5 3968/4: Buc bo Bulletin No, 60 M M LEIGHTON I2NUsry L5 1923, COMMONWEALTH OF FONNSYDVANTA OR ks nee, CD ames mane open Ne renee mee gua > cer gunna tats So DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL .PRLIRS Janes BF. Woodward, Secretary ne ee nt te ee rte BURE,.U OF POPOG:. PHIC wD CEOLOGICAL SURVEY George H, .shley, State Geologist. a ee ee ee ea nes nanan nee 2 a PO es ee Oe Ne ET RON te eR POR Feed ee GEOLOGIC STRUCTURE OF THE PITTSBURGH QUADRANGLE, Pa. M, E,. Johnson fhe Pittsburgh quadrangle is nemed softer the city of Pittsburgh Which, with its suburbs, covers the northwest quarter O2 the 2rer, The quadranele is oblong in share, 13% miles wide and 174 miles long, With 2 total ares of about 227 square miles The Mononshe la “and Youghioghenv rivers meet about at the mi adle of the quadrangle, and the Monong: hela and Allegheny at Pittsburgh, The tovn of Elizabeth is 1] miles north of the southern boundery of the quidrangle; Trafford City nesrly bisects the ecstern bound?ryv. The quadrangle i's thickly nee ulated and: transportation fnrcilities Oreve.celleént, River boats, good roads, trélitey lines end roilrosds, all help in the movement of. prssensers and freight, whe Tield work necessary for the preprration of a geolo Structure sheet and other maps, was done in the summer and f “11 of Pees end Loe e Much of the struetuz e in the southwestern holf of quadrangle is “baigead on mine levels anc pline-t>oble work, The Structure in the northeastern hn-lf is based chiefly on brirometric ond hond+level elevations. ‘These lntter were checlted 2% short intervals against knovm elevations, snd it.is believed thit tne structure is everywhere correct within the contour intervol used, a. 4 the In 2 general woy, the geologic structure of the Pittsburgh quad- engle is like that of the greater prirt of western Pennsylvanian. The rocks have been folded in such 2 way th7t the mojor cwnticlines cna Synclines hive 2 northeast-southwest trend, Womed in order trom northwest to sgh bud icampubel these structures are: Menurry syncline, amity enuicline, Duquesne syneline, and Murrysville mnticline, i. description of them follows, Micghurry syn neline. + broad gentle trough at the herd-waters of Lick Run fone mile north of Broughton) has » branching axis. The min ‘ branch of this syncline extends north through Carrick and the city of Pittsburgh, Just north of the U. 5. .rsenal pronerty the axis veers to the erst alonz the south bank of Allegheny River ind the syneline broadens and rises rather sharply,losing its identity.beyond Aspinwall. . Minor branch of the syncline e-tends through ‘/illock toward Hays and about follows the course of streets Run, The Pittsburgh coal is well benerth the surface nerr Broushton (elevation 870 feet where the azis of the syncline crosses the western boundary of the qundrangle) but the rise in the structure soon brings the coal to the surface end in downtown Pittsburgh it occurs only in the high hills, Amity 4nticline. The axis of the amity anticline crosses the beat | bound ry of the quadrangle two miles west of Snowdon 2nd “tends (with many bends) through Wallsce, Homesteod and Edgewood to be cus, South of Hays the anticline undulates , several domes occurring along the crest, North of Hays the crest rises and bevond i/hite ish (now erlled Sendy Creek) this rise is quite rapid. The anticline is far from strright and has miny kinks and minor folds along its flanks, It is not so pronounced o structure as the Murrysville anticline to the east. Duquesne Syncline. This syncline takes its name