Geological Survey Research 1961 Synopsis of Geologic and Hydrologic Results
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Geological Survey Research 1961 Synopsis of Geologic and Hydrologic Results GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 424-A Geological Survey Research 1961 THOMAS B. NOLAN, Director GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 424 A synopsis ofgeologic and hydrologic results, accompanied by short papers in the geologic and hydrologic sciences. Published separately as chapters A, B, C, and D UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1961 FOEEWOED The Geological Survey is engaged in many different kinds of investigations in the fields of geology and hydrology. These investigations may be grouped into several broad, inter related categories as follows: (a) Economic geology, including engineering geology (b) Eegional geologic mapping, including detailed mapping and stratigraphic studies (c) Eesource and topical studies (d) Ground-water studies (e) Surface-water studies (f) Quality-of-water studies (g) Field and laboratory research on geologic and hydrologic processes and principles. The Geological Survey also carries on investigations in its fields of competence for other Fed eral agencies that do not have the required specialized staffs or scientific facilities. Nearly all the Geological Survey's activities yield new data and principles of value in the development or application of the geologic and hydrologic sciences. The purpose of this report, which consists of 4 chapters, is to present as promptly as possible findings that have come to the fore during the fiscal year 1961 the 12 months ending June 30, 1961. The present volume, chapter A, is a synopsis of the highlights of recent findings of scientific and economic interest. Some of these findings have been published or placed on open file during the year; some are presented in chapters B, C, and D ; still others have not been pub lished previously. Only part of the scientific and economic results developed during the year can be presented in this synopsis. Eeaders who wish more complete or more detailed informa tion should consult the bibliography of reports beginning on page A-156 of this volume, and the collection of short articles presented in the companion chapters as follows: Prof. Paper 424-B Articles 1 to 146 Prof. Paper 424-C Articles 147 to 292 Prof. Paper 424-D Articles 293 to 435 A list of investigations in progress in the Geologic and Water Eesources Divisions with the names and addresses of the project leaders is given on pages A-110 to A-155 for those in terested in work in progress in various areas or on special topics. During the fiscal year 1961, the services of the Geologic and Water Eesources Divisions were utilized, or supported financially in part, by the many Federal and State agencies listed on pages A-106 to A-109. The Geological Survey has also cooperated from time to time with other agencies, and some of the work described in these chapters stems from work of previous years in cooperation with agencies not shown on the list. All cooperating agencies are identi fied where appropriate in the individual short articles in chapters B, C, and D, and they are mentioned in connection with some of the larger programs summarized in chapter A; because of space limitations, however, their contributions are mentioned in many of the short summary paragraphs contained in chapter A. The many cooperating agencies, by means of financial support, technical cooperation, and friendly counsel, have contributed significantly to the findings reported in these chapters. This report, which was prepared between March and July 1961, represents the combined efforts of many individuals. Paul Averitt assumed overall responsibility and assembled chap- m IV FOREWORD ter A from information supplied by project chiefs and program leaders. Arthur B. Campbell and William J. Mapel critically reviewed most of the manuscripts submitted for chapters B, C, and D. They were assisted in this task by Stanley W. Lohman, Edward T. Ruppel, Paul K. Sims, and Vernon E. Swanson. Mrs. Virginia P. Byers helped check, process, and assemble the papers. R. A. Weeks and Charles J. Robinove compiled the lists of cooperating agencies and the list of investigations in progress. Barbara Hillier compiled the list of publications. Edith Becker and Marston Chase prepared the indexes to chapters B, C, and D. To these must be added the many contributors of articles, summaries and ideas. I am pleased to be able to acknowledge here the contributions and efforts of these individuals. X, THOMAS B. NOLAN, Director. Synopsis of Geologic and Hydrologic Results Prepared by members of the Geologic and Water Resources Divisions GEOLOGICAL SURVEY RESEARCH 1961 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 424-A A summary of recent scientific and economic results, accompanied by a list of reports released in fiscal Ity6l and a list of investigations in progress UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1961 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STEWART L. UDALL, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Thomas B. Nolan, Director For sale by the Sujxerintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington 25, D.C. CONTENTS Page Page Resource investigations._____________________________ A-l Resource investigations Continued Heavy metals____---__-___-____--__---__-__-__- 1 Radioactive materials Coutinued District and regional studies.