CHAPTER V. 



STRATIGRAPHY THE DUNKARD SERIES. 



GENERAL ACCOUNT AND SECTION. 



The Dunkard Series, which, except for the alluvium de- 

 posited along the streams, contains the most recent forma- 

 tions found in the Lewis and Gilmer area, is the highest di- 

 vision of the Upper Carboniferous, or Pennsylvanian Rocks 

 found in West Virginia. It was first described by I. C. White 1 

 from its occurrence along Dunkard Creek in Monongalia 

 County, West Virginia, and Greene County, Pennsylvania. It 

 has been classed by him as of Permo-Carboniferous age, rep- 

 resenting a transitional stage between the Permian and Car- 

 boniferous. It has been described at length in previous Re- 

 ports of the West Virginia Geological Survey, in those coun- 

 ties where it has its best development, to the most recent of 

 which, the one for Monongalia, Marion and Taylor, the reader 

 is referred for a general section covering the entire series. 2 



In Lewis and Gilmer the Dunkard Series covers the hills 

 generally along a wide strip at the northwestern edge, west 

 of the Chestnut Ridge Anticline. Southeast of the anticline 

 it is of much more scanty occurrence, being found generally 

 in the tops of the hills along the Grassland and Roanoke Syn- 

 clines and gradually disappearing above their summits along 

 the rapid southeastward rise of the rocks. 



In these counties the series consists mainly of alternating 

 beds of brown, micaceous sandstones, sometimes massive and 

 sometimes flaggy, and red and sandy shales. No limestones 



'Bulletin 65, TL S. Geological Survey, p. 20; 1891. 

 2 Ray V. Hennen, Monongalia-Marion-Taylor Report, W. Va. Geol. 

 Survey, p. 165; 1913. 



