Professional Documents
Culture Documents
.OF THE
lOWER MERMENTAU RIVER BASIN
AND
ADJACENT AREAS IN COASTAL LOUISIANA
by
HAROLD N. FISK. CONSULTANT
c 0 p y
CORPS OF ENGINEERS, U. S. ARMY.
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION
VICKSBURG, MISSISSIP_PI
4 D D R ~ REI'l Y TO:
.r PRESiDENT. MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION
CORPS OF ENGINEERS. U. S. ARMY
P. 0. BOX so.
VICKSBURG. MISSISSIPPI 27 January 1948
REFER TO FILE NO.
Hajor General R. ~ \ Crawford, President
Hississippi River Commission
Vicksburg, Hississippi
Dear General Crawford:
Enclosed herevrith are tvro copies of the report "Geological In-
vestigation of the Lower Hermentau River Basin and Adjacent Areas
in Coastal Louisiana.
11
This report was mimeographed by the. NeiT Orleans District from
stencils prepared in this office. Plates for the report were set up
in this office and were reduced and printed by New Orleans District
personnel who also aided in the final preparation of several of them.
An additional mimeogra!)hed copy is being sent directly to the
Soils Division, vlaterwa.ys Experiment Station for their use on cur-
rent projects.
cc: !fr. \'[. J. Turnbull,
Soils Division, W.E.S.
VerJ truly yours,
/S/ H. N. Fisk
H. N. Fisk
Consultant
.....
(
Department of the Army
Corps of Engineers
Gillli'GICAL
OF 'YrlE.
LO:'JER 1E\JTAIJ liVER. 3A3PJ
AifD
ADJ ACE"JT A:.1..EA0 r:.r COA3 i'AL LOUISI /.:'JA
Conducted for
The President
2.iississippi River Cora."lli&sion
Vicksburg, Mississippi
by
H. FISK, Ph.D.
Professor of Geology
Louisis'1a State University
Consultant
3aton l-ouisiana
22 January 1948
SUSJECT:. Geologir:al Invtstig:itior1 of the Lower I.rerdentau Basin and
J..djacent .'..rea:J in Coc.istal Louisiana
'ID: The Pre0id2r:t, Hussissippi }j_ ver Cormnission, Vicksburg,
"Mississippi
Sub.tni tted here\!i th is report :tGeological Investigation
of the Lm:er Mermentau and Adjacent Areas .in Louisiana."
Louisiana State University
Baton Louisiana
22 1948
Very truly yours,
H.lllOLD FISK
Prof .ass,)r of Geology
Consultartt
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Tri3L: OF
INTHOIJUCTION
Sec pe c , ._
Authorization ,,,,!, ............. .. _ .. .-.
Pur_!)<) s e , , , ' , , , , - , ; .
Source of Data ,., ,,.; .... !,! .
Future Suppl3l!le 1ts to 'nrls Ir1vestigaticn .
:rsor!11.el ; -. -
?AHT I - Gf:"ffittAL GEOLUGY OF LOUISIA.'JA
I 'J TH.ODUC'11 ON
,
:
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Jn.ture Grovv-t:1 o.!:' the Sho;-elands
a.. f1eposi tj_onal and Activity at the
Shor.: line in the: Coast =1l
L'el taic .. .... ..
}farginal Deltaic Plain of Coastal :,:arsh1ands _.
of Gulf (argin .
Deltaic SedimentR.t:i.on ... "
Cu2.f Co::.st Geosyncline . ... ,
a. La.ndwa.rd Uplift ( 'Nith
Subside:ice in the Gulf Coast .....
b. F'rac:.urins .:..s2ociate1l with Tilting .
of lleistocene ( Gln.cia1) in
Se.:J. I..:evel ;
a. Cyc1es vf and Alluvi0tion
t. Incre,::se in Hate. of :Jeltaic
Subsidence, ann Inl:::::l T_Tp]_.;_ft Luring thB
Pluistoce!1e E1x'cn ,
c. e.ni Oxido::..tic;.H cf SeJin:en ts During
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Glacial Stages...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Ir1 t<roduc tion ... ...........
rt ......,lief ................................................. .
Drainage , ... . -: .... -. <
a. Calcu.sieu R.i ver Dr.',.ina:e .
b. River DrJ.ina.::;e .
c. Vermilion R.:i ver Dr.:.inac::.: . o o
Upl.:"l.nd Ar:-::a; Prairie Ter::. .. :tce . 0
a. Tc1rD.ce Sl8pe .........
b. Prairi-a Su.rface; ;. Late Pleistocene
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Del Fldn................................. 10
'.:.Jdt::rn . . . . . . .. 11
2) . .
. ,;nclent 3el t and
Co'1trol of ',bd2rn .. , 11
a
P''agraph
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CtJ:.tstal 11:-irshJands ..... -.. ,
a. .... ...........
1-J. Sf..:ac11cS . .
c. 1tiuJ Flats a1d Recently Aba.'1tloned 3cn.ches
tl. Ch'"3rlicres
(1) c:wniere
(2) Central System .
(3) Edst.::rn Ch'"micre Systen.;
.... .
(1) of La.kes . , ...
..l. . -. -
Str0:--utlS,
g.
(2) Stre3.l-no in of Se-:tleme:1t
( 3) :ji version of by Grm'ith of Lakes
( 4) T.icb.l Ch<'rmels at Pa.,sseE: ,
C'outinent::.l S!-.1-elf. e e e e _e e e e e I e t e I I "
Sin/. TIGRAPHY
General
l:.:ccnt
::o::sideratio::s .
De_?Jsi ts .. .
a. !!:nvirou:::ents of uepc:si tion ....
b. Lej)Osi.ts .
c. ?rcsh md 3r3.ckish (3:"1lt) W<::.ter 1farsh Deposits
ti. Lake .::?..r1d Bay -
c. Gulf Bvttom ... -.
(1) l.lirl Fl'1[, DtfYJSits
(2) BJttorn ...
. f. 1Jr:.:.a;,j}1 D(;i_)ositG -:
('1) Structure o.f 3..;c;ch J,:;;::J3it3 . : .
( 2) Structu:-e of Ch8n:_c.:r:; ts
::k: p:: sits; Pr\:.C.rie .-Jn .
3.. Ri vt::r Fleistt)C ,;r.c ts .
b. s.:Iissis.Jippi Iii ver ?lei:.-t,:;:;,_:ne D.;posi ts
c. : md =:;r:-tckist ','!E.tcr Dt:posi ts
d. Erosional Irrec:lirJiti.3S in Fl.3istocene
STRUCTURE
Con.sict.__ratio;_s . C'
firsh3 of Do1'.rnw;'!.rpi.r1g ,
F:tultin,,: ............ .. ,
S.:;..lt .............................
ncre_l
Cor::;i -
Initi?..l cf rrairie Plnn (Peorian
or 'l. St""'P) .
...L .. \...1'1,... , :--r .... - ...... {J.f:.,
PrC1irie- :U ver Cone ( .St.".ndinr' .:;e.::t l-V21 of Feorian
Int
"rrl '"'ci 1 t ::r") -
"" "... -1. J c .. t:_t.;
b
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Para.v.raph
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of Lhe Verr.ulion oL the Prc:irie
., :! . - . . .
.. l.SSlSSlrH)l . . .
... J. ' r
Tcrrebonne Jr:l t:l of th0 Frairie Itiirer
Entren<:!l1llh::tt t of Streams (Lat'0 Fel.''iod Lowering
.of Sc.:a LeVe-l) .. ..... -,,., .... ... ... .-
. 28
:Listory Dev\,;lopmt:mt During T:i;Je _of Stand-
irig Sc:a ,,. , .. . 29
3.. Initial Shor . .:::liae ; , , , , .. 29
b. Ini ..-rth_ of i.:arsnlunds .. -. . 30
c. of the 3;;a................. 30
d. f'rcsent Chor,:;line Dcvclopr .. ent. 30
e. of l.Iarshl.r:.rldS racst of Calcasieu
.R.:i Vt:!l' . . ,. . . . - Jl
f. .. 31
P&I'l' II GBJLOGY OF LC'CK CO?n'r'OL S'::FVJCTUiill SI T2S
IliPRC/J!;lillJT A.RL\.S
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Introcluctic)n . . ..... .................................
ill VGr Si t;.;s
a. Catfish Control Structura Site .
( 1) .. .........
( 2) Buried Pr:llrie S1.trf;.12e
( 3) Foun'l'ltion ,:.,nd Sc::-..:p-:: . .:;e So1,ii tions
b. Little Ch<:ni.::>r<2 Co:1tr()l Sit.:.: .
(1)
( 2) Fmmdt'.tl0.n c:ml SJep..-:.f\J Go!1di ticns .
c, Sit:j 2 ... ......... .
( l) ...... .. -....................
(2) ?u1ied Plei:.Jtocc:1:-'
(3) F...._ .)._nrlr=ttion C!oy1dit_:_, _ ....... ,
d . Gr,nd Ch8;1iGrE.: Loc:.;: CJJl'i =:or:trol .:Structu.:re Site
(1) ........................
(2) O!'::.gl:1 of R.,.:c .:::1t Clti'-,:..;i ts ..
(3) Jrizin o.f Bt:.ri<.!d L.'?.yer
(4) BuriGd Flei3tocon0 ........
Foillldation and Conditions ..
