Nora's Tears Cause LandownerFears · Vol. 28, No.1 Spring 1998 ARIZONA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY...
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• Vol. 28, No.1 Spring 1998 ARIZONA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Information to Arizonans since 1889 Nora's Tears Cause Landowner Fears View towal'd the ups/ope side ofthejissul'e, showiug erosioll caused by watel'.flowiug iuto thejissul'e. Photograph by L.A. Ramsey. • • MISSION To provide unbiased information to the pub- lic to enhance under- standing of Arizona's geologic framework and to support prudent management and use of land, water, mineral, and energy resources. • Provide information about Arizona geology • Map and describe bedrock and surficial geology • Map and characterize mineral and energy resources • Investigategeologic hazards and limitations • Prepare and publish geologic maps and reports • Maintain databases and files • Maintain geology library • Maintain rock cuttings and core repository • Provide administrative and staff support for the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission A.R.S. § 27-152 E. F. Corkhill, Maurice A. Tatlow, Kim R. Mitchell, and L. A. Ramsey Arizona Department of W 7 ater Resources Hurricane Nora breezed through Yuma and western Arizona in September 1997 dropping 2 1 /2 inches of rain in 4 to 5 hours. An unexpected result was that a 4,400- foot-long earth fissure opened in the Harquahala Plain about 70 miles west of Phoenix. After the storm, AI Rogers, a long- time area resident, discov- ered a 5-foot-deep, 10- foot-wide gully crossing the dirt road over which he drove several times every week before the storm. Earth fissures of this type develop in areas where pumping has caused ground-water levels to be lowered, dewatered layers to compact, and, cOlumonly, the land surface to sub- side. The Harquahala Plain overlies a broad, elon- gated alluvium-filled ground-water basin. The alluvium is more than 5,000 feet thicle Ground water has been pumped to irrigate crops there since the 1940's. Water levels dropped 200 to 300 feet in some wells in the southeastern portion of the basin. Since 1985, when pumping began to be significantly reduced, water levels have risen by as much as 50 feet in some wells. Water levels have continued to decline slightly, however, in other parts of the basin. The earth fissure is located near the juncture of the shallow bedrock pediment on the southwest and the deep ground-water basin on the northeast. No other fissures have been reported in this il1U11ediate area. The width of the fissure ranges from less than half an inch at its ends to 20 to 30 feet. The typical width is 5 to 20 feet. In most places the fissure is 5 to 15 feet deep, but it exceeds 30 feet in depth locally. Rains associated with Hurricane Nora caused an unseen earth crack to develop into a major fissure in only a few hours. Similar unseen cracks could develop in other areas where pump- ing has caused substantial lowering of ground- water levels.
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Transcript of Nora's Tears Cause LandownerFears · Vol. 28, No.1 Spring 1998 ARIZONA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY...
•Vol. 28, No.1Spring 1998
ARIZONAGEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Information toArizonans since 1889
Nora's Tears CauseLandowner Fears
View towal'd the ups/ope side ofthejissul'e,showiug erosioll caused by watel'.flowiug iutothejissul'e. Photograph by L.A. Ramsey.
•
•
MISSION
To provide unbiasedinformation to the public to enhance understanding of Arizona'sgeologic frameworkand to support prudentmanagement and useof land, water, mineral,and energy resources.
• Provide informationaboutArizona geology
• Map and describebedrockandsurficialgeology
• Map and characterizemineralandenergyresources
• Investigate geologichazards andlimitations
• Prepare andpublishgeologic mapsand reports
• Maintain databasesand files
• Maintain geology library
• Maintain rock cuttingsand core repository
• Provide administrativeand staff support for theOiland Gas ConservationCommission
A.R.S. § 27-152
E. F. Corkhill,Maurice A. Tatlow,Kim R. Mitchell, andL. A. RamseyArizona Department ofW7ater Resources
Hurricane Nora breezedthrough Yuma andwestern Arizona inSeptember 1997 dropping21/2 inches of rain in 4 to 5hours. An unexpectedresult was that a 4,400foot-long earth fissureopened in the HarquahalaPlain about 70 miles westof Phoenix. After thestorm, AI Rogers, a longtime area resident, discovered a 5-foot-deep, 10foot-wide gully crossingthe dirt road over whichhe drove several timesevery week before thestorm.
