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Mcmurtry, G. J.

English

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"Made available under NAMA sponsorshp E 7.3- 1 1. 0.5. 6.in the interest of early and wide dis- 1
semination of Earth Resources Survey
Program information and without liability
for any use made thereof."
Quarterly Progress Report
June-August 1973
SKYLAB EREP Investigation 475
Contract Number NAS 9-13406
"INTERDISCIPLINARY APPLICATION AND INTERPRETATION OF
EREP DATA WITHIN THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BASIN"
Office for Remote Sensing of Earth Resources (ORSER)
Space Science and Engineering Laboratory (SSEL)
Room 219 Electrical Engineering West
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, Pennsylvania 16802
E73-11056) INTERDISCIPLINARY APPLICATION N73-32232
'AND INTERPRETATION OF EREP DATA WITHIN
THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BASIN Quarterly
SProgress Report, Jun. - (Pennsylvania Unclas
State Univ.) 2 p HC $3.00 CSCL 08H G3/13 01056
Principal Investigator: NASA Technical Monitor:
Dr. George J. McMurtry Mr. Martin Miller
September 1973
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Quarterly Progress Report
June-August 1973
SKYLAB EREP Investigation 475Contract Number NAS 9-13406
Summary of Work Durin Reortin Period
Since no SKYLAB data were available, no significant results were
achieved during this period. Work was commenced on the compilation of
an inventory of known mineral deposits within the Susquehanna River
Basin. An EREP pass was accomplished on SL-3 along track 62 on August5, 1973. A supporting aircraft mission was conducted at approximatelythe same time.
E ected Accomlishments Durin Next Reporti PeriodSince the SL-3 mission did not terminate until September, the first
EREP data is not expected to be received until late November or early
December. Data from the August supporting aircraft mission is expected
daring the next period. This data will be examined, annotated, and
cataloged. It will be correlated with the inventories of known mineral
deposits and geologic structures being compiled. The inventory of
mineral deposits will be continued and that of geologic structures willbe commenced.
Overall Status and Smmar Outlook
ORSER/SSEL is prepared to receive and analyze data in both image
and digital form. A fully equipped photointerpretation laboratory and
digital processing system is operational and currently being used in an
ERTS-l investigation. No significant deviation from the Milestone Planis anticipated.


Interdisciplinary application and interpretation of EREP data within the Susquehanna River Basin

E7.5- 1 0.1. 3.
Quarterly Progress Report, September - November 1973
SKYLAB EREP Investigation 475, Contract Number NAS 9-13406
INTERDISCIPLINARY APPLICATION AND INTERPRETATION OF
EREP DATA WITHIN THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BASIN
Office for Remote Sensing of Earth Resources (ORSER)
Space Science and Engineering Laboratory (SSEL)
Room 219 Electrical Engineering West
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, Pa. 16802
Principal Investigator: Dr. George J. McMurtry
NASA Technical Monitor: Mr. Martin Miller
"Made available under NASA stpjo3i 9h
in the interest of early anl vi-l f1S.
semination of Eartlh Rscow to' S ~Xiy
December 1973 Program informatioli a~ i, ,
for -any use made tharatOL"
(E75-10139) INTERDISCIPLINARY APPLICATION N75-17755
AND INTERPRETATION OF EREP DATA WITHIN THE
SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BASIN Quarterly Progress
Report, Sep. - Nov. 1973 (Pennsylvania State Unclas
SUniv.) _4 p_ N $3.25 CSCL C8H G3/43 00139
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19750009683 2020-03-22T23:02:53+00:00Z
Quarterly Progress Report
September - November 1973
SKYLAB EREP Investigation 475
Contract Number NAS 9-13406
Progress has been made on the inventory of known mineral deposits and
geologic structures in the Susquehanna River Basin. A scheme of the classifi-
cation of metallic ore deposits has been developed which is suitable for
pictorial display. It is a modification of the scheme proposed by Rose* and,
with appropriate symbols, classifies the occurence according to commodity
type, age, habit, and size.
A literature survey has been initiated and the mineral deposit localities
plotted on available base maps at the following scales:
1 inch = 9.4 miles, or 1:595,600
1 inch = 6 miles, or 1:380,160
1 inch = 4 miles, or 1:250,000
The Geological Survey of Pennsylvania has made available to us a cronoflex
copy of the base map used for their 1960 Geological Map of Pennsylvania
(1:250,000 scale). We have transferred fold axes and faults from ground truth
data onto this map as part of the development of a tectonic and lineament
map of Pennsylvania.
