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THE
GREEN
MOUNTAIN
GEOLOGIST
QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF THE VERMONT GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
VGS Website: http://www.uvm.org/vtgeologicalsociety/
WINTER-SPRING 2017 VOLUME 44 NUMBER 1-2
THE VERMONT GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY ANNUAL
SPRING STUDENT PRESENTATION MEETING
April 29, 2017, 8:30 am
Department of Geology, Delehanty Hall
University of Vermont, Trinity Campus
180 Colchester Ave.
Burlington, Vermont 05405-1758
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PRESIDENT’S LETTER ................................................................................2
TREASURER’S REPORT .............................................................................3
ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE REPORT.................................................4
VERMONT STATE GEOLOGIST’S REPORT .........................................4
2017 SPRING MEETING PROGRAM ........................................................6
STUDENT ABSTRACTS ...............................................................................8
ANNOUNCEMENTS ...................................................................................15
CALENDAR ..................................................................................................16
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ......................................................................17
Winter-Spring 2017 The Green Mountain Geologist 2 Vol. 44, No. 1-2
PRESIDENT”S LETTER
When the 2017 spring semester at Norwich University concludes this May, Dave Westerman, a pillar in
the study and teaching of Vermont geology, will retire. Dave received his Ph.D. in Geology from Lehigh
University in 1972 and, after teaching at a few universities in the northeast, came to Norwich University
in 1982. During his tenure, he has been both a Professor of Geology and an Associate Vice President for
Research.
I moved to Vermont in May of 1996 to map the bedrock geology of parts of the Lowell, Eden, and
Albany quadrangles as a contractor to the Vermont Geological Survey. During the fall of 1996, Dave
took me on an all-day field trip through the Northfield Quadrangle to look at the Moretown, Cram Hill,
Shaw Mountain, and Northfield formations, all formations I was working with up north. I particularly
remember the papery Shaw Mountain phyllitic conglomerates along the Dog River Fault Zone, the large
amplitude isoclinal folds defined by the interbedded phyllites and quartzites of the Northfield Formation,
and the eccentric landowner who had drilled a series of deep (some > 1000’) bedrock wells in the
Moretown Formation for amusement. I will always appreciate the time that Dave took to show his
mapping to “a new kid on the block”.
At the time of this field trip, Dave was primarily an Appalachian “hard rock” tectonics researcher, but if
my memory is correct, he had just started to collaborate on the igneous petrogenesis of the Island of
Elba with Italian colleagues. That research blossomed over the next two decades into a series of
important publications.
Good luck to you Dave. I know that I will see you in the field somewhere in Vermont. As you told me
last year, “there’s still so much to do”. Below are some photos from Rick Dunn of Dave in action, doing
what he does best, TEACHING!
Connecticut River Course (2013): looking at Gile
Mt. Formation turbidites
Southern California coast with students (2008)
Winter-Spring 2017 The Green Mountain Geologist 3 Vol. 44, No. 1-2
Respectfully Submitted,
Jon Kim, President
TREASURER’S REPORT
Finances: Active members continue to support The Society with both dues and contributions to our
Research Grant Program. Nearly all members have paid their 2017 dues, but about 15 stragglers will be
granted another brief extension (again). Anticipated immediate expenses in the near future include costs
associated with an upcoming student research symposium and another round of student research grants.
Expenses:
$700.00 Research grant to Tucker Merideth
$700.00 Research grant to Evan Tam
$700.00 Research grant to Cheyne Aike
Income: $2,973.00 Dues and Student Research Fund Contributions – not all dues are in, but 93 members
have paid up for 2017. This is combined with donations in support of the Research Fund
from: Dennis S. Albaugh, Laurence R. Becker, David Butterfield, Bruce and Cheryl
Cox, Alex G. Czuhanich, Jeanne C. Detenbeck, Barry Doolan, Brett Engstrom, Barbara
L. Hennig, Jefferson P. Hoffer, Keith & Gabriela Klepeis, John Klimenok, Jr., Chris
Koteas, Ronald B. & Anita H. Krauth, Eric Lapp, John A. Malter, Andrew & Laura
McIntosh, Dagan Murray, Alexis P. Nason & family, Jeffrey Pelton, Sharon Strassner,
Ethan Thomas, Peter J. & Thelma B. Thompson, Roger & Terry Thompson, John G.
Van Hoesen, Laura Webb, David S. Westerman and Stephen F. Wright (my apology for
any omissions).
Balance: Our current balance as of April 22, 2017 is $12,296
Connecticut River Course (2013):
explaining comingled magmas on Mt.
Monadnock.
Winter-Spring 2017 The Green Mountain Geologist 4 Vol. 44, No. 1-2
New Members:
Cheryl Cormier, Sr. Project Manager, AECOM/TRC Solutions, Ashburnham, MA
Ken Cormier, Sr. Environmental Geologist, AECOM/TRC Solutions, Ashburnham, MA
Susan Smiley, retired, New Haven, VT
Ian Smiley, Bristol Bakery, N. Ferrisburgh, VT
Deceased Member: Mary Anne Mento
Respectfully submitted,
David S. Westerman, Treasurer
ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE COMMITTEE REPORT
No Vermont Geological Society research grant applications were received by the April 1st deadline.
Fall 2017 research grant applications must be postmarked by October 2nd and sent to Jon Kim, Vermont
Geological Survey, 1 National Life Drive, Main 2, Montpelier, VT 05620.
We are looking for field trip leaders and proposals for the summer and fall of 2017. Please contact Jon
Kim ([email protected]).
Respectfully submitted,
Jon Kim, Chair
STATE GEOLOGIST’S REPORT Help Us Complete a Landslide Inventory
The Landslide Inventory Geoform was launched on-line at: http://dec.vermont.gov/geological-
survey/hazards/landlsides. Since past failures are an indicator of future slope instability, we are asking
the public to help us locate existing landslides, including rockfalls, debris flows, gullying and other mass
failures. Many thanks to Erik Engstrom of ANR IT for building the application for us. The data
collected will be evaluated and used to create landslide hazard maps by county. Addison County was
previously completed by John Van Hoesen (Green Mountain College); George Springston (Norwich
University) is working on Washington County this year. The maps delineate possible areas of high,
medium and low landslide susceptibility based mainly on geologic materials, steepness, proximity to
streams and landslide history. The complete process is documented in the Landslide Hazard Mapping
Protocol. Success of hazard analysis projects relies on the use of newly acquired Lidar, a remote sensing
method which produces precise information about land surface characteristics and the shape of the
earth’s surface. Our regional maps are a means to provide generalized landslide susceptibility
information/planning level maps to all of Vermont within a reasonable time frame.
Surficial Mapping
This February we met with surficial geologists from Norwich University, Green Mountain College,
University of Vermont, USGS, private companies and the chair of the STATEMAP Advisory
Committee to discuss mapping techniques and standardization of mapping protocols. Based on lessons
learned from the process of making the Bedrock Geologic Map of Vermont 2011, we hope to develop a
Winter-Spring 2017 The Green Mountain Geologist 5 Vol. 44, No. 1-2
common set of map units, nomenclature, and symbology to apply to future surficial mapping projects.
