Vinton Township (part 4 of 8)

The Upper Mercer member represented in some form extends with only local wants across the State from Columbiana and Mahoning counties on the north to Scioto and Lawrence counties on the south. In the northern part of the field in Columbiana, Mahoning, Stark, Wayne, Tuscarawas, and Holmes counties, the horizon is marked largely by a hard, blue limestone with or without flint nodules. Locally, however, the deposits are so flinty that the quantity of siliceous matter in them is greater than that of the calcareous component. But little iron ore is found associated with the limestone in this part of the field. In its extension southward into the central part of the State in Coshocton, Muskingum, Licking, Perry, and Hocking counties, the common material at this position in the geological column is a black flint, overlain occasionally with irregular lenses of gray flint or with thin deposits of iron ore. In southern Ohio in Vinton, Jackson, Scioto, and Lawrence counties, this stratigraphic unit is represented by iron ore with little or no flint or limestone. In general, the Upper Mercer member where traced across the State thus changes from hard, blue limestone to black flint and then to iron ore.

All three materials bear fossils of marine origin. The limestone yields a greater number of individuals and species than the flint and this in turn more than the iron ore. In typical exposures the Upper Mercer limestone is bluish-gray to dark gray, somewhat siliceous and ferruginous, and uniformly fine in texture. The bed is so broken by joint planes that along the outcrop it regularly separates into large rectangular blocks. The material is moderately resistant to solution by chemical agencies and to disintegration by physical means, and on this account the bed appears at the surface with considerable regularity. Both lithologically and chemically the Upper Mercer limestone closely resembles the Lower Mercer. In the main the flint appearing on this horizon is usually dark or even coal-black in color, due to the influence of carbon and other pigments. The purer material is vitreous, brittle, and lustrous, and breaks with a deep conchoidal fracture in any direction. It is very dense and solid, except for small irregular cavities distributed indiscriminately throughout the mass. These openings may be filled with quartz crystals or with ferruginous matter. Like the limestone, the flint bed is regularly divided by joint planes into blocks which, where exposed along the outcrop, are more or less shattered by a network of fine cracks caused by expansion changes. This material is only moderately fossiliferous. The Upper Mercer flint is similar in appearance to the Zaleski flint, except that the latter is freer from cavities, slightly deeper brown in color, and more resinous in luster. The Upper Mercer, the thickest and most persistent ore bed in the Pottsville formation of southern Ohio, changes from a red or brownish yellow limonite on the outcrop to a bluish-gray siderite under deep cover. The bed is well stratifed but is regularly broken by joint planes into variously shaped blocks. For these reasons the ore was named by the miners the Big Red Block. As it was the main reliance of Franklin Furnace in Scioto County, it was called by Brown the Franklin Block ore. The member is only sparingly fossiliferous.

The Upper Mercer is the most persistent and widely distributed ore in Vinton County and during the days of the charcoal furnaces it was more extensively mined than any of the other beds. It is present with some wants in northwestern Madison, western Brown, Swan, eastern Jackson, eastern Richland, Elk, and western Clinton townships. Flint or limestone accompanies the ore in a few places. The position of the member is, on the average, about 40 feet above the Lower Mercer limestone, 31 feet below the Putnam Hill limestone, and 54 feet below the Zaleski black flint, which are the main benches for reference. Considerable variations and irregularities, however, are found locally in these intervals. From more than 50 measurements, the mean thickness of the bed is 7 inches, the minimum 1 inch and the maximum 3 feet 7 inches. Generally the ore is present in a single bed but locally it may be divided into two, three, or even more distinct strata, varying in both composition and texture.

Madison Township. - The Upper Mercer is due close to drainage level along Raccoon Creek near Zaleski and along Strong Run in northeastern Section 36. Near the forks of the hollow in the latter area, this limestone and ore were exposed in the stream bed. The record secured is given below:

The ore varies from a soft limonite to a hard siderite, depending on the state of weathering. The limestone affords fair collecting as the fossils are well preserved.

Swan Township. - The Upper Mercer ore was extensively mined for many years in Swan Township, especially in the southern and western portions. Most of it was loaded for shipment at Creola. In some of the deposit the ore is very rich and is much above the average in thickness. 'The usual measurement of the bed, however, is between

Near Orland, the member is generally thin and locally wanting. Where observed in the southwestern part of Section 9, the deposit consists of 2 to 4 inches of iron ore underlain by 4 to 8 inches gray to dark, fossiliferous flint. Its position is about 960 feet above tide. Many old benches show where the ore was mined along the ridges in sections 5, 6, 7, and 8. Near the road forks in eastern Section 6, at an elevation of 1,010 feet, the deposit is made up of 5 inches of block ore underlain by 4 inches of rough, flinty ore. A record, taken just across the county line in southwestern Section 31, Washington Township, Hocking County, shows exceptionally well the composite nature of the member in places and also its stratigraphic relation to other wellknown beds. The measurements are given below: lag PRUE FEEIGEOUS No.4: 1a, sid ohare dein sare beet ansnirs wis 1 ATES ESE S HAL Vmmee ecco sey «roves Pe Ss) bch > a7 os Wee ksi es arn tegen 6 Shale, dark, carbonaceous, Upper Mercer coal horizon......

Extensive mining by benching has been done along the ridge northwest of Creola in sections 19, 20, 29, and 28, where the ore is reported to be above the average in both thickness and quality. Locally it is underlain by black flint from a few inches to more than 1 foot thick. Many stripping operations are yet evident along the ridge in sections 31, 32, and 33, where the ore is reported to vary from 2 inches to 1 foot 10 inches in thickness. On the hill just east of Creola in Section 34, measurements show 6 to 10 inches of ore underlain by about the same thickness of dark flint. The deposit here has an elevation of 836 feet and lies 104 feet below the Vanport limestone. Along Raccoon Creek in the southeastern part of the area, the Upper Mercer member is generally thin and consists usually of ore alone. Near the road forks in east central Section 25, the bed lies 764 feet above tide and measures 3 inches in thickness.

Jackson Township. - Formerly the Upper Mercer member was mined at many places along the main ridges in the eastern and central portions of Jackson Township. It shows no unusual features. The ore is generally in one bench and 4 to 6 inches thick. Locally it is underlain by black flint or cherty sandstone.

Along the ridge in western Section 10, both ore and black flint are present at an elevation of about 1,060 feet. Similar deposits were observed north of the Browns School in Section 9 and also in northeastern Section 16. Near the road forks in central Section 21, 4 inches of Upper Mercer ore was exposed at an elevation of 1,050 feet. South of the Shively School in Section 23, the member is divided into 3 to 5 inches of block ore and 4 to 6 inches of black flint. The bed lies 990 feet above tide. On the George W. Hartley farm in southwestern Section 36, the following rocks were exposed for measurement:

Near by the lower ore stratum changes to gray or black flint, 5 to 8 inches thick. Its position is about 45 feet above the Lower Mercer limestone which is well developed.

Richland Township. - A part of the ore supply for Cincinnati Furnace, later known as Richland, was drawn from the Upper Mercer member in the eastern and the central parts of Richland Township. As elsewhere the deposits show considerable variation in thickness, character, and structure.

Pennsylvanian System 147

Near the Pawpaw School in Section 1, the Upper Mercer member was mined extensively by stripping along the outcrop. The elevation of the deposits is approximately 920 feet. One to two benches of ore are present, the thickness of which is reported to be 3 to 10 inches. Locally the ore is underlain by flint or dark, ferruginous sandstone. The position of the Upper Mercer member in this locality is nearly 45 feet above the Lower Mercer limestone, 40 feet below the Zaleski black flint, and 65 feet below the Vanport buhrstone. The thickness of the ore where observed in central Section 12 is from 4 to 6 inches, at the Wyckoff Crossroads in Section 15 from 3 to 5 inches, and along the ridge in sections 16 and 21 the measurements are about the same. Near the Dolly School in Section 22, 3 to 5 inches of block ore is accompanied by 3 to 10 inches of black flint. At this place the elevation of the bed is 925 feet above tide and its position about 35 feet above the Lower Mercer ore. Deposits similar in character and thickness were noted also in sections 27, 28, 32, 33, 34, and 3, south.

Elk Township. - The Upper Mercer ore is moderately persistent in Elk Township and is present above drainage in all but a few sections in the southeastern portion. The most extensive mining was done in the northern and western parts, the ore being hauled to the

Along the road in southeastern Section 3, the Upper Mercer ore is present at an elevation of 794 feet. The bed measures about 3 inches in thickness but near by it is reported to expand to as much as 8 inches. Formerly this ore was mined at a number of places in sections 4, 5, 6, and 7. The thickness observed is from 2 to 7 inches. Its relation to other members is well shown in the following record taken along the road in southeastern Section 8: vicinity of the Hawk School were worked for shipment to furnaces in the Hocking Valley. Along the road in the northeastern corner of Section 26, the member is composed of two ore benches, of 3 and 4 inches respectively, separated by 8 inches of shale and underlain by a hard, ferruginous sandstone which locally changes to black flint. The bed lies 710 feet above tide. Locally along Elk Fork in this section, the ore is reported to thicken to 1 foot and to be of good quality. (See analysis, page 150.)

Clinton Township. - Both Hamden and Cincinnati furnaces drew a part of their ore supply from the Upper Mercer member in the western half of Clinton Township. This bed extends eastward to Dundas and Hamden Furnace before it disappears below the valley floors. Some of the deposits were far above the average in thickness and were mined extensively by stripping along the outcrop.

In sections 5, 6, and 7, the bed appears to be thin and in places wanting. On the Craig farm in Section 8 the deposits are much above normal in both thickness and quality and were stripped to deep covering. Measurements of the ore and associated rocks are given below:! (See analysis, page 150.)

