Mineral resource appraisal of the New River Gorge, Fayette, Raleigh, and Summers counties, West Virginia

The New River Gorge study area contains 440 square kilometers of a strikingly scenic part of the Appalachian coal field of southcentral West Virginia in Fayette, Raleigh, and Summers Counties. Coal resources of 66 million tons occur in 12 coal beds in the area of the proposed Wild and Scenic River, and coal resources of 151 million tons are present in 13 coal beds in the larger area of the proposed National Park. Coal is produced at one underground mine and several strip mines in or near the study area. The entire New River Gorge area has a potential for natural gas resources, but gas is being currently produced only in the northern part. Oil, however, is unlikely to be found within or near the study area. The extensive resources of sandstone for construction and high-silica rock and shale for common brick are not considered to be economically important in the Gorge area. Resources of other nonmetallic materials including limestone and fire clay are small or nonexistent. Resources of metallic minerals are not known in the study area.