Carbonate Rocks of Cambrian 

and Ordovician Age in the 

Lancaster Quadrangle 

Pennsylvania

By HAROLD MEISLER and ALBERT E. BECHER

CONTRIBUTIONS TO STRATIGRAPHY

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1254-G

Prepared in cooperation with the 

Pennsylvania Geological Survey 

Department of Internal Affairs 

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

STEWART L. UDALL, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

William T. Pecora, Director

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 1968

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office 

Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price 10 cents
CONTENTS

	Page 

Abstract-____-___- _._-_-._____-____.-.____,-__._______-^___-----^-_ Gl

Introduction._______-_______-__-_-_---______-_-_ ____---__--__--__ 1

Cambrian System.________________________________________________ 5

Vintage, Kinzers, and Ledger Formations__-^___^_-___-_--____-___ 5

Zooks Corner Formation______________________________________ 6

Conococheague Group.___-____-_-__-___- -______--___-_--_-___ 7

Buffalo Springs Formation_____-_-_---_---_-----_---_----- 9

Snitz Creek Formation.____________________________________ 9

Millbach Formation____-_-________^.__.___________________ 9

Richland Formation._______________________________________ 10

Ordovician System.-_______________________________________________ 10

Conestoga Limestone___---__-____-____-_-_-_-__--_-__---__-__ 10

Beekmantown Group.______-_--___---__.--_____-_-_____________ 11

Stonehenge Formation.____________________________________ 11

Epler Formation._________________________________________ 11

Ontelaunee Formation___-_-_-______-_.___^-__---__---__--__ 12

Annville Limestone.______________--___.-___--___--___----_---_ 13

Myerstown Limestone._______________________________________ 13

References cited.__________________________________________________ 13

ILLUSTRATIONS

Page 

FIGURE 1. Map showing the location of the Lancaster quadrangle and

general physiography of southeastern Pennsylvania. _______ G2

2. Generalized geologic map of the Lancaster quadrangle.______ 4

3. Map showing the location of the type section of the Zooks

Corner Formation.____________________________________ 6

TABLES

Page

TABLE 1. Stratigraphic section of the carbonate rocks of the Lancaster 

quadrangle used by Jonas and Stose (1930) and in this 

report____________________________________________ G2

2. Generalized section of the carbonate rocks of Cambrian and

Ordovician age in the Lancaster quadrangle, Pennsylvania. _ _ 3

3. Correlation of the Conococheague Group in the Lancaster

quadrangle and Lebanon and Berks Counties, Pa.-_____ 8

CONTRIBUTIONS TO STRATIGRAPHY

CARBONATE ROCKS OF CAMBRIAN AND ORDOVICIAN 

AGE IN THE LANCASTER QUADRANGLE, PENNSYLVANIA

By HAROLD MEISLER and ALBERT E. BECHER

ABSTRACT

Detailed mapping has shown that the carbonate rocks of Cambrian and 

Ordovician age in the Lancaster quadrangle, Pennsylvania, can be divided into 

14 rock-stratigraphic units. These units are defined primarily by their relative 

proportions of limestone and dolomite. The oldest units, the Vintage, Kinzers, 

and Ledger Formations of Cambrian age, and the Conestoga Limestone of 

Ordovician age are retained in this report. The Zooks Corner Formation, of 

Cambrian age, a dolomite unit overlying the Ledger Dolomite, is named here 

for exposures along Conestoga Creek near the village of Zooks Corner.

The Conococheague (Cambrian) and Beekmantown (Ordovician) Limestones, 

as mapped by earlier workers, have been elevated to group rank and subdivided 

into formations that are correlated with and named for geologic units in 

Lebanon and Berks Counties, Pa. These formations, from oldest to youngest, are 

the Buffalo Springs, Snitz Creek, Millbach, and Richland Formations of the 

Conococheague Group, and the Stonehenge, Bpler, and Ontelaunee Formations 

of the Beekmantown Group. The Annville and Myerstown Limestones, which 

are named for lithologically similar units in Dauphin and Lebanon Counties, 

Pa., overlie the Beekmantown Group in one small area in the quadrangle.

