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Roger B. Colton

Publications and source records attributed to Roger B. Colton.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
USGS1978

Geologic map of the Boulder-Fort Collins-Greeley area, Colorado

This digital map shows the geographic extent of rock stratigraphic units (formations) as compiled by Colton in 1976 under the Front Range Urban Corridor Geology Program. Colton used his own geologic mapping and previously published geologic maps to compile one map having a single classification of geologic units. The resulting published color paper map (USGS Map I-855-G, Colton, 1978) was intended for land-use planning and to depict the regional geology. In 1997-1999, another USGS project designed to address urban growth issues was undertaken. This project, the USGS Front Range Infrastructure Resources Project, undertook to digitize Colton's map at 1:100,000 scale, making it useable in Geographical Information Systems (GIS). That product is described here. In general, the digitized map depicts in its western part Precambrian igneous and metamorphic rocks, Pennsylvanian and younger sedimentary rock units, major faults, and brecciated zones along an eastern strip (5-20 km wide) of the Front Range. The central and eastern parts of the map (Colorado Piedmont) show a mantle of Quaternary unconsolidated deposits and interspersed outcrops of sedimentary rock of Cretaceous or Tertiary age. A surficial mantle of unconsolidated deposits of Quaternary age is differentiated and depicted as eolium (wind-blown sand and silt), alluvium (river gravel, sand, and silt of variable composition), colluvium, and a few landslide deposits. At the mountain front, north-trending, Paleozoic and Mesozoic formations of sandstone, shale, and minor limestone dip mostly eastward and form folds, fault blocks, hogbacks and intervening valleys. Local dikes and sills of Tertiary rhyodacite and basalt intrude rocks near the range front, mostly in the Boulder area.

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USGS1977

Gravitational spreading of steep-sided ridges ("sackung") in Colorado

Large-scale gravitational spreading and fracturing of steep-sided ridges in the mountainous area of Colorado are characterized by horizontal linear fissures, trenches, and uphill-facing scarps on tops and sides of ridges. A pronounced north-trending cleft and several minor scarps have split a ridge extending northward from Dolores Peak in the San Miguel Mountains of southwestern Colorado. This ridge is capped by granogabbro of a Tertiary laccolith that intruded the Cretaceous Mancos Shale. Numerous active landslides in shale mantle the once glaciated lower slopes. Trenches in the granogabbro probably originated after glacial ice melted, leaving steep sides of the ridge unsupported. The soft Mancos shale moved outward toward the direction of least stress, placing the overlying granogabbro under tension. A ridge that extends southwest from Bald Eagle Mountain, north of Mount Massive in central Colorado, is marked by a graben on the top and several trenches on the northwest side, parallel to the long axis of the ridge. Rock exposed in graben and trenches is the Precambrian St. Kevin Granite, which includes some schist and migmatite. Gravitational movement probably took place after steepening of the valley sides by glacial erosion and melting of the glaciers. Movement followed preexisting discontinuities in the rock. A survey course approximately 2.4 km (1.5 mi) long has been placed across .the fractured ridge. It will be monitored periodically to determine whether movement is continuing, and if so, at what rate.

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USGS1975

Preliminary map of landslide deposits, Denver 1° by 2° Quadrangle, Colorado

Areas inferred to be underlain by landslide deposits resulting from landsliding, avalanching, block gliding, debris sliding or flowing, earthflows, mudflows, rocksliding, rockfalls, rotational slides, slab or flake sliding, slumping, talus accumulation, and translational sliding. Rock glacier deposits, colluvium, and solifluction deposits are included in some areas. Some till is mapped with landslide deposits because distinguishing these two deposits from one another is difficult: Furthermore, in some areas till has failed by landsliding and other types of mass movements. Movement within the deposits varies from none to rapid; rates of movement may also be variable in any given landslide within the same year. Ages of deposits' range from early Pleistocene to Holocene.

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USGS1973

Map showing mined areas of the Boulder-Weld coal field, Colorado

Compiled by Raymond E. Lowrie, U.S. Bureau of Mines (1966), and revised by Roger B. Colton, U.S. Geological Survey, assisted by Harold R. Fitch, 1972. In the revision of this map, many mine maps and two unpublished general small-scale maps of the area by F. H. Canis (deceased) and Samuel Tescher (deceased) were used. Much information was obtained orally from Louis A. Gaz, Consulting Engineer, Lafayette, Colorado. Faults shown are from published and unpublished geologic maps of the Erie, Frederick, Lafayette, and Louisville quadrangles by Frank D. Spencer (1961), U.S. Geological Survey; from field work by Colton, and from many large-scale unpublished mine maps loaned by Louis Gaz. Users of this map should consult copies of the large-scale mine maps in the Office of the Colorado State Coal Mine Inspection Group for exact outlines of mined-out areas. Areas affected by collapse over mined-out areas may be larger than limits of mine workings. Depth to mined coal increases generally from west to east and ranges from zero at the outcrop to as much as 500 feet. Boundaries of workings should be verified by drilling. Shafts and drifts are only approximately located, and some may not be shown.

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