Five members of the Department of Geosciences have been involved in field
trips in the Tyrone - Mt. Union valley to search for and verify reports of
base metal mineral occurences. A systematic sampling program of Bald Eagle
Ridge between Curtin Gap and Tyrone has been started, in order to characterize
the surface manifestation of lineaments crossing these ridges. Parameters
used in this study include: joint density, iron and/or manganese oxide
staining on joint planes, gossan zones, sulfide mineralization, and breccia zones.
Dr. Richard R. Parizek, of the Department of Geosciences, attended the
Annual Meetings of Geological Society of America, held November 12-14, 1973,
entitled, THE UNSTEADY EARTH. Dr. Parizek presented a paper discussing the
potential value of lineaments and fracture traces, as mapped on ERTS and SKYLAB
imagery, for determining the occurence of ground water, migration of pollutants,
and areas of sink hole collapse and unstable foundations. The abstract of
this paper is appended to this report.
Dr. David P. Gold, of the Department of Geosciences, presented an open
lecture at the Schuylkill Campus of The Pennsylvania State University on
December 7, entitled, "Sputnik to Skylab".
Dr. Shelton Alexander has discovered features on ERTS images which can be
geographically correlated with geothermal"hot spots". Skylab scenes from
Pennsylvania will be examined for further evidence of the existence of such
"hot spots".
*Bulletin M50, Pa. Geol. Survey, Part 3, Metal Mines and Occurences in
Pennsylvania, 1970.
Graduate student William Chren has commenced a search for Skylab
scenes which can be used as a source of ground truth in analysis and inter-
pretation of ERTS digital data.
To date we have received one shipment of mission 238 C130 film,
flown in June as SL2 ground truth data.
ABSTRACT
Presentation by Dr. Richard R. Parizek at the Annual Meetings of the GSA
CARBONATE TERRANES, AN UNSTABLE ENVIRONMENT
Carbonate terranes are unique from an environmental viewpoint.
Agricultural activity may be intensive. This attracts population and
industrial centers, utilities and transporation networks which have increased
physical, chemical and biological stresses and risks to life, property and
quality of life. Water quality has been degraded or polluted by agricultural
activity, waste disposal, storm-water runoff, highway construction and main-
tenance and utilities. Leaky pipeline and storage facilities have caused
serious pollution and hazardous conditions. Land settlement may be imper-
ceptible to catastrophic, natural or man induced through dam and highway
construction, urban and industrial activity, mining and ground water develop-
ment. Sinkholes may develop slowly or in seconds and range from a few
feet to hundreds of feet in diameter. Stream flow variability commonly
is decreased as carbonate rock area increases. People have been attracted
into flood areas including flood plains, poorly drained surface depressions,
polje lake basins, and areas of extreme water-table fluctuation. Protection
of agricultural land, mineral and ground-water resources and property can
be achieved by taxation policies, environmental mapping, planning and zoning
ordinances that consider geomorphic and hydrologic factors, and by
appropriate statutes regulating man's activities. Foundation, reservoir, dam,
mine, tunnel, and water-supply failures-can beuminimized through knowledge of
karst processes and controlling factors, geologic mapping, aerial photo and
remote sensing studies, geophysical and test drilling exploration.
Educational programs are mandatory for professionals and the public.


EREP DATA WITHIN THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BASIN
inOffice for Remote Sensing of Earth Resources (ORSER)
'The Pennsylvania State University
Quarterly Progress Report, December 1973 a. 16802February 1974
SKYLPrinciB EREP Investigation 475, Contract Number NAS 9-13406
INTERDISCIPLINARY APPLICATION AND INTERPRETATION OF
EREP DATA WITHIN THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BASIN
Office for Remote Sensing of Earth Resources (ORSER)
Space Science and Engineering Laboratory (SSEL)
Room 219 Electrical Engineering West
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, Pa. 16802
Principal Investigator: Dr. Geo ge J. McMurtry
NASA Technical Monitor: Mr. Ma-l.in Miller
March 1974
(E75-10117 8) INTERDISCIPLINARY APPLICATION 
N75-20 7 8-
AND INTERPRETATION OE EREP DATA WITHIN 
THE
SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BASIN Quarterly-Progress
Report, -Dec. 1973- -Feb. .1974 _(Pensylvanial
State Univ) # 8 p HC$-3. 25 CSCL0 8H G3/43- OOV1I8
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19750012709 2020-03-22T23:23:00+00:00Z
Quarterly Progress Report
December 1973 - February 1974
SKYLAB EREP Investigation 475
Contract Number NAS 9-13406
Research Activities
A literature survey of base metal mineral occurrences in Pennsylvania
continues, and the localities are being plotted according to size, habit,
age, and commodity type. The lack of a snow cover has permitted "ground
truth" data to be collected along the Bald Eagle ridge west of State College,
in the Tyrone area, and in the Huntingdon - Mount Union area.