The few exposures observed in sections 17 and 18 show 2 to 5 inches of block ore, usually of inferior quality. West of Hamden in Section 19, considerable stripping was also done on the Robbins farm where the deposit consists of two benches of ore of 6 and 9 inches respectively and where it lies about 40 feet above the Lower Mercer limestone. Near Hamden Furnace the member is locally well developed and was used for iron smelting. The following record, taken along the old road in north central Section 28, shows very well not only the thickness and structure of the ore but also its relation to other important stratigraphic units:

Pennsylvanian System 149

CSG SS) Pec) bed! POUL nA = Dee CIAO Bo Po a a Shale, shaly sandstone, and covered...................... 2 Slayer lashicreas «totknahecwps Feces, «ae pout Hill

At other places in this vicinity the ore measures 4 to 10 inches in thickness. Locally it is underlain by an irregular stratum of black flint.

Although of little value at present, the Upper Mercer ore in Vinton County was formerly an asset of importance as it was worked for many years over a wide area. Mining activity began with the advent of the charcoal furnaces within the county in 1852 and continued briskly until 1888 when the native ores were largely replaced by those from the Great Lakes region. Upper Mercer ore was used extensively during their active periods in Richland, Hamden, and Vinton furnaces and in less amounts in Zaleski, Eagle, and Hope. Later large quantities of ore were shipped from McArthur, Elk Fork, and Creola to outside furnaces, Creola being the main center for this trade. Regarding the ore shipped from this place, Mr. A. B. Kirkendall states:!

"From 1880 to 1888 ore, both raw and calcined, was constantly being loaded at Creola. For months at a time the standing orders were for 25 cars per day which amounted to between 300 and 400 tons. One large pile on the yard in 1884 contained 19,000 tons. In the most active years from 1881 to 1884, the annual shipment was not far from 30,000 tons. The ore loaded here was largely block or Upper Mercer and was mined along the ridges west of this place. The bulk of the material was sold for smelting in the furnace at New Straitsville but some was shipped also to those at Winona, Gore, Orbiston, Buchtel, Greendale, and Floodwood. After 1888, the trade declined rapidly

Under deep cover the Upper Mercer ore is a siderite but along the outcrop, where affected by weathering, it is a limonite. These limonites smelted easily in the short stacks of the charcoal furnaces as they were open and porous. As the soft, oxidized ore was liked best for iron smelting, the main supply was obtained by stripping where the overburden was thin. The rule was.that one foot of dirt could be removed for every inch of ore. Drift mining was not regularly practiced in Vinton County. From many observations, the mean thickness of the bed in this field is 7 inches but in local deposits the measurements range from 10 inches to as much as 3 feet and frequently average 1 foot 3 inches. Such a bed of ore will yield approximately 4,400 tons per acre.

The iron content of the Upper Mercer ore is low compared to that of the better grades from the Great Lakes district as the Upper Mercer is not only more siliceous and argillaceous but also much higher in combined water and volatile matter. When calcined the difference is not so great. The quality of the Upper Mercer ore is shown by the following analyses:!

Pennsylvanian System P51

No.1. Limonite ore, upper part of bed, Craig mine, Section 8, Clinton Township. No. 2. Siderite ore, lower part of bed, Craig mine, Section 8, Clinton Township. No. 3. Limonite ore, siliceous, McAllister mine, Section 26, Elk Township.

The ores on the Upper Mercer horizon have a wide range in composition as they vary in the character of the ferruginous minerals from hydrated oxides to carbonates, and in the quantity of impurities such as sand, clay substance, and calcareous matter. In general, the ore in the upper part of the deposits is of better quality than that in the lower part and laterally the transition from good to poor ore may take place in a short distance. 'These ores are all in the foundry class as they are high enough in phosphorus to make an iron sufficiently fluid to pour well. The manganese varies from a trace to 1.00 per cent but usually averages about .50 per cent. In some deposits the content of lime and magnesia is such that it aids substantially, during smelting, in fluxing the siliceous matter. The weathered ore is generally low in sulphur. On the whole, the Upper Mercer, for a lean ore, has fair metallurgical properties.

Tionesta Coal And Clay

The Tionesta coal and its associated clay are members of only local development in Ohio, being best defined in the central and the eastern parts of the field.t. In Vinton County neither bed is present except in a few isolated places. Where observed the coal is represented only by a soot streak or by a few inches of carbonaceous shale and the clay by thin deposits of impure material. The position of the Tionesta coal is about 7 feet below the Brookville member. As they have no economic value, they will not be considered further.

Brookville Clay

The Brookville clay is widely distributed in Ohio, the main field extending from Mahoning County on the north to Scioto and Lawrence counties on the south. Throughout this wide expanse, this clay is generally of good quality and is mined extensively for ceramic purposes in Stark, Tuscarawas, Holmes, Muskingum, and Perry counties. The member is directly associated with the Brookville coal the position of which is just below the Putnam Hill limestone.

In Vinton County the Brookville clay is present in large or small areas in Brown, Swan, Jackson, Richland, Elk, Madison, and Clinton townships. It has been worked for the manufacture of ceramic ware only near McArthur in Elk Township. In the future, however, the deposits will probably become more important as the field is large and as much of it is easily available for such purposes. The position of the clay is directly below the Brookville or Newland coal and, on the average, about 24 feet above the Upper Mercer or Big Red Block ore. The material is everywhere a plastic clay with good bonding and working properties. It is usually somewhat siliceous in character but otherwise very free from detrimental impurities. From more than forty measurements, the mean thickness of the bed is 4 feet 6 inches and the variation from 1 to 7 feet.

Brown Township. - Upper Pottsville strata are found at the surface in the western half of Brown Township, but in this area the Brookville clay is regularly present only in the southwestern portion, elsewhere being absent or at least very poorly defined. In southwestern Section 32, the bed is 3 to 4 feet thick, the material of fair quality, and the deposits have an elevation of about 780 feet. In Strong Hollow in south central Section 31, the member is close to drainage level and where measured has the following thickness and relations:

The member, 3 to 5 feet thick, is also exposed at an elevation of about 710 feet. in central Section 25. It disappears below drainage along Raccoon Creek near Brewer Cut in Section 19.

Swan Township. - In Swan Township the Brookville members are nearly entirely absent, not through replacement but through lack of deposition. Thin local lenses of siliceous clay appear at only a few places in the southern part. Such deposits have no ceramic value.

Jackson Township. - The Brookville clay is due along all the main ridges in eastern Jackson Township but as a distinct unit it is present in only a few sections in the southeastern part. In southern Section 24, the bed is found at an elevation of approximately 960 feet and measures from 3 to 5 feet in thickness. The clay is siliceous in character but otherwise of fair purity. The conditions are similar in sections 25, 26, 35, and 36:

Pennsylvanian System 16

Richland Township. - The member has fair continuity in eastern Richland Township where it is present along all the main ridges. It is lacking, however, in development and quality, frequently being less than 2 feet thick and very siliceous in character. Near the Pawpaw School in Section 1, the Brookville clay is nearly 4 feet thick and the overlying coal about 1 foot. Where observed the clay measures 1 foot in central Section 11, 3 feet in southeastern Section 16, 1 foot 6 inches in western Section 28, 2 feet.in northeastern Section 32, and 2 feet 6 inches along Jackman Ridge in Section 34. In the last named area the overlying coal is well developed and has been mined at a number of places.

Elk Township. - On the whole, in Vinton County, the Brookville clay as well as the accompanying coal is best developed in Elk Township. The bed has an average thickness of about 5 feet, is very free from damaging impurities, and is present above drainage in the entire area. This clay has been regularly used for a few years for ceramic products by the McArthur Brick Company at McArthur.

Along the road in southwestern Section 12, the clay is exposed at an elevation of 800 feet and has a thickness of 5 feet, and in adjacent areas the measurements are not far different. In the northwestern part of the township, the bed expands from 3 to 6 feet and the material is about standard in quality. The stratigraphic features are shown in the following record taken in south central Section 17:

The thickness of the clay where measured on the Margaret Morley farm in Section 20, and near the Hawk School in Section 30, is 5 feet. At McArthur the Brookville clay, which is obtained by stripping, is

The clay is somewhat siliceous in character. That in the lower part of the bed is much higher in free silica than that in the upper part. It is free from iron oxide concretions and pyrite nodules.% The deposit varies in thickness from 4 to 7 feet. Both the underlying and the overlying shales are used for brick making and are converted into a red building brick of good color and structure.

Where exposed along the road in southwestern Section 22, the Brookville clay is of good quality and measures 5 feet 6 inches in thickness. Deposits similar in development were also observed in northwestern Section 15, in northern and southern Section 14, and in central Section 23. At the coal mine of William Jacobs in Section 25,REIk Township, a sample of Brookville clay was taken for testing. Measurements of the strata there are given below:

The sample was taken under favorable conditions and is representative of the deposit. (For analysis see page 156.) In this locality the clay thickens to as much as 5 feet.

Madison Township. - Owing to the dip of the rocks to the east, the Brookville clay is above drainage only in small areas in Madison Township. It is exposed along Raccoon Creek in sections 34, 35, 29, 30, and 36, along the small stream in western sections 32 and 33, and along Elk Fork in sections 31 and 25. The deposits are somewhat uncertain in both thickness and qualivs The overlying coal is generally well developed.

Along the abandoned road that leads from Raccoon Creek to the ridge east in Section 30, the Brookville members were well exposed in a gully cut by erosion, The clay here is only 2 feet 6 inches thick but near by it measures 4 feet. The overlying coal is thin and bony.

