DOCSLIB.ORG

Surficial Geology of Anchorage and Vicinity Alaska

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Surficial Geology of Anchorage and Vicinity Alaska Surficial Geology of Anchorage and Vicinity Alaska GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1093 5urficial Geology of Anchorage and Vicinity Alaska By ROBERT D. MILLER and ERNEST DOBROVOLNY 3EOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1093 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1959 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FRED A. SEATON, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Thomas B. Nolan, Director The U.S. Geological Survey Library has cataloged this publication as follows: Miller, Robert David, 1922- Surficial geology of Anchorage and vicinity, Alaska, by Eobert D. Miller and Ernest Dobrovolny. Washington, U.S. Govt. Print. Off., 1959. v, 129 p. illus., map, diagrs., tables. 24 cm. (U.S. Geological Survey. Bulletin 1093) Part of illustrative matter folded in pocket. Bibliography: p. 122-125. 1. Geology Alaska Anchorage area. I. Dobrovolny, Ernest, 1912- joint author. II. Title. (Series) For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington 25, D.C. CONTENTS Page Abstract__ _____________-_____________-_-__--_-______------_--_-- 1 Introduction.________--__---__-__-____--_--_--_-_---_--_--_----__-. 2 Location and accessibility._____________-__-_____-__--__-_-_.._____-- 3 Present investigation...._-__---_________-_-------______-_-__-_--_ 3 Acknowledgments.___-__-_--___-_______-_--_--_-_--__-__--_-_____- 4 Geography_ ______._._____-___._____-_____.--_-______._--________ 4 Physiography.____-___--_________-_--_------__--_-_--_..-__--__ 4 Soils and vegetation-_____________-_-___--__--_____-_-_________ 6> Climate._________-_----___-_-__-__-__------___-_-_---_-___-_- T Pre-Quaternary rocks______________________________________________ 8*- Pre-Cretaceous(?) rocks._______________________________________ 8- Tertiary rocks...___---_-_---_-___-.--_--._--_--___-------_--_. 10' Quaternary deposits___------_-_-__--_-_-----_---__--_-----__-__-__ 10) Pre-Wisconsin deposits.________________________________________ 10' Deposits of the Eklutna glaciation___________________________ 11 Deposits of the Knik glaciation_____-"______________________ 12 Stratigraphy of the Knik deposits.______________________ 12 Distribution __________________________________________ 14, Topography-_________________________________________ 14- Age and correlation.___________________________________ 15 Advance outwash____________________________________ 17 Lateral moraine_-______--__-__----_-__________________ 21 1 Ground moraine_____________________________________ 23 Delta deposits______________________________________ 26 Prodelta deposit_____________________________________ 34 Bootlegger Cove clay.________---_---___.______________ 35 Glaciofluvial ice-contact deposits_________________________ 48- Pitted outwash______________________________________ 52 Abandoned-channel deposits.-___-__________ ___________ 54 Wisconsin deposits__-_-___-______-___--_-_-_________.________ 56 Deposits of Naptowne glaciation-___------__________________ 56 Stratigraphy of the Naptowne deposits.__________________ 56 Topography--------___ ___------________-________ 56 Age and correlation________-_--_I______._______________ 57 Advance outwash____________________________________ 57 End moraine___.____________-__-______________________ 59 Ground moraine__________________-._______________.___ 61 Kame field and kame terrace deposits.___________________ 63 Pitted outwash______________________________________ 65 Outwash-. __ --_--_--._____________.___ 67 Abandoned-channel deposits___-_--_-___________________ 70 Silt-_-____-___-----___-------__-__-_-___-.-_______. 