B5 Sedimentary Petrology of the Cretaceous Sediments of Northern

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

B5 Sedimentary Petrology of the Cretaceous Sediments of Northern ......,,"" vVjJy DO NOT REMOVE R£1t1t2- r/"1'0 : from Room 208 DELAWAREC: :'LOGICl\l SURVE't it ~ ~ ~- UNIVERSI TY OF DELAWARE '77e/9.$f? V NEWARK,DElAWARf. 1971(,'7$0/ t<h7 H n¥ / t1 L)/J 1...5 "/#/9h /<' 7{) STATE OF DELAWARE DELAWARE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY B ULLETIN No.5 SEDIMENTARY PETROLOGY OF THE CRETACEOUS SEDIMENTS OF NORTHERN DELAWARE IN RELATION TO PALEOGEOGRAPHIC PROBLEMS •-.' by JOHAN J. GROOT State Geologist 0/ Delaware NEWARK, DELAWARE J ULY 1955 STATE OF DELAWARE DELAWARE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN No.5 SEDIMENTARY PETROLOGY OF THE CRETACEOUS SEDIMENTS OF NORTHERN DELAWARE IN RELATION TO PALEOGEOGRAPHIC PROBLEMS by JORAN J. GROOT State Geologist of Delaware NEWARK, DELAWARE JULY 1955 FOREWORD The writer is greatly indebted to Jan P. Bakker, Professor at the Uni­ versity of Amsterdam, for his constructive criticism and valuable suggestions regarding the interpretation of the mechanical and mineral analyses. Thanks are due .to Lincoln and Clarissa Dryden of Bryn Mawr College who, because of their great knowledge of Coastal Plain sediments, were able to give ~ound advice concerning the main problems discussed in this report. D. J. Doeglas, Professor at the Landbouwhogeschool, Wageningen, the Nether­ lands, critically read Chapters IV and V, and H. J. MacGilIavry of the University of Amsterdam read Chapters I, II and III. Donna M. Organist, Geologist, Delaware Geological Survey, partici­ pated in the field work and the study of the mineral slides. Her help in preparing the report has been invaluable. The writer gratefully acknowledges the helpful suggestions received from Paul D. Krynine of Pennsylvania State University, F. J. Pettijohn of John Hopkins University, W. C. Krumbein of Northwestern University, and W. C. Rasmussen of the the U. S. Geological Survey. Sedimentary analysis of many samples was made possible by financial assistance from the cooperative program of the U. S. Geological Survey and the Delaware Geological Survey. CONTENTS Page Foreword 3 Abstract 9 Chapter I. Introduction .., :....................................................... 12 Purpose and scope 12 Previous investigations 13 Chapter II. Methods of investigation 17 Sampling techniques _..................................... 17 Sample numbering system 18 Methods of mechanical analysis and presentation of data _......... 18 Methods of heavy mineral analysis and presentation of data 21 Chapter III. The Cretaceous formations of northern Delaware 23 Chapter IV. The heavy mineral content of the Cretaceous formations of northern Delaware 29 General considerations 29 Patuxent zone 35 Patapsco-Raritan zone 40 Magothy formation 45 Marine Upper Cretaceous formations 46 Chapter V. The provenance of the sediments 52 General considerations 52 Patuxent zone 59 Evidence from the heavy mineral suite 59 Evidence from tourmaline 60 Evidence from field observations and sample study.............................................. 61 Patapsco-Raritan zone 62 Evidence from the heavy mineral suite 62 Evidence from tourmaline 64· Evidence from field observations and sample study.............................................. 64 Magothy formation 66 Evidence from the heavy mineral suite 66 Evidence from tourmaline 66 Evidence from field observations and sample study.............................................. 67 'Marine Upper 'Cretaceous formations : :............................ 67 Evidence from the heavy mineral suite 67 Evidence from tourmaline 70 Evidence from field observations and sample study ,....................... 