DOCSLIB.ORG

Geology of the Uppek Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Geology of the Uppek Matanuska Valley, Alaska DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Hubert Work, Secretary U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY George Otis Smith, Director Bulletin 791 GEOLOGY OF THE UPPEK MATANUSKA VALLEY, ALASKA BY STEPHEN R. CAPPS WITH A SECTION ON THE IGNEOUS ROCKS BY J. B. MERTIE, JR. WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1927 ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE PROCURED FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON, D. C. AT 30 CENTS PER COPY CONTENTS Page Preface, by Philip S. Smith.._______________________________________ vn Introduction. ____________________________________________________ 1 Location ___.________________.___._______________._.__ __..-___ 1 Account of investigations.__________._____.__.___..__._.___.___ 2 ! Exploratory and reconnaissance surveys..____________________ 2 Detailed surveys._________________________________________ 3 Acknowledgments. _____________---_---__-_-.-_-----_-_---- 4 General description of the district-__------_-___---__---_.___..___ 5 Geography-.-_-___--._.___----_--_._._...___._....._..._. 5 / Climate__________________.______________ __________.,_..____ 6 Vegetation_______________.-_--------_-_------_---__--....._- 8 Fauna. __.__________________._____.______.__.._.____ ____ 8 Accessibility. _____________.________.___._.___._____._..__. 10 Trails... __.___._...._._._._._...__..._._._._..._.._...._. 10 History of development.___________________________________ 11 Stratigraphy_.__________________________________________________ 15 General features_____-_-___-_____-__--_--_________-_-.-_-_____ 15 Metamorphic rocks of undetermined age_-____._._._.__._-..,.___ 17 Altered graywacke, slate, and schist.____.____._____..___.__. 17 Lower Jurassic rocks.________________.____.._.___.-.__..___.__ 19 Talkeetna formation..__________.______________ ____________ 19 Middle and Upper Jurassic rocks...________-____-________--_-_-_ 23 Tuxedni sandstone (Middle Jurassic)________________________ 24 Chinitna formation (Upper Jurassic)...______________________ 29 Naknek formation (Upper Jurassic)_________________________ 31 Lower Cretaceous rocks._______________________________________ 33 ; Tuff and conglomerate.___-_____-_-_-__________---_---_--__ 33 Lower Cretaceous (?) limestone..._-_---__.---___--_._-_______ 34 Upper Cretaceous rocks._______________________________________ 35 Matanuska formation._____________________________________ 35 Tertiary rocks_________-_______-___--____-_-_---___-__-_-_--__ 40 I General features_____-_-___--_------___-__---------------- 40 Chickaloon formation..___________-_--__-.__._,-_._-.-______ 41 Eska conglomerate and conglomeratic sandstone of undetermined age._____---____________-------------__________________ 45 Basaltic lava and tuff_________-_------_--___-_-_-_-_-___--_ 47 Quaternary deposits-__________________________________________ 47 Glacial and high-level terrace gravels ________________________ 47 Alluvium______________-_____-___---._---__-_--._--__-_- 51 General structure of district__________-__----_----------------_-_-_- 51 Igneous rocks of the upper Matanuska Valley, by J. B. Mertie, jr_.__._ 55 Lower Jurassic volcanic rocks____--_----------_-------_--------- 56 , Tertiary volcanic rocks._______________________________________ 60 Intrusive rocks__-____-__-______-___-__-------------__.-._.__- 63 ' Granitic rocks.l___-___________________-_---______________ 63 ^ Soda felsite..____-_--_-___-_-_-_____--_-------_.---.-_--__ 66 Gabbro, diabase, and basalt,_______________________________ 68 HI IV CONTENTS Page Mineral resources____________________________________________________ 72 Metalliferous deposits_________________________________________ 72 Coal-____-_--.----_.___.___________.____-__-__---__--_-_-. 73 Areal distribution.________________________________________ 73 Stratigraphic occurrence___________________________________ 75 Character of the coal_________________________.____________ 76 Physical properties.____________________-__-____-_--._- 76 Coal beds___._.___________________________________ 77 Steaming, coking, and by-product qualities.______________ 81 Chemical analyses-_-____--_-_---_---------__---_-_-__- 83 Mining conditions.