Commonwealth of Virginia Geology of the Ashby Gap
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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIVISION OF MINERAL RESOURCES GEOLOGY OF THE ASHBY GAP QUADRANGLE, VIRGINIA THOMAS M. GATHRIGHT II AND PAUL G. NYSTROM, JR. REPORT OF INVESTIGATIONS 36 VIRGINIA DIVISION OF MINERAL RESOURCES Jqmes L. Cqlver Commissioner of Minerol Resources qnd Stote Geologist CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA 1974 COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA DEPATTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIVISION OF MINERAT RESOURCES GEOLOGY OF THE ASHBY GAP QUADRANGLE, VIRGINIA THOMAS M. GATHRIGHT II AND PAUL G. NYSTROM, JT. REPORT OF INVESTIGATIONS 36 VITGINIA DIVISION OF MINERAL RESOURCES Jomec L. Cqlver Cornmirioner of Minerol Resources ond Stqte Geologist CHAITOTTESVIILE, VNG|N|A 1974 CouuoNwn.a.r,Trr oF VmcrNrl DsrAnrxrpNr or Puncn.o,sps AND Suppl,y RTcHMoND t974 Portions of this publication may be quoted if credit is given to the Virginia Division of Mineral Resources. ft is recommended that reference to this renort be made in the following form: Gathright, T. M., II, and Nystrom, P. G., Jt.,!974, Geology of the Ashby Gap quadrangle, Virginia: Yirginia Division of Mineral Resources Rept. Inv. 36, 55 p. DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Richmond, Virginia Mmvru M. SurnsnLAND, Director Jpnar,o F. Moonn, Deputy Director A. S. RacgAL, JB., E*ecuti,ae Assistant BOARD W'rlr,nu H. KtNc, Burkeville, Chairman Wrr,lrlu H. StlNrucnN, Falls Church, Vi,ce Chairmnn D. Hntny ALMoND, Richmond Maron T. BoNtoN, Suffolk A. R. DuNNrNc, Millwood Aoolr U. HoNr.a,Lt, Richmond J. H. JonNSoN, West Point Rosont Plrrrnsou, Charlottesville Fnnnnnrc S. Runo, Manakin-Sabot Colr,rNs SNxDEn, Accomac Fnnonmcr W. War,xun, Richmond SnrnulN WAt t AcE, Cleveland CONTENTS Abstract 1 1 Introduction . Stratigraphy .3 Precambrian rocks .o Granite D Precambrian ( ?) rocks .8 Swift Run Formation 8 Catoctin Formation 10 Cambrian System L4 Chilhowee Group 16 Weverton Formation . ., 16 Harpers Formation .20 Antietam Formation .... .23 Shady Formation .26 Rome Formation 27 Elbrook Formation .. 32 Conococheague Formation ..... .33 Quaternary System .34 Terrace deposits .. 34 Alluvium .. 35 .. 36 Structure .... ...... Folds ... : .... .. 37 Faults .40 Metamorphism ...:. ..... .41 Economic geology 45 Industrial limestone and dolomite .45 Iron 46 Copper and lead 46 Barite .. 47 References .. 48 Appendix: Stratigraphic sections .... .. 50 Index .. 53 ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE Pr,ltr 1. Geologic map of the Ashby Gap quadrangle, Virginia In pocket Frcunr l. Index map showing location of study area ..... ...., 2 2. Fhotomicrograph of perthitic syenitic granite from Pre- cambrian rocks ......... .....r,...., . 6 3. Photomicrograph of perthitic granite from Precambrian rocks ........... 7 4. Photomicrograph of sandy phyllite of the Swift Run Formation .....................,.. .. .. .... 9 5. Photomicrograph of amygduloidal metabasalt of the Catoctin Formation ..... 12 6. Photomicrograph of purple amygduloidal slate of the Catoctin Formation .. .. 13 7. Photomicrogr aph of rhyolitic metatuff of the Catoctin Formation 13 8. Photomicrograph of amygduloidal epidosite of the Catoc- tin Formation ................ ............................. 14 9. Photomicrograph of quartzite of the Weverton Forma- 1ion............... .. 18 10. Upper naember of the Weverton Formation ..... ............... 19 11. Typical bedding-surface exposure of the Harpers Forma- tion . .,.,,,,,..'......,' 2| L2. Probable fossil shells from the upper part of the Harpers Formation 22 13. Antietam Formation 23 14. Lowermost beds of the Antietam Forma1ion.................... .. .... .. 24 15. Photomicrograph of high-magnesium dolomite from the Shady Formation 27 16. Sandstone and shale of the Rome Formation 28 17. Argillaceous limestone of the Rorne Formation. 29 18. 'Dolomitic limestone of the Rome Formation 30 19. Lower clastic unit of the Rome Formation. 31 20. Conococheague Formation . ..... 34 PAGE 21. Small-scale flow folds in the lower limestone unit of the Shady Formation .38 22. Cleavage-bedding intersections . ...... ... ...... 39 TABLES 1. Geologic formations in the Ashby Gap quadrangle.............. 3 2. Characteristic mineral assemblages in metasediments of the Chilhowee Group and the Catoctin and Swift Run formations .................42 Characteristic mineral assemblages in metavolcanics of the Catoctin Formation ..................... .. .. , ........ 43 Characteristic mineral assemblages of the Precambrian granite rocks . ... .. 