Geologic Volcano Tour - Report Example

Active Volcanic The Zuni-Bandera volcanic field is found in New Mexico on the northwestern side, it is characterized with numerous episodes of basaltic eruptions in the past. The latest lava flow from the field is believed to have occurred roughly 3000 years ago. The volcanic field has cinder cones and lava tubes of which some contain perennial ice, in an appropriately preserved manner. It also spots a number of Hawaiian-style volcanism with pahoehoe flow patterns, small spatter cones, gas cavities, large wedge-shaped cracks, collapse depressions and large pressure, as well as tumescence (New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, 2012). In addition, there are ice caves formed from the lava tubes. The eruption type occurring in Bandera is the passive kind that produces lava flows, cinder cones and small cones. The term Hawaiian eruption is used for this eruption, as it is similar to the one that formed the Hawaiian Islands and continues to form them. Moreover, the rocks formed are called basalts and are usually black in color. In the eruptions, highly explosive eruptions fragment the magma into small cinders that result in cinder cones and gas-rich alkalic basalts make foamy lava shoot very high in the air and cool as they fall, piling up to create cones of loose particles. It is after this that craters are formed from alkali basalt resulting in the Bandera crater, therefore, the volcano is currently dormant albeit with mild signs of life considering its young age. Tectonically, the Bandera Volcanic field is located along the Jemez Lineament, an area known for crustal weakness, moreover, the zone is characterized by a concentration of late-Cenozoic volcanism. The Bandera volcanic field is also located at a transition zone between the Colorado plateau with a thick crust of over 40km (New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, 2012). In addition, the crust of the area experiences stretching from regional tectonic forces. It is from this stretching that that produces areas of weakness in the brittle little crust allowing magma to force its way upwards and onto the surface. It is on the same Jemez lineament that forms the intersection between the Rio Grande rift and the Jemez Lineament, creating more lines of weakness for volcanic activity to take place. The rift of weakness, Rio Grande rift runs from the North to the South and serves as a means of accommodating East-West stretching of the crust. It is because of this that the entire area is covered with volcanic activity like the Zuni-Bandera crater and Mount Taylor (New Mexico Earth Matters, 2006). Economically, the volcanic site is known for tourism activities. This is due to geological areas of interest such as the ice caves and the Bandera volcano. The area is open for all to see and visit with the areas labeled as unique and historic landmarks. It spots hiking trails that tourist can climb for a fee around the mountain to the ice caves and the mountain (Icecaves.com, n.d). Other than this, there are not other economic resources or activities suitable in the area for commercial or personal purposes. As for hazards associated with the volcano, there are few signs of a likelihood of an eruption, which makes it a relatively safe area in which to be. This is because despite its youth, there have not been any eruptions in over a thousand years. Groundwater The Antlers sandstone occurs in the in a 4400 square mile area of southeastern Oklahoma and runs parallel to the red river (Morton, 1992). The sandstone comprising the Antlers aquifer is only exposed in the northern side where groundwater runs unconfined (Hart & Davis, 1981). The sandstone is made up of sand, clay, conglomerate and limestone deposited on Paleozoic rocks. The Antlers sandstone and cretaceous rocks underlie the Gulf Coast Plain Physiographic Province in an area that is mostly plain and is drained by the Red River and some of its major tributaries. The sediments mentioned from the Antlers Sandstone are representative materials that originate from the shoreline sea that advanced slowly. In addition, the Antlers aquifer goes by other names, such as the trinity group but goes by the Antler aquifer only in the Oklahoma area. The origin of the aquifer is the erosion that occurred in the area during the Jurassic and cretaceous times creating a flat undulating plain (Veve and Taggart, 1996). From the earlier mentioned advancing sea, there was deposition of clastic and carbonate rocks, limestone deposits and repeated advances and retreats of the ancient sea. The base of the aquifer slopes to the southeast and is mostly below sea level. With this in mind, the rocks that surround and underlie the aquifer are less permeable as compared to those that make it up, thus, they act as a barrier to ground-water flow. The aquifer has a significant impact on human activities in the area in a number of ways relating to the economic activities that the people living in the area take part in to make a living. In this case, ground water from the aquifer is used for irrigation purposes where it irrigates the Edwards plateau (Veve and Taggart, 1996). In addition, water from the aquifer plays a crucial role in the development of industries in the area concerning