Pocahontas County has a variety of mineral resources

 

Pocahontas County has a variety of mineral resources, including:

• Coal Coals are found in the Pocono and Mauch Chunk Series of the Mississippian and the Kanawha and New River Groups of the Pottsville Series. The coals of the Kanawha and New River Groups have commercial value and minable thickness. The Gilbert, Hughes Ferry, and Sewell coals are regarded as minable in some areas.
• Limestone Limestone is considered a most important asset for the county. Vast deposits of limestone are available and well-distributed over the county. The Greenbrier Series outcrop with thick-bedded deposits that extend the entire length of the county.
• Iron Ore The Oriskany and Clinton are the principal prospecting horizons for iron ore in Pocahontas County. The Oriskany and Clinton ores are confined entirely to the Beaver Lick-Browns-Michael Mountain area.
• Manganese Manganese is found in varying proportions in close association with the iron ores of the Oriskany and Clinton Series in Pocahontas County. Loose pieces of psilomelane ore containing as much as 40% metallic manganese have been found on Michael Mountain.
• Mineral waters Numerous springs carry sufficient minerals in solution to be classified as mineral springs. These springs occur mainly in regions of outcropping limestones.
• Building Stone Heavy quartzitic ledges may be of service for building stone or for ganister rock. Certain crystallized portions of the Greenbrier Series limestones may make good building stone.
• Clays Occasional clay beds are found in this region at localities where decomposition of the stratified rocks has been sufficient to produce a clay which is residual.
• Glass-Sand
• Marble In the vicinity of Hillsboro, there are deposits of marble varying in color from red to maroon to a pinkish tinge and from that to various shades of gray. This marble phase varies from 25 to 40 feet in thickness and will produce stone suitable for ornamental purposes.

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 Several factors influence limestone usage in Pocahontas County:

• Quality and Purity The quality of the limestones in Pocahontas County varies, influencing their suitability for different applications. Some limestones, like those in the Greenbrier Series, are of a very good grade. Others, such as the Reynolds and Glenray limestones of the Mauch Chunk Series, are generally too thin, impure, and siliceous for anything other than soil production. The amount of silica, calcium carbonate, and magnesium carbonate affects the usability of the limestones for various purposes.

• Economic Considerations The economic viability of using Pocahontas County limestone depends on various factors:

  • Proximity to Transportation Deposits located close to railroads are more easily reached by lateral spurs, facilitating their use. The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway roughly parallels the outcrop of Greenbrier Series limestone deposits.
  • Accessibility The general inaccessibility of some limestone beds, such as those in the Devonian and Silurian periods, makes them less commercially attractive than the more readily obtainable Greenbrier Limestone.
  • Competition The discovery and operation of larger and better Great Lakes iron deposits have lessened the importance of Pocahontas County's iron ore, indirectly impacting limestone usage.
  • Alternative Materials The availability of other materials, like chert, can reduce limestone usage for certain applications like road surfacing.

• Location and Distribution The location and distribution of limestone deposits throughout the county influence their use. Vast deposits are available and well-distributed, often outcropping along roads. The Greenbrier Series, for example, extends the entire length of the county.

• Specific Applications The intended use of the limestone affects which deposits are suitable:

  • Some limestones are suitable for Portland cement, agricultural and building lime, railroad ballast, road material, and concrete aggregate.
  • Certain portions of the Greenbrier Limestone near Hillsboro are well-suited for building purposes due to their color, oolitic structure, and susceptibility to polish. These deposits are marble.
  • Impure limestones like the Reynolds Limestone can be used as a soil maker or as a mixing agent in cement manufacturing.
  • Hard and durable limestones can be used for road material, concrete aggregate, and railroad ballast.

• Historical and Industrial Development Historically, limestone has been used for road material, agricultural lime, and concrete aggregate, with some use in Hillsboro for lime brick manufacture. There has been little attempt to build masonry structures of limestone.

• Geological Context The geological formation and history of the region have resulted in flexed and tilted strata, which can affect the extraction and utilization of limestone. The rocks of Pocahontas County are sedimentary in origin.

These factors collectively determine the extent and nature of limestone usage in Pocahontas County, influencing its economic value and contribution to various sectors.