Abstract: Aerial photographs today are widely used to obtain both qualitative and quantitative geologic information; vertical aerial photographs are used almost to the exclusion of other types. Techniques and procedures described herein relate primarily to vertical photography.
Abstract: The Bannock overthrust in southeastern Idaho and northcentral Utah was originally described by Richards and Mansfield (1912) as a single large thrust fault that formed at the close of the Laramide orogeny and was folded by renewed compression near the end of Pliocene time. Later Mansfield expanded and revised his interpretation of the Bannock overthrust so that at least the northern part of the overthrust was thought to be a thrust zone in which the individual faults originated in a folded sole thrust. Detailed mapping in areas critical to Richards and Mansfield's interpretations has shown that the faults thought by them to be parts of one large thrust are separate faults, and that, although some of the thrust surfaces are curved, they were not folded in Pliocene time but probably were folded during a late stage of the thrusting. Extensions of the Bannock thrust to the north, south, east, and west based upon extrapolation of a single large folded thrust surface are not warranted. The Bannock overthrust is reinterpreted as a westward-dipping imbricate thrust zone possibly several tens of miles wide extending at least from southwestern Montana to north-central Utah. It is recommended that the name "Bannock overthrust" no longer be used, and that this zone of imbricate thrusts in the southeast corner of Idaho be called the Bannock thrust zone. The thrusts range in age from Late Jurassic to post- Early Cretaceous and are progressively younger from west to east; strong regional compressive forces do not appear to have been active in the area as late as Pliocene time. The upper plates of the thrusts moved to the northeast in response to an unknown force. Steep eastward-trending tear faults formed during thrusting probably in response to differential movement among the eastward-moving thrust plates. In Tertiary and Quaternary time …
From contributions of astrogeology: The principal goal of research in astrogeology is the solution of several cardinal problems of geology...The present volume is the first of a series of professional papers that will describe major results of research in astrogeology.
From introduction: The U.S. Geological Survey has selected and assembled 67 sets of aerial photographs that illustrate a variety of geologic features in Antarctica, South and Central America, the southwest Pacific, Iran, Japan, the Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan, and mainland China. Contact prints of the photographs composing these sets are available for purchase. Sets of photographs of geologic features in the United States and Puerto Rico are listed in a separate catalog (Denny, C. S., and others, 1968, A descriptive catalog of selected aerial photographs of geologic features in the United States: U.S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 590).
Introduction: This work is an alphabetical list of the geographic names that are now applied and have been applied to to places and features of the Alaska Landscape.
From introduction: This report deals with the stratigraphic and ecologic significance of Foraminifera contained in a Tertiary sequence that crops out in the northern part of the Olympic Peninsula, Wash. (pl. 1). The work was done as a part of a program of geologic investigations for oil and gas possibilities conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey.
From abstract: This report describes the comprising the western two-thirds of the Pearce quadrangle and the eastern two-thirds of the Benson quadrangle of the Geological Survey's Topographic Atlas of the United States and includes about 1,400 square miles in the west-central part of Cochise County, Arizona.
From Purpose and Scope of Report: This report presents a detailed description of the ore deposits of the Picher field and all phases of geology having a bearing on their localization, origin, and the search for them. It is based mainly on work done by the U.S. Geological Survey, but it also incorporates pertinent data from published literature, especially from the outstanding work of George M. Fowler and associates, and some unpublished data obtained from the geologic staffs of the mining companies.
From introduction: The two papers published here refer practically to the whole region included in the National Park. The one. Part I, treats primarily of the geology, the development of the great volcano, Mount Mazama, and its collapse, which gave birth to Crater Lake; the other, Part II, deals with the petrography, and gives a special description of the various rocks occurring in the park.
From Preface: "The present account summarizes the results of a long investigation of the rocks of the Great Smoky Mountains (1946-55) by geologists of the staff of the U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with those of the Tennessee Division of Geology. The technical details of this investigation have already been set forth at length in professional papers of the U.S. Geological Survey. The present account contains the gist of these findings about the rocks of the mountains, and is accompanied by a map and structure sections in which the surface and underground extent of the rocks are displayed."
From introduction: The present investigation is an attempt, by means of detailed areal mapping, to resolve the relations of the shelf-rock units to one another and to the reef and basin rocks and to clarify the confusing stratigraphic nomenclature.
Scope and Purpose of Work: The quadrangle was mapped as part of the U.S. Geological Survey program of classifying and evaluating lands in the Public Domain. Mineral rights for coal had been retained in parts or all of Tps. 2 and 3 N., Rs. 77, 78, and 79 W. These areas are in part underlain by sedimentary rocks of Late Cretaceous(?) and early Tertiary age (Middle Park Formation), and in North Park these rocks are called the Coalmont Formation and contain coal. The chief purpose of the work was to map and study any coal beds found and to make a detailed geologic map that can be used as part of a geological atlas of the United States.
