Geologic Column of Missouri Winter 2009 PDF
Preview Geologic Column of Missouri Winter 2009
e O F M I S S O U R I Volume 3, Issue 2 Winter 2009 n o d or G ark M by o ot h p R N D Edie Starbuck, a geologist with the Department of Natural Resources, uses a GEOLOGIC MAPS PC tablet and GPS as she collects data in the field. Essential tools in planning Missouri’s future Often colorful and visually aware that geologic conditions The potential impact on Missouri’s appealing, geologic maps may affect ecology. Engineers are economy is staggering. According be one of Missouri’s best but concerned with the properties of to one study, the value of geologic most overlooked planning tools. soil and bedrock along proposed maps is 25 to 39 times the cost of Earth scientists realize that highway construction. City producing them. Geologic maps are these maps are the fundamental planners want to know about the essential to planning Missouri’s source of geologic information, likelihood of damage from earth- future because they help us but geologists are not the only quakes, landslides or sinkhole optimize the use of water, fuel and users. Geologic maps are a public collapse on infrastructure such as mineral resources and minimize resource of broad value to our pipelines, roads and wastewater environmental degradation and society. Understanding the earth and drinking water facilities. Geo- hazards. beneath our feet is the first step in logic mapping provides the basic MISSOURI understanding the world around information we need about many DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES us. Foresters and biologists are of our finite natural resources. Division of Geology and Land Survey Map Development Data Collection and Partial Field Investigation Once the geologist returns to the Stratigraphic Column office, the data must be interpreted and eiwTlnixnhe Titereshoeatye irc pn a oatrglrrles leedveonaica oe,dtt u xdasd sae iaolnmsytrcca ievrl nufixaopedrart ii mainaaovt gnigain oseileol nooadgslbf,o s ielag neoxli ofcapt no weompgrseio ualawlgprsli e,r ti tasmghh,pe aeaohotxgr lyho ie“ sogarotvryiiusn e vttt gcsoebr g meiolnoeepavotnsapek ,dts”p i ftroitoinihgnlrglaa e.tt d e sauamptou rnmspaimitnpotrastmsgape,.t r ddaioGag refpoeri stzhnaohcep ilrtcedohoi bg.mdpi cTiii nca oshc gtpfuoir ssUnile buoiai.stuSmfc btd.ht inhoGoo uuennfeon en oaori drlt bfot e ayahggar neepi ietdc orbosa old eo lhda drgSuerarieulccwop ri cn ivnkgeg y Pen i~n nj}'ill~fl PenMylvan.ian Micld.l~ (Desmoinesian Stage) that may be a clue to the underlying geology. However, orient the user. A topographic map is a most of the data collected for a new bedrock map comes detailed and accurate graphic represen- from field investigation. Geologists investigate by inspect- tation of some of the cultural and natural ing features along roads, ditches, streams, quarries, features on the ground. The base map is s bluff lines and hillsides to find exposures of bedrock and printed with light colors, so it doesn’t ou surficial materials. Loose rock, soil, and even vegeta- interfere with seeing the geologic nifer tion, can be clues to underlying materials. Geologists try features on the map. A stratigraphic bo n ar @a to locate a large number of data points that are evenly column and unit description help users C g distributed. This requires the cooperation of landown- to interpret the map. The stratigraphic an Osa pl ers who allow access to their property. Data is collected column displays the layering of each unit ~p 1 along roads and on public property, but in many parts as well as its thickness and relationship S$ of the state, most of the property is owned privately and to other units. The color of each unit on M I the cooperation of landowners contributes greatly to the the stratigraphic column corresponds effort to collect data. with the color of the unit on the map. As investigations proceed, the geologist will take notes Letter symbols are used to abbreviate about the rock type (lithology), fossils (paleontology) and the unit on the map and the description. about the particular sequence of layers (stratigraphy). The geologist also interprets the To create a map at a scale of 1:24,000, the division’s bedrock