TABLE OF CONTENTS

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

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

Purpose of the Denver Basin Project ................................................................................................................................................ 2

Scope of this Open-File Report......................................................................................................................................................... 3

Rationale for Coring and Selection of the Kiowa Drill Site.............................................................................................................. 3

 Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................................................................................. 4

Description of the Drill Site.............................................................................................................................................................................. 4

Location and Facilities...................................................................................................................................................................... 4

Geology and Geohydrology.............................................................................................................................................................. 4

Sequence of Events During Drilling ................................................................................................................................................. 5

Core Log and Description ................................................................................................................................................................................ 6

Graphic Core Log ............................................................................................................................................................................. 6

Stratigraphy and Lithology ............................................................................................................................................................... 6

Analyses of Core Samples................................................................................................................................................................................ 7

 Geohydrology.................................................................................................................................................................................... 7

a. Hydraulic conductivity.............................................................................................................................................. 7

b. Specific yield and porosity........................................................................................................................................ 9

c. Grain-size analysis ................................................................................................................................................. 10

d. Paleosol Series in the Kiowa Core .......................................................................................................................... 11

 Description................................................................................................................................................................................. 11

 X-ray Diffraction and X-ray Fluorescence ............................................................................................................................... 11

 Palynology........................................................................................................................................................................................ 12

 Methods ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 12

 Results ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 12

a. Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary................................................................................................................................. 13

b. Age of paleosol ....................................................................................................................................................... 13

c. Biostratigraphic zonation of the Kiowa core........................................................................................................... 14

d. Paleoecology ........................................................................................................................................................... 14

 Paleomagnetism................................................................................................................................................................................ 15

 Methods ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 15

a. Stepwise thermal demagnetization.......................................................................................................................... 15

b. Combined thermal and stepwise alternating-field demagnetization........................................................................ 16

c. Stepwise alternating-field demagnetization ............................................................................................................ 16

Results ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 16

 Reversal sequence .......................................................................................................................................................... 17

a. Mixed polarity interval R1 to R2 ............................................................................................................................ 17

b. Normal polarity interval N2 .................................................................................................................................... 18

c. Reversed polarity interval R3.................................................................................................................................. 18

d. Normal/reversed/normal polarity interval N3 to N4 ............................................................................................... 19

e. Normal polarity interval R5 .................................................................................................................................... 19

Conclusions .............................................................................................................................................................................. 20

 Mineralogy and Petrography ................................................................................................................................................................ 20

 Methods .................................................................................................................................................................................. 20

 Results .................................................................................................................................................................................... 20

a. Texture .................................................................................................................................................................... 20

b. Composition............................................................................................................................................................ 21

c. Trends within stratigraphic units and with grain size.............................................................................................. 22

 Apatite Fission Track Analysis............................................................................................................................................................ 23

 Zircon Fission Track Analysis............................................................................................................................................................. 24

Temperature logging....................................................................................................................................................................................... 24

 Methods ................................................................................................................................................................................... 24

 Results .................................................................................................................................................................................... 25

Radiometric Dating......................................................................................................................................................................................... 26

Geophysical Logging...................................................................................................................................................................................... 26

Seismic Line ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 26

References Cited............................................................................................................................................................................................. 27
FIGURES

1. Map showing location of test site..............................................................................................................................30

2. Map showing principal aquifers of the Denver Basin ...............................................................................................31

3. Stratigraphic nomenclature in the upper part of the Denver Basin.................................................................................... 32

4. Map showing bedrock geology of the Denver Basin ................................................................................................33

5. Map showing thickness of synorogenic strata of the Denver Basin..........................................................................34

6. Generalized cross-section of the principal aquifers of the Denver Basin..................................................................35

7. Generalized cross-section of the bedrock geology of the Denver Basin...................................................................36

8. Well-completion diagram..........................................................................................................................................37

9. Graphic section one inch equals ten feet ...................................................................................................................38

10. Constant head permeameter ......................................................................................................................................39

11. Falling head permeameter .........................................................................................................................................40

12. Diagram of flow system and pressure control for air permeability cell ....................................................................41

13. Paleosol series in the Kiowa core..............................................................................................................................42

14. Whole rock x-ray diffraction data .............................................................................................................................43

15. Clay size (<2micron) diffraction data........................................................................................................................44

16. Whole rock x-ray flourescence data..........................................................................................................................45

17. Paleomagnetic polarity data for the Kiowa core................................................................................................ .......46

18. Scanning electron photomicrograph of selected sand grains.....................................................................................47

 19a. Apatite fission track data from the KiowaCore..........................................................................................................48

 19b. Zircon fission track data from the Kiowa core................................................................................................ ..........49

 20. Temperature and gradient plots for Kiowa #1...........................................................................................................50

 21. Temperature and gradient plots for shallow portion of Kiowa #1.............................................................................51

 22. Comparison of temperature and gradient plots for Kiowa #1 and Castle Pines wells...............................................52

TABLES

1. Ash and sulphur data from coal and shale samples from the lower Laramie Formation, Kiowa Core .......................53

2. Lithologic description of Kiowa core..........................................................................................................................54

3. Hydraulic conductivity data .......................................................................................................................................55

4. Porosity and specific yield data ..................................................................................................................................56

5. Kiowa grain size analysis ...........................................................................................................................................57

6. Palynology samples for Kiowa #1 core.......................................................................................................................58

7. Pollen samples containing age-diagnostic fossils .......................................................................................................59

8. Paleomagnetic sampling data ......................................................................................................................................60

9. Data set derived from petrographic analysis of sandstone from the Kiowa core ........................................................61

10. Data set showing zircon analyses from the Kiowa Core .............................................................................................62

11. Temperatures data for Kiowa #1 measured using hand logging equipment ...............................................................63

12. Temperature data for Kiowa #1 measured using Southern Methodist University logging van ..................................64

13. Radiometric dates from two tuffs in the Denver Basin ...............................................................................................65

PLATES

1. Colog electric logs.......................................................................................................................................................66

2. Seismic line crossing the Kiowa core location............................................................................................................72