The Weverton Formation is a quartzite geologic formation in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. It is considered the basal member of the Chilhowee Group.[1] The Weverton Formation dates back to the Cambrian period.
| Weverton Formation | |
|---|---|
| Stratigraphic range: Cambrian | |
| Type | Formation |
| Unit of | Chilhowee Group[1] |
| Sub-units | Buzzard Knob Member, Maryland Heights Member, and Owens Creek Member[2] |
| Underlies | Harpers Formation |
| Overlies | Catoctin Formation and London Conglomerate |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | sandstone, quartzite, |
| Other | shale, siltstone |
| Location | |
| Region | Appalachia, Mid-Atlantic United States, and Southeastern United States |
| Country | United States |
| Extent | Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia[3] |
| Type section | |
| Named for | Weverton, Maryland |
Description
The Weverton Formation is composed of three members: the Buzzard Knob Member, Maryland Heights Member, and Owens Creek Member.[2] The Buzzard Knob member is a coarse-grained quartzite with pervasive cross-beds. The Maryland Heights member consists of metamorphosed siltstone, coarse-grained metamorphosed greywacke, and quartzite. The Owens Creek Member is a coarse-grained to conglomeratic metamorphosed greywacke.[2][4] The formation was deposited in an alluvial environment.[4]
The Weverton Formation is considered the main ridge forming unit in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Maryland.[2]
History
The Weverton Formation is sometimes incorrectly spelled Weaverton and has been called the Weverton Sandstone or the Weverton Quartzite.[1][5][6] It was divided into three members originally called the lower, middle, and upper member.[1][2] These members were informally called the Loft Mountain Member, the Oregon Hollow Member, and the Dismal Hollow Member before receiving their formal names in 1992.[2]