An area north of Philadelphia has been selected for a detailed study
of possible relationships between ore deposits and lineaments. Not.only
are base metal mineral localities more abundant in this area than elsewhere
in the State, but the contrasting tectonic and physiographic provinces, the
variety of rock types, and the range in age of "ore deposits," make this a
unique testing ground. ERTS-1 imagery and aircraft photography have been
used to plot lineaments and other tectonic elements in conjunction with
the available geologic maps of the area.
A similar study for "ground truthing" a lineament has been continued
along the Bald Eagle ridge, west of State College. The ridge is being
sampled at 1/4 mile intervals for "fracture" parameters (breccia, sulfide
mineralization, gossan, etc.) and their distribution with respect to the
lineaments mapped on ERTS-1, SKYLAB, and aircraft imagery will be studied.
In a related study, a grada~.te student in Geology has used SKYLAB and
ERTS imagery for his research on the distribution and nature of sulfide
mineralization in the Mount Union - Huntingdon area. For this purpose,
the following scenes are being st idied:
U2 flight 73-009, Sensor 12, Frames 0067-0081
SKYLAB 3, Orbit 14, Sensor S190A, Roll 20, Frame 192
ERTS-1 scenes 1045-15243-7, 6 September 1972
1243-15253-7, 23 March 1973
In addition to the mineral deposits correlation studies now taking
place, ORSER is involved in ongoing studies of the application of linea-
ments, observed on SKYLAB and ERTS images, to groundwater exploration and
problems in geologic engineering. It has been recognized that prolonged
investigations would be required to demonstrate the significance of linea-
ments to groundwater and foundation engineering investigations because:
1. The width of subsurface structural features causing lineaments to
be visible is not known.
1
2. Direct observation of these structures in heavily forested regions
of the humid eastern United States, where soil overburden typically mantles
the bedrock, is limited.
3. It is difficult to locate with precision on the ground the lineaments
seen on satellite images. Thus a comparison of the performance of known water
wells, foundations, mine roofs, etc., on and off lineaments becomes difficult.
Most of the water well records available for study in Pennsylvania that are
on file with the Pennsylvania Geological Survey include "hear say" data
reported by the well owner or water well contractor. Frequently wells are
not located where they are reported to be located, formations penetrated
and lithology encountered are not reported or are incorrectly reported, and
yield tests are run in such a manner that the decline in water levels required
to produce a given yield are not reported.
An alternate source of data may be obtained using well inventory procedures
involving a door-to-door survey of well owners. Rarely do the well owners
have records or knowledge on their well depth, casing lengths, pump setting,
water levels, etc. Still worse, even if they grant permission to conduct
pumping tests on their wells, provisions may be lacking to allow drawdown
determinations to be made. Many fear that they will run out of water during
such tests, hence, the length of the tests is restricted. Other wells lack
pumps and require the setting and pulling of test pumps. Contracts for these
services, including pump rental with water well contractors, may run between
$25.00 to $75.00 per hour, depending upon the pump size used. These costs
are prohibitive in view of research budget limitations.
A final data source may be obtained by providing assistance to land-
owners, towns and industries, either as an extension service or through con-
sulting activities where well sites may be selected, test and production
wells designed, and drilling and yield testing services conduc .ed under con-
trolled and supervised conditions. This procedure yields data of high quality
but is time consuming, because there is no assurance that a recommended well
site will be drilled out. Further, there is no way to assure t:' at well yields
will be clustered adequately within any hydrogeological setting to allow
statical analysis.
Many factors combine to influence well yields at a particular location
(well radius, well depth and diameter, casing length, method of drilling,
degree of well development, depth of water table, presence of various changes
of rock, dip of beds, topographic setting, rock type, type of fold
structure, presence and type of joints, faults, number and type of zones of
fracture concentration, etc.). Comparison of yields of but a few wells on
or off a lineament will not suffice to establish significant relationships or
to determine the magnitude of yield increases. Similar variables influence
the depth and extent of weathering, of importance in engineering foundation
studies, mine and tunnel roof stability, etc.
