DESCRIPTION OF THE RALEIGH QUADRANGLE.

By Marius R. Camplbell.

GEOGRAPHY. the direction of Chicago, curves southward through and it has been completely dissected by the numer­ River becomes the Kanawha. Above Armstrong Cincinnati, Ohio, and Lexington, Kentucky, and ous streams which drain its surface, forming a Creek the grade is greater, and the river is narrow General relations. The Raleigh quadrangle then trends to the southwest, parallel cincinnati hilly region in the place of the plateau and a and is beset by falls and almost continuous rapids embraces an area of 944 square miles, extending with the Appalachian Valley, as far as anticline- broken margin of irregular hill slopes instead of throughout the coal field. from latitude 37° 30' on the south to 38° on the Nashville, Tennessee. Its maximum development an escarpment. North of Ohio River the distinc­ The New River portion of this trunk stream north, and from longitude 81° on the east to 81° is in the vicinity of Lexington, where the Trenton tion between the topographic features is less pro­ crosses the northeastern corner of the Raleigh 30' on the west. The quadrangle is located in limestone is exposed at the surface at an altitude nounced than farther south and there is more or quadrangle in a deep and narrow gorge, through the State of "West Virginia, and the Locationof of 1000 feet above sea level, but in Tennessee it less merging of the eastern plateaus into the low which the water rushes in its hurried descent to larger part of its surface is included in Mississippi River, either in ever, the lithologic and structural con- valleys- similar, although not identical, conditions pre­ of its size, and it exhibits unmistakable evidence its physiographic history or in its present surface ditions have been such that the anticlines are vailed in the Ohio Valley during the same general of the youthf ulness of its present valley. features. This division is, therefore, physiograph- entirely eroded, leaving the central parts of the period. Relief. The surface features of any quadrangle ically limited on the east by the Allegheny Front broad synclines as elevated plateaus, which in are difficult of interpretation if the student is con­ TOPOGRAPHY OF THE RALEIGH QUADRANGLE. and the eastern escarpment of the Cumberland various places have received local names, but fined to the facts shown in that quadrangle, for Plateau and on the west by the flood plain of which may be grouped under the general name As shown in fig. 1, this quadrangle lies on the many of the conditions which have modified the Mississippi River and the prairie plains of Illinois of the Cumberland Plateau. southeastern margin of the Appalachian coal basin, action of erosion so as to produce the present and Indiana. In contradistinction from the low The altitude of the mountainous belt varies and its topography is of the type which charac­ topography are general in their character and can land on the west and the ridges and valleys on from 500 feet in central Alabama to 2000 feet at terizes that field, where the strata are composed of be understood only through a knowledge of the the east, it has been called by Powell the Alle­ Chattanooga, 3500 feet in the vicinity alternate beds of hard and soft material lying in surface features and the configuration of the drain­ gheny Plateaus. of Cumberland Gap, and from 2000 to the'moun. a nearly horizontal position. age lines over a wide extent of territory. The Allegheny Plateaus are made up of a variety 4000 feet throughout the northern part Drainage. The larger part of the quadrangle In attempting to read the physiographic history of topographic features, including the greatly dis­ of the province. From, this extreme altitude on lies in the drainage basin of Kanawha River. of this quadrangle, it will be necessary first to sected Cumberland-Alleghenyo «/ Plateau Allegheny. . the southeastern margin the surface descends to This stream, having its source upon the consider the history of a portion of the same gen­ on the east, the Highland Rim and the Plateaus- less than 500 feet on the western border, near summit of the Blue Ridsre in' North eral region in which the topographic forms are River. Lexington Plain in the middle of the territory, and Mississippi River. This descent is accomplished Carolina, flows northwestward across well marked and clearly distinguishable one from the Central Basin of Tennessee and the low plains by a succession of steps or escarpments, which the Appalachian Valley and the coal field and another. The nearest region to which we can bordering Mississippi River on the west. mark the present extent of particularly hard beds joins Ohio River at Point Pleasant, West Virginia. go for reference is central Kentucky, The geologic structure of the Allegheny Pla­ of rock and also the various stages in the reduc­ Although a single, continuous trunk stream, two where there is a clean-cut, sharp distinc- teaus is comparatively simple. The strata lie tion of the surface to its present position. The names have been applied to it, resulting in some typically tion between the features of the coal developedKentucky. in nearly flat, but in many places along the eastern highest and most pronounced escarp- Egcar ment confusion to persons unacquainted with the region. field and those of the "Blue-grass" margin their horizontality is disturbed by sharp ment is along the western margin of maV|isneofn From its source to its junction with Gauley River, region. These are shown in the Richmond and folds which give rise to long, even-crested ridges the Appalachian coal field, separating, coalfield- a small branch coming in from the northeast and London folios (Folios Nos. 46 and 47), to which or to equally long, narrow valleys parallel with in Kentucky, the great interior plain from the joining it in the quadrangle to the north, the the reader is referred for a more detailed descrip­ the margin of the field. In the interior there are higher and more hilly region of the coal field, and stream is known as New River; below this point tion. ' a few broad folds, but their height is so small in Tennessee marking the line between the East­ it is called Kanawha River, a name appropriate In Kentucky the surface of the coal field is a compared with their breadth that the resulting ern Highlands and the Cumberland Plateau. In for the whole stream from source to mouth. partially dissected plateau which stands at an dip of the rocks is scarcely perceptible. the latter State the escarpment is steep and regular By an extensive system of locks and darns, elevation of about 1500 feet above the level of The most prominent structural feature is a low, and the plateau is very perfectly preserved, but Kanawha River has been made navigable as far the sea. At its western edge there is a sharp broad arch, known as the Cincinnati anticline, in the former the capping rocks were not hard up as the mouth of Armstrong Creek, which descent to the surface of the Lexington Plain, which enters this division of the province from enough to protect the plain after it was uplifted, enters a few miles below the point where New which has an altitude of about 1000 feet. Along divides and near the headwaters of the streams West Virginia, but in the interior of the latter Near Huntington, on Ohio River, these old they are composed were originally mud, sand, and the latter feature is an almost perfect plain, but State, away from the main drainage lines, there are valley floors are recognizable at altitudes ranging gravel derived from the waste of the older rocks near the lower courses of the principal streams many areas which were not reduced to the com­ from 900 to 1000 feet above the level and from the remains of plants which lived while its even surface has been destroyed to some extent mon level. Some of these occur in the Raleigh of the sea. In the territory lying Km?.cycle* the strata were being laid down. by the backward cutting of small branches. Below quadrangle, and consequently its surface is more between Huntington and the Raleigh The geography of the time when the rocks of the Lexington Plain, Kentucky and Licking rivers diversified and broken than that of other quad­ quadrangle this feature is poorly developed, this quadrangle were deposited is not well known, have cut deep gorges, but the presence of exten­ rangles lying farther west. because its horizon corresponds with that of the but some progress has been made in determining sive terraces on both streams shows that their Since the formation of that surface the region Charleston sandstone, and this formation is too the physical conditions which then prevailed, down-cutting was interrupted by a pause in the has been greatly elevated with reference to the resistant to have been much reduced in the limited especially in ascertaining the configuration of the upward movement of the land, which permitted sea, and erosion has removed most of the directt interval of time in which the broadened valleys land during the period of the deposition of the streams to broaden their valleys at one par­ evidence concerning its former existence, but there were produced. In the soft shales of the Kanawha the coal-bearing rocks. In the closing stages of ticular stage of their development. Since the is a correspondence in altitude of the higher points formation which outcrop in the Raleigh quadran­ the lower Carboniferous or Mississip- episode of terrace-cutting there is no evidence of of the topography along'northeast-southwest lines gle this feature was well developed. In the vicin­ pian epoch a considerable, although variation in the work of the streams, and presum­ which makes it seem highly probable that they ity of Oak Hill its position corresponds with the probably-1- J variable,' thickness of mottled shale.,_ ably the conditions under which it has been once formed parts of the even surface of a pene­ top of the Nuttall sandstone and hence it is well red and green calcareous shale (Mauch accomplished have remained fairly constant from plain that was presumably well developed in the preserved; it rises to an altitude of about 2500 Chunk) was deposited over most of the Appa­ that time to the present. Kanawha Valley. feet in the vicinity of Beckley, where again it lachian province. In all except the northeastern These features of central Kentucky appear to In attempting to determine the position of that corresponds with a heavy sandstone (Raleigh) part of the province this followed a great epoch be due to subaerial erosion; they are the results peneplain the character of the rocks composing it which has preserved its even surface over a wide of limestone deposition, and hence the shale is either of complete cycles of erosion, dur- Complete must be taken into consideration. In the soft red extent of territory. From Beckley to Flat Top generally regarded as indicative of a shallower ing which the surface of the entire cycie?oVal shales overlying the Charleston sandstone the the present surface rises gradually to an altitude sea and relatively higher adjacent land than pre­ region was reduced to a peneplain, or of peneplain would doubtless be well developed, of 3200 feet, but this is probably due to an inclined vailed during the limestone-forming epoch. In partial cycles in which the reduction extended only but, owing to the rapidity with which bed of massive sandstone and not to the influence the Appalachian Valley it is uncertain to such areas as were characterized by the out­ erosion has operated since its elevation the'ow of the base-level of erosion. The area of soft what wa,s the next change, but along crops of soft rocks. In the Lexington region the above sea level, only the highest hills rocks in the southeastern corner of the quadrangle the western margin of the coal field, rocks are so nearly horizontal that, at first sight, possibly represent its surface. According to this is so limited that the surface features are scarcely across eastern Ohio and Kentucky and they appear to have controlled the operation of criterion the present altitude of that surface at intelligible, but an examination of the Pocahontas central Tennessee, the red shales were lifted above erosion by determining level surfaces correspond­ Ohio River is about 1000 feet. quadrangle, bordering this on the south, shows a the level of the sea, forming a land area which ing with their bedding planes, but careful exami­ In passing toward the southeast, the Charleston wrell-developed peneplain at an altitude of about corresponded, in a general way, with the Cin­ nation shows that the surface of this plain bevels sandstone, which underlies the soft shales just 2700 feet. Therefore the surface which presum­ cinnati anticline. It seems probable, although the formations at a very low angle. The produc­ described, rises gradually to the surface of the ably corresponds in age with the Lex- at present it can not be demonstrated, that the tion of such a feature is evidence that the work ancient peneplain. In the vicinity of Charleston, ington Plain rises from 2000 feet at Appalachian Valley, or at least a large portion of of erosion was limited, in its downward progress, where its upper surface corresponds with that Oak Hill to 2500 feet at Beckley and plain' it, also rose above sea level, leaving a narrow by some horizon below which it could not operate plain, the latter is not only well developed, but 2700 feet in the southeastern corner of the quad­ trough along the eastern margin of the Appa­ and which had no relation to the bedding planes it is also well preserved, and it can be distinguished rangle. In the vicinity of New River and in the lachian coal field, in which deposition of the coal- of the underlying rocks. Such a limiting horizon readily in the nearly even summits at an altitude Guyandot basin this feature is generally well bearing rocks first occurred. is the base-level of erosion, and more or less exten­ of about 1400 feet. As this stratum continues to developed, but in much of the intervening territory The scarcity of fossil marine organisms in the sive areas of the surface were reduced approxi­ rise toward the southeast, it lies more and more the surface is broken by ridges of various heights, coal-bearing rocks of this region leads to the sup­ mately to such a base-level in at least two periods above the base-level of that time, and it is prob­ which are the remnants of the higher plateau. position that this basin was generally separated of the post-Paleozoic history of Kentucky. The able that its surface was not reduced to the com­ .The cycle of erosion which resulted in the for­ from the sea