Quaternary geology of southeast Texas

Citation preview

■^uaeehhaht g e o lo g t o i s o u th e a s t te x a s

D is s e r ta tio n

S ubm itted to th e G raduate F a c u lty of the L o u is ia n a s t a t e U n iv e r s ity and A g r ic u ltu r a l and M echanical C ollege i n p a r t i a l f u lf i l l m e n t o f th e req u ire m e n ts f o r th e degree o f D octor o f p h ilo so p h y in The Departaaent of Geology

By Hugh A llen B ernard B* 3«f L o u is ia n a s t a t e U n iv e r s ity , 1938 M. 3 - t L o u isia n a S ta te U n iv e r s ity , 1940 Ju n e, 1950

UMI Number: DP69330

All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL U SE R S T he quality of this reproduction is d ep en d en t upon the quality of the copy submitted. In th e unlikely ev e n t that the author did not sen d a com plete manuscript and there are m issing p a g es, th e s e will b e noted. Also, if material had to be rem oved, a note will indicate the deletion.

UMI' Dissertation Publishing

UMI D P 69330 Published by P roQ uest LLC (2015). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQ uest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United S ta tes C ode

ProQ uest LLC. 7 8 9 E ast E isenhow er Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 4 8 1 0 6 - 1 3 4 6

MANUSCRIPT THESES Unpublished th eses subm itted f o r th e m a ste r’s and d o c to r’s degrees and d e p o site d i n th e L ouisiana S ta te U n iv ersity L ib rary a re a v a ila b le f o r in s p e c tio n . r ig h ts of th e a u th o r.

Use o f any th e s is i s lim ite d by the

B ib lio g ra p h ic a l re fe re n c e s may be noted, b u t

passages may n o t be copied u n less th e a u th o r has given perm ission. r

C re d it must be given i n subsequent w r itte n o r published work. X‘' A l i b r a r y which borrows th is^ ttrS S is f o r use by i t s C lie n te le i s expected to make sure th a t th e borrower i s aware o f the above r e s tric tio n s . LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

S94X9

I The w r i t e r l a in d e b te d p a rtic u l& x ly to D r. H arold

k*

? ls k ,

f&WKfr P r o fe s s o r o f Geology a t L o u is ia n a s t a t e m i v e r a t t y , and to BS% © rover 8* M urray, P ro fe a s o r o f c tratig r& p h i© Geology a t L o u isian a S t a t e U n iv e r s ity , f o r co u n sel and v a lu a b le tim e devoted to d is c u s s io n s , f i e l d t r i p e , and c r i t i c a l review o f th e m a n u sc rip t.

Dr* H* V* Howe,

D i r e c t o r o f th e sc h o o l o f G eology.fitad D r. 1* 3> B u s s e ll, Dean o f th e Gradis&te s ^ i o o l , L o u is ia n a s t a t e U n iv erai t y , have given maeh ti $ e in tnfcariaal S is cues io n concerning p e r tin e n t p r o b le m conn© cte d w ith t h i s re p o rt.

S r . B ales J . L eB lene, R esearch G e o lo g is t, s h e l l O il Company,

H o uston, T e x a s, o f f e r e d much o f h i s v a lu a b le tim e in I d e n tif y in g and c o r r e l a t i n g th e B e e m t and p i e is to e s n e sed im en ts encountered In b rid g e bearings alcaag th e Heches and Sabine r iv e r s *

Dr* W. Armstrong P r i c e ,

Oem enltlng G e o lo g is t, Corpus C h r i s i l , T exas, o ffe re d v a lu a b le c r i t i ­ cism and fu rn is h e d in fo rm a tio n which he g ath ered in co n n ectio n w ith a r e s e a r c h p r o je c t conducted f o r t h e G eo lo g ical s o c ie ty o f i*aeri®4* Mr* «T. A* G a ll beau and Mr* Ihomas M ille r ab ly a s s i s t e d th e w r i t e r in th e f i e l d s a p p in g d a rin g th e summer o f 1947*

Mr. G* L* Cox, form er

g ra d u a te s tu d e n t a t th e L o u isia n a S ta te U n iv e r s ity , gave th© w r ite r in v a lu a b le a s s is ta n c e d u rin g a f i e l d t r i p In June of 1948. Mr. H. 8* L u b e r, TJ. 3 . G eological su rv ey , fu rn is h e d th e w r i t e r w ith to p o g ra p h ic naps n o t a v a ila b le f o r norm al d is tr ib u tio n * M ajor Y o r ro ll C* H o lid a y , H ead q u arters P ourth Army? Gap t a i n h* T* McGee, D i s t r i c t war P la n s O f f ic e r , e ig h th Haval D i s t r i c t ; and Mr*

3 1 8 , n< °, L< ?dO c/

u

*>

4 3 4 2 5 6

A O

I t a r a r B* Pi®*, XI* 3* Departm ent o f A g r ic u ltu r e , a s s i s te d in making a v a i l a b l e to th© w r i t e r , photographs o f & c l a s s i f i e d n a tu re ., Mr* 2>» G* Ayeocfe, 3ua o i l Company; Mr- Morgan J . D avis, C h ief 08el«gi«% and M anager, S uable O il and R e fin in g Company; Mr., Jmma p* t a w , B rid g e B a g is e e r, Texas s t a t e Highway D epartm ent; M ajor Fioyd W* Bough, C& ief, G eo d etic D iv is io n , xj* s*, Army Map a a rrie © ; l&v R*. John­ s e s , A a s ista a * S u p e rin te n d e n t, M isso u ri P a c i f ic l i n e s ; Mr. R. K. K l l l a e r , B iv ieic® B a g ia e e r, Texas S ta te Highway D epartm ent; Mr. 0 . S# K ir k p a tr ic k C h ie f m m tm e& 9 M isso u ri P a c i f i c L in e s ; Mr. w. J . Lank, Div iaicaa Engin­ e e r , K ansas C ity s o u th e rn Railway Oos^any; Mr. jas& s ®* LaRue, Explora­ t i o n D epartm ent, Humble o i l an d R efin in g Company; Mr* G. B* M atthews, t a w e d S u p e rin te n d e n t, a t . L o u is-so u th w e ste rn Railway L in e s ; C aptain W. J . P h i l l i p s , xr* S . Army Map S e rv ic e ; Mr. w. 1* R o c h e ste r, C hief E n g in e e r, G u lf, Colorado and S e n te Fe Railw ay company; Mr. l . F* s a l i e b u ry , C h ief E n g in eer, Kansas C ity so u th e rn and L o u isia n a aM Arkansas R ailw ay Company; Mr* K. V. s c h ro e d e r, sun G il cos^sny; QomisaMor m l JU s m ith , U. 3* C east and G eodetic su rv ey ; and Mr. J* G* s ta n d s , lOpog ra p h ie B ranch, TJ. 3 . G e o lo g ic a l .Survey, fu rn is h e d a v a ila b le e s ta b lis h e d e le v a tio n s m d ra ilw a y p r o f i l e s . Wall log d a t a were o b tain ed th ro u g h the c o u rte s y of Mr, Morgan J . D av is, C h ie f G e o lo g ist and Manager, Humble O il Company; Mr. W. L. B ro a d h u rst, Groundwater D iv is io n , V* S . G eo lo g ical su rv ey ; and Mr, R. L# Denham, Mr. H. 1 . D ele 11 an and Mr* Joe ro stro ra o f E x p lo ra tio n De­ p a rtm e n t, Humble O il and R efin in g Company. b rid g e

Logs o f co re t e s t s f o r

dara s i t e s were o b ta in e d from Mr. N# R* Lent and Mr* H* L*

Lehmsan, L o u isia n a A p artm e n t of Highways; and Mr. 0. R. F ie ld s and ill

IB *

h».

