Abstract Fossil trackways in the Jura-Triassic rift basin of the Connecticut River Valley are important to geoheritage for their quality, preservation, and role in the history of geology, especially of ichnology. Discovered in the early 1800s, these trackways of small to large, bipedal, three-toed animals came to the attention of Edward Hitchcock, a prolific geologist and natural theologian. His first publication on the subject was in January 1836 and, in the same year, William Buckland included parts of the report, with illustrations, in his Bridgewater Treatise. Hitchcock and Buckland are credited with establishing the field of ichnology, the study of track and trails. Within the first decade, other traces documented include four-footed tracks, fish fossils, invertebrate burrows, plant impressions, ripple marks and raindrop impressions; few bones have ever been discovered in the valley. Early fossil-track collectors included Hitchcock, James Deane, Dexter Marsh and Roswell Field. Specimens quickly made their way to Europe, and publications brought the tracks to international attention, in both science and literature. In nineteenth-century discussions, the three-toed trackway makers – birds or dinosaurs? – were particular subjects of interest and debate. These fossil trackways remain well known and studied today, with several preserved field sites and museum collections.

ABSTRACT Dinosaur tracks have been illustrated since they were first found. The earliest illustrations depicted dinosaur tracks as the work of mythical beings. With the advent of scientific inquiry into dinosaur tracks in the nineteenth century, natural explanations were sought for the fossil tracks. Illustrations of the period were relatively realistic but were influenced by then-current beliefs and were constrained by the artists’ skills and by what scientists considered salient. In the mid-nineteenth century, the first photographs were used for the scientific study of fossil tracks. Photography eliminated some limitations of artistic talent and showed complete specimens, not just aspects that were deemed salient. The ability to compare and name similar tracks from disparate authors and places became easier. Advances in photography, laser scanning, optical scanning and lidar, and the ability to manipulate images with computers, have enabled the modern synthesis of illustrating dinosaur tracks, which combines many types of images. With each advance and the adoption of newer technologies, the older methods have not been retired. Rather, we have continued to see new uses for old methods and an integration of illustrative styles. For Patrick. Your friendship and your vision will be so deeply missed.

The 2021 GSA Northeastern, Southeastern, joint North-Central/South-Central, and Cordilleran Section Meet-ings were held virtually in spring 2021 during continued restrictions on travel and large gatherings due to COVID-19. Eleven groups put together field guides, taking participants on treks to states from Connecticut to Nevada in the United States, to Mexico, and to Italy, and covering topics as varied as bedrock geologic map-ping, geochemistry, paleodrainage, barrier islands, karst, spring systems, a southern Appalachian transect, Ordo-vician and Mississippian stratigraphy, high-energy events, Cretaceous arc granites and dextral shear zones, and Mesoproterozoic igneous rocks. This volume serves as a valuable resource for those wishing to discover, learn more about, and travel through these geologically fascinating areas.

Abstract The Hartford-Deerfield basin, a Late Triassic to Early Jurassic rift basin located in central Connecticut and Massachusetts, is the northernmost basin of the onshore Mesozoic rift basins in the eastern United States. The presence of asphaltic petroleum in outcrops indicates that at least one active petroleum system has existed within the basin. However, to-date oil and gas wells have not been drilled in the basin to test any type of petroleum trap. There are good to excellent quality source rocks (up to 3.8% present day total organic carbon) within the Jurassic East Berlin and Portland formations. While these source rock intervals are fairly extensive and at peak oil to peak gas stages of maturity, individual source rock beds are relatively thin (typically less than 1 m) based solely on outcrop observations. Potential reservoir rocks within the Hartford-Deerfield basin are arkosic conglomerates, pebbly sandstones, and finer grained sandstones, shales, siltstones, and fractured igneous rocks of the Triassic New Haven and Jurassic East Berlin and Portland formations (and possibly other units). Sandstone porosity data from 75 samples range from less than 1% to 21%, with a mean of 5%. Permeability is equally low, except around joints, fractures, and faults. Seals are likely to be unfractured intra-formational shales and tight igneous bodies. Maturation, generation, and expulsion likely occurred during the late synrift period (Early Jurassic) accentuated by an increase in local geothermal gradient, igneous intrusions, and hydrothermal fluid circulation. Migration pathways were likely along syn- and postrift faults and fracture zones. Petroleum resources, if present, are probably unconventional (continuous) accumulations as conventionally accumulated petroleum is likely not present in significant volumes.