U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Directorate Geologic Resources Division

New River Gorge National River

GRI Ancillary Map Information Document

Produced to accompany the Geologic Resources Inventory (GRI) Digital Geologic Data for New River Gorge National River neri_geology.pdf

Version: 5/10/2016 I New River Gorge National River

Geologic Resources Inventory Map Document for New River Gorge National River

Table of Contents Geolog.i.c. .R...e..s.o..u..r.c..e..s.. .I.n..v.e..n..t.o..r..y. .M...a..p.. .D..o..c..u..m...e..n..t...... 1 About th..e.. .N...P..S.. .G...e..o..l.o..g..i.c. .R...e..s.o..u..r.c..e..s.. .I.n..v.e..n..t.o..r..y. .P...r.o..g..r.a..m...... 3 GRI Dig.i.t.a..l. .M...a..p..s. .a..n..d.. .S...o..u..r.c..e.. .M..a..p.. .C...i.t.a..t.i.o..n..s...... 5 Digital B...e..d..r.o..c..k. .G...e..o..l.o..g..i.c.. .M..a..p.. .o..f. .N...e..w.. .R...i.v.e..r.. .G..o..r.g..e.. .N...a..t.i.o..n..a..l. .R..i.v..e..r...... 6 Bedroc.k.. .M...a..p.. .U..n..i.t. .L..is..t...... 6 Bedroc.k.. .M...a..p.. .U..n..i.t. .D..e..s..c..r.i.p..t.i.o..n..s...... 7 PNa - .A...l.le..g..h..e..n..y.. .F..o..r..m..a..t.i.o..n.. .(.M...i.d..d..le.. .P..e..n..n..s..y..l.v..a..n..i.a..n..)...... 7 PNk - .K..a..n..a..w....h..a.. .F..o..r.m...a..t.io..n..,. .u..n..d..i.f.f..e..r.e..n..t.i.a..t.e..d.. .(.M...id..d..l.e.. .P..e..n..n..s..y..l.v..a..n..ia..n..)...... 7 Kanaw ha Form..a..t.i.o..n..,. .c..o..a..l .b..e..d..s.. .(..M..i.d..d..l.e.. .P..e..n..n..s..y..lv..a..n..i.a..n..)...... 7 PNnr -.. .N..e..w... .R...iv..e..r.. .F..o..r.m...a..t.io..n..,. .u..n..d..i.f.f..e..r.e..n..t.i.a..t.e..d.. .(.L..o..w...e..r.. .P..e..n..n..s..y..lv..a..n..i.a..n..)...... 8 New River For.m..a..t.i.o..n..,. .c..o..a..l. .b..e..d..s.. .(.L..o..w...e..r.. .P..e..n..n..s..y..lv..a..n..i.a..n..)...... 8 PNnru.n.. .-.. .N..e..w... .R...iv..e..r.. .F..o..r.m...a..t.io..n..,. .U...p..p..e..r. .N..u..t.t.a..l.l. .S..a..n..d..s..t.o..n..e.. .(.L..o..w....e..r. .P..e..n..n..s..y..l.v..a..n..ia..n..)...... 9 PNnr.l.n.. .-. .N...e..w... .R..i.v..e..r. .F..o..r..m..a..t.i.o..n..,. .L..o..w...e..r.. .N..u..t.t.a..l.l .S...a..n..d..s..t.o..n..e.. .(.L..o..w...e..r.. .P..e..n..n..s..y..lv..a..n..i.a..n..)...... 10 PNnr.u..r..a..l .-.. .N..e..w... .R...iv..e..r.. .F..o..r.m...a..t.io..n..,. .U...p..p..e..r. .R..a..l.e..i.g..h.. .S..a..n..d..s..t.o..n..e.. .(.L..o..w....e..r. .P..e..n..n..s..y..l.v..a..n..ia..n..)...... 10 PNnr.l.r.a..l. .-. .N...e..w... .R..i.v..e..r. .F..o..r..m..a..t.i.o..n..,. .L..o..w...e..r.. .R..a..l.e..ig..h.. .S...a..n..d..s..t.o..n..e.. .(.L..o..w...e..r.. .P..e..n..n..s..y..lv..a..n..i.a..n..)...... 10 PNnr.p.. .-.. .N..e..w... .R...iv..e..r.. .F..o..r.m...a..t.io..n..,. .P..i.n..e..v..i.ll.e.. .S..a..n..d..s..t.o..n..e.. .(..L..o..w...e..r. .P..e..n..n..s..y..l.v..a..n..i.a..n..)...... 11 PNp .-. .P..o..c..a..h..o..n..t.a..s.. .F..o..r..m..a..t.i.o..n..,. .u..n..d..i.f.f.e..r..e..n..t.ia..t.e..d.. .(..L..o..w...e..r. .P..e..n..n..s..y..l.v..a..n..i.a..n..)...... 11 Pocahontas F.o..r..m..a..t.i.o..n..,. .c..o..a..l. .b..e..d..s.. .(.L..o..w...e..r.. .P..e..n..n..s..y..lv..a..n..i.a..n..)...... 11 Mbs .-.. .B..l.u..e..s..t.o..n..e.. .F..o..r.m...a..t.io..n..,. .u..n..d..i.f.f..e..r.e..n..t.i.a..t.e..d.. .(.M...is..s..i.s..s..i.p..p..ia..n..)...... 12 Mpn .-.. .P..r.i.n..c..e..t.o..n.. .F..o..r.m...a..t.io..n..,. .u..n..d..i.f.f..e..r.e..n..t.i.a..t.e..d.. .(.M...is..s..i.s..s..i.p..p..ia..n..)...... 12 Mhu .-.. .H..i.n..t.o..n.. .F..o..r.m...a..t.io..n..,. .U...p..p..e..r. .H..i.n..t.o..n.. .m...e..m..b..e..r.. .(.M...is..s..i.s..s..i.p..p..ia..n..)...... 12 Mhls.g.. .-. .H...in..t.o..n.. .F..o..r..m..a..t.i.o..n..,. .L..i.t.t.le.. .S...t.o..n..e.. .G..a..p.. .M...e..m...b..e..r.,. .A...v..is.. .L..i.m...e..s..t.o..n..e.. .(.M...is..s..i.s..s..i.p..p..ia..n..)...... 13 Mhl -. .H...in..t.o..n.. .F..o..r..m..a..t.i.o..n..,. .L..o..w...e..r.. .H..i.n..t.o..n.. .m..e..m...b..e..r. .(..M..i.s..s..i.s..s..ip..p..i.a..n..)...... 13 Mhsg.. .-.. .H..i.n..t.o..n.. .F..o..r.m...a..t.io..n..,. .S...t.o..n..y.. .G..a..p.. .S...a..n..d..s..t.o..n..e.. .M..e..m...b..e..r. .(..M..i.s..s..i.s..s..ip..p..i.a..n..)...... 13 Mbf .-. .B..l.u..e..f.i.e..l.d.. .F..o..r.m...a..t.io..n..,. .u..n..d..i.f.f..e..r.e..n..t.i.a..t.e..d.. .(.M...is..s..i.s..s..i.p..p..ia..n..)...... 14 Bedro.c..k.. .G...e..o..lo..g..i.c.. .C..r..o..s..s.. .S..e..c..t.i.o..n..s...... 14 Cros.s.. .S...e..c..t.io..n.. .A...-.A...'.-.A...''...... 14 Cros.s.. .S...e..c..t.io..n.. .B...-.B..'...... 14 Cros.s.. .S...e..c..t.io..n.. .C...-.C..'...... 14 Cros.s.. .S...e..c..t.io..n.. .D...-.D..'...... 15 Bedro.c..k.. .A...n..c..il.l.a..r.y.. .S..o..u..r..c..e.. .M..a..p.. .I.n..f.o..r..m..a..t.i.o..n...... 15 Open.. .F..i.l.e.. .R..e..p..o..r.t. .O...F..-.1..3..0..1...... 15 Stratigraphic .O..r..d..e..r. .o..f. .U...n..it.s.. .a..n..d.. .C...o..a..l .B...e..d..s...... 15 Stratigraphic .C..o..l.u..m..n...... 16 Location Map...... 17 Map Symbols...... 18 Point Data ...... 18 Report ...... 20 References ...... 33 Digital. .S..u..r..f.i.c.i.a..l. .G...e..o..l.o..g..i.c.. .M..a..p.. .o..f. .N...e..w.. .R...i.v.e..r.. .G..o..r.g..e.. .N...a..t.i.o..n..a..l. .R..i.v..e..r...... 40 Surfic.i.a..l. .M..a..p.. .U...n..it. .L..i.s..t...... 40 Surfic.i.a..l. .M..a..p.. .U...n..it. .D...e..s..c..r.i.p..t.io..n..s...... 41 Qd -. .D..i.s..t.u..r.b..e..d.. .(.R...e..c..e..n..t. .(.A...n..t.h..r.o..p..o..c..e..n..e..).)...... 41 Qr - .R..i.v..e..r. .c..h..a..n..n..e..l. .(.R...e..c..e..n..t. .(.A...n..t.h..r.o..p..o..c..e..n..e..).)...... 41 Qtd -.. .T..r.i.b..u..t.a..r.y.. .d..e..p..o..s..i.t. .(.R..e..c..e..n..t. .(..A..n..t.h..r..o..p..o..c..e..n..e..).)...... 41

2016 NPS Geologic Resources Inventory Program II

Qrff .-.. .R..o..c..k..-.f.l.o..o..r.e..d.. .f..lo..o..d..p..l.a..i.n.. .(.R..e..c..e..n..t. .(..A..n..t.h..r..o..p..o..c..e..n..e..).)...... 41 Qls -. .L..a..n..d..s..l.i.d..e.. .(.R..e..c..e..n..t. .(..A..n..t.h..r..o..p..o..c..e..n..e..).,. .H..o..l.o..c..e..n..e.. .a..n..d.. .l.a..t.e.. .P..le..i.s..t.o..c..e..n..e..)...... 41 Qflp .-.. .F..lo..o..d..p..l.a..i.n.. .(.l.a..t.e.. .H..o..l.o..c..e..n..e..)...... 41 Qfc .-. .F..l.u..v..ia..l. .c..h..a..n..n..e..l. .(.H..o..l.o..c..e..n..e..)...... 42 Qaf .-. .A...ll.u..v..i.a..l .f..a..n.. .(.H..o..l.o..c..e..n..e.. .a..n..d.. .l.a..t.e.. .P..le..i.s..t.o..c..e..n..e..)...... 42 Qbm. .-. .B...lo..c..k..y.. .m...a..n..t.le.. .(..H..o..l.o..c..e..n..e.. .a..n..d.. .la..t.e.. .P..l.e..i.s..t.o..c..e..n..e..)...... 42 Qbtd. .-.. .B..o..u..l.d..e..r.y.. .t.r.i.b..u..t.a..r.y.. .d..e..p..o..s..i.t. .(.H...o..lo..c..e..n..e.. .a..n..d.. .l.a..t.e.. .P..l.e..is..t.o..c..e..n..e..)...... 42 Qca .-.. .C..o..l.lu..v..i.a..l. .a..p..r.o..n.. .(.H...o..lo..c..e..n..e.. .a..n..d.. .l.a..t.e.. .P..l.e..is..t.o..c..e..n..e..)...... 42 Qcf .-. .C..o..l.l.u..v..ia..l. .f.a..n.. .(..H..o..l.o..c..e..n..e.. .a..n..d.. .la..t.e.. .P..l.e..i.s..t.o..c..e..n..e..)...... 42 Qcm. .-. .C...o..ll.u..v..i.a..l .m...a..n..t.l.e.. .(.H..o..l.o..c..e..n..e.. .a..n..d.. .l.a..t.e.. .P..le..i.s..t.o..c..e..n..e..)...... 42 Qcv .-.. .C..o..l.lu..v..i.a..l. .v..e..n..e..e..r. .(.H...o..lo..c..e..n..e.. .a..n..d.. .l.a..t.e.. .P..l.e..is..t.o..c..e..n..e..)...... 43 Qec .-.. .R..o..c..k.. .C..i.t.y.. .(.H..o..l.o..c..e..n..e.. .a..n..d.. .l.a..t.e.. .P..le..i.s..t.o..c..e..n..e..)...... 43 Qt - .T..e..r.r.a..c..e.. .(..H..o..l.o..c..e..n..e.. .a..n..d.. .la..t.e.. .P..l.e..i.s..t.o..c..e..n..e..)...... 43 Qres.. .-. .R..e..s..i.d..u..u..m... .(.L..a..t.e.. .C..e..n..o..z..o..i.c..)...... 43 Surfic.i.a..l. .A..n..c..i.l.la..r..y.. .S..o..u..r.c..e.. .M...a..p.. .I.n..f.o..r.m...a..t.i.o..n...... 44 Open.. .F..i.l.e.. .R..e..p..o..r.t. .O...F..-.1..5..0..1...... 44 Abstract ...... 44 Location Map...... 45 Map Units ...... 46 References ...... 47 GRI Di.g..i.t.a..l. .D..a..t.a.. .C..r..e..d..i.t.s...... 48

2016 NPS Geologic Resources Inventory Program

II 1 NERI GRI Map Document

Geologic Resources Inventory Map Document New River Gorge National River, West Virginia

Document to Accompany Digital Geologic-GIS Data

neri_geology.pdf

Version: 5/10/2016

This document has been developed to accompany the digital geologic-GIS data developed by the Geologic Resources Inventory (GRI) program for New River Gorge National River, West Virginia (NERI).

Attempts have been made to reproduce all aspects of the original source products, including the geologic units and their descriptions, geologic cross sections, the geologic report, references and all other pertinent images and information contained in the original publication.

This document contains the following information:

1) About the NPS Geologic Resources Inventory Program – A brief summary of the Geologic Resources Inventory (GRI) Program and its products. Included are web links to the GRI GIS data model, and to the GRI products page where digital geologic-GIS datasets, scoping reports and geology reports are available for download. In addition, web links to the NPS Data Store and GRI program home page, as well as contact information for the GRI coordinator, are also present.

2) GRI Digital Maps and Source Citations – A listing of all GRI digital geologic-GIS maps produced for this project along with sources used in their completion. In addition, a brief explanation of how each source map was used is provided.

3) Digital Bedrock Geologic Map of New River Gorge National River

a) Map Unit Listing – A listing of all bedrock map units present on the bedrock geology map.

b) Map Unit Descriptions – Descriptions for all bedrock map units present on the bedrock geology map.

c.) Bedrock Geologic Cross Sections – Geologic cross section graphics present on bedrock geology source map.

d) Ancillary Source Map Information – Additional source map information present on bedrock geology source map.

4) Digital Surficial Geologic Map of New River Gorge National River

a) Map Unit Listing – A listing of all surficial map units present on the surficial geology map.

2016 NPS Geologic Resources Inventory Program NERI GRI Map Document 2

b) Map Unit Descriptions – Descriptions for all surficial map units present on the surficial geology map.

c.) Ancillary Source Map Information – Additional source map information present on surficial geology source map.

5) GRI Digital Data Credits – GRI digital geologic-GIS data and ancillary map information document production credits.