Earth fissures of thistype develop in areaswhere pumping hascaused ground-waterlevels to be lowered,dewatered layers tocompact, and, cOlumonly,the land surface to subside.
The Harquahala Plainoverlies a broad, elongated alluvium-filled
ground-water basin. Thealluvium is more than5,000 feet thicle Groundwater has been pumpedto irrigate crops theresince the 1940's. Waterlevels dropped 200 to 300feet in some wells in thesoutheastern portion ofthe basin. Since 1985,when pumping began tobe significantly reduced,water levels have risen byas much as 50 feet insome wells. Water levelshave continued todecline slightly,however, in otherparts of the basin.
The earth fissureis located near thejuncture of theshallow bedrockpediment on thesouthwest and thedeep ground-waterbasin on thenortheast. Noother fissures havebeen reported inthis il1U11ediatearea. The width ofthe fissure rangesfrom less than halfan inch at its endsto 20 to 30 feet.The typical width is5 to 20 feet. In
most places the fissure is5 to 15 feet deep, but itexceeds 30 feet in depthlocally.
Rains associated withHurricane Nora caused anunseen earth crack todevelop into a majorfissure in only a fewhours. Similar unseencracks could develop inother areas where pumping has caused substantiallowering of groundwater levels.
AIPG Reviews AZGS
AIPG RevielY Committee members (stalldillg, left to right) JAlali Coope, EricF. Weilalld, DalYlI H. Garcia (chail), alld Walter E. Heillrichs, Jr. watch asLan)' D. Fellows (AZGS Directol) siglls the committee's report. Photograph byK.J Garcia.
Surprised?
GOVERNORJANE DEE HULL
ARIZONAGEOLOGICAL
SURVEY
Director and State GeologistLarry D. Fellows, Ph.D.
Information and PublicationsRose Ellen McDonnell, B.S.
Peter F. Corrao, B.A.Georgeanna L. MeekerCathy L. Moore, M.S.
Mary E. PasborgMary E. Redmon
Mapping and InvestigationsJon E. Spencer, Ph.D.Sean M. Kneale, B.A.
Thomas G. McGarvin, B.S.Philip A. Pearthree, Ph.D.Stephen M. Richard, Ph.D.
Richard A. Trapp, M.S.
Oil and GasSteven L. Rauzi, M.S.
Contracted ProjectsCharles A. Ferguson, Ph.D.
Wyatt G. Gilbert, Ph.D.Raymond C. Harris, M.S.Jeanne E. Klawon, M.S.Robert S. Leighty, Ph.D.Steven J. Skotnicki, M.S.
LOCATIONArizona Geological Survey
416 W. Congress, Suite 100Tucson, AZ 85701
(520) 770-3500
Web Address:http://www.azgs.state.az.us
Geology;s p"b/js',~d qUllrtaly by 'lie Ari::o"aGt:ological S"rvl'y (AZGSJ 10 providl'ill/ommlioll about geologic malerin/solld proasses and l1u~jr i",pacts 0/1 '"l' developmt>IItmid IIscolA r;::!olla '5 land, water, mineral audenergy rt':.Ollrus. \Ve cllcourage your commeuts and suggestions.
Des;s" and layout:
Peter F. Corrao
Copyright © 1998by the Arizona Geological Survey
Pri"ted 011 recycled paper
Arizona GeologySpring 1998
The Arizona GeologicalSurvey (AZGS) was established by State statute toprovide geologic information to the public. Practicing geologists are one ofthe major groups that useinformation and servicesthat the AZGS provides.It behooves the AZGS,therefore, to ask practicinggeologists what types ofinformation and servicesthey need.
With that in mind, Dr.Lany D. Fellows, Directorof the AZGS, asked DawnH. Garcia, 1996 Presidentof the Arizona Section ofthe American Institute ofProfessional Geologists(AlPG), if she wouldconsider appointing acommittee to review theperformance of the AZGS.