Itenssa. of th e U. 3* Anny E ngineers.

The a u th o r i s p a r t i c u l a r l y in d eb ted t o h is b r o th e r , C aptain P a ro l D* B ern ard , U. 3 . Marine C orps, f o r p i l o t i n g th e a i r c r a f t in a f l i g h t e v e r s o u th e a s t Texas and so u th w est L o u isian a*

He a ls o arran g ed

t o h a r e th e o b liq u e a e r i a l p h otographs taktax. The w r i t e r g r a t e f u l l y acknow ledges th e tim e s p e n t by Mr. M erlin f e r r e t , f o m e r l y o f th e P h i l l i p s P etro leu m Company, in d r a f tin g some ©f th e aecaaptetying e ro s a -a o c t io n s and p r o f i le s *

Mr. c* L* Gox, Mr*

D. V. H e b e rt and Mr* J* A* G uilbean a s s i s t e d in l o c a t i n g th e w a lls on th e s t r u c t u r a l maps* Mr. ia sie s Cunningham, fo rm er s t a t e G eo lo g ist o f L o u is ia n a , p ro v id e d th e a l t i m e t e r used in c o n n e c tio n w ith t h i s survey*

Ackaow-

lodgem ents a r e a ls o made t o Mr* G* 0* C o ig n et, L o u isia n a G eological 3 a rv e y , f o r f u r n i s h in g th e w r i t e r w ith advanced co p ies of th e geo lo ­ g i c a l and s t r u c t u r a l n aps o f B eauregard and A lle n p a r is h e s , which were p re p a re d by D r. ?>‘. € . H o lla n d .

Mr. C oignet d r a f te d th e c r o s s - s e c tio n

a c ro s s th e S abine R iv e r.

iv

tahlb o f cqhtmts

a b steio t

. * . . . ........................... . . . . . .

. . . . . . . .

Fag© 1

FORX??Oei)............................................................................................... . . . . 5

w m o M v s im . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

PHYSIOGRAPHY

8

. .1 0

I n tr o d u c tio n , •

.10

C o a s ta l M a r s h .................................................. A l l a r i a l T a ils y s *•

..........................

. . . ,1 3

.

.16

S a tiM H iTer sad flo o d p l a i n . . . . . . . . . . .

.16

H eches R iv er and flo o d p l a i n . . . . . . . . . . .

.25

iJ& gelina R iv e r and flo o d p l a i n .

.............................

.2 6

gpa te r n a r y t e r r a c e s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

.29

I n tr o d u c tio n . . . . . . . . . . .

. . .

. .

..

m th s& s of f i e l d mapping . . . . . . . . . . . . Age .

.29 .39

. .42

C o r r e la tio n and te rm in o lo g y . . . . . . . . . . .

.49

D e e e y v ille T e rra c e ................................

*59

p r a i r i e T e rra c e . . . . . . .

.71

Montgomery T e rra c e

.................. . . . . .

..............................

B a a tle y T e rra ce WU l i a n a T e rra c e

81 .88

.....................- . . . . . . .

.9 6

Piugjle bounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

102

Pock Marks

.....................

108

*■ v

Fag©

.......................... . * . . m

sm TicauPBT

T ertiary S ystem ...................................................... ternary System « * . * . » • . . « .

Ill

. * . • * • • *

112

P le isto ce n e se rie s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

114

W illiana flom atioa

. 115

Baatley formation . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

119

. • 122

Boatgc®espy f o n aatiaE u •.

^

.

..................... ... 1 2$ 7

Prairi© form ation. Reseat s e r ie s

. 151

Early Reseat ( ? ) « « * . * • » ................................ 151 S e esy v H le bsds* . • • * « . » * « . . • Late Reseat

151

. . * 154

Modem e!3r.Tlius» . . . . . . . . . . . .

134

STRUCTURE . . .............................................................................. Major stru ctu ral featu res#

135

.............................. 135

Golf Coast GeosyncLine

..........................

Minor stru ctu ral fea tu re s

135

. . . »

135

southeast Texas fracture pattern . . . . . . . . .

135

OrigJ* of the fra ctu re pattern . . . . . . . . . .

140

BIELI0GRiipHY

. . .

AUTOHIOG&AiOT....................................................................

vl

145 l6 5

m u sm rco N s page G eo lo g ic map o f s o u th e a s t T e m s

( in p o d © t)

Ge&er&liaed s u rf a c e s t r u c t u r e of t e r r a c e d s u r f a c e s o f s o u th e a s t Texas ( i n pocket) Sfestc& m& o f low er Sftfria# a iv e r Synonym o f fo rm a tio n s and t e r r a c e s a p p e r ta in in g t o th e Q uaternary of s o u th e a s t Texas . . . . . . . . .

*

48

G eologic s e c tio n s o f Kewfeon s$& Grmige count l e a , Texas and B eauregard and C a lc a sie u p a r is h e s , L o u isian a

*

48

G eo lo g ic s e c tio n alo n g Orange, TexasTooaey* L o u isia n a highway p r o je c t

«

132

A e r ia l view o f C o astal Marsh and aabia© P a ss Beach f a n in s o u th e a s t J e f f e r s o n Ooanty

. .

15

A e r ia l view o f C o astal M arsh, s a li n e R iver f lo o d p la in and P r a i r i e T e rrace s o u th o f Orange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19

A e ria l view o f Sabine R iv er f lo o d p la in and D w ^yviH B and P r a i r i e te r r a c e s n o rth o f .......................... Orange ♦ . * *

19

S k etch maps and p r o f i l e s showing hypothe­ t i c a l r e l a t i o n s between an advancing a l l u v i a l cane and th e meander p a tte r n s in th e swamp and marsh s e c tio n s o f th e flo o d p l a i a s o f th e s m a lle r stream s alo n g th e L o u iaian a-T ex as c o a s t • ..............................

J54

F ig a ro

page

5*

Map o f lo w er c o u rs e o f t h e T r i n i t y H ire r . * * •

26

6%

C*eaa-**eetion show lug h y p o th e tic a l s tr u c tu r a l r e la tio n e in an a re a o f a c t i v e d e l t a ! e s e d im e n ta tio n

56

A e r ia l view o f T r i n i t y Rives* f lo o d p la in , th e c o a stw ise p r a i r i e T e rra c e , and th e f l u v i a t i l e B ew syville T e rra c e i n th e v i c i n i t y o f B a rto n and L ib e r ty , l i b e r t y County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

45

T e n ta tiv e o u tlin e o f q u a te rn a ry h i s t o r y o f s o u th e a s t Texas

46

A e r ia l view o f p r a i r i e and D ew eyvills t e r r a c e s and S a b in e R iv e r f lo o d p la in in th e v i c i n i t y o f D ew ey v ille, Newton co u n ty . * • *

60

A e r ia l view o f S abine R iv er f lo o d p la in and th e D ew eyville and P r a i r i e te r r a c e s betw een O range, Texas and Toomey, La* * • • • * «

64

A e ria l view o f s s b in e R iver f lo o d p la in and th e B ew eyville and P r a i r i e t e r r a c e s s o u th o f p ew ey v ille* Newton County . . . * * * •

64

7*

8« 9*

1Q«

11*

12*

15*

14*

15*

A e ria l v iew o f safe in© R iv e r f lo o d p la in and th e D ew eyvllle and p r a i r i e te r r a c e s i n th e v i c i n i t y o f S ta r k s , C alca sieu P a r i s h , L o u is ia n a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

.6 7

A e ria l view o f A ngelina River f lo o d p la in and the P r a i r i e and Montgomery te r r a c e s c a s t o f Bevel p o r t , J a s p e r county . . . . . . . .