44 GEOLOGY OF THE ASHBY GAP QUADRANGLE, VIRGINIA By Tnou.ss M. Gatnnlcnt II and Plul G. Nvstnou, Jn. ABSTRACT The Ashby Gap ?.5-minute quadrangle is located in eastern Cla.rke, western Loudoun, and northern Fauquier counties in northern Virginia. This area is mainly in the Blue Ridge physio- graphic province; the southeast and northwest corners of the quadrangle are in the Piedmont and Valley and Ridge physio- graphic provinces, respectively. Bedrock within the quadrangle ranges in age from Precambrian to Middle Cambrian and has been assigred to 10 formations that have been divided into mem- bers where mappable intraformational units are present. Quater- nary terrace deposits and flood-plain alluvium were also mapped. The structural aspect of the Ashby Gap quadrangle is domi- nated by gently northeastward-plunging folds that include the Pigeon Hill, Franklintown, Willow Lake, and Taylors Hill syn- clines and the Calmes Neck and Slate Ridge anticlines. North- ward-trending, eastward-dipping, high-angle reverse faults that appear to die out within the quadrangle are present, as well as northwestward-trending vertical faults of relatively small dis- placement. Most of the rock units are characterized by a south- eastward-dipping foliation that parallels the axial planes of the folds. The very low-rank regional metamorphism evident in the more argillaceous rocks appears to be related to the development of this foliation. Crushed stone for road aggregate and agricultural use has been produced in the quadrangle. Significant quantities of high- magnesium dolomite are present and minor amounts of siliceous iron and traces of eopper, lead, and barite occur locally. INTRODUCTION The Ashby Gap 7.5-minute quadrangle (Plate 1) is located in eastern Clarke, westbrn Loudoun, and northern Fauquier coun- ties in northern Virginia. It has an area of 57.97 square miles bounded by 77"52'30" and 78o00' west longitudes and 39o00' and 39o07'30' north latitudes (Figure 1). The quadrangle is in the Valley and Ridge, Blue Ridge, and Piedmont physiographic pro- vinces and includes portions of the Shenandoah Valley and the Blue Ridge mountains. The area contains an incised, meandering Vrncrun DryrsroN or MrNrur, Rusouncns river valley in a gently rolling lowland, and a broad mountain flanked by steep sinuous ridges on the west and genily sloping lowlands on the east. The maximum elevation of approximately 1,925 feet occurs on the crest of the Blue Ridge in the south- eentral portion of the quadrangle, and the minimum elevation of approximately 375 feet is north of Castlemans Ferry Bridge where the Shenandoah River crosses the north boundary of the quadrangle. The general features of the geology of the Ashby Gap quad- rangle are included in Keith (1894), Butts (1988, 1940-41), and Virginia Division of Mineral Resources (1963). Studies of the geology of the Blue Ridge near Harpers Ferry, West Virginia by Nickelsen (1956) and of the Lincoln and Bluemont quadrangles, Virginia by Parker (1968) provide geologic data relevant to the Ashby Gap quadrangle. Of particular importance are geologic maps of the Berryville, Stephenson, and Boyce quadrangles, Vir- ginia by Edmundson and Nunan (19T8) and a geologic map of Clarke County by Edmundson (194b), which provide detailed stratigraphic and structural data for poltions of the Ashby Gap quadrangle and adjacent areas. The field mapping of the Ashby Gap quadrangle was begun in June 1g72 and completed in No- vember 1972. Numbers preceded by "R" in parentheses (R-4873) correspond to sample localities noted on Plate 1; those preceded by "F" (F-973) refer to fossil localities also shown on Plate 1. These ,^.,.,:?"oo*u I /oLARKE \/' \.,- _{-."W:._,, i WARREN i - i :'eauouten Figure 1. Index map showing location of study area. Rrponr or INvrsrrcATroNS 36 samples and fossils are on file in the repository of the Virginia Division of Mineral Resources, Charlottesville, Virginia where they are available for examination. The writers wish to thank James L. Calver, Commissioner of Mineral Resources and State Geologist, for his encouragement during this project and the staff members of the Virginia Divi- sion of Mineral Resources for their aid in the field and in discus- sion. Particular thanks are due to Raymond S. Edmundson for detailed information concerning the stratigraphy of the Cam- brian rocks in the quadrangle, and to W. Edward Nunan for dis- cussion of the structure and for several days spent in the field familiarizing the writers with the geology of the area. Thanks also go to Frank B. Click, District Materials Engineer, Virginia Department of Highways, who supplied valuable test-hole data. STRATIGRAPHY The rocks exposed in the Ashby Gap quadrangle are assigned to 10 geologic formations (Table 1, Plate 1). Cambrian rocks have a maximum thickness of approximately 10,000 feet; stratified Precambrian ( ?) rocks may be as thick as 3,200 feet and are un- derlain by Precambrian plutonic and intrusive rocks to an undetermined depth. Sand, silt, clay, cobbles, and gravels are present as terrace deposits and alluvium, mainly