FACIES ANALYSIS AND SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION OF A FLUVIAL COMPLEX IN THE UPPER HINTON FORMATION, SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA

A facies association of petromict conglomerate, lithic arenite and quartz arenite crops out approximately 8 miles southeast of Princeton, WV. This clastic body occurs approximately 60 meters above the Little Stone Gap Member. Eight distinct lithofacies were recognized in the clastic body. They are organized in an overall fining upward profile. Nonquartz clasts are dominantly limestone and were derived from a local source. The facies association is interpreted as an intrabasinal braided fluvial-complex. Paleocurrent indicators suggest a southerly paleoflow for the fluvial system. An erosion surface at the base of the fluvial complex exhibits as much as 17 meters of local relief. The erosion surface progressively truncates much of dark shale with an open marine fauna (the Five Mile Shale). Incision of a braided fluvial system into open marine facies represents a basinward shift in facies that is consistent with interpretation of the erosion surface as a Vail-type sequence boundary. The fluvial complex could be the basal part of a paleovalley-fill that was deposited during a lowstand in relative sea level.