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C.H. Miller

Publications and source records attributed to C.H. Miller.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS1990

Electromagnetic, magnetic, and gravimetric surveys at the Bi'r Jarbuah gold prospect, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Bi'r Jarbuah is a potential gold-bearing site located east of the Ishmas gold district in the southeastern part of the Arabian Shield. Surface rocks are mostly diorite and granodiorite plutons and the metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks they have intruded. Extensive thin alluvial deposits cover approximately 40 percent of the area studied. Diorite, granodiorite, aplite porphyry, granite, granite pegmatite, and mafic dikes intrude the plutons and the metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks. Veins of quartz, carbonate materials, and associated carbonate-altered rocks containing limonite and hematite cut all rock types. The veins were extensively mined by ancient people, and recent trenching has revealed small amounts of free gold associated with these veins and adjacent altered country rocks. A detailed search for gold and associated minerals was begun in the Bi'r Jarbuah area in 1988. Crone electromagnetic (CEM), magnetic, and gravimetric surveys were run in the areas of greatest interest. Anomalous areas are most interesting in the southern part of the area where linear magnetic and gravity anomalies trend east-northeast and overlap in large part. They are most prominent at or near the south end of a diorite pluton where some quartz veins mined by the ancients also trend northeast. A second area, at the extreme southern end of the survey, contains a large CEM anomaly that coincides with northeast-trending magnetic and gravity anomalies. Although this second area is largely overlain by alluvium, a major quartz vein strikes to the northeast in the adjacent bedrock.

Open-File Report↗
USGS1989

A gravity survey of parts of quadrangles 26E, 26F, 27E, and 27F, northeastern Arabian Shield, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

A gravity survey using nearly 800 stations was conducted over an area of about 13,400 km 2 located in the northeast part of the Arabian Shield. The stations were set on spot elevations of relative high density and shown on high-quality l:50,000-scale topographic base maps. The error in a gravity reading due to uncertain elevation is estimated to be less than 0.33 mgal. Determination of station coordinates was aided by helicopter-mounted LORAN-C navigation units. The cost/time factors involved in the survey compared favorably with commercial surveys done with inertial-guidance systems but without the l:50,000-scale maps. As topographic-map coverage becomes available, gravity surveys should be run over the entire Arabian Shield. The Arabian Shield is generally comprised of Proterozoic sedimentary rocks metamorphosed to varying degrees and intruded by plutonic rocks. The northeastern Shield is traversed by the north-trending Nabitah mobile belt, a zone of flexing, faulting, shearing, and mineralization. The complete Bouguer gravity field defines the boundary of the mobile belt, as well as a tectonic platelet that has undergone especially conspicuous thrusting and other types of deformation within the mobile belt. Many plutons intruded the metamorphic rocks in the survey area. The youngest rocks are peraluminuous, contain anomalously high tin and tungsten concentrations, and are similar to other tin and tungsten-bearing granites elsewhere. Pronounced gravity lows are associated with these plutons, but not all of a pluton or its associated mineralized rocks may crop out. Thus, gravity surveys of areas with similar plutonism are important in the study of plutonic mineralization. Quaternary deposits are distributed along mountain fronts and wadis. Gravity lows are commonly associated with the wadis, but their low amplitude suggests alluvial thicknesses of less than 25 m. This implies that the valleys are not structurally controlled by extension and that the alluvial aquifers, from which nearly all domestic water is produced, are relatively thin. The greatest complete Bouguer anomaly is associated with basaltic lava flows located in the northeastern part of the survey area. The thickness of the basalt in outcrop does not account for the anomalies with the highest amplitudes, but the latter may be due to the presence of a basalt-filled vent. Those anomalies that are present do not define the basalt flows well, but the largest free-air anomaly occurs over the southwestern margin of the Salma Caldera, located about 15 km from the basalt flows. The source of the free-air anomaly is unknown, but it may be related to another hidden basaltic vent.

