DOCSLIB.ORG

Lithofacies and Sedimentology of the Miocene-Pliocene Ringold

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Lithofacies and Sedimentology of the Miocene-Pliocene Ringold Kevln A. Lindsey, NorthwestCollege and Universty Assocationfor Scence, c/o WestinghouseHanford Geoscience Group, N,4S|NH4'56, P.O. Box 1970, R chland, Washngton 99352 and Oavid R. Gaylord, Departmenlof Geology,Wash ngton State Un versity,Pullman Washington99164-2A12 Lithofaciesand Sedimentologyof the Miocene-PlioceneRingold Formation,Hanford Site, South-CentralWashington Abstract "unconfined" The Miocene-PlioceneRinsold Formation is one ofthe principal stratigraphicunits vithin the suprabasah aquifer at fie Hanford Site in southcentralWashington. Consequently, undersunding the geologyof the Ringold Fomation is nec€ssary for th€ accuratecharacterization and nodeling of groundwaterflow and contaminanttransport st Hanford. The Ringold For- nation is a conplexly interstralified s€quenceof unconsolidatedto semiconsolidatedclay, silt, sand, and granule to cobble gravel. Evaluation of borehole g€oloeical and geophysicaldata and outcrops on and adjacent to the Hanford Site suggests that the most accuratem€$od for the study of Ringold sedinents is through the use of lithofacies.Six lilhofacies are defin€d using prinarily grain size data and borehol€ geophysicalresponses. These lirhofacies are: l) mud (M), 2) nud and snd (MS), 3) sand(SS), a) sand and granule to pebble gravel (SG),5) sranule to pebble gravet(C), and 6) cobble to boulder gravel (CB). Analysisoflithofacies distributions and associarionsreveal that: l) coarse-grainedlithofacies (CB, G, SG,SS) tend to be concen- trated along conplexly stacked,elongate fluvial chann€l tracts that displat a high degree of vertical interconnectedness,2) fine-$ained lirhofacies(M, MS) tend to occupyrelatively stable positions,and 3) individual lithofsciesidenrified ar ih€ Hanfo.d Site tend to be discontinuouseven over shon lateral distances.Based on the analysisof lithofaci€s distributions and associa, tions mo.€ accurareappraisals of the hydrogeolosy of the Hanford Site are possible. Introduction Geologic Setting Thousandsof tons of radioactive and other haz- Suprabasaltterrigenous clastic sediments (Figure ardouswastes have been introduced into the late l), including the Ringold Formation,are present Cenozoicsediments on the Hanford Site, Wash- throughout much of the central Columbia Pla- ington,since the late 1940's(PNL, 1986,1987). teau in south-centralWashington (Grollier and The accumulationof thesewastes has necessi Bingham1971, l9?B; Myers et oL 1979;Tallman tated a long-termprogram of groundwatermon- et al. 1979,1981;Fecht et al. 1985).Regionally, itoring and geohydrologiccharacteization of the the Ringold Formation consistsof up to 280 m unconfinedaquifer to assessthe extent of pres- of interstratified unconsolidatedto cemented ent and potentialfuture groundwatercontamina- clay,silt, sand,and granuleto cobble-sizedgravel tion in this area.The Miocene-PlioceneRingold deposited in fluvial and lacustrine settings Formation is the principal stratigraphic unit (Newcomb 1958; Bjornstad 1985; Fecht et al within the suprabasalt "unconfined" aquifer; 1985;DOE 1988).Exposures of the Ringold For- thus,its stratigraphicand sedimentarycomplex- mation are limited because of an extensive ities are important to the characterizationof the Pleistocene-Holocenesedimentary cover and ero- groundwaterflow system,A fundamentalparam- sion by catastrophic, proglacial Pleistocene eter in stiatigraphic and sedimentarystudies are floods.However, informative outcrops exist; 1) on lithofacies(Miall 1977,l97B; Rust 1978). the White Bluffs north and east of the Colum- bia River,2) in ravinesand couleesbetween This paper presentsfindings from a study of Wallula Gap and MosesLake, Washington,and primarily subsurfacelithofacies identified in the 3) near prominent anticlinal ridges including Ringold Formationon and immediatelyadjacent RattlesnakeMountain, the SaddleMountains, to the HanfordSite. The paperreevaluates the Gable Mountain, and the FrenchmanHills (Fig- five-tieredsubdivisions of the Ringold Formation ures 2 and 3). generallyused at the Hanford Site (Myers e, al The Ringold Formation at the Hanford Site 1979;DOE 1988),suggests