Geology topics

Wilbur C. Ballance

Publications and source records attributed to Wilbur C. Ballance.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS1976

Radiochemical monitoring of water after the Cannikin event, Amchitka Island, Alaska, August 1974 and chemical monitoring from July 1972 to June 1974

Radiochemical data from the Arnchitka Island study area were obtained from water samples collected by the U.S. Geological Survey during August 1974. Tritium determinations were made on 18 samples, and gross alpha and gross beta/ gamma determinations were made on 12 samples. No appreciable differences were found between the data obtained during August 1974 and the data obtained before the Cannikin event. Chemical analyses were made on 4 samples collected in 1971, on 15 samples in 1972, on 11 samples in 1973, and 7 samples in 1974. Comparison of these analyses to analyses of samples collected before the Cannikin event indicates no changes outside of the seasonal range normally found at the sampling locations.

Alaska↗

USGS1976

Radiochemical monitoring of water after the Cannikin event, Amchitka Island, Alaska, May 1974

During May 1974, the U.S. Geological Survey collected water samples from Amchitka Island, Alaska. Tritium determinations were made on 99 water samples, and dissolved gross alpha and gross beta/gamma determinations were made on 34 water samples, No appreciable differences were found between the data obtained in May 1974 and the data obtained before the Cannikin nuclear explosion.

Alaska↗

USGS1976

Ground-water levels in Wyoming, 1975

Ground-water levels are measured periodically in a network of about 260 observation wells in Wyoming to record changes in ground-water storage. The areas of water-level observation are mostly where ground water is used in large quantities for irrigation or municipal purposes. This report contains maps showing location of observation wells and water-level changes from 1975 to 1976. Well history, highest and lowest water levels , and hydrographs for most wells also are included in this report. The program of ground-water observation is conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Wyoming State Engineer and the city of Cheyenne.

Wyoming↗

USGS1973

Hydraulic tests in hole UAe-2, Amchitka Island, Alaska

Inflatable straddle packers were used to isolate and test 19 intervals ranging from 56 to 747 meters (183 to 2,450 feet) each in hole UAe-2, Amchitka Island, Alaska. Packer seats were poor in part of the hole because of unstable wall conditions. Thus, some zones had to be tested several times. The static water levels in the intervals tested ranged from 14.2 meters (46.6 feet) below land surface in the upper interval to 33.7 meters (110.6 feet) below land surface in one of the intervals near a depth of 1,500 meters (4,900 feet). The specific capacity of the open hole from 83.5 to 1,980.6 meters (274 to 6,498 feet) was 3.26 cubic meters per day per meter (0.182 gallon per minute per foot) of drawdown after the hole had been jetted at an average rate of 763 cubic meters per day (140 gallons per minute) for about 41 hours. Transmissivity computed from the recovery of water level after jetting stopped was 2.97 cubic meters per day per meter (239.2 gallons per day per foot). The relative specific capacities of isolated intervals ranged from 0.001 cubic meter per day per meter (less than 0.001 gallon per minute per foot) of drawdown to 2.765 cubic meters per day per meter (0.155 gallon per minute per foot) of drawdown.

Alaska↗

USGS1973

Biochemical monitoring of water after the Cannikin event, Amchitka Island, Alaska, August 1973

Radiochemical data from the Amchitka Island study area were obtained from water samples collected by the U.S. Geological Survey during August 1973. Tritium determinations were made on 86 samples collected and gross alpha and gross beta/gamma determinations were made on 38 samples. The range of data for these samples was equal or less than the range of values obtained before the Cannikin event.

Alaska↗

USGS1972

Hydraulic testing of hole UA-1-HTH-1, Amchitka Island, Alaska

Total depth of the hole was 1,054 meters (3,458 feet) but, because of borehole erosion and bridging, only about 198 meters (650 feet) of the hole was·hydraulically tested with straddle packers. Some information was obtained on the lower part of the hole by use of the pressure recorders which are used with the straddle packers. The heads below land surface in that part of the hole tested with. straddle packers. ranged from·3.9 meters {12.7 feet) in the .. interval 80.5 to 125. 0. meters (264- to 410 feet), the uppermost zone tested with straddle packers, to 5.1 meters (18.6 feet) in the interval 227.4 to 278.6 meters (.746 to 914 feet), the lowermost part of the hole tested with straddle packers. The composite static water level obtained following a pumping test.was 5.5 meters (18,0 feet). The composite head below 278.6 meters (914 feet), determined from a pressure recorder, was about 12.2 meters (40 feet). The head distribution. indicates a decreasing· head with depth. Water samples were collected from two intervals for chemical, radiochemical, and C-14 analysis. The unadjusted age of water in the interval 183.5 to 234.7 meters (602 to 770. feet) was determined to be 8,410 years, and for the interval 227.4 to 278.6 meters (746 to 914 feet) was 17,880 years. After adjustment the.ages of the waters may be less; however, they would still be. in the thousands of years and the relative difference probably would still be real.

