Geology topics

Research about western Tennessee

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including western Tennessee.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS1990

Geology and ground-water resources of the Cockfield Formation in western Tennessee

The Cockfield Formation of the Claiborne Group of Tertiary age underlies approximately 4,000 sq mi in western Tennessee. The formation consists primarily of lenticular beds of very fine to coarse sand, silt, clay, and lignite. The Cockfield Formation has been extensively eroded, and the original thickness is preserved only in a few areas where the formation ranges from 235 to 270 ft in thickness. Recharge to the Cockfield aquifer is from precipitation on sparse outcrops or by downward infiltration of water from the overlying fluvial deposits of Tertiary and Quaternary age and alluvium of Quaternary age or, where present, the overlying Jackson Formation of Tertiary age. Data from two observation wells indicate that water levels have risen at average rates of about 0.5 and 0.7 ft/year during the period 1980-85. Water from the Cockfield aquifer is a calcium bicarbonate type that contains low concentrations of most major constituents, and generally is suitable for most uses. Dissolved-solids concentrations range from 44 to 218 mg/L. Data from two aquifer tests indicate transmissivities of 2,500 and 6 ,000 sq ft/day and storage coefficients of 0.0003 and 0.0007, respectively. The Cockfield aquifer presently provides small to moderate quantities of water for several public and industrial water supplies and small quantities to numerous domestic and farm wells. Withdrawals for public and industrial supplies in 1983 averaged about 3.3 million gal/day. (USGS)

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USGS1990

Geology and ground-water resources of the Memphis Sand in western Tennessee

The Memphis Sand of the Claiborne Group of Tertiary age underlies approximately 7,400 square miles in western Tennessee. The formation primarily consists of a thick body of very fine to very coarse sand that includes subordinate lenses or beds of clay and silt at various horizons. The Memphis Sand ranges from 0 to about 900 feet in thickness, but where the original thickness is preserved, it is about 400 to 900 feet thick. The Memphis Sand yields water to wells in most of the area of occurrence in western Tennessee and, where saturated, makes up the Memphis aquifer. Recharge to the Memphis aquifer is from precipitation on the outcrop, which is a broad belt across western Tennessee, or by downward infiltration of water from the overlying fluvial deposits of Tertiary(?) and Quatemary age and alluvium of Quatemary age. Long-term data from five observation wells indicate that water levels have declined at average rates ranging from less than 0.1 to 1.3 feet per year during the period 1928-83. The largest declines have been in the Memphis area. Water from the Memphis aquifer generally is a calcium bicarbonate type, but locally is a sodium bicarbonate or mixed type. The water contains low concentrations of most major constituents and generally is suitable for most uses. Dissolved-solids concentrations range from 19 to 333 milligrams per liter. The results from 76 aquifer tests made in the Memphis area and western Tennessee during the period 1949-62 indicate that transmissivities range from 2,700 to 53,500 feet squared per day, and storage coefficients range from 0.0001 to 0.003. The Memphis aquifer provides moderate to large quantities of water for many public and industrial water supplies in western Tennessee and small quantities to numerous domestic and farm wells. Withdrawals for public and industrial supplies in 1983 averaged about 227 million gallons per day, of which 183 million gallons per day were in the Memphis area. The Memphis aquifer has much potential for future use, particularly at places outside the Memphis area.

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USGS1989

Geology and ground-water resources of the Fort Pillow Sand in western Tennessee

This report was prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey as part of the Gulf Coast Regional Aquifer-System Analysis (GC RASA) program. The GC RASA study area covers about 230,000 mi 2 onshore in Louisiana and parts of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas. About 60,000 mi 2 offshore on the continental shelf also are included because the aquifers extend beyond the coast line beneath the Gulf of Mexico. The study is limited to the Coastal Plain sediments of Tertiary and younger age, except for an area in the Mississippi embayment where Upper Cretaceous sediments supply ground water in parts of several States. The objectives of the GC RASA study are to define the geohydrologic framework, to describe the chemistry of the ground water, and to analyze the regional ground-water flow system (Grubb, 1984).

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