Schoon...::r S.:.wou Control Structure .Si t0 . , .
a. ........... .............
b. pJ.;;i.: .. toc0n8 DlJpocits .... ..... ...............
c. Juri.,;d PL;istuCt.;fl0 Surfac:; at Contrvl Structure
Sit o. .......................................... .
d, ant SL:c:p..:.,s8 Co!ldi c,j_o1!S ;
Cit:::.nnl;l Jr:1provi: m..::nt Sites .. .........
3.. lo;:errrr-.:ntau !liv:.:r Cha.nn-:;1 I,:q
(1) Natt1r0 o.f :-::v:.:r .
( 2) AccrJtiou Its Cha.m0l
3) P.d0fs Along iii vcr
(4) in C!-;::.L'.!'L;J_,
Ch:mn,;l Imp:rov: Ar0ac; Along
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a. Cr?.ni L!tk_' to Lr:ke SrJction 1
( 1) Nu.t11r,; of Sedim:;nts .. .
( 2) Form.r:.tion . _ 1
b. Kh2_ to La1:e fo V::: rmilion Bay Section ............. .
( 1) Shallow Buried D<!Fosi ts 1
.. . ,,. , . .. . .
.;
ILLlTSTRATIUt'JS
-- _.. , __ ....... __
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Title
. J:;'ollowin!! Par:e
--.-
1
bcr-r'r ............ ... ..... . . 10
2 !1. ?6rtion of En.ckb.-.;rry Hid2 with Well Defined
.:{-.;d f!.iv,_;r Ch:-nh'18l Scars of .. . . 11
3 Jccl\.:D, West of .. -:::.meron, Louisi::t.'1a , 12
4 View Scc:.ch, of Holly B,;,.,_ch. . .; 12
5 . Grove Rirl.g;:; c:-F:r:ieru t:.nd the Proposed Grand Chenia::e .
Lock .c11d Co:-(Lrol 3truc tl.lre Site. . . . . . . 14
6 Vievr of tL.e. :a.iver Below Lake........... -32
7 .S:::!hconcr Bayou Control Struc tur,J Site. 37
Title
1 Location Map
2 Physic:f:r ::.phic F-,:e.tur.:s of Loui3iana
3 Plvck Cf Littl0
4 . C-.:n'-:.raliz2d Str:ltlzr;.:.phic -
D3posits
5 fi,..;:Lmcl Cross S:;cti ')!ls-:=?.cc\nt PJ D:posi ts.
6 .Scctiorts of Holly .0en.ch and Vici!l.ity
7 Cr'JSS Secti:Jns of Lit tl:-; Ch\,..nit..:r'-3 Perduo a..!d
Oak Grov,;; .Ridge
8 Contours Showing Lat.3 Pleistocene
Vallf:::y.s-Southr:estcrn Louisiana
9 :md Contours-Prairie
Loc rt tion t>f -:1 Cross Sections
10 Fr'2.cture Pattern :;.nd Cil Fields-Sou.th.wc:.:::t>::rn Louisiana
11 Late and of
Soutr . .;rn Louisiana
12 Su'Js-:JrfJ.8e Co:1t..::;1rs Oll Top of 0:xi iiz.:;d
T!..: rosi to-\'i cini ty of Gr:=md Louisi.'l.na
13 Cros3 Secti:)ns lJ-D' ::nd E-S -V::.ci:--ti ty or Chenicre,
14 Cross S2..;tions F-F' ::.!10. G-G' -VL::inlty of Gx::md Chcnier8:,
LcuisiMa
d
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Title
Su .. curfac-:i c,:mtour.J T:::>p of Oxidized Pleistocene
I.Jeposi ts...;_Cfltfish Foint Gontr.:Jl Struct.1re Site
Cr:>ss_3ccticins A-A' and 3-B'-Cu.tfish Point.Co:1trol
Structure Site
.Sub:.mrface Contours :;nd Cross Section Sho't'rinc Top of
O::icl:Lzed Plei3tocene Deposits-Litt;le
CuEtrol Structure Site
Snbsu.rfE-ce Contours and Cross Section Sh Top of
Ox..id.L .. ed Deposits-Grand c:1enicre Site :To. 2
Subsur.fe:..c::. Cout)urs and. C1o3s Shovd.ng Top of
O:::i.dize,..JL Plei3tocen; Chcniere Control
struGture Site
Cross Se::!tiO!'lS 3-3' anri c-c f -Grarld Chen5 .. er;} C;)ntro1
Str'lcture Site
Contours on Top of O::ddized Pleistocene
Jepo:::its-Vicinity of Schooner 3ayou lock
Cross Sec+,ions A-A
1
e:.:1d 3-S'-\ficinity of
Cross Sections C-C' and D-D'-,!icinity of ScLooner Bayou
Subsur l'ace Co.r.tours on Top of Pleistocene
Dep::>si ts-Schooner 3:.you Control St . .r-ucture Site
Cross S-E' -Schooner Ba'rou Control Site
Cross Ject.ion A-A
1
-3etvm(;n Grand Lake .:md Lake
GEOlLGIC-iL
OF THE
Wl.'ER hi VEil. BASIN
0JD
. A?..EAS IN GOASTAL LOUISIANA
IN'BODUCTION
1. Scope. This r..;port is eli vided into two parts" Part I rresents
a general study of the surface and subsurfi.ice geo+.ogy of the lower
tau Riv.;r Bc. ....::.in and adjacent coastal r::arshlCt.nd areas in southwest Louisiana.
Th0 area investigated is shown on pL:.tc 1 and includes that portion of
southwest Louisiana Hhich ext.:;;uds from the western edge of the Mis:.:issippi
Alluvial Valley to the Sabine River and 13l1C:s lyinG south of the lati-
tude of 2nd D\)Q\llncy. of Ll':is section, most cunsid-
eratien W3.S given to th . ..; b2lt cf co.qstal ;,,a.r3hlc::nds '.;}ich me.ke up the
south half of the :trct:. II r;resents the r2:.>ults of ;nore detailti!d
investigations of areas wh3re lock control structure sites and
chmnel improvements are proposed. Fcur prop.Jsed lock n...'ld control structure
sites along the r"I,.r::enUm Riv;.;:- ;,'ere i:1vcstigHted, as w1.s the Schooner
Ryou coatrol structarc: site. 1:1c.: ch::.nnel improvement areas examined were
the ::,err.1entau rtiv ... r below Graue! cl.'1d the Ltracoastal Wht;;rways be-
tween Gr ... 1d and te bet'.'!een 1!hi te and Vt-:rx.ilion B<:Y
of these .'lreas ar0 also shovm on Jilate 1.
2. lliC y,:J.s by the DL;trict E;lgi-
neer, Nt:'."; Orleans Dir>t,rict w::.s z.:.uthorized 29 July 1947 by
the President, River Co ... m.i.ssion.
3. Purpose. T!!t: pl.i.rpose of the investi?,ation was to determine the
nature, origin, .and distribution of and Pleistocene deposits, the
hi story of development of coastal southwe.st Louisi 'lna, .s.nd to interpret
from these studies the geological coaditions at the lock and con-
trol structure sites, of the area3 of proposed channel improvement.
4. Source of data. studies of the region were based on
photogrc.phs, topographic :1nd pla.11imetric maps, U. S. CoE.st ?..nd Geodetic
Survey H .. ,droeraph sheets, :md topographic an'l surveys of the
iviermentau Hi ver made by the U. S. En ineers. . Subsurface information was
obtained from many sources. Ov 5
1
000 loss of shallor-: borings were made
available by geophysical companies. Thuse borinGs v;er0 mude in closely
groups in scattered arec....s v;i thin the uarshl-..nds. Files of drillers
logs, electrical logs, samples from many deep oil nells throughout
the region were made by the Louisiana Survey. Lo.ss
of many scattered vm.ter W\.:lls wer1:3 obtainGd from the 3aton Rouge office
of the Ground Water Division, U. s. Geolo .. .Survey. and logs
from shallow borings raade ;,long highw:::.ys near the CJcasicu River \Jere
1
supplied by the Louisiana Iiiehway Corrunission. The study also utilized
logs and samrles of sever.:ll hundred n:ade in marshlands by the
Orleans r:ngineer District and the ;'laterwaJS 2xperiment Station. In
addition, approximately 100 shallow borings were made the Orleans
Engineer District. for the express purrose of correlating scattered infor-
mation gained frc'm other sources and to supply materi:tls necessary for
the lithological and rillalyses herein. Field
examinations of topogr3.phic features <uld. of the sediments along the Cal-
c.:-tsieu :illd Mermentau Rivers and along the Intracoastal Ylaterways W3re made
during the course of the investieation.
5. Future supolem.:nts to this investigation. frJri!1gs are being
made to give infonaation for completing the study of t.he.geol.;..
oey of the C::1lca.sieu Hi ver channel im_orcvement area which falls within
the area under general investigation. vr.ill be made in the central
part of the coast.:U marshland s::mtil of te ;.-,.nd 8rc:.nd Lakes, an area
nhere there is a lack 0f subsur.f.:..ce for the present.
report. W.'1en these borings are completed suppl:'ments to this report will
be presented.
