STATE OF OHIO DEPARTMENTOF NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Reference No. 24 Lawrence H. Wickstrom, Chfef Valley Pike VOCs EPA ID No. OHN000510489
Open-File Report 2012-1
GEOLOGY OF THE DAYTON REGION IN CORE AND OUTCROP-A WORKSHOP AND FIELD TRIP FOR CITIZENS, ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATORS, GEOLOGISTS, AND EDUCATORS
By
Gregory A. Schumacher. Michael P.Angle, Brian E. Matt, and Douglas J. Aden
Prepared for the 2012 Geological Society of America North-Central Section meeting in Dayton, Ohio
Columbus 2012 DISCLAIMER
The information contained herein has not been reviewed for technical accuracy and conformity with current ODNR Division of Geological Survey standards for formally published materials. The ODNR Division of Geological Survey docs not guarantee this information to be free from errors, omissions, or inaccuracies and disclaims any responsibility or liability for interpretations or decisions based thereon.
Cover photo: Steam Boat Rock- Large slump block of Cedarville Dolomite resting in the bed of the Little Miami River at Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve.
Recommended citation: Schumacher, G.A.,Angle, M.P., Matt, B. E., and Aden, D.J., 2012, Geology of the Dayton region in core and outcrop- A workshop and field trip for citizens, environmental investigators, geologists, and educators: Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geological Survey Open-File Report 2012·1, 58 p. AGENDA
MORNING WORKSHOP
9:00-10:00 A.M. Welcome; Geology of the Dayton Region 10:00-11:00 A.M. Utility of ODNR Division of Geological Survey map products 11:00-12:00 l'.l\1. Geology of the Dayton Region in core (hands-on exercises)
AFTERNOON FIELD TRIP
1:00 I'.M. Depart Dayton Convention Center 1:00-1:30 P.M. Drive to Oakes Quarry Park 1:30-2:50 l'.l\1. STOP 1: Oakes Quarry Park 2:50- 3:00 I'.M. Drive to Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve 3:00-4:20 P.l\1. STOP 2: Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve 4:20-5:00 P.M. Fill out evaluations; return to Dayton Convention Center
WORKSHOP AND FIELD TRIP LEADERS
Gregory A. Schumacher Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Geological Survey H. R. Collins Laboratory 33307 South Old State Road Delaware, OH 43015 (740) 548-7348, ext. 125 greg.schu [email protected] tc .oh. us
Michael P. Angle Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Geological Survey 2045 Morse Road, Bldg. C-2 Columbus, OH 43229-6693 (614) 265-6602 [email protected]
Brian E. Matt DLZOhio 6121 Huntley Road Columbus, OH 43229 (614) 848-4141 [email protected]
Douglas J. Aden Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Geological Survey 2045 Morse Road, Bldg. C-2 Columbus, OH 43229-6693 (614) 265-6579 doug.aden@dnr. statc. oh .us
iii CONTENTS
Page Introduction .. +••·• · ··~~····~·-·~·-....9·· ·····•r• .. ·······························································,·••••·•··· ..· ··········· 1 Geology of the Dayton region ...... 1 What geologic maps should I usc to determine the geology bencnth my feot? ...... 5 What is rock coring?...... 5 Fi{lld trip road log ...... •...... 7 Stop 1. Oakes Quarry Park ...... 8 Introduction ~ ...... ~ ...... ~ ...... ~~ · ······ · ... ········... ·····...... 8 Geology of the Oakes Qunrry Park...... 8 Early Silurian ...... H...... 8 Ice· Age ...... ~ ...... ~ ...... ~ ...... ,...... ~-· · ·~ · ...... ~ ...... 12 Stop 2. Clifton Gorge State Nature Pr,cscrve ...... 14 Acknowledgments...... 17 References cited ...... 17 Fact Shoots...... 18 Glacial till...... 18 Glacial sand and gravel deposits ...... 20 Glocial sand deposits...... 23 Glocinl lacustrine d~posits ...... 26 Glacial silt deposits...... 29 Glocial clny deposits ...... -...... 32 Orgnnic deposits...... 35 Cedarville )){)lomite...... 38 Springfield Dolomite...... 40 Euphemia Dolomite...... 42 Mosaic Shale ...... 44 Ost:<~od. Shale...... 46 Brassfield Formation ...... ,...... 48 Drn.kcs Formation...... 51 Whjtcwater Fonnation ...... 53 Ljbcrty Formlltion...... 55 \Ynyncsville Formation...... 57
FIGURES
1. Bedrock ncar-surface nnd subsurface stratigraphy of the Dayton region...... 2 2. Location of the Dayton region in Ordovician time...... 3 3. Ohio karst areas...... 4 4. Typical drill bits ...... - ...... 6 5. Bedrock geologic map of Oakes Quarry Pn rk...... 9 6. The eastern high wall of Oakes Quarry Park displaying tbe chnractcristk limostonc of the Brnssficld Formation...... 10 7. BclfastMemb~rofthe Brassfield Formation in Oakce Queny Park floor ...... 10 8. Ros<~ diagram illustrating the prominent joint orientations prca-crvcd within the Dclfn.st Member of the Brassfie]d Formation ...... , ...... 11 9. Postulated position of the continents during tbc Late Ordovician!Enrly Silurien and Middle Pennsylvanian...... 11 10. The polished upper surface of the Brassfield Formation...... 13 11. Rose diagram showing that the movement of glacial icc and meltwater was from the northwest to the southeast...... 13 12. Bedrock geologic map of the Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve ...... 15 13. Stages of gorge formation of Little Miami River in the Clifton, Ohio, area ...... 16
iv GEOLOGY OFTHE DAYTON REGION IN CORE AND OUTCROP-A WORKSHOP AND FIELD TRIP FOR CITIZENS, ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATORS, GEOLOGISTS, AND EDUCATORS
by Gregory A. Schumacher, Michael P. Angle. Brian E. Mott, and Douglas J. Aden