structures such as faulting and mappers attempt to collect at least 11 data points per folding of bedrock. These structures square mile, or about 660 data points per 7.5 minute are formed when earth forces cause quadrangle. A geologist will walk 50 to 100 miles collecting layers to bend or break. Faulting can data during a field season to prepare a geologic map for be an indicator of the likelihood of an one 7.5 minute area. earthquake, but often these features were formed hundreds of millions of years ago, and the area may no longer be a site of earthquake activity. Faulting 1dn athned p froeldseinngt- doaf yb fleodwro ocfk g hroaus nadnw eaftfeerc ta nodn Derr.a111i1 onlan the distribution of mineral resources. e1' O Most bedrock geologic maps include a @ dr description of the bedrock structures Mid ns indicating the location and nature of e em the structure. The description will note Si e whether the structure is a fault or fold, DNR geologist, Chris Vierrether, collecting data along a bluff near Gasconade, DNR photo by Mik aotfloounfgrfrdsmei ecsh t aco aisrwfro eat shf aagsel resrs oeteohl c oirestegi bofpiacneru ed cslsrrtheioononcsgwtske. s sldB aew eyicnhdet iarraosto n gcam.rk vAaa espy grth rtbeiiucecoc a--l Ordo\•iciain xlan -Moho\\lklan Missouri. The bluff contains St. Peter sandstone laid down by a tropical ocean e slice through the earth would look like b some 470 million years ago. l along a given line. Geologic Cross Section Dyers Hwy Auxvasse Whetstone A Branch JJ Creek I-70 Creek A' 900' Pfs Pfs Pc Pk Mbk Pk Pk 900' 870000'' Pc Pfs PfsMch Pfs Pc Mbk ii ' 11._~ Pk Dcv Mch Dsc MchMch MDsbck 780000'' 600' 600' Ordovician age strata 500' Dsc Dcv 500' Ordovician age strata 400' Calwood Auxvasse Vertical Exaggeration = 10400' fault Creek anticline A Moment in Time Early years of geologic mapping in Missouri The “Geological Map of the South-west Branch, Pacific Rail Road” was published in 1859 along with a report on the same subject. This investigation was performed prior to completion of the rail line. George C. Swallow, the author of the report, was the first Missouri State Geologist and chief administrator of the first Missouri Geologi- cal Survey. The duties of this agency were later passed on to the Geological Survey Program, within the Division of Geology and Land Survey. This map is on display at the division’s Buehler Building at 111 Fairgrounds Road, in Rolla Ull...i.\CII Uses of Geologic Mapping Geologic Maps Matter • Exploring for and developing mineral, fuel Many types of maps and geologic by providing the information necessary and water resources studies are based on geologic maps. to make decisions about construction • Cleaning up environmentally damaged sites Evaluations of mineral resources are and infrastructure design in earth- • Avoiding karst, earthquake and landslide needed to determine the availability of quake-prone areas. Many people are hazards stone for road construction, metals for interested in geologic maps simply • Designing foundations and structures buildings and cars, and oil or coal for because they want to know more fuel. Simply put, these types of studies about the rocks or fossils that they see • Making zoning and city planning decisions require geologic maps. The type of on their property, or they may want • Locating waste disposal facilities earth material beneath our feet deter- to know where to look to find certain • Siting landfills and liquid waste treatment facilities mines our susceptibility to geologic types of minerals or fossils to collect. hazards such as sinkhole collapse, Geologic maps have many uses and • Evaluating property landslides or earthquake damage. are an important resource for Missou- • Planning transportation Geologic hazard maps benefit society rians with varied needs and interests. • Delineating ecosystems Requests for Geologic Mapping at Groundwater Contamination Sites Bedrock geologic maps are es- L can migrate. For these reasons, division connected voids have also developed in sential to the investigation into the geologists are sometimes requested the soluble dolomite bedrock, allowing impact of contaminant spills to do geologic mapping in locations of shallow groundwater to flow from