Through a series of slides, he showed how geologists use layers of different types of sediments and their chemical reactions to determine geological events.

The Chesapeake Bay impact occurred 35 million years ago. It is estimated to be one to two miles across. The meteor came through the atmosphere, hit the ocean, traveled though the sediment on the bottom of the ocean and struck basement rock.

This created a depression that became the Chesapeake Bay. It was compressed and heated so there is no evidence of the crater itself, only the effect it had on the surrounding area.

Mr. Johnson then described how through evidence from fossils and the flow of groundwater, geologists put together the pieces of the puzzle to discover the crater.

Using slides of various islands in the area Mr. Johnson showed the dynamic nature of the region and how it continues to evolve and change.

Mr. Johnson displayed and described various fossils. He offered members of the audience samples of the Jefferson Scallop, which is the “State Fossil of Virginia.” -