U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Open-File Report 2014–1103

Prepared in cooperation with the South Platte Natural Resources District, Conservation and 

Survey Division of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and the Nebraska Environmental Trust

Hydrostratigraphic Interpretation of Test-Hole and Borehole 

Geophysical Data, Kimball, Cheyenne, and Deuel Counties, 

Nebraska, 2011–12

Hydrostratigraphic Interpretation of TestHole and Borehole Geophysical Data, 

Kimball, Cheyenne, and Deuel Counties, 

Nebraska, 2011–12

By Christopher M. Hobza and Steven S. Sibray

Prepared in cooperation with the South Platte Natural Resources District, Conservation and Survey Division of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and the 

Nebraska Environmental Trust

Open-File Report 2014–1103

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

SALLY JEWELL, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Suzette M. Kimball, Acting Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2014

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Suggested citation:

Hobza, C.M., and Sibray, S.S., 2014, Hydrostratigraphic interpretation of test-hole and borehole geophysical data, 

Kimball, Cheyenne, and Deuel Counties, Nebraska, 2011–12: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2014–1103, 

45 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20141103/.

ISSN 2331-1258 (online)
iii

Contents

Acknowledgments.........................................................................................................................................v

Abstract...........................................................................................................................................................1

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

Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................3

Previous Investigations........................................................................................................................3

Study Area Description........................................................................................................................3

Geologic Setting and Hydrogeology..................................................................................................4

Methods...........................................................................................................................................................7

Test-Hole Drilling and Borehole Geophysics ...................................................................................7

Test-Hole Drilling Method and Procedure...............................................................................7

Borehole Geophysical Data Collection ....................................................................................7

Global Positioning System Survey ...................................................................................................10

Hydrostratigraphic Interpretation of Test-Hole and Borehole Geophysical Data ............................10

Summary........................................................................................................................................................12

References Cited..........................................................................................................................................14

Figures 3–30..................................................................................................................................................17

Figures

1. Map showing location of the study area and drilled test holes, Kimball, Cheyenne, and 

Deuel Counties, Nebraska, 2011–12 ..........................................................................................2

2. Graph showing composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs 

for test hole 1-SP-11, Kimball County, Nebraska...................................................................11

3. Graph showing composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs 

for test hole 2-SP-11, Kimball County, Nebraska...................................................................18

4. Graph showing composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs 

for test hole 3-SP-11, Kimball County, Nebraska...................................................................19

5. Graph showing composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs 

for test hole 4-SP-11, Kimball County, Nebraska...................................................................20

6. Graph showing composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs 

for test hole 5-SP-11, Kimball County, Nebraska...................................................................21

7. Graph showing composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs 

for test hole 6-SP-11, Kimball County, Nebraska...................................................................22

8. Graph showing composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs 

for test hole 7-SP-11, Kimball County, Nebraska...................................................................23

9. Graph showing composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs 

for test hole 8-SP-11, Kimball County, Nebraska...................................................................24

10. Graph showing composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs 

for test hole 10-SP-11, Kimball County, Nebraska.................................................................25

11. Graph showing composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs 

for test hole 11-SP-11, Kimball County, Nebraska.................................................................26

12. Graph showing composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs 

for test hole 1-CC-11, Cheyenne County, Nebraska..............................................................27
iv

13. Graph showing composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs 

for test hole 2-CC-11, Cheyenne County, Nebraska..............................................................28

14. Graph showing composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs 

for test hole 3-CC-11, Cheyenne County, Nebraska..............................................................29

15. Graph showing composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs 

for test hole 4-CC-11, Cheyenne County, Nebraska..............................................................30

16. Graph showing composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs 

for test hole 5-CC-11, Cheyenne County, Nebraska..............................................................31

17. Graph showing composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs 

for test hole 6-CC-11, Cheyenne County, Nebraska..............................................................32

18. Graph showing composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs 

for test hole 7-CC-11, Cheyenne County, Nebraska..............................................................33

19. Graph showing composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs 

for test hole 8-CC-11, Cheyenne County, Nebraska..............................................................34

20. Graph showing composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs 

for test hole 9-CC-11, Cheyenne County, Nebraska..............................................................35

21. Graph showing composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs 

for test hole 10-CC-11, Cheyenne County, Nebraska............................................................36

22. Graph showing composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs 

for test hole 1-DC-12, Deuel County, Nebraska .....................................................................37

23. Graph showing composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs 

for test hole 2-DC-12, Deuel County, Nebraska .....................................................................38

24. Graph showing composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs 

for test hole 3-DC-12, Deuel County, Nebraska .....................................................................39

25. Graph showing composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs 

for test hole 4-DC-12, Deuel County, Nebraska .....................................................................40

26. Graph showing composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs 

for test hole 5-DC-12, Deuel County, Nebraska .....................................................................41

27. Graph showing composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs 

for test hole 6-DC-12, Deuel County, Nebraska .....................................................................42

28. Graph showing composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs 

for test hole 7-DC-12, Deuel County, Nebraska .....................................................................43

29. Graph showing composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs 

for test hole 8-DC-12, Deuel County, Nebraska .....................................................................44

30. Graph showing composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs 

for test hole 9-DC-12, Deuel County, Nebraska. The groundwater levels depicted were 

measured in the High Plains aquifer, Brule sand aquifer, and the Chadron aquifer.......45

Tables

1. Geology and hydrogeologic characteristics of the study area of western Nebraska......5

2. Site identifiers, geographic location, and selected drilling data for test holes, 

Kimball, Cheyenne, and Deuel Counties, Nebraska, 2011–12 ...............................................8
v

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the South Platte Natural Resources District and the Nebraska Environmental 

Trust for their financial support. Acknowledgement is extended to Chris Kaiser of the South 

Platte Natural Resources District for securing access to all drilling locations and handling administrative duties associated with this project. The authors also thank the participating landowners 

for granting access to their properties for this study.
vi

Conversion Factors

Multiply By To obtain

Length

inch (in.) 2.54 centimeter (cm)

inch (in.) 25.4 millimeter (mm)

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m)

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km)

Area

acre 4,047 square meter (m2

)

acre 0.4047 hectare (ha)

acre 0.004047 square kilometer (km2

)

square foot (ft2

) 0.09290 square meter (m2)

square mile (mi2

) 2.590 square kilometer (km2) 

Flow rate

gallon per minute (gal/min) 0.06309 liter per second (L/s)

foot per day (ft/d) 0.3048 meter per day (m/d)

inch per year (in/yr) 25.4 millimeter per year (mm/yr)

Transmissivity*

foot squared per day (ft2

/d) 0.09290 meter squared per day (m2/d) 

Temperature in degrees Fahrenheit (°F) may be converted to degrees Celsius (°C) as follows: 

°C=(°F-32)/1.8.

Vertical coordinate information is referenced to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 

(NGVD 29).

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 

(NAD 83).

*Transmissivity: The standard unit for transmissivity is cubic foot per day per square foot 

times foot of aquifer thickness [(ft3/d)/ft2]ft. In this report, the mathematically reduced form, 

foot squared per day (ft2/d), is used for convenience.
Hydrostratigraphic Interpretation of Test-Hole and 

Borehole Geophysical Data, Kimball, Cheyenne, and 

Deuel Counties, Nebraska, 2011–12

By Christopher M. Hobza and Steven S. Sibray

Abstract

Recently (2004) adopted legislation in Nebraska requires 

a sustainable balance between long-term supplies and uses 

of surface-water and groundwater and requires Natural 

Resources Districts to understand the effect of groundwater 

use on surface-water systems when developing a groundwatermanagement plan. The South Platte Natural Resources District 

(SPNRD) is located in the southern Nebraska Panhandle and 

overlies the nationally important High Plains aquifer. Declines 

in water levels have been documented, and more stringent 

regulations have been enacted to ensure the supply of groundwater will be sufficient to meet the needs of future generations. Because an improved understanding of the hydrogeologic characteristics of this aquifer system is needed to ensure 

sustainability of groundwater withdrawals, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the SPNRD, Conservation and 

Survey Division of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and 

the Nebraska Environmental Trust, began a hydrogeologic 

study of the SPNRD to describe the lithology and thickness of 

the High Plains aquifer. This report documents these characteristics at 29 new test holes, 28 of which were drilled to the 

base of the High Plains aquifer. 

Herein the High Plains aquifer is considered to include all 

hydrologically connected units of Tertiary and Quaternary age. 

The depth to the base of aquifer was interpreted to range from 

37 to 610 feet in 28 of the 29 test holes. At some locations, 

particularly northern Kimball County, the base-of-aquifer 

surface was difficult to interpret from drill cutting samples and 

borehole geophysical logs. The depth to the base of aquifer 

determined for test holes drilled for this report was compared 

with the base-of-aquifer surface interpreted by previous 

researchers. In general, there were greater differences between 

the base-of-aquifer elevation reported herein and those in previous studies for areas north of Lodgepole Creek compared to 

areas south of Lodgepole Creek. The largest difference was at 

test hole 5-SP-11, where an Ogallala-filled paleovalley previously had been interpreted based on relatively sparse test-hole 

data west of 5-SP-11. The base of aquifer near test hole 5-SP11 reported herein is approximately 230 ft higher in elevation 

than previously interpreted. Among other test holes that are 

likely to have been drilled in Ogallala-filled paleovalleys, the 

greatest difference in the interpreted base of aquifer was for 

test hole 7-CC-11, northeast of Potter, Nebraska, where the 

base of aquifer is 180 feet deeper than previously interpreted. 

Interpretation of test-hole and borehole geophysical data 

for 29 additional test holes will improve resource managers’ 

understanding of the hydrogeologic characteristics, including 

aquifer thickness. Aquifer thickness, which is related to total 

water in storage, is not well quantified in the north and south 

tablelands. The additional hydrostratigraphic interpretations 

provided in this report will improve the hydrogeologic framework used in current (2014) and future groundwater models, 

which are the basis for many water-management decisions. 

Introduction

Recently (2004) adopted legislation in Nebraska requires 

a sustainable balance between long-term water supplies and 

uses of surface- and groundwater (Ostdiek, 2009) and requires 

Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) to understand the effect 

of groundwater use on surface-water systems when developing a groundwater-management plan. The South Platte Natural 

Resources District (SPNRD) is located in the southern part of 

the Nebraska Panhandle and overlies the nationally important 

High Plains aquifer (fig. 1). Within its borders, the SPNRD 

manages groundwater use in three distinct but hydrologically connected geologic units within the High Plains aquifer. 

Declines in water levels have been documented (McGuire, 

2013), and more stringent regulations have been enacted to 

ensure the supply of groundwater will be sufficient to meet the 

needs of future generations (South Platte Natural Resources 

District, 2009). An improved understanding of the hydrogeologic characteristics of these aquifers is needed to ensure 

that current management plans are adequate to sustain future 

groundwater withdrawals. 

