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Mineral Resources > Online Spatial Data > Geology > by state > Pennsylvania Geology

Geologic units in Elk county, Pennsylvania

Glenshaw Formation (Pennsylvanian) at surface, covers 1 % of this area

Glenshaw Formation - Cyclic sequences of shale, sandstone, red beds, and thin limestone and coal; includes four marine limestone or shale horizons; red beds are involved in landslides; base is at top of Upper Freeport coal.

Lithology: shale; sandstone; limestone; clastic; coal

Catskill Formation (Devonian) at surface, covers 0.9 % of this area

Catskill Formation - Grayish-red sandstone, siltstone, shale, and mudstone; locally conglomeratic; contains gray sandstone in upper part; lithologies arranged in fining-upward cycles; equivalent to the Hampshire Formation south of Pennsylvania.

Lithology: sandstone; siltstone; shale; mudstone; conglomerate

Huntley Mountain Formation (Mississippian and Devonian) at surface, covers 5 % of this area

Huntley Mountain Formation - Greenish-gray and light-olive-gray, flaggy, fine-grained sandstone, siltstone, and a few red shale interbeds; includes lower "Pocono" plus "Oswayo" of earlier workers. Forms transition between Catskill Formation and Burgoon Sandstone.

Lithology: sandstone; siltstone; shale

Burgoon Sandstone (Mississippian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Burgoon Sandstone - Buff, medium-grained, crossbedded sandstone; includes shale and coal; in places, contains conglomerate at base; contains plant fossils; equivalent to Pocono Formation of Ridge and Valley province.

Lithology: sandstone; conglomerate; shale; coal

Shenango Formation through Oswayo Formation, undivided (Mississippian and Devonian) at surface, covers 21 % of this area

Shenango Formation through Oswayo Formation, undivided - Greenish-gray, olive, and buff sandstone and siltstone, and gray shale in varying proportions; includes "Pocono" ("Knapp") and Oswayo of earlier workers; difficult lithologic distinction between Oswayo and "Knapp"- "Pocono" south and east of type area at Olean, N. Y.; contains marine fossils; includes lateral equivalents of Shenango Formation, Cuyahoga Group, Corry Sandstone, Bedford Shale, and Cussewago Sandstone, plus Oswayo Formation.

Lithology: sandstone; siltstone; shale

Allegheny Formation (Pennsylvanian) at surface, covers 19 % of this area

Allegheny Formation - Cyclic sequences of sandstone, shale, limestone, clay, and coal; includes valuable clay deposits and Vanport Limestone; commercially valuable Freeport, Kittanning, and Brookville-Clarion coals present; base is at bottom of Brookville-Clarion coal.

Lithology: sandstone; shale; limestone; clay or mud; coal

Pottsville Formation (Pennsylvanian) at surface, covers 53 % of this area

Pottsville Formation - Predominantly gray sandstone and conglomerate; also contains thin beds of shale, claystone, limestone, and coal; includes Olean and Sharon conglomerates of northwestern Pennsylvania; thin marine limestones present in Beaver, Lawrence, and Mercer Counties; minable coals and commercially valuable high-alumina clays present locally.

Lithology: sandstone; conglomerate; shale; siltstone; claystone; limestone; coal