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Browse more than 65,000 articles authored by our scientists over the past 100+ year history of the USGS and refine search by topic, location, year, and advanced search.

Filter Total Items: 74057

Use of thermometry in hydrogeologic studies of glacial deposits at Worthington, Minnesota

Precise measurements of fluctuations of ground-water temperature based on monthly readings in shallow glacial-outwash aquifers may be used to study ground-water movement and recharge. An increase in storage in the shallow basin of Okabena Lake, Worthington, Minnesota, permits the water to cover a much larger area and probably increases the opportunity for infiltration of lake water into aquifers c
Authors
R.J. Schneider

Limiting parameters in the magnetic interpretation of a geologic structure

A prominent aeromagnetic anomaly in Randolph County, Indiana, suggests the existence of a dikelike structure within the Precambrian basement rocks. Because of the ambiguity inherent in magnetic interpretation, a unique solution for the parameters involved (depth of burial, geometric configuration, and magnetic susceptibility of the mass producing the anomaly) is impossible. However, if one of the 
Authors
G. E. Andreasen, I. Zietz

The distribution of tritium fallout in precipitation over North America

In 1958 the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Weather Bureau jointly conducted a study of tritium fallout distribution over the continental United States, Alaska, and Puerto Rico. The observation period extended from early April to late July in most areas. While this was insufficient to cover the decay side of the curve, it was sufficiently long to establish general trends of tritium activity co
Authors
L. L. Thatcher

Aeromagnetic and gravity studies of theprecambrian in northeastern New Mexico

A contour map of the Precambrian surface for a part of northeastern New Mexico has been prepared from aeromagnetic, gravity, and drill-hole data. The area extends approximately from the Colorado border south to latitude34° N., and from the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains east to longitude 104° W. Thirty-seven depths to Precambrian rocks were computed from aeromagnetic anomalies. Region
Authors
G. E. Andreasen, M. F. Kane, I. Zietz

Progress report on an international decade for hydrology

As reported in the Transactions of March 1961 (p. 96), the ad hoc Panel on Hydrology convened to report on ways of stimulating research in scientific hydrology, recommended a program of international cooperation in hydrology—more specifically a plan for an ‘International Decade for Hydrology,’ as drawn for the Panel by R. L. Nace. The proposal for an international program in scientific hydrology w
Authors
W. B. Langbein

Paleozoic seas of central Idaho

Some recent paleogeographic maps indicate that central Idaho was part of a major geosyncline throughout Paleozoic time. This concept, apparently based on thick marine accumulations far apart on the margins of the region, is inconsistent with field data. Within the area of the Idaho batholith, Permian(?) volcanic rocks rest either on batholithic rocks or on the Belt Series. The Belt Series rocks ha
Authors
Clyde P. Ross

Magnetic anomalies and magnetizations of the Biwabik iron-formation, Mesabi area, Minnesota

In a study of the relationship of magnetic anomalies to the magnetite content and structure of layered Precambrian iron-formations, the effective induced and remanent magnetizations of the Biwabik iron-formation were determined by analyses of aeromagnetic anomalies recorded 1,000 ft above the Biwabik in areas of known geology. The induced magnetization along the layers is relatively insignificant
Authors
G. D. Bath

Analysis of present geomagnetic field for comparison with paleomagnetic results

Both the dipole and nondipole components of the present geomagnetic field are analyzed by calculating the orientation of hypothetical geocentric dipoles which, if acting alone, would produce the present geomagnetic field as observed at points on a grid covering the earth at 10° intervals. The dispersion in direction of these virtual geomagnetic poles due to the nondipole component of thee geomagne
Authors
Allan Cox

Erosion on miniature pediments in badlands national monument, South Dakota

Measurements of erosion on miniature pediments in Badlands National Monument, South Dakota, show that during almost eight years, the pediments were lowered by sheetwash. The adjacent hillslopes have retreated leaving a belt of newly formed pediment from 6 to 12 cm wide at their bases. The hillslopes are rough and relatively permeable; the miniature pediments are smooth and less permeable. Calculat
Authors
S. A. Schumm

Tertiary landslides, northwestern South Dakota and Southeastern Montana

Landslide blocks of latest Oligocene or earliest Miocene age are preserved at several localities in northwestern South Dakota and southeastern Montana. These tilted blocks contain Late Cretaceous to late Oligocene rocks and are unconformably overlain by nearly horizontal strata of the Arikaree Formation of Miocene age. Undisturbed rocks of late Oligocene age were completely stripped from the area
Authors
J. R. Gill

Mechanics of a small landslide block, Wattener Lizum, Austria

A small landslide block left a trail about 81 meters long on an 11½-degree slope in the Tuxer Voralpen, Austria. The movement is explained in terms of fluid pressure mechanics; hypothetically, the requisite pore pressure was caused by the loading of contiguous saturated segments of the slide path during rapid sliding.
Authors
David A. Brew

Correlation of the Carrizo Sand in Arkansas and adjacent states

The Carrizo Sand (Eocene), the basal unit of the Claiborne Group, can be recognized in the subsurface throughout much of southeastern Arkansas and is correlated with the Carrizo Sand of Louisiana and the Meridian Sand Member of the Tallahatta Formation of Mississippi. The term Carrizo Sand is appropriate for use in Arkansas, as the stratigraphic terminology most workers apply to the Claiborne Grou
Authors
R.L. Hosman