geohydrology of the high energy laser … · system test facility site, white sands missile range,...

GEOHYDROLOGY OF THE HIGH ENERGY LASER

SYSTEM TEST FACILITY SITE, WHITE SANDS

MISSILE RANGE, TULAROSA BASIN,

SOUTH-CENTRAL NEW MEXICO

By George T. Basabilvazo, Robert G. Myers, and

Edward L. Nickerson

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Water-Resources Investigations Report 93-4192

Prepared in cooperation with the

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY,

WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE

Albuquerque, New Mexico

1994

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Gordon P. Eaton, Director

For additional information write to:

District ChiefU.S. Geological SurveyWater Resources Division4501 Indian School Rd. NE, Suite 200Albuquerque, New Mexico 87110

Copies of this report can be purchased from:

U.S. Geological SurveyEarth Science Information CenterOpen-File Reports SectionBox 25286, MS 517Denver Federal CenterDenver, Colorado 80225

CONTENTSPage

Abstract.................................................................................^ 1Introduction................................^^ 2

Purpose and scope...................................................................................................................... 2Well-numbering system............................................................................................................. 4Description of study area........................................................................................................... 5Acknowledgments...................................................................................................................... 10

Geohydrology........................................................................................................................................ 10

Test wells...................................................................................................................................... 11Potentiometric surface................................................................................................................ 26Aquifer characteristics................................................................................................................ 28

Aquifer test........................................................................................................................ 28Aquifer hydraulic properties.......................................................................................... 29

Water quality................................................................................................................................ 35

Summary and conclusions.................................................................................................................. 44Selected references................................................................................................................................ 45Supplemental data................................................................................................................................ 47

FIGURES

1. Map showing location of the High Energy Laser System Test Facility site andsurrounding area, south-central New Mexico..................................................................... 3

2. Diagram showing system of numbering wells in New Mexico............................................. 4

3. Map showing generalized surficial geology of the High Energy Laser System Test Facility site and adjacent areas, south-central New Mexico, and line of section A-A 1 ............................................................................................................................... 9

4. Map showing location of test wells in the area of the High Energy Laser SystemTest Facility, White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico...................................................... 12

5. Borehole-geophysical logs for test well HELSTF-1 (19S.06E.28.221A), White SandsMissile Range, New Mexico................................................................................................... 13

6. Borehole-geophysical logs for test well HELSTF-2 (19S.06E.21.321), White SandsMissile Range, New Mexico.................................................................................................... 14

7. Borehole-geophysical logs for test well HELSTF-3 (19S.06E.21.321A), White SandsMissile Range, New Mexico.................................................................................................... 17

8. Borehole-geophysical logs for the MAR-CW and MAR-CW2 test wells (19S.06E.28.221and 19S.06E.28.221B), White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico..................................... 19

9. Diagram showing well construction for test well HELSTF-1 (19S.06E.28.221 A), WhiteSands Missile Range, New Mexico........................................................................................ 21

iii

FIGURES-Concluded

Page

10. Diagram showing well construction for test well HELSTF-2 (19S.06E.21.321), WhiteSands Missile Range, New Mexico......................................................................................... 22

11. Diagram showing well construction for test well HELSTF-3 (19S.06E.21.321A), WhiteSands Missile Range, New Mexico......................................................................................... 23

12. Diagrammatic section of the subsurface lithology between test wells HELSTF-2 (19S.06E.21.321) and HELSTF-3 (19S.06E.21.321 A), White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico............................................................................................................................... 24

13. Map showing approximate altitude of the potentiometric surface in the vicinityof the High Energy Laser System Test Facility site, July 1990............................................ 27

14. Logarithmic plot of drawdown in well HELSTF-2 (19S.06E.21.321), White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, during the 17-hour constant-discharge aquifer test, showing a match with Theis nonequilibrium type curve................................................... 31

15. Semilogarithmic plot of water levels in well HELSTF-2 (19S.06E.21.321), White SandsMissile Range, New Mexico, during the 17-hour constant-discharge aquifer test......... 33

16. Semilogarithmic plot of water levels in well HELSTF-3 (19S.06E.21.321 A), White SandsMissile Range, New Mexico, during the 17-hour constant-discharge aquifer test......... 34

17. Diagrammatic section near the High Energy Laser System Test Facility site showingwater-quality units on the western side of the Tularosa Basin........................................... 36

18. Trilinear plots of chemical analyses of ground water from test wells, White SandsMissile Range, New Mexico..................................................................................................... 41

TABLES

1. Precipitation data from White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, 1950-87....................... 6

2. Well-construction data for test wells at the High Energy Laser System Test Facilitysite, White Sands Missile Range, 1990.................................................................................. 20

3. X-ray mineral analysis of clay samples from test wells at selected depth intervals,White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico............................................................................ 25

4. Altitudes and water levels from selected test wells and boreholes, July 1990 .................... 26

5. Analysis methods and results of the aquifer test.................................................................... 32

6. Chemical analyses of water from selected wells: physical properties, major andminor constituents, and trace elements................................................................................ 38

IV

TABLES-Concluded

7. Chemical analyses of water from test well MAR-CW: radionuclides and volatileorganic compounds................................................................................................................. 42

8. Description of drill cuttings for test well HELSTF-1 (19S.06E.28.221 A)............................... 48

9. Description of drill cuttings for test well HELSTF-2 (19S.06E.21.321).................................. 50

10. Description of drill cuttings for test well HELSTF-3 (19S.06E.21.321A)............................... 56

CONVERSION FACTORS AND VERTICAL DATUM

Multiply By To obtain

inch 25.40 millimeterinch 0.02540 meterfoot 0.3048 metermile 1.609 kilometeracre 4,047 square meteracre 0.4047 square hectometeracre 0.004047 square kilometersquare mile 2.590 square kilometerfoot per day 0.3048 meter per dayfoot per mile 0.1894 meter per kilometerfoot squared per day 0.09290 meter squared per daycubic foot per day 0.02832 cubic meter per daygallon per minute 0.06309 liter per secondgallon per minute 0.06309 cubic decimeter per secondgallon per minute 0.00006309 cubic meter per second

Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) can be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (T) as follows:

°F = (1.8x°C) + 32

Sea level: In this report "sea level" refers to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929- -a geodetic datum derived from a general adjustment of the first-order level nets of the United States and Canada, formerly called Sea Level Da ham of 1929.

GEOHYDROLOGY OF THE HIGH ENERGY LASER SYSTEM TEST FACILITY

SITE, WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, TULAROSA BASIN, SOUTH-CENTRAL

NEW MEXICO

By George T. Basabilvazo, Robert G. Myers, and Edward L. Nickerson

ABSTRACT

The High Energy Laser System Test Facility is located at White Sands Missile Range in south-central New Mexico. The soils at the study area consist of Yesum-Holloman and Gypsum land (hummocky), and represent eolian deposits from recently desiccated lacustrine and deposits from the ancestral Lake Otero. The upper 15 to 20 feet of the subsurface consists of varved gypsiferous clay and silt of lacustrine origin. Below the upper 15 to 20 feet the lithology consists of interbedded clay units, silty-clay units, and fine- to medium-grained quartz arenite units that occur in continuous and discontinuous horizons. The clay horizons can cause perched water zones. Analyses of selected clay samples indicate that the clay units are composed primarily of kaolinite and mixed-layer illite/smectite clays.

The aquifer in the study area is a leaky-confined aquifer. Transmissivity was estimated from aquifer-test data to be 780 feet squared per day. The storage coefficient was estimated to be 3.1 x 10 , and hydraulic conductivity was estimated to be 6.0 feet per day. The direction of groundwater flow is to the south and southwest and the hydraulic gradient was estimated to be 5.3 feet per mile.

The aquifer in the bolson-fill deposits contains water that is brackish to brine, and salinity increases with depth. Analyses of water samples indicate that ground water at the site is brackish to slightly saline at the top of the main aquifer. The dissolved-solids concentration of water near the top of the aquifer ranges from 5,940 to 11,800 milligrams per liter. Predominant ions near the top of the aquifer are sodium and sulfate. At 815 feet below land surface the dissolved-solids concentration is approximately 111,000 milligrams per liter. Predominant ions at 815 feet below land surface are sodium and chloride.

INTRODUCTION

The U.S. Army's High Energy Laser System Test Facility (HELSTF) is located within the White Sands Missile Range, about 29 miles southwest of the city of Alamogordo in the Tularosa Basin, south-central New Mexico (fig. 1). The HELSTF was developed to provide a location for research, development, testing, and evaluation of the Department of Defense High Laser System. Prior to development of the HELSTF, the area was used for the Multifunction Array Radar (MAR) site.

Most potable water used at HELSTF is piped in from two supply wells completed in the alluvial-fan deposits located west of the site. These supply wells are referred to as the MAR supply wells (fig. 1). Nonpotable saline ground water from fine-grained bolson-fill deposits at the facility is used occasionally in construction activities.

The U.S. Army requires an understanding of the movement and quality of ground water in the vicinity of the HELSTF so that they can manage and protect this saline-water resource. To meet this need, a study was conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U.S. Department of the Army, White Sands Missile Range.

Purpose and Scope

This report presents a summary of the geohydrologic conditions in the vicinity of HELSTF. Water-quality, geological, geophysical, and hydrological data were compiled from published reports. Water-level measurements were collected in July 1990 from two test wells constructed during this study (HELSTF-1 and HELSTF-2), two preexisting observation wells (Lucero Ranch and Baird South), and six preexisting boreholes (B-28, B-30, B-31, B-34, B-38, and B-39). In 1971, 57 boreholes were drilled by the U.S. Geological Survey on White Sands Missile Range (Kelly, 1973). These boreholes were drilled to furnish additional information for mapping the water table (Kelly, 1973). New data were derived from three HELSTF test wells recently constructed by the U.S. Geological Survey and two preexisting test wells (MAR-CW andMAR- CW2). The new data include borehole-geophysical logs, lithologic logs, and water-quality sampling and analysis for the HELSTF test wells, and data acquired from an aquifer test performed on the HELSTF wells in June and July 1990. The new data also include borehole-geophysical logs for the MAR-CW and MAR-CW2 test wells and water-quality sampling and analysis for the MAR-CW test well.

107*00'r~

106*00'

34' 00'

33* 00'

32' 00'

LINCOLN COUNTY

SOCORRG COUNTY

SIERRA ,COUNTY,

ELEPHANTBUTTE

RESERVOIR

OTERO COUNTY

! WHITE

SANDSLUCERO

MISSILEyj

DONA ANA COUNTY

MAP LOCATION

5 10 15 20 MILES

0 5101520 KILOMETERS

Figure 1.--Location of the High Energy Laser System Test Facility site and surrounding area, south-central New Mexico.

Well-Numbering System

Wells are located according to the system of common subdivision of sectionized land used throughout the State by the U.S. Geological Survey. The number of each well consists of four segments separated by periods and locates the well's position to the nearest 10-acre tract of land (fig. 2). The segments denote, respectively, the township south of the New Mexico base line, the range east of the New Mexico principal meridian, the section, and the particular 10-acre tract within the section.

The fourth segment of the number consists of three digits denoting, respectively, the quarter section or approximate 160-acre tract, the quadrant (approximately 40 acres in size) of the quarter section, and the quadrant (approximately 10 acres in size) of the 40-acre tract in which the well is located. For example, well 19S.06E.21.321 is located in the NW1/4 of the NE1 /4 of the SW1 /4, section 21, Township 19 South, Range 6 East. If more than one well within the 10-acre tract has the same location number, the letter "A" is assigned to the second well, the letter "B" to the third well, and so on.

Well 19S.06E.21.321

Figure 2.--System of numbering wells in New Mexico.

A

Description of Study Area

The Tularosa Basin is a north-trending intermontane basin that encompasses an area of approximately 6,500 square miles (fig. 1). The basin is bounded on the west by the Franklin, Organ, and San Andres Mountains and on the east by the Sacramento Mountains and Otero Mesa. The northern boundary is Chupadera Mesa; the southern boundary is a subtle topographic rise south of White Sands Missile Range Post Headquarters that separates the Tularosa Basin from the Hueco Bolson.

The climate in the Tularosa Basin is typical of an arid southwestern basin and is representative of the HELSTF site. Annual precipitation ranges from about 7 inches in the center of the basin to about 25 inches on the higher mountain slopes (Houghton, 1976). Most precipitation falls in the middle to late summer. Table 1 is a record of monthly and annual precipitation at White Sands Missile Range from 1950 through 1987. The intensity and frequency of precipitation are variable throughout the basin and throughout the year because of the localized distribution of summer thunderstorms.

The land surface of the Tularosa Basin contains playas and depressions that have no external drainage. Thus, during rainy periods ephemeral lakes form that eventually evaporate and develop into "alkali flats."

