Dunkard Group Explained

Dunkard Group
Type:Group
Age:Pennsylvanian-Permian
Period:Permian
Prilithology:Shale, sandstone, siltstone, coal
Otherlithology:Limestone
Namedfor:Dunkard Creek
Namedby:I.C. White in 1891
Region:,,, and
Subunits:Greene Formation, Washington Formation, Waynesburg Formation[1]
Underlies:Igneous intrusives
Overlies:Monongahela Formation

The Permian Dunkard Group (Pd) is an area of rock, Early Permian in age, in the south of Ohio, southwestern Pennsylvania, West Virginia and the hilltops of the Georges Creek Basin of Maryland.[2] In Ohio, it is found primarily in Washington County. It is notable for being one of the few areas of Permian sediment east of the Mississippi River. In addition, it is the youngest surface rock in the state of Ohio.

Description

It consists of red and green shale, siltstone, and sandstone, with thin lenticular beds of argillaceous limestone and thin beds of impure coal The base of the layer contains thick-bedded, white conglomeratic sandstone. The layer's thickness is greater than 200 feet in Maryland.[2]

The fossils found in the Dunkard Group are similar to ones found in Texas and Oklahoma of similar age.

Stratigraphy

The Dunkard contains three formation. Starting at the base (oldest) is the Waynesburg Formation, Washington Formation, and Greene Formation. The base is marked by the Waynesburg Coal, with the Monongahela Group below. The Washington Coal is found at the base of the Washington Formation and its base marks the boundary between the lower Waynesburg and the Washington formation above. The top of the Upper Washington Limestone marks the line between the Washington Formation and the upper Greene formation.

Fossil content

Portrait!scope=col width="50"
Name
scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA;"Dimetrodon
scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA;"Ctenospondylus
scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA;"Archaeothyris
scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA;"Edaphosaurus
scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA;"Eryops
scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA;"Xenacanthus
scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA;"Ophiacodon
scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA;"Diploceraspis
scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA;"Protorothyris
scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA;"Diadectes
scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA;"Isodectes
scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA;"Brachydectes
scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA;"Phlegethontia
scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA;"Baldwinonus
scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA;"Sagenodus
scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#F8F9FA;"Sysciophlebia balteata

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Berryhill, Jr. . Henry L. . Swanson . Vernon E. . Geological Survey research 1962; Short papers in geology and hydrology . U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper . 1962 . 450-C . 43–46 . 30 June 2018.
  2. Web site: Allegheny Plateau and Valley and Ridge . Geologic Map of Maryland . 1968 . Maryland Geological Survey. 2008-01-26 .