73 Pleistocene or Recent deposits____-_------____________-________ 75 Morainal deposits, undifferentiated__________________________ 75 Glacial drift, undiff erentiated- ______________________________ 76 Alluvial fan deposits-_______-___------_________,___________ 76 m IV CONTENTS Quaternary deposits Continued Page Recent deposits.______________________________________________ 78 Swamp deposits. _____ _____________________________________ 78 Dune sand___---_--____-_____-__-_-_______________________ 80 Estuarine silt.____________________________________________ 81 Alluvium___________--__--_______________________ 82 Loess. ____________________________________ 83 Geologic history_________________________________________________ 83 Glacial history. ...___.________________________ 83 Postglacial history . ._-. 87 Economic geology.___--_---____-__-_____--_____--________-_---.-_. 92 Mineral resources _-__-_____-___-_-_-___-_-___-_--__-_____-__ 92 Coal_______________________________.___ 92 Limestone ________________________________________________ 92 Peat______.____________________________________ 93 Marl_.____________----_-._-_______________________ 93 Water._____________._____________________ 93 Construction materials_________________________________________ 95 Brick clay___ ______________________________ 95 Riprap ___________________________________________________ 95 Crushed aggregate.._______________________________________ 96 Sand and gravel.-..__-_-_--__-__---__ ___-_____._._. 99 Fill-_---_-_----~---l----_-------- --------.--..-._.-.__.. 99 Ballast_____._____________._____________ 99 Soil binder_____________-_-._._____--_..--._.______ 99 Engineering problems.-__.-__----_-___.___-___-_-_-__-__-______ 99 Foundation conditions.--_-_-----_-_._-_--._-__.--_________ 99 Excavation. __ ._____________-_---_-__-__--___-_________ 103 Slumps and flows _______________________________________ 103 Drainage __-_-_-_-_-___-_-_-----__-----------__--------__- 107 Frost heave_______._____________-___--_-__-.___ 108 Well logs cited in text ___________________________________________ 111 References cited __. ... ._.--___________ 122 Index... - - ---- ------- ------- 127 ILLUSTRATIONS [Plates 1-3,5,6, and 9 are in pocket] Page PLATE 1. Geologic map of Anchorage and vicinity, Alaska, 2. Perspective diagram showing physiographic setting of Anchor­ age, Alaska. 3. Interpretive sketch of glacial deposits along Knik Arm north of the Eagle River Flats. 4. A, Soled and striated greenstone boulder from till of Naptowne age. B, Delta deposits near Point Woronzof________Faces 30 5. Isometric diagram showing geology under part of the city of Anchorage, Alaska. 6. Isometric fence diagram showing the inferred extent of the Bootlegger Cove clay. CONTENTS V Page PLATE 7. A, Kame showing inclined bedding. B, Kame deposits showing folding and normal faulting of sand and gravel beds.________________.__.__ _ .Faces 31 8. A, Abandoned-channel deposits overlying pebbly till. B, Involutions in pitted outwash of Naptowne age____--Faces 66 9. Diagrammatic interpretation of the stratigraphic relationships between the Eklutna, Knik, and Naptowne deposits. 10. Slides and flows in Bootlegger Cove clay.-__-_____-___Faces 67 FIGURE 1. Temperature and precipitation ranges at Anchorage, Alaska, 1938-48 inclusive_________________._--.. 7 2. Tentative correlation of glacial events in the Anchorage area with glacial events in the Cook Inlet area__________________ 13 3. Comparative curves showing grain size of various clays_ _ 38 4. Erratic boulder in Bootlegger Cove clay____________________ 40 5. Relationship of outwash of Naptowne age to till of ground moraine of Knik age__._____________ 70 6. Positions of receding bluff line at Point Woronzof from 1909 to 1954___________________._____________________________ 90 7. Diagrammatic sketch showing relationship of ground-water movement to upper surface of Bootlegger Cove clay.