Pocahontas Monadnock

 

Bald Knob is a significant geographical feature in Pocahontas County, West Virginia. Here's a summary of its key aspects, according to the sources:

• Elevation and Prominence: Bald Knob is the highest point in Pocahontas County, with an elevation of 4,842 feet. It is considered a striking monadnock in the region.
• Location: It is situated on Back Allegheny Mountain in the plateau region of the county. It is located approximately 3 1/2 miles northwest of Cass.
• Monadnock Characteristics: Bald Knob is described as a monadnock, which means it's a remnant of a higher landmass that has resisted erosion. Monadnocks such as Bald Knob are believed to owe their existence to more resistant rocks and greater distance from main drainage areas.
• Capping Rock: Bald Knob is capped by the resistant Pottsville Conglomerate, a type of rock formation. This resistant layer contributes to its survival as a prominent peak.
• Relationship to the Schooley Peneplain: Bald Knob stands 242 feet above the general level of the Schooley Peneplain in its area, which reaches an elevation of 4,600 feet. The Schooley Peneplain is an ancient, eroded plateau.
• Topographic Maps: Bald Knob is identified as a triangulation point on topographic maps, with an elevation of 4,808 feet for the triangulation point and 4,842 feet for the fire tower.
• Other High Points: While Bald Knob is the highest, other nearby high points on Back Allegheny Mountain include Thorny Flat (4,839 feet), which is located at the junction of Back Allegheny and Cheat Mountains.
• Geological Significance: The area around Bald Knob is significant because the Pottsville Series, which caps it, covers much of the higher plateau region of Pocahontas County. The location of Bald Knob is near the divide between the Allegheny Ridges and the plateau region.

In summary, Bald Knob is the highest point in Pocahontas County, a prominent monadnock on Back Allegheny Mountain, capped by resistant Pottsville Conglomerate, and stands above the level of the ancient Schooley Peneplain.