The availability of Lidar has a significant impact on our surficial maps and allows us to capture and map
units more accurately. The group reviewed maps recently published by the USGS plus maps from other
states and the legacy maps produced in Vermont. We intend to have standards for our Vermont maps
developed for the summer field season 2017. Surficial geologic maps provide information about the
unconsolidated materials overlying bedrock and are used to evaluate such things as groundwater
recharge, transmissivity and siting of septic systems.
Mapping is in-progress by George Springston in the Joes Pond Quadrangle and Stephen Wright in the
town of Weathersfield. This coming field season we plan to map in the Bolton, Barre East and Proctor
quadrangles and to initiate compilation of the surficial geology of the Montpelier one-degree sheet.
Upgrade of Digital Data and Portal
1:24000 scale geologic data from VGS Open File Reports were added to the VCGI and ANR Open
GeoData portals, http://geodata.vermont.gov/ . Colin Dowey worked with Ryan Murphy (ANR IT) on
the project to update metadata, export data to shapefiles, and include published maps as pdf in the
zipped files. The new portals are more user friendly and should increase the visibility and accessibility
of this geologic information. Colin is also working with Dave Soller at the USGS to contribute Vermont
data as they upgrade the USGS NGMDB.
Presentations and publications
VGS staff and our university partners and students gave several presentations at NEGSA in Pittsburgh
in March:
Meredith, T., Ryan, P, Koenigsberger, S. and Kim, J.: Synsedimentary phosphorite in late Cambrian
dolostone of the northern Appalachians as the source of radionuclides in a fractured rock aquifer
Miers, M., Fisher, B., Maglio, S., and Wright, S., Evaluation of surface and groundwater hydrology in
the Black River and North branch valleys, Weathersfield, Vermont
Remington, C., Kim, J., Klepeis, K., and VanHoesen, J.: Using drone surveys to interpret the geometry
and kinematics of a Mesozoic fault zone in dolostones of the Champlain Valley belt, west-central
Vermont.
Springston, G., Gale, M., and Ryan, P.: Distribution of major and trace element geochemistry of till,
Montpelier 1:100,000 sheet, central Vermont.
Vincett III, W., Hazebrouk, G., and Wright, S.: Glacial history of the Black River and North Branch
Valleys, Weathersfield, Vermont.
Wright, S., Vincett, W., Hazebrouk, Garrett, D., Miers, M., and Maglio, S.: Surficial geologic map of
Weathersfield, Vermont: glacial history and implications for groundwater resources.
Two new (or re-formatted) open file reports have been posted on-line at
http://dec.vermont.gov/geological-survey/publication-gis/ofr
Winter-Spring 2017 The Green Mountain Geologist 6 Vol. 44, No. 1-2
VG2017-2 Thompson, P. J., and Thompson, T. B., 2017, Bedrock Geologic Map of the Mount
Mansfield 7.5 Minute Quadrangle, Vermont: VGS Open-File Report VG2017-2, (Plates 1 - 3), scale
1:24,000. Supersedes VG99-3. GIS Data.
VG2017-1 DeSimone, D. J., 2017, Surficial Geology of the Bennington Area, Vermont: VGS Open File
report VG2017-1, (Plates 1 - 3), scale 1:12,000. GIS Data.
Lastly, I want to express gratitude to Dave Westerman for his support of the Society, Survey and our
science and to wish him well in the years ahead.
Respectfully Submitted,
Marjorie Gale, Vermont State Geologist
2017 SPRING MEETING PROGRAM (order of presentations is subject to change)
8:30 AM - COFFEE & REFRESHMENTS
9:00 AM -- GEOCHEMICAL AND PETROGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF VOLCANIC ROCKS FROM
NORTH HAVEN ISLAND, PENOBSCOT BAY, MAINE
BEST, Mackenzie, WEST, D. P., Geology Department, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753
9:15 AM -- USING REMOTE SENSING AND HIGH-RESOLUTION DIGITAL ELEVATION
MODELS TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL EROSIONAL HOTSPOTS ALONG RIVER CHANNELS
DURING HIGH DISCHARGE STORM EVENTS
ORLAND, Elijah, AMIDON, William, Department of Geology, Middlebury College, Middlebury,
Vermont 05753, USA
9:30 AM -- CHARACTERIZING PSEUDOTACHYLYTE VEINS IN THE ARROWHEAD THRUST
FAULT ZONE, VERMONT
SULLIVAN, Patrick Department of Geology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
9:45 AM -- GEOCHRONOLOGY AND MICROSTRUCTURES OF THE TILLOTSON PEAK
COMPLEX IN LOWELL, VERMONT
PIDGEON, Elizabeth Department of Geology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
10:00 AM - USING DRONE SURVEYS TO INTERPRET THE GEOMETRY AND KINEMATICS
OF A MESOZOIC FAULT ZONE IN DOLOSTONES OF THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY BELT,
WEST-CENTRAL VERMONT II
REMINGTON, Connor1, KIM, Jonathan 2, KLEPEIS, Keith1, and VAN HOESEN, John 3
1 Department of Geology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
2 Vermont Geological Survey, 1 National Life Drive, Main 2 Montpelier, VT
3 Department of Environmental Studies, Green Mountain College, Poultney, VT, USA
Winter-Spring 2017 The Green Mountain Geologist 7 Vol. 44, No. 1-2
10:15 AM - RECONSTRUCTING A POSTGLACIAL MINERAL DUST RECORD IN THE
EASTERN UINTA MOUNTAINS, UTAH: CONSTRAINTS FROM THE TAYLOR LAKE
WATERSHED
WASSON, Luna, MUNROE, Jeff, Geology Department, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT, 05753
10:30 AM - BREAK, COFFEE & REFRESHMENTS
11:00 AM - APPLICATION OF GEOSTATISTICAL AND GEOCHRONOLOGICAL METHODS TO
STRATIGRAPHIC PROBLEMS IN THE LOWER CAMBRIAN MONKTON FORMATION
MAGUIRE, Henry, MEHRTENS, Charlotte. Department of Geology, University of Vermont,
Burlington, Vermont 05401, USA
11:15 AM - CAN BLOOD AND SOIL PB LEVELS BE PREDICTED IN BURLINGTON, VT?
