TY - Generic T1 - Field mapping and fracture characterization techniques predict groundwater preferential flow paths in fractured bedrock aquifers, Nashoba Terrane, MA T2 - AGU Fall Conference, 2005 Y1 - 2005 A1 - Alex K Manda A1 - Stephen B Mabee A1 - Hubbs, S. A. KW - #StaffPubs KW - aquifers KW - BEDROCK KW - characterization KW - fractured materials KW - fractures KW - ground water KW - Hydrogeology 21 KW - mapping KW - massachusetts KW - Middlesex County Massachusetts KW - movement KW - Nashoba terrane KW - patterns KW - preferential flow KW - recharge KW - reservoir properties KW - substrates KW - United States AB - A study examining the relationship between fracture characteristics and groundwater was undertaken in the crystalline Nashoba Terrane of eastern Massachusetts. The Nashoba Terrane, a fault-bounded, highly deformed sliver of Paleozoic igneous and metamorphic rocks, covers an area of 600 sq km about 50 km northwest of Boston. Increasing industrial development coupled with population growth place significant pressure on developers to provide sufficient potable water for the population. To aid water development and management, this study examined fracture characteristics at regional, quadrangle and wellfield scales. The regional-scale work involved recording over 4000 structural measurements from 80 outcrops in the terrane. Fracture information recorded at each data station included strike and dip, trace length, spacing, termination, and fracture type. Preliminary results show that hydrostructural domains can be defined from combinations of fracture characterization and rock types. These domains are used to conceptualize general groundwater flow patterns in the subsurface: steeply dipping fractures, such as partings parallel to foliation enhance recharge potential and impose strong flow anisotropy. A different character is observed if steeply dipping joints intersect sheeting joints. In this instance, both recharge and lateral flow will be enhanced and flow anisotropy will be reduced. The distribution and intensity of particular fracture sets varies as a function of rock type, proximity to major features and local stress states. Partings parallel to foliation are prevalent in gneissic rocks whereas sheeting joints are more common in igneous rocks. Common joints are the most prevalent fractures, present in all rock types across the entire terrane. Quadrangle and wellfield scale data can be used to validate the regional-scale conceptual models. A comprehensive well-yield database was created to test the proposed models. Over 500 water wells in the terrane were evaluated to determine regions with high and low yield. The findings were evaluated in terms of location with respect to newly defined hydrostructural domain maps at both regional and quadrangle scales. Application of these hydrostructural domains in field studies can be useful not only in characterizing fracture intensity and distribution, but can shed more light on the potential of intersecting subsurface zones that could be exploited for economic gain. JF - AGU Fall Conference, 2005 PB - American Geophysical Union : Washington, DC, United States CY - United States VL - 86 SN - 00963941 IS - 52, Suppl.52, Suppl. N1 - Accession Number: 2009-053313; Conference Name: American Geophysical Union 2005 fall meeting; San Francisco, CA, United States; Conference Date: 20051205; Language: English; Coordinates: N420800N424400W0710200W0715300; Coden: EOSTAJ; Collation: -1; Publication Types: Abstract Only; Serial; Conference document; Updated Code: 200930; Monograph Title: AGU 2005 fall meeting; Monograph Author(s): Anonymous; Reviewed Item: Analytic JO - Eos, Transactions, American Geophysical Union ER - TY - Generic T1 - Fracture characterization of crystalline bedrock for groundwater investigations; an example from the Marlborough Quadrangle, Massachusetts T2 - Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America Y1 - 2004 A1 - Scott A Salamoff A1 - Stephen B Mabee A1 - Joseph P Kopera A1 - Donald U Wise KW - #StaffPubs KW - aquifers KW - Assabet River Fault KW - BEDROCK KW - characterization KW - controls KW - crystalline rocks KW - fractured materials KW - fractures KW - geographic information systems KW - ground water KW - Hydrogeology 21 KW - hydrology KW - information systems KW - joints KW - Marlborough Quadrangle KW - massachusetts KW - Middlesex County Massachusetts KW - permeability KW - preferential flow KW - recharge KW - style KW - testing KW - theoretical models KW - United States AB - Integration of a wide array of structural data with well-field