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with 

the SPNRD, Conservation and Survey Division of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and the Nebraska Environmental 
2 Hydrostratigraphic Interpretation of Test-Hole and Borehole Geophysical Data, Nebraska, 2011–12

!(

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Sidney 6 NNW

Sidney 6 NNW

KIMBALL

CHEYENNE

DEUEL

Lodgepole Creek 

Sand Creek

Platte River

Rush Creek

South Platte River

Pumpkin Creek

Blue Creek

Lawrence Creek

Sand Draw

Frenchman

Sidney 

Draw

Willow Creek

Ash

Lost Creek

Deep Holes

Greenwood Creek

Cedar Cr

Horse Cr

Plum

Sand Creek

Creek

North

Cr

 Creek

Creek Lodgepole

 Creek

Spring

Creek tributary

Bighorn Glulch

Indian

Creek

Melbeta

drain

Sidney

Harrisburg

Kimball

Lisco

Bridgeport

Potter

Oshkosh

Dix

Chappell

Dalton

Lodgepole

Big

Springs

Gurley

Venango

Bushnell

Broadwater

Lewellen

9-DC-12

8-DC-12

7-DC-12 6-DC-12

5-DC-12

4-DC-12

3-DC-12 2-DC-12 1-DC-12

9-CC-11

8-CC-11

7-CC-11

6-CC-11

5-CC-11

4-CC-11 3-CC-11

2-CC-11

1-CC-11

8-SP-11

7-SP-11

6-SP-11

5-SP-11

4-SP-11

3-SP-11 2-SP-11 1-SP-11

10-CC-11

11-SP-11

10-SP-11

GARDEN

MORRILL BANNER

KEITH

102° 103° 104°

41°

41°30’

20 MILES

High Plains Aquifer

WYOMING

NEBRASKA

COLORADO

EXPLANATION

Test hole location and identifier

1-SP-11

Cheyenne Tablelands

Digital data from U.S. Geological Survey National Elevation Data set, 2013, 1:750,000Lambert Conformal Conic projectionStandard parallels 40°N and 43°N, central meridian 100°WHorizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

0 10

0 10 20 KILOMETERS

Western Canal

Weather station 

and identifier

NEBRASKA

South Platte Natural Resources District

Figure 1. Location of the study area and drilled test holes, Kimball, Cheyenne, and Deuel Counties, Nebraska, 2011–12. 
Introduction 3

Trust, began in 2011 a hydrogeologic study of the SPNRD to 

describe the lithology and thickness of the High Plains aquifer 

underlying the SPNRD. This study included drilling 29 test 

holes, 28 of which were drilled to the base of the High Plains 

aquifer. The hydrostratigraphic interpretation of the additional 

test-hole information will improve the geologic framework 

used in current (2014) and future groundwater models, which 

are the basis for many water-management decisions.

Purpose and Scope

This report documents the methods of data collection 

and analysis, and presents test-hole and borehole geophysical 

logs and interpretations used to improve the knowledge of the 

hydrostratigraphy in the study area. The geologic and borehole 

geophysical data collected from the test holes are intended to 

refine interpretations in the base-of-aquifer elevation being 

used for groundwater models and to improve interpretations 

of geophysical data collected using airborne electromagnetic 

(AEM) surveys (Abraham and others, 2012; U.S. Geological 

Survey Crustal Geophysics and Geochemistry Science Center, 

2014). The generalized lithologic logs and borehole-geophysical logs from 29 newly drilled test holes are included in this 

report.

Previous Investigations

Many geologic and groundwater investigations have 

included all or parts of the study area including Darton (1903 

and 1905), Meinzer (1923), Bjorklund (1957), Lowry (1966), 

Barrash and Morin (1987), Diffendal (1990), Swinehart and 

Diffendal (1997), and Condon (2005). Bjorklund (1957) 

studied the groundwater and surface-water resources of the 

lower Lodgepole Creek valley and included water-level maps, 

geologic maps, and geologic cross-sections. Within the study 

area, Bjorklund (1957) also reported that a permeable zone 

underlies parts of Lodgepole Creek valley but pinches out near 

the valley walls. Lowry (1966) provided a map of these highly 

permeable zones in western Nebraska and eastern Wyoming. 

Barrash (1986) studied the hydraulic properties of the fractured part of the Brule Formation of the White River Group 

beneath Sidney Draw in Cheyenne County. Sibray and Zhang 

(1994) modeled the hydraulic behavior of a fracture zone in 

three dimensions. Steele and others (2007) completed a comprehensive investigation of groundwater movement, age, and 

quality near the city of Sidney, Nebraska. In this area, the three 

separate geologic units within the High Plains aquifer were 

determined to be hydrologically connected. 

Groundwater models that encompass the entire study 

area have been used to address questions related to groundwater management and sustainability. As part of the Platte 

River Cooperative Hydrology Study (COHYST, http://cohyst.

dnr.ne.gov/), the Western Model unit (Luckey and Cannia, 

2006) was developed to support regulatory and management 

decisions for much of western Nebraska. Cannia and others 

(2006) developed a hydrostratigraphic framework and characterized underlying aquifers of the SPNRD and surrounding 

areas that was used in COHYST groundwater-flow models. 

To address concerns about future groundwater development, 

Luckey and others (1988) constructed a groundwater model 

that covered the entire High Plains aquifer. Work is ongoing (Qi and Christenson, 2010) to improve the earlier model 

(Luckey and others, 1988) and focuses on the entire High 

Plains aquifer using additional data and improved modeling 

techniques. As part of this recent modeling work, Stanton 

and others (2011) created a water budget for the High Plains 

aquifer and provided estimates of groundwater recharge and 

water use across the region, which includes the entire study 

area, and Houston and others (2013) released a compilation of 

geodatabases of hydrogeologic, remote-sensing, and waterbudget-component data.

Study Area Description

The study area is located in the southern part of the 

Nebraska Panhandle (fig. 1), includes all of Kimball, 

Cheyenne, and Deuel Counties, and covers approximately 

2,600 square miles (mi2). The study area is located within the 

High Plains section of the Great Plains physiographic province (Fenneman, 1946) and borders Wyoming to the west and 

Colorado to the south. Lodgepole Creek separates the north 

and south tablelands in the study area. The tablelands have 

nearly flat to gently rolling topography. The tablelands to the 

north, called the Cheyenne Tablelands, are more extensive, 

reaching the south edge of the Pumpkin Creek valley. 

Land use in the study area is dominated by agriculture. 

Of the 1.66 million total acres of the study area, approximately 

29 percent is rangeland and nonagricultural uses, 33 percent 

is nonirrigated (dry-land) crops, 8 percent is irrigated cropland, 21 percent is summer fallow or idle cropland, and 

9 percent is enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program and 

planted with native warm season grasses (South Platte Natural 

Resources District, 2009). In general, the amount of rangeland 

decreases and cropland increases from west to east (Center for 

Advance Land Management Information Technology, 2007). 

Irrigation demands are predominantly supplied with groundwater; however, some surface-water irrigation is present in 

southeastern Deuel County. The Western Irrigation District 

operates and maintains the Western Canal (fig. 1), which supplies approximately 23,900 acres, most of which are located 

outside the study area to the east (Luckey and Cannia, 2006). 

Historically, there have been surface-water diversions from 

Lodgepole Creek (Darton, 1903), though no diversion data 

were reported by Luckey and Cannia (2006). 

The climate in the study area is characterized by cold 

winters and warm summers typical of continental mid-latitude 

locations (Luckey and Cannia, 2006). From 1908 to 2013 the 

mean monthly high temperatures ranged from 39.3 degrees 

Fahrenheit (oF) to 88.9 oF, whereas mean monthly lows ranged 
4 Hydrostratigraphic Interpretation of Test-Hole and Borehole Geophysical Data, Nebraska, 2011–12

from 12.0 oF to 57.6 oF, for January and July, respectively 

(High Plains Regional Climate Center, 2013). During the same 

period, the mean annual precipitation was 16.8 inches (in.) 

at the Sidney 6 NNW weather station (fig. 1) (High Plains 

Regional Climate Center, 2013). Seasonality of precipitation is 

strong, with the greatest precipitation falling during the spring 

and summer months. Luckey and Cannia (2006) reported 

annual lake evaporation rates of about 47 in. that do not vary 

much throughout the study area.

Lodgepole Creek is the main watercourse that flows 

through the study area from west to east before emptying into 

the South Platte River in Colorado (fig. 1). Flow in Lodgepole 

Creek is typically ephemeral or intermittent (Bjorklund, 1957; 

Steele and others, 2007). Some reaches of Lodegpole Creek 

have sustained flow, especially during the nonirrigation season 

(October to April) (Steele and others, 2007). The tributaries 

of Lodgepole Creek, including Sidney Draw, are ephemeral 

streams and only provide flow after times of intense rainfall 

(Bjorklund, 1957). A major surface-water divide crosses the 

study area in Cheyenne and Kimball Counties, where the north 

half drains into Rush Creek and other tributaries that lead to 

the North Platte River (fig. 1).

Most groundwater recharge in the study area is focused 

along Lodgepole Creek and its tributaries and occurs after 

intense precipitation (Bjorklund, 1957); however, the author 

did not quantify amounts. Using the SWASP soil-water 

simulation program, Dugan and Zelt (2000) estimated the 

nonirrigated potential recharge at 0.5 to 1.0 inch per year (in/

yr). Using the Soil-Water-Balance model, Stanton and others 

(2011) estimated recharge to average 0.1 to 0.5 in/yr for 1940 

to 1949 and 2000 to 2009 for all land uses.

Geologic Setting and Hydrogeology

The study area overlies the High Plains aquifer (fig. 1). 

For the purposes of this report, the High Plains aquifer is 

considered to include all hydrologically connected geologic 

units of Tertiary and Quaternary age (table 1). According to 

Gutentag and others (1984), within the study area, these rocks 

are the fractured parts of the upper units of the Oligocene-age 

Brule Formation of the White River Group, the Miocene- to 

Oligocene-age Arikaree Group, the Miocene-age Ogallala 

Formation, and Quaternary-age alluvial deposits. The fractured Oligocene-age Brule Formation of the White River 

Group underlies parts of Sidney Draw and Lodgepole Creek 

(Bjorklund, 1957; Lowry, 1966). Within the study area, either 

the unfractured Brule Formation of the White River Group or 

undifferentiated Cretaceous deposits form the base of the aquifer. Some of the nomenclature used in this report is commonly 

used by the Conservation and Survey Division of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Korus and Joeckel, 2011). Unless 

noted in table 1, all other names for geologic and hydrostratigraphic units are used by the USGS. 

The oldest geologic units relevant to this report are 

Cretaceous in age. The Pierre Shale is a gray to black marine 

shale that serves as a regional confining unit within the study 

area. Overlying the Pierre Shale is the Fox Hills Formation, a 

Cretaceous-age fine to medium-grained sandstone and shale. 

The Fox Hills Formation forms an aquifer in extreme southwestern Kimball County that is typically only used for domestic or stock purposes (Korus and Joeckel, 2011) when no other 

sources of water are available (Cannia and others 2006). 

The Eocene-age Chadron Formation of the White River 

Group (referred to herein as the Chadron) is the oldest Tertiary 

unit in the study area and represents the oldest deposition 

following the retreat of the Western Interior Seaway (Condon, 

2005). The upper part of the Chadron is a claystone and 

mudstone that may contain bentonitic shales that serve as a 

confining unit to separate the unconfined zones of the High 

Plains aquifer from the underlying confined aquifers. This 

confining layer, which is typically 50 to 60 feet (ft) thick in the 

study area, overlies a basal sandstone that is typically 15 to 

20 ft thick (Abraham and others, 2012). The total thickness 

of the Chadron can be more than 300 ft thick in some paleovalleys. Swinehart and others (1985) indicate that this basal 

sandstone occurs in the eastern half of the study area and 

is restricted to several Eocene paleovalleys in Kimball and 

western Cheyenne Counties. Other researchers have reclassified and renamed the basal sandstone as the Chamberlain Pass 

Formation (Evans and Terry, 1994; Terry and Evans, 1994). 

The basal sandstone is a water-bearing unit though rarely used 

in the study area because of its depth and poor water quality 

(Cannia and others, 2006).