71 General conclusions regarding the provenance of the Cretaceous sediments of northern Delaware 71 Chapter VI. The environment of deposition of the sediments 73 General considerations 73 Patuxent zone 92 Patapsco-Raritan zone 102 Magothy formation 103 Marine Upper Cretaceous formations 103 Chapter VII. The Cretaceous development of the Appalachian Mountain system in the light of the sedimentary record of the Coastal Plain 122 Main problems 122 5 Page ILLUSTRATIONS Reversal of Appalachian drainage . Origin of wind and water gaps in th~'A;;~i~;hi'~'~'M';~~~~j~"""""""""""""" 123 PLATES I' . s 126 The age of the Appalachi (in pocket) an penep anes In the light of the sedimentary record 126 • I. Map of northern Delaware showing sampling localities References . ....................................... 132 II. Sampling localities outside the principle area of investigation Appendix A. Heavy mineral content of Cretaceous, Pleistocene, and Recent sedi­ FIGURES Page ments of the Coastal Plain of nonhern Delaware ...................................... 134 I. Block diagram showing the physiographic provinces of the Appalachian region Appendix B. Heavy mineral content of Cretaceous sediments of the Coastal Plain and the Coastal Plain 24 of New Jersey . 2. Photomicrographs of representative mineral slides of the Cretaceous formations 33·36 144 3. Examples of the heavy mineral suite of the Patuxent zone 37 Appendix C. M h . I . ec amca composition of the sediments of the Coastal Plain of 4. Heavy mineral suites of the Patuxent, Patapsco-Raritan, and Pleistocene of test northern Delaware ............................................................................................ 145 hole 25, New Castle, Delaware -r _....... 38 Appendix D. Selected outcrop descriptions 5. Specimens of mineral grains of the. Patuxent zone 39 ........................................................... 155 6. Examples of the heavy mineral suite of the Patapsco-Haritan zone 41·42 Appendix E. Depth of core drill samples 157 a. Sediments mapped as Patapsco by Miller (Bascom & Miller, 1920) 41 b. Sediments mapped as Raritan by Miller (Bascom & /Miller, 1920) 41 c. Sediments from test holes in the New Castle area 42 d. New Jersey Raritan-Magothy, undifferentiated 42 7. Specimens of mineral grains of the Patapsoo-Raritan zone 43 8. Examples of the heavy mineral suite of the Magotby formation 46 9. Specimens of mineral grains of the Magotby formation 47 10. Examples of the heavy mineral suite of the Mercbantville formation 48 . n. Examples of the heavy mineral suite of the Wenonah formation 48 12. Examples of the heavy mineral suite of the Mount Laurel-Navesink formation 49 13. Examples of the heavy mineral suite of the Red Balik formation 49 14. Specimens of mineral grains of the marine Upper Cretaceous formations 50·51 15. Rutile-zircon percentage 8S related to median grain 'size in the Patapsco-Raritan zone _....... 58 16. Basement configuration-Central Atlantic States 63 17. Bar diagrams of the heavy mineral content of marine Upper Cretaceous forma- tions in New Jersey _....... 69 18. 'Mechanical analyses of beach sands of the Netherlands 75 19. 'Mechanical analyses of beach sands of the Netherlands 75 20. Relationship between median grain size and skewness, Patuxent zone 77 21. Relationship between median grain size and skewnesaPatapsco-Raritan zone 77 22. Relationship between median grain size and skewness, Magothy formation 78 23. Relationship between median grain size and skewness, Merchantville formation .:.. 78 24. Relationship between median grain size and skewness, Wenonah formation 79 25. Relationship between median grain size and skewness, Mount Laurel-Navesink formation _................................................................................... 79 26. Relationship between median grain size and skewness, Red Bank formation 80 27. Relationship between median grain size and skewness, Recent floodplain sediments 80 28. Relationship between median grain size and sorting coeffcient, Patuxent zone ........ 83 29. Relationship between median grain size and sorting coefficient, Patapsco-Raritan zone 83 30. Relationship between median grain size and sorting coefficient, Magothy formation 84 31. Relationship between median grain size and sorting coefficient, Merchantville for- mation 84 32. Relationship between median grain size and sorting coefficient, Wenonah formation 85 33. Relationship between median grain size and sorting coefficient, Mount Laurel- Navesink formation _................................................................ 85 34. Relationship between median grain size and sorting coefficient, Red Bank forma. tion c.................... 86 6 7 SEDIMENTARY PETROLOGY OF THE CRETACEOUS ,. .Page 35. Relationship between median grain size and rti . SEDIMENTS OF NORTHERN DELAWARE sediments so tmg coeffieient, Recent floodplain 36. Relat~onship betwee~..~~di~~..;~~i~··~·i~~..~~d·"k~·~~~~i~··p~;~~~·~···............................... 86 IN RELATION TO PALEOGEOGRAPHIC PROBLEMS 37. Relationship between median '. d k ' t zone 88 38. Relationship between median :ra~n ~ze and kurtoSis, Patapsco-Raritan zone 88 39. Relationship between medi ra~n s.lze an urtosis, Magothy formation 89 by 40. Relationship between medi:nn ggral.n sl~e anddkkurtosis, Merchantville formation 89 41 R ram size an urtosis We h f . • elationship between median grai d k .' nona ormation ...._....... 90 mation ram size an urtosis, Mount Laurel-Navesink for- JOHAN J. GROOT 42. Relationship b~;~~~~··;;di~~··;;;:;~·~i~;·~~d"·k~·~~~·~i····..·..·· ··· :.................. 90 43. Cumulative curves of two de " s, Red Bank forma lion 91 and different sorting coefficie~:I~..~lth log normal size frequency distributions 44. Combined deposition of traction I ...d".......................................................................... 93 ABSTRACT normal distribution a an suspension particles, each having a log 45. Eflects of removal of·~di·~~~;~;:;;·..···~:..[e..··f..··..·..·· ·· ·...................... 94 HE NON-MARINE
Recommended publications
  • RI37 Stratigraphic Nomenclature Of
    ,--' ( UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE DELAWARE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY REPORT OF INVESTIGATIONS NO.37 STRATIGRAPHIC NOMENCLATURE OF NONMARINE CRETACEOUS ROCKS OF INNER MARGIN OF COASTAL PLAIN IN DELAWARE AND ADJACENT STATES BY ROBERT R. JORDAN STATE OF DELAWARE.. NEWARK, DELAWARE JUNE 1983 STRATIGRAPHIC NOMENCLATURE OF NONMARINE CRETACEOUS ROCKS OF INNER MARGIN OF COASTAL PLAIN IN DELAWARE AND ADJACENT STATES By Robert R. Jordan Delaware Geological Survey June 1983 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT. ....... 1 INTRODUCTION ..... 2 Purpose and Scope. 2 Acknowledgments.. 4 REGIONAL SETTING. 4 Regional Relationships . 4 Structural Features. 5 DESCRIPTIONS OF UNITS .. 8 Historical Summary 8 Potomac Formation. 13 Nomenclature. 13 Extent. 13 Lithology . 14 Patuxent Formation . 18 Nomenclature. 18 Extent.. 18 Lithology .... 18 Arundel Formation. 19 Nomenclature.. 19 Extent. .• 19 Lithology • 20 Page Patapsco Formation. .. 20 Nomenclature . 20 Extent .. 20 Lithology.. 20 Raritan Formation . 21 Nomenclature .. 21 Extent .. 22 Lithology.. 23 Magothy Formation .. 24 Nomenclature . 24 Extent .. 24 Lithology.. 25 ENVIRONMENTS OF DEPOSITION 28 AGES .... 29 SUBDIVISIONS AND CORRELATIONS .. 32 REFERENCES . 34 ILLUSTRATIONS Figure 1. Geologic map of nonmarine Cretaceous deposits .. ..•.• •.. 3 2. Structural features of the Coastal Plain. ............ 6 3. Schematic diagram of lateral and vertical relationships of nonmarine Cretaceous deposits•....•... 34 TABLES Page Table 1. Usage of group and formation names. 9 STRATIGRAPHIC NOMENCLATURE OF NONMARINE CRETACEOUS ROCKS OF INNER MARGIN OF COASTAL PLAIN IN DELAWARE AND ADJACENT STATES ABSTRACT Rocks of Cretaceous age deposited in continental and marginal environments, and now found along the inner edge of the northern Atlantic Coastal Plain, have historically been classified as the Potomac Group and the Potomac, Patuxent, Arundel, Patapsco, Raritan, and Magothy forma­ tions.