67

A e r ia l view o f th e l i v e Oak Ridge (?) b each a c c r e tio n s cm. th e P r a i r i e T e rra c e i n n o rth Orange Count y. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

75

A e r ia l view of law horn Woods (L iv e Oak R idge ( ? ) ) beach a c c r e tio n s on th e P r a i r i e T e rra c e n e a r F a n n e tt, J e f f e r s o n .......................................................... County. . .

v iii

77

Fag® A e ria l photographs showing seaw ard Barg in o f th e co a stw ise Montgomery T e rra c e , th e p o i n t o f c o n ta c t o f th e c o a s tw ise and f l u v i a t i l e e q u iv a le n ts o f th e P r a i r i e T errace* t h e f i a v i a t l l e D ew eyvllle T e rra c o e h a r a e ta r ia s d by th e l a r g e meander sears* and th e S ab in e E lv e r f lo o d p la in . . . . . . . Montgomery T e rra c e , 3 m ile s n o rth w e st o f , Boa Weir* Jiawtan County*

^

80 83

Montgomery escarpm ent viewed from P r a i r i e T e rr a c e , 1 m ile no rth w est o f Son W eir, Kenton County

83

A e r ia l view o f seaw ard m argin o f th e c o a stw ise Montgomery T e rra c e , s o u th o f Buna, J a s p e r co u n ty

8?

A e r ia l view o f th e p r a i r i e and Montgomery t e r r a c e s and o u tc ro p of T e r tia r y c la y s , w est o f B e v e lp o rt, Ja sp e r C o m t y . ......................

87

A e ria l view o f pim ple mounds on th e Montgomery T e rra c e n o r th e a s t o f Buna, J a s p e r County. . .

89

A e ria l view of th e most prom inent sou th o rn f a u l t (shown In F ig u re s 4 3 , 43 and 4 4 ), ^ r , pim p les and pock marks on Montgomery T e rra c e betw een Buna and K i r b y v ille , J a s p e r County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

89

B e n tley escarp m ent viewed from t h e Montgomery T e rra c e , 1 m ile w est o f Mount U nion, Ja sp e r C ounty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

93

Pim pled B e n tley T e rra c o , 3 m ile s s o u th of Hewton, Hswton County ..................................

93

A e r ia l view o f th e B e n tle y and Montgomery t e r r a c e s o a s t o f B e v e lp o rt, J a s p e r County . •

98

A e r ia l view o f th e d is s e c te d co a stw ise B e n tle y t e r r a c e n o r th o f K lr b y v ille , J a s p e r County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

95

iz

F ig u re 27*

28, 29*

50.

51*

SB*

S 3.

34.

53*

3&>

Pag© J la t^ to p p e d rem nant o f th e w i llia n a T e rra c e a t th e ju n c tio n o f U. 3 * Highway 96 and Z io n M agnolia S p rin g s ro a d , view ed fro m Zion lo o fc o u tto w e r, J a s p e r County. . . . . . . . . . .

103

Poefc-mark on th e B en tley T e rra c e , 4 m ile s so u th o f Mount U nion, J a s p e r County . . . . .

103

. .

A e r ia l view o f t h e B u rfcev ille Lowland and the Zion u p la n d , so u th o f J a s p e r , J a s p e r C o u n ty ...................... .... .................................. ....

103

A e r ia l view of d e n d r i t i c a lig n m e n ts of p im p le mounds on th e Montgomery T e rra c e , e a s t o f Buna, J a s p e r Coisrfcy . . . .......................

, 103

A e r ia l view o f th e Montgomery T e rra c e , 3 m ile s e a s t o f K ir b y v il le , show ing p i n t l e wm&4 a l i g i a e n t s conform ing w ith th e d ra in a g e . . . . ................... . . . . . . . . . . . .

107

G ray, c a lc a r e o u s , Fleming c l^ n e c o n ta in in g c a lc a re o u s con ore t ions and w eath erin g to b la d e s o i l s , about 2 m ile s w est o f th e S eehea R iv er on B* S . Highway 190, T y le r C o u n ty ...........................................................

. . 112

S h o als i n th e Neches R iver caused by w e ll in d u ra te d T e r ti a r y s i l t s tone 3 , 4 m ile s w est o f Mount U nion, J a s p e r County . . . . . . . .

112

O x id ised , g ra v e l ife ro u a sands o f th e W illia n a fo rm atio n occupying a p r e W illia n a v a l l e y c u t in g r a y , s i l t y c la y s o f th e Flem ing fo rm a tio n , 2 m ile s n o rth o f M ayflower, Newton C o u n ty ............... .......

116

C ross-bedded, f in e to c o a r s e , "co rn -m eal” sands o f th e W illia n a fo rm a tio n , 1 mile n o r th o f B el ip s e , J a sp e r County . . . . . . . . C ro ss-b ed d ed , g ra v e l i f orous san d s o f the W illia n a fo rm a tio n c o n ta in in g g ray c la y b e l l s of T e r ti a r y c la y , n ear M ayflower, Newton County .......................

x

. . 116

118

F ig u re 3T*

Pag© G ully an d p o t- h o le e r o s io n i n g r a v e l i f e ro u s ©and© o f tike W ill la n e fo rm a tio n o u tc ro p p in g in th e v a l l e y o f W hite Oak C reek, 5*5 mile© w est o f Newton, Newton O o m ty * * * * . . .

. * . *

118

38*

L iao n it© n o d u le s coft f e rr u g in o u s s i l t s to n e s o f t h e w ill la n e fo rm at io n , 3 m ile s n ertk w eat o f Hewtoa, Hewto n County .............................120

39*

C ro ss-b ed d ed , g r a v e l i f c ro n s w i lli a n a sends c o n ta in in g p e t r i f i e d lo g s , 5 f e e t lo n g , 3 m ile s s o u th e a s t o f lam es town, Newton County

40*

41*

42*

43*

44* 43*

M o ttle d , l e n t i c u l a r sands and g ra v e ls o f th e B en tley fo rm a tio n , 1 .5 m ile s n o rth w est o f M agnolia S p rin g s, C asper County

120

* 123

c rc sa -b e d d e d , b a s a l, g r a v e lif e r o u a sands g rad in g upward in to s i l t y , f in e san d s o f th e j&antgomery fo rm a tio n , 2 m ile s e a s t o f A ngelina R iv er n e a r B e v e lp o rt, Casper . . . . . . . . . . County.........................

123

R e sid u a l c o n c e n tra te o f liio o n ite nodules o f th e Montgomery fo rm atio n , 3 m ile s w est o f B leak wood, H asten County . . . . . . . . . . .

