. Green St.) is the field trip departure point and few minutes’ walk from the Friday evening dinner and business meeting at the Morganton Community House. The field trip weekend is part of a busy tourist season in the NC mountains! A limited number of rooms for has been reserved for November 7-9 at a reduced rate of $189/night, if reservations are made by 9/20/2025 and while rooms in the block remain. Book ASAP because this weekend is still part of the tourist season for fall color! Several other hotels are within a few miles of downtown Morganton; parking will be available near the Morganton Community House and departure point for the field trip. Please call the hotel directly for help with or questions about reservations.
Two ways to reserve:
Call the hotel directly to reserve: 828-608-0900 (ask for the Carolina Geological Society group rate)
Use the link provided by Fairfield Inn & Suites Morganton Historic Downtown: link for CGS weekend