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Transient Electromagnetic Soundings Near Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, San Luis Valley, Colorado (2006 Field Season)

Open-File Report 2009-1051
By:  and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20091051

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Abstract

Time-domain electromagnetic (TEM) soundings were made near Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in the San Luis Valley of southern Colorado to obtain subsurface information of use to hydrologic modeling. Seventeen soundings were made to the east and north of the sand dunes. Using a small loop TEM system, maximum exploration depths of about 75 to 150 m were obtained. In general, layered earth interpretations of the data found that resistivity decreases with depth. Comparison of soundings with geologic logs from nearby wells found that zones logged as having increased clay content usually corresponded with a significant resistivity decrease in the TEM determined model. This result supports the use of TEM soundings to map the location of the top of the clay unit deposited at the bottom of the ancient Lake Alamosa that filled the San Luis Valley from Pliocene to middle Pleistocene time.

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Transient electromagnetic soundings near Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, San Luis Valley, Colorado (2006 field season)
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2009-1051
DOI 10.3133/ofr20091051
Year Published 2009
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Contributing office(s) U.S. Geological Survey
Description Report: vi, 55 p.; Downloads Directory
Time Range Start 2006-01-01
Time Range End 2006-12-31
Country United States
State Colorado
Other Geospatial San Luis Valley
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
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