Pennsylvanian System 155

IPA ESTINCE OLIS Maa ee RUT Eee GA. Acena ¢ hid osialicTa re eys, Goss Sign a ernie SAMA SCONE Dales Mal Nia ls echoes Srska ciate re ta cich crabs sedate everece 2 Road forks, elevation 716 feet.

An exposure of the Brookville member along the road in central Section 35 shows 3 feet 4 inches of light, plastic clay underlain by 3 feet of light, siliceous clay, and this in turn by 2 feet of light, argillaceous sandstone. The overlying coal is 1 foot 9 inches thick. On Wheelabout Creek the bed disappears below drainage in southern Section 29. In the western part of sections 32 and 33, the outcrop indications are that the member is about 5 feet thick and of good quality. In the vicinity of Vinton Furnace in Section 31, the deposits are somewhat erratic in thickness, varying from 2 to 5 feet. The Brookville member disappears below covering in eastern Section 25.

Clinton Township. - The Brookville clay appears above the valley floors in only the western half of Clinton Township. The member is generally present at the proper horizon but locally it is thin, siliceous, and impure. In the best deposits the material is well fitted for ceramic products but has not been used for such purposes.

Where exposed along the road in central Section 6, this clay measures 4 feet 10 inches in thickness, is of good quality, and lies 877 feet above tide. The overlying coal is thin and bony. Outcrop exposures observed in sections 5, 7, and 8 also indicate fair development. In central Section 29, the bed measures 5 feet in thickness but is somewhat siliceous in character. It is overlain by only 5 inches of Brookville coal. The position of the member is about 54 feet below the Vanport limestone. Near Hamden Furnace, the Brookville clay varies in thickness from 1 to 5 feet and in composition from a fat, plastic to a lean, siliceous material.

In Vinton County the field in which the Brookville clay is most promising includes southwestern Brown, northwestern Madison, Elk, southeastern Jackson, eastern Richland, and western Clinton townships. The total area is about 80 square miles. However, through loss by erosion, replacement by other beds, and lack of development, only about half of this should be considered productive territory in which the thickness of the bed is 4 feet or more. The Brookville is everywhere a plastic clay rather high in bonding properties and is rather free from pyrite and concretionary matter. The common impurities are free silica and mica which are most abundant in the clay in the lower part of the deposits. The general properties, both physical and chemical, are shown in the following test made of a sample taken by W. Stout in November, 1923, at the mine of William Jacobs, which is located in northeastern Section 25, Elk Township:

Working properties: Plastic, smooth texture. Has excellent working properties through the machines without detrimental cracks or laminations.

'Chemical analysis by D. J. Demorest of Ohio State University and physical tests by H. B. Henderson of the Standard Pyrometric Cone Co., Columbus, Ohio.

Pennsylvanian System 1O7

Possibilities: Intermediate heat duty refractories, face brick, hollow block, fire proofing, sewer pipe. This clay burns to a good clear color and has a long burning range.

The McArthur Brick Company at McArthur has successfully used the Brookville clay for a few years in the manufacture of high grade face brick. It is a siliceous, plastic clay with moderate refractory qualities; it works well through the machines, dries easily and safely in the tunnel drier, and has a long burning range with low shrinkage. The ware develops a clear golden buff color which is very attractive. Both smooth faced and rough textured wares are made.

In the main field in Elk, Madison, and Brown townships, the thickness of the overlying Brookville or Newland coal varies from 1 foot 4 inches to 4 feet but averages about 2 feet 6 inches. Both coal and clay may be mined from the same entry as the conditions are favorable for such work. The roof is a tough, shaly limestone and the floor a hard, argillaceous sandstone. In most of the area the accompanying coal, with fair economy, will furnish the fuel required for manufacturing the clay into ware.

The Brookville clay along the line of the Baltimore and Ohio Southwestern Railroad from Hope to Dundas and along that of the Hocking Valley Railway from Elk Fork to Dundas offers opportunities for the establishment of successful ceramic plants for the manufacture of a wide variety of ware. The associated coal is a good ceramic fuel and may be mined cheaply along with the clay. Shipping facilities, building sites, water, and labor are also at hand.

Allegheny Formation

The important division of rocks overlying the Pottsville formation was defined in 1858 by Rogers of the First Geological Survey of Pennsylvania and called by him the Lower Coal Measures.1_ This name was regularly used until 1900 when O'Harra of the Maryland Geological Survey changed it to Allegheny formation, which term has been generally adopted in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, and West Virginia. This formation begins at the base of the Brookville or No. 4 coal and extends to the top of the Upper Freeport or No. 7 coal. The most important members of this formation are Brookville coal, Putnam Hill limestone, Clarion clay, Clarion coal, Vanport limestone, Ferriferous ore, Lower Kittanning clay, Lower Kittanning coal, Oak Hill clay, Middle Kittanning coal, Lower Freeport coal, and Upper Freeport coal. Other members of little importance are also present. The Allegheny formation of Ohio extends in a broad belt southwestward from the Ohio-Pennsylvania State line in Columbiana and Mahoning counties to the Ohio River in Scioto and Lawrence. The area covered is approximately 2,600 square miles. The thickness is variable but the usual range is between 175 and 280 feet.

The Allegheny formation is the most important division of rocks appearing at the surface in Vinton County as it contains the most valuable deposits of coal, clay, and limestone. Aside from these, shale, sandstone, flint, buhrstone, and iron ore are also present and have aided in the development of the region. The mean thickness of the formation is 236 feet. It is thinnest in the northern part of the county and thickest in the southern part. Rocks of this age are exposed in Brown, Swan, southeastern Jackson, eastern Richland, Elk, Madison, Knox, Clinton, Vinton, and Wilkesville townships.

Pennsylvanian System 159

Clarinets ace Sandstone, only locally well developed| 10 0 Shales aranie suliceo Us masse ve eee ee eee: 4 0 Winters< 25.54 22. Coal, locally with good thickness.... 2 3 | Clay, plastic, poor quality.......... Ee 7 ZalCee > fc e nee Flint, gray to black, caleareous...... 1 2 eo Shale; dark; siliceous: «05 il eeneers os 1 0 Opan. 4:2 eer : Coal, generally thin, often absent.... 10 Clay; plastic, fair-purity<.2 sn oe y 8 Shale and'eandstones sc sae 16 4 Putnam Hill. .... Limestone and limy shale, fossiliferous| 2 9 Brookville....... Coals locallyrotvalivenectet rane 2 5 "DOUG » ass tix eos okie ee ee ee 235 8

Pennsylvanian System 161 Brookville Coal

The Brookville or No. 4 coal, the basal bed of the Allegheny formation, was first recognized by Rogers in 1858 as a distinct unit in the coal fields of Jefferson and adjacent counties in western Pennsylvania.! From this region the stratum has been traced with a degree of certainty, by other geologists, westward and southward across Ohio into Kentucky. In Ohio a marine limestone, the Putnam Hill, lying directly above the Brookville member, has been a valuable guide in the correlation of the deposits on this horizon over a wide area. 'This coal throughout the Ohio field lacks the regularity of development of other beds higher in the formation but it extends with some wants and many impoverishments from Columbiana and Mahoning counties on the north to Scioto and Lawrence counties on the south. It is best represented in Stark, Wayne, Tuscarawas, Holmes, Coshocton, and Vinton counties. It has been mined in many localities for local fuel but in only a few places for railroad shipment.

In Vinton County the Brookville or No. 4 coal is locally known as the Newland seam as it first attracted attention on the Newland farm near McArthur. The member is due above drainage over a wide area across the central part of the county but, in some regions, especially in northern Brown and Swan townships, it is absent through lack of deposition. It is more regularly present in southwestern Brown, western Madison, Elk, southeastern Jackson, eastern Richland, and western Clinton townships. The deposits of most value are found near Zaleski in Madison Township, near McArthur in Elk, and on _ Jackman Ridge in Richland. The Brookville coal lies directly below the Putnam Hill member, represented in this area by shaly, fossiliferous limestone, by fossiliferous shale, or by both materials. Further, its position is, on the average, 29 feet above the Upper Mercer ore and flint, 26 feet below the Zaleski black flint, and 53 feet below the Clarion coal. The bed is very uncertain in thickness, expanding from 1 inch to as much as 5 feet 6 inches with an average from more than fifty measurements of 2 feet 5 inches of which 4 inches is clay parting. The Brookville member is also erratic in structure. In places it is represented by a single stratum of coal, elsewhere by two, three, or even more benches of coal separated by partings of clay, pyrite, or bone shale. The most persistent clay parting varies in thickness from 1 inch to 2 feet. Moreover lenses of hard, bony splint or impure cannel coal, usually between 2 and 8 inches thick, may appear in the lower and middle parts of the thicker deposits.

Brown Township. - In Brown Township the Brookville coal as a definite unit is present only in the southwestern part. Along Raccoon Creek and Twomile Run in the northwestern portion, it is absent or very poorly represented. On the property of M. M. Kasler near the mouth of Big Sandy Run, the coal was prospected by a shaft 28 feet deep and is reported to be about 4 feet thick. In the bed of Raccoon Creek, south of Brewer Cut, in Section 19, it has the following thickness and structure:!

In north central Section 25, the blossom of this coal is exposed along the road at an elevation of 710 feet. A small mine is operated on the Strong property in the southern part of this section, the entry being near the level of the Baltimore and Ohio Southwestern Railroad. A section in the mine is given below:

The coal is mostly rough in appearance, due to the presence of thin, shaly partings. In Strong Hollow in southern Section 31, it is found near drainage level and has been mined in a small way. The upper bench of coal measures 1 foot 2 inches, the clay parting 4 inches, and the lower bench of coal 1 foot 3 inches. It is overlain by 1 foot 9 inches of fossiliferous shale and shaly limestone of the Putnam Hill member. Along the road in the southwestern part of Section 32, a thin coal blossom was observed at this horizon. The elevation of the deposit is 779 feet.