INTRODUCTION

Carbonate rocks of Cambrian and Ordovician age underlie a lowland that occupies most of the Conestoga Valley in southeastern Pennsylvania. Detailed mapping by the authors of the Lancaster quadrangle in the Conestoga Valley (fig. 1) now allow carbonate rocks 

formerly assigned to the Conococheague and Beekmantown Limestones 

(Jonas and Stose, 1930) to be more closely subdivided into units defined primarily by their proportions of limestone and dolomite. Most 

of these units are herein correlated with units in the Great Valley 

in Lebanon, Berks, and Dauphin Counties, Pa. (Geyer and others, 

1958, 1963; Hobson, 1957, 1963; Prouty, 1959). In addition, a newly 

defined dolomite unit is herein named the Zooks Corner Formation.

Gl
G2

78

CONTRIBUTIONS TO STRATIGRAPHY

77° 76°

20 0 

I I I i I

20 

I

40 60 MILES

FIGUEB 1. Location of the Lancaster quadrangle and general physiography of

southeastern Pennsylvania.

TABLE 1. Stratigraphic section of the carbonate rocks of the Lancaster quadrangle used by Jonas and Stose (19SO) and in this report

O

o

Q

ce

2

cc

CO

0

Jonas and Stose (1930)

Conestoga Shg|e ^ 

Limestone ^^

^^ Cocalico 

^^Dasal limestone

Beekmantown Limestone

________ - - ~~

Conococheague Limestone

^____^^-''^EIbrook Limestone

Ledger Dolomite

Kinzers Formation

Vintage Dolomite

c 

5

o

||

03 

CO

03 

00

ro

Q) Q.

SI D 

0 0

o C3

o

o 

o

This report

Cocalico Shale

Myerstown Limestone

Annville Limestone

Ontelaunee Formation ^ ^^

5? 5 c c

Epler Formation ?So)£"°

O 1 yl w

Stonehenge Formation ^'o

Richland Formation

Millbach Formation

Snitz Creek Formation

Buffalo Springs Formation

Zooks Corner Formation

Ledger Dolomite

Kinzers Formation

Vintage Dolomite
CARBONATE ROCKS, LANCASTER QUADRANGLE, PA. G3

TABLE 2. Generalized section of the carbonate rocks of Cambrian and Ordovician 

age in the Lancaster quadrangle, Pennsylvania

System

Ordovician

Cambrian

Formation

Myerstown Limestone

Annville Limestone

Beekmantowii 

Groui)

Couochcague Group

Ontelaunee Formation

Epler Formation

Stonehenge Formation

Richland Formation

Millbach Formation

Snitz Creek Formation

Buffalo Springs 

Formation

Zooks Corner Formation

Ledger Dolomite

Kinzers Formation

Vintage Dolomite

Thickness 

(feet)

200±

200±

0- 00±

2, 000-2, 500

500-1, 000

0-500±

1, 200-2, 000

300-400

1, 500-3, 800

1, 600±

1, 000±

300-600

350-550

Character

Limestone, dark-gray, coarsely crystalline, 

thinly bedded; abundant pelmatozoan stem 

plates.

Limestone, gray, finely crystalline, partly 

laminated.

Dolomite, gray, very finely to finely crystalline; 

finely laminated in part.

Limestone and dolomite, interbedded, gray; 

abundant white beds in lower part, calcarenite beds, pelmatozoan stem plates, 

coiled gastropods.

Limestone, gray; shaly laminae, calcarenite 

beds, pelmatozoan stem plates.

Limestone and dolomite, interbedded, gray; 

beds of fine conglomerate and calcarenite, 

rare cryptozoon.

Limestone, white to pinkish-gray and gray; 

scattered beds and laminae of gray dolomite.

Dolomite, gray, argillaceous, silty, sandy.

Limestone and dolomite, interbedded, white 

to pinkish-gray and gray. Dolomite is commonly argillaceous, silty, sandy; scattered 

sandstone beds, cross laminae, ripple marks, 

rare cryptozoon.

Dolomite, gray, commonly silty and sandy; 

little gray limestone, cross laminae^ripple 

marks.

Dolomite, light gray, mostly coarsely crystalline, sparkling, partly mottled.

Shale, gray, rusty weathering; white to gray 

limestone commonly containing reticulated 

argillaceous and silty laminae; some darkgray earthy dolomite.

Dolomite, gray, very finely to coarsely crystalline; locally contains interbedded limestone.

In southern part of quadrangle

Ordovician Conestoga Limestone Unknown

Limestone, gray, finely to coarsely crystalline, 

schistose in part; limestone conglomerate 

near base.

The stratigraphic nomenclature used by Jonas and Stose (1930) and 

that used in this report are both given in table 1. A summary of the 

character and thickness of each formation is given in table 2.

