USGS Science⌕ Search

Geology topics

Research about New Jersey

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including New Jersey.

512 records · Page 29Linked to original sources
USGS1946

Artificial recharge of productive ground-water aquifers in New Jersey

Artificial recharge by water spreading is practiced in several places in New Jersey. Rates of recharge ranging from 3,000 to 125,000 gallons per acre per day have been measured at the Perth Amboy Water Works, where artificial recharge of the Old Bridge sand, of upper Cretaceous age, has been practiced for more than 40 years. At the Duhernal development, which also draws from the Old Bridge sand, four or five million gallons daily is now derived from artificial recharge. This rate will probably increase with further lowering of the water table near the lake. For many years the Princeton Water Company has pumped water from a stream for recharging the Stockton sandstone, of Triassic age. The Lake Mohawk-Sparta Water Company spreads water underground by means of covered, gravel-filled ditches to recharge a shallow aquifer in its well field. The City of East Orange spreads the water from several small streams over parts of the intake area of the Quaternary beds supplying its wells. The estimated total recharge there is about two million gallons daily. Closely related to artificial recharge are those instances wherein well sites are chosen to take advantage of potential recharge from existing bodies of surface water. At the Borough of Manville no water spreading operations are conducted, but about three quarters of the water from its wells is derived by recharge from the Raritan River. The silting of water spreading areas may impair their effectiveness considerably. In some instances the growth of aquatic vegetation seems to reduce the ill effects of silting.

New Jersey↗
USGS1943

The Arlington copper mine: North Arlington, New Jersey

The Arlington copper mine is located in North Arlington, Bergen Co., N. J. The ore deposit occurs in a 10- to 30-foot thick arkosic sandstone layer, interbedded in red shale. Copper mineralization is associated with thin diabase sills and dikes. It would probably not be feasible to develop the underground workings since they are overlain by the residential section of North Arlington. One area, containing approximately 11,000 tons of indicated ore could possibly be quarried.

