September 2006 Activities Highlights

Update on Geologic Quadrangle Mapping

One of the goals of the Illinois State Geological Survey is to map the geology of the state at the detailed scale of 1:24,000, using the U.S. Geological Survey 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle maps as the fundamental mapping areas. Each of the 1,071 quadrangles in the state eventually will be mapped for surficial geology, drift thickness, bedrock surface, and other relevant geologic factors. These maps are helping local and regional governments and planners make informed decisions about issues affecting our state's water, land, energy supplies, and aggregate resources.

During the past few years, efforts have been made to improve the number and quality of geologic quadrangle map publications at the Survey. Cartographic and procedural standards have been developed to increase the efficiency, quality, and consistency of the geologic quadrangle maps. Since 2002, 68 quadrangle maps have been published, and 20 to 25 more will be published by the end of 2006.

Many of the geologic quadrangle maps produced each year are partially funded by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) STATEMAP program, a part of the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program. In September 2005, the ISGS received federal funds (about $250,000) that were matched by state funds to produce eight geologic quadrangle maps and one county compilation at 1:100,000-scale. Nine maps were delivered at the end of August to the USGS, and will be released this fall in the Illinois Preliminary Geologic Map series:

Bedrock Geology of Carrier Mills Quadrangle, W.J. Nelson
Bedrock Geology of Chester Quadrangle, J.A. Devera
Bedrock Geology of Harrisburg Quadrangle, F.B. Denny, R.J. Jacobson, and W.J. Nelson
Surficial Geology of Lake Zurich Quadrangle, A.J. Stumpf
Surficial Geology of Lebanon Quadrangle, A.C. Phillips, M.A. Aper
Surficial Geology of Mascoutah Quadrangle, D.A. Grimley
Bedrock Geology of Welge Quadrangle, W.J. Nelson
Bedrock Geology of Vergennes Quadrangle, R.J. Jacobson, F.B. Denny
Surficial Geology of Madison County, D.A. Grimley and A.C. Phillips

These and other geologic quadrangle maps can be viewed or downloaded from the ISGS Web site. (Contact: J. Domier)

Two ICCI Contracts Awarded to ISGS

Two ISGS chemical engineers were awarded Illinois Clean Coal Institute (ICCI) projects. One project will involve five site-specific techno-economic studies to identify factors that influence the installation cost of wet flue gas desulfurization (FGD) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems for Illinois bituminous coal and FGD, SCR, and mercury control for Powder River Basin coal. Utilities can use the results of this study for making their mercury, sulfate, and nitrate compliance decisions. Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity officials can also use the results to develop an incentive package to assist the mining industry in retaining Illinois coal mining jobs.

A second funded study will quantify the fate of mercury in Illinois coal during various processes, including physical cleaning, combustion, particulate control, flue gas cleaning, and by-product disposal and utilization. The results from this investigation will provide insight on the fate of mercury from mining to combustion and by-product disposal and utilization and will provide an assessment of effectiveness of various mercury control options for Illinois coals. The results can be used by coal companies and utilities of Illinois to optimize various mercury control options by clarifying the transformation of mercury in coals. Better mercury control will contribute to the economic and environmentally sound use and the marketability of Illinois coals. (Contacts: S. Chen

Coal Bed Methane Talks Given

The Head of the ISGS Coal Section made two presentations to the citizens of Christian County at the request of the local Farm Bureau and the County Commissioner's Office. The geologist described coal bed methane (CBM): what it is, how it is extracted, the state and county’s potential for CBM development, mineral ownership, and protection of drinking water during drilling. The issue was of key interest to many farmers. The county acquired the mineral rights when Carter Coal Company deeded them to the county in lieu of mineral taxes. The county, in turn, leased the rights to a company that wants to develop the CBM. The first meeting was held in Taylorville and was attended by about 100 people. The second meeting was held in Pana and was attended by about 200 people. Representatives from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources were present at both meetings to discuss gas well permitting and compliance. The State General Counsel for the Farm Bureau and several private attorneys also made presentations. (Contact: D. Morse)

Geologist Interviewed for Chicago Tribune Story

An August 18, 2006, article in the Chicago Tribune detailed the development of new parks in the City of Chicago. An ISGS geologist provided much of the information concerning the geology and history of one of the parks, the site of a former dolomite quarry, Stearns Quarry, in Bridgeport. The quarry opened in 1830 and was turned into a landfill in 1970. Now it is being converted into a park where visitors can see fossil-rich rocks on the abandoned quarry walls. In addition, the abandoned landfill will be converted to a sledding hill, and the park will include an athletic field and a walking path along terraced wetland paths. (Contact: D. Mikulic)

