QEOCHEMISTRY of the NORTHERN ATLANTIC J COASTAL PLAIN AQUIFER SYSTEM
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QEOCHEMISTRY OF THE NORTHERN ATLANTIC j COASTAL PLAIN AQUIFER SYSTEM *> lie \ MARYLAND > - v .; PROFESSIONAL PAPER 1404-L USGS ? we for a changing world AVAILABILITY OF BOOKS AND MAPS OF THE US. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Instructions on ordering publications of the U.S. Geological Survey, along with prices of the last offerings, are given in the current- year issues of the monthly catalog "New Publications of the U.S. Geological Survey." Prices of available U.S. Geological Survey publica tions released prior to the current year are listed in the most recent annual "Price and Availability List." Publications that may be listed in various U.S. Geological Survey catalogs (see back inside cover) but not listed in the most recent annual "Price and Availability List" may be no longer available. Order U.S. Geological Survey publications by mail or over the counter from the offices given below. BY MAIL OVER THE COUNTER Books Books and Maps Professional Papers, Bulletins, Water-Supply Papers, Tech Books and maps of the U.S. Geological Survey are available niques of Water-Resources Investigations, Circulars, publications over the counter at the following U.S. Geological Survey Earth of general interest (such as leaflets, pamphlets, booklets), single Science Information Centers (ESIC's), all of which are authorized copies of Preliminary Determination of Epicenters, and some mis agents of the Superintendent of Documents: cellaneous reports, including some of the foregoing series that have gone out of print at the Superintendent of Documents, are obtain ANCHORAGE, Alaska Rm. 101, 4230 University Dr. able by mail from LAKEWOOD, Colorado Federal Center, Bldg. 810 U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services MENLO PARK, California Bldg. 3, Rm. 3128, 345 Box 25286, Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225 Middlefield Rd. Subscriptions to Preliminary Determination of Epicenters can RESTON, Virginia USGS National Center, Rm. 1C402, be obtained ONLY from the 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr. SALT LAKE CITY, Utah 2222 West 2300 South Superintendent of Documents Government Printing Office SPOKANE, Washington U.S. Post Office Bldg., Rm. 135, Washington, DC 20402 West 904 Riverside Ave. WASHINGTON, D.C. Main Interior Bldg., Rm. 2650,18th (Check or money order must be payable to Superintendent of and C Sts., NW. Documents.) Maps Only Maps Maps may be purchased over the counter at the following For maps, address mail orders to U.S. Geological Survey office: U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services Box 25286, Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225 ROLLA, Missouri 1400 Independence Rd. Geochemistry of the Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Aquifer System By LEROY L. KNOBEL, FRANCIS H. CHAPELLE, and HAROLD MEISLER REGIONAL AQUIFER-SYSTEM ANALYSIS- NORTHERN ATLANTIC COASTAL PLAIN U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 1404-L 1998 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Thomas J. Casadevall, Acting Director The use of firm, trade, and brand names in this report is for identification purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Government. 1998 Library of Congress Cataloging in Publications Data Knobel, LeRoy L. Geochemistry of the northern Atlantic Coastal Plain aquifer system / by LeRoy L. Knobel, Francis H. Chapelle, and Harold Meisler. p. cm. (Regional aquifer-system analysis northern Atlantic Coastal Plain) (U.S. Geological Survey pro fessional paper ; 1404-L) Includes bibliographical references. Supt. of Docs. no. : I19.16:1404-L 1. Water chemistry. 2. Aquifers Atlantic Coast (U.S.). I. Chapelle, Frank. II. Meisler, Harold. III. Title. IV. Series. V. Series: U.S. Geological Survey professional paper ; 1404-L. GB857.2.A85K56 1997 551.49'00974 dc20 94-28618 CIP ISBN 0-607-88577-7 For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Branch of Information Services Box 25286, Federal Center Denver, CO 80225 FOREWORD THE REGIONAL AQUIFER-SYSTEM ANALYSIS PROGRAM The RASA Program represents a systematic effort to study a number of the Nation's most important aquifer systems, which, in aggregate, underlie much of the country and which represent an important component of the Nation's total water supply. In general, the boundaries of these studies are identified by the hydrologic extent of each system and, accordingly, tran scend the political subdivisions to which investigations have often arbi trarily been limited in the past. The broad objective for each study is to assemble geologic, hydrologic, and geochemical information, to analyze and develop an understanding of the system, and to develop predictive capabili ties that will contribute to the effective management of the system. The use of computer simulation is an important element of the RASA studies to develop an understanding of the natural, undisturbed hydrologic system and the changes brought about in it by human activities and to provide a means of predicting the regional effects of future pumping or other stresses. The final interpretive results of the RASA Program are presented in a series of U.S. Geological Survey Professional Papers that describe the geology, hydrology, and geochemistry of each regional aquifer system. Each study within the RASA Program is assigned a single Professional Paper number beginning with Professional Paper 1400. L Thomas J. Casadevall Acting Director CONTENTS Foreword................................................................................................... Ill Interpretation of Hydrochemical Fades, by Aquifer Continued Abstract..................................................................................................... LI Beaufort-Aquia Aquifer............................................................... L21 Introduction.............................................................................................. 1 North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland.......................... 21 Purpose and Scope......................................................................... 2 New Jersey........................................................................... 21 Data Compilation and Analysis.................................................... 2 Peedee-Severn Aquifer................................................................ 21 Previous Studies............................................................................ 2 North Carolina..................................................................... 21 Acknowledgments.......................................................................... 4 Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey.............................. 21 Description of the Study Area............................................................... 4 Black Creek-Matawan Aquifer................................................... 22 Location and Extent...................................................................... 4 North Carolina..................................................................... 22 Physiography.................................................................................. 4 Maryland and Delaware...................................................... 23 Climate............................................................................................ 4 New Jersey........................................................................... 23 Hydrogeology................................................................................. 5 Magothy Aquifer in Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey.... 23 Patterns of Ground-Water Flow.................................................. 7 Upper Potomac Aquifer in North Carolina, Virginia, and Geographical Distribution of Dissolved Constituents........................ 10 Maryland.......................................................................... 24 Sources of Dissolved Constituents.............................................. 10 Middle Potomac Aquifer............................................................... 24 Hydrochemical Fades................................................................... 10 North Carolina and Virginia............................................... 24 Data Base.............................................................................. 10 Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey.............................. 25 Definition of Hydrochemical Fades.................................. 12 Lower Potomac Aquifer................................................................ 25 Water of Variable Composition................................ 12 North Carolina and Virginia............................................... 25 Calcium plus Magnesium Bicarbonate Water........ 12 Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey.............................. 25 Sodium Bicarbonate Water....................................... 12 Observations................................................................................... 25 Sodium Chloride Water............................................. 12 Summary and Conclusions...................................................................... 26 Progression of Fades.......................................................... 13 Selected References................................................................................ 27 Controls on the Distribution of Dissolved Constituents.................... 13 Appendixes Mineral Stability............................................................................ 13 A: Limestone Terranes, Phosphate Diagenesis, and Siderite Temperature and Pressure................................................. 13 Cementation North Carolina and New Jersey........ 36 Dissolved Gases...................................................................