DOCSLIB.ORG

Oklahoma III: Wichita & Arbuckle Mountains

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

Rocky Mountain Federation News—May 2014 Page Volume 45 Issue 5 May 2014 The official publication of the Rocky Mountain Federation of Mineralogical Societies, Inc. The RMFMS is a regional member of the American Feder- ation of Mineralogical Societies, Inc. and is issued monthly (except June and July). It is a privilege of membership of the RMFMS and cannot be exchanged by the editor for individual club newsletters from other regional federations. www.rmfms.org Inside this Issue: Oklahoma III: Wichita & Arbuckle Mountains by Dr. Mike Nelson Treasurer’s Report 4 Endowment Fund Tickets 5 iving and teaching in western Kansas did not allow much interaction Klicks & Klacks from the Editor 5 with either igneous or metamorphic rocks, nor with Paleozoic Competitive Exhibits 6 L [email protected], rocks older than the Mississippian (and these age rocks are restricted www.csmsgeologypost.blog Unintended Consequence 7 to the southeastern most 50 sq. miles of the state). So, what to do? spot.com ACROYs 8 How could a geology student become better acquainted with rocks that are not Ter- tiary, Cretaceous, Permian or Pennsylvanian in age? Well, it seemed like an easy an- Earth Science Poems 10 swer—road trip! So off we went either south or west, depending upon the time of year. A Postcard from Siberia 12 In early fall, the Colorado mountains were beautiful with color and outcrops vacant of SD National Grasslands 13 people. During the spring semester, Colorado was often cool-cold and snow lingered in Rocks 14 the high country. Therefore, Oklahoma to the south seemed like a good choice. The Field Trip Twelve Essentials 14 most interesting places to visit were the Wichita Mountains in the southwest, and the Ar- There is Nothing Wrong with Us 15 buckle Mountains in the south central part of the state. Just Passing Through 16 Fig. 1. Geologic map Soapstone 17 of Oklahoma (from Oklahoma Geological San Juan Mtns Mineral Symposium 17 Survey). The Arbuck- Is Your Computer Male or Female? 18 le Mountains are lo- cated to the south of Shows & More 18 Oklahoma City (and a Officers & Committees 11 little east) while the Wichita Mountains are to the southwest. Both appear on the map as isolated “blobs.” These two ranges present some very interesting stratigraphy, and geologists still seem to be debating about the origin of the “basement rocks” cropping out in the mountains. If read- ers would travel to Colorado or Wyoming or New Mexico (and other western states), they would note that the oldest rocks, especially in the Laramide front ranges, are Precambrian in age—older than ~542 Ma. However, the igneous rocks, lots of rhyolite, granite, and dio- rite in the Wichita Mountains are perhaps latest Precambrian (Neoproterozoic: 1000Ma to 542 Ma) but are mostly Cambrian in age, something younger than ~542 Ma. and that is the really interesting part (Fig. 2). The Wichita Mountains are situated in the southwestern part of Oklahoma (Fig. 1) and actually have some relief, maybe 500 to 1100 feet, and dominate the topog- raphy. I remember climbing Mt. Scott (Fig. 3) at ~2462 feet and essentially the highest peak in the range; Mt. Pinchot at 2479 feet is Fig. 2. Location of the South- on a special area of the wildlife refuge and off limits to ern Oklahoma Rift System penetrating the continent at visitors, while Haley Peak on private property is 2481 about 90 degrees to the edge (maybe). The oldest rocks in the Wichitas are known as of the continent. Map taken the Tillman “metasedimentry group” and represent from Hansen and others, 2011. Rocky Mountain Federation News—May 2014 Page 2 latest Precambrian-early Cambrian marine sandstones that are now turned to quartzite. PUBLICATIONS However, beginning at about the same time as their deposition, massive volcanism and plutonic placement of granite was beginning in a structural basin termed the Southern Editor: Oklahoma Rift System (SORS) (Fig. 2). Some geologists argue that the SORS sequence represents a sea floor spreading event, a rift-rift-rift triple junction, with one arm extend- Betty Cain ing into the old proto-North American continent (known to geologists as Laurentia) 2702 E. Pikes Peak Ave. while the other two arms are now obscured by ocean basins (Hansen and others, 2011). Colo. Springs, CO 80909 The name Southern Oklahoma Aulacogen or Wichita Aulacogen has been given to the 719-634-8205 Oklahoma arm since the arm ultimately failed (an aulacogen). However, Thomas [email protected] (2011) believed the plutonic events are part of a large fault zone extending inward into the proto continent. These magmatic rocks in Oklahoma also seem related to other Circulation Manager: igneous events stretching from New Mexico to Utah and Colorado. Whatever the Bill Cain (see above) cause, the igneous rocks in southwestern Oklahoma (latest Precambrian? to