6. Personnel. The investi['c.tjon ,ias by tl.e
staff of the Experim<::nt R. J. P. R. 1.1abrey,
R. L. Oakes, A. Osanik, W. D. Jr., gcolo8ists; Miss Barbara
Wyatt, draftsma.rq and f,rrs. J. 0. ,Jr. and G. R. clerk-
typists. The proj:;ct was under the general su_:)erv u.:ion of the consul-
tant under the imr:1edi.::.te su;Jervision of 3 . ,J. Ie3lanc. Final draft-
ing of many of the plates was d.:;.ne by ;:he Orleans En:in:;er District.,
PAnT I
I:JTR.ODUGTIOn
7. Gener!il consider.'ltions. Coastal SO'!thr;estern touisiana forms a
part of an extensive. lowlx1d borders the lrulf and extends
inland to an average vd.dth of o':er 200 miles. lov:land region is
formed of many u:1its v.rhich, are called the
Gulf Coastal Flain. T'ne j)crt of the Cc-:1.st.:1l Fl:::.in is everyv;here
comprised of a series of step-like, sea.m.r:l-til te:i, co.'lstwise ter-
races, and a near sea. level belt of eoa.:;-:::al !::J.rshlE:.n'lS of greatest vlidth
in Louisia'lat The surfaces of the tilted terraee in the Louisiana-
Texas-Mississippi region have traces of ancient co,.lrses and distributaries
of the Gulf Coast rivers, which ::,imt they were :)[ice "deltaic
plain" areas similar to the rr,odern coastal rJarshlands of Louisiana,
Various parts of the Gulf Plain rcgj on h:;.ve bE!en intensively .
studied :md the m::t.jor fc:![!.tures of its gP-vlogical development are knovm.
It has been definitely shown that a gradual seaward uuilding of the land
has been brougLt ahout by the deposition of enornous masses of deltaic
sediment around the mcuths of rivers, and that the coastal r.,argin h:ts
2
been subsiding v;hile the sediment acctunula.ted. As a result, both ttdo""n-
buildine" and "outbuilding" have occurred as contemporaneous processes.
It has also been that while "down:-,uilding" has progr.;ssed,
a inland uplift taken :::lace so the entire region now
tilted seaward. These ;-rocesses, t:rhir;h ho.ve c0ntinued for great lengths
of time, were acceleratedduri:1g the or Glacial epoch when
cyclical fluctuations in sea level directly influenced depositional :m.d
erosional activity of Because t:.1e;r are essential to an under-
standing of the interpretation of the of coastal so
Louisiana contained herein, these several main concepts at Gulf Coastal
Plain development are presented with brief descriptions in succeeding
8. Nature g:-ov:th of ti1e LouisiC'l.na shorelands . The near sea
level lmds bordering the Louisiano. s:1cre 2.re: some of the must recently
constructed portions of the North cc...ntinent. In the past few
thousand years of l!J.te Recent time the coastal lands have been
extended seawo.rd over 100 rriles in tlle lati tvd0 of ]ew Orleans, and for
more than 15 miles in Louisi<'na. These :::horelands include the
great delta system of the l.:ississippi River c . .nd the vm.ter bodies
which mark the mouths of the .:ermentau 3.nd Vermilion
Rivers. They also include 1.1.rge 1 .. ;:1rginal shallmr bodies which
mark encroachments cf the sea, sh.:tllow inl.:.md. r;ater bodies which con-
tain fresh and brackish water. In genera:!., all water bodies are now
actively enlarging by wave attaek ar.d they !)rovide evidence of a gradual
loss of land v,ri thin ti1e :.-tarshlands v:hich has continued ttroughout the
period when progradatior1 of. the shore has been the dominant r:rocess.
a. Depositional Dnd at the shoreline in the
coastal m:-1rshlanr1s. The }.lississippi 1tiver is actively contributing fine
sand, silt an.ci clay in sufficient to causa an advmce of
its _r:asses, :.mt at no other pl3.ce 1.long the shcre is seaward
:.,uildiug progr . .:ssint; at such a rapid rate. The minor streams in south-
west Louisiana all drop their coarse load inland 3.t ti:e head of estu-
arine bodies :11d contribute only fine silts :.;,d cl.:t7S to the tidal
mud flats at the shore. The muds
:;:'.1 t11kes
place. E:'.ch f(:atlJ.rc of th.] pl'.Lt, .lake, b.y, .1arsh, srw.m:-:', or rivE!r
channel rt3presents ?....'1 envircill'l,.nt i:1 wh.ich sudi.:;.,..;nt
e"lch shift of N'lississi Pi Piv . ..;r :..h'..:!"e is .::.n ah;:udorlilent of a complete
distri')utary system on tilt,; deJtr.:.ic r:nd the cre.:-.tion of 2n entirely
new group of .:;nvironraents of de,:;osi The ne:v1 delta s;rstem erows
seaward in shn.llow r >:xiue .. t,...;rs .. to th...:! old delt'1.. As its ."l?:.SS
accumulates it r nd c:ffectivel:r older deposits,
and replaces tte old environnlC;nt vri t.h n;.;"i oi1es. Th.,s, a m::.ss of delt;lic
sediments ;,v:!..y "Je reft;rrt:d to as hr:ving the structur0 of pile of l:eavesY
th the veins of each bc:int; r:nrk-...!J. by ri v:;r ch;,;.nnels, intervenous
areas by the marsh deposits, Y..i th triG irregul:1ri ti':JS aro1md the
l.J.teral margins of leHf b;.;ing f:.llc;d .i th marine bot tom, and
bay bottom deposiLs. T"-e pil..: of le:.ves during long COi1tinu-.:;d
shifting of the ri V..:I' 111outh .:md its is possibl..: by
<::!.cti ve subsidence of the .r,ogion under the lo;-..d. The deltaic
mass of th\J River, as kno..-m froJn s:unples, is :1. ft1e..z.; of inter-
enviroHments I:ith 0Xtrt-!l.tely complex lay.:.;ring extending to
great depth. In thi.:; of Louisi:-:.na
there is nlso found 2.11 irlt.:rfingt:ring of fr . .:;sh and depos-
its, but the region is less c.ctively subsiding th0 o..ccumulations are
more in nnture.
13. Gulf Co2st Geos-v-n:!li;w. D . .;;ltcic sedin .. has been active
in the Gulf Coast reg].on tb.rout3hout mcst (Jf the era, starting
at least as cc:>rly as the he:ginn:i..ng of Lower Cretacl;ous e_I:.och C!.p-
proximC!tely 120,000,000 aGo, Durine this great Lmgth of time,
betwetJn 25,000 "nd f(; .t of s .:dif'1_onts }::: ve hrrvc
Y I"iussell, d. J., :1d :-tt.:ssell, 1. D., "Jitissis.:..;inpi Delt,::-. Sedi-
mentation in Recc!1t A.':ler. Assoc. '}colorists,
p. 173, 1939.
5
deformed th0 e?..rth's crust into a huge downwarping, the Gulf Co,3.st Geo.;.
The J.Xis of this structure parallels. the Gulf shore in south-.
i'wst Louisi'.!lla nnd is found just se.1.ward of :'Jew Orlean.s in southeastern.
Louisian.1.. Its rir.gni tude hcs b0;.;n dutt;rmincd by borings, which :reach
a 111mnm.rn depth of qvcr 15 ;ooo. f,;ct, gcophysic2.l prospecting.
L::mdvra:rd 11Fli.ft ( ti
1
tiug) co:-;t2mpor::>.IH::ous with subsidence
in the Gulf Coast Geosyncline. A complete sequence of str2.ta from uarly
dcposi ts to those; presently forming is 8Xposed in the Gulf
Coastal Plain. The old8st uf these outcrop at the inner margin of
th.:; plain and ha.\rc; b.:.;cn traced in tht: subsurft:.ce by of well samples.
S.11Ilples from the outcrops and from Yrclls that all coastal
plain rocks dovm close to sev. l8vel mainly as deltaic plain
deposits. Studies!! show that each group of deposits has its thickest
porticn just from the :.t(;st of the r:ext older group of
sediments. The:y also show thc:t yoW1g dclto.ic mn.ss..;s whic:h form nec:.r
the present sh reline are th3 thickest ones As a result of tho overlap-
ping of deltaic me.sses, the en tir.:; se;d..int,::mtary Sl.;c-t,ion thickens as a
gigantic wedge tow.q,rd the P.xis . cJf the !',ulf Con.st Geosyncline. Each. epi-
sode of forced tlK portions of tl1c Gulf
Coast:1l Pl;:'..:in to subside, whil'c3 snbsidc:1cc wrts t :king pl:-c-a th,3 l:md-
vmrd portions of the! pl "in 1. :::re In uff .. :ct, tno proG(!Sses he.ve
been ncti ve contcmporant.;O'Jsly, l nd';f.--.;.rci u;;lift seaward subsidence.
nd1-mrd uplift is lsss a'!rl its totrl \jff';:;ct is measured ortly .
in hundreds of f -.; . .;t, v:here:;,s sub::;idcn(.;c: is in thous:mds of feet.
?Tevertheless, it '':ts l:>c:-L1 this t.::.l t-like uplift which continur..lly de-
formed the continent '"'.n!.l h::s ke.t 1:-h:J S(G. from <:.:ncro'1.ching fr:r inlRnd.