________________________________________ 85 Effects of folding and faulting._________________________ 85 Effects of intrusive rocks._______-___-_-___-___-_______. 86 Underground water and gas_________-_-__--___-________ 87 Chickaloon and Coal Creek mines.__-_-____-_-_____________.. 87 Conclusions ______________________________________________ 89 Index____---_-----_-_-_._--____-__.____-__-_.__--_-_____ 91 ILLUSTRATIONS Page PLATE 1. Topographic map of the upper Matanuska Valley.______ In pocket. 2. Geologic map of the upper Matanuska Valley.__________ In pocket. 3. Sheep Mountain and gorge of the Matanuska from Glacier Point._________________________________ 18 4. A, Lower Jurassic rocks on west side of Chickaloon River north of Castle Mountain; B, Lower Jurassic rocks in Sheep Mountain.-..___-__---- _________--.-----_-_--_____ 18 5. A, Jurassic and Cretaceous rocks near the lower end of Boulder Creek flats; B, Mountain north of lower end of Boulder Creek flats. ______ ______________________--__-__--_.._--____ 40 6. A, Tertiary sandstone at entrance to canyon at lower end of Boulder Creek flats; B, Tertiary shales on north bank of Matanuska River at O'Brien's ford._____________________ 40 7. A, Tertiary conglomerate on e'ast bank of Chickaloon River; B, Tertiary lavas unconformably overlying Tertiary con­ glomerate on east side of Chickaloon River.______________ 40 8. A, Gravel bluffs on east bank of Gravel Creek; B, Folds and fault in Tertiary rocks near east end of Anthracite Ridge. __ 41 9. Panorama of Anthracite Ridge from trailin basin of Purinton Creek____________________________________.___________ 56 10. A, Structure of south face of Anthracite Ridge; B, Diabase ridges south of Anthracite Ridge._______________________ 56 11. Folds and fault on south face of Anthracite Ridge.__________ 56 12. Tertiary shales on north bank of Matanuska River just above O'Brien's ford.__._____.............I................ 56 13. A, Folded Tertiary shales overthrust by igneous rocks and by Upper Cretaceous shales on south face of Anthracite Ridge; B, Crumpled coal-bearing rocks in west bank of O'Brien Creek._...__.__^__.__._________-_______._-____-____: 57 CONTENTS V Pag* PLATE 14. Coal sections at Chickaloon mine and on property of Chicka- loon Coal Co...-..--..___.___..._._...............__.. SS . 15. Plan and profile of workings at Chickaloon mine _... ________ 88 16. Coal beds and folded coal-bearing rocks in south face of Anthracite Ridge._____________._______________________ 88 FIGURE 1. Map of south-central Alaska, showing position of Matanuska ' coal field._____________._______________..____ ________. 1 2. Sketch map of upper Matanuska Valley showing areas in which timber occurs.__________________^__._.________________ 9 3. Diagrammatic section of rocks of Chickaloon formation on the next to easternmost tributary of Purinton Creek __________ 54 4. Diagrammatic section of Chickaloon formation and gabbro sills at east end of Rush Lake Ridge.________________________ 55 5. Diagrammatic section from Matanuska River to Anthracite Ridge along Cascade Creek.._._.........-.-......_--___ 56 PKEFACE By PHILIP S. SMITH Industrial development is controlled to so great an extent by the availability of power that organizers of enterprises involving the growth and future of Alaska inevitably are led to consider the re­ sources that may supply this essential. The Geological Survey, recognizing the necessity for data on this subject, early began to examine and report on the known deposits of coal in the Territory, and it was in pursuance of the plan of collecting at first hand data on the potential coal fields that the investigations described in the accompanying report were undertaken. Although the coal in the Matanuska region is said to have been known to prospectors as early as 1894, the first published informa­ tion regarding it was in the report by Mendenhall of his explora­ tions in 1898, which appeared in 1900. Since that time a large part of the Matanuska Valley and adjacent regions have been studied by the Geological Survey as development warranted and as oppor­ tunity permitted. Many of these studies were carried on or directed by G. C. Martin, whose broad knowledge of the Mesozoic and Tertiary history of the whole of Alaska made him the best authority on the formations in which the coals of this region occur. In 1913, in the continuation of his work, Mr. Martin covered part of the area described in the