Preliminary appraisal of the hydrology of the Stigler area, Haskell County, Oklahoma

Technical Report · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:6020357

Marcher, M V; Huntzinger, T L; Stoner, J D; Blumer, S P

Bedrock in the Stigler area of southeastern Oklahoma consists principally of shale, siltstone, and sandstone of the McAlester, Savanna, and Boggy Formations of Pennsylvanian age. These rocks have been folded to form the Stigler syncline on the north and the Antioch anticline on the south. An area of several square miles is underlain by terrace deposits, mostly sandy silt, as much as 25 ft thick. Alluvium along the streams is 5 to 10 ft thick and consists mainly of sandy silt. Neither the terrace deposits nor the alluvium are hydrologically significant. Water in the bedrock is under artesian conditions. Well depths range from 34 to 235 ft and average 95 ft. The water level in most wells is less than 30 ft below the land surface. Based on specific-conductance measurements, dissolved-solids concentrations in ground water are estimated to range from 200 to 2500 milligrams/liter. Streams in the area are ephemeral and extended periods of no flow can be expected. Streamflow in Taloka Creek was maintained by water pumped from an active coal mine. Water upstream from the mine area had a mean dissolved-solids concentration of 72 milligrams/liter whereas water downstream from the mine area had a mean concentration of 1323 milligrams/liter. Samples of water collected from Taloka Creek since mining ceased did not have excessive concentrations of toxic metals. Maximum suspended-sediment discharge of Taloka Creek was about 1660 tons/day. Silt-clay particles (dia less than 0.062 mm) were the dominant grain size. Observed or measured effects of surface mining for coal on the hydrologic system include (1) creation of additional water storage in the surface mine pond, (2) disruption of drainage in an area of about 1 square mile, (3) increased mineralization of water in Taloka Creek, (4) changes in permeability and storage of water in mine spoil, (5) minor changes in streamflow and runoff characteristics, and (6) temporary increase in the sediment load of Taloka Creek.

• Research Organization: Geological Survey, Oklahoma City, OK (USA). Water Resources Div.
• OSTI ID: 6020357
• Report Number(s): USGS/WRI-82-4099; ON: TI85901273
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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