DOCSLIB.ORG

Geology of Saipan Mariana Islands Part 2

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Geology of Saipan Mariana Islands Part 2 Geology of Saipan Mariana Islands Part 2. Petrology and Soils GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 280-B-D Geology of Saipan Mariana Islands Part 2. Petrology and Soils GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 280-B-D Chapter B. Petrology of the Volcanic Rocks By ROBERT GEORGE SCHMIDT Chapter C. Petrography of the Limestones By J. HARLAN JOHNSON Chapter D. Soils By RALPH J. McCRACKEN UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1957 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fred A. Seaton, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Thomas B. Nolan, Director For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office Washington 25, D. C. CONTENTS OF PART 2 Page Chapter B. Petrology of the Volcanic Rocks .... 127 Chapter C. Petrography of the Limestones ...... 177 Chapter D. Soils ................................ 189 m GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 280 Geology of Saipan, Mariana Islands Part 1. General Geology Chapter A. General Geology By PRESTON E. CLOUD, JR., ROBERT GEORGE SCHMIDT, and HAROLD W. BURKE Part 2. Petrology and Soils Chapter B. Petrology of the Volcanic Rocks By ROBERT GEORGE SCHMIDT Chapter C. Petrography of the Limestones By J. HARLAN JOHNSON Chapter D. Soils By RALPH J. McCRACKEN Part 3. Paleontology Chapter E. Calcareous Algae By J. HARLAN JOHNSON Chapter F. Discoaster and Some Related Microfossils By M. N. BRAMLETTE Chapter G. Eocene Radiolaria By WILLIAM RIEDEL Chapter H. Smaller Foraminifera By RUTH TODD dhapter I. Larger Foraminifera By W. STORRS COLE ^Chapter J. Echinoids By C. WYTHE COOKE ~Part 4. Submarine Topography and Shoal-Water Ecology ^Chapter K. Submarine Topography and Shoal-Water Ecology By PRESTON E. CLOUD, JR. .Professional Paper 280 is being published in the foregoing sequence of parts and chapters Petrology of the Volcanic Rocks By ROBERT GEORGE SCHMIDT GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 280-B A study of the physical and chemical character­ istics of the volcanic rocks of Saipan^ their relation to rocks of adjoining regions^ and their origin CONTENTS Page Page Abstract________________________________ 127 Petrography—Continued Introduction _______________________________________ 127 Andesites—Continued Previous petrologic investigations._______________---_- 130 Augite-hypersthene andesite—Continued Acknowledgments__ _ ______________________________ 131 Secondary rock types__---------_-_------ 146 Classification of rocks.______________________________ 131 Quartz-bearing augite-hypersthene an­ desite---------_________________ 146 Mineralogy ________________________________________ 132 Quartz-bearing augite-hypersthene an­ Primary minerals._-____________________-_-_---- 132 desite porphyry.__________________ 147 Plagioclase feldspar.________________________ 132 Augite andesite_-_-_-_-_-_-___-_--_-______-_ 148 Alkali feldspar.____________________ 133 Hypersthene andesite_______________________ 149 Silica minerals____________________________ 134 Chemical composition of the major rock types________ 150 Pyroxenes.________________________________ 135 Comparison with volcanic rocks of other Pacific islands Hornblende__--______________________ 138 and with Daly's average rock types _________________ 153 Accessory minerals__-_______-__-________-_------ 138 Tinian, Rota, and Guam_______________________ 153 Biotite_ __________________________ 138 Palau, Yap, and Bonin Islands__________________ 154 Magnetite. ________________________________ 138 Northern Mariana and Volcano Islands-___________ 156 Izu Peninsula region of Japan and Izu Islands------ 158 Ilmenite__ ____________________________ 138 Hawaiian Islands_______________________________ 160 Hematite __________________________________ 138 Daly's average rock types______________________ 161 Rutile_____---______________________ 138 Summary and conclusions_______________________ 162 Apatite_________________________ 138 Petrogenesis _______________________________________ 163 Zeolites__________________________________ 138 Compositional variation of the rocks ______________ 163 Alteration minerals.- ___________________________ 139 Variations between and within major rock types. 