3ec::mse th,::; uplift is CO"Jf:.emyorr:n.Jous with :1t the
-.nrgin, it is consid,:..red t:1c-!.t the uplift ::re adjust-
ments to coJ.st<:.l moVG!7k:nts S(;t ur by tl-:e of r:cr:umulatin[ scdi;
1
1 .. ints.
b. F:--acturinr nith tiltinc. Gt;;Ological ;)nd eeo-
physic::.l studit::.:=; shm: th::t the .:;ntire Gulf Pl:-;.in is crossed by
systems of fr::.ctur...;s, gener:1.lly disposed r;ith northe'!.st trends.
systems p::trallel the C0<3t in ,.-_ more nJ2.rly trend,
some faulting is knovm to tr0nd north-south. Surface expression of
fcmlt s;ystcms is found in soils changGs, vcgGt:tion align-
ment of dr.:lin.::lge, ?J1ci in th .. ; nlit:snment of salt dome structures. The
f:.ults, l'lhvr.:::; studied in detcil in petrolifero us clre::.s, show a dcfini te
in th- ;-:.mount of displr.ccnvnt of str-:.t2. depth, :::nd it is
only rarely n f;_;w inches or a i"e1.:r fei::t of displicemt.:nt :lre found
at the surface. The of with depth denotes long con-
tinued growth of thf..; f::.ults v1hile th.:: s mCtSs was ::::.ccwnulating
in the Gulf Coast Q(msynclinc. .10ccus0 of this, :illd because the frn.cturc
systems <lre cligned vr! 4h the I'l<ljot: of the continent,
it has concludect3/ the arises from lines of weakness
at gre:1t depth in th: .... continent..,_! frrunework l'1d mov . ..::mcnt along these lines
been ncti by force:s which c!luse th,J subsidence P .. '1d uplift
ij Fisk, H. :.J., Irvc:..;tigation of the Alluvi.:tl V:.llcy of the
Lorre:r ssissippi ili vc:r," :!ississipni Ri y ..:r Commission, 1944.
?) Fisk, H. ?T._, idem., p. 67.
6
of the Gulf margin. 'These f'1ults h;::.ve bt::,:n active in the const:1.l region
where evidence of. thair moV2!1Wnt is most pronounced near the. inner-
gin of the !:arsh6s.
14. Effects of Flt:.:i stocenc '1) .s i!1 sea level.
a. Cyclt:::s of vro.sior.t :iJ1d strec:m The Pleistoc0ne
or Glaci:ll. epoch covers last l,OOO,GOO of geologic:-:.1 time just
prior to tho:. :?pooh, During Glacial ti;,-,c, clim:::tic fluctuations
the of ice during five distinct stages.
stages of ice were by longer, interglacial
ste:.ges duriug .vhich eli tL:tic ccnditions wc-re simil.r.;.r to those; of the
prcst.:nt During glr..ci1.l stages th0 ice formed in G8nt0rs in the
polar r-:;t::ions of th<:] continents r.nd spr0ad toward equa.torial region.
During e:..ch of glaci?.l st g.:;s the tot:.J. ctrca of thG COr1tinents COVered
by icv r.s great 20,000,000 ;Jil..;s; and the ice reached an
esti:nated thickness of at lcr .:Jt a .r.ri.lc. The ice masses formed
from water withdram from the s-.;<.:, iliJd d'..lri:tg -.:J..ch sea
WC!.s lovr..::red ayproxi:nat . .::ly L
1
CO uceP.lY fncisod
in th0 r.1::.rgins of th.._: contin--nt in ti;:,.;s of lowered seE lev...::l when th0y
cut dovm to r:wct their lmrl\.:red o.:.se Th.:.: cf the Hississippi
River cut during the lat0st gl.::.cial is kn.,)v'lfi to bE.: over 400 feet
deep at the .resent shorcl::.::-:;, 3o11th of HoliDl-:.. interglacial stages
mcltw<!ters returned to s::;C!., -:md. ::::.s til-:.: oceanic ltNel was grn.dually
raisod, streams n.lluv5 ... ,ir v.::.llcy::.... Tht,;s.::; fm;.turcs of vn.lley cut-
ting ::nd valley filling consLi tute .:..)O!n<.; of th.;; most important g.spccts of
the gt:;ology of southv:c;st(;.rn Loui5ian?.,, V:.lleys of t.h-.; rivers .cut in
south\':est Louis1ana during l[tSt g:Lc:ci. "ll 2.r.: kno'.Jn to r:xtcnd over
200 b8low' sea l0VC!} :<.t the: shoreline:. T'r:ey e.rc fill;d vdth R3ccnt
scdiw..;;nts, th upper of r!b.ich consti t :tes th..;_ l'( . .:;ct..nt
b. in of dcl_t:i..._Se:!i.':l.:nt"tion, su:,::;idence, -:nd
u;::lift durL1p V1c fleistoc<:,:lv eLCch. Incre.sed. erosion by streams,
s::a level drop r--ed durint: .slJ.cie.l st:t:Jo, '.!errni t ted de:l taic s2dimenta-
tion to place thG rate in the history of GJlf
d12position. As a r.:::sult, thick wedr:es of sediment at abnor-
n'-3::-tr '::h.; .::dge of the; co:1tinc;ntn.l sh-::lf duri;g th,.:se
periods of lov1ered Sl!c:t levGl, :-:.nd bot"l subsid...;:1cc 11plift wore co-r-
respondingly The southern one-third of :,he; G11.lf Coastal
Plain WJ..s _raised to its .. . .;le::vr:tion during subse!"?uGnt to the.
Pleistocc:ne epoch. This portion of thG plain is the tsrrnin of
broad upliftt:d coe:.stwise t0rrac.; slopa seaward ;md which
ar0 by narrow t::rosion;,;.l b:;l ts .1/ 'TI10 surfaces of th8 step-like
WE::re form ... d :1s Juring interel?...ci<:tl stages when
sc:a wns nt its 1.-:r.}C-.=nt Each deltaic
plain is und;.;rl:::in by a thick sequenc-.: of co<J.rsv to fine Sddi:nents which
bury th;;,; irregularitiC:s 'hich ':f,;re; cut duriug the
gl::ci[!.l stagv.,. Hece:nt m.r:.rshland deposits in th..:; area tL1dt.:r invcstigc.tion
follow this pc..ttern also and bury th.:.: southern part of tht,.; surface of the
1/ The tt;rrc:c,.:!S in are DD.mt=;d Hilliana, Jc,ntl0y, Montgma<}ry,
Wid Prairie:. The ,Jillie.rm. is the oldest, highest cqd the most
affected by vrosion.
7
youngest te:rrace which was eroded and downwarped Li.S the deltaic masses of
the last glacial stage accu;nulated offshore. The escarpments separating
the terraces represent the conlbined effGcts of erosion r-.nd uplift of the
contin..;nt?l me.rgin that took pl'.CC Juring glaciJ.l str.ges. In some places
the escarpraent is m :.rked by low cliifs cut by wave action, but in most
aret1.S there is a poorly defined zone of srosion or, as is the case of the
Prairie terr1ce-rac>.rJhlm1d contact, a. gentle overlap of youngor deposits
on a more stceflY sloping plain.
c. :>nd oxidation 0f stages
gl[l.cial vrhen s:aa levJl dropped 2nd streCJJ:ls cut deep vallevs,.
grow1d w.:lt.:;r ::ithin th0 upoGr p3rt of th.;! tntrzmchcd co2.stal plain .depos-
its ciropned to 9. J.evcl cnd the beds bec.:une oxidized as
meteoric ':m..t::r8 seeped thrc'.lgh th3m. Soluble mr-tt:;rin.ls 1:cre leached from
the b(:;ds by the R.ction of th8se migr:::.ti!1':: ground W[l.ters :..nd tht.J near-
surfc>..c\.3 materir ... ls in ge:ner:tl bec:'.Jn(; altered. The .effects of we.'lthtr-
ing '1.re known to ext0nd to of cv;_;r 30 f ..;-.:::t in mnst pl[;.ces and at
s.::;v..:;ral ties J V\..: fOlmd i!1 s:-:!IipL:s fro:n 100 f.8et below
th0 surfact.:. Oxid2.tion of iron oth..::r suoste.nces in these weathered
soils has gi vr...:n a cho..r:?.ctvristic ... dlo-.-v-brmvn, or y . .:llow color to
th2j:l. As a result of th(.; wo.J.th.-]ring prvcz.:sses, uprer parts o the
terraces [IJ'e fi1'r.1Br L._ss weL.th(.;r ..::d c.nd hc:.ve a much lowdr
porosity th-m w1nl tcre;d s .mples. The ;:ill. t,.:rio.l by ground
W[!.t-vr is ::-;r..;ci,::-it;;.ted ::.t d..:;pth beolow the surface
forms zones vf nodul.:::1' c.:.lciu;n concrvtions. The color and
other ch2.ractcristics of th . .; oxidiz,;d .. nd J ec.chcd PleistocC;ne Prairie
terrtice d-.;posi ts form r.,..;:-ns vf distinguishing b...;twcen them and
the ov...;rlying Rt.!c.ent mcTshlDd .:i.n southvlt.;St Louisic>..na.