from the city of Duquesne t through which it nasses, Its southern end is in the Brownsville nundrengle on the south, The aztis of the syncline crosses the southern boundary 1-3/4 miles east of Gastonville; crosses Peters Creek about three-fourths of a mile east of the mouth of Lick nun; touches the west side of Monongahels River 2% Camden; passes through Duquesne, Turtle Creek and Trestle (now called Center), and crosses the eastern boundary of the quadrangle xbout one mile northeast or the last-named village. The syneline has a fairly uniform pitch to the south and lowers the Sivyssisoh coal from an altitude of 1200 feet at New Tex1s to 780 feet at the southern boundary. At Turtle Creek the Gain Structure branches, minor folds extendinz to the e2st, north ena northwest. a narrow trouch 25 feet deep in the syncline west cf Corl Valley is apparentiv of local. occurrence only. Between Dravosburg and Hast Pittsburgh the pitch of the syncline is very low and probably this flattening of the structure caused the accumulation cf small pools of gas at McKeesport and Iast Pittsburgh, At Linhert nc to the north, 2 prominent nose in the structure very lixely 2ccounts for the small oil pool near that village. A Similar but less prominent nose in the structure east of Turtle Creek e-:plains the presence ot Oil in wells sunk on the Boyd farm (e2st of Turtle Creex and north of Wilmerding). Musrysv ville anvieline. This anticline is the most pronounced Structural feature in the quadranzle. It rises rapidly towards the northeast and raises the Pittsburgh coal from an altitude of 875 feet at the southern boundary of the cuadranzle, *0 1200 feet at Verszilles. Here the pitch becomes much more gentle and this flattening of the structure probably csused the large accumulation of gas in the shneech- ley sand at Versailles. The anticline e:tencs almost due northeast beyond Versailles, -the accis erossins the eastern boundary of the cuac- rangle one mile south of Trafford City. Here the horizon of the eaten coal (the coal has been eroded) is 1280 feet above’ sea- evel. { C3 4 iy \ ‘d \ vy ™) Se 4 ¥ j , ohh a wy 1 ‘ ‘A } ‘ n bey} Lye yal : ; jaa ( { \ j { ¥ { i ; F ‘ 4 j : pa We i] ‘ . f vs 7 f N i \ ) i ety Oak k Yhctuhs Pe itis Vs kL r nes 4 } Ow ' } . A ts | * aay Was Nea {1 at Md eee. f Wie 4 nh N ’ . hw (Witla t ( 4 1 an Aa, Al A) 9.4 } Lea ’ val ea | Ber , ] ' SA ae i, eh ra Wat +a} wt, SOR Sih r B F «/ ‘ ‘i \y Py yi AR ae 1 1 1 Fe hs y mie iu On we VA \ ' vu wy Way tga MALE A Os why i \ ; + \y FT byw q nia Wa 4) y 1 A nH inti AL " MRA ee ee " " i ‘ ) 4 ‘ Rt A “f ys ey , : ‘ \ i r Pa a Ky } qi + ERY | | PY / ‘ hy 4 ' bf y 4 m (ay TDA oA \ r : k Oy , Nid § AN ,, i , Ai a \ ) lah, J hana Hh ae aT NN Tae be cal } a aie 4 : th ‘y ie ‘ ‘ t | } + re. a ») iat j Ae 4 ‘ ye f - yt aaa Wh F 4 ; \ } ‘ ) i ; | 7 ean \ \ 1a) ‘ iy) ( he Tae j ly i \ 4 ( ( \ ‘ H ‘ é yah 4 jl ? 7 ‘ \ p § :) i) ‘ { f "4 ’ ‘ , : 4 i \ i ; i { ja ’ e rh \ \ ' is } : i q > ‘ ; naire dy Dube de MR A cis: Bhai 4 "i ( ¥ y My \ 1A lie’ ; { i ty ai f 7h i) 7 : i ) / Wi i. yy ) Hie 1\¥ Hiei hue " Sh at " bi iJ { ! i? i f iy ENG 4 PO OMT NG } , Xi ean te ge ve’ au 7 1 Pe } ' yo) f 4 ta tree " ’ La. i 7) mt . Mi port Pret Viton * ' ' ‘ i) 4 } ('} f } nya ” 4 \ 1s am Vik ey \ (aa { u 1 ia ‘ b + te) f A Ly j LA K i rn i i } i { 1) Dy ) \ - t ¥, ; hi yy / f U : ayy ~ yi ai r, i Sit" hae , j ugh Y t/ Vif AW yt hy ‘ es I cA iy fy iy! , j r J 4 ‘| he { ra ‘ i) ‘ ‘ Sethe Min ' a] Was i f Y . iy a } Pel Reni Veta uioy a iA} “Sas yi re ie VFA 0, ei She ee Dd Vata et Bek al my vy ‘a