alternative methods consists dominantly of sand and granule to for characterizing these strata, and presents cobble-sizedgravel with lesser,yet still signifi- sedimentologicalinterpretations, canl amountsof clay, silt, and sand (Nevcomb Northrest Science,Vol. 64, No. 3, 1990 165 drill core, while Leopoldand Nickman(l98l) o determineda Mioceneage for the oldestRingold o Holocenesurficial strataon the basisof pollensamples collected nearthe baseof the RingoldFormation. Fecht dep06its et al. (I9BS)established a maximum age of 8.5 |! Ma for the Ringold Formationfrom K-Ar whole- q, - unconformity - rock dating of the underlying Miocene basalt (McKee er al. 197?) ard a minimum age of 3.4 o Hanfordformation a1 Ma on the basisof paleomagneticdata and ver- unconformity tebrate fossil evidence. Early'Palouse' soil c, unconformity PreviousStudies .L All suprabasaltsediments (including strata now Plio-Pleistoceneunit assignedto the Ringold Formation)on the cen- tral ColumbiaPlateau and in the easternfoothills o) unconformity of the southernWashington Cascades were orig- t inally assignedto the Ellensburg Formation by Smith (1901). Smith's stratigraphy was later Ringold modifiedby Merriamand Buwalda(1917), who 'F assigned the fine-grained terrigenous clastic q, Formation sedimentsexposed on the White Bluffs and near F Pasco, Washington to a unit they called the unconformity RingoldFormation. Culver (193?) later mapped ColumbiaRiver the Ringold Formationacross the centralColum- (1917) BasaltGroup bia Plateau.Both Merriamand Buwalda and Culver (193?)restricted their definition of the Ringold Formation to strata exposedat the surface. Iigue 1. Generalized srratigraphy of the late Cenozoic sediments in the Pasco Basin, southcentral The concurrentestablishment of the Hanford Washington. Site and expansionof nearbyirrigated farmland in the early 1940's resulted in numerous test 1958; Newcombet al. 1972; Myerc et al- 1979; boreholesand production wells that revealeda Tallman et al. 1979,l98l; Bjornstad1984, 1985); sequenceof buied sedimentsoverlying the Co- it is greater than 50 m rhick at most localities lumbia River BasaltGroup. A significantpropor- and reachesa maximum thicknessof260 m near tion of thesestrata were found to be subsurface the centerof the HanfordSite. Exposures ofthe ertensionsof Ringold exposuresfound on the Ringold Formation along the White Bluffs (Fig- White Bluffs (Newcombl95B). As a result, the ure 3) consistof up to 125m of interbeddedclay, Ringold Formation wasredefined to include all silt, sand, and relatively minor granule to cob- sedimentarystrata in the PascoBasin that overlie ble gravel.These exposuresgenerally lie strati- the Columbia River Basalt Group and that un- graphicallyabove those Ringold strata described derlie Pleistoceneglaciofluvial deposits (New- from the Hanford Site. comb 1958). Ringold Formationstrata originally were con- sideredto be Pleistocene-aged(Merriam and The Ringold Formation as defined at the Buwalda 1917. Newcomb 1958. Grollier and HanfordSite by Newcomb(1958) and Myersel Bingham1971, Newcomb et al. 1972).However, al. (1979\ is divided into the following five subsequentpaleontologic, paleomagnetic, and lithostratigraphicunits. Theseare the: l) gravel- palynologicstudies haye demonstrated a greater dominatedbasal unit. 2) interstratified to mixed age for the Ringold. Gustafson(1973, 1980) and clay,silt, sand,and local gravelof the lower unit 'blue Packerand Johnson (1979) suggesred a Miocene (including the prominent clays' of geologic to Plioceneage basedon paleomagneticand drill logs),3) quartzosegravel of the middle unit, paleontologicdata from Ringoldexposures and 4) interstratified to mixed clay, silt, and sandof 166 Lindseyand Gaylord Figur€ 2. Ceo$aphic selting o{ south-centralVashingron and location of rhe Hanford Site. the upper unit, and 5) Iocally-derivedbasaltic and accompanyinggeophysical data (primarily gravel of the fanglomerate unit. Only the fan- natural gamma and neutron-neutronlogs) from glomerateunit, upper unit, and upper part of the 147 boreholesthat extendto basaltwere chosen middle unit crop out. Offsite the Ringold For- for study. The majority of the sedimentsamples mation ha6 been subdivided on the basis of availablefrom thoseholes are drill cuttings. In- lithofacies(Grollier