ISGS - December 2005 Activity Highlights

New Bedrock Geology Map Published

The first update since 1967 of the statewide bedrock geology map was released this month as Illinois Map 14. This full-color map includes much more detail about the state's bedrock geology than was previously available. Complex geologic features on the map, such as the bedrock geology near Hicks Dome in Hardin County, are shown in exploded view. The new information on the map was gleaned during the most recent 10 years of Survey mapping. A highly detailed stratigraphic column is shown along with several smaller maps that portray other aspects of Illinois geology. In addition to the statewide map, ten geologic quadrangle maps were published this month. (Contact: D. Kolata)

Report Published on the Testing of a Map of Aquifer Sensitivity to Non-Point Pesticide Contamination

Results of a project to test the usefulness of the statewide map of aquifer sensitivity to pesticide leaching in predicting and understanding pesticide occurrence in groundwater were published this month. The study collected water from 159 monitoring wells on the perimeter of agricultural production fields where the only known pesticide source was pesticides used in normal production. Pesticide occurrence was found to be more closely related to depth to uppermost aquifer materials and sampling time than to soils and hydrogeologic factors. The authors provide recommendations for additional research to improve the usefulness of the statewide map. This report is ISGS and Illinois State Water Survey Cooperative Groundwater Report 20, Illinois' Statewide Monitoring Well Network for Pesticides in Shallow Groundwater—Network Development and Initial Sampling Results. (Contact: E. Mehnert)

Report Published on Mt. Simon Gas Storage Fields

The project described in this report compiled and mapped regional Mt. Simon data from all wells in northern Illinois. The reservoirs of two Mt. Simon gas storage fields were characterized in detail. The regional structure maps of the top of the Ordovician Galena Group ("Trenton Limestone"), the St. Peter Sandstone, and the Mt. Simon Sandstone show anticlines that may have the potential as new gas storage sites. In addition, a new regional salinity map of the Mt. Simon groundwater shows that waters that are potable in northern and northwestern Illinois become brine-filled in the deeper parts of the Illinois Basin. The report is Circular 567, Reservoir Characterization and Three-dimensional Models of Mt. Simon Gas Storage Fields in the Illinois Basin. (Contact: D. Morse)

Publication on Declining Specific Capacity of High-Capacity Wells in the Mahomet Aquifer Released

Results of research undertaken by ISGS hydrogeologists and isotope geochemists on behalf of Illinois-American Water Company were published this month. Over a period of three decades, the company had observed progressive decreases in the specific capacities of most of its high-capacity wells screened in the Mahomet aquifer at Champaign, Illinois. Based on the ISGS study results, well screen encrustations were likely to have been caused by iron-depositing bacteria producing biofilms on the well screens that trapped transported mineral fragments, clay minerals, and newly precipitated calcite crystals. This process was responsible for the decrease in specific capacity. The scientists suggested that inspecting well screens of other problem production wells in the aquifer and collecting and analyzing samples of any encrustation should yield valuable information about the nature of the encrustation that could help researchers and companies identify appropriate remediation techniques. The report is Circular 566, Declining Specific Capacity of High-Capacity Wells in the Mahomet Aquifer: Mineralogical and Biological Factors. (Contact: S. Panno)

Lake Barrington Wetlands Assistance

Two ISGS staff members are working with Village of Lake Barrington on a proposed subdivision adjacent Wagner Fen Nature Preserve. In a memo to Lake Barrington residents about the upcoming work, Lake Barrington Village officials wrote, "The Village is extremely pleased to announce that the ISGS has confirmed that it will work with Lake Barrington's environmental and engineering experts in assessing the scientific and technical issues associated with the proposed... development. ...The participation of the ISGS is particularly important because a number of the stakeholder agencies involved in the consultation process, including the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission, the Lake County Forest Preserves District, and Citizens for Conservation, have indicated that they view the ISGS as being the lead agency for them in providing technical, scientific, environmental and engineering analysis on the issues involved in the proposed development." The memo also noted that the ISGS is viewed as a subject matter expert for key governmental and non-governmental stakeholders. (Contact: J. Miner)

Illinois Coastal Management Program Holds Second-Round of Workshops

The second round of public workshops for the development of the Illinois Coastal Management Program occurred the week of November 14-18. Workshops were held in the Calumet area of Chicago on November 14, in Waukegan on November 15, in Highland Park on November 16, and at Loyola University in Chicago on November 17. At these workshops, the final boundary for the Illinois coastal zone was presented, structure and management of the program within Illinois Department of Natural Resources were discussed, and the process of grant monies administration was explained. The IDNR team hosting the workshops were joined by representatives from the governor's and lieutenant governor's offices, as well as from the NOAA Coastal Zone Management Program headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland. (Contact: M. Chrzastowski)