accompanying report. At that time no detailed map was available, and the data he collected could not be plotted on the map that was subsequently made with the exactness deemed necessary for the adequate portrayal of the complex geology. As a result, the publication of the report was suspended until further field work could be done. The interruptions caused by the World War and the fulfillment of many pressing duties prevented early resumption of the work. In the years that elapsed new mining developments took place in the region, and new geologic data col­ lected from other parts of Alaska necessitated reconsideration of the whole problem. In 1924 it became practicable to take up the work again, but Mr. Martin had resigned from the Geological 'Survey. S. R. Capps was therefore assigned to the work of com­ pleting the study pf the eastern part of the coal field and of bringing vn VIII PREFACE up to date the studies of the western part of the upper Matanuska
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Or Early Callovian) Ammonites from Alaska and Montana
    Jurassic (Bathonian or Early Callovian) Ammonites From Alaska and Montana By RALPH W. IMLAY SHORTER CONTRIBUTIONS TO GENERAL GEOLOGY GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 374-C Descr$tions and illustrations of ctphalopods of possible late Middle Jurasric (Bathonian) age UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1962 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STEWART L. UDALL, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Thomas B. Nolan, Director For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington 25, D.C. CONTENTS Page Page C- 1 Age of the faunas-Continued C- 1 Callovian versus Bathonian in Greenland- - - - _ - - _ - - C-2 Callovian versus Bathonian in Alaska and Montana- -- - Stratigraphic summary- __ --______ _ - - - -- - ---.- -- -.- - - C-2 Paleogeographic considerations- - -_-- -- ---- ---- Cook Inlet region, Alaska -______--------.-.--..--c-2 Summation of the evidence- - - _._ _ - _ _ - - - - - - - - - - - - Iniskin Peninsula-_-_______----.--------~.--C-2 Comparisons with other faunas---------___----------- Peninsula north of Chinitna Bay----- __._ _ _._ - C-3 \Vestern interior of Canada- - - -- -- -____------- --- Talkeetna Mountains ----___-_ - - -- ---- - - -- - -- C-3 Arctic region-_-_---___-_----------------------- Western Montana- - -----__-----------------.---C-5 other regions--__-__-____----------------------- Rocky Mountain front north of the Sun River- (2-5 Geographic distribution ___-___ --- - ---------- ------ -- - Drummond area--- ---_____ _--- -- -.-- ---- -- - C-10 Summary of results- --_-____-_----_---_-_----------- Age ofthe faunas-----------_----------------------- GI0 Systematic descriptions--_ _ _ - _ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Evidence from Alaska---____________--------------C-10 Literature cited _-_-_---______----------------------- Evidence from Montana --_-_____ --- - - -- .--- --- - - C-12 Index---__--___-_-_------------------------------- ILLUSTRATIONS [Plates 1-3 follow index] PLATE 1. Holcophylloceras, Oecotraustes (Paroecotraustes) ?, and Arctocephalites (Cranocephalites). 2.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Paleobotanical Proxies for Early Eocene Climates and Ecosystems in Northern North 2 America from Mid to High Latitudes 3 4 Christopher K
    https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-2020-32 Preprint. Discussion started: 24 March 2020 c Author(s) 2020. CC BY 4.0 License. 1 Paleobotanical proxies for early Eocene climates and ecosystems in northern North 2 America from mid to high latitudes 3 4 Christopher K. West1, David R. Greenwood2, Tammo Reichgelt3, Alexander J. Lowe4, Janelle M. 5 Vachon2, and James F. Basinger1. 6 1 Dept. of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 114 Science Place, Saskatoon, 7 Saskatchewan, S7N 5E2, Canada. 8 2 Dept. of Biology, Brandon University, 270-18th Street, Brandon, Manitoba R7A 6A9, Canada. 