Geology topics
Research about Tennessee
Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Tennessee.
Water resources data for Tennessee, water year 1981
Water resources data for the 1981 water year for Tennessee consist of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams and springs; stage, contents, and water quality of lakes and reservoirs; and water levels and water quality of wells. This report contains discharge records for 114 gaging stations; stage only records for one lake gaging station; elevation and contents for 27 lakes and reservoirs; water quality for 73 stations and 45 wells; and water levels for 30 observation wells. Also included are 127 crest-stage partial-record stations, 77 low-flow partial-record stations, and 81 coal-hydrology partial-record stations. Additional water data were collected at various stream and spring sites not involved in the systematic data collection program and are published as miscellaneous measurements and analyses, or as seepage investigations of discharge and water quality. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System operated by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in Tennessee.
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.
Ground water in the carbonate rocks of the Franklin area, Tennessee
A study of ground water in the Franklin area, Tennessee, was undertaken to fill a growing need for information on ground-water occurrence in the carbonate rocks of central Tennessee. Fifteen drilling sites were selected that had one or more of the following characteristics: medium-to thick-bedded limestones within 200 feet of land surface, structural lows, significant streamflow gains and losses, elongated sinkholes, straight stream reaches, linear features or other surface indications of solution cavities at depth. The 15 test wells produced from less than 1 to about 600 gallons per minute and had an average yield of 68 gallons per minute, measured while pumping the wells with compressed air. The average driller-reported yield for the area is five gallons per minute. Specific capacities for the four highest yielding wells ranged from 0.6 to 357 gallons per minute per foot of drawdown after 8 hours of pumping at rates ranging from 70 to 225 gallons per minute. Additional drilling at two sites revealed extensive solution openings. At one site, drawdown in five observation wells did not exceed 8.5 feet during 48 hours of pumping at an average rate of 502 gallons per minute. Raw water in the test wells meets most drinking-water standards and is of rather uniform quality from well to well and throughout the year.
The microzonation of the Memphis, Tennessee area
Although the probability of a major earthquake in the central U.S. is only one-tenth of the Californian events, any such event is expected to result in damage ten times greater than that anticipated in California. The city of Memphis, which is situated very close to the inferred epicenter of one of the three major 1811-1812 earthquakes, is in a potentially hazardous zone which will be susceptible to the usual seismic hazards. By recognizing the high level of seismicity in the New Madrid area, this study attempts to microzone the potential hazards in the city of Memphis. This study examines the pertinent criteria necessary for any microzonation study. The subjects considered include: (i) The seismicity of the central United States, (ii) Design earthquakes, (iii) Response analysis which allows us to construct the necessary microzonation maps. The seismicity of the region is evaluated according to the state-of-the-art literature available as there is no recorded strong motion data available for the central U.S. The maximum credible earthquakes which are likely to affect Memphis are evaluated as the one in a thousand year occurrence. However, earthquakes of a lower intensity (and lower recurrence rates) are selected as design earthquakes to permit a more realistic microzonation to be performed. For the response analysis, these earthquakes are simulated using synthetically generated accelerograms which exhibit the relevant parameters. These accelerograms displaying the significant characteristics of amplitude, predominant frequency and duration were selected to display, as accurately as possible, the anticipated nature of the horizontal bedrock-motions at Memphis. The horizontal motions (SH-waves) were applied at a depth of 45m below ground surface at numerous sites in the city of Memphis, where the soil stratigraphy had been conceptualized from borehole data. The soils data made available by local sources was the only information used for this study as any laboratory testing was outside the scope of this study. The dynamic soil properties were thus established from the available Standard Penetration Resistances and soil classifications. The results of the response analysis were transformed into microzonation maps depicting (i) zones showing qualitative estimates of ground response, (ii) zones showing the natural frequency of the soils, (iii) zones showing the peak spectral acceleration for 2% damping ratio, (iv) zones of liquefaction potential. These maps are essentially useful for preliminary investigation and we do not expect them to be used on a quantitative basis. However, further investigation is necessary in determining the stratigraphy and soil properties to a more accurate level if an earthquake hazard is anticipated.
