..ate ~··tQ Offlef. 

U. I. ezoLOGICAl SUIVP 

.. CUSTOM HOOSI 

MN PlAHQS\:0, c;AUfQ£NI4 941 1l 

IN ALASKA 

! r;'l,J ' 11 f'"flL l : r' 1."·

0 ""ffTl en(') ~ not 

t o be :~.~:- :. d ,, ~· · .! .~~F· <"i f~ t~ .:..: l filett 

!'P..! lA£~~ rc; :: _.: :· ·: (";r .;·1 l S ~~T ... ~Y E'UL 

!P:. S, S;;tj::, 'l ·:ol. 2 ;;p. \-iO , Se a. '•i• 

1980 

Programs 
Cover photographs, clockwise from the top: 

Geologists on Augustine Island, an active volcano 

(Photo by Hans-Ulrich Schmincke, Bochum, W. Germany) 

Geologic mapping in central Alaska 

Helicopter being used in Survey activities 

Instruments at Sitka Observatory 

The Survey's vessel used in coastal work in Alaska 
THE U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

IN ALASKA 

1980 PROGRAMS 

Kat her in e M. Reed, Ed i tor 

Technical assistance by 

Robert F. Gilmore 

Linda- Lee Harris 

Lisa D. Tennison 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 823-A 

1980 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

CECIL D. ANDRUS , Secretary~ 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

H. WILLIAM MENARD, Director 

Free on application to Branch of Distribution, U.S. Geological Survey, 1200 South Eads Street, Arlington, VA 22202 

and Public Inquiries Office, 508 Second Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501 
FOREWORD 

During the past decade, preservation of our natural environment and realization 

that our mineral and energy resource supplies are becoming increasingly short have 

become major national concerns that deeply affect our domestic and foreign well being. 

The impact of these concerns and the Nation's reaction to them is surfacing in world 

events and, in economic terms, in the Nation's negative balance of payments and the 

problems of inflation. 

Alaska's little explored potential for energy and mineral resources and the effort 

to preserve the essentially untouched natural environment of most of Alaska have 

been thrust into the limelight by these conflicting and rapidly emerging issues. 

In the decade ahead, information concerning Alaskan resources will be a vital 

base from which to make intelligent national resource decisions. In view of this, the 

Geological Survey is in the process of expanding and consolidating its activities in 

Alaska. 

Notable program changes in 1980 are as follows: 

Establishment of a USGS/EROS Field Office in Anchorage. This facility will 

provide Landsat/Remote-Sensing digital analysis images, training, and technical assistance for users. In addition, files of other satellite and aerial 

photographs will be maintained. 

Establishment of an Alaskan Headquarters for the National Mapping Division; 

increased funding for topographic mapping; and the establishment of a 

National Cartographic Information Center in Alaska 0 

A new program for research in Arctic Hydrology 0 

Establishment of a regional headquarters in Alaska for the Conservation 

Division and increased funding for an expanded program of Outer Continental Shelf and onshore oil and gas lease activities o 

Relocation of the headquarters of the Geologic Division's Branch of Alaskan 

Geology from Menlo Park, California, to Anchorage, Alaska 0 

Five additional oil and gas exploration wells were started in the National 

Petroleum Reserve in northwestern Alaska o When these wells are completed 

in late 1980, a total of 24 wells will have been drilled in the current 

exploration program which was begun by the Navy in 1975 and transferred 

to the Department of the Interior in 1977 0 

~~H~~ Director, U.S o Geological Survey 

Ill 

CONTENTS 

Page 

The U.S. Geological Survey in Alaska.................................................... A 1 

Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 

Organization of the Geological Survey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 

Office of National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 

Projects of the Office of National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 

Land Information and Analysis Office. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 

EROS program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 

Environmental Impact Analysis program............................................ 18 

Projects of the Land Information and Analysis Office. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 

Alaska Mapping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 

Projects of the National Mapping Division. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 

Northern region.............................................................. 22 

West-central region. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 

East-central region. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 

Southern region.............................................................. 23 

Southwestern region........................................................... 26 

Energy, minerals, geologic hazards, and geologic research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 

Alaska Mineral Resource Assessment Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 

North Slope Petroleum Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 

Arctic Environmental Studies Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 

Marine Geology Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 

Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 

Projects of the Geologic Division. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 

Statewide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 

Northern region. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 

West-central region. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 

East-central region. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 

Southern region. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 

Southwestern region.......................................................... 52 

Southeastern region. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 

Offshore region. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 

Water resources investigations.......................................................... 65 

National Stream Quality Accounting Network ....................................... , 67 

National Water Data Exchange...................................................... 67 

Projects of the Water Resources Division. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 

Statewide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 

Northern region.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 

East-central region........................................................... 73 

Southern region. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 3 

Southwestern region.......................................................... 76 

Southeastern region.......................................................... 76 

v 
CONTENTS -- Continued 

Page 

Resource evaluation and lease regulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A 79 

Projects of the Conservation Division .•.....••................... o .•....... o . . . . . . • . 82 

Northern region. . . . . . . . . • • . . . . . . . . . • • . . . . . . . . . . • • . . • • • . • . • • . . • . . . • . • . . . • . . • . • • 82 

West-central region •..•..••.......•...•...••.••.•....•.. 0...................... 83 

Southern .••.•.....••. o ...........•..• o ......... o . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . • . • • . • . . . . . • 83 

Southwestern. . . • • . . • . . . . • . • . . . • . . . . • . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . • . . • • . . • . . • . . . . . • 83 

Offshore region. o .•..•...•.........•...........•.... o ...•••.•.... o . . . . . . . . • . . • 83 

Sources of additional information ...................................... 0 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 87 

Public Inquiries Office, maps and publications ••...... o . • . • . • . . . . . . . • . . • • . • . . • . . • . . • 87 

Administrators of Geological Survey offices or divisions .•. o .........•...• o •. o .....• o 87 

Supporting division and services ............. 0 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 0 87 

Administrative Division ...•.......... o ..•.....•...•..••.•..• o o • o .•.... o ....•. o • . . . . . 87 

Alaska Core Library .•. o .•.....•...•..•.•.. 0 •• 0 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• o...... 88 

Technical Data Unit .•...•.....•.........•..•.•.•.••..• 0 .. 0.......................... 88 

Figure 1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6o 

7. 

8. 

9. 

10. 

11. 

12. 

13. 

14. 

15. 

16. 

17. 

18. 

ILLUSTRATIONS 

Chart showing organization of the U . S. Geological Survey as it pertains to 

Alaska .•...•..•.....••..•• 0 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• • ••••••••••••••• 0 •• 

Map showing exploration wells on National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska •..... o 

Map showing Land Information and Analysis Office activities in Alaska ••... o .. 

Map showing National Mapping Division activities in Alaska for 1980 .....•.••. 

Map showing status of Level III Alaska Mineral Resource Assessment Program 

(AMRAP), January 1, 1980 ••... 0 •••••••••••••••••••• o .•.......••...•..•• o 

Map showing Geologic Division activities statewide in Alaska ••••••.•••••••••••• 

Map showing Geologic Division activities in northern Alaska •••..••.•• o ...... . 

Map showing Geologic Division activities in west-central and east-central 

Alaska •• o ••••••••••••••..••..••.•••••••••••••••••••••••.•••.•••••••••••••• 

Map showing Geologic Division activities in southern Alaska .... o o .......•.... 

Map showing Geologic Division earthquake studies in southern Alaska .....•.. 

Map showing Geologic Division activities in southwestern Alaska .••..•.... o .• o 

Map showing Geologic Division activities in southeastern Alaska •••....•...•.• 

Map showing offshore geologic activities in Alaska, Marine Geology Program ••• 

Map showing location of ground-water observation wells ••••••••••••••••••••••• 

Map showing locations of selected statewide Water Resources Division investigations •.••••••.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••.•••••••••••••••••••••••••• 

Map showing location of Yukon hydrologic subregion •••••••••••.•••••••••.•••• 

Map showing Water Resources Division activities in northern Alaska ••••••••••• 

Map showing Water Resources Division activities in east-central and southern 

Alaska .•.•••••••••••••••••.••••••••.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 

VI 

A2 

7 

20 

24, 

30 

33 

39 

45 

48 

51 

54 

56 

60 

68 

70 

71 

72 

74 

25 
Figure 19. 

20. 

21. 

22. 

23. 

ILLUSTRATIONS -- Continued 

Map showing Water Resources Division activities in southwestern Alaska ...... . 

Map showing Water Resources Division activities in southeastern Alaska ...... . 

Map showing location of proposed oil and gas Outer Continental Shelf lease 

tracts ....................................................... ·· .... ········· 

Map showing Conservation Divis:ion activities in northern Alaska ............. . 

Map showing Conservation Division activities in southern and southwestern 

Alaska ...................................................... ·· .. ·········· 

TABLES 

Table 1a. Exploration wells drilled by the· Navy from 1975 through 1977 and wells 

drilled or planned during the USGS program from FY 1978 through FY 

Page 

A77 

78 

81 

82 

84 

1979...................................................................... A 8 

1b. Barrow gas wells recently drillc~d by the Navy and the Geological Survey. . . . 10 

2. Tentative proposed Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas leasing schedule. . . . . 81 

3. Directory of project chiefs, associated personnel and brief description of project work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 

4. Cooperating agencies. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 

CONVERSION TABLE 

U.S. customary units used in this report may be expressed as metric units by use of the following 

conversion factors. 

Multiply 

foot 

mile 

pound 

ton 

square mile 

square foot (or foot squared) 

per day 

By 

0.3048 

1.609 

0.4536 

0.9072 

2.589 

0.0929 

To obtain 

meter 

kilometer 

kilogram 

tonne, megagram 

square kilometer 

square meter per day 

Metric units used in this report may be expressed as U . S. customary units by use of the following 

conversion factors. 

Multiply By To obtain 

meter 3.281 foot 

kilometer 0.6214 mile 

kilogram 0.205 pound 

megagram 1.102 ton 

square kilometer 0.3861 square mile 

square meter per day 10.76 square foot per day 

The use of trade names and trademarks in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does 

not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Ge~ological Survey. 

VII 

THE U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

IN ALASKA 

INTRODUCTION 

Alaska is at once the largest, the least 

populated , the least explored , and the least 

developed of the Nation's states. The land area 

of Alaska contains 375 million acres, 16 percent of 

the onshore land of the Nation. More than half 

of the United States' 600 million acres of Outer 

Continental Shelf lies off Alaska's coast. Alaska's 

resources of all kinds, which are largely undeveloped and only partly assessed, present an opportunity to demonstrate how the needs of development and conservation can be met for the benefit 

of America's citizens. 

The U.S. Department of the Interior's Geological Survey, established in 1879, is the Nation's principal fact-finding agency concerned 

with physical resources -- the configuration and 

character of the land surface, the composition and 

structure of the underlying rocks, and the 

quality, volume, and distribution of water and 

minerals. The Survey is an impartial research 

agency that gathers, interprets, and distributes 

data to advance scientific knowledge of the Earth 

and so that managerial decisions related to natural 

resources can be based on objective information. 

The Geological Survey's first leaders were 

men of many accomplishments scientists, 

authors, and administrators. Men like Clarence 

King and John Powell established the Survey's 

tradition of scholarship and integrity, which 

continues to this day. The Survey began its 

work in Alaska in 1889 with the exploration and 

survey of the Alaska-Canada border. The 90 

years that followed have seen the Survey's involvement in the State grow. In the last decade 

Survey personnel in Alaska have been active in 

basic earth science research and in projects 

associated with the construction of the transAlaska oil pipeline, exploration for oil, gas and 

coal as well as other energy and mineral 

resources, and studies of earthquake hazards. 

In addition, the Survey makes maps of the State 

and collects many types of hydrologic data. 

This Circular describes the 1980 programs 

and projects of the Survey in Alaska. A brief 

description of the Alaskan operat~ons of each 

major division of the Survey is followed by project descriptions arranged by geographic regions 

in which the work takes place. A directory table 

at the back of this booklet lists all project chiefs 

in alphabetical order and presents other summary 

information as well. 

A1 

A companion Circular, 823-B, consists of 

articles describing significant accomplishments of 

the Survey's topical and field investigations in 

Alaska during 1979. 

ORGANIZATION OF THE 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

The mission of the Geological Survey is to 

identify the Nation's land, water, mineral and 

energy resources; to classify its federally owned 

mineral lands and water-power sites; to resolve 

the exploration and development of Federal and 

Indian lands; and to appraise the petroleum 

potential of the National Petroleum Reserve in 

Alaska. The operational work of the Survey is 

accomplished by four divisions and two offices 

(fig. 1). The function and purpose of each of 

these are described briefly below. 

Within the Director's Office, the OFFICE OF 

NATIONAL PETROLEUM RESERVE IN ALASKA 

(ONPRA) has been established to evaluate the 

resources of the 37, 000-square-mile National 

Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPRA) located 

in northwestern Alaska. 

The OFFICE OF LAND INFORMATION AND 

ANALYSIS (LIA), also part of the Director's 

Office, has organized to develop multidisciplinary land-resources programs of the 

Survey. 

The NAT ION AL MAPPING DIVISION is 

charged with the execution of surveys and 

the preparation of maps, charts , and bulletins 

pertaining to the delineation of the physical 

features of land areas in the United States, 

its outlying areas, and Antarctica. 

The GEOLOGIC DIVISION studies include 

geologic and geophysical mapping to establish 

the composition and structure of rocks 

beneath the surface of the land and the outer 

continental shelves; research into geologic 

principles and processes to provide guidance 

for significant geologic interpretations, including specialized research in geochemistry, 

geophysics, and paleontology; development of 

new exploration techniques; and collation and 

synthesis of geologic knowledge of mineral 

and mineral fuels resources. 
)> 

1\) 

DIVISION OF NATIONAL MAPPING 

R.B. SOUTHARD - CHIEF 

Reston, VA 

_j 

I 

ALASKA AREA 

(VACANT)- CHIEF 

Anchorage, AK 

I PUBLIC INQUIRIES OFFICE 

M.l. ERWIN 

Anchorage, AK 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL 

PETROLEUM RESERVE IN ALASKA 

GEORGE GRYC- CHIEF 

Anchorage, AK 

GEOLOGIC DIVISION 

D.L. PECK -CHIEF 

Reston, VA 

WESTERN REGION 

J.I. ZIONY 

REGIONAL GEOLOGIST 

Menlo Park, CA 

MINERAL RESOURCES 

BRANCH OF ALASKAN 

GEOLOGY 

MARINE GEOLOGY 

BRANCH OF PACIFIC 

ARCTIC GEOLOGY 

EARTHQUAKE STUDIES 

COORDINATION OF 

EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS 

PROGRAM 

T.P. MILLER -CHIEF 

Anchorage, AK H. E. CLIFTON - CHIEF 

Menlo Park, CA 

I ALASKA MINERAL 

RESOURCE 

ASSESSMENT PROGRAM 

H.C. BERG 

Menlo Park, CA 

ARCTIC ENVIRONMENTAL 

STUDIES PROGRAM 

O.J. FERRIANS, JR. 

Menlo Park, CA 

FAIRBANKS OFFICE 

F.R. WEBER GEOLOGISTIN -CHARGE Fairbanks, AK 

I 

I 

I 

R.A. PAGE 

Menlo Park, CA 

OBSERVATORIES 

SITKA 

W.E. OSBAKKEN 

COLLEGE I J.B. TOWNSHEND 

ADAK 

D.H. EVANS 

I 

I 

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

DIRECTOR 

H.W. MENARD Reston, VA 

ENERGY RESOURCES 

BRANCH OF OIL 

AND GAS 

R.F. MAST- CHIEF 

Denver, CO 

I RESOURCE ANALYSIS 

GROUP FIELD OFFICE 

I R.H. McMULLIN 

Anchorage, AK 

LAND INFORMATION AND 

ANALYSIS OFFICE 

G.A. THORLEY- CHIEF Reston, VA 

I 

J U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

SPECIAL ASSIST ANT TO THE DIRECTOR FOR ALASKA 

W.W. BARNWELL 

Anchorage, AK 

USGS I EROS FIELD OFFICE 

D.M. CARNEGGIE- CHIEF 

Anchorage, AK 

WATER RESOURCES DIVISION 

PHILIP COHEN - CHIEF 

Reston, VA 

WESTERN REGION 

J.W. WARK -ACTING REGIONAL HYDROLOGIST 

Menlo Park, CA 

ALASKA DISTRICT 

HARRY HULSING 

DISTRICT CHIEF 

Anchor~e. AK 

I 

ANCHORAGE SUBDISTRICT 

R.S. GEORGE- CHIEF 

Anchor~e. AK 

I OFFSHORE RESOURCE 

EVALUATION 

I. F. PALMER, JR. 

ACTING 

DEPUTY MANAGER 

Anchorage, AK 

I 

CONSERVATION DIVISION 

D. E. KASH- CHIEF 

Reston, VA 

ALASKA REGION 

J.M. JONES 

ACTING MANAGER 

Anchorage, AK 

I OFFSHORE FIELD OPERATIONS 

R.A. SMITH ACTING 

DEPUTY MANAGER 

Anchorage, AK 

l 

1 

1 ONSHORE RESOURCE 

EVALUATION 

(VACANT) 

ACTING 

DEPUTY MANAGER 

Anchorage, AK 

FAIRBANKS SUBDISTRICT JUNEAU SUBDISTRICT 

BRUCE PARKS- CHIEF 

Fairbanks, AK 

V.K. BERWICK- CHIEF Juneau, AK 

Figure 1.-- Organization of the U.S. Geological Survey as it pertains to Alaska. 
The WATER RESOURCES DIVISION investigates the occurrence, quantity, quality, 

distribution, and movemeat of surface and 

underground water that comprises the Nation's water resources. 

The CONSERVATION DIVISION examines and 

classifies Federal lands in the United States 

as to their mineral character, water-power 

and water-storage values, supervises technical operations under oil and gas and other 

mineral leases on Federal, outer continental 

A3 

shelf, Indian and Naval petroleum reserve 

lands, and maintains accounts of related 

production and royalty accruals. 

Leadership of the Geological Survey is provided by the Director, whose office is located in 

the National Center, Reston, Virginia. He is 

represented in Alaska by a Special Assistant for 

Alaska, who is responsible for coordination of 

Survey activities in Alaska. The Assistant's 

office is in Anchorage. 

For further information, contact the offices listed below. 

Anchorage, Alaska 

George Gryc, Chief; or 

Max Brewer, Chief, Operation 

Office 

Office of National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska 

2525 C Street, Suite 400 

Anchorage, AK 99503 

Tel. (907) 276-7422 

AS 
ONPRA 

OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL 

PETROLEUM RESERVE IN ALASKA 

On April 5, 1976, as part of the Naval 

Petroleum Reserves Production Act (Public Law 

94-258), the Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 4 was 

redesignated as the National Petroleum Reserve in 

Alaska (NPRA), and jurisdiction was transferred 

from the Secretary of the Navy to the Secretary 

of the Interior. The Secretary of the Interior 

assigned the responsibility for the surface management of the 23.68 - million-acre Reserve, 

approximately the size of the State of Indiana 

(fig. 2), to the Bureau of Land Management, the 

responsibility for the on-going exploration program to the U . S . Geological Survey. 

The Geological Survey, through the Office of 

National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (ONPRA), 

assumed management of the exploration program 

on June 1, 1977, the effective date for transfer 

of jurisdiction as stipulated in the Act. Husky 

Oil NPR Operations, Inc. , continued as the prime 

contractor for all phases of the Geological Survey's exploration program, as mandated under the 

terms of the Act which called for the continuation 

of all previously existing Navy contracts. 

At the time of the transfer, the Survey 

assumed responsibility for the following specific 

tasks: 

( 1) Explore the Reserve and evaluate the 

petroleum potential of the area by means of 

geological and geophysical investigations and 

by drilling. The evaluation of the petroleum 

potential is intended to assist the Congress 

in determining the best use of the land 

within the Reserve. 

(2) Continue to develop and produce natural 

gas from the South Barrow Gas Field, or 

other fields as necessary, to supply gas at 

reasonable and equitable rates to the Native 

village of Barrow and other communities and 

governmental installations located near or at 

Point Barrow. 

( 3) Continue environmental rehabilitation in 

areas of the Reserve disturbed by previous 

exploration and governmental construction 

activities. 

The first complete year of Survey activities 

in the NPRA was Fiscal Year (FY) 1978. The 

exploration program for FY 1979 included completing two test wells begun in FY 1978, Inigok and 

South Meade. In addition, five exploratory wells were spudded during FY 1979. Two of these, 

Seabee and Lisburne, are deep wells (more than 

14,000 feet). The remaining three were drilled to 

medium depths (3,000 to 14,000 feet) and completed before the end of the fiscal year: Peard, East 

Simpson No. 1, and J. W. Dalton. At the close 

of FY 1979, drilling was continuing at the following deep test wells: Tunalik (FY 1978), Lisburne, and Seabee. 

The exploration program for FY 1980 includes continuing work on four deep test wells. 

Ikpikpuk Test Well No. 1 (FY 1978) was reentered 

in late December 1979, and the total depth of 

15, 481 feet was reached on February 13, 1980. 

In early January 1980, Tunalik Test Well No. 1, 

also part of the FY 1978 program, was plugged 

and abandoned at a total depth of 20,335 feet, 

making it the deepest well ever drilled in Alaska. 

As of February 1, 1980, Seabee Test Well No. 1 

was at 13, 179 feet, and Lisburne Test Well No. 1 

was at 12,092 feet. The anticipated completion 

date for both wells is April 1980. 

Another deep well, Awuna Test Well No. 1, 

will be spudded during the winter of FY 1980. 

With an anticipated depth of about 15,000 feet, it 

is planned as a two-season well and will not be 

completed until the late winter of FY 1981. It is 

located in the Northern Foothills Province and is 

approximately 152 miles south-southwest of 

Barrow. 

Plans for the FY 1980 program also include 

three new medium-depth wells on the coastal 

plain. One of these, Walakpa Test Well No. 1, 

had been drilled to its total depth of 3, 666 feet 

by February 1, and a gas zone at 2, 071 feet was 

being tested. A second well, East Simpson No. 

2, was at 2, 410 feet on February 1. The other 

medium-depth test well, West Dease, is planned 

for spudding later in the winter. 

By the end of the 1980 program year, 22 

exploration wells will have been completed under 

the present program and one well will be in 

progress on the NPRA. More specific information 

on the exploratory wells may be found in table 

1a. 

Seismic data are being obtained as another 

important part of the petroleum exploration within 

the NPRA. In FY 1980, 977 line miles of seismic 

and related geophysical information will be acquired. 

The Geological Survey also is responsible for 

the operation of the South Barrow Gas Field as 

part of the Congressional mandate to the Secretary of the Interior under Public Law 94-258. 

Natural gas requirements for the Community of 

Barrow have increased with improved and larger 

housing and with the addition of many new public 

facilities. To comply with the mandate, South 

Barrow Wells 14, 17, and 19 were completed as 

producible gas wells in FY 1979. Additionally, an 

all-season gravel road was completed to the pressure reducing station in the South Barrow Field. 

Additional drilling is planned for FY 1980 to 

accommodate the increased rate of consumption 

and to more fully develop the eastern portion of 

the South Barrow Field. South Barrow Wells 15, 

18, and 20 will be drilled to depths of approximately 2, 400 feet (table 1b). These new gas 

wells in a separate reservoir will reduce the rate 

of demand on the rapidly declining reserves in 

the original field, and slowing the rate of the 

A6 
~ 

...... 

71° 

7 

69° 

68° 

,. 

162 

162° 160° 158° 156° 

A R C T I C 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

' I 

' 

Barrow gas fields 

S.Barrow 15,18,20 

• / \ 0 \)"TA'Ns -~.,~ I D ~ L D N 6 ll J-.r ''""" 

....,..,.......,._,.,... '\...., 

B R 0 0 K s '\..... R ~ N G I 

I 

18~ 

.. _, /"') E 

<..... "'" I 

~, I ~ .. 

154° 

0 C E A N 

25-35 

152° 

8 e , l/ 

Pol?:r 

17 

~ 2 -Q-9 3 

-Q-5 

"¢-12 

e Cr ' / 

------'-J,r' 

EXPLANATION 

0 18 Well location 

-{>-1 0 Dry hole 

se.., 

Number corresponds to number on table 1a and 1 b . 

---Boundary of National Petroleum Reserve in 

Alaska 

0 10 20 30 40 Miles I I I I •. I .• I 

0 10 20 30 40 50 Kilometers 

160° 158° 156° 154 15 

Figure 2. --Exploration wells on National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. 

71° 

70° 

69° 

68° 

0 

z 

., 

...., 

~ 
:J 

, 

z 

:xJ 

> 

Table 1a. --Exploration wells drilled by the Navy from 1975 through 1977 and wells drilled or planned during the USGS 

program from FY 1978 through FY 1979. Status of wells in progress is shown as of February 1, 1980. 

Map Date Date Total Deepest Horizon 

Number Name Location S:Eudded Com2leted DeEth Attained Remarks 

1 Cape Halkett 18 mi ESE of 3/24/75 5/23/75 9,900 ft Argillite basement Dry; plugged and abandoned 

No. 1 Lonely ( Devonian or older) 

2 East Teshekpuk 25 mi S of 3/12/76 5/11/76 10,644 ft Granite basement Dry; plugged and abandoned 

No. 1 Lonely 

3 So. Harrison Bay 50 mi SE of 11/21/76 2/8/77 11,290 ft Lisburne Group Poor oil shows; plugged and 

No. 1 Barrow (Mississippian) abandoned 

4 A tigaru Point 44 mi SE of 1/12/77 3/18/77 11,535 ft Argillite basement Poor oil shows; plugged and 

No. 1 Lonely ( Devonian or older) abandoned 

5 West Fish Creek 51 mi SE of 2/14/77 4/27/77 11,427 ft Kayak Shale Poor oil shows; plugged and 

No. 1 Lonely (Mississippian) abandoned 

6 So. Simpson 41 mi WSW of 3/9/77 4/30/77 8, 805 ft Argillite basement Gas shows; plugged and 

No. 1 Lonely (Devonian or older) abandoned 

> 

CD 7 W. T. Foran 23 mi ESE of 3/7/77 4/24/77 8, 864 ft Argillite basement Oil and gas shows; plugged 

No. 1 Lonely (Devonian or older) and abandoned 

8 Drew Point Test 14 mi W of 1/13/78 3/13/78 7' 946 ft Argillite basement Poor oil and gas shows; plugged 

Well No. 1 Lonely (Devonian or older) and abandoned 

9 No. Kilikpik Test 37 mi SE of 2/27/78 4/14/78 7' 395 ft Kingak Shale Poor oil and gas shows ; plugged 

Well No. 1 Lonely (Devonian or older) and abandoned 

10 So. Meade Test 45 mi S of 2/7/78 1/22/79 9,945 ft Argillite basement Poor gas shows; plugged 

Well No. 1 Barrow (12/4/78) (Devonian or older) and abandoned 

reentered 

11 Kugrua Test 67 mi SW of 2/12/78 5/29/78 12,588 ft Lisburne Group Poor gas shows; plugged 

Well No. 1 Barrow (Mississippian) and abandoned 

12 lnigok Test Well 60 mi S of 6/7/78 5/22/79 20,102 ft Kekiktuk Formation Plugged and abandoned 

No. 1 Lonely (Mississippian) 

13 Tunalik Test Well 22 mi SE of 11/10/78 1/7/80 20,335 ft Argillite basement Poor-fair gas show; plugged 

No. 1 Icy Cape and abandoned 

14 Peard Test Well 25 mi NE of 1/27/79 4/13/79 10,225 ft Argillite basement Trace of oil and gas shows; 

No. 1 Wainwright (Devonian or older) plugged and abandoned 
Map 

Number Name 

15 Ikpikpuk Test 

Well No. 1 

16 East Simpson Test 

Well No. 1 

17 J. W. Dalton Test 

Well No. 1 

18 Lisburne Test 

Well No. 1 

19 Seabee Test 

Well No. 1 

20 Walakpa Test 

Well No. 1 

)> 21 East Simpson CD Test Well No. 2 

22 West Dease Test 

Well No. 1 

23 Awuna Test 

Well No. 1 

24 Koluktak Test 

Well No. 1 

Table la. -- Exploration wells -- Continued 

Date Date Total Deepest Horizon 

Location SJ2Udded COmJ2leted De;eth Attained 

42 mi SW of 11/28/78 Drilling 16,000 ft Argillite basement 

Lonely (projected) (projected) 

33 mi W of 2/19/79 4/10/79 7,739 ft Argillite basement 

Lonely 

3 mi E of 5/7/79 8/1/79 9,367 ft Argillite basement 

Lonely 

110 mi SW of 6/11/79 Drilling 15,000 ft Lisburne-Endicott 

Umiat (projected) Group (projected) 

1 mi NW of 7/1/79 Drilling 15,000 ft Basal Cretaceous 

Umiat (projected) (projected) 

14 mi S of 12/25/79 Testing 3,666 ft Argillite basement 

Barrow 

35 mi W of 1/29/80 Drilling 7,600 ft Argillite basement 

Lonely (projected) (projected) 

28 mi ESE of 4, 000 ft Argillite basement 

Barrow (projected) (projected 

152 mi SSW of 15,000 ft Fortress Mountain 

Barrow (projected) Formation , Cretaceous 

(projected) 

118 mi SSE of 4, 500 ft Torok Formation, 

Barrow FY 81 (projected) 

(projected) 

Remarks 

Drilling at 15,271 ft on 2/1/80, no 

significant shows 

Poor oil show; plugged and 

abandoned 

Residual heavy oil show ; 

plugged and abandoned 

Drilling at 12,092 ft on 2/1/80; 

no zones of interest 

Drilling at 13,179 ft on, 2/1/80; 

minor oil and gas show 

Testing gas zone on 2/1/80 

Drilling at 2,410 ft on 2/1/80; 

no zones of interest 

Preparing location 2/1/80 

Preparing location 2/1/80 

Preparing location 2/1/80 

Cretaceous 

0 

z 

., 

~ 
> 

... 

0 

Table lb.-- Barrow gas wells recently drilled by the Navy and the Geological Survey. (See fig. 2.) 

Map Date Date Total Deepest Horizon 

Number Name Location S,Eudded Com,Eleted De,eth Attained Remarks 

25 So. Barrow Sec. 14, T22N, 2/10/74 3/6/74 2,350 ft Argillite basement Completed as gas producer 

No. 11 R18W (Devonian or older) 

26 So. Barrow Sec. 23, T22N, 3/10/74 5/4/74 2, 285 ft Argillite basement Suspended as marginal gas well 

No. 12 R17W (Devonian or older) 

27 Iko Bay* Sec. 16, T21N, 2/1/75 3/8/75 2 '731 ft Argillite basement Marginal gas well 

R16W ( Devonian or older) 

28 So. Barrow Sec. 14, T22N, 12/17/76 1/16/77 2,535 ft Argillite basement Shows of gas; suspended as 

No. 13 R18W (Devonian or older) marginal gas well 

29 So. Barrow Sec. 25, T22N, 1/28/77 3/1/77 2, 257 ft Sag River Sand Suspended ; completed as 

No. 14 R17W (Triassic) gas well on 3/2/79 

30 So. Barrow Sec. 1, T22N, 1/28/78 2/17/78 2, 400 ft Argillite basement Dry; plugged and abandoned 

No. 16 R18W ( Devonian or older) 

31 So. Barrow Sec. 30, T22N, 3/2/78 4/13/78 2,382 ft Argillite basement Suspended; edge well; completed 

No. 17 R16W (Devonian or older) as marginal gas well on 3/25/79 

32 So. Barrow Sec. 23, T22N, 4/18/78 5/17/78 2,300 ft Argillite basement Suspended; completed as No. 19 R17W (Devonian or older) gas well on 2/16/79 

33 So. Barrow Sec. 23, T22N, Planned 2,400 ft Argillite basement 

No. 15 R17W 7/15/80 (projected) (Devonian or older) 

34 So. Barrow Sec. 24, T22N, Planned 2, 400 ft Argillite basement 

No. 18 R17W 8/29/80 (projected) (Devonian or older) 

35 So. Barrow Sec. 26, T22N, Planned 2,400 ft Argillite basement 

No. 20 R17W 10/13/80 (projected) ( Devonian or older) 

*Iko Bay well was drilled approximately 20 miles southeast of Barrow to locate a new gas field to supplement the gas supply for Barrow. 

~ 

z 

., 

~ 
drop in pressure. Drilling is scheduled to begin 

in July 1980 and will require approximately 30 to 

45 days at each site to complete the wells for 

production. 

A new pressure reducing station, all-season 

access roads between the southern and eastern 

portions of the field and to all the new wellsites, 

and gathering pipelines will be constructed in FY 

1980. The access roads will provide for maintenance capabilities on a year-round basis without 

extensive damage to the tundra from vehicles 

traveling to the wells. It is anticipated that 

approximately 1. 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas 

will be produced and used locally during FY 1980. 

Conducting a major exploration program 

without disrupting the tundra environment or 

impacting the wildlife of Alaska's North Slope 

presents a major challenge to the Survey. Sound 

environmental protection procedures have evolved 

from the cumulative experiences gained during the 

1944-53 exploration program, from industry's 

experience in the Prudhoe Bay area, and from the 

Canadian exploration program. Much of the 

knowledge, however, is the result of research 

and recent operational experiences within the 

NPRA. Since 1944, Survey personnel have been 

involved in geological and geophysical exploration 

activities on the NPRA. Many of these same 

individuals provide expertise for today's exploration program. 

Two early major developments impacted the 

Reserve: (1) the Department of the Navy's Oil 

Exploration from 1944 to 1953, and (2) the construction of the Distant Early Warning Line 

(DEWLine) of radar stations begun in 1953 by the 

U . S. Air Force. During the earlier programs, 

the pioneering efforts emphasized being able to 

operate in a new environment and getting the job 

done. Environmental protection was not a major concern of the American public or the operators, 

and evidence of some of this lack of concern is 

still present today -- bulldozed trails, some of 

which are now canals, mar the landscape; eroded 

banks and tundra denote the old areas of operation; and widespread litter, particularly old fuel 

drums, remains around former exploration sites 

and trails. The program for the cleanup of this 

old litter will be continued on the NPRA during 

FY 1980. This will include the burial of junk and 

debris of the Grandstand and Gubic well sites. 

While both are outside of the NPRA, the litter 

resulted from the 1944-53 exploration program and 

hence will be cleaned up. 

After the discovery of the Prudhoe Bay oil 

field in 1968 and with the advent of more rigorous 

environmental stipulations, additional knowledge of 

sound Arctic engineering and environmental 

practices was acquired through research, construction, and development and, more importantly, was adopted as a mode of operation. These 

past experiences have led to the development of 

improved procedures and new techniques; therefore, the current ONPRA exploration program is 

proceeding with a minimal amount of environmental 

disruption. 

Advances in construction and engineering 

techniques continue today. During the current 

program, Hi- Density Styrofoam insulation has 

been used to reduce the amount of borrow material used in the drilling pads and airstrips at four 

deep wells designed for year-around operations: 

Tunalik, Inigok, Lisburne, and Seabee. Using a 

one-inch layer of insulation, generally with the 

same insulating properties as provided by approximately one foot of gravel, the typical 5- to 

6-foot-thick all-season pads are reduced to a 

thickness of 2 to 3 feet. Personnel from the 

U.S. Army's Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory ( CRREL) monitor the thermal 

characteristics of the permafrost at these installations. Thermocouples, installed during the construction phase, are read periodically, and the 

data obtained are used for design improvements at 

other installations. 

The lack of adequate construction material 

(sand/gravel) in most areas of the NPRA fostered 

another design concept, the thin pad. This 

concept, limited to winter operations, utilizes only 

the material excavated during the construction of 

the reserve (mud) pit for the drilling pad. The 

design was used successfully, both from an 

environmental and an engineering standpoint, at 

the South Meade wellsite in FY 1978 and at the 

Peard and East Simpson wellsites in FY 1979. All 

five new exploration wellsites for the FY 1980 

program will be drilled during the winter months; 

therefore, the thin-pad concept will be used. 

Borrow sites, and their attendant ice access 

roads, will not be required at any of the FY 1980 

exploratory sites. As a result, possible disturbances to the tundra from the opening of borrow 

sites and the hauling of the material will be 

eliminated. Overall, reduced construction 

requirements result in fewer acres of tundra that 

may need rehabilitation. 

It has been observed that these thin drilling 

pads generally are high enough above the adjacent tundra that wind will keep the pad surface 

relatively free of snow. A drilling pad constructed in this manner tends to settle during the thaw 

season until pad relief is insignificant when 

compared to the surrounding tundra. It also will 

provide suitable seed bed material for the grass 

seed spread over the disturbed areas during the 

rehabilitation program. The low profile of the 

thin pad brings the seed bed closer to the water 

table and thus accelerates the revegetation process. 

As one of the last generally de facto wilderness areas in the United States, the North Slope 

of Alaska, including the NPRA, is home or nesting area to a variety of wildlife species, including 

caribou, moose, grizzly bear, gray wolf, wolverine, polar bear (along the coast), geese, ducks, 

shorebirds, falcons, hawks, eagles and owls. 

Most of the mammals are year-around residents of 

the Reserve, but the majority of the birds are 

present during only part of the year. Large 

numbers of waterfowl, shorebirds, and songbirds 

move into the area each spring to breed and raise 

A11 

ONPRA 
ONPRA 

South Meade Test Well No.1, a medium-depth well drilled only during the winter months, was completed 

in FY 1979. The ice road shown above leads to the wellsite from the ice airstrip, borrow sites, and water 

source lakes used in support of the South Meade operation. It is typical of the ice roads regularly constructed at NPRA exploration wellsites in winter. Such roads have proven to be an effective way to protect the tundra and vegetation where heavy traffic must utilize a given route over a sustained period of 

time. A small amount of sand occasionally falls from the trucks hauling borrow material and can be seen 

partially covering the ice road in this picture. The worker in the foreground is sampling the thickness of 

the ice road to determine its characteristics under a regime of heavy truck and equipment traffic. 

A12 
young during the brief Arctic summer. Only a few birds, including the raven, snowy owl, 

gyrfalcon, and ptarmigan, can successfully survive as year-round residents. 

Several species of fish inhabit the larger, 

deeper Arctic lakes and streams, and some of 

these, particularly some of the salmonids (whitefish and grayling) are important to the Native 

people who fish these lakes and streams. A 

variety of marine mammals including whales, 

walrus, seals, and polar bear are important 

subsistence resources to the residents of the 

coastal villages. In many areas of the NPRA, 

subsistence hunters relied heavily on caribou up 

until the time that the harvest was severely 

limited by the State. 

Caribou are a major concern to all involved 

in the NPRA exploration program. These animals 

provide an important protein source for Native 

inhabitants. They are highly valued as a wildlife 

resource among conservationists and game managers alike. For these reasons, great care is 

taken throughout the year to avoid disturbing the 

caribou. Additional precautions are necessary 

during the time of the year when the pregnant 

females are calving, particularly in areas where 

calving is concentrated during May and early 

June. Any well being drilled in these areas, 

including the Utukok Uplands Special Area, must 

either be completed in a single winter drilling 

season before the caribou return in May, or must 

be suspended until the calving is complete in 

mid-June. Thus, the Awuna Test Well will be 

suspended in May 1980 and reentered after freeze 

up in the fall. 