and Bingharn1971, 1978). terpretativestratigraphic sections, that are con- Theselithofacies are not the sameas those de- structed from this joint geologic/geophysical finerl in thic.pnn.r database,forrn the basis for identification and descriptionoflithofacies and the constructionof Methods isolith, isopach, and lithofacies maps. Six lithofaciesare defined primarily on the basisof Discussionof the Ringold Formationin this grain size descriptionsfrom geologicdrill logs, paperis largelyrestricted to subsurfaceinvestiga- textural analyses,and to a very limited extent, tions at the Hanford Site (Figures2 and 3); our from boreholegeophysical logs, cores,and out- crops on the Hanford Site are uncommon and crops.These lithofacies are: l) mud (M),2)mud only occur along the flanks of a few anticlinal and sand(MS), 3) sand(SS), 4) sandand granule ridges.Borehole geologic logs, sediment samples, to pebblegravel (SG), 5) granulero pebblegravel Lithofacies and Sedimentologyof the Ringold Formation 167 SADDLEMOUNTAINS lOOD&DR rooB&c0 Pe-sJQ<E.," rd---l20ow-:-. I zxtE t----rIl \J YAIQUA SEPARATIONAREAS A PPRO X IMA TE POSITIONOF c Ross- sEcTto N ca""* ILLUSTFATED
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Washington Division of Geology and Earth Resources Open File Report
    RECONNAISSANCE SURFICIAL GEOLOGIC MAPPING OF THE LATE CENOZOIC SEDIMENTS OF THE COLUMBIA BASIN, WASHINGTON by James G. Rigby and Kurt Othberg with contributions from Newell Campbell Larry Hanson Eugene Kiver Dale Stradling Gary Webster Open File Report 79-3 September 1979 State of Washington Department of Natural Resources Division of Geology and Earth Resources Olympia, Washington CONTENTS Introduction Objectives Study Area Regional Setting 1 Mapping Procedure 4 Sample Collection 8 Description of Map Units 8 Pre-Miocene Rocks 8 Columbia River Basalt, Yakima Basalt Subgroup 9 Ellensburg Formation 9 Gravels of the Ancestral Columbia River 13 Ringold Formation 15 Thorp Gravel 17 Gravel of Terrace Remnants 19 Tieton Andesite 23 Palouse Formation and Other Loess Deposits 23 Glacial Deposits 25 Catastrophic Flood Deposits 28 Background and previous work 30 Description and interpretation of flood deposits 35 Distinctive geomorphic features 38 Terraces and other features of undetermined origin 40 Post-Pleistocene Deposits 43 Landslide Deposits 44 Alluvium 45 Alluvial Fan Deposits 45 Older Alluvial Fan Deposits 45 Colluvium 46 Sand Dunes 46 Mirna Mounds and Other Periglacial(?) Patterned Ground 47 Structural Geology 48 Southwest Quadrant 48 Toppenish Ridge 49 Ah tanum Ridge 52 Horse Heaven Hills 52 East Selah Fault 53 Northern Saddle Mountains and Smyrna Bench 54 Selah Butte Area 57 Miscellaneous Areas 58 Northwest Quadrant 58 Kittitas Valley 58 Beebe Terrace Disturbance 59 Winesap Lineament 60 Northeast Quadrant 60 Southeast Quadrant 61 Recommendations 62 Stratigraphy 62 Structure 63 Summary 64 References Cited 66 Appendix A - Tephrochronology and identification of collected datable materials 82 Appendix B - Description of field mapping units 88 Northeast Quadrant 89 Northwest Quadrant 90 Southwest Quadrant 91 Southeast Quadrant 92 ii ILLUSTRATIONS Figure 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Geology and Ground-Water Characteristics of the Hanford Reservation of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Washington
    Geology and Ground-Water Characteristics of the Hanford Reservation of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Washington GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 717 Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission Geology and Ground-Water Characteristics of the Hanford Reservation of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission,Washington By R. C. NEWCOMB, J. R. STRAND, and F. J. FRANK GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 717 Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1972 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ROGERS C. B. MORTON, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY V. E. McKelvey, Director Library of Congress catalog-card No. 72-600205 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 Stock Number 2401-00241 CONTENTS Page Page Abstract...................................................................................... 