______ 95 TABLES Page TABLE 1. Stratigraphic column showing Quaternary deposits around Anchorage, Alaska__-_________________________________. 12 2. X-ray analyses of clay samples showing materials in silt and clay fractions of each sample________________________ 42 3. Selected samples tested for various types of construction and as a bituminous aggregate____________________________ 97 4. Percentage of rock types, as determined by pebble count, in abandoned-channel deposits near Goose Lake, and outwash, both of Naptowne age, and in prodelta deposits of Knik age. _ 98 5. Mechanical analyses of selected samples____________________ 100 6. Records of earthquakes reported in Anchorage 1936-54____ 106 7. Relative susceptibility of geologic units in the Anchorage area to frost action_____________________________________ 109 By ROBERT D. MILLER and ERNEST DOBROVOLNY ABSTRACT Anchorage and vicinity cover parts of three quadrangles, the Anchorage .4-8, Anchorage B-8, and Tyonek A-l. Knik Arm bounds the area on the north­ west, Turnagain Arm bounds the area on the south, and the Chugach Moun­ tains bound the area on the east. The highest point in the area is 4,301 feet above mean sea level, just east of McHugh Peak in the southeastern part of the area. The altitude of the lowlands south of Anchorage ranges between 100 and 150 feet. Two areas of higher altitudes are the highland between Point Campbell and Point Woronzof where the altitude ranges between 150 and 300 feet, and the Elmendorf Moraine north of Anchorage where the altitude averages between 250 and 300 feet. Argillite, graywacke, and chert, as well as altered acidic and basic igneous rocks, constitute the greater part of the pre-Cretaceous(?) rocks in the Anchor­ age area. Metamorphosed limestone crops out in several small areas along Turnagain Arm. Surficial deposits in the Anchorage area are divisible into four main groups pre-Wisconsin, Wisconsin, Pleistocene or Recent, and Recent. They represent deposits of at least 3 of the 5 glaciers that invaded the Anchorage area, as well as lacustrine and alluvial deposits consequent
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Deposition and Preservation of Estuarine Sediment, Turnagain Arm, Cook Inlet, Alaska
    DEPOSITION AND PRESERVATION OF ESTUARINE SEDIMENT, TURNAGAIN ARM, COOK INLET, ALASKA by DARRON G DEBOER B.S., Kansas State University, 2007 A THESIS submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree MASTER OF SCIENCE Department of Geology College of Arts and Sciences KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY Manhattan, Kansas 2009 Approved by: Major Professor Allen W. Archer Copyright DARRON GRANT DEBOER 2009 Abstract Turnagain Arm is the hypertidal (commonly exceeding 9 m) west-east trending extension of Cook Inlet in south-central Alaska. The inlet formed from a drowned glacial valley that was subsequently filled with tidal deposits of silt and fine sand. The tidal system is semidiurnal with a prominent diurnal inequality. There are also variations due to spring and neap tides. Turnagain Arm is home to a tidal bore generated during spring tides that can reach heights of up to 2 m and travel at speeds of up to 5 m/s. Current reversals can be dramatic with ebb tidal velocities of 6 m/s changing to flood velocities of 10 m/s over a period of a few minutes. During the initial flood tide, highly turbid water can rise as fast as 10 cm/min. This combination of elements results in a highly dynamic depositional setting. Measurements taken in the inner estuary during several neap-spring cycles in the summers of 2007-08 documented deposition upon mud bars of as much as 8.9 cm per tidal event. Conversely, erosion of up to 13.5 cm per tidal event has been measured. The highest rates of deposition and erosion occurred during the spring tides while much lower rates occur during the neap tides.
    [Show full text]
  • Late Oligocene to Present Contractional Structure in and Around the Susitna Basin, Alaska—Geophysical Evidence and Geological GEOSPHERE; V
    Research Paper THEMED ISSUE: Geologic Evolution of the Alaska Range and Environs GEOSPHERE Late Oligocene to present contractional structure in and around the Susitna basin, Alaska—Geophysical evidence and geological GEOSPHERE; v. 12, no. 5 doi:10.1130/GES01279.1 implications R.W. Saltus1,*, R.G. Stanley2, P.J. Haeussler3, J.V. Jones III3, C.J. Potter4, and K.A. Lewis1 7 figures; 1 supplemental file 1U.S. Geological Survey, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225, USA 2U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA CORRESPONDENCE: rick .saltus@ noaa .gov 3U.S. Geological Survey, 4210 University Drive, Anchorage, Alaska 99508-4626, USA 4U.S. Geological Survey, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA CITATION: Saltus, R.W., Stanley, R.G., Haeussler, P.J., Jones, J.V., III, Potter, C.J., and Lewis, K.A., 2016, Late Oligocene to present contractional structure in ABSTRACT morphic rocks of the Talkeetna Mountains, and on the southeast by the Castle and around the Susitna basin, Alaska—Geophysical Mountain strike-slip fault. evidence and geological implications: Geosphere, The Cenozoic Susitna basin lies within an enigmatic lowland surrounded Existing structural information for the basin is sparse; aside from the Castle v. 12, no. 5, p. 1378–1390, doi:10.1130/GES01279.1. by the Central Alaska Range, Western Alaska Range (including the Tordrillo Mountain fault, none of the bounding structures are exposed. Subsurface data Mountains), and Talkeetna Mountains in south-central Alaska. Some previ- consist of a modest number of vintage seismic lines (e.g., Lewis et al., 2015) Received 1 October 2015 Revision received 8 June 2016 ous interpretations show normal faults as the defining structures of thebasin and a few wells, none of which drilled deep enough to reach crystalline base- Accepted 6 July 2016 (e.g., Kirschner, 1994).
    [Show full text]
  • Pamphlet to Accompany Scientific Investigations Map 3131
    Bedrock Geologic Map of the Seward Peninsula, Alaska, and Accompanying Conodont Data By Alison B. Till, Julie A. Dumoulin, Melanie B. Werdon, and Heather A. Bleick Pamphlet to accompany Scientific Investigations Map 3131 View of Salmon Lake and the eastern Kigluaik Mountains, central Seward Peninsula 2011 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Contents Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................1 Sources of data ....................................................................................................................................1 Components of the map and accompanying materials .................................................................1 Geologic Summary ........................................................................................................................................1 Major geologic components ..............................................................................................................1 York terrane ..................................................................................................................................2 Grantley Harbor Fault Zone and contact between the York terrane and the Nome Complex ..........................................................................................................................3 Nome Complex ............................................................................................................................3
    [Show full text]
  • West Dowling Road Connection Project Revised Environmental Assessment & Programmatic Section 4(F)/6(F) Evaluation STP-0532(5)/55012
    O New Collector Connector l Arctic Blvd Arctic Blvd to W. Dowling Rd. d S e w a r d New Bridge H ARRC Tracks and Arctic Blvd w T i n a y L a k Dowling Rd e C A Rovenna St M P New Bridge B Campbell Creek E C L M L S in t C n B e l u R s e L o a b Extend Road E t k e E a e r Rovenna to Raspberry r y K D r G R E E N W 68th Ave B E L T A B r l c Roadway Re-alignment v t d i I Raspberry to 68th Ave. c 0500250 Feet West Dowling Road Connection Project Revised Environmental Assessment & Programmatic Section 4(f)/6(f) Evaluation STP-0532(5)/55012 Prepared for: Federal Highway Administration Alaska Division On Behalf of the Sponsor Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Central Region Prepared by: HDR Alaska, Inc. 