hydrologic testing is increasingly recognized as a critical step in understanding groundwater flow behavior and recharge in crystalline bedrock aquifers (Lyford et al., 2003, Walsh and Lyford, 2002). The Marlborough Quadrangle, about 40 km west of Boston, was selected as a test case of how a state geological survey can most effectively and efficiently collect and present such data in order to better constrain conceptual models of groundwater flow in general and to be of maximum use for hydrologists and consultants working on specific local problems. In this study, 3200 structural measurements were taken by a two-person team over a nine-week period at 68 stations distributed throughout the quadrangle and keyed into a GIS database. Specialized data sheets allowed efficient recording and digitization of orientations, lengths, spacing and mineralization, and separation of various classes of joints and veins. Fault data also included motion direction and sense. Summary maps in GIS format include standard geologic map bases overlain by typical rose diagrams and stereograms and maps such as fracture domains and trajectories, sheeting distribution, foliation trajectories, bedrock elevations, generalized piezometric surface configuration, and overburden type and thickness with separations into permeability class. Geology of the quadrangle can be separated into three zones: (a) north of the Assabet River Fault (ARF), (b) the area between the ARF and 1.5 km-wide Bloody Bluff Fault Zone (BBFZ), and (c) south of the BBFZ. Generalized foliations in the zones are: (a) 215, 50N, (b) 240, 65N, and (c) 270, 45N. Two pervasive, steeply-dipping (>60 degrees ) fracture sets occur throughout the quadrangle: an older 150 degrees set that includes sulfide-bearing veins and fracture surfaces along the ARF and a 015 degrees set of largely unmineralized common joints, macrojoints (>3 m length) and joint zones (av. 1.2 m width). Sheeting and unloading joints are generally coincident with shallow dipping foliation in (c) but cross-cut foliation in (a) and (b). We believe this approach will provide hydrologists and consultants with basic framework data that will expedite and improve the planning of subsurface investigations, construction activities and groundwater exploration. JF - Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America PB - Geological Society of America (GSA) : Boulder, CO, United States CY - United States VL - 36 SN - 00167592 UR - https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2004NE/finalprogram/abstract_70321.htm IS - 22 N1 - Accession Number: 2005-077195; Conference Name: Geological Society of America, Northeastern Section, 38th annual meeting; Geological Society of America, Southeastern Section, 53rd annual meeting; Washington, DC, United States; Conference Date: 20040325; Language: English; Coordinates: N421800N421800W0713000W0713000; Coden: GAAPBC; Collation: 1; Collation: 113; Publication Types: Abstract Only; Serial; Conference document; Updated Code: 200524; Monograph Title: Geological Society of America, Northeastern Section, 38th annual meeting; Geological Society of America, Southeastern Section, 53rd annual meeting; Monograph Author(s): Anonymous; Reviewed Item: Analytic JO - Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America ER - TY - Generic T1 - Fracture characterization; valuable inputs for modeling groundwater flow in fractured bedrock T2 - Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America Y1 - 1996 A1 - Stephen B Mabee A1 - Hardcastle, Kenneth C. KW - #StaffPubs KW - BEDROCK KW - boreholes KW - California KW - discontinuities KW - experimental studies KW - field studies KW - fractured materials KW - fractures KW - ground water KW - Hydrogeology 21 KW - Madera County California KW - models KW - movement KW - observation wells KW - Raymond California KW - site exploration KW - spatial distribution KW - transmissivity KW - United States KW - wells JF - Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America PB - Geological Society of America (GSA) : Boulder, CO, United States CY - United States VL - 28 SN - 00167592 IS - 33 N1 - Accession Number: 1996-065028; Conference Name: Geological Society of America, Northeastern Section, 31st annual meeting; Buffalo, NY, United States; Conference Date: 19960321; Language: English; Coordinates: N364500N374500W1190100W1203800; Coden: GAAPBC; Collation: 1; Collation: 77; Publication Types: Abstract Only; Serial; Conference document; Updated Code: 199620; Monograph Title: Geological Society of America, Northeastern Section, 31st annual