Please join us for the first Michigan Basin Geological Society’s membership meeting for the 2021-2022 year.

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MBGS - AIPG Joint Dinner Membership Meeting, Thursday May 5th, 2022, 7:30 PM

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​LOCATION: The Hidden Gem Event Venue, 4230 Charlar Drive, Delhi charter Township, MI 48842

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SPEAKER: John Esch Geology Specialist, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy - Oil, Gas & Minerals Division

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TOPIC: LiDAR for Environmental, Natural Resources, Hydrological, Engineering and Geological Applications

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Cost: First 10 Students Free*, Members $40.00, Non-members $60.00. Registration is payable electronically via Eventbrite (see link below). Please note: Cancellations made within 48 hours of the meeting and/or “No Shows” will be charged and expected to pay the registration fee. *Only the first 10 students are free; those registering after the 10 spots are filled pay the member price.

Dinner: Choice of: Creamy Garlic Chicken, red skin potatoes, vegetable medley, salad, bread; Glazed Salmon, red skin potatoes, vegetable medley, salad, bread; or Vegetable Lasagna, red skin potatoes, vegetable medley, salad, bread

Time: Cash Bar 5:30-6:30 PM, Dinner 6:30 PM, and Speaker 7:30-9:00 PM

RSVP: On the Eventbrite website no later than May 2nd:

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https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spring-2022-joint-aipg-mi-section-and-mbgs-meeting-tickets-314503637847

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Abstract

LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) has fundamentally changed how we view and interpret the landscape and has revolutionized geological mapping. Often subtle features can be seen in the LiDAR topography data that are not visible on aerial photography, topographic maps, or digital elevation models (DEMs).

LiDAR is an optical remote sensing technology that emits intense, focused beams of Light at the ground and measures the time it takes for the reflections to be detected by a sensor. This results in a densely spaced (QL2): 2 points/meter network of highly accurate georeferenced elevation points called a point cloud. These elevation points are classified as to what the LiDAR pulse was reflected off (ground, vegetation, water, buildings, or other objects). The ground elevation points are used to produce highly accurate Digital Elevation Models that can be used to generate three-dimensional representations of the Earth’s surface and its features. Elevation accuracies are on the order of 10 centimeters. Airborne LiDAR is the most common, but there is also terrestrial LiDAR and bathymetric LiDAR. Terrestrial LiDAR can be used for mapping high cliff and quarry faces to create a virtual outcrop.

The most useful airborne LiDAR product is the bare earth digital elevation model (DEM). Other common deliverable LiDAR products are a classified point clouds and intensity Images. A LiDAR attribute that may be of value for geologists is the intensity of the returned pulse, which is the strength of the return or how strongly the laser pulse was reflected back to the sensor. This is usually presented a greyscale .tif image and may be useful for mapping soft ground (wetlands) vs hard ground (potentially bedrock outcrops). Common LiDAR derivative products include DEM hillshade, digital surface models, shaded relief, contours, and automated building extraction.

The higher resolution topography advantage of 0.6 meter LiDAR DEMs over existing 30 and 10 meter DEMs is obvious. This very dense data coverage allows for seeing subtle geologic features, and cultural features like curbs, plow furrows, and two-tracks. It can also be used to see what is under tree canopy. Bedrock outcrops often appear distinct from the surrounding topography in the LiDAR data. This is valuable for mapping in remote areas with little known exposure. Hydrologic features like streams, valleys and subtle erosional features are more accurately and easily seen using LiDAR. Many more karst feature like sinkholes, disappearing streams, and solution enhanced joint areas have been identified using LiDAR. Subtle glacial features like ice-walled lake plains are almost never seen on aerial photos or topographic maps (except for large ones) and were rarely identified in Michigan prior to LiDAR. With LiDAR they are relatively easy to see. Other subtle glacial features seen using LiDAR, but sometimes too small to be seen on topographic maps include small eskers, drumlins, flutes, subtle terraces, fans, deltas, small sand dunes, paleo-shorelines, ice margins, bars, pendants, and erosional scarps. These previously undetected landforms may fundamentally change how one interprets the area geology. Pits and other excavations as well as scarps are easily seen using LiDAR and are helpful for places to investigate.

LiDAR allows geologists to be more efficient in the field by allowing them to see the landscape how it really is before going out in the field. It also helps in fine tuning and focusing field work in specific area, features and landforms. It also allows them to map subtle features that may not be accessible due to land ownership permissions. This presentation will show the widely varying uses of LiDAR for geological, environmental, and hydrological applications across Michigan.

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Biography

John grew up in the Grand Ledge Michigan area and received his BS in geology from Central Michigan University in 1984. He started out his career in 1984 as a geologist with Aangstrom Precision Corporation. He led a geophysical survey crew conducting magnetic and radiometric surveys and later worked as a “computer geologist” mapping the structure and isopach maps of every Paleozoic formation in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. John constructed the first ever comprehensive glacial drift isopach and bedrock topography maps of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan as well as assisting in mapping the major faults in the Michigan Basin.

