Quaternary Stratigraphy of Minnesota: Statewide Cross-Sections

Lusardi, B.A.; Gowan, Angela S.; Meyer, G.N.; Thorleifson, L H

doi:10.1130/abs/2016nc-271381

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…Similar to the Northwest region, drinking water in the Central region comes from sand and gravel aquifers embedded in glacial till. Till layers laterally extend over large areas, with meltwater‐deposited sand and gravel at lower drainage elevations (Lusardi and Jennings ; Lusardi and Lively ; Knaeble ). The clay‐rich till forms confining layers over the aquifers and contributes to a frequency of elevated arsenic concentrations in groundwater that is about double the statewide average (Minnesota Department of Health ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The clay‐rich till forms confining layers over the aquifers and contributes to a frequency of elevated arsenic concentrations in groundwater that is about double the statewide average (Minnesota Department of Health ). The majority of glacial sediment deposited by meltwater consists of poorly sorted pebbles, cobbles, limestone fragments, clay, sand, and gravel (Clayton and Moran ; Lusardi and Jennings ; Lusardi and Lively ). Erosion and deposition by advancing and retreating glaciers created pockets of coarse‐grained material that forms aquifers used for water supply.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Drinking water wells in the Central region are drilled in both glacial aquifers and sedimentary bedrock aquifers. Glacial aquifers support a large number of domestic wells, while bedrock aquifers supply primarily higher‐capacity municipal drinking water (Lusardi and Jennings ; Lusardi and Lively ; Petersen ). Most (about 95%) of the study wells in this region were screened in glacial sand and gravel.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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How or When Samples Are Collected Affects Measured Arsenic Concentration in New Drinking Water Wells

Erickson¹,

Malenda

Berquist

2018

Groundwater

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Naturally occurring arsenic can adversely affect water quality in geologically diverse aquifers throughout the world. Chronic exposure to arsenic via drinking water is a human health concern due to risks for certain cancers, skin abnormalities, peripheral neuropathy, and other negative health effects. Statewide in Minnesota, USA, 11% of samples from new drinking water wells have arsenic concentrations exceeding 10 μg/L; in certain counties more than 35% of tested samples exceed 10 μg/L arsenic. Since 2008, Minnesota well code has required testing water from new wells for arsenic. Sample collection protocols are not specified in the well code, so among 180 well drillers there is variability in sampling methods, including sample collection point and sample collection timing. This study examines the effect of arsenic sample collection protocols on the variability of measured arsenic concentrations in water from new domestic water supply wells. Study wells were drilled between 2014 and 2016 in three regions of Minnesota that commonly have elevated arsenic concentrations in groundwater. Variability in measured arsenic concentration at a well was reduced when samples were (1) filtered, (2) collected from household plumbing instead of from the drill rig pump, or (3) collected several months after well construction (instead of within 4 weeks of well installation). Particulates and fine aquifer sediments entrained in groundwater samples, or other artifacts of drilling disturbance, can cause undesirable variability in measurements. Establishing regulatory protocols requiring sample filtration and/or collection from household plumbing could improve the reliability of information provided to well owners and to secondary data users.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

How or When Samples Are Collected Affects Measured Arsenic Concentration in New Drinking Water Wells

Erickson¹,

Malenda

Berquist

2018

Groundwater

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“…The quaternary geology of north-central Minnesota has been shaped by a series of glacial advances and retreats. This has left a surficial geology that is a patchwork of higher permeability glacial outwash sands/gravels and lower permeability end-moraine and stagnation moraine glacial tills (Lusardi et al 2019). The far northeastern portion of the state has a distinctly different surficial geology from the rest of the state, with extensive areas of thin, rocky, locally derived soils or exposed Precambrian bedrock, particularly in the Boundary Waters Formation (Lusardi et al 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wild Rice Lakes in Comparison to Mapped Surficial Sands in Minnesota

Swenson

2023

WSP

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Several recent studies have considered the distribution of wild rice (Zizania palustris) compared to a variety of physical and watershed parameters. However, the distribution of wild rice has not been systematically compared to the surficial geology. In this study, a relatively comprehensive list of identified wild rice lakes in Minnesota was compared to the mapped areas of surficial sands. Wild rice is significantly more likely to occur on basins which are within or adjacent to mapped surficial sands. Statewide, an odds ratio of 2.1. indicates that a given lake within the mapped surficial sands has more than twice the odds of wild rice occurrence than a lake outside of the mapped surficial sands. The correlation observed here between mapped surficial sands and wild rice presence suggests that a groundwater-surface water interaction may have more widespread importance for sustaining wild rice populations than previously considered.

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Utility of the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio passive seismic method for estimating thickness of Quaternary sediments in Minnesota and adjacent parts of Wisconsin

Chandler

Lively

2016

Interpretation

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Quaternary glacial and fluvial sediments in Minnesota and adjacent areas are a major source for groundwater, and they are important to many geologic investigations. Unfortunately, the thicknesses of these widespread sediments are often poorly known. The horizontal-to-vertical-spectral ratio (HVSR) passive seismic method is being increasingly used in the region to assist in mapping the thickness of these sediments and the topography of the underlying bedrock surface. HVSR results when control sites with known sediment thickness are used to derive calibration curves that in turn are used to estimate sediment thicknesses in areas lacking control. The HVSR method must be used with appropriate caution. Extreme variations in S-wave velocities of near-surface materials can complicate or even negate the use of calibration curves, and very irregular bedrock surfaces can produce weak, multipeak HVSR spectra that are difficult to interpret. Over soft bedrock, HVSR peaks may reflect intrabedrock features, and velocity contrasts within the glacial sequence can overwhelm HVSR bedrock signatures. Nonetheless, the HVSR method has proven a useful tool to investigate Quaternary geology and depth to bedrock in areas of the state where subsurface data are limited. Thickness estimate errors are usually less than 25%, which is adequate for many geologic applications. The addition of multilocation spectral profiles and cross sections anchored with bedrock control points has allowed us to use data with poor signal quality and to achieve good continuity away from control stations. HVSR methods provide a suitable and cheaper alternative to conventional seismic studies, and they help to target sites for Quaternary drilling programs, bedrock topography evaluation, and determining glacial sediment thickness for 3D mapping. In areas where conventional seismic profiling may be necessary, the HVSR method is useful in selecting and prioritizing targets. The HVSR method should have widespread application in the glaciated areas of the north-central midcontinent.

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Quaternary Stratigraphy of Minnesota: Statewide Cross-Sections

Cited by 3 publications

References 0 publications

How or When Samples Are Collected Affects Measured Arsenic Concentration in New Drinking Water Wells

How or When Samples Are Collected Affects Measured Arsenic Concentration in New Drinking Water Wells

Wild Rice Lakes in Comparison to Mapped Surficial Sands in Minnesota

Utility of the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio passive seismic method for estimating thickness of Quaternary sediments in Minnesota and adjacent parts of Wisconsin

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