Page:Report on the geology of the four counties, Union, Snyder, Mifflin and Juniata (IA reportongeologyo00dinv).pdf/316

288 F³. Bratton’s quarry is a small opening at the extreme eastern end of the limestone synclinal opened on the old Vance farm about three miles from McVeytown along the south side of the road leading to Vineyard station. The quarry is small and the beds thin, dipping S. 35° E. 30°; but the beds in the north dip of the synclinal exposed lower down the ridge along the road and the canal are of much better quality and show from 40′ to 60′ thick. There are no openings, however, in this part of the field.

North of McVeytown, the Lewistown limestone occurs in the valley beyond the first ridge, being exposed for about 2½ miles on the crest of a small interior anticlinal roll.

North of the Ross Ore Bank synclinal the Oriskany ridge is supported upon a strip of the Lewistown limestone, outcropping through the township, but nowhere exposed to view by any developments. Hope furnace on Strode’s run at the eastern side of the township, is situated in this limestone valley and some good exposures are seen in the small ridge immediately north of the furnace. Finally another broad belt of these limestone rocks crops everywhere on the north flank of the hill facing the Ferguson valley doubling on itself north of McVeytown, and from that point westward supporting on both sides the Oriskany sandstone ridge of the fourth synclinal.

The Oriskany sandstone and shales form an important economical part of the geology of Oliver township, owing to the extensive sand quarries opened in this sandstone in the vicinity of McVeytown. They outcrop through the township, everywhere creating ridges and coincident with the Lewistown limestone just described. The sandstone formation maintains its great and unusual thickness in this township, varying between 100′ and 150′, with an average more closely approaching the latter figure. All the openings have been confined to the first synclinal ridge; and despite the extensive outcropping of the same measures through Granville, Oliver and Wayne townships, all the operations are confined to this first basin and largely to its