Geology topics
Research about Michigan
Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Michigan.
Ground-water data for Michigan 1989
Water levels, locations, depths, and aquifers tapped are given for 108 observation wells. Tabulated data include a listing of ground-water reports in Michigan, extremes of water levels for calendar year 1989 and for the period of record, pumpage of most major ground-water users in the State, and water-quality data from selected wells. In 1989, the two largest municipal users of ground water were Lansing and Kalamazoo. Lansing pumped 7.2 billion gallons from the Saginaw Formation and glacial deposits; Kalamazoo pumped 6.7 billion gallons from glacial deposits only.
Water resources data, Michigan, water year 1990
Water resources data for the 1990 water year for Michigan consists of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage and contents of lakes and reservoirs; and water levels and water temperature of ground water. This report contains discharge records for 146 streamflow-gaging stations; stage only records for 1 river-gaging station and 13 lake-gaging stations; stage and contents for 5 lakes and reservoirs; water-quality records for 22 streamflow-gaging stations; water-level records for 51 observation wells; and water-temperature records for 5 observation wells. Also included are 46 crest-stage partial-record stations and 8 low-flow partial-record stations. Additional water data were collected at various sites not involved in the systematic data-collection program. Miscellaneous data were collected at 63 measuring sites and 22 water-quality sampling sites. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State, local, and Federal agencies in Michigan.
Hydrologic provinces of Michigan
This report presents the results of a study by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Geological Survey Division, to describe the statewide hydrologic variations in Michigan's water resources. Twelve hydrologic provinces, which are based on similarities in aquifer lithology, yield, recharge, and ground-water- and surface-water-quality data, are described. The definition of statewide hydrologic characteristics and the delineation of hydrologic provinces improves the understanding of Michigan's water resources and provides a firm basis for realistic water-manangement decisions. The 12 provinces identified areas where bedrock aquifers provide most of the potable ground water (five provinces), where glacial-deposit aquifers provide most of the potable ground water (three provinces), and where problems with water quantity and (or) quality have limited the use of ground water as a water supply (four provinces). Subprovinces are defined on the basis of regional surface-water flow directions toward each of the Great Lakes.
Matrix-controlled hydraulic properties of Mississippian and Pennsylvanian sandstones from the Michigan Basin
Hydraulic-conductivity measurements were made of 49 sandstone core plugs using a flow pump and a conventional triaxial confining apparatus. The sandstones tested are samples from the Marshall Sandstone and Grand River and Saginaw Formations, which are the principal bedrock aquifers in the Michigan basin. Sandstones ranging from poorly cemented to well cemented were selected to investigate matrix-controlled hydraulic properties as a function of degree of cementation. Hydraulic conductivities were measured for each sample over a range of effective stress (69 to 827 kilopascals); hydraulic conductivities for the sample suite range from 1.9 X 10 to 2.7 X 10 centimeters per second. This range of approximately seven orders in magnitude is indicative of local and regional differences in matrix-controlled hydraulic conductivities for Mississippian and Pennsylvanian bedrock aquifers in the Michigan basin.
Physical and chemical data for ground water in the Michigan basin, 1986-89
Ground-water samples were collected from 459 wells located in the Michigan basin as part of a Regional Aquifer-System Analysis. Data on the physical and chemical characteristics of 476 ground-water samples from these wells represent ground-water characteristics in the Berea Sandstone, Coldwater Shale, Marshall Sandstone, Michigan Formation, Bayport Limestone, Saginaw Formation, Grand River Formation, and glacial deposits. Ground-water samples were measured in the Geld for specific conductance, temperature, and alkalinity. Analyses of ground water for concentrations of dissolved oxygen, ferrous iron, total iron, and sulfide were also done in the field. Additional laboratory analysis provided data on eight major and 18 minor inorganic constituents. Twenty-one samples were analyzed for tritium, 140 samples were analyzed for carbon-13, and 19 samples were analyzed for carbon-14. The stable-isotope ratio of deuterium to hydrogen was determined for 408 samples; the ratio of oxygen-18 to oxygen-16 was determined for 433 samples; and the ratio of sulfur-34 to sulfur-32 was determined for 20 samples. Sixteen samples were analyzed for the unstable isotopes of uranium; 13 samples were analyzed for radium-226; and the ratio of radium-228 to radium-226 was determined for 13 samples.
