VIRGINIA DIVISION OF MINERAL RESOURCES PUBLICATION 7 CONTRIBUTIONS TO VIRGIN IA GEOTOGY-II I COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGIN IA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIVISION OF MINERAL RESOURCES Jomes L. Colver, Commissioner of Minerol Resources ond Stofe Geologist CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA 1978 VIRGlNIA DIVISION OF MINERAL RESOURCES PUBLICATION 7 CONTRIBUTIONS TO VIRGIN IA GEOTOGY-III COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGIN IA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIVISION OF MINERAL RESOURCES Jomes L. Colver, Commissioner of Minerol Resources ond Stote Geologist CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA r978 FRONT COVER: Offices of the Virginia Division of Mineral Resources in the west wing of the Natural Resources Building, McCormick Road, Charlottesville, Virginia. VIRGINIA DIVISION OF MINERAL RESOURCES PUBLICATION 7 CONTRIBUTIONS TO VIRGIN IA GEOLOGY-III COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGIN IA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIVISION OF MINERAL RESOURCES Jomes L. Colver, Commissioner of Minerol Resources qnd Stote Geologist CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA 1978 COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF PURCHASES AND SUPPLY RICHMOND 1978 Portions of this publication may be quoted if credit is given to the Virginia Division of Mineral Resources. It is recommended that reference to the entire putrlication be made in the following lbrm: Virginia Division of Mineral Resources, 1978, Contributions to Virginia geology-III: Virginia Division of Mineral Resources Publication 7, 154 p. '.f he recommended form for individual citations is noted in each contribution. DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Richmond, Virginia Fnno W. WRlxnn, Director JnRell F. Moonn,Deputg Director BOARD J.H. JoitNsoN, West Point, Chairman D. HnNnv AlvloNo, Richmond, Vice Chairman A.R. DuNNtNG,Millwood MvRoN P. EnKrLsrIeN, Alexandria ARrnun P. Fltppo, Doswell Aooln U. Holrxela, Richmond Mn nneo LevNn, Williamsburg FRnnnRtc S. Rpen, Manakin-Sabot Colr,rNs SNvonR, Accomac Wrllleu H. SreNuecsN, Falls Church SsnnneN WALLAcE, Cleveland E. Floyn Yetos, Powhatan DIVISION OF MINERAL RESOURCES STAFF James L. Calver, Commissioner of Mineral Resources and State Geologist C.R. Bruce Hobbs, Jr., Assistant Commissioner of Mineral Resources and Assistant State Geologist MINERAL RESOURCES Administrative Section Clerical Publications and Sales Estelle P. Dettor, Clerk Stenographer Philip T. Stafford, Geologist andHead, andEditor Kay ?. Ramsey, Clerk Stenographer Shirley R. Pearson, Cartographic Janet L. Hensley, Clerk Typist Draftsman Margaret Ann Sheckler, Clerk TEpist Elsie U. Eggleston, Clerk Stenographer Custodial Library Daniel W. Johnson, Custod,,inn F. Boyd Hoff.er,Librarinn Information Service Section Economic Geology Section . Harry W. Webb, Jr.,Geologi,st andHeod, Donald C. Le Van, Geologist andHead Michael L. Upchurch,Geologist James A. Henderson, Jr., Geologist Mark P. Phillips, Geologist Palmer C. Sweet, Geologist Gerald P. Wilkes, Geologist Eastern Mapping Section Eugene K. Rader, Geologist and Head Geophysical Surveys Section Carl R. Berquist, Jr.,Geologist David A. Hubbard , Jr.,Geologist Stanley S. Johnson, Geologist andHeo'd' David K. Lasch, Geologist Central Mapping Section James F. Conley, Geologist and Head Laboratory Section John D' Marr' h Geologist " Richard s. Good, Georogist and Head, Robert G' Piepul' Geologist christopher R. Hauaday ,Geologist oliver M' Fordham Jt" chemist western Mapping section ' Jacqueline L. Kennamer, Geolo gist Richard H. DeKay, Geologist andHead Techni,cian Peter S. Frischmann, Geologist Charles B. Marshall , Geologist Technicinn Thomas M. Gathright,ll, Geologist E. Wayne Marshall, Geologist Technici,an William S. Henika, Geologist Vernon N. Morris, Geologist Techni,cian TOPOGRAPHIC MAPPING In Cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey PREFACE The major contribution to the Division of Mineral Resources' progress is the innovative and perceptive guidance given by James L. calver in the development of geologic, mineral-resource, and topographic programs for the Commonwealth of virginia. It is through his unceasing efforts as State Geologist during the past 21 years that the Division has become one of the outstanding geological surveys in the United States. He retires in 19?8 with long involvement in a period of investigative and technological advancements. As a result a sound base has been established for future program achievements. Virginia has been enriched by his service to her citizens as well as the industrial and educational communities. The Division's staff respect- fully offers, within this third contribution volume, information having to do with the agency's history of progress. Also contained within these covers are reports of geologic studies that are supportive to our present economic and scientific knowledge. c.R.B.H. CONTRIBUTIONS TO VIRGINIA GEOLOGY_NI CONTENTS' Pecn The Calveryears-1957-1978 1 Productionof mineralresourcesinVirginia,byD.C.LeVan ....... 7 Geophysical characteristics of the Blue Ridge anticlinorium in central and northern Virginia, by Stanley S. Johnson and Thomas M. Gathright II. 23 Topographic maps of Virginia, by Harry W. Webb, Jr.. 37 Ordovician shelf-to-basin transition, Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, by Eugene K. Rader and William S. Henika ....... 51 Sand and gravel resources in Virginia, by Palmer C. Sweet 67 Stream-sediment geochemistry of the Irish Creek tin district, Rockbridge County, Virginia, by Oliver M. Fofuham,Jr.... 76 Rare-earth and thorium mineralization in southeasternRappahannockCounty, Virginia, by Christopher R. Halladay 87 Geology and geophysics of Warren County, Virginia, by Eugene K. Rader and Stanley S. Johnson 91 Correlation of stream-sediment mineralogy with geology, central Piedmont of Virginia, by Richard S. Good. 99 Geology of the Piedmont of Virginia-Interpretations and problems,by James F. Conley . 115 rThe contents and illustrations of the individual papers are given with each contribution. THE CALVER YEARS_1957-1978I CONTENTS PAGE From the beginning. 1 Topographic mapping 2 Geophysical studies 2 Economic geology 3 Ground-water studies 4 Geologic mapping 4 Comment 6 FROM THE BEGINNING properties as well as distribution and structure of roek strata that lay between the sandy shores of Since the beginning of Virginia's first geological eastern Virginia and the coal fields in her western survey, the past 145 years have been a period of mountains. During this era individual reports and investigation and development of mineral resources. surveys were produced that were based on field From the Geological Society of Pennsylvania in 1833 observations and simple laboratory examination- came a recommendation to the Governor of Virginia this traditional work was well in step with evolving that a topographical, geological, and mineralogical concepts and needs. By 1957 about 85 percent of the survey of the State be made. The chief purpose was resulting 74 bulletins dealt with the location, use or to determine the character and extent of mineral potential of rock and mineral resources. resources, especially coal. Early in 1835, the General With growing emphasis on economic geology the Assembly approved the initiation of a geological parent organization was more appropriately retitled survey of Virginia and for the next six years a the Division of Mineral Resources. Under the reconnaissance was made of portions of the State guidance of a new State Geologist, James L. Calver, (including part of West Virginia that gained there followed a 2L-year period of change statehood in 1863). During this period reports of neeessitated by modern demands and technologieal studies on the distribution and characteristics of advances. Initially several years were spent in coal, iron ore, marl, and other rock materials were reorganizing records, establishing procedures, submitted to establish resource potential vital to developing programs, and setting up repositories as basic residential and commercial needs.In 190? the well as maintaining the day-to-day services to next major advance in the establishment of a data Virginia residents and industries. base was the publication of the "Mineral Resources Geologic information and resources inventory are of Virginia" by Thomas L. Watson. Prepared in obtained by examination of rocks, minerals, and conjunction with the tricentennial founding of the fossils. This is part and parcel to development of first settlement in the State at Jamestown, this data, ideas, and concepts eventually utilized directly source book was indeed the most comprehensive or indirectly in economic and geologic in- work about mineral resource occurrences in the vestigations. Reference collections were started State. The parent agency of the Division of Mineral with the establishment of repositories housing rock Resources began studies within the same year. cuttings and core from test borings made in the During the ensuing 50 years, studies were con- exploration for oil, gas, coal, water, and minerals ducted to determine the physical and chemical and also in studies for construction of building, bridge, road, and tower foundations. Another repository contains rocks and minerals collected Portions of this contribution may be quoted if credit is given to from quarries and mines operating throughout the the Virginia Division of Mineral Resources. It is recommended State, as well as representative materials sampled that reference be made in the following form: from rock strata and abandoned mines and quarries Virginia Division of Mineral Resources, 1978, The Calver geologic