Laserfiche WebLink
<br />- 29 - <br /> <br />Area South of Crystal River and Opposite the Mudf10w Fan (4) <br />Gaskill's geologic map indicates that the area south of the Cry- <br /> <br />stal River in the vicinity of Marble is composed of the same Cretaceous <br /> <br />shales and sandstones that were described on Gallo Bluff (plate 2). <br /> <br /> <br />Slopes of this area are in the range of 40% to 100%. Both photographic <br /> <br /> <br />and field observation indicate that the western part of this slope is <br /> <br /> <br />an area of long standing and still active snow avalanching (4a, plate 1; <br /> <br />figures 1, 4, 14). There are seven avalanche tracks across the area, <br /> <br />and photo studies indicate that the accumulation areas have enlarged by <br /> <br />erosion considerably since 1945. At the foot of each avalanche chute, <br /> <br />there is a talus of fresh rock debris. In view of the steepness, the <br /> <br />nature of the bedrock and the active avalanching and rockfall, these <br /> <br />areas do not appear to be suitable for development. <br /> <br />The central part of the area south of Crystal River (which is di- <br />rectly opposite the old marble works) is also very steep except for a <br />large and fairly recent landslide mass (4b, plate 1) which has locally <br />deflected the course of the river northward. There are also large ac- <br /> <br />cumulation areas and avalanche tracks above the landslide mass. These <br /> <br />avalanches do not at the present time appear to be as active as those <br /> <br />to the west, but the historic record describes many damaging avalanches <br /> <br />which affected the marble works until a protective dike of waste marble <br /> <br />was built. We feel that this part of the area also has many serious <br /> <br />problems which would have to be resolved before construction of any <br /> <br />kind is advisable. <br /> <br />The eastern part of the area south of Crystal River looks somewhat <br /> <br />more favorable, but there are still several reasons for carefully con- <br /> <br />sidering any construction in the area. The geologic map (plate 2), <br />