M.S.

The primary objective of this study of four cores from the Lower Mississippian Price Formation was to determine the dominant controls on diagenesis and porosity as the Price sandstones are potential reservoirs for coalbed methane. Facies analyses of the cores, in combination with outcrop data from previous studies, lead to the conclusions that these rocks represent distal bar and prodelta, wave-reworked distributary mouth bar, and upper delta plain deposits. Petrographically, the sandstones typically are fine-grained lithic arenites that were derived from a low-grade metamorphic provenance with lesser sedimentary and minor plutonic influences. Diagenetically, most sandstones are dominated by siliceous cements and replacements, although some samples from the marine zones are dominated by carbonate cements. No original porosity is preserved and secondary porosity of any type is rare, but where present is usually the result of dissolution of carbonate phases. The age of the rocks and the maximum temperature of diagenesis (found to be >150°C throughout these sections) were strongly influential in diagenesis. The composition of the sediments was also very important in compaction, cementation, replacement, and dissolution. The variation in detrital mineralogy is limited, and this, in combination with temperature and age, results in diagenesis that is relatively homogeneous throughout these sections of the Price Formation. Finally, as porosity in the sandstones is extremely low, it seems highly unlikely that the Price Formation sandstones in this area could be economic producers of methane. / M.S.

Large amplitude seismic reflections from within the Catoctin Formation of central Virginia are interpreted to originate from acoustically thin beds of interlayered metabasalts and metasediments. Large acoustic impedance contrasts exist between epidotised layers ( epidosites and volcanic breccia) and non-epidotised layers (greenstones and phyllites) within the Catoctin Formation. Acoustic impedance contrasts also exist between greenstones (metabasalts) and phyllites (metasediments). Constructive interference of small amplitude reflections from thin beds result in large amplitude, reverberating reflections. Thin bed reflections that approximate the first derivative of the source wavelet constructively interfere to give even larger amplitude reflections than those originating by conventional tuning. Computer modeling based on two geologic sections of thin beds of epidosites interlayered with greenstones and of greenstones interlayered with phyllites and epidosites indicates that large amplitude reflections result from constructive interference of thin bed reflections. / Master of Science

The Precambrian or Canbrian Unicoi Formation in southwestern Virginia consists of at least three litho logically distinct rock sequences which can be distinguished as formations. The Uhicoi therefore should be raised to the rank of group. The lowest rock sequence is named Iron Mountain Formation; the middle sequence, consisting of three basalt flow and inter-layered claatic sedimentary rocks, an the upper sequence of clastic sedimentary rocks are not named. / Ph. D.