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Martinsburg and Oranda Formations
Martinsburg Formation (Geiger and Keith, 1891). Three lithologic packages are recognized in the Martinsburg (in ascending order): black shale and limestone; sandstone and shale; and sandstone (Rader and Biggs, 1976). The lower unit consists of 200 to 250 feet of black calcareous shale, black aphanic, argillaceous limestone; and thin, light-brown K-bentonites. The bulk of the formation, more than 2800 feet, is composed of olive-green to gray, fine- to medium-grained, lithic sandstone and greenish-gray shale and siltstone. These lithologies occur in base-truncated Bouma cycles. Graded bedding, flute casts, and load casts are common. The upper unit, about 170 feet thick, is brownish-gray, medium- to coarse-grained, quartz sandstone. The lower two-thirds of this sandstone contains near-shore, marine fossils. Oranda Formation (Cooper and Cooper, 1946). Limestone and siltstone. Limestone, medium- to dark-gray, fine-grained, very argillaceous. Siltstone, black to dark-gray; both lithologies silicified where in contact with a K-bentonite. Five K-bentonites identified in the type section (Rader and Read, 1989).
State |
Virginia |
Name |
Martinsburg and Oranda Formations |
Geologic age |
Ordovician |
Lithologic constituents |
Major
Sedimentary > Clastic > Mudstone > Shale
Minor
Sedimentary > Clastic > Sandstone
Sedimentary > Clastic > Siltstone
Incidental
Sedimentary > Carbonate > Limestone
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Comments |
Appalachian Plateaus and Valley and Ridge |
References |
Virginia Division of Mineral Resources, 1993, Geologic Map of Virginia: Virginia Division of Mineral Resources, scale 1:500,000.
Virginia Division of Mineral Resources, 2003, Digital Representation of the 1993 Geologic Map of Virginia, Publication 174, CD ROM (ISO-9660) contains image file, expanded explanation in pdf, and ESRI shapefiles, scale 1:500,000.
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NGMDB product |
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Counties |
Augusta - Clarke - Frederick - Page - Rockbridge - Rockingham - Shenandoah - Warren - Harrisonburg - Staunton - Winchester
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