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24-045
Geology Says Otherwise
William H. Langer
Bill Langer Research geologist LLC, Anthem, AZ
Here’s what I’ve been wondering.
If fire hides in wood
what hides in a stone?
(from Alyson Hallett, 2013, Conversation with a Pebble)
INTRODUCTION
I spent 41 years as a geologist with the US Geological Survey
(USGS) conducting geologic studies and preparing peer
reviewed maps and reports describing the results of those
studies. Since retiring from the USGS in 2011, I have been
a consultant specializing in aggregates and other industrial
minerals. Consequently, I have had the opportunity and
pleasure to apply the information contained in those kinds
of geologic maps and reports to real-life situations.
About half of my consulting is performing due dili-
gence for mineral resource evaluations of one type or
another where resource information has been provided by
the property owner. Many of those jobs necessitate that
I conduct desktop studies followed by field work. I then
use my information to review and comment on the writ-
ten reports of others reports variably referred to as geologic
reports, resource studies, reserve analyses, and so forth.
While there are many well written reports addressing geo-
logic resource issues, I was surprised to see that there are
also a significant number of so-called geologic reports that
only pay cursory attention to geology. Unfortunately, that
lack of rigorous geologic investigation commonly leads to
erroneous conclusions.
This paper addresses three such reports covering con-
crete sand, metallurgical gravel, and proppants (frac sand).
Although all three examples are located in the Gulf Coastal
Plain Province, I do not reveal the exact location of any of
the properties for purposes of confidentiality. Furthermore,
I have generalized the site descriptions and illustrations.
However, all the descriptions faithfully define the geologic
situation.
The three case examples are arranged from the least to
the most complicated.
“SUCH QUANTITIES OF SAND”
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand
They wept like anything to see
Such quantities of sand.
(From Lewis Carroll, 1871,
The Walrus and the Carpenter)
24-045
Geology Says Otherwise
William H. Langer
Bill Langer Research geologist LLC, Anthem, AZ
Here’s what I’ve been wondering.
If fire hides in wood
what hides in a stone?
(from Alyson Hallett, 2013, Conversation with a Pebble)
INTRODUCTION
I spent 41 years as a geologist with the US Geological Survey
(USGS) conducting geologic studies and preparing peer
reviewed maps and reports describing the results of those
studies. Since retiring from the USGS in 2011, I have been
a consultant specializing in aggregates and other industrial
minerals. Consequently, I have had the opportunity and
pleasure to apply the information contained in those kinds
of geologic maps and reports to real-life situations.
About half of my consulting is performing due dili-
gence for mineral resource evaluations of one type or
another where resource information has been provided by
the property owner. Many of those jobs necessitate that
I conduct desktop studies followed by field work. I then
use my information to review and comment on the writ-
ten reports of others reports variably referred to as geologic
reports, resource studies, reserve analyses, and so forth.
While there are many well written reports addressing geo-
logic resource issues, I was surprised to see that there are
also a significant number of so-called geologic reports that
only pay cursory attention to geology. Unfortunately, that
lack of rigorous geologic investigation commonly leads to
erroneous conclusions.
This paper addresses three such reports covering con-
crete sand, metallurgical gravel, and proppants (frac sand).
Although all three examples are located in the Gulf Coastal
Plain Province, I do not reveal the exact location of any of
the properties for purposes of confidentiality. Furthermore,
I have generalized the site descriptions and illustrations.
However, all the descriptions faithfully define the geologic
situation.
The three case examples are arranged from the least to
the most complicated.
“SUCH QUANTITIES OF SAND”
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand
They wept like anything to see
Such quantities of sand.
(From Lewis Carroll, 1871,
The Walrus and the Carpenter)