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

Geologic units in Montour county, Pennsylvania

Tuscarora Formation (Silurian) at surface, covers 2 % of this area

Tuscarora Formation - Light- to medium-gray quartzite and quartzitic sandstone and minor interbedded shale and siltstone, locally conglomeratic in lower part; includes (to the northwest) interbedded red and non-red sandstone (Castanea Member) at top; east of Harrisburg, equivalent to Minsi and Weiders Members of Shawangunk Formation.

Lithology: quartzite; sandstone; shale; siltstone; conglomerate

Keyser and Tonoloway Formations, undivided (Devonian and Silurian) at surface, covers 6 % of this area

Keyser and Tonoloway Formations, undivided - In descending order: Keyser Formation--medium-gray, crystalline to nodular, fossiliferous limestone; upper part laminated and mud-cracked; not present east of Harrisburg; passes into lower Coeymans, Rondout, and Decker Formations in the east. Tonoloway Formation--medium-gray, laminated, mud-cracked limestone containing some medium-dark- or olive-gray shale interbeds; lower part passes into Wills Creek Formation east and south; passes into Bossardville and Poxono Island beds in the east.

Lithology: limestone; shale

Bloomsburg and Mifflintown Formations, undivided (Silurian) at surface, covers 3 % of this area

Bloomsburg and Mifflintown Formations, undivided - Includes, in descending order, the Bloomsburg Formation (Sb) and the Mifflintown Formation--interbedded dark-gray shale and medium-gray fossiliferous limestone; equivalent to "McKenzie" and "Rochester" of earlier workers; not present east of Harrisburg.

Lithology: shale; siltstone; sandstone; limestone; mudstone

Trimmers Rock Formation (Devonian) at surface, covers 24 % of this area

Trimmers Rock Formation - Olive-gray siltstone and shale, characterized by graded bedding; marine fossils; some very fine grained sandstone in northeast; black shale of Harrell Formation at base in Susquehanna Valley.

Lithology: siltstone; shale; sandstone; black shale

Buddys Run Member of Catskill Formation (Devonian) at surface, covers 2 % of this area

Buddys Run Member of Catskill Formation - Grayish-red and brownish-gray siltstone, mudstone, and sandstone; some gray and dusky-yellow sandstone and siltstone; laterally equivalent to Duncannon, Clarks Ferry, and Sherman Creek Members.

Lithology: siltstone; sandstone; mudstone

Irish Valley Member of Catskill Formation (Devonian) at surface, covers 6 % of this area

Irish Valley Member of Catskill Formation - Nonmarine, grayish-red siltstone and mudstone, and gray and grayish-red sandstone interbedded with minor, thin, light-olive-gray marine siltstone; arranged in fining-upward cycles. Lower part of member has conglomeratic sandstones.

Lithology: siltstone; mudstone; sandstone; conglomerate

Clinton Group (Silurian) at surface, covers 7 % of this area

Clinton Group - Predominantly Rose Hill Formation--light-olive-gray to brownish-gray, fossiliferous shale; locally, limestone occurs near top; includes dark-reddish-gray, very fine to coarse-grained, ferruginous sandstone; east of Harrisburg, equivalent to Lizard Creek Member of Shawangunk Formation. Above Rose Hill is Keefer Formation--light- to dark-gray, fossiliferous sandstone, hematitic, oolitic sandstone, and shale; not recognized east of Harrisburg.

Lithology: shale; sandstone; limestone

Hamilton Group (Devonian) at surface, covers 35 % of this area

Hamilton Group - Includes, in descending order, the Mahantango (Dmh) and Marcellus (Dmr) Formations.

Lithology: black shale; shale; siltstone; limestone; sandstone; bentonite

Onondaga and Old Port Formations, undivided (Devonian) at surface, covers 9 % of this area

Onondaga and Old Port Formations, undivided - Includes, in descending order, the Onondaga Formation (Don), Ridgeley Member of Old Port Formation (Dor), and Shriver, Mandata, Corriganville, and New Creek Members of Old Port Formation, undivided (Dosn).

Lithology: shale; sandstone; limestone; chert; shale; siltstone; bentonite

Wills Creek Formation (Silurian) at surface, covers 5 % of this area

Wills Creek Formation - Variegated gray, grayish-red, yellowish-gray and greenish-gray, interbedded calcareous shale, siltstone, shaly limestone, and dolomite; passes into Bloomsburg Formation in the southeast; not present east of Harrisburg.

Lithology: shale; siltstone; limestone; dolostone (dolomite)