A generalized preliminary geologic map of the Lancaster quadrangle (fig. 2) shows a separation of the area underlain by carbonate 

rocks into three east-west trending belts. The Lititz belt is separated 

from the Mount Joy belt by a ridge of shale of the Cocalico. The 

Mount Joy belt is separated from the Lancaster belt by discontinuous
G4 CONTRIBUTIONS TO STRATIGRAPHY

76°15'

40° 00'

5 MILES

FIGURE 2. Generalized geologic

ridges of Lower Cambrian quartzites and phyllites. Stratigraphic differences between these belts are discussed in subsequent sections of 

this paper.

This report is a product of the hydrogeologic investigation of carbonate rocks in the Lancaster quadrangle by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Geological Survey.
CARBONATE ROCKS, LANCASTER QUADRANGLE, PA.

EXPLANATION

Cocalico Shale

G5

Conestoga 

Limestone

Annville and Myerstown 

Limestones

Ontelaunee Formation 

Epler Formation

Stonehenge Formation . 

Richland Formation

Millbach Formation

Buffalo Springs and Snitz 

-Creek Formations

Zooks Corner Formation

Vintage, Kinzers, and 

Ledger Formations

Chickies, Harpers, and 

Antietam Formations

Contact

Fault 

Dashed where approximately located

map of the Lancaster quadrangle.

CAMBRIAN SYSTEM 

VINTAGE, KINZEKS, AND LEDGER FORMATIONS

The definition and use of the names "Vintage," "Kinzers," and 

"Ledger" in this report follow that of Jonas and Stose (1930). These 

formations crop out only in the Mount Joy and Lancaster belts shown 

in figure 2.

285-190 68 2
G6 CONTRIBUTIONS TO STRATIGRAPHY

ZOOKS CORNER FORMATION

The Zooks Corner Formation is a dolomite sequence that is here 

named for exposures along Conestoga Creek, half a mile west of the 

village of Zooks Corner (fig. 3). At this location, 700 feet of the total 

measured thickness of 1,550-1,650 feet and the upper and lower contacts are exposed. At the contact with the underlying Ledger Dolomite, 

the two formations interfinger. The contact with the overlying Buffalo 

Springs Formation is defined as the base of the lowest thick limestone 

of an interbedded limestone and dolomite sequence.

76° 15'

40°04'

I MILE

FIGURE 3. Location of the type section of the Zooks Corner Formation.
CARBONATE ROCKS, LANCASTER QUADRANGLE, PA. G7

The predominant lithology of the Zooks Corner Formation is 

medium-gray dolomite, but beds of lighter and darker gray dolomite 

are common. Much of the dolomite is silty and sandy and contains 

scattered interbeds of dolomitic sandstone. Very light gray to mediumgray limestones are present, but they constitute only about 5 percent 

of the measured thickness. The formation contains many sedimentary 

structures such as laminae, cross laminae, and ripple marks, but no 

fossils have been found.

The rocks that constitute the Zooks Corner Formation were mapped 

by Jonas and Stose (1930) as Elbrook Limestone and Conococheague 

Limestone. The contact between the latter two units lies within the 

Zooks Corner Formation. In the western part of the Lancaster quadrangle, where Jonas and Stose (1930, p. 33) did not recognize Elbrook 

Limestone, the Zooks Corner Formation coincides with the lower part 

of their Conococheague Limestone.

The present authors believe that Elbrook is not an appropriate 

stratigraphic name in the Lancaster quadrangle. In the section of the 

Elbrook referred to by Jonas and Stose (1930, p. 32) in the Lancaster 

quadrangle, the overwhelmingly dolomitic rocks bear little resemblance 

to the Elbrook Limestone at its type locality in Franklin County, Pa. 

Rocks that were mapped as Elbrook Limestone elsewhere in the quadrangle by Jonas and Stose (1930) and that do resemble the Elbrook 

in its type locality have been mapped by the present writers as part 

of the Buffalo Springs Formation.

The Zooks Corner Formation crops out in the Lancaster and Mount 

Joy belts (fig. 2) but is absent from the Lititz belt where the lowest 

unit exposed is the Buffalo Springs Formation.