New Jersey↗
USGS1936

Supplementary report on the ground-water supplies of the Atlantic City region

This report is the second progress report on the ground-water investigations in the Atlantic City region. Many important problems still remain to be solved, however, and it is in no sense a final report. The report covers the area immediately surrounding Atlantic City, extending from Brigantine to Sea Isle City along the coast and from Absecon to Somers Point on the mainland. In addition to this, a few data are presented bearing on the area along the coast as far south as Wildwood. The area lies in the southern part of the New Jersey Coastal Plain, and the water-bearing formations considered are all unconsolidated and of Miocene or more recent age. The major formations in the region dip gently toward the ocean and possibly extend out under the ocean to the edge of the Continental Shelf, about 100 miles from Atlantic City. The principal ground-water supplies in the area are derived from the so-called "800-foot sand," a member of the Kirkwood formation, and from the overlying Cohansey sands. The 800-foot sand is of wide extent and apparently fairly uniform. The Cohansey sands, on the other hand, cover a wide area but are by no means uniform. At the Atlantic City Water Works two Cohansey sands are recognized-the so-called "100-foot" and "200-foot" sands. Neither of these sands can be differentiated from the other sands of the Cohansey formation over a distance greater than 4 or 5 miles in any direction. In addition to the supplies derived from ground water, some surface water is used at present by two of the public water supplies. The quality of the water from all the sources of supply now used is satisfactory. The total consumption of water in the region has increased gradually over the entire period of record, except for a moderate decline from 1929 to 1934. Additional water supplies can be obtained from either of two fairly large streams near the region, and possibly also from a more widespread development of the Cohansey sands. The 800-foot sand should not be counted upon as a source of additional water supply, in view of its liability to salt-water contamination. The same danger also exists in the Cohansey sands on the mainland near the shore, but farther inland it is not a serious menace to the supply from these sands The 100-foot sand at the Atlantic City Water Work has been overdeveloped since 1930, with the result that the head of the water in it has been lowered materially and salt water has been drawn into it through holes in the overlying clay beneath the nearby salt marshes. Three of the five new large-capacity wells drilled to this sand in 1930 have been temporarily or permanently abandoned on account of salt-water intrusion, and the two others will probably have to be abandoned also, unless suitable remedial measures are promptly adopted. It is recommended that the wells to the 100-foot sand be used only when needed to supply the seasonal peak demand and that consideration be given to a project to transform the tidal marshes into a fresh-water pond by means of a suitable dam in order to protect the formation from further contamination. If detailed study proves that the dam and fresh-water pond would not be economically justified, a smaller pond and an embankment and tide gates on the main stream to keep the salt water from flooding the marshes are recommended as less effective but less expensive remedial measures. In view of the experience with the 100-foot sand at the Atlantic City Water Works, it is further recommended that any additional development of the Cohansey sands be preceded by a comprehensive test-well program that will indicate not only the capacity of the sands, but the location of salt water in them and the possibility of its being drawn into existing wells or the proposed new wells. The salt-water intrusion into the 100-foot sand was effectively studied by means of driven-well points, which, it was found, could easily be driven to a depth of about 100 feet. The fact that the screen of these wells was driven with the casing and that no water was used in the drilling process made it possible to collect true samples of water from every sand encountered in them. This, in turn, made it possible to study the vertical distribution of salt water in each well. The interpretation of the vertical distribution of salt water in these wells was very helpful in arriving at a final decision as to the source of the salt water. The 200-foot sand at the Atlantic City Water Works has also been subjected to a considerably increased draft since 1930. Although there is no evidence at present that this sand has been overdeveloped, a study of its characteristics suggests that it may not be capable of yielding permanently the capacity of the present wells that tap it. Three test wells have been installed between the well field and the source from which this sand might derive salt water, and they should be sampled regularly to determine the danger of salt-water intrusion into the sand. In a landward direction this sand merges into the other Cohansey sands. It is therefore advisable that any additional development of the Cohansey sands should be undertaken so far inland that the pumping from it will not affect the present wells to the 200-foot sand and thereby increase the danger of salt-water contamination in them. At present more potable water is taken from the Atlantic City 800-foot sand than from any other source of supply for the region. This sand is the sole source for some of the smaller communities on the barrier beaches. The original static head of the water in it at Atlantic City was between 20 and 25 feet above sea level. The head has been lowered more than 50 feet over much of the region, and in parts of Atlantic City it has been lowered considerably more than 100 feet. A consideration of the principles governing the relation between salt water and fresh water in water-bearing sands indicates that the 800-foot sand probably contained salt water at a distance of 5 or 10 miles out from Atlantic City before any water was pumped from it. The evidence collected in this investigation indicates that the cone of depression created by the pumping from this sand in the Atlantic City region has probably extended inland to the intake area of the sand, the nearest part of which is probably about 40 miles from Atlantic City. If this is so, the conclusion is almost inescapable that it has also extended oceanward for a distance considerably greater than the 5 or 10 miles to the original zone of contact between the fresh and salt waters, and that salt water is probably being drawn toward the Atlantic City region through this sand. The time of its arrival will depend primarily upon the rate of pumping in the region and upon how much of the fresh water that originally lay between the region and the zone of contact must be removed before the salt water can reach the region. It may arrive in the near future if it advances in the form of a narrow tongue. On the other hand, if it advances along a broader front; so that more of the intervening fresh water must be pumped out of the formation, its arrival may be delayed for some time.

New Jersey↗
USGS1932

The crystal cavities of the New Jersey zeolite region

The crystal cavities present in the mineral complex of the New Jersey traprock region have long excited the interest of mineralogists. In 1914 Fenner made the first detailed and comprehensive study of these cavities and suggested that babingtonite was the original mineral. Soon after this anhydrite was found occupying parts of some of the cavities at one of the quarries. At this time, too, Wherry concluded that glauberite was the original mineral of some of the cavities because of his studies of similar crystal cavities in Triassic shale at different places.

