USGS Home
Contact USGS
Search USGS

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

Geologic units in Upshur county, West Virginia

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

Allegheny Formation (Pennsylvanian) at surface, covers 27 % 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 1 % of this area

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

Lithology: alluvium

Conemaugh Group (Pennsylvanian) at surface, covers 35 % 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

Monongahela Group (Pennsylvanian) at surface, covers 10 % 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

New River Formation (Pennsylvanian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % 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

Dunkard Group (Permian/Pennsylvanian) at surface, covers 0.6 % 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

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