The Brule Formation of the White River Group (referred 

to herein as the Brule) underlies the entire study area and in 

most locations forms the base of the principal aquifer. The 

Brule underlies Quaternary-age undifferentiated deposits of 

alluvial, colluvial, and eolian origin in modern valleys and the 

Ogallala Formation beneath the tablelands. The Brule is composed of a thick sequence of siltstone and mudstone that in 

places can exceed 600 ft (Steele and others, 2007). Although 

rare, the Brule may contain fluvial sand and gravel deposits 

that may yield moderate amounts of water to wells (Cannia 

and others, 2006). Steele and others (2007) described and 

mapped one paleochannel deposit north of Sidney that was 

roughly 0.5 mile (mi) wide and traceable for approximately 

6 mi. 

In places, the upper Brule can be fractured and is capable 

of supplying large amounts of water to wells. Bjorklund 

(1957) reported the existence of a horizontal permeable zone, 

roughly 10 to 15 ft thick, underlying parts of Lodgepole 

Creek valley that served as an important water source for 

large capacity wells. Sibray and Zhang (1994) reported that 

although the fracture zones can yield large amounts of water 

to wells, the storage coefficient is very low. Because of this, 

water levels can fluctuate substantially, which can often result 

in insufficient water yield to high-capacity wells during times 

of prolonged drought (Steele and others, 2007). Barrash 

and Ralston (1991) reported that the horizontal hydraulic 

conductivity of the fractured Brule west of Sidney ranged 
Introduction 

5

Table 1. Geology and hydrogeologic characteristics of the study area of western Nebraska.[Geologic description modified from Swinehart and Diffendal (1997); ages from Swinehart and others (1985); hydrostratigraphic unit (hydrostratigraphic units are considered aquifers unless specified otherwise) and hydrogeologic description from Cannia and others (2006), Korus and Joeckel (2011), and Steele and others (2007); Ma, millions of years ago; ft, feet].

System Series Age (Ma) Geologic unit Geologic description Hydrstratigraphic unit Hydrogeologic description

Quaternary Holocene to Pleistocene Present to 1.8 Alluvium

Unconsolidated sand, silt, clay, and gravel, much of which is reworked Ogallala deposits. Generally less than 30 ft 

thick.

Alluvial

Unconfined, low-yielding, limited development, generally used for domestic or stock wells.

Tertiary

Miocene

5.3 to 18.5 Ogallala Formation

Poorly sorted mixture of sand, silt, clay, and gravel. Generally unconsolidated to weakly consolidated. Beds of calcareous sandstone, calcareous siltstone, caliche, and volcanic ash are common. Maximum thickness of 600 ft in test holes. 

Ogallala

Unconfined to semi-confined, generally high-yielding water-bearing unit capable of producing 2,200 gallons per minute, yields depend on locality and vary greatly, depth to water generally greater than 

100 ft.

19 to 28 Arikaree Group

Very-fine to fine-grained sandstone. 

Limited to northern Kimball County. Less than 100 ft thick.

Arikaree Generally unconfined, yields only moder- ate amounts of water to wells.

Oligocene

29 to 33.7 Brule Formation of the White River Group

Siltstone and mudstone; sandy in some areas, principally volcaniclastic eolian deposits with some minor fluvial deposits, secondary porosity or “fracturing” developed in some areas. Can reach thicknesses that exceed 600 ft.

Fractured 

Brule

Shallow unconfined water-bearing unit, may yield large volumes of water, limited to Lodgepole Creek and Sidney Draw, limited storativity.

Brule sand May be confined or unconfined, very localized, yields generally small.

Brule Formation 

confining unit

Considered base of principal aquifer in study area.

Eocene 33.7 to 37 Chadron Formation of the White River Group Claystone and mudstone, bentonitic, maximum thickness of 300 ft. Chadron confining unit Regional confining unit, separates uncon- fined and confined aquifers.Eocene 37 to ?

Chadron Formation of 

the White River Group 

(Chamberlain Pass 

Formation1)

Fine to coarse-grained sand and sandstone, deposited in Eocene paleovalleys, saturated thickness can exceed 100 ft in small localized areas.

Chadron Confined aquifer, generally not used as a source, poor water quality.

Cretaceous Upper Cretaceous 66.5 to 71

Fox Hills Formation1 Yellowish green fine to medium-grained sandstone, some gray shale. Fox Hills1 Confined water-bearing unit, used for domestic and stock wells in western Kimball County.

Pierre Shale Gray to black marine shale. Pierre Shale confining unit Confining unit, not a source of water.

1Indicates usage by the University of Nebraska Conservation and Survey Division.

High Plains aquifer
6 Hydrostratigraphic Interpretation of Test-Hole and Borehole Geophysical Data, Nebraska, 2011–12

from 3,000 to 11,000 feet per day (ft/d), derived by analytical 

modeling of drawdown data. In a later aquifer test, Sibray and 

Zhang (1994) examined the same area and estimated a hydraulic conductivity value of 20,000 ft/d using a finite-difference 

three-dimensional numerical groundwater model (McDonald and Harbaugh, 1988). The aquifer test led by Sibray and 

Zhang (1994) also included additional wells completed above 

and below the fractured zone. The wells completed below the 

fracture zone indicated a slower response, indicating a lack of 

vertical fractures at depth. 

The Arikaree Group (herein referred to as the Arikaree) 

is a very-fine to fine-grained sandstone. Deposition of this unit 

was fluvial and eolian. This unit typically has been eroded 

away within the study area but outcrops and subcrops have 

been noted in extreme northern Kimball County (Swinehart 

and others, 1985; Cannia and others, 2006). This unit, a subunit of the High Plains aquifer, is considered an unconfined, 

water-bearing unit capable of yielding moderate amounts of 

water to wells and is typically not a suitable supply for highcapacity wells (Cannia and others, 2006). 

The Ogallala Formation (referred to herein as the Ogallala) underlies the entire study area with the exception of the 

lower Lodgepole Creek valley and Sidney Draw, where the 

unit has been eroded away (Bjorklund, 1957). The Ogallala 

is the principal geologic unit in the High Plains aquifer and 

can reach a thickness of nearly 600 ft beneath the study area 

(University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Conservation and Survey 

Division, 2013). The Ogallala is composed of a poorly sorted 

mixture of sand, silt, clay, and gravel (Condra and Reed, 

1943). The Ogallala is largely the result of fluvial deposition, 

but other depositional environments including eolian and 

lacustrine have been discussed by other researchers (Diffendal, 

1982; Helland and Diffendal 1993; Swinehart and Diffendal, 

1989). The Ogallala generally is unconsolidated or weakly 

consolidated but contains layers of sandstone cemented by 

calcium carbonate. Previous researchers have proposed subdivisions of this unit within the study area, but those have since 

been abandoned because of the difficulty correlating lithologic 

units (Diffendal, 1990). Much of the Ogallala was deposited 

by aggrading streams that filled paleovalleys eroded into older 

rocks (Swinehart and others, 1985). The location of Ogallalafilled paleovalleys has been proposed by previous researchers (Swinehart and others, 1985), but may represent only a 

fraction of the drainage systems that existed during Miocene 

time. Much of the deposition was restricted to valleys along 

drainage systems originating from mountains in Wyoming and 

Colorado (Swinehart and others, 1985). Borchert (1976) documented the presence of several Ogallala paleovalleys immediately west of Kimball County. These paleovalleys trended to 

the east and most likely cut across the northern part of Kimball 

County.

The Ogallala part of the High Plains aquifer supplies all 

wells in the Cheyenne Tablelands and south tablelands within 

the study area. Wells completed in the Ogallala can yield up 

to 2,200 gallons per minute (gpm) (Steele and others, 2007) 

and average 860 gpm (Bjorklund, 1957). Yields to wells are 

highly variable depending on the local geology. Water levels 

in the Ogallala range from near land surface within the upper 

Lodgepole Creek valley to greater than 250 ft in the Cheyenne Tablelands. To the south of Lodgepole Creek, the base 

of the Ogallala is higher in elevation and supports far fewer 

high-capacity wells because of insufficient saturated thickness 

(Steele and others, 2007). 

Within the Ogallala aquifer, properties such as hydraulic 

conductivity and specific yield can vary greatly. Steele and 

others (2007) cited a report completed by Bishop-Brogden 

and Associates, Inc., that estimated the aquifer properties of 

an unconsolidated channel sand north of Sidney, where the 

transmissivity was estimated as 27,000 square feet per day 

(ft2

/d) and hydraulic conductivity was 600 ft/d. The specific 

yield was estimated between 0.20 and 0.25. Within the study 

area, the Ogallala can contain unconsolidated sand, but is generally a mix of unconsolidated and consolidated deposits of 

very fine-grained sand, silt, and clay (Steele and others, 2007). 

Typical values for hydraulic conductivity and specific yield 

are likely to be closer to those reported by Irons and others 

(2012) for the Ogallala in central Nebraska. Based on aquifer 

tests completed approximately 170 miles east of Sidney, Nebr., 

Irons and others (2012) reported a range in hydraulic conductivity from 4.8 to 18 ft/d for individual wells. Houston and 

others (2013) reported estimates of aquifer properties for the 

entire High Plains aquifer using an approach similar to Gutentag and others (1984) by estimating aquifer properties based 

on lithologic descriptions of test holes. The more recent study 

(Houston and others, 2013) included test holes drilled in Kimball County, which are presented in this report. Excluding the 

test holes where the Ogallala was absent, the median hydraulic 

conductivity was estimated as 49 ft/d, and the specific yield 

was 0.17 for all test holes in the study area.

The youngest aquifer within the study area is the Lodgepole Creek alluvium, which is also a subunit of the High 

Plains aquifer. The alluvial deposits consist of a heterogeneous 

mixture of sand, silt, clay, and gravel. This aquifer is generally 

thin throughout much of the study area and is not considered a 

major water source for high-capacity wells (Steele and others, 

2007). This aquifer serves an important function by capturing overland runoff and facilitating recharge to high-capacity 

wells completed in the underlying Brule. The alluvium can 

become dry during the irrigation season (May to September) 

when high-capacity irrigation wells are pumped from the 

underlying Brule (Steele and others, 2007).

Groundwater flow is generally to the east and toward 

Lodgepole Creek or the South Platte River and its tributaries. 

A groundwater divide in the Cheyenne Tablelands, south of 

Rush Creek, separates flow to Lodgepole Creek from flow to 

the North Platte River (Steele and others, 2007) (fig. 1). The 

depth to groundwater ranges from near land surface in the 

Lodgepole Creek and South Platte River valleys to greater 

than 250 ft in the Cheyenne Tablelands (Abraham and others, 

2012).
Methods 7

Methods 

Test-Hole Drilling and Borehole Geophysics

The generalized lithologic descriptions and borehole 

geophysical logs for 29 test holes drilled in the study area are 

presented in the “Hydrostratigraphic Interpretation of TestHole and Borehole Geophysical Data” section and at the back 

of the report. Original copies of the lithologic logs of each 

test hole are filed at the USGS, Lincoln, Nebr. All borehole 

geophysical logs are archived in accordance with USGS 

protocol (U.S. Geological Survey, written commun., 2009). At 

the present time (2014), complete stratigraphic interpretations 

have not been assigned. Consequently, the stratigraphic units 

comprising the High Plains aquifer are undifferentiated, and 

generally only the base of the High Plains aquifer at each test 

hole has been reported. 