Alaska↗

USGS1972

Radiochemical monitoring of water after the Cannikin event, Amchitka Island, Alaska, January 13-April 5 , 1972

The U.S. Geological Survey collected 110 water samples from Amchitka Island, Alaska, between January 13 and April 5, 1972. Tritium determinations were made on all samples collected and gross alpha and gross beta/gamma determinations were made on 92 samples. The gross alpha and gross beta determinations when compared with previously determined ranges for fresh waters on Amchitka Island show no trends.

Alaska↗

USGS1972

Hydraulic tests in hole UAe-6h, Amchitka Island, Alaska

Inflatable straddle packers were used to isolate and test 14 intervals ranging from 39 to 258 meters (127 to 846 feet) each in hole UAe-6h. Packer seats were poor in part of the hole because of unstable wall conditions. Thus, some zones had to be tested several times. The static water levels in the intervals tested ranged from about 23 meters (71 feet) below land surface in the upper interval to an estimated 90 meters (295 feet) below land surface in the lower intervals, indicating a decreasing head with depth. The specific capacity of the hole from 85. 0 to 2,133. 6 meters (279 to 7,000 feet) was 1.94 cubic meters per day per meter (0. 11 gallon per minute per foot) of drawdown after the hole had been jetted at an average rate of 327 cubic meters per day (60 gallons per minute) for about 23 hours . Transmissivity computed from the recovery of water level after jetting stopped was 0.60 cubic meter per day per meter (48.3 gallons per day per foot). The relative specific capacities of isolated intervals ranged from 0.004 cubic meter per day per meter (less than 0.001 gallon per minute per foot) of drawdown to 0.430 cubic meter per day per meter (0.024 gallon per minute per foot) of drawdown.

Alaska↗

USGS1972

Water inflow into hole UA-1, Amchitka Island, Alaska

Chemical composition of water samples, temperature of inflow water, and theoretical calculations were compared to evaluate the water-contributing intervals to the zone to be mined--1,782.8 to 1,798.6 meters (5,849 to 5,901 feet)--in hole UA-1, Amchitka Island, Alaska. Chemical composition and temperature of inflow water indicated the contributing zones to have a mean depth of 1,670 meters {5,478 feet) and 1,726.7 meters (5,665 feet), respectively. An unrestricted inflow rate based on this data was calculated to be 380 cubic meters per day (70 gallons per minute) which compared well with the measured restricted-inflow rate of 164 cubic meters per day (30 gallons per minute) for hole UA-1 at the end of November 1970.

Alaska↗

USGS1970

Hydraulic tests in hole UA-1 and water inflow into an underground chamber, Amchitka Island, Alaska

Hole UA-1 was center punched (a small-diameter exploratory hole drilled ahead of the large-diameter emplacement hole) from 1,524.0 to 1,981.2 meters (5,000 to 6,500 feet) and hydraulically tested to determine an ideal location for mining a chamber. Fifteen zones were tested; minor amounts of water bypassed the packers during five of the tests. The tested intervals ranged in length from 37.5 meters (123 feet) to 211.5 meters (694 feet). For purposes of comparison relative specific capacities were calculated from comparable 60.4-meter (198-foot) intervals of tested rock, and ranged from 0.1162 cubic meters per day per meter (0.0065 gallons per minute per foot) of drawdown to 0.0039 cubic meters per day per meter (0.0002 gallons per minute per foot) of drawdown. The interval 1,745.0 to 1,836.4 meters (5,725 to 6,025 feet) appears to be the best location for mining a chamber so far as water inflow is concerned. This interval, 91.4 meters (300 feet), consists of about 27.4 meters (90 feet) of breccia and 64.0 meters (210 feet) of basalt. The inflow to a spherical chamber 18.3 meters (60 feet) in diameter and placed in the center of the proposed 91.4-meter (300-foot) interval, was calculated to be about 175 cubic meters per day (32 gallons per minute) after the first day and would stabilize at about 57 cubic meters per day (10.5 gallons per minute) after about 200 days.

Alaska↗