For information about using GRI digital geologic-GIS data contact:

Stephanie O'Meara Geologist/GIS Specialist/Data Manager Colorado State University Research Associate, Cooperator to the National Park Service 1201 Oak Ridge Drive, Suite 200 Fort Collins, CO 80525 phone: (970) 491-6655 e-mail: [email protected]

2016 NPS Geologic Resources Inventory Program 3 NERI GRI Map Document

About the NPS Geologic Resources Inventory Program Background

Recognizing the interrelationships between the physical (geology, air, and water) and biological (plants and animals) components of the Earth is vital to understanding, managing, and protecting natural resources. The Geologic Resources Inventory (GRI) helps make this connection by providing information on the role of geology and geologic resource management in parks.

Geologic resources for management consideration include both the processes that act upon the Earth and the features formed as a result of these processes. Geologic processes include: erosion and sedimentation; seismic, volcanic, and geothermal activity; glaciation, rockfalls, landslides, and shoreline change. Geologic features include mountains, canyons, natural arches and bridges, minerals, rocks, fossils, cave and karst systems, beaches, dunes, glaciers, volcanoes, and faults.

The Geologic Resources Inventory aims to raise awareness of geology and the role it plays in the environment, and to provide natural resource managers and staff, park planners, interpreters, researchers, and other NPS personnel with information that can help them make informed management decisions.

The GRI team, working closely with the Colorado State University (CSU) Department of Geosciences and a variety of other partners, provides more than 270 parks with a geologic scoping meeting, digital geologic-GIS map data, and a park-specific geologic report.

Products

Scoping Meetings: These park-specific meetings bring together local geologic experts and park staff to inventory and review available geologic data and discuss geologic resource management issues. A summary document is prepared for each meeting that identifies a plan to provide digital map data for the park.

Digital Geologic Maps: Digital geologic maps reproduce all aspects of traditional paper maps, including notes, legend, and cross sections. Bedrock, surficial, and special purpose maps such as coastal or geologic hazard maps may be used by the GRI to create digital Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data and meet park needs. These digital GIS data allow geologic information to be easily viewed and analyzed in conjunction with a wide range of other resource management information data.

For detailed information regarding GIS parameters such as data attribute field definitions, attribute field codes, value definitions, and rules that govern relationships found in the data, refer to the NPS Geology- GIS Data Model document available at: http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/inventory/geology/ GeologyGISDataModel.cfm

Geologic Reports: Park-specific geologic reports identify geologic resource management issues as well as features and processes that are important to park ecosystems. In addition, these reports present a brief geologic history of the park and address specific properties of geologic units present in the park.

For a complete listing of Geologic Resource Inventory products and direct links to the download site visit the GRI publications webpage http://www.nature.nps.gov/geology/inventory/gre_publications.cfm

GRI geologic-GIS data is also available online at the NPS Data Store Search Application: http://irma. nps.gov/App/Reference/Search. To find GRI data for a specific park or parks select the appropriate park

2016 NPS Geologic Resources Inventory Program NERI GRI Map Document 4

(s), enter “GRI” as a Search Text term, and then select the Search Button.

For more information about the Geologic Resources Inventory Program visit the GRI webpage: http:// www.nature.nps.gov/geology/inventory, or contact:

Bruce Heise Inventory Coordinator National Park Service Geologic Resources Division P.O. Box 25287 Denver, CO 80225-0287 phone: (303) 969-2017 fax: (303) 987-6792 email: [email protected]

The Geologic Resources Inventory (GRI) program is funded by the National Park Service (NPS) Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) Division.

2016 NPS Geologic Resources Inventory Program 5 NERI GRI Map Document

GRI Digital Maps and Source Map Citations

The GRI digital geologic-GIS map for New River Gorge National River, West Virginia (NERI):

Digital Bedrock Geologic Map of New River Gorge National River and Vicinity, West Virginia (GRI MapCode NERI)

Map produced from the following West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey source map,

McColloch, G.H., Hunt, P.J., McColloch, J.S., Peck, R.L., Blake, B.M., Jr., Matchen, D.L., and Gooding, S.E., 2013, Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River, West Virginia: West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, Geologic Quadrangle Maps of West Virginia, Open File Map OF-1301, 4 map sheets, scale 1:24,000. (GRI Source Map ID 75738).

The full extent of this source map, as well as all relevant ancillary map information (e.g., unit descriptions, graphics, and map and report text) was used.

Digital Surficial Geologic Map of New River Gorge National River, West Virginia (GRI MapCode NERS)

Map produced from the following West Virginia University and West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey source map,

Yates, Marla K., and Kite, Stephen J. [Digital Cartography and Map Compilation by Gooding, Sarah E.], 2015, Surficial Geologic Map of the New River Gorge National River, West Virginia: West Virginia University and West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, Open-File Report OF-1501, scale 1:48,000. (GRI Source Map ID 76059).

The full extent of this source map, as well as all relevant ancillary map information (e.g., unit descriptions, graphics, and map text) was used.

Additional information pertaining to each source map is also presented in the GRI Source Map Information (NERIMAP) table included with the GRI geologic-GIS data.

2016 NPS Geologic Resources Inventory Program NERI GRI Map Document 6

Digital Bedrock Geologic Map of New River Gorge National River Bedrock Map Unit List

The bedrock geologic units present in the digital geologic-GIS data produced for New River Gorge National River, West Virginia (NERI) are listed below. Units are listed with their assigned unit symbol and unit name (e.g., PNa - Allegheny Formation). Units are listed from youngest to oldest. Information about each geologic unit is also presented in the GRI Geologic Unit Information (NERIUNIT) table included with the GRI geologic-GIS data. Some source unit symbols were changed to include age or to conform to GRI naming conventions.

Paleozoic Era

Pennsylvanian Period PNa - Allegheny Formation

Pottsville Group PNk - Kanawha Formation, undifferentiated PNkstk - Kanawha Formation, Stockton Coal Bed PNkcbg - Kanawha Formation, Coalburg Coal Bed PNknp - Kanawha Formation, Peerless and No. 2 Coal Beds, undivided PNkprl - Kanawha Formation, Peerless Coal Bed PNkn2g - Kanawha Formation, No. 2 Gas Coal Bed PNkeag - Kanawha Formation, Eagle Coal Bed PNnr - New River Formation, undifferentiated PNnrun - New River Formation, Upper Nuttall Sandstone PNnrln - New River Formation, Lower Nuttall Sandstone PNnrhuf - New River Formation, Hughes Ferry Coal Bed PNnrsew - New River Formation, Sewell Coal Bed PNnrural - New River Formation, Upper Raleigh Sandstone PNnrlrl - New River Formation, Little Raleigh Coal Bed PNnrlral - New River Formation, Lower Raleigh Sandstone PNnrbck - New River Formation, Beckley Coal Bed PNnrfck - New River Formation, Fire Creek Coal Bed PNnrp - New River Formation, Pineville Sandstone PNp - Pocahontas Formation, undifferentiated PNppc6 - Pocahontas Formation, Pocahontas No. 6 Coal Bed PNppc3 - Pocahontas Formation, Pocahontas No. 3 Coal Bed

Mississippian Period

Mauch Chunk Group Mbs - Bluestone Formation, undifferentiated Mpn - Princeton Formation, undifferentiated Mhu - Hinton Formation, Upper Hinton member Mhlsg - Hinton Formation, Little Stone Gap Member, Avis limestone Mhl - Hinton Formation, Lower Hinton member Mhsg - Hinton Formation, Stony Gap Sandstone Member Mbf - Bluefield Formation, undifferentiated

2016 NPS Geologic Resources Inventory Program 7 NERI GRI Map Document

Bedrock Map Unit Descriptions

Descriptions of all bedrock geologic map units are presented below. Coal beds that share a common description have been grouped in this document. Additional information about specific formations is also available in the report section of this document.

PNa - Allegheny Formation (Middle Pennsylvanian) The exposed portion of this formation is mainly comprised of sandstone overlying coaly beds. Sandstone is typically grayish white, quartzose, medium- to coarse- grained with few pebbles, usually massive, and often crossbedded. Coal is typically thin, “splinty,” and multibedded. The basal contact with the underlying Kanawha Formation is sharp where exposed. The upper contact is not present in the map area. 90 ft (27 m) thick, partial section. (GRI Source Map ID 75738) (Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River).

PNk - Kanawha Formation, undifferentiated (Middle Pennsylvanian) The Kanawha Formation is comprised of interbedded sandstones, shales, siltstones, and coals. Sandstones are generally thin, discontinuous, orange, white to light gray, fine- to very coarse-grained, and are interbedded with shales, siltstones, claystones, mudstones, thin discontinuous coal beds, and carbonaceous shales. Siltstones, shales, mudstones, and claystones are tan, light to dark gray, or black. Shales are often micaceous, frequently silty to sandy, and are commonly interlaminated or interbedded with sandstone or siltstone or present as partings within coal beds. Shales may contain marine and nonmarine invertebrate and plant fossils. Siltstones are frequently sandy and usually grade vertically to sandstones, shales, or mudstones. Mudstones and claystones often occur beneath coal beds or carbonaceous shales and are clayey, silty, or sandy. Siderite nodules and discontinuous beds generally less than 0.5 in. (1 cm) thick occur in some marine influenced shales. Coal beds mapped within the formation are the Eagle (PNkeag), No. 2 Gas (PNkn2g), Peerless (PNkprl), Coalburg (PNkcbg), and Stockton (PNkstk). Contact with the overlying Allegheny Formation is sharp where exposed, and contact with the underlying New River Formation is unconformable and sharp, but often concealed. 1,000 ft (300 m) thick. (GRI Source Map ID 75738) (Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River).

Kanawha Formation, coal beds (Middle Pennsylvanian) Coal beds from the Kanawha Formation are present in the northwestern map area and adjacent area outside of the study area. The following nine coal beds have been mined commercially: Lower War Eagle, Middle War Eagle, Little Eagle, Eagle, Eagle A, Powellton, No. 2 Gas, Peerless, and Winifrede (West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, 2011b). Of these, the Eagle (PNkeag), No. 2 Gas (PNkn2g), Peerless (PNkprl), Coalburg (PNkcbg), and Stockton (PNkstk) are considered to be the more significant coal beds in the study area and their outcrops are depicted on the map. The No. 2 Gas and Peerless coal beds merge on the Beckwith quadrangle. The thickness ranges of the Kanawha coal beds are shown on the accompanying stratigraphic column. Commercial mining (surface, underground, and auger) of Kanawha Formation coals occurred mostly in the Beckwith quadrangle in the northwestern part of the study area (West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, 2011c).

Below is a listing of coal bed symbols, names, ages, and descriptions (if available) as displayed in the GRI digital geologic-GIS data:

PNkstk - Kanawha Formation, Stockton Coal Bed (Middle Pennsylvanian) PNkcbg - Kanawha Formation, Coalburg Coal Bed (Middle Pennsylvanian)

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PNknp - Kanawha Formation, Peerless and No. 2 Coal Beds, undivided (Middle Pennsylvanian) PNkprl - Kanawha Formation, Peerless Coal Bed (Middle Pennsylvanian) PNkn2g - Kanawha Formation, No. 2 Gas Coal Bed (Middle Pennsylvanian) PNkeag - Kanawha Formation, Eagle Coal Bed (Middle Pennsylvanian)

No additional descriptions were provided for the above coal beds.

(GRI Source Map ID 75738) (Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River).

PNnr - New River Formation, undifferentiated (Lower Pennsylvanian) The undifferentiated New River Formation is comprised of two intervals: one between the top of the Pineville Sandstone and the base of the Lower Raleigh Sandstone, and other between the top of the Upper Raleigh Sandstone and the base of the Lower Nuttall Sandstone. These intervals are coal-bearing sequences of quartzose and lithic sandstones, siltstones, shales, mudstones, and siderite. Sandstones are fine to very coarse, sometimes conglomeratic, and are comprised of quartz with lesser amounts of mica, feldspar, heavy mineral grains, and rock fragments. Siltstones are micaceous, usually sandy, and may grade to sandstones, shales, or mudstones. Shales are commonly micaceous, silty or sandy locally, and often occur interlaminated or interbedded with sandstone or siltstone and as partings within coal beds. These units often contain nodules, concretions, or beds of siderite or septarian nodules. Carbonate cement is locally present. Plant fossils may be present in some beds; marine fossils are unknown. Informally named sandstone units include the Quinnimont, Lower Guyandot, Guyandot (also called Upper Guyandot), and Harvey sandstones. The Quinnimont sandstone is indurated, white to gray, weathers light gray to light brown and light orange-brown, quartzose, fine- to medium- grained and conglomeratic in places. It contains subangular to subrounded quartz grains, sparse to abundant mica, siderite nodules, clay galls, coal spars, coal stringers, and sparse poorly preserved plant-fossil fragments. This unit is lenticular in geometry, and bedding is flaggy to massive with crossbeds. The Lower Guyandot sandstone is predominantly quartz, light gray, weathers buff to light brown, is fine- to coarse- grained and locally conglomeratic. Bedding ranges from 2 in. to 3 ft (5 cm to 1 m) thick, is locally crossbedded, and may have shaley interbeds. The Guyandot (or Upper Guyandot) sandstone is buff, weathers light brown, reddish brown, gray to pink, and is fine grained. Bedding is flaggy to massive ranging from 0.5 in. to 3 ft (1 cm to 1 m) thick; it is locally crossbedded and may have shaley interbeds. This unit can be micaceous with traces of dark minerals. The Harvey sandstone generally appears flaggy with beds often 2 in. (5 cm) thick, is light gray on fresh surface, weathers gray to dark gray to brown, has limonite and manganese banding less than 0.5 in. (1 cm) thick, is composed of fine to medium subrounded grains, and is sometimes micaceous. Occasional high-angle crossbeds are observed; the Harvey sandstone may appear wavy bedded locally. Coal beds mapped in the New River Formation include the Hughes Ferry (PNnrhuf), Sewell (PNnrsew), Little Raleigh (PNnrlrl), Beckley (PNnrbck), and Fire Creek (PNnrfck) coal beds are mapped. Where present some of these coal beds are up to 7 ft (2 m) thick. The basal contact is sharp. (GRI Source Map ID 75738) (Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River).

New River Formation, coal beds (Lower Pennsylvanian) The New River coal beds present in the map area include the Pocahontas No. 9, Little Fire Creek, Fire Creek, Beckley, Little Raleigh, Welch, Sewell, Sewell A, Sewell B, and Hughes Ferry. Previous workers (Hennen and Teets 1919; Reger, 1921) reported that the Iaeger, Hughes Ferry, and Castle coal beds are present in the map area, but correlations outside the Nuttall incised valley fill (Blake, 1997) are questionable. The outcrops of the Hughes Ferry (PNnrhuf), Sewell (PNnrsew), Little Raleigh (PNnrlrl), Beckley (PNnrbck), and Fire Creek (PNnrfck) coal beds are depicted on the map. Although the Little

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Raleigh (PNnrlrl) coal bed has little documented commercial mining in the map area, where present, it is found in the shales between the Upper and Lower Raleigh sandstones. It is exposed in the New River Gorge along the Fayette Station Road beneath the U.S. Route 19 New River Bridge, along Keeney Creek in the Fayetteville quadrangle, and other locations. New River Formation coal beds, other than the ones listed above, are present in the map area but they are generally thin, laterally discontinuous, and have no documented commercial mining in the study area (West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, 2011b).

Below is a listing of coal bed symbols, names, ages, and descriptions (if available) as displayed in the GRI digital geologic-GIS data:

PNnrhuf - New River Formation, Hughes Ferry Coal Bed (Lower Pennsylvanian) The Hughes Ferry coal bed is non-economic throughout most of the map area but is surface mined commercially at locations in the Thurmond quadrangle (West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, 2011b). One active surface mine in Hughes Ferry the was noted in the Winona quadrangle while conducting field work. Where present, the Hughes Ferry coal directly underlies the lower Nuttall sandstone.