2525 C Street, Suite 305 Anchorage, Alaska 99503-2632 November 2007 Table of Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION Purpose and Need 1-1 NEPA Process 1-4 Permits and Authorizations 1-5 2.0 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES No Action Alternative 2-1 Proposed Action 2-2 Raspberry Dowling 2-56 S Curve 2-78 Frontage Road 2-910 Rovenna Frontage 2-1112 3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND CONSEQUENCES Physical Environment 3.1 Air Quality 3.1-1 3.2 Water Bodies 3.2-1 3.3 Floodplains 3.3-1 3.4 Water Quality 3.4-1 3.5 Coastal Zone 3.5-1 Biotic Environment 3.6 Vegetation 3.6-1 3.7 Wetlands 3.7-1 3.8 Fish and Essential Fish Habitat 3.8-1 3.9 Wildlife 3.9-1 3.10 Threatened & Endangered Species 3.10-1 Human Environment 3.11 Land Use and Zoning 3.11-1 3.12 Land Ownership 3.12-1 3.13 Socio-Economics 3.13-1 3.14 Transportation Systems 3.14-1
    [Show full text]
  • Anchorage Bowl 44
    ANCHORAGE BOWL 44 General Regulations - Anchorage Bowl Inclusive waters: All waters draining into the east side of Knik Arm south of, and including, the Eklutna River drainage, and all waters draining into the north and west sides of Turnagain Arm, and all waters draining into the south side of Turnagain Arm east of, and including, Ingram Creek . The Fishing Season for all species is open year-round unless otherwise noted below. KING SALMON • The fresh waters of the Anchorage Bowl are closed to king salmon fishing, except Campbell Creek (during the Youth-Only Fishery), Eagle River, Ship Creek and stocked lakes . See special regulations . • In stocked lakes (see pages 86–87 for a list of stocked lakes): 5 per day, 5 in possession . • In other Anchorage Bowl waters open to king salmon fishing: • There is a combined annual limit of 5 king salmon 20 inches or longer from the waters of the following areas: Cook Inlet Salt Waters, West Cook Inlet, Susitna River Drainage, Knik Arm, Anchorage Bowl, Kenai River and Kenai Peninsula . • A person may not remove a king salmon 20 inches or longer from the water before releasing it . • A king salmon 20 inches or longer that is removed from salt or fresh water must be retained and becomes part of the bag limit of the person who originally hooked the fish. OTHER SALMON • In lakes and ponds and in all flowing waters:Closed to salmon fishing unless allowed under special regulations . • A coho salmon 16 inches or longer that is removed from fresh water must be retained and becomes part of the bag limit of the person who originally hooked the fish.
    [Show full text]
  • Admiralty Island National Monument
    ADMIRALTY ISLAND NATIONAL MONUMENT DESCRIPTION At a glance: Admiralty Island National Monument (NM) is located on Admiralty Island NM quick facts Admiralty Island, 15 miles southwest of Juneau in south- east Alaska, and is accessible only by water or air. The Date established: Dec. 1, 1978; Dec. 2, 1980 island is characterized by rugged coastline, remote old growth rainforest, towering mountains, and alpine tundra Established by: Presidential proclamation, President with permanent icefields. It hosts the largest concentration Jimmy Carter (1978); Congressional designation, Public of brown bears and nesting bald eagles in the world, as Law 96-487 (1980) well as harbor seals, porpoises and sea lions, humpback Forest Service region: 10, Alaska Region whales, and all five species of Pacific salmon in its waters. More than 90 percent of the monument is designated as State: Alaska the Kootznoowoo Wilderness, nearly 1 million acres. Ad- Associated national forest: Tongass miralty Island has been the home to the Tlingít people for approximately 10,000 years. The monument area continues Total Forest Service acres: 997,226 to provide subsistence for these Alaskan Natives. Angoon, Reasons designated: “archaeological, cultural, and Admiralty Island’s only permanent community, continues historical resources, ecological and scientific value” to be an important cultural base. (Presidential Proclamation, 1978) BACKGROUND The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANSCA) of 1971 honored the rights of Alaska Natives to select approxi- People and visitors mately 44 million acres of Federal land in Alaska and au- thorized the Secretary of the Interior to withdraw 80 mil- Nearest metropolitan area: no metro areas within lion acres of land to be studied for possible additions to 500 miles the National Park, Wildlife Refuge, Wild and Scenic Rivers, and National Forest systems.