    [Show full text]
  • Anne Arundel County
    1 Anne I .\RUNDE1 County ilBII pi I • 'lill Mllvlli 'il I I I 1 ;■ ' 11 {[[•^1 I Dept. 6eo«ogy. 8B< Wj,w Johns Hopkins Univewity Baltimore, Maryland MARYLAND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY MARYLAND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY BALTIMORE THE JOHNS HOPKINS PRESS 1917 COMMISSION EMEESON C. HARRINGTON, .... Peesident. GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND JOHN M. DENNIS, COMPTROLLER OF MARYLAND FRANK J. GOODNOW, .... Executive Officer. PRESIDENT OF THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY H. J. PATTERSON, Secretary. PRESIDENT OF THE MARYLAND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE ■ SCIENTIFIC STAFF Wm. Bullock Clark, State Geologist. SUPERINTENDENT OF THE SURVEY. Edward B. Matiiews, . Assistant State Geologist. C. K. Swartz, Geologist. E. W. Berry, Geologist. J. T. Singewald, Jr., Geologist. Also with the cooperation of several members of the scientific bureaus of the National Government. LETTER OF TRANSM1TTAL To His Excellency Emerson C. Harrington, Governor of Maryland and President of the Geological Survey Commission. Sir:—I have the honor to present herewith a report on The Physical Features of Anne Arundel County. This volume is the eighth of a series of reports on the county resources, and is accompanied by large scale topographical, geological, and agricultural soil maps. The information contained in this volume will prove of both economic and educational value to the residents of Anne Arundel County as well as to those who may desire information regarding this section of the State. I am, Very respectfully, Wm. Bullock Clark, State Geologist. Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. March, 1916. ■ ■ CONTENTS page PREFACE 19 DEVELOPMENT OF KNOWLEDGE CONCERNING THE PHYSICAL FEATURES OF ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY. By Homer P. Little 23 Introductory 23 HISTORICAL REVIEW 23 General Contributions 23 The Lower Cretaceous 26 The Upper Cretaceous 29 The Eocene 30 The Miocene 31 The Pliocene (?) and Pleistocene 32 Bibliography 34 THE PHYSIOGRAPHY OF ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY.
    [Show full text]
  • Stegosaurian Footprints from the Morrison Formation of Utah and Their Implications for Interpreting Other Ornithischian Tracks Gerard D
    Stegosaurian footprints from the Morrison Formation of Utah and their implications for interpreting other ornithischian tracks Gerard D. Gierliński and Karol Sabath Polish Geological Institute, Rakowiecka 4, 00-975 Warsaw, Poland. e-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT - The supposed stegosaurian track Deltapodus Whyte & Romano, 1994 (Middle Jurassic of England) is sauro- pod-like, elongate and plantigrade, but many blunt-toed, digitigrade, large ornithopod-like footprints (including pedal print cast associated with the manus of Stegopodus Lockley & Hunt, 1998) from the Upper Jurassic of Utah, better fit the stego- saurian foot pattern. The Morrison Formation of Utah yielded other tracks fitting the dryomorph (camptosaur) foot pattern (Dinehichnus Lockley et al., 1998) much better than Stegopodus. If the Stegopodus pedal specimen (we propose to shift the emphasis from the manus to the pes in the revised diagnosis of this ichnotaxon) and similar ichnites are proper stegosaur foot- prints, Deltapodus must have been left by another thyreophoran trackmaker. Other Deltapodus-like (possibly ankylosaurian) tracks include Navahopus Baird,1980 and Apulosauripus Nicosia et al., 1999. Heel-dominated, short-toed forms within the Navahopus-Deltapodus-Apulosauripus plexus differ from the gracile, relatively long-toed Tetrapodosaurus Sternberg, 1932, traditionally regarded as an ankylosaurian track. Thus, the original interpretation of the latter as a ceratopsian track might be correct, supporting early (Aptian) appearance of ceratopsians in North America. Isolated pedal ichnites from the Morrison Formation (with a single tentatively associated manus print, and another one from Poland) and the only known trackways with similar footprints (Upper Jurassic of Asturias, Spain) imply bipedal gait of their trackmakers. Thus, problems with stegosaur tracks possibly stem from the expectation of their quadrupedality.
