Hydrogeologic Atlas of Aquifers in Indiana

Water-Resources Investigations Report 92-4142
Prepared in cooperation with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Water Indiana Department of Environmental Management
By: , and 

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Abstract

Aquifers in 12 water-management basins of Indiana are identified in a series of 104 hydrogeologic sections and 12 maps that show the thickness and configuration of aquifers. The vertical distribution of water-bearing units and a generalized potentiometric profile are shown along 3,500 miles of section lines that were constructed from drillers' logs of more than 4,200 wells. The horizontal scale of the sections is 1:125,000. Maps of aquifers showing the areal distribution of each aquifer type were drawn at a scale of 1:500,000. Unconsolidated aquifers are the most widely used aquifers in Indiana and include surficial, buried, and discontinuous layers of sand and gravel. Most of the surficial sand and gravel is in large outwash plains in northern Indiana and along the major rivers. Buried sand and gravel aquifers are interbedded with till deposits in much of the northern two-thirds of Indiana. Discontinuous sand and gravel deposits are present as isolated lenses, primarily in glaciated areas. The bedrock aquifers generally have lower yields than most of the sand and gravel aquifers; however, bedrock aquifers are areally widespread and are an important source of water. Bedrock aquifer types consist of carbonates; sandstones; complexly interbedded sandstones, siltstones, shales, limestones, and coals; and an upper weathered zone in low permeability rock. Carbonate aquifers underlie about one-half of Indiana and are the most productive of the bedrock aquifers. The other principal bedrock aquifer type, sandstone, underlies large areas in the southwestern one-fifth of Indiana. No aquifer is known to be present in the southeastern corner of Indiana.

Suggested Citation

Fenelon, J.M., Bobay, K.E., Greeman, T.K., Hoover, M.E., Cohen, D.A., Fowler, K.K., Woodfield, M.C., and Durbin, J.M., 1994, Hydrogeologic atlas of aquifers in Indiana: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 1992–4142, 197 p., https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/wri924142.

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Hydrogeologic Atlas of Aquifers in Indiana
Series title Water-Resources Investigations Report
Series number 92-4142
DOI 10.3133/wri924142
Edition -
Year Published 1994
Language ENGLISH
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Description viii, 197 p. : col. ill., col. maps ; 28 x 43 cm.
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details