Foundation Exploration and Geologic Studies at Guntersville Dam

The construction of a dam in the vicinity of Guntersville, Ala. (see Fig. 22), has been under consideration since 1914. Geologic investigations of several proposed sites were made in that year by the U. S. Army Engineers, and the work was continued in 1933. The first investigations by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) were begun in the fall of 1934. A detailed geologic map of the region was made, stratigraphic studies of the various formations involved were conducted, numerous geologic sections were measured and described, and Considerable structural data were accumulated. Eight dam sites were examined. Each was subjected to an intensive study, which was greatly facilitated by the diamond-drill cores previously obtained by the Army Engineers. This paper is a brief summary of the geological studies upon which the final design was based.