CZYZYK, Katelyn, ROSSI, Amanda, University of Vermont, Geology, Environmental Mineralogy and
Chemistry, Burlington, VT
11:30 AM - IGNEOUS PETROGENESIS AND OVERPRINTING DEFORMATION AND
METAMORPHISM OF THE EDGECOMB GNEISS, MID COASTAL MAINE
CHEN, Jessica, WEST, D.P, Geology Department, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753
11:45 AM - U-Pb DATING OF CALCITE VEINS IN THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY: CONSTRAINTS
ON POST-PALEOZOIC REJUVENATION IN THE EASTERN NORTH AMERICAN MARGIN
BARR, Matthew, AMIDON, Will, Department of Geology, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT,
05753
12:00 PM - COMPARISONS OF DETRITAL MINERAL ASSEMBLAGES IN THE BALTIMORE
CANYON TROUGH WITH MODERN RIVER SEDIMENTS: CONSTRAINTS ON POST-RIFT
TECTONISM IN THE NORTHERN APPALACHIANS
STANLEY, Milo and AMIDON, W. H. Department of Geology, Middlebury College, Middlebury,
Vermont 05753, USA
12:15 PM -- LABORATORY SYNTHESIS OF SERPENTINES TO ASSESS POTENTIAL FOR
ARSENIC INCORPORATION
PAINTER, Will Department of Geology, Middlebury College, Middlebury, Vermont 05753, USA
12:30 PM – LUNCH, JUDGING
1:15 PM –AWARDS CEREMONY
Winter-Spring 2017 The Green Mountain Geologist 8 Vol. 44, No. 1-2
STUDENT ABSTRACTS
GEOCHEMICAL AND PETROGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF VOLCANIC ROCKS FROM NORTH
HAVEN ISLAND, PENOBSCOT BAY, MAINE
BEST, Mackenzie, WEST, D. P., Geology Department, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753
The fault-bounded volcanic rocks on North Haven Island in Penobscot Bay, Maine have been largely
overlooked, leaving their age, relationship to other volcanic rocks in the region, and the tectonic
environment responsible for their eruption unclear. Previous work by Gates (2001) shows that the North
Haven Formation is pre-Silurian in age and includes a wide variety of rock types which are dominated
by weakly metamorphosed basalts with lesser amounts of felsic volcanics, tuffs of varying composition,
and sedimentary rocks. This research is focused on the volcanic rocks on North Haven Island and
includes petrographic analysis, whole rock geochemistry, and U-Pb geochronology.
The greenstones display well-preserved pillow structures and a porphyritic texture dominated by fine-
grained matrix chlorite with plagioclase phenocrysts. The felsic units (<10%), show euhedral
phenocrysts in a fine-grained matrix of plagioclase laths. Thirteen samples representing a range of
volcanic rock types in the formation were analyzed for major and trace element geochemistry.
Classification diagrams based on these results reveal eight of the samples are sub-alkaline basalts (45-51
wt% SiO2 ) and five are intermediate to felsic in compositions (58-68 wt% SiO2). Chondrite normalized
rare earth element (REE) plots for the mafic rocks reveal flat patterns, while the more felsic samples
show more light REE enrichment and steeper slopes. Extended trace element diagrams also reveal
significant differences between the rock types with the mafic rocks showing no individual element
anomalies, while the felsic rocks show greater relative abundances and pronounced negative Sr, P, and
Ti anomalies.
Trace element compositions of the basaltic rocks plotted on various tectonic discrimination diagrams
consistently plot in fields for MORB and Ocean Island within-plate tectonic settings. This is consistent
with high TiO2 concentrations, and the absence of Nb anomalies in trace element plots strongly suggests
the volcanic rocks of the North Haven Formation were not generated through subduction processes.
These findings are consistent with a previously proposed correlation with Middle Cambrian rocks of the
Ellsworth Terrane on the mainland. U-Pb geochronology on zircons separated from felsic units will
further test this proposed correlation.
USING REMOTE SENSING AND HIGH-RESOLUTION DIGITAL ELEVATION MODELS TO
IDENTIFY POTENTIAL EROSIONAL HOTSPOTS ALONG RIVER CHANNELS DURING HIGH
DISCHARGE STORM EVENTS
ORLAND, Elijah, AMIDON, William, Department of Geology, Middlebury College, Middlebury,
Vermont 05753, USA
As global warming intensifies, large precipitation events and associated floods are becoming
increasingly common. Channel adjustments during floods can occur by both erosion and deposition of
sediment, often damaging infrastructure in the process. There is thus a need for predictive models that
can help managers identify river reaches that are most prone to adjustment during storms. Because
Vermont rivers flow over a mixture of bedrock and alluvial substrates, the identification of bedrock vs.
alluvial channel reaches is an important first step in predicting vulnerability to channel adjustment
Winter-Spring 2017 The Green Mountain Geologist 9 Vol. 44, No. 1-2
during flood events, especially because bedrock channels are unlikely to adjust significantly, even
during floods. This study develops a semi-automated approach to predicting channel substrate using a
high-resolution LiDAR-derived digital elevation model (DEM). The study area is the Middlebury River,
a well-studied watershed with a wide variety of channel substrates, including reaches with well
documented channel adjustments during recent flooding events. Multiple metrics were considered for
reference—such as channel width and drainage area—but the study utilized channel slope as a key
parameter for identifying morphological variations within the Middlebury river. Using data extracted
from the DEM, a power law was fit to selected slope and drainage area values for each branch in order
to model idealized slope-drainage area relationships, which were then compared with measured slope-
drainage area relationships. Differences in measured slope minus predicted slope (called delta-slope) are
shown to predict river channel morphology. Compared with field observations, higher delta slope values
correlate with more stable, boulder rich channels or bedrock gorges; conversely the lowest delta-slope
values correlate with flat, sediment rich alluvial channels. The delta-slope metric thus serves as a
reliable first-order predictor of channel substrate, which in turn can be used to help identify reaches that
are most vulnerable to channel adjustment during large flood events.
CHARACTERIZING PSEUDOTACHYLYTE VEINS IN THE ARROWHEAD THRUST FAULT
ZONE, VERMONT
SULLIVAN, Patrick Department of Geology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
Pseudotachylyte is a glassy rock that often forms due to frictional melt and can be injected into the walls
of a fault. This study investigates pseudotachylyte veins identified near the mapped southern termination
of the Arrowhead thrust fault that formed during the Taconic Orogeny. The thrust fault strikes NNE and
dips shallowly to the east. The pseudotachylyte is observed in the Cheshire Quartzite formation, which
was thrust over the younger Skeels Corner formation. The veins are typically thin, black veins with
wispy, flame-like injection veins coming out of the main vein; locally veins were found to be up to 1 cm
thick. Structural data was collected from the thrust, fractures, and pseudotachylyte veins, along with two
hand samples for petrographic observations: 1) an undeformed pseudotachylyte vein; and 2) a
hypothesized deformed pseudotachylyte vein. The undeformed vein was also prepared for 40Ar/39Ar
geochronologic analyses. Petrographic analysis revealed a dark amorphic matrix with inclusions from
the host rock and injection veins typical of pseudotachylyte as well as sigma clasts, which show these
veins were reworked by mylonitic deformation associated with an east-west transport direction. The
40Ar/39Ar apparent age spectrum generally shows a hump-shaped spectrum with Mesozoic minimum
ages and Late Devonian maximum ages. Structural analyses reveal that the deformed pseudotachylyte
veins have a dominant orientation that strikes north and dips east. Based on the integrated data set, I
interpret that the pseudotachylytes are Acadian, and thus resulted from reactivation of the Taconic age
thrust fault.
