1O4 STRATIGRAPHY THE UUNKARD SERIES. 



were observed, and the only coal of general occurrence, the 

 Washington, is thin and slaty, seldom being more than two 

 feet. Only 500 to 600 feet of the basal portion of the series 

 is found in Lewis and Gilmer, in contrast to the maximum 

 thickness of 1180 feet occurring in Wetzel and Monongalia. 

 The series in Lewis and Gilmer contains fewer coals and a 

 proportionately larger amount of sandy and red shales than 

 in the more northern counties, thus showing that its presence 

 represents a somewhat decadent phase. The series appears to 

 be of fresh water origin and contains abundant plant fossils, 

 but has little evidence of animal life. Mineralogically it is 

 of little economic importance in the two counties, no oil or 

 gas being found in its sands and only one impure coal. Some 

 of the red shale beds, however, could be used for brick, and 

 the best sandstone ledges for building stone. 



The following general section, compiled from many ob- 

 servations, represents the character of the Dunkard Series 

 known to occur in Lewis and Gilmer: 



General Section of the Dunkard Series for Lewis and Gilmer. 



Thickness Total 



Feet. Feet. 



Sandstone, soft, brown, micaceous, Rush Run 40 40 



Shale, sandy and red 10 50 



Sandstone, massive, brown, Jollytown 30 80 



Shales, sandy and variegated, with thin sand- 

 stones 30 110 



Sandstone, coarse, soft, brown, Hundred 40 150 



Shale, sandy 50 200 



Sandstone, massive or flaggy, micaceous, Up- 

 per Marietta 50 250 



Shale, sandy and red, Creston 48 298 



Sandstone, massive or flaggy, micaceous, 



Lower Marietta 50 348 



Coal, Washington 2 350 



Fire clay shale, yellow, Washington 30 380 



Shales, red and sandy 20 400 



Sandstone, massive, soft, brown, coarse, Man- 



nington 50 450 



Shale, variegated and sandy 30 480 



Sandstone, massive, coarse, brown, pebbly, 



Waynesburg 60 540 



Shale, sandy, Cassville 10 550 



Coal, Waynesburg, (top of Monongahela Series) 