Cambrian 719-322-6089 in age) represent a major tectonic event along the southern margin of proto North America; the older Raggedy Mountain gabbro group and the Navajoe Mountain bas- [email protected] alt group are unconformably overlain by the widespread Carleton Rhyolite Group and Subscriptions: the intrusive Wichita Mountain Granite Group (Fig. 4). The latter two units are the igne- Gene Maggard ous rocks that form the rugged mountains and are well exposed and easy to observe (Fig. 5). All in all, the Wichitas are a great place to visit, to observe the buffalo (bison) at 8318 SE Highway 77 the wildlife preserve, and see some igneous “basement” rocks that are not Precambri- Leon, KS 67076 an in age. 316-742-3746 [email protected] Rates—$3.50 a year for the Rocky Mountain Federation News only. $7.75 a year for both the Rocky Mountain Federation News and the RMFMS Directory. Fig. 4. Map showing location of the Wichita Moun- tains in southwestern Oklahoma. Igneous rocks Directory only—$5.00 Fig. 3. Mt Scott in the Wichita Mountains Order from Supplies Chair, is the most easily accessible peak in the dominate the mountains in the south, near Fort Range. Public Domain photo. Sill, and are the most visited section. North of Kim Blanton the Meers Fault there are large exposures of the 728 E. Sandy Dunes Dr. Starting before the conclusion of the Wichi- Ordovician (488-443 Ma) Arbuckle Group lime- stones. Map taken from Hansen and others, 2011. Sandy, UT 84094 ta magmatic event and continuing after, 801-604-1263 sediments begin to erode from the surrounding highlands into the rift or fault basin [email protected] (SORS). In addition, marine sedimentary rocks, limestone, sandstone, shale, were de- posited, on and off, in Oklahoma from late Cambrian through the early Mississippian Deadline (~359-345 Ma). By the late Mississippian (~328-318 Ma), SORS was rapidly subsiding and Bulletin submissions deadline filling with clastic particles later forming a shale. is the third week of the By the Pennsylvanian (beginning ~311 Ma ), “things” begin to change in Oklahoma as a month prior to publication result of what is termed the Ouachita Orogeny—plates of South America and Africa date; i.e., the deadline for bumping in to the southern margin of North America. In Arkansas and parts of east Ok- the August bulletin is the lahoma (see previous articles), the collision resulted in formation of thrusted and folded third week of July or earlier mountains called the Ouachita Mountains. In the Mountain West states, the collisional as requested. event produced large block fault mountains—the Ancestral Rocky Mountains. And, in southern Oklahoma, the old SORS was no longer accepting sediments but was activat- Unless otherwise marked, ed by vertical uplift and faulting into a highland area and shedding off large clasts that materials from this publica- later cemented into sandstones and conglomerates. The erosion continued into the tion may be reprinted by early part of the Permian (~251 Ma); but by the late Permian (~290 Ma), the mountains members, giving credit to (uplifted SORS) were covered and buried by sediments. Jurassic and Triassic (~228-145 the author and the Rocky Ma) rocks are virtually unknown from western Oklahoma and Cretaceous (~145-65 Ma) Mountain Federation News. rocks were probably deposited are mostly eroded away. The current Wichita Moun- tains are the result of landforms that were established in the Pennsylvanian/Permian and brought to light with Cenozoic erosion. Rocky Mountain Federation News—May 2014 Page 3 The Arbuckle Mountains are almost straight south of Oklahoma City along I- 35 north of the Texas-Oklahoma border. These hills are not really very high, ~1400 feet, there is not much relief—perhaps 600 feet, but they represent a different sort of environment and are popular with visitors. They do have some old rocks, and one time on a field trip I was able to visit a large gran- ite quarry in the Tishomingo Granite, ~1.4 Ga. These rocks are, in turn, over- lain by the Cambrian Carleton Rhyolite (seen in the Wichitas), and maybe 15,000 feet of Paleozoic rocks (mostly marine). The Arbuckles have a similar geological history as the Wichitas, and they were both part of the SORS. The big difference is that in the Wichitas, igneous rocks predominate while Fig. 5. Mt. Sheridan with granite (light-colored) in the Arbuckles sedimentary rocks are common, and many are quite fossil- overlying dark-colored gabbro. Public Domain photo. iferous. In addition, the USGS noted “the Arbuckles contain the most diverse suite of mineral resources in Oklahoma: lime- stone, dolomite, glass sand, granite, sand and gravel, shale, cement, iron ore, lead, zinc, tar sands, and oil and gas; all these minerals are, or have been, produced commercially” (http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov).
Recommended publications
  • Mountains, Streams, and Lakes of Oklahoma I