GEOCHRONOLOGY AND MICROSTRUCTURES OF THE TILLOTSON PEAK COMPLEX IN
LOWELL, VERMONT
PIDGEON, Elizabeth Department of Geology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
The Tillotson Peak Complex of Northern Vermont is an area of complicated and unique geologic
history. The area has been subject to the Taconic and Acadian Orogenies that shaped Vermont, but
maintains a higher metamorphic grade than surrounding areas. The goal of this research is to integrate
microstructural analysis with geochronological data in order to determine the age of peak
Winter-Spring 2017 The Green Mountain Geologist 10 Vol. 44, No. 1-2
metamorphism. Data was collected by thin section analysis, field work along the Frank Post Trail, Long
Trail, and Eclogite Brook in Lowell, Vt., and 40Ar/39Ar geochronology. The rocks examined in this
study record evidence for peak metamorphism at blueschist-facies conditions and greenschist-facies
retrograde metamorphism. Peak metamorphic paragenesis includes rutile, glaucophane, garnet, quartz,
and white mica. Retrograde facies contain actinolite, chlorite, epidote, quartz, and white mica. An
40Ar/39Ar step-heating analysis of white micas from a blueschist-facies metapelite yields a Mid-
Ordovician age of 462.8 ± 1.4 Ma. This plateau age provides a best estimate for the timing peak
metamorphism.
USING DRONE SURVEYS TO INTERPRET THE GEOMETRY AND KINEMATICS OF A
MESOZOIC FAULT ZONE IN DOLOSTONES OF THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY BELT, WEST-
CENTRAL VERMONT II
REMINGTON, Connor1, KIM, Jonathan 2, KLEPEIS, Keith1, and VAN HOESEN, John 3
1 Department of Geology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
2 Vermont Geological Survey, 1 National Life Drive, Main 2 Montpelier, VT
3 Department of Environmental Studies, Green Mountain College, Poultney, VT, USA
The Champlain Valley Belt of west-central Vermont consists of Cambrian- Ordovician, weakly-
metamorphosed, carbonate and clastic sedimentary rocks and is informally subdivided into 3 east-
dipping lithotectonic slices, which are (from east to west): 1) the hanging wall of the Hinesburg Thrust
(HWHT), 2) the hanging wall of the Champlain Thrust (HWCT), and 3) the Parautochthon. These thrust
slices were juxtaposed during the Ordovician Taconian Orogeny and later modified by Acadian
(Devonian) folding and Mesozoic extension. Our field area lies in the HWCT in a sliver of the
Clarendon Springs Formation dolostone. This sliver is bounded by the Ordovician Muddy Brook Thrust
(east) and the Mesozoic down-to-the-east St. George Fault (west).
The field area consists of a 100m x 200m rectangle of continuous outcrop in a bedrock channel of the
Winooski River at the Williston/Essex border. The northeast striking (~067) and steeply-dipping fault
zone was first identified in 2014-2015 through detailed field mapping and structural analysis, however,
drone surveys from altitudes of 41m (base map) and 26m (2 subdomains) were necessary to evaluate the
geometry of this zone. Field mapping of fractures and bedding were conducted at multiple scales using
scangrids, scanlines, and pace and compass techniques.
Photolineaments (n=715) were digitized using imagery captured by a UAV. The dominant azimuths are
067° (30%), 028° (29%), and 295° (14%). Photolineament lengths are shortest within the fault zone
(2m) with longer lineaments occurring on either side (4m). Dividing the field area into six domains
shows 067° as the dominant orientation with a subordinate 028° set. The fault zone is defined by en
echelon fractures with sub-horizontal slickensides that strike 067° and step to the NW. Meter-scale
scangrid arrays of the major fracture sets corroborate this stepover direction. Bedding strikes NW and
dips moderately eastward suggesting minimal displacement by the fault. The Riedel model for
development of strike-slip faults does not adequately explain the development of 067° and 028° fracture
sets.
Detailed mapping in other areas of west-central Vermont identified other en echelon fault zones that
strike ~067° and cut across Paleozoic ductile structures. We suspect they are related to motion on the St.
George Fault.
Winter-Spring 2017 The Green Mountain Geologist 11 Vol. 44, No. 1-2
RECONSTRUCTING A POSTGLACIAL MINERAL DUST RECORD IN THE EASTERN UINTA
MOUNTAINS, UTAH: CONSTRAINTS FROM THE TAYLOR LAKE WATERSHED
WASSON, Luna, MUNROE, Jeff, Geology Department, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT, 05753
Atmospheric mineral dust is recognized as an important part of ecosystem function in alpine
environments, as it supports biogeochemical cycling and is a source of primary nutrients. Past research
on dust delivery to the Uinta Mountains of northeastern Utah has shown dust to be essential in
pedogenesis, soil fertility, and surface water buffering against acidification. Modern dust deposition has
been tracked through active and passive dust collectors in the field, confirming the accumulation of dust
in the alpine zone and providing geochemical dust composition data. History of dust deposition is less
easily accessible, and must be reconstructed from collected material. Past dust deposition is recorded in
alpine lakes, which provide an archive of undisturbed sediment accumulation over a long period.
Geochemical properties of local sediment are constrained by watershed surficial material, while data
from nearby dust collectors constrain geochemical properties of the modern dust. These are
representative of two end member sources of sediment into the Taylor Lake basin. Geochemical analysis
of a radiocarbon-dated core from Taylor Lake enables comparison of exotic and local material
contributions to the lake over time. This analysis indicates high concentrations of calcium in the dust,
while watershed material contains high levels of aluminum. A high Ca/Al ratio in the lake core in
combination with radiocarbon ages suggests time intervals since the last glaciation of increased relative
dust contribution compared to watershed material. The intervals of Holocene aridity that the Taylor
Lake core highlights span ~10-8.2 ka BP, ~6.5-2.3ka BP, and ~2.1-1 ka BP, representing periods of
increased relative dust contribution that show correlation with other records of aridity across the Great
Basin and southwestern United States. This relationship suggests that high elevation dust records such as
the Taylor Lake core are able to track low elevation aridity and dust source availability.
APPLICATION OF GEOSTATISTICAL AND GEOCHRONOLOGICAL METHODS TO
STRATIGRAPHIC PROBLEMS IN THE LOWER CAMBRIAN MONKTON FORMATION
MAGUIRE, Henry, MEHRTENS, Charlotte. Department of Geology, University of Vermont,
Burlington, Vermont 05401, USA
The Monkton Formation has been described by Palmer and James (1980) as a Lower Cambrian
regressive sandstone unit containing shallowing up cycles and representing tidal flat progradation.
Spatial variation and limited outcrops of continuous stratigraphy have made it difficult to characterize
the cycles through the entirety of the Monkton Formation. This study seeks to identify stratigraphic
trends in the cycle architecture and thickness, information that will clarify how the sea level is changing
and impacting accommodation space.
This research project explores the stratigraphy of the Monkton at higher levels of resolution than
previously achieved using geophysical data. Outcrops of the Monkton containing shallowing-upward
cycles (parasequences) are being characterized by their gamma ray spectra signatures. Dolostone
horizons that cap some cycles are recognizable by their low gamma ray signals while clastic horizons
have variable gamma ray spectral signatures based on their grain size and amounts of dolomite cement.