The Arctic peregrine falcon is presently the 

only terrestrial animal in the NPRA listed as an 

endangered species by the U.S. Department of 

the Interior. The bluffs along the Colville River 

and some of its tributaries provide prime nesting 

sites for this bird, although the number of pairs 

successfully nesting there at present is only 

about one-third of the number that nested in this 

area during the 1950's. The decline of the Arctic 

peregrine is not the result of any human factor 

operating in Alaska. Peregrine population de- creases have occurred primarily because of contamination of this predator's food chain with ODE, 

a breakdown product of the insecticide DDT. 

Contamination from DDT has occurred along the 

peregrine's migration route and in its wintering 

habitat in the contiguous 48 states, Mexico, and 

Central and South America. Generally, when an 

organism is physiologically stressed by one environmental factor, it has decreased resistance to 

other environmental factors, even those factors 

that might normally be of little significance. 

Thus, while aircraft noise and human activity 

associated with the exploration program would not 

normally be expected to affect peregrines nesting 

in northern Alaska, possible effects on the 

already stressed birds are uncertain. For this 

reason, when exploration activities are underway 

in areas within 15 miles of known peregrine 

nesting sites, Geological Survey environmental 

ONPF'" 

specialists and representatives of the U . S. Fish 

and Wildlife Service assess the exploration program activities to insure that they will not adversely affect the falcons. During the construction of the Seabee wellsite, for example, the 

Geological Survey, through its operator Husky Oil 

NPR Operations, Inc. , requested that the Federal 

Aviation Administration change the aircraft 

approach patterns at the nearby Umiat airstrip. 

This change was facilitated to eliminate any possible disturbance to nesting birds and will remain 

in effect for aircraft using the Umiat airstrip 

even after the exploration program has been 

terminated. 

Questions and problems relating to these and 

other wildlife species are a continuing concern to 

personnel associated with the NPRA exploration. 

Within the limits of the Congressional mandate for 

exploration of the Reserve, all possible steps are taken to assure that neither the wildlife nor their 

habitat will be altered, even temporarily, in any 

significant way. 

Final reports concerning the exploration are 

made available through the Environmental Data 

and Information Service, National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, Colorado, 

80303; (303) 499-1000 ext. 6338. Core chips and 

ditch cuttings may be provided by the Department 

of the Natural Resources, Alaska Division of Oil 

and Gas Conservation, 3001 Porcupine Drive, 

Anchorage, Alaska 99501. 

The NPRA ~xploration program requires 

many technical background studies and activities 

in addition to the drilling and seismic operations 

carried out by the prime contractor, Husky Oil 

NPR Operations, Inc. The geological investigations, primarily by the Geological Survey's Geologic Division, are described in this circular as part of each operating division's program in the 

State. 

For additional information about the ONPRA 

activities, contact: 

George Gryc, Chief, or 

Max Brewer, Chief, Operation Office, 

Office of National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska 

2525 C Street, Suite 400 

Anchorage, Alaska 99503 

Tel. (907) 276-7422 

A13 
f"~NPRA 

PROJECTS OF THE OFFICE OF NATIONAL 

PETROLEUM RESERVE IN ALASKA 

Project Title: National Petroleum Reserve in 

Alaska (NPRA) Paleontological Data 

Chief: Roger J. Witmer 

Objectives: Biostratigraphically to date and 

correlate strata penetrated by the test wells in 

the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPRA) 

and to make available to the public microscope 

slides of fossils (by loan agreement) and reports 

on paleontology based on test well samples. 

Status: Anderson, Warren, and Associates Micropaleontology Consultants of San Diego, California, 

subcontractor for Husky Oil NPR Operations, 

drilling contractor for the Office of National 

Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (ONPRA), has processed sediments from the NPRA test wells and 

analyzed the microfossil assemblages, including 

both palynomorphs and foraminifers, in terms of 

biostratigraphy and paleoecology. Microfossil 

reports and distribution charts are being made 

available through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Information 

regarding loans of microscope slides of fossils can 

be obtained at the ONPRA office in Menlo Park. 

Microfossil data are presently being encoded in 

computers at Petroleum Information Corporation to 

facilitate manipulation of this voluminous data 

bank. Computer files of species diversity plots 

of the various microfossil groups, as well as 

formation and paleontological stage I zonule tops, 

are now being printed for most of the NPRA test 

wells. Numerous megafossils recovered from test 

well cores have been sent to the Survey's Paleontology and Stratigraphy Branch for examination, 

and this information is currently being incorporated into the total paleontological framework. 

The project location is shown in figure 2. 

Pro~ect Title: Geophysical Exploration of the 

National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPRA) 

Chief: John K. Kienzle 

Objectives: To acquire and interpret common 

depth point (COP) seismic and gravity data for 

use in locating drilling sites for exploratory wells 

and to aid in assessing the hydrocarbon potential 

of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. 

Status: Through Husky Oil NPR Operations, Inc., 

the contractor to the Office of National Petroleum 

Reserve in Alaska ( ONPRA), and Geophysical 

Service, Inc. (GSI), a subcontractor to Husky 

Oil, approximately 1, 000 miles of CD P seismic and 

gravity data will be acquired in NPRA in 1980. 

The seismic data will be collected by two G SI 

dynamite crews operating in the southern part of 

NPRA. The gravity and seismic data will be 

processed by GSI and interpreted by Tetra Tech, 

a subcontractor to Husky Oil, and by ONPRA. 

With the completion of the 1980 fieldwork, approximately 12,500 miles of CDP seismic and gravity 

data will have been collected in NPRA since 1972. 

The project location is shown in figure 2. 

Protect Title: Archeological Studies of the 

National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska 

Chief: Max Brewer 

Objectives: To inventory cultural resources of 

the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska; inspection, evaluation and clearance of all sites proposed for drilling, roads, airfields, and construction material. 

Status: Detailed cultural and archeological resourCe surveys are conducted at all sites where 

construction, drilling, or seismic activities are 

planned on the National Petroleum Reserve in 

Alaska. These surveys are carried out to assure that oil and gas exploration activities do not 

adversely affect the cultural or archeological 

resources of the reserve. Management cooperate 

to inspect, evaluate and clear all sites of proposed airfields, access roads, drilling pads, 

construction material and water source sites, haul 

roads and trails, and seismic survey lines. 

The project location is throughout NPRA where 

any oil and gas exploration related activities are 

proposed. 

In addition, the Office of National Petroleum 

Reserve in Alaska funds a project described in 

the Geologic Division's section. The project is 

titled "Engineering Geologic Studies in the 

National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska", under the 

leadership of Reuben Kachadoorian. As part of 

this project work, several design options were 

considered for airfields, roads, and drilling pads 

including ( 1) gravel over sand, with sufficient 

thickness of gravel to contain seasonal thaw 

penetration, ( 2) gravel over insulation on sand, 

( 3) landing rna t with insulation, and ( 4) landing 

mat without insulation. Test sections were con- structed and tested. Using seasonal thaw indexes 

and subsurface temperature data, maximum thaw 

penetration depths were calculated. The design 

selected for Inigok and Tunalik wells was gravel 

over insulation with sufficient thickness of insulation to prevent summer thaw of subgrade and 

minimum thickness of gravel to prevent crushing 

of insulation under heavy wheel loads. This 

project is also monitoring ground temperatures at 

Inigok, Tunalik, Ivotuk /Lisburne, Seabee, and 

Awuna to record performance of the airfield and 

drilling site during design life and after abandonment of the site. 

The project location is shown in figure 2 as numbers 12, 13, 18, 19, and 23 (Awuna). 

A14 
Project Title: National Petroleum Reserve in 

Alaska (NPRA) Data Open File 

Chief: Robert D. Carter 

Objectives: To acquire, inventory, organize, 

reproduce, store, and make available to the 

public through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) (Boulder, Colorado) all geologic and geophysical data generated 

in the petroleum exploration of the NPRA by the 

U.S. Navy and by the Office of National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. 

Status: All well and basic geophysical data 

generated in NPRA (NPR-4) by the U.S. Navy 

prior to June 1, 1977, have been released 

through NOAA. Well logs and histories from six 

wells drilled during 1977 and 1978 are also available from NOAA, along with an interpretive 

summary seismic report which integrates 1977 data 

with the prior seismic information. NOAA is 

presently processing for release data from five 

wells drilled in 1978 and 1979; a summary geologic 

report for FY 1978; seismic, magnetic, and 

gamma-ray data gathered in 1977 and 1978; and a 

Barrow area "package" which includes descriptions of the gas productive areas there, an 

energy study, and a high-resolution seismic 

stratigraphic study. 

The project location is shown in figure 2. 

A15 

ONPFr4 

Y. 

\ 

LAND INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS OFFICE 

For further information, contact the offices listed below. 

Anchorage, Alaska 

David Carneggie 

Reston, Virginia 

Gene A. Thorley 

Chief, USGS/EROS Field Office 

508 Second A venue 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

Tel. (907) 271-4145 

Chief, Land Information and Analysis Office 

104 National Center, Reston, VA 22092 

Tel. (703) 860-7488 

A17 
LIA 

LAND INFORMATION 

AND ANALYSIS OFFICE 

The Land Information and Analysis (LIA) 

Office manages interdisciplinary land-resources 

and environmental impact programs of the Survey. 

The programs are directly concerned with the 

technologies and methodologies of collecting, 

describing, communicating, and applying earthsciences information to resources management. 

The principal program elements of the LIA Office 

include the Earth Resources Observation System 

(EROS), Earth Sciences Applications, Resource 

and Land Investigations, and Environmental 

Impact Analysis. 

EROS PROGRAM 

The EROS program was established by the 

U.S. Department of the Interior in 1967 to assist 

in realizing the practical benefits in earthresource and environment inventory and monitoring that can be obtained by use of photography 

and other remotely sensed data acquired by 

aircraft and spacecraft, particularly the Landsat 

satellite. The EROS Data Center in Sioux Falls, 

South Dakota 57198, is responsible for distributing Landsat imagery, computer compatible tapes, 

and other forms of remotely sensed data to users 

throughout the world. The center also develops 

techniques to assist in applying remote sensing to 

various kinds of resource problems and helps 

users apply these programs. Inquiries on specific problems or other matters, including future 

training opportunities, may be addressed to the 

Branch of Applications at the Data Center; the 

telephone number is ( 605) 594-6511. 

Since late November 1974, an EROS Applications Assistance Facility has been in operation in 

Alaska to improve the availability of technical 

assistance to Alaskan users. This facility is 

located at the Geophysical Institute, University of 

Alaska, Fairbanks 99702. Interpretation equipment, including a color additive viewer and minicomputer enhancer, is available. In addition, 

files are maintained of selected Landsat images, 

NASA and other aerial photographs, and other 

remotely sensed data for Alaska. For information 

concerning the Fairbanks facility, contact 

Katherine Martz at (907) 479-7487. 

The EROS Data Center opened a Field Office 

in Anchorage in March 1980 to expand its programs for transferring remote sensing technology 

to Department of the Interior agencies and to 

Federal, State, and local government agencies. 

Congressional approvals obtained in late FY 1979 

have enabled the Data Center to purchase digital 

analysis equipment to be installed in the new 

Field Office. The primary objectives of the Field 

Office are to provide training on manual and 

automated analysis of remotely sensed data (both 

aircraft and spacecraft data) for resource inventory and to make the analysis equipment available 

to resource managers from government agencies in 

Alaska. 

A18 

The USGS /EROS Field Office, Anchorage, will 

be staffed by approximately five full-time scientists. Personnel will be located in Anchorage 

beginning in March 1980. The interactive digital 

image analysis system will be used to train resource managers to digitally display, enhance, 

classify, and manipulate Landsat data. It will 

also be available to qualified government personnel who wish to use the system in conducting 

resource inventories in Alaska. Equipment for 

manual analysis of remote sensing data such as 

stereoscopes and light tables also will be available. The Field Office will conduct training 

courses (yet to be announced) on the uses of 

remote sensing techniques. The Field Office will 

be linked closely to the EROS Data Center and 

will utilize personnel, analysis techniques, and 

software from the Center when needed. The 

Field Office will work closely with the National 

Cartographic and Information Center and the 

University of Alaska to provide information on the 

availability of remotely sensed data and its uses. 

The USGS/EROS Field Office is located on the 

third floor of the Skyline Building at 508 Second 

A venue in Anchorage. For more information 

contact the Field Office Chief, David M. Carneggie. 

-A Landsat browse file is available for public 

inspection at the Public Inquiries Office of the 

Survey, Room 108, Skyline Building, 508 Second 

Avenue, Anchorage 99501. 

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT 

ANALYSIS PROGRAM 

The Environmental Impact Analysis (EIA) 

Program was established in 1975 to provide the 

Geological Survey's response to environmental 

impact statement ( EIS) preparation and review 

requirements of the National Environmental Policy 

Act. 

The Geological Survey becomes involved as a 

lead agency in the preparation of EIS 's as a 

result of the Conservation Division's supervision 

of mineral resource exploration, development, 

extraction, and reclamation operations on Federal 

lands and as a nonlead agency as a result of its 

supervisory function (as described above) and 

through its special expertise in the areas of 

geology, hydrology, and mining and petroleum 

engineering. Survey review of EIS 's focuses on 

the adequacy of description of the geologic and 

hydrologic environment, and of the analysis of 

related environmental impacts, and mitigating 

measures and alternatives. 

The EIA Program integrates Geological Survey EIS activities by providing the following: 

( 1) Direction, coordination, and expertise in the 

preparation of environmental impact statements for 

which the Survey has lead or joint-lead responsibility; (2) scientific and technical support in the 

preparation of impact statements for which the 

Survey has contributing responsibility; (3) oilspill 

risk analysis; ( 4) manuals, guidelines, and training courses on the preparation and review of impact statements; and ( 5) environmental research. 
In 1978, the Geological Survey was assigned 

lead responsibility by the Department of the 

Interior for an analysis of environmental impacts 

of potential petroleum development in the National 

Petroleum Reserve in Alaska as mandated by 

Section 105(b) of Public Law 94-258, the Naval 

Petroleum Reserves Production Act. The analysis 

has been accomplished by an EIA Program task 

force under the lea.de:rship of William J. 

Schneider. The physical, biological, and cultural 

impfl<Jt~ of potential petroleum development, in-

(!Jud\ng possible impacts on Native subsistence 

activities, have been evaluated. Publication of 

the comprehensive report and of a companion 

report on economic and policy analysis is expected 

by mid 1980. 

Oilspill risk analyses to determine the relative environmental hazards of developing oil have 

been conducted since 1976 by the Geological 

Survey in different regions of the Alaskan Outer 

Continental Shelf. These studies analyze the 

probability of spill occurrences, likely paths of oil 

slicks, and locations of resources vulnerable to 

spilled oil. The combined results yield estimates 

of the probability of oilspill impacts occurring due 

to development of proposed lease areas. 

Since 1978, oilspill risk analyses have been 

made by the EIA Program. "An oils pill risk 

analysis for the Kodiak Island (Proposed Sale 46) 

Quter Continental Shelf lease area", by William B. 

Saml,lels, Kenneth J. Lanfear, and Anastase 

Na'kassis, USGS Open-File Report 80-175, was 

completed in January 1980. An analysis for Cook 

Inlet (Proposed Sale 60) is scheduled for release 

in July 1980, and an analysis of Norton Basin 

(Proposed Sale 57) is scheduled to begin in 

September 1980. 

PROJECTS OF THE LAND INFORMATION 

AND ANALYSIS OFFICE 

STATEWIDE 

Project Title: Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil 

and Gas Information Program (Resource and Land 

Investigations Program) 

Chief: David A. Nystrom 

Objectives: To make available to affected States 

and, upon request, to the executive of any local 

government: ( 1) a summary report of information 

designed to assist them in planning for the nearshore and onshore impacts of potential OCS oil 

and gas development and production; and (2) an 

index which lists all relevant lease sale information. These documents are to be made available 

on a regular basis and updated as significant 

changes in the information occur. The program 

was mandated by 30 CFR 252 and by the OCS 

Lands Act Amendments of 1978. 

Status: The Alaska Index was developed and 

distr~buted to State and local officials. The 

Alaska Index lists all relevant plans, programs, 

reports, and documents used by the Federal 

government in the decision-making process for 

leasing, exploration, development, and production 

of the Outer Continental Shelf. 

Work has begun on the Gulf of Alaska Summary 

Report which will include: ( 1) geologic and 

geophysical data and updated oil and gas resource 

and reserve estimates; ( 2) projections of the 

magnitude and timing of development; ( 3) methods 

of transportation to be employed; and ( 4) the 

general location and nature of near-shore and 

onshore facilities. 

Project Title: Hazards Warning, Preparedness, 

and Technical Assistance (Earth Science Applications Program) 

Objectives: To develop a system for communicating information on geologic and related hazards to 

State and local jurisdictions and to Federal agencies with facilities or programs that may be 

affected by the hazards. 

Status: A meeting with appropriate State and 

Federal representatives and the Governor's designee for Alaska was held in 1978, and mutually 

agreeable communications procedures for hazards 

information have been developed. 

On May 10, 1978, Federal, State, and_ local 

officials were notified of the potential hazard from 

a landslide on Pillar Mountain at Kodiak. The 

Survey continues to serve on a Geotechnical 

Advisory Committee established by the City of 

Kodiak to oversee and evaluate the results of 

continuing data collection and mitigation planning 

for this potential hazard. 

On June 1, 1979, Federal, State, and local officials were notified of the possibility of a large 

earthquake in the area of Cape Yakataga in 

southern Alaska. This area has been identified 

as a "seismic gap", where an earthquake could occur at any time and is likely in the next 2 to 4 

decades. The Survey intensified its studies and 

monitoring in this area in 1979 in an effort to 

develop a better understanding of the potential 

for large earthquakes and to observe the processes leading up to them. (See Geologic Division 

activities, southern region.) 

Project Title: Wrangell-St. Elias National Monument Analysis Project 

Chief: David M. Carneggie 

Objectives: Demonstrate the use of various 

remote sensing techniques and data types for 

providing baseline resource data pertinent to the 

major planning and management issues of the 

Monument. The development and refinement of 

remote sensing techniques used in this project 

will serve as a model for gathering resource 

A19 
LIA 

information in other areas administered by the 

National Park Service. Specific tasks include 

mapping vegetation cover and environmental 

hazards using high altitude color-infrared photographs and Landsat color composite imagery. 

Status: Small-scale color-infrared photographs 

and Landsat color composite of the Chitina Valley 

have been purchased. A vegetation classification 

scheme is being prepared and preliminary interpretation is in process. The 1980 summer field 

season will provide the opportunity to collect 

ground data related to vegetation type and 

environmental hazards, and complete the cover mapping. 

The project location is shown in figure 3. 

Project Title: Denali Resource Map Assessment 

Project 

Chief: Wayne G. Rohde (EROS) and Paula Krebs 

(BLM) 

Objectives: To develop and apply statistical 

samphng procedures to determine the accuracy of 

vegetation maps produced by a joint Bureau of 

Land Management ( BLM) and NASA Application 

Systems Verification Test in the upper watershed 

MT. McKINLEY 

TALKEETNA 

of the Susitna, MacClaren, Delta, Gulkana, and 

Nenana Rivers. These maps cover an area of 2. 7 

million acres and were produced by a private 

contractor for NASA by applying automated 

computer classification techniques to Landsat 

data. A second objective was to determine the 

effect of smoothing on the classification accuracy 

of the cover maps. Smoothing is the process 

whereby individual or small groups of picture 

elements that comprise Landsat data are reclassified to the class corresponding to the majority 

of picture elements in a given area. 

Status: BLM and EROS Data Center personnel 

cooperated to (a) select ground sampling units 

for each land cover class, (b) acquire and interpret aerial photographs of each sample unit, and 

(c) collect ground data about vegetation within a 

portion of each sample unit. The aerial photographs were acquired and the field survey was 

conducted in late summer 1979. The results are compiled to determine the classification accuracy 

of the cover maps. Preliminary results show that 

this accuracy is improved when smoothing is 

applied after the classification process. Moreover, the classification improved as the minimum 

map unit size over which smoothing was applied 

was increased. 

The project location is shown in figure 3. 

50 100 MILES 

1------''..,..j ----L1--ri--L.--,i,--J1 

50 100 150 KILOMETERS 

GULF OF 

EXPLANATION 

E Wrangell-St. Elias National Monument Analysis Project 

t::s:3 Denali Resource Map Assessment Project 

Figure 3. -- Land Information and Analysis Office activities in Alaska. 

A20 
ALASKA MAPPING 

National Mapping Division 

For further information, contact the offices listed below. 

Anchorage, Alaska 

Thomas E. Taylor 

Denver, Colorado 

John D. McLaurin 

Reston, Virginia 

Rupert B. Southard 

Resident Cartographer, National Mapping Division 

Room 210, 218 E Street, Anchorage, AK 99501 

Tel. (907) 271-4148 

Chief, Rocky Mountain Mapping Center 

National Mapping Division, Bldg. 25, Box 25046 

510 Denver Federal Center, Lakewood, CO 80225 

Tel. (303) 234-2351 

Chief, National Mapping Division 

516 National Center, Reston, VA 22092 

Tel. (703) 860-6231 

A21 
ALASKA MAPPING 

ALASKA MAPPING 

The National Mapping Division is responsible 

for the preparation of the maps and map products, including digital cartographic data, of the 

National Mapping Program. The Division also 

operates the National Cartographic Information 

Center (NCIC) which provides information on 

maps, aerial photography, and other cartographic 

data. 

Tha Alaskan mapping program operations are 

primarily the responsibility of the Chief, Rocky 

Mountain Mapping Center, in Denver, Colorado. 

The resident cartographer in Alaska is the 

National Mapping Division's representative. His 

office is located in Anchorage. This office 

gathe~s and maintains files on cartographic 

material used in mapping. In addition to its 

assigned responsibilities, this office provides 

assistance to the public in obtaining National 

Cartographic Information Center (NCIC) cartographic materials, EROS (satellite) photographic 

products, geodetic control, and base-map 

material. 

Published topographic mapping at a scale of 

1:63,360 (1 inch= 1 mile) is available for about 

84 percent of Alaska. An additional 11 percent of 

the State is in various stages of production at 

either 1:63,060 scale or 1:50,000 scale (metric). 

The Division also has a program for providing 1:25, 000-scale (metric) maps for developing 

areas of Alaska. Maps of the Anchorage area 

should be published in FY 1980. Other areas for 

which maps are being prepared include Valdez, 

Seward, Cordova, Whittier, and in a newly authorized project the Kenai Peninsula. 

The Division also prepares indexes by State 

showing the topographic maps that have been 

published. The Alaska index is available free 

from the Survey's Public Inquiries Office, 108 

Skyline Building, 508 Second Avenue, in Anchorage. In addition, a periodic index of publication 

status is also available free. For detailed information on revisions or current mapping status of 

specific areas, contact the resident cartographer's 

office. 

The National Mapping Division will continue 

the support of the public lands surveys of the 

Bureau of La.1d Management (BLM) in Alaska, 

through horizontal geodetic control operations and 

the preparation of orthophoto products. The 

Division also continues its supportive role in the 

State-Federal interagency program to obtain 

uniform high-altitude aerial photography coverage 

for the entire State. 

Listed below are current projects of the 

National Mapping Division. All project locations 

are shown on figure 4. 

PROJECTS OF THE NATIONAL 

MAPPING DIVISION 

NORTHERN REGION 

Project Title: Vegetation Mapping of Northern 

Alaska Using Landsat Digital Data 

Chief: Leonard J. Gaydos 

Objectives: To produce maps of vegetation in 

northern Alaska using Landsat multispectral 

scanner digital data after defining a classification 

system appropriate to the region and attainable 

with Landsat data. · 

Status: The mapping phase of the project for the 

National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPRA) is 

complete. Fieldwork was carried out during the 

summers of 1977 and 1978 primarily by L. A. 

Morrissey and R. A. Ennis. A color-coded vegetation map produced from a mosaic of ten Landsat 

scenes is being produced under .the direction of 

J. R. Wray in Reston. It will be published in 

1980 along with a paper explaining the methodology used in the project. Publication of colorcoded vegetation maps for eight 1° x 3° quadrangles (Barrow, Wainwright' Meade River, 

Teshekpuk, Harrison Bay, Utukok River, Lookout 

Ridge, and Ikpikpuk River) is planned. Assistance is expected from the Bureau of Land 

Management and NASA Ames in assessing classification performance. 

In 1980 work is beginning on extending the 

vegetation classification to the coastal area east of 

NPR A to the Canadian border, including Prudhoe 

Bay and the northern part of the Haul Road. 

Interpretation assistance will be provided by the 

University of Colorado, Institute of Arctic and 

Alpine Research, and the Army's Cold Regions 

Research and Engineering Laboratory. 

Project Title : National Petroleum Reserve in 

Alaska 

Chief: John D. McLaurin 

Objectives: To provide new 1: 50, 000-scale maps 

for that part of the National Petroleum Reserve in 

Alaska presently mapped only at the 1:250,000 

scale. 

Status: The project consists of 82 quadrangles 

bmng mapped at 1:50.000 scale with metric contours. At the beginning of FY 1980, advance 

manuscript copy was available for about 90 percent of the project. Compilation will continue in 

FY 1980. 

A22 
Project Title: Coal Resource Area 

Chief: John D. McLaurin 

Objectives: 

of an area 

scale. 

To provide new 1: 50, 000-scale maps 

presently mapped only at 1:250,000 

Status: The project consists of 45 quadrangles to 

be mapped at 1: 50, 000 scale with metric contours. 

Aerotriangulation is expected to be accomplished 

in FY 1980 with compilation to follow. 

Project Title: Eastern Brooks Range 

Chief: John D. McLaurin 

Objectives: To provide new 1: 63, 360-scale maps 

of an area previously unmapped at this scale. 

Status: About 30 percent of the remaining 33 

quadrangles are expected to be compiled in FY 

1980. 

WEST-CENTRAL REGION 

Project Title: Hughes-Shungnak 

Chief: John D. McLaurin 

Objectives: To provide new 1:50, 000-scale maps 

of an area previously mapped only at the 

1: 250, 000 scale. 

Status: The project consists of 55 quadrangles 

which will be mapped at 1: 50, 000 scale with metric 

contours. Field mapping control has been completed. Work is not scheduled on this project in 

FY 1980 because of higher priorities in other 

areas of Alaska. 

EAST-CENTRAL REGION 

Project Title: Yukon Flats BLM Control 

Chief: Robert C. Foley 

Objectives: The project is a repay project for 

the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The BLM 

State Office in Alaska has requested the USGS to 

establish horizontal control on requested points to 

support their boundary surveys of the Yukon 

Flats National Monument. 

Status: The USGS plans to establish the 

requested control on the Yukon Flats project to 

the degree permitted by funding and time frame. 

The USGS proposes to utilize doppler satellite 

'methods on this project. 

Project Title: Yukon Charley BLM Control 

Chief: Robert C. Foley 

ALASKA MAPPING 

Objectives: The project is a repay project for 

BLM. The BLM State Office in Alaska has requested the USGS to establish horizontal control 

on requested points to support their boundary 

surveys of the Yukon Charley National Monument. 

Status: The USGS plans to establish the requested control on the Yukon Charley Project this 

season. The USGS proposes to establish these 

requested points by doppler satellite methods. 

SOUTHERN REGION 

Project Title: Talkeetna Mountains BLM Control 

Chief.: Robert C. Foley 

Objectives: To establish horizontal control on 

points requested by BLM to facilitate their boundary surveys of State withdrawal lands. Surveys 

will be accomplished by doppler satellite and 

standard electronic traverse methods. 

Status: Fieldwork and final computations are to 

be completed in FY 1980. 

Project Title: Willow South 

Chief: John D. McLaurin 

Objectives: To provide modern large-scale maps 

of the new State capital site near Willow. 

Status: The project consists of four 1: 25, 000-

scale maps with metric contours. The schedule 

calls for aerotriangulation in FY 1980 and map 

compilation in FY 1981. , 

Project Title: Anchorage 

Chief: John D. McLaurin 

Objectives: To provide modern large-scale topographic maps of the greater Anchorage area. 

Status: The project consists of 31 quadrangles of 

T:2"5,000-scale maps with metric contours. Sixteen are standard line maps and 15 are orthophotomaps. All will be published in FY 1980. 

Project Title: Valdez 

Chief: John D. McLaurin 

Objectives: To provide modern large-scale maps 

for Valdez and the surrounding area. 

Status: The project consists of five 1: 25, 000-

scale maps with metric contours. The schedule 

calls for these maps to be compiled during FY 

1980. 

A23 
ALASKA MAPPING 

fil" 

56" 

