Geologic Mapping Studies at Buffalo National River, Northern Arkansas Completed
Detailed geologic mapping is being conducted by the USGS in and adjacent to the Buffalo National River, a park administered by the National Park Service, to better understand and characterize the natural resources and associated ecosystems of this area within the Ozark Plateau region. General-purpose geologic maps are created to provide a framework for a host of natural resource, natural history, and public education uses. The mapping activities focus on understanding development of karst features and ground water flow paths through extensive karst aquifers within Ordovician through Pennsylvanian rock strata that underlie the Buffalo River watershed.
The geologic maps provide background to understand major cave resources in the park, geologic controls on major spring locations, and recharge areas for springs, including recharge basins that extend beyond the surface watershed boundaries of the Buffalo River.
(Research funded by Geologic Framework of the Southern Ozark Plateaus Project, USGS National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program and National Park Service Water Resources and Geologic Divisions)
Project Activities
- Conduct geologic mapping at 1:24,000 scale of quadrangles in and adjacent to the Buffalo River watershed (fig. 2). As part of geologic mapping for each quadrangle, summarize the stratigraphic succession, document structural features, and develop a structure contour map for the major aquifer unit.
- Construct and compile Geographic Information System (GIS) databases of the geologic data.
- Integrate geology with National Park Sevice karst and spring inventories and dye tracer results to investigate geologic controls on karst hydrology.
- Investigate Buffalo River landscape development through studies of karst features and surficial deposits (fig. 3).
- Conduct three-dimensional modeling of geologic framework (fig. 4).
Results
The geologic mapping helps place inventories of springs and caves within the park in proper stratigraphic context. Caves and springs are present in a variety of geologic formations ranging in age from Ordovician to Pennsylvanian, but they are concentrated within the 120-m-thick, Mississippian-aged limestone of the Boone Formation. Springs (fig. 5) in the western part of the park are most frequent near the unconformable contact between the basal St. Joe Member of the Boone Formation and underlying sandstone-rich Ordovician Everton Formation. These features indicate that the Boone Formation, comprising the karstic Springfield aquifer, is the principal path for ground-water flow into the western Buffalo River watershed. New mapping documents that major springs and cave systems are localized in structural lows (fig. 6) of the Boone Formation where ground water discharges at lowest elevations within the perched Springfield aquifer. Dye-tracer studies indicated that some springs localized in structural lows have captured recharge from beyond topographic watershed boundaries (fig. 7). This interbasin flow of ground water becomes a land management concern if agricultural land use of adjacent watersheds results in transfer of nutrient-enriched ground water in the Buffalo River.
New geologic mapping in the middle part of the Buffalo River documents a transition from the Springfield Plateau aquifer to lower karstic Ordovician formations of the Ozark aquifer. The largest spring in the park, Mitch Hill Spring (fig. 8), discharges from a stratigraphic level in the lowest part of the Ordovician Everton Formation above impervious argillaceous dolostone of the Powell Dolomite that is brought to the surface along the Buffalo River in a structural high. Dye tracer studies integrated with the geologic mapping are investigating probable pathways for ground water between the two aquifers.
New geologic mapping has recognized many new faults and folds in the region and has added information on the age and character of new and previously recognized faults. These data are revealing new insights into the ancient history of deformation in the area that was probably related to past interactions among tectonic plates in late Paleozoic time.
Results of these mapping efforts were presented to fieldtrip participants at the Geological Society of America North Central/South Central section combined meeting in April 2010. Mark Hudson and Kenzie Turner of the USGS and Chuck Bitting of the National Park Service led the field trip to emphasize geologic controls on karst development in the Buffalo National River area (fig. 9).
Geologic map of the Murray Quadrangle, Newton County, Arkansas
Geologic map of the Maumee quadrangle, Searcy and Marion Counties, Arkansas
Geologic map of the St. Joe quadrangle, Searcy and Marion Counties, Arkansas
Geologic Map of the Boxley Quadrangle, Newton and Madison Counties, Arkansas
Geologic map of the Western Grove quadrangle, northwestern Arkansas
Geologic map of the Jasper Quadrangle, Newton and Boone counties, Arkansas
Below are publications associated with this project.