Most surficial deposits at the HELSTF site were described by Seager and others (1987) as eolian dunes composed of gypsite having well-developed gypcrete crusts. Small exposures of older gypsiferous basin-floor and gypsiferous lacustrine clay and silt deposits are present throughout the area (Seager and others, 1987) (fig. 3). According to the Soil Survey Manual of White Sands Missile Range (Neher and Bailey, 1976), soils in the immediate area of the HELSTF site are classified as Yesum-Holloman and Gypsum land (hummocky). As defined by Neher and Bailey (1976), the Yesum-Holloman association is a mapping unit that consists of about 35 percent Yesum (very fine sandy loam), 30 percent Holloman (very fine sandy loam), and 20 percent Gypsum land (hummocky). Yesum soil represents undulating wind deposits and Holloman soil represents level to gently sloping deposits from ancestral lake basins. Gypsum land consists of deposits of gypsum crystals from the ancestral Lake Otero. Gypsum soil consists of gently undulating gypsum dunes (Neher and Bailey, 1976). The colors and accompanying codes in the following lithologic descriptions refer to the colors from the Rock-Color Chart (National Research Council, 1948). The upper 15 to 20 feet of the soil profile, as determined in this study, consists of varved white (N 9) to light-greenish-gray (5 GY 8/1) gypsiferous clay and silt. These deposits are interpreted to be of lacustrine origin.

Below the upper soil profile, the clay, silt, and sand deposits occur in interbedded lenses and layers that complicate the interpretation of the lateral continuity of the subsurface lithologies and hydrologic characteristics. The subsurface lithology at the site was defined to a greater extent by drilling test wells at selected sites.

Table 1. Precipitation data from White Sands Missile Range,New Mexico, 1950-87

[Data from U.S. Army. Values are in inches. T, trace]

Year Jan.

1950 0.06

1951 0.141952 0.401953 0.001954 0.081955 0.91

\956 0.151957 0.401958 1.261959 0.141960 1.50

1961 0.691962 1.191963 0.131964 0.211965 0.93

1966 0.381967 0.001968 0.611969 0.201970 0.02

1971 0.241972 0.851973 1.071974 1.031975 0.95

1976 0.571977 0.771978 0.861979 1.021980 0.70

1981 1.131982 0.671983 0.171984 0.411985 1.68

Feb.

0.28

0.361.211.28T0.03

0.221.440.890.850.54

T0.430.620.201.05

0.510.510.940.100.35

0.21T1.740.020.53

0.63T0.630.320.94

0.110.410.740.000.53

Mar.

T

0.281.340.090.310.62

0.000.573.000.120.39

0.720.60T1.400.21

0.090.281.060.100.71

0.00T0.700.360.40

0.170.230.690.010.11

0.50T0.190.060.70

Apr.

T

0.801.370.48TT

T0.020.28TT

T0.390.170.060.25

1.150.010.060.01T

0.280.00T0.160.08

0.510.790.030.090.31

1.270.031.090.021.17

May

0.25

0.100.490.170.270.04

0.000.610.400.950.21

0.00TT0.230.34

0.090.100.010.670.17

0.050.030.36T0.22

1.010.160.780.401.35

0.620.250.070.710.34

June

0.11

T0.650.600.150.14

0.63T

1.210.670.81

1.790.070.05T1.32

7.420.810.581.200.69

0.521.830.070.22T

0.671.251.160.10T

0.580.150.092.510.74

July

3.46

0.041.421.351.213.55

0.701.651.851.223.46

3.205.631.140.691.05

1.200.775.053.163.87

2.581.095.672.261.03

2.593.100.563.570.67

0.191.250.420.661.72

Aug.

0.01

2.681.480.241.280.80

1.182.202.136.321.40

0.970.242.451.831.82

2.511.881.803.681.52

0.454.361.501.801.24

1.382.341.683.172.23

2.160.890.995.861.52

Sept.

1.20

0.040.260.141.180.14

0.000.325.76T0.03

1.472.702.063.442.01

2.353.100.311.260.27

0.462.200.144.813.23

0.950.713.420.964.46

0.754.340.420.302.93

Oct.

1.04

0.670.000.701.382.99

0.402.982.840.641.46

0.041.110.440.030.58

0.220.010.311.590.43

1.953.65T3.840.19

1.810.963.400.001.00

0.510.122.223.963.44

Nov.

0.00

0.190.320.020.000.05

T0.184.000.050.01

2.400.510.590.030.41

0.520.811.420.260.00

1.020.580.230.140.74

1.110.071.650.010.27

0.470.530.560.440.19

Dec.

T

1.780.380.230.050.00

0.64TT0.491.44

1.341.20T1.102.43

0.191.840.841.300.38

0.971.600.001.120.53

0.020.260.930.250.01

T3.240.282.030.05

Annual

6.41

7.089.325.305.919.27

3.9210.3723.6211.4511.25

12.6214.077.659.22

12.40

16.6310.1212.9913.538.41

8.7316.1911.4815.769.14

11.4210.6415.799.90

12.05

8.2911.887.24

16.9615.01

Table 1. Precipitation data from White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, 1950-87~Concluded

Year Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Annual

1986 0.08 0.41 0.52 T 0.53 3.86 1.58 3.02 1.26 1.30 2.74 2.10 17.401987 0.49 0.77 0.54 0.63 0.72 1.39 0.40 4.82 0.75 0.13 0.58 3.17 14.39

Mean 0.58 0.52 0.45 0.30 0.33 0.90 1.97 2.05 1.58 1.27 0.61 0.85 11.42

Max- 1.68 1.74 3.00 1.37 1.35 7.42 5.67 6.32 5.76 3.96 4.00 3.24 23.62imumYear 1985 1973 1958 1952 1980 1966 1973 1959 1958 1984 1958 1982 1958

Min- 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.05 0.04 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 3.92 imumYear 1953, 1984 1956, 1972 1956, 1963 1951 1950 1956 1952, 1950, 1955, 1956

1967 1971 1961 1979 1954, 19731970

106 30 106°00

ENERGY LASER Py YSTEM TEST FACILITY

A' m I Q* s

0 5 10 MILESI r-S0 5 10 KILOMETERS

5 6 7 8 9 10 R. I I E.Geology modified from Dane and Bachman, 1965; and Seager and others, 1987

8

EXPLANATION

QUATERNARY

oO

IUJo

TERTIARY

OO N O CO UJ

CRETACEOUS

TRIASSIC

O OsUJ

2

PERMIAN

PERMIANTO

CAMBRIAN

PRECAMBRIAN

A A1

H

Qb

QTab

QTsf

ALLUVIUM-Channel-fill sand, gravel, and clay; less than 100 feet thick

Qds DUNE DEPOSITS-Predominantly gypsum sand; less than 100 feet thick

BASALT

BOLSON DEPOSITS-Gravel, sand, silt, and claywith older gypsiferous lacustrine clay and silt deposits; as much as 8,000 feet thick

SANTA FE GROUP-Composed of ancestral Rio Grandedeposits of the Camp Rice Formation. Sand, gravel, silt, clay, and caliche. Thickness not estimated

VOLCANIC DEPOSITS

INTRUSIVE IGNEOUS ROCKS

MESAVERDE GROUP-Sandstone, shale, and coal deposits; as much as 1,000 feet thick

MANCOS SHALE-Mainly shale; as much as 1,200 feet thick

DAKOTA SANDSTONE-Sandstone and shale; about 100 feet thick

DOCKUM GROUP-Sandstone, shale, and limestone; about 500 feet thick

SAN ANDRES LIMESTONE-Limestone and dolomite; 300 to 600 feet thick

YESO FORMATION-Sandstone, gypsum, halite, and limestone; 320 to 4,200 feet thick

HUECO LIMESTONE-Limestone; 420 to 1,500 feet thick

ABO FORMATION-Mudstone, arkose, conglomerate, and limestone; 200 to 1,500 feet thick

BURSUM FORMATION-Shale, sandstone, and limestone; 300 to 400 feet thick

PALEOZOIC ROCKS UNDIVIDED-Sandstone, shale,limestone, and dolomite; 1,740 to 5,000 feet thick

GRANITIC AND METAMORPHIC ROCKS

LINE OF SECTION

Figure 3.-Generalized surficial geology of the High Energy Laser System Facility site and adjacent areas, south-central New Mexico, and line of section A-A'.

Development of the Tularosa Basin coincided with crustal extension associated with development of the Rio Grande Rift and the Basin and Range physiographic province in the late Tertiary age (Seager and Morgan, 1979). Normal faults that developed during the late Tertiary age (Seager and Morgan, 1979) are responsible for the present topography. The basin fill predominantly consists of clay, silt, sand, and gravel with some older gypsiferous lacustrine clay and silt deposits (fig. 3). The deposits of Quaternary age exposed north of White Sands Missile Range Post Headquarters in the Tularosa Basin consist of inactive gypsum dunes, gypsiferous basin-floor deposits, and older lacustrine deposits (Seager and others, 1987).

Ancestral Rio Grande deposits of the Santa Fe Group of Tertiary and Quaternary age are exposed in the southern part of the Tularosa Basin (fig. 3; Seager and others, 1987). The Camp Rice Formation, which is the upper unit of the Santa Fe Group, is present throughout the southern part of the Tularosa Basin and varies in age from late Tertiary to early Quaternary age (Gile and others, 1981; Seager and others, 1987). The Camp Rice Formation consists of alluvial, fluvial, and lacustrine facies. The fluvial facies occurs south of the HELSTF site where the ancestral Rio Grande flowed through Fillmore Pass and into the Tularosa Basin (Seager, 1981). The fluvial facies consists of interbedded clay, silt, and sand and underlies a thin cover of Quaternary eolian facies (Seager and others, 1987). This eolian facies developed in part because of the warmer and drier climatic conditions since about 10,000 years ago and the diversion of the ancestral Rio Grande to its present course west of the Tularosa Basin (fig. 1). The subsequent entrenchment by the Rio Grande stopped flow through Fillmore Pass and into the Tularosa Basin. Lake Otero (Herrick, 1904) apparently existed approximately 10,000 years ago, when the ancestral Rio Grande flowed into the Tularosa Basin (Strain, 1970; Seager, 1981).

Acknowledgments

This study was conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Department of the Army at White Sands Missile Range; their assistance is greatly appreciated. The authors express appreciation to the New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources for x-ray diffraction analysis and to the well drillers from the U.S. Geological Survey, Branch of Coal Geology, for their cooperation and assistance.

GEOHYDROLOGY

The following description of the geohydrology of the HELSTF area is based on previous reports and analysis of well records, geologic maps, geophysical logs, lithologic descriptions, water-quality information, and aquifer tests. The maximum thickness of the basin-fill deposits in the study area is about 5,700 feet (Healey and others, 1978). The basin fill, which forms the main aquifer in the area, consists of interbedded clay, silt, and fine- to medium-grained sand (McLean, 1970).

10

Test Wells

Three test wells--HELSTF-l, HELSTF-2, and HELSTF-3-were drilled for this study by the U.S. Geological Survey, Branch of Coal Geology, using the hydraulic-rotary method and bentonite-based drilling fluid. Two existing test wells, MAR-CW and MAR-CW2, were logged and sampled to obtain water-quality information. The locations of the test wells are shown in figure 4. Immediately after the HELSTF wells were drilled, borehole-geophysical data were collected in the uncased holes (figs. 5-7). The geophysical logs included resistivity (long-short normal), natural gamma, neutron, and caliper. Natural gamma, neutron, gamma-gamma (fig. 8), and color video (TV) logs were collected in both MAR-CW test wells. Construction data and geophysical logs available for the five test wells at the HELSTF site are presented in table 2.

All three HELSTF test wells were completed using the same techniques and similar materials (figs. 9-11). The bottom of the borehole was sealed with three-eighths-inch gravel, thickened bentonite drilling mud, and bentonite chips or bentonite pellets. The sand pack consisted of 8/12 mesh silica sand placed adjacent to and approximately 2 feet above and below the screened interval. A 4-foot bentonite plug was installed above the sand pack, which consists of bentonite pellets that were slurried down the annular spacing via a tremmie pipe. The annular space (about 2 inches) was sealed above the bentonite plug by slurring down a combination of bentonite chips and a bentonite-based expansive sealant. The annular space at the top of the borehole was cemented with quick drying cement.

Test well HELSTF-1 was completed May 14, 1990 (fig. 9). The well was developed by bailing for 2 1/2 hours until the water was clear and the specific conductance of the water stabilized. Water samples were collected at the completion of the bailing.

Test well HELSTF-2 was completed June 21,1990. The well was developed by jetting with compressed air for 4 hours. Development was halted after no silt was observed in the discharge water and the specific conductance of the water stabilized.

Test well HELSTF-3 was completed at a location 70 feet east of HELSTF-2 on June 27,1990. This well was completed and developed in the same manner as HELSTF-2, except that the PVC casing was 6 inches in diameter rather than 4 inches (fig. 11).

Drill cuttings from the three HELSTF test wells consisted of clay, silt, and very fine to fine grained quartz arenites (see tables 8, 9, and 10: in supplemental information in the back of the report). Correlation of the lithology between HELSTF-2 and HELSTF-3, as interpreted from borehole-geophysical logs (figs. 5-7) and drill cuttings, indicates that the clayey units are interbedded with silty and sandy units. These units occur in intertonguing layers (fig. 12) that may be discontinuous. Clay samples from selected intervals were collected for x-ray diffraction analysis and analyzed at the New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources in Socorro. The clays sampled are predominantly kaolinitic in composition (table 3). Additional clays, determined in decreasing order of occurrence, include Kaolinite, illite/smectite (mixed layer), illite, and smectite. Clays are predominantly light brown (5 YR 6/4) to moderate brown (5

YR 4/4); however, moderate-reddish-brown (10 R 4/6) and light-greenish-gray (5 G 8/1) clays also were observed (table 3). The sand observed in the HELSTF cuttings is well rounded, generally well sorted, and very fine to fine grained, and is composed of approximately 90 to 95 percent quartz.