    [Show full text]
  • Geology of West-Central Alaska
    UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR GEOLOGICAL SURVEY GEOLOGY OF WEST-CENTRAL ALASKA W.W. Patton, Jr., S.E. Box, E.J. Moll-Stalcup, and T.P. Miller Opcn-File Report OF 89-554 This reporz is preliminary and has not been reviewed for conformity with U.S. Geological Survcy editorial standards. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. CONTENTS Introduction Pre-mid-Cretaceous lithotectonic terranes Minchumina terrane Definition and distribution Description Telida subterrane East Fork subterrane Interpretation and correlation Nixon Fork terrane Definition and djstrib~ltion Descriptioa P~ecambrian metamorphic rocks Lower Paleozoic carbonate rocks Upper Paleozoic and Mesozoic clastic rocks Interpretation and correlation Innoko terrane Definition and distribution Description Interpretation and correlation Ruby terrane Definition and distribution Description Protolith age Agc of metamorphism Interpretations and correlations Angayucham-Tozitna terrane Definition and distribution Description Thc Slate Creek thrust pancl The Narvak thrust pancl The Kanuti thrust panel Interpretation and correlation Koyukuk terranc Definition and distribution Description Interpretation Overlap assemblages Mid- and Upper Cretaceous terrigenous sedimentary rocks Distribution Graywackc and rnudstonc turbidilcs Fluvial and shallow marine conglomerate, sandstone, and shale Marginal conglomerates Fluvial and shallow marine sandstone and shale Interpretation Mid- and Late Cretaceous
    [Show full text]
  • Ecosystem-Based Chinook Salmon, Oncorhynchus
    Ecosystem-based Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Management Plan of the Susitna River Drainage Authors: William Middleton (primary contact), Allison Thomason, Ashley Williams, Abraham Meyer, David Pomelow Coach: Roger R. Saft, Ph.D. Assistant Coach: Wendy Garrett [email protected] Aurelia Wasilla High School 701 East Bogard Road Wasilla, Alaska 99654 Abstract The fishery is Susitna River chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) fishery on the Northern Cook Inlet. It is the largest in size of all Pacific salmon species. Management of the fish, like any other natural resource in the state of Alaska, is controlled by the Alaska constitution. The requirement is to manage to achieve maximum benefit to the citizens of the state and to preserve the species by establishing and maintaining maximum sustained yield. Present to a lesser extent in the Susitna River drainage is the coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) are a major contributor to the fisheries of the Upper Cook Inlet and the Susitna River system tributaries. Burbot (Lota lota) are a fish species present not of commercial significance. Present also in the Susitna River basin is the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). It is not managed for commercial harvest. Also inhabiting the drainage without commercial significance are Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus). The Susitna River chinook salmon fishery is one of the largest fisheries in Alaska and provides much of the world with salmon. It brings a large amount of revenue for the state and its citizens. Because of the large amount of fish and for the enjoyment, many sport fishermen go out and by fishing supplies and licenses so as to ensure that they catch a trophy fish.
    [Show full text]
  • Table 4.3 TURNAGAIN
    Anchorage WetlandsManagement Plan -2012Public HearingDraft Page97 Table 4.3 TURNAGAIN ARM WETLAND DESIGNATIONS, ENFORCEABLE AND ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES Note: General Permits: The Corps of Engineers issued five separate General Permits (GPs) to the Municipality that covers development projects in “C” wetlands in Anchorage. The GPs are reviewed and renewed every five years. The most recent Anchorage GPs were issued in April, 2010. Under current GP procedures, the Municipality determines whether a proposed fill project in “C” wetlands is consistent with the GP terms and conditions. The Anchorage GPs are applied to only “C” wetlands as designated in the AWMP. The GPs do not apply to “A” or “B” wetlands and some “C” sites are excluded. Attachment A-Table 1 of the Anchorage GPs identifies which “C” wetland parcels are eligible for and which are excluded from the GPs. Attachment B-Table 3 of the GPs assigns site specific restrictions and design criteria to each eligible “C” wetland. The AWMP Table 4.1 management strategies notes which “C” wetlands are eligible for the GPs and references applicable site-specific restrictions and design criteria assigned to each site in the GPs. Refer to the current GPs for details and explanations of these requirements. Link: http://www.muni.org/departments/ocpd/planning/physical/envplanning/Pages/default.aspx. During the issuance of the current General Permits, the Corps included several previously unmapped wetlands as eligible for the GP. These are referenced as “U” wetlands in the General Permit documents. This AWMP revision includes these “U” sites and designates them as “C.” *(New sites now classified as “D” or “P” and former “U” sites now designated “C” are listed in blue.) Site #, listed in column 1 of the table, references individual wetland sites or collective groups of wetlands that are in the same geographic area and perform similar functions.
