COAL MEASURES OP MARYLAND1 (Bead
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BULLETIN OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA VOL. 30, PP. 567-596, PL8. 14-15 DECEMBER 31, 1919 PROCEEDINGS OF THE PALEONTOLOGICAL SOCIETY COAL MEASURES OP MARYLAND1 BY CHARLES K. SWARTZ, W. ARMSTRONG PRICE, AND HARVEY BASSLER (Bead before the Paleontological Society, December 28, 1918) CONTENTS Page Introduction ................................................................................................................. 567 Area ........................................................................................................................ 567 Earlier investigation ......................., ................................................................ 569 Present investigation .................................... .................................................. 570 Part I. Stratigraphy of the Coal Measures, by Charles K. Swartz............... 570 In general ............................................................................................................ 570 Pottsville formation .......................................................................................... 571 Character and thickness .......................................................................... 571 Members ...... ................................................................................................. 571 Faunas ........................................................................................................... 571 Allegheny formation .......................................................................................... 572 Character and thickness ...............................................................!...........572 Members ......................................................................................; ................572 Conemaugh formation ..................................................................................... 572 Character and thickness ........................................................................... 572 Members ........................................................................................................ 573 Faunas ........................................................................................................... 574 Monongahela formation .................................................................................... 574 Character and thickness ............................................................................ 574 Members ........................................................................................................ 575 Table showing geological and geographical distribution of marine species ................................................................................................................ 575 Part II. Correlation of the Coal Measures, by Charles K. Swartz, W. Arm strong Price, and Harvey Bassler...................................................................... 578 Method of correlation ...................................................................................... 578 Criteria employed ...................................................................................... 578 Character of the critical series of the Lower Conemaugh...............579 Faunas ............ ..................................................................................... 579 Lithology .............................. ............................................................... 580 1 Manuscript received by the Secretary of the Geological Society August 2, 1919. Published with the permission of the Director of the Maryland Geological Survey. Entered in the Proceedings, this volume, page 154, as “Stratigraphy and correlation of the Coal Measures of Maryland.” (567) XXXIX—B u l l. G eol. S oc. Am., Y ol. 30, 1918 Downloaded from http://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/gsabulletin/article-pdf/30/4/567/3414048/BUL30-0567.pdf by guest on 30 September 2021 568 COAL MEASURES OF MARYLAND Page Thickness .............................................................................................. 581 Underlying beds .................................................................................. 581 Sections of critical series of the Lower Conemaugh from Ohio to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ............................................................. 581 Meigs County, Ohio .......................................................................... 581 Muskingum County, Ohio ...............................................................582 Wheeling, West Virginia ............................................................... 582 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ................................................................ 582 Sections of critical series of the Lower Conemaugh from Pitts burgh, Pennsylvania, to Maryland via West Virginia...................583 Morgantown, Monongalia County, West Virginia...................... 583 Preston County, West Virginia..................................................... 583 Upper Youghiogheny basin, West Virginia and Maryland___584 Upper Potomac basin, Maryland................................................... 584 Sections of critical series of Lower Conemaugh from Pittsburgh, to Maryland via western Pennsylvania......................................... 585 Freeport, Pennsylvania .................................................................... 585 Latrobe* Pennsylvania ...................................................................... 586 Somerset County, Pennsylvania ................................................... 586 Castleman basin, Pennsylvania-Maryland................................... 586 Georges Creek basin, Maryland..................................................... 587 Persistence of critical series................................................................... 587 Correlation of formations .............................................................................. 589 In general ................................................................................................... 589 Monongahela formation ............................................................................ 589 Conemaugh formation .............................................................................. 590 Allegheny formation ................................................................................ 591 Pottsville formation .................................................................................. 592 Conclusions 'and summary ................................................................................ 592 Explanation of plates .............................................................................................. 594 I ntroduction AREA The Coal Measures are found in Allegany and Garrett counties, Mary land, situated in the western part of the State, where they underlie a large part of the region between the Alleghany front and the West Vir ginia-Maryland State line. The strata occupy three major structural troughs whose axes trend northeast-southwest, parallel to the trend of the mountains. The most westerly trough is called the Lower Youghio gheny, or Friendsville, basin. The middle basin is divided into two parts by a transverse minor anticline, thus forming the Upper Youghiogheny b,asin on the southwest and the Castleman basin on the northeast. The eastern trough is cut into two parts by the Potomac River, which turns Downloaded from http://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/gsabulletin/article-pdf/30/4/567/3414048/BUL30-0567.pdf by guest on 30 September 2021 INTRODUCTION 509 across it at Piedmont, the southern extension of the basin being known as the Upper Potomac basin and the northeastern as the Georges Creek basin. The relations of these basins are shown in the accompanying map. The investigation of the area under consideration presents many diffi culties.. Its surface is mountainous and much of it is heavily forested. The rocks have steep dips and are buried at many places under deep overwash. Much of the region is little dissected. Trustworthy drill records were entirely lacking in the chief coal-producing area, the Georges Creek basin, when this investigation was undertaken. EARLIER INVESTIGATION The Coal Measures of Maryland have been studied in greater or less detail by many able and talented geologists in the past, including Tyson, I. C. White, Darton, Taft, Prosser, O’Harra, Clark, Martin. Stose, and various members of the Maryland Geological Suivey. The coal beds have also been examined by mining engineers who have been associated with the various coal companies of the State. The author? feel that conclusions which differ from those obtained by such able workers should be presented with great reserve. Downloaded from http://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/gsabulletin/article-pdf/30/4/567/3414048/BUL30-0567.pdf by guest on 30 September 2021 570 COAL MEASURES OP MARYLAND PRESENT INVESTIGATION The senior author began the study in order to rectify simply a few minor details, but soon became convinced that the problem demanded fundamental investigation. He accordingly invited Dr. W. A. Price, Jr., aud Dr. Harvey Bassler to assist him in the work, and feels very fortunate in enjoying their cooperation. Dr. Price has made a critical study of the marine faunas of the Carboniferous of Maryland and adjoining areas and Dr. Bassler is engaged in the monographic study of the Carboniferous flora of the State. A brief synopsis only of th<j results obtained will be given at this place, awaiting fuller presentation in a forthcoming monograph upon the Carboniferous