Greenbrier Group

Greenbrier Limestone, also known locally as "Big Lime", is an extensive limestone unit deposited during the Middle Mississippian Epoch (345.3 ± 2.1 – 326.4 ± 1.6 Ma). It is everywhere present below ground in West Virginia and neighboring Kentucky, USA.

Greenbrier Limestone is in some places more than 400 feet (122 meters) thick. This great thickness allows the trapping of large quantities of oil and gas.

Greenbrier Limestone is subdivided into six stratigraphic units. In ascending order, they are Denmar Limestone, Taggard Shale, Pickaway Limestone, Union Limestone, Greenville Shale, and Alderson Limestone. The limestones in this interval are predominantly skeletal grainstones or packstones. The Pickaway and the Union contain oolitic grainstones, although they are most prevalent in the Union.

Numerous solution caves are developed within the Greenbrier Formation in West Virginia.

See also