72-4U09 ALLONG, Albert Francis, 1936- HYDROGEOLOGY OF THE SCIOTO DRAINAGE BASIN. The Ohio State University, Ph.D., 1971 Geology University Microfilms, A XEROX Company , Ann Arbor, Michigan THIS DISSERTATION HAS BEEN MICROFILMED EXACTLTf AS RECEIVED HYDROGEOLOGY OF THE SCIOTO DRAINAGE BASIN DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Albert Francis /JLlong, B„SC<f M.S* The Ohio State University 1S71 Approved by Department of Geology PLEASE NOTE: Some Pages have indistinct print. Filmed as received. UNIVERSITY MICROFILMS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I sincerely appreciate the help given to me by my adviser, Dr. Wayne A, Pettyjohn, without which this study would not have been possible. It is also a pleasure to acknowledge the help and cooperation of Jim Schmidt and Herb Eagon from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of water, and Stan Norris from the U. S. Geolog­ ical Survey, Water Resources branch. I am particularly grateful to Professors Pettyjohn, Charles Summerson and Richard Goldthwait for their editorial work and advice during the preparation of this report, and several of my fellow students and departmental staff for their technical help. This investigation was supported by research funds and equipment through Dr. Pettyjohn, a Carman Fellowship, and a Friends of Orton grant. ii VITA January 29, 1936 . Born - Trinidad, West Indies 1939 •••••••• B*Sc., St* Francis Xavier Univer­ sity, Antigonish, Nova Scotia 1959-1963............ Geologist, Dominion Oil Ltd, Port of Spain, Trinidad, West Indies 1963-1965. * . * . t Geologist, Alberta Research Council, Edmonton, Alberta 1965-1967............ Research Assistant, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin M.S., University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 1967-1968............ Assistant in the Department of Geology, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio 1968-1970. Research Associate, Department of Geology, The Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio 1970-1971. Carman Fellow, Department of Geology, The Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field; Goclogy Studies in Hydrogeology• Professor Wayne A* Pettyjohn Studies in odontology. Professors Charles H. Sommersou aud Gordon Everett Studies in Economic Geology. Professor Robert L. Bates TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS..................................... il VITA ..................................................iii LIST OF TABLES ..................................... vi LIST OF FIGURES....................................... vii Chapter I. INTRODUCTION................................ 1 Purpose and Scope of Investigation . * • I Watershed Description and Size ........ 2 General Character of the Area.......... 5 Basin Economy. ............ 12 Problems Related to the li&ter Resources of the Basin............ 15 Previous Investigations. ........ 16 II. METHODS OF INVESTIGATION................... 26 Introduction .............. 26 Field w o r k ............................. 26 Laboratory Investigations. ....... 28 Interpretation procedure ........ 31 III. LATE TERTIARY AND PLEISTOCENE DRAINAGE SYSTEMS ............................. 32 Introduction.......................... 3 2 pre-glacial Drainage System............ 32 Glacial Drainage System................. 3 4 IV. PLEISTOCENE GEOLOGY ....................... 40 General Statement. .... ............ 40 Pleistocene Stratigraphy ............... 4 1 Soils. ........ ......... 4 8 CONTENTS (continued) Chapter Page V. BEDROCK STRATIGRAPHY AND STRUCTURE...... 49 General Geology...................... 49 Bedrock Formations of Central and Southern Ohio ............ 51 Structural Geology ..................... 56 VI. HYDROGEOLOGY ..................... 61 Introduction ........................... 61 Silurian-Devonian Carbonate Geo­ hydrologic U n i t .................. 63 Shale with Sandstone Layers Geo­ hydrologic Unit - Ohio Shale...... 103 Mississippian Sandstone Aquifers.... 110 Unconsolidated Sediments Geohydrologic Unit - Sand and Gravel......... 124 T i l l .................... 152 VII. SURFACE WATER IN THE SCIOTO B A S I N ....... 167 Introduction ..... ................. 167 Flow Characteristics................. 167 Surface-Water Quality and Its Rela­ tionship to the Surficial Geology • • 162 VIII. AVAILABILITY OF WATER IN THE SCIOTO BASIN . 189 Introduction.......................... 189 Surface Water Resources............... 190 Surface-water Quality. .... ........ 192 Ground-water Resources . ............... 192 Aquifer Systems....................... 193 IX. SUMMARY ..................................200 BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................ 207 v LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Counties Wholly or Partly Included in the Scioto River Basin....................... 