Test-Hole Drilling Method and Procedure

Test-hole drilling with mud-rotary drilling equipment 

has been an integral part of groundwater and geologic studies in Nebraska for many years (Diffendal, 2000). Mud-rotary 

test-hole drilling and sampling required the use of drilling 

fluid suitable for the geologic conditions. As the drill stem was 

advanced, typically in 5-ft increments, the time required to 

advance each increment was recorded along with the drilling 

action. Drill cuttings were circulated to the surface, collected, examined immediately, and lithologically described. 

Described samples were bagged, labeled, and provided to 

the Conservation and Survey Division of the University 

of Nebraska-Lincoln (CSD) for further examination under 

a petrographic microscope before the final assignment of 

stratigraphic intervals and their inclusion in the state test-hole 

database (University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Conservation and 

Survey Division, 2013). Although the precise contacts of 

certain hydrostratigraphic units have not been determined, 

logged lithologic characteristics can provide information on 

the hydrostratigraphic units sampled. For example, in many 

test-hole logs published by CSD (Diffendal, 1999, 2000; 

Smith, 2000a, 2000b; University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Conservation and Survey Division, 2013), the Ogallala is indicated 

by presence of siliceous plant roots (rootlets). Other lithologic 

characteristics are summarized in table 1. The location of each 

test hole is shown in figure 1, and test-hole locations and dates 

drilled are listed in table 2. 

Borehole Geophysical Data Collection

Borehole geophysical data were collected within the 

mud- or drilling-fluid-filled hole. A suite of borehole logs were 

collected on a single run with a multiparameter, galvanic resistivity logging tool. Borehole logs were collected using either 

the Century 8144 Multi-Parameter electrical-log tool (Century 

Geophysical Corp., 2011) or the Mount Sopris 2PEA-250 

tool (Mount Sopris Instruments, 2011). The Century 8144 

tool measured long-normal (64 in.) and short-normal (16 in.) 

electrical resistivity, natural gamma radiation, spontaneous 

potential, and fluid resistivity. The Mount Sopris 2PEA-250 

resistivity tool was threaded onto the 2PGA-250 tool (Mount 

Sopris Instruments, 2011) to create a multiparameter logger comparable to the Century 8144 electric-log tool. The 

Mount Sopris tool measured resistivity using an 8-, 16-, 32-, 

and 64-in. electrode spacing as well as natural gamma and 

spontaneous potential (Mount Sopris Instruments, 2011). The 

types of geophysical logs collected are briefly described in the 

following paragraphs. Further information regarding borehole 

geophysics can be found in reports such as Keys (1990).

Normal-resistivity logs measure the electrical resistivity of sediment, rocks, and water surrounding the borehole. 

Depending on the logging system used, the electrode spacing 

ranged from 8 in. to 64 in., each with a different volume of 

investigation. Short-normal logs have a smaller volume of 

investigation and, therefore, are affected more by the resistivity of the drilling fluid and the invaded zone that develops on 

the borehole wall. Correspondingly, long-normal logs have a 

larger volume of investigation and are less affected by drilling 

fluid. Intervals where these two logs diverge indicate areas of 

high permeability where drilling fluid has invaded the formation (Anderson and others, 2009).

Natural gamma logs measure natural gamma radiation 

being emitted by the formation surrounding the borehole 

(Keys, 1990). Clay tends to accumulate radioisotopes through 

adsorption and ion-exchange processes. Most clays, particularly illites, have high gamma activity because of the presence 

of potassium in their crystal structure. Therefore, zones of 

high gamma activity typically are interpreted as being clayrich. Volcanic ash, organic shale, and feldspathic or arkosic 

sandstones also can produce higher gamma responses (Anderson and others, 2009).

Spontaneous-potential logs (often referred to as selfpotential or SP) measure differences in the electrical potentials that develop in a borehole at lithologic or water-quality 

interfaces (Anderson, 2009). Differences in electrical potential 

often are caused by differences between the salinity of the 

borehole fluid and that of the formation fluid (Keys, 1990). 

When the borehole fluid is fresher than the formation fluid, 

electric current flow is such that SP will deflect in a negative 

direction; conversely, when the formation fluid is fresher than 

the borehole fluid, electric current flow is such that SP will 

deflect in a positive direction (Stanton and others, 2007).

Caliper logs were collected in 2012 for all test holes in 

Deuel County. The caliper log measures the borehole diameter 

with a spring loaded, three-arm probe. Changes in borehole 

diameter are affected by drilling procedure, the competency of 

the geologic units, and the presence of fractures (Keys, 1990). 
8 Hydrostratigraphic Interpretation of Test-Hole and Borehole Geophysical Data, Nebraska, 2011–12 Table 2. Site identifiers, geographic location, and selected drilling data for test holes, Kimball, Cheyenne, and Deuel Counties, Nebraska, 2011–12. [NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988, to the nearest tenth of a foot; NGVD 29, National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929, to the nearest tenth of a foot; T., township; N, north; R., range; W, west; S., section; ABCD, codes for the quarter section, quarter-quarter section, quarter-quarter-quarter section, and quarter-quarter-quarter-quarter sections A, B, C, and D, respectively, where A is northeast, B is northwest, C is southwest, and D is southeast quarter of the next larger unit; NR, base of aquifer not reached; bold numbers indicate depth to base of aquifer may be shallower] Field name Site number (U.S. Geological Survey assigned identification number) Legal description Latitude, in decimal degrees Longitude, in decimal degrees Control point elevation, in feet above NAVD 88 Control point elevation, in feet above NGVD 29 Date drilled Depth to base of aquifer, in feet below land surface Type of borehole logger used Kimball County 1-SP-11 411524103420401 T15N R56W S24 CBBB 41.2566483 -103.701231 4,760.8 4,758.5 2/22/2011 NR Century 2-SP-11 411601103385501 T15N R55W S17 DCBC 41.2669578 -103.648493 4,773.8 4,771.6 2/23/2011 418 Century 3-SP-11 411707103295301 T15N R54W S10 ACCC 41.2853761 -103.497988 4,743.0 4,740.7 2/28/2011 437 Century 4-SP-11 411652103234601 T15N R53W S16 AAAA 41.2813154 -103.396358 4,618.8 4,616.6 3/2/2011 500 Century 5-SP-11 412247103291101 T16N R54W S 2 CDCD 41.3797913 -103.486526 4,751.1 4,748.9 3/4/2011 237 Century 6-SP-11 412252103340901 T16N R55W S 1 DDAD 41.3809648 -103.569047 4,662.5 4,660.3 3/5/2011 77 Mt Sopris 7-SP-11 410716103265601 T13N R53W S 6 CCDD 41.1212589 -103.449016 4,691.4 4,689.1 3/10/2011 306 Century 8-SP-11 412307103555001 T16N R58W S 1 CBBB 41.3853074 -103.930469 5,181.6 5,179.0 3/12/2011 610 Century 10-SP-11 411954103500901 T16N R57W S 27 ADDD 41.3315621 -103.835707 5,019.9 5,017.4 3/15/2011 541 Century 11-SP-11 410345103395101 T13N R55W S30 DDDD 41.062478 -103.664179 4,943.5 4,941.1 3/16/2011 252 Century Cheyenne County 1-CC-11 411543102395801 T15N R47W S 2 BCBB 41.2618353 -102.666092 3,878.8 3,877.0 8/22/2011 245 Century 2-CC-11 412305102400001 T16N R47W S 1 CBCC 41.3868532 -102.66655 4,006.9 4,005.0 8/24/2011 393 Century 3-CC-11 412009102523501 T16N R48W S30 BBCC 41.3357754 -102.876211 4,180.0 4,178.0 8/26/2011 489 Century 4-CC-11 412014102480801 T16N R48W S27 AAAB 41.3371318 -102.802457 4,124.3 4,122.3 8/31/2011 445 Century 5-CC-11 412552103093101 T17N R51W S23 DAAA 41.4312345 -103.158507 4,431.7 4,429.6 9/6/2011 365 Century 6-CC-11 411916103183201 T16N R52W S32 ABBC 41.3211819 -103.308735 4,604.3 4,602.1 9/8/2011 369 Mt Sopris 7-CC-11 411614103143801 T15N R52W S13 CBCC 41.2706092 -103.243911 4,521.7 4,519.6 9/12/2011 490 Mt Sopris 8-CC-11 411243103133101 T14N R52W S 1 DACC 41.2118195 -103.22523 4,325.0 4,322.9 9/15/2011 120 Mt Sopris 9-CC-11 410252102454101 T12N R48W S 2 ABBA 41.0477563 -102.761476 4,113.7 4,111.9 9/19/2011 225 Mt Sopris 10-CC-11 410016102553301 T12N R49W S17 DDDD 41.0045619 -102.925767 4,278.9 4,277.0 9/21/2011 184 Mt Sopris

Deuel County

1-DC-12 410018102280101 T12N R45W S16 CCCD 41.0049601 -102.466903 3,729.2 3,727.6 8/21/2012 120 Mt Sopris

2-DC-12 410018102133301 T12N R43W S16 DDCC 41.0049193 -102.225799 3,440.9 3,439.4 8/23/2012 37 Century

3-DC-12 410014102030801 T12N R42W S24 AAAA 41.0037818 -102.052098 3,593.8 3,592.3 8/27/2012 360 Mt Sopris

4-DC-12 410948102053701 T14N R42W S25 BBBB 41.1634713 -102.093609 3,643.3 3,641.7 8/29/2012 320 Mt Sopris

5-DC-12 410715102264801 T13N R45W S 2 DCCC 41.1207009 -102.446701 3,852.8 3,851.1 9/4/2012 178 Century
Methods 

9

Field 

name

Site number

(U.S. Geological Survey 

assigned identification 

number)

Legal description

Latitude,

in decimal

degrees

Longitude, 

in decimal 

degrees

Control point 

elevation, in 

feet above 

NAVD 88

Control point 

elevation, in 

feet above 

NGVD 29

Date 

drilled

Depth to base 

of aquifer, 

in feet below 

land surface

Type of 

borehole 

logger 

used

Deuel County—Continued

6-DC-12 410859102261801 T14N R45W S26 DDDD 41.149745 -102.438313 3,880.6 3,878.9 9/5/2012 134 Century

7-DC-12 410858102190301 T14N R44W S25 CDCC 41.1492685 -102.317467 3,738.0 3,736.4 9/6/2012 340 Century

8-DC-12 411134102305201 T14N R45W S17 BBBB 41.1930123 -102.514393 3,932.2 3,930.5 9/12/2012 195 Mt Sopris

9-DC-12 410200102171101 T12N R44W S 1 DCCD 41.033389 -102.286347 3,643.2 3,641.6 9/12/2012 120 Century

Table 2. Site identifiers, geographic location, and selected drilling data for test holes, Kimball, Cheyenne, and Deuel Counties, Nebraska, 2011–12.—Continued[NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988, to the nearest tenth of a foot; NGVD 29, National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929, to the nearest tenth of a foot; T., township; N, north; R., range; W, west; S., section; ABCD, codes for the quarter section, quarter-quarter section, quarter-quarter-quarter section, and quarter-quarter-quarter-quarter sections A, B, C, and D, respectively, where A is northeast, B is northwest, C is southwest, and D is southeast quarter of the next larger unit; NR, base of aquifer not reached; bold numbers indicate depth to base of aquifer may be shallower]
10 Hydrostratigraphic Interpretation of Test-Hole and Borehole Geophysical Data, Nebraska, 2011–12

Global Positioning System Survey 

After all test holes were completed, locations were surveyed with a survey-grade global positioning system (GPS). 

Horizontal and vertical coordinates were established through 

the use of the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). 

