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Tomes, B. J.

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SPECIAL REPORT
S CONTRACT: * ,%
. ...- 13298 . , -
APRIL 1975
by Barbara J. Tomes
... .. ..
(E75-10269) THE USE OF SKYLAB AND ERTS IN A N75-22880
GEOHYDROLOGICAL STUDY OF THE PALEOZOICS CTION, WEST-CENTRAL BIGHORN MOUNTAINS,
IRYOMING ( yoming Univ.) 23 p HC $3.25 8Gnclas
10 Ei
CSCL 08A G3/3 00269
byBabaaJ.Toe
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19750014808 2020-03-22T21:31:24+00:00Z
SPECIAL REPORT - THE USE OF SKYLAB AND ERTS IN A GEOHYDRO-
LOGICAL STUDY OF THE PALEOZOIC SECTION, WEST-CENTRAL
BIGHORN MOUNTAINS, WYOMING.
"Made available under ,NA A
in the interest of early an WI$4. Ai-
semination of Earth Resoufme §UV@.
Ba.rba.ra. J. Tomes Program information no i i ig
Department of Geology for any use made t.,!rA.c"
University of Wyoming
Laramie, Wyoming 82071
Original photography may be purchased from
EROS Data Center
10 h and Dakota Avenue
Sioux Falls, SD 57198
March, 1975
Prepared for:
JOHNSON SPACE CENTER
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77058
TECHNIC.L RLPORT STANDARD TITLE PAGE
1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. J. Kecipient's Catalog No.
4 teii -,V~bleTe Td -S oT-3t
The Use of Skylab and ERTS in a Geohy-
drological Study of the Lower Paleozo c h ,  975
6. Pcrforming Organivation Code
Section, West-Central Bighorn Mts., W
7. Author(s) 8. Perfo(arming Organization Report No.
Barbara J. Tomes
9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10 Wo r Unit No.
Department of Geology
University of Wyoming i1. conoct or Gront No.
Laramie, Wyoming 82071
13. Type of Report and Period Covered
12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address
NASA/Johnson Space Flight Center
Special Report
Houston, Texas 77058 14. Sponsoring Agency Code
15. Supplementary Notes
16. Abstract
See following page.
17. Key Words (S, lected by Author(s)) 18. Distribution Statement
Geohydrology
Linea.tion
Skylab and ERTS Mapping
19. Security Classif. (of this report) 20. Security Classif. (of this poge) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price*
Unclassified Unclassified
*For sale by the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical lSrrms",n, Springfield, Virgi a ??11.
Figure 2. Technical Report Standnrd Title Page
ABSTRACT
The Use of Skylab and ERTS in a Geohydrological Study of
the Lower Paleozoic Section, West-Central Bighorn Mountains,
Wyoming.
Tomes, Barbara J., Department of Geology, University of
Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071
Sites of geologic structures were identified using
Skylab and ERTS imagery, and their relationships to ground-
water recharge and discharge were studied. The study area.
lies along the western slope of the Bighorn Mountains.
Runoff flowing from the Precambrian core of the Bighorn
Mountains sinks as it flows over outcrops of the Bighorn
dolomite. A comparison of photo-geologic maps prepared
from Skylab and ERTS imagery and a geologic map compiled
by Darton (1906) illustrates that photomapping, by itself,
cannot supply adequate detail but can supplement recon-
naissance mapping. Lineation maps were compiled from ERTS
and Skylab images and compared to similar maps compiled
by other investigators. Many of the lineations are
expressions of tectonic activity that affect fractures,
and consequently, groundwater recharge. Hydrologic features,
in the form of sinks and springs, on four creeks in the
study area were located on the lineation maps and their
relationships to the lineations were observed. A direct
correlation exists between mapped lineations and the hydro-
logic features. A comparison of the interpretations of
other investigators, made independent of the geohydrolo-
gical study, also show a direct correlation. This observa.-
tion indicates direction of movement and the quantity of
groundwater recharge and discharge, expressed as fracture
concentration, may be estimated by comparing lineation
maps to drainage and geologic maps in areas where ground-
water movement is fracture controlled.
THE USE OF SKYLAB IN A GEOHYDROLOGICAL STUDY OF THE LOWER
PALEOZOIC SECTION, WEST-CENTRAL BIGHORN MOUNTAINS, WYOMING
Introduction
Satellite imagery was used as an aid in the identifica-
tion of sites of groundwater recharge and discharge to the
Bighorn Basin of northern Wyoming. The study area. lies along
the western slope of the Bighorn Mountains between Shell
Canyon and the Tensleep fault encompassing approximately
700 square miles (Figures 1, 2a., and 2b). In this region,
the Paleozoic rocks that comprise the aquifer are impermeable
unless fractured. Groundwater itself cannot be detected from
satellite imagery but geologic structures controlling recharge
are readily observed. ERTS imagery, and Skylab and high-
altitude aerial photography have proven valuable in defining
the structural framework of the region.
