Subsurface geologic units intercepted in the boreholes are shown in various colors. Boreholes are positioned above the map for visibility but portray geologic units that occur in subsurface below the level of the map.
View of a sedimentary basin from above. Colored surfaces represent the top of geologic units mapped in the subsurface. Younger sedimentary units (in light blue) are not deflected like the deeper units and represent sedimentation after basin formation.
Detailed analysis and modeling of 3D basin architecture is a critical tool in the assessment of water, energy, and mineral resources, as well as paleoclimate and paleotectonic reconstructions. Sedimentary basins are of particular interest because they are repositories of economically important byproducts of sedimentary processes and are commonly rich in subsurface data. Due to the importance of sedimentary basins to various stakeholders, characterizing these systems at their native scale naturally facilitates coordination with regional experts from State Surveys and other USGS mission areas. These lines of communication also benefit broad objectives of the US Geoframework Initiative, including the development of data standards for detailed and regional 3D models.
The 3D Sedimentary Basins task activities include:
(1) conversion of existing 3D geologic data for sedimentary basins to a format accessible to a wide variety of users,
(2) compiling and synthesizing subsurface geologic datasets to create new 3D products for sedimentary basins, and
(3) ensuring that detailed sedimentary basin data is integrated into a regional- to national-scale seamless 3D geologic database.