CONOCOCHEAGUE GROUP

The sequence of limestones and dolomites previously mapped as 

Conococheague Limestone (Jonas and Stose, 1930) can be separated 

on the basis of lithology into four rock-stratigraphic units. These units, 

the Buffalo Springs, Snitz Creek, Millbach, and Eichland Formations, 

are here correlated on the basis of stratigraphic position and lithologic 

similarity with units in the Great Valley in Lebanon County, Pa. 

(table 3).

The Conococheague in Lebanon County was divided by Gray and 

others (1958) into five members. Geyer and others (1963, p. 29) subsequently raised these members to formation rank and raised the 

Conococheague to group rank; also (p. 29) they separated the Buffalo 

Springs Formation from the Conococheague Group by correlating 

the Buffalo Springs Formation with the Elbrook Formation at its type 

locality in Franklin County, Pa., and by correlating the overlying
G8 CONTRIBUTIONS TO STRATIGRAPHY

TABLE 3. Correlation of the Conococheague Group in the Lancaster quadrangle 

and Lebanon and Berks Counties, Pa.

Lebanon County 

(Gray and others, 1958)

Conocoebeague Formation

Richland Member

Millbach Member

Schaefferstown Member >

Snitz Creek Member

Buffalo Springs Member

Berks County 

(Geyer and others, 1963)

& 

2

c

o>

3

S 

 

g 

o

0

Richland Formation

Millbach Formation

Snitz Creek Formation

Buffalo Springs Formation

Lancaster quadrangle 

(This report)

Conococheague Group

Richland Formation

Millbach Formation

Snitz Creek Formation

Buffalo Springs Formation

Snitz Creek Formation with the basal Big Spring Station Member of 

the Conococheague Limestone in Maryland (Wilson, 1952, p. 307-308). 

This report retains the group rank of the Conococheague in the 

Lancaster quadrangle. In addition, the authors include the Buffalo 

Springs Formation within the Conococheague Group for the following reasons:

1. Most of the Buffalo Springs Formation was mapped as Conococheague Limestone by Jonas and Stose (1930). The lower contact 

of their Conococheague Limestone either coincides generally with 

the lower contact of the Buffalo Springs or is within or at the 

base of the underlying Zooks Corner Formation.

2. The lower contact of the Buffalo Springs Formation is the best 

defined and most readily traceable contact within the Cambrian 

carbonate sequence.

3. The Snitz Creek Formation is not separable from the Buffalo 

Springs Formation everywhere in the Lancaster quadrangle.

4. Lithologies in the Buffalo Springs Formation are similar to lithologies of other formations in the Conococheague. Dolomites in the 

Buffalo Springs are similar to those of the Snitz Creek Formation and limestones in the Buffalo Springs are similar to those 

in the Millbach Formation.

5. The conspicuous beds of sandstone in the Snitz Creek Formation 

are important factors in considering this unit as basal Conococheague in the Lebanon Valley. In the Lancaster quadrangle, 

however, beds of sandstone are also common in the underlying 

Zooks Corner and Buffalo Springs Formations.

6. Correlation of the Snitz Creek Formation with the Big Spring 

Station Member of Wilson (1952) in Maryland is highly tenuous, 

as the latter unit cannot be traced northeastward from Maryland 

across Franklin County, Pa. (Boot, 1967).
CARBONATE ROCKS, LANCASTER QUADRANGLE, PA. G9

The authors recognize the possibility that other limits could be 

placed on the Conococheague Group in the Lancaster quadrangle. 

They believe, however, that the original limits established by Jonas 

and Stose (1930) in the Lancaster quadrangle should be maintained 

as nearly as possible until more detailed mapping in adjacent areas 

provides clear evidence for correlation with the type area of the Conococheague in Franklin County, Pa.

BUFFALO SPRINGS FORMATION

The Buffalo Springs Formation is an interbedded limestone and 

dolomite sequence that overlies the Zooks Corner Formation. The 

lower contact is defined as the base of the lowest thick limestone of 

an interbedded limestone and dolomite sequence.

The Buffalo Springs Formation consists of white to very light 

pinkish-gray and medium- to medium-dark-gray limestones interbedded with very light pinkish-gray and yellowish-gray to mediumdark-gray dolomites. The limestones commonly contain laminae, 

patches, and stringers of dolomite. The dolomites are commonly argillaceous, silty, or sandy and contain sedimentary features such as cross 

laminae and ripple marks. Cryptozoa are rare, but they occur in both 

limestone and dolomite. Thick silty and sandy lenses of dolomite as 

much as 700 feet thick, similar lithologically to the overlying Snitz 

Creek Formation, occur within the Buffalo Springs Formation in 

the west half of the Mount Joy belt (fig. 2).

