A Geological Overview of North Central West Virginia: Observations from the Field

1. A Geological Overview of North Central West Virginia: Observations from the Field Lyndsey Lieb and Angela Lands, Kennesaw State University and Mike Kelly and Minjuan Cheng, Indiana State University • ABSTRACT • Locations of Geological Interest We will introduce and discuss the geology and underlying lithology common to Monongalia County, West Virginia, and Fayette County, Pennsylvania. Specifically, the locations of Coopers Rock in West Virginia, the Chestnut Ridge Anticline, and Youghiogheny River area of Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania have been selected for individual study. • Chestnut Ridge Anticline/Coopers Rock • Morgantown, West Virginia Morgantown sits on large deposits of Ordovician shale and Pennsylvanian clay used in the production of pottery, bricks, and cement. But the largest geological resource for the town’s economy is coal. Below the Morgantown area lays the Pittsburgh Coal Seam holding the Upper Freeport and Upper Kittanning veins of coal. The cliffs are of hard sandstone known as griststone, and range from 10 to 30 feet high. The massive sandstone layer that forms Cooper's Rock -- the Upper Connoquenessing Sandstone -- is exposed where the Cheat River has sliced through the lofty Chestnut Ridge anticline. The ridge extends southwest from Pennsylvania across most of West Virginia. The sedimentary rocks of the surface were formed during the Mississippian and the Pennsylvanian periods. The other exposed rock layers mainly consist of sandstones, shale, and limestone. • INTRODUCTION The geology of West Virginia was first investigated in the mid to late 1700s and continued until the early 1800s. The first official research was conducted by geologist William Barton Roger from 1835 to 1842. Geological mapping was established by Israel Charles White beginning in 1906 until 1939 and his methods are still applied today. These maps and discoveries have allowed better definition of the coal areas, rock layers, paleontology, oil and gas fields, and mineral resources. • OVERVIEW Our area of observation is part of the Appalachian Plateau, also referred to as the Allegheny Plateau within West Virginia. Known as a dissected plateau, the rock formations of the plateau that cover the western part of the state are relatively flat, punctuated by occasional sharp relief. However, in the eastern region, folds and faults generally dominant the landscape, indicating the rise of the Valley and Ridge. These formations hold some of the oldest rocks in the area, ranging from the late Ordovician period through the Mississippian, an earlier subperiod of the Carboniferous. . The rest of the Appalachian Plateau hails from the Pennsylvanian and Permian periods and is where coal seams are located. The folded and thrust rock of the plateau is made up mainly of clastic, marine sedimentary and volcanic rock. They are some of the oldest rocks in the world. Much of the western portion of the plateau has deep bedded salt deposits nearly fifty feet thick. These deposits can be found from 5,000 to 9,000 feet below the surface. Interestingly, it had been estimated that there is enough salt in this area to supply the needs of the nation for nearly 2,000 more years. Photos by Angela Lands • SUMMARY The processes responsible for the geological development of this particular Appalachian region are remarkable. The formation of the mountains and plateau was, and still is, the result of an intricate symphony of folding rock, tectonic activity, pressure, and vast expanses of time. Out of this 470 million-year-old progression, a diversity of minerals and natural resources arise and provide the region with a basis for a thriving economy. Driven by the powerful, timeless engine of the Earth, the Appalachians will always provide a fascinating geological record. • Youghiogheny River, Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania The Youghiogheny river area consists mostly of Pottsville sandstone while outlying areas are shale. The rock exposures and landscape of the area tell the story of sedimentation, deformation, and erosion that is typical of this part of the Appalachians. The oldest rocks are part of the Pottsville group and consist of brown, gray and reddish-colored sandstones and shale. Younger rocks range from light-gray conglomerates, and are made up of small, white quartz pebbles, red and green shale, and gray, very sandy limestone. The youngest rocks in the vicinity contain the coal seams and are economically important to the area. • ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND REFERENCE Acknowledgements The group would like to thank Dr. Nancy Hoalst Pullen and Dr. Jay Gatrell for their organization and leadership. Thanks to fellow students for their notes, opinions, and other input on the research and observations conducted. Thanks to Dr. Ken Martis, WVU and Mr. Brownie Stewart, Patriot Mining Company. References A Geologic Time Scale [Internet], [1982], Cambridge Earth Press: West Virginia Geological Survey; [cited 29 July 2009]. Available from http://www.geocraft.com/WVFossils/PennsylvPeriod.html West Virginia Geology [Internet], [updated 28 September 2004]. West Virginia Geological and Economical Survey; [cited 29 July 2009]. Available from http://www.wvgs.wvnet.edu/WWW/GEOLOGY/geology.htm Appalachian Mountains. [Internet], [2009]. Encyclopedia Britannica. [cited 29 July 2009]. Available from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/30353/Appalachian-Mountains Coopers Rock State Forest Forest Resources Management Plan. [Internet], [19 January 2006]. West Virginia Division of Forestry; [cited 29 July 2009]. Available from http://www.wvforestry.com/CRSF%20final%20draft%201-19-06.pdf http://www.ohiopyle.us/ after West Virginia Geological Survey, 2002, and A Geologic Time Scale; Cambridge Earth Press, 1982 http://thevoltagegate.blogspot.com/2007_02_01_archive.html