STATE OF OHIO DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Lawrence H. Wickstrom, Chief Open-File Report 2012-1 GEOLOGY OF THE DAYTON REGION IN CORE AND OUTCROP—A WORKSHOP AND FIELD TRIP FOR CITIZENS, ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATORS, GEOLOGISTS, AND EDUCATORS By Gregory A. Schumacher, Michael P. Angle, Brian E. Mott, and Douglas J. Aden Prepared for the 2012 Geological Society of America North-Central Section meeting in Dayton, Ohio Columbusi 2012 DISCLAIMER The information contained herein has not been reviewed for technical accuracy and conformity with current ODNR Division of Geological Survey standards for formally published materials. The ODNR Division of Geological Survey does not guarantee this information to be free from errors, omissions, or inaccuracies and disclaims any responsibility or liability for interpretations or decisions based thereon. Cover photo: Steam Boat Rock—Large slump block of Cedarville Dolomite resting in the bed of the Little Miami River at Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve. Recommended citation: Schumacher, G.A., Angle, M.P., Mott, B.E., and Aden, D.J., 2012, Geology of the Dayton region in core and outcrop—A workshop and fi eld trip for citizens, environmental investigators, geologists, and educators: Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geological Survey Open-File Report 2012-1, 58 p. ii AGENDA MORNING WORKSHOP 9:00–10:00 A.M. Welcome; Geology of the Dayton Region 10:00–11:00 A.M. Utility of ODNR Division of Geological Survey map products 11:00–12:00 P.M. Geology of the Dayton Region in core (hands-on exercises) AFTERNOON FIELD TRIP 1:00 P.M. Depart Dayton Convention Center 1:00–1:30 P.M. Drive to Oakes Quarry Park 1:30–2:50 P.M. STOP 1: Oakes Quarry Park 2:50–3:00 P.M. Drive to Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve 3:00–4:20 P.M. STOP 2: Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve 4:20–5:00 P.M. Fill out evaluations; return to Dayton Convention Center WORKSHOP AND FIELD TRIP LEADERS Gregory A. Schumacher Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Geological Survey H. R. Collins Laboratory 33307 South Old State Road Delaware, OH 43015 (740) 548-7348, ext. 125 [email protected] Michael P. Angle Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Geological Survey 2045 Morse Road, Bldg. C-2 Columbus, OH 43229-6693 (614) 265-6602 [email protected] Brian E. Mott DLZ Ohio 6121 Huntley Road Columbus, OH 43229 (614) 848-4141 [email protected] Douglas J. Aden Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Geological Survey 2045 Morse Road, Bldg. C-2 Columbus, OH 43229-6693 (614) 265-6579 [email protected] iii CONTENTS Page Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1 Geology of the Dayton region ............................................................................................... 1 What geologic maps should I use to determine the geology beneath my feet? .................. 5 What is rock coring? .............................................................................................................. 5 Field trip road log ................................................................................................................. 7 Stop 1. Oakes Quarry Park .................................................................................................. 8 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 8 Geology of the Oakes Quarry Park ............................................................................... 8 Early Silurian ......................................................................................................... 8 Ice-Age ..................................................................................................................... 12 Stop 2. Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve ...................................................................... 14 Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................. 17 References cited .................................................................................................................... 17 Fact Sheets ............................................................................................................................ 18 Glacial till ....................................................................................................................... 18 Glacial sand and gravel deposits .................................................................................. 20 Glacial sand deposits ..................................................................................................... 23 Glacial lacustrine deposits ............................................................................................ 26 Glacial silt deposits ........................................................................................................ 29 Glacial clay deposits ...................................................................................................... 32 Organic deposits ............................................................................................................ 35 Cedarville Dolomite ....................................................................................................... 38 Springfi eld Dolomite ...................................................................................................... 40 Euphemia Dolomite ....................................................................................................... 42 Massie Shale .................................................................................................................. 44 Osgood Shale .................................................................................................................. 46 Brassfi eld Formation ..................................................................................................... 48 Drakes Formation .......................................................................................................... 51 Whitewater Formation .................................................................................................. 53 Liberty Formation .......................................................................................................... 55 Waynesville Formation .................................................................................................. 57 FIGURES 1. Bedrock near-surface and subsurface stratigraphy of the Dayton region ................. 2 2. Location of the Dayton region in Ordovician time ...................................................... 3 3. Ohio karst areas ............................................................................................................ 4 4. Typical drill bits ............................................................................................................ 6 5. Bedrock geologic map of Oakes Quarry Park .............................................................. 9 6. The eastern highwall of Oakes Quarry Park displaying the characteristic limestone of the Brassfi eld Formation ....................................................................................... 10 7. Belfast Member of the Brassfi eld Formation in Oakes Quarry Park fl oor ................ 10 8. Rose diagram illustrating the prominent joint orientations preserved within the Belfast Member of the Brassfi eld Formation ........................................................... 11 9. Postulated position of the continents during the Late Ordovician/Early Silurian and Middle Pennsylvanian ........................................................................................ 11 10. The polished upper surface of the Brassfi eld Formation ............................................ 13 11. Rose diagram showing that the movement of glacial ice and meltwater was from the northwest to the southeast ........................................................................................ 13 12. Bedrock geologic map of the Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve ........................... 15 13. Stages of gorge formation of Little Miami River in the Clifton, Ohio, area .............. 16 iv GEOLOGY OF THE DAYTON REGION IN CORE AND OUTCROP—A WORKSHOP AND FIELD TRIP FOR CITIZENS, ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATORS, GEOLOGISTS, AND EDUCATORS by Gregory A. Schumacher, Michael P. Angle, Brian E. Mott, and Douglas J. Aden INTRODUCTION distinguish one geologic unit from the underlying and overly- ing units. For example, if you turn ahead to the Brassfi eld The goal of today’s core workshop and fi eld trip is to Formation fact sheet (p. 48), you will fi nd an introductory learn about the geology of the Dayton, Ohio, region using paragraph describing: (1) the characteristic rock or rocks Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division found in the Brassfi eld, (2) the environment present in the of Geological Survey (Survey) mapping products and indi- Dayton region when the Brassfi eld was deposited, (3) how vidual fact sheets for a future fi eld guide entitled: Ohio’s the Brassfi eld was named, (4) the Brassfi eld’s mapped dis- Geology in Core and Outcrop—A Field Guide for Citizens tribution in the state of Ohio, and (5) unit thickness of the and Environmental and Geotechnical Investigators. For this Brassfi eld. Also, the statewide distribution of the Brassfi eld guidebook, the Dayton region is defi ned as Montgomery