TY - Generic T1 - Deep geothermal resource potential in Connecticut; progress report T2 - Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America Y1 - 2012 A1 - Gagnon, Teresa K. A1 - Koteas, G. Christopher A1 - Thomas, Margaret A. A1 - Stephen B Mabee A1 - John Michael Rhodes KW - #StaffPubs KW - Connecticut KW - Economic geology, geology of energy sources 29A KW - energy sources KW - geothermal energy KW - geothermal exploration KW - geothermal gradient KW - granites KW - heat flow KW - igneous rocks KW - New England KW - plutonic rocks KW - temperature KW - thermal conductivity KW - United States AB - The Connecticut and Massachusetts Geological Surveys are collaborating on a National Geothermal Data Project funded by the US Department of Energy through the Association of American State Geologists.Geothermal resources in Connecticut (CT) to date have been exploited using near surface ground source heat pump technology. This is the first investigation of CT deep geothermal resources. Many CT granitoids contain heat producing elements. The goal is to identify geologic units capable of producing enough heat, at reasonable drilling depths, to operate a viable geothermal power plant. Target rock units must contain enough uranium, thorium and potassium (U/Th/K) in combination with heat generated through the natural geothermal gradient of the Earth to generate electricity and co-produced direct heating. Heat at depth can be concentrated by an overlying insulating layer of sedimentary rocks and glacial sediments. 27 CT bedrock units were selected for sampling using existing mapping. 120 samples were analyzed using X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry. Heat production values (HPVs) at or greater than 4 mu W/m (super 3) were considered to be of interest. Values ranging from 4 to 18 mu W/m (super 3) were calculated for 7 of the 27 rock units. Elevated concentrations of thorium, ranging from 10.5 ppm to 245 ppm, were the primary contributors to increased HPVs. Initial results indicate that the warmest rocks are Permian and Precambrian, which is consistent with earlier results from granitoid bodies underlying the Atlantic Coastal Plain of Virginia (Speer et al., 1979). Additional bedrock samples will be analyzed to further characterize geochemical variations and potential HPVs of target rock units. Direct thermal conductivity measurements are being made of select bedrock samples in addition to sedimentary rocks of the Hartford Basin. Theoretical thermal profiles derived from rock geochemistry will provide an estimate of heat generated at depth for geologic units of interest and assist in determining the potential for an insulating layer overlying heat producing granitoids. Direct thermal conductivity measurements of unconsolidated materials throughout CT are also being made to support the ground-source heat pump industry. All data and mapping will be accessible via the National Geothermal Data System (NGDS). JF - Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America PB - Geological Society of America (GSA) : Boulder, CO, United States CY - United States VL - 44 SN - 00167592 UR - https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2012NE/finalprogram/abstract_200494.htm IS - 22 N1 - Accession Number: 2012-090080; Conference Name: Geological Society of America, Northeastern Section, 47th annual meeting; Hartford, CT, United States; Conference Date: 20120318; Language: English; Coordinates: N405900N420300W0714800W0734400; Coden: GAAPBC; Collation: 1; Collation: 77; Publication Types: Abstract Only; Serial; Conference document; Updated Code: 201247; Monograph Title: Geological Society of America, Northeastern Section, 47th annual meeting; Monograph Author(s): Anonymous; Reviewed Item: Analytic JO - Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America ER - TY - Generic T1 - Factors influencing groundwater inflows in a newly constructed cross-strike tunnel, eastern Massachusetts; 2, Fracture-supported coincident lineaments and subsurface structures T2 - Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America Y1 - 1999 A1 - Hardcastle, Kenneth C. A1 - Curry, Patrick J. A1 - Williams, Katherine W. A1 - Stephen B Mabee KW - #StaffPubs KW - BEDROCK KW - controls KW - eastern Massachusetts KW - factors KW - fractures KW - ground water KW - Hydrogeology 21 KW - imagery KW - lineaments KW - massachusetts KW - movement KW - New England KW - outcrops KW - Structural geology 16 KW - tectonics KW - tunnels KW - United States AB - As part of the evaluation of the ability of lineaments to map subsurface structures, the coincident lineaments which intersect the tunnel (Curry et al., this volume), were evaluated to isolate those lineaments considered to be "fracture-supported". By definition, fracture-supported coincident lineaments are those which parallel nearby surface fracture sets, mapped faults, lithologic contacts, and/or primary ductile structures; features which may be influential to subsurface groundwater flow. Of the 37 coincident lineaments delineated on the three scales of imagery studied, approximately 70% are considered to be fracture-supported: 9 of the 13 on the 1:58,000 scale images, 10 of 14 on the 1:80,000, and 8 of 10 on the 1:250,000. However, the general lack of surface exposure precludes high confidence in the assignment of fracture-supported status to most lineaments. Large areas devoid of outcrops necessitated extrapolation of regional, surface fracture patterns (domains) to help define some fracture-supported coincident lineaments. There are two occurrences where fracture-supported coincident lineaments from all three scales overlap and are parallel. One occurrence successfully maps the zone of greatest fracture density and highest groundwater inflow (>560 l/min). The other occurrence maps an area of high fracture density and significant subsurface flow (95 l/min). In addition, one other high flow zone (>190 l/min) is mapped by a fracture-supported coincident lineament from the 1:80,000 scale imagery. However, many subsurface fractures and flow zones (<75 l/min) are not mapped by the coincident lineaments regardless of whether or not they are fracture-supported. When considering all fracture-supported coincident lineaments and parallel subsurface structures, the median flow (13,600 l/day) for the mapped structures is greater than the unmapped structures (6,800 liters/day). However, this difference is only significant at the 60% confidence level.Although the tunnel sections with the greatest fracture density and highest groundwater inflows are successfully mapped by fracture supported coincident lineaments, not all water-bearing zones are delineated. JF - Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America PB - Geological Society of America (GSA) : Boulder, CO, United States CY - United States VL - 31 SN - 00167592 IS - 77 N1 - Accession Number: 2001-037344; Conference Name: Geological Society of America, 1999 annual meeting; Denver, CO, United States; Conference Date: 19991025; Language: English; Coden: GAAPBC; Collation: 1; Collation: 348; Publication Types: Abstract Only; Serial; Conference document; Updated Code: 200111; Monograph Title: Geological Society of America, 1999 annual meeting; Monograph Author(s): Anonymous; Reviewed Item: Analytic JO - Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America ER - TY - Generic T1 - Factors influencing groundwater inflows in a newly constructed cross-strike tunnel, eastern Massachusetts; 5, Geochemical interpretation of groundwater inflows T2 - Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America Y1 - 1999 A1 - Weaver, Rebecca A. A1 - Stephen B Mabee A1 - Williams, Katherine W. A1 - Curry, Patrick J. KW - #StaffPubs KW - anions KW - BEDROCK KW - cations KW - classification KW - discharge KW - eastern Massachusetts KW - fault zones KW - faults KW - geochemistry KW - ground water KW - hydraulic conductivity KW - hydrochemistry KW - Hydrogeology 21 KW - Isotope geochemistry 02D KW - isotope ratios KW - isotopes KW - massachusetts KW - movement KW - New England KW - nitrate ion KW - O-18/O-16 KW - oxygen KW - samples KW - stable isotopes KW - surface water KW - tunnels KW - United States AB - Samples of ground and surface waters in and above the tunnel (Curry et al., this volume) were collected to characterize the chemistry of groundwater discharging from fractures and faults. Forty-two water samples were collected: 32 along a transect of the tunnel and 10 from surface waters above the trace of the tunnel. All samples were analyzed for major anions and cations, and delta (super 18) O. Analysis of the anion/cation data indicated that these waters are dominated by sulfate+chloride and calcium+magnesium. However, five sub-classifications can be discerned based on the relative concentrations of ions in the samples. The five sub-classifications are Cl > HCO (sub 3) > SO (sub 4) > NO (sub 3) :Ca > Na+K > Mg (15 samples), Cl > HCO (sub 3) > SO (sub 4) > NO (sub 3) :Na+K > Ca > Mg (7 samples), Cl > HCO (sub 3) > SO (sub 4) > NO (sub 3) :Ca > Mg > Na+K (6 samples), Cl > SO (sub 4) > HCO (sub 3) > NO (sub 3) :Na+K > Ca > Mg (3 samples), and HCO (sub 3) > Cl > SO (sub 4) > NO (sub 3) :Ca > Na+K > Mg (2 samples). Results from statistical analyses indicate that alkalinity, calcium, sodium and potassium do vary as a function of bedrock type and that these differences are significant at the 95% confidence level.In addition, preliminary oxygen isotope data indicate that two large, discrete water producing fault zones located in the eastern part of the tunnel are isotopically enriched (average delta (super 18) O = -7.75) relative to other water producing features in the tunnel (average delta (super 18) O = -8.96). The delta (super 18) O values obtained from all surface water bodies located above the tunnel average -7.56 whereas those values in surface ponds immediately above the fault zones average -6.71. Nitrate levels also show elevated levels in two water producing fault zones (>10 mg/L for some samples) and may result from accidental contamination during sampling, the use of explosives at discrete locations in the tunnel, or from leaking septic systems. The results of the oxygen isotope and nitrate analyses also suggest that some of the fault zones in the tunnel may have a rapid and direct hydraulic connection to the surface. JF - Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America PB - Geological Society of America (GSA) : Boulder, CO, United States CY - United States VL - 31 SN - 00167592 IS - 77 N1 - Accession Number: 2001-037342; Conference Name: Geological Society of America, 1999 annual meeting; Denver, CO, United States; Conference Date: 19991025; Language: English; Coden: GAAPBC; Collation: 1; Collation: 348; Publication Types: Abstract Only; Serial; Conference document; Updated Code: 200111; Monograph Title: Geological Society of America, 1999 annual meeting; Monograph Author(s): Anonymous; Reviewed Item: Analytic JO - Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America ER - TY - Generic T1 - Factors influencing groundwater inflows in a newly constructed cross-strike tunnel, eastern Massachusetts; 1, Lineaments and subsurface structures T2 - Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America Y1 - 1999 A1 - Curry, Patrick J. A1 - Hardcastle, Kenneth C. A1 - Stephen B Mabee A1 - Williams, Katherine W. KW - #StaffPubs KW - BEDROCK KW - eastern Massachusetts KW - fractures KW - geophysical surveys KW - ground water KW - Hydrogeology 21 KW - lineaments KW - massachusetts KW - metamorphic rocks KW - movement KW - New England KW - remote sensing KW - SLAR KW - strike KW - surveys KW - tectonics KW - tunnels KW - United States AB - Lineaments derived from three platforms; 1:250,000 Side-Looking Airborne Radar (SLAR) images, 1:58,000 Color Infrared (CIR) and 1:80,000 Black and White aerial photographs (BW), were compared to water bearing structures (n = 99) within a 9 km, 70 to 90 meter deep, east-west tunnel being constructed in eastern Massachusetts. Lineaments were drawn by three observers during two independent trials to produce 18 sets of lineaments (n = 9137) covering approximately 1,000 km (super 2) centered over the tunnel. All lineaments for each platform were compared. Three or more overlapping lineaments (azimuths within 5 degrees and within 1 mm at the scale of the imagery) define a single coincident lineament. This analysis generated three sets of coincident lineaments (n = 794), of these 37 cross the tunnel. Buffers were placed around the coincident lineaments at a distance of 1 mm from the center of the lineament at the scale of the platform (e.g. 250 m for the SLAR image). The Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine if the median flow from all tunnel structures which underlie the lineament buffer zones is significantly greater than that of all structures outside of the buffer zones. Results indicate that median flow (11,000 l/day) from structures located within the buffer zones of the BW are significantly greater at the 90% confidence level than the median flow (5,500 l/day) of structures located outside the buffer zones. No significant differences in flow were found for the other two platforms. Subsurface structures that parallel coincident lineaments (all platforms) and occur within the buffer zones have higher median flow (10,500 l/day) than those structures outside the buffer zones (6,600 l/day). However, this difference is significant at the 70% confidence level. These results suggest that, in some instances, a thorough lineament analysis can predict water-bearing subsurface structures in poorly exposed, glaciated, metamorphic terrain that has a high degree of suburban development. JF - Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America PB - Geological Society of America (GSA) : Boulder, CO, United States CY - United States VL - 31 SN - 00167592 IS - 77 N1 - Accession Number: 2001-037333; Conference Name: Geological Society of America, 1999 annual meeting; Denver, CO, United States; Conference Date: 19991025; Language: English; Coden: GAAPBC; Collation: 2; Collation: 347-348; Publication Types: Abstract Only; Serial; Conference document; Updated Code: 200111; Monograph Title: Geological Society of America, 1999 annual meeting; Monograph Author(s): Anonymous; Reviewed Item: Analytic JO - Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America ER - TY - Generic T1 - Factors influencing groundwater inflows in a newly constructed cross-strike tunnel, eastern Massachusetts; 3, Surface vs. subsurface fracture characteristics T2 - Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America Y1 - 1999 A1 - Stephen B Mabee A1 - Williams, Katherine W. A1 - Curry, Patrick J. A1 - Hardcastle, Kenneth C. KW - #StaffPubs KW - BEDROCK KW - controls KW - eastern Massachusetts KW - factors KW - fractures KW - ground water KW - Hydrogeology 21 KW - massachusetts KW - measurement KW - movement KW - New England KW - outcrops KW - spatial distribution KW - tunnels KW - United States AB - Major fracture sets (dip >45 degrees ), their geographic distributions (domains), and their characteristics (spacing, trace length, and planarity) were measured in surface outcrops and in a 9 km section of the tunnel (Curry et al., this volume) to determine how well fracture data collected at widely-spaced surface exposures can be extrapolated to a depth of 70 to 90 meters. For the surface fracture data set, fracture sets and domains were determined from 1513 measurements collected at 21 outcrops located within 3 km of the trace of the tunnel. Spacing, trace length, and planarity were determined from scanline measurements (n = 899). For the tunnel data set, 413 fracture measurements were made to determine major sets and domains and a smaller subset (n = 156) was used to estimate fracture characteristics.Five fracture sets (14, 38, 86, 117, and 171) were identified in the outcrops and seven sets (13, 29, 41, 62, 132, 159, and 175) in the tunnel. The 14 and 171 sets correspond well with the 13 and 175 sets in the tunnel. The 38 set observed at the surface includes parts of the 29 and 41 sets in the tunnel. The 86 set does occur in the tunnel but is undersampled because it is aligned with the tunnel. The 62 and 159 sets occur in the tunnel but are not seen at the surface. Although large areas are devoid of outcrops, comparison of surface and subsurface fracture domains indicates that only the 14 and 171 sets show a reasonable overlap with the 13 and 175 domains in the tunnel. These latter sets are the fractures generating most of the groundwater inflow into the tunnel. Median fracture spacing and trace lengths for the 13 and 175 sets in the tunnel are significantly wider and longer than the corresponding 14 and 171 sets at the surface. Fracture planarities showed no significant differences between any of the surface and subsurface fracture sets. JF - Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America PB - Geological Society of America (GSA) : Boulder, CO, United States CY - United States VL - 31 SN - 00167592 IS - 77 N1 - Accession Number: 2001-037340; Conference Name: Geological Society of America, 1999 annual meeting; Denver, CO, United States; Conference Date: 19991025; Language: English; Coden: GAAPBC; Collation: 1; Collation: 348; Publication Types: Abstract Only; Serial; Conference document; Updated Code: 200111; Monograph Title: Geological Society of America, 1999 annual meeting; Monograph Author(s): Anonymous; Reviewed Item: Analytic JO - Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America ER - TY - Generic T1 - Implications for non-traditional geothermal resources in southern New England; variability in heat potential based on thermal conductivity and geochemistry studies T2 - Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America Y1 - 2012 A1 - Koteas, G. Christopher A1 - John Michael Rhodes A1 - Stephen B Mabee A1 - Ryan, Amy A1 - Schmidt, Joe A1 - League, Corey A1 - Goodhue, Nathaniel A1 - Adams, Sharon A. A1 - Gagnon, Teresa K. A1 - Thomas, Margaret A. KW - #StaffPubs KW - chemical composition KW - Connecticut KW - Economic geology, geology of energy sources 29A KW - energy sources KW - geothermal energy KW - geothermal exploration KW - granites KW - heat flow KW - igneous rocks KW - massachusetts KW - models KW - New England KW - plutonic rocks KW - thermal conductivity KW - United States AB - Estimating geothermal potential in southern New England in the absence of borehole heat flow data or geophysical studies has led to a focus on models based on thermal conductivity, geochemistry, and density-based heat production models. Preliminary estimates of geothermal potential generally match borehole-based heat flow data from similar tectonic environments. Nevertheless, microstructural and compositional heterogeneity with depth remain largely unconstrained. The extrapolation of regional structures based on detailed field mapping has helped to improve structural projections adjacent to major basins. However, an additional source of error in models of heat potential-with-depth are thermal conductivity estimates of igneous and meta-igneous rocks throughout Massachusetts (MA) and Connecticut (CT). Over three hundred granitoid localities in MA and CT have been analyzed to date. The southern New England region can be simplified into four major litho-tectonic zones: the Taconic-Berkshire Zone of western MA and northwestern CT, The Bronson Hill Zone associated with the CT River valley, the