In 1990, John left the oil patch and took a job with the DNR (later EGLE) conducting hydrogeologic investigations at contamination sites across the state. From 1998-2006 he worked as project geologist on 12 Superfund sites in Michigan. Since 2006 he has been with the Office of Geological Survey/Oil, Gas & Minerals Division.

John’s interests include studying the bedrock surface and structural geology of the Michigan Basin, use of unconventional geophysical techniques, the HVSR passive seismic method, LiDAR, groundwater surface water interactions, and the use of GIS and 3D visualization techniques to help 

understand surficial and subsurface geology. He formerly chaired the EGLE GIS Committee. John also works part time conducting geologic mapping for the Michigan Geological Survey.  He is a volunteer with Lifewater International in which he trains people overseas in groundwater exploration, shallow well drilling and hand pump repair.

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Below are links to recordings of the past (3) MBGS meetings

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A 3-D Bedrock Geologic and Hydrostratigraphic Model of Southern Ontario

Date: April 13th, 2022

Meeting Recording:

https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/NSxlqWFWWpT3pJL9CRiKnhj7PXfyCr76VpIvMo8-bSNcGdS9M4E67BBP4BQGIN1m.jGh9-MLDuhx-Wu82

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Below are the 2 original presentations that Terry presented:

A Revised 3-D Geologic Model of the Bedrock of Southern Ontario and Progress on Development of a 3-D Hydrostratigraphic Model

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0VZLNMxpKU&list=PLdapv5BeduhV3JoX6F4giIHGRgYI6Bkag&index=2

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A 3-D Bedrock Hydrostratigraphic Model of Southern Ontario

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgJmOHYZtak&list=PLdapv5BeduhXJZedclmAYiccOCcSuYsMW&index=20

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Articles referenced in the presentation:

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A Hydrostratigraphic Framework for the Paleozoic Bedrock of Southern Ontario

https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/GC/article/view/31465/1882527052

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A Three-Dimensional Geological Model of the Paleozoic Bedrock of Southern Ontario,  Groundwater Resources Study 19 Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 8618

http://www.geologyontario.mndm.gov.on.ca/mndmfiles/pub/data/imaging/GRS019//GRS019_Report.pdf

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Lake Michigan Shorelines, Catastrophic Failure or Stable, That is the Question, Date: Jan 12, 2022
Meeting Recording:
https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/-Gr3efOHXLqk_SSFJqsMG9VpAk8sbQc9WWZDroawji1DYfjnD84IfzTSsc3XYh78.zXGywtGcpy1j0c_B

Grand Canyon MBGS Field Excursions, Date: Feb 9, 2022 
Meeting Recording:

https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/tsuSxIgrJHVChOxJ_DNG93ORQWEHYy3QWyydUky3SNrZ350kolgUBVX1Ms_7ZWA2.-Lk0MwdVkDxLzXGz

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MBGS ANNOUCES 2021-22 EZ MANOS SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

Madeleline Tan, Undergrad Student, University of Michigan, Advisor: Jeroen Ritsema Title: Seismic Receiver function analysis of the Michigan Basin
The Michigan basin is an intracratonic basin approximately 400 km wide (Howell and Van der Pluijm, 1999). It is nearly circular, reaching the largest depth to the cratonic basin sequence in present day Saginaw Bay region. Previous receiver function analysis indicates Moho depth beneath the Michigan basin reaches 53 km, thinning out beneath its flanks (Moidaki et al., 2013; Shen et al., 2013). Stein et al., 2015 posit the Moho depth is on average 45 km beneath the Michigan basin, owing to the combined result of crustal thinning, post-rift volcanism, sediment loading, and basin inversion (Watts et al., 2018). My project focuses on new seismological constraints of the crustal structure beneath Michigan and the broader Great Lakes region using P-to-s receiver functions calculated from the recordings of distant (> 4,000 km) earthquakes at seismometers in Michigan. We will use USGS seismometers in the central US and U-M seismometers near Lake Erie (courtesy of Professor Yihe Huang) to measure variations of the thickness of the crust and sediments within and outside the Michigan Basin. New seismic analyses of the structure of the crust beneath Michigan and surrounding states will help place the Michigan Basin in a broader tectonic context and to constrain dynamic scenarios of its origin. 