ISC

G ravel i f aro u s s a n d s of th e Montgomery fo rm atio n coot a in f la k e s and ©lay b a l l s o f T e r t i a r y s la y , 2 m ile s e a s t o f A n g elin a R iver n ear B e v e lp o rt, Ja sp e r County • . . . ...................................................

.126

D rainage p a t t e r n o f Montgomery T errace betw een C a ll J u n c tio n and p.essmay . . . . . . . .

137

A e ria l v iew o f c o a stw ise Montgomery T e rrac e and th e most prom inent s tr i k e f a u l t s betw een Buna and K ir b y v ill e , J a s p e r County ..................................

139

xi

-i. F ig u re 46.

47.

4B*

Page Prof i l e so u th along TJ. s. Highway 00 from C all Junction to Beaamay................. . . . . .

la st-w e st , north-south, northeast* southw est, and nor thwesst-e cu th ea st jo in t se ta in the Catahoula sands tons sear Texas Righsay 63, 1*7 m iles scar th reat o f Angelina R iver* J a s p e r County. . . . . .

141

. . . .

143

E ast-w est and north-south jo in ts s e ts in the indurated sands o f th e w illia n a form ation, 6 m iles r e s t o f Kewfcon, Sorton county . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

143

z ii

abstract

The .^uaternary o f s o u th e a s t Texas c o n s is ts of f i v e and p o s sib ly s i x a l l u v i a l seq u en ces w hich ware d e p o s ite d d u rin g r i s i n g se a le v e ls a s g l a c i e r s waned*

Lower s tre a m g r a d ie n ts caused th e d e p o s itio n of

x

p r o g r e s s iv e ly f i n e r m a t e r ia ls which g ra d e from b a s a l g r a v e iif e r o u s sa n d s upward i n t o f i n e r sands* s i l t a and c la y s *

G la c ia l waxing low*

e r e d s e a l e v e l and r e ju v e n a te d e x i s t i n g stream s w hich en tren ch ed the p re c e d in g a l l u v i a l sequence*

The p le is to c e n e h i s t o r y of s o u th e a s t

Texas i s c o n s i s t e n t w ith t h a t o f L o u isia n a a s o u tlin e d by Dr* H« U* P is k , Dr* R* J . R u s se ll* and o th e rs*

P ie is tocea© s e q u e n tia l a llu v ia *

t i o a s a r e r e p r e s e n te d by th e w illi a n a (o ld e st} * B entley* isntgoxaery, and P r a i r i e (y o u n g est) f o m a tio n s *

The w r ite r q u e s tio n a b ly re c o g n iz e s

two a l l u v i a l s e $ ie a s e a o f R ecent age* t h e D ew eyvills beds (? ) and th e modern alluvium * g ic t i n

The R ecent is assumed t o in c lu d e t h a t p a r t o f geolo­

d u rin g th e l a s t m ajor r i s e of s e a le v e l* o r t h a t tim e s in c e

th e l e t s P le is to c e n e g l a c i e r s comic need to wane a t a r a t e s u f f i c i e n t l y r a p id to a f f e c t th e le v e l o f th e oceans* The u p p e r lim it o f each a l l u v i a l sequence is re p re s e n te d phy-

Biographic a l l y by a terraced* d e p o s itio n s ! su rfa c e except f o r th e youngest which la represented by th e modern flo o d p la ln a •

Tim p le is ­

tocene su rfaces c o n sta t of f o u r te rra c e d * coastw ise p la in s which p a r a l l e l the co a st*

g&eh s u r f a c e m erges w ith a contemporaneous f lu v ia -

t i l e terrace In la n d alo n g the m ajor, tra n s g r e s s in g stream s 111c® th e

c o a sta l m arsh merges w ith the modem stream s* flo o d p la in s * 1

The Recent

£

s u r fa c e s a r e th e D ew eyvilie T e rra c e and th e c o a s ta l marsh and modern fX oodplains*

The D ew eyville T errace* which I s th e lo w e st f l u v i a t i l e

t e r r a c e alo n g th e s tre a m s , i s n o t re p re s e n te d by a c o a s tw is e equiva­ le n t * ■t

C y c lic -v alle y c u t t i n g and f i l l i n g were caused by e u s ta ti c f l u c t u a t i o n s o f q u a te rn a ry s e a le v e l*

R egional coastw ard t i l t i n g was

caused by d e l t a i c su b sid en ce alo n g th e c o a s t and a com pensating u p l i f t in la n d *

C y c lic v a lle y c u t t i n g and f i l l i n g and coastw ard t i l t i n g a re

r e s p o n s ib le f o r th e seq u en o es o f f l u v i a t i l e te r r a c e s { o ld e r su rfa c e s hav in g t h e h ig h e r e le v a tio n s ) along th e stream v a lle y s and the seaward p lu n g in g o f t h e o ld e r c o a s tw ise s u r f a c e s under th e n ex t younger a l l u ­ v i a l sequence* The Deweyvi l i e T e rra c e and u n d e rly in g a l l u v i a l sequence (?) a r e d e s c rib e d *

Use t e r r a c e i s c h a ra c te riz e d by numerous s c a r s o f

fo rm er N eches, S a b in e , and T r in ity r i v e r s , which a re s e v e r a l tim es l a r g e r th a n th o s e p r e s e n t on th e o ld e r s u rfa c e s and th o se o f i t s modern day s u c c e ss o r 3 in th e u p stream swamp s e c tio n s o f th e flo o d p la in s • A v a ila b le , b u t i n s u f f i c i e n t f a c tu a l d a ta su g g e st to th e w r ite r t h a t th e D ew eyville T e rra c e and u n d e rly in g s e q u e n tia l d e p o s its (?) re p re s e n t an in com plete c y c le o f a l l u v i a t i o n . w ith th e "Two Creeks I n t e r v a l " •

They a re c o r r e la te d t e n t a t i v e l y

Waning o f l a t e W isconsin g l a c i e r s

p ro g re sse d a t su ch a r a t e th a t th e normal a l lu v i a tio n o f th e s m a lle r s tre a m s , l i k e th e ftech es, S a b in e , and T r in ity , could not keep pace w ith a r e l a t i v e l y r a p id r i s i n g sea*

T h e re fo re , th e s tre a m sf a l l u v i a l

cones r e t r e a t e d f a r u p stream and c o n d itio n s somewhat s im ila r to th e p r e s e n t, d o m atreaza, marsh s e c tio n s o f th e C a lc a sie u R iv e r, in L o u ls i-

a n a , and th e N ethes and S abine r i v e r a, in T ex as, were reproduced la r g e m eandera fois»& *

qM

(The s m a lle r modern stream s of so u th w est

L o u is ia n a and Texas* th e C a lc a s ie u , Medhes, S a b in e , e t c . , d i s p l a c e w rig g lin g aean& ar p a t t e r n i n th e u p stream sws^p s e c tio n s o f t h e i r •

■

f lo o d p la in s w here t h e i r g r a d ie n ts a r e a b o u t • ? of a lo o t p er a i r - l i n e m ile a n d broad sweeping meander p a tte r n s i n the downstream marsh sec­ t i o n s n e a r t b s c o a s t s h a re t h e i r g r a d ie n ts a re l e a s than . 2 o f a fo o t p e r m ile*