    Mountains, Streams, and Lakes of Oklahoma I

    Information Series #1, June 1998 Mountains, Streams, and Lakes of OklahomaI Kenneth S. Johnson2 INTRODUCTION valleys, hills, and plains throughout most of the re­ mainder of Oklahoma (Fig. 1). All the major lakes and Mountains and streams define the landscape of reservoirs of Oklahoma are man-made, and they are Oklahoma (Fig. 1). The mountains consist mainly of important for flood contr()l, water supply, recreation, resistant rock masses that were folded, faulted, and and generation of hydroelectric power. Natural lakes thrust upward in the geologic past (Fig. 2), whereas in Oklahoma are limited to oxbow lakes along major the streams have persisted in eroding less-resistant streams and to playa lakes in the High Plains region rock units and lowering the landscape to form broad of the west. Alphabetical List of20 Lakes with Largest Surface Area (from Oklahoma Water Atlas, Oklahoma Water Resources Board) 1. Broken Bow 11. Lake 0' The Cherokees 2. Canton 12. Oologah 3. Eufaula 13. Robert s. Kerr 4. Fort Gibson 14. Sardis 5. Foss 15. Skiatook 6. Great Salt Plains 16. Tenkiller Ferry ·7. Hudson 17. Texoma 8. Hugo 18. Waurika 9. Kaw 19. Webbers Falls 10. Keystone 20. Wister Modified from Historical Atlas of Oklahoma, by John W. Morris, Charles R. Goins, and Edwin C. 25 McReynolds. Copyright © 1986 by the University I of Oklahoma Press. o 40 80Km Figure 1. Mountains, streams, and principal lakes of Oklahoma. lReprinted from Oklahoma Geology Notes (1993), vol. 53, no. 5, p. 180-188. The Notes article was reprinted and expanded from Oklahoma Almanac, 1993-1994, Oklahoma Department of Lihraries, p.
  • Symposium on Agate and Cryptocrystalline Quartz

    Symposium on Agate and Cryptocrystalline Quartz

    Symposium on Agate and Cryptocrystalline Quartz September 10 – 13, 2005 Golden, Colorado Sponsored by Friends of Mineralogy, Colorado Chapter; Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum; and U.S. Geological Survey 2 Cover Photos {top left} Fortification agate, Hinsdale County, Colorado, collection of the Geology Museum, Colorado School of Mines. Coloration of alternating concentric bands is due to infiltration of Fe with groundwater into the porous chalcedony layers, leaving the impermeable chalcedony bands uncolored (white): ground water was introduced via the symmetric fractures, evidenced by darker brown hues along the orthogonal lines. Specimen about 4 inches across; photo Dan Kile. {lower left} Photomicrograph showing, in crossed-polarized light, a rhyolite thunder egg shell (lower left) a fibrous phase of silica, opal-CTLS (appearing as a layer of tan fibers bordering the rhyolite cavity wall), and spherulitic and radiating fibrous forms of chalcedony. Field of view approximately 4.8 mm high; photo Dan Kile. {center right} Photomicrograph of the same field of view, but with a 1 λ (first-order red) waveplate inserted to illustrate the length-fast nature of the chalcedony (yellow-orange) and the length-slow character of the opal CTLS (blue). Field of view about 4.8 mm high; photo Dan Kile. Copyright of articles and photographs is retained by authors and Friends of Mineralogy, Colorado Chapter; reproduction by electronic or other means without permission is prohibited 3 Symposium on Agate and Cryptocrystalline Quartz Program and Abstracts September 10 – 13, 2005 Editors Daniel Kile Thomas Michalski Peter Modreski Held at Green Center, Colorado School of Mines Golden, Colorado Sponsored by Friends of Mineralogy, Colorado Chapter Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum U.S.
  • TOPOGRAPHIC MAP of OKLAHOMA Kenneth S