Mathew Bell, Graduate Student, Western Michigan University, Advisor: Dr. Peter Voice Title: Dam Failure – Hydrogeologic Consequences and Effects on the Tittabawassee and Tobacco Rivers and the groundwater systems in Southern Gladwin County, Michigan

In May 2020, a reservoir dam at the intersection of the Tittabawassee and the Tobacco Rivers collapsed resulting in a cascade of hydrogeologic and hydrologic changes in southern Gladwin County, Michigan. Along the two rivers, replacement water wells drilled since the event have shown that the water table has dropped up to 6 meters. Recent LiDAR imagery shows the water surface along the two rivers and the reservoir lake also exhibit a 6-meter drop compared to records prior to the event. A combination of water well records (Wellogic Database and more recent drillers reports) and integrating validated oil and gas well records were used to construct sections and maps of the bedrock and glacial surface and water table elevations (prior to- and post-event), for bedrock, and glacial geologic units. In order to better define the county bedrock surface, Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) passive seismic data was collected across the county study area to develop a regional contact. Well records and HVSR data better defines the bedrock surface in this region and will allow a better understanding of hydrogeologic connections between the glacial sediment cover and the underlying Paleozoic bedrock. Using calibrated passive seismic measurements, the bedrock surface is analyzed to determine the complexity of the bedrock surface and interaction with the glacial drift, which can determine if there are
separate glacial and bedrock aquifer systems. The bedrock surface mapping and cross sections can provide a context for how the groundwater from the glacial material interacts with the bedrock material below.

Geology in the News

This Interactive Map Shows Where Your Home Was on Earth 750 Million Years Ago   https://dinosaurpictures.org/ancient-earth#240

Unexpected Findings Result in New Origin Theory for Earth’s Water

Enhanced views of Earth tectonics

Antarctic Neutrinos Are Being Used to Weigh the Earth’s Core

New Survey Publication – An Updated Bibliography of Michigan Geology

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John Yellich and Peter Voice, Western Michigan University Department of Geological Sciences and Michigan Geological Survey

The Michigan Geological Survey is proud to announce a new publication: Michigan Geology: A Bibliography, the second volume in the Michigan Geological Survey Data Compilation Series. This updated compilation lists over 7,700 references from all known Michigan sources, including industry, professional associations and universities and includes publications from 1818 to present. This report documents 200 years of Geological Research in Michigan. The Bibliography is sorted into four general categories – Precambrian, Basin, Quaternary, and Other.
This updated version of the bibliography also includes a short section on Michigan Stratigraphic Nomenclature, as well as brief discussion of historical trends in publication frequency in Michigan.

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The report is free to download at the Michigan Geological Survey’s webpage: https://wmich.edu/geologysurvey/research/publications.

DOUGLAS HOUGHTON MEMORIAL

Douglass Houghton, Michigan’s first State Geologist, was honored on September 10, 2016 by
the placement of a State of Michigan Historical Marker commemorating his accomplishments. The
effort was led by Arlene Anderson‐Vincent, members of the Michigan Basin Geological Society,
Keweenaw County Historical Society and faculty at Western Michigan University and Michigan
Technological University. The dedication was incorporated into a MBGS field excursion led by
Professor Ted Bornhorst of Michigan Technological University and Lawrence Molloy, President of the Keweenaw County Historical Society. The two led a field excursion that covered the geology and history of sites from Houghton to Copper Harbor and wove a tale of the rise and fall of mining in the copper range. The field excursion included the dedication of the marker, which is located in Eagle River, Michigan at the Keweenaw County Historical Museum. The dedication had many speakers and a special appearance from Kyle Bagnall, who portrayed Bela Hubbard who told the story of Douglass Houghton’s 1840 expedition along Lake Superior. Douglass Houghton died in 1845 when the boat carrying himself and his crew capsized during a storm on Lake Superior near Eagle River.

Upcoming Events

May 5, 2022: Michigan Basin Geological Society & AIPG Joint Meeting - LiDAR for Environmental, Natural Resources, Hydrological, Engineering and Geological Applications.  In person meeting.

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May 10-11th, 2022: 68th Annual Institute on Lake Superior Geology Annual Meeting, Sudbury, ON, ILSG - Terrace Bay 2019 (lakesuperiorgeology.org)

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June 14-15, 2022: Environmental Risk Management Workshop at the Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center, Roscommon, Michigan.

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June 20-23: NRCS Annual Regional Meeting of the National Cooperative Soil Survey, in Grand Rapids,

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/survey/partnership/ncss/?cid=nrcseprd1881042

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August 6-9, 2022: 58th Annual AIPG Meeting to be held in Marquette, Michigan.

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EGLE Calendar of Training and Workshops
https://www.michigan.gov/egle/0,9429,7-135-3308_3333---,00.html

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Michigan State University, College of Natural Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Science,
Events https://ees.natsci.msu.edu/events/

Michigan Tech – Geoseminars ‐ http://pages.mtu.edu/~raman/SilverI/Geoseminar/Welcome.html

University of Michigan Earth and Environmental Science
Events https://lsa.umich.edu/earth

Western Michigan University, Geological and Environmental Sciences
Events https://wmich.edu/geology/events

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