The l a r g e r modern stre a m s l i k e th e M is s is s ip p i, in L o u is i­

an a and th e B ra 30s an d th e C olorado, i n T exas, whose a l l u v i a l cones have reach ed th e g u lf and g r a d ie n t s axe c o n s ta n t, do n o t d is p la y a change in a s s n d e r p a tte r n * )

a minor lo w e rin g o f s e a le v e l d u rin g the

Mankato (? ) g l a c i a l s u b sta g e re ju v e n a te d the Mochas* S a b in e , T r in ity , and e t h e r r i v e r s b e fo re th ey could r e a d ju s t t h e i r g r a d ie n ts to th e B ew eyville (Two C reeks i n t e r v a l ( ? ) ) s e a l e v e l and extend t h e i r a l l u ­ v i a l c o n es dow nstream , bury t h e m arsh s e c tio n s c h a r a c te r iz e d by th e l a r g e m eanders, and b u ild a se a w a rd -fa c in g d a l t a i n p la in *

The Dewey-

v i l l a T e rra ce an d d e p o s its (? ) were entrenched, ap p ro x im a te ly f e e t n ea r O range, Texas*

$0

coastw ard t i l t d u rin g entrenchm ent p re ­

v e n te d th e s u r f a c e o f th e modem a l l u v i a l sequence from re a c h in g th e l e v e l o f i t s p red e ce sso r*

The h i s t o r y o f th e P r a i r i e (P e ro im ) a l l u v i a l cycle i s aomswhal s im i l a r to th e D ew eyville and modern a l l u v i a l c y c le s , b u t was advanced f u r t h e r b e fo re bein g i n te r r u p te d by p o s t- p r a i r i e en tren ch m en t .

a

re la ­

t i v e l y r a p id r if l i n g s e a d u rin g P eo ria n tim es cau sed the s h o re lin e to advance in lan d to a lin e e x te n d in g from c e n tr a l Obi ca3 ieu p a r is h , L o u ie ia s a , w e st-ao u th w eat a c ro s s n o rth Orange County, p a s t Boausiont

I chambers

a

S3

m

«*

%* ! s » i i

©

5 4 p

£

i i

s 0

O *3

M

i

p o in t, to smith County, and Jefferson

0

o

o

"

I

2i O

«*

0

*

5

&

3

*2

**

■°

•§

I § %I x I Ii i i 1 1 i i 11 2*1a! Ia iI I I g i I a

a

i ■P

a

I

£

I 1 1

5£h

©

w

S

5 c 6

n 3 8

•s •H .3 *

+»

P.

s

S

s

8

S

!

r4 M 3 'd

§ ©

ms

8

P ^ p^

In sout&east

ft

feegun

9

©

•p p«

13 p a a g

H © *

1©

4-4

Sa

to § 3 I

91 & •*» i?

* 11 •

i s r e p re s e n te d by f o u r t e r r a c e d , c o a stw ise p la in s ( P r a i r i e , Itontgomary, B ® t l s y t and W illia n a (y o u n g est to o ld e s t and lo w est to h ig h est)} which p a r a l l e l th e c o a s t and rasrgo w ith contem poraneous, f l u v i a t i l e te rra c e s in la n d along the m ajor stre am s lilte tb s c o a s t a l m arsh merges w ith tbs modern s tr e a m 's flo p ^ O a in s *

The e a r ly R ecant i s re p re s e n te d by tb s

a l l u v i a l seq u en ce (?) u n d e rly in g tb s lo w e s t, f l u v i a t i l e D ew eyville T e rra c e which i s c h a r a c te r iz e d by la r g e , r o l l s , m eandering c h a n n e ls,

A co a stw ise e q u iv a le n t o f t h i s te r r a c e has n o t been recognised*

The

1a t e R ecent is r e p re s e n te d by th e modern alluvium which u n d e rlie s tbs p r e s e n t flo o d p l a i n s and c o a s ta l marsh* C y c lic v a l l e y c u t t i n g and f i l l i n g , caused by e u s ta tio flu c tu a ­ t i o n s o f q p & tsrasry s e a l e v e l , and. regional coastw ard t i l t i n g , due t o d e l t a i c su b sid e n c e and a compensating u p l i f t in la n d , have re s u lte d in th e p r e s e r v a tio n o f th e f l u v i a t i l e te rra c e s along th e stream v a lle y s ( th e o ld e r t e r r a c e s having t h e h igher e le v at io n s )«

These same proces­

s e s have eans&d th e seaward plunging of the o ld er coastw ise su rfa ce s u nder th© n e x t younger a ll u v i a l sequence, The p ro c e sse s a c tiv e along th e modern stream s and c o ast of s o u th e a s t Texas a r e not u n lik e th o se which p re v a ile d during th e qua­ te r n a r y p erio d *

The u n ifo rm !ta rta n p r in c ip le , physiographic evidence

and a v a ila b le s u b -s u rf a c e d a ta a re r e lie d upon in ex plaining the o rig in o f th e Dewey v i l l a T e rra c e , in clu d in g the la rg e meander s e a r s , and the r e l a t i o n s h i p o f t h e L ive Oak Ridge (? ) beach f e a tu r e s cocaiion to th e P r a i r i e T errace*

pock masks, or p r a ir ie ponds, b ag els, b u ffa lo wallows, hog w allow s, e tc * , a re sm all d e p re s s io n s which are Incom pletely f i l l e d

7

channel recsasats*

P im p les, 03?

3ndArLd.S, ' ■'

L 'A “ i f -4 '%A.- v A v ■'» .: / '-'v ^Y i nj l’ ' 1A' C '1 ■r ;■:> .^vCl

IM P IN Q

■** y - «-.v .' ,■ -

y X a ^ 1,CAJ&/'tot . . V* V . ' > ,.< !■ ’V'.'VW'vV “VVs''*1 '''V'Vj i; *‘* • yv ^Y*r^‘E ^ in ititin e e fU lis ville*'+iAf P np. 30 ”1 ■'>'V3»tor66Hfc« vir rtRfir, — I

Maye s.4/ S+ore' ** LMULU^Mi FERRY flOV.Qf -* / J’br^O'lQ'h'ijh

Pel^A&rvLfxMc'y iijTA ' i? ff * . 7 'T' -V /? T t a?

4' S

P

, 3

L Y C r

^ /V \Yp^r '

Li i w r e n w

* >\

ip a n y

/i

^ ^ \\ .

|r-

i I'xn/ - •' ■ i f \ J.

o ANAJl

LOWER COURSE OF THE TRINITY RIVER (From Anahuac Q u ad ran gle) S c a le in m i le s 3

4

Il^ taro b

27

$abi»© l a k e i m a s t r a i g h t r e a c h .