PNnrsew - New River Formation, Sewell Coal Bed (Lower Pennsylvanian) The Sewell coal bed is one of the most economically important coal beds of the New River Formation. It is the original “New River Smokeless” coal and was first commercially mined in 1874 along the New River by John Nuttall at Nuttallburg (White, 1891). This coal bed is reported to be as much as 6 feet (2 meters) thick in the map area. Core data indicate it may be absent in the northwest corner of the Beckwith quadrangle (West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, 2011b). The Sewell has been mined commercially (surface, underground, and auger) in the northern and central portions of the map area (West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, 2011b).

PNnrlrl - New River Formation, Little Raleigh Coal Bed (Lower Pennsylvanian) No additional description provided.

PNnrbck - New River Formation, Beckley Coal Bed (Lower Pennsylvanian) The Beckley coal bed is 0 to 5 feet (1.5 meters) thick in the study are. It crops out along the New River and its tributaries. This coal has been mined commercially in the central portion of the study area (West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, 2011b).

PNnrfck - New River Formation, Fire Creek Coal Bed (Lower Pennsylvanian) The Fire Creek coal bed is up to 7 feet (2.15 meters) thick in the study area and crops out along the New River and its tributaries. The Fire Creek has been commercially mined (surface, Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River 16 underground, and auger) extensively in the central portion of the study area (West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, 2011b).

(GRI Source Map ID 75738) (Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River).

PNnrun - New River Formation, Upper Nuttall Sandstone (Lower Pennsylvanian) This unit is a light gray to buff, well-indurated, fine- to coarse-grained quartz arenite. It weathers pink, tan to reddish tan, orange to red, gray-brown or brown. Quartz, shale, and siderite pebbles are present locally in lags, especially near the base of the unit. Iron staining is common, manganese staining is infrequent, and dark mineral grains are sometimes present. Detrital mica flakes sometimes drape

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bedding planes. Weathering in the form of Liesegang banding is present in some beds, and iron precipitate is present on fractures. Some beds contain fine-grained shaly clasts, clay galls, plant fossils, and coal spars. Bedding is thin to thick with crossbedding in the upper part of the unit, more massive bedding in the middle part, and thin to thick bedding and crossbedding in the lower part of the unit. Sandstone is interbedded with sandy silt and carbonaceous shale in places and may contain nodules of fine- to medium-grained sandstone, coal stringers or lenses, plant-fossil fragments, and trace fossils. Contact with the overlying Kanawha Formation is usually concealed and is often marked by a break in slope. Contact with underlying units is usually sharp. Up to 25 ft (7 m) of shaly, silty, very fine-grained sandstone, sandy to silty shale, and coal may be present between the upper and lower Nuttall Sandstone units. 45 to 135 ft (14 to 41 m) thick. (GRI Source Map ID 75738) (Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River).

PNnrln - New River Formation, Lower Nuttall Sandstone (Lower Pennsylvanian) This unit is a light gray to buff, well-indurated, very fine- to coarse-grained quartz arenite weathering pink, tan to reddish tan, orange to red, gray-brown or brown. Grains are generally subangular. Quartz pebbles are present locally in lags, often near the base of the unit. Mica and heavy mineral grains are present in some beds. Infrequent manganese and iron staining with Liesegang banding and rings is exhibited in some beds. The unit contains sparse plant fossils, is thin to massively bedded, and sometimes crossbedded with ripple marks present at the base of some beds. Although this member is highly variable, it is generally more massive and conglomeratic than the Upper Nuttall, often forming overhanging cliffs with an undulating base. Contact with underlying units is unconformable and sharp. 50 to 120 ft (15 to 37 m) thick. (GRI Source Map ID 75738) (Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River).

PNnrural - New River Formation, Upper Raleigh Sandstone (Lower Pennsylvanian) The Upper Raleigh Sandstone is a well-indurated quartz arenite, medium gray on fresh surface, weathering light gray, tan to orange, pink, buff, and light to medium orange-brown to brown-orange. Quartz grains are fine to medium and subrounded to subangular. Mica is very sparse to common, and detrital mica flakes sometimes drape bedding planes. Heavy mineral grains are sparse to abundant. It is sometimes stained by manganese and iron and exhibits Liesegang banding. Bedding is thin to massive with pervasive fine crossbeds. Contact with the underlying unit is sharp. The Little Raleigh (PNnrlrl) coal horizon is between the Lower and Upper Raleigh sandstones. 30 to 150 ft (10 to 45 m) thick. (GRI Source Map ID 75738) (Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River).

PNnrlral - New River Formation, Lower Raleigh Sandstone (Lower Pennsylvanian) The Lower Raleigh Sandstone is a well-indurated quartz arenite with fine to medium, subrounded to subangular grains. It is white to very light gray on fresh surface, and weathers white, light gray, tan, buff, light orange, pink, or brown. Mica and heavy mineral grains are present in some beds. The unit exhibits infrequent manganese staining, iron staining with Liesegang banding in some beds, and sometimes contains plant fossils, coal spars, and clay galls. It is thin to massively bedded, sometimes crossbedded, and sometimes interbedded with finely crossbedded thin to medium beds of laminated sandstone. Contact with underlying units is sharp. 0 to 95 ft (29 m) thick. (GRI Source Map ID 75738) (

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Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River).

PNnrp - New River Formation, Pineville Sandstone (Lower Pennsylvanian) The Pineville Sandstone is a well-indurated quartz arenite, light to medium gray to light brownish gray on fresh surface, and weathers tan, buff, light to medium brown-orange to orange-brown or light to medium brown. Grain size ranges from fine to coarse, and sparse quartz pebbles are present locally. Grains are subrounded to subangular. Mica and heavy mineral grains are present in some beds. Iron staining is common and Liesegang banding and rings are sometimes observed. Some beds contain clay galls, plant fossils, and coal spars and stringers. The unit is thin to massively bedded, sometimes crossbedded, and exhibits load structures on the base of some beds. Contact with underlying units ranges from gradational to sharp. 35 to 100 ft (10 to 30 m) thick. (GRI Source Map ID 75738) (Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River).

PNp - Pocahontas Formation, undifferentiated (Lower Pennsylvanian) The Pocahontas Formation is a variable sequence of sandstone, siltstone, shale, mudstone, coal, and siderite. Sandstones are mainly fine- to coarse-grained, micaceous, light gray, and trough crossbedded lithic arenites. Sandstones often contain thin shale streaks, coal fragments, and ironstone (siderite, limonite, goethite) concretions. Siltstones and shales are light gray to dark gray or black, often arenaceous, carbonaceous in places, fissile, and platy. Mudstone and claystone occur mainly as medium gray seatrocks with carbonized lycopsid rootlets. Plant fossils are common throughout the formation. Mapped coal beds include the Pocahontas No. 6 (PNppc6) and Pocahontas No. 3 (PNppc3) coal beds. Contact with underlying units ranges from gradational to sharp. 620 ft (190 m) thick. (GRI Source Map ID 75738) (Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River).

Pocahontas Formation, coal beds (Lower Pennsylvanian) Named coal beds of the Pocahontas Formation include the Pocahontas Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6 upper split, and 7. Only the Pocahontas Nos. 3, 6, 6 upper split, and 7 are present in the southern study area, and exposures of these coal beds are generally poor. The Pocahontas No. 9 coal bed had limited commercial mining in the study area. Two documented mines in this coal bed include a small underground mine near Babcock State Park in the Thurmond quadrangle, and a small surface mine south of Pinch Creek in the Prince and adjoining Shady Spring quadrangles. The Pocahontas No. 3 (PNppc3) and Pocahontas No. 6 (PNppc6) coal beds are the most laterally continuous Pocahontas Formation coal beds in the map area and their outcrops are depicted on the map. The Pocahontas No. 3 ranges from 0 to over 5 feet (1.5 meters) thick, and the Pocahontas No. 6 ranges from 0 to 6 feet (2 meters) thick. These regionally important coal beds are thinner and less continuous in the map area than elsewhere in southern West Virginia, and commercial mining has been limited to surface and underground mines located in the central and south central portions of the map area (West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, 2011a).

Below is a listing of coal bed symbols, names, ages, and descriptions (if available) as displayed in the GRI digital geologic-GIS data:

PNppc6 - Pocahontas Formation, Pocahontas No. 6 Coal Bed (Lower Pennsylvanian) PNppc3 - Pocahontas Formation, Pocahontas No. 3 Coal Bed (Lower Pennsylvanian)

(GRI Source Map ID 75738) (Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River).

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Mbs - Bluestone Formation, undifferentiated (Mississippian) The Bluestone Formation is a variable sequence of mudstone, shale, siltstone, and sandstone with discontinuous beds of coalesced authigenic limestone and siderite nodules. A few thin, discontinuous, impure coal beds are present. Marine zones contain brachiopods, bryozoans, corals, bivalves, gastropods, ostracodes, trilobites, pelmatozoans, and cephalopods. The unnamed upper member consists of red and green mudstone, siltstone, shale, and very fine -grained sandstone capped by a claystone that intertongues or grades laterally into the overlying Pocahontas Formation. The Bramwell Member, where present, coarsens upward from a dark, clayrich mudstone to interlaminated green to gray shale, siltstone, and sandstone, and contains marine invertebrate and trace fossils. The informal red and gray members in the middle part of the formation are mudstones, the upper unit being conspicuously red. Sandstones, siltstone, shales, and limestones are also present. A few discontinuous, impure coal beds and a widespread coaly zone are present in the red and gray members. The underlying Glady Fork Sandstone Member, where present, is a sublitharenite, light gray to light brown, weathering light brown to brown to greenish brown, fine - to coarse-grained, micaceous, silty, ripple-bedded to massive, locally conglomeratic and may contain carbonaceous films and flakes. Its contact with the underlying Pride Shale, where present, is sharp and erosional. The Pride Shale Member, where present, is a dark gray to tan rhythmic alternation of shale, siltstone, and sandstone with some lenses of siderite nodules forming a distinctive corrugated appearance on weathered surfaces. It is bioturbated, contains plant fossils, and some beds contain bivalve, crinoid, and brachiopod fragments. Contact with underlying units is gradational. 200 to 600 ft (61 to 182 m) thick. (GRI Source Map ID 75738) (Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River).

Mpn - Princeton Formation, undifferentiated (Mississippian) The Princeton Formation is a sequence of sandstone, conglomerate, silty shales, and silty mudstones and may include a massive basal sandstone. Where present, the basal sandstone is a medium- to coarse-grained, quartzose sandstone to quartz arenite containing quartz pebbles and polymictic conglomerate beds with clasts of limestone, shale, siltstone, and mudstone. Quartz pebbles and pebble clasts tend to be well rounded; lithic fragments tend to be rounded to angular; siderite nodules are sometimes present. Breccias are local and sometimes contain a sparitic carbonate matrix. The unit contains numerous cross stratified beds, mostly trough sets, and a sharp base. Plant-stem clasts up to 1 in. (2.5 cm) in diameter and up to 3.5 in. (8 cm) long are present. The upper part of the formation may contain thin beds of dark mudstone, sandstone, coal, and paleosols in rhythmic alternation. Fragments of plant fossils are common; siderite nodules are present. The basal contact is usually sharp and erosional. 0 to 120 ft (0 to 35 m) thick. (GRI Source Map ID 75738) (Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River).

Mhu - Hinton Formation, Upper Hinton member (Mississippian) The upper Hinton is a variable succession of mudstone, sandstone, and limestone with limited occurrences of coal. Limestone, siderite and hematite nodules are common in some beds. Limestones include marine shell beds, thin, bivalve-dominated bioherms, and argillaceous calcareous mudstones with ostracodes, myalinid bivalves, nonmarine bivalves, fish scales and teeth, and vertebrate bone fragments. Mudstones are mainly red and green, less commonly graygreen. Calcareous glaebules, locally coalesced into nodular beds, occur within some red mudstones. Sandstones are generally very fine- to medium-grained and lithic; quartz arenites are rare. Conglomeratic lenses within sandstones consist of intrabasinally-derived clasts of limestone, siderite and mudrocks. The two marine zones in this

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unit contain marine fossils, including brachiopods, bryozoans, corals, bivalves, gastropods, ostracodes, trilobites, pelmatozoans and cephalopods. Red mudstones include shrink-swell structures, pedogenic slickensides, clastic dikes filling desiccation cracks, reduction features, and caliches. Coal beds are centimeter-scale and impure, grading laterally and vertically into carbonaceous shale. Carbonaceous beds are associated commonly with white-gray mudstones containing carbonized lycopsid roots and pyrite nodules. Contact with underlying units is gradational. 800 to 1350 ft (245 to 410 m) thick. (GRI Source Map ID 75738) (Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River).

Mhlsg - Hinton Formation, Little Stone Gap Member, Avis Limestone (Mississippian) This unit is a variable sequence of limestone, calcareous shale, and sandstone. Limestone is micritic, argillaceous, and contains brachiopods, bryozoans, corals, bivalves, gastropods, ostracodes, trilobites, pelmatozoans, and cephalopods. Bedding varies from laminated to massive, ranging in thickness from centimeters to meters and containing a diverse assemblage of marine invertebrate fossils. Argillaceous beds appear nodular on weathered surfaces. Minor karstic weathering is common. Dark calcareous shale beds containing marine invertebrate fossils intergrade laterally and vertically with limestone. A basal, lenticular, laminated to thinly bedded, highly bioturbated, very fine- to fine-grained sandstone is present below dark calcareous shales. Above the main limestone bed is a heterolithic sequence of shales, mudstones, siltstones, and very fine sandstones exhibiting minor bioturbation (burrowing and rooting) and locally containing a limited diversity bivalve and ostracode assemblage. Plant fossils are also common locally. Unfossiliferous dolomitic limestone beds may occur within the shales above the limestone. The basal contact with underlying units is gradational. 50 to 65 ft (15 to 20 m) thick. (GRI Source Map ID 75738) (Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River).

Mhl - Hinton Formation, Lower Hinton member (Mississippian) The Lower Hinton is a variable succession of mudstone, sandstone, and limestone with minor occurrences of coal. Mudstones are mainly red and green, less commonly gray-green. Sandstones are generally brownish violet to gray-green, very fine- to medium-grained, well-sorted and lithic, displaying trough crossbeds, planar crossbeds, and ripple-scale cross-lamination. Conglomeratic lenses within sandstones consist of intrabasinally-derived clasts of limestone, siderite and mudrocks. Plant fossils are found at different intervals as are nonmarine bivalves, ostracode beds, and brachiopods. Siderite and hematite nodules are common in some beds. Contact with the underlying Stony Gap Sandstone is sharp. 700 ft (210 m) thick. (GRI Source Map ID 75738) (Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River).

Mhsg - Hinton Formation, Stony Gap Sandstone Member (Mississippian) This unit is mainly a white, fine- to medium-grained quartz arenite but can also be a light gray, fine- grained, lithic arenite. Beds range from thick and cliff-forming to relatively thin and flaggy; the upper portion of the unit may be ripple to trough cross laminated. Crossbedding is common, with both trough and planar crossbeds present. A conglomerate zone is sometimes present near the middle of the unit. Log clasts are common near the base of the unit. The basal contact with the underlying Bluefield Formation is sharp. 60 ft (18 m) thick. (GRI Source Map ID 75738) (Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River).