    [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]
  • Hydrology and the Effects of Increased Ground-Water Pumping in the Anchorage Area, Alaska
    Hydrology and the Effects of Increased Ground-Water Pumping in the Anchorage Area, Alaska 3EOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1779-D Prepared in cooperation with the Alaska Department of Health and Welfare and the city of Anchorage Hydrology and the Effects of Increased Ground-Water Pumping in the Anchorage Area, Alaska B » ROGER M. WALLER CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1779-D Prepared in cooperation with the Alaska Department of Health and Welfare and the city of Anchorage J NTITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1964 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STEWART L. UDALL, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Thomas B. Nolan, Director The U.S. Geological Survey Library card for this publication appears after page 36. For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.G. 20402 CONTENTS Abstract_______________________________________________________ Dl Introduction. ____-___---____---_-_-__________________---__________ 2 Purpose and scope of report___________________________________ 2 Previous investigations.________________________________________ 2 Acknowledgments___________________________________________ 2 Geography. ______________________________________________________ 3 Location and extent of the Anchorage area.______________________ 3 Population. ____-__-__---_--___-______-_____------__-_-________ 4 Physiography and relief._______________________________________ 4 Climate._____________________________________________________
    [Show full text]
  • The Southern Alaska Range
    .UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Harold L. Ickes, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY W. C. Mendenhall, Director Bulletin 862 THE SOUTHERN ALASKA RANGE BY STEPHEN R. CAPPS UNITED STATES .GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON : 1935 'Forsale bythe Superintendent-,of Documents, Washington, D. 0. --------- Price 70 cents ' ' CONTENTS ' ' Page Abstract.________________________________________________________ 1 Introduction.. _ _______________ ____________________________________ 2 Previous explorations and surveys-_____--____-_____--________.______ 3 Present investigation______________________________________________ 9 Geography ____--________-_-_-_---__-__-.__.__.____._______.______ 15 Drainage ______-_-.____-_..____.___________._______________... 15 Glaciers.._---_-----.---------__------_---___-_-_-___---____-. 25 Relief..__-----_---.---------_-----------__----_-_-----__---_ 25 Climate--....--.---..--.-.---.------.---.-------------------- 27 Vegetation ___________________________________________________ 28 Wild animals..____.__.-__.___________.-_..._..______---______ 30 ... "Routes of travel.___-.------------.-_----._-_-_----_--_-_-_-_- 31 Population._________-_______...__._.__________'_______________ 34 Geology_____-..._----_.--.---------.-.-.-_---__.-_._--.-_--_-_. 35 General outline.__-___-_____._________...______ __-______._._._ 35 Paleozoic rocks._-_----- ----.----.----.-_--_--_..._.--_-_-__ 37 Gneiss, mica schist, and quartzite.------_-----___._-----____ 37 '. Crystalline limestone and calcareous schist.---____.___-_-_-__ 39 Paleozoic or early Mesozoic rocks. _______________________________ 42 Slate and chert..__________________________________________ 42 Mesozoic rocks._____-----------_-_-___-..-_---_-_---._----____ 44 Greenstones._-___-----_--___--____-_____--_.-__-___--____ 44 Upper Triassic limestone and chert.._______________.____._.. 45 Lower Jurassic (?) lava flows and tuffs____-----_______--.._-__ 47 Undiffere;ntiated Jurassic-and Cretaceous^sediments.___-__-_-- 51 Tertiary rocks.___-_-_-.-_.
    [Show full text]