163 Petrography __ _____________________________________ 139 Comparison between bulk and groundmass com­ Dacites__-_______________________________ 139 position of porphyritic andesites and dacites_ 163 Dacite—— —— _ — ___ —— . — — _ — — — 139 Evidence of contamination___________________ 165 Dacite vitrophyre and perlite_____-___-_----_- 141 Origin of the roeks______________________________ 165 Nature of a parent magma___________________ 165 Hornblende-bearing dacite porphyry __________ 142 Fractional crystallization and assimilation. _ _ __ 166 Andesites-_-___-_---__--_______-_-_-___-------- 143 Relationship of voleanism to the development Augite-hypersthene andesite________________ 143 of the Mariana are_. ____________________ 170 General features._______________________ 143 Conclusions._______________________________ 172 Phenocrysts_ ___________________________ 143 The petrogenetic significance of the andesite line____ 172 Groundmass___ ________-___-_______-_-- 144 Literature cited_ ___________________________________ 173 Alteration. ____________________________ 145 Index.____________________________________________ 175 ILLUSTRATIONS Plates 2, 4 in pocket; plates 26-30 follow index] PLATE 2. Generalized geologic map and sections of Saipan, Mariana Islands. 4. Locality-finding map of Saipan. 26-27. Photomicrographs of dacites from Saipan. 28-30. Photomicrographs of andesites from Saipan. Page FIGURE 11. Index map of the western north Pacific Oeean_____________________-__---_---------_-_-------------_-- 128 12. Simplified bathymetric chart of the Mariana are-------------------------------------------------------- 129 13. Composition diagram of normative feldspar of analyzed andesites from Saipan, analyzed dacites from Saipan, and Daly's average rock types_________.____-____-_-___-_------_---_------------------------------- 134 14. Composition diagram of phenoeryst pyroxenes of andesites from Saipan, groundmass pyroxene of andesites from Saipan, and normative pyroxene of analyzed andesites from Saipan____________________---__----_-----_- 136 vn VIII CONTENTS Page FIGURE 15. Composition diagram of phenocryst pyroxenes, groundmass pyroxene, and normative pyroxene of analyzed basalts and andesites from the Izu Peninsula region of Japan and the Izu Islands.._______________________ 137 16. Harker variation diagram of andesites and dacites from Saipan_______________.___________________________ 150 17. Triangular ACF and SKM diagrams of andesites and dacites from Saipan. _ _______________________________ 152 18. Triangular ACF and SKM diagrams of andesites and dacites from Saipan and volcanic rocks from Guam, the Palau Islands, and the Bonin Islands________________________________________________________________ 155 19. Triangular ACF and SKM diagrams of andesites and dacites from Saipan and volcanic rocks from the northern Mariana and Volcano Islands._____________________-_-_-_-____-____-__-----------_--_-_--__-__--.--- 156 20. Triangular ACF and SKM diagrams of andesites and dacites from Saipan, volcanic rocks from the Izu Peninsula region of Japan and the Izu Islands, and average rocks of the Hawaiian Islands- __________________ ______ ^ 161 21. Triangular ACF diagram of average andesite and dacite of Saipan, average groundmass of andesite from Saipan, average basalt of the Izu Peninsula region of Japan, and Daly's average rock types_______________________ 162 22. Triangular SKM diagram of average andesite and dacite of Saipan, average groundmass of andesite and dacite from Saipan, average basalt of the Izu Peninsula region of Japan, and Daly's average rock types___________ 162 23. Composition diagram of normative feldspar of average andesite and dacite of Saipan, average basalt of the northern Mariana Islands, average olivine basalt of the Hawaiian Islands, and average basalt of the Izu Peninsula region of Japan.________________________________________________________________________ 166 24. Position of dacites of Saipan with respect to the low-temperature trough of the system nepheline-kaliophilite- silica_______________ _____________________________________________________________________ 170 TABLES TABLE 1. Volcanic formations of Saipan_________________________________________________________________________ 130 2. Specific gravity and composition of plagioclase feldspar phenocrysts from various andesites of the Hagman forma­ tion, Saipan _______________________________________________________________________________________ 132 3. Optical properties and composition of pyroxenes in andesites from Saipan___________________________________ 136 4. Estimated mineral composition of the principal volcanic-rock types of Saipan________________________________ 140 5. Chemical analyses and norms of volcanic rocks from Saipan and Guam___________________________-_____-__-_ 151 6. Chemical analyses and norms of volcanic rocks from the northern Mariana Islands___________________________ 157 7. Sequence of Tertiary volcanic rocks of the Izu Peninsula region, Japan______________________________________ 159 8. Sequence of Quaternary volcanic rocks of the Izu Peninsula region, Japan.___________________________________ 160 9. Volume percent of phenocrysts, bulk chemical composition, and calculated composition of the groundmass of analyzed porphyritic andesites and dacites from Saipan__________________________________________________ 164 10. Average chemical composition of olivine
