<P>This report describes and interprets an outcrop near Newport, Ohio that contains cyclic sedimentation, and it will

describe the layers we observed at the outcrop and their cyclic natures, discuss the climate of the area during the Carboniferous, define what a cyclothem is, and discuss what caused the cyclicity observed.<P> <P>The Conemaugh Group outcrop, which contains cyclic, Pennsylvanian-aged sediments, is located one mile west of Newport Ohio, across from the 37 mile marker of State Route 7.<P> <P>A description of each layer, with the oldest rock units on bottom, is as follows:<P> <Br>Layer 7: Clay siltstone, interbedded with thin fine sandstones that become thicker and more frequent higher up.<Br> <Br>Layer 6: Medium-gray shale, silty clay stone, with some small burrow trace fossils and siderite and calcite concretions that may contain fossils.<Br> <Br>Layer 5: Black-dark-gray calcareous shale, some fossils.<Br> <Br>Layer 4: Light-gray fossiliferous limestone (apart of the Ames Limestone), with crinoids, brachiopods, and other fossils.<Br> <Br>Layer 3: Dark-gray calcareous shale that contains marine fossils.<Br> <Br>Layer 2: Bituminous coal with a limonite coating, contains some terrestrial fossils (Eusphenopteris, Neuropteris, and others).<Br> <Br>Layer 1: Medium-gray carbonaceous shale/ silty clay stone with some limonite coating and gypsum crystals.<Br> <P>During the carboniferous period, the North American continent was located along earths equator and the Appalachian Mountains were east of the Appalachian Basin. The climate in this area during the carboniferous period was steamy, tropical, and humid.<P> <P>According to the data, layer 1 and 2 indicate a swamp-like terrestrial environment because they are carbonaceous, and layer 2 is bituminous coal. Layer 3 indicates a marine environment because it contains marine fossils. Layer 4 indicates shallow-marine environment because it contains limestone, which was forms in shallow seas. Layer 5 and 6 indicate marine environments too. Layer 7 indicates a shallow-marine environment because it contains clay siltstone interbedded with thin fine sandstones.<P> <P>The data shows repeating marine and non-marine environments. A cyclothem is a repetitive pattern of alternating marine and nonmarine strata which can be caused by glaciation. During the carboniferous, there was glaciation over Gondwanaland at the south pole. With cycles of glacier expansion and retreat, the sea level fell and rose, which caused regressions and transgressions that resulted in this cyclic deposition of sediments. According to the data, layer 1,2,3 are a part

of regressions. Layer 4 is a part of transgression, and layer 5,6,7 are both a part of regressions again.<P> <P>There are two factors that could have caused the global cooling and resulted in an ice age such as in the Carboniferous that caused cyclothems. The first factor is the existence of a continuous continental landmass stretching from pole to pole, restricting free circulation of polar and tropical waters. The second factor is the existence of a large (south) polar landmass capable of supporting thick glacial ice accumulations.<P> <P>Because cyclothems, like the Conemaugh Group outcrop, contain coal, and are good economic indicators, they are important for us to study.<P>