Lead has been found in several locations in Pocahontas County, WV. According to the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey (WVGES), lead occurrences have been documented in the following formations:
Cloyd Formation: The Cloyd Formation is a Mississippian-age rock formation that is found in the eastern and central parts of Pocahontas County. Lead has been found in the form of galena (lead sulfide) in veins and disseminated throughout the formation.
Greenbrier Group: The Greenbrier Group is a Mississippian-age rock formation that is found in the western and northern parts of Pocahontas County. Lead has been found in the form of cerussite (lead carbonate) in veins and disseminated throughout the formation.
Hancock Formation: The Hancock Formation is a Devonian-age rock formation that is found in the southeastern part of Pocahontas County. Lead has been found in the form of sphalerite (zinc sulfide) in veins and disseminated throughout the formation.
In addition to these occurrences, lead has also been found in the alluvial deposits of the Greenbrier River and its tributaries. These deposits are located in the central and southern parts of Pocahontas County.
The lead found in Pocahontas County is primarily associated with hydrothermal mineralization. Hydrothermal mineralization occurs when hot fluids, rich in metals, circulate through rocks, depositing minerals as they cool. The lead in Pocahontas County is thought to have been deposited from these fluids during the Mississippian and Devonian Periods.
While lead has been found in several locations in Pocahontas County, the county has never had a major lead mine. The lead occurrences in Pocahontas County are relatively small and uneconomical to mine.
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