Paleozoic rocks cropping out in the study area. include
the Pennsylvanian Tensleep and Amsden formations, Mississippian
Madison limestone, Ordovician Bighorn dolomite, and Cambrian
Gros Ventre, Gallatin, and Flathead formations. Runoff flows
from the Precambrian core of the Bighorn Mountains across the
Paleozoic section and into the Bighorn Basin. Water normally
carried in surface streams often sinks as it flows over the
outcrops of the Bighorn dolomite, the first Paleozoic carbon-
ate encountered in the downstream direction. Down-gra.dient,
but up-section, a. portion of the water lost to sinks reappears
in springs. Known sinks and springs are located on Figures
/YELLOWSTONE S--O
LLLS
~t-J I RVER
P ATIAASIN
~A WND RIVER
R 1E
S. RE G E
I~LOGREN EN 3 Otty l0 HANNAB~~t
east
1K OC BS. :' ASNVER~
sr14
8i
REEN~ IIID NAN
SASIN r as
G R c E o W s 1 e 1
ROCK A S IN P0 EiN VE R
RI yEN ISPRINGS
UP-t7 w A IE MEDICINE BASINE
osow
64.
Figure Index map of Wyoming showing study area..
3Figure 2a. Erts image 1121-17301-5, 21 November, 1972, showing
Bighorn Basin and Bighorn Nountains. Study area.
is outlined.
4Figure 2b. Skylab II, track 5, pass 10 photograph,
frame 228, June 13, 1973, showing Big-
horn Basin and Bighorn Mountains. Study
area is outlined.
3 a and 3b. All the upstream sinks are found in the Bighorn
dolomite. Springs downstream are usually found in the Madi-
son limestone. In two cases the water sinks and rises twice
in a. single drainage.
On the four particular creeks in the study area., the
upper sinks are associated with cavern systems ranging from
.a few hundred feet to almost one mile of known passage. The
significance of the sinks, springs, and lineations may best
be exemplified by P-bar Cave on Medicine Lodge Creek, which
developed as Medicine Lodge Creek eroded into the Bighorn
dolomite. The occurrence of slickensides of the walls of the
cave demonstrates structural control of the passages. A
large volume of water flows into the cavern and follows pass-
ages developed along fractures. One quarter mile downstream
from the sinks, water rises in the bed of Medicine Lodge
Creek from springs probably controlled by bedding planes,
fractures, or both.
Previous Work
Darton (1906) compiled the only published geological map
of the entire area. Wilson (1938) studied a one-to-five mile
wide strip along the Tensleep fault, Lowry (1962) wrote a
USGS open file report on groundwater in the vicinity of the
town of Tensleep, Wyoming, Mackin (1947) and Fanshawe (1971)
described the structural evolution of the Bighorn Basin, and
Hoppin and Palmquist (1965) and Hoppin, Palmquist, and Williams
(1965) defined tectonic controls in the Bighorn Mountains.
Blackstone (1973), Hoppin (1973), and Hoppin and Jennings,
ink
Figure 3a. Figure 3b.
Skylab II Track 5 pass 10 S190-B photograph and ERTS-1 image 1409-17285-5 showing
location of known sinks and springs on four creeks in the study area..
(1971) have studied the structural geology in north-central
Bighorn Mountains and used satellite imagery in their work.
Methodology
Several types of imagery are available for this area;
ERTS (1:3,000,000), Skylab S-190A (1:2,800,000), Skylab
S190B (1:850,000), and aircraft (various scales). Although
the study involved all three types of imagery, only
applications of ERTS and Skylab imagery will be summarized
here. Prior to interpreting the imagery, the writer spent
several weeks mapping the geologic and hydrologic features in
parts of the study area during the summer and fall of
1974. As a. result, many of the interpretations reflect
experience gained from the field studies.
The ERTS and Skylab images examined are described in
Table 1.
ERTS
Date Image Number Ground Condition Image Quality
5 Aug 72 1013-17291 no snow cover excellent
5 Sep 73 1409-17285 10% snow cover excellent
16 Oct 72 1085-17294 no snow cover excellent
21 Nov 72 1121-17301 40% snow cover excellent
1 Feb 73 1193-17301 90% snow cover excellent
14 Feb 74 1571-17252 60% snow cover excellent
19 Feb 73 1211-17302 total snow cover excellent
Skylab
Track Pass Image Image
Date Number Number Number Quality
13 Jun 73 5 10 S-190A 10% cloud
Frames 227-229 cover
S-190B 10% cloud
Frames 146-147 cover
Table 1.