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Mbf - Bluefield Formation, undifferentiated (Mississippian) The exposed portion of this formation is mainly comprised of fossiliferous gray calcareous shales and poorly consolidated blocky reddish calcareous mudstones with greenish gray siltstone. Limonite staining is common. 200 ft (61 m) thick, partial section. (GRI Source Map ID 75738) (Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River).

Bedrock Geologic Cross Sections

The geologic cross sections present in the GRI digital geologic-GIS data produced for New River Gorge National River, West Virginia (NERI) are presented below. Cross section graphics were scanned at a high resolution and can be viewed in more detail by zooming in (if viewing the digital format of this document). Due to GRI naming conventions, unit symbols on these cross sections may be different than what is contained in the GRI GIS data.

Cross Section A-A'-A''

Extracted from: Sheet 1 of Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River.

Cross Section B-B'

Extracted from: Sheet 2 of Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River.

Cross Section C-C'

Extracted from: Sheet 3 of Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River.

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Cross Section D-D'

Extracted from: Sheet 4 of Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River.

Bedrock Ancillary Source Map Information Open File Report OF-1301 McColloch, G.H., Hunt, P.J., McColloch, J.S., Peck, R.L., Blake, B.M., Jr., Matchen, D.L., and Gooding, S.E., 2013, Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River, West Virginia: West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, Geologic Quadrangle Maps of West Virginia, Open File Map OF-1301, 4 map sheets, scale 1:24,000. (GRI Source Map ID 75738).

Stratigraphic Order of Units and Coal Beds

Extracted and modified from: (GRI Source Map ID 75738) (Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River).

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Stratigraphic Column

Extracted from: (GRI Source Map ID 75738) (Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River).

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Location Map

Extracted and modified from: (GRI Source Map ID 75738) (Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River).

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Map Symbols

Extracted and modified from: (GRI Source Map ID 75738) (Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River).

Point Data Point data displayed on these graphics have been translated to the NERIGOL (Geologic Observation Localities) and NERIMIN (Mine Point Features) layers within the GRI GIS data for this park.

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Extracted from: Sheet 1 of (GRI Source Map ID 75738) (Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River).

Extracted from: Sheet 2 of (GRI Source Map ID 75738) (Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River).

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Extracted from: Sheet 3 of (GRI Source Map ID 75738) (Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River).

Extracted from: Sheet 4 of (GRI Source Map ID 75738) (Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River).

Report ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Funding for this mapping project was provided by the National Park Service under Contract #C236009073. Gayle (Scott) McColloch and Jane McColloch mapped the Beckwith, Fayetteville, and Thurmond quadrangles in 2011 and 2012. The Prince quadrangle was mapped by Gayle (Scott) McColloch, Jane McColloch, and Robert Peck in 2012. Paula Hunt, Philip Dinterman, Jordan Mey, and Jaana Hitzig mapped bedrock in the Winona and Danese quadrangles in 2011 and 2012. Robert Peck, assisted by David Matchen and Paula Hunt, mapped the Meadow Creek, Meadow Bridge, Hinton, and Talcott quadrangles 2010 through 2012. B. Mitch Blake, Jr., the major contributor to the stratigraphic write-up for this study, also provided mapping suggestions and general guidance. Surficial deposits within the New River Gorge National River were mapped by J. Steven Kite of West Virginia University and others as part of the same National Park Service contract, and their work is presented as a separate

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map (in press). Andrew Steel of the National Park Service was provided general information and showed mapping teams the best access routes to the gorges. Jodi French-Burr of the National Park Service also provided information and assistance. Several professionals at the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey provided the authors assistance and guidance. Ronald McDowell assisted with internal agency review. Sarah Gooding, assisted by Samantha McCreery, provided digitizing, map compilation, cartography, and quality control. Jim Britton, Jeanne Sutton, Dave Jones, and Ed Loud helped the mapping teams correlate coal beds. Sue Pool and Rich Binns assisted with general GIS and internal agency geodatabase review. Jaime Toro of West Virginia University along with Tom Whitfield of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey provided external map and geodatabase reviews. All reviewers are appreciated for their time; their helpful suggestions made this a much better product. The authors acknowledge the hard work of the United States Geological Survey and West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey geologists who came before them to lay the framework that is continually being built upon and refined.

INTRODUCTION The United States National Park Service (NPS) contracted the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey to map the bedrock geology in and around the New River Gorge National River (NERI). In order to provide coverage beyond the actual NERI park boundary, the study area encompassed all of the Beckwith, Fayetteville, Winona, Thurmond, Danese, Prince, Meadow Creek, Meadow Bridge, Hinton, and Talcott 7½-minute topographic quadrangles (1:24,000 scale) in Fayette, Nicholas, Greenbrier, Raleigh, and Summers counties, West Virginia. Surficial deposits, mapped within the NERI park boundary as part of this study, will be published separately. The study area lies entirely within the Kanawha River drainage basin in the relatively horizontal to gently folded rocks of the Appalachian Plateau physiographic province. The largest streams in the map area are the New, Meadow, Greenbrier, and Bluestone rivers.

The northward-flowing river now known as the New River (Fry and Jefferson, 1751) was originally named the Woods River in honor of Major General Abram Wood, who was commissioned by Virginia Governor William Berkeley in 1671 to explore the west side of the Allegheny Mountains (Marshall, 1981). The spectacular scenery of the New River Gorge is the result of erosion through the thick, resistant sandstones of the New River and Hinton formations. The NPS protects over 53 miles (85 km) of the New River Gorge within the NERI park boundary, from Hawks Nest Lake near Ansted in Fayette County to the Bluestone Dam near Hinton in Summers County. Babcock State Park and portions of Hawks Nest, Bluestone, and Little Beaver state parks are also located in the map area.

Adjacent quadrangles previously mapped by the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey include Ansted and Summersville Dam (Hunt and others, 2010) located north of the present map area; Flat Top and Pipestem (Matchen and others, 2011) located south of the present map area; and Beckley (McColloch, 1981) located west of the present map area. Bedrock in the Shady Spring quadrangle, located west of the Hinton quadrangle, was mapped by Meissner (1981) of the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

STRATIGRAPHY OVERVIEW Rock strata exposed in the study area range from the upper part of the Upper Mississippian Bluefield Formation of the Mauch Chunk Group up to the basal part of the Middle Pennsylvanian Allegheny Formation. In general, the oldest strata crop out in the southern and southeastern portion of the map area along the Greenbrier and New rivers, and the youngest rocks are exposed in the northwestern portion of the study area.

As shown on the stratigraphic columns on the accompanying map sheets, the strata in the map area generally comprise intercalated sandstones, siltstones, shales, mudstones, and limestones with minor coal beds, claystones, and ironstones. The Upper Mississippian Mauch Chunk Group is subdivided into

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(ascending) the Bluefield, Hinton, Princeton, and Bluestone formations. The Mauch Chunk is overlain by the Lower and Middle Pennsylvanian Pottsville Group, which is subdivided into (ascending) the Pocahontas, New River, and Kanawha formations. The Middle Allegheny Formation overlies the Pottsville Group. These units are shown on cross sections and in the stratigraphic column along with their respective thicknesses. Except for resistant sandstones, rock exposures are limited by soil cover, colluvium, vegetation, and reclamation of mined areas. Where concealed, contacts between rock units were inferred from borings, gas-well records, aerial photography, LiDAR, digital elevation models, and outcrops on adjacent quadrangles.

MISSISSIPPIAN SYSTEM MAUCH CHUNK GROUP Bluefield Formation The oldest exposed rocks in the study area are the shales and mudstones comprising the upper 200 feet (61 meters) of the Bluefield Formation, named by Campbell (1896) for exposures at the city of Bluefield. This formation crops out in the Hinton, Talcott, and Meadow Creek quadrangles where the New, Bluestone, and Greenbrier rivers have breached anticlinal structures. This part of the Bluefield comprises gray calcareous shales and blocky reddish mudstones. The majority of the Bluefield Formation, including its basal contact with the underlying Greenbrier Group, is not exposed in the map area. Its upper contact with the base of the Stony Gap Sandstone of the overlying Hinton Formation is sharp, erosional, and unconformable. The Coney Limestone of Reger (1926) directly underlies the Stony Gap Sandstone of the Hinton Formation and is generally a poorly consolidated, calcareous mudstone. This relatively thin (3 feet; 1 meter), fossiliferous unit is the uppermost calcareous bed and contains fish scales, teeth, and ostracodes (Stencil, 2012). The Coney limestone overlies the relatively thick (67 feet; 20 meter), calcareous Coney Shale of Reger (1926). The gray Coney shale contains marine invertebrates, especially brachiopods, allowing it to be easily distinguished from the Lower Bellepoint Shale of Reger (1926) in the overlying Hinton Formation, which contains mainly bivalves. Below the Coney interval, the Bluefield Formation comprises red, green-gray, variegated, occasionally fossiliferous shales, fine-grained reddish brown and shaly greenish gray sandstones, and reddish gray mudstones. The Bluefield crops out in exposures along the New and Greenbrier rivers due to a small-scale dome located near Hinton and the regional rise in strata to the southeast.

Hinton Formation Originally named by Campbell and Mendenhall (1896) for exposures near the town of Hinton, the Hinton Formation is a highly variable succession of mudstone, sandstone, limestone, and other minor lithologies with limited occurrences of coal. Ranging from 800 to 1350 feet (245 to 410 meters) thick, the Hinton extends from the base of the Stony Gap Sandstone upward to the base of the Princeton Formation, or where the Princeton is absent, to the base of the Pride Shale Member of the overlying Bluestone Formation. The Hinton Formation is subdivided into the following formal and informal members (ascending) in the map area: the Stony Gap Sandstone, the lower Hinton member, the Little Stone Gap Member (Avis Limestone of Reger, 1926), and the upper Hinton member. Beuthin and Blake (2004) subdivided the Hinton into lower and upper informal members at the Avis Limestone of Reger (1926) to facilitate stratigraphic discussions and the formalization of several upper Hinton marine zones.

The basal member of the Hinton Formation, the Stony Gap Sandstone, is up to 60 feet (18 meters) thick and crops out along Bluestone Lake, the New River, and Greenbrier River on the Hinton, Talcott, and Meadow Creek quadrangles. Informally called the Upper Maxon sand by oil and gas well drillers, the Stony Gap Sandstone is mainly a white, fine- to medium-grained quartz arenite containing quartz pebbles and shale clasts, which grades locally to a light gray, fine-grained, lithic arenite. The unit is typically crossbedded, containing trough and planar crossbeds. The Stony Gap is highly variable across the map area, ranging from a thick cliff-forming quartz arenite to thinner flaggy sandstones. A wavy- bedded interval containing trace fossils occurs in the top portion of the Stony Gap Sandstone near the towns of Hinton and Sandstone. The Stony Gap is exposed above and below the base level of Bluestone Lake in this area, forming cliffs at Sandstone Falls and Bluestone Marina and then rapidly descending

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below the New River north of the town of Sandstone. The Stony Gap is sometimes subdivided into upper and lower units separated by a conglomerate zone. The basal part of the Stony Gap contains log clasts while the upper part is ripple to trough cross laminated. The erosional, unconformable basal contact with the underlying Bluefield Formation is sharp.

The Stony Gap Sandstone grades upward into red, variegated, or green-gray sandy shale of the lower Hinton member named the [Lower] Bellepoint Shale of Reger (1926) for exposures near the community of Bellepoint at the confluence of the Greenbrier and New rivers. Body fossils of Modiolus, Wilkingia, Lingula, Nuculopsis, Schizodus, Aviculopectins, Phestia, and gastropods as well as trace fossils, notably the arthropod (trilobite?) trail Protichnites (Blake, 2005), have been found in shale beds exposed along Interstate 64 at the Sandstone exit. Comminuted plant debris drape bedding surfaces in tidal sequences, and carbonized roots have been noted. Thin, discontinuous limestone beds occur sporadically in the upper part of the Bellepoint and contain fish scales, ostracodes, and myalinid bivalves in exposures south of the map area near the city of Princeton. Impure, evaporate-bearing limestones or dolomites are present in exposures near the town of Hinton. For mapping purposes, the Bellepoint shale is included in the informal lower Hinton member, discussed below.

Beuthin and Blake (2004) introduced an informal, undifferentiated lower Hinton member for mapping purposes, comprising the strata from the Stony Gap Sandstone upward to the base of the Avis Limestone of Reger (1926). The lower Hinton member is conspicuously red and lacks regionally identifiable marine units (Beuthin and Blake, 2004). It is approximately 700 feet (210 meters) thick and is comprised of a variable succession of mudstone, sandstone, and limestone with minor occurrences of coal. Siderite and hematite nodules are common in some beds. Mudstones, interpreted to be paleovertisols that originated as dry soils, are mainly red with graygreen mottling and contain calcareous caliche nodules. Less common are gray-green mudstones associated with marine-influenced intervals. Sandstones are generally light gray to green-gray, weathering brownish violet to gray-green, very fine to medium-grained, well sorted, and lithic. Quartz arenites are rare. Sandstones display trough crossbeds, planar crossbeds, and ripple-scale cross-lamination. Conglomeratic lenses within sandstones consist of intrabasinally-derived clasts of limestone, siderite, and mudrock. Sandstones in the lower Hinton are generally too limited in areal extent to be mappable on a 1:24000 scale (Beuthin and others, 2000; Beuthin and Blake, 2002; Blake and Beuthin, 2002). Limestones include decimeter-scale marine shell beds, centimeter to decimeter-scale bivalve-dominated bioherms, and argillaceous lime mudstones with a sparse nonmarine fauna that frequently cap paleovertisols. Calcareous glaebules, interpreted as caliches (Beuthin and Blake, 2002), also occur within red mudstones (interpreted as paleosols). Coaly shale beds are generally centimeter-scale, impure, and grade laterally into carbonaceous shale (Beuthin and Blake, 2002). Ostracodes and bivalves are frequently present in the thin coaly beds. Carbonaceous rocks are associated commonly with gray mudstones that contain lycopsid roots and stems (Beeler, 1999).

Plant fossils have been found in the lower Hinton, especially associated with thin, discontinuous coaly zones (Blake, 2005). The thin, impure, limestone beds discussed previously contain fish scales and other vertebrate remains, bivalves, gastropods, and ostracodes, although little specific work has been done on this material. The poorly-known Goodwyn marine zone (B.M. Blake, 2013, personal communication), comprised of the Goodwyn Sandstone, Upper Goodwyn Shale, Goodwyn Coal, and Lower Goodwyn Shale (all of Reger, 1926), and a previously unidentified marine limestone, is present but poorly exposed within the study area. The type locality for these units is southwest of the map area along Payne Branch east of the city of Princeton (Reger, 1926), approximately 30 miles (48 km) southwest of the town of Hinton. The basal limestone sequence is overlain by laminated shales and siltstones with intercalated lags containing Orthotetes, productid, and spirifid brachiopods, pectiniform bivalves, and fragments (locally hash) of other marine invertebrates. The sequence is capped by estuarine deposits of shale, limestone, and coaly beds containing myalinid bivalves, ostracodes, fish scales, and other vertebrate fragments. Large pectiniform bivalves, ostracodes, and gastropods have been noted in road cuts along Interstate 64 east of the Sandstone exit.