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Special Study North Field Historic District
    Tinian National Historical ParkStudy Page 1 of 26 SPECIAL STUDY NORTH FIELD HISTORIC DISTRICT Tinian Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands September 2001 United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service http://www.nps.gov/pwro/piso/Tinian/tiniandr.htm 4/9/2008 Tinian National Historical ParkStudy Page 2 of 26 http://www.nps.gov/pwro/piso/Tinian/tiniandr.htm 4/9/2008 Tinian National Historical ParkStudy Page 3 of 26 North Field as it looked during World War II. The photo shows only three runways, which dates it sometime earlier than May 1945 when construction of Runway Four was completed. North Field was designed for an entire wing of B-29 Superfortresses, the 313th Bombardment Wing, with hardstands to park 265 B-29s. Each of the parallel runways stretched more than a mile and a half in length. Around and between the runways were nearly eleven miles of taxiways. Table of Contents SUMMARY BACKGROUND DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY AREA Location, Size and Ownership Regional Context RESOURCE SIGNIFICANCE Current Status of the Study Area Cultural Resources Natural Resources Evaluation of Significance EVALUATION OF SUITABILITY AND FEASIBILITY Rarity of This Type of Resource (Suitability) Feasibility for Protection Position of CNMI and Local Government Officials http://www.nps.gov/pwro/piso/Tinian/tiniandr.htm 4/9/2008 Tinian National Historical ParkStudy Page 4 of 26 Plans and Objectives of the Lease Holder FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Findings and Conclusions Recommendations APPENDIX Selected References CINCPACFLT Letter of July 26, 2000 COMNAVMAR Letter of August 28, 2001 Brochure: Self-Guided Tour of North Field Tinian Interpret Marianas Campaign from American Memorial Park, on Tinian, and with NPS Publications MAPS Figure 1.
    [Show full text]
  • National Register of Historic Places Inventory
    Form No. 10-300 Ul^l mu^l Alta ucr/VKl ivicix i wr i nc, UN i E.IMWIV NATIONAL PARK SERVICE '•SS'^:?!®.^ s$lliil®'^^^:'s^ :^:'!i^'-'-^'®'':^:^w^ NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES 1 ^^i^isiii^^|:^^i^§iilP:S-illi Hill INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM 1 iiPiiPii^i^iiii xisJiSSg:; SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOWTO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS [NAME HISTORIC Suicide Cliff ANO/OR COMMON .NOT FOR PUBLICATION CITY, TOWN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Saipan,/1^7 OF STATE Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands 969^8UNTY CODE CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY OWNERSHIP STATUS PRESENT USE D I STRICT —OCCUPIED —AGRICULTURE —MUSEUM BUILDING!S) PRIVATE ^.UNOCCUPIED —COMMERCIAL JXPARK STRUCTURE BOTH —WORK IN PROGRESS —EDUCATIONAL —PRIVATE RESIDENCE PUBLIC ACQUISITION ACCESSIBLE —ENTERTAINMENT —RELIGIOUS —OBJECT IN PROCESS —YES: RESTRICTED —GOVERNMENT —SCIENTIFIC BEING CONSIDERED —*YES: UNRESTRICTED —INDUSTRIAL —TRANSPORTATION —NO —MILITARY _OTHER: OWNER OF PROPERTY NAME Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands STREET & NUMBER Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands - Headquarters CITY, TOWN STATE TTPI 96950 VICINITY OF LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS.ETC. Attorney General, Office of the High Commissioner STREET & NUMBER Saipan Island CITY, TOWN STATE Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands 96950 1 REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE Micronesian Parks, DATE July, 1972 XL-FEDERAL —STATE —COUNTY —LOCAL DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS U.S Department of the Interior, Hawaii Group, National Park Service CITY. TOWN STATE 667 Ala Moana Boulevard, suite 512, Honolulu, Hawaii 96950 DESCRIPTION CONDITION CHECK ONE CHECK ONE ^.EXCELLENT —DETERIORATED —UNALTERED X.ORIGINALSITE _GOOD —RUINS FALTERED —MOVED DATE. —FAIR _UNEXPOSED Suicide Cliff is a section of the Banadero cliff line.