1 Geology Continued Introduction............................................................................... 2 Physiography..................................................................... 23 Purpose............................................................................... 2 Mountain slopes................................................ 23 Previous investigations..................................... ........... 2 Plateaus................................... .............................. 23 Scope and methods of investigation............................. 2 Terraces.....................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Ringold For111ation and Associated Deposits
    LI.I u The Miocene to Pliocene Ringold For111ation and Associated Deposits 0 of the Ancestral Columbia River System, South-central Washington and North-central Oregon by Kevin A. Lindsey WASHINGTON DIVISION OF GEOLOGY I- AND EARTH RESOURCES Open File Report 96-8 c( November 1996 WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENTOF Natural Resources Jennifer M. Belcher· Commissioner of Public Lands Kaleen Cottingham· Supervisor CONTENTS 1 Introduction 3 Setting 3 Structural geology 4 Late Neogene depositional framework 6 The Ringold Formation 6 Previous studies 8 Age 8 Stratigraphy 10 Methods 10 Sediment facies associations 14 Facies association I 21 Facies association II 22 Facies association Ill 26 Facies association IV 26 Facies association V 26 Facies association distribution 27 Informal member of Wooded Island 33 Informal member of Taylor Flat 34 Informal member of Savage Island 35 Top of the Ringold Formation 37 Ringold correlatives outside the Pasco Basin 38 Conclusions 40 Acknowledgments 41 References cited Appendices A-D: Measured sections, core geologic logs, cross sections, and isopach and structure contour data, respectively ILLUSTRATIONS 2 Figure 1. Map showing regional geographic setting of the Columbia Basin and Hanford Site, south-central Washington, and north-central Oregon. 4 Figure 2. Map showing geographic setting of the Pasco Basin and Hanford Site, Washington. 5 Figure 3. Maps showing geologic structures in and near the Pasco Basin, and . Hanford Site. 7 Figure 4. Generalized surficial geologic map of the Pasco Basin. 9 Figure 5. Diagram showing late Neogene stratigraphy of the Pasco Basin emphasizing the Ringold Formation. 15 Figure 6. Outcrop photo of facies association I.
    [Show full text]
  • Thesis, "Structure and Evolution of the Horse Heaven Hills in South
    AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Michael Curtis Hagood for the Master of Science in Geology presented February 21, 1985. Title: Structure-and Evolution of the Horse Heaven Hills in South-Central Washington. APPROVED BY MEMBERS OF THE THESIS COMMITTEE: Marvin H. Beeson, Chairman Michael L. Cummings Gilbert T. Benson Stephen P. Reidel The Horse Heaven Hills uplift in south-central Washington con- sists of distinct northwest and northeast trends which merge in the lower Yakima Valley. The northwest trend is adjacent to and parallels the Rattlesnake-Wallula alignment (RAW; a part of the Olympic-Wallowa lineament). The northwest trend and northeast trend consist of aligned or en echelon anticlines and monoclines whose axes are gener- ally oriented in the direction of the trend. At the intersection, La 2 folds in the northeast trend plunge onto and are terminated by folds of the northwest trend. The crest of the Horse Heaven Hills uplift within both trends is composed of a series of asymmetric, north vergent, eroded, usually double-hinged anticlines or monoclines. Some of these "major" anti- clines and monoclines are paralleled to the immediate north by lower- relief anticlines or monoclines. All anticlines approach monoclines in geometry and often change to a monoclinal geometry along their length. In both trends, reverse faults commonly parallel the axes of folds within the tightly folded hinge zones. Tear faults cut across the northern limbs of the anticlines and monoclines and are coincident with marked changes in the wavelength of a fold or a change in the trend of a fold. Layer-parallel faults commonly exist along steeply- dipping stratigraphic contacts or zones of preferred weakness in intraflow structures.
