Geologic map of the Orchard 7.5' quadrangle, Morgan County, Colorado
Links
- Documents:
- Plate: Map Georeferenced (179 MB pdf) Contains: Georeferenced pdf for users' convenience.
- Related Works:
- Scientific Investigations Map 3344 — Geologic map of the Masters 7.5' quadrangle, Weld and Morgan Counties, Colorado
- Scientific Investigations Map 3396 — Geologic map of the Weldona 7.5' quadrangle, Morgan County, Colorado
- Scientific Investigations Map 3408 — Geologic map of the Fort Morgan 7.5' quadrangle, Morgan County, Colorado
- Scientific Investigations Report 2019-5020 — Pleistocene and Holocene Landscape Development of the South Platte River Corridor, Northeastern Colorado
- Companion File: Downloads Directory Contains: geospatial database. Refer to the Readme and Metadata files for more information.
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
The Orchard 7.5' quadrangle is located along the South Platte River corridor on the semi-arid plains of eastern Colorado, and contains surficial deposits that record alluvial, eolian, and hillslope processes that have operated through environmental changes from the Pleistocene to the present. The South Platte River, originating high in the Colorado Front Range, has played a major role in shaping the geology of the quadrangle, which is situated downstream of where the last of the major headwater tributaries (St. Vrain, Big Thompson, and Cache la Poudre) join the river. Recurrent glaciation (and deglaciation) of basin headwaters affected river discharge and sediment supply far downstream, influencing alluvium deposition and terrace formation in the Orchard quadrangle. Kiowa and Bijou Creeks, unglaciated tributaries originating east of the Front Range also have played a major role by periodically delivering large volumes of sediment to the river during flood events, which may have temporarily dammed the river. Eolian sand deposits of the Greeley (north of river) and Fort Morgan (south of river) dune fields cover much of the quadrangle and record past episodes of sand mobilization during times of drought. With the onset of irrigation during historic times, the South Platte River has changed from a broad, shallow, and sandy braided river with highly seasonal discharge to a much narrower, deeper river with braided-meandering transition morphology and more uniform discharge. Along this reach, the river has incised into Upper Cretaceous Pierre Shale, which, although buried by alluvial deposits in Orchard quadrangle, is locally exposed downstream along the South Platte River bluff near the Bijou Creek confluence, in some of the larger draws, and along Wildcat Creek.
Study Area
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Geologic map of the Orchard 7.5' quadrangle, Morgan County, Colorado |
| Series title | Scientific Investigations Map |
| Series number | 3331 |
| DOI | 10.3133/sim3331 |
| Year Published | 2015 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Publisher location | Reston, VA |
| Contributing office(s) | Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center |
| Description | Report: 1 p.; 1 Plate: 54.41 x 34.02 inches |
| Country | United States |
| State | Colorado |
| County | Morgan County |
| Online Only (Y/N) | Y |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | Y |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |