Geology Topics
By Darrel Dunn, Ph.D., PG, Geologist
(Professional Synopsis🔳)
Purpose and Scope of Geology Topics Web Page
The purpose of this web page is to present my comments on geology topics addressed in emails from viewers of this site. These comments are brief statements related to questions and comments in the viewer's emails. They are not comprehensive coverage of the topic.
Foundation Settlement
When a house is located on compressible material such as sand and clay, the amount of settlement depends on the actual compressibility of the material beneath the footings, depth and width of the footings, and the elevation of the water table. If settlement is very small and the structure of the house resists deformation, no cracks or other indications of settlement are noticed. However, in some cases the settlement is noticeable and can produce cracks, tight doors, et cetera. Information on compressibility of geologic materials may be found on the web page titled Aquifer Storativity.
Denver Basin
The following table contains my interpretation of the age of events related to the development of the Denver Basin in Colorado, USA, and the adjacent mountains.
Ma Event (Ma = Million Years before present)
0 Post-Laramide uplift continues (Tectonic and rebound due to erosion. Uplift > 5000 feet)
0.0093 Sudden cooling
0.011 End Wisconsin glaciation (Bull Lake, Pinedale, and Holocene Terraces in Denver Area)
0.1 Begin Wisconsin glaciation
Slocum Alluvium deposited (Sangoman/Illinoian)
0.25 End Illinoisian
0.4 Begin Illinoisian
0.64 Verdos gravel deposited (Age based on volcanic ash bed)
0.75 End Kansan glaciation
0.9 Begin Kansan glaciation
1.65 End Nebraskan glaciation
1.8 Begin Nebraskan glaciation
5 End Post-Laramide magmatism (Left Eocene erosional surface buried under flow and ejecta)
10 Rate of exhumation increases
28 Begin Post-Laramide uplift, extension, and rifting
33.5 End of Eocene
36 Begin Post-Laramide magmatism, faulting, northward tilting of Denver Basin
36.7 Deposition of Castle Rock Conglomerate
Rocky Mountain erosion surface developed (Low relief surface extends east onto deposits)
40 End of Laramide deformation
52 Beginning of D2 deposition
54.8 Beginning of Eocene
64 End of D1 deposition
72 Beginning of Laramide deformation
75 End of Laramie Formation deposition (Laramie deposited by retreating Cretaceous sea)
510 Begin advance of Cambrian sea from west.
1100 Begin Pre-Cambrian erosional period.
Related information is contained in the web page titled Palmer Lake Geology.