The Quality of Water Discharging From the New River and Clear Fork Basins, Tennessee
The quality of water discharging from a strip-mined basin and a relatively unmined basin on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee are examined and compared. The chemical and aesthetic quality of these waters will directly affect the chemical and aesthetic quality of the water flowing through a proposed national river and recreation area. Water from the heavily mined New River basin is characterized by neutral pH, low dissolved solids (less than 300 milligrams per liter), and high concentrations of suspended sediment. More than 90 percent of the suspended sediment is silt and clay. Suspended-sediment concentrations in the thousands of milligrams per liter are not uncommon for New River and often impart a highly turbid appearance to the water. Approximately 590,000 tons of suspended sediment were discharged from the New River basin in 1977, as compared to an estimated 20,000 tons from the relatively unmined Clear Fork basin. In association with these fine-grain suspended sediments are sorbed trace metals. In 1977 the New River basin discharged an estimated 17,000 tons of suspended iron while Clear Fork discharged an estimated 600 tons. Suspended-sediment concentration was found to be highly correlated with both suspended and total trace-metal concentrations. This correlation coupled with the nearly neutral pH of the water indicates that trace metals are transported primarily in the suspended phase. The most promising indicator of the presence of coal mining was found to be dissolved sulfate. All unmined basins sampled in this study showed dissolved sulfate concentrations less than 20 milligrams per liter, whereas all mined basins had dissolved-sulfate concentrations in excess of 20 milligrams per liter regardless of basin size or discharge.
Seismicity map of the State of Tennessee
The earthquake data shown on this map and listed in table 1 are a list of earthquakes that were originally used in preparing the Seismic Risk Studies in the United States (Algermissen, 1969) which have been recompiled and updated through 1977. These data have been reexamined which resulted in some revisions of epicenters and intensities as well as assignment of intensities to earthquakes that previously had none assigned. Intensity values were updated from new and additional data sources that were not available at the time of original compilation. Some epicenters were relocated on the basis of new information. The data shown in table 1 are estimates of the most accurate epicenter, magnitude, and intensity of each earthquake, on the basis of historical and current information. Some of the aftershocks from large earthquakes are listed but are incomplete in many instances, especially for the ones that occurred before seismic instruments were in universal usage.
Mineral resources of the Citico Creek Wilderness Study Area, Monroe County, Tennessee
The proposed Citico Creek Wilderness comprises about 5,670 hectares (56.7 km2) in the Cherokee National Forest south of the Little Tennessee River in easternmost Monroe County, Tennessee. Principal drainages are Citico Creek and Doublecamp Creek. Rocks of the study area include greenschist-facies arkosic metasandstone, metagraywacke, slate, and metaconglomerate of the Great Smoky Group of late Precambrian age. Minor deposits of unconsolidated Quaternary alluvium locally mantle the bedrock. Deformation is shown by asymmetric and overturned folds and by several major faults. More than 500 sample s of soil, rock, and stream sediment were collected and analyzed for 31 major, minor, and trace elements by semiquantitative spectrographic, atomic absorption, and fire assay methods No significant metal anomalies were detected. Concentrations of Cu, Co, As, Pb, and Zn slightly higher than background are found within sulfidic parts of a distinctive stratigraphic unit composed of graphitic slate and metagraywacke. Pyrite and pyrrhotite are the chief sulfide minerals, with traces o f accessory sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena, and arsenopyrite occurring as microscopic intergrowths. A reconnaissance ground radiometric survey and subsequent neutron activation analyses of selected radioactive rock samples show that the sulfidic parts of the graphitic slate unit have a relatively high content of Th and U, but are not potentially economic. No metallic mineral resources appear to exist within the Citico Creek Wilderness Study Area. Resources of slate, silica, and stone are present, but they display no special qualities to differentiate them from other such material throughout the region. Ceramic evaluation tests on selected samples of slate indicate that the slate would have only marginal use for structural clay products such as brick and tile. Minor sand and gravel deposits occur along a few streams but are present in larger quantities and are more easily recovered in other areas.
Geochemical analyses of rock, soil, and stream sediment samples from the Citico Creek Wilderness Study Area, Monroe County, Tennessee
Semiquantitative spectrographic analyses for 31 elements and atomic absorption analyses for gold and zinc on 119 stream sediments, 14 panned concentrates, 128 soils, and 192 rock samples from the Citico Creek Wilderness Study Area and vicinity, Monroe County, Tennessee, are reported here in detail. Locations for all 453 samples are given in Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinates. Rocks analyzed include metasandstone, metaarkose, metagraywacke, metaconglomerate, slate, phyllite, and vein quartz. The data contain no obviously anomalous values that might be related to economically recoverable mineralization.