11

32'

38 1 30

32 C 36' 30'

106 20

I

21\ HELSTF-2 \ % HELSTF-3

\ \ \\ \ \

106°18

22

\ HELSTF-1 \ -,-MAR-CW

HELSTF FACILITIES

28

33

27

34

23

26

R. 6. E. 0.5 1 MILE. i__________i

T.

19

S.

0.5 1 KILOMETER

EXPLANATION

ASPHALT ROAD

- IMPROVED DIRT ROAD

TEST WELL

D BUILDINGS

Figure 4.--Location of test wells in the area of the High Energy Laser System Test Facility, White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

12

RE

SIS

TIV

ITY

LO

G,

IN O

HM

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80

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NE

UT

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ITH

DR

ILLI

NG

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ID.

Figu

re 5

.--B

oreh

ole-

geop

hysi

cal

logs

for

tes

t w

ell

HE

LSTF

-1

(19S

.06E

.28.

221A

),

Whi

te

San

ds

Mis

sile

R

ange

, N

ew

Mex

ico.

S

ee f

igur

e 4

for

test

w

ell

loca

tion.

RESISTIVITY LOG,IN OHM-METERS

PER DIVISION

0 2

NATURAL GAMMA LOG, IN COUNTS PER SECOND

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

100

200

UJo2DC3 V)Oz

ojUlm

UJ ULz

£ 300 o.UJo

400

500

(Continued on next page)

80 100 120NEUTRON LOG,

IN COUNTS PER SECOND

Figure 6.--Borehole-geophysical logs for test well HELSTF-2 (19S.06E.21.321), White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. See figure 4 for test well location.

14

(Continued from previous page)RESISTIVITY LOG,IN OHM-METERS

PER DIVISION

0 2500

600

LU O

£oc3

Oz <

oLU CD

LU LU U.

Q. LU O

700

800

900

1,000


0 10 20 30 40 50 60

GAMMA'

NEUTRON

80 100 120NEUTRON LOG,


Figure 6.-Borehole-geophysical logs for test well HELSTF-2 (19S.06E.21.321), White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico-Continued.

15

CALIPER LOGBOREHOLE DIAMETER,

IN INCHES

12 14

IIIosDCID COoz

o_J HI ffi

HI HI

X

0. HI O

300

400

500(Continued at right)

1,000

Figure 6.--Borehole-geophysical logs for test well HELSTF-2 (19S.06E.21.321), White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico-Concluded.

16

RESISTIVITY LOG,IN OHM-METERS

PER DIVISION

02468

100

uj o

DC3 0)oz

O_r UJ 00

UJ UJ

Q. UJ O

200

300

400

500

0 2 4 6 8 10 12

IN OHM-METERS PER DIVISION


0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

80 100 120NEUTRON LOG>


Figure 7.-Borehole-geophysical logs fpr test well HELSTF-3 (19S.06E.21.321A), White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. See figure 4 for test well location.

17

CALIPER LOGBOREHOLE DIAMETER,

IN INCHES

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

100

UJ O

cc3 WOz

O_JUJCQ

UJui

X

0. UJ O

200

300

400

500

Figure 7.-Borehole-geophysical logs for test well HELSTF-3 (19S.06E.21.321A), White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico - Concluded.

18

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UT

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N L

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, IN

CO

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FEET

BELOW LAND SURFACE

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RE

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IN

CA

SE

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LE

D W

ITH

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ER

FL

UID

.

Fig

ure

8.--

Bor

ehol

e-ge

ophy

sica

l lo

gs

for

the

MA

R-C

W

and

MA

R-C

W2

test

wel

ls

(19S

.06E

.28.

221

and

19S

.06E

.28.

221B

)^

Whi

te

San

ds

Mis

sile

R

ange

, N

ew

Mex

ico.

S

ee

figur

e 4

for

test

wel

l lo

catio

ns.

Tab

le 2

.~W

ell-

cons

truc

tion

data

for

test

wel

ls a

t the

Hig

h E

nerg

y L

aser

Sys

tem

T

est F

acili

ty s

ite, W

hite

San

ds M

issi

le R

ange

, 199

0

[Loc

atio

n of

wel

ls s

how

n in

fig

ure

4; P

VC

, pol

yvin

yl c

hlor

ide;

~, u

nkno

wn]

Wel

lna

me

HEL

STF-

1

HEL

STF-

2

HEL

STF-

3

MA

R-C

W

MA

R-C

W2

Dat

eL

ocat

ion

drill

ed

19S.

06E.

28.2

21A

5-

90

19S.

06E.

21.3

21

6-90

19S.

06E.

21.3

21A

6-

90

19S.

06E.

28.2

21

19S.

06E.

28.2

21B

Hol

e de

pth

(fee

t bel

owla

nd s

urfa

ce)

132

1,00

0

540 - -

Wel

l dep

th(f

eet b

elow

land

surf

ace)

100

520

520

200

157

Cas

ing

diam

eter

(inc

hes

and

type

)

4 PV

C

4 PV

C

6 PV

C

12 s

teel

6 st

eel

Slot

or

scre

ened

inte

rval

(de

pth

belo

w la

ndsu

rfac

e, in

fee

t)

70-9

0 sc

reen

80-5

00 s

cree

n

80-5

00 s

cree

n

73-2

00 s

lot

Slot

Typ

es o

f log

sav

aila

ble

Gam

ma,

neu

tron

, lon

g-sh

ort

norm

al re

sist

ivity

,lit

holo

gic

Gam

ma,

neu

tron

, lon

g-sh

ort

norm

al re

sist

ivity

, cal

iper

,lit

holo

gic

Gam

ma,

neu

tron

, lon

g-sh

ort

norm

al re

sist

ivity

, cal

iper

,lit

holo

gic

Gam

ma,

neu

tron

, gam

ma

gam

ma,

col

or v

ideo

Gam

ma,

neu

tron

, gam

ma

gam

ma,

col

or v

ideo

HELSTF-1

HINGED LOCKING CAP

v/////.5-FOOT CEMENT SEAL______I_______

DRILLING INFORMATION

DATE DRILLED: May 14, 1990

DRILLING METHOD:Mud rotary, 7 7/8-inch bit. bentonite mud as drilling fluid

DRILLED BY:

U.S. Geological Survey / Branch of Coal Geology . Denver, Colorado >\

4-INCH-DIAMETER, THREADED FLUSH-JOINT, SCHEDULE-40 PVC WELL CASING

6-INCH-DIAMETER STEEL CASING

LAND-SURFACEALTITUDE 3,950 FEET

8-INCH-DIAMETER BOREHOLE FOR WELL CASING

BENTONITE GROUT

BENTONITE PLUG; TOP = 64 feet below land surface

SAND PACK-8/12 COLORADO SILICA SAND,

TOP = 68 feet below landsurface

BOTTOM = 92 feet below land surface

4-INCH-DIAMETER, THREADED FLUSH-JOINT, SCHEDULE-40 PVC WELL CASING; 0.02-INCH SLOTS





BOTTOM = 100 feet beiow land surface

3/8-INCH GRAVEL PACK AND THICKENED BENTONITE DRILLING MUD

TOP = 92 feet below land surface


NOT TO SCALE

Figure 9.--Well construction for test well HELSTF-1 (19S.06E.28.221A), White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

21

HELSTF-2

HINGED LOCKING CAP

4-FOOT CEMENT SEAL




LAND-SURFACE ALTITUDE 3,950 FEET

DATE DRILLED: June 21, 1990

DRILLING METHOD: Mud rotary, 8 3/4-inch bit from 0 feet to 680 feet below land surface; 6 1/4-inch bit 680 feet to 1,000 feet below land surface

DRILLED BY:U.S. Geological Survey Branch of Coal Geology Denver, Colorado

3/8-INCH GRAVEL ANDBENTONITE PELLETS AND BENSEAL CHIPS FROM 510 FEET TO 680 FEET BELOW LAND SURFACE

THICKENED BENTONITE DRILLING MUD FROM 680 FEET TO 1,000 FEET BELOW LAND SURFACE

NOT TO SCALE

8 3/4-INCH-DIAMETER BOREHOLE FOR WELL CASING

BENTONITE GROUT

BENTONITE PLUG; TOP = 72 feet below land surface

SAND PACK-8/12 COLORADO SILICA SAND,






4-INCH-DIAMETER, THREADED FLUSH-JOINT, SCHEDULE-40 PVC WELL CASING TOP = 500 feet below land

surfaceBOTTOM = 520 feet below

land surface

6 3/4-INCH-DIAMETER SCHEDULE-40 PVC WELL CASING TOP = 680 feet below land surface BOTTOM = 1,000 feet below land surface

Figure 10.-Well construction for test well HELSTF-2 (19S.06E.21.321), White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

22

HELSTF-3

HINGED LOCKING CA

5-FOOT

Y7////////^CEMENT SEAL


DATE DRILLED:

June 27, 1990

DRILLING METHOD:

Mud rotary, 10-inch bit, bentonite mud as drilling fluid

DRILLED BY:

U.S. Geological Survey Branch of Coal Geology Denver, Colorado



LAND-SURFACE ALTITUDE 3,950 FEET

10-INCH-DIAMETER BOREHOLE FOR WELL CASING

BENTONITE GROUT

BENTONITE PLUG TOP = 72 feet below land surface

SAND PACK--8/12 COLORADO SILICA SAND, TOP = 76 feet below land

surfaceBOTTOM = 510 feet below

land surface


TOP = 80 feet below land surface


INCH-DIAMETER. THREADED FLUSH-JOINT, SCHEDULE-40 PVC WELL CASING

TOP = 500 feet belowland surface


3/8-INCH-DIAMETER, SCHEDULE-40 PVC WELL CASING BENTONITE PELLETS AND THICKENED DRILLING MUD FROM 510 FEET TO 540 FEET BELOW LAND SURFACEBOTTOM = 540, feet below

land surface

NOT TO SCALE

Figure 11.--Well construction for test well HELSTF-3 (19S.06E.21.321A), White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

23

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DEPTH, IN FEET BELOW LAND SURFACE

Tab

le 3

.~X

-ray

min

eral

ana

lysi

s of

cla

y sa

mpl

es f

rom

test

wel

ls a

t sel

ecte

d de

pth

inte

rval

s,W

hite

San

ds M

issi

le R

ange

, New

Mex

ico

[Sam

ples

ana

lyze

d by

the

New

Mex

ico

Bur

eau

of M

ines

and

Min

eral

Res

ourc

es.

Cla

y m

iner

als

repo

rted

as

part

s in

ten.

A

cces

sory

min

eral

s: Q

TZ

, qua

rtz;

FL

AG

, pla

gioc

lase

; KSP

AR

, pot

assi

um f

elds

par;

CA

L, c

alci

te; P

ELS,

fel

dspa

r;D

OL

, dol

omite

; UN

K, u

nkno

wn,

pos

sibl

y hu

ntit

e, a

car

bona

te; G

YP,

gyp

sum

; (?

), m

iner

al m

ay b

e pr

esen

t. C

olor

cod

es a

re f

rom

the

Roc

k C

olor

Cha

rt (

Nat

iona

l Res

earc

h C

ounc

il, 1

948)

. L

ocat

ion

of w

ells

sho

wn

in f

igur

e 4]

Dep

th in

terv

al

Wel

l (f

eet b

elow

na

me

land

sur

face

)

HEL

STF-

1

HE

LST

F-2

HE

LST

F-2

HE

LST

F-3

HE

LST

F-3

HE

LST

F-3

HE

LST

F-3

HE

LST

F-3

HE

LST

F-3

HE

LST

F-3

HE

LST

F-3

HE

LST

F-3

85-9

5

780-

800

950-

960

50-6

0

110-

120

110-

120

140-

150

190-

200

270-

280

330-

340

370-

380

480-

500

Cla

y m

iner

als

Kao

linite

4 3 2 5 5 4 4 4 4 5 4 4

Illit

e C

hlor

ite

2 2 2 2 3 3 2 1 3 2 3 2

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Smec

tite

1 3 2 1 1 0 1 2 1 1 1 1

Illit

e/

smec

til

3 2 4 2 1 3 3 3 2 2 2 3

I A

cces

sory

:e

min

eral

s

QT

Z, F

LA

G,

KSP

AR

,CA

L

QT

Z, P

ELS,

DO

L

QT

Z, D

OL

, PEL

S

QT

Z, D

OL

, PEL

S

QT

Z, D

OL

, UN

K,

PELS

QT

Z, P

ELS

(?)

QT

Z, G

YP,

CA

L,

QT

Z, C

AL

, (?)

QT

Z, P

ELS

QT

Z, G

YP,

PEL

S

QT

Z, G

YP,

DO

L,

PELS

QT

Z, G

YP,

PEL

S,

DO

L, (

?)

Des

crip

tion

of

clay

sam

ples

Cla

y, g

rayi

sh-p

ink

(5 R

8/2

) to

ligh

t-

brow

n (5

YR

6/4

) w

ith s

ome

sele

nite

.

Cla

y, g

rayi

sh-o

rang

e-pi

nk (5

YR

6/4

).