    [Show full text]
  • Fossil Fishes from the Miocene Ellensburg Formation, South Central Washington
    FISHES OF THE MIO-PLIOCENE WESTERN SNAKE RIVER PLAIN AND VICINITY IV. FOSSIL FISHES FROM THE MIOCENE ELLENSBURG FORMATION, SOUTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON by GERALD R. SMITH, JAMES E. MARTIN, NATHAN E. CARPENTER MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATIONS MUSEUM OF ZOOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, 204 no. 4 Ann Arbor, December 1, 2018 ISSN 0076-8405 PUBLICATIONS OF THE MUSEUM OF ZOOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN NO. 204 no.4 WILLIAM FINK, Editor The publications of the Museum of Zoology, The University of Michigan, consist primarily of two series—the Miscellaneous Publications and the Occasional Papers. Both series were founded by Dr. Bryant Walker, Mr. Bradshaw H. Swales, and Dr. W. W. Newcomb. Occasionally the Museum publishes contributions outside of these series. Beginning in 1990 these are titled Special Publications and Circulars and each are sequentially numbered. All submitted manuscripts to any of the Museum’s publications receive external peer review. The Occasional Papers, begun in 1913, serve as a medium for original studies based principally upon the collections in the Museum. They are issued separately. When a sufficient number of pages has been printed to make a volume, a title page, table of contents, and an index are supplied to libraries and individuals on the mailing list for the series. The Miscellaneous Publications, initiated in 1916, include monographic studies, papers on field and museum techniques, and other contributions not within the scope of the Occasional Papers, and are published separately. Each number has a title page and, when necessary, a table of contents. A complete list of publications on Mammals, Birds, Reptiles and Amphibians, Fishes, Insects, Mollusks, and other topics is available.
    [Show full text]
  • Reprint 1. Ringold Formation of Pleistocene Age in Type
    State of Washington ALBERT D. ROSELLINI, Governor Department of Conservation EARL COE, Director DIVISION OF MINES AND GEOLOGY MARSHALL T. HUNTTING, Supervisor Reprint No. 1 RINGOLD FORMATION OF PLEISTOCENE AGE IN TYPE LOCALITY, THE WHITE BLUFFS, WASHINGTON By R. C. NEWCOMB Reprinted from American lournal of Science, VOL 256, May 19$8, p. 328-340 Published by permission ot the Director, U. S. Geological Survey STATII PRINTINC PLANT, OLYMPIA, WASHINCTON taH [AMERICAN JouRNAL or SCIENCE, VoL. 256, MAY 1958, P. 328-34-0] RINGOLD FORMATION OF PLEISTOCENE AGE IN TYPE LOCALITY, THE WIDTE BLUFFS, WASIDNGTON* R. C. NEWCOMB ABSTRACT. The type section of the Ringold formation in the White Bluffs of the Columbia River consists of a stratigraphic thickness of about 620 feet of horizontally bedded continental sediments lying between river level and the tops of the bluffs, from about 340 to 960 feet in altitude. The beds are of middle to late Pleistocene age. The uppermost 505 feet of the type section, between 455 and 960 feet in altitude, is composed largely of lacustrine sand and silt. The lower part, extending upward from river level at 340 feet to the base of the lacustrine deposits, at 455 feet, is composed of a weakly indurated conglomerate member that was deposited by river currents. The conglomerate member extends also below river level, down to an altitude of about 290 feet. It is underlain by 100 to 290 feet of lacustrine silt, clay, and sand, and some gravel beds. This lower lacustrine composite, a part of the Ringold, is commonly called the "blue clays" section and lies, in turn, upon the basalt bedrock, whose surface is some­ what irregular but is near sea level in the central part of a broad syncline.