usage for mining, industrial purposes and thermoelectric use. All this is while some local authorities in the southern state of Texas for domestic purposes (Morton, 1992). However, due to extensive usage of ground water from the aquifer, there has been a significant decline of water over the years. This is while major recharge events, such as rainfall and seepage from lakes, as well as other surface water bodies leading to replenished water reserves recharge the aquifer (Nance, n.d.). Shoreline Chesapeake Bay is an estuary: a water body where fresh and salt water mix covering over 200miles in length and between 4 to 30 miles near Aberdeen and Cape Charles respectively (Chesapeake Bay Program, n.d.a). It is made up of fifty major tributaries that pour water into it, where 90% of the fresh water originates from the tributaries while the rest comes from the eastern shore. The formation of Chesapeake Bay was the result of alternate exposure and submersion of the area that is currently the Chesapeake Bay. This occurred due to massive glaciers that advanced and retreated causing the sea level to rise and fall in rhythm with glacial contractions and expansions (Pyzik, Caddick and Marx, 2004). Geologically, the Chesapeake Bay lies in the Atlantic Coastal Plain, which is a flat low land area made up of crystalline rock and sand, as well as clay and gravel. However, since its formation, it has experienced numerous modifications resulting from erosion, transport and deposition of sediments. In addition, other prominent features of the bay, such as headlands and peninsulas have been eroded and smoothed by currents and tides. Human activities affecting the Chesapeake Bay include rapid deforestation and population growth (Pyzik, Caddick and Marx, 2004). This is concerning soil erosion and sedimentation in the bay as rapid population growth has led to rapid deforestation and increased sedimentation leading to a shallower bay. In addition, water quality in the bay is affected due to the presence of pollutants such as nitrogen and phosphorous emanating from agricultural and industrial use of certain products (Chesapeake Bay Program, n.d.b). Therefore, in order to preserve and protect the Chesapeake Bay a number of measures have been put in place in the form of regulations of human activities in the areas surrounding it to prevent adverse human activities that lead to the destruction of the area. Such include setting up of authorities, such as Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to regulate development projects in the designated Industrial Waterfront Intensely Developed Areas. Regulations allow for development and redevelopment as long as it meets applicable erosion and sediment control requirements (Cooperation of Newport News Virginia, 2005). In addition, to reduce the impact of erosion and sedimentation of the islands remaining in the Chesapeake Bay, stabilization of remnant acres and creation of marshes is in progress. This is meant to prevent further erosion of the islands and provide a haven for birds and wildlife. Zuni-Bandera volcanic Field Chesapeake Bay Antler Aquifer References Chesapeake Bay Program. (n.d.a). Discover the Chesapeake: Facts & Figures. Retrieved from http://www.chesapeakebay.net/discover/bay101/facts Chesapeake Bay Program. (n.d.b). Factors Impacting Bay and Watershed Health. Retrieved from http://www.chesapeakebay.net/track/health/factors Cooperation of Newport News Virginia. (2005). Guide to the Newport News Chesapeake Bay Preservation Program for Residential Property. Retrieved from http://www.nngov.com/planning/downloads/cb_brochure.pdf Hart, D. L. and Davis, R.E (1981). Geohydrology of the Antlers Aquifer (Cretaceous), Southeastern Oklahoma. OKLAHOMA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. Retrieved from http://www.ogs.ou.edu/pubsscanned/Circulars/circular81mm.pdf Icecaves.com. (n.d.). Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved from http://www.icecaves.com/faq.html Morton, R.B. (1992) Simulation of Ground-Water Flow in the Antlers Aquifer in Southeastern Oklahoma and Northeastern Texas. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. Retrieved from http://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/1988/4208/report.pdf Nance, H.S. (n.d.). Hydrochemical Variability in the Edwards-Trinity Aquifer System, Edwards Plateau, Texas. Retrieved from http://www.twdb.state.tx.us/publications/reports/numbered_reports/doc/R360/Ch03.pdf New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources. (2012). Geologic Background Zuni-Bandera Volcanic Field. Retrieved from http://geoinfo.nmt.edu/tour/federal/monuments/el_malpais/zuni-bandera/background.html New Mexico Earth Matters. (2006). Volcanoes of New Mexico. Retrieved from http://geoinfo.nmt.edu/publications/periodicals/earthmatters/6/EMV6N1.pdf Pyzik. L., Caddick, J. and Marx, P. (2004). Chesapeake Bay Introduction to an Ecosystem. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Chesapeake Bay Program. Retrieved from http://www.chesapeakebay.net/content/publications/cbp_13039.pdf Veve, T. D. and Taggart, B. E. (1996). Atlas of Ground-Water Resources in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved from http://vi.water.usgs.gov/public/online_pubs/wri94_4198/wri94_4198.pdf Read More