    [Show full text]
  • Honolulu, Hawaii
    COMPREHENSIVE HOUSING MARKET ANALYSIS Honolulu, Hawaii U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Policy Development and Research As of October 1, 2014 Honolulu Housing Market Area Moloka'i The Honolulu Housing Market Area (HMA), comprising Honolulu County in Hawaii, is coter- Lanai minous with the Urban Honolulu, HI Metropolitan Maui Pacific Ocean Statistical Area. The military, agriculture, health care, trade, and tourism provide a strong economic base for the HMA. Summary Economy Sales Market struction of rental units and the conversion of single-family homes, Economic conditions have strength - Sales housing market conditions townhomes, and condominiums to ened in the Honolulu HMA since in the HMA are tight, with a 0.8- rental units. During the forecast 2011. Nonfarm payrolls increased percent vacancy rate, down from period, demand in the HMA is by 4,800 jobs, or 1.1 percent, to 1.1 percent in 2010. During the expected for 2,675 new market-rate 459,100 jobs during the 12 months next 3 years, demand is expected rental units. ending September 2014, with the for 4,375 new homes (Table 1). most significant growth occurring The 550 homes under con struction Table 1. Housing Demand in the in education and health services, and a portion of the 16,300 other Honolulu HMA During the leisure and hospitality, and govern- vacant units that may reenter the Forecast Period ment sectors. Nonfarm payrolls are market will satisfy some of the Honolulu HMA expected to grow an average of 1.2 forecast demand. Sales Rental percent a year during the 3-year Units Units forecast period.
    [Show full text]
  • Ecology in Palau Chapter 1
    ECOLOGY IN PALAU CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 1 also has the largest tract of tropical lowland Ecology in Palau forest in the Pacific (Kitalong, 2014). In 1979, nearly 218 km2 or 52% of Palau’s land was The landscape of Palau is one of a medium to covered with lowland forests. Yet, slowly, forests low volcanic island chain with large fringing ECOLOGY IN PALAU are being cut for homesteads, development and/or barrier reefs. The Palauan island chain and roads. Forest trees and plants are valued as has all three-island types: volcanic, limestone Christopher Kitalong, David Mason sources of timber, food, medicine, habitat for and atolls. Palau’s proximity to the Asian other species, and for their cultural and aesthetic continent, Philippines, and Indonesia results Settings value (Kitalong, 2008). in increased radiation of plant taxa compared The archipelago of Palau was formed during to other islands in Micronesia. Despite being the Eocene epoch, 40 million years ago by the closest Micronesian island to larger land the subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath masses, Palau is still relatively isolated. Due the Philippine Plate along the Kyushu-Palau to these factors, Palau has the greatest number Ridge (PALARIS, 2009). Palau lies on the of endemics and highest species richness in east edge of the Andesite Line, which divides the Micronesian island chain (Canfield, 1981). the deeper basalts of the Central Pacific Basin However, the amount of arable soil is very from the partially submerged continental areas limited and very prone to erosion. As suggested of andesite. Volcanism ceased 20 million years by the USDA report deposited at Forestry ago and was succeeded by submergence of Service in Palau, islands and formation of the barrier reef began.