SNITZ CREEK FORMATION

The Snitz Creek Formation is a dolomite sequence that overlies the 

Buffalo Springs Formation. It consists of light-gray to dark-gray 

very finely to finely crystalline dolomite. Much of the dolomite is 

argillaceous, silty, or sandy. No fossils have been found in this formation.

The Snitz Creek Formation is traceable along its strike for approximately 2 miles in the western part of the Mount Joy belt (fig. 2) and 

for an equal distance in the eastern part of the Lititz belt. Elsewhere, 

the formation either cannot be readily separated from the Buffalo 

Springs Formation or is concealed beneath a thrust sheet of older 

rocks.

MILLBACH FORMATION

The Millbach Formation is a predominantly limestone sequence that 

overlies the Snitz Creek Formation. Where the Snitz Creek cannot 

be distinguished, the Millbach overlies the undivided Buffalo Springs 

and Snitz Creek Formations.
G10 CONTRIBUTIONS TO STRATIGRAPHY

The Millbach Formation consists of white to light-pinkish-gray 

limestone containing some laminae or thin beds of light-gray dolomite,, 

and medium-gray limestone containing scattered beds of light- to 

medium-gray dolomite.

The Millbach Formation is mappable across the Lititz belt and the 

western one-third of the Mount Joy belt (fig. 2). In the eastern twothirds of the Mount Joy belt, the Millbach Formation is probably concealed beneath a thrust sheet of older rocks, but possibly Millbach 

sediments were never deposited in this area.

HIGHLAND FORMATION

The Eichland Formation is defined as an interbedded limestone and 

dolomite unit that overlies the Millbach Formation. The Richland 

Formation in the Lancaster quadrangle differs considerably from the 

type section of this formation in Lebanon County (Gray and others,. 

1958). In Lebanon County the Kichland Formation is predominantly 

dolomite, whereas in the Lancaster quadrangle it is approximately 

two-thirds limestone.

The Eichland Formation consists of medium-gray to medium-darkgray, finely crystalline, interbedded limestone and dolomite. The limestones commonly contain disseminated grains, patches, or laminae of 

dolomite and some beds of fine conglomerate and calcarenite. Cryptozoa rarely occur in the Richland Formation.

In the Lancaster quadrangle, the Richland Formation is exposed 

only in a small area at the east end of the Lititz belt (fig. 2), but it can 

be traced for several miles to the east and northeast in the adjacent 

quadrangle. Westward, exposures of the Richland end abruptly, as 

the unit is probably concealed beneath a thrust plate. In the Mount 

Joy belt there is no evidence to indicate the presence of the Richland 

Formation; it may underlie the same thrust plate that conceals the 

Millbach Formation through most of this belt. At the west end of the 

Mount Joy belt the Richland Formation probably does not occur in 

the stratigraphic section.

ORDOVICIAN SYSTEM

CONESTOGA LIMESTONE

The definition and use of the term Conestoga in this report follow 

that of Jonas and Stose (1930). The formation, which is in the southern part of the quadrangle, consists of medium-gray finely to coarsely 

crystalline limestone. Much of the limestone is graphitic and micaceous 

and, hence, is schistose in appearance. The base of the formation 

usually contains pebble and boulder conglomerates and coarsely crystalline silty and sandy limestones.
CARBONATE ROCKS, LANCASTER QUADRANGLE, PA. Gil

The Conestoga Limestone is considered to be Early Ordovician in 

age. The Conestoga unconformably overlaps the Ledger, Kinzers, 

and Vintage Formations and, hence, is younger than the Ledger. The 

problem of the age and correlation of the Conestoga is discussed by 

Jonas and Stose (1930, p. 44-47) and Stose and Stose (1944, p. 37-38).

BEEKMANTOWN GROUP

Detailed mapping in the Lancaster quadrangle by the authors has 

shown that strata mapped as Beekmantown Limestone by Jonas and 

Stose (1930) can be divided into three geologic units the Stonehenge, Epler, and Ontelaunee Formations. On the basis of stratigraphic position and lithologic similarity, these units are here correlated with and named for units of the Beekmantown Group (Hobson,. 

1957) in Berks County, Pa. A fourth unit in Berks and Lebanon 

Counties, the Bickenbach Formation, between the Stonehenge and 

Epler Formations, is not present in the Lancaster quadrangle.