and consisted, in large measure, of ages of these surface features have not mon level. If it had been so reduced, the regular mation of the broad valleys just described was fresh-water lagoons and extensive swamps, in been definitely determined, but there slope would have carried the peneplain to an interrupted by an upward movement of the land. which the vegetable matter that has since been m is sufficient evidence to class provision­ altitude of about 2300 feet near the northwestern The streams were rejuvenated and they cut deep consolidated into coal was accumulating, and over ally the uppermost peneplain as Cretaceous, the corner of the Raleigh quadrangle. trenches in the floors of their former valleys. which the sand and mud constituting the larger Lexington Plain as late Eocene or Neocene, and Near Matville the Charleston sandstone was These trenches are the deep V-shaped gorges part of the formations were distributed. It has the terraces of the river valleys as the latest fea­ above the Cretaceous base-level and consequently which are such a familiar feature in the present lately been suggested that rivers may have played ture of the Neocene period. this formation was completely removed, leaving topography. an important part in the distribution of the The Raleigh quadrangle doubtless passed the softer rocks of the Kanawha formation exposed Along New and Kanawha rivers no evidence greatly diversified sediments of the coal-bearing through approximately the same cycle of events as to the erosive action of the elements. Here the has been observed of any subsequent period of rocks. This is certainly possible, for the existence did the region of central Kentucky, but the condi­ peneplain was doubtless well developed, but the quiescence in the crust of the earth during which of extensive peat swamps implies a land surface tions in West Virginia were not so favorable for conditions that were favorable to the formation the streams had an opportunity to increase materi­ of faint relief, and the close succession of coal and the formation and preservation of sharp distinc­ of this surface also accelerated its removal in sub­ ally the width of their channels. The great gorge beds of sandstone and shale formed from the waste tions between topographic features, hence at first sequent periods of rapid erosion. On account of of New River seems to have been the work of of the land shows that the swamp was frequently sight it seems impossible to interpret these fea­ this fact it is difficult to determine its position, continuous cutting, in which the stream is still invaded by rivers or lakes, and occasionally- by tures in the terms of erosion cycles by which we but presumably it would be not far from 3200 actively engaged. The laud may be rising even the sea. It can not be doubted that the great are accustomed to express the physiographic feet above the level of the sea. at the present time, but if such is the case the and presumably rapid accumulation of mechanical history of land areas. It is apparent that the South of Matville the conditions were similar rate of elevation is too slow to be noticed. sediments was accomplished by large streams, and criteria for such an interpretation are very differ­ to those along Ohio River, and the summits of The physiographic features discussed indicate it seems possible that these streams may have been ent in the Raleigh region from those which are the highest hills are probably not far from the a sequence of events which may be summarized as agents of wide distribution as well, depositing their used in central Kentucky. position of the peneplain. Accordingly ow penepla.n follows: First,7 a lonero epochJ. of sub- Summary_ of load on the low plains at or slightly above the The surface of this quadrangle is somewhat it would now be about 3500 feet above j^eTopdon aerial erosion, in which the surface of duc"ngsu£ level of the sea. this quadrangle, as well as that of most face features' diversified, but in a general way it slopes gently sea level at Flat Top Mountain, which Mountain- Into the narrow basin on the eastern margin of toward the northwest; the rocks dip is located on the southeastern margin of the coal of the Appalachian province, was reduced nearly the present coal field the streams from the conti­ in the same direction, but their average field. to the level of the sea. This was followed by an nental area on the east swept-L their Unconformity,. , rate of descent is considerably greater The cycle of erosion in which this peneplain uplift along an axis located southeast of this quad­ burden of waste from the surface of the ^estonnl than the slope of the surface, hence the was produced was terminated by a movement of rangle, which raised the surface and tilted it land. The rock floor of the Appalachian basin' older rocks, which are exposed in the southeast­ elevation which was greatest along the axis of the toward the northwest. On this uplifted surface trough gradually sank, allowing the accumulating ern part of the quadrangle, dip below the surface Appalachian province, and which, from this axial erosion became active, and in the epoch of qui­ material to extend farther and farther toward the in passing to the northwest and are replaced by line, diminished at about the same rate toward escence which followed the uplift it developed a west, each succeeding bed overlapping that which younger formations in successive order. the northwest and southeast. In Kentucky the peneplain over the outcrops of soft rocks and in was laid down before it and resting unconformably The mountains, plateaus, and valleys of this uplift was about 500 feet at the present margin regions adjacent to the principal drainage lines. upon the eroded surface of what was previously quadrangle.are in a measure due to differences in of the coal field; in West Virginia it varied from This period of quiescence was interrupted by an land on the western side of the trough. The con­ the character of the various strata appearing at less than 100 feet near Ohio River to nearly 1000 upward movement, during and after which the tinued subsidence allowed the coal-bearing rocks the surface, but taken in a broad way the rocks feet in the Raleigh quadrangle. streams again cut sharp channels into the level to be deposited as far west as the present limit of are fairly homogeneous and not very unequally Under the conditions favoring erosion in Ken­ floors of their old broad valleys. Since the begin­ the field, and it is possible that originally they resistant to the action of erosion. tucky the great Lexington Plain and the scarp ning of this uplift the work of the streams has extended entirely across the Cincinnati anticline, In rocks having the above-described character­ separating it from the higher plateau developed been uninterrupted, and the activity of the present connecting the Appalachian coal field with that istics and relation to the surface, escarpments are during the next cycle. In West Virginia the streams shows either that this upward movement of western Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois. not produced, and features formed at different same uplift appears to have prevailed, but the of the land is still in progress or that the cessa­ After the deposition of beds of sandstone, shale, times and under different conditions of erosion time during which erosion was active and undis­ tion of movement has been so recent that the and coal to a thickness of several thousand feet, are only moderately differentiated. If, then, the turbed sufficed only for broadening the valleys of streams have not had time appreciably to widen the entire Appalachian coal field was Closeofsedu cycles and subcycles of erosion have been the the larger streams, and no feature resembling the their valleys. raised above the level of the sea and mentatlon- same in West Virginia as in Kentucky, the effects Lexington Plain could possibly have been pro­ permanently added to the continental area. of development should be dissimilar rather than duced in the resistant strata of the Raleigh region. GEOLOGY. Since the final emergence of this part of the alike in their topographic expression. Where the hills were protected by the Charleston GENERAL SEDIMENTARY RECORD. province from the Carboniferous sea the coal field The cycle of erosion in which was produced sandstone the second period of erosion probably has been continuously dry land, and its history the higher plateau of Kentucky was doubtless of had little effect in reducing the surface, except in All the consolidated rocks appearing at the sur­ during this period is more or less perfectly pre­ great duration and affected the entire the immediate valleys of the streams, but where face within the limits of the Raleigh quadrangle served in the topographic features found upon its Appalachian province. The coal field that stratum lay above the previously formed are of sedimentary origin that is, they were surface to-day. To a certain extent this history , , , -, , ,, sion recorded appearsJ- -L to nave been^ reduced ogenerally J raphy.in the topog- peneplain, or well beneath its surface, erosion deposited by water. They consist of shales, sand­ has been interpreted, and the leading features to a gently undulating surface which is operated to advantage during this second partial stones, and coal beds, having a total average thick­ have been presented under the heading " Topog­ sow shown in the even hilltops of Kentucky and cycle, and broad valleys were formed. ness of about 3900 feet. The materials of which raphy of the Raleigh quadrangle." »- fl STRATIGRAPHY. lachian coal field the differentiation of the Missis­ lying formation except by the presence of the stone diminishes somewhat in thickness and loses sippian series of rocks from the coal-bearing series well-known bed of coal. its hardness and massiveness, but it can be traced The strata exposed in the Raleigh quadrangle above is an easy matter, for they are separated by Plant remains are relatively abundant in the with a fair degree of certainty beyond the borders have a thickness of about 3900 feet. The thick­ a profound time break, which is shown both by formation, especially in the roof shales of the of this quadrangle. ness of the formations, their order of succession, the fossils that the two series carry and by the Pocahontas coal. This has a well-marked and dis­ This bed has been described as the highest and their general characteristics are given on the lithologic difference in the rocks composing them. tinct flora, which may be used to great advantage member of the Pottsville series and as the equiva­ Columnar Section sheet, but more detailed descrip­ In the Raleigh quadrangle, however, there is no in determining the identity of isolated exposures lent of the heavy conglomerate which caps the tions of the individual beds and the indications evidence of unconformity, and the red of this bed. walls of the gorge at Nuttallburg. This correla­ of their probable equivalents in other fields are and green shales and sandstones of the unconform- dark formation. Over the southern half of tion is incorrect, since the Raleigh can _. . t . _ 0 . ityattopof ' m & Thick sand- given in the following paragraphs. Bluestone formation merge~ almost pianM«ssissip= series. the Raleigh quadrangle the Quinnimont coal hori­ be traced dow^n the river, step by step, p*ngewSffat Many formations that are lower in the geologic imperceptibly into the lowest member zon has been well identified by its fossil from Quinnimont to Nuttallburg, where Quinnimont- series than those showing at the surface in this of the overlying series. The plane of subdivision flora and by a coarse, heavy-bedded sand- it occurs 375 feet below the massive bed forming 1-11 i 1 v ,1 T neath the quadrangle are exposed in the upturned strata of is usually placed at the highest observed outcrop stone,' which closely > underlies the coal coal bed. the summit of the canyon wall. the Appalachian Valley southeast of this area. of red shale, but that is so indefinite that a bound­ bed. The floor of this coal has been Sewell formation. Upon the completion of the They doubtless underlie this quadrangle, but since ary line can not be drawn, and therefore the taken as the top of the Clark formation in the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway in 1873 the devel­ no deep drilling has been done here it is impossi­ patterns are merged on the geologic map. basin of Guyandot River. opment of the coal beds along New River began ble definitely to affirm their existence. The thickness of this formation is variable. This formation varies in thickness from 350 to by the opening of the mine at Quinnimont. The Near Bluestone Junction, in the Pocahontas quad­ 375 feet. It is composed of shale, sandstone, and second mine to be developed in this quadrangle CARBONIFEROUS ROCKS. rangle, it is 800 feet; in the southern half of the coal beds, and it can not be differentiated from was at Sewell, on the coal bed overlying the MISSISSIPPIAN SERIES. Raleigh quadrangle it varies from 400 to 700 feet; the other formations except by the determination Raleigh sandstone. This mine has long been Hinton formation. Geologically the lowest and on the road leading west from the mouth of of its upper and lower limits. It is named from worked out and abandoned, but it gave the name formation exposed in this quadrangle is that part Piney Creek the formation is only 180 feet thick. Clark Gap in Flat Top Mountain, in the Poca­ Sewell to one of the most important coal beds of of the Mississippian series which in the Pocahontas This formation is named from Bluestone River, hontas quadrangle, and it outcrops in the valleys the district, and in this folio the name is applied folio was designated the Hinton formation. It along which it outcrops in the Pocahontas quad­ of all of the head branches of Guyandot River. to the formation including the Sewell coal bed, was defined as extending downward from the rangle. It is exposed along the southeastern slope Owing to the strong westward dip of the strata, which extends from the Raleigh sandstone to the Princeton conglomerate to the base of a heavy of Flat Top Mountain, on Glade Creek, and along it passes beneath water level within the limits of top of the Pottsville series. sandstone or quartzite that occurs in Stony Ridge New River to a point a little below Stone Cliff, this quadrangle. The strata composing this formation are variable, in Mercer County. The base of the formation is where it passes beneath water level. It rises Thurmond formation. Since the Pocahontas both in stratigraphic occurrence