(J 

~ 

\ · 

~~~; 

, I ·---- . 

I 

/ SEA 

Figure 4. -- National Mapping Divi 

A24 
UNITED STATES 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

70' 

AJLA§KA 

~ EXPLANATION 

p 

lAIJ()Ui 

Referenu to a 15 iftdicatt 

the 1 :!50,(}()() qowdrang!. ""'"" a11d also the alphabetical-nu...,.;,J subdioision thertof. 

15 Min.U E:ramp!.-Middltton Isla11d A-5, Alaska. 

A C I F I C 

::tivities in Alaska for 1980. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

9. 

10. 

11. 

12. 

13. 14. 

15. 

16. 

17. 

18. 

19. 

Landsat vegetation mapping, northern Alaska 

National Petroleum Reserve project 

Coal Resource area Eastern Brooks Range 

Hughes-Shungnak 

Yukon Flats BLM control 

Yukon Charley BLM control 

Talkeetna Mountains BLM control 

Willow South 

Anchorage 

Bering Glacier - Mt. St. Elias 

Alaska topographic/bathymetric maps 

Whittier 

Seward 

Valdez 

Cordova 

North Kenai 

Bethel - Russian Mission 

Port Moller 

50 

STATUTE MILES 

100 

\ '. 

A25 

200 

I 

\ -132- -- ' I 

---I 130' 

ALASKA MAPPINC 
ALASKA MAPPING 

Project Title: Cordova 

Chief: John D. McLaurin 

Objectives: To provide modern large-scale maps 

of Cordova and vicinity . 

Status: The project consists of four 1: 25,000-

scale quadrangles with metric contours. These 

quadrangles have been compiled, and advance 

copy of the compilation manuscripts is available. 

Project Title: North Kenai 

Chief: Frank E. White 

Objectives: To provide modern large-scale maps 

for this project area, which covers the towns of 

Kenai and Soldotna, as well as the large industrial complex north of Kenai. The east half of 

the project and area along Sterling Highway is in 

the National Moose Range and covers recreational 

areas. 

Status: During 1980, the USGS proposes to 

establish the necessary horizontal and vertical 

photocontrol for compilation of 1: 25, 000-scale 

metric maps in project area. 

SOUTHWESTERN REGION 

Project Title: Bethel - Russian Mission 

Chief: John D. McLaurin 

Objectives: To prepare two new 1: 250, 000-scale 

maps to replace the old reconnaissance maps that 

presently cover this area. 

Status: These two maps are in the final cartographic phases prior to publication. 

Project Title: Bering Glacier - Mount St. Elias 

Area 

Chief: John D. McLaurin 

Objectives: 

in an area 

To provide new 1: 63, 360-scale maps 

previously unmapped at this scale. 

Status: This project consists of 50 quadrangles 

at 1: 63, 360 scale. Five maps have been compiled 

and advance manuscript copy for them is available. eompilation of the remaining quadrangles is 

expected to begin in FY 1980. 

Project Title: Alaska Topographic I Bathymetric 

Maps 

Chief: John D. McLaurin 

Objectives: To provide 1: 250, 000-scale topographic/bathymetric maps of the Anchorage and 

Cook Inlet area in support of the Bureau of Land 

Management's Outer Continental Shelf and other 

coastal zone studies. 

Status: The project consists of eight 1: 250, 000-

scale quadrangle maps which will be prepared 

under the Geological Survey /National Oceanographic Survey (NOS) joint topographic/bathymetric mapping agreement. NOS plans to provide 

the bathymetry during FY 1981 and the survey 

plans to add this bathymetry to the topographic 

maps during FY 1982. 

Project Title : Whittier 

Chief: John D. McLaurin 

Objectives: To provide modern large-scale maps 

of Whittier, Portage, and the Turnagain Arm 

south of Anchorage. 

Status: The project consists of seven 1: 25, 000-

scale quadrangles with metric contours. The 

schedule calls for these maps to be compiled 

during FY 1980. 

Project Title: Seward 

Chief: John D. McLaurin 

Objectives: To provide modern large-scale maps 

of Seward and vicinity. 

Status: The project ccmsists of six 1: 25, 000-scale 

quadrangles with metric contours. The schedule 

calls for these maps to be compiled during FY 

1980. 

Project Title: Port Moller 

Chief: John D. McLaurin 

Objectives: To prepare eight new 1: 63, 360-scale 

maps of the Port Moller area. 

Status: Advance copy of the compilation manu- scripts is available for the eight quadrangles. 

A26 
For further information, contact the offices listed below. 

Ahchorage, Alaska 

Thomas P. Miller 

Menlo Park, California 

Oscar J. Ferrians, Jr. 

Fairbanks, Alaska 

Florence R. Weber 

John B. Townshend 

Sitka, Alaska 

Willis E. Osbakken 

Anchorage, Alaska 

W. L. (Doc) Adkison 

Reston, Virginia 

Dallas L. Peck 

Chief, Branch of Alaskan Geology 

1209 Orca Street, Anchorage, AK 99501 

Tel. (907) 271-4150 

Acting Geologist in Charge 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Road, 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

Tel. (415) 323-8111 ext. 2231 

Geologist in Charge 

Branch of Alaskan Geology, P. 0. Box 80586 

Fairbanks, AK 99708 

Tel. (907) 479-7245 

Chief, College Observatory 

Branch of Electromagnetism and Geomagnetism 

Yukon Drive on West Ridge 

Fairbanks, AK 99701 

Tel. (907) 479-6146 

Chief, Sitka Observatory 

Branch of Electromagnetism and Geomagnetism 

P.O. Box 158, Sitka, AK 99835 

Tel. (907) 747-3332 

Geologist, Alaska Core Library 

132 140 Manor Street, Anchorage, A K 99501 

Tel. (907) 271-4150 

Chief Geologist 

911 National Center, Reston, VA 22092 

Tel. (703) 860-6531 

A27 
3EOLOGIC 

ENERGY, MINERALS, GEOLOGIC 

HAZARDS, AND GEOLOGIC RESEARCH 

The current scientific program of the Geologic Division in Alaska is primarily related to 

mineral and energy resource appraisal, earthquake and geologic hazards, and geologic 

research conducted in support of these programs. 

This work includes geologic mapping and mineralresource evaluation, primarily at scales of 

1:250,000 and 1:63,360; mineral district mapping 

and evaluation; mineral-resource appraisal; geochemical studies and sampling, particularly related 

to mineral deposits; petroleum-resource surveys; 

aeromagnetic and gravity surveys and interpretation; engineering geology studies in urban areas 

and along transportation corridors; earthquake 

studies; isotopic age determination and interpretation; heat-flow studies; and submarine 

sampling, sub bottom profiling, and other geologic 

and geophysical studies of the ocean floor. 

Activities in Alaska are the responsibility of 

several working groups within the Geologic 

Division: the Branch of Alaskan Geology with 

headquarters in Anchorage, the Office of Earthquake Studies, the Office of Energy Resources, 

and the Office of Marine Geology at the Western 

Region Headquarters in Menlo Park, California; 

the Branches of Regional Geophysics, Electromagnetism and Geomagnetism, Exploration Research, 

Isotope Geology, and Engineering Geology at the 

Central Region Headquarters in Denver, Colorado; 

and the Branch of Paleontology and Stratigraphy 

at the National Museum in Washington, D.C. 

Several other branches in the Geologic Division 

provide services or conduct research in cooperation with these units. The Branch of Alaskan 

Geology is headquartered in Anchorage at 1209 

Orca Street; Branch offices are located in Fairbanks and at the Western Region headquarters in 

Menlo Park, California. The Branch of Electromagnetism and Geomagnetism maintains observatories at Fairbanks (College), Barrow, Adak, and 

Sitka. The College and Barrow observatories are 

under the direction of John B. Townshend, whose 

office is in Fairbanks. The Sitka Observatory is 

directed by Willis E. Osbakken, and David Evans 

is in charge of the Adak facility. 

This section on the Geologic Division first 

describes the major mission-oriented programs in 

Alaska and then describes the current projects in 

Alaska by geographic region. Figures 5 through 

13 show the locations of current division activities. Projects for other divisions are presented 

under similar geographic headings for easy crossreferencing or gaining an overview of all Survey 

activities in a region. 

The major program elements of the Geologic 

Division in Alaska are: 

• The Alaska Mineral Resource Assessment 

Program ( AMRAP) and related projects 

• The North Slope Petroleum Program and 

related Alaska-wide energy studies 

• The Marine Geology Program 

• The Arctic Environmental Studies Program 

• The Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program 

• Geologic research in support of the program 

elements 

Most of these programs are interrelated. 

Several Arctic Environmental Studies projects, for 

example, are designed to determine and mitigate 

the environmental effects of oil exploration, 

production, and transportation in the Arctic. 

The Marine Geology Program, similarly, is designed to determine the petroleum potential in the 

continental shelf areas off the coast of Alaska and 

to determine geohazards related to placement of 

oil and mining facilities on the sea floor. The 

North Slope Petroleum Program is designed to assess petroleum and other mineral resources of 

northern Alaska. 

ALASKA MINERAL RESOURCE 

ASSESSMENT PROGRAM 

The Alaska Mineral Resource Assessment 

Program (AMRAP), directed by Henry C. Berg, 

began in 1975. The program was developed to 

meet the demand by public and private interests 

for objective and timely information on Alaska's 

mineral endowment. The AMRAP program has two 

basic objectives: ( 1) To assess the State's 

mineral potential for long-range planning and 

development by systematic methods carried out by 

interdisciplinary teams studying the areas of the 

1: 250, 000-scale quadrangles; and ( 2) to assess in 

the near term, on a 1:1,000,000-scale base, the 

State's mineral resources to provide information to 

Congress and the Department of the Interior for 

use in their efforts to classify Alaskan lands. 

The second objective has been realized for most 

of Alaska; the southeastern part of the State is 

being investigated in this manner at the present 

time. 

The AMRAP program comprises projects that 

contribute to four levels of study. The objective 

of Level I is to publish statewide summaries of 

Alaska's mineral resources. This project is 

continuing and is based on past and present 

investigations by the Survey and by other organizations and agencies. Level II works toward 

identifying mineral resources likely to occur in a 

given large area of the State by plotting favorable areas on maps, and by presenting some 

measure of the probable size and grade of undiscovered deposits. Level II reports incorporate 

summaries of the results of Level III studies, 

which include geologic mapping, aeromagnetic and 

geophysical surveys, analysis of geochemical 

samples, and topical studies of known deposits. 

Level III addresses specific 1: 250, 000-scale quadrangles, each containing about 4.5 million acres. 

Interdisciplinary teams study each quadrangle for 

about 3 years to acquire more detailed information 

than that of Level II. Level IV investigations 

focus on individual mineral deposits or mining 

districts to determine their size, nature, and 

origin. Such Level IV studies are underway in 

A28 
southeastern Alaska, on the Aleutian Peninsula, 

and in the Alaska and Brooks Ranges. 

Many of the AMRAP project chiefs are mem- bers of the Branch of Alaskan Geology. However, the interdisciplinary program supports 

activities and collaborates with projects outside 

that branch--for example, in the Regional Geophysics, Field Geochemistry and Petrology, and 

Isotope Geology Branches within the Office of 

Geochemistry and Geophysics; the Branch of 

Paleontology and Stratigraphy; the Branch of 

Exploration Research; and the Office of Resource 

Analysis. In addition, AMRAP has encouraged 

and supported topical studies that range from 

detailed studies of small areas to contributions to 

statewide and international projects. 

The total AMRAP program area is nearly 

180,000 square miles. Level III studies have been 

completed or are underway for about half of the 

area; figure 5 shows the current status of AMRAP 

studies. Mapping and geochemical fieldwork is 

scheduled for five quadrangles in 1980. Fieldwork is completed and geochemical and other 

laboratory studies are underway or final reports 

are in preparation for seven quadrangles. Project work in fifteen quadrangles is complete, and 

reports have been published or are in press for 

these areas. 

NORTH SLOPE PETROLEUM PROGRAM 

The North Slope Petroleum Program, directed 

by Kenneth J. Bird, consists of a number of 

projects whose goals are to investigate the petroleum potential of the North Slope of Alaska. 

Specificially, the program's objectives are to 

determine, map, and describe, on the surface and 

in the subsurface, by geologic, geophysical, and 

geochemical methods: ( 1) the structural framework and regional structural trends in the Brooks 

Range and North Slope; (2) depositional environments and lateral relations of Paleozoic, Mesozoic, 

and Cenozoic facies; ( 3) possible hydrocarbon 

reservoirs and their regional trends; ( 4) paleontologic, lithologic, and electric log correlations 

across the North Slope; ( 5) the thermal history, 

hydrocarbon source potential, and relations of 

extracted hydrocarbons to known North Slope 

oils; and ( 6) the geologic history of the area as it relates to potential reservoirs, source and seal 

rocks, hydrocarbon formation and migration, and 

present structural trends. 

At present there are six active projects 

within the North Slope Petroleum Program: a 

reservoir study of the Lisburne Group; a study 

of the structural style of the eastern Brooks 

Range foothills; a helium sniffer survey in the 

National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NP'RA); a 

low-level aeromagnetic survey for detection of 

anomalies produced by hydrocarbon accumulations; 

a geochemical study of NPRA to assess petroleum 

source rock potential; and a project that encompasses a comprehensive study of the Cretaceous 

Nanushuk Group, a reconnaissance reservoir 

study of the Fortress Mountain Formation and a 

GEOLOQI( 

study of potential hydrocarbon, uranium and 

thorium resources of the Arctic National Wildlife 

Range. Much of the program is fund~d by the 

Office of National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. 

ARCTIC ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES PROGRAM 

The Arctic Environmental Studies Program is 

under the direction of Oscar J. Ferrians, Jr. 

The program objectives are: (1) To investigate 

transportation corridors and other areas of development in Alaska in order to obtain base-line 

geotechnical data needed for land use planning 

and to aid in planning, designing, operating, and 

maintaining engineering structures so that 

adverse environmental impacts will be minimized; 

to evaluate feasibility of proposed projects; and 

to prepare comprehensive Environmental Impact 

Statements; and ( 2) to observe and record geotechnical maintenance and environmental problems 

that arise during the operation of the transAlaska oil pipeline in order to determine the 

location, character, and extent of these problems 

and their relation to geologic conditions and 

processes. These observations will allow an evaluation of the adequacy of the technical stipulations in controlling adverse environmental impacts and make it possible to improve stipulations 

for future engineering projects that would have a 

significant impact on the environment. 

Continuing projects within the Arctic Environmental Studies Program include: Tanana 

Valley transportation-development corridor studies, eastern Arctic Coastal Plain studies, surficial 

geology of the Central Brooks Range, and Western 

Arctic Coastal Plain Quaternary studies. Other 

major activities during 1979 included: ( 1) continuing surficial/engineering geologic map compilation of part of the Copper River Basin; ( 2) 

continuing compilation of a new permafrost map of 

Alaska; ( 3) continuing preparation of a major 

report describing the present state of knowledge 

of permafrost conditions in Alaska; and ( 4) con- tinuing compilation of a comprehensive permafrost 

bibliography. 

MARINE GEOLOGY PROGRAM 

The Alaskan continental shelf is larger than 

the combined shelves of the rest of the United 

States. The energy and mineral potential of this 

shelf area is and will continue to be a major 

segment of national resource programs. The 

primary mission of the Survey's Marine Geology 

Program is to provide scientifically interpreted 

information about the (1) resource potential, (2) 

geo-environmental setting, and ( 3) overall geologic characteristics of the continental margin and 

adjacent shallow and deeper coastal areas of 

Alaska. The program focuses on the investigation 

of the regional geologic framework and on geoenvironmental problems that typically require the 

gathering of widely spread and publicly available 

geophysical and geologic data. In contrast, the 

Conservation Division's program, described elsewhere in this circular, prepares detailed resource and geo-environmental data analysis for evaluaA29 
> 

~ 

0 

68"1 

66" ~ ', 

~ 

~ 

~ 

\ 

c. ~ 

A- Ric 

ClfUKC'HI sEA 

pAciFIC 

KAGU'I'M_ I~ 

IlL__~----IW-

~u ~J 

c:::J 

AI 4 Elf 

ALASKA 

EXPLANATION 

C'J Fieldwork underw~ 

~ 

Fieldwork compl.etea; 

reports in preparation 

Completed; reports 

published or in }Dress 

0 100 200 MILES I I I I I 

0 100 200 KILOMETERS 

132;--

Figure 5. --Status of Level III Alaska Mineral Resource Assessment Program ·{AMRAP), January 1, 1980. 

l~" 

lfi:r 

1 ~ ~ 

..,) 

r0 

G) 

0 
tions of specific 3-mile-square tracts. The combination of regional geologic synthesis compiled by 

the Geologic Division and the detailed assessments 

by the Conservation Division provide a comprehensive understanding of the oil and gas resource 

potential of an area and the geologic hazard.§ 

related to exploration and production activities. 

Although the bulk of the regional resource 

studies of continental margins is directed at 

energy deposits, investigations are also conducted 

to determine mineral resources, both hard-rock 

and placer deposits, and the availability of con- struction materials such as sand and gravel, 

which may bear on energy resource development. 

Energy resource investigations are concentrated 

in areas proposed or that have potential for 

leasing activity. 

The gao-environmental program involves 

seafloor characterization studies, analyses of 

processes active on the seabed, and geo-hazard 

assessments. In Alaskan areas, the studies are 

designed first to determine the regional relations 

and then to focus on the specific geo-hazards and 

the processes that form them. Geo-hazards 

include recent or active faulting, seabed erosion 

or scour, transportation and deposition, slumping 

and related mass~~~diment movement, gas accumulations in the shallow subsprface, and ice-gouging 

of the seafloor. 

These studies also involve ba§io or appli~d 

research needed to ( 1) improve our ability either 

to collect or interpret scientific data or (2) to 

understand processes that shape or modify the 

seabed and its underlying rocks. The theoretical 

and technological results of th~se endeavors 

bolster our areal resource and geo-environ.m~ntal 

programs, as well as enrich the Nation's store=-

house of scientific knowledge. 

The Marine Geology Program is coordinated 

by H. Edward Clifton. The projects are described under the regional heading Offshore. 

EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS REDUCTION 

PROGRAM 

Earthquakes pose serious hazards to life and 

property in Alaska. Serverity of the hazard was 

amply illustrated by the great Alaskan earthquake 

of 1964. More earthquakes occur in Alaska than 

in the rest of the United States. Accordingly, 

the State is a fertile natural laboratory for investigations into the cause and geologic effects of 

earthquakes. Based on patterns of historic 

earthquake activity, large earthquakes (magnitqde 

7 or greater) are expected to occur in the 

Shumagin Islands and Yakataga region with the 

next few decades. The program in Alaska is part 

of a national program mandated by the· Earthqpake 

Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (Public Law 

95-124). Under the act, the responsibility for 

research on earthquake hazards is divided 

between the Survey and the National Science 

Foundation (NSF). The Survey is responsipl,e fpr 

research related to prediction, induced seismicity, 

and hazards assessment. The NSF is respon-sible 

for engineering and research for utilization of 

mitigating procedures. Much of the funding in 

the national overall program goes to universities, 

private groups, and other government services in 

addition t9 the Survey's program. As a result, 

the Survey cl~~ely ~oordinates its program in 

Alaska with tne - fl@:oppys.~c.lH lnsti tute of the 

University of AUisJuJ. in Fairbanks apd wHh tne 

National Oceanic and 4tm9sPfi~ric Administration 

(NOAA). Observatorieli Are rru~intaill~d in Adak, 

Sitka, • and Barrow, in addition to the Fairbanks 

facilities. The program in Alaska is cpardinated 

by Robert Page. 

In addition to the projects listed by region 

in the pages that follow, the Survey supports 

several projects at institutions or in agenciet:~ 

outside the Federal Government. They include 

those listed below : 

Earthquake Hazards Studies 

Upper Cook Inlet and Susitna Lowland area, 

Alaska.--Project chief is Randall G. Updike of 

the State of Alaska, Department of Natural 

Resources, Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys. The study is designed to establish local engineering expertise regarding earthquake hazards and to initiate studies which will 

reduce these hazards. These objectives are 

being met by three studies: (a) development of 

an engineering sub-surface soils data retrieval 

system, to be available in 1981; (b) post-1964 

strain history of major Anchorage landslides, 

nearing completion; and (c) examination of 

liquefaction potential of the Bootlegger Cove 

Qlaf, a report on which is in preparation. 

Strong ground motion in two seismic gaps: 

Shumagin Islands, Alaska, and northern Lesser 

Antilles, Carribea.n Sea.--This project will start 

in FY 1980 under Klaus H. Jacobs of the 

Lamont"' Dohe:rty Q~qlggical Observatory at 

Columbia University. Strong motion recorders 

and accelerometers will be incorporated in an 

instrument network to refine data collection in 

the seismic gaps. 

Earthquake Prediction Studies 

Vertical deformation studies in the Shumagin 

Islands and Yakataga region.--Pro]ect chiefs are 

Roger Hilham and John Beavon of the LamontDoherty Geological Observatory at Columbia 

University. Vertical deformation is being 

measured in the hope of observing preseismic 

deformation. Mean sea-level recorders are being operated in the Shumagin Islands, and 

the area near Yakataga has been instrumented 

with strainmeters and geodetic level lines. In 

addition, an attempt is being made to date 

young marine terraces near Yakataga as indicators of prehistoric earthquake episodes. 

A31 
i~OLOGIC 

A field study of earthquake prediction methods 

in the centeral Aleutian Islands.--Project chiefs 

are Carl Kisslinger and S. Billington of the 

Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado in 

Boulder. A network of seismographs and 

tiltmeters is operated on and near Adak Island 

to gather data for studying the gross geologic 

processes that generate earthquakes along the 

Aleutian Island chain and to search for earthquake and crustal deformation phenomena that 

are precursors of large earthquakes. 

PROJECTS OF THE GEOLOGIC DIVISION 

STATEWIDE 

Project Title: Alaska Geothermal Project 

Chief: Thomas P. Miller 

Objectives: To make a reconnaissance -evaluation 

of the geothermal resources of the State of 

Alaska. Particular emphasis is now being given 

to the young volcanic rocks of the Alaska Peninsula, eastern Aleutian Islands, and the Wrangell 

Mountains. Studies of the geology, chemistry, 

and volcanic history of selected volcanic centers 

are being conducted in order to determine the 

possible existence of high-level heat sources or 

reservoirs. 

Status: Much of the reconnaissance study of the 

volcanic rocks of the Aleutian volcanic arc and 

the Wrangell Mountains is now complete and in the 

report preparation stage. Present research 

consisting of geologic mapping plus petrologic and 

geochronologic studies of Peulik, Ugashik, Chiginagak, and Aniakchak volcanoes represents a somewhat more detailed phase of the project. 

The project location is shown in figure 6. 

Project Title: Uranium in Alaska 

Chief: Thomas P. Miller 

Objectives: To make a reconnaissance study of 

the uraniUm and thorium potential of plutonic rock 

terranes in Alaska in terms of their geologic 

setting, petrologic characteristics, and associated 

uranium-thorium deposits. 

Status: Reconnaissance geologic studies have 

been conducted on uraniferous plutonic rocks in 

the eastern Seward Peninsula, west-central 

Alaska, and the northern Alaska Range. Similar 

studies will continue in the Alaska Range and in 

east-central, southwestern, and southeastern 

Alaska. Several reports describing uraniumthorium distribution and mineralization have been 

published, and several more are in the report 

preparation stage. 

The project location is shown in figure 6. 

A32 

Project Title: Alaska Geologic Earthquake Hazards 

Chief: George Plafker 

Objectives: To study and evaluate risk in Alaska 

from tectonic displacement, seismic shaking, and 

secondary geologic effects. A more general goal 

is to gain insight into tectonic processes within 

the seismically active zones of Alaska, with 

special emphasis on south-central Alaska. 

Status: This 8-year program has resulted in 

detailed strip mapping and reconnaissance studies 

of virtually all known or suspected active faults 

that are exposed on land in Alaska and evaluation 

of marine terrace sequences in the Gulf of Alaska 

region. Studies of the offset history of the 

Chatham Strait fault and recent elevation changes 

along shorelines in southeastern Alaska will be 

continued in 1980. In addition, a detailed survey 

of marine terraces in the Yakataga area will be 

completed. 

The location of project emphasis is shown in 

figure 6. 

Project Title: Geochemistry and Geochronology of 

Igneous Rocks and Ore Deposits in Alaska 

Chief: Miles L. Silberman 

Objectives: To study mineralized and unmineralized plutons, stocks, and related volcanic rocks 

in mining districts, AMRAP quadrangles, and 

Chugach National Forest (RARE II) lands to 

ascertain: ( 1) the chemical and mineralogical 

nature of the igneous rocks; (2) the origin of the 

igneous rocks; ( 3) the relations in space and time 

between igneous rocks and spatially associated ore 

deposits as they pertain to the genesis of the ore 

deposits; ( 4) the regional history of Paleozoic, 

Mesozoic, and Cenozoic magmatic activity; and ( 5) 

by potassium-argon ( K- Ar) and rubidium-strontium ( Rb-Sr) dating, to study ages of metamorphism and relations of metamorphic processes to ore 

deposit genesis and plate tectonic framework. 

Accomplishment of these basic objectives will lead 

to development of criteria for ore deposit exploration. Recognition of areas favorable for location 

of new ore deposits and thorough evaluation of 

areas known to contain mineral deposits are hampered by lack of knowledge of how and why ore 

deposits form. Knowledge of the role of igneous 

and metamorphic processes in genesis of ore deposits is vital. Spatial association alone suggests an important causative relation that should 

be evaluated. 

Status: Owing to budgetary and staffing limitations, most topical studies carried out under this 

project are in recess, including that of the Willow 

Creek mining district. Geochronology of igneous 

rocks in the Medfra AMRAP and Ophir quadrangles is nearing completion. K- Ar geochronology of Precambrian metamorphic rocks in the Mount 

McKinley, Medfra, Ruby and Kantishna quad-
> 

(.\) 

(.\) 

"'"! 

640: 

Jl 

J 

! 

I 

L~ 

~ 

\ 

~ / ~ I ~ I 

~ 

I 

(> 

CfiUKCHI 

171° 

sEA 

168' 

p.. 

P A C I F c 

• 4 E 

--~~·---

Figure 6. --Geologic Division activities statewide in Alaska. 

ALASKA 

EXPLANATION 

I. Alaska Geothermal 

2. Uranium in Alaska 

3. Geologic Earthquake Hazards 

4. Geochemistry and Geochronology of 

Igneous Rocks and Ore Deposits 

5. Coal Resources 

6. Placers 

7. Selected Studies of Tin, Tungsten, 

and Molybdenum Deposits 

8. Fragments-Tectonics Map 

9. Paleozoic Biostratigraphic Framework 

0 100 200 MILES f 1 I r r 

0 100 200 KILOMETERS 

I 

168' 

I 

134° 132-

\_ J 

Ci) 

m 

0 

r0 

Ci) 

5 
GEOLOGIC 

rangles is underway; preliminary results from 

both studies are reported in Circular 804-B . 

Rb-Sr dating of metaplutonic and metavolcanic 

rocks from the Survey Pass (AMRAP) quadrangle 

is nearly complete; several short papers and 

abstracts have been published or are in press. 

Collaborative work with the Alaska Department of 

Natural Resources, Division of Geological and 

Geophysical Surveys is proceeding. K-Ar dating 

of extentionally related volcanic and hypabyssal 

plutons in the upper Cook Inlet region is about 

one-half completed, and the results are being 

used to develop a regional tectonic model. Fieldwork on this study is completed; additional dating 

and geochemical studies of the rocks are in pro- cess. In 1979, fieldwork and sampling of mineralized areas in the Chugach National Forest RARE 

II lands and Valdez quadrangle, as well as preliminary K-Ar ages and stable isotope results, have 

led to development of a modified, accretion-related 

igneous-metamorphic model for the Prince William 

Sound lode gold deposits. The model was presented in abstract at the Cordilleran Section 

meeting of the Geological Society of America 

(GSA) in March 1980. K-Ar ages of metamorphism 

and stable isotope results from the Nikolai Greenstone in the McCarthy quadrangle have led to 

development of a metamorphic-segregation, accretion-related model for the vein copper deposits 

hosted by this unit. This study is continuing 

and holds promise for explaining the origin of the 

Kennecott massive sulfide lodes as well. Preliminary results of this study were reported at the 

March GSA meeting. 

In 1980 the project will be concentrated on studying the genesis and controls of lode gold mineralization of the regions's RARE II lands. 

The project location is shown in figure 6. 

Project Ti tie : Placers of Alaska 

Chief: Warren E. Yeend 

Objectives: To investigate mineral and metal 

resources in placer deposits in selected parts of 

Alaska with emphasis on the origin and potential 

resources of the deposits. Products envisioned 

include: ( 1) Maps showing locations of placer 

deposits, principal mineral commodities, and 

expected concentrations and volumes of potentially 

recoverable minerals; and ( 2) a short text accompanying each map describing: history of mining, 

total production, geology and origin of the placer 

deposit, and resource potential. 

Status: The project was begun late in FY 1979. 

The investigations consisted of 13 days of fieldwork and approximately the same number spent in 

preparatory work. Most of the field time was spent investigating the Slate Creek placers in the 

Mount Hayes quadrangle. At each locality a rough sketch map was made showing the general 

geology and particularly the type of deposit 

hosting the gold. Photographs were taken of the 

mining operations and geology. Pan samples were 

taken, and the concentrate was kept. Counts 

were made of cobble- and boulder-size clasts at 

each locality. Information about the deposit 

contributed by the operators was duly noted. In 

addition, the immediate source for the gold was 

determined where possible. 

Several days were spent mapping, measuring, 

describing, and sampling the gold-bearing Tertiary conglomerate west of the Slate Creek mining 

area; plant fossils in the gold-bearing rocks were 

collected for dating at two localities. 

Areas east of the Richardson Highway were 

visited. There is currently no mining activity in 

the area, but it has been mined previously. West 

of the Richardson Highway on the south side of 

the Alaska Range the following localities were 

visited, mapped, and sampled: north and west 

forks of Rainy Creek, Ann Creek, Specimen 

Creek, Eureka Creek, and Broxson Gulch. 

In FY 1980 placer examination will continue in the 

Mount Hayes quadrangle and commence in the 

Healy, Circle, and Ophir quadrangles. Emphasis 

is placed on studying current AMRAP areas. 

The project location is shown in figure 6. 

Project Title: Coal Resources of Alaska 

Chief: Gary D. Stricker 

Objectives: (1) To evaluate coal resources in the 

National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPRA) and 

AMRAP areas of Alaska by geologic mapping, drill 

core data, and geophysical methods; (2) to prepare cross sections showing coal bed correlations 

and coal distribution in the NPRA and AMRAP 

areas; (3) to provide resource estimates by area 

and bed for selected parts of these areas; and 

(4) to assess coal quality by use of Btu values, 

sulfur and ash content, and major-, minor-, and 

trace-element concentrations. 

Status: During FY 79 coal beds were measured 

in the Broad Pass and Nenana Coal Fields (Healy, 

1:250,000 quadrangle, AMRAP) for resource assessment, and samples were collected for coal 

quality studies. Depositional environment and 

coal bed distribution studies were completed for 

the western part of NPRA. 

The project location is shown in figure 6. 

Project Title: Selected Studies of Tin, Tungsten, 

and Molybdenum Deposits in Alaska 

Chief: Travis Hudson 

Objectives: To investigate the ortgtn of intrusive 

rocks associated with tin, tungsten, and molybdeA34 
num deposits in Alaska. Petrology, geochemistry, 

and geochronology are integrated with regional 

geology in order better to understand the genesis 

of the deposits. 

Status: Reports on the Oonatut Granite Complex 

and associated tin mineralization (Seward Peninsula) and on the intrusive rocks associated with 

the Quartz Hill molybdenum deposit (Ketchikan 

quadrangle) have been published. Laboratory 

studies of intrusive rocks associated with molybdenum deposits in the Ketchikan quadrangle and 

with tin deposits of Seward Peninsula are continuing. 

The project location is shown in figure 6. 

Project Title: Alaskan Fragments/Tectonic Map of 

Alaska 

Chief: David L. Jones 

Objectives: ( 1) To identify, characterize, and 

interpret the major tectonostratigraphic terranes 

that form the main mass of Alaska, and to show 

their distribution on a tectonostratigraphic terrane map (scale 1:2,500,000). (2) To compile a 

tectonic map of Alaska (in quadrants at a scale of 

1: 1,000,000) which portrays: (a) the internal 

structural features of each terrane, (b) the 

structures produced during accretion of allochthonous terranes, and (c) structures that post-date 

the accretionary history. ( 3) To determine by 

paleomagnetic methods the amount of displacement 

that selected terranes have undergone. 

Status: A preliminary terrane map will be completed during FY 1980 for release as an open-file 

report or Miscellaneous Field Studies map. Field 

studies in the central Alaska Range and in 

McKinley National Park will continue in FY 80 in 

order to establish distribution and relations of 

important terranes. Compilation of regional 

structural features will commence in FY 80. 

Analysis of paleomagnetic data in hand will be 

completed, and field studies will start on Lower 

Cenozoic volcanic rocks of the central Alaska 

Range. 

The project location is shown in figure 6. 

Project Title: Paleozoic Biostratigraphic Framework of Alaska 

Chief: J. Thomas Dutro, Jr. 

Objectives: To establish a biostratigraphic framework of Paleozoic sequences in three parts of 

Alaska: ( 1) Ordovician through Devonian of the 

eastern Medfra quadrangle, west-central Alaska; 

(2) Devonian of the central and eastern Brooks 

Range, northern Alaska; ( 3) Carboniferous (Ford 

Lake Shale and Calico Bluff Formation) of eastcentral Alaska. 

GEOLOGIC 

Status: This project was initiated this fiscal 

year. Fieldwork has been completed for parts (1) 

and (3), and is continuing for part (2). For the 

Medfra quadrangle, descriptions of new stratigraphic units and preliminary biostratigraphic 

determinations are underway. A manuscript 

establishing new formations will be finished this 

year. For the Brooks Range study area, biostratigraphic and sedimentologic results have been 

summarized in a series of short papers and a 

regional map to be completed this fiscal year. 

For east-central Alaska, a paper describing 

biostratigraphy and paleontology is being written 

this fiscal year and is planned for completion in 

FY 1982. 

The project location is shown in figure 6. 

The locations of the projects described below are not shown on maps because of their extensive 

areal coverage. For information on areas of 

concentrated study, contact the project chiefs. 

Project Title: Mineral Resources of Alaska 

Chief: Edward H. Cobb 

Objectives: As a continuing project, to keep 

office studies of mineral occurrence data current 

and to prepare special-purpose maps, reports, 

and reference lists whenever the need arises. 

Most data are so organized that they are available 

for entry into computerized storage and retrieval 

banks. 

Status: As this is a continuing project, percentage-of-completion data are not applicable; by 

early 1980, records should be complete as of 

December 31, 1979. 

Project Title: Alaskan Gravity Surveys 

Chief: David F. Barnes 

Objectives: To provide gravity data which can 

contribute to Alaskan mineral assessments, geologic mapping and earthquake studies. One 

corollary is to standardize all government, university, and industry gravity surveys in Alaska 

by maintaining a network of base stations that 

can be readily reoccupied during local surveys or 

after earthquakes and that are accurately tied to 

sites of absolute measurements. 

Status: The original project goal was the preparation of a 1: 2, 500, 000-scale simple Bouguer 

anomaly map of Alaska which was published in 

1977. This map provided a preliminary estimate of 

the variation of crustal thickness, approximate 

boundaries of many small sedimentary basins, an 

indication of isostatic adjustment, and information 

about the regional gradients which are used in 

the interpretation of more detailed surveys. Most 

A35 
GEOLOGIC 

recent surveys have been planned as 1: 250,000-

scale maps designed to support mineral assessments and wilderness area investigations. However, interpretation of such larger scale maps 

usually requires terrain-corrected data, which 

have been prohibitively expensive until the recent 

availability of digital terrain data. Development 

of computer techniques to handle such data has 

consumed much of the past year's effort. The 

most detailed survey yet attempted consisted of 

closely spaced stations along two perpendicular 

profiles across a barite outcrop near the 

Nimiuktuk River in the western Brooks Range. 

These data suggested that the small outcrop is 

underlain by about a million tons of barite. 

The base station network has supplied control for 

many commercial surveys of both land and marine 

sedimentary basins. These stations were originally described in two open-file reports based on the 

old Potsdam network, but conversion to the new 

absolute (IGSN71) world net and datum has 

caused some confusion which will, it is hoped, be 

eliminated by a report in preparation. 

Reoccupation of many gravity bases following the 

1964 earthquake suggested mass increases by 

thrust fault movements and local mass decreases 

by elastic expansion. Continuing studies of 

post-earthquake elevation and gravity changes 

suggest models involving elastic compression. 

Project Title: Landsat Imagery and Applications 

in Alaska ( AMRAP) 

Chief: James R. Le Compte 

Objectives: ( 1) To furnish AMRAP team leaders 

and principal investigators with state-of-the-art 

Landsat materials for reconnaissance purposes, 

and (2) to provide unique geologic, structural, 

and tectonic information relative to mineral resource assessment for each AMRAP quadrangle. 

The types of Landsat products used are: ( 1) 

black and white, single-band Landsat mosaics; ( 2) 

a noncomputer-enhanced, controlled, false-color 

Landsat mosaic; (3) photographically enhanced 

false-color images; ( 4) computer-enhanced firstderivative black and white images; (5) computerenhanced false-color, color ratio, and simulated 

natural-color images. 

Status: Landsat image interpretation studies for 

Nabesnd, McCarthy, Tanacross, Talkeetna, Goodnews (Bay) , Hagemeister Island, Ketchikan, 

Prince Rupert, Talkeetna Mountains, Chandalar, 

Philip Smith Mountains, Ambler River, Big Delta, 

Seward, and Blying Sound quadrangles have been 

completed and published. Images for the Survey 

Pass, Medfra, Bradfield Canal (and vicinity) , 

Healy, Chignik, Sutwik Island, Lake Clark, 

Valdez, and Circle quadrangles are being analyzed. These quadrangle studies (all to be 

published in FY 1980) will conclude the Landsat 

interpretation program in the Branch of Alaskan 

Geology. 

Project Title: Anchorage Geochemical Laboratory 

(AMRAP) 

Chief: Richard M. O'Leary 

Objectives: To make spectrographic and chemical 

analyses of geologic material collected from quadrangles that are part of the AMRAP program. 

Status: All analytical work for the Bradfield 

Canal, Medfra, and Valdez quadrangles has been 

completed. Analytical work for the Circle, Mount 

Hayes, and Ugashik-Karluk quadrangles has been 

partly completed. (See quadrangle projects. ) 

Project Title: Metamorphic Facies Map of Alaska 

Chief: David A. Brew 

Objectives: To compile a 1: 2, 500, 000-scale metamorphic facies map of Alaska showing the facies, 

facies groups, facies series, selected isograds, 

and granitic rock bodies in the style of the metamorphic facies map explanation suggested by the 

International Union of Geological Sciences in 1967. 

The map is planned as a contribution to a Map of 

the Metamorphic Belts of the World, which is 

sponsored by the Commission for the Geological 

Map of the World (of the International Geological 

Congress and the International Union of Geological 

Sciences), as a joint U.S. Geological Survey-State 

of Alaska publication. 

Status: Progress to date includes preliminary 

compilation and review of regional metamorphic 

facies maps at a scale of 1: 1, 000, 000 for all of 

Alaska, coding of background metamorphic mineral 

locality information, and start of the compilation 

of the final 1:2,500,000-scale map. 

Project Title: Precambrian of Alaska 

Chiefs: G. Donald Eberlein and Marvin A. Lanphere 

Objectives: In response to the growing public 

demand on Earth resources and in recognition of 

the need for closer examination of the largely 

overlooked mineral resource potential of the 

Earth's Precambrian terranes, the Subcommission 

on Precambrian Stratigraphy of the International 

Union of Geological Sciences' Commission on Stratigraphy has established Working Groups in all 

parts of the world where Precambrian rocks form 

a significant part of the geology of the region. 

This program activity, with particular concern for 

Alaska, is one of seven that constitute the Working Group for the Precambrian of the United 

States and Mexico. Immediate objectives have 

been designated as (1) assembly and evaluation of 

existing pertinent geologic and geochronologic 

data relevant to Alaskan Precambrian terranes; 

( 2) preparation of a summary geologic report and 

A36 
geochronologic chart for Alaska to be published in 

a single volume with similar reports for the other 

regions of the United States and Mexico; (3) 

formulation of an acceptable time scale for the 

Precambrian of the United States and Mexico; ( 4) 

coordination with the Working Group of Canada in 

an effort to formulate an acceptable Precambrian 

