Masters Theses

Abstract

"The Joplin area of Missouri, which includes the Duenweg-Oronogo belt, was a famous zinc and lead mining district. Many mines were abandoned after World War I and filled with water. These provide a large potential supply of ground water. Expansion of industries and population in the area since World War II has caused a demand for water. In 1964, the Ground Water Branch, Water Resources Division, of the United States Geological Survey began a project to study the surface and ground water resources of the area. As part of his work on this project, the author measured the piezometric level of the water in the area's principal aquifer, the Mississippian Grand Falls Formation. Piezometric levels were measured in mine shafts and wells. Additional information was obtained through interviews with drillers and well owners, and by studying records of well logs. A map of the Grand Falls piezometric surface, drawn by interpolating between points of known piezometric elevation, revealed troughs, highs, lows, and locally steep gradients. A structure contour map of the surface of the Grand Falls Formation by Smith and Siebenthal (1906) showed similar structural features in the same areas. The association of these features led to the hypothesis that geologic structure of the Grand Falls Formation affects the permeability of this formation and the configuration of the aquifer's piezometric surface. The piezometric contour map indicated that the Grand Falls aquifer is only partially confined, and that it discharges mine water to Center Creek. Quantitative estimate of permeability could not be made from the data available. Concentrations of abandoned mines, and an area of heavy pumping, affect the piezometric surface. changes of the surface in the near future are expected to be small"--Abstract, page iii.

Advisor(s)

Maxwell, James C.

Committee Member(s)

Garner, Melvin L.
Spreng, Alfred C., 1923-2012
Fry, Thomas S.

Department(s)

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering

Degree Name

M.S. in Geology

Publisher

University of Missouri at Rolla

Publication Date

1965

Pagination

vii, 54 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 62-65).

Geographic Coverage

Missouri
Tri-State Mining District

Rights

© 1965 Renny Roger Nichols, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

Groundwater -- MissouriGroundwater -- Missouri -- MapsWater-supply -- Missouri

Thesis Number

T 1701

Print OCLC #

5964221

Electronic OCLC #

841378994

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