ISGS Provides Input to Mc Henry County Proposed Development

An ISGS wetlands scientist assisted the Mc Henry County Conservation District in installing several monitoring wells in Detrana Fen, which is adjacent to a planned development site. The development may impact the quantity and quality of water in the wetland as the development will include residential wells, septic fields, and significant mass grading and installation of hardened surfaces. (Contact: J. Miner)

Geochemist to Assist IEPA

An ISGS geochemist was contacted by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) to provide input for a project plan designed to remediate a chemical spill. Liquid urea ammonia was accidentally released at a retail agrichemical facility. A portion of the spill area will be used for a field-scale, enhanced bioremedation experiment. The Survey geochemist will work with the Remedial Project Management Section of the IEPA as this project proceeds. (Contact: W. Roy)

ISGS Assists in Evaluating Mitigation Alternatives for Tritium Releases

An ISGS wetlands scientist attended a meeting regarding the potential impacts of tritium releases and mitigation proposals on groundwater levels in the adjacent Braidwood Dunes Nature Preserve. Exelon modeling predicts water level declines of 2 to 10 feet from the releases. Alternatives to the current mitigation options were discussed. Agencies and entities in attendance included Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Illinois Nature Preserves Commission, Will County Forest Preserve District, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Exelon, and others. (Contact: J. Miner)

Publications and Reports Released

Two ISGS publications, eight outside publications, nine maps in fulfillment of a contract, and twelve unpublished reports were released this month.

ISGS Publications

Miner, J. J., 2006, Level II hydrogeologic report, Prairie Parkway, Fox River Bridge Crossing, Southeast of Plano, Illinois: Illinois State Geological Survey, Open File Report 2006–2, 31p.

Grimley, D. A., 2006, Surficial geology of Grantfork Quadrangle, Madison and Macoupin Counties, Illinois: Illinois State Geological Survey, Illinois Geologic Quadrangle Map, IGQ Grantfork-SG, 1:24,000.

Outside Publications

Chou, S.-F. J., M.-I. M. Chou, J. W. Stucki, and F. Botha, 2006, Mercury and trace metals from coal combustion byproduct utilization: Fuel Chemistry, v. 51, no. 2, p. 414-415.

Chou, M.-I. M., S.-F. J. Chou, M. D. Pickering, and J. W. Stucki, 2006, An environmental feasibility assessment of fired bricks containing fly ash: Fuel Chemistry, v. 51, no. 2, 421-422.

Curry, B. B., and C. H. Yansa, 2004 (published in 2006), Evidence of stagnation of the Harvard sublobe (Lake Michigan lobe) in northeastern Illinois, USA, from 24 000 to 17 600 BP and subsequent tundra-like ice-marginal paleoenvironments from 17 600 to 15 700 BP: Géographie physique et Quaternaire, v. 58, p. 305-321.

Curry, B.B., E.C. Grimm, J. E. Slate, B. C. Hansen, and M. E. Konen, 2006, Paleohydrology, paleovegetation, and sedimentology of the near-surface silt-marl-peat succession at the Brewster Creek site, a typical Chicagoland wetland: American Quaternary Association Program and Abstracts of the 19th Biennial Meeting, Bozeman, Montana, Montana State University Big Sky Institute and Department of Earth Sciences, p. 83-84.

De Mello, J. W. V., W. R. Roy, J. Talbott, and J. W. Stucki. 2006, Mineralogy and arsenic mobility in arsenic-rich Brazilian soils and sediments: Journal of Soils and Sediments, v. 6, no. 1, 9-19.

Rostam-Abadi, M., 2006, Fundamental and practical aspects of mercury adsorption: Emission control from coal power plants by sorbent injection: Invited Lecture, NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Recent Advances in Adsorption Processes for Environmental Protection and Security, Kiev, Ukraine, September 9-13, paper no. L1, p. 1.

Rostam-Abadi, M., Y. Lu, C. W. Richardson, J. Paradis, D. Frezel, and R. Chang, 2006, Properties of unburned carbons from coal-fired power plants and their relations to mercury capture: Power Plant Air Pollutant Control “Mega” Symposium, Baltimore, MD, August 28-31, paper no. 76.

Zajac, L. M., E. C. Grimm, B. B. Curry, and B. C. Hansen, 2006, Reconstruction of late glacial vegetation of climate shifts in northeastern Illinois: American Quaternary Association Program and Abstracts of the 19th Biennial Meeting, Bozeman, Montana, Montana State University Big Sky Institute and Department of Earth Sciences, p. 175-176.

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