I -_ tkm- 0- +2- T "I.- Open-File Report 80-942 Open-File Report 80-942 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR GEOLOGICAL SURVEY GEOLOGY OF THE SYNCLINE RIDGE AREA RELATED TO NUCLEAR WASTE DISPOSAL, NEVADA TEST SITE, NYE COUNTY, NEVADA -Open-File Report 80-942 --.i -a.-:- 1980: _r ci a, Prepared by the U.S. Geological survey ci for the Office Nevada Operations - I U.S. Department of Energy '(Memorandum of Understanding DE-AI08-78ET44802) z , C w 'i THIS PAGE IS AN OVERSIZED DRAWING OR FIGURE, THAT CAN BE VIEWED AT THE RECORD TITLED: "GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE SYNCLINE RIDGE AREA, FIGURE 3". NOTE: Because of these page's large file size, it may be more convenient to copy the file to a local drive and use the Imaging (Wang) viewer, which can be accessed from the Programs/Accessories menu. D-01 Open-File Report 80-942 Open-File Report 80-942 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR GEOLOGICAL SURVEY GEOLOGY OF THE SYNCLINE RIDGE AREA RELATED TO NUCLEAR WASTE DISPOSAL, NEVADA TEST SITE, NYE COUNTY, NEVADA By D. L. Hoover] and J. N. Morrison2 'U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colo. 2Fenix & Scisson, Inc., Mercury, Nev. CONTENTS Page Abstract1------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Introduction--------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Geography------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 Investigations-------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 Previous work--------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 Acknowledgments------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 Site potential summary----------------------------------------------------------------- 7 Stratigraphy--------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8 Older Paleozoic rocks------------------------------------------------------------- 8 Eleana Formation…------------------------------------------------------------------ 9 Depositional environment and rock types-------------------------------------- 9 Unit G1---------------------------------------_______________________________ 12 Unit H…------------------__-------___________________________________ 12 Unit I----------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 Unit J----------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 Tippipah Limestone---------------------------------------------------------------- 17 Tertiary rocks-------------------------------------------------------------------- 17 AlluviumB----------________________________________________________________ 18 Volcanic rocks--------------------------------------------------------------- 18 Quaternary deposits--------------------------------------------------------------- 18 Weathered zone--------------------------------------------------------------- 21 Pediment gravel-------------------------------------------------------------- 21 Unit QTa--------------------------------------------------------------------- 23 Unit Q2---------------------------------------------------------------------- 24 Seep deposits---------------------------------------------------------------- 25 Unit Ql---------------------------------------------------------------------- 25 Absolute age of Quaternary deposits------------------------------------------ 26 Structure------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 28 Regional setting------------------------------------------------------------------ 28 Paleozoic deformation------------------------------------------------------------- 28 Mesozoic deformation3-------------------------0----------_________________________ 30 Folds------------------------------------------------------------------------ 31 Thrust faults---------------------------------------------------------------- 31 Lateral faults…----_--_______________________________________ 33 High-angle faults3-----------------3-------------------3 Tertiary and Quaternary deformation----------------------------------------------- 34 Postvolcanic geologic history---------------------------------------------------------- 35 Engineering geology-------------------------------------------------------------------- 39 Argillite distribution------------------------------------------------------------ 39 Low-quartz argillite-------------------------------------------------------------- 42 Origin of low-quartz argillite----------------------------------------------- 42 ii CONTENTS--Continued Page Engineering geology--Continued Competency------------------------------------------------------------------ 52 Core index-----______ ______________________--- 52 Drill-hole gauge------------------------------------------------------- 55 Fracture analysis- -------------------------------------- 55 Mineralogy…--------- -------------------------------------------------------- 59 Chemical and selected trace element analysis-------------------------------- 63 Physical properties-------------------------------------- 63 Geomechanical properties--------------------------------------- 63 Thermal properties---------------------------------------------------------- 63 References cited----------------------------------------------------------------- 69 ILLUSTRATIONS Page Figure l.