USGS Map Catalog: Geology

USGS Map Catalog: Geology

USGS maps illustrating geology show bedrock and surficial rock type, geologic processes, ages of geologic strata, and fault lines. Click on any of the map titles or image of the maps below to examine a larger sample of that USGS map [some up to 10MB, some in PDF format, obtain Adobe Acrobat Reader at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html).

World and World Regions
	This Dynamic Earth, The Story of Plate Tectonics--This book gives an introduction to the concept of plate tectonics and complements the visual and written information in This Dynamic Planet (see below), a map published in 1994 by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Smithsonian Institution. The booklet, which is also online, highlights some of the people and discoveries that advanced the development of the theory and traces its progress since its proposal. Although the general idea of plate tectonics is now widely accepted, many aspects still continue to confound and challenge scientists. The earth science revolution launched by the theory of plate tectonics is not finished. Product ID Number 16398
	This Dynamic Planet--This map shows the Earth's physiographic features, the current movements of its major tectonic plates, and the locations of its volcanoes, earthquakes, and impact craters. The use of color and shaded relief helps the reader to identify significant features of the land surface and the ocean floor. Over 1,500 volcanoes active during the past 10,000 years are plotted on the map in four age categories. The locations (epicenters) of over 24,000 earthquakes, largely from 1960 through 1990, are plotted in three magnitude categories and in two depth ranges. The map is intended as a teaching aid for classroom use and as a general reference for research. It was published in 1994. Map scale is 1:30,000,000 and measures 58"x40". Product ID Number 28946
	Maps Showing Geology, Oil, and Gas Fields and Geologic Provinces of the South America Region--This digitally compiled map includes geology, geologic provinces, and oil and gas fields of South America. The map is part of a worldwide series on CD-ROM by World Energy Project released by the U.S. Geological Survey . The goal of the project is to assess the undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources of the world. Product ID Number 97-470D
	Maps Showing Geology, Oil, and Gas Fields and Geologic Provinces of Europe and Turkey--This digitally compiled map includes geology, geologic provinces, and oil and gas fields of Europe and Turkey. The map is part of a worldwide series on CD-ROM by World Energy Project released of the U.S. Geological Survey. The goal of the project is to assess the undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources of the world. Product ID Number 97-470I
United States and Regions
	Geologic Map of the USA--This Geologic Map of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii) is published at a scale of 1:2,500,000, and was compiled between 1967 and 1971 by Philip B. King and Helen M. Beikman, with geologic cartography by Gertrude J. Edmonston. Use this map for teaching and learning about the geology of the continental United States, and to explore the relationship between geology, minerals, population, and physical processes both past and present. The map is in two sheets with an accompanying legend. Map ID Numbers 28919, 28920, 28921
	The North America Tapestry of Time and Terrain Map-- This map is a collaboration among the U.S. Geological Survey, Geological Survey of Canada, and Mexican Consejo de Resursos Minerales. The Tapestry map combines one-kilometer resolution digital elevation data with a new geologic map from the Decade of North America Geology geologic map. On the main part of the map, the ages of rocks depict the geological history of the continent. Inset maps show the distribution of four major rock types: sedimentary, volcanic, plutonic, and metamorphic. The scale of the main part of the map is 1:8,000,000, using a Lambert Azimuthal Equal Area Projection. Map measures 54"x42". Product ID Number 114767
	A Tapestry of Time and Terrain-- Through computer processing and enhancement, we have brought together two existing images of the lower 48 states of the United States into a single digital tapestry. The resulting composite is the most detailed and accurate portrait of the U.S. land surface and the ages of its underlying rock formations yet displayed in the same image. In mutually enhancing the landscape and its underlying temporal structure, the digital tapestry outlines the geologic story of continental collision and break-up, mountain building, river erosion and deposition, ice-capglaciation, volcanism, and other events and processes that have shaped the region over the last 2.6 billion years. A 24-page pamphlet accompanies this map. Map scale is 1:3,500,000. Product ID Number 28887
	Map of Surficial Deposits and Materials in the Eastern and Central United States (East of 102 Degrees West Longitude)-- Geologic Investigations Series I-2789. The surficial geologic map of the Eastern and Central United States depicts the areal distribution of surficial geologic deposits and other materials that accumulated or formed during the past two million years, the period that includes all activities of the human species. These materials are at the surface of the Earth. They make up the “ground” on which we walk, the “dirt” in which we dig foundations, and the “soil” in which we grow crops. Most of our human activity is related in one way or another to these surface materials that are referred to collectively by many geologists as “regolith,” the mantle of fragmental and generally unconsolidated material that overlies the bedrock foundation of our continent. Comes with a legend booklet. The map is at a scale of 1:2,500,000, measures 51”x47”, and is folded. Product ID Number 115020
	Selected Hydrologic Features of Lake Tahoe Basin and Surrounding Area, California and Nevada-- This map shows the surrounding area in shaded relief and the lake with bathymetric contour intervals of 100 feet. More information is available on the World Wide Web at http://nevada.usgs.gov/. Map measures 35"x25". Product ID Number 18299
	Lake Tahoe Lake Floor, Sheet 1-- This photograph-like map was created using the latest technology known as "multi-beam bathymetry." This project provides researchers with a never-before-seen, high resolution, 3-D digital picture on the lake’s floor. On page 2 of the set shows several selected perspective views giving a person the ability to explore the many crayons and crags of the lake’s floor. Map measures 26"x39". Product ID Number 18310
	Lake Tahoe Lake Floor, Sheet 2-- This photograph-like map was created using the latest technology known as "multi-beam bathymetry." This project provides researchers with a never-before-seen, high resolution, 3-D digital picture on the lake’s floor. This page of the set shows several selected perspective views giving a person the ability to explore the many crayons and crags of the lake’s floor. Map measures 27"x34". Product ID Number 18311
States and Areas
	Geologic Map of Colorado--This geologic map uses a combination of lines, symbols, and colors to show the composition and structure of earth materials and their distribution across and beneath the Earth’s surface. They generally show bedrock formations like granite or limestone, surficial units such as sediment deposited by glaciers or rivers, and structures like folds and faults. Geologic maps can be used to identify geologic hazards, locate natural resources, and facilitate land-use planning. Geologic maps are available for several states, and many smaller areas within those states. Map scale is 1:500,000 and measures 51.5"x43". Product ID Number 32363, Map Legend Product ID 32362
	Shifting Shoals and Shattered Rocks--How Man Has Transformed the Floor of West-Central San Francisco Bay--This map, part of Circular 1259, shows areas of the San Francisco Bay floor, California, that have been modified by humans since the 1850s. High-resolution mapping of the bottom of the bay provides detailed images of sand dune fields, rocky pinnacles, and other topographic features. The information reveals evidence of large-scale excavations dug decades ago to provide fill material for adding land area in the Marina District of San Francisco and for creating Treasure Island in the Bay. Natural depressions in the Bay floor have served as sites for disposal of debris, and sand beds on the Bay floor are mined for construction material. Includes 3D image of the Bay floor and 3D viewing glasses. The online version is on: http://geopubs.wr.usgs.gov/circular/c1259/ Product ID Number 116068
	Glaciation of the Upper Platte River Basin, Colorado--Use this map to teach about glacial effects, landforms, and the resulting topography of the Upper Platte River Basin, Colorado. Use it also to examine the impact of physical geography on current population distribution in the basin. Flat Product ID Number 28826 Folded Product ID Number 28825
	Geologic Map of Kentucky--Use this map to teach and learn about the Kentucky geology, and the relationship of geology to landforms, minerals, and settlement. This Kentucky map showing surficial geology, fault lines, and more, and is one of many USGS state geologic maps. Product ID Number 32369
	Geologic Map of the Boulder-Fort Collins-Greeley area, Colorado-- This geologic map of the northern Front Range of Colorado is published as a Geologic Investigations Series map. A high resolution PDF of this map can be viewed on: http://pubs.usgs.gov/imap/855/G/i-855-g_v1.1.pdf. The digital data for the map is online on http://pubs.usgs.gov/imap/855/G/. This digital map shows the geographic extent of rock formations as compiled by Colton in 1976 under the Front Range Urban Corridor Geology Program. The paper map (USGS Map I-855-G, Colton, 1978) was intended for land-use planning and to depict the regional geology. In 1997-1999, the USGS Front Range Infrastructure Resources Project digitized Colton's map at 1:100,000 scale for Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The digitized map depicts in its western part Precambrian igneous and metamorphic rocks, Pennsylvanian and younger sedimentary rock units, major faults, and brecciated zones along an eastern strip (5-20 km wide) of the Front Range. The central and eastern parts of the map (Colorado Piedmont) show a mantle of Quaternary unconsolidated deposits and interspersed outcrops of sedimentary rock of Cretaceous or Tertiary age. A surficial mantle of unconsolidated deposits of Quaternary age depicted as eolium (wind-blown sand and silt), alluvium (river gravel, sand, and silt), colluvium, and a few landslide deposits. At the mountain front, north-trending, Paleozoic and Mesozoic sandstone, shale, and minor limestone formations dip mostly eastward and form folds, fault blocks, hogbacks and intervening valleys. Local dikes and sills of Tertiary rhyodacite and basalt intrude rocks mostly in the Boulder area. This digital map shows potential shallow aquifers and geologic units that may be suitable for waste disposal and aggregate mining. The map distinguishes units that are broadly predictable in physical properties and mineral content, making the map a potential tool for planning for urban growth and zoning. Ideally, qualified experts can use the map to derive information that will conduce to optimum use of the land in urbanized regions. Digital Only
	Geologic Map of the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness Area and the Grizzly Peak Caldera, Sawatch Range, Central Colorado-- This geologic map of the central Sawatch Range extends from Aspen on the west to the valley of the Arkansas River on the east and from Independence Pass on the north to Cottonwood Pass on the south. This map is centered on the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness Area, which contains some of Colorado's finest alpine scenery. Bedrock geology consists of a diverse mixture of early Proterozoic metasedimentary, metavolcanic, and plutonic rocks that are intruded by middle Proterozoic granites. Paleozoic and Mesozoic strata once covered the region but now are restricted to the far western part of the map area. Oligocene volcanism culminated in the eruption of the Grizzly Peak tuff and formation of the Grizzly Peak Caldera, which is spectacularly exposed in the north-central part of the map area. Glacial deposits mantle many of the high cirques and valley bottoms. Supporting text, figures, and tables in a 29-page pamphlet summarize the geochemistry of most igneous rock units and the geochronology of the region. Map scale is 1:50,000 and measures 54"x42". Supporting text, figures, and tables summarize the geochemistry of most igneous rock units and the geochronology of the region. Product ID Number 28734
Posters
	Fossils Through Time-- Use this poster to teach and learn about the relationships among fossil types, fossil ages, rocks, and time. In this poster, time progresses from the bottom (the oldest fossils) to the top (the most recent fossils.) This arrangement matches what we see in most rocks where fossils are found: the older fossil-bearing rocks were deposited first, and the younger fossil-bearing rocks were deposited on top of them. The height of each interval on the poster is proportional to about how long each lasted in years; 3 millimeters is about 2 million years. Map measures 28"x42". Product ID Number 16564