one on groundwater supplies. The ongoing groundwater contamination surface water drainage basin to another. movement of groundwater investigations. A similar investigation was conducted as (and contaminants) is affected The department’s Environmental part of a remedial investigation funded by both bedrock properties and Quality division requested that Geo- by the U.S. Environmental Protection by geologic structures. Fluids logical Survey staff conduct a detailed Agency into the contamination of water travel more easily through some geologic investigation of the Oak Grove wells at New Haven. As a result of this types of rock than others. For Village and Sullivan areas as part of the collaborative effort, it was determined example, shale normally presents investigation into contamination of a that the direction of groundwater move- awlsaia smbanstaoederscrsrt itiwoaoetnnriele eldt .oflt wBh oflaewiutndh id dr iofti o mfcdflkedoor ievfenrsenag mtct halteyurnn otrdthui ,n rgagohn u dg h R photo by Scott Myers cpacEoaulnotbnvneldiidgcru o twwcnhtaiemattdhte er d ban se ytuhea psypl ptd Gaglryfreo fow olwouleogniltlgid.hc yTw t ihsnhaeivtesece idrtnsi itflovvienogissw,at iitiosngino ada’ntsliio- onng, mpadalflilasefoecnnwcoett sv p sg eraurrerreosafdueall.ncae Tderlscswh h.ti ahseSt retetsr yrsu ptlmcooet po tuoervrfa e eoicmnsfk fbte othenhradtme tdw smaienotiarugoeyr n ca els oof N D faulting, often provides pathways the trend of bedrock folding that is in contamination and determine where it through which contaminants the area. Solution channels or small has spread. The Geologic Mapping Advisory Committee and STATEMAP The National Cooperative Geologic to state geological surveys for geologic three-year terms and may serve no Mapping Program (NCGMP) was man- mapping. The Division of Geology and more than three consecutive terms. All dated with the National Geologic Map- Land Survey is Missouri’s state geological ten members were new to the commit- ping Act of 1992 because of the need for survey. States receiving STATEMAP tee in 2007. The membership encom- a comprehensive nationwide program funding provide matching funds. One passes several different constituencies of detailed geologic mapping. The requirement is that geologic mapping of bedrock map users. This group NCGMP, developed and coordinated by priorities are set in consultation with includes geological consultants, mining the U.S. Geological Survey and the As- a panel of individuals across the state, and energy interests, development plan- sociation of American State Geologists, having varied interests in geologic ners, geologic hazard experts, academia annually receives federal funds which it mapping. This group comprises the and a representative of a professional disperses through a competitive project Geologic Mapping Advisory Committee geological society. The committee meets proposal process. STATEMAP is the com- (GMAC). annually to direct plans for detailed ponent of the NCGMP that provides funds Members of Missouri’s GMAC serve geologic mapping in Missouri. Map Scale Geologic Hazards of the rocks and sediments through which earthquake waves travel. Infor- Scale determines how much informa- The Importance of Planning mation about the properties of rocks tion a map can display. Scale is the ratio and sediments in an earthquake-prone of the length of a feature depicted on On April 18, 2008 a magnitude 5.2 area comes from basic geologic map- the map, compared to the length of the earthquake with an epicenter in south- ping. actual feature. For instance, a map scale ern Illinois shook a large area of the Other geologic hazards can also of 1:24,000 means that one inch on the Midwest, including much of eastern be defined by geologic mapping. The map represents 24,000 inches (2,000 feet) Missouri. About two weeks later, on risk of sinkhole development is based in the real world. If your house is 2,000 May 5, a magnitude 2.7 earthquake primarily on the presence of limestone feet from a road intersection, then that centered near Valley Park rattled Mis- or dolomite, the degree of weathering distance is only one inch on a map of that sourians again. Though these quakes and the surficial materials present. scale. When