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 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 SUMMARY 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 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. ABSTRACTLocations of Geological Interest Youghiogheny River, Ohiopyle, PA Morgantown, WV ACk REFERENCE Summation/synthesis of the entire poster or project. No more than five or so sentences at the most. Chestnut Ridge Anticline/Coopers Rock INTRODUCTION OVERVIEW 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 Geological mapping was established by Israel Charles White between 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… 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. 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. 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. Discussion—Interpret results. Interpret what we saw and learned?