The gamma ray spectra produced by cycles are being statistically analyzed to produce an “idealized”
pattern and this will be compared to the gamma ray data recorded in well logs. Using zonation software
well logs will be subdivided to aid in cycle identification and correlation. Initial statistical study of
gamma ray data from a well through the Monkton described by Kim et al. (2013) suggests that meter-
Winter-Spring 2017 The Green Mountain Geologist 12 Vol. 44, No. 1-2
scale parasequences are identifiable in geophysical logs. Work continues to try and identify the
lithologies and thicknesses of cycles in well log data based on gamma ray patterns obtained from
outcrop data and to identify trends in cycle thickness through the Monkton. These results can be
regionally applied to biostratigraphically correlatable rocks in New York, Quebec and Ontario.
An additional aspect of this study was to see if the detrital zircon populations in the Monkton and Danby
Formations yield any data that would aid in correlating this unit to other Cambrian strata. Previously,
there were no radiometric age determinations were completed on rocks of Cambrian age in the
Champlain Valley of Vermont, so for this project, samples have been collected and processed for zircon
dating to help constrain the age and provenance of this stratigraphy. Zircon population distribution
shows dominate age peaks of 1.05-1.09 Ga for the Monkton and Danby suggests either a continuity of
provenance source or the cycling of the Monkton’s sandstones. This dominate age peak is similar to the
1.16 Ga age peak seen in the Altona and Ausable Formations of the lower Potsdam Group of NY. The
complex age distributions described by Lowe (2016) in the younger members of the Potsdam are not
seen in the Vermont Stratigraphy.
CAN BLOOD AND SOIL PB LEVELS BE PREDICTED IN BURLINGTON, VT?
CZYZYK, Katelyn, ROSSI, Amanda, University of Vermont, Geology, Environmental Mineralogy and
Chemistry, Burlington, VT
Lead (Pb) is one of the most toxic chemical elements on Earth, causing severe neurological disorders in
children. Exposure associated with older homes (pre-1978) is a concerning issue due to the historic use
of Pb paint and low environmental mobility of Pb. This issue is especially prevalent in Burlington, VT.
While abatement and remediation remain the only efficient ways to eradicate Pb, its prohibitive cost
prevents large scale remediation. Our project investigates lead concentrations and bioavailability in
Burlington soils. Based on previous work, we test two hypotheses in our investigation: (1) that Pb levels
in Burlington soils are indeed linearly correlated to bioaccessible Pb and (2) that the predictive
geospatial model previously developed in the UVM Environmental Mineralogy and Chemistry group
accurately predicts areas and units of elevated risk.
Fifty two top-soil samples were collected from six residential properties in Burlington and subjected to
XRF spectroscopy to determine total Pb concentrations. In parallel, gastric digestion was simulated in
the laboratory and samples were analyzed to determine in-vitro Pb bioaccessibility using ICP-OES.
Comparison between total Pb and Bioaccessible Pb allowed us to refine the threshold limit for Pb in
Burlington soils. To further address Pb impact on communities, we used the EPA’s Integrated Exposure
Uptake Biokinetic (IEUBK) model to predict blood Pb levels (BLL) for individual sites. A previous
geospatial predictive model, based on 101 local soil samples, was reverse tested for accuracy. For this
purpose, we carried a comparison between predicted and measured Pb values for the tested soils.
The data shows total Pb levels ranging from 0 to 2,410 mg/kg across the six properties. The locations
exhibiting no Pb are homes built post-1978. Locations built prior, with or without exposed paint, show
the highest levels of Pb, with many exceeding the EPA’s guidance limit for residential play areas of 400
mg/kg. Painting over Pb paint helps reduce further contamination of the soil. Addition of these samples
to the existing database further refined the previously determined relationship between total Pb and
bioaccessible Pb, adding to the linear trend for which ca. 46% of total Pb is in bioaccessible form in
Burlington soils. Inclusion of specific site samples into the IEUBK model highlighted the lack of
mobility of Pb as well as its heterogeneous distribution at the site-scale. At the city scale, the addition of
these samples into the predictive geospatial model and reverse modeling suggests that the framing
Winter-Spring 2017 The Green Mountain Geologist 13 Vol. 44, No. 1-2
processes used to develop the model, namely co-kriging between housing age and total Pb, is accurate
while sampling randomization is key to improving spatial accuracy. The combination of multiscale,
targeted analysis and accounting for the EPA’s lowered Pb BLL allowed us to propose a revised
threshold for soil Pb in Burlington, VT or 360 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg lower than the national value. Our
approach highlights the necessity for local investigation and determination of site-specific regulation for
Pb contamination in soils.
IGNEOUS PETROGENESIS AND OVERPRINTING DEFORMATION AND METAMORPHISM OF
THE EDGECOMB GNEISS, MID COASTAL MAINE
CHEN, Jessica, WEST, D.P, Geology Department, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753
The Edgecomb Gneiss is an elongate deformed and metamorphosed igneous intrusion exposed near
Wiscasset in mid-coastal Maine. The intrusion is found adjacent to the Boothbay Thrust Fault, which
juxtaposes two regionally extensive lithotectonic terranes; the Ordovician Casco Bay Group, and the
Silurian Fredericton belt. Previous maps have shown conflicting contact relationships between the
Edgecomb Gneiss and this major terrane bounding fault structure. Structural, petrologic, and
geochemical analyses of the Edgecomb Gneiss, in concert with radiometric age dating of its igneous
protolith, will help construct a relative and absolute geochronology of the area, and lend insight into the
tectonic setting of magma generation.
The Edgecomb Gneiss is a medium to coarse grained porphyroblastic gneiss containing large grains of
light colored feldspar within a dark gray strongly foliated matrix dominated by biotite and lesser
amounts of amphibole. Fieldwork shows that the Edgecomb Gneiss is contained solely within the
Fredericton Belt, and does not cross cut the Boothbay thrust fault (D1 deformational event). Detailed
structural and petrographic analysis reveals the intrusion has been overprinted by upright isoclinal
folding and associated steeply dipping foliation that is consistent with D2 regional deformation.
Additionally, the Edgecomb Gneiss has been subjected to regional amphibolite facies metamorphism.
Whole rock geochemistry shows that the Edgecomb Gneiss is intermediate in terms of SiO2 content (55
to 62 wt.%), but has somewhat unusual trace element signatures. Specifically, it is relatively primitive
with high concentrations of MgO, Ni, and Cr, but also relatively rich in alkali elements, like K, Rb, and
Ba. Chondrite normalized REE plots show a pronounced enrichment in light REEs, and extended trace
element (spider) plots show a pronounced negative niobium anomaly.
Geochemical analysis suggests that the magma that formed the igneous protolith of the Edgecomb
Gneiss crystallized in a shallow subduction zone tectonic setting. The unusual geochemical signatures of
the Edgecomb Gneiss are similar to the Late Silurian-Early Devonian Lincoln syenite and Turner
Mountain syenite exposed along strike to the northeast. U-Pb zircon geochronology is in progress and
will test this tentative correlation. Additionally, an igneous crystallization age of the Edgecomb Gneiss
will provide absolute age constraints on the timing of regional deformation (D2) and metamorphism as
the intrusion clearly pre-dates these events.
