Geohydrology of Southeastern Pennsylvania by Dennis J
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U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Geohydrology of Southeastern Pennsylvania by Dennis J. Low, Daniel J. Hippe, and Dawna Yannacci Water-Resources Investigations Report 00-4166 In cooperation with the PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES, BUREAU OF TOPOGRAPHIC AND GEOLOGIC SURVEY New Cumberland, Pennsylvania 2002 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR GALE A. NORTON, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Charles G. Groat, Director For additional information Copies of this report may be write to: purchased from: District Chief U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey Branch of Information Services 215 Limekiln Road Box 25286 New Cumberland, Pennsylvania 17070-2424 Denver, Colorado 80225-0286 Email: [email protected] Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS Internet address: http://pa.water.usgs.gov ii CONTENTS Page Abstract . 1 Introduction . 2 Purpose and scope . 2 Methods of investigation and analysis . 2 Water use . 3 Well depth and casing length . 3 Depth to water. 3 Well yield . 3 Specific capacity . 4 Storage coefficient . 4 Hydraulic conductivity and transmissivity . 4 Water-bearing zones and borehole flow . 5 Ground-water quality. 5 Statistical methods of analysis . 5 Description of study area. 6 Geohydrology of the Coastal Plain Physiographic Province. 8 Location and geographic setting . 8 Water-well density . 9 Previous work . 9 Geohydrologic setting . 10 Unconfined ground-water system . 12 Confined ground-water system . .13 Cretaceous sediments. 14 Lower sand and clay. 14 Middle sand and clay . 18 Upper sand and clay. 20 Post-Cretaceous sediments . 22 Bridgeton Formation. 23 Trenton Gravel . 23 Holocene deposits . 27 Summary characteristics of unconsolidated aquifers in the Coastal Plain Physiographic Province . 27 Geohydrology of the Piedmont Physiographic Province, Piedmont Upland Section . 33 Location and geographic setting . 33 Water-well density . 33 Previous work . 36 Geohydrologic setting . 36 Regolith . 40 Fractured bedrock . 40 Gneissic rocks . 41 iii CONTENTS—Continued Page Geohydrology of the Piedmont Physiographic Province, Piedmont Upland Section—Continued Plutonic rocks . 45 Serpentinite . 49 Setters Quartzite . 53 Cockeysville Marble. 57 Wissahickon Formation . 61 Wakefield Marble . 62 Metavolcanics . 62 Oligoclase-Mica Schist . 66 Albite-Chlorite Schist . 71 Marburg Schist. 77 Peters Creek Schist . 81 Peach Bottom Slate and Cardiff Conglomerate, undivided . 85 Chickies Formation. 90 Harpers Formation . ..