15. Introde.ction. Th0 mnin phycio6raphic fvaturvs of coastal south-
west Louisie.naare ___ sh::mn on pl 'l tc 2. Th.::y :nclude the broc:.d submerged
shelf rith its cov:!r of sh.llo:J w1tcrs, thG sea
level coast:..l m-:rshl::.nds, ,::nd thB te;rrr>.c;;d uplnnds which hold trP.ces of
the :1...11cient uplifted plP.ins vf t:-,e Fississippi Only the
southern pc.rt of trh.' tcprr..ced upl.-:.'1d is on this End most of
region shown within tlK tcrr"!.i.n of the. lowe:st terr;.-tcc, the
Pralrie. Howcv.:;r, :1. :)()rtio!'l of tiL: :mtcrop of the Montgomery -::nd
3sntley coc.shlisc turrac<3s is shovm in the northY>J\;Ct of map, pl:-.te
2, ::>.nd presents a gen..:;r!:.l id,;Cl. ::1.s to thv stl"'p-lil<8 of tho terraced
upl:-::.nds. No furth..:;r consid..;r:.ti.on is to b..; given to tho terraces
ful outsidt th(.; t\;rr:'.in ccnsidGr0d in this
16. Rslil;f. Th:(; entire CO:lSt::>.i rB,ion is On\J of extremely
low rt;lief with only n fL:W poi. re:'.ch.-L:1g 10 feet 1.bove sea level, and
v;i th I.!Xtensive onl:: ::tbout '-' foot vi ther th....: sea or the
rithin thv marsh. Th..; Pr?.irie t..::rracr...: which forms
a 1-:.rge pnrt of tht: ;.re-: north c,f the .. l::>..rshland is aln a .littlv
crodud surf;.ct.; \U th .:. L.ss than 10 feet. ThL gre:::test
8
relief is fmmd '.long the wr:.lls of tho;.; :->.lluvi :.1 which have bocn
cut into th\:; terrae..; This rcli.Jf; mc::surcd fr:>m tho swrunpy floor
to th..; Prairie tcrr;;.c-3 a maximum of 20 ft;ct.
17 Dr."'.i.nP.t;'C. The., r.ylin drcin coP.stal southwest
Louisir.na .:..re tho 3:-.bineY, Vermilion, CalcJsieu and ivfermentnu Rivers.
Each of the streCJlls flows throt:.gh e.."Ctensive water bodies before reaching
the Gttlf (see plate 1), giving the coastline an estuarine aspect, although
the lakes are separcted from the sea by short tidal The Sabine
River flows through Sabine Lake, the Calcasieu through Lake,
the Mermentau through Grand Lake, Upper 1iud Lcl<e 2nd Lower Lake, and
the Vermilion River empties into Vermilion Bay. The mr:rshlrrnds between
thc:se r.1njor stren.ms n.re cJ.rcined by a complicated network of bayous fmd
cEm:1.ls which empty either into the main into the Gulf or inlnnd
lake systems, or into other large vd. thin the marshland which connect
with the river systems or ve minor ri.r:t-i_lFle connections directly with
the Gulf.
:1. River The C-:1.1 c.1.sieu River flon through
the low upl2.nds of southern Louisiana in ,n;ener tl soth;'festerly direction
from Oakdale to the of Cnlc;;..sieu Lr.ke, bouth of l.r.ke Charles, from
where it flows southvr:1.rd to the Gulf. It 3, 000 square miles, .
with its princiral tri butn.ries in north md viest of Lake
Charles 211d its shorter on the
low terrace surface. .
b. Mermetlt.:iu River The Mermentau lli ver drainage
basin is tothe 1-rairfe terr;lce and includes an <2rea of
approxi1nn.tely 1,800 square miles between the Calcasieu 'nd Vermilion
llivers. Its _;-:rinci;.:al tributaries are 3ayou L.'lcassine on the viest, Bayou
Nezpique and 3ayou rles Cannes on tile north, P.nd Jaycus Flaquemine 3rule
Queue de Tortue on the north :illd interesting of
the streams in this b:.1sin is that almost all of the smaller ones enter
the principal tri r:i th a flow, more or less pc.rallel
with the tt!erment.:.u Ri vt::r-B;::.you des Cm1nes alignment (see plate 2).
c. Vermilion Rive::: The Vermilion 1iiver drains ap-
proxi;nc.tely 500 SC)U<.:.re rules cf south Louisis.na lying to the south and
e:-J.st of the lJerrnentau drain:1ge. The stream has only a few minor tribu-
tary b..-.yous !'nd is import .... nt mainly :.;.s a drrJ.n=1ge line 'r'Thich once functioned
as a distributary of the Mississippi River nhen the occupied
its Be1you Teche :ne::.tnder bc:l t (see pl te 2). This former
distributary channel crosses the esc.::.rpnent between the Prairie terrace
and the Mississippi Alluvial !:..t 1-'lf:J.yette, is maintained to-
d::.y ns an outlet channel for locc:l dr..,in-:tge in the Valley.
18. Uol::nd .:trea; Prnirie of the uplmd area shown
on plate 2 lies wi.thin the of Pr:Urie terr"-1ce. This sur-
fe.ce is a remarkably fl:.t sloping plcin which is shown on the
Y The s:y.stem of the S::bine River is not considered herein
since it lies gener::lly to the west of the under study.
9
geologic of Texas as co[l.stwi.se Beaumont Pln.in, :-.nd has been mapped
in ;.nd southeastern a.s both the Hnn:nond '"!.nd
cola terrn.cesi/. It is much vader in the south central prtrt of Louisiana.
th:n elsewhere in the Gulf Co ..stnl Plain and be tr[iced northw.:lrd from
its coo.stvri.se elements <.'.S a broad wedge flanking the western, side of the_
1iississippi Alluvi2l Vc.lley as far north as the Hills at
1\ioncla, La. This wedge is ?5 miles wide in. the latitude 0f Lake Charles,
and narrows to c:.pproxima tely 30 miles in the lu.ti tude of Opelousas. To
the north in the }.fe.rksville Hills, it is only 10 miles wide-.
That portion of the terre.ce wedge mapfed on plate 2 shows its_
and western boundaries lie close to the Calcasieu River. The. surface of
the wedge is broken in the north by the broad flood.:>lain of the Red River,
Rnd its eastern boundnry is the escarpmtnt overlooking the Mississippi
Alluvinl V:.lley. This esc::rp:nent can be followed--southward to the viciJ:lity
of Frnnklin v.rhere it disappe2.rS :->.S the Prairie terrace slopes beneath .
the coastal belt. cf t!1e Prairie surface is dotted with
smc_ll earth rnonnds c.r:lled "pimples" wh3.ch rise a few feet 2.'oove the gene-
level (see figv.re 1).
a-. Prr..irie terr:1ce slo: .. e. slope of :__he Pr:urie terr2..ce
surf.1.ce is in n Lo,lisi-:.n'"!.. Alortg .its e:'lstern edge.,
in a north-south .line from the 1t: .. rksville Hills to the :-; rsh line, n.
distance of 90 IPiles, ti1e slope is sf;en to &"".'"!.U'.l':lly increr1se seawtrd.
Between -:1nd Orelous::.s, n. di3trmce of !TO ;,ul'=!s, it a.verP.ges 0.70
feet :'er mile. Betv:een Opelousas :nd t::.e m.arshline i t0 is slightly
more th2.n 1.2 feet per mile. :i'hus it -::ppec:rs the slope increD-ses
tovm.rd the centers of m:.-;dern deltaic sediment::tion to the south &'1d e::;.st.
The terre..ce passes br.;ne:J.th the c,y._st".l rshl mds ".long .:m i:r:-regular
contact line which been shaped \Jy both erosion;.l activity and struc-
tural move:nents. Deep trenches cr..rvc;d in the Pr_'lirie 3urface d.1ring the
le-st gl.:tci'll 2poch ;-:ere subserruently filled vd. th Recent sedi .1ents as
.q result e.re ncY! remnants of the old divides -;-:hich project above
the some clist:.nce south of the m0.in Pr:Qrie terr.;.ce upland.
Good cf such rernnn.nts are :,:o.rceaux Island (l.nd- Pines Ridge
between the ".nd Hi vers' ::.nd sevt:rc.l between the
C:J.lcasieu River Grcmd Lke. Structural mover.Lnts h:1ve uplifted
portions of the Prairie Typical uplifted areas -:tre Hackberry
Islwd (see figure 1), south of Lake and Little
Prnirie Ridge, south of Kaplan. ex:-:.1aples of uplift ::u-e the
"Five Islands" so..lt do1r1e structures north of Vermilion anrl Cote Bl.".nche
Bays.
b. terrace a late Pleistocene plain.
The surf3.ce of the wedge-shaped Pr-:>iril..! terr:jce in southwestern Louisie.na
holds traces of gncient Red iliver courses "nd <:1 ne:.:rly. complete
belt of the late Pleistocene Mississippi Riv.:;r. These C!.ncient constuc-
tion:ll features have bt'en sor!lewhat subdued since their me..ny
1/ Howe, H. V., Russell, H. J., .J. H., HPhysiogr1.phy of
Southwest Lou.isi.:::..rl:l
11
in Geolo[y of Cmeron and Vf-:rmilion
Parishes, Louisiana of Gonserv.!l.tion, Geolo'gic.:;.l Bulletin
No. 6, 1936. These !).uthors recognized both H:::.mmond Fensacol2. ter-
races in Vermilion Farish. ?he oresence of both of these surf,"ces h!ls
not been 8y this investig:J.tion.
10
of yeC"trs but they ::re sufficiently well expressed on aerial
photogr::.phs :?.nd topoz,r.qphic to show they. rep:esent a well:- . _
preserved dvltuic plain .fer:.ture to thc:.t v:hlch 1s presently
forr.ted to the er.st by the :::iS:3issippi tributary stre::.ms; In
late Pleistocene deltc.ic pletin, hov:evei"",. tht: Red iliver ::.re dis-
tinct from those of the r:ississippi Ri v0r r,..'1d form n of nea;rly
pnrr'.llel to "the" \.'est of the ::w . .ster strerun. The position of mnn
elements in er.ch ti ver system is shovm on plate 2.
(1) Red H.iver co"urses 211d control of modern drainage.