    [Show full text]
  • Early Colonial History Four of Seven
    Early Colonial History Four of Seven Marianas History Conference Early Colonial History Guampedia.com This publication was produced by the Guampedia Foundation ⓒ2012 Guampedia Foundation, Inc. UOG Station Mangilao, Guam 96923 www.guampedia.com Table of Contents Early Colonial History Windfalls in Micronesia: Carolinians' environmental history in the Marianas ...................................................................................................1 By Rebecca Hofmann “Casa Real”: A Lost Church On Guam* .................................................13 By Andrea Jalandoni Magellan and San Vitores: Heroes or Madmen? ....................................25 By Donald Shuster, PhD Traditional Chamorro Farming Innovations during the Spanish and Philippine Contact Period on Northern Guam* ....................................31 By Boyd Dixon and Richard Schaefer and Todd McCurdy Islands in the Stream of Empire: Spain’s ‘Reformed’ Imperial Policy and the First Proposals to Colonize the Mariana Islands, 1565-1569 ....41 By Frank Quimby José de Quiroga y Losada: Conquest of the Marianas ...........................63 By Nicholas Goetzfridt, PhD. 19th Century Society in Agaña: Don Francisco Tudela, 1805-1856, Sargento Mayor of the Mariana Islands’ Garrison, 1841-1847, Retired on Guam, 1848-1856 ...............................................................................83 By Omaira Brunal-Perry Windfalls in Micronesia: Carolinians' environmental history in the Marianas By Rebecca Hofmann Research fellow in the project: 'Climates of Migration:
    [Show full text]
  • The Impact of International Migration on Democratic Accountability
    DOES MOBILITY MAKE BAD CITIZENS? THE IMPACT OF INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION ON DEMOCRATIC ACCOUNTABILITY DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Yoon-Ah Oh, B.A./M.A. Graduate Program in Political Science The Ohio State University 2011 Dissertation Committee: Irfan Nooruddin, Advisor Marcus Kurtz Jeremy Wallace ABSTRACT The past few decades have witnessed a dramatic increase in international migra- tion and attendant remittance flows across borders. Recent scholarship suggests that remittance wealth and mobility opportunities made available by migration may empower citizens and lead to social transformations in the country of origin. This increasingly popular view holds that the political autonomy created by remittances and democratic attitudes transmitted through diaspora networks changes political relationships in developing countries in favor of ordinary citizens. However, whether international mobility indeed promotes democracy is subject to dispute in both the- oretical and empirical terms. This dissertation explores how international migration affects citizens' demand for government accountability in origin countries. The availability of exit and migration- generated remittance inflows creates a possibility of life chances relatively indepen- dent of the home country and thus insulates citizens from the consequences of do- mestic politics. I argue that the resulting decline in a \stake" in society reduces the perceived benefits of political engagement, and this leads to fewer incentives ii on the part of citizens to hold the government accountable and to ensure effective representation. Using individual-level and subnational aggregate data from the Philippines, I demonstrate that migration changes how citizens relate to and seek to control the government.