Swan Township. - No deposits of Brookville coal worthy of attention are present in Swan Township. In a few places in the southern part, the horizon is marked by thin lenses of shaly coal and carbonaceous shale. The associated Putnam Hill limestone member is also absent from the section.

Pennsylvanian System 163

Madison Township. - In Madison Township, the Brookville member is present above drainage along Raccoon Creek in sections 30, 36, 35, 29, and 34, along the small tributary of Elk Fork in sections 32 and 33, and along the main stream in sections 31 and 25. In this area the bed is persistent but is variable in thickness, structure, and composition. It has been mined in a small way at a number of places.

Along the abandoned road in southwestern Section 30, the Brookville deposit is made up of 1 foot of good coal underlain by 10 inches of bone coal and coaly shale, and is accompanied by 1 foot 9 inches of gray, fossiliferous shale of the Putnam Hill member. In Strong Hollow in Section 36, this coal has been mined at a few places by drifting. The deposit is about 3 feet thick and is regularly divided near the middle by a clay parting of 4 to 6 inches. Where observed in the central part of Section 35, the bed is free from deleterious matter and measures 1 foot 9 inches. East of this in the central part of Section 29, the member was well exposed in a gully at the side of the abandoned road. It lies near the foot of the hill at an elevation of approximately 760 feet. The measurements are 4 inches of coal, lower block, 4 inches ot clay parting, and 1 foot 4 inches of coal, upper block. In the hollow south of Raccoon Creek in central Section 34, the Brookville member has been mined by stripping along the stream. The exposure shows the following strata:

The Brookville coal also appears in the stream bed at an elevation of about 800 feet in the west central part of the same section. Its position is 25 feet below the Zaleski black flint. The coal was mined rather extensively for a few years by the Mohio Coal and Mining Company in northwestern Section 32. At the head of the entry and under deep cover, a sample was cut in 1922 by the writer for testing. (For analysis see page 168.) The measurements are given below:

Ft. In ne El Con BS Oe ena ke 15 0 Shale, bluish-gray, very fossiliferous, Putnam Hill.......... 3 6 Coal, bituminous...... 8 Sulphur band, rejected. 1 Coal, bituminous. ..... Brookville, altitude 700 feet Clay, rejected. ........ 5

The mine was dry and the coal cut from a clean, bright face. The sample is representative of the fuel in that area. Near the old stack of Vinton Furnace in Section 31, the exposure shows two benches of coal of 1 foot 1 inch and 10 inches respectively divided by 6 inches of bone shale. The elevation of the deposit is 785 feet. Just above the flood plain of Elk Fork in the south central part of Section 25, the Brookville member was prospected by a short entry and is reported to be 3 feet

Elk Township. - The thickest and most persistent deposits: of Brookville or Newland coal in Vinton County are found in Elk Township where the bed has long been mined for a part of the local fuel supply and also in a desultory way for shipment. As elsewhere the deposits vary greatly in thickness and in structure. The bed is usually divided into two coal benches by a clay parting and locally contains lenses of a hard splint or impure cannel coal. The thickness of the stratum varies from a few inches to as much as 7 feet.

Near the line in the east central part of Section 3, the Brookville coal is mined by drifting by F. L. King on the property of Harvey Alkire. A sample was cut by the writer in 1922 for testing. (For analysis see page 169.) 'The section of the coal is given below:

The sample was taken under good cover where the coal was bright and solid. The mine was dry. From reports the member has good thickness also along Raccoon Creek in central Section 2 where it was formerly prospected by a short entry. Outcrop exposures in southwestern Section 12 show from 8 inches to 3 feet 2 inches of coal on this horizon. The stratigraphic relations of the Brookville to other members higher in the formation are shown in the following record taken along the road in southeastern Section 11:

In the southern part of Section 14, the Brookville or Newland coal is about 3 feet thick but is very bony, and the entire bed is affected by thin shale partings. The deposits lie at an elevation of about 800 feet. West of this in Section 15, the member is also erratic in thickness and character. In the south central part of the section, it is mined for local trade by S. B. Ullom. Measurements of the coal are given below:

Section 22. It is reported to be from 1 foot 6 inches to 3 feet thick. At the mines of the McArthur Brick Company in Section 27, it measures 1 foot 8 inches and is without partings. On the farm of Truman Dixon near by, the thickness of the lower bench of coal is 9 inches, the clay parting | foot 9 inches, and the upper bench of coal is 2 feet 1 inch. The coal in the lower block is bony but that in the upper one is of fair quality. At this place the position of the Brookville coal is 53 feet below the Clarion coal. On the property of William Jacobs in northeastern Section 25, a wagon mine is operated for local trade. The thickness and structure of the member are shown in the record given below:

Ft. In SEL CAR 2) aan renee Seneca sees ee 10 0 Shale, dark gray, fossiliferous.......... } Puinam Hill 2 4 Limestone, shaly, fossiliferous......... fi Coal, with thin layers of BED RED Sor aoe cant Brookville, altitude 730 feet i 3 Clay and bone coal.... 6 Coalspantisplint.-. a... 1 10 CLAY PRABELCs: 5S anouseect Le "as eA eee see a ee : 0

In a prospect opening along the road in east central Section 36, at an elevation of 675 feet, the deposits consist of 10 inches of coal, lower block, 10 inches of clay parting, and | foot 3 inches of coal, upper block. The bed is overlain by the usual roof, the fossiliferous shale of the Putnam Hill member. In sections 4, 5, and 6, the deposits are thin and impure. The bed was mined at a few places in Section 7 and is reported to expand locally to as much as 4 feet. It has good thickness also in parts of sections 8 and 9. On the farm of Samuel Noble in central Section 17, the Brookville coal is regularly mined for local trade. This was formerly the Newland property, the type locality for the bed in this region, hence the local name Newland coal. The present mine is close to the original working. A sample was taken by the writer in 1922. (For analysis see page 169.) The section follows:

The sample was cut where the coal was bright and solid but it was somewhat moist as the mine was wet. At the abandoned Moore and Minton mine northwest of the above, the measurements are somewhat similar. In sections 19 and 20, the bed is generally thin and uncertain. A small local mine is operated by Charles Dayton in the north central part of Section 30. The record secured is given below:

Where exposed along the road, at an elevation of 900 feet, in the southeastern part of the same section, the lower coal bench, very shaly in character, measures | foot 9 inches, the clay parting 1 foot 8 inches, and the upper block of coal 1 foot 10 inches. The roof material is the gray, fossiliferous shale of the Putnam Hill stratum. In sections 28, 29, 31, 32, and 33, the coal is generally thin and has been mined at few places.

Richland Township. - In this township the Brookville coal is found along all the high ridges except those in the northwestern part. The member, however, is poorly represented except along Jackman Ridge in Section 34, where it has exceptional thickness and where it was formerly mined for local trade. Near the Pawpaw School, the bed is found at an elevation of 920 feet and is reported to be only 1 foot thick. The measurement is about the same on the Frank E. Farnsworth property in southeastern Section 2. No deposits of value were observed in eecrons) 11125 13,714, 15, 16, 21,22; 23, 24, 25, or 26. On the'farm of William Nichols the Brookville coal was prospected by a small entry. About 2 feet of coal is exposed in the old opening above which is present 2 feet 3 inches of fossiliferous shale of the Putnam Hill member. The deposit lies near the top of the ridge at an elevation of 1,010 feet. South of the Jackman School in Section 34, on the John Jackman property, the following record was secured: that in the remainder of the bed is somewhat rough in appearance. Some pyrite nodules are also present. In this locality the bed varies from 2 to nearly 6 feet in thickness but elsewhere in the southern part of Richland Township it is generally thin. The member extends westward to the eastern part of Section 32 where it is present at an elevation of 1,015 feet.

Clinton Township. - The Brookville coal is of little importance in Clinton Township as it is everywhere thin and locally replaced by sandstone. It is present above drainage in the western half. An exposure along the road in central Section 6 and at an elevation of 892 feet shows 1 foot 6 inches of coal broken by thin, shaly partings. Other surface indications in this vicinity are even less promising. Along the valley west of Hamden Furnace, the member, where observed, varies in thickness from 4 inches to 1 foot 6 inches. The roof is fossiliferous shale, 1 to 4 feet thick. This coal has not been mined in a regular way at any place within the area.

In Vinton County the deposits of Brookville or Newland coal of sufficient thickness and steadiness for drift mining are confined to local areas in southwestern Brown, northwestern Madison, Elk, and eastern Richland townships. The field is not large but it is ample in size to guarantee much fuel for future needs. In many of the thicker deposits two varieties of coal are usually present. The major portion of the bed is ordinary bituminous coal which is rather dull in luster and somewhat rough in appearance. Interstratified in this are thin lenses of hard, shaly coal which may be called, either an impure cannel, or adense splint. It splits in thin slabs along closely spaced bedding planes. Concretions and thin laminae of pyrite are generally present but rarely abundant in the fuel. The Brookville is a highly volatile, non-coking coal, much resembling the Mercer members in most respects. The general quality of this fuel is shown by the analyses by Prof. D. J. Demorest and given below:

Ultimate Proximate As Moisture As Moisture received free. received free Carboy. eee oho 66.01 69.03 MOiStutré ss eons eee 4.37 0.00 Fvdrogen jcc ccc vse ABS 4.56 Volatile matter: .....+ 37.99 39:73

The above tests show that the Brookville or Newland coal in Vinton County ranks rather low in quality. It is high in ash and volatile matter, low in fixed carbon and heating value, but the sulphur is not excessive. The ash is clay-like and fuses only at high temperatures. Owing to the large content of volatile matter, this coal burns with a long flame, which feature is desirable in firing some kinds of ceramic ware. It is used locally for domestic purposes and formerly was shipped for steam generation. Mining conditions are good as the roof everywhere is a tough, calcareous shale and the floor a rather siliceous clay. The development of the Brookville member will yield best results by working both coal and clay conjointly and by using the coal to manufacture the clay into a high grade ceramic product which will have a ready market over a wide area. Thus utilized the deposits offer substantial possibilities for increasing the wealth of the region.

Putnam Hill Limestone

The Putnam Hill limestone, named by Andrews in 1869, from exposures on Putnam Hill, near Zanesville, is purely an Ohio member. Up to the present time (1925) it has not been recognized by geologists either in Pennsylvania or in Kentucky. In Ohio the member is characteristically developed and very steady in a large interior field including parts of Stark, Wayne, Tuscarawas, Holmes, Coshocton, Muskingum, Licking, and Perry counties. South of this in Hocking and in northern Vinton counties, the bed is wanting or very feebly developed. It appears again, however, in southern Vinton and: in Jackson counties in a modified form, that is, as deposits of calcareous shale and shaly limestone, both very fossiliferous and unlike the type material, chemically, physically, and faunally. The change in this part of the field has caused confusion in the correlation of both Putnam Hill and accompanying Brookville members.!

'In the report on Vinton County by Andrews (Report of Progress in 1870, pp. 92- 126) the fossiliferous shale and shaly limestone on this horizon are, in some sections, rightly placed as the Putnam Hill and in others, incorrectly as the Blue or Lower Mercer member. These marine strata constitute the McArthur limestone of Morningstar (Bull. 25, pp. 116-129). The associated coal, locally called the Newland seam, was assigned by Orton (Vol. V, p. 159) to the Upper Mercer horizon. The same bed farther south in Jackson, Scioto, and Lawrence counties was called by Stout (Bull. 20) the Tionesta coal. "The relations indicated by the present survey of Vinton County and adjacent areas is that the Putnam Hill limestone of central Ohio is correlative with the McArthur member of Vinton County and that the Brookville coal of the main basin is stratigraphically the same element as the Newland or Upper Mercer coal of Orton and the Tionesta member of Stout in the southern isolated portion of the field.

Pennsylvanian System 171

Richland, and western Clinton townships, but it is wanting or very impoverished in northern Brown, Swan, and eastern Jackson townships. The beds are of marine origin and bear an abundant fauna. In unweathered material the fossils are usually well preserved and easily collected. The thickness of the deposits varies from 2 inches to 10 feet but averages from more than 40 measurements 2 feet 9 inches. The most common material on the horizon is light to bluish gray, calcareous shale, which carries an abundant fauna of marine origin consisting largely of brachiopods and pelecypods. At the base of this stratum and just above the Brookville coal, lenses of shaly limestone also rich in fossil remains are locally present. In Vinton County the position of the Putnam Hill member is, on the average, 24 feet below the Zaleski black flint, 62 feet below the Vanport limestone, 31 feet above the Upper Mercer ore and flint, and 71 feet above the Lower Mercer limestone. It is of interest chiefly for its stratigraphic and paleontological features.

Brown Township. - The Putnam Hill member is largely wanting in the northwestern part of Brown Township but is very well defined in a few sections in the southwestern portion. It passes below drainage along Raccoon Creek in central Section 19. From 1 to 2 feet of fossiliferous shale marks the horizon along the road in Section 25 and along the stream in southern Section 26. In Strong Hollow in south central Section 31, the member is present at drainage level and consists of 9 inches of blocky, fossiliferous limestone, overlain by 1 foot of gray, fossiliferous shale. Similar deposits are present at an elevation of 780 feet in southwestern Section 32.

Swan Township. - lIn most of Swan Township, the Putnam Hill limestone and also the accompanying Brookville coal are absent or very poorly developed but local deposits were observed along Raccoon Creek in the southeastern part. In northern Section 36, the bed is present at an elevation of 780 feet and is about 1 foot 6 inches thick. It appears again at a few places along the ridge west of Creola in sections 31, 32, and 33. Near Hue in Section 6, the member outcrops along the ridge summit at an elevation of approximately 1,030 feet. The material is a calcareous shale, rich in fossil remains.

Jackson Township. - Owing to the rise of the rocks to the west, the Putnam Hill member in Jackson Township is confined to the ridge summits in the southeastern part. Few exposures were observed. Near the Curry School in northwestern Section 36, about 2 feet of fossiliferous shale is present at an elevation of 980 feet. The member extends northward along the high ridges in sections 26, 23, and 24.

are typical in character and normal in position. In central Section 1, it consists of 5 inches of shaly limestone overlain by | foot or more of very fossiliferous shale. Its position is 15 to 25 feet above the Upper Mercer ore and about the same distance below the Zaleski black flint. An outcrop 'of this fossiliferous shale, 2 feet thick, was exposed at an elevation of 980 feet along the ridge in central Section 11. On the property of William Nichols in central Section 28, the following beds were exposed at the mouth of an old coal mine:

Along Jackman Ridge southeast of the above, the member is persistent and locally very thick. Near the school the measurements show from 6 to 8 inches of shaly limestone overlain by 2 to 4 feet of gray, calcareous shale. In both materials the fossils are abundant and well preserved. The elevation of the deposits is about 985 feet.

Elk Township. - The Putnam Hill marine stratum as well as the accompanying Brookville coal is more persistent and better developed in Elk Township than in any other part of Vinton County. It is above drainage in the entire field. The following record, taken along the road in southwestern Section 12, shows the stratigraphic relations of the Putnam Hill to other members in the upper part of the Pottsville and the lower part of the Allegheny formations:

"a SNaley Pare, WALK taht Aisin eee tytrert ai we rater ener erate 17 6 Shale, very fossiliferous, Putnam Hill, elevation 795 feet 1 6 Coal: blossom; Brockeiles, 28.25 Se ee oe one 8

On the hill north of this the fossiliferous shale of the Putnam Hill member is 3 feet 6 inches thick and is underlain by nearly 3 feet of coal. The member is also well developed in sections 11, 10, and 2. In north central Section 14, it consists of 6 inches of shaly limestone and 3 feet 2 inches of calcareous shale, both extremely fossiliferous. The deposit lies along the road near the foot of the hill and at an elevation of 800 feet. At the Moore and Minton mine in the north central part of Section 17 the following relationships are revealed:

In this locality the position of the Putnam Hill member is 64 feet above the Lower Mercer limestone and 65 feet below the Clarion coal. From observations the member is steady in the western part of the township in sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 30, 29, 31, and 32. At the mines of the McArthur Brick Co. at McArthur, this fossiliferous shale measures on the average about 2 feet 6 inches and the underlying coal 1 foot 8 inches. The gray shale lying above the Putnam Hill stratum is used in the manufacture of vitrified building brick. On the property of Truman Dixon in northwestern Section 27, the following beds were exposed for measurement:

At the mine of William Jacobs in northeastern Section 25, the member is also well represented, consisting of 7 inches of shaly limestone and 2 feet 4 inches of calcareous shale, both materials bearing an abundant fauna. It is equally well developed in the eastern part of Section 36.

Madison Township. - Owing to the eastward dip of the rocks, the Putnam Hill member passes below drainage along the streams in the western part of Madison Township. The physical and stratigraphic features observed here are much the same as they are in Elk Township to the west. Along Strong Hollow in northeastern Section 36, the member is present not far above the valley floor and consists of both shaly limestone and calcareous shale. The bed, 1 foot 9 inches thick, was well exposed along the abandoned road in southwestern Section 30, has an altitude of about 755 feet, and lies 30 feet below the Clarion coal and 102 feet below the Lower Kittanning member. Similar deposits outcrop along the hills facing Raccoon Creek in sections 29 and 34. The bed appears just above drainage in southwestern Section 33 and in northwestern Section 32. Just east of the old stack of Vinton Furnace in Section 31, the following record was obtained:

Pennsylvanian System 175

The position of the Putnam Hill member in this locality as thus measured is 62 feet below the Clarion coal and 88 feet below the Vanport limestone, which are the best benches for reference. The stratum passes below the bed of Elk Fork in the eastern part of Section 25.

Clinton Township. - The Putnam Hill marine limestone is due above drainage along all the larger streams in the western half of Clinton Township but in parts of the area the bed is replaced by sandstone. Where present the member is generally thin and consists largely of calcareous shale. But few deposits were observed along the ridges in sections 5 and 6. This member is present at an elevation of 840 feet in western Section 16, at 850 feet in central Section 29, and at 815 feet near Hamden Furnace in Section 28.

The Putnam Hill member in Vinton County is not a true limestone but more a calcareous shale, rich in fossil remains. Locally the lower part of the bed is rather hard and blocky and may be called an impure, shaly limestone. In this part the content of calcium carbonate is 30 to 50 per cent, most of the CaCO; coming from the shells of the marine fauna. The shaleislowin such matter. The chief value of the member is that it contributes small quantities of lime to the soil on this horizon. The outcrop may often be detected by the abundance of blue grass and clover growing in such a residual soil. The member is of interest largely for its stratigraphic and paleontologic features.