ISGS Assists Office of Coal Development

An ISGS staff member prepared posters and a talk to give to an Office of Coal Development meeting in Springfield held with managers from SASOL, a large South African company, to put a large coal-to-liquids plant in Illinois. As a follow-up to this meeting, another business development manager from SASOL visited ISGS to learn about Illinois coal, coal bed methane, hydrology, deep saline aquifers, and upcoming ISGS CO₂ sequestration research, etc. Illinois remains a likely spot for such a SASOL plant. The plant would require a partnership with a large coal mining company, Conoco-Phillips, for proprietary techniques and about 10 million tons of coal a year in order to generate 80,000 barrels of liquid hydrocarbons a day. (Contact: S. Elrick)

Prolific Month for Publications

Two ISGS reports and 11 maps were released this month, along with six unpublished Preliminary Environmental Site Assessments. One abstract, for which there was an oral presentation, was published by an outside entity.

ISGS Publications

Cooperative Groundwater Report 20. Mehnert, E., W.S. Dey, D.A. Keefer, H.A. Wehrmann, S.D. Wilson, and C. Ray, 2005, Illinois' Statewide Monitoring Well Network for Pesticides in Shallow Groundwater—Network Development and Initial Sampling Results: Illinois State Geological Survey and Illinois State Water Survey, 64 p. CD-ROM.

ISGS Circular 567. Morse, D.G., and H.E. Leetaru, 2005, Reservoir Characterization and Three-dimensional Models of Mt. Simon Gas Storage Fields in the Illinois Basin: Illinois State Geological Survey, 72 p. CD-ROM.

Illinois Map 14. Kolata, D.R., compiler, 2005, Bedrock Geology of Illinois: Illinois State Geological Survey, 1:500,000, 36 × 54, two sides.

IGQ Bethalto-SG. Grimley, D.A., 2005, Surficial Geology of Bethalto Quadrangle, Madison and Macoupin Counties, Illinois: Illinois State Geological Survey, Illinois Geologic Quadrangle Map,1:24,000 (two map sheets).

IPGM Ava-BG. Denny, F.B., 2005, Bedrock Geology of Ava Quadrangle, Jackson and Perry Counties, Illinois: Illinois State Geological Survey, Illinois Preliminary Geologic Map, 1:24,000 (two map sheets and a report).

IPGM Freeburg-BG. Nelson, W.J., 2005, Bedrock Geology of Freeburg Quadrangle, St. Clair County, Illinois: Illinois State Geological Survey, Illinois Preliminary Geologic Map, 1:24,000 (two map sheets and a report).

IPGM Grantfork-SG. Grimley, D.A., and A.C. Phillips, 2005, Surficial Geology of Grantfork Quadrangle, Madison County, Illinois: Illinois State Geological Survey, Illinois Preliminary Geologic Map, 1:24,000 (two map sheets).

IPGM Highland-SG. Phillips, A.C., 2005, Surficial geology of Highland Quadrangle, Madison, St. Clair and Clinton Counties, Illinois: Illinois State Geological Survey, Illinois Preliminary Geologic Map, 1:24,000 (two map sheets).

IPGM Libertyville-SG. Barnhardt, M.L., 2005, Surficial geology of Libertyville Quadrangle, Lake County, Illinois: Illinois State Geological Survey, Illinois Preliminary Geologic Map, 1:24,000 (two map sheets).

IPGM New Douglas-SG. Grimley, D.A., 2005, Surficial geology of New Douglas Quadrangle, Madison and Bond Counties, Illinois: Illinois State Geological Survey, Illinois Preliminary Geologic Map, 1:24,000 (two map sheets).

IPGM Raddle-BG. Devera, J.A., 2005, Bedrock Geology of Raddle Quadrangle, Jackson County, Illinois: Illinois State Geological Survey, Illinois Preliminary Geologic Map, 1:24,000 (two map sheets).

IPGM Rockwood-BG. Jacobson, R.J., J.D. McLeod, and D.H. Amos, 2005, Bedrock Geology of Rockwood Quadrangle, Randolf and Jackson Counties, Illinois, and Perry County, Missouri: Illinois State Geological Survey, Illinois Preliminary Geologic Map, 1:24,000 (two map sheets).

IPGM Willisville-BG. Nelson, W.J., 2005, Bedrock Geology of Willisville Quadrangle, Perry, Randolf and Jackson Counties, Illinois: Illinois State Geological Survey, Illinois Preliminary Geologic Map, 1:24,000 (two map sheets).

Abstract. Herzog, B.L., S.K. Beaverson, S.R. Gustison, and A.B. Lecouris, 2005, Internet Access to the Illinois State Geological Survey's Database of Water and Related Well Logs in Interest Group Sessions Program and Abstracts Book, 2004 National Ground Water Association Expo, National Ground Water Association Press, p 142-143.

Highlights Archive

Updated 07/18/2012 SLD