Static GNSS surveying refers to collecting positioning data by 

setting up a GNSS receiver antenna over a single point, and 

allowing measurements to be collected from positioning satellites for an extended period of time (Rydlund and Densmore, 

2012). The GNSS data collected during static surveys were 

later post-processed with data collected from nearby control 

stations to correct atmospheric interference errors and to produce survey-grade solutions. 

Trimble R8 GNSS receivers (Trimble Navigation Limited, 2009) were used to collect static positioning data at each 

test-hole location. Since each test hole was completed as a 

monitoring well, a GNSS receiver was set up directly above a 

survey control point at each monitoring well. The survey control point was established in each concrete well pad by drilling 

a small hole with a masonry bit and gluing a nail in place. A 

6.6-ft fixed-height tripod was centered atop the nail set in the 

well pad. Each receiver was configured to record positioning data every 15 seconds for at least 4 hours, after which 

the logged data were downloaded and the receiver moved to 

another test-hole location. 

After each static-survey session, the logged data file was 

sent to the Online Positioning User Service (OPUS; www.

ngs.noaa.gov/OPUS/) to determine the exact position of the 

surveyed test hole. OPUS is a quality-assured service provided by the National Geodetic Survey (NGS), where users 

can process single-base GNSS data through an online-user 

interface. OPUS processes logged data using continuously 

operating reference stations (CORS). For more information on 

static GNSS surveying, the reader is referred to Rydlund and 

Densmore (2012).

The geographic coordinates, control-point elevations, and 

other test-hole information are presented in table 2. Elevations 

received from OPUS are referenced to the North American 

Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88). The elevations were 

converted using the program CORPSCON, version 6.0 (http://

www.agc.army.mil/Missions/Corpscon.aspx), to the National 

Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD 29) to match the 

vertical datum used in previous reports, such as Abraham and 

others (2012). 

The accuracy of the solutions was reported as peak-topeak errors, which represent the difference between maximum 

and minimum value of the coordinates obtained from the 

three baseline solutions (Rydlund and Densmore, 2012). For 

all position solutions received from OPUS, greater than 

80 percent of the logged observations were used, greater than 

80 percent of ambiguities were fixed, and the vertical peak-topeak errors were less than 1 in., indicating that coordinates for 

all surveyed points met the criteria for USGS Level II singlebase Online Positioning User Service-Static (OPUS-S) survey 

accuracy (Rydlund and Densmore, 2012).

Hydrostratigraphic Interpretation of 

Test-Hole and Borehole Geophysical 

Data 

Generalized lithologic descriptions and selected borehole 

geophysical logs for all test holes are presented in figures 

2–30. An example test-hole with generalized lithologic 

description and borehole geophysical logs is shown in figure 2. 

Logs from all other test holes can be found at the back of the 

report. Borehole geophysical logs include data for short- and 

long-normal resistivity (16 and 64 in. collected for Century 

and Mount Sopris tools; 8 and 32 in. normal for logs collected 

additionally with Mount Sopris tool), natural gamma activity, 

and spontaneous potential. 

Shortly after each test hole was drilled, a monitoring 

well was installed within the existing borehole. The well was 

constructed to have the screened interval typically in the most 

productive zone of the aquifer. Water levels, measured by 

SPNRD staff shortly after well installation, are depicted on 

figures 2–30 to aid in the interpretation of the resistivity logs. 

In the case of test hole 9-DC-12, water levels from wells completed in Brule sand and the Chadron aquifer are also depicted 

(fig. 30). 

The depth to the interpreted base of aquifer is given in 

table 2. Within the study area, the base of the High Plains 

aquifer typically coincides with the base of the Ogallala, 

which unconformably overlies the Brule Formation. In some 

areas, the Brule can contain minor amounts of fine sand or the 

overlying Ogallala may contain silt, making interpretations of 

the base-of-aquifer surface difficult. The Arikaree, although 

rare within the study area, is included in the High Plains 

aquifer (Gutentag and others, 1984; Korus and Joeckel, 2011) 

and has similar lithologic characteristics to lower parts of the 

Ogallala and upper parts of the Brule, which in some cases can 

further complicate interpretations. 

In most cases, resistivity logs were used to interpret the 

base of the High Plains aquifer. The long- and short-normal 

resistivity logs can indicate the base of the principal aquifer 

by sharp contrasts in resistivity between the Brule Formation 

and the overlying units. Examining the long- and short-normal 

resistivity, the sediments overlying the Brule Formation have 

resistivities that range from less than 50 to greater than 

250 ohm-meters (ohm-m). Resistivity for the Ogallala (units 

containing rootlets) typically ranged between 75 to 150 ohmm, but can extend from 50 to 200 ohm-m, with higher resistivity values indicating the presence of coarser deposits or a 

greater degree of cementation of the sandstone units. Coarse 

sand and gravel deposits typically had resistivity ranges of 

150 ohm-m to 250 ohm-m or greater. In contrast, the resistivity of the Brule Formation typically was less than 25 ohm-m 

and, in many cases, was less than 15 ohm-m. 

With the exception of 1-SP-11 (fig. 2), every test hole 

reached the base of the primary aquifer. The base of the 

aquifer was not reached in test hole 1-SP-11 because of a very 
Hydrostratigraphic Interpretation of Test-Hole and Borehole Geophysical Data 11

hard sandstone that could not be drilled through and refusal 

was declared. Test hole 9-DC-12 (fig. 30) was drilled through 

the basal sand and sandstone of the Chadron to the top of the 

Cretaceous-age Pierre Shale. 

At times, there were problems while collecting borehole 

geophysical logs. Communication problems between the laptop computer and the borehole logging system prevented 

the collection of an entire log from the base of aquifer to 

land surface for test holes 3-CC-11 (fig. 14) and 4-DC-12 

Depth, 

in feet

0 Counts per second 57

Spontaneous potential

053 Millivolts 524

Short-normal resistivity (16 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 003

Generalized lithology

Sand, coarse, to fine to coarse

gravel, some silt

Silt, to medium to coarse sand, some

fine gravels

Sand, medium to coarse, with fine

gravels, some silt

Sand to sandstone, very fine to

coarse, some silt

Silt, sandy to clayey, some siltstone

Sand, medium to coarse

Silt, sandy to clayey, some siltstone

Sand, fine to medium

Sandstone, areas of fine to medium

gravel and interbedded fine to

coarse sand

Silt-siltstone, some sandstone

Sandstone-siltstone

50

100

150

200

250

0

Gamma

Groundwater level

Figure 2. Composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs for test hole 1-SP-11, Kimball County, Nebraska.
12 Hydrostratigraphic Interpretation of Test-Hole and Borehole Geophysical Data, Nebraska, 2011–12

(fig. 25). At times, the Century logging system produced 

erratic long-normal resistivity data with respect to what was 

recorded with the short-normal resistivity and known geology. 

For these cases, the long-normal resistivity was omitted from 

the composite geophysical logs.

With the exception of test hole 1-SP-11 (fig. 2), the base 

of aquifer has been interpreted for all test holes (figs. 3–30; 

table 2). At some locations, particularly northern Kimball 

County, the base-of-aquifer surface was difficult to interpret 

based on drill cutting samples and borehole geophysical logs. 

Here, the overlying Ogallala has been described to be similar 

in character to the upper part of the Brule Formation or possibly an outlier of the Arikaree. Another possible interpretation 

is that as streams flowed eastward, pieces of the Brule were 

eroded, transported, and deposited at the same time the Ogallala was deposited. A more likely interpretation is that similarities in the lithologic character between the Ogallala and 

the underlying Brule are due to similarities in the depositional 

environments. To ensure that the top of the Brule was reached, 

special attention was paid to the drilling action recorded at 

each 5-ft interval. Firm, competent Brule typically drills quietly and smoothly with an even rate of penetration. Communication between the on-site geologist and the driller was critical 

in making this determination. Test holes where the base of 

aquifer was interpreted within a gradational boundary include 

5-SP-11, 1-CC-11, 2-CC-11, 8-CC-11, 9-CC-11, 1-DC-12, 

and 2-DC-12 (figs. 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 22, and 23, respectively). 

In the cases of test holes 1-CC-11 and 2-CC-11 (figs. 12 and 

13), the borehole geophysical logging system produced some 

erratic values on the long- and short-normal resistivity curves, 

making interpretation difficult. 

In some instances, test holes from previous studies were 

used to aid in hydrostratigraphic interpretations. Test hole 

8-SP-11 was drilled in northwest Kimball County (figs. 1 and 

9). Lithologic descriptions of test hole 7-B-69 (Smith, 2000a; 

approximately 1.4 miles to the northwest; not shown on map) 

indicated that 461 ft of Ogallala sediments overlie the top 

of the White River Group. Smith (2000a) was unsure if the 

overlying White River Group sediments were the “Brown Siltstone Beds” (Swinehart and others, 1985) of the White River 

Group. The lithologic descriptions and the resistivity curve on 

the borehole geophysical log for test hole 7-B-69 indicate no 

clear distinction between the overlying Ogallala and the White 

River Group sediments; however, there is a deflection to the 

left on the spontaneous-potential log (University of NebraskaLincoln, Conservation and Survey Division, 2013). Smith 

(2000a) indicates that silt and siltstone were reached at a depth 

of 630 ft (4,513 ft above NGVD 29). The lithologic description of test hole 8-SP-11 indicates that firm, competent Brule 

Formation was drilled at a depth of 610 ft (4,569 ft above 

NGVD 29) (fig. 9). Above this interface, the normal resistivity 

log (fig. 9) displayed a similar character to the normal resistivity of test hole 7-B-69 because there is no obvious indication 

of the interface between the base of the Ogallala and the top of 

the Brule. The generalized lithologic log of test hole 8-SP-11 

indicates the presence of siltstone mixed in with very fine to 

fine sand and sandstone. The base-of-aquifer surface in this 

case is interpreted to be at the top of the lower interval of firm 

siltstone at 610 ft (4,569 ft above NGVD 29), although it is 

possible the Brule was reached at a shallower depth. 

Test hole 10-SP-11 was drilled in northern Kimball 

County approximately 6 mi southeast of test hole 8-SP-11 

(fig. 1). At test hole 10-SP-11, the base of aquifer is interpreted 

at 541 ft below land surface at the top of a 59-ft interval of 

greenish-gray, well-cemented very fine grained sandstone 

(fig. 10) that is interpreted to be the Fox Hills Formation. The 

resistivity of this unit was about 25 ohm-m, and the recorded 

rate of penetration was slow, which is characteristic of this 

geologic unit. At this location, it seems that the Brule has 

been completely eroded away. Approximately 1.6 mi to the 

northwest of test hole 10-SP-11 is test hole 10-ANB-70 (not 

shown on map). Smith (2000b) did not provide an interpretation for the bottom of the Ogallala at this location; however, it 

was noted that beds below 545 ft (4,545 ft above NGVD 29) 

may be older than the Ogallala. Below 545 ft the lithology was 

described as sandstone, siltstone, and clay before a chert was 

reached at 614 ft (4,476 ft above NGVD 29). No geophysical 

logs were collected for test hole 10-ANB-70. In places where 

the Brule has been eroded away, Cannia and others (2006) 

interpreted the base of aquifer at the top of the Cretaceous 

units. The base of aquifer for test hole 10-SP-11 is interpreted 

at 541 ft below land surface (4,476 ft above NGVD 29). 