time scale for all of North America; (5) identification and designation of reference sections; 

and (6) revision of the American Commission on 

Stratigraphic Nomenclature (ACSN) code for the 

Precambrian. 

Status: Objectives (1) and (2) have been ful-

'liiiedT the manuscript which reviews and summarizes the existing knowledge of the Precambrian 

of Alaska has been approved for publication, but 

is being delayed pending receipt of companion 

manuscripts covering other parts of the United 

States. Objective ( 3) likewise has been fulfilled, 

and the Working Group's Precambrian time scale 

proposal for the United States and Mexico has 

been approved for publication by the ACSN. 

Efforts to formulate an acceptable Precambrian 

time scale for all of North America are continuing, 

but progress is being delayed because Canadian 

workers are having difficulties developing an 

acceptable proposal for that country. 

Program activity is continuing on a part-time 

basis with the indicated Alaskan regional members 

of the United States - Mexico Working Group (a) 

keeping other members informed of developments 

in the understanding of the Precambrian stratigraphy of Alaska, (b) maintaining contact with 

Canadian counterparts to facilitate resolution of 

mutual problems on either side of the International Boundary, and (c) working with other members 

of the Working Group to encourage the definition 

and integration of all methods of determining the 

Precambrian record. 

Project Title: Arctic Map 

Chief: Michael Churkin, Jr. 

Objectives: To compile a 1: 5, 000, 000-scale tectonic map of the Arctic (Alaska and neighboring 

parts of Canada, U.S.S.R., etc.) that uses the 

concept of tectonostratigraphic terranes. 

Status: A preliminary basement map of Alaska 

has been completed, and a map with an explanatory text is being processed for publication. 

Project Title: Ecology and Zoogeography of 

Arctic Calcareous Fossils 

Chief: Kristin A. McDougall 

Objectives: To gain knowledge of the distributional patterns of the organisms that occur in the 

sediments, as well as insight into the factors that 

GEOLOGIC 

influence these patterns, to elucidate the history 

of Neogene and Quaternary deposition in cold 

water regions. The principal objective of this 

project is to establish a Holocene data base using 

foraminifers, ostracods, and mollusks to which the 

older sediments can be compared. Such a base of 

knowledge about the distribution and limiting 

environmental parameters of calcareous assemblages would provide the ability to interpret 

Quaternary transgressive-regressive cycles with 

great precision. The findings from this project 

will have immediate impact to ongoing programs 

concerning onshore and offshore Neogene and 

Quaternary sediments of Alaska. 

Status: Current efforts are the accumulation and 

processing of samples and the identification of 

faunas from nearly all of the Alaskan main-land 

coast. 

Project Title: Geology and Geochemistry of Tin 

Chief: Bruce L. Reed 

Objectives: To investigate tin resources and 

make a comprehensive study of the occurrence, 

association, and geochemistry of tin in Alaska and 

tin-producing districts of the world; to maintain 

and continuously refine quantitive appraisal of 

domestic and foreign tin resources; to evaluate 

and assist ongoing projects in appraising the resource potential of tin occurrences in Alaska as 

they are discovered; to continually review current 

research on the geologic processes and environments pertinent to the formation of tin deposits in 

order to identify environments favorable for 

undiscovered deposits; to consult with and offer 

assistance to industry and government personnel 

interested in tin. 

Status: Work is continuing on all objectives. In 

1979 recently discovered Canadian tin deposits 

were visited, and potentially tin-bearing granites 

in central Alaska were examined. Fieldwork 

investigating tin in the Circle quadrangle has 

been proposed for 1980. Geological Survey 

Open-File Report 79-576-L describes tin occur- rences in the United States. 

Project Title: Uranium Potential of Tertiary 

Basins in Alaska 

Chief: Kendell A. Dickinson 

Objectives: ( 1) To evaluate the uranium potential 

of selected Tertiary sedimentary basins and 

coastal regions; ( 2) to compile data on and locate 

anomalous radioactivity in Tertiary sedimentary 

rocks; ( 3) to determine the environments of 

sedimentation in each basin and coastal region to 

delineate nearshore and continental facies most 

favorable for roll-type uranium deposits; ( 4) to 

determine potential granitic and volcanic ash source rocks for uranium near basins and coastal 

A37 
GEOLOGIC 

plains; (5) to delineate areas of alteration favorable for uranium deposits and determine hydrology as it relates to movement of uranium-bearing 

ground water; ( 6) to evaluate paleo-geochemical 

conditions suitable for the preservation of potential host rocks; and ( 7) to deime target areas for 

physical exploration (drilling). 

Status: Fieldwork is 75 percent complete, and 

laboratory and work compilation 60 percent complete. Plans for 1980 field season include 2 

weeks in Tintina Valley and 2 weeks studying 

uranium occurrences on Kuiu, Kupreanof, Zarembo, and Admiralty Islands. 

Project Title: Geothermal Studies 

Chief: Arthur H. Lachenbruch 

Objectives: ( 1) To obtain as many heat-flow data 

as possible from holes drilled statewide for other 

purposes; and (2) to drill 10 to 15 holes in 

basement rocks near existing roads in the area bounded by Fairbanks, Anchorage, and the 

Yukon border (if funds become available). 

Status: Preliminary heat-flow data have been 

determined for about 30 sites statewide. Most of 

the information will require substantial corrections 

for the effects of topography, structure, and 

climatic history. Some determinations are affected 

by vertical water movement either in the formations penetrated or in the hole. 

NORTHERN REGION 

Pro~ect Title: Engineering Geologic Studies in the 

National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPRA) 

Chief: Reuben Kachadoorian 

Objectives: To make engineering geologic investigations to provide geotechnical analyses needed 

for petroleum exploration of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. Investigations include, 

but are not limited to, ( 1) determining sources of 

construction materials, and ( 2) evaluating site 

locations of such facilities as airstrips, roads, 

drill sites, and construction camps. Project 

personnel consult with those of the Office of 

National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska on ( 1) 

engineering geology and permafrost-related engineering problems, and (2) engineering geologic 

effects of exploration activities in the Reserve. 

Status: Because the project provides engineering 

geologic expertise needed to fulfill responsibilities 

assigned to the Geological Survey through provisions of the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act of 1976, it will continue until these 

responsibilities are fulfilled. 

The project location is outlined in figure 7. 

Project Title: Quaternary Environments of the 

National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPRA) 

Chief: Robert E. Nelson 

Objectives: To provide a record of past environments and climates in the National Petroleum 

Reserve in Alaska. It is hoped that the record 

will extend back in time at least 20,000 years, if 

not farther. The techniques to be used in reconstructing the record will include pollen analysis, 

studies of fossil insects, and studies of plant 

macrofossils such as seeds and fruits. 

Status: The project was initiated in the summer orl979 with a 10-week field season. The base 

camp was on the Titaluk River near the center of 

NPRA. The project chief and Robert D. Norris 

collected approximately 250 kilograms of vertebrate remains, pollen samples, and screen-washed 

concentrates of organic debris to process for 

recovery of fossil insects and seeds. Vertebrate 

remains have been submitted to the Branch of 

Paleontology and Stratigraphy for study, but 

examination is not yet complete. Pollen analysis 

and study of the fossil insects are presently 

underway. 

The pollen analysis indicates that the basal sediments in the 20-meter-high exposure near the 

base camp were deposited during a time of harsh- er climate than that of the present, possibly 

during a time of glaciation in the Brooks Range to 

the south. 

It is hoped that the project will be completed, 

and final reports prepared, by the end of FY 

1981. 

The project location is shown in figure 7. 

Project Title: Helium Detection, National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPRA) (North Slope 

Petroleum Program) 

Chief: Alan A. Roberts 

Objectives: To determine if microseepage of 

helium from petroleum reservoirs will result in 

anamalously high concentrations of helium in the 

near-surface permafrost and to evaluate the possible utility of helium surveys in petroleum ex- ploration programs in permafrost environments. 

Status: Three helium surveys involving about 

r,mJ'O samples have been run. Anomalously high 

helium concentrations were observed to be assoc- iated with the South and East Barrow gas fields. 

No such pattern was observed in a survey around 

the J. W. Dalton test site near Camp Lonely prior 

to the drilling of the dry hole there. A pattern 

of high helium samples was observed on the 

Simpson Peninsula, outlining a possible petroleum 

prospect. Further surveys will be run on other 

potential prospect areas in the National Petroleum 

Reserve. 

The project location is shown in figure 7. 

A38 
GEOLOGIC 

70 

68 

CHRISTIAN 

50 100 MILES 

f---....J'C,•-'L,--1 _._.,. • ...Ji 

50 100 150 KILOMETERS 

EXPLANATION 

1. National Petroleum Reserve boundary 

2. Quaternary Environments of NPRA 

3. Helium Detection, NPRA 

4. Northern Alaska Cenozoic 

5. Geological-Geophysical Profile Across Brooks Range Front 

6. Brooks Range Devonian Clastic Rocks 

EXPLANATION 

7. Surficial Geology of Central Brooks Range 

8. Southeast Brooks Range Geology 

9. Western Arctic Coastal Plain Quaternary 

10. North Slope Cretaceous Studies 

11. Reservoir Study of Lisburne Group 

Figure 7. -- Geologic Division activities in northern Alaska. 

A39 
GEOLOGIC 

Project Title: Northern Alaska Cenozoic 

Chief: David M. Hopkins 

Objectives: To determine the geochronology of 

the sequence of sediments recovered from offsh?re 

boreholes drilled in 1976, 1977, and 1979 by using 

radiocarbon analysis, amino-acid racemization , paleontological determinations, and geologic correlations. 

On the basis of this information and data gained 

from coastal geologic studies, to determine history 

of sea level, lateral migration of shoreline, and 

other paleogeographic parameters for the Beaufort 

lease area during the past 120, 000 years. 

From this, to develop a model to explain and 

predict the distribution of shallow and deep 

permafrost on the Beaufort Sea shelf. 

Status: The final phase of offshore drilling has 

been completed, and Survey Open-File Report 

79-1303, containing stratigraphic logs of the 1979 

boreholes, has been released. Analytical work on 

core samples is now under way. A final report 

on the lithology and paleontology of the 1976 afl;d 

1977 boreholes is in progress. Coastal geologic 

mapping from the Canning River to Demarcati~n 

Point is planned for the summer of 1980. This 

work will provide supporting data for offshore 

investigations. 

The location of the project is shown in figure 7. 

Project Title: Geologic-geophysical Profile Across 

the Brooks Range Front, Northeastern Alaska 

(North Slope Petroleum Program) 

Chief: Kenneth J. Bird 

Objectives: To determine the structural style of 

the Brooks Range front and its relation to the 

petroleum potential of this general area by studying a strip about 10 miles wi?e by .4o. mil~s long 

extending from the ShavioVIk antlclme m the 

foothills to Wahoo Lake in the range. This area 

is uniquely suited to a study of this type because 

of the variety of geologic and geophysical data 

available and the presence of the Kemik gas field. 

The data consist of surface geologic maps, four 

wells, several seismic lines, gravity and magnetic 

measurements, and rock samples. 

Status: Information on gravity, magnetics, rock 

densities, and magnetic susceptibilities have been 

summarized in the Survey's Open-File Report 79-

1504. In preparation ia a report summa:tzing the 

stratigraphy, paleontolOfY, and pochemtcal data. 

Synthetic aei~tmorrams are beinc used to match 

stratigraphy with seismic data. An update of t~e 

surface geology by means of aeriAl photographs Is 

in progress . 

The project location is shown in figure 7. 

Project Title: Brooks Range Devonian Clastic 

Rocks 

Chief: William P. Brosge' 

Objectives: To determine the depositional environment of the Upper Devonian sandstone and 

conglomerate that extends throughout the eastern 

and central Brooks Range, as well as the probable location of the source of these sediments, and 

the directions in which the sediments were transported, and the present location and trer;d of the 

various facies. To relate the present azwuths of 

directional features in the exposed rocks to those 

in the less disturbed subsurface rocks on the 

North Slope by comparison of paleomagnetic orientations in outcrops and well cores. 

Status: The project is about two-thirds completed.ln 1978 and 1979 the Upper Devonian Kanayut Conglomerate was mapped from the Canadian 

border near Arctic Village to the Howard Pass 

area, about 600 kilometers to the west, and was 

examined in detail at many localities thoughout 

this interval. In addition, about 500 cores were collected from the outcrop for paleomagnetic 

study. This regional study has demonstrated 

that the three fluvial r.tembers of the Kanayut and 

the basal marine member are persistent for great 

distances from east to west, and that the directions in which currents flowed and sediments 

became finer are consistently to the southwest 

and west. In 1979 the Kanayut was mapped and 

examined in more detail in a typical area in the 

central Brooks Range to determine if there are 

local variations in the regional pattern of sedimentation. In order to compare the shape of the 

Devonian river system inferred from study of the 

Kanayut sediments with the Devonian topography 

that may be inferred from other geologic data, a 

paleogeologic map will be prepared to show the 

structural grain of northern Alaska at about the 

time the Kanayut was deposited. 

Pole positions have been determined for about half 

of the cores in the paleomagnetic study. These 

indicate that the observed magnetic orientation 

was re-set in the Cretaceous. Thermal demagnetization is now planned in order to determine the 

Devonian pole positions for these cores. 

A geologic map of the members of the Kanayut in 

part of the central Brooks Range has been placed 

on open file; a map of a larger area and a report 

on the sedimentology and stratigraphy of the 

Kanayut are being prepared for publication. 

The project location is shown in figure 7. 

ProjeCt. Tttle: Surficial Geology of the Central 

ftrooks Range (Arctic Environmental Studies 

Program) 

Chief: Thofl'tas D. Hamilton 

Objectives: To provide data for assessment of 

potential transportation corridors across the 

A40 
central Brooks Range and for other studies involving land-use analysis and land classification. 

This objective is being accomplished through 

preparation of 1: 250, 000-scale surficial geologic 

maps showing ( 1) character, age, and genesis of 

unconsolidated deposits and ( 2) locations of 

landslides, debris flows, and other hazards. A 

general stratigraphic framework, based on measured sections, radiocarbon dates, soil analyses, 

and geomorphic age criteria, is also being developed for the region. This framework will tie 

together glacial and nonglacial deposits of the 

northern and southern Brooks Range, and will 

provide a basic structure to which other Quaternary events in northern and central Alaska can 

be related. 

Status: Surficial geologic maps have been published for the following quadrangles: Philip Smith 

Mountains (MF-878-A), Chandalar (MF-879-A), 

Chandler Lake (MF-1121), and Wiseman (MF1122). 

A map of the Killik River quadrangle currently is 

being prepared for publication. Field mapping of 

the Survey Pass quadrangle is about 75 percent 

complete, and work in this area will be finished 

in the summer of 1980. 

The location of the project is shown in figure 7. 

Project Title: Southeast Brooks Range Geology 

Chief: William P. Brosge' 

Objectives: To complete geologic mapping of the 

Arctic and Table Mountain quadrangles at 

1:250,000 scale. 

Status: The project is about 50 percent completecr:--Fieldwork in the Arctic quadrangle was finished in 1979, and a geologic map of the quadrangle is being prepared for publication. No 

fieldwork is planned for 1980. 

The project location is shown in figure 7. 

Project Title: Western Arctic Coastal Plain Quaternary (Arctic Environmental Studies Program) 

Chief: L. David Carter 

Objectives: To determine the Quaternary history 

of the western Arctic coastal plain (marine transgressions, episodes of eolian activity, fluvial 

terrace development, paleoclimate, tectonic 

history, and the like) through stratigraphic and 

geomorphic studies, and to define relations 

between modern landscape attributes (topography, 

thaw lake characteristics, and ground ice distribution, among others) and Quaternary history, in 

order to predict the effects of natural or maninduced environmental changes. 

A41 

GEOLOGin 

Status: Detailed sampling of key exposures and 

geomorphic analyses of the terrain will be continued during the next two summers. Results will 

be published in the form of maps and reports, 

with project completion scheduled for 1982. 

Project locations is shown in figure 7. 

Project Title: North Slope Cretaceous Studies 

(North Slope Petroleum Program) 

Chief: Cornelius M. Molenaar 

Objectives: To study the stratigraphy, depositional environments, petrography, reservoir 

properties, and paleontology of Cretaceous rocks 

at the surface and in the subsurface of the North 

Slope in order to assess the hydrocarbon potential 

and other economic aspects of these rocks. 

Status: Two seasons of fieldwork and associated 

surface and subsurface studies since 1977 have 

been concentrated on the Nanushuk Group in the 

National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPRA) 

area. This work has resulted in the publication 

of Circular 794 in 1979, and a second circular is 

in preparation. Subsurface studies on this phase 

of the project will continue as new data are 

acquired from the ongoing NPRA drilling program. 

In 1980, field studies will start on different 

aspects of the project objectives. One part of 

the project will be a study of the Fortress Mountain Formation and lower part of the Torok Formation in the foothills of the Brooks Range. This 

part will be supported by the Office of National 

Petroleum Reserve in Alaska and should aid in 

assessing the potential of these rocks as a drilling objective in NPRA. A second part will be a 

study of the Cretaceous and lower Tertiary strata 

in the Arctic National Wildlife Range to aid in the 

assessment of the petroleum potential of that 

area. In addition, studies of the uranium and 

thorium potential of selected areas will be made. 

The project location is shown in figure 7. 

Project Title: Reservoir Study of the Lisburne 

Group (North Slope Petroleum Program) 

Chief: Kenneth J. Bird 

Objectives: To map reservoir trends by determinIng the relation of reservoir characteristics to 

lithofacies and then to construct a series of 

lithofacies maps. Analysis of the Lisburne Group 

well logs and selective study of well samples and 

thin sections are designed to determine reservoir 

characteristics and mappable lithofacies. 

Status: A comprehensive report on the petroleum 

potential of the Lisburne Group in the eastern 

Arctic Slope has been published in the American 
GEOLOGIC 

Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin (September 1977). The present focus of the study is 

in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska 

( N PR A) . Here, new well penetrations of the 

Lisburne provide the information necessary to 

extend our knowledge of the petroleum potential 

of this unit. 

The project location is shown in figure 7. 

Project Title: National Petroleum Reserve in 

Alaska Oil and Gas Source Rock Study (North 

Slope Petroleum Program) 

Chief: Leslie B. Magoon 

Objectives: To provide data and interpretations 

necessary to assess oil and gas source potential 

of various possible hydrocarbon source horizons 

in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. 

Interim reports will help evaluate the present 

drilling program and determine the location of new 

drill sites as required. 

Status: Analytical data needed for this study will 

be provided by Geochem Research, Inc. , Houston, Texas, and Global Geochemistry, Canoga 

Park, California. To date, more than 20,000 

analyses have been completed. Petroleum Information, Denver, is building and maintaining the 

data file of these analyses and implementing 

graphical displays. Several preliminary reports 

are in various stages of publication. 

The boundary of the project's study area is 

shown in figure 7. 

Project Title: Low Altitude Aeromagnetic Surveys 

(North Slope Petroleum Program) 

Chief: Terrence J. Donovan 

Objectives: To determine whether hydrocarbons 

seeping from buried reservoirs may have sufficiently reduced iron oxides to form magnetite in 

shallow superincumbent rocks, permitting aeromagnetic detection. 

Status: Approximately 8, 000 kilometers of low 

altitude (90 meters) total field aeromagnetic profiles was flown in July 1979 in northern Alaska. 

Profiling was done at 1. 5-kilometer spacing. Five 

major areas of high amplitude anomalies suggesting shallow concentrations of magnetic material 

were isolated. Four of these anomalous areas 

overlie areas of commercial oil or gas production 

or documented microseepage. Another region of 

high amplitude anomalies may define a prospective 

site on National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. 

Sampling and preliminary analyses of available 

core data suggests that rocks within anomalous 

areas have a relatively large remanent magnetism. 

Additional surveys will be flown in 1980. Results 

will be published in the form of reports and 

maps. 

The general area of the project work is shown in 

figure 7. 

Project Title: Eastern Arctic Coastal Plain 

(Arctic Environmental Studies Program) 

Chief: Oscar J.- Ferrians, Jr. 

Objectives: To complete reconnaissance engineering geologic investigations that will provide baseline geotechnical data needed for land use planning and engineering purposes. Planned fieldwork includes engineering geologic mapping at a 

scale of 1:125,000. Studies of permafrost conditions and geomorphic features and other 

permafrost-related geologic processes important to 

arctic engineering will be emphasized. Potential 

geotechnical problems that require special 

consideration include: slope stability, drainage 

conditions, frost action, thawing of permafrost, 

availability of natural construction materials, 

swelling soils, earthquake effects, erosion, flooding, and icings. 

Status: The project has been recessed. 

WEST-CENTRAL REGION 

Project Title: Geophysical Exploration for Uranium m Frontier Areas, Alaska 

Chief: John W. Cady 

Objectives: To develop geophysical techniques 

for uranium exploration in frontier areas, emphasizing regional geophysical studies to determine 

the setting of known occurrences and to extrapolate knowledge of uranium potential into lesser 

known areas (northern Washington and YukonTanana, Brooks Range, and Seward Peninsula, 

Alaska). To use more detailed geophysical techniques where needed to decipher the geology of 

potential uranium disticts within these regions 

(Ekiek Creek pluton and surrounding Selawik 

lowlands). 

Status: The emphasis to date has been on the 

high-grade metamorphic terrane of northern 

Washington and southern British Columbia, but in 

1980 the emphasis will shift to the interpretation 

of geophysical data over the Ekiek Creek pluton, 

west-central Alaska, and the adjacent Selawik 

lowlands. Interpretation of aeromagnetic and 

gravity data for the Circle quadrangle should 

help to determine the subsurface configuration of 

plutonic rocks, some of which have a known 

uranium potential. Steven Hackett of the Alaska 

Department of Natural Resources, Division of 

Geological and Geophysical Surveys, is cooperating informally on this project. 

A42 
The project location is shown in figure 8. 

Project Title: Shungnak-Hughes Project 

Chief: William W. Patton, Jr. 

Objectives: To carry out petrologic-geochemical 

studies and geologic mapping of the igneous and 

metamorphic terranes of the Nulato, Unalakleet, 

and Norton Bay quadrangles. Earlier investigations in these quadrangles were focused primarily 

upon the sedimentary rocks and their petroleum 

potential. The present investigations are intended to complete the geologic maps and resource 

appraisal by concentrating efforts on the crystalline rocks. 

Status: Fieldwork was completed in the Kaiyuh 

Mountains of the Nulato quadrangle during 1979, 

and compilation of a final geologic map is underway. In 1980, fieldwork will start in the volcanic-plutonic terranes of the central and eastern 

parts of the Unalakleet quadrangle. 

The project location is shown in figure 8. 

Project Title: Northern Alaska Geophysics 

Chief: John W. Cady 

Objectives: To interpret aeromagnetic and gravity data in the Circle quadrangle and provide 

consultation pertinent to the aeromagnetic interpretation of the Medfra quadrangle, both in 

support of the AMRAP program. To make a 

regional (1:1,000,000 scale) synthesis of aeromagnetic and gravity data in the Seward Peninsula, 

Brooks Range, and Yukon-Tanana upland, beginning with the Philip Smith Mountains, Chandalar, 

Wiseman, Survey Pass, and Ambler River quadrangles. The purpose of the regional syntheses 

is to help decipher the tectonic history of northern Alaska and to aid in regional extrapolation of 

the results of AMRAP mineral resource investigations. 

Status: Aeromagnetic interpretation maps have 

been published for Chandalar and Philip Smith 

Mountains quadrangles. That for Survey Pass 

quadrangle is in preparation. A preliminary 

aeromagnetic and Landsat interpretation of Circle 

quadrangle was made prior to geological and 

geophysical fieldwork there in 1979, and further 

interpretation will continue during 1980. The 

regional synthesis of geophysical data in northern 

Alaska is proposed to begin in FY 1981. The 

project has the informal cooperation of Steven 

Hackett of the Alaska Department of Natural 

Resources, Division of Geological and Geophysical 

Surveys. 

The project quadrangles are shown in figure 8. 

GEOLOGIC 

EAST-CENTRAL REGION 

Project Title: College Observatory, Fairbanks 

Chief: John B. Townshend 

Objectives: To produce accurate and comprehensive data in the fields of geomagnetism and seismology and to cooperate with other scientists and 

organizations in making studies within the capabilities of the personnel and facilities. 

Status: The College Observatory has been in 

continuous operation since January 1948 and 

under USGS authority since September 16, 1973. 

Its present functions include recording of all 

components of the Earth's magnetic field by means of various types of magnetographs, magnetometers, and other scientific instruments including: Normal Magnetograph ( D, H , Z) , Storm 

Magneto graph ( D, H, Z), Rapid Run Magnetograph (D, H, Z), Digital and Analog Fluxgate 

Magnetometer ( D, H , Z) , Digital and Analog 

Proton Magnetometer (F). The observatory also 

makes absolute and scale value observations that 

serve as base-line control for recording equipment 

and quality control for data. It operates the 

Barrow Observatory at the Naval Arctic Research 

Laboratory at Barrow, and publishes a monthly 

"Preliminary Geomagnetic Data" Geological Survey 

open-file report for use by scientists in Europe, 

Canada, Japan, and the United States. The 

observatory also operates and maintains various 

types of seismographs for recording earth motion 

as follows: Short Period World Wide Standardized 

Seismograph ( N , E, V) , Long Period World Wide 

Standardized Seismograph ( N , E , V) , and Benioff 

Moving Coil Seismograph. It analyzes records 

and makes investigations and studies associated 

with geomagnetism and seismology; performs 

experimental work on improvement and development of magnetic and seismic instrumentation; 

cooperates with and provides assistance to other 

scientists and organizations in making studies and 

observations; provides information and data to the 

public concerning Alaska earthquakes and geomagnetic events; and operates a local climatological station in cooperation with the National 

Weather Service. 

The project location is shown in figure 8. 

Project Title: Tanana Valley TransportationDevelopment Corridor: Fairbanks to the Canadian 

Border (Arctic Environmental Studies Program) 

Chief: L. David Carter 

Objectives: To compile a map showing the distribution of unconsolidated surficial deposits within 

the transportation-development corridor that 

extends southeastward up the Tanana River valley 

from Fairbanks to the Canadian border. Tables 

accompanying the map will include a description of 

lithology, topography, and geologic hazards in 

terms of the map units. Fieldwork includes 

A43 
~·~EO LOGIC 

. geologic mapping at a scale of 1:125,000 in parts 

of Fairbanks, Big Delta, Mount Hayes, Tanacross, 

and Nabesna quadrangles. 

Status: Existing geologic mapping has been 

compiled at a scale of 1:125,000. Field checking 

and additional geologic mapping were undertaken 

in 1976, 1977, and 1978. A strip map of the surficial deposits along the proposed route of the 

Alcan (Alaska Highway) gas pipeline from Fairbanks to the Canadian border was published in 

1978, and a map of the surficial deposits of the 

project area is in preparation. 

The project location is shown in figure 8. 

Project Title: Yukon-Tanana Upland and Circle 

Quadrangle ( AMRAP) 

Chief: Helen L. Foster 

Objectives: To carry on geologic reconnaissance 

mapping of the complex metamorphic and igneous 

terrane of the Yukon-Tanana Upland at a scale of 

1: 250,000, and to decipher and interpret the 

geologic history of the area and relate it to the 

structural history of Alaska and Canada. This 

information, along with geophysical, geochemical, 

and other data collected, will be used in evaluating the area's mineral resource potential. Major 

geologic problems of the area will be identified 

and worked on as time and funding permit. 

Status: Reconnaissance geologic maps ( 1:250,000-

scale) have been published for the Tanacross 

(1970), Eagle (1976), and Big Delta (1978) quadrangles of the Yukon-Tanana Upland, and geochemical and mineral resource information have 

been made available for these quadrangles. 

Reconnaissance geologic mapping of the Circle 

quadrangle, the last unmapped quadrangle in the 

study area, is about 40 percent complete. Mapping in the Circle quadrangle is largely funded 

under AMRAP and includes geochemical sampling, 

geophysical interpretation, examination of Landsat 

imagery, and mineral resource evaluation. Reconnaissance geochemical sampling is about 50 percent complete, and planned field work for geophysical interpretation is 90 percent complete. 

Few fossils are found in the metamorphic rocks; it 

is therefore difficult to date events and determine 

the geologic history . Several types of radiometric 

dating (potassium-argon, lead-uranium, and 

possibly fission track) are being applied as personnel and funds are available. 

The project quadrangles are shown in figure 5. 

Project Title: AMRAP Geochemistry, Circle Quadrangle 

Chief: William D. Crim 

Objectives: To outline areas of known and previously unreported mineral occurrences in the 

Circle quadrangle by the use of reconnaissance 

geochemistry and interpretation of geochemical 

data pertaining to these areas to aid in the determination of possible economic potential. The 

geochemical investigations, along with geologic 

and geophysical data, will be available for landuse planning as well as mineral resource assessments for specific areas in Alaska. 

Status: More than half the reconnaissance geochemical sampling was completed in the Circle 

quadrangle during the 1979 field season. The 

remainder of the sampling program, as well as 

detailed geochemical studies of mineralized areas, 

will be completed during the 1980 field season. 

The quadrangle location is shown in figure 5. 

Project Title: Petrographic Studies--YukonTanana Upland 

Chief: Cynthia Dusel-Bacon 

Objectives: To obtain information about or1gm, 

age, and tectonic setting of the crystalline rocks 

of the Yukon-Tanana Upland through petrographic, petrologic, and geochronologic studies of 

suitable metamorphic bodies. Mineral paragenesis, 

textural features, field relations, chemistry, and 

isotopic data will be used to formulate conclusions 

about the age and nature of the protoliths of the 

metamorphic rocks studied. A large (approximately 700 square kilometers) body of augen 

gneiss and an aluminum silicate-bearing gneiss 

dome are currently being studied. 

Status: Preliminary reconnaissance mapping on 

which these studies are based has already been 

completed under AM RAP. Critical field relations 

were examined and key samples collected for 

radiometric dating and geochemical analysis during 

5 days of helicopter-supported fieldwork in June 

1979. The results of both the augen gneiss and 

gneiss dome study will be reported as soon as the 

data become available. 

The project location is shown in figure 8. 

Project Title: Glacial Geology of the YukonTanana Upland 

Chief: Florence R. Weber 

Objectives: To locate and describe the glacial 

advances in the Yukon-Tanana Upland, to 

describe associated features such as lakes and 

terraces. and to obtain dates of events, if possible, to describe the Quaternary history of the 

area. The goal is to correlate the glacial history 

of the upland to that of other parts of Alaska. 

Additionally, an attempt will be made to relate 

glacial events to archeological sites and to determine the relation of glaciation to gold placer 

deposits or other mineralization. 

A44 
EXPLANATION 

1. Geophysical Exploration for Uranium in Frontier Areas 

2. Petrologic-Geochemical Studies and Geochemical Mapping 

in the Nulato, Unalakleet, and Norton Bay Quadrangles 

(Shungnak- Hughes Project) 

3. Northern Alaska Geophysics 

a. Quadrangle Studies in Support of AMRAP 

b. Quadrangles for Proposed Synthesis 

4. College Observatory 

5. Tanana Valley Transportation-Development Corridor 

6. Petrographic Studies- Yukon-Tanana Upland 

7. Glacial Geology of Yukon-Tanana Upland 

8. Arctic Mineral Resources, Kantishna River- Ruby 

Quadrangles 

9. Geochronological and Petrologic Studies in Central 

Alaska (Also in Southwestern Alaska) 

Figure 8. -- Geologic Division activities in west-central and east-central Alaska. 

A45 

GEOLOGIC 
'1EOLOGIC 

Status: This was a new project in 1979 and 

approximately 20 percent of the total planned 

work has been accomplished so far. 

A preliminary photogeologic study was made of 

approximately 6, 000 square kilometers of the most 

mountainous parts of the Yukon-Tanana Upland in 

the western part of the Eagle quadrangle and the 

adjoining parts of the Big Delta and Circle quadrangles to identify the glacial deposits. Nine 

days were spent in the field with a helicopter in 

September 1979 to obtain a general overview of 

the glacial features in a representative valley in 

each of the mountainous areas. A comparison of 

physical characteristics was made with the Donnelly and Delta moraines on the north side of the 

Alaska Range. At least three major glacial ad- vances and one minor, late advance were identified. Each major advance is a complex of three 

or four substages. Two large areas in the Eagle 

quadrangle were recognized as ephemeral Pleistocene lake basins. 

The project location is shown in figure 8. 

Project Title: Arctic Mineral Resources ( Kantishna River - Ruby Quadrangles) 

Chief· Robert M. Chapman 

Objectives: To map, describe, and interpret the 

bedrock units, surficial deposits, and structural 

features within a large part of the Ruby province 

in central Alaska and to make regional correlations and tectonic interpretations in order to 

provide an adequate geologic base for mineralresource and land-use evaluations of this region. 

The current immediate objectives are: completion 

of geologic maps of the Ruby, Kantishna River, 

and northern part of Mount McKinley quadrangles; determination of ages for several rock 

units from which paleontologic and radiometric 

samples were collected in 1979; and confirmation 

of suggested correlations between several similar 

rock units that are discontinuously exposed in 

this region. 

Status: Reconnaissance geologic mapping of 

bedrock and surficial deposits in the eastern half 

of the Kantishna River and northern part of the 

Mount McKinley quadrangles was completed in 

1979. Also, most of the igneous rock bodies in 

the Kantishna River and southeastern part of the 

Ruby quadrangles were examined and sampled for 

radiometric dating and petrologic studies, and 

stratigraphic and paleontologic studies were made 

of selected areas and rock units in the Mount 

McKinley, Kantishna River, and Livengood quadrangles. The discovery in 1979 of Ordovician 

graptolites in the Lake Minchumina area provided 

new age information, and additional age data, 

critical to regional correlations, are expected from 

a number of samples of radiolarian cherts and 

igneous rocks. Compilation of geologic maps of 

Ruby, Kantishna River, and Mount McKinley 

quadrangles is in progress. Results of geologic 

studies prior to 1979 have been presented in 

open-file geologic maps of the Tanana and the 

western half of Kantishna River quadrangles, and 

in several short papers on the Ruby, Kantishna 

River, and Medfra quadrangles published in U.S. 

Geological Survey Circulars 733, 751-B, 772-B, 

804-B. This project has been coordinated with 

similar work in the adjacent Livengood, Beaver, 

Bettles, Melozitna, Medfra, and Nulato quadrangles, and with a brief reconnaissance in the 

Ophir quadrangle. 

The project location is shown in figure 8. 

Project Title: Geochronological and Petrologic 

Studies in Central and Western Alaska 

Chief: Frederic H. Wilson 

Objectives: ( 1) To make topical chronologie and 

petrologic/geologic studies including dating of 

alteration mineral assemblages associated with 

copper porphyry-type mineralization. ( 2) To 

assist other ongoing projects by potassium-argon 

dating throughout central and western Alaska as 

needed. ( 3) To maintain a computer-based compilation of radiometric dates for Alaska and periodically publish the compilation in map and other 

forms. 

Status: The project is beginning in FY 1980. 

However, a radiometric age map of southeastern 

Alaska was released as Open-File Report 79-594. 

The radiometric age map of south-central Alaska 

is in final draft stage. Preparation of the southwestern Alaska age map is underway , as is work 

on Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-1053-M, a 

report on Chignik and Sutwik Island quadrangles. 

The project location is shown in figure 8. See 

also figure 11. 

SOUTHERN REGION 

Project Title: Chugach National Forest (RARE II) 

Chief: Steven W. Nelson 

Objectives: To co~plete multidisciplinary mineral 

appraisal of land in the Chugach National Forest 

that has been allocated for further planning 

under RARE II. To integrate detailed and reconnaissance geologic field mapping with regional and 

topical investigations of geochemistry, geophysics, 

economic geology, and mineral economics to produce a mineral-resource assessment of the study 

area. 

Status: In FY 1980, the first full year for this 

project, an interdisciplinary team will begin field 

and laboratory studies leading to a resource 

assessment of 2. 8 million acres of the Chugach 

A46 
National Forest RARE II area. U.S. Forest 

Service guidelines call for a 1983 deadline for 

these studies, which will be undertaken jointly by 

the U . S. Geological Survey and U.S. Bureau of 

Mines. 

Accomplishments from the 1979 season: 

( 1) An aeromagnetic survey of the study area by 

LKB Resources, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, 

was completed. (2) Field and petrologic studies 

by Travis Hudson and J. G. Arth have shown 

that the belt of Lower Jurassic plutonic rocks on 

Kodiak and Afognak Islands is predominantly 

quartz diorite and tonalite with little or no variation toward granodiorite; potassium feldspar is a 

very minor constituent of these rocks. This 

style of petrologic variation was also found to 

characterize a belt of plutonic rocks in the northern Chugach Mountains, but it is distinctly different from that identified in all other plutonic 

belts of southern Alaska. ( 3) Geochemical sampling in Prince William Sound by the U.S. Bureau 

of Mines was started. ( 4) Isotopic studies of the 

quartz veins in the Hope-Sunrise district by M. 

L. Silberman have determined that the metamorphic dehydration model for ore fluid generation is no longer valid. Oxygen isotope values 

for the quartz veins have the same values as 

meteoric water in the local area. 

The project location is shown in figure 9. 

Project Title: Lower Turnagain Arm and Upper 

Knik Arm; Alaska Coastal Environments 

Chief: Susan Bartsch-Winkler 

Objectives: To determine the factors which 

control sediment transport and deposition in the 

coastal region near Anchorage. The initial, now 

completed, phase of the project took place in 

upper Turnagain Arm. The study emphasis will now shift to the Fire Island area of upper Cook 

Inlet, where studies of the mineralogy and source 

of sediments will take place. In upper Knik Arm, 

a reconnaissance textural, compositional, and 

facies study will be undertaken. 

Status: Studies of upper Turnagain Arm are 

complete. The second phase of the project, the 

studies of sediments surrounding Fire Island and 

in upper Knik Arm, will commence in 1980. 

The project location is shown in figure 9. 

Project Title: Framework and Petroleum Geology 

of Cook Inlet-Shelikof Strait Basin 

Chief: Leslie B. Magoon 

Objectives: To assess the oil resources of the 

Cook Inlet-Shelikof Strait basin by studying 

concurrently the geologic framework and petroleum geology. The principal parts of this study 

GEOLOGIC 

include: (1) preparation of a geologic map which 

displays those elements that relate to oil and gas 

activity; ( 2) preparation of a structural and 

stratigraphic framework that ties subsurface to 

surface geology; ( 3) oil and gas source rock 

evaluation; and ( 4) examination of the composition 

and diagenesis of possible reservoir sandstones. 

Status: Fieldwork in the Kamishak Hills-Cape 

Douglas area is complete, and reports are being 

written. R. M. Egbert has completed the petrographic work on the sandstones from the Tuxedni 

Bay area and is writing up the results. The 

lower Cook Inlet COST No. 1 well data are being 

interpreted and incorporated into a report on the 

framework geology that is to be published as a USGS circular. Stratigraphic sections measured 

adjacent to the Shelikof Strait area on the Alaska 

Peninsula are being interpreted as analytical and 

petrographical data are acquired. Further work 

in other parts of the basin is to be completed 

