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National Geologic Map Database
Geologic Unit: Witten
Map showing publication footprint
  • Usage in publication:
    • Witten limestone
  • Modifications:
    • Named
  • Dominant lithology:
    • Limestone
  • AAPG geologic province:
    • Appalachian basin
Publication:

Cooper, B.N., and Prouty, C.E., 1943, Stratigraphy of the lower Middle Ordovician of Tazewell County, Virginia: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 54, no. 6, p. 819-886.


Summary:

Named the Witten limestone for Witten Valley Church, Tazewell Co., southwestern VA. Consists of laminated limestone, calcilutite, CRYPTOPHRAGMUS beds, and CAMAROCLADIA beds. Average thickness is 100 feet. Intertongues with underlying Bowen formation, but northeast of Five Oaks, Marys Chapel and Thompson, it lies disconformably on the Wardell formation or Gratton limestone. Underlies the Moccasin formation. The Witten is of Middle Ordovician age.

Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Reston GNULEX).


Map showing publication footprint
  • Usage in publication:
    • Witten limestone
  • Modifications:
    • Areal extent
  • AAPG geologic province:
    • Appalachian basin
Publication:

Prouty, C.E., 1946, Lower Middle Ordovician of southwest Virginia and northeast Tennessee: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 30, no. 7, p. 1140-1191. [Available online, with subscription, from AAPG archives: http://www.aapg.org/datasystems or http://search.datapages.com]


Summary:

Geographically extended the Witten limestone to northeastern TN. Locally in the Cumberland Plateau, calcilutite part of formation reaches a thickness of more than 500 feet.

Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Reston GNULEX).


Map showing publication footprint
  • Usage in publication:
    • Witten Formation
  • Modifications:
    • Revised
  • AAPG geologic province:
    • Appalachian basin
Publication:

Ruppel, S.C., and Walker, K.R., 1984, Petrology and depositional history of a Middle Ordovician carbonate platform; Chickamauga Group, northeastern Tennessee: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 95, no. 5, p. 568-583.


Summary:

Revised the Witten Formation to be included in the Chickamauga Group in eastern TN. Averages about 50 meters thick. Overlies the Bowen Formation of the Chickamauga Group, but where Bowen is absent, lower contact with the Wardell Formation of the Chickamauga Group is difficult to establish. Underlies the Moccasin Formation.

Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Reston GNULEX).


Map showing publication footprint
  • Usage in publication:
    • Witten Limestone*
  • Modifications:
    • Revised
    • Areal extent
  • AAPG geologic province:
    • Appalachian basin
Publication:

Ryder, R.T., 1992, Stratigraphic framework of Cambrian and Ordovician rocks in the central Appalachian basin from Morrow County, Ohio, to Pendleton County, West Virginia, IN Evolution of sedimentary basins; Appalachian basin: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin, 1839-G, p. G1-G25.


Summary:

In cross section E-E', in subsurface of southwestern VA and east-central WV, Witten Limestone is extended into WV in Pendleton Co. Replaces the McGraw Limestone of Perry (1964). Shown as part of the Black River Group. Age is Middle Ordovician (Blackriveran).

Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Reston GNULEX).


For more information, please contact Nancy Stamm, Geologic Names Committee Secretary.

Asterisk (*) indicates published by U.S. Geological Survey authors.

"No current usage" (†) implies that a name has been abandoned or has fallen into disuse. Former usage and, if known, replacement name given in parentheses ( ).

Slash (/) indicates name conflicts with nomenclatural guidelines (CSN, 1933; ACSN, 1961, 1970; NACSN, 1983, 2005, 2021). May be explained within brackets ([ ]).