Cla

y, p

ale-

brow

n (5

YR

5/2

).

Cla

y, p

ale-

red

(10

R 6

/2)

with

som

e se

leni

te.

Cla

y, li

ght-

brow

n (5

YR

6/4

).

Cla

y, p

ale-

gree

nish

-yel

low

(10

Y 8

/2).

Cla

y, p

ale-

brow

n (5

YR

5/2

).

Cla

y, p

ale-

brow

n (5

YR

5/2)

.

Cla

y, p

ale-

yello

wis

h br

own

(5 Y

R 6

/4)

with

som

e lig

ht-b

row

n (5

YR

5/2

) cl

ay.

Cla

y, p

ale-

brow

n (5

YR

5/2

) w

ith s

ome

sele

nite

.

Cla

y, p

ale-

yello

wis

h-br

own

(10

YR

6/2

) w

ith s

ome

pale

-gre

enis

h-ye

llow

(1

0 Y

8/2

) cl

ay a

nd s

ome

sele

nite

.

Cla

y, h

eter

ogen

eous

mix

of c

olor

s w

ith

som

e or

gani

c m

ater

ial.

Potentiometric Surface

The altitude of the potentiometric surface and locations of observation wells, test wells, and boreholes in the vicinity of the HELSTF site are shown in figure 13. The potentiometric surface shown is assumed to be representative of the aquifer as a whole, but vertical variations in head are not considered. The potentiometric-surface contours are based on water levels measured in July 1990 (table 4) and indicate that ground water in the vicinity of the HELSTF site moves toward the south and southwest. The hydraulic gradient is estimated to be 5.3 feet per mile.

Measurements taken in 1990 of the static water level in the HELSTF-1 and HELSTF-2 test wells (table 4) indicate that the water level is about 69 feet below land surface. However, color video logs of the MAR-CW well showed water entering the well bore through a hole in the casing at about 34 feet below land surface. This water moves either horizontally along a clay layer or down the annular spacing from above until it reaches a less permeable zone where it begins to corrode the casing. This can be attributed to perched water above clay layers as indicated by geophysical logs. Discontinuous clay layers allow connection between permeable layers above the main aquifer and possible hydraulic connection with the main aquifer. Any discharge of water from the HELSTF facilities and percolation from precipitation could result in localized perched water.

Table 4. Altitudes and water levels from selected test wells and boreholes, July 1990 [Location of wells and boreholes shown in figure 13]

Well orborehole name

Lucero RanchBaird SouthHELSTF-1HELSTF-2B-28

B-30B-31B-34B-38B-39

Location

19S.05E.22.33419S.06E.13.11319S.06E.28.221A19S.06E.21.32121S.05E.02.341

20S.05E.23.21320S.06E.29.12321S.05E.01.22420S.06E.11.23421S.06E.02.142

Altitude ofland surface(feet abovesea level)

4,040.03,960.03,9503,950.03,982

3,938.63,964.03,9643,984.03,985.0

Water levelDepth (feetbelow land

surface)

171.0768.7669.4068.57

140.52

89.74123.26126.55129.72156.2

Altitude(feet abovesea level)

3,868.93,891.23,880.63,881.43,841.5

3,848.93,840.73,837.53,854.33,828.8

26

106 30

LAKE LUCERO

BAIRDSOUTH3,891

O3,869UCERO

RANCH

High Energy Laser System Test Facility

B-34 . 3,838*830

WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE 0 POST I

HEADQUARTERS

R. 4 E. R. 5 E. R. 6 E. R. 7 E.

01 2345 MILES

T.18S.

T.19S.

T.20S.

T. 21 S.

T.22S.

012345 KILOMETERS

3870

OHELSTF-2

3,881

B-31 3,841

EXPLANATION

POTENTIOMETRIC CONTOUR-Shows altitude at which water level would have stood in tightly cased wells, July 1990. Contour interval 10 feet. Datum is sea level. Dashed where inferred

WELL AND WELL NAME--Number is altitude of the potentiometric surface, in feet above sea level

BOREHOLE AND BOREHOLE NAME-Number is altitude of the potentiometric surface, in feet above sea level

Figure 13.--Approximate altitude of the potentiometric surface in the vicinity of the High Energy Laser System Test Facility site, July 1990.

27

Aquifer Characteristics

McLean (1970), Wilson and Myers (1981), and Orr and Myers (1986) inferred that the basin- fill sediments in the Tularosa Basin can be expected to respond as a leaky-confined aquifer in the deeper zones and as a water-table aquifer in the shallow zones. Evaluation of drill cuttings and borehole-geophysical logs from this study and descriptions of the lithology from previous studies in the area indicates that the lithology of the basin fill near the HELSTF site consists of thinly bedded sand, silt, and clay. Therefore, extrapolation of estimates for transmissivity, storage coefficient, and hydraulic conductivity from an aquifer test during this study to the aquifer as a whole might not be accurate because of the heterogeneity of the aquifer.

Continuous and discontinuous clay units are interbedded with the more permeable sand units (fig. 12). The continuous clay units effectively reduce the vertical movement of water, relative to the horizontal movement of water in the saturated sand during pumping. Therefore, the saturated sand adjacent to the screened interval in the production well probably will respond as a leaky-confined aquifer system. However, Orr and Myers (1986) suggested that the short- term effect of leakage on the water level in the pumped well is negligible.

Aquifer Test

Data collected during a 17-hour constant-discharge test on July 1-2, 1990, were used to estimate aquifer hydraulic properties. Water was pumped from well HELSTF-3 (fig. 4), and HELSTF-1 and HELSTF-2 were used as observation wells. Discharge from HELSTF-3 was held constant at 50,053 cubic feet per day (260 gallons per minute).

Water levels were observed in all three HELSTF wells. An electric tape was used to measure depth to water in wells HELSTF-1 and HELSTF-3. A water-level recorder was installed on well HELSTF-2 so that drawdown and recovery water levels could be manually and automatically monitored. The recorder was installed June 25,1990, on HELSTF-2; the beginning water level was 69.05 feet below land surface. The recorder was removed July 7,1990; the ending water level was 69.89 feet below land surface. Prior to the constant-discharge test, the water level in HELSTF-2 was 70.01 feet below land surface. Drawdown at the end of the test was 37.90 feet in HELSTF-3 and 22.55 feet in HELSTF-2. No drawdown was measured in HELSTF-1. Changes in barometric pressure can cause fluctuations in water levels. No significant changes in barometric pressure were observed during the 17-hour constant-discharge test.

28

Aquifer Hydraulic Properties

The aquifer hydraulic properties estimated from the data collected during the aquifer test include transmissivity, storage coefficient, and hydraulic conductivity. Transmissivity is defined as the rate at which water of the prevailing kinematic viscosity is transmitted through a unit width of the aquifer under a unit hydraulic gradient (Lohman, 1972).

The Theis-curve match method was used to estimate the transmissivity at the test site. The Theis-curve match method is based on the following assumptions: (1) the aquifer is homogeneous and isotropic, (2) the water body has infinite areal extent, (3) the discharging well penetrates the entire thickness of the aquifer, (4) the well has an infinitesimal diameter, and (5) the water removed from storage is discharged instantaneously with decline in head (Lohman, 1972, p. 15).

Some of the above assumptions were not met in this study and may have affected test results. The assumptions of the Theis-curve match method not met in this study include the following. (1) The aquifer is not homogeneous but heterogeneous, as evidenced by the discontinuous clay lenses and abundance of interbedded clay and silty sand (fig. 12). (2) The well does not penetrate the entire thickness of the aquifer. Partial penetration, however, is considered to be insignificant because of the laterally continuous layers of clay above and below the screened interval, which serve as confining layers relative to the stressed zone. (3) The well was still developing during the early part of the constant-discharge stress test, as evidenced by concentrations of silt in the discharge water; therefore, the efficiency and thus the water level in the pumped well change. The test data also were affected by turbulent flow cascading in the well bore.

Storage coefficient is defined as the volume of water an aquifer releases from or takes into storage per unit surface area of the aquifer per unit change in head (Lohman, 1972, p. 8). This value is dimensionless. Storage-coefficient (specific-yield) values for an unconfined aquifer range from about 0.1 to about 0.3. Values for the storage coefficient in a confined aquifer range from about 10"5 to 10"3 (Lohman, 1972). Because the aquifer test was of short duration and applied to an aquifer that consists of thinly bedded sand, silt, and clay, data analyses would be expected to result in a storage coefficient that is characteristic of a confined aquifer.

Hydraulic conductivity is the capability of a unit area perpendicular to flow in an aquifer to transmit a unit volume of ground water in a unit time at a prevailing kinematic viscosity and unit hydraulic gradient (Lohman, 1972, p. 6). The hydraulic conductivity of sand was estimated by dividing the transmissivity by the saturated-sand thickness (about 130 feet) within the screened interval. The sand thickness was estimated from the borehole-geophysical logs and lithologic drill cuttings from test well HELSTF-3 (table 9; fig. 7). The hydraulic conductivity represents an estimate associated with saline water in the aquifer; the kinematic viscosity of brine is about 1.6 times that of pure water (Weist, 1983). Therefore, a freshwater aquifer having similar lithologic conditions could be expected to have larger hydraulic conductivity.

29

The Theis-curve match method (Lohman, 1972) was applied to drawdown data collected at observation well HELSTF-2. A log-log plot of the change in water level (drawdown) versus time of pumping was made and an acceptable curve fit was obtained for data collected in observation well HELSTF-2 using standard curve-matching procedures (Lohman, 1972, p. 18). From the type-curve match a transmissivity of 780 feet squared per day was estimated (fig. 14). The estimates for storage coefficient and hydraulic conductivity are 3.1 x 10~3 and 6.0 feet per day, respectively.

The Moench and Prickett (1972) method also was applied to the data because the aquifer may have been undergoing conversion from leaky-confined (artesian) to water-table conditions (John McLean, Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey, written commun., 1992). Unfortunately, the Moench and Prickett analysis could not be applied directly because the conversion from leaky- confined (artesian) to water-table conditions in the observation well occurred near the end of the test. Therefore, only the transmissivity estimated by the Theis-curve match method on data collected from the observation well is presented.

The estimated value of hydraulic conductivity is within the range of hydraulic- conductivity values for fine-grained sand as indicated by Bouwer (1978, p. 38) and for silty sand as indicated by Freeze and Cherry (1979, p. 29). This is consistent with the lithology observed in drill cuttings from the HELSTF wells.

To assist in analyzing the aquifer response to pumping, the Cooper-Jacob straight-line analysis procedures (Lohman, 1972, p. 21, eq. 56) also were used to estimate transmissivity, storage coefficient, and hydraulic conductivity for data collected in the production and observation wells. The estimates of transmissivity derived from the straight-line analyses are in general agreement with those derived from the Theis-curve match method (figs. 15-16; table 5).

By using the calculated values of transmissivity and storage coefficient from the semilogarithmic plots, the time (t) when the variable of integration (u) was equal to or less than 0.01 (Lohman, 1972, p. 22-23) was 893 minutes, which is the minimum pumping time required for proper data analysis. Comparison of the semilogarithmic plots with examples presented in Lohman (1972, p. 22) and in Driscoll (1986, p. 578) indicates that the drawdown data collected at HELSTF-2 will allow proper data analysis because the aquifer test continued longer (1,200 minutes) than the minimum (893 minutes) pumping time required.

30

100 10

111 111 o

o I DC

Q

0.1

0.01

i i

i i

i i

11

T_

Q W

(u)

471S

T =

781

FE

ET

SQ

UA

RE

D

PE

R D

AY

4 Tt

(u)

S =

3.1

X 1

0,-3

K =

T/b

K =

6.0

FE

ET

PE

R

DA

Y

MAT

CH

PO

INT

W(u

) =

1.0

t/u =

1.0

/D

RA

WD

OW

N D

AT

A P

OIN

T

X

TH

EIS

TY

PE

CU

RV

E

Q

PU

MP

DIS

CH

AR

GE

, IN

CU

BIC

FE

ET

PE

R D

AY

(5

0,0

53)

s D

RA

WD

OW

N D

ET

ER

MIN

ED

AT

TH

EM

AT

CH

PO

INT

.IN F

EE

T (

5.1

) "

t T

IME

DE

TE

RM

INE

D A

T T

HE

MA

TC

H P

OIN

T,

IN D

AY

S (

6.9

= 0.0

048 D

AY

)

T

TR

AN

SM

ISS

IVIT

Y,

IN F

EE

T S

QU

AR

ED

PE

R D

AY

S

ST

OR

AG

E C

OE

FF

ICIE

NT

, D

IME

NS

ION

LE

SS

K

HY

DR

AU

LIC

CO

ND

UC

TIV

ITY

, IN

FE

ET

PE

R D

AY

r D

IST

AN

CE

BE

TW

EE

N P

UM

PE

D W

EL

LA

ND

O

BS

ER

VA

TIO

N W

ELL

, IN

FE

ET

(70

)

b A

QU

IFE

R T

HIC

KN

ES

S,

IN F

EE

T:

AS

SU

ME

D

EQ

UA

L T

O S

AN

D T

HIC

KN

ES

S W

ITH

IN T

HE

S

CR

EE

NE

D I

NT

ER

VA

L (1

30)

u V

AR

IAB

LE O

F I

NT

EG

RA

TIO

N

...I

0.1

10

100

TIM

E,

IN M

INU

TE

S

1,00

010

,000

Fig

ure

14.-

-Log

arith

mic

pl

ot

of

draw

dow

n in

wel

l H

ELS

TF

-2

(19S

.06E

.21.

