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Title: Internal structure of the coal bearing portion of the Pine Mountain thrust sheet, SW VA and adjoining areas

Abstract

Most of Virginia's remaining coal resources occur on the Pine Mountain thrust sheet (Cumberland Overthrust block) which can be traced for almost 155 miles to the SW from the Bishop-Bradshaw Creek fault in McDowell Co., WV, and Tazewell Co., VA to the Jacksboro fault in Campbell Co., TN. The SW end of the overthrust block was detached and moved at least 13 miles to the NW along the Pine Mtn. fault. This was a clockwise rotation of the sheet about a pivot in Buchanan Co., VA during the Alleghanian orogeny and involved uplift across a series of intersecting tectonic ramps creating the Middlesboro syncline and opposing anticlinal uplifts at the SW and NE ends of the overthrust block. The rotation, noted by Bates (1939), was not recognized by Rich (1934) in his model of thin-skinned folding and should be accounted for in reconstructing cross sections and calculating regional shortening. At least 6 major transverse faults developed in the Middlesboro syncline during rotation and extension of the Cumberland block. An enormous amount of strain was propagated into the gently dipping beds in the Middlesboro syncline from the uplifted areas along the SE and NW margins and dissipated by shortening (up tomore » 800%) in upper level detachment folds and coal bed duplexes. Delineating the sequence and orientation of extension and compression should prove useful in structural mapping for safer mine development and coal bed methane recovery in the region.« less

Authors:
 [1]
  1. Virginia Dept. of Mines, Minerals and Energy, Blacksburg, VA (United States). Div. of Mineral Resources
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
6800818
Report Number(s):
CONF-9404221-
Journal ID: ISSN 0016-7592; CODEN: GAAPBC
Resource Type:
Conference
Journal Name:
Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 26:4; Conference: 43. annual meeting of the Southeastern Section of the Geological Society of America, Blacksburg, VA (United States), 7-8 Apr 1994; Journal ID: ISSN 0016-7592
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT; 58 GEOSCIENCES; COAL SEAMS; MAPPING; GEOLOGIC FAULTS; DEFORMATION; VIRGINIA; COAL DEPOSITS; DEGASSING; STRESS ANALYSIS; DEVELOPED COUNTRIES; GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS; GEOLOGIC FRACTURES; GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES; MINERAL RESOURCES; NORTH AMERICA; RESOURCES; USA; 011000* - Coal, Lignite, & Peat- Reserves, Geology, & Exploration; 580000 - Geosciences

Citation Formats

Henika, W S. Internal structure of the coal bearing portion of the Pine Mountain thrust sheet, SW VA and adjoining areas. United States: N. p., 1994. Web.
Henika, W S. Internal structure of the coal bearing portion of the Pine Mountain thrust sheet, SW VA and adjoining areas. United States.
Henika, W S. 1994. "Internal structure of the coal bearing portion of the Pine Mountain thrust sheet, SW VA and adjoining areas". United States.
@article{osti_6800818,
title = {Internal structure of the coal bearing portion of the Pine Mountain thrust sheet, SW VA and adjoining areas},
author = {Henika, W S},
abstractNote = {Most of Virginia's remaining coal resources occur on the Pine Mountain thrust sheet (Cumberland Overthrust block) which can be traced for almost 155 miles to the SW from the Bishop-Bradshaw Creek fault in McDowell Co., WV, and Tazewell Co., VA to the Jacksboro fault in Campbell Co., TN. The SW end of the overthrust block was detached and moved at least 13 miles to the NW along the Pine Mtn. fault. This was a clockwise rotation of the sheet about a pivot in Buchanan Co., VA during the Alleghanian orogeny and involved uplift across a series of intersecting tectonic ramps creating the Middlesboro syncline and opposing anticlinal uplifts at the SW and NE ends of the overthrust block. The rotation, noted by Bates (1939), was not recognized by Rich (1934) in his model of thin-skinned folding and should be accounted for in reconstructing cross sections and calculating regional shortening. At least 6 major transverse faults developed in the Middlesboro syncline during rotation and extension of the Cumberland block. An enormous amount of strain was propagated into the gently dipping beds in the Middlesboro syncline from the uplifted areas along the SE and NW margins and dissipated by shortening (up to 800%) in upper level detachment folds and coal bed duplexes. Delineating the sequence and orientation of extension and compression should prove useful in structural mapping for safer mine development and coal bed methane recovery in the region.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6800818}, journal = {Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States)},
issn = {0016-7592},
number = ,
volume = 26:4,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1994},
month = {Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1994}
}

Conference:
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