Weverton Formation

The Weverton Formation is a quartzite geologic formation in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. It is considered the basal member of the Chilhowee Group. [1] The Weverton Formation dates back to the Cambrian period.

Weverton Formation
Stratigraphic range: Cambrian
TypeFormation
Unit ofChilhowee Group[1]
Sub-unitsBuzzard Knob Member, Maryland Heights Member, and Owens Creek Member[2]
UnderliesHarpers Formation
OverliesCatoctin Formation and London Conglomerate
Lithology
Primarysandstone, quartzite,
Othershale, siltstone
Location
RegionAppalachia, Mid-Atlantic United States, and Southeastern United States
CountryUnited States
Extent Maryland,  Pennsylvania,  Virginia, and  West Virginia[3]
Type section
Named for Weverton, Maryland

Description

The Weverton Formation is composed of three members: the Buzzard Knob Member, Maryland Heights Member, and Owens Creek Member[2]. The Buzzard Knob member is a coarse-grained quartzite with pervasive cross-beds. The Maryland Heights member consists of metamorphosed siltstone, coarse-grained metamorphosed greywacke, and quartzite. The Owens Creek Member is a coarse-grained to conglomeratic metamorphosed greywacke.[2][4] The formation was deposited in an alluvial environment[4].

The Weverton Formation is considered the main ridge forming unit in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Maryland.[2]

History

The Weverton Formation is sometimes incorrectly spelled Weaverton and has been called the Weverton Sandstone or the Weverton Quartzite.[1][5][6] It was divided into three members originally called the lower, middle, and upper member.[1][2] These members were informally called the Loft Mountain Member, the Oregon Hollow Member, and the Dismal Hollow Member before receiving their formal names in 1992.[2]

References
  1. King, Philip B. (1950). "Geology of the Elkton area, Virginia" (PDF). U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper. 230: 17–19. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  2. Brezinski, David K. (1992). "Lithostratigraphy of the western Blue Ridge cover rocks in Maryland" (PDF). Maryland Geological Survey Report of Investigations. 55: 9–18. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  3. Paleozoic Sedimentary Successions of the Virginia Valley & Ridge and Plateau
  4. Southworth, Scott; Brezinski, Donald K. (1996). "Geology of the Harpers Ferry quadrangle, Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia" (PDF). U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin. 2123: 12–13. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  5. Williams, G. H.; Clark, W. B. (1893). Maryland, its resources, industries, and institutions; geology. Baltimore, MC: Sun job printing office. p. 68. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  6. Burton, William C.; Froelich, Albert J.; Pomeroy, John S.; Lee, K. Y. (1995). "Geology of the Waterford quadrangle, Virginia and Maryland, and the Virginia part of the Point of Rocks quadrangle" (PDF). U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin. 2095: 15–16. Retrieved 29 June 2018.


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