9 3 Department of Geosciences, University of Connecticut, Beach Hall, 354 Mansfield Rd #207, 10 Storrs, CT 06269, U.S.A. 11 4 Dept. of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-1800, U.S.A. 12 13 Correspondence to: C.K West ([email protected]) 14 15 Abstract. Early Eocene climates were globally warm, with ice-free conditions at both poles. Early 16 Eocene polar landmasses supported extensive forest ecosystems of a primarily temperate biota, 17 but also with abundant thermophilic elements such as crocodilians, and mesothermic taxodioid 18 conifers and angiosperms. The globally warm early Eocene was punctuated by geologically brief 19 hyperthermals such as the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), culminating in the 20 Early Eocene Climatic Optimum (EECO), during which the range of thermophilic plants such as 21 palms extended into the Arctic. Climate models have struggled to reproduce early Eocene Arctic 22 warm winters and high precipitation, with models invoking a variety of mechanisms, from 23 atmospheric CO2 levels that are unsupported by proxy evidence, to the role of an enhanced 24 hydrological cycle to reproduce winters that experienced no direct solar energy input yet remained 25 wet and above freezing.
    [Show full text]
  • Glenn Highway Region
    Chapter 3: Glenn Highway Region Glenn Highway Region This approximately 581,000 acre region encompasses the Glenn Highway corridor from Palmer out past Eureka to the eastern border of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. It follows the Matanuska River Valley with the Talkeetna Mountains to the north and Chugach Mountains to the south. The communities of Palmer, Sutton, and Chickaloon are within this region. Most of the state land within the western third of this region is within the boundary of the Matanuska Valley Moose Range, a Legislatively Designated Area (LDA). Another LDA within the plan boundary and adjacent to this region is a small portion of Chugach State Park at the southwest corner of the region along the Knik River. Two Public Use Areas (PUA) adjoin the boundary of this region: the Nelchina PUA to the north and the Knik River PUA to the south. The Hatcher Pass management area defines the western boundary. While most of the region is the valley bottom and benchlands of the Matanuska River, the front range of the Talkeetna Mountains, where most of the human use is due to its accessibility from the highway, is also within the region. At the eastern end of the region the land rises to a high plateau and the distance between the Talkeetna and Chugach mountains broadens significantly. Refer to Figure 3-1 to locate the map of a particular area. Distribution and Characteristics There are approximately 331,000 acres of general state land (and state-selected) within this region. This does not include the approximately 122,000 acres in the legislatively designated Matanuska Valley Moose Range (MVMR).
    [Show full text]
  • Fossil Mosses: What Do They Tell Us About Moss Evolution?
    Bry. Div. Evo. 043 (1): 072–097 ISSN 2381-9677 (print edition) DIVERSITY & https://www.mapress.com/j/bde BRYOPHYTEEVOLUTION Copyright © 2021 Magnolia Press Article ISSN 2381-9685 (online edition) https://doi.org/10.11646/bde.43.1.7 Fossil mosses: What do they tell us about moss evolution? MicHAEL S. IGNATOV1,2 & ELENA V. MASLOVA3 1 Tsitsin Main Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia 2 Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia 3 Belgorod State University, Pobedy Square, 85, Belgorod, 308015 Russia �[email protected], https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1520-042X * author for correspondence: �[email protected], https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6096-6315 Abstract The moss fossil records from the Paleozoic age to the Eocene epoch are reviewed and their putative relationships to extant moss groups discussed. The incomplete preservation and lack of key characters that could define the position of an ancient moss in modern classification remain the problem. Carboniferous records are still impossible to refer to any of the modern moss taxa. Numerous Permian protosphagnalean mosses possess traits that are absent in any extant group and they are therefore treated here as an extinct lineage, whose descendants, if any remain, cannot be recognized among contemporary taxa. Non-protosphagnalean Permian mosses were also fairly diverse, representing morphotypes comparable with Dicranidae and acrocarpous Bryidae, although unequivocal representatives of these subclasses are known only since Cretaceous and Jurassic. Even though Sphagnales is one of two oldest lineages separated from the main trunk of moss phylogenetic tree, it appears in fossil state regularly only since Late Cretaceous, ca.
