Atlantic Subsurface Stratigraphic Initiative
The Atlantic Subsurface Stratigraphic Initiative (ASSI) is a project with an interdisciplinary group of scientists focused on documenting the Cretaceous and Cenozoic subsurface geology of the Salisbury Embayment across Maryland and Virginia. Data generated by ASSI is crucial for resolving stratigraphic issues across state boundaries and regions. By working closely with state geologic surveys, ASSI will provide biostratigraphic and sedimentologic information that will be used as ground-truth data for comparison with geophysical data compiled by state agencies. This in turn will provide a stronger basis for documentation of formation and aquifer thicknesses across the region.
This project will compile new and existing core, outcrop, and water well lithologic, stratigraphic and geophysical data to provide a means for identifying formation thicknesses across the Salisbury and Delaware River Basins. Using this data, we are working closely with the Maryland Geological Survey, the Delaware Geological Survey, the New Jersey Geological Survey and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to identify lithologic and aquifer thicknesses for a better understanding of the relationship between changing stratigraphy and aquifer connectivity across state boundaries. Compilation of these data will result in detailed 3D and 2D subsurface cross sections across state boundaries, isopach thickness maps for each formation, and structure contour maps of key units such as the unconformity at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary, which can act as a regional barrier to water transmissivity.
The main goals of this project are to 1) provide subsurface thickness maps of sediments (Lower Cretaceous-Paleogene) of the mid-Atlantic region in order to identify changes in depositional patterns related to increased sediment flux to the region, impingement of currents onto the shelf region, and missing section related to movement on buried faults; 2) use 2D and 3D subsurface mapping to provide cross sections within states and across state boundaries (Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia) to provide the framework for understanding the role that regional lithology plays in aquifer development and how aquifers change in thickness and extent across the region; 3) use subsurface cross sections to support a regional effort with state geological surveys and local universities to reconcile stratigraphy across the mid-Atlantic region; 4) identify gaps in the datasets that will be used to target future drilling; and 5) provide publicly available data sets that include information on formation thickness, microfossil content and age of the formations, grain size analyses, mineralogical data, and macrofossil data.
Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI)
FEDMAP
The Atlantic Subsurface Stratigraphic Initiative (ASSI) is a project with an interdisciplinary group of scientists focused on documenting the Cretaceous and Cenozoic subsurface geology of the Salisbury Embayment across Maryland and Virginia. Data generated by ASSI is crucial for resolving stratigraphic issues across state boundaries and regions. By working closely with state geologic surveys, ASSI will provide biostratigraphic and sedimentologic information that will be used as ground-truth data for comparison with geophysical data compiled by state agencies. This in turn will provide a stronger basis for documentation of formation and aquifer thicknesses across the region.
This project will compile new and existing core, outcrop, and water well lithologic, stratigraphic and geophysical data to provide a means for identifying formation thicknesses across the Salisbury and Delaware River Basins. Using this data, we are working closely with the Maryland Geological Survey, the Delaware Geological Survey, the New Jersey Geological Survey and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to identify lithologic and aquifer thicknesses for a better understanding of the relationship between changing stratigraphy and aquifer connectivity across state boundaries. Compilation of these data will result in detailed 3D and 2D subsurface cross sections across state boundaries, isopach thickness maps for each formation, and structure contour maps of key units such as the unconformity at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary, which can act as a regional barrier to water transmissivity.
The main goals of this project are to 1) provide subsurface thickness maps of sediments (Lower Cretaceous-Paleogene) of the mid-Atlantic region in order to identify changes in depositional patterns related to increased sediment flux to the region, impingement of currents onto the shelf region, and missing section related to movement on buried faults; 2) use 2D and 3D subsurface mapping to provide cross sections within states and across state boundaries (Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia) to provide the framework for understanding the role that regional lithology plays in aquifer development and how aquifers change in thickness and extent across the region; 3) use subsurface cross sections to support a regional effort with state geological surveys and local universities to reconcile stratigraphy across the mid-Atlantic region; 4) identify gaps in the datasets that will be used to target future drilling; and 5) provide publicly available data sets that include information on formation thickness, microfossil content and age of the formations, grain size analyses, mineralogical data, and macrofossil data.