    [Show full text]
  • Preliminary Report on Ground, Virginia
    Plcue rcturn thb publication to thc Virginia Geologicd Suryey when you havc no furthcr uc for it. Portage will be rcfundcd, COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA STATE COMMISSION ON CONSERVATTON AND DEVELOPMENT VIRGINIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY ARTHUR BEVAN, Stde e'eologi.t Bulletin 4l 2tt Preliminary Report on Ground, Water Resources of Northern Virginia BY CADY PREPARED IN COOPERATION WITH THE I.II{ITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY UNIVERSITY, VIRGINIA 1933 COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA STATE COMMISSION ON CONSERVATION .AND DEVELOPMENT VIRGINIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY ARTHUR BEVAN' State Geolosict Bulletin 4l Preliminary Report on Ground, Water Resources of Northern Virginia BY C. CADY PREPARED IN COOPERATION WITH THE'UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY UNIVERSITY, VIRGINIA 1933 RICHMOND: DtvrsroN or Puncseso exo Pnrwrruc 1933 STATE COMMISSION ON CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT Wrr,rranr E. Censon, Chai,runan,, Riverton Cor,Buam Wonrualr, Vi,ce-Chai,rtnoz, Richmond E. Gnrnrrrrr Doosor.r, Norfolk Tnouas L. Fannen, Charlottesville Juxrus P. FrsununN, Roanoke Lne LoNc, Dante Rurus G. Rorrnrs, Culpeper Rrcseno A. Grrr,rem, E r e c wt izt e S e c r e t ar y an d, T r e a s urer, Richmond lll LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL ColtlnoNwBALTH oF VrncrNre Vrncrxre Gnor.ocrcer, Sunvev IJmrvensrrv or VrncrNre Crrenr,omesvnr,q Vrncrmre, January 10, 1933. To the State Cowrnissi,on on Conservati,on and Develobrnent: Gpnmeueu: I have the honor to transmit and to recommend for publication as Bulletin 41 of the Virginia Geological Survey series of reports the manuscript and illustrations of a Preliwi,nary Report on Ground'-water Resources of Northern Vbgi.nia., by Mr. R. C.
    [Show full text]
  • HYDROGEOLOGIC FRAMEWORK of the COASTAL PLAIN of MARYLAND, DELAWARE, and the M
    HYDROGEOLOGIC FRAMEWORK OF THE COASTAL PLAIN OF MARYLAND, DELAWARE, AND THE m. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA U.S. GEOJ,0 HCM. Hydrogeologic Framework of the Coastal Plain of Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia By DON A. VROBLESKY and WILLIAM B. FLECK REGIONAL AQUIFER-SYSTEM ANALYSIS-NORTHERN ATLANTIC COASTAL PLAIN U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 1404-E UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON: 1991 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MANUEL LUJAN, JR., Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Dallas L. Peck, Director Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Vroblesky, Don A. Hydrogeologic framework of the coastal plain in Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia. (U.S. Geological Survey professional paper ; 1404-E) Bibliography: p. Supt. of Docs. no. : I 19.16 : 1404E 1. Water, Underground Maryland. 2. Water, Underground Delaware. 3. Water, Underground Washington (D.C.) I. Fleck, William B. II. Title. III. Series: U.S. Geological Survey professional paper ; 1404-E. GB1025.M3V76 1989 551.49'0975 87-600120 For sale by the Books and Open-File Reports Section, U.S. Geological Survey, Federal Center, Box 25425, Denver, CO 80225 FOREWORD THE REGIONAL AQUIFER-SYSTEM ANALYSIS PROGRAM The Regional Aquifer-System Analysis (RASA) Program was started in 1978 following a congressional mandate to develop quantitative appraisals of the major ground-water systems of the United States. The RASA Program represents a systematic effort to study a number of the Nation's most important aquifer systems, which in aggregate underlie much of the country and which represent important components of the Nation's total water supply.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Download