Ogan Coal And Clay

In southern Vinton and in northern Jackson counties a bed of gray to black flint makes its appearance in the Allegheny formation between the Putnam Hill limestone and the Clarion coal. The stratum seems to be confined to this local area as it has not been definitely recognized elsewhere in Ohio. The flint bears an abundant marine fauna. The deposits expand in thickness from 2 inches or less to 4 feet 6 inches or more. The flint is accompanied by two coal beds, one lying closely above and the other directly or not far below the siliceous stratum. Both coals are underlain by clays which vary greatly in thickness and in character. The normal order of deposition in this local basin is therefore, clay, coal, flint, clay, and coal. Although closely spaced, the two coal beds are not depositionally related as they were laid down, not during one continuous swamp period, but during two periods which were separated by the marine invasion that gave rise to the flint stratum. Locally, however, the flint member is very thin or it even gives way to a few inches of siliceous shale in which case the two coal beds appear to be only separate benches of the same deposit.

In former reports the name Winters coal was given indiscriminately to that above the flint, to that below, or more commonly to both beds combined. It was thus designated on account of a prominent mine on the Winters farm located about one mile southwest of McArthur. For the coal lying above the flint stratum the name Winters is retained whereas for that found below this marine deposit the term Ogan is applied, as this member is not only well developed but its stratigraphic relations are definitely fixed on the Ogan farm in Section 14, Elk Township. The flint may conveniently be termed the Zaleski member for the thickest deposits are present west of this village.

The main field in which the Ogan coal is locally distributed includes southwestern Brown, southeastern Jackson, eastern Richland, Elk, western Madison, and western Clinton townships. The bed is uncertain in extent, erratic in character, and varies in thickness from a mere soot streak to about 3 feet with an average of not more than 10 inches. The bed may be either free from shale partings or much broken by such lenses. Its position is directly or closely below the Zaleski flint. The intervals to other well-known members are as follows: 24 feet to the Brookville coal, 53 to the Upper Mercer ore, 29 to the Clarion coal, and 40 to the Vanport limestone. The clay associated with the Ogan coal is of only fair quality. It is plastic in character and usually siliceous in composition. The deposits are uncertain in thickness, expanding from 1 to 5 feet or with an average of not more than 2 feet 8 inches. On the whole, this clay is of little importance. The Ogan coal and clay have fair development in the southwestern part of Brown Township. Their relations to other members are well shown in the following record taken along the road in southwestern Section 32:

Pennsylvanian System 77

' The Ogan coal is present but generally thin in sections 31, 26, and 25 of the same township. It is wanting in most of Swan Township, appearing only locally in the southern part as thin lenses of shaly coal or carbonaceous shale. In Jackson Township, the Ogan coal is present along the summits of the high ridges in sections 23, 24, 25, 26, 35, and 36. The coal is generally of fair quality but the thickest deposits measure not more than 1 foot. The conditions are much the same in Richland Township where the stratum was observed in sections 1, 2, 11, 12, 13, 24, and 32. The stratigraphic features are shown in the following record taken in the northern part of Section 1:

The Ogan, Zaleski, and Winters members are all better developed in Elk 'Township than in any other part of Vinton County and the type section for each is within the area. They have fair continuity but vary greatly from place to place in thickness, character, and arrangement. The coal beds only locally thicken sufficiently for mining. In general the Winters bed exceeds the Ogan in development. Locally the flint stratum separating the two members is very thin or it even passes to a siliceous shale only a few inches thick. In this case the Winters and Ogan coals, divided by only a thin parting, appear as one deposit and hence are mined conjunctly.

In north central Section 1, the Ogan member outcrops in a ravine on the property of Mrs. H. J. Malone where it was mined by stripping. The structure and thickness are shown in the record given below:

The Ogan coal at this place lies about 40 feet below the Clarion coal and 75 feet below the Vanport limestone. In sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, the bed is generally thin, often decreasing to a mere soot streak. On the ridge west of Elk Fork in Section 9, the Ogan coal was formerly mined in conjunction with the Winters. In general in sections 10, 11, and 12, the thickness of the stratum is 3 to 10 inches and the overlying material gray or black flint of the Zaleski member. On the Ogan farm in Section 14, the following relations were observed:

Both the Ogan and the Zaleski members reach their maximum development in this vicinity, which should therefore be considered the type locality. Here the coal is not only persistent but is of fair thickness and quality and the overlying flint stratum, 1 to as much as 5 feet thick, presents all the variations from the gray, calcareous to the black, lustrous material and contains abundant fossils of marine origin. Other records west of this in the central part of the township show the same order of deposition but considerable variation in both thickness and character of the members. In the old Winters mine near McArthur, the Ogan coal is nearly 2 feet thick and is separated from the overlying

Pennsylvanian System 179

Winters coal by only 1 to 6 inches of shale and flint. The conditions are much the same east of the town except that the flint thickens locally to 1 foot or more. The stratigraphic relations of the various beds are well shown in the following record taken on the property of William Elliott in east central Section 26:

In Madison Township the Ogan coal is above drainage only in the western part along Raccoon Creek, Wheelabout Creek, and Elk Fork. The bed is everywhere thin and in places wanting. The overlying Zaleski member also shows impoverishment, changing from flint to iron ore and to siliceous shale. Likewise the Winters coal is variable and unsteady. These features with their stratigraphic relations are shown in the following record taken along the road southwest of Zaleski in central Section 35:

South of Raccoon Creek in Section 34, the Ogan coal is more normal, varying from 4 to 10 inches in thickness, and is usually accompanied by 6 inches to 2 feet of flint. The deposits are similar in sections 33 and 32 but near Vinton Furnace in Section 31, they are thin, variable, and uncertain, indicating marginal deposition. The basin apparently does not extend far eastward or southward. These members are absent also as definite stratigraphic units in Vinton Township where they are due above drainage along Pierce Run from Oreton to Radcliff. isa The Ogan member is moderately persistent in Clinton Township and is absent more through replacement by sandstone than through lack of deposition. The stratum is everywhere thin, less than 1 foot, and is usually overlain by flint or hard shale. Along the road in northwestern Section 16, the following rocks were exposed:

Deposits similar in character were observed in sections 15, 22, 23, 28,"and 29. The overlying Zaleski member in places expands to more than 2 feet in thickness.

The Ogan coal may be considered a fuel asset of only slight importance to Vinton County as the field is small and as the bed is thin in most places. The mean thickness in the main basin is about 10 inches and the maximum measurement nearly 2 feet 8 inches. At present (1925) the bed is not regularly worked at any place within the area but formerly it was mined by stripping or by drifting in a few localities for small supplies of domestic fuel. In general this coal is the ordinary bituminous but in a few deposits thin lenses of cannel coal are also present. .From appearances the Ogan coal is of fair quality as it is moderately free from shale and pyrite impurities. It belongs to the class of free-burning, high volatile fuels. In the thicker deposits the mining conditions are good as the roof is the Zaleski flint, solid and strong, and the floor a siliceous shale. Near McArthur the Ogan and Winters coals were mined conjointly as there they are separated by only a thin layer of siliceous shale or shaly flint.

The clay associated with the Ogan coal averages less than 3 feet in thickness but expands locally to as much as 8 feet. In general it is of poor quality, being siliceous in character and contaminated with concretionary matter. In conjunction with other clays and shales, it is used by the McArthur Brick Company at McArthur for the manufacture of a few grades of building brick.

Zaleski Member

The most characteristic material on the Zaleski horizon is-a black or brownish black flint, hard and lustrous. This rock breaks in any direction with a deep conchoidal fracture and with sharp edges. The coloring pigment appears to be most largely disseminated carbon. Like most dense strata in the coal formations, it is regularly divided by joint planes into rectangular blocks. The exposed material is traversed by a network of fine cracks due to expansion changes. Aside from the true flint, the horizon also yields calcareous flint, siliceous limestone, calcareous shale, and iron ore. In the limy varieties the color varies from light gray to grayish brown, the shade decreasing as the lime increases. The iron ore under deep cover is a siderite but near the surface this has been changed to a limonite. The calcareous flint and siliceous limestone are exceedingly fossiliferous whereas the hard flint and iron ore are only sparingly so.!

In Ohio the Zaleski member with its associated Ogan and Winters coals has as yet been recognized only in southern Vinton and northern Jackson counties. The basin thus appears to be small, as now outlined, covering an area of not more than 130 square miles. The limits of such deposition to the north and to the south are well defined as these beds give way to shales and sandstones. To the east, before they pass under cover, they become thin and variable, indicating marginal conditions. To the west, however, a part of the original deposits has been lost by erosion. The evidence thus indicates that during early Allegheny time conditions for sedimentation were such that in this small basin two coal beds and a marine, calcareous flint were deposited whereas elsewhere in deeper water shale and sandstone were

The stratigraphic position of the Zaleski member is, on the average, about midway between the Brookville coal and the Clarion coal, or 26 feet above the Brookville and 27 feet below the Clarion. These intervals, however, vary much and erratically from place to place. The flint usually forms the roof of the Ogan coal and the floor for the clay of the Winters coal. The mean thickness of the Zaleski member from more than thirty measurements is 1 foot 2 inches but the variation is from a few inches to about 5 feet.

The Zaleski member is due above drainage along Raccoon Creek and Twomile Run in western Brown Township. The only deposits observed, however, are in sections 25, 31, and 32, where a thin stratum of flint or an iron ore is occasionally present. Likewise in Swan Township, the few irregular lenses are confined to the southern part.

In Jackson Township the Zaleski member, more persistent and distinctive, is confined to the main ridges in the southeastern part. In southern Section 24, the bed, at an elevation of 1,010 feet, is 4 to 10 inches thick. Near the Centenary Church in Section 23, the stratum outcrops near the ridge summits and was quarried rather extensively by the aborigines for various implements such as arrows, scrapers, drills, knives, and hoes. Some of the pits are yet quite distinct. Local deposits are also present in sections 25, 26, 27, 34, 35, and 36.