The difficulties encountered in establishing ground truth correlation
for the lineaments seen on ERTS and SKYLAB scenes are many, and even more
problems are associated with determining the usefulness of these features'
for groundwater and mineral exploration. However, SKYLAB and ERTS have
revealed the universality of lineaments as structural features of the earth's
crust, and investigations to date indicate their potential significance in
resource exploration.
2
Negotiations have been started with the Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Resources, The Pennsylvania State University, and the
Consulting Engineering firm of Skelly and Loy of Harrisburg, to demon-
strate the application of lineaments to coal mine pollution abatement.
The study is designed to demonstrate that the connector well method of
abating pollution is feasible when the selection of well locations is
determined by the intersection of a number of lineaments within the
mined-out region. Connector wells are gravity drainage wells used to
dewater source beds above deep mines located in regional ground-water
recharge areas. Lineament intersections mapped on aircraft, SKYLAB,
and ERTS-1 scenes will be used to locate the sites of the connector
wells in this study.
Land use mapping from ERTS-1 MSS digital data is being accomplished
with major verification of the information provided by SKYLAB EREP S190B
photography. The photos are being used to provide assurance of training
area homogeneity.
SKYLAB photography is proving useful as an important intermediate
link between ERTS and aircraft coverage, in determining geologic features
such as faults, lineaments, and folds, as well as specific rock types
exposed at the surface.
A thermal hot spot seen on SKYLAB photography is being investigated.
The hot spot is on the periphery of a large circular feature that appears
to coincide with a major magnetic anomaly, and is the location of a hot
spring near Shermansdale, Pennsylvania.
Related Activities
A literature survey and investigation has been initiated in an effort
to establish the feasibility of installing a color display sy3-:em in the
ORSER laboratory. This system would be capable of displaying the results
of standard software developed by ORSER for use on the general purpose
computer at Penn State. It is anticipated that this system wi 1 be
installed with a view toward expansion, with particular emphas:3 on speed-
up procedures for more effective man-machine interaction and direct digi-
tization, display, and enhancement of imagery and photography. All of the
design, installation, and evaluation steps will take into account the flexi-
bility, utility, speed, and cost of the display system. If purchased and
installed, this system should be a significant tool in the analysis of
SKYLAB and other satellite and aircraft data.
We have ordered a Bausch and Lomb Zoom 95 stereoscope unit to facilitate
stereoscopic study of SKYLAB photography enlarged to 9 x 9 inches.
ORSER/SSEL personnel were invited in February to give a presentation
in Harrisburg concerning the relevance or remote sensing data and analysis
to projects of concern to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. ORSER considers
the field of remote sensing to be in an applied research stage, i.e.,
1. the concept has been proven;
2. some research remains to be done;
3
3. applications are being sought;
4. remote sensing will not only be an important, but an
essential tool in future land use and environmental
management.
ORSER/SSEL is thus seeking increased interaction with local, state, and
federal agencies for the following purposes:
1. to identify real world problems which may be solved
wholly or in part by the use of remote sensing
techniques;
2. to acquaint and train agency personnel with remote
sensing and its potential applications;
3. to help agencies develop working systems using remote
sensing techniques for natural resource, environmental,
and land use management purposes.
The presentation was attended by representatives from a host of State
agencies. A list of these is appended.
Demonstrations of ORSER facilities and data were conducted at various
times during this reporting period for the assistant director of the Penn-
sylvania Geologic Survey and for representatives of the Pennsylvania Depart-
ment of Transportation, the Northeastern Economic and Development Council
(Avoca), and the Lackawana County Regional Planning Commission. These
demonstrations included a first look at the SKYLAB photography just received.
The Lackawana County Regional Planning Commission desires to use remote
sensing data and analysis in a comprehensive land use planning process.
A paper on "Application of Remote Sensing to Natural Resource and
Fivironmental Problems in Pennsylvania" is being prepared to help acquaint
legislators and other potential users of the utility and limitations of
remote sensing techniques and systems. Scaling phenomena and digital
analysis for land use monitoring are discussed.
ORSER-SSEL Technical Report 9-74, "The Penn State ORSER System for Pro-
ces:ing and Analyzing ERTS and other MSS Data," by G. J. McMurtry, F. Y.
Borden, H. A. Weeden, and G. W. Petersen, was published in Vol. 3, pp. 697-
720, of REMOTE SENSING OF EARTH RESOURCES, University of Tennessee Space
Institute, Tullahoma, Tennessee, 1974.
Students in Dr. F. Yates Borden's graduate course in Remote Sensing
of Earth Resources have begun using SKYLAB photography as ground truth for
their ERTS-1 data processing projects. The potentialities of SKYLAB data
analysis were discussed in a laboratory demonstration of ORSER facilities
presented for a group of graduate students in geology and related fields.
