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Russell Cave National Monument Geologic Resources Inventory Report

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Russell Cave National Monument Geologic Resources Inventory Report National Park Service US Department of the Interior Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Russell Cave National Monument Geologic Resources Inventory Report Natural Resource Report NPS/NRSS/GRD/NRR—2014/856 ON THE COVER View from the dry shelter entrance at Russell Cave. Cave breakdown blocks in the foreground demonstrate the processes responsible for the formation of the shelter above the adjacent stream channel. The shelter contains an archeological record extending back more than 9,000 years. National Park Service photograph. THIS PAGE Blocks of fossiliferous Mississippian limestone form the edges of a flooded sinkhole. Blocks fall periodically into the sinkhole, widening it. Photograph by Trista L. Thornberry-Ehrlich (Colorado State University). Russell Cave National Monument Geologic Resources Inventory Report Natural Resource Report NPS/NRSS/GRD/NRR—2014/856 Trista L. Thornberry-Ehrlich Colorado State University Research Associate National Park Service Geologic Resources Division Geologic Resources Inventory PO Box 25287 Denver, CO 80225 October 2014 US Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Fort Collins, Colorado The National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science office in Fort Collins, Colorado, publishes a range of reports that address natural resource topics. These reports are of interest and applicability to a broad audience in the National Park Service and others in natural resource management, including scientists, conservation and environmental constituencies, and the public. The Natural Resource Report Series is used to disseminate high-priority, current natural resource management information with managerial application. The series targets a general, diverse audience, and may contain NPS policy considerations or address sensitive issues of management applicability. All manuscripts in the series receive the appropriate level of peer review to ensure that the information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended audience, and designed and published in a professional manner. This report received informal peer review by subject-matter experts who were not directly involved in the collection, analysis, or reporting of the data. Views, statements, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and data in this report do not necessarily reflect views and policies of the National Park Service, US Department of the Interior. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the US Government. Printed copies of this report are produced in a limited quantity and they are only available as long as the supply lasts. This report is available from the Geologic Resources Inventory website (http://www.nature.nps.gov/geology/inventory/ gre_publications.cfm) and the Natural Resource Publications Management website (http://www.nature.nps.gov/publications/nrpm/). To receive this report in a format optimized for screen readers, please email [email protected]. Please cite this publication as: Thornberry-Ehrlich, T. L. 2014. Russell Cave National Monument: geologic resources inventory report. Natural Resource Report NPS/NRSS/GRD/NRR—2014/856. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. NPS 414/126779, October 2014 ii NPS Geologic Resources Division Contents Lists of Figures and Tables ........................................................................................... iv Executive Summary ....................................................................................................... v Products and Acknowledgements .............................................................................. vii Geologic Setting and Significance ................................................................................ 1 Geologic Setting .......................................................................................................................................................... 1 Geologic Significance and Connections ........................................................................................................................ 2 Geologic Features and Processes .................................................................................. 5 Russell Cave and Other Karst Features .......................................................................................................................... 5 Differential Weathering.............................................................................................................................................. 10 Slope Processes and Deposits ..................................................................................................................................... 10 Sedimentary Rocks and Features ................................................................................................................................ 10 Paleontological Resources .......................................................................................................................................... 12 Geologic Resource Management Issues ..................................................................... 15 Erosion within the Dry Shelter .................................................................................................................................... 15 Flooding .................................................................................................................................................................... 17 Caves and Associated Karst Hazards ........................................................................................................................... 18 Slope Movement Hazards and Risks ........................................................................................................................... 20 Abandoned Mineral Lands ......................................................................................................................................... 20 Paleontological Resource Inventory, Monitoring, and Protection ................................................................................. 21 Earthquake Hazards and Risks .................................................................................................................................... 21 Geologic History .......................................................................................................... 23 Paleozoic Era (541 million to 252 million years ago)—Longstanding Marine Deposition and Supercontinent Formation23 Mesozoic and Cenozoic Eras (252 million years ago to present)—Weathering and the Exposure of Russell Cave .......... 23 Geologic Map Data ...................................................................................................... 27 Geologic Maps .......................................................................................................................................................... 27 Source Maps .............................................................................................................................................................. 27 GRI GIS Data .............................................................................................................................................................. 27 Geologic Map Graphic ............................................................................................................................................... 28 Map Unit Properties Table .......................................................................................................................................... 28 Use Constraints .......................................................................................................................................................... 28 Glossary ........................................................................................................................ 29 Literature Cited ............................................................................................................ 35 Additional References ................................................................................................. 39 Geology of National Park Service Areas ...................................................................................................................... 39 NPS Resource Management Guidance and Documents ............................................................................................... 39 Climate Change Resources ......................................................................................................................................... 39 Geological Surveys and Societies ................................................................................................................................ 39 US Geological Survey Reference Tools ........................................................................................................................ 39 Appendix A: Scoping Participants .............................................................................. 41 2009 Scoping Meeting Participants ............................................................................................................................ 41 2014 Conference Call Participants .............................................................................................................................. 41 Appendix B: Geologic Resource Laws, Regulations, and Policies ............................
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