    TOPOGRAPHIC MAP of OKLAHOMA Kenneth S

    Page 2, Topographic EDUCATIONAL PUBLICATION 9: 2008 Contour lines (in feet) are generalized from U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps (scale, 1:250,000). Principal meridians and base lines (dotted black lines) are references for subdividing land into sections, townships, and ranges. Spot elevations ( feet) are given for select geographic features from detailed topographic maps (scale, 1:24,000). The geographic center of Oklahoma is just north of Oklahoma City. Dimensions of Oklahoma Distances: shown in miles (and kilometers), calculated by Myers and Vosburg (1964). Area: 69,919 square miles (181,090 square kilometers), or 44,748,000 acres (18,109,000 hectares). Geographic Center of Okla- homa: the point, just north of Oklahoma City, where you could “balance” the State, if it were completely flat (see topographic map). TOPOGRAPHIC MAP OF OKLAHOMA Kenneth S. Johnson, Oklahoma Geological Survey This map shows the topographic features of Oklahoma using tain ranges (Wichita, Arbuckle, and Ouachita) occur in southern contour lines, or lines of equal elevation above sea level. The high- Oklahoma, although mountainous and hilly areas exist in other parts est elevation (4,973 ft) in Oklahoma is on Black Mesa, in the north- of the State. The map on page 8 shows the geomorphic provinces The Ouachita (pronounced “Wa-she-tah”) Mountains in south- 2,568 ft, rising about 2,000 ft above the surrounding plains. The west corner of the Panhandle; the lowest elevation (287 ft) is where of Oklahoma and describes many of the geographic features men- eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas is a curved belt of forested largest mountainous area in the region is the Sans Bois Mountains, Little River flows into Arkansas, near the southeast corner of the tioned below.
  • Four Western Cheilanthoid Ferns in Oklahoma

    Four Western Cheilanthoid Ferns in Oklahoma

    Oklahoma Native Plant Record 65 Volume 10, December 2010 FOUR WESTERN CHEILANTHOID FERNS IN OKLAHOMA Bruce A. Smith McLoud High School McLoud, Oklahoma 74851 Keywords: arid, distribution, habitat, key ABSTRACT The diversity of ferns in some of the more arid climates of western Oklahoma is surprising. This article examines four Oklahoma cheilanthoid ferns: Astrolepis integerrima, Cheilanthes wootonii, Notholaena standleyi, and Pellaea wrightiana. With the exceptions of A. integerrima and P. wrightiana which occur in Alabama and North Carolina respectively, all four species reach their eastern limits of distribution in Oklahoma. Included in this article are common names, synonyms, brief descriptions, distinguishing characteristics, U.S. and Oklahoma distribution, habitat information, state abundance, and a dichotomous key to selected cheilanthoids. The Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory has determined that all but one (N. standleyi) are species of concern in the state. INTRODUCTION of eastern Oklahoma, while most members of the Pteridaceae occur in Almost half of the ferns in the family western Oklahoma (Taylor & Taylor Pteridaceae are xeric adapted ferns. In 1991). Oklahoma six genera and sixteen species Statewide, the most common species in the family are known to occur. They in the Pteridaceae is Pellaea atropurpurea live on dry or moist rocks and can be (Figure 4), which can be found found in rock crevices, at the bases of throughout the body of the state and boulders, or on rocky ledges. Common Cimarron County in the panhandle. The associated species include lichens, mosses, rarest are Cheilanthes horridula and liverworts, and spike mosses. Two Cheilanthes lindheimeri. Cheilanthes horridula physical characteristics that unite the and Cheilanthes lindheimeri have only been family are the marginal sori (Figure 1) and seen in one county each, Murray and the lack of a true indusium.
  • Description of the Coalgate Quadrangle