and in geographic not shown in this quadrangle. The formation is again in the bend of the river at Fire Creek, but coal is not of sufficient thickness to be recognized distribution. The most important members are well exposed in the gorge of New River at Hinton, it soon descends, and is not known below East in the region east of the Guyandot basin, the local beds of massive sandstone or conglomerate. and it is from this fact that it has been called the Sewell. division line between the Pocahontas and Clark It is not desirable to map these beds as independ­ Hinton formation. When the formation was first formation can not be drawn in that region. This ent formations, but they will be considered as described and named its upper limit was supposed PENNSYLVANIA!?" SERIES. necessitates the introduction of a new formation lentils in the Sewell formation. to be well defined and constant, but the survey of The Pottsville is the lowest grand division of name for the strata lying between the red shales In this quadrangle the Sewell formation does the Raleigh quadrangle demonstrated the fact the coal-bearing rocks or Pennsylvanian series, of the Mississippian series and the Quinnimont not show its full thickness nor all of its members that the Princeton conglomerate is a local devel­ and has been variouslyJ called The Con- PottsvilleD ., . coal bed. This series of beds is equivalent to the in the canyon of New River, but at Nuttallburg, opment of coarse material. Where the conglom­ glomerate and the Millstone Grit. Miiisto°ne combined Pocahontas and Clark formations, and a few miles down the river, it is present in full erate is absent the Hinfcon formation can not Along the southeastern margin of the it is named from the town of Thurmond, on New force in the immediate walls of the gorge, and be separated definitely from the overlying Blue- coal field it has a great development in thickness, River, where it is well exposed, and where its from its excellent exposure this will ever be stone formation. The horizon of the Princeton and it may be divided into several formations. upper limit is clearly indicated by the numerous regarded as the type section of this formation. conglomerate has, however, been traced as accu­ The series is complex, consisting of a number of mines on the Quinnimont coal. Along the river from Caperton to Deepwater rately as possible and constitutes the boundary overlapping lenses of shale, sandstone, and coal. In thickness this formation varies from about the uppermost formation is a massive conglomer­ between the Hinton and Bluestone formations. On account of this variability it is difficult to find 725 feet on the southern margin of the quadran­ ate which ranges from 150 to 200 feet in thick­ The Hinton formation is composed principally any stratum which can be easily identified and gle to 550 feet at Quinnimont and 450 feet at Fire ness. Generally the lower half of this stratum is of red and green shales, but includes also many traced over a territory greater than that of a Creek. North of the latter point the base of the harder and more massive than the upper beds of green sandstone and occasionally thin quadrangle. Most of the formations named and formation soon passes below water level, and half, and it is this part which forms the beds of impure limestone or calcareous shale. In described in this folio are of this local character, owing to the disappearance of the Quinnimont picturesque cliffs from Nuttallburg to the Pocahontas region its thickness varies from and frequently it is necessary to discontinue coal the top is not definite and it is difficult to Gauley Bridge. The lentil receives its 1250 to 1300 feet; at Hinton, on New River, it mapping a formation for the reason that it is no identify the formation. name from the mining town of Nuttallburg, above is approximately 1050 feet, and toward the north­ longer recognizable. The Thurmond formation is prevailingly sandy, which the cliffs of this formation are particularly west it presumably continues to decrease in thick­ In the Pocahontas folio the strata lying below and the beds vary so much in thickness and com­ prominent. ness, but there is no evidence to determine this the base of the Quinnimont formation were divided position that it is impossible to identify and cor­ In passing west from New River the Nuttall point until we approach the western margin of into two formations, the plane of division occurring relate the various members from place to place. sandstone is found to hold its full thickness and the coal field, where the entire Mississippian series at the top of the Pocahontas bed of coal. This In Flat Top Mountain the sandstone which under­ composition as far as Oak Hill, but beyond this has shrunk to a thickness of only a few hundred horizon was easily determined in the valleys of lies the Quinnimont^ ^ coal is so thick and ' Sandstone. , point it breaks up into several beds separated by feet. In the Raleigh quadrangle strata belonging Elkhorn Creek, Tug Fork, Dry Fork, and Guyan- massive that it has controlled the ero- F°ia?TogP intervals of sandy shale. The lowest bed is gen­ to this formation have an exposed thickness of dot River, and, owing to the excellence of this coal, sion of this region, forming a .plateau Mountam- erally conglomeratic, and this part alone is recog­ 500 feet, but the base of the formation is not its representation on the maps of that region is of which has given the name to the mountain. On nizable west of Oak Hill. The lentil is supposed visible and therefore its full thickness is unknown. the utmost importance. In passing to the northeast approaching New River this sandstone sinks to include only the recognizable bed, the strata Princeton conglomerate. This formation, named from the Guyandot basin, the celebrated Poca­ below the surface, and another sandstone, which above being grouped with the Sewell formation. from the county seat of Mercer County, is con­ hontas bed of coal becomes too thin to mine, and lies considerably higher in the geologic series, To the southwest this conglomerate can be traced spicuous in the river bluffs in the vicinity of it is difficult, if not impossible, to follow its hori­ becomes the prominent bed. This is called the as far as Bend Branch, where it disappears, but Quinnimont and on Bluestone River, but when zon. Even if it could be followed, a line drawn Raleigh sandstone, and it is one of the most per­ in a westerly direction it extends nearly to the an attempt is made to follow the outcrop it is at this horizon would be of no value, consequently sistent as well as one of the most prominent mem­ margin of the quadrangle. It is very heavy on found frequently to grow thinner and thinner and the division has been discontinued in the territory bers of the Pottsville series. Mossy Creek, and it shows in the valley of Paint finally to disappear from the section. In its best east of the Guyandot basin, and only such sub­ Quinnimont formation. The strata which lie Creek from near Roseville to beyond the northern developmentJ- this formation is a con- Conglomerate_ divisions have been made as are recognizable on between the base of the Quinnimont coal bed and margin of the quadrangle, where it dips more glomerate which is almost free from j£ete1n%rhaieind the ground. the Raleigh sandstone have been grouped into one rapidly than the stream falls, and passes below bedding planes. Owing to its massive series" Pocahontas formation. This is the lowest formation, which has been named from the town water level. It is also present in the valley of character the conglomerate forms perpendicular division of the Pottsville series. It extends from of Quinnimont on New River, at which the coal at Clear Fork from Clear Creek post-office to Law- cliffs wherever it is exposed on the hillsides, and the uppermost bed of red shale in the Horizon of the base of the formation was first mined. The for­ son, and on Sycamore Creek for a short distance, produces cascades where it crosses the courses of Bluestone formation to the roof of the ho«tasccoai mation is composed of shale and sandstone, which but in the latter valley it has lost its massive and the streams. In the Pocahontas region its thick­ Pocahontas coal bed, from which it bed' vary so much from place to place that it is impos­ conglomeratic character and can be identified with ness averages about 40 feet, but increases toward takes its name. Its thickness ranges from 325 to sible to give a good generalized section. Along difficulty. Its horizon is above water level in the the northeast until a maximum of 80 feet is 350 feet, but it is difficult to obtain an accurate New River the base of the formation is well upper course of Clear Fork, but it is not a massive attained on New River at the mouth of Meadow measure in the Raleigh quadrangle. The forma­ defined by numerous mines on the Quinnimont bed and can not be traced and mapped. Creek. In passing down the river from this point tion has a very limited outcrop in this territory. coal, and its top is almost equally well marked by The Nuttall sandstone is truly a lens. It dimin­ the conglomerate gradually becomes thinner, until it It shows along Guyandot River from the mouth the line of cliffs which characterize the outcrop of ishes in thickness in all directions in which it can finally disappears east of the margin of the Raleigh of Long Branch to the mouth of Devil Fork, and the Raleigh sandstone. The formation varies in be traced, and eventually loses its character and quadrangle. Just below the mouth of Glade along that stream nearly to its source. It also thickness from about 180 feet in the vicinity of becomes unrecognizable. It presents an excellent Creek, however, it reappears, and forms a continu­ shows at two points on Tommy Creek and at two Thurmond to 225 feet on the southern margin example of the lenticular character of many of ous line of cliffs, with a maximum height of 50 points on Stone Coal Creek. On the lower of the quadrangle. the beds of this series. feet, to the lower end of Stretcher Neck, where course of Pinnacle Creek there, is a very small Haleigli sandstone. This formation has its North of Oak Hill the Nuttall sandstone forms it again fades out. Below this point it is unknown, outcrop, and on Gooney Otter Creek the Poca­ maximum development in the region between the top of the Sewell formation, but to the south but its approximate horizon has been traced down hontas coal rises above water level within 1J Beckley and Thurmond. It is particularly thick soft sandy beds come in above, which are included the river until it passes below water level near miles of the southern margin of the quadrangle. and massive along New River from Glade Creek in the Sewell formation. This material, which Stone Cliff. On Bluestone River and along the On the east side of Flat Top Mountain the Poca­ to McKendree and on Piney Creek from Beckley overlies the Nuttall sandstone, resembles so much eastern edge of the quadrangle to Flat Top Moun­ hontas coal can be traced for a short distance to its mouth. At the latter locality it attains a that which occurs in the lower part of the Kanawha tain it is conspicuous in the topography, but west­ north of the boundary of the quadrangle, but the thickness of about 150 feet, and in other parts of formation above that it is impossible to draw a ward it soon disappears and its horizon can be coal is soon lost, and the Pocahontas formation is the quadrangle it varies from 75 to 100 feet in definite boundary line between them, but the posi­ determined only approximately. no longer identifiable. The rocks composing it thickness. In a southeasterly direction from the tion of the line along which the geologic patterns Bluestone formation. Over most of the Appa- can not be distinguished from those of the over­ area of maximum development the Raleigh sand­ meet on the map has been fairly well determined Raleii?h. ville diminishes to about 830 feet at Brownstown, about 400 feet at Montgomery, and 600 feet in by fossil plants that have been collected from a maximum thickness. The center of the trough,O ' number of localities in this region. 550 feet at Charleston, 480 feet at Lock No. 6, the northwestern corner of this quadrangle. In as indicated by the most recent formation, lies far In the section exposed in the canyon wall at and 290 feet at Winfield. the last two localities no red shale appears above to the west of the geographic center of the coal Nuttallburg the interval between the base of the ^Kanawha formation. In the early comparisons the sandstone; consequently it is impossible to field. This is due to the shifting of the areas of Nuttall sandstone lentil and the top of the Raleigh of this field with the type region in Pennsylvania, determine the full thickness of the formation, but deposition westward as time advanced and to the sandstone, a distance of 375 feet, is composed the Nuttall sandstone was correlated with the presumably only the soft material above has been greater thickness of the sediments 011 the eastern almost entirely of sandy shale and thin-bedded Homewood sandstone, and the softer series over­ removed, leaving the sandstone with its full origi­ margin of the trough. sandstone. In various parts of the quadrangle lying it were correlated with the Allegheny for­ nal thickness. beds of sandstone appear in this interval, but as a mation of the type locality. The various coal This formation generally carries conglomerate rule they are local in their development and can beds of the Kanawha Valley were recognized as in some of its horizons, but in the Raleigh quad­ not be identified over any considerable extent of the equivalents of the coals in the Pennsylvania rangle such beds are rare. The rocks are gener­ territory. section, with the Stockton or Lewiston coal at the ally coarse sandstones with only a little interbed- Fig 2. Sketch section across the Appalachian coal basin in A massive conglomerate of this character horizon of the Upper Freeport coal, and therefore ded shale, but the sandstones are rarely or never the latitude of Raleigh, West Virginia. appears in the region west of Beckley. It is marking the upper limit of the Lower Productive massive. This may be due to their great expo­ Structure section. The section on the Structure called the Harvey conglomerate lentil, Measures. Recent study of the fossil plants of sure to weathering on the highest points of the Section sheet represents the strata as they would from a small village of the same name this region has shown that the Lewiston coal is ridges, but it is more probably due to thin bed­ appear in the side of a deep trench cut across the ding in the original rock. quadrangle along the line A-A. The vertical on the headwaters of Marsh Fork of Fork.»n Marsh not equivalent to the Upper Freeport of Pennsyl­ Coal River. This lentil probably lies vania, nor do any of the coal beds lower in the The Charleston sandstone caps the ridge and horizontal scales are the same, hence the about 100 feet below the horizon of the base of series correspond with the Pennsylvania beds between Clear Fork and Paint Creek as far east actual form and slope of the land are shown in the Nuttall sandstone. It probably never exceeds with which they have been correlated. This as Potato Hill,' the divide between Sandstone_ . . the profile and the actual dips of the strata are 50 feet in thickness, and from that maximum it study has shown conclusively that the nomencla­ Clear and Marsh forks, and Guyandot !