STONEHENGE FORMATION

The Stonehenge Formation is defined as a limestone sequence that 

overlies the Eichland Formation. The Stonehenge Formation is in 

contact with the Eichland Formation, however, only at the east end 

of the Lititz belt. Elsewhere in the Lititz and Mount Joy belts the 

Kichland Formation is absent and the Stonehenge is probably in fault 

contact with the Millbach or Buffalo Springs Formations. At the west 

end of the Mount Joy belt (fig. 2) the Eichland Formation probably 

does not occur in the stratigraphic section. The sequence of Stonehenge 

overlying Millbach here, therefore, may be a normal stratigraphic 

relationship.

Although the nature of the contact of the Stonehenge Formation 

with the Conococheague Group is not clear everywhere, a sharp contrast in lithologies makes this contact one of the most easily traced 

in the Lancaster quadrangle. The contact is defined as the base of a 

sequence of medium-gray limestones that contain abundant shale 

laminae and beds of calcarenite containing fragments of pelmatozoan 

stem plates and other fossil detritus. The authors have been unable to find pelmatozoan stem plates in any strata lower than the 

Stonehenge.

EPIIER FORMATION

The Epler Formation is defined as an interbedded limestone and 

dolomite sequence that overlies the Stonehenge Formation. It has the 

most varied lithology of any formation in the Beekmantown Group 

in the Lancaster quadrangle. It consists mainly of medium- to mediumdark-gray interbedded limestone and dolomite, but the limestones.
G12 CONTRIBUTIONS TO STRATIGRAPHY

are generally more abundant. The formation contains scattered beds 

of calcarenite, fossil detritus containing pelmatozoan stem plates, and 

a few coiled gastropods. Commonly, the dolomites are calcareous, and 

all gradations between pure dolomite and pure limestone are present. 

In the lower part of the formation, white to light-pinkish-gray rocks 

are conspicuous. In the Lititz belt (fig. 2), the Epler Formation appears to consist predominantly of limestone that is virtually indistinguishable from the Stonehenge Formation, except near the base, where 

some dolomite and white limestone occur.

The contact between the Epler Formation and the underlying Stonehenge Formation is placed at the base of the lowest dolomite of a 

sequence of interbedded limestones and dolomites. The contact is difficult to trace in the field because of the scarcity of outcrops; consequently, in some places the contact is placed between white limestones 

of the Epler Formation and gray limestones of the Stonehenge 

Formation.

The Epler Formation is overlain stratigraphically by the Ontelaunee 

Formation. In the Mount Joy belt and part of the Lititz belt (fig. 2), 

the Ontelaunee, Annville, and Myerstown Formations are missing, 

and the Cocalico Formation unconformably overlies the Epler. Faulting probably accounts for some of the missing section in the Lititz belt.

ONTBLiAUNEE FORMATION

The Ontelaunee Formation is a dolomite sequence that overlies the 

Epler Formation. It consists of medium-gray very finely to finely 

crystalline dolomite and is, in part, finely laminated.

The contact between the Ontelaunee Formation and the underlying 

Epler Formation in the Lancaster quadrangle is defined as the top 

of the highest limestone of an interbedded limestone and dolomite 

sequence beneath the dolomite sequence of the Ontelaunee. This definition differs from that in Berks County, where according to Hobson 

(1963, p. 17) "the contact between the Epler Formation and the overlying Ontelaunee Formation in central Berks County is placed at 

the top of the highest limestone bed beneath a prominent zone of chert 

beds in the Ontelaunee." This chert zone is not recognizable in the 

Lancaster quadrangle.

The Ontelaunee Formation is exposed only in the Lititz belt (fig. 2) 

where it is stratigraphically overlain by the Annville Formation. 

Where the Annville and Myerstown Formations are missing, the Ontelaunee Formation is either overlain unconformably by or is in fault 

contact with the Cocalico Formation.
CARBONATE ROCKS, LANCASTER QUADRANGLE, PA. G13 

ANNVILLE LIMESTONE

The Annville Limestone in the Lancaster quadrangle is defined 

as a limestone sequence that overlies the Ontelaunee Formation. It is 

here correlated on the basis of lithologic similarity and stratigraphic 

position with the Annville Limestone of the type section in Dauphin 

County (Prouty, 1959). The Annville Limestone consists of lightgray to medium-dark-gray finely crystalline partly laminated limestone. Its weathered surface is conspicuously fluted.

