The term “Locust Point Formation” does not appear in widely recognized geological literature, major academic databases, or standard reference works such as the Geologic Map of the United States series, the Lexicon of Stratigraphic Nomenclature, or major encyclopedic sources. Consequently, there is insufficient reliable encyclopedic information to provide a detailed description of a geologic unit bearing this name.
Current status of the term
- No entries for “Locust Point Formation” are found in the United States Geological Survey (USGS) National Geologic Map Database, the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS) stratigraphic charts, or comparable international stratigraphic registries.
- Scholarly journal articles indexed in major scientific databases (e.g., GeoRef, Web of Science, Scopus) do not reference a formally defined “Locust Point Formation.”
- No geologic maps published by state geological surveys (e.g., Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania) list a formation with this designation.
Possible contextual usage
The phrase may be a local or informal name applied to a rock succession exposed near a geographic locality known as “Locust Point.” Such place‑names exist in several U.S. states (e.g., the Locust Point neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland; a Locust Point on the Potomac River in Virginia). In these contexts, “Locust Point Formation” could be used informally by field geologists, construction firms, or academic researchers to refer to the stratigraphic units present at that site, without having been formally designated in the stratigraphic hierarchy.
Etymology
- Locust – often derived from the presence of locust trees (Robinia spp.) or from historical naming after the insect.
- Point – typically denotes a protruding landform or headland.
- Formation – a formal stratigraphic term meaning a mappable body of rock with distinctive lithologic characteristics.
Thus, “Locust Point Formation” likely denotes a rock unit associated with a place called Locust Point, although the exact lithology, age, thickness, and geographic extent remain undocumented in accessible scholarly sources.
Conclusion
Given the lack of verifiable, published information, the term “Locust Point Formation” cannot be reliably defined within an encyclopedic framework at this time. Further investigation of regional geological reports, unpublished theses, or local field notes would be required to ascertain whether the name represents a formally recognized stratigraphic unit.
