Appendix A The Stratigrapic Nomenclature of Burnsville Cove, Bath and Highland Counties, Virginia

Christopher S. Swezey and John T. Haynes

The Paleozoic rocks of the Appalachian region have Chatfieldian-Turinian Stages, and Taylor et al. (2013) been the target of geologists’ attention since the indicate that these two stages are within the Upper earliest days of geology in the United States. Not Ordovician Series. The Ordovician-Silurian boundary surprisingly, two centuries of attention have resulted in is customarily placed at the contact between the Ju- a long and complicated discourse concerning niata Formation and the overlying Tuscarora Forma- descriptions of rock units, what names to give to them, tion (Diecchio 1985), although in some publications and how to define the boundaries between them. this boundary is placed at a prominent unconformity Chapter 16 presents geologic maps, sections, and within the Tuscarora Formation (Dorsch et al. 1994; descriptions of the rocks in Burnsville Cove. The Dorsch and Driese 1995). objective of this appendix is to provide additional The Silurian Period is divided into the following information following the rules of stratigraphic four series (from oldest to youngest): Llandovery, nomenclature as described in North American Com- Wenlock, Ludlow, and Pridoli. The older two series mission on Stratigraphic Nomenclature (1983) and in are designated informally as lower Silurian, whereas Salvador (1994). Specifically, this appendix describes the younger two series are designated informally as the history of stratigraphic nomenclature use in Bath upper Silurian (Gradstein et al. 2004). Le Van and and Highland Counties, the type sections of the Rader (1983) and Diecchio and Dennison (1996) stratigraphic units, and the contacts between units. placed the lower Silurian-upper Silurian boundary at For easy reference, the lithostratigraphic and the contact between the Rose Hill Formation and the chronostratigraphic columns from Chap. 16 are overlying Keefer Formation, whereas Harris et al. duplicated (Fig. A.1). In this figure, the Middle (1994) placed the boundary at the contact between the Ordovician-Upper Ordovician boundary is placed at Clinton Group (e.g., Keefer Formation) and the over- the base of the Nealmont Formation, although this lying McKenzie Formation. The Silurian-Devonian location is somewhat controversial. Le Van and Rader boundary is located within the upper part of the (1983) placed the Middle Ordovician-Upper Ordovi- Keyser Limestone of the Helderberg Group (Denkler cian boundary at the contact between the Lincolnshire and Harris 1988a, b; Harris et al. 1994; Rodríguez Limestone and the overlying Ward Cove Limestone 2005), and the Lower Devonian-Middle Devonian (both of these limestone units are located well below boundary is located within the Needmore Shale the Nealmont Limestone of this paper), whereas (Rossbach and Dennison 1994; Harris et al. 1994). Harris et al. (1994) and Ryder et al. (1996) placed the Using uranium-lead dating techniques, Roden et al. Middle Ordovician-Upper Ordovician boundary (1990) obtained an absolute age of 390 ± 0.5 Ma from within the basal part of the Reedsville Shale. A more the Tioga Ash Bed. Finally, the Middle Devonian- recent publication by Young et al. (2005), however, Upper Devonian boundary is placed at the top of the reported conodont and isotope data that assign the Millboro Shale, but the uppermost few feet of the Dolly Ridge Formation to the Chatfieldian Stage Millboro Shale may be Upper Devonian (Rossbach and the underlying Nealmont Formation to the and Dennison 1994; Harris et al. 1994).

W.B. White (ed.), The Caves of Burnsville Cove, Virginia, 459 Cave and Karst Systems of the World, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-14391-0, © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015 460 Appendix A: The Stratigrapic Nomenclature of Burnsville Cove, Bath and Highland Counties, Virginia

LITHOSTRATIGRAPHY CHRONOSTRATIGRAPHY Hampshire Formation AGE PERIOD STRATIGRAPHY (Ma) and LITHOLOGY 359.2 Hampshire Formation

Foreknobs Formation Upper Foreknobs Formation (1,280 to 2,230’) 2000 Devonian

Brallier Formation

385.3 Millboro Shale 1000 Middle Devonian Tioga Ash Bed Brallier Formation 397.5 Needmore Shale (1,550 to 3,000’) Oriskany Sandstone Lower 0 feet Devonian Helderberg Group

416.0 upper Tonoloway Limestone Silurian MF, WS, WCF 422.9 Millboro Shale Keefer Formation lower (230 to 1,370’) Rose Hill Formation Silurian Tuscarora Formation Needmore Sh. (20 to 150’) 433.7 Oriskany Ss. (20 to 130’) Helderberg Group Juniata Formation Tonoloway Ls. (300 to 400’) Upper (420 to 500’) Wills Creek Fm. (0 to 50’) Ordovician Oswego Sandstone Williamsport Ss. (20 to 35’) McKenzie Fm. (15 to 250’) Rose Hill Fm. Keefer Formation (5 to 50’) Reedsville Shale (300 to 800’) 460.9 Tuscarora Fm. (40 to 120’) Middle Dolly Ridge Formation Juniata Formation Nealmont Limestone Ordovician pre-Nealmont limestone (340 to 740’) 471.8 Oswego Ss. (25 to 85’) Lower Ordovician Reedsville Shale (1,000 to 1,400’) = sandstone = sandstone & siliciclastic mudstone Dolly Ridge Formation = siliciclastic mudstone (ca. 450’) Nealmont Ls. (ca. 150’) = limestone pre-Nealmont limestone

Fig. A.1 Lithostratigraphic and chronostratigraphic charts for Fm. Formation; Ls. Limestone; Ss. Sandstone; MF McKenzie strata in the vicinity of Burnsville Cove, Bath and Highland Formation; WCF Wills Creek Formation; WS Williamsport Counties, Virginia. Time scale is from Gradstein et al. (2004). Sandstone Appendix A: The Stratigrapic Nomenclature of Burnsville Cove, Bath and Highland Counties, Virginia 461