The depth to the base of aquifer determined for test holes 

drilled for this report were compared with the base-of-aquifer 

surface interpreted by Abraham and others (2012). In general, 

there were greater differences in the reported base-of-aquifer 

elevation north of Lodgepole Creek compared to areas south 

of Lodgepole Creek. The largest difference was noted at test 

hole 5-SP-11 where an Ogallala-filled paleovalley previously 

had been interpreted based on relatively sparse test-hole data 

west of 5-SP-11. The base of aquifer near test hole 5-SP-11 

reported herein is approximately 230 ft higher in elevation 

than that interpreted by Abraham and others (2012). Other 

test holes are likely to have been drilled in Ogallala-filled 

paleovalleys, including test holes 3-SP-11, 4-SP-11, 8-SP-11, 

10-SP-11, 1-CC-11, and 7-CC-11. The greatest difference in 

base-of-aquifer elevation was noted for test hole 7-CC-11, 

which was drilled in a buried paleovalley northeast of Potter, 

Nebr. (fig. 1). Here the base of aquifer (top of Brule; fig. 18) 

was drilled 180 ft deeper than previously interpreted by Abraham and others (2012). 

Summary 

Recently (2004) adopted legislation in Nebraska requires 

a sustainable balance between long-term water supplies and 

uses of surface-water and groundwater and requires Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) to understand the effect of 

groundwater use on surface-water systems when developing 

a groundwater-management plan. The South Platte Natural 
Summary 13

Resources District (SPNRD) is located in the southern part 

of the Nebraska Panhandle and overlies the nationally important High Plains aquifer. Declines in water levels have been 

documented, and more stringent regulations have been enacted 

to ensure the supply of groundwater will be sufficient to meet 

the needs of future generations. The U.S. Geological Survey 

(USGS), in cooperation with the SPNRD, Conservation and 

Survey Division of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and 

the Nebraska Environmental Trust, began a hydrogeologic 

study of the SPNRD to describe the lithology and thickness 

of the High Plains aquifer underlying the SPNRD. This study 

included drilling 29 test holes, 28 of which were drilled to the 

base of the High Plains aquifer. The additional hydrostratigraphic interpretations provided in this report will improve the 

hydrogeologic framework used in current (2014) and future 

groundwater models, which are the basis for many watermanagement decisions. 

The study area is located in the southern part of the 

Nebraska Panhandle and includes all of Kimball, Cheyenne, 

and Deuel Counties. The study area is located within the High 

Plains section of the Great Plains physiographic province 

and borders Wyoming to the west and Colorado to the south. 

Lodgepole Creek separates the north and south tablelands in 

the study area. Land use in the study area is dominated by 

agriculture. In general, the amount of rangeland decreases and 

cropland increases from west to east. Irrigation demands are 

predominantly supplied with groundwater; however, some surface-water irrigation is present in southeastern Deuel County. 

Lodgepole Creek is the main watercourse that flows through 

the study area from west to the east before emptying into the 

South Platte River in Colorado. Flow in Lodgepole Creek is 

typically ephemeral or intermittent. Some reaches of Lodegpole Creek have sustained flow, especially during certain times 

of the nonirrigation season (October to April). The tributaries 

of Lodgepole Creek, including Sidney Draw, are ephemeral 

streams and only provide flow after times of intense rainfall. 

The study area overlies the High Plains aquifer. For the 

purposes of this report, the High Plains aquifer is considered 

to include all hydrologically connected geologic units of Tertiary and Quaternary age. Within the study area, these rocks 

are the fractured upper parts of the Oligocene-age Brule Formation of the White River Group, the Miocene- to Oligoceneage Arikaree Group, the Miocene-age Ogallala Formation, and 

Quaternary-age alluvial deposits. 

The Ogallala Formation (referred to herein as the Ogallala) underlies the entire study area with the exception of the 

lower Lodgepole Creek valley and Sidney Draw, where the 

unit has been eroded away. The Ogallala is the principal geologic unit in the High Plains aquifer and can reach a thickness 

of nearly 600 feet (ft) beneath the study area. The Ogallala is 

composed of a poorly sorted mixture of sand, silt, clay, and 

gravel. The Ogallala is largely the result of fluvial deposition, but other depositional environments including eolian and 

lacustrine have been discussed by other researchers. The Ogallala generally is unconsolidated or weakly consolidated but 

contains layers of sandstone cemented by calcium carbonate. 

The Ogallala part of the High Plains aquifer supplies all 

wells in the north and south tablelands within the study area. 

Wells completed in the Ogallala can yield up to 2,200 gallons 

per minute (gpm) and average 860 gpm. Yields to wells are 

highly variable depending on the local geology. Water levels 

in the Ogallala range from near land surface within the upper 

Lodgepole Creek valley to greater than 250 ft in the Cheyenne 

Tablelands. 

The depth to the base of aquifer was interpreted to range 

from 37 to 610 ft in 28 of the 29 test holes. At some locations, 

particularly northern Kimball County, the base-of-aquifer 

surface was difficult to interpret based on drill cutting samples 

and borehole geophysical logs. In those areas, the overlying 

Ogallala has been described to be similar in character to the 

upper part of the Brule Formation or possibly an outlier of 

the Arikaree Group. A likely interpretation is that similarities in the lithologic character between the Ogallala and the 

underlying Brule are due to similarities in the depositional 

environments. 

In some instances, test holes from previous studies were 

used to aid in hydrostratigraphic interpretations. Lithologic 

descriptions of test hole 7-B-69 (approximately 1.4 miles 

northwest from test hole 8-SP-11) indicated that at least 

461 ft of Ogallala sediments overlie the top of the White River 

Group. The base-of-aquifer surface at test hole 8-SP-11 is 

interpreted to be at the top of the lower interval of firm siltstone at 610 ft (4,569 ft above the National Geodetic Vertical 

Datum of 1929 [NGVD 29]), although it is possible that the 

Brule was reached at a shallower depth. 

Test hole 10-SP-11 was drilled in northern Kimball 

County approximately 6 miles southeast of test hole 8-SP11. At test hole 10-SP-11, the base of aquifer is interpreted 

at 541 ft below land surface at the top of a 59-ft interval of 

greenish-gray, well-cemented very fine grained sandstone that 

is interpreted to be the Fox Hills Formation. The resistivity of 

this unit was around 25 ohm-m and the recorded rate of penetration was very slow, characteristic of this geologic unit. At 

this location the Brule apparently has been completely eroded 

away. Approximately 1.6 miles to the northwest of test hole 

10-SP-11 is test hole 10-ANB-70, where previous researchers 

noted that beds below 545 ft (4,545 ft above NGVD 29) may 

be older than the Ogallala. In places where the Brule has been 

eroded away, previous researchers interpreted the base of aquifer at the top of the Cretaceous units. The base of aquifer for 

test hole 10-SP-11 is interpreted at 541 ft below land surface 

(4,476 ft above NGVD 29). 

The depth to the base of aquifer determined for test holes 

drilled for this report were compared with the base-of-aquifer 

surface interpreted by previous researchers. In general, there 

were greater differences in the reported base-of-aquifer elevation north of Lodgepole Creek compared to areas south of 

Lodgepole Creek. The largest difference was noted at test hole 

5-SP-11 where an Ogallala-filled paleovalley previously had 

been interpreted based on relatively sparse test-hole data west 

of 5-SP-11. The base of aquifer near test hole 5-SP-11 reported 

herein is approximately 230 ft higher in elevation than 
14 Hydrostratigraphic Interpretation of Test-Hole and Borehole Geophysical Data, Nebraska, 2011–12

previously interpreted. Among other test holes that are likely 

to have been drilled in Ogallala-filled paleovalleys, including test holes 3-SP-11, 4-SP-11, 8-SP-11, 10-SP-11, 1-CC-11, 

and 7-CC-11, the greatest difference in the interpreted base of 

aquifer was noted for test-hole 7-CC-11, northeast of Potter, Nebraska, where the base of aquifer is 180 ft deeper than 

previously interpreted. 

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Figures 3–30
18 Hydrostratigraphic Interpretation of Test-Hole and Borehole Geophysical Data, Nebraska, 2011–12

Depth, 

in feet

0 Counts per second 57

Spontaneous potential

004 Millivolts 054

Short-normal resistivity (16 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 005

Long-normal resistivity (64 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 005

Generalized lithology

Sand, fine to medium to coarse,

some interbedded fine gravels

Silty sand, fine, interbedded

sandstone, areas of medium to

coarse sand

Silty clay

Sand, coarse to fine to medium

gravel

Silty sand, very fine to fine

Sand, medium to coarse, few fine

gravels

Silty clay, moderate sand content

Sand, medium to coarse, with fine to

medium gravel

Silty sand, fine, with sandstone

Base of aquifer 418 feet,

Brule Formation, silt/siltstone

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

0

Gamma

Groundwater level

Figure 3. Composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs for test hole 2-SP-11, Kimball County, Nebraska.
Figures 3–30 19

Depth,

in feet

0 Counts per second 052

Spontaneous potential

054 Millivolts 525

Short-normal resistivity (16 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 004

Long-normal resistivity (64 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 004

Generalized lithology

Sand, fine to coarse, to fine gravel

Silty sand, fine, few medium to

coarse sand to fine gravel

Sand, medium to coarse to fine

gravel

Silt to silty sand, very fine to fine,

areas of sandstone

Sand, medium to coarse, few fine

gravels

Silty sand, very fine, trace clay

Sand, coarse to fine to medium

gravel, traces of silt

Silt, some reworked dark brown

siltstone, trace sand

Silt and siltstone, much sand, fine to

coarse

Sand, fine to coarse, trace silt

Base of aquifer 437 feet,

Brule Formation, silt/siltstone

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

0

Gamma

Groundwater level

Figure 4. Composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs for test hole 3-SP-11, Kimball County, Nebraska.
20 Hydrostratigraphic Interpretation of Test-Hole and Borehole Geophysical Data, Nebraska, 2011–12

Depth, 

in feet

0 Counts per second 002

Spontaneous potential

573 Millivolts 574

Short-normal resistivity

(16 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 003

Long-normal resistivity

(64 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 003

Generalized lithology

Sand, medium to coarse, some

sandstone, silty areas

Silty sand to sandy silt, some hard

calcareous sandstone

Sand, medium to coarse, few fine

gravels

Sandstone, silty, to silty sand, fine,

areas with medium to coarse sand 

Sand, medium to coarse, few fine

gravels

Silty sand to sandy silt, fine, areas of

sandstone

Base of aquifer 500 feet,

Brule Formation, silt/siltstone

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

550

0

Gamma

Groundwater level

Figure 5. Composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs for test hole 4-SP-11, Kimball County, Nebraska.
Figures 3–30 21

Depth, 

in feet

0 Counts per second 052

Spontaneous potential

053 Millivolts 524

Short-normal resistivity (16 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 003

Long-normal resistivity (64 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 003

Generalized lithology

Sand, fine to coarse

Silt/siltstone, slight sand

Sand, medium to coarse, few fine to

medium gravels

Sand, coarse, few medium sand, to

silty lenses

Silty sand, sandstone, fine, caliche

zones

Base of aquifer 237 feet,

Brule Formation, silty sandstone, silty 

sand to sandy silt, fine

Brule Formation, silt/siltstone

trace clay

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

0

Gamma

Groundwater level

Figure 6. Composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs for test hole 5-SP-11, Kimball County, Nebraska.
22 Hydrostratigraphic Interpretation of Test-Hole and Borehole Geophysical Data, Nebraska, 2011–12

Depth, 

in feet

0 Counts per second 051

Spontaneous potential

007 Milllivolts 008

Normal resistivity (8 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 005

Normal resistivity (16 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 005

Generalized lithology

Normal resistivity (32 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 005

Normal resistivity (64 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 005

Sand, medium to coarse, to fine

gravel

Base of aquifer 77 feet,

Brule Formation, silty sandstone, some

silt, much sand and gravel (lag)

