CONTENTS

Abstract

Introduction

Site Description

Physiography

Geologic History

Proterozoic and Paleozoic Geologic Setting

Mesozoic Geologic Setting

Tertiary and Quaternary Geologic Setting

Tertiary and Quaternary Tectonic Setting

Hydrogeologic Units

Construction of Three-Dimensional Digital Framework Model

Tools for Hydrogeologic Framework Modeling

Use of Outcrop Data

Use of Cross-Section Data

Use of Lithologic Borehole Data

Use of UGTA Phase I Geologic Model Data

Interpolation of Structural Surfaces for Hydrogeologic Units

Development of Three-Dimensional Hydrogeologic Framework Model

Description of the Three-Dimensional Hydrogeologic Framework Model

Quaternary-Tertiary Valley-Fill Alluvium

Quaternary-Tertiary Valley-Fill Playa Deposits

Volcanic Rocks

Undifferentiated Volcanic Rocks

Southern Nevada Test Site/Yucca Mountain Volcanic Units

Timber Mountain/Pahute Mesa Volcanic Units

Tertiary Sediment/Death Valley Section

Mesozoic Volcaniclastic and Sedimentary Rocks

Upper Carbonate Aquifer

Upper Clastic Confining Unit

Lower Carbonate Aquifer

Lower Clastic Confining Unit

Precambrian Granites and Metamorphic Rocks

Tertiary-Jurassic Intrusives

Application of Three-Dimensional Framework Model

Evaluating the Model

Attribution of Model Cells

Summary

References Cited

FIGURES

1-6. Maps showing:

 

1. Boundaries of hydrogeologic framework and ground-water flow models, geographic, and prominent topographic features of the Death Valley region, California and Nevada

2. Tectonic features of the Death Valley region and vicinity

3. Structural-physiographic subsections of the southern Great Basin

4. Outcrop area of hydrogeologic units of Death Valley region

5. Traces of mapped faults in the study area

6. Traces of faults used to create hydrogeologic framework model

 

7. Oblique perspective view of gridded surface of the lower carbonate aquifer

8. Diagrams showing time-stratigraphic and model order of geologic events

 

9-34. Maps showing:

 

9. (A) Thickness of Quaternary-Tertiary valley-fill alluvium and (B) data sources used to construct gridded surface

10. (A) Thickness of Quaternary-Tertiary playa deposits and (B) data sources used to construct gridded surface

11. (A) Thickness of undifferentiated volcanics and (B) data sources used to construct gridded surface

12. (A) Thickness of volcanic aquifer and (B) data sources used to construct gridded surface

13. (A) Thickness of volcanic confining unit and (B) data sources used to construct gridded surface

14. (A) Thickness of Timber Mountain aquifer and (B) data sources used to construct gridded surface

15. (A) Thickness of Paintbrush/Calico Hills tuff cone and (B) data sources used to construct gridded surface

16. (A) Thickness of Bullfrog aquifer and (B) data sources used to construct gridded surface

17. (A) Thickness of Belted Range aquifer and (B) data sources used to construct gridded surface

18. (A) Thickness of basal confining unit and (B) data sources used to construct gridded surface

19. (A) Thickness of basal aquifer and (B) data sources used to construct gridded surface

20. (A) Thickness of Tertiary sediments/Death Valley section and (B) data sources used to construct gridded surface

21. (A) Thickness of Mesozoic volcaniclastic and sedimentary rocks including Lee Canyon and Keystone thrusts and (B) data sources used to construct gridded surface

22. (A) Thickness of upper carbonate aquifer and (B) data sources used to construct gridded surface

23. (A) Thickness of upper clastic confining unit and (B) data sources used to construct gridded surface

24. (A) Thickness of lower carbonate aquifer and (B) data sources used to construct gridded surface

25. (A) Thickness of lower carbonate aquifer-Schwaub Peak, Specter Range, and Wheeler Pass lower thrust plate and (B) data sources used to construct gridded surface

26. (A) Thickness of lower carbonate aquifer-Schwaub Peak, Specter Range, and Wheeler Pass upper thrust plate and (B) data sources used to construct gridded surface

27. (A) Thickness of lower carbonate aquifer-Lee Canyon thrust and (B) data sources used to construct gridded surface

28. (A) Thickness of lower carbonate aquifer-Gass Peak thrust and (B) data sources used to construct gridded surface

29. (A) Thickness of lower clastic confining unit and (B) data sources used to construct gridded surface

30. (A) Thickness of lower clastic confining unit-Schwaub Peak, Specter Range, and Wheeler Pass lower thrust plate and (B) data sources used to construct gridded surface

31. (A) Thickness of lower clastic confining unit-Schwaub Peak, Specter Range, and Wheeler Pass upper thrust plate and (B) data sources used to construct gridded surface

32. (A) Thickness of lower clastic confining unit-Gass peak thrust and (B) data sources used to construct gridded surface

33. (A) Thickness of Precambrian granite and metamorphic rocks and (B) data sources used to construct gridded surface

34. (A) Thickness of Tertiary-Jurassic intrusives and (B) data sources used to construct gridded surface

 

35. Oblique perspective view of three-dimensional hydrogeologic framework model showing the distribution of the hydrogeologic units using a series of north-south- and east-west-oriented cross-sectional slices

 

TABLES

1. Hydrogeologic units from top to bottom for hydrogeologic framework models

2. Data sources for Death Valley regional ground-water flow system hydrogeologic framework model

3. Volcanic hydrogeologic units of the southern Nevada Test Site/Yucca Mountain area

4. Volcanic hydrogeologic units of the Timber Mountain/Pahute Mesa Caldera Complex

CONVERSION FACTORS AND VERTICAL DATUM

Temperature: Degrees Celsius (°C) can be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) by using the formula °F = [1.8(°C)] + 32. Degrees Fahrenheit can be converted to degrees Celsius by using the formula °C = 0.556(°F - 32).

Sea level: In this report, "sea level" refers to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD of 1929, formerly called "Sea-Level Datum of 1929"), which is derived from a general adjustment of the first-order leveling networks of the United States and Canada.

Coordinates: Coordinates are referenced to Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 11, in meters.

ACRONYMS

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