Catoctin Formation
Geologic formation in the eastern US / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Catoctin Formation is a geologic formation that expands through Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.[1] It dates back to the Precambrian and is closely associated with the Harpers Formation, Weverton Formation, and the Loudoun Formation.[1] The Catoctin Formation lies over a granitic basement rock and below the Chilhowee Group[1] making it only exposed on the outer parts of the Blue Ridge.[2] The Catoctin Formation contains metabasalt, metarhyolite,[3] and porphyritic rocks, columnar jointing, low-dipping primary joints, amygdules, sedimentary dikes, and flow breccias.[4] Evidence for past volcanic activity includes columnar basalts and greenstone dikes.
Catoctin Formation | |
---|---|
Stratigraphic range: Ediacaran | |
Type | Formation |
Underlies | Chilhowee Group |
Overlies | Basement Rock |
Thickness | 100-400 Feet |
Location | |
Region | Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania |
Country | United States |
Type section | |
Named for | Its exposure on Catoctin Mountain |
Named by | Arthur Keith |
![]() Geological Map of the Catoctin Formation shown in blue and other formations associated with it. |