1875.] O./l [Stevenson. 



across the State through Braxton, Clay, Kanawha and Putnam counties 

 to the Ohio River. Indeed, in every respect the disturbance from east to 

 west in this region seems to have been greatest in tlie vicinity of the line 

 followed by the railroad. Near Ellenboro' the fault is quite abrupt and 

 is seen to good advantage in the creek's bed, about one-fourth of a mile 

 from the station. On its eastern side the rocks of the Upper Barren 

 Group are seen turned up and dipping at 2GC>, while on the west side the 

 strata of the Lower Barren Group lie almost horizontally. The direction 

 of the fault is about IST. 10° E. Mag., and the upper rocks dip S. Sl-O F. 

 Mag. 



From this fault westward, the strata are almost horizontal, or have an 

 easterly dip so slight that it cannot be determined by the barometer, until 

 the edge of the oil-break is reached where they are abruptly turned up 

 at a high angle. Within the "break," a narrow strip, nowhere more 

 than two miles wide, the dip is irregular, but shows traces of anticlinal 

 structure, and at no time exceeds 5°. On the west side the conditions 

 seen at the east are repeated. The strata are sharply upturned and dip 

 toward the west. The angle of dip quickly diminishes and soon becomes 

 only ten feet per mile. About five miles east from Parkersburg, another 

 fault occurs, quite as sharp as that at Ellenboro', with the upturned rocks 

 dipping westward. Beyond this, the rocks are almost horizontal to 

 the Ohio River. 



On each side of the oil-break the strata belong to the Lower Barren 

 Group, as far east the Ellenboro' fault and as far west as the fault near 

 Parkersburg. What the rocks between this fault and the Ohio River 

 are, can be determined only by approaching them from Ohio. Before 

 entering into a discussion of the "break," it is well to describe these 

 rocks as they occur east and west from it. 



Lotcer Barren Group outside of the Oil-break. Near Ellenboro', and 

 almost directly on the edge of the fault a boring was made several years 

 ago in search of oil. No record has been preserved, but the enterprise 

 proved unsuccessful. Both fresh and salt water were found, and a little 

 oil was obtained. The rocks appeared to be much shattered. At first 

 the drill descended nearly twenty feet each day, and farther down many 

 crevices were struck, in which the tools would drop four or five feet in- 

 stantly. Five hundred feet down, the drill stuck fast and the work was 

 abandoned. 



Along the railroad, westward from Ellenboro' to near Petroleum, the 

 section appears to be : 



1. Debris, with nodular limestone 75 ft. 



2. Coal 1 ft. 



3. Flaggy sandstone 40 ft. 



4. Red shales 10 ft. 



5. Sandstone 15-25 ft. 



6. Red and blue shale 25 ft. 



7. Sandstone 10 ft. 



8. Red shales and sandstone 300 ft. 