INTRODUCTION distinguish one geologic unit from the underlying and overly ing units. For example, if you turn ahead to the Brassfield The goal of today's core workshop and field trip is to Formation fact sheet (p. 48), you will find an introductory learn about the geology of the Dayton, Ohio, region using paragraph describing: (1) the characteristic rock or rocks Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division found in the Brassfield, (2) the environment present in the of Geological Survey (Survey) mapping products and indi· Dayton region when the Brassfield was deposited, (3) how vidual fact sheets for a future field guide entitled: Ohio's the Brassfield was named, (4) the Brassfield's mapped dis· Geology in Core and Outcrop-A Field Guide for Citizens tribution in the state of Ohio, and (5) unit thickness of the and Environmental and Geotechnical Investigators. For this Brassfield. Also, the sta tcwide distribution of the Brassfield guidebook, the Dayton region is defined as Montgomery and is shown on a geologic map found in the upper left corner of Greene Counties, Ohio. the fact sheet, above the geologic time scale. Conducted between January 1, 2007, and December 31, The body of the Brassfield fact sheet consists of twelve 2009, a survey of nearly 500 Ohio citizens, students, faculty major categories providing information about: (1) diagnostic members, environmental scientists, geologists, and govern features, (2) general characteristics of the rocks compris ment decision makers revealed that when asked-"What ing the unit, (3) how the rocks vary from one part of Ohio is the geology beneath my fect?"-lcss than 10 percent to another, (4) what fossils are present, (5) how this unit could correctly identify the bedrock geologic unit they were weathers when exposed, (6) the nature of the contacts with standing on. These results are very surprising because most the overlying and underlying geologic units, (7) the overlying visitors to the ODNR Division of Gcologicnl Survey Horace and underlying units and similarity of the Brassfield to other R. Collins Laboratory or those attending a presentation geologic units mapped in Ohio, (8) engineering properties, about Ohio's geology have a better understanding of, or at (9) hydrogeologic properties, (10) environmental hazards least a higher level of interest in, Ohio's geology. Survey associated with the unit, (11) economic geology, and (12) respondents were asked: "What can the Survey do to help scenic geology. The final components of the fact sheet are educate Ohio's citizens on the geology of Ohio?" A common photographs of the Brassfield in both core and natural or suggestion described the need for a concise field guide that man-made exposures and suggestions for further reading combines existing geologic information available from the to learn more about the unit. Survey and other sources with photographs of Ohio's geologic The future field guide will provide fact sheets for 85 surfi· units in outcrop and core. cia! and bedrock geologic units mapped throughout Ohio. In "What is the first bedrock unit beneath the Dayton Con· some cases, figures or tables may be included for a particular vention Center'!" If your answer is the Late Ordovician-age unit to illustrate important geologic information. Grant Lake Formation approximately 180 feet below, con gratulations! If you nrc unsure, don't worry because when GEOLOGY OF THE DAYTON REGION we complete this workshop and field trip, you will have a thorough understanding of the geology of the Dayton region. The surficial materials and ncar-surface bedrock of the You will be introduced to the Survey's mapping products Dayton region are defined as the earth materials that occur and how to usc them. Hands·on exercises will allow you to within a few hundred feet of the present·day land surface. answer the question-"What is the bedrock unit beneath These materials consist of soils, river deposits (alluvium), my fect?"-at a number of locations in Montgomery and and glacial drift overlying bedrock, ranging in age from the Greene Counties. Also, you will learn how to usc a bedrock Late Ordovician to the Late Silurian. Soils nrc defined as topography map, how to determine the thickness of the being the uppermost 5 to 6 feet of weathered material that glacial drift and modern sediments, and how geologists map overlay the uppermost parent material, which may be rock, Ohio's glacial drift using stack mapping techniques. By the alluvium, or glacial drift. The soils contain distinct layers way, if you arc wondering, approximately 180 feet of clay, or horizons that reflect the various weathering processes. silt, sand, gravel, and occasional cobbles and boulders have Alluvium deposits are mainly gravel, sand, and silt and arc been deposited on top of the Grant Lake Formation that is associated with the active floodplain of streams and rivers. deeply buried in the ancestral Great Miami River Valley Glacial-drift sand.and-gravel deposits are located in outwash directly beneath the Dayton Convention Center. terraces and icc-contact features, such as kames that often Once you have determined the mapped geologic units be occur adjacent to active floodplains. In 2010, over 608,000 neath your feet, you then can use the fact sheets (p. 18-58) to tons of sand and gravel were mined in Montgomery County learn about the important characteristics and features that and 1,236,000 tons in Greene County (Wolfe, 2011). Other