The Nuttall Sandstone is the oldest formation in the New River Group and is composed of fine- to medium-grained sandstone with interbedded beds of shale and siltstone. It is typically gray to brown in color and is weathering to a reddish-brown color. The Nuttall Sandstone is exposed in the New River region and can be traced northeastward across Webster, Pocahontas, and Randolph Counties in West Virginia. It is also found in parts of Virginia and Kentucky.
The Nuttall Sandstone was deposited in a shallow sea during the Pennsylvanian Period, about 320 million years ago. The sandstone beds represent ancient beaches and sandbars, while the shale and siltstone beds represent muddier deposits that were deposited further offshore.
The Nuttall Sandstone is an important economic resource in West Virginia. It is mined for use as a building stone, road aggregate, and railroad ballast. It is also used in the manufacture of glass and ceramics.
The Nuttall Sandstone is the basal unit of the New River Group, which is a sequence of Pennsylvanian-age rocks that are exposed in the New River Gorge and surrounding areas of West Virginia. The Nuttall Sandstone is a very hard, quartz-rich sandstone that is resistant to erosion. It is typically light gray in color and has a massive to cross-bedded texture. The Nuttall Sandstone is thought to have been deposited in a shallow sea or beach environment.
The Nuttall Sandstone has been traced from the New River region northeastward across Webster, Pocahontas, and Randolph Counties in West Virginia. It is also present in adjacent states such as Virginia and Maryland. The Nuttall Sandstone is an important geological unit in the region because it provides a valuable marker bed for correlating other rock units. It is also a popular destination for rock climbers and other outdoor enthusiasts.
Here are some additional details about the Nuttall Sandstone in each of the counties you mentioned:
- Webster County: The Nuttall Sandstone is exposed in the eastern part of Webster County, along the Gauley River and its tributaries. It is also present in the Cranberry Glades Botanical Area, where it forms the caprock on some of the plateaus.
- Pocahontas County: The Nuttall Sandstone is exposed in the central and eastern parts of Pocahontas County, along the Greenbrier River and its tributaries. It is also present in Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park, where it forms the steep cliffs along the mountain ridge.
- Randolph County: The Nuttall Sandstone is exposed in the northwestern part of Randolph County, along the Tygart Valley River and its tributaries. It is also present in Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area, where it forms the summit of Spruce Knob, the highest point in West Virginia.
The Nuttall Sandstone is a significant geological unit in the New River Gorge region and beyond. It is a valuable resource for scientists, outdoor enthusiasts, and the community as a whole.
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