I t meanders in a b a it ap p ro x im a te ly

1*5 m ile s aid® upstream fxem th is re a c h to Beaumont. P in e

From Beanwent to

I n la n d Bayou I t s meander b e lt is *6 o f a m ile wide and fu rth er

tqgstreaa i t is a p t ewer «6 o f a a i l s , The M eries H ire r p r e f i l e , is s u e d by th e U. 0* E n g in e s o f f i c e , G a lv e s to n , T ex as, dhows an a v e ra g e a i r l i n e g r a d ie n t o f ,7 of a fo o t p e r m ile fro m Rockland to 3 a b in e L ak e.

i n th e t i d a l s e c tio n below

Beaumont i t s grad l e n t i s a e ro f a r av erag e bank s ta g e a n d l e s s than *1 o f a f b o t p e r m ile f o r h ig h w ater sta g e # A s ta g e d i f f e r e n c e o f l e s s th an 5 f e a t does n o t p erm it meander­ in g In th e S ab in e Lake re a c h o f the H eehes; however, a s ta g s d if f e r e n c e g r e a t e r th an 5 f e e t i s s u f f i c i e n t t o allo w m eandering up stream *

The

S achas R iv e r , l i k e the S ab in e , changes from a w rig g lin g meander p a tte r n to l a r g e sw eeping m eanders n ear th e a l l u v i a l f ro n t o r cone where the a b ru p t change i n g r a d i e n t oceans* S everal rea ch es o f c o n s id e ra b le d is ta n c e s e x i s t along the B eebes s ix e r north o f the p a r a lle l o f K ir b y v i l l a , J a s p e r County,

ih e

meet prom inent cons l e t s o f a s e r ie s o f reach es along a SO stream -m il© s t r e t d i between the A ir b y v ills p a r a lle l and Town B lu f f , T y ler c o u n ty . 1 % i s p o s s ib le t h a t th e s e more o r l e s s s t r a i g h t a t r e tc h e s of th e r i v e r e re cen se d by the o b se rv e d sa d r e p o r te d s h o a ls along t h i s s e c tio n . S e v e ra l a b o d e , produced by th e outer© pa o f w ell in d u ra te d , g ra y , m icaceous s i l t s t c a e s o f th e B lo u n ts Creek member (? ) H em ing fo rm atio n (7 ) ( F is k , 1940; Welch, 1 9 4 2 ), were o b serv ed alo n g th e most downstream p a r t o f t h i s s e c tio n n e a r the f e r r y la n d in g west o f tlount U nion, J a sp e r

Gmaaty (3*ig* 93}«

L o c al fiskexsosn r e p o r t t h a t s im ila r a h o a la e x i s t

s e v e r a l m ile s up and dow nstream .

D o erir^ (1333) m entioned th e occur*

w e c e o f th e s e b ed s in th e banks of th e Laches H iver and p o in te d o u t t h a t i t i s p o s s ib le t h a t th e y stay be p a r t of th e f© athor*edge o f m o v e rla p p ed P lio c e n e s e c t io n o c c u rrin g betw een th e Fla ming fo rm atio n s*

/ i l l i a and th e

He q u e s tio n a b ly c o r r e la te d th e s e d e p o s its w ith

th e G oliad s e c tio n o f s o u th Texas* somewhat s im i l a r r e a c h e s e x i s t a lo n g th e Sabine H iver so u th ­ e a s t o f Bu riser i l l ® , Uewton c o u n ty , where th e s e beds sh o u ld o u tc ro p , i f p r o je c te d a lo n g th e a p p ro x im a te s t r i k e o f th e l a t e T e r tia r y s e c tio n . The o th e r most prom inent re a c h e s o f th e Meches H iver o c c u r w here i t c r o s s e s th e o u tc ro p o f th e C atahoula fo rm atio n in th e v i c i n ­ i t y o f Bcekl& M , J a s p e r County* The f lo o d p la in of th e Leches i a v e ry much l ik e th a t o f th e Sabine R iv e r; how ever, a prom inent netw ork of abandoned ch an n els i s o b s c u re ,

pew abandoned c h a r n e ls , not moz© th e n 3 t o 8 stre e m -m ile s

i n le n g th , and num erous c u to f f s a r e t h e m ost n o ta b le f lo o d p la in f e a t u r e s v i s i b l e on a e r i a l p h o to g ra p h s,

i t s a l l u v i a l cone has advanced

to a p o s it i o n n e ar Beaumont and c o in c id e s w ith th e p o in t o f change in g r a d i e n t and in c re a s e in meander r a d i u s . A ngelina R iver and f lo o d p la in . -

The A ngelina H iver heads in

Sm ith, Husk, and Cherokee c o u n tie s ; flo w s in a s o u th e a s te r ly d ir e c tio n t o J a s p e r County; th e n flo w s so u th -so u th w e st t o i t s ju n c tio n w ith th e Beehes R iv er w est o f Ja sp e r* f a s t in J a s p e r C ounty.

I t s av erag e w idth i s ap p ro x im ately 100

I t a f lo o dpl a i n is narrow , e s p e c ia lly whore i t

2®

G rosses th e C atah o u la fo rm a tio n * Most o f i t s courtso ia 'Jasp er County e o a e i s t s o f s o r e o r l a s s s t r a i g h t r e a d ie s a c r o s s ih f C atahoula form a­ t i o n , h u t i t d e v e lo p s a ja s a M e rir^ p a t t e r n n o r th o f tli© county l i n e idiers i t c r o s s e s th e V icksburg-JacJcson Lowland, and j u s t b e f o re I t jo in s th e Roches Hiver* >£ia te r n a r y t e r r a cos I n tr o d u c tio n * age i n s o u th e a s t Texas*

T here a r e s i x a l l u v i a l su rfa c e s o f q u a te rn a ry The youngest In c lu d e s the modern r iv e r flo o d -

p l a i n a and th e c o a s t a l s a r s h ; th e o th e r s a r e t e r r a c e s w hich a r e e le v a te d above th e flo o d p l a i n s and c o a s t a l marsh* e t h e r u s u a lly by prom inent escarpm ents*

They a r e s e p a ra te d from each Each s u r f a c e , except the

second y o u n g e st, c o n s is t s o f f l u v l a t l l e and c o a s ta l p l a i n e q u iv a le n ts* A c o astw ise e q u iv a le n t o f th e second youngest f l u v ia til© s u r f a c e has n e t been » cognized*

The co a stw ise s u r f a c e s a r e a rra n g e d in b e l t s

a p p ro x im a te ly p a r a l l e l to t h e s h o re ; th e younger s u r f a c e s l i e n e a re r th e ee& st*

3aeh c o a s tw ise s u r f a c e merges w ith I t s contem poraneous

f l u v i a t i l e e q u iv a le n t d o n g th e stream s*

Two o f th e s e s u r f a c e s a r e

c o n sid e red R e c e n t, fo u r a re c o n s id e re d P le is to c e n e *

They ares

Recent L a te Recent Modern f lo o d p la in s E a rly R ecent (? ) D ew eyvilie T e rrace P le is to c e n e P r a i r i e T e rrace Montgomery T e rra c e B en tley T errace W ill i n a T e rra c e The word s u rf a c e , a s used in t h i s p a p e r, r e f e r s to a depoal*

30 tien & l or an a llu v ia l s u r fa c e .