Garcia agreed andselected J. Alan Coope,Walter E. Heinrichs, Jr., andEric F. Weiland to servewith her on the committee.The committee, with Garciaas chair, began working onthe review in Februaty1997 and submitted its finalreport to Fellows inDecember 1997.
When you heardabout the magnitude-3.9earthquake that occurredin Navajo County onJanualY 6, were yousurprised? People inWinslow and Holbrookwere SHOCKED! Theepicenter of the quakewas about 15 mi southeast of Winslow.
Many people do notrealize that Arizona has
The committee interviewed the AZGS Directorand geological and supportstaff, the AZGS liaison inthe Office of the Governor,fiscal analysts in theGovernor's Office ofStrategic Planning andBudgeting and in the JointLegislative Budget Committee, and groups thatregularly use geologicinformation and servicesprovided by the AZGS.
The committee's report,
an earthquake hazard,albeit not as great as that insome adjacent states. Atleast one earthquake hasbeen recorded in evelYArizona county since 1875.Since 1960 at least oneearthquake has occurred in12 of the 15 counties inthe State.
The Arizona Division ofEI11~rgency Managementhas a free brochure entitled
which was thorough andcarefully thought out,included 29 conclusions, 26recommendations, and thesupporting information onwhich they were based.The AZGS released thedocument as Open-FileReport 97-20. Refer to thelist of new releases onpage 3.
During 1998 the AZGSplans to begin implementing the AlPG recommenda-tions. LD. Fellows
Arizona Earthquakes:Are We at Risk? Thisbrochure and relatedinformation may beobtained from AI Franco,Earthquake ProgramManager, ArizonaDivision of EmergencyManagement, 5636 EastMcDowell Road, Phoenix, AZ 85008-3495;tel: (602) 392-7510.
A. Franco •
Just Released
Other countries,request price quotation.
Shipping and handlingcharges include insurance. For rolled maps,add $1.00 for a mailingtube.
If you purchase OpenFile Reports, ContributedMaps, or ContributedReports at the AZGSoffice, allow up to twodays for photocopying.
Howto Order
Arizona GeologySpring 1998
Shipping & HandlingCHARGESIn the United States:
Less etlan $1.01, add $1.001.01- 10.00, add 3.00
10.01- 20.00, add 4.5020.01- 30.00, add 5.7530.01- 40.00, add 6.5040.01- 50.00, add 8.0050.Q1- 100.00, add 10.25
Over 100.00, add 12%
You may purchasepublications at the AZGSoffice or by mail. Addressmail orders to AZGSPublications, 416 W.Congress St., Suite 100,Tucson, AZ 85701.Orders are shipped byUPS, which requires astreet address for delivery. All mail orders mustbe prepaid by a check ormoney order payable inU.S. dollars to the ArizonaGeological Surveyor byMaster Card or VISA. Donot send cash. Add 7%sales tax to the publication cost for orderspurchased or mailed inArizona. Order bypublication number andadd these shipping andhandling charges to yourtotal order:
Above: From a strategicallylocated vantage point, jieldconrse participants canobserve structural andstratigraphic relationshipsojvarions volcanic rockunits in the study area.Left: Dr. Fergusondescribes the geologyojthe westeru Superstitionil/ountains as based allthe detailed geologicmaps that he, Gilbert,alld Skotnicki prepared.Photograph by 1. E. Spencer.