Winter-Spring 2017 The Green Mountain Geologist 14 Vol. 44, No. 1-2
U-Pb DATING OF CALCITE VEINS IN THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY: CONSTRAINTS ON POST-
PALEOZOIC REJUVENATION IN THE EASTERN NORTH AMERICAN MARGIN
BARR, Matthew, AMIDON, Will, Department of Geology, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT,
05753
Geologists have long been puzzled by the mountainous topography of New England. The last known
large-scale tectonic event to impact the region was the opening of the Pangean supercontinent and the
opening of the Atlantic Ocean in the Early Mesozoic time. However, several lines of evidence suggest
that more recent tectonic events may have caused surface uplift and rejuvenated topography. For
example, pulses of sediment into the Baltimore Canyon Trough near 115, 80, and 15 Myr suggest
tectonic uplift in the adjacent Appalachians at those times. Regional apatite fission track and U-Th/He
cooling ages also point to tectonic uplift and cooling from 85-65 Ma.
This study argues that post-Paleozoic tectonism is recorded by brittle fractures in presently exposed
bedrock of New England. We use U-Pb dating of calcite veins to constrain the timing of bedrock
fracturing in the Champlain Valley. Calcite samples were collected from brittle fractures that crosscut
Paleozoic metamorphic fabrics in bedrock exposures. LA-ICPMS U-PB results from calcite collected
from the veins fall into three age ranges: (1) 120-95 Ma, (2) 85-70 Ma, and (3) 20-0 Ma. We interpret
these ages to reflect the timing of brittle fracturing in the Champlain Valley and believe these findings
indicate periods of post-Paleozoic tectonic activity during the Cretaceous and Miocene. This paper
supports previous work, which suggest post-Paleozoic tectonic activity in the Champlain Valley during
the Early-Late Cretaceous and Miocene.
COMPARISONS OF DETRITAL MINERAL ASSEMBLAGES IN THE BALTIMORE CANYON
TROUGH WITH MODERN RIVER SEDIMENTS: CONSTRAINTS ON POST-RIFT TECTONISM
IN THE NORTHERN APPALACHIANS
STANLEY, Milo and AMIDON, W. H. Department of Geology, Middlebury College, Middlebury,
Vermont 05753, USA
Much of the elevated topography of the northern Appalachian Mountains was originally formed in a
series of orogenic events during the Paleozoic era, from 450 to 230 Ma. Rocks exposed in the
Adirondack massif to the west of the northern Appalachians are much older, having formed during the
Grenville orogeny over 1,000 Ma. Conventional wisdom dictates that the Appalachians have been
devoid of tectonism since the rifting of Pangea during the Jurassic period, and instead have been slowly
denuded through the gradual processes of weathering and erosion. However, a growing body of
evidence suggests that the northern Appalachians have experienced tectonic rejuvenation in the
intervening time, as recently as the Mio-Pliocene.
Perhaps the most compelling evidence for post-rift episodic tectonism in the ENAM is a study by Poag
and Sevon (1989) of sediment accumulation in the Baltimore Canyon Trough (BCT), showing strong
peaks in the accumulation rate that could be explained only by drastic increases in sediment supply, and
thus tectonic rejuvenation. This study attempts to place geographical constraints on post-rift tectonic
uplift by identifying the source regions of sediment in the BCT through zircon geochronology. U-Pb
dating of detrital zircons was performed on samples of Lower Cretaceous and Miocene sediments from a
northern BCT drill core, COST B-2, and samples of modern river sediments from eight different
watersheds across New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts and New York. Results show that each
Winter-Spring 2017 The Green Mountain Geologist 15 Vol. 44, No. 1-2
watershed has a unique distribution of zircon ages, representative of the geologic provinces drained by
that watershed that differentiates it from the rest. Likewise, age distributions of detrital zircons in the
COST B-2 samples show distinct variation with depth, suggesting a shift in the location of sediment
sources over time. Further analysis of the COST B-2 data reveals some of the patterns of detrital zircon
age distribution seen in the river sediment data, providing an indicator of provenance.
LABORATORY SYNTHESIS OF SERPENTINES TO ASSESS POTENTIAL FOR ARSENIC
INCORPORATION
PAINTER, Will Department of Geology, Middlebury College, Middlebury, Vermont 05753, USA
Recent studies have identified arsenic as an elevated trace element in serpentinite, reaching
concentrations of 450 ppm. Arsenic-bearing serpentinites have been identified as the primary source of
arsenic groundwater contamination in north-central Vermont and elsewhere. Understanding the capacity
for serpentines to incorporate arsenic is a crucial next step.
Previous studies have shown arsenic incorporation within the serpentine chemical structure, however the
details of arsenic incorporation are not well understood. Previous studies have shown evidence for
As(III) and As(V) substituting for Si(IV) and As(III) substituting for Mg(II).
The use of laboratory synthesis in this study allows for the testing of hypotheses through fine
manipulation of variables such as concentration and oxidation state of the initial arsenic and aluminum.
Samples were generated by combining appropriate ratios of aqueous Mg(NO3)2 and Na2SiO3 with
variable concentrations of Al(NO3)3, As(III)NaO2, and HAs(V)NaO4 at a controlled pH. The solution
was sealed in an airtight Parr 4744 reactor at 200°C for 7 days. After separation and drying, this method
consistently produced approximately 20 mg of white powder. Samples were analyzed by powder XRD,
FTIR, and ICPMS.
XRD indicated the synthesis consistently produced a hydrous 1:1 Mg-silicate with a d(001) at 7.5-7.9Å,
a d(002) at 3.65Å, but no resolution of non-001 peaks, data consistent with disordered serpentine. FTIR
confirmed hydrous serpentine formation with peaks at 3688 and 3400 associated with free OH bonding,
peaks at 1640 associated with H2O, and peaks at 1070 and 800 associated with Si-O bonding. ICPMS
was performed on samples dissolved in aqua regia after washes of KCl and dilute acetic acid to remove
adsorbed arsenic and disordered serpentine. Using [As](ppb) / ([Mg](ppb)*2/3) to reflect the ratio of
incorporated arsenic to tetrahedral positions capable of accepting arsenic, every trial exhibited a rate
between 2.9-12.1%. Furthermore in direct comparisons between 5 otherwise identical trials, As(III)
consistently showed a higher rate of arsenic incorporation, an average increase of 52.1% over As(V).
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please send announcements that are pertinent to our membership to the VGS publications manager as
listed below.
Winter-Spring 2017 The Green Mountain Geologist 16 Vol. 44, No. 1-2
CALENDAR
Vermont Geological Society Annual Student Meeting
Date: April 29, 2017
Time: 8:30 am
Location: University of Vermont, Delehanty Hall, Burlington, VT
Information: For information contact Jon Kim at (802) 522-5401 or e-mail [email protected] .
New England Intercollegiate Geologic Conference (NEIGC)
Date: Sept. 29 - Oct. 1, 2017
Location: Bethel, Maine
Host: Bates College
Information: For information about 3 days of field trips in western Maine and the White Mtns of New
Hampshire, contact Dyk Eusden at [email protected]
NGWA Conference on Fractured Rock and Groundwater
Date: Oct. 2-3, 2017
Location: Burlington, Vermont
Earth Science Week
Date: October 8-14, 2017
Information: Please visit the AGI web site for suggested activities and special events and contests such
as International EarthCache Day and Map Day.
