Cape Fear Formation, South Carolina Coastal Plain (04)

Comments on Geologic Parameters

04 Net Sand Thickness:

A number of studies present cross sections of the Cape Fear interval that include geophysical logs (gamma ray, spontaneous potential) (Colquhoun and others, 1983; Aucott and others, 1987; Temples and Waddell, 1996). These logs are a source of semiquantitative estimates of sand thickness in the Cape Fear interval. Brown and others (1979) provided actual sand thickness for the Cape Fear interval (their Unit E), but these estimates are from wells in Georgia. Gohn and others (1977) presented results of textural and mineralogical analyses of the Cape Fear Formation conducted on samples from a well near Charleston. Their analyses indicate that the Cape Fear interval is primarily silt, but there are some sand intervals. Sand-thickness estimates are considerably lower than estimates derived from the geophysical logs (which are typically 50 ft). We attribute the difference to the geophysical-log response to silt intervals being similar to that of sand. Temples and Waddell (1996) reported that for the Middendorf and Cape Fear aquifers in southeasternmost South Carolina, between 2,770 and 3,763, there is 381 ft of aquifer sand. Brown and others (1979) determined that the sands in the Cape Fear interval (their unit E) in Georgia generally range from 40 to 58, with an average of 49. We attribute the thicker sands in southeasternmost South Carolina and in Georgia to a deeper basement and thicker Cape Fear interval. For the GIS we combined sand-thickness information of Gohn and others (1977), Brown and others (1979), and Temples and Waddell (1996).

04 Map:

map

04 Reference:

Aucott, W. R., Davis, M. E., and Speiran, G. K., 1987, Geohydrologic framework of the Coastal Plain aquifers of South Carolina: U.S. Geological Survey, Water-Resources Investigations Report 85-4271, 7 sheets.

Brown, P. M., Brown, D. L., Reid, M. S., and Lloyd, O. B., Jr., 1979, Evaluation of the geologic and hydrologic factors related to the water-storage potential of Mesozoic aquifers in the southern part of the Atlantic coastal plain, South Carolina and Georgia: U.S. Geological Survey, Professional Paper 1088, 37 p., 11 plates.

Colquhoun, D. J., Woollen, L. D., Van Nienwenhuise, D. S., Padgett, G. G., Oldham, R. W., Boylan, D. C., Bishop, J. W., and Howell, P. D., 1983, Surface and subsurface stratigraphy, structure and aquifers of the South Carolina Coastal Plain: Columbia, SC, State of South Carolina, Office of the Governor, 78 p. Gohn, G. S., Higgins, B. B., Smith, C. C., and Owens, J. P., 1977, Lithostratigraphy of the deep corehole (Clubhouse Crossroads Corehole 1) near Charleston, South Carolina: U.S. Geological Survey, Professional Paper 1028E, p. 59–70.

Temples, T. J., and Waddell, M. G., 1996, Application of petroleum geophysical well logging and sampling techniques for evaluating aquifer characteristics: Ground Water, v. 34, p. 523–531.

 

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