    [Show full text]
  • Thermochronology of the Talkeetna Intraoceanic Arc of Alaska: Ar/Ar, U‐Th/He, Sm‐Nd, and Lu‐Hf Dating
    TECTONICS, VOL. 30, TC1011, doi:10.1029/2010TC002798, 2011 Thermochronology of the Talkeetna intraoceanic arc of Alaska: Ar/Ar, U‐Th/He, Sm‐Nd, and Lu‐Hf dating B. R. Hacker,1 Peter B. Kelemen,2 Matthew Rioux,1,3 Michael O. McWilliams,4 Philip B. Gans,1 Peter W. Reiners,5 Paul W. Layer,6 Ulf Söderlund,7 and Jeffrey D. Vervoort8 Received 17 September 2010; revised 8 December 2010; accepted 27 December 2010; published 26 February 2011. [1] As one of two well‐exposed intraoceanic arcs, the of the Talkeetna arc was spatially variable. One‐ Talkeetna arc of Alaska affords an opportunity to under- dimensional finite difference thermal models show that stand processes deep within arcs. This study reports new this kind of spatial variability is inherent to intraoceanic Lu‐Hf and Sm‐Nd garnet ages, 40Ar/39Ar hornblende, arcs with simple construction histories. Citation: Hacker, mica and whole‐rock ages, and U‐Th/He zircon and B. R., P. B. Kelemen, M. Rioux, M. O. McWilliams, P. B. Gans, apatite ages from the Chugach Mountains, Talkeetna P. W. Reiners, P. W. Layer, U. Söderlund, and J. D. Vervoort Mountains, and Alaska Peninsula, which, in conjunc- (2011), Thermochronology of the Talkeetna intraoceanic arc of tion with existing geochronology, constrain the thermal Alaska: Ar/Ar, U‐Th/He, Sm‐Nd, and Lu‐Hf dating, Tectonics, history of the arc. Zircon U‐Pb ages establish the 30, TC1011, doi:10.1029/2010TC002798. main period of arc magmatism as 202–181 Ma in the Chugach Mountains and 183–153 Ma in the 1.
    [Show full text]
  • The Geology, Paleontology and Paleoecology of the Cerro Fortaleza Formation
    The Geology, Paleontology and Paleoecology of the Cerro Fortaleza Formation, Patagonia (Argentina) A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Drexel University by Victoria Margaret Egerton in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy November 2011 © Copyright 2011 Victoria M. Egerton. All Rights Reserved. ii Dedications To my mother and father iii Acknowledgments The knowledge, guidance and commitment of a great number of people have led to my success while at Drexel University. I would first like to thank Drexel University and the College of Arts and Sciences for providing world-class facilities while I pursued my PhD. I would also like to thank the Department of Biology for its support and dedication. I would like to thank my advisor, Dr. Kenneth Lacovara, for his guidance and patience. Additionally, I would like to thank him for including me in his pursuit of knowledge of Argentine dinosaurs and their environments. I am also indebted to my committee members, Dr. Gail Hearn, Dr. Jake Russell, Dr. Mike O‘Connor, Dr. Matthew Lamanna, Dr. Christopher Williams and Professor Hermann Pfefferkorn for their valuable comments and time. The support of Argentine scientists has been essential for allowing me to pursue my research. I am thankful that I had the opportunity to work with such kind and knowledgeable people. I would like to thank Dr. Fernando Novas (Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales) for helping me obtain specimens that allowed this research to happen. I would also like to thank Dr. Viviana Barreda (Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales) for her allowing me use of her lab space while I was visiting Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales.
