Sunset view across Little Molas Lake, an alpine glacial lake on the west side of the Animas River Valley (San Juan Mountains, Colorado, USA).
Geologic Framework of the Intermountain West Active
The Geologic Framework of the Intermountain West (IMW) Project is creating a seamless, integrated, geologic map database that spans the Intermountain West region. The database will serve enhanced geologic map data to support geoscience research, environmental and resource assessments, and the communication of geologic information for all U.S. Geological Survey stakeholders.
This innovative approach to serving geologic map data synthesizes new and existing geologic mapping into a spatially consistent geologic framework, preserves source metadata, and improves the queryability of map unit information. The stratigraphic framework that underpins the geologic mapping is constructed dynamically using a process-based, time-dependent, hierarchical classification of map units. This data set can be integrated with users’ data via GIS hosted feature layers or can be viewed using the Intermountain West Geologic Map Explorer .
Research groups within this project investigate the magmatic, tectonic, stratigraphic, and landscape evolution of the Intermountain West through targeted studies of geologic processes.
The Intermountain West Seamless Geologic Map Explorer is now live!
The USGS Geochron Database Explorer is now live!
Data Release of Geochemical, Geochronologic, and Isotopic Data for Precambrian to Cenozoic Rocks from Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming
Zircon U-Pb data for Proterozoic rocks in southwestern Colorado and rocks from drill core from Wyoming, Montana, and Nebraska
Data release of geochemistry and geochronology for Proterozoic rocks in southwestern Colorado and rocks from drill core from Colorado, North Dakota, Nevada, Wyoming, Montana, and Nebraska
Zircon U-Pb data for ash-fall tuffs and sandstones of the Cenozoic Amargosa Valley and Bat Mountain Formations exposed on Bat Mountain, southern Funeral Mountains, California, USA
Data release for geochronology and geochemistry of volcanic rocks in the Southern Rocky Mountains and Taos Plateau volcanic fields and other Oligocene to Pleistocene volcanic rocks within the southern San Luis Basin and San Juan Mountains, southern Colora
Compilation of in situ and detrital zircon U-Pb ages for the Jurassic-Paleocene North American Cordillera (28-50 degrees north)
Preliminary detrital zircon data for Upper Cretaceous to Paleocene strata of the Crazy Mountains basin, Montana
Measured sections and paleocurrent data from fluvial deposits of the Upper Cretaceous-Paleogene Raton and Poison Canyon Formations, Raton Basin, Colorado-New Mexico, USA
Thermochronologic data from the southern Stillwater Range, Nevada
Digital subsurface data of Paleozoic rocks in the Upper Colorado River Basin in Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico from USGS Regional Aquifer System Analysis
Digital subsurface data of Mesozoic rocks in the Upper Colorado River Basin in Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico from USGS Regional Aquifer System Analysis
Data release for Geologic Map of the Homestake Reservoir 7.5' quadrangle, Lake, Pitkin, and Eagle Counties, Colorado
Sunset view across Little Molas Lake, an alpine glacial lake on the west side of the Animas River Valley (San Juan Mountains, Colorado, USA).
Geologist Alexander Lusk investigates slickenlines on the Moab fault near Arches National Park (Utah, USA).
Geologist Alexander Lusk investigates slickenlines on the Moab fault near Arches National Park (Utah, USA).
Intermountain West Project members Theresa Schwartz and Alexander Lusk investigate the Pennsylvanian Honaker Trail Formation at Goosenecks State Park (Utah, USA).
Intermountain West Project members Theresa Schwartz and Alexander Lusk investigate the Pennsylvanian Honaker Trail Formation at Goosenecks State Park (Utah, USA).
Intermountain West Project members discuss an outcrop of the Oligocene-Miocene Troublesome Formation (near Kremmling, Colorado, USA).
Intermountain West Project members discuss an outcrop of the Oligocene-Miocene Troublesome Formation (near Kremmling, Colorado, USA).
Red sedimentary rocks of the Pennsylvanian-Permian Maroon Formation exposed on Avery Peak dip southwestward away from gray igneous rocks of the Cenozoic White Rock pluton.
Red sedimentary rocks of the Pennsylvanian-Permian Maroon Formation exposed on Avery Peak dip southwestward away from gray igneous rocks of the Cenozoic White Rock pluton.