New Jersey↗
USGS1932

Ground water supplies of the Camden area, New Jersey

This report is one of several setting forth the results of investigations as to the safe yield of the principal water-bearing formations in certain parts of New Jersey, carried on cooperatively by the New Jersey Department of Conservation and Development and the United States Geological Survey. Other areas in which similar studies have been made are the Atlantic City area; the Asbury Park area; the Runyon area, including the Perth Amboy well field; the area embracing the well fields of the Commonwealth-Water Co., the East Orange Water Department, and other municipalities near the Passaic River in the vicinity of Chatham; and the Garfield Water Department well field and those of several industries in the vicinity of East Paterson. The results of the study in the Camden area are of value for several reasons. The greater part of the water supply of Camden comes from wells in three fields with an estimated capacity of about 30 million gallons a day, distribute1 over a triangular area of less than one square mile. This is one of the largest developments of ground water in so small an area in the United States. During the investigation a number of new wells were drilled in this area, and the type of wells and methods of pumping were changed, and observations were possible that otherwise could seldom be obtained under such favorable circumstances. As a result of the building of the new bridge across the Delaware River between Philadelphia and Camden there has been a considerable increase in population and in consumption of water in the Camden area, and this investigation is valuable in showing the extent to which further development of ground water is possible. The observations on which the report is based were made in the period from July 1, 1923, to the date of writing the report, in the early part of 1928.1 The continuing observations have been confined essentially to the well fields of the Camden Water Department. Certain data in regard to other well fields within a radius of 10 miles of Camden, collected by F. Clark Rule under the direction of the writer in the summer of 1923, and other data obtained from the files of the Department of Conservation and Development are also included in so far as they bear on the problems under consideration. The City of Camden has cooperated heartily through C. P. Sherwood, formerly director of the Department of Streets and Public Improvements, his successor, W. D. Sayrs, Jr., James H. Long, maintenance engineer of the Water Department, and David B. Owen, chief engineer of the Morris pumping station. Much valuable information has been furnished by the Layne-New York Co., which, during the period of the investigation, replaced nearly all the old-type wells of the Camden system with those of the most modern type. The investigation was under the immediate supervision of H. T. Critchlow, then chief of the Division of Waters of the Department of Conservation and Development, and O.E. Meinzer, geologist in charge of the Division of Ground Water of the United States Geological Survey. The late Dr. M. W. Twitchell, assistant State geologist, was consulted on phases relating to the stratigraphy. A number of analyses of water have been made by C. S. Howard, of the United States Geological Survey, and advice in regard to problems arising from the mineral character of the water has been given by W. D. Collins, chemist in charge of the Division of Quality of Water of the same organization. Thanks are also due to those of the other water departments and private well owners in the area who have furnished information.

New Jersey↗
USGS1903

The Passaic Flood of 1902

Late in February and early in March, 1902, there occured upon the drainage basin of the Passaic River in northeastern New Jersey the most disastrous flood in the history of the region. Not only was the discharge the largest recorded, but the flood was the most destructive to life and property in the settlements ever known along the valley. In the following pages it is proposed to outline the history of this flood, describe the conditions under which it occurred, give the estimated volume of its discharge, and indicate as well as possible the nature and extent of the damage resulting from it. The data and information embodied in the following report were obtained by personal observation while the flood was in progress and after it had subsided and from various water companies, manufacturers, and residents of the flooded areas. Acknowledgments are especially due to Mr. J. II. Cook, of Paterson, engineer for the Society for the Establishment of Useful Manufactures; to Mr. M. R. Sherred, engineer of the water department of the Newark board of public works; to Mr. R. M. Watson, of Wise & Watson, engineers of Passaic; to Mr. C. C. Vermeule, from whose valuable report on the water supply of New Jersey much data have been taken regarding the physical condition of the watersheds, and to others whose help or suggestions have been of value. As the region under discussion, though comparatively restricted, is an important one owing to its dense population and rapidly increasing industrial development, and as the physical and physiographie conditions governing high-water stages on the Passaic watershed are peculiar, it is deemed necessary for a full understanding of the present flood to describe briefly their most important, features.

New Jersey↗
USGSDate not supplied

Cross-borehole flow tests and insights into hydraulic connections in fractured mudstone and sandstone

Cross-borehole flow tests provided insights into hydraulic connections in fractured and dipping mudstone and sandstone that were consistent with the lithostratigraphic and structural framework of a VOCcontaminated bedrock research site in west-central New Jersey. Two cross-borehole flow tests were completed. Each test involved measurement and analysis of transient flow in a newly installed deep corehole with a long open interval during short-term pumping and recovery in an adjacent shallow well with a short open interval. The cross-borehole flow test in the mudstone identified a hydraulic connection through a dipping fractured bed between the pumped interval in the well and a flow zone at an intermediate depth in the corehole. The presence of a hydraulic connection between the pumped well and the corehole was not obvious because the water-level response in the corehole was dominated by a shallow zone of high transmissivity, which was hydraulically isolated from the pumped interval. In the sandstone, the cross-borehole flow test identified a hydraulic connection along dipping fractured beds as well as a connection to a deep high-angle fracture that cuts across bedding. These results suggest that application of cross-borehole flow tests at other contaminated fractured-bedrock sites could provide insights into hydraulic connections useful the design and implementation of monitoring and remediation programs.

New Jersey↗