Ordovician Nealmont Limestone suggested that these strata in Virginia may be younger than the strata of Lowville age, and that they might be In the vicinity of Burnsville Cove, the Nealmont mapped as the Eggleston Limestone or the Cham- Limestone is a 150 ft thick unit of gray limestone. In bersburg Limestone. Woodward (1951) later mapped Bath and Highland Counties, these strata were mapped these strata in Highland County as the Salona For- by Darton (1899) as part of the Shenandoah Lime- mation, which he stated is the northeastern extension stone. Butts (1933) later mapped these strata in Bath of the Eggleston facies of the Trenton Limestone in and Highland Counties as part of the Lowville Lime- southwestern Virginia, and is comparable with the stone of the Black River Group, whereas Butts (1940) Oranda Formation and the basal Martinsburg Shale in mapped them as the “Lowville-Moccasin Limestone” the Shenandoah Valley. Kay (1956) mapped these of the Black River Group. Furthermore, Butts (1940) strata in Highland County and northern Bath County stated that in Highland County and Bath County these as the Onego (“Oranda”) Formation (or Onego strata are a true limestone named the Lowville Lime- Member of the Salona Formation), and he indicated stone, but further south these strata grade into a red that these strata grade into a bed of quartz sandstone argillaceous limestone named the Moccasin Forma- overlain by limestone (mapped collectively as the tion. Woodward (1951) mapped these strata in High- Eggleston Formation) in southern Bath County. Bick land County as the Nealmont Formation, and he stated (1962) later mapped these strata in Bath and Highland that the strata can be traced south into the Eggleston- Counties as the Edinburg Formation. Perry (1972) Moccasin Formation. Kay (1956) mapped these strata noted that the equivalent strata in Pendleton County as the Nealmont Formation in Highland County, (West Virginia) do not resemble the Onego Member, although he used the names “Moccasin-Nealmont Salona Formation, or Edinburg Formation at their Formation” and “Nealmont-Moccasin Formation” in respective type sections, and therefore he proposed the Bath County. At an outcrop near Bolar (near western name Dolly Ridge Formation for these strata in edge of Burnsville Cove geologic map; Fig. 16.3), he Pendleton County. Subsequent publications have fol- described these strata as limestone with a few red lowed Perry (1972) and used the name Dolly Ridge argillaceous beds in the upper part of the unit. Bick Formation for these strata in Bath and Highland (1962) later mapped these strata in Bath and Highland Counties (Le Van and Rader 1983; Diecchio 1991; Counties as the Moccasin Formation, but subsequent Rader and Wilkes 2001). At present, these strata in the publications have used the name Nealmont Limestone vicinity of Burnsville Cove are mapped as the Dolly or Nealmont Formation (Read 1980; Le Van and Ridge Formation. The type section of the Dolly Ridge Rader 1983; Diecchio 1991). At present, these strata in Formation is on the southeastern side of Dolly Ridge, the vicinity of Burnsville Cove are mapped as the 1.3 km south of Riverton in Pendleton County, West Nealmont Limestone. The Nealmont Limestone is Virginia (Perry 1972). named for the village of Nealmont in Blair County, Pennsylvania, but the type section is at Union Furnace Ordovician Reedsville Shale in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania (Kay 1941, 1944a, b). In the vicinity of Burnsville Cove, the Reedsville Shale is a 1,000–1,400 ft thick unit of gray shale. In Ordovician Dolly Ridge Formation Bath and Highland Counties, these strata were mapped by Darton (1899) as part of the Martinsburg Shale. In the vicinity of Burnsville Cove, the Dolly Ridge Butts (1933, 1940), Woodward (1951), Kay (1956), Formation is a 450 ft thick unit of black to gray and Bick (1962) mapped these strata in Bath and limestone. In Bath and Highland Counties, these strata Highland Counties as the Martinsburg Shale or the were mapped by Darton (1899) as part of the Shen- Martinsburg Formation. Later, Diecchio (1991) stated andoah Limestone. Butts (1933) later mapped these that the name Reedsville Shale should be given to strata in Bath and Highland Counties as part of the these strata on the west side of the North Mountain Lowville Limestone of the Black River Group. In a Front (a major fault on the west side of the Shenan- subsequent publication, although he did not specifi- doah Valley) and that the name Martinsburg Forma- cally mention Bath or Highland County, Butts (1940) tion should be given to equivalent strata on the east 462 Appendix A: The Stratigrapic Nomenclature of Burnsville Cove, Bath and Highland Counties, Virginia side of the North Mountain Front. Subsequent publi- Maryland. It was named for the Juniata River in cen- cations have followed Diecchio (1991) and used the tral Pennsylvania. name Reedsville Shale for these strata in Bath and Highland Counties (Diecchio 1985, 1991, 1993; Rader Silurian Tuscarora Formation and Wilkes 2001). At present, these strata in the vicinity of Burnsville Cove are mapped as the In the vicinity of Burnsville Cove, the Tuscarora Reedsville Shale. The type section of the Reedsville Formation is a 40–120 ft thick unit of white to yellow- Shale is at Reedsville in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania gray sandstone. In Bath and Highland Counties, these (Ulrich 1911; Keroher 1966). strata were mapped by Darton (1899) as the Tuscarora Quartzite. Butts (1933) later mapped these strata in Ordovician Oswego Sandstone Highland County and in northern Bath County as the Tuscarora Quartzite, and he mapped these strata in In the vicinity of Burnsville Cove, the Oswego southern Bath County as the Clinton Formation. In a Sandstone is a 25–80 ft thick unit of gray to green subsequent publication, Butts (1940) indicated that the sandstone. In Bath and Highland Counties, these strata name Tuscarora Sandstone should be applied to these were mapped by Darton (1899) as part of the Juniata strata from Pennsylvania in the north to 38° North Formation. Butts (1933) did not identify these strata as latitude in Virginia (encompassing the area of Burns- a separate unit in Bath or Highland County, but later ville Cove), and that the name Clinch Sandstone Butts (1940) identified a thin outcrop of the Oswego should be applied to these strata south of 38° North Sandstone in northwestern Highland County, and he latitude. Woodward (1941) mapped these strata in stated that these strata may be absent south of High- Bath and Highland Counties as the Tuscarora Sand- land County. Likewise, Woodward (1951) stated that stone, but Bick (1962) mapped them as the Clinch the Oswego Sandstone is not found south of Monterey Sandstone. Subsequent publications have mapped in Highland County. Bick (1962) did not recognize these strata in Bath and Highland Counties as the these strata in Bath or Highland County. Several Tuscarora Formation (Kozak 1965; Sweet 1981; Rader subsequent publications, however, have described and Wilkes 2001). At present, these strata in the these strata in Bath and Highland Counties, and vicinity of Burnsville Cove are mapped as the Tus- mapped them as the Oswego Sandstone (Crowder carora Formation. The type section of Tuscarora For- 1980; Rader and Gathright 1984; Diecchio 1985; mation is at Tuscarora Mountain in Pennsylvania Avary et al. 1999). At present, these strata in the (Darton and Taff 1896; Clark 1897). vicinity of Burnsville Cove are mapped as the Oswego Sandstone. The Oswego Sandstone is named for out- Silurian Rose Hill Formation crops in Oswego County, New York, although a specific type section was not specified (Prosser 1888). In the vicinity of Burnsville Cove, the Rose Hill Formation is a 300–800 ft thick unit of red sandstone Ordovician Juniata Formation and yellow to olive siliciclastic mudstone (shale). In Bath and Highland Counties, these strata were mapped In the vicinity of Burnsville Cove, the Juniata For- by Darton (1899) as the Cacapon Sandstone. Butts mation is a 340–740 ft thick unit of red sandstone and (1933) later mapped these strata in Bath and Highland mudstone (shale). In Bath and Highland Counties, Counties as part of the Clinton Formation. In a sub- these strata were mapped by Darton (1899) as part of sequent publication, however, Butts (1940) mapped the Juniata Formation. Subsequent publications have these strata as the Cacapon division of the Clinton continued to map these strata in Bath and Highland Formation (or “Iron Gate facies” of the Clinton For- Counties as the Juniata Formation (Butts 1933, 1940; mation), and he suggested that these strata may be Bick 1962; Woodward 1951; Diecchio 1985; Rader equivalent to the Rose Hill Formation of Maryland. and Wilkes 2001). At present, these strata in the Woodward (1941) later stated that the strata previ- vicinity of Burnsville Cove are mapped as the Juniata ously mapped as the Cacapon Sandstone in western Formation. The Juniata Formation was named by Virginia should be mapped as the Rose Hill Forma- Darton and Taff (1896) in West Virginia and tion, although Bick (1962) and Kozak (1965) mapped Appendix A: The Stratigrapic Nomenclature of Burnsville Cove, Bath and Highland Counties, Virginia 463 these strata in Bath and Highland Counties as the Bath and Highland Counties as the McKenzie Forma- Cacapon Member of the Clinton Formation. Sub- tion, whereas Butts (1940) mapped this unit as the sequent publications have mapped these strata in Bath McKenzie Limestone of the Cayuga Group. Woodward and Highland Counties as the Rose Hill Formation (1941) mapped these strata in Bath and Highland (Helfrich 1975, 1980; Diecchio and Dennison 1996; Counties as the McKenzie Formation. Bick (1962) Rader and Wilkes 2001). At present, these strata in the mapped these strata in Bath and Highland Counties as vicinity of Burnsville Cove are mapped as the Rose the McKensie [sic] Limestone of the Cayuga Group, Hill Formation. The type section of the Rose Hill whereas Kozak (1965) simply mapped these strata in Formation is at Rose Hill in the city of Cumberland, Bath County as part of the Cayuga Group. Helfrich Allegany County, Maryland (Swartz 1923). (1975, 1980) mapped these strata in Highland County as the McKenzie Member of the Mifflintown Formation. Silurian Keefer Formation The name “Cayuga Group” has been abandoned as a lithostratigraphic term (http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Geolex/ In the vicinity of Burnsville Cove, the Keefer Formation NewRefsmry/sumry_937.html), and these strata have is a 5–50 ft thick unit of white to yellow-gray sandstone. since been mapped in Highland County as the In Bath and Highland Counties, these strata were McKenzie Formation (Diecchio and Dennison 1996). mapped by Darton (1899) as the Rockwood Formation. At present, these strata in the vicinity of Burnsville Butts (1933) later mapped these strata in Bath and Cove are mapped as the McKenzie Formation. The type Highland Counties as part of the Clinton Formation. In section of the McKenzie Formation is at McKenzie a subsequent publication, Butts (1940) mapped these Station on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in Allegh- strata in Bath and Highland Counties as the Keefer any County, Maryland (Ulrich 1911; Keroher 1966). Sandstone Member of the Clinton Formation. Wood- ward (1941) mapped these strata in Bath and Highland Silurian Williamsport Sandstone Counties as the Keefer Sandstone, although Bick (1962) and Kozak (1965) mapped these strata as the In the vicinity of Burnsville Cove, the Williamsport Keefer Member of the Clinton Formation. Helfrich Sandstone is a 20–35 ft thick unit of sandstone. In Bath (1975, 1980) mapped these strata near Monterey as the and Highland Counties, these strata were mapped by informal lower hematitic member and the overlying Darton (1899) as part of the Lewistown Limestone. Butts Cosner Gap Member of the Mifflintown Formation, and (1933, 1940) later mapped these strata in Bath and he stated that the Cosner Gap Member is a limey Highland Counties as part of the Wills Creek Formation, equivalent of the Keefer Sandstone. More recently, which he defined as all of the strata between the Rader and Wilkes (2001) mapped these strata in Bath McKenzie Limestone below and the Tonoloway Lime- and Highland Counties as the Keefer Formation. At stone above. Woodward (1941) first identified these present, these strata in the vicinity of Burnsville Cove strata in Highland County as a separate unit, which he are mapped as the Keefer Formation. The type section mapped as the Williamsport Sandstone. Bick (1962), of the Keefer Formation is at Keefer Mountain, a few however, mapped these strata in Bath and Highland miles northeast of Hancock in Washington County, County as part of the Wills Creek Formation of the Maryland (Ulrich 1911; Keroher 1966). Cayuga Group, whereas Kozak (1965) simply mapped these strata in Bath County as part of the Cayuga Silurian McKenzie Formation Group. The name “Cayuga Group” has since been abandoned as a lithostratigraphic term (http://ngmdb. In the vicinity of Burnsville Cove, the McKenzie For- usgs.gov/Geolex/NewRefsmry/sumry_937.html), and mation is a 15–230 ft thick unit of gray shale and white subsequent publications have mapped these strata in to yellow-gray sandstone, with minor beds of yellow- Highland County as the Williamsport Sandstone orange to black sandy and oolitic limestone and gray (Helfrich 1975; Diecchio and Dennison 1996; Rader and limestone. In Bath and Highland Counties, these strata Wilkes 2001). At present, these strata in the vicinity of were mapped by Darton (1899) as part of the Lewistown Burnsville Cove are mapped as the Williamsport Sand- Limestone. Butts (1933) later mapped these strata in stone. The type section of the Williamsport Sandstone is 464 Appendix A: The Stratigrapic Nomenclature of Burnsville Cove, Bath and Highland Counties, Virginia on a branch of Patterson Creek, 0.6 miles east of Wil- mapped these strata in Bath and Highland Counties as liamsport in Grant County, West Virginia (Reger 1924). the Tonoloway Limestone of the Cayuga Group, whereas Kozak (1965) simply mapped these strata in Silurian Wills Creek Formation Bath County as part of the Cayuga Group. The name “Cayuga Group” has since been abandoned as a In the vicinity of Burnsville Cove, the Wills Creek lithostratigraphic term (http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Geolex/ Formation is a 0–212 ft thick unit of brown to green NewRefsmry/sumry_937.html). Helfrich (1975) map- sandstone, sandy limestone, and limestone. In Bath and ped these strata in Highland County as the Tonoloway Highland Counties, these strata were mapped by Dar- Formation, and Diecchio and Dennison (1996) map- ton (1899) as part of the Lewistown Limestone. Butts ped these strata in Highland County as the Tonoloway (1933) later mapped these strata in Bath and Highland Limestone. At present, these strata in the vicinity of Counties as the Wills Creek Sandstone. In a subsequent Burnsville Cove are mapped as the Tonoloway publication, however, Butts (1940) mapped these strata Limestone. The type section of the Tonoloway in Bath and Highland Counties as the Wills Creek Limestone is at Tonoloway Ridge in Washington Formation, which he defined as all of the strata between County, Maryland (Ulrich 1911; Keroher 1966). the McKenzie Limestone below and the Tonoloway Limestone above (this definition would include the Silurian-Devonian Helderberg Group Williamsport Sandstone). Woodward (1941) mapped these strata in Highland County as the Wills Creek In the vicinity of Burnsville Cove, the Helderberg Limestone. Bick (1962) later mapped these strata in Group is a 300–400 ft thick unit of limestone with Bath and Highland County as the Wills Creek For- some beds of sandstone, siliciclastic mudstone (shale), mation, whereas Kozak (1965) simply mapped these and cherty limestone. In Bath and Highland Counties, strata in Bath County as part of the Cayuga Group. The these strata were mapped by Darton (1899) as part of name “Cayuga Group” has since been abandoned as a the Lewistown Limestone. Swartz (1930) later mapped lithostratigraphic term (http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Geolex/ these strata in Bath and Highland Counties as the NewRefsmry/sumry_937.html), and subsequent pub- Helderberg Group (which included the Keyser Lime- lications have mapped these strata in Highland County stone). Butts (1933, 1940) mapped these strata in Bath as the Wills Creek Formation (Helfrich 1975; Diecchio and Highland Counties as the Helderberg Limestone and Dennison 1996). At present, these strata in the (which included the Keyser Limestone Member), and vicinity of Burnsville Cove are mapped as the Wills Woodward (1943) mapped these strata in Bath and Creek Formation. The type section of the Wills Creek Highland Counties as the Helderberg Group (which Formation is at Wills Creek in Cumberland, Allegany included the Keyser Limestone). Bick (1962) and County, Maryland (Uhler 1905). Kozak (1965) mapped the upper part of these strata in Bath and Highland Counties as the Helderberg Group, Silurian Tonoloway Limestone but they considered the Keyser Limestone to be a separate formation below the Helderberg Group. Most In the vicinity of Burnsville Cove, the Tonoloway subsequent publications have mapped these strata in Limestone is a 420–500 ft thick unit of gray to blue Bath and Highland Counties as the Helderberg Group, limestone and dolomitic limestone, with some beds of which includes the Keyser Limestone (Smosna and fine-grained sandstone and siliciclastic mudstone Warshauer 1979; Smosna 1984; Dorobek and Read (shale). In Bath and Highland Counties, these strata 1986; Linn et al. 1990). Rader and Wilkes (2001), were mapped by Darton (1899) as part of the Lewis- however, mapped these strata in Bath and Highland town Limestone. Swartz (1930) later mapped these Counties as “Devonian and Silurian rocks, undivided,” strata in Bath and Highland Counties as the Tonolo- but they mentioned the Helderberg Group, and they way Limestone of the Cayuga Group, whereas Butts indicated that the Keyser Limestone is not part of the (1933, 1940) mapped these strata in Bath and High- Helderberg Group. At present, these strata in the land Counties as the Tonoloway Limestone. Wood- vicinity of Burnsville Cove are mapped as the Hel- ward (1941) mapped these strata in Highland County derberg Group, which includes the Keyser Limestone. as the Tonoloway Limestone. Bick (1962) later The type section of the Helderberg Group is located at Appendix A: The Stratigrapic Nomenclature of Burnsville Cove, Bath and Highland Counties, Virginia 465 the Helderberg Mountains in Albany County, New mudstone (shale), and an upper unit of limestone York (Conrad 1839). (Swartz 1930; Butts 1933, 1940; Woodward 1943; Deike 1960a; Bick 1962; Kozak 1965; Dorobek and Silurian-Devonian Keyser Limestone Read 1986), but Head (1972) first named this lower of the Helderberg Group limestone unit as the Byers Island Limestone Member of the Keyser Limestone of the Helderberg In the vicinity of Burnsville Cove, the Keyser Lime- Group. Diecchio and Dennison (1996) later applied stone is a 100–200 ft thick unit of limestone, sand- the name Byers Island Limestone Member of the stone, and siliciclastic mudstone (shale). In Bath and Keyser Formation to an outcrop of these strata in Highland Counties, these strata were mapped by Highland County. At present, these strata in the Darton (1899) as part of the Lewistown Limestone. vicinity of Burnsville Cove are mapped as the Byers Swartz (1930) later mapped these strata in Bath and Island Limestone Member of the Keyser Formation of Highland Counties as the Keyser Limestone of the the Helderberg Group. The type section of the Byers Helderberg Group. Butts (1933, 1940) mapped this Island Limestone Member of the Keyser Limestone is unit in Bath and Highland Counties as the Keyser a series of outcrops along the Susquehanna River Limestone Member of the Helderberg Limestone, northeast of Selinsgrove in Snyder County, Pennsyl- whereas Woodward (1943) mapped this unit in Bath vania (Head 1972). and Highland Counties as the Keyser Limestone of the Helderberg Group. In contrast, Bick (1962) and Kozak Clifton Forge Sandstone Member of the Keyser (1965) mapped this unit in Bath and Highland Coun- Limestone of the Helderberg Group ties as the Keyser Limestone, which they considered to be a separate formation below the Helderberg In the vicinity of Burnsville Cove, the Clifton Forge Group. Most subsequent publications have mapped Sandstone Member of the Keyser Limestone is a 10– these strata in Bath and Highland Counties as the 100 ft thick unit of white to gray sandstone. Swartz Keyser Limestone of the Helderberg Group (Smosna (1930) first identified these strata in Bath County as a and Warshauer 1979; Smosna 1984; Dorobek and separate unit, which he named the Clifton Forge Read 1986; Linn et al. 1990). Rader and Wilkes Sandstone Member of the Keyser Limestone of the (2001), however, mapped these strata in Bath and Helderberg Group. North of the type section in Al- Highland Counties as “Devonian and Silurian rocks, leghany County (Virginia), the Clifton Forge Sand- undivided,” but they mentioned the Keyser Limestone, stone Member is reported to split into two or three and they indicated that it is not part of the Helderberg sandy beds (Swartz 1930), with the lower of these Group. At present, these strata in the vicinity of sandy beds merging towards the north with the Big Burnsville Cove are mapped as Keyser Limestone of Mountain Shale Member of the Keyser Limestone, the Helderberg Group. The type section of the Keyser and the upper of these sandy beds extending north into Limestone is at a quarry near the town of Keyser Highland County where it presumably pinches out. in Mineral County, West Virginia (Ulrich 1911; Butts (1933) later mapped these strata in southern Bath Schuchert et al. 1913; Keroher 1966). County as the Clifton Forge Sandstone Member of the Keyser Limestone, and he stated that the sandstone is Byers Island Limestone Member of the Keyser replaced by shale in northern Highland County. In a Limestone of the Helderberg Group subsequent publication, Butts (1940) mapped these strata in Bath County as the Clifton Forge Sandstone In the vicinity of Burnsville Cove, the Byers Island of the Keyser Limestone Member of the Helderberg Limestone Member of the Keyser Limestone is a 0–75 Limestone. Woodward (1943) mapped these strata in ft thick unit of gray to blue-gray to pink limestone and Bath and Highland Counties as the Clifton Forge argillaceous limestone, with some beds of sandstone, Sandstone of the Keyser Limestone of the Helderberg sandy limestone, and nodules of black chert. Many Group. Bick (1962) and Kozak (1965) mapped these publications have indicated that the Keyser Limestone strata in Bath and Highland Counties as the Clifton in Bath and Highland Counties has a lower unit of Forge Sandstone Member of the Keyser Limestone limestone, a middle unit of sandstone and siliciclastic (which they did not consider to be part of the 466 Appendix A: The Stratigrapic Nomenclature of Burnsville Cove, Bath and Highland Counties, Virginia

