A gravity‐profile across the central Appalachians, Buckhannon, West Virginia, to Swift Run Gap, Virginia

Abstract

In recent years a considerable amount of geophysical work in the northern Appalachians and eastward across the crystalline rocks of the Piedmont and the Atlantic Coastal Plain has been reported and discussed, notably by Ewing [see 1, 2, 3 of “References” at end of paper], Leet [4], Longwell [5,6], Miller [7], Nettleton [8], Straley [9], Swick [10,11], and Woollard [12–18]. Thorn [19] has stated that this is one of the most favorable testing grounds in the world for geophysics in the study of fundamental geological problems as a great variety of gentle and steep folds, faults, and types of rock are encompassed in a relatively narrow belt. The present paper adds to the geophysical study of this geologic province by presenting the results of a closely spaced profile of gravimeter‐stations across the central Appalachians. The work was done at the specific suggestion of Dr. Paul H. Price, State Geologist of West Virginia, to Dr. E. A. Eckhardt of the Gulf Research and Development Company. The desirability of such work has been recognized for some time [10,19,20].