£! !,"? the shown in the section. There are few, if any, decreases to a feather edge and disappears. In ture of the northern end of the field can not be Mountain, near the western edge of the ridges- irregularities in the northwestward dip of the most cases the change is gradual, but on Marsh applied to the central region, and that the only quadrangle. rocks in this quadrangle. The average rate at Fork just below the mouth of Horse Creek it system of classification which is applicable is one The red shales which normally belong above the surface is about 60 feet per mile, but since the disappears with great suddenness, in a distance of based upon the local lithologic appearance, with­ this formation may have been deposited over this formation becomes thinner toward the northwest a few hundred yards passing from a massive con­ out regard to the systems in use in different sec­ quadrangle, but if so they have been completely the dips beneath the surface are much less than glomerate to thin sandstones which can not be sepa­ tions of the field. removed, leaving no rocks younger than the those which can be observed. rated from the rocks of the overlying formation. On Kanawha River the strata above the Potts­ Charleston sandstone. The later geologic history The best development of this lentil is on Marsh ville are naturally divided into three great groups. of this region is recorded only in the topographic MINERAL RESOURCES. Fork, but it can be traced eastward to Prosperity, The lowest group comprises a relatively soft series forms which have been carved from its surface, COAL. where it is thin and hardly noticeable. From this of rocks, the second a sandy series, and the third and has already been set forth. point southwest it is generally weak, and at the a series composed principally of red and green So far as known, coal is the only mineral STRUCTURE. head of Slab Fork of Guyandot River it again shales. The first group is designated the Kanawha resource of this quadrangle. It is found in all of disappears. It is not known down the valley of formation, from the river along which it is best The structure of the Appalachian coal field is the formations lying above the red and green Slab Fork, nor on any of the other streams on the exposed. It rests upon the Nuttall sandstone that of a broad, flat trough, in which, in a general shales of the Bluestone formation, but some con­ southwestern side of Guyandot Mountain. lentil north of Oak Hill, and to the southwest it way, the oldest strata line the bottom and extend tain a greater number of beds and a larger amount The lentils in the Sewell formation show an is separated from the Sewell formation by a plane to the margins on either side, while the succeed­ of workable coal than others. east-and-west arrangement, which is apparent in whose position is largely determined by fossil ing formations occupy similar positions, except In the following description of the various coal the extension of the Nuttall sandstone westward plants. The upper limit of the Kanawha forma­ that their outcrops are always within and concen­ outcrops and workings which were seen or which into the valleys of Paint Creek and Clear Fork tion is approximately the base of the sandstone tric with those of the next older formations. This have been reported on good authority, the quad­ and in the development of the Harvey conglom­ series previously mentioned. In the region lying succession continues until the latest or youngest rangle is divided into nine parts by the 10-ininute erate from Prosperity westward. Below the last- north of New and Kanawha rivers and east of the rocks are reached in the center of the basin. This projection lines, and the divisions are designated named bed in the vicinity of Pemberton city of Charleston, the black flint is regarded as result may have been produced in one of two ways : by the letters A to I, as indicated in the diagram another small conglomerate is found, the upper limit of the Kanawha formation, for either the rocks were deposited in horizontal and on Coal Section sheet 1. this stratum occurs near the base of the sandstone which develops-L westward into a bed of River. parallel formations and subsequently folded into Division A. The formations outcropping in sufficient importance to deserve repre­ and is by far the most important member of the a trough or syncline, or they were deposited in a this region are the Charleston sandstone, the sentation on the geologic map. This is particu­ series, serving, as it does, for a datum plane from syncline of deposition, the form of which was Kanawha formation, and that part of the Sewell larly heavy along Guyandot River from Pineville which to determine the position of all coal beds. determined mainly by the floor on which the sedi­ formation which lies above the Harvey conglom­ to Gilbert, in the Oceana quadrangle, and hence In the Raleigh quadrangle this stratum is absent, ments were deposited. In the latter case the erate lentil. In taking up the different divisions it has been named the Guyandot sandstone lentil. and the separation of the Kanawha formation basin would be gradually filled by the successive in the order indicated, the highest rocks will of Where it is thin and conglomeratic it is gener­ from the overlying sandstone can be made only deposits, restricting its area more and more, until necessity be considered first; therefore, in order ally massive, but in its greatest development it is approximately. This fact is indicated on the map finally the last sediments carried into the basin to make the treatment uniform, the same order a coarse, heavy-bedded sandstone. In the Raleigh by the absence of a definite boundary line. would fill it completely and remove it from the will be followed within each division and the coals quadrangle it varies in thickness from, a feather The Kanawha is the most important coal-bear­ area of active deposition. will be described in descending order. edge to 100 feet, and apparently it is limited to a ing formation in the quadrangle. True, the coal Doubtless the geologic phenomena shown in the The Charleston sandstone in Division A is _. narrow belt which trends in an east-west direction. beds of the Pottsville series are at The most Appalachian coal field are the combined results of expanded to nearly double its thickness in the It occurs about 150 feet above the top of the present better known, but that is the processes here outlined, for it is type locality, and with this increase in thickness Raleigh sandstone and 80 to 100 feet below the largely due to the fact that the devel- orma lon* evident that much of the material now of the rocky strata there occurs also an increase

Harvey conglomerate. opinent of mines occurs first along lines of easy constitutingO the coal-bearingo rocks_ was deposition. in thickness and importance of the coal beds which In the valley of Marsh Fork the upper limit of transportation. In this case the line that is most originally laid down in a syncline of it carries. The formation, however, is restricted the Sewell formation is even more indefinite than available is New River, and the territory which deposition, and that this same material, since its in its outcrop to the highest ridges, and conse­ farther north. On the evidence of fossil plants it is situated at a distance from this stream and consolidation into indurated rock, has been thrown quently the tonnage of coal remaining is relatively has been placed about 350 feet above the Harvey which contains the outcrops of the Kanawha into great folds along the eastern margin of the small compared with its original extent. Costly conglomerate lentil, but the uncertainty is recog­ formation has received little attention from coal field. plants would be required to develop this coal and nized on the map by the omission of the boundary operators. Thus in the Appalachian basin the sedimenta­ bring it within reach of transportation facilities, line. The interval between this lentil and the The thickness of this formation is difficult to tion of the coal-bearing rocks undoubtedly began and this also detracts from its prospective value. base of the Sewell formation is about 300 feet, determine, for over much of this territory neither in a trough-shaped depression, but that depres­ In the absence of the black flint the exact posi­ and the rocks composing it are shales and soft its upper nor its lower limits are well defined. sion was not located on the axis of the basin; tion of the base of the formation can sandstones. In passing across the coal field toward the north­ the earliest deposition began along the eastern not be determined, and consequently Hint nfarker The total thickness of the Sewell formation, west it changes at about the same rate as does the margin, and since the supply of material came the stratigraphic position. . 01i» the1 various absent. including the three lentils, is about 600 feet on Pottsville series. From an estimated thickness from the east, that part of the basin received by coal beds can not be fixed with accuracy. New River at the northern edge of the quadran­ of 1000 feet in the northwestern corner of this far the larger part of the material and consequently The highest coal which has been reported from gle and 700 feet on Marsh Fork and in Guyandot quadrangle, it decreases to 700 feet at Browns- the lower formations are very much thicker there this area was opened by W. C. Reynolds on the Mountain. town, 600 feet at Charleston, 500 feet at Lock than on the western side. Since the close of depo­ top of the ridge between Clear and Little Marsh Aside from local variations in thickness of the No. 6, 425 feet at Winfield, and, according to sition, movements have occurred, which in many forks. The coal is reported to be of good quality various members of the Pottsville series, there is Prof. I. C. White, 244 feet on its western line places produced large folds within the limits of and of great thickness, as shown in section 1, and a general decrease in thickness from southeast to of outcrop at Ironton, Ohio. the coal field ; and in all cases, except in the south­ it is unfortunate that so little remains of this northwest. By reference to the descriptions of Charleston sandstone. This generally sandy ern end of the field, they have raised the eastern important bed. According to Mr. Reynolds this the diiferent formations it will be seen that all, series of rocks, lying between the Kanawha for­ margin far above the western side. opening is 1800 feet above Clear Fork, but the with the exception of the Raleigh sandstone, show mation below and the red and green shales above, These points are illustrated in the sketch sec­ contoured map shows an altitude of only about a greater thickness in the basin of Guyandot River was early correlated with the Mahoning sandstone tion across the basin as it now stands, shown in 1600 feet, hence there is some uncertainty concern­ than they show on the northern margin of the of Pennsylvania. Like the other correlations %. 2. The lowest member repre-i Thinning_. . . of ing the position of this bed in the series. In this quadrangle. By the addition of the various thick­ based on lithologic resemblances, this does not sented the Pottsville thins from {0 rdthe region the beds have a strong northward dip, nesses given, it appears that the Pottsville series agree with evidence supplied by fossil plants. 1500 feet on the eastern outcrop to west' which tends to reduce the measure first given and ranges from 1500 to 1800 feet in thickness in the According to this evidence the Charleston sand­ about 250 feet on the western. A similar change to harmonize the results. The coal bed which southern part of the quadrangle and from 1350 to stone is much older than the Mahoning sandstone, is observed in the Kanawha, from 1000 feet on the Mr. Reynolds opened on the point of the spur just 1500 feet in the northern part. therefore the latter name is not accepted and the east to 270 feet on the west; and some change in west of Panther Branch (section 6), and which he On account of the strata dipping below water formation is named from the city of Charleston, the same direction is noticeable in the overlying reports as 450 feet below the bed just described, level on New River it is impossible to secure West Virginia, at which it is well shown in cliffs Charleston sandstone. presumably occurs at the base of the Charleston measurements of its total thickness north of East along the river bluffs. The position of the Raleigh quadrangle, as sandstone. Hence the stratigraphic position of Sewell. On Kanawha River, however, as we At Charleston this formation is about 300 feet shown by the section, is upon the eastern side of the upper bed is about 450 feet above the base learn from deep wells, the thickness of the Potts­ in thickness; it increases toward the southeast to the trough, where the formations attain their of the formation less the amount of northward dip between the two openings and less also the most important bed is 750 feet above Clear Fork. another bed, the thickness of which is shown in horizon, but at no point could exposures be found correction which appears to be necessary from his This bed belongs to the Cedar Grove-Gas coal section 22. The lowest coal of the group is by which to determine their thickness and quality. determination of the height of the mountain as horizon, and it is one of the largest shown in section 23. It is 520 feet above Clear The Cedar Grove-Gas coal bed, which is so 1800 feet. The amounts of deduction are some­ bodies of coal known in the quadrangle, crovetoas Fork and 65 feet below the coal bed represented promising in Division A, is present in this region, coal. what arbitrary, but the