Holocene geologic development of the Hatteras Village area, Outer Banks, North Carolina / by David F. Twamley.
| Author/creator | Twamley, David F. author. |
| Other author | Culver, Stephen J., degree supervisor. |
| Other author | Mallinson, David J , degree supervisor. |
| Other author | East Carolina University. Department of Geology. |
| Format | Theses and dissertations |
| Production | 2006. |
| Description | x, 157 leaves : illustrations (some color), maps (some color) ; 28 cm |
| Supplemental Content | Access via ScholarShip |
| Subjects |
| Summary | The Holocene geologic development of the Hatteras Village area. North Carolina has been investigated using geophysical surveys, lithologic and foraminiferal characterization of vibracores, and age dating techniques. Hatteras Village is on a triangular landmass, referred to as a "shark-fin" because of its appearance, approximately 15 kilometers south of Cape Hatteras. Six litho/biofacies were identified in 27 vibracores taken in three shore-perpendicular transects, which traverse Rollinson Channel, Clam Shoal, and Durants Point. An inner shelf marine unit, characterized by muddy sand to shelly sand is represented by a normal salinity marine foraminiferal assemblage that includes Elphidium excavatum, Elphidium subarcticum, Nonionella atl̀ntica, and Hanzawaia strattoni. An inlet litho/biofacies is differentiated from the inner shelf unit by the abundant presence of Quinqueloculina seminula, Quinqueloculina lamarkiana, and Quinqueloculinajugosa as well as a greater percentage of shell material. A low energy estuarine litho/biofacies is characterized by sandy mud with sandy interbeds and a foraminiferal assemblage dominated by Elphidium excavatum and Ammonia parkinsoniana as well as the agglutinated species Ammotium salsum. A high energy estuarine litho/biofacies is characterized by massive, sometimes rooted sand to muddy sand and contains the occasional agglutinated specimens o̕ Ammotium salsum, or is barren of foraminifera. A marsh litho/biofaces is characterized by sandy mud and peat, and contains a typical marsh assemblage, including Arenoparrella mexicana, Haplophragmoides wilberti, and Trochammina inflata. Beach ridge sands that are barren of foraminifera characterize the barrier island litho/biofacies on the Hatteras Village fin. Seismic data reveal large-scale channel features in the subsurface of Sandy Bay, suggesting that a flood tide delta occupied this area sometime after beach ridges formed approximately 3,000 to 2,000 years BP. The inlet that opened in Sandy Bay likely destroyed a large portion of the beach ridges on Hatteras Island, which may have once connected the Hatteras Village ridges to the Cape Hatteras ridges across Sandy Bay. GPR data from a narrow section of barrier island in front of Sandy Bay display dipping clinoforms indicative of inlet-fill, confirming the presence of inlets in this area in the past. An AMS 14 C age estimate of 40,700 to 40,220 years BP, obtained from a sample of approximately 1,000 specimens of Elphidium excavatum at the bottom of RC03-V13, suggest that the Pleistocene-Holocene boundary in this location is approximately 7.5 meters below mean sea level. AMS 14 C age estimates from plant material, obtained from peat samples on a low, narrow portion of Hatteras Island adjacent to Hatteras Village, suggest that this portion of the barrier had completely reformed by 500 years BP. In 2003 Hurricane Isabel caused an inlet to open on a portion of Hatteras Island that GPR data indicate is the location of past inlets. A small temporary inlet opened at this same location in 1933. This narrow stretch of barrier island adjacent to Hatteras Village is vulnerable to erosion and prone to future inlet formation. |
| General note | Presented to the faculty of the Department of Geological Sciences. |
| General note | Advisor: Stephen J. Culver |
| General note | Advisor: David J. Mallinson |
| Dissertation note | M.S. East Carolina University 2006 |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 93-102). |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Thèses et écrits académiques. |
Availability
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joyner | University Archives | ASK AT SPECIAL COLLECTIONS DESK | ✔ Available | Request Material |
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