meeting; Monograph Author(s): Anonymous; Reviewed Item: Analytic JO - Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Correlation of lineaments and bedrock fracture fabric; implications for regional fractured-bedrock aquifer studies, preliminary results from Georgetown, Maine JF - Ground Water Management Y1 - 1990 A1 - Stephen B Mabee A1 - Hardcastle, Kenneth C. A1 - Donald U Wise KW - #StaffPubs KW - aquifers KW - fractured materials KW - fractures KW - geophysical surveys KW - Georgetown Maine KW - ground water KW - hydrogeology KW - Hydrogeology 21 KW - imagery KW - Maine KW - remote sensing KW - Sagadahoc County Maine KW - SLAR KW - surveys KW - United States PB - Water Well Journal Pub. Co. : Dublin, OH, United States CY - United States VL - 3 SN - 10479023 UR - http://info.ngwa.org/gwol/pdf/900156672.PDF N1 - Accession Number: 1991-010604; Conference Name: FOCUS conference on Eastern regional ground water issues; Springfield, MA, United States; Conference Date: 19901017; Language: English; Collation: 15; Collation: 283-297; Publication Types: Serial; Conference document; Updated Code: 1991; Illustration(s): illus. incl. 2 tables, sketch maps; Number of References: 15; Monograph Title: Proceedings of the FOCUS conference on Eastern regional ground water issues; Monograph Author(s): Anonymous; Reviewed Item: Analytic JO - Ground Water Management ER - TY - JOUR T1 - A field study (Massachusetts, USA) of the factors controlling the depth of groundwater flow systems in crystalline fractured-rock terrain JF - Hydrogeology Journal Y1 - 2010 A1 - David F Boutt A1 - Diggins, Patrick A1 - Stephen B Mabee KW - #StaffPubs KW - aquifers KW - boreholes KW - crystalline rocks KW - eastern Massachusetts KW - fractured materials KW - fractures KW - ground water KW - hydraulic conductivity KW - Hydrogeology 21 KW - massachusetts KW - Nashoba terrane KW - permeability KW - porosity KW - preferential flow KW - shallow-water environment KW - substrates KW - United States AB - Groundwater movement and availability in crystalline and metamorphosed rocks is dominated by the secondary porosity generated through fracturing. The distributions of fractures and fracture zones determine permeable pathways and the productivity of these rocks. Controls on how these distributions vary with depth in the shallow subsurface (<300 m) and their resulting influence on groundwater flow is not well understood. The results of a subsurface study in the Nashoba and Avalon terranes of eastern Massachusetts (USA), which is a region experiencing expanded use of the fractured bedrock as a potable-supply aquifer, are presented. The study logged the distribution of fractures in 17 boreholes, identified flowing fractures, and hydraulically characterized the rock mass intersecting the boreholes. Of all fractures encountered, 2.5% are hydraulically active. Boreholes show decreasing fracture frequency up to 300 m depth, with hydraulically active fractures showing a similar trend; this restricts topographically driven flow. Borehole temperature profiles corroborate this, with minimal hydrologically altered flow observed in the profiles below 100 m. Results from this study suggest that active flow systems in these geologic settings are shallow and that fracture permeability outside of the influence of large-scale structures will follow a decreasing trend with depth. Copyright 2010 Springer-Verlag PB - Springer : Berlin - Heidelberg, Germany CY - Federal Republic of Germany VL - 18 SN - 1431217414350157 UR - http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10040-010-0640-y IS - 88 N1 - Accession Number: 2011-042136; Language: English; Coordinates: N420000N425000W0695500W0714500; Collation: 16; Publication Types: Serial; Updated Code: 201124; Illustration(s): illus. incl. 3 tables, geol. sketch map; Number of References: 58; Reviewed Item: Analytic JO - Hydrogeology Journal ER - TY - JOUR T1 - A method of collecting and analyzing lineaments for regional-scale fractured-bedrock aquifer studies JF - Ground Water Y1 - 1994 A1 - Stephen B Mabee A1 - Hardcastle, Kenneth C. A1 - Donald U Wise KW - #StaffPubs KW - aquifers KW - BEDROCK KW - coastal environment KW - fractured materials KW - Georgetown Island KW - ground water KW - Hydrogeology 21 KW - Knox County Maine KW - lineaments KW - Maine KW - mapping KW - mathematical methods KW - processes KW - tectonics KW - United States AB - A new method is proposed for collecting and reducing large collections of lineament data. The method consists of three steps: (1) collection of lineament data using multiple observers, multiple observation trials, and several types of imagery; (2) reproducibility tests; and (3) domain overlap analysis. Collection of lineament data and reproducibility tests are performed by overlaying lineament maps drawn by several observers or by superimposing multiple maps prepared by a single observer and identifying lineaments which are coincident (coincident lineaments = lineaments that have azimuths within 5 ± and separation distances are within 1–2 mm at the scale of drawing). Domain overlap analysis is accomplished by measuring the trends of near-vertical fractures at outcrops distributed over the study region and comparing the spatial distribution of these trends with similar-trending coincident lineaments. Lineaments that are not reproducible and are not geographically correlative with fractures are considered unimportant and removed from the data base. The method was applied to a 44 km2 study area in Maine and resulted in a reduction in the lineament data base from 6500 to 217. Transmissivities determined for bedrock wells located within 30 meters of lineaments that are both reproducible and geographically correlative with outcrop-scale fractures are generally higher than the transmissivities of wells located near lineaments that are not separated on the basis of these criteria. Application of the method serves as an important filter by providing a more manageable lineament data base from which to begin detailed field checking and/or geophysical surveys directed toward specific lineaments. PB - National Water Well Association, Ground-Water Technology Division : Urbana, IL, United States CY - United States VL - 32 SN - 0017467X UR - http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1745-6584.1994.tb00928.x/abstract IS - 66 N1 - Accession Number: 1996-036299; Language: English; Coordinates: N435500N435500W0691000W0691000; Coden: GRWAAP; Collation: 11; Publication Types: Serial; Updated Code: 199612; Illustration(s): illus.; Number of References: 20; Reviewed Item: Analytic JO - Ground Water ER - TY - JOUR T1 - A method of estimating bulk potential permeability in fractured-rock aquifers using field-derived fracture data and type curves JF - Hydrogeology Journal Y1 - 2013 A1 - Alex K Manda A1 - Stephen B Mabee A1 - David F Boutt A1 - Cooke, Michele L. KW - #StaffPubs KW - aquifers KW - boundary conditions KW - eastern Massachusetts KW - fractured materials KW - fractures KW - ground water KW - Hydrogeology 21 KW - massachusetts KW - Nashoba terrane KW - naturally fractured reservoirs KW - numerical models KW - permeability KW - prediction KW - pump tests KW - simulation KW - two-dimensional models KW - United States AB - A method is devised for estimating the potential permeability of fracture networks from attributes of fractures observed in outcrop. The technique, which is intended as a complement to traditional approaches, is based on type curves that represent various combinations of fracture lengths, fracture orientations and proportions (i.e., intensities) of fractures that participate in flow. Numerical models are used to derive the type curves. To account for variations in fracture aperture, a permeability ratio (R) defined as the permeability of a fracture network in a domain divided by the permeability of a single fracture with identical fracture apertures, is used as a dependent variable to derive the type curves. The technique works by determining the point on the type curve that represents the fracture characteristics collected in the field. To test the performance of the technique, permeabilities that were derived from fractured-rock aquifers of eastern Massachusetts (USA) are compared to permeabilities predicted by the technique. Results indicate that permeabilities estimated from type curves are within an order of magnitude of permeabilities derived from field tests. First-order estimates of fracture-network permeability can, therefore, be easily and quickly acquired with this technique before more robust and expensive methods are utilized in the field. Copyright 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg PB - Springer : Berlin - Heidelberg, Germany CY - Federal Republic of Germany VL - 21 SN - 1431217414350157 UR - http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10040-012-0919-2 IS - 22 N1 - Accession Number: 2013-055373; Language: English; Coordinates: N421500N424500W0704500W0714500; Collation: 13; Publication Types: Serial; Updated Code: 201334; Illustration(s): illus. incl. 4 tables, geol. sketch maps; Number of References: 41; Reviewed Item: Analytic JO - Hydrogeology Journal ER -