Open-File Report↗
USGS1980

Seismic properties investigation of the Springer Ranch landslide, Powder River basin, Wyoming

A recent and rapid increase since the mid-1970's in commercial and residential development in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming and Montana, is caused by exploitation of vast coal and other resources in the basin. One geologic hazard to such development is landsliding. A landslide sufficiently representative of others in the area was chosen for detailed seismic studies. Studies of this landslide show that a low-velocity layer overlies a high-velocity layer both on the slide and away from it and that the contact between the volocity layers is nearly parallel with the preslide topographic surface. Computed shear and other elastic moduli of the low-velocity layer are about one-tenth those of the high-velocity layer. When failure occurs within the slope materials, it will very likely be confined to the low-velocity layer. The number and position of main shear planes in the landslide are unknown, but the main slippage surface is probably near the contact between the low- and high-velocity layers. The main cause of landslide failure in the study area is apparently the addition of moisture to the low-velocity layer.

Professional Paper↗
USGS1980

Tremors from earthquakes and blasting in the Powder River basin of Wyoming and Montana

Coal in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming and Montana (fig. 1) is greatly in demand. It can be economically mined from the surface, and the land is much easier to reclaim than land above underground mines that has been damaged by subsidence or by underground fires. Exploitation of the vast coals resources in the basin has caused a rapid influx of population into the area and an associated increase in building construction. The activity has also generated concern about possible regulation of development. With these facts in mind, the U.S Geological Survey has been investigating the geologic implications of development in the Powder River Basin. One area of study has been the effect of earth tremors caused by blasting in the large coal surface mines or by naturally occurring earthquakes. The basin proper was classified by Algermissen and Perkins (1976) as belonging to a region of low seismic risk. Naturally occurring earthquakes are, therefore, mainly of scientific interest, unless of course there was an isolated event that occurred near a populated area or a surface mine. We are not aware of any damage to people or to property caused by blasting in the coal surface mines even though thousands of tons of explosives are detonated each year in the basin. The maximum weight of an individual explosive charge and the time interval between blasts are regulated so that any nearby structures will not be damaged or the residents disturbed. Blasting, nevertheless, does produce seismic tremors that can be recorded over 200 kilometers away. In addition, at one mine, some very low order aftershocks were recorded relatively close to the source within 2 hours after blasting.

Montana; Wyoming↗
USGS1979

Seismic, magnetic, and geotechnical properties of a landslide and clinker deposits, Powder River basin, Wyoming and Montana

Exploitation of vast coal and other resources in the Powder River Basin has caused recent, rapid increases in population and in commercial and residential development and has prompted land utilization studies. Two aspects of land utilization were studied for this report: (1) the seismic and geotechnical properties of a landslide and (2) the seismic, magnetic, and geotechnical properties of clinker deposits. (1) The landslide seismic survey revealed two layers in the slide area. The upper (low-velocity) layer is a relatively weak mantle of colluvium and unconsolidated and weathered bedrock that ranges in thickness from 3.0 to 7.5 m and has an average seismic velocity of about 390 m/s. It overlies high-velocity, relatively strong sedimentary bedrock that has velocities greater than about 1330 m/s. The low-velocity layer is also present at the other eight seismic refraction sites in the basin; a similar layer has also been reported in the Soviet Union in a landslide area over similar bedrock. The buried contact of the low- and high-velocity layers is relatively smooth and is nearly parallel with the restored topographic surface. There is no indication that any of the high-velocity layer (bedrock) has been displaced or removed. The seismic data also show that the shear modulus of the low-velocity layer is only about one-tenth that of the high-velocity layer and the shear strength (at failure) is only about one-thirtieth. Much of the slide failure is clearly in the shear mode, and failure is, therefore, concluded to be confined to the low-velocity layer. The major immediate factor contributing to landslide failure is apparently the addition of moisture to the low-velocity layer. The study implies that the low-velocity layer can be defined over some of the basin by seismic surveys and that they can help predict or delineate potential slides. Preventative actions that could then be taken include avoidance, dewatering, prevention of saturation, buttressing the toe, and unloading the head. The low-velocity layer is usually less than about 5 m thick and may be excavated by dozing, whereas the bedrock must be blasted. Thus, it would seem economically feasible to underpin a structure to nonweathered bedrock or, perhaps, to remove the low-velocity layer prior to construction. (2) Many coal beds in the Powder River Basin have burned along their outcrops, and the resulting intense heat has baked and fused the overlying clastic (sedimentary) rocks into clinkers. The clinkers are very magnetic and a buried edge of a single layer of burn can easily be located by magnetic prospecting methods. Location of the edge is very important in estimating unburned coal deposits, locating clinker quarries, and planning drilling of seismic reflection lines. The clinkers are very porous and highly fractured,-and seismic and geotechnical tests show that they have relatively low strength and competency. Many of the laboratory tests, however, are inherently biased because the clinkers are so highly fractured that only competent samples are selected. The laboratory tests, for example, show that clinkers must be loosened by heavy ripping tractors or blasting, whereas the field data and practical experience indicate that clinkers may be mined with light equipment. Heavy structures such as coal silos and bridge abutments may have to be sited on clinkers. However, differential settlement may occur, with failure in the shear mode, because chimneys of relatively greater strength occur among the weaker clinkers. Preliminary data indicate that the chimneys may be located by magnetic or possibly seismic surveys. Special foundation-preparation techniques could be used or, perhaps, the chimneys could be avoided altogether at a construction site.

