Wednesday, April 2, 2008 : 2:00 p.m.
Possible fault communication between the Memphis Sand and the Mississippi River near Memphis, Tennessee
Variation of water levels in the Mississippi River and the Memphis Sand aquifer at the H002 monitor well shows excellent correlation and indicates that the two water systems are in communication. Mapping in this study of the Memphis Sand and the overlying Cook Mountain aquatard across west Tennessee, northwest Mississippi and northeast Arkansas shows that the Cook Mountain is present and thick enough to adequately separate the Memphis Sand aquifer from the Mississippi River and its alluvium. Mapping also shows the presence of north trending faults which have their origin in the basement and which extend through the Memphis Sand and Cook Mountain Formation to near the surface. The Cuba Fault extends upward into the alluvium and intersects the base of the Mississippi River channel. It is proposed that this fault may serve as a source of communication between the Mississippi River and the Memphis Sand aquifer.
Faulting then generates pathways of flow between the Memphis Sand aquifer and the surface. These pathways may allow contaminates to enter the aquifer.
Richard V. Martin, University of Memphis BS Geology Mississippi State University 1972 MS Geology University of Cincinnati Graduate Scholl University of Memphis