4 2. Length, Gradient and Drainage Areas of the Major Watercourses in the Scioto River B a s i n ............................. 7 3. Scioto Drainage Basin, Economic Resources. 13 4. Aquifer Test Data at Hilliard, Franklin County.......... ...................... 69 5. Ground-water Quality in the Silurian- Devonian Carbonate in the Scioto Basin. 94 6. Ground-water Quality in the Ohio Shale in the Scioto Basin. 108 7. Ground-water Quality in the Mississippian Sandstones in the Scioto Basin.......... 123 8. Sieve Analyses of Sand and Gravel in the Channel Deposits of the Scioto Basin. • • 130 9. Ground-water Quality in the Pleistocene Drift in the Scioto B a s i n ................. 162 10. Relationship between Base Flow and Rock Type in the Scioto Basin. 181 11. Reservoir, Location, Drainage Area and Capacity in the Scioto River Basin. • • 191 vi LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. Outline of the Scioto River Basin......... 3 2. Average Annual precipitation in the Scioto Basin.................................. 10 3. Average Annual Temperature in the Scioto B a s i n ................................. 11 4. Distribution of Natural Resources in the Scioto Basin, ..... ............... 15 5. Ground-water Investigations Gompleted in the Scioto Basin............ 18 6. Constant-head permeameter................. 30 7. Teays Drainage System in the Scioto Basin. 33 8. The Deep Stage Drainage System in the Scioto Basin. ............. 34 9. Configuration of the Bedrock Surface in the Scioto Basin ................. 35 10. Pre-glacial and Inter-glacial Channels in the Scioto Basin. ................. 39 11. Drift Thickness in the Scioto Basin. 42 12. Profile of Terraces in the Scioto Valley . 44 13. Location of Major End Moraines in the Scioto Basin........................... 46 14. Stratigraphic Column in Central Ohio . 50 15. Structure Cross Section................... 57 vii FIGURES (continued) Figure Page 16. Bedrock Geology and Trend of Joint Systems in the Scioto Basin ...... 60 17. Schematic Diagram of the Silurian- Devonian Carbonate Geohydrologic Unit . 64 18. Silurian-Devonian Carbonate Isopach under the Scioto Basin................ 66 19. Time-Drawdown Plot of Hilliard Rail Road Well lf Test 1.......... 71 20. Time-Drawdown Curve of Hilliard Rail Road Well 1 ................................. 72 21. The Silurian-Devonian "Big Lime" Section in Allentown* .............. 74 22. Ground-water Level in the Silurian- Devonian Carbonate..................... 78 23. Static-water Level in the Silurian- Devonian Geohydrologic Unit in the Scioto Basin........................... 80 24. Schematic Diagram of Subsurface Inflow from One Drainage Basin into Another. • 84 25. Schematic Diagram of Induced Seepage from a Surface Stream. ........... 64 26. Areas of Significant Pumpage from the Silurian-Devonian Carbonate in the Scioto Basin........................... 88 27. Schematic Diagram of the Ground-water Flow Direction in the Western Half of the Scioto Basin....................... 69 28. Flow Duration Curve of the Olentangy River at Stratford................ 92 viii FIGURES (continued) Figure Page 29. Static-water Level in the Ohio Shale in the Scioto Basin.................... * * 105 30. Distribution of Mississippian Rock Facies in the Scioto Basin ................... 112 31. Step-Test, Hocking State Forest........... 115 32. Static-water Level in the Mississippian Aquifers in the Scioto Basin.......... 117 33. Schematic Diagram of Leakage from the Mississippian Sandstones into Sand and Gravel in Buried Channels ............ 118 34. Brackish-Fresh Water Interface in the Berea Sandstone in the Scioto Basin • . 125 35. Isopach of Sand and Gravel in the Scioto Basin.................................. 127 36-a. Composition Plot of Samples Collected from Surface Exposures .......... ..... 132 36-b. Composition Plot of Samples Collected from Test Holes at Piketon. ...... 132 37. Time-Drawdown Curve of Well N-l at Piketon Test Site .... ............ 134 38. Time-Drawdown Curve of Well N-l at Piketon Test Site ..................... 136 39. Time-Drawdown Curve at Piketon Test Site . 137 40. Static-water Level in the Pleistocene Drift in the Scioto Basin ............ 142 41. Schematic Diagram Showing Induced Recharge. 145 ix FIGURES (continued) Figure Page 42• Till Thickness in the Scioto Basin • • . • 153 43. Ground-water Conditions in Till* ......... 155 44* Most Suitable Solid Waste Disposal Sites in the Scioto Basin ................... 157 45. Stream Hydrograph of Whetstone Creek near A s h l e y ........................... 159 46. Flow Duration Curve of Whetstone Creek near A s h l e y .......... 160 47. Flow Duration Curve of Little Scioto River near M a r i o n ........................... 170 48. Stream Hydrograph