coal presumably occurs Section 8 represents this bed as deter­ in section 22. This bed is probably 100 feet but the coal is not so thick as it is farther west from 300 to 850 feet above the base of the forma­ mined by Mr. Reynolds. Sections 9 and 10 were above the Pottsville series, but, owing to the and north. A coal (section 39) which appears tion. This coal bed is probably present at the measured during the present survey, the former lithologic similarity of the Pottsville series and to be at this horizon is mined for local use at head of Drews Creek, but with reduced thickness, in 1895 and the latter in 1899. the Kanawha formation, it is impossible to deter­ Cirtsville. The mine is situated in a ravine about as shown in section 84. North of the divide between Cabin Creek and mine this interval definitely. l-i-4 miles northwest of the villageo and Coals_ , on A bed of coal, occurring about 200 feet above Clear Fork this coal bed has been opened in a On the spur below Panther Branch Mr. Rey­ 840 feet higher than the bed of Paint Palnt Creek- the base of the formation, outcrops at a number number of places on the headwaters of Fifteemile nolds opened two coal beds of workable thick­ Creek at the village. Southwest of Cirtsville this of places on the ridge north of Clear Fork, in the Fork, but at no point does it show a thickness so ness below the Cedar Grove-Gas horizon. The coal bed has been opened on the summit of the vicinity of Lawson. An old but well-known great as on Clear Fork. Section 11 represents uppermost of these beds is 40 feet below the large ridge nearly 150 feet higher than the gap through opening on this bed is situated on the Lawson- this coal at an opening at water level on Long coal, and it corresponds in position with the coal which the Clear Creek road passes. The bed, Acme road near the summit of the mountain. The Branch of Cabin Creek, about three-fourths of a on Long Branch already described and figured in which is represented by section 40, is a little coal does not show in full at this opening, but its mile above its junction with Fifteenmile Fork. section 21, but it is nearly twice as thick (section thicker than- the one represented in section 39, thickness is reported to be 7 feet (section 2). Section 12 was measured at an opening on Fifteen- 24) at Panther Branch as it is on Long Branch. but it lies so high on the ridge that it is expen­ Farther eastward along the ridge numerous mile Fork near the mouth of Short Branch, at an The other workable coal in the Panther Branch sive to mine. openings may be seen, but they are now in such altitude of 90 feet above the level of the stream, section is 290 feet below the coal last described About 100 feet lower in the series is a coal bed, condition that it is impossible to examine the coal. and section 13 a little higher up the creek, at the and 280 feet above Clear Fork. The thickness of or group of small beds, which shows at a few At the head of Short Branch of Fifteenmile Fork mouth of Gibson Branch, where the coal is about this bed is shown in section 25. places in this district. Section 41 represents this of Cabin Creek, however, an opening near the 40 feet above the level of the stream. About 100 feet below the Cedar Grove-Gas coal at an opening a few miles north of the border summit of the mountain affords a fine exposure of On Tenmile Fork of Cabin Creek this bed is horizon is a coal bed which has been opened in a of this quadrangle. The opening is high on the the entire thickness of the bed. At this point it exposed along the valley for a considerable dis­ number of places, only one of which conies within northeastern face of Payne Knob, on a small measures a little more than 10 feet (section 3), tance, and at Acme it has been mined for a num­ the limits of this division. Section 26 represents branch which flows into Johnson Fork of Loop and the coal is a fine grade of splint from top to ber of years. Its thickness in the Keystone mine, the coal on Moll Kelly Branch, where it has been Creek. The bed extends eastward, but appears bottom. This is presumably the same coal as that as reported by the company, is shown in section opened 600 feet above the level of Drews Creek. to diminish in thickness in that direction. Section reported by Professor White about 310 feet above 14. This coal bed is also known at several points A coal bed, or group of small beds, occurs 42 shows the condition of this coal at an old the Acme coal on Cabin Creek, with a thickness on the main head branch of Cabin Creek. Sec­ about 150 feet below the Cedar Grove-Gas coal opening on the divide between Whiteoak and of 5 feet 5 inches. tion 15, which represents it at one of these expo­ horizon, and of this group there are several expo­ Mossy creeks, in the eastern part of the division. The next lower coal horizon is equally difficult sures, shows that the bed is degenerating in this sures in this region. Probably they are best The Sewell formation does not show many coal to locate in the series, but presumably it occurs at direction by the introduction of a thick parting shown at Decota, where two coal beds, within 20 outcrops above drainage level. About 100 feet the division line between the Charleston sandstone of shale near the middle. feet of each other, are exposed near water level. below the top of the formation is a small coal and the Kanawha formation. It is reported by Near Lawson on the road to Acme a small coal The lower bed is shown in section 27 and the which outcrops in Whiteoak Creek in the western the Stevens Coal Company 150 to 200 feet above (section 16) has recently been opened and mined upper in section 28. This horizon is represented, part of the area, about 2 miles from Clear Fork, the Acme coal on Cabin Creek, and with the for local use at Lawson. By barometer it is 520 west of Lawson, by a coal on the head of Low and which is represented in section 43. thickness shown in section 4. The total thickness feet above Clear Fork, and it appears to belong Gap Branch, which is shown in section 29, and on The famous Sewell coal bed is not commercially at this point is large, but the bed is badly broken to the horizon of the thick coal on Long Branch. the head of Hays Creek, in the Oceana quadran­ developed to any extent in this division. Section by the thick shale parting. Toward the south It is possible that this is one of the small beds gle, by a small coal, which is shown in section 30. 44 represents the reported character of Sa arCreek the shale dies out, but the bed holds a thickness that accompany the large one, but this can be told In the vicinity of Acme the largest coal bed of the coal bed at the Sugar Creek mine, mine- of over 8 feet, as shown by section 5, reported by only by careful prospecting. The latter supposi­ this group is exposed near water level. Its thick­ which has been in operation for a number of years. Mr. Reynolds from an opening at the head of Long tion derives some weight from the fact that the ness is shown in section 31. Recently the bed has been reached by a slope on Branch of Clear Fork. The general section on large coal was found by Mr. Reynolds just below In the neighborhood of Lawson the boundary Bend Branch, and a mining plant has been estab­ Long Branch from Clear Fork to the top of the Panther Branch, on the south side of the valley, line between the Kanawha and Sewell formations lished about a half-mile from Dunloup Creek. mountain was carefully leveled by Mr. Reynolds, 610 feet above Clear Fork. The thickness of the occurs in a group of sandstone beds which form On this creek near the mouth of Shepherd Spring who reports this opening as 1370 feet above Clear coal is shown in section 17,' and^ unlessf Large. body. . conspicuous cliffs along Coal River and its several Branch the Sewell coal has been uncovered at Fork. Section 6 is presumably the same coal. It this is simply a pocket the section indi- cfiecarapork tributaries. In this sandy interval, which has a water level, where it shows the thickness indi­ shows at an opening made by Mr. Reynolds on cates that a large body of coal exists in Valley< thickness of about 180 feet, there is a small bed cated in section 45. So far as known, there has the south side of Clear Fork and west of Panther the valley of Clear Fork and extends through the of coal that was seen at a number of points in this been no attempt to trace the coal to the westward Branch. mountain to Drews Creek, as will be shown under vicinity. Section 32 is from an opening on Little in the area in which it is below drainage level. The correlation of this coal with the beds of Division D. "South of Clear Fork this bed appears Marsh Fork about one mile above Big Brushy At the present time there is so much of this coal the type section on Kanawha River can not be to be broken by shale partings, as shown in sec­ Fork; section 33 represents this bed as it shows bed showing in natural outcrop near the river made with certainty, but it seems probable that tion 18, which is from an opening on the south in an opening on Low Gap Branch; and section that it would not pay to undertake its develop­ the horizon just described is not far from the side of Squealer Knob and 750 feet by barometer 34 is from a natural exposure on Birch Fork ment under very deep cover, but the time will black flint. The bed may be the Lewiston or the above Horse Creek at the point where the Birch about 4 miles above its junction with Little Marsh surely come when there will be a demand for new No. 5, or it may be a different one, having no rep­ Fork trail leaves the creek. Fork. territory in which to locate mines, and then the resentation in the type section. About 100 feet above the Cedar Grove-Gas coal That part of the Sewell formation which is valley of Paint Creek will offer an attractive field In descending order, the next coal horizon of horizon occurs a small coal which has been noted exposed in this division carries very few coal beds for coal operators. importance is that of the Acme coal, so-called from in several placesJ- southwest of Clear Coals_ , above. of commercial importance. There is, however, a Division C. This area includes most of the a mine on Tenmile Fork of Cabin Fork. Mr. Reynolds opened it on the ohrovidda"s coal horizon from 150 to 200 feet below the top coal mines that are located in the quadrangle." Acme coal. Creek, north of this quadrangle. Sec­ spur below Panther Branch 90 feet of the formation, which merits a brief description; The development of the coal dates from the open­ tion 7 represents the coal bed at this mine. The above the large bed already described. The in the Raleigh quadrangle it has only moderate ing of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway in 1873. full thickness of the coal is not removed, the thickness of the bed at this point is shown in thickness, but farther west it increases to work­ At first the mines were confined to the main line lower bench being undisturbed in the process of section 19. On Sturgeon Fork of Dry Creek it able proportions. Section 35 represents this bed of the railway, along New River, but with the mining now employed. It is difficult, if not has a greater .thickness, as shown in section 20, as it appears on the left fork of Dillon Branch, increased demand for coal has come the develop­ impossible, to correlate definitely these coals with but the coal is streaked with impurities and its near Matville, 250 feet above Sand Lick Creek. ment of contiguous territory by the building of those along Kanawha River. The Acme coal is value is less than that of some thinner beds. The Section 36 is from an opening on the opposite branch lines up the principal creeks flowing into locally regarded as the Coalburg, but there are same coal, presumably, was seen on the main head side of the ridge at the head of Stover Fork. the river. Dunloup Creek was the first to be some facts which seem to indicate its equivalence branch of Dry Creek, but its thickness could not This bed was not observed farther north in the developed, and it has held precedence in the matter with the Winifrede rather than the Coalburg bed. be determined. Coal having a thickness of 3 feet valley of Clear Fork, but it is probably present of coal production. Laurel Creek was also opened Four miles above Acme and near the northern is visible, but it is full of impurities and is of little on Birch Fork (section 37) about 2 miles above up several years ago by a branch line from Quin- margin of this quadrangle there is an old coal value. its junction with Little Marsh Fork. In passing nimont, and recently mines have been opened on opening which probably belongs to this horizon. On Sturgeon Fork a bed of coal 3 feet thick is to the west this coal appears to grow thicker and Arbuckle and Whiteoak creeks, which will add The pit has fallen in, and it is impossible to say reported as occurring 50 or 60 feet below the coal more promising, as shown in section 38, which is considerable productive territory in the neighbor­ much about the character and thickness of the shown in section 20, but the report could not be from an opening on a small branch of Hays Creek hood of Oak Hill. A branch line has just been coal, but it appears to range from 5 to 6 feet in verified. about a mile from Coal River. completed up Piney Creek to Beckley. This thickness. Below the Cedar Grove-Gas coal horizon are Division B. Only a few coal outcrops and affords an outlet for a promising field in that This coal bed is not known in the valley of several medium-sized coal beds, which show in prospect pits were observed in this division. vicinity, and doubtless the next few years will Clear Fork. It seems probable that careful pros­ outcrop in a number of places in this Coajs below The highest coal that was seen outcrops in the witness considerable activity in the commercial pecting will reveal its presence, but it may not quadrangle. It is difficult to arrange ahrovee-d nimont and Fire Creek were regarded as upon dif­ and Quinnimont. It is not so thick in this region Mountain as equivalent to the uppermost coal in mercial value. Even in the vicinity of Beckley ferent beds, but now it is known that all of the as it is west of the river. the Panther Branch section, and, judging from the it seems to show a variability in thickness which river mines below the Raleigh sandstone are upon The Quinnimont coal is so variable in thickness appearance of the coals themselves, this is the most is unknown in the type locality about Dunloup one bed the Quinnimont coal. that it is difficult to show its true value by a rational correlation, but when the sections are Creek.