Helderberg Group). Dorobek and Read (1986) later stated specifically that the Big Mountain Shale is not mapped this unit in Bath and Highland Counties as the present in Burnsville Cove. Likewise, Bick (1962) and Clifton Forge Sandstone of the Keyser Limestone of Kozak (1965) did not identify these strata in their areas the Helderberg Group. At present, these strata in the of study. Dorobek and Read (1986) mapped this unit vicinity of Burnsville Cove are mapped as the Clifton in Highland County as the Big Mountain Shale of the Forge Sandstone Member of the Keyser Limestone of Keyser Limestone of the Helderberg Group, whereas the Helderberg Group. The type section of the Clifton Diecchio and Dennison (1996) mapped this unit in Forge Sandstone Member of the Keyser Limestone is northern Highland County as the Big Mountain Shale at Clifton Forge in Alleghany County, Virginia Member of the Keyser Formation. At present, these (Swartz 1930). strata in northern Highland County (north of Burns- Deike (1960a, b) considered the 12 ft thick sand- ville Cove) are mapped as the Big Mountain Shale stone beds that form the floor and ceiling of Breathing Member of the Keyser Limestone of the Helderberg Cave to be the same two sandstone beds that Swartz Group. The type section of the Big Mountain Shale (1930) and Woodward (1943) identified as tongues of Member of the Keyser Limestone is at Big Mountain, the Clifton Forge Sandstone Member, and he infor- approximately 1.5 miles west of the community of mally named these beds the “lower Breathing sand- Upper Tract in Pendleton County, West Virginia stone” and the “upper Breathing sandstone.” White (Swartz 1930). and Hess (1982) later applied the name lower Clifton Forge Sandstone to the lower bed and the name upper Jersey Shore Limestone Member of the Keyser Clifton Forge Sandstone to the upper bed in Breathing Limestone of the Helderberg Group Cave. Recent work by John Haynes, Rick Lambert, and Phil Lucas, however, suggests that the “upper In the vicinity of Burnsville Cove, the Jersey Shore Breathing sandstone” and “lower Breathing sand- Limestone Member of the Keyser Limestone is a 25– stone” are both located within the Tonoloway Lime- 150 ft thick unit of gray to blue-gray to pink limestone stone, and that they are not tongues of the Clifton and argillaceous limestone, with some beds of sandy Forge Sandstone Member of the Keyser Limestone. limestone. Many publications have indicated that the Keyser Limestone in Bath and Highland Counties has a Big Mountain Shale Member of the Keyser lower unit of limestone, a middle unit of sandstone and Limestone of the Helderberg Group siliciclastic mudstone (shale), and an upper unit of limestone (Swartz 1930; Butts 1933, 1940; Woodward The Big Mountain Shale Member of the Keyser 1943; Deike 1960a; Bick 1962; Kozak 1965; Dorobek Limestone is absent in Burnsville Cove, but further and Read 1986), but Head (1972) first gave the name north it is a 10–30 ft thick unit of olive-gray shale, Jersey Shore Limestone Member of the Keyser Lime- with some thin beds of sandstone and limestone. stone of the Helderberg Group to the limestone unit Swartz (1930) first identified these strata as a separate, immediately above the Clifton Forge Sandstone Mem- mappable unit within the Keyser Limestone in High- ber and (or) the Big Mountain Shale Member. Diecchio land County, and he indicated that the shale of these and Dennison (1996) and Dennison et al. (1997) later strata is replaced towards the south by sandstone that mapped these strata at an outcrop near McDowell is mapped as the Clifton Forge Sandstone Member of (Highland County) as the Jersey Shore Limestone the Keyser Limestone of the Helderberg Group. Butts Member of the Keyser Formation, and Dennison et al. (1933, 1940) also identified these shale-rich strata (1997) applied the same nomenclature to these strata at within the Keyser Limestone in Highland County, but an outcrop at Mustoe (Highland County). At present, did not give a separate name to the strata. Woodward these strata in the vicinity of Burnsville Cove are map- (1943) later mapped these strata in Highland County ped as the Jersey Shore Limestone Member of the as the Big Mountain Shale Member of the Keyser Keyser Limestone of the Helderberg Group. The type Limestone, and he stated that the unit passes south into section of the Jersey Shore Limestone Member of the the lower portion of the Clifton Forge Sandstone Keyser Limestone is near Jersey Shore in Lycoming Member of the Keyser Limestone. Deike (1960a) County, Pennsylvania (Head 1972). Appendix A: The Stratigrapic Nomenclature of Burnsville Cove, Bath and Highland Counties, Virginia 467