Owing to the dip of the rocks to the east, the Zaleski member is present only on the main ridges in eastern Richland Township. In this area the bed is uncertain in extent, thickness, and character. It varies from 3 inches to 1 foot 6 inches in thickness, and from a hard, dark brown, lustrous flint to gray, shaly material. The most noteworthy deposits are present in sections 1, 2, 11, 12, 13, and 24. Flint from this area was also used by the aborigines as several quarry pits are still (1925) evident in southeastern Section 2 and in central Section 11. Further, chipping grounds are found at many places along the ridges. The most western exposures are on the high knobs in Section 32, where the elevation of the bed is about 1,030 feet above tide and the thickness nearly 1 foot.

The shallow water conditions giving rise to the precipitation of siliceous matter by organic life, although widespread in Elk Township, were not continuous over the whole area, as some wants are apparent in the northern and southern portions. The deposits with maximum development are present near McArthur and east of Zaleski, in which areas the stratigraphic relations to other beds are also definite, thus fixing the position of the flint stratum in the geological column. Along the road in southwestern Section 12, the following rocks were exposed:

Pennsylvanian System 183

The Zaleski member at this place is very fossiliferous and it is somewhat calcareous in composition. Its position with reference to overlying and underlying members is about normal for this part of the township. The best developed deposits observed in the county are present on the Ogan farm in southeastern Section 14. Measurements taken here are given below:

The material in this deposit varies from a calcareous flint to a siliceous limestone. It bears a large, well preserved, marine fauna and thus affords good collecting. Less than one-fourth mile west of the above exposure, the Zaleski member changes to a dense, black, lustrous flint more than 3 feet thick. In eastern Section 10, the stratum, represented by similar material and present at an elevation of nearly 880 feet, is less than 1 foot thick. The development is not far different in Section 15. In the western part of the township, the deposits are local and thin and the flint more shaly in character. Its relation to other members is shown in the following record taken in southern Section 19:

On the hill just east of McArthur, the Zaleski member outcrops at an elevation of about 860 feet. It is here a hard, dark flint, 6 inches to 1 foot 4 inches thick. Its position is just below the Winters coal, which formerly was mined for local needs, and 30 feet above the Brookville or Newland coal. The member is also present with fair development in local areas in sections 23, 26, 27, and 35.

In Madison Township the Zaleski member is above drainage only along Raccoon Creek, Elk Fork, and their minor tributaries in the western part. The bed is very unsteady, being absent more often than present. It may be represented by flint, iron ore, or impure shale. In the vicinity of Zaleski, the deposits, either flint or iron ore, are thin and local, but south of Raccoon Creek in Section 24 the flint is better developed and more persistent. It was quarried by the aborigines along the stream beds, carried to the ridges, and there worked into implements for hunting and domestic use. Chipping grounds with much refuse are still evident in this locality. A measurement of the bed is given in the following record taken in central Section 33:

The position of the Zaleski member is about 30 feet above the Brookville coal and 20 feet below the Clarion member. The stratum is above drainage but poorly developed along Elk Fork near Vinton Furnace in Section 31.

The area in which the Zaleski member is due above drainage in Vinton Township is confined to the valley of Pierce Run from Oreton to Radcliff, but no deposits of flint or even iron ore were observed, although the overlying Winters coal is steady and well developed. This member likewise fails in parts of Clinton Township. The deposits are not only isolated but change in character from hard flint to siliceous shale. It is best represented near Hamden Furnace. Near Dundas the horizon is locally marked by iron ore or shaly flint. The stratigraphic relations are shown in the following record, taken along the road in northwestern Section 16:

Pennsylvanian System 185

In sections 22 and 23 the flint thickens locally to as much as 2 feet or more. It is usually calcareous in composition and shaly in character. The member is closely overlain by the Winters coal which is mined in a small way for domestic fuel. The following measurements, taken in central Section 23, are approximately representative:

The Zaleski member, represented by either flint or iron ore, is locally present also in western Milton, eastern Washington, eastern Coal, and eastern Lick townships, Jackson County. The associated Ogan and Winters coals are very uncertain and frequently wanting.

The flint of the Zaleski member was of far more value to the aborigines than it has been to the white man as it was extensively used by these prehistoric people living along the Scioto Valley and in other parts of southern Ohio. A goodly portion of the dark-colored flint implements used by them was from this source. The bed was quarried to some extent throughout the entire area of outcrop in Vinton and Jackson counties. From the abundance and the wide distribution of implements from Zaleski flint, the native people evidently regarded these deposits next in value to the great bed of Vanport flint on Flint Ridge in Licking and Muskingum counties. The flint used was obtained not so much by quarrying as simply gathering large blocks exposed along hillsides and stream beds. The quantity of such material is large. The Zaleski flint chipped easily and was fashioned into arrows, spears, knives, drills, scrapers, and skinners, many showing a high degree of workmanship.

The Zaleski member is of little value at present as neither the flint nor the iron ore is employed for useful purposes. The iron ore was formerly mined in a small way at a few places near Dundas and near Hamden for smelting in the charcoal furnaces. It was worked only along the outcrop where the ore is a soft limonite. The deposits are

Winters Coal And Clay

The Winters coal, named for deposits on the Winters farm located. about one mile southwest of McArthur, is another member with small areal extent as it has been recognized with certainty only in southern Vinton and northern Jackson counties. The total area of this basin is approximately 130 square miles in Vinton County and 50 square miles in Jackson. The position of the Winters coal is just above the Zaleski flint and about midway in the interval between the more important Brookville and Clarion coals. The field is not only small but within it the bed is unsteady and variable. During the period the regional deposition in the waters of the sea appears to have been shale and sandstone. In this small area, however, swamp conditions were established giving rise to the formation of clay and coal, but in it the local diversity in depth and circulation of water, infiltration of sediments, abundance and nature of flora, and other factors was such that the Winters beds were deposited with wide variation in both thickness and character.

The Winters coal expands erratically from a mere soot streak to more than 4 feet. In the main field the average thickness of the bed from more than forty measurements is 2 feet 3 inches. In character it changes from a rather pure fuel to shaly coal and on to carbonaceous shale. Further, in places the stratum is free from partings whereas elsewhere it is much divided by such layers. The clay associated with

The variation in thickness is from 6 inches to 10 feet with an average of about 3 feet 6 inches. In general this clay belongs to the siliceous, plastic type common to the coal formations. It bears sufficient basic impurities to reduce it to low refractory rank. Impure ganister and siliceous flint clay are locally present in irregular bodies on the horizon. The members are best developed near McArthur, Zaleski, Hamden, and Oreton.

Brown Township. - Throughout western Brown Township the only patches of Winters coal observed were in sections 19, 25, 26, 31, and 32. These deposits are not only small but the coal is thin and impure.

Pennsylvanian System 187

Swan Township. - The Winters member as a well-defined unit is absent in all of Swan Township except along Raccoon Creek in the southeastern portion where it appears in isolated areas. The stratum is too impoverished to be of economic importance.

Jackson Township. - In Jackson Township such deposits are confined to the southeastern part where they occur only on the high ridges and knobs along the main water divides between Salt Creek and Raccoon Creek. The elevation of the bed is 1,030 feet at the Shively School in Section 23 and 995 feet near the Curry School in Section 36. Both the Winters coal and the Zaleski flint appear to be persistent. Outcrop exposures indicate that the coal is 6 inches to 2 feet thick but its position near the ridge summits is not favorable for mining.

Richland Township. - The area in which the Winters coal is locally present in Richland Township includes that along and that east of the main divide extending from Pawpaw School in Section | to near Richland Furnace in Section 3, south. In this field the stratum is not only unsteady but in few places well developed or of sufficient thickness for mining even in a small way.

Outcrop exposures indicate that in Section 1 the Winters coal expands irregularly from a few inches to about 2 feet. In the southeastern part of Section 2 it lies near the ridge summit about 990 feet above tide. In a prospect mine on the property of John Reynolds, Jr. in southern Section 13, the deposit has the thickness and structure shown below:

The Winters coal at this place is 21 feet below the Clarion coal and 27 feet below the Vanport limestone. In the southeastern part of the township the member is everywhere thin and in places wanting. Its position on Jackman Ridge in Section 28 is about 1,030 feet and in central Section 35 nearly 930 feet.

Elk Township. - The maximum development of the Winters coal in Ohio is found in Elk Township but even in this area it is far from steady and is variable in both thickness and character. The stratum has been mined at many places for local needs and at a few places for railroad shipment. The thicker deposits are largely exhausted.

In sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, the Winters coal is absent except in local patches where it is thin and impure. The member is more prominent in sections 7 and 8 and has been mined in a small way just west of Elk Fork in central Section 9. In southeastern Section 11, the member has the thickness and structure given below:

Spn Pnunwhnno

The deposits are likewise thin or shaly in sections 12 and 13 but show improvement in Section 14 where they expand locally to 2 feet or more and where the fuel is of fair quality. In a mine on the George Wrightsel farm in central Section 15, the following measurements were secured:

In this mine the coal benches are very irregular in thickness and the partings change rapidly as they are lenticular in character. The bed lies only a few feet above the Zaleski flint, 22 feet above the Brookville coal, and 18 feet below the Clarion member. The Winters coal was formerly mined in southwestern Section 16 and in southeastern Section 17. The thickness is reported to vary from 2 to 5 feet. Near by on the property of Benjamin Dillon, the following record was secured:

Pennsylvanian System 189

The bed is mined in a small way both by stripping and by drifting. The best deposits in this locality are now largely exhausted, but to the west in sections 18 and 19, the member is regularly present but has less thickness. East of McArthur in Section 21, the Winters coal has also been mined for many years to supply the local trade. At the mine of George Thompson the following record was taken at the head of the entry: . |

The coal is hard, bright, and clean. Its position is about 4 feet above the Zaleski flint and 35 feet above the Brookville or Newland coal which was also mined in this locality. In sections 22, 23, and 24, the deposits are in general not so thick and are more variable in character. The Winters coal was formerly mined for shipment by John - West on the property of William Elliott in east central Section 26. <A sample was cut for testing. (See analysis, page 195.) The measurements secured are given below:

In places in the mine the Zaleski flint and associated materials are so thin that the Ogan coal was worked along with the Winters. Much good fuel is yet available in this locality. At this place the Winters coal lies 36 feet above the Brookville member. West of this at the mine of Allen Townsend, its position with reference to the Vanport limestone is shown. 'The strata exposed are as follows:

At the mines of the McArthur Brick Company in southwestern Section 27, where it was formerly mined for local use, the Winters coal varies from 1 to 4 feet in thickness. As shown in the cut of the shale pit the stratum expands and contracts rather rapidly and erratically and varies not only by changes in the thickness of the separate coal benches but also by the addition or disappearance of other layers. The general stratigraphy of the Winters coal is also well defined at this place as is shown in the following section:

Pennsylvanian System 191

In the above section the Zaleski flint and the Ogan coal, usually associated with the Winters member, are absent but they appear near by on the proper horizon. The-type locality for the Winters coal is on the Winters farm in west central Section 28 where the bed was worked for many years. The mines were all abandoned when the region was visited in 1923-24. According to Orton, the member here! consists of two coal benches, each 2 feet thick, separated by shale, 1 to 6 inches thick. Near by on the farm of Miles E. Dawson in central Section 29, the following measurements were obtained in a drift mine:

In this locality the Winters coal lies also about 27 feet above the Brookville coal and 92 feet above the Lower Mercer limestone."}In sections 30 and 31, the member is usually present but variable in thickness and in character. In central Section 32, it is mined in a small way on the farm of Edgar Harper where the following measurements were taken in the main entry:

In west central Section 35 on the property of Reese Ankrun the Winters coal was formerly mined for shipment. The stratum varies from 2 feet 4 inches to 3 feet 6 inches in thickness and lies 23 feet below the Clarion coal which was also worked for the general trade.

Madison Township. - The Winters member appears above drainage in Madison Township only along Raccoon Creek, Elk Fork, and their tributaries in the western part. In general the deposits are thin and impure and have furnished but little fuel even for local needs.

In the vicinity of Zaleski in sections 30, 36, 35, and 29, the bed is wanting or thin and impure. In southwestern Section 33 on the George L. Ferris property, the Winters member is mined by drifting. A sample for analysis was taken at the head of the main entry. (For analysis see page 196.) The stratum at this place has the thickness and structure shown below:

In this locality the Winters coal lies only a few feet above the Zaleski flint and 37 feet above the Brookville coal. Near Vinton Furnace in sections 31 and 25, the deposits are generally thin and much brokén by shale partings.

Vinton Township. - The area of Winters coal above drainage in Vinton Township is small as the deposits are confined to the valley of Pierce Run from Oreton to Radcliff. The stratum is persistent but otherwise shows much variation, especially in its stratigraphic position, as in places it lies only a few feet below the Clarion coal whereas else- _where it is separated from the higher member by 20 to 30 feet of shale and sandstone.

In south central Section 28, the Chicago-Oreton Company worked the Winters coal for the general market. Measurements obtained in the mines are given below:

Pennsylvanian System 193

The Winters coal is bright and hard and of fair quality, being much superior to the overlying Clarion. Locally in this area the overlying sandstone replaces a part of the stratum. This decrease by replacement is shown in the following record taken near the road forks in central Section 27:

Clinton Township. - The Winters member, although rather widely distributed in Clinton Township, is most persistent and noteworthy in the central part where it has been mined in a desultory way for local needs. Owing to the patchy nature of the deposits, they differ in thickness, structure, and character from place to place. The associated Zaleski and Ogan members are only locally present. In this area the position of the Winters member is 12 to 30 feet below the Clarion coal with an average interval of separation of about 20 feet.

In the northwestern part of the township the Winters member is poorly developed, the thickest deposits observed measuring only about 1 foot. Near drainage level in west central Section 10, the bed has been mined in a small way both by stripping and drifting. The thicknes§ reported is 1 foot 8 inches. In a prospect opening at the A. R.

At this place the position of the Winters coal is 30 feet below the Clarion coal and 70 feet below the Lower Kittanning member. Outcrop exposures at an elevation of 820 feet indicate that the bed is generally thin in southwestern Section 13. The deposits are of little value also in sections 14, 15, and 16, where locally the member is underlain by the Zaleski flint and its associated Ogan coal. In Section 23 the Winters coal so improves in thickness and in quality that it is mined for local fuel. At a drift mine in the west central part, the following record was obtained: |

Mining conditions are fair as the overlying shale is moderately strong and as the underlying clay is hard and siliceous. For domestic use the Winters coal is considered much superior to the Clarion. On the Tarr farm in central Section 23, the Winters member has also been mined by drifting. At this place the thickness of the lower bench of coal is 1 foot 1 inch, the clay parting 3 inches, and the upper bench of coal 1 foot 6 inches. It lies about 2 feet above the Zaleski flint which here has a thickness of 1 foot 10 inches. At a small mine in the southwestern corner of Section 27, a measurement of this stratum was secured. The record follows:

Pennsylvanian System 195

South of Hamden Furnace in Section 28, the Winters coal was formerly mined at a few places. The bed is reported-to vary from 1 foot to 3 feet 6 inches in thickness.

As a fuel asset to Vinton County the Winters coal ranks fourth, being surpassed by the Middle Kittanning, Clarion, and Brookville members. This coal has been worked in but few places for shipment but it has been mined for many years over a rather wide area for a part of the local domestic supply. As a whole the field is still far from exhaustion. It has been worked most largely in Elk Township and to a less extent in western Madison, western Vinton, and eastern Clinton.

The Winters coal is of the ordinary bituminous type, differing little in appearance from other coals in the Allegheny formation of Ohio. It burns freely owing to the high content of volatile matter and has a fairly high ash content and a moderately low heating value. The general quality of the Winters coal is shown by the following analyses:

The member was sampled by W. Stout in 1922 at the mine of John West on the William Elliott property in Section 26, Elk Township. The sample was taken at the head of the entry, well under deep cover, and is representative:

A sample was also taken in a drift mine on the land of George L. Ferris, Section 32, Madison Township. It was cut by W. Stout.in 1922. The coal was bright and solid but the mine somewhat moist.

The Winters coal is best suited for general heating and steam making purposes. It is satisfactory also for burning the more common kinds of ceramic products as it burns freely until consumed and produces a long flame which imparts color and finish to the ware. Locally it has a good reputation for household use. The ash, although rather large in amount, 1s clay-like in character and clinkers only at high temperatures. Some soot is produced in burning but the quantity is not enough to be troublesome. On the whole, the Winters coal has sufficient merit to serve most of the uses to which locally it is applied.

The general mining conditions of the Winters coal are about on a par with those of other beds in the Allegheny formation of this region. The roof in most of the field is usually a tough gray shale or a massive sandstone, both solid and strong, but in a few places near McArthur the bed is overlain by a tender shale which crumbles on exposure to the air. Thin layers of ''draw slate'' are also locally present in eastern Elk and central Clinton townships. The floor of the coal is a siliceous clay which makes fair footings for posts and tracks. On account of the clay partings in the deposits the coal as mined is somewhat dirty and on exposure to the weather it is discolored by whitewashing. Bone bands and pyrite lenses are not common impurities. This coal is too tender to withstand severe shooting and handling without considerable loss in "fines." In the thicker deposits throughout most of the field, however, the conditions for mining the Winters coal at a moderate cost are not prohibitive. Quality, alone, excludes it from the best markets. The chief value of the Winters coal in Vinton County is not to supply fuel for the general trade but to furnish what is needed for local purposes. Thus applied the maximum benefits may be obtained from an asset otherwise yielding little revenue to the region.

Pennsylvanian System 197 Clarion Sandstone

The Clarion sandstone with wide areal extent and massive development in parts of southern Ohio is poorly represented in most of Vinton County. Like most sandstones in the coal formations of Ohio, its position is somewhat indefinite. The thick deposits fill most of the space between Brookville coal and Clarion clay but the thin deposits are confined more to the upper part of this interval. The lower surface of such deposits is far more irregular than the upper. In Vinton County, where the small basin bearing the Ogan coal, Zaleski flint, and the Winters coal appears, the position of the Clarion sandstone is between the Winters coal and the Clarion clay. Such deposits, however, are local and variable.

In Swan Township the Clarion sandstone is most conspicuous in the northeastern part where it varies in thickness from 5 to 25 feet. Thin lenses of such material are rather widely distributed in Elk Township and appear with some regularity in southwestern Madison. In Vinton Township the member is very persistent in the small area of outcrop along Pierce Run from Oreton to Radcliff, where it is the chief material filling the interval between the Winters coal and the Clarion clay. The thickness of the stratum varies from 1 to 27 feet. Similar conditions are found in eastern and central Clinton Township.

The Clarion is an open, loosely cemented sandstone, rather fine in texture and micaceous in character. It varies in color from light gray in unweathered material to pale buff on exposed surfaces. The bonding components are clay matter and iron compounds. This sandstone decomposes readily on weathering, making it unfit for building purposes, and it is far too impure and too fine in grain for glass making or concrete work. 'The only probable use is for molding sand for small castings.