The Annville Limestone is exposed in the Lancaster quadrangle 

only in a small area 3-5 miles north-northeast of Lititz in the Lititz 

belt (fig. 2). It is overlain stratigraphically by the Myerstown Limestone. Where the Myerstown is missing, the Annville is either in fault 

contact with or is overlain unconformably by the Cocalico Shale.

MYERSTOWN LIMESTONE

The Myerstown Limestone overlies the Annville Limestone. It is 

here correlated on the basis of stratigraphic position and lithologic 

similarity with the Myerstown Limestone in the type section in 

Dauphin County (Prouty, 1959).

The Myerstown Limestone underlies an extremely small area 

approximately 3 miles north-northeast of Lititz in the Lititz belt 

(fig. 2). The exposure is limited to two outcrops that contain, respectively, dark-gray coarsely crystalline thinly bedded limestone and 

dark-gray shaly limestone. Fossil detritus, including pelmatozoan 

stem plates, is abundant.

In Dauphin County the Myerstown Limestone is overlain by the 

Hershey Limestone. In the Lancaster quadrangle, there is no evidence 

to indicate the presence of the Hershey Limestone. The Cocalico Shale 

overlies the Myerstown Limestone in the Lancaster quadrangle, but 

no exposure of the contact between these two formations has been 

observed.

REFERENCES CITED

Geyer, A. R., and others, 1958, Geology of the Lebanon quadrangle, Pennsylvania : 

Pennsylvania Geol. Survey, ser. 4, Geol. Atlas 167-C.

 1963, Geology and mineral resources of the Wormelsdorf quadrangle, 

Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Geol. Survey ser. 4, Geol. Atlas 177-C, 81 p.

Gray, Carlyle, and others, 1958. Geology of the Richland quadrangle, Pennsylvania : Pennsylvania Geol. Survey, ser. 4, Geol. Atlas 167-D.

Hobson, J. P. Jr., 1957, Lower Ordovician (Beekmantown) succession in Berks 

County, Pennsylvania: Am. Assoc. Petroleum Geologists Bull., v. 41, no. 12, 

p. 2710-2722.

 1963, Stratigraphy of the Beekmantown Group in southeastern Pennsylvania : Pennsylvania Geol. Survey, ser. 4, Gen. Geol. Kept. G-37, 331 p. 

Jonas, A. I., and Stose, G. W., 1930, Geology and mineral resources of the Lan-
G14 CONTRIBUTIONS TO STRATIGRAPHY

caster quadrangle, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Geol. Survey, ser. 4, Geol. 

Atlas 168, 103 p.

Prouty, C. E., 1959, The AnnvHle, Myerstown, and Hershey Formations of Pennsylvania : Pennsylvania Geol. Survey, ser. 4, Bull. G-31, 47 p.

Root, S. I., 1967, Geology and mineral resources of the southern half of the 

Chambersburg quadrangle, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Geol. Survey, ser. 4, 

Geol. Atlas 119-0 and D.

Stose, A. J., and Stose, G. W., 1944, Geology of the Hanover-York district, Pennsylvania : U.S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 204, 84 p.

Wilson, J. LM 1952, Upper Cambrian stratigraphy in the central Appalachians: 

Geol. Soc. America Bull., v. 63, no. 3, p. 275-322.

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1988

CONTRIBUTIONS TO STRATIGRAPHY

"Contributions to stratigraphy" in the Geological Survey's Bulletin series, consists of reports dealing primarily with stratigraphy, including those defining changes in stratigraphic nomenclature in reports of the Geological Survey. About 40 short reports 

pertaining to one or several stratigraphic units have been published 

or are in press. Like other Survey publications, these are announced in the monthly "New publications of the U.S. Geological 

Survey." In addition to reports on specific problems, an annual 

report within the series lists all changes in stratigraphic nomenclature such as (1) new names, (2) previously used names now 

adopted, (3) revised names, (4) changes in age designations, and 

(5) abandoned names. The age of the unit, the area in which the 

name is employed, the title of the pertinent report, and the publication in which the change is described are given. Thus far, the 

following reports dealing with annual compilations of :changes in 

stratigraphic nomenclature have been published:

Bulletin 1194-A (for 1963). 20c 

Bulletin 1224-A (for 1964). 30c 

Bulletin 1244-A (for 1965). 25c 

Bulletin 1254-A (for 1966). 20c