Final answer:
The Triassic columnar jointed basalt formations in New Jersey resulted from the stretching of the Pangean crust during its breakup, not from thickening of the crust or meteorite impacts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The columnar jointed basalt formations on the western bank of the Hudson in New Jersey are associated with the geologic period known as the Triassic. These formations were created due to the stretching of the Pangean crust, which was a significant tectonic event that occurred during the breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea. This breakup led to the formation of the Newark Basin, part of the larger process that would eventually give rise to the Atlantic Ocean during the Jurassic period. The columnar jointed basalt is a result of volcanic activity related to this rifting, where lava cooled and contracted to form the distinctive columnar structure.
It is important to understand that the basalt formations did not occur due to the thickening of the Pangean crust or meteorite impacts. Instead, they are a direct result of large igneous province (LIP) activity, which includes volcanic eruptions associated with the breakup of supercontinents.