- Usage in publication:
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- Wardell formation
- Modifications:
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- Named
- Dominant lithology:
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- Limestone
- Shale
- AAPG geologic province:
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- Appalachian basin
Summary:
Named the Wardell formation for settlement of Wardell, near Tazewell-Russell Co. line, southwestern VA. Consists of STROMATOCERUM beds, RECEPTACULITES BICONSTRICTUS beds, coarse-grained limestone, and overlying buff shale. Thickness is more than 200 feet south of Wardell, thins gradually to the northeast and pinches out near Tazewell. At type section unit overlies Burkes Garden member of Benbolt formation; toward Tazewell from Russell-Tazewell Co. line, Gratton limestone appears between the two formations and thickens at expense of the Wardell; in western part of the county, the Wardell is overlain by a sandstone that pinches out northeast of Russell-Tazewell Co. line; east of Liberty this sandstone is absent and the Wardell is overlain by red mudrock tongue of Bowen Formation. The Wardell overlaps successively younger beds to the northeast and is overlapped in the same direction by successively younger beds. The Wardell is of Middle Ordovician age.
Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Reston GNULEX).
- Usage in publication:
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- Wardell formation
- Modifications:
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- Areal extent
- AAPG geologic province:
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- Appalachian basin
Summary:
Geographically extended the Wardell formation into northeastern TN. Northeast of Clinch Mountain, the Wardell occurs throughout entire Copper Creek belt from Pearisburg, VA, where it is only about 10 feet thick, to Knoxville, TN region, where it is several hundred feet thick.
Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Reston GNULEX).
- Usage in publication:
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- Wardell limestone
- Modifications:
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- Revised
- AAPG geologic province:
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- Appalachian basin
Summary:
Revised the Wardell to the Wardell limestone. In the Clinchport quadrangle of southwestern VA, the Wardell is mapped along with the underlying Benbolt limestone. This undivided unit consists of argillaceous, cobbly-weathering limestone and coarse-grained gray limestone with blue cherty limestone occurring in upper portion of unit in Rye Cove. Thickness of combined formations is 300 to 425 feet. The Wardell overlies the Benbolt limestone and underlies the Bowen formation.
Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Reston GNULEX).
- Usage in publication:
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- Wardell Formation
- Modifications:
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- Revised
- AAPG geologic province:
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- Appalachian basin
Summary:
Revised the Wardell Formation to be included in the Chickamauga Group in eastern TN. Ranges in thickness from 41 to 82 meters. Overlies the Benbolt Formation and underlies the Bowen Formation, both of the Chickamauga Group. The Wardell is of Middle Ordovician age.
Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Reston GNULEX).
- Usage in publication:
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- Wardell Formation*
- Modifications:
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- Revised
- Areal extent
- AAPG geologic province:
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- Appalachian basin
Summary:
In cross section E-E', in the subsurface of east-central WV and southwestern VA, Wardell Formation is extended into WV in Pendleton Co. Replaces the McGlone 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 ([ ]).