48112
Author
Darwin, Robert L.; Ferring, C. Reid; Ellwood, Brooks B.
Author Affiliation
University of Texas at Arlington. Center for Geoenvironmental and Geoarchaeological Studies
Title Of Article Chaper
Geoelectric stratigraphy and subsurface evaluation of Quaternary stream sediments at the Cooper Basin, NE Texas
Title Of Journal Book
Geoarchaeology
Volume
5
Issue
1
Pages
53-79
Collation
12 figs., 1 table
Reference Bibliography
refs.
ISSN
0883-6353
Language Of Text
English
Language Of Summary
English
Literature Type
Serial
Literature Level
Analytic
Abstract
An electrical resistivity survey of a portion of the Cooper Reservoir Basin in northeast Texas has been used to delineate the major lithostratigraphic units of Quaternary flood plain deposits and subsurface palaeogeomorphic features of interest to geoarchaeologists. This investigation was conducted to evaluate the fluviatile deposits along the South Sulphur River which flows through Cooper Basin, to identify the basin morphology, and to detect buried geomorphic features. Buried stream channels were considered to be important targets since buried prehistoric site locations are thought to be related to patterns of fluvial facies. Two general techniques were used in the survey. First, soundings were conducted over borehole locations to correlate lithologies with resistivity variations. Second, multiple resistivity profiles were established along traverses across the flood plain. By repeating each traverse but with increased probe separations, a composite of profiles was developed yielding electrical cross-sections of the subsurface. These cross-sections were then interpreted in terms of lithologic stratigraphy in the basin. Sounding data were evaluated using empirical methods, and profile data were evaluated qualitatively. The sounding data defined the major resistivity horizons which correlate to the primary sedimentary units in the Cooper Basin. Profile data, used to construct resistivity cross-sections, revealed a series of buried erosional features interpreted as channel segments and allowed for the estimation of relative time boundaries within sediments buried under the flood plain as the basin evolved.
Keywords
stratigraphy;Quaternary;sediment;geoarchaeology; electrical resistivity surveys;USA (Texas-- Cooper Reservoir Basin); prehistoric;site location; resistivity profile
pub_id
48112