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At least 973 records · Page 54Linked to original sources
USGS2005

Geologic framework, evolution, and sediment resources for restoration of the Louisiana Coastal Zone

The Louisiana Coastal Zone along the north-central Gulf of Mexico represents one of America's most important coastal ecosystems in terms of natural resources, human infrastructure, and cultural heritage. This zone also has the highest rates of coastal erosion and wetland loss in the nation because of a complex combination of natural processes and anthropogenic activities during the past century. In response to the dramatic land loss, regional-scale restoration plans are being developed through a partnership of federal and state agencies. One objective is to maintain the barrier island and tidal inlet systems, thereby reducing the impact of storm surge and interior wetland loss. Proposed shore line restoration work relies primarily upon the use of large volumes of sand-rich sediment for shoreline stabilization and the implementation of the shoreline projects. Although sand-rich sediment is required for the Louisiana restoration projects, it is of limited availability within the generally clay to silt-rich, shallow strata of the Louisiana Coastal Zone. Locating volumetrically significant quantities of sand-rich sediment presents a challenge and requires detailed field investigations using direct sampling and geophysical sensing methods. Consequently, there is a fundamental need to thoroughly understand and map the distribution and textural character {e.g., sandiness) of sediment resources within the Coastal Zone for the most cost-effective design and completion of restoration projects.

Gulf of Mexico↗
USGS1982

Deep structure and evolution of the Carolina Trough

Multichannel seismic-reflection data together with two-dimensional gravity and magnetic models suggest that the crustal structure off North Carolina consists of normal continental crust landward of the Brunswick magnetic anomaly (BMA), rift-stage crust in the 80-km-wide zone between the BMA and the East Coast magnetic anomaly (ECMA), and normal oceanic crust seaward of the ECMA.

Book chapter↗
USGS1991

Geochemical evolution of acidic ground water at a reclaimed surface coal mine in western Pennsylvania

Concentrations of dissolved sulfate and acidity in ground water increase downflow in mine spoil and underlying bedrock at a reclaimed surface coal mine in the bituminous field of western Pennsylvania. Elevated dissolved sulfate and negligible oxygen in ground water from bedrock about 100 feet below the water table suggest that pyritic sulfur is oxidized below the water table, in a system closed to oxygen. Geochemical models for the oxidation of pyrite (FeS 2 ) and production of sulfate (SO 4 2- ) and acid (H + ) are presented to explain the potential role of oxygen (O 2 ) and ferric iron (Fe 3+ ) as oxidants. Oxidation of pyrite by O 2 and Fe 3+ can occur under oxic conditions above the water table, whereas oxidation by Fe 3+ also can occur under anoxic conditions below the water table. The hydrated ferric-sulfate minerals roemerite [Fe 2+ Fe 4 3+ (SO 4 ) 4 ·14H 2 O], copiapite [Fe 2+ Fe 4 3+ (SO 4 ) 6 (OH) 2 ·20H 2 0], and coquimbite [Fe 2 (SO 4 ) 3 · 9H 2 O] were identified with FeS 2 in coal samples, and form on the oxidizing surface of pyrite in an oxic system above the water table. These soluble ferric-sulfate 11 salts11 can dissolve with recharge waters or a rising water table releasing Fe 3+ , SO 4 2- . and H + , which can be transported along closed-system ground-water flow paths to pyrite reaction sites where O 2 may be absent. The Fe 3+ transported to these sites can oxidize pyritic sulfur. The computer programs WATEQ4F and NEWBAL were used to compute chemical speciation and mass transfer, respectively, considering mineral dissolution and precipitation reactions plus mixing of waters from different upflow zones. Alternative mass-balance models indicate that (a) extremely large quantities of O 2 , over 100 times its aqueous solubility, can generate the observed concentrations of dissolved SO 4 2- from FeS 2 , or (b) under anoxic conditions, Fe 3+ from dissolved ferric-sulfate minerals can oxidize FeS 2 along closed-system ground-water flow paths. In a system open to O 2 , such as in the unsaturated zone, the aqueous solubility of O 2 is not limiting, and oxidation of pyrite by O 2 and Fe 3+ accounts for most SO 4 2- and Fe 2+ observed in acidic ground water. However, in a system closed to O 2 , such as in the saturated zone, O 2 solubility is limiting; hence, ferric oxidation of pyrite is a reasonable explanation for the observed elevated SO 4 2- with increasing depth below the water table.

Pennsylvania↗
USGS1985

Geologic evolution of the United States Atlantic Margin

This volume compiles the significant findings which began to be accumulated in 1974 during offshore petroleum explorations in the Atlantic Continental Shelf. It's the first presentation of current geological data from the U.S. Atlantic Margin from the inner edge of the coastal plain to the deep sea. A seismic grid of several thousand seismic reflection profiles is correlated with 48 deep borings and the same number of shallow core holes. These profiles are presented on 26 large displays that fold out to as large as 48 x 36''.

Book↗
USGS1990

Evolution of the Tertiary La Honda basin, central California

Tertiary strata of the La Honda basin are exposed in the Santa Cruz Mountains along the central California coast south of San Francisco. The basin fill has a composite thickness of more than 14,500 m and consists of sedimentary and volcanic rocks that in places rest on granitic basement rocks of the Salinia terrane. Paleogene strata are mainly turbidite sandstone and hemipelagic mudstone that accumulated in deep-sea fan and basin plain environments at lower bathyal to abyssal depths. Neogene rocks are mainly shallow-marine shelf sandstone and upper to middle bathyal siliceous mudstone. Both Paleogene and Neogene strata exhibit rapid lateral variations in thickness and facies, several local and regional unconformities, numerous folds, and ubiquitous faults. The complicated geology and geologic history of the La Honda basin reflect the fact that, throughout its history, the basin has been located at or near the tectonically active plate boundary between the North American continent and various oceanic plates of the Pacific basin. The La Honda basin originated during the Paleocene, perhaps during an episode of wrench tectonism associated with oblique subduction and arrival of the Salinia terrane. Major restructuring of the basin during the Oligocene-including uplift and erosion of the basin margins, movement along the Zayante-Vergeles fault, and deposition of two sand-rich deep-sea fans–apparently resulted from the approach of the Farallon-Pacific spreading ridge and its collision with the California continental margin. During the late Oligocene and early Miocene, widespread volcanism and marine transgression accompanied an episode of regional transtension along the San Andreas fault system. Deposition of shallow-marine sandstones and deeper-water siliceous mudstones occurred during much of the Miocene and Pliocene but was interrupted at least three times by brief episodes of uplift and erosion associated with transpressional wrench tectonism along the San Andreas fault. Marine deposition ended and uplift of the modern Santa Cruz Mountains began during the late Pliocene in response to the most-recent episode of regional transpression. Five small oil fields in the La Honda basin have produced a total of 1.7 million barrels of oil and 300 million cubic feet of gas, mostly from reservoirs in Eocene turbidite sandstone and Miocene limestone.

Conference Paper↗