over the next few years. 

The project location is shown in figure 9. 

Project Title: Alaska Range Coal Resources 

Chief: Clyde Wahrhaftig 

Objectives: (1) To evaluate late Cenozoic continental formations in and on the flanks of the 

Alaska Range, specificially the Nenana coal area in the Healy quadrangle, the Jarvis Creek coal 

area in the Mount Hayes quadrangle, and the 

Peters Hills field west of Talkeetna. ( 2) To 

study the Cenozoic history of the central Alaska 

Range. 

Status: The project is inactive in FY 1980. 

Three reports are nearing completion . The topics 

are as follows: Geology of the coal deposits in 

the Nenana coal field, the illustrations for which 

have been released as Open-File Report 73-355; a 

late Cenozoic orogeny in the Alaska Range and 

the history of the Nenana Gravel; and badland 

erosion in the Alaska Range, such as near Suntrana and on Lignite Creek, and its role in the 

denudation of basins in the Alaska Range. The 

badland erosion was described in a paper presented in June 1979 at the Pacific-Northwest 

Experiment Station of the U . S. Forest Service in 

Corvallis, Oregon. 

The project location is shown in figure 9 . 

Project Title: Earthquake 

Anchorage-Susitna Lowlands 

Chief: Oscar J. Ferrians, Jr. 

Hazards Mapping, 

Objective~: To complete earthquake hazards 

mapping 1n the region, with emphasis on asses- sing the response of surficial materials to earthquakes. The Anchorage-Susitna Lowlands region, 

which is within an extremely active seismic zone, 

A47 
GEOLOGIC 

McGRATH 

liME HILLS 

LAKE CLARK 

GULF OF 

EXPLANATION 

1. Chugach National Forest (RARE II) 

2. Alaska Coastal Environments, Turnagain and Knik Arms 

3. Framework and Petroleum Geology, Cook Inlet and 

Shelikof Strait 

4. Alaska Range Coal Resources 

5. Earthquake Hazards Mapping 

6. Regional Engineering Geology of Cook Inlet Coal Lands 

7. Nelchina Area Stratigraphic Studies 

a. Stratigraphic and Tectonic 

b. Detailed Mapping and Stratigraphic 

8. Geochemical Composition, Sources and Transport of 

Atmospheric Dusts 

50 100 MILES 

~-·._,l_.._l 'I ---'---,lr-'1 

50 100 150 KILOMETERS 

Figure 9. --Geologic Division activities in southern Alaska. 

A48 
undoubtedly will experience the greatest development and population growth of any region in 

Alaska. It occupies a strategic location for land 

and air transportation and includes the largest 

city in Alaska (Anchorage), as well as the proposed site for the new State capital near Willow. 

As a means of providing the information needed 

for planning and development, an investigation of 

this earthquake-prone region is being undertaken 

to obtain the critical data necessary for earthquake hazards indentification and evaluation. 

Status: A demonstration area has been selected 

for this investigation and for mapping at a scale 

of 1: 100,000. This area includes all of the 

Anchorage A-8, B-8, and C-8, Tyonek A-1, B-1, 

and C-1 quadrangles, and a narrow strip along 

the southern border of the Anchorage D-8 and 

Tyonek D-1 quadrangles. This will be a 3-year 

study and will include: surficial and bedrock 

geologic mapping, engineering geologic mapping 

and assessment, Bootlegger Cove Clay study, 

active faults study, slope mapping, seismic study, 

ground response study, engineering soils study 

(liquefaction and sensitive clays), collection and 

syntheses of subsurface soils data, and earthquake hazards mapping. 

The project location is shown in figure 9. 

Project Title: Regional Engineering Geology of 

Cook Inlet Coal Lands 

Chiefs: Henry R. Schmoll and Lynn A. Yehle 

Objectives: To investigate the nature, location, 

and extent of general environmental concerns and 

potential problems caused by response of geologic 

materials (surficial deposits and bedrock) to 

surface and underground coal mining, facility 

siting, and accompanying land utilization for 

associated development (including transportation 

routes and urban development) within the Cook 

Inlet region . 

Status: To date, most effort has been devoted to a study of the Capps Glacier-Tyonek area about 

65 miles west of Anchorage, where strip mining of 

coal is anticipated within the next several years. 

Field investigations, comprising helicopter, fixedwing aircraft, land vehicle, and foot traverses, 

are presently in progress within the area of about 

five 1: 63, 360-scale quadrangles and will continue 

into adjacent quadrangles covering potential 

transportation corridors. Maps of surficial geology are compiled chiefly from aerial photographs 

and checked in the field. Physical properties of 

Tertiary sedimentary rocks and Quaternary surficial deposits are being determined in the laboratory from samples collected from outcrops and 

from a test hole drilled to a depth of 120 meters 

in the proposed Capps coal field area. 

The project location is shown in figure 9. 

GEOLOGIG 

Project Title: Nelchina Area Stratigraphic Studies 

Chief: Arthur Grantz 

Objectives: To study the structure and stratigraphy of the Mesozoic and Tertiary rocks of the 

Nelchina area and prepare a geologic map at a scale of 1: 63, 360. To study the stratigraphy, 

structure and tectonic development of the Nelchina area and Matanuska Valley and vicinity, 

south-central Alaska. 

Status: Geologic mapping for the Nelchina area is 

complete, and preliminary geologic maps have 

been published. Final geologic maps are in 

preparation. Field stratigraphic studies of the 

bedded rocks and potassium-argon dating of the 

igneous rocks of the Nelchina area and Matanuska 

Valley and vicinity are underway. A report on the Arkose Ridge Formation is in preparation. 

The project location is shown in figure 9. 

Project Title: Geochemical Composition, Sources 

and Transport of Atmospheric Dusts 

Chief: Todd Hinkley 

Objectives: To measure the amounts and determine the geochemical nature and sources of dusts 

that are transported by the atmosphere and 

preserved in the annual strata of glaciers. This 

will provide information on the geographic patterns and temporal changes in movements of earth 

materials by the atmosphere. Sampling covers parts of Alaska, Colorado, Montana, California, 

Norway, Greenland, and Antarctica. 

The ratios of major, minor and trace metals in 

snow will allow the identification of specific rock 

and mineral components, and possibly regional 

sources, of dust. The study will provide geologically oriented data as a standard for judging 

the amounts, types and pathways of industrial- source material in the atmosphere. The study 

complements others that have emphasized single 

elements or molecules. The study requires 

special collection techniques to avoid contaminating the ice, which contains only very small 

amounts of dust and atmospheric impurities. 

Stable isotope dilution mass spectrometry is used 

to determine the natural and pollutant metals 

present in the ice and snow. Results of this 

study may provide data for future monitoring of 

climatic change and are relevant to the Survey's 

Climate Program. 

Status: Sampling in Alaska was completed in 1977, 

but analytical data for the State are still incomplete. Some Alaskan data have been reported in 

two preliminary publications, Open-File Report 

78-701 and in the volume of abstracts for the 1978 

national meeting of the Geological Society of 

America. Work elsewhere continues, and the 

results will complement what has been learned in 

A49 
GEOLOGIC 

Alaska. Co-workers in Bern, Switzerland, in 

Warsaw, Poland, and at the State University of 

New York, Buffalo, are collaborating with sampling. Analytical cooperation is being provided by 

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and other branches 

of the Survey. 

The project location is shown in figure 9. 

Project Title: Healy Quadrangle (AMRAP) 

Chief: Bela Csejtey, Jr. 

Objectives: To assess the mineral potential of the 

Healy quadrangle through reconnaissance geologic, geochemical, and geophysical investigations, 

and to collect basic geologic data to help decipher 

the complex tectonic and igneous history of 

southern Alaska. 

Status: In a reconnaissance fashion, the geology 

of approximately the southern one-third of the 

quadrangle has been mapped. Summer plans for 

1980 call for the continuation of . geologic mapping 

and investigations, as well as for geochemical 

sampling, in the eastern half of the quadrangle. 

Additional fieldwork is planned for the summer of 

1981. 

Project Title: AMRAP Geochemistry, Healy Quadrangle 

Chief: Harley D. King 

Objectives: To produce geochemical maps useful m the assessment of the mineral potential of the 

Healy quadrangle. The objectives are to be 

accomplished by reconnaissance geochemical sampling of stream sediments and heavy-mineral 

(panned) concentrates of stream sediments. The 

geochemical maps will show the distribution and 

concentration of selected metallic elements in the 

sample media. 

Status: Project fieldwork will commence during 

the summer of 1980. 

Project Title: Mount Hayes Quadrangle ( AMRAP) 

Chief: Warren J. Nokleberg 

Objectives: To conduct reconnaissance and 

detailed geologic mapping and geochemical and 

geophysical surveys to provide data for a 

thorough mineral-resource assessment of the 

Mount Hayes quadrangle. Fieldwork will include: 

(1) geologic mapping at scales of 1:250,000 to 

1:1,200; (2) detailed studies and sampling of 

mineralized areas; ( 4) isotopic studies of bedrock 

and mineralized rocks; ( 5) interpretation of 

aeromagnetic surveys; ( 6) mapping and sampling 

of placer deposits; and ( 7) surficial geology 

studies. 

Status: Two 30-day field seasons are planned for 

the summers of 1980 and 1981 with a team of 7 to 

12 people. Fieldwork will concentrate on the 

northern part of the quadrangle. A team of 7 to 

17 people completed studies of the southern part 

of the quadrangle in 1979. Fieldwork in 1980 will 

include: ( 1) geologic mapping in the northern 

part of the quadrangle at a scale of 1:63,360; (2) 

detailed mapping and sampling of. bedrock mineral 

deposits; ( 3) study and mapping of surficial 

deposits; ( 4) geochemical sampling of stream 

sediments; (5) mapping and sampling of placer 

deposits; and ( 6) sampling of bedrock for isotopic 

studies. 

The quadrangle location is shown in figure 5. 

Project Title: AMRAP Geochemistry, Mount Hayes 

Quadrangle 

Chief: Gary C. Curtin 

Objectives: To outline areas of known mineral 

occurrences and areas of previously undiscovered 

mineral occurrences in the Mount Hayes quadrangle by the use of geochemical maps and related 

data. Other objectives are to: ( 1) aid in the 

determination of the type and size of specific 

mineralized systems by defining the primary and 

secondary geochemical dispersion halos of these 

systems, (2) continue studies of the usefulness of 

various sample media for geochemical exploration 

in mountainous arctic terrains, and ( 3) provide 

geochemical data for mineral resource assessments 

and land use decisions. 

Status: Reconnaissance geochemical sampling was 8"QI)ercent completed during the 1979 field 

season. The remainder of the reconnaissance 

geochemistry and other geochemical studies will be 

completed during the 1980 season. 

The quadrangle location is shown in figure 5. 

Project Title: Alaska Seismic Studies 

Chief: John C. Lahr 

Objectives: To develop an understanding of the 

current tectonic processes that are generating 

earthquakes in Alaska in order to evaluate the 

hazards that pose a threat to the safety of present and future development. Of particular 

importance is the search for premonitory phenomena and physical conditions prior to moderate 

and large earthquakes. 

Status: The Alaska seismic studies project, 

which began in 1971, currently operates seismic 

equipment at 25 sites covering the region from 

A 50 
GEOLOGIC 

50 100 MILES 

1---''._,.i ---"''-r-1 -'-•I _,, 

50 100 150 KILOMETERS 

MT. McKINLEY 

~ Active Volcanoes __ 6 2° 

~~-~ ~-~--~-~-~- ---~ ~~ --~ ~- -- - - -----------

EXPLANATION 

1. Alaska Seismic Studies 

2. Eastern Gulf of Alaska Seismic Studies 

3. Network of Sensitive Seismographs 

•·usGS Vertical Component 

Y.USGS 3 Component 

DNOAA 

AUniversity of Alaska 

4. Tilt Operations 

5. Crustal Strain Study 

Figure 10. --Geologic Division earthquake studies in southern Alaska. 

Cook Inlet to Prince William Sound. Open-file 

reports summarizing the data collected are prepared with quarterly listings of earthquake parameters and epicenter maps. 

The seismic instrument locations are shown in 

figure 10. 

Project Title: Eastern Gulf of Alaska Seismic 

Studies 

Chief: John C. Lahr 

Objectives: To evaluate the hazards associated 

with earthquake activity in the eastern Gulf of 

Alaska and adjacent onshore areas that could pose 

a threat to the safety of petroleum exploration 

and development. 

Status: A network of 25 short-period telemetered 

seismic stations is now operating between Prince 

William Sound and Yakutat Bay. Three additional 

stations will be installed this year to extend the 

network into the region between Juneau and 

Yakutat. Strong motion instruments are operated 

at 17 sites between Cook Inlet and Yakutat. 

Special emphasis is being placed on data collected 

from the region between Icy Bay and Kayak 

Island . This area has been identified as a likely 

site for large earthquakes within the next few 

decades. Quarterly and annual reports are 

published by the National Oceanic and A tmospheric Administration as "Alaskan OCS Principal 

Investigators' Reports." 

The project location and network are shown in 

figure 10. 

Project Title: Tilt Operations in the Yakataga 

Seismic Gap 

Chief: Carl E. Mortensen 

Objectives: 

iated with 

To monitor crustal deformation assocstrain accumulation prior to earthA51 

58" 
GEOLOGIC 

quakes in the Yakataga seismic gap. 

Status: Two tiltmeters were installed at Cape 

Yakataga and Yakutat in March 1977. In August 

1979 redundant instruments were added at Cape 

Yakataga and Yakutat and a new site was established at Icy Bay. Data from these instruments 

are telemetered through the GOES satellite system 

to Menlo Park, California, for analysis. On-site 

recorders provide a telemetry backup. 

The project area is shown in figure 10. 

Project Title: Crustal Strain in the Yakataga and 

Shu~agin Island Seismic Gaps 

Chief: James C. Savage 

Objectives: To measure strain accumulation in 

the Yakataga and Shumagin Islands seismic gaps. 

Status: The Cape Yakataga geodetic network was 

first surveyed by the Geological Survey in 1979 

and will be resurveyed in 1980. Funding permitting, the Icy Cape network will be surveyed for 

the first time in 1980. In addition, the Shumagin 

Islands network will be surveyed. 

The project location is shown in figure 10. 

SOUTHWESTERN REGION 

Project Title: Tikchik Lakes-Taylor Mountain 

Quadrangle Area, Southwest Alaska 

Chief: Joseph M. Hoare 

Objectives: The long-term objective is to com- plete the geologic mapping (recessed in 1971) of 

the Taylor Mountains quadrangle. The short-term 

objective is to determine the age and structure of 

rocks accessible by boat or foot along the shores 

of the Tikchik Lakes. 

Status: Prior to the recent investigation, Permian fossils had been found at 10 localities in the 

Paleozoic rocks in the Tikchik Lakes area and the 

structure of the rocks suggested that all the 

Paleozoic rocks were Permian. However, radiolarians in chert collected along the shores of two 

lakes show that many of the rocks are of early 

Paleozoic age. A paper describing the results of 

this study is being prepared. The results of a paleomagnetic study made on Permian volcanic 

rocks are described in a preliminary paper now in 

press; a paper describing the paleomagnetic study 

in greater detail is being prepared. The work so 

far has been restricted to the southern Tikchik 

Lakes. Further work will extend the investigation northward. 

At least 40 to 60 days of helicopter-assisted 

fieldwork will be needed to study the mountains 

between the lakes and to map the eastern part of 

the quadrangle. 

The project location is shown in figure 11. 

Project Title: Mineral Resource Assessment of the 

Ugashik-Karluk Quadrangles, Alaska (AMRAP) 

Chief: Robert L. Detterman 

Objectives: To provide a rapid evaluation of the 

mineral and energy resources of the quadrangles 

based on reconnaissance geologic , geochemical, 

geophysical, and telegeologic mapping. These 

include geologic mapping at 1: 63, 360 and 

1: 250, 000 scale; stream-sediment and pan-concentrate sampling of streams; age determination of 

mineralized and altered areas by potassium-argon 

methods; a regional aeromagnetic study; and a 

geothermal investigation of the volcanic centers. 

Status: Geologic mapping was started on a limited scale in 1979; about 30 percent of the area has 

been covered. Geochemical sampling of the 

streams and bedrock is about 50 percent complete. Fieldwork in 1979 was primarily confined 

to the Ugashik quadrangle. Aeromagnetic data 

will be obtained in 1980. 

The project quadrangles are shown in figure 11. 

Project Title: AMRAP Geochemistry, Bristol Bay, 

Ugashik, and Karluk Quadrangles 

Chief: David E. Detra 

Objectives: To aid in the assessment of the 

mineral potential in the Bristol Bay, Ugashik, and 

Karluk quadrangles though the interpretation of 

analytical results from a variety of geochemical 

sample media collected on a regional scale . Resulting interpretive maps and associated data from 

the geochemical reconnaissance sampling program 

will aid in the delineation of both known and 

previously undiscovered mineralized areas of 

possible economic potential and will provide a 

useful basis for making land status decisions to 

be made by other agencies. 

Status: Forty percent of the reconnaissance 

geochemical sampling was completed during the 

1979 field season. This sampling program is 

expected to conclude with the 1980 field activities. 

The project quadrangles are shown in figure 11. 

SOUTHEASTERN REGION 

Project Title : Geotectonics, Metallogenesis, and 

Resource Appraisal of Southeastern Alaska 

Chief: Henry C. Berg 

Objectives: To furnish timely, objective information on southeastern Alaska's regional mineral 

A52 
endowment, and to provide reliable geological 

estimates of its undiscovered mineral resources. 

In FY 1980, the project will begin a multidisciplinary mineral resource assessment of the southeastern panhandle that will integrate geology, 

geotectonics (stratotectonics), geophysics, geochemistry, and economic geology. The assessment, which will feature a new metallogenic province map incorporating current concepts of 

tectonostratigraphic (accreted) terranes, will 

delineate areas that are geologically favorable for 

the occurrence of specific types of mineral 

deposits, list the criteria used to establish these 

areas, and when data permit, will include 

probabilistic numerical estimates of undiscovered 

deposits of specific types and of their contained 

tonnages and grades. The assessment will be 

published as a folio of 1: 1,000,000-scale maps and 

accompanying tables. 

Status: This project started October 1, 1979. 

However, during the last fiscal year several 

investigations under the AMRAP program were 

used as background studies for this project. 

These investigations included: ( 1) Starting 

compilation of 1: 1, 000, 000-scale maps of the study 

area portraying mineral deposits (with tables) and 

aeromagnetic contours; (2) publishing a tectonostratigraphic terrane map (Open-File Report 

78-1085); (3) publishing preliminary reports 

(Alaska Geological Society abstract and USGS 

Circular 804-B article) describing distribution of 

selected types of mineral deposits in the tectonostratigraphic terranes of the study area; and ( 4) 

beginning mapping and sampling of selected types 

of mineral deposits and their tectonostratigraphic 

settings. 

In addition, the following findings of economic 

interest resulted from studies of mines and prospects in selected tectonostratigraphic terranes in 

southeastern Alaska: (1) Discovery of hitherto 

unknown stratiform, massive zinc( -lead) sulfide 

deposits on Zarembo and Kupreanof Islands (Admiralty terrane); (2) discovery of Late Triassic 

fossils in the stratiform, massive zinc sulfide 

deposit on Kupreanof Island; (3) discovery of 

Late Triassic fossils in metamorphic strata, previously considered to be Paleozoic, hosting a barite deposit now being mined at Duncan Canal; 

and ( 4) preliminary identification of a 300-

kilometer-long Late Triassic metallogenic province 

in the study area containing volcanogenic massive 

zinc, lead, silver (and copper) sulfide, as well as 

gold, deposits in metamorphosed Upper Triassic 

strata. This newly recognized province appears 

to be restricted to the Admiralty and Annette 

tectonostratigraphic terranes and is the first 

metallogenic province to be identified in southeastern Alaska by integrating mineral deposit 

data, biostratigraphy, and regional tectonstratigraphic concepts. 

The project location is shown in figure 12. 

Project Ti tie : Geochronology of Southeastern 

Alaska 

GEOLOGIC 

Chief: James G. Smith 

Objectives: To use radiometric (potassium-argon) 

dating techniques to help decipher the geologic 

history of the Coast Range plutonic and metamorphic complex, and to assist in solving other 

geochronology problems through consultation and 

dating of minerals and rocks from Alaska. 

Status: The project is a continuing one, offering 

geochronology support to other projects in southeastern Alaska and consultation on geochronology 

to members of the Branch of Alaskan Geology. 

The project location is shown in figure 12. 

Project Title: Mineral Resources of Glacier Bay 

National Monument Wilderness Study Area 

Chief: David A. Brew 

Objectives: To appraise the mineral resource 

potential of a large area of complex geology just 

northwest of the Alexander Archipelago, using 

( 1) reconnaissance geologic, geochemical, and 

detailed mineral occurrence information gathered 

in the 1966 Geological Survey study of the monument (Professional Paper 632); (2) reconnaissance 

geologic mapping of previously unmapped areas; 

( 3) reconnaissance bedrock geochemical sampling; 

( 4) reconnaissance stream-sediment geochemical 

sampling of previously unsampled areas; ( 5) 

aeromagnetic surveying; (6) gravity surveying; 

and ( 7) detailed examination and sampling of 

selected known mineral oceurrences and of areas 

containing anomalous concentrations of selected 

metallic elements. The appraisal is part of the 

U.S. National Park Service study of the suitability of the areas for inclusion in the National 

Wilderness Preservation System established by the 

Wilderness Act of 1964. 

Status: The geologic mapping and mineralresources assessment were completed, and an 

open-file report transmitted by the August 1, 

1978, deadline agreed upon by the Survey and 

the Park Service. The reconnaissance geologic 

mapping is not satisfactorily complete. A bulletin 

report is in review; a "detailed-reconnaissance" 

geologic map and a report on the intrusive rocks 

are in progress; and an analysis of the streamsediment geochemistry of the southeastern part of 

the monument and contiguous outside areas is 

underway. 

The project location is shown in figure 12. 

Project Title: Juneau, Alaska, Geologic Mapping 

and Related Investigations 

Chief: David A. Brew 

Objectives: To conduct reconnaissance (in part) 

and detailed (in part) geologic and geochemical 

mapping and a mineral resource appraisal of a 

A 53 
'lEO LOGIC 

EXPLANATION 

1. Tikchik Lakes - Taylor Mountains Quadrangle Area 

2. Geochronological and Petrologic Studies in Southwestern 

Alaska (Also in Central Alaska) 

I 

I 

I 

I 

-----156" 

Figure 11. --Geologic Division activities in southwestern Alaska. 

A 54 

McGRATH 

liME HILLS 

50 100 MILES 

I-__._' 'I ----.J'-.-1 --L-,1....-JI 

50 100 150 KILOMETERS 
broad transect across the Coast Range plutonic 

complex. The transect begins in metavolcanic and 

metaclastic rocks of a low-grade, intermediatepressure and -temperature facies series on the 

southwest and progresses through higher grade 

schists, gneisses, and spatially associated metavolcanic and metaclastic rocks of a low-pressure - high-temperature facies series along the 

international boundary. This information will 

provide the regional framework for the Juneau 

Gold Belt and for mineral occurrences near the 

United States-Canada boundary. 

Status: Geologic mapping at 1: 63, 360 or larger 

scale has been completed for all but the easternmost and northwesternmost parts of the project 

area. Three 1:31,680-scale maps have been 

published and four more are in progress. 

Several topical papers concerning metamorphism, 

geochemistry of Mesozoic metavolcanic rocks, 

mineral resources, and structure have been 

published, and more are in progress. 

The project location is shown in figure 12. 

Project Title: Geology and Mineral Resources of 

the Petersburg 1: 250, 000-scale Quadrangle and 

Some Contiguous Areas 

Chief: David A. Brew 

Oblectives: To carry out reconnaissance geologic an geochemical mapping and mineral resource 

assessment of this critical area where diverse 

structural, stratigraphic, and tectonic units come 

together. The _project will include geophysical 

surveys and will draw upon previous geologic 

studies to the west and northwest by L. J. P. 

Muffler, to the south and west by A. T. Ovenshine, to the south by G. D. Eberlein and 

Michael Churkin, Jr. , to the southeast by H. C. 

Berg and D. L. Jones, and to the north and east 

by D. A. Brew, A. L. Clark, and Donald Grybeck. 

Status: The 1979 field season was the second for 

tJiiSProject. A broad transect from southwest to 

northeast across the project area was completely 

mapped, and stream-sediment samples were collected for about four-fifths of the area by the 

related geochemistry project ( J. B. Cathrall, 

Chief) . Compilation of data from previous mapping in the area is underway, as is a majorelement study of the granitic rocks. An aero- magnetic survey has been completed, and the 

results open-filed. 

The projected location is shown in figure 12. 

Pro~ect Title: Mineral Resources of Petersburg 

(1: 50, 000) Quadrangle, Alaska 

Chief: John B. Cathrall 

Objectives: 

appraise the 

The major objectives are: To 

mineral-resource potential and to 

GEOLOGin 

complete reconnaissance geochemical mapping of 

the Petersburg (1: 250,000) quadrangle in southeastern Alaska where diverse stratigraphic and 

tectonic units or terranes come together. The 

secondary objectives include geostatisticalgeochemical studies for single elements, ratios of 

elements, and vector enrichments using the 

results of analysis of stream sediments, heavymineral panned concentrates from stream sediments, and rock units. To accomplish these 

objectives, drainage systems, rock units, fault 

zones, altered and I or mineralized zones, and 

favorable host rock will be sampled and the 

geochemical results integrated with the results of 

studies of the geologic and geophysical environments of the area; maps will be prepared and 

interpreted; and the integrated conclusions will 

be prepared for publication as a series of maps 

and short reports. 

Status: The project started in the 1978 field 

season with a second field season in 1979; a third 

field season is projected for the summer of 1980. 

Geochemical sampling and analyses of approximately 70 percent of the area have been completed ( 3, 533 rock samples, 1, 040 stream-sediment 

samples, and 1, 004 heavy mineral concentrates 

from sediments). Analyses for uranium and 

thorium of approximately 650 stream-sediment 

samples and 450 rock samples from selected areas 

are in progress. 

The project location is shown in figure 12. 

Project Title: Craig Quadrangle 

Chiefs: G. Donald Eberlein and Michael Churkin, 

rr:--

Objectives: Primarily to provide the public and 

government agencies with a modern 1:250,000-scale 

geologic map of the complex terrane that underlies 

the Craig quadrangle • This map will serve as a 

necessary geologic frame of reference for mineral 

resource assessment, multi-use planning, and 

development. Secondary objectives relate to 

developing the stratigraphic, structural, and 

petrologic data base needed to formulate an understanding of the geologic evolution of this 

segment (Craig subterrane) of the Alexander 

terrane in terms of modern geotectonic concepts. 

Status: The project, which has been active since 

1973with interim recesses because of other higher 

priority assignments, has yielded 26 topical 

papers, 12 published abstracts of papers presented at scientific meetings in the United States and 

abroad, and 7 published summaries of noteworthy 

findings. Fieldwork having been completed, full 

attention is now being devoted to completion of 

the map for open-file release in 1980 and preparation of several topical papers. In addition, 

laboratory geochronologic analytical procedures 

(mainly uranium-lead) on an extensive suite of 

samples collected during the 1979 field season have been initiated and are scheduled to continue 

A 55 
f1EOLOGIC 

.P 4 

. . 

c / 

oc p/ 

e c 

4 .1\7 

EXPLANATION 

50 100 MILES 

1-------''.,, ----~.1 """T,--'--.,--'' 50 100 150 KILOMETERS 

1:30 --- \ 130' 

1. Geotectonics, Metallogenesis, and Resource Appraisal of Southeastern Alaska 

2. Geochronology of Southeastern Alaska 

3. Mineral Resources of Glacier Bay National Monument Wilderness Study Area 

4. Juneau, Alaska, Geologic Mapping and Related Investigations 

5. Mi~eral Resources and Geology of the Petersburg Quadrangle 6. Craig Quadrangle 

7. West Chichagof- Yakobi Island Wilderness Study 

8. Sitka Observatory 

Figure 12. --Geologic Division activities in southeastern Alaska. 

throughout 1980. 

The project location is shown in figure 12. 

Project Title: West Chichagof-Yakobi Island 

Wilderness Study 

Chief: Bruce R. Johnson 

Objectives: To appraise the mineral-resource 

potential of an area at the northwest corner of 

the Alexander Archipelago. The appraisal is part 

of a U.S. Forest Service study of the suitability 

of the area for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System. The appraisal will 

evolve from: ( 1) reconnaissance geologic, geochemical, and structural information gathered in 

the 1975 Geological Survey study of the northwestern Alexander Archipelago (Professional Paper 

792); (2) detailed geologic mapping in selected 

areas covered by previous reconnaissance studies; 

( 3) reconnaissance bedrock geochemical sampling; 

( 4) reconnaissance stream-sediment geochemical 

sampling; ( 5) aeromagnetic surveying; and ( 6) 

detailed examination and sampling of selected 

known mineral occurrences and of areas containing anomalous concentrations of selected metallic 

elements. 

Status: Work to date has concentrated primarily on data gathering and field mapping. Data from 

the aeromagnetic survey have been reduced, and 

an aeromagnetic contour map has been published. 

Analysis of stream-sediment, panned concentrate, 

water, and bedrock geochemical samples is complete, and production of geochemical anomaly maps 

is underway. Field mapping in the study area is 

A 56 
complete at a scale of 1: 125, 000; compilation of a 

geologic map at that scale is in progress. Fieldwork was also completed on the special study of 

the nickel deposits on Yakobi Island and at Mirror 

Harbor. Modal analyses of all plutonic rock 

samples have been completed, and thin-section 

petrographic studies are in progress for all 

samples collected during the 1979 field season. 

The project location is shown in figure 12. 

Project Title: Sitka Observatory 

Chief: Willis E. Osbakken 

Objectives: The observatory operates seismic 

Instruments for acquiring information on the 

global occurrence of earthquakes; telemeters 

seismic and tidal data to the Alaska Tsunami 

Warning Center at Palmer; and records and measures, on a continuous basis, the various elements of the Earth's magnetic field and distributes these data either directly or through the 

Branch of Electromagnetism and Geomagnetism to 

domestic and foreign data users. 

Status: This project is one of a continuing 

nature; the station has functioned as a geomagnetic observatory since 1902 and as a seismographic station since 1904. Besides telemetering 

seismic data to Palmer, the station furnishes 

seismic recordings to the National Earthquake 

Information Service for epicenter studies. As a 

geomagnetic observatory Sitka plays an important 

role in the international scientific community, 

being one of the 13 stations used in the derivation of Kp, the planetary geomagnetic activity 

index. Geomagnetic data collected at the station 

find a wide variety ,of uses, including the compiling of magnetic charts, radio propagation studies, 

and ionospheric studies. The observatory also 

operates a tide station for the Pacific Tide Party 

and is a cooperative observer for the National 

Weather Service. 

The observatory location is shown in figure 12. 

OFFSHORE 

Project Title: Arctic Marine Sedimentary Processes (Marine Geology Program) 

Chief: Peter W. Barnes and Erk Reimnitz 

Objectives: To define the sedimentary processes 

of the continental shelf off northern Alaska. 

Studies will concentrate on: ( 1) defining the 

source, mode of emplacement, and physical and 

chemical composition of bottom materials, ( 2) 

studying the present sediment transport regime--

river effluents, ice-rafting, currents, and ice 

grounding are all important segments of this 

regime, (3) studying the historical record to 

GEOLOGIC 

provide information concerning the stability of the 

present regime and its behavior in the past, and 

( 4) relating geologically defined variables to those 

defined by the other major disciplines, such as 

biology, physical oceanography, and chemistry. 

Status: This project studies the geology of the 

Arctic shelf environment, where ice plays a 

dominant role. Using sediment profiling, core 

sampling, diving, underwater TV and photography, thermoprobes, oceanographic sensors, and 

remote sensing, the effects of ice on sediments, 

bathymetry, heat transfer, river discharge, and 

sediment transport have been investigated. This 

has resulted in a significant advance in the 

understanding of the marine geologic environment 

of the Arctic. 

The overall character and development of the 

sea-ice regime on the shelf are apparently con- trolled by the morphology of the coast and sea 

bed. The process and rates of gouging shoreward of the stamukhi (a zone of grounded ice 

ridges) are reasonably well understood; however, 

the seasonal distribution of events is unknown. 

Our seismic records have shown at least two 

features which may constitute hazards: unexplained hyperbolic reflectors, and acoustic 

anomalies which may be related to ice or gas in 

near-surface sediments. Studies of delta-front 

processes have addressed the interaction of rivers 

and the coastal zone with only a partial understanding of the stability and potential hazards in 

this environment. Results from summer suspended-sediment studies along with near-bottom current measurements have helped define transport 

vectors along the coast in summer, although 

rates, composition, and seasonality are poorly 

understood. Morphologic features on the inner 

part of the shelf are dynamic. Shoals, coastlines, and islands are changing, although the 

rates, volumes, and timing of change are not yet 

well understood. 

Present efforts are aimed at further understanding the dominating influence of ice on the Arctic 

geologic environment and processes. 

The location of the project is shown in figure 13. 

Project Title: Geologic Framework and Resource 

Assessment, Beaufort and Chukchi Seas (Marine 

Geology Program) 

Chief: Arthur Grantz 

Objectives: To determine the geologic framework, 

mineral fuel potential and non-sedimentary geoenvironmental hazards (i.e., submarine landslides 

and active faults) of the Alaskan continental shelf 

and slope in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. 

Status: Primary geophysical (multichannel 

seismic, gravity, high-resolution seismic, sonobuoy refraction) data collection is largely completA 57 
3EOLOGIC 

Adak Seismic Observatory 

Sitka Seismic Observatory 

Barrow Observatory site 

Alaskan observatory facilities for monitoring seismic activities. 

A 58 
ed, and data processing and report preparation 

are underway. Geologic sampling, topical studies 

using high-resolution seismic and side-scan sonar 

profiling, and extension of primary geophysical 

data into previously ice-covered areas will be 

accomplished as ships become available, perhaps 

in 1980 or 1981. 

The project location is shown in figure 13. 

Project Title: Geology and Resource Assessment 

of the Northern Bering Sea (Marine Geology Program) 

Chief: Michael A. Fisher 

Objectives: To study the geologic history and 

structure and the petroleum geology of the northern Bering Sea. This area includes Norton 

Basin. 

Status: This project began in 1978, and in that 

year about 2, 500 kilometers of 24-channel seismicreflection data and gravity data were collected, 

mainly over Norton Basin. In 1977 and 1978, 

seismic-refraction data were obtained at 35 stations over and near the basin. All geophysical 

data are presently being reduced and interpreted. 

The project location is shown in figure 13. 

Project Title: Environmental Geologic Studies of 

the Northern Bering Sea (Marine Geology Program) 

Chief: C. Hans Nelson 

Objectives: To make geologic environmental 

analyses of the northeastern parts of the Bering 

Sea. This project, in progress since 1976, is in 

preparation for the Outer Continental Shelf leasing program. The program is a cooperative effort 

of the U . S. Geological Survey and the Bureau of 

Land Management through interagency agreement 

with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. High-resolution geophysical surveys and 

sediment sampling have been used to characterize 

the geologic environment and delineate a number 

of potential geological hazards: ( 1) tectonism and 

faulting; (2) sediment stability, including seismic 

stratigraphy , geotechnical characteristics, liquefaction potential, gas-charged sediment, and 

thermogenic gas seeps; (3) sediment dynamics, 

including sediment transport during storms, 

mobile bedforms, current scour, and ice gouging; 

and ( 4) containment dispersal pathways of artificially and naturally introduced materials. 

Status: Three months of fieldwork was conducted 

m the northeastern part of the Bering Sea during 

the summer of 1978, whereas 1979 was spent 

reducing and interpreting new data and synthesizing the data base for a preliminary geologic 

GEOLO~··"' 

environmental assessment report. Fieldwork 

included a one-month cruise aboard the research 

vessel (R/V) Sea Sounder and covered 2,000 

kilometers of geophysical trackline, collecting data 

with a 3.5-kHz (kilohertz) profiler, a 7/200-kHz 

profiler, a 160-kilojoule sparker, a minisparker, a 

Uniboom, and side-scan sonar equipment. In 

addition, 28 vibracorer, 14 current meter, and 9 

camera stations were occupied. In 2 months 

aboard the R/V Karluk the Survey covered 80 

kilometers of geophysical track lines, gathered 

side-scan sonar, Uniboom, and 7/200-kHz profiler 

data, and occupied 22 vibracorer stations in the 

nearshore areas of Yukon Delta, Port Clarence, 

Nome, and Safety Sound. 

Cores were logged for lithology, photographed, 

radiographed, and subsampled at sea or in the 

laboratory. Gas composition and geotechnical 

properties of core samples were also measured. 

Selected core subsamples underwent laboratory 

analysis for texture, mineralogy, paleontology, 

radiocarbon dating, lead-210 dating, carbon con- tent, gas and hydrocarbon fractions, and trace 

elements. 

These data were reduced, analyzed, and interpreted for presentation in open-file reports or 

scientific journals. A major synthesis effort was 

undertaken in the fall of 1979 to present a preliminary geologic environmental evaluation for the 

tentative tract selection process in the spring of 

1980. 

Plans for summer 1980 field season emphasize 

reconnaissance geophysical surveying and vibracorer sampling in Chirikov Basin and topical 

studies in Norton Sound and eastern Chirikov 

Basin. Topical studies will emphasize water-current and sediment dynamics by studying the sea floor with side-scan sonar and an in situ flume. 

The dynamics studies are related toliquefaction, 

mobile bedforms, scour, slumping(?) , and storm 

sand sheets. 

The project area is shown in figure 13. 

Project Title: Geologic Hazards in Navarin Basin 

Province, Western Bering Sea (Marine Geology 

Program) 

Chief: Paul R. Carlson 

Objectives: To determine the type, areal extent, 

age, degree of activity, and potential problems of 

seafloor geologic hazards in the Navarin Basin 

province. Types of hazards anticipated include 

faults, submarine slides, gas-charged sediments, 

active bedforms, and ice gouging. 

Status: The initial cruise of this new project will 

be reconnaissance in nature and will consist of 

high-resolution seismic profiling, dredging, and 

coring. 

The project location is shown in figure 13. 

A 59 
> 

<» 

0 

"'r 

.. ---1560-" 

ALASKA 

EXPLANATION 

1. Arctic Marine Sedimentary Processes 

2. Geologic Framework and Resource Assessment, Beaufort and Chukchi Seas 

3. Geology and Resource Assessment on the 

Northern Bering Sea 

4. Environmental Geologic Studies of the 

Northern Bering Sea 

5. Geologic Hazards in the Navarin Basin 

Province, Western Bering Sea 

6. Geologic Framework and Resource Assess-

_ment of the Aleutian-Bering Sea Region 

7. Resource and Geo-environmental Assessment of the Aleutian Ridge and Shelf 

8. Geologic Hazards in Bristol Bay, Northern 

Aleutian Shelf 

9. Geologic Framework and Resource Assessment of the Western Gulf of Alaska 

Environmental Geologic Studies of the 

Western Gulf of Alaska 

Environmental Studies of the Eastern Gulf 

of Alaska 

Eastern Gulf of Alaska Resource Assessment 

0 100 200 MILES I I I I I 

0 100 200 KILOMETERS 

Figure 13. --Offshore geologic activities in Alaska, Marine Geology Program. 

"',~ 

n1 

0 

r 

0 

Ci) 

0 
Project Title: Geologic Framework and Resource 

Assessment of the Aleutian-Bering Sea Region 

(Marine Geology Program) 

Chief: Michael S. Marlow 

Objectives: To evaluate the resource potential, 

including possible oil and gas deposits, of the 

Bering Sea region. To ascertain the regional 

tectonic and geologic framework of the Bering Sea 

in relation to Alaska, Siberia, and the North 

Pacific. 

Status: Since 1975 approximately 3, 000 miles of 

24-channel seismic-reflection data has been collected over the eastern Bering Sea shelf and the 

adjacent abyssal Aleutian basin. During 1979 

these data were processed to a preliminary, 

working form and are currently being interpreted. In 1978, 20 dredge sites were successfully 

occupied along the Beringian margin and more 

than 8 tons of rock was recovered. These sam- ples ranged in age from Late Jurassic to Pleistocene, and include volcanic sandstone and siltstone, limestone, tuff, basalt, and mylonite. A 

preliminary description including tentative age 

assignments of these samples was published in 

1979. Resource reports on the entire shelf, St. 

George basin (both shelf and slope areas), and 

Bristol Bay basin have been transmitted to· the 

Bureau of Land Management. Two reports concerning recommendations for treaty negotiations 

with the USSR have been sent to the Department 

of State. 

Major subshelf basins have been identified and 

described via structure contours and sediment 

isopachs soon to be published as a Miscellaneous 

Field Studies Map. Owing to fiscal constraints, 

no cruise was conducted north of the Aleutian arc 