Intermountain West Project members pose at the summit of Crested Butte (Colorado, USA) prior to examining the Crested Butte laccolith (from left to right, Jeremy Workman, Allison Dombrowski, Ian Hillenbrand, Amy Gilmer, Kenzie Turner, and Ren Thompson).
Intermountain West Project members pose at the summit of Crested Butte (Colorado, USA) prior to examining the Crested Butte laccolith (from left to right, Jeremy Workman, Allison Dombrowski, Ian Hillenbrand, Amy Gilmer, Kenzie Turner, and Ren Thompson).
A view westward from Cottonwood Pass (Sawatch Range, Colorado, USA) into the Taylor Park basin. The peaks in the backgorund are composed of igneous and metamorphic rocks ranging in age from early Paleozoic to Eocene, uplifted along the Taylor Park fault.
A view westward from Cottonwood Pass (Sawatch Range, Colorado, USA) into the Taylor Park basin. The peaks in the backgorund are composed of igneous and metamorphic rocks ranging in age from early Paleozoic to Eocene, uplifted along the Taylor Park fault.
Vivid red, orange, and yellow colors highlight hydrothermally altered rocks on East Red Mountain in the Grizzly Peak caldera (Sawatch Range, Colorado, USA).
Vivid red, orange, and yellow colors highlight hydrothermally altered rocks on East Red Mountain in the Grizzly Peak caldera (Sawatch Range, Colorado, USA).
Geologist Michael Frothingham observes strongly deformed rocks of a Proterozoic shear zone in the Medicine Bow Mountains (Wyoming, USA).
Geologist Michael Frothingham observes strongly deformed rocks of a Proterozoic shear zone in the Medicine Bow Mountains (Wyoming, USA).
Research Geologist Leah Morgan working in the USGS Argon Geochronology Laboratory in Denver
Research Geologist Leah Morgan working in the USGS Argon Geochronology Laboratory in Denver
Below are publications associated with the Geologic Framework of the Intermountain West Project.
Insights from the Alabama Hills into Mesozoic magmatism and tectonics in eastern California
The Seamless Integrated Geologic Mapping (SIGMa) extension to the Geologic Map Schema (GeMS)
State of stress in areas of active unconventional oil and gas development in North America
In this paper, we present comprehensive data on stress orientation and relative magnitude in areas throughout North America where unconventional oil and gas are currently being developed. We find excellent agreement between maximum horizontal principal stress (SHmax) orientations over a wide range of depths, using multiple methods. In all basins studied, we observed coherent stress fields that in
Downhill from Austin and Ely to Las Vegas: U-Pb detrital zircon suites from the Eocene–Oligocene Titus Canyon Formation and associated strata, Death Valley, California
In a reconnaissance investigation aimed at interrogating the changing topography and paleogeography of the western United States prior to Basin and Range faulting, a preliminary study made use of U-Pb ages of detrital zircon suites from 16 samples from the Eocene–Oligocene Titus Canyon Formation, its overlying units, and correlatives near Death Valley. The Titus Canyon Formation unconformably over
Magmatism, migrating topography, and the transition from Sevier shortening to Basin and Range extension, western United States
The paleogeographic evolution of the western U.S. Great Basin from the Late Cretaceous to the Cenozoic is critical to understanding how the North American Cordillera at this latitude transitioned from Mesozoic shortening to Cenozoic extension. According to a widely applied model, Cenozoic extension was driven by collapse of elevated crust supported by crustal thicknesses that were potentially doub
Geologic and hydrogeologic characteristics of the White River Formation, Lance Formation, and Fox Hills Sandstone, northern greater Denver Basin, southeastern Laramie County, Wyoming
Tectonic influence on axial-transverse sediment routing in the Denver Basin
Hypogenic karst of the Great Basin
Pore pressure threshold and fault slip potential for induced earthquakes in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of north central Texas
Earthquakes were induced in the Fort Worth Basin from 2008 through 2020 by increase in pore pressure from injection of oilfield wastewater (SWD). In this region and elsewhere, a missing link in understanding the mechanics of causation has been a lack of comprehensive models of pore pressure evolution (ΔPp) from SWD. We integrate detailed earthquake catalogs, ΔPp, and probabilistic fault slip poten
Detrital zircon record of magmatism and sediment dispersal across the North American Cordilleran arc system (28-48°N)
Evidence for variable precipitation and discharge from Upper Cretaceous–Paleogene fluvial deposits of the Raton Basin, Colorado–New Mexico, U.S.A.