pate m * y Hy a) ees I AVIS Alps ie Ant Nh ihe ma sensn| mt nee CN ae } ie : * oleae Ge brits } Nea PW at HN iy Tyin es er ‘ants southerst of Xobbins St-tion and Buena Vistn the structure is comparatively flat, 2 deep and morrow trough nerr Cowsansbure being the only pronounced feature, A Similar but less prominent trough crosses the southern boundary of the cuadrangle rbout two miles west of scott Haven and extends in 2 northwest direction towards Wiley Run. INFLUENCE OF STRUCTURS IN THE ACCUMULATION OF OTL AND GAS ADVICE ON LOC..TION OF PUTURE WELLS. If the senerrlly rccepted theory of the origin of oil and gas be taken as correct, it is ensy to understend how,. when the tiny glob- ules of oil, g2s and water migrated up the dip of the sondstone beds, the gas would tend to occupy the hizchest parts of the structures encountered, while the oil would be found farther down, Thus, in the long migration up the Duauesne syncline, the ges would tend to work up the flanks of the adjecent anticiines till they reached 2 lodging point near the top of those structures, while the oil would be pushed ahend of the water until it was either tr-poed by some structure such as that at Linhart, or else until 2 point of equilibrium was reached where the water no longer moved up structure, The 1175 and 1225 foot structure contour lines seem to renresent srbout the top of the worter "drive" up the Duquesne synciine. Nearly 2.11 of the producing oil wells in this and the Greensburg quedrangle to the east lie within the area enclosed between these structure contour lines, If the nbove explanation be correct, then there is little prospect of finding any more oil pools in the Duquesne syncline. The seéirch for 2 further supply of oil should be concentrated in the sm2il areas as yet untested between the above mentioned structure tines in this and the Greensburg quadrangle, Personally, the author feels that . further search for oil in the Duquesne syncline would not be © very profitable undertaking, Chances of finding oil in the McMurry syncline are even slimmer than of finding new pools in the Duquesne svyneline. The Melfurry syn- Cline is 2 smaller and weaker structure, and it is believed that any Oil which might exist in the Hundred Foot or Speechley sands (the two oil-producing sands in the Duquesne syncline) would be so scxttered that its commercial e::traction would be imyossible. To recapitulnte, conditions 2re unfavorable for (1) the presence of much oil in the sands, (2) the accumulation of that oil in pools. The outlook for further gas production is more fcvoreble. The aren north of Allegheny Hiver (and within the confines of the quad- rangle) is considered as unfevornble. Between the AlLlegheny ad Monongahels Rivers and north of Turtle Creek there sre several areas Where small production might be obtained. WVhe junction of Dufir's hun and Chalfant Run is a favorable looking spot, but there would not be room for more than one or two wells, nother are2 wnere small pro- duction might be obtained is near the intersection of Rebecen Street = GO - ss y: bahay ae Bates ivr - " my inte R ) — ry 4! Pe pia bes hl R ‘ , : a ; Ly ) eT oh ae e enue ts pet eat ys > ‘ ; . $ p ars a] j x q S . eh MS aa N!. : he | ! Sh hy WAhN v t ' ; #, , Wy 4 TAs \ ree eat Nati tk abrenty, "vd : ren y ee Wh. arty of La) * . ‘ . Ae ‘ of hi/s'es Be ete fi : ; y aM R 49 * te ; * ' } - ‘ M ‘1 t L] ; ij 5 g ’ % \ 2 ; “ , ; ” ’ f ; | f Pat | { f vd) ae Kes } ,) \ / - ‘ , ; . : ; ; ry ! . if nee eae } ‘ " ' \ ae oe t / Ly A 4 ‘ : Wy é ti i . \ ; Say #* ‘ 1 i . are | = i hey) : é 7 Ae by! by i ie ¢ ij e p ‘ ws > , , ‘ 7 4 ; j fe \ A 4 ; } \ ’ .) * ts ' i wit : i ‘ ; ae 4 | + ‘ | ita ‘ . i * , ' ya ae 4 a irae | Pe yak! iad $ Yay . * j M : / / 4 ? 