Preliminary report upon invertebrate fossils collected by the expeditions of 1871, 1872, and 1873, with descriptions of new species
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The Lompoc Plain is the central lowland of a topographic and structural basin that forms the western and lower part of the Santa Ynes Valley in Santa Barbara County, California. It extends inland about 11 miles from the coast and is 1 mile fto about 3 miles wide.
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The following report is based on a few weeks' examination of the recently discovered Nome gold-mining region, made by us in October, 1899. We collected such topographic and geologic data of this important region as the climatic conditions would permit and our limited time would allow, the trip to Nome being a hurried utilization of a delay while waiting for a steamer for Seattle after the completion of the regular field work in the Yukon Basin.
U. S. Geological Survey Party No. 4 covered the area between 68° 30' and 69° 08' N. latitude and between 154° and 155°20' W. longitude during the period May 18 to September 2. Traverses were confined mainly to the valleys of the Kurupa, Colville, and Oolamnagavik Rivers inasmuch as very little rock is exposed in the interstream areas. This report is limited to the Colville River valley area between the Kura and Killik Rivers, and to a stratigraphic section exposed. on the Kurupa 7-12 miles south of the Colville. A final report will be prepared by April 1, 1947, on the total area and will include discussions of the stratigraphy and structure of Upper Cretaceous formations A through D on the Oolamnagavik and Kurupa, the stratigraphy of Formation D on the Colville, and the Lower Cretaceous and Triassic rocks. Separation and identification of heavy minerals from the sandstones and conglomerates, binocular and petrographic microscope examinations of specimens, identification of megafossils, and separation and identification of microfossils, if any, will be undertaken. Detailed examination of all aerial photos will be made to trace out structures and formations in the adjacent areas to the east, north, and west. It seems probable that close correlation between this area, the Killik River area, and Maybe Creek area will be possible by extrapolating field and aerial photo data. It is possible also to trace structures and some formation westward from the Kurupa River.
During the summer of. 1947, U. S. Geological Survey Party No. 2 made a reconnaissance survey of the area between Awuna River and the divide north of the Kigalik River. The westernmost observations were made along the Awuna anticline to longitude about 157°30' W. and along the Kigalik anticline to longitude about 156°55'W. The easternmost work was done along the Knife Blade Ridge anticline at a longitude of about 154°30'W. Not all of this area was traversed, but a general idea of the area studied may be had by noting the distribution of dip and strike symbols on Figure 1. Parts of this area had been previously visited by Smith 1/ in 1927 as a part of his traverse from Allakaket to the Arctic Coast. In the period from about July 10 to August 5 his party ascended the Awuna River and Birthday Creek, portaged over the Kigalik-Awuna divide at Birthday Pass, and descended the Kigalik River to its mouth. Various parties in the field season of 1946 worked in areas not far distant. Webber 2/ began his field work near the headwaters of the Meade River and measured a section across the Kigalik anticline about 25 miles beyond the westernmost observations made on that structure by Party No. 2. Work by Chapman and Thurrell 3/ along the Colville River parallels at a distance of three or four miles work by Party No. 2 in the vicinity of Knife Blade Ridge. The easternmost observations by Party No. 2 in the vicinity of Knife Blade Ridge are about 11 miles west of the area south of Maybe Creek mapped by Ray and Fischer.4/ Of the 1947 work of other field parties that of Thurrell 5/ along the Colville River is most closely related to this report. His thickness from the base of Zone A to his Trace No. 5 is included in Column 1 of Figure 3. Webber's work 6/ along the Ikpikpuk and Titaluk Rivers is also in a closely related area. Party No. 2 moved through this area by weasel, the weasels being used extensively on the daily traverses. The party assembled at Umiat late in May and was flown out to a lake about one mile west of the Ikpikpuk River at latitude 69°40' N. where the weasels and initial supplies had been previously cached. Early in June the party moved south into the area in which it was to begin work. For the next several weeks the party worked in the area north of the Kigalik River, moving westward along the divide north of that river. At this time considerable work was done south of the Kigalik River, west of longitude 154°40'W. No closure was detected along the Kigalik