    Description of the Coalgate Quadrangle

    ' *' DESCRIPTION OF THE COALGATE QUADRANGLE. By Joseph A. Taff. GEOGRAPHY. forms of the Ouachita Mountain Range. The a long time the valleys become wide and silted, that at ordinary conditions the stream meanders ridges of the valley region are nearly parallel and the hills are gradually reduced to the level in rivulets or narrow channels. Indeed, its chan­ GENERAL RELATIONS. with those of the range, but, with the exception of the valleys. nel is so choked with sand that the water does The Coalgate quadrangle is bounded by the of the few isolated mountains which lie in Arkan­ The surface of the Coalgate quadrangle is of not at any stage of the river flow on the country meridians 96° and 96° 30' and the parallels 34° sas Valley, they have low relief. low relief, and the topographic features indicate rock. During floods, which usually come in 30' and 35°, and thus occupies one- Extentand The Prairie Plains region stretches from the that it has been so for a relatively long period of spring from the headwaters of the river, vast quarter of a square degree of the earth's th1?Juad=f Arkansas Valley and Ozark highland regions time. The larger streams have nearly ceased cut­ quantities of sands are swept down, shifting for­ surface. It is 34.4 miles long north rangle> northward and westward across north- Character ting their valleys deeper, and throughout most of mer shoals and channels. Little River, which is and south and 28.5 miles wide, and contains west Indian Territory into Oklahoma their courses are meandering in the deposits of silt tributary to the Canadian, crosses the northwest nearly 980 square miles.
  • Ouachita Mountains Ecoregional Assessment December 2003

    Ouachita Mountains Ecoregional Assessment December 2003

    Ouachita Mountains Ecoregional Assessment December 2003 Ouachita Ecoregional Assessment Team Arkansas Field Office 601 North University Ave. Little Rock, AR 72205 Oklahoma Field Office 2727 East 21st Street Tulsa, OK 74114 Ouachita Mountains Ecoregional Assessment ii 12/2003 Table of Contents Ouachita Mountains Ecoregional Assessment............................................................................................................................i Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................................................................iii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY..............................................................................................................1 INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................3 BACKGROUND ...........................................................................................................................4 Ecoregional Boundary Delineation.............................................................................................................................................4 Geology..........................................................................................................................................................................................5 Soils................................................................................................................................................................................................6
  • Wyoming Agates WHAT ARE AGATES Chalcedony (Cryptocrystalline Quartz), in Its Pure Form, Is Transparent When Exposed to Concen- Trated Light

    Wyoming Agates WHAT ARE AGATES Chalcedony (Cryptocrystalline Quartz), in Its Pure Form, Is Transparent When Exposed to Concen- Trated Light

    Wyoming State Mineral & Gem Society, Inc. JadeAward StateWinning WSMGS Website: wsmgs.orgNews Volume 2019, Issue 2 Wyoming Agates WHAT ARE AGATES Chalcedony (cryptocrystalline quartz), in its pure form, is transparent when exposed to concen- trated light. When a small amount of impurities or foreign materials are added, the color of the cryptocrystalline quartz changes and its ability to transmit light decreases, creating semitransparent to translucent varieties of chalcedony. Agates are a form of chalcedony that contain pat- WSMGS OFFICERS terns caused by impurities within this cryptocrys- President: Jim Gray talline quartz. The most common agate patterns [email protected] caused by impurities are in the form of bands, concentric lines (dendritic), mottled, moss shaped Vice President: Linda Richendifer or plume-like. In addition, these patterns are often [email protected] different in color than the chalcedony that contains it. The book Agates by Karen A. Brzys lists that Secretary: Leane Gray over 16 different agate patterns can be found in [email protected] Wyoming. Treasurer: Stan Strike HOW DO AGATES FORM [email protected] Agates usually form in areas where surface water seeps through igneous rocks or volcanic ash. Historian: Rod Baltes continued on page 2 [email protected] Jade State News Editor: Jennifer Flowers Wyoming Agates Pages ........1-6 [email protected] WSMGS Info & Updates Pages ......7-10 Rockhound of Year Nominations Page .......... 11 RMFMS State Director: Stan Strike Acrylic Rock Painting Pages ... 11, 12 [email protected] Old Bird Found
  • Age of the Folding of the Oklahoma Mountains— % the Ouachita, Arbuckle, and Wichita Moun­ Tains of Oklahoma and the Llano-Burnet and Marathon Uplifts of Texas 1

