Geology topics

David L. Naftz

Publications and source records attributed to David L. Naftz.

39 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

USGS1998

Determination of methane concentrations in shallow ground water and soil gas near Price, Utah

Methane gas, commonly referred to as "natural gas," is being produced from coal beds in central Utah (fig. 1) at an increasing rate since the early 1990s. The methane was generated over millions of years during the formation of coal in the area. Coal originates as plant matter that has been deposited in a swamp-like environment and then decays as it is buried and compressed over geologic time. Giant fossilized footprints in the coal provide evidence that dinosaurs roamed and fed among the plentiful plants in these swamps (Hintze, 1979). Methane and carbon dioxide gas and water are produced in the coal as byproducts of coal formation (Sommer and Gloyn, 1993).

Utah↗

USGS1996

Using geochemical and statistical tools to identify irrigated areas that might contain high selenium concentrations in surface water

Ir rigated agriculture has a long history in the Western United States, beginning with Native American Indians. After passage of the Reclamation Act of 1902, the United States Government began building and subsidizing irrigation projects to foster settlement and development of the arid and semi-arid areas of the Western United States (National Research Council, 1989). Precipitation in the mountainous areas of the West (fig. 1) is stored in reservoirs and used for irrigation of farmland. With the development of irrigated agriculture, unforeseen environmental problems have occurred.

Fact Sheet↗

USGS1995

Using geochemical data to identify sources of salinity to the freshwater Navajo aquifer in southeastern Utah

Ground water is an important freshwater source for domestic and livestock uses in southeastern Utah because of the arid climate and unavailability of surface water from the San Juan River. The study area includes about 1,200 square miles in the southeastern corner of Utah (fig. 1). Precipitation on mountainous areas north, south, and east of the study area (fig. 2) seeps into the Navajo and overlying aquifers where the sandstones that contain the aquifers are exposed at the surface along mountain flanks. The ground water then moves slowly away from the mountainous areas toward the area of lowest elevation 109°30' in the region, the San Juan River. The ground water reappears at land surface where it discharges as seepage to the San Juan River or is consumed by vegetation on the flood plain. Generally, wells finished in the Navajo aquifer near the San Juan River do not require pumping because water flows freely from the well casing when it is not sealed.

Utah↗