EXPLORATION FOR GROUNDWATER SOURCES IN THRUST FAULTED TERRANES

The geology of large portions of the northeastern USA is characterized by thrust faulting and associated structural deformation. Bedrock aquifers in these thrust faulted areas may have significant storage capacity coupled with high porosity and permeability along regional strike. Aquifers in thrust faulted bedrock can be sourced by large watershed areas thus providing significant volumes of water to potential downgradient water supply wells. As such, thrust faulted areas can provide unique opportunities for development of high-volume water supply wells for municipal, industrial, commercial, and agricultural uses. The layered bedrock found in thrust faulted terranes also affords an opportunity to utilize earth resistivity geophysical methods in efforts to characterize the hydrogeology of these areas.

This presentation includes an overview of the thrust faulting in the northeastern Appalachian Basin and illustrates key factors that may be used to determine the presence of high volume thrust faulted aquifers in a particular area. Case histories of recent groundwater exploration and development projects in thrust faulted terranes will be discussed.