anticline. Shortly after the middle of July the party moved southwestward to the vicinity of the Awuna anticline where a westerly plunge had been suggested from the study of aerial photographs. The general route of the party from then on was eastward along the divide between the Awuna and Kigalik Rivers. Due to the need to reach a food cache further east very little data was gathered in the area between Birthday and Section Creeks. It was intended to work this area by one or two spike trips from the camp at the head of Section Creek. However, after constructing a cross-section from data gathered by the party along Section Creek and by Thurreli in the area between the Colville and Awuna Rivers it became apparent that the strata exposed along the axis of the Awuna anticline were stratigraphically below the base of Zone A. It thus appeared that there would be little point in attempting to gather additional data in the area between Birthday and Section Creeks. The party continued eastward, working along the south flank of the Kigalik anticline. On September 1, the party camped about one mile west of the summit of Knife Blade Ridge. Because of unfavorable weather at this time only a small amount of field work was accomplished in the next week. Enough data was gathered to give a general picture of the structure here, but the data on stratigraphy and structure is far from exhaustive. On September 9 the party moved eastward, camping that night about 3 miles northeast of :Wolf Creek, and arriving at Umiat on the afternoon of September 10. Aerial photographs were carried in the field and used to record the points at which observations were made. A considerable amount of data was recorded on the photographs. Approximate elevations were obtained, at first by aneroid barometers, and later by more sensitive airplane altimeters. Plane table and alidade were used in local traverses in the area north of the Kigalik River to obtain dips and strikes by the 'three-point method. Nearly all other dips and strikes recorded were measured by Brunton compass. Dips of 5° or less in the area south of the Kigalik River should, in general, be considered as dip components with only the approximate strike shown. These low dips were taken on bedding traces* where it was usually impossible to observe an accurate strike with the Brunton.
Geological Survey Party 4 began studies at a point on the Colville River 18 miles downstream from the mouth of the Killik River on July 19. From this point the studies were continued along the Colville River to near the mouth of Prince Creek. The investigation was completed on September 1 and the party returned to Umiat. A traverse was made along the lower half of Prince Creek and along one of its northern tributaries between September 8 and September 15. Canvas boats were used for transportation along the Colville River and a weasel was used to traverse Prince Creek. The party was composed of four members: R. L. Detterman and D. E. Mathewson, geologists; J. L. Townley, surveyor; and Charles Segal, cook.
The stratigraphy and structure of the area of the Colville north of Umiat was studied by U. S. GeologicaI Survey Party No. 1 during the period of May 31 to July 19, 1947. The. party, consisting pf two geologists, a cook, and a "weasel" mechanic, left Umiat in two "weasels”. The weasels were used to transport the party and equipment from camp to camp, and also made it possible for the geologists to work as far as 15 to 20 miles out from a camp in one day. A ten-foot canvas-boat was carried along. During most of the month of June even the smaller tributaries to the Kogohokruk carried enough melt and run off water to make them navigable in the 10-foot boat. The party returned to Umiat on June 23, after traversing both the Kikiakrorak and the Kogohokruk Rivers, and several smaller tributaries to the Kogohokruk.
In 1946 U. S. Geological Survey Party 2 was assigned the task of carrying out detailed structural and stratigraphic investigations in the area of Maybe Creek*. Field studies indicated the presence of a large anticlinal structure whose axis lies just south of Wolf Creek. Later structural data compiled from aerial photographic studies indicated that the anticline is a closed structure 8-9 miles long, and as much as 6 miles wide. The evidence for a closure on the east end of the structure appears very strong, but not enough evidence was obtained to prove closure on the west end. In 1947 U. S. Geological Survey Party 1 spent two weeks at Wolf Creek, mapping bedding traces on the west end of the structure with plane table and alidade, in an attempt to prove or disprove west closure on the anticline. Party 1, consisting of 3 geologists, cook, and a "weasel" mechanic, left Umiat on July 21, and returned on August 5. Two "weasels" were used for the transportation of the party and equipment, and were also used extensively in mapping the area.
Geological Survey Party 1 returned to Umiat from Wolf Creek on August 5. Plans for the field season of 1947 called for geologic reconnaissance along part of the Ipnavik River and along the Colville River between the Ipnavik and Kurupa Rivers, to be completed before the end of the season. Since not much time remained and the traverse was long--about 70 airline miles--it was decided that the work would progress more rapidly if two parts of the traverse were worked at the same time. Accordingly, Robert F. Thurrell, Jr., and James H. Zumberge, geologists, were transported by plane from Umiat to the confluence of the Ipnavik and the Colville Rivers on August 8. From there they traversed down the Colville to the Kurupa River 1/. The other two members of Party 1, Karl Stefansson, geologist, and Elder W. Lebert, cook, remained in Umiat until August 14 when a small plane was finally available to transport them to a camp on the Ipnavik River, about 30 airline miles southwest of the junction of the Ipnavik and the Colville Rivers. The party reached the Colville River on September 2, and arrived at Umiat on September 6.
U.S. Geological Survey Party 3 studied the geology of the Utukok River area and conducted a short reconnaissance of the Corwin-Cape Beaufort Region during the period May 12 to August 31, 1947. The upper part of the Utukok River was examined for several miles on either side while the lower, or Coastal Plain-portion, was necessarily limited to the few outcrops along the river. During this study, the major emphasis was placed upon rocks of Upper Cretaceous age and their relationships to the underlying Lower Cretaceous rocks. All macrofossils, and numerous samples for porosity, heavy mineral, and microfossil determinations were collected. A triangulation net was established by theodolite from Camp. 1 near the headwaters of the river to the mouth of Carbon Creek. The survey started and ended on measured base lines, and stations were determined by intersection and resection. Stations were selected, insofar as possible, on points that could be pin pricked on aerial photographs where adequate coverage was available, Horizontal control was computed for cartographic purposes. Vertical differences were computed from an elevation at Camp 1 assumed at 2,000 feet above sea level based upon two different airplane altimeter readings. Most of the country is too rough for wheel landings with the exception of several gravel bars in the river between Camp 6 and the coast. Pontoon landings with a Cub plane can be made at most places on the river. Driftwood, Adventure, Disappointment, Carbon, and Elusive Creeks are the main tributaries to the Utukok. At various localities, terrace gravels are common on divides of these streams. A terrace north of Driftwood Creek and about ten miles east of Camp 2 is covered with a deposit of gravel which is apparently, thick and is spread over an irregular area about two miles long and a half mile wide. A thin tundra cover obscures what is probably a much larger continuation of the gravel deposit. With favorable conditions plane landings could be made, but with a little construction work a commercial size airfield could be made.
Geological Survey Party No. 4 was assigned an investigation of the Ikpikpuk and Titaluk Rivers and East Fork of the Ikpikpuk River mainly for the purpose of obtaining stratigraphic information which would be of use in determining the parts of the Upper Cretaceous sequence that underlie the areas investigated by United Geophysical Company parties 43 and 46. A total of five days were spent in geological investigations of the Titaluk River with a Cub plane equipped with pontoons. The party was composed of the geologist and Don Hulshizer, pilot of Wien Alaska Airlines. The geologist and Ronald K. Sorem, field assistant, traversed the Ikpikpuk River by boat from the junction of Maybe Creek and the Kigalik River to near the junction of the East Fork. From the northernmost point reached by boat traverse, the river was examined by plane to north of latitude 70° N., but no outcrops or rubble indicating bedrock were seen. The East Fork was also examined from the air but no outcrops or rubble were observed.
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