Table Of ContentTHE OBOLOOT OF SOUTHERN HOCKING OOUNTY, OHIO
DISSERTATION
ITesented In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the
Graduate School of the Ohio State
University
I*
JOHN FREDERICK HALL, 0. S.
The Ohio State University
1?$1
Approved by*
Adviser
TABLE GF CONTENTS
ZM!
CHAFTKt I
Introduction ... .......... 1
Purpose of report.•.................... 1
Looation and extent ofa rea*................................ 1
Methods of investigation................................... 2
IVerloua lures tigatlons ................................... 1*
Acknowledgments........................................... $
CHAPTER II
Physiography............................................... 7
CHAPTTR IU
Glacial geology........................................... • 10
Oeneral.................................................. 10
Illinoian glaciation....................................... 10
Wisconsin glaciation....................................... Hi
Salt Greek reversal....................................... 15
CHAPTER 17
Stratigraphy............................................... 18
introduction............................................. 18
The Misaisaippisn system*.................................. 21
Kindarhook-Oaage aeries.................................. 25
The Cuyahoga formation.................................. 25
The Cuyahoga shale a«b«r............................. 26
Definition........................................ 26
Lithologio character................................ 28
Thickness and distribution...................... 29
Stratigraphic relations............................. 29
Fossils and correlation............................. 31
The Black Hand member................................ 32
Definition........................................ 32
Lithologio character....... 32
Thickness and distribution.......................... 36
Origin and stratigraphic relations................... 39
Fossils and correlation............................. 1|0
The Logan formation.................................... liO
The Berne member. ........ U2
i
eoasii.
11
p»g«
Definition........................................ 1*2
Li thologic character............................... 1*2
Thickness and distribution........................... ii3
Stratigraphic ralatlona.............................. 1*3
Foaalla and correlation. .................... 1*5
Tha Qgrar aaabar. •............................... 1*5
Definition....................................... 1*5
Lithologio character............................... 1*5
Thickness and dla tributlon......................... 1*6
Stratigraphic ralatlona. ............................ 1*7
Foaalla and oorralatlon. ........... ............. 1*7
Tha AUonsrille member............................... 1*8
Definition. ..................................... 1*8
Lithologio character............................... 1*8
Thioknaaa and dlatrlbutlon........................... 1*9
Stratigraphic ralatlona............................ 1*9
Foaalla and oorralatlon............................ SO
Tha Vinton member................................... 50
Definition........................................ 50
Lithologio character................................ 51
Thleknaaa and dlatrlbutlon......................... 52
Strati graphic ralatlona........................... 53
Foaalla and oorralatlon.................... 53
Tha Punqrlnnlin ejrstea.................................. 51*
Tha Mlaalaalpplan*Fenna?lTanlan eontaet................... 61
Tha Harrlaon formation................................ 62
Definition....................................... 62
Lithologio character................................ 63
Thleknaaa and distribution......................... 61*
Stratigraphic ralatlona............................ 61*
Foaalla and corralatlon............................ 61*
Tha Hotter! lie aeries................................... 66
Definition........................................ 66
Lithologio character................................ 67
Thleknaaa and distribution.......................... 67
Stratigraphle ralatlona............................. 68
Foaalla and oorralatlon.............................. 68
Marina unite of tha Fottarilla aeries................... 69
Sharon ora......................................... 71
Ibnrtgr Run limestone................................ 71
Definition........................................ 71
Lithologio oharaoter............................... 72
Thleknaaa and distribution......................... 72
Stratigraphle ralatlona.............................. 72
Foaalla and oorralatlon............................ 72
Boggs member......................................... 72
Definition......................................... 72
Lithologio character............................... 73
Thleknaaa and distribution......................... 73
lit
F»g«
Stratigraphle ralatlona............................ 71*
Foaalla and corralatlon............................. 7U
Loner Karoar liaeatone............................... Ih
Definition........................................ 7U
Lithologio oharaotar............................... 75
Thleknaaa and dlatrlbutlon.......................... 76
Stratigraphle ralatlona............................. 76
Foaalla and oorralatlon. ........................... 76
Sand HLoek ora*....................................... 77
Upper Maroar liaeatone............................... 77
Definition.......................................... 77
Lithologio character*.............................. 78
Thleknaaa and dlatrlbutlon.......................... 79
Stratigraphle ralatlona............................. 60
Foaalla and oorralatlon............................. 80
Coale of tha Pottarille aarlaa................ . 80
Quaker town 00 al.............. *.................... • 81
Definition........................................ 8l
Lithologio character............................... 81
Thleknaaa and dlatrlbutlon*..... ................. .. 81
Stratigraphle ralatlona............................. 81
Corralatlon........................ ............... 62
Brookvllle coal............... ...................... 82
Definition. ..................................... 82
Lithologio character............................... 82
Thleknaaa and dlatrlbutlon......................... 83
Stratigraphic ralatlona............................. 83
Corralatlon....................................... 85
Additional Pot tael lie coala........................... 85
Introduction... ......... 85
Lithologio oharaotar*.............................. 85
Thleknaaa and dlatrlbutlon*......................... 85
Stratigraphle ralatlona ...................... . 86
Correlation • 86
Claja of tha Fottaellle aarlaa*......................... 86
Introduction................ *...................... 86
Lithologio oharaotar. .............. . 86
Thloknaaa and dlatrlbutlon........................... 67
Strutigraphlc ralatlona.............................. 88
Foaalla and oorralatlon* ........................ 88
Shalaa of tha Potterilla aarlaa......................... 88
Introduction...................................... 88
Lithologio oharaotar*................................ 89
Thloknaaa and dlatrlbutlon. ..... ..... 90
Stratigraphic ralatlona............................. 90
Foaalla and oorralatlon............................. 90
Sandotonea of tha Ibtttrllla aarlaa..................... 91
Introduction *..................................... 91
Lithologio oharaotar.............................. . 91
It
Thickness and distribution................. 92
Stratigraphle relations..... 92
Fossils and correlation.............................. 93
"Ores'* of the PottaTills series*......................... 93
The Allegheny series*............................. 9b
Definition.......................................... 9b
Lithologio character................................. 95
Thickness and distribution.......... •............... 96
Stratigraphic relations*............................. 97
Fossils and oorralatlon*............................ 97
General statement* .................................. 97
Marine units of the Allegheny series..................... 98
Fatou Hill lines tone ........................... 98
Definition........... 96
Lithologio character................................. 100
Thickness and distribution........................... 101
Stratigraphic relations.............................. 101
Fossils and correlation.............................. 102
Zaleskl flint*...... 102
Definition* .**........ .............................. 102
Lithologio oharacter*................................ 103
Thickness and distribution........................... 103
Stratigraphic relations*............................. 103
Fossils and oorralatlon*.............. *.............. 10b
Vanport lines tone* ............. *............ 10b
Definition*....... 10b
Lithologio character................................. 10b
Thickness and distribution........................... XO$
Stratigraphic relations ..................... 105
Fossils and correlation*............................. 106
Hsaden llaeetone...................................... 106
Definition.......................................... 106
Lithologio oharaotar............................... 106
Thickness and distribution* .................... 106
Stratigraphle ralatlona.............................. 107
Fossils and oorralatlon......... *................... 107
WaahlngtonTllle aeab«r»................................ 107
Definition.......................................... 107
Lithologio character......... *...... *.............. 107
Thickness and distribution..... 108
Stratigraphic relations.*............................ 106
Fossils and oorralatlon*.................. 108
Dorr Run shale*.................. *................... 109
Coals of the Alleghaqjr series *................ 110
Clarion coal.......................... *.............. H O
Definition.......................................... 110
Lithologio oharaotar*....................... 110
Thickness and distribution........................... Ill
Stratigraphle relations*............................. Ill
▼
Page
Correlation........................................ 112
Middle Kit tanning ooal................................ 112
Definition......................................... 112
Lithologio character*........................ 112
Ihiofcnssa and dlatrlbutlon....... 113
Stratigraphic relation* ............................ Hit
Correlation*....................................... lib
Upper Freeport ooal...................... Uli
Definition.......... lib
Lithologio oharaotar................................ 115
Thloknaaa and dlatrlbutlon........................... 115
Stratigraphle relation*............................. 115
Correlation. ..... 116
Additional Allegheny coala............................ 116
Introduction....................................... 116
Lithologio oharaotar * 116
Thloknaaa and dlatrlbutlon*.......................... 116
Stratigraphic relation* * 117
Correlation*....................................... 117
Clays of the Allegheny aeries*........................... 117
Introduction...... 117
Lithologio character................................ 118
Thloknaaa and distribution........................... 119
Stratigraphic relations. .... 119
Fossils and oorralatlon. *.......... ................. 120
Fresh-erater llnestones of the Allegheny series............ 120
Lower JTeeport lie ee tone......................... 120
Definition.................................. 120
Lithologio oharaotar................................ 121
Thloknaaa and dlatrlbutlon........................... 121
Stratigraphle relations............................. 121
Fossils and oorralatlon.*............ 122
Shales of the Allegheny series..................... 122
Ihtroduotlon....................................... 122
Lithologio oharaotar....... *..................... 122
Thloknaaa and distribution................. *........ 12U
Stratigraphic relations............................. * 121*
Fossils and oorralatlon....... 12b
Sandstones of the Allegheny series.................... «... 125
Introduction* ............... 125
Lithologio oharaeter................................ 125
Thlokness and distribution .................... 126
Stratigraphic relations................ 126
Fossils and correlation............................. 127
"Ores" of the Allegheny series........................... 127
The Con enough series*.................... 129
Definition......................................... 129
Lithologio character. .......................... 129
Thlokness and distribution........................... 130
Yi
Page
Stratigraphic ralatlona*........................... * 13?
Foaalla and corralatlon.............................. 13?
Tha Quaternary aya tarn. ................... 13?
Tha Fleletocene aarlaa................................... 132
Raoant alluriue.............. *.......................... 133
CHAPTW V
Struc tura................................................... 131*
CHAPTER VI
Econoale geology........................... 137
Coal...................................................... 137
Jtttavllla eoala......................................... 136
Anthony-Huckleberxy coals............................... 136
Quaker town ooal (Mo* 2)................................. 139
Middle Mercer ooal...................................... 139
Brookrilla ooal (No* 1*)«.............•................. 139
Alleghany eoala*......................................... lliO
Clarion ooal (Mo* l*a).. ..................... 11*0
Lower Kit tanning ooal (No* 5).......................... . H*1
Middle ltittanning ooal (No. 6).......................... Ha
Lower Freeport ooal (No* 6a)............................ 11*3
tipper Freeport ooal (No* 7). * ll*l*
Con— augh coals......................................... 11*1*
Clay..................................................... 11*1*
Fotterllle clays........................................ 11*5
Middle Mercer-Flint Ridge olaya.*....................... 11*5
Tlonesta-Brookrille olaya*.............................. 11*5
Allegheny olaya*......................................... 11*6
Clarion clay........................................... 11*6
Lower Kittannlng clay*.................................. 11*7
Con— augh olaya**....*.................................... 11*7
Minor economic products.................................... 11*6
Shale........................ *.......................... 11*8
Sandstone .*•*. 11*9
Lleeatone.......................................... 11*9
iron orea............................................... ll*9
Sand and grassl*......................................... 11*9
Oil and gas*............................................ 150
Bibliography..................................... *....... 151
Appendix................................................... 155
Stratigraphic sections........................ *............ 156
Benton Township*. *........................................ 156
Laurel Township*................ ........................ 166
Tii
Salt Creak Tovnehlp..................................... 178
Starr Township......................................... 183
Washington Township*.................................... 202
Index to stratigraphic sections............................ 215
Autobiography.............................................. 218
Till
ILLUSTRATIONS
£U2
Plate 1* Geologic nap of southern Hocking County, Ohio... In pocket
2. Glacial nap of Salt Creek Township, Hocking
County, Ohio.• ..... 11
3. Fence-diagram showing the relationship between
the Cuyahoga and Black Hand members of the
Cuyahoga formation. In pocket
b. Columnar section of Pennsylvanian strata in
Starr and Washington Townships, Hocking
County, Ohio............ La pocket
5. Structure contour map on the top of the Kiddle
Kittanning coal... In pocket
6. Structure contour map on top of the Berne
member....................... In pocket
Figure 1. Index map. ............. 3
2. Diagrammatic sketch showing facies relation
ship between the Cuyahoga shale and Black
Hand sandstone in western Hocking County,
Ohio...................................... 27
3. Diagrammatic sketch of the Klssisslppiaa-
Fennsylvanian contact, showing the variable
position of the Harrison formation. ....... 65
Table 1. Stratigraphic column of the rocks of southern
Hooking County, Ohio .................. 20
2. Classification of the "Beverly” in Ohio....... 22
3* Average interval in feet between key units of
Pennsylvanian strata in southern Hocking
County, Ohio............................... 60
U. Pattevilla strata In southern Hocking County,
Ohio...................................... 70
5* Allegheny strata in southern Hooking County,
Ohio................................... 99
6. Conemaugh strata in southern Hocking County,
Ohio................. 131
THE 0 BO LOGY OF SOUTHERN HOCKING COUNTY, OHIO
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
HJRFOSE OF REPORT
The areal geology of southern Hocking County waa mapped as part of
a long range program under the auspices of the Qeolog leal Surrey of
Ohio. Under this program all the counties of Ohio are to be mapped
geologically and county reports issued. Southeastern Ohio was selected
as the first general region for this program because of its economic
products, mainly clay and coal. The northern six townships of Hocking
County were mapped by Merrill (1950) and Perry Township was completed by
Hohler (1950). The field work in southern Hocking County was carried on
by the writer during the simmers of 19U9 and 1950 with additional work
during the springs of 1950 and 1951. The main objective of this report
is the preparation of a geologic mapa nd a general discussion of the
stratigraphy of the area. No detailed study was made of any of the
formations, due to the nature of the report.
LOCATION AND EXTENT OF THE AREA
The southern half of Hocking County, covered by this report,
includes the following townships: Benton, Laurel, Salt Creek, Starr,
1
