Geology topics

C. H. Prior

Publications and source records attributed to C. H. Prior.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS1965

Ground and surface water in the Mesabi and Vermilion Iron Range area, northeastern Minnesota

Within the Mesabi-Vermilion Iron Range area, water of good quality is available from the Biwabik Iron-Formation, from stratified drift, and from lakes and streams. About 700 bgy (billion gallons a year) leaves the area as surface water, of which about one-third comes from ground water. Leached, oxidized, and fractured parts of the Biwabik Iron-Formation yield as much as 1,000 gpm (gallons per minute) to wells. Much of the permeable stratified drift within the area underlies the Ice-Contact region and the Horainal and Ice-Contact region, and several wells drilled in drift have been pumped at rates of more than 1,000 gpm. Parts of three major drainage basins lie within the area, and lakes compose about 5 percent of the area. Low-flow and flood-frequency data have been compiled for many of the streams. Large quantities of surface water are available from the Border-Lakes region and the Morainal and Ice-Contact region. The quality of ground water from the Biwabik Iron-Formation and from the drift is similar. The water is generally moderately siliceous, hard or very hard, and contains much iron and manganese. Surface water is generally soft, contains much iron, and is highly colored. Large uses of water in the area include: taconite processing (50 bgy), wash-ore processing (19 bgy), power plants (63 bgy), municipal water supplies (3 bgy) and paper processing (1 bgy). Optimum development of the water resources might be achieved by using streamflow in the spring and stunner and ground-water and surface-water storage in the fall and winter.

Minnesota↗

USGS1965

Water resources in the vicinity of municipalities on the western Mesabi Iron Range, northeastern Minnesota

Additional supplies of water are available near the municipalities on the western Mesabi Iron Range. Potential yields from both ground-water and surface-water sources are good. The most productive aquifers for ground-water supplies are the Biwabik Iron-Formation and the stratified glacial drift. Areas of stratified drift believed to have good water potential have been outlined. The most abundant surface-water supplies in the area of this report are from the Mississippi River and its tributaries. The ground water is generally hard and has a high concentration of iron and manganese. The surface water is generally high in iron and is colored. Analyses of water from many sources are included. Data from many wells and test holes are given as are flow data for two discharge stations.

Minnesota↗

USGS1965

Water resources in the vicinity of municipalities on the west-central Mesabi Iron Range, northeastern Minnesota

Additional supplies of water are available near the municipalities or the west-central Mesabi Iron Range. The largest sources are the ground-water aquifers in the Biwabik Iron-Formation and the stratified glacial drift. Areas of stratified drift that probably have good water potential have been outlined. Surface-water supplies are negligible in the eastern part of this area but increase toward the west. Flow records from one gaging station, results of discharge measurements at two miscellaneous sites, and data from many wells and test holes are presented. Most of the ground water is hard and has a high concentration of iron and manganese. The surface water generally has a high concentration of. iron and is colored. Analyses of water from many sources are .shown.

Minnesota↗

USGS1965

Water resources in the vicinity of municipalities on the central Mesabi Iron Range, northeastern Minnesota

Additional supplies of water are available near the municipalities on the central Mesabi Iron Range. Ground water presents the greatest potential yield, and most of the productive aquifers are in the Biwabik Iron-Formation and the stratified glacial drift. /k single body of ice-contact stratified drift underlies parts of all but one of the five municipality areas mapped. Surface-water supplies are generally inadequate. The Two River system in the eastern part of the area of this report offers some possibilities. Flow data from one discharge station and one miscellaneous gaging site are presented. Analyses of water from many sources are presented as are data from many wells and test holes. Ground water commonly has a concentration of high iron and manganese and is hard. Surface water generally has a high concentration of iron and is colored.

Minnesota↗

USGS1965

Water resources in the vicinity of municipalities on the east-central Mesabi Iron Range, northeastern Minnesota

Additional supplies of water are available near the municipalities on the east-central Mesabi Iron Range. Both ground water and surface water offer good potential supplies. For the ground-water supplies, the most productive aquifers are the Biwabik Iron Formation and the stratified glacial drift. Surface-water supplies are variable. Streams in the western part of the report area are too small to yield supplies of importance, but lakes are a good potential supply. Eveleth and Gilbert are the only towns presently utilizing this source. In the eastern part of the area of this report, the Pike and Embarrass Rivers offer good potential supplies. Flow records from two gaging stations are presented as are data from many wells and test holes. Surface water generally has a high concentration of iron and is colored. Most ground water has a high concentration of iron and manganese and is hard. Analyses of water from many sources are presented.

Minnesota↗

USGS1965

Water resources in the vicinity of municipalities on the eastern Mesabi Iron Range and the Vermilion Iron Range, northeastern Minnesota

Additional supplies of water are available near the municipalities on the eastern Mesabi Iron Range and the Vermilion Iron Range. On the eastern Mesabi Range the potential for additional development of both ground-water and surface-water supplies are good, and on the Vermilion Range the best potential for development is from surface-water resources. The most productive aquifers in the area of this report are the Biwabik Iron-Formation and the stratified glacial drift; Bast of Colby Lake the Biwabik Iron-Formation is not an important aquifer, and it is entirely absent on the Vermilion Range. Also, on the Vermilion Range the glacial drift is generally too thin to yield the quantities of water found on the Mesabi Range. Surface-water supplies in the area of this report are good. An extensive network of river systems and many lakes form a large untapped potential supply. Records of flow from eight gaging stations are presented as are data from many wells and test holes. Ground water commonly has a high concentration of iron and manganese and is hard. Surface water generally has a high concentration of iron and is colored. Analyses of water from many sources are included.

Minnesota↗

USGS1963