Locations and grain-size analysis results of sediment samples collected in the vicinity of Buffalo Reef, Michigan, within Lake Superior during USGS Field Activity 2021-005-FA using the USGS MiniSEABOSS (CSV, GCS WGS 84)

Dates

Publication Date: 2022-06-09
Start Date: 2021-08-13
End Date: 2021-08-15

Citation

Andrews, B.D., Barnhardt, W.A., Moore, E.M., Nichols, A.R., Ackerman, S.D., and Berube, P.J. 2022, High-resolution geophysical and sample data collected in the vicinity of Buffalo Reef, Michigan, within Lake Superior, U.S. Geological Survey Field Activity 2021-005-FA: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9NJY125.

Summary

In August 2021, the U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, collected high-resolution geophysical data, sediment samples, and bottom imagery to determine the distribution of historical mine tailings on the floor of Lake Superior. Large amounts of waste material from copper mining, locally known as “stamp sands,” were dumped into the lake in the early 20th century, with wide-reaching consequences that have continued into the present. Mapping was focused offshore of the town of Gay on the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan, where ongoing erosion and re-deposition of the stamp sands has buried miles of native, white-sand beaches. Stamp sands are also encroaching onto Buffalo Reef, a large area of cobble/boulder [...]

Summary

In August 2021, the U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, collected high-resolution geophysical data, sediment samples, and bottom imagery to determine the distribution of historical mine tailings on the floor of Lake Superior. Large amounts of waste material from copper mining, locally known as “stamp sands,” were dumped into the lake in the early 20th century, with wide-reaching consequences that have continued into the present. Mapping was focused offshore of the town of Gay on the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan, where ongoing erosion and re-deposition of the stamp sands has buried miles of native, white-sand beaches. Stamp sands are also encroaching onto Buffalo Reef, a large area of cobble/boulder substrate that supports productive fisheries in the lake.

The objectives of this cooperative mapping project are to develop a framework for scientific research and provide baseline information required for management of resources within the coastal zone of northern Michigan. High-resolution bathymetry and backscatter data reveal the irregular topography of the shallow, cobble-covered Buffalo Reef and the relatively smooth surface of finer-grained sediment that covers adjacent, deeper parts of the lake floor. Previous research used numerous sediment samples to determine the general distribution of mine tailings on the lake floor in this area, but little information exists on the extent and thickness of the surficial deposits. The main priority of this project is to image the near-surface stratigraphy, specifically the thickness of surficial sand and mud that threaten to cover the reef, with seismic-reflection profiling systems. In addition to continuous coverage of bathymetric and backscatter data, this project collected a dense grid of closely spaced seismic profiles in 2018, which will guide efforts to mitigate the environmental impacts of the shifting stamp sands.

This 2021 (2021-005-FA) survey is the second survey conducted by the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center (WHCMSC) in Traverse Bay, MI. The first survey conducted in September 2018 (2018-043-FA) was a regional geologic framework study that covered a large area (30 sq km) and lower resolution (2-m) and included both single-channel, and swept frequency (chirp) subbottom seismic profiles. Data from this survey were published in Andrews and other (2020). The data from the 2018 survey was used to plan the higher resolution (less than 1-m) 2021 survey that covered a smaller area (14 sq km) focused on Buffalo Reef and included 410 bottom photographs, and 60 sediment samples collected using the MiniSEABOSS.

Andrews, B.D., Barnhardt, W.W., Foster, D.S., Irwin, B.J., and Nichols, A.R., 2020, High-resolution geophysical data collected in the vicinity of Buffalo Reef, Michigan, within Lake Superior, U.S. Geological Survey Field Activity 2018-043-FA: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9K4HX8V.

Contacts

Contact :: Seth D Ackerman
Author :: Brian D Andrews, Walter Barnhardt, Eric Moore, Alexander R Nichols, Seth D Ackerman, Patrick Berube
Data Owner :: Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
SDC Data Owner :: Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
USGS Program :: Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program
USGS Mission Area :: Natural Hazards
Distributor :: U.S. Geological Survey - ScienceBase

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2021-005-FA_SEABOSS_samples_meta.xml Original FGDC Metadata	View	62.51 KB	application/fgdc+xml
2021-005-FA_SEABOSS_samples_browse.jpg “browse image showing extent of sample locations”		27.98 KB	image/jpeg
2021-005-FA_SEABOSS_samples.csv		31.21 KB	text/csv

Purpose

This dataset provides access to the locations and grain-size analysis results of surficial sediments collected with a modified Van Veen grab sampler on the Mini SEABed Observation and Sampling System (MiniSEABOSS) using the R/V Rafael, owned, and operated by the USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center. These data were collected to characterize the lakebed by identifying sediment texture and to ground-truth acoustic data collected during the same USGS field activity.

Locations and grain-size analysis results of sediment samples collected in the vicinity of Buffalo Reef, Michigan, within Lake Superior during USGS Field Activity 2021-005-FA using the USGS MiniSEABOSS (CSV, GCS WGS 84)

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