From Introduction: The field work that furnished the basis for this report was begun in 1930 and was continued at intervals until 1934. The anticlinal character of the Kettleman Hills is apparent to even the casual observer, but the many structural complications due to an intricate network of minor faults, at least in North Dome and Middle Dome, are much less obvious. Though it is improbable that these faults have any relation to the occurrence of oil, an attempt was made to map them, not only to represent the structure adequately but also because the stratigraphy could not be understood if they were neglected. Faunal zones were particularly useful in mapping. On the other hand, some lithologic units proved to be more persistent than had been expected. The two sets of features-fossils and lithology-served as checks on each other.
From abstract: Jurassic ammonites of late Bathonian to middle Callovian Age have been found in 12,000-13,000 feet (3,660-3,960 m) of strata exposed in the area near and south of Izee and Seneca in east-central Oregon. Ammonites of early Callovian Age and possibly also late Bathonian Age occur in several hundred feet of black shale exposed along Dennett Creek near Mineral, Idaho. Early Callovian ammonites also occur in similar black shale exposed on the Oregon side of Snake River Canyon about 32 miles (52 km) south of the northeast corner of Oregon.
From abstract: Geologic and aeromagnetic data show that a major tectonic unit underlies rocks of the Musconetcong nappe in the Great Valley of eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. This structure, the Lyon Station-Paulins Kill nappe, can be traced from Lyon Station, Pa., at least to Branchville, N.J., a distance of about 120 km. The nappe has a core of Precambrian crystalline rocks as shown by an aeromagnetic anomaly that has the same signature as the outcropping Precambrian rocks of the Musconetcong nappe. This core extends at least 70 km east from Lyon Station to Bangor, Pa., the eastern limit of the aeromagnetic survey. This report details the frontal structure of this system.
From abstract and introduction: Mineralogic and stratigraphic studies of the lower part of the Pierre Shale of Late Cretaceous age along the Missouri River indicate correlations different from those generally accepted. The purposes of this paper are to present evidence for the new correlations and to resolve problems of formal nomenclature that result from them.
Abstract: A brief sketch of the stratigraphy of the Miocene of Virginia and the Miocene and Pliocene of North Carolina was prepared by Dr. W. C. Mansfield before his death in July 1939. His purpose was "to provide a background of formational nomenclature" for the taxonomic treatment of the molluscan faunas. The physical nature and distribution of the upper Tertiary formations within those States are discussed, characteristic sections given, and diagnostic molluscan species listed. Part 1 of the systematic report covers the Pelecypoda. A monographic treatment is not attempted, but 132 previously known species are considered, and 62 new species and subspecies are described and figured.
Introduction: Part 2 of the Systematic Report continues and concludes the study of the Mollusca from the Miocene and lower Pliocene of Virginia and North Carolina. One hundred and nineteen species, only a fraction of the known fauna, are reviewed and 66 additional species are described and figured. (See faunal chart, pp. 180-183.) The report upon the gastropods suffers from the same shortcomings obvious in the work on the pelecypods. Most of the material is from old collections made before the importance of the exact placing of the fossil locality both areally and vertically was recognized. Many of the citations of outcrops are vague and the sections generalized. Detailed field studies, particularly on the zoning of the Yorktown formation in southern Virginia and northern North Carolina, were begun later by Wendell P. Mansfield, but he died in the summer of 1939 before the completion of the work.
Abstract: Structural and petrologic studies in the Berry Creek quadrangle at the north end of the western metamorphic belt of the Sierra Nevada have yielded new information that helps in distinguishing between the chemically similar Paleozoic and Mesozoic rocks. The distinguishing features are structural and textural and result from different degrees of deformation. Most Paleozoic rocks are strongly deformed and thoroughly recrystallized. Phenocrysts in metavolcanic rocks are granulated and drawn out into lenses that have sutured outlines. In contrast, the phenocrysts in the Mesozoic metavolcanic rocks show well-preserved straight crystal faces, are only slightly or not at all granulated, and contain fewer mineral inclusions than do those in the Paleozoic rocks. The groundmass in the Paleozoic rocks is recrystallized to a fairly coarse grained albite-epidote-amphibole-chlorite rock, whereas in the Mesozoic rocks the groundmass is a very fine grained feltlike mesh with only spotty occurrence of well-recrystallized finegrained albite-epidote-chlorite-actinolite rock. Primary minerals, such as augite, are locally preserved in the Mesozoic rocks but are altered to a mixture of amphibole, chlorite, and epidote in the Paleozoic rocks. In the contact aureoles of the plutons, and within the Big Bend fault zone, which crosses the area parallel to the structural trends, all rocks are thoroughly recrystallized and strongly deformed. Identification of the Paleozoic and Mesozoic rocks in these parts of the area was based on the continuity of the rock units in the field and on gradual changes in microscopic textures toward the plutons.
