Chesapeake Bay Impact Crater, South of James River
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The Effects of the Chesapeake Bay Impact Crater on the Geologic Framework and the Correlation of Hydrogeologic Units of Southeastern Virginia, South of the James River Professional Paper 1622 Chesapeake Bay York River Cape Charles Atlantic J a m Ocean e s R iv e r Norfolk Virginia Norfolk Beach U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Availability of Publications of the U.S. Geological Survey Order U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) publications by calling Documents. Check or money order must be payable to the the toll-free telephone number 1-888-ASK-USGS or contact- Superintendent of Documents. Order by mail from— ing the offices listed below. 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Powars U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 1622 Prepared in cooperation with the HAMPTON ROADS PLANNING DISTRICT COMMISSION UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 2000 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Charles G. Groat, Director The use of firm, trade, and brand names in this report is for identification purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Government. Library of Congress Cataloging in Publications Data: 0-607-93693-2 For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services Box 25286, Federal Center Denver, CO 80225 CONTENTS Abstract ................................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Purpose and Scope ...................................................................................................................................................... 4 Description of Study Area........................................................................................................................................... 4 Previous Investigations................................................................................................................................................ 5 Acknowledgments....................................................................................................................................................... 5 Methods of Investigation....................................................................................................................................................... 6 Compilation of Lithologic Data from Cores and Well Cuttings ................................................................................. 6 Analysis of Borehole Geophysical Logs..................................................................................................................... 8 Structural Setting of Southeastern Virginia........................................................................................................................... 8 Pre-impact Structural History...................................................................................................................................... 8 Syn-impact Structural History..................................................................................................................................... 22 Post-impact Structural History .................................................................................................................................... 25 Geologic Framework of Southeastern Virginia, South of the James River........................................................................... 26 Basement Rocks .......................................................................................................................................................... 26 Cretaceous Deposits .................................................................................................................................................... 27 Potomac Formation - Lower and Upper Cretaceous Deposits.......................................................................... 28 Upper Cretaceous Deposits Younger Than Pollen Zone III.............................................................................. 29 Upper Cenomanian Beds (Pollen Zone IV) ............................................................................................ 29 Glauconitic Sand Unit ............................................................................................................................. 31 Upper Cretaceous Red Beds (Pollen Zone V) ........................................................................................ 31 Upper Cretaceous and/or Paleocene Beds............................................................................................... 32 Tertiary Deposits ......................................................................................................................................................... 32 Pre-impact Tertiary Deposits (Paleocene and lower and middle Eocene) ........................................................ 32 Syn-impact Deposits (upper Eocene)................................................................................................................ 34 Post-impact Deposits......................................................................................................................................... 35 Upper Eocene, Oligocene, and lower Miocene Post-impact Deposits.................................................... 36 Middle and upper Miocene, Pliocene, and Quaternary Post-impact Deposits........................................ 36 Correlation of Geologic Units to Hydrogeologic Units ....................................................................................................... 38 Summary and Conclusions...................................................................................................................................................