    [Show full text]
  • Officials Hall of Fame 2007 Through 2018
    USATF National Officials Committee Officials Hall of Fame 2007 through 2018 2007 Inductee 2007 Inductee Honolulu, Hawaii Honolulu, Hawaii * * * * * * * * * * Andy Chester Bakjian Bradley Southern California Southwestern Association Association 2007 Inductee 2007 Inductee Honolulu, Hawaii Honolulu, Hawaii * * * * * * * * * * Ken Leo Caouette Costanzo New England Pacific Association Association 2007 Inductee 2007 Inductee Honolulu, Hawaii Honolulu, Hawaii * * * * * * * * * * Horace John Crow Davis Pacific Illinois Association Association 2007 Inductee 2007 Inductee Honolulu, Hawaii Honolulu, Hawaii * * * * * * * * * * Emmitt Finn Griggs Hansen Gulf Utah Association Association 2007 Inductee 2007 Inductee Honolulu, Hawaii Honolulu, Hawaii * * * * * * * * * * Dee Barbara Jensen Palma Dakotas Adirondack Association Association 2007 Inductee 2007 Inductee Honolulu, Hawaii Honolulu, Hawaii * * * * * * * * * * Patricia Charles Rico Ruter Metropolitan Kentucky Association Association 2008 Inductee 2008 Inductee Reno, Nevada Reno, Nevada * * * * * * * * * * Ron Clarence Althoff Crawford Ohio Three Rivers Association Association 2008 Inductee 2008 Inductee Reno, Nevada Reno, Nevada * * * * * * * * * * Shirley James Crowe Grey Gulf Ohio Association Association 2008 Inductee 2008 Inductee Reno, Nevada Reno, Nevada * * * * * * * * * * George Lori Kleeman Maynard Pacific Pacific Association Association 2008 Inductee 2008 Inductee Reno, Nevada Reno, Nevada * * * * * * * * * * Heliodoro Murray Rico Sanford Metropolitan Georgia Association Association
    [Show full text]
  • Northern Mariana Islands
    Northern Mariana Islands HEALTH SITUATION (Commonwealth of the) The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands is one of five inhabited United States island territories. It comprises of four inhabited islands (Saipan, Tinian, Rota and Pagan) and 10 uninhabited ones. The population was 53 883 in 2010, with 90% of people living in the capital of Saipan. Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) were the leading causes of death in the Northern Mariana Islands from 2011 to 2014. Diseases of the circulatory system accounted for 252 deaths (33%), cancers accounted for 133 (18%), endocrine, nutritional and metabolic disease accounted for 54 (7%), and respiratory system diseases accounted for 52 (7%). Poverty is also a major determinant of health in the Northern Mariana Islands. The Medicaid programme, a federal–state shared insurance for the poor, only covers American citizens and a 2010 population census found that 34% of citizens were uninsured for health care. http:// www.who.int/countries/en/ WHO region Western Pacific HEALTH POLICIES AND SYSTEMS World Bank income group Public Law 16-51 (2009) transferred the national health system to the Healthy Islands Monitoring Framework Indicators Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation, a public entity that is headed Number of skilled health workers* per 10 000 population (2008) 22.5 by a chief executive officer. The CHCC consists of a primary hospital, a modernized haemodialysis facility, a community health centre, two Per capita total expenditure on health at average exchange rate (US$) NA rural health centres, public health services, and behavioural health Total expenditure on health as a percentage of gross services. There are also four private health clinic groups.
    [Show full text]
  • Vigía: the Network of Lookout Points in Spanish Guam
    Vigía: The Network of Lookout Points in Spanish Guam Carlos Madrid Richard Flores Taitano Micronesian Area Research Center There are indications of the existence of a network of lookout points around Guam during the 18th and 19th centuries. This is suggested by passing references and few explicit allusions in Spanish colonial records such as early 19th Century military reports. In an attempt to identify the sites where those lookout points might have been located, this paper surveys some of those references and matches them with existing toponymy. It is hoped that the results will be of some help to archaeologists, historic preservation staff, or anyone interested in the history of Guam and Micronesia. While the need of using historic records is instrumental for the abovementioned purposes of this paper, focus will be given to the Chamorro place name Bijia. Historical evolution of toponymy, an area of study in need of attention, offers clues about the use or significance that a given location had in the past. The word Vigía today means “sentinel” in Spanish - the person who is responsible for surveying an area and warn of possible dangers. But its first dictionary definition is still "high tower elevated on the horizon, to register and give notice of what is discovered". Vigía also means an "eminence or height from which a significant area of land or sea can be seen".1 Holding on to the latter definition, it is noticeable that in the Hispanic world, in large coastal territories that were subjected to frequent attacks from the sea, the place name Vigía is relatively common.