Susceptibility of the Memphis water supply to contamination from the pesticide waste-disposal site in northeastern Hardeman County, Tennessee
Public concern has been expressed over the possiblity that leachates from a pesticide waste-disposal site in northeastern Hardeman County, Tennessee, might eventually reach the Memphis area and endanger the city 's water supply. An examination of the possible pathways and means of transport of these contaminants reveals that, the Memphis area in detectable concentrations is unlikely. (USGS)
Low-flow hydrology of the Sulphur Fork Red River basin, Robertson County, north-central Tennessee
The objectives of this study were to define (1) the average 3-day natural low-flow with a 20-year recurrence interval for five low-flow partial-record sites and one continuous record station, (2) losing and gaining reaches of the main stem of the Sulphur Fork Red River and major tributaries, and (3) the quality of water during low-flow. An additional objective was the collection of continuous streamflow and temperature data at selected sites for development of a thermal model for use as a guide in design and management of a small reservoir. The quantity of surface water during low-flow varies considerably throughout the basin. Streamflow during periods of drought is groundwater discharging through numerous springs and seeps. The average 3-day, 20-year low-flow of the six study sites range from 0.1 to 2.2 cubic feet per second. Seepage investigations in October 1976 show that as much as 4.4 cubic feet per second are lost from the Sulphur Fork Red River within a reach of 1.7 miles between river mile 30.8 and 29.1. Seepage investigations in July 1977 show that as much as 3.7 cubic feet per second are gained in the Sulphur Fork Red River within a reach of 0.8 miles between river mile 42.6 and 41.8. Measured discharges from the 12 major springs in the basin ranged from less than 1 to 1660 gallons per minute during low-flow. Water quality of streams varies in time and space. Specific conductance ranged from 200 to 1,800 micromhos per centimeter at 25 ° centigrade during the 1976 seepage investigation on the Sulphur Fork Red River. During the two-year study the specific conductance of water from the springs ranged from 230 to 675 micromhos per centimeter at 25 ° centigrade.
Summary appraisals of the nation's ground-water resources – Tennessee region
Ground water is an abundant and little-used resource in the Tennessee Region, a 41,000 square mile area dominated by the Tennessee River system and including parts of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. One-fifth to one-fourth of the precipitation that falls on the region enters the ground-water reservoirs. During the year approximately the same amount of water leaves the ground-water system, sustaining the dry-weather flow of streams. Recharge for the region is about 22,000 million gallons per day or 0.5 million gallons per day per square mile. The major types of aquifers in the region are unconsolidated material (including sand and regolith), carbonate rocks, and fractured noncarbonate rocks. One or more of these aquifer types occurs in each of the six physiographic subdivisions of the region. The productivity of these aquifers depends on their hydraulic properties and on the distribution of these properties. The unconsolidated sand aquifers are the most homogeneous in composition and most predictable in occurrence. These aquifers commonly yield 200 to 600 gallons per minute per well depending on the thickness of sand penetrated. The most difficult aquifers to predict in regard to depth and yield are the carbonate rocks. In these aquifers it is possible to drill dry holes within a few hundred feet of wells capable of producing several thousand gallons per minute. However, with an adequate reconnaissance study to determine the occurrence of ground water and a planned test drilling program, yields of up to 300 gallons per minute per well can be expected in the carbonate aquifers. Potential yields from the fractured noncarbonate aquifers are lower than in the carbonate rocks. The chemical and physical properties of ground water in the Tennessee Region are usually within the limits recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency for drinking water, and the ground water in all but some very shallow aquifers tends to be free of pathogenic microorganisms. Saline water is not known to occur in significant quantities in the region. In 1970, 173 million gallons per day of ground water were used in the Tennessee Region. This was less than 8 percent of the total quantity of water used in the region and only 0.8 percent of the estimated ground-water recharge. Ground water is used chiefly as a source of water supply for rural areas and small towns. A lesser amount is used by industries and commercial establishments located beyond the limits of municipal water-supply systems. However, there is potential for significantly increased use in order to augment surface-water supplies and to utilize the total water resource more efficiently. Hydrologic studies and adequate test drilling would greatly increase the chances of locating large amounts of ground water, especially in the nine-tenths of the Tennessee Region that is underlain by either carbonate rocks or fractured noncarbonate rocks which have highly variable water-bearing properties. Collectively, such studies are useful in developing a concept of the hydrologic system which would permit the development of criteria for selecting well sites in other areas with a similar geological and hydrological setting. Hydrologic studies that include test drilling have been conducted in all parts of the region except the Cumberland Plateau. Some of the basic data necessary for hydrologic studies, such as geologic maps, well records, and streamflow records are available throughout the region. However, detailed information on groundwater levels, ground-water quality, and aquifer characteristics are not equally available throughout the region. This type of information cannot be obtained quickly when it is needed; it must be the product of a continuing program of studies designed to evaluate the Tennessee Region's ground-water resource. Because of the interdependence of ground water and surface water, water management efforts can be fully effective only if they involve the whole water resource. In the Tennessee Region, surface water is highly controlled, but there is at present no regionwide water-resources management plan that includes ground water.