Postcaldera intrusive magmatism at the Platoro caldera complex, Southern Rocky Mountain volcanic field, Colorado, USA
The Geologic Framework of the Intermountain West (IMW) Project is creating a seamless, integrated, geologic map database that spans the Intermountain West region. The database will serve enhanced geologic map data to support geoscience research, environmental and resource assessments, and the communication of geologic information for all U.S. Geological Survey stakeholders.
This innovative approach to serving geologic map data synthesizes new and existing geologic mapping into a spatially consistent geologic framework, preserves source metadata, and improves the queryability of map unit information. The stratigraphic framework that underpins the geologic mapping is constructed dynamically using a process-based, time-dependent, hierarchical classification of map units. This data set can be integrated with users’ data via GIS hosted feature layers or can be viewed using the Intermountain West Geologic Map Explorer .
Research groups within this project investigate the magmatic, tectonic, stratigraphic, and landscape evolution of the Intermountain West through targeted studies of geologic processes.
The Intermountain West Seamless Geologic Map Explorer is now live!
The USGS Geochron Database Explorer is now live!
Data Release of Geochemical, Geochronologic, and Isotopic Data for Precambrian to Cenozoic Rocks from Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming
Zircon U-Pb data for Proterozoic rocks in southwestern Colorado and rocks from drill core from Wyoming, Montana, and Nebraska
Data release of geochemistry and geochronology for Proterozoic rocks in southwestern Colorado and rocks from drill core from Colorado, North Dakota, Nevada, Wyoming, Montana, and Nebraska
Zircon U-Pb data for ash-fall tuffs and sandstones of the Cenozoic Amargosa Valley and Bat Mountain Formations exposed on Bat Mountain, southern Funeral Mountains, California, USA
Data release for geochronology and geochemistry of volcanic rocks in the Southern Rocky Mountains and Taos Plateau volcanic fields and other Oligocene to Pleistocene volcanic rocks within the southern San Luis Basin and San Juan Mountains, southern Colora
Compilation of in situ and detrital zircon U-Pb ages for the Jurassic-Paleocene North American Cordillera (28-50 degrees north)
Preliminary detrital zircon data for Upper Cretaceous to Paleocene strata of the Crazy Mountains basin, Montana
Measured sections and paleocurrent data from fluvial deposits of the Upper Cretaceous-Paleogene Raton and Poison Canyon Formations, Raton Basin, Colorado-New Mexico, USA
Thermochronologic data from the southern Stillwater Range, Nevada
Digital subsurface data of Paleozoic rocks in the Upper Colorado River Basin in Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico from USGS Regional Aquifer System Analysis
Digital subsurface data of Mesozoic rocks in the Upper Colorado River Basin in Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico from USGS Regional Aquifer System Analysis
Data release for Geologic Map of the Homestake Reservoir 7.5' quadrangle, Lake, Pitkin, and Eagle Counties, Colorado
Sunset view across Little Molas Lake, an alpine glacial lake on the west side of the Animas River Valley (San Juan Mountains, Colorado, USA).
Sunset view across Little Molas Lake, an alpine glacial lake on the west side of the Animas River Valley (San Juan Mountains, Colorado, USA).
Geologist Alexander Lusk investigates slickenlines on the Moab fault near Arches National Park (Utah, USA).
Geologist Alexander Lusk investigates slickenlines on the Moab fault near Arches National Park (Utah, USA).
Intermountain West Project members Theresa Schwartz and Alexander Lusk investigate the Pennsylvanian Honaker Trail Formation at Goosenecks State Park (Utah, USA).
Intermountain West Project members Theresa Schwartz and Alexander Lusk investigate the Pennsylvanian Honaker Trail Formation at Goosenecks State Park (Utah, USA).
Intermountain West Project members discuss an outcrop of the Oligocene-Miocene Troublesome Formation (near Kremmling, Colorado, USA).
Intermountain West Project members discuss an outcrop of the Oligocene-Miocene Troublesome Formation (near Kremmling, Colorado, USA).
Red sedimentary rocks of the Pennsylvanian-Permian Maroon Formation exposed on Avery Peak dip southwestward away from gray igneous rocks of the Cenozoic White Rock pluton.