in 1979. We plan a geophysical cruise on the 

USGS R/V S. P. Lee in 1980 over the northwestern Bering shelf to tie data from Navarin 

basin to Anadyr basin, and thence to Soviet data 

from 25 wells drilled onshore in Anadyr (where oil 

and gas shows have been found) . We may also 

attempt sampling of the margin from the National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration R/V 

Discoverer if ship time is available. 

The project location is shown in figure 13. 

Project Title: Resource and 

Assessment of the Aleutian 

(Marine Geology Program) 

Geo-environmental 

Ridge and Shelf 

Chiefs: David W. Scholl and Tracy L. Vallier 

Objectives: To gather and interpret geophysical 

and geological data and to study seafloor processes. These investigations are needed to assess 

the regional petroleum and mineral resources and 

geo-environmental hazards of the frontier areas of 

the Aleutian Ridge and Shelf. Marine geophysical 

GEOLOGIC 

data including reflection and refraction seismic 

data, as well as gravity and magnetics data, are 

used in conjunction with geologic information 

obtained by investigating the insular geology, 

submerged bedrock outcrops, sediment samples, 

and <;ores from test wells in order to prepare 

resource and environmental assessments. The 

same data base is used to determine the tectonic 

and geologic histories of the Aleutian Ridge, 

which is a complex magnetic arc that in many 

places includes thick masses of sedimentary 

deposits of Cenozoic age. 

Status: The project is less than 10 percent 

completed. One short· cruise in the region collected single-channel reflection profiles and 

dredged about 20 submarine outcrops. Ten days 

were spent on Amlia Island. 

Figure 13 shows the project location. 

Project Title: Geologic Hazards in Bristol Bay, 

Northern Aleutian Shelf (Marine Geology Program) 

Chief: Gordon R. Hess 

Objectives: To identify the geologic hazards in 

Bristol Basin, northern Aleutian Shelf. These 

hazards include but are not limited to surface and 

near-surface faults, unstable marine sediment, 

gas-charged sediment, sediment transport, and 

ice gouging. First-phase studies will determine 

the distribution, age, and degree of present 

activity of these tectonic features and sediment 

distribution and modification processes. 

Initially, a regional overview will be obtained to 

determine the relation between the project area 

and the tectonic and sedimentation patterns of the 

Bering Sea. More detailed studies of specific 

features and their hazard potential, as well as 

comprehensive coverage of smaller areas, will be 

the objectives of later phases of data collection. 

Status: Plans are presently being made for the 

first season of field studies in the Bristol Basin 

area. A small amount of previously collected 

seismic data is being studied to assist in the 

planning of this fieldwork. A proposal is being 

prepared for submittal to National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration for funding of the 

Bristol Basin study. 

The area covered by the project is shown in 

figure 13. 

Project Title: Geologic Framework and Resource 

Assessment of the Western Gulf of Alaska (Marine 

Geology Program) 

Chief: Roland von Huene 

Objectives: To understand the regional tectonic 

framework , geologic history, and geodynamic 

aspects of the western Gulf of Alaska continental 

A61 
margin, especially as it pertains to energy and 

mineral resources, earthquake activity and explosive volcanism. These objectives are met insofar as possible through geophysical means at sea and 

geologic mapping on the adjacent land since these 

are the least costly methods of study in the 

marine and terrestrial environments. The greatest potential for knowledge is through interdisciplinary efforts that bridge geology across the 

shoreline. 

Status: Major offshore sedimentary basins have 

been outlined, and their age and general sediment 

fill have been inferred. These basins are probably too young to contain the large accumulations 

of hydrocarbons required for commercial production. Therefore, the major targets for petroleum 

development are the rocks that floor the eight or 

nine basins on the shelf. Perhaps further sampling of older rocks that could crop out on the 

continental slope will give more precise answers. 

Abundant hydrocarbon-trapping structures have 

been located in some basins; however, structures 

below the basins are difficult to delineate geophysically, and special techniques are required 

for study. Many active faults have been located 

and mapped, including some that were probably 

active during the 1964 earthquake. Future studies will complete delineation of shelf basins and 

concentrate on studies to project possible sedimentary environments and delineation of deep 

tectonic structure. A special study of Holocene 

earth dynamics is taking form as certain data are 

becoming available. 

The project location is shown in figure 13. 

Project Title: Environmental Geologic Studies of 

the Western Gulf of Alaska (Marine Geology Program) 

Chief: Monty A. Hampton 

Objectives: To provide a geologic environmental 

assessment of lower Cook Inlet and Kodiak Shelf 

in support of the Federal Government's Outer 

Continental Shelf petroleum leasing program. 

Geologic conditions that can affect, or be affected 

by, industrial activities on the shelf are identified 

and described, and their hazard potential is 

evaluated. 

Status: Fieldwork in lower Cook Inlet has been 

completed, and final reports are in preparation. 

The major environmental concerns are movement of 

large bedforms (underwater sand dunes), seismicity, and volcanism. Work on Kodiak Shelf is 

nearing completion, with one more season of 

fieldwork planned. The major environmental 

concerns are seismicity, shallow faulting, gascharged sediment, and sediment scour and fill. 

In the summer of 1980, fieldwork will begin in 

Shelikof Strait, which has been included in the area offered for lease in the upcoming lower Cook 

Inlet sale. Regional characterization work, utilizing high-resolution sub-bottom proilling techniques, along with sediment sampling, will be 

conducted on a gridwork pattern. Detailed 

studies of specific problem areas will be made as the areas are identified. 

Measurements of geotechnical properties of Kodiak 

Shelf sediment are being made to provide information for predicting the engineering behavior of 

these submarine sediments. Similar measurements 

will be made on samples from Shelikof Strait. 

Figure 13 shows the project location. 

Project Title: Environmental Studies of the 

Eastern Gulf of Alaska (Marine Geology Program) 

Chief: Bruce F. Molnia 

Objectives: To investigate the continental shelf 

leading to an understanding of the geologic pro- cesses that have shaped development of the 

eastern Gulf of. Alaska and to investigate the 

study area so as to understand environmental 

hazards that might have adverse effects on the 

development of mineral and petroleum resources 

on the shelf. 

Status: The project was started in 197 4 and is 

ong01ng. Its termination is a function of whether 

petroleum exploration and development continues 

in the Gulf of Alaska. The earliest completion of 

the project would be FY 1982. 

During the previous fiscal year the following field 

studies were conducted: ( 1) erosion studies at 

Sitka National Historic Park-June 1979; (2) sediment sampling cruises--NOAA R/V Discoverer -

May, July-August 1979; (3) beach ridge age and 

origin study--Yakutat to Yakataga--August 1979; 

( 4) geophysical and sediment sampling cruise--

September-October 1979; and ( 5) sediment sampling cruise--R/V Nunatak --October 1979 (Glacier 

Bay). 

Data collected by these projects as well as data 

collected by the R/V Thompson in 1974; Surveyor 

Crolm.J)ell, Greene, and Discoverer in 1975; Acona , 

Sea Sounder.' Discoverer, and Campbell in 1976; 

Sea Sounder and Growler in 1977; and Sea 

SOUnder and Growler in 1978 are continuously 

being evaluated for an understanding of the 

environmental hazards, bathymetry, and geologic 

history of the eastern Gulf of Alaska. 

The project location is shown in figure 13. 

Project Title: Eastern Gulf of Alaska Resource 

Assessment (Marine Geology Program) 

Chief: George Plafker 

Objectives: To evaluate the tectonic framework, 

petroleum potential, and geologic hazards of the 

A62 
eastern Gulf of Alaska Outer Continental Shelf. 

Status: Acquisition of marine geophysical data is 

completed. Maps and reports on the structure, 

magnetics, gravity, and bathymetry of the region 

are in various stages of preparation or have been 

published for the northern Gulf of Alaska. In 

addition, 14 reconnaissance crossings of the 

continental margin in the eastern part of the Gulf 

of Alaska between Cross Sound and Dixon Entrance indicate a general absence of potentially 

petroliferous Tertiary basins and provide data on 

the tectonic style of this transform margin. No 

fieldwork is planned for 1980. 

The project location is shown in figure 13. 

Project Title: Advanced Geopotential and Sonobuoy Studies (Marine Geology Program) 

Chief: Alan K. Cooper 

Objectives: The investigation of regional framework, resource assessment, and geo-environmental 

problems in the marine environment requires a 

complex synthesis of geologic and geophysical 

data. The primary objective of this project is to 

provide support to the Branch of Pacific-Arctic 

Geology in collecting, reducing, and interpreting 

the geophysical data required in this process. 

GEOLOGIC 

Particular emphasis is placed on the interpretation 

of marine gravity and magnetics (geopotential) 

data, and on refraction and "wide angle" reflection (sonobuoy seismic) data. Gravity data are 

used to measure the distribution of mass marine 

sediments and the underlying crust, and magnetic 

data are used to detect anomalous distribution of 

magnetically susceptible material, primarily oceanic 

crust. Sonobuoy seismic studies measure the 

velocity of sound through sediments and crust, as 

well as the depth to acoustic boundaries within 

the earth. The geopotential data are particularly 

useful in generating geologic models, although 

direct measurements--for example, the thickness 

of sediments beneath the ocean floor--are also 

possible. 

Status: The project has developed techniques 

and procedures for collection, reduction, and 

interpretation of sonobuoy data, and has published data from 75 sonobuoy stations throughout the 

Bering Sea. All available marine magnetic data 

collected in the Bering Sea have been compiled 

into a single data file, and parts of it published as a magnetic residual map of the Umnak Plateau 

region. Presently, an effort is underway to 

reduce all gravity data collected by the Office of 

Marine Geology in the Bering Sea and other 

offshore areas of Alaska. 

The project covers areas shown in figure 13. 

A63 

WATER RESOURCES INVESTIGATIONS 

For further information, contact the offices listed below. 

Anchorage, Alaska 

Harry Hulsing 

Ray George 

Fairbanks, Alaska 

Bruce Parks 

Juneau, Alaska 

Vernon K. Berwick 

Menlo Park, California 

John Wark 

Reston, Virginia 

Philip Cohen 

Chief, Alaska District 

733 West 4th Avenue, Suite 400 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

Tel. (907) 271-4138 

Chief, Anchorage Subdistrict 

1209 Orca Street, Anchorage, AK 99501 

Tel. (907) 271-4153 

Chief, Fairbanks Subdistrict 

P.O. Box 11, 101 12th Avenue 

Fairbanks, AK 99701 

Tel. (907) 452-1951 ext. 214 

Chief, Juneau Subdistrict 

P. 0. Box 1508, Juneau, A K 99802 

Tel. (907) 586-7216 

Acting Regional Hydrologist, Western Region 

345 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025 

Tel. (415) 323-8111 

Chief Hydrologist 

409 National Center, Reston, VA 22092 

Tel. (703) 860-6921 

A65 
WATER RESOURCES 

WATER RESOURCES INVESTIGATIONS 

The water-resources investigations program 

of the Geological Survey "has the objective of 

seeing that the Nation's water resources are 

appraised and that the necessary water data to 

develop and manage them efficiently are available 

when needed." 1 The Survey is the primary 

source of hydrologic data that are basic not only 

to quantification of water resources but also to 

their development and conservation, including 

data for both planning and management. This 

role, practiced for many years and tacitly accepted by the water-resource community, was given 

express recognition in 1964 when the responsibility for coordinating water-data programs of 

Federal agencies was delegated to the Geological 

Survey (Office of Management and Budget Circular A-67). For the past decade, largely in response to the growing public awareness of the 

environment, the Survey has provided data and 

technology needed to predict the impact of man's 

activities upon the water resource and the water 

environment. 

The Geological Surveys Water Resources 

Division determines the source, quantity, quality, 

distribution, movement, and availability of surface 

and ground water. This work includes investigations of floods and potential sources of water 

supply in river basins and ground-water systems; 

determination of the chemical, biological, and 

physical quality of water resources and their 

relation to various parts of the hydrologic cycle; 

speaial hydrologic studies of the inter-relations 

between climate, topography, vegetation, soils, 

and the water supply; research to improve the 

scientific basis of investigations and techniques; 

scientific and technical assistance to other Federal 

agencies and to licensees of the Federal Energy 

Regulatory Commission; coordination of Federal 

water-data acquisition activities; design and 

operation of a national water-data network; and 

publication of results of investigations. 

In Alaska, the Water Resources Division 

operates through a district office and its three 

subdistrict offices, in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and 

Juneau. Each of the subdistrict offices maintains 

files of data for a geographic area for which it is 

responsible. Site-specific information on water 

resources is available from the subdistrict office 

nearest the site in question. The District Office 

in Anchorage should be contacted for general 

information on statewide projects or activities. 

Water-resource studies in Alaska are carried 

out in cooperation with a wide variety of Federal, 

State, and local agencies. The cooperators for 

FY 1980 are: 

1 The Budget of the United States Government, 

Fiscal Year 1974, Appendix, p. 552. 

Federal 

Department of the Interior 

Geological Survey 

Geologic Division (pipeline-related 

studies) 

Office of National Petroleum Reserve in 

Alaska 

Bureau of Land Management 

Department of Agriculture 

Soil Conservation Service 

*Department of Defense 

Army Corps of Engineers 

*Department of Energy 

Alaska Power Administration 

Department of Commerce 

National Marine Fisheries 

State 

*Department of Fish and Game 

Department of Natural Resources 

Division of Geological and Geophysical 

Surveys 

Division of Forest, Land and Water 

Management 

Department of Environmental Conservation 

*Department of Transportation and Public 

Facilities 

*Alaska Power Authority 

Local 

Kenai Peninsula Borough 

*Thomas Bay Power Commission 

Fairbanks North Star Borough 

Municipality of Anchorage 

City and Borough of Juneau 

City of Craig 

Some of these cooperators, marked by asterisks, fund basic data collection only, whereas 

others support interpretation and report preparation as well. 

Alaska's water resource investigations are 

part of several national programs. These are 

described briefly below. 

COLLECTION OF BASIC RECORDS 

The Collection of Basic Records or C B R 

program in Alaska entails the operation of 118 

river gaging stations, 80 crest-gage stations and 

29 observation wells. The data collected at these 

sites appear in the annual publication "Water 

Resources Data for Alaska". (In addition, about 

70 wells are operated for short periods for specific 

projects.) The CBR program is described in 

more detail in the appropriate projects which 

follow this summary. 

A66 
NATIONAL STREAM QUALITY ACCOUNTING 

NETWORK (NASQAN) 

This is a data-collection program for obtaining regional and national overviews of the quality 

of our streams. Water-quality data from NASQAN 

stations provide the information needed to: ( 1) 

account for the quantity and quality of water 

moving within and from the United States; (2) 

develop a large-scale picture of how stream 

quality varies from place to place; and (3) detect 

changes in stream quality with time. At a NASQAN station a continuous record of stream 

stage is obtained, from which streamflow is comP"?ted. Most of these stations are also equipped 

With a recorder for obtaining continuous data on 

water temperature and specific conductance. The 

f?llowing data are collected approximately six hm~s per year at each site: pH, bacteria, inorgamc compounds, nutrients, suspended sediment 

and floating algae. Samples are collected les~ freque?tly for trace-element and organic-carbon 

analysis and study of attached organisms. 

In Alaska, the following NASQAN stations are currently in operation: Stikine River near 

w:angell, Ska~w.ay River at Skagway, Copper 

River near Chitina, Susitna River near Susitna 

Station, Nushagak River at Ekwok Kuskokwim 

River at Crooked Creek, Tanana Rive~ at Nenana 

Yukon River near Pilot Station, Kobuk River nea; 

Kiana, Colville River near Nuiqsut ( 3 samples 

only), and Kuparuk River near Deadhorse. 

NATIONAL WATER DATA EXCHANGE (NAWDEX) 

This is a national confederation of wateroriented organizations working together to improve acc~ss to water data. Its primary objective 

IS to assist users of water data in the identification, location, and acquisition of needed data. 

For the users' convenience, NAWDEX services are 

available through a nation wide network of local ass~stance centers. In Alaska, the NAWDEX 

assistance center is located in the District Office 

of the Water Resources Division, 733 West 4th 

A venue, in Anchorage. 

Through . its master water data exchange, 

NA.WDEX proVI~es a nationwide indexing service. 

This computerized index identifies more than 

180,000 sites for which water data are available 

from . over 300 ?rganizations, the geographic 

~oca~10n of these sites, the data-collecting organIzab.on, the types of data available, the periods 

of time for which the data are available, the major 

water data parameters for which data are available, the frequency of measurements and the 

media in which the data are stored. N AWDEX has 

direct access to the computerized data files of the 

U · S. Geological Survey's national water data ~to rage and retrieval system ( W AT S T 0 RE, which 

Includes several types of files and indexes such 

as the G:ound Water Site Inventory, or GWSI). 

NAWDEX IS also an authorized user of the storage 

and. retrieval (STORET) system of the U.S. 

EnVIronmental Protection Agency. 

WATER RESOURCES 

PROJECTS OF THE WATER RESOURCES 

DIVISION 

STATEWIDE 

Project Title: Surface-water Stations in Alaska 

Chief: Robert D. Lamke 

Objectives: To provide data on ( 1) streamflow 

(2) flood discharge and stages, and (3) lak~ stage through a network of gaging stations. This 

project is part of an ongoing assessment of the 

Nation's water resources and is part of the Collection of Basic Records (CBR) program. The 

data are used in project design and planning of 

water-supply and waste-disposal systems , of 

stream crossings and hydroelectric facilities, and 

of bridges, and also are useful in the assessment 

of environmental impacts of these and other 

proposed activities. 

Statt~s: This is a continuing project; all data are published in the annual series "Water Resources 

Data for Alaska." The 1979 report is expected to 

be completed by September 1980. 

Project Title: Quality-of-Water Stations 

Chief: Robert J. Madison 

Objectives: To provide a national bank of waterquality data for broad Federal planning and action 

programs and management of interstate and international waters. To provide information on the 

physical and chemical properties of water by: 

( 1) determining the mineral content and biological 

aspects of water, thereby establishing a base line 

from which changes can be evaluated; and ( 2) 

determining mineral composition of water to evaluate its use for domestic, municipal, and industrial 

water supplies. These objectives are accomplished by operation of a network of water-quality 

stations. 

Status: This is a continuing project; all data are released in the annual Survey publication "Water 

Resources Data for Alaska." 

Project Title: Sediment Stations 

Chief: Patsy J. Still 

Objectives: To provide a national bank of sediment data for broad Federal and State planning 

and action programs and for Federal management 

of interstate and international waters. 

Status: Data collection is continuing. The data 

are published in the annual series "Water Resources for Alaska, Water Year ... ". 

A67 
WATER RESOURCES 

\ 

• 

, st.,ll0s 

.,~,;o~~t. • 

ocEAN 

EXPLANATION 

e Observation well 

@Multiple observation wells 

The numeral in the circle 

indicates the number of 

wells in the area. The map 

scale des not permit all of 

these wells to be shown. 

• Other Alaskan communities 

100 200 300MILES 

·, I' ,' I I 

I 00 200 300 400 KILOMETERS 

Figure 14. -- Location of ground-water observation wells. 

Project Title: Collection, Recording and Management of Basic Ground-Water Data in Alaska 

Chief: Larry L. Dearborn 

Objectives: To collect, compile and publish basic 

ground-water data aquired throughout Alaska, 

with emphasis on areas not being covered by 

specific Division projects; and to develop mutually 

beneficial exchanges of information with well 

drillers, contractors, related-science professionals 

and engineers that will expand knowledge of 

ground-water occurrence and potential development assets or problems. 

Status: Entry of ground-water data into the 

Survey's national computer storage system has 

continued, and approximately 500 new sites from 

throughout Alaska were entered in 1979. Processing of data from 600 wells is planned for 1980. 

Computer-table retrievals of verified entries were 

obtained for the Seward, Wasilla and Willow areas. 

These are available to the public on request. 

Similar data compilations are planned for the Eagle 

River-Chugiak, North Kenai, Dillingham, King 

Salmon-Naknek, and perhaps Kasilof-Homer areas 

in 1980. The data collection phase of this project 

relies heavily upon well-log transmittals from the 

cooperator, Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Geological and Geophysical 

Surveys. 

Data collection sites are shown in figure 14. 

Project Title: Alaska Water Use Data Program 

Chief: Leslie D. Patrick 

Objectives: To develop an orderly and systematic 

method to collect, store, and disseminate detailed 

water use data for policy planning, budgeting; 

and management of Alaska's water resources. 

This system will support the National Water Use 

Data System and Alaska's water rights program. 

Status: A task force has been formed within the 

Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to 

design and develop the Alaska Land and Resource 

System (ALARS). This system will be capable of 

managing the land and resource data of DNR. 

Water use information will be an integral part of 

this system. Water rights and some use informaA68 
tion from several thousand DNR case files have 

been entered into a temporary computer file. A 

data collection program is being formulated. 

Project Title: Ground-water Stations in Alaska 

Chief: Alvin J. Feulner 

Objectives: To maintain a network of observation 

wells to provide data on ground-water-level fluctuations in Alaska. For selected aquifers, these 

data will indicate the status of ground water in 

storage, changes in levels due to development 

(pumping), probable effects of current or planned 

land use or water-supply development, and 

probable base flow of hydraulically connected 

streams nearby. The network will provide longterm records for regional studies that, in turn, 

serve as a basis for correlation of short-term 

hydrologic records for specific purposes. 

Status: This is a continuing long-term project. 

In 1979, the areal coverage of the observation 

well network was the same as in 1978. Waterlevel records collected at 29 federally funded 

Collection of Basic Records (CBR) wells will be 

published in the 1979 annnual Survey report 

"Water Resources Data for Alaska". Data for 

other network wells are published infrequently in 

reports on specific water resource studies. The 

network will be revised in 1980 to reflect changing data needs . 

Project Title: Water, Ice and Energy Balance of 

Snow and Glaciers, and Snow and Ice Physics 

Chief: Mark F. Meier 

Objectives: To improve understanding of aspects 

of snow accumulation, melt, and runoff processes 

on glaciers and in high mountains, the mechanics 

of water flow through and under glaciers, and 

the dynamics of glaciers, and to apply this 

understanding to certain problems such as the 

nature of glacier surges and the stability of 

iceberg-calving glaciers. 

Status: The major effort in 1979 involved Columbia Glacier, near Valdez, Alaska. More groundbased ice radar thickness measurements were made, and a bedrock map was produced which 

was compatible with continuity restraints and the 

measured surface velocities, thickness changes, 

and mass balances. Numerical modeling was begun, and a preliminary prediction of the retreat 

of the glacier was made. Elsewhere, extensive 

hydrographic studies were made of the termini of 

calving glaciers in Glacier Bay and other locations 

in southeastern Alaska. Aerial reconnaissance of 

most of Alaska's glaciers was also done; that work 

was extensive in 1979 because of exceptionally 

good weather. Experiments on hot-water drilling, 

subglacial water, a ground-based ice radar profilWATER RESOURCES 

ing system, and use of Landsat images to detect 

glacial surges and to produce a glacier inventory 

were continued or started. As part of a Geologic 

Division climate program, several glaciers were 

remapped and surface-elevation profiles established so that long-term. mass changes could be 

determined and related to climate changes. 

The project location is shown in figure 15. 

Project Title: Alaska Glaciology 

Chief: Lawrence R. Mayo 

Objectives: To understand how climatic changes 

affect Alaskan glaciers and the response of glacier-fed streams by analyzing climate and glacier 

activity. To answer questions regarding glacier 

activity, hazards to construction or facilities. 

Status: Many glaciers in Alaska are being studled by periodic aerial photography and by satellite images. Studies involving direct measurement 

of glacier mass changes and ice flow are being 

made at five glaciers. Climate is being monitored 

at two of the glaciers, Gulkana Glacier in the 

Alaska Range and Wolverine Glacier in the Kenai 

Mountains. 

Black Rapids Glacier in the Alaska Range is a 

surge-type glacier that has advanced several 

times in the past 300 to 400 years over the present route of a highway and the Trans-Alaska 

Pipeline. Studies at Black Rapids seek to determine what changes occur in the glacier that 

eventually result in a surge of ice. 

Snow Glacier in the Kenai Mountains dams a lake 

which empties abruptly each 2 to 4 years and causes flooding. Studies of the ice dam and lake 

are being made to discover why the lake volume 

changes over a wide range and why the outbursts 

occur when they do. 

Two reports have been published in the last 

year. L. R. Mayo is the author of "Identification 

of unstable glaciers intermediate between normal 

and surging glaciers" published by the Academy 

of Sciences of the U . S. S. R. , Data of Glaciological 

Studies, Moscow, as Publication No. 33. This is 

an interpretation of aerial photography that 

indicates that all scales of glacier flow instability 

exist between normal glacier flow and the spectacular surging flow. The Survey's Open-File 

Report 79-1168 reports the data necessary for 

computer simulation of the regime of Columbia 

Glacier. It also reports a surveying technique 

that incorporates vertical refraction measurements 

by a single theodolite and routine use of this 

information for precise altitude measurements over 

large distances. 

The project location is shown in figure 15. 

A69 
> 

....,. 

0 

'""! 

J 

I 

I 

L 

/ 

I 

I 

I 

(! 

~ 

\; 

~ I 

~ ~ I 

sEA 

Figure 15. 

r ,. F/c 

I 

GULF OF 

pAciFIC 0 c 

• I • " T I A ~ I 

t(.I$Kf 

ALASKA 

EXPLANATION 

1 and 2. Alaska Glaciology 

1. Brooks Range (receives periodic 

photographic reconnaissance) 

2. a. Black Rapids Glacier 

b. Gulkana Glacier 

c. Wolverine and Snow Glaciers 

d. Columbia Glacier 

e. Knik Glacier 

3. Water, Ice, and Energy Balance of 

Snow and Glaciers, and Snow and 

Ice Physics 

d. Columbia Glacier 

f. Glacier Bay 

g. Lemon Creek Glacier 

h. Taku Glacier 

i. Sawyer Glacier 

j. Dawes Glacier 

k. Le Conte Glacier 

4. Hydrologic Conditions Along the 

Proposed Route of the Alaska 

Natural Gas Pipeline 

168" 

I 

......--------_____.54" 

0 100 200 MILES I I I 

o 1bo __ 26o K~I..Q~E'!'~l!~ 134" 13~ 130" 

Locations of selected statewide Water Resources Division investigations. 

~ 

> -4 

m 

l:J 

l:J 

m 

en 

0 

c 

l:J 

0 

m 

en 
Project Title: Hydrologic Conditions Along the 

Proposed Route of the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline 

Chief: Charles E. Sloan 

Objectives: To provide assistance to the Department of the Interior to resolve hydrologic questions about the alignment of the Alaska Natural 

Gas Pipeline and its relation to the oil pipeline 

(TAPS) and the pipeline Haul Road. 

Status: Since this project began in September 

1979, there has been active participation by Sloan 

and Joseph M. Childers on the Alaska Natural Gas 

Transportation System Working Group, by Sloan 

on the Interagency Fish and Wildlife Task Force, 

and by Harry Hulsing on the Executive Coordinating Committee. 

The project location is shown in figure 15. 

ProjectTitle: Water Quality Data Reduction and 

Evaluation for Alaska's Hydrologic Subregions 

Chief: Patsy J. Still 

Objectives: (1) To statistically and graphically 

reduce the historical water-quality records and 

develop relations between the reduced data and 

stream type, region, or other physical basin 

parameters. (2) To present the reduced data and 

evaluation of water quality in a series of reports 

by hydrologic subregion in a form useful for 

interpretation, planning, or management decision 

making. (3) To evalute the adequacy of the 

historical data base to meet the needs of water 

data users in the State for various levels or 

types of interpretation or planning. ( 4) To 

provide a network design for long-range data 

collection which will fll.l in the information gaps 

id'3ntified in (1)-(3) above. 

Status: The project's first year, FY 80, should 

see development of a computer program and work 

on evaluation of data for the Yukon Hydrologic 

Unit. 

The location of the project is shown in figure 16. 

Project Title: Arctic Water Resources and Environmental Studies 

Chief: Joseph M. Childers 

Objectives: To describe hydrologic hazards 

(floods, icings, glaciers, channel erosion) and 

characteristics of water resources (streams, 

lakes, springs) in frontier areas of Alaska where 

development requires such information. To develop and use hydrologic reconnaissance techniques 

or short cut methods to accomplish the objectives 

of this project. 

WATER RESOURCEf' 

Figure 16. -- Location of Yukon hydrologic subregion. 

Status: The results of hydrologic reconnaissance 

surveys have been reported for streams and 

springs in the eastern Brooks Range, the eastern 

North Slope, and western Arctic Alaska. Hydrologic conditions along the Trans-Alaska Pipeline 

Haul Road and the pipeline during pre-construction and construction periods have been described 

in open-file reports. Surveys are underway on 

the Noatak and Kobuk Rivers in northwestern 

Alaska. 

The project location is shown in figure 17. 

NORTHERN REGION 

Project Title: Geochemistry of Oilfield Waters, 

National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska 

Chief: Yousif K . Kharaka 

Objectives: To study the chemistry and controls on the chemistry of oilfield waters in the National 

Petroleum Reserve. To provide geochemical data 

and interpretation that will aid in assessing the 

migration and accumulation of petroleum in this 

area. The chemical data are also necessary to 

understand the diagenesis in the reservoir rocks 

and to identify potential pollution, waste disposal, 

and corrosion problems associated with production. 

Status: The project is in its third year. Gas 

and water samples have been collected from the 

Prudhoe oil field and the Barrow gas field. 

Sample collection continues in conjunction with 

test well drilling and at existing wells. Detailed 

chemical and isotopic analyses are being made of 

those samples available. However, few wells have 

produced water, and data are thus incomplete. If 

water is produced during the drilling this fiscal 

A71 
WATER RESOURCES 

66 

EXPLANATION 

PHILLIP SMITH ARCTIC MTN. 

100 MILES 

1---....L' -.--1 ---'-.,--......._,1__,1 

50 150 Kl LOMETERS 

CHRISTIAN 

1. Arctic Water Resources and Environmental Studies 

2. Geochemistry of Oilfield Waters, National Petroleum 

Reserve in Alaska 

3. Nutrient Limitation in Two Arctic Lakes near Umiat 

4. National Petroleum Reserve Hydrology 

Figure 1 7. -- Water Resources Division activities in northern Alaska. 

year, more samples will be gathered. Results 

have been discussed at several conferences, and an abstract of information presented at a conference on gas hydrates (natural physical combinations of water and natural gas in ice-like crystal 

form) held in Menlo Park in July 1979 is being 

prepared for publication. 

The project location is shown in figure 17. 

Project Title: Nutrient Limitation in Two Arctic 

Lakes Near Umiat 

Chief: George A. McCoy 

Objectives: To determine the nutrients that limit 

primary productivity using bioassays and lake 

fertilization. 

Status: A field camp was established during the 

summer of 1979. Physical characterisitcs and 

chemical composition of waters and abundance of 

phytoplankton and periphyton in these lakes were 

analyzed. Meteorological data were collected, and 

bathymetric maps of the two lakes were constructed. A preliminary interpretation is that the 

nutrients that limit productivity are either phosphorus or both phosphorus and nitrogen. This 

interpretation will be studied through algal bioassays and artificial fertilization of one of the 

lakes. The project is scheduled for completion in 

1981. 

The project location is shown in figure 17. 

Project Title: National Petroleum Reserve in 

Alaska (NPRA) Hydrology 

Chief: Charles E. Sloan 

Objectives: To collect and provide hydrologic 

information to the Office of National Petroleum 

Reserve in Alaska (ONPRA) regarding water 

supply for drilling sites and ice road construction; to measure baseline water-quality conditions 

and to monitor receiving water and water-supply 

sources for water-quality changes; to collect and 

provide information to ONPRA on snow depth, 

density and distribution; and to evaluate lake 

depth by means of remote sensing. 

Status: Open-File Report 79-1342 "Reconnaissance Snow Surveys of the National Petroleum 

Reserve in Alaska, April 1977 and April-May 

1978" was printed in November 1979. Results of 

a study of ground-water potential near the Lisburne well site were transmitted to ONPRA by 

letter. Miscellaneous water-quality analyses from 

A72 
lakes and streams in NPRA were published in 

U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Data for 

Alaska reports AK-77-1 and AK-78-1. 

A reconnaissance snow survey was made in late 

April 1979 after much of the snow pack had 

disappeared. An open-file report is in the review 

process. 

Color negative aerial photographs were taken of 

selected lakes south of Teshekpuk Lake in early 

July 1979. Depth penetration was good, and in 

some lakes the bottom could be distinguished at 

as much as 20 feet of depth. In August depth 

profiles were measured on these same lakes by 

using a fathometer mounted in an amphibious 

plane. 

Quality of ground water in NPRA and its potential 

effect on the occurrence of gas hydrates were 

discussed at a workshop in Menlo Park in July 

1979. Papers presented at the workshop are 

being prepared as part of the workshop's proceedings. FY 80 will probably see the completion 

of the present exploration program and hydrology 

project. 

The project location is shown in figure 17. 

EAST-CENTRAL REGION 

Project Title: Geohydrology of the Fairbanks 

North Star Borough 

Chief: Andrea P. Krumhardt 

Objectives: To provide basic hydrologic data for 

land-use planning by ( 1) studying the surfaceand ground-water flow system to define water 

availability; ( 2) mapping and describing the water 

table in the uplands and the artesian zone; ( 3) 

defining water quality with special attention to 

high nitrate and arsenic concentrations in ground 

water; and ( 4) assisting residents, officials, and 

consultants concerning hydrologic problems. 

Status: During the first 3 years of the program, 

historic records were updated for computer storage, well data were collected from local drillers, 

well canvassing programs were begun in the flood 

plain and uplands, and a test drilling program 

was conducted to determine if there were subsurface controls on the migration of arseniccontaminated water. The data were compiled, and 

in 1978 two reports were published: "Hydrologic 

Information for Land-Use Planning, Fairbanks 

Vicinity, Alaska" (Open-File Report 78-959) and 

"Arsenic, Nitrate, Iron, and Hardness in Ground 

Water, Fairbanks Area, Alaska" (Open-File Report 

78-1034). A report covering the arsenic, nitrate, 

iron, and hardness data collected through June 

1979 in the Chena Ridge area southwest of Fairbanks has been published as Open-File Report 

80-49. In addition to continuing the well canvassWATER RESOURCES 

ing program in developing areas of the uplands, 

emphasis is now also directed towards setting up 

long-term monitoring programs such as a low-flow 

investigation and an observation well network. 

The project location is shown in figure 18. 

Project Title: Sediment Transport in the Tanana 

River in the Vicinity of Fairbanks, Alaska 

Chief: Robert L. Burrows 

Objectives: To facilitate design and operation of 

engineering structures on the Tanana River and 

quarrying of gravel from the river in the vicinity 

of Fairbanks. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District , has requested that the 

Geological Survey collect and evaluate sedimenttransport and river-hydraulic data during periods 

of open-water when most of the runoff and sediment transport occur. Suspended-sediment and 

bedload-transport rates are determined as functions of stream discharge at two stations near 

Fairbanks. Size distributions of suspended 

sediment and bedload are also determined . These 

objectives were agreed upon by the Geological 

Survey and the Corps of Engineers. 

Status: Data collection began in 1977. Two 

reports on the results of collection have been 

published: Open-File Reports 78-290 (for 1977) 

and 79-1539 (for 1977-78). Compilation and 

analysis are underway for the 1979 data, and a new report including all data to date is being 

prepared. • Data will be collected through 1982, 

after which an interpretive report incorporating 

all data will be written. 

The project location is shown in figure 18. 

SOUTHERN REGION 

Project Title: Geohydrology of the Anchorage 

Area 

Chief: Derrill J. Cowing 

Objectives: (1) To maintain a hydrologic datacollection network on streamflow, lake levels, and 

ground-water levels in the Anchorage area; ( 2) to 

maintain and update a two-dimensional digital 

model of the confined aquifer system in the Anchorage area to simulate the hydrologic effects of 

ground-water development; (3) to describe hydrologic characteristics of selected areas in Anchorage where hydrologic information is required to 

help make land-use planning decisions; ( 4) to 

conduct a study of the water-quality characteristics of runoff in the Campbell Creek basin; and 

( 5) to collect water-quality information from wells 

at two landfill sites in the Anchorage area. 

Status: The general hydrologic character of this 

area was described early in this 13-year-old 

project. Current project activities include: ( 1) 

A73 
'YATER RESOURCES 

50 100 Ml LES 

1-----''-ri _____..--r.--'---,lc-'1 

50 100 150 Kl LOMETERS 

MT. McKINLEY 

oMIDDLETON I. 

GULF OF 

EXPLANATION 

1. Geohydrology of the Fairbanks North Star Borough 

2. Sediment Transport in the Tanana River 

3. Geohydrology of the Anchorage Area 

4. Ground-water Rescources of the Middle Eagle River Valley 

5. Water Resources of the Kenai Peninsula Borough 

6. Hydrologic Studies Related to Coal Mining 

7. Hydrology of the Capps Creek Coal Area 

8. Knik Glacier 

Figure 18. --Water Resources Division activities in east-central and southern Alaska. 

operation of the basic-data collection network of 

six stream gages, 52 wells for water-level 

measurements, and lake-level measurements at 

eight lakes; ( 2) collection of aquifer test pumping 

information and ground-water withdrawals to 

update and operate the digital model of the confined aquifer system; ( 3) collection and interpretation of hydrogeologic data in the Potter Creek 

area and preparation of a report on the results of 

the study, ( 4) design of a project work plan and 

implementation of the plan to collect and interpret 

water-quality information on Campbell Creek; and 

( 5) continued sampling, twice a year, of wells 

located at two sanitary landfill sites to detect 

water-quality changes in ground water with time. 

The project location is shown in figure 18. 

Project Title: Ground-water Resources of the 

Middle Eagle River Valley near Eagle River, 

Alaska 

Chief: Larry L. Dearborn 

Objectives: To determine the hydrologic character of the major aquifer system in the Eagle River area and the optimum rate of ground-water withdrawal that can be developed from wells. To 

determine the chemical quality of the ground 

water. 

Status: The Survey will monitor test well drilling 

and supervise pumping tests and data collection 

during this phase of the project. The assembled 

data will be analyzed so as to identify potential 

ground-water supplies. Additional resistivity 

surveys and seepage runs will be made. A 

report is planned for 1981. 

The project location is shown in figure 18. 

A74 
Project Title: Water Resources of the Kenai 

Peninsula Borough 

Chief: Gordon L. Nelson 

Objectives: (1) To maintain a basic hydrologic 

data-collection· and monitoring network of streamflow, lake levels, and ground-water levels in the 

Kenai Peninsula Borough; (2) to evaluate surfacewater availability in streams draining to Cook 

Inlet between Kasilof and Seldovia; (3) to evaluate the geohydrology of the Seldovia area; ( 4) to 

evaluate the geohydrology of the Fourth of July 

Creek alluvial fan near Seward; ( 5) to identify 

the major aquifers of the Kenai Peninsula between 

Kasilof and Kachemak Bay and west of the Kenai 

Mountains; (6) to evaluate the hydrologic effects 

of ground-water withdrawals in the Nikiski area; 

and ( 7) to evaluate, on a reconnaissance basis, 

the potential for ground-water development in the 

area bet week Nikiski and upper Beaver Creek. 

Status: Ground-water levels, lake levels, and 

streamflow are being monitored throughout the 