The mcient Hed River courses r.ppe'!.r on photogr 9hs as long, linear, _
cultivated fc3.tures slightly : bove the gener:ll surfa.ce level. Seg-
ments of old Red River occur 1'Iithin these fen.tures and
are 0i th0r defined by soils or nuw followed by minor stre.-:ms. The
ch "'.nncds hc.ve !:re of simil?.r size to ths-se of the mod"]rn Red River
(see photograph, figure 2) :nd :-.re f1::.:1}:(;d by low levees whic?
slope c.:w3.y from them tow:.'.I'd lm:l:1ncis. It is these levees whlch
form the drained l.::nds ''-S ?. re:.qlt, extensively cultive1.ted.
Topographic coverage showin;::: of th:.;se P...'1cient courses is
unfortunately limited> the only Ht'l_ -s th0se of the vicinity
of L:J.ke Ch;1_rles. Th8 'ted Riv-..r 0:1 thL: Pr".ir2_e tcrr::.ce ::lre found:
\':i thin a t b<:-:tvc:.:n Ch
9
.rles rutd cn the south,
c.nd from the C::lc::.sieu lli Vt:r to Opelous:.s on the of 2.
The courses ;_ll trend in a direGticn '.d.th elements
turning southw;,rd in the l;.ti b1de of :::h:.rles. 1110 :::outhwesterly
:1ligrunent of the :unor str,:;:Jns of River s;/stem }s clefl.rly
controlled by the <:!.lifn:.:er.t of the: courses since the streams
either follow f-Led Riv(;i"' ci1.r,.1els or oecupy lowli.nds .between
the old. courses.
( 2) h.ncient Mis sissipni R: vc:r r:-.-: nLler belt arid cor1trol of
modern drcin:.:.ge. Ti12 belt of :-:.ncient led ili vcr .::ourses is trunc:_ted on
the e:.st by the of th-:: :.:ississippi rtiver shown
on 2. The latter belt loc:tlly for:-Js ti1o hj ghest portions of the
terrace surf:J.ce and the l:-:.r1d slopes from its central p'lrt in '1 m:-m-
n-3r simil.:._r to slopes seen :long the of ti1e mCJdern Mississippi
meander belts. Erosicn v;hich forued of the ter-
r!::.ce destroyed much of the me-"'nd.:;r ':lelt n-Jrth of L2.fayette, but elsewhere
it is clee.rly defined vr.i. th ch:::.nnel lor;:::_:-.nds ,_ nd .m::..ny. distinct old cut-
off mw.nder loops. :hl.s ne3Ilder bt;lt is ctiJprox.irintely 20 miles
in width md includes tht) belt of l&nds lyine between :-'l1d Erath.
The fin::! che.nnel position occupied Ly the I.ri.ssissippi River is now
by the Vermilion rti v-;r south of Lc.f:'lyet te. A well defined older
1lississippi nnel em be follo :ed 00:1th of K:.plr1..'1 [lS far P.s the marsh-
le.nds. Hear present edge of the :rr:.:rs!1(js, this old course once flowed
for scver:'.l miles in n gener:->.1 west :rly direction. All of the tribut:=try
stre:uns of th-:; Vormilion River 'lrc coni-.roJled by th'"' slopes of the 1-md
r.ri thin thic b.::lt. minor stre':!m:i directly follow which
vrure once cut-off of the m-:.ster stre"'JJl, while others
levee of t!1e old co:1rscs before fin'"!lly enter-
lng old 1h ::re are fev: Pl!1.Ces in Louisi'"'nn the
f,'!.ctors which c'-mtrol the position of lines be re:-uiily
est ''.hli shed.
11
19. Coastal rr.arshlands. The marshle:,nds form: a coastwise.
belt of near sea level lands wtL-ch e:{tend e<lstward. from the Sabine River.
and merge v:ith the western portion of the Mississirpi deltaic plain in the
longitude of Franklin; La The belt. is aJ-proximately 150 miles l?ng: and .
varies frbm 15 to 30.rniles in>:vidth, averP...ge wi::lth of about 17
miles. The marshlands cover an are;a of 2,950 square tniles,
but they include large water boo1ies such a3 Sabine, Calcasieu, Grand, and
White ;d.tll:areas of 107, lO:.J, 67, and 83 square miles respectivel:f,
and Vermilion, West Cote 3lanche, and East Cote with areas
of l90, 140, a11d 90 square miles. TI1ey also inch1de iruuunerable smaller
lakes givin.; a combined area of water bodies in the coastal marshland in
of 700 square wi the Lia:shes .. e long, narrow,
ralsed a.reas, the anc1ent b:ach r1nges, cal.1.ed chenleresY, and well- .
defined ;,-.odern beaeh rid6es 1-.:hich in places have developed .:U.ong the present
sh8re. many sections, the is not by beaches
but instead is bordered b;r vl5_de ti1al mui .flats.
a. Marshes. ... 1uS ;_ir'2 cor.1po0ed of consoli-
dated sediments vd. th genera:l:{ a -iense or car:e cover. D:...ring an
extended dry period many pc.rts of ":.Le '::ill the wc;ig:-it of
a .'"'lan, but ordinaril? fouti.lg i:lsecur.::. tin!83 of st0rm or
flood almost the entire reei cn ;-, .. '.: be u; surface of
the ;narsh is irt m:my c!1l;, 't cf :.:citted. vei?,etation and roots
charged with v:ater. L. .. s t:1e .. tion in t11e .narshes may be
floating <md is terz1ed develop as soon as the vege-
table growth c!ln b0co::1e rooted. plants tend to -trap sedi-
ments introduced by floodv:ater c.:..r"u .... grow from ac-
cretion of sediment and vcget:_:ble rr:atter.
b. The modern shJre Hest of the
River is marked by a series of '::hi.::!h lw:v-2 been actively forming
in historical time. 'Y.&.:;se are east to ,;est) ooach, Peveto
Beach, a11d Ocean View Bc.:lch ( plar,e 2). WOlve attack h:1s b,:;en cllrected
ag::tinst the marsrJ.ands :1ear Holly (photograph, figure 3) a.1d has
caused a l:::.ndward of the shore. A veneer of shell
detritus and sand has been heap0J to iritagular h.:;ights upon the. mn.rsh-
1::urds during this .. nce G.nd fori:1S <.'. narrov1 ridge of varying
width. The .::..aterials mainly shell detritus c0.rried to the land by
the waves, and some a'1d shell obtained from the rev;orking of the marsh
deposits. Some beaches are up of [!. series of closely narrow
ridges :.ic..rking a local sc:L'lard advance r)f tlie shore { S(;e Oce:tn View Beach,
photogr1.ph, figure 4). Holly reache3 an elevJ.tivn of a.ppioximately
8 feet, Peveto approximately 13 m1d View is 9
f.:;et etbove sea level at its high<:;st point. Because the weight of the beach
is usually sufficient to compact th'3 t111derlying, poorly c0nsolidated marsh .
sediments, the beach settles throughout its period of fornation &'1d,
J:/ FL. ti .-_.::i H. V., "C .. eniurs of Southwestern Locisiana,"
.... w, Vol. XXV, !Iv. 3, 449-461, July, 1935.
y Russell, R . T., "Flot!1.nt," The Vol. 32, :'ro. 1,
pp. 74-98, 1942.
12
.:<-
Figure 1.
Vicent Island at the western end of Hackberry Ridge. This island has been
uplifted above general marsh level and is surrouded by marsh on the north and west. Note the
large number of sm::lll earth rnounds, which dot the surface and pass beneath the
marshlands. Note also the rounded margins of Black Lake which is actively enlarging.
FIGURE
speaking, its thickneSS is slightly more than its elevation above
sea lcvt.Jl. The se::t.H:Td face of each beach is abrupt c.:nct has a
fairly regul!:l.r but the backslor;F..: is irret;ular, being formed by a
series of vm.shover fr1ns that C:.(_v...;lop during times of storm when waves
carry co.J.rse detritus through g.".ps in the ridges. Bt.!:tches average over .
300 feet in width, yt;;t in some ;:laces shell detritus is knovm to (;XtBnd
inlnnd as fat1s for ne::uly one-half mile.
c. l'ud flats ::md rcc.:!Ltl Y abandoned beache0. East of the Cal:..
cc:sieu River is Caneron 3ec:.ch wh.::.ch extends nearly to :-liver,
and. east of the :ermentau .1-tivc:r are Hackberry Beach, and a be::tch near
Cbenier au Tit:;re. Within th.:; p-:1st two decades the grol'lth of mud flats has
shoaled the sea bottom and s0parated tt:ese beaches from the present shore.
:::-esidents report that while mud fl'-lts have been developinf! in these.
locali :.ies new b<:::a;tles have been closely adjacent area:J v-:here
r:md flats were once the shore fe:::.t1re. Thus, ther0 to be constant
strife bet\''een buildin C!:d fJ:.t COPStr:Iction ;lJld it is only in
the areas Y!est of the Calcasieu VBr bec.:.ch building has been the dom-
inant process durint; historical _time.
d. Chenit:res. The :.1ost topoer:.phic :eatures in the
region are ridg0s v1bich in the !Vrshla.nds.
Many of these ridges .1c:v0 live on t
1
1em ::nJ a.: e:. groDp they are called
chenieres. They have -:..11 trlf! cLar.:.ct,Ti sties uf heCt.ches and rise
to irregular elevgtions above se:.: .:evel. Svi::e of thuse farthest inland,
Little and Little ?ec211 re,.ch elev::ttions .-:.bove 10 feet.
T'ne plr.1.te 3, shows ty_;ic:J.l :Jea.::h features of the ci1enieres such
as ;:.. steep seaward face, gentle slope Yri th W[l.snc.ver fws, and rm ir-
re[Sular lenticular of shell detri tu.:; underlying the surface. How-
ever, ffi31)Y .:Jf the chenieres r..re the modern beaches and are m.e.de
up of closely ...;p.:::.ced minor rid,:es. The:;e ridges offer tte best tools for
interpreting the hi story of :,iarsh grmvtb slncG they e.re clearly defined on
topcgraphic m:1ps 2.nd .mtl their alignment records shifts
in shoreline position. The chenieres arn shown on the physiogra;:>hic map,
pl'-te 2, which also presents by dashed lines the positivn which the shore-
line in :<treas where be'!c:1Ps v:ere not :lev loping along the shore.
Thus the coi ty of the shore during each in co6.stal developr:1ent
c::tn be readi:!.y seer.. The three ':lt.J.n t:roups of chenieres in coastal
Louisicma ?..re briefly discussed in succ8eding
( 1) Western .Si;3 ten. 'tr1e group lies be-
tween the S.::bine ni v' . .;r CJ.nd t.he ver, r-..11d insludes a series of
nn-ro::r low ridges, lyi:-tg just i:ll."nd from the rresent beach, which diverge
from Peveto Beach tow.r:rd the lti v'.r be.teh of this series
C'lrV<:3S near its most cromine?1t :-;e;nber in this fan-like series
of chenieres (see ple.te 2). The :lso :-: group of northwest
trending chenieres of which B'.1ck Ririt:e -!nd Sj:d th Ridge the best defined
. These w:,re for;aed <::t :-n e:"lrlicr time th<.n th0 gener.:-.. lly east-west
trendine frv1-like group ne: .r the coast, :1.nd ap --eD.r to be reL!.ted in
form".tion to .Joih'1son' s Bayou, :-.!.11 old pnss of the S(lbine River.
( 2) Csntrnl s.yst..;r:l. The l:1rscst and most extensive
13
group of chenier.::s is locate:d in the m<n"'shland bc;tween the eastern
end of Grand Lake and the liver. Th.::!se chcniJres include seve-
ral wid0 and hieh beach ridge.::;. ch Cippuar to have been formed during
extt.mdcd periods of wave at t'lck, . r;o.ch of thr:; )romine11t cheni.:;rcs in. this
g:oup is sh:wn pl<-. t3 2, ;;,rhcr?. the e: .. .!'li0st f app0ars as .
Ll t tle .Cht:.:nlcreY. Fro11 the allgnmcnt of the; chen1 erc!S, l t would apt:ear
th2.t the Little Cheniero syst;.;m :::ark0d a shore which extended westward to
Back Ridge chc-nivrioJ west of CCL Lar:G. A succession of closely
spaced, similarly aliened cht;ni..;rJS by Cheniere PGrdue and Pwnpkin
Ridge ends with most continuous lin.::ation of chaliercs in. the region,
the Oak Ridge:-Grand C!wnicre which is broken only by
th::: Mcrm\.mt3.u H.i v<::r. Oak Greve Ridge (photograph, figur0 5) extends from
the 1\:2rm-::nt3.u J.ivcr westw;..:.rd nt;arly to wher.:..; it is called Front
Ridge. East of tlk 11<-:rmentau River, Grr'-i1d ff-t..;nds for over 15
miles before losin:':; its ide:1ti ty ir1 th-:: 1:1ar:.:;h, A wiJc expanse of marsh-
land scparatc:s this line of ;re:s frcw. th:; b<..!aches ncar the pr.:.;sC:nt
shore, Almost all of the main in this section are cultivated
211d in th..; vicinity of Creole :..md Sh.:.niere, so::1c of cu1tiv.--:t-.;d
areas arc one-half mile in width.
( 3) ch.:;ni,:rc. S'r.-; A sm::lL r rroup of chvnieres
lying to the vie::.t of V riailion 3D] a.:w'' so,;th o1 iJnite Lal:e forn the
most cheniere: systcw j n LoU.:si:ma. The: r;:.:-.. .i.n I IsLmd,
B'=lle Isle and Gh:mi.r au Tigre ar_ on
Clay Silt
I ! Humus
w Shells
8J Sand f> She lis
GEOLOGICAL IN\IESTIGAllON
LOWER MERMENTAU RIVER BASIN, LA.
+10
0
w
.J-10
::1.
' -20
r-
....
!AJ
u.
i40
:..
w
60
70
CROSS SECTIONS F-F' AND G- G'
VICINITY OF GRAND CHENIERE
IN SHEETS IICALitll All IIHOWN SHEET
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION
VICKSBURG, MISS
TO ACCOMPANY lt ...... 1 OF HA_, D N rt.l<, "" D COHtlULTA..,.
OAT&. 1.0UI6>ANA 6TAII UNtV& .. SoH, 8&1- -U<il
FILE
PLATE 14
/
Note: For cross sect10ns see Plate IG
\
\
Pl.: AN
SCALE IN FEET
=
soo
_J
IN
G RAND
1.-AH
LEGEND
BORING FIGURE INDICATES ELE\1 M S.L
OF TOP OF OXiDIZED PLEISTOCENE DEPOSITS
GEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION
LOWER MERMENTAU RIVER BASIN, LA.
SUBSURFACE CONTOURS
OF OXIDIZED PLEISTOCENE DEPOSITS
ATFISH POtNT SITE
SHEETS SCALE AS StiOWN SHEET
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT. MISSISSIPPI RIVER
VICKSBURG. MISS
IO ACCOMPANV Af.POIItT Or' MAROLD N fiSK, I"H D CON1JULTANT
OAT f.[) LOUI,;I"NA &TATE. . .-TON HC tH .. t: LA
PLATE 15
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
B sw
X
CORPS OF ENGINEERS
0 "
J
___ N_A_T_u_R_AL __ G_A_OU __
't , 0%11 er;
I
I)
1'-
10 ..
..J
............-
40
0
A WEST
0
tO
20 0
_]
co
('
30
.J
t/1
L
t--
IL
z
>
50 w
.J
w
0
70
0
200
zoo 400
Note: For location of cross section see Plate 15
600
015TANC.E,IN FEET
OtSTANCE: IN FEET
SECTION B ... B
NATURAL GROJNO SURf A(.[
I
800 1000
SECTION A-A
EAST
0
10
wZO
.J
-30
.J
lfl
I
t--
IL
z
J
t.J
-60
-70
1200
RC(NT --
TYPES OF DEPOSITS
-[
---]MARSH: Include IMtsn of
-- _ and rivr sediments.
STRtAM
LAK( AND &AY: lnclude-5 lense of
..
LEGEND
S.snd':l C'-'1
rl
'!
_: 'v'eg - Vegtdtton
(
St11y Cla'J C. one. Conc:re t irms,
s,nd :..dt Ox ())udiz:ed
Sand Sandy !:"tit Tr. Tr10ce
Silty Sand Stlt H Humus
GEOLOGICAL-INVESTIGATION
LOWER MERMENTAU RIVER BASIN, LA.
CROSS SECTIONS A-A' AND 8-8'
CATFISH POl NT CONTROL STRUCTURE SITE
IN! SHEETS 5CAL1.8 AS
SHEET
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT. MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION
VICKSBURG. MISS.
TO ACCOWPANY RE..,OIIT OF HAIIOLD H ,-t6K CON.ULTA .. T
DA1t.O L0Ut51ANA 1ifAlE UNtYC ... Ifl' 8ATON ROUG( LA
FILE
PLATE 16
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
Z YE
LEGEND
-17e sr;RING. FIGI;RE
0 ..;)
.J
CD
t
" -tO ...J
In
1-
w
-20
A
0
I
EL M l. OF TOP OF
0)(101ZCO PI.EISTOCENE DEPOSITS
WATER SURFAC.F"}
MERMENTAU
.uuo
/
/
Rti!ER
/
_SEc _2
src 23 / src. ,
4
TI45-R5W
,/
/
aoou
/
/
/
/
PARISH
/
/
,/
400('
OISTA:rr :IN FEET
SECTION A- A'
-- NAl URAl. GPOUNU SUHFAi:f
!>COO 600U
A'
MEHME:NTAI.I
RIVER
CORPS OF ENGINEERS
TYPES OF DEPOSITS
! loci!
. _jot ldk.e ""a rover dtJY>,tb
-i ,... j.
! }=. =-- MJO FLAT
I ---
/
! r; .. '. ;.
; .. I Bf ACH
; :.: . ."
LEGEND
w------J t,
-: r
::.ilt 4 ;u'j
7tlCC
<;,.trl:l sand
Shells
No Sample
GEOLOGICAL INVE.S TIGA liON
LOWER MERMENTAU RIVER BASIN, LA.
SUBSURFACE CONTOURS AND CROSS SECTION
TOP OF OXIDIZED PLEISTOCENE DEPOSITS
LITTLE CHENIERE SITE
IN
5
$ A A H f3 y :.yo
SHEETS SCALE IN FEET SHEET
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT. MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION
'IICKS!!URG. MISS.
TO ACCQMP'AN't 0,. MA"tttO "'Il PH D IOI'IiSlJL1'A .. l
DATaO LOUf .. ANA .fAt Ul"fVa,.._ll.-. 81'"'H4JllCE LA
fiLE
PLATE 17
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
\.