--Index map showing location of the Nevada Test Site and the Syncline Ridge area---------------------------------------------------------- 3 2.--Geologic map of the Syncline Ridge area showing principal stratigraphic units and major structures---------------------------- 4 3.--Geologic map of the Syncline Ridge area-------------------------------[in pocket] 4.--Structural and depositional framework of the Eleana Formation and its Late Devonian and Mississippian equivalents in the western U.S.---- 10 5.--Lithology of argillite subunit, unit J, Eleana Formation showing approximate locations of quartzites in subunit---------------------- 14 6.--Schematic cross section of Quaternary deposits between the Eleana Range and Syncline Ridge-------------------------------------------- 2o 7.--Schematic cross section of trench cut through pediment gravel showing location of samples collected for age dating of caliche------------- 27 8.--Map of southern Nevada and part of California showing some major structural features near the Syncline Ridge area-------------------- 29 9.--Cross section through central block of Syncline Ridge area------------ 32 10.--Isopach map of argillite subunit-------------------------------------- 40 ll.--Telluric map of Syncline Ridge area----------------------------------- 41 12.--Bouguer gravity anomaly map------------------------------------------- 43 13.--Frequency of thickness of low-quartz argillite layers in the UE17e drill hole---------------------------------------------------------- 46 14.--Graph of low-quartz argillite content versus API neutron units in the argillite subunit, unit J, Eleana Formation, UE17e drill hole------- 47 15.--Graph of low-quartz argillite content versus compressional velocities, argillite subunit, unit J, Eleana Formation, UE17e drill hole------- 48 16.--Amount of argillite subunit, unit J, Eleana Formation with velocities less than 3,500 m/s and greater than 3,500 m/s in the UE17e and UE1L drill holes…------------------ ---------------------------- 50 17.--Frequency of thickness of argillite with velocities less than 3,500 mIs and greater than 3,500 m/s in the UE17e and UElL drill holes-------- 51 iii ILLUSTRATIONS--Continued Page Figure 18.--Histograms of core indices, unit J, of the Eleana Formation---------- 54 19.--Histograms of out-of-gauge hole in argillite and quartzite in unit J, Eleana Formation------------------------------------------- 56 20.--Histograms of out-of-gauge bole by type of drilling fluid in argillite and quartzite in unit J, Eleana Formation---------------- 57 21.--Fractures per 100 dip interval, total fractures, and fractures in weathered and unweathered rock, unit J, Eleana Formation, in the UE17e and Eleana heating experiment drill holes-------------------- 58 22.--Fractures per 100-dip interval, total open and closed fractures, and open and closed fractures in weathered and nonweathered rock, unit J, Eleana Formation, in the UE17e and Eleana heating experiment drill holes- -------------------------------------- 60 23.--Fractures in 100-dip intervals for unfilled fractures and various fracture fillings, unit J, Eleana Formation, in the UE17e and Eleana heating experiment drill holes------------------------------ 61 24.--Physical properties of high-quartz argillite from core samples taken in the Syncline Ridge area----------------------------------- 66 25.--Bulk density of quartzite and argillite subunits, unit J, Eleana Formation from drill-hole data for UEIL, UE16d, and UE17e---------- 67 26.--Geomechanical properties of argillite in the Syncline Ridge area----- 68 TABLES Page Table l.--Stratigraphy of Tertiary rocks in the Syncline Ridge area-------------- 19 2.--Geomorphic and structural events of the Syncline Ridge area and Yucca Flat----------------------------------------------------------- 36 3.--Abundance, thickness, and spacing of low-quartz argillite and quartz veins in the UE17e drill hole…-------------------------------------- 44 4.--Drill holes used in core index study---------------------------------- 53 5.--Mineralogy of the argillite from unit J of the Eleana Formation in the Syncline Ridge area--------------------------------------------- 62 6.--Bulk chemical analysis of eight