Transcript WHAL draft poster.v2

A Geological Overview of North Central West Virginia:
Observations from the Field
Lyndsey Lieb and Angela Lands, KSU and Mike Kelly and Minjuan Cheng of ISU
ABSTRACT
Summation/synthesis of the entire poster or project. No more than five or
so sentences at the most.
Locations of Geological Interest
Chestnut Ridge Anticline/Coopers Rock
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 Cheat River cuts through the lofty Chestnut Ridge anticline which 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 late 1700’s
to early 1800’s. The first official research was conducted my geologist
William Barton Roger from 1835-1842. Geological mapping was
established by Israel Charles White between 1906-1939 and is still used
today. These maps and discoveries have allowed better definition of the
coal areas, rock layers, paleontology, oil and gas fields, and mineral
resources. For this project, we will introduce the geology and underlying
lithology common to several areas located in Northcentral WV and
Southwestern Pennsylvania…
Morgantown, WV
Importance of Morgantown’s location as stemming from coal.
Beneath the area of Morgantown, WV is the Pittsburgh Coal
Seam. Vein names of this seam are Upper Freeport Vein and
Upper Kittanning Vein. Plants that lived and died in the
swamps during the Carboniferous Period fossilized forming
the coal seams found today. The first phase of coal
development is called peat. The swamps in this area during this
period have several meandering streams and river channels
which eventually deposited mud and silt. The repeated
deposition followed by heat and pressure turned this peat into
coal. So, every 12 inches of coal represents approximately
10,000 years of continuous peat accumulation. Coal seams in
West Virginia average 3 feet in thickness, although they
occasionally can be as thick as 25 feet.
SUMMARY
OVERVIEW
Youghiogheny River, Ohiopyle, PA
Our area of observation is part of the Appalachian Plateau. The rock
formations of the plateau that cover the western part of the state are
relatively flat, except on the east side where there are dominant folds and
faults. These hold some of the oldest rocks of the region and range in age
from late Ordovician up through the Mississippian. The rest of the
Appalachian Plateau is of Pennsylvanian and Permian age and is where
coal seams are located. The folded and thrusted rock of the plateau is
made up mainly of marine sedimentary rock and volcanic rock. They are
some of the oldest rocks in the world.
In addition, much of this portion of the Plateau has deep bedded salt
deposits nearly 50 feet thick. These deposits can be found some 50009000 feet below the surface. It is estimated that there is enough salt in this
area to supply the needs of our nation for nearly 2000 more years.
The importance of geology…Geological history…Observations …bserved
and deciphered of the orogeny, 300 million year old rock layers, and other
geological features of Monongalia county, West Virginia, and Fayette
County, Pennsylvania. Specifically Chestnut Ridge Anticline, Cooper’s
Rock in West Virginia, and Youghiogheny River area of Ohiopyle,
Pennsylvania.
Discussion—Interpret results. Interpret what we saw and
learned?
Yough 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, made up of small, white quartz pebbles, to red and green shale, to gray, very sandy
limestone. The youngest rocks in the area contain the coal seams and are economically important to
the area.
ACk REFERENCE
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 WVU and Patriot Mining Co (need names).
Sources cited go here—use smaller font