Marcellus Formation
The Marcellus Formation or the Marcellus Shale is a Middle Devonian age unit of sedimentary rock found in eastern North America. Named for a distinctive outcrop near the village of Marcellus, New York, in the United States, it extends throughout much of the Appalachian Basin.
| Marcellus Formation | |
|---|---|
| Stratigraphic range: Middle Devonian | |
Marcellus shale exposure above Marcellus, N.Y. The vertical joints create sheer cliff faces. | |
| Type | Geological formation |
| Unit of | Hamilton Group |
| Sub-units | See: Named members |
| Underlies | Mahantango Formation and Skaneatales Formation/Stafford Lime Mbr |
| Overlies | Huntersville Chert, Needmore Shale, and Onondaga Formation |
| Thickness | up to 900 feet (270 m) |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | Shale |
| Other | Slate, limestone, sandstone, Tuff |
| Location | |
| Region | Appalachian Basin of eastern North America |
| Extent | 600 miles (970 km) |
| Type section | |
| Named for | Marcellus, New York |
| Named by | James Hall, 1839 |
The unit name usage by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) includes Marcellus Shale and Marcellus Formation. The term "Marcellus Shale" is the preferred name throughout most of the Appalachian region, although the term "Marcellus Formation" is also acceptable within the State of Pennsylvania. The unit was first described and named as the "Marcellus shales" by J. Hall in 1839.
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