Three-Dimensional Geologic Framework Model for a Karst Aquifer System, Hasty and Western Grove Quadrangles, Northern Arkansas
Coordinated strike-slip and normal faulting in the Southern Ozark dome of Northern Arkansas: Deformation in a late Paleozoic foreland
Below are partners associated with this project.
- Overview
Detailed geologic mapping is being conducted by the USGS in and adjacent to the Buffalo National River, a park administered by the National Park Service, to better understand and characterize the natural resources and associated ecosystems of this area within the Ozark Plateau region. General-purpose geologic maps are created to provide a framework for a host of natural resource, natural history, and public education uses. The mapping activities focus on understanding development of karst features and ground water flow paths through extensive karst aquifers within Ordovician through Pennsylvanian rock strata that underlie the Buffalo River watershed.
The geologic maps provide background to understand major cave resources in the park, geologic controls on major spring locations, and recharge areas for springs, including recharge basins that extend beyond the surface watershed boundaries of the Buffalo River.
(Research funded by Geologic Framework of the Southern Ozark Plateaus Project, USGS National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program and National Park Service Water Resources and Geologic Divisions)
Project Activities
- Conduct geologic mapping at 1:24,000 scale of quadrangles in and adjacent to the Buffalo River watershed (fig. 2). As part of geologic mapping for each quadrangle, summarize the stratigraphic succession, document structural features, and develop a structure contour map for the major aquifer unit.
- Construct and compile Geographic Information System (GIS) databases of the geologic data.
- Integrate geology with National Park Sevice karst and spring inventories and dye tracer results to investigate geologic controls on karst hydrology.
- Investigate Buffalo River landscape development through studies of karst features and surficial deposits (fig. 3).
- Conduct three-dimensional modeling of geologic framework (fig. 4).
Results
The geologic mapping helps place inventories of springs and caves within the park in proper stratigraphic context. Caves and springs are present in a variety of geologic formations ranging in age from Ordovician to Pennsylvanian, but they are concentrated within the 120-m-thick, Mississippian-aged limestone of the Boone Formation. Springs (fig. 5) in the western part of the park are most frequent near the unconformable contact between the basal St. Joe Member of the Boone Formation and underlying sandstone-rich Ordovician Everton Formation. These features indicate that the Boone Formation, comprising the karstic Springfield aquifer, is the principal path for ground-water flow into the western Buffalo River watershed. New mapping documents that major springs and cave systems are localized in structural lows (fig. 6) of the Boone Formation where ground water discharges at lowest elevations within the perched Springfield aquifer. Dye-tracer studies indicated that some springs localized in structural lows have captured recharge from beyond topographic watershed boundaries (fig. 7). This interbasin flow of ground water becomes a land management concern if agricultural land use of adjacent watersheds results in transfer of nutrient-enriched ground water in the Buffalo River.
New geologic mapping in the middle part of the Buffalo River documents a transition from the Springfield Plateau aquifer to lower karstic Ordovician formations of the Ozark aquifer. The largest spring in the park, Mitch Hill Spring (fig. 8), discharges from a stratigraphic level in the lowest part of the Ordovician Everton Formation above impervious argillaceous dolostone of the Powell Dolomite that is brought to the surface along the Buffalo River in a structural high. Dye tracer studies integrated with the geologic mapping are investigating probable pathways for ground water between the two aquifers.
New geologic mapping has recognized many new faults and folds in the region and has added information on the age and character of new and previously recognized faults. These data are revealing new insights into the ancient history of deformation in the area that was probably related to past interactions among tectonic plates in late Paleozoic time.
Results of these mapping efforts were presented to fieldtrip participants at the Geological Society of America North Central/South Central section combined meeting in April 2010. Mark Hudson and Kenzie Turner of the USGS and Chuck Bitting of the National Park Service led the field trip to emphasize geologic controls on karst development in the Buffalo National River area (fig. 9).