8All available ERTS imagery for spring and early summer
of 1972 and 1973 were cloud covered. The June 1974
images were cloud-free but were not available for this
study.
Photogeological maps of the area were compiled first
using ERTS (Figure 4a) and Skylab (Figure 4b). A comparison
of the remote sensing maps and the geological map prepared
by Darton (1906, Figure Sa) illustrates a similarity
but the imagery revealed that Darton's map is geographi-
cally imperfect. For example, streams were misplaced
and the aerial extent of outcrops was distorted. A
Skylab image superimposed on Darton's map is used to refine
the geologic mapping (Figure Sb). Streams were correctly
placed and the geology was adjusted. Much detail, however,
was not discernible. One problem encountered was the two
completely different grid locations.
Lineation maps of the study area have been prepared by
Blackstone (1973, Figure 6a), Hoppin (1973), Hoppin and Jennings
(1971, Figure 6b), and Earle (unpublished, Figure 6c). Each
map is somewhat different and reflect different interpretations.
Two photolinear maps were compiled by the author for this
report using ERTS (Figure 7a) and Skylab (Figure 7b). For the
purpose of this compilation a lineation is defined as any feature
(large or small) that appears to have lateral continuity. Such
features include aligned stream channels and structural linea-
ments. Care was taken to eliminate cultural-related lineations
such as tree lines, clear cutting, and fence lines. Figure 7a
is a representation of "major" lineations or very broa.d scale
Madison limestooe,
Bighorn dolomte,
and Cambrian rocks
~,K, I
"l'_","~:-..';;" ~
'\ ',\,
'"" '\
Lower Paleozoic
section undivided•
~rlCl~,ep sandstone and •
Amsclcn formation
Figure 4a. Figure 4b.
Geology of study areas as interpreted from ERTS (a) and Skylab (b).
I I -R-9 -R8W
5a. 5b.
: Tertiary sediments Figure 5a. Geological map compiled
by Darton (1906).
Pennsylvanian Tensleep sandstone
L Mississippian Madison limestone Figure 5b. Darton's geological mapgeographically corrected
Ordovician Bighorn dolomite using Skylab photography.
~ Cambrian formations undivided
~ Precambrian rocks
". 4< /
wr
~ 
K
// 9
.(I/
.... N
!- IL  -- ,.. IK w -ij: n ff.lo.-. /
(Blackstone, 1973) 
(Hoppin, 1973)6a. 10 2Omi. 6b.
Photolineation maps of the Bighorn Mountains, 
compiled by Blackstone (1973) and
Hoppin (1973).
• II
0I , I
5 ,Figure 6c. Photolineation map
of Bighorn Mountains
- compiled by Earle,
,, ' (1974).
Earle, (1974)
I _S.-
rle, 1974)
6c. N)
0 0
450 450
0 0
I~ -A I
/7
440 44 _ 4 _
ODO
0 0
7a. 7b.
Major Lineations 10 0 2m i. Minor Lineations
Figures 7a and 7b. Photolineation maps of the Bighorn Mountains.
14
features easily detected at a glance. Figure 7b illustrates
"minor" lineations or features which are much more subtle to
detect, but reflect definite linear continuity. These maps
were prepared from various interpretations compiled at differ-
ent times from the different images described in Table 1.
Results
A direct correlation may exist between geohydrological
features and lineations. Many of the lineations are expressions
of tectonic features that affect the geohydrological system in
the area. Lineations appear to correlate with fractures which
control the flow of water. A comparison of the hydrological
features and lineations (Figure 8a, 8b, and 8c) yields the
following results in each of the four drainages in the study
area:
Trapper Creek - The cave behind the sinks has not been
explored due to a log jam but examination of springs down-
stream that rise from the Devonian rocks on the north face of
Trapper Canyon suggests that the spring water is not the same
water flowing into the sink. The sink occurs at the intersec-
tion of a major and minor lineation (Figure 8b). The minor
east-west linear appears to line up with a line of mountain
crests in the Precambrian core to the east. This alignment
suggests that the minor lineation may be a major structural
element. In that case, the sinks would occur at the intersec-
tion of two major lineations.
Dry Medicine Lodge Creek - One of the major cave systems
known in the Bighorn Mountains occurs at the intersection of
O 7 sink
8) \ c springa. .. ".. .minor linationof .... . mjor lineation
Figure 8a. Major and minor lineations of .. i
the Big orn Mountains.Figure 8b, 8c. Details (1:250,000) of the
creeks studied.
inth vciiy f hefor
creeks tudied
16
several lineations. Within the cave is a. network of passages
along joints, fractures and faults, many of which contain
flowing water. The water does not reappear in any large sinks
downstream and is assumed to be recharging the Paleozoic aquifer.,
A few miles downstream from the cavern, the position of the
springs and sinks have migrated upstream during the summer and
are presumed related to isolated water table conditions and
not major linear elements. The springs furthest downstream
issue from fractures in the Madison Limestone.
