Airborne geophysical characterizationof geologic structure in a mountain headwater system, upper East River, Colorado

Burke J. Minsley; Lyndsay B. Ball

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Airborne geophysical characterizationof geologic structure in a mountain headwater system, upper East River, Colorado

Burke J. Minsley·Lyndsay B. Ball

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Abstract

Geologic controls on groundwater flow, particularly in tectonically and topographically complex mountainous terrain, can be difficult to quantify without a detailed understanding of the regional subsurface geologic structure. This structure can influence the magnitude of groundwater flow through the mountain block, which in turn impacts groundwater composition and the flux of metals and nutrients to the near - surface ecosystem. In support of several ongoing studies in the upper East River and surrounding w atersheds in central Colorado, regional - scale airborne electromagnetic, magnetic, and radiometric survey s were conducted in late 2017 . These data give a view of the geologic structure underlying the region that is unprecedented in both resolution and spa tial coverage.

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Source-reported bounding extent: 38.912674536257356° to 39.012514887438684° latitude; -107.04597473144531° to -106.94641113281249° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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Burke J. Minsley, Lyndsay B. Ball. 2018. Airborne geophysical characterizationof geologic structure in a mountain headwater system, upper East River, Colorado. https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/70217684

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