    [Show full text]
  • Micronesica 38(1):93–120, 2005
    Micronesica 38(1):93–120, 2005 Archaeological Evidence of a Prehistoric Farming Technique on Guam DARLENE R. MOORE Micronesian Archaeological Research Services P.O. Box 22303, GMF, Guam, 96921 Abstract—On Guam, few archaeological sites with possible agricultural features have been described and little is known about prehistoric culti- vation practices. New information about possible upland planting techniques during the Latte Phase (c. A.D. 1000–1521) of Guam’s Prehistoric Period, which began c. 3,500 years ago, is presented here. Site M201, located in the Manenggon Hills area of Guam’s interior, con- tained three pit features, two that yielded large pieces of coconut shell, bits of introduced calcareous rock, and several large thorns from the roots of yam (Dioscorea) plants. A sample of the coconut shell recovered from one of the pits yielded a calibrated (2 sigma) radiocarbon date with a range of A.D. 986–1210, indicating that the pits were dug during the early Latte Phase. Archaeological evidence and historic literature relat- ing to planting, harvesting, and cooking of roots and tubers on Guam suggest that some of the planting methods used in historic to recent times had been used at Site M201 near the beginning of the Latte Phase, about 1000 years ago. I argue that Site M201 was situated within an inland root/tuber agricultural zone. Introduction The completion of numerous archaeological projects on Guam in recent years has greatly increased our knowledge of the number and types of prehis- toric sites, yet few of these can be considered agricultural. Descriptions of agricultural terraces, planting pits, irrigation canals, or other agricultural earth works are generally absent from archaeological site reports, although it has been proposed that some of the piled rock alignments in northern Guam could be field boundaries (Liston 1996).
    [Show full text]
  • Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Coastal Resilience Assessment
    COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS COASTAL RESILIENCE ASSESSMENT 20202020 Greg Dobson, Ian Johnson, Kim Rhodes UNC Asheville’s NEMAC Kristen Byler National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Bridget Lussier Lynker, on contract to NOAA Office for Coastal Management IMPORTANT INFORMATION/DISCLAIMER: This report represents a Regional Coastal Resilience Assessment that can be used to identify places on the landscape for resilience-building efforts and conservation actions through understanding coastal flood threats, the exposure of populations and infrastructure have to those threats, and the presence of suitable fish and wildlife habitat. As with all remotely sensed or publicly available data, all features should be verified with a site visit, as the locations of suitable landscapes or areas containing flood threats and community assets are approximate. The data, maps, and analysis provided should be used only as a screening-level resource to support management decisions. This report should be used strictly as a planning reference tool and not for permitting or other legal purposes. The scientific results and conclusions, as well as any views or opinions expressed herein, are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the U.S. Government, or the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s partners. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Government or the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation or its funding sources. NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION DISCLAIMER: The scientific results and conclusions, as well as any views or opinions expressed herein, are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of NOAA or the Department of Commerce.
    [Show full text]
  • Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (Oe)
    U.S. Department of Energy Situation Report Typhoon Soudelor (13W) Situation Report #4 August 6, 2015 (3:00 PM EDT) Damage identified to the Commonwealth Utility Corporation’s (CUC) 70 MW diesel-fueled power generation plant located in Tanapag, Saipan brought on by Typhoon Soudelor. Photo taken August 3, 2015. Photo credit: ESF-12 DOE Responder Embedded with FEMA IMAT Team on Saipan. Source: U.S. Department of Energy Highlights: Typhoon Soudelor impacted the island of Saipan directly on Sunday, August 2, with highest reported wind speeds of 91mph. NOAA’s Guam Forecast Office is no longer reporting on Soudelor. As of 11:30AM EDT today, August 6, Saipan remains without power with more recent damage assessments reporting 48 percent of the Saipan power grid is inoperable due to loss of power poles and downed lines. Power restoration is estimated at three weeks according to both the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation (CUC) with assistance by Guam Power Authority (GPA). Effective today, August 6, the priorities identified by Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) are: U.S. Department of Energy Office of Electricity Delivery & Energy Reliability 1 U.S. Department of Energy Situation Report o Debris Removal Plan o Water Distribution Course of Action o Fuel Distribution Course of Action o Mass Sheltering o Mass Feeding Mobil Oil said it was hopeful that it would be able to resume terminal operations for fuel truck deliveries to service stations on August 6, after safety concerns at its facilities had been addressed. The Port of Saipan, is open to authorized vessel traffic and subject to USCG Safety Zone requirements surrounding Tanapag Harbor (where the island’s petroleum terminals are located).
    [Show full text]