Water resources data, Michigan, water year 1989
Water resources data for the 1989 water year for Michigan consists of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage and contents of lakes and reservoirs; and water levels and water temperature of ground water. This report contains discharge records for 145 streamflow-gaging stations; stage only records for 13 lake-gaging stations; stage and contents, for 5 lakes and reservoirs; water-quality records for 21 streamflow-gaging stations; water-level records for 51 observation wells; and water-temperature records for 4 observation wells. Also included are 48 crest-stage partial- record stations and 8 low-flow partial-record stations. Additional water data were collected at various sites not involved in the systematic data-collection program. Miscellaneous data were collected at 62 measuring sites and 10 water-quality sampling sites. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State, Local, and Federal agencies in Michigan.
Geohydrology and water quality of Kalamazoo County, Michigan, 1986-88
Thick, glacial sand and gravel deposits provide most ground-water supplies in Kalamazoo County. These deposits range in thickness from 50 to about 600 feet in areas that overlie buried bedrock valleys. Most domestic wells completed at depths of less than 75 feet in the sands and gravels yield adequate water supplies. Most industry, public supply, and irrigation wells completed at depths of 100 to 200 feet yield 1,000 gallons per minute or more. The outwash plains include the most productive of the glacial aquifers in the county. The Coldwater Shale of Mississippian age, which underlies the glacial deposits in most of the county, usually yields only small amounts of largely mineralized water. Ground-water levels in Kalamazoo County reflect short- and long-term changes in precipitation and local pumpage. Ground-water levels increase in the spring and decline in the fall. Ground-water recharge rates, for different geologic settings, were estimated from ground-water runoff to the streams. Recharge rates ranged from 10.86 to 5.87 inches per year. A countywide-average ground-water recharge rate is estimated to be 9.32 inches per year. Chemical quality of precipitation and dry fallout at two locations in Kalamazoo County were similar to that of other areas in the State. Total deposition of dissolved sulfate is 30.7 pounds per acre per year, of total nitrogen is 13.2 pounds per acre per year, and of total phosphorus is 0.3 pounds per acre per year. Rainfall and snow data indicated that the pH of precipitation is inversely proportional to its specific conductance. Water of streams and rivers of Kalamazoo County is predominately of the calcium bicarbonate type, although dissolved sulfate concentrations are slightly larger in streams in the southeastern and northwestern parts of the county. The water in most streams is hard to very hard. Concentrations of dissolved chloride in streams draining urban-industrial areas are slightly larger than at other locations. Concentrations of total nitrogen and total phosphorus in streams are directly proportional to streamflow. Except for elevated concentrations of iron, none of the trace elements in streams exceeded maximum contaminant levels for drinking water established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Pesticides were detected in some streams. Ground water in the surficial aquifers is of the calcium bicarbonate type, although sodium, sulfate, and chloride ions predominate at some locations. Specific conductance and hardness and concentrations of total dissolved-solids slightly exceed statewide averages. Concentrations of dissolved sodium and dissolved chloride in 6 wells were greater than most natural ground waters in the State, indicating possible contamination from road salts. Water samples from 6 of the 46 wells sampled contained concentrations of total nitrate as nitrogen greater than 10.0 milligrams per liter. Elevated concentrations of total nitrate as nitrogen in water from wells in rural-agricultural areas probably are related to fertilizer applications. Results of partial chemical analyses by the Michigan Department of Public Health indicates specific conductance, and concentrations of hardness, dissolved fluoride, and total iron are fairly uniform throughout the county. Concentrations of dissolved sodium, dissolved chloride, and total nitrate as nitrogen differed among townships. Pesticides were detected in water from only one well. Water from five wells contained volatile organics. A map of susceptibility of ground water to contamination in Kalamazoo County was developed using a system created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Seven geohydrologic factors that affect and control ground-water movement are mapped and composited onto a countywide map. All seven factors have some effect on countywide susceptibility, but the most important factors are depth to water and composition of the materials above the aquifer.