    Vertebrate Anatomy Morphology Palaeontology 6:68-72 68 ISSN 2292-1389 Rebuttal of McFeeters, Ryan and Cullen, 2018, ‘Positional variation in pedal unguals of North American ornithomimids (Dinosauria, Theropoda): A Response to Brownstein (2017)’ Chase Doran Brownstein Stamford Museum, 39 Scofieldtown Road, Stamford, CT 06903, USA; [email protected] Abstract: The Arundel Clay of Maryland is among the only Early Cretaceous terrestrial units known from eastern North America. Research on some theropod dinosaur bones from this layer has indicated the presence of two ornithomimosaur taxa in the assemblage. However, a recent paper discussed issues with the definite assignment of any of these unguals to Ornithomimosauria and suggested that morphological differences originally interpreted to be indicative of the presence of two ornithomimosaurs could be explained by positional variation. Here, I show that substantial evidence persists for the presence of two ornithomimosaurs in the Arundel Clay assemblage, even considering the recent description of positional variation in ornithomimosaur pedal unguals. Furthermore, the argument against the confident assignment of these unguals to ornithomimosaurs is shown to be based on oversimplified comparisons that do not take into account the combination of features in the Arundel specimens that allow for their assignment to that clade. Although several small points made in the initial paper describing the Arundel specimens are incorrect or unsubstantiated, the differences between the Maryland unguals are outside the spectrum of positional variation and are indicative of the presence of two ornithomimosaurs in the Arundel Clay assemblage. The Arundel Clay of Maryland is an Aptian unit (e.g., Lipka major acts in that paper: (1) the confident assignment of the et al.
    [Show full text]
  • DINOSAURS Volume 2, Issue 5
    [ABCDE] CURRICULUM GUIDE: DINOSAURS Volume 2, Issue 5 e r I n E d u c a p a p t i o w s n P N e r o t g s r a P o m n t o g i n h s T a h e W C e u h r T r i f c u O l u e r m o C A t e T h h T e t C A o r m KLMNO e u l O u An Integrated Curriculum c f i r Resource Program T r h u e C W e a h s T h i n g t o n P m o a s r t g N o r e P w s n p o a i p t a e c r u I d n E INSIDE 2 Washington, B.C. 7 Official Dinosaur 9 A Look at Dinosaur Did Dinosaurs Live Capitalsaurus and Crossword in the Washington, Astrodon 5 D.C., area? 8 10 June 10 , 2003 © 2003 THE WASHINGTON POST COMPANY Volume 2, Issue 5 KLMNO An Integrated Curriculum For The Washington Post Newspaper In Education Program Is Capitalsaurus the Real Thing? Official Words KidsPost Article: “Washington, B.C.” Asteroid: Rocky and metallic objects that orbit Read and Discuss Lesson: Use original documents the Sun but are too small to be considered and multiple sources to form an Give students more information opinion. about dinosaurs in the D.C. planets. Asteroids that are likely to collide Level: Mid- to High metropolitan area: “Did Dinosaurs Subjects: Science, Reading Ever Live in the Washington, D.C., with Earth are called meteoroids.