The Sewell coal was first mined at the town of series of sections. Section 66 is from Quinnimont. . . adjusted for dip there seems to be too great a dis­ The fading of the well-known Sewell coal in the the same name on the east side of the river, but the old original mine at Quinnimont, agreement between their distances above the base vicinity of Beckley corresponds with the introduc­ the sharp southeastward rise of the as reported by Prof. I. C. White. The Rtven of the formation to permit of their being the same tion of a coal bed of workable thickness which is strata at this point soon carried the coal bedaiong" workable coal was exhausted in this mine several bed. As a rule the thick coal beds of the Charles­ unknown in the New River section. This bed bed above the upland, and the mine years ago and the company has opened new mines ton sandstone are extremely variable, a fact well occurs immediately below the Raleigh sandstone, was exhausted in a few years. In an opening up Laurel Creek, beyond the limit of this quad­ illustrated by the celebrated North Coalburg bed, and from its great, development in this locality it made near this mine by J. A. McGuffin the thick­ rangle. At Royal, on the south side of the river, and it is not at all improbable that the thick coal will be called the Beckley coal bed. Locally this ness of the bed is reported to be 4 feet 10 inches a mine has been in operation for a long time, and of Panther Branch is the same as the bed, 40 coal is regarded as equivalent to the Quinnimont (section 46), but the average thickness in the mine, the coal in this mine is reported to average from inches in thickness, in Indian Gap or that at the bed of New River, but since the latter lies 200 as reported by Professor Fontaine, is 3 feet 6 inches 42 to 48 inches (section 67). A mine plant was head of Drews Creek. feet below the Raleigh sandstone, and the former (section 47). On the west side of the river, oppo­ once established at McKendree, but the coal is so In this division and in the territory immediately at its base, it is manifestly impossible for the site the original workings, the Brooklyn mine is variable in thickness that the mine was soon adjacent on the west there appears to be an import­ Beckley and Quinnimont to be the same. The at present operating on this coal, the thickness of abandoned. At Slater similar difficulties were ant coal horizon from 450 to 480 feet above the detailed evidence for the above conclusion will be which is represented in section 48. encountered and the original mine at the head of base of the Kanawha formation, or 100 to 130 presented under Division F. Down the river this coal bed maintains a regular the incline was abandoned, but coal is now drawn feet above the Cedar Grove-Gas coal horizon. For most of the details regarding the coal out­ thickness of about 4 feet for a distance of several from a new mine about 1-|- miles up Slater Creek. The latter bed is well represented on Drews crops in the vicinity of Beckley the writer is miles. Section 49 shows the reported thickness Section 68 was measured some distance within the Creek just beyond this quadrangle, and 110 feet indebted to the work of John Anderson of Beck- at the Cunard mine opposite Sewell, and section new mine and may probably be taken as a fair above it Mr. Reynolds reports a coal bed having ley, who prospected the coals very thoroughly a 50 is from the mine on the west side of the river average of the coal bed. the thickness shown in section 85. What appears few years ago. Some of the coal sections have at Caperton, about 2 miles beyond the northern At Alaska the coal has a greater thickness (sec­ to be the same coal has been opened in Clear Fork been verified by the writer, but many pits had so edge of the quadrangle. From this point north tion 69), but it contains a band of " niggerhead," Gap about 30 feet below the summit. Its thick­ fallen in that it was impossible to determine the the bed decreases in thickness, as shown by sec­ which is separated from the coal before it is coked ness is shown in. section 86. thickness of the coal. tion 51, which represents the condition at the or put upon the market. At Beechwood the On Drews Creek just west of the boundary The Beckley coal is well shown at the junction mouth of Keeny Creek, section 52 at Nuttallburg, condition of the coal bed (section 70) is much line of the quadrangle is a somewhat famous out­ of Cranberry and Little Whitestick creeks, where section 53 at Fayette, and section 54 at Gaymont, the same as at Alaska. It varies little at Stone cropA of coal which shows a total thick- Fourteen=foot it has a thickness of 3 feet (section 94). TheBeckIe the most northerly point at which this bed is Cliff, as shown by section 71. At Dimmock its ness of more than 14 feet (section 87). SeldaoVhe It is exposed here in natural outcrop coalbed- This seems to belong to the same hori- Drews Creek' worked. At Hawks Nest the Sewell coal is &general thickness,' as shown in section Variable.. . . , under a heavy ledge of Raleigh sandstone. The present, but its thickness, according to Professor 72, is somewhat greater than at the someaofethef zon as the thick beds on Long Branch and Panther sandstone forms prominent cliffs along both creeks, Fontaine, is only 2 feet. Below this point there mines farther up the river, but the ^oalbeds- Branch, or the Cedar Grove-Gas coal horizon. and it can be traced easily along the Beckley- is no trace of the coal passing below water level, variation from mine to mine is no less than fre­ From its great total thickness this outcrop has Prince road to the head of Batoff Creek, where and the presumption is that it dies' out before its quently occurs within a single mine. attracted considerable attention, and immense the Raleigh sandstone is present in its best devel­ horizon disappears beneath the waters of New On Arbuckle Creek a mine has recently been returns are anticipated when mines are developed opment. The coal was opened by Mr. Anderson River. opened on this coal one-fourth mile from the upon it. Unfortunately, however, the bed is so in a number of places below the outcrop just Westward from Sewell this coal bed gradually river. The coal is represented by section 73. broken by heavy partings of shale that the avail­ described, but since they fall in Division F they increases in thickness, as shown by section 55, Section 74 shows this bed at Concho, where it able coal is reduced to a thickness of only a few will be described later. which represents its condition at the Echo mine has been opened about 300 feet below the Sewell feet, and the bed is no more valuable than many South of Beckley the coal increases greatly, above Beury, and by section 56, from the Beech- coal. The average section for the Rush Run mine other coal beds of only moderate thickness. No though irregularly, in thickness, and at its next wood mine, which is now connected underground is reported by the owner to be over 6 feet (sec­ other exposures of this bed were seen in Division appearance in this division, on Big Whitestick with the Echo mine. On the north side of the tion 75). Similarly the average thickness in the D, but it is probable that this coal underlies Creek, it is very promising in both thickness and river this coal is mined at Concho, where its thick­ Red Ash mine is given as 5 feet 9 inches (section Guyandot Mountain west of Skin Poplar Gap. composition. Six openings in the vicinity of the ness is shown in section 57. In 1899 a mine was 76), but the coal lies in "swamps," the extent of About 150 feet lower in the series and about mouth of Big Whitestick Creek furnished sections opened on Arbuckle Creek about 2J miles from which may be seen by comparing the average sec­ 550 feet above the Harvey conglomerate lentil is 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, and 100. Since the geologic New River, and the thickness of the coal at this tion with sections 77 and 78, which represent the a coal bed which shows in a number of places map was printed, the Piney Creek Branch railroad point is shown in section 58. maximum and minimum measures in the mine. west of the boundary line of this quadrangle. has been extended to Big Whitestick Creek, and On Meadow Fork of Dunloup Creek this coal In the Beury mine the coal is reported to vary in Section 88 is from an opening on a branch of a large mine has been opened near the mouth of has been prospected in a number of places, but thickness from 3 to 10 feet (section 79), the latter Drews Creek below Hazy Gap, and section 89 is the creek. Within this mine the coal is reported the prospect pits have generally fallen shut and being the greatest thickness reported in the New from Rich Branch of Pond Fork, 1|- miles south­ to be variable, running from 3 feet 10 inches to accurate measurements are impossible. Section River field. In the Central mine the average west of the same gap. This bed is of sufficient 10 feet in thickness. It is free from shale part­ 59 is reported from an opening about 2 miles thickness is shown in section 80, and in the Fire thickness to be mined in the region about the ings, and is in every way a most promising bed of from the main creek and on the road which crosses Creek mine the coal is reported as ranging from head of Pond Fork, and it seems probable that it coal. It is said to be a fine coking coal, but as the hill to Bissell. This coal also had been opened 3 to 5 feet (section 81). also occurs in the high land of Division D of the yet no effort has been made to produce coke on a in the high land about Garden Ground Mountain, Below this point the Quinnimont coal is not Raleigh quadrangle. commercial scale. but at no place could the entire section be seen. mined on New River. Mr. McGuffin reports it 2 Still another workable coal shows on Drews The coal reaches water level at Spangler It is at least 4 feet in thickness, and the full meas­ feet 6 inches in thickness at Sewell (section 82), Creek just west of the boundary line of this Factory, but between that point and the mouth ure may run to 5 or 6 feet, but these figures are but below this point it has not been recognized. quadrangle. Its thickness is shown in section 90, of Big Whitestick Creek Mr. Anderson reports hypothetical and consequently of little value. Both the Sewell and the Quinnimont are coking and it occurs about 60 feet above the base of the three openings on the north side of Piney Creek, On Dunloup Creek the first mine is at Harvey, coals, and almost every mine in this district is Kanawha formation. with thicknesses shown in sections 101, 102, and on Smith Branch north of Redstar. Section 60 provided with ovens by wilich most if not all of On Laurel Fork about 2 miles below McGraw 103. On the south side of the creek he reports shows the reported thickness of the its product is converted into coke. is an outcrop of coal in the bed of the creek, five openings, which gave sections 104, 105, 106, coal at the Harvey mine, and section Division D. The known outcrops of coal in which is represented by section 91. This coal 107, and 108. Creek. 61 at the Redstar mine, only a short this area are few in number, but the presence in lies directly under the Guyandot sandstone lentil, The coal is below the level of Piney Creek from distance above the Harvey mine. The coal main­ the territory to the west of thick beds of good which in this locality has a maximum thickness Spangler Factory to Pemberton. At the latter tains an average thickness of 5 feet as far as coal gives some assurance that there are beds in of about 100 feet. The same coal beds show a point it appears above water level, and to the Glen jean, as shown by section 62, which is from this division which have not been prospected, mile or two farther down the creek, with the same south it rises more rapidly than the stream, and the Collins mine at the latter place. Section 63 and consequently are unknown. thickness, as seen in section 92. reaches the hilltop north of Flat Top Mountain. represents the coal at the Dunloup mine, 2 miles The highest known coal bed in this territory is This completes the list of workable coal out­ Section 109 is from a prospect pit at Pemberton. above Glenjean, and section 64 at the mine at the thickest, but, since it occurs on the summit of crops that were observed in this division of the South of this point the bloom of this coal shows Turkey Knob. The last section shows about the the most lofty ridge, it has only a small acreage quadrangle. Other beds doubtless occur, but in many places at the base of the Raleigh sand­ maximum thickness of the coal in this district. remaining, and that probably under not sufficient they were not seen, or the prospect pits had fallen stone, but no exposure of the unweathered coal At Macdonald it maintains a good thickness, but cover to be successfully mined. This bed was in to such an extent that it was impossible to form was seen. carries a small shale parting near the bottom, opened by Mr. Reynolds on the summit Twelve=foot an estimate of their thickness and character. West of Spangler Factory and Pemberton the which detracts somewhat from its value (section of Cherry Pond Mountain, a short dis- c^eVryVond Division E. The highest coal bed in this terri­ streams have not cut deeply enough to reveal this tory is from 50 to 75 feet above the Raleigh sand­ 65). tance southeast of Indian Gap and just Mountam> horizon,\ but it was. presumably found Well section4. This coal has been opened at a number of points beyond the limit of the quadrangle, where it has stone, and consequently it belongs to the Sewell by a diamond drill near Lester at a nearLester- on the headwaters of Dunloup Creek, but its thick­ the unprecedented thickness of over 12 feet of coal horizon. This bed may be traced almost depth of 280 feet. This well is located about a ness in this territory is unknown. Judging, how- clear coal, as shown in section 83. This coal bed continuously from Dunloup Creek to Beckley, but mile east of Lester, on Shockley Branch, where it is crossed by the road leading from Lester to Cole, coal is from 170 to 200 feet below the same hori­ mont coal at Stanaford Branch, as indicated by posed Beckley coal, and its condition at these and the well head is about 130 feet below the top zon. In local prospecting in this field the two the dotted line in the figure. Such transgressions points is shown in sections 119, 120, of the Harvey conglomerate lentil. The follow­ coal beds have been confused and the openings are possible, but in this case the great regularity- 121, and 122. Section 122 is from the SSSSwSy ing table, kindly furnished by W. C. Reynolds, on the Beckley coal are supposed to be on the of the series, as shown by the various sections, opening on the Worley's mill road who had charge of the drilling, shows in great Quinnimont bed. and the short distance in which the change is already described and shown in fig. 3. This is detail the character and thickness of the rocks: undoubtedly the true Beckley coal, but the roof BEURY.T ATAOTT. ^-ll^ ROYAL BATOFF STA NAF ORD WmScK W$S?Y'S WHI?ESTICK r. ALASKA. CREEK. MINE. MOUNTAIN. BrIANC has so caved that only a part of the coal is visible. Record of well boring near Lester. H- CREEK. MlLL- CREEK. Six sections (123, 124, 125, 126, 127, and 128) -----^ bewell coal. Ft. in. Ft. in. mmmm are reported on the same authority from the east Soil...... 4 1^