321)

, W

hite

S

ands

M

issi

le

Ran

ge,

New

M

exic

o,

durin

g th

e 17

-hou

r co

nsta

nt-d

isch

arge

aq

uife

r te

st,

show

ing

a m

atch

with

The

is

none

quili

briu

m t

ype

curv

e (L

ohm

an,

1972

).

Tab

le 5

.~A

naly

sis

met

hods

and

res

ults

of t

he a

quif

er te

st

[u, v

aria

ble

of in

tegr

atio

n; -

-, no

t app

licab

le]

Figu

re

14 15 16

Ana

lysi

sm

etho

d

The

isC

oope

r-Ja

cob

Coo

per-

Jaco

b

Wel

lnu

mbe

r

HE

LST

F-2

HE

LST

F-2

HE

LST

F-3

Pum

ping

ra

te

(cub

ic fe

etpe

r da

y)

50,0

5350

,053

50,0

53

Tra

nsm

issi

vity

(f

eet s

quar

edpe

r day

)

780

730

750

Stor

age

coef

fici

ent

3.1

x 10

-33.

8xlO

-3

-

Hyd

raul

ic

cond

ucti

vity

(fee

t per

day

) R

emar

ks

6.0

5.6

5.8

The

is n

oneq

uili

briu

m ty

pe-m

atch

Tim

e (t)

whe

n u

= 0.

01 o

ccur

s is

893

min

utes

Pro

duct

ion

wel

l; no

val

ue fo

r dis

tanc

ebe

twee

n pr

oduc

tion

wel

l and

obs

erva

tion

wel

l

N>

uo

70

UJ

O < li

ar CO

75

a 2 < _J ^ 0

80

UJ en

CO

l"~

w ffi u_ ?

85x" 1-

Q.

UJ

O

90 94

i i

i i

i i

i i

| i

i i

i i

i i

i |

i i

i i

i i

i I

| i

i :

° ° °

°°o0

.0

oa

-°0

0o

WA

TE

R-L

EV

EL D

AT

A P

OIN

T

o~

Q

Q

PU

MP

DIS

CH

AR

GE

, IN

CU

BIC

FE

ET

PE

R D

AY

o

(50,0

53)

- o

A s

D

RA

WD

OW

N O

VE

R O

NE

LO

G C

YC

LE

, o

\IN

FE

ET

(1

2.5

) o

\

ST

TO

TA

L D

RA

WD

OW

N,

IN F

EE

T (

22

.55

) °

o \

T

TR

AN

SM

ISS

IVIT

Y,

IN F

EE

T S

QU

AR

ED

PE

R D

AY

°\

0 \

S

ST

OR

AG

E C

OE

FF

ICIE

NT

, D

IME

NS

ION

LE

SS

o\

K

HY

DR

AU

LIC

CO

ND

UC

TIV

ITY

, IN

FE

ET

PE

R D

AY

°\

t T

IME

DU

RA

TIO

N O

F A

QU

IFE

R T

ES

T,

IN D

AY

S

<\

(1,0

20 M

INU

TE

S =

0.7

1 D

AY

) \

L

r D

IST

AN

CE

BE

TW

EE

N P

UM

PE

D W

ELL A

ND

\

OB

SE

RV

AT

ION

WE

LL

, IN

FE

ET

(70)

b A

QU

IFE

R T

HIC

KN

ES

S,

IN F

EE

T:

AS

SU

ME

D

EQ

UA

L T

O S

AN

D T

HIC

KN

ES

S W

ITH

IN T

HE

S

CR

EE

NE

D I

NT

ER

VA

L (

130)

i iiiiiiil

i iiiiiiil

i iiiiiitl

i i

0.1

1 10

10

0

i i

i i

i *

1 i

i iii

2.30

Q

47

tAs/

A|o

g10t

T =

732

FE

ET

SQ

UA

RE

D P

ER

DA

Y

2.2

5

(T)

[t/r

2]«-

Io9

icr

1 [

ST /

As]

S =

3.7

x10'3

K =

T/b

K =

5.6

FE

ET

PE

R D

AY

u =

VA

RIA

BL

E O

F I

NT

EG

RA

TIO

N,

WH

EN

A

(u)

VA

LUE

OF

0.0

1IS

SU

BS

TIT

UT

ED

IN

TO

TH

EF

OLLO

WIN

G E

QU

AT

ION

:

t-r

" S

4T

u

^

TH

IS G

IVE

S T

HE

MIN

IMU

M\

PE

RM

ISS

IBL

E P

UM

PIN

Gi»

T

IME

(t).

IN

TH

IS

\

EX

AM

PLE

t

= 0

.62

DA

Y

8»

OR

89

3 M

INU

TE

S.

Av

1 1

1 .

1 . 1

. .

,11

1,00

0

1 1

1 " - " - _ - - -

1 1

p

10,0

TIM

E,

IN

MIN

UT

ES

Fig

ure

15.-

-Sem

iloga

rithm

ic

plot

of

wat

er l

evel

s in

w

ell

HE

LST

F-2

(1

9S.0

6E.2

1.32

1),

Whi

te

San

ds

Mis

sile

R

ange

, N

ew

Mex

ico,

du

ring

the

17-h

our

cons

tant

-dis

char

ge

aqui

fer

test

.

/u

LJJ 80O

LLrrIDCO 85

Qz_Jg 90

OLJJDO

1 95LJJLJJLL

z

_T 100

h-Q_ LJJQ

105

109

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 . 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

o2.30 QT =

4ffAS/Aiogi«

o T = 750 FEET SQUARED PER DAY

I" °

°o K = T/b°o

~ °0 K = 5.8 FEET PER DAY ^

0 0

o0

r O WATER-LEVEL DATA POINT °o

Q PUMP DISCHARGE, IN CUBIC FEET PER DAY o(50,053) °0\

- AS DRAWDOWN OVER ONE LOG CYCLE, °\IN FEET (12.5) \o\

s TOTAL DRAWDOWN, IN FEET (22.55) \

T TRANSMISSIVITY, IN FEET SQUARED PER DAY \

K HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY, IN FEET PER DAY \

t TIME DURATION OF AQUIFER TEST, IN DAYS V(1,020 MINUTES = 0.71 DAY) \

b AQUIFER THICKNESS, IN FEET: ASSUMED \ EQUAL TO SAND THICKNESS WITHIN THE \SCREENED INTERVAL (130) \

i i i i i 1 1 1 1 i i i i i 1 1 1 1 i i i i i 1 1 1 1 i i i i i 1 1 1 1\ i i i i i 1 1 10.1 1 10 100 1,000 10,000

TIME, IN MINUTES

Figure 16.--Semilogarithmic plot of water levels in well HELSTF-3 (19S.06E.21.321A), White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, during the 17-hour constant-discharge aquifer test.

34

Water Quality

In this report, water is classified according to concentrations of dissolved solids (modified from Freeze and Cherry, 1979, p. 84) as follows:

Freshwater-Contains less than 1,000 milligrams per literdissolved solids.

Brackish water-Contains 1,000 to 10,000 milligrams per literdissolved solids.

Saline water-Contains greater than 10,000 to 100,000 milligrams per literdissolved solids.

Brine Contains greater than 100,000 milligrams per literdissolved solids.

Fresh and slightly brackish ground water underlain by saline water is present in the vicinity of the alluvial-fan deposits along the western and eastern margins of the Tularosa Basin (Orr and Myers, 1986). Saline and brine ground water are present throughout the basin, but at shallower depths near the center of the basin (McLean, 1970). A west-to-east diagrammatic section of water- quality units from the San Andres Mountains to the center of the basin (McLean, 1970) near the HELSTF site is shown in figure 17. Water quality rapidly becomes more saline away from the mountain front.

Ground-water quality in the HELSTF area was determined by chemical analyses of water samples collected from test wells HELSTF-1, HELSTF-2, HELSTF-3, and the MAR-CW test well. Water samples were collected by bailing from test well HELSTF-1, by using the air-jet method in test well HELSTF-2, and by pumping with a submersible pump in test well HELSTF-3 and the MAR-CW weU.

Prior to completion of test well HELSTF-2, water samples were collected at five progressively shallower depths using gravel envelopes and temporary casing. The depths below land surface of the sampling intervals, in ascending order, were: 833 to 815 feet, 693 to 675 feet, 493 to 475 feet, 413 to 395 feet, and 293 to 275 feet. An 18-foot section of perforated drill stem was attached to the end of the drill stem and placed at the selected sample depth in the test hole. Gravel was placed in the test hole up to a level above the section of perforated drill stem, and air was forced down an air-line in the drill stem. The temporary well was jetted at a rate of about 40 gallons per minute until the water became clear. Specific conductance of the production water was monitored during the jetting process until the conductance stabilized. A sample was then collected for chemical analysis. The bentonite drilling mud and wall cake above and below the jetted interval restricted vertical flow in the test hole. Water samples collected by this method are believed to be representative of the perforated interval. Air jetting may have affected some chemical characteristics of the sample, such as alkalinity, pH, and concentrations of some trace elements.

35

WEST EAST

WATER TABLE" " * * - _____ __________LAND SURFACE

Less than 1,000-3,000

More than 3,000-10,000 '

More than 10,000-35,000

More than 35,000

Basin-

level

4 KILOMETERS

EXPLANATION

LINE OF EQUAL DISSOLVED-SOLIDS CONCENTRATION, IN MILLIGRAMS PER LITER-Dashed where approximately located

RANGE OF DISSOLVED-SOLIDS CONCENTRATION 3,000-10,000 IN WATER-QUALITY UNITS, IN MILLIGRAMS

PER LITER-From McLean, 1970

Figure 17.--Diagrammatic section near the High Energy Laser System Test Facility site showing water-quality units on the western side of the Tularosa Basin (modified from McLean, 1970). Line of section is shown in figure 3.

36

Analyses indicate that the water chemistry in the study area varies primarily with depth. Dissolved-solids concentration in water in the upper part of the aquifer ranged from 5,940 to 11,800 milligrams per liter. The largest dissolved-solids concentration of 111,000

milligrams per liter was at the deepest interval sampled, 815 to 833 feet below land surface, in test well HELSTF-2 (table 6). These differences in dissolved-solids concentration among samples show that salinity increases with depth. The high specific conductance is probably related to the long residence time of the ground water in contact with highly soluble rocks and minerals and subsequent chemical degradation as described by Driscoll (1986, p. 96).

Trilinear plots of chemical analyses were constructed using water-chemistry data from the HELSTF test wells and the MAR-CW wells (fig. 18). The analyses indicate that the relative ion concentrations generally vary with depth. The predominant cation is sodium throughout the aquifer. The predominant anion is sulfate in the upper part of the aquifer. The predominant anion from sample intervals 675 to 693 feet and 815 to 833 feet below land surface is chloride. Concentrations of chloride and dissolved solids increase with depth whereas the concentration of sulfate decreases.

Water from the MAR-CW well was tested for volatile organic compounds and radionuclides. The analyses are presented in table 7. The analysis for volatile organic compounds determined that toluene may be present in the MAR-CW test well. However, the concentration is less than 1 microgram per liter.