1 ’ . { ' 4 | ‘ ‘ ~*~ ! ’ Fre ‘ ) a os A , Pe we | i ie Te of bue 5 " f ; 1 " %\ , al t ” , tee: ‘ rey sen ; P | ‘ Waly : Pe 4 EW Bs « » ? "4 y F bu . 4 f H eek | 4 yee pars y i ’ ' } wi ; i i ; ; - i % ; i i ; ’ 4 i, 4 J i 4 pi ig Wide 7 yh ’ ' ; 4 1 y J 42 ve f and ..rdmore Boulevord (Lincoln Highway), Just erst of where SZeechwood Boulevird crosses’ Forbes Street there is cnother promising structure, Between Turtle Creek cnd Youghio¢heny River the fround hrs been B80 thoroughly: drilled thrt practicnlly every type of structure, Zavorable or unfavorable, has been tested, Similarly, 1.11 of the more E£1.voreble ground between the Youghiogheny and Monongrheln Rivers hss alrexdy been thoroughly tested, West of the Monongahel2 there is still a little land untested but most of the more favoroble territory hos been drilled nd has been producing gas for years. The cross-ronrds about 3/4 of 2 mile west- northwest of New fnglond is the center of 2. smill dome 6nly partly tested, Farther north (about 2¢ miles) there is room on the Jxcob Miller and Jns. Hayes Estate for sever.l wells, Just over the western edee of the quodrongle and 24 miles south of Allegheny River there is ~. favorable structure which to the knowledge of the suthor has not yet been tested, To sum up then, there is little chance of finding other oil pools in the Pittsburgh quadrongle and little prospect of discovering any more large g2s pools, There is, however, 2 fir opportunity of extending some of the present gas pools and of discovering smell gas pools in 1 few 2rens 28 yet untested, heey \ ’ ~ ‘ “s - j «! }. iW ty . . 2 C7 mM Pe t ‘ hae lw \ “y Sra ay" BS ahaa Roe ides mM hoy ne i a S A wi : Hy Per iy Hep, re ad pe ant tf eta + Ae Saks ry vz +: oi rt eae ) | CE arlene) ete oe Wk oe Mp? Ai Peis , ira! Ae ad |) Se Se a i> eri bea me 4 ’ "i f i n a 4 ah C By « iB a | rg a acs : ' Set. ; bSS) are ay pit aa e | be Fhe aed A WIRES Ye Sey Ke F ee ee + Nb. ‘i 2a “ROME RRS Seip the te vee, Sh ara “ 4 : & v Sodan cl fhe PE Eis i AO ae) SR a J) gd mowedtt |. j be Dy feat a ood. t i th Bd ae re tp a : \ f = ge ers vty Me de 5 ange 8 ' pews sah poe, Cath Ret ater ome ’ ; e ay Eid ho - x f ay : 4 4 / \ Li whan. . A \ . i ty k RoE f . yg f ‘ : *, 4 » ’ ‘ Lita My Ty Pay } on . eee ' - f ; es.) ie : id . " ‘J 4 ff ’ 7 ; oN ae 7 4 a ‘ , nd ¥ : ‘ ' y 3 P . \ F Pet . \ . ‘ , ! , } : ‘ ul . ‘ f . r y rh ) , ; Atos rf te ; _ coor et onto . : “Morning siel¢ .) j NS eRe . ay wre free sf Fer rad So cece ‘ f Ten iy gigace (pense! aay are ‘ art” f. FT: ; ’ Daly fon” 427 ae oth , \ ¢ . is ‘y, ' : H ddack y oa < Chere ys Hee 5 ; " yy . : > { y te Pf! > / fil ; / birt i wae ais beni ody) Ly Jin ced | oe Bf ea pase Dyvawosh ur 2 / AY fo ig ft it Shy fe Camden t L470) a ik Ne / Pig eps ae ae a platy Sto Or ¢ 5 = Rs “ge ‘i ‘ f Cw 4 , soe ae ata i Ca in isi , 7 ix f Bairton a7: : y Lien) fas dia one i ee i f f EP IAN CTS eg PR ms 5 Ae ff ( Ses pe ih { a lpee UNA eAY f } AST ary miawets all rages he et fro TY RVAS Vs * en | i sy ‘ae . | ~ . y, A ‘ : rd pres nae . *% iS — Te ae ask ie \ CavansaA 7k * o . A, aes f tc TEE weyte to sine” catalan ae Sb negseoe . . one gon 1 ¥ 9 t PITTSBURGH QUADRANGLE + GEOLOGIC STRUCTURE SHEET Strueture contours on Pittsburgh coal. h yet hy Avery UE Pes at i RATE age Bt Daaite 3 Up SN aU Ean ys Gate RUS P| ' F NARI Coll UNIVERSITY ILLINOIS-URBANA aN ie a ii VF a Be ke Visy 4