Nashoba Zone of central MA and eastern CT, and the Milford-Dedham Zone of eastern MA and eastern CT. Granitic rocks adjacent to the CT River valley and the Narragansett Basin vary considerably in thermal conductivity. Granites adjacent to the Narragansett Basin vary from 2.9 to 3.7 W/m * K. Average thermal conductivity values, combined with modeled heat production values, produce temperatures at 3 km depth along the Narragansett Basin that approach 85-115 degrees C. Values of meta-igneous rocks from the margin of the CT River valley in MA and CT vary more considerably in thermal conductivity, from 1.8 to 3.9W/m * K. Modeled heat potentials at 3 km depths along the eastern margin of the CT River valley vary between 74-122 degrees C and appear to be largely related to compositional variation. However, local rock composition is also related to metamorphic grade and fabric development, suggesting that both fabric and composition are first order controls on thermal conductivity. Modeling based on these data set to date suggests that combining thermal conductivity, whole rock geochemistry data, and density measurements can produce accurate reconnaissance estimates of geothermal potential in southern New England. JF - Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America PB - Geological Society of America (GSA) : Boulder, CO, United States CY - United States VL - 44 SN - 00167592 UR - https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2012NE/finalprogram/abstract_200837.htm IS - 22 N1 - Accession Number: 2012-090079; Conference Name: Geological Society of America, Northeastern Section, 47th annual meeting; Hartford, CT, United States; Conference Date: 20120318; Language: English; Coordinates: N420000N473000W0670000W0733000; Coden: GAAPBC; Collation: 2; Collation: 76-77; Publication Types: Abstract Only; Serial; Conference document; Updated Code: 201247; Monograph Title: Geological Society of America, Northeastern Section, 47th annual meeting; Monograph Author(s): Anonymous; Reviewed Item: Analytic JO - Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America ER - TY - Generic T1 - Improving seismic hazard assessment in New England through the use of surficial geologic maps and expert analysis T2 - Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs Y1 - 2013 A1 - Becker, Laurence R. A1 - Patriarco, Steven P. A1 - Marvinney, Robert G. A1 - Thomas, Margaret A. A1 - Stephen B Mabee A1 - Fratto, Edward S. KW - #StaffPubs KW - earthquakes KW - Environmental geology KW - geologic hazards KW - maps KW - natural hazards KW - New England KW - risk assessment KW - seismic risk KW - seismic zoning KW - surficial geology KW - surficial geology maps KW - technology KW - United States AB - In New England, earthquakes pose a risk to the built environment. New England state geological surveys partnered with the Northeast States Emergency Consortium to integrate geologic information and GIS analysis for risk communication. Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont employed surficial geologic maps, deglaciation history, glacial stratigraphy, and professional judgment to reclassify surficial geologic materials into one of the five National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program (NEHRP) site classifications (A, B, C, D, and E). These new classifications were used in the HAZards U.S. Multi-Hazard (HAZUS-MH) risk assessment application as a substitute for site class value of "D," used in HAZUS-MH throughout New England as a default value. Coding of surficial geologic materials for the five NEHRP site classifications was then compared with classifications using the Wald methodology, a method using slope analysis as a proxy for shear-wave velocity estimates. Comparisons show that coding to site classes using the Wald methodology underestimates categories A (high-velocity shear-wave materials, least relative hazard) and E (lowest-velocity shear-wave materials, greatest relative hazard) when evaluated side by side with coding done with the aid of surficial geologic maps. Geologic maps provide insights into the location of buried low shear wave velocity materials not afforded by the Wald methodology. North of the glacial limit, derangement of drainage resulted in extensive ponding of meltwaters and the subsequent deposition of thick sequences of lacustrine mud. Inundation by the sea immediately following deglaciation in New England resulted in the deposition of spatially extensive and locally thick sequences of glacial marine mud. Surficial geologic maps better capture these circumstances when compared with the Wald methodology. Without the use of surficial geologic maps, significant areas of New England will be incorrectly classified as being more stable than actual site conditions would allow. By employing surficial geologic information, HAZUS-MH earthquake loss estimates are improved, providing local and regional emergency managers with more accurate information for locating and prioritizing.