Brule Formattion, silty sandstone,

sandy silt to silty sand, fine

50

100

150

0

Gamma

Groundwater level

Figure 7. Composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs for test hole 6-SP-11, Kimball County, Nebraska.
Figures 3–30 23

Depth, 

in feet

0 Counts per second 002

Spontaneous potential

574 Millivolts 525

Short-normal resistivity

(16 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 005

Long-normal resistivity

(64 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 005

Generalized lithology

Sandstone, hard, very fine,

calcareous, traces of fine to medium

sand, areas of limey silt toward the

bottom

Sandy silt, fine, some sandstone

Sand, coarse to fine gravel, trace of

medium gravel, well sorted, some

sandstone 

Silty sand to sandy silt, very fine,

limey zones, some sandstone

Sand, fine to medium to coarse,

areas of fine to coarse gravel

Silt, trace clay, trace of fine to

coarse sand, to fine gravel

Sand, medium to coarse, to fine to

medium gravel, some coarse

Silty sand to sandy silt, areas of

clayey silt to silty clay, with units of

siltstone, some medium to coarse

sand, to fine gravel

Sand, coarse to fine gravel, trace of

medium to coarse gravel

Silty clay to clayey silt, with units of

silty sand to sandy silt, very fine,

areas of siltstone and fine to medium

sand 

Base of aquifer 306 feet,

Brule Formation, silt/siltstone

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

0

Gamma

Groundwater level

Figure 8. Composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs for test hole 7-SP-11, Kimball County, Nebraska.
24 Hydrostratigraphic Interpretation of Test-Hole and Borehole Geophysical Data, Nebraska, 2011–12

Depth, 

in feet

0 Counts per second 051

Spontaneous potential 

054 Millivolts 055

Short-normal resistivity (16 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 004

Long-normal resistivity (64 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 004

Generalized lithology

Very fine to fine sandstone, trace

medium sand

Coarse sand to fine gravel, trace silty

sand

Very fine to fine sand, in parts silty or

clayey, much volcanic ash, trace

medium sand to fine gravel

Medium sand to fine gravel, trace

fines

Very fine to fine sand to sandy silt,

some areas calcareous, much brown

siltstone below 400 feet, Brule

Formation below 400 feet?

Brule Formation?, very fine to fine 

sand/sandstone, much olive siltstone, 

calcareous in parts, some ash

Base of aquifer 610 feet, but may be 

shallower, Brule Formation, brown 

silt/siltstone, much very fine 

sand/sandstone

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

550

600

650

0

Gamma

Groundwater level

Figure 9. Composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs for test hole 8-SP-11, Kimball County, Nebraska.
Figures 3–30 25

Depth Gamma

0 Counts per second 052

Spontaneous potential 

574 Millivolts 525

Short-normal resistivity (16 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 003

Generalized lithology

Long-normal resistivity (64 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 003

Topsoil, silty very fine sand/sandstone

Coarse sand to medium gravel, trace

angular pebbles 

Brown silty clay, some very fine

sand, glass shards

Silty very fine sand, much coarse

sand to fine gravel

Silty very fine sand, some sandy clay

Coarse sand to fine gravel, very fine

sandstone

Silty very fine sand, sandstone,

siltstone

Very fine to fine sand/sandstone,

much silt/siltstone, marl in places,

rootlets?

Silt/siltstone

Very fine to fine sand/sandstone,

some siltstone

Base of aquifer at 541 feet, greenish 

gray, well cemented very fine 

sandstone, some greenish silt,

slow drill, 20 feet drilled per 

30 minutes

 0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

550

600

in, feet

Groundwater level

Figure 10. Composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs for test hole 10-SP-11, Kimball County, Nebraska.
26 Hydrostratigraphic Interpretation of Test-Hole and Borehole Geophysical Data, Nebraska, 2011–12

Figure 11. Composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs for test hole 11-SP-11, Kimball County, Nebraska.

Depth, 

in feet

0 Counts per second 002

Spontaneous potential 

053 Millivolts 524

Short-normal resistivity (16 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 004

Long-normal resistivity (64 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 004

Generalized lithology

Silty sand, very fine to fine, with

sandstone

Sand, medium to coarse, to fine to

medium gravel, some coarse

Silty sand, very fine, areas of coarse

sand to medium gravel, areas of

sandstone

Sand, coarse to fine gravel

Silty sand to sandy silt, trace clay,

areas of medium sand to fine gravel

Sand, medium to coarse to fine

gravel, lense of silty sand to trace

clay

Silty sand to sandy silt, very fine,

areas of clay

Sand, fine to medium to fine gravel

Silty sand to sandy silt, very fine to

fine, areas of much coarse sand to

fine gravel, traces of clay

Base of aquifer 252 feet,

Brule Formation, silt/siltstone

50

100

150

200

250

300

0

Gamma

Groundwater level
Figures 3–30 27

Depth, 

in feet

0 Counts per second 57

Spontaneous potential

004 Millivolts 054

Short-normal resistivity (16 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 003

Generalized lithology

Topsoil, then coarse sand to medium

gravel

Silty sand, some calcareous

sandstone

Fine sandstone, hard

Coarse sand to medium gravel

Fine sandstone, friable

Coarse sand to fine gravel

Fine sandstone, calcareous in parts

Base of aquifer 245 feet,

Brule Formation? 

sandstone, very fine, soft

Brule Formation, sandstone to

siltstone, light brown

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

0

Gamma

Groundwater level

Figure 12. Composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs for test hole 1-CC-11, Cheyenne County, Nebraska.
28 Hydrostratigraphic Interpretation of Test-Hole and Borehole Geophysical Data, Nebraska, 2011–12

Depth, 

in feet

0 Counts per second 002

Spontaneous potential

005 Millivolts 055

Short-normal resistivity (16 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 005

Long-normal resistivity (64 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 005

Generalized lithology

Topsoil, silty sand, fine sandstone

Silty sand, interbedded sandstone, in

parts calcareous, some medium to

coarse sand, rootlets

Gravel, fine to medium, much coarse

sand

Silty very sand to sandy silt, some

sandstone, calcareous

Base of aquifer 393 feet,

Brule Formation, sandy silt

interbedded with siltstone, trace clay

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

0

Gamma

Groundwater level

Figure 13. Composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs for test hole 2-CC-11, Cheyenne County, Nebraska.
Figures 3–30 29

Depth, 

in feet

0 Counts per second 051

Spontaneous potential

005 Millivolts 575

Short-normal resistivity (16 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 002

Long-normal resistivity (64 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 002

Generalized lithology

Topsoil, silt loam

Coarse sand to fine gravel

Silty sand, sandstone, rootlets, some

medium sand

Silty sand to sandy silt, calcaerous

sandstone

Coarse sand to fine gravel

Sandstone, calcareous, in parts silty

Sand, fine to very fine, some

sandstone

Sandstone, calcareous, some silt

Silty sand and sandstone to sandy

silt, calcareous

Hard calcareous siltstone

Base of aquifer 489 feet,

Brule Formation, silt/siltstone,

brownish, trace sand and clay

 0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

Gamma

Groundwater level

Figure 14. Composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs for test hole 3-CC-11, Cheyenne County, Nebraska.
30 Hydrostratigraphic Interpretation of Test-Hole and Borehole Geophysical Data, Nebraska, 2011–12

Depth, 

in feet

0 Counts per second 57

Spontaneous potential

054 Millivolts 005

Short-normal resistivity (16 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 006

Long-normal resistivity (64 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 006

Generalized lithology

Topsoil, silty very fine sand

Coarse sand to medium gravel

Silt and very fine sand/sandstone,

rootlets, calcareous in parts

Coarse sand to fine gravel

Very fine sand, much silt

Coarse sand to fine gravel, silty

Silty very fine sand to soft sandy silt,

some sandstone

Very fine sand, some medium sand,

calcareous sandstone

Calcareous silt, some clay, trace

sandstone

Very fine sand with much silt, some

sandstone and siltstone

Brown silt, siltstone, very fine

sandstone, trace medium to coarse

sand

Base of aquifer 445 feet,

Brule Formation, brown silt/siltstone

 0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

Gamma 

Groundwater level

Figure 15. Composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs for test hole 4-CC-11, Cheyenne County, Nebraska.
Figures 3–30 31

Depth, 

in feet

0 Counts per second 052

Spontaneous potential

573 Millivolts 055

Short-normal resistivity (16 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 005

Long-normal resistivity (64 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 005

Generalized lithology

Topsoil, very fine sand

Very fine sand/sandstone, some silt,

some medium sand, rootlets, trace

coarse sand

Coarse sand to fine gravel, some

medium gravel

Silty medium sand with very fine

sand, some medium to coarse gravel

Silty very fine sand, trace clay

Coarse sand to fine gravel with much

silt and clay

Silt, some sand, some clay, very firm

Coarse sand to medium gravel, some

fines

Silty very fine sand, much clay in

parts, some sandstone and siltstone

Medium to coarse sand

Silty sandy clay, trace coarse sand,

some sandstone and siltstone

Fine to coarse sand, hard calcareous

limestone 356–360 feet

Base of aquifer 365 feet,

Brule Formation, silt/siltstone, trace

very fine sand

 0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

Gamma

Groundwater level

Figure 16. Composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs for test hole 5-CC-11, Cheyenne County, Nebraska.
32 Hydrostratigraphic Interpretation of Test-Hole and Borehole Geophysical Data, Nebraska, 2011–12

Depth, 

in feet

0 Counts per second 002

Spontaneous potential

057 Millivolts 058

Normal resistivity (8 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 004

Normal resistivity (16 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 004

Normal resistivity (32 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 004

Normal resistivity (64 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 004

Generalized lithology #1

Sand, very fine, with some

sandstone, in parts silty, trace clay,

trace medium to coarse sand

Sand fine to medium, well sorted,

fine to medium gravel at bottom

Silty sand, interbedded calcareous

sandstone, trace clayey silt

Silty sand, fine, some siltstone,

interbedded limestone at bottom 

Sand, fine to medium, some silt, trace

coarse sand

Sandy silt, some interbedded

sandstone, trace medium to coarse

sand

Calcareous limestone at top then

medium to coarse sand

Sandy silt, some sandy siltstone

Base of aquifer 369 feet,

Brule Formation, silt/siltstone, brown,

trace very fine sand

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

0

Gamma

Groundwater level

Figure 17. Composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs for test hole 6-CC-11, Cheyenne County, Nebraska.
Figures 3–30 33