LaVale Limestone Member of the Keyser of the Coeymans Limestone in New York. As a result, Limestone of the Helderberg Group the name Coeymans Limestone has been discontinued in areas south of central Pennsylvania, and the name In the vicinity of Burnsville Cove, the LaVale Lime- New Creek Limestone is used instead (Bowen 1967). stone Member of the Keyser Limestone is a 3–30 ft Subsequently, these strata in Bath and Highland thick unit of laminated gray sandy limestone to calcite- Counties have been mapped as the New Creek cemented sandstone. Many publications have indi- Limestone of the Helderberg Group (Dorobek and cated that the Keyser Limestone in Bath and Highland Read 1986). At present, these strata in the vicinity of Counties has a lower unit of limestone, a middle unit Burnsville Cove are mapped as the New Creek of sandstone and siliciclastic mudstone (shale), and an Limestone of the Helderberg Group. The type section upper unit of limestone (Swartz 1930; Butts 1933, of the New Creek Limestone is a quarry on the north 1940; Woodward 1943; Deike 1960a; Bick 1962; side of U.S. Route 50, approximately 0.5 miles south Kozak 1965; Dorobek and Read 1986), but Head of the town of New Creek in Mineral County, West (1972) first gave the name LaVale Limestone Member Virginia. This quarry is 100 yards east of a stream of the Keyser Limestone of the Helderberg Group to called New Creek where U.S. Route 50 crosses New the uppermost strata of the Keyser Limestone. Stock Creek Mountain (Bowen 1967). (1996) and Dennison et al. (1997) later mapped these strata at an outcrop at Mustoe (Highland County) as Devonian Corriganville Limestone the LaVale Limestone Member of the Keyser Lime- of the Helderberg Group stone. At present, these strata in the vicinity of Burnsville Cove are mapped as the LaVale Limestone In the vicinity of Burnsville Cove, the Corriganville Member of the Keyser Limestone of the Helderberg Limestone is a 5–30 ft thick unit of gray limestone and Group. The type section of the LaVale Limestone cherty limestone. In places, the unit contains a basal Member of the Keyser Limestone is at the Corrigan- bed of gray sandstone (0–20 ft thick) that is mapped as ville Quarry near the town of LaVale in Alleghany the Healing Springs Sandstone Member of the Corri- County, Maryland (Head 1972). ganville Limestone. In Bath and Highland Counties, these strata were mapped by Darton (1899) as part of Devonian New Creek Limestone of the Helderberg the Lewistown Limestone. Swartz (1930) later mapped Group these strata in Bath and Highland Counties as the New Scotland Limestone of the Helderberg Group. Butts In the vicinity of Burnsville Cove, the New Creek (1933, 1940), however, mapped these strata in Bath Limestone is an 8–60 ft thick unit of gray to pink and Highland Counties as the New Scotland Lime- limestone. In Bath and Highland Counties, these strata stone Member of the Helderberg Limestone. Wood- were mapped by Darton (1899) as part of the Lewis- ward (1943), Bick (1962), and Kozak (1965) mapped town Limestone. Swartz (1930) later mapped these these strata in Bath and Highland Counties as the New strata in Bath and Highland Counties as the Coeymans Scotland Limestone of the Helderberg Group. Head Limestone of the Helderberg Group. Butts (1933) (1972) later demonstrated that these strata in Virginia stated that this unit is difficult to recognize in Virginia, cannot be traced continuously through the intervening but in a subsequent publication Butts (1940) mapped areas to the type section of the New Scotland Lime- these strata in Bath and Highland Counties as the stone in New York. As a result, the name New Scot- Coeymans Limestone Member of the Helderberg land Limestone has been discontinued in areas south Limestone. Woodward (1943) mapped these strata in of central Pennsylvania, and the name Corriganville Bath and Highland Counties as the Coeymans For- Limestone is used instead. Subsequently, these strata mation of the Helderberg Group, whereas Bick (1962) in Bath and Highland Counties have been mapped as and Kozak (1965) mapped these strata in Bath and the Corriganville Limestone of the Helderberg Group Highland Counties as the Coeymans Limestone of the (Dorobek and Read 1986). At present, these strata in Helderberg Group. Bowen (1967) later demonstrated the vicinity of Burnsville Cove are mapped as the that these strata in Virginia cannot be traced continu- Corriganville Limestone of the Helderberg Group. The ously through the intervening areas to the type section type section of the Corriganville Limestone is at a 468 Appendix A: The Stratigrapic Nomenclature of Burnsville Cove, Bath and Highland Counties, Virginia railroad cut 0.3 miles southeast of the town of Corri- Counties as the Port Jervis Limestone and Chert, ganville in Alleghany County, Maryland (Head 1972). which he stated was equivalent in part to the Becraft Limestone and Shriver Chert of previous reports. Devonian Healing Springs Sandstone Member Woodward (1943) also stated that the Port Jervis of the Corriganville Limestone of the Helderberg Limestone at Monterey (Highland County) was pre- Group viously mapped by F.M. Swartz as the Licking Creek Limestone. Bick (1962) and Kozak (1965) mapped In the vicinity of Burnsville Cove, the Healing Springs these strata in Bath and Highland Counties as the Sandstone Member of the Corriganville Limestone is a Licking Creek Limestone of the Helderberg 0–20 ft thick unit of gray sandstone. Swartz (1930) Group. Later, Head (1974) redefined the Licking first identified these strata in Bath County as a separate Creek Limestone so as to comprise all limestone and unit, which he named the Healing Springs Sandstone cherty limestone between the Corriganville Limestone Member of the New Scotland Limestone of the Hel- [New Creek Limestone] and the Oriskany Sandstone, derberg Group. Butts (1933, 1940) later mapped these and he stated that the Licking Creek Limestone passes strata in Bath and Highland Counties as the Healing laterally into cherty strata that are mapped as the Springs Sandstone of the New Scotland Limestone Shriver Chert of the Helderberg Group. Subsequently, Member of the Helderberg Limestone. Woodward these strata in Bath and Highland Counties have been (1943) and Bick (1962) mapped these strata as the mapped as the Licking Creek Limestone of the Hel- Healing Springs Sandstone Member of the New derberg Group (Dorobek and Read 1986). At present, Scotland Limestone of the Helderberg Group. Since these strata in the vicinity of Burnsville Cove are Head (1972) indicated that the name Corriganville mapped as the Licking Creek Limestone of the Hel- Limestone should be used instead of New Scotland derberg Group. The type section of the Licking Creek Limestone in Virginia, these strata have been mapped Limestone is at a bluff on the south side of Licking in Bath County as the Healing Springs Sandstone Creek approximately 1 mile east of Warren Point in Member of the Corriganville Limestone of the Hel- Franklin County, Pennsylvania (Swartz 1939). derberg Group (Dorobek and Read 1986). At present, these strata in the vicinity of Burnsville Cove are Devonian Shriver Chert of the Helderberg Group mapped as the Healing Springs Sandstone Member of the Corriganville Limestone of the Helderberg In the vicinity of Burnsville Cove, the Shriver Chert is Group. The type section of the Healing Springs a5–40 ft thick unit of gray to black chert, cherty Sandstone Member of the Corriganville Limestone is limestone, and siliciclastic mudstone (shale). In Bath at Healing Springs in Bath County, Virginia (Swartz and Highland Counties, these strata were mapped by 1930). Darton (1899) as part of the Monterey Sandstone, which he stated was approximately equivalent to the Devonian Licking Creek Limestone Oriskany Sandstone. Swartz (1930) later mapped these of the Helderberg Group strata in Bath and Highland Counties in some places as the Shriver Chert of the Oriskany Group (e.g., near In the vicinity of Burnsville Cove, the Licking Creek McDowell) and in other places as the Shriver Chert of Limestone is an 85–200 ft thick unit of gray cherty the Helderberg Group (e.g., Monterey and Back Creek limestone and argillaceous limestone, overlain by Mountain west of Warm Springs). Butts (1933, 1940) gray limestone and sandy limestone. In Bath and mapped these strata in Bath and Highland Counties as Highland Counties, these strata were mapped by the Becraft Limestone Member of the Helderberg Darton (1899) as part of the Lewistown Limestone. Limestone. Woodward (1943) mapped some of these Swartz (1930) later mapped these strata in Bath and strata in Bath and Highland Counties as the Port Jervis Highland Counties as the Becraft Limestone of the Limestone and Chert, which he stated was equivalent Helderberg Group. Butts (1933, 1940) mapped these in part to the Becraft Limestone and Shriver Chert of strata in Bath County as the Becraft Limestone previous reports. Woodward (1943) also mapped some Member of the Helderberg Limestone. Woodward of these strata in Bath and Highland Counties as the (1943) mapped these strata in Bath and Highland Port Ewen Shale and Chert, which he stated was Appendix A: The Stratigrapic Nomenclature of Burnsville Cove, Bath and Highland Counties, Virginia 469 equivalent in part to the Shriver Chert of previous Oriskany Sandstone is the same as the Monterey reports. Later, Head (1974) redefined the Shriver Chert Sandstone. Bick (1962) mapped these strata in Bath so as to comprise the cherty silty mudstone, siltstone, and Highland Counties as the Ridgeley Sandstone, and calcite-cemented siltstone above the Mandata whereas Kozak (1965) mapped these strata in Bath Shale [which lies above the Corriganville Limestone County as the Oriskany Sandstone. Avary and Denn- in West Virginia, but is not present in Virginia], and ison (1980) mapped these strata in Highland County as below the Oriskany Sandstone. Head (1974) also the Oriskany Sandstone. In many subsequent publi- indicated that all limestone and cherty limestone strata cations, however, the name Ridgeley Sandstone has between the Corriganville Limestone [New Creek persisted for these strata in Bath and Highland Limestone] and the Oriskany Sandstone should be Counties (Sweet 1981; Sweet and Wilkes 1986; Rader given the name Licking Creek Limestone of the Hel- and Wilkes 2001). However, the rules of stratigraphic derberg Group, and he noted that the Licking Creek nomenclature (North American Commission on Limestone passes laterally into cherty strata that are Stratigraphic Nomenclature 1983; Salvador 1994) mapped as the Shriver Chert of the Helderberg dictate that that name Oriskany Sandstone should be Group. Subsequently, these strata in Bath and High- given to these strata in Bath and Highland Counties. land Counties have been mapped as the Shriver Chert Thus, at present, these strata in the vicinity of Burns- of the Helderberg Group (Dorobek and Read 1986). ville Cove are mapped as the Oriskany Sandstone. The At present, these strata in the vicinity of Burnsville type section of the Oriskany Sandstone is at Oriskany Cove are mapped as the Shriver Chert of the Helder- Falls in New York (Vanuxem 1839). berg Group. The type section of the Shriver Chert is at Shriver Ridge, near the town of Cumberland, Mary- Devonian Needmore Shale land (Schuchert et al. 1913). In the vicinity of Burnsville Cove, the Needmore Devonian Oriskany Sandstone Shale is a 20–150 ft thick unit of gray to black silic- iclastic mudstone (shale), with some beds of gray In the vicinity of Burnsville Cove, the Oriskany limestone. In Bath and Highland Counties, these strata Sandstone is a 20–130 ft thick unit of white to yellow were mapped by Darton (1899) as part of the Romney to red-brown sandstone. In Bath and Highland Coun- Shale. Kindle (1911) later mapped these strata in Bath ties, these strata were mapped by Darton (1899) as the County as the Onondaga Limestone, but stated that Monterey Sandstone, which he stated was approxi- these strata consist primarily of shale rather than mately equivalent to the Oriskany Sandstone. Kindle limestone. Butts (1933) followed Darton (1899), and (1911) later mapped these strata in Bath County as the he mapped these strata in Bath and Highland Counties Oriskany Sandstone. Schuchert et al. (1913) mapped as part of the Romney Shale. However, in a sub- equivalent strata in West Virginia and Maryland as the sequent publication, Butts (1940) stated that the name Ridgeley Sandstone Member of the Oriskany Forma- Romney Shale should be abandoned, and he mapped tion, and they stated that the Oriskany Formation these strata at Bullpasture Mountain in Highland contained a lower member named the Shriver Chert County as the Onondaga Formation. Woodward Member of the Oriskany Formation. They designated (1943) later mapped these strata in Bath and Highland the type section of the Ridgeley Sandstone Member at Counties as the Needmore Shale of the Onondaga the town of Ridgely [spelling later changed to Group. Bick (1962) described these strata in Bath and “Ridgeley”] in Mineral County, West Virginia. Swartz Highland Counties as predominantly shale, which he (1930) later mapped these strata in Bath and Highland mapped as the Onondaga Formation, whereas Kozak Counties as the Ridgeley Sandstone of the Oriskany (1965) mapped these strata in Bath County as the Group. However, in comprehensive publications on Needmore Shale. Subsequent publications have map- the geology of western Virginia, Butts (1933, 1940) ped these strata in Bath and Highland Counties as the mapped these strata as the Oriskany Sandstone. Fur- Needmore Shale (Dennison and Hasson 1977; Avary thermore, Butts (1940) stated that the Oriskany and Dennison 1980). At present, these strata in the Sandstone “corresponds exactly with the Ridgely vicinity of Burnsville Cove are mapped as the Need- Sandstone” (p. 291) and he also indicated that the more Shale. The type section of the Needmore Shale is 470 Appendix A: The Stratigrapic Nomenclature of Burnsville Cove, Bath and Highland Counties, Virginia located between the towns of Needmore and War- is located at the Tioga gas field in Tioga County, fordsburg in southern Fulton County, Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (Ebright et al. 1949). The name of this (Willard 1939). unit, however, has since been changed to the Tioga Where the lower part of the Needmore Shale is Ash Bed (Roen and Hosterman 1982). notably darker than the rest of the unit, Dennison (1961) mapped these strata in West Virginia and Devonian Millboro Shale Virginia (including Bath and Highland Counties) as the Beaver Dam black shale subfacies of the Need- In the vicinity of Burnsville Cove, the Millboro Shale is more Shale. Hasson and Dennison (1988) later map- a 230–1,370 ft thick unit of black siliciclastic mudstone ped these strata in Bath and Highland Counties as the (shale). In Bath and Highland Counties, these strata Beaverdam Shale Member of the Needmore Shale. At were mapped by Darton (1899) as part of the Romney present, however, the U.S. Geological Survey does not Shale. Butts (1933) also mapped these strata in Bath and use this nomenclature in Virginia (http://ngmdb.usgs. Highland Counties as part of the Romney Shale. gov/Geolex/). However, in a subsequent publication, Butts (1940) The Beaverdam Shale Member was originally stated that the name Romney Shale should be aban- named the Beaver Dam Black Shale Member of the doned, and he mapped the upper portion of the Romney Needmore Shale, after a brook (Beaverdam Run) near Shale in Bath and Highland Counties as a separate outcrops on the Pennsylvania Railroad [now the formation named the Millboro Shale. Elsewhere in the Norfolk Southern Railway] approximately 1.5 miles Appalachian region, these strata are mapped as the northeast of Newton Hamilton in Mifflin County, Marcellus Shale, Mahantango Formation, Harrell Pennsylvania (Willard 1939). Willard’s original defi- Shale, and (or) Hamilton Formation, but Butts (1940) nition of the unit was discarded by Swain (1958), who had difficulty differentiating these units in Virginia, and redefined an 18–20 ft thick unit of gray to black shale thus he proposed the name Millboro Shale for these above the Ridgeley (Oriskany) Sandstone in central strata in Virginia (Butts 1940; Hasson and Dennison Pennsylvania as the Beaverdam Run Member of the 1968; Dennison 1970). Woodward (1943) used the Newton Hamilton Formation of the Onondaga terms Millboro Shale and Harrell Shale for these strata Group. Klemic et al. (1963) renamed these strata in in Bath and Highland Counties, but he also stated that Pennsylvania as the Beaverdam Run Member of the Butts proposed the name Millboro Shale instead. Sub- Catskill Formation, and he stated that these strata are sequent publications have mapped these strata in Bath very similar to the Trimmers Rock Sandstone. In a and Highland Counties as the Millboro Shale (Bick subsequent publication, Wood (1973) renamed these 1962; Kozak 1965; Dennison and Hasson 1977; Avary strata in Pennsylvania as the Beaverdam Run Tongue and Dennison 1980; Rader and Wilkes 2001). At of the Trimmers Rock Sandstone of the Susquehanna present, these strata in the vicinity of Burnsville Cove Group. are mapped as the Millboro Shale. The type section of the Millboro Shale is at Millboro Springs in Bath Devonian Tioga Ash Bed County, Virginia (Cooper 1939; Butts 1940; Hasson and Dennison 1968; Rossbach and Dennison 1994). In the vicinity of Burnsville Cove, the Tioga Ash Bed is a 3–20 ft thick unit of volcanic ash, silty tuff, and Devonian Tully Limestone tuffaceous shale. Dennison and Textoris (1971) first identified these strata in Bath County at a roadside In the vicinity of Burnsville Cove, the Tully Lime- shale quarry 2.0 miles south of Williamsville. They stone is a 1–8 foot thick interval of discontinuous described these strata as a separate and mappable unit, limestone nodules (that are not present at every out- which they referred to as the Tioga Bentonite. Denn- crop). Although the Tully Limestone is a clearly ison and Hasson (1977) and Avary and Dennison identifiable bed of limestone to the north of Highland (1980) later identified other outcrops of this unit in County, most publications do not identify the Tully Bath and Highland Counties, and they also referred to Limestone in Bath or Highland Counties. Avary and it as the Tioga Bentonite. The type section of this unit Dennison (1980), however, described a discontinuous (which was initially named the Tioga Bentonite Bed) interval of limestone nodules (which they mapped as Appendix A: The Stratigrapic Nomenclature of Burnsville Cove, Bath and Highland Counties, Virginia 471 the Tully Limestone) in Bath and Highland Counties. these strata in Bath and Highland Counties as the Hasson and Dennison (1988) later described limestone Chemung Formation. Dennison (1970), however, nodules near the top of the Millboro Shale in Bath and stated that the name “Chemung” should be aban- Highland Counties, and they indicated that these doned, and he proposed the name Foreknobs For- nodules are equivalent to the Tully Limestone. At mation of the Greenland Gap Group. Subsequent present, these strata in the vicinity of Burnsville Cove publications have mapped these strata in Bath and are mapped as the Tully Limestone. The type section Highland Counties as the Foreknobs Formation of the Tully Limestone is at the town of Tully in (Avary and Dennison 1980; Rader and Wilkes 2001). Onondaga County, New York (Vanuxem 1839). At present, these strata in the vicinity of Burnsville Cove are mapped as the Foreknobs Formation. The Devonian Brallier Formation Foreknobs Formation is named for a topographic feature called the Fore Knobs of Allegheny Front in In the vicinity of Burnsville Cove, the Brallier For- Grant County, West Virginia, and the type section is mation is a 1,550–3,000 ft thick unit of gray to green to near the community of Scherr (Dennison 1970). The yellow-brown siliciclastic mudstone and sandstone. In Foreknobs Formation is overlain by the Devonian Bath and Highland Counties, these strata were mapped Hampshire Formation, which is not present in the by Darton (1899) as part of the Jennings Formation. immediate vicinity of Burnsville Cove. Butts (1933, 1940) later designated the lower half of the Jennings Formation as a distinct formation, which he named the Brallier Shale. Woodward (1943) used References the term Brallier Shale for these strata in Bath and Highland Counties. Bick (1962) mapped these strata in Avary, K.L., and J.M. Dennison. 1980. Back Creek siltstone Bath and Highland Counties as the Brallier Shale, member of devonian brallier formation in Virginia and West whereas Kozak (1965) mapped these strata in Bath Virginia. Southeastern Geology 21: 121–153. Avary, K.L., R.R. McDowell, D.L. Matchen, and R.J. Diecchio. County as the Brallier Formation. In subsequent pub- 1999. Previously unmapped upper ordovician reedsville lications, Dennison (1970), Dennison and Hasson formation and Oswego Sandstone, Jack Mountain, Valley (1977), Avary and Dennison (1980), and Rader and and Ridge, Highland County, Virginia [Abstract]. Geolog- Wilkes (2001) mapped these strata in Bath and High- ical Society of America, Abstracts with Programs 31(3): 2. Bick, K.F. 1962. Geology of the williamsville quadrangle. land Counties as the Brallier Formation. At present, Virginia Division of Mineral Resources Report of Investi- these strata in the vicinity of Burnsville Cove are gations 2: 40. mapped as the Brallier Formation. The type section of Bowen, Z.P. 1967. Brachiopoda of the keyser limestone the Brallier Formation is at the Brallier railroad station, (Silurian—Devonian) of maryland and adjacent areas. Geo- logical Society of America Memoir 102: 103. located approximately 6 miles northeast of Everett in Butts, C. 1918. Geologic section of Blair and Huntingdon Bedford County, Pennsylvania (Butts 1918). counties, central Pennsylvania. American Journal of Science 46: 523–537. Devonian Foreknobs Formation Butts, C. 1933. Geologic map of the Appalachian Valley in Virginia with explanatory text. Virginia Geological Survey Bulletin 42: 56. In the vicinity of Burnsville Cove, the Foreknobs Butts, C. 1940. Geology of the Appalachian Valley in Virginia. Formation is a 1,280–2,230 ft thick unit of white to Virginia Geological Survey Bulletin 52(pt. I): 568. brown sandstone and green to brown siliciclastic Clark, W.B. 1897. Outline of present knowledge of the physical Maryland Geological Survey Volume mudstone (shale). In Bath and Highland Counties, features of Maryland. Series 1(pt. 3): 172–188. these strata were mapped by Darton (1899) as part of Conrad, T.A. 1839. Second annual report of T.A. Conrad, on the the Jennings Formation, which he stated was Palaeontological Department of the Survey. New York approximately equivalent to the Chemung Formation. Geological Survey, Annual Report 3, pp. 57–66. Butts (1933, 1940) later mapped these strata in Bath Cooper, B.N. 1939. Geology of the draper mountain area [Wythe and Pulaski Counties], Virginia. Virginia Geological and Highland Counties as the Chemung Formation, Survey Bulletin 55: 98. and Woodward (1943) used the term Chemung For- Crowder, R.K. 1980. Deposition of upper ordovician red beds in mation for these strata in Bath and Highland Coun- western Virginia. The Compass of Sigma Gamma Epsilon 57 – ties. Bick (1962) and Kozak (1965) also mapped (4): 101 111. 472 Appendix A: The Stratigrapic Nomenclature of Burnsville Cove, Bath and Highland Counties, Virginia

