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

Geologic units in Randolph county, West Virginia

[Additional scientific data in this geographic area]

Brallier Formation (Devonian) at surface, covers 5 % of this area

Brallier Formation - predominantly olive-gray to dark, thickly laminated marine shale, with considerable siltstone and thin sandstone lenses; mainly nonfossiliferous.

Lithology: shale; siltstone; sandstone

Conemaugh Group (Pennsylvanian) at surface, covers 0.5 % 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 0.3 % of this area

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

Lithology: shale; sandstone; limestone

Hampshire Formation (Devonian) at surface, covers 14 % of this area

Hampshire Formation - non-marine shales and fine micaceous sandstones, mostly red to brownish-gray, including siltstone, sandstone and conglomerate. Generally distinguishable from the underlying Chemung by non-marine character and red color.

Lithology: shale; sandstone; siltstone; conglomerate

New River Formation (Pennsylvanian) at surface, covers 11 % of this area

New River Formation (part of Pottsville Group) - predominantly sandstone, with some shale, siltstone, and coal. Grades to nearly all sandstone in the subsurface. Extends from the top of the Upper Nuttall Sandstone to the top of the Flattop Mountain Sandstone. Includes the Iaeger, Sewell, Welch, Raleigh, Beckley, Fire Creek, and Pocahontas Nos. 8 and 9 coals.

Lithology: sandstone; shale; siltstone; coal

Harrell Shale (Devonian) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area

Harrell Shale (part of Millboro Shale) - dark gray to black thinly laminated to fissile shale. Calcareous shale and limestone lenses near the base (Tully).

Lithology: shale; limestone

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

Pocono Group (Mississippian) at surface, covers 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

Bluefield Formation (Mississippian) at surface, covers 7 % of this area

Bluefield Formation (part of Mauch Chunk Group) - red and green shale and sandstone, with a few thin limestone lenses, such as the Reynolds.

Lithology: shale; sandstone; limestone

Kanawha Formation (Pennsylvanian) at surface, covers 25 % of this area

Kanawha Formation (part of Pottsville Group) - sandstone (approx 50%), shale, siltstone, and coal. Contains several marine zones. Becomes more shaly westward in the subsurface. Extends from the top of the Homewood Sandstone to the top of the Upper Nuttall Sandstone. Includes the Stockton (Mercer), Coalburg, Winifrede, Chilton, Williamson, Cedar Grove, Alma, Peerless, Campbell Creek, Powellton, Eagle, Gilbert, and Douglas coals.

Lithology: sandstone; shale; siltstone; coal

Greenbrier Group (Mississippian) at surface, covers 4 % 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

Chemung Group (Devonian) at surface, covers 16 % of this area

Chemung Group - gray to brown siltstone and sandstone with shale and conglomeratic interbeds; mainly marine and sparingly fossiliferous; boundaries gradational. Can be divided into the Voreknobs and Scherr Formations along the Allegheny Front. Parkhead Sandstone Member near base.

Lithology: siltstone; sandstone; shale; conglomerate

Hinton Formation (Mississippian) at surface, covers 5 % of this area

Hinton Formation (part of Mauch Chunk Group) - red, green, and medium-gray shale and sandstone, with a few thin limestone beds, including the Avis.

Lithology: shale; sandstone; limestone

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

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

Lithology: alluvium

Allegheny Formation (Pennsylvanian) at surface, covers 3 % 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

Bluestone and Princeton Formations (Mississippian) at surface, covers 4 % of this area

Bluestone and Princeton Formations (part of Mauch Chunk Group) - the Bluestone Formation is mostly red, green, and medium-gray shale and sandstone; Princeton Sandstone is underneath.

Lithology: shale; sandstone