Date of Award
1980
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Geology
First Advisor
J.R. Reid
Abstract
The Minot area includes about 330 square kilometres along both sides of the Souris River in north-central North Dakota. The area can be divided into the flat Souris River floodplain, the steeply sloping sides of the Souris and Des Lacs meltwater channels and larger tributaries, and the gently undulating uplands dissected by small streams. Surficial geologic units include Early Tertiary sand, silt, clay, and sandstone of the Bullion Creek Formation, Pleistocene glacial till, ice contact fluvial deposits, and other fluvial deposits of the Coleharbor Group, and Holocene fluvial and eolian deposits of the Oahe Formation.
Expansion of the Minot metropolitan area has resulted in conflict between urban development and planned resource management. Detailed maps (Scale 1:24 000) describe and interpret geology as it relates to natural resources, water supplies, waste disposal sites, construction capabilities, and flooding.
Moderate amounts of high-quality sand and gravel adjacent to and within the Souris meltwater channel constitute the major mineral resource in the area, these are largely glacial meltwater deposits. Proper land use planning should restrict development on such deposits until maximum use is made of this resource.
Minot depends heavily on groundwater for municipal supply. Water is presently available from the Souris River and from groundwater aquifers. These sources provide Minot with an adequate supply.
Recommended Citation
Anderson, Garth S., "Surface geology for land use planning, Minot, North Dakota area" (1980). Theses and Dissertations. 4.
https://commons.und.edu/theses/4