- Maps
Geologic map of the Murray Quadrangle, Newton County, Arkansas
This map summarizes the geology of the Murray quadrangle in the Ozark Plateaus region of northern Arkansas. Geologically, the area is on the southern flank of the Ozark dome, an uplift that has the oldest rocks exposed at its center, in Missouri. Physiographically, the Murray quadrangle is within the Boston Mountains, a high plateau region underlain by Pennsylvanian sandstones and shales. ValleysGeologic map of the Maumee quadrangle, Searcy and Marion Counties, Arkansas
This map summarizes the geology of the Maumee 7.5-minute quadrangle in northern Arkansas. The map area is in the Ozark plateaus region on the southern flank of the Ozark dome. The Springfield Plateau, composed of Mississippian cherty limestone, overlies the Salem Plateau, composed of Ordovician carbonate and clastic rocks, with areas of Silurian rocks in between. Erosion related to the Buffalo RivGeologic map of the St. Joe quadrangle, Searcy and Marion Counties, Arkansas
This map summarizes the geology of the St. Joe 7.5-minute quadrangle in the Ozark Plateaus region of northern Arkansas. Geologically, the area lies on the southern flank of the Ozark dome, an uplift that exposes oldest rocks at its center in Missouri. Physiographically, the St. Joe quadrangle lies within the Springfield Plateau, a topographic surface generally held up by Mississippian cherty limesGeologic Map of the Boxley Quadrangle, Newton and Madison Counties, Arkansas
This map summarizes the geology of the Boxley 7.5-minute quadrangle in the Ozark Plateaus region of northern Arkansas. Geologically, the area lies on the southern flank of the Ozark dome, an uplift that exposes oldest rocks at its center in Missouri. Physiographically, the Boxley quadrangle lies within the Boston Mountains, a high plateau region underlain by Pennsylvanian sandstones and shales. VaGeologic map of the Western Grove quadrangle, northwestern Arkansas
This map summarizes the geology of the Western Grove 7.5-minute quadrangle in northern Arkansas that is located on the southern flank of the Ozark dome, a late Paleozoic regional uplift. The exposed bedrock of this map area comprises approximately 1,000 ft of Ordovician and Mississippian carbonate and clastic sedimentary rocks that have been mildly folded and broken by faults. A segment of the BufGeologic map of the Jasper Quadrangle, Newton and Boone counties, Arkansas
This digital geologic map compilation presents new polygon (i.e., geologic map unit contacts), line (i.e., fault, fold axis, and structure contour), and point (i.e., structural attitude, contact elevations) vector data for the Jasper 7 1/2' quadrangle in northern Arkansas. The map database, which is at 1:24,000-scale resolution, provides geologic coverage of an area of current hydrogeologic, tect - Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Three-Dimensional Geologic Framework Model for a Karst Aquifer System, Hasty and Western Grove Quadrangles, Northern Arkansas
Understanding ground-water flow in a karst aquifer benefits from a detailed conception of the three-dimensional (3D) geologic framework. Traditional two-dimensional products, such as geologic maps, cross-sections, and structure contour maps, convey a mental picture of the area but a stronger conceptualization can be achieved by constructing a digital 3D representation of the stratigraphic and struAuthorsKenzie J. Turner, Mark R. Hudson, Kyle E. Murray, David N. MottCoordinated strike-slip and normal faulting in the Southern Ozark dome of Northern Arkansas: Deformation in a late Paleozoic foreland
Structures that formed on the southern flank of the Ozark dome, in the foreland of the late Paleozoic Ouachita orogeny, have received little modern study. New mapping of the western Buffalo River region of northern Arkansas identifies diversely oriented faults and monoclinal folds that displace the generally flat lying Mississippian Boone Formation over a 180 m elevation range. Kinematic measuremeAuthorsM. R. Hudson - Partners
Below are partners associated with this project.