History and Comprehensive Description of Loudoun County, Virginia — John Shaqi
History and Comprehensive Description of Loudoun County, VirginiaHead, James William
History
History and Comprehensive Description of Loudoun County, Virginia
Head, James William
Loudoun County (Va.) -- History
Along the Coastal plain reduction to baselevel was followed by
depression and deposition of Lafayette gravels; elevation followed and
erosion of minor baselevels; second depression followed and deposition
of Columbia gravels; again comes elevation and excavation of narrow
valleys; then depression and deposition of low-level Columbia; last,
elevation and channeling, which is proceeding at present. Along the
Catoctin Belt denudation to baselevel was followed by depression and
deposition of gravels; elevation followed and erosion of minor
baselevels among the softer rocks; second depression followed, with
possible gravel deposits; elevation came next with excavation of broad
bottoms; last, elevation and channeling, at present in progress.
The general structure of the Catoctin Belt is anticlinal. On its core
appear the oldest rocks; on its borders, those of medium age; and in
adjacent provinces the younger rocks. In the location of its system of
faulting, also, it faithfully follows the Appalachian law that faults
lie upon the steep side of anticlines.
After the initial location of the folds along these lines, compression
and deformation continued. Yielding took place in the different rocks
according to their constitution.
Into this system of folds the drainage lines carved their way. On the
anticlines were developed the chief streams, and the synclines were
left till the last. The initial tendency to synclinal ridges was
obviated in places by the weakness of the rocks situated in the
synclines, but even then the tendency to retain elevation is apt to
cause low ridges. The drainage of the belt as a whole is anticlinal to
a marked degree, for the three main synclinal lines are lines of great
elevation, and the anticlines are invariably valleys.
In order of solubility the rocks of the Catoctin Belt, within the
limits of Loudoun County, to which section all subsequent geologic
data will be confined, stand as follows:
1. Newark limestone conglomerate; calcareous.
2. Newark sandstone and shale; calcareous and feldspathic.
3. Newark diabase; feldspathic.
4. Granite; feldspathic.
5. Loudoun formation; feldspathic.
6. Granite and schist; feldspathic.
7. Catoctin schist; epidotic and feldspathic.
8. Weverton sandstone; siliceous.
All of these formations are in places reduced to baselevel. The first
three invariably are, unless protected by a harder rock; the next
three usually are; the Catoctin schist only in small parts of its
area; the Weverton only along a small part of Catoctin Mountain.
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