Hard stone in layers...... 15 im *'*'' m< u side of Piney Creek below Worley's mill. Judg­ Shale...... 5 P/7/7T3 Not exposed ) Raleigh sandston ing from the altitude of the openings these are Coal...... 1 foot :: /::;. _ _'--- ~^-~. Coal? ___ ££*i Coal3_'__ ii-jl Slate..... 2 inches Beckley coal. presumably on the Beckley coal, but they may Coal...... 3 inches 1 5 il ~§£=ZK belong to a lower horizon. i 25 i Fire clay...... 0 6 On the west side of Piney Creek above Worley's Wk ./ Dark slate...... 16 6 H a ^P Bffiii;? !=S; i . mill there is an opening on the Beckley coal which, Shale...... 5 8 Coal...... 0 9 according to Mr. Anderson, shows the thickness 23 .. given in section 129. Farther up the creek on Fire clay...... 1 6 K Sandy shale...... '...... 19 3 m 1 the same side there is an old opening which Sandstone...... 21 0 =^r= affords a partial view of the coal. The bed Coal...... 1 10 43 appears to have a thickness of about 4 feet 6 Fire clay...... 2 0 inches, but at present only 3 feet of coal is visible. Sandstone ...... 25 6 . 3. Sections showing the relation of the Beckley coal to the other well-known beds of the geologic series. This coal has been mined in a small way for a Black slate ...... 52 2 Scale: 1 inch=300 feet. Sandstone ...... 6 0 number of years by the side of the Princeton- Black slate ...... 10 6 The relationship of these beds is shown in the supposed to occur, make such a transgression Beckley turnpike north of Piney Creek. Its thick­ Sandstone ...... 7 0 Black shale...... 3 6 accompanying illustration (fig. 3), giving a series extremely improbable. ness at this point is shown in section 130. At Black, gritty slate ...... 2 2 of sections along New River and Piney Creek to The next section (section 122), exposed on the this locality there is a pronounced roll in the Bituminous shale ...... 1 6 the recent development near the mouth of Big road to Worley's mill, seems to settle the ques­ rocks, which causes the two openings here to Light slate...... 9 0 Coal and slate ...... 4 6 Whitestick Creek. tion beyond doubt. In this section the Raleigh appear to be on different beds. The first section was measured at Beury, where sandstone is very prominent, forming the uplands East of Beaver Creek there are a number of Light shale...... 6 6 Sandstone...... 6 0 both the Quinnimont and Sewell coals are well between Beckley and Piney Creek. At the base openings on this coal bed, but they have generally Coal and slate ...... 2 0 shown and their relationship to the Confusionof of this sandstone the Beckley coal shows a thick­ fallen shut and the coal is inaccessible. It is 14 6 Light shale ...... 12 0 Raleigh sandstone is easily determined. ffi^JSy ness of 5 feet 6 inches in an opening by the road­ impossible to obtain definite sections, but the coal Hard, micaceous sandstone...... 22 0 The Sewell coal is 50 or 60 feet above side. At a distance of 170 feet below the Beckley appears to be of workable thickness. Dark, gritty shale ...... 6 6 Coal with two small partings.... 9 0 the Raleigh sandstone, and the Quinnimont coal coal is the Quinnimont coal, having At an opening on the south side of Piney Creek 49 6 lies about 230 feet below the same prominent a thickness of 12 inches, with its and a little above the crossing of the Princeton Fire clay...... 1 0 .... _ . _ and Quinni- Very hard sandstone ...... 4 0 stratum. This sandstone is one of the most pro­ custoniary associations ot sandy shale turnpike the Beckley coal, according to Mr. nounced geologic features along this portion of above and sandstone below. The Anderson, has the thickness shown in section 131. On account of the absence of any distinctive New River, and can be traced with absolute cer­ Beckley and Quinnimont coals are also present In the valleys of Beaver and Little Beaver beds in this section it is difficult to correlate the tainty up the river to the limits of this quadran­ in their normal relative positions on the head of creeks this coal also appears to be generally coals with certainty. The coal bed 9 feet in gle. Fat Creek, near Table Rock, where presumably present, but the steady rising of the strata toward thickness at a distance of 410 feet below the top At Alaska it is very pronounced, and it there both are of workable thickness. the south soon carries its horizon above the tops of the Harvey conglomerate lentil seems to be the holds the same relation to the Quinnimont coal The last section in the figure represents the of the hills in this direction. An opening has Beckley coal, but in the well record there is no that it does at Beury, except that the interval Beckley and Sewell coals and the Raleigh sand­ been made in the knob above Daniel's store, 3 trace of heavy sandstone corresponding to the between them is slightly reduced. stone on Big Whitestick Creek in the vicinity of miles north of Shady Spring, on what appears to Raleigh sandstone. The Raleigh sandstone, where From Alaska to the mouth of Mill Creek the the mines which recently have been established be this bed. The opening has a height of 5 feet, it is exposed in the region south of Lester, is not relationship of the beds remains unchanged and at that point. but the coal could not be seen. prominent, but appears to consist of thin sand­ the interval between the lower coal and the sand­ All the evidence available shows that the On the north side of Little Beaver Creek Mr. stone beds separated by softer members, either stone holds a constant thickness of about 190 feet. Beckley and Quinnimont coals are separate beds, Anderson reports three openings, which are repre­ shale or soft sandstone. Therefore it seems prob­ The Sewell coal has been eroded from the hilltops and that their correlation and confusion has been sented by sections 132, 133, and 134. able that at Lester it is even more Coal-beds_ , . . in. near the river, so it does not appear in the sec­ due to an effort to trace the coal beds regardless In the vicinity of Table Rock the Beckley coal broken up, and is no longer recogniz- tion, but within a distance of 8 or 10 miles on of the associated rocks. shows in a number of places directly beneath the able as a sandstone formation. Pro- Lester> either side it is present in its normal position of So far as present knowledge goes the Beckley sandstone, and judging from the size of the bloom visiorially, the large 9-foot coal (section 110) will from 40 to 70 feet above the Raleigh sandstone. coal is equal in quality to the Quinnimont coal in it seems probable that the bed is of workable be classed as Beckley ; and the small coal, 22 inches At the Royal mine the section is almost iden­ its best development on New River, thickness in this region. in thickness, which occurs 179 feet above the tical with that at the mouth of Mill Creek, except and it is certainly equal to, if not of° i!S- n About three-quarters of a mile east of Table Beckley and 91 feet below the surface, will be that the Raleigh sandstone is not so well exposed, superior to, that, i , Tbed -i in economy orP mont and Rock a bed of cannel coal, represented by section called the Sewell coal. but it is doubtless present in its full thickness. operation. It presents a promising 135, has been mined to some extent for local use. The Beckley coal shows in natural outcrop on The section along the Prince and Beckley turn­ field in the vicinity of Beckley, one that will prob­ This bed occurs below the Raleigh sandstone, but Winding Gulf south of Soak Creek. Its thick­ pike up Batoff Mountain is also essentially the ably soon be an important factor in the coal pro­ the exact interval between it and the base of the ness is somewhat reduced in this locality, as shown same as the two last described, except that the duction of New River Valley. sandstone is unknown. It is presumably too low in section 111, and the amount of impurities is Quinnimont coal is replaced by carbonaceous shale When the geologic map of this folio was pre­ in the series to be correlated with the Beckley greater, but there are two benches of coal of good at this point. A short distance back on the pared it was assumed that all of the coal outcrops coal and too high to be correlated with the Quin­ thickness and fine quality. The position of this upland the Sewell coal is present in its normal described by Mr. Anderson belonged to the Beck- nimont. It is not a very thick bed of coal, and outcrop is evidently below the Raleigh sandstone, position above the Raleigh sandstone. ley horizon, but a late visit to the field has shown ^presumably is not an important factor in the coal but the latter is so poorly developed that it is The sections along the river have so far shown that many of them are at the horizon of the Quin­ resources of this region. scarcely recognizable. no trace of workable coals other than the Sewell nimont coal. It was impossible to visit all of A small bed of coal has been prospected to The uncertainty of the coal correlations in this and Quinnimont beds. If the Beckley coal is these old openings, hence it is uncertain how some extent up the valley of Glade Creek. Two locality is increased by the fact that on Piney present, it is presumably too thin to attract atten­ many belong to the Beckley horizon and how openings on this bed on Cooper Creek are repre­ Creek there is another coal bed about 100 feet tion or is concealed by the debris which falls many to the Quinnimont horizon. Future pros­ sented by sections 136 and 137. This bed below the base of the Raleigh sandstone. Both from the sandstone cliff above. pectors may easily determine each case for them­ appears to belong about 150 feet below the Quin­ beds are well shown on a road which crosses Recent mining operations on Piney Creek have selves by noting the position of the outcrop nimont coal. It is not known on New River, but Piney Creek about 2 miles above Pemberton. thrown considerable light on the geology of this relative to that of the generally heavy-bedded, it is seen on Piney Creek, along the grade of the The Beckley coal shows as a large bloom in the region. The sequence of rocks and coal beds on white, sugary sandstone of the Raleigh formation. railroad which has recently been constructed up road at the base of the heavy Raleigh sandstone, the lower course of Piney Creek is well illus­ In division F the most northerly exposure of that creek, where it shows considerable coal, but and 100 feet lower there is a large bat almost trated by the section exposed at Stanaford Branch. coal on Piney Creek that was visited is at Stana­ the bed is so broken by heavy shale partings as worthless coal (section 112) exposed near the level At this point the Quinnimont coal is found in its ford Branch, where the Quinnimont bed has a to be of little value. of the creek. normal position, 200 feet below the Raleigh sand­ thickness of 2 feet 6 inches. The thickness of Division G-. The deep valley cut by Guyandot The lowest coal horizon exposed in this divis­ stone, and the mass of stiff sandy shale which this bed is variable, and since five or six new River across this territory has laid bare the rocks ion is that of the Quinnimont coal, which shows overlies it is almost identical with that which mines are being opened in this region it is prob­ from near the horizon of the Harvey conglomerate on Boyer Fork near its junction with Piney shows on New River at the same horizon. Above able that the coal has a greater average thick­ lentil to below that of the Pocahontas bed of coal, Creek. Section 113 represents the coal bed at the Raleigh sandstone the Sewell coal occurs in ness than that given. This supposition is but the homogeneity of the strata renders it some­ this locality. its normal position and with a thickness that strengthened by the fact that at an opening what difficult to, trace formations and identify Division F. The coal beds exposed in this promises well for mining operations. At the directly opposite Stanaford Branch Mr. Anderson horizons. In the Guyandot basin the Raleigh division lie generally below the Raleigh sand­ base of the Raleigh sandstone there is a small, reports this coal as having a thickness of 5 feet 6 sandstone is the most reliable guide, but there are stone. The only exception is the Sewell coal, irregular bed of coal, which appears to be the first inches (section 114). many other beds of sandstone that are equally which shows in a number of places in the north­ showing of the Beckley coal. On the south side of Cranberry Creek are four thick and coarse, and hence the section along the western corner of the territory, on the road which The Raleigh sandstone is easily traced from openings, presumably on the Beckley coal, which, river can not be depended upon for-the deter­ leads from Prince to Beckley. Stanaford Branch to the junction of Little White- according to the same authority, have the thick­ mination of structure and stratigraphic succession. Below the Raleigh sandstone there are two stick and Cranberry creeks near Beckley. At nesses shown in sections 115, 116, 117, and 118. On Flat Top Mountain, in the vicinity of Old coal beds of workable thickness in this division. this point the Beckley coal is well shown (section On the west side of Piney Creek, between Cran­ Bluff, the Raleigh is conglomeratic, but this fea­ The uppermost or Beckley coal lies directly 94) directly underlying the Raleigh sandstone. berry Creek and Worley's mill, four openings ture soon disappears in passing westward. The below the Raleigh sandstone^ and the Quinnimont This bed has been correlated with the Quinni- have been made by Mr. Anderson on the sup­ bed descends with considerable regularity \o. the Ealeigh. ?*?*