    [Show full text]
  • BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON SUPERCONDUCTING MAGLEV PROJECT DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT and SECTION 4(F) EVALUATION
    Section 4.13 Topography and Geology BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON SUPERCONDUCTING MAGLEV PROJECT DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT AND SECTION 4(f) EVALUATION Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Section 4(f) Evaluation 0-1 Affected Environment, Environmental Consequences and Mitigation 4.13 Topography and Geology 4.13.1 Introduction Topography relates to the shape and features of the earth; and a geologic resource can be described as a naturally occurring feature that has formed during evolution of the earth. Geologic resources, including fossilized flora and fauna (i.e., paleontological resources), fossil fuels, mineral resources, and rock formations, may provide value to the human and/or physical environment. Geologic hazards, such as earthquakes, sinkholes, and landslides, can be described as a naturally occurring feature that may result in a threat to the human or physical environment. This section evaluates how the Superconducting Magnetic Levitation Project (SCMAGLEV Project) would interact with and potentially impact regional topography, geologic resources and hazards, as well as the SCMAGLEV Project’s location in relation to setting and features such as existing mines. Additional information about the geology of the area can be found in the Natural Environment Technical Report (Appendix D.10). 4.13.2 Regulatory Context and Methodology 4.13.2.1 Regulatory Context In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. § 4321 et seq., the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations, 40 C.F.R. Parts 1500 - 1508, and the Federal Rail Administration’s (FRA) Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts, 64 Fed. Reg. 28545 (May 26, 1999), FRA assessed the existing geologic conditions along the Build Alternatives to determine whether the SCMAGLEV Project would impact geologic resources.
    [Show full text]
  • The Iron Ores of Maryland, with an Account of the Iron Industry
    Hass 77,>0 3- Book ffjZd6 MARYLAND GEOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC SURVEY WM. BULLOCK CLARK, State Geologist REPORT ON THE IRON ORES OF MARYLAND WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE IRON INDUSTRY BY JOSEPH T. SINGEWALD, JR.- (Special Publication, Volume IX, Part III) THE JOHNS HOPKINS PRESS Baltimore, December, 1911 / / MARYLAND GEOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC SURVEY WM. BULLOCK CLARK, State Geologist REPORT ON r? Sr THE IRON ORES OF MARYLAND / £ WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE IRON INDUSTRY BY JOSEPH T. SINGEWALD, JR. M (Special Publication, Volume IX, Part III) THE JOHNS HOPKINS PRESS • Baltimore, December, 1911 V n, ffi ft- sre so i CONTENTS PAGE PART III. REPORT ON THE IRON ORES OF MARYLAND, WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE IRON INDUSTRY. By Joseph T. Sxngewald, Jr. 121 The Ores of Iron.123 Magnetite . 124 Hematite . 124 Limonite . 124 Carbonate or Siderite. 125 Impurities in the Ores and Their Effects. 125 Mechanical Impurities. 125 Chemical Impurities. 126 Practical Considerations. 127 History of the Maryland Iron Industry. 128 The Colonial Period. 128 The Period from 1780 to 1830. 133 • The Period from 1830 to 1885. 133 The Period from 1885 to the present time. 136 Description of Maryland Iron Works.139 Maryland Furnaces. 139 Garrett County..'... 139 Allegany County. 139 Washington County. 143 Frederick County. 146 Carroll County. 149 Baltimore County. 150 Baltimore City. 159 Harford County. 160 Cecil County. 162 Howard County. 168 Anne Arundel County. 169 Prince George’s County. 171 Worcester County. 172 9 Other Iron Works in Maryland. 173 Allegany County. 173 Baltimore County. 173 Cecil County. 174 CONTENTS PAGE Queen Anne’s County.
