thumbnail

Tectonics of the western Valley and Ridge foldbelt, Pendleton County, West Virginia - a summary report

Journal of Research of the U.S. Geological Survey
By:

Links

Abstract

A belt of high anticlines, the Nittany anticlinorium, occupies the western Valley and Ridge foldbelt in the central Appalachians. It extends southwestward from the Nittany arch of central Pennsylvania into the Virginias. An investigation of the tectonics of this anticlinorium in Pendleton County, W. Va., rules out active basement involvement in the deformation of the area. Cross-sectional models consistent with the accumulated data show that Middle Cambrian through Middle Ordovician carbonate rocks are technically stacked, shingle-fashion, from southeast to northwest below predominantly folded younger strata that have undergone less lateral shortening. Differential shortening in this area is of the proper order to balance cover deformation in the Allegheny synclinorium to the west. Field relations suggest a long period of abnormally high fluid pressures in Lower Devonian and older strata during deformation. At this time, the area was under sufficient northwest, near-horizontal compressive stress for abundant quartz deformation lamellae to form. Gravity sliding is ruled out as the deforming mechanism for this part of the Appalachian foldbelt. No significant tectonism appears to have occurred prior to Pennsylvanian time in this area.

Study Area

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Tectonics of the western Valley and Ridge foldbelt, Pendleton County, West Virginia - a summary report
Series title Journal of Research of the U.S. Geological Survey
Volume 3
Issue 5
Year Published 1975
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Description 6 p.
First page 583
Last page 588
Country United States
State West Virginia
County Pendleton County
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details