Depth, 

in feet

0 Counts per second 052

Spontaneous potential

057 Millivolts 058

Normal resistivity (8 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 004

Normal resistivity (16 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 004

Normal resistivity (32 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 004

Normal resistivity (64 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 004

Generalized lithology #1

Topsoil, silty, organic

Very fine to fine sand/sandstone, in

parts silty, some medium to coarse

sand throughout, rootlets

Silty very fine sand, some sandstone,

trace volcanic glass, well sorted

medium to coarse sand at bottom

Silty very fine sand/sandstone

interbedded with sandy silt, some

clay, trace volcanic glass 

Medium to coarse sand, some very

fine to fine sand, lenses of silt

Fine to medium sand with much

clayey silt, some sandstone

Very fine to medium sand,

interbedded with calcareous

sandstone

Base of aquifer 490 feet,

Brule Formation, mudstone, reddish

brown, some greenish gray

silt/siltstone, stiff brown claystone at

bottom

 0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

550

Gamma

Groundwater level

Figure 18. Composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs for test hole 7-CC-11, Cheyenne County, Nebraska.
34 Hydrostratigraphic Interpretation of Test-Hole and Borehole Geophysical Data, Nebraska, 2011–12

h,tpeD laitnetop suoenatnopS

in feet

007 Millivolts 008

Normal resistivity (8 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 003

Normal resistivity (16 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 003

Normal resistivity (32 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 003

Normal resistivity (64 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 003

Generalized lithology #1

Topsoil, silty very fine sand

Coarse sand to fine gravel, in parts

interbedded with fine sandstone

Silty very fine sand, some sandstone,

trace of clay, medium sand, siltstone

Very fine silty sand, some hard

sandstone, trace siltstone

Base of aquifer 120 feet,

Brule Formation, brown silt/siltstone,

some very fine sand at top

50

100

150

0

Groundwater level

Figure 19. Composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs for test hole 8-CC-11, 

Cheyenne County, Nebraska.
Figures 3–30 35

Depth, 

in feet

0 Counts per second 051

Spontaneous potential

007 Millivolts 008

Normal resistivity (8 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 003

Normal resistivity (16 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 003

Normal resistivity (32 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 003

Normal resistivity (64 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 003

Generalized litholgy

Topsoil, silt, calcareous

Coarse sand to fine gravel, medium

gravel, granitic, some sandstone

Silty very fine sand, trace clay

Medium sand to fine gravel, 

Very fine sand, trace clayey silt,

some medium sand

Silty very fine to medium sand,

Very fine silty sand interbedded with

medium to coarse sand, some silt

Medium to coarse sand, some fine

Clayey silty very fine sand,

calcareous

Silty very fine sand, interbedded

sandstone, trace limestone

Base of aquifer 225 feet,

Brule Formation, brown silt/siltstone,

much very fine sand at top, more

reddish brown silt siltstone at bottom

0

50

100

150

200

250

Gamma

Groundwater level

Figure 20. Composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs for test hole 9-CC-11, Cheyenne County, Nebraska.
36 Hydrostratigraphic Interpretation of Test-Hole and Borehole Geophysical Data, Nebraska, 2011–12

Depth,

in feet

0 Counts per second 051

Spontaneous potential

007 Millivolts 008

Normal resistivity (8 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 004

Normal resistivity (16 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 004

Normal resistivity (32 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 004

Normal resistivity (64 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 004

Generalized lithology #1

Topsoil, silt, gravel at bottom

Very fine sand/sandstone, some silt,

trace clay

Coarse sand to fine gravel, trace silt

and clay

Very fine sandy clay, trace volcanic

glass

Silty, very fine sand, much medium to

coarse sand

Very fine silty sand, sandy clay with

volcanic glass, some medium to

coarse sand

Silty very fine sand, interbedded with

limestone, very hard

Silt, some sandstone

Base of aquifer 184 feet,

Brule Formation, reddish brown silt,

siltstone, trace very fine sand

50

100

150

200

0

Gamma

Groundwater level

Figure 21. Composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs for test hole 10-CC-11, Cheyenne County, Nebraska.
Figures 3–30 37

Gamma Depth,

in feet 0 Counts per second 150

Caliper

0 10Inches

Spontaneous potential

450 Millivolts 800

Normal resistivity (8 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 002

Normal resistivity (16 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 002

Normal resistivity (32 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 002

Normal resistivity (64 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 002

Generalized lithology #1

Topsoil, fine to coarse sand, some

gravel

Silty very fine sand, sandstone, some

medium sand

Silt/siltstone, some very fine sand

Base of aquifer 120 feet,

Brule Formation, silt/siltstone, much

clay, some mudstone

 0

50

100

150

200

Groundwater level

Figure 22. Composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs for test hole 1-DC-12, Deuel County, Nebraska.
38 Hydrostratigraphic Interpretation of Test-Hole and Borehole Geophysical Data, Nebraska, 2011–12

htpeD ammaG

0 Counts per second 150

Caliper

0 10Inches

Short-normal resistivity (16 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 001

Spontaneous potential Generalized lithology

350 Millivolts 425

Long-normal resistivity (64 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 001

Topsoil, organic, silty

Coarse sand to medium gravel,

arkosic, in parts silty

Tan silt, much very fine sand

Base of aquifer 37 feet,

Brule Formation, silt/siltstone, some

very fine sand

25

50

75

0

Depth, 

in feet

Groundwater level

Figure 23. Composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs for test hole 2-DC-12, Deuel County, Nebraska.
Figures 3–30 39

htpeD ammaG

0 Counts per second 150

Spontaneous potential

500 Millivolts 800

Normal resistivity (8 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 004

Normal resistivity (16 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 004

Normal resistivity (32 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 004

Normal resistivity (64 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 004

Caliper 

0 10Inches

Generalized lithology #1

Topsoil, coarse sand to fine gravel,

much fines at bottom

Coarse sand to fine gravel, some

pebbles

Silt, much stiff clay, some marl, trace

sand

Clayey silt, with much very fine sand,

some medium sand in parts,

calcareous

Base of aquifer 360 feet,

interbedded very fine sand, trace

Brule Formation, stiff silty clay,

marl

Brule Formation, silt/siltstone,

interbedded sands, clay at bottom

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

0

Depth,

in feet

Groundwater level

Figure 24. Composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs for test hole 3-DC-12, Deuel County, Nebraska.
40 Hydrostratigraphic Interpretation of Test-Hole and Borehole Geophysical Data, Nebraska, 2011–12

Depth Gamma

0 Counts per second 051

Spontaneous potential

007 Millivolts 008

Normal resistivity (8 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 004

Normal resistivity (16 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 004

Normal resistivity (32 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 004

Normal resistivity (64 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 004

Generalized lithology #1

Topsoil, coarse sand to medium

gravel, arkosic

Silt, much very fine sand, some clay

Coarse sand to fine gravel

Sandy clayey silt, firm

Coarse sand to fine gravel

Stiff, sandy clayey silt, some marl

and sandstone

Very fine to fine sand, silty, some

interbedded sandstone

Base of aquifer 320 feet,

Brule Formation, silt/siltstone,

interbedded with very fine sand in

places

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

0

in, feet

Groundwater level

Figure 25. Composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs for test hole 4-DC-12, Deuel County, Nebraska.
Figures 3–30 41

htpeD ammaG

0 Counts per second 100

Spontaneous potential

425 Millivolts 475

Short-normal resistivity (16 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 003

Caliper

0 10Inches

Generalized lithology

Topsoil, silty sand grading into

coarse sand

Sandy silt to silty sand, calcareous

Coarse sand to fine gravel

Silty fine sand, interbedded with

medium sand, sandstone

Coarse sand to fine gravel

Silty fine to medium sand, trace clay

Medium to coarse sand

Fine sand, trace clay

Medium to coarse sand, some fines

Silty very fine sand-sandstone, some

medium sand, trace marl

Base of aquifer 178 feet,

Brule Formation, silt/siltstone, some

medium sand at top

50

100

150

200

0

Depth,

in feet

Groundwater level

Figure 26. Composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs for test hole 5-DC-12, Deuel County, Nebraska.
42 Hydrostratigraphic Interpretation of Test-Hole and Borehole Geophysical Data, Nebraska, 2011–12

htpeD ammaG

0 Counts per second 100

Spontaneous potential

425 Millivolts 475

Short-normal resistivity (16 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 007

Caliper

0 10Inches

Generalized lithology

Long-normal resistivity (64 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 007

Topsoil, silty sand and sandstone,

very fine to fine, trace medium sand

Silt, marl, trace of clay

Coarse sand to fine gravel, trace

fines

Sandy silt, some interbedded very

fine to medium sand

Fine to medium sand, marl at bottom,

trace silt

Base of aquifer 134 feet,

Brule Formation, calcareous silt, 

some siltstone, trace very fine sand

Brule Formation, silt/siltstone

50

100

150

0

Depth,

in feet

Groundwater level

Figure 27. Composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs for test hole 6-DC-12, Deuel County, Nebraska.
Figures 3–30 43

htpeD laitnetop suoenatnopS

500 Millivolts 850

Normal resistivity (8 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 004

Normal resistivity (16 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 004

Normal resistivity (32 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 004

Normal resistivity (64 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 004

Gamma

0 Counts per second 250

Caliper

0 10Inches

Generalized lithology #1

Topsoil, very fine sand and silt, trace

clay

Medium to coarse sand, some fine

gravel, arkosic

Soft sandy silt, some clay,

interbedded sandstone at bottom

Coarse sand to fine gravel, some

medium gravel

Silt, sandy, in parts clayey and stiff,

some sandstone, marl, and siltstone

Hard sandstone, trace limestone,

poor recovery

Base of aquifer 340 feet,

Brule Formation, silt, siltstone, trace

clay

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

0

Depth,

in feet

Groundwater level

Figure 28. Composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs for test hole 7-DC-12, Deuel County, Nebraska.
44 Hydrostratigraphic Interpretation of Test-Hole and Borehole Geophysical Data, Nebraska, 2011–12

htpeD ammaG

0 Counts per second 150

Spontaneous potential

650 Millivolts 750

Normal resistivity (8 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 005

Normal resistivity (16 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 005

Normal resistivity (32 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 005

Normal resistivity (64 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 005

Caliper

0 10Inches

Generalized lithology #1

Topsoil, silty sand to sandy silt,

interbedded sandstone, trace

medium sand

Coarse sand, some fine gravel,

sandstone

Silty sand to sandy silt, much

interbedded sandstone

Fine to medium sand, arkosic

Base of aquifer 195 feet,

Brule Formation, silt/siltstone, trace

very fine sand

50

100

150

200

0

Depth,

in feet

Groundwater level

Figure 29. Composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs for test hole 8-DC-12, Deuel County, Nebraska.
Figures 3–30 45

htpeD ammaG

0 Counts per second 350

Spontaneous potential

475 Millivolts 525

Short-normal resistivity (16 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 001

Long-normal resistivity (64 inches)

0 Ohm-meters 001

Caliper

0 10Inches

Generalized lithology

Topsoil, sandy silt, some coarse sand

at bottom

Silty sand to sandy silt, interbedded

sandstone

Base of aquifer 120 feet,

Brule Formation, silt/siltstone, trace

very fine sand

Chadron Formation, greenish gray

clay/silt, sticky

Chadron Formation (Chamberlain 

Pass Formation1

), very

fine silty sand, some clay

Pierre Shale—sticky clay

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

550

0

Depth,

in feet [

1

, indicates usage by the 

University of Nebraska

Conservation and Survey Division]

Groundwater level in 

High Plains aquifer

Hydraulic head of 

confined Brule sand aquifer 

Hydraulic head of 

confined Chadron aquifer

Figure 30. Composite of generalized lithologic description and geophysical logs for test hole 9-DC-12, Deuel County, Nebraska. 

The groundwater levels depicted were measured in the High Plains aquifer, Brule sand aquifer, and the Chadron aquifer.
Publishing support provided by: 

Rolla Publishing Service Center

For more information concerning this publication, contact:

Director, USGS Nebraska Water Science Center

5231 South 19th Street

Lincoln, Nebraska 68512

(402) 328–4100

Or visit the Nebraska Water Science Center Web site at:

http://ne.water.usgs.gov/

Hobza and Sibray—Hydrostratigraphic Interpretation of Test-Hole and Borehole Geophysical Data, Nebraska, 2011–12—Open-File Report 2014–1103

ISSN 2331-1258 (online)

http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20141103