Steeply Dipping Heaving Bedrock, Colorado: Part 1 Heave Features and Physical Geological Framework

Abstract

Research Article| November 01, 2007 Steeply Dipping Heaving Bedrock, Colorado: Part 1—Heave Features and Physical Geological Framework DAVID C NOE; DAVID C NOE 1Colorado Geological Survey, 1313 Sherman Street, Room 715, Denver, CO 80203 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar JERRY D HIGGINS; JERRY D HIGGINS 2Department of Geology and Geological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar HAROLD W OLSEN HAROLD W OLSEN 2Department of Geology and Geological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information DAVID C NOE 1Colorado Geological Survey, 1313 Sherman Street, Room 715, Denver, CO 80203 JERRY D HIGGINS 2Department of Geology and Geological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401 HAROLD W OLSEN 2Department of Geology and Geological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401 Publisher: Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1558-9161 Print ISSN: 1078-7275 © 2007 Association of Engineering Geologists Environmental & Engineering Geoscience (2007) 13 (4): 289–308. https://doi.org/10.2113/gseegeosci.13.4.289 Article history First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation DAVID C NOE, JERRY D HIGGINS, HAROLD W OLSEN; Steeply Dipping Heaving Bedrock, Colorado: Part 1—Heave Features and Physical Geological Framework. Environmental & Engineering Geoscience 2007;; 13 (4): 289–308. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gseegeosci.13.4.289 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyEnvironmental & Engineering Geoscience Search Advanced Search Abstract Differentially heaving bedrock has caused severe damage near the Denver metropolitan area. This paper describes heave-feature morphologies, the underlying bedrock framework, and their inter-relationship. The heave features are linear to curvilinear and may attain heights of 0.7 m (2.4 ft), widths of 58 m (190 ft), and lengths of 1,067 m (3,500 ft). They are nearly symmetrical to highly asymmetrical in cross section, with width-to-height ratios of 45:1 to 400:1, and most are oriented parallel with the mountain front. The bedrock consists of Mesozoic sedimentary formations having dip angles of 30 degrees to vertical to overturned. Mixed claystone-siltstone bedding sequences up to 36-m (118-ft) thick are common in the heave-prone areas, and interbeds of bentonite, limestone, or sandstone may be present. Highly fractured zones of weathered to variably weathered claystone extend to depths of 19.5 to 22.3 m (64 to 73 ft). Fracture spacings are 0.1 to 0.2 m (0.3 to 0.7 ft) in the weathered and variably weathered bedrock and up to 0.75 m (2.5 ft) in the underlying, unweathered bedrock. Curvilinear shear planes in the weathered claystone show thrust or reverse offsets up to 1.2 m (3.9 ft). Three associations between heave-feature morphologies and the geological framework are recognized: (1) Linear, symmetrical to asymmetrical heaves are associated with primary bedding composition changes. (2) Linear, highly asymmetrical heaves are associated with shear planes along bedding. (3) Curvilinear, highly asymmetrical heaves are associated with bedding-oblique shear planes. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.