T errace or te r r a c e d s u r f a c e a r e used to

r e fe r t® u p lift e d en d /o r t i l t e d a llu v ia l s u r f a c e s whlch have been en^ trenched bp atyeama*

T e rra c e m a teria ls and te r r a c e d e p o s its in clu d e

th e a llu v ia l d e p o s its d ir e c t ly u n d e rly in g a t e r r a c e o r a d is s e c te d te rra c e * A pproxim ately 800 papers are concerned p r im a r ily w ith p l e i s ­ to c e n e d e p o s its o f t h e A tla n tic and G ulf c o a s ta l p la in s *

woodward and

Gueoo (1041) H a t the most in v a r ia n t papers p u b lish e d up to 1040 in a ta b le shearing th e geo ch ro n ic synonymy of th e p le is to c e n e form ations and te r r a c e s o f t h is c o a s ta l area* She e a r l i e s t recorded d e s c r ip tio n o f th e s e s t r a t a of c o a s ta l Texas i s th a t o f Boomer (1846)*

He s t a t e s t h a t th e o n ly s o lid rock

(T e r tia r y ) in th e H ouston, sen F e lip e , A u s tin , c o lu o h u s, G onzales, and Sega in a rea i s a co a rse c a lc a re o u s sandstone*

H is d e s c r ip tio n

o f th e P le is to c e n e d e p o s its fo llo w s; " •••T h e su r fa c e l a everyw here a th id c d ilu v iu m o f lo o se m a teria ls eons Is t i n g e i t h e r o f a f e r t i l e v e g e ta b le m ould, or o f rounded p ie c e s o f h y d ra te of ire n - a s over th e barren s e c tio n betw een sen F e lip e and Columbus o r sand and g ra v e l a s near G onzales and. e ls cohere*” Tfngnffflriffln aath e r e , s in c e Roem er's tim e , h a re d e s c rib e d r i v e r te r r a c e s

s e a w a rd -fa c in g , t e r r a c e d p l a i n s in Texas and L o u is ia n a .

Bowever , cmly the most im portant c o n tr ib u tio n s to th e geology o f the Quaternary o f so u th ea st Texas and th e n eig h b o rin g p a r ts of L o u isian a wil l be mentioned*

The w r ite r c o n s id e rs th a t B arto n , Dcussen, and

Bearing made the g r e a t e s t c o n tr ib u tio n s to th e geology of J a s p e r , Sewt a x , and Orange c o u n tie s , T exas.

31 B arto n (1930b) In tro d u e e d the co n cep t o f d e l t a i c o r ig i n o f the c o a s tw is e t e r r a c e s fro m a s tu d y o f s o i l naps of J e f f e r s o n , L ib e r ty , and H a r r is c o u n tie s*

D eussen (1914, 1924) p o in te d o u t t h a t th e stream s

o f t h e C o a sta l p l a i n s o f Texas o re b o rd ered by t e r r a c e s vfoieh ra n g e in fro m e a r l y P le is to c e n e to Recent*

He s t a t e s t h a t so n s o f t&sae

a re to be c o r r e l a t e d w ith th e seaward fa c in g t e r r a c e s a n d , l i k e them, r e c o rd s u c c e s s iv e u p l i f t s in th e l a t e r h i s t o r y o f th e c o a s ta l P la in s * O th e rs a p p e a r t o b e lo c a l and a re not r e l a t e d to e r u s t a l movements* However, B i l l and Tsughn (1896, 1908) d e s c rib e d 7 te r r a c e s al gM , »p * 0o wo •

O

t

H*

(?3 * 5 &

4?

G u lf, i t i s n o t uncommon to encounter bods o f Hang l a c u n e a ta w ith in th e h o riz o n w hich c a r r i e s th e g ra v e ls# An many o f th e o v a rly in g p le is to c e n e and Recent sed im e n ts o f th e low er M is s is s ip p i d e l to a d ja c e n t t o t h e p r e s e n t sh o re l i n e o f th© G u lf o f Mexico a r e lik e w is e f o s s i l i f e r o u s , some d i f f i c u l t y is en co u n tered i n d raw in g a s h a rp l in e betw een th e p le is to c e n e and th® P lio c e n e ." S e p o in ted cu t t h a t M iss Maury i d e n t i f i e d P le is to c e n e f o s s i l s o b ta in e d fro® d e p th s a t s o r e th a n 3 ,0 0 0 f e e t i n w a lls d r i l l e d in Terrebonne P a r ish , L o u is!am , and s t a t e d t h a t t h i s a c c o u n t would be found i n H arris (1910)* The fo llo w in g is quoted from Howe (1936): *****Whether th e L ou isian a g r a v e l h o rls o n s a re w h o lly o r In p a r t P l e is to c e n e , or a re r e a l l y p lio c e n e in age h as n ot been determ ined by s a t i s f a c t o r y p a le o n to lo g ic evid en ce# I t i s c e r ta in , however* t h a t beneath th e g r a v e ls and above the Rang la johnao n i a r e f u l l y 2,000 f e e t o f sedim ents in southw est e r a Lou i s ia n a t h a t esnncrt be e ld e r them p lio c e n e * These g r a v e ls were c a lle d th e "L afayette" In o ld e r l i t e r a t u r e , b u t s in c e 1917 have in most e a s e s been c o lle d by a r a t h e r in c lu s iv e name "C itronell© "* These g ra v e l-b e a rin g beds a r e r e p o rte d commonly in w e lls o f so u th w estern L ou isian a to depths t h a t rai& e fro m 800 f e e t to more than 1 ,4 0 0 f e e t below th e s u r f a c e , and a r e o v e r la in by a v e n e e r o f c la y s t h a t is seldom more th a n 200 f e e t th ick * th e re g io n o f th e low er M is s is s ip p i d e l t a th e s i t u a t i o n i s Bosasihat more complex* G rav els a r e r e ­ p o rte d i n we U s im m ediately s o u th o f Hew O rleans to d e p th s around 4 ,0 0 0 f e e t , and Rangla Johnson! occurs a t d e p th s betw een 6 ,3 0 0 f e e t and 6 ,8 0 0 fe e t* • The p le is to c e n e age of th o se te r r a c e s and u n d erly in g d e p o s its meet r e a s o n a b le , a s t bo f l u v i a t l i e e q u iv a le n ts of th e co astw ise sedim ents c l e a r l y r e f l e c t e c s t a t i c r a i s i n g and lo w erin g of p le is to c e n e eea le v e ls ( F is k , 1938a)*

R u s s e ll (1949) p la c e d th e P le is to c e n e -

p lio c e n e boundary a t the base o f the fo rm atio n d e p o site d vtien th e f i r s t major ic e advene© b eg an .

He s ta t e d th a t th e o ld e s t p l e i s t o -

ceim i nland i s th e a l l u v i a l d e p o s it u n d e rly in g th© f i r s t t e r r a c e fo rced during tb s f i r s t m ajor ic e r e t r e a t •

line te r r a c e m a te r ia ls

o f the G u lf C oastal P l a i n r e s t un conform ably on p lio c e n e (?) to P a le o z o ic fo n s e tio n s •

Nowhere e l s e in t h e Upper C retaceous o r

t e r t ia r y a re such com plicated unco nf ormabl© r e l a t i o n s known*

The

Q aaterM ry r e p r e se n ts a d is t in c t d e p a r tu r e from th e normal c lim a tic , and, in p a r t, d ep o si tio n a l p a ttern o f th is area*

T his r e la tio n s h ip

S tro n g ly su g g e sts th a t th e g r a v e l, sen d , s i l t , and c la y d e p o s its d ir e c t ly u n d erlyin g th e te r r a c e s are q u atern ary in age* The age o f t h e D ew ey v llle i s in d o u b t f o r the same re a s o n s a s i t s o r ig in ; how ever, th e a u th o r i s In c lin e d to reg ard i t s age as e a r ly R ecent*

B a rto n (1930b) b e lie v e d t h a t th e la r g e meander s c a rs

SB th e D ew eyville T e rra c e were developed in th e l a t e p le is to c e n e or e a r l y R ecan t tim e s , b ecau se he th ought th a t th e y were in d ic a tiv e o f p lu v ia l c o n d itio n s w hich e x is t e d d u rin g th e waxing o f th e l a t e s t P le is to c e n e i c e .