JF - Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs PB - Geological Society of America (GSA) : Boulder, CO, United States CY - United States VL - 45 SN - 00167592 UR - https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2013NE/webprogram/Paper214837.html IS - 11 N1 - Accession Number: 2014-021037; Conference Name: Geological Society of America, Northeastern Section, 48th annual meeting; Bretton Woods, NH, United States; Conference Date: 20130318; Language: English; Coden: GAAPBC; Collation: 2; Collation: 50-51; Publication Types: Abstract Only; Serial; Conference document; Updated Code: 201414; Monograph Title: Geological Society of America, Northeastern Section, 48th annual meeting; Monograph Author(s): Anonymous; Reviewed Item: Analytic JO - Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Improving seismic hazard assessment in New England through the use of surficial geologic maps and expert analysis JF - Special Paper - Geological Society of America Y1 - 2012 A1 - Becker, Laurence R. A1 - Patriarco, Steven P. A1 - Marvinney, Robert G. A1 - Thomas, Margaret A. A1 - Stephen B Mabee A1 - Fratto, Edward S. KW - #StaffPubs KW - civil engineering KW - earthquakes KW - Eastern U.S. KW - Engineering geology 30 KW - Environmental geology 22 KW - geologic hazards KW - mitigation KW - natural hazards KW - New England KW - Northeastern U.S. KW - risk assessment KW - risk management KW - safety KW - seismic risk KW - seismicity KW - United States AB - (GSA Special Paper) In New England, earthquakes pose a risk to the built environment. Emergency preparedness and mitigation planning are prudent in this region as older unreinforced masonry buildings and numerous critical facilities are common. New England state geological surveys cooperate with the Northeast States Emergency Consortium (NESEC) to improve risk communication with emergency managers. To that end, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont employed surficial geologic maps, deglaciation history, knowledge of the glacial stratigraphy, and professional judgment to reclassify surficial geologic material units into one of the five National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) site classifications (A, B, C, D, and E). These new classifications were used as a substitute for the HAZards U.S. Multi-Hazard (HAZUS-MH) site class value of "D," which is used throughout New England as a default value. In addition, coding of surficial geologic materials for the five NEHRP site classifications was compared with classifications using the Wald methodology, a method that uses a slope analysis as a proxy for shear-wave velocity estimates. Comparisons show that coding to site classes using the Wald methodology underestimates categories A (high-velocity shear-wave materials, least relative hazard) and E (lowest-velocity shear-wave materials, greatest relative hazard) when evaluated side by side with coding done with the aid of surficial geologic maps. North of the glacial limit, derangement of drainage resulted in extensive ponding of meltwaters and the subsequent deposition of thick sequences of lacustrine mud. Inundation by the sea immediately following deglaciation in New England resulted in the deposition of spatially extensive and locally thick sequences of glacial marine mud. Surficial geologic maps better capture this circumstance when compared with the Wald topographic slope analysis. Without the use of surficial geologic maps, significant areas of New England will be incorrectly classified as being more stable than the site conditions that actually exist. By employing surficial geologic information, we project an improved accuracy for HAZUS-MH earthquake loss estimations, providing local and regional emergency managers with more accurate information for locating and prioritizing earthquake planning, preparedness, and mitigation projects to reduce future losses. PB - Geological Society of America (GSA) : Boulder, CO, United States CY - United States VL - 493 SN - 007210779780813724935 UR - http://specialpapers.gsapubs.org/content/493/221.abstract N1 - Accession Number: 2013-034008; Conference Name: Geological Society of America, 2010 annual meeting; Denver, CO, United States; Conference Date: 20101031; Language: English; Coden: GSAPAZ; Collation: 22; Collation: 221-242; Publication Types: Serial; Conference document; Updated Code: 201321; Illustration(s): illus. incl. 6 tables, geol. sketch maps; Number of References: 36; Monograph Title: Recent advances in North American paleoseismology and neotectonics east of the Rockies; Monograph Author(s): Cox, Randel Tom [editor]; Tuttle, Martitia P. [editor]; Boyd, Oliver S. [editor]; Locat, Jacques [editor]; Reviewed Item: Analytic JO - Special Paper - Geological Society of America ER -