    [Show full text]
  • Field-Trip Guide to Volcanic and Volcaniclastic Deposits of the Lower Jurassic Talkeetna Formation, Sheep Mountain, South-Central Alaska
    Field-Trip Guide to Volcanic and Volcaniclastic Deposits of the Lower Jurassic Talkeetna Formation, Sheep Mountain, South-Central Alaska U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2006-1124 Field-Trip Guide to Volcanic and Volcaniclastic Deposits of the Lower Jurassic Talkeetna Formation, Sheep Mountain, South-Central Alaska Amy E. Draut U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Science Center, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Peter D. Clift School of Geosciences, University of Aberdeen, AB24 3UE, U.K. Robert B. Blodgett U.S. Geological Survey–Contractor, Anchorage, AK 99508 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Open-File Report 2006-1124 2006 U.S. Department of the Interior P. Lynn Scarlett, Acting Secretary U.S. Geological Survey P. Patrick Leahy, Acting Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia 2006 Revised and reprinted: 2006 Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government To download a copy of this report from the World Wide Web: http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2006/1124/ For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted material contained within this report. LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 1. Regional map of the field-trip area. FIGURE 2. Geologic cross section through Sheep Mountain. FIGURE 3. Stratigraphic sections on the south side of Sheep Mountain.
    [Show full text]
  • Retallack 2021 Coal Balls
    Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 564 (2021) 110185 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/palaeo Modern analogs reveal the origin of Carboniferous coal balls Gregory Retallack * Department of Earth Science, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403-1272, USA ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Keywords: Coal balls are calcareous peats with cellular permineralization invaluable for understanding the anatomy of Coal ball Pennsylvanian and Permian fossil plants. Two distinct kinds of coal balls are here recognized in both Holocene Histosol and Pennsylvanian calcareous Histosols. Respirogenic calcite coal balls have arrays of calcite δ18O and δ13C like Carbon isotopes those of desert soil calcic horizons reflecting isotopic composition of CO2 gas from an aerobic microbiome. Permineralization Methanogenic calcite coal balls in contrast have invariant δ18O for a range of δ13C, and formed with anaerobic microbiomes in soil solutions with bicarbonate formed by methane oxidation and sugar fermentation. Respiro­ genic coal balls are described from Holocene peats in Eight Mile Creek South Australia, and noted from Carboniferous coals near Penistone, Yorkshire. Methanogenic coal balls are described from Carboniferous coals at Berryville (Illinois) and Steubenville (Ohio), Paleocene lignites of Sutton (Alaska), Eocene lignites of Axel Heiberg Island (Nunavut), Pleistocene peats of Konya (Turkey), and Holocene peats of Gramigne di Bando (Italy). Soils and paleosols with coal balls are neither common nor extinct, but were formed by two distinct soil microbiomes. 1. Introduction and Royer, 2019). Although best known from Euramerican coal mea­ sures of Pennsylvanian age (Greb et al., 1999; Raymond et al., 2012, Coal balls were best defined by Seward (1895, p.
    [Show full text]
  • THE MATANUSKA VALLEY Colony ■»
    FT MEADE t GenCo11 MLCM 91/02119 ALASKAN L ENT ROUP SETTLE Copy fp THE MATANUSKA VALLEY coLony ■» BY 3 KIRK H.iSTONE i* D STATES ' M» DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT /! WASHINGTON # -1950- FOREWORD This study of the Matanuska Colony project in Alaska was undertaken for the Interior-Agriculture Committee on Group Settlement in Alaska. The study is one of several which were made at the request of the Committee, covering such subjects as land use capability, farm management and production, and marketing. The Committee on Group Settlement in Alaska consists of Harlan H. Barrows, Consultant, Chairman; E. H. Wiecking and 0. L. Mimms, Department of Agriculture; Marion Clawson and Robert K. Coote, Department of the Interior. While prepared primarily for the use of the Committee, the report contains such a wealth of information that it will be of interest and of value to all those concerned with the settlement and development of Alaska. It is recommended as a factual, objective appraisal of the Matanuska project. The author accepts responsibility for the accuracy of the data and the conclusions and recommendations are his own. It should be pointed out that subsequent to the time the report was written, several of the recommended scientific investigations have been undertaken and that present knowledge of certain areas, particularly the Kenai-Kasilof area on the Kenai Peninsula, is much more adequate than indicated in the report. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Preface . i List of Figures . ..vii List of Tables.viii PART I Introduction Chapter 1. The Matanuska Valley as a Whole.