    [Show full text]
  • OREGON GEOLOGY Formerly the ORE BIN
    OREGON GEOLOGY formerly THE ORE BIN published by the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries Volume 41 , Number S August 1979 • '" ~~ : . ~ .- _ "l.., J' , • s, . .. o :I - ' . .. 1"" ~. t:. ' ... -:-... ......... ' ... .. .. ...... _- <'It-• • . " - .. "o _"~ I: - .' ""- .. -.. .....• • .. • -: ,, • .,, • . :.. Friends of Mineralogy to hold fifth annual OREGOM GEOLOGY symposium in September (ISSN 0164-3304) The Friends of Mineralogy, Northwest Chapter, will August 1979 Volume 41, NumberS hold their fifth annual symposium, "Sulfides and Sulfo­ salts," September 28 th rough 30, 1979, at the Bellevue Published monthly by the Slale of Oregon Department of Holiday Inn on Interstate 405 just across Ihe noating Geology and Mineral Industries (Volumes ] through 40 ",ere en- titled The Ore Bin). bridge from Seattle, Washi ngton. Symposium hours will be 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 12 a.m. Sunday. Gnernlng Board Speakers will be Joseph Mandarino, Curator, Leeanne G. MacColl, Chairperson . .... .. .. .. Portland Robert W. Doly . ... .. .. .. Talent Royal Ontario Museum; Les Zeihen. Consulting Miner­ John L Schwabe . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. Portland alogist for the Anaconda Company, Bulte, Montana; Stale Geologist .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. Donald A. Hull Robert Cook. Associate Professor of Ge.olpgy, Auburn UniversilY. Auburn, Alabama; Joe Nagel and Colin Deputy Stalt Geolagist . .. ..... ... ... John D. Beaulieu Goodwin , University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C.. Canada; and Bob Jackson, Collector, Renton, Ed ltDr . ... .. .. ... .. .. .. ... .. Beverly F. Vogi Washington. Lectures will be centered about the theme, Mlin Offic.: 1069 Sialt Office Building, Ponland 97201, phone "Sulfides and Sulfosaits." (303) 229-5580. Approximately iO to 20 noncompetilive, educa­ Baker field Olliel: 2033 First Street, Baker 978 14, phone (503) tional exhibits related to finely crystallized sulfides and 523-3133.
    [Show full text]
  • Hanford Sitewide Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis 2014
    Hanford Sitewide Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis 2014 Contents 4.0 The Hanford Site Tectonic Setting ............................................................................................... 4.1 4.1 Tectonic Setting.................................................................................................................... 4.1 4.2 Contemporary Plate Motions and Tectonic Stress Regime .................................................. 4.11 4.3 Late Cenozoic and Quaternary History ................................................................................ 4.16 4.3.1 Post-CRB Regional Stratigraphy ............................................................................... 4.17 4.3.2 Summary of Late Miocene, Pliocene and Quaternary History .................................. 4.19 4.4 Seismicity in the Hanford Site Region ................................................................................. 4.21 4.4.1 Crustal Seismicity ..................................................................................................... 4.21 4.4.2 Cascadia Subduction Zone Seismicity ...................................................................... 4.26 4.5 References ............................................................................................................................ 4.28 4.i 2014 Hanford Sitewide Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis Figures 4.1 Plate tectonic setting of the Hanford Site .................................................................................... 4.1 4.2 Areal extent
    [Show full text]
  • Geology Data Package for the Single-Shell Tank Waste Management Areas at the Hanford Site
    PNNL-15955 Geology Data Package for the Single-Shell Tank Waste Management Areas at the Hanford Site S. P. Reidel M. A. Chamness January 2007 Prepared for CH2M HILL Hanford Group, Inc., and the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract DE-AC05-76RL01830 PNNL-15955 Geology Data Package for the Single-Shell Tank Waste Management Areas at the Hanford Site S. P. Reidel M. A. Chamness January 2007 Prepared for CH2M HILL Hanford Group, Inc., and the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract DE-AC05-76RL01830 Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Richland, Washington 99352 Foreword This data package discusses the geology of the single-shell tank (SST) farms and the geologic history of the area. The purpose of this report is to provide the most recent geologic information available for the SST farms. This report builds upon previous reports on the tank farm geology and Integrated Disposal Facility geology with information available after those reports were published. Both metric and English units of measurement are used in this document. However, English units are used for descriptions and discussions of drilling activities and samples because that is the system of units used by drillers to measure and report depths and well construction details. To convert feet to meters, multiply by 0.3048; to convert inches to centimeters, multiply by 2.54; to convert meters to feet, multiply by 3.28. iii Acknowledgments The authors acknowledge Frederick M. Mann at CH2M HILL Hanford Group, Inc. (Richland, Washington) for providing project funding and technical guidance. We also greatly appreciate the technical reviews provided by Ann Tallman and Dave Myers and Mike Connelly (both of CH2M HILL), Marc Wood (Fluor Hanford, Inc., Richland, Washington), and Bob Bryce (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory).