However, he (1930a) c l a s s i f i e d th e t e r r a c e s i&tich

l i e about midway between the lo w e s t bottom la r d s and th e normal le v e l o f th e C o a s ta l P l a i n s in th e a r e a of th e Beaumont ( p r a i r i e (? )) form ation a s e a r l y Recant in age*

F isk (1948a) co n sid ered th e

age o f t h e la r g e s e a r s a lo n g the Sabine H iver in C a lc a sie u p a r is h m Recent*

R u sse ll (1940, 1948) re g a rd s th e Recent a s t h a t p a r t

g e o lo g ic t in s d u r in g which th e l a s t m ajo r r i s e in s e a l e v e l O cc u rre d , b u t In 1940 he p o in te d out th a t n e a r ly a l l g e o lo g is ts

SYNONYMY

roemer

1846

h z: u

LATE RECENT

HILGARD 1869, 1881

OF

FORMATIONS

DUMBLE PENROSE 189 0 J8 9 0

MO D E R N

F

L

Me 6 EE 1891

DUMBLE 1894

0 0 D

AND

TERRACES

HARRI5*VEATCHHILL*VAUGHN HAYES+KENNEDY 1903 1899 1898.

mi

APPERTAINING! DEU3 SEN 1914-

P L A V N,

TO

MATSON

DUMBLE

1916.1917

1918

C

0

A

S

T

< < — n I o O

PRAIRIE

*-«d oogcS ;cF p LLl q

o

LxJ O o

MONTGOMERY

r>— STt— i 4

CD

< a a; I§ 3 £l

3^ ^< u. > !£2ci 2 § S ±g *u2 S, | rs »i ^H H a 2 u ^

3

4a>

Ui « .

X

Wi

07

1—

CD un&8_in the G ulf c o a s t ynHBtyy, S c ie n c e , v o l. 23, P# 849-851.

'7ea tc h ,

a * 0 . (X9G&) The geography and geology o f th e S abina r iv e r * L a, S t* SXp* H ft»* Gaol* A gr. La** sp* B s p t. 3 , p . 107-141.

7—

, I *®05 * —^ y e a t l o n of the or i g i n o f th e n a tu r a l mounds o f ( a b s t r a c t ) S c ien ce. t p l .J f t i 1

——. f 1906) Geology and w a te r re s o u rc e s o f n o rth e rn L o u is ia na and SOI t h e m A rkansas. IT. s . G eol. su rv ey Prof* peeper 46, 423 pages* V ernon,

r * 0* {1942) Geo lo g y o f Holmes and W ashington Count le e , F lo r id a , F la* G eo l. Survey B u ll, vol* 21, 161 pages* !

W a ile s, B. L* 0* (1854) R ep o rt on th e geo lo g y and a g r ic u ltu r e o f M is s is s ip p l* 2* B ark sd a le, Jack so n , 571 p a g e s. ~ ' S e e te ,

a.

* . (1950) Geology o f t he Larrem ore a r e a , C aldisell co.« T exas, Am. A sso c. P e t . Geol* B u ll. v o l . I f / " p . '’¥ l7 * 9 2 B .1IUI' ■^ ■ rr^ '“™r“rr'1*,:

_____ (1933) L is a i s , Reynosa, and Upland, te r r a c e d e p o s its o f c o a s ta l p l a i n s o f Texas between g ra z e s R iver and Rio Grande, m * Assoc* P e t . G eo l. B u ll. v o l . 17, p . 453*487. ~ (1937) L io c e n e , p lio c e n e , and p le is to c e n e fo rm atio n s In R io G rande R egion, s t a r r and H idalgo Cou n tie s , T exas, j* u assoc . ' P e t* G eol. B u ll. v o l . 21, p* 491-499* (1940) Stream t e r r a c e s in Texas and t h e i r r e l a t i o n to th e fo rm a tio n s o f th e G ulf o o a s ta l p la in , Geol* 3 0 c , Am. B u ll, . v o l . 51, p . 1952, (1945a) Q u atern ary d e p o s its o f th e Texas c o a s ta l p la in betw een Drazos liv o r aiid Hlo QranieV Are..1 assoc . p e t . GboX. B u ll, V o l. 29, p . 1693-1720^ (1945b) O a k v ille , Cuoro and Goliad form ations o f Texas o o a s ta l p l a i n between Brazos R iver and Rio Grande, m » A ssoc, P e t- Geol* B u ll. v o l . 29, p* 1721-1732* Wentvo r t h , c . K. (1930) sa rd and G ravel deposi t s of the c o a s ta l p la in o f V ir g in ia . Va. G eol. survey B u ll. 32, p . 36*

/

v

164

Welefc, B* N. (1B4B) Geology o f Vernon P a r is h , L a*» Geol* B o ll* v o l* 28 r 9 0 p a g e s *

La. D ept, conserv*

Woodward, T. P* and Gueno, A lb e r t, (1941) 'fhe saad and o f L o u is ia n a , L a. Dept* C onserv. Geol* Bull* vol* 19* 366

-}£-

autobiography

HXigh

a*

B ern ard , th e f o u r t h c h ild o t #1111# I . B ern ard , sr*

end Mary S&aer B ern ard , waa b o m on November 11, 1914 in Hew I b e r i a , L o u isia n a *

He re c e iv e d h is elem en tary , grammar, and

h ig h sc h o o l e d u c a tio n from Hew I b e r ia s c h o o ls .

Me became i n t e r -

e s te d in g eo lo g y w h ile a tte n d in g th e Southw estern L o u isia n a I n s t i l is and t r a n s f e r r e d to th e L o u isia n a s t a t e U n iv e r s ity from w h iel he r e c e iv e d a B .3 ., 1938 and M .S., 1940 in g eology.

H is

s t u d i e s were co n tin u ed a t th e U n iv e rs ity o f Texas u n t i l 1941 when h e a c c e n te d a te a c h in g p o s iti o n a s I n s tr u c to r in Geology a t S o u th w estern L o u isia n a I n s t i t u t e .

He se rv e d in th e u n ite d s t a t e s

Havy d u r in g t h e second w o rld war and r e tu rn e d to so u th w estern in 1946.

From 1947 u n t i l th e p r e s e n t time he ecu tin n e d th e work

r e q u ire d f o r a d e g re e o f D octor of p h ilo so p h y in geology a t the L o u is ia n a S t a t e U n iv e r s ity . He i s a member o f th e American A s s o c ia tio n of p etro le u m G e o lo g is ts , th e G eo lo g ical and Mining s o c ie ti e s of American U n i v e r s i t i e s , P h i Kappa P h i, and so u th w estern L ouisiana I n s t i t u t e Honor S o c ie ty .

165

EXAMINATION AND THESIS REPORT Candidate: Major Field:

(jjTdJ.a6y

Title of Thesis:

(pa j- r & g ^ y y

0£

Sovr/zf/t*7~

Approved:

M a jo r P r o fe s s o r a n d C h a t

o f th q G r a d u a te S c h o o l

EXAMINING COMMITTEE:

Date of Examination: