39.65 /4: 6uL_ 37 Bulletin No, 29 ng Pebruary 25, 1922. Ms 'M. LEIGH | COMMON PALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA a DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS James F, ijoodward, Secretary nt a en RURE..U OF TOPOGRAPHIC uND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY George H, Ashlcy, State Geologist te RE et a oa ———————— OT GEOLOGIC STRUCTURE OF THE GREENSBURG QUADRANGLE, PENNA. M,. Be. Johnson (eee ee ee oN ON The Greensburg quadrangle lics east of Pittsburgh in vestmore- land and Allegheny countics. It contains 227 square miles, and is 17% miles long and 13% miles wide, The village of New Texas is in the extreme northwest corner and Dick is in the southwest corner. Grecnsburg is situated about four miles northwest of the southeast corner of the quadrangle and Saitsburg is three miles east of the northeast corner. The gcologic examination of the area was made in the summer of 1921 by several members of the State Geological. Survey, The results of this ficla work arc being compiled by the writer and the follow- ing description of the geologic structure ig published with the hope that it may be a guide in the further exploration for oil and gas. The Greensburg quedrangle is traversed by three strong anti- Clines (up-folds) and three synclines (down-folds). These structural folds cross the cuadrangle in a northeast direction in accordance with the gencral structure of western Pennsylvania. The synelines and anticlines become sharper and the folds are more pronounced from west to east. The following description of the various structures treats of them in order from northwest to southeast, Duquesne Syneline. ‘This synelinc, originating as a branch of the Pigeon Creek syncline, passes through Dravosburg and Duquesne, follows up Thompson Run and enters the Greensburg quadrangle three-~ fourths of a mile northeast of Trestle. It crosscs the northwest corner of the Greensburg quadrangle as a broad shallow basin. The axis pursues a general northeast course between the village of New Texas and Plum Creck church, —s ‘ ‘ ‘ Ya i ' 4 Pleas! | ‘ - ’ e * H ¥ r, ’ * ‘ \ . Lge Prey ‘i ] Toa" \ Merny mh Tai ; ; red t <4 { * me ‘ * s . b ; Me ‘ rs ; n i ‘ ' 2% ey , ‘ F ( ; A i f wit ¢ i ar : ‘ et é \ b . } d * ‘ y fe ‘ A a r L/ P ian : a Oe A Sy : Asner el a Le ‘ f ae j J alld , , ut Murrysville Anticlinc. Tremendous cuantities of gas obtained from this anticline in the past have made it imown to everyone in this region whe is interested in the production of Cogete and gas The Supply of gas is by no means exhausted even nov The.’ anticline passes thiough West Elizabeth, Clairton, Belle Br es and Versailles and enters the Greensburg quadrangle spout one mile southeast of Trafford City station of the Pennsylvania Railroad. MThe axis passes about half a mile east of Murrysville (from which place the anticline gets its name) and continues in a northeasterly direction. The Murrysville anticline is strongly developed in the Greensburg quad- rangle. It increases in elcvation to the northeast and raises the Pittsburcth coal horizon (the coal has been eroded) from 1280 feet ebove sea level at the west boundary of the quadrangle to over 1800 feet at the north boundary. Irwin (Port Royal) Synelino The Port Royal syneline = inown to bitwainows “Coal operators as 5 the Trwin basin - hes its greatest deve lopment in the Greensburg quadrangle, The axis of this syncline passes one auarter of a mile wost of Herminie, through Westmoreland City and Taner, half a mile west of Harrison City and one mile east of Export. The whole structure pitches to the southwest or in other words the bottom rises from south of Horminie where the Pittsburgh: 2-0al is well below the surface and is less than 600 feet above sea, to the vicinity of Expert where its elevation is 950 fect. Northeast of Export the structure rises much more rapidly and the Irwin basin propex can be said to end three or four miles northeast of Export. Here the Pittsburgh coal crons out and in the saddle between the ea aan and the Bléers Ridge syncline most of the coal hes been eroded The Hlders Ridge - aaa the south end of which is in the ‘Greensburg quadrangle , is:a continuation - of the Jrwin syneline as both lie between the Murrysville and the Grape vig: anticlines. The Hlders Ridge syncline has a low pitch to tho nor,east and the Pitts- burgh coal sinks from an elevation of 1250 feet at the mouth of Porters Run to 1170 feet at the quadrangle boundary. Grapeville Anticline. This structure also is well known to oil and gaS men. It has produccd tremenduous quantities of gas in the past and still is a largo producer, art of the structure has not yet been tested by the drill. The south end of this anticline is just north of ‘YJalts Mill on Sewickley Creek, The crest rises rapidly and one mile southcast of Arona the horizon of the Pitts- burgh coal is at an elevation of 1460 fect. From this point the axis cxtconds northeast through Hisaman, swings more to the cast and passes through Grapeville, cuts tle main line of the Pennsylvania Railroad about one mile east of Jeannette station, inclines slightly more to the east and passes directly through the village of Five Points. The highest part of the anticline is a dome about three and one-half miles northeast of Jeannette, Here the horizon of the Pittsburgh coal is more than 1800 feet ebove sea level, Northward the clevation of the Pittsburgh coal horizon decreases 150 fcet in four miles, i i fi \ i ; : fl ‘ + ’ a4 : ' ’ { 4 .* ‘ ra ‘ : » t r ae | U a ee . et _ ; an A _ i 5 wy 2) - : 1 i oh i iy 0 ' t } r “s 4 mn Pe : \ AS F bd at F \ ‘ $e) wav i iN iS iss ‘ aM iy an Ob | baa ’ ' 7 : f : ’ a ae : tt ANAens. 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The Greensburg basin has long beon known to coal operators 2S one of the fcur great coal basins of western Pennsylvania. Tho city of Greensburg is in tho middle of the basin and owes its existence largely to the valuable Pittsburgh coal bed vwaderneath it. , The south end of the Greonsburg syneline is just east of the tip of the Grapeville anticline. The axis of the syncline crosses the Greensburg quadrangle in 2 northeast direction, passing through swede Hill anc the city of Greensburg, ond loaving the quadrangle Ofe mile cast of Hannastown. At the bottom of the basin, two miles north of Greensburg, the Pittsburgh coal is 775 feet above sea level. Bast of Hannastown the coal hes risen to 830 feet. Southwest of Greensburg the structure rises rapidly. The horizon of the coal - the coal has been eroded = along the axis of the syncline at the’ south boundary of the quadrangle is at an clevation of 1250 feet. Fayette Anticline, The Payette anticline, like the Duquesne Syncline, crosses onl a corner of the quadrangle. The axis of the anticline has a north..2st-southwest trend and is close to the Hempficld-Unity township line. The anticline rises sharply from South to north. Feaniiee | at waite eA a nee The anticlincs and synelines described above and shown-on .thes.°* accompanying map, constitute the major structural features of the quadrangle, There ere many minor kinks and folds in the syn@lines: and on the anticlines which are of local importance only. Some of* these it is impossible to show on the structure shcet on ie ees of the large contour interval which it was found necessary to u Gs . SN) SENIA. 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Bhp * ws Wn a te . a } iF wih wie a re ia \ My h , } ¥ : f ; ie he i } ft Mad Mia eds i 4 Raw iy hi tet ‘ ng hehe eA . y j qa ‘ Se ‘ ¢ i ot ! } i +4 ‘ f a it py J ; - fi ar Ca") Mid Dy ae y : i ' 4 ee - Piet 1 fs Ay Re eA EM hg oui {A we ek te fe ‘é Ten Ab eit? es iwe7 al / 1 6p eit ha Re Ponts,* Z / ‘ a od mie ape) / / 4 yy Wy Jif) a NS } vA on | j ) | WP] NIK idle 4 . Ai : iAP OF GREENSBURG QUADRANGLE SHOWING GEOLOGIC STRUCTURE Structure contours on horizon of Pittsburgh coal. 9 r | Miles aK ‘ t ~ . ” ' - ; ‘ + ‘ i t ie ‘ ‘ ‘i J : { 1d ll rot ae i : N i rgteate He me 7) Paar | “ eal ice Uy rat art un ' the’ walt ILLINOIS-URE ag tif At ll il ii ii il