| Abstract: | The rocks in the western Salt River Valley were divided into six units on the basis of lithology, geologic structure, and water-bearing characteristics. Highly impermeable Precambrian to Middle Tertiary metamorphic and granitic rocks make up most of the surrounding mountains and underlie the aquifer. Middle Tertiary to Quaternary volcanic rocks locally overlie the metamorphic and granitic rocks and may be interbedded with basin fill. The Middle Tertiary red unit, which was deposited before the Basin and Range disturbance, consists of indurated sediments and is not a source of water. The aquifer includes unconsolidated to well-consolidated mud, silt, clay, sand, and gravel and was subdivided into lower, middle, and upper units that range in age from Middle Tertiary to Quaternary. The lower unit, which contains evaporites is the oldest basin-fill unit and unconformably overlies the metamorphic and granitic rocks. The middle unit overlies and is less extensively faulted than the lower unit. The lower and middle units were deposited in a closed basin; the upper unit was deposited after the development of integrated drainage. Estimates of hydraulic conductivity range from 3 to 24 ft/day in the lower unit, from 4 to 60 ft/day in the middle unit, and from 180 to 1,700 ft/day in the upper unit. Dissolved-solids concentrations in the groundwater range from 200 mg/L near recharge areas to more than 100,000 mg/L near the Luke salt body. Locally, concentrations of fluoride and nitrate in the groundwater exceed drinking water standards. (USGS) |
| Genre: | USGS Numbered Series |
| ProdID: | 44833 |
| Citation Author: | Brown, James G.; Pool, D. R. |
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| Citation Language: | ENGLISH |
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| Citation Phsyical Description: | 13 maps on 4 sheets and 1 sheet of sections ; sheets 101 x 117 cm. and smaller, folded in envelope 30 x 24 cm. |
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| Citation Series: | Water-Resources Investigations Report |
| Citation Series Code: | WRI |
| Citation Series Number: | 88-4202 |
| Citation Search Results Text: | Hydrogeology of the western part of the Salt River Valley area, Maricopa County, Arizona; 1989; WRI; 88-4202; Brown, James G.; Pool, D. R. |
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| Citation Year: | 1989 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Hydrogeology of the western part of the Salt River Valley area, Maricopa County, Arizona; 1989; WRI; 88-4202; Brown, James G.; Pool, D. R. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/usgs_thumb.jpg |
| Date Other: | Sat, 1 Jan 1994 00:00 -0600 |
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