Red sedimentary rocks of the Pennsylvanian-Permian Maroon Formation exposed on Avery Peak dip southwestward away from gray igneous rocks of the Cenozoic White Rock pluton.
Intermountain West Project members pose at the summit of Crested Butte (Colorado, USA) prior to examining the Crested Butte laccolith (from left to right, Jeremy Workman, Allison Dombrowski, Ian Hillenbrand, Amy Gilmer, Kenzie Turner, and Ren Thompson).
Intermountain West Project members pose at the summit of Crested Butte (Colorado, USA) prior to examining the Crested Butte laccolith (from left to right, Jeremy Workman, Allison Dombrowski, Ian Hillenbrand, Amy Gilmer, Kenzie Turner, and Ren Thompson).
A view westward from Cottonwood Pass (Sawatch Range, Colorado, USA) into the Taylor Park basin. The peaks in the backgorund are composed of igneous and metamorphic rocks ranging in age from early Paleozoic to Eocene, uplifted along the Taylor Park fault.
A view westward from Cottonwood Pass (Sawatch Range, Colorado, USA) into the Taylor Park basin. The peaks in the backgorund are composed of igneous and metamorphic rocks ranging in age from early Paleozoic to Eocene, uplifted along the Taylor Park fault.
Vivid red, orange, and yellow colors highlight hydrothermally altered rocks on East Red Mountain in the Grizzly Peak caldera (Sawatch Range, Colorado, USA).
Vivid red, orange, and yellow colors highlight hydrothermally altered rocks on East Red Mountain in the Grizzly Peak caldera (Sawatch Range, Colorado, USA).
Geologist Michael Frothingham observes strongly deformed rocks of a Proterozoic shear zone in the Medicine Bow Mountains (Wyoming, USA).
Geologist Michael Frothingham observes strongly deformed rocks of a Proterozoic shear zone in the Medicine Bow Mountains (Wyoming, USA).
Research Geologist Leah Morgan working in the USGS Argon Geochronology Laboratory in Denver
Research Geologist Leah Morgan working in the USGS Argon Geochronology Laboratory in Denver
Below are publications associated with the Geologic Framework of the Intermountain West Project.
Insights from the Alabama Hills into Mesozoic magmatism and tectonics in eastern California
The Seamless Integrated Geologic Mapping (SIGMa) extension to the Geologic Map Schema (GeMS)
State of stress in areas of active unconventional oil and gas development in North America
In this paper, we present comprehensive data on stress orientation and relative magnitude in areas throughout North America where unconventional oil and gas are currently being developed. We find excellent agreement between maximum horizontal principal stress (SHmax) orientations over a wide range of depths, using multiple methods. In all basins studied, we observed coherent stress fields that in
Downhill from Austin and Ely to Las Vegas: U-Pb detrital zircon suites from the Eocene–Oligocene Titus Canyon Formation and associated strata, Death Valley, California
In a reconnaissance investigation aimed at interrogating the changing topography and paleogeography of the western United States prior to Basin and Range faulting, a preliminary study made use of U-Pb ages of detrital zircon suites from 16 samples from the Eocene–Oligocene Titus Canyon Formation, its overlying units, and correlatives near Death Valley. The Titus Canyon Formation unconformably over
Magmatism, migrating topography, and the transition from Sevier shortening to Basin and Range extension, western United States
The paleogeographic evolution of the western U.S. Great Basin from the Late Cretaceous to the Cenozoic is critical to understanding how the North American Cordillera at this latitude transitioned from Mesozoic shortening to Cenozoic extension. According to a widely applied model, Cenozoic extension was driven by collapse of elevated crust supported by crustal thicknesses that were potentially doub
Geologic and hydrogeologic characteristics of the White River Formation, Lance Formation, and Fox Hills Sandstone, northern greater Denver Basin, southeastern Laramie County, Wyoming
Tectonic influence on axial-transverse sediment routing in the Denver Basin
Hypogenic karst of the Great Basin
Pore pressure threshold and fault slip potential for induced earthquakes in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of north central Texas
Earthquakes were induced in the Fort Worth Basin from 2008 through 2020 by increase in pore pressure from injection of oilfield wastewater (SWD). In this region and elsewhere, a missing link in understanding the mechanics of causation has been a lack of comprehensive models of pore pressure evolution (ΔPp) from SWD. We integrate detailed earthquake catalogs, ΔPp, and probabilistic fault slip poten