Geological Society of America Annual Meeting
Date: October 22-25, 2017
Location: Seattle, Washington
2018 Northeast Geological Society of America Annual Meeting
Date: March 18-20, 2018
Location: Burlington, VT
2018 Resources for Future Generations - Energy, Minerals, Water, Earth
Date: June 17-21, 2018
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Host: International Union of Geological Sciences, Geological Association of Canada, Mineralogical
Assoc. of Canada, Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, and Canadian Federation of
Earth Sciences
Winter-Spring 2017 The Green Mountain Geologist 17 Vol. 44, No. 1-2
The Vermont Geological Society is a non-profit educational corporation.
The Executive Committee of the Society is comprised of the Officers, the Board of Directors, and the
Chairs of the Permanent Committees.
O f f i c e r s
President Jon Kim (802) 522-5401 [email protected]
Vice President Keith Klepeis (802) 656-0247 [email protected]
Secretary Vacant
Treasurer David Westerman (802) 485-2337 [email protected]
B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s
Les Kanat (802) 635-1327 [email protected]
George Springston (802) 485-2734 [email protected]
Kristen Underwood (802) 453-3076 [email protected]
C h a i r s o f t h e P e r m a n e n t C o m m i t t e e s Advancement of Science Jon Kim [email protected]
Membership David Westerman [email protected]
Public Issues Marjorie Gale [email protected]
Publications Peter Gale [email protected]
Vermont Geological Society
Norwich University, Dept. of Geology
158 Harmon Drive
Northfield, Vermont 05663
ADDRESS CHANGE?
Please send it to the Treasurer at the above address
THE
GREEN
MOUNTAIN
GEOLOGIST
QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF THE VERMONT GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
VGS Website: http://www.uvm.org/vtgeologicalsociety/
SUMMER-FALL 2017 VOLUME 44 NUMBER 3 & 4
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PRESIDENT’S LETTER ................................................................................2
TREASURER’S REPORT .............................................................................3
ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE REPORT.................................................3
VERMONT STATE GEOLOGIST’S REPORT .........................................4
CALENDAR ....................................................................................................6
ANNOUNCEMENTS .................................................................................... 7
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ........................................................................7
Summer-Fall 2017 The Green Mountain Geologist 2 Vol. 44, No. 3&4
PRESIDENT”S LETTER
One of my favorite geology professors and mentors, Bruce Selleck of Colgate University, passed away
suddenly at the end of July. He and I had planned to get together for a field trip in the Champlain Valley
this past field season. When I went to the memorial service this past October, the hundreds of former
students present made it clear how many lives and careers he had influenced.
Bruce’s classes were always hands-on and field-based and he treated everyone like they were the only
student in the class. Although we were always amazed at how much geology Bruce knew, we were most
grateful for how great a teacher and friend he was. It was during the 12-week summer Colgate field
camp in 1980 that I became hooked on geology, largely because of Bruce.
With much gratitude, we accept the resignation of Dave Westerman as VGS Treasurer at the end of the
year. If anyone is interested in this position, please let me know as soon as you can. We need to have
elections soon.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jon Kim, VGS President
Bruce Selleck (orange shirt) in teaching mode at a
field trip in the Potsdam Sandstone in northern New
York (2010)
Summer-Fall 2017 The Green Mountain Geologist 3 Vol. 44, No. 3&4
TREASURER’S REPORT
Finances: The Society is in sound financial health, maintaining a relatively steady-state as regards
income and expenses.
Expenses:
$343.28 spring meeting expenses
$300.00 First Prize, Best Paper and Charles Doll Award Winner: Jessica Chen, Middlebury
College
$200.00 Second Prize, Best Paper, Elijah Orlando, Middlebury College
$100.00 Third Prize, Best Paper, Matt Barr, Middlebury College
$1,000.00 Research Award, $1,000, Jennifer Cooper Boemmels: Exploring Cretaceous
Magmatism of the New England Quebec (NEQ) Igneous Province: A Geochronological
and Structural Approach
Income: $85.00 Dues
$80.00 Student Research Fund Contributions from Jon Kim and George Springston
Balance: Our current balance as of November 1, 2017 is $9,647.50
New Members:
None
Respectfully submitted,
David S. Westerman, Treasurer
ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE COMMITTEE REPORT
The Executive Committee decided to raise the maximum award per research grant to $1000 from $700,
provided that the funds are available.
One application for the Vermont Geological Society Research Grant Program by the October 1st
deadline. George Springston and I reviewed it and felt that it should be awarded the full amount asked
for.
Name: Jennifer Cooper Boemmels, Ph.D. student, University of Connecticut
Address: 11 Oakwood Drive, North Haven, CT 06473
Email: [email protected]
Title: Exploring Cretaceous Magmatism of the New England Quebec (NEQ) Igneous Province: A
Geochronological and Structural Approach
Amount Requested: $1000
Over the past ~ten years, the general pattern has been for VGS to receive multiple research grant
applications in the fall (October 1st deadline) and none in the spring (April 1st deadline). One of the
problems for the spring deadline is that student interns have not yet been selected for summer field work
Summer-Fall 2017 The Green Mountain Geologist 4 Vol. 44, No. 3&4
and, even if they were, they do not have enough background to write a grant application. I know this
from my work with Middlebury College and UVM interns, as they do not start working with me until
July 1st, the beginning of the new Vermont state fiscal year. I suggest that we consider moving this
second deadline into the summer. Another idea is to decide in advance how much VGS will spend on
research grants for the coming year and have rolling submissions and evaluations until the pre-
determined amount is exhausted; this system is used by the Billings Fund, which is run by the New
England Intercollegiate Geological Conference (NEIGC).
We need volunteers to lead field trips for the summer and fall of 2018.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jon Kim, Chair, Advancement of Science Committee
STATE GEOLOGIST’S REPORT
As another year comes to a close, it seems like a good opportunity to recap our year and share highlights
of our work on geologic mapping, groundwater, health and hazards. If you don’t know about the
Vermont Geological Survey (Est. 1845), we are aka the Division of Geology in the Department of
Environmental Conservation and although there are only three of us, we have built valuable partnerships
which extend our reach and increase the impact of geoscience in Vermont. We are delighted to have
Colin Dowey (MS UMaine) join Jon Kim and me in the Geology Division. Colin is working on water
data, groundwater resources, and surficial geology and brings considerable GIS and other technical
knowledge to our group.
Mapping, Hazards and Health
Basic geologic mapping is funded through the USGS STATEMAP competitive program with match
provided by universities and local volunteers. We greatly appreciate the STATEMAP Advisory
Committee (SMAC) and Chair, Eric Hanson, who meet annually to review projects and help prioritize
projects for the coming year. The SMAC is comprised of people from state and federal government,
non-profit organizations and the private sector. This year we added several new members to the SMAC
which contributed to a lively discussion of possible projects. The SMAC recommended that we apply
for STATEMAP funds for projects in the prioritized order: 1) surficial geology of the Richmond
quadrangle to be applied to groundwater resources, 2) surficial geology of the Huntington quadrangle to
be applied to hazard identification and septic siting, 3) compilation of a portion of the Montpelier one-
degree sheet, and 4) surficial geology of the northern half of the Proctor quadrangle to be applied to
groundwater resource planning.