    Age of the Folding of the Oklahoma Mountains— % the Ouachita, Arbuckle, and Wichita Moun­ Tains of Oklahoma and the Llano-Burnet and Marathon Uplifts of Texas 1

    BULLETIN OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA Vol. 39. pp. 1031-1072 December 30. 1928 AGE OF THE FOLDING OF THE OKLAHOMA MOUNTAINS— % THE OUACHITA, ARBUCKLE, AND WICHITA MOUN­ TAINS OF OKLAHOMA AND THE LLANO-BURNET AND MARATHON UPLIFTS OF TEXAS 1 BY SIDNEY POWERS 2 (Presented by title before the Society December SI, 1927) CONTENTS Tage Introduction ............................................................................................................. 1031 Stratigraphy ............................................................................................................. 1036 The, Ouachita Mountains ..................................................................................... 1037 Problems............................................................................................................. 1037 Age of the Carboniferous sediments .......................................................... 1038 Origin of the “glacial” boulders .................................................................. 1042 Date of the folding and overthrusting ...................................................... 1047 The Arbuckle Mountains ........................................................................................ 1049 The Wichita Mountains ........................................................................................ 1056 Former extent ................................................................................................. 1056 Criner Hills ....................................................................................................
  • Teacher's Guide

    Teacher's Guide

    Destinations OklahomaTeacher's Guide Content for this educational program provided by: CIMC Students of All Ages: Your adventure is about to begin! Within these pages you will become a “Geo-Detective” exploring the six countries of Oklahoma. Yes, countries! Within Oklahoma you’ll be traveling to unique places or regions called “countries.” Maybe you’ve heard of “Green Country” with its forests and specialty crops, or “Red Carpet Country,” named for the red rocks and soil formed during the ancient Permian age. Each region or country you visit will have special interesting themes or features, plus fun and sometimes challenging activities that you will be able to do. You will notice each country or region can be identifi ed by natural, economic, historic, cultural, geographic and geological features. The three maps you see on this page are examples of maps you might need for future Geo-Explorations. As a Geo-Detective having fun with the following activities, you’ll experience being a geographer and a geologist at the same time! So for starters, visit these websites and enjoy your Geo-Adventure: http://education.usgs.gov http://www.ogs.ou.edu http://www.census.gov http://www.travelok.com/site/links.asp Gary Gress, Geographer Neil Suneson, Geologist Oklahoma Alliance for Geographic Education Oklahoma Geological Survey Teachers: PASS Standards met by Destinations Oklahoma are listed on pages 15 – 17. Indian Nations of Oklahoma 1889 - Before and after the Civil War, tribal boundaries were constantly changing due to U.S. government policies. Eventually the Eastern and Western tribes merged into a state called “Oklahoma,” meaning “(land of) red people.” Oklahoma's 10 Geographic Regions - These regions refl ect both physical features (topography) and soils.
  • Mineral of the Month Club October 2016