Kenai Peninsula, but most intensively in the 

Nikiski area. Test wells were drilled in the 

Fourth of July Creek alluvial fan near Seward and 

in the lower Kenai Peninsula between Kasilof and 

Homer. Periodic streamflow measurements are 

being made at 37 sites on the lower Kenai Peninsula. Two reports, "Hydrogeology of the Seldovia area, Alaska" and "Hydrology and the 

effects of industrial pumping in the Nikiski area, 

Alaska" are in review. The interpretive studies 

will be complete in 1980. The project will continue past 1981 primarily as a hydrologic monitoring program. 

The project location is shown in figure 18. 

Prolect Title: Hydrologic Studies Related to Coal 

Minmg 

Chief: David R. Scully 

Objectives: To collect data that characterize 

present hydrologic conditions in areas of known 

potential for coal development and in an area of 

active mining. Information obtained includes: 

(1) quantity and seasonal distribution of water 

discharge; ( 2) seasonal and areal variations in 

surface-water quality, including organic and 

inorganic constituents, minor-element concentration, sediment, and temperature; ( 3) stream-basin 

characteristics; and ( 4) aquatic benthic invertebrate communities. 

Status: Field investigations were started in 1975 

and are complete. A report on the reconnaissance studies of hydrology in the Beluga, Peters 

Creek , and Healy coal areas is in review • 

The project location is shown in figure 18. 

WATER RESOURCES 

Project Title: Hydrology of the Capps Creek Coal 

Area 

Project Chief: Gordon L. Nelson 

Objectives: To identify the quantity, quality, 

and seasonal variations in the water resources of 

the Capps Creek basin. Specific objectives are: 

( 1) To define the natural quality of surface and 

ground water in Capps Creek and North Capps 

Creek basins; ( 2) to study the benthic invertebrates in Capps Creek before mining occurs; ( 3) 

to define the principal aquifers of the area; and 

( 4) to determine interactions of ground water and 

surface water. 

Status: This project started in October 1979. 

Several test wells will be drilled during the 

summer of 1980. A gaging station has been 

installed and will be maintained on Capps Creek. 

Water samples will be analyzed for chemical and 

biological constituents. "Interactions of ground 

water and surface water will be analyzed using 

seepage analyses of the creeks, hydrograph 

correlations, and analytical methods. The project 

is scheduled for completion by October 1, 1981. 

The project location is shown in figure 18. 

Project Title: Frequency of Recurrence of Lake 

George at Knik Glacier 

Chief: Lawrence R. Mayo 

Objectives: To determine the mechanism that 

causes the formation and discharge the Lake 

George and the parameters that can be measured 

to predict that occurrence. Economic development 

is taking place in the flood plain of the Knik 

River, which has been periodically inundated by 

outbursts of glacial Lake George; additional 

development is planned. Lake George outburst 

annually prior to 1966, but has not formed since 

then. However, the glacier has not receeded 

from the ice dam point, and outburst flooding 

could resume. Measurements of the Knik Glacier 

will be analyzed to detect annual changes in firn 

and ice balance, winter snow balance, glacier 

thickening or thinning, changes in surface gradient and propagation speed of kinematic waves 

moving through the ice mass. With several years 

of data, an analysis of the stability of Knik 

Glacier can be made . 

Status: A geodetic control survey and the first 

measurement of the glacier was made in May 1979 

to serve as the baseline data for future compari- sons. The result of the first survey has been 

published as Open-File Report 80-48. 

The project location is shown in figure 18. 

A75 
~ .. fATER RESOURCES 

SOUTHWESTERN REGION 

Project Title: Water Resources of the Bristol Bay 

Region 

Chief: Larry L. Dearborn 

Objectives: To collect, compile and publish 

hydrologic data pertaining to the occurrence, 

availability, and quality of water resources in the 

Bristol Bay region. 

Status: This project will be dormant during 1980 

due to a lack of personnel and funding. Computer filing of existing data at Dillingham, King 

Salmon, and Naknek will be completed. Five 

observation wells at Dillingham, established in 

1979, will be operated under basic data collection 

programs. 

The project location is shown in figure 19 . 

Project Title: St. Paul Island Water Resources 

Chief: Alvin J. Feulner 

Objectives: To inventory existing water supply 

facilities on St. Paul Island and attempt to determine if sufficient fresh water would be available on the island to maintain a shore-based fish 

processing plant which has been proposed to be 

constructed near the community of St. Paul. 

Status: The fieldwork is complete and a report is 

in review . The project location is shown in 

figure 19. 

SOUTHEASTERN REGION 

Project Title: Ground-water Investigation of the 

Mendenhall Valley 

Chief: To be assigned 

Objectives: To determine hydrologic characteristics of shallow aquifers in the Mendenhall Valley, 

with emphasis on areas of potentially high yield. 

To determine fluctuation of ground-water levels in 

stressed parts of the aquifer, particularly where 

fluctuations indicate saltwater intrusion will be a 

problem. To delineate where additional hydrologic 

studies are needed to further define aquifer 

characteristics. 

Status: One test well and three observation wells 

have been drilled. Aquifer tests indicate that 

preliminary transmissivity values of the principal 

aquifer in the valley are on the order of 22,000 

feet squared per day, while storage coefficient 

values are on the order of 6. 0 x 10·4 . The 

aquifer at the test site is confined at a depth of 

40 to 45 feet and is made up of alternating 

gravelly sand, sandy gravel and medium to coarse and very coarse sand to a depth of 170 feet. 

The better producing zones appear to be between 

50 and 100 feet. The test well passed through 

some fine silty sand and clay between 170 feet 

and about 350 feet. Traces of sea shells were 

found at 302 and 352 feet and may represent a 

beach deposit. 

Water quality samples were not analyzed in the 

laboratory. Field specific conductances were 160 

and 170 micromhos (umhos) at 80 and 65 feet; at 

272 feet it was 490 umhos. In the more permeable 

beach(?) deposits at 352 feet, conductance was 13,500 umhos and a showing of methane gas was 

noted. 

The project location is shown in figure 20. 

Project Title: Hydrology and Water Quality of the 

Keta River Basin near Ketchikan 

Chief: Vernon K . Berwick 

Objectives: To collect baseline data that will 

characterize present hydrologic conditions in an 

area of known potential for molybdenum development. Information to be obtained includes: (1) 

quantity and seasonal distribution of stream 

discharge; ( 2) seasonal and areal variations in 

surface-water quality including inorganic and 

organic constituents; minor elements, both dissolved and absorbed to bed material, sediment 

and temperature; and ( 3) occurrence and quality 

of ground water. 

Status: Stream-gaging stations are installed on 

Keta River and White Creek to monitor streamflow, water temperature and specific conductance. 

Periodic measurements of instantaneous stream 

discharge and water quality were made at four 

other sites. Geophysical logs and water quality 

samples were collected from two exploratory 

core holes. Logs run included geothermal, natural 

gamma and gamma-gamma. Data collection in the 

basin is continuing. 

The project location is shown in figure 20. 

Project Title: Water Resources in the Vicinity of 

Craig and Klawock, Alaska 

Chief: Alvin J. Feulner 

Objectives: To determine low flow and periods of 

low flow of streams that could serve as total or 

partial supply sources for the communities and to 

determine sources of ground water adequate to 

supply all or part of these towns' needs. 

Status: This is the first year of project work. 

Discharge measurements on appropriate streams 

and lakes will be made, and a ground-water site 

reconnaissance will be made. 

The project location is shown in figure 20. 

A76 
WATER RESOURCES 

McGRATH 

60 

liME HILlS 

58 

56 

I F 

I C 

c 

EXPLANATION 

1. Water Resources of the Bristol Bay Region 

2. St. Paul Island Water Resources 

Figure 19. --Water Resources Division activities in southwestern Alaska. 

A77 
WATER RESOURCES 

50 100iiLES 

1----''•1 ____il-,1----'------r-"j 1 

50 100 150 KILOMETERS 

p A C I p 

I C 54° 

0 c e 4. "' 

EXPLANATION 

1. Ground-water Investigation of the Mendenhall Valley 

2. Hydrology and Water Quality of the Keta River Basin 

3. Water Resources in the Vicinity of Craig and Klawock 

Figure 20. --Water Resources Division activities in southeastern Alaska. 

A78 
For further information, contact the offices listed below. 

Anchorage, Alaska 

Joseph M. Jones 

(vacant) 

Rodney A. Smith 

Reston, Virginia 

Don E. Kash 

Acting Conservation Manager, Alaska Region 

800 A Street, Anchorage, AK 99501 

Tel. (907) 271-4304 

Area Geologist 

800 A Street, Anchorage, AK 99501 

Tel. (907) 271-4361 

Oil and Gas Supervisor 

800 A Street, Anchorage, AK 99501 

Tel. (907) 271-4303 

Chief, Conservation Division 

600 National Center, Reston, VA 22092 

Tel. (703) 860-7524 

A79 
CONSERVATION 

RESOURCE EVALUATION AND 

LEASE REGULATION 

The primary functions of the Conservation 

Division are to examine and classify Federal lands 

as to their mineral resources and waterpower and 

water-storage values; to determine estimated 

petroleum values for onshore and .offshore competitive lease sales; to supervise exploration and 

development for leases on the Outer Continental 

Shelf ( OCS), as well as on Federal, Indian, and 

certain Naval and National petroleum reserve 

lands; and to maintain accounts and collect 

rentals and royalties from petroleum production. 

Consistent with the national concern for 

environmental protection, the Division's regulations and procedures are subject to frequent 

reappraisal and revision in order to avoid or 

mitigate consequences that may result from pollution incidents, surface damage from mining, 

geothermal and petroleum operations, or other 

hazards that may be associated with mineral 

operations conducted under leases and prospecting permits. 

The Conservation Division performs the 

following functions in Alaska: 

REGULATORY ACTIVITIES: Supervision and 

inspection of 011 and gas exploration and production operations on Federal lands in Alaska to 

insure safety , prevent pollution, and assure 

environmental protection are carried out by personnel in the Oil and Gas Supervisor's office. 

This work presently includes superVIsion and 

inspection of onshore lease operations on the 

Kenai Peninsula, the Cook Inlet area, and the 

OCS lease operations in the Gulf of Alaska and in 

lower Cook Inlet. In addition, the Oil and Gas 

Supervisor regulates all pre-lease exploration 

activities on the OCS and supervises and inspects 

drilling operations in the National Petroleum 

Reserve in Alaska (NPRA). 

ROYALTY ACCOUNTING: The Oil and Gas 

Supervisor is responsible for the collection of all 

money due the Federal Government from oil and 

gas produced from Federal onshore leases and 

rental and royalty from OCS leases. 

PRE-SALE REPORTS: Several years prior to 

scheduled lease sale dates, which are shown in 

table 2, the Division prepares reports and background material on OCS lease sale areas in Alaska 

(fig. 21). This work is closely coordinated with 

the Bureau of Land Management and other Federal 

and State agencies. Results of this coordinated 

effort include: ( 1) A summary report is prepared 

in cooperation with the Geologic Division and 

consists of information on the stratigraphy, 

structure, petroleum resource potential, environmental geology and geologic hazards, technology, 

time-frame, and infrastructure needed for exploration and development. Work on this report 

begins several years prior to the lease sale and 

continues until the report is published at the 

beginning of the tract-selection process. ( 2) 

Tract selection is based on data from the summary 

report, as well as on other geologic and geophysical data that may exist at the time tentative 

tracts are selected for the lease sale. Tract 

selection is planned for completion 2 years prior 

to sale. ( 3) Draft and Final Environmental Impact 

Statements from OCS sales are based on technical 

and infrastructure information provided by the 

U . S . Geological Survey. The Bureau of Land 

Management uses such impact statements to assess 

socioeconomic and environmental impacts. Work 

begins on the draft statement 24 months prior to 

the lease sale, and the final statement is issued 

before the sale. 

RESOURCE ESTIMATES: The Geologic Division 

estimates petroleum resources for geologic basins 

using volumetric yield methods. These estimates 

are revised periodically when new data become 

available. Prior to tract selection, more refined 

estimates are made by the Conservation Division's 

Area Geologist's office using geologic (COST Well) 

and geophysical (seismic) data. These estimates 

are further refined by detailed structural mapping 

and analysis. The evaluation process continues 

up to the lease sale date. 

GEOLOGIC HAZARDS: For areas being considered for leasing, high-resolution seismic data are 

used to delineate geologic conditions that could be 

detrimental to man-made structures. All parties 

are made aware of these potential hazards, and 

thus mitigating measures can be taken, if necessary, in the leasing, exploration, and production 

processes. 

TRACT EVALUATION: The Conservation Division 

makes detailed prospect and tract evaluations for 

each geologic structure within a sale area by 

using all available geologic and geophysical data. 

Utilizing a Monte Carlo Range of Values Program, 

a net present value is calculated for each tract. 

These values serve as a basis for accepting or 

rejecting bids for tracts during the lease sale. 

SPECIAL STUDIES: The Division has several 

special proJects underway which will provide data 

for appraisal and regulation of Federal mineral 

and oil and gas resources. The projects include 

two geologic studies to help define the presence 

and distribution of oil and gas source rocks in 

potential oil and gas basins, and five geophysical 

and geotechnical studies which will provide detailed environmental data on seafloor surficial 

geology and foundation conditions in future OCS 

lease sale areas. These projects are described in 

more detail in the following section. 

ABO 
55 

46 

ffi 60 

; 57 

~ 70 

~ 71 

~ 75 

83 

85 

CONSERVATION 

Figure 21. -- Location of proposed oil and gas Outer Continental Shelf lease tracts. 

Table 2. -- Tentative proposed Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas leasing schedule. 

Gulf of Alaska 

Kodiak Shelf 

Cook Inlet 

Norton Basin 

St. Georl(e Basin 

Beaufort Sea 

The schedule is in a constant process of revision by the Departments of 

the Interior and Energy. Plans for sales depend heavily on the success 

of drilling. For locations see map above. 

C - Call for nomination T -Tract selection H - Public hearing P -Proposed notice of sale R - Energy review D - Nomination due 

E - Draft Environ Statement F - Final Environ Statement SC - State comments due N - Notice of sale S - Sale 

Fl p ~RNS 1 

I 

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I . I 

H F P ~RNS 

E H F P ~RNS 

T E H F P ~RNS 

T E ~ F P ~RNS 

T E H F p ~R NS 

No. Aleution Shelf c D T E H F P ~RNS 

Navarin Basin c D T E H F P ~RNS 

Chukchi Sea c D T E H F p 13"tt IN.s I 

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 

A81 
CONSERVATION 

PHILLIP SMITH ARCTIC MTN. 

CHANDALAR CHRISTIAN 

50 100 MILES 

1-----''..,-i ---L • ....,.,__._....,,r--'1 50 100 150 KilOMETERS 

EXPLANATION 

1. Arctic National Wildlife Range Stratigraphic Project 

2. Coal Resources for National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska 

3. Geotechnical Investigation, Beaufort Sea, Alaska 

Figure 22. -- Conservation Division activities in northern Alaska. 

PROJECTS OF THE 

CONSERVATION DIVISION 

NORTHERN REGION 

Project Title: Arctic National Wildlife Range 

Stratigraphic Project 

Chiefs: Irven F. Palmer, Jr. (USGS), and 

William M. Lyle (State of Alaska) 

Objectives: To provide petroleum source-rock, 

hydrocarbon maturation, and potential reservoir 

information from an area adjacent to the area of 

the joint Federal/ State Beaufort Sea oil and gas 

lease sale of December 1979 for use in tract 

selection and evaluation preparatory to the sale. 

Status: Fieldwork and contracted sample analyses 

are completed. Data have been published as 

Open-File Report 79-1634. A more comprehensive, interpretive report to be published by the 

State of Alaska is in preparation. 

The project location is shown in figure 22. 

Project Title: Coal Resources of National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPRA) 

Chief: James E. Callahan 

Objectives: To determine identified and hypothetical coal resources in western NPRA to the maximum extent possible utilizing information derived 

from seismic survey activities and exploratory oil 

and gas test wells. The information is for use in 

land-use planning and possible future delineation 

of areas suitable for leasing. 

Status: The project is of an indefinite term and 

is primarily dependent on year-to-year timing and 

location of oil and gas exploratory activities in 

NPRA. Geophysical logging and seismic shot 

holes in the winters of 1978 and 1979 in the 

northern foothills and coastal plain of western 

NPRA have produced a very large number of 

precisely located and accurate thickness measurements on coal beds which in many instances can 

be correlated for distances of several miles along 

seismic lines. In the coastal plain, tentative 

correlations between parallel lines up to 6 miles 

apart have also been possible. Reconnaissance 

geologic mapping of scattered exposed coal beds 

and shallow augering during the 1978 and 1979 

summer seasons have aided in the correlation of 

coals between lines in the foothills. The shot 

holes have also produced satisfactory samples of 

unweathered coal suitable for rank determination. 

Separate reports on coal resources south and east 

of Wainwright and in the foothills between the 

Kokolik and Utukok Rivers are in preparation. 

The possibility of reprocessing selected common 

depth point seismic lines for shallow structural 

control in the foothills is being investigated. 

A82 
A logging unit and operator will be attached to 

one seismic crew operating during the 1980 winter 

season in extreme northwestern NPRA and along 

several lines in the foothills. The information 

acquired should provide additional data between 

exisiting lines. 

The project location is shown in figure 22. 

WEST-CENTRAL REGION 

Project Title: Norton Sound Stratigraphic Study 

Chiefs: Irven F. Palmer, Jr. (USGS), and 

William M. Lyle (State of Alaska) 

Objectives: To provide petroleum source-rock, 

hydrocarbon maturation, and potential reservoir 

information from the area around Norton Sound 

and northern Bering Sea for use in tract selection 

and evaluation preparatory to proposed oil and 

gas lease sales. 

Status: Fieldwork and sample analyses have been 

completed, and a comprehensive interpretive 

report is near completion. Work on this report was interrupted by authors' involvement in preparations for the joint Federal/State Beaufort Sea 

oil and gas lease sale of December 1979. 

The project location is shown in figure 21. 

SOUTHERN REGION 

Project Title: Shelikof Straits Outer Continental 

Shelf (OCS) Environmental Geology 

Chief: John W. Whitney 

Objectives: To map the bathymetry and make 

geologic interpretations of geophysical data as 

part of the assessment of potential geo-hazards to 

petroleum development in this OCS province. 

Status: Multi-sensored high resolution seismic 

data was contracted for the summer of 1979. The 

area from the Barren Islands to just south of 

Kupreanof Strait was covered with a 5 x 5 kilometer grid. Acoustic instruments included 

single-channel sparker, multi-channel sparker, 

Uniboom, minisparker, fathometer and some side- scan sonar. Interpretive maps planned include 

bathymetry, geology, shallow structure, topography of the Quaternary unconformity, and an 

isopach map of the Quaternary deposits. These 

maps will be open-filed and will be used as part 

of the tract-by-tract geo-hazards evaluation for 

OCS Sale 60 scheduled for September 1981. 

The project location is shown in figure 23. 

CONSERVA TIO~~ 

ProJect Title: Geological and Geophysical Investigations of Augustine Island Volcano 

Chief: John W. Whitney 

Objectives: To identify and map suspected submerged portions of Augustine volcano as part of 

the geohazard assessment for petroleum development in lower Cook Inlet. 

Status: Seismic profiling records and a National 

Oceanic Survey (NOS) bathymetric survey 

(H-9073) around Augustine Island reveal hummocky and lobate features emanating from Augustine, as well as an extensive shallow platform off 

the west side of the volcano. These combined 

features cover an area about twice that of 

Augustine Island itself. Verification of their 

volcanic origin would significantly change the 

volume of the material known to have been ejected 

by Augustine and extend the range to which 

pyroclastic flows are known to have travelled in 

the past. Fieldwork in 1978 revealed the 

existence of several onshore analogies of the 

hummocky offshore terrain. However, since 

dredge sampling attempts were unsuccessful, the 

surface materials of this offshore terrain have not 

been positively identified. In the summer of 

1980, the Survey will sample by diving and use 

seismic profiling to further delineate these submerged features. In particular, attention will be 

focused on the extensive submerged platform, an 

anomalous feature of an andesite volcano. 

The project location is shown in figure 2 3. 

SOUTHWESTERN REGION 

Project Title: 1980 Lower Cook Inlet-Shelikof 

Strait Field Project 

Chiefs: George W. Petering and Thomas N. Smith 

(USGS), and William M. Lyle (State of Alaska) 

Objectives: To investigate potential reservoir and source rocks in upland areas adjacent to proposed 

OCS sale areas to aid in tract selection and block 

evaluations. 

Status: The project will commence June 23, 1980, 

and continue through July 6, 1980. The project 

location is shown in figure 23. 

OFFSHORE REGION 

Project Title: Shallow Geology of Lower Cook 

Inlet and Northern Shelikof Strait 

Chiefs: John W. Whitney and Glenn P. Thrasher 

Objectives: 

conditions 

To identify 

which might 

geologic features and 

represent hazards or 

A83 
CONSERVATION 

6 

TALKEETNA 

LIME HILLS 

T HLAKE CLARK 

oMIDDLETON I. 

GULF OF 

I 

I c 

EXPLANATION 

1. Geological and Geophysical Investigations of Augustine Island Volcano 

2. Shelikof Strait Outer Continental Shelf Environmental Geology 

3. 1980 Lower Cook Inlet - Shelikof Strait Field Project 

4. Shallow Geology of Lower Cook Inlet and Northern Shelikof Strait 

5. Shallow Geology of the Kodiak Outer Continental Shelf 

6. Shallow Geology of the Eastern Gulf of Alaska Outer Continental Shelf 

S 0 U T HWESTERN 

EXPLANATION 

SIMEONOF I. 

100 M llES 

1---....J'L..,.I---'l..r-......L.......,.I...J' 

50 150 KilOMETERS 

-Ji2.,---

7. Shallow Geology of St. George Basin, Southern Bering Sea 

50 100 MilES 

I I I I 

100 150 KilOMETERS 

0 C E A N 

Figure 23. -- Conservation Division activities in southern and southwestern Alaska. 

A84 
constraints to petroleum exploration and production in the area of oil and gas lease Sale 60 

scheduled for September 1981. 

Status: During the summer of 1979, 2, 557 kilometers of multi-sensored, high resolution geophysical data were collected on a rectangular grid 

in Shelikof Strait between Cape Douglas and 

Kupreanof Strait. Bathymetric and geologic maps 

will be prepared from these and other data. 

The project location is shown in figure 23. 

Project Title: Geotechnical Investigation, Beaufort Sea, Alaska 

Chief: Gerald B. Shearer 

Objectives: To identify features which might 

represent conditions hazardous to petroleum exploration and production in this area of oil and 

gas lease activity. To provide subsurface control 

and available geophysical data, supply regional 

geotechnical, geochemical, and geological data for 

preliminary engineering design purposes, and 

provide information for tract selection and evaluation. Of particular interest in this area are 

depth to permafrost, presence of ice-rich zones of 

permafrost, gas hydrates and shallow gas, salinity of pore fluids, availability of gravel, and the 

geotechnical properties of the soil. 

Status: During late winter 1978-1979, 20 rotary 

coreholes were drilled to depths of 100-300 feet 

below mudline in water depths up to 50 feet. 

The drilling was carried out from stable, shorefast ice. The initial report in three volumes was 

released on July 30, 1979. This report contains: 

A summary of field equipment, procedures and 

site conditions; a detailed log of each hole 

describing soil types, physical properties of 

unfrozen soil samples, and the test results. 

Additional laboratory tests of unfrozen samples, 

as well as an extensive testing program on frozen 

samples, are planned. The results of these tests 

will be made available when completed. 

The project location is shown in figure 21. 

Project Title: Shallow Geology of the Kodiak 

Outer Continental Shelf 

Chiefs: Glenn P. Thrasher and Bruce W. Turner 

Objectives: To identify geologic features and 

conditions which might represent hazards or 

constraints to petroleum exploration and producCONSERVA TIO"~ 

tion in the area of oil and gas lease Sale 46, 

scheduled for December 1980. 

Status: Mapping of shallow geology and geologic 

hazards is essentially complete, with only touchup work and drafting remaining. Bathymetric 

and geologic maps of the Kodiak Outer Continental 

Shelf were released as open-file reports in 1979. 

Effort is being concentrated currently on determining the environmental geology and shallow 

drilling conditions on each of the 564 blocks 

proposed for leasing in the upcoming oil and gas 

lease sale. 

The project location is shown in figure 23. 

Project Title: Shallow Geology of St. George 

Basin, Southern Bering Sea 

Chief: C. Drew Comer 

Objectives: To map the near-surface geology of 

the St. George Basin and identify features such 

as shallow faults, shallow gas, and unstable 

sediments which may constitute hazards or constraints to petroleum exploration or development 

activities in the area of oil and gas lease Sale 70, 

scheduled for December 1982. 

Status: Mapping of shallow structural horizons, 

isopach intervals, bathymetry, and geologic 

hazards is essentially complete for exclusive 

contract data gathered in 1976-1977. Maps will be 

released to the open-file. 

The project location is shown in figure 23. 

Project Title: Shallow Geology of the Eastern 

Gulf of Alaska Outer Continental Shelf 

Chiefs: Bruce W. Turner and Glenn P. Thrasher 

Objectives: To identify geologic features and 

conditions which might represent hazards or con- straints to petroleum exploration and development 

in the area of oil and gas lease Sale 55, scheduled for October 1980. 

Status: During the summer of 1979, 5, 580 kilometers of rriulti-sensored, high resolution geuphysical data were collected offshore on a rectangular grid between Malaspina Glacier and Dry 

Bay. Processing of these data is currently in 

progress. Bathymetric and geologic maps will be 

prepared from this information in the near future. 

The project location is shown in figure 23. 

A85 

SOURCES OF 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

PUBLIC INQUIRIES OFFICE, 

MAPS AND PUBLICATIONS 

The Public Inquiries Office in Anchorage 

serves as a contact for obtaining information 

about the activities and products of the Survey 

and provides referral services for individuals 

seeking technical information about the Survey's 

programs and work. The office keeps a stock of 

Alaska maps for over-the-counter sales, and, as 

an agent of the Superintendent of Documents, 

sells Geological Survey books relating to Alaska. 

It is a depository for open-file reports on Alaska 

and maintains a reference library of Geological 

Survey publications for use by the public, as well 

as a browse file containing microforms of Landsat 

(satellite) imagery. Also on file in the office are 

itineraries for the Branch of Alaskan Geology 

field parties and a roster of all Survey employees. The office is part of the National Mapping 

Division and is under the direction of the Office 

of Inquiries headquartered at the National Center 

in Reston, Virginia. The Public Inquiries Office 

is supervised by: 

Margaret I. Erwin 

108 Skyline Building 

508 Second Avenue 

Anchorage, Alaska 99501 

Tel. (907) 277-0577 

The Alaska Distribution Section in Fairbanks 

distributes Survey maps, indexes, and leaflets 

over the counter to the public and to Federal and 

State agencies. In addition, it is the only office 

in Alaska that handles mail order requests for 

Survey maps. The office also supplies maps to 35 

commercial dealers in the State. The Alaska 

Distribution Section is unde~ the direction of the 

Branch of Distribution in Denver, which, in turn, 

is part of the National Mapping Division. The 

Alaska office is supervised by: 

Natalie A. Cornforth 

Federal Building, Box 12 

101 12th Avenue, Room 126 

Fairbanks, Alaska 99701 

Tel. (907) 456-7535 

ADMINISTRATORS OF GEOLOGICAL 

SURVEY OFFICES OR DIVISIONS 

The following persons can be contacted 

for additional information. 

The Geological Survey 

William Barnwell, Special Assistant to the 

Director for Alaska 

218 E Street 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

Tel. (907) 271-4398 

INFORMA TIO'-' 

Office of National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska 

George Gryc, Chief, Office of National 

Petroleum Reserve in Alaska 

2525 C Street, Suite 400 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

Tel. (907) 276-7422 

Land Information and Analysis Office 

Gene A . Thorley, Chief, Land Information 

and Analysis Office 

104 National Center 

Reston, VA 22092 

Tel. (703) 860-7488 

EROS Program 

David Carneggie, Chief 

USGS/EROS 

508 Second A venue 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

Tel. (907) 271-4145 

National Mapping Division 

Thomas E. Taylor, Resident Cartographer 

218 E Street 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

Tel. (907) 271-4148 

Geologic Division 

Thomas P. Miller, Chief, Branch of Alaskan 

Geology 

1209 Orca Street 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

Tel. (907) 271-4150 

Water Resources Division 

Harry Hulsing, Chief, Alaska District 

733 West 4th Avenue, Suite 400 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

Tel. (907) 271-4379 

Conservation Division 

Joseph M. Jones, Acting Conservation 

Manager, Alaska Region 

800 A Street 

Anchorage, A K 99501 

Tel. (907) 271-4304 

SUPPORTING DIVISION AND 

SERVICES 

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION 

The Alaska Field Office of the Administrative 

Division provides service and supply support to 

the Survey offices and personnel in Alaska. The 

office is supervised by: 

Betty J. Mcintire 

204 Skyline Building 

218 E Street 

Anchorage, Alaska 99501 

Tel. (907) 271-4145 

A87 
INFORMATION 

A warehouse for Survey equipment is located 

just inside the Elmendorf Air Force Base to the 

east of Anchorage. The warehouse is under the 

immediate supervision of: 

Harvey Haynes 

5500 Oilwell Road 

Elmendorf Air Force Base 

Anchorage, Alaska 99506 

Tel. (907) 752-3834 

A warehouse for the Fairbanks area is located at Fort Wainwright but is not staffed. The 

telephone number at Fort Wainwright is (907) 

353-4219. 

A radio network is operated during the field 

season for communication among the field camps 

and with Anchorage or Fairbanks. The official 

Survey frequencies are 5380 (USB 5381.5) and 

3211 (USB 3212.5) kHz. The Anchorage base 

station ( KWA 351) is located at 218 E Street and 

monitors 5380 during office hours, or other hours 

by arrangement. Commercial stations WK D 22 in 

Anchorage and KGA 85 ("Broadmoor") in Fairbanks, both of which monitor 5167.5 (USB 

5168.9), handle non-routine Survey messages. 

For further information about the Survey's radio 

operations, contact: 

Florence R. Weber 

P .0. Box 80586 

Fairbanks, Alaska 99708 

Tel. (907) 479-7245 

The Administrative Division office also handles emergency messages to or from Survey 

offices or families of employees. During regular 

hours, the Anchorage office can be contacted; at 

other times Betty Mcintire can be contacted at 

(907) 272-5398, and/or Pat Carroll at 243-3515. 

ALASKA CORE LIBRARY 

The Core Library preserves and makes 

available for study the Survey's large collection 

of Alaskan well cores. Most of these cores are 

from the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska 

(NPRA), formerly known as the Naval Petroleum 

Reserve No. 4 (NPR-4); the nucleus of the library is about 25,000 feet of cores taken during 

exploration of the Reserve in the 1940's and 

1950's. The library also includes some cores and 

a large amount of ditch cuttings from wells drilled 

on Federal land in other parts of Alaska. The 

library is currently receiving and storing core 

from the Survey's NPRA operations. 

The Alaska Core Library is housed in three 

buildings at the corner of Boyd and Manor 

Streets, Government Hill, in Anchorage. The 

library is managed by the Branch of Alaskan 

Geology, Branch of Oil and Gas Resources, Conservation Division, and Office of National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. 

The director of the library's activities is: 

W. L. (Doc) Adkison 

2525 C Street, Suite 400 

Anchorage, Alaska 99501 

Tel. (907) 276-7422 

Library: (907) 274-1346 

TECHNICAL DATA UNIT 

The Technical Data Unit, located in Menlo 

Park, California, has as its objectives to provide 

information about earth science publications on 

Alaska with emphasis on U.S. Geological Survey 

reports and maps. It serves as a source of 

topographic maps and Survey publications for 

geologists of the Alaskan Geology Branch or 

personnel of other Survey branches and divisions 

doing research in Alaska. The unit also provides 

various services for Alaskan Branch personnel 

and serves as depository for branch project files. 

For more information ,contact: 

Ellen White 

Technical Data Unit, MS 48 

U . S. Geological Survey 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, California 94025 

Tel. (415) 323-8111 ext. 2342 

A88 
> 

C» 

CD 

Table 3. --List of projectchiefs,~associated personnel, and brief description of project work. 

Organizational Region of Mailing Address and 

Project Chief Associated_ Personf!~l _Designation Operation Type of Work Tel~hone Number 

Barnes, D. F. 

Barnes, P. W., 

and 

Reimnitz, Erk 

Bartsch-Winkler, 

Susan 

Berg, H. C. 

Berg, H. C. 

Berwick, V. K. 

Bird, K. J. 

Bird, K. J. 

Morin, R. L. 

Ponce, D. A. 

Burns, E. L. 

Kempema, E. W. 

Minkler, P. W. 

Rearic, D. M. 

Ross, C. R. 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Decker, J. E. Geologic 

Mullen, M. W. 

Faculty members at 

Cal. Tech., U. of AZ and 

Cal. St. U. of Los 

Angeles (part-time) 

Numerous members of Geologic 

USGS; faculty members 

of U . of A K , U . of A Z , 

Cal. Tech. , Cal. St. 

U. of Los Angeles 

(part-time) 

Water Res. 

Geologic 

Geovannetti, D. M. Geologic 

Statewide 

Offshore 

Southern 

Gravity studies and standardization 

of gravity surveys 

Studies of Arctic marine sedimentary 

processes and hazards, Beaufort and 

Chukchi Seas 

Determining sediment transport and 

deposition in the coastal region 

near Anchorage 

Southeastern Geotectonic and economic geology 

studies of southeastern Alaska 

Statewide Mineral resource assessment (See 

also individual AMRAP quadrangle 

projects.) 

Southeastern Hydrology and water quality of the 

Keta River basin near Ketchikan, 

Northern Study of reservoir characteristics 

and lithofacies in the Lisburne 

Group, North Slope area 

Northern Studies of structural styles and 

relation to petroleum potential, 

Brooks Range front 

Office of Geochemistry 

and Geophysics 

Branch of Regional Geophysics 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2249 

Office of Marine Geology 

Branch of Pacific-Arctic Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 856-7008 (Barnes) 

-7004 (Reimnitz) 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2542 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2266 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2266 

Juneau Subdistrict Office 

P.O. Box 1508 

Juneau, AK 99802 

(907) 586-7216 

Office of Energy Resources 

Branch of Oil and Gas Resources 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 856-7034 

Office of Energy Resources 

Branch of Oil and Gas Resources 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 856-7034 
~ 

U) 

0 

Table 3. --List of project chiefs, associated personnel, and brief description of project work-- Continued 

Organizational ~gi~ ------- ~~ - -- Mailmg Address and 

Project Chief Associated Perso!J._nel _ Desig'!lati()n__ ()p~!"ation _ _ _'!'ype_ oL Work Telephone Number 

Brew, D. A. 

Brew, D. A. 

Brew, D. A. 

Brew, D. A. 

Brewer, Max 

Brosge~ W. P. 

Brosge~ W. P. 

Berg, H. C. 

Churkin, M., Jr. 

Ford, A. B. 

Grybeck, D. G. 

Hunt, S. J. 

Karl, S. M. 

Lanphere, M. A. 

Le Compte, R. 

Loney, R. A. 

Sonnevil, R. A. 

Ford, A. B. 

Karl, S. M. 

Sonnevil, R. A. 

Sonnevil, R. A. 

Nilsen, T. H. 

Reiser, H. N. 

Dutro, T. J., Jr. 

Moore, T. E. 

Gromme', C. S. 

Hillhouse, J. W. 

Reiser, H • N . 

Dutro, J. T., Jr. 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Geologic 

ONPRA 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Statewide Compilation of map of metamorphic 

facies 

Southeastern Geologic, geochemical mapping, 

mineral resource assessment, 

Petersburg quadrangle 

Southeastern Geologic, geochemical mapping, 

mineral resource appraisal near 

Juneau 

Southeastern Appraisal of mineral resource potential, Glacier Bay National Monument 

Wilderness Study Area 

Northern 

Northern 

Northern 

Archeological studies, NPRA 

Source , transport direction, and current facies trends in Upper Devonian 

rocks, North Slope. 

Geologic mapping, Arctic and Table 

Mountain quadrangles, North Slope 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2178, 2231 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2178, 2231 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2178, 2231 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2178, 2231 

Office of National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska 

2525 C Street, Suite 400 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

(907) 276-7422 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94026 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2316 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2316 
,.. 

(f) 

.... 

Table 3. --List of project chiefs, associated personnel, and brief description of project work-- Continued 

Organizational Region of Mailing Address and 

Project Chief Associated Person_!!~l DE;lsignation ____Qperatio!l__ _ ~Type of Work Telephone Number 

Burrows, R. L. 

Cady, J. w. 

Cady, J. W. 

Callahan , J. E. 

Carlson, P. R. 

Carneggie, D. M. 

Carter, L. D. 

Carter, L. D. 

Parks, Bruce 

Emmett, W. W. 

Grybeck, D. G. 

Nelson, S. W. 

Weber, F. R. 

Hughes, E. M. 

Foster, H. L. 

Weber, F. R. 

Karl, H. A. 

Johnson, K. A. 

Fischer, J. M. 

Quinter no, P. 

Wright, G. 

Galloway, J. P. 

Galloway, J. P. 

Water Res. 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Conservation 

Geologic 

LIA 

Geologic 

Geologic 

East-central 

Northern and 

East- and 

West-central 

Northern and 

East- and 

West-central 

Northern 

Offshore 

Southern 

East-central 

Northern 

Analysis of sediment size and bedload- Fairbanks Subdistrict Office 

transport rates 101 12th Avenue, Box 11 

Fairbanks. AK 99701 

(907) 452-1951 ext. 214 

Interpretation and aeromagnetic and 

gravity data, primarily northern 

Alaska 

Development and geophysical techniques for uranium exploration 

Determination of coal resources in 

NPRA 

Studies of seafloor geologic hazards, 

Navarin Basin 

Use of remote sensing techniques for 

providing resource data for monument 

management 

Mapping unconsolidated deposits in 

transportation-development corridor, 

Tanana River valley to Canada 

Studies of Quaternary history of 

western Arctic coastal plain 

Office of Geochemistry and 

Geophysics 

Branch of Petrophysics 

and Remote Sensing 

Box 25406 MS 964 

Denver Federal Center 

Denver, CO 80401 

(903) 234-5021 

Office of Geochemistry and 

Geophysics 

Branch of Petrophysics and 

and Remote Sensing 

Box 25406 MS 964 

Denver Federal Center 

Denver, CO 80401 

(303) 234-5021 

Office of Area Geologist 

800 A Street, Suite 201 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

(907) 271-4401 

Office of Marine Geology 

Branch of Pacific-Arctic Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park. CA 94025 

(415) 856-7021 

EROS Data Center 

508 Second A venue 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

(907) 271-4145 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2682 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2682 
> 

U) 

1\) 

Table 3. --List of project chiefs, associated personnel, and brief description of project work-- Continued 

Organizational Region of Mailing Address and 

Project Chief Associated Personnel _Designation Operati()p. TyQ~ of Work Telephone Number 

Carter, R. D. 

Cathrall, J. B. 

Chapman, R. M. 

Childers , J. M. 

Churkin, 

Michael, Jr. 

Churkin, 

Michael, Jr. 

Cobb, E. H. 

Comer, c. D. 

Cooper, A. K. 

Page, L. S. 

Fulop, B. M. 

Noyes, C. 

Bartholomew, B. 

Day, G. W. 

Hoffman, J. D. 

Yeend, W. E. 

Silberman, M. L. 

Jones, D. L. 

Churkin, 1\1., Jr. 

Trexler, J. H., Jr. 

Reed, B. L. 

Patton, W. W., Jr. 

Moll, E. J. 

Kernodle, D. R. 

(See Eberlein, G. D.) 

Carter, Clair 

Trexler, J. H., Jr. 

Schaff, D. P. 

Childs, J. R. 

Magistrale , H . 

ONPRA 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Water Res. 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Conservation 

Geologic 

Northern 

Southeastern 

West-central 

East-central 

Statewide 

Northern 

Statewide 

To acquire, reduce and publish, 

through National Oceanic and A tmospheric Administration, data on geology and geophysics in National 

Petroleum Reserve in Alaska 

Mineral resource appraisal and geochemical mapping of the Petersburg 

quadrangle 

Mapping and regional correlation of 

geologic units and structures, Ruby 

province 

Investigations of water resources 

and hydrologic hazards in arctic 

and subarctic Alaska 

Compilation of map of arctic 

tectonic features 

Compilation of data on mineral 

resources 

Southwestern, Near-surface mapping and identificaOffshore tion of geologic hazards, St. George 

basin 

Offshore Studies of marine gravity and magnetics, sonobuoy seismic data 

Office of National Petroleum 

Reserve in Alaska 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8211 ext. 2136 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Exploration Research 

5946 Mcintyre Street 

Golden, CO 80401 

(303) 234-4813 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaska Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2670 

Alaska District Office 

733 West 4th Ave., Suite 400 

Anchorage, A K 99501 

(907) 271-4394 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2256 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2483 