From introduction: The study of the Crystal Mountain district, Larimer County, Colo., is but one phase of this post-World War II pegmatite program, in part carried out by the Geological Survey on behalf of the Division of Raw Materials of the Atomic Energy Commission.
From abstract: Platinum placers were discovered in 1926 in a small area south of Goodnews Bay, in southwestern Alaska. Beginning in 1927, the placers were worked for 7 years by small-scale mining methods; in later years dragline excavators and a dredge were utilized. These deposits are important, not only because they are of high grade but because they are the only commercial source of platinum metals in the United States. This report details the deposits in this district.
Abstract: Eruptions and other geologic events at Mount Baker during the last 10,000 years have repeatedly affected adjacent areas, especially the valleys that head on the south and east sides of the volcano. Small volumes of tephra were erupted at least four times during the past 10,000 years. Future eruptions like these could cause as much as 35 centimeters of tephra to be deposited at sites 17 kilometers from the volcano, 15 centimeters of tephra to be deposited 29 kilometers from the volcano, and 5 centimeters, 44 kilometers from the volcano. Lava flows were erupted at least twice during the last 10,000 years and moved down two valleys. Future lava flows will not directly endanger people because lava typically moves so slowly that escape is possible. Hot pyroclastic flows evidently occurred during only one period and were confined to the Boulder Creek valley. Such flows can move at speeds of as much as 150 kilometers per hour and can bury valley floors under tens of meters of hot rock debris for at least 15 kilometers from the volcano. Large mudflows, most of which contain hydrothermally altered rock debris, originated at Mount Baker at least eight times during the last 10,000 years. The largest mudflow reached 29 kilometers or more down the valley of the Middle Fork Nooksack River, west of the volcano, about 6,000 years ago. Extensive masses of hydrothermally altered rock that are potentially unstable exist today near the summit of the volcano, especially in the Sherman Crater-Sherman Peak area. Avalanches of this material could be triggered by stream explosions, earthquakes, or eruptions, or may occur because of slow-acting forces or processes that gradually decrease stability. Large avalanches could move downslope at high speed and could grade downvalley into mudflows. Floods caused by rapid melting of snow and ice …
From introduction: Since 1898 the United States Geological Survey has been carrying on a systematic investigation of the mineral resources of Alaska.As the northern mining districts of southeastern Alaska had already been the subject of an investigation by Dr. Becker in 1895,a and as the Ketchikan district was being rapidly developed, it was decided to spend the greater part of the short season in the Ketchikan district and in the fall to make a more hasty reconnaissance of the northern belt, in order to obtain a general familiarity with the region and, if possible, to establish some correlations. This plan was carried out, and the results of the work are embodied in the following report.
From introduction: The present study was undertaken to extend and supplement a mapping program covering several ranges north and northwest of Lake Mead.
From introduction: In response to an urgent demand by the public, the Geological Survey, in 1900, undertook a topographic and geologic reconnaissance of the southern half of the Seward Peninsula.( The area mapped embraced the more important gold fields of the peninsula. The topographic map made in 1900 included the drainage of Bering Sea from Cape Darby to Port Clarence, the southern drainage of Grantley Harbor and Imuruk Basin, and the northern drainage of Norton Sound. A geologic reconnaissance was also made of the York mining district and of part of the Kuzitrin drainage.
From abstract: The Geysers-Clear Lake geothermal area lies within the central belt of the Franciscan assemblage in northern California. The structure of this terrane is characterized by northeast-dipping imbricate thrust slices that have been warped and cut by steeply dipping strike-slip and normal faults. Introduction of magma into the crust beneath the Geysers-Clear Lake area can be related to eastsoutheast extension accompanying northward propagation of the San Andreas transform system between the Clear Lake region and Cape Mendocino within the last 3 million years. The initiation of strike-slip faulting during this time terminated subduction of elements of the Farallon plate beneath North America as strike-slip motion was taken up along the Pacific-North American plate boundary. The mechanism for magma generation appears to require a heat source in the mantle that mixed mantle-derived melts with various crustal rocks. These crustal rocks may have included the Franciscan central and coastal belts, ophiolite, Great Valley sequence, and possibly middle and late Tertiary rocks subducted before initiation of strike-slip faulting.