Darton, N.H. 1899. Monterey folio, Virginia-West Virginia. U. Appalachians. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology 56: 601– S. Geological Survey Geologic Atlas of the United States, 613. Folio 61: 9. Dorsch, J., and S.G. Driese. 1995. The Taconic foredeep as Darton, N.H. and J.A. Taff. 1896. Piedmont Folio, West sediment sink and sediment exporter: Implications for the Virginia-Maryland. U.S. Geological Survey Geologic Atlas origin of the white quartzarenite blanket (Upper Ordovician- of the United States, Folio 28: 6. Lower Silurian) of the central and southern Appalachians. Deike, G.H., III. 1960a. Cave development in Burnsville Cove, American Journal of Science 295(2): 201–243. west-central Virginia, with special reference to Breathing Dorsch, J., R.K. Bambach, and S.G. Driese. 1994. Basin- Cave, 155 pp. M.A: Thesis, University of Missouri rebound origin for the “Tuscarora Unconformity” in south- (Columbia). western Virginia and its bearing on the nature of the Taconic Deike, G.H., III. 1960b. Origin and geologic relations of Orogeny. American Journal of Science 294: 237–255. Breathing Cave, Virginia. National Speleological Society Ebright, J.R., C.R. Fettke, and A.I. Ingham. 1949. East Fork- (NSS) Bulletin 22(1): 30-42. Wharton gas field, Potter County, Pennsylvania. Pennsylva- Denkler, K.E., and A.G. Harris. 1988a. Conodont-based deter- nia Geological Survey Mineral Resource Report, 4th Series mination of the Silurian-Devonian boundary in the Valley 30: 43. and Ridge Province, northern and central Appalachians. U.S. Gradstein, F., J. Ogg, and A. Smith. 2004. A Geologic Time Geological Survey Bulletin 1837-B: B1–B13. Scale 2004. Cambridge (UK): Cambridge University Press. Denkler, K.E., and A.G. Harris. 1988b. 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Mifflintown Formations, Virginia, West Virginia, and Diecchio, R.J., and J.M. Dennison. 1996. Silurian stratigraphy Maryland. Journal of Paleontology 54(3): 557–569. of central and northern Virginia and adjacent West Virginia. Kay, G.M. 1941. Middle Ordovician formations in central Studies in Geology (University of Tennessee at Knoxville) Pennsylvania. Geological Society of America Bulletin 52(12) 26: 107–127. (pt. 2): 1969. Dorobek, S.L., and J.F. Read. 1986. Sedimentology and basin Kay, G.M. 1944a. Middle Ordovician of central Pennsylvania. evolution of the Siluro-Devonian Helderberg Group, central Journal of Geology 52(1): 1–23. Appendix A: The Stratigrapic Nomenclature of Burnsville Cove, Bath and Highland Counties, Virginia 473

Kay, G.M. 1944b. Middle Ordovician of central Pennsylvania. Basin. Geological Society of America Bulletin 93(9): 921– Part II. Later Mohawkian (Trenton) formations. Journal of 925. Geology 52(2): 97–116. Rossbach, T.J., and J.M. Dennison. 1994. Devonian strata of Kay, G.M. 1956. Ordovician limestones in the western Catawba syncline, near Salem, Virginia. In: Fieldguides to anticlines of the Appalachians in West Virginia and Virginia southern Appalachian structure, stratigraphy, and engineer- northeast of the New River. Geological Society of America ing geology, ed. Schultz, A. and B. Henika, Virginia Bulletin 67: 55–106. Polytechnic Institute and State University, Department of Keroher, G.C. 1966. Lexicon of geologic names of the United Geological Sciences Guidebook, no. 10, 95–126. States for 1936–1960, Parts 1–3, 4341 pp. Ryder, R.T., J.E. Repetski, and A.G. Harris. 1996. Stratigraphic Klemic, H., Warman, J.C., and A.R. Taylor 1963. 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Uhler, P.R. 1905. The Niagara Period and its associates near Survey Geologic Quadrangle Map GQ-1028: 1 sheet Cumberland, Maryland. Maryland Academy of Science (1:24,000 scale). Transactions 2: 19–26. Woodward, H.P. 1941. Silurian System of West Virginia. West Ulrich, E.O. 1911. Revision of the Paleozoic System. Geolog- Virginia Geological Survey, Report 14: 326. ical Society of America Bulletin 22: 281–680. Woodward, H.P. 1943. Devonian System of West Virginia. Vanuxem, L. 1839. Third annual report of the geological survey West Virginia Geological Survey, Report 15: 655. of the Third District. New York Geological Survey, Annual Woodward, H.P. 1951. Ordovician System of West Virginia. Report 3: 241–285. West Virginia Geological Survey, Report 21: 627. White, W.B., and J.W. Hess. 1982. Geomorphology of Burns- Young, S.A., M.R. Saltzman, and S.M. Bergström. 2005. ville Cove and the geology of the Butler Cave—Sinking Upper Ordovician (Mohawkian) carbon isotope (d13C) Creek System. National Speleological Society (NSS) Bulletin stratigraphy in eastern and central North America: Regional 44(3): 67–77. expression of a perturbation of the global carbon cycle. Willard, B., Ed. 1939. The Devonian of Pennsylvania. Penn- Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 222 sylvania Geological Survey, 4th Series, Bulletin G-19: 481. (1–2): 53–76. Wood, G.H., Jr. 1973. Geologic map of the Pottsville quadran- gle, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. U.S. Geological Appendix B Electronic Map Files

The maps that form the core of this book have been Bvideo Pit: Nevin Davis map, 2011 reproduced as .pdf or .jpg files that are accessible electronically. Full scale maps of the larger caves Caves of the Cove: Regional map showing relation- would require very large sheets of paper to display the ship of caves maps in full detail. Thus we avoid clumsy fold-outs or separate folded sheets and also allow zoom features to Chestnut Ridge Cave System: Tommy Shifflett map, inspect the maps in detail. To view these maps see: 2014. http://extras.springer.com Drainage Basins: Figure 17.1 at higher resolution. Barberry Cave: Nevin Davis map, 2012 Emory Dye Traces: Figure 17.4 at higher resolution. Basswood Cave: Nevin Davis map, 2011 Helictite Cave: Philip C. Lucas map, 2009. Better Forgotten Cave: Nevin Davis map, 2012 Rathole 1180 Cave: Les Good and Nevin Davis map, Buckwheat Cave: Nevin Davis map, 2011 1979

Butler Cave Sinking Creek System: Although some Water Sinks Caves (Water Sinks Cave, Water re-mapping and minor additional mapping have been Sinks Subway, and Owl Cave): Philip C. Lucas map, accomplished in the past several decades, the folio 2008. sheets compiled by Les Good in 1985 remain the most complete map available. The sheets have been scanned Wishing Well Cave: Philip C. Lucas map, 2010 by Tony Canike to produce the electronic files.