Open-File Report↗
USGS1975

Geology, physical properties, and surface effects at Discus Thrower Site, Yucca Flat, Nevada test site

Geologic studies in connection with Project Discus Thrower have furnished detailed stratigraphic and structural information about northwestern Yucca Flat. The Paleozoic rocks consist of a lower carbonate sequence, argillite of the Eleana Formation, and an upper carbonate sequence. The distribution of these rocks suggests that both top and bottom of the Eleana are structural contacts, probably thrusts or reverse faults. The overlying tuff includes several units recognized in the subsurface, such as the Fraction Tuff and tuff of Redrock Valley. Other units recognized include bedded tuff associated with the Grouse Canyon Member of Belted Range Tuff, and the Rainier Mesa and Ammonia Tanks Members of the Timber Mountain Tuff. The Timber Mountain and Grouse Canyon are extensively altered to montmorillonite (a swelling clay), possibly as a result of ponding of alkaline water. The overlying alluvium locally contains at the base a clayey, tuffaceous sandstone. Geophysical logs were used as an aid in locating geologic contacts and determining in situ physical properties. Graphic logs are presented that show the correlation of lithology and geophysical logs. Many of the rock units have characteristic log responses, but alteration within rock units affects the logs strikingly in some drill holes. The most significant surface effect of the experiment was the formation of a 4-foot fault scarp northwest of the site.

Open-File Report↗
USGS1962

Gravity survey of the Nevada Test Site and vicinity, Nye, Lincoln, and Clark Counties, Nevada--interim report

The gravity survey of the Nevada Test Site and contiguous areas of southern Nevada and southeastern California (fig. 1) has been made by the U.S. Geological Survey on behalf of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. The objective of this study is to delineate and interpret gravity anomalies and regional trends so that the configuration and depth of the buried erosional surface of the Paleozoic rocks may be determined. This buried surface is of utmost importance in understanding the geologic history of the Nevada Test Site region, the thickness and distribution of the overlying volcanic rocks and alluvium, and the movement of ground water. The Paleozoic rocks cause positive gravity anomalies where they outcrop or occur near the surface and negative anomalies where they are buried in valleys or capped by low-density Tertiary volcanic rocks. Gravity trends which extend over the entire area provide a basis for computing the regional gravity gradient. The regional gravity gradient must be removed from the data for geologic interpretation of the paleotopographic surface in any limited area. Knowledge of the thickness of low-density material overlying the paleotopographic surface is useful in several ways. Proposed underground test sites, such as drill holes and tunnels, may be evaluated in terms of rock unit thickness and alluvial cover requirements. Recent work by the Water Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey has demonstrated ground-water movement through the Paleozoic rocks in the vicinity of the Nevada Test Site. Therefore, knowledge of the position of buried Paleozoic rocks is important in evaluating (a) the rate and direction of flow of the ground water, (b) ground-water supplies for domestic and industrial uses, and (c) the possibility of radioactive contamination of ground water. Finally, regional gravity trends and paleotopography are useful in working out the structural history of the area in connection with geologic studies now in progress. The purpose of this interim report is to present the major part of the gravity data obtained as of December 31, 1961. The data are presented as a complete Bouguer gravity anomaly map. Although the gravity contours are somewhat generalized because the map has a scale of 1:250,000 and a contour interval of 5 milligals, the largest anomalies are adequately delineated. Preliminary results of this gravity survey have been reported by Wilmarth and others, 1960, and by Diment and others, 1959 and 1960.

Nevada↗