    [Show full text]
  • Franklin County Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan April 2010
    Franklin County Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan April 2010 Prepared by HDR Engineering, Inc. Pasco, WA 2010 - Franklin County ISW Management Plan Acknowledgements Planning Participants City of Pasco: Mike Garrison, Tom Larsen and Staff: Jeff Adams City of Connell: Art Thacket City of Mesa: Cade Scott City of Kahlotus: Don Watt Waste Industry: Darrick Dietrich, BDI, Candy Thornhill, Poland and Sons; and Jim Bruce, Con-Agra Foods/Lamb Weston Benton Franklin Health Department: Rick Dawson, Kay Rotell and Jim Coleman Washington Department of Ecology: Jim Wavada Franklin County Citizen Representative: Todd Samuel and Brad Smallridge Franklin County Commission: Rick Miller Franklin County Public Works: Tim Fife, Guy Walters and Sally McKenzie HDR (Pasco Office): Sharon Edgar, Ben Floyd, Mike Murray and Jack Clark 2010 - Franklin County ISW Management Plan Table of Contents Abbreviations and Acronyms Glossary of Terms Executive Summary 1 Introduction 1.1 Background ........................................................................................................ 1-1 1.2 Planning Authorities ........................................................................................... 1-2 1.2.1 Role of Local Governments .................................................................... 1-2 1.2.2 Role of the Franklin County Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) . 1-2 1.3 Regulatory Review ............................................................................................. 1-2 1.3.1 Solid Waste Management Act ...............................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Evidence of Tectonic Stability Along the Middle Columbia River, Washington, in Quaternary Time
    UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Evidence of Tectonic Stability Along the Middle Columbia River, Washington, in Quaternary Time By William H. Hays1 and Robert L. Schuster1 Open-File Report 83-365 This report is preliminary and has not been reviewed for conformity with U.S Geological Survey editorial standards and stratigraphic nomenclature. !U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colo. CONTENTS Page Abstract.................................................................. 1 Introduction.............................................................. 1 Previ ous and present studi es......................................... 1 Geologi c setting..................................................... 1 Evidence of tectonic stability............................................ 5 Slight deformation of the Ringold Formation and calcrete in the bluffs along the east side of the Columbia River................... 5 Undeformed late Pleistocene surfaces................................. 6 Conclusions............................................................... 7 References ci ted.......................................................... 7 ILLUSTRATIONS Page Plate 1. Generalized geologic map of the Columbia River valley between Rich!and and Priest Rapids Dam, Washington, emphasizing features that suggest recent tectonic stability......................................In pocket Figure 1. Map showing the location of the study area..................... 2 2. Diagrammatic cross section of the Columbia River about 1 mi south of Taylor Flat.......................
    [Show full text]
  • Simulation of Groundwater Storage Changes in the Eastern Pasco Basin, Washington
    Prepared in cooperation with the Bureau of Reclamation Simulation of Groundwater Storage Changes in the Eastern Pasco Basin, Washington Scientific Investigations Report 2016–5026 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover: Irrigated agricultural fields in Ringold Coulee, 24 miles north of Pasco, Washington. View to the north includes Pliocene Upper Ringold Formation lacustrine sediments exposed at the head scarp (back cover) and debris from the May 2006 landslide that covered a portion of State Route 170. Photograph by Charles Heywood, U.S. Geological Survey, June 10, 2014. Simulation of Groundwater Storage Changes in the Eastern Pasco Basin, Washington By Charles E. Heywood, Sue C. Kahle, Theresa D. Olsen, James D. Patterson, and Erick Burns Prepared in cooperation with the Bureau of Reclamation Scientific Investigations Report 2016–5026 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior SALLY JEWELL, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Suzette M. Kimball, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2016 For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment—visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1–888–ASK–USGS. For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod/. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain copyrighted materials as noted in the text.
    [Show full text]