Geology topics
Research about Tennessee
Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Tennessee.
Geology of northeasternmost Tennessee, with a section on the description of the basement rocks
No abstract available.
Geology and coal resources of the Ivydell quadrangle, Campbell County, Tennessee
No abstract available.
Geology and coal resources of the Pioneer quadrangle, Scott and Campbell Counties, Tennessee
No abstract available.
Heavy-mineral suites in unconsolidated Paleocene and younger sands, western Tennessee
Heavy-mineral suites from unconsolidated sands of Wilcox and Claiborne age (Eocene) in the subsurface of western Tennessee were tabulated and compared with heavy-mineral suites obtained from outcropping sands known to be of Midway (Paleocene) and Wilcox age and younger. In the subsurface at Memphis, both pink and colorless garnet are relatively abundant in the Claiborne but rare in the Wilcox. Garnet, however, is very rare in both the Claiborne and the Wilcox in the subsurface 35 miles northeast of Memphis. The mineral is very rare also in the terrace sands of western Tennessee and in samples of the Pliocene(?) and Pleistocene deposits of the Tennessee River in eastern and western Tennessee. It is possible, therefore, that the relative abundance of the mineral garnet is related to the quantity of sediment received from differing source areas in Wilcox and Claiborne times, but that, owing to the shifting of the axis of the embayment, no one source area furnished all the sediment for any formation. Heavy-mineral suites from Pliocene(?) and Pleistocene terrace deposits of the Tennessee River in both eastern and western Tennessee, and heavy-mineral suites from Pliocene(?) deposits of the Mississippi River are much alike, and the only isotropic mineral noted in these sediments was a very rare green mineral. Heavy-mineral suites from Recent deposits of the Mississippi River at Memphis and reported heavy-mineral suites from Cambrian sandstones of Wisconsin and Minnesota differ greatly from heavy-mineral suites of Pliocene(?) terrace deposits of the Tennessee and Mississippi Rivers and include much pink and colorless garnet. The possibility, therefore, is suggested that the Pliocene(?) terrace deposits of the Mississippi River in western Tennessee were derived largely from the basin of the Tennessee River.
Middle Ordovician rocks of the Tellico-Sevier belt, eastern Tennessee
No abstract available.
Stabilization of some rockslides in Grainger County, Tennessee
Slides in dipping Cambrian sandstone, resulting from highway relocation along Norris Reservoir, have been stabilized by the use of steel dowels and concrete anchor blocks. Geologic conditions favored this type of treatment, as sliding took place in thin shales between thick sandstone beds.
Vestigial zinc in surface residuum associated with primary zinc ore in East Tennessee
A series of samples of residual clay at the Friends Station zinc deposit, Tenn., was collected and analyzed for zinc. Results indicate that residuum containing 0.05 percent Zn and more is the product of weathering of limestone and dolomite containing zinc mineralization. Chemical analysis of residual clays for zinc shows promise as a method of prospecting for zinc in the limestone valleys of the southern Appalachians.
Electrical resistivity investigations at Memphis, and Bolivar, Tennessee
This geophysical investigation was undertaken upon request of Elliott M. Cushing of the Ground Water Division Office at Memphis, Tennessee. The field work was performed during the period March 13 to 28, 1947; the apparent resistivity curves were interpreted during November and December; and the report was written subsequent to the interpretation of the curves. The writer is grateful to Elliott M. Cushing and his staff for the splendid cooperation and generous assistance extended to him in obtaining the measurements. It is also a pleasure to acknowledge the assistance of George J. Edwards in obtaining the field measurements.
Experimental drilling in Chattanooga shale
Information on which specifications were originally drawn for drilling the Chattanooga shale was obtained largely from the TVA, whose geologists and driller laid great stress on the difficulties of maintaining circulation in their ho;es. The stated that the shale itself was not particularly difficult to core, the trouble being in the overburden. They did not use deep casing, depending on cementing to hold the holes open. On this basis, the Survey's specifications called for mid casing only, it being assumed that solid rock would be encountered at relatively shallow depths. This belief was borne out by examination of such road cuts and other exposures as were available.