Geology of the
Caverns
Crystal Caverns at Hupp’s Hill are found within limestone
of the Edinburg  Formation, which was deposited in the sunny, shallow seas of the Ordovician
Epoch, nearly 468 - 478 million years ago. However, the actual age of the caverns, and the
length of time which it took for them to form is more uncertain. Dates of 60 to 70
million years before present (the Age of Dinosaurs) have been theorized for some of the
larger caverns of the Shenandoah Valley, but there is considerable controversy surrounding
these estimates.
Crystal Caverns at Hupp’s Hill are probably more recent. The size of the
formations and chambers suggests they began forming at least several million years before
present, with a date of 10-14 million years ago not unlikely. |