    Mineral of the Month Club October 2016

    Mineral of the Month Club October 2016 QUARTZ var. AGATE (NODULE) Distinctive multicoloration and banding make this month’s mineral—the agate subvariety of microcrystalline quartz (chalcedony)—one of the world’s most recognizable gemstones. Our agate-nodule specimens were collected, cut, and polished in Soledade, Brazil, the world’s leading source of gem-quality agate. OVERVIEW PHYSICAL PROPERTIES: Chemistry: SiO2 Silicon Dioxide, often containing small amounts of iron and manganese. Class: Silicates Subclass: Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates) Group: Quartz Subgroup: Microcrystalline Quartz (Chalcedony) Crystal System: Hexagonal Crystal Habits: The agate subvariety of microcrystalline quartz occurs in massive form as nodules, veinlets, and geode linings. Color: Red, pink, orange, yellow, green, blue, bluish-gray, gray, white, brown, and black; agate bands, layers, and inclusions are usually multicolored. Luster: Vitreous and waxy to dull Transparency: Translucent Streak: White Refractive Index: 1.544-1.553 Cleavage: None Fracture and Tenacity: Conchoidal to subconchoidal and irregular; brittle to tough. Hardness: Quartz has a Mohs hardness of 7.0; agate is slightly softer at Mohs 6.5-7.0. Specific Gravity: 2.62-2.65 Luminescence: Agate often fluoresces yellow or bluish-white; fluorescence color and intensity vary among individual layers. Distinctive Features and Tests: Agate is difficult to confuse with other minerals or mineral varieties. Best field marks are translucency; microcrystalline structure; multicolored banding, layers, or inclusions; wide range of colors; hardness; relatively low specific gravity; and occurrence in volcanic environments. Dana Classification Number: 75.1.3.1 NAME: The word “agate,” pronounced AAH-get (rhymes with “tag it”), stems from Achatēs, the ancient Greek name for the Dirillo River on Italy’s island of Sicily, a former source of the stone.
  • Arbuckle Project

    Arbuckle Project

    Arbuckle Project Christopher J. McCune Historic Reclamation Projects Bureau of Reclamation 2002 Table of Contents Table of Contents..............................................................1 The Arbuckle Project...........................................................2 Project Location.........................................................2 Historic Setting .........................................................3 Project Authorization.....................................................5 Construction History .....................................................8 Post-Construction History................................................15 Settlement of the Project .................................................19 Uses of Project Water ...................................................20 Conclusion............................................................21 About the Author .............................................................21 Bibliography ................................................................22 Archival Collections ....................................................22 Government Documents .................................................22 Articles...............................................................22 Internet...............................................................22 Other ................................................................22 Index ......................................................................23 1 The Arbuckle Project In 1962, President John F. Kennedy, authorized
  • Mountain Ranges INSIDE on PAGE 4 OKLAHOMA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

    Mountain Ranges INSIDE on PAGE 4 OKLAHOMA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

    VOLUME 76, NO. 4 OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2017 The Age of Oklahoma’s Mountain Ranges INSIDE ON PAGE 4 OKLAHOMA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OKLAHOMA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY DR. JEREMY BOAK, Director Editor OGS geologists Neil Suneson and Ted Satterfield Thomas Stanley provide answers to the question: “How old are Oklahoma’s mountain ranges?” — Page 4 Cartography Manager James Anderson GIS Specialist Russell Standridge Copy Center Manager Richard Murray This publication, printed by the Oklahoma Geological Survey, Norman, Oklahoma, is issued by the Oklahoma Geological Survey as authorized by Title 70, Oklahoma Statutes 1981, Section 3310, and Title 74, Oklahoma Statutes 1981, Sections 231—238 The Oklahoma Geological Survey is a state agency for research and public service, mandated in the State Constitution to study Oklahoma’s land, water, mineral and energy resources and to promote wise Cover: Photo was shot on the Talimena Drive, which stretches across the Ouachita Mountains use and sound environmental practices. in southeastern Oklahoma Photo and Cover Design by Ted Satterfield 2 OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2017 Mountain ranges, a new hire, and a new year This issue focuses on a seemingly very straightforward question, one that all kinds of thought­ ful people, experts and lay people, like to ask, and ex­ pect a straightforward answer: how old are Oklahoma’s mountains? The review by Neil Suneson and Tom Stanley highlights the extent to which, even for this simple question, the answer can be quite complicated, and, in some places, the answer may still be “We don’t know.” Even for people like Neil and Tom, who have been working on Oklahoma geology for a long time and have a breadth of knowledge that we constantly call on, there are still aspects of a problem like this that can fall in the gap where they have not worked or have not yet come to a solid answer.