When most people think about Virginia, volcanoes do not immediately come to mind. However, many of us are living and working on top of what used to be one of the most volcanically active places in the world. On a recent soil study in Fauquier County, we uncovered tangible evidence of our states tumultuous geologic history. Pictured above is a piece of lower Jurassic vesicular basalt. This odd looking rock was formed between 201 and 174 million years ago as the ancient supercontinent Pangaea, broke apart to form the Atlantic Ocean and the continents of Africa and North America. While the Earth’s continents appear to be static, they are actually continuously moving around on giant “islands” of the Earth’s crust called tectonic plates. These plates move at a rate of about one inch per year, driven by convection currents in the soft upper portion of the mantle. This movement results in a number of interactions between tectonic plates and can result the creation and destruction of mountains, ocean and continents as well as the formation of, volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis and more. When the supercontinent Pangea broke apart during the lower Jurassic period, lava from beneath the Earth’s crust rose to the surface and flooded onto the land forming the igneous rock basalt. The vesicles (cavities) that are apparent in the basalt that we uncovered resulted from the process of extrusion.  As the magma rose to the surface of the Earth (extruded) the gases that were dissolved in the hot magma expanded as the pressure decreased. When the magma quickly cooled upon reaching the surface, the gas bubbles froze in place leaving behind a vesicular texture. Not that we think soil is boring, but its little discoveries like this that help to keep us excited about going out day after day, playing in the dirt. -Nick...

Authorized Soil Evaluator Barry Hadley, evaluated the characteristics of the soil, topography and landscape for a lot division near Bristersburg, Virginia. Bristersburg is a southern Fauquier County community bordering Prince William and Stafford Counties. Property owner’s objectives included locating an additional reserve site for an existing house on the property and to perc several sites to aid in the formation of a new lot.  In addition to soil characteristics, proximity to adjacent parcels, right-of-ways, water wells, and septic systems were all taken into consideration for septic system design. Areas found meeting the soil criteria were staked to system specifications and a conventional septic system was designed. The next step will include a land surveyor visiting the site to take precise measurements of the drainfield’s location within the property’s boundaries. Deed research will be completed to assure that the completed plat is consistent with the field survey and required road right-of-ways. With the completed soils evaluation and a drainfield location plat, Barry completes the site and soil evaluation reports and abbreviated design form to be submitted to the Fauquier County Health Department for approval and a drainfield Certification Letter will be mailed to the property owner once the work is approved by the county. Once the property owner is ready to build, a construction permit application will be filed with the Fauquier County Health Department. This permit application will show a site specific house location and any specific design...