Medicine Lodge Creek - Located at the sinks of Medicine
Lodge Creek is P-Bar Cave, a. fracture controlled cave situated
at the intersection of two major lineations. A large amount
of water enters the cave and springs rise from the creek bed
a few hundred feet below the cave. Dye-tests conducted by
the author prove that this water is the same as that entering
the cave. A number of minor lineations photomapped in the
vicinity of the cave have an orientation parallel to the
apparent orientation of passages within the cave.
Canyon Creek - The sinks and springs of Canyon Creek are
each associated with major lineations. Dye tests conducted
by the author revealed that the sinks and springs are directly
connected and no groundwater recharge is occurring at this
location. The upstream sinks and springs are both sites of
open passable caves although open passage between the two does
not exist. The downstream sinks and springs are not associated
with caverns and they are clogged with debris.
17
Conclusions
The value of satellite imagery in the geohydrological
application in this study results because the images aid the
investigator in locating structural features that may influence
groundwater flow. Results of this study suggest that the
hydrologic features are partially controlled by large-scale
structural features detectable on satellite imagery. A
direct correlation exists between mapped lineations and the
hydrologic features observed but because of the field research
prior to the image interpretations, the author's interpreta-
tion may be biased. A comparison of the interpretations of
other investigators, made independently of the geohydrological
study, also shows a. direct correlation between the location of
sinks and springs with lineation or lineation intersections.
This observation indicates direction of movement and the
quantity of groundwater recharge may be expressed as a. function
of fracture concentration, taken from lineation maps that are
compared with drainage and geological maps in an area. where
groundwater movement is fracture controlled. The right compi-
lation of fractures, geology, and water drainage could result
in a location of groundwater recharge and discharge sites.
If one could assume similar relationships between structure
and groundwater movement in other areas (such as on the east
flank of the Bighorn Mountains) application of satellite data.
would be straightforward. Unfortunately, the hydrological
systems in most areas are extremely complex and analyses
require both remote sensing study and extensive field research.
18
The program of continuous ERTS coverage was particularly
useful because it provided a capability to study imagery ac-
quired during a number of weather and seasonal conditions.
The disadvantage of ERTS imagery is its limited resolution.
Definition of lithologic contacts is extremely difficult.
TheSk-yl-aphotogra y wRas far -superior in resolutiO--but
cloud cover and shadows obscured part of the area. The dis-
continuity resulting from the cloud cover is a major disadvan-
tage when using the photography in a reconnaissance study.
The cloud-free portion of the Skylab photography is excellent
for geologic mapping, particularly when utilizing the capability
to view Skylab photography in stereo, but some units such as
the Madison Limestone and Bighorn dolomite were difficult or
impossible to differentiate.
19
SELECTED REFERENCES
Blackstone, D. L., Jr., 1973, Analysis of linear photo ele-
ments, Bighorn-Pryor Mountains, Montana and Wyoming;
Special Report, ERTS Contract NAS 5-21799.
Darton, N. H., 1906, Geology of the Bighorn Mountains; USGS
Prof. Paper 51, 129p.
Earle, Jan, 1974, Map of photo-linear elements interpreted
from ERTS-1 winter imagery; unpublished.
Fanshawe, John R., 1971, Structural evolution of the Bighorn
Basin; 23rd Ann. Field Conf., Wyoming Geological Associa-
tion Guidebook, pp. 35-37.
Hoppin, Richard A., 1973, Utilizing ERTS-A imagery for tec-
tonic analysis through study of the Bighorn Mountains
region; Progress Report, ERTS Contract NAS 5-21852,
microfilm E73-10420.
Hoppin, R. A., and Jennings, T. V., 1971, Cenozoic tectonic
elements, Bighorn Mountains region, Wyoming and Montana;
23rd Ann. Field Conf., Wyoming Geological Association
Guidebook, pp. 39-47.
Hoppin, R. A., and Palmquist, John C., 1965, Basement influ-
ence on later deformation; the problem techniques of
investigation and examples from the Bighorn Mountains
of Wyoming; AAPG Bull., v. 49, no. 7, p. 993-1003.
Lowry, Marlin E., 1962, Development of groundwater in the
vicinity of Tensleep, Wyoming; USGS open file report.
Thom, W. T., Jr., 1947, Structural features of the Bighorn
Basin Rim; 2nd Ann. Field Conf., Wyoming Geological
Association Guidebook, pp. 173-177.
Wilson, Charles W., 1938, The Tensleep Fault, Johnson and
Washakie counties, Wyoming; Jour. of Geol., v. 48, no. 6,
p. 868-881.


The use of Skylab and ERTS in a geohydrological study of the Paleozoic section, west-central Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming

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