STATEMAP Projects for 2001:
Moorefield Quadrangle, Hardy County, West Virginia
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Bedrock Geologic Map of the Moorefield Quadrangle
Publication OF-0103A
Surficial Geologic Map of the Moorefield Quadrangle
Publication OF-0103B
WVGES Cooperating Geologists: Stuart L. Dean (Univ. of Toledo), Byron R. Kulander (Wright State Univ.)
WVGES Geologists: Gayle H. McColloch, Jane S. McColloch
Geological Assistant: Chris S. Kulander (USGS)
GEOLOGY OF THE MOOREFIELD 7 1/2 MINUTE QUADRANGLE, WESTERN HARDY COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
The Moorefield quadrangle is located in the west-central Valley and Ridge province in Hardy County, eastern West Virginia. The complexly folded
and faulted strata here range in age from Upper Silurian Tonoloway Limestone to Lower Mississippian Pocono Sandstone. The major structures from
northwest to southeast are Kessel anticline, Middle Mountain syncline, southern plunge-out of Broadtop anticline, Town Hill syncline, Elkhorn
Mountain anticline and Whip Cove syncline. Kessel anticline and southern Broadtop anticline were generated by folding and faulting above an Upper
Ordovician (i.e. Martinsburg Formation) detachment horizon. Middle Mountain syncline separates these two folds. Elkhorn Mountain anticline was
generated by ramping from a lower detachment horizon (i.e. Lower Cambrian Waynesboro Formation) to the Martinsburg Formation. Whip Cove syncline,
southeast of the Elkhorn structure, merely formed as a passive structure between Elkhorn Mt. anticline and Cacapon Mountain anticlinorium to the east.
Surficial geology presents a diverse picture of alluvium, elevated terraces, alluvial and debris flow fans and minor landslide features. Two significant
effects here are first, the extremely thin alluvial deposits along the major rivers, which may be related to late Pleistocene degradation when sea level
was significantly lower than at present. Secondly, high erosion levels exceeding 600 feet (183m) above the major streams may not be high terraces,
but the remnants of planation surfaces dating to Pre-Pleistocene.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors wish to thank Jack Evans, Greg Greenwalt, Ward Malcolm, Scott Funkhauser, Gary Poling,
Tom Stein, Roger Crites, Doug Wolfe, and Forrest Wolfe for permitting access to various properties in Moorefield quadrangle. We also gratefully
acknowledge the cooperation of numerous other property owners, which made the mapping possible. Partial financial support was made possible through
the National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act of 1997 administered by the U.S. Geological Survey under contract STATEMAP0000HQAG0050.
REFERENCES CITED (Bedrock Geology)
Dean, S.L., Lessing, P., and Kulander, B.R., 1985, Geology of the Capon Springs, Mountain Falls, Wardensville, Woodstock, and Yellow Spring quadrangles,
Hampshire and Hardy counties, West Virginia: 1:24,000 scale, West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, MAP-WV 26.
Dean, S.L., Lessing, P., and Kulander, B.R., 1992, Geology of the Baker, Needmore, and Wolf Gap quadrangles, Hardy County, West Virginia: West Virginia
Geological and Economic Survey, Open File OF-9201.
Dean, S.L., Lessing, P., and Kulander, B.R., 1994, Geology of the Hanging Rock quadrangle, Hampshire County, West Virginia: 1:24,000 scale, West
Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, Open File OF-9407.
Dean, S.L., Lessing, P., Kulander, B.R., Kocher, A.C. and Kulander, C.S., 2000, Geology of the Augusta quadrangle, Hampshire County, West Virginia:
1:24,000 scale, West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, Open File OF-9905.
Dean, S.L., Lessing, P., Kulander, B.R., 2000, Geology of the Rio quadrangle, Hampshire and Hardy counties, West Virginia, 1:24000 scale, West Virginia
Geological and Economic Survey, Open File OF-9904.
Dennison, J.M., 1970, Stratigraphic divisions of Upper Devonian Greenland Gap Group ("Chemung Formation") along Allegheny front in West
Virginia, Maryland, and Highland County , Virginia: Southeastern Geology, v. 12, p. 53-82.
Kulander, B.R. and Dean, S.L., 1978, Gravity, magnetics, and structure-Allegheny Plateau/western Valley and Ridge in West Virginia and adjacent states:
West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, RI-27, 91 p.
Kulander, B.R. and Dean, S.L., 1986, Structure and tectonics of central and southern Appalachian Valley and Ridge and Plateau provinces, West Virginia
and Virginia: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 70, p. 1674-1684.
Kulander, B.R. and Dean, S.L., 1987, Bouguer gravity map of West Virginia: 1:250,000 scale, West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, MAP-WV25.
Lessing, P., Dean, S.L., and Kulander, B.R., 1991, Stratigraphy and structure of the Great Valley and folded Valley and Ridge, West Virginia: Virginia
Museum of Natural History Guidebook no. 2, p. 29-55.
Lessing, P., Dean, S.L., and Kulander, B.R., 1992, Stratigraphy and structure of Meadow Branch synclinorium, West Virginia: Southeastern Geology,
v. 32, no. 3, p. 163-174.
Tilton, J.L., Prouty, W.F., Tucker, R.C. and Price, P.H., 1927, Hampshire and Hardy counties: 1:62,500 scale, West Virginia Geological and Economic
Survey, CGR-8, 624 p.
Woodward, H.P., 1941, Silurian system of West Virginia: West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, V-14, 326 p.
Woodward, H.P., 1943, Devonian system of West Virginia: West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, V-15, 655 p.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
This project was partially funded through The National Geologic Mapping Act of 1997 in cooperation with the
U.S. Geological Survey. This publication represents interpretations of best-available data made by professional geologists. As in all research work,
professional interpretations may vary, and can change with advancements in both technology and data quality. This publication is offered as a service
of the State of West Virginia; proper use of the information herein is the sole responsibility of the user.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Stuart L. Dean
Cooperating Geologist
Department of Earth, Ecological & Environmental Sciences
University of Toledo
Toledo, Ohio 43606
|
Byron R. Kulander
Cooperating Geologist
Department of Geological Sciences
Wright State University
Dayton, Ohio 45435
|
Gayle H. McColloch
Senior Geologist
West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey
1 Mont Chateau Road
Morgantown, WV 26508-8079
|
Jane S. McColloch
Senior Geologist
West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey
1 Mont Chateau Road
Morgantown, WV 26508-8079
|
Christopher S. Kulander
United States Geological Survey
956 National Center
Reston, VA 20192
|
Peter Lessing
Senior Research Geologist
West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey
1 Mont Chateau Road
Morgantown, WV 26508-8079
|
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