REGIONAL STRATIGRAPHY AND _^ SUBSURFACE GEOLOGY OF CENOZOIC DEPOSITS, GULF COASTAL PLAIN, SOUTH-CENTRAL UNITED STATES V U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 1416-G AVAILABILITY OF BOOKS AND MAPS OF THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Instructions on ordering publications of the U.S. Geological Survey, along with prices of the last offerings, are given in the current-year issues of the monthly catalog "New Publications of the U.S. Geological Survey." Prices of available U.S. Geological Survey publications re­ leased prior to the current year are listed in the most recent annual "Price and Availability List." Publications that may be listed in various U.S. Geological Survey catalogs (see back inside cover) but not listed in the most recent annual "Price and Availability List" may no longer be available. 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WASHINGTON, D.C. -Main Interior Bldg., Rm. 2650, 18th and CSts., NW Maps For maps, address mail orders to Maps Only U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services Maps may be purchased over the counter at the following Box 25286, Federal Center U.S. Geological Survey offices: Denver, CO 80225 Residents of Alaska may order maps from FAIRBANKS, Alaska-New Federal Bldg, 101 Twelfth Ave. U.S. Geological Survey, Earth Science Information Center ROLL A, Missouri-1400 Independence Rd. 101 Twelfth Ave., Box 12 Fairbanks, AK 99701 STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Mississippi-Bldg. 3101 Regional Stratigraphy and Subsurface Geology of Cenozoic Deposits, Gulf Coastal Plain, South-Central United States By R.L. HOSMAN REGIONAL AQUIFER-SYSTEM ANALYSIS-GULF COASTAL PLAIN U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 1416-G UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1996 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary US. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Gordon P. Eaton, 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 Hosman, R.L. Regional stratigraphy and subsurface geology of Cenozoic deposits, Gulf Coastal Plain, South-Central United States /by R.L. Hosman. p. cm. (Regional aquifer-system analysis Gulf coastal plain) (U.S. Geological Survey professional paper ; 1416-G) Includes bibliographical references. Supt.ofDocs.no.: I 19.16: 1416G 1. Geology, Stratigraphic Cenozoic. 2. Geology Gulf Coast Region (U.S.). I. Title. II. Series. III. Series: U.S. Geological Survey professional paper ; 1416-G. QE690.H57 1996 551.7'8'0976 dc20 91-42144 CIP For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services Box 25286, Federal Center 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 an important component of the Nation's total water supply. In general, the boundaries of these studies are identified by the hydrologic extent of each system and accordingly transcend the political subdivisions to which investigations have often arbitrarily been limited in the past. The broad objective for each study is to assemble geologic, hydrologic, and geochemical information, to analyze and develop an understanding of the system, and to develop predictive capabilities that will contribute to the effective management of the system. The use of computer simulation is an important element of the RASA studies, both to develop an understanding of the natural, undisturbed hydrologic system and the changes brought about in it by human activities, and to provide a means of predicting the regional effects of future pumping or other stresses. The final interpretive results of the RASA Program are presented in a series of U.S. Geological Survey Professional Papers that describe the geology, hydrology, and geochemistry of each regional aquifer system. Each study within the RASA Program is assigned a single Professional Paper number, and where the volume of interpretive material warrants, separate topical chapters that consider the principal elements of the investigation may be published. The series of RASA interpretive reports begins with Professional Paper 1400 and thereafter will continue in numerical sequence as the interpre­ tive products of subsequent studies become available. Gordon P. Eaton Director CONTENTS Page Foreword........................................................................................ GUI Stratigraphy Continued Abstract.......................................................................................... Gl Eocene Series Continued Introduction................................................................................... 1 Claiborne Group Continued Previous work........................................................................ 3 Sparta Sand.............................................................. G20 Method of study..................................................................... 3 Cook Mountain Formation 20 Geologic history............................................................................. 4 Lisbon Formation..................................................... 21 Structural features and major tectonic events.................... 4 Laredo Formation.................................................... 21 Depositional patterns............................................................ 8 Cockfield Formation................................................. 21 Pre-Cenozoic................................................................... 8 GosportSand............................................................ 21 Cenozoic.......................................................................... 8 Yegua Formation...................................................... 21 Stratigraphic effects................................................ 9 Jackson Group (Formation)........................................... 21 Physiographic characteristics................................. 9 Moodys Branch Marl (Formation).......................... 22 Paleocene Series................................................ 9 Yazoo Formation...................................................... 22 Eocene Series..................................................... 9 Ocala Limestone....................................................... 22 Oligocene Series................................................ 11 White Bluff Formation............................................ 22 Miocene Series................................................... 11 Redfield Formation.................................................. 23 Pliocene Series................................................... 11 Caddell Formation................................................... 23 Pleistocene Series.............................................. 11 Wellborn Sandstone................................................. 23 Holocene Series................................................. 12 Manning Clay........................................................... 23 Stratigraphy.................................................................................. 12 Whitsett Formation................................................. 23 Paleocene Series.................................................................... 12 Oligocene Series..................................................................... 24 Midway Group................................................................ 12 Red Bluff Formation...................................................... 24 Clayton Formation and equivalents....................... 13 Forest Hill Formation...................................................