    [Show full text]
  • Human Services Coordinated Transportation Plan for the Mat-Su Borough Area
    Human Services Coordinated Transportation Plan For the Mat-Su Borough Area Phase III – 2011-2016 Final Draft January 2011 Table of Contents Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 3 Community Background .................................................................................................. 4 Coordinated Services Element ........................................................................................ 6 Coordination Working Group – Members (Table I) ................................................... 6 Inventory of Available Resources and Services (Description of Current Service / Public Transportation) .............................................................................................. 7 Description of Current Service / Other Transportation (Table II) .............................. 8 Assessment of Available Services – Public Transportation (Table III) ................... 13 Human Services Transportation Community Client Referral Form......................... 16 Population of Service Area: .................................................................................... 16 Annual Trip Destination Distribution – Current Service: ......................................... 19 Annual Trip Destination Distribution (Table V) ....................................................... 19 Vehicle Inventory .................................................................................................... 20 Needs Assessment ......................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Mineralogy of Non-Silicified Fossil Wood
    Article Mineralogy of Non-Silicified Fossil Wood George E. Mustoe Geology Department, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225, USA; [email protected]; Tel: +1-360-650-3582 Received: 21 December 2017; Accepted: 27 February 2018; Published: 3 March 2018 Abstract: The best-known and most-studied petrified wood specimens are those that are mineralized with polymorphs of silica: opal-A, opal-C, chalcedony, and quartz. Less familiar are fossil woods preserved with non-silica minerals. This report reviews discoveries of woods mineralized with calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, various iron and copper minerals, manganese oxide, fluorite, barite, natrolite, and smectite clay. Regardless of composition, the processes of mineralization involve the same factors: availability of dissolved elements, pH, Eh, and burial temperature. Permeability of the wood and anatomical features also plays important roles in determining mineralization. When precipitation occurs in several episodes, fossil wood may have complex mineralogy. Keywords: fossil wood; mineralogy; paleobotany; permineralization 1. Introduction Non-silica minerals that cause wood petrifaction include calcite, apatite, iron pyrites, siderite, hematite, manganese oxide, various copper minerals, fluorite, barite, natrolite, and the chromium- rich smectite clay mineral, volkonskoite. This report provides a broad overview of woods fossilized with these minerals, describing specimens from world-wide locations comprising a diverse variety of mineral assemblages. Data from previously-undescribed fossil woods are also presented. The result is a paper that has a somewhat unconventional format, being a combination of literature review and original research. In an attempt for clarity, the information is organized based on mineral composition, rather than in the format of a hypothesis-driven research report.
    [Show full text]
  • Geology of the Prince William Sound and Kenai Peninsula Region, Alaska
    Geology of the Prince William Sound and Kenai Peninsula Region, Alaska Including the Kenai, Seldovia, Seward, Blying Sound, Cordova, and Middleton Island 1:250,000-scale quadrangles By Frederic H. Wilson and Chad P. Hults Pamphlet to accompany Scientific Investigations Map 3110 View looking east down Harriman Fiord at Serpentine Glacier and Mount Gilbert. (photograph by M.L. Miller) 2012 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Contents Abstract ..........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................1 Geographic, Physiographic, and Geologic Framework ..........................................................................1 Description of Map Units .............................................................................................................................3 Unconsolidated deposits ....................................................................................................................3 Surficial deposits ........................................................................................................................3 Rock Units West of the Border Ranges Fault System ....................................................................5 Bedded rocks ...............................................................................................................................5
    [Show full text]