a map’s scale is 1:500,000, caused no major damage, Missourians Landslides in Missouri are also related then one inch on the map is representative were left wondering, “When is the next to geologic conditions. Geologic maps of 500,000 inches in the real world. There one?” Actually, small earthquakes oc- are routinely used to evaluate proposed are 63,360 inches in a mile, so one inch cur in Missouri fairly frequently. In the sewage lagoon sites for catastrophic on the map represents almost eight miles. first half of 2008, 124 earthquakes with collapse potential. Consequently, a 1:500,000 scale map can- a magnitude less than three not display the same detail as a 1:24,000 occurred in southeastern scale map. Missouri. Most are so small ey A great amount of confusion is caused that no one feels them. The Surv by the terms, “small scale” and “large al occurrence of larger quakes gic scale” map. Small scale maps show less reminds Missourians that our eolo detail than large scale maps. 500,000 is history includes the massive ois G a big number, but the ratio 1/500,000 is n a very small number. Small scale maps earthquakes of 1811 and 1812. d, Illi Important tools that can be Sei show large areas with little detail. Large used to prepare for the repeat ary scale maps show smaller areas, but with M of such a disastrous event more detail. The most detailed topograph- are earthquake hazard maps. ic maps that are available for the entire state are 1:24,000 scale produced by Earthquake hazard depends A wider view of the 1904 Berry School, on the location, magnitude Mt. Carmel, Illinois, shows the collapsed the U.S. Geological Survey. These maps and frequency of likely earth- chimney, bricks missing from the wall, are often called 7.5 minute quadrangle and bricks missing from the A-frame. quakes and on the properties maps since they cover an area that is 7.5 minutes of longitude by 7.5 minutes of latitude. In Missouri, this is an area that is Web Sites about 6.5 miles in the east-west direction by 8.5 miles in the north-south direc- Geologic Maps tion. These maps appear rectangular, www.dnr.mo.gov/geology/statemap/missouri-maps.htm hence the use of the word “quadrangle” GMAC Web Page to describe them. The Division of Geol- www.dnr.mo.gov/geology/geosrv/gmac/ ogy and Land Survey makes these maps STATEMAP Fact Sheet available for sale. Corresponding geologic www.dnr.mo.gov/geology/geosrv/Missouri.pdf quadrangles are also available for pur- Geologic Hazards Web Page chase. Check out our Web site (www.dnr. www.dnr.mo.gov/geology/geosrv/geores/GeoHazhp.htm mo.gov/geology/adm/publications/topo- Publications Catalog quads.htm). www.dnr.mo.gov/geology/adm/publications/pubscatalog.pdf Available in Various Formats Geologic maps are available to the public in different formats. Some of the maps have been published and printed on paper. They are waiting on our shelves to be sold. Many of our maps are stored as electronic image files and can be plotted on paper when a cus- tomer needs them, or copied to a CD-ROM. All of the bedrock maps that the division has published since 1997 were created using a geographic information system (GIS). The electronic files in a GIS are spatially refer- enced (linked to location) so that the infor- mation can easily be compared to other data in the same or a nearby location. The digital bedrock geologic map of Missouri based on the 1:500,000 scale Sesquicentennial map, is available in a GIS compatible format. Approximately 104 of the more than 1,300 quadrangles in Missouri have been mapped in a GIS format at a scale of 1:24,000. Most of these have been incorporated into the digital geologic map of Missouri. Bedrock or Surficial? Different maps are produced for different uses. Bedrock geologic maps provide information about the layering of bedrock units and faulting, folding or deformation that may be present. Bedrock maps provide information about the distribu- tion and structure of consolidated rock such as limestone, sandstone, coal and granite. Surficial material maps focus on all of the deposits above bedrock. This includes soil, but it also includes up to several hundred feet of deeper uncon- This is scaled-down image of a 1:24,000 scale surficial