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### Hydrochemical facies and ground-water flow patterns in 
northern part of Atlantic Coastal Plain

#### Professional Paper 498-A

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#### Links

- More information: **National Geologic Map Database Index Page**     
                             (html)
- Document: **Report**                                 (5.06 
  MB pdf)
- Plate: **Plate 1**                                 (7.25 
  MB pdf)
- Paper 
  version: **USGS Store**
- Download citation as:  RIS

#### Abstract

The part of the Atlantic Coastal Plain that extends from New Jersey through 
Virginia was selected as a suitable field model in which to study the 
relationships between geology, hydrology, and chemical character of ground 
water. The ground-water flow pattern is the principal hydrologic control on the 
chemical character of the water. Within the Coastal Plain sediments, the 
proportions of clay, glauconitic sand, and calcareous material are the principal 
lithologic controls over the chemistry of the water.

A subsurface body of salt water extends from southern New Jersey through 
southern Virginia and occupies the deposits deeper than about 500 feet below 
land surface in the eastern part of the Coastal Plain. The position of its top 
is determined by the relative head, which in turn is influenced by topography, 
drainage density, and the thickness and permeability of the Coastal Plain 
sediments.

Hydrochemical facies is a term used in this paper to denote the diagnostic 
chemical aspect of ground-water solutions occurring in hydrologic systems. The 
facies reflect the response of chemical processes operating within the 
lithologic framework and also the pattern of flow of the water. The distribution 
of these facies is shown in trilinear diagrams and isometric fence diagrams and 
on maps showing isopleths of chemical constituents within certain formations. 
The occurrence of the various facies within one formation or within a group of 
formations of uniform mineralogy indicates that the ground-water flow through 
the aquifer system modifies the distribution of the facies.

Flow patterns of fresh ground water shown on maps and in cross sections have 
been deduced from available water-level data. These patterns are controlled by 
the distribution of the higher landmasses and by the depth to either bedrock or 
to the salt-water interface. The mapping of hydrochemical facies shows that at 
shallow depths within the Coastal Plain (less than about 200 ft) the 
calcium-magnesium cation facies generally predominates. The bicarbonate anion 
facies occurs within more of the shallow Coastal Plain sediments than does the 
sulfate or the chloride facies. In deeper formations, the sodium chloride 
character predominates. The lower dissolved-solids content of the ground water 
in New Jersey indicates less upward vertical leakage than in Maryland and 
Virginia, where the shallow formations contain solutions of higher 
concentration.

#### Study Area



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U.S. Geological 
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