37

OJ ex

Tab

le 6

. Che

mic

al a

naly

ses

of w

ater

from

sel

ecte

d w

ells

: ph

ysic

al p

rope

rtie

s,m

ajor

and

min

or c

onst

ituen

ts, a

nd tr

ace

elem

ents

[QT

ab, Q

uate

rnar

y an

d T

ertia

ry b

olso

n de

posi

ts; u

S/c

m, m

icro

siem

ens

per

cent

imet

er a

t 25

degr

ees

Cel

sius

; g/m

l, g

ram

s pe

r m

illili

ter;

deg

C, d

egre

es C

elsi

us; m

g/L

, mill

igra

ms

per

liter

; ug

/L, m

icro

gram

s pe

r lit

er; -

-, no

dat

a; <

, les

s th

an]

Geo-

Well

Well

logic

name

lo

cati

on

Date

unit

Depth

to top

ofsample

inter

val

(feet)

Dept

h to bot

tom

ofsample

inte

rva

l(feet)

Spe

cifi

ccon

duct

ance

(US/cm)

Density

(g/m

lat

20

deg

C)

PH

(sta

nd

ard

units)

Water

temper

ature

(deg C)

Dissolved

soli

ds,

residue

at 18

0deg

C,di

ssolved

(mg/L)

Alka

linity,

lab

(mg/L

asCa

C03 )

Calcium,

dis

solved

(mg/

Las

Ca)

HELSTF-1 19S.06E.28.221A 05-14-90

HELSTF-2 19S.06E.21.321

QTab

7090

11,600

06-09-90

06-10-90

06-11-90

06-11-90

06-11-90

QTab

QTab

QTab

QTab

QTab

815

675

475

395

275

833

693

493

413

293

106,000

79,400

21,900

19, 90

07,790

HELSTF-3 19S.06E.21.321A 07-02-90

QTab

MAR-CW

19S.06E.28.221

11-21-84

QTab

04-03-89

QTab

08-31-89

QTab

8050

013,900

10,500

16,200

7.3

7.3

7.5

7.9

7.8

7.9

7.8

7.9

10,900

200

22 21 21

11,800

9,930

11,500

120

119

440

111,000

67,700

18,700

17,300

5,940

146

129

147

163

142

760

1,000

590

720

370

390 69

360

Tab

le 6

. Che

mic

al a

naly

ses

of w

ater

from

sel

ecte

d w

ells

: ph

ysic

al p

rope

rtie

s,

maj

or a

nd m

inor

con

stitu

ents

, and

trac

e el

emen

ts C

onti

nued

Date

05-14-90

06-09-90

06-10-90

06-11-90

06-11-90

06-11-90

07-02-90

11-21-84

04-03-89

08-31-89

Magne

sium

,dis

solved

(mg/L

as Mg)

410

4,800

2,200

550

680

210

420

370

510

--

Sodi

um,

dis

solved

(mg/L

as Na

)

2,100

28,000

17,000

4,400

3,800

1,200

2,500

2,000

2,300

--

Potas

sium,

dis

solved

(mg/

Las K)

29

450

270 98 98 34 53 27 60 --

Sulfate,

dis

solved

(mg/L

as SO4

)

6,700

15,000

8,200

7,400

6,600

2,800

5,100

5,700

6,600

--

chlo

ride,

dis

solved

(mg/L

as Cl)

750

46,000

33,000

4,500

4,600

1,200

2,400

670

1,200

--

Fluo-

ride,

dis

solved

(mg/

Las F)

<0.1

0.8

5.0

1.8

2.0

0.4

1.6

0.6

1.8 --

Bromide,

dis

solved

(mg/

Las Br

)

0.31

21.00

14.00

1.70

2.00

0.54

0.98 0.65 --

Sili

ca,

dis

solved

(mg/

Las

Si02

)

30.0

7.6

14.0

19.0

16.0

20.0

25.0

22.0

21.0

--

Nitr

o

gen,

NO2 +NO3/

dis

solved

(mg/L

as N)

15.0 0.7

0.5

0.9

1.7

2.5

1.3

3.8

26.0

--

Alum

inum,

dis

solved

(Hg/L

as Al)

20

530

<100 20 30 10

<20 -- --

Arse

nic,

dis

solved

(Hg/L

as As

)

43.0

46.0

39.0

52.0

15.0 3.0

17.0 -- 2.0

--

Barium,

dis

solv

ed(Hg/L

as Ba)

100.0

100.

0100.0

100.

010

0.0

100.

0

100.0

100.

0--

Boron,

dis

solved

(Hg/L

as B)

1,500

1,100

14,000

980

720

490

660

850

3,000

--

Tab

le 6

. Che

mic

al a

naly

ses

of w

ater

from

sel

ecte

d w

ells

: ph

ysic

al p

rope

rtie

s,

maj

or a

nd m

inor

con

stit

uent

s, a

nd tr

ace

elem

ents

Con

clud

ed

Date

05-14-90

06-09-90

06-10-90

06-11-90

06-11-90

06-11-90

07-02-90

11-21-84

04-03-89

08-31-89

Cadmium,

dis

solved

(M9/L

as Cd

)

1.0

<20.0

<10.0

<2.0

<2.0

<1.0

<2.0

--

<1.0

--

Chro

mium

,dis

solved

(ftg/L

as Cr)

<2.0

<12.0

<10.0

4.0

3.0

3.0

3.0 --

110.0

1, 100.0

Chro

mium,

hexa-

valent,

dis

solved

(Wr/

Las

Cr

)

<1.0

<1.0

<1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

<1.0 -- --

70-0.0

Copper ,

dis

solved

(»*g/L

as Cu

)

<1.0

<10.0

<10.0

<2.0

<2.0

3.0

<2.0 --

2.0 --

Iron,

dis

solved

(fig

/Las Fe

)

30.0

1,100.0

600.0

90.0

100.0

80.0

50.0 --

40.0 --

Lead,

dis

solved

(yg/

Las Pb

)

<1.0

<10.0

<10.0

<2.0

<2.0

<1.0

<2.0 --

<5.0 --

Lith

ium,

dis

solv

ed(fig/L

as Li)

230.0

3,200.0

1,700.0

620.0

500.0

210.0

370.0

220.0

220.0

--

Manga

nese

,dis

solved

(M9/L

as Mn)

170.0

1,100.0

490.0

150.0

150.0

120.0

130.0

--

100.0

--

Mercury,

dis

solved

(wr/L

as Hg

)

0.2

0.3

0.3

0.5

0.8

0.2

0.4

-- 0.5

--

Sele

nium

,dis

solved

(Wr/L

as Se)

4.0

2.0

<2.0

2.0

7.0

7.0

12.0 --

87.0 --

Silv

er,

dis

solved

(Hg/

Las Ag)

<1.0

10.0

10.0

<2.0

<2.0

<1.0

<2.0

-- 1.0

--

Stro

ntium,

dis

solv

ed(fig/L

as Sr

) 60

12,000

14,000

4,500

5,100

6,300

6,300

3,300

5,300

--

Zinc,

dis

solv

ed(Wr/L

as Zn)

1,20

0

11,000

7,000

1,50

02,200

390 90

--

1,00

0--

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS

SO4 ClFNO2+NO3CaMgNa+K

SulfateChlorideFluorideNitrite +CalciumMagnesiumSodium + potassium

nitrate

CO3+HCC>3 - Carbonate + bicarbonate

ANIONS

PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL IONS, IN MILLIEQUIVALENTS PER LITER

EXPLANATION

WELL PLOT SAMPLE NAME NUMBER (feet below

HELSTF-2HELSTF-2HELSTF-2HELSTF-2HELSTF-2HELSTF-3HELSTF-1MAR-CWMAR-CW

123456789

275395475675815

80707373

INTERVAL land surface)

- 293- 413- 493- 693- 833- 500- 90- 200- 200

SPECIFIC CONDUCTANCE DISSOLVED-SOLIDS CONCENTRATION (microsiemens per centimeter (milligrams per liter, residue

at 25 degrees Celsius) at 180 degrees Celsius)

7,79019,90021,90079,400

106,00013,90011,60010,500

5,94017,30018,70067,700

111,00011,80010,9009,930

11,500

MAR-CW WELL WAS SAMPLED TWICE--PLOT 8 ON 11/21/84 AND PLOT 9 ON 4/03/89

Figure 18.--Chemical analyses of ground water from test wells, White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

41

MA

R-C

W

Tab

le /

.-C

hem

ical

ana

lyse

s of

wat

er fr

om te

st w

ell M

AR

-CW

: ra

dion

uclid

es a

nd v

olat

ileor

gani

c co

mpo

unds

[(L

ig/L

, mic

rogr

ams

per

liter

; pC

i/L

, pic

ocur

ies

per

liter

; <, l

ess

than

]

Well

Well

name

loca

tion

Gros

salpha,

dis

solved

(yg/L

asDate

U-NA

T)

Gross

beta,

dis

solved

(pCi/L

asCs-137)

Gross

beta,

dis

solved

(pCi/L

as Sr

/Yt

-90)

Radium

226,

dis

solved,

rado

nmethod

(pCi

/L)

Uranium,

natu

ral,

dis

solved

(Hg/

Las U)

Di-

chloro-

bromo-

meth

ane,

tota

l(^

g/L)

Carbon-

tetra-

chlo

-ri

de,

tota

l(jig/L)

1,2-

Di-

chlo

ro-

etha

ne,

tota

l(jig/L)

19S.06E.28.221

04-03-89

58.000

130.00

85.000

0.390

36.000

<0.200

<0.200

<0.200

N)

Date

Chloro-

di-

Brom

o-

bromo-

Chloro

form

, methane,

form

, total

tota

l to

tal

(jig/D

(ftg

/L)

(jig/L)

Methy1-

Methyl-

ene

Chloro-

Chloro-

Ethy

l-

Methyl-

chlo

- ch

lo-

Tolu

ene,

Be

nzen

e,

benz

ene,

et

hane

, be

nzen

e, br

omid

e,

ride

, ride,

tota

l to

tal

tota

l to

tal

tota

l total

tota

l(Hg/L)

(jig/L)

(jig/L)

(jig

/L)

(jig

/L)

(jig/L)

tota

l (jig/L)

(jig

/L)

04-0

3-89

<0.200

<0.200

<0.200

0.70

0<0.200

<0.200

<0.200

<0.200

<0.200

<0.200

<0.200

Tab

le 7

.~C

hem

ical

ana

lyse

s of

wat

er fr

om te

st w

ell M

AR

-CW

: ra

dion

uclid

es a

nd v

olat

ileor

gani

c co

mpo

unds

Con

clud

ed

OJ

Tetra-

chloro-

ethyl-

ene,

total

Date

(|ig

/L)

04-03-89

<0.200

1,3-Di-

chloro-

benzene,

total

Date

(\lg

/L)

Tri-

chloro-

f luo

ro-

methane,

total

(jig

/D

<0.200

1,4-Di-

chloro-

benzene,

total

<Hg/D

1,1-

Di-

chloro-

etha

ne,

total

(jig

/L)

<0.200

2-

Chloro-

ethyl-

vinyl-

ether,

total

(jig/L)

1,1-

Di-

chloro-

ethyl-

ene,

total

(jig

/L)

<0.200

Di-

chloro-

di-

f luoro-

methane,

total

(|ig

/L)

1,1,

1-Tri-

chlo

ro-

etha

ne,

tota

l(W/L)

<0.200

Trans-

1,3-di-

chlo

ro-

prop

ene,

tota

l(j

ig/L

)

1,1,

2-Tri-

chloro-

etha

ne,

total

(jig/L)

<0.200

Cis

1,3-di-

chloro-

propene

total

(jig

/D

1,1,2,2

Tetra-

chloro-

etha

ne,

tota

l(jig/L)

<0.200

Vinyl

chlo-

, ride,

tota

l(jig/D

1,2-

Di-

chlo

ro-

benz

ene,

tota

l(jig/D

<0.200

Tri-

chloro-

ethy

l-ene,

tota

l(Hg/L)

1,2-

Di-

chloro-

propane,

tota

l(j

ig/D

<0.200

Styr

ene,

total

(Hg/

L)

1,2-

Tran

sdi-

chloro-

ethe

ne,

tota

l(Hg/L)

<0.200

1.2-

Dibromo

etha

ne,

water

whol

e,total

(WF/D

1,3-

Di-

chlo

ro-

propene,

tota

l(\

lg/L

)

<0.200

Xyle

ne,

tota

l,wa

ter

whole,

tota

lre

cove

rab

le(j

ig/D

04-03-89

<0.200

<0.200

<0.200

<0.200

<0.200

<0.200

<0.200

0.20

0<0.200

<0.200

<0.200

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

The basin-fill deposits at the HELSTF site generally consist of clay, silt, and fine- to medium-grained sand. The upper 15 to 20 feet of the subsurface consists of varved gypsiferous clay and silt. These deposits are interpreted to be intertonguing fluvial and lacustrine (playa) deposits from the ancestral Lake Otero. The subsurface lithology at the site, as interpreted from borehole-geophysical logs and drill cuttings, consists of clay units interbedded with silty clay and sandy units. The interbedded clay layers create conditions for perched water tables. Analyses of selected clay samples indicate that the mineralogy of the samples is predominantly kaolinite and mixed-layer illite/smectite.

Three test wells were constructed in the vicinity of the HELSTF site. HELSTF-1 has a well depth 100 feet below land surface and a screened interval 70 to 90 feet below land surface. HELSTF-2 and HELSTF-3 have well depths 520 feet below land surface and screened intervals 80 to 500 feet below land surface. During an aquifer test, HELSTF-3 was pumped and HELSTF-1 and HELSTF-2 were used as observation wells.

The hydraulic characteristics of the saturated sand adjacent to the screened interval in test well HELSTF-2 were interpreted to be representative of a leaky-confined aquifer. The direction of ground-water flow is to the south and southwest and the hydraulic gradient was estimated to be 5.3 feet per mile. Hydraulic properties were estimated by applying the Theis-curve match method to the data collected in test well HELSTF-2. Transmissivity was estimated to be 780 feet squared per day. Storage coefficient was estimated to be 3.1 x 10 , and hydraulic conductivity was estimated to be 6.0 feet per day. Estimates of transmissivity, storage coefficient, and hydraulic conductivity derived from analyses of semilogarithmic plots agree with the estimates derived from the log-log plots. Factors that influenced the results of the aquifer test include: (1) interbedded lithology, (2) partial penetration of the production well into the aquifer, (3) incomplete development of the well during the early part of the aquifer test, and (4) turbulent water (cascading) in the well bore.

Water samples collected from the test wells indicate that ground water at the site is brackish to brine and that salinity increases with depth. The predominant cation is sodium throughout the aquifer. Dissolved-solids concentration of water near the top of the aquifer ranges from 5,940 to 11,800 milligrams per liter. The predominant anion is sulfate in the upper part of the aquifer. At 815 feet below land surface the dissolved-solids concentration is approximately 111,000 milligrams per liter. Chloride is the predominant anion with increasing depth and increasing dissolved-solids concentration.