A
0
MERMENTAU RIVER
(I)
-10 "
-'
Ill
r
r--.----------_.---
-20
40
w
u
0 1000
CAME R 0 N
I
NATURAL GROUND SURFACE
2000
P A R
500 1000
_. J----- --::,-.._.. :
5CALE IN f(T
JOOO 4000
DISTANCE IN FEE 1
SECTION A -A'
S H
..
,.
/,,'
. ,'/
" e II
'I
. :/'
..
'
/1 --
. D
WATER SURFACE
RIVER
5000
I
X
CORPS OF ENGINEERS
TYPES OF DEPOSITS
[
. locAl lrnscc> ,Jf
r f .'Jkt> .)n<:l rtver ss<Jomtuts
I
I
>-It']
/
HECENT tf J STREAM
I
//
/
LEGEND
@ BORING 8'Y NEW ORLEAN5 ENGR. Dl5T
e &Y OTHER AGENCY 4''
e FIGURf INOtc.ATES F..LfV CM L l 0F
20 TOP OF OXIDIZED PLE15TOCENE
DEPOSITS,
PLEISTOCENE
\Of!'ltc.toc Plain
DI!JJOt)
:{--:-]LAKE AND BAY: onclurle5
____ lensts ot
BRACKISH WAr! R
STREAM
LEGEND
NATURAL GROUND
A'
6000 7000
.J
Vl
n
I: -'20
....
w
kJ -r __ .,...... ...
S11ndy ClalJ
Clay 'Stlt
SilhJ Sand
H Humur.
C.EOLUC.ICAL IN" I IGAT ION
LOWER MERMENTAU RIVER BASIN, LA.
SUBSURFACE CONTOURS AND CROSS SECTION
TOP OF OXIDIZED PLEISTOCENE DEPOSITS
GRAND CHENIERE SITE NO. 2
IN SHEETS SHEET
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT. MISSISSIPPI RIVER
VICKSBURG. MISS
TO ... ,..,.T 0' HAIIOLO N ..... ,.H, D. c.ofMUL'fANT
OATD t.OUt .. ANA AI. UNIV81t6tY. 8&T .... ,UGC, L.A.
r ll E
PLATE 18
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARM.Y
u v
"" "" !1'1 1/'1
LEGEND
CLAY
SANOY CLAY
SILTY CLAY
5ANO
SILTY
SANOY SILT
CLAY 5tLT
j.SOLTV SAMO
!!
, ~
t
NOTE: For Cross Sedions B-B' and C-C'See Plate 20
I
cs
SH
ss
CLAY STRATA
SHELLS
SANO STRATA
c A [ R 0 N
14 7.
ll
8 - AUGf.R IOeUNOS
@ - IJHOI5'TUA&to eoRIHG5
-Z5 SUIUUI'lFACf CONTOURS ON TOP OF
OJI'tOIZEO Plfi51'0CfNC DfPOSIU
P A R
? J
PLAN
s H
GC-10
- -
$CAL[ IN H.t T
SECTION A-A'
TYPES OF DEPOSITS
MARSH lncluds local lnses of lake and.nvcr deposits
BEA0-1
RIVER ACCRETION lnch ... ds reworked ckanlre depoih of
sand and shells overll!lll"' by bl'"acki51-o wlltt'r
mud!IO with few shells
SRACK15H MARINE DEPOSITS: lncluder. qulf boHom, m.:fd flat
and estuary flllin'l.
FRESH WATER QELTAIC S01MNT5
BRACK,SH WATER SE OIMENTS
CORPS OF ENGINEERS
I
N
I
GC-13
~
~ .
~ ( i
No-te
6orinqe Med By U.S
Waterways Experiment
Statton.
Ill
:!
....
w
w
- ~
~
"'
.J
-40
w
GEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION
LOWER MERMENTAU RIVER BASIN, LA.
SUBSURFACE CONTOURS AND CROSS SECTION
TOP OF OXIDIZED PLEISTOCENE DEPOSITS
GRAND CHENIERE CONTROL STRUCTURE SITE
IN SHEETS SHEET
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT. MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION
VICKSBURG. MISS
TO ACCOMI"ANY III:I"'On 0,. HAR<>LO N l'lell. I"H D. CO ... ULTAMT
DAY'C:O LOUf8lAMA GAta UNtVCNSifY .AlON IIIOUGa. LA
PLATE 19
O.EPARTMENT OF THE AAMV
B
0
30
..
_J
C)
'-:
..
..
...J
"'
)() :1
w
....
...
0
>
w
_J
w
70
100
10.
c
0
-10 "
.J
Cl
1':
.
zo.
.J
Ill
..._
w
>
.....
_J
w
0
100 zoo
015 TANCE IN FUT
---- ------ -------- ------ .... Ct
c
100
DISTANCE IN FEET
100
0
tO
,.,
.
II
..l.
.,.
w
w
...
z 30
>
.....
.J
w
300
TYPES OF DEPOSITS
BnAC:KI!JH MAHINf: lnL lu Jl lLII
b0ttJ111, lhll(j fl.1t tr"! ,gh.IY_Y t,i:I'IJ
RIVEn ACCH[liON: irH ludt" "'w"
Chl!n>t'rf dt<pv::ots nt ".i\nd Jnd ,.h.-11.
l.sin by h..Jtk,.,h w,lfc:r ""''k tt"' ,;h.tk
Note: For location of cross sections see Plate 19
.601]
I
CORPS OF ENGINEERS
a'
0
10
-to
-)()
1.}
_J
,
. 40
_J
.,
l
u
JO
<:
>
w
d
-10
-eo
-100
LEGEND
II
GEOLOGICAL IN\Il.STIGATION
LOWER MERMENTAU RIVER BASIN, LA.
CROSS SECTIONS B-8' AND C- C'
GRANO CHENIERE CONTROL STRUCTURE SITE
IN SHEETS
.. ltHOWN SHEET
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT. MISSISSIPPI RIVER' COMMIS!t!ON
VICKSBURG. MISS
10 Hff'l")R'f 0,._ HAROLO N f:ISM Ph 0 CONiiUL..TAHf
0All0 lOHI-,.lANA ll.lf UN!IIH,Iv BAlON NIHH..,f_ LA
FILE
PLATE 20
i
j
CC/1
0
-LEGEND-
I I
I I
I I
( I
'j ABANDONED MISSISSIPPI RIVER CHANNELS (ACTI\1(
J DURING LATE PLEISTOCENE STAG.)
J PRAIRIE (PLEISTOCENE)
l RECENT MARSHLANDS
CHENIER ELEV CMS.L.l TOP Of' PLEISTOCENE
BORING BY NEW ORLEANS ENGINEER OISTfUCT.
GEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION BORING DRILLED BY
NEW ORLEANS ENGINEER DISTRICT.
BORINGS BY OIL COMPANIES.
LOCATION 01' CROSS-SECTION.
NOTE: FOR CROSS-SECTION$ SEE PLATES 22 &. 23.
/
./
/
,,.1
\
I
J
I
I
I
I
GEOLOGICAL T'IGATION
LOWER MERMENTAU RIVER BASIN
:.uBSURFACE CONTOURS
TOP OF OXIDIZED PLEISTOCENE DEPOSITS
SHEET
THE PRESIDENT, MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION
VICKSBURG, MISS
TO ACCOMPAN.'f A(POAT OF HAAOLO N. ftSX. PH D, CONSUl TAN1"
<
:o
PLATE 21
DEMRTMENT OF THE ARMY
A
7
s
0
,,
_J
:>
C)
t--
10
_J
til
L
I !I
w
w
t..
0 J
8
'
& 6 ..
0
C)
..J
I()
:!
w
z
0 2
Note: For location of cross sections see Plate 21
3 2
3
3 2
4
2
,
5
5
DL">IArJCf:liN MILE.S
SECTION B-B'
3
l
[)ISlAtJC.f; IN !MIL[5
SECTION A-A'
22
NATURAL C.HUUN;J SUfHAC(
(,
I
- ..... ........
12 13
P, ')
...
Veq
v.'l
Ve'f
16 17
Veq
CORPS OF ENGINEERS
"' "
Vcq
0
z
10 II 1.-.'
!
0
C)
J
::' -10
J
<11
;;
t.
-20
!
; REC[N1 I
PLEISTOCENE i
I
TYPES OF DEPOSITS
-J M Inc lt.l.,
1
oc al ... '
__ I>J..e and deros.ts
J
1
LJ\1-- f AND BAY '"clvJ.,.,
J lJ f 'IV PI' S<!dl
j DfLTAIC PLAIN (Und ff,.,.,.,,t,a!ed)
LE:GEND
Cone
l.-
Vr9
H
Sh
Concr-ctton
Tac<'
Ve 9" ta110n
H ..
o d.r.l!d
Shell
GEOLOGiCAL INVESIIGATiON
LOWER MERMENTAU RIVER BASIN, LA.
CROSS SECTIONS A-A' AND 8- 8'
VICINITY OF SCHOONER BAYOU
IN SHEETS
tiCAL&e l'a ... OWN SHEET
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT. MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION
VICKSBURG. MISS.
TO ACCOM,-ANY "1..-o .. T OF HAitOLO N lfteiC D CON.ULTA .. T
DATI.O LOUteAANA .fAl UNIV.UU'f .... ION IIIQUGI. LA
FILE
PLATE 22
OF THE ARMY
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SECTION C - C'
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II 13 IS 17 19
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SECTION D- D'
Rt.CtNT
CORPS OF ENGINEERS
10 It
TYPES OF DEPOSITS