Geology topics

Research about Lauderdale County, Tennessee

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Lauderdale County, Tennessee.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS1991

Surficial geology of the Cane Creek basin, Lauderdale County, Tennessee

The surficial geology of the Cane Creek basin, in Lauderdale County, West Tennessee, was studied from 1985-88. Peoria Loess is the parent material from which soils in the Cane Creek drainage basin were derived. In general, a brown silt grades into a gray silt from 5 to I7 feet below ground surface. This color change probably represents depth to water table prior to the channelization of Cane Creek. Only at river mile 11.9 does rock outcrop near the main channel. Lower reaches of major tributaries have surficial geology similar to the main channel. In upper reaches of Hyde Creek and Fain Spring Creek, the sequence from the surface is sand and gravels, red-brown sandstone, sand and clay layers, and then, an orange sand layer. Coarse-grained deposits are found most often along the northern boundary of the basin and only occasionally in areas to the west and south of the main channel. Depth to sand or gravel ranges from about 0 to 158 feet in the uplands, and generally deeper than 40 feet near the main channel.

Tennessee↗

USGS1985

Preliminary assessment of ground-water resources of Lauderdale County, Tennessee

The ground-water resource in Lauderdale County is in a rudimentary stage of development. The principal shallow aquifers are the Mississippi alluvial deposits of Quaternary age and the Cockfield Formation, Memphis Sand, and Fort Pillow Sand of Tertiary age. Water levels fluctuate seasonally. High water levels generally occur in the winter, spring, or early summer, and low water levels occur in the fall or early winter. Water from the Mississippi alluvial deposits, Cockfield Formation, and Memphis Sand is a calcium bicarbonate type and is generally of good quality. Undesirable parameters from the standpoint of use are hardness and concentrations of dissolved iron and dissolved solids. The Fort Pillow Sand, as yet untapped, has potential to yield a sodium bicarbonate type of water of somewhat better quality than is available from the shallow aquifers. Estimated values of transmissivity from single-well pumping tests are highest for the Mississippi alluvial deposits and lowest for the Cockfield. Several north-northeast and west-northwest trending faults cross the country.

Tennessee↗

USGS1981

Appraisal of hydrologic information needed in anticipation of lignite mining in Lauderdale County, Tennessee

Lignite in western Tennessee occurs as lenses or beds at various stratigraphic horizons in the Coastal Plain sediments of Late Cretaceous and Tertiary age. The occurrence of this lignite has been known for many decades, but not until the energy crisis was it considered an important energy resource. In recent years, several energy companies have conducted extensive exploration programs in western Tennessee, and tremendous reserves of lignite have been found. From available information, Lauderdale County was selected as one of the counties where strip-mining of lignite will most likely occur. Lignite in this county occurs in the Jackson and Cockfield Formations, undivided, of Tertiary age. The hydrology of the county is known only from regional studies and the collection of some site-specific data. Therefore, in anticipation of the future mining of lignite, a plan is needed for obtaining hydrologic and geologic information to adequately define the hydrologic system before mining begins and to monitor the effects of strip-mining once it is begun. For this planning effort, available hydrologic, geologic, land use, and associated data were located and compiled; a summary description of the surface and shallow subsurface hydrologic system was prepared: the need for additional baseline hydrologic information was outlined; and plans to monitor the effects of strip-mining were proposed. This planning approach, although limited to a county area, has transferability to other Coastal Plain areas under consideration for strip-mining of lignite.

Tennessee↗