Hydrology and land use in Grand Traverse County, Michigan
Glacial deposits are the sole source of ground-water supplies in Grand Traverse County. These deposits range in thickness from 100 to 900 feet and consist of till, outwash, and materials of lacustrine and eolian origin. In some areas, the deposits fill buried valleys that are 500 feet deep. Sedimentary rocks of Paleozoic age, which underlie the glacial deposits, are mostly shale and are not used for water supply. Of the glacial deposits, outwash and lacustrine sand are the most productive aquifers. Most domestic wells obtain water from sand and gravel at depths ranging from 50 to 150 feet and yield at least 20 gallons per minute. Irrigation, municipal, and industrial wells capable of yielding 250 gallons per minute or more are generally greater than 150 feet deep. At places in the county where moranial deposits contain large amounts of interbedded silt and clay, wells are generally deeper and yields are much lower. Areal variations in the chemical and physical characteristics of ground and surface water are related to land use and chemical inputs to the hydrologic system. Information on fertilizer application, septic-tank discharges, animal wastes, and precipitation indicate that 40 percent of nitrogen input is from precipitation, 6 percent from septic tanks, 14 percent from animal wastes, and 40 percent from fertilizers. Streams and lakes generally have a calcium bicarbonate-type water. The dissolved-solids concentration of streams ranged from 116 to 380 milligrams per liter, and that of lakes, from 47 to 170 milligrams per liter. Water of streams is hard to very hard; water of lakes ranges from soft to hard. The maximum total nitrogen concentration found in streams was 4.4 milligrams per liter. Water of lakes have low nitrogen concentrations; the median nitrate concentration is less than 0.01 milligrams per liter. Pesticides (Parathion and Simazine) were detected in low concentrations at six stream sites; 2,4-D was detected in low concentrations in water of two lakes. Relationships between land use and the yield of dissolved and suspended substances could not be established for most stream basins. Calcium and bicarbonate are the principal dissolved substances in ground water. Dissolved-solids concentrations ranged from 70 to 700 milligrams per liter; the countywide mean concentration is 230 milligrams per liter. The mean nitrate concentration is 1.3 milligrams per liter; about 1.6 percent of the county's ground water has nitrate concentrations that exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's maximum drinking water level of 10 milligrams per liter. An effect of fertilizer applications on ground-water quality is evident in some parts of the county.
Downstream migration of recently metamorphosed sea lampreys in the Ocqueoc River, Michigan, before and after treatment with lampricides
The objectives of this study were to determine the effectiveness ofchemical treatments of the Ocqueoc River, Michigan, in reducing the number of recently metamorphosed sea lampreys Petromyzon marinus migrating to Lake Huron and to estimate total numbers of migrants produced before and after treatment. Sea lampreys were captured during their downstream migration in a single fyke net fished in the same location from September 1963 through August 1975. The catch, which averaged 3,474 sea lampreys (range, 3,248-3,913) during four migration periods (September-June) before treatment in 1968, declined to 4 during the 1974-1975 migration period. Markrecapture studies were conducted to determine the capture efficiency of the net for recently metamorphosed sea lampreys and to estimate the total downstream migration for each migration period. Estimated downstream migrations before treatment averaged 62,036 sea lampreys (range, 58,000-69,875) for four migration periods and declined to 71 during the 1974-1975 migration period. Catches were usually greater in fall than in spring. The fall peak in migratory activity was in November or December, and the spring peak was in April; both peaks occurred while water levels were high and water temperatures were near 5°C.
Direct-current vertical electrical-resistivity soundings in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan
Ninety-three direct-current vertical electrical-resistivity soundings were conducted in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan from June through October 1987. These soundings were made to assist in mapping the depth to brine in areas where borehole resistivity logs and water-quality data are sparse or lacking. The Schlumberger array for placement of current and potential electrodes was used for each sounding. Vertical electrical-resistivity sounding field data, shifted and smoothed sounding data, and electric layers calculated using inverse modeling techniques are presented. Also included is a summary of the near-surface conditions and depths to conductors and resistors for each sounding location.
Natural ground-water quality in Michigan, 1974-87
Wide variations occur in the chemical and physical characteristics of natural groundwaters in Michigan. Dissolved-solids concentrations range from 20 to 76,000 mg/L. Waters having low dissolved-solids concentrations are calcium bicarbonate-type waters. Sodium, sulfate, and chloride increase as mineralization increases. Iron, aluminum, and titanium concentrations are higher at some locations than is common in most natural waters. Lead concentrations exceed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 's primary drinking-water regulations at some locations in the northern part of the lower Peninsula. Generalized areal patterns of water-quality variability indicate that geology is a primary cause of differences across the State. Examples of chemical associations in water indicate that chemical analyses may be valuable in tracing and identifying mineral deposits.