Geohydrologic data compiled and collected during this study include the following: (1) soil type and characteristics, (2) interbedded geologic materials to be expected below the site, (3) potential for the development of perched water conditions because of the thinly bedded clay, silt, and sand, (4) mineralogy of clay samples in the regional aquifer, (5) depth to and estimated hydraulic gradient of the potentiometric surface, (6) water quality that can be expected at the surface and with depth in the regional aquifer, and (7) estimated hydraulic characteristics of the saturated sand interval in the regional aquifer. These data provide a better understanding of the geohydrology of the area and will assist the U.S. Army in planning and decision making related to use, management, and protection of the water resources at the HELSTF site.

44

SELECTED REFERENCES

Bouwer, Herman, 1978, Groundwater hydrology: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 480 p.

Dane, C.H., and Bachman, G.O., 1965, Geologic map of New Mexico: U.S. Geological Survey, 2 sheets, scale 1:500,000.

Driscoll, F.G., 1986, Groundwater and wells (second ed.): St. Paul, Minn., Johnson Division, 1089 p.

Freeze, R.A., and Cherry, J.A., 1979, Groundwater: Englewood Cliffs, N.J., Prentice-Hall, Inc., 604 p.

Gile, L.H., Hawley, J.W., and Grossman, R.B., 1981, Soils and geomorphology in the Basin and Range area of southern New Mexico Guidebook to the Desert Project: Socorro, New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources Memoir 39,222 p.

Healey, D.L., Wahl, R.R., and Currey, F.E., 1978, Gravity survey of the Tularosa valley and adjacent areas, New Mexico: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 78-309,37 p.

Herrick, C.L., 1904, Lake Otero, an ancient salt lake in southeastern New Mexico: American Geologist, v. 34, p. 174-189.

Houghton, F.E., 1976, Climate, in Neher, RE., and Bailey, O.F., eds., Soil survey of White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, parts of Otero, Lincoln, Dona Ana, Sierra, and Socorro Counties: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, p. 59-60.

Kelly, T.E., 1973, Summary of ground-water data at Post Headquarters and adjacent areas, White Sands Missile Range: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report, 66 p.

Lohman, S.W., 1972, Ground-water hydraulics: U. S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 708, 70 p.

McLean, J.S., 1970, Saline ground-water resources of the Tularosa Basin, New Mexico: U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Saline Water Research and Development Progress Report 561,128 p.

Moench, A.F, and Prickett, T.A., 1972, Radial flow in an infinite aquifer undergoing conversion from artesian to water table conditions: Water Resources Research, v. 8, no. 2, p. 494-499.

National Research Council, 1948, Rock-Color Chart: Prepared by the Rock-Color Chart Committee, E.N. Goddard, chairman, available from the Geological Society of America, Boulder, Colo.

Neher, RE., and Bailey, O.F., 1976, Soil survey of White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, parts of Otero, Lincoln, Dona Ana, Sierra, and Socorro Counties: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, 64 p.

Orr, B.R, and Myers, R.G., 1986, Water resources in basin-fill deposits in the Tularosa Basin, New Mexico: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 85-4219,94 p.

45

SELECTED REFERENCES-Concluded

Seager, W.R., 1981, Geology of Organ Mountains and southern San Andres Mountains, New Mexico: Socorro, New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources Memoir 36,97 p.

Seager, W.R., Hawley, J.W., Kottlowski, RE., and Kelley, S. A., 1987, Geology of the east half of the Las Cruces and northeast El Paso 1 degree x 2 degree sheets, New Mexico: Socorro, New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources Map 57.

Seager, W.R., and Morgan, Paul, 1979, Rio Grande rift in southern New Mexico, west Texas, and northern Chihuahua, in Riecker, R., ed., Rio Grande rift Tectonics and magmatism: American Geophysical Union Special Publication, p. 87-106.

Strain, W.S., 1970, Late Cenozoic bolson integration in the Chihuahua tectonic belt, in Sundeen, D., ed., Geologic framework of the Chihuahua tectonic belt: Midland, West Texas Geological Society Publication 71-59, p. 167-173.

Weist, R.C., ed., 1983, CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 63d ed.: CRC Press, Inc.

Wilson, C.A., and Myers, R.G., 1981, Ground-water resources of the Soledad Canyon re-entrant and adjacent areas, White Sands Missile Range and Fort Bliss Military Reservation, Dona Ana County, New Mexico: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations 81-645, 22 p.

46

SUPPLEMENTAL DATA

47

Table 8.~Description of drill cuttings for test well HELSTF-1 (19S.06E.28.221 A)[Location shown in figure 4. mm, millimeters; cm, centimeters; color codes

are from the Rock Color Chart (National Research Council, 1948)]

Depth intervalbelow land

Description of drill cuttings surface (feet)

Clay, white (N 9) with some silt; predominantly gypsiferous. 0-10

Clay, white (N 9) to light-greenish-gray (5 GY 8/1) with minor silt 10-15 (gypsiferous); minor amounts of moderate-reddish-brown (10 R 4/6) clay.

Clay, yellowish-gray (5 Y 8/1) with some silt, minor amounts of 15-20 moderate-reddish-brown (10 R 4/6) clay and pale-yellowish-green (10 GY 7/2) clay.

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4); some small selenite crystals, 20-25 approximately 2-3 mm in size.

Clay, moderate-reddish brown (10 R 4/6) with minor amounts of silt and 25-35 very fine to fine-grained sand; minor amounts of small selenite crystals.

Selenite crystals, approximately 80 percent; some moderate-brown 35-40 (5 YR 4/4) clay and 5 percent or less silt and very fine to fine-grained sand.

Selenite crystals, approximately 80 percent; some moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) 40-45 clay, with minor amounts of silt and fine-grained sand; less than 1 percent sticky, grayish-yellow-green (5 GY 7/2) clay.

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4); with some selenite crystals 3 cm in size; 45-50 minor amounts of grayish-yellow-green (5 GY 7/2) clay with fine-grained sand.

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4); 10 percent or less sticky, grayish-green 50-55 (5 G 5/2) clay; minor amounts of selenite crystals.

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4). 55-60

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4); with minor amounts of selenite crystals 60-65 and silt.

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4); with some selenite crystals; less than 65-70 2 percent grayish-yellow-green (5 GY 7/2) silty clay.

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4); with some small indurated clasts of 70-75 pale-yellowish-brown calcareous (10 YR 6/2) clay; some silt.

Clay, moderate-brown (SYR 4/4); with some very fine grained sand, silt, 75-80 and some small selenite crystals.

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4); with some small selenite crystals and silt; 80-85 minor amounts of moderate-reddish-brown (10 R 4/6) clay.

48

Table 8.~Description of drill cuttings for test well HELSTF-1 (19S.06E.28.221A)~Concluded

Description of drill cuttings


surface (feet)

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) and moderate- 85-95 reddish-brown (10 R 4/6) with some selenite crystals 3 mm in size.

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) with silt and very fine grained sand; 95-100 some small selenite crystals; minor amounts of indurated clumps of light-greenish-gray (5 Y 8/1) silt and very fine grained sand; sand is well sorted, subrounded, and composed of 85 percent quartz grains, 15 percent dark lithics. ^

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4); with some very fine to fine-grained 100-105 sand; minor amounts of moderate-reddish-brown (10 R 4/6) clay and small selenite crystals.

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) and moderate-reddish-brown (10 R 4/6); 105-110 with some fine-grained sand; minor amounts of small selenite crystals and greenish-gray (5 GY 6/1) silt and fine-grained sand.

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4); with silt and very fine to fine-grained 110-115 sand; minor amounts of moderate-reddish-brown (10 R 4/6) clay with selenite crystals, to 2 cm.

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4); with some silt and small selenite crystals. 115-120

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4); with some fine-grained sand; minor 120-125 amounts of small selenite crystals.

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4); with silt and very fine to fine-grained 125-130 sand; some small selenite crystals.

49

Table ^--Description of drill cuttings for test well HELSTF-2 (19S.06E.21.321) [Location shown in figure 4. cm, centimeters]



Clay, white (N 9) to light-greenish-gray (5 GY 8/1), gypsiferous; minor 0-10 amounts of light-brown (5 YR 5/6) clay.

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4); with some silt and very fine grained 10-20 sand; 10 percent selenite crystals (0.5 cm in size); a few indurated white (N 9) gypsum clasts.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) with minor silt; 20-30 percent selenite crystals, 20-30 some to 1 cm.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6); with minor amounts of silt and very fine 30-40 grained sand; some selenite crystals, indurated gypsum clasts, and minor amounts of light-greenish-gray (5 GY 8/1) clay.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6); with minor amounts of silt; 5 percent selenite 40-50 crystals.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) with some silt and very fine grained sand; 50-60 30 percent selenite crystals.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) and some moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) clay 60-70 with silt and very fine grained sand; 20 percent greenish-gray (5 GY 6/1) clay; minor amounts of selenite crystals.

No sample. 70-90

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) to moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) with some 90-100 silt; 5 percent or less greenish-gray (5 GY 6/1) clay; minor indurated white (N 9) gypsum clasts.

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4); with some silt and very fine grained sand. 100-110

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) with some silt and very fine to 110-120 fine-grained sand; sand is well rounded, well sorted, and composed of approximately 98 percent quartz grains; minor amounts of light-greenish-gray (5 GY 8/1) clay and large (1 cm) selenite crystals.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 6/4) with some very fine to fine-grained sand; 120-130 minor amounts of sticky, grayish-yellow-green (5 GY 7/2) clay with some silt, selenite crystals, and moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) clay.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 6/4) with some silt and very fine grained sand; 130-140 some moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) clay; minor amounts of sticky, medium-gray (N 5) clay, light-greenish-gray (5 GY 8/1) silty clay, and selenite crystals.

50

Table 9.-Description of drill cuttings for test well HELSTF-2 (19S.06E.21.321)-Continued



Clay, light-brown (5 YR 6/4) with some silt and very fine to fine-grained 140-150 sand; approximately 10 percent sticky, greenish-gray (5 G 6/1) clay and light-greenish-gray (5 GY 8/1) silty clay; minor amounts of selenite crystals.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) and moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) with some 150-160 silt and very fine grained sand; minor amounts of medium-gray (N 5) clay.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) with some silt and minor amounts of sticky 160-180 medium-gray (N 5) clay and selenite crystals.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) and moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) with some 180-210 silt and very fine grained sand; minor amounts of light-greenish-gray (5 G 8/1) clay and selenite crystals.

Same as above with some light-greenish-gray (5 GY 8/1) silty clay. 210-220

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) and light-brown and very fine to 220-230 fine-grained sand; minor amounts of sticky, medium-gray (N 5) clay and greenish-gray (5 G 6/1) clay.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) with silt and very fine to fine-grained sand; 230-240 minor amounts of light-greenish-gray (5 GY 8/1) silty clay and selenite crystals.

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) with some silt; silt; minor amounts of 240-250 sticky, greenish-gray (5 G 6/1) clay and small selenite crystals.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) with some very fine grained sand; minor 250-260 amounts of large selenite crystals.

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) and light-brown (5 YR 5/6) with some 260-280 silt; minor amounts of greenish-gray (5 G 6/1) clay and light-greenish-gray (5 G 8/1) silty clay.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) with some fine- to medium-grained sand; 280-290 sand consists of approximately 95 percent well-rounded, well-sorted quartz grains; 2 percent dark lithic grains.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) with some silt and very fine grained sand; 290-300 minor amounts of greenish-gray (5 G 6/1) clay.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) with silt; minor amounts of selenite crystals. 300-310

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) with some fine- to medium-grained sand; 310-320 lesser amounts of light-greenish-gray (5 G 8/1) clay and greenish-gray (5 G 6/1) clay.

51

Table 9.~Description of drill cuttings for test well HELSTF-2 (19S.06E.21.321)~Continued



surface (feet)

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) with some silt and fine-grained sand; 320-330 minor amounts of sticky, light-greenish-gray (5 G 8/1) clay and some small selenite crystals.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) with silt and fine-grained sand; minor 330-340 amounts of greenish-gray (5 GY 6/1) clay and selenite crystals.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) with some silt; some light-greenish-gray 340-360 (5 GY 8/1) clay and minor amounts of selenite crystals.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) with fine- to medium-grained sand; 360-380 sand consists of approximately 95 percent quartz grains; minor amounts of light-greenish-gray (5 GY 8/1) clay and selenite crystals.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6), approximately 60 percent; approximately 380-390 30 percent medium-gray (N 6) very fine grained sand, minor amounts of light-greenish-gray (5 G 8/1) clay, and selenite crystals.

Sand, light-gray (N 7), approximately 50 percent, fine- to medium-grained; 390-400 well sorted and well rounded; composed of approximately 80 percent quartz and 20 percent lithic grains; 40 percent light-brown (5 YR 5/6) clay with minor amounts of light-greenish-gray (5 G 8/1) clay and selenite crystals.

Sand, light-gray (N 7), very fine to fine-grained, quartz-rich; some 400-410 light-brown (5 YR 5/6) clay and minor amounts of light-greenish-gray (5 G 8/1) clay.

Same as above; sand comprises approximately 80-85 percent of the sample. 410-420

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6); sand, very light gray (N 8) and predominantly 420-430 fine grained.