Conservation Division 

800 A Street, Suite 109 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

(907) 271-4457 

Office of Marine Geology 

Pacific-Arctic Branch 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 856-7094 
> 

co 

(A) 

Table 3. --List of project cpiefs, associated personnel, and brief description of project work-- Continued 

Organizational Region of Mailing Address and 

Project Chief Associated Personnel Designa!_ion QI>ertition__ __ _ ____ T~ of Work Tele_I?hone Number 

Cowing, D. J. 

Crim, W. D. 

Csejtey, Bela, 

Jr. 

Curtin, G. C. 

Dearborn, L. L. 

Dearborn, L. L. 

Dearborn, L. L. 

Detra, D. E. 

Emanuel, R. P. 

Lee, M. G. 

Scully, D. R. 

Tripp, R. B. 

Wong, H. W. 

Spiesman, D. L. 

St. Aubin, D. R. 

King, H. D. 

Tripp, R. B. 

Hampton, J. 0. 

Huston, D. L. 

Bailey, B . J. 

Best, B. J. 

Lee, M. G. 

Hopkins, G. C. 

Deeter, G. B. 

To be assigned 

Hurrell, J. T. 

Tripp, R. B. 

Water Res. 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Water Res. 

Water Res. 

Water Res. 

Geologic 

Southern 

Eas t-een tral 

Southern 

Geohydrologic studies in the Anchorage area 

Use of geochemistry in support of 

AMRAP, Circle quadrangle 

Assessment of mineral potential and 

collection of basic data, Healy 

quadrangle 

Southern Geochemical sampling and analysis 

in support of AMRAP, Mount Hayes 

quadrangle 

Southwestern Hydrologic data collection, Bristol 

Bay area 

Statewide Collection of basic ground-water 

data 

Southern Evaluation of ground-water resources, 

Eagle River valley near Anchorage 

Southwestern Geochemical sampling and analysis in 

support of AMRAP, Bristol Bay, Karluk and Ugashik quadrangles 

Anchorage Subdistrict Office 

1209 Orca Street 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

(907) 271-4153 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Exploration Research 

5946 Mcintyre Street 

Golden, CO 80401 

(303) 234-6170 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2613 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Exploration Research 

5946 Mcintyre Street 

Golden, CO 80401 

(303) 234-6171 

Anchorage Subdistrict Office 

1209 Orca Street 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

(907) 271-4153 

Anchorage Subdistrict Office 

1209 Orca Street 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

(907) 271-4153 

Anchorage Subdistrict Office 

1209 Orca Street 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

(907) 271-4507 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Exploration Research 

5946 Mcintyre Street 

Golden, CO 80401 

(303) 234-6172 
> 

U) 

~ 

Table 3. --List of project chiefs, associated personnel, and brief description of project work-- Continued 

Organizational Region Of 

Project Chief Associated Personnel Designation Operation Type of Work 

Detterman, R. L. Miller, T. P. 

Yount, M. E. 

Wilson, F. H. 

Allaway, W. H. 

Detra, D. E. 

Case, J. E. 

Cox, D. P. 

Dickinson, K. A. Camp bell, J. A. 

Donovan, T. L. 

Dusel-Bacon, 

Cynthia 

Forgey, R. L. 

Hallinan, J. R. 

Hendricks, J. D. 

Roberts, A. A. 

Aleinikoff, J. A. 

Bentz, J. L. 

Dutro, J. T., Jr. Mamay, S. H. 

Eberlein, G • D. 

Sohn, I. G. 

Gordon, M., Jr. 

and Lanphere, M. A. 

Eberlein, G • D. 

and Churkin, 

Michael, Jr. 

Carter, C. 

(Saleeby, J. B. , 

Cal. Tech.) 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Southwestern Evaluation of mineral and energy 

resources of Ugashik and Karluk 

quadrangles ( AMRAP) 

Statewide Evaluation of uranium potential in 

selected Tertiary basins in Alaska 

Northern 

East-central 

Statewide 

Statewide 

Study of hydrocarbon seepage relative 

to magnetite formation, North Slope area 

Petrographic studies of gneisses, 

Yukon-Tanana Upland 

Studies of Paleozoic fossils and 

stratigraphy 

Compilation of map of Precambrian 

rocks of Alaska and formulation of 

a time scale as part of an international study 

Southeastern Geologic mapping and development 

of stratigraphic, structural and 

petrographic data base, Craig 

quadrangle 

Mailing Address and 

Telephone Number 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Rd. 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 232-8111 ext. 2244 

Office of Energy Resources 

Branch of Uranium-Thorium 

Resources 

5946 Mcintyre Street 

CMS Research Bldg. 

Golden, CO 80401 

(303) 837-5667 

Office of Energy Resources 

Branch of Oil and Gas Resources 

2255 North Gemini Drive 

Flagstaff, AZ 86001 

(602) 779-3311 ext. 1350 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2202 

U.S. National Museum 

Room E 316 

1825 K Street, NW 

Washington, D. C. 20006 

(202) 343-3222 

Office of Geochemistry and 

Geophysics 

Branch of Isotope Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2649 

(Eberlein as above) Lanphere: 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2210 

(Eberlein) 

ext. 2256 ( Churkin) 
> 

(0 

01 

Table 3. --List of project chiefs, associated personnel, and brief description of project work-- Continued 

Organizational Regfon of -Mailing Address ana 

Project Chief Associated Personnel De_signation _p~er~.!_t_ioJ1 _____ ___!'y_pe_Qf_Wo!jt _ Telephone Number 

Ferrians, 0. J., 

Jr. 

Ferrians, 0. J., 

Jr. 

Feulner, A. J. 

Feulner , A • J. 

Feulner, A. J. 

Fisher, M. A. 

Foley, R. C. 

Foley, R. C. 

Foley, R. C. 

Bailey, B . J. 

Marshall, J. A • 

Holmes, M. L. 

Patton, W. W., Jr. 

To be assigned 

To be assigned 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Water Res. 

Water Res. 

\Vater Res. 

Geologic 

National 

Mapping 

National 

Mapping 

National 

Mapping 

Northern Engineering geologic investigations 

for land-use planning 

Southern Earthquake hazards assessment, 

Anchorage-Susitna area 

Southeastern Water resources in the vicinity of 

Craig and Klawock 

Southwestern Inventory of water supplies in light 

of proposed shore-based processing 

plant, St. Paul Island 

Statewide Maintaining network of observation 

wells for ground-water level data 

Offshore 

Southern 

East-central 

East-central 

Gravity, structure seismic studies 

of Norton Sound 

Horizontal control for State withdrawal land in cooperation with BLM, 

Talkeetna Mountains 

Horizontal control for BLM on boundary of Yukon Flats National Monument 

Horizontal control for BLM on boundary of Yukon Charley National Monument 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2247 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2247 

Alaska District Office 

733 West 4th Ave., Suite 400 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

(907) 271-4138 

Alaska District Office 

722 West 4th Ave., Suite 400 

Anchorage, A K 99501 

(907) 271-4138 

Alaska District Office 

733 West 4th Ave., Suite 400 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

(907) 271-4138 

Office of Energy Resources 

Branch of Oil and Gas Resources 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 856-7108 

Branch of Field Surveys 

Denver Federal Center 

Denver, CO 80225 

(303) 234-2177 

Branch of Field Surveys 

Denver Federal Center 

Denver, CO 80225 

(303) 234-2177 

Branch of Field Surveys 

Denver Federal Center 

Denver, CO 80225 

(303) 234-2177 
> 

<0 

0) 

Table 3. --List of project chiefs, associated personnel, and brief description of project work-- Continued 

Organizatfonal -- Region or - Maihng Address and 

Project Chief Associated Personnel_ Desigp.atioJ1 Operation Type of Work Telephone Number 

Foster, H. L. 

Gaydos, L. J. 

Grantz, Arthur 

Grantz, Arthur 

Hamilton, T. D. 

Hampton, M. A. 

Hess, G. R. 

Weber, F. R. 

Cady, J. W. 

Crim, W. D. 

Menzie, W. D. 

Laird, J. 

Dusel-Bacon, C. 

Le Compte, J. P. 

Churkin, M., Jr. 

Keith, T. E. 

Aleinikoff, J. A. 

Stacey, J. S. 

Trexler, J. H., Jr. 

Acevedo, W. 

Morrissey, L. A. 

Wray, J. R. 

May, S. B. 

Dinter, D. A. 

Greenberg, J. 

Silberman, M. L. 

Orlando, R. C. 

Torresan, M. E. 

To be assigned 

Geologic 

National 

Mapping 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Geologic 

East-central 

Northern 

Offshore 

Southern 

Northern 

Southern, 

Offshore 

Offshore 

Geologic mapping and geochemical 

sampling, Yukon-Tanana Upland 

(AMRAP) 

Vegetational mapping using Landsat 

digital data 

Studies of geologic framework, geohazards, and mineral fuel potential, 

Beaufort and Chukchi Seas 

Stratigraphic and structural studies 

of the Nelchina area 

Stratigraphic and hazard studies of 

unconsolidated deposits in potential 

transportation corridors, central 

Brooks Range 

Geologic environmental assessment of 

lower Cook Inlet and Kodiak Shelf 

Identification of geologic hazards 

in the Bristol Basin, northern 

Aleutian Shelf 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2331 

National Mapping Division 

(Land Information and 

Analysis Office) 

Ames Research Center 240-8 

Moffett Field, CA 94035 

(415) 968-6368 

Office of Marine Geology 

Branch of Pacific-Arctic Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2259 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2259 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2156 

Office of Marine Geology 

Branch of Pacific-Arctic Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 856-7062 

Office of Marine Geology 

Pacific-Arctic Branch 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 856-7046 
> 

CD 

....,. 

Table 3. --List of project chiefs, associated personnel, and brief description of project work-- Continued 

Organizational Region of --Mailing Address and 

Project Chief Associated Personnel Designation Operation Type of Work Telephone Number 

Hinkley, Todd 

Hoare, J. M. 

Hopkins, D. M. 

Hudson, Travis 

Johnson, B. R. 

Jones, D. L. 

Kachadoorian, 

Reuben 

Kharaka, Y. K. 

Decker, J. E. 

Hartz, R. W. 

Pounders, S. 

Smith, P. A. 

Loney, R. A. 

Karl, S. M. 

Silberling, N. J. 

Gromme~ S. 

Hillhouse, J. H. 

(Coney, P., Univ. 

of AZ) 

Other Survey 

personnel 

Carothers, W. W. 

Wright, Vicki 

Lico, M. S. 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Geologic 

ONPRA 

Southern Study of dusts in annual glacier 

strata 

Southwestern Study of age and structure of Paleozoic rocks in Taylor Mountains quadrangle 

Northern Geochronologic studies of offshore 

sediments, Beaufort Sea coast and 

shelf area 

Statewide Studies of origin, petrology, geochemistry , geochronology , regional 

geology of tin, tungsten and molybdenum 

Southeastern Mineral-resource appraisal, West 

Chichagof-Yakobi Wilderness Area 

Statewide Compilation of tectonostratigraphic 

map of Alaska 

Northern Engineering geologic investigation 

in the National Petroleum Reserve 

in Alaska 

No~thern Chemical and isotopic analysis 

of oilfield waters, NPRA 

Office of Geochemistry and 

Geophysics 

Branch of Regional Geochemistry 

Denver Federal Center 

Denver, CO 80225 

(303) 234-5628 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2372 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2659 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

1209 Orca Street 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

(907) 271-4150 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2769 

Office of Environmental 

Geology 

Branch of Paleontology and 

Stratigraphy 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2269 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2262 

Water Resources Division 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, C A 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2144 
> 

U) 

Q) 

Table 3. --List of project chiefs, associated personnel, and brief description of project work-- Continued 

Organizational Region of Mailing Address ano 

Project Chief Associated Personnel Desig!la_tioll Operation Type of Work Teleghone Number 

Kienzle, J. K. 

King, H. D. 

Krumhardt, A. P. 

Lachenbruch, A. 

H. 

Lahr, J. C. 

Lahr, J. C. 

Lamke, R. D. 

Lanphere, M.A. 

Le Compte, J. R. 

Other Survey 

personnel 

Wilcox, D. E. 

Maynard, D. L. 

Moses, T. H., Jr. 

Lawver, L. A. 

Stephens, C. D. 

Rogers, J. A. 

Stephens, C. D. 

Rogers, J. A. 

(See Eberlein , G • D. ) 

ONPRA Northern 

Geologic Southern 

Water Res. East-central 

Geologic Statewide 

Geologic Southern, 

Southeastern 

Geologic Southern 

Water Res. Statewide 

Geologic Statewide 

Acquisition and interpretation of 

common depth point seismic and 

gravity data in National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska 

Geochemical mapping, Healy quadrangle ( AMRAP) 

Geohydrologic studies, Fairbanks 

area 

Heat-flow studies 

Evaluation of earthquake hazards in 

eastern Gulf of Alaska 

Studies of current tectonic processes 

generating earthquakes in Alaska to 

evaluate hazards 

Collection of surface-water basic 

data 

Analysis of Landsat imagery 

(AMRAP) 

Office of National Petroleum 

Reserve in Alaska 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2137 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Exploration Research 

5946 Mcintyre Street 

Golden, CO 80401 

(303) 234-6186 

Fairbanks Subdistrict Office 

101 12th Avenue, Box 11 

Fairbanks, AK 99701 

(907) 452-1951 ext. 214 

Office of Earthquake Studies 

Branch of Tectonophysics 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2272 

Office of Earthquake Studies 

Branch of Ground Motion and 

Faulting 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2510 

Office of Earthquake Studies 

Branch of Ground Motion and 

Faulting 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park , C A 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2510 

Alaska District Office 

733 West 4th Ave., Suite 400 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

(907) 271-4393 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2025 
> 

(0 

(0 

Table 3. --List of project chiefs, associated personnel, and brief description of project work-- Continued 

Organizational Region of Mailing Address and 

Project Chief Associated Personnel Designation ____ Operation Type of Work Telephone Number 

Madison, R. J. 

Magoon L. B. 

Magoon, L. B. 

Marlow, M. S. 

Mayo, L. R. 

Mayo, L. R. 

McCoy, G. A. 

Claypool, G . E. 

Cooper, A. K. 

Hein, J. R. 

Jones, D. M. 

Sicard, D. M. 

Kingston, M. J. 

McGeary, S. E. 

Trabant, D. C. 

Trabant, D. C. 

McDougall, K. A. Bouwers, F. M. 

Marincovich, L. N . 

Water Res. Statewide 

Geologic Southern 

Geologic Northern 

Geologic Offshore 

Water Res. Southern 

Water Res. Statewide 

Water Res. Northern 

Geologic Statewide 

Basic data collection,quality of 

water 

Assessment of oil resources, Cook 

Inlet-Shelikof Strait 

Assessment of oil and gas source 

potential in National Petroleum 

Reserve in Alaska 

Evaluation of resource potential, 

Bering Sea region 

Glacier measurements to study formation of Lake George at Knik Glacier 

Studies of glacier response to 

climate 

Studies of nutrient limitation in 

arctic lakes 

Studies of distribution and limiting 

environmental conditions of Neogene 

and Quaternary faunas 

Alaska District Office 

733 West 4th Ave., Suite 400 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

(415) 271-4138 

Office of Energy Resources 

Branch of Oil and Gas 

Resources 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 856-7028 

Office of Energy Resources 

Branch of Oil and Gas 

Resources 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 856-7028 

Office of Marine Geology 

Branch of Pacific-Arctic Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 

(415) 856-7092 

Fairbanks Subdistrict Office 

101 12th Avenue, Box 11 

Fairbanks, AK 99701 

(907) 452-1951 ext. 214 

Fairbanks Subdistrict Office 

101 12th Avenue, Box 11 

Fairbanks, AK 99701 

(907) 452-1951 ext. 214 

Anchorage Subdistrict Office 

1209 Orca Street 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

(903) 271-4153 

Branch of Central Environmental 

Geology and 

Branch of Paleontology and 

Stratigraphy 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2185 
>· 

~ 

0 

0 

Table 3. --List of project chiefs, associated personnel, and brief description of project work-- Continued 

Organizational Region of Mailing Addressana 

Project Chief Associated Personnel___ Desigp._ation __ O~~ration _____ 1'YP~_()f _Work Telephone Number 

McLaurin, J. D. 

McLaurin, J. D. 

McLaurin, J. D. 

McLaurin, J. D. 

McLaurin, J. D. 

McLaurin, J. D. 

McLaurin, J. D. 

McLaurin, J. D. 

National 

Mapping 

National 

Mapping 

National 

Mapping 

National 

Mapping 

National 

Mapping 

National 

Mapping 

National 

Mapping 

National 

Mapping 

Northern 

Northern 

Northern 

Southern 

Southern 

Southern 

Southern 

Southern 

Mapping at 1:50,000 in Naval Petroleum Reserve 

Mapping at 1: 50,000 in coal resource 

area 

Mapping at 1: 63,360 in eastern Brooks 

Range 

Providing large-scale topographic 

maps of Anchorage area 

Preparation of large-scale maps of 

Willow area 

Preparation of large-scale maps of 

Whittier area 

Preparation of large-scale maps of 

Seward area 

Preparation of large-scale maps of 

Valdez and vicinity 

Rocky Mountain Mapping Center 

Building 25, P. 0. Box 25046 

Denver Federal Center 

Denver, CO 80225 

(303) 234-2351 

Rocky Mountain Mapping Center 

Building 25, P. 0. Box 25046 

Denver Federal Center 

Denver, CO 80225 

(303) 234-2351 

Rocky Mountain Mapping Center 

Building 25, P. 0. Box 25046 

Denver Federal Center 

Denver, CO 80225 

(303) 234-2351 

Rocky Mountain Mapping Center 

Building 25, P. 0. Box 25046 

Denver Federal Center 

Denver, CO 80225 

(303) 234-2351 

Rocky Mountain Mapping Center 

Building 25, P. 0. Box 25046 

Denver Federal Center 

Denver, CO 80225 

(303) 234-2351 

Rocky Mountain Mapping Center 

Building 25, P. 0. Box 25046 

Denver Federal Center 

Denver, CO 80225 

(303) 234-2351 

Rocky Mountain Mapping Center 

Building 25, P. 0. Box 25046 

Denver Federal Center 

Denver, CO 80225 

(303) 234-2351 

Rocky Mountain Mapping Center 

Building 25, P. 0. Box 25046 

Denver Federal Center 

Denver, CO 80225 

(303) 234-2351 
,.. 

...... 

0 

...... 

Table 3. --List of project chiefs, associated personnel, and brief description of project work-- Continued 

Organizational Region of Mailing Address and 

Project Chief Associated Personnel Designation Operation Type of Work Telephone Number 

McLaurin, J. D. 

McLaurin, J. D. 

McLaurin, J. D. 

McLaurin, J. D. 

McLaurin, J. D. 

McLaurin, J. D. 

Meier, M. F. 

Miller, T. P. 

Post, A. S. 

Hodge, S. M. 

Rasmussen, L. A. 

Taylor, P. L. 

Sikonia, W. G. 

Krimmel, R. M. 

Heliker, C. C. 

Brown, C. S. 

Grauch, R. 

National 

Mapping 

National 

Mapping 

National 

Mapping 

National 

Mapping 

National 

Mapping 

National 

Mapping 

Water Res. 

Geologic 

Southern 

Southern 

Southern 

Preparation of large-scale maps of 

Cordova area 

Preparation of 1:63,360 maps of 

Bering Glacier - Mount St. Elias 

area 

Preparation of bathymetric/topographic maps for Anchorage, Cook 

Inlet and coastal zone areas 

Southwestern Preparation of new 1: 250, 000-scale 

maps of Bethel - Russian Mission area 

Southwestern Preparation of new maps for Port 

Moller area 

West-central Mapping at 1: 50,000 in HughesShungnak area 

Statewide 

Statewide 

Studies of snow accumulation, melt 

and runoff on glaciers, water flow 

through and under glaciers, glacier 

surges and stability of calving 

glaciers 

Reconnaissance study of uraniferous 

plutonic rocks 

Rocky Mountain Mapping Center 

Building 25, P. 0. Box 25046 

Denver Federal Center 

Denver, CO 80225 

(303) 234-2351 

Rocky Mountain Mapping Center 

Building 25, P. 0. Box 25046 

Denver Federal Center 

Denver, CO 80225 

(303) 234-2351 

Rocky Mountain Mapping Center 

Building 25, P. 0. Box 25046 

Denver Federal Center 

Denver, CO 80225 

(303) 234-2351 

Rocky Mountain Mapping Center 

Building 25, P. 0. Box 25046 

Denver Federal Center 

Denver, CO 80225 

(303) 234-2351 

Rocky Mountain Mapping Center 

Building 25, P. 0. Box 25046 

Denver Federal Center 

Denver, CO 80225 

(303) 234-2351 

Rocky Mountain Mapping Center 

Building 25, P. 0. Box 25046 

Denver Federal Center 

Denver, CO 80225 

(303) 234-2351 

Office of the Regional 

Hydrologist 

Project Office - Glaciology 

1201 Pacific Avenue, Suite 850 

Tacoma, W A 98402 

(206) 593-6502 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

1209 Orca Street 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

(907) 271-4150 
> 

... 

0 

1\) 

Table 3. --List of project chiefs, associated personnel, and brief description of project work-- Continued 

Organizational Region Of ~il:i.ng Address and 

Project Chief Assoc_iated Personnel Designation Operation Type of Work _'fe~e_phone Number 

Miller, T • P • 

Molenaar, C. M. 

Molnia, B. F. 

Smith, R. L. 

Huffman, A. C. 

Kirk, A. R. 

Bartsch-Winkler, S. 

May, F. E. 

Scott, R. A. 

Rappaport, M. L. 

Mortensen, C. E. Myren, Douglas 

Iwatsubo, E. Y. 

Murray, T. L. 

Nelson, C. H. 

Nelson, G. L. 

Nelson, G. L. 

Thor, D. R. 

Larsen, M. C. 

Larsen, B. 

Howard, J. D. 

Southard, J. 

Scully, D. R. 

Emanuel, R. P. 

Johnson, P. R. 

Savard, C. S. 

Bailey, B. J. 

Scully, D. R. 

McCoy, G. A. 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Water Res. 

Water Res. 

East-central, 

South western 

Northern 

Reconnaissance study of geothermal 

resources, mapping and petrologic 

studies of young volcanic rocks 

Stratigraphic, petrographic and 

paleontologic studies of Cretaceous 

rocks, North Slope 

Southeastern, Studies of geologic processes and 

Offshore environmental hazards to development, 

eastern Gulf of Alaska 

Southern 

Offshore 

Southern 

Southern 

Monitoring crustal deformation 

associated with strain accumulation 

prior to earthquakes 

Environmental analyses of northeastern Bering Sea and identification of geohazards 

Data collection, monitoring and evaluation of hydrologic conditions in 

the Kenai Peninsula area 

Surface-water, ground-water, waterquality, and benthic invertebrate 

studies of Capps Creek coal area 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

1209 Orca Street 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

(907) 271-4150 

' Office of Energy Resources 

Branch of Oil and Gas 

Resources 

Box 25046 

Federal Center 

Denver, CO 80225 

(303) 234-4642 

Office of Marine Geology 

Branch of Pacific-Arctic Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 856-7019 

Office of Earthquake Studies 

Branch of Tectonophysics 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2583 

Office of Marine Geology 

Branch of Pacific-Arctic Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 856-7023 

Anchorage Subdistrict Office 

1209 Orca Street 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

(907) 271-4153 

Anchorage Subdistrict Office 

1209 Orca Street 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

(907) 271-4153 
:::. 

.A 

0 

(a) 

Table 3. --List of project chiefs, associated personnel, and brief description of project work-- Continued 

Organizational - Region of Mailmg Address-and 

Project Chief ____ Associ'!ted_rer!lonnel D~J!1:!!!91'1 Operation Type_oLWork Telephone Number 

Nelson, R. E. 

Nelson, S. W. 

Nokelberg, W. J. 

Nystrom, D. A. 

O'Leary, R. M. 

Geologic 

Mull, C. G. Geologic 

Winkler, G. R. 

Silberman, M. L. 

Hudson, T. 

Pick thorn, W. J. 

Case, J. F. 

Barnes, D. F. 

Crozer, N. A. 

Miller-Hoare, M. L. 

(Blasko, D. P., BOM) 

(Jansons, Uldis, BOr~) 

(Hoekzema, R. B., BOM) 

Hessin, T. D. 

Zehner, R. E. 

Herzon, P. 0. 

Miyaoka, R. 

Curtin, G. C. 

Yeend, W. E. 

Aleinikoff, J. A . 

Lange, I. M. 

Lanphere, M. A. 

Doe, B. P. 

Whelan, J. 

Risoli, D. A. 

Gruzensky, A. L. 

Galland, D. A. 

Hurrell, J. T. 

Geologic 

LIA 

Geologic 

Northern Study of pollen, insects and plant 

macrofossils in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska 

Southern, Mineral appraisal of part of Chugach 

Southwestern National Forest under RARE II 

Southern 

Statewide 

Statewide 

Geologic mapping, geochemical and 

geophysical surveys of Mount Hayes 

quadrangle (AMRAP) 

Compilation of information for 

planning for impacts of oil and 

gas development 

Spectrographic and chemical analyses 

in support of AMRAP 

Quaternary Research Center 

University of Washington 

Seattle, WA 98195 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

1209 Orca Street 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

(907) 271-4150 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2277 

Land Information and Analysis 

Office 

Resource Analysis Land 

Information 

National Center, Mail Stop 750 

12201 Sunrise Valley Drive 

Reston, VA 22092 

(703) 860-7116 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Exploration Research 

5946 Mcintyre Street 

Golden, CO 80401 

(303) 234-6151 
> 

... 

0 

.,. 

Table 3. --List of project chiefs, associated personnel, and brief description of project work-- Continued 

Organizational -- R.egio.ri of IVlaflirig Address and 

Project Chief Associated PeJ.>sonnel Designation Operation Type of Work Tele_phone Number 

Osbakken, W. E. 

Palmer, I. F., Jr. 

(and Lyle, W. M., 

State of Alaska) 

Palmer, I. F., Jr. 

(and Lyle, W. M., 

State of Alaska) 

Patrick, L. D. 

Dzugan, G. W. 

Bolm, J. G. 

Maxey, L. R. 

Patton, W. W., Moll, E. J. 

Jr. 

Petering, G. W., Bolm, J. G. 

Smith, T. N. 

(and Lyle, W. M., 

State of Alaska) 

Plafker, George Bruns, T. R. 

Winkler, G. R. 

Atwood, T. J. 

Geologic 

Conservation 

Conservation 

Water Res. 

Geologic 

Conservation 

Geologic 

Southeastern Operation· of Sitka Observatory 

Northern Investigations of petroleum source- rock and reservoir characteristics, 

Beaufort Sea oil and gas lease area 

West-central Studies of source rocks and potential 

reservoirs, Norton Sound 

Statewide Collection, storage and dissemination 

of water use data 

West-central Petrologic and geochemical studies, 

mapping in Nulato, Unalakleet and 

Norton Bay quadrangles (HughesShungnak project) 

Southwestern Geologic investigation of upland 

areas adjacent to lower Cook 

Inlet-Shelikof lease sale area 

Offshore Evaluation of tectonic framework, 

petroleum potential and geo-hazards, 

eastern Gulf of Alaska OCS 

Office of Geochemistry and 

Geophysics 

Branch of Electromagnetism 

and Geomagnetism 

Sitka Observatory 

Box 158 

Sitka, AK 99835 

(907) 747-3332 

Office of Area Geologist 

800 A Street, Suite 201 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

(907) 271-4363 

(Division of Geologic and Geophysical Surveys 

3001 Porcupine Drive 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

(907) 277-6615) 

(Lyle, same as above) 

Office of Area Geologist 

800 A Street, Suite 201 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

(907) 271-4363 

Anchorage Subdistrict Office 

1209 Orca Street 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

(907) 271-4153 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2248 

Conservation Division 

800 A Street, Suite 201 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

(907) 271-4412 (Petering) 

271-4406 (Smith) 

(See Palmer for Lyle's address) 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Roa~ 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2201 
> 

~ 

0 

01 

Table 3. --List of project chiefs, associated personnel, and brief description of project work-- Continued 

OrgalllZatfonar-Regwn-of-- ------- Mailing Address and 

Project Chief Associ~t!ld Person.n~ Designation Operation Type of \V_O_!"~ Telephone Number 

Plafker. George 

Reed. B. L. 

Reimnitz. Erk 

Roberts. A. A. 

Hudson. T. 

Hunt. S. J. 

Dixon. K. 

(See Barnes. P. W.) 

Cunningham. K • C. 

Rohde. W. G . and David Lindon 

Krebs. Paula (BLM) 

Savage. J. C. 

Schmoll. H. R •• and Yehle. L. A. 

Scholl. D. W •• 

and Vallier. 

T. L. 

Scully • D. R. 

Lisowski. M. 

Chleborad. A. F. 

Gardner. C. A. 

Pasch. A. D. 

Agard. S. s. 

Stevenson. A. 

Dates. M. 

Krumhardt. A. P. 

Kernodle. D. R. 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Geologic 

LIA 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Water Res. 

Statewide 

Statewide 

Northern 

Statewide 

Southern 

Southern 

Evaluation of earthquake hazards; 

studies of tectonic processes 

Study of tin resources 

Study of microseepage of helium from 

petroleum reservoirs. northern Alaska 

Statistical sampling procedures for 

vegetation maps. 

Measurement of crustral strain 

Yakataga area 

Engineering geology in coal lands. 

Cook Inlet basin 

Southwestern. Study of seafloor processes through 

Offshore geologic and geophysical data collection. Aleutian Ridge and Shelf 

Southern Hydrologic data collection in areas 

of coal potential 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park. CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2201 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

1209 Orca Street 

Anchorage. AK 99501 

(907) 271-4150 

Office of Energy Resources 

Branch of Oil and Gas Resources 

Box 25046 

Denver Federal Center 

Denver. CO 80225 

(303) 234-3803 

EROS Data Center 

Sioux Falls. SD 57198 

(605) 594-6511 

Office of Earthquake Studies 

Branch of Tectonophysics 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park. CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2633 

Office of Environmental Geology 

Branch of Engineering Geology 

Box 25046 MS 903 

Denver Federal Center 

Denver. CO 80225 

(303) 234-3290. -2999. -3721 

Office of Marine Geology 

Branch of Pacific-Arctic Geology 

345 Middlefield .Road 

Menlo Park. CA 94025 

( 415) 856-7089 (Scholl) 

-7048 (Vallier) 

Anchorage Subdistrict Office 

1209 Orca Street 

Anchorage. AK 99501 

(907) 271-4153 
~ 

... 

0 

G) 

Table 3. --List of project chiefs associated personnel, and brief description of project work-- Continued 

Organizational Region-of Mailing Address and 

Project Chief Associat~d Personnel Designation Operation Type of Work _______ _ ____ ':['~lephone Number 

Shearer, G. B. 

Silberman, M. L. 

Sloan, C. E • 

Sloan, C. E. 

Smith, J. G. 

Smith, T. N. 

Still, P. J. 

Still, P. J. 

Holden, K. D. Conservation 

Gray, L. B. Geologic 

Conner, C. L. 

Pickthorn, W. J. (leave) 

Berg, H. C. 

Grantz, Arthur 

Nelson, s. W. 

Csejtey, B. Jr. 

Winkler, G. R. 

Patton, W. W. 

Grybeck, D. G. 

Chapman, R. M. 

(Brookins, D. G., 

U. of NM) 

(Mitchell, P. A., 

EXXON) 

Feulner, A. J. 

Glude, W. J. 

Hulsing, Harry 

Childers , J. M. 

(See Petering, G. W.) 

Lamke, R. D. 

Madison, R. J. 

Brunett, J. 0. 

Water Res. 

Water Res. 

Geologic 

Water Res. 

Water Res. 

Northern, 

Offshore 

Statewide 

Northern 

Statewide 

Identification of geologic hazards, 

providing technical data for exploration tract selection, Beaufort Sea 

area 

Geochemical and geochronological 

studies of igneous rocks and ore 

deposits 

Collection of hydrologic information 

for ONPRA 

Hydrologic studies in support of 

Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline 

Southeastern Geochronology of southeastern 

Alaska 

Statewide 

Statewide 

Basic data collection, stream 

sediment 

Reduction of historical water.,.quality 

data and evaluation of its adequacy 

for planning, management and future 

studies 

Conservation Division 

800 A Street, Suite 109 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

(907) 271-4445 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2267 

Alaska District Office 

733 West 4th Ave., Suite 400 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

(907) 271-4393 

Alaska District Office 

733 West 4th Ave., Suite 400 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

(907) 271-4393 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2231 

Alaska District Office 

733 West 4th Ave., Suite 400 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

(415) 271-4138 

Alaska District Office 

733 West 4th Ave., Suite 400 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

(907) 271-4138 
> 

... 

0 

...... 

Table 3. --List of project chiefs, associated personnel, and brief description of project work-- Continued 

Organizational RegJ.on or-- Mailing- A<rdress and 

Project Chief Associated Personnel Designation Operation . -----~---~~.<>f Work T~le_l)hone Number 

Stricker, G. D. 

Thrasher, G. P. (See also Turner, B. W., 

or Whitney, J. W.) 

Thrasher, G. P., Schaff, D. P. 

and Turner, B. W. Lybeck, L. D. 

Townshend, J. B. Papp, J. E. 

Sauter, E. A. 

Tilton, S. P. 

Nelson, M. N. 

Fritsch, P. E. 

Geologic 

Conservation 

Geologic 

Turner, B. W. (See also Thrasher, G. P. ) 

Turner, B. W. 

and Thrasher, 

G. P. 

Vallier, T. L. 

Schaff, D. P. 

Lybeck, L. D. 

(See also Scholl, D. W.) 

von Heune, R. E. Moore, G. W. 

Wahrhaftig, Clyde 

Weber, F. R. 

Fisher, M. A. 

Cochran, G. 

Foster, H. L. 

Hamilton, T. D. 

Conservation 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Statewide Evaluation of coal resources and 

assessl'!lent of Btu values and other 

coal characteristics 

Southwestern, Identification of geologic conditions 

Offshore and hazards to petroleum exploration 

and development, Kodiak Shelf area 

East-central Operation of College Observatory to 

(location of produce geomagnetic and seismic data 

observatory) for national and international use 

Southern, 

Offshore 

Identification of geologic conditions 

and hazards to petroleum exploration 

and development, eastern Gulf coast 

area 

Southwestern, Studies of tectonic framework, geoOffshore logic history and geodynamic aspects 

of western Gulf of Alaska continental margin 

Southern 

East-central 

Evaluation of coal in central Alaska 

Range 

Description of Quaternary history of 

Yukon-Tanana Upland. 

Office of Energy Resources 

Branch of Coal Resources 

Box 25046 MS 972 

Denver, CO 80225 

(303) 234-3560 

Conservation Division 

800 A Street, Suite 109 

Anchorage , A K 99 501 

(907) 271-4445 

Office of Geochemistry 

and Geophysics 

Branch of Electromagnetism 

and Geomagnetism 

College Observatory 

Yukon Drive on West Ridge 

Fairbanks, AK 99701 

(907) 479-6146 

Conservation Division 

800 A Street, Suite 109 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

(907) 271-4444 

Office of Marine Geology 

Pacific-Arctic Branch 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 856-7105 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2664 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

Box 80568 

Fairbanks, AK 99708 

(907) 479-7245 
> 

.... 

0 

00 

Table 3. --List of project chiefs, associated personnel, and brief description of project work-- Continued 

Organizational Region of --~ --- - Mailing Address and 

Project Chief Associated P~rsonnel De_signatioJ1 OQ_E!_ratio!l _'J,'ype_ of Work Telephone Number 

White, F. E. , Jr. To be assigned 

Whitney, J. W. 

Whitney, J. W. 

Whitney, J. W., 

and Thrasher, 

G. P. 

Wilson, F. H • 

Witmer, R. J. 

Yeend, W. A. 

Yehle, L. A. 

Shearer, G. B. 

Lybeck, L. D. 

Schaff, D. P. 

Turner, B. W. 

Shew, N. 

(See Schmoll, H. R.) 

National 

Mapping 

Conservation 

Conservation 

Conservation 

Geologic 

ONPRA 

Geologic 

Southern 

Southern 

Southern 

Preparation of large-scale maps of 

Kenai-Soldotna area 

Bathymetric mapping and geologic 

interpretations, Shelikof Strait 

OCS area 

Mapping and identification of submerged features, Augustine Island 

Southwestern, Identification of geologic conditions 

Offshore and hazards to exploration, lower 

Cook Inlet and Shelikof Strait 

East-central, Geochronologic studies, computer 

Southwestern storage of dates, central and 

western Alaska 

Northern 

Statewide 

Dating and correlation of strata in 

test wells on National Petroleum 

Reserve in Alaska 

Studies of origin and potential 

resources of placer deposits 

Branch of Field Surveys 

Denver Federal Center 

Denver, CO 80225 

(303) 234-2177 

Office of the Area Geologist 

800 A Street 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

(907) 271-4361 

Office of Area Geologist 

800 A Street 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

(907) 271-4361 

Conservation Division 

800 A Street, Suite 109 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

(907) 271-4457 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2664 

Office of National Petroleum 

Reserve in Alaska 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2138 

Office of Mineral Resources 

Branch of Alaskan Geology 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

(415) 323-8111 ext. 2156 
> 

.... 

0 

CD 

Table 4. --Cooperating agencies 

[Federal cooperators within the same division as the project are not listed.] 

Organizational 

Federal State Local Project Title Project Chief Designation 

Bureau of Land 

Management (BLM); 

National Aeronautics 

and Space Administration (NASA); 

U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers , Cold 

Regions Research 

and Engineering 

Laboratory 

BLM; NASA 

University of Colorado, Institute of 

Arctic and Alpine 

Research 

BLM; National Oceanic 

and Atmospheric Administration ( N 0 A A) 

(OCSEAP) 

BLM 

BLM 

BLM 

BLM 

BLM; NOAA 

Bureau of Mines 

(part of National 

Park Service study) 

Bureau of Mines; 

USGS Conservation 

Div. 

Bureau of Mines 

Univ. of Alaska 

Department of Natural Resources (ADNR), 

Division of Geological 

and Geophysical 

Surveys (DGGS) 

Department of Agri- ADNR, DGGS 

culture, Forest 

Service 

Vegetation Mapping of Northern Alaska Using 

Landsat Digital Data 

Denali Resource Map Assessment Project 

Eastern Gulf of Alaska Seismic Studies 

Geological and Geophysical Investigations 

of Augustine Island Volcano 

Yukon Flats BLM Control 

Yukon Charley BLM Control 

Talkeetna Mountains- BLM Control 

Environmental Geologic Studies of the 

Northern Bering Sea 

Mineral Resources of Glacier Bay National 

Monument Wilderness Study Area 

Geotectonics, Metallogenics and Resources 

of Southeastern Alaska 

West Chichagof-Yakobi Wilderness Study 

Mineral Resources of the Petersburg 

(1: 125,000) Quadrangle 

Gaydos, L. J. 

Rohde, W. G. 

and Krebs, P., 

(BLM) 

Lahr, J. C. 

Whitney, J. W. 

Foley, R. C. 

Foley, R. C. 

Foley, R. C. 

Nelson, C. H. 

Brew, D. A. 

Berg, H. c. 

Johnson, B. R. 

Cathrall, J. B. 

National Mapping 

LIA 

Geologic 

Conservation 

National Mapping 

National Mapping 

National Mapping 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Geologic 
> 

~ 

~ 

0 

Table 4.-- Cooperating agencies -- Continued 

[Federal cooperators within the same division as the project are not listed.] 

Federal 

Department of the 

Interior 

Department of the 

Interior 

State 

Department of Commerce, 

National Marine Fisheries 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 

National Oceanic 

Survey 

NOAA; BLM; USGS 

Conservation Div. 

NOAA; BLM; USGS 

Conservation Div. 

NOAA; BLM 

USGS Office of National 

Petroleum Reserve 

in Alaska (ONPRA) 

ONPRA 

ONPRA 

ONPRA 

ONPRA 

ONPRA 

ONPRA 

ONPRA 

Local 

Organizatioriru 

Project Title Project Chief Designation 

Hydrologic Conditions along the Proposed Sloan, C. E. Water Resources 

Route of the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline 

Arctic Marine Sedimentary Processes Barnes, P. W. , Geologic 

and Reimnitz, Erk 

Water Supply Inventory for Processing Plant, Feulner, A. J. Water Resources 

St. Paul Island 

Nutrient Limitation in Two Arctic Lakes McCoy, G. A. Water Resources 

near Umiat 

Alaskan Bathymetric and Topographic Maps McLaurin, J. D. National Mapping 

Geologic Hazards in Bristol Bay, Hess, G. R. Geologic 

Northern Aleutian Shelf 

Environmental Studies of the Eastern 

Gulf of Alaska 

Northern Alaska Cenozoic 

North Slope Cretaceous Studies 

Helium Detection, National Petroleum 

Reserve in Alaska 

Quaternary Environments of the National 

Petroleum Reserve in Alaska 

National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska 

Hydrology 

Geothermal Studies 

Molnia, B. F. 

Hopkins, D. M. 

Molenaar, C. M. 

Roberts, A. A. 

Nelson, R. E. 

Sloan, C. E. 

Lachenbruch, 

A. H. 

Geologic Framework and Resource Assessment, Grantz, Arthur 

Beaufort and Chukchi Seas 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Water Resources 

Geologic 

Geologic 

Paleozoic Biostratigraphic Framework of 

Alaska 

Dutro, J. T. , Jr. Geologic 

National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska 

(data compilation) 

Carter, R. D. Geologic 
> 

..,. 

..,. 

..,. 

Federal 

ONPRA 

ONPRA 

U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers, Alaska 

District and Cold 

Regions Research 

and Engineering 

Laboratory 

Bureau of Mines 

Department of 

Table 4.-- Cooperating agencies-- Continued 

[Federal cooperators within the same division as the project are not listed.] 

Orgamzational 

State Local Project Title Project Chief Designation 

Coal Resources of the National Petroleum Callahan, J. E. 

Reserve in Alaska 

Geochemistry of Oilfield Waters, National Kharaka, Y. K. 

Petroleum Reserve in Alaska 

Sediment Transport in the Tanana River Burrows, R. L. 

in the Vicinity of Fairbanks, Alaska 

Chugach National Forest (RARE II) Nelson, S. W. 

Conservation 

Water Resources 

Water Resources 

Geologic 

Geologic 

State; BLM; NOAA; 

USGS Conservation Div. 

Geologic Framework and Resource Assessment Marlow, M. S. 

of the Aleutian-Bering Sea Region 

EPA 

National Park Service 

Dept. of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service ; 

Dept. of Energy, 

Alaska Power 

Admin. ; and others 

U.S. Army Corps 

of Engineers 

Hydrologic Studies Related to Coal Mining 

Wrangell-St. Elias National Monument 

Analysis Project 

Scully, D. R. Water Resources 

Carneggie, D. M. LIA 

Dept. of Transportation and 

Public Facilities; 

Alaska Power 

Authority; and 

others 

Thomas Bay Power Collection of Basic Records Program (surface Division 

personnel 

Water Resources 

Commission and water, ground water, water quality) 

Departments of 

Environmental Conservation, Fish 

and Game 

ADNR, DGGS 

ADNR, DGGS 

others 

ADNR, Dept. of Forest 

Land and Water 

Management (DFLWM) 

Tanana River Sediment Study Burrows, R. L. Water Resources 

Hydrology and Water Quality of Keta River Berwick, V. K. Water Resources 

Basin near Ketchikan 

Alaska Mineral Resource Assessment (AMRAP) Berg, H. C. Geologic 

Geochemistry and Geochronology of Igneous Silberman, M. L. Geologic 

Rocks and Ore Deposits in Alaska 

Alaska Water Use Data Program Patrick, L. D. Water Resources 
> 

..... 

..... 

1\) 

Federal 

Table 4.-- Cooperating agencies-- Continued 

[Federal cooperators within the same division as the project are not listed.] 

State 

ADNR, DFLWM 

ADNR, DGGS 

ADNR, DGGS 

ADNR, DGGS 

ADNR, DGGS 

ADNR, DGGS 

ADNR, DGGS 

Local 

Kenai Peninsula 

Borough 

Fairbanks North 

Star Borough 

Municipality of 

Anchorage 

City of Craig 

Municipality of 

Anchorage 

Project Title 

Water Resources of the Kenai Peninsula 

Borough 

Water Resources of the Bristol Bay Region 

1980 Lower Cook Inlet-Shelikof Strait Field 

Project 

Metamorphic Facies Map 

Arctic National Wildlife Range 

Stratigraphic Project 

Norton Sound stratigraphic study 

Knik Glacier 

Geohydrology of the Fairbanks North Star 

Star Borough 

Geohydrology of the Anchorage area 

Water resources in the vicinity of Craig 

and Klawock, Alaska 

Ground-water resources of the middle Eagle 

River valley near Eagle River, Alaska 

Organizational 

Project Chief Designation 

Nelson, G. L. Water Resources 

Dearborn, L. L. Water Resources 

Petering, G. W. , Conservation 

and Smith, T. N. 

(and Lyle, W. M., 

ADNR) 

Brew, D. A. Geologic 

Palmer, I. F. Conservation 

(and Lyle, W. M., 

ADNR) 

Palmer, I. F. , Conservation 

(and Lyle, W. M., 

ADNR) 

Mayo, L. R. Water Resources 

Krumhardt, A. P. Water Resources 

Cowing, D. J. Water Resources 

Feulner, A • J. Water Resources 

Dearborn, L. L. Water Resources 

City and Borough Ground-water investigation of the Mendenhall (To be assigned) Water Resources 

of Juneau Valley, Juneau 
·~·-········. :··· 

.. --··· 

.······· 

...................... : ....... ······· .. . ......•. .~····· ........ . 

LJ£.£IN G- SEA ::.--·· .... 

· .. ·· ... ·· .. ·· .. 

PAC 

EA.N'