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

Geologic units in Monongalia county, West Virginia

Mauch Chunk Formation (Mississippian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Mauch Chunk Formation - Grayish-red shale, siltstone, sandstone, and some conglomerate; some local nonred zones. Includes Loyalhanna Member (crossbedded, sandy limestone) at base in south-central and southwestern Pennsylvania; also includes Greenbrier Limestone Member, and Wymps Gap and Deer Valley Limestones, which are tongues of the Greenbrier. Along Allegheny Front from Blair County to Sullivan County, Loyalhanna Member is greenish-gray, calcareous, crossbedded sandstone.

Lithology: shale; siltstone; sandstone; conglomerate; limestone

Casselman Formation (Pennsylvanian) at surface, covers 0.1 % of this area

Casselman Formation - Cyclic sequences of shale, siltstone, sandstone, red beds, thin, impure limestone, and thin, nonpersistent coal; red beds are associated with landslides; base is at top of Ames limestone.

Lithology: shale; siltstone; sandstone; clastic; limestone; coal

Allegheny Formation (Pennsylvanian) at surface, covers 9 % of this area

Allegheny Formation - cyclic sequences of sandstone, siltstone, shale, limestone, and coal. Includes the Freeport, Kittanning and Clarion coals, also, the Princess coals of Kentucky . Extends from the top of the Upper Freeport coal to the top of the Homewood Sandstone.

Lithology: sandstone; siltstone; shale; limestone; coal

Quaternary Alluvium (Quaternary) at surface, covers 3 % of this area

Quaternary Alluvium - alluvial deposits of sand, gravel, silt, and clay.

Lithology: alluvium

Monongahela Group (Pennsylvanian) at surface, covers 0.1 % of this area

Monongahela Group - Cyclic sequences of limestone, shale, sandstone, and coal; commercial coals present; base is at bottom of Pittsburgh coal.

Lithology: limestone; shale; sandstone; coal

Glenshaw Formation (Pennsylvanian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % 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

Greene Formation (Permian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Greene Formation - Cyclic sequences of sandstone, shale, red beds, thin limestone, and thin, impure coal; base is at top of Upper Washington limestone.

Lithology: sandstone; shale; limestone; coal

Greenbrier Group (Mississippian) at surface, covers 0.6 % of this area

Greenbrier Group - marine limestone and marine and non-marine red and gray shale, and minor sandstone beds in numerous formational units.

Lithology: limestone; shale; sandstone

Pocono Group (Mississippian) at surface, covers 0.3 % of this area

Pocono Group - predominantly hard gray massive sandstones, with some shale. In the Eastern Panhandle, has been divided into the Hedges, Purslane, and Rockwell Formations.

Lithology: sandstone; shale

Pottsville Group (Pennsylvanian) at surface, covers 8 % of this area

Pottsville Group - includes the Kanawha, New River, and Pocahontas Formations. Predominantly sandstones, some of which are conglomeratic, with thin shales and coals. Undivided in northern West Virginia.

Lithology: sandstone; shale; coal

Pottsville Formation (Pennsylvanian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % 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

Waynesburg Formation (Permian and Pennsylvanian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Waynesburg Formation - Cyclic sequences of sandstone, shale, limestone, and coal; commercial coals present; base is at bottom of Waynesburg coal.

Lithology: sandstone; shale; limestone; coal

Washington Formation (Permian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Washington Formation - Cyclic sequences of sandstone, shale, limestone, and coal; includes some red shale; base is at bottom of Washington coal.

Lithology: sandstone; shale; limestone; coal

Allegheny Formation (Pennsylvanian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % 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

Dunkard Group (Permian/Pennsylvanian) at surface, covers 41 % of this area

Dunkard Group - non-marine cyclic sequences of sandstone, siltstone, red and gray shale, limestone, and coal. Contains the Greene, Washington and Waynesburg Formations. Extends from the top of the exposed bed rock section to the top of the Waynesburg coal. Includes the Washington coals and limestones. Palynological evidence favors a Pennsylvanian age, at least for the lower portion.

Lithology: sandstone; siltstone; shale; limestone; coal

Monongahela Group (Pennsylvanian) at surface, covers 11 % of this area

Monongahela Group - non-marine cyclic sequences of sandstone, siltstone, red and gray shale, limestone, and coal. Contains the Uniontown and Pittsburgh Formations. Extends from the top of the Waynesburg coal to the base of the Pittsburgh coal. Includes the Waynesburg, Uniontown, Sewickley, Redstone and Pittsburgh coals. Thickness is 170 feet in Mineral and Grant Counties.

Lithology: sandstone; siltstone; shale; limestone; coal

Conemaugh Group (Pennsylvanian) at surface, covers 25 % of this area

Conemaugh Group - cyclic sequences of red and gray shale, siltstone, and sandstone, with thin limestones and coals. Mostly non-marine. May be divided into Casselman and Glenshaw Formations. Extends from the base of the Pittsburgh coal to the top of the Upper Freeport coal. Includes the Elk Lick, Bakerstown, and Mahoning coals, and the Ames and Brush Creek Limestones.

Lithology: shale; siltstone; sandstone; limestone; coal

Mauch Chunk Group (Mississippian) at surface, covers 2 % of this area

Mauch Chunk Group - red, green, and medium-gray shale and sandstone, with a few thin limestones.

Lithology: shale; sandstone; limestone