Dr. D. P. Gold gave a talk at the Corl Street Elementary School in State
College, on "The Use of Satellites for Looking at the Earth."
A color film entitled "To Water By Air" has been completed in cooper-
ation with the office of Public Information of The Pennsylvania State Univer-
sity and Hornbein-Wood Film Studio of Lemont, Pennsylvania. The film includes
references to ongoing studies using recent ERTS-1, SKYLAB and underflight
data. The film is designed for public information purposes to stress that
4
often groundwater is available in large quantities in rocks where previ-
ously it was costly or difficult to obtain water on a low risk basis,
that new methods using SKYLAB and ERTS data are available to allow for
the prospecting and efficient development of these water supplies, and
that these avenues of high permeability development may be used in
environmental monitoring, groundwater exploration and foundation engineer-
ing studies. Scenes within ORSER laboratories are included.
The following SKYLAB-related data were received during this reporting
period:
C130, Mission 238 (SKYLAB ground truth) - film and thermal
IR tapes
C130, Mission 247 (SKYLAB ground truth) - film
SL3, S190A and S190B - 70 mm and 5 inch film, respectively
The 5 inch film is of use in stereoscopic viewing only when each frame is
cut out and reversed with respect to the other. Apparently the progression
of the film in the camera was opposite to that of the direction of the
spacecraft, resulting in reverse orientation of the film frames with respect
to one another. Thus, the overlap area needed for stereo viewing occurs on
the far side of the neighboring frame, furthest from the scene where the
area to be studied is located, instead of adjacent to it, making stereo
viewing impossible.
5
List of Attendees
ORSER Presentation in Harrisburg
February 28, 1974
Harry Simms DER-Office Legislation & Boards
George E. Fogg DER-Div. of Outdoor Recreation
William Kutternik DCA-Flood Recovery Team
W. Roy Newsome, Jr. DCA Executive Office
Linford Harley DER Bur. of Operations, Ofc. Res. Man.
Leo D. Sandvig PennDot Bur. of Mat'ls, Testing Res.
Afton Schadel DER Bureau of Soils and Water
Joseph J. Ellam DER Div. Dams and Encroachments
Alan R. Geyer DER Geologic Survey
William A. Gast DER Bur. of Resources Programming
Eugene Eisenbise DER Bur. of Master Planning
Louis Kirkaldie U.S. Soil Conservation Service
Bruce A. Whyte N.W.S. N.O.A.A. River Forecast Ctr.-Hrbg.
Donald Meagher University of Pennsylvania
Sie Ling Chiang DER, Bur. of Res. Programming
William G. McGlade DER, Bur. Environmental Master Planning
(G:y L. Merritt DER, Div. of Water Quality
Jaues W. Miller DER, Mine Drainage Control
Ra' N. Chadha Ofc. of.State Planning & Development
Stkaley F. Gierlach Fiscal Management
Dwight D. Worley DER Div. of Solid Waste Management
Caren Glotfetty DER Ofc. of Enforcement
Dallas A. Dollase Dept. of Community Affairs
George Cook Bureau of Plg. D.C.A.
Spencer C. Ryland PennDot Dist. 2-0(Clearfield)
W. C. Collins Bureau of State Parks-Maintenance
Herb Gervin Financial Mgmt.
J.W. Skovron Financial Mgmt.
D. M. Lohman Bureau of Air Quality & Noise
J. E. Barclay U. S. Geological Survey
C. F. Merk U. S. Geological Survey
6
Robert D. Laughlin Pa. Dept. of Commerce
Michael J. Lokert Dept. of Earth Sci., Edinboro State College
representing NW Regional Planning
Millard L. Haskin, P.E. Dept. of Environmental Resources
Bureau of State Parks
Bruno J. Chiega DER Comptroller
Jose R. del Rio DER, Bureau of Water Quality Management
Robert F. Mills Dept. of Landscape Arch. & Regional Plan.
University of Pennsylvania
Fred Wertz Pa. Dept. of Agriculture
David M. Soulen Pa. Dept. of Agriculture
John L. Longenecker Pa. Dept. of Agriculture
Seong H. Kim Pa. Dept. of Agriculture
Terry Krammes Bur. Comm. Environmental Control DER
John Fedko DER, Bureau of Systems Management
G. Kasmarch OSPD
J. Richard Rombach Susquehanna River Basin Commission
Charles S. Takita Susquehanna River Basin Commission
7


Interdisciplinary application and interpretation of EREP data within the Susquehanna River Basin

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