GENERAL STRATIGRAPHY OF THE REGION. 
71 
by the heavy sandy shale above, which has a tendency to wash down 
and cover the coal. Above the Uniontown coal is an interval of 40 
feet or more to the Waynesburg coal. This interval is occupied by 
yellow shale, with black sandstone layers. 
WAYNESBURG COAL. 
The Waynesburg coal outcrops over the southern half of the 
Steubenville and Burgettstown quadrangles and the northern half 
of the Claysville quadrangle. It varies greatly in quality, and 
the thickness ranges from less than 1 foot in parts of Mount Pleasant 
Township, in the Burgettstown quadrangle, to over 5 feet near the 
junction of Buffalo Creek and Brush Run, in the Claysville quad¬ 
rangle, where it has the following general section: 
Section of Waynesburg coal near Buffalo Creek and Brush Run. 
Feet. 
Coal_ i to S 
Blue clay_ £ to 2 
Coal with a variable number of thin shale partings_2 x tj to 
Fire clay_ t to 2 
In Jefferson Township, in the Burgettstown quadrangle, and in 
the southern part of the Steubenville quadrangle the coal has a thick¬ 
ness of 3 feet or more, but is of poor quality, owing to the presence of 
many small partings of clay. 
WASHINGTON FORMATION. 
The rocks from the top of the Waynesburg coal to the top of the 
Upper Washington limestone are included in the Washington forma¬ 
tion. The Waynesburg coal at the bottom, the Washington coal near 
the middle, and the Upper Washington limestone at the top are excel¬ 
lent key beds. Between these prominent beds are a number of mark¬ 
ing strata of minor importance. No general description can be given, 
however, that will apply to all localities. For careful geologic struc¬ 
tural work the use of the smaller coal beds is not deemed advisable, 
for they are probably not continuous throughout the area. 
WAYNESBURG SANDSTONE. 
Above the Waynesburg coal is a foot oi . o o , y 
to 8 inches of gray limestone. The limestone disintegrates easily 
and is in many places entirely wanting. Above the limestone is a 
sandstone which is locally massive, but much of which is so laminated 
as to closely resemble shale. The total thickness of the sandstone 
and shale is from 10 to 35 feet. 
