USGS Home
Contact USGS
Search USGS

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

Geologic units in Essex county, Virginia

[Additional scientific data in this geographic area]

Moorings Unit of Oaks and Coch (1973) (Tertiary) at surface, covers 2 % of this area

Moorings Unit of Oaks and Coch (1973) - Sand, silt, and clay; at altitudes from 100-130 ft. (top of unit).

Lithology: sand; silt; clay or mud

Windsor Formation (Tertiary-Quaternary) at surface, covers 8 % of this area

Windsor Formation - Interbedded gravel, sand, silt, and clay; at altitudes to 85-95 ft. (top of unit).

Lithology: gravel; sand; silt; clay or mud

Bacons Castle Formation (Tertiary) at surface, covers 4 % of this area

Bacons Castle Formation - Gravel grading upward into sand and sandy clayey silt

Lithology: gravel; sand; silt; clay or mud

Shirley Formation (Quaternary) at surface, covers 5 % of this area

Shirley Formation - Interbedded gravel, sand, silt, clay, and peat; at altitudes to 35-45 ft. (top of unit).

Lithology: gravel; sand; silt; clay or mud; peat

Chuckatuck Formation (Quaternary) at surface, covers 0.5 % of this area

Chuckatuck Formation - Interbedded gravel, sand, silt, clay, and minor peat; at altitudes to 50-60 ft. (top of unit).

Lithology: gravel; sand; silt; clay or mud; peat

Tabb Formation; Lynnhaven Member (Quaternary) at surface, covers 0.5 % of this area

Tabb Formation; Lynnhaven Member - Pebbly and cobbly sand grading upward into muddy, fine sand and silt, at altitudes to 15-18 ft. (top of unit).

Lithology: sand; silt

Lower Tertiary Deposits (Tertiary) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Lower Tertiary Deposits - Glauconitic quartz sand and clay-silt, shelly in part, minor sandy limestone and limey sand; may include the following formations: Brightseat, Aquia, Marlboro, Nanjemay, and Piney Point (Pamunkey Group); and Old Church.

Lithology: sand; silt; limestone

Tabb Formation: Lynnhaven and Poquoson Members (Quaternary) at surface, covers 3 % of this area

Tabb Formation: Lynnhaven and Poquoson Members - Undifferentiated Qtl, Qts.

Lithology: sand; silt

Tabb Formation; Sedgefield Member (Quaternary) at surface, covers 9 % of this area

Tabb Formation; Sedgefield Member - Pebbly to bouldery, clayey sand and shelly sand, at altitudes to 30 ft. (top of unit).

Lithology: sand

Bacons Castle Formation (Tertiary) at surface, covers 15 % of this area

Bacons Castle Formation - Poorly sorted sand and laminated sand; clay and silt.

Lithology: sand; clay or mud; silt

Alluvium (Quaternary) at surface, covers 4 % of this area

Alluvium - Poorly sorted organic material, clay, sand, and rounded pebbles and cobbles

Lithology: alluvium; clay or mud; sand

Chesapeake Group (Tertiary) at surface, covers 45 % of this area

Chesapeake Group - Fine- to coarse-grained sand, silt, clay; variably shelly and diatomaceous

Lithology: sand; silt; clay or mud

Pliocene Sand and Gravel (Tertiary) at surface, covers 2 % of this area

Pliocene Sand and Gravel - Sandy gravel, gravelly sand, poorly to well-sorted sands, and thin- to medium-beds of clay and silt, at altitudes from 170-320 ft. (top of unit).

Lithology: gravel; sand; clay or mud; silt