Preliminary evaluation of flood frequency relations in the urban areas of Memphis, Tennessee
A storm-runoff relation for streams in the urban areas of Memphis was determined by a statistical evaluation of 59 flood discharges from 19 gaging stations. These flood discharges were related to drainage area, percent imperviousness of the drainage basin, and rainfall occurring over 120-minute periods. The defined relation is Q = (158.3A^(0.777A^(-0.02)))*((IMP+1)^(0.227))*((I120)^((0.539*(I120))^0.40)) where Q is flood discharge in cfs, A is drainage area in square miles, IMP is percent imperviousness in the basin, and 1120 is rainfall in inches, over 120 minute time period. The defined relation was used to synthesize sets of annual flood peaks for drainage basins ranging from .05 square miles to 10 square miles and imperviousness ranging from 0 to 80 percent for the period of rainfall record at Memphis. From these series of flood peaks, frequency relations were defined and presented for 2, 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 year recurrent intervals.
Ground-water supplies in the Murfreesboro area, Tennessee
Ground water occurs in the Murfreesboro area in solution openings in the otherwise dense paleozoic limestones that underlie most of central Tennessee. Test drilling based on conceptual models of ground-water occurrence in carbonate-rock aquifers indicate that multimillion-gallon-per-day supplies could be developed from strategically located production wells in the Shiloh and Overall Creek localities. The Shiloh locality which encompasses an elongated synclinal depression in the bedrock has the potential to supply 5 to 8 million gallons per day. The Overall Creek locality which straddles a joint-oriented lineament has the potential to supply 3 to 6 million gallons per day. Some local springs could be used as a supplemental source of potable water, but storage facilities would be needed to offset poorly sustained flows during dry periods. An exception is Fox Camp Spring which appears to be a natural well. The quality of ground water in the Murfreesboro area is typically hard, moderately mineralized and moderately to highly alkaline. Although the shallowest aquifers are subject to bacterial contamination from the land surface, aquifers beneath a depth of 100 feet are prone to yield potable water. (Woodard-USGS)
Earthquake history of Tennessee
The western part of the State was shaken strongly by the New Madrid, Mo., earthquakes of 1811-12 and by earthquakes in 1843 and 1895. The area has also experienced minor shocks. Additional activity has occurred in the eastern part of the State, near the North Carolina border. Forty shocks of intensity V (Modified Mercalli scale) or greater have been cataloged as occurring within the State. Many other earthquakes centered in bordering States have affected points in Tennessee. The following summary covers only hose shocks of intensity VI or greater.
Possibility of triggering earthquakes by injection of radioactive wastes in shale at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tenn.
Most investigators generally agree that the conditions for producing earthquakes by fluid injection through wells and by reservoir construction are (1) the presence of an underlying rock that is stressed to the verge of fracturing by tectonic stresses and (or) is on the brink of sliding on pre-existing fault planes, (2) the presence of potentially active faults(s), and (3) an increase of pore pressure in the rock caused by fluid injection or seepage from reservoir (s), which is probably the triggering force. The mechanism of disposal of radioactive wastes in shale by grout injection and hydraulic fracturing, which has been used at ORNL (Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tenn.) is different from injection of fluid. The injected grout is in its liquid phase only during the injection period and, it is to be hoped, is confined in the hydraulically induced bedding-plane fractures. The grout is then allowed to solidify under pressure after termination of the injection, and, after solidification, it becomes an integral part of the shale. Significant characteristics of the disposal method and the site are as follows: (1) Because of the low permeability of shale and high viscosity of the injection grout, pore pressure in the rock, beyond the region of induced fractures, does not increase due to the injections; the injected grout enters newly formed bedding-plane fractures, (2) the injection site is free of local faults and of major interconnected joints and fractures; accordingly, injected grout in its liquid state is expected to be confined principally in the induced nearly horizontal bedding-plane fractures, and (3) due to low tensile strength along shale bedding planes, the energy needed to induce bedding-plane fractures is small; experiments made at ORNL indicate that the energy released during hydraulic fracturing in shale is so small that seismic signals generated by grout injections cannot be differentiated from ambient ground vibrations. In view of the fact 'that an increase of pore pressure in rock (the triggering force) and association with potentially active fault (s) do not occur at the proposed site at ORNL and that the disposal method does not produce an increase in pore pressure, it can reasonably be concluded that neither the method nor the site has the characteristics for triggering earthquakes during and after grout injections.