Abstract: Examination of previously described and some undescribed leaves of Ulmus and Zelkova from the later Oligocene, Miocene, and Pliocene of western North America indicates that at least eight species of Ulmus and two species of Zelkova are represented. Three new species are described: Ulmus chaneyi, U. knowltoni, and Zelkova browni.
Abstract: Quantitative statistical sampling of plant debris entombed within deltaic sediments of a Holocene fluviolacustrine environment at Silwood Lake, Berkshire, demonstrates that patterns of deposition exist that can be used to reconstruct the relative spatial distributions of species within the source vegetation.
From introduction: This is a progress report on regional stratigraphic and paleontologic studies of the Upper Cretaceous Montana Group and equivalent rocks in the northern part of the western interior of the United States. It presents preliminary data on the positions of strandlines during a 14-m.y. (million year) span of the Late Cretaceous as well as our interpretations of the geologic history of this period.
Abstract: The Oquirrh Group of Pennsylvanian and Permian age in the southern East Tintic Mountains, Utah, is more than 15,000 feet (4,572 m) thick and consists of an incomplete section of the West Canyon Limestone (Morrowan) 960 feet (293 m) thick, a nearly complete section of the Butterfield Peaks Formation (Atokan(?) and Des Moinesian) about 5,800 feet (1,768 m) thick, a complete section of the Bingham Mine Formation (Missourian) 3,200-3,400 feet thick (975-1,036 m), and a complete section of the newly named Furner Valley Limestone (Missourian to Wolfcampian) 5,000-6,000 feet (1,524-1,829 m) thick. The formations below the Furner Valley Limestone are generally similar to their counterparts in their type areas in the central and southern Oquirrh Mountains but are somewhat thinner and less arenaceous. The Furner Valley Limestone, more than 90 percent carbonate, is apparently unique. Strata of the same age in the Wasatch, Stansbury, Cedar, Hogup, and Promontory Mountains in Utah are all considerably arenaceous; in the southern Oquirrh Mountains in the upper plate of the Midas thrust fault they have been largely removed by erosion. The Oquirrh Group in the East Tintic Mountains is overlain by the Diamond Creek Sandstone; the latter, in turn, is overlain by the Park City Formation. No units lithologically resembling the Kirkman Limestone of the Wasatch Mountains are recognized. Fusulinids are common in the Butterfield Peaks and Bingham Mine Formations and are present throughout the Furner Valley Limestone. The faunas are comparable to those of the Oquirrh Group in the Oquirrh and Cedar Mountains to the west and in the Wasatch Mountains to the east.
From abstract: Reconnaissance examination of widely scattered outcrops of Upper Cretaceous rocks in the heavily glaciated areas of eastern North Dakota provides the basis for the first formal subdivision of the Pierre Shale in these areas.
From introduction: The object of this paper is to describe the salient features of Jurassic diastrophism in parts of the Tonopah and Hawthorne quadrangles in west-central Nevada. The problem is complicated by the lack of continuity of exposures, earlier folding of the older rocks, metamorphism caused by the later granitic in-trusions, and by superposed Tertiary and later normal faults.
From abstract: The seismic history of the southeastern United States is dominated by the 1886 earthquake near Charleston, S.C. An understanding of the specific source and the uniqueness of the neotectonic setting of this large earthquake is essential in order to properly assess seismic hazards in the southeastern United States. Such knowledge will also contribute to the fundamental understanding of intraplate earthquakes and will aid indirectly in deciphering the evolution of Atlantic-type continental margins. The 15 chapters in this volume report on the first stage of an ongoing multidisciplinary study of the Charleston earthquake of 1886.
From introduction: The objectives of this report are to (1) document the stratigraphic framework of the Santa Margarita Formation and part of the Monterey Shale in the southern Temblor Range, (2) interpret the environments of deposition and depositional processes of the above units, and (3) evaluate the influence of tectonism on Santa Margarita sedimentation, with special attention given to testing the hypothesis of Berry and others (1968).
From abstract: The part of Arizona south and east of Tucson is underlain by a wide assortment of deformed rocks, as well as by some major mineralized districts. A synthesis of the tectonic evolution of the region is offered in this report, which is based on older studies of mining districts and on more recent field studies by students and by the U.S. Geological Survey, augmented by field review and selective remapping of many key areas. Through this synthesis the rocks of the region are seen to have been deformed in response to diverse stresses, at various times, with an increasing degree of structural anisotropy of the rocks through time. Consequently, reactivated faults are common features, and segments of some of these faults record various kinds of movement, thereby providing unusual interpretive difficulties for many of the past local studies.
From introduction: The purpose of this report is to evaluate and describe relationships between the volcanic activity on Mount Baker and the possible impacts on Baker Lake water.
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