W.B. White (ed.), The Caves of Burnsville Cove, Virginia, 475 Cave and Karst Systems of the World, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-14391-0, © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015 Afterword: The Future

William B. White and Gregg S. Clemmer

Introduction To some extent, this was an arbitrary choice—the exploration and study of Breathing Cave had begun When Dr. William Halliday revised his classic Depths much earlier and was largely complete. But May, 1958 of the Earth ten years after it was first published in was the point in time when a new large and complex 1966, extensive and significant discoveries awaited his cave had been added to Burnsville Cove by the updated chronicling of Virginia’s Burnsville Cove. expedient of removing a few rocks from an air-blow- Stunned by the documented finds in this corner of ing hole. Bath and Highland Counties, Halliday opined that Just as May, 1958 wasn’t the beginning, May 24, “between the head of Butler Cave and Aqua Cave, 2008 wasn’t the ending. The half-century between the there is room for twenty times as much cave as in now dates saw the exploration and scientific investigation known. Or one hundred times.” of Butler, the discovery and integration of the caves of Despite what some might alleged to be “cave the Chestnut Ridge System, the discovery, explora- hype,” Bill never blinked. “The Butler Cave Conser- tion, and survey of Helictite Cave and the numerous vation Society faces one of American caving’s most “Pancake Caves.” On the anniversary date, the intriguing challenges. This peaceful little Virginia exploration and survey of the newly discovered Sub- valley and points beyond still may hide the world’s way Section of Water Sinks Cave was underway. In largest cave”. the five years that have passed since the anniversary, Yet as we—the collective “we” of the writers who there has been more exploration, more digging, and have contributed to this volume—reach the end of the Wishing Well Cave has been added to the large caves chronicling, we will simply note that this is not “the of the Cove. As the editor hastens to tidy up the final end of the story.” The narrative is still unfolding. It is bits of what has been a long and complex writing and simply a matter of drawing a line across the evolving editorial enterprise, he hears, over the hum of his saga and sending the document to the printer. We fully computer, the sound of digging tools, exploding soda expect some future editor to be staring at a huge pile of straws, and the slosh of buckets as an entrance shaft to maps, photographs, exploration accounts, scientific Robins Rift is being opened. papers, and theses and wondering how this mass of material is to be compressed between two covers. Exploration Prospects

May 24, 2008 The list of caves given in Chap. 1 totals to 71.70 miles (115.44 km). That number was correct in October, BCCS had selected May 24, 2008 as marking the 50th 2013. It is doubtless again obsolete. The long-col- anniversary of the discovery of the Butler Cave- lapsed entrance to Robins Rift has been opened and a Sinking Creek System and as the 40th anniversary of re-mapping of the cave is underway. Inspection of the the founding of the Butler Cave Conservation Society. Cove map in either Figs. 1.12 or 24.1 reveals a great

W.B. White (ed.), The Caves of Burnsville Cove, Virginia, 477 Cave and Karst Systems of the World, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-14391-0, © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015 478 Afterword: The Future deal of cave passage. However, even casual inspection entrances. The few caves with entrances formed by of the map also reveals a great deal of blank space and openings on the hillside were discovered very early. discontinuous drainage lines. As examples: Then came the entrance to Butler, obtained by moving a The streams in the Butler Cave-Sinking Creek few rocks. After that, entrance making got harder. There System terminate in downstream sumps but these was the endless dig in Backyard Cave, the Big Bucks sumps are several miles upstream from the known Pit entrance to Barberry, the dig that gave access to resurgence in Aqua Cave. This implies several miles Blarney Stone, the dig into Helictite Cave, and the of cave passage, perhaps all under water, perhaps with amazing mining operation that opened Wishing Well segments of air-filled passage separated by sumps, and Cave. More digs will be required, some turning cavers perhaps with segments of dry upper levels. into hard rock miners. But the caves are down there. It is The same could be said for the Cathedral River, last only a question of how to insert the explorers. seen in the Blarney Stone Section of the Chestnut Ridge System with more than a mile separating it from Cathedral Spring. Scientific Prospects It has been assumed that the downstream reaches of both Butler and Chestnut Ridge caves are sumped The mineralogy of the Chestnut Ridge System is a deep below regional base levels by the plunging problem ripe for the picking. Extensive sampling and Sinking Creek Syncline and White Oak Syncline. This analysis would perhaps give a broader picture of the is a convenient assumption because it places all of the various mineral crusts and small crystals that coat unknowns below water where they cannot be many surfaces in the dry upper level of the cave. We observed. The discovery of the Emerald Pool and know that aragonite is present in profusion but we Roaring River in the Subway Section raises doubts don’t know why it is present in profusion. Sampling about the hypothesis. Our knowledge of the cave with detailed chemical analysis and petrographic, systems and drainage at their northern terminus in the light, cathodoluminescence, and scanning electron Bullpasture Gorge is extremely limited. Maybe a microscopes would help with an interpretation of the drone submarine is the answer. quite spectacular speleothem displays. The Emory River is down there somewhere. The Our knowledge of the detailed flow paths of Streamway in Helictite Cave and Sugar Run in today’s drainage remains fragmentary. Dye traces link Wishing Well Cave give some hints as to what the point A with point B but quantitative flow measure- passage might look like, but a route is needed down to ments and water balance calculations would place the active drainage level. more constraints on the system. In spite of the Much of the blank space on the map is around and accomplished tracer work, Cove hydrology would south of Burnsville where there is much limestone benefit from a more extensive study using modern exposed but only the small Armstrong and Jackson methods of tracer testing with fluorescence analysis of Caves are known. The rising main structure axes carry multiple dyes, automatic water samples, and a more the limestone up into the air where it has been eroded comprehensive use of both water chemistry and flood away, but some limestone remains and the local hydrograph analysis. drainage is sinking into it. Also concerning hydrology, there is the enigmatic By-the-Road Cave and Robins Rift both lie east of dye trace from a swallet on Jack Mountain that shows the main trend lines of caves and may represent the water to flow under the Bullpasture River to fragments of the Blue Spring drainage system trending emerge from Clover Creek Spring on the eastern side. northeast along the base of Tower Hill Mountain. Measurements of travel times, discharge hydrographs, BCCS now owns Robins Rift. The entrance is now and chemical variations at the spring would perhaps open and exploration proceeds apace. The question of reveal the nature of the flow path that apparently fol- the role of this cave in the overall pattern may soon be lows the carbonate rocks down the syncline and up the answered. other side. Then one could raise the question of In all of the above, the name of the game is entrances. whether similar deep flow paths could be responsible Although Nature has endowed Burnsville Cove with a for the hot springs that occur in the Jackson River richness of caves, she has been very stingy with Valley just to the west. Afterword: The Future 479

The geomorphic history of the Cove and the age discoverers of Bobcat and Burns have passed into and sequence of cave development remains largely middle age, and it is the newest generation of equally speculative. The Schwartz-Doctor hypothesis implies hard core explorers that will carry Cove discoveries a complex history with major drainage reversals far into the future. back in time. Cosmogenic isotope dating of the clastic Yet the passion that fuels this continuing explora- sediments in the different main cave trunks would go a tion and documentation pays little heed to Father long way in providing anchor points. Nothing limits Time. If caves seem timeless, perhaps that essence speculation quite so effectively as a few facts. The fires the cavers who love them…and who pass it on to geomorphic evolution of the Cove is linked to the the next generation. larger geomorphic history of the Appalachians and In 1923, when George Leigh Mallory was touring the rich karst resources of the Cove make it an the United States to raise money for yet another excellent test site for investigation. expedition to Mount Everest, many wondered why he was so fervent to be the first to climb the world’s tallest mountain. The Englishman’s classic answer The Why of All This appeared in the March 18, 1923 issue of the New York Times: “Because it’s there.” The Butler Cave Conservation Society indeed had (and Cove cavers identify with this…but with a twist. has) reason to celebrate. By purchasing the Butler Unlike Mallory, who could always see his goal in the Farm, by purchasing the Bobcat Property, by the recent icy, soaring heights before him (and would tragically purchase of the Robins Rift property, and by its careful lose his life on Everest the following year), we never maintenance of cordial relations with other landowners really know if the virgin lead before us saunters to a in the Cove, BCCS continues to provide access to great gallery, plunges down a “bottomless pit,” inter- known caves and discover digging spots for new ones. sects a stream, or blindly ends at a limestone wall. For The care and upgrading of the Butler homestead pro- in a world where there’s never been a photon of vides a base of operations far into the future. light…yet perhaps with just a flash that Bill Halliday Although a few of the original explorers are might be right, we advance into the unknown because still doddering about the place, the hard core it might be there.