In addition to STATEMAP and match providers, mapping is funded through Vermont Dept. of Public
Safety and through DEC specific project work. Numerous mapping projects are in in progress this fall
with long term partners. George Springston of Norwich University is mapping surficial geology in the
Barre East quadrangle, recently delivered a landslide hazard map for Washington County, and is
mapping hazards in Chittenden County. George has been our partner for more than 20 years and has
built his expertise in hazards, surficial mapping and GIS. Stephen Wright and several student interns
from the University of Vermont delivered mapping projects in Weathersfield in May and are now
mapping in the Bolton Mountain quadrangle. Stephen has completed multiple projects for us and I want
Summer-Fall 2017 The Green Mountain Geologist 5 Vol. 44, No. 3&4
to acknowledge the very positive feedback we received from the Town of Weathersfield. Rounding out
the surficial geology projects is the Proctor quadrangle which is being mapped by John Van Hoesen of
Green Mountain College.
Bedrock mapping and groundwater analyses in Bennington are continuing with partners from
Middlebury College, University of Vermont, Bennington College, SUNY Plattsburgh, USGS, EPA,
DeSimone Geoscience, and UMASS. Jon Kim leads the effort for DEC and hopes to have numerous
presentations on the results of their work at NEGSA in Burlington in March. Summer interns, Eric
Marcus (SUNY Plattsburgh) and Will Vincett (UVM), worked with Jon on projects such as correlating
radon levels in air with bedrock formations, surficial geology, and soils; analyzing the chemistry
(including herbicides) of groundwater and surface water in Sutton where nitrate contamination of a
public water supply is a problem; and processing fracture data for groundwater favorability map
projects.
On a broader note, the National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 is up for re-authorization in 2018. The
bill was introduced in the Senate in early September by Senator Lisa Murkowski (AK) with co-sponsors
from across the aisle. The bill is important for continued support of geologic mapping in the US.
Ground Water
We were successful in obtaining a 2 year grant from the USGS Water Use Data and Research Program
to improve water resource data. Much of the available data in Vermont which could be used to develop
availability, recharge and water budget information is in a variety of formats from spreadsheets to MS
Word documents, is not in an easily accessible format, lacks geographic coordinates and is not available
as geographic information system (GIS) data, and needs quality control. Although we have a full 5 year
work plan, in the first two years we intend to update water well locations in the well driller database and
provide additional fields to USGS, build data bases for snow-making data and for large groundwater
withdrawals, and determine intake locations for a number of water systems. Work is now underway to
complete the well location project for 7 counties during 2017-2019.
The Ground Water Protection Council is a national non-profit organization for the protection and
management of groundwater resources. I gave a brief presentation at the Annual Forum in Boston in
September and served on a panel discussion of opportunities for collaboration at the state level. We also
presented with VRWA, EPA and our Drinking Water Division at regional workshops designed to help
towns plan for public water supply and protect their resources. We have found a niche in providing
geologic services and information to our DEC water and waste divisions and other government agencies.
Other
Please remember to attend the NEGSA in Burlington in March. It’s a great opportunity to learn about all
the work going on in the northeast and beyond. If you are interested in applications of geoscience to
state issues, please come to our session or better yet, submit an abstract. Abstracts are due December 12.
New publications (posted on our web site):
Kim, J. J., 2017, (Draft) Preliminary Bedrock Geologic Map of the Bennington Area, Vermont: Vermont
Geological Survey Open File Report VG2017-4A, scale 1:12,000.
Kim, J. J., 2017, (Draft) Preliminary Fracture Map of the Bennington Area, Vermont: Vermont
Geological Survey Open File Report VG2017-4B, scale 1:12,000.
Summer-Fall 2017 The Green Mountain Geologist 6 Vol. 44, No. 3&4
Kim, J. J., and Dowey, C. W., 2017, Derivative maps generated from water well data logs in the
Bennington area, Vermont: Vermont Geological Survey Open File Report VG2017-3, 4 Plates, scale
1:12,000.
Springston, G., Landslide Inventory of Washington County, Central Vermont: Vermont Geological
Survey Open File Report VG2017-7.
Springston G. and Dowey, C., Surficial Geologic Map of the Joes Pond Quadrangle, Vermont: Vermont
Geological Survey Open File Report VG2017-6, scale 1:24,000.
Wright, S., Surficial Geology and Hydrogeology of the Town of Weathersfield, Vermont: Vermont
Geological Survey Open File Report VG2017-5, 5 plates, scale 1:24,000.
Respectfully Submitted,
Marjorie Gale
State Geologist and Director, Vermont Geological Survey
CALENDAR
2018 Northeast Geological Society of America Annual Meeting
Date: March 18-20, 2018
Location: Burlington, VT
Web link:
https://www.geosociety.org/GSA/Events/Section_Meetings/GSA/Sections/ne/2018mtg/home.aspx
2018 Resources for Future Generations - Energy, Minerals, Water, Earth
Date: June 17-21, 2018
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Host: International Union of Geological Sciences, Geological Association of Canada, Mineralogical
Assoc. of Canada, Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, and Canadian Federation of
Earth Sciences
Web link: http://rfg2018.org/
90th Annual New York State Geological Association Field Conference and joint meeting with the New
England Intercollegiate Geological Conference.
Date: Oct 5-8, 2018
Location: Lake George, NY
Hosts: Colgate and Castleton Universities
Web link: http://www.nysga-online.net/
Summer-Fall 2017 The Green Mountain Geologist 7 Vol. 44, No. 3&4
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Dave Westerman resigned as VGS Treasurer after many years of service. If anyone is interested in this
position, please let Jon Kim know as soon as possible. We need to have elections soon for VGS
Officers.
VGS is seeking volunteers to lead the summer and fall 2018 field trips. Please contact Jon Kim
([email protected]) if you are able to lead a trip.
The Vermont Geological Society is a non-profit educational corporation.
The Executive Committee of the Society is comprised of the Officers, the Board of Directors, and the
Chairs of the Permanent Committees.
O f f i c e r s
President Jon Kim (802) 522-5401 [email protected]
Vice President Keith Klepeis (802) 656-0247 [email protected]
Secretary Vacant
Treasurer Vacant
B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s
Les Kanat (802) 635-1327 [email protected]
George Springston (802) 485-2734 [email protected]
Kristen Underwood (802) 453-3076 [email protected]
C h a i r s o f t h e P e r m a n e n t C o m m i t t e e s Advancement of Science Jon Kim [email protected]
Membership David Westerman [email protected]
Public Issues Marjorie Gale [email protected]
Publications Peter Gale [email protected]
Vermont Geological Society
Norwich University, Dept. of Geology
158 Harmon Drive
Northfield, Vermont 05663
ADDRESS CHANGE?
Please send it to the Treasurer at the above address