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 3/4); minor amounts of light-gray (N 7) 430-440 fine-grained sand, greenish-gray (5 G 6/1) clay, and selenite crystals.

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 3/4) with some greenish-gray (5 GY 6/1) 440-460 clay; minor amounts of silty, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) clay and selenite crystals.

Same as above, except more greenish-gray (5 GY 6/1) clay. 460-470

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 3/4); some light-brown (5 YR 5/6) clay 470-480 with lesser amounts of greenish-gray (5 G 6/1) clay.

52

Table 9.~Description of drill cuttings for test well HELSTF-2 (19S.06E.21.321)~Continued



surface (feet)

Clay, predominantly moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4), some light-brown (5 YR 6/4) 480-490 with silt; minor amounts greenish-gray (5 G 6/1) clay and light-gray (N 7) fine- to medium-grained quartz-rich sand.

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4), approximately 50 percent; approximately 490-500 30 percent light-greenish-gray (5 G 8/1) fine-grained sand; minor amounts of greenish-gray (5 GY 6/1) clay and a few blades of black (N 1) fissile mudstone (organic rich).

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6); minor amounts of moderate-brown (5 YR 3/4) 500-510 clay, light-gray (N 7), very fine to fine-grained sand, and greenish-gray (5 G 6/1) clay.

Sand, very light gray (N 8), predominantly fine grained; minor amounts 510-520 of moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) clay, greenish-gray (5 G 6/1) clay, and black (N 1) fissile mudstone.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6); minor amounts of greenish-gray (5 G 6/1) 520-530 clay and very light gray (N 8) fine-grained quartz-rich sand.

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 3/4) to light-brown (5 YR 5/6); minor 530-540 amounts of greenish-gray (5 G 6/1) clay and light-gray (N 7), fine-grained quartz-rich sand.

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4); minor amounts of greenish-gray (5 G 6/1) 540-550 clay and light-gray (N 7) fine-grained sand; very few cuttings coming to the surface (small sample).

Sand, very light gray (N 8), very fine to fine-grained quartz-rich sand; minor 550-560 amounts of light-brown (5 YR 5/6) clay and greenish-gray (5 G 6/1) clay.

Sand, very light gray (N 8) with some silt; lesser amount of light-brown 560-570 (SYR 5/6) clay with silt.

Sand, very light gray (N 8), fine- to medium-grained; composed of 570-580 approximately 98 percent quartz; some light-brown (5 YR 5/6) clay with silt.

Clay, very light gray (N 7); fine-grained quartz sand with some silt; minor 580-590 amounts of light-brown (5 YR 5/6) clay and greenish-gray (5 G 6/1) clay.

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 3/4); fine-grained, very light gray (N 8) sand; 590-600 minor amounts of greenish-gray (5 G 6/1) clay and selenite crystals (selenite possibly coming from the top of the drill hole).

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 3/4); some very light gray (N 8) sand; very 600-610 few cuttings (small sample).

53

Table 9.--Description of drill cuttings for test well HELSTF-2 (19S.06E.21.321)--Continued



surface (feet)

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 3/4) with some greenish-gray (5 GY 6/1) clay; 610-620 approximately 20 percent silt and very light gray (N 8), very fine to fine-grained quartz-rich sand.

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) with some light-greenish-gray (5 GY 8/1) 620-630 clay; minor amounts of very light gray (N 8) sand, very fine to fine grained, moderately sorted, well rounded and composed predominantly of quartz.

Sand, light-gray (N 7), very fine to fine-grained; some moderate-brown 630-660 (5 YR 4/4) clay; minor amounts of light-greenish-gray (5 G 8/1) clay and selenite crystals.

Same as above; very few cuttings coming up to the surface. 660-670

Sand, very light gray (N 8), very fine to fine-grained; some moderate-brown 670-690 (5 YR 4/4) clay and minor selenite crystals; very few cuttings coming up to the surface (small sample).

Sand, very light gray (N 7), very fine grained with some silt; moderate-brown 690-710 (5 YR 4/4) clay with minor amounts of light-greenish-gray (5 G 8/1) clay and selenite crystals.

Same as above; very few cuttings coming up the borehole. 710-720

Sand, very light gray (N 7), very fine to fine-grained with some silt; some 720-740 moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) clay and minor amounts of light-greenish-gray (5 G 8/1) clay.

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4); minor amounts of very light gray (N 7), 740-750 fine-grained sand and light-greenish-gray (5 G 8/1) clay.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) with minor amounts of moderate-brown 750-760 (5 YR 4/4) clay, light-greenish-gray (5 G 8/1) clay with silt and selenite crystals.

Sand, light-gray (N 7), very fine to fine-grained, well-rounded and 760-780 well-sorted quartz sand; some light-brown (5 YR 5/6) silty clay and moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) clay; minor amounts of light-greenish-gray (5 G 8/1) clay.

No sample; lost circulation. 780-790

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) to light-brown (5 YR 5/6); some 790-800 light-greenish-gray (5 G 8/1) clay; minor amounts of very light gray (N 7), fine- to medium-grained sand.

54

Table 9.-Description of drill cuttings for test well HELSTF-2 (19S.06E.21.321)--Concluded



surface (feet)

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) to light-brown (5 YR 5/6); some 800-810 grayish-green (5 G 6/1) clay; minor amounts of very light gray (N 7), fine-to medium-grained sand.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6); some light-greenish-gray (5 G 8/1) clay 810-820 with a few selenite crystals.

No sample; poor circulation. 820-900

Sand, very light gray (N 7), very fine to medium-grained; some 900-910 moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) and light-greenish-gray (5 G 8/1) clay with minor amounts of selenite crystals (poor sample).

Sand, very light gray (N 7), very fine to fine-grained; some moderate-brown 910-920 (SYR 3/4) clay.

Sand, very light gray (N 7), fine- to medium-grained; sand is well rounded 920-930 and well sorted, and composed of approximately 95 percent quartz; minor amounts of medium-gray (N 5) clay and moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) clay.

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) with some silt; some light-brown (5 YR 5/6) 930-940 sandy clay; minor amounts of light-greenish-gray (5 G 8/1) clay, light-gray (N 7), very fine grained sand, and selenite crystals.

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) with some silt; some very light gray (N 8), 940-950 silty to very fine grained sand; minor amounts of light-greenish-gray (5 G 8/1) clay and selenite crystals; very small (poor) sample.

55

Table lO.-Description of drill cuttings for test well HELSTF-3 (19S.06E.21.321A)[Location shown in figure 4]



Clay, white (N 9), gypsiferous; some silt composed of gypsum. 0-10

Clay, white (N 9), gypsiferous; some light-brown (5 YR 5/6) clay with silt and 10-20 very fine grained quartz-rich sand; minor amounts of light-greenish-gray (5 G 8/1) silty clay and selenite crystals.

Selenite crystals, approximately 80 percent; 20 percent moderate-reddish-brown 20-30 (10 R 4/6) clay with silt and very fine grained quartz-rich sand.

Selenite crystals, approximately 80 percent; 20 percent light-brown (5 YR 5/6) 30-40 clay with minor amounts of silt.

Selenite crystals, approximately 60 percent; 40 percent light-brown (5 YR 5/6) 40-50 clay with silt and very fine grained quartz-rich sand.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) with silt and very fine grained quartz-rich sand; 50-60 approximately 30 percent selenite crystals; minor amounts of sticky, medium-gray (N 5) clay.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) with silt; approximately 20 percent selenite 60-80 crystals; minor amounts of greenish-gray (5 GY 6/1) clay and moderate- brown (5 YR 4/4) clay.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) with silt and very fine grained quartz-rich sand; 80-90 some selenite crystals; minor amounts of moderate-reddish-brown (10 R 4/6) clay and greenish-gray (5 GY 6/1) clay.

Same as above except for more selenite. 90-100

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) with some silt; some selenite; minor amounts 100-110 of medium-light-gray (N 6) clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) clay, and moderate-reddish-brown (10 R 4/6) silty clay.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) with silt and very fine to fine-grained quartz-rich 110-120 sand; greenish-gray (5 GY 6/1) clay with silt and very fine to fine-grained sand; minor amounts of selenite crystals and moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) clay.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) with silt and very fine grained quartz-rich sand; 120-130 greenish-gray (5 GY 6/1) clay with silt and fine-grained sand; minor amounts of selenite and moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) clay.

Same as above except for slightly more moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) clay. 130-140

56

Table lO.-Description of drill cuttings for test well HELSTF-3(19S.06E.21.321A)~Continued



surface (feet)

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) with some silt and fine-grained sand; 140-160 approximately 20 percent moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) clay; minor amounts of light-greenish-gray (5 G 8/1) clay and selenite.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) with some fine- to medium-grained 160-170 quartz-rich sand; some moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) clay; minor amounts of selenite crystals.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) with some silt and very fine to fine-grained 170-190 quartz-rich sand; some moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) clay; minor amounts of selenite, light-greenish-gray (5 G 8/1) clay with very fine grained quartz-rich sand, and sticky, medium-light-gray (N 6) clay.

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4); some light-brown (5 YR 5/6) clay with silt 190-210 and very fine grained sand; minor amounts of light-greenish-gray (5 G 8/1) clay and selenite.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) with some silt and very fine to fine-grained sand; 210-220 sand is well sorted, well rounded, and composed of 95 percent quartz; minor amounts of moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) clay.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) with some silt and very fine grained sand; 220-250 moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) clay.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) with some silt; minor amounts of greenish-gray 250-270 (5 G 6/1) clay.

Same as above, except for some moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) clay. 270-280

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) with some silt and fine-grained quartz-rich 280-290 sand; minor amounts of moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) clay with some silt.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) with some silt and very fine to fine-grained 290-300 sand; minor amounts of moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) clay and greenish-gray (5 G 6/1) clay.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) with some silt and very fine to fine-grained 300-310 quartz-rich sand; moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) clay; minor amounts of greenish-gray (5 G 6/1) clay.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) with some silt and very fine grained quartz-rich 310-320 sand; minor amounts of greenish-gray (5 G 6/1) clay.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) with silt and fine-grained quartz-rich sand; 320-330 some moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) clay; minor amounts of greenish-gray (5 G 6/1) clay and selenite.

57

Table 10.--Description of drill cuttings for test well HELSTF-3(19S.06E.21.321A)-Concluded



surface (feet)

Same as above except for more selenite. 330-340

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) with some silt; some moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) 340-350 clay; minor amounts of selenite crystals and greenish-gray (5 G 6/1) clay with some silt.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) with some silt; some moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) 350-360 clay, greenish-gray (5 GY 6/1) clay, and minor amounts of selenite.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) and moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) clay; some 360-370 light-greenish-gray (5 G 8/1) clay and selenite; minor amounts of light-gray (N 7), very fine to fine-grained quartz-rich sand.

Clay, moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) and greenish-gray (5 G 6/1); some light- 370-380 brown (5 YR 5/6) clay with silt; minor amounts of selenite crystals.

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6) with some silt and fine-grained sand; sand is 380-390 well sorted, well rounded, and quartz rich; some moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) clay; minor amounts of greenish-gray (5 G 6/1) clay and selenite.

Same as above except with less of the greenish-gray (5 G 6/1) clay. 390-400

Sand, very light gray (N 8), very fine to fine-grained; sand is well rounded, 400-410 well sorted, and composed of 95 percent quartz; some light-brown (5 YR 5/6) clay with silt; minor amounts of greenish-gray (5 G 6/1) clay, selenite, and moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) clay.

Sand, light-gray (N 7), very fine to fine-grained; sand composition same 410-430 as above; light-brown (5 YR 5/6) clay with some silt; minor amounts of greenish-gray (5 G 6/1) clay and selenite.

Sand, light-gray (N 7), very fine to fine-grained; some light-brown (5 YR 5/6) 430-440 clay; minor amounts of greenish-gray (5 G 6/1) clay and selenite.

Sand, light-gray (N 7), very fine to fine-grained; some greenish-gray (5 G 6/1) 440-470 clay with some silt; minor amounts of moderate- brown (5 YR 4/4) clay and selenite.

Sand, light-gray (N 7), very fine to fine-grained, moderately well sorted and 470-480 well-rounded; some greenish-gray (5 G 6/1) clay with some silt, and minor amounts of moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) clay and selenite.

Same as above except for approximately 5 percent fissile, black (N 1) organic 480-500 material.

58

Table 10. Description of drill cuttings for test well HELSTF-3(19S.06E.21.321A)--Concluded



surface (feet)

Clay, light-brown (5 YR 5/6); some greenish-gray (5 G 6/1) clay; minor 500-510 amounts of light-gray (N 7), fine-grained sand, and fissile, black (N 1) organic material.

Sand, light-gray (N 7), very fine to fine-grained, well-sorted, well-rounded, 510-520 and quartz-rich; some light-brown (5 YR 5/6) and greenish-gray (5 G 6/1) clay; minor amounts of fissile, black (N 1) organic material and selenite.

Sand, light-gray (N 7), very fine to fine-grained sand; sand is well sorted, 520-540 well rounded, and composed of 90 percent quartz and 10 percent lithics; minor amounts of greenish-gray (5 G 6/1) clay with silt, moderate-brown (5 YR 4/4) clay, and selenite.

*D.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE;! 994-57 6-87 8 / 05 1 6 1

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