8

Western margin of the quadrangle, where its base the coal at the latter locality, as reported by the opening has been made on this bed, which shows ing to the east, and in the zone of transition it is is about 200 feet above water level. In general, Flat Top Association, is shown in section 149, and 3 feet 6 inches of coal (section 159), and another difficult to determine its value. along Guyandot River and to the south the its thickness at an opening on Jim Branch, as one near Meadow's mill shows the coal with a Much time and money have been expended in Raleigh is heavy and coarse, but in the opposite determined by the writer, is shown in section 150. slightly increased thickness (section 160). At searching for the Pocahontas coal on New River, direction it breaks up into a number of thin beds South of this point the coal has been extensively the latter point the small coal bed but without success. Coal beds are generally of sandstone which can be identified with prospected on the headwaters of Pinnacle Creek, which usually accompanies the Poca- looked upon as continuous layers of carbonaceous , - - ,.-,.. . , accompanied difficulty. and its total thickness is reported to vary from 4 nontas coal in this regiono ^ is exposedJT coal seam. matter that extend indefinitely in all directions. Several beds of coal have been prospected on feet 4 inches to 5 feet 4 inches. directly beneath the opening on the If that assumption is true the Pocahontas coal Rock Castle Creek, which joins Guyandot River Division H. The Raleigh sandstone caps the principal bed. The lower coal is too thin to be should be found on New River below the horizon at Pineville, a few miles west of the ; Raleigh highest hills in this part of the quadrangle, hence of commercial value, and it is interesting only as of the Quinnimont coal; but exhaustive search quadrangle. On Gulf Branch of this creek is a the coal beds which show in outcrop are those affording a means of identifying the Pocahontas has shown that it is not present in that part of coal which lies less than 100 feet above the top which occur below that stratum. bed. The best means of identification is the com­ the series. From the study of fossil plants we of the Raleigh sandstone. This is not a very The Beckley coal does not seem to be present parison of fossil plants, which are very abundant know that the coal bed which is so prominent in promising coal, as shown in section 138, but it is in this division, at least not in workable thickness. in the roof shales of the Pocahontas coal, but this the vicinity of Pocahontas is an insignificant bed interesting on account of its being probably the In descending order, the next coal of workable requires a close and detailed acquaintance with on New River too thin to attract the attention southwestern extension of the Sewell coal. From proportions occurs 200 feet below the base of the fossil plants, which few possess. of even the most careful prospector and, con­ this point it can be traced to the southwest into Raleigh sandstone and consequently at about the Below the mouth of Stone Coal Creek the versely, that the coal beds which are so import­ McDowell County, where it has wide distribution, horizon of the Quinnimont coal. Section 151 is Pocahontas coal dips beneath the level of the ant in the economic resources of New River are although not very great prospective value. from an opening on this bed on Boyer Fork of stream, but it reappears near the mouth of Devil either unimportant or entirely wanting on Guyan­ The Beckley coal is presumably of not much Piney Creek, and section 152 is from Piney Creek Fork. In passing up the latter stream, the coal dot River and Tug Fork. consequence in the Guyandot basin. It was seen above Laurel Creek, on presumably the same bed. is first exposed at the mouth of Bee Tree Branch, When it is understood that coal beds are simply at one point on Rock Castle Creek, near Pineville, This section is reported by Mr. Anderson, who where it has the thickness shown in section 161. the accumulated vegetable matter of old swamps, where it shows the thickness given in section 139. regards the coal as equivalent to the Beckley bed This section is reported by the Flat Top Associa­ it will be appreciated A L better that they > Limited... geo= An exceedingly variable bed of coal has been on Big Whitestick Creek. This correlation can tion. It seems probable that it represents the have a limited geographic range. The §3*$ coS" opened at several places in this quadrangle and in not hold, since the coal, as well as the associated total thickness of the bed, without taking account swamp must have had its boundaries, beds' the adjoining territory which appears to sandstones, dips to the north more rapidly than of the small streak of bony coal which commonly and in approaching these boundaries the coal occupy the horizon of the Quinnimont the grade of the creek, and passes below water occurs near the top of the bed in this region. becomes thinner and thinner until finally, at the , rbeen traced throughout most of the plete section of the coal could be obtained. Section 165 is the reported thickness of the SOILS. Guyandot River basin by the Flat Top Coal Land A coal bed which seems to deserve attention coal at an opening on one of the head branches of Soil is the residual product of the decay and Association, to which the writer is indebted for occurs about 120 feet below the Quinnimont hori­ Rich Creek 1J miles southwest of Old Bluff. disintegration of rocks, to which has been added much information concerning this coal. Fossil zon. Section 156 represents this bed at an open­ This section shows the beginning of the great a variable amount of partially decayed vegetable plants were collected from the roof shales of this ing on Milam Fork south of Basin Spring. A increase in thickness which this coal bed under­ matter. In the process of soil making, the more bed in several places in order to check the identifi­ partial exposure of this bed occurs on Barker goes in passing southwest toward the region of its soluble elements have been carried off in solution, cations of the land company. With one exception, Creek beneath the opening on the Quinnimont greatest development on Bluestone River and leaving the more insoluble parts, principally sand noted later, the determinations were substantiated coal shown in section 155, but the opening had Elkhorn Creek. and clay, to form the soil. In regions where in every particular. fallen in and it was impossible to determine the Many openings have been made in the territory there are many kinds of rocks exposed at the The Pocahontas coal bed rises from Guyandot full thickness or the quality of the coal. south of this division, but they show the Poca­ surface, the soils show a corresponding variation, River near the mouth of Long Branch. From About 90 feet below the last-mentioned horizon hontas coal bed in essentially the same condition but not to the extreme limits of variation of the section 142,' which was measured( at Pocahontas_ . ' occurs another coal bed, which at the head of as it is on the headwaters of Barker Creek. original rocks. In the Raleigh quadrangle the this point, it is apparent that this coal SSoftSvw" Barker Creek was evidently mistaken by the Flat A small coal bed which appears to belong rocks are so similar in composition that the soils in the Guyandot River basin is much Top Coal Land Association for the Pocahontas about 50 feet below the Pocahontas coal was are practically the same throughout the entire thinner than it is in the type locality on Elkhorn coal, although its position in the series is about observed in a number of localities in this region, area, except where the surface rock is a coarse, Creek. 160 feet above that well-known bed'. An old but it is too small to be of much value. Section friable sandstone. The value of the land for At the junction of the. Saulsville and River opening on this horizon was observed on Guyan­ 166 represents this coal as it shows in the opening agricultural purposes is determined more by the roads an opening was made by the Flat Top dot River just below Cabin Creek, but it has at Meadow's mill on Tommy Creek. surface relief and by the condition of the streams Association, which, according to their report, shows fallen shut and no information could be obtained Division I. The rocks exposed in this division than by the original composition of the underly­ the thickness given in section 143, but from the concerning the coal. On the head of Barker lie in the lower part of the coal-bearing series and ing rocks, except in the small area southeast of detailed sections which have been measured on Creek it is conspicuous, for it shows in outcrop in in the red shales of the Mississippian series. The Flat Top Mountain, where the red calcareous either side it is apparent that these figures indi­ the bed of the creek for a long distance. It is Raleigh sandstone occurs in a few places in this shales of the Bluestone formation produce the cate simply the total thickness of the coal bed evidently a coal bed of considerable importance, area, but it seems probable that the B'eckley coal, best natural soils of the quadrangle. inclusive of the bone and shale partings. since it was mistaken for the Pocahontas coal, but which belongs at the base of this prominent stra­ On account of the absence of hills and deep, Section 144 was measured by the writer at an no measurement of its' thickness could be obtained. tum, is either wanting or too thin to attract atten­ sharp valleys, the plateau region in the vicinity opening below Joe Branch, and its agreement with The Pocahontas coal is exposed in a number of tion. of Oak Hill and Beckley is better adapted to the section at the mouth of Long Branch and one valleys in this division. It shows in natural out­ The Quinnimont is the highest known coal farming than any other lands north of Flat Top on Slab Fork, to be described later, affords good crop at water level on Stone Coal Creek for a dis­ horizon. It is of workable thickness on Boyer Mountain. The same would be true for the evidence that along Guyandot River the coal is tance of 2 or 3 miles, and presumably this fact Fork of Piney Creek, in the northwestern corner nearly level country from Shady Spring to Flat generally characterized by the presence of at least gave rise to the name. of the creek. Its thickness of this division. It maintains a fair thickness Top were it Nnot for the fact that this level one parting of bone or shale. on this creek is represented by section 157, which toward the head of the stream, as shown by sec­ country is floored by a coarse sandstone which Section 145 is reported by the Flat Top Asso­ was measured at an opening at the mouth of Far- tion 167, which was measured in that locality. yields only a scanty soil, even, though the creeks ciation from an opening on Still Run, and section ley Branch. At the junction of Laurel Fork with The outcrop of this coal was observed in a num­ are sluggish and much vegetable matter has 146 from Barker Creek, where the bed passes the main creek there are two exposures of coal, ber of other places, but at no point does it seem accumulated in their upper courses. below water level. On the same authority sec­ which appear to be upon this bed, but the to attain great thickness. Its horizon shows in The sluggish condition of Marsh Fork in the tion 147 represents the thickness of the coal below sharp dip at this point throws some doubt upon many places north of Flat Top Mountain, but ero­ vicinity of Trap Hill has produced some valuable the mouth of Slab Fork. Section 148 was meas­ the determination. Section 158 shows the thick­ sion has removed it in many localities, leaving the meadow land in that locality, but its occurrence ured by the writer on the latter stream near the ness of the coal in the larger opening; the other heavy underlying sandstone at the surface of the is limited to the flat valley of the creek above the mouth of Cedar Creek. It shows a close agree­ may be on the same bed, or on a small coal which plateau. barrier of the Harvey conglomerate. ment with the reported sections in this vicinity, usually underlies the Pocahontas bed a short The Pocahontas coal is known on the head­ Owing to the vegetable matter which accumu­ with the exception of the band of impure coal, distance. waters of Camp Creek, on the eastern side of Flat lated in the heavy forests that originally covered which appears to be a constant feature in this The Pocahontas coal shows in outcrop at water Top Mountain. Section 168 is from an opening the region, the new land is very productive, but region. level on Tommy Creek from near the mouth of 3 miles northeast of Old Bluff, on what is presum­ this material is soon exhausted and the soil is then On Barker Creek this coal remains below the Stone Coal Creek to Meadow's mill, above Bragg ably the Pocahontas coal, but the determination thin and requires constant fertilization to produce level of the water from near Guyandot River to Branch. The outcrop is of such a nature that the is only provisional and can not be relied upon as remunerative crops. within a mile of the southern boundary of the full thickness of the coal is not .exposed at any showing the condition of this famous coal bed in ^ quadrangle, where it reappears. The thickness of point. A. short distance below Bragg Branch an that region. The coal loses its importance in pass­ December, 1901.