________________ 1 Topical studies- __--___--____._____..________ A-7 Montana iron deposits.__-__________-_-- 1 Epigenetic deposits of uranium in limestone _ 7 Chromite deposits of the Stillwater com Geology of uranium deposits in sandstone __ 7 plex, Montana-______________________ Source of monazite in some Australian Nickeliferous lateritic soils in the Klamath placers- _____________________________ 7 Mountains, Oregon and California- _____ Fuels___-_ _ --_-_____-_______ _____ ______ _ 7 Tungsten and molybdenum in the Rocky Petroleum and natural gas_ __________________ 7 Mountains. __________________________ Coal- --_--_-_--_------------_--___---___-_ 7 Manganese and zinc deposits near Philips- Coal fields of the United States.- _________ 8 burg, Montana.______________________ Coal resources of Arkansas. ______________ 8 Studies in Colorado. ____________________ Geology of specific coal fields. _ -_______--_ 8 East Tintic silver-lead district, Utah_ _____ Spheroidal structures in coal _____________ 8 Central mining district, New Mexico._-___ Oil shale_ __________________________________ 8 Lead, zinc, and related ores of the Central Water. _ ___________--_-__________---_--__-_---_ 8 and Eastern States___--_-__--_--_----_ Regional and district studies _________________ 8 Gold in California-_____________________ Distribution and characteristics of stream- Commodity studies-________________________ Topical studies-_____-___-_-_____-______--_- Water use. ________________________________ Heavy metals and trace elements in black Water use in river basins of Southeastern shales and phosphorites._______________ United States ___________-__-__--_-.__ Light metals and industrial minerals-_____________ Copper industry. _____-___--__-_--__-___ District and regional studies-________________ Styrene, butadiene, and synthetic rubber Beryllium at Spor Mountain, Utah___-__ industries. _ __-__________--_--_--_--__ Beryllium in the Mount Wheeler area, Regional geology and hydrology ______-____--___-_--__ White Pine County, Nevada-__________ Synthesis of geologic data on maps of large regions .. 10 Beryllium in the Lake George district, Mineral distribution maps. __________________ 11 Colorado-.-. _ ________________________ Tectonic map of the United States_________-_- 11 Pegmatites of the Spruce Pine district, Paleotectonic maps of the Permian system. 11 North Carolina.______________________ Pleistocene lakes in western conterminous United Vermiculite deposits in South Carolina- States, _ _________________________________ 11 Fluorspar in the Browns Canyon district, New England and eastern New York_____________ 12 Salida, Colorado._____________________ Regional geologic mapping in Maine- _________ 12 Phosphate deposits in the Southeastern Regional geologic mapping in Vermont. _______ 12 States. ______________________________ Regional geologic mapping in Massachusetts Clay in Maryland______ _________________ and Rhode Island __ ______-__-_____-__--_ 12 Clay in Kentucky_______________________ Regional geologic mapping in Connecticut _ ____ 12 Borate in California..___________________ Geophysical surveys.. __ _ __________--_-_-_-__ 13 Pumice and pozzolan deposits in the Lesser Economic studies- __-_____-____-_____-----_- 13 Antilles_ . _ _________________________ Geochemical studies in New Hampshire_______ 14 Commodity and topical studies.________.__--- Aquifers composed of glacial deposits __ -_._._ 14 Beryllium. _____________________________ Occurrence of water in bedrock. ____-__-_-_-__ 14 Potash_ _______________________________ Chemical and physical quality of surface and ground water_ ____._.__-_______-__-_--_-_ 14 Radioactive materials. __________________________ Flood magnitudes _ _ __________-_____--__--- 14 District and regional studies.-______________ Appalachians __ _______-________-____-___----__ 15 Colorado Plateau.______________________ Geologic mapping _ _ _____.-___-__-_-_--_-__ 15 Shirley basin, Wyoming-________________ Structural and tectonic studies. ______________ 15 Coastal plain, Texas. ___________________ Stratigraphic studies in the Ridge and Valley Front Range, Colorado,__-_-----____---_ province. ___________-_______-------_----_ 16 Powderhorn district, Colorado____---_-___ Geophysical