    [Show full text]
  • A Diverse Mammal-Dominated, Footprint Assemblage from Wetland Deposits in the Lower Cretaceous of Maryland Ray Stanford1, Martin G
    A diverse mammal-dominated, footprint assemblage from wetland deposits in the Lower Cretaceous of Maryland Ray Stanford1, Martin G. Lockley2, Compton Tucker3, Stephen Godfrey4 & Sheila M. Stanford1 A newly discovered assemblage of predominantly small tracks from the Cretaceous Patuxent Formation at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Maryland, reveals one of the highest track densities and diversities ever reported (~70 tracks, representing at least eight morphotypes from an area of only ~2 m2). The assemblage is dominated by small mammal tracks including the new ichnotxon Sederipes goddardensis, indicating sitting postures. Small crow-sized theropod trackways, the first from this unit, indicate social trackmakers and suggest slow-paced foraging behavior. Tracks of pterosaurs, and other small vertebrates suggest activity on an organic-rich substrate. Large well-preserved sauropod and nodosaurs tracks indicate the presence of large dinosaurs. The Patuxent Formation together with the recently reported Angolan assemblage comprise the world’s two largest Mesozoic mammal footprint assemblages. The high density of footprint registration at the NASA site indicates special preservational and taphonomic conditions. These include early, penecontemporaneous deposition of siderite in organic rich, reducing wetland settings where even the flesh of body fossils can be mummified. Thus, the track-rich ironstone substrates of the Patuxent Formation, appear to preserve a unique vertebrate ichnofacies, with associated, exceptionally-preserved body fossil remains for which there are currently no other similar examples preserved in the fossil record. Reports of true Mammalia tracks, from the Mesozoic, as distinct from tracks of presumed synapsids (therapsids) from early Mesozoic (mostly Triassic and Jurassic) dune facies, are rare, and mostly involve very small samples of isolated tracks.
    [Show full text]
  • Generalized Structure Contour Maps of Th E New Jersey Coastal Plain
    State of New Jersey Department of Conservation and Economic Devdopment H. Mat Adams, Commi._.cioner Division of Resource Development Kenneth H. Creveling, Director GENERALIZED STRUCTURE CONTOUR MAPS OF TH E NEW JERSEY COASTAL PLAIN by Horace G. Riehards F. H. Olmsted James L. Ruhle prepared by the U. S. Geological Survey in cooperation wit£ the State of New Jersey Division of Water Policy and Supply George R Shanklin, Director 1962 .° Reprinted 1983 CONTENTS Abstract .... ; .................................................................. iii Introduction .................................................................. 1 1 Scope and purpose ........................................................ Acknowledgments ......................................................... 1 Previous work ................................................................. 2 Geologieal setting ............................................................. 3 Pre-Cretaceous rocks ........................................................... 12 Nonmarine Cretaceous sediments, undifferentiated ................................ 12 MerchantviUe Formation and Woodbury Clay .................................... 17 Englishtown Formation ........................................................ 19 Marshalltown Formation ...................................................... 19 Wenonah Formation and Mount Laurel Sand ...................................... 22 Navesink Formation . .'... : ..................................................... 22 Red Bank Sand ..............................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Bulletin 19 of the Department of Geology, Mines and Water Resources
    COMMISSION OF MARYLAND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY S. JAMES CAMPBELL Towson RICHARD W. COOPER Salisbury JOHN C. GEYER Baltimore ROBERT C. HARVEY Frostburg M. GORDON WOLMAN Baltimore PREFACE In 1906 the Maryland Geological Survey published a report on "The Physical Features of Maryland", which was mainly an account of the geology and min- eral resources of the State. It included a brief outline of the geography, a more extended description of the physiography, and chapters on the soils, climate, hydrography, terrestrial magnetism and forestry. In 1918 the Survey published a report on "The Geography of Maryland", which covered the same fields as the earlier report, but gave only a brief outline of the geology and added chap- ters on the economic geography of the State. Both of these reports are now out of print. Because of the close relationship of geography and geology and the overlap in subject matter, the two reports were revised and combined into a single volume and published in 1957 as Bulletin 19 of the Department of Geology, Mines and Water Resources. The Bulletin has been subsequently reprinted in 1961 and 1966. Some revisions in statistical data were made in the 1961 and 1968 reprints. Certain sections of the Bulletin were extensively revised by Dr. Jona- than Edwards in this 1974 reprint. The Introduction, Mineral Resources, Soils and Agriculture, Seafood Industries, Commerce and Transportation and Manu- facturing chapters of the book have received the most revision and updating. The chapter on Geology and Physiography was not revised. This report has been used extensively in the schools of the State, and the combination of Geology and Geography in one volume allows greater latitude in adapting it to use as a reference or textbook at various school levels.
    [Show full text]