Ground-water data for Michigan 1988
Water levels, locations, depths, and aquifers tapped are given for 112 observation wells. Tabulated data include a listing of ground water reports in Michigan, extremes of water levels for calendar year 1988 and for the period of record, pumpage of most major ground-water users in the State, and water-quality data from selected wells. The two largest municipal users of ground water, were the cities of Lansing and Kalamazoo. In 1988, Lansing pumped 7.8 billion gallons from the Saginaw Formation and glacial deposits and Kalamazoo pumped 7.4 billion gallons from glacial deposits only.
Water resources data, Michigan, water year 1988
Water resources data for the 1988 water year for Michigan consists of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage and contents of lakes and reservoirs; and water levels and water temperature of ground water. This report contains discharge records for 138 streamflow-gaging stations; stage only records for 15 lake-gaging stations; stage and contents for 5 lakes and reservoirs; water-quality records for 20 streamflow-gaging stations; water-level records for 51 observation wells; and water-temperature records for 5 observation wells. Also included are 52 crest-stage partial- record stations and 8 low-flow partial-record stations. Additional water data were collected at various sites not involved in the systematic data- collection program. Miscellaneous data were collected at 180 measuring sites and 10 water-quality sampling sites. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State, Local, and Federal agencies in Michigan.
Disturbance-mediated accelerated succession in two Michigan forest types
In northern lower Michigan, logging accelerated sugar maple ( Acer saccharum ) dominance in a northern white cedar ( Thuja occidentals ) community, and clear-cutting and burning quickly converted certain sites dominated by mature jack pine ( Pinus banksiana ) to early-succesional hardwoods, including Prunus, Populus , and Quercus . In both forest types the succeeding hardwoods should continue to increase in the future at the expense of the pioneer conifer species. In the cedar example, sugar maple was also increasing a an undisturbed, old-growth stand, but at a much reduced rate than in the logged stand. Traditionally, disturbance was through to set back succession to some earlier stage. However, out study sites and at least several other North American forest communities exhibited accelerated succession following a wide range of disturbances, including logging fire, ice storms, wind-throw, disease, insect attack, and herbicide spraying.
Age of native copper mineralization, Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan
Amygdaloidal flood basalts and conglomerates are the host for substantial deposits of native copper within the Portage Lake Volcanics in the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan. A wide variety of gangue minerals are associated with the regional hydrothermal alteration-mineralization event. Application of the Rb-Sr method to amygdule-filling microcline, calcite, epidote, and chlorite suggests an age of mineralization between 1,060 and 1,047 m.y. (+ or - [asymp] 20 m.y.). These results are supported by a fission track age on epidote of 1,044 + or - 169 m.y. The age of native copper mineralization determined in this study is consistent with geologic evidence which suggests that mineralization postdated the deposition of most or all of the overlying Freda Sandstone. Variable initial 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios between the low Rb/Sr phases suggest mixing of isotopically distinct sources of Sr during the generation and equilibration of the hydrothermal solutions.
Ground-water data for Michigan 1986
Water levels, locations, depths, and aquifers tapped are given for 112 observation wells. Tabulated data include extremes of water levels for calendar year 1986 and for the period of record, pumpage of most major groundwater users in the State, and water-quality data from selected wells. The largest reported user of ground-water, the city of Lansing, pumped 7.6 billion gallons from the Saginaw Formation and glacial deposits in 1986.
Water resources data for Michigan, water year 1987
Water resources data for the 1987 water year for Michigan consists of records of stage, stage and contents of lakes and discharge, and water quality of streams; reservoirs; and water levels and water temperature of ground water. This report contains discharge records for 135 streamflow-gaging stations; stage only records for 15 lake-gaging stations; stage and contents for 5 lakes and reservoirs; water-quality records for 24 streamflow-gaging stations; water-level records for 52 observation wells; and water-temperature records for 6 observation wells. Also included are 52 crest-stage partial-record stations and 8 low-flow partial-record stations. Additional water data were collected at various sites not involved in the systematic data-collection program. Miscellaneous data were collected at 100 measuring sites and 23 water-quality sampling sites. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State, Local, and Federal agencies in Michigan.