Historical channelchanges along thelower San Pedro River,southeastern Arizona:M. 1. Wood, 1997,Arizona GeologicalSurvey Open-File Report97-21 (Pub. number OFR97-21), 44 p., 3 sheets,scale 1:24,000. $22.00
Arizona GeologicalSurvey Open-File Report97-20 (Pub. number OFR97-20), 67 p. $11.00
Facies map of post-midMiocene QuiburisFormation, San Pedrotrough, Pinal, Pima,Graham, and CochiseCounties, Arizona:w. R. Dickinson, 1998,.Arizona GeologicalSurvey Contributed Map98-A (Pub. number CM98-A), 6 p., 10 sheets,scale 1:24,000. $20.00
Report of the ArizonaGeological SurveyReview Committee:American Institute ofProfessional Geologists..Arizona Section, 1997,
Earth fissures in theBowie-San Simon area,Cochise County,Arizona: R. C. Harris,1997, Arizona GeologicalSurvey Open-File Report97-19 (Pub. number OFR97-19), 10 p., 1 sheet,scale 1:24,000. $7.00
Land use in the SanCarlos-Safford-Duncannonpoint-sourcemanagement zone:R. C. Harris, 1997,Arizona GeologicalSurvey Open-File Report97-18 (Pub. number OFR97-18), 7 p., 3 sheets,scale 1:100,000 and1:250,000. $7.00
Whole Lava• That's what Charles
Ferguson, Arizona Geological Survey (AZGS) geologist, called the three-dayfield course he led inJanuary. The coursefocused on volcanic rocksexposed along the northwest side of the Superstition Mountains east ofPhoenix. Twenty-twogeologists from Arizona,New Mexico, Colorado,Oldahoma, Massachusetts,and Alberta, Canadaparticipated. They represented industly, academia,and State and Federalagencies.
Geologists must be ableto recognize and distinguish among the remainsof lava flows, explosiveeruptions of tuff, hot rockavalanches, shallowintrusions, and othervolcanic rock types. Thiscan be a difficult taskbecause the rocks, commonly many millions ofyears old, may have beendeeply eroded, broken byfaults, and altered by hotwater and steam.
AZGS geologistsFerguson, Steven Skotnicki,and Wyatt Gilbert mappedmost of the Superstitionsduring the past four yearsas part of the NationalGeologic Mapping Programand released the maps asAZGS open-file reports.They built on, and in manyareas reinterpreted, mapsthat were prepared bygeologists from ArizonaState University and theU.S. Geological Survey.Many discussions duringthe course centered onreconciling conflictinginterpretations by differentgeologists. IE. Spencer
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ICE AGE MAMMALSOF THE SAN PEDRORIVER VALLEY,SOUTHEASTERNARIZONA
Mastodons, groundsloths, and lions roamedsoutheastern Arizona about10,000 years ago. Thisbook includes sketches ofthose animals, a descriptionof the environmentalconditions at that time, andspeculation about thecauses of extinction.
w. A. Amman, Jr., J. V.Bezy, Ron Ratkevich, andW. M. WitkindArizona Geological SurveyDown-To-Earth 619 p. $6.95
HIGHLIGHTS OFNORTHERN ARIZONAGEOLOGY
This book includes asummary of the geologichistory of northern Arizonaand photographs anddescriptions of scenicfeatures, including theGrand Canyon, MonumentValley, Canyon de Chelly,Black Mesa, Painted Desert,Petrified Forest, MeteorCrater, San FranciscoMountains, and SunsetCrater.
Compiled and edited byRobin Frisch-Gleason.Arizona Geological SurveyDown-To-Earth 744 p. $7.95
3D STEREO TOPO·GRAPHIC MAP OFARIZONA
Using glasses with redand blue lenses (provided),one can observe Arizona'sland surface in threedimensions. Landformsthroughout the ColoradoPlateau, Basin and Range,and Transition Zoneprovinces stand out distinctly, illustrating theimpact the geologic framework has had on topography in Arizona.
Arizona Geological SurveyMap 32Scale 1:750,00033 x 38.5 inches$9.95
SABINOCANYONPOSTER
This poster features thegeology of Sabino Canyon,probably the most popularnatural area with easypublic access in the Tucsonarea. Sabino Creek haseroded its channel intosolid gneiss, which isclearly exposed along thecreek and in the canyon •walls. A nontechnicaldescription of the geologicsetting is given.
Arizona Geological SurveyPoster 118 x 24 inchescolor$6.95
Arizona Geological Survey416 West Congress, Suite 100
Tucson, AZ 85701(520) 770-3500
Return Service Requested
NON PROFIT ORG.u.s. POSTAGE
PAIDTUCSON, ARIZONA
PERMIT NO. 3088
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