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The Little Stone Gap Member (Avis Limestone of Reger, 1926) is part of the 50 to 65 feet (15 to 20 meters) thick sequence of marine to marginal marine sandstones, shales, and limestones that separate the informal upper Hinton (discussed below) and lower Hinton members throughout the map area (Beuthin and Blake, 2004). Currently a formal member, the Little Stone Gap of Miller (1964) is the most distinctive and mappable unit of the informal “Avis Marine Zone,” which also includes marine sandstones, shales, and other limestone beds that occur above and below the main limestone (Little Stone Gap or Avis limestone). Applying the modern concept of defining marine zones as a mosaic of genetically- related facies rather than assigning names to laterally variable lithologies, Beuthin and Blake (2004) informally applied the name “Avis Marine Zone” to the Little Stone Gap (Avis limestone) and associated units above and below it. Formal nomenclature will be advanced for the Avis Marine Zone in the near future (B.M. Blake, 2013, personal communication). The informal Avis marine zone includes the Payne’s Branch Sandstone of Reger (1926) and the Lower Avis Shale of Reger (1926) below the Little Stone Gap (Avis limestone), the Upper Avis shale, and the Avis sandstone (in part, Neal Sandstone of Englund, 1968) above the Little Stone Gap (Avis limestone). Thin, discontinuous limestone beds occur in the upper Avis shale interval. The Paynes Branch Sandstone of Reger (1926) is a lenticular, laminated to thinly bedded, highly bioturbated, very fine- to fine-grained sandstone overlain by the discontinuous calcareous, marine invertebrate-bearing shale beds of the Lower Avis Shale of Reger (1926), which intergrade laterally and vertically with the Little Stone Gap proper. The most distinctive and widespread unit of the Avis marine zone is the Little Stone Gap (Avis) Limestone, which is predominately micritic and argillaceous, and contains a typical Chesterian fauna of bryozoans, corals, bivalves, gastropods, ostracodes, brachiopods, trilobites, pelmatozoans, and cephalopods. Bedding varies from laminated to massive. The more argillaceous beds appear nodular on weathered surfaces. Minor karstic weathering is common. The Upper Avis Shale of Reger (1926) is a heterolithic sequence of shales, mudstones, siltstones, limestones, some dolomitic, and very fine sandstones exhibiting minor bioturbation (burrowing and rooting) and locally containing low diversity bivalve and ostracode assemblage. Plant fossils are common locally. Limestone beds range in thickness from inches to feet (centimeter to meters) and occasionally contain a diverse marine invertebrate assemblage. Dolomitic limestone beds generally occur within the upper Avis shale and rarely contain identifiable fossils. The Upper Avis Sandstone of Reger (1926) was not noted in the study area. Because of its distinct nature and regional distribution, the Little Stone Gap (Avis Limestone of Reger, 1926) is an important marker horizon for the eastern portion of the map area where it is the most consistently identifiable bed. As a result, the base of the Avis limestone was used to construct the structure contour maps for the four quadrangles in the southwestern portion of the map area (Meadow Creek, Meadow Bridge, Hinton, and Talcott) and as a structural datum to assist in the mapping of contacts in areas of poor exposure.

The upper Hinton member is 200 to 450 feet (61 to 137 meters) thick and extends from the top of Little Stone Gap (Avis Limestone of Reger, 1926) to the base of the Princeton Formation. Like the lower Hinton, it is conspicuously red and comprises a variable succession of mudstone, sandstone, and limestone with limited occurrences of coal. Authigenic limestone, siderite, and hematite nodules are common in some beds. Mudstones are mainly red and green, less commonly graygreen. Calcareous glaebules, locally coalesced into nodular beds (caliches), occur within some red mudstones. Sandstones are generally very fine- to medium-grained and lithic; quartz arenites are rare. Conglomeratic lenses within sandstones consist of intrabasinally-derived clasts of limestone, siderite, and mudrocks. The upper Hinton thins to about 200 feet (61 meters) to the east near Judson on the Talcott quadrangle, apparently due to the lack of sandstone beds. Limestones include marine shell beds, thin bivalve- dominated bioherms, and argillaceous calcareous mudstones. Pedogenic features in red mudstones include shrink-swell structures, pedogenic slickensides, clastic dikes filling desiccation cracks, reduction features such as burial gleys; drabhaloed root traces, and caliches in the form of vertisols and calcisols (Mack and others, 1993; Beuthin and Blake, 2002). Carbonaceous beds (histosols) are associated commonly with white-gray mudstones (gleysols) that contain carbonized lycopsid roots and pyrite nodules (Beeler, 1999; Miller and Eriksson, 1999; Beuthin and Blake, 2002, 2004; Blake and others, 2009). Coal beds (histosols) are generally centimeter-scale and impure, grading laterally and

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vertically into carbonaceous shale (Beuthin and Blake, 2002, 2004; Blake and others, 2009).

The upper Hinton includes two formal marine zones: the Eads Mill and the Fivemile members (Beuthin and Blake, 2004), which were not mapped separately for this study. These marine zones contain typical Chesterian fauna (Reger, 1926; Cooper, 1948, 1961; Henry and Gordon, 1979, 1992). Limestones include marine shell beds, thin bivalve-dominated bioherms, and argillaceous calcareous mudstones with ostracodes, myalinid bivalves, nonmarine bivalves, fish scales and teeth, vertebrate bone fragments, and diverse marine trace fossil assemblages assignable to the Skolithus and Cruziana ichnofacies. Vertebrate fossils (bones and teeth) were found in the Eads Mill along Interstate 64 west of the town of Sandstone. The Five Mile Member becomes less marine northward from its type area east of the city of Princeton (Beuthin and Blake, 2004) and is represented in the New River Gorge area by a low diversity, Modiolus-dominated, bivalve fauna with ostracodes and wavy-bedded sequences containing trace fossils (noted on Interstate 64 west of Sandstone and at Batoff Creek near State Route 41). While these units assist in identifying stratigraphic position locally, they are too poorly exposed for consistent mapping throughout the map area. Contact with the overlying Princeton Formation is usually sharp, where observed.

Princeton Formation The Princeton Formation is up to 120 feet (35 meters) thick in the region, and as defined by Miller and Eriksson (1997), is a sequence of grayish sandstone and conglomerate locally capped by poorly drained paleosols overlain by dark gray silty shales to claystones. It occurs between the unconformity at the base sandstone and the high gamma ray signature associated with the condensed section at the base of the Pride Shale Member of the overlying Bluestone Formation. The Pride caps a paleovalley filled by the Princeton and incised during a glacioeustatic sea level drop (Yang, 1998). The promotion of the Princeton from a member to a formation represents an expansion of the original “type” Princeton Sandstone, called Princeton Conglomerate by some researchers, named for exposures near the city of Princeton (Campbell, 1896). Where present, the basal Princeton sandstone is a medium- to coarse- grained, quartzose sandstone to quartz arenite with numerous cross-stratified beds, mostly trough sets, and a sharp erosional base. In outcrop, the Princeton sandstone contains extrabasinal quartz pebbles and locally contains intrabasinally derived polymictic conglomerate and breccia beds with clasts of limestone, shale, siltstone, siderite, and mudstone from the reworking of slumped valley wall material possibly related to paleo-earthquake activity (Stewart and others, 2002). Quartz pebbles and other pebble clasts tend to be well rounded and locally derived lithic fragments tend to be rounded to angular. Breccias are local and sometimes contain a sparitic carbonate matrix. In outcrop, breccia can appear as a rough-surfaced, relatively dark, almost brown, resistant bed with the carbonate matrix weathering to reveal protruding clasts. Relatively large plant stem, lycopsid, and sphenopsid log clasts, a marine brachiopod imprint, and pelmatozoan column imprints were observed. The upper part of the Princeton paleovalley may contain thin beds of mudstone, sandstone, impure coal, and paleosols (red beds) above the sandstone. These strata are generally indistinguishable from other upper Hinton units. A large Princeton paleovalley wall slump, mistakenly identified by some researchers as the Glady Fork Sandstone, is exposed next to Batoff Creek along State Route 41 near the New River west of the town of McCreery on the Prince Quadrangle.

Bluestone Formation Named by Campbell (1896) for exposures along the Bluestone River, the Bluestone Formation extends from the sharp basal contact of the Pride Shale to the base of the overlying Pocahontas Formation. Ranging in thickness from 200 to 600 feet (61 to 182 meters), it is dominated by red and green shales and mudstones with lesser sandstones, discontinuous beds of limestone, siderite, siltstone, and impure coal. Bluestone marine zones, which contain typical Chesterian fauna (Reger, 1926; Cooper, 1948, 1961; Henry and Gordon, 1979, 1992; Hoare, 1993), are more prominent in the southern portion of the map area than in the northern portion. Bluestone coal beds tend to be impure, localized, and thin with little economic value (Reger, 1926; Beuthin and Blake, 2002). The Formation is subdivided (ascending)

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into the marine Pride Shale Member, the Glady Fork Sandstone Member, the informal gray and red members of Englund (1968), the marine Bramwell Member, and the informal upper member of Englund (1968). The named members of the Bluestone Formation progressively thin and lose their distinctive characteristics from south to north in the map area, and they were not mapped separately from each other for this study. The Pride Shale, ranging from 0 to over 200 feet (60 meters) thick, is the basal member of the Bluestone Formation and is characterized by rhythmic alternation of shale, siltstone, and sandstone laminae with a distinctive corrugated appearance on weathered surfaces. A diverse marine fauna occurs in the transgressive lag at the base of the member with brachiopods, bivalves, trilobites, corals, and bryozoans reported. In some areas, the lower part of the Pride contains diverse Chesterian fauna. Above the basal lag, the Pride exhibits limited faunal diversity. The entire unit is well exposed in a road cut on Interstate 64 between the Sandstone and Bragg exits. The Pride appears to be absent in the Batoff Creek measured section, being cut out by the Glady Fork Sandstone. The unit is variable and rapidly thins to the north. It is absent in the northern map area, and therefore was not mapped for this project.

Where present, the Glady Fork Sandstone Member overlies the Pride Shale. It is indistinguishable from other sandstones where the subjacent Pride Shale is absent. The Glady Fork ranges from 0 to 40 feet (12 meters) thick, and from silty, fine- to coarse-grained ripple-bedded sandstone to coarse, conglomeratic sublitharenite. It is micaceous, contains carbonaceous films and flakes, and is usually light gray, weathering light brown to brown to greenish brown. It is a thin-bedded to trough-crossbedded sandstone and sometimes is confused with the Pipestem Shale of Reger (1926) (Blake and others, 2009), a thin bedded, cross-laminated, fine-grained sandstone and siltstone sequence representing the top of the Pride coarsening-upward sequence. The Glady Fork Sandstone forms cliffs where it is present in the southern portion of the map area, but becomes discontinuous to absent in the northern study area and was not mapped as a separate unit for this project.

The middle part of the Bluestone Formation, informally subdivided into the red and gray members by Englund (1968), is dominated by gray mudstones beneath conspicuously red mudstones interpreted to be stacked paleovertisols (Blake and Beuthin, 2008; Blake and others, 2009). Subordinate lithologies include sandstones, siltstone, shales, and limestones. A few discontinuous, impure coal beds are present in the red and gray members including a widespread coaly zone that presages the overlying marine Bramwell Member transgression (Beuthin, 1997; Beuthin and Blake, 2002; Blake and others, 2009). The informal gray member occurs in the southeastern part of the New River Gorge. The bivalve Modiolus and ostracodes occur in shales associated with thin limestones and calcareous green-gray shales in this unit. Plant fossils recorded in the gray member include stigmarian rooting structures and low-diversity florules. The informal red member pinches out along the New River on the Thurmond quadrangle and is relatively unfossiliferous. Vertebrate remains and lycopsid rooting structures were reported (Beuthin and Blake, 2012, personal communication) at the top of the calcareous paleovertisols in the red member. The top of the red member is placed at the base of the overlying Bramwell Member.

The Bramwell Member is a transgressive marine zone up to 115 feet (35 meters) thick overlying an ostracode-bearing coaly bed. The unit coarsens upward into rippled, interlaminated green to gray shale, siltstone, and sandstone with trace fossils and a fully marine invertebrate fauna (Beuthin, 1997; Beuthin and Blake, 2002). The basal portion of the Bramwell is dark and clay rich with bivalve and Lingula- dominated fauna. The Bramwell was observed on the Meadow Creek and Hinton quadrangles and in several locations around the New River Gorge and Bluestone National Scenic River, notably in road cuts along Interstate 64 between the Bragg and Sandstone exits, the Pluto Church measured section, the Glade Creek USGS measured section, in exposures along State Route 3 between Hinton and Beckley, and along Interstate 77 on the adjacent Athens quadrangle. Locally the Bramwell Member is overlain by a claystone-dominated sequence informally named the upper member of the Bluestone Formation (Englund, 1968). The upper member is comprised of a paleosol complex of red and green mudstone, siltstone, shale, and very fine-grained sandstone (Beuthin, 1997; Blake and Beuthin, 2008; Blake and others, 2009). The contact between the Pocahontas and Bluestone Formations marks the unconformity

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between the Mississippian and Pennsylvanian Series in the Carboniferous Period (Hennen and Gawthrop, 1915; Reger, 1926; Blake and Beuthin, 2002, 2008; Blake and others, 2009). This unconformity represents a hiatus that correlates with the mid-Carboniferous eustatic event and spans the middle and upper Namurian (Blake and Beuthin, 2008).

PENNSYLVANIAN SYSTEM POTTSVILLE GROUP Pocahontas Formation The Lower Pennsylvanian Pocahontas Formation is a coal-bearing sequence of sandstone, siltstone, shale, mudstone, and siderite up to 620 feet (190 meters) thick in the study area. The lower formation contact is placed at the base of the informal lower sandstone member of Englund (1974), a discontinuous sandstone of limited stratigraphic utility, making the placement of the lower formation contact problematic in many areas (Beuthin and Blake, 2002; Blake and others, 2002; Blake and Beuthin, 2009). In the southern extent of its occurrence, where the upper part of the Pocahontas has not been truncated by Early Pennsylvanian erosion, the upper formation contact is placed arbitrarily at the base of the Pocahontas No. 8 coal bed (Englund, 1979). A regional unconformity, located at the base of the Pineville Sandstone Member of the overlying New River Formation in most of the study area (Chesnut, 1988, 1992, Englund and Thomas, 1990), progressively truncates the Pocahontas Formation. Chesnut (1992) named this erosion event the Early Pennsylvanian unconformity. Pocahontas sandstones are mainly fine- to coarse-grained, micaceous, light gray, and trough-crossbedded lithic arenites often containing thin shale streaks, coal fragments, and ironstone (siderite, limonite, goethite) concretions. Siltstones and shales are light gray, to dark-gray or black, often arenaceous, carbonaceous in places, fissile, and platy. Mudstone and claystone occur mainly as medium gray seatrocks and commonly contain carbonized lycopsid rootlets. Plant fossils are common throughout the formation. Non-marine bivalves were reported from several beds in surrounding areas (Henry and Gordon, 1979; Englund and Randall, 1981; Meissner, 1981). Named coal beds include the Pocahontas Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. Exposures generally are poor for most of these coal beds. The Pocahontas No. 6 (PC6) and Pocahontas No. 3 (PC3) are the most laterally continuous Pocahontas Formation coal beds in the study area. They have been mined in a portion of the map area, mostly around the Meadow Creek quadrangle, and identified in borings, and therefore are the only Pocahontas coal beds shown on the maps.

Sandstones of the Pocahontas Formation, while generally thinner and less continuous than sandstones of the overlying New River Formation, are locally massive and have been informally named by past researchers (e.g. White, 1908; Hennen and Gawthrop, 1915; and Hennen and Teets, 1919). These discontinuous sandstones are generally not useful as stratigraphic markers, and although observed locally in the map area, were not included on the map or cross sections. Examples of these are the Lower and Upper Pocahontas sandstones, and the Eckman, Pierpont, and Flattop Mountain sandstones. The Lower Pocahontas sandstone, where present, is located just below the Pocahontas No. 3 coal and can be up to 50 feet (15 meters) thick. It is exposed on the north side of the New River near the town of Quinnimont in the Prince quadrangle. The Upper Pocahontas sandstone is up to 93 feet (28 meters) thick. It occurs 0 to 10 feet (3 meters) above the Pocahontas No. 3 coal. The Eckman sandstone, where present, occurs between the Pocahontas No. 6 and Pocahontas No. 4 coal beds, and it is up to 51 feet (15 meters) thick (Hennen and Teets, 1919). The Pierpont sandstone is located 5 to 15 feet (2 to 4 meters) above the Pocahontas No. 6 coal, and it is up to 36 feet (11 meters) thick (Hennen and Teets, 1919). The Flattop Mountain sandstone, which is the uppermost unit in the Pocahontas Formation, often has been reported to coalesce with the overlying Pineville sandstone (Hennen and Teets, 1919). It is 0 to 65 feet (20 meters) thick, and crops out in areas along the New River, Keeney Creek, and Manns Creek on the Fayetteville quadrangle.

New River Formation The Lower Pennsylvanian New River Formation is a 1100 feet (330 meter) thick coal-bearing sequence of quartzose and lithic sandstone, siltstone, shale, mudstone, coal, and siderite. It extends upward from the base of the Pocahontas No. 8 coal bed to the base of the Lower Douglas (?) coal bed of Hennen and

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Teets (1919) (Arndt, 1979; Englund, 1979). The Lower Douglas (?) coal bed has been recorrelated to the Gilbert coal bed due to miscorrelations of coal beds in the overlying Kanawha Formation (Blake and Gillespie, 1994; Blake, 1997). Although the New River Formation’s basal contact is arbitrarily placed at the base of the Pocahontas No. 8 (Englund, 1979), this coal bed has been removed by erosion in much of the map area; thus necessitating the placement of the basal formation contact at the base of the Pineville Sandstone Member. The more prominent and laterally continuous sandstones in the map area represent incised valley fills (Blake, 1997; Blake and others, 2002; and Blake, 2012, personal communication), suggesting that at times in the Early Pennsylvanian, paleovalleys formed and were subsequently filled with quartz-rich fluvial sands that later became the Pineville, Upper Raleigh, and Nuttall sandstones. Since these sandstones are confined to their incised paleovalleys, they are laterally discontinuous and are younger than rock units occurring in the same stratigraphic position outside the paleovalley fill. Sandstones are mainly very fine- to medium-grained quartz arenites, commonly conglomeratic, and white, weathering tan to pink. Finer grained lithologies are shades of gray. Pebbles are predominantly well-rounded quartz with lesser siderite and minor lithic fragments. Lithic sandstones contain varying amounts of rock fragments, mica, and various heavy mineral grains.

Heterolithic sequences of thinly interbedded or laminated sandstone, siltstone and shale layers often intergrade between lenticular and flaser bedding, occasionally with low-diversity trace fossil assemblages. Mudstones are internally massive, often arenaceous, and generally occur below coal beds (seatrocks), or are laterally correlative to absent coal beds. Siderite occurs as nodules and layers in marine-influenced mudrock sequences. Named coal beds include the Pocahontas No. 8, Pocahontas No. 9, Little Fire Creek, Fire Creek (FCK), Beckley (BCK), Little Raleigh (LRL), Sewell (SEW), and Hughes Ferry (HUF). Plant fossils are common throughout the formation, ranging from well-preserved specimens to poorly-preserved beds draped by comminuted plant debris. Lycopsid rootlets are abundant throughout. Henry and Gordon (1979) noted the uncommon occurrence of nonmarine bivalves in four horizons and also noted margin-marine bivalves, inarticulate brachiopods, and Lingula in the roof shales of the Little Raleigh coal bed and the Hartridge Shale (of Reger, 1918) above the Sewell coal bed.

The Pineville Sandstone Member, 0 to 100 feet (30 meters) thick, is the basal sandstone of the New River Formation. It crops out in the map area along the New River from Fayette Station on the Fayetteville quadrangle to Quinnimont on the Prince quadrangle, and at several other locations in the map area. It is a light to medium gray to light brownish gray well-indurated fine- to coarse-grained quartz arenite with minor quartz pebbles locally. Some beds contain clay galls, plant-stem impressions, coal spars, and coal stringers. The unit is thin to massive bedded. Contact with underlying units is sharp. The basal New River Formation contact is placed at the top of the underlying Pocahontas No. 8 coal; however, erosion of this coal in much of the map area necessitates placing the base of the New River Formation at the base of the Pineville Sandstone Member.

The Lower Raleigh Sandstone Member, 25 to 95 feet (8 to 29 meters) thick, is a light gray quartz arenite, often micaceous with some dark grains and lithic fragments. This unit is thin to massive bedded, sometimes crossbedded, and may contain quartz-pebble lags. It weathers buff, gray, orange-tan, and pink.

The Little Raleigh (LRL) coal bed, where present, is located in the shales between the Lower and Upper Raleigh sandstones. It is present in much of the east-central map area, but appears to be absent in the west-central map area. The shale and coal interval between the Upper and Lower Raleigh sandstones can be up to 30 feet (10 meters) thick.

The Upper Raleigh Sandstone Member, is up to 120 feet (36 meters) of light gray, well indurated fine- to medium-grained quartz arenite often with quartz overgrowths. It contains quartz-pebble lags, minor amounts of heavy minerals, and occasional log imprints. It is typically thicker, more massively bedded, and generally has higher quartz content than the Lower Raleigh. It weathers buff, gray, orange-tan, and pink. Contact with the underlying unit is sharp.

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The Nuttall Sandstone Member, divided into the Upper Nuttall and Lower Nuttall for mapping purposes, is prominent in the northern portion of the map area. These units form the cliffs observed along U.S. Route 19 and the rim of the New River Gorge in Fayetteville quadrangle. The Upper Nuttall is 45 to 135 feet (14 to 41 meters) thick and the Lower Nuttall is 0 to 120 feet (37 meters) thick in the map area. The units are well-indurated, light gray to buff, fine- to coarse-grained quartz arenites with well-rounded quartz pebbles present locally in lags, especially near the base of the units. Some beds contain fine-grained shaly clasts, clay galls, plant fossils, and coal spars. Bedding is thin to massive, and crossbeds are common. Sandstone is interbedded with sandy silt and carbonaceous shale in places and may contain coal stringers or lenses, occasional plant fossil fragments, and trace fossils. Up to 25 feet (8 meters) of shaly, silty, very fine-grained sandstone and sandy silty shale may be present between the Upper and Lower Nuttall sandstones. Contact with the overlying Kanawha Formation is usually concealed and is often marked by a break in slope. Contact with underlying units is unconformable and sharp, often forming overhanging cliffs with an undulating base. The Hughes Ferry coal bed, where present, directly underlies the Lower Nuttall and may correlate with the Iaeger coal bed found farther south, outside of the study area.

Other sandstones in the New River Formation have been named by past researchers (Campbell, 1902; White, 1908; Hennen and Gawthrop, 1915). These units are usually lithic with less quartz, more heavy minerals, and although they can be locally massive, they are often thinner and less continuous than the New River Formation sandstone members discussed previously. Discontinuous sandstones are generally not useful as stratigraphic markers, and while these sandstones were observed in the study area, they were not included on the map. Examples of these are the Quinnimont sandstone, Lower Guyandot sandstone, the Guyandot sandstone (sometimes called the Upper Guyandot sandstone), and the Harvey sandstone (or Harvey conglomerate). The Quinnimont sandstone is located just below the Beckley coal and is 35 to 110 feet (10 to 33 meters) thick. This sandstone is exposed near the historic community of Nuttallburg (Nuttall Station) in the Fayetteville quadrangle and at other locations. The Lower Guyandot sandstone, where present, is located just above the Sewell coal and can be more than 50 feet (15 meters) thick. It is exposed near the community of Winona on Keeney Creek, at Nuttallburg in the Fayetteville quadrangle, and other locations. The Guyandot sandstone is 20 to 50 feet (6 to 15 meters) thick. It occurs 50 to 80 feet (15 to 24 meters) above the Sewell coal and immediately above the Sewell B coal bed, where present. It is exposed along U.S. Route 60 just south of the intersection with State Route 82 near the community of Divide. The Harvey sandstone is 0 to 20 feet (6 meters) thick, and where present, occurs 12 to 20 feet (3 to 6 meters) below the base of the Lower Nuttall Sandstone. It crops out along the Fayette Station Road below the U.S. Route 19 New River Gorge Bridge on both sides of the New River in the Fayetteville quadrangle and several other locations in the map area.

The Fire Creek (FCK), Beckley (BCK), Little Raleigh (LRL), Sewell (SEW), and Hughes Ferry (HUF) coal beds of the New River Formation are shown on the map and cross sections. The Fire Creek and Sewell coal beds are the most laterally continuous coal beds in the study area and have been extensively mined in the northern and western portions of the map area. Structure contours were constructed on these beds because of their relative continuity and the availability of coal core and mine data in the map area. The Beckley, Little Raleigh, and Hughes Ferry coal beds are thinner and less continuous than the Fire Creek and Sewell coal beds, and therefore their map representations are dashed or dotted in many areas on the map. The lateral continuity of the Fire Creek and Sewell coal beds, along with available data from coal-exploration bore holes, outcrop sections, and mine maps, allowed structure contours to be drawn on the base of these two beds on five of the ten quadrangles in the study area.

Kanawha Formation The Kanawha Formation is approximately 1000 feet (300 meters) thick and is a coal-bearing sequence of sandstones, siltstones, shales, and mudstones, with minor occurrences of siderite, limestone, and flint clay. Although not well exposed in most of the map area, at least fourteen brackish to normal marine zones have been identified in the Kanawha Formation, many of which occur across the entire central

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Appalachian region and are considered to be glacioeustatic in origin (Rice and others, 1987; Chesnut, 1991, 1992, 1993; Blake and others, 1994; Blake, 1997, 1998; Riley and Turner, 1995). Where identifiable, marine sequences are useful markers for correlating coal beds in the Kanawha Formation (Blake, 1997). The outcrop of the Eagle (EAG), No. 2 Gas (N2G), Peerless (PRL), Coalburg (CBG), and Stockton (STK) coal beds are depicted on the map and in cross section. Structure contours were constructed on the Eagle (EAG) coal bed in the Beckwith quadrangle because of its relative continuity and the availability of coal core and mine data. The base of the Kanawha Formation is placed at the base of the Lower Douglas (?) coal bed of Hennen and Teets (1919), a coal bed correlated with the Gilbert coal bed in southern West Virginia (Blake, 1997; Blake and others, 2002), as discussed previously. Because the Gilbert coal bed is discontinuous and poorly exposed in the map area, for mapping purposes, the base of the Kanawha Formation is set informally at the top of the prominent Nuttall Sandstone Member of the underlying New River Formation, which occurs a few meters below the Gilbert coal horizon. The upper contact of the Kanawha Formation is sharp but concealed in the map area and is placed at the top of the Kanawha Black Flint of White (1891).

Allegheny Formation The youngest rocks exposed in the map area belong to the lower Allegheny Formation and cap five high knobs located in the southwestern part of the Beckwith quadrangle. Fewer than 90 feet (27 meters) of sandstones, shales, and coal beds of the Allegheny are present. The base of the Allegheny Formation was inferred as occurring 30 feet (10 meters) above the Stockton coal bed, based on data from adjacent areas. Exposures are minimal and little information on these strata was obtained.

STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY AND TECTONICS The general strike of strata in the Appalachian Plateau is approximately N30°E to N40°E. Structure contours were constructed on the Fire Creek, Sewell, and Eagle coal beds for the northern mapped quadrangles because they are the most laterally continuous coal beds in that portion of the map area. These structure contours indicate the strike in the northwestern portion of the study area (the Beckwith quadrangle) is approximately N40°E and the dip is approximately 1.5° to the northwest. The dominant structural feature in the northern map area is the nearly north-south trending Mann Mountain Anticline. It is an asymmetric fold with the west limb dipping approximately 5° (472 feet per mile; 87 meters per kilometer) to the west and the east limb dipping approximately 2° (184 feet per mile; 35 meters per kilometer) to the east. The axis of the anticline crosses the Prince, Danese, and Winona quadrangles, trending approximately N10°E in the southeast corner of the Prince quadrangle to approximately N10°W in the northwest corner of the Winona quadrangle. The Mann Mountain Anticline plunges to the north- northwest of the study area and to the south in the Prince and Meadow Creek quadrangles. This fold axis is not parallel to the general northeast-southwest strike of Appalachian Plateau strata and to other folds of the Plateau formed in the late Pennsylvanian during the Appalachian Orogeny. Perry (1978) suggested that the unusual trend of the Mann Mountain Anticline resulted from detachment in Devonian- age shales and folding of strata during the Pennsylvanian Period. The Clifftop Syncline located east of the Mann Mountain Anticline trends roughly north-south, parallel to the Mann Mountain Anticline. The Ravenseye Anticline, located east of the Clifftop Syncline, trends approximately N40°E, similar to regional strike. These three folds were identified in previous mapping by Hennen and Teets (1919).

In the southern map area, the general strike is approximately parallel to the regional strike of strata in the Appalachian Plateau, N30°E, and the dip is approximately 1.5° to the northwest. In previous geologic maps of the area based on a structure contour of the Pocahontas No. 3 coal bed, Krebs and Teets (1916) did not identify any structural features in northeastern Raleigh County; however, Reger (1926) subsequently identified four structural features in the southern portion of the map area from structure contours on the base of the Avis limestone. They are the Boggs Knob Anticline and Springdale Syncline, which trend approximately N30°E, and the Dunns Anticline and Bellepoint Syncline, which trend approximately N50°E. Following Reger’s (1926) lead, a structure contour map was constructed from outcrop data on the base of the persistent and identifiable Little Stone Gap Member (Avis Limestone of

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Reger, 1926) in the four southernmost quadrangles of the study area. This structure contour map shows the Boggs Knob Anticline and Springdale Syncline, but the Dunns Anticline and Bellepoint Syncline are of a smaller scale than that depicted by Reger (1926). A prominent linear feature extends across the southeastern portion of the Prince quadrangle formed by the aligned valleys of Pinch Creek, a segment of Glade Creek, and Scott Branch, with a possible extension west to Little Beaver Creek. This previously unnamed feature is herein referred to as the Pinch Creek Lineament. Current mapping and previous observations have not shed any new light on the exact nature of this lineament, but its alignment with the plunge of the Mann Mountain Anticline suggests it may be related to that structure. This lineament also parallels the nearest segment of the New River, a more subtle linear feature formed by the alignment of Batoff Creek, the segment of the New River south of Stretchers Neck, Laurel Creek, and the segment of the New River north of Stretchers Neck.

RESOURCES COAL In general, southern West Virginia coals are relatively high in quality with low- to high-volatile content and relatively low total sulfur content. These bituminous coals are used for both metallurgical and steam applications. Coal samples collected from the Pocahontas Formation (specifically Pocahontas Nos. 3 and 6) in the study area exhibit average volatile matter, ash content, and total sulfur content of 19.3,10.4, and 1.3 weight %, respectively, with an average heat content of 14,000 BTU/lb.

The major coal beds in the New River Formation tend to be of the highest overall quality with samples from the Sewell exhibiting average volatile matter, ash content, and total sulfur content of 23.84, 3.65, and 0.72 weight %, respectively, and an average heat content of 15,000 BTU/lb. The Fire Creek has average volatile matter, ash content, and total sulfur content of 19.16, 6.5, and 0.73 weight %, respectively, with an average heat content of 14,630 BTU/lb. Coal samples from the Kanawha Formation (specifically Gilbert (?), Little Eagle, Eagle, and No. 2 Gas) collected in the study area have average volatile matter, ash content, and total sulfur content of 32.7, 6.4, and 0.95 weight %, respectively, with an average heat content of 14,200 BTU/lb. Because of their relatively high quality, economic coal resources have essentially been mined out in the map area and remaining resources are in relatively thin, lower quality, and discontinuous beds. Much of the land surface disturbed by past mining has undergone reclamation.

OIL AND GAS Almost 200 oil and gas wells have been completed in the study area since the early 1900s, with most drilling activity occurring since the 1940s. Successful natural gas wells were drilled in the northern map area in the Beckwith, Fayetteville, Winona, and Thurmond quadrangles and in the southern map area in the Hinton quadrangle. Several less successful wildcat wells were completed in the central and eastern parts of the map area. The named gas fields present in the study area are Burnwell, Ramsey, Beckwith, Gauley Mountain, and Hinton. Most of the successful wells were completed in Mississippian rocks with several producing wells completed in Upper Devonian units (Cardwell and Avary, 1982; West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, 2011d). The oil and natural gas potential of strata in the map area was not assessed for this study.

BUILDING MATERIALS Historically, sandstone has been an important economic resource in the region. Hennen and Teets (1919) reported several sandstone quarries located adjacent to the study area and six sandstone quarries located within the map area. Four quarries in the upper Nuttall sandstone are located just southeast of the town of Fayetteville, and the stone was used in local buildings, notably the county jail and the bank (Hennen and Teets, 1919), in Fayetteville. The most extensive quarry is located in the Upper Raleigh Sandstone near the site of Ephraim, a former company town located near Thayer in the Thurmond quadrangle. Here the sandstone was quarried by the New River Silica Company (Hennen and Teets, 1919) and later the Sun Sand Company (Kerr and Pendleton, 1958) for glass sand and engine sand. A quarry in the Princeton Formation located south of the community of Meadow Bridge produced

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crushed stone used as ballast along the Sewell Valley Railroad (Hennen and Teets, 1919).

The National Park Service’s New River Visitor Center at Sandstone, West Virginia is the site of a former quarry in the Stony Gap Sandstone. This quarry contributed stone to the Washington Monument in Washington, DC (National Park Service, 2012). Sandstone quarries appearing on 1:24,000-scale topographic maps of the study area include four quarries in the Upper Raleigh Sandstone in the Prince quadrangle (one near the Beckley airport, one north of Crow, and two near Table Rock) and a quarry in the Nuttall Sandstone located north of the community of Winona.

GROUNDWATER Rock units within the Mauch Chunk Group, the Pottsville Group, and Allegheny Formation are sources of groundwater for the area. According to Ferrell (1984), the sandstones and shales of the Mauch Chunk Group provide adequate well yields for domestic and agricultural use and have a low to moderate water- bearing potential for industrial and public development. The thick sandstones of the Pottsville Group have moderate to high water-bearing potential for industrial and public development (Ferrell, 1984). Ferrell (1984) also reported that groundwater in the Kanawha River Basin has relatively high concentrations of chloride, iron, manganese, calcium carbonate, and magnesium carbonate, but is “acceptable” for domestic water supplies.

Historically, abandoned underground mines located in the study area in the Sewell and Fire Creek coal beds have served as public water supplies for Fayetteville, Arbuckle, and Clifftop (Lessing and Hobba, 1981). The more populated localities within the map area increasingly rely on surface water for their public supply; however, the towns of Meadow Bridge and Danese still use groundwater for their municipal supplies (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2013), and the town of Danese obtains its groundwater from an abandoned coal mine (J. McColloch, 2013, personal communication). Groundwater in abandoned coal mines continues to be of interest to those seeking large volumes of water for industrial and other uses (McColloch and others, 2012).

RECREATION Abundant recreation opportunities including whitewater paddling, rock climbing, motor boating, fishing, camping, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and history tours exist within the study area (West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, 2013a, 2013b, 2013c, 2013d, and 2013e). The National Park Service’s New River Gorge National River, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Bluestone Lake, and four West Virginia State Parks (Hawks Nest, Babcock, Bluestone, and Little Beaver) are popular destinations for visitors to the area. Whitewater kayaking and rafting are popular activities in the New River Gorge. According to the National Park Service (2003, 2013), the New River is divided into two sections. The upper section from Hinton to Thurmond has ten named rapids ranging from Class II to Class III and Sandstone Falls, which is portaged. The northern section from Thurmond to Fayette Station has at least twenty named rapids ranging from Class II to Class V (McColloch and others, 1997; Moore, 1999). From below the Bluestone Dam at Hinton to the Hawks Nest Dam near Ansted, the river level falls approximately 600 feet over 53 miles (183 meters over 85 kilometers).

Rock climbing is popular on the Nuttall Sandstone that rims the New River Gorge in the northern map area, and on some of the other exposed sandstones along the New River. The clean hard sandstone units form imposing cliffs and offer many popular climbing routes throughout the area. Hawks Nest State Park, located in the northwestern corner of the Fayetteville quadrangle, offers views of the New River Formation. An aerial tramway from the lodge to the bottom of the New River Gorge gives park visitors a chance to descend rapidly from the resistant Upper and Lower Nuttall sandstones that form the rim of the gorge, past cliffs of the Harvey and Guyandot sandstones to the Upper Raleigh Sandstone at the bottom of the gorge. Babcock State Park, located at the intersection of four quadrangles (Fayetteville, Winona, Thurmond, and Danese), provides views of rocks units from the shales and sandstones of the upper part of the Bluestone Formation at the mouth of Manns Creek to the Raleigh Sandstone on the

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hilltops. This park features the Glade Creek Grist Mill sited on the Quinnimont sandstone of Campbell (1896) in the New River Formation. Bluestone State Park offers views of the lower Hinton Formation, including ledges and cliffs of the Stony Gap Sandstone. Downstream toward the confluence with the New River, the Princeton Formation forms the rim of the gorge. In the southeast and southwest corners of the Hinton and Talcott quadrangles, respectively, the shores of Bluestone Lake are managed as the Bluestone Wildlife Management Area, popular for hunting and fishing. Little Beaver State Park, located in the southern Prince and adjoining Shady Spring quadrangles, is underlain by rock units of the lower part of the New River Formation.

Extracted from: (GRI Source Map ID 75738) (Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River).

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Blake, B.M., Jr., 1998, Revised megafloral biostratigraphy of the New River and Kanawha formations (Pottsville Group: Lower and Middle Pennsylvanian) in southern West Virginia, in B.M. Blake, Jr., R.L. Martino, W.C. Grady, and C.F. Eble, eds., Coal Geology, Paleobotany, and Regional Stratigraphy of the Middle Part of the Kanawha Formation, Southern West Virginia, Volume OF9803: Open File Report: Morgantown, WV, West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, p. 41-56.

Blake, B.M., Jr., 2005, Preliminary Paleomegafloral Survey of the New River Gorge National River with

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Blake, B.M., Jr., W.H. Gillespie, and T.W. Kammer, 2009, Paleoclimates and Paleobotanty of the upper Hinton and Bluestone Formation (Mauch Chunk Group, Upper Mississippian) of southern West Virginia, central Appalachian region, U.S.A: Comparison with eastern Euramerica, in B.M. Blake, Jr., Carboniferous Paleobotany and Paleoclimatology of the Central Appalachian Basin, West Virginia, U.S. A., Morgantown, WV, unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, West Virginia University, p. 172-244, http://hdl. handle.net/10450/10655.

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Chesnut, D.R., Jr., 1992, Stratigraphic and structural framework of the Carboniferous rocks of the central Appalachian Basin in Kentucky: Kentucky Geological Survey Bulletin, v. 3, 42 p., 7 pl.

Chesnut, D.R., Jr., 1993, Eustatic and tectonic control of sedimentation in the Pennsylvanian strata of the central Appalachian Basin, USA: Compte Rendu, XII Congrès International de la Stratigraphie et Géologie du Carbonifère et Permien (Buenos Aires, 1991), v. 2, p. 421–430.

Cooper, B.N., 1948, Status of Mississippian stratigraphy in the central and northern Appalachian region: The Journal of Geology, v. 56, p. 255–263.

Cooper, B.N., 1961, Grand Appalachian Excursion: Virginia Polytechnic Institute Engineering Extension Series, Geological Guidebook I, Blacksburg, Virginia, 187 p.

Englund, K.J., 1968, Geologic map of the Bramwell quadrangle, West Virginia-Virginia: U S. Geological Survey Map GQ-745, 1 sheet, 1:24,000 scale.

Englund, K.J., 1974, Sandstone deposition patterns in the Pocahontas Formation of southwest Virginia and southern West Virginia, in G. Briggs, ed., Carboniferous of the Southeastern United States: Geological Society of America Special Paper 148, p. 31–45.

Englund, K.J., 1979, Mississippian System and Lower Series of the Pennsylvanian System in the proposed Pennsylvanian System stratotype area: in K.J. Englund, H.H. Arndt, and T.W. Henry, eds., Proposed Pennsylvanian System Stratotype, Virginia and West Virginia: American Geological Institute, Selected Guidebook Series No. 1, Guidebook for Ninth International Congress of Carboniferous Stratigraphy and Geology Field Trip No. 1, p. 69–72.

Englund, K.J., H.H. Arndt, T.W. Henry, C.R. Meissner, Jr., J.F. Windolph, Jr., and R.C. Warlow, 1977, Geologic map of the New River Gorge area, Fayette, Raleigh, and Summers counties, West Virginia: U. S. Geological Survey Open File Report OF-77-76-A, 1:50,000 map scale.

Englund, K.J., and H. Randall, III, 1981, Stratigraphy of the Upper Mississippian and Lower Pennsylvanian Series in the East-Central Appalachians: in T.G. Roberts, ed., Volume 1: Stratigraphy, sedimentology: GSA Cincinnati '81 Field Trip Guidebooks, American Geological Institute, p. 154-158.

Englund, K.J., and R.E. Thomas, 1990, Late Paleozoic Depositional Trends in the Central Appalachian Basin: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1839, 19 p.

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Hennen, R.V., and D. Teets, Jr., 1919, Fayette County: West Virginia Geological Survey County

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Geologic Report CGR-6, 1002 p., 24 pl., 24 f.

Henry, T.W., and M. Gordon, Jr., 1979, Late Devonian through Early Permian(?) invertebrate faunas in proposed Pennsylvanian System stratotype area: in K.J. Englund, H.H. Arndt, and T.W. Henry, eds., Proposed Pennsylvanian System Stratotype, Virginia and West Virginia: American Geological Institute, Selected Guidebook Series No. 1, Guidebook for Ninth International Congress of Carboniferous Stratigraphy and Geology Field Trip No. 1, p. 97- 103.

Henry, T.W., and M. Gordon, Jr., 1992, Middle and upper Chesterian brachiopod biostratigraphy, eastern Appalachians, Virginia and West Virginia: in P.K. Sutherland, and W.L. Manger, eds., Recent advances in Middle Carboniferous biostratigraphy – a symposium: Oklahoma Geological Survey Circular 94, p. 1- 21.

Hoare, R.D., 1993, Mississippian (Chesterian) bivalves from the Pennsylvanian stratotype area in West Virginia and Virginia: Journal of Paleontology, v. 67, p. 374-396.

Hunt, P.J., K.L. Wilson, J.S. McColloch, and G.H. McColloch, Jr., 2010, Gauley River National Recreation Area bedrock geologic map: Ansted and Summersville Dam 7.5’ quadrangles, West Virginia: West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey Open-file report OF-1001, 1 sheet, 1:24,000 scale.

Lessing, P., and W.A. Hobba, Jr., 1981, Abandoned coal mines as sources of water supplies: West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey Circular C-24, 25 p.

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Marshall, P.D., (ed.), 1981, A cultural research project-The New River Gorge National River, West Virginia: National Park Service Report, NPS Contract No. CX4000-0-0034, Vol. II, 339 p.

Matchen, D.L., J.L. Allen, R.L. Peck, and D. Mercier, 2011, Bedrock geologic maps of the Bluestone National Scenic River, Flat Top and Pipestem 7.5’ quadrangles, West Virginia: West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey Open-file report OF-1101, 1 sheet, 1:24,000 scale.

McColloch, J.S., 1981, Geologic map of the Beckley 7.5’ quadrangle, Raleigh County, West Virginia: West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey Open-file report OF-801N, 1 sheet, 1:24,000 scale.

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McColloch, J.S., G.H. McColloch, Jr., and C.J. Smith, 1997, Geology and mining history of the New River Gorge National River area, Fayette County, West Virginia [unpublished]: West Virginia Geological

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and Economic Survey, Rock Camp III Field Trip Guidebook, 53p.

Meissner, C.R., Jr., 1981, Geologic map of the Shady Spring quadrangle, Raleigh and Summers Counties, West Virginia: U.S. Geological Survey Geologic Quadrangle Map, GQ-1546, 1 sheet, 1:24,000 scale.

Miller, R.L., 1964, The Little Stone Gap Member of the Hinton Formation (Mississippian) in southwest Virginia: U. S. Geological Survey Geological Professional Paper 501-B, p. B39-B42.

Miller, D.J., and K.A. Eriksson, 1997, Late Mississippian prodeltaic rhythmites in the Appalachian Basin: a hierarchical record of tidal and climatic periodicities: Jour. Sedimentary Research, v. B67, p. 653-660.

Miller, D.J., and K.A. Eriksson, 1999, Linked sequence development and global climate change: the upper Mississippian record in the Appalachian basin: Geology, v. 27, p. 35-38.

Miller, R.L., 1964, The Little Stone Gap Member of the Hinton Formation (Mississippian) in southwest Virginia, United States Geological Survey Professional Paper 501-B, p. B39-B42.

Moore, D.A., 1999, The origins of rapids in the lower New River Gorge, West Virginia: Unpublished master's thesis, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, http://hdl.handle.net/10450/998.

National Park Service, 2003, Paddling the New River — Hinton to Thurmond: http://home.nps.gov/neri/ planyourvisit/upload/NERI_PaddlingTheNew.pdf, accessed February 13, 2013.

National Park Service, 2012, New River Gorge Geology: Ribbon Through Time: http://www.nps.gov/neri/ naturescience/.../Geology2012-4page-FINAL.pdf, accessed March 15, 2013.

National Park Service, 2013, Whitewater, New River Gorge National River: http://home.nps.gov/neri/ planyourvisit/whitewater.htm, accessed February 13, 2013.

Oyewumi, A.A. 2012. Sequence Stratigraphy and paleoecology of the late Mississippian Little Stone Gap Member in the Appalachians of West Virginia: Unpublished master's thesis, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd- 05152012- 101758/restricted/Oyewumi_AA_T_2012.pdf.

Perry, W.J., Jr., 1978, Mann Mountain Anticline: Western limit of detachment in south-central West Virginia in R.L. Wheeler and C.S. Dean, eds., Proceedings, Western Limits of Detachment and Related Structures in the Appalachian Foreland: Southeastern Section, Geographic Society of America, Chattanooga, TN, April 1978, U.S. Department of Energy, DOE/METC/SP- 80/23, p. 82 – 99.

Reger, D.B., 1918, Barbour and Upshur Counties and western portion of Randolph County [West Virginia]: West Virginia Geological Survey [County Report], 867 p.

Reger, David B., 1926, Mercer, Monroe, and Summers Counties [West Virginia]: West Virginia Geological Survey [County Report], 963 p.

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Rice, C.L., J.C. Currens, J.A. Henderson, and J.E. Nolde, 1987, The Betsie Shale Member - a datum for exploration and stratigraphic analysis of the lower part of the Pennsylvanian in the central Appalachian Basin: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin, v. 1834, 17 p.

Riley, N., and N. Turner, 1995, The correlation of mid-Westphalian marine bands between the central Appalachian Basin (USA) and the United Kingdom: XIII International Congress of Carboniferous-Permian, Krakhow, Poland, p. 122.

Stencil, B., 2012, Biofacies analysis of late Mississippian ostracodes and their use as paleoenvironmental indicators in the Bluefield Formation, Mercer County, West Virginia. Unpublished master’s thesis, Mississippi State, Mississippi.

Stewart, K.G., J.M. Dennison, and M.J. Bartholomew, 2002, Late Mississippian paleoseismites from southeastern West Virginia and southwestern Virginia, in F.R. Ettensohn, N. Rast, and C.E Brett, eds., Ancient seismites: Boulder, Colorado, Geological Society of America Special Paper 359, p. 127-144.

United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), 2013, Office of WaterSafe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) database: http://iaspub.epa.gov/enviro/sdw_form_v2.create_page? state_abbr=WV, accessed April 26, 2013.

West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, 2013a, Babcock State Park: http://www.babcocksp.com/, accessed February 13, 2013.

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West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, 2011c, Interactive Coal Maps- Kanawha Formation (Fm): http://www.wvgs.wvnet.edu/www/coal/cbmp/kan_maps.html, accessed November 13, 2011.

West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, 2011d, Interactive Oil and Gas Maps-"Pipeline- Plus": http://ims.wvgs.wvnet.edu/WVOG/viewer.htm, accessed November 16, 2011.

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White, I.C., 1891, Stratigraphy of the bituminous coal field of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia: U. S. Geological Survey Bulletin 65, 212 p.

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Yang, C., 1998, Basin analysis of the Carboniferous strata in central and southern West Virginia using sequence stratigraphic principles: Unpublished PhD dissertation thesis, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Extracted from: (GRI Source Map ID 75738) (Bedrock Geology of the New River Gorge National River).

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Digital Surficial Geologic Map of New River Gorge National River Surficial Map Unit List

The surficial geologic units present in the digital geologic-GIS data produced for New River Gorge National River, West Virginia (NERI) are listed below. Units are listed with their assigned unit symbol and unit name (e.g., Qd - Disturbed). Units are generally listed from youngest to oldest. Information about each geologic unit is also presented in the GRI Geologic Unit Information (NERSUNIT) table included with the GRI geologic-GIS data. Some source unit symbols were changed to include age or to conform to GRI naming conventions. See the Source Unit Symbol (SRC_SYM) field in the GIS data for source map unit symbols as these differ from unit symbols adopted by the GRI for surficial units.

Cenozoic Era

Quaternary Period

Recent Qd - Disturbed Qr - River channel Qtd - Tributary deposit Qrff - Rock-floored floodplain

Recent, Holocene Epoch and late Pleistocene Epoch Qls - Landslide

Holocene Epoch Qflp - Floodplain Qfc - Fluvial channel

Holocene and late Pleistocene Epochs Qaf - Alluvial fan Qbm - Blocky mantle Qbtd - Bouldery tributary deposit Qca - Colluvial apron Qcf - Colluvial fan Qcm - Colluvial mantle Qcv - Colluvial veneer Qec - Rock City Qt - Terrace

Late Cenozoic Era Qres - Residuum

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Surficial Map Unit Descriptions

Descriptions of all surficial geologic map units are presented below.

Qd - Disturbed (Recent (Anthropocene)) Wide variety of disturbed landforms, in which > 30 percent of topography has been altered through excavation, mining, filling or other anthropogenic process. Includes mined lands from top of highwall to base of spoil pile, unusually wide or complex road or railroad grades, and unnaturally smooth surfaces. Surficial materials vary greatly. (GRI Source Map ID 76059) (Surficial Geologic Map of New River Gorge National River).

Qr - River channel (Recent (Anthropocene)) Perennial river channels, > 30 m wide. Coarse to extremely coarse bedload and coarse point bar deposits largely reflect geology of adjacent slopes. Banks in steep narrow canyons are commonly composed of boulder or block lag derived from very coarse colluvial diamictons. (GRI Source Map ID 76059) (Surficial Geologic Map of New River Gorge National River).

Qtd - Tributary deposit (Recent (Anthropocene)) Irregular narrow bottomlands along steep tributary streams in confined valleys, typically entrenched by a channel with steep banks. Composed primarily of relatively fine-grained silt to cobble deposits. Complex origins may include colluvial, debris flow, and alluvial deposition, modified by fluvial erosion. (GRI Source Map ID 76059) (Surficial Geologic Map of New River Gorge National River).

Qrff - Rock-floored floodplain (Recent (Anthropocene)) Relatively flat river bottomland, episodically inundated by floods. Includes some low terraces that are very rarely inundated. Underlain by bare bedrock or exceptionally thin alluvium over bedrock. Surface may be marked with potholes. (GRI Source Map ID 76059) (Surficial Geologic Map of New River Gorge National River).

Qls - Landslide (Recent (Anthropocene), Holocene and late Pleistocene) Discrete slope failure, differentiated from adjacent landforms by distinct morphology, such as scarps, intact blocks, hummocks, or depositional toes. Slumps are most common landslide type. Lower portions of most landslides have been removed by mitigation along roadways and railroads, or erosion has adjacent to streams. Surficial materials vary greatly, reflecting source areas. (GRI Source Map ID 76059) (Surficial Geologic Map of New River Gorge National River).

Qflp - Floodplain (late Holocene) Relatively flat river bottomland, episodically inundated by floods. Surface may be dissected by secondary stream channels active during high flows and floods. Includes some very rarely inundated low terraces. Composed of alluvium sediments ranging from silts and clays to boulders. (GRI Source Map ID 76059) (Surficial Geologic Map of New River Gorge National River).

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Qfc - Fluvial channel (Holocene) Very steep highly entrenched > 30 m wide intermittent or perennial stream channels. Some may be debris flow tracks. Coarse to extremely coarse bed material may include bedrock outcrops and waterfalls. Banks in steep narrow canyons are commonly composed of boulder or block lag derived from very coarse colluvial diamictons. (GRI Source Map ID 76059) (Surficial Geologic Map of New River Gorge National River).

Qaf - Alluvial fan (Holocene and late Pleistocene) Gently sloping fan emanating from, and typically dissected by, one or two source tributary streams. Composed of alluvial sediments ranging from sand to boulders. Fans with steep source basins may include debris flow deposits. Varied soil profile development, reflecting complex age and genesis. (GRI Source Map ID 76059) (Surficial Geologic Map of New River Gorge National River).

Qbm - Blocky mantle (Holocene and late Pleistocene) Colluvial mantle with numerous blocks projecting above the surface topography. Indicated on LiDAR by extreme surface roughness, blocky mantle reflects in situ or upslope occurrence of thick, highly resistant sandstones. (GRI Source Map ID 76059) (Surficial Geologic Map of New River Gorge National River).

Qbtd - Bouldery tributary deposit (Holocene and late Pleistocene) Irregular narrow bottomlands along steep confined tributary stream valleys, typically entrenched by a channel with steep banks. Composed of coarse bouldery deposits and extremely coarse lag. Complex origins may include colluvial, debris flow, and alluvial deposition, modified by fluvial erosion. (GRI Source Map ID 76059) (Surficial Geologic Map of New River Gorge National River).

Qca - Colluvial apron (Holocene and late Pleistocene) Footslope landforms with slope gradient generally decreasing downslope and no surface expression of underlying bedrock stratigraphy and structure. Composed of colluvial diamicton derived from unconfined sources. Underlying bedrock structure is not apparent because colluvium thickness exceeds 2m. (GRI Source Map ID 76059) (Surficial Geologic Map of New River Gorge National River).

Qcf - Colluvial fan (Holocene and late Pleistocene) Fan- or cone-shaped landforms that can be traced to one or more confined sources, such as coves or hill-slope hollows. Composed primarily of colluvial diamicton, but may include debris flow deposits or tributary alluvium. (GRI Source Map ID 76059) (Surficial Geologic Map of New River Gorge National River ).

Qcm - Colluvial mantle (Holocene and late Pleistocene) Very steep to moderately steep slopes lacking surface expression of underlying bedrock stratigraphy and structure. Generally composed of thick (>2 m) colluvial diamictons reflecting upslope bedrock lithologies. Colluvium may include deposits deposited by sheet-flow and local fluvial processes. (GRI

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Source Map ID 76059) (Surficial Geologic Map of New River Gorge National River).

Qcv - Colluvial veneer (Holocene and late Pleistocene) Very steep to steep slopes with ribbed topography reflecting underlying bedrock stratigraphy and structure. Generally composed of thin (<2 m) colluvial diamicton derived from in situ and upslope bedrock lithologies, interspersed with local outcrops of resistant bedrock, patches of residual soils, and pockets of thick diamicton that may include local fluvial and sheet-flow deposits. (GRI Source Map ID 76059) (Surficial Geologic Map of New River Gorge National River).

Qec - Rock City (Holocene and late Pleistocene) Clusters of rock blocks and very large boulders separated by narrow avenues on low-relief to slightly sloping uplands or along canyon rims. Produced by gravity-driven lateral spreading of thickly-bedded resistant sandstone with widely spaced vertical fractures, locally enhanced by root penetration or ice riving. (GRI Source Map ID 76059) (Surficial Geologic Map of New River Gorge National River).

Qt - Terrace (Holocene and late Pleistocene) Relatively flat to gently sloping bottomland, seldom or never inundated by floods, and rarely displaying old inactive stream channels. Composed of alluvial sediments ranging from silts and clays to boulders, and commonly showing significant soil profile development. Locally mantled by thin colluvial deposits derived from adjacent slopes. (GRI Source Map ID 76059) (Surficial Geologic Map of New River Gorge National River).

Qres - Residuum (Late Cenozoic) Low-relief uplands, typically rolling topography, lithologically controlled benches, or crests and shoulders of ridges and spurs. Composed of in situ or nearly in situ weathering products of varying textures and thicknesses, with properties inherited from underlying bedrock lithologies. May include local colluvial deposits. (GRI Source Map ID 76059) (Surficial Geologic Map of New River Gorge National River).

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Surficial Ancillary Source Map Information Open File Report OF-1501 Yates, Marla K., and Kite, Stephen J. [Digital Cartography and Map Compilation by Gooding, Sarah E.], 2015, Surficial Geologic Map of the New River Gorge National River, West Virginia: West Virginia University and West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, Open-File Report OF-1501, scale 1:48,000. (GRI Source Map ID 76059).

Abstract ANTHROPOGENIC LANDFORMS WITHIN NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL RIVER, SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA

Bare-earth LiDAR DEMs and slope-shade maps can be used to identify anthropogenic landforms within in the New River Gorge National River (NERI) in southern West Virginia. Anthropogenic landforms are diverse and generally related to mining, roads, and railroads. Although pre-historic colluvial deposits are abundant and extensive in the New River Gorge, most clearly defined individual landslides are associated with anthropogenic disturbance. Anthropogenic activities create smoothed landform surfaces that do not occur naturally within NERI. The largest anthropogenic landforms tend to be unclaimed strip-mine benches. The near-vertical high-walls above and angle-of-repose fill slopes below the mining benches, are potentially unstable; thus, these anthropogenic landforms commonly contribute to landslides within NERI. Reclaimed mine lands have unnaturally smooth, and commonly stepped or terraced, landforms. Roads and railroads also are associated with high-wall-like cuts and smoothed flat- topped fills bordered by angle-of-repose downslope fringes. Generally, road and railroad cuts are lower and benches are narrower than similar forms along mining benches; however, the sloping fringes of fill material adjacent to roads and railroad may be extensive. Examples of railroad cuts contributing to slumps and other landslides developed in colluvial materials and then being re-graded into an anomalously wide flat surface are common along railroads near river level. Domestic and commercial building construction within NERI has created unnatural smooth areas with sharp boundaries, but these are relatively limited in extent within the National River boundaries. Areas with a high density of anthropogenic activities and disturbances are commonly associated with slumps and other landslides.

Extracted from: (GRI Source Map ID 76059) (Surficial Geology of New River Gorge National River).

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Location Map

Extracted from: (GRI Source Map ID 76059) (Surficial Geology of New River Gorge National River).

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Map Units

Extracted from: (GRI Source Map ID 76059) (Surficial Geology of New River Gorge National River).

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References Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Official Soil Series Descriptions. Available online. Accessed [07/21/2014].

US Army Corps of Engineers (compilers). US Army Engineer District, Huntington, WV, Corps of Engineers. Bluestone Lake and Down Stream 2009 Bare-Earth LiDAR. [vector digital data]. Hillshade generated by Marla K. Yates, using ArcMap 10.1 (October 2013).

U.S. Geologic Survey and WV SAMB. 2003. Digital Elevation Models (USGS 3-meter). Degree-slope map generated by Marla K. Yates, using Arc Map 10.1 (January 2014).

West Virginia University Natural Resource Analysis Center (WVU NRAC). West Virginia University Natural Resource Analysis Center, Morgantown WV. Fall 2011 LiDAR Tiles [vector digital data]. Generated by Marla K. Yates, using ArcMap 10.1 (January 2014).

Yates, Marla K. and Kite, J. Steven, 2013. Anthropogenic landforms within New River Gorge National River, southern West Virginia: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 45, no. 7, p.123.

Extracted from: (GRI Source Map ID 76059) (Surficial Geology of New River Gorge National River).

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GRI Digital Data Credits

This document was developed and completed by Stephanie O'Meara and Derek Witt (Colorado State University) for the NPS Geologic Resources Division (GRD) Geologic Resources Inventory(GRI) Program. Quality control of this document by James Chappell and Stephanie O'Meara (Colorado State University).

The information in this document was compiled from the GRI source maps, and is intended to accompany the GRI digital geologic-GIS maps and related digital data for New River Gorge National River, West Virginia (NERI) developed by Derek Witt and James Chappell (bedrock map), and Stephanie O'Meara (surficial map, and bedrock data model and data format migration) (see the GRI Digital Maps and Source Map Citations section of this document for all sources used by the GRI in the completion of this document and related GRI digital geologic-GIS data).

GRI finalization by Stephanie O'Meara.

GRI program coordination and scoping provided by Bruce Heise (NPS GRD, Lakewood, Colorado).

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