material map. The area shown includes the solidated material. Surficial materials city of Hermann and includes parts of the counties of Gasconade, Montgomery and Warren. When geologic maps indicate the distribution printed, the complete map is 36" x 44" and includes descriptive text, a legend, stratigraphic column of materials such as residuum, till and and cross section illustrations. alluvium. Publications Report of a Geological Reconnaissance of that Part of the State of Missouri Adjacent to the Osage River, made to William H. Morrell, Chief Engineer of the State, Early geologic reports are still useful to by Order of the Board of Internal Improvement, by Henry King, M.D., Geologist, in researchers, but until recently many were Senate Journal Appendix, 1st Session, Missouri 11th General Assembly, p. 506-535, not readily available to the public, some are Jefferson City, 1840. out of print and others difficult to find in Geological report of the South-western Branch of the Pacific Rail Road, State of Mis- libraries. The Division of Geology and Land souri, by G.C. Swallow, 110 p., 2 pls., folded map, 1859. Survey recently completed a comprehen- Preliminary Report on the Iron Ores and Coal Fields from the Field Work of sive project of electronically scanning and 1872, by Raphael Pumpelly, Adolph Schmidt, G.C. Broadhead, and W.B. Potter, 671 cataloging these documents in an effort p., 190 illus., and atlas with 14 large sheets, 1873. to preserve them and to make them more Geology of the Disseminated Lead Deposits of St. Francois and Washington accessible. As a result, many of out-of-print Counties, by Ernest Robertson Buckley, pt. 1, 275 p., pls. 1-39, 10 figs., pt. 2, pls. publications are available again, in CD-ROM 40-121, including geologic map of southeastern Missouri, 1908. format. Examples of out-of-print publications The Oil and Gas Resources of Cass and Jackson Counties Missouri, that are now available include: by Joseph R. Clair, 208 p., 7 pls., 14 figs., 1 tbl., 1943. PRSRT. STD. MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES U.S. POSTAGE Division of Geology and Land Survey PAID 111 Fairgrounds Road, Rolla, MO 65401 PERMIT #215 ROLLA, MO OF MISSOURI New Geologic Maps OFM-07-523-GS Bedrock geologic map of the Fulton 71/' quadrangle, Callaway County, 2 Missouri by Mark A. Middendorf, 2007, scale 1:24,000. Published by the OFM-07-524-GS Surficial material geologic map of the Fulton 71/' quadrangle, Callaway 2 County, Missouri by Mike Chalfant, Wyn Kelley and Mike Siemens, 2007, scale 1:24,000. Missouri Department of Natural Resources OFM-07-525-GS Bedrock geologic map of the Readsville 71/' quadrangle, Callaway and 2 Division of Geology Montgomery counties, Missouri by Edith A. Starbuck, 2007, scale 1:24,000. and Land Survey OFM-07-526-GS Surficial material geologic map of the Readsville 71/’ quadrangle, Cal- 2 laway and Montgomery counties, Missouri by Mike Chalfant, Wyn Kelley and Mike Siemens, Joe Gillman 2007, scale 1:24,000. Director and State Geologist Division of Geology and Land Survey OFM-07-527-GS Bedrock geologic map of the Williamsburg 71/' quadrangle, Callaway 2 and Montgomery counties, Missouri by Christopher B. Vierrether, 2007, scale 1:24,000. Bill Duley OFM-07-528-GS Surficial material geologic map of the Williamsburg 71/' quadrangle, Deputy Director and 2 Assistant State Geologist Callaway and Montgomery counties, Missouri by Mike Chalfant, Wyn Kelley and Division of Geology and Land Survey Mike Siemens, 2007, scale 1:24,000. OFM-07-529-GS Pre-mining Mulberry coal thickness and overburden thickness, Edith Starbuck Amoret 71/' quadrangle, Bates County, Missouri by Scott Kaden, Lacy Moore and Contributing Author 2 Michael Hill, 2007, scale 1:24,000. Hylan Beydler Division Information Officer These and other publications may be purchased from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Geology and Land Survey. To order, contact the publications desk at: 573-368-2125 or Mark Gordon 1-800-361-4